The day was crisp and clear, the sky a robin egg blue, with white fluffy clouds dancing along with the breeze. The ground was hard and the frozen winter grass crunched underneath their feet as they walked toward Ottery St.Catchpole. Stoatshead Hill was to the left of the village and that was where Ginny's Portkey was set to depart.

Harry surreptitiously studied Ginny as they walked. She'd been quiet since they'd left the Burrow and Harry wondered if she might be thinking of a way to start a conversation between them. Her eyes would dart toward him momentarily and then she'd look straight ahead and her front teeth would worry her bottom lip. Harry had a feeling that whatever she wanted to talk about would be unsettling for her.

He coughed and Ginny looked at him.

"I haven't been this way in years. I think the last time was when I went to the Quidditch World Cup with your family," He said quietly.

"It has been years," Ginny agreed, then laughed. "Why do I feel so strange with you? It's not like I haven't known you for years."

"I don't know. Could it be that you're the big Quidditch star and I'm the lowly Auror chasing ex-Death Eaters?" Harry replied, a grin spreading across his face.

"Oh you!" Ginny exclaimed, elbowing Harry in the ribs. Harry stumbled, but caught himself. Ginny was stronger than she looked. Actually, she was one of the strongest people he knew, both physically and mentally. Her only fault was her temper. And Merlin forbid that he ever got her riled!

She pushed her hair behind her ear and turned towards him with a mischievous look on her face. "I'd race you to the hill, but this Quidditch star doesn't want to embarrass the lowly Auror."

Harry could see the nervous twitch in her stride. "You're on!" He cried and raced off as if his life depended on it, his knapsack banging against his back as he ran.

"Cheat!" Ginny yelled and darted after him.

Harry risked a glanced behind him as he ran. She was close behind and starting to catch up with him. If he could jump the low stone fence just ahead of them, he'd gain a few more seconds on her. He ran faster, his legs pumping hard beneath him, the cold air stabbing his lungs as he dashed onward.

Harry heard her right behind him. Suddenly, there was a muffled thump.

"Oooowwww," Ginny cried.

He slowed to a stop and turned around, panting. Ginny was on the ground, clutching her ankle, her face screwed up in pain. Harry jogged back to her and squatted down beside her.

"What happened?"

"I found a mole hole," Ginny said, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh shite, this hurts!" she said, her hands wrapped around her ankle.

"Do you want me to go back and get your mum?"

"Oh, Gods no. It's not that bad really. It just caught me off guard," Ginny replied

"You're sure? It looks like you twisted it pretty good," Harry said.

"Harry," Ginny replied, giving him an exasperated glare, "I want to go home." She moved her ankle gingerly. "Look, I've got some No-Swell potion at home and a couple of ice packs. That'll take care of it. It's not a big deal, I've had worse,"

"Well, come on then," Harry said extending his hand to help her up.

She grabbed his hand and he started to pull her up. "Ow!" she exclaimed, "I think you're going to have to help me a bit. It's worse that I thought."

"No problem," Harry said wrapping an arm around her waist. "Just take it easy, okay?"

Ginny limped and Harry walked toward the hill in silence. It was almost like old times, only instead of a walk around the Black Lake, it was a trek to Stoatshead Hill.

"I…" they both said in unison, then laughed, Harry's chuckle a deep counterpoint to Ginny's light giggle.

"Ladies first." Harry laughed and mock bowed, almost throwing them both off balance.

"You of all people should know I'm not a lady." Ginny giggled, giving him a poke in the ribs.

"Stop that or I'll drop you!"

"You wouldn't," Ginny said, a threatening look on her face.

"Would too!" Harry laughed and then let go. Ginny staggered, fell to her knees, her outstretched hands stopping her fall.

"You're a real shite, Harry."

"You're right, I am. Sorry Gin," Harry said soberly as he reached out to help her up. But, Ginny had other ideas. She grabbed his hand and pulled and then rolled into his legs. Harry flew over her and landed hard on his arse.

Ginny laughed and Harry wasn't sure if it was because of the startled look on his face at being thrown by a girl, or because he'd almost landed in frozen cow manure.

"Even?" Harry asked, scrambling over to sit next to her and away from the frosted cow dung.

"Even," Ginny agreed giving Harry a little shove.

"Don't start."

"I'm not! Give me a hand and I'll behave," Ginny said before breaking into giggles.

Harry got to his feet and helped Ginny up. He brushed the twigs off her pants and then wrapped his arm around her waist again. She grasped him tightly around the waist as they started walking.

"Ready?"

"Yeah," She said and then cleared her throat.

"Harry?"

"Hmm…"

"I've missed you," Ginny said quietly. "We used to have so much fun, and sometimes I just wonder…"

Harry nodded, and although s little voice in his head was telling him he shouldn't ask, he did. "What? What do you wonder?"

Ginny looked up, a wistful expression on her face. She shook her head and looked away for a moment. When she turned back, she replied quietly, "I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if we'd stayed together."

Harry felt her arm tighten around his waist. "Oh, I don't know, we would have fallen out of love and probably hexed each other, eventually," Harry said lightly giving her a little squeeze and a quick smile.

Ginny laughed and then said quickly. "Oh, don't get me wrong. I love Neville. He's a good man. Not always the most exciting, but he loves me, and I him. But sometimes I just wonder if things would have turned out differently if we'd stayed together instead of breaking up after Professor Dumbledore's death."

Harry helped her over the stone fence, setting her on the top, then vaulting over himself. He pulled her off gently and set her on the ground. "It wouldn't have worked. I sort of knew then. It's hard to explain, but Ginny, I did love you in a way. Just not the right way," Harry sighed and brushed a lock of hair away from her face and over her ear. "I still think of you as the little sister I never had."

"Well, as the little sister you've never had, I want to know. What's going on between you and Malfoy? I sort of overheard you and Mum in the kitchen this morning, so spill."

"Only if you tell me what's going on between you and Neville. I sort of overhead you and your mum in the kitchen last night," Harry admitted.

"I don't know how often I've told Mum that that corridor was the perfect hidy-hole to overhear private conversations." She looked at him expectantly. "Well, go on, tell me what's up with the ferret?

"Well, the ferret as you so nicely call him, has a new mistress: work. It's everything to him. He's always running here, going there, doing this and that. We've hardly spoken more than except for a quick hello here and a goodbye there," Harry said grimly.

"Merlin, Harry, you sound like Moaning Myrtle. At least you know what your partner is doing. Neville has been working a lot, too. But the thing of it is that he's so secretive about it. I haven't a clue what's going on." Ginny stopped and looked up into Harry's eyes. Her gaze was distant, and Harry heard the bitter chill behind her words. "I've already lost someone before, and this time I'd like to know what I'm up against before I lose Neville."

"You're not going to lose him. He loves you. I can see it in the way he looks at you," Harry said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. Sometimes, a person needed to hear that they were loved. Those few simple words had brought a smile back to Ginny's face.

Harry felt a shiver run down his back. The sky had grayed and there was now a hint of snow in the air, but that wasn't why he had shivered. Did Draco feel the same way about him? It was a disconcerting thought and Harry mentally shook his head. Thoughts like that only made him insecure. Still, the troubling thought arose: if Draco cared for him, why hadn't he tried to find him? Harry had been gone for four days now and if Draco had taken off for that length of time, Harry would have tracked him down. Surely, Draco would have reasoned that he would have gone to the Weasleys first. Possibly Hogwarts next, as it was his first real home. He surely wouldn't have thought that Harry would have gone to the Dursleys. A hint of a smile twitched around his mouth. The thought of Draco Malfoy, former Slytherin, dressed in his customary low-slung black jeans and form-fitting tee that hugged every ripple on his stomach, the very image of a walking wet dream, at Uncle Vernon's doorstep… well, it would be interesting to say the least! But what if…

"Earth to Harry!" Ginny laughed, waving her hand before Harry's face. "You've got the funniest look on your face. What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing. Everything. And what do you mean I have a funny look on my face? I was just thinking," Harry said.

"Ah, no wonder. I don't think I've ever seen you do that before," Ginny chuckled.

Harry laughed and offered her his arm. They should head on up the hill before it started snowing. The wind had picked up and was ruffling Harry's hair. Ginny threaded her arm though his and they started up the hill. It was a gentle incline and Harry had no problem with it, but Ginny's mouth was pressed into a thin line.

"Is your ankle hurting a lot?" Harry asked, slowing.

"A bit, but let's keep going,"

"You know, it would have been a lot easier if we'd just Apparated," Harry said, pausing to adjust his knapsack.

"Apparation isn't good for the baby," Ginny said matter-of-factly.

"WHAT?"

Ginny turned, a huge smile on her face and Harry grabbed her in a bear hug. "I'm pregnant," she whispered into his neck as his arms tightened around her.

"Oh my God, I'm going to be an uncle, sort of," Harry said in amazement mixed with laughter.

"Yes, you are. Now let go, you're squishing me!" Ginny giggled and twisted out of Harry's hug. He still had her hands and held her at arm's length studying her.

"Oh God," Harry repeated, shaking his head, still smiling. Little Ginny pregnant? His goofy grin faded, but what about Neville and what he'd overheard? "Neville knows?" he asked.

"He knows. In fact, he said I ought to visit Mum since I 'wasn't myself'. Which in Neville-speak means I was being peevish and crabby. Mum said it was all hormones."

"So everything's alright between you two then?" Harry asked, still worried.

"Oh yes! It's just sometimes I start imaging things, and well, Mum explained it all to me. She said she was convinced Dad was messing about at the office when she was pregnant with Ron. Turned out he was collecting parts for the car. You remember? The Anglia?"

"How could I forget?" Harry said with a laugh. The wind whipped Ginny's hair about her face like long fingers of flame. Her face glowed with happiness as she looked at him. She'd been radiant the day of her wedding, but this didn't even compare. Soft white snowflakes swirled around them. It was a magical moment, more so than any other Harry had experienced before. He couldn't help staring at her.

"Harry," Ginny said hesitantly, as she moved closer into his loose embrace and laid her gloved hand upon his cheek. The leather was warm against his cold skin, and he couldn't help but lean into her soft caress. "I wanted to tell you something and I didn't want to tell you back at the Burrow. I'm sure someone would have overheard me," she said with a little chuckle. She gazed at Harry and smiled wistfully. "I love you Harry, always have, always will. So, if Malfoy is the one for you, don't let your pride stop you from making up with him." She stood on her tip-toes and planted a soft kiss on Harry's cheek, than patted it, as if making sure it would go to his heart. "It's the one thing I've learned from Neville."

Harry felt a flush spread across his wind-chapped cheeks. "You're a wise woman, Ginny Weasley," he said gruffly, his voice threatening to crack from emotion.

"Longbottom."

Harry nodded and reached for her hand. "We ought to be going. Don't want to have my future niece's or nephew's mum catch cold."

"I'm fine, but I want to get back. Neville owled me last night and gave me his schedule. And…" she said with a sparkle in her eye, "he's made reservations at this Cuban restaurant down on Hoxton Square."

"Oh? I've heard of that one. It's very nice," Harry said, his emotions now under control.

"I've got an idea! You could come with us! Maybe even owl Malfoy and have him join us," Ginny said, excitedly.

"But I don't know where he is," Harry replied.

"Well, try at least. It'll be fun. Almost like old times."

"Alright."

They had reached the top of the hill, and Ginny reached into her bag and pulled out a Muggle wristwatch. Its fake leather band was worn and the face was cracked, but all the better for a Portkey. Ginny tightened her grip on Harry's hand and pushed the stem in with her thumb.

Her last words swirled around Harry as did the landscape. "There's never enough time to be with the ones you love, Harry."

Sorry this chapter has taken so long to be written and updated. Real Life decided to kick me in the butt, but thanks to my wonderful Beta, Conny F, and several large doses of caffeine, it's here for your enjoyment! Read and review, please.