A/N: Okay…so I didn't reach my 40 reviews, but hey….its all good. I'm still grateful for my faithful reviewers. In particular I would like to thank: Kaiyu Onibaba, Caliga Rose, Sweetmly117, Starrynight12312, Starz4ever and JuzElizabeth. If I didn't mention you it's only because you've jumped in reviewing from the last two chapters, which I'm grateful for, I just wanted to mention those who've showed me support from the beginning. Your reviews mean the world to me and they give me good insight on how you think the story is going. This chapter might get a little confusing as I add some things that I'm sure will set your mind to questions, you see into the mind of other characters…I'm excited…I hope you are! Here goes…

Chapter 6

Harry could feel someone gently shaking him awake. He opened his eyes to see Ginny staring at him, her brown eyes gazing into his emerald ones. Harry could feel his heart contracting as heat spread through his body, a new sensation that confused him.

"Ginny! You shouldn't be up here. What if Ron finds you, he'd kill me," Harry muttered more to himself rather than Ginny. Ginny shot him a curious look and chuckled slightly shaking her head at him.

"No Harry, listen I have something important to tell you—"

"Ginny," Harry saw the look in her eyes…there was something intense there. For some reason Harry felt compelled to kiss her, albeit he tried to brush the feeling away, but there was something intoxicating about the fact that Ginny was there in his dorm, sitting on his bed, so close to him.

"Harry I—" Harry didn't allow Ginny to finish he leaned up and pressed his lips against hers and kissed her, he could feel her stiffen at first, but then she bent into the kiss and gave an uncomfortable groan. Harry broke apart from her and gently pulled her onto the bed with him. They sat next to each other for a long time just looking at each other then Harry leaned in and kissed her, Ginny responded immediately. She placed her hands on both of Harry's thighs and he groaned into her mouth kissing her fiercely.

Ron made a grunting noise from his bed that caused Harry's heart to stop beating for a moment, what in Merlin's name am I doing? He looked at Ginny and saw that she was blushing beautifully and in that instant, he knew exactly what he was doing. He pulled the curtains closed around him and rolled Ginny over so she was beneath him; he lowered his mouth to her neck and kissed a trail all the way up and along her jaw line. He heard her gasp and could feel himself get excited. As though Ginny sensed this, she grinded her hips against his and Harry moaned into her neck.

"Ginny," he gasped.

"Harry—erm—I—" Harry once again captured her mouth in his silencing her, he'd never expected to feel this for Ginny, he never realized the effect she had on him. He could feel her hands moving on his back, it was then he realized that he wasn't wearing anything, but his boxers. He looked into Ginny's eyes and saw that she looked dazed, her chest was heaving as she tried to regain her breath. Harry smirked and started kissing her neck again wondering how he knew exactly where to kiss her; he could feel her hands in his hair.

"Harry, I really did need to tell you something," Ginny whispered in his ear, causing shivers to make their way through Harry's body. He was about to ask what it was she needed to tell him when the curtains snapped open and Harry and Ginny were faced with a crazed looking Ron. Harry could feel the color drain from his face as he stared at Ron and imagined what kind of scene Ron had walked in on.

"HARRY POTTER!" Ron screamed, but it seemed to be coming from far away and it wasn't Ron's voice it was ….Ginny?

"Harry Potter, wake up this instance!" Ginny whispered into his ear so as not to wake everyone in the room. Harry snapped his eyes open and saw Ginny staring down at him. It was just a dream, Harry found that he felt some relief at the thought, knowing that Ron wasn't going to castrate him, but then he could feel something like sorrow fill him.

"Ginny—I—what?—what are you doing here?" Ginny ignored his questioning.

"Finally, I've been trying to wake you up for ten minutes." Harry could smell her, she smelled like smoke, like she'd been sitting in front of the fire for a while.

"Ginny," Harry breathed trying to separate reality from dream. Ginny smirked at him which caused him to notice his growing excitement.

"You're a noisy sleeper…did you know?" She smirked. Harry felt very self conscious. What had she heard? Did she know? What would Ron say?

"You—you heard, I mean. Wait, what are you doing here? Weren't you in the hospital wing…and—Sirius…did you really?"

"Calm down Harry, that's why I came to get you. I sent Ron and Hermione to prepare Dumbledore for our arrival. Ron didn't seem very eager because he wanted to drag me back to the hospital wing, but he went just the same, told me he was about to go anyway because you were groaning in your sleep and thought you might be getting visions from Tom again." Ginny shivered a little, then, "I don't think he realized that they were—er—pleasure groans." Harry groaned open mouthed at Ginny wondering how she knew they were pleasure groans.

"Listen Ginny, about that—"

"Harry, trust me when I say, I don't care to know about your exotic Cho Chang dreams," Ginny snapped at him.

"I wasn't dreaming about Cho," Harry muttered but Ginny mustn't have heard because she was pulling the covers off of him. He wished she hadn't because he was very exposed. She seemed a bit flustered because of her pink cheeks, but she sounded very assertive.

"Come Harry, we need to get Sirius."

"You mean, you found him, he's here." Harry forgot about his current state and ran to Ginny and grabbed her about the shoulders.

"Where is he? How did you do it? I could kiss you," and he did, he placed his lips on hers and granted her a gentle kiss. Ginny pulled away hastily and grabbed Harry's arm. All the way down the stairs he kept rambling and asking half questions.

XxXxXxXx

Ginny was slightly aware of the fact that Harry was rambling excitedly, but she was more focused on what had gone on, and more importantly the fact that Harry had kissed her. She lifted her hand to her lips.

Well, two kisses in one night, I must be the luckiest girl in Hogwarts. Ginny thought sardonically.

"Where is he Ginny? I can't believe this, it's amazing, and you're amazing." Ginny couldn't help but smile at Harry's happiness. She saw the tears that were threatening to spill out of his eyes. Ginny made her way over to the corner of the room and grasped Sirius' arm.

"We put a concealing charm over him, so we wouldn't startle anyone."

"We?" Harry eyed her curiously; Ginny cringed at her own carelessness.

"I meant me…did I say we?"

"Yes, yes you did."

"Oh, well. I meant me." Ginny thought back to Malfoy, she was really grateful for his help even if he was an insufferable prat. Ginny brought her attention back to her surroundings. Harry had found Sirius' hand and was wiping his eyes.

"Did you stun him?" Harry asked.

"No, he umm…he's alive…just not responding. Harry, don't be mad, I'm sure he's fine."

"I'm not mad Ginny. I'm extremely grateful, I owe you, and I'm going to make it up to you I promise." Ginny wasn't sure what to make of his comment, all she knew was that every time he smiled at her like that, her heart skipped a beat. Ginny led the way to Dumbledore's office with Harry following behind with a huge grin on his face. They reached the statue outside of Dumbledore's office and Ginny stood there feeling slightly silly because she didn't know the password. Apparently it wasn't needed because they were soon greeted by Hermione, she looked at Ginny and gasped grabbing the younger girl in her arms.

"You're alright! Oh, you gave us all such a fright. Are you feeling okay? You really should go see Madame Pomfrey. Oh and you're so pale. Are you sure you're not feeling ill? We could just—"

"Hermione calm down. I'm fine, right now I'm more worried about Sirius," Ginny said in earnest trying to get the attention away from her. She glanced sideways at Harry and he was looking at her, a strange emotion reflected in his eyes.

"Sirius, yes, where is he?" Hermione asked looking around the corridor.

"Right here," Harry held up Sirius' hand, thought Hermione couldn't see anything, she understood. Without a word Hermione turned on her heel and led the way to Dumbledore's office. They found a jittery Ron and an amused Dumbledore; Ron got up and ran to his sister and immediately started rambling.

"Ginny, oh thank Merlin. When you came to me tonight, and I thought you were hurt, you yelled at me to get Dumbledore and I. Bloody hell are you okay?" Ron was rubbing her shoulders and he kissed the top of her head. Ginny had to admit that she was extremely shocked by her brother's reaction to the whole situation; she remembered the last time Ron was ever this open about his concern for her. She could almost pinpoint it to the second. They had been playing in the lake near the Burrow as they often did when they were younger. It was the last day before Ron was to go to his first year at Hogwarts.

XxXxXxXx

"Ron I'm going to be the mermaid alright?" Ginny smiled and swam near the center of the lake. Ron frowned slightly and looked at his younger sister.

"What if I want to be the mermaid for once?" Ron questioned trying to hold back his smile. Ginny laughed at him and showed off her missing two front teeth. She had been so happy when she'd lost them and the tooth fairy had left her a hefty amount of sickles.

"You can't be the mermaid Ron, you're a boy. You could be a merman," she giggled at him.

"Nope, mermaids are much prettier than mermen." Ron retaliated now letting his smile spill forth.

"Well, I," Ginny pointed to her self as she tread water, "am the boss, like you said today. And I say you can't be a mermaid, you have to be…hmmm…the magical fish boy."

"Magical fish boy?" Ron put on his best disgusted face. Ginny giggled at his look and cried as her head slipped under the water momentarily. Ron swam forward worried that Ginny might drown; she resurfaced a moment later sputtering, but laughing just the same.

"Are you okay Gin?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Ginny swam further away from Ron and looked at him with that mischievous look that Ron knew was 'the twin look'. She always got that look in her eyes when she was feeling devious like the twins. It was never a good sign.

"You have to swim back to shore and wait. The mean squid that Charlie told us lives at Hogwarts is going to attack me and you have to save me."

"Alright," Ron obeyed and swam back to shore waiting for his sister to start the game. He turned around and gave Ginny a thumb up. She signaled back and started splashing in the water.

"Help! Oh help." Ginny's head went under the water than resurfaced and she coughed dramatically. Ron smirked at her antics getting ready to make his grand save.

"Isn't there someone out there who could help me?" more splashing, "Like a magical fish boy for instance?" Ginny heard Ron laughing from shore and his distinct splash as he dove in the water, she laughed, but felt a sharp pain in her side and felt herself slip under. She reemerged coughing and sputtering, trying to get the water out of her lungs. She went under again, but couldn't seem to find the surface, she searched and scratched to claw her way to air, but couldn't find her way up. The darkness was closing in on her and she wondered where her magical fish boy was.

Ron resurfaced and saw his sister go under. He smiled, but then he felt his stomach twist. Something wasn't right, Ginny had gone under, but there weren't any bubbles and there weren't any splashe;, the surface was still.

"Ginny?" Ron's voice came out squeaky and he looked around frantically. She wasn't anywhere in sight; he could feel his heart speed up and he screamed Ginny's name, but he couldn't find her. Then he felt someone poking in his mind and he heard Ginny's scared voice as if she were whispering in his ear, 'Where's my magical fish boy?' That was all he needed, he swam to the middle of the lake as fast as he could and her dove to try and find her; he couldn't. He came up to the surface for air then he plunged back down again, he was starting to give up hope when he felt something, like warmth spreading through his body, he was near to her. He swam a little farther and felt her hand. Joy and relief filled him as he pulled her to the surface.

Ron had made it to shore with his sister, but she wasn't moving and she looked deathly pale.

"Ginny," Ron sobbed into his sister's neck. Then he placed his hand over her heart, he wasn't really sure what he was doing, it just felt like the right thing. Suffice to say he was shocked when he felt movement.

"Ginny?" he moved his hand and looked at it, examining it; he then looked to Ginny to see if he was imagining things. She was still and paling faster her freckles seemed to pale as well. He placed both of his hands to the side of her chest where he felt her rib cage and he concentrated, not really knowing why but just feeling like he was doing something right. He added some pressure and felt fluid moving beneath his hands. He willed the liquid to move out of its current spot, to remove itself from its dwelling place.

"Please, please, please, please," Ron closed his eyes and willed the liquid.

Then.

She coughed, sputtered and coughed. Fluid was gushing from her mouth. Ron helped her turn over so the water wouldn't choke her to death. He peered over his sister and when it seemed like she was alright he helped her lie down on her back. Her chest was rising and falling with each sweet breath of fresh air she took. She looked into Ron's eyes and smiled.

"I knew my magical fish boy would save me," she squeaked. He laughed shakily and kissed her forehead.

"Always," Ron promised hugging his sister, never wanting to leave her. What would happen to her when he wasn't around? Who would she play with? Who would be her hero? They spent the rest of the day recouping by the lake and enjoying each other's companionship.

XxXxXxXx

Ginny grasped her brother tightly around the waist and felt her childhood tendencies burst through, she held onto him and didn't let go until they heard Dumbledore clear his throat.

"Miss Weasley, we are all happy to know that you are fine after your ordeal. Are you sure you won't be needing Madame Pomfrey's assistance?"

"No professor, I do believe I'll be okay for the time being." Ron gave her a searching look. He was going to protest on his sister's behalf. She placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"Really Ron, I'll be fine." He didn't look convinced.

"If I promise to see her later will you let it go?" she pleaded. Ron nodded his consent and led her to a chair next to his.

"Now Miss Weasley, if you could please tell us what you remember." Dumbledore studied her with great interest.

"Where should I start?" Ginny ran a hand over her right arm, a mannerism she developed over the years.

"How about from when you were in your common room with Harry, when you first encountered the mirror."

"Right-o, well, Harry and I were in the common room. I was up because I couldn't sleep and haven't been able to get a decent sleep since I've arrived. Harry was up for the same reasons and—er—we talked for a bit. He got—er—upset and threw the mirror and I went to get it for him. I got a feeling that I shouldn't touch the mirror and I wanted to back away, but it seemed like there was a force drawing me to it." Ginny looked around the room to see how her story was being received. She was met with intrigued stares so she continued.

"Well as I said, I was drawn to the mirror and my hand seemed to be moving toward it on its own. When I held the mirror…well…that was the last thing I remember before all of the pain," Ginny said tiredly. All the effects of the night were really starting to gain on her. She felt the fatigue fall over her like a blanket of haze.

"Pain can cause the mind to shut off, especially to ease the agony," Dumbledore stated comfortingly, then he prodded, "What's the next thing that you remember?"

"I was in the dark, not like waking up in my common room in the middle of the night dark, but black. I remember that the air was clear…there wasn't any scent that triggers my memory or anything. It was just…dark.

"I called out to people…everyone and anyone and I could've sworn that I heard Ron, but it might've been my imagination." Ron snapped his head up and looked at his sister.

"You heard me?" Ginny nodded her response and rubbed her face with her hands, the fatigue was really hitting her now with a strong force.

"Then…I'm not quite sure what made me even think to do what I did next, but…I called out to Sirius. There was a bright light and the floor vanished from beneath me, the next thing I knew I was falling. I landed in a room and Sirius was there with me. We both thought we were dreaming, he looked so scared," Ginny's voice cracked and she cleared her throat to continue.

"Anyway, I proceeded to look for some way out, then the next thing I know, I've woken up on the Quidditch pitch with Sirius by my side, but he wasn't moving so I…erm…used his wand to put the Concealing Charm on him and brought him up." Ginny hoped that her little fib would work for now. She knew that Dumbledore would catch on that she was lying, but she didn't want to tell the trio about her 'help' from Draco Malfoy.

"But Ginny, even with one's own wand, the Concealing Charm is advanced magic, have you even learned about it yet?" Hermione asked. Ginny cringed slightly, as much as she loved Hermione as a friend, the girl really was an insufferable know-it-all.

"Moody taught me," Ginny said simply as if the discussion were closed. Hermione looked as though she wanted to say more, but never got the chance because Dumbledore had begun to speak.

"Harry, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, if you would please go get Professors Snape and McGonagall, as well as Madame Pomfrey, I would wish to speak to them and get Miss Weasley and Sirius medical attention from Madame Pomfrey. The trio nodded, though reluctantly, and made their way out of the Headmasters room.

Dumbledore fixed Ginny with a stare as though he were sizing her up. She'd never felt so vulnerable since her first year at Hogwarts when the Headmaster had fixed her with the same exact stare. Ginny stared at the floor and tried to think about other things, her plan was working until she thought she felt something prodding her in the back of her mind. Ginny winced slightly at the horrible memory, but pushed it aside Tom Riddle was gone there was no way he was trying to enter her mind now.

Ginny continued to stare at her feet now realizing that she was barefoot, what in Merlin's name was she thinking walking around outside like that! Then she felt it again stronger this time, as though something was prodding at the memories in her mind, but she didn't want them to resurface, this experience was too familiar and Ginny began to panic, she hoped the Headmaster wouldn't notice she didn't want him to think that she was a complete nutter.

Ginny thought about anything she could, anything except what the prodding in her mind was trying to find. She thought about the summer and how boring it had been, really there hadn't been much to do. They had stayed at Grimmuald Place again because Dumbledore didn't think it was safe for them to return to the Burrow, and Ginny had missed the Burrow very much.

Prod. Ginny's mind wandered to how strange Draco seemed to be lately, not at all like his normal self. Ginny shook her head clearing her thoughts of Draco.

There was Percy; Percy had started owling her over the summer asking for her forgiveness, he'd confided that he was going to ask the rest of the family for forgiveness later. He'd said it was her that he was most concerned about because he'd always felt that out of all the siblings, she had been the one who understood him most. She of course had been bitter and stubborn at first, but Percy was Percy, she forgave him and they slowly started rebuilding the bond.

Prod. She was in the common room and there was John Azar. Ginny blinked in confusion.

Prod. She was surrounded with light, glorious light and filled with exquisite pain, then blackness. Ginny gasped and clutched her stomach.

Prod. Sirius was lying on the ground not moving.

Prod. Draco Malfoy was pushing her into a dark alcove. Ginny squeaked and stood up. What in the world was happening? Was this Tom? Was he trying to get to her thoughts again?

Ginny searched the room wildly and found Dumbledore. He was staring at Ginny, but not in a concerned way, he almost seemed to be sizing her up somehow. He looked to be contemplative as if he was concentrating on something….or someone, that was when Ginny knew what was going on. The surprise had led her to drop her guard and images flooded in her mind's eye.

Draco Malfoy was walking toward her on the Quidditch pitch.

Draco as he performed the concealment charm on Sirius.

"Stop," Ginny whispered.

There was the alcove again, it was dark. The blackness was suffocating.

"Stop," Ginny screeched. Dumbledore looked a bit taken aback, but regained his composure and fixed her with a stare, not an angry stare, just a pensive stare.

"Have you studied Occlumency Miss Weasley?" Ginny wanted to scream, he was trying to get in her thoughts and he was asking her about…well…she wasn't really sure what he was asking her about.

"With all do respect Headmaster, if you wanted to know the truth, I would request that you'd ask rather than delving into my personal thoughts." Ginny groaned, she didn't want to snap at Dumbledore, but she was outraged and scared.

Rather than looking apaled at Ginny's outburst, Dumbledore smiled at her openly.

"Miss Weasley, you were able to keep me out of your thoughts for quite some time, and I've never, not been able to access someone's thoughts without ease. You proved to be a nice workout for my skills Miss Weasley." Ginny wasn't comforted of even humbled by the Headmaster's compliment…if that was what it was. If anything she was even more outraged by his lack of courtesy for her privacy.

"I'm sorry Professor Dumbledore, but I'd kindly ask that you not use my mind to exercise your mindreading skills," snapped Ginny. She was now visibly shaking and Dumbledore, though abandoning his smile, still held an admiring twinkle in his eye.

"Please, I feel the need to explain. Take a seat Miss Weasley—"

"I'll stand thanks." Ginny paced the room and stared at Dumbledore, waiting for him to continue.

"As you wish. I do admit that it was wrong of me to try and access your thoughts without permission, I wouldn't have done it if it weren't for past experiences." Dumbledore said choosing his words carefully.

"If you're referring to the Chamber of Secrets and Tom Riddle, I would greatly appreciate it sir if you would not shelter me. It only seems to question my strength as an individual and as a witch." Ginny seemed confident in stance and posture, but on the inside she was screeching at herself. What would her mother say if she knew that Ginny was talking to probably the most powerful wizard of the time in such a tone? Ginny shuddered involuntarily.

"You're quite right Miss Weasley," Dumbledore removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Once again I fear that my old age has withered my character judgment. I suppose it's high time to consider retirement." Ginny felt as though the North Pole had taken residence in her stomach.

"Professor Dumbledore, please don't, what I mean to say is—well—I wouldn't want to be the cause sir. The school—the wizarding world, we need you here. I'm sure you've still got at least a good seventy years left in you before you think about retirement!" Ginny offered trying to lighten the mood. She found that a smile was tugging at the corner of Dumbledore's lips.

"I am amazed, to say the least Miss Weasley, that you think that I'll be living in seventy years." Dumbledore chuckled in thought and looked at her, really examined the young lady before him, she would accomplish great things in time.

"Sir, the truth is, tonight I'm not sure what happened—exactly. I told you the truth…mostly…erm you see. When I woke up on the Quidditch pitch I had no recollection of what had happened to me. Draco Malfoy was there and—"

"Really? I was wondering what the image was of Mr. Malfoy, but I choose to stay out of personal matters when I come across them in someone's mind." Ginny awarded Dumbledore with a horrified look at what he could possibly be suggesting.

"No, it's nothing like that, it's—erm—well, Draco helped me with Sirius, bringing him up to the castle. I didn't have my wand you see since people seem to be telling me that I was in the hospital wing, it must still be there." Ginny looked up at the Headmaster to see how he was taking the information thus far, he seemed to be waiting patiently for her to continue.

Ginny told Dumbledore about the agreement she'd made with Draco about the questions, though she left out a few for obvious reasons. She spoke of just about everything except the events in the common room with Draco and John, she'd tell the Headmaster later once she had a better grasp of things.

"It seems Miss Weasley, that you did exactly what you needed to do for your current situation, which I think is extremely…adult of you." Dumbledore smiled. Ginny blushed sweetly and nodded her understanding.

"I believe that will be all for tonight Miss Weasley, I would be wise to advise you that you should probably contact your parents, they were terribly worried when I informed you of your—er—condition, I will of course send them a formal letter, but I daresay that they will appreciate a personal letter, shall we say."

"Yes sir, thank you." Ginny left.

XxXxXxXx

After Dumbledore had finished his meeting with Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Madame Pomfrey, he took time to stare in his fire and think.

She was getting stronger, and he recognized the fact. He thought about how much longer he might be able to withhold the information he had. Of course, the last time he withheld information it only worked against him, he could still sense that Harry didn't trust him fully anymore. Dumbledore removed his half-moon spectacles and rubbed the bridge of his nose. There was also the matter of the new students, people were noticing, but so far it didn't seem like anyone had pieced together any significance from the information they had.

That could all change of course, if she got curious. She must be told, but not yet. He'd tell Ginny when he had a better grasp on the situation.

XxXxXxXx

A/N: I'm sorry that it took me forever, but life's been hitting me pretty hard recently. I also wanted to step back from this story and evaluate where I was taking it. Your reviews help me to keep on keeping on; I really do appreciate all of your support. Thanks.

Shmily,

Meg