Ever since the first time that we made love, I somehow could not get her out of my mind. It was as if I was under this spell… a terrifying but great spell. The feeling was overwhelming. I wasn't certain if she feels the same way, though. But as time went on Ginny changed from the shy, exclusive teenage girl into someone who was free and with an ultimate passion for life. And a certain mischievous talent for pulling pranks and trouble making that mirrored that of her brothers, George and Fred Weasley. Slowly she began opening up to me in ways that didn't before; this was certainly not the young Ginny Wesley that had clammed up every time she saw me in her first and second year. I started hoping that as my feeling grew for her that she too felt the same way about me. She stopped using her bedroom, to my delight, since I refused to be left alone. My bedroom became ours, the formerly navy blue room was now a dusty rose in colour.

I began looking forward to going home after training sessions and team meetings in a way that I hadn't before; when I arrived home it was her waiting for me, not the empty lifeless house that it was before her arrival. Together we would eat dinner, go for sunset strolls in the gardens surrounding the house, followed by a movie and mars bars. Most of the times, we would manage to finish the movie but there were times when we'd just completely ignore it; instead favoring just talking to one another and enjoying the basic company that we provided each other or getting lost within each other.

But ever since that moment, I haven't been unable to think of anything but her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It's been almost a month and a week now since Ginny moved in with me. I rolled on the bed and then immediately opened my eyes when I realized that I was alone. I scratched my head and then lazily sat up, wondering why on earth she was up early on a Saturday morning. I tried looking for my shirt but I couldn't find it, so instead I went downstairs to look for Ginny, shirtless.

I went directly to the kitchen, since I was certain that she'd be there. 'Aha,' I said to her. 'Shirt thief!' My shirt hung lose on her tiny form so much that I could see her left shoulder. I walked towards her and began kissing her exposed shoulder.

'Good morning, Harry,' she said, humming before turning around to smile at me. She turned her back on me again. 'I'm sorry I stole your shirt. I couldn't find my dress—speaking of which, wherever did you toss it to, anyway?'

'Don't really remember, well let's just say I was a bit preoccupied with other matters,' I whispered into her ear with a smile, as I stood behind her, before sliding my hand on her waist, hugging her. I placed my chin on her shoulder. 'Now, will you tell me why you were up so early?'

'First of all,' she said, putting a lid on one container and then facing me. 'It is not early anymore. It is noon. Secondly,' she said as she turned to face me again. 'I wanted to make something really special for you.' She placed her arms around my neck smiling back at me.

'Why is that?' I said, looking at the ceiling, reminiscing about our interesting activity. She immediately shoved my face away, giggling.

'Because it is your birthday, silly,' she said to me. 'Happy 18th birthday, Harry!'

'Thanks,' I said, leaning down to kiss her and pulling her closer.

We were about to get lost with each other once again when we heard 'SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAR---'

We jumped back, immediately separating from our lip lock; turning around in the process to find not only The Lupins but the entire Weasley Clan as well.

I groaned, secretly wishing that none of them saw, even though I knew that it was highly impossible. 'Thank you so much for remembering my birthday,' I breathed out.

'I---I---I,' she stammered. 'Mum, Dad! It''s so good to see you!'

I just stayed in front of the sink and then bowed my head, rubbing the back of my neck out of embarrassment. I could feel my whole body turn scarlet. Bloody hell! I don't even have a shirt!

'Oh,' said Remus. 'I hope that we didn't interrupt the two of you---'

I groaned. 'You---saw?'

'Not really but it was quite obvious what the two of you were doing or perhaps what you were about to do; dare I say,' Remus said chuckling. 'The two of you were just a little bit too captivated with each other to notice us arrive. But don't worry; there is nothing to be ashamed about it.'

I groaned even louder and then buried my face in my hands.

'What's with the kitchen, anyway?' he continued, shaking his head. 'When Sirius, Peter and myself would come over to your parent's house, half the time this is where we would catch your parents snogging and snuggling too. I remember that they would also immediately jump away from each other once they realize that they are not alone. James would take this time to mutter: "Don't you people know how to knock?" While Lily would just blush and offer us breakfast. To which I would counter: "Would you have heard us if we knocked?"'

'For once,' he added after a pause, his eyes roaming the kitchen and smiling. 'I thought I was seeing James and Lily again---'

His voice turned raspy; it still does even after all this time. It was still hard for the remaining Marauder to remember his fallen brothers; and even more painful to remember the brother that betrayed them all, Peter.

I looked at him. 'Really?''

Remus shook his head, the far off painful look was replaced by the jovial glee that had become the norm for Remus ever since he met Barbara. The emptiness that had been created first by the lost of my parents, James and Lily, then the betrayal of Peter, one of their own. Then to have his life back on track with the redemption of the once believed traitorous Sirius Black, my godfather, only to loose him as well. Yes, I was like the son he never had; but there was always a part of him that was empty that was incomplete. When he met Barbara that changed everything; now not only did he have me as a son he had two of his own as well.

Forgetting the painful reminder, he pointed out without missing a beat: 'Let's see, red haired girl and black haired boy entangled with each other; I think I have seen this more then once before!' He finished saying cheekily.

I blushed again.

'Harry, you have always resembled your father; but it was your mother behavior that shines through,' Remus said smiling. He turned his gaze and focus to Ginny.

'Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Harry! Happy Birthday to you!' sang the twins, Bill, Percy, Charlie and Ron loudly. Unfortunately, it was only Charlie and Percy who managed to stay in-tune while the rest of us winced at the others.

Angelina and Katie sauntered over to me with a mischievous glint in their eyes.

'So, this is what our young seeker hides under his shirt,' said Katie, circling behind me then rejoining Angelina, smiling. 'Impressive, Harry!'

'He sure is not a boy anymore,' added Angelina, joining in on Katie's roasting of my physical prowess. 'Nope, he's not just the famous Harry Potter we knew any more.'

'You're right,' Katie said. 'He's drop-dead sexy too!'

Both girls collapsed into hysterical laughter, as I turned an even deeper shade of red.

'I hope we didn't disturb you, Harry---and Ginny,' Angelina managed to get out in between laughs.

Ginny frowned.

I wrapped my arm around Ginny's waist, in an attempt to comfort and support her. Then I turned my attention back towards Katie and Angelina. They had begun too over come the laughter that had consumed them. I looked at them pleadingly as I asked: 'Katie, Angelina? Just for one day can we give it a rest? Please? Just for today–?'

'Oh, all right, Harry; you win!' she responded, smirking. 'But only for today---'

The rest of the party went along without the accompaniment of the awkward moments that had plagued our gatherings in the past. It was as if nothing had happened; I didn't know if I expected them to act differently, but with my early-on experiences with Ginny pushing me away had me unnerved. The situation that had brought us together was never far from our minds, and I doubt that it was far from the Weasley's minds as well.

Reality, however far from my mind at the moment, replaced itself when I returned home from practice two days after, very sore as usual. I slowly and quietly opened the door, since I did not want to wake her up at this late hour of the evening. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, before sitting on the chair and resting my forehead on my hand as I read the letters that I received that day. I pinched the bridge of my nose tiredly.

'Are you all right, Harry?' Ginny inquired.

I looked up to see her dainty figure standing in front of me. 'I'm sorry I woke you up,' I said, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips.

'You didn't, I was waiting for you.' She leaned on my desk. 'Have you eaten dinner?'

'The stupid prat made us do twenty laps. And yes, my mates and I ate before we went home. We were all so hungry and busy plotting his death,' I said while taking off my shirt and changing into my sleeping wear.

We both chuckled.

I walked towards the door to the veranda that looks out upon the vast gardens of the Potter Manor.

'Sometimes I think about quitting Quidditch but I can't. I guess I just can't see my life without Quidditch. It's my passion, it's my life. As lame as it sounds…'

'It's not lame. You just look tired that's all. And I think I know exactly what you need.' She made me turn around so that my back was facing her. I slowly felt her fingers on my neck. Gently and soothingly, she began massaging my neck, then my back. Her hands felt so good on my tense muscles.

I began to slump forward and close my eyes, feeling very content, but I took her hand and made her stop. 'Come with me,' I said, leading her to the couch. She was about to take the seat beside me when I decided to just let her settle on my lap. She didn't resist but before she could even say anything I leaned over and placed my lips on hers.

'I thought you are tired,' She whispered, leaning back a little and looking at me.

I grinned as I leaned back into my new leather couch. 'I'm not that tired,' I said to her in between kissing her fingers.

I paused.

'Ginny?'

I paused again.

I didn't know how to continue. I enjoyed the time that we shared together and desperately wanted to prevent Ginny from reverting back into the uncomfortable and introverted person that she was when I first brought her home.

She looked at me pleadingly, giving me the push I needed to continue.

'I got invited to one of our sponsor's party, and I want you to come. Please?'

'You want me – you want me to come to the party?' She said taken aback.

'As . . . as my date,' I stumbled nervously.

She frowned.

Confused, I asked, 'Is there something wrong, Ginny?'

'No, it's just that—it's just,' Ginny started, then stopped and lowered her head to look at her hands intertwined with mine.

'Did you want to go with somebody else?' I said after a pause. I silently pleaded that this wasn't it. Oh Merlin, what if she wanted to take somebody like Michael Corner, instead of me. Please, please say that you want to be my date, please? Oh Merlin, I can't take this.

She looked up and stared deep into my eyes, As if sensing the inner-battle that was erupting within me.

'It's just – don't you want to take someone like Susan Bones?' She finished.

Now it was my turn to frown. I released her hands and cupped her face with my hands, guiding her to look at me directly. 'Why would I want to take her? We are over, a long time ago, Ginny. I don't understand---'

'Well you are Harry Potter and… they'll be expecting you to take someone like her,' She said looking again directly into my eyes and consequently my soul with her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes.

Was I hearing it right? I took her hand and then intertwined her fingers with mine.

'I want to take you, not Susan Bones, not Parvati, not Padma, not Hannah or any other woman for that matter. If they don't like the idea of Harry Potter taking someone like you, then it's their problem,' I said reassuringly.

'The party isn't happening until another two days...'

I was cut off by Ginny exclaiming: 'Two days!!! Harry, you have got to be kidding!'

'It's ok. I have everything under control,' I said attempting to be debonair.

'But...'

I interjected before she could finish her rebuttal.

'No buts. Now what do you say to another movie?'

'Depends,' she said coyly.

'Depends, on what?' I said, amused by her teasing.

'On whether or not we can watch 'The Titanic'!' she answered.

'You cannot be serious, we have seen it a million times,' I said in protest. 'You practically have it memorized!'

'So, what's your point?' she said smiling.

'Now, I understand why Ron wanted to hide that movie away from Hermione in the first place!' I said laughing.

Ginny playfully swatted me in the stomach, before she got up to put the movie in.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We arrived at the mall early next day. We walked toward the restaurant that I had made reservations at earlier this morning. I paused before we entered the restaurant.

'What? Are we not going in?' she asked obviously puzzled.

'No, not yet,' I said.

'Why?' She asked again, while I continued to scan the vicinity.

'Harry, what are you looking for?' She asked trying to follow my line of sight.

'Voila!' I answered smiling.

There appeared Hermione, out of the mass of people carrying out there shopping. I released Ginny's hand and walked toward Hermione with outstretched arms. She walked right into my embrace, smiling.

'Hello to you too! So how are you, Harry?' she said after letting go.

'Good, I just want to thank you so much for doing this. It means so much to me; I don't know how I could ever repay you!'

'Don't worry I'll find a way,' she said mischievously.

Hermione turned her attention away from me and walked towards Ginny with open arms and enveloped Ginny into a sisterly hug.

'Surprised?' Hermione asked Ginny.

'What are you doing here?' she asked, beaming at the sight of her brother's fiancée.

'Helping you pick out your dress of course, silly!'

Ginny's smile went even broader.

'How about we get our table and discuss it over lunch,' I suggested, making my voice a little louder since they are now excitedly chatting with each other and ignoring me.

The girls looked at me and then agreed.

'Hermione, how did you know about the party?' Ginny asked restarting the conversation.

'Well, Harry called me last night and asked if I would be able to come and help you pick out the perfect dress,' Hermione explained.

'I for one, am glad you are here. Sadly after lunch I must leave because my coach, who I absolutely adore, has gone ahead and requested an emergency meeting today. So you two will be on your own,' I informed them.

'That's okay Harry. We'll have fun won't we Ginny?' Hermione said smiling.

'Of course!'

'So Ginny where did you want to start first? Dolce & Gabbana? Or maybe Versace? Chanel? How about Gucci? Oh, I know! Christian Dior!'

'I'm sorry---' Ginny replied, looking very puzzled. 'I do not know what you are talking about.'

'Oh, how stupid of me!' Hermione said, shaking her head in disbelief. 'Anyway, those are really great Muggle designers! You'll love them Ginny. I'm pretty certain that you will.'

'Aren't those places a bit expensive?' Ginny asked pensively.

I laughed. 'Ginny I think I can afford it.'

I grabbed a golden letter envelope and then took out the new Gringott's key I had made for this occasion.

'When I reached eighteen, I inherited eighty million galleons.' I placed the key back into the golden envelope and handed it to her.

'Eighty million galleons? Blimey,' she said, her eyes widening in astonishment. 'I knew you were rich but... Blimey Harry, are you as rich as The Malfoys?'

I shook my head. 'Nope. They are way richer than me. The evil slime ball is a billionaire.'

'I really love to stay,' I said, looking at my watch, an hour had already passed. ''But I have to go. I'll leave the two of you alone to your shopping, OK?'

As I got up to leave Ginny grabbed my hand turning my attention back on her.

'Harry, what if I do not find anything to wear?' She said, looking up to me.

'Impossible. Here in Muggle London?' I cupped her face in my hands. 'You will. Trust me.' I kissed her lips but stopped immediately when I realized that Hermione was there.

She raised her eyebrows and then faked a cough.

I glared at her. 'Hermione, I'm leaving Ginny under your care. And remember be good, OK?'

''Aye, aye, Sir,'' she replied. ''Now, go away. Ginny and I obviously have a lot of catching up to do.''

Ginny still looked worried. From my experiences with The Weasleys I learned one thing although they would give you the shirt off their back without a second thought. But would hestitate greatly to accept anything in compensation for their kindness.

As I leaned over to hug her, I whispered into her ear: 'I don't care how much it is. Get anything that you like. I'll see you tonight at 7:00 p.m.! Enjoy yourself, if not for your self . . . then for me! OK?'

'Ok,' Ginny said meekly as she returned my smile and my embrace.

'See you tonight!' I said to both girls as I walked away from the table and then went to the Quidditch Pitch to attend the emergency meeting.

*****************************************************

NOTE:

I'm sorry I had to cut it here. I didn't want it to be too long. The next part will be up in a little while OK. Anyway, I really hope that you liked reading it…

Thanks Sara! You are an incredible beta!