Harry had to admit it; the boat ride had been excellent. Ginny hadn't seem to care for it too much, claiming it upset her stomach, but he'd rather enjoyed it. He loved the feel of the sea water on his face and the way the wind whipped through his hair. At least he was doing something new for a change.
Now they were in the back seat of a limousine, of all things, and Brogan was telling them all about the history of the Abbey. Well, he was telling Ginny about the Abbey. Harry hadn't been listening, really. He'd been too busy moping and staring out the window. But Ginny held his hand, and they would each give the other little reassuring squeezes now and again, so all was not lost.
Harry felt stupid for the way he'd reacted at the station. The feelings of inadequacy and insecurity he'd had as he'd watched Brogan look at Ginny had practically pushed the logical part of his brain out. He knew Ginny wasn't going to leave him for some Irish fellow they'd just met. He also knew he couldn't help the fact that other blokes would look at Ginny and like what they saw; she was likable after all, and the part of him that was just Harry and not her boyfriend, knew she was attractive. Very attractive, if the list of all her past boyfriends was any indication. But it was more than that; Ginny just seemed to glowwith something you wanted to be next to. Harry couldn't understand that he was the reason she was glowing. He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that she loved him. Him. Of all people.
"Harry?"
Ginny's voice broke through to his thoughts, and he turned to look at her.
"Brogan was just saying that the Abbey is next to a river, and that we can go swimming in it when it gets hot. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Her brown eyes sparkled at him, and he smiled despite his mood. He glanced at Brogan. "Yeah, it does. Are there a lot of other students there this time of the summer?"
Brogan shook his head. "No, not really. I can name them all, actually. There's me, of course, and then there's Angus McFlure, he's our resident Potions expert. There's Adair and Elizabeth Banning, they're studying Herbology, but don't let them corner you into helping them with the greenhouse; you'll smell like dung for days. Then there's Garrett Spencer and Kieran Brooks, they run our library, I expect you'll get to know them quite well, actually. And finally there's Sioda. She's our historian. You'll probably get to know her a bit more, too."
"And that's it?" Ginny asked.
Brogan nodded. "We all keep to ourselves during the week really, but we've been known to get into trouble on the weekend. Most of the summer staff travel home and we're usually stuck with only one or two to keep an eye on us. It's great." The young man smiled widely at them and stretched his feet out. Harry knew he had no reason not to like Brogan; all he'd done, really, was wink and smile at Ginny, but Harry couldn't help but dislike the self-assuredness the other man had. Then Harry knew he was actually a bit jealous of Brogan. He seemed comfortable with himself, as though he knew he was doing exactly what he was meant to be doing. Harry wondered what that felt like.
"We're almost there, actually. We're just passing through Ballinasole. The next township is Headford, and then we reach the Abbey. We'll have to pull over before we get to it. There's a back way that most of us use; it's out of sight from any wandering Muggles that may be about."
Ginny looked eagerly out the window over Harry's shoulder and squeezed his hand in excitement. He smiled and turned to look out the window as well; he noticed Brogan watching them for a moment, an odd expression on his face. Harry instinctively pulled Ginny's arm closer to his. The moment passed, and Brogan was turning around, speaking to the driver.
"You know what else Brogan told me while you were brooding?" Ginny whispered in his ear.
Harry glanced at her. "That he's a poof?"
Ginny's eyes widened, and then she narrowed them as she kicked him with her foot. "No. He said that the Professors aren't going to bother us at all, that the owner, Dylan Cosgrove, would be taking care of us and that he's arranged for our rooms in the unoccupied section of the Abbey. All of the other students have to stay in the dorms, but we get our own wing, Harry...doesn't that sound...well...extremely private?"
Ginny's eyes sparkled playfully, and Harry knew what she was thinking. A whole wing...a whole slew of beds. All to themselves. Suddenly, Harry felt very warm, all feelings of inadequacy forgotten. It had just occurred to him that they were really on their own together and completely free to be themselves with each other. It made Harry feel both elated and the tiniest bit worried, although he didn't know why.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Brogan led them through the small grove that covered the back part of the Abbey from Muggle eyes. Ginny felt a strange sense of deja vu as she and Harry walked side by side, holding hands. The sun felt good, after being trapped in the car for so long, and a light breeze played with her hair. Brogan was whistling, and even Harry seemed awed by the thick overgrowth that parted as they walked through.
"Is there a spell on the greenery?" Ginny asked as the path ahead of them widened to let them pass.
Brogan stopped and turned to smiled at her. "Yes, a small one. It will actually get thicker in here, if you're not supposed to be here. It'll only open for people that have business at the Abbey. A little trick of Mr Cosgrove's. There have been a couple of times a daring Muggle had to be rescued from all of this." He continued on a short way and then paused in front of what looked like a significant clump of vines and flowers. It appeared to form a barrier of some sort. Harry and Ginny both stared expectantly at him, and he winked as he withdrew his wand from his jeans pocket, tapping the petal of a large sapphire-tinted flower sitting at what appeared to be the top of the barrier.
"Just tap once to open," Brogan said, noticing her look. He smiled as the wall of greenery seemed to slowly pull apart, revealing a large, graceful stone gate. Ginny gasped.
"Gin?" Harry had moved forward through the hole that Brogan had made, his hand tugging her forward, but she stayed put, staring at the gate in amazement.
This is just like my dream.
"I dreamed about this gate," she said softly. Both Harry and Brogan watched her for a moment. She shook her head to settle her thoughts and squeezed Harry's hand as she moved through the opening in the vines.
"Hmm. Well, that's interesting," Brogan said as he glanced at her. "You might want to tell Sioda about that dream; she's convinced this place is mystical. Now, you have to remember this incantation in order to get through safely: Sempervirent, Rosetum. Et itur ad astra, et itur ad astra."
He made them each repeat it several times out loud and then nodded his head when he was satisfied. They had to each go through separately, saying the words under their breath before the gate would open. Ginny was the last one through, and she watched as the gate closed behind her, dissolving into a wall of vines and flowers once again.
"What do they mean, those words?" she asked Brogan.
"It's a bit funny, really. Mr Cosgrove thinks it's because the friars that used to live in the Abbey were more familiar with magic than we think. It means, literally, 'Evergreen, a rose garden. And we go to the stars. And we go to the stars'. Of course, if you break it down, certain words that were used, 'et', for example, instead of 'sic'...it makes the meaning passive - so it's like saying weall go to the stars, we all live forever in the sky. Which, of course, makes sense for a religious place such as an abbey."
"So the gate was here when the friars controlled the Abbey?" Harry asked as they moved up a small, steep pathway that led them over a hill.
Brogan nodded. "Well, let's just say, some of us think the gate has always been here. Sioda has been studying the local area. She insists that the gate was here before the Friars of Ross built the Abbey; that it was because of the gate that they chose this spot. But since the good friars kept very little records to begin with, and since the Abbey suffered a time period of neglect and disuse before wizards took it over, most of the old records about the land have been lost. We roughly know when the Abbey was built, but we don't know when the gate was built. But the way to get through it has always been known to the owner of the Abbey. And Cosgrove's family has owned it for a very long time."
They continued up the hill, reaching the peak slightly out of breath. Ginny turned and looked back the way they had come. The overgrowth from the grove seemed to cover everything up into one large green, breathing thing. But Ginny imagined she could still see the stone tip of the gate and felt a strange feeling in her bones.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Ah-ha! Brogan! I see you made it back in one piece. And, you have safely delivered us our visitors."
Dylan Cosgrove warmly greeted Harry and Ginny in his office, a wide smile on his face. He was an older gentleman, probably younger than Dumbledore, but in the same generation. He had a short, well-trimmed beard and well-tanned skin, as though he spent a good deal of time outdoors. Ginny shook his hand and was surprised by the strong grip. His blue eyes met hers for a brief moment before turning to Harry, and she was surprised by the intensity of the look. He nodded at them and pointed to two chairs that had just appeared, indicating that they should sit down.
Brogan used his wand to levitate their bags in front of him. "I'll just make certain these get put at your doors. Come down to the library when you're all settled; I'll introduce you to everyone."
"Would you two like some tea? Biscuits? Anything heavier? Dinner will be served shortly, but I'm certain that after a long car ride, you might not want to wait."
"Tea would be nice, actually," Ginny admitted, smiling.
"But we can probably wait until dinner for anything else," Harry said, giving her a funny look. She remembered his teasing from before and tried to ignore her growling stomach.
"Ah well, I won't keep you long then. I just wanted to make certain that you had both read the letters Albus left for you?" Mr Cosgrove made a flourish of small movements with his wand and a setting of tea appeared in front of them. Ginny poured each of them a cup and thankfully grabbed one of the raspberry tarts the man had thought to include.
Harry nodded. "He told us we would be researching the legend of...Aine?"
Mr Cosgrove nodded. "Yes, exactly. Although it's more than a legend. There is a very definite prophecy involved with Aine. Not many actually believe it, but I think Albus is one of the few who do. Miss Weasley, do you know anything about Aine?"
Ginny startled at the shift of the focus to her. She swallowed the food that was in her mouth and smiled. "Er...no, not really. But Professor Dumbledore insisted in his letter that this research would be important to Harry, so...I'm going to do everything I can to help him."
Mr Cosgrove gave her another intense look and then smiled slightly. He nodded his head.
"Well, that's good to hear. Mr Potter, you're lucky to have such a dedicated research partner here. Now, let me see...what did I do with your room keys...?"
He started to rummage around his desk, and Ginny turned to Harry, who shrugged. Ginny was about to ask what the prophecy of Aine actually was, when Mr Cosgrove exclaimed 'Ah-ha!' and held up two old, worn stone keys.
"You two will be in the Nuala wing. It's usually occupied by our older students, or those that are married. These are the only two keys to your rooms; neither I nor any of the staff can enter without them, so it'd be preferable if you not misplace them. That happened once and we had an awful time getting them back. The keys are charmed to return to the owner of the Abbey of course, but only when they deem it fit to do so. And we never know exactly where they will turn up at. We had a young couple that was locked out of their rooms for weeks before the keys turned up in the kitchen pantry. I'd suggest transfiguring a chain to wear them about your necks as that seems to work for most people."
Ginny and Harry both reached out and took a hold of a key. The stone looked so old that Ginny felt as though it would crumble in her hand, but it was surprisingly solid and heavy. She didn't really fancy wearing thataround her neck. As soon as she thought it, the key seemed to grow lighter until it felt as though it was no longer in her hand. She glanced at Mr Cosgrove in shock.
"Yes, it does that. It will also shrink when you want it to, and some students have claimed that it will glow, if you happen to be looking for it in the dark."
Mr Cosgrove stood up and smiled at them. "Well, I'm certain you two would like to see where you'll be sleeping. Follow me, and I'll take you to the direct passage way to your rooms."
Harry looked at her, and she shrugged. They both stood and followed Cosgrove out of the room, each clutching their key in their hands.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
They left Cosgrove's office and headed left, down a long, grey hallway. It wasn't unlike anything you'd see at Hogwarts, actually, Harry thought. There were large, open windows and widely-arched ceilings but instead of the dark look of the castle, the Abbey walls were almost colorless. He could tell the building had once been religious in nature; stained glass windows still filled every other opening, but instead of depicting religious scenes they seemed to have been transformed into magical ones, reminding him of the many portraits and tapestries of his own school.
At the end of the hallway, there loomed a set of great oak doors, which were carved with flowers and plant life. In the middle of the door was a carving of a giant heart. As Cosgrove opened the doors, the heart broke apart and for a second Harry thought he heard sobbing. But it was gone so fast that he reckoned he had imagined it. Just inside the door, Cosgrove paused and pointed to a small shelf on the wall.
"If you want your rooms to be cleaned or tended to, just leave one of the keys here for the staff to use. They'll return it when they're done. It doesn't matter which key, they're both interchangeable."
Harry frowned but didn't say anything as they continued on down the hallway. As they approached the end, a painting came into view. It was of a woman with jet black hair and violet eyes. She stared off into the distance, her face passive and relaxed. It was a Muggle painting, and above it, Harry could make out the name 'Katharine'.
Cosgrove paused and nodded towards the painting. "That is the Lady Nuala. She fought to save the Abbey from ruin, when the church pulled the Friars out of it. Rumor and history have it that she was in love with one of the Fathers that lived in this wing, but nothing has ever been substantiated. As she was married to another man at the time, that's probably a good thing. She was a great lady, apparently. Very noble and stout of heart. Her remains are buried under the altar in the old church. She's one of the reasons we have to share the front part of the Abbey with the Muggles. They all come to see her resting place."
Cosgrove turned right and then led them to two doors that stood side by side. Harry saw that Brogan had left their bags out in front of each one; his on the right and Ginny's on the left.
"I should also add that people insist her ghost haunts this wing, but I doubt it. As you know, most ghosts have to register with the Ministry. A Katharine Nuala has never done so, and many Seers have come through trying to fish her out, but to no avail. I'd say it's just the wind blowing through the stones. Now, if you wish to enter your rooms, just use the keys I gave you."
Ginny smiled at Harry, and he nodded. They both moved forward, and, after sharing another look, they each tried their key, the lock clicking as soon as the stone connected to with the wood. Each door swung open and they both entered their rooms.
Harry was in a large living room. Its ceilings looked as though they went on forever, which he knew couldn't be possible. He wondered briefly if the ceiling was charmed like the one at Hogwarts. The colour of the room was a dark mahogany and there was a fire already going in the hearth at the side of the room near the sofa. A door was closed on his left, and two were open on the right. He looked into the open doors and saw a study, complete with a miniature library in one, and a huge bedroom in the other. He started to enter it, when he heard a noise behind him and turned around. After a moment, the door on the left side of the room opened and Ginny stepped through smiling.
"Harry! We have connecting rooms, isn't that cool?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Do you have a study in your room too?"
She nodded. "My room is exactly like this one, except my bedroom is in the back instead of on the side, like yours. I haven't gone in there yet. I wanted to try this door."
Mr Cosgrove came in then, floating Harry's bags in front of him. "Ah, I see you found the connecting door. Let me show you something else."
The old man smiled cheerfully at them and then walked over to the door, moving his hand around the doorknob. "Solvo," he said quietly, and Harry watched in amazement as the wall that separated his and Ginny's rooms disappeared.
"As I explained, these rooms are usually used by our married students, some with small children. As you and Miss Weasley are good friends, I expect you'll not be worried about what makes the wall reappear," Cosgrove paused, a twinkle in his eye as he looked at them. "However, should you wish for some privacy, simply say the word, 'filleadh'. It's Gaelic for return."
As Cosgrove spoke the word, the wall reappeared. Harry moved forward and put his hand on the doorknob, repeating what Cosgrove had done earlier. The wall faded and the living rooms were now joined as one again. Harry felt overwhelmed.
"All of this? Just for the two of us?"
Cosgrove smiled at him. "Albus suggested you two might enjoy a bit of space. I believe he said the Weasleys are a large family?" He turned to Ginny, and she nodded. Harry noticed her eyes were darting to his bedroom door, and he knew she was just itching to go exploring. Apparently, Dylan Cosgrove knew it, too.
"Ah, well then, I'll leave you two to get settled. Dinner should be in about forty-five minutes. If you wish to join Brogan and the others in the library, just head back the way I brought you and turn right when you reach my office. The library has two giant red doors that are usually open, you can't miss it. If you do lose your way, simply press this." Cosgrove handed them each a small, black stone that had a slight dent in the middle. It felt worn, and Harry had a strange sense of safety as he touched it.
"These are our touchstones for new students; we use them to make certain everyone is okay within the walls of the Abbey. They'll also work for a wide scope outside of it as well. We don't usually use them in the summer, but I thought it best if the two of you had something that kept you connected until you learned the layout."
Harry and Ginny nodded at him, and he left them. They stared at each other and then both smiled in amazement. Ginny went to him and wrapped her arm around his.
"I don't believe this room, Harry. It's amazing! And we get to have it all to ourselves! We don't even have to worry about doors!"
"Yeah, it's amazing, all right."
Ginny pulled him towards the bedroom on his side of the room, and she gasped as she entered it. The room itself was done in dark blues and light greens, contrasting and complimenting each other in an odd way that worked, Harry thought. In the middle of the room, against the wall, stood the biggest bed he had ever seen. It was wood, with four posters. A large, gossamer canopy done in periwinkle lace was draped across the top of it. Ginny let go of his arm and walked over to it, her eyes wide in delight. She touched the dark cobalt coloured comforter of the bed and then sighed. She turned around and then fell back against the bed, her body making a soft noise as she landed.
"Oh, Harry, I don't think I'll ever be happy with other beds, ever again."
Harry watched her a moment, and then looked around, noticing another door off to the right that must be the lavatory. He walked over to it and opened it, his mouth hanging open in surprise. Someone had put a poolin his loo.
It was the biggest bathtub that Harry had ever seen. Bigger than the one in the Prefect's bathroom at Hogwarts. It appeared to be made out of dark black granite, and it had dark green marble tiles along the bottom and rim. A collection of tri-coloured bottles decorated the sides. He and Ginny could take a small dip after dinner in the thing and probably not even bump into each other.
"Harry? What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a - "
Ginny paused as she stood next to him in the doorway, her mouth dropping, the same as his.
"Oh, my," Ginny said softly.
Harry nodded. He seemed incapable of forming sentences. He could only stare at everything and wonder what in the world they had done to deserve such astonishing surroundings.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Dylan Cosgrove walked back to his office at a brisk pace. He locked the door behind him, quickly reading the parchment that Brogan had left for him. He approached his fireplace, removing a bit of floo from the container he kept on the mantle. A moment later, he was looking at Albus Dumbledore.
"Ah, Dylan. I take it by your timely floo that our young students have arrived."
Dylan nodded and pulled a chair closer to the fireplace. "Potter seems much like you would expect; he's quiet, but inquisitive about things. Miss Weasley on the other hand...I was not expecting her to be so..."
"Vivacious?"
"Aye."
"Well, as you know, Miss Weasley has had the advantage of growing up in a family of very loud, boisterous brothers. I'm afraid she learned how to hold her own at quite a young age. However, I have always found her to be sensible, and in the case of Harry, most determined about things that are important."
Dylan nodded absentmindedly. "Do you think they realize what is happening?"
"No. I think they believe that they are experiencing what every other young person their age experiences. And to be true, they are falling in love. I'm fairly certain it was meant to be that way, regardless of the Prophecy."
"And you still think it best that they discover everything by themselves?"
Dylan watched his old friend, as he drew his fingers into a point in front of his face, always a sign that he was deep in thought.
"Yes," Albus said after a moment. "I do. Harry has always fought against his destiny in some way; I'm not certain of his reaction if he was to find out now that Ginny Weasley has always been a part of that destiny. I don't wish to disrupt what has already started. If the two are to be as one, I'd much prefer it to be as lovers then as comrades or worse yet, together out of duty. I think their bond will be the stronger for it, if they are connected naturally."
Dylan sighed. "I only wonder if maybe we are forcing something by throwing them together like this. Although I can tell that they are very much in the first throes of young love, you were right about that. Miss Weasley in particular, seems very attuned to his needs. Brogan Caley has admitted he was surprised by their closeness." He held up the parchment in front of the fireplace.
"You have advised Brogan about letting them be, have you not?"
"Aye." Dylan looked down at the paper again, frowning. "He's reluctant, especially since I believe that he finds Miss Weasley quite appealing...however, he knows what is to be expected of him."
"Brogan's part in this is not yet understood, so I appreciate his patience and loyalty. Being the last known descendant of Aine's blood has not been easy for him."
"That, my old friend, is an understatement," Dylan said nodding his head.
The two continued talking for a moment and then said their goodbyes. Dylan stared into the now empty hearth, letting his mind wander.
He hoped he had made the right decision in letting Harry Potter come to the Abbey. He also hoped the boy would be able to handle it all when he discovered that his girlfriend could possibly be the true heir to Aine's power. A true joining between Harry and Ginny would be a powerful thing; a thing that the Dark Lord would have no chance to stop, once it started. He knew that was why Albus had done it. Still, it filled him with unease. There were too many unanswered questions...too many variants to disturb the mix.
Sighing, he got up and decided to do some reading before dinner. Moving to his desk, he placed Brogan's report into a drawer and pulled the ancient text he'd been working on in front of him. He soon found himself lost to the old language of the Celts, their wisdom and poetry soothing his worried mind.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
After getting over their initial shock at the size and decadence of their rooms, (Ginny's bedroom and bath matched Harry's in size and luxury), Harry and Ginny changed their clothes for dinner. They did so in separate rooms, and Ginny was dismayed to realize that, for some reason, both of them seemed shy, now that they had all of that space to be themselves in. Locking their doors, they headed out to find Brogan and the rest of the students.
"I feel a bit silly," she admitted as she and Harry made their way back through the hallway Cosgrove had led them down.
Harry glanced at her. "Why's that?"
"Well, you're seventeen and of age. All of the students here are probably around Brogan's age or older. I feel a bit like the kid invited to tea with her parent's friends."
Harry stopped and pulled her hand into his. "You're a brilliant witch and very clever. It doesn't matter you're a year younger than I am. We're both younger than all of them, remember that."
She smiled, squeezing his hand, and they continued walking. Ginny marveled at the surrounding walls, noticing there were more doors and hallways going off into different directions. She wondered how big the Nuala wing actually was. They reached the main doors and headed for Cosgrove's office, turning right as he had instructed. Soon they came across two giant, red oak doors, just like Cosgrove had described. They could hear someone talking quietly, but hurriedly, the closer they drew near.
They entered the library and lingered in the doorway, not wanting to disturb anyone. A tall and gangly young man was talking rather spiritedly to a young woman who had her back to them. Ginny noticed her hair was a very lovely shade of auburn; a much darker and richer red than her own. The woman's hair was long and very curly, making Ginny feel a small pang of instant jealousy. She would never have hair like that. Well, at least, not without a healthy pint of Sleakeazy's and a few million Curling Charms. Brogan noticed them as they entered and came over to greet them.
"See you two made it out of your rooms," he said slyly, causing a faint heat to warm Ginny's cheeks. His eyes laughed at hers, and she had to remind herself that Harry probably wouldn't take too kindly to her being overly friendly with Brogan. Still, did he have to be so...bloody charming?
"Let me introduce you to everyone," Brogan continued, turning back around. "As soon as Kieran gets done ranting and raving at Sioda, that is."
The tall man stopped when he heard Brogan's voice, his eyes glancing up at them guiltily. The young woman he'd been talking to turned her head and glanced at them as well, a small smile on her face. She had brilliant green eyes, in fact, they were very similar to Harry's. Ginny glanced at him and saw that he was staring at the woman, his mouth hanging slightly open. Ginny dug her hand into his, and he glanced down at their hands. He looked up at her and gave her a sheepish smile.
Brogan pointed to the man. "This is Kieran Brooks, a very unstable and argumentative fellow who handles the library."
Kieran scowled at Brogan, but smiled at Harry and Ginny. "Don't let him fill your head with any fancies. I'm perfectly polite and nice."
"Aye, just passionate to an extreme though, aren't you, K?" The young woman smiled warmly at them, and if Ginny didn't know any better, she'd have sworn that Sioda's eyes lingered on Harry's. She held out her hand after Kieran had moved away.
"I'm Sioda. It's an immense pleasure to meet you, Harry. I've heard a great deal about you, of course."
Ginny watched as Harry's skin turned pink, and he shook the woman's hand. Ginny pursed her lips and tried to remain level-headed. It wouldn't do to get irrational now, would it? They're just saying 'hello'.
"And this," Brogan continued, as three more people came down a stairway that Ginny hadn't noticed before, "is Adair and Elizabeth Banning, they're brother and sister as you can tell, and the bloke behind them is Angus McFlure."
Adair and Elizabeth both had brown hair and blue eyes. They were both short and slim, looking surprisingly alike. Angus McFlure was a round and jovial looking sort of person, and he pumped Ginny's arm fast as they shook hands. She felt as though her arm was about to be pulled out of its socket. Angus certainly didn't act like a person who spent all his time brewing potions, but then again, not everyone who did so probably acted like Snape, either.
"I thought there was another person?" Harry was asking Brogan, but Ginny noticed he was looking at Sioda.
"Yes, Garrett...he's...ah...well..." Brogan shrugged and looked at the others.
Sioda smiled and shook her head. "Garrett is shy. Extremely so. He usually doesn't come out to meet new people. This library is his home, really. I think he'd rather spend more time down in the stacks, in perfect solitude, than with any of us. You'll meet him eventually, though. He can't go too long without food and water. We took bets on him one time...he only lasted three days."
The others laughed, and Ginny frowned. She didn't think it was very nice to make fun of someone for being shy. Brogan noticed her frown and smiled at her.
"It's not what you're thinking. We all adore Garrett. He takes it all in good stride, trust me."
Ginny nodded and looked for Harry, but he had moved off and was talking to Sioda and Kieran. When Brogan offered her his arm, she took it, thinking Harry could just deal with it. Of course, he would have to notice it first.
"Oh, don't worry about Sioda and Harry," Brogan whispered in her ear, and she startled, looking into his blue eyes. He smiled, and Ginny again felt enchanted by his presence. It made her head spin. "She's nothing compared to you, and I'm certain he'll remember that. Eventually. "
Ginny looked at him doubtfully, and he laughed good-naturedly, breaking their eye contact. He turned to the rest of the room. "All right, everyone, let's take our guests to the dining room. We'll give them the grand tour, okay?"
Everyone murmured their agreement, and Brogan wrapped her arm around his, to lead her out of the library. Ginny had the feeling that she didn't want to know what Harry had done with his arms, and she most certainly didn't want to know if they were wrapped around Sioda's.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Dinner was a fun affair, despite the awkwardness of Ginny sitting next to Brogan instead of Harry. Brogan seemed determined to make her laugh and forget to keep an eye on Harry. For his part, Harry seemed less inclined to let him, something that would have made her laugh, if she weren't watching every move Sioda made. But the other woman seemed perfectly innocent and spent most of her time continuing to argue with Kieran.
They dined on roasted lamb and wild asparagus, something Ginny had never had. The food was wonderful, and it felt good to have a solid meal inside of her, after all the snacking they'd done. She had thought that she would miss her mother's cooking, but it appeared the kitchens at the Abbey could give her mum a run for her money.
Afterwards, Dylan Cosgrove served tea and invited Harry and Ginny as well as the others into his office for pudding. They talked about the trip to Blackpool and how London was doing. No one seemed too keen to mention the war or Voldemort, which struck Ginny as odd, as that was the reason they were there, but she didn't say anything. Harry sat next to her this time, his hand lingering next to hers. Ginny let her mind wander and thought of the giant tub in the their bathroom, wondering if that book Hermione had given her had anything in it about making love in the water,and if Harry would be up for that, when she realized everyone was staring at her. She blinked and looked at Mr Cosgrove in apology.
"I'm sorry, I was...daydreaming. What did you ask me?"
"Ah, it doesn't matter, Miss Weasley. I think you two have had a rather long day and need to get your rest. Why don't you two head back to your rooms? Breakfast is at seven AM, but if you'd like to sleep in past then, I can arrange for the food to be left outside your doors." Mr Cosgrove smiled at them, and the other students got up to leave.
Harry stood up and was asking the older man something about the libraries in their rooms. Ginny felt embarrassed at having drifted off. She covered her mouth as she yawned. Perhaps she was getting tired.
"Ah, yes, Harry, some of the books Albus wanted you to study are in there. There are some that need to be given to you by our resident book finder, Mr Spencer, but he's already been told that you have permission to access them. Now I'd like you two to visit me after each day of study, so we can go over anything that you've found. I don't expect you to have a great deal of luck, at first, but I think the answer you're seeking is definitely between these walls."
Harry nodded at the other man, and Ginny smiled. They left his office, saying goodnight to Brogan and Kieran who were still waiting outside the door. Once they were past the main doors to the wing, Ginny felt herself relax and sighed.
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Harry asked her.
"It was long. I don't think I'm cut out for a night of small talk."
Suddenly, Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He kissed her deeply. Ginny felt her entire body awaken and wrapped her arms around him. It's been far too long since we've done this.
"What was that for, Harry?" she asked him as she pulled away, looking into his eyes.
"Just reminding you that you're my girl," he said softly, his eyes growing dark.
"As if I could forget that."
"I don't know; Brogan seems determined to make you forget something."
Ginny sighed and pulled away from him. "Brogan? Again? I should be asking you about your reaction to that Sioda person. Honestly, Harry. Your mouth was hanging open."
"Yeah, well...I didn't hang on her arm and words all night either," he said pointedly, and Ginny knew he was angry at her.
"I wasn't hanging on his arm; he took mine to lead me out of the library. You were busy gazing at Sioda." Ginny folded her arms, suddenly feeling cross.
Harry shook his head. "Fine, have it your way. If you won't admit you liked Brogan flirting with you, then I can't make you." He moved away from her and started heading toward their doors.
"Harry!"
He stopped and looked back at her. They stared at each other for a moment and then Ginny slumped. She caught up with him and looked down at the ground.
"I only liked him flirting with me because you were ignoring me."
"Ginny, I was not ignoring you. I was talking to the new people we'd just met. That's normal, you know."
"Yeah, well, I saw the way you looked at her. She far more beautiful than I could ever be. It was like...it reminded me of when you used to look at Cho."
Ginny took a deep breath as she realized that that was indeed what had been bothering her. She'd spent so long watching Harry stare at Cho Chang that she still felt invisible around him sometimes. Even though she knew she wasn't. Even though she knew Harry knew she wasn't.
"Gin," Harry said softly. He reached out and touched her cheek with his hand. "Cho meant nothing to me. She was a crush. A failed attempt at teenage romance. You're the real thing. You're...I love you. I really mean that."
Ginny looked up at him, suddenly feeling tears behind her eyes. Why am I being so silly? Didn't I yell at Harry for the same insecurity?
"I can't believe you're insecure," Harry whispered, his voice awed. He closed the gap between them and traced his thumb over her lips. "You're so..."
"I'm so what? Silly?" Ginny gulped, suddenly unable to breathe properly.
"No..." Harry said as he bent his head down to hers. "You're so this."
Harry's lips were soft on hers, barely touching, and then suddenly his mouth was pressing firmly to hers, his tongue asking for entrance. Ginny welcomed him into her, the tenderness between them erupting into something else. She felt the slow burn that she was beginning to associate with everything that Harry did to her start to work its way across her skin. She moved her body closer to his and didn't realize they had stumbled backwards across the floor. Harry's body made contact with the door to his room, his hands pulling her waist closer to his. She felt his desire and kissed him back stronger, wanting to block everything else away.
Harry finally pulled away, gasping for air. His eyes were bright, and he smiled at her, a knowing looking on his face.
"Are we ready to try some things in that book now?"
Ginny felt herself blush, but answered him directly. "Oh, definitely, Harry. I'm up for at least...four or five pages tonight."
"Good," Harry said, his voice low and rough. It made Ginny shiver in reaction.
"Your place or mine?" he asked, turning sideways to face the doors.
"How about ours?" she whispered behind him.
He turned and smiled. He used his key to open one of the doors. Ginny closed it behind them and looked at him. She started to undo the buttons on her robe, moving closer to him. She kissed him briefly and then moved her mouth against his throat, eliciting a sigh from him.
"How about we get out of these clothes and try out that bathtub, Harry?"
"Really? Together?"
"Uh-huh. Just think...I'll be all warm and wet and you'll be all warm and wet..."
"Well..." Harry moaned as she licked her way to his earlobe, pulling it between her teeth.
" - that um...sounds...um...fun."
"Good," Ginny said as she stepped away from him. "Last one in is a rotten dragon's egg and has to clean the other one's feet."
She pulled off her robe and threw it over his head, pulling out of his grasp, giggling.
Ginny had a feeling it was going to be a good night, after all.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Oh, this is ridiculous," Ginny was saying as they stood in the doorway to the bath. Harry looked at her and shrugged.
"We've seen each other naked. Why can't we get undressed in front of each other?" she continued. Harry noticed she didn't take off any more clothes, though.
"Maybe because we're...anxious?" He added, not certain what was going on either. They'd run to the bath, Ginny losing her shoes and socks and blouse, with Harry doing much the same. Except now, they couldn't seem to get past that.
Ginny walked into the loo and sat down on the edge of the tub, reaching over to turn on the taps. The water started to fill the oversized tub, with steam already floating up. She looked inside the small gold containers that rested along the side of the tub and smiled. She held one up to Harry.
"Bathing salts. Do you have a preference?"
Harry shook his head and watched as she poured a generous amount of purple beads into the water. A moment later, the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle filled the room.
"Well, at least that smells nice," Ginny said as she looked at him. "But we're going to have to actually get naked, you know, for this bathing thing to work."
"You first, then."
Ginny sighed and then smiled mischievously at him. She reached up and undid the buttons on her jeans. He watched her as she pushed them down slightly over the curve of her hips. Harry suddenly realized he'd stopped breathing. He watched her as the jeans fell away, and she stepped out of them, kicking them to the side. She'd worn dark blue knickers that matched her bra and her skin seemed perfect in the light of the room. His eyes travelled over the freckles and the soft parts of her body his hands already knew so well; he brought his face back up to meet her eyes and smiled sheepishly at having been caught staring.
"I don't know, Ginny. Maybe we never get used to...being naked in front of each other. I reckon...well, usually we're lying down when we're like this, you know."
"True," Ginny admitted, nodding her head. She smiled at him. "Lose the jeans, Harry. Let me see you from a standing position then, if it's so different this way."
Harry felt himself blush, but undid his jeans, not quite as gracefully as she had. He stumbled as his feet got caught in the bottom cuffs and cursed. Hearing Ginny giggle did not improve his mood. He finally kicked the jeans away from him and looked up at her.
"Oh, um...you know what, Harry? You're right. This is different. My, my." Ginny licked her lips seductively and moved forward, her hand going to his boxers. Harry was ready for whatever happened next; there was no way to hide that when you were almost naked.
Harry closed his eyes as Ginny slipped a hand in between the flap of his boxers, and he sucked in his breath as her hand claimed him.
"What does that feel like?" she whispered. He opened his eyes to see her staring at him.
"It feels..." Harry paused, not certain how to describe it. Not certain if there were even words that could. "It feels...incredible."
"Just when I do it or when anyone does it...I mean, when you do it to yourself?"
"Both. But no, it's better when you...ah...hmm...do that...because...it's...oh, Ginny." Harry bit his lip as her hand changed speeds, tightening slightly as she stroked him, her hand around his tip. He took a deep breath.
"Because it's you," he said softly. "And I get to see you and watch your face and because I get to do this."
He pulled her into his arms, capturing her mouth with his. Their tongues danced with each other, each trying to pull the other in closer. Ginny relaxed into his arms, removing her hand from him. He pulled back and looked down at her, realizing that she still had too many pieces of clothing on.
He turned and lifted her away from him, sitting her on the edge of the tub. The water had reached the half-way level and the scent from the bath salts was filling his senses. He reached around her and tried to undo the clasp to her bra, causing her to smile. She pushed him away after a moment and did it herself, tossing it onto the floor. Harry let his eyes travel down across her chest, suddenly dying to taste her skin. He reached for his jeans and found his wand, quickly performing the proper spell, while Ginny smirked at him. He removed his glasses and set them on the rim of the tub.
He kissed her neck, working his head down her body. He kissed and licked as she worked her hands through his hair. Harry didn't feel anxious or shy anymore; instead he felt exhilarated and free. He worked his way to her breasts, cupping each in his hands. He thumbed each nipple, making them hardened, her skin rosy and puckered from his touch. He kissed the underside of each one and then moved his head to take her into his mouth. Ginny moaned softly as he lavished his tongue on her, and she rocked backwards slightly, pulling him with her. Harry wrapped his arms around her, his hands against her back. He kissed and licked his way from one breast to the other, loving the small freckles he found on the way between each.
"Harry," Ginny said softly, causing him to stop and look up at her.
"I think the water is ready for us. Do you want to get in?"
What Harry wanted to do was to remove her knickers and really explore all of her with his tongue, but he nodded, and she stood up from the tub, pressing herself against him. The contact of their skin caused his erection to make itself known again, and he thrust against her before he could stop himself. Ginny smiled and kissed him. She put her hands on her hips and lowered her knickers in a small flourish, before turning around and standing on the small steps that led to the top of the tub. He watched as she placed one toe in the water and then quickly slipped in, her body disappearing underneath the purple-tinted water. He removed his boxers, the steamy air from the bath warming his skin. Ginny swam down the length of the tub, dunking her head underneath the water. Harry climbed into the tub, loving the warm and silky feeling as it covered him.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Ginny asked him, swimming back towards him. The tub was just deep enough so that his feet just touched the bottom. Since Ginny was shorter than he was, she had to tread the water to stay afloat. He reached out and pulled her to him, and she rested her legs against his.
"This is what it feels like when I'm...inside you," he whispered, watching her eyes grow wide.
"Does it really?"
"Well, it's wet and warm and hmm..." Harry stopped as Ginny wrapped her legs around his waist, the water making her lighter in his arms. She rubbed against him again, and Harry couldn't stand it any longer. He wanted to be inside of her. Now. The idea of feeling her again while surrounded with the softness of the water made him want to explode just thinking about it.
"Ginny, are...you...do you...need some help?" he asked her, turning so that she was positioned against the side of the tub. He wanted to just plunge himself into her, but he didn't want to hurt her or make her sore.
"I think it's okay," she said, seeing the desire on his face.
Harry moved his hand quickly in between them, hooking her leg tighter around him. He parted her sex with his fingers, the water swirling around them. Ginny bit her lip as he found her centre. He stroked her confidently, pleased that he had found the correct point. Ginny closed her eyes as he rubbed her and arched herself against him.
"Harry, do it now...before I..." Ginny gasped, her voice thick with desire. She tightened her legs around him. Ginny threw her head back against the rim of the tub, and Harry removed his fingers from her. He positioned himself, barely able to hold back from slamming into her. He gripped her roughly in his hands as he entered her. She brought her head back up, and their eyes met as their bodies joined. He pushed forward slightly, and it felt so incredible...so amazing...that he momentarily forgot what he was doing, the pleasure spreading through him. Ginny jerked him forward with her legs, and he thrust again, watching the flicker of pleasure as it crossed her face.
They kissed as they moved, Harry closing his eyes as he concentrated on the feeling of Ginny surrounding him in the water. She did something with the lower part of her body that caused another sensation to flare across him, and he opened his eyes, gasping. She smiled shyly...playfully...and did it again. He heard himself growl and pushed forward, causing her to roughly hit the back of the tub.
"Yes, Harry...like that..." she moaned, and he moved forward again, loving the look of desire on her face. He kissed the side of her neck, causing her to moan softly in his ear. He was suddenly inspired to move his hand in between them as he thrust inside of her again. This time his hand clumsily found her centre, and she opened her eyes, pulling back from him slightly, her expression dazed. He worked his fingers over her as he drove himself into her, feeling her body gathering around him.
The water lapped against them, their bodies causing a small tidal wave of motion. Ginny moaned his name, her eyes shutting once more as she tightened herself around him. Harry knew he didn't have long, that his body was close to emptying itself into her, but he wanted her to come before he did; he wanted to hear her crying out his name, knowing that he had given her pleasure.
He twisted his hips slightly, moving himself inside her as his fingers rubbed her faster. Ginny shook and then cursed out loud as she climaxed. She arched upwards and then back down again, and Harry finally let himself go, pounding into her with his body. His release tore a strangled cry out of his throat, and he bent his head into her shoulder, holding on to her as though she were the one keeping them from sinking.
A few moments later as their hearts and bodies calmed down, he disentangled himself from her, her legs floating gracefully away from him. She hung onto the side of the tub to keep from sinking, and he reached out to steady her. She came into his arms, and he held her.
"Oh Merlin, Harry...that was...absolutely...the best time...yet." She moved her head to look up at him, her hair in her face. He squinted and then moved slightly to the left to find his glasses. He put them on and smiled when he looked at her. Her face was flushed from the steam and...from me, Harry thought to himself. He felt full of pride, suddenly.
"And what are you smiling so broadly for?" she asked him as she tilted her head back, letting the water wash over her hair.
"Nothing," he said smugly and reached around to help her lift her hair out of the water. He noticed the small group of bottles from before and opened one, sniffing at it.
"I think this is shampoo...can I wash you hair?"
Ginny smiled and bit her lip. "If you want."
Harry did want, and he swam behind her, gathering her hair in his hands. He slowly worked the shampoo through it, making sure it was nice and sudsy. Ginny held onto the side of the tub and floated in front of him, her eyes closed. He concentrated on her hair, loving the colour as it fell through his hands, into the water. After he had washed the rest of the shampoo away, Ginny kicked her legs and righted herself, turning around to face him.
"What?" she asked him, noticing the look on his face.
"I love your hair," he said simply.
"Oh...thank you..." Ginny blushed faintly and then shrugged her shoulders. "It's not as nice as some people's."
"I don't care too much about other people's. I just care about yours, really."
Ginny blushed again and then swam away from him, pushing off from the side. She ducked her head under and then came back up again. She treaded water for a few minutes and then smiled at him.
"I can't believe we have a whole month to use this bathtub."
Harry nodded and moved over to where she was floating. "And I can't believe we have a whole month to do this." He kissed her, her lips tasting sweet and clean. She turned and was in his arms again, and he lost himself in the sensation of floating in the water with her. An odd, yet pleasing feeling broke out across his skin, and he moved into her, parting her legs with his own.
"Again, Harry? So soon?" she asked playfully, resting her arms on his shoulders.
"Got a problem with that, Miss Weasley?"
She giggled and shook her head. They kissed again, twirling slowly in the water. Harry felt as though he was drowning inside the girl in his arms, and it was a feeling he gladly welcomed.
"Ah, let's try it the old fashioned way, this time," Ginny said as they pulled apart to breathe. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"On good old-fashioned solid ground?" Ginny said, laughing.
"Ah. Okay. I am getting a bit..." Harry held up his hands, noticing the wrinkled skin.
"Pruny?"
"Yeah."
Ginny laughed, and they both turned toward the end of the tub to get out. They wrapped themselves into two big towels and picked up the rest of their clothing. Ginny tossed her clothes into the corner and Harry did the same. They both lay back on the bed, looking at each other.
Harry couldn't believe how happy he felt. Nothing before in his life even compared to this; getting accepted to Hogwarts, flying for the first time...even that moment when he thought he was leaving the Durselys' in his third year, when Sirius had asked him to live with him, compared to this. Nothing matched the incredible sense of joy when he looked at Ginny. It awed him, and he felt scared suddenly at losing it. At how close he may have come to never knowing it at all, because he'd been so thick about things.
Ginny sat up suddenly and looked around. "Where did I drop my robe?"
Harry sat up too and looked around. "Oh, you mean, other than besides on my head? I think it's still in the living room."
Ginny laughed and then jumped up from the bed, hopping off to the living room. A moment later she was back, holding the small book he'd looked at before. She smiled shyly at him.
"Want to try something new?"
"Er, didn't we just do something new?"
Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and climbed back onto the bed, her towel slipping slightly. Harry stared at the bare patch of skin he could see and licked his lips.
"Well, we can do something...newer." She made a face at him and then flipped the book open, seemingly looking for something specific.
"Er, Gin...how much of that book have you read?"
She glanced at him. "A fair bit. Well, not all of it. But...some...let's try this, Harry."
She held the book out to him, and Harry read the brief description, his skin feeling warm.
"Um...that looks..."
"It looks delicious," Ginny said, teasingly. She handed him the book and scooted forward, letting the towel drop even more. She put a hand on his face, bringing his eyes back up to her face. "You know how I'm always hungry, Harry."
Harry felt his skin heat at the implication, and he looked at the picture in the book again. He nodded and let her push him back down to the bed. She curled in next to him and kissed him lightly. She planted wet kisses along his jaw, and he groaned as she pulled the towel off of him. She lay back and took the book back from him, flipping it open again.
"Now how do you want to do it? Side by side or...do you want me to get on top of you or...do you want to try the hanging off the side of the bed variation?"
She held the book so that they both could see the pictures, and Harry felt himself respond. He cleared his throat because his mouth felt dry.
"Er...let's try the...um...side by side?" He looked down at her, hoping he had picked the right one.
Ginny smiled and closed the book, propping herself up on her arms. She looked down at him, smirking.
"Do you think we both have the force of mind to ah...pull it off?" She removed her own towel, and Harry had a hard time focusing on what she was saying.
"Um...yeah...certainly...we...um...do."
Ginny shook her head and muttered the word 'boys' underneath her breath. She lay the opposite direction from his head, settling in at his waist. Facing him, her eyes were suddenly drawn to his middle region.
"Harry?" she said quietly, glancing up at him.
"Hmm?" Harry was having a hard time concentrating, he had to admit, what with that part of Ginny in front of him.
"Let's always enjoy being young. You amaze me with this..." she reached out and put a hand around him, causing his semi-hardness to grow into something more.
"It's a deal," Harry said as he reached out and parted her legs. Ginny bent her leg at the knee, giving him access. He took off his glasses and moved his head closer to her, smelling her scent. He touched her gently as she began to stroke him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The next moment he felt the soft and warm wetness of Ginny's mouth around him, and his fingers stumbled as they rubbed her. He concentrated on ignoring the already burgeoning heat inside of him as she worked her mouth down the length of his shaft. He pulled her lower body to his face and moved his tongue in between her legs, tasting the sweetness there. Ginny pulled her mouth away from him as he found her centre and he used his fingers to open her up more, to give him more room. Ginny moaned, and he lifted her leg in his hands, pulling it over his shoulder. Suddenly, he felt her mouth on him again and smiled against her as she sucked at him with more vigor. Not to be outdone, Harry used his thumb inside of her as he twirled his tongue around her. He could tell how ready she was by the warmth of her juices and opened his jaw wider as he licked at her.
Ginny said his name reverently and then gave up on her own part of the bargain, lying back against the bed. Harry moved slightly and wrapped her legs around his head as he settled in between them. Ginny twisted underneath him, her desire apparent as her moans became louder. He didn't think he had ever heard anything as sexy as she was at that moment. She gasped, a low growl escaping her throat as he fingered her again, moving in and out of her as his tongue swirled over her. She bucked as she came, her body pulling his fingers into her. Harry continued to kiss her, tasting her desire with pleasure. He finally pulled away and lowered her legs, painfully aware that she had given up on his release. But still, it didn't matter.
He found his glasses and put them back on, moving up to look down at her.
"Er...what happened to my part of it there?"
Ginny's eyes opened, and she smiled at him, shrugging. "I um...well, really, Harry. I don't have the powers you do."
Harry laughed and kissed her gently. "Nonsense. All it takes is con...cen...tra...tion." He kissed a part of her on each part of the word, loving the pink tint of her skin.
Ginny wrapped her hands around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. "Oh, really?"
She pulled him down to lie on top of her, careful not to touch his arousal with her skin. She locked her legs in between his and turned them over, so that she was the one looking down on him.
"Concentrate on this, Harry."
She laid herself on top of him, her skin intimately touching his. Harry felt a million things at once and then only wanted one thing: more.
She pressed her feet on top of his, shifting so that she was inside his legs. Harry remembered what he had read in the book and knew then that description could never match the actual doing part of it. Ginny rubbed herself against him and saw the dazed expression on his face. She moved a finger around his chest, teasing him.
"I want to take control this time, will you let me?" she asked him, her brown eyes shining at him. Harry nodded, suddenly unable to trust his voice.
Ginny propped herself up and looked down at him. She kissed him gently and then brought her legs to rest along side him, scooting forward so that she could sit gently on top of him. She must have seen something in his eyes because she bent down, licking her way across his jaw, her mouth sucking on his neck. She reached his ear and nibbled on his ear lobe.
"Do you want me to take control, Harry?" she whispered, her voice causing his skin to react.
Harry nodded and then realized she couldn't see him. "Yes," he croaked out, suddenly aware that he needed her to do to him whatever she wanted to do. He was like clay in her hands...waiting to be moulded...waiting to be made into something new. Ginny pulled her mouth away and then reached for the wand they'd placed on the table. She muttered the Contraceptive Charm and then raised his hands above him. She placed a binding over them, and he gave her a questioning look.
"I don't want you trying to help me."
Harry felt a thrill of excitement course through him and nodded. Suddenly he was very aware of how hard he was, and how wet Ginny still was from his mouth. She rubbed herself against him and then moved even lower, so that she was positioned above his arousal. She looked at him and then slowly lowered herself onto him, causing them both to gasp out loud.
"Oh, my..." Ginny said softly. "It's...so...much...deeper." He watched as she closed her eyes as she brought her legs closer to his body, making it fit tighter. She bit her lip at the sensation.
"Ginny...if it hurts...don't..."
She cut him off with one look, her eyes wide and full of heat. She moved forward slightly, and they both looked at each other in wonder. She rested her arms on his chest and did it again, grunting out loud as Harry answered with a movement of his own.
"Oh Merlin...Harry...this is amazing. Do you feel that?"
Harry felt everything. Her body closed around his as she moved, finding a rhythm that was absolutely brilliant as far as he was concerned. He wanted to hold her, but couldn't move his arms, so he bucked upwards again, thrusting into her. Ginny gasped and threw her head back. Her breasts swayed slightly from the movement, and Harry watched her, transfixed. Ginny moved over him, taking him in deeper with each thrust forward of her body. Her hands moved upwards and she cupped her own breasts, rubbing their peaks as she moved up and down. Harry felt his control begin to slip. He must have growled out loud because she opened her eyes and looked down at him.
"Do you like what you see, Harry?" she asked him, her voice low and untamed. "Do you want to touch me? Or do you want me to keep fucking you?"
Harry grunted and cursed, feeling his desire for her spreading inside of him. He felt a strange, but pleasing warmth in his body. It was white hot behind his eyes, and suddenly he felt an intensity of heat around his arms. He heard a popping noise somewhere. His desire rocketed through him, the need to hold Ginny strong in his mind. He growled and was suddenly wrapping his hands around her waist, pulling her down onto him as he thrust upwards. Ginny gasped in surprise, shock on her face as he held her to him. But he was far too gone to realize what he'd done, and he worked his hand in between her legs even as he began to come, exploding deep within her. He rubbed furiously at her centre and a moment later she too was crying out, collapsing on top of him, her body contracting around him.
They lay that way for a long while, holding onto each other as though each were afraid to let go. Ginny finally raised her head and looked at him, her expression awed.
"Do you realize what you did?
Harry sighed and shook his head. He felt as though reality was returning to some part of his brain. He didn't understand why making love to Ginny seem to make him lose some part of himself.
"Harry."
The tone of her voice made him focus his eyes on hers. She rested her chin on his chest, touching his cheek gently.
"Your hands, Harry. Where are they?"
Harry startled, suddenly aware that he was holding her.
"Did you release the spell?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, Harry. You did. Somehow. Without your wand or anything. There was a bright white glow around your hands and then you were grabbing hold of me, growling at me. It was...it was incredible and scary both at the same time. Don't you remember?"
Harry frowned and moved underneath her, lifting her off of him. He sat up and looked at his hands. They still felt strangely warm and tingly, as though they'd been asleep, and he'd had to shake them to get them to work again.
"I remember a bright light in my head. And then I was warm and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around you...so that's what I did."
Ginny just looked at him, as though afraid. He suddenly felt an odd feeling in his stomach, and his head had begun to hurt. Badly.
"Don't look at me like that," he said quietly, turning away from her. He felt strange inside. A moment later, he felt her hand on his back.
"I'm sorry...it's just...what you did was a bit surprising, my love. It..." Ginny's voice trailed off. Neither one of them said anything for a moment, and then Harry moved off of the bed, looking for his clothes.
"Harry?" Ginny asked, sitting up, her voice full of worry.
"I'm going to into the living room for awhile. Let me know when you're not too scared of me." He said stiffly, pulling on a robe and grabbing his jeans. The throbbing in his head had reached its peak, and Harry suddenly had the sense that his head was no longer his alone.
He wasn't surprised when Ginny didn't try to stop him.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Author's Note: Sorry for the cliffie. :) Okay, Sioda, in case you were wondering, is pronounced shee-da and it means 'silk', in Gaelic. Brogan on the other hand, means scribe and is a form of Broccan, who I believe was an Irish king. The last name of Cosgrove actually means 'victor or champion'. And of course, the mysterious Aine (Aw-nee), her name actually means brilliance, light and joy and she was/is known as the queen of the fairies, especially in and around Munster. And probably no one cares about that except nerds like me. *grins* The latin that was used in the passage regarding the entry through the gate is actually from a song by Enya, and it seemed quite appropriate for that particular scene. Brogan broke it down correctly by the way; such a smart boy.