Taking Steps

The following morning, Ginny Weasley stood in front of her open school trunk, evaluating her limited wardrobe options. She had always been a tomboy and rarely concerned herself with her appearance or clothing, which mainly consisted of jeans, shirts, and t-shirts. The only concession to her feminine side was her preference for the Muggle cotton thongs and bras that Hermione had given her. Ginny knew that boys found her pretty, but she had never felt the urge to look pretty for a boy. However, today was different. Today, she wanted to look pretty for Harry.

She rummaged through the trunk until she reached the bottom and pulled out a floral sundress with spaghetti straps that her mother had insisted on buying her at a charity shop last summer. She regarded the dress with scepticism.

"That dress would look lovely on you," Giselle Fortescue said, looking from the bed across from her.

"Do you really think so?" Ginny replied, her uncertainty evident in her voice.

Ginny had never been particularly close to her roommates; unleashing a basilisk on the school had ensured that, but over the years, the mistrust had diminished. Gradually, acts of camaraderie and friendship had become more frequent between them.

"You must really fancy Potter if you're wearing a dress," Ailian Li observed from the bed next to her.

"Try it on," Kylen Fraser urged her.

Before Ginny realised what was happening, her three roommates surrounded her and took off her bathrobe, leaving her in just her underwear. While talking incessantly, they began to comb her hair, apply lipstick, and put a hint of rouge on her cheeks. Once they were done with her makeup, they dressed her in the flowery dress and leather sandals before pulling her in front of the full-length mirror in the room.

"Potter won't know what hit him," Giselle said with a grin as Ailian nodded.

"You really ought to wear dresses more often," Kylen observed. "You have the body and the legs for it."

As her roommates laughed and joked, Ginny stared at the reflection in the mirror. She was surprised to find that she actually looked rather good in a dress and a touch of makeup. The flowery dress with its ample knee-length skirt was far from her usual attire, but she had to admit it suited her. She was discovering a new side to herself.

She affectionately thanked each of the girls with a hug. Never before had she felt closer to them. Still in their pyjamas, her roommates trailed behind her to the top of the stairs that led down to the common room, where Harry was already waiting. With satisfaction, the young women observed as Harry's eyes widened and his jaw dropped, staring in amazement at Ginny as she glided down the stairs.

"Good morning, Harry," Ginny said with a girlish giggle that seemed out of character. "You can close your mouth now."

"Sorry," Harry said as he pecked her cheek. "You caught me by surprise. You look beautiful, Ginny."

"Thanks. You mentioned I should wear skirts more often, so I decided to put this on," she replied, looking down at herself. "I'm glad you like it."

"Ready for breakfast?"

"Yes, let's go."

The young couple exited the common room and strolled down to the Great Hall. Typically, many students chose to have a lie-in on Sundays, but that morning, the hall was bustling with activity. Several students, including Cho Chang, did a double take when the couple entered.

"Get us a seat, Harry. I'll be there in a moment," Ginny said, glancing over at the Ravenclaw table. "I need a quick word with Cho."

Harry was taken by surprise by his girlfriend's announcement, but her reassuring smile eased his concerns. He spotted Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table and took a seat across from her.

When Ginny approached Cho, she was met with a cold and hostile attitude, but the redhead remained composed.

"Are you coming here to gloat?" Cho asked sharply, a sneer forming on her lips.

"No, I simply wanted to say: good game," Ginny replied, extending her hand.

Cho was utterly taken aback and stared at Ginny's hand for a moment. Almost against her will, she reached out and shook it.

"I also wanted to remind you to stay away from Harry," Ginny added in an icy tone, still holding Cho's hand.

Cho glanced at the Gryffindor table, where Harry was intently watching the two young women. "You can have him," she said with resignation. "I'm graduating, and you'll have him all to yourself next year. I can't compete with that. However, once he leaves school, all bets are off."

Ginny thought perhaps she was being naïve, but she firmly believed that if she and Harry were together after a year, they would be together forever. She tightened her grip and shook Cho's hand again. "That's reasonable. Have a nice day," she said before turning around and walking towards the Gryffindor table, where an intrigued Harry and Hermione were waiting.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked, anticipating Harry when the redhead sat beside her boyfriend.

"I congratulated her on a good game," she replied, watching Harry fill her plate with all her favourite breakfast foods.

"Oh, that was very nice of you," Hermione remarked, suspecting there was more to the encounter.

"Thank you, Harry. These are all my favourite breakfast foods," a smiling Ginny said with an inquisitive look.

"I know. I've watched you a lot this year," Harry admitted, a little embarrassed.

Ginny resisted the urge to snog him and pecked his cheek instead.

They were halfway through their plates when Ron arrived. He sat quietly beside Hermione and served himself. An awkward silence ensued that Hermione eventually broke.

"Do you want me to help you revise for your OWLs today, Ginny?" Hermione offered.

The redhead turned to look quizzically at Harry.

"The weather today will be spectacular again," Harry answered her unspoken question. "I was hoping we would explore the grounds. I asked Dobby to prepare us a picnic for lunch."

"Would you mind helping me revise this evening, Hermione?" Ginny pleaded.

The bushy-haired witch smiled fondly at the couple. "It's only natural that you two want to take advantage of the lovely weather. The evening will be perfectly fine for revising."

Ron squirmed in his seat but remained silent.

"You and Ron are welcome to join us if you'd like," Harry offered, eyeing his best mate cautiously.

Ginny was in such a good mood that sharing her happiness seemed only natural. "Yes, that's a fantastic idea."

"No," Ron interjected before Hermione could respond. "You two will want to be alone soon enough. Just don't enjoy yourselves too much," he added with a warning glance at Harry.

"Harry would never dream of doing anything you wouldn't do on a date, Ron," Ginny said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. She stood up, pulling on Harry's hand.

Ginny regretted her words when she noticed the hurt on Hermione's face. The colour drained from Ron's face, and she froze for a moment. "I'm sorry," she said contritely in Hermione's general direction before hurrying out of the room.

"Did I miss something?" Harry asked as they exited the Great Hall.

"I was an insensitive git," Ginny admitted, feeling guilty. She turned to look at Harry, who still seemed to be trying to work things out. "Blimey, you really don't keep up with the Hogwarts rumour mill, do you?"

"I can't say I do," Harry replied.

"Lavender is one of the biggest gossips in school, and she tells everything to Parvati, who's an even bigger gossip," Ginny explained. "If you need to know who's shagging who, they're the ones to ask."

"Oh," Harry interjected, finally realising where this was headed.

"If what they did in public wasn't bad enough," Ginny continued, "everything Ron and Lavender did in private is also common knowledge around the school."

"Oh," Harry repeated with a hint of dread in his voice.

"Ron may still be clueless about girls, but Lavender made sure he got plenty of carnal knowledge before they broke up," Ginny remarked, her anger directed at herself. "And me, being the insensitive moron that I am, had to open my mouth in front of Hermione to remind her."

"Hermione knows you didn't mean to hurt her…"

"But I did it anyway," she huffed with frustration. "At least now I know that Ron is a gentleman, and he doesn't go around bragging to his friends about his sexual exploits. I'm proud of him."

"I would never do that either," Harry protested.

"You better not if you want to keep your bits attached," Ginny threatened, although the corners of her mouth were tugging up.

"Does that mean there's a chance there will be exploits I'll have to keep secret?" Harry asked with a mischievous grin.

Ginny's laughter was music to his ears. She paused, ensuring they were far enough away from the castle, and pulled him down by the shirt for a sweet, tender kiss. "Yes, Harry. If you're respectful and don't try to rush me, there's a good chance we'll have to keep your exploits a secret."

The young couple had climbed a large hill overlooking the Black Lake, which provided a delightful panoramic view of both the lake and the castle. In the early afternoon, Harry summoned Dobby to serve lunch. The exuberant house-elf spread out a large picnic blanket under a birch tree along with an assortment of sandwiches and cold cuts for them to choose from.

Harry was amazed at how quickly the hours passed in easy conversation with Ginny. Even the silence, while they admired the view, was comfortable. She lay on her back with her head resting on his thigh, looking dreamily at the sky while Harry caressed her face and hair, admiring every detail of it.

She patted the ground next to her. "Lay down next to me. Let's look at the shapes of the clouds."

Harry complied, enveloping her small hand in his. For the next few minutes, they called out the shapes they saw in the fluffy clouds above them. Voldemort and the Horcruxes had never seemed so far away, so irrelevant, as they did at that moment. Gratitude and love filled Harry's heart for the redhead beside him. He turned sideways, and they looked into each other's eyes. He gently cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the outline of her lips. Ginny closed her eyes and kissed his thumb. Their mouths eagerly sought each other.

The kiss began gentle and innocent, but only a minute later, it turned hard and sinful. Harry's right hand was on her bare shoulder as one of the spaghetti straps fell by the wayside. He kissed her jawline, and Ginny's head dropped to one side to give him full access to her neck. She exhaled and then whimpered as he laid a trail of kisses all the way down to the crook of her neck and continued to her shoulder. His hand moved to her abdomen and slowly moved up, tracing the curve of her waist. Ginny felt her nipples harden and had to resist the urge to squeeze them. It took all of her willpower to arrest the movement of his hand. She gently put her hand on top of his, and thankfully, Harry got the message. He stopped his advance just below the swell of her breast, and the heat of the kiss diminished.

Their lips parted, and she looked up into his green eyes with heavy eyelids. Burning love and desire coursed through her body in equal measure.

"That's far enough for today, Harry," she whispered breathlessly. "Please."

Harry complied without protesting. He pecked her lips as he withdrew his hand. "Of course."

She saw he was unabashedly staring at her heaving chest. Ginny looked down, and she noticed that her hard nipples were clearly distinguishable beneath the surface of the floral dress. "What are you looking at, Potter?" she asked with a chuckle.

He smiled, meeting her gaze without embarrassment. "I was admiring how beautiful you are," he replied before lying back down.

With a sideways glance, Ginny saw him quickly rearranging the noticeable bulge in his trousers. It was comforting to know he desired her just as much as she desired him.

Ginny let out a resigned sigh. "I'm like clay in your hands, Harry. Taking things slow will be a lot more difficult than I thought."

"Why?" he asked, turning towards her.

"Excuse me if I don't sound ladylike… but you make me hot," she answered evenly.

Harry laughed. "One more thing I love about you is that you don't speak in riddles like most girls." There was a silent pause, and he turned his head to look at her. "You make me hot too, but you just have to say a word, and I'll stop."

Ginny squeezed his hand and smiled gratefully. "I know."

The couple cooled down for half an hour before returning to the castle.

O-o-O-o-O

On Monday, Ginny had a free period before lunch and decided it was the perfect opportunity to visit the hospital wing. When she arrived, she hesitated at the entrance, battling her embarrassment before stepping inside. The door to Madam Pomfrey's office was open, and the nurse was engrossed in her paperwork, not noticing the redhead standing by the door. Ginny knocked softly and nervously wrung her hands until the nurse finally looked up.

"Oh, Ms Weasley. I was wondering if you would come and see me," Madam Pomfrey said.

Ginny furrowed her brow. "You were?" she asked surprised.

"News travels fast at Hogwarts," the nurse replied with a smile, recalling her conversation from the previous day at The Three Broomsticks with Madam Hooch. "How can I help you?" she inquired.

Ginny didn't know how to begin, and she could feel her ears growing warmer. The power of speech seemed to have abandoned her.

"Please take a seat," Madam Pomfrey said, gesturing toward the chair in front of her desk.

Ginny promptly sat down, but the ability to speak still eluded her.

The nurse chuckled. "Ms Weasley, any conversation between us regarding your health concerns will remain private unless you authorise me to discuss them with someone else. That includes your mother if that's what you are worried about."

Ginny smiled shyly. "It's just that my request is a bit embarrassing."

The nurse smiled sympathetically. "Let me help you," she said after noticing that Ginny continued to squirm nervously in her seat. "Are you experiencing discomfort during your menstrual periods?"

"Huh?" the redhead exclaimed, completely taken aback by the question. Madam Pomfrey gave her a meaningful look, raising an eyebrow and tilting her head as if prompting her to answer. "Yes, the usual," she finally managed to say. "I have cramps, my breasts become tender, and I get irritable… although I'm not sure I can blame my period for being irritable," Ginny finished with a smile.

The nurse chuckled. "Fortunately, there is a potion that can help you with all those symptoms, which also happens to act as a contraceptive," she said, opening a desk drawer and taking out a printed form. "I just need to ask you a few questions. Please stand up. I also need to perform a diagnostic spell."

Ginny complied, and the nurse pointed her wand at her lower abdomen. After casting the spell, several symbols and colours materialised in mid-air.

"Have you ever had sexual intercourse? Be truthful," Madam Pomfrey admonished.

"No," Ginny replied, her face turning beet red.

"Your sexual organs are healthy, and there's no physical impediment for you to have intercourse. However," the nurse emphasised, raising her voice, "that doesn't mean you should unless you're ready and mature enough to do so."

"We… I mean… I'm not planning on having sex yet, but I wanted to take precautions anyway. Just in case things… escalate."

"You're a little bit younger than I would recommend for considering such a step," the nurse said, looking appraisingly at the girl, "but I'm glad you're being responsible and smart, Ms Weasley."

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Ginny said, feeling relieved to have been spared a lecture.

"When is your next menstrual period?"

"It should start in the next day or two. My breasts are feeling tender," the redhead said, involuntarily reaching for her chest.

The nurse stood up and turned to take a potion phial from the large cabinet behind her.

"I'm prescribing you this potion to relieve your menstrual cramps and breast tenderness," the nurse said, filling out the form in front of her. "Take it when your menses begin and no later than three days afterwards. It will relieve the symptoms and protect you from an unwanted pregnancy until your next menstrual period. I teach a special one-day sexual education class for all sixth-year girls at the beginning of the term. You will learn how to prepare the potion yourself during that class. In the meantime, I suggest your friend Ms Granger keeps you supplied during the summer."

"Thank you again," Ginny said evenly.

"I presume you're familiar with the mechanics of the act itself, but if you have any questions, now is the time to ask them," the nurse offered.

Ginny tried to think of a question that wouldn't be totally embarrassing but couldn't. "I don't have any at the moment. If I think of one, I'll come back to see you again," she said, rising to her feet.

"Remember, Ms Weasley," the nurse said before she exited the office. "Only you get to decide when you lose your virginity. Your boyfriend has no say in the matter. Don't let him pressure you."

Ginny turned to face Madam Pomfrey, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips. "It's more likely I'll be the one applying pressure," she said, laughing as she exited the nurse's office.

O-o-O-o-O

Over the next six days, Harry's longing for Ginny grew more intense, but he began to worry that he had done something to upset her. She remained affectionate, and would cuddle with him in the common room, but she was constantly revising with Hermione in the library. She rejected his suggestions to sneak out and explore the hidden corners of the castle, even though her eyes betrayed a yearning to accept his offer. Aside from some quick snogs when no one was looking, their affections had been limited to pecks on the lips and cheeks. Harry longed to kiss her and touch her without worrying about being seen.

On Saturday, Professor Snape held Harry in detention for much longer than usual, making snide remarks about how Harry was missing out on the lovely weather with his girlfriend. Ginny had waited for him, and they were enjoying a late dinner in the mostly empty Great Hall when he decided to ask her about her reluctance to be alone with him.

"Are you upset with me?" he asked cautiously.

Ginny turned to look at him, puzzled. "No. Why would I be upset with you, Harry?"

"It seems like you've avoided being alone with me," he replied, sounding deflated as he looked down.

Ginny's expression softened, and she gazed at him fondly. Reaching out with her right hand, she cupped his cheek and smiled. He didn't need to know why she had shied away from being more intimate with him, but he deserved reassurance. "I'm not upset with you, Harry. I want to be alone with you too, but I must study for my OWLs."

Her words brought great relief to Harry. "Of course. I'm being selfish…"

"However," she interrupted with a mischievous smile, "I've informed Hermione there will be no revising tonight."

Ginny stood up and extended her hand to him. He took it, and she pulled him excitedly out of the Great Hall while giggling. Once they reached the Entrance Hall, she looked around to make sure no one was watching and pulled him into the broom cupboard next to the entrance doors.

As soon as the door closed, she rose onto her tiptoes and pulled him down for a passionate kiss. Harry's arms wrapped around her back, and he pulled her tightly against his body, drawing a soft moan from Ginny. The kiss continued until they ran out of air.

"Oh, Harry," she said breathlessly, her eyes still closed. "I've missed being this close to you."

"Me too," he replied, tightening his embrace.

They continued snogging for several minutes, and Harry's hands grew more adventurous with each passing moment. They glided over her back and ventured to explore the curve of her waist, but soon, they had covered the entirety of her back. He reached the waistband of her jeans, and tentatively, his hands began to slide up the swell of Ginny's bum over the denim fabric. She froze momentarily, but a low, lascivious moan encouraged him to continue. The palms of his hands seemed to fit perfectly on each of her bum cheeks and, after a gentle squeeze, continued moving until he reached the back of her thighs. He pulled her against his erection, and they moaned into each other's mouths. Reluctantly, Ginny pulled away.

Harry's eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he could see her taking ragged breaths as she bit her lower lip with her eyes closed.

"Your arse is spectacular," he said in a low mellow voice that made Ginny's knees feel weak.

She held onto his shoulders and laughed softly. "I've been looking at your bum all year," she confessed. "The tight Quidditch trousers really suit you, Harry. I wonder if your bum is as scrumptious as it looks."

"You've been looking at my arse?' Harry asked, shocked and surprised.

"I'm not the only one," she replied defensively. "Loads of girls fancy you, Harry."

"I find that difficult to believe."

Ginny huffed. "Why would you doubt it? You're handsome, have lovely eyes and adorable hair; you're lean and fit, and… how did you put it? You have a spectacular arse."

Harry laughed. "Would you like to cop a feel?"

Ginny's cheeks coloured a bit, and she beamed at him. "Every girl in Hogwarts will envy me if this ever gets out."

He bent down to kiss her, and soon, their hands were gliding over each other's bums. Harry kneaded the firm but supple skin of her arse, and he let out a low groan of delight. Ginny shuddered, and her toes involuntarily curled. She boldly squeezed his arse too, but the heat inside the cupboard was quickly becoming unbearable. Harry's hands were getting too close to her centre as he kneaded her bum. Ginny pulled back, panting, and smiled at him.

"It's just as hard and delicious as I imagined," she said, looking into his eyes.

Harry tried to pull her into another kiss, but she stopped him with a hand to the chest. "There are too many people walking around here. We better get out before someone else tries to come in."

The Entrance Hall broom cupboard was a favourite of the Hogwarts couples because it was the largest in the castle. Harry opened the door only enough to take a peek outside. After ensuring no one was looking, they slipped out.

They wandered around the grounds for a while, and Harry was astonished to notice so many couples nestled in shadowy corners, being even more physical than he and Ginny. He saw more than one hand exploring beneath a blouse or a skirt and more than one girl with a hand inside their boyfriend's trousers. The Astronomy Tower appeared to be a favourite spot for amorous couples, and the moans and sounds emanating from the broom cupboard at the base of the tower left little to the imagination.

"Let's head back to the common room," Ginny suggested. "There's no privacy around the castle on Friday and Saturday evenings."

"We could go to the Room of Requirement…" Harry said, leaving the offer lingering in the air.

Ginny paused and turned to smile sweetly at him. She took a deep breath and spoke evenly. "Let's reserve the Room of Requirement for the biggest step, Harry. I'm not quite ready for that yet. You'll know when I am." She noticed a fleeting shadow of disappointment cross his face. She placed her hands on his chest and rose to give him a gentle kiss on the lips. "I'm looking forward to going there with you, Harry. Can you be patient a little longer?"

"Absolutely," he replied with a smile.

The couple held hands and resumed their walk towards the Gryffindor Tower.

"Harry…" Ginny began with trepidation. "Has anyone ever given you a talk?"

Harry laughed and looked amusedly at his girlfriend. "I know where the bits are supposed to go if that's what you're worried about."

Ginny chuckled and gave him a playful elbow to the ribs. "I know you do, silly. I just wondered if anyone ever talked to you about it."

"Yes. Sirius and I talked about sex several nights during the summer we spent at Grimmauld Place."

Harry's shoulders visibly sagged, and Ginny leaned into him, tightening her grip on his hand.

"Did you know that Sirius told me you were the right girl for me?" Harry asked introspectively. "He was sure we belonged together, but I was still infatuated with Cho."

Ginny stared at him, surprised. "He also told me that, but I thought he was taking the mickey out of me because he knew of my crush on you when I was younger."

"Sirius was surprisingly informative during our talks," Harry continued in a monotone voice. "He said that sex was a serious matter."

Ginny chuckled. "Are you saying Sirius was serious about sex?

Harry smiled at her. "Precisely. It was extremely embarrassing but educational." They continued in silence for a bit. "How about you? Did you have a talk with your mother?"

Ginny laughed melodiously. "I know where your bits are meant to go if that's what you're worried about," she said with a mischievous smile. There was a comfortable silence before Ginny continued, "My mum gave me a talk about all the reasons why I shouldn't have sex until I'm betrothed or married. The information she provided was rudimentary at best. Mum basically told me that peg A goes in hole B," Ginny chuckled. "If peg A goes in hole C or D, that makes you a scarlet woman." Harry laughed with her. "I swear… my mum still lives in the nineteenth century."

"I know that Madame Pomfrey gives a lecture to the sixth-year girls at the beginning of the term. We can wait until then…" Harry said tentatively.

Ginny's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You forget that Hermione is my best friend. She has a surprising number of books about sex in her school trunk… complete with illustrations." She laughed at Harry's horrified and surprised expression. "Needless to say, I've read all of them. Hermione even gave me the order in which I should read them, starting with one titled The Joy of Sex."

"I'm sure she would want to test your knowledge," Harry said cheekily. "I could be your OWL practical exam."

Ginny stopped walking to laugh. "I love it when you are being yourself, Harry, when you're not worrying about your destiny. You are funny and clever, and you burn hot on the inside." Her voice went down several octaves. "You're the right man for me."

Harry pulled her into a searing kiss. "You're the only woman for me, Ginny."

The portrait entrance to the Gryffindor common room loomed ahead.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" Ginny asked him with that blazing look he adored.

"How about a picnic at the same spot as last time?"

"Sounds lovely."

"I'll summon Dobby tonight to make the arrangements."

"Does Dobby know how to cast wizard-repellent charms?"

"I don't know. Why do you ask?"

"We wouldn't want anyone wandering by and seeing what we're getting up to, would we?"

Harry gave her a predatory smile. "Don't make promises you don't intend to keep, Weasley."

Ginny rose on her tiptoes and kissed him fiercely. She bit his lower lip and pulled it before letting go. "Push my buttons and see what happens, Potter."

With a musical laugh, she walked into the common room, leaving Harry scrambling to conceal his conspicuous erection.

O-o-O-o-O