A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters.

Word Count: 410

Ginny poured herself a cup of coffee, looking around the dingy kitchen of number 12 Grimmauld Place.

"You really shouldn't drink that, stunts your growth, so I've heard," Sirius commented from his seat. Ginny snorted.

"Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. All I know is I like it. Haven't you ever done something because you wanted to? Because everyone told you not to?" she asked, sliding into the seat across from him and meeting his gaze.

"All the time, Red. All the time," he said after a moment. Ginny nodded, taking a sip. Sirius nearly laughed at her face.

"Most people add cream and sugar," he offered, handing her the sugar bowl.

"It's fine like this," she argued, taking another sip and managing to keep a straight face. Sirius laughed.

"Why are you really down here drinking coffee at two in the morning, Ginny?"

"I... I had a nightmare, about school. Everything is going to be different this year. I hate having to go back, knowing how Harry's been treated, how everyone is so busy denying the truth."

"You're not denying anything."

"True, but that new idiot they've got teaching defense. She makes your mum look like a cuddly kitten," Ginny muttered, taking another sip of her overly bitter coffee.

"And what are you going to do about it, Red? Keep your head down and tow the line? I don't see you as the sort."

Ginny glanced around and smiled.

"No, Harry's got something up his sleeve, can't say anything, you know. We'll make it through, we always do, don't we?" she asked, slowly adding half a spoon of sugar to her coffee. Sirius pretended he didn't notice.

"True, if either of you, or Ron and Hermione, need any advice. I'm just an owl away."

"I'll hold you to that, Sirius," Ginny stated, giving up all decorum and dumping half the sugar bowl into the cup. She took a sip, smiled, and nodded.

"I'd best be back to bed before Mum finds out I'm down here drinking coffee in the middle of the night with a man at least twice my age," she laughed, slipping from the kitchen. Sirius laughed watching her leave. For a moment, she had reminded him almost entirely too much of Lily, the same way Harry sometimes reminded him a bit too much of James. He sighed, added some firewhiskey to his own coffee and took a sip. Hopefully, they all managed to survive this time.