Love Behind The Shadows

Chapter Two: Only the Privileged

Author's Note: I forgot to mention that none of these characters are mine; they all come from brilliant J.K. Rowling. And unless it's my birthday, only the plot belongs to me. This statement goes for all my chapters! I don't feel the need to continuously repeat myself! Thanks!

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The suns warm rays, passed through the glass, hitting Ginny's freckled cheeks. Her eyes groggily opened, blinking a few times as they adjusted to the new light. It was Wednesday, and the first day of school, Ginny noticed each girls bed was empty, some neatly made some still a jumbled mess; she supposed they had already went down for breakfast. Taking this as a hint she herself should be doing the same, she slid out from beneath the sheets, and drug herself to the showers.

As the water beat against her creamy skin, she couldn't help but continue to think of the coming year's possibilities, the thought of school without Harry was beginning to tear her apart. Other than a few other Gryffindors Harry, Ron, and Hermione were her closest friends. As pathetic as it seemed, Ginny could care less, the trio were certainly amazing friends; she would even admit that about her brother. As she turned the knobs of the shower, and draped a towel around her petite figure her thoughts continued to whirl. But, finally deciding there were too many possibilities to list mentally, she gave up.

After a quick drying spell, Ginny's fiery locks fell loosely around her face. She gazed at herself approvingly, and then with one flashy smile, she left her dorm and headed down to towards the Great Hall.

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"Hey Gin!" Harry greeted, as Ginny neared the Gryffindor table, which appeared to be surprisingly empty.

Ginny smiled, and took her seat beside Harry. "Hi Harry" she said with a yawn, her body still adjusting to the early morning hours.

Hermione looked up from her text, and a smile crossed her lips before she dipped her nose back into the pages. Ron, who was stuffing his face with pancakes, mumbled a 'hello' in between large bites as he continued eating.

"Sleep well?" Harry questioned, gulping down the last of his orange juice.

Ginny nodded, "Good enough …"

Suddenly a surprisingly loud 'hoot' echoed throughout the Great Hall, and a single owl came swooping down landing directly before Harry. Ron jumped slightly, choking on the bit of sausage in his mouth and Hermione glanced up once again, gazing at the owl suspiciously.

"Who could possibly be sending you an owl this early?" Hermione mused

Harry shrugged, as he gently eased the letter from the owl. "No idea …"

Unrolling the small piece of parchment, Harry's emerald pools scanned the text. Ginny's brows furrowed as she watched Harry's pupils grow large, as he let out an exasperated sigh.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, curiously

"It's Dumbledore …" Harry said numbly. "He thinks private lessons are in order … again!" He tossed the parchment down, running a hand through his dark wisps of hair.

Ginny's facial expression drastically changed at this, "But Harry, that's wonderful! How could you possibly see this as a bad thing?"

Harry sighed once more, "Gin you don't understand … these lessons he insists on having take up all my time! I barely have time for normal things like studying, hanging out with my friends, quidditch, or-" His gaze shifted on her, "-Time to spend with you …" The longing in his eyes, was so intense Ginny could barely manage to hold his gaze.

"Oh, Harry I'll be fine. I'll find ways to see you-"

Ron let out a snort of disgust, "Will you two stop with all the mushy feeling rubbish, I'm trying to eat!"

Ginny glared at Ron, anger dancing in her eyes. Hermione rolled her eyes and jabbed him in the side with her elbow. "Ronald, now is not the time …" she scolded harshly

Ginny turned back towards Harry, her attention directed on only him. "Harry I really do think this is all for your own good, nothing horrible could possibly come out of these lessons-"

"Besides having all my time ripped away …" Harry muttered

Ginny sighed, giving in. "Fine Harry, If all you can think about is your time instead of your life, then I'll be happy to just leave it at that" Standing up, she dusted off her skirt casually. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have my first class to attend to, see you all later" she sent Harry a look of annoyance before shuffling from the Great Hall.

"Merlin, she certainly is moody this morning" Ron noted, shoving another mouth full of pancakes into his mouth.

Harry looked up, and frowned. "Shove off Ron," he hissed before grabbing his text book, and leaving the Hall angrily.

Ron frowned, looking at Hermione with confusion in his eyes. "What did I say?" He demanded.

Hermione sighed, closing her book suddenly. "Ron your hopeless …" she stated, getting up herself, and following Harry out.

Ron through his fork down letting out a well needed sigh. "Bloody hell …" he muttered

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Ginny's day had gone rather well for the first of the term. All her classes had run smoothly, with no insults tossed her way by Draco and his cronies. Now sitting in the peace and quiet of the common room, Ginny thanked Dumbledore for bestowing free periods upon the sixth years. A sudden warm breeze blew in from a near by window, the smell of summer wafting beneath her nose. Eyes fluttering closed, she lost herself in the intoxicating scent of flowers. Suddenly the urge to be outdoors, willed Ginny from the common room and out onto the grounds.

As she walked along the rolling path leading to the quidditch pitch, she noticed a small speck darting about the sky directly above the pitch. Squinting, she tried to put a face to the figure, as she neared the stadium a smile worked its way onto her lips.

"Harry …" she muttered, shaking her head.

She should have known it was him, with his dark hair dancing around his emerald eyes as he sped through the sky. A pang of annoyance coursed through her as she thought back to breakfast. He was being so stubborn. In Ginny's eyes, or in the eyes of any other wizard for a matter of fact, Harry was blessed to have private lessons with Dumbledore. But, no matter how many times she had tried to explain this to him, he just would not agree. Perhaps that was why he was out flying around, to ease his mind. Ginny knew all to well that flying amongst the clouds, especially with the warm summer air passing through you, would calm whirling thoughts.

Leaning against the broom shack, she watched him gracefully swoop through the air. He hadn't noticed her yet, and she planned on keeping that way, as she just wanted to enjoy his company from afar; seeing as if they got together a fight would boil up. Suddenly she urge to fly became unbearable and Ginny caved in, shoving aside an old quaffle, she snatched up a decent broom. Heading out onto the field, she plopped upon the broom, and pushed off the earth, rising high in the air. It was then, when Ginny was at Harry's eye level, that he noticed her.

"Ginny?" Harry called, flying up rather quickly

"The one and only" Ginny replied, smiling weakly

"Why-what …" Harry took a deep breath, taking in the sweet air around him. "Why are you here?"

"I didn't know this field was locked off for the privileged only …" she stated, sarcasm dripping from each syllable.

Harry frowned, "I never said that. I'm just curious as to why your-"

"Here? Because, I wanted to fly … I had the urge" she smiled at the thought

Harry smiled, "Oh …"

"Yeah, so you mind if I join you?" she questioned. Her harsh tone was wearing off, for some reason she found being mean to Harry was quite impossible, especially when he was being so nice.

Harry shook his head vigorously. "No, no not at all"

"Good, cause I would have flown even if you had said no" she replied smirking

Harry grinned, not uttering a word but, instead flying up and beginning to circle the pitch once again. Ginny soon followed pursuit, after kicking herself for being so easy on him. As she neared his side, she noted just how at peace he seemed; almost as if a bomb was dropped he wouldn't mind it in the slightest bit. She was now certain that this was his reason for being here, the ease it brought to both his mind and body. Then realizing that she herself was enduring her free period, she pondered Harry's presence during such a time.

"Harry!" Ginny shouted

Harry eased into a hover, glancing over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" she questioned, both brows furrowing

Harry frowned, laughing. "No, free period. Why? And wait-"

"Free period …" Ginny answered, grinning.

"Oh, that explains your sudden urge to fly" He noted, as he began to pick up the pace. "Hey Gin!"

She glanced up, raising a brow.

"I bet you can't catch me …" he challenged, his playful side taking affect.

"Is that a challenge Mr. Potter?"

Harry smirked, "Maybe …" letting his words drip of the tip of his tongue, he sped off into the sky at lightening speed.

"Bloody git!" Ginny shrieked, leaning forward on her broom and chasing after him. He knew what a sucker she was for bets, she would do anything to prove she could beat him or any of her brothers. Growing up around all boys had set her with a strong determination.

Harry belted out a laugh, as he glanced back eying Ginny's slowness. "You're never going to catch me on that thing!" he called

Ginny only frowned, a determined look plastering itself on her face. "You just watch …" she mumbled, gaining speed quite suddenly.

Harry's eyes widened, as a smirking Ginny came hurdling towards him, he immediately dove down, missing her grasp by a mere inch.

"Bloody hell!" He shrieked, dodging her second attempt of grabbing him.

"Harry James Potter! I'm going to get you!" Ginny called out, giggling like mad. She couldn't help but admit, this was terribly fun, the most fun she had had in a while.

Harry laughed, "Come and get me Gin!" he teased

"Alright, I will …" she muttered. Then focusing all her strength into getting him, she sped ahead, and in one swift motion had knocked him clear of his broom. "Ha! I got-"

She looked down, and saw Harry tumbling towards the ground. "Bloody hell!" She rolled her eyes, and swooped down just in time to catch him on her broom. "You were supposed to hold onto your broom you git!" she shrieked

Harry kept his head buried in his hands, not glancing up.

Ginny eyed him skeptically, "Harry are-are you alright?"

He made no move to answer.

Ginny frowned, and began to worry. "Harry I'm sorry I didn't-"

Suddenly he burst out laughing, "Gotcha!" he said winking, then with a quick hand, he had yanked out his wand and was jumping atop his own broom within a matter of seconds.

Ginny scowled, "You git!"

Harry grinned.

"You're always being so stubborn! Taking in all the glory but, never thanking anyone!" she sighed aggravated. "I can't believe you still think Dumbledore's lessons are a nuisance! You're amazingly lucky to have-"

Harry frowned, his grin cleared right off his face. "Ginny, what in merlin are you going on about! I was only-"

Ginny sighed, "Forget it Harry, there's no use …" Slowly she descended down, until finally her feet reached the lush field. 'What is wrong with you Gin? He was only messing around, and you had to go all moody on him! What's all this rubbish about Dumbledore anyway? I thought you were through with thinking about that' Her thoughts were whirling like mad, she was beginning to think she was in the body of someone else, why had she lost her nerve so easily?

She tossed the broom into the old broom shack, and ran a hand through her fiery locks stressfully.

"Ginny!"

Ginny glanced up, and saw Harry running towards her. She sighed, and turned around ready to storm off back to the castle.

"Ginny wait!" Harry shouted, gripping her arm tightly.

"Harry let go …" Ginny pleaded, a testing tone to her voice

"No," he spun her around. "What in merlin is wrong with you? Why are you acting so strangely?" He demanded

Ginny's gaze flickered downward, as she mumbled a response.

"What?" Harry questioned, bewildered

"I don't know!" Ginny screamed, yanking her hand away. "There's so much happening! You leaving, the final battle, me being alone-"

"Whoa, slow down Gin! Who said I was going somewhere?" Harry asked gently, laughing lightly

"Next year … your not going to be here … I'll be here all alone …" Ginny whispered, her strength failing miserably. It was rare that Ginny broke down, in fact she hardly ever did. Only Harry was blessed with the aftermath of mending her heart.

Harry smiled, and stroked Ginny's cheek. "Oh Ginny …" his eyes glistened, as he pulled her to him gently.

As Harry's strong arms enveloped her tightly, she snuggled up against his chest. Her senses began to ease, her whirling thoughts came to a halt, and the air around her seemed to play peacefully. That was the good thing about Harry's gentle hugs, they calmed her tremendously. Sure the feeling wasn't exciting but, it certainly was satisfying.

Ginny looked up, gazing at Harry's emerald green eyes. "Harry I'm so-"

Suddenly Harry's lips came down upon hers, and she fell silent; other than the hum of pleasure. Ginny's arms snaked there way up between the couple, and took there place around his neck. Harry smiled against her lips, as he ran his hands up her back, combing through her mass of curls. Suddenly Ginny pulled away, her breathing heavy, she pressed her forehead against his, smiling.

"I love you" she whispered

Harry grinned, "I love you to Gin" he replied, kissing her sweetly.

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Author's Note: I know, I know. Where does Draco come into play! Just be patient guys … he will, trust me he will. Thanks for reading, and please review!