DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER

CHAPTER 6: A MOST NEEDED INTERMISSION

Harry woke up Sunday morning a little later than normal. He had spent all night with Ginny and Remus going over the protocol of duels and had already memorized what he would say. It was agreed that they would wait until supper time on Monday so that all the students and teachers could witness the challenge. He looked forward to that moment but he had to make sure that today he kept out of Malfoy's range. He didn't think he could hold back if he saw him today. Remus also came up with an excuse to keep him out of potions class, which happened to be the only class he shared with the ferret that day.

It was 11:00am and Harry was already going stir crazy. He longed to be on his broom riding around the Quidditch pitch but he didn't venture out. He decided to just stare at the fire and was so focused on it that he didn't hear Ginny come down the stairs and sit right next to him.

She put her hands in his and that seemed to wake him up. "Harry let's go take a walk. I think we both need some time alone." She stood up and he followed.

"But Gin, I thought we agreed that I would avoid being outside the common room. I still don't think I could hold myself back if I was to come face to face with him."

"Ah yes, that would be a problem but you will just have to trust me on this one Ok." She gave him one of her most brilliant smiles and he couldn't help but follow her to the ends of the earth if that's what she desired.

They walked along the 7th floor corridor and came to a stop just before the picture of Barnabas the Barmy. "Harry just wait for me here." She left him there and began to pace back and forth. She did this three times and Harry was wondering what she was she doing. Just as he was about to ask a door suddenly appeared and she beamed at him and held her hand out to him. "Well, are you just going to stand there?"

Harry walked towards her and opened the door and was completely shocked. He knew he was walking through a door but he couldn't understand how this door on the 7th floor was leading to Hogwarts Lake. "Gin, this is amazing but how is this possible? What is this place?"

She giggled a bit at him and led him to his favorite oak tree. "Moony told me about this place. He said he and his fellow Marauders found it back in their day."

"Yeah, but Gin what is this place and how …" He just stood there taking in the scene.

"This, Harry, is called the Room of Requirements and this room has the ability to change into whatever the person needs. It can sort of sense your thoughts and will provide whatever you need. Right now I think a blanket and some lunch would be perfect, don't you?" Harry looked down and saw the blanket and lunch basket appear and smiled. "Brilliant, shall we then?"

They spent the afternoon slowly eating their lunch and drinking their butter beer watching the giant squid just floating around the lake. Harry sat with his back against the oak tree and Ginny sat between his legs leaning up against his chest. Harry wrapped his arms around him and wished that every day could be like this. Him sitting on his favorite spot with Ginny in his arms. He didn't know when it happened but the clumsy little girl with the crush on him had turned into this beautiful young lady who was now one of the most important people in his life. Perhaps it was the day she slapped him or it could've been a slow progression but he had her now and he knew he didn't want to let go.

He wrapped his arms around her tighter and he kissed the top of her head. She turned to face him and smiled. His breath was caught when he saw how the sun reflected in her eyes. There were beautiful spots of gold in her chocolate brown eyes and they flickered and danced giving away her emotions. He slowly bowed his head and kissed her so softly and gently but with all the passion he held for her. He hesitantly broke the kiss and just stared into her eyes as if pouring his soul into her. "I love you Harry." He was so caught off guard that he didn't notice when she got up and held her hands to her mouth.

"Harry I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I mean it's too soon and I don't know how you feel and I don't want to pressure you into saying something you don't mean." The tears were starting to gather in her eyes, "I'm so stupid, you know lets just pretend that I didn't say that and try to enjoy…mph.."

Whatever she was going to say was cut off by Harry's mouth against hers. She felt her cheeks become wet with tears but she didn't care. He was kissing her and the rest of the world slowly disappeared. This time she broke the kiss only to realize that the tears on her cheeks were not hers but his. "Harry, I…um, I"

"Ginny, no one has ever said they've loved me before, well not like you do. It just caught me off guard because I, well I never thought I'd be alive to hear someone say that to me. I love you too, I just had a hard time trying to figure out what it was that I felt for you. When you said those words I felt something burn inside me and I felt as if the ice and darkness of my soul melted. I now understand that there is more to live for than just this prophecy and I am determined to defeat Tom. I want to be the one who survives. I need to be the one to survive because I need your love with me all the time."

"I'll be with you always Harry. I'll be with you during the duel with Draco and I'll be with you when you're fighting Tom. No one can stop me. My place will be by your side."

Harry held her hands in his and looked at her. How he hoped that Sirius was looking from the beyond and smiling because he knew how much that old mutt was hoping for an outcome just like this.

Suddenly a Firebolt just like Harry's appeared between them. "Well Mr. Potter, fancy a broom ride?" He took hold of the broom and mounted it. He helped her sit in front of him and made sure she was close to his chest. He took off high into the sky and the rest of the afternoon was spent flying around the castle and the lake.