Disclaimer: I think you can guess it…

A/N- It makes me happy to know people are actually reading my fic… and enjoying it! It makes me soooo happy that I'm going to keep writing whenever I can sneak a pencil and paper. Yes, I do write the chapters really quickly, so I hope it's not ruining the plot any. Okay, that's enough for now. I'm planning on updating Incest and Masochism soon and putting two fics up on my co-writing account: Semi-Automatic Grandmas. Therefore, Of Slaps and Blood will be moved to that account AND updated tonight! Wo, sorry for the the pluggage!

Chapter Eight- Dark Again

It was darker than night. The stars were veiled by heavy storm clouds and almost all the castle's lights were out. Ginny had to use her wand to even find the tallest tower and when she did, she decided not to sit by the edge. It was so dark she couldn't even distinguish where the edge was so sitting there would be a tad precarious.

Claps of thunder sounded one after another, signifying the intensity of the approaching storm. Out in the darkness, she saw a tip of light drawing closer then heard feet landing on the roof and a broom being set down. The light went out and someone walked towards her. She felt a foot run into her leg and a loud THUNK as someone fell over.

Ginny stifled laughter and crawled over to him, moving her hands up his body until she found his face. Carefully, she leaned over to kiss his cheek, but missed and kissed an eye instead. His hands found her waist and he pulled her on top of him. All awkwardness and nervousness to be in such a position diminished when she felt him reach up and stroke her hair. Her hood was not up, but what did it matter now that it was so dark she couldn't see her own hand right in front of her nose? She settled down, laying her head on his chest and putting her hands in his. He immediately pulled one hand free and continued to twine his fingers through her hair.

Rain began to fall steadily from the sky and the temperature seemed to drop significantly. He chuckled when he heard her sigh rather loudly and he gently rolled her off of him. Before she could move away he turned on his side, pulled his big cloak over her so it would cover the both of them, and wrapped his arms around her securely.

Ginny wiggled up a bit so she could rest her head next to his. Their noses brushed and she felt hot breathing in her face. It smelled like… parchment? How could someone's breath smell like paper?

He buried his head in her hair and she reached up. His hair was straight and fine, not really long but not very short either. Harry. Neville.

He started to trail kisses down from her ear to her neck. His lips were firm, but gentle as they pressed against her warm flesh. Harry. Neville.

She pressed closer to him and he rolled over on top of her, still kissing her neck passionately. Her hands were running through his hair. Harry. Neville.

Cold hands moved under her shirt to feel her burning skin. Harry. Neville.

A flash of lightning, all she could see was white. Harry-

It was dark again.

Someone shook Hermione to wake her. "What?" she asked blearily. It was a sixth year girl.

"The storm… it woke me up," she began.

"You're scared of storms?" Hermione asked.

"No, it's not that! I woke up and Ginny- she wasn't there!"

"Jesus Christ!" Hermione cursed, rolling out of bed. As prefect, it was her job to deal with this kind of stuff. She made her way down to the Gryffindor common room, but immediately tried to hide when she saw Harry sitting by the fireplace.

"Look Hermione, it's Harry!" the sixth year said.

Hermione wanted to hex the stupid girl. Harry turned and looked over at her, concerned. "Why are you two up at this hour? Is something wrong?" Harry slowly rose to his feet.

Hermione stepped in front of the girl so she wouldn't say anything. "Nothing's wrong Harry, she just needed help with something."

Smart as Harry was, he walked over to them, eyes narrowed suspiciously, and addressed the girl. "Why? What happened?"

The girl suddenly seemed shy and Hermione rolled her eyes, was everyone in love with Harry? "Ginny," the girl murmured, "she's not in her bed."

Harry glanced angrily at Hermione before marching up to the girl's dormitory. "Harry!" Hermione hissed, running after him, "You can't go up there!"

He continued up the stairs, "I'm finding Ginny!"

Hermione ran faster and threw herself in front of him just as he was entering the dormitory. "No Harry, you are not allowed up here," she said sternly, blocking the doorway.

"When did you become such prat?" Harry yelled in her face.

She winced at the volume and pushed him back down the stairs forcefully. Surprisingly, he complied and let her drag him back downstairs. "Harry," she said softly, "go check the boy's dorm to see if any of the boys are missing, okay?" Then she turned to the girl and said, "You may go back to sleep now and thanks for getting me."

The girl hesitated, nodded, and then trudged off to her room. Hermione took to pacing back and forth until Harry returned, shaking his head.

"No one's gone, they're all asleep."

"Shit," Hermione mumbled. "What do we do?"

"Let Dumbledore know?"

Hermione snorted, "Bad idea Harry."

Harry looked confused but didn't ask because just then the sixth year girl came running back down the stairs with a very angry looking Ginny racing after her. "She's back Harry!" she cried.

Ginny stopped short when she saw Harry and Hermione gaping at her. She was absolutely soaking wet, her hair completely messed, her clothes rumpled, and her blouse slightly open. Harry strode up to her quickly, "Where the bloody hell where you!" He nearly screamed.

Ginny winced just as Hermione had, "No-nowhere Harry…" she stuttered, looking mildly terrified. Harry was here, inside, dry and warm. Neville…

"Nowhere?" his face was turning a deep red. "Tell me where you went Ginny! Outside?"

Hermione looked scared, glancing from Harry to Ginny. She quietly ushered the girl back to her room.

"Yes, Harry, just outside. That was all, I-" Ginny looked fit to faint.

Suddenly Harry grabbed her roughly in an embrace, cutting off her sentence. Ginny immediately struggled out of his arms and he stepped away from her, shocked and hurt.

"Ginny-" he rasped, reaching towards her.

Ginny nearly fell backwards away from his hand, "No Harry."

"Ginny, I-"

Ginny turned and ran back up to her room, stumbling the whole way. Hermione was speaking quietly to the sixth year when she entered, but turned to look at Ginny reproachfully. "What's happened, Ginny?"

Ginny was shaking violently. "Harry- I thought he…" she trailed off, trying to swallow her tears.

Hermione put an arm around her and led her over to her bed. "Just relax now Ginny," she said, forcing her to sit down. Hermione flicked her wand, whispering something, and Ginny was dry. Hermione then wrapped a blanket around her and put a heating spell on it. "Sleep now Ginny," she ordered. "We can talk in the morning if you want to."

Once Hermione had left, Ginny lied down exhausted, ignoring the other girls who were now all awake and staring at her. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep and troubled sleep.

Harry-