Moonlit Kisses

A/N: Honestly, I always felt that Ginny should have been included in some of what Harry was doing. So guess what, I gave her some insight. But, nay, she will not be able to go camping with them. She is still underage and must return to Hogwarts.

Harry stared at the door of the bedroom he was sitting in the hallway across from. Mrs. Weasley was treating Ginny and Hermione and he was anxious to speak with them. When Snape brought them back to the Burrow, there were more than just mixed feelings. At first, he could not bring himself to listen to the man who had murdered Albus Dumbledore. But then, bits and pieces of a story later, they decided to put a little of their trust back into the old spy.

Apparently, Lord Voldemort had instructed Snape to pretend to break the two girls out of their dungeon and return them to the Order out of the goodness of his heart. Professor McGonagall had told the Dark Lord that the Order would welcome back Snape on her word and that Snape was supposed to show them a fake memory of McGonagall forgiving him. However, Snape had told them of the entire plan and instead had shown them a true memory, or so he said.

Harry was having a hard time believing the man. He had been there; he had seen him look Dumbledore in the eyes and say the incantation. There had been no break in character or flaw to his supposed mask. In the memory Snape had shown them, Dumbledore was apparently dying. The curse from the ring was spreading throughout his body and probably only had a year left to live. They had known that Draco Malfoy was trying to kill him and in the end, Dumbledore had asked Snape to kill him.

One part of Harry was angry at Snape for going through with the request. How could you agree to kill someone? On the other hand, he could feel a stirring anger toward Dumbledore for asking such a thing. If anyone was in a worst position than Harry, it had to be Severus Snape. And perhaps now, Minerva McGonagall. Snape had been perplexed that they did not know why or what McGonagall was doing. All he could tell them in return was that she had given herself over to the Dark Lord.

Shuddering at the thought of his beloved Head of House giving herself up to Lord Voldemort, he continued to wait to see how the two single most important women in his life were. Guilt had rushed over him as soon as they had stepped through that door. He had a feeling it wouldn't be going away anytime soon. Mrs. Weasley gave him a sad smile as she and Hermione brushed past him toward the kitchen. Harry found it hard to watch them leave as Hermione was sporting a limp with a large brace on her left leg. Ginny stood nervously in the crooked doorway to her room. He could tell she had biting her lip many times in the time she had been held captive, because there was a dark bruise around the left side of her lower lip and small incision.

"How -" Ginny had to clear her throat before she finished. "How are you?"

Harry stared incredulously back at her. "How am I? Ginny, you were just tortured by-"

"And I know exactly how I'm feeling, so I'm asking about you." She crossed her arms squarely across her chest and blinked back a stubborn tear. "I want to know that you're alright since I just went through all of that for you."

"Ginny, I never wanted any of this! This is the entire reason we can't be together, because he will just use you against me-" Harry was interrupted once more as Ginny shoved him roughly backwards into the hallway.

"And look how well that went! Now all I'm left with is a broken heart and broken bones. Harry, don't you get it? He doesn't care if you're in love with me this week or that month or next year. All he knows is that you would do anything to protect me and he is going to use that against you whether you like it or not!" A desperate look crossed her eyes before Ginny threw her arms around him and pressed her lips to his own. The kiss deepened and the world was forgotten for a brief moment. When it ended, she let Harry hold her close as she cried. "Harry, your parents died because they loved you. Everyone is fighting because they love someone. Let me love you."

"Harry? Have you seen Hermione…" Ron opened his bedroom door, but stopped midsentence at the sight of his best friend and sister embraced in the small hallway. He stood there awkwardly for a minute before Ginny granted him a bit of mercy.

"She's downstairs with Mum grabbing a bite to eat." Her brown eyes clearly told her brother that he should be moving along, but Ron had other plans.

"Look. This doesn't bother me or anything. I told you that back when you two first started all this. But Harry, you better be getting back together with her for real this time because I'll have to beat your sorry arse if you break her heart again," warned Ron, drawing himself up to his full height, which was considerably more than Harry.

"Not going to be a problem, Ron," said Harry, squeezing the young woman he loved close to him. "I made a mistake before. It won't happen again."

"Good. That's good." Nodding his head seriously, he pushed pass them awkwardly on his way down the stairs, leaving Ginny and Harry laughing at his antics. Hand in hand, they followed Ron downstairs to the kitchen where Hermione was sitting at the table with Fleur. The soon-to-be Weasley was talking quickly with exaggerated hand motions which seemed to be making Hermione smile. At the sight of Ron, Harry, and Ginny, she stopped suddenly.

"I guess I shall be going so you can speak about those memories your Professor left." Fleur gracefully excused herself from the table with a quick kiss to both Hermione and Ginny. Once she was out of the room, Ginny was the first to speak.

"She really feels guilty about this."

"Everyone's been telling her that it's not, but try getting that through her thick head," muttered Ron. He and Harry had been avoiding the moping French lady, but it was hard to get through the house without running into her or Mrs. Weasley.

"Can you blame her though?" Hermione shook her head sadly. Ron was shifting back and forth on his toes watching Hermione. Finally, she rolled her eyes and said, "You can hug me, Ron. No matter what happened there, I'm still your best friend."

"Oh, right." Harry and Ginny had to avoid eye contact at the awkward hug the followed between Ron and Hermione. By the end of it, the two were blushing and Harry and Ginny were barely holding back their laughter. Once everyone had taken a seat at the table, Harry began explaining everything the girls had missed.

-BREAK-

An hour later, Hermione held the letter marked June 14, 1941, the scars on her arm more pronounced in the light of the kitchen. She was also restrained to the chair, as movement was difficult. Harry swallowed away his guilt and placed a protective hand on the small of Ginny's back. Ron poured the memory into the Pensieve and Hermione began reading the second letter.

"I continued to tutor Tom Riddle for the remainder of his second and the majority of his third year. He has a brilliant mind, always did. I must admit, at some point my curiosity changed into admiration for someone who could finally match my own unique talents. At some point we found we were evenly matched and our meetings became very intellectual. I must also explain that in the years to come, he would be regarded as a dangerous mad man. The young boy I met was none of those things. Ask any Professor or student who knew him in those early years. Tom was witty, intelligent, charming, and handsome. Not to mention mature beyond his years."

"Charming? Handsome? Are we all referring to the same person?" Disgust was evident in Ron's voice. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued.

"During my first five years at Hogwarts, the school hosted an end of the year banquet. Never shall I be ashamed of my actions that night, but I can contribute part of them to my teenage hormones. I know, it seems strange, but I was once a teenager myself. Many of you forget that we Professors went through the same things you are currently dealing with as teenagers. This memory takes place that night at the dance." One by one, the four teenagers dipped into the silvery surface without question.

June 14, 1941

The scene they landed in was quite obviously the Great Hall and reminded Harry of the Yule Ball of his own fourth year. The dancing was in full swing and after a bit of searching, it was Ginny who located the future Transfiguration Professor. Her ebony hair was twisted up in an elegant bun, emphasizing her long delicate neck. The green dress was simple and appropriate for both her age and time period, because her friend Augusta (he recognized her from the first memory) wore a similar design as did many of the girls. The small 'V' shaped neckline and straight skirt made her look even longer than usual. She was on the arm of a blonde boy, and it appeared they had just finished dancing as he headed off toward the drink table after kissing her hand. Just as the four got within hearing range, another couple came along side Minerva and Augusta.

"It's Moody!" gasped Hermione. Sure enough, even without the scars and with all his limbs, the teenage boy who guided the redhead Rheanna up to the two was indeed 'Mad-Eye' Moody.

"Alastor, next time you want to set me up, please ask first," chastised Minerva as soon as the couple joined them. Augusta was already in a fit of giggles and was quickly joined by Rheanna. Alastor did not look the least bit abashed.

"Ah, Min, he isn't that bad." He winked causing her to roll her eyes and cross her arms. Her future students would know that look well; Moody was in for a lecture. Before she had a chance, however, Augusta let out a gasp an elbowed her best friend.

"Someone is looking in our direction." Augusta's comment turned all of their heads toward the entryway. It did not take long for her or Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny to find the mystery man. Tom Riddle rested against the edge of a doorway. People surrounded him, but he clearly was paying them no heed, for his dark eyes were shining in their direction. Minerva tilted her head slightly to the side, no emotion playing on her face. Riddle just smirked and nodded his head out of the Great Hall. Then with a charming smile and a wink, he excused himself from his acquaintances and walked neatly out the doors.

"We'll tell Gregory you went to fix your hair," whispered Rheanna. Augusta gave her another firm nudge.

"What? No. I can't-"

"No, you can't go talk to one of your friends in the moonlight who also happens to be very attractive, very eligible, and very in love with you?" A blush rose up in her cheeks at her friend's words. Then with a determined sigh she slipped through the crowd toward the large double doors. Hermione grabbed a sputtering Ron's hand as they trailed after Harry and Ginny who had already caught up with the young woman.

"Tom!" she called out, spotting him sitting on the enormous stone steps. A smooth smile crossed his features as she lowered herself next to him.

"Minerva, you are looking lovely tonight."

"That was the idea." Tom laughed at her sarcastic response.

"May a man not pay a woman a compliment?"

"Since you are not a man, then I believe the answer is no." To her credit, she did not flinch when Riddle turned toward her suddenly.

"Am I just a boy to you?" Harry's eyes widened in realization. Tom had never felt love in his life, so his feelings for a girl who was first his tutor and now an equal and friend must have been confusing. "Is that really all you feel for me, Minerva? Because if it is I will walk away right now and nothing will change between us." He leapt to his feet, dusting off his dress robes. The shock was apparent in Minerva's delicate features.

"No, Tom, wait!" She too gathered herself to her feet. Tentatively she stepped up a step so she stood eye to eye with him. Placing a pale hand on his cheek, she whispered, "You may not be a man, but you are no boy to me..."

"No bloody way," muttered Ron, however this time he was not the only one staring in disbelief as Tom placed a hand on the small of her back, the other tracing around her neck as he brought her closer.

Minerva McGonagall's eyes fluttered shut as Tom Riddle pressed his lips to her own for the first time.

Preview: More Than Colleagues

"What did you tell them?" she asked in a voice that seemed as normal as when they had once been on the same side.

"Exactly what you already knew…" Curiosity would someday get the best of him, but two could play this game for now. In the shadows of the moon, he could swear he saw the corners of her mouth turn up.

"Why is it that people think I know everything when Albus Dumbledore would tell me nothing?"