A/N Sorry for the delay. I've barely been home the past week. And when I have been home I've been sleeping. Work, family and training for a cycling race have been keeping me rather occupied. But I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Thank you also to Lord Jawblinneron for going through the chapter.

Ginny arrived at the same park in Little Whinging she stormed away from a few weeks prior. Despite Kreacher's glare, he had been kind enough to tell her where to find Harry. With her parents now knowing about a man in her life allowed her to leave the house, rather than sneak, without too many considering glances or guilty thoughts from her side. She'd been honest with her father; she would bring Harry to meet them. The when just needed to be decided.

"Morning." She missed a step when she saw the red eyes of a man who'd not slept a minute. He sat in the same bench as before. "What happened?"

He tried to smile. "Morning, how did the girls night out go?" It was a valiant, but futile effort at sounding normal.

She sat beside him, feeling guilty, but not sure about what to say. "Short, I actually spent most of the evening with Ron and his girlfriend, Hermione."

"Oh." He nodded.

"What's wrong, Harry." She almost pleaded. "You've got to talk to me at some point." He fidgeted as if he wanted to say more. "What happened to you during the war?" The question needed to be asked. She'd been avoiding it for weeks already, but for some reason he seemed to be near the brink of talking.

"I killed people," Harry whispered as he stared up at the distant trees moving with the morning breeze.

"Many people killed Death Eaters, Harry. It was either that or be killed." She gripped his hand. "Bill and Charlie did, they told me."

"So much was my fault." He spoke as if he had not heard a word she'd said. "If I'd only been quicker, so much wouldn't have happened. So many lives would not have been wasted."

Tears formed and leaked down his cheeks. She brushed them away tenderly, each time replacing her hand with soft lips. "You were still young, Harry. I'm sure everyone who fought feels as if they could've done more."

"But I could've made a difference!" he said with surprising force. Waves of energy flowed out from him, something she'd only experienced around Dumbledore. Then it faded. "I'm sorry, Ginny." His voice was barely louder than the morning breeze. "I shouldn't…" He swallowed and tried to sound happy. "So tell me about your evening."

Just like that he bottled his emotions. "You can talk about it," she urged not wanting him to slip away. "Don't hide from me, please." She let her head rest against his shoulder.

A gentle hand brushed a stray hair from her slightly damp face. "I don't mean to hide, Ginny."

"I've done things I wished could've been different," she began to say. She took a slow deep breath and began. "In my first year at Hogwarts someone gave me a diary…"

"You," Harry said in a very faint voice. "I… bloody hell!" Ginny jerked away from his shoulder as his entire body began to tremble. His hands clutched his forehead and he screamed.

"Harry!" She called out frantically. His entire body convulsed. Unsure of what else to do, she shook him repeatedly in the hope of helping. "Harry!" His ashen face and wide pain filled eyes stared up at her, pleading almost for relief. Nothing she did made any difference. The seizures refused to stop.

Dumbledore would know what to do and not knowing where else to go she summoned her energy and Apparated the two of them to the front gate of Hogwarts, fortunately the first day of school was still a couple of weeks away.

Using a few charms she managed to float Harry. The path towards the school seemed endless and more than once she wished for one of the carriages. Harry's screams lessoned on the way, but the trembling did not lesson and his face remained pale and moist.

The front door was closed forced Ginny to push it open with some effort. Inside the building felt eerie in its stillness. It took a moment to come terms with the emptiness. Especially since all the portraits stared down at her and Harry. Even though she could not hear them she could see them jumping between various paintings.

Shaking her head, Ginny trudged further into the vast school. Some part hoped to run into one of the professors, another part feared what they would say. Eventually, she burst into the infirmary. "Madame Pomfrey!" she called out. No one responded. Glancing down at Harry, her worry increased. "Can't they hear my shouts?"

She cursed before making her way through the various corridors towards the Headmaster's office. Her anger grew steadily as the portraits continued to follow them, their whispers loud in its stillness. Harry cried out again, but it too lessoned gradually and eventually he grew still again. After an almost endless walk she rounded the last corner before the Headmaster's office. The twin Gargoyles stood menacingly outside.

"Let me in!" Not in the mood for animated creatures she shouted at them. "I need to speak with Professor Dumbledore immediately."

"Not without a password," the one stone statue said.

"She's always been a rather rude one, hasn't she," the second said to the first.

"Harry's in pain and I need to speak to the Headmaster!" Ginny shouted, her cheeks blazing red in anger and worry.

"It's quite alright," the calming voice of Dumbledore spoke as he rounded the far corner. "What seems to be the problem, Miss Weasley?" It was then that he looked at Harry, who she had placed gently on the ground beside her. His bright blue eyes widened and he rushed to Harry's side. For a brief moment those eyes had been filled with fear.

"It's Harry. I told him about…" she stuttered. "About you know…"

A soft breath escaped Dumbledore's lips. "Yes, Miss Weasley." He did not ask why she was with Harry or how she knew him. He seemed to take it all for granted.

"The Chamber… and…" She tried speaking between her confused thoughts and growing anxiety.

"I see," the Headmaster replied as he got to his feet. He sounded relieved. "I have been waiting for this moment all summer. Well ever since Miss Jones informed me about Harry being asked to coach you."

Ginny wiped the dampness away from her cheeks. "But… what's wrong with him?"

Dumbledore looked weary. The expression reminded her of the last few months of the war. "It is the reaction one gets when breaking through a very strong memory charm, Miss Weasley."

"Memory charm?" she questioned. "Why would he have a memory charm?"

"To protect him from what happened," Dumbledore replied quickly. "You see, Miss Weasley. Harry was the man who rescued you from the Chamber of..."

Ginny drew back her arm to slap the Headmaster, but she refrained. Her emotions barely bottled. "How could you block his memory?" She brought the hand back up on impulse, ready to strike, but a deep breath later it sank bank down again. "Why?" Ginny glared dangerously at the Headmaster until she realised who she was talking to. "I'm... I... sorry, Professor... I shouldn't..."

Dumbledore did not move, nor raise a hand or voice in defence. "I'm sorry you feel this way." She really wanted to strike the man, but somehow she'd overcome her usual Weasley impulsiveness. "You were unconscious when he entered the Chamber and slept until he left so you would never have seen him. Harry on the other hand suffered severe trauma from what he experienced. A few days after the incident, while he was thrashing in his bed screaming, we decided that it would be best to hide the memory."

"And what do you think I suffered!" Ginny shouted, her anger coming back with full force. This time her palm left its mark on the old man's cheek. She felt no sympathy yet, but she would later. "You think I was never affected by what happened to me in my first year?"

"Of course you suffered, Miss Weasley. Your trauma, however, spanned over an entire year and not a few hours, we could not hide your memories." He looked ashamed. "I'm sorry, Miss Weasley, but all options available to us would only have damaged your fragile state further."

Ginny breathed rapidly as her anger rolled off her in waves. "We all wished that there had been more for us to do, but an event so large could not be removed so effortlessly without severe complications." He held up his hands and sighed regretfully. Those usual sparkling blue eyes were muted.

She fell back against the cold stone wall and slid to the floor. Her knees pulled up against her chest allowed her arms to encircle her shins. "Why did he save me?" The words barely left her mouth. "He could not have been more than fourteen or fifteen."

Dumbledore nodded. "He was too young to witness what he did and to accept what had needed to be done." The man looked away thoughtfully. "Perhaps he would have been strong enough, but no boy of his age needs such memories."

"Why?" she asked.

"I'm not sure what your relationship is with, Mr. Potter, but I think this is something that he will need to reveal himself." He smiled apologetically at her. "Do not be afraid. Harry is a good man."

"Do my parents know him?" Ginny asked with a sniff. "My dad said there were a few young men who fought in the war."

Dumbledore considered her question for a moment. "They know of him, but they do not know him. Harry led a rather secluded life during the war and his tasks for the Order were always of the utmost secrecy."

Ginny glanced across the hall. Harry had woken and was staring right at her with confused green eyes. Black hair stood in all directions and his skin remained ghostly pale.

Dumbledore nodded absently to himself. "I'll leave the two of you alone." He faced Ginny. "He is well. He'll just be a bit tired for the rest of the day."

She nodded dumbly and watched as the Headmaster disappeared into his office.

Harry, still pale, helped her up onto her feet. "That was…" His voice hoarse. "Unpleasant."

He threw an arm around Ginny's shoulder and rested some of his weight on her. "You saved me," she whispered.

He ran his other hand through matted hair. "Apparently so."

Ginny sat on Harry's couch, a hot cup of tea between her hands, with feet tucked beneath her. She wore one of Harry's old orange practise jerseys. Her hair, damp from showering, hung over her shoulders. Both had needed to unwind after leaving Hogwarts.

"Well firstly my team managed to get me to spill that I'm seeing a guy. Thankfully they got no more from me. The problem was that my brother overheard and so he knows that I'm seeing someone."

"That bad?" He still looked so tired. "I'm sorry I missed it."

She punched him playfully; hoping to spark some life. "No, it's just that I didn't tell him that I'm seeing you." He nodded in understanding. "My parents also know that I'm seeing someone."

"How?" he coughed.

"Apparently they have the ability to read my mind." Her voice sounded mysterious and he narrowed his eyes at her. "Oh, alright. It seems that I have been a little too happy over the past few weeks. According to them it's a sure sign of a Weasley dating."

"So do they want to meet me?" Harry asked tentatively.

She nodded. "Of course, but I told them that we still needed some time."

Harry sighed audibly. "It's not that I don't want to meet them, Ginny. I just need to talk to you about everything and fix the mess that's my life before I bring them into my life."

Ginny shrugged. "What more can there be that you're not telling me. You fought in the war and killed Death Eaters, just like so many others in the Order."

Harry laughed nervously. "It's pretty big." He leaned across the couch to kiss her. "I need to make a few decisions."

"What decisions?" she asked.

His gaze grew haunted. "I know that it's wrong of me. I now know what's been haunting you." He took hold of her hand and rubbed her palm with his thumb. "But I need you to trust me."

She was worried. "Dumbledore said you are a good man."

Harry nodded. "He does tend to see the best in people." He did not let his eyes be diverted from hers. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"Sure," she replied and he kissed her forehead. "So can you tell me about the Chamber and why you rescued me?" He leaned back against the couch. "It was inside Hogwarts, you were fifteen. So why didn't Dumbledore or one of the other teachers come to rescue me?"

"Because they couldn't," Harry began. "Well not without me at least." He gave a winning smile, which quickly faded into nothing. "I'm kind of special."

She turned around and let her head, damp hair and all, rest on his lap. From her new vantage point she could stare up into his green eyes as he looked down at her. He began to slowly run his fingers through the long tendrils of her hair.

"You know what was in the Chamber, and you know who created the Chamber."

Ginny nodded. "It was created by a Slytherin and there is a Basilisk in it."

"Was a Basilisk, Ginny." Harry grinned. "Do you know why you were able to open the Chamber?"

Ginny frowned slightly. This was probably the only part of her story she'd left out. Tom Riddle had filled her mind with some knowledge, but only that which she needed to do his bidding. She shivered and then decided that if he loved her then it would not matter. "I could... can speak Parseltongue," Ginny whispered. The shame rose up in her and she tried to run away.

A firm arm held her still. "So can I," Harry hissed and Ginny froze. Thankfully his voice returned to normal. "Like you, the ability was implanted into my mind as a child." She fell back onto the couch. "Only I could've opened the passageways that led to you."

"But why did you fight the Basilisk?" She asked. Her finger trailed up and down his arm. Harry really was like her. She should've been frightened, but his words only strengthened her feelings towards him. She really did love him.

"A part of the tunnel collapsed behind me. It would've taken too long for me to wait so I continued on ahead by myself." His voice trembled. "You were so small, lying in a ball, hair splayed across the dark stone floor. He stood over you, laughing..." his voice trailed off. "I destroyed the Basilisk then drove one of its fangs through the diary, killing the... memory."

She let her head fall against his shoulder. He tried to open his mouth to say more, but she stopped him with a hand over his lips. "Not tonight, Harry." She curled up against him for comfort. "If I learn one more thing today I'll go mad." There was no reason to talk about it anymore, for now at least. He'd been there, that was enough for her.

"I love you," Harry whispered. Ginny felt her body warm at the sound of his voice and the meaning of the words.

She rolled slightly to look straight up at him. "I love you too, Harry." The words spoken aloud confirmed what her mind had thought. Within her, in a part she did not know existed, Ginny knew that what they both had said went far deeper than any school girl crush.

He smiled and the intensity of those greens eyes shouted a million times louder than any sound that his words came from the same place as hers. Ginny's lips curved into a smile and he bent down to kiss her. It must've been an awkward position for him, but his lips were moist and unusually soft against hers.

Ginny Apparated home late that evening. She said good night to her parents and quietly slipped into bed. The pale moon shone through her window. Despite the hour, Ginny could not fall asleep. Not even her eyelids dared to close.

Tomorrow was Sunday, a day during the week in which nothing had to be done. Perhaps if something needed to be done the next day she would have been able to fall asleep. Instead her mind ran through memories, some distant and vague, others vibrant and disturbing. Her fingers clutched the end of her duvet and brought it up to her chin. Nothing but freckles, red hair and brown eyes remained visible.

Downstairs the sound of her parents moving about created a sense of calm. The familiarity of the noise provided comfort. Family always made her feel save. But the minutes ticked by and eventually her parents had moved up to their room and the house had grown silent. Alone with nothing but her thoughts, Ginny tossed about until the sun rose. Only then did sleep overtake her.

The remaining weeks before the season passed in blur after the events of the weekend. Gwenog kept Ginny and the rest of the team ruthlessly busy. Training left her too tired to think and the hours too long for much time to be with Harry.

Harry walked along the busy streets of London. His hands had settled themselves deep within the pockets of his jeans. Anxiously, he kept staring around. It was stupid, the chances of anyone recognising him here was almost nothing, but certain instincts could not be changed.

Shop after shop passed by. None held what he wanted, yet he knew exactly what he needed. Why he wanted it he could still not fathom. The idea both thrilled and petrified him. Still the very idea felt natural. That evening after his block had been broken confirmed it.

Harry came to a halt after a journey that had felt like an eternity; though the walk had been little more than five minutes. Nervously he took a step towards the glass window and his eyes widened. Before him were rows of rings; gold, silver, platinum and Merlin knew what else. Jerkily he wiped at his face, which had suddenly grown damp.

"You look like you need some help," a firm voice spoke from the entrance. The voice belonged to a middle aged woman dressed so primly that it left no doubt about her usual clientele. Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were considering whether Harry was worth her effort; though probably more in an attempt to chase him away.

"Well, ummm…" He felt caught. Up until now this had been his idea and his alone. "Yes, thank you." Harry moved away from the front and slipped passed the woman into the shop.

"We have some nice silver rings in the far corner." Her voice barely remained civil. Outside, Harry had been nothing but a hindrance that needed removing. Inside, he was even worse for business. The jeans and shirt probably did not do him any justice.

"I was thinking more along the lines of platinum." Harry spun on his heel and made his way along the plush deep red carpet to the slightly more expensive section of an already expensive jeweller.

A man, similar in build to his uncle, sat in a tailored pin striped suit glaring at Harry before turning back to the diamond ring in his hand. The lady helping him looked slightly alarmed. The seemingly casual glance between the co-workers made it clear they wanted Harry out of there before any more damage could be done.

"Yes, this section is for our more esteemed clients. Those who prefer quality and excellence above price." She paused long enough to take a quick breath. "I'm sure we can find you a nice trinket or something interesting…"

Harry took a deep breath and gave the woman a flat stare that cut off her words. The silence was welcoming. "Thank you," Harry began as calmly as he could manage. "I am looking and willing to pay for whatever you have in this…" his arms waved about the area in which he stood. He let his voice fill with as much displeasure as he could manage, "section."

The man by the counter grumbled under his breath and Harry had to fight the urge to not compare the man to his uncle. Another deep breath later he had relaxed enough to let a wry smile form on his lips. It is usually so much fun when people underestimate him.

"If you insist," the woman grumbled. "Cassandra, help this gentleman please."

A much younger woman approached, obviously a recruit of some sort. The older woman whispered and Harry listened in with a casually wave of his left hand. "You can have the commission, but just keep him out of the way."

Cassandra frowned at her boss, but she did manage to give Harry the first genuine smile he'd received in the store. "Hi, I'm Cassandra, and I will be helping you today."

"Harry," he greeted.

"I overheard that you were looking for something platinum." He nodded and she continued as she began to point at various rings. "Well as you heard, this is a rather exclusive store, and these are the pride of our jeweller. The diamonds are all perfectly cut with no imperfections." She hesitated slightly. "Accordingly the prices are rather steep, Harry."

He grinned and Cassandra laughed. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I've not seen anything I can't afford multiple times over with ease, Cassandra."

She choked slightly, which earned another stern look from the other co-workers. "Well, then we best get looking, Harry." She began to remove a series of rings from the exhibits.

The process was slower than he'd expected and the options more varying than anticipated. Up until this point a ring had always just been a ring. The various types of cuts alone had him looking cross eyed. Then there were different types of bands; thick, thin, curved, engraved, and another long list. And it seemed the jeweller had a ring for each combination.

His eye did, however, linger the longest on a particular one. It had been since nearly the beginning. The moment he saw it, he knew that it was the right one.

"Still looking at the same ring?" Cassandra asked.

"Yes." He picked the ring up slowly while turning it around. The diamond was dazzling in its reflection of light. "I don't know. I just can't help thinking about Ginny when I look at it."

Cassandra beamed up at him. "Well if that's the case then why bother taking something else."

"Why bother indeed." Harry spoke to himself and then the decision became so much clearer in his mind. He truly loved Ginny and doubted another woman would ever be able to understand and love him as much she did. Just as importantly he doubted strongly that any other woman would ever be able to invoke the same feelings within him. In fact none had ever even come close. With a smile he said, "I'll take it."

Cassandra almost squealed with delight. Looking at the ring amongst the others you would never have guessed that it was one of the most expensive. It was not large and did not try to impress, but at its core the ring was perfect. Just like Ginny.

Harry arrived back at the flat to find an owl with an invitation.

The whistle blew far down below from where Gwenog stood. Ginny sat up on her broom and began a leisurely descent down to the pitch. With the whistle came an end to the pre-season practise sessions. The first games would be over the weekend, and then it would be the Harpies turn. In less than a week Ginny would be playing her first game.

The other players laughed and cheered while Gwenog smiled and spoke to each as they walked past her. The sight made Ginny realise how much she had truly missed flying and being around Harry all day.

Coming round the one set of rings Ginny began to focus on the game again. In few days time she would be welcomed to the world as a Harpy Seeker. Her face stretched into a proud smile as she swooped passed the empty seat where Harry had spoken to her all those years ago. Eventually the flight ended as she landed beside Gwenog.

"You're looking great," Gwenog praised.

"I'm nervous, but I've never been better." The reply came easily. Gwenog patted Ginny's shoulder and together they began a slow walk towards the changing rooms.

"How are things with Harry?" The question came unexpectedly.

The answer was easily given, however. "Brilliant. But it's been difficult to find time for each other."

"It's tough being a professional. The hours have never been forgiving."

Ginny could only nod. The past few weeks had been a real eye opener. Lost in thought she missed what Gwenog had said.

"Excuse me, I missed that last part."

"Are you ready for the function tonight?"

"Function! Tonight?" she shrieked loudly.

Gwenog shook her head laughing. "Yes, the annual pre-season function. It's in the schedule I gave you."

"Oh, yes, of course." Ginny tried to get her thoughts together. "Sorry, forgot it was tonight." Her mind spun, she'd never gone through the schedule.

"Harry will be there."

With a sudden screech the calm evening spent relaxing went out the window. "Right… Should be interesting."

"Very." Ginny had to wonder how much her coach enjoyed tormenting people. "Harry will probably be getting his invite about now." The woman laughed and Ginny got her answer.

A/N

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed. Things have progressed a little in this chapter, and the season is about to start. Next chapter is the function and the one after that is the first game.