A/N: This chapter has very little plot. I suspect I won't hear much complaining about that.

When Harry and Ginny finally returned from the garden with their meager basket of berries – Harry impressed with the ease by which Ginny told her mum that 'the warming charms must have gone off and the fruit didn't look ready" – he was certain that everyone was going to know the second they walked through the door. Other than their quick decision not to tell anyone anything, they hadn't had time to figure out how to act, and Harry felt as if he had the words "I KISSED GINNY" blazing across his forehead as obviously as the word "SNEAK" had looked on Marietta Edgecomb's face his fifth year.

But everyone was still talking about Fred – it didn't seem to matter to them he'd left for Katie's – and Harry slipped back into his seat at the table with little fanfare. It looked as if everyone had started eating already, and he quickly loaded his plate from the platters in front of him, picked up his fork, and took a bite of food. He could not bring himself to look at Ginny.

"Harry, I meant to ask, how long do they think the referee's strike is going to last? Could it go on long enough to affect the playoff schedule?" Ginny's voice carried down the table and Harry hoped he was the only one imagining the suggestive tone. He chanced a glance up, forkful of chicken still in his mouth. Ginny cocked her head at him, a questioning look on her face. He swallowed, trying to get his brain to work, and to send the proper message to his lips.

Ginny's lips were kind of swollen, he noticed suddenly. Could anyone else tell? He swallowed again.

"Ummm, yeah, I guess it could," he said lamely. He looked down at his plate again. "Affect the playoffs, I mean." He swiped his napkin at his mouth, trying and failing to stop thinking about lips, and what he'd just done with his lips, and what he wanted to do again, as soon as possible. "Everything is delicious, Molly."

"Thank you, Harry dear," she said. "I'm sorry we didn't wait for you and Ginny. I didn't expect it to be so difficult to find more berries. I'm afraid the potatoes are already gone."

"That's okay," he said weakly. "I've had more than enough."

"Well, I'll pack up the leftovers anyway," she said. She stood up. "A basket for you and Ron, and one for Ginny and one for Hermione?" She waved her wand and the various bowls and platters floated into the kitchen. "And Fleur, you must tell me what foods are tasting good for you this week; I remember how quickly my whims changed when I was expecting." She smiled indulgently at her daughter-in-law.

"Thank you, Molly," said Fleur. "Right now, I crave meat, which is fortunate, because Bill and I can dine together again."

"It's a relief," said Bill, kissing her. "I had to eat all my meals at work for over a month, and shower as soon as I got home, because smells set her off. I can't even begin to tell you how difficult it is to go an entire month without . . ."

"Actually, you can just pack up one basket for me and Hermione," interrupted Ron quickly. He shot his oldest brother a rather proud glance. "We're going to stay at her place for a few days while I help her paint her flat."

"What a lovely thing to do, Ron," said Molly serenely. Harry caught Ginny's eye. Would her mum be so relaxed about the idea of Harry spending a few days holed up with her daughter? Ginny gave him an amused grimace and tiny shake of her head, obviously thinking the same thing. Harry shrugged back, enjoying the fact of their silent conversation.

"Well then, Harry, you get extra cookies. You'll need something sweet for later, don't you think? All alone in your flat like that. Or will it be too hard, to have the temptation? I don't want to ruin your training diet."

Ginny jumped up so quickly her fork clattered to the floor. "I'll help you pack up, mum," she said. "I'd like something sweet too." Harry saw the faint flush on her cheeks as she bent down to retrieve her fork.

"Cookies would be great, Molly," he said as calmly as he could. "I can share with the team, since it looks like we may be stuck in our flats for a couple of days." He stood up slowly, rather wishing he'd not taken off his cloak.

"Have you had your voice mapped for the wards yet?" Bill looked up from where Fleur had been showing him something in a book with brightly colored diagrams.

Harry sat down abruptly before nodding. Ye – yes. Yesterday, actually. They had the entire team down at once. He dared a look at Ginny. "Have you?"

The look Ginny gave him made Harry think she knew exactly why he was sitting again. "Tuesday," she said. "It was no big deal."

Bill nodded in satisfaction. "It will be a little inconvenient at first, but everyone should get used to it soon enough. The advantage over a simple password system is that we don't have to worry about changing the word all the time. Even if someone else learns it, they still can't get in the building." He idly brushed a hand down Fleur's back. "Although we recommend changing the password every three months anyway, to account for people who move in and out."

"Dam asked to pick the first password," laughed Harry. "He chose 'Quidditch' – I think he was worried about having to remember something more complicated." He stood up again. "I uhh, I'd better get going, actually. Probably my turn to listen to Dam complain about the strike." He very carefully did not look at Ginny.

To his relief, she got the hint anyway. "Wait up a minute, and I'll come with you," she said casually. "Since Ron and Hermione are heading elsewhere." She looked into the kitchen. "It's okay, mum, just put everything in one basket for me and Harry; we'll divide it up when we get back."

Harry froze at Ginny's brazenness. Wouldn't someone get suspicious? But Molly didn't even flinch. "Thank you, dear," she said. "I'm low on baskets right now. Seems that my children keep forgetting to return them." She handed Ginny the food. "I trust I'll get this back?"

"Thanks mum," said Ginny. "I promise."

"Good girl," said Molly. "Harry, make sure to remind Ginny to return the containers when you're both done with the food, will you?"

Harry swallowed. "Of course, Mrs. . . . Molly. I will."

Molly smiled and patted his cheek. "I know I can trust you," she said.

It was almost too much. Harry barely remembered the rest of his goodbyes; he was certain everyone could see into his mind and know just how much he shouldn't be trusted just then. Only when he was safely outside, surrounded by the cool air and dark night, did he dare let out a breath. Next to him, Ginny laughed.

"I don't think I've seen you that uptight at the Burrow since your very first visit," she teased. As soon as they were a few more steps away from the back door, she leaned gently against him.

After a pause, during which he turned almost completely around and peered back though the gloom to make sure no one had followed them, Harry shifted the basket of food to his other hand and wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist.

"I can't believe no one figured anything out," he admitted. "The things your mum said – I was sure she was taking the mickey or waiting for me to blurt out that I'd just snogged you in the garden."

"She's going to be a grandmother for the first time and it looks like Fred might actually end up with a girlfriend we all like," pointed out Ginny. "And everyone is so used to having you around, I don't think it would ever occur to them that you and I might be anything other than the quarrelsome friends we've always been. Maybe a bit more mature now, but nothing close to . . . whatever we are now." The reached the Apparition point and she looked up at him.

"For the first time, I guess I don't mind being thought of as another brother," said Harry. "If it keeps 'whatever we are now' a secret for a while." He held out his arm. "Think we can go side-along and not spill any of your mum's food?"

"Probably not," laughed Ginny. "And I don't want to risk you crushing the cookies." With a grin, she turned on the spot and disappeared.

Harry grinned back, even though she was already gone, and began counting to ten.

HPHPHP

Ginny waited for Harry at the secure back Apparition point behind their building. For a second, she wondered if he'd be upset she hadn't let him bring her side-along, but then shook her head. She wasn't going to change her behavior for him or start second-guessing anything now, and indeed, when Harry appeared seconds later, he had a smirk on his face. "Guess that means I get all the cookies, then," he said, holding the basket behind his back. "And they smell delicious."

"Prat," said Ginny, enjoying the chance to flirt. She started to reach for him, then remembered where they were and pulled back. "Umm," she said hesitantly.

Harry nodded. "Yeah. This would be the second-to-last place, after the Burrow, where I'd want people to see us." He pulled open the door.

"What about the Ministry?" asked Ginny.

Harry shuddered. "Not there either, you're right." He smiled down at her. "I think we'll be stuck in our flats, mostly. At least for now."

That didn't sound so terrible to Ginny and she started to say so when Harry froze. "What the . . .?" he began. Before she could even process what was happening, a cool voice that sounded remarkably like the one inside the visitor's entrance to the Ministry spoke.

"Password Please."

Harry's shoulders relaxed. "Oh yeah, right," he said. "Quidditch," he said clearly into the air.

As Ginny watched, the air in front of them shimmered and Harry seemed to melt through the haze. Ginny went to follow him and found herself stuck in the doorway, pressure pushing at her from all sides. The voice spoke again.

"Quidditch," said Ginny quickly and the pressure receded. She stumbled into the back lobby and found Harry taking deep breaths.

"That was a little more disconcerting than I expected," he said. "Almost like mild Apparition." He shook his head as if to clear it. "I suspect it's because we forgot to say the password as we entered though. I won't forget again."

Ginny finally caught her own breath. "Me either," she said. "I wish Bill had warned us though."

"I wonder what Dam and the others think," remarked Harry. "If it was that disconcerting for us, I can only imagine how he reacted."

"It's worth it if it keeps the Bellows and anyone else who shouldn't be here out of the building," said Ginny. She frowned. "I still need to tell you about what I saw in the Pensieve. I have some questions."

Harry nodded seriously. "I think we should talk about that . . . first," he said. He glanced at her. "Okay?"

Ginny liked the implications of what they might do next after talking about her suspicions. She nodded. "The Pensieve's still in my flat," she said.

She was relieved that they didn't see any of Harry's teammates on their hallway. Even though there were a million innocent reasons Harry might be following her into her flat, Ginny suspected that any reasonable excuse would have flown out of head the moment she needed it. As it was, she felt an odd little swooping in her stomach as she closed the door and added wards, and Harry walked over the metal bowl. He looked at her when she finished and she wondered if he had more protections to suggest.

"I think that's fine," he said, guessing her question. "This building's pretty safe now."

"But you know more," said Ginny. She came and sat down next to Harry on the sofa. "You know a lot of things about the Aurors that I haven't learned yet, that you haven't told me." She touched his hand. "Will you tell me now?"

Harry shivered, then nodded. Ginny could see that his eyes had become more guarded but he didn't look really upset. Still she wished she could just tell him to forget it, that they'd talk later, and that now was the time for activities that didn't require so many words. She forced herself to sit back.

Harry looked at the place where she'd touched him. "I know," he said. "It's all so new, and I want to . . . too." He looked earnestly at her. "A lot," he said. He took a deep breath and seemed to gather himself. "But . . ."

"But that's the easy part," Ginny finished for him. "And if we were going to just stay there, I'd have come over to your flat right after that day I came up to your training session and jumped you right there, Ron be damned."

Harry snorted. "I don't know who that would be worse for, you, me, or Ron."

"We could Obliviate him afterwards," Ginny said. "I'm sure Hermione'd help us. I'm not that good at those charms that affect the mind." She frowned. "Although I guess I'll have to learn them eventually. The Aurors seem to like them."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry. He put the basket down on Ginny's coffee table and sat down on the sofa.

"I mean, I feel like I can't talk to Robards for two minutes before he's trying to use Legilimency on me," she said. "And he wanted me to help question those kids at the Quidditch camp by using a mild truth-telling powder on them. I'm sure there are plenty of other things I haven't learned about too." She cocked her head at Harry. "But did you?" She spoke gently, but firmly. "At that camp, you said something about 'preemptive investigations' – what did you mean?" It was one of the conversations she had rewatched in the Pensieve. "Is this about our connection to Voldemort – yours and mine? You mentioned both Robards and Kane were interested in uncovering dark magic before it had a chance to take root."

Harry rubbed at his eyes. "Kane wanted. . . . well, I don't actually know what Kane wanted. I talked mostly about it with Robards, I think," he said. "You saw what he was like at the training camp; he's really concerned with what young wizards are learning at home. It's why he wants everyone to go to Hogwarts, or at least to a formal school. He'd rather deal with a wizard trained at Durmstrang where he knows the curriculum than someone who picked up their knowledge from their parents."

"And has it been a problem? Dark wizards taught at home?" Ginny hadn't heard of many, except those who were taken out of Hogwarts during the war. "Hey, wasn't Dam taught at home?" She sat up and stared at Harry, implications running through her. Close to Harry, bad at magic, and now, close to her.

Harry barked a laugh. "Now you're really thinking like an Auror," he said. "Robards thought the same thing. Dam's been investigated on multiple occasions – including having some of the 'mind charms' you mentioned used on him. He's clean."

"Well that's a relief," she said, relaxing back against the cushions again. "I'd hate to have to arrest him." She chuckled. "He'd probably find a way to enjoy it."

"He probably would," laughed Harry. Then he grew serious. "Dam's just naturally not very strong at magic," he said. "And I think you know that he recognizes it and tries to hide it."

Ginny nodded. "Which is probably a good thing," she said. "Otherwise I could see a fan trying to take advantage."

"Dam and I have talked about that," Harry agreed. "It's another reason he likes having you hang around; he thinks you'll help keep him safe."

Now it was Ginny's turn to laugh. "Me? What about you?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm to be expected," he said. "But Dam's pretty impressed with you. I don't think he really ever considered that a witch could be powerful before."

"He should talk to Camilla Stalk," said Ginny. "The more I get to know her, the more impressed I am. She doesn't take any crap from Robards or Kane." She leaned forward and grabbed a cookie out of the basket. "Want some?" she asked, breaking it in two.

"Like I'd ever say no to one of your mum's cookies," said Harry. He took the half she offered him and when their fingers brushed, Ginny was once again struck by the tingle that coursed through her. She looked up to see Harry watching her. "What?" she asked, although she had a pretty good idea.

Harry shook his head. "It's just . . . you don't take any of their crap either," he said. "You realize that, don't you?"

He'd scooted closer to her on the sofa and Ginny instinctively leaned in. "I do with Robards," She allowed. "I haven't quite figured out Kane yet though."

Harry frowned. "I never did either," he said. "He was . . ." he stopped and shook his head. "I don't know." He looked troubled.

Ginny wasn't sure what was wrong. "Maybe we should look at my thoughts in the Pensieve?" she said. "I can show you what I saw. It seemed like I ran into the Bellows sisters an awful lot, even when they weren't trying to break into the building. And I'm sure Robards knows them. I just can't figure out the connection."

Harry was still frowning. "Okay," he nodded slowly. "And maybe I can figure out what Kane . . . maybe I can figure him out."

Ginny put her wand to her temple. Once again, she let herself pull out more thoughts than she'd probably need; she wanted Harry to see the same patterns and interactions she had, and didn't want to miss anything. "After you," she said.

HPHPHPHP

Being inside the Pensieve and observing Ginny's thoughts was more intimate than Harry had expected. She clearly wasn't very adept at pulling out memories yet, and Harry got impressions of feelings and emotions as much as the facts of what Ginny remembered. They talked quietly as they reviewed Ginny's encounter at the apothecary and then a couple of times Ginny had talked to Katerina outside the apartment. He agreed with what she'd thought – that her run-ins with the sisters seemed to coincide with increased attention from Robards or Kane. Nothing seemed solid yet though; and Harry mentioned that they should review Ron's memory of Robards talking through the Floo to the woman they now knew had probably been Zoya. But when they saw the woman Robards had been standing with outside the Ministry elevator, Harry frowned. "She's got the same accent, that's for sure, but I can't believe any of them could be that good at Transfiguration. The subtle details are really good." He sighed. "Maybe there's another of them?"

Ginny groaned. "A fourth Bellows? What do they think they are, Weasleys?" Harry snorted. "That means there's a brother somewhere too then," he said. "I think you should . . ." His voice died away.

For they'd swirled away from Ginny's memories of the Bellows and Robards and Kane and had now landed on the Quiditch pitch where Ginny had gone for her fieldwork. She was watching an image of himself running up and down the stadium steps, and even inside the memory, Harry could hear Ginny's breath quicken and feel the way her body shifted with unrelieved tension at the sight. She been aroused from the start, he realized, aroused from watching Harry. Even before they'd flown together, her body was reacting.

Harry's real body was starting to react too. He drew in a breath, and watched as memory-Ginny lick her lips. Memory-Harry pulled off his jersey as he descended to the pitch, and both Ginnys made almost identical intakes of breath, watching. Harry slipped his hand into hers.

She said that was the day she realized . . .

The scene changed.

Ginny was sitting up in bed, still in the clothes she'd worn to the pitch, breathing hard. Her blankets were bunched around her waist, and her hands were still hidden underneath, and even if he hadn't heard her mutter well that answers that question, Harry would have known – without a doubt – what she'd just done. He leaned in, pulse quickening. What had she been thinking about?

Next to him, Ginny's hand jumped in his.

"Oh, I didn't mean to . . ." she said quickly. She looked at him, and despite the flush on her cheeks, Harry could tell that she was affected too. "I can explain."

"I'd like you to," said Harry. He swallowed, and couldn't help but turn back to see the look on memory-Ginny's face again. "Or maybe, show me?"

At Ginny's quick nod, they rose out of the Pensieve, everything else forgotten.

HPHPHPHPHP

Ginny couldn't look at Harry as she hurriedly returned all her memories, wincing a bit as they crowded into her mind. How could she have shown him that? At least it had been her memory from after, not during. If he'd watched her, during, what would she have done? She'd had to have asked him to . . .

"What were you thinking about?" Harry's voice was low in her ear.

Ginny took a step back, towards Harry's voice. His arms snaked loosely around her to rest on her hips and pulled her in until she could feel him against her bum. And at that moment, her embarrassment mostly evaporated and something shifted inside her. Sure, she wasn't very experienced, but she also wasn't a child. And this was Harry, for Merlin's sake. Harry, whom she'd known for years, most of them spent unreasonably irritated. Harry, who'd transitioned almost seamlessly to someone she now wanted to seek out more than anyone else in her life. Harry, who was equally as inexperienced as she was and probably even more eager. She'd been avoiding her physical attraction to Harry for a week; he'd been suppressing his for years. Even though she knew that this – whatever it was – was more than purely physical for both of them, at that moment, starting with something physical felt like a very good idea to Ginny.

"I was thinking of you, of course," she said, and heard Harry chuckle.

"I should hope so," he said. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "That was right after you were at the training, yes? If you'd been thinking of someone else I'd be rather worried."

"I was thinking of you in the shower," said Ginny boldly. She heard Harry suck in his breath and suddenly the pressure on her backside grew more pronounced. She leaned against it, distracted. Harry's fingers were notched in the hollow of her hipbones and the pressure made her feel heady. "I walked in and watched you."

"And did I know you were there?" Harry's fingers journeyed lower, brushing against the space between her legs before moving back up.

Ginny slowly shook her head. "Not at first, no," she finally said. She wanted Harry's hands to move down again. "You had your eyes closed while you . . . touched yourself." She knew he could hear how her breath quickened.

"I wonder what I was thinking," Harry mused. "Although, I can probably guess." He began kissing along her neck.

Ginny chuckled. "It's my dream; how could you guess?"

Harry's lips stilled for a second. "I may have . . . in the shower," he mumbled. "Once or twice."

Ginny twisted around so she was facing him. Harry's hands moved easily from her hips to her bum but Ginny didn't even need the encouragement of him pulling her closer before she pressed herself into him again. It felt completely different, feeling him against her front, and Ginny wiggled to increase the sensation.

Harry jerked against her. "Fuck, that feels good," he mumbled. He'd buried his head against her neck and was kissing her there again.

"I've never heard you swear before," said Ginny in amusement. She tilted her head back to give Harry more access.

"I've never had something feel that good before," he said, between kisses.

"Is this . . . what you imagined? When you . . . in the shower?"

Harry pulled back and looked at her, his eyes darker than normal. "Not just in the shower," he said thickly. He tugged on her hands, pulling her in the direction of her bed. "Let me show you, and you can show me?" He sounded suddenly shy.

Ginny's body warred with her mind. Her fantasies about Harry usually ended with her mounting him for an intense round of love-making; in the shower, he'd lifted her onto him and she'd wrapped her legs around his waist as he pumped against her. But this . . . whatever it was between them . . . was only hours old, and Ginny wasn't ready to make every single ones of her daydreams a reality yet. She hated to pause before answering, but it didn't matter, Harry had already stopped short and dropped her hands.

"Not for that," he said quickly. "Not for everything – for sex. It's too soon for us. I don't want . . ." He took a deep breath. "You weren't thinking we were going to . . . were you? I didn't think you meant . . ."

Harry sounded so mortified that Ginny might have thought he was proposing they have sex right then she couldn't help but laugh. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I know, Harry," she said. "I don't think we're ready either. I know what you meant." She thought for a second, wanting to make her feelings clear. "I need some time physically and emotionally, I think. This is all pretty new for me." She reached up and kissed him, to take any sting out of her words.

Harry kissed her back enthusiastically before pulling back again. "Believe it or not, I need some physical and emotional time too," he said. "Despite the fact that I've been daydreaming about this in one form or another since I was about fifteen." He gave her a wry grin. "Especially since I've been daydreaming about this since I was fifteen. I don't think envisioning you as a mermaid, pulling me into the Black Lake, helped make me particularly ready for an adult relationship."

Ginny snorted. "A mermaid, Potter? Really? That's your teenaged fantasy about me?" She began running her hands up and down his back and watched in satisfaction as he shivered.

"What's wrong with mermaids?" he asked with mock indignation. "They're quite sexy. All that hair floating through the water, you know." He ran his hands through her own hair, letting it fall about her shoulders with a hum of satisfaction.

"Mermaids, or mer-men for that matter, don't have anything below the waist but a big fin," said Ginny with amusement. "How did they have sex?"

Harry stopped playing with her hair. "I didn't say I was a mer-man," he said with exaggerated patience. "Just you. And you were . . . very good with your hands. And mouth." He lowered his own to her lips, and while they kissed, he began guiding her across the room again, stopping in front of her sofa with a questioning look.

"Bed's more comfortable," she said. "Even if I've just discovered that you've apparently been having one-sided fantasies about me for years."

Harry stopped kissing her. "There were others too," he said, grabbing her around the waist and maneuvering them both onto her bed. He managed to scoot them up until they were sitting against the pillows at her headboard. "You weren't always a magical creature." He grinned. "Sometimes you were scantily clad in bits of Quidditch gear." He slipped a hand under the bottom of her jumper. "I think you enjoyed yourself during those."

"Hmm," said Ginny. She turned a bit to give him better access, and a moment later his hand grazed the underside of her bra. He froze.

"Is this okay? I know you said, earlier . . ."

"I said we weren't ready to have sex, Harry," Ginny interrupted him. "I most certainly didn't mean we weren't ready to do anything." She exaggerated the final word and very deliberately moved her hand down to his hip and raised her eyebrows. "Is this okay?" she asked in a teasing voice.

HPHPHPHP

Harry wiggled suggestively underneath Ginny's hand. "Six inches to the right would be even better," he joked back.

"Only six?" countered Ginny. "I know I'm not that experienced, but I thought it'd be . . . it's really six?"

Harry swatted at her with the hand that wasn't exploring the lace of her bra. "That's not what I meant and you know it," he said. They were flirting, he realized, actually flirting comfortably with each other, and it was almost as wonderful as the fact that a second later, Ginny put him out of his misery and moved her hand to the right to cup him through his trousers.

"I think it's going to be more than six soon," she said with satisfaction.

"Guh huh," mumbled Harry. The is this really happening feeling that had been growing ever since Ginny had confessed to him in the garden was working hard to drive all rational thought out of his brain. He moved his own hand up to run across the top of her bra, teasing his fingers under the edge and feeling the softness there.

But they were leaning rather awkwardly against the headboard and there wasn't a lot of moving they'd need to do before they were both lying down instead. Harry was thinking about how to ask Ginny that – his daydreams were taking him to naked skin to explore – when Ginny interrupted his thoughts.

"Is this your first time? Touching a witch there?" She'd already shuffled further down on her pillows, he noticed.

"Well, no," he admitted. He cupped her entire breast and she arched against his hand. "I may have . . . once or twice, but just like this – with clothes still on so I couldn't see anything." He grimaced. "And with Katerina, although in fairness I don't remember much of her."

"You did remove her bra though," said Ginny. She made a show of sitting up and peering around her flat. "I think I still have it somewhere, actually."

Harry groaned. "I definitely do not need to see it again," he said. "I've been glad that that entire night has remained a blur." He reached over and kissed Ginny. "No more talk of the Bellows tonight, okay?"

"Agreed," said Ginny. She snuggled closer to him. Her hand was still cupping Harry's erection and he wiggled against it. "Although," she continued, "I think it's only fair that you and I get at least as far . . . actually, a little farther, than you got with Kat . . . with her."

"We should start referring to them all as she who shall not be named, one through four," remarked Harry. Ginny looked at him in surprise.

"I was just thinking the same thing," she said. "But I didn't know if it would be a funny joke; I've never heard you make fun like that before."

Harry carefully put his own hand over Ginny's. She stilled for a moment and then let him show her where and how to apply pressure. Once they'd established a slow but satisfying rhythm, he answered her.

"I don't joke about it with very many people," he said. "Maybe just Ron and Hermione, you know?" Her hand made a particularly satisfying movement under his and he groaned. "Most . . . most everyone else gets uncomfortable." His hips thrust upwards. "Or overly . . . curious."

"So, no diaries as Christmas gifts?" She spoke lightly, but Harry could hear arousal in her voice.

"Exactly," he nodded, unsurprised she understood. He pushed against her again. "But back to our earlier discussion. You said that I need to go farther – tonight - with you than I did with anyone else?"

"It's only fair," Ginny agreed.

"Well then you do too," said Harry promptly. He looked over at her. "Would that be . . . Dam? Was it really just kissing?" For the first time, Harry considered that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Ginny had gone a little farther than merely kissing with the Quidditch captain.

"Well . . ." Ginny hedged. "There may have been some, umm, touching-over-the-clothes too." She spoke quickly.

"Good," said Harry firmly.

Ginny laughed. "I'm glad you finally approve."

Harry pulled his hand out from Ginny's top and sat up. "More for us to do then," he said. He played with the bottom hem of her jumper. "This needs to come off, I think."

Ginny moved her own hand to Harry's belt. "Then . . . I think . . . these do too?"

Harry swallowed. "Okay," he said thickly.

And then, they were lying next to each other, on top of the blankets. Ginny was in her bra and knickers and Harry nothing but his pants, which did nothing to hide his erection. Ginny reached out and stroked it lightly. "Definitely more than six inches," she said.

Harry reached out and touched her bra again. "Can I take this off?" he asked.

He lost track of how long they spent, exploring each other's bodies. Ginny took off her bra but Harry kept on his pants, although when Ginny slipped her hand inside he very nearly climaxed right then. As it was, she heard him swear for the second time.

"I'm going to like getting to know all the ways to make you say that," she said. There was a wrinkle between her brows as she concentrated on the way she moved her hand, and it was exactly what Harry had imagined she'd look like.

"Whatever you want," he said thickly. He'd been able to control his arousal while he was focused on Ginny; lying on his stomach, it had been more than pleasant to grind into the notch of her hip while he kissed down her jaw and to her chest. She liked it – really liked it – when he took one entire breast into his mouth while playing lightly with her other nipple. Harry didn't blame her; he'd liked it too. Focusing on Ginny kept his own needs in check.

But now she was focused on him, and Harry knew it wasn't going to take much to make him lose control. She gripped him the way he'd just shown her and it didn't take much effort for Ginny to find the right rhythm again. She added her second hand and Harry arched up, closing his eyes and pushing hard against her. "Yessss," he hissed. "Ginny, I'm . . . I'm going to come soon."

"Good," she said. "I want you to come." She spoke matter-of-factly, shifting to sit up next to him. The angle changed and Harry cried out. The wet warmth on his stomach was familiar, but the feel of Ginny's hand, continuing to pump him was not. It drew out his orgasm longer than when he was alone, and for a long minute afterwards, he couldn't speak.

"Bet you don't need a mermaid now," said Ginny, amusement in her voice.

Harry cracked open an eye. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" He was coming back to himself, but his entire body was still tingling.

"Nope," she said. She pulled her hands out of his pants. "I assume you know a spell to take care of this?"

"Several," said Harry. He flushed. "Your dad might have taught me and Ron, the summer before fourth year." He chuckled. "But the ones Sirius taught me were a lot more effective."

Ginny laughed too, and once they were both clean, she snuggled against him. "I guess it was a lot more work for my dad, teaching all my brothers," she said. "Mum only had me."

"Was giving a hand job part of her instruction?" asked Harry. "Because you were brilliant at it."

Ginny laughed again. "Hardly," she said. "You've seen how much more relaxed my mum has gotten about my brothers and their girlfriends, but I'm not convinced that ease will extend to her thoughts about me. Even if you're the one I'm with." She ran her hand down Harry's chest. "But you being the one I'm dating will help, I suspect." She looked at him. "Is that what we're doing? Dating?"

Harry dropped a kiss on Ginny's shoulder. "I . . . guess?" he said. "It sounds so, I don't know, 'Witch Weekly' though." He thought for a minute. "I just like to think that we're together. Completely together."

"Together," said Ginny. "I like that." She yawned. "What time is it?"

Harry looked at his watch. "After eleven." He paused. "I should probably go."

"You can stay, if you want," said Ginny. "Ron's not coming home so he won't notice that you're not there." She looked at him. "Not to do anything else, though," she said quickly.

Harry grinned. "Now who's propositioning whom?" he asked cheekily.

Ginny swatted him. "Prat." She snuggled close again. "I just think . . . it would be nice. Waking up next to you."

Harry gave an enormous yawn of his own. "I think that sounds brilliant," he said. "And not only because I'm too knackered to think about walking back to my flat."

"I did give you a pretty spectacular orgasm," said Ginny. She got off her bed and rummaged in her dresser for an oversized t-shirt.

Harry sat up, suddenly worried. "But you didn't . . . I mean, I didn't get you to . . ." he broke off. "I can, right now, if you want. I mean, I can try. I'm not sure . . . I've never . . . oh bloody hell." He ran his hand through his hair.

Ginny laughed and tossed him a t-shirt with a picture of a dragon on the front. "This was Charlie's," she said. "It's okay, Harry. Girls aren't like blokes. I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight, even without an orgasm." She pulled back the covers.

Harry pulled on the shirt. "I'm going to use the loo first," he said. He turned back to her. "But tomorrow morning, Weasley. Breakfast, and climax. Not necessarily in that order."

Ginny grinned. "I'm looking forward to both those things."