Memoirs of a Redheaded Witch

by My Wicked Quill

Ginny Weasley was always overlooked. Always the youngest, Always the smallest, And was never… really given the chance to let her voice be heard. But sometimes the best insight comes from those who were always in the background. Now, it's her time. CHECK OUT THE NEW 2017 edits and chapters!

21. Someone Else's Life

Entry 21

Someone Else's Life

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

"Before I fall, too fast
Kiss me quick, but make it last,
So I can see how badly this will hurt me,

when you say goodbye.

Keep it sweet,

K eep it slow,

Let the future pass and don't let go,

Cause tonight I could fall too soon

under this beautiful,

Moonlight,

Cause you're so hypnotizing

you've got me laughing while I sing

You'be got me smiling in my sleep…"
-Catch Me, Demi Lovato

The very first time Harry and I visited the hidden, shaded bank by the Black Lake together was right after our first kiss. We spent most of our alone time there, where no one could find us and we had all the time in the world to discover what was happening between us.

My relationship with Harry has always been about helping each other up and through the hard times that fate threw at us, from the Chamber of Secrets to the Department of Mysteries.

But those few weeks in my fifth year we had together before all hell broke loose, would be weeks I would cherish forever. It was the calm before the storm.

It was spring of 1996. Yes, now you see what I mean by right before everything came crashing down, that is, if you know anything about Wizarding History.

The moment we both stepped out of the portrait hole the nerves kicked in. I could tell he felt embarrassed for his actions and I was very curious to hear what he had to say for himself.

And so, I daringly threaded my fingers through his and headed down the staircases. He followed enthusiastically with a smile playing across his face, making me sure he didn't regret what he had done.

"Where are we going?" I asked him we he suddenly took the lead and began to pull me along.

"The lake," he replied. The suddenly, he stopped abruptly. I crashed into his back. "That is…if you want."

"Are you serious?"

He turned around and gave me a sheepish smile, "No, I'm Harry."

"Will anyone every tire of that joke? The lake sounds perfect."

I led now, excited, still feeling the soft tingle on my lips where his had been. It was as though I was on this high that no one could ever bring me down from.

We wound our way down the stairs together, hearing the whispers as we went. WE tried to ignore them until two Ravenclaw girls made the task harder than I thought.

The first girl stopped dead in her tracks, riotously shaken at the sight of our hands, while the other- who was so completely consumed in her text book- crashed right into her back.

Harry laughed.

"Well," I said, "That's what they get for staring so rudely."

He tugged on my hand, "Let them, it's not like we can prevent the inevitable anyway."

I slowed and thought for a moment, "You're right, every person in the school gossips like old women. I give it two hours before every creature on the grounds knows."

He furrowed his eye brows but smirked, "Have some faith; let's give it until dinner."

"You're on."

With that he pulled me forward outside so that I was running to keep up.

"Well, now I know why you are so fond of Quidditch, where else can you release all of this energy?" I called, "Obviously Snape didn't have you cleaning cauldrons with a spoon."

"Actually I had to act as though the punishment was terrible. He had me rewrite old detention slips. Most from my father, and the Marauders. I got to imagine their schemes."

I laughed, "That's interesting; I had a feeling you would have been more distracted with the game going on."

And yet again I found myself bumping into him. "Trust me, I was distracted," he was blushing. Harry James Potter was blushing. Around me. For me. Because of me.

I wagged my eye brows, "Oh really? Why?"

"I really wanted to see the game. I should have been playing,"

"But that doesn't explain the blush."

"What blush?" he asked innocently trying to maneuver the conversation elsewhere.

I gave him a pointed look but then soften it. "You know what? I'll return the favor, I saw no blush."

With all the times Harry had pretended not to notice my own embarrassment without fooling the mickey out of me, the least I could do was drop the subject, no matter how much I wanted to know what he was thinking. He picked up the pace again, now seeing the lake in our path- obviously bent on making it over there in record speed.

I came to realize that with two people as stubborn and take charge as Harry and I the debacle over who would lead who to the lake wasn't going to be resolved at any time soon. And so I pulled him back slowing him so that we walked side by side, together. He laughed a bit at this but complied none the less.

"Where to now Mr. Potter?" I asked once we reached the lake's shore.

"Why don't we take a walk around it?"

"Sounds good to me."

We started hand in hand, silently once again. One thing I loved most about my relationship with Harry was that there wasn't ever an uncomfortable moment between us, with Dean and Michael, moments like that had been awkward and strange, no matter how long we had been dating. With Harry, it was just calm and peaceful. There was never a need for constant conversation. It was because of all we had to go through when we weren't together, our time together was an escape into the lives we wanted. The ones where we had some kind of control.

Just a small touch or look fed us more than any conversation.

I remember that grin he was wearing broadly on his face; he was watching the lake and seemed so content.

"A knut for your thoughts?"

He turned to me, his eyes giving me that swooping sensation that knocked my porridge bowl under the table and plunged my elbow into the butter.

"You'd get bored pretty fast," he shrugged then slyly added, "Had it been any other day."

I concealed my smile. "You've peaked my interest."

Taking a deep breath, he replied, "I'm trying to figure out why in Merlin's name I did what I did. Why I'm doing what I'm doing."

That's what I had expected him to say, but it still stung enough for me to drop his hand as though it were an untested project of Fred and George. He didn't want this.

"Oh," I blushed looking away.

Harry stopped, "Ginny! You asked me what I was thinking," he said taking my hand once again. "The least you can do is wait until I finish, and not interrupt."

I bit my lip, not sure if I wanted to hear the rest.

"What was I thinking!? I wanted to get you alone, tell you how I felt and wait until I knew how you felt too before I did anything rash." I looked up at him curiously. "I didn't mean to ambush you in front of everyone…and your brother."

He let the last bit weigh heavily in the air. "And then I just run off with you! Still not knowing if you felt the same. I feel like a git for doing that, and your bothers are going to kill me, but I can't find it in me to regret it, or stop," he sighed running a hand through the mess on his head.

"Then don't," I said simply with a shrug. He smiled but continued to walk in silence. "For the record, my brothers won't kill you, you know."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You'd be surprised, Fred and George have always made it quite obvious they wanted me to end up with you, and the others… well Harry you're practically part of the family already so I guess in their minds, if I were to end up with anyone they'd rather it be you."

"That makes sense I guess. But there we go again! I am with the most amazing girl I know, knowing what I want, what her six older brothers may want, but I have no clue as to what she wants. Doesn't that make me some kind of horrible person?" he asked me raising our entwined hands.

I touched his face, "It makes you thick."

"What?"

"I said it makes you thick. Harry you should know that the only reason I'm here right now is because I want to be. You of all people should know that I don't let anyone make me do things I don't want to do. And considering the fact that you're not in the hospital wing right now, you should figure that I didn't object to you kissing me."

"True."

"I've liked you for so long Harry, how could you doubt that?"

He gaped at me, slumping down until he reached the ground with a thud. "But you had Michael! And Dean!"

I followed his lead by planting myself before him so that our knees were touching. "Michael and I were falling apart before we even got together; honestly, I just tried to like him to get over you...and Dean…"

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it," he said stroking my palm, sending goose bumps all the way up to my elbows. I smiled, with his experience with Cho I'm sure he thought some water works were coming.

"No, it's just that, we ended because we both admitted to ourselves that I was still not over you." I blushed again concentrating on the grass blade my free hand was pulling at.

Harry boldly lifted his hand to my burning face, "I missed that blush."

"Oh be quiet, I know you didn't."

"Well I guess there's one thing left to do."

"What's that?"

He took in a deep breath and turned to me seriously. "Gin? Will you be my girlfriend?"

I took a moment to answer, only because I was committing the moment to memory.

Maybe if you wanted something more than anything thing else, if you will it to happen, you can get it but only with patience and understanding. I guess anything was possible, if you had enough nerve.

"I don't know…" I said.

"But- I- well-"

"Sorry, Harry. I just think it's going to take more convincing on your part."

He bit his lip, obviously strung high on his rope not sure of what to do, or what I was getting at. And so I decided to even the score, leaning in on my knees I stopped mere inches from his face.

And when he finally seemed to comprehend the only thing he had time to say was a whispered, "Oh."

Unlike the first kiss, this one was more passionate, faster. My hands were lost in his hair; his hand were grasping my sides.

As though he read my mind Harry situated me easily on his lap.

"Ginny?" he breathed when he caught a chance. "Are we…I mean…we haven't even…" he managed to get out between kisses. "Moving too fast?" his words were mumbles but sincere.

My only response was to kiss him deeper, letting my tongue poke at his bottom lip. Sighing happily, he pulled me closer, only to speak again moments later. "Really Ginny…Don't you think-"

I pulled away. "Harry?"

"Yeah?" his voice cracked.

"Are you uncomfortable with this?"

"No."

"Are you trying to say we don't know each other well enough yet?"

"No."

"Are you saying to want to stop?"

"Bloody hell, no."

"Then shut up."

As if he had a choice; my lips had their own agenda.

A while later we were still lying by the lake calmly conversing about the match, when I remembered something fatally important.

"By the way Harry, I would very much like to be your girlfriend."

I couldn't see it but I could sense his grin; he stroked my hair. "Thanks."

We heard the chatter the moment we walking into the Entrance Hall.

"And no one has seen them since!" We heard a voice say animatedly somewhere behind us. Harry pulled me around a corner.

"What are you doing?" I asked watching him press against the wall.

"Shh!" he told me pointing to his ear, "I want to hear what they're saying."

"No doubt they're locked up in come broom closet finishing up what was going on in the Gryffindor Common Room."

Instantly, I backed up on the wall beside Harry. The voices were getting louder as the footsteps got closer. "Of course it would have to be Potter, the Chosen One," added a male voice. "the Boy-Who-Lived gets one of the prettiest girls in school." I blushed, as Harry smiled smugly. I nudged him in the ribs.

"What was that for?" He asked although I could tell her knew exactly what it was. "Do you want me to disagree with him? Sorry, can't do that."

"And naturally it had to be Weasley! Can you believe it? Out of nowhere she just up and snatches Harry Potter! Hardly fair." A girl's voice sounded disappointed.

"They'll be the talk of the rest of the year, those two, bet you anything they won't even show up for dinner."

"If Harry Potter kissed me in front a good fourth of the school, not only would we not show up for dinner, but my teachers would be lucky if I made it to class once in the whole week."

It was then that they showed up, two girls and one boy all from Hufflepuff making their way down to dinner, luckily they hadn't spotted us. We stayed silent until their footsteps disappeared.

"So," I started, "seems like you were right, seems like everyone found out by dinner."

Taking my hand again we made our way to the entrance of the Great Hall, "Here we go," he muttered sarcastically.

The moment we stepped foot inside the dining room, every bloody student in the room fell silent. Of course. Because Harry Potter dating Ginny Weasley was the farthest thing anyone could have imagined. Except for Hermione of course but she knew everything anyway. I could tell we had been the object of every conversation roaming around the room by the way all eyes snapped over to us.

We didn't stop until we reached the empty spot by Hermione, I was trying not to blush and Harry was trying hard to act like he noticed nothing. I caught Dumbledore's expression at some point. I can still remember the gleam in his eye and the prominent smirk he flashed my way too quickly for anyone other than myself to see. McGonagall was obviously trying to be indifferent, as though it was just another couple in her house, but there was something in the way she watched Harry that made me suspect she cared much more than she let on.

"Pass the turkey, would you?" Harry asked Ron, his voice being the only other one in the room. I followed suit. Ron just gaped at him, wide eyed and shocked. Harry sighed, "Katie?"

Without a word, Katie grabbed the larger platter and passed it to him, sneaking in a wink in my direction. "So Minerva have you at all spoken to Professor Gubbly-Plank, about how she is enjoying her retirement?" The completely random comment had come from the head table, each student turned to find Professor Dumbledore waiting for McGonagall to respond.

"Why yes Albus I have, she is out traveling all the places Bathilda Bagshot spoke of in her newest book…" I got bored. The fact was that the tension was severed, and the attention was off of us or about 30 seconds. That was enough time for Hermione to help as well.

"Has anyone finished the 16 inches Flitwick assigned us on the advantages and disadvantages of a proper vanishing spell?"

Neville dropped his fork, "Finished?" he croaked, "I thought that was due next week!"

"One slice or two Gin?" Harry asked me, knowing it wasn't a question on whether I wanted turkey or not, but how much I wanted.

"Two."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Of course it's due next week! Hermione would be the only one done."

"I never said I was finished Ronald, what's got your mood all twisted? You've been in a particularly good mood since winning the cup."

I busied myself by stuffing my face; I hadn't realized just how much skipping lunch did not suit me.

Harry on the other hand, was bouncing his leg beneath the table. I slipped one hand under and placed it encouragingly on his knee. His leg came to an abrupt stop.

"I'm not in a mood Hermione, it must be your imagination." His face was pretty interesting, he seemed amused, yet uncomfortable. I knew Ron would rather have me with Harry than any other guy but I'm sure he never saw that coming.

"So the paper is due next week right?" Neville had yet to pick up his fork.

"Yes Neville," Hermione assured him.

The hall was now at its regular volume; the eerie silence long gone. I stole a glance at Harry, I could tell he was worrying about damage control. "I don't think I'm Dean's favorite person right now," he whispered to me.

I looked over to him, and unsurprisingly, he did not look pleased. Dean was slumped over his plate pushing around the food halfheartedly. "Well, I mean he knew it was going to happen."

"But he didn't look all too happy when we left the common room earlier."

"I think he was just shocked; it was all so sudden. Everyone was stunned."

"Again, maybe I should have reconsidered that spur of the moment decision."

I smiled and batted my eyelashes, "Anything that would have had me waiting any longer would not have been the best idea."

Ron looked over at me when he heard us laughing. He stared at me blankly for a moment, then smiled, and went back to bantering with Hermione.

Dinner went without incident after that. Ron didn't pay much more attention to us while we ate, as Harry and I tried not to be entirely engrossed with each other, like we had been all day, for the sake of everyone around us. Hermione, in her very un-clandestine manner, shot me glances assuring me that there would be a full interrogation in the common room later.

Students shuffled out ready to lounge in their respective houses for a Saturday evening. Harry and I left when the crowed thinned as to not become a spectacle again.

"Hey Harry, hey Ginny," Luna Lovegood smiled hazily from behind us.

"Hi Luna," I beamed back; suddenly aware of the very little time we had spent together lately.

"How have things been, Luna?" Harry asked.

"Just fine Harry, thanks. I wanted to congratulate you on the Fligils."

Nargles and Wackspurts I had heard of, from the amount of talking she does of them I'm almost an expert. The creatures my friend so deeply believes in are to say the least original and unlikely but I have come to believe in them too. If an animal can have the head and wings of an eagle, but the body, legs and tail of a horse, why can't Wrackspurts float around in your ears?

But now Fligils? "The what?"

"Have you never heard of them? That's odd." Her peculiar expression proved that I was the crazy one. I mean I guess everyone knew what Fligils were; it must have just been me.

"They feed off of people who are so obviously in love. They're what make you clumsy and goofy; they make you feel light and happy all the time. I guess they are also known now as love bugs, but I think that's a ridiculous name, father and I prefer to call them by their real name, Fligils."

Ahh, so maybe I had heard of them. Still, I flushed at the comment about love. I knew I had fallen for Harry but I was positive he didn't feel that strongly.

"Thank you Luna," Harry laughed brightly, "It's always nice to er…be congratulated for this…accomplishment."

Playfully pushing him, I said, "Yes, Luna, thank you."

I felt Harry beside me trying to conceal his laughter. I knew he liked Luna a lot, but times like these were -to say the least- down right hysterical.

"Although, I must say they took their time with you," she continued her love bug examination, "Fligils usually act quickly in bringing people together. What I mean to say is: I thought this would have happened years ago, especially with Ginny telling me for so long how much she lov-"

"Ok Luna! I don't think Harry needs to know all the details."

To my utter dismay this did not go unnoticed by my boyfriend. "Wait Luna, I think I do."

"Details aren't all that important I guess, all that matter is the bigger picture, right? You're here now what does it matter how long it took or what you went through?"

Leave it to Luna to wrap everything up soundly in her own logic.

"But I must say the amount of Fligils in your system is impressive, the more Fligils the stronger the bond is, you know. Considering how much you have, I hope you don't pick orange as the color for my bridesmaid dress Ginny. I don't particularly look good in orange. Well, I best be off. Father has me on a lead for a new Quibbler story that I still need to research in the library. I'll see you soon!"

And with that her silvery hair flounced away leaving us very winded… and very red faced.

"Er…" he coughed, "bridesmaid…dress?"

I turned an even deeper red if it was possible. "Well you see… Luna and I have been friends since we were little, and what little girls don't plan their weddings together promising each other they'd be bride maids?"

"Well I wouldn't know…that's sweet though."

"Yes it is."

"So if you plan your whole wedding, don't you have to plan the most important part as well?"

"You mean the flowers?"

I knew what he was getting at but decided to pull his leg.

"No I don't mean the flowers! Ginny-"

"I was joking Harry."

He sighed "I meant: what did you plan for the groom?"

"We left him out- he's the part that comes in at the last minute," I lied through my teeth.

"That's a joke too right?"

"No it's not, think about it- you plan everything. Then the man of your dreams kneels down asks you to marry him and BAM! That's the last piece, everything is ready to go."

"That's not how it works you know, usually the kneeling comes before the planning."

"But everything is different in the world of little girls Harry."

"You want to know what I think?"

I didn't.

"I think- you are avoiding the answer."

"To what?"

"To who you planned on as the groom."

"I already told you-"

"Never mind, Ginny, I already know the answer to that anyway." He started up the stairs, smirking as he went.

"You do, do you?"

"Of course I do. I know a lot about Ron. He's my best mate; He tells me everything. Why would he leave out the fact that his baby sister used to go around pretending she was going to marry the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"I'll kill him."

"Don't. It's very sweet, and flattering I might add."

"Don't get a big head over it, I hadn't even met you."

"But now you have."

"What do you mean by that?"

He stopped just in front of the common room door and kissed me softly. It was as good as any answer I could have received.

"Oh, it's like history repeating itself!" we heard a woman cry. I groaned as I pulled away from him. We turned to the Fat Lady who was on the edge of tears. "How you two remind me of Mr. Potter's parents! God rest their souls."

I wasn't sure how Harry was going to take that, surprisingly he smiled. "Hmm… I never thought of that. You're right."

Lily and James Potter.

Lily and James Potter.

We resembled Lily and James Potter! What was it that Sirius had told me that summer? The comment about Potter's and their red heads!

"Sirius told me the same thing too."

Harry turned to me stunned, "What?"

"The summer before last. He found out about my crush on you, and he figured you felt the same way about me. He told me we reminded him of your parents. I set him straight though."

Harry was lost in thought for a heartbeat and then he came to a realization. "That night…"

"What night?"

"The night I came down to dinner after locking myself up in a room in Grimmuald Place, the night you knocked some sense into me, I found you crying on Sirius' shoulder."

It all came back to me in a rush. Sirius had been so understanding and supportive. He treated me like an adult with valid feelings.

I missed him terribly. "What about that night?"

"He told me you were fine, but I knew there was something wrong. He told me, 'you are a smart boy, you'll come to your senses sooner or later.' I had no idea what he meant."

"And?" I asked missing the point in all this.

Harry stepped closer again caressing my cheek. "And now I have come to my senses."

"I never took you as a sap Harry Potter."

"A sap?"

"Yes but a very cute sap. My sap," I laughed kissing him for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

"Let's go, it's time to face the music."

The Common Room was busy as always; the banners were still hung, now sagging and the confetti littered the carpet. Ron and Hermione were seated in their usual spots. Their heads close together in serious conversation.

"Harry! Ginny!" Seamus boomed squandering over to us, he was just a little punch drunk from what I could see. Obviously, he consumed most of the left over drinks from the celebrations. "Just wanted to give my condolences to the new couple! Not everyday something good happens around here!"

I giggled, "Thanks for the err… condolences, Seamus."

Harry wasn't as amused, "Uh…Seamus maybe you should sit down-"

"No! I'm alright! You two are just… beautiful together!" he cried leaning onto Harry's shoulder.

"Mate! Really you should-" but Harry's words were no use- Seamus had already collapsed into the couch, which was unfortunately already occupied.

Not surprising, however, all Gryffindors were accustomed to his antics. And so without missing a beat, the fourth year girls who were seated there shoved him off onto the floor and continued their conversation.

During the commotion, Ron and Hermione tore away from each other and became aware of us. Ron stood silently nodded and swiftly fled up the stairs. Harry watched after him.

I turned to Harry, "Go."

"Yeah…I have a feeling this isn't going to be easy."

"It'll be fine; Ron can be a git sometimes but he wants us to be happy. He'll understand, besides, what I told you about my brothers applies to him too."

Harry looked down at me sheepishly. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

"You mean other than my wand work and clever wit?"

"More reasons than you will ever know."

I blushed. "Go talk to my brother, Potter."

He kissed my cheek, "See you later, yeah?"

"Of course." Without another word he took a breath to steady himself and followed the path my brother had just taken. I stood there until the door to the sixth year boy's dormitory closed shut.

"Ahem."

"Yes, I know you're waiting, Hermione," I said without turning around. I knew that this could go two ways, embarrassing or pride damaging. I made my way to the chair Ron had vacated making sure not to meet her eyes. We sat there in a terribly awkward silence for what seemed like forever. I wondered if something like this was going on upstairs.

Perhaps Harry was right.

Hermione cleared her throat again, and I reluctantly looked at her. She was perched at the edge of her seat words hanging on the edge of her lips.

She wanted to say it.

I bit my lip and looked at my hands, as I felt her stare bore into my head.

She was dying to say it.

However, she wanted me to say something first, and really, what was there to say that she already didn't know? I noticed her foot tapping.

The words were on the tip of her tongue.

Another moment of silence passed before,

"I told you so!"

"Ugh, Hermione can we not get into this?"

"Ginny, I told you and you didn't believe me. If you would have listened this would have happened a while ago."

I lifted my chin stubbornly, "I'm fine with when and how it happened thank you very much."

She raised an eyebrow. "Please. I know you too well Ginny."

"Maybe you do, but that doesn't change the fact that I was with Dean."

"And you broke up with him two days later, but you wouldn't admit it."

"Is that all you want to talk about? Cause if it is I think I'd rather just go to bed."

I began to stand when she grabbed my wrist and threw me back into the chair with a force that rivaled a stunning charm. "Alright! I'll drop the subject. Tell me about what happened when you left the common room."

"We took a walk around the lake."

"Is that all you're going to tell me?"

"Do you honestly want to know all the details about me and Harry? Wouldn't that sort of be like you telling me all the details of you and Ron?"

"Ginny!"

"Ok. Ok! I get it, you aren't together. But still the same concept applies."

She raised another eyebrow. "You really don't want to talk about it?"

Sighing I gave up. "Fine you were right, he's liked me since the beginning of the school year, but I had Dean. We took a walk around the lake, and he asked me to be his girlfriend."

"And what did you say?!" Hermione Granger stared at me with her wide eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. She was so excited to hear my next words she didn't realize how stupid she sounded. I just gazed at her blankly.

After a minute of waiting she still hadn't said anything. "I told him he was a terrible kisser and to never come near me again."

"WHAT?!"

"Hermione what the bloody hell did you think I told him? Obviously I said yes!"

She crossed her arms and sat back. "Hmp. I thought it would be a little more interesting than that."

"Well it was. Harry Potter finally asked me out. I think that counts as a little bit interesting."

"If you hadn't already seen it coming."

"Buzz kill."

"Sarcastic witch."

We stared at each other with narrowed eyes. "And for your information, he's an incredible kisser."

"That's all I wanted to hear." And with that my best friend stood and made her way up to her room. Completely alone, I let my happiness of the day engulf me.

Now when Harry walked me to class, he held my hand.

He stole some kisses, and now that Quidditch was over the time we usually had for practice we spent by the lake. We sat next to each other during every meal, telling each other everything and anything that crossed our minds. The only thing that put a damper on everything was the fact that my O.W.L.s were coming closer and I had to study with every ounce of free time I had.

"How did you do it?!" I cried out in frustration slamming my book closed. I was lying out in the grass under our tree as Harry played with my hair.

"How did I do what?"

"In all the mess of last year how did you actually manage to learn all this stuff and pass practically everything?"

"Gin, you're doing just fine, you are way better than me at all the book work, almost as good as Hermione, why are you having trouble now?"

"I never said I was having trouble. I asked how you did it. Last year I could hardly concentrate on anything other than how bad I wanted to hex Umbridge into a million pieces, but you actually had to handle all this too. I'm feeling my brain being fried from all this!" I waved my arm around the explosion of books and parchment I had everywhere.

"No idea," he sighed and closed his eyes again, enjoying the sun.

Deciding I needed a break I pushed everything away from me and stared at him. Gosh he was handsome. And just lying there in the sun, care free…where was Colin's camera when you needed it?

I moved over and straddled his waist, he didn't open his eyes but a smile grew on his face. "You should be studying…"

"Not when you look like that. You're way too distracting."

He opened one eye, "Then I should leave, your grades are much more important."

"You move, you're hexed."

"You got me there." I leaned down and kissed him softly, both my hands in the grass on either side of his head. "Your hair smells so good, did I tell you that?"

My hair was currently hanging around my face creating s a curtain and a way to block the sun. "No."

"Well it does."

I laughed. "You never told me what Ron said when you talked to him." I eyed him, "You did talk to him right?"

"'Course I did." He didn't say anything else, just continued to play with his new favorite toy: my hair.

"And what did he say?"

"That should stay between a bloke and his best friend."

"Harry," I warned.

He groaned, "Gin, he asked me how long I had liked you, how much I liked you and why I didn't tell him. That's it."

"Well I know the answer to all of that."

"Exactly."

"So…he doesn't have a problem with us then?"

"No. He doesn't."

I smiled, "See you worried for nothing."

He looked a little disgruntled after that comment and turned his face to the side.

"What?"

"I wasted so much time thinking he was going to punch me in the face."

I shook my head pitifully, and since his face was turned away I couldn't get his lips so I settled for kissing his jaw, "Silly."

"It's not funny, I followed him up those steps bracing myself for a black eye." I continued kissing him where I could get him.

"I would still like you even if your eye was swollen."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Harry no longer worried about Ron.

He kissed me again, his hands finding my waist, my own taking comfort in his mangy hair. I probably could have stayed like that for hours and might have if my necklace wouldn't have fallen from my shirt.

"What's this?"

"Hmm?" I asked not really listening.

"This, I've never noticed it on you before."

This time I pulled back, realizing the silver trinket dangling from the chain that hung around my neck into Harry's face. He caught it with his fingers eyeing it carefully.

"It looks like…"

"It's Sirius'," I told him softly.

The expression in his eyes was not just confusion, but sadness and hurt, I suddenly felt guilty for not showing it to him before.

"He…gave it to you?"

"Well, after he died…he left everything he had to you, but Dumbledore found this, and he thought Sirius would have liked for me to have it."

The words aloud sounded worse, it made it seem like I had stolen it…is that what I did? Maybe Sirius didn't want me to have it. The doubt flooded my mind and I sat up quickly searching for the clasp behind my neck.

"Maybe, you should keep it-"

"No."

I hadn't really wanted to give it back, that was the one thing I had left of my friend, but Harry had his rights. "You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"I guess… I don't know…it's just-"

I was stopped when Harry grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me down to him. "He would have wanted you to have it Gin; I know you two were close. It's yours."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," he took the charm once more, examining it. "Do you wear it often?"

"Every day."

"Every day, really?"

"Yes, it's him, it represents everything about him who he was, what he did for his friends. I wear it every day to make sure he's close to my heart."

Harry tucked the necklace back into my shirt. "You really are something you know that?"

Just then we heard students pouring out of the Great Hall, lunch was over, which meant we had to reconnect with the real world.

"We're going to be late!" I cried jumping off of him.

"Oof!" Harry gasped in surprise at my sudden weight shift. I rummaged around grabbing sheets of paper that I had tossed about carelessly.

"You won't be late!" Harry tried to assure me, I only stopped to stared at him; he was hastily tucking in his shirt and flattening his hair.

"You look like a guilty school boy," I giggled.

Harry stopped and took two strides forward, wrapping his arms around my body, with a smirk he replied, "Cause I am." He leaned in for another kiss, and as much as it pained me not to give in- I couldn't be late. I dodged him, grabbed my bag and made a run for it.

"HEY GINNY!" I heard him call from behind me, "YOU MAY WANT TO FIX YOUR SHIRT, UNLESS YOU WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE UP TO!"

By the state my shirt was in…I would have never been able to live it down.

The days went by too fast. I remembered every second of it, every kiss, and every laugh. It all meant so much those first few weeks.

A few days later I found myself in the company of my 5th year friends in the library. We created a rather large study group, and gained several warnings from Madam Pince, but it really all fell on deaf ears, that day was no different.

"Well if it isn't little Miss. Ginny Weasley."

I didn't even try to hide my groan. "What do you want Romilda?"

"Why would I want something? Can't I just talk to you? We are friends after all."

I looked up from my potions text book. "Just barely," I said pleasantly.

Colin snorted but kept his eyes on his parchment.

Pursing her lips, she sat in the empty chair across from me. "Always the comedian. I'm surprised to see you here in the library, I've heard you've been preoccupied with… other things."

"Yeah, I've been busy, but that doesn't mean I don't take school seriously."

"Hmm."

I let it go and continued to ignore her, but felt the back of my mind demanding to know what that hmm meant. No. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. I was Ginny Weasley I didn't break easily- "What Romilda?!"

"Well, I just meant that I'd expected you to be locked up in some deserted classroom with your boyfriend," she replied indifferently.

"And that's your business, how?"

"Never said it was; I was just merely thinking to myself."

I scanned the large room, Madam Pince was nowhere to be seen; we were all fairly hidden by the biography section far off in the back. Colin sat beside me, Luna a few seats down, and others scattered around the corner we occupied in the vast library. Everyone was rather intrigued in their own work so I doubted anyone would hear my next words.

Dropping my quill, I leaned over the table close enough so that she could hear me whispering, "Might as well stop thinking and day dreaming about Harry. If I even suspect you've gone anywhere near him with another potion I won't hesitate to put you at the business end of my wand."

She looked bored. Romilda Vane stared back at me uninterested and jaded.

"You can't tell me what to think and what not to think, Weasley. Even the great Ginny Weasley can't stop me from day dreaming about her momentary boyfriend." My hand instinctively clasped around the wand sticking out of my back pocket.

"Momentary?" I grounded through my teeth.

She smirked, "With the way you've been running through boys, I give it another month before you get bored. But don't worry about feeling guilty, I'll be there to pick up the pieces of his broken heart."

I couldn't believe she said that. I was so shocked I didn't even think about pulling out my wand. She had just bluntly called me come kind of man-eating hag and without breaking face.

"Nothing to say then? Well, that must mean we've come to an agreement, you can have him for the time being. I'll just sit back and wait, dreaming about the hippogriff tattooed to his chest."

My mouth dropped open, with a sound that could only be described as a growl. People were watching now.

But Romilda loved drawing attention, "You have seen it, haven't you?"

Harry. Did. Not. Have. A. Hippogriff. On. His. Chest.

She was just riling me up, trying to get me to succumb to her level of immaturity. I would not let her win. I could not let her win; it was beneath me.

So all I did was sit back and pack my things. Everyone's eyes were on me as I did so, but I could not care less. Snapping my bag closed, I walked around the table to meet her eye to eye.

"It's actually a Hungarian Horntail, and to prevent future misunderstandings, my brother's is a Pygmy Puff," I threw in for good measure, "Next time you may want to get your facts straight before thrusting them out like that; it makes you sound petty."

The laughs I heard behind me as I retreated were enough to have Madam Pince emerge from the back room, and threatening everyone that they'd be kick out.

Where the bloody hell did she get off making up such ridiculous stories? Two could play at that game. No one messed with Ginny Weasley.

That night I had finally given up my studies for the day and opened the Daily Prophet. The four of us were lounging around the common room in our usual spots; I leaned against Harry's legs as I sat on the floor. The war was not going well. There was already so much destruction that I was grimacing the whole way through each article. How could I feel the best I'd ever felt, when right outside the school boundaries one nasty war was ragging? I took comfort in the fact that I was better than Romilda, I had actually taken part in this I knew what was going on while she remained oblivious.

"Three dementors attacks in one week!" I said aloud to no one in particular, flipping the page of my paper rather forcefully. "And all Romilda Vane has to say is that you've got a Hippogriff tattooed to your chest!"

The moment the words left my mouth I realized just how sidesplitting the whole situation was. Ron and Hermione fell to hysterics out of their respective armchairs.

"What did you tell her?"

"That it was a Hungarian Horntail of course. It's much more macho." No Harry Potter was going to have a bloody hippogriff on his chest; he might as well have a blanket named Buckbeak. This comment seemed to only throw Ron and Hermione into another fitful of laughter.

Harry, oh Harry, he didn't seem too keen on his friend's antics, so he said, "Thanks, what did you tell her Ron has?"

My boyfriend knew me too well. I don't think he actually knew I had told her anything of my brother, but whether I had an honest answer or not he wanted me to play along. Coincidentally, I had mentioned Ron.

"A Pygmy Puff." Although I realized I may have left out a vital part of the information I gave to Romilda. "But I didn't say where."

Hermione clutched her sides, I had a feeling they were about to burst, Harry was laughing just as hard. Ron did not seem too amused with our little comedic routine. "Watch it," said my brother, scowling, "Just because I've given you my permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it-"

"Your permission? Since when have you given me permission to do anything? Anyway, you said yourself: you'd rather it be Harry, than Michael or Dean."

"Yeah I would, and just as long as you don't start snogging each other in public-"

Ron must have really liked the taste of his foot, for he was always sticking it in his mouth. "You filthy hypocrite! What about you and Lavender, thrashing around like a pair of eels all over the place?"

"That is none of your business."

"Then we agree that what happens between Harry and I is none of your business."

Hermione hiccupped, finally regaining control of herself.

"Whosever business it is," Harry intervened, sensing the argument coming about, "I thought we were talking about the Hungarian Horntail in my chest."

I looked up at him through narrowed eyes, "You don't have a Hungarian Horntail on your chest."

"How would you know?"

"Many ways. It's not like I've never seen you shirtless before Harry, there was the second task in your fourth year," I grinned wickedly, "And not to mention the incident in the bathroom the summer before that."

"What incident?" Ron grilled.

Harry's blush burned down his neck. "Nothing Ron, she's just joking." He would have sounded convincing, had his voice not broke.

"Nice one, Harry," I laughed.

"What incident?!" I was referring to an accident at the Borrow right before we had gone to the Quidditch World Cup. With the entire family and Harry and Hermione home, one bathroom was well…you can imagine. I remember Romilda asking me if I had ever seen Harry undressed, I never answered her, but I hadn't said no either.

Sometimes the door didn't lock.

Sometimes your need over-powered the thought of knocking.

"Ron don't get your knickers in a twist, I just saw a little bit more of Harry than usual." Hermione started laughing again.

"Ginny!" Harry whined, hiding his face in his hands, "I thought we agreed to never talk about it again!"

"And I thought you would never ask me out- things change."

Ron still hadn't pulled himself out of his horrified state. It really wasn't that much to be so worried about, honestly I didn't see everything. But I guess what I saw was enough.

"Right, so how do you know I didn't get that tattoo over this summer?" Harry challenged.

"I guess I don't. But there are ways to find out."

"Really now?"

"I'm feeling rather dizzy," Hermione happily sighed closing her eyes and falling silent once more.

"Yeah," I replied turning back to my paper, "Just let me finish this article, and then we'll go find some place more private."

Ron snapped out of it pretty quick, "You-he-but-I- DON'T YOU DARE!"

"Gin, I think we better take it easy, we are going to give your brother a heart attack."

"That's just great, so this is what it comes down to? I'm just her brother now? I thought you were my best mate; I thought I could trust you!"

Ron was serious, only not too serious; there was no real fire beneath his words. Harry chuckled, "Of course you can, Ron; you're my best mate too. I'm just looking out for your well-being here. She's the one who started all this."

I smiled looking up at my brother who worried about his sister's innocence, my best friend as she tried to rid herself of a laugh induced headache, and my boyfriend gazing back at me fondly.

"I have to wonder," I said on our way to lunch the next day, "Has Slughorn noticed any difference in you since you disposed of the Half Blood Prince? I mean, the Prince practically gave you all the answers all the time."

"He just says I'm lovesick," Harry laughed.

"Then he must be a bit put off with me then? Right?"

"No, he definitely approves- he likes you; he says you remind him of my mum."

"I've been hearing a lot of that lately."

Harry shrugged. "My mom must have really been great."

The Potters were a taboo subject with Harry; he tried to act indifferent about the fact that his parents weren't around but everyone knew it got him wound up. He would defend his parents honor 'til the day he died and he had never even met them. He just avoided the subject when he could; which was hard seeing that they were two of the most well-like and famous wizards of our time.

"Of course she was." Then I maneuvered the conversation back to its original subject. "Have you been suffering though, without the Prince's help?"

"Well, the Prince did teach me enough to hold out on my own for a while, obviously not like Hermione, but still. I think that soon I might-"

"You are not going back for that book."

"But-"

"No buts. It got you in enough trouble to start with; anyway if you really do want to be an Auror, Harry, then you need to gain your marks on your own."

Sighing, Harry gave up his argument.

"You are planning on Auror training after you graduate, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess that's the only thing that I would be good at really: defeating dark wizards."

"Maybe, or maybe you can be great at whatever you put your mind to." Somehow the idea that he was only good at fighting wizards didn't rest well with me- if it wasn't something he wanted to do then why should he do it?

"You're growing sentimental Ginny Weasley."

"Eat your heart out, it doesn't happen often."

Harry laughed again then grew curious. "And you? What are you planning on doing?"

Hmmm…. what did I want to do? That was easy. "Quidditch. But that's not really something I can control is it? Either I have it or I don't," I told him as we finished the last flight of stairs.

"I think you've got it, and that's coming from your captain, not your boyfriend."

"I think it's coming from a little bit of both."

"Anyway- what team then, Chaser?"

Obviously he had never been in my room before, I thought it was common knowledge that I didn't root for the Cannons like my naïve brother. "The Holy Head Harpies of course."

"I wonder what your brother has to say about that," Harry questioned, trying to hide a grin.

"Do you even think I'd stop to care?" Nor did I care that at that moment Romilda was shooting daggers at Harry and me from across the crowded corridor.

"Not particularly," he said, "he'd be a little more than put off when he finds his own sister playing for the rival team."

"The Holys are hardly the Cannons' rival. Besides, other than giving me permission to date you, he had no say in anything else I do with my life."

Harry stopped dead in his tracks causing me to stop as well. "Wait did I hear you right? You gave him permission to give you permission to date me?" The crowd hording towards the food continued past us, and I longed to be one of them, my stomach wasn't very happy at the moment. "You?"

I shrugged knowing he was going to want an explicit explanation, hopefully I could manage to steer myself out of it. "In my own twisted logic, yes, though you're going to have to find a way to say that that won't make me sound like a head case."

He was about to say something when I lifted an eyebrow, "Don't even think about it."

"Never was," he lied.

"Come on Potter," I said tugging at his hand, "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry. But don't think you can distract me, why the change of heart? Last night you almost bit his head off."

Had I really been that harsh? Perhaps. "Look Harry it's simple; Ron is your best friend. And with your history, I know that you take Ron's opinions- however barmy they may be- to heart. I know how much his friendship means to you. So if it only takes Ron's blessing to have you keep this up with me, then it's alright with me. For the record, I knew he'd be ok with us before you did, but if he had gone the other way…" I looked up into his eyes noting that the banter mood had evaporated. "I would never have made you choose between us."

He responded with a kiss, and pulling me into a narrow space behind a statue of a renowned centaur in the empty hallway. Pushing me up against it he grabbed my face.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to snog my brilliant girlfriend before lunch." He captured my lips again and rendered me speechless. There was something about kissing Harry, it was so addicting; he was so sweet and gentle. Not like Dean who always seem about ready to ravage me all the time. That's when I thought of something.

I pulled away. He grinned and started pressing chaste kisses along my jaw line. I had a thought a moment before, I really did have one…but his breath was so warm…

"I thought you hated public displays of intimate affection," I said when my brain returned from the fog. I couldn't help but picture his reaction to finding Dean and I in that corridor.

He moved to press his forehead to mine, scrunching his eyebrows. "Where did you get that from? Ginny have you already forgotten our first kiss?"

He had a point.

"But…but what about when you and Ron walked in on Dean and me? You seemed so…disappointed." It was tight and dark in the corner he enclosed me in so reading his face wasn't the easiest task. But I did see him shake his head.

"Ginny, did it ever occur to you that maybe I wasn't so much disappointed as I was jealous?"

"What?"

He laughed, "I wasn't doing anything at that moment other than wishing it was me you had been kissing in the secluded corners of the castle."

I was shocked, so utterly shocked all I could say was, "You know, I lost sleep over that."

"Over the fact that you thought I was disappointed?"

"Yes."

He kissed me again, "That's ridiculous."

"I really care about your opinion," I admitted, which I probably wouldn't have if he had been so close and influential.

He blushed at the comment in a very Harry-ish manner taking one hand from my back to ruffle his hair.

"But hey," I continued cupping his face so that he wouldn't look anywhere but me, "I don't think you pulled me back here for talking."

Before I could even finish, he was kissing me again. My hands moved from his face to his hair, reveling in the silky, messy feel of it. "So how many points do you think we'll lose if we get caught?" I panted a few minutes later when his lips moved to my jaw again.

"Mmmm…50...each?" he murmured.

"Maybe…"

"Depends on who catches us."

"Snape…200..."

"Each," he decided.

My fingers found the hem of his un-tucked shirt. I felt his smile against my skin as his lips moved down to my neck, but at the same time heard voices on the other side of the statue. "We're going to get caught," I groaned.

"Shh," he warned as the voices died away, "We need a better place within the castle."

I ran a finger across his midriff beneath his school shirt, holding back a chuckle when he shivered. "Any ideas?"

"Well there is this broom closet on the second floor that-" he didn't get to finish as I pulled him away from the statue and up the stairs once more, "I thought you were hungry!" He called from behind me.

"I'm easily distracted!"

Where was that bloody closet?

"From food?"

I looked back at him; he was desperately trying to fix his hair again, "Don't bother with that! No one is going to notice the difference!" Besides, the moment we made it there it was going to get a lot worse.

"Guess you're right-"

I had found the door to the broom closet and that conversation was never finished.

"How much do you think I can get for this piece of art?" Colin thrusted a photograph in my face. Neville looked over from beside me and we both stared at a beautifully angled shot of Harry sweeping me off my feet in a tasteful kiss in the midst of the Gryffindor Quidditch Party.

"Wow," I breathed. I couldn't believe Colin had captured that moment, and so incredibly!

"It's great isn't it? Imagine what that prophet would pay for a photo of the Chosen One with his Chosen One."

I took the photo from his hand and stared at it in a daze. It was like a scene from a fairytale.

"You wouldn't do that, Colin." Neville said without a hint of question in his voice.

I looked up at Neville with a smile, "Thanks, I definitely wouldn't want to hear it from my mum just yet as to how I ended up front page of the paper."

Neville shook his head, "I'd be more worried about all the angry mail you'd get from Harry fanatics, and honestly, I'd be most worried about what Harry's enemies would do."

Colin slumped into the seat beside me. "Well, there goes that."

I lowered the photo onto my lap and took a deep breath, "Thanks for the healthy dose of reality Neville."

"I'm happy for you though, Ginny, I don't think I mentioned it before."

"It's still a great photo," grumbled Colin.

I laughed and put my arm around him. "It's the best! Can I keep it Colin? Oh please, can I keep it?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, I have a copy of it for my portfolio, not that I can do much with it now."

"Maybe one day-"

"Well isn't this cozy," I never understood why Draco Malfoy felt the need to sneak up on people from behind. Was it impossible for him to approach people normally? Perhaps with a greeting? "The Weaselette draped over two Gryffindors. And Neither of which is the one she's so publicly courting."

Draco looked worse for wear. In all the time I'd known him I had never seen him look so thin and pale. The black around his eyes glowed. "Does Potter know you're passing yourself around?"

Neville went to stand and I touched him on his arm, letting him know I was handling it. "Harry is aware of the fact I have friends; do you know what friends are Draco?"

"Where is Potter anyway? Trying to kill more Slytherins? And you all say we discriminate."

"What business is it of yours where Harry is?" asked Colin.

"Well considering I know for a fact he's been keeping tabs on me, I'd call it fair game."

So Malfoy knew Harry had been following him all year. "He's meeting with the Headmaster. Important business. Nothing to do with you." I figured it wouldn't hurt letting Malfoy know the Headmaster was on Harry's side.

"Well, I'd be more careful if I were you Weasley, you wouldn't want Potter to find out what you've been up to when he's not around."

"Malfoy not even you can ruin my good mood, so why don't you stop trying and leave us be."

He stared blankly, and then swiftly turned and continued on his way.

Colin's mouth fell open, "What was that?"

"I can't believe he just walked away," Neville was as astonished as I was.

We watched him take the last seat available at the Slytherin table, and being to eat, completely alone.

"There's something up with him lately," I said.

"He looks…. sick."

"That he does, Neville. That he does."

"Sorry I'm late! Flitwick loves to keep me after class to give me more material. It's not always fun being-"

"Shh," he said.

Shaking my head with a smile, I closed my eyes and stayed still, feeling the breeze on my skin.

We sat there, Harry and I, for I don't know how long. Just enjoying the peace together suspended 70 feet in the air. It was a weightless feeling; with closed eyes challenging your balance and nothing but the broom between your legs, falling to your death was highly likely. It was scary and exhilarating and liberating all at once.

"I can almost picture all of it, you know."

"What?" I asked lazily keeping my eyes closed.

"A future."

I looked at him then, he hadn't moved a muscle. His jaw which was usually tense was relaxed his shoulders were down; his entire exterior was down. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. I see a job with the Aurors and Sunday dinners at the Burrow and…"

"And?"

"And a house with a lot of land- enough to ride- enough to -to do this. Everyday."

"That sounds really nice."

Harry looked at me then, his face bright with happiness or perhaps a small blush. I knew admitting something like this was unnatural for him. But he knew I'd never embarrass him. "Yeah, it does, doesn't it?"

"It won't be hard to make all that happen, you know. It'll come as easy as living."

He smiled. How I loved his smile.

"Get on," he said.

"What?"

"Come over here, get on my broom."

"Have you ever flown with another person on your broom before?"

"There's a first time for everything." I couldn't deny the adventurous gleam in his eye.

"Promise you won't drop me?"

"Promise."

My heart pounded as I wrapped my leg over his broom. Harry kept my broom steady as I shifted my weight. Anyone looking from down below must have thought we were insane. Once I was safely settled in front of him, he banished my broom back to the school cupboards and he wrapped his arms around my waist, gripping the handle, "Hold on tight."

His Firebolt sprang into motion, propelling us forward. A few laps around the pitch later, I felt comfortable enough to reposition myself. With a quick twist I was facing him and he slowed.

"Are you crazy?" he asked, looking more amused than alarmed.

"No more than you, I'm afraid."

"Well that's not so promising."

I laughed but then kissed him. Up 70 feet in the sky above the Quidditch pitch with the sun dipping behind the hills, I decided that I could definitely do that every day.

"To the library, Ginny," Hermione warned pointing her finger at the portrait hole.

I looked around her, to where she gestured, and then back to my position, comfortably settled on Harry's lap by the fire. "Err…I'm fine thanks."

No doubt she was going to try to tell Harry about her newest suspect to whom the Half-Blood Prince was; I knew Harry didn't really care.

"Ginny! Your exams are two weeks away!"

"And I'm prepared for them!"

"Not as much as you could be; this is serious Ginny! Harry, don't just sit there back me up," she told him with her hands on her hips.

"Um…I'd rather stay out of this if you don't mind," Harry grimaced.

"Ron?"

"Anything to get her away from him, I'm sick from their Fligils."

Harry reached over and threw a cushion at my brother, I laughed as it hit him square in the face.

"Is anyone worried about her future here? Am I the only one who is taking this seriously?"

"Yes," we all replied unanimously.

"Ginevra, if you don't get your butt in the library I am going to owl your mother and tell her that-"

"Fine! Fine! I'm going." I wasn't ready to tell my mother anything, especially not when she was a floo away from my brothers. I kissed Harry one last time, and rushed out of the room before Hermione could say anything else. The hallways weren't busy, a few students here and there were determined to get to where they were going. I sighed, damn O.W.L.s.

"I was hoping to run into you," came a voice from beside me. I jumped, startled as Dumbledore appeared at my side.

"Sorry, Professor, I didn't see you there."

"Quite alright, on your way to do some studying I assume?" he asked with a gentle smile.

I nodded, "Yes, sir. O. start soon."

"And Miss. Granger can be rather persuasive, can't she?"

How did that man know everything? "Extremely," I sighed.

We rounded a corner into another rather empty corridor. "You've taken my advice I see."

"Not that I'd forget anything you've ever told me, but what advice are you referring to now, Professor?"

"Well, if you weren't studying right now where would you be?" I looked up at him and noting the mischief in his smirk I looked away blushing. Where would I have been? Most likely inside of a broom closet. "Ah, silence speaks wonders."

"Obviously you know about Harry and me…"

He laughed, "Oh yes, you two seem very happy." That's when I understood what advice he was speaking of, making your own happiness in times where there seems like there is none left. I guess Harry and I took a huge leap into doing that.

"You were right, Professor, as always."

His light hearted expression died slowly, "I'm not always right, Miss. Weasley; there is not one person who is always right. However, I know what I am doing from time to time."

I wanted to laugh. This was Albus Dumbledore! The one of the greatest wizards of all time! Nothing could prove him wrong.

But of course we'd find that he was right about that too.

"I also wanted to thank you for being there for Harry when I've been so busy these past few months. My meetings with Harry have been purely business and I haven't been able to ask him about more personal matters. Although, I have to say I do believe he's enjoyed your company much more than mine," he added.

This only made me blush some more. "You're welcome."

We were growing nearer to the library now, "Ever since the incident with the chamber all those years ago, I knew that you both would be good together. You children have seen things far beyond your years and because of that, you've become amazing adults. I hope you all know I'm very proud."

I stopped my pace and met his eyes. He was speaking as though…. "Where is this coming from, Professor?"

He put a hand on my shoulder, the black withered one. I tried not to stare. "From an old man who has never said it before, and feels that it needs to be said."

I smiled, "I wouldn't say we are amazing adults, we still get into ridiculous amounts of trouble, we don't know what we are doing half the time, and well, I…I'm not sure that I-"

"Miss. Weasley, you are one of the cleverest witches I have ever met; there is no need to doubt yourself. Just make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."

There were no words I could pull together that would match the graveness of which he spoke. "I'll remember that."

He raised his hand as his sleeve concealed his strangely damaged hand once more. "Then off to your studies, Miss. Weasley, I don't want to keep you."

"You weren't keeping me, Sir; speaking with you is always a highlight of my day."

He paused for a moment, and I noticed a bit of sadness in his eyes. "Your words are most rewarding, thank you, Ginny."

"Of course-" but he was gone.

I stared after him as he swiftly made his way, trying to shrug off the feeling that there was a hidden meaning to all he said. Finally, I put it out of my mind and entered the library.

The chamber was wet… wet, slimy and humid. Even with the massive space, I could hardly breathe.

…There was blood, so much blood, coming from me… and coming from the body a few feet away, a body that I couldn't identify from where I was. I couldn't stand…I couldn't scream…the diary was open and I was being sucked into it. I wanted the body to get up and help me, yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't yell for help…

…The third task was in full blown chaos. One moment Fred and George were taking bets on who would win the tournament the next there were screams and wails. I pushed people out of the way to find Cedric dead on the ground. His body was bleeding…that couldn't be right he shouldn't be bleeding…that wasn't how it happened…. Harry was nowhere to be found all there was… was Cedric's body…. dead…

…Sirius was fighting in the Department of Mysteries; I had seen it before and I knew what was going to happen. I saw Bellatrix raise her wand and I tried to scream out to him. Nothing came out. I yelled and I yelled but there was nothing but a sick buzzing in my ear. Then it happened all over again, the green light hit him square in the chest and he fell. Only, this time, Remus wasn't there to catch Harry. I watched as he followed Sirius, running to catch him. I was screaming telling him to stop but it was too late, Harry threw himself into the veil after his godfather…

….The Department of Mysteries was crumbling; the walls came down to reveal another room. I was back in the Chamber of Secrets. The book was still open and the unconscious form was still bleeding…

"This is just the beginning Ginny," a voice spoke out from behind me, a voice that I never wanted to hear again.

Tom's handsome face came into view, stalking towards me like I was something to eat. "Leave me alone Tom," I called shakily.

"Always a firecracker weren't you, Ginny? I've missed you."

"Go to hell."

Tom only just smiled and knelt down before me, "Manners, dear."

He went to reach for me but I spat in his face.

"Ugh!" he screamed stepping away to wipe it off. "You whiny brat, I should have killed you when I had the chance."

I was still bleeding profoundly from an unknown source, but I found I was able to move. Slowly I made my way over to the body. Harry would be here any minute I told myself, he was coming.

"He's not going to save you this time Ginny. Take this as a warning- this is all just the beginning. Harry Potter will not be the end of me." I finally crawled close enough so I could shake the person laying there and try to get them conscious, though I couldn't tell who it was. But that all changed when the body sagged and rolled onto its back. "I will be the end of him."

Harry.

"Harry!" I screamed sitting up in my dorm bed.

Thankfully, it seemed I hadn't woken anyone. So many thoughts and images were floating in my mind, blinking faces of people dead or injured, so many my head throbbed.

I took deep, slow breaths, still shaking from the dream. It was so real. As real as… as his voice. I hadn't heard Tom in so long. I had a dark feeling he'd just sent me the dream.

The dream was becoming a jumble of blurred memories; I could hardly understand it anymore. I knew this was the moment were you forgot the dream. I tried to grasp it again. I tried to remember. Tom said something…. something important…

Tears fell from my eyes even though I wasn't aware I had been crying. Shuffling out of bed quickly, I shoved my feet into my slippers and tied my bathrobe. The common room was deserted, of course, and that was fine with me. I sat and tucked my legs under me. My regular breathing pattern hadn't returned. What had Tom meant Harry wouldn't be the end of him? Like there were only two choices; Harry killing him or him killing Harry. It made no sense.

It was just a dream.

A very real dream.

Something deep inside me told me not to let it go. I didn't want it to start happening again. I didn't want to hear him anymore. I didn't want to let myself, I didn't want to be vulnerable again I had worked so hard to not be affected by his magic. But as I sat in the common room I felt it all around me. A presence. A cold breeze. An energy. It got to me in my sleep. I was vulnerable in my sleep. Tom was close. I knew it.

"Ginny?"

I turned around, not even slightly surprised to see Harry walking into the room. He must have sensed it too. "Hi."

He came around and knelt on the ground to meet my eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Can't sleep." Not a lie, but not the truth. He would know.

He cupped my face, "Gin? Tell me."

I stared into the fire. I didn't want to worry him. I didn't want to pop our perfect bubble of love and happiness.

But this was Harry, if I wanted him to tell me about everything then why wouldn't I be able to let him in as well. I hated double standards. "Just another nightmare."

He stroked my hair, I loved it when he did that, it sent tingles all over. "You still have them?"

"No. Just tonight."

Harry stood and sat next to me rubbing my back. "Was it Tom?"

That was the Harry I knew, incisive, there was no eating around the bush with him. "Yes…but I guess there was more than just that…I can't remember-"

"You don't have to; forget about it, it was only just a dream."

"No. Harry you have to believe me this was not just a dream, no matter how much I wish it was something keeps telling me that this has a deeper meaning. Every time I hear Tom it means something awful is happening."

"Gin…" he sounded doubtful, and why wouldn't he be? But I had to make him believe me.

"Harry, when people tell you 'It's just a dream' you follow your gut anyway right?"

"It's not the same; I have some kind of connection with Voldemort-"

"And I don't?"

Harry looked at me solemnly then pulled me into his lap, holding me close. "Tell me about the dream."

Resting my head against his chest I tried my hardest to remember some kind of inkling. "I saw Sirius…and Cedric…their deaths. Tom had me in the chamber he was talking to me…" My brain was reeling, "He said that you wouldn't be there to save me this time."

"You see? That proves it. It was just a dream, I was there Gin, I got you out," he whispered in my ear kissing the side of my head.

"But he said something else… he said that you wouldn't be the end of him, that he would be the end of you," Harry stiffened beneath me though he did his best to cover it up. "Do you know what that means?"

"No." I didn't think he was being honest with me.

"Something is going to happen, Harry. I feel it; something bad is going to happen today."

"Don't get too worked up about it, dreams come and go Gin. I've had some nasty ones too, mostly memories from the past, and it doesn't have to mean anything."

We stayed there like that not moving until I remembered another part of the dream. "You were dead," I whispered.

"I was…dead?"

"In the Chamber…but you weren't twelve at all…you were…maybe a bit older than you are now."

He didn't utter a word at first, nor did I; so much could be said just by the way we held each other. "Today's not going to be a good day, Harry, please believe me."

"I do, Ginny. I do."

That was how we were; no matter how far out things could get we understood each other. Was that what Dumbledore had meant the day before? What was he trying to tell me? It had sounded at first like a long winded way of saying goodbye. That made no sense. I saw Professor Dumbledore every day.

"Professor Dumbledore was speaking strangely to me last night."

"Dumbledore? What did he say?" Harry asked.

"He told me he was proud of us, all of us, and that he wasn't always right about things…and got me wondering if it had anything to do with the meetings you're taking with him." When he stayed silent I sat up and looked him in the eyes. "What is he teaching you, Harry?"

"Nothing."

"Are you really that desperate to use such a terrible lie?"

He looked away, "I'm not sure if I can tell you."

"But you can tell Ron and Hermione?" It even hurt me to say it.

"Only because they were involved with this since the beginning, Ginny, I don't want you to worry- Dumbledore is just teaching me everything about Voldemort, his past and all."

Voldemort? I figured it had something to do with that but why would Harry need to know about him anyway? I let that piece of knowledge digest.

"Why Voldemort, Harry? What is it about him that no one knows? Why does it always come down to you?"

There was something bigger going on here, something that not even the Order knew; if they did they wouldn't always be questioning whether or not Harry should be involved.

"How exactly are you connected to Voldemort?" I asked persistently, why hadn't I seen this before? This great big mystery.

And then it clicked.

"The prophecy right? You know it. Dumbledore knows it, even Ron and Hermione…"

He sighed. "Yeah. Ginny I want to tell you, I do, but I don't think I can."

"You don't trust me?"

"I trust you more than anyone." His earnest voice didn't match with the situation.

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"It's not my call, it was Dumbledore. But if it makes you feel better I'll ask him today alright?"

I nodded, and relaxed again. I knew I wasn't going to be fall back to sleep, not after that dream. There were so many things to consider, the prophecy, Tom's words, Dumbledore's words, it all meant something, something obvious that I couldn't see.

"What do we do now? I mean, everyone else will think I'm crazy or something. Please don't tell anyone about the dream."

"I won't. And I guess we'll just have to keep our eyes open wider today. I've haven't seen you this shaken up in a long time, Ginny."

"I still hear him."

"What?"

I paused, nervous. "Tom Riddle, well, Voldemort. I used to hear him in my head. After the chamber… when he came back in power…. He…I…. He would speak to me."

Harry stayed silent.

"Remember when you came to me and asked about my first encounter with the dementors? I told you I heard Tom's voice, but I never told you…I never told anyone that I still do sometimes. Well, except for Remus," I continued, "And Dumbledore. I knew Voldemort came back that night, the night Cedric died. I felt it. I heard him, Dumbledore said my reaction was his first sign that it was truly happening, that the Dark Lord was truly returning.

"I heard him in the Ministry, I told Remus that Voldemort had arrived and Remus believed me because he… he understands. They both told me not to worry too much that I am just sensitive to his magic when it's present. But the voice is real, Harry. I hear it, whether it comes from my subconscious or not, I hear it."

Still nothing from my boyfriend. I waited a moment more, then twisted in his arms to look at him. I was shocked to see tears in his eyes.

"I just, I need you to believe me," I said softly.

He looked at me and though I could see there were thousands of question in his eyes, "I do," he croaked. "I do."

I nodded in relief, a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The secrets between us… there were too many.

"Ginny how-"

I sighed. "Shh, we have loads of time to talk about it, right now…Just hold me."

"I can do that."

I knew, my gut told me over and over that that day wasn't going to end happily, yet I went on with it. And right there sitting in the common room with Harry I could almost pretend it was just another day. But we had no idea that in just a few hours' time, our lives would change again, but that time, there was nothing we could do to find our way back to complete happiness, not for a long while anyway.

I enjoyed that hour by the fire alone with Harry before the students aroused themselves enough to get out of bed. And if I had known it would be the last, I would have made it more.