A/N: Last chapter before the epilogue! Hope you like it. Thanks to Jonelle for being an excellent beta. Thanks to all of those who have read and review.

Chapter Five--Engaging

December 30, 1999—Engaging

Early the next morning, Ginny scrambled around her flat, looking for anything that could give her any ideas about what to do for the day. Late last night she had decided to scrap her original plan for the day after thinking about the comment that Harry had made at Andromeda's yesterday. She figured it might not be the best idea for her to pop the question to Harry when he might be planning to propose to her. Now, however, that meant she needed a new plan.

Scanning the room, her eyes lit on a thick book that Hermione had left a few weeks ago when she and a few others had stayed over at Ginny's for a girls' night. Only Hermione would think to bring a dictionary to a girls' night.

Picking the book up, she turned to the section with words starting with E, glancing through the various entries for engaging. When she found it, she noticed the phrase used to illustrate the word was 'engaging smile'. With a wry grin, she wondered if Harry would like it if she changed smile to massage. Maybe she would finally get him to loosen up some.

But what else could she do for today? A massage would not last the whole day, especially not if Harry had anything to say about it. She just couldn't convince him to let down all of his barriers. She shrugged. Still, she needed something else to help fill the day.

Looking back at the dictionary, she ran her finger up from engaging to engage. She perused her way through the different definitions. "I love dictionaries. Everyone should own one," Ginny said aloud to herself. Ideas began to spring up in her mind, implanting different images. Before long, she had the entire day planned out with all the necessary arrangements made.

Deciding to employ one of the definitions in her appearance, Ginny made sure to dress in Harry's favourite outfit of hers--a deep green jumper with a pair of tight jeans. She sat on the stool in front of her vanity and brushed out her hair. Tugging on strands of her hair, she toyed with the idea of leaving her hair down. Yet knowing that if there was a chance that they would be flying together like she hoped, she decided that it would be best if she pulled it back. When a knock came at her front door, she quickly scooped her hair into a ponytail and wound her band around it to hold it in place.

"Coming!" she yelled down the hallway when another knock resounded through the flat. Hurrying, she raced down the hallway and ended up sliding into the door when her socks caused her feet to slip out from under her. She was thankful that the door kept her upright, instead of falling on her arse. "Ow!"

"Gin? Are you okay?" Harry's voice was muffled through the door, but Ginny couldn't mistake the concern in it.

Throwing the door open, she answered, "Just being slightly clumsy. Hopefully, it's a stage and will pass." She waved her hand in the air to show that it was really nothing before feasting her eyes on Harry in jeans and a Holyhead Harpies' sweatshirt. Now that outfit was truly 'engaging,' especially the view she got when he walked past her into her living area.

"What's on the agenda for today? This is the last day, right?" Harry asked, settling himself on the sofa.

"It is the last day for my plans. I told you yesterday what the word was. So, to start the day off, we're starting off by 'engaging' our minds by 'engaging' the enemy. We're going to play Wizard's Chess." Ginny pointed to the chessboard already set up for the game.

"Okay, so what do I get when I win?" Harry said cheekily.

"Are you seriously challenging me, the sister of Ron Weasley, reputed chess master of Gryffindor? You know he taught me to play," Ginny said smiling the whole time.

"Of course. I'll still win and when I do, I expect you to cook breakfast for me tomorrow… without magic."

"Sure, Harry. I'm the one who will win. For my reward, I expect you to stay here in my flat tonight," Ginny responded, cocking one brow up at him in triumph. Harry's face dimmed for a second before becoming very determined.

"You're on."

The next two hours were full of concentrated thinking and strategizing. They were pretty evenly matched when it came right down to it. Harry was extremely determined to win. He didn't even respond when she ran her fingers up his arm.

By the time Harry called out "Checkmate," Ginny's level of frustration had hit an all-time high. While she wanted to growl out, all that came out was a strangled squeak. She knew that what was coming next would help soothe her ruffled feathers. With little fanfare, she grabbed her broom and Harry's arm before giving her wand a little twist.

Within seconds, they appeared on the field at the stadium where Ginny's team practiced. Looking at Harry, she mounted her broom, slid forward just a bit and gestured to the place behind her. Harry slipped his leg over and pulled her body flush against him, wrapping his arms around her to place his hands on the handle in front of her. Steering the broom up, they soared over and around the rings that stood at either end of the pitch.

"How does this fit engaging, Miss Weasley?" Harry whispered in her ear.

"This is engaging our souls using the definition "to please." Flying always pleases my soul." Ginny tilted her head back so that she could speak in his ear, allowing him to steer.

"Are you sure that's the meaning of engaging?" Harry asked with a tone of disbelief in his voice.

"It has to be true. I read it in the dictionary that Hermione left at my flat," Ginny said sharply.

"Well, who am I to argue with one of Hermione's books?"

They spent the next few hours, alternating between flying solo and together. Ginny loved watching Harry fly and dive. It always made him look so very carefree and happy. This was her favourite way to spend time with Harry since they both enjoyed this so much.

The sun was slipping below the horizon when they drifted back down to earth. Ginny didn't want to take her arms from their location around Harry's waist. She revelled in the feel of her body pressed against Harry's back. Harry gently landed and pulled her broom from under them to the side. She continued to stand there with her arms wrapped around Harry for a minute or two.

"Gin, do you have anything else planned for today?" Harry asked.

"Actually, I do since it's the last day of this. Hold on," she answered before Apparating the two of them back to her flat.

"You've gotten really good at Side-Along, Gin," Harry complimented her.

"Thanks. Now sit here by the table while I check on dinner."

"Check on dinner?" he asked warily.

"I told you I've planned this week as a way of showing you how much I love you. This is 'engaging' in the sense of pleasing. I've ordered your favourite meal with treacle tart for dessert." Ginny smiled at the excitement on his face. "Now let me go check on it."

She crossed to her living area and found that her mother had done exactly as she asked. A small table was set up in the middle of the floor with a fire roaring in the hearth. Candles set around the room were lit, causing the room to glow with a yellow haze. The smell of flowers wafted through the air. It was perfect.

Turning back towards the kitchen, she saw Harry slip something in his pocket when he saw her coming. While she was puzzled at what he was keeping from her, she continued with her plan. Pulling the black strip of cloth from her pocket, she slipped it over Harry's eyes before tying the ends together behind his head.

"Ginny, is this really necessary?" he asked with a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"You're fine, Harry. Don't worry. I'll keep you safe." Subconsciously she answered him with the same words he had used on her in her dream. Grabbing his arm, she led him to his chair before pulling the blindfold off. Harry blinked a few times before taking stock of his surrounding area.

"Gin, aren't I the one who is supposed to do this sort of thing for you? I mean, I know that I haven't done a lot of it but—" Harry said before Ginny put her fingers over his mouth. She spread his cloth in his lap, like some waiters in the more fancier restaurants do.

"Remember this week is supposed to be about me showing you how much I love you. This is just an expression of that. I love you, Harry." She uncovered the plates in front of them.

"I love you, too, Gin."

"Besides, Harry, this is step one in the plan for engaging the body," Ginny teased him. Harry's face paled at the comment. They shared the meal in relative silence, only conversing about light things. Harry seemed extremely uptight about something and Ginny refused to call him on it, hoping that he would be willing to open up to her without a fight.

Standing up and deciding to leave the dishes for later, Ginny seized Harry's hand and dragged him to the couch. Forcing him to lie down on his stomach, she allowed most of her weight to rest on her legs as she straddled the back of his thighs. Slowly, moving her hands up his back, she rubbed and kneaded her way to his neck. Harry moaned when she worked on places on his back, which were knotted up. She started making her way back down when she thought that it would probably be best for the massage if his sweatshirt was off. Ginny reached for the hem and started to tug it up when Harry shot up off the couch.

"Ginny, thanks for a great day, but I really think I need to go. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Harry said rather stiffly. Ginny had no idea why Harry was acting so strange. Admittedly they hadn't taken their physical relationship all that far, but she had seen him without a shirt on. Totally confused by her boyfriend, she followed him to the door.

"Harry? Is everything okay?" Ginny inquired.

Harry took a deep breath before answering, "It's fine. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't forget breakfast here. Love you." He framed her face with his hands and drew her to him for a kiss. He released her and turned to leave.

"Harry?" Ginny started in a very small voice. "Don't you want me?"

"Oh, love, more than you can possibly imagine, but it's just not time yet. Soon, my love, soon. Good night." With that, he walked out the door.

Ginny reflected on the past week while straightening up her living room. Did she accomplish what she set out to do- to show Harry that he could be more romantic? She wasn't sure as he had been romantic on his own, but one thing was certain, she knew a lot more about Harry Potter now than she did a week ago.