Chapter Five:

"So, Harry, I've got to ask, mostly because Romilda won't stop asking me if I know… is there currently anything going on between you and Hermione?" Ginny asked as they entered The Three Broomsticks. They were about an hour into their Hogsmeade date and had already visited Zonkos and Honeydukes and both had bags in their hands full of sweets and pranks. So far she was managing to keep her fangirling in check and was treating him like 'just Harry'. Harry was genuinely enjoying her company.

"Currently, no there isn't," Harry laughed as they chose a booth. Harry held up two fingers to the barmaid from across the room, which meant 'two butter beers please'. "You'd be surprised how often I get that question… or maybe you wouldn't actually."

"Well, seeing as I'm your best mate's sister, most people seem to think I should know the answer to that as well," Ginny said. "A lot of girls fancy you, you know."

"Yeah, I'm aware," Harry said, rolling his eyes before turning to thank Madam Rosmerta for the drinks. He opened Ginny's first and then handed it over to her before opening his own.

"I, er… hope you don't see me as just another fan, Harry," Ginny said softly, accepting the drink.

"Honestly, before this year, I did," Harry said, "but you've changed. You treat me like a real person now instead of The Boy Who Lived. We can talk. We can play games or hang out. It's really, really refreshing."

Ginny smiled and then took a big swig from her bottle. After a moment she pursed her lips on thought. "When you said there isn't currently anything going on between you and Hermione…" Ginny began.

Harry laughed again. "And there never has been. Hermione's my best friend. She's got a ton of qualities that I cherish about her. If I didn't see her as a sister I'd probably fancy her, honestly. But no, we've never even kissed."

"Wait, you do fancy her or you don't?" Ginny asked, finishing off her drink in a quick fashion before raising her hand for another. He wasn't even half way through his first bottle. "Like, are you just having a hard time asking her out because you see her like a sister? I could help."

"What? No, I said I don't fancy her," Harry corrected. "And I thought you liked me. Isn't this a… a date?"

"Yeah, it's a date. And don't worry, I'm really enjoying myself," Ginny began. "But I know you only asked me to come out of pity. I know you don't fancy me back. I like you, Harry, and I'd love to date you, but something even more important than that for me is you being happy. You've had a rough life. You deserve to be happy. And if that's with Hermione then I'm happy to help make it happen."

"This wasn't a pity date, Ginny," Harry quickly corrected, reaching across the table and setting his hand on the back of Ginny's hand. "I asked you here because… because I think there might be something here, okay? I'm not ready to call you my girlfriend, but maybe one day… okay?"

Ginny's eyes were wide and her face was flush. She dropped her empty bottle and it hit the table with a thud. She pulled her hand away from him to grab the bottle before it rolled away. Just then Madam Rosmerta swooped in and replaced her drink.

"S…sorry," Ginny said once the barmaid had left. "You say you might like me and I immediately start fangirling."

"That's okay, Gin," Harry said. "I know this is hard for you. You are being a really good date."

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. Being called a good date was, in her head, not all too different from being called a good girl. Furthermore, he had called her Gin, which was a nickname only Bill used for her. Coming from Harry, however, it felt strangely intimate.

"Thank you, Harry," she blushed.

Feeling she'd lose her cool altogether, Ginny decided to change the subject.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask… how's double Arithmancy going for you?"

"I'm really enjoying it actually," Harry smiled before taking another gulp from his bottle. "It's really fun to learn exactly how magic works, you know? Memorizing wand movements is one thing but knowing why the wand movement does what it does is something else altogether. You should have taken it. We'd be in a class together."

"Romilda says you only talk with Tori Greengrass," Ginny said.

"That's true," Harry said. "We're both outsiders in that class. She's the only Slytherin and I'm obviously the only fourth year. She's really funny."

"Yeah, I know," Ginny offered. "Tori and I talk in Charms and Herbology.

Harry finished his first drink around the same time Ginny finished her second. He knew due to quidditch afterparties that she could have put away several more. She was clearly holding back.

Harry paid for the drinks and the couple stepped outside. Ginny was surprised to see Hedwig waiting for them on a fencepost.

"Hey, Girl," Harry said. "Can you deliver these to my room? I'll give you your stuff back later, Gin."

"How did Hedwig know to find you here?" Ginny asked, sounding astonished.

"Post owl magic" Harry shrugged. "Or familiar magic. Not sure which." Harry affixed his and Ginny's small bags filled with sweets and tricks to Hedwig and she took off back to the school. Each dorm had an enchanted owl window up high that allowed the birds and their deliveries through but no weather effects.

"I wish I had an owl," Ginny lamented before quickly adding on "Not that I'm complaining!"

"Ron lets you use Pig whenever you like though," Harry said as he began to walk in the general direction of Hogwarts.

"It's not the same," Ginny said walking beside him while allowing him to also lead. "All of my brothers who wanted pets have gotten one. Dad says there's no money for one… but maybe next year."

"Well, for what it's worth, you can have full access to Hedwig as well," Harry said. "By my understanding of post owl magic, by me simply saying that she should now know when you have a letter that needs to be delivered and she will likely come find you for it."

"Thanks, Harry," Ginny smiled sweetly. "Ron's supposed done that with Pig but the little fucker is too hyper to be of much use with letters. He's not even two years old yet," Ginny laughed.

"Yeah, Pig will calm down one of these days I recon," Harry said.

"Harry, where are we going?" Ginny asked, realizing they'd turned away from the path to the castle. They were headed towards a patch of forest behind the train station.

"I wanted to show you a place that's special to me," Harry said. "There's a cave about a five minute walk this way where I used to meet Padfoot. It's where he lived as a dog last year when he was trying to get to Scabbers."

Excitedly Ginny followed Harry up the rocky terrain to the craggy cliff side near Padfoot's cave. They each cast lumos and made their way in.

Bones from foxes and squirrels and the like littered the cave. Padfoot or some other animal had cleaned the bones completely of any meat or fur.

Ginny let out a gasp and shirked back a bit at the site of the bones. Her breathing increased substantially. "What's wrong, Ginny?" Harry asked.

"The bones… the lack of light…" she said hesitantly grabbing at Harry's arm for support. "It's… it's like we're back in the Chamber of Secrets."

"Oh my gods, I'm sorry, I didn't think of that," Harry said. "Come on, let's get out of here." He pulled her back towards the exit but Ginny didn't budge.

"No, Harry, I think I need to face this…" she said hesitantly.

Harry took her hand and she stopped clutching into his whole arm. For a few minutes they both just stood and looked around allowing their eyes to adjust to the dim light. After some time, Ginny turned slowly to face Harry and then wrapped him up in a desperate hug.

"I don't think I ever actually said thank you," she said softly. "If I did I was manic and I don't remember. So thank you, Harry. I know you don't like people to see you as some famous hero… but you'll always be my hero."

"Do you want to talk about what happened in The Chamber?" Harry said softly.

"No," Ginny said. "But can we talk about us instead?" Harry nodded.

"Okay, but let's talk out here," she said, gesturing towards the cave entrance. "I've had enough immersion therapy for now I think.

Taking her hand once more Harry led Ginny back out into the light. They both sat on the ground with their back to the rockface. Harry rubbed his thumb on her hand and waited patiently for Ginny to speak.

"I poured my heart into that damn diary," Ginny began. "Quite literally I should say. At first I wrote all about life, about anything and everything that came to mind."

"But Tom only wanted to talk about you, Harry," Ginny continued. "I already loved you, or I thought I did. Writing about you every day to Tom made me start to obsess over you. I spied on you. I asked everyone about you all the time. I learned everything there was to know about you."

"It was clear to me through observation that you hate your fame. I tried not to be a dumb fangirl like the rest of them. I convinced myself I wasn't."

"Ever since you saved me though, I haven't loved you… not my horrible obsessive type of love… not like I used to love you. I wouldn't let myself go there. I wouldn't let myself become obsessed again."

"For the past year or so I've tried to avoid being alone with you. I'm sure I've been quite awkward any time we're alone in any case. I felt too much shame. Even still I find myself falling for you all over again. And this time, not with The Boy Who Lived, but with the kind, loving, and noble person who is Harry Potter. I love you again, Harry. I probably never stopped loving you. But I need you to know it's not an obsession. It's not as a fan of The Boy Who Lived. I love you for you."

"You don't have to love me back or even like me," she said. "I don't blame you if you want to avoid being around me.

"Thank you for telling me, Ginny," Harry began. "I do love you… much like I love Hermione and Ron and the twins. But there's… I don't know, something different about you compared to, say, Hermione. I don't know what it is but I'm not afraid of it. What I do know is that I…" Harry stopped and took a deep breath.

After a moment to collect his Gryffindor courage, Harry continued. "What I do know is that I find myself wanting to kiss you. I don't know when I started to want it. Maybe it was how beautiful you were during the haircut. Maybe it was over the summer when I stayed over at the burrow..."

Their eyes locked. Ginny looked very surprised. Harry paused long enough to let what he'd just said sink in for both of them. "So, er… may I? Kiss you, that is." Slowly Ginny nodded, not taking her eyes off of Harry for a single moment.

They were sitting facing the same way with their backs against the rock wall. Still holding her hand in his, he placed his other hand on her thigh and leaned over her as even while sitting he was a few inches taller. In turn Ginny tilted her head back and turned her shoulders in, meeting him halfway.

The kiss was electric. It started slow and deliberate and morphed as the seconds passed. Ginny became more and more desperate for him and even let several moans escape her lips between kisses. After her third or fourth moan of pleasure, Harry darted his tongue forward and parted her lips. Ginny responded lustfully by sucking his tongue before stabbing back between his lips with her own tongue.

At some point, Ginny's hand found Harry's chest and she grabbed a handful of his shirt for leverage. Kicking a leg over him she pulled herself around to face him. She was now in his lap, on her knees, straddling him.

Ginny's hands found their way into Harry's hair and scratched at his scalp through the clean, crew haircut she'd given him. Harry through her nails on his scalp felt heavenly.

Harry's hands had found their way to Ginny's hips. He pulled her body close into him. Reading the situation he figured she would not object to him pawing at her arse a bit. He went for it and judging by how she responded, she was okay with it.

Their kisses finally slowed after what felt like an eternity but was likely just five minutes or so.

"Wow," Harry said once Ginny had given up custody of his mouth. They got up and started heading back to the castle.

"Yeah," Ginny smiled. "So, er… what are we to each other then, Harry? I would be your girlfriend, but I'm not sure you want that. You said you love me like you love Ron… Or did that snog change your mind?" she smirked.

"Ron would kill me if we dated and he found out," Harry said.

"And Fred and George would tease me relentlessly," Ginny continued.

"I barely know what love is, Ginny," Harry said, "and I have a hard enough time taking care of myself. I feel like I'd make a shite boyfriend."

"You don't want to date me," Ginny said. "That's fine, Harry. I can wait until you're ready. Maybe you never will be. That's fine too. I won't force you into anything."

"I'm so sorry, Ginny," Harry said. "You deserve better."

"No, you deserve to not be rushed," Ginny said. "I have a proposal."

"Go on then," Harry said, unable to wipe the smile off his face even if he wanted to.

"I'll try to hang around you a little more. You do the same. We can try to be proper friends. I don't want you to see me as just Ron's sister. I want you to see me for me."

"That sounds like a great place to start building a proper friendship that could lead to something more," Harry said. "So, what about the kiss? Do we pretend it didn't happen?"

"Oh, please no," Ginny said. "Unless that's what you want. I'd prefer if you dragged me off to a cupboard once or twice a week for a snog… you know, as friends." The mischievous grin on her face reminded Harry briefly of the twins.

Harry laughed. "It can be our little secret," Harry said with a smirk.

"That sounds like a plan I can get behind," she smiled as she stood and then offered Harry a hand to pull him.

"One last thing," Harry asked as they began to make their way down the hill back towards Hogsmeade. "Are we exclusive? Er, like, secretly?"

"If that's what you want, Harry, we can be," Ginny said leading the way. "But I don't think that's fair to you. That would be no different than if we actually were dating."

"Well I wouldn't feel right about running off to snog with someone else without telling you at least," Harry said.

"Like who, Daphne Greengrass?" Ginny smirked.

"Ron told you?" Harry blushed.

"No, her sister Tori did," Ginny said. "I think she heard it from Tracey Davis."

"Okay, so maybe if we do anything with anyone else we just let the other know?"

"You're not necessarily obligated to tell me every time you snog Greengrass, Harry, but I would appreciate if you did. Same for any other girl for that matter. I think it's a good idea to prevent any feeling being hurt unnecessarily," Ginny said as the train station came into view. "So yeah, let's kiss and tell. If you're gonna be kissing other girls I'm not gonna just sit around and wait. I'll find some other blokes to snog as well."

They fell silent for a few seconds before Ginny asked, "So how many times have you snogged Greengrass? How did that come about anyway? I'm not jealous, mind you, just curious."

"Just once," Harry answered. "She dragged me off to a cupboard for a dare. I think Tracey dared her. I wouldn't decline round two if she offered."

The couple came around to the front side of the train station. Where the carriages awaited anyone wanting to return to the castle. Once the carriage door was closed, Ginny suddenly scooted over and sat on Harry's lap with both her legs off to one side.

"I'd prefer to know I've snogged you more times than Greengrass, not the same amount of times," Ginny said before pulling him into another kiss. Ginny's hands were both cupping Harry's face. His one hand was resting at the small of her back but he quickly relocated it to grab at her arse once again. His other hand rested once more on her thigh.

"You're welcome to these," Ginny said between kisses. She grabbed his hand from her thigh and relocated it to her right breast. Harry didn't object. He didn't have any idea what to do with a breast but settled on gentile grabbing and pawing. Once he realized he could feel her nipple through the fabric of her shirt he began to focus his attention on her nipple instead. He switched breasts periodically, attempting to show each breast an equal measure of attention. Based on Ginny's reaction he was doing something right. After a ten minute carriage ride back to the castle the song was cut short due to the ride ending. Sheepishly, the couple pulled apart and pretended as if nothing was amiss.