Hi guys, how did you like the last chapter? Sorry that updates are so slow atm, but life really is hectic. I currently have two jobs and have to do lots of coursework in between them , doesn't leave much time to get the creative juices flowing I'm afraid. I have finally passed the 20,000 reads mark, free lightning bolt choc chip cookies to all my readers yay :)

Anyway here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy this little bit of Harry/Ginny bonding time. For those of you who love the Harry/Ginny pairing you'll be happy to know that I plan to have more of these bonding moments in his third year. They will get together, but not until halfway through his fourth year. It's a scene I have had written for months and was one of the first chapters I wrote for this story.

Please read and review. I love to hear what you guys think of this story. I know that things are different from the Canon world but that's why AU is so great. You can change things around, make the story truly yours. I know that I've had a few people say that I'm just going through the books, but I'm not I promise. The main canon events from the books will still happen, but if I haven't changed them, then I won't write about it. I will allude to it but never write it, we've all read the books a million times so I think we know what really happens. The only thing I will write about is if that part of canon has been changed to fit my AU story, for example the carriage scene in his third year. It was similar, but very different. I hope this clears up any misunderstandings that anyone has had.

without further ado I present to you...

An Evening With Ginny

After the feast Harry followed the others back to the common room. The fat lady was currently trying to show off her singing voice and refused to let the third years into the common room.

Harry looked across to Seamus and Dean, both who had covered their ears with their hands and rolled his eyes at them. They both smirked at him.

"Fortuna Major," he huffed causing the two boys to laugh.

"No, Wait, wait," she said holding up her hand and continuing her attempt at singing. Harry couldn't help but imagine that it sounded like his cousin in the shower, but he really didn't want to think about his cousin in the shower. He shook his head and watched as the fat lady pretended to break the glass.

"Oh, Amazing. Just with my voice," she told everyone. Harry groaned.

"Fortuna Major," he said sternly, trying not to lose his temper.

"Yes, all right, all right you can go in." The portrait swung open revealing the corridor to the Gryffindor common room.

Harry stepped into the corridor, Seamus in step with him. "she's still doing it, after three years, I mean..." Seamus nodded his head in agreement.

"I can't believe she still does that..."

"She can't even sing!" they both finished. The same thing had happened ever since Colin Creevey had complimented her on her singing once, and that was just to get her to shut up. It obviously didn't work and now she was ten times worse.

Harry looked across to Hermione and Ginny who were just entering the common room, he indicated to them that he was heading off to bed and understanding his meaning the group started to disperse, everyone going into their separate dorms. Harry stifled a yawn as he climbed the stairs. All the heavy food from the feast had made him really sleepy. Fighting another yawn he reached his four poster bed and reached down to his trunk to get his pyjamas out. He quickly pulled them on, pausing to give Hedwig a quick stroke, making sure she had arrived safe and healthily at Hogwarts. Satisfied that Hedwig was ok, he said a quick goodnight to Ron, who was already half asleep and pulled the curtains around his bed. He settled down into the covers and closed his eyes.

"NOT HARRY, PLEASE NO, TAKE ME, KILL ME INSTEAD –"

"This is my last warning-"

"NOT HARRY! PLEASE … HAVE MERCY …NOT HARRY PLEASE – I'LL DO ANYTHING…"

"Avada Kedavra."

Harry sat back up, breathing hard. He hated having that dream, the green light always made him feel really sick. He heard the quiet breathing of his dorm mates sleeping soundly next to him and found that after watching his mother's death again, he couldn't bring himself to sleep again.

He quietly slipped out of bed, pulling on his dressing gown to keep warm. He made his way down to the common room where he was looking forward to sitting in front of the fire, watching the flames dance always seemed to make him relax.

At first sight the common room looked empty, but a second look showed that one person had already had his idea to sit by the fire. It was Ginny. He wondered if he could get back up to the dorm without disturbing her, when she turned to face him. He got a glimpse of her face, her eyes were puffy and tears were rolling down her face. He felt the need to go and comfort her, he wanted to let her cry into his shoulder and hold her until she felt better. He saw her make as to stand up and leave. He shook his head and walked over to her, he sat on the sofa and gave Ginny a small smile.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked. She wiped her eyes and shook her head.

"Every time I close my eyes, I see the Dementor and I hear such horrible things. I was really scared. I felt like I was back in the chamber again, I could hear his voice, telling me what to do, ordering me to do his bidding." Her voice shook and more tears rolled down her face. Harry immediately put his arms around her, bringing her into his chest. He rubbed her back as she sobbed into his pyjama top, all the while comforting her with small words.

"I'm sorry Ginny, I didn't realise that you would feel those things from the Dementor, that they would make you relive that experience. Ginny, I would give anything for you to never go through that again. Dementors are one of the nastiest creatures you'll ever meet, they have the ability to suck all the happiness from you, leaving only your worst nightmares and experiences. That's why they guard the wizard prison Azkaban, anyone who ever go there ends up insane or dead. Even the strongest person can be affected by them, so don't in any way think your weak, because you're not, you hear me. You, Ginny Weasley are one of the strongest people I know, Voldemort tried to break you, but he didn't manage. You fought him the entire time and here you are, back at Hogwarts, showing him that he hasn't won." He saw Ginny sit up and look at him, her eye's shining from her tears, but the fierce determination now visible. Harry smiled. "There's the Ginny we all know and love." She gave him a small smile. "I know that last year was horrible, and that the memories are still fresh, but I promise things will get better. When the Dementor came, you didn't faint did you?" Ginny shook her head. "See your way stronger than I am, I actually ended up passing out," he joked. Ginny punched him in the shoulder.

"You're not weak Harry, you're the bravest person that I know. I don't know why the Dementors affect you differently but it's not because you're weak." Harry gave her a weak smile.

"I guess I fainted because I have true horror's in my past, that no-one, not even Malfoy should be forced to remember," he said quietly. He shivered, remembering the green light coming towards him. He looked back up to see Ginny looking at him inquisitively. He hesitated for a moment, could he really tell her just what the Dementors made him hear, he hadn't even confided in Ron or Hermione yet. Yes he could trust her, she had already revealed to him what the Dementors showed to her, he felt that she deserved to know what the Dementors showed to him. "The Dementors make me relive the worst day of my life, the night that Voldemort killed my parents." He heard Ginny gasp and slowly looked up to see her look at him in horror. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes once more.

"Oh Harry, of all the things I thought you might hear, that was the only one I didn't think about. I'd of thought that you were too young to remember it." Harry stared into the fire, watching the flames dance around the fireplace.

"As long as I can remember I've always had dreams which ended with a green flash, until I came to Hogwarts, I didn't realise that what I was seeing was the killing curse. This summer changed everything though. I went to Godric's Hollow, I saw everything that happened that night. When I was at the house, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I kept getting pulled into memories of my past, my parents really loved me. Up until then, I never had any proof, I have people tell me I look like a mixture of my parents all the time, I've even got pictures of them, but nothing to prove that thy actually wanted me, that they loved me. That day when I was there, I got all the proof I needed. There were so many memories, and all but one of them was happy. The last one was the worst. I watched as the happy life that I had was torn away from me. He killed my dad first, he didn't even have his wand. Voldemort just killed him. What kind of person kills an unarmed person? Then he came after me and mum. We were hiding upstairs in the nursery. There were anti-port key and apparition wards around so we couldn't get out. Mum stood in front of me begging Voldemort to spare me. He offered to let her live if she would just step aside, but she didn't, she refused to leave me, she refused to give in, and then he killed her, right in front of me. Then he came after me." He felt Ginny slip her arms around him, comforting him as he revealed the murder of his parents. "It was so horrible to watch it all happen and know there was nothing I could do to stop it. I see it every night when I sleep, always slightly different but always the same result. With my parents dying to protect me. The dementors are the worst though, they force me to relive it, for nothing more than their sick pleasure." Ginny rubbed the back of his neck."

"I'm sorry Harry, I was worried about you. I wanted to know what made you react so bad to the dementors, but I should have seen it, I should have known. After all everyone knows that day, but to them it's just a celebration of Voldemort's demise. To you, it was the worst day of your life, you lost your parents who loved you so much, and got the short end of the stick by being sent to live with the Dursley's." She looked up at him and gave him a squeeze. "I'm glad you told me though, it means a lot to me that you thought I could handle the truth." Harry nodded.

"I was worried about you too. When I woke up, I saw that you were really pale and shaking, but no-one was really paying any attention to you."

"You were more important…" Harry put a finger against her lips to get her to shut up.

"No one is more important than the other, were all just trying to get through life." He gave her a small smile. "I know that last year was a bit rubbish, but I promise that I'm going to help you make this year a really good one ok?" Ginny nodded her head in agreement, a small smile lighting up her face.

"Can we prank the twins again, please?" she pleaded. Harry laughed and tickled her side causing her to giggle and pull away from him.

"Definitely. I think I should be able to get some ideas from Padfoot." Ginny gave him a confused look. "Padfoot was quite the prankster when he was back in Hogwarts, so was my father. They were both part of a group they called the Marauders. I think between the three of us we can think of something to beat down the twins with." Ginny nodded.

"Do you think that I can meet him?" Harry smiled, glad that Ginny wanted to know his godfather.

"He'd love to meet you, a bit or extra company will cheer him right up. He's not here at the moment. He's trying to limit his magic so it doesn't get tracked by the ministry. He trekking her on paws as Padfoot. He said he hoped he would be here by the end of the first week. I can't wait for him to get here, I already miss him." Ginny gave him a hug and then started to yawn. They untangled themselves from each other, both yawning with exhaustion. "We should probably try to get some sleep," he told her as she nodded in agreement. Harry held out his hand for Ginny to grab and pulled her up to a standing position. "Goodnight Ginny." She gave him a small smile before kissing him on the cheek. Stepping back she made her way to the stairs. As she reached them she turned around.

"Thank you Harry, I don't know how you do it, but I always feel loads better after our talks. Try and get some sleep Harry, see you at breakfast." She then disappeared up the stairs, heading for her dorm. Harry blinked and put his hand on his cheek where she had kissed him and blushed. Ginny 2-0 Harry. When he had started keeping a tally of the number of kisses Ginny gave him he didn't know, but he was glad that he had helped her, and maybe she had helped him too. He glanced up at the stairs and gave a small smile before making his way to the boy's dorm. Ginny was right, maybe he could get to sleep now.

So? what did you think? Any good? Please drop a review, my muse likes to read them very much!