Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Fifteen

Facing the Truth

Hermione once again found herself outside Ginny's door, it was now Friday and the third time that she had gone to see Ginny, this time she had Bess with her. The second time that she went Ginny was a lot nicer to her, or at least she didn't think that Hermione was the root of all evil and was trying to steal her family away from her. With that being said, Ginny was able to be herself for a lot longer, however, at the end of the day things ended much as they had the first time, though Ginny did make a request to her:

"Ginny, do you remember anything when you're … er …" Hermione started curiously, but she didn't know how to ask this without being insensitive.

"Insane or catatonic," Ginny supplied for her, not really caring. "Not really … it's more like feelings, but I remember some things. Like I know you read to me … I liked that. What were you reading anyways?"

"History of Magic," Hermione said, and Ginny laughed at that.

"Merlin Hermione, are you trying to keep me in a comatose state," Ginny laughed. "Why don't you try reading it to me now so I can slip into nothingness?!"

"I found it fascinating," Hermione pouted. "It's interesting how they speculate the separation between the wizard and Muggle …."

"Please Mione, no more! I can't stand it!" Ginny said overdramatically.

"Shut up," Hermione glared at the other girl, really reminded of Ron in that moment.

"Next time you come in here, why don't you pick something more interesting to read," Ginny suggested.

"Okay, any suggestions? I'll read anything, though I would appreciate it if it will help me learn something," Hermione said agreeably, pleased that Ginny clearly wanted her to visit again.

"I don't care what you read, as long as it's not history," Ginny said making a face. "Maybe you could read the Daily Prophet … our newspaper …."

"Oh! That does sound interesting!" Hermione said excitedly, but then she looked a Ginny sheepishly.

"You brought the history book again today, didn't you," Ginny laughed as Hermione nodded her head. "Well, at least I don't understand what the hell you're saying so I'll survive."

So that's why today she was holding the Daily Prophet along with another book in one hand and Bess in the other as she entered Ginny's room. Ginny's whole face lit up when she saw her daughter and Bess squirmed out of Hermione's arms and ran to her mum immediately.

"Mommy, Mommy!" Bess exclaimed and loved it when her mum picked her up and hugged her.

"How is my little Bug?" Ginny said as she kissed her daughter's head and held her tightly as she used the nickname that only she was allowed to use.

"Good," Bess snuggled into her. "Now Mommy and Myknee know each other … everything good."

"Is that all it takes to make you happy?" Ginny asked.

"Yes," Bess said excitedly. "I want come last time but Myknee stubborn … no want me here."

"Why not?" Ginny said looking at the other woman with annoyance that turned to amusement. Hermione was pinching her nose, evidently not used to the brutal honesty toddlers seem to use.

"She wants Mommy to like Myknee for Myknee," Bess explained matter-of-factly. "Right Myknee?"

"Yeah," Hermione said blushing a little and Ginny laughed at the obvious discomfort of the other woman. Though she would have preferred it if Bess had been there last time, she could understand the other woman's reasoning, and it was rather entertaining seeing Hermione blush.

"But course Mommy like Myknee," Bess went on not noticing either the discomfort or the amusement. "She pretty and nice just like Mommy is … she show me Mommy still love me."

"What?" Ginny gasped but tried to keep her emotions in check, but it was difficult. What the hell did that mean? Ginny wondered and looked at Hermione, not pleased to find the other woman had paled and looked horrified about what Bess just said.

"Um …" Bess frowned as she tried to think how to explain this, again missing the (now tense) atmosphere in the room. "Myknee … help explain."

"Er …" Hermione looked like she would rather be doing anything other than this right now.

"Please explain Mione," Ginny pleaded with her eyes, she already knew that she never wanted to hear this, but she had to know now that it was brought up.

"Bess was afraid you didn't love her anymore," Hermione said gravely and Ginny gasped again, even though she had grasped that was what her daughter had meant before, hearing Hermione actually say the words didn't make them hurt any less. This time, Bess noticed her mum's pain so she rested her head on her mum's chest as Ginny stroked her hair, calming both of them down.

"Why?" Ginny asked aloud and then mouthed to Hermione so Bess couldn't see, 'why would she ever think that?' Ginny never wanted her daughter to question her love.

"She thought that you were always pushing her away … giving her to Harry or your mum." Hermione said sadly.

"I was afraid I would hurt you," Ginny said in a strangled voice as she pulled Bess closer to her, she wasn't crying but she was close. "I didn't want to hand you over, love … I just wanted you to be safe … I'm so sorry."

"'Kay," Bess said slowly, with a sad smile. "That what Myknee said … told me tell you … hug you!"

"Then why is this the first I've heard of this, Bug," Ginny said pinching Bess's nose, she wanted to lighten the mood, so she started poking her.

"Don't want Daddy know," Bess said after she wiggled and giggled a little.

"Of course not, that man would just blame himself for all of this," Ginny grumbled with pure love in her voice.

"So, Myknee said hug you … and not let go," Bess said smiling bouncing a little. "I did and Mommy love me!"

"My Bessy … Mommy always loves you!" Ginny said hugging her daughter tighter.

"My Mommy … Bessy always loves you," Bess squealed.

After that they all started talking about all sorts of things and Ginny was finally truly comfortable with Hermione being there. After lunch time Hermione read Bess's (and Ginny's) favorite story about Babbitty Rabbitty. Ginny would love to have been the one to read to her daughter but unfortunately reading, especially when it was out loud, made her head hurt and usually caused her to slip quickly.

O

"Hermione?" Ginny whispered (Bess had just fallen asleep in Ginny's bed), there was something that she really needed to say to the other woman.

"Yeah," Hermione responded in a soft voice, she could see that Ginny was uncomfortable about something.

"I'm sorry," Ginny sighed, she had never been very good with admitting she was wrong, but she knew that she had to this time. "I've been thinking awful things about you, and you didn't deserve that."

"Forget about it, Ginny," Hermione said. "I understand that this is hard on you and …."

"Please don't start with that," Ginny rolled her eyes. "Just because I'm mental doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I swear I could stab someone and they would all let me get away with it."

"That's not exactly what I meant," Hermione said, trying not to laugh. "Merlin Gin, at times you really remind me of Ron."

"Nice use of Merlin, but did you really have to compare me to that git," Ginny said, though she was laughing too.

"I happened to love that git," Hermione shrugged and then smirked. "I thought I was giving you a compliment."

"Well, you weren't," Ginny said. "And I do have to apologize," she added becoming serious again and the tone made Hermione stop her protest. "I thought you were evil. I thought you were going to use my brother so you could get close to Harry and you were going to steal him and Bess away from me."

"Wow … you really must be insane," Hermione said shocked but finding what was said amusing too. "Who would do that?"

"Erin Walker," Ginny said the name with scorn. "Though, to be fair, I doubt she wanted anything to do with Bess, but the rest seemed to be all part of her agenda."

"You're talking about Ron's girlfriend," Hermione said furrowing her eyebrows thinking about what Ginny had just said and going over what Ron had told her about the other woman. "He doesn't know about this, does he?"

"No, there was no need for him to know," Ginny shook her head. "At the time this would have destroyed him … now he could probably handle it, especially with you there to help, but I don't see the point of bringing it up to him."

"I understand," Hermione nodded her agreement. Ron had told her about his insecurities about Harry's popularity and knew this would have been hard for him to deal with right after the war. She shook her head and went back to what Ginny was saying. "How do you know she was trying to do that?"

"Ron brought her over here once," Ginny said.

"He did?" Hermione was surprised at that, seeing as Ron was wary about her coming here. Then she shook her head, "that's why he was warning me about coming here."

"He probably thought I would chase you away," Ginny agreed with a laugh as Hermione rolled her eyes. "Anyways, Erin had already met Harry a few days before the visit and I could see her trying to sink her claws into Harry … of course, neither of the boys noticed anything. Then I kind of … er … faked I was catatonic … honestly, I just did it because I didn't want to hear her talk anymore. I didn't think the ditz was going to spill her 'brilliant plan' (her words not mine) to me. Bragging that she was going to steal Harry from me and get all the fame and fortune that comes with that. I must say that it was brilliant when I turned to her and said, 'that's never going to happen b … er … ditz," Ginny had looked at her daughter and didn't want to swear in front of her even if she was asleep.

"Then what happened?" Hermione asked her voice even, but her eyes were hard.

"I told Harry, let me tell you I've never seen him angry like that before, or since. It was so different than his anger during the war … this was more personal. You don't mess with Harry's family. Well, Harry told her to leave Ron and never come near his family again. She tried to put up a fight, saying that she would tell Ron about this, but Harry promised her if she did, he would use all his power to destroy her." Ginny said with a smug smile. She loved that Harry was that protective of her brother. "Luckily Ron was never that interested in her, he was just stuck with the notion that he was supposed to make things work when you sh … er …" Ginny broke off not sure how much Ron had told his girlfriend about his former conquests.

"I already know about that," Hermione rolled her eyes, then she frowned, she couldn't believe anyone going through all of that and she realized something that she didn't put much thought into before. "Just how famous is Harry?"

"You know if Ron or Harry had mentioned you were a Muggle I might not have come up with this theory," Ginny finally said after just gaping at Hermione opened mouth for a few minutes, having trouble comprehending that someone would have to ask that question.

"The things that Ron forgets to say," Hermione shook her head. "You know he didn't tell me about Bess before I showed up at Harry's place for the first time," Hermione gave an example, but didn't mention the birthday party fiasco not wanting to go into details about that.

"That's so Ron," Ginny rolled her eyes, and then got back to the question Hermione first asked. "As for Harry, every single person in the wizarding world knows his name. And I don't just mean in Britian or even Europe, I'm mean around the world. And that was before the end of the first war … I can only imagine how much worse it got after Harry actually defeated that monster."

"Wow … okay," Hermione said finding it hard to believe that Harry really was that famous when he has always just been Harry. Ron had told her something similar months ago, but she wasn't able to get more information about that at the time. She needed to correct that soon, though she knew that she wasn't going to ask Ron or Harry about it, she might be able to talk with Ginny.

"I thought you were worse than Erin," Ginny admitted bowing her head as Hermione's head snapped to Ginny looking offended. "I know, I'm sorry. It wasn't because you did anything terrible, but it was because you could have. I hated you because you actually could have done all those things," she continued her voice a little pleading. "She … Erin … she was a dingbat, there was no way that her plan would ever succeed.

"But you … Harry has changed since he met you. I know that he likes you, I can see it in his eyes. It wasn't the look I thought it was, that I was terrified it was, but he still likes you more than most people," Ginny said, and Hermione tried to interrupt her, but Ginny had to get this off her chest. "And Ron … it was obvious after your breakup that he would have been miserable without you. And Bess … she loves you … it's so easy to see that … I'm sorry I overreacted … I'm sorry I painted you as the villain!"

"Gin, it's okay," Hermione said, she didn't need to hear this as she already realized this was how Ginny had felt before and it was clearly unsettling the other woman to talk about this. "I understand."

"But you were helping me … you were making my family stronger!" Ginny said with tears in her eyes, once again she was starting to lose herself, but not quite yet. "Please forgive me."

"You're forgiven," Hermione said going to Ginny and pulling her into a hug, knowing how stubborn the other woman was and that she needed to hear the words.

"You know, you're a lot more together than I thought you would be," Hermione said seriously twenty minutes later. "I mean most of the time I'm here,you're normal. Harry and Ron seem to be under the impression you're out of it most the time."

"That's because when they're here, I am," Ginny said gravely. "It's not just them, either. I'm like that with all of my family."

"Why is that?" Hermione asked frowning, that didn't seem right somehow.

"Most of the time it's my emotions that get me," Ginny said frowning too. "You've seen that haven't you," Hermione nodded her head. "Well, when they come in here …."

"Hello," Harry said walking into the room and Ginny turned bright red and turned away from him. Hermione was miffed that she didn't get her answer and glared at Harry. "Sorry … am I interrupting?"

"Yes, you are!" Hermione huffed. "But there's no point of you going now so why don't you join us."

"Okay, I'd love to spend some time with my three favorite girls," Harry smiled and then climbed onto the bed, sitting in between Hermione and Ginny. He wrapped his arm around Ginny, and she rested her head against his shoulder. Both of them were content in the embrace, thinking of happier times when they could always do this. Harry, Hermione and Bess stayed there for another few hours, but Ginny seemed to become more and more quiet the longer Harry was there, and Hermione was starting to see what the problem was.

O

Though Ron and Hermione had planned on going to Diagon Alley that weekend, Hermione said that she would wait another week because she would like to see how Ron was with his sister. Hermione was pleased to see that though Ron was a little guarded at first, he seemed to happily join in the conversation once it got started. At lunchtime Harry and Bess had joined them and though things had gone better than they had the day before with Bess and Ron distracting everyone by acting goofy, Hermione still noticed the tension in the room increased when Harry was around.

"You're a bloody miracle worker," Ron said as soon as they were alone in their flat. "Getting Ginny out of her shell like you have."

"I didn't do anything," Hermione just rolled her eyes at that comment. "I just talked to her."

"Maybe, but it still has worked wonders," Ron said as he wrapped his arms around Hermione bringing her closer to him. "I haven't seen Gin like that … for a very long time."

"Then I'm glad I helped," Hermione didn't want to argue about this anymore, besides she had something else she wanted to bring up. "Are Harry and Ginny always like that?"

Ron didn't answer right away, it was clear that form the moment that Harry entered the room today, that Ginny had started to digress until she was sitting listlessly in the corner. Now that he had thought about it directly, he had noticed the tension between Harry and Ginny for a while now, though it hadn't been as obvious as it was today. "Yeah … I think they are."

"Hm …" Hermione said looking thoughtful.

"You're not going to interfere with them," Ron narrowed his eyes at her, he could tell that she was up to something.

"No," Hermione said, not yet, I still need to see what's really going on, she added to herself.

O

During Hermione's next three visits with Ginny, she tried to learn more about the relationship between Harry and Ginny, though she never directly asked Ginny why things were so hard again.

"Ginny, is it okay to ask you about the war," Hermione had asked on her first visit, watching Ginny closely to see how the other girl reacted to the question.

"I thought Ron told you about the war?" Ginny said warily, that wasn't really a subject she like to think about.

"He told me before I knew about magic, so there was a lot of things that he couldn't have said then," Hermione sighed, "I know that I can ask him now, but …" she shook her head knowing how much it hurt him to talk about it. "I don't want to put him through that if I don't have to. I tried to read about the war in a book. I even went to Harry's magic bookcase to get something new, but … I don't know, the information was so general … it didn't really fit with what Ron told me."

"I see," Ginny sighed, and then pouted at Hermione. "You rather hurt me, than my brother."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she could tell Ginny was putting on the pout. "I just thought it might be easier for you to talk about this than Ron or Harry, but if it's not, I'll find some other way to get this information."

"I don't think there's anyone that it's harder to talk about the war than those two," Ginny said shaking her head. "I can try … just don't expect too much."

Hermione nodded her head, and they started talking. She had started slowly, asking more about how Ginny's relationship with Harry had evolved and soon Ginny was asking questions about Hermione's past too. It didn't take long for them to feel more comfortable with each other, being able to open up about things that they had never been able to talk to anyone before. Hermione was able to confide more about her past relationships with her two previous boyfriends, and even going into how exciting and wonderful it was dating Ron (though Ginny had made faces and teased her when they got to Ron). For Ginny's part she talked as much as she could about her relationship with Harry, but it always made her sad when she thought about how things used to be and how they were now. So, she would often get quiet after telling Hermione something and always turned the conversation back to Hermione. It wasn't until Hermione's third visit that Ginny mentioned some of her feelings about her relationship with Harry now and Hermione knew that she couldn't wait any longer to do something.

O

"Harry," Hermione said, it was later that day and he had come to visit a few hours ago. They were now making their way so that he could Apparate them back to Grimmauld Place. She knew that she shouldn't interfere, but she couldn't let her friends continue to be so miserable when they didn't need to be.

"Yeah," Harry said, the sadness in his eyes that wouldn't go away, seemed to be even more obvious now a days. He could see that Ginny was doing better since Hermione had come to visit, but anytime he was around her, Ginny would deteriorate fast.

"You need to go back to Ginny's room and talk to her," Hermione said.

"What?" Harry stopped so he could stare at her, his expression was unreadable.

"You two need to talk about things," Hermione went on, a little worried about her friend, but still taking advantage of his frozen state. "If you don't, nothing is ever going to change."

"Nothing can change," Harry said, his voice hollow as were his eyes. "This can't be changed."

"Not with that attitude it won't," Hermione frowned. "But if you talked to her … tell her how you feel!"

"It would just make things worse," Harry said glaring weakly at Hermione, he couldn't seem to muster up enough emotions to glare properly. "How can I tell her it hurts every time I see her … to watch her slip away from me every time … and yet it hurts even more being away from her?"

"I don't know, Harry," Hermione sighed, her heart going out for him. "But I can tell you this, she can see your pain and she knows you're hurting but she doesn't know how to help you."

"Help me! I'm the one that has to help her!" Harry said looking even more gutted.

"She loves you, Harry," Hermione explained sadly, "of course she wants to help you … she cares about your pain. Please … I'm begging you … talk to her, really talk to her … it might just help you both."

"Fine, I'll talk to her soon," Harry said still walking to the exit he had to get Hermione home.

"Oh, no you don't, Ginny is waiting for you now," Hermione said, she had already told Ginny her plans to get Harry in here and the other girl was all for it. "She seemed to have something she wants to say to you."

"What?" Harry asked looking nervous.

"Ginny is waiting for you," Hermione smiled at his flabbergasted expression. "I not sure if she could ever bring this up herself, but I can tell she wants to tell you something too."

"What?" Harry asked again, looking even more nervous.

"Whatever it is she has to tell you," Hermione sighed with a knowing look but there was no way she was going to tell Harry, this was between Ginny and him. "Just be honest about your feelings, Harry. Don't hold back this time and I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Gee thanks," Harry groaned, he was very pale now but as he turned around, he had an almost hopeful expression. "Wait, how are you going to get home?"

"I'm going to try the Floo … no magic needed for that," Hermione said smiling, excited about the new form of magical travel that she would be trying. So far Ron and Harry have been Apparating her places.

"Right," Harry said lowering his head and then made his way towards Ginny's room. He was tense and nervous and despite what he said earlier he knew that everything was going to change after today … he just wasn't sure if it would be in a good or bad way.

"You sure took your time getting back here," Ginny said, she had been nervously pacing the room since he left trying to think of how she was going to let him know what she thought of this whole situation. She was just happy that her emotions hadn't gotten the better of her yet, but her nerves felt more natural than overwhelming right now.

"Well, you know me, I dawdle when it's anything emotional," Harry said as he nervously rubbed the back of his head, smiling at her sheepishly. "Give me a fierce battle any day."

"Harry," Ginny smiled brightly at him, she could see that he really was nervous, but for the first time in a while he was really smiling at her. He was looking at her like he used to and that helped her to calm down a lot.

"So, are you going to say something, or do I have to declare myself?" Harry asked, not wanting to do the latter at all.

"Declare yourself?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrow and then laughed. "What did Mione tell you to get you in here?"

"She told me to tell you how I feel," Harry said making a face at just the thought of that.

"Doesn't she know you at all, I'm surprised you even showed up," Ginny laughed.

Harry smiled back at her, he wasn't used to seeing her act this much like herself and he loved that he was able to witness that. Even in the last two weeks when she was noticeably better, she hasn't been this natural, at least not while he was around. However, his eyes grew colder because he knew this wasn't going to last long and the pain that thought brought was unbearable.

"Don't Harry," Ginny said biting her lip, she could see him putting his guard up again and she really didn't want that. She walked over to him looking straight into his eyes trying to plead with him to listen to her.

"Don't what?" Harry asked softly, mesmerized by her movements but he was still wary.

"Look at me like that," Ginny said softly too, this time holding his face so he couldn't look away … she wasn't going to let this chance go without him understanding how she felt. "Don't look at me like I'm about to break."

Harry's eyes went wide as he continued to look at her, but he had no idea what to say. He saw the hurt in her expression, and he felt sick, knowing that he had been looking at her like that. It was how he had always looked at her since after the war.

"I know I'm fragile, Harry," Ginny continued leaning on his chest, unable to look into his eyes anymore (seeing his pain) and she could already feel the signs that she was starting to slip. But it was easier to talk to him like this, she could feel the warmth and love he had for her just by being in his arms. She was even able to admit something that she hated (though she knew it was obvious), she hated to say she was fragile and weak, but she had to. "I know I'm like this ticking bomb that could go off at any second … and I know that I'm not the same girl I was before this happened …."

"Gin," Harry started to say … she was right and so very wrong with that one sentence.

"Let me finish," Ginny said softly leaning into him and was glad when he held her tighter as he nodded. "Please, you have to stop looking at me like that … like you're looking for who I use to be in me … and your disappointed every time you don't find it. Like when I'm there you're constantly guarded because you know it's only temporary," she then let out a big sob at this point and couldn't control herself very well.

"Gin," Harry sighed wrapping his arm securely around her and carrying her back to the bed and making her sit down in his lap. He just sat there not knowing what to say as he held her tightly. When he spoke his voice was ragged, he had shed more than one tear himself as she cried in his lap. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I was doing that."

"H-harry ..." Ginny tried to say as she sobbed.

"Shush … love, it's my turn to talk," Harry smiled at her sadly. "I know you're not the person you were before the war," he went on, his voice was thick, and he felt Ginny stiffened, afraid of what he was going to say next. "And yet you are the same girl you've always been to me. You're my best friend that knows me better than anyone. You're the girl that I fell in love with and wished to have a family with. You're the love of my life and you hold my heart just as firmly as you always have," he continued forcing the words out as they tried to catch in his throat. "You're still all those things Gin … no matter what condition you're in. But that makes it hurt so much. I'm sorry … I didn't know you could see … I didn't mean to hurt you too …" he said tears now streaming down his face.

"But I know you better than anyone," Ginny said, her own face full of tears, but she used her hand to brush Harry's away and then rested her forehead against his.

"I'm sorry," Harry repeated closing his eyes and for the first time since the incident he felt like he could be completely honest with her and she would be okay with it … that she could handle hearing it. "You're the same girl, and yet I still feel like I've lost you. After the war … it just felt like he took everything from me. He took my past … he plagued my present … and destroyed my future," his words came out muddled by this point and he already wished that she wouldn't understand what he said.

"Your future isn't destroyed," Ginny whispered her head still resting on his chest. He opened his eyes at that and pulled back, looking into her eyes and seeing for the first time in four years the eyes that he'd been missing. "Not as long as I have anything to say about it."

"Gin," Harry said, and his heart pounded in his chest in the way that only she could make happen. He just barely had time to smile at her, a huge weight seemed to be lifted from his shoulders, before she kissed him. She kissed him so quickly, so forcefully, so passionately, so tenderly … so everything that he couldn't think … his mind seemed to have disappeared altogether. In that one kiss it seemed like he was able to find the thing that he always knew was missing, and knew that she had, but wasn't able to get it back … his heart.

"Gin," Harry finally sighed when he pulled away, somehow, they had moved more comfortably in the bed, and he was now on top of her. He smiled at the love of his life being near to him again as beautiful as she ever was.

"Harry," Ginny smiled back at him feeling more like herself in years, even though she knew that not everything was solved by a long shot. Harry was always going to blame himself and be moody, but that didn't matter right now, she had him … and she wanted all of him.

"I love you so much," Harry said leaning down to kiss her again.

"I love you too," Ginny sighed and smiled, kissing him back with everything she had.

O

"Hey Mione," Ron said walking into the living room looking at his ash covered girlfriend with a raised eyebrow. "Tried the Floo, I see."

"Yeah," Hermione said dusting herself off. "You know I didn't think it could have been worse than Apparating, but it really is. It's rather painful when you hit your elbows and the landing wasn't too fun either."

"Yeah, not to mention the mess it makes," Ron laughed, looking pointedly at the floor in front of the fireplace that was really filthy at the moment. "At least for people that don't know what they're doing."

"I'll get better," Hermione said narrowing her eyes at him, taking that as a challenge, but Ron only laughed harder at her response.

"Why did you come by the Floo anyways? I thought Harry was going to Apparate you back to his place," Ron frowned. "I was just about to meet you there."

"Well, I have a feeling that Harry's rather busy at the moment and I wanted …" Hermione started.

"Why would you think that?" Ron raised his eyebrow.

"Because I sort of forced him to have a talk with Ginny," Hermione shrugged, not meeting his eyes.

"Hmph," Ron huffed looking annoyed by that.

"They needed to talk," Hermione defended herself, for, even though Ron didn't say anything, she could feel his disapproval that she interfered with their relationship.

"Perhaps," Ron allowed, clearly still annoyed.

"Besides, I would have thought you liked not having to go to Harry's," Hermione said trying to change the subject because she didn't want to talk about this anymore.

"Why?" Ron asked looking confused. "I like seeing Harry."

"As much as you like this?" Hermione asked walking over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down for a kiss.

"Maybe not that much," Ron said pulling away smiling down at her. "And you've got soot on your nose, by the way, did you know?"

Hermione just made a face that Ron found quite adorable before she kissed him again.

O

"We really shouldn't have done that," Harry said a little later, stroking Ginny's hair as she laid against his body.

"Why not?" Ginny sighed contently as she reveled in the feeling of being with Harry again.

"We should have taken things slower," Harry sighed. "I don't want to hurt you."

"It only hurt because we waited four years," Ginny said and giggled at his groan.

"You know what I meant," Harry said as she leaned up to look at him and he was giving her a sad look. "What would have happened if you lost control?"

"It doesn't matter what state I'm in Harry," Ginny said stroking his face lovingly. "I always love you … trust you … even when I don't know what's going on, I know that."

"Ginny," Harry said his eyes twinkled and he started to smile at her.

"Beside Harry you're just going to have to get use to this," Ginny smiled back at him.

"Oh, I can easily get use to this," Harry said, he had been honestly worried about her a moment ago, but that didn't mean that this wasn't the best day of his life. And now that she was smiling and happy and okay, it just got better. "I'm just … well, I'm worried about your brothers. They nearly killed me last time and that was before you were insane."

"Oi," Ginny pouted.

"I hate to think what they would do to me if they knew what I just did," Harry chuckled.

"Probably castrate you," Ginny giggled. "But I'm willing to risk it."

"That's easy for you to say," Harry said making a face at her comment.

"Well, if I'm going to make you have the future we've always wanted … this is kind of essential," Ginny smiled.

"Future?" Harry said, and for the first time in his life that word really had meaning to him. "So, what are your plans for the future?"

"Hm," Ginny sighed resting her head back on his chest smiling. "Living with you, marrying you and most importantly … well, I don't want Bess to be an only child."

"Hm … that might be worth the risk," Harry said, trying to sound nonchalant but at the same time his heart was pounding at what she said. He wanted all those things with every fiber of his being.

"Good," Ginny said, snuggling closer to him.

"Well, as much as I love this, I think I've better get going," Harry said a few minutes later.

"No," Ginny said. "I want you to stay. I've miss lying in your arms."

"Sorry love, I really have to go. I was supposed to pick up Bess from your mum's hours ago," Harry explained. "And I really don't want her bursting in here and catching us like this."

"Oh," Ginny said starting to smile herself. "I supposed we wouldn't want that."

"I love you, Gin," Harry said kissing her one last time as he got up to leave. "Next time I come we can talk about that future of yours."

"Don't you mean ours," Ginny smiled at him before adding. "I love you, too."

A/N: In my original author's notes I said, Okay the whole Erin relationship thing came up while I was writing this chapter, meaning that when I first thought of Ron's girlfriend back in the third (fourth) chapter this didn't happen but it just kind of worked out this way when I wrote it so I decided to go with it (almost everything else that happened in this story I've planned out). Also, I just added the scene with Ron and Hermione a few minutes ago (this chapter didn't have any Ron in it before and I thought that was a shame) and I just couldn't resist using the whole soot on the nose thing (even though that wouldn't have any real meaning to them, I still like it there).

New notes. This is another chapter that is almost a copy of my original story. I guess since it's mostly about Ginny and Harry, I didn't have much to change.