Hey guys! This is a little bit of a longer chapter with the blow up from Harry and some questions answered. I wanna make a quick note to explain me bringing Harry and Ginny together so soon: it's a personal challenge of mine. I used to write stories and bring couples together very quickly, but after they were together, I couldn't write anymore. This has been a chance for me to bring their romance together and still find a plot afterwards, continuing to write so that my characters grow because stories don't end after the big kiss and get together. This is my first story where I was able to write twenty full chapters.

I love you guys a ton and I thank y'all so much for reviews and dedication to the story! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I do :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

A knock came at Harry's door. He looked up to find Sirius leaning in his doorway, watching him pack a few of his final things. He was wearing a deep frown, his eyes full of pain.

"How was the ballet last night?" Sirius asked softly.

"Surprisingly good," Harry commented dryly. He stopped folding his new dress robes and gave his godfather a sarcastic smirk. "You know, it's yet another surprise in my life that turns positive, despite the appearance of doom."

Sirius' jaw set. "You can't stay mad at me, forever, son."

"I can try," Harry put the robes in and slammed his trunk shut. "You've given me quite the motive."

"Harry, there was no way out of this," Sirius hissed, stepping further into the, for once, clean room. "I've told you that!"

"You could've, I don't know, not signed the fucking contract!"

"You will NOT speak to me that way."

"YOU ENGAGED ME TO A GIRL I DIDN'T LOVE! YOU TOOK AWAY MY CHOICE! MY CHOICE IS THE ONLY THING I'VE GOT AND YOU TOOK THAT FROM ME!"

"I GAVE YOU OPTIONS!" Sirius roared back, pointing threateningly at Harry. "IF I DIDN'T SIGN THAT CONTRACT, YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN. EVEN WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, THAT IS ALL YOU EVER WANTED, WAS TO HAVE YOUR OWN, BLOOD RELATED CHILDREN. I GAVE THAT TO YOU BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I KNEW TO YOU."

"I WAS THREE."

Sirius laughed dryly, throwing his hands up. "You were the only three year old boy I knew playing with a BABY DOLL YOU WERE PROMISING TO NEVER LEAVE."

Harry only fumed.

"Harry, I love you," Sirius choked out, tears welling in his eyes. "Regulus was dead, you were the only Black left, and the contract needed to be signed. The only woman I've ever loved was dead, so I wouldn't be having any children besides you. You were the most important thing to me, and all I ever wanted was to protect you. This contract put you into the magical protection of another family that wasn't me, in case something happened to me. I would be damned if I let Dumbledore send you to the Dursley's, so this made you a part of the Weasley's family and gave you the ability to have your own children."

Harry sunk onto the bed, hands shaking. He ducked his head in an attempt to hide his tears.

"Harry, if I had known about the contract, I would have never adopted you," Sirius said. "But…you were my son. Dumbledore was trying to take you away from me, so I adopted you to make it permanent. Afterwards, I went looking for a particular document in my family vaults and came across the original contract. With my brother gone and me in a life of solitude, I did what I thought was best for you because I was young and I loved you."

"And Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?" Harry continued asking as he looked at the floor. "Why did they agree?"

"Molly and Arthur were desperate to give their children a good future," Sirius explained. He surprised Harry by sitting on the ground in front of Harry, looking up at him sadly. "They were my only real friends left at the time, and they loved you almost as much as I did. When I approached them with the contract, they saw an opportunity to always provide for their children. If something happened to Molly and Arthur, they would come into my care. Even without that, I've been helping them scrape by as much as they allow and providing for the kids whenever necessary. They never accepted money for themselves, only for their kids. You know that Molly's children are the most important thing to her."

"But why send her to Beauxbatons?"

"They sent Ginny to a school where she could learn to fit into our society, Harry. All those balls and parties that you hate so much? Ginny would have been thrust into that world without a shred of hope to be able to handle it. Can you imagine the way she would've handled the press and the politics of high society? This wasn't her world. By growing up somewhere that offered culture, as well as diplomacy and social graces, Ginny is well equipped to handle just about anything. The way she handled the news of the engagement has been with nothing but grace and strength, and is proof that her training paid off."

"And you couldn't tell us when we were younger?"

"Arthur wanted to," Sirius sighed. "He's been reluctant about this whole thing, really. Molly and I, though, wanted you to have the best childhood you could have, free of that kind of burden."

For the first time that evening, Harry felt a warm spark in his heart. "Ginny isn't a burden."

"She is very lovely," Sirius grinned. He reached up and gripped Harry's shoulder. "I am sorry for everything that's happened. I only wanted what was best, and you have every right to be angry with me. Can you possibly find it within yourself to forgive me?"

Harry studied his godfather. He was remorseful, that was for sure. Harry could see the pain in his features and a part of his will crumbled. He brought Sirius into a hug, the two standing to share a long embrace that brought tears to Harry's eyes. "I'm still a little angry with you, but part of me thinks I should look past it. I'm…I'm falling in love with Ginny, and that helps me not be so angry about having her in my life."

"I'm glad you've been able to make the best of this situation," Sirius whispered. He pulled back and looked at Harry sadly. "You're all I've got, Harry."

"I know," Harry said quietly. He examined the sadness in Sirius' eyes. "Sirius, what did happened to Regulus? You never said, and I've always been afraid to ask."

"He wanted to please my parents," Sirius said heavily. "He was a proud little prat, but he was strong and talented. He joined Voldemort while he was still in school, but had a change of heart when I battled a friend of his and almost lost. He was supposed to kill me, and found that he couldn't. Our parents were killed first. When he tried to stop the Death Eaters, he was killed as well. That was right before you were born."

"So he died for a good reason, in the end," Harry half-smiled. "Typical. You couldn't even hate him."

"Rather selfish of him, don't you think?" Sirius smirked. Harry chuckled, and he felt a significant difference in the atmosphere. His guardian kept eye contact, looking haunted, but relieved. "Have you got any more questions?"

"Who was the woman you loved?"

"Someone I'm not quite ready to tell you about yet," Sirius said. "It's a long story for another time, but I will tell you this: she was beautiful, strong, and loved her family more than anything. We couldn't marry because her parents promised her to someone else…"

"Oh that's too much," Harry actually laughed at the irony. "You are probably the biggest arse in the world, Sirius Black."

"You've no idea, you little runt," Sirius smacked the back of his head. "Don't talk to me like that, even if it's true. I don't want to have to kill the only family I've got."

"Yes sir," Harry nodded. "What time are we going to the Weasley's?"

Sirius looked down at his watch. "Ten minutes ago. Hopefully, Molly won't be too angry with me."

)-(

Mrs. Weasley was not angry.

Mrs. Weasley was dealing with her own child.

Ginny had been with her parents that day, going through her old room and remembering bits of her younger years. She found an old picture of her and Harry, looking down to see their younger selves around a small mud pie in a familiar looking garden. She was beaming, with crooked teeth and a horrible haircut, waving her hands at the camera. Harry was digging his hands in the mud, not even aware of someone looking at them. He looked delighted to be exactly where he was, cackling. Ginny remembered the love that she'd had for Harry as a young girl, and smiled at the thought. Her fluttering feelings were still there.

Suddenly, a wave of resentment washed over her. She'd been trying to brush away feelings about what her parents had done. After all, she'd gotten Harry out of the situation, and she was beginning to love him. It was difficult, however, looking at a picture of the girl she use to be while in her old room, to not think of how horrible it had been whenever her parents sent her off. When she'd come back, it was to find herself engaged to be married to someone she had not chosen.

How could her parents do that? They loved her, didn't they?

Tears sprung to her eyes. Ginny's shoulders lost their hold and she slumped onto her old bed. Finally, the dam of emotions broke and she clutched the photo, sobbing into her pillow. Pain tore through her heart. There wasn't so much anger as there was sadness that her parents essentially sold her. Yes, she was given a better life, but her world had been altered at the age of eleven. She remembered the cruel looks from the Beauxbatons ladies and the strict instruction of the professors. They all reprimanded her for the tomboy-ish ways she preferred and ridiculed her for her lack of propriety. If it hadn't been for the blessing of Gabrielle, she would have been utterly alone.

"Ginny?" Molly Weasley said, appearing in her daughter's doorway. Arthur was close behind. They examined their daughter, curled on her bed and sobbing as she clutched an old photograph. "What is it, love?"

"Why did you do this?' Ginny asked, finding her voice. She sat up again, glaring at her parents through blurry tears. "Why did you send me away? I could have been Harry's betrothed from this bedroom, not from a foreign country! I could have learned from Sirius!"

"We wanted a better life for you!" Molly insisted.

"I was terrified!" Ginny yelled, standing up. "How did you not see it? I know that I tried to hide it, to be brave, but I was eleven! I was still a little girl, and you shipped me off so that I could learn languages and dances, so I knew how to eat a seven course meal and how to speak to important people of society. You sent me away to a different country, Mum, and I was alone and scared. It wasn't adventurous, it was terrifying!"

Arthur's shoulder sagged. "Ginny, you don't understand."

"I don't?" Ginny snapped. "Daddy, you put me with a portkey and you dropped me on the steps of Beauxbatons. You hardly wrote, you never visited or brought me home. Do you have any idea how horrible it was? How unloved I felt?"

"We do love you, Ginny," he pleaded. "I need you to know that."

"When I came back this summer, you sent me to be with Harry and Sirius!" Ginny replied. "You had barely seen me all these years and I wasn't even allowed to live with you for a month before you uprooted my life once more. How do you think I'm supposed to feel?"

"Rejected!" Molly yelled back. "Unloved, unworthy of your parents' attentions, and cast aside for social advantage!"

Ginny stared at her mother in shock, a broken sob falling from her lips as Molly shakily sat down. She waited patiently for the older woman to speak, even as her mother's hand covered her mouth to silence her cries. Arthur put a hand on his wife's shoulder, eyes sad and brimming with tears. It seemed as if the moment dragged on, with Ginny calming her tears and her parents collecting their thoughts. Eventually, Molly straightened her back and locked eyes with her daughter.

"I was supposed to marry a man named Patrick Fortuna," Molly croaked. "We don't talk about my family because I stopped speaking to them when I broke off the engagement to marry your father. It was a big rush, honestly. The war was waging and we were terrified that we would die without ever being together. I loved your father so deeply, he was all I could ever hope to want. I use to be as beautiful and strong as you, Ginevra. I used that strong personality to break off the engagement and run away. I never spoke to my parents again. The only people in my family who loved me still were my brothers. When they died, I had nothing left."

Arthur cleared his throat. "Your mother knows exactly how you feel."

"Then why would you do this?" Ginny whispered brokenly. "Why would you put me through this?"

"At the time, we thought it was what was best," Arthur explained. "With Harry, you had a future, your brothers had a secure future, and you were able to live a life of culture and education that we could never offer you. You…you were sure to be with a good man who we knew would take care of you. And we distanced ourselves so that this was easier."

"What was easier?" Ginny asked, fresh tears barely restrained.

"Any decision you made," Molly tossed her hands. "If you decided to walk away, we thought the distance would hurt less. We also…we were cowards, darling. When you began to show rebellious signs and a strong will, we were terrified of what we'd done. We thought not facing you would make us feel less guilty."

"You were cowards!" Ginny exclaimed. "You told me about the engagement in a letter! A damned letter!"

"I just wanted something secure for you," Molly buried her face in her hands. "Everything about our lives was so uncertain, and it can be such a harsh world. If something happened to us, we knew there was no way you wouldn't be secure."

Ginny's bum hit her bed again as she sat down. Her hands raked through her own hair while she struggled to wrap her head around her parents' explanation. She shook her head with a dry laugh, absolutely void of amusement. "This is absolute shite. Everything about this is so bizarre that I don't know what to think."

"We love you," Molly said. "And if you never want to speak to us, we understand."

"Don't be foolish," Ginny shook her head. "Of course I'll speak to you. I still love you. I always have, through all this."

"Then let us start over," Arthur proposed. He strode forward and brought Ginny's chin up so that she looked him dead on. "Let us try to get to know our brilliant, lovely daughter. We don't have to pretend that everything is perfect like we've been trying to, but we can most certainly attempt the process."

"I might be able to manage that," Ginny whispered. "But I cannot promise anything."

"The smallest bit of effort is all we need," Molly whispered.

Voices were heard downstairs, causing Ginny to straighten her back. "Tonks and Remus are here, I suppose. We should dry our eyes and go downstairs."

"Right," Arthur nodded. He brushed his daughter's tears away. "Our strong girl."

She nodded sharply, clearing her throat. "Let's go, then. Can't keep our guests waiting."

)-(

Platform nine and three-quarters of King's Cross Station was full of young witches and wizards saying goodbye to their parents. Some smiled, some cried, and some furiously hugged their children as if it were their last day on earth—Molly Weasley was one of these people.

"I feel like I'm ruining your life all over again," Molly whispered. "But I love you, my sweet child. I love you more than every light on this earth, and I always will."

"I love you too, Mum," Ginny replied softly, hugging her mother back. "Just promise you'll actually write this time."

"I will, I promise."

"Christmas?"

"Christmas."

Molly smiled lovingly and kissed her daughter's forehead before hugging Ron tightly. He returned the gesture before running off to do his prefect duties (something Ginny supposed had to do with a certain Head Girl running prefect meetings).

Ginny loaded her things onto the train with the help of Harry. She said goodbye to Sirius as well, then she and Harry made their way onto the train together. There was a surprising amount of looks being thrown her way, from boys and girls alike. Most were confused, as she heard a distinct rustle of "Who's that girl with Potter?"

They found a haven in a closed compartment, where Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom waited. Ginny had developed a fondness for both people the few times she hung out with them and Harry. They, along with people like Seamus and Lavender, were all so unique it was amazing. Ginny had never found so many people she genuinely enjoyed being around, and who were unabashedly themselves.

Well, except Lavender and Pavarti. They were a little different, but still endearing.

"Do you think Lupin will be back this year?" Dean Thomas asked.

"I don't know..." Harry frowned. "Last year was pretty traumatic."

"What happened with Remus?" Ginny asked. Duchess licked her owner's fingers before sliding over to Harry and climbing his shirt.

Harry raised an eyebrow at the white cat, but didn't question. "Malfoy overheard an argument between Snape and Lupin in Snape's office, and obviously he told the whole school."

"Obviously." Ginny drawled. "So the whole world knows Lupin is a werewolf."

"Maybe its better that he doesn't come back," Lavender shrugged. "He's kind of dangerous, isn't he? What if something happens?"

"He's the best teacher we've ever had!" Harry argued. Ginny rested a hand on his knee, making him lean back. "He's lasted longer than anybody, we've had him since third year."

"Yes, and he's been keeping that secret the whole time."

"It doesn't change who he is as a person or his teaching abilities."

"Wait," Neville tilted his head. "Harry, you and Ginny talk like you knew all along. Did you?"

"Of course," Harry said. "He's our closest family friend."

"Besides Harry and Sirius, he's my family's closest friend as well. Anyhow, he's married with a child on the way, and he and Tonks are happy. He should be able to continue having a normal life."

"I'm only saying that maybe Dumbledore shouldn't have put students under that risk," Lavender shrugged and leaned back into her seat. "Don't you agree, Seamus?"

"The Tri-Wizard Tournament was more dangerous than Lupin," her boyfriend replied good-naturedly. "And nobody questioned Dumbledore's sanity on that."

She shot him a dangerous look, and he silenced.

"I guess we'll just have to see," Ginny smiled. "Now, who wants a game of chess?"

The ride went well the rest of the way. By the time Ginny was changed into her new robes and stepping off the train, news had circulated that the youngest Weasley had finally come to Hogwarts, and that she was in a relationship with Harry Potter.

According to Lavender and Pavarti, this was big news. Harry had only ever taken Pavarti to a school dance as a friend and briefly dated Cho Chang after Cedric Diggory finished his seventh year. Since then, however, girls hadn't been much interest for Harry. He was content with his friends and quidditch. It had shocked most of the school that even the most beautiful girl, Romilda Vane, hadn't been able to capture Harry's full attention.

When Ginny inquired about this, he shrugged. "She was too much like Lavender. She squeals. A lot."

Ginny hadn't been able to hold back a smile. She knew Harry liked it when she giggled, because he said it was as loud as she ever got. She took a little bit of pride in her good manners at hearing that.

As Ginny entered the front of the palace, she realized she had to leave Harry and their friends for the sorting. Suddenly, she felt all her nerves pile up. They'd been held at bay during the train ride. Now, however, they rose to the surface and struck her to the core.

In front of the whole school, with a bunch of first years, she was to be sorted.

"You'll be alright," Harry promised her, kissing her forehead. Other first years around them giggled immensely at the open display of affection. "It's just sorting."

"I know," she gulped. "It's just a bit nerve wracking."

Harry grabbed her amulet and kissed that. "I'll be in the audience, not to mention right here with you. When you get frightened, just grab it."

"I feel like a child," Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Don't," he said in a tone that gave Ginny some strength. She rested her forehead against his briefly before pulling back and nodding. Harry grinned. "Right. I've got to go, but remember, there's nothing to be intimated by."

She gave a small wave as he disappeared. A little girl with blonde hair stepped up to her. "Was that Harry Potter?"

"Yes," Ginny smiled. "He's my boyfriend."

"He's cute," the little girl replied. "You should marry him."

Ginny laughed, suddenly feeling ten times better at the fancies of an eleven year old. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Emma," the girl replied, holding out her hand. "Why are you getting sorted with us? Aren't you too old?"

Ginny proceeded to chat with the little girl until McGonagall came out and instructed them otherwise. Emma took her hand as they walked in, her nerves clearly greater than Ginny's. Together, they waited patiently while name after name was called. It was a long time before Ginny was finally called up.

Harry told her what to expect, but it still wracked her nerves that a voice was in her head.

"Hmm," it said. "Very intelligent, yes, yes. You've got quite the knack for politics, but that's not what you want, is it? You just want to help with international relations without being a politician, I see that. Not quite so ambitious."

I already knew that, Ginny thought.

"You're fiercely loyal and kind-hearted," it went on. "Ooo, but you've endured some dramatic changes in your life haven't you? Well, with the way you've handle it all, there's only one place for you. Better be...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Massive cheers went up from the Gryffindor table. Ginny visibly relaxed as she slid into place between Neville and Ron, smiling across the table at Harry. The Weasley tradition was continued, and Ginny was ever so thankful.

Her heart was made even happier when Emma Zales was sorted into Gryffindor. She rushed to Ginny, who motioned her to the free seat across from her, right next to Harry. The little girl was so happy, she was sure to faint when Harry shook her hand and congratulated her.

Throughout Dumbledore's usual speech, Ginny took in the Great Hall. It wasn't as ornate as Beauxbatons, and had more of a medieval or gothic look than renaissance. She adored the ceiling and its portrayal of the night sky, as well as the much more homely feel to her surroundings.

It wasn't a thing like France, but it reminded her of her family.

The trek to her dormitories was interesting as well. Seeing the swiveling staircases in real life sent a little spark of excitement through her. Hogwarts pulsed with the magic in a dark and powerful way that made her want for a little adventure. It really was beautiful in its own way.

Ginny was lucky to have already met the Hogwarts seventh years over the summer. Her roommates were Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil, so that made her feel a tad bit more secure.

"There aren't many Gryffindor girls in this year?" Ginny asked with a small frown.

"No," Lavender replied. "There was a lot of Hufflepuffs in this year, then the second most was Ravenclaw, and then Slytherin. It was only us before you came."

"What do you do about classes?"

"Boys and girls have classes together. We also have joint classes with other houses, so it all evens out."

"It's still nice to have another girl around," Pavarti smiled. "The boys really only hang around us in the summers and sometimes in the common room, and Luna's in another house. Not to mention she goes off on her own quite a lot or she's with Granger."

"Why don't you all call her Hermione?" Ginny frowned.

"I don't know," Pavarti spoke quickly. "We just do."

"Anyways," Lavender began unpacking her bag. "What was Beauxbatons like?"

"Beautiful," Ginny smiled. She began to unpack her bags as well. "It's a French palace, and if the French can do anything, it's beauty. The palace is lavish and girly and made me feel like a princess." she felt a twinge of homesickness for her best friend and the country she spent five years practically living in. "Academically, it's very like a muggle boarding school from what I know of them. You always only have one roommate, and the classes are done by age, also with boys and girls together."

"And you were advanced enough to take seventh year classes here?" Pavarti raised her eyebrows. "That's very impressive."

"Beauxbatons is a place renowned for education in a variety of subjects," Ginny replied. "They produce politicians, international liaisons, scholars, artists, and brilliant musicians. Excellency is expected, and no less."

"It sounds rather intense," Lavender frowned.

"But effective," Ginny smiled.

"I see," the blonde girl replied. They set about moving into the dormitory in silence for a little bit. Ginny sensed a tension in the room and tried to read the two other girls. They eyed her warily, but almost hungrily. It reminded her of the way the bullying type of girls looked at their other friends. It was as if they wanted to divulge all their secrets to her and have her do the same.

She couldn't stand girls like that.

What did Harry and Ron see in them? How had Ron dated one of them?

As they settled into bed that night, Ginny curled up with Duchess close by. She meowed a lot and looked around the room, which Ginny supposed was her way of looking for Harry. In the week she'd had Duchess, she'd seen that the kitten liked Harry almost as much as she liked her owner.

"Duchess, it's time for bed," Ginny cooed. The kitten turned and hopped onto the bed, curling into her owners side with a purr.

"She's obedient," Pavarti noted.

"She's sweet," Lavender waved it off.

Despite the nice words the girls had offered, Ginny felt strangely alone. She curled farther around her cat and remembered how Harry promised he was always with her.

I can do this, she thought. I can do this.