There was a slight knock at the door to the Gryffindor girls' dormitory. Wondering who would be at her door this late, Ginny opened it to find one of her best mates.
"Oh, hi, Harry," she said. Ginny took notice of the anxious and tired look on Harry's face. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, it's just I need to talk." She eyed him suspiciously. This was something he couldn't talk to Ron or Hermione about? Not that she was complaining, Ginny just knew that Harry always confided in the other two more. But, she guessed, they were getting closer now that Hermione and Ron had started dating. Maybe they were together right now.
"Come on in, mate," Ginny closed the door behind him. "What's up?"
"Um, well I've just been stressed," Harry sighed. "No one believes me about what happened at the end of the Triwizard Tournament. They all think I've gone insane." Ginny made a move to pull Harry onto her bed so that they could sit next to each other. Instead of falling onto the bed, his head fell into Ginny's lap. "I feel so alone and abandoned. Professor Dumbledore won't answer my Owls, let alone look at me in the Great Hall. I don't know what he's playing at but I just want to know what the Order is actually doing."
Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's shoulders. "It's going to be okay," she assured him. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has his reasons for everything. He is the greatest wizard alive. You just have to trust him."
Harry sighed yet again. "I know, that's what Hermione keeps saying. I just want to figure out what to do. And it doesn't help that I have Umbridge's detention every other night."
"I know it sucks, Harry," Ginny rubbed her hands up and down his arms. "Look, it's late. I doubt you want to get in any more trouble trying to sneak back into your dorm. If you want you can stay here tonight." Ginny said shyly. Her cheeks blushed. She loved that Harry was her best mate but she couldn't help but feel that they could be so much more. The only other person who knew about her huge crush was Hermione. But Ginny valued their friendship more than anything, and she wasn't about to risk that over some silly crush.
"Yeah," said Harry. "I'll stay here." He sat up slowly.
"I'm just going to get ready for bed then, make yourself comfortable." Ginny walked over to the bathroom and entered the luxurious loo.
Calm down, she thought to herself. He's your best mate, you won't, and shouldn't, be anything more. Ginny had to tell herself this repeatedly. Over time, she thought, she would accept this. But as time went on she found it hard to be away from Harry even though they weren't actually together. Harry had already been through so much, that she couldn't add another thing to his long list. The last thing he needed was to find out that his best friend has feelings for him that he could not reciprocate.
After she had finished brushing her teeth and changing, Ginny walked back over to her bed. Harry had pulled back the blankets and was laying silently inside. His head turned to face Ginny. Ginny hesitated slightly before getting in bed herself.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hi," Ginny replied. "Good night then. We have classes early tomorrow."
"Yeah," Harry rolled over to face Ginny. "Thanks, Ginny, for always being there for me. I really needed this." He kissed Ginny's hand as he always did when thanking her. Ginny got butterflies in her stomach.
"Anything for you," she said. "Now, are you going to confine yourself to the wall? We're best mates, I don't bite." Harry chuckled and scooted next to Ginny. She laid her head on his chest as she always did when they spent the night in each other's dorms.
After a while, Ginny heard Harry's breathing even out and she figured he was asleep. She couldn't keep it in any longer. She knew that Harry couldn't hear her but she didn't care.
"This," she said, "this is what I've wanted for the longest time. I value our friendship so much that I could never risk telling you how I feel. You are in a tough spot and I know you need friends to talk to. That last thing you need to hear is that I of all people have a crush on you. Well, it's not so much a crush anymore. I love being around you, the way that you make my stomach flip every time you kiss my hand. I love that you are comfortable enough around me to let me help you. I know that you will never return these feelings but I can't stop them from being there. I guess I just wished you loved me too. Well, I really wish that you loved me the way that I love you."
Then suddenly, her world came crashing down. She saw Harry's smile. This was it. He was going to laugh at her. He was going to say that he couldn't be friends with her anymore. Life as Ginny knew it was gone. Things would forever be awkward between them.
But Harry's reaction was not what she expected. He didn't laugh, he didn't say they couldn't be friends. In fact, he didn't say anything. He just kissed her. Ginny was shocked not fully comprehending what was happening. Harry bloody Potter was kissing her. She kissed back, and when she did, she felt Harry smile against her lips. After what felt like an eternity Harry broke away smiling. Ginny was confused. This couldn't be real. This was all an elaborate prank.
"I want to know who told you I didn't love you because it sure as hell wasn't me," Harry smirked.
"What?" Ginny searched his eyes for an answer.
Harry laughed lightly, "What I'm saying is that I do love you. And in a way you apparently weren't thinking."
Ginny was stunned. She couldn't think properly. Did Harry really just say that he loved her? He wasn't meant to hear her rant. Things between them weren't meant to change.
"I can't tell you how long I've wanted to do that, " Harry confided. "I've liked you since second year when I met you at the Burrow. I didn't know that you still felt the same way or I would have kissed you sooner."
"This can't be happening," Ginny said, still in disbelief. "You weren't meant to hear that."
"Well I'm glad I did," Harry nudged her playfully.
Ginny giggled. "You know, if we did this, us, we could be risking our friendship."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Harry smiled. He leaned in for another kiss. This time Ginny was prepared. She felt Harry's tongue sweep across her lips and she allowed him to deepen the kiss.
After Ginny pulled away she pressed her forehead on him. "If we are going to do this, and I think we both want to," Harry nodded in response "can we take it slow?"
"Of course," Harry kissed Ginny's temple. "This should be fun, nothing too serious, for now" he added. "I do love you though."
"I love you." And they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.