Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

It had been a day since Ginny's ordeal in the Chamber of Secrets. Madam Pomfrey had insisted that she be kept in the Hospital Wing for observation and rest.

Her brothers had visited her in the morning. Percy apologised to her repeatedly whilst Fred and George were kicked out for making too much noise and Madam Pomfrey confiscated the toilet seat that they intended to give her.

Ron had visited her as well with Hermione Granger who told her that she didn't blame Ginny in the slightest for her petrification and that she was glad that Ginny was safe. Ron was over the moon to see that Ginny was okay, but Ginny didn't want to discuss what happened to her in the Chamber of Secrets.

Ginny turned bright red when Harry came to visit her that evening. He was no longer covered in blood and slime and his bright green eyes were looking at her with concern. With shaking hands, Ginny set down her mug of hot chocolate, in case she spilt it all over herself.

"Hi, Ginny," Harry said, shuffling his feet awkwardly. "Er- how are you doing?"

Ginny tried to tell him that she was fine, but somehow her voice didn't work due to the intense feeling of butterflies that were bouncing around her stomach at the sight of Harry. So she cleared her throat.

"I'm fine thanks, Harry," she said, her voice louder than usual. "A-a lot more relaxed now that I know I'm not going to be expelled and Professor McGonagall said she would help me catch up with all the work I've missed."

Harry smiled, feeling relieved that Ginny was doing a lot better. He couldn't get the image of her lying unconscious on the floor of the Chamber of Secrets out of his head.

Ginny couldn't help marvelling at how green Harry's eyes were - Green like a fresh pickled toad - They were like glistening emeralds behind his glasses and Ginny felt as if she could look at them all day.

But Harry noticed her looking and Ginny felt herself blush again and Harry smiled at her. She wished she would stop doing that. If only she could have a normal conversation with Harry without looking like a complete fool.

But then again, why would he want to talk to someone like her? Especially after what she had put him through this year. He would probably be interested in someone like Hermione Granger. Guilt bubbled up in her like boiling wax.

"Harry, I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you this year," Ginny said, looking Harry determinedly in the eye. "Being accused of attacking Mrs Norris, everyone thinking that you were the Heir of Slytherin."

"It's not your fault, Ginny," Harry said at once. "I don't blame you, and you had no idea what that diary was capable of. Riddle forced you to do all that stuff, and you weren't the first person he tricked. As Dumbledore said: Older and wiser wizards had been hoodwinked by Voldemort."

Ginny flinched at the name, but couldn't help but feel admiration for him for having the guts to say the name out loud. His courage was what she needed and she vowed to be as brave as Harry so that she would be strong enough and that no one would ever take advantage of her again as Tom Riddle did.

Ginny was overwhelmed with gratitude for Harry's heroic actions. He was far braver than that fraud Lockhart who she disliked for always making Harry feel uncomfortable all the time by making him the centre of attention.

She wanted to express her gratitude to him, but she was afraid of making a fool of herself. But a voice in her head that sounded like her mother's reminded her that Harry had never laughed at her whenever she got clumsy around him. He had always been nice and he would never ridicule her.

So she forced down her fear.

"H-Harry," she said nervously. "Thank you… thank you for… for saving my life."

She smiled at Harry and Harry smiled back, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I couldn't have done it without Ron," he said. "He was worried about you. All of your brothers were. It was miserable in the common room when you were down in the Chamber of Secrets. They were talking about closing the school and we had to do something. Ron never gave up hope that you were still alive."

"My brothers wouldn't leave me alone this morning," Ginny said. "Madam Pomfrey had to get Percy to leave and she confiscated the gift Fred and George sent me."

"It wasn't a toilet seat by any chance?" Harry asked dubiously and Ginny nodded. "That's what they got me last year when I was in here."

Ginny giggled.

"You should take that as a compliment," she said with a small smile. "Not everyone gets a toilet seat from Fred and George. Only family."

Harry's eyes looked brighter than usual and Ginny's smile widened. Harry was pleased to see Ginny smiling again after her terrible year.

He remembered how upset she looked on Valentine's Day when Draco Malfoy had taunted her over that singing valentine. Harry had found it embarrassing at first and it didn't help that Fred and George kept singing it repeatedly in the Gryffindor common room, but it had started to grow on him and thinking back on it, he felt quite touched.

"Malfoy was wrong," Harry said, and Ginny gave him a quizzical look. "Malfoy was wrong when he told you that I didn't like your singing Valentine very much. I-I do like it."

Ginny's face turned bright red again and she was wearing a large smile as happiness swelled up inside her like a balloon. Harry was pleased to see her look so happy and there was a pink tint to his cheeks as he smiled back at her.

Just then, Madam Pomfrey came bustling in to check up on Ginny. She insisted on checking up on Harry as well, but Harry insisted that he was fine, but Madam Pomfrey made him a hot chocolate anyway.

Harry sat with Ginny and both of them were in contented silence as they drank their hot chocolate.

"Do you want to play Exploding Snap?" Harry asked, taking out a pack of cards.

"O-okay," Ginny said, a sly smile creeping on her face. "But just so you know, I'm quite good at it. I think I might give you a run for your money."

"That's okay," Harry said with a grin of his own. "I'd love the challenge."

They spent the next hour playing Exploding Snap, and Ginny was very good at it. Harry had to up his game.

Their laughter echoed throughout the Hospital Wing and Madam Pomfrey heard them from her office. It was nice to hear Miss Weasley having fun for once. She should tell Mr Potter to leave, but she decided to let them continue with their game.

As Dumbledore had told her many years before; sometimes, laughter was the greatest medicine.

For the first time since arriving, Ginny was truly happy at Hogwarts. Maybe - just maybe – Harry would like her the way she liked him. But for now, she was content to play Exploding Snap with him. She was just over the moon that she got to talk to Harry without looking like a complete fool.

Thank you for reading.