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Ginny hadn’t so much as opened her eyes yet but she was already smiling; she suspected she had been all night even whilst deep asleep.

Usually, Sunday mornings were for waking up with leisurely slowness, for rolling over and going back to sleep and ignoring everything she had to do for at least an extra half an hour, but not today.

Today Ginny sprang out of bed with no delay, she longed to head to the common room but she was also acutely aware that she hadn’t showered since yesterday morning. Yesterday’s match had been quite gruelling and really if there was ever a day for looking (and smelling) your best then today was it.

She showered quickly not wanting to waste any more time in the bathroom than was absolutely necessary. Her face beamed back at her from the mirror above the sink; even with a toothbrush in her mouth, her smile was still stuck in place.

“You’re up early,” Lizzie said as Ginny re-entered the dormitory. “I expected you to sleep until at least midday after yesterday.”

Ginny tried and failed once more to suppress her smile. “I have breakfast plans.” with Harry

Lizzie’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Ginny practically quiver with excitement. “Do you want to meet us in the library after? You must have loads of work to catch up on now Quidditch is over.”

“I’m not sure yet,” Ginny said noncommittally. Not even the mountain of work she had waiting for her could penetrate the haze of happiness that she was currently engulfed in.

“Okay,” Lizzie shrugged. “We’ll be there all day if you want to come and find us.”

Maddie, who had been dozing lightly on her pillow one eye half-cracked open, sat fully up at this news. “ALL DAY?”

“Yes, exams are in a month,” Lizzie reminded her. “This is a critical revision period.”

“I’ll see you both later!” Ginny announced loudly, hurrying for the door and fleeing before she had to hear any further reminders that she should be prioritising work above everything else.

Harry was waiting for her in the common room. Harry was waiting for her. Ginny had to restrain herself from jumping up and down in excitement; there was nothing she could do about the skip in her step as she practically bounced towards him.

“Good morning!” She all but sang in greeting.

“It certainly seems to be.” Maybe she’d be more embarrassed about her very obvious joy if Harry’s smile wasn’t as wide as her own. “I didn’t expect you to be up so early.”

“It’s a beautiful morning!” Ginny gestured to the window behind her, where the perfect summer sunshine was already streaming into the common room; bathing the old furniture in golden light. “I didn’t want to waste it!”

Not when she finally, officially had Harry. Now that he was hers she was going to make the most of every single second; without further hesitation, Ginny reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Harry’s response was enthusiastic; it suddenly seemed impossible to her that she’d gone so many mornings without kissing him. Really, not starting the day this way seemed like a colossal waste of time.

“Breakfast?” Harry asked once they finally broke apart. Ginny nodded her agreement as Harry took her hand in his and she happily followed him towards the portrait hole.

“Where are Ron and Hermione?” Ginny asked curiously as they made their way down the corridor in the direction of the grand staircase. She certainly wasn’t complaining that the two of them had found themselves alone but it was extremely rare to find Harry not flanked by at least one of his best friends.

Harry’s face showed the first trace of annoyance. “They’re already at breakfast. Ron says he’s not spending the rest of his life waiting around for you.”

“Delightful,” Ginny said wryly, she struggled to allow even Ron to irritate her today. She was holding hands with Harry, Ron’s opinions seemed entirely insignificant in light of such a marvellous turn of events. “Does he not realise that leaving us alone just gives me more opportunity to do this?”

“Do wha-”

Harry’s question was cut off as Ginny leaned against the wall-to-ceiling painting of a sunlit meadow occupied by a herd of unicorns that they’d been passing; the weight of her body caused the picture to swing backwards, revealing a gap behind it. She swiftly pulled Harry inside and the frame fell back into place; leaving them alone in a dimly lit, stone alcove which was just big enough for two people if they stood particularly close together.

“I didn’t even know this was here,” Harry breathed. “I’ve never noticed it on the map.”

Ginny was pressed up against the stone wall, the coolness of the brick seeping through her shirt. Harry was against the opposite wall facing Ginny, separated from her by mere inches. Both of his hands found hers and their fingers laced together.

“I found it in third year,” Ginny all-but whispered, the shadowy atmosphere and Harry’s proximity making anything louder seem inappropriate. “I was running from Filch and I leant against the painting to catch my breath; next thing I knew I was in here.”

Even in the dark Harry was close enough for her to see the glint of amusement in his green eyes. “Why were you running from Filch?”

“I’d accidentally broken one of the busts on the third floor and he was furious about it.”

“Very clumsy of you.” Harry’s breath tickled Ginny’s face, the minty aroma of his toothpaste filled her nose.

“Yeah, I’d been aiming for Melinda Belson’s head but my jinx went wide,” Ginny sighed regretfully.

Harry chuckled lowly. “And what exactly had Melinda Belson done to deserve your wrath?”

“She was covered in those stupid Potter stinks badges and she didn’t take my suggestion that she remove them very seriously,” Every time she’d seen one of the badges a wave of fury had risen in Ginny’s chest; she’d spent the weeks leading up to the first task in a constant state of rage.

“Well, it looks like something good finally came from those badges,” Harry said, laughing quietly

“Oh?” Ginny raised an eyebrow questioningly.

In place of answering, Harry kissed her. They were pressed so closely in the alcove that he barely had to move his head before their lips connected. The cold that had been seeping from the wall; through Ginny’s shirt into her back was immediately diminished as heat spread through her.

One of Harry’s hands unwound from Ginny’s and came to land her waist, pulling her impossibly closer, his other drifted up and buried itself in her hair, sending shivers down her spine. Ginny raised her arms; her hands fisted at the back of his head, holding Harry to her.

Time seemed to cease ticking as they kissed with crushing intensity, teeth clicking, tongues dancing.

Ginny’s breath was coming in ragged bursts; a hazy fog descended over her brain, leaving little room for rational thought. Harry's hand at her waist began to slide slowly up her ribs.

She forced herself to pull away. As much as was possible in the small space of the alcove.

She’d kissed before of course; but it had never felt like this, like she wanted more. Maybe it was because they were in such forced proximity to one another, or maybe it was simply that they were more alone than they’d ever been, hidden as they were behind the painting.

“Well, that’s one way to work up an appetite,” Ginny said lightly once her breathing had returned to its usual, even rhythm.

“How exactly am I supposed to look your brother in the eye at the breakfast table after that?” Harry asked through a shaky laugh.

“I don’t know, but you probably shouldn’t think about this.” Ginny kissed him once more, her hands wound into his hair and her tongue slowly massaged his. Harry sighed into her mouth.

Without missing a beat, Ginny’s hand shot out and pushed the entrance to the alcove open. She broke apart from Harry and pulled him back out into the corridor by the hand. They both blinked rapidly as they were assaulted by the bright light filtering through the mullioned windows above them.

Harry’s hair was messier than usual thanks to Ginny’s wandering hands and his glasses were slightly askew on his nose; she reached up and straightened them.

“That was unfair!” He said with a wide grin.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ginny said innocently. “I was just giving you some helpful advice.”

“Yes, very helpful,” Harry said dryly.

It was peak breakfast time and the noise from the great hall was deafeningly loud even from the opposite side of the entrance hall. The smell of bacon and eggs made Ginny’s stomach growl as she pulled Harry eagerly towards the hall, her meagre dinner at the victory party last night suddenly seemed a very long time ago.

The two of them entered the great hall hand in hand and suddenly the noise level dropped drastically; half the heads in the hall turned to stare at them.

Ginny kept her head held high; her hand still firmly clasped in Harry’s as she made her way determinedly towards the Gryffindor table. Nervous butterflies erupted in her stomach; not borne out of the fact that hundreds of eyes were watching her, but concern over knowing that Harry detested people whispering about him.

She cast an anxious glance over her shoulder in Harry’s direction, expecting to see a frown upon his face but much to her relief he was still smiling.

He stooped down so that his lips were next to her ear, causing a brand new round of butterflies in Ginny’s stomach. “Do you think there’s some hot gossip we’re missing out on?”

Her laughter rang loudly throughout the hushed hall. “I can’t imagine what, nothing remotely interesting has happened in the last day or so.”

Their snickering seemed to give the whisperers new material for the quiet buzz intensified as girls across all four house tables hissed into one another's ears.

“Morning!” Ginny said loudly to Ron and Hermione as she took the seat across from them, her voice carried easily across the near-silent room.

The Gryffindor table was the first to return to normal, its occupants obviously deciding there was nothing remotely interesting about the four of them eating breakfast together. The other tables quickly returned to their usual volume as well and the hall steadily filled with the loud clatter of hundreds of students once again.

“What are we doing today?” Ron asked once Ginny and Harry’s plates were full in front of them.

“Ginny needs to study,” Hermione said firmly whilst Ginny’s mouth was full of scrambled eggs.

“I’m not spending all day in the library,” Ginny looked longingly at the clear blue sky outside the arched windows.

“We’ll take your books outside then,” Harry suggested, following the path of Ginny’s gaze.

“You don’t have to spend all day watching me revise,” Ginny tried valiantly to sound convincing but the truth was if he didn’t come with her she was going to give up on studying extremely quickly.

Harry shrugged, quickly swallowing a bite of toast. “I have homework too.”

Ron looked at him like he’d gone mad. “Not any that’s due before Wednesday! Why would you waste a perfectly good weekend day on it?”

“Has it ever occurred to you that leaving all of your homework until the last minute isn’t advisable?” Hermione hissed, saving Harry from answering.

“I’m just saying, I’m not spending all day writing Sprout’s bloody essay,” Ron shook his head in disbelief.

“That’s a shame,” Ginny said, her tone making it clear that she thought no such thing. “Harry and I will miss you outside.”

Ron opened his mouth to retort but Hermione placed a hand on his arm, commanding his attention. “Do you want to play chess? You haven’t played in ages thanks to quidditch.”

“Alright,” Ron agreed before she’d even finished speaking.

“Just don’t go easy on me this time,” Hermione said reproachfully.

“I don’t go easy on you; you’re getting better,” Ron assured her; a small, pleased smile appeared on Hermione’s face.
***

The weather really was glorious, a perfect match for Ginny’s mood as she strolled down the front lawn hand in hand with Harry.

Without really discussing it they made their way to the same tree they’d sought shelter under yesterday afternoon. Though, with Lizzie’s warning about the nearness of exams replaying incessantly in her head, Ginny very pointedly made them sit on the opposite side from yesterday, so they were in full view of the castle and all its occupants.

"I really am going to study," Ginny said firmly, managing to contain all but the faintest trace of a smirk at the corners of her mouth.

"I really am going to do my homework," Harry agreed, with an expression of pure innocence he pulled his Herbology textbook out of his bag.

She gave him a small nod of approval as he leaned back against the trunk of the tree, stretched his legs out in front of him and turned to what Ginny supposed was the relevant chapter of his book with exaggerated interest.

She turned her attention to her bag, which she’d dumped with very little care in the grass beside the tree. She’d barely removed her parchment and books from it when she felt Harry’s gaze upon her.

Almost involuntarily Ginny glanced up at him; they caught one another’s eye and immediately started giggling. Harry’s book fell out of his hand and landed with a small thud on the grass beside him.

“Stop it!” Ginny cried. “I’m so behind on work.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Harry protested, retrieving his book and opening it once more.

Ginny shot him a warning glare before steadfastly turning away from him and putting a disproportionate amount of focus into spreading her books and parchment across the grass in front of her.

She dipped her quill in her inkpot and willed herself to make a start on her essay, but she’d never found colour changing charms less interesting than she did at that moment.

She was acutely aware of every tiny movement Harry made beside her, she had to inwardly chastise herself for the little twist in her stomach whenever he turned a page or shifted slightly against the base of the tree. Every little movement evidence that Harry was actually here beside her. By choice.

Ginny forced herself to imagine Ron’s face if her grades weren’t at least as good as his; the thought alone was enough to fill her with a renewed sense of determination. For a few minutes, her quill moved down her parchment with satisfying speed.

Harry shuffled slightly beside her; Ginny was in the middle of another internal scolding when his hand reached out and weaved into her hair, causing her scalp to prickle exquisitely and reminding her with startling clarity of the way his hands had felt buried deeply in her hair this morning.

She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye; Harry’s eyes were still unwaveringly travelling down the pages of his book, even as his hand wound deeper into Ginny’s hair as though he didn’t even realise he was doing it and somehow that made his behaviour even more tantalising.

“Stop that,” She didn’t know how she’d managed to say it when her every instinct was begging him to continue.

Harry looked at his arm in faint surprise, confirming that his actions had been driving Ginny to distraction without him even really thinking about what he was doing. “You’re distracting me.”

“Sorry,” Harry muttered, a frankly adorable flush crept up his neck as he withdrew his hand and returned it to the edge of his book.

Ginny tore her eyes away from him and returned to her essay. It was useless, not even the thought of Ron’s smug face was enough to distract her now. Not when she could still feel the ghost of Harry’s fingers upon her scalp, his fingers that were currently lightly turning the page of his book right beside her.

Ginny closed her book with a slam and flung it across the grass, where it somehow landed open to the correct page, taunting her with the work she should be doing.

“Are you okay?” Harry asked, his brows furrowed in concern over the top of his book.

“No, I can’t concentrate.”

Harry leant over her to peek at her parchment; he nodded sympathetically. “Colour changing charms, not exactly the most thrilling of topics.”

Exactly. It wasn’t Harry that was the problem; she wasn’t so far gone that she couldn’t even sit next to him without getting distracted. That would be beyond pathetic. It was just that the subject matter at hand was terribly dull.

With a renewed sense of resolve, Ginny summoned her book back to her with a swish of her wand and returned to her parchment. She compelled herself to concentrate, she bit her lip between her teeth and her brow furrowed from the effort.

Despite her assertions that her lack of focus had nothing to do with Harry, she was still acutely aware, even without looking up from her parchment, that his eyes hadn’t returned to the page of his textbook. She could feel his gaze upon her like a physical touch.

“You’re staring at me,” She informed him, still not lifting her eyes from her parchment.

“Have been for months but thanks for finally noticing,” He said in his usual dry tone.

His words left her little choice but to break focus from her essay. He looked almost flustered, like he hadn’t planned on saying it out loud, his cheeks flushed scarlet.

“Has it really been months?” Ginny asked curiously. She failed to see how he could be embarrassed when she’d been the one pining after him for years, so deep in denial that she’d even managed to convince herself she was over it for a time.

Harry nodded cautiously. “I don’t even know how long. I think I was in denial about it for ages.”

“Just what every girl wants to hear,” Ginny said wryly. Secretly, the knowledge that he’d felt this way for months, that this wasn’t just some passing whim for him calmed anxieties she hadn’t even realised she had. “When did you leave the denial stage?”

He smiled, but there was little humour in it. “When Ron and I walked in on you kissing Dean, reality hit me with stunning force.”

“I thought you had a weird look on your face!” She’d tried not to think about it, she’d assured herself that Harry’s reaction to her kissing someone else was irrelevant. She’d thought about it before she fell asleep every night for weeks. “I considered asking you about it but just the thought of you joining in Ron’s big brother lecture like you saw me as your little sister too made me feel sick. I guess I was in denial too.”

Harry sighed wistfully. “I don’t blame you, denial was so much easier.”

She couldn’t disagree with him, denial had been easier, but it had also been a lie. Lying to others was one thing but lying to yourself was a dangerous path that led only to ruin. Hadn’t she learnt that the hard way?

Diverting herself from the dark trail her thoughts were escaping down and accepting that she was clearly getting no more work done at the moment, Ginny rolled onto her back and raised her legs so that they were leaning against the tree trunk; ankles crossed above her.

“It took me ages to accept that you liked me. Hermione kept questioning me on what I thought about it, Maddie kept telling me you were staring at me, Dean wouldn’t bloody drop it and I kept telling them all they were mental. I’d spent so long getting over you that I wouldn’t even let my mind go there. I think that’s partly why I stayed with Dean for so long.”

A flicker of guilt crossed Harry’s face as he looked down at her; Ginny couldn’t imagine why. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault; I’m so stubborn,” Ginny assured him. “It was me, I think I needed to prove to myself that I wasn’t basing all my decisions on a childhood crush from when I was eleven.”

She took a deep breath before continuing, feeling more vulnerable than she had in a long time, but knowing that she needed Harry to hear this. “It’s not the same at all, when we left the chamber, it was like every childish notion I had about the world was completely shattered. I don’t like you because you’re the boy-who-lived or the chosen one or whatever idiotic name the press have got for you this week. I like you because you’re Harry. Just Harry.”

***

“I like you because you’re Harry. Just Harry.”

Harry had sat patiently and listened as Ginny spoke, she’d fixed him with that blazing look again and it seemed to be taking her a great amount of determination to get her words out. Words that she must surely be saying for her benefit and not Harry’s because he’d never once been concerned that Ginny was with him due to his very unwelcome fame.

When he looked at her he could barely even see the eleven-year-old girl who refused to so much as make eye contact with him, it was like two completely different people. The only similarity; their vibrant red hair.

Ginny’s smile turned positively devilish, signalling she was done with any sort of heavy conversation. “Though I won’t pretend the sparkling green eyes and messy dark hair combination doesn’t hold a certain appeal. As half the girls in this school will tell you.”

He felt like he was back on solid ground now that she was teasing him again. “I really don’t care what half the girls in this school think,” He said, the smirk that never seemed far away when in Ginny’s company, returning to his face. “Whatever your reasons for liking me are, I’m just thankful that you do.”

Quite without planning it, without meaning to, he was leaning towards her. Ginny rose onto her elbows to meet him. Their lips met and the rest of the world fell away.

The kiss deepened as Ginny sat up further; her hand came to rest on Harry’s chest right above where his heart was beating a furious rhythm. Harry’s hand floated from the grass and landed gently on Ginny’s hip, he could feel the heat of her skin radia-

“That’s enough of that!” A voice called sharply, causing Ginny to pull away from him, much to Harry’s dissatisfaction.

Harry blinked and his surroundings came back into sharp focus. A short way up the lawn; moving ever closer was Ron. Hermione was only a few paces behind shaking her head in exasperation.

“I thought you were playing chess?” If Ron noticed the hint of hostility in Harry’s voice he didn’t show it.

“We didn’t want to waste such a nice day inside,” Ron said as he settled across from them in the shade of the tree.

“We thought you wouldn’t mind,” Hermione said apologetically. “As Ginny needs to focus anyway, we didn’t think we’d be interrupting anything.”

Harry suddenly became aware that his hand was still resting lightly on Ginny’s hip. He removed it as subtly as possible and Ginny turned back around so she was sitting beside him, facing Ron and Hermione. Without a word, she retrieved her textbook and resumed her note-taking.

Across from him, Hermione glared reproachfully, as though she knew Harry had been the one to initiate the kissing. Harry resolutely avoided her gaze as he scooped his own textbook back out of the grass.

Ron looked at the textbook in Harry’s hand with an expression of abject revulsion and silently offered Harry one of his magazines out of his bag. Harry declined with a shake of his head, feeling he would be a rubbish boyfriend if he lounged about reading magazines whilst Ginny suffered through mountains of work.

Ron shrugged unconcernedly before laying back on the grass, using his bag as a pillow and holding the magazine high above his head to block out the sun whilst he read.

Hermione shot the magazine in Ron’s hand a withering look before producing possibly the largest book Harry had ever seen from her bag. He shouldn’t be surprised, about once a month he thought she’d officially found the biggest book on earth only for her to produce an even bigger one a few weeks later. Though, Harry was starting to wonder how on earth she was fitting them into her perfectly ordinary-sized bag.

The four of them lapsed into comfortable silence. The sweet scent of Ginny’s shampoo drifted to him on the breeze, but he found he was better able to concentrate now that Hermione and, especially, Ron were here and there was no chance of anything more enticing than eye contact occurring between himself and Ginny.

Still, Harry’s Herbology essay took even longer than usual to finish, owing to the frequent breaks he took to peer at Ginny over the top of his book, simply to remind himself that she was still there. Beside him. His girlfriend. It had been almost twenty-four hours since their first kiss in the common room and he was still waiting to wake up from what could only be a dream.

Finally, after what must have been hours he handed his completed Herbology essay to Hermione, wordlessly requesting that she check it over for him. She immediately marked her place in her book and turned her focus to his work, her quill scribbling furiously as she made amendments and crossed out mistakes.

Hermione leaned over to hand Harry his now unrecognisable essay back when Ron suddenly tossed his magazine into the grass beside him.

“I’m hungry!” He announced in a tone which suggested it was a national crisis.

“Can you wait another fifteen minutes?” Ginny asked, looking up from her parchment. “I’m almost done with this.”

Ron rolled his eyes; Harry opened his mouth to pointedly suggest that if Ron couldn’t wait he was more than welcome to go to lunch alone but Hermione was already speaking. “It’s a nice day and we have a good spot here, why don’t you and Harry go and get some food and we’ll eat out here?” Without awaiting a reply, she turned to Ginny. “I can help you with your conclusion whilst they’re gone if you like?”

Ginny nodded eagerly, in response to Hermione’s offer of assistance.

Ron stood immediately, clearly anxious to get to the hall as quickly as possible. Harry took the opportunity, whilst Ron’s back was turned, to lean across and quickly press his lips to Ginny’s before rising to follow him.

There was a brief moment of awkward silence as Ron and Harry traversed the grounds in the direction of the castle. Harry was sure they were both recalling Ron discovering Harry and Ginny kissing when he and Hermione had joined them outside.

“Are you going to let me copy your Herbology homework?” Ron asked before the tension truly had a chance to settle.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief at the normality of the question. “Obviously, just don’t let Hermione see.”

Ron nodded. “I’ll change some of the sentences as well.”

The entrance hall seemed almost unpleasantly cool after the brilliant brightness of the grounds; Harry blinked rapidly forcing his eyes to adjust to the change. In his moment of temporary blindness, he almost walked directly into Neville and Luna who were heading for the great hall from the direction of the staircase.

“Hello Harry,” Luna greeted, her usual tranquil expression upon her face. “Hello Ron, your keeping was quite good yesterday.”

Ron’s chest seemed to puff out slightly in response to the compliment. “Thanks, Luna”

“Alright, you two?” Neville gave them a little wave. “Where’s Ginny and Hermione?”

“By the lake,” Ron explained. “We’re going to eat outside.”

“That sounds nice,” Luna said dreamily. “We’ve just come from the library; it’s full of wrackspurts today.”

Ron coughed loudly at the pronouncement and Neville chuckled quietly to himself. Harry couldn’t help but smile, his already good mood making Luna seem even more charming than usual.

“Do you want to join us?” Harry found himself offering. “Ginny’s trying to revise so I’m sure she’d be glad to see you.”

Luna turned to Neville before answering, seeking his opinion on the matter.

“We’re not studying,” Ron said to Neville reassuringly. “Well, Harry’s pretending to for Ginny’s sake and Hermione’s reading a huge book that I hope is for school - though it probably isn’t - but I’m just hanging around.”

Harry ignored Ron’s assertion that he was only pretending for Ginny’s sake, feeling it was pointless to argue when his statement was half-true.

“Alright, I guess I’ll just hang around with you,” Neville said happily.

They had taken fewer than a dozen steps into the hall when Harry noticed Professor McGonagall heading in their direction out of the corner of his eye, closely followed by Professors Sprout and Flitwick. Harry recalled with mortifying clarity the moment she had discovered he and Ginny kissing in the corridor yesterday and resolutely attempted to avoid McGonagall’s shrewd gaze.

“I hope you’re keeping out of trouble, Potter!” McGonagall called as she approached.

“Yes, Professor,” Harry said automatically, forcing himself to meet McGonagall’s eye and internally cursing the heat he felt spreading across his cheeks which he knew was entirely visible to her.

“Where are Miss Granger and Miss Weasley?” She demanded, eyeing the four of them suspiciously.

“They’re outside,” Ron said quickly. “We’re just picking up some lunch and then we’re going to eat out there.”

McGonagall’s expression softened somewhat at Ron’s explanation. “Well, do try and keep out of trouble out there. The six of you together is quite the combination.”

“Come now, Minerva!” Professor Sprout said brusquely. “Longbottom’s a good influence.” She gave Neville a friendly wave, which he promptly turned tomato red in response to.

“Yes, and Miss Lovegood is a credit to my house!” Professor Flitwick squeaked; Luna smiled serenely at the compliment.

“Guess you and I are the troublemakers then,” Ron muttered, leaning closer to Harry’s ear. McGonagall fixed her beady gaze upon the two of them, suggesting she’d heard. Ron cleared his throat loudly. “Right, well, wouldn’t want to keep Hermione and Ginny waiting! Good afternoon, Professors!”

Without awaiting further response Ron pushed Harry resolutely in the direction of the Gryffindor table. Neville and Luna said cheery goodbyes to the three professors and quickly followed Ron and Harry.

“Merlin, I hope nothing weird happens today. McGonagall is definitely going to blame us.” Ron whined.

“Why?” Harry asked, baffled. “We’re really not doing anything wrong!”

Ron looked at him doubtfully. “Would you believe that?”

“Probably not,” Harry admitted.

Ron had possessed the foresight to bring his bag up to the castle with him; he began to throw food into it haphazardly as soon as they reached the Gryffindor table.

Harry grabbed some napkins and began to carefully wrap sandwiches, cakes and jam tarts within them. He waited for Ron to stop chucking food into the bag at random before carefully placing his selections on top.

Luna busied herself transfiguring one of the as-yet unused plates on the table into a lid for a pitcher of pumpkin juice, making it easier to transport outside. Neville collected six empty glasses and a pile of extra napkins.

Once Ron’s bag was full to bursting he finally agreed that there was enough food for the six of them; Harry suspected there was enough food for the entirety of Dumbledore’s Army should they run into any more members.

Fortunately, they ran into no one on the way back down to their spot by the lake and so Ron didn’t have to contemplate the idea of sharing their feast with anyone else.

“Found some friends,” Ron waved in Neville and Luna’s direction as they all settled on the grass, forming a circle.

“Didn’t think you had any more,” Ginny said idly, clearly unable to resist even the simplest of opportunities to annoy Ron.

Ron scowled at her. “At least I didn’t have to resort to snogging my brother’s best mate.”

Harry couldn’t help but ‘think the word ‘resort’ was quite harsh and was about to say as much, but Ginny was quicker than him.

“I’m not sure you’re Lee’s type.” She mused.

Ron’s scowl transformed into an expression of pure outrage but the rest of them laughed loudly, drowning out any retort he might have made.

Hermione conjured a checkered blanket which spread across the grass between them covering the space in the centre of the assembled group. She waved her wand once more and the food floated out of Ron’s bag and began to arrange itself neatly on the blanket.

The group settled into pleasant chatter as they began to eat. Hermione and Neville became engaged in an in-depth discussion over how Neville’s Mimbulus Mimbletonia was coming on. Neville was apparently very pleased with its progress, though Harry still couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to keep a plant that sprayed stinksap at you.

Luna began telling Ron a wild story about frogs that apparently lived on the moon. Ron listened with bemusement as Luna explained how someone had flown up there on a Cleansweep to study them.

Harry reached across the blanket and selected a ham sandwich. Beside him, Ginny had skipped the sandwiches entirely, opting to go straight to dessert and was currently indulging in a lemon tart.

“You were gone for ages,” Ginny said quietly between mouthfuls of tart.

“Ran into McGonagall,” Harry explained. “I think she had it in her head that we were up to something.”

“I can’t imagine what would give her that impression,” Ginny said dryly.

“Must be my bad reputation,” Harry joked.

“Yes, you’re the classic bad boy,” Ginny giggled. “I think it every time you cuddle up with Crookshanks in the common room.”

Harry was about to point out that Crookshanks had essentially saved his life and had therefore earned his fair share of ear scratches, but he couldn’t remember if Ginny even knew the whole story with Crookshanks and Sirius and a perfectly content afternoon picnic on their first full day together didn’t really seem like the time for such topics.

“Be fair, Crookshanks is extremely cute; I’m not a monster!” He said instead causing Ginny’s giggling to dissolve into a loud symphony of laughter, her cheeks flushed with delight and Harry was struck by how beautiful she was. All thoughts of past murder attempts were thoroughly banished from his brain.

“What’s so funny?” Ron asked, eyeing the two of them suspiciously as though distrustful that he would approve of their jokes.

“Your face,” Ginny said without missing a beat.

“That was weak,” Harry informed her.

“It’s not weak,” Ginny argued. “It’s a classic.”

“Don’t you have some work to be getting on with?” Ron asked pointedly.

Ginny stuck her tongue out at him, before letting out a heavy sigh and shuffling slightly so her back was leaning against Harry’s side. She drew her knees towards her chest, balanced her parchment across her legs and began to write.

Across from them Luna sprawled on her stomach, unrolled her own parchment in front of her and started on her work, with her legs waving lazily in the air.

Neville and Ron both produced their chocolate frog cards from their bags and began to look for potential trades.

Hermione moved slightly closer to Ron, following the shade as it shifted with the sun’s path across the sky, once she was suitably covered she returned to her book.

Harry flicked his wand summoning Ron’s discarded magazine to him and began to flick through it idly. Sitting in the comfortable heat of the summer sun; surrounded by his friends and with Ginny leant against him, her hair tickling his cheek, Harry felt more at peace than he could ever remember feeling before.

The sun began to sink lower and still the six of them remained where they were. The comfortable silence was occasionally broken by requests for someone to pass a cake across the blanket or by some ridiculous observation by Luna that usually led to a round of light chuckling and an irritated glare from Hermione before everyone returned to what they were doing.

“Done!” Ginny threw her quill in the direction of her bag with a flourish. She’d finished her potions essay and moved onto Defence Against the Dark Arts a while ago.

“Me too.” Luna discarded her quill in a much daintier manner.

The sky above them had turned from cloudless blue to dusky pink in the time it had taken Ginny and Luna to complete their assignments, even Hermione had grown weary of her book and begun leafing through one of Ron’s magazines.

“Shall we go to dinner?” Neville suggested. Harry had to admit their lunch of mostly cakes was starting to feel less than substantial.

Beside him, Ginny checked her watch. “I really need to feed Arnold.”

“I’ll come with you,” Harry volunteered quickly, earning an eye roll from Ron.
***

“What’s the chances that they’ve already finished eating and we can have dinner just the two of us?” Harry wondered aloud once he and Ginny were almost at the great hall; Arnold suitably fed and returned to his cage.

“Slim to none,” Ginny replied. “Ron’s more obsessed with you than I am.”

Harry couldn’t believe she’d just offered him such an easy opportunity. “Obsessed with me are you?”

Ginny’s cheeks tinged pink, only slightly undermining the expressiom of bored disinterest she gave him. “I’m merely preoccupied with you.”

“Preoccupied just sounds like another word for obsessed,” Harry said with a smirk.

“Excuse me,” Ginny’s cheeks darkened to a deep crimson. “Who admitted to staring at who for months?”

Harry’s smirk remained in place as he shook his head. “That doesn’t help your argument.”

“And why is that?” Ginny asked curiously as they passed through the double doors of the great hall.

Harry took a deep breath before bringing his lips close to her ear, ensuring that no one else in the hall could hear them. “Because I’m definitely obsessed with you.”

His insides clenched uncomfortably, even as he said it he wanted to reach out and retract the words but he couldn’t.

Thankfully Ginny laughed and Harry relaxed, confident that she knew it was a joke.

“I’m still only preoccupied,” Ginny whispered once she’d stopped laughing.

Harry shrugged, forcing himself to appear more nonchalant than he felt. “We’ve established it’s the same thing.

“What’s the same thing?” Ron asked loudly, as Ginny had predicted he was still seated at the Gryffindor table with Hermione.

“Nothing,” Harry said quickly, taking the seat across from him.

“Fine,” Ron glowered. “Enjoy your secrets.”

“We will,” Ginny assured, not even bothering to look at Ron as she helped herself to sausage and mash.

Ron made no move to leave until both Harry and Ginny were done eating. Hermione tentatively suggested they go on ahead but Ron decided to have a second helping of dessert instead.

They spent the evening in the common room with Ron and Hermione. Harry and Ron enjoying a game of chess, or rather Ron enjoying it and Harry allowing himself to be miserably defeated.

Ginny leaned against Harry’s side, under his arm for the entirety of the night, which Harry suspected went a long way towards his terrible chess performance, as he found himself much more fascinated with the way her silky hair slipped softly through his fingers as he toyed with it than he was with the chessboard.

Ginny didn’t seem to be finding his proximity quite as distracting as Harry was finding hers if the speed she was answering the Ancient Runes translations Hermione threw at her was anything to go by.

The common room grew steadily emptier as the night grew on. Finally, Hermione pronounced Ginny’s Ancient Rune translations passable and bid them all a goodnight. Ron followed closely after her once he’d thoroughly decimated Harry’s chess pieces.

Harry made no attempt to suggest he or Ginny go to bed. Aside from the fact that Ginny’s body laid so firmly against his still felt like a miracle to be marvelled at and he was in no way eager to separate from her, there was also the inconvenient truth that his dormitory was incredibly awkward at the moment and he didn’t mind leaving it as late as possible to increase the odds of Dean being asleep when he went up there.

“That was a shocking performance,” Ginny informed Harry once Ron had disappeared through the door to the boy’s dormitories. She shifted slightly so she was still leaning across him but they were now facing one another; he was immediately swept up in the rich depths of her brown eyes.

“If you’re with me for my chess skills, you’re going to be sorely disappointed,” Harry said.

“That’s a shame. Guess I’ll have to rethink this whole relationship.”

Harry released a disappointed sigh. “And here I was thinking it was off to a good start.”

Ginny leaned closer and pressed her lips to his. “Just ‘good’? I’m going to have to step my game up.”

“Did I say ‘good’?” Harry grinned. “My apologies, I should have known good would never be enough for the great Ginny Weasley.”

“It does sound very average.” Ginny agreed.

“I obviously meant excellent, or magnificent or exceptional.” He injected as much lightheartedness into his voice as he could, not entirely sure he was ready for her to know how true his words were.

“Exceptional,” Ginny said decidedly, a small smile dancing across her lips. “You definitely meant exceptional.”

Harry lifted his hand and tucked a strand of Ginny’s hair behind her ear, the nerves he’d been feeling just a second ago already diminished by her words. “Yeah, I think I did.”

His hand stayed at her face, cupping her cheek as they kissed once more.

Chapter Text

She’d assured him he didn’t have to but, much to her delight, Harry walked Ginny to Transfiguration after breakfast on Monday morning.

“This is really out of your way,” Ginny pointed out, as she had done several times already since they’d met in the common room this morning.

“You were the one who told me to feel free inconveniencing myself walking you to class in future,” Harry reminded her, referring back to something she’d said after the match whilst they were out in the grounds. A conversation she’d replayed in her head hundreds of times in the day and a half since it happened and was beginning to suspect Harry had too.

“If you’re desperate for things to do; I can give you some of my homework.” She cringed even at her own brief mention of the mounting pile of work that she’d barely succeeded in making a dent in this weekend. Quidditch victories, life-altering kisses and sunlit picnics just didn’t set the right tone for dedicated studying.

Harry gave her a look that she knew meant he’d noticed the half-heartedness of her joke. “Did you do your Defence questions? I’ll check them for you if you want?”

Ginny pulled a rolled scroll of parchment out of her bag and handed it to him eagerly. “They’re mostly done, I’ll finish them once you’ve made sure what I’ve got so far is actually correct.”

Harry gave the scroll a quizzical look as he took it from her. “Why are you carrying this around with you? You don’t have Defence today.”

“Memorised my schedule, have you?” Ginny asked with a smirk, ignoring his question entirely, the answer to which was that she was carrying around half-completed pieces of homework in an attempt to fool herself into believing she was going to complete them during the day.

A faint flush appeared across Harry’s cheekbones. “Not all of it.”

“Well, you’d better, there’s going to be a test,” Ginny teased. The mere fact that Harry cared at all about where she was going to be throughout the day was almost enough to turn her sedate walk down the corridor into a joyful dance.

Harry nodded seriously. “Guess I’d better start revising then.”

They turned the corner finally entering the corridor which contained McGonagall’s Transfiguration classroom, most of Ginny’s classmates were already lined up outside the door. She pulled Harry to a stop halfway towards them, turning to face him and resolutely ignoring the eyes of her fellow students upon them.

“I’d suggest you do,” She said, lacing both of Harry’s hands with her own. “If you pass, there’s a reward.”

Harry’s eyes darkened. “What kind of reward?”

Ginny smiled coyly up at him before moving her head to meet his and the rest of the corridor melted into a hazy blur behind her.

They reluctantly broke apart as the bell rang, the vague awareness Ginny had managed to retain firmly reminding her that McGonagall would be appearing at any moment.

Harry’s hand left hers one at a time, Ginny had to practically force herself to take a step away from him. Their first glorious, wonderful, perfect weekend was officially over and there was nothing to be done about the classes that would serve only to separate them for unreasonable portions of the week.

The whispering that had followed her and Harry everywhere since their first kiss on Saturday resumed as Ginny approached the rest of her classmates. Fortunately, her roommates weren’t oblivious to the whispering and Amrinta and Leoni stepped away from one another in line, leaving a gap between them for Ginny to fill.

McGonagall ushered them into the classroom and promptly set them to work practising vanishing spells. Ginny found herself able to concentrate much better than usual as the alternative was to allow herself to take full stock of her peers casting curious glances at her and muttering unsubtly behind their hands.

“Weasley!” Dark-haired, beady-eyed Jemimah Flint hissed from the row behind. “Weasley!”

Ginny tried with steadfast determination to ignore Flint’s rankling voice but it was seriously impeding her ability to successfully vanish the rabbit in front of her.

“What?” Ginny snapped, turning to face her; knowing that anything Flint had to say wouldn’t be pleasant.

“You and Potter? Looks like all your wildest dreams have come true.” Flint said with a nasty smile.

Usually, Flint was much more capable of winding Ginny up but she was in an uncommonly good mood and there was nothing offensive in her statement so Ginny merely shrugged and turned her attention back to her rabbit which was attempting to make a daring escape attempt off the edge of her desk.

“It just seems very convenient to me,” Flint said loudly enough for Ginny to hear but not so loud as to catch McGonagall’s attention from the other side of the room. “Everyone knows you’ve wanted him for years and all of a sudden, even though you’re still his plain, boring best mate's little sister, he’s all over you.”

Ginny whirled to face Flint once more. “What’s your point?” She asked through gritted teeth.

“It’s just good timing,” Flint said casually. “Now that your brothers have released their own line of love potions.”

Lucy Drake and Matilda Jacobs, Flint’s constant cronies, paused either side of her with their wands hovering over their kitten and their raven respectively, both turned to stare at Ginny. She felt as though she’d been stabbed in the gut.

She’d been vaguely aware of the whispers, she’d even assumed plenty of them were less than favourable towards her, given Harry’s status as ‘most fanciable’ boy at Hogwarts this year in the eyes of its female population.

What she hadn’t even considered for a second was that anyone could think she would do something so horrific. To take away anyone’s autonomy was unimaginable to Ginny, knowing as she did, exactly what that meant.

She’d even written to Fred and George after Ron’s birthday making it abundantly clear that she didn’t support them selling such products which had earned her a very hostile response, warning her not to turn into a Percy.

For the first time in months, maybe even years, Ginny was lost for words; seemingly frozen in shock as she continued to glare at Flint who was sneering back at her.

“Professor McGonagall!” Lizzie said loudly from the seat beside Ginny. “Can you come and check my wand movements, please?”

Lizzie's hand reached under the table and gave Ginny’s knee a reassuring squeeze, snapping her from her frozen state.

Ginny turned away from Flint, there was nothing she could say or do now that McGonagall was standing right in front of her desk and she wasn’t sure what she wanted to say anyway. To deny it would only give credence to the rumours in the eyes of those who already wanted to believe them.

Lizzie, who was usually top of their class in Transfiguration, seemed to have forgotten everything she’d ever known about vanishing spells, requiring McGonagall to stay close to them until the bell rang.

Ginny packed up her books and exited the classroom with halting slowness.

Even as Flint’s words rang through her mind Ginny chastised herself for paying them any mind. Flint was always trying to wind her up, just last week Ginny had lost thirty house points for rising to herbait and only a few days ago she’d had to be dragged back from her attempts to punch her in her overly large nose.

Yet, still, the words replayed over and over again as Ginny made her way through the crowds of students flooding the corridors towards the courtyard where she’d agreed to meet Harry for break.

If anyone was whispering about her now, Ginny didn’t notice. She was too lost to her thoughts, trusting her feet to tread the familiar path to the courtyard without any conscious input from her.

The courtyard was bathed in summer sunlight, warming the stone walls and making them radiate heat. The light bounced off the water of the fountain in the centre of the space, the brightness of it pulling Ginny from her miserable thoughts.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood in a circle, Ron leaning against the ivy-covered back wall with Hermione and Harry facing him. As Ginny approached she could only see the back of Hermione’s head but she could make out Ron and Harry’s expressions, both of which were grave as they nodded along to whatever Hermione was saying.

Ron’s gaze broke from Hermione when Ginny was almost to them. She couldn’t make out Hermione’s words but she was speaking rapidly, in a low tone. Ron quickly nudged Harry’s leg with his foot and inclined his head in Ginny’s direction.

Hermione stopped speaking immediately upon realising someone was approaching the three of them. Harry turned to follow the direction Ron had indicated and his face split into a breathtaking smile upon seeing Ginny.

Flint’s words, which had still been echoing in Ginny’s head even as she made her way across the courtyard, immediately seemed laughable. She didn’t feel plain or boring when Harry was looking at her like that, which served as a reminder that none of Flint’s assertions were true, or worth wasting another moment's thought on when she should be enjoying what little time she could grab with Harry.

“Don’t let me interrupt you,” Ginny said to Hermione as she took her place beside Harry, slipping her hand into his.

“You’re not,” Hermione said hurriedly; not meeting Ginny’s eye and giving her the distinct impression she’d walked in on something she wasn’t supposed to hear.

“Luna was telling me about a Veela secret society yesterday,” Ron said loudly, breaking the awkward silence that had begun to settle on the group. “Apparently, they control the distribution of Niffler’s across Europe, something to do with protecting some long lost treasure with powerful magical healing abilities.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Hermione said brusquely. “Everyone knows Nifflers fall under the authority of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.”

“I don’t know,” Ron said slowly, a mocking smile upon his face. “Sounds very plausible to me.”

“It sounds utterly fictional,” Hermione said firmly. “I suppose she had some really strong evidence?”

And just like that, they were off; amusement shining in both their eyes as they began to bicker back and forth about a conspiracy theory that Hermione must know Ron didn’t actually believe.

Beside Ginny, Harry took the opportunity of his best friends’ distraction to tug on her hand and lead her around to the other side of the fountain.

“Have you had a good morning?” Harry asked, pulling Ginny into his arms as soon as they were out of Ron’s eyesight.

No, Jemimah Flint accused me of spiking you. “Yeah, it wasn’t too bad. Got loads more homework from McGonagall though.”

It wasn’t that she was concerned that Harry would believe Flint’s ridiculous accusations, he’d barely reacted yesterday when she assured him she wasn’t still obsessed with his legend status, as though the thought had never really crossed his mind.

Still, she didn’t want to burden him with what had actually happened in Transfiguration. Ever since Saturday Harry had been happier than she’d ever seen him. Even now, when Ginny was almost certain she’d just interrupted a conversation not meant for her, he was still beaming down at her.

His good mood was even more obvious, contrasted as it was with how down he’d been since the Malfoy incident less than a week ago. No, she wasn’t about to tell him anything that was going to detract even marginally from his cheerfulness.

"God, I think I've erased how terrible O.W.Ls were from my brain," Harry said sympathetically.

"Well, you were a bit preoccupied with going toe to toe with the entire Ministry of Magic," Ginny said fairly.

"True," Harry agreed. "At least there's no Umbridge this year."

"Yeah, I don't think this would have been in keeping with her educational decrees."

She reached up and kissed Harry squarely on the mouth. All thoughts of Flint or O.W.Ls or Umbridge were vanished far more successfully than she'd managed to vanish her rabbit as her lips brushed softly against his.

The bell rang, echoing shrilly off the stone walls of the courtyard and leaving them no option but to break apart.

“Walk you to Charms?” Harry offered. Ginny nodded, knowing he had yet another free period and not wanting to separate from him just yet when he’d only just returned her good mood to her.
***

Ginny slipped into a seat beside Luna in the Charms classroom, safe in the knowledge that she wouldn’t be in the least inclined to say anything disparaging about her and Harry.

The first half of the lesson was taken up by a long and dull explanation of the theory behind silencing Charms, which Ginny diligently took notes during. By the time Professor Flitwick finished speaking she was feeling quite sure that she was going to get through a whole lesson without anyone attempting to ruin her newly re-discovered good humour.

Ginny paired with Luna when they were instructed to practice, grateful that the subject at hand actually had the goal of rendering her peers mute, reducing the amount of whispering that still surrounded her. After four failed attempts she finally managed to cast a successful silencing charm, on a now inaudible Luna.

They played hangman on a scrap piece of parchment whilst they waited for it to wear off. Ginny had no hope of guessing Umgumbular Slashkilter which Luna had put down, having absolutely no idea what that even was. Thankfully, Luna regained the power of speech just as Ginny was ‘hung’.

“Your turn,” Ginny said.

“Silencio,” Luna waved her wand in Ginny’s direction.

“I don’t think that worked,” Ginny said, her tone conciliatory.

“I wouldn’t let Loony practice on you, Weasley!” Amy Gilbert called from behind her.

“Don’t call her that!” Ginny snapped. Luna gazed dreamily into the distance as if she hadn’t heard, but Ginny could see the small furrow between her eyebrows. “I’d rather have Luna practice with me than a horrible know-it-all like you!”

Amy lifted her arms in surrender. “I’m just trying to warn you. I wouldn’t want someone who's jealous of my new boyfriend practising spells on me.”

“I’m not jealous,” Luna said mildly. “I’m really happy for both of you.”

Ginny squeezed Luna’s hand in reassurance, she didn’t for a minute think Luna had any interest in Harry. “Why don’t you keep your nose out of things that don’t concern you?” She suggested to Gilbert.

“I’m just saying, he took Loony to Slughorn’s Christmas party. If I was her, I’d be gutted that the one and only boy that had ever shown me any romantic interest was off the market.”

Ginny’s jaw tensed and her hands clenched into fists upon her desk. If the boys of Hogwarts couldn’t see how amazing Luna was that was their problem and she didn’t appreciate Gilbert throwing it in Luna’s face.

“We just went to the party as friends,” Luna explained, not looking in the least offended or seemingly noticing the rage radiating from Ginny. “I don’t like Harry like that and he likes Ginny.”

Gilbert opened her mouth to say something else but Ginny didn’t want to hear it. “Silencio!”

Gilbert’s mouth continued to open and close but, much to Ginny’s satisfaction, no sound came out.

“This might be my new favourite spell,” Ginny proclaimed, happily watching Gilbert glob like a fish.

Ginny and Luna both turned back to face the front of the classroom and Luna resumed her attempts to silence Ginny, succeeding on the third attempt. They played hangman again as they waited for the spell to wear off. Luna easily guessed Ginny’s Holyhead Harpies.

Gilbert made no further attempt to speak to either Ginny or Luna for the remainder of class and just as she had with Flint’s comments this morning she pushed the whole exchange from her mind, knowing she wouldn’t care once she was back with Harry and to argue back was to just add more kindling to the fire.
***
Ginny remained in Luna’s company during the walk to the great hall for lunch. She’d had so little time for anything that wasn’t Quidditch or homework or cheering Harry up after the Malfoy incident in the week leading up to the final that Ginny didn’t even try to rush their leisurely walk even though she was acutely aware that Harry was waiting for her.

Finally, they entered the hall and Luna turned left for the Ravenclaw table whilst Ginny made her way to the right, heading for her fellow Gryffindors.

She found Harry alone halfway up the Gryffindor table and claimed the seat beside him.

“What are you doing all by yourself?” Ginny asked as she helped herself to a jacket potato and what could only be described as a mountain of cheese.

“Waiting for you. Ron and Hermione have already eaten; they’re outside.”

Harry waited patiently whilst she ate, filling the silence with the latest Quidditch news from Seeker Weekly which he’d read during his latest free period and Ginny hadn’t had any time to pick up in weeks.

They left the great hall hand in hand, Harry telling her about a new chaser signing for the Falmouth Falcons.

“Do you want to go and join Ron and Hermione?” Ginny asked as they headed out of the great hall, trying extremely hard to keep her voice neutral.

Harry shook his head. “I’ve been with Ron all day. I’ve barely seen you.”

“Some of us don’t have a timetable consisting mainly of free periods.” Ginny thought wistfully of all she could get done with just a few extra hours outside of classes.

“Speaking of which, here are your Defence questions back.” Harry passed her the scroll and she tucked it back into her bag. They began to wonder languidly up the staircase, to the third floor where Ginny would be expected for Arithmancy as soon as lunch was over.

“Did you have to make loads of changes?” She asked, silently hoping that he hadn’t and that maybe her revision was starting to pay off.

“Nope. Unfortunately, I don’t think you need my services as your personal tutor.”

“Let’s not be hasty.” Ginny spun so she was leaning against the wall in the empty Arithmancy corridor, there was still a good ten minutes before the final bell rang; they had plenty of time before anyone bothered to show up for class.

She pulled Harry’s hand so he stood facing her, standing closer than was strictly necessary in the wide openness of the deserted corridor. “I think I’m very much in need of your attention.”

“You do, do you?” Harry took a step closer to her; Ginny’s heart rate increased in anticipation.

“Yes, I’ve found myself getting quite distracted lately.” Ginny rose up on her tiptoes, her arms wrapping around Harry’s neck.

“Sounds like a real problem.” Harry’s hands came to rest on Ginny’s waist.

“You have no idea.” She whispered against his lips.

“I think I do.”

Finally, he kissed her. Slowly at first as though he was becoming reacquainted with her after their long morning apart. As though it had been more than just two hours since they’d last done this.

“I’ve missed you,” He murmured between kisses, confirming what she was thinking.

“Me too,” Ginny sighed back.

It felt like only seconds later that the bell rang, Ginny had never felt resentful of a sound before but the bell was quickly becoming her greatest enemy.

“We’re both going to be late," Harry warned, still kissing her.

"Might be worth it." Ginny mused, making no attempt to move away.

"Miss Weasley, would you care to join us?" Professor Vector called sharply down the corridor.

Ginny sighed as she pulled her head back from Harry’s. "Meet you for dinner?”

"I'll see you in the common room," Harry assured her. Ginny reluctantly unwound her arms from around Harry and hurried to the classroom.

Professor Vector stood framed in the doorway, her arms crossed and expression stern. "The bell means I expect you in your seat, ready to learn!" She snapped as Ginny slipped past her.

"Sorry, Professor," Ginny said, her tone holding no hint of apology.

"We'll be continuing with our number charts today. You may work in groups." Professor Vector said once Ginny had found her usual seat beside Lizzie. Vector waved her hands to signal they should get on with it and returned to her desk.

Ginny pulled Bill’s old copy of Numerology and Grammatica out of her bag, placing it on the desk in front of her.

She expected the group to start chatting animatedly whilst she found the correct spot in her book but there was nothing but silence. She looked up slowly; already suspecting what she was going to see. Sure enough, Lizzie and Amrinta, who shared a dorm with Ginny, were both quietly adding numbers to their charts. Ursula, Jade and Astrid; three Ravenclaws with who they always shared their Arithmancy table were staring at Ginny open-mouthed.

"What?" Ginny already knew what but she supposed she might as well get it out of the way so they could actually get on with their work.

"You kissed Harry Potter!" Astrid cried, looking scandalised.

"He kissed me first!" Ginny said, feeling somewhat defensive after her prior unpleasant experiences today.

"As if!" Jade squealed. "Tell us everything!"

"We're supposed to be working on our charts," Ginny reminded them. She couldn't remember ever being the one to encourage them to do work before but after the day she’d had, she was entirely done with gossip.

"Forget the chart!" Ursula waved dismissively. "Did he really kiss you in front of your whole common room?"

"He did!" Amrinta confirmed. "It was so romantic!"

"As if!" Jade said again, practically jumping up and down with excitement.

Astrid leaned across the table towards Ginny. "Word from the Gryffindors is that you disappeared together for hours after the kiss," Ginny said nothing which seemed to confirm it.

"Where did you go?" Ursula demanded.

"I don't see how that's your business!" Ginny snapped, very much not wanting to hear the next vicious rumour, to which this question was obviously leading.

"People are saying you were getting pretty hot and heavy by the lake," Astrid said matter of factly.

It was exactly what Ginny had expected. "Of course they are."

"Is it true?" Ursula persisted.

"Of course it's not!" Lizzie snapped. "Leave Ginny alone."

Ginny smiled gratefully at her friend.

Ursula shrugged. "He can have any girl he wants. It makes sense that you'd feel like you need to go the extra mile to keep him interested." Ginny very nearly laughed. Anyone who thought that clearly didn't know Harry at all.

Amrinta snorted derisively. "Oh please, he's been hanging off Ginny's every word for months."

"Not for months," Ginny muttered, feeling the need to protect Harry's dignity even though he’d admitted that very thing to her just yesterday.

"Is he a good kisser?" Jade's eyes shone with excitement.

"I don't want to talk about this!" Ginny turned her attention to her book, hoping the others would follow her lead.

"I'll take that as a no," Ursula sneered. Ginny had always thought she had a nasty streak.

"He's a very good kisser!" Ginny found herself almost yelling in annoyance. She'd intended to ignore Ursula entirely, but clearly, her mouth had other ideas and she couldn’t really blame it given how much nonsense she’d already endured today.

Half of the class had already been craning to hear the discussion coming from Ginny’s table so she was unsurprised to see the majority of her peers staring at her, unable to miss the volume of Ginny’s exclamation.

“Miss Weasley, I sincerely hope you’re not disrupting my O.W.L class!” Professor Vector called from her desk.

“Of course not, Professor,” Ginny replied guilelessly.

“Excellent, I wouldn’t want to have to set the entire class additional homework to make up for a lack of focus in the classroom.”

No one needed telling twice; Ginny wasn’t the only fifth-year with an inordinate amount of work awaiting them this evening. Silence reigned once more as everyone turned their attention back to their charts. Ginny was simply glad the gossip seemed to be getting steadily more innocuous; nothing she’d heard since had been as bad as Flint’s accusations this morning.
***

Ginny was infinitely grateful when Professor Babbling announced they would be doing a mock exam for Ancient Runes in her final lesson of the day. The strict conditions of which made it absolutely impossible for anyone to try and speak to her about Harry or anything else.

Despite feeling less than confident about the answers she was putting down she found herself actually enjoying the practice test. It was the most peace she’d felt all day, aside from the brief moments she’d managed to snatch with Harry during break and lunch, and once this was over her whole evening stretched out in front of her, full of infinite Harry-filled possibilities.

The final bell rang just as she was completing her last translation and she found that her resentment for the sound had reversed now that it was signalling the end of an extremely trying school day.

She joined Lizzie and Amrinta on the walk back to Gryffindor Tower to drop her bag off before dinner. Harry was already in the common room, Ron and Hermione sat across from him in their usual seats.

He waved at her in greeting as she weaved around the scattered furniture towards him.

“Good afternoon?” he asked as Ginny reached him.

Lizzie, who Ginny already thought was sticking unusually close to her now they'd reached the common room, answered for her. "Ginny's had an eventful afternoon."

Harry's expression turned curious as he turned to look at Ginny.

"Lizzie was just leaving," Ginny gave Lizzie a firm shove in the direction of the girls' dormitory; she and Amrinta disappeared with no further comment.

"What was that all about?" Hardy asked as Ginny collapsed onto the sofa cushion beside him, her head automatically coming to rest on his shoulder.

She took a moment of brief respite, inhaling his familiar scent before lifting her head to meet his steady gaze.

"I may have declared quite loudly to my entire Arithmancy class that you're a very good kisser," Ginny kept her eyes fixed on Harry's, attempting to convey an air of confidence she didn't really feel and resolutely ignoring the fact that Ron and Hermione were also listening to her.

To her great relief, Harry's hand found hers on the sofa cushion and he began to laugh.

"Why?" Ron demanded.

"You're not annoyed?" Ginny asked Harry, continuing to ignore Ron.

"It's better than saying I'm a bad kisser," Harry reasoned through his laughter.

His good mood was infectious and Ginny felt the first grin she'd had in hours work its way across her face.

"Why would you say it at all?" Ron demanded again. Ginny finally turned to look at him, his expression would have been more appropriate if Ginny had announced she’d stripped naked in the middle of her Arithmancy class.

"Obviously, because I was so overcome I just had to announce it as loudly as possible," Ginny snapped, having no patience for Ron's prudish behaviour after the day she'd had.

"Are you taking your bag upstairs before dinner?" Hermione asked before Ron could ask any more irritating questions.

Ginny nodded, rising from the sofa to dump her excessively heavy bag under her bed.

When she returned to the common room less than five minutes later it was to find Harry sitting alone and Hermione and Ron nowhere in sight.

"Finally got rid of my dear brother, have you?" Ginny asked, coming to stand by the arm of Harry's sofa, assuming they'd be going straight to dinner.

Harry patted the empty seat next to him, inviting Ginny to sit which she did without hesitation.

"Was your day actually alright?" He asked, his fingers automatically lacing with hers. "Because Hermione is under the impression that the girls in your year were probably a bit of a nightmare today."

His expression was full of concern but Ginny could already see the slight hint of guilt beneath it, Harry’s default reaction.

She didn’t want him to feel guilty, not about this. Not about them. Not when even with all the gossiping and snide remarks she was still happier than she’d ever been.

“It was fine,” Ginny assured him, Flint’s veiled references to love potions rang in her head but she pushed it away immediately, refusing to let Flint or anyone else ruin her time with Harry. “You know what I’m like, can’t hold my tongue to save my life.”

She could do nothing about Death Eaters and Dark Lords, they were Harry’s burden to carry, but she could at least spare him the pettiness of hormonal teenage girls.

Harry grinned back at her and it seemed even more luminous from the knowledge that she’d put it there. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re usually so mild-mannered.”

Ginny leaned across the sofa towards him, infinitely grateful that her brother wasn’t around. “I can show you mild-mannered?” She offered when her face was only inches from his.

Harry didn’t even seem to hear her, his gaze was intensely focussed on her lips.

Chapter Text

It was amazing, Harry thought, how much things could change in the space of a week.

Just seven short days ago he'd sat in this very charms classroom feeling miserable, absolutely convinced that he'd ruined Gryffindor’s chances at the cup and that Ginny was going to end up back with Dean.

And now his whole life had turned around. Ginny was his. Just thinking it still made him more than a little dizzy.

It had been, without contest, the best week of Harry's life so far.

A week that had passed in a delightful blur of encounters with Ginny whenever their schedules allowed.

He had been pleasantly surprised to discover that unlike his awkward attempts at romance with Cho, everything with Ginny was unthinkingly easy. Their familiar in-jokes and banter, which had been a mark of their friendship since last summer, remained and were only enhanced by the new addition of ample amounts of kissing.

Yes, he was having to go to bed extremely late because he was avoiding the awkwardness in his dormitory but that just meant more time with Ginny which was infinitely better than sleep anyway so really Harry could find absolutely nothing to complain about in the marvellous new direction his life had taken.

The bell, which Harry was developing a love/hate relationship with, rang shrilly throughout the classroom, signalling the end of class and the beginning of the weekend.

“Can we go straight down to dinner?” Ron asked, looking directly at Harry. “Or do you have to meet Ginny?”

“No, we can go straight to dinner,” Harry agreed, failing to mention that Ginny’s last lesson was potions and he fully intended on running into her on the way to the great hall.

He caught sight of her vibrant hair as they were crossing the entrance hall, she was just appearing from the door that led to the dungeons.

Their eyes met through the crowd and a quick wordless conversation took place, mainly consisting of nods and shakes of their heads, the result of which was that Ginny would join them for dinner rather than going to the common room with the rest of her dormmates to ditch her bag.

Harry waited for her to reach him just outside the door to the great hall, encouraging Ron and Hermione to go on ahead which allowed him to kiss Ginny in greeting without Ron’s judgemental supervision.

Their kiss was nothing more than a brief peck, the entrance hall was extremely crowded with students going to dinner and no one seemed to think it necessary to give them space to reacquaint themselves with one another.

“Are you going to the library tonight?” Harry asked, taking Ginny's hand and leading her into the hall.

"Why?" Ginny asked, her eyes alight with amusement at a joke that hadn't even been made yet. "Are you worried I'm going to interrupt your wild Friday night?"

"Obviously," Harry said immediately. "I'm very busy. If you want my attention you need to schedule it three weeks in advance."

"Of course, if you could just give me the details of your secretary, I'll request an appointment."

"You already have his details. It's Ron."

Ginny's laughter was loud enough to be heard clearly over the din and chatter of the hundreds of students in the great hall.

“Well, don’t let me get in the way of your very important plans,” Ginny said once she’d stopped laughing and took the seat across from Hermione at the Gryffindor table. “But I’m not going to the library tonight.”

Harry winced regretfully. “Such a shame you didn’t let me know earlier, I might have been able to make some time for you.”

Ginny shrugged, not even bothering to look in Harry’s direction, busy as she was loading her plate with mashed potato. “I’m sure it won’t be too difficult for me to find someone who can willingly fit me into his evening.”

“Do you know what?” Harry said thoughtfully, keeping his tone light even though he found he no longer appreciated the direction this joke had taken. “I think I can move some things around, free some time up, does the entire rest of the night work for you?”

“Well isn’t that miraculous?” Ginny said unable to contain her smirk any longer. “I’m afraid we’ll have to wait and see, I’m waiting on better offers now.”

“Will you stop flirting whilst I’m trying to eat, please?” Ron said loudly from across the table.

Harry caught Ginny’s eye and they grinned at one another, but not even Ginny had the audacity to argue with Ron when his complaint was so obviously valid; neither of them said anything as they turned their attention to their plates.

Harry only separated from Ginny for five minutes after dinner, in order for them both to go to their dormitories and change out of their uniforms which felt entirely unsuited to a Friday night.

Ginny and Hermione were nowhere to be seen when Harry and Ron returned to the common room so they claimed their usual seats whilst they waited for the girls to appear.

“Chess?” Ron asked before they’d even sat down across from one another.

“Can’t,” Harry said apologetically. “I need to make a start on Slughorn’s essay.”

“You’ve spent half your life in the library this week.” Harry couldn’t possibly miss the hint of resentment in Ron’s tone. “I seriously don’t know how you’ve got any homework left to do.”

The truthful answer to this was because getting any work done with Ginny in close proximity was nigh on impossible.

They’d done nothing more than kiss but he found that now he’d actually kissed her; now that he'd actually ran his hands around her waist, up her body (always over her shirt) and through her hair, he was achingly aware of every inch of Ginny’s body.

When he finally did go to bed his dreams were full of her, the tantalising scenes that played out during his slumber did nothing to ease his need for her when he was awake. His thoughts were in no way conducive to getting any school work done.

Thankfully Harry didn’t have to think of a more innocent excuse to give to Ron for his lack of headway with his work; at that moment Hermione and Ginny emerged from the girls’ dormitory. Hermione carrying a stack of books and Ginny with her school bag on one shoulder and Arnold balancing on the other.

Hermione took the seat beside Ron and Ginny settled herself on the floor at Harry’s feet, ensuring she was at a comfortable level to work on the low table separating his sofa from Ron and Hermione’s.

In what Harry could only assume was a decision made to deliberately torture him, Ginny had changed into a shirt with a neckline that allowed him an excellent view from his seat above her; he immediately knew there was little chance of him completing Slughorn’s essay tonight.

She turned her head and smiled up at him and Harry knew that she had no idea what she was doing to him. Harry smiled back, all his energy going into resisting the urge to jump her right in the middle of the common room.

Ginny set Arnold on the side of the table next to her parchment where he began to roll happily around, entertaining himself whilst Ginny made a start on her History of Magic essay.

Harry reminded himself sternly that he had Snape’s detention tomorrow – a fact he’d been studiously ignoring for most of the week – and would therefore have no time to complete any homework, he lowered himself onto the empty patch of carpet beside Ginny and retrieved his Potions textbook and some blank parchment from his bag.

It was going well, he’d actually managed to write most of his introduction - with only the briefest glimpses up at Ginny - when her arm brushed against his.

He sincerely hoped his intake of breath wasn’t as audible as he thought it was. He couldn’t comprehend how her touch had more effect on him now than it had done before, but now when she touched him, even innocently, the need to take it further was almost painful.

Ginny’s hand paused over her parchment for only a second before she continued writing; Harry knew she felt it too and that made it so much worse.

He considered moving further around the table; just enough to avoid any further contact, but Arnold was still happily rolling around the unoccupied half of the surface so there was nowhere for Harry to go.

He shuffled slightly, angling his body away from Ginny’s, and tried with all his might to continue with his essay, his knuckles whiter than snow where he gripped his quill with excessive force.

It was useless, his brain decided quite without Harry’s permission that replaying their time spent by the lake at lunchtime, during which lots of kissing had occurred, was more interesting than the varied uses of Moondew.

Fortunately, very little time passed before Harry was pulled unceremoniously from his reverie by Ron’s voice. “Surely, you can’t have any more homework either?”

He was staring incredulously at Hermione who was making notes on a piece of parchment balanced on the solid arm of the sofa, a book open on her lap.

“It’s not homework,” Hermione said, her tone dismissive.

“What is it then?” Ron demanded.

Harry peered over, but he couldn’t see the title of the book, it also seemed she’d arranged all her other books so the titles were obscured by her bag on the floor.

“It’s nothing,” She said firmly, giving both Harry and Ron a meaningful look. “Drop it.”

Harry knew instantly it was something to do with Horcruxes, which she’d been trying to research ever since Dumbledore had told him about them. Judging by the look on Ron’s face, he knew it too.

Harry chanced a glance in Ginny’s direction. She wasn’t looking at any of them, instead, she reached over for Arnold, who’d rolled over Harry’s parchment whilst he was distracted; his purple fur was now splattered with black ink.

“You’re a menace,” She said, affectionately scratching behind his ears. It would be easy for Harry to lie to himself and believe she hadn’t noticed if it wasn’t for the tense way she was holding her shoulders as she siphoned the ink out of Arnold’s fur with her wand.

Herein lay the only real problem Harry had encountered this week. This wasn't the first time an awkward moment had been borne out of him keeping secrets from Ginny.

Monday, she’d almost walked directly into a conversation between him, Ron and Hermione about the prophecy in the courtyard. He’d known, as he did now, that she must be aware he was keeping something from her and yet she hadn’t pushed him on it once. In a way, he wished she would, wished he could say the awkwardness was her fault for being overbearing or reasonable but no, she'd been perfect.

He’d debated with himself several times over the course of the week about whether or not to tell her everything.

They weren’t new secrets, but it felt wrong to keep them from her now, like he was building a wall between them.

Dumbledore had instructed him to only tell Ron and Hermione, to keep the details of the prophecy and the existence of the Horcruxes a secret from all others; it was vitally important that Voldemort didn’t discover just how much knowledge Dumbledore, and by extension Harry, had.

But he trusted Ginny, he knew she would never betray them to Voldemort. After the events of her first year, the fight against Voldemort was almost as personal to Ginny as it was to Harry, he’d realised that after she’d told him off in Grimmauld Place.

He’d almost settled on telling her everything on Wednesday night whilst Ginny was at the library and the question of what to do had played through Harry’s mind over and over.

He couldn’t though, to let her in on this would be no different than placing her directly in the path of danger. Knowledge was power but these were deadly secrets to keep and the idea of Ginny being caught up in any of it was incomprehensible to Harry. He would do everything he could to keep her out of it, which meant not telling her anything.

So he kept his silence and prayed that he wasn’t putting up an impenetrable barrier between them, that the best thing to ever happen to him wasn’t going to be destroyed, much like everything else good Harry had ever had, by Voldemort and his unswerving presence over Harry’s life.

"You're not making very much progress," Ginny said, snapping Harry from his thoughts as she inclined her head in the direction of his still mostly blank parchment.

Their eyes met and he suddenly found it very easy to push aside any and all thoughts of Horcruxes.

“I thought I might get my secretary to do it for me,” Harry joked.

Ginny released a sound halfway between a huff and a chuckle. “Knowing your secretary, I’d think you’ll be better off doing it yourself.”

“You’re probably right,” Harry sighed, sparing a quick glance at Ron, who was reading an interview with the Canons Captain in the sports section of The Daily Prophet sparing no thought for the homework Harry knew he’d been ignoring all week.

Harry turned back to his still only half-completed essay and employed his new favourite -and very necessary- strategy of allowing himself to glance up at Ginny every time he finished a paragraph in order to convince himself to actually write something.

Five paragraphs and five longing looks at Ginny later he was interrupted once again by Ron.

“Bloody hell, have they changed the length requirement for O.W.L essays?” He asked incredulously.

Every time Harry had looked at Ginny his gaze had most certainly not been on her parchment and so he hadn’t noticed that the piece she was currently writing was far longer than any homework he’d ever turned in.

“It’s not work,” Ginny said, echoing Hermione’s words from earlier. “I’m catching up on my letters.”

“Well, you’re not using Pig to send those,” Ron said. “He’s only tiny.”

Ginny lifted her gaze from her parchment to pointedly roll her eyes at Ron.

“Use Hedwig,” Harry offered before the two of them had the opportunity to start bickering. “She hasn’t been on a long flight in ages.”

“Are you sure?” Ginny asked looking hesitant. “One of these is for Tonks and I don’t know where she is at the moment so Hedwig could be gone for a while.”

“She’ll appreciate the chance to stretch her wings,” Harry said easily, glad of something for Hedwig to do, since Sirius had died there wasn’t really anyone for Harry to write to anymore and he’d been feeling bad about not having more interesting tasks for Hedwig to complete.

“Okay,” Ginny said happily. “In that case, I’m going to the Owlery before curfew.”

"I'll come with you," Harry said as she rose from the floor.

He was about to add that he hadn't seen Hedwig in a while before he remembered with a feeling of great contentment that he no longer had to make up excuses to be with Ginny anymore. It was a hard habit to break.

"Okay, just let me go and put Arnold away."

"I'll take him," Hermione offered, holding out her hands to accept Arnold from Ginny's grasp.

Arnold didn't seem to mind his new perch, in fact he began happily chirping from the palm of Hermione's hand.
***
The Owlery was as deserted as Harry had expected it to be at almost curfew on a Friday night. Their only companions were the owls resting on the perches above Harry and Ginny's heads.

Hedwig soared down from one of the top perches immediately upon seeing Harry walk through the door, her snowy white feathers stood out in striking contrast with the abundance of bland screech and barn owls surrounding her.

She hooted loudly in greeting as she landed decidedly on Harry’s arm, her talons gently pressing into the sleeve of Harry’s jumper as she rotated her head to nibble at Harry’s ear fondly.

Ginny reached out a tentative finger and stroked the soft plumage atop Hedwig’s head. In response Hedwig tilted her head back further, allowing Ginny better access, and let out another hoot, this one low and contented.

“She likes you,” Harry observed.

Rationally, he knew Hedwig and Ginny had met before and that Hedwig was an owl and didn’t understand the complexities of human relationships, but still, he couldn’t help but be secretly happy that Hedwig seemed to approve of Ginny.

“She likes attention,” Ginny corrected but she was still running her finger along Hedwig’s feathers and a small, pleased smile had appeared on her face.

“I need you to deliver these for Ginny.” Harry pointed at the letters in Ginny’s hand and Hedwig held out her leg, confirming she found the request acceptable.

“This one's for Mr and Mrs Weasley at The Burrow and this one is for Tonks, you’ll need to find her,” Harry told Hedwig as Ginny attached the letters to her leg.

With a final nip of Harry’s ear, Hedwig took flight; Harry watched her ghostly silhouette until she disappeared into the fast encroaching darkness of the sky outside the Owlery.

Ginny took his hand as Hedwig vanished out of sight and began to lead Harry out of the Owlery. They were almost to the door when Pig came zooming out of a huddle of smaller owls, nestled on one of the lower perches and began to fly in dizzying circles around Ginny’s head.

“Sorry, Ron said you weren’t up to it,” Ginny explained apologetically as the tiny owl landed on her shoulder and hooted loudly enough in her ear to make her wince.

“There’s no use yelling,” Ginny said calmly. “You’re not my owl; it’s not up to me.”

Pig nipped Ginny on the ear with much less fondness than Hedwig had done to Harry and immediately took flight, diving back into the pack of tiny owls on the perch, his back to Ginny and Harry.

“I’m going to bloody kill Ron!” Ginny announced, reaching her free hand up to rub her now-red ear.
***

“You were writing to Tonks that day you had the argument with your mum about playing Quidditch,” Harry said as they emerged from the spiral staircase of the Owlery and made their way back towards Gryffindor Tower, wondering how often Ginny wrote to Tonks and if she was seeming any better than she had last time Harry had seen her.

Ginny looked up at him with an expression of disbelief. “I can’t believe you even remember that.”

“You seemed really down,” Harry said with a shrug. “You never seem down so I was worried about you.”

Ginny bit her lip as though deciding how much information to share. “I didn’t mention it at the time but I’d had an argument with Dean as well. He’d sided with mum and I was feeling extremely fed up by the time you found me.”

“So you wrote to Tonks?”

Harry remembered Ginny saying at the time that there was no one she could talk to about it and, when she’d eventually told him that the problem was Mrs Weasley being disapproving of her ambition to play Quidditch professionally, Harry had been surprised she hadn’t spoken to Dean, though for very obvious reasons he hadn’t asked her why..

Ginny shook her head. “I wrote the letter to her but I never sent it. She’s been really subdued lately and I didn’t want to pile my stupid teenage problems on her. Besides, you cheered me up so I didn’t feel like I needed to.”

It was ridiculous that her telling him he’d cheered her up caused his chest to glow warmly with happiness. Her hand was in his, he’d spent pretty much the entirety of their lunch break with his lips exploring the frankly fascinating curve of her neck, things were so much more intimate now than they had been just five short weeks ago.

Regardless, just knowing that he might be able to make Ginny feel even a little bit of the contentment she gave to Harry, was more satisfying than anything physical that had occurred between them.

“I wish you’d just come and found me in the first place,” He told her honestly. “I never would have sided with your mum, you know me the more reckless a plan is, the more I’m for it.”

Ginny laughed lightly but the hesitancy remained on her face. “I couldn’t come and find you,” She said quietly. “Dean was already really paranoid about you and after you left he accused us of flirting right in front of him.”

“I wasn’t trying to win you away from Dean or anything,” Harry said slowly, choosing his words with great care. “I just hated seeing you sad.”

It was the truth, but even still, uncomfortably hot guilt surged through Harry’s chest.

He genuinely had been trying to cheer Ginny up but could he hand on heart say that his banter with her was completely without ulterior motive? No, it hadn’t been for a long time and if he was honest, Harry couldn’t blame Dean for taking offence at that. If he thought someone was trying to take Ginny from him, Harry wouldn’t like it either.

“I know,” Ginny’s face held as much guilt as Harry felt and he could hear the strain in her voice as she spoke. “I told him that was just how we spoke to one another; that he was being paranoid. I said that was how it had been since last summer at The Burrow, that it was completely innocent.”

Harry let go of her hand, only to free his arm so he could bring it around Ginny’s shoulders and pull her closer to him.

“It was innocent over the summer,” Harry assured her, hoping it might ease some of Ginny’s guilt. “I was still getting over Sirius and I needed you to make me laugh. You made me feel better.”

Harry still found it a bit difficult to talk about Sirius even now, but he said it anyway, wanting to assure Ginny that she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Ginny peered up at Harry from where her head rested on his shoulder. “Well, I am very funny,” She said quietly, but her near-constant smile was nowhere to be seen.

Harry stopped walking, pulling Ginny to a halt with him. He removed his arm from her shoulders so that he could turn to face her, taking her hand back in his. “You are funny,” He said, not allowing his gaze to swerve from her chocolate-coloured eyes even as he felt the blush creeping up his neck and across his cheeks. “And you’re brave and you’re beautiful.”

He was only saying aloud the things he’d thought a million times before, but he’d never quite worked up the courage to say them directly to Ginny previously. It suddenly seemed absolutely imperative that he told her though, so he did.

Ginny’s eyes didn’t leave his as he spoke, not even as her striking smile returned to her face, not even as she rose up and pressed her lips to his.

Harry’s eyes fluttered closed then, his arms came around her pulling Ginny closer to him.

It wasn’t like the desperate, frenetic kissing they’d partaken it during lunch or yesterday break time or all the other times they’d found themselves alone this week.

This was slow and sweet and Harry was savouring every moment of it.

The curve of Ginny’s waist under his hand, the little hum she made in her throat, her fingers warm and soft against his shoulders, clinging to him.

At that moment, he didn’t feel like there was a wall between them at all.

“It’s nearly curfew,” Ginny said softly, her head moving barely an inch from Harry’s.

“I’m not sure I care,” Harry murmured, making no move to separate any further from her.

Ginny’s smile returned with full force. “Come on,” She said more loudly, taking a decided step away from Harry but grabbing his hand as she moved. “I need to keep you out of detention so you have time to say more nice things to me.”

“I’m not the one with a lack of free time,” Harry reminded her, allowing Ginny to lead him down the corridor and resume their walk to Gryffindor Tower now that she seemed to be back to her usual, lively self.

“O.W.Ls will be over soon,” Ginny said happily. “Then we’ll have the whole summer to do whatever we want.”

“Oh, I have big plans for this summer,” Harry assured her.

“Care to share?” Ginny asked, her voice laced with intrigue.

“If you're serious about going pro, I figure we’re going to have to do quite a bit of training.”

“I’m going to spend my summer at the mercy of Captain Potter, am I?”

“Yes, Weasley,” Harry said. Ginny began to giggle at his use of her surname, which he’d never bothered to use during actual Quidditch practice where it would have been impossible to differentiate between her and Ron if he’d done so. “I’m going to have you up before the sun doing drills and running laps around the orchard.”

“I don’t think so,” Ginny said firmly. “The only time you’ll catch me running is if something is chasing me.”

“If you don’t follow my commands, I’m going to chase you.”

Ginny shrugged unconcernedly. “I’m not running from you, I can definitely fight you.”

“You wouldn’t though,” Harry said with more confidence than he actually felt, he was fairly certain that if he did something to really annoy her, Ginny could be pushed to the point of delivering him a bat-bogey hex without hesitation.

“Wouldn’t I?” Ginny said, doing nothing to allay his suspicions.

“Quid Agis Harry said as they reached the Fat Lady, with a minute to spare until curfew officially came into effect.

The common room was much fuller than when they’d left it, owing to the fact that most of the seventh and fifth years had been kicked out of the library. Ron and Hermione were in the same seats Harry and Ginny had left them in, Arnold seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Hermione’s masses of hair.

“Alright?” Ron said in greeting as Harry and Ginny took their places on the sofa.

“Your sister is threatening to beat me up,” Harry said whilst Ginny slid into her now-usual spot under Harry’s arm, resting against his side which she’d done with such frequency over the past week that Ron no longer reacted to it.

“She does that,” Ron said without a trace of sympathy.

Ginny waved her hand in Arnold’s direction. “Do you want me to take him back?” She asked Hermione.

“Please,” Hermione agreed. “I’m going to go to bed now that you’re back.”

“I’ll come too, actually,” Ginny said, before tilting her head back so she could look Harry in the face. “I’m going to get up early in the morning and by the time you get out of detention I’ll have done most of my work.”

“Don’t rush, knowing Snape I’m not getting out of there until after dinner.”

He hadn’t thought it possible to feel more resentful of Snape but cutting into Harry’s time with Ginny was a far worse punishment than anything he could serve up in detention.

“Either way,” Ginny said brightly. “I’m getting up early and you really should go to bed at a normal hour for once so come on.”

She slipped out from under Harry’s arm and pulled him off the sofa with lightning-quick speed.

Harry saw no reason to argue, Ginny was going to bed anyway and Dean was still at the far side of the common room with Seamus, Lavender and Parvati so he might successfully manage to avoid all the awkwardness if he went up now.

He let Ginny lead him towards the dormitories, his early night delayed somewhat by how long it took them to say good night to one another.

Chapter Text

“Ron says you’re scared of the family ghoul,” Harry informed Ginny on Sunday lunchtime as they left the library, Ginny finally having finished her homework for the weekend.

“Of course I’m not!” Ginny protested, looking mortally offended at the suggestion.

“He said you jumped out of the attic window to escape it and broke your arm. Sounds like the actions of a person with a ghoul phobia to me.”

Ron had indeed informed Harry of this during the walk to Potions on Thursday afternoon and Harry had been waiting until the opportune moment to bring it up, which given they’d had to work in almost silence for the past four hours which had given Harry very few chances to tease Ginny, seemed like now.

“Did my dear brother happen to mention that he locked me in the attic for two hours and wouldn’t let me out, leaving me with no option but to jump out of the window?” Ginny asked, her hand leaving Harry’s in order to cross her arms defensively over her chest.

“No,” Harry said, trying and failing to suppress his smile. “That bit must have slipped his mind.”

“Yes, it must have slipped his mind when he had to explain to mum why my first signs of magic had been triggered by me jumping out of the attic as well.”

“Or maybe,” Harry said thoughtfully. “He didn’t lock you in at all and you really are just scared of the ghoul.”

Ginny narrowed her eyes dangerously in Harry’s direction, her arms remained crossed in front of her. “I am not now, nor have I ever been scared of the ghoul.”

Harry knew the sensible reaction when Ginny looked at you like that was to back off but she so rarely reacted to any kind of teasing and he was quite enjoying getting a rise out of her. So instead Harry arranged his face into a grotesquely vacant expression and began to shuffle in Ginny’s direction in a passing imitation of the Weasley family ghoul.

Ginny’s arms uncrossed immediately as she darted to the other side of the empty corridor, the glare on her face replaced by an uncontainable grin.

“You’re not coming near me looking like that!” She announced, turning to face him so she was walking swiftly backwards down the hallway away from Harry.

“What’s up?” Harry asked, shuffling closer and reaching towards her. “I thought you weren’t scared?"

Ginny dodged his advances with impressive speed. “I’m not!”

“If you’re not scared, why are you running?” Harry asked as she twirled out of his reach once more.

Ginny turned and began to zigzag down the corridor, keeping free of Harry’s advances. “Maybe, I just don’t like you anymore,” She called over her shoulder.

Harry dropped the leer and shuffling movements and began to chase her in earnest now. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”

“Believe what you like!” Ginny shrugged but the laughter she’d so obviously been trying to fight was breaking through. “You’ll never catch me!”

“I’m an excellent seeker. Catching you is barely a challenge.”

Harry reached out once more to grab her; Ginny just managed to avoid him, his fingertips brushed her waist as she danced away from him. She was bent almost double now, waves of laughter washing over her. She tried to keep out of Harry’s reach but she was breathless from running and laughing.

With one final lunge, Harry managed to hook one arm around her waist and pull her towards him. Ginny seemed to find her capture even more amusing than the chase as she began to laugh even harder as Harry spun her around, easily picking her up. Tears were running down her face as Harry placed her over his shoulder.

“You’re making me dizzy!” She cried but that only made Harry spin faster, despite the fact that he was getting quite dizzy himself and Ginny’s hair was whipping madly around them from the movement intoxicating him entirely with the sweet, floral scent of her shampoo.

“That will teach you not to run away.”

“No!” Ginny argued. “The second you put me down I’m going to leave you in my dust.”

“Guess I won’t put you down then,” Harry said easily. It was really no hardship to have every inch of Ginny’s body plastered over him like this.

“Alrigh’ you two?” A booming voice called down the corridor, causing Harry to spin once more in its direction.

Hagrid’s huge form stood silhouetted in the bright sunlight beaming through the windows above him. The hallway continued to spin even as Harry stopped moving.

Harry loosened his grip on Ginny’s waist and allowed her to slide to the floor as Hagrid began to stride towards them. She stumbled slightly as her feet met solid ground and gripped Harry’s arm to steady herself.

“Alright, Hagrid?” Harry said with a wave of greeting once Hagrid stood before them.

“Enjoyin’ yer afternoon?” Hagrid asked looking between Ginny and Harry with amusement.

“Trying to, now we’ve escaped the library,” Harry said evenly, not sure whether he was disappointed that Hagrid had appeared before Harry had put Ginny down, which he’d already been planning on doing in order to kiss her quite as he’d been fantasizing about doing all morning, or glad that Hagrid had arrived in time to interrupt a somewhat more innocent moment. “What brings you into the castle?”

“Bin ter tea wi’ Professor Dumbledore,” Hagrid explained. “I’m glad yer ‘ere I’ve got some excitin’ news fer yer, Harry.”

Harry’s nerves immediately stretched taut, his definition of exciting news and Hagrid’s had proven to be world’s apart previously. Hagrid seemed to take Harry’s silence as quiet anticipation rather than trepidation as he smiled animatedly and clapped a huge hand on Harry’s shoulder making him stumble forcefully into Ginny.

“It happened jus' las’ week. Bin meanin’ to tell yeh but yeh’ve bin busy an' so ‘ave I.”

“What is it Hagrid?” Ginny asked, her own smile looked as forced as Harry knew his was.

“Buck-I mean Witherwings-is a daddy!” Hagrid positively beamed down at them as he made the pronouncement. “Firs’ fledglin’ I’ve managed ter breed from the Hogwarts herd!”

Harry felt Ginny grip his arm tightly; he turned to find her mouth open in a wide O, her eyes shining with anticipation. He’d been at various Christmas' and several of Ginny’s birthdays but Harry had never seen her look quite so excited.

“A baby Hippogriff?” She cried, her voice higher than usual. “I bet it’s so sweet!”

Hagrid nodded in feverish agreement. “He’s a righ’ little character!”

Ginny’s grip on Harry’s arm tightened even further as she began to practically quiver with excitement. Harry couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her as she launched into a lightning-quick round of questions about the fledgling’s age, weight, size, colour and temperament. Hagrid held up one of his hands signalling her to slow down. She was speaking so fast Harry wasn’t sure Hagrid could even make out what she was saying anymore.

“D’yeh want to come and meet him?” Hagrid offered.

Ginny let out a small squeal, the likes of which Harry had never heard from her before. He watched as she schooled her features into an expression of casual neutrality before she turned to face Harry. “Is that alright with you? Did you want to go to lunch?” She asked sedately.

“No, I’m fine. We can go.” Harry had spent much longer periods of time being much hungrier than he was right now for much less worthy reasons than to indulge Ginny in the absolute joy she was currently experiencing.

The neutral expression disappeared from Ginny’s face, instantly replaced with a gleeful smile. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed Harry squarely on the mouth before grabbing his arm and dragging him down the corridor. Hagrid kept up with them easily, despite the speed with which Ginny was pulling Harry.

“Slow down!” Harry begged. “He’s not going to fly away in the next ten minutes!”

“Cryin’ shame I never ‘ad yeh in my Care o’ Magical Creatures classes!” Hagrid said, chuckling at Ginny’s behaviour.

Harry hadn’t considered this before but this was an excellent point. If there was any chance of anyone in this school actually enjoying Care of Magical Creatures it was Ginny and yet she was torturing herself with Arithmancy and Ancient Runes.

He turned to ask her about it but Hagrid was already speaking again. “O’ course Witherwings is yeh Hippogriff, Harry. So yeh part-owner o’ the fledglin’ as well.”

“I’ll just leave him with you,” Harry said quickly. He couldn’t help but think his ownership of Buckbeak was tenuous at best, considering he had stolen him from the Hogwarts herd in the first place and really what was he going to do with a baby Hippogriff? For a brief moment, he allowed himself the entertainment of imagining the Dursley’s reactions if he turned up with a Hippogriff to keep in their perfectly manicured garden over summer.
***
They reached Hagrid’s hut in record time, Harry was used to having to hurry to keep up with Hagrid’s pace but it was Ginny he was having to all-but jog to keep up with today.

Hagrid had set up a small paddock behind his cabin, to the side of his pumpkin patch, Buckbeak’s hulking form came into view as they rounded the side of the hut.

“Yeh need to approach carefully. Buckbeak an’ Stormswift - that ‘is mummy - are a bit protective, yeh see.” Hagrid said as they reached the wooden fence of the paddock.

Harry felt the wild urge to push Ginny behind him, having seen how Hippogriff’s behaved when in a temper, but he knew she would be furious if he attempted anything quite so obvious so, with great difficulty, he restrained himself.

“Harry yeh should be alrigh’” Hagrid continued. “Beaky knows yeh and he likes yeh.”

“Buckbeak knows me!” Ginny pronounced. “We used to hang out together in Grimmauld Place.”

“Did you?” Harry asked. He cast his mind back to their time spent in Grimmauld Place but found that he hadn’t spent that much time focusing on what Ginny was doing. He cursed his past-self internally for being incredibly blind.

“Yes, I had to find something to do that wasn’t cleaning and Hermione was off with you and Ron all the time, Fred and George were being all secretive about Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and Tonks was off on missions a lot so I went and sat with Buckbeak when Sirius wasn’t with him. I didn’t want him to be lonely.”

Harry had the sneaking suspicion Buckbeak hadn’t been the lonely one in Grimmauld Place given what Ginny had just told him, but he knew she would never admit it out loud so he didn’t argue.

“Yeh should be alrigh’ then,” Hagrid said happily, oblivious to the bleak nature of what Ginny had just revealed, as he led them around the fence to the gates of the paddock. “Jus’ remember to do a nice, deep bow.”

Harry let Ginny enter the paddock ahead of him, subtly tucking his hand into the pocket of his jeans and grasping the handle of his wand. He poised his other hand ready to pull Ginny back if her perceived friendship with Buckbeak wasn’t as strong as she thought it was.

Ginny had barely taken two steps into the springy grass when Buckbeak began to approach her. Harry watched carefully as she lowered herself into a deep bow, her long hair trailing down and brushing against the ground. Buckbeak’s responding bow was immediate and equally deep. They both rose back to standing positions and Buckbeak began to nuzzle Ginny’s face with his beak, his eyes closed contentedly as Ginny scratched his feathery neck.

Harry released his wand and withdrew his hand from his pocket, satisfied that he wasn’t going to have to pull off a daring rescue attempt whilst also trying to hide doing so from Ginny, who was now muttering softly to Buckbeak whilst she patted his head.

He waited for Buckbeak to turn his attention in Harry’s direction before giving a bow of his own which Buckbeak once again returned without hesitation. Harry approached and ran his hand through the soft feathers of Buckbeak's side in greeting.

“Go on then, Beaky!” Hagrid called from the edge of the paddock. “Show ‘em yeh news!”

Buckbeak turned and headed towards the back corner of the paddock where unseen by Harry until this point was a much smaller -though still fully grown - Hippogriff with feather’s of deepest black stood eyeing them warily. Harry and Ginny remained where they were, allowing the new Hippogriff to approach them.

“Tha’s Stormswift,” Hagrid informed them.

Stormswift moved towards them cautiously and as she did so she revealed a grey and black mass huddled on the floor behind her legs, that Harry assumed was the fledgling, though it looked more like a feathery, headless boulder.

Stormswift looked between Harry and Ginny and then to Buckbeak who stomped one taloned foot on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dirt, and shook out his wings, evidently communicating something to Stormswift though Harry couldn’t say what.

“Best ter give ‘er a bow now,” Hagrid advised.

Harry and Ginny sank into identical low bows, neither of them rising as Stormswift examined them both before finally returning the gesture.

Buckbeak stepped over to the huddled mass on the ground where Stormswift had been standing and nudged it with his beak, encouraging the fledgling to stand. The fledgling revealed his head, which had been tucked under his dark wing and blinked blearily before standing on unsteady limbs.

He was mostly grey much like Buckbeak but his feathers gradually darkened until the tips ended in deepest black, all except one feather right in the centre of his left wing which was pure white.

“I’ve named ‘im Fairfeather,” Hagrid told them as the baby hippogriff made his way towards Harry and Ginny, all the way encouraged by Buckbeak and watched closely by Stormswift.

“Do we bow?” Ginny asked, turning to Hagrid once Fairfeather was mere feet away from them.

Hagrid nodded and both she and Harry sank into deep bows for the third time. Fairfeather eyed them both curiously before sinking onto his scaly knees.

Ginny didn’t rise from her bow as Harry did, instead choosing to immediately drop onto her stomach on the grass smiling at Fairfeather in delight.

“Aren’t you a handsome boy?” She crooned.

Fairfeather seemed to enjoy Ginny’s attention immensely if the way he began to proudly prance in circles in front of her was anything to go by. Ginny reached out a hand towards him and Fairfeather came closer, allowing Ginny to stroke his head and his wings, butting her with his head in appreciation.

For her part, Ginny seemed to have entirely forgotten that Harry or Hagrid was there, her attention focussed solely on Fairfeather as it was. Harry couldn’t even say that he minded having been so thoroughly erased from Ginny’s brain given how much work he’d watched her struggle through in the library this morning, just seeing her so relaxed and happy was enough for Harry.

Buckbeak seemed more than satisfied that Fairfeather was well cared for under Ginny’s watchful eye and approached the still standing Harry in search of attention. Harry spent the next hour alternating between chatting to Hagrid, who was giving him a thorough update on Grawp’s English lessons and watching Ginny play with Fairfeather as though he was a puppy, feeling somewhat awed that the girl he had seen locked in fierce battle with Death Eaters and deliver a bat-bogey hex with enough force to make even Fred and George shrink back in fear, could be so completely overcome by a baby hippogriff.

Eventually, Stormswift, who had been stood at the edge of the paddock with her eyes firmly trained on Ginny the entire time, decided that Fairfeather had done quite enough playing for the day; she squawked loudly and with a final butt of his head against Ginny’s Fairfeather retreated to his mother.

“Think tha’s our cue ter leave,” Hagrid said as Ginny pushed herself up from the ground, wiping the dust from her front as she rose.

Harry was extremely ready for his lunch at this point and so declined Hagrid’s offer of tea in his hut. Ginny thanked him effusively for what she described as the ‘honour’ of meeting Fairfeather before allowing Harry to lead her back to the castle.
***
Ginny was buoyantly happy as they reached the great hall for lunch. An afternoon with Harry and a baby hippogriff was the exact kind of thing that elevated a Sunday afternoon from good to great.

Their detour on the way to lunch also had the added benefit of ensuring the great hall was almost empty when they arrived which was excellent for two reasons; firstly, there was no outbreak of whispering, which had admittedly calmed down since the beginning of the week but was still ever-present in Ginny’s life and secondly, she and Harry could actually have a meal alone for once, which had been a rare occurrence over the past week as getting rid of Ron at mealtimes proved quite the challenge.

Rather than taking the seat beside Harry, which was customary when Ron and Hermione were around, Ginny slid under the table and made the most of the chance to sit across from him.

“That was the greatest afternoon of my life!” She proclaimed as she helped herself to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

“Just over a week ago you won the Quidditch Cup,” Harry reminded her, as though he could read her thoughts and had plucked out the actual greatest afternoon of her life.

“That was an excellent afternoon,” Ginny agreed neutrally. “In fact up until two hours ago, I would have put it in the number one spot and not just because of the trophy.”

“But now I've been pushed out of the number one spot by a Hippogriff,” Harry concluded, with a tone of great offence that Ginny might have taken seriously if not for the fact he was failing to control the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Ginny shook her head, a teasing smile rising from her own lips. “A baby hippogriff, you’d easily win against a fully grown hippogriff.”

“Good to know,” Harry said wryly, not looking up from his plate, busy pouring generous amounts of gravy over his beef. “Which reminds me, why would you torture yourself with Arithmancy and Ancient Runes when you could take Care of Magical Creatures and actually enjoy it?”

Ginny froze, her roast potato halfway to her mouth. It was a seemingly innocuous question, why shouldn’t Harry ask it over the lunch table?

It didn’t have an innocuous answer though, it had a difficult, somewhat painful answer that Ginny hadn’t thought about in a very long time.

Harry glanced up from his lunch, his expression concerned, obviously noticing she hadn’t answered him but Ginny forced the potato into her mouth, chewing it slowly to give herself time.

They were in the middle of the great hall but it was mostly empty, the only other Gryffindor’s at the table were right at the other end and they definitely wouldn’t be able to overhear her.

“Would it surprise you to learn that I took Ancient Runes and Arithmancy to prove a point?”

“Not in the slightest,” Harry said without even pausing to think about it.

Ginny took a deep breath before continuing. This was something she never talked about anymore, not with anyone but just the other night Harry had called her brave - a comment that she’d replayed over and over as she fell asleep - so maybe it was time to prove it by answering his question.

“After my fiasco of a first year, I had tons of work to catch up on over the summer.” Ginny began, trying in earnest to keep her voice from shaking.

It had been like she hadn’t even been in half of her classes, so far entranced was she by the diary. Physically she sat in them, even did the work under the guiding influence of him but she couldn’t recall any of it later so she may as well have not done it all.

“We went to see Bill in Egypt over the holidays and he made curse-breaking look really cool. I’d been quite withdrawn all summer up until then, I felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore. I definitely latched on to Bill rather than just trying to get back to my old self, so I started telling everyone who would listen how I was going to be a curse-breaker, just like him.”

It had been foolish, replacing one obsession for another, not taking a second to stop and actually think about what Ginny wanted because to stop and think would be to let the horrible truth of what had happened break over her and then she would have had to face it. Which, of course, she had eventually and it had been just as painful and unpleasant as she’d known it would be.

“Percy told me to be more realistic, he said that I’d missed so much work already and there was no way I was going to be able to catch up and get the O.W.Ls needed to be a curse-breaker.”

Harry hadn’t said anything up until this point, but his gaze hadn’t wavered from Ginny’s face, so she knew he was listening intently. His expression changed now though, he looked outraged.

That’s ridiculous,” He said, keeping his voice low, which Ginny was grateful for as they were still in the great hall and though it was quite empty there were still some other students around. “It was only first year work, it’s hardly impossible to catch up on.”

Ginny smiled gratefully at him. “I know that now, but at the time Percy kept going on and on about how first year is the foundation upon which you build the rest of your magical education and if my foundation was cracked then I had no chance.”

“Please tell me you don’t believe that?” Harry said, looking beyond incensed now, his deep green eyes practically sparked with indignation.

“No,” Ginny said quietly. “I don’t believe it but sometimes…”

She trailed off; the next part wasn’t something she’d ever told anyone. Not Hermione, not her mum, not Bill but if there was anyone who could possibly understand it then it would be Harry.

“Sometimes?” Harry prompted, his hand finding hers in the centre of the table.

Maybe it would have been better to say the next part somewhere more private but somehow being in the great hall made it easier to talk about. It was just a conversation over lunch and really there was absolutely no chance she was going to have a breakdown in the great hall and she wasn’t as confident she could say the same if she and Harry were alone somewhere for this, so Ginny fixed her gaze on the wall behind Harry’s shoulder and let the truth come out.

“Sometimes, I wonder what I would have been like if it had never happened. Would I have joined the D.A.? Would I have gone to the Department of Mysteries last year? Would I understand how serious it all is or would I just be some carefree schoolgirl, reading the headlines in the paper with morbid curiosity before going about my day and forgetting it entirely? For the most part, I don’t have the nightmares or the flashbacks anymore but the thing that never really goes away is the fear that everything I am, everything I do is still because of him - like he’s still controlling every decision I make.”

Her words came out in a rush, the thoughts she’d been containing for years spilling out of her like water from a dam. Ginny kept her eyes on the wall as she stopped speaking, feeling more exposed than she ever had before.

She felt Harry squeeze her hand and forced herself to meet his eyes, they were still smouldering but his face had lost the incredulous expression it had held previously.

She expected him to tell her to get over it, that it had been years ago and if he could get on with his life after everything that had happened to him then Ginny needed to as well so she was surprised when instead he asked. “Do you remember that day in Flourish and Blotts when Lucius Malfoy snuck the diary to you?”

Ginny nodded, she’d replayed that day over in her head millions of times, always wishing she could just reach in and throw the diary away before it made it out of the shop; before it made its way into Ginny’s belongings and into her head.

“Do you remember Malfoy being his usual self and trying to wind me up before your dad got there?”

Ginny nodded again, unsure where Harry was going with this but remembering clearly the rage she’d felt at Malfoy’s taunts to Harry which, given everything that had happened since, now seemed incredibly tame.

Harry’s serious expression suddenly changed to a smile. “Do you remember that the first person to defend me wasn’t myself or even Ron? It was you.”

Ginny couldn’t contain the snort of derision which escaped from her. “Ah yes, hitting him with such scathing remarks as ‘leave him alone’, my debating skills needed work.”

“That’s not my point,” Harry said, shaking his head but still smiling. “My point was that you’d never even seen the diary at that point and you were still ready to fight Malfoy in the middle of a public place without ever having met him before. You really don't think you would have joined the D.A. or gone to the Ministry last year? I find it hard to believe, you’ve never been one to run from a fight.”

It was true, and it was what Ginny told herself when she questioned her every decision. Joining the D.A. had felt like waking up, like regaining a part of herself that had been taken from her, not like she was giving away yet another one.

Still, it felt reassuring to hear someone else say it, to have her thoughts validated by Harry whose whole life had been dictated by Voldemort to a much greater extent than Ginny’s had.

Harry who had declared her funny and brave and beautiful and still didn’t look like he wanted to take it back even now when Ginny was showing him all of herself, even the parts she never let anyone else see.

“So there you have it,” Ginny said lightly because she’d learnt a long time ago that the only way Tom won was if she allowed him to ruin a simply perfect afternoon by dwelling on such sombre topics. “I’m struggling through Ancient Runes and Arithmancy to prove I can get a job I don’t want to a brother who doesn’t even speak to me anymore. Are you sure you want such a stubborn girlfriend?”

Ginny chuckled as she asked even though a tiny voice in her head, a voice that spoke with Tom Riddle’s smooth voice assured her that this was it, that Harry was finally going to turn around and tell her that no, he had enough trauma in his own life without dealing with hers and maybe he should just go and find someone normal.

“Yes,” Harry said, contrary to Ginny’s fears and with such sincerity that Tom’s voice was extinguished without further argument. “And when you pass all your O.W.Ls we’re going to post your results to Percy in a frame.”

Ginny felt a full, proper smile spread across her face. “I was thinking I’d enlarge them to poster size, break into his office at the ministry and redecorate with them as wallpaper.” Harry’s responding laughter was music to Ginny’s ears. If Harry could still laugh and joke after everything then she absolutely could too and really there was little easier material than Percy.

“Of course if my grades are good enough he’ll probably just brag about them,” Ginny sat up straighter in her seat and puffed her chest out. When she spoke again it was with Percy’s imperious tone. “My sister, don’t you know… Yes, she’s very talented, we’re very close… No, she’d never dream of doing anything wildly immature like my moronic brothers - she’s such a sweet girl, truly top rate.”

It was very easy, Ginny thought, as she took in the gratifying sight of Harry laughing at her Percy impression, his hand still in hers in the middle of the table, to not let Tom win on days like this.

Chapter Text

Harry heard the yelling before he’d even rounded the corner of the corridor containing Ginny’s Ancient Runes classroom on Tuesday afternoon.

At first, he wasn’t concerned, yelling and general noise was not unusual at the end of the day when students were letting off steam after hours of classes.

“What are you going to do about it, Weasley?” A goading voice drifted around the corner.

Harry sped up, his wand in his hand instantly upon hearing ‘Weasley’, suddenly the yelling seemed more ominous than it had just two seconds ago.

“I haven’t decided yet,” He heard Ginny’s familiar voice snap. “I was thinking a silencing charm but I don’t think it would be powerful enough for your big mouth.”

“Miss Weasley! Miss Fleet! Put your wands away at once!”

Harry rounded the corner to find Ginny and a dark-haired Ravenclaw girl stood with their faces inches from one another at the far end of the corridor, Ginny’s face redder than her hair and her expression a mask of fury.

Beside them was Professor Babbling, who looked quite as furious as Ginny did. All three of them were surrounded by Ginny’s classmates who were watching the scene with unashamed interest.

The Ravenclaw girl’s wand arm was dropping to her side even as Harry made his way up the hallway towards them, Ginny’s remained pointed directly in the girl’s direction.

“Miss Weasley!” Babbling yelled. “Put your wand down now.”

Ginny did as she was bid, stowing her wand inside her pocket, with a look of great reluctance.

“Both of you, look at me,” Babbling instructed.

In unison, Ginny and the other girl tore their eyes from one another and turned to face the professor.

Harry paused halfway up the corridor, quite sure Babbling wasn’t going to let him wander into the middle of the telling off she was clearly about to give, so he leant casually against the wall placed his wand back inside his own pocket and waited impatiently.

“Very good,” Babbling said once Ginny and the Ravenclaw were facing her and no longer looked like they were about to hex one another into oblivion. “Now, I’m going to chalk this up to the pressure of O.W.Ls, things can get a little frayed around this time of year and I know you’re all under a lot of strain but it’s quite unacceptable for you to go around pointing wands at one another.”

“I didn’t star-” The Ravenclaw girl began but Babbling held up a hand to silence her.

“I don’t care who started it, my only concern is finishing it. Now, you will both apologise to one another.”

Ginny made a noise of deep indignation; Harry couldn’t see her face as her back was to him, but he could picture clearly in his mind's eye the expression of deep disgust she would currently be wearing. .

“You can go first, Miss Weasley,” Babbling said, eyes narrowing in Ginny’s direction.

Ginny mumbled something so quietly that Harry couldn’t hear it from his position halfway down the corridor. Babbling said nothing but fixed Ginny with a glare that made Harry grateful she was one of the few teachers at Hogwarts who’d never had a reason to tell him off.

“Sorry!” Ginny practically yelled, her tone entirely insincere.

Babbling turned her glare on the Ravenclaw girl who released a deep sigh. “I’m sorry too.”

“Excellent!” Babbling said. “Now, I’ll let you be on your way, but rest assured if I hear even a hint of any further uncivilised behaviour from either of you, the punishment will be severe.”

“Yes, professor,” Both girls chorused in unison.

Harry pushed off the wall as Ginny whirled on her heel, turning in his direction and stomped towards him without further word to Babbling, the Ravenclaw or any of her classmates.

Her expression softened slightly when she saw Harry waiting for her, her stomping turning into a slightly calmer brisk walk.

“Come on,” She said, grabbing Harry’s arm as she passed him and pulling him with her in the direction of the staircase. Not even stopping to kiss him in greeting as was their usual routine. “I want some fresh air.”

Harry didn’t say anything as Ginny led him with purpose through the castle and out into the grounds, his only action was to gently remove his arm from her grasp and place his hand in hers instead.

Ginny didn’t stop walking until she reached their tree. It was still quite early and the sun was setting later and later every day at this point in the year so despite the hour there was still a warm glow of sunlight bathing the grounds, making the trees shade especially welcome.

“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” Harry asked once they’d both let their bags drop to the base of the tree and Ginny had pulled him to her, her arms wound around his neck as she leaned against the tree trunk.

“It was nothing,” She said firmly.

Harry knew Ginny had a temper, he’d seen evidence of it plenty of times himself, but even she wouldn’t draw her wand without reason.

“It didn’t look like nothing.”

“Well, it was,” Ginny insisted, her eyes looking everywhere but into Harry’s. “It’s like Babbling said, just the pressure of O.W.Ls.”

“Ginny,” Harry said her name slowly. “You can tell me if there's something going on.”

“There’s nothing going on!" Ginny snapped in a tone that made Harry take a step away from her.

Ginny took a deep breath, her arms tightened around Harry’s neck, not allowing him to retreat any further. “Sorry,” She said in a much gentler tone. “Just trust me, please.”

Harry’s instinct was to argue, to demand to know what had caused such an altercation but she’d asked him to trust her and he did. Only two days ago she’d told him a secret so deep; Harry wasn’t sure he would have had the strength to share it had he been in Ginny’s position. He couldn’t doubt that she would share things with him as and when she saw fit.

Besides, wasn’t Harry keeping secrets of his own from Ginny? Perhaps she had her reasons for keeping some things to herself, just as he did and how could he argue with that?

“Okay,” He said, taking a step back towards her, his hands coming to rest on Ginny’s waist.

Ginny visibly relaxed as Harry’s hands made contact with her body, a small smile appearing on her face. “I was in such a rush to get out there; I forgot to do this.”

Ginny rose up towards him, her eyes already fluttering closed and pressed her lips to Harry’s.

Harry’s response was instantaneous, all thoughts of arguments and secrets pushed aside the moment Ginny’s lips met his.

His hands began to wander, as they always did, without any direct instruction from his brain which was, as it always was, currently enveloped in a thick fog of intoxication. The only real things left in the world, the scent that was so distinctly Ginny, the feel of her lips on his and her small perfect hands, which were currently exploring his hair, sending shivers down Harry’s spine.

One of Harry’s hands made its way up Ginny’s side, pausing for a moment as it grazed the side of her chest, before continuing its journey into her hair. His other hand slid carefully from her waist to the hem of her school shirt, slipping smoothly underneath the fabric so his fingers could lightly graze the bare skin of her stomach, causing Ginny to sigh against Harry’s lips.

His hand slowly journeyed upwards, craving more and more of Ginny’s soft skin against his. His fingertips brushed the soft cotton of Ginny’s bra and he stopped himself from going any further, pulling away from Ginny as he always did, knowing that if he didn’t he would lose his ability to control himself entirely.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go further, he was achingly, desperately longing to take it further. He had been since the moment they’d first kissed and with each passing day, his need for her was only growing stronger. Every touch, every whisper in his ear, every secret she shared bringing them closer and making Harry want her more.

His fingers itched for the buttons of Ginny’s blouse even now, as they stood, faces inches apart, breathing so heavily that their chests kept pushing against one another, but as much as their tree provided some coverage they were still in the middle of the grounds and anyone could come walking into view at any moment.

“Do you have your invisibility cloak?” Ginny asked once her breathing had returned to normal.

“Yeah, it’s in my bag, why?”

Ginny shrugged, her arms dropping from Harry’s shoulders so that her hands could connect with his. “I was just thinking that you’ve been using it all wrong.”

“Have I?” Harry asked, struggling to keep up with the thread of conversation due to the way Ginny’s eyes had begun to blaze and the coy smile that played at her mouth.

“Using it to avoid being murdered is all well and good, but have you considered that your girlfriend is very sick of having to behave herself in public.”

“Is that so?” Harry asked; his voice several octaves higher than normal.

Ginny’s smirk turned into a full, heart-stopping grin, clearly unable to miss the way Harry’s hands tensed in hers. “Yeah, I think it could be put to better use sneaking away somewhere a little more private.”

One of Ginny's hands left his as she bent down to retrieve her bag from where she’d thrown it earlier at the base of the tree.

“Did you have somewhere in mind?” Harry put all his effort into trying to appear casual, even as Ginny took his hand and began to lead him away from the tree in the direction of the castle.

“No,” Ginny said lightly. “I guess that’s something for you to think about over dinner.”

“You want to go to dinner? Now?” How he was supposed to sit through dinner in a room full of people after what Ginny had just suggested was beyond Harry’s comprehension.

“Yep,” Ginny confirmed, not showing any signs that she was feeling the desperate yearning that Harry was currently experiencing. “Can’t skip dinner, not when you’ll need your energy.”

“Are you trying to torture me?” He asked, wondering if Ginny could even comprehend how every sway of her hips, every flick of her hair, every bite of her lip was driving him to distraction.

“Would I?” She asked sweetly.

“Yes,” Harry said confidently. “I think you’re enjoying this immensely.”

“Not as much as I plan on enjoying myself after dinner.” The implication made Harry practically shiver with anticipation.

He sped up so he was leading rather than Ginny and she had to jog to keep up with him. Her laughter rang clearly across the grounds. “Will you slow down, please?”

“Nope! You’re about to have the fastest dinner of your entire life.”

“I’m not!” Ginny protested as they entered the castle through the double doors. “I think I’m in the mood for a nice leisurely meal.”

Harry lowered his voice as they entered the great hall, he stooped and purposefully placed his lips against Ginny’s ear, only he could hear the tiny whimper this elicited from her lips, betraying the disinterested air she was trying to project. “I think you won’t even make it to dessert.”

Ginny turned to face him, so she was walking backwards in the direction of the Gryffindor table. “Is that a challenge?” She asked in a low voice.

“Not a challenge,” Harry said with more confidence than he actually felt. “A fact.”

“I guess we’ll have to see.” She spun so she was walking forwards once more, her long hair fanned out behind her wafting Harry in the face and forcing a laugh from him.

They reached a point halfway up the Gryffindor table where Ron and Hermione were already taking their seats and immediately took the seats across from them.

Harry wasted no time serving himself some chicken and vegetable pie, which he began eating with the same speed usually reserved for mealtimes when Dudley was on a diet and Harry was trying to eat all of his food before his cousin stole it.

He was barely listening to Ron and Hermione’s spirited debate about a topic Harry couldn’t even identify so focussed was he on clearing his plate in as little time as possible. He did notice, however, when Ron stopped arguing with Hermione and turned his attention to Ginny.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Ron demanded.

Harry followed Ron’s gaze to Ginny beside him. She sat, not with a plate of food as he’d expected but with a single bread roll.

“I’m having bread to start.” She said as if this was a regular occurrence.

“Bread to start?” Ron repeated as Ginny took a dainty bite.

“Yes, rushing your meals isn’t good for you.” She explained. Harry could see a smile tugging at the corners of her lips but she managed to withhold it for the most part.

“I've actually read a study on that.” Hermione chimed in eagerly. “Eating slower is supposed to aid with digestion. There’s also a credible theory that it helps with weight regulation.”

“See,” Ginny cried, waving her bread roll in Hermione’s direction. “There’s a study on it.”

“If you’re trying to regulate your weight, you should probably just skip the bread altogether,” Ron suggested.

Harry said nothing, not wanting to allude to Ginny’s true motives, which were seemingly to torment him as much as possible.

“I’ll take that under advisement,” Ginny said before taking another bite and chewing sedately.

“She doesn’t need to regulate her weight, Ron!” Hermione hissed before rounding on Harry. “Don’t you agree?” The glare Hermione gave him was enough to make Harry shrink back a little in his seat.

“I never said she did!” Harry said in what he hoped was a placating tone. Ginny’s eyes shone with amusement as she came to his rescue.

“Alright,” She placed a pacifying hand on Hermione’s arm across the table. “I’m not doing some weird diet thing. I’m just trying to enjoy my dinner. Trust me, I might even have three desserts.” The last was aimed at Harry who she turned and smiled sweetly at.

“I’m glad you’re not dieting but I wouldn’t recommend three desserts either,” Hermione said seriously.

Ginny merely shrugged as she popped the last mouthful of bread into her mouth and swallowed it. Harry returned to his pie while Ginny surveyed the dinner options in front of her.

“I really can’t decide what I want.” She sighed. “I’m quite overcome with options.”

Harry restrained himself from rolling his eyes at her. Ron looked at her like she’d gone mad. “It’s pie or steak, it’s not that difficult.”

“No, I think I need to take some time and seriously think it over.” She said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

“The pie is good,” Harry told her. “Have the pie.”

Ginny placed a hand on his arm, letting her fingers brush gently across his bicep, causing Harry's stomach to lurch. “Let’s not be hasty.”

“Hasty?” Ron looked at her incredulously. “The rest of us have nearly finished and you’ve not even started!”

“Okay. Pie it is,” Ginny said, finally reaching for a plate.

“Excellent choice,” Harry told her, hoping his tone held enough contrition to get her to quit the game she was playing.

He had no such luck. Ginny proceeded to spend the next five minutes slowly cutting her food into bite-size pieces without eating a single thing. Harry, Ron and Hermione had all finished their dinner by this point and moved to dessert.

Harry was pouring custard over his sticky toffee pudding when Ginny finally ate her first bite of pie. She chewed each mouthful at a glacial pace, Harry suspected her food was going to be unappetisingly cold before she was even halfway through it.

Ron was listening intently to Hermione telling some anecdote about Crookshanks’ latest escapades which apparently involved chasing some bowtruckles into the Whomping Willow. Harry took the opportunity of their distraction to lean closer to Ginny so only she could hear him.

“I see what you’re doing.” He murmured.

Ginny looked at him innocently. “I’m just eating my dinner.”

“You win.” He whispered. “Will you eat normally now?”

Ginny shook her head. “No, you said I won’t make it to dessert. I think you’ll find I haven’t won yet.”

Harry blamed himself really. He knew better than to issue Ginny with a challenge he didn’t want her to complete.

“Will you hurry up?” Ron demanded. He, Harry and Hermione had finished their desserts and Ginny was still slowly making her way through her pie.

“Don’t rush me, Ron!” She could no longer conceal the smirk that had been playing at her mouth all dinner.

“You’re so weird,” Ron told her.

“You are behaving rather oddly," Hermione agreed, looking more concerned than Ron did about his sister’s behaviour.

Ginny shrugged. “Maybe I just think we all rush around too much. When was the last time we slowed down and just enjoyed the moment?”

Harry couldn't contain his snort of disbelief; this was the most un-Ginnylike statement he’d heard from her, possibly ever.

“Got something to say, have you?” Ginny asked, turning to face him. “We could have a nice, long debate on the benefits of living a slower life if you’d like?”

“Will you just finish your dinner, please?” Harry begged. They’d been sitting at the table for so long that the great hall was now half empty.

“Yes, in my own time.”

“Are you two having a fight?” Ron asked, pointing between the two of them.

“No,” They answered in unison.

Ron pushed away from the table. “Well, whatever this is, I want nothing to do with it. We’ll see you later.”

“Bye!” Ginny called happily as Ron and Hermione rose from the table and exited the hall.

Finally, Ginny moved onto dessert. Harry watched as she licked custard off her spoon, her tongue licking and swirling in ways that sent his imagination into overdrive.

“You’re welcome by the way,” She said as she dipped her spoon back into her bowl.

“Am I?” Harry asked, thoroughly confused.

“Yeah, now we can disappear without having to make up an excuse for Ron.”

Harry hadn’t actually considered this. “You did all of that to get rid of Ron?”

“No, I did all of that to win,” Ginny said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “But it had the happy side benefit of getting rid of Ron and now when we don’t go back to the common room for a while he’ll think it’s just because I’m taking forever.”

Harry shook his head in disbelief. “You’re an evil genius.”

“I am quite impressive," She said idly, ignoring the evil part entirely. Harry was relieved to see she was eating much quicker now.

Less than five minutes later Ginny finally pushed her dessert bowl away from her. “Ready to leave?”

“More than ready,” Harry confirmed.

Thankfully Ginny didn’t delay any further, but quickly jumped up from her seat and took Harry’s hand as they left the hall. He followed her unquestioningly as she led him up the marble staircase and darted behind a suit of armour.

“Right, let’s see this cloak then,” She held out her hand expectantly. Harry reached into his bag and felt for the liquid-like material of his invisibility cloak, removing it with a flourish and draping it over the two of them.

”Finally, I get to take a spin under Harry Potter’s famous invisibility cloak.” Ginny whispered. Harry held up a finger to her lips to quiet her.

“It doesn’t do anything for sound.” He breathed.

“Best find somewhere more private then," Ginny winked at him and Harry’s heart stopped beating entirely for a second.

Walking under the invisibility cloak with Ginny proved to be more of a challenge than it was with Ron or Hermione. In order to remain concealed Harry had to stick close to her, which was entirely distracting and resulted in them crashing into several walls and delicate busts of long-dead famous witches and wizards.

Ginny seemed better able to focus on where they were going but utterly incapable of stopping herself from laughing loudly every time they veered off course, greatly reducing the effectiveness of the cloak.

Finally, she led them down a seldom-used corridor and into an old, seemingly abandoned classroom.

Harry let the cloak and his bag drop to the floor as soon as the door clicked softly closed.

Ginny took one further step into the classroom and spun to face him. Their eyes met and the resistance he'd stoically been maintaining since they'd entered the great hall crumbled immediately.

Their lips connected and the rest of the castle fell away. The wait seemed to have turned this kiss into something more than any of their previous kisses had been, it wasn't soft and savouring, nor was it frenetic and desperate. It was a force of nature, powerful and intense.

The thick fog he was used to descending upon his brain when Ginny kissed him seemed to consume him with renewed density until there was nothing left but touch and scent and feel.

Ginny's hands balled into fists on the front of his shirt pulling him further into the room until they met the back wall.

She was pressed to him, the wall solid at her back and still the one thought, the one word that managed to penetrate the haze in Harry's brain was closer.

The light contact that his fingers had made against Ginny's bare skin earlier no longer seemed enough.

He tore his lips from hers, their eyes met and Ginny's weren't just blazing; they were smouldering, blistering, radiating with heat.

Harry's hands shook as he raised them towards Ginny's top button, his breath coming in short, shallow pants.

"Are you sure?" He somehow managed to whisper, even this far gone he would do nothing even remotely against her wishes.

Ginny reached up and popped the top three buttons of her shirt herself, her eyes never leaving Harry's. "I'll leave the rest to you."

Her lips were back on his instantly. Harry's attempts to undo the rest of the column of buttons were thwarted by the fact his dexterity was seriously compromised when Ginny's mouth was on his.

She seemed to sense this and take pity on him. Her lips moved from Harry's mouth to his jaw, forging a trail towards his neck.

Finally, with a force of concentration he hadn't previously known himself to have, Harry managed to focus enough to open Ginny's shirt even with his trembling hands.

Ginny shrugged, her lips never leaving Harry's neck and her shirt fluttered to the floor.

Harry was suddenly struck by the most tangible thought he'd had since entering the classroom; I have no idea what I'm doing.

His hands paused in midair, suddenly painfully unsure of what to do with themselves.

Ginny's lips left his neck, her breath hot against his skin.

She looked up at Harry, eyes still aflame and a seductive smirk in place on her face. Without breaking eye contact she reached up and unhooked her bra, letting it slide to the ground with her shirt.

If Harry thought his mind had been numb before it was nothing compared to how it felt now. There was no more uncertainty or doubt.

The fire that raged in Ginny's eyes had been transferred to his veins, burning everything away and leaving only a thirst for her.

With no further hesitation, his lips returned to hers. His hands explored every inch of her, listening intently to every gasp, every sigh, every moan she made to discover what she liked.

Ginny’s hands began to do some exploring of their own and almost without Harry realising it his own shirt was sliding to the floor. Her touch on the bare skin of his chest was crackling, sparking electricity.

Harry’s lips had just started a daring course down Ginny’s neck towards her chest when the bell that signalled a fifteen-minute warning for curfew trilled with obnoxious volume throughout the abandoned classroom, throwing Harry back into the present with jarring velocity.

"We have the invisibility cloak," Ginny whispered as Harry rose from his stooped position, bare chest meeting bare chest. "We could just stay here."

It was temptation beyond anything Harry had ever felt before. The very notion of separating from her even by as much as an inch, of leaving this room and rejoining the rest of the castle, of sharing Ginny with other people seemed disagreeable bordering on offensive.

"Do you want your brother to send out a search party for us?" Harry forced himself to say, knowing he was right. They couldn't disappear into the night, it wasn't feasible.

Ginny groaned in frustration as she bent down to retrieve her bra and her shirt, slipping back into both with surprising speed.

Harry put his own shirt back on before fetching the invisibility cloak and both of their bags from the spot where they’d been unceremoniously deposited earlier, though he didn’t drape the cloak back over them. There was no reason to hide now, no one was going to question them going back to Gryffindor Tower in time for curfew.

Harry’s arm wrapped around Ginny’s shoulder, pulling her closer to him as they exited the classroom.

“I think I definitively won that challenge,” Ginny said conversationally as they walked the near-deserted hallways in the direction of the common room.

“I’m quite happy to let you win if that’s what happens when you do,” Harry told her with a smirk, although he wasn’t altogether sure he was joking.

“Don’t let me win!” Ginny protested. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Harry’s smirk only grew as he answered. “I had fun.”

“Me too,” Ginny agreed with a grin to match Harry’s.

It was fortunate that they reached the portrait hole at that moment, for Ginny’s smile was enough to make Harry want to drag her back to the classroom, consequences be damned.

Harry reluctantly released Ginny from underneath his arm in order to let her climb through the portrait hole but his hand was in hers immediately once they were both safely inside.

“Finally finished eating, have you?” Ron asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm as they took the seats across from where he and Hermione sat, a half-full chessboard between them.

“Yep,” Ginny said brightly.

Rather than taking her usual position under Harry’s arm, she pushed herself up so she was sat in Harry’s lap, her legs stretched across the empty half of the sofa. Ron coughed loudly whilst eyeing them both disapprovingly but Harry couldn’t find it within himself to care and Ginny seemed unconcerned by Ron’s glare so Harry did nothing to push her away, Instead he picked up one of her hands and began to idly toy with Ginny’s fingers.

“I’m waiting for you to make a move!” Hermione declared loudly, leaning across the space between hers and Ron’s chairs and shoving him in the arm.

Ron reluctantly dragged his gaze away from Harry and Ginny and returned his focus to the chessboard.

Ginny’s head turned to Harry once Ron and Hermione went back to their chess game as though she was about to say something but no words left her lips. He looked steadily into her rich, brown eyes, feeling almost as though he’d fallen straight into them. Much like when they kissed, the rest of the common room, the rest of the world seemed to fade very far into the background. His awareness stretched only as far as the way her freckles almost seemed to shimmer in the flickering firelight and the small smile playing at her lips and the feel of her warm hand still in his.

He felt as though something was passing between them, a wordless, silent communication like a string connecting them from the inside out.

“Oi!” Ron’s bellow almost made Harry fall off the sofa in shock.

Ginny’s eyes left his as she whirled to face her brother. “Problem?”

“Don’t mind me,” Ron spat. “I’ve only been talking to you for the past five minutes.”

Harry had absolutely no way of knowing if that was true, he couldn’t tell you how long he’d even been in the common room or what had happened since he’d arrived unless it pertained to Ginny.

Ginny paused for a moment and Harry suspected she was thinking the same thing before she replied brazenly. “Sorry, you’re so boring I’ve taken to tuning you out entirely.”

“Hilarious,” Ron said in a tone that suggested the exact opposite. “We ran into Luna on the way back from dinner, she said to tell you she’s meeting Neville in the library tomorrow evening to go over Herbology if you want to meet them.”

Ginny collapsed back against Harry’s chest with a heavy sigh. “I’m so sick of the bloody library.”

A small, selfish part of him wanted to tell her not to go, but he knew she’d missed a full night of work tonight and she couldn’t afford to do the same tomorrow.

But tomorrow was still quite far away and Ginny was in his lap right now, her body wonderfully, warm and solid against his and so Harry pushed any thoughts of tomorrow, or later out of his mind and simply enjoyed the here and now.

A plan that worked exceptionally well until the hour turned late and Ron and Hermione went to bed. Harry made no move to follow them and neither did Ginny. For what may have been seconds or hours they remained on the sofa, content to simply be together, no words necessary as Ginny’s fingers traced light circles across the back of Harry’s hand and up his arms.

The common room was almost empty when Ginny eventually began to yawn and reluctantly suggested they should go to bed.

Sometime later, after bidding a very thorough goodnight to Ginny, Harry found himself climbing the spiral staircase, entering his now silent and pitch-black dorm room and climbing into bed.

They hadn’t really gone all that far, certainly not as far as Harry suspected they would have if the bell hadn’t interrupted them and yet as Harry lay in bed replaying the events in the classroom as he fell asleep, he felt as though something fundamental had changed.

His whole life physical contact had been something to shrink away from. It had been Aunt Petunia roughly shoving him into his cupboard or Piers Polkiss holding his arms back whilst Dudley punched him or Voldemort’s cold finger touching him and bursting his head open.

In the space of an evening, or maybe it had been happening slowly and he hadn’t even noticed her doing it until right now, but Ginny had transformed touching into something wondrous and deep and necessary.

Chapter Text

Ginny had thought she’d felt desire before, maybe not with Michael, but at least at the beginning with Dean things had been somewhat passionate. It had never been anything like this though. It was impossible to describe; all her life she needed three basic things to survive: air, food and water and now Harry seemed to overshadow all of it.

Their trip into the abandoned classroom two days ago had led only to more covert encounters whenever possible. Ten minutes in a secret passageway over break, lunch spent in a rarely used broom cupboard and Ginny had woken up earlier than she ever willingly had before this morning to revisit the alcove behind the unicorn painting with Harry before breakfast.

All the time pushing things steadily further, every touch, every caress only making Ginny crave more.

If she didn’t know better; if she hadn’t actually lost her mind once before, she might think she was losing it now. Plunging deeper and deeper into obsession as she was, but this didn’t feel like insanity, or if it did it wasn’t like the last time. She didn’t want to escape; she made no desperate attempts to free herself.

It wasn’t just that things had escalated in private either, it was more intrinsic than that. No matter where they were, alone or in public, they were always, always in contact. Hand in hand as they walked down the corridor, or knee against knee under the breakfast table, or Ginny leaning against Harry’s legs whilst sat on the plush carpet of the common room, attempting to do work whilst his fingers wove idly and distractingly through her hair.

It came as no surprise to her when they found themselves on Thursday lunchtime at their usual spot under the tree by the lake making use of Harry’s invisibility cloak. What had started as a vertical kissing session had quickly turned into something more.

Really, it was much easier to keep the cloak over them, ensuring they were fully concealed, if they were lying on the soft grass so the fact that Harry was now on top of her, his weight pressing against Ginny in new and interesting ways was purely practical.

The undeniable truth that in just two short days Harry had become extremely practised at undoing the buttons on her shirt, even when he had no choice but to keep his mouth pressed to Ginny’s to stop her from making sounds that the invisibility cloak certainly wouldn’t conceal, well, that was purely practical as well.

She could even make the argument that when she grabbed Harry’s wrist and very decidedly guided his hand - which had been sliding slowly up her torso in the direction of her chest - below the hem of her skirt that was practical too.

Because she needed him, with an intensity she had never needed anything before, it was like a pull deep in her core crying out for him and she could resist it no longer.

Harry’s lips paused on hers, his brain seemingly finally catching up and realising what, exactly, Ginny had just done.

His head raised only inches from hers, any more would risk the coverage of the invisibility cloak. His eyes were dark and misted with desire.

“Are you sure?” He whispered, so quietly anyone passing by may have mistaken his voice for the summer breeze.

Ginny nodded, not trusting herself to speak, and somehow Harry’s eyes darkened further in response to the gesture.

“Show me,” his voice had turned hoarse and she could tell it was taking him a great amount of effort to remain quiet.

With her hand shaking, much as Harry’s had the other night, Ginny did just that. Showed him how and where to touch her just as she did late at night in the dormitory when, try as she might, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Just as she had for months even when she should have been thinking about Dean and she’d told herself it wasn’t Harry, it was just that green eyes were the most attractive and it could be any pair that she was imagining looking deep into her own.

Ginny wasn't imagining now though, as she bit her lip to keep from crying out. It was real and that made it so much better than anything she’d ever achieved on her own. Because in her imagination she’d never quite captured how it would feel to have Harry pressed against her, his breath hot against her ear and his free hand clutching desperately at her hair.

She’d never understood until right now how much stronger the pressure building inside of her would be when accompanied, as it was now, by Harry watching her like he’d never seen anything so captivating in his life.

She’d certainly never been able to comprehend the new level of intensity that came from having Harry’s fingers upon her, even if they were being deftly guided by her own.

The girls in her dorm had said not to expect much, that boys didn’t want to take instruction from you, that they always thought they knew better and they very rarely did, so Ginny didn’t really expect to need to worry about having to keep quiet, about having to make sure her cries and moans of pleasure were contained.

But she should have known better when it came to Harry, he was as attentive in this as he was in all things concerning her and admittedly it took longer to get there than it usually did on her own but still Ginny found the pressure deep inside her building and building until finally she came undone.

For once, it was fortunate that the bell rang clear across the grounds, signalling that lunch was almost to an end because it muffled the noises Ginny hadn’t quite been able to hold back.

“Are you alright?” Harry asked quietly, once Ginny’s breathing had returned to normal.

“Yes,” Ginny breathed. “Better than alright.”

Harry’s face flooded with relief and she realised then that although he’d seemed to be enjoying himself he was probably more than a little concerned about his performance when there was absolutely no reason to be. She reached up and pulled his head back to hers, hoping her kiss was more reassurance than her words could ever be but Harry pulled back after only a few moments.

“We’re definitely going to be late,” He said with an expression that suggested the words were causing physical pain to get out.

With a deep sigh, Ginny reached for the buttons of her shirt. Even if Harry could probably get away with ditching a lesson, she would most certainly be missed and her mother definitely wouldn’t count this as a reasonable excuse for missing a class this close to O.W.Ls, or ever for that matter.
***
It was with great hesitancy that Ginny separated from Harry at the door to History of Magic. She shouldn’t have let him walk her this far, he should currently be in the Dungeons with Professor Slughorn, but parting from him in the entrance hall hadn’t seemed appealing at all and Harry hadn’t made any attempts to say goodbye so Ginny hadn’t either.

With an unimaginable force of will, she released her hand from his now though, reminding herself forcefully that she was not one to be clingy and really behaving like this almost made them as bad as Bill and Phlegm.

Professor Binns didn’t even seem to notice that one of his students was walking into the classroom five minutes late; he didn’t so much as look in Ginny’s direction as she slipped into her usual seat next to Maddie at the table containing the rest of her roommates.

Not even the knowing smile Maddie gave her as Ginny settled into her seat was enough to puncture Ginny’s good mood. The pressure of O.W.Ls, the stress of the constant gossiping, that just two days ago had caused an almost-duel outside her Ancient Runes class, had been alleviated a great deal by Harry’s attention over lunch.

Maddie’s knowing smile only grew as she reached over and plucked something from Ginny’s hair, pulling back and waving a twig under Ginny’s nose.

“Had an eventful lunchtime did you?”

Ginny merely shrugged. “You have long hair, you know things are always getting caught in it.”

“I do have long hair,” Maddie agreed, tossing her blonde locks over her shoulder as if to prove the point. “And yet, mine doesn’t currently contain any shrubbery.”

“It’s not my fault you aren’t taking full advantage of the grounds during this nice weather we’re having.”

Maddie’s smile suddenly turned devious. “Lend me Harry Potter and I’ll be happy to take full advantage of the Hogwarts scenery.”

Perhaps it was the fact Ginny’s body still felt loose and tingly and relaxed or maybe it was just because it was Maddie and she had no boundaries and would make a joke like that about anyone’s boyfriend but for the first time since last Monday Ginny actually laughed at someone teasing her about Harry.

Professor Binns didn’t even respond to Ginny and Maddie’s outburst of giggling. Lizzie, however, looked up from her parchment to shush them with a glare that wasn’t to be argued with and as both Ginny and Maddie were relying heavily on Lizzie’s notes if they were to do any kind of revision for their History of Magic exam they both heeded her request to be quiet.

Ginny pulled her parchment, ink and quill from her bag thinking she might at least try and make some notes but if Binns’ lectures were hard to get into at the best of times - which they were - it was almost impossible to pick one up when it had already started.

Ginny's mind was not in the least concerned with the International Warlock Convention of 1289, nor the fact that in just a few short weeks she would have to sit an exam potentially on that very topic and she didn't know the first thing about it.

Her quill began to flow mindlessly across the parchment in front of her, not recording useful notes but creating snitches, quaffles and a little doodle of Arnold whilst her brain wandered to its favourite topic: Harry.

By the time the bell rang her parchment was covered in ink. A small likeness of Fairfeather had appeared beside Arnold and they were now surrounded by sketches of a dragon, a unicorn and a phoenix.

In the very corner of the parchment, written in such tiny letters that not even Maddie beside her would have been able to make it out, and scribbled out immediately once Ginny realised just how absurd she was being, were the initials G.M.P.
***
She met Harry, Ron and Hermione in the entrance hall for dinner. Harry’s arm wrapping around her shoulder immediately as Ginny reached up and kissed him on the cheek in greeting.

They’d been sat at the table for less than two minutes, Ginny hadn’t even taken her first bite yet when Hermione inhaled sharply upon picking up the evening edition of The Prophet and scanning the front page. Ginny, Harry and Ron all turned immediately to look at her. Both Ron and Ginny's forks paused halfway to their mouths.

"It's no one we know," Hermione said quickly and the hand holding Ginny's fork instantly went limp with relief. "Two higher-ups in the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

Harry leaned forward across the table, plucking the paper out of Hermione’s hands, his expression morphing into the serious look he reserved for deadly mysteries.

“Does it say why?” Ginny asked, peering over Harry’s shoulder to read along with him.

The Prophet offered no speculation as to why Helen Jameson and Alan Williams had been brutally murdered in their beds with no trace of the assailant but it did mention the rather disheartening fact that as well as occupying semi-senior positions within the ministry they were also both muggleborns.

"It's just awful!" Hermione said as the paper was passed from Harry to Ron, who quickly scanned the front page before returning his attention to his pork chops.

No one said anything until their plates were cleared and they all began reaching for dessert.

"What's everyone's plans for the evening?" Ron asked as he helped himself to chocolate cake and ice cream, obviously deciding enough time had passed to move on from the grim news.

"Library," Ginny said automatically, knowing that she would need to pay for her decision to do no work at lunchtime with an extra hour in the library this evening.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked, giving Harry a tentative, hopeful expression that clearly said please, don't follow my brat of a sister to the library or, that was how Ginny interpreted it anyway.

Harry looked to Ginny in place of answering but Hermione spoke before either of them could say anything.

"No," She said firmly, glaring at Harry. "I won't allow it."

"You're banning me from the library?" Harry asked, his dour expression transforming into one of great amusement.

"Yes, I am!" Hermione declared with a decided nod of her head.

"What exactly are you going to do if I say I'm going anyway?"

Hermione looked incensed that Harry would even consider not listening to her. "Need I remind you that I am a prefect?"

Harry raised his eyebrows at this. "Going to use your special prefect powers on me, are you?"

"If I have to!" Hermione sniffed.

"Last time I checked, going to the library isn't against any school rules. Sounds like a gross misuse of your authority to me."

An indignant red flush was beginning to creep up Hermione's neck. "Sorry, if I actually care about Ginny's results, unlike som-"

"Alright!" Ginny cried, having witnessed enough arguments across the kitchen table at The Burrow to realise when one was in danger of going too far. "Calm down, Harry's not going to the library tonight. We already decided at lunch."

When the agreed-upon compromise was that Ginny would ignore work completely for the full hour but Harry absolutely could not join her tonight or else she was in danger of falling drastically behind on work.

"Yes!" Ron exclaimed, earning a withering look from Ginny which he totally ignored as he launched into a list of all the things he and Harry could do with their evening now that he didn't have to share Harry's attention with Ginny.
***
Much to Ron’s disappointment and to Ginny’s pleasure it was agreed that Harry could at least walk her to the library as long as he didn’t actually go inside, a stipulation added by Hermione before she and Ron made their way to the common room, separating from Ginny and Harry on the first-floor landing.

Ginny had barely turned the corner out of Ron and Hermione’s sight before she found herself up against the wall of the corridor, Harry’s lips against hers. She allowed herself, just for a moment, to sink into it but her mother’s voice rang loudly in her head reminding her insistently that the time until her exams was passing at an alarming rate.

With a sigh, and an amount of willpower that Ginny thought deserved some sort of medal, she pulled her head away from Harry’s.

“This is why you’re banned from the library,” She told Harry, taking his hand once more and dutifully setting a course down the corridor.

“Oh, you agree with my ban, do you?” Harry asked, slowing to a pace that, if Ginny allowed it to continue, would mean they reached the library sometime before breakfast.

“Definitely,” Ginny said with a smirk, increasing her own pace and pulling Harry with her. “I lobbied for it actually.”

“There are easier ways to get rid of me.” Harry’s footsteps slowed once more but Ginny held firm, pulling determinedly on Harry’s arm to make him speed up.

“I’ve been trying, you aren’t taking any of my hints.”

“Sorry, I’m quite oblivious. What hints have I been missing?”

Despite Harry’s best efforts, they turned the corner; the double doors of the library coming into sight.

“You know; holding your hand, kissing you every chance I get, sneaking off under your invisibility cloak. I don’t know how I could have made it any more clear that I’m sick of you.”

Ginny rose up on her tiptoes as she spoke, her face now only inches from Harry’s.

“You’re right,” Harry agreed, his head already moving to close the gap between them. “It's so obvious now that you say it out loud.”
***
Ginny stayed in the library until Madam Pince kicked any remaining stragglers - all of which were fifth or seventh years - out just before curfew.

She’d spent the evening in comfortable silence at a table with Luna and had actually managed to make her way through a considerable chunk of her work, which is why her head felt like it had turned to stone as she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower.

She paused for only a moment beside Harry, Hermione and Ron to say a quick hello before heading up to her room to finally get rid of her books for the day.

Ginny opened the door to her dormitory to find unbridled chaos. She’d taken less than five steps into the room before she was smacked in the face by a bottle of Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher that had been residing on Amrinta’s bedside table but was now soaring towards Lizzie’s open trunk.

Other objects were flying around the room as well, making it impossible to cross to Ginny’s bed without risking concussion and in the case of a pair of nail scissors possible decapitation.

Ginny bent double and made a run for it, diving onto the sanctuary of her bed, where thankfully all the items surrounding it remained motionless where she’d left them this morning.

Now feeling somewhat more protected she took in the scene that was unfolding in front of her. Lizzie was standing by her open trunk, silent tears streaming down her face and her wand in hand as she summoned items across the room and let them fall haphazardly into her luggage.

Maddie was beside her, pulling on her arm and trying to get her to lower her wand but Lizzie was resolutely looking in the opposite direction.

“What’s going on?” Ginny demanded. Even on her bed, she’d just come dangerously close to taking a pair of tweezers to the eye.

“I’m leaving!” Lizzie said as the tweezers landed on top of the ever-growing pile of random items in her trunk.

“You’re not leaving!” Maddie cried.

“What do you mean ‘leaving’?” Ginny said at the same time.

“I mean, I’m going home,” Lizzie said firmly to Ginny, ignoring Maddie completely.

“Why?” Ginny asked, thoroughly confused. “Exams are in a few weeks and you’ve worked really hard. Has something happened?”

“Didn’t you read the paper tonight?” Lizzie all-but shrieked, looking somewhat hysterical.

There was a sinking feeling in Ginny’s gut. The murders. The murders of two prominent muggleborns.

Ginny didn’t say anything but the expression on her face must have confirmed to Lizzie that she had in fact read the evening edition of The Prophet.

“I’m not staying somewhere I’m not wanted! More and more deaths and disappearances every week and for what? For me to leave my entire family behind and join a society that they don’t even know the first thing about?”

“You are wanted here!” Maddie argued. “I want you here and Ginny wants you here, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!” Ginny said quickly. “You can’t just leave, not when you’ve worked so hard and exams are just around the corner!”

“I don’t care about the stupid exams! My whole family could be in danger, this isn’t just going to go away, it's only going to get worse!”

“We’re going to fight it!” Ginny shouted, suddenly furious that Lizzie was willing to give up just like that. “Of course it’s only going to get worse if you run away and hide!”

“That’s easy for you to say!” Lizzie practically screamed back. “Your family can protect themselves; mine can’t!”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about!” Ginny yelled back, jumping off her bed and taking a step in Lizzie’s direction.

It wasn’t easy for Ginny to say, not at all. Her whole family were in far more danger than Lizzie’s would ever be, with the majority of them already members of The Order.

“STOP IT!” Maddie roared, moving to stand between the two of them.

Ginny and Lizzie stopped moving towards one another at once. Ginny remembered the last time they’d had an argument like this in the dormitory. The first night of fourth year when it had become clear that no one believed Harry’s story about what had happened in the graveyard.

“There’s no use fighting with each other,” Maddie said calmly once it became apparent that neither of them was going to disobey her commands to stop.

“I know you’re scared,” Ginny said quietly to Lizzie because it’s what she should have said the last time, when instead she’d flown off the handle entirely. “But you’re safer here, with Dumbledore, than you’ll be at home.”

“What about the rest of my family?” Lizzie wasn’t yelling anymore; no more objects were flying around the room, her wand hung limply at her side.

“No one’s going after your family,” Maddie said gently, pulling Lizzie into a hug.

“You can’t even do magic at home, yet,” Ginny reminded her. “Your best bet is to stay here and learn how to protect them properly.”

“You’re right,” Lizzie sniffled into Maddie’s shoulder. “But I’m so worried.”

There was nothing Ginny could say to this. She was worried too. She’d forgotten just how worried until right now.

The haze of happiness she’d lost herself in for the past two weeks was being penetrated by the sharp sting of reality. Because Lizzie was right, it was only going to get worse before it got better and Ginny was right too; they were going to fight it.

The crossed-out initials on Ginny’s parchment earlier suddenly seemed incredibly foolish and naive. Nothing as good as what she and Harry had could last in the world that they currently lived in.

A world of prophecies, that she may not know the content of but she didn’t really need to, and dark secrets that she never pushed Harry on because she knew he couldn’t tell her even if she did and to push would only be to push him away from her.

Maybe that would be better though, to push him away now before this got any deeper. Before either of them had to lose more than they were able to.

“Ginny,” Maddie’s voice snapped Ginny back to the present. “Can you give us a minute?”

Ginny nodded, understanding that Lizzie just wanted her best friend right now and honestly Ginny wanted the same so she made her way to the spiral staircase and into the common room without another word.

“Ginny!” Hermione called when Ginny was almost to the spot where she, Harry and Ron had taken up residence. “Here, I dug out my old Arithmancy notes for you -”

Hermione’s attempts to pass Ginny a huge pile of parchment were cut off by the fierce hug that Ginny engulfed her in. A hug that seemed extremely necessary because the other painful truth that had penetrated Ginny’s mind was that Hermione must be feeling much the same as Lizzie and she hadn’t once complained or cried or considered giving up.

Hermione didn’t hug her back, arms laden down by parchment as they were, but she didn’t try and pull away from Ginny’s grasp until she finally released her.

“Are you alright?” Hermione asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

“Yeah,” Ginny said lightly. “I just really appreciate your help.”

Ginny plucked the impossibly heavy pile of parchment out of Hermione’s arms and placed them on the table.

“You’re very welcome,” Hermione said, evidently pleased that someone had finally shown her some actual gratitude for trying to help them with their studies.

“How was the library?” Harry asked as Ginny took her usual spot on the sofa beside him.

One look was all it took. One look into his eyes and she knew it was already too late. She was too far gone to end it now.

“Boring as usual,” Ginny sighed, and for once she was glad of it. She would take as many ‘boring’ days like today as she could get and she'd appreciate every single one of them.

Chapter Text

The weather truly was glorious, and perhaps this was why everyone seemed to be in an excellent mood during Charms on Friday afternoon. Bright sunlight shone through the windows, filling the classroom with a hazy, golden glow and creating an atmosphere more suited to an afternoon by the lake than a lesson on engorgement charms.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were huddled together around one of the small desks; supposed to be practising on the mouse in front of them but in actuality, the ambience in the classroom was such that only Hermione was actually doing any work. Harry and Ron were instead engaged in an analysis of the Cannons’ latest defeat, which had secured them the bottom of the league once again.

“Alright!” Professor Flitwick squeaked from his perch atop the stack of books at the front of the classroom. “I can see we’re not making much progress today, I think it would be wise to finish here.”

Harry checked his watch, there was still fifteen minutes of class left.

“Are you saying we can leave?” Seamus called from two rows behind Harry, his tone as disbelieving as Harry currently felt.

“Yes!” Flitwick piped. “Enjoy your weekends!”

No one needed telling twice, as though afraid Flitwick might change his mind or suddenly turn around and announce he was joking, the class hastily packed away their things and headed for the door in a great rush.

Delighted by the prospect of an early dinner, Ron threw an arm around Hermione’s shoulder on the way out of the classroom and Harry fell into step beside them.

He walked with them as far as the entrance hall where Ron and Hermione continued on to the great hall and Harry headed for the door that led to the dungeons, intent on making the most of his early escape from class to meet Ginny at the door when she left Potions.

Harry had only been leaning casually against the stone wall across from Slughorn’s classroom for five minutes when the bell rang; not two seconds later there was an almighty scraping noise as dozens of students pushed their chairs back all at once on the other side of the door.

The door flew open and the class exited in a rush not dissimilar to how Harry’s own class had just fled their Charms classroom. Ginny was unmissable with her striking hair, walking in the centre of her roommates and chatting animatedly, though Harry couldn’t hear the topic of conversation.

Whatever she was saying, she stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Harry waiting for her. He watched as she called a quick goodbye over her shoulder and ducked into the crowd of students in the hallway towards him.

“I thought we were meeting in the entrance hall?” She asked between kisses.

“I got let out early,” Harry explained, his words somewhat muffled by Ginny’s lips.

“Time off for good behaviour?” Ginny asked, as Harry grabbed her arm and pulled towards the wall, out of the flow of traffic which was making it impossible to maintain any sort of lingering kiss.

Harry didn’t even try and joke back, not now that he had her free of the crowd, which was thinning rapidly as more and more students made their escape to the entrance hall above.

He’d been thinking of very little other than kissing her ever since they’d separated at lunchtime - which had made holding any sort of conversation with Ron a challenge – now that she was finally back in his arms he wasted no time enacting the fantasies that had been playing through his brain all afternoon.

Ginny made no move to stop him, instead one of her hands balled into a fist clutching the front of Harry’s shirt and pulling him closer. Harry was just beginning to think that maybe he’d never fully appreciated the dungeons before, they were, after all, quite secluded with very little traffic usually, which might make them excellent for –

“Let the girl breathe, Potter!”

Harry’s lips left Ginny’s grudgingly in response to Slughorn’s admonishment, though his arms remained firmly wrapped around her waist.

“Sorry, Professor,” Harry said, though he was aware he didn’t sound it and he was fairly certain he didn’t look it either.

Slughorn chuckled softly to himself as he locked the door to his classroom before turning his jovial expression upon Harry and Ginny.

“I used to tell your parents the same thing. Your father’s apologies never sounded sincere either.”

Harry had no idea how he was supposed to respond to this; he had no burning follow up questions about his parents snogging in the corridors of Hogwarts. Slughorn didn’t seem to mind his silence, truthfully Harry had yet to find a silence that Slughorn wouldn’t happily fill himself.

“Your parents were much better at subtlety, Miss Weasley. They were the picture of innocence until I found them…” Slughorn trailed off, eyeing Ginny’s excited expression as she leaned forward eagerly, with caution. “Well, perhaps they wouldn’t appreciate me telling you that particular story.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind,” Ginny said mildly.

Harry had to cough to suppress his snort of disbelief. He was fairly certain Mr and Mrs Weasley would mind and he was also quite positive Ginny knew it too.

“No, no,” Slughorn cried. “That’s enough reminiscing from an old man. You two go and enjoy your Friday evening.”

Harry needed no further encouragement, the dungeons no longer held the same appeal they had five minutes ago now that Slughorn occupied the corridor as well.

“Not too much, mind!” Slughorn called after their retreating backs as Harry and Ginny hurried, hand in hand, in the direction of the stairs to the entrance hall.

“Can we drop our bags off before dinner?” Ginny asked as they reached the top step. “I honestly can’t believe how many books I’ve had to carry around with me today.”

“Yeah,” Harry agreed, pushing down the urge to offer to carry Ginny’s bag for her which he knew she would hate. “We’re avoiding Ron until he’s eaten anyway.”

“I’m avoiding him always,” Ginny said immediately. “What’s he done to make you avoid him though?”

“I don’t need to go trailing around after you like a puppy when there’s a chance at an early dinner, apparently” Harry informed her, quoting Ron’s final words to Harry before they separated in the entrance hall.

“I’ve always wanted a puppy,” Ginny mused, a wicked grin upon her face.

Harry forced the smile that had been in place since the moment Ginny had appeared out of the Potions classroom off his face. “I’m much too intimidating to be a puppy,” He told her seriously.

“Yes, you’re completely terrifying… ‘Sorry, Professor!’” Her voice was a slightly squeaky imitation of Harry’s earlier interaction with Professor Slughorn.

Harry’s ability to maintain his stern expression faltered at once. “I could never sincerely apologise for kissing you.”

If Ron were here he would probably mime being sick behind Harry’s back. Two short weeks ago if Harry had heard anyone else say something even remotely close to the words that just come out of his own mouth he probably would have done much the same.

Everything had changed though; not to tell Ginny that she was perfect and beautiful and made him happier than he’d ever imagined possible seemed like an overt injustice, the likes of which he simply couldn’t stand for and if he sounded like a besotted idiot, well, it was worth it for the radiant smile his words conjured upon Ginny’s face as she leant in to kiss him.
***

The common room was virtually empty by the time they reached it. Most students being tempted out either to dinner or to enjoy the last of the day’s sunshine in the grounds.

Harry parted from Ginny just long enough to deposit his school bag under his bed and change out of his uniform before reuniting with her in the common room.

Ginny had taken the opportunity to change too and it was a mystery to Harry how she could look so breathtaking even in an old, faded Holyhead Harpies T-shirt.

She was clutching a stack of letters in front of her (Hedwig had returned this morning with a reply from both her parents and Tonks and a generous amount of homemade cookies from Mrs Weasley). “Do you mind if I read these before we go to dinner?”

“Not at all,” Harry said, taking advantage of the near-empty common room to pull Ginny onto his lap on one of the nearby armchairs forcing them closer together than they would usually allow themselves to be in such a public setting.

Ginny opened the letters and Harry was quite content to sit and watch as her face changed expression from a small smile, to a frown, to a laugh as she read through. His fingers tracing lightly over the exposed skin of her arms as she read.

She placed the letter from her parents into her lap and moved to the one from Tonks, pulling her hair over her shoulder as she did and Harry found himself fascinated by the patch of skin on her neck that Ginny had exposed right at his eye level whilst doing so. He was seriously contemplating just how inappropriate it would be to kiss it, in the near-deserted common room when Ron and Hermione appeared through the portrait hole, rendering Harry’s internal debate mute.

Ron eyed Harry and Ginny’s position on the armchair disdainfully as he and Hermione sat across from them but any attempts he may have made to scold them were cut off by a glare from Ginny.

“Mum wants to know if you’re gravely ill,” She informed Ron as he took the seat beside Hermione.

“What? Why?” Ron asked, baffled.

Ginny held the letter aloft in front of her, affecting Mrs Weasley’s voice and stern glare. “I can only assume some grave injury has befallen Ronald? I simply can’t imagine he would purposefully choose not to write to his mother in weeks unless something has incapacitated him.”

“Ron!” Hermione cried, looking mortified. “You haven’t written to your mother?”

“I haven’t got anything to tell her!” Ron said, crossing his arms defensively across his chest. “I got an A on my Transfiguration homework isn’t exactly the most thrilling news, is it?”

Ginny shrugged. “I’m sure she’d be relieved to hear you were doing your homework at all.”

“I could tell her about you and Harry,” Ron suggested. “She’d have a field day with that news.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve already told her so I guess you’ll have to get a life of your own to tell her about,” said Ginny.

“What? You have?” Harry suddenly felt extremely queasy. In all the time he’d spent pining over Ginny he’d been far too concerned about Ron’s potential reaction to worry about any of the rest of the Weasley’s and after they’d finally gotten together he’d been too happy to think practically about the rest of Ginny’s family finding out, but now he found it wasn’t just Ron’s reaction he was concerned about. “What did she say?”

Ginny twisted on his lap, an expression of great amusement on her face which Harry assumed was in response to the panicked expression he was doing a terrible job of concealing.

“I really have no idea what you’re worried about,” Ginny said through a laugh. “She likes you more than she likes any of her actual children.”

Ron nodded solemnly in agreement with this statement, but Harry knew it was untrue even if it was Ginny and Ron’s favourite joke.

“What did she say?” Harry asked again, restraining himself from snatching the letter from Ginny’s grasp.

Ginny held the letter in front of her and began to speak with Mrs Weasley’s voice once more. “Oh, Ginny, that’s such lovely news. He’s such a sweet boy, make sure you’re nice to him. He has enough going on without having to deal with your antics.”

Harry felt the tension that he hadn’t even realised he was holding in his shoulders release immediately, now he was sure he wasn’t about to be banned from The Burrow for life.

“Are you ready for dinner?” Ginny asked, rising from Harry’s lap and placing the letters on the table in front of Hermione for safekeeping.

“Alright,” Harry agreed, reasonably confident that his nerves would have dissipated enough for him to contemplate eating by the time they arrived at the great hall.

Despite it being one of the rare opportunities to have a meal just the two of them, dinner was still a slightly rushed affair owing to Ginny’s need to get back to studying as soon as she was finished eating.

Her O.W.Ls were the week after next and there really was no valid excuse for slacking off at this point, though Ginny had decided, much to Harry’s delight, that she could at least do her work in the common room tonight, reasoning that Harry was going to be in detention most of the day tomorrow giving Ginny ample amounts of time alone in the library.

Their walk back to Gryffindor Tower after dinner was only delayed by two bouts of kissing, one behind a suit of armour and the other in a secret passageway, which was actually a record low number of delays for them, so Harry thought they’d done rather well at keeping on track all things considered.

Ginny immediately made her way to her dormitory upon re-entering the common room to get her books and Harry made his way over to Ron and Hermione who were in their usual spot; Hermione reading and Ron actually doing some Transfiguration homework, which Harry suspected was a choice he’d made to appease Hermione if the furtive glances Ron kept sending her were anything to go by.

By the time Ginny returned, Harry had stretched out on the sofa across from Ron and Hermione, knowing that Ginny would take the floor whilst she was working. She dropped a copy of Quidditch Times that she’d borrowed from him yesterday onto Harry’s stomach before taking her place on the carpet in front of him and dutifully turning her attention to her homework.

As it always did, Harry’s hand wove unconsciously through Ginny’s hair whilst he flicked through the magazine she’d given him, perfectly content to spend his Friday evening doing very little of anything productive as long as he had Ginny within arms reach.

The hours passed comfortably between the four of them, the passage of time marked only by the ever-growing piles of parchment in front of Ginny and the rustle of the pages of Hermione’s book.

Hermione was the first of the four to retire, after agreeing she’d meet Ginny at breakfast and they’d go to the library together.

Ron, realising he may as well have a lie in tomorrow morning if Harry was going to be stuck in detention and both Ginny and Hermione were going to the library, stayed up much later but eventually, even he got tired of waiting for Ginny to finish her work and bid Harry and Ginny a good night.

Finally, with the common room significantly emptier than it had been when they’d first arrived after dinner, Ginny pushed her potions book aside and stretched as she stood from the carpet, Harry made no attempt to resist the way his gaze raked her body as she did so.

She lifted Harry’s legs and sat on the empty side of the sofa before allowing his legs to drop back onto her lap, her finger slowly stroking up and down Harry’s calf, making the muscle underneath twitch at her light pressure even through his jeans.

“What’s new in Quidditch?” Ginny asked, inclining her head in the direction of Harry’s magazine.

“I thought you’d read this?” Harry tossed the magazine on the table, finding it significantly less interesting now he had Ginny’s full attention.

“No,” Ginny groaned, her head sinking back into the sofa cushions. “I tried last night but I fell asleep before I’d even finished the first page. Bloody O.W.Ls.”

“They’ll be over soon,” Harry said; he was looking forward to Ginny finishing her exams almost as much as she was. “Then you can gloat over how much better your grades are than mine and Ron’s.”

Far from looking reassured, Ginny slumped lower on the couch at this pronouncement. “I’ll settle for mum not murdering me. Honestly, it’s a nightmare being the youngest, she’s already got six sets of grades to compare me to.”

“I suppose that’s a benefit of having the Dursley’s,” Harry reflected. “They have no idea what Hogwarts grades even mean and even if they did, they wouldn’t care about mine.”

He’d spoken without even really thinking about what he was saying, so comfortable with Ginny at this point that he no longer censored his thoughts before allowing them to leave his mouth. Still, the second he said it he regretted it, immediately worried she was going to look at him with pity.

She didn’t though, she was actually peering across at him with an expression of mild curiosity. “How much do you want to punch me and Ron in the face when we complain about mum being overbearing?”

“I don’t!” Harry protested. “I’ve seen your mum’s disapproving glare, I definitely don’t envy you having to deal with that on a regular basis.”

Ginny reached under the sofa and pulled something out of her bag, she sat back upright and chucked one of Mrs Weasley’s homemade cookies in Harry’s direction before settling back into her seat, leaning back against the arm so her legs were laid across Harry’s.

“She’s not all bad,” Ginny said charitably, contemplating the cookie clutched in her own hand. “She’s an excellent baker.”

“I’m just relieved she actually made me some cookies after you told her about us,” Harry said honestly before taking a bite of the cookie that Ginny had flung at him.

Ginny shook her head and swallowed her own mouthful of cookie before speaking. “Oh please, my mother adopted you before she’d even met you properly. You should have seen how many shops she dragged me to, trying to find the perfect wool for your Christmas jumper in your first year.”

“Sorry, I’m sure you had much better things to do with your busy ten-year-old schedule.”

“Fortunately, my hectic paper-chain making agenda had just been cleared due to an impromptu trip to Romania rendering Christmas decorations pointless that year,” Ginny said with a smirk. “So I very kindly offered to use some of my newfound free time to help make your jumper and mum wouldn’t let me anywhere near it, she made me do Ron’s instead. She said yours had to be perfect.”

Harry found himself telling Ginny something he’d never told anyone before. “The first time I went to Diagon Alley, Hagrid took me to Gringotts and showed me all the money my parents had left me. I’d never had pocket money before so I wanted to go crazy buying everything but Hagrid made me be sensible -”

Ginny laughed loudly at this, causing Harry to stop his story in order to quickly glance around to see if they were disturbing anybody, which they weren’t because, as he discovered, the common room was now empty apart from the two of them. He glanced at his watch; it was almost one in the morning.

“Sorry,” Ginny said once she’d stopped laughing. “I’m just imagining a little eleven-year-old Harry zooming around trying to buy something insane like a gold-plated cauldron and Hagrid having to be responsible and authoritative with you.”

“I didn’t try and buy a gold-plated cauldron,” Harry protested. “If I remember rightly it was a solid gold one.”

This revelation sent Ginny into a renewed fit of giggles. “Imagine dragging that into Snape’s Potions class, he would have been livid!”

Harry couldn’t help but join in Ginny’s laughter at the image this conjured in his mind’s eye.

“Anyway,” Ginny said, waving her hand in Harry’s direction once they’d stopped laughing. “I totally derailed whatever you were saying then. Continue.”

“Oh yeah,” Harry said, having forgotten for a minute that he was even going somewhere with his story. “By the time Christmas rolled around I was just happy to have enough money to buy myself whatever I wanted, after years of rubbish from the Dursleys. I couldn’t buy myself one of your mum’s jumpers, though. The idea that someone had actually made something for me, blew my mind a bit.”

Miraculously, Ginny didn’t suddenly become awkward at Harry’s rather bleak confession, nor did she start crying or become emotional. Instead, she put the remaining half of her cookie in her mouth and chewed it before saying; “Probably a good job Mum didn’t let me near it then. I don’t quite have the domestic skills of my mother, much to her disappointment.”

“No one has the domestic skills of your mum, of course, she’s not disappointed,” Harry argued, failing to see how anyone could ever be disappointed in any aspect of Ginny’s personality.

Ginny shook her head in disagreement. “It took her seven attempts to get a girl and she ended up with me, even I’m a little bit disappointed for her.”

“Your mum loves you,” Harry said firmly. “She doesn’t care if you’d rather play Quidditch than knit jumpers.”

“Maybe not,” Ginny shrugged. “She was furious with me after the Department of Mysteries though, more furious than she’s ever been at Ron for getting into those types of escapades.”

“Because she doesn’t want you to get hurt.” Something Harry and Mrs Weasley had very strongly in common.

“I’m just as capable as Ron,” Ginny pronounced, they’d both been gradually sinking lower and lower on the sofa, so they were laying with their heads resting on the opposite arms and their legs entangled together but Ginny sat fully up now.

“I know,” Harry said calmly, nudging Ginny’s shoulder with his foot to get her to lay back down, which she did without protest. “It’s not just you. Remember how she was about Sirius telling us all about the prophecy?”

Harry’s stomach lurched uncomfortably even mentioning the prophecy in front of Ginny. The urge to tell her everything was stronger than ever now that they were alone and already discussing things Harry never told anyone, but he dismissed the notion immediately and contented himself with sharing things that wouldn’t potentially get Ginny killed, knowing, without any doubt, that she would hate him for making that decision for her.

“I do try and remind myself she’s just naturally overprotective,” Ginny sighed, pulling Harry’s thoughts swiftly away from the prophecy. “I remember near the end of your first year, I heard her ranting to Dad about how Dumbledore wouldn’t let you come to us for the summer. She’d barely even met you and you’d already made it on to Molly Weasley’s list of wayward children to be mothered to death. I think she was secretly glad when Ron, Fred and George jailbroke you.”

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I was definitely glad to get out of there.” Harry found himself stifling a yawn, he was aware that it was getting extremely late but still, he felt no inclination to go to bed, not when Ginny was still on the sofa with him, her body pressed so closely against his.

“I was completely torn,” Ginny said, in a tone of exasperation. “I was furious with the three of them for stealing the flying car without me but I was terrified at just the thought of you being in our house.”

Feeling fairly confident, judging by the look of amusement on Ginny’s face, that she wasn’t going to hex him for teasing her, Harry couldn’t stop himself from saying; “Ginny Weasley’s first crush, what an honour.”

“I’m afraid not,” Ginny protested, though her blush suggested otherwise. “My first crush was Ethan Harkness, chaser for Puddlemere United. He had a poster and you didn’t. I was fickle.”

“Is he still around?” Harry asked, trying valiantly to look serious and failing miserably in the face of Ginny’s smirk. “Because I’ll get you a poster specially made if I have competition.”

He would, of course, never dream of doing any such thing but luckily Ginny laughed as if she found even the suggestion completely ludicrous.

“No, he retired two years ago.” She assured Harry. “And don’t even joke about a Harry Potter poster, you’ll have half the girls in the house lining up for one.”

“I would not!” Harry objected.

“Oh yes, you would!” Ginny said, her grin turning into a yawn before she continued. “Face it, your Gryffindor’s most eligible bachelor.”

“Don’t you have to actually be available to be an eligible bachelor?”

Ginny waved a dismissive hand in front of her at Harry’s question. “I’ve been assured by your admirers on multiple occasions that I’m nothing but a minor complication in their attempts to snag you.”

“Are you joking?” Harry asked, certain that couldn’t truly be the case.

“Er,” Ginny said uncertainly. “It’s not really been on multiple occasions.”

“You said the girls in your year weren’t being that bad,” Harry reminded her, immediately concerned about what exactly Ginny had been putting up with when Harry wasn’t around.

“Technically, I said my day was alright,” Ginny corrected. “And it was, at least, the bits where I wasn’t in class were fine.”

“Ugh,” Harry ran a hand over his face in frustration, knocking his glasses off in the process which at least allowed him to rub some of the tiredness out of his eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t want you to -”

“Stop it!” Ginny poked him in the ribs with her toe, forcing Harry to shut up. “This is why I wasn’t going to say anything, I just got carried away teasing you.”

“You should’ve told me, I could have -”

“You could have what exactly?” Ginny asked expectantly.

“Er,” Harry answered intelligently, sure that he would be able to come up with a better answer if it wasn’t so late and he wasn’t so cosy and settled against the warmth that Ginny’s body was radiating.

“Precisely,” said Ginny through another yawn, “It’s not a big deal, so don’t get worked up about it.”

Harry’s eyelids felt impossibly heavy, his head rolled to the side so it was resting against the back of the sofa.

“Ginny?” Harry said quietly, peeking across at her; she was blurry without his glasses but Harry could see that her eyes had drifted closed.

“Hmmm?” Ginny hummed, one eye cracking open.

Harry knew he should tell her they needed to get up, that they needed to go to bed so even he was surprised by what he actually said. “You’re not a minor complication.”

“What?” Ginny mumbled, sleepily.

“You’re not a minor complication, I don’t want anyone else.”

“Oh,” Ginny sighed. “Me either,”

Harry was vaguely aware of Ginny’s breathing slowing to a steady, even rhythm much as his own was doing, his last thought as he drifted off was that he wasn’t even sure if Ginny was going to remember him telling her that in the morning but he would most definitely remember her reply.

Chapter Text

Someone was whispering behind her, the annoying buzz of their voice dragging Ginny from the thick fog of sleep she was currently swathed in. Bright light penetrated the insides of her eyelids, far brighter than it should be with the hangings of her bed closed.

“What the bloody hell do they think they’re doing?” She heard Ron hiss quietly.

Ron? Ron couldn't be in the girl’s dormitory. She must be at The Burrow, but no, she’d definitely been at Hogwarts last night.

“Calm down!” Came Hermione's hushed response. “They’re at completely opposite ends of the sofa.”

Ginny was puzzling out the meaning of Hermione’s words and considering whether it was worth opening her eyes - she was so cosy and warm - when she felt someone’s leg move against hers. Harry’s leg. She knew it with absolute certainty and her eyes flew open immediately.

It wasn’t the sight of her dormitory that greeted Ginny’s freshly opened eyes, nor was it her bedroom at The Burrow. She was in the common room; Ron and Hermione hovering behind the sofa Ginny was currently laying on. The tips of Ron’s ears were violently pink and Hermione was looking between him and the sofa with her brow furrowed.

Ginny blinked blearily and turned her attention to her own position. She was still laid where she’d fallen asleep last night, Harry was still across from her and their legs were still entangled together.

It was Harry as she’d never seen him before, eyes misted from slumber, looking particularly striking without his glasses; impossibly his dark hair was even messier than usual, mussed with sleep as it currently was.

He wasn’t serious Harry, or funny Harry, or stressed Harry; He was Harry in his rawest form and Ginny could look at him like that forever.

All too soon, however, the perfect vision in front of her was disturbed. The sofa depressed slightly as Harry shoved his glasses roughly onto his face, pushed himself up, vaulted over the back and ran in the direction of the boy’s dormitories.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Ron demanded of Harry’s retreating form, but Harry didn’t so much as pause to answer.

Ginny checked her watch. “He’s got Snape’s detention in twenty minutes.”

She’d be running too, being late for Snape just wasn’t worth it.

Ginny unfolded her legs across the now-empty half of the sofa and stretched, loosening her muscles, which she now realised were feeling especially stiff from a night on the sofa.

Ron finally moved from his spot behind her and took the chair across from Ginny; Hermione went to sit next to him and Ginny felt oddly as though she was being sat down in the living room of The Burrow and was about to be given a lecture from her parents.

Fortunately, neither Ron nor Hermione said anything. Ron sat with his arms folded, his expression disapproving in the extreme, but he remained silent, so Ginny did the same.

Hermione, on the other hand, was looking at Ginny as though she was about to burst into tears. Ordinarily, Ginny would be concerned if she saw such a demonstrative expression upon Hermione’s face, but she was still adjusting to being awake when just a few minutes ago she really had been enjoying one of the best sleeps of her life, even if she was cramped on a sofa and it should have been uncomfortable and unpleasant, so couldn’t muster the required mental agility to worry about Hermione.

Ten minutes passed, during which the only sound was the chatter of other Gryffindor’s coming downstairs and making their way through the common room towards the portrait hole.

Maddie and Leoni appeared from her own dorm; Maddie raised her eyebrows questioningly Why, hasn’t your bed been slept in? but Ginny gave a short, sharp shake of her head, putting an end to any interrogation before it gave more fuel to Ron’s fire.

Finally, Harry reappeared; hair still damp and glistening from the shower, and wearing a fresh set of clothes from those he’d slept in all night.

“You’re not going to have time for breakfast!” Ron snapped, reminding Ginny forcefully of their mother on those regular occasions when she was extremely annoyed at you, but completely unable to resist taking care of you.

“Here,” Ginny reached into her bag, pulled out another two of Mum’s cookies and passed them to Harry.

“Thanks,” Harry said, gratefully receiving the cookies as he bent down to quickly kiss Ginny goodbye. She was painfully aware that she hadn’t brushed her teeth yet and Harry smelt incredible, having just emerged from the shower, but there was barely any time to worry about it before he was pulling away, already moving towards the portrait hole. “I’ll come and find you in the library later.”

He inclined his head in Ron and Hermione’s direction, bidding them a silent goodbye and then he was jogging again. Ginny knew he was going to have to break into a full sprint once he left Gryffindor Tower if he was to have any hope of reaching the dungeons in time.

The portrait hole had barely even swung shut behind Harry before Ron finally released the anger that he’d so clearly been holding in since Ginny had awoken. “What do you think you’re doing sleeping in the common room?” He asked with a scowl.

“I didn’t plan it, did I?” Ginny snapped back, in no mood for one of Ron’s lectures when she was tired, stiff and more than a little bewildered to have awoken somewhere other than her bed. “We were just talking and we fell asleep.”

“Talking about what?” Ron demanded.

“I really don’t see how that’s any of your business!” Ginny folded her arms across her chest and resolutely maintained defiant eye contact with her brother.

“There are things that Harry shouldn’t tell you-“

“Don’t worry, I haven’t been inducted into your club of super secrets!” Ginny practically shrieked. It was all she could do not to leap from her seat on the sofa and slap the arrogant sneer off Ron’s face.

“Ron!” Hermione placed a hand on his arm. “Don’t.”

“No, let’s hear it,” Ginny said, gesturing for Ron to continue. “Ron apparently knows everything, let’s settle in for his self-righteous lecture.”

Ron's face steadily grew redder with every word Ginny spoke. Hermione buried her head in her hands, clearly giving up any hope of putting an end to this argument.

“I know it’s completely irresponsible to spend all night in the common room!” Ron growled. “What? You can’t even be apart to sleep now?”

“We’re apart right now, you idiot!”

“Because you don’t have a choice!”

“I couldn’t care less what you think, Ron.” Ginny couldn’t contain herself anymore and sprang from the sofa, closing the gap between herself and her brother in three quick steps. “But unfortunately Harry does, so don’t you dare say anything to him.”

“Oh, don’t start! He doesn’t need you protecting him!” Ron jumped up from his own seat; even with him bending forwards Ginny still had to tilt her head to look him in the eye.

“Maybe he does if my brother is going to behave like a total moron!”

“I think he’s faced worse than me before, Ginny!”

“No, at least Death Eater’s aren’t so bloody temperamental!”

Ron rolled his eyes at this comment. “Do you even hear yourself sometimes?”

“Do you?” Ginny shot back. At least she wasn’t going around telling everybody else how to live their lives like some kind of know-it-all.

“Well, I for one, have certainly heard enough!” Hermione pronounced, lifting her head from her hands and rising from her chair. She placed her hand on Ron’s arm once again and this time -without Ginny goading him - he took a step back from Ginny, falling back into his chair with a huff.

Satisfied that Ron had apparently backed down, Hermione turned her attention to Ginny. “Do you still want to go to the library?” She asked gently.

There are things Harry shouldn’t tell you. Hermione knew them, though. Whatever Harry’s secrets were, Hermione knew them and Ginny was still being kept in the dark.

“I think I’ll do better studying alone.” Ginny immediately spun on her heel and raced to the door of the girls’ dormitories before Hermione could call her out for her obviously untrue statement.

Ginny stopped in her - blessedly empty - dormitory only long enough to shove some food roughly into Arnold’s cage and grab her towel, before making her way to the bathroom and immersing herself into the warm flow of the shower.

The pressure that had begun to build at the base of her skull the moment Ron had opened his stupid mouth, released somewhat as the water massaged her scalp and ran down her shoulders.

There are things Harry shouldn’t tell you. The words ran over and over again in Ginny’s mind even as she lathered her hair with shampoo, why should he tell Ron and Hermione and not her?

A different voice spoke in her head in answer to her question. Not Ron’s. Not her own. He thinks you’re weak. Little Ginny Weasley, lured in by the translucent insincerity of a psychopath, who would trust her?

Ginny shut the thoughts out immediately. She tilted her head backwards, allowing the torrent of water to submerse her, filling her nostrils, her eyes, her mouth. Stealing her breath and clearing her mind. Washing away all traces of that voice as she’d done so many times before.

You are funny, and you’re brave and you’re beautiful. Harry’s voice replaced Tom’s. He didn’t think she was weak and she knew better than to let Tom’s words get in her head after all these years. She certainly knew better than to let Ron get in her head.

Her muscles now vastly more relaxed than they had been just fifteen minutes ago; Ginny shut off the water, wrapped her towel around herself and swiftly made her way down the spiral staircase back to her room. She waved her wand and muttered an incantation, drying her hair before collapsing face-first onto her bed.

I don’t want anyone else.

Despite the overall unpleasantness of her morning so far, despite her argument with Ron, despite her irritation with Hermione, Ginny smiled into her pillow.
***
Ginny ate her breakfast and made her way to the library alone, having successfully avoided both Ron and Hermione from the moment she exited the dormitory.

She found a small, empty table near the back of the Transfiguration section and claimed it as her own, intent on making the most of the time Harry was in detention to get as much work done as possible.

Ginny allowed herself to indulge for a few minutes in hopeful visions of Harry being released from detention sometime shortly after lunch and the two of them spending the rest of the day enjoying the sunshine and definitely not going anywhere near Ron. It was all the motivation she needed, with a renewed sense of determination Ginny set to work on her Defense essay. Losing herself to the rhythmic scratching of her quill as she wrote.

She’d finished her Defense work and was halfway through a set of revision questions for Charms, when she looked up from her book upon hearing footsteps approaching her, only to be greeted by the sight of Hermione walking tentatively in her direction, her bag hanging from her shoulder and yet more books piled in her arms.

“Is this seat taken?” Hermione asked, inclining her head in the direction of the chair across from Ginny.

“No.”

“Can I sit in it?” Hermione persevered, in the face of Ginny’s abrupt answer.

Ginny shrugged noncommittally. “It’s a free library, I suppose.”

Hermione swiftly dropped the stack of books onto Ginny’s table where they landed with a dull thud, before pulling out the chair and sitting down without allowing her gaze to waver from Ginny’s.

“I’m sorry about Ron.”

“If you’re going to apologise for every stupid thing my brother says you’ll be here a while.” Ginny let her gaze drift from Hermione down to her parchment, as though entirely disinterested in her brother’s behaviour.

“I don’t want you to think Harry’s keeping secrets from you,” Hermione said, in the same vexingly gentle tone as this morning.

“I know Harry’s keeping secrets from me,” Ginny said bluntly. She was happy to pretend for Harry’s sake but she wasn’t going to lie when it was brought up directly to her.

She heard Hermione sigh heavily. “Yes, Harry’s keeping secrets from you -” she admitted as though Ginny hadn’t just said that very thing. “Because Dumbledore says he has to, not because he wants to.”

Ginny looked up from her parchment. “He’s told you and Ron, though.” She was acutely aware of how petulant she sounded; at least Ron wasn’t around to hear her.

“He’s told Ron and me because Dumbledore told him to, not because he trusts us more or likes us better than you or whatever reason you’ve come up with in your head.”

“I hadn’t speculated on it,” Ginny said, idly turning a page of her book and steadfastly not looking at Hermione once more.

“Why do all Weasley’s insist on being uncommonly stubborn?” Hermione asked through gritted teeth.

“Don’t compare me to Ron!” Ginny snapped, loudly enough to earn a glare from Madam Pince.

“This isn’t about Ron,” Hermione hissed in a much lower tone. “It’s about Harry. If he thinks you're upset about him keeping things from you, I think he’d be crushed and I think he’d do something very inadvisable in order to make you feel better.”

Hermione’s eyes flashed dangerously and Ginny had the distinct impression she was solely speaking to Hermione: Harry’s best friend with absolutely no hint of Hermione: Ginny’s best friend and for reasons that Ginny couldn’t begin to fathom this made all of Ginny’s earlier annoyance with Hermione vanish immediately.

“I’m not upset with Harry,” Ginny sighed; Hermione’s expression softened instantly. “I know he can’t tell me and I’ve never asked him to, but that doesn’t make it any less aggravating when Ron’s acting like he knows everything.”

“Ron doesn’t know everything,” Hermione scoffed. “Harry stayed up so late last night talking to you that he fell asleep, I’m sure he tells you things he wouldn’t dream of saying to Ron, or me for that matter.”

Hermione gave Ginny a knowing look in response to the smile that had risen unbidden to her lips as she thought of last night’s conversation with Harry. “I’m glad you’re both so happy, I’ve never seen Harry like this.”

“He’s not going to be happy if he gets out of detention and Ron has a go at him,” Ginny muttered darkly.

“Ron’s not going to say anything to Harry,” Hermione assured her. “I’ve spoken to him about it.”

“Because everything’s my fault, as usual,” Ginny snapped, even though Ron leaving Harry alone was exactly what she’d wanted.

“No,” Hermione said calmly. “Because he’s realised neither of you actually did anything wrong. I do think you could be a bit more patient with him though, Ginny.”

“Me? Patient with him?” Ginny repeated incredulously. “He’s the one who flies off the handle at every little thing!”

Hermione’s eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline in response to Ginny’s statement. “He’s never going to admit it, but I think he panicked when Harry wasn’t in his bed. It’s not easy when your best friend is constantly in danger -”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Hermione’s lecture was doing an excellent job of provoking Ginny again.

Hermione ignored her entirely, which did nothing to soothe Ginny’s vexation. “And he’s still adjusting to losing quite a bit of Harry’s attention to you. He’s very happy for both of you deep down, but it’s still quite the change for him.”

“Harry can’t stay single forever just to entertain Ron whenever he’s bored.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” Hermione persisted. “I’m saying it would be nice if you’d try and understand where he’s coming from, just like he needs to do for you.”

“Well, I think Ron just needs to keep his nose out of other people’s business,” Ginny said, folding her arms across her chest and staring intently at a spot on the wall above Hermione’s head.

“Fine,” Hermione sighed. “I really don’t want to be in the middle of it and I’ve told Ron the same.”

“Stop talking about it, then,” Ginny suggested, her eyes still fixed on the wall.

She heard a thumping noise as one of Hermione’s textbooks opened with excessive force. Safe in the knowledge that Hermione had turned her attention to her work, Ginny uncrossed her arms and let her gaze travel back to the Charms questions in front of her.

Ginny finished her work in silence, not even allowing herself to glance in Hermione’s direction until she’d wound her parchment into a tight scroll and placed it into her bag. What she’d hoped to be a subtle peek in her friend’s direction resulted in them making eye contact.

“Look,” Hermione said brusquely as Ginny attempted to quickly look away from her. “If I promise not to speak about your argument with Ron will you stop being so moody with me? I haven’t seen you properly all week and I thought we’d actually spend some time just the two of us today.”

“Alright,” Ginny agreed, immediately. She really had been atrociously neglecting Hermione recently in favour of spending time with Harry, and that was something she was genuinely sorry for.

“Good,” Hermione said, a small smile appearing on her face. “Now, I know you’re horrifically behind on Ancient Runes; let’s start there.”

She didn’t argue as Hermione summoned Ginny’s copy of Spellman’s Syllabary out of her bag and began to quiz her on translations.

Nor did she argue, when Hermione declared her translations acceptable and decided they should move on to Arithmancy before finally allowing them to go to lunch.

Ginny linked her arm through Hermione’s on the way to the great hall and by the time they took a seat at the Gryffindor table they were engaged in happy chatter about the latest Weird Sisters single, their earlier disagreements entirely forgotten.

Hermione didn’t join Ginny back in the library after lunch, stating that she had other plans and very purposefully not mentioning Ron’s name, so Ginny returned to her table alone and determinedly set about getting as much work completed as she could before Harry was finally released from detention.
***
Madam Pince flicked her wand and lit the torches and chandeliers throughout the library; the sky outside had turned bright orange streaked with pink and still Harry hadn’t appeared.

Ginny was just starting to think that maybe he’d decided to go and check on Ron first, rather than her, upon leaving the dungeons when he finally dropped into the seat next to her.

She glanced up at him; he looked tired and pale; his usual smile was nowhere to be seen. His forehead came to rest against the side of Ginny’s head and his eyes closed briefly.

“That was the longest day of my entire life so far,” he whispered against her hair.

Ginny’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment too; suddenly aware of just how much she missed him now that he was back within arms reach.

“Snape hadn’t thrown you a surprise party, then?” She asked lightly, twisting in her chair so that her forehead rested against Harry’s.

His eyes opened; looking into her own. “The only thing remotely surprising is how he somehow manages to become more unpleasant with every encounter.”

“Does this help?” Ginny tilted her head and her lips met his. Harry’s response was instantaneous, unfortunately so was Madam Pince’s.

“No kissing in my library! Out!”

This wasn’t the first time Ginny and Harry had been on the receiving end of this particular admonishment recently, so Ginny’s wand was already in her hand, packing her belongings into her bag before Madam Pince had even finished speaking.

“Do you mind if we go outside?” Harry asked as soon as they were safely out of Madam Pince’s glare. “I need some fresh air.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Ginny said, smiling up at him.

Harry moved to take her hand but Ginny lifted his arm and placed it around her shoulder, they really had been separated for far too long today and holding hands just didn’t seem close enough. Harry seemed to agree, his arm came around her automatically, pulling her into his side as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. There was nothing Ginny could do to stop the little hum of contentment that escaped her lips at the gesture.

By the time the two of them slipped out of the double doors, the sky was turning from pink to an inky violet and the grounds were near-deserted. Ginny hadn’t dressed for more than a warm day in the library; her clothing choice of shorts and a T-shirt suddenly seemed extremely questionable and goosebumps were rising on her arms before they even reached their usual spot beneath the tree. Harry was more suitably attired in jeans and a jumper, having spent the day in the dungeons which were always a bit chilly regardless of the weather.

"You’re cold,” Harry said once they'd settled against the base of the tree, him with his back leaning against the trunk and Ginny seated between his legs, resting sideways against Harry's chest. He lifted her arm to inspect the raised flesh there.

“I’m fine,” Ginny assured him, knowing how much he liked to be outside after being locked in the dungeons for long stretches of the day. Her words were more than a little undermined by the bracing gust of wind that rustled the leaves above her head and forced a shiver from Ginny.

“Here.” Harry pulled his jumper over his head and held it out to Ginny, leaving him in just his white T-shirt.

“What about you?” Ginny asked, tentatively reaching a hand out to touch the soft, green wool, knowing in the back of her mind that if Dean had tried to offer her his jumper it would have caused an almighty row about how she could take care of herself, and yet still desperately wanting Harry’s jumper.

“I’m fine,” Harry assured her. “You’re like a radiator; I have no idea how you’re cold.”

“What’s a radiator?” Ginny asked, curiously.

“Oh, it’s a muggle thing, it heats your house up when it’s chilly. So, as long as I keep you warm, I’ll be fine.”

Ginny took the jumper and slipped it over her head without further protest, immediately enveloped in Harry’s familiar scent. The arms were a little bit long and she was sure she looked quite ridiculous but she’d never felt happier with a clothing choice before.

“I’m keeping this,” She said, looking Harry squarely in the face; only half-joking.

Harry’s gaze raked over her, the appreciative glint in his eyes making Ginny’s heart beat faster than normal. “It looks better on you anyway.”

Ginny shuffled closer, wrapping her arms around Harry’s neck. “Tell me if you’re cold and I’ll move nearer.” How she planned on doing that without sitting directly on top of him, she wasn’t sure.

“I’m absolutely freezing,” Harry said quietly, placing a finger under Ginny’s chin and tilting her head so that their lips met.

I don’t want anyone else. The words played over and over in Ginny’s head as he kissed her. One of Harry’s hands still cupping her chin, the other in her hair as she sat in his jumper, it felt like the truest statement in the world.

When he’d kissed her for the first time in the common room, Ginny had felt exhilarating, invigorating, dizzying happiness. When he kissed her now it was a warm, content feeling of joy that spread from the very depths of her. It was the same feeling she got when stepping into the orchard at The Burrow after a long term at Hogwarts or taking the first bite of one of her mother’s fresh, warm scones and knowing she was home.

It was innate and fundamental.

When they finally broke apart the sky had darkened even further; Harry’s eyes now shone like emeralds in the darkness.

“I haven’t even asked you how your day was, yet,” Harry said, apologetically.

"It started off well, I particularly liked the view when I woke up -" Ginny said with a smirk, which Harry returned. "Then you disappeared and Ron decided to be a complete prat, as usual."

Harry nodded as if he’d expected this. "So, is my friendship with your brother irreparably damaged? Or do you think we still have a chance?" He asked lightly. He was smiling but even in the growing darkness, Ginny could see that it didn't quite meet his eyes.

"You're fine," She assured him. Whatever she might think of Ron, she didn't want to see Harry even remotely unhappy, especially not whilst she was feeling so content in his arms. "I'm the bad influence by the sounds of things."

"Did you have an argument?" Harry asked, concern clouding his face.

Ginny simply nodded, not eager to get to the part where Harry lectured her as Hermione had done.

"Was it bad?" Harry prompted, reaching up and pushing a strand of hair out of her face.

"A bit," Ginny admitted. "I might have told him he's worse than a Death Eater."

Harry's eyes lit with amusement; he pressed his lips together as though trying to conceal a smile. He didn’t tell her she was stubborn, or volatile or immature and maybe that was why it was so easy for Ginny to say; "It may have been an overreaction."

"Maybe just a small one," Harry said, allowing his smile to break free.

"Really tiny," Ginny added, unable to stop herself grinning back at him.

"Barely worth mentioning," Harry agreed as they both began to laugh.

"He said stuff too," Ginny said, still feeling a bit defensive after the chastisement she’d received from Hermione.

"Did he compare you to Voldemort?"

"Well no, he was just being an overbearing idiot, as usual."

“I’m sure he was really awful,” Harry said gently as he twisted a strand of Ginny’s hair through his fingertips. “But do you think for my sake, you could try and get on with him?”

“Fine,” Ginny sighed, earning a dazzling smile from Harry. “But we’re agreed he’s terrible and it’s all his fault?”

“Absolutely,” Harry said immediately, his smile still in place.

“Well, I wouldn’t want you to have to choose between us,” Ginny said slowly. “Ron might finally beat me at something.”

Harry’s expression changed to one of disbelief for only a second before his face split back into a smirk. “I think you’re fishing for compliments, Ginevra.”

Ginny usually hated the use of her full name, but somehow, even though it was the same three syllables it had always been, they sounded completely new, completely wonderful on Harry’s lips.

She bit her lip in an attempt to maintain an air of innocence. “I don’t need to, I have this boyfriend who always says really nice things to me.”

Harry’s arms encircled her waist, pulling Ginny up so she was on his lap. “Has he told you that you’re beautiful?”

“Yes,” Ginny whispered. “All the time.”

“Has he told you he hasn’t stopped thinking about you all day?”

“No, but that’s good because I haven’t stopped thinking about him either.”

Harry’s back left the trunk of the tree behind; he kissed her with such force. Ginny quickly pulled the sleeves of the jumper back, freeing her hands to run through his hair. She twisted so she was straddling him, her knees sinking into the soft grass on either side of Harry’s hips.

His hands were just beginning to journey below the hem of her - his, - jumper when Harry’s stomach made a low rumbling sound; Ginny pulled away immediately. “When was the last time you ate?”

Harry’s hand reached up for the back of her neck, attempting to pull Ginny back to him. “I’ll eat later,” He said dismissively.

“No,” Ginny said, tensing her shoulders to stop herself from being pulled back towards him. “You missed breakfast and you were in detention at lunch, so when exactly did you eat?”

“I didn’t miss breakfast,” Harry argued. “You gave me two cookies.”

“Harry James Potter, we’re going to dinner immediately.” Ginny swiftly jumped up from the ground, pulling Harry behind her and set off in the direction of the castle, which was now silhouetted in the moonlight against the deep purple sky.

“Alright, Molly,” Harry laughed, allowing Ginny to lead him back up the lawn and through the double doors.

For once, they didn’t rush dinner. Ginny had spent sufficient time in the library today that there was no hurry to return to her books and she was taking extra care to make sure Harry ate enough after being deprived of food for a great deal of the day, which concerningly didn’t seem to phase him in the slightest.

“You know,” Ginny said thoughtfully, as Harry finished his treacle tart, which she’d allowed him to move on to only after watching him eat two servings of spaghetti bolognaise. “Maybe you should be glad that you had detention this morning, it saved you from being caught in the path of my temper.”

Harry shook his head and swallowed his tart. “No, I’d pick angry Ginny over Snape any day of the week.”

“I think that’s unwise,” Ginny argued. “I’m quite terrifying at times.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Harry said. “I’ve faced dragons and three-headed dogs, you’re only marginally scarier.”

For a fraction of a second, Ginny’s blood ran cold as the thought of everything he still had left to face threatened to consume her but she pushed it off immediately. They hadn’t run out of time, yet.

“I’m much scarier than a three-headed dog,” She teased, hiding in the comforting familiarity of their banter.

“It was the size of an elephant!” Harry gestured wildly with his spoon for emphasis.

“Was it?” Ginny asked sceptically. “Or were you just a really tiny first year?”

“No, it was huge,” Harry assured her. “Hagrid’s right there, he’ll tell you.”

Ginny turned to see Hagrid’s huge form settled at the staff table, he gave her and Harry a friendly wave when he saw them looking at him, which they returned.

“I don’t think Hagrid’s going to help your case, his sense of scale is completely off.”

Harry shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to take my word for it.” He scraped his bowl clean and swallowed the last of his treacle tart.

“Fine,” Ginny sighed, patting his hand. “It was the size of ten elephants and you’re extremely brave.”

“A true Gryffindor,” Harry agreed, rising from the table and taking Ginny’s hand.

Just as they hadn’t hurried dinner, they didn’t rush back to the common room either. After such a long day apart, several stops were required in strategic locations that had proved sufficiently private in the past. Though, in an effort not to aggravate Ron any further, Harry insisted they make it back to Gryffindor Tower in time for curfew, which they just about managed.

Predictably Ron and Hermione were in their usual seats, the sofa across from them remained free for Harry and Ginny. A mountain of sweets lay on the table in front of them, which Ginny could only assume had been placed there to bribe Ron to do his homework as he was currently passing Hermione a Potions essay for her to dutifully check over for him.

“Hello,” Harry said with exaggerated breeziness, pulling Ginny with him onto the empty sofa.

“Hello,” Hermione returned, barely glancing up from Ron’s parchment.

Ginny met Ron’s eye and they both stared at one another, neither one saying anything. She felt Harry poke her lightly in the ribs, probing her to speak.

In an effort to make apologising to Ron marginally more tolerable, Ginny grabbed one of the Every Flavour Beans from the table and threw it at his face. “I’m sorry,” she sighed.

Obviously not expecting Ginny to launch a projectile at him, the bean bounced off the centre of Ron’s forehead before landing in his lap where he said nothing as he stared at it. Hermione reached over to him and mirrored Harry’s earlier poke in Ginny’s ribs.

Ron plucked the bean from his lap and hurled it in Ginny’s direction. “I’m sorry, too.”

Unlike Ron, Ginny had been expecting to have the sweet thrown at her and so made a rather ambitious attempt to catch it in her mouth, which she almost succeeded in but it went slightly wide and glanced off the side of her cheek instead.

“Poor effort,” Ron informed her, shaking his head.

“You can do better?” Ginny challenged.

“If I’m expecting it,” Ron said with uncharacteristic confidence.

The rest of the evening passed with Ginny, Harry and Ron attempting, and mostly failing, to aim Every Flavour Beans into one another’s mouths, no further mentions of any earlier arguments were made in the face of such a pressing challenge.

Eventually, an increasingly exasperated Hermione was convinced to have a go by Ron. Ginny selected a ruby red bean and took careful aim at Hermione’s mouth, unfortunately Hermione panicked as it soared across the table towards her and ducked out of it’s way, causing the bean to continue its path through the air and land with unfortunate accuracy on the head of an oblivious fourth year.

Deciding that it was probably best to avoid any further insult or injury to innocent bystanders, all four of them agreed it was probably time to call it a night.

Chapter Text

Harry’s attention was pulled from his cottage pie by a slam on the table beside him, the sound made with such force he jumped slightly in his seat.

Ginny stood over him, her arm leaning on the solid wood of the table, a piece of parchment caught under her splayed hand. Her masses of red hair piled messily atop her head, a strong sign to Harry that she’d had a stressful afternoon.

“Everything alright?” Harry asked tentatively. Even without the burning red signal of her hair, the slight crinkle between her eyebrows made it abundantly clear, that everything was not alright.

Ginny slumped into the seat beside him, thrusting the parchment into his face as she sat.

“Ah,” He said, taking the parchment from Ginny’s hand and casting his eyes over her exam schedule for the next two weeks.

“Why does it look so much worse, all mapped out in neat little boxes like that?” Ginny’s question was somewhat muffled by her arms, which her head was currently buried in, on the table.

“Makes it less theoretical, I suppose,” Harry mused.

Ginny’s head lifted from the table, her expression grim. “Will you still go out with me if I just drop out now?”

“No,” Harry said seriously, “I’m not going out with a quitter.”

The crinkle between Ginny’s eyebrows disappeared immediately, though her expression remained serious. “What about if I fail everything?”

“Well, I’m definitely not going out with a failure,”

Ginny sighed heavily, even as a smile appeared on her face. “I suppose I’ll have to pass everything then.”

“Not just pass,” Harry said, grinning back at her. “I want to see at least an ‘E’ in everything,”

“Seems a bit unfair,” Ginny said. “You failed Divination and History of Magic.”

“Sorry, are you receiving visions from Voldemort directly into your mind?” Harry asked, his tone playful so that Ginny knew he was joking.

“No,” Ginny admitted, her smile not faltering for a second. “But he did possess me once, doesn’t that count for something?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Harry said regretfully. “We’re only accepting current possessions as a reason for failure. If something changes, come back to me and we’ll reconsider.”

“In that case, I guess I’d better hurry up and eat so I can get to the bloody library.” Ginny scowled at her serving of pie as she pulled it towards her, as though it had made the audacious suggestion that she needed to spend her evening buried in books.
***

Ginny’s stomach swirled nervously as she left the great hall hand in hand with Harry. She walked the familiar path to the library in silence; the exam schedule, which was now safely ensconced in her bag, felt like it weighed heavier than a stack of bricks.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Harry informed Ginny as they reached the corridor leading to the library.

“About what?” Ginny asked, his voice having pulled her from her anxious thoughts.

“I don’t mind going out with a failure, if it means you don’t have to spend all night in there.” Harry tilted his head in the direction of the library with an expression that was more suited to the prospect of spending an evening in a particularly dank cave and just the thought that Harry also wanted her to be anywhere else was enough to cheer Ginny, just a little bit.

“I’m afraid Ginny Weasley doesn’t fail,” She said with more conviction than she currently felt. “So, if you want to go out with a failure, you’ll have to find somebody else.”

Harry’s arms circled Ginny’s waist, pulling her towards him. “I’ve already made it abundantly clear that I don’t want that.”

She kissed him slowly, making every attempt to draw out their goodbye as long as possible. Knowing it was going to be hours before they were reunited and even then they wouldn’t have long before she had to go to bed to do this all over again tomorrow.

When she finally pulled away from Harry and entered the library, Luna was already waiting for Ginny at one of the better tables by the windows. Books, parchment, ink and quills were already scattered all across its surface and Luna glanced up from her revision notes for only a second in order to smile at Ginny in greeting. Her usually serene air was somewhat diminished by the tension in her shoulders and the way she kept removing her wand from behind her ear and nervously tapping it on the desk.

Ginny pulled her own notes and books out of her bag and added them to the mess already accumulated on the table. She picked up her Arithmancy notes and the special highlighting ink that Hermione had gifted her yesterday evening and began in earnest to revise.

They stayed there for hours, both of them trying valiantly to keep their eyes on their books and not be tempted to look out into the twilit grounds, where even the small movement of a bird in flight over the Forbidden Forest was a more interesting sight than yet more homework.

The next time Ginny allowed herself to look up the sky was much darker outside the mullioned windows of the library. Her reflection was starting to become visible as it stared back at her from the glass, her freckles looking like a pale imitation of the stars in the sky.

Just over a fortnight and this would all be over. Just over a fortnight and all that would be left was sunlit days with Harry, a whole summer full of possibilities stretched before her if she could just focus for a short while longer.

Ginny watched her reflection yawn in the window, feeling utterly fatigued. Maybe, it was time to call it quits for the night, to return to the common room and Harry’s waiting arms. It sounded so tempting. Her hands were moving, without conscious permission from Ginny, towards the edge of her book, preparing to close it when -

“Oh!” Luna exclaimed, the first sound either of them had made in nearly two hours.

“What?” Ginny asked even as Luna’s hand dropped her quill and streaked to the pocket of her cardigan. She pulled out something gold and round and shiny. Ginny recognised it instantly.

Ginny’s hand shot to her bag, she rummaged for a few seconds before pulling out her own D.A. coin. It was warm in her hand and the feel of it, the familiar toasty sensation that used to cause her excitement, was like a bucket of cold water being poured straight over her head.

Chapter Text

She stopped to collect exactly two things, her wand and Luna’s hand. Then Ginny ran. Her books and parchment remained on the table; Madam Pince called after them, her tone full of reproach, but Ginny didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

Everything had changed since the last time her Galleon had glowed hot. The last time, she didn't have any reason to know Harry’s every movement, to know if he was planning an impromptu meeting, but now she knew his plans down to the second. There was no possible way that Harry had planned a cosy D.A. reunion this evening and simply failed to mention it to Ginny.

Luna’s hand was clammy in her own, but they remained connected as they flew through the stone corridors in search of Gryffindor Tower. Portraits, suits of armour and delicate busts were nothing more than blurs as she sprinted through passageways and up staircases. Her lungs ached painfully and every breath felt like a knife to the chest but she didn’t stop, didn’t slow, didn’t falter. Her only concern was getting to Harry as quickly as possible.

She could see two figures at the end of the corridor containing The Fat Lady; even from this distance she knew neither of them was Harry. The hallway felt impossibly long, but Ginny and Luna kept running and eventually Ron and Hermione came into sharp focus.

“Where is he?” Ginny panted before she’d even reached them.

Luna pulled her to a halt just before Ginny stumbled into Hermione. Her hand left Ginny's as she moved to slump against the wall.

“He’s gone,” Ron said, resolutely not meeting Ginny’s eye. “He said to tell you goodbye.”

Her heart, which just seconds ago had been thundering frantically, stopped entirely. Ginny’s head was spinning, she couldn’t have heard properly.

“Goodbye?” The word felt heavy on her tongue, as though the weight of it might choke her.

Hermione reached for her arm, spinning Ginny to face her. “Not goodbye - see you later. He’ll see you later.” Ginny couldn’t possibly miss the way Hermione’s voice shook, or the way her lip trembled slightly even as she attempted to maintain a stoic facade of reassurance.

“Where is he?” Ginny demanded.

“He’s gone with Dumbledore somewhere,” Hermione said, her hand quivered where it rested on Ginny’s arm.

“Gone with Dumbledore, where?” Ginny growled.

“We can’t tell you,” This answer came not from Hermione, but Ron.

Ginny spun, her wand rising immediately to point directly in her brother’s face. “Where is he?”

“I’m sorry, Ginny.” Ron really did look sorry, and Ginny really didn’t care.

She took a step towards Ron, her wand now inches from the tip of his nose. “Tell me where he is, right now!”

“Ginny!” She could sense more than see Hermione’s wand pointed at her and still Ginny didn’t lower her own from Ron’s face.

Luna pushed off the wall and came to stand in between Ginny and Hermione, she reached up and gently pushed both of their wands down to point harmlessly at the floor. “Harry wouldn’t like this at all,” She said delicately.

“He’ll be fine, Ginny,” Hermione said more assertively. “He’s with Dumbledore.”

Ginny whirled to face her once more. “You really can’t tell me any more than that?” She was aware of how desperate she sounded, but panic was clawing at her chest like a wild animal battling to break free.

“No,” Hermione said adamantly.”You need to trust him.”

Of course, she trusted Harry. She had since long before their first kiss, since before they’d even really become friends. Since he’d pulled her out of the chamber. Maybe even before that, maybe the moment she’d laid eyes on him. Perhaps that had been stupid childhood infatuation, or perhaps it had been something more but whatever it was, Ginny had always, always trusted Harry and she wasn’t about to stop now.

“Okay,” She said quietly, her head still spinning with fear even as she endeavoured to remain calm.

Luna gave her a small nod of approval before turning her attention to Ron and Hermione. “If Harry’s gone, why did you call us?”

Harry’s gone The words made Ginny flinch. She didn’t know where or why or when he’d be back and somehow she felt like he’d taken a piece of her with him. As though if he didn’t come back a part of her would always be adrift.

“It’s Malfoy.”

Those two words were enough to regain Ginny’s full attention. Malfoy had slipped entirely from her mind in the time since the Quidditch final but the fury she’d felt upon learning he’d tried to land a cruciatus curse on Harry resurfaced in an instant.

Both Ginny and Luna looked at Hermione expectantly, awaiting further explanation of what exactly Malfoy had done this time, when they heard new footsteps running up the hallway towards them.

Ginny’s heart leapt for a moment, hoping, praying, begging that when she turned around she would be greeted by the sight of Harry running towards her but no, she twisted only to find Neville hurrying in their direction and, rather unfairly, Ginny had never been more disappointed to see him.

“Sorry!” Neville called. “I was all the way down in the greenhouses! What’s going on?”

He reached the four of them and bent double, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. Luna reached out and rubbed gentle circles across his back.

“Harry’s out of the castle,” Hermione said matter-of-factly. “He left us a job to do.”

“What job?” Ginny practically snarled, she was sincerely fed up with being drip-fed information from two people who were supposed to be her best friend and her brother.

Rather than answering, Hermione looked desperately over Ginny and Luna’s heads down the corridor. “I was hoping more people were going to show up and then I could just tell everyone at once.”

“I don’t think anyone else carries their coin on them anymore,” Neville said, finally standing fully upright.

“Right!” Ron snapped. “Because all the deaths and disappearances in the paper just scream "this is the time to get complacent!'” Ginny had never been more strongly reminded of Mad-Eye Moody.

“What does Harry need us to do?” Ginny asked loudly, bringing the conversation back on track. If no one else was showing up; fine, Ginny would do whatever Harry needed on her own.

“He’s convinced Malfoy’s up to something-” Hermione began, Ginny already knew this. “He went past the Room of Requirement earlier and he swears he heard Malfoy in there celebrating. He wants us to keep watch.”

“He swears he heard Malfoy celebrating what?” Neville asked, looking immensely confused.

“He doesn’t know,” Ginny answered. “But it doesn’t matter, anything that’s good for Malfoy is bad for anyone decent.”

Ron nodded grimly in agreement with Ginny’s assessment. “He left us the map,” Ron said, withdrawing the Marauder’s map from his pocket. “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”

Ink began to spread from the point where Ron’s wand tapped the parchment and the castle started to take form. Ginny’s eyes darted immediately to the dungeons where a host of dots with Slytherin names were gathered together but there was no Draco Malfoy..

She searched the entirety of the map and then she searched it again and both times she found absolutely no trace of Malfoy’s name.

“He must still be in the Room of Requirement,” Hermione said, giving voice to Ginny’s thoughts. “Some of us need to go down there and keep watch and the others need to go and watch Snape’s office.”

“I’m going to the Room of Requirement,” Ginny said before Hermione had even finished speaking, she had a bone to pick with Draco Malfoy about his reckless use of unforgivable curses.

“Snape’s office?” Neville squeaked. “Why?”

“Because Harry thinks he might be in on it,” Ron said dismissively.

This was news to Ginny but she accepted it immediately, if Harry suspected Snape then she would trust that he had his reasons.

“Right, Ron and Luna can go to Snape’s -”

“No,” Ron cut Hermione off. “I’m going to the Room of Requirement too.”

Ginny knew instantly, with just the briefest of glimpses at her brother’s face that she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t forgiven Malfoy for trying to hit Harry with a cruciatus curse.

“Fine-” Hermione waved a hand dismissively. “Ron, Ginny and Neville go to the Room of Requirement. Luna and I will keep an eye on Snape.”

Ginny was already turning on her heel, prepared to leave immediately, when she felt a hand on her arm and someone pulled her back.

“Wait,” Ron said; Ginny turned to face him once more. “Harry wanted you to have some of this.”

Ron held up a half full vial of pure, golden liquid. Felix Felicis.

“Why -” Ginny snapped. “Didn’t he take it with him?”

She was furious, beyond furious. She wanted to snatch the little bottle from Ron’s hand and smash it against the wall.

“I tried to tell him!” Hermione cried, looking desperately at Ginny. “I told him to take it with him, but he said we had to keep it and share it with you.”

Ginny realised, watching the pleading expression on Hermione’s face, that it wasn't Ron and Hermione she was furious with. It was Harry. He’d left without even so much as a goodbye, with no hint of where he was going or when he’d be back and apparently he’d found it more important to leave them with a potentially life-saving potion for some perceived, potentially-imagined threat, than it was to take it with him.

How could he be so reckless with his own life? Did he not understand how precious it was to Ginny?

Ginny eyed the vial with scathing contempt, part of her wanted to refuse to take it. If Harry wanted her to be safe, he could damn well come back and ensure it himself. She instantly knew she was being an idiot. Wherever Harry was; whatever he was doing, it was certain to be selfless and noble and dangerous and right now she had to do the same.

She snatched the bottle out of Ron’s hand and took a sip before passing it to Hermione. She watched as the other’s each took a swig and the vial drained to nothing.

Both Ginny’s anxiety and her ire dissipated at once, all her previous worrying suddenly seemed extremely foolish. Of course, nothing bad was going to happen. She was filled with a sense of conviction she hadn’t felt since McGonagall had handed her the exam timetable this afternoon.

Beside Ginny, Ron was wearing a similar, carefree grin to the one she could feel on her own face. She surveyed Neville, Luna and Hermione and they all held similar unconcerned expressions, though Ginny had to admit that Luna’s expression hadn’t changed much from its usual dreamlike state.

“Shall we go then?” Neville asked cheerfully, already heading down the hallway in the direction of the Room of Requirement.

“We’ll see you later!” Ron called gaily to Hermione and Luna as they parted ways at the landing to the staircase, Hermione and Luna waving a merry farewell as they descended the staircase and Ginny, Ron and Neville rounded the corner.

They hurried down the hallway and came to a halt in front of the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy, none of them making a sound. Ginny didn’t know why, she simply knew it was imperative that the three of them remain silent as they waited, though she didn’t know what she was waiting for.

Ginny’s wand hadn’t left her hand since the moment she picked it up in the library, and she held it steadily in front of her now, poised and ready for an attack that may never come.

On her right, Ron leaned against the tapestry, his stance casual, but his wand also primed to defend if needed. To Ginny’s left, Neville paced back and forth, his wand held tensely in his outstretched arm, his expression serious.

Three-quarters of an hour passed without incident. Ginny remained in place between Ron and Neville, her wand in front of her. She didn’t feel bored, even with nothing to do but stand in the silent hallway.

Her mind wandered to Harry, off in the dark night somewhere with Dumbledore. Her instincts were telling her not to worry, that everything was going to be fine but a very insistent voice in the back of her head disagreed. A voice that Ginny had lost contact with once before, with disastrous consequences, and vowed never to again; her own.

Yes, Ginny’s voice was positively screaming at her in her head that, despite what the potion might think, someone needed to worry about Harry and it needed to be her. His parents and Sirius were gone and his remaining family was less than useless. True; Ron and Hermione cared about him as did the rest of her family but they didn’t love him as Ginny did.

love. The word rocked through her brain with all the placidity of a monsoon.

Naturally, it dawned on Ginny now whilst her head was at war with itself and Harry was Merlin knew where; no doubt doing something incredibly dangerous.

She was in love with him. Of course, she was. How could she not be? Maybe she’d even known it that evening in the common room, when she’d thought about ending it and realised in less than a second that she was incapable of doing so.

It was at that moment, when everything in the world seemed to change and yet nothing really had, that the wall directly across from her shimmered and turned into an open doorway and out stepped an extremely pale, exceedingly drawn, Draco Malfoy. Clutched in his grasp was a withered, desiccated hand; just the sight of it turned Ginny’s stomach. She had no choice but to push all thoughts of Harry to the back of her mind, to be dealt with later.

Ginny's wand rose higher, an incantation rising to her lips but she already knew she was too late. Malfoy’s free hand was lifting in time with Ginny’s wand arm. He unclenched his fist and seemed to release a black cloud from nowhere. The last thing Ginny saw was Malfoy looking directly at her; he didn’t look happy, or satisfied, or triumphant. He looked terrified and, though she didn’t know why, his fear caused dread to flood Ginny’s every pore faster than his usual overconfident sneer ever had.

The whole world was black. Not dark, not dim, not shadowy. Black. The kind of darkness that sits heavily upon your skin, pressing upon you and threatening to claim the light from inside you as well.

“Ginny!” She heard Ron cry frantically, though the darkness was so oppressive she couldn’t tell if he was inches or miles away from her.

“Guys, where are you?” Neville’s voice held no more clues to their whereabouts.

“Lumos” It was a spell Ginny had stayed up for hours practising at the beginning of second year after the rest of her roommates went to sleep, a way of assuring she was never trapped in darkness again and for the first time it failed her.

The potion was telling her to remain calm, but with every frantic beat of her heart its insistence dulled slightly and her panic grew.

“Ginny! Ron!” Neville sounded as panicked as Ginny felt.

Ginny didn’t answer, blood was pounding in her head. She was no longer in the corridor, but in a chamber, a cold, dim chamber, where she’d meekly laid down to die.

Harry Potter isn’t coming to save you this time, Ginny.

Fire. Fire burned within her, one that not even the smothering darkness could extinguish. She didn’t need Harry to save her, or anyone else. Ginny had put herself back together after the chamber and she would pull herself through this too.

The pounding wasn’t in Ginny’s head, nor was it in the chamber. it was footsteps in the corridor. Dozens of pairs of feet making their way assuredly down the corridor.

“Incendio!” She heard Neville cry, but nothing happened.

“Confringo!” Ron tried, but still, not even a spark of light penetrated the darkness.

”Stupe-”

“No!” Ron roared, cutting off Ginny’s attempt to send a stunning spell in what she thought was the direction of the retreating footsteps. “You have just as much chance of hitting us as them.”

For once Ginny didn’t even attempt to argue with her brother; he was right.

“Ron, where are you?” Ginny pushed her free arm - the one not clutching her wand - to the side, grasping at the spot she thought she’d last known her brother to be. Her instincts urged her that she needed to move, and for the first time since she’d taken a sip, the potion and her brain were finally in agreement. For a few unnerving moments, she felt nothing and then her fingertips brushed the soft cotton of Ron’s shirt. Not a second later she felt him clamp her wrist tightly.

“It’s me!” Ginny cried and Ron’s grip loosened immediately.

Ginny used Ron’s arm to guide herself towards him. “Neville!”

“I’m here!” Neville called. Ginny focussed with an unbound concentration on his voice and stumbled towards him. After what felt like years of scrambling, the sound of the footsteps becoming more distant with every second, Ginny found Neville’s arm and arranged his hands on Ron’s shoulders.

Turning in the direction it sounded like the footsteps were moving in, Ginny placed Ron’s hands on her shoulders and used her non-wand arm to run her hand along the wall and slowly make her way down the corridor.

They moved with infuriating slowness, every footstep was tentative and cautious. The three of them continued to flounder down the hallway for what could have been minutes or centuries, the only things ensuring Ginny that she was still in the physical world were the rough stone beneath her fingertips, the feel of Ron’s fingers digging tensely into her shoulders and the sound of his laboured breathing behind her.

Her fingers slid from the wall as they reached the corner, one more faltering footstep and Ginny was assaulted by light. Her hand flew in front of her face, shielding her burning eyes from the searing brightness. The contrast of pure darkness to brilliant light was jarring and for a moment Ginny was just as blind as she had been in the tenebrosity.

Ginny blinked rapidly, and slowly the world came back into focus. They were standing in one of the rarely used corridors on the seventh floor, the one with the broom closet that no one ever went in. No one but her and Harry. Right now, the hallway was empty aside from Ginny, Neville and Ron. There was no sign of Malfoy or whoever had been with him.

“What do we do?” Neville asked, his head spinning frantically in every direction.

“Stay here,” Ron and Ginny said in unison. She didn’t know why, she just knew it was imperative she didn’t move from this spot.

They'd stood for less than five seconds; wands drawn, breathing heavily, when Ginny heard more footsteps approaching them from the opposite direction to the one they’d come from. She spun, her wand held firmly in front of her, a curse poised on her lips. The footsteps thundered louder and louder.

The first thing she noticed was hair, the exact same shade of red as her own.

“Bill?” Ginny cried, never more relieved to see her eldest brother.

“Ginny?” Bill called back, running to reach her. “Ron?”

Bill stopped in front of them, his gaze flickering anxiously between Ginny and Ron, taking in their panicked expressions and their wands raised defensively in front of them. Lupin and Tonks appeared behind Bill’s shoulder, their faces twin masks of concern upon seeing Ginny, Ron and Neville.

“What are you doing out of the common room?” Bill demanded.

“What are you doing here?” Ginny asked at the same time.

“We’re here on Order business,” Lupin said calmly, offering no further explanation.

The urge to tell him they were here on D.A. business in the same vague manner rose within Ginny, but she forced it down. Now was most definitely not the time to be petty.

“Something’s happened!” Ron exclaimed. “Harry told us to watch Malfoy so we’ve been waiting outside the Room of Requirement for the past hour and he finally appeared but then everything went dark and we heard a bunch of people moving around but we couldn’t see who they were, or where they went!”

Bill, Tonks and Lupin shared an alarmed look with one another before turning back to face Ginny, Ron and Neville.

“Where is Harry?” Lupin asked in the same mellow tone.

“We don’t know!” Ginny practically screamed, having the same question that had been running through her mind constantly since she’d discovered him gone, asked of her was extremely frustrating. “He’s gone with Dumbledore.”

The way Lupin’s face paled at the information, the way Tonks’ lips parted slightly in surprise, the way Bill leaned back faintly did nothing to soothe Ginny’s clawing anxiety.

“You said there were people with Malfoy?” Tonks asked, her expression changing to one Ginny hadn’t seen since the night in the Department of Mysteries. “How many people?”

“No idea,” Ron said honestly. “We couldn’t see a thing.”

“We need to search the castle. Now.” Lupin said, his wand rose and a huge silver wolf erupted from it, immediately streaking down the corridor. Lupin and Tonks took off at a run in the opposite direction.

“You three, get back to the common room!” Bill instructed, already turning to follow Lupin and Tonks.

“I’m of age,” Ron argued, taking off after Bill.

“I’m not going back to the common room,” Ginny said simply, the idea was unthinkable to her. She ran after her brothers, Neville, falling into step beside her.

Entirely unbidden and unexpectedly a memory played in Ginny’s mind as she chased after her brothers down the hallways of Hogwarts. She was four years old; in the orchard of The Burrow, Charlie and Bill were home for the summer and all of her brothers were throwing a quaffle around. Ginny wanted to play too. She desperately wanted to be included but every time she got close, her brothers ran away, and she simply couldn’t keep up.

She could keep up now though. She might still be smaller, but she was fast. Her speed was her strength and she would use every ounce of it if she had to.

She rounded the corner only half a step behind Ron and ran squarely into him as he stopped dead. Gathered halfway down the hallway, running with just as much purpose as Ginny and her own companions, was a mass of dark-robed wizards. Death Eaters. Malfoy’s pale hair was noticeable in the centre of the group.

“We’ve got company!” A huge blonde Death Eater called, looking over his shoulder in the direction of Ginny and the others.

The Death Eaters whirled to face them. A man that Ginny could only describe as lopsided, sent a curse hurling in Neville’s direction. Tonks’ wand flicked almost imperceptibly and the curse was deflected immediately.

“Stick to the plan!” A smaller blonde man, with extraordinary harsh facial features, yelled, and the Death Eaters began to run down the corridor once more, throwing curses over their shoulders and making it almost impossible for Ginny and the others to pursue them.

Ginny’s blood pumped forcefully in her veins as she gave chase, she was wedged between Tonks and Neville, their shoulders knocking as they ran. She urged herself forward, running faster than she ever had before, dodging and weaving curses with a precision that could only be considered lucky.

Bill was right behind her, sending his own curses flying over Ginny’s head in the direction of the Death Eaters, but nothing seemed to be landing on them either. Her breathing was coming in short, ragged bursts, the muscles in her legs screamed in protest with every step. Finally, they entered the dimly lit corridor which housed the entrance to the Astronomy Tower and stopped.

The Death Eater’s huddled defensively in front of the door to the tower, one of them broke off, disappearing through the doorway out of sight. No one else moved. The air seemed charged with thick tension. Ginny’s heart hammered furiously in her chest, the hand clutching her wand in front of her twitched, but she held it steady.

She heard more footsteps behind her, but Ginny didn’t dare tear her eyes away from the Death Eaters to check who it was. The answer came almost immediately anyway.

“Cruc-”

The female Death Eater’s curse was cut off by McGonagall. “Stupefy!” A jet of red light flew over Ginny’s head, streaking directly towards the woman, but was deflected by the lopsided man, who now stood beside her.

The tension that had settled so thickly between the two groups had been severed by the exchange of spells and without further preamble, the once dimly lit corridor was illuminated with the light of a dozen curses.

The colossal blonde Death Eater began throwing killing curses with wild abandon, seemingly unconcerned if he hit friend or foe. It was all Ginny could do to stay out of their path. Her body seemed to move without conscious direction from her, eluding death by mere inches.

Her awareness of what was happening to those around her was severely impeded as Ginny desperately tried to avoid the flashes of green light that were periodically illuminating the dim corridor. The potion, which had originally given her such a strong feeling of confidence, was diminishing at an alarming rate.

Spells of all colours were bouncing erratically across the corridor, like the world’s most deadly firework display, and Ginny continued to dance around them.

Beside her Ron was brandishing his wand, sending hex after hex in the direction of the Death Eaters but they repelled every single one.

”Impedimenta!” Ginny cried, sending a flash of blue light across the corridor in the direction of the smaller of the two blonde Death Eaters, a man with harsh features, he blocked it immediately, but his attention was caught by Ginny now. He stalked towards her, wand aloft and an amused smile in place on his.

“Impedimenta!” Ginny tried again, but the harsh-faced Death Eater deflected it once more with a lazy flick of his wand.

There was nowhere to run, the corridor was uncomfortably cramped. Ron pressed against one side of her and Bill at the other. The enormous Death Eater was still sending curses flying in spasmodic fashion, making it impossible to move away from one another without risking being hit.

The harsh-faced Death Eater stopped feet from Ginny, his wand pointed directly at her and started firing curse after curse in her direction. Ginny ducked and jumped and dodged as much as possible in the tiny patch of floor space she’d claimed as her own. She didn’t even try and fire any curses back, there wasn’t time to do anything but swerve the onslaught of deadly spells firing at her.

The door to the tower opened and shut with a slam, loud enough to distract the harsh-faced Death Eater facing Ginny and she took the opportune moment to catch her breath. Her eyes automatically wandering to the door where the Death Eater who had disappeared earlier was now standing. Ginny watched, fixated, as one of the killing curses that was still bounding around the space, hit him directly in the chest and he crumpled to the ground.

She should have been sad, or at the least regretful to see a life ended in front of her, but all Ginny could think was one down.

Death did not stop the battle. Nobody paused, there was no reprieve. Ginny was shoved roughly to the side by Tonks who sent a curse at the ginormous blonde death eater with fierce determination. Ginny had no opportunity to see if it hit its mark as she stumbled directly into the path of a jet of orange light which she managed to dodge by a fraction.

There was a loud crashing noise to Ginny’s right. She glanced across as she spun out of the path of a stunning spell, only to see Neville engulfed in a cloud of red smoke. His scream was ear-splitting, the sound pierced right through to Ginny’s core. Suddenly, the screaming stopped, the cloud of smoke vanished and Ginny watched as Neville slumped to the ground.

The terror that Ginny had been valiantly pushing down ever since she’d discovered Harry was gone, threatened to overwhelm her once more, but she steadfastly ignored it. There was no time to indulge in anything as luxurious as emotions. She fell to her knees to avoid a duo of curses that soared straight at her head. When Ginny rose again it was to come face to face with the female Death Eater.

“Stupe-” the jinx hadn’t even left her mouth before Ginny was swerving again, a curse shooting at her from the left. She felt the heat of it against her cheek as the blue light streaked past her and the female Death Eater had to duck to avoid it as well. Ginny turned to see who had sent the curse and that was when she saw a nightmare play out in front of her eyes.

Bill. Bill had been stood inches from her, wand aloft, curses firing with impressive speed. He turned, seemingly to check on Ron and that was when it happened. Ginny would recognise him anywhere, his wanted poster had been on the front of The Prophet for months. Fenrir Greyback leapt on her brother’s turned back, knocking them both to the ground. His horrible pointed teeth sank into Bill’s cheek before they’d even reached the ground. Ginny screamed.

She tried valiantly to reach Bill, but she was blocked by a volley of jinxes working back and forth across the corridor. Greyback was still crouching over Bill, a low growl escaping his throat as he continued his savage attack.

“Bill!” Ron’s eyes were wide as saucers, his freckles stood out sharply against his pale skin.

Petrificus Totalus! Ginny’s curse missed by miles; her hand was shaking uncontrollably.

Giving no apparent thought to the spells flying wildly through the air, Ron dove for Bill and Greyback. Ginny’s heart was in her mouth. One brother was bad enough but not two, please not Ron. Ginny watched, frozen in place, protected from runaway curses only by luck, as Ron’s shoulder collided with Greyback’s neck, pushing him off Bill.

They both tumbled to the ground, Greyback’s arms pining Ron to the floor, his face hovering inches from Ron’s. No, no, no.

“WHERE’S DRACO?” The female Death Eater yelled and the air seemed to thin slightly. Greyback leapt up from Ron, his eyes searching the corridor madly and the endless barrage of hexes lessened marginally as the other Death Eaters searched for Malfoy as well.

Ginny had forgotten about Malfoy entirely, so caught up was she in staying alive in the face of a much larger threat, but she searched for him now. Her head twisted frantically from side to side, but there was no sign of him. He had brought death to their door and then disappeared.

The female Death Eater and the lopsided one ran for the door to the Astronomy Tower; Greyback and the harsh-faced Death Eater on their heels. The door slammed shut behind them and the fight resumed immediately. The huge Death Eater becoming, impossibly, more savage with his curses aiming them faster than Ginny could breathe. Tonks, Lupin and McGonagall stood side by side, attempting to take him on.

Ron was crouched over a feebly stirring Bill muttering to him, his wand lay uselessly at his side in a pool of Bill’s scarlet blood.

In the corner of her eye, she saw Neville push off from the wall, moving on shaky legs towards the door to the tower. He reached the door before Ginny could get to him. His hand had barely touched the iron handle before he was soaring through the air, colliding against the far wall with a sickening crunch before sliding to rest on the ground once more.

“Neville!” Ginny called trying to get to him, dodging and weaving the Death Eaters’ curses and making no headway whatsoever.

Ginny froze in the middle of the corridor, at a complete loss for what to do. Carnage surrounded her. Ron was still kneeling over Bill, both of them covered in blood. Bill was unrecognisable and Ron’s face was stained with tears. Neville laid still against the wall, thankfully his chest was rising and falling evenly. McGonagall, Lupin and Tonks were still locked in combat with the gigantic Death Eater, they were trading spells with dizzying speed and still making very little progress to neutralise him. Curses flew around the corridor, bouncing off the walls, suits of armour, the ceiling and making every tiny movement fraught with the risk of being hit.

They needed help. Her parents. Hermione. Harry. Anyone.

That was when she heard yet more footsteps approaching and maybe their luck hadn’t run out yet. Or maybe it had. Ginny wasn’t sure of anything anymore, but for good or bad Snape came running around the corner and swept towards them.

Harry thinks he’s in on it.

Maybe she should stop him. Ginny took one step towards Snape and a flash of green light flew straight for her; she had no choice but to dive away from it. She slipped in a patch of Bill’s blood and skidded across the stone floor, coming to rest against the far wall, her shoulder stinging painfully from the impact. Ginny didn’t take a second to breathe, to collect herself. Still, by the time she was upright once more, Snape was nowhere to be seen.

Lupin detached from the fight and ran for the door. Like Neville before him, he’d scarcely touched the handle before being hurled backwards. Ginny watched in horror as Lupin’s skinny body soared through air, slammed into the wall and landed beside Neville.

Ginny was still frozen in place when the world erupted around her.

The ceiling above her head began to cave in, rubble and dust surrounded her as she dove in the direction of Bill and Ron; landing protectively over Bill’s head. Debris rained down on Ginny, hitting her hard in the thigh and the back, forcing the air from her lungs.

“The door!” She heard Lupin yell.

Ginny looked up, her vision was clouded by a haze of thick dust but she could just about see Tonks and Lupin both rushing for the door to the tower. Her legs shook and her lungs stung, but she ignored the unsteadiness entirely as she rose to follow them. She could see more spells illuminating the stairwell, and allowing Ginny flashes of plainer vision, but Lupin and Tonks were pushed back before Ginny could even reach them.

They stepped away from the doorway allowing Malfoy to hurry through, closely followed by Snape. She had no time to puzzle out why Malfoy had been hiding at the top of the Astronomy Tower all this time, or why he and Snape were now fleeing.No sooner had the two of them cleared the entrance to the tower before they were pursued by the missing Death Eaters.

Dust filled Ginny’s lungs, forcing a cough from her and capturing the attention of the lopsided Death Eater from earlier. A repulsive smile graced his face as his wand pointed in Ginny’s direction.

“Crucio!” Her instincts were no longer pulling her to dodge with an unignorable force, but still there was a weak tug on her limbs, which Ginny obeyed, allowing her to sidestep the curse. No sooner had she evaded it than the Death Eater was throwing another one at her.

Sweat dripped from Ginny’s brow as she twisted and snaked out of the path of hex, after hex, after hex. Her muscles cramped uncomfortably but Ginny didn’t stop moving for a second.

“You can’t dance forever, pretty,” The Death Eater leered at her and panic bubbled up in Ginny’s chest at the truth of the statement. She could physically feel her luck running out.

“Impedimenta!”

The Death Eater was struck in the chest by a flash of blue light and propelled backwards away from Ginny, but she spared no time checking to see where he landed.

Her head had turned the second she’d heard his voice. “Harry, where did you come from?” It was as though she’d summoned him to her through sheer force of will.

She managed to give him a quick once over, confirming that he was alive and unharmed before Harry was tearing past her. His head down and his wand in front of him. Ginny watched in terror as a curse exploded just above his head, but Harry didn’t even pause. He kept going until he tripped over Neville’s legs.

Ginny tried to make her way towards him but she was blocked by what was essentially a wall of curses, making it impossible for her to reach him. Even as the spells kept flying she saw a contingent of the Death Eaters break away and take off down the corridor and out of sight.

Harry twisted, aiming his wand at the huge Death Eater and his aim was true. The huge Death Eater floundered for a moment before bolting down the hallway, away from the battle, finally granting a reprieve from his unending torrent of spells.

Harry was up quicker than lightning, tearing away from the fight in pursuit of the Death Eaters.

“HARRY!” Ginny screamed, she’d only just got him back; watching him run straight back into danger was unthinkable.

Ginny began to run after him, screaming his name but a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, holding Ginny in place. She kicked and punched and thrashed and still the vice-like grip of the arms didn’t release any. She twisted her head, trying to get a look at who had ensnared her but she was unable to turn enough to see.

“Ginny!” Ron’s voice filled her ear. “Stop struggling.”

“Let me go!” She shrieked, kicking backwards at Ron’s knees.

“No, you can’t chase after him.”

She had to. Ron didn’t understand, she had to make sure Harry was okay. If anything happened to him, Ginny’s heart would break irreparably.

She was exhausted but Ginny didn’t stop thrashing, determined to free herself from Ron’s grasp. The Death Eaters were all gone now, the corridor dim and gloomy without the illumination of excessive curses.

“LET ME GO!” Ginny screamed again, but Ron didn’t budge.

Madam Pomfrey came running up the corridor towards them, only the muscle ticking in her jaw betraying any sign of distress as she sank to her knees beside Bill. Finally, Ginny stopped struggling and waited with bated breath for the Matron’s diagnosis. Ron’s hold on her finally loosened, but Ginny didn’t attempt to run, she merely turned and buried her head in Ron's chest.

“He’ll live.”

Ginny released a breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding. She found herself supporting Ron’s weight as he slumped against her. He gently stroked her hair, like he used to do the summer after first year, when her nightmares kept her up into the early hours of the morning.

“There’s no telling what the consequence of this will be, though,” Madam Pomfrey said brusquely. Ginny didn’t care, as long as she didn’t lose her brother. She wouldn’t survive it.

“I need to find Harry,” Ginny announced, now that Bill was in safe hands it was her only concern. Ron’s arms tightened around her once more, preventing her from taking even one step away from him.

“I agree, Miss Weasley,” McGonagall said from behind her. “I’ve had confirmation that there are no further Death Eaters on the grounds. Mr Weasley, perhaps you could go and locate Miss Granger?”

“And Luna,” Ginny added.

“I should have known,” McGonagall muttered. “Please meet us in the hospital wing as soon as you are able. Poppy, I believe you've already had Filius sent there? Remus, will you be so kinds as to help Mr Longbottom to the infirmary as well?”

Ron’s arms finally released Ginny and she sprinted away without a moment’s hesitation, her only desire in the world was reaching Harry.

Chapter Text

Ginny had reached the fifth-floor landing before she realised she had absolutely no idea where she was going. Despite her earlier revelations of love, and the fact that Harry had seemingly appeared out of nowhere to rescue her earlier, she couldn’t actually locate him through sheer force of will. That was the kind of thing that only happened in bedtime stories, and Ginny most certainly wasn’t living in one of those.

Ron had been behind her, he’d set off only a second after Ginny, and although she’d never dream of saying it aloud, she knew he would be just as desperate to reach Hermione as she was to get to Harry. Ginny finally stopped to ask him for the map, but she found that her brother was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps he was nearby, but Ginny had no way of knowing, for she was being swept up into a crowd of pyjama-clad students. Many of them gave her a wide berth, no doubt due to the fact she was covered in blood and dust and there were several holes in her shirt where curses had grazed the material. For one moment she had the preposterous thought that her mother was going to kill her for ruining her uniform this close to the end of term. The absurdity of the notion almost made her laugh out loud, which would have, no doubt, only made her look more unhinged to the students surrounding her.

“Ginny?” She heard a familiar voice call from the other side of the crowd. She almost ignored it, it wasn’t Harry’s voice or Ron’s and therefore it was utterly irrelevant at the moment. But Ginny didn’t know where she was supposed to be going and perhaps someone else had seen Harry pass, so she followed the sound of Michael’s call.

Michael stood amidst a group of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor D.A. members. His hand was firmly clutched in Cho Chang's; beside him, Anthony and Terry shared matching grave expressions, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati and Padma were huddled closely together whispering to one another.

All of them looked up as Ginny approached, their eyes widening as they took in the state of her. For the first time in her life, Ginny couldn’t find it within her to care that she looked like an unequivocal mess whilst Cho somehow managed to look like she should be on the cover of Witch Weekly even in her pyjamas with her hair mussed from sleep.

“Ginny?” Dean said her name faintly. “What happened?”

She didn’t bother trying to explain, it would be impossible to sum up the events of the evening succinctly. Well Dean, I was in the library doing some much needed and very much resented revision when I was summoned back to Gryffindor Tower to discover my boyfriend missing and next thing I know, I’m surrounded by Death Eaters, my brother looks like he's been in a fight with a sentient cheese grater and I can’t find my aforementioned boyfriend anywhere. Anyway, how was your evening, did you do any nice drawings?” No, Dean had never appreciated her sense of humour enough to find that funny.

“Have you seen Harry?” She said instead. Thankfully, for once, Dean didn’t look even slightly annoyed at the sound of Harry’s name on Ginny’s lips. It seemed she currently looked so bad, that even Dean couldn’t muster any resentment.

“No,” Cho, Lavender and Parvati all said in unison as Seamus, Dean and Michael shook their heads. Anthony, Terry and Padma were still looking transfixed at Ginny, seemingly unable to respond to her.

“Ginny, what happened?” Lavender tried again, but Ginny was already turning away. If they didn’t know where Harry was they were useless to her, as they had been all night.

“Ginny, wait!” Cho cried and for some unknown reason, Ginny obeyed, pausing mid-step though still not turning back to face the group. “They’re saying Dumbledore’s dead. It’s not true is it?”

Ginny turned around, preparing to tell Cho that now really wasn’t the time to try and develop a sense of humour, but something in the others' expressions made her pause.

Where was Dumbledore? Harry had been with him and Harry had joined the fight near the end but Ginny hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Dumbledore. Surely, he should have come and joined the fight. Dumbledore would not abandon them when they were losing so terribly and he certainly wouldn’t leave Harry, so where had he been?

Her disturbing train of thought was halted for the moment as the crowd beside them thinned and Ernie MacMillan, Zacharias Smith and Susan Bones appeared from the masses. Much like the other members of the D.A., their eyes widened upon seeing the state of Ginny.

“Merlin, you look a mess,” Zacharias informed her with all of his usual tact.

“Yes, well I actually answered the call for help!” Ginny spat, suddenly furious at the lot of them for huddling together in fear whilst Ginny, Ron and Neville had been forced to battle the forces of evil alone. “To be clear, your coins aren’t just for fucking decoration!”

Dean and Michael, both of whom had been on the receiving end of Ginny’s temper before, took a step back, Michael pulling Cho with him.

“Ginny, we’re sorry,” Susan said immediately, her tone soft. “My Galleon was on my bedside table, I stopped carrying it with me at Christmas when I almost accidentally spent it buying my mum’s present.”

Ginny didn’t care. It didn’t matter why they hadn’t had their coins with them, all that mattered is that none of them had been there when they were so desperately needed and now Bill was maimed for life and Neville was grievously injured and Dumbledore was - well, Ginny didn’t know, but the dread inside her was growing stronger with every second because Dumbledore should have been there and he wasn’t and even though it seemed impossible that something could have happened to him, there really seemed to be very little other explanation.

She knew one thing for certain though, if Dumbledore was gone - He can’t be - then Hogwarts was no safer than anywhere else in the Wizarding World and the D.A. was no longer just a homework club. It was time to stop playing at war and start taking it seriously.

“We are all in danger. My brother is maimed-”

“Ron?” Lavender gasped, suddenly growing incredibly pale.

“No, not Ron.” Ginny snapped, pushing the horrifying image of Ron with Greyback pinned on top of him out of her mind immediately. “Neville is in the hospital wing and he really could have used your help tonight. Either start taking this seriously and carry your coins around with you at all times, or give them back if this is just a game to you!”

Without awaiting a response, because really none would be good enough; nothing any of them could say would change the fact that they hadn’t been there tonight, Ginny turned to leave them behind.

“Where are you going?” Zacharias called after her.

“To find Harry,” Ginny replied as she moved away, even though he certainly didn’t deserve a response.

“He ran out into the grounds,” Ernie said, gaining Ginny’s attention once more.

“Where on the grounds?”

“I don’t know, Malfoy and Snape ran past and then Harry followed after them a few moments later. It was like he was chasing them, he shoved a third year out of the way.”

Ginny didn’t need any more information. She was doing some shoving of her own, forcing her way through the crowd in the direction of the staircase.

“GINNY!” Dean shouted but Ginny had had enough interruptions and she didn’t turn again, all her effort going on forging a path through the crowd. “Is Neville alright?”

“You’d better hope so!” Ginny returned over her shoulder as she managed to make a gap between some burly fourth years, wide enough for her to slip through and finally begin to descend the staircase. She knew that Neville was alright, he was awake and breathing when she’d left and if Bill was going to survive then Neville certainly was, but, call her cruel, Ginny didn’t feel the rest of the D.A. deserved the peace of mind right now.

The staircase was only usually this congested on Friday afternoons after the final bell when people were desperate to start their weekends. Ginny was struggling to make any headway and bitterly regretting not trying to take one of the secret passageways to the first floor.

She’d hoped the state of her might be enough to get people to move out of her way but most of the students on the staircase were older and far less likely to be shocked by the state of a Weasley covered in injuries, so though she was getting some curious looks, no one seemed particularly motivated to move aside for her.

“Ginny?” Someone was calling out to her again and this time she did ignore it. The need to get to Harry was becoming more agonising every second. She went to pull her wand from her pocket and realised it was still in her hand, she hadn’t let go of it since the moment her coin had glowed in the library hours and hours ago. A lifetime ago.

She raised her wand high over her head and released a shower of red sparks above the crowd, gaining the attention of anyone who wasn’t already staring at her, which admittedly wasn’t that many people. “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” She bellowed, brandishing her wand threateningly in front of her.

Maybe her Bat-bogey hex truly was legendary, or maybe she just looked remarkably menacing, covered in blood and dirt and decay, her hair had come unbound from its bobble hours ago and she knew it must look absolutely wild at the moment. Whatever the reason, people parted like the sea, allowing her to pass.

She exited the staircase when she reached the landing on the fourth floor. The crowd had dispersed somewhat but she didn’t want to battle it all the way to the entrance hall, not when fatigue was threatening to overwhelm her with every step as it was.

In less than a minute she reached a tapestry that concealed one of Hogwarts many secret passageways. Ginny pulled it back and was devoutly thankful to find the path unblocked by damage or students. She took the stairs three at a time, jumping the final five steps entirely; ignoring the way both her thigh and her shoulder protested the jostling movements. She dashed through the tapestry at the bottom and finally, Ginny reached the first floor.

The way to the marble staircase was even more obstructed than anywhere else she’d been tonight, and she didn’t even think the threat of her wand was going to get Ginny through it. Students were throwing panicked glances at one another, the whispering was almost deafening, so loud that Ginny couldn’t help but catch snatches of it.

“Yes, Dumbledore dead…”

“Fell from the Astronomy Tower…”

“Harry Potter is with his body…”

It couldn’t be true. But if it wasn’t then how did anyone know about the Astronomy Tower at all? Oh God, and Harry was with Dumbledore’s body. Was he alone?

“Ginny! Ginny!” Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her nearer to the stairs. She turned her head to find Katie and Demelza, standing together, their expressions grave.

“Are you alright?” Katie squealed, her eyes travelling over Ginny’s wayward appearance.

“I need to get to Harry!” She was done answering questions. She was absolutely positive Hary needed her right now. Demelza and Katie, her teammates for the better part of a year, simply nodded in understanding.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!” Demelza bellowed, using her elbows to shove a group of first years out of her path.

“MOVE!” Katie ordered some of her fellow seventh years and they did without protest.

With her two fellow chasers assisting her, Ginny made it to the oak front doors with only minimal delay. Demelza gave her hand a squeeze just as Ginny slipped out into the still night.

The base of the Astronomy Tower was not far from the entrance hall and Ginny had no trouble locating it, due to the high concentration of wand light gathered there. She raced over, noting the acrid smell of smoke in the air and the heart-wrenching sound of Fang’s howls as she ran.

Harry came into view once Ginny was within a few feet of the tower. The sight of him flooded her with relief for less than a second before she took in the nightmarish scene he was currently at the centre of.

Students and teachers alike were crowded on the soft, green grass, most of their wands lit to provide some semblance of illumination in the deep night. Dumbledore’s body lay still and silent upon the ground, she’d tried to prepare herself, but still, the sight shocked her. It seemed impossible that Dumbledore had fallen. Something more monumental than just a man had been lost.

She didn’t take even a second to dwell on the enormity of the situation. Her attention was entirely caught by Harry, who was kneeling beside Dumbledore’s body; he looked shattered, both physically and emotionally. Hagrid was pleading with him to move away but Harry steadfastly refused. The sight of him kneeling there, looking utterly broken made Ginny’s chest physically ache.

She had to get him away from here, there was nothing he could do now. This was irreversible even for Harry, who so rarely met a problem he couldn’t fix.

“Harry, come on.” Ginny crouched beside him and Hagrid moved away immediately, giving Ginny space to slip her hand into Harry’s.

Mercifully, Harry accepted her hand and followed her without question. She led him unswervingly through the throng gathered at the base of the tower and through the oak front doors into the entrance hall. People loudly called out, just as they had on Ginny’s journey to the grounds but she didn’t really hear them, her attention was solely on Harry.

His eyes stared straight ahead, completely unseeing. He looked as though he’d taken several stunning spells to the face. He was alive though, and physically he seemed to be unharmed and his hand was back where it belonged in Ginny’s; given everything that had gone so disastrously wrong tonight, that was enough for her right now.

The crowds that had blocked her way to reach him, seemed ready to move aside automatically for Harry. This was fortunate because he seemed to be walking in some sort of daze, Ginny wasn't even sure he knew she was there. A part of Ginny wanted to let him stay there; hopefully, he’d gone somewhere far away in his head, somewhere less bleak than the reality they were now living in, but she knew better than that. Neither she nor Harry had ever found solace inside their heads. Ginny forced herself to speak, to pull him back to the present.

“We’re going to the hospital wing,” Ginny said.

“I’m not hurt,” Harry said dully.

“It’s McGonagall’s orders,” Ginny explained. “Everyone’s up there, Ron and Hermione and Lupin and everyone -”

“Ginny, who else is dead?”

Of course, his first two sentences were to tell her he didn’t need to go to the hospital wing and to check who else was dead and of course, he didn’t blindly accept her reassurances that everyone was fine, which was, of course, an utter lie.

Try as she might, Ginny couldn’t stop her voice from trembling as she told him about Bill. Her desperate attempts to stay alive and her urgent need to get to Harry had overshadowed all else, but now that both of these issues were no longer considerations, Ginny’s anguish for Bill’s condition rose forth, stronger than ever. Her handsome, charming brother; ravaged for life.

Ginny continued her flow of information all the way to the hospital, for her benefit just as much as Harry’s. If she kept talking she wouldn’t have to think about the true consequences of the evening. Not just Bill’s injuries, or Neville’s. Dumbledore was gone. She’d imagined horrible things happening due to Voldemort’s rising power so many times, but she’d never, ever imagined this. The possibility of losing Dumbledore hadn’t even crossed her mind.

The doors to the hospital wing opened and Ginny just had time to take in the sight of Neville, asleep and peaceful in one of the beds before Hermione flew at them. With great reluctance, Ginny let go of Harry’s hand in order to allow him to return Hermione’s hug. Her eyes, however, didn’t waver from him even for a second. She wasn’t sure when she would next feel secure letting him out of her sight, but it certainly wasn’t now.

She said nothing whilst the rest of the group debated the extent of Bill’s injuries, there was nothing to say. If Ginny opened her mouth she was afraid it would be to release a scream rather than any coherent words.

That was until Ron started asking where Dumbledore was, one look at the anguish on Harry’s face and Ginny knew she must intervene, she must break the news to save Harry from having to do it.

“Ron - Dumbledore’s dead.”

It came as no surprise that Lupin’s first reaction was one of disbelief; Ginny had seen physical evidence in the form of Dumbledore’s body and she still couldn’t quite believe it. They had lost their leader, their one vestige of hope in the darkness had been snuffed out.

Ginny fell silent again as she listened to Harry explain how it had happened. How she had failed to keep Malfoy and Snape from the Astronomy Tower with devastating consequences, although he didn’t phrase it like that, of course. It was still the truth.

She remained silent until she felt music start to reverberate through her. Her father had told Ginny about Phoenix song when she was little, how it moved through you and strengthened your spirit.

“Shhh! Listen!” She whispered, silencing Madam Pomfrey’s loud sobs, if there was ever a group of people in need of Phoenix song it was those gathered in the hospital wing this evening. Ginny observed her companions as she listened. Each of them seemed renewed as the song played on, even Harry who had looked so heart-achingly downcast, seemed to be somewhat soothed by the music. As for Ginny, guilt, fear and confusion still surged through her but it felt more bearable somehow, as though she wasn’t the only one carrying it.

Eventually, Professor McGonagall entered the ward and informed them that her parents were on the way. Ginny stayed quiet whilst the rest of the group debated the evidence against Snape and if they had all, including Dumbledore, been utter fools to ever trust him. She said nothing. Not even when Harry revealed that it had been Snape that had caused Voldemort to go after his parents. It didn’t matter what warning signs everyone else had missed; Harry had left her the job of stopping Malfoy and Snape and Ginny had let him down.

She broke in when Ron began to explain the events of the evening, hoping desperately to make Harry understand why it had happened. That she had tried her hardest, she’d given everything she had and it simply hadn’t been enough. She’d tried to get to Snape, but to do so would have cost her life. She knew now that she should have given it though, if it would have potentially stopped him from reaching the tower. What was Ginny’s life compared to Dumbledore’s? Nothing.

The tale of the night's events came to an end and the whole group fell silent. Now that the battle was over, and they were all relatively safe in the hospital wing, Ginny’s exhaustion was threatening to consume her. Every inch of her ached. Her shoulder throbbed where she’d collided with the wall and her back and thigh twinged where they’d been hit by the falling ceiling.

She was in danger of falling asleep where she stood when her parents arrived, Fleur in tow. A childish part of Ginny wanted to run to them, to hide in her father’s arms, but she’d learnt a long time ago that there was only so much a parent’s love could shield you from and it would do nothing for the turmoil Ginny was feeling now.

Besides, Bill needed them now. She could barely watch as their mother lovingly applied the foul-smelling ointment to Bill’s injuries and their father speculated what the consequences of Greyback’s attack would be.

Her attention was caught, however, by Fleur. Ginny had assumed, much the same as her mother, that Fleur would not want to marry Bill now that he was permanently disfigured. For the first time since meeting her, Fleur Delacour surprised Ginny and by the look on Hermione’s face, she’d surprised her as well.

There was no time to dwell on the sudden appearance of Fleur’s moral character though, before a new revelation was being made and the reason for Tonks’ sporadic response to Ginny’s letters for the better part of a year, was finally revealed. She was in love with Remus Lupin and it seemed that he might love her too.

Apparently, it was to be a night for declarations of love, but Ginny was quite determined to keep hers to herself. Harry looked more like he needed a warm bed and a mug of hot chocolate than a deep discussion about their emotions and in all honesty, Ginny needed much the same.

But it seemed he would not get either of those any time soon, for it was at that moment that Hagrid entered and in less time than it took Ginny to blink Harry was being led away from her once more. She was sorely tempted to follow, one of her feet actually left the ground but Hermione grabbed her hand and held Ginny in place.

“He has to go alone,” Hermione whispered so quietly that no one but Ginny could possibly have heard her.

The door had barely closed behind Harry, Hagrid and McGonagall before her mother rounded on Ginny and Ron, apparently she was now satisfied that Fleur was capable of taking care of Bill, at least for a short while.

Her mother bustled over and began to thoroughly inspect them both. “I am absolutely at the end of my rope with the two of you!” She cried. “You are not members of The Order of the Phoenix and there is absolutely no reason for the two of you to be involved in any sort of skirmish with Death Eaters!”

“What did you want us to do?” Ginny demanded. “Sit in the common room and wait it out?”

“Yes!” Her mother shrieked. “That’s exactly what I expect of you!”

“Well, I’m not ever going to do that!” Ginny shouted. “We were useful tonight!” It felt like a lie even as Ginny said it. Ron had been useful tonight. Ron had saved Bill and Ginny had messed everything up. She’d failed to stop Draco as he exited The Room of Requirement, she’d failed to get Greyback off Bill, she’d failed to stop Snape.

“Molly,” Tonks said gently. “They really were a big help. I don’t think we’d all still be breathing if we didn’t have their assistance.”

Any arguments her mother might have made were cut off as Madam Pomfrey returned from checking on Neville and demanded to check over Ron and Ginny. With a quick swig of a bright blue potion and a few taps of Madam Pomfrey’s wand Ginny’s aching shoulder and the bruises on her back and thigh were soothed in an instant. Though only sleep would cure her weariness.

Her mother stood to the side and supervised Madam Pomfrey’s ministrations of Ron and Ginny - much to Madam Pomfrey’s chagrin - and once both of them were suitably seen to her mother simply said “bed.” and pointed towards the door of the hospital wing.

Ginny didn’t bother to argue, she was fairly certain that McGonagall would send Harry straight to Gryffindor Tower when she was done with him, Neville was still asleep and Bill was under the extremely watchful eye of Fleur so there was no further reason to loiter in the hospital wing and Ginny really was exhausted at this point.

She followed Ron, Hermione and Luna through the door and across the castle, none of them speaking, each of them seemingly weighed down with the knowledge of Dumbledore’s death and the truth that their best efforts had not been good enough to prevent it.

Luna separated from them on the fifth-floor landing, heading in the direction of Ravenclaw Tower after agreeing to meet the others in the hospital wing tomorrow to visit Neville and Bill.

Hermione spoke as Luna vanished around the corner. “The common room is going to be packed,” She warned.

“I really don’t want to deal with it,” Ron sighed, giving voice to exactly what Ginny was thinking. She’d said her piece to the other D.A. members and she had no energy for further conversation tonight.

“Ron, I think you should go straight to the dormitory and wait for Harry, if he’s not already there,” Ginny suggested, even though it went against her every instinct, which was to wait in the common room for Harry to appear and not let him out of her sight ever again. She knew, though, that however much she didn’t want to deal with the staring and the whispers, Harry would want to deal with it even less and so she would leave him in peace for the rest of the night, even from her.

Ron said nothing, but he nodded his agreement, so Ginny considered the matter settled. They reached The Fat Lady and even the effort of climbing through the portrait hole was almost too much at this point, but Ginny used her last ounce of determination to pull herself into the common room.

It was as busy as Hermione had predicted. It seemed the whole of Gryffindor house had decided to gather; to discuss and gossip and fret, but every single one of them fell silent as Ginny, Ron and Hermione entered. None of them said anything; Hermione grabbed her hand and Ginny stared at her trainers as she walked, noting that they were covered in Bill’s blood just as the rest of her was.

She sensed Ron separate from them, but they didn’t even say goodnight to one another, each reluctant to break the silence that surrounded them and invite further words from outsiders.

Ginny tried to part from Hermione at the door to the fifth year girls’ dormitory, but Hermione gripped her hand more tightly and led her all the way to the bathroom at the top of the staircase. “You can’t go to sleep like that,” She said softly.

Hermione took a seat on the tiled floor of the bathroom whilst Ginny disappeared into the privacy of the shower and watched dully as the dirt and blood slipped down the drain and out of sight. Ginny stayed in the shower for no longer than was absolutely necessary, sure that her legs were going to give out any moment.

Once she was safely ensconced in her dormitory, Hermione headed up to her own bed, leaving Ginny alone. It took an enormous amount of effort for Ginny to put her pyjamas on, but she forced herself to do it before the rest of her roommates arrived. Harry’s jumper lay where she’d placed it neatly on the top of her trunk and she pulled that on as well.

She laid in bed for what felt like hours. She was entirely and completely exhausted and still Ginny couldn’t sleep. She held her arm against her face, inhaling the comforting scent of Harry’s jumper whilst snippets of dozens of conversations kept playing over and over in her head.

'There are things Harry can’t tell you.'

'He has to go alone.'

'He’ll be fine, Ginny. He’s with Dumbledore.'

'They’re saying Dumbledore is dead.'

'I don’t want anyone else.'

'I’ve faced dragons and three-headed dogs.'

'It’s only going to get worse before it gets better.'

Ginny rolled out of her bed and stumbled to the door. She took the stairs of the spiral staircase two at a time, finding a deep reserve of energy she didn’t even know she had. She didn’t even bother to knock before entering Hermione’s dark dormitory. The only light was coming from the stairwell behind Ginny and it was diminished as the door swung shut.

“Ginny?” Hermione said groggily. “Are you alright?”

“I’m sleeping here,” Ginny said, crawling into Hermione’s bed. Hermione didn’t protest, she simply shuffled over and threw an arm over Ginny as their heads came to rest side by side on the pillow.

“Are you alright?” Hermione asked again, she was little more than a voice in the darkness.

“Yeah,” Ginny whispered. “I just didn’t want to be on my own.”

“Me either,” Hermione murmured back. “It feels like the end of something.”

Ginny said nothing and slowly Hermione’s breathing turned even. There was nothing to say because Ginny had come to the same conclusion. It was the end of something. Dumbledore was dead and any fantastical perceptions of protection were gone with him. They were alone and every single beat of Ginny's heart felt like the ticking of a clock. They were all on borrowed time now.

It was typical, completely and utterly typical, of Ginny’s life that the very same evening she realised she was in love with Harry was the evening she realised she was going to have to let him go.

Chapter Text

Harry was awoken by his nightmares long before the alarm went off. He’d been in the cave. Alone and helpless; no Dumbledore in sight. The crushing terror that had awoken him had not subsided any when he’d roused from his slumber only to remember, with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, that he was indeed alone and helpless.

He’d slept with the locket clutched in his hand. He wished that he could say the metal felt cool like ice or heavy with the weight of responsibility, but it didn’t. It felt like a perfectly mundane locket and that was infinitely worse than if he currently held a monstrous piece of Voldemort’s soul in his grasp.

The whole nightmarish ordeal in the cave, which had resulted in such catastrophic consequences, had been for absolutely nothing. Dumbledore had died for nothing and now Harry was alone with no idea of what he was supposed to do next.

He had to do something though, the need to take action was like a physical agitation crawling beneath his skin. There were Horcruxes to find and destroy, and it was his responsibility to do it, though he had no idea how. He had never felt such a burning sense of purpose for a task he had absolutely zero ideas how to complete. It was torturous.

The alarm rang sharp and insistent throughout the dormitory, pulling Harry from his disturbing thoughts and awakening Seamus, Dean and Ron. He’d managed to avoid Seamus and Dean last night, but he supposed he would have little choice but to deal with questions, looks and whispers from all corners today.

His dormmates emerged from behind their hangings, but none of them made any further move to get out of bed; they all looked at one another in equal states of confusion. Each of them wide-eyed, blinking at each other like a group of confunded owls.

Eventually, after several minutes of speechless staring, Seamus spoke in a hushed voice. “Is Neville alright?”

“Yeah,” Ron said, his tone equally gentle, “He got hit by a nasty curse. This red fog thing swarmed him and it made his injuries really slow to heal, but Madam Pomfrey says he’ll be fine in a few weeks.” Both Seamus and Dean looked immensely relieved to hear this, as though they’d been fearing much graver news about Neville’s state of health.

“Ginny said he’d been hurt,” Seamus explained. “But she wouldn’t tell us if he was alright. She was raging.”

“When?” Harry asked, Ginny definitely hadn’t been angry for the brief amount of time he’d been with her last night.

“She was looking for you,” Dean said. It was the first thing he’d said directly to Harry since his first kiss with Ginny weeks ago. “She ran into us and some other D.A. members and read us the riot act for not having our coins on us.”

Ron snorted, the noise sounded uncomfortably harsh in the stillness that still hung about the dormitory. “At least she didn’t kick you. I swear half my bruises are from her and not from the actual fight.”

“When did she kick you?” Harry asked, she and Ron had been fine with each other when he’d been with them in the hospital wing.

“When I grabbed her and wouldn’t let her go tearing after you and a horde of Death Eaters,” Ron explained, shaking his head at Ginny’s behaviour and causing both Dean and Seamus' eyes to widen in shock once more at the casual mention of Death Eaters. "Sometimes, I forget how vicious she is.”

Harry didn't bother correcting Ron's unfair assessment of Ginny's character; Ron’s words had caused his throat to go dry. Ginny had tried to follow him from the battle. If she’d succeeded she would have been in even more danger, he had only walked away from his confrontation outside Hagrid’s cabin because Voldemort wanted Harry for himself and he’d still been subjected to the Cruciatus Curse.

His blood ran cold at the mere thought of Ginny being caught up in any of that. It had been bad enough seeing her locked in combat with Amycus last night. Between the nightmares and his unending worry about the Horcruxes, only one sentence had replayed over and over again in Harry’s mind this morning; ’If we hadn’t had your Felix potion, I think we’d all have been killed…’.

Harry had told Ron and Hermione to watch out for Malfoy and he’d told them to involve Ginny. If anything had happened to them it would have been his fault. If anything had happened to her it would have been his fault. If she’d chased after him and gotten injured on the grounds last night, that would have been his fault too.

His brain was leading him to a conclusion he was not yet willing to face, so he pushed all thoughts of what-ifs and could-haves aside and compelled himself to get out of bed; just as Ron, Seamus and Dean were now doing. It was time to face the day; a day that seemed entirely pointless.

Harry forced himself to go through the motions; showering, getting dressed, brushing his teeth, even though he wanted nothing more than to go back to bed. Or to set out immediately and search for Horcruxes that he had no idea the location of. It didn’t matter, he could do neither of those things, and the thought of doing anything else made him want to scream.

Less than half an hour later, Harry entered the common room half a step behind Ron. He heard the high-pitched sobs before the door was even fully open; the volume of them was enough to force even Harry from his despondent thoughts.

Lavender Brown was draped dejectedly across one of the faded armchairs in the centre of the common room, weeping loudly into her hands, which were clutched over her face. Ginny was perched on the arm of the sofa, running a hand over Lavender’s head and murmuring to her in a soothing tone.

Ron looked horrified at the sight of his ex-girlfriend crying and immediately looked longingly at the portrait hole, but Ginny glanced up and shook her head, making it clear that Ron was not to try and escape.

Hermione stood at the opposite side of the room, giving the impression she was trying to melt into the wall behind her. Now that Ginny was right in front of him, Harry desperately wanted her attention, but even he wouldn’t pull her away from an obviously overcome Lavender, so he bypassed the scene entirely and came to stand beside Hermione. “What’s going on?”

“Parvati and Padma’s parents arrived two hours ago and took them home,” Hermione replied in a whisper. “Lavender’s been beside herself ever since. We tried to get her to come to breakfast, but she saw Parvati’s pencil case on the table and broke down again.”

“It’s alright, Ginny,” Seamus said, coming to crouch in front of Lavender. “Dean and I will look after her.”

Ginny didn’t argue or offer to stay at Lavender’s side. She hopped off the chair and made a beeline for Harry, Ron and Hermione without so much as a glance back in Lavender’s direction.

“Breakfast?” She asked, slipping her hand automatically into Harry’s and reaching up to kiss him on the cheek. He couldn’t quite believe how far that small bit of contact from Ginny went to easing the gnawing aggravation that had been eating at him since he’d woken up.

“Yeah,” Ron said in answer to Ginny’s question. “I want to know what’s going on. I mean, I assume we’re not going to class today?”

“I should think not!” Hermione said as they made their way towards the portrait hole. “I’d be altogether useless, I don’t see how anyone could expect us to concentrate today.”

Harry caught Ginny’s eye and they shared a very small smile, even in the current circumstances the idea that Hermione was advocating for a halt to classes was shocking in the extreme.

The walk to the great hall could only be described as sombre. The very air of the castle seemed thick with grief. They passed other students and staff members on their way, but no one called out greetings or waved to one another as was the norm. The four of them didn’t attempt to speak to one another either and Harry focussed very intently on the feel of Ginny’s hand in his.

His pace slowed significantly as they approached the entrance hall; he knew that rumours of last night’s events would be making their way around the castle even now. He also knew that most of them would be wrong, but it didn’t change the fact that Harry would be the subject of much of the whispering and he would be under intense scrutiny the moment he crossed the threshold into the great hall.

Ginny sensed his change of pace, it would have been impossible for her not to, with her hand still clutched in Harry’s. She pulled gently on his hand, bringing them both to a stop at the base of the marble staircase. Hermione and Ron paused for a moment but Ginny silently waved them ahead.

Ginny’s head turned in both directions, obviously checking that they were alone, and then she rose up and placed her lips to Harry’s. Her free hand came to rest on the back of his head, deepening the kiss. For a brief, blissful moment the world seemed to be at peace once more. It seemed the intoxicating power of Ginny’s kisses was not in any way diminished by grief.

“I’d just like to point out,” Ginny said once they broke apart, the faintest trace of a smile upon her face. “That I was the one running through the castle covered in blood and dirt; threatening people with my wand last night. So if there’s any gossiping in the hall, it’s all about me. I’m the centre of attention today.”

Harry knew it wasn’t true, of course. He had been the one kneeling over Dumbledore’s body, but regardless Harry found the prospect of people whispering about him much more bearable than he had just minutes ago.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to think I was stealing your limelight,” He said, somewhat in awe that Ginny had managed to lure him into even a feeble attempt at a joke this morning.

He followed her into the hall; as expected there was an outbreak of hushed murmuring upon their appearance, but it was much more subdued than Harry had expected and he found it easy to ignore as long as he kept his gaze firmly fixed upon the back of Ginny’s head as she led him to the Gryffindor Table.

Once seated across from Ron and Hermione, Harry surveyed the breakfast options in front of him; just the sight of food made him nauseous. His stomach had been swirling all morning and the thought of eating anything seemed repellent. Ginny seemed to feel differently, judging by the stern look she gave Harry as she placed a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs in front of him.

“Your favourite,” She said, in a tone that made it clear she would accept no refusals from him. Harry dutifully picked up his fork and began to eat, extremely aware of Ginny’s gaze upon him as he did so. His plate was almost empty - and Harry had to grudgingly accept that he felt better for it - before she turned her attention to her porridge.

The near-silence the four of them had eaten breakfast in was broken by the appearance of Professor McGonagall. She was still wearing the same robes that Harry had seen her in last night, and dark circles had bloomed beneath her eyes.

"Good morning, Professor," Hermione said quietly, speaking much louder than a whisper in the hushed hall seemed almost indecent.

"Good morning." Professor McGonagall inclined her head to each of them in turn, her expression solemn. “I trust you all got some much-deserved rest after last night's events?”

They all nodded, though Harry wondered if any of the other three had actually managed to sleep any better than he had. Hermione's hair looked especially unruly this morning and both Ron and Ginny's freckles looked especially dark, contrasted with how pale they both looked.

“Excellent,” McGonagall said, though her tone was devoid of any true enthusiasm. “I’m currently informing all students that classes are cancelled, bringing an end to the school year. Examinations are postponed, Miss Weasley, I will be having a meeting with you and your fellow fifth-years tomorrow to discuss how we are going to proceed in regards to O.W.Ls.”

Harry knew that just twenty-four hours ago if someone had told Ginny her exams were going to be deferred she would have danced for joy, but now she looked utterly indifferent to the news. The only indication that she’d even heard Professor McGonagall’s announcement was a short, sharp nod of her head.

The gesture was apparently a sufficient response for McGonagall, for she continued speaking upon receiving it. “Mr Weasley, Miss Granger; I will be asking you to perform additional prefect duties for the next few days. We have a number of guests in the castle, and the circumstances are bound to make some of the younger students excitable.”

Ron and Hermione nodded much the same as Ginny in answer before McGonagall turned to look directly at Harry, her expression growing more fatigued with each passing second. “Professor Dumbledore’s funeral will be held the day after tomorrow. The Ministry is keen to handle the affair efficiently and Hogsmeade is already being overrun with mourners. Anyone who wishes to stay for the ceremony is welcome to do so; the Hogwarts Express will leave the same day.”

Harry nodded dumbly, the true meaning of McGonagall’s words penetrating his brain like a dagger. Just two more days and the Hogwarts Express would take him away from Hogwarts for the final time. He’d reached the conclusion last night when he’d tried valiantly to fall asleep, that he could not return for his final year of school. If something as simple as breakfast this morning seemed pointless, how could he justify wasting his time in lessons when he should be out searching for Horcruxes? It was time to say goodbye to Hogwarts and somehow that hurt just as much as losing Dumbledore.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Professor McGonagall said, not awaiting a response before turning to move away from them. “I have a meeting with school governors.”

Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione sat in quiet contemplation, the only sounds, the low buzz of restrained conversation from those further up the Gryffindor table and the clip of McGonagall’s heels as she walked away from them.

It was Ginny who finally spoke, ushering each of them back from their dour silence to remind them that they’d agreed to meet Luna at the hospital wing, which was news to Harry who had been with Professor McGonagall when these plans had been arranged last night.

They passed through the entrance hall, intent on making their way to the hospital wing, only to be greeted by a loud screaming match between Seamus and his very beleaguered looking mother, who was insisting Seamus needed to come home immediately. To say Seamus didn’t take kindly to the suggestion would be putting it mildly. Harry wouldn’t be surprised if the argument could be heard all the way from Hogsmeade.

Neville was awake when they finally escaped the entrance hall and reached the infirmary, sitting up in bed and surrounded by a huge selection of chocolate and sweets. Luna was sitting in the chair beside his bed, reading him the latest edition of The Quibbler aloud.

Ginny and Ron stopped by Bill’s bed on the way to Neville’s, Harry and Hermione close behind them, but Bill was still asleep. Fleur, who it seemed had not left Bill’s bedside even for a minute, informed them that he was being kept under sedation until at least this evening due to the pain.

Harry had not thought it possible, but Ginny seemed to pale even further upon seeing her brother’s injuries in the sharp lucidity of daylight. She leaned heavily against Harry’s side and his arm came around her automatically, pulling her to him.

Her reaction was understandable, Bill’s handsome features were not even faintly recognisable underneath the mutilated wounds.

“He’s alive,” Ginny said so quietly, she might have been speaking only to herself.

They stood silent vigil over Bill’s bedside for only a short while longer. Ginny was the first to move away, pulling Harry with her, in the direction of Neville’s bed. She plastered a smile on her face as they approached Neville and Luna, but Harry knew it was for their sake. She was beautiful as always, but her smile held none of its usual radiance.

“How are you doing?” She asked Neville gently as she took one of the seats next to his bed, guiding Harry to the one beside her.

“Much better, thanks,” Neville said through a bite of chocolate. “Madam Pomfrey says the fracture in my leg should have healed by this evening and I can be discharged then. She says I’ll probably find walking difficult for a few weeks though.”

“Right, well I’m sure we can find a nice girl to assist the great warrior Neville Longbottom for a few weeks,” Ginny suggested with a wink.

Neville turned redder than a tomato. “I was just going to use some crutches,” He spluttered.

“I’ll help you get around, Neville,” Luna offered, barely glancing up from her magazine.

“Can I have some chocolate, Neville?” Ron asked, inclining his head at the pile of chocolate frogs, saving Neville from having to respond.

They stayed in the hospital wing until lunchtime, Ginny doing her absolute best to entertain Neville with her recreation of Seamus and his mother’s fight in the entrance hall, which had both he and Luna howling with laughter. Even Harry couldn’t help but be distracted from his distressing thoughts as he watched her. Though, he couldn’t help but notice how, for all of Ginny’s bravado, her eyes kept wandering back to Bill’s prone form further down the ward, a small furrow of distress appearing between her eyebrows every time she took in the state of her brother.

With a promise to Neville that they would come back this evening in time for his discharge; Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing and returned to the great hall once more.

It quickly became apparent that the guests Professor McGonagall had mentioned earlier were ministry officials; Rufus Scrimgeour and a delegation of his staff were indulging in lunch at the staff table. In a very obvious effort to avoid them for Harry’s sake, Ginny forced Ron to eat his second helping of sandwiches on the walk back to Gryffindor Tower.

Harry had no plans for the afternoon past quietly brooding over the impossible situation he now found himself in, but much like at breakfast, Ginny had other ideas for him. She disappeared from the common room as soon as they entered, returning a few minutes later with her very full school bag and Arnold.

“You’ve shown me no evidence of any artistic talent since I’ve known you,” She said to Harry as she settled on the rug at his feet.

“Because I have none,” He told her honestly, not sure why this was relevant to their current circumstances.

“As I expected,” She muttered, seemingly to Arnold, whom she held in front of her face whilst she scratched his head. She placed Arnold onto the table, reached into her bag and pulled out a battered wooden box, placing it on the sofa beside Harry. “You’re on stamp organising duty then,”

“Stamp organising duty?”

“Yeah, I need to make ‘get well soon’ cards for Neville and Bill and you’re clearly going to be no help in the design department, so I’m going to have to put you in logistics.”

“Sounds like a heavy responsibility,” Harry said. “Your handmade cards are quite legendary.”

“I have every confidence you’ll be up to the challenge,” Ginny replied, patting his knee as she spoke.

Upon opening the wooden box it became clear that Ginny’s rubber stamp collection was extensive, containing not just the letters of the alphabet but a whole host of designs including animals, flowers and famous landmarks. Harry spent the next two hours picking out the exact stamps that Ginny required, upon her instruction and passing them down to her.

She seemed to sense every time his brain wandered to Horcruxes or the whereabouts of Snape or just the simple miserable fact that Dumbledore was gone and would never look at Harry over the top of his half-moon spectacles again. Whenever his mind began to drift too far, and the surroundings of the common room became little more than a distant haze, Ginny would loudly ask for his opinion on ink colours or stamp placement, calling Harry back to her.

Finally, Ginny declared both cards complete, holding up two pieces of folded parchment for Harry to inspect; Neville’s had a very clear floral theme, and Bill’s an Egyptian one. Harry, Ron and Hermione all signed their names beside Ginny’s inside and she went to put her craft supplies and Arnold back in the dormitory.

Ron and Hermione had to leave for their turn at prefect duty whilst Ginny was gone and Harry was left alone. His hand automatically reached into his pocket for the locket. the locket … the cup … the snake … something of Gryffindor’s or Ravenclaw’s … the locket … the cup … the snake .... He had successfully managed to keep the most unbearable of his thoughts from overwhelming him whilst Ginny was around, but the second she left the horrible truth washed over him. Every moment spent with her was a falsehood, a life that was not his to lead.

“Will you come somewhere with me?” Ginny asked as she appeared in front of him, once again drawing Harry from his dreadful ruminations.

“Yes,” He said immediately. He would follow her anywhere, there was no need to ask where or why.

Ginny gave him a small smile as she pulled him from their sofa and guided him to the portrait hole. They walked together through the castle in silence, Harry half a step behind Ginny, allowing her to lead the way. She walked with purpose, her hand firmly in his all the way down the stairs, across the entrance hall and into the grounds.

The sun was setting late in the evening now; it was still bright out and the air was still, without even a hint of summer breeze to rustle the grass they walked upon, as though even the elements were in mourning.

“The Quidditch Pitch?” Harry asked as the stadium came into view ahead of him.

“Yes,” Ginny said simply.

Harry loved to fly; he would without question call it one of his favourite hobbies, but he could think of nothing less appealing right now than physical activity, or anything that took actual effort. Though, if this was what Ginny needed today then he knew he would do it for her.

“I didn’t bring the key,” Harry said apologetically as they reached the door to the changing rooms, which would lead them out to the pitch. His Captain’s key was currently stored in his bedside drawer where he’d placed it once the Quidditch season had ended and there was no further reason to carry it around with him anymore.

“I have my own methods of entry,” Ginny said, reaching into her hair and pulling out a hairpin. She bent the pin so that it was now one long piece of metal and began to wiggle it in the door’s keyhole. Harry watched as, in less than a minute, Ginny wiggled the pin in the lock and the door swung open.

Harry followed her through the door and into the dimly lit changing rooms. Ginny didn’t stop for a minute but made her way with purpose through the opposite door and out onto the green plain of the pitch. She strode right to the centre and flopped down onto the grass, laying with her hair spilling around her head like a halo of flames.

Harry lowered himself onto the patch of grass beside Ginny; he moved to cross his legs but she reached up and pulled on his shoulder; guiding him to lay down beside her. He let the final rays of the day's sun wash over him as he tracked the clouds lazily across the sky above.

“Why the Quidditch pitch?” Harry asked, not removing his eyes from a particularly fluffy cloud above him.

“I know it makes no sense, but it feels like the orchard,” Ginny replied, her gaze similarly transfixed on the sky.

“At The Burrow?”

“Yes,” Ginny sighed. “I know there’s no trees here and obviously there’s no stands in the orchard, but I think it's the association to Quidditch, and the grass and the sky.”

“Do you come here a lot?” Harry asked, even though he knew she definitely hadn't been recently as Ginny's free time had been spent almost exclusively with him. “Outside of practice, I mean.”

“Not anymore,” She answered, confirming what Harry already knew. “I did in second year - I had issues with being trapped inside after what happened. Sometimes I just needed to be able to see the sky. I’d been doing better over summer - thanks to Bill - but then the dementors on the train, they, well, they set me back a bit.”

Harry didn’t need to ask what Ginny had seen when faced with the dementors, so soon after exiting the Chamber of Secrets. He could well imagine what twelve-year-old Ginny’s worst memory was.

“Bill’s going to be okay,” Harry said instead; it would have been impossible to miss how her voice had shaken at the mention of her brother’s name. “You heard Lupin and Madam Pomfrey, he’s going to live.”

Ginny took a deep breath, her gaze focussed intensely upon the clouds above, just as she had focussed on the wall in the great hall the day she'd told him about Tom. “The summer after first year, every room felt like a prison. I couldn’t be inside for more than ten minutes without getting agitated; panicking that I might be trapped forever. I did my homework outside, I played outside, I ate outside, I even tried to sleep out there but mum wouldn’t hear of it. That’s when we won the money and we went to Egypt. Bill spent every day with me, even though he really should have been working, slowly building me up until I was able to go into all of the pyramids and tombs without breaking down… he put me back together and I couldn’t even get Greyback off of him.”

“You tried your best, Ginny,” Harry said quietly, his head rolling so he was facing her rather than the sky. “Most of the D.A. didn’t even show up and you could have gone back to the common room once Bill and the others arrived, but you didn’t.” Ginny didn’t look remotely reassured and Harry wasn’t surprised, he’d learnt when Sirius died that the only person who could absolve you of your guilt was yourself, and it took more than one day to do so.

“It was just so frustrating,” Ginny said in a whisper, gaze still fixed above her. “I kept trying to reach people, to help. I tried to get to Bill, to Neville… to you, but there were so many curses flying about that I couldn't reach anyone."

“I know,” Harry said, trying obstinately not to imagine what could have happened if Ginny had managed to reach him at the end of the fight. “When I was trapped under the invisibility cloak at the top of the tower, I kept trying desperately to move, and I couldn't even twitch a finger. It was maddening."

Ginny rolled onto her side, facing Harry with her head propped against her arm, her expression earnest in the extreme. "You're going to hate me for even thinking this, but I keep picturing what could have happened to you if Dumbledore hadn’t immobilised you and it makes me feel sick. Honestly, I’m grateful that he did that, regardless of the cost.”

Harry’s throat suddenly felt thick with emotion. He’d been torturing himself with the same thoughts of what could have happened to Ginny, but he was so used to running into danger full speed ahead and everyone - including himself - simply accepting that he must do so; he hadn’t stopped for a moment to imagine that anyone, even Ginny, might care more about what happened to him than the outcome of the fight.

“Of course, I don’t hate you. I -” Harry stopped speaking abruptly. He had very little choice because three words had just popped into his head and tried very determinedly to escape his mouth. Three words he'd never said to anyone before and that he couldn't remember anyone ever having said to him. "I understand," he finished lamely.

His heart was racing; his head was spinning. Like everything else with her, this pivotal realisation had snuck upon him at the most inopportune moment.

Those three words were so foreign to him, that he wasn’t even sure they’d come out right if he did allow himself to say them, which he certainly wasn’t going to do, because the simple fact of the matter was that Harry couldn’t be in love with Ginny. His destiny had been decided for him before he was even born and it did not include happiness like he’d found with her.

Yet, the simple fact of the matter was that he couldn’t not be in love with Ginny either. She was funny and daring and bright; a blaze of light through his usually dim life. Every moment with her had been like living in a dream, one he never wanted to wake up from. He had no choice though, the time to wake up and return to his bleak fate was upon him and he would not - could not - drag Ginny with him.

Harry could only assume that Ginny had once again sensed the excruciating turn his thoughts had taken because she made no reply to his weak response. In place of words, she shuffled closer to him on the grass and lowered her lips to his.

One of Harry’s arms unconsciously moved to circle Ginny’s waist, pulling her to him so she was pressed against his side, craving having her close even as he knew he should push her away. The kiss deepened as Ginny’s hand began to lightly explore every inch of him, gently caressing down his face, his neck, his chest until she reached the button of his jeans. Somewhere far in the recesses of his mind, Harry knew he should stop this now, but that thought became quieter with every stroke of Ginny’s hand as he lost himself entirely to the exquisite abyss of her touch.

Chapter Text

The sun was shining down upon the grounds, the mourners were starting to disperse and Ginny’s heart was breaking.

“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised, I knew this would happen in the end. I knew you wouldn’t be happy unless you were hunting Voldemort. Maybe that’s why I like you so much.”

'I love you, I love you, I love you.'

She forced herself to look at Harry just as his face faltered, for less than a second, into a look of despair and then his stoic, staid expression, the one he usually reserved for battling Death Eaters, appeared upon his handsome face and Ginny knew that was it; her Harry had been laid to rest, just as Dumbledore had been.

She looked away again as Harry rose from his chair. She'd spent hours last night trying to prepare herself for this very moment, but it seemed she would never be prepared to watch Harry walk away from her.

Despite the brightly glowing sunshine beating down upon her, Ginny felt intolerably cold. Pain unlike any she’d ever felt before was blooming in her chest, stealing her breath and making her head spin. Her vision blurred as tears bloomed in her eyes.

She needed to move, needed to get out of sight of hundreds of witnesses before she broke down completely. Ginny’s legs shook as she stood, but she made them carry her forwards regardless, heading determinedly in the direction of the trees at the forest’s edge.

“Ginny!” Hermione called from the seat Ginny had just left her in. “We’re going to extract Harry from Scrimgeour, are you coming?”

“I’ll catch up!” Ginny called without so much as slowing her step, knowing that she never would, but both unable and unwilling to tell Hermione the truth right now.

Her path was blocked by the mourners leaving the ceremony but Ginny was small and fast; she forged a resolute path ahead and finally made it to the cool cover of the trees. She slid down the rough trunk of the nearest one, coming to rest on the hard-packed dirt at its base and let the sob that had been clawing at her throat escape.

Hot tears had begun to flow freely down Ginny’s face when the blur of bubblegum pink appeared in front of her. She reached up a trembling hand and roughly wiped the tears away, trying in earnest to appear composed, even though she knew it was impossible.

“How did you find me?” Ginny demanded, her voice quivering traitorously.

“I’ve been watching you since the ceremony ended,” Tonks said gently. “I saw the way Harry was looking at you in the hospital wing yesterday, it was like just the sight of you was tearing him apart. It’s a look I’m familiar with.”

“It’s over,” Ginny said quietly, amazed at how two little words could feel like a hot poker thrust straight into her gut.

“For some terribly honourable reason, I suppose?” Tonks said with a wry smile, arranging herself on the ground beside Ginny.

'We could have had ages… months… years maybe…’

“Yes,” Ginny whispered, reaching up to brush yet more of the never-ending stream of tears off of her face.

Tonks reached over and grasped both of Ginny’s hands, fixing her with an earnest expression. “I know you’re thinking it would be better if he just didn’t want you anymore, but you’re wrong.”

Ginny had been thinking exactly that. How was she supposed to move on when she knew, without any doubt, that Harry didn’t want this to be over any more than she did? Not that she could move on anyway. She’d tried before. With Michael, with Dean; it always came back to Harry for her and she knew it always would.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now,” Ginny admitted, shame burning through her at the thought that she’d allowed herself to become so undone by a boy. Even Harry.

“You’re going to do two things,” Tonks said firmly. “You’re going to spend a week eating as much ice cream as I can buy for you and then you’re going to pull yourself together; we have a war to fight and you have something worth fighting for.”

Ginny snorted halfway through a sob, releasing a most unattractive sound. “They’re not exactly going to let me join The Order, are they?”

Tonks shook her head in disagreement. “Everyone is going to have a part to play in this soon and anyone who thinks differently is kidding themselves. You’ve already been up against Death Eaters twice, I don’t imagine you’re going to back down now, are you?”

“No,” Ginny said fiercely without even truly needing to consider it. “Of course I’m not.”

It wasn’t even anything to do with Harry, not really. Tom Riddle had stolen her childhood when she was eleven and she wasn’t going to sit around and meekly let him destroy countless other lives now. She most certainly wasn’t going to let him steal her future, he’d taken enough of Ginny’s life already.

“Right,” Tonks agreed. “So you’re going to mope about for a week; listen to some truly horrendous ballads, take unreasonably long bubble baths, I’ll even sneak you a bottle of elf-made wine if you want - but then you’re going to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and take every opportunity you can to fight back.”

Ginny peered in Tonks’ direction. “Can I have two weeks?” She sniffed.

“Alright,” Tonks said with a sigh. “But no more than that. Take it from someone who spent the better part of a year wallowing, it achieves nothing and it seriously impairs your abilities in a duel.”

“Okay,” Ginny agreed, brushing dirt off of her dress robes as she pushed up from the ground.

The ache in Ginny’s chest was unabating, and every fibre of being still longed to run to Harry, to cling to him and not let go but she knew it wasn’t an option. She had a train to catch and a future to fight for and she didn’t need Harry’s, or anyone else's, permission to do that.
***

Harry sat down heavily on the cushioned train seat across from Ron and Hermione. He took the locket out of his pocket, turning it over and over in his hand, the sun from the window glinting off its shiny surface with every turn. He jolted slightly as the train rolled to a start, but the locket remained clutched securely in his grasp.

He should have looked out of the window, taken in his final view of the station and the castle far in the distance, but he kept his gaze firmly fixed on the locket in his hand, taking deep, quiet breaths in and out.

For the first time ever, he couldn’t wait to get to Privet Drive, to lock himself away in his bedroom and let the pain that was savaging at his insides wash over him. To replay every last thing he remembered about her in his head; the musical melody of her laugh, the way her hair seemed to dance as she walked, the way she sighed his name in his ear.

“Where’s Ginny?” Ron asked, causing Harry to look up briefly. Ron was craning his neck to look out of the glass pane on the door and into the corridor, eyes searching for Ginny, who would most certainly not be joining them. Just the sound of her name was like a knife to Harry’s chest.

“She’s probably just checking Neville got settled alright,” Hermione said, opening the door to Crookshanks’ carrier now the train was in motion and letting him loose in the compartment. “I expect she’ll be here in a minute.”

“She won’t,” Harry croaked, eyes resolutely glued to the locket in his hand one more. “She’s not coming.”

Hot tears stung at the corner of his eyes but Harry blinked them away. He’d made his decision and he had to live with it, even if it felt like a vital piece of him had been removed, an excruciating void where his heart used to be.

“What? Why?” Ron asked, Harry could hear the confusion in Ron’s voice.

He knew he had to tell them, but saying it out loud, that he’d let her go, would make it real and he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want it to be real, he just wanted Ginny.

Hermione sighed loudly. “Did you break up with her?”

“Of course, he didn’t!” Ron said before Harry had a chance to so much as nod in confirmation. “They’re bloody mad for each other.”

“I did,” Harry forced himself to say, his voice hoarse. He didn’t bother to argue with Ron’s unfortunately true statement; wasn’t that the problem? He could have her only if he didn’t care about her. It was cruel irony, the kind Harry should be used to by now.

“You broke up with my sister?” Ron repeated, an edge to his voice now.

Harry looked up from the locket, meeting Ron’s glare head-on. “Yes.”

In a way he wished Ron would hit him, no physical pain could hurt as much as this. A black eye might actually be a pleasant distraction.

Dumbledore had steadfastly stated that love was the greatest magic of all, so why did it feel worse than when he’d been hit by the cruciatus curse? How could something that caused so much pain be considered the universe’s most wondrous miracle?

He didn’t really need to ask, he already knew the answer. If offered the opportunity to go back three weeks and not start anything with Ginny, knowing how it would end, he still wouldn’t take it. Even one second with her was worth the agony he was experiencing now. No matter what happened next, for a few shining weeks he’d had her and no one could take that away from him.

“Oh, Harry,” Hermione breathed, her brow furrowed in sympathy. Crookshanks jumped across the space between Hermione’s lap and the empty seat beside Harry. He tentatively pawed his way onto Harry’s lap and curled up, purring loudly. Harry looked down once more, slipping the locket back into his pocket and gently scratching behind Crookshanks’ ears.

“Why?” Ron asked harshly.

“Why do you think?” Harry snapped back, in no mood to justify a decision that he himself vehemently detested having to make.

“To keep her safe,” Hermione said in little more than a whisper before an argument could break out. Harry hated her for already knowing the answer; if Hermione had reached the same conclusion, it obviously made sense. He didn’t want it to make sense, he desperately wanted her to tell him he was being stupid, that it would be fine, that he could keep Ginny.

“And she just accepted that?” Ron demanded, his voice somewhat softer than it had been a moment ago.

“Yes,” Harry whispered. “She understood.”

Ron released a heavy sigh. Harry chanced a glance up at him, he had slumped back against his seat, his arms folded across his chest. There wasn’t a trace of anger on his face. “Sorry, mate.”

Harry swallowed heavily, dislodging the lump that was constricting his throat. “It’s fine.”

And in a way it was. Ginny would never be Harry’s but she would have a wonderfully unburdened future, the kind Harry could never have. There was nothing but danger and darkness ahead for him, but at least she could move on and be happy. And Harry could do what he must, secure in the knowledge that every move made against Voldemort, every Horcrux he found, would be one step closer to a better world for her.

Chapter Text

Harry woke slowly; sure that it must have been a dream. He was going to open his eyes and be back in Shell cottage. Soon, Hermione was going to shake him on the shoulder and tell him it was time to go to Gringotts.

It wasn’t possible that they’d already been, already destroyed all the Horcruxes, already defeated Voldemort. It had been a dream, or more accurately a nightmare.

But, If it was only a nightmare then why did every inch of him ache? Why did every slight brush of the duvet that covered him reveal a new cut, or bruise or burn?

Why could he see the lifeless faces of Fred, Remus and Tonks swimming in front of his eyelids? If it was just a nightmare then why did the images pierce his heart with agonising grief?

Any minute now Hermione was going to wake him. Any minute now.

Harry lay there for what felt like centuries. His eyes were squeezed firmly shut even as the horrifying scenes of a battle that he was sure could not have taken place played in front of him. Still, Hermione didn’t come.

He willed himself to open his eyes, to see for himself what was real and what was dream but the thought terrified him. He didn’t know what would be worse; to discover that it had all been a dream, that the Horcruxes were still his responsibility and that Voldemort still plagued him. Or, to confirm that it had all happened, that they had won but that victory had come at a terrible, terrible cost, the likes of which Harry had never truly been prepared to pay.

He took a deep breath in and out. He had to do it, he couldn’t live in this state of incertitude forever. He counted to ten in his head, then twenty, then thirty. Finally, when he reached one hundred, Harry opened his eyes.

He was greeted by pitch black nothing. He waved a hand in front of his face - even this slight movement was met by protestation from his aching muscles - but without his glasses, he couldn’t make out so much as the outline in the darkness. His heart sank, he knew where he was. He’d known it all along.

The mattress was familiar, as was the pillow and the smell of cedarwood and chocolate. Even the darkness was familiar, it was the absence of light that was achieved when all the lights went out in the dormitory and the hangings of his four-poster blocked out even the slightest hint of glare.

It had happened. It had really, truly, actually happened. Voldemort was dead. Harry was alive and Voldemort was dead. It seemed fanciful to even think such a thing, and yet it was true.

Harry was alive and so many others were dead. Good, brave people. People Harry loved and people Harry didn’t know at all. All of whom had sacrificed themselves in order to bring about Voldemort’s defeat. In order to bring about Harry’s victory. It was a debt Harry would never be able to repay.

He felt numb and aching and tired and awake and relieved and distraught all at once. It was entirely overwhelming. Harry could lay there no longer, allowing the disconcerting mix of emotions to wash over him. With every inch of his body screaming in objection; Harry opened the hangings, pushed on his glasses and rolled out of bed.

The dormitory was as he remembered it with one noticeable addition. The moon still shone lightly through the arched windows, the carpet was still soft under his feet and five beds still faced each other in a circle, occupied by himself, Neville, Dean, Seamus and Ron.

Ron, however, was not alone; Hermione was laid beside him, Ron’s arm draped protectively over her, pulling her closer to him. All four - five - of Harry’s roommates were fast asleep. Neville’s low snores rumbled over the others’ even breathing.

Harry moved to reach for his wand but upon looking down discovered it was already clenched in his hand. His knuckles were a ghostly white from the strength with which he gripped the wooden handle. He made no attempt to loosen his grip but quietly padded across the room to the door with his wand still in hand.

His every movement was agony, but he made no sound as he made his way silently to the door. He absolutely wouldn’t risk waking anyone, there was no one Harry wanted to speak to right now.

Even as he thought it a vision danced through his mind’s eye; a pair of chocolate brown eyes, a perfect constellation of freckles, red hair that spilled down creamy shoulders like fire turned liquid.

Now he had slept, now the brutal reality of what had happened was starting to close in on him, Harry only wanted her. His greatest comfort, his blissful oblivion. But he had left her, he’d told her to move on and he’d watched her brother die in front of him. He couldn’t see how Ginny would ever look him in the eye again and just the thought was misery beyond anything he’d experienced thus far. To live, to have the chance of a future, without her in it. He didn’t want it.

Harry’s bare feet met the cold stone of the spiral staircase. He had no idea where he was planning to go but he began to descend. Each step caused the muscles in his thighs to burn intolerably but the pain was good, it was at least a tangible distraction from the tumultuous thoughts inside his mind.

All too soon he reached the bottom of the stairs. Harry paused outside the door, saying a silent prayer that the common room would be empty, that he wouldn’t have to make small talk or console or worse, be congratulated. He hesitated for only a second before firmly pushing the door open.

At first, he thought his wish had come true; that the common room was empty. Upon second glance he realised his wish had come true and that it wasn’t.

Ginny was there. Sitting with her back to him on the sofa in front of the fire. The flicker from the hearth made her long hair look like an extension of the flames. She was sitting still as a statue, Harry thought she might be asleep sitting up.

He tried to say something, to make a noise, to alert Ginny to his presence but he found that no sound came out. The vision of her, even the back of her, here in front of him with no battle raging around them, no threat of attack on the horizon, had robbed him of words.

He took a cautious step into the common room and let the door swing shut behind him. The gentle click as the door settled back into its frame was sound enough to alert her. Harry froze in place as Ginny whirled to face him, a guarded expression on her face.

Her eyes widened as she took him in. She was perfect. More beautiful than he’d remembered her. His memory could never accurately capture the way the light danced upon her hair, or how her eyes blazed with a fire all her own when she looked at him. His mind could never conjure the tantalising fullness of her lips, or the fascinating pattern her freckles created across her nose.

“Sorry,” Harry heard himself croak. Exactly what he was apologising for he wasn’t sure; for disturbing her? For leaving her? For coming back and dragging her and everyone she loved into a battle that they inevitably hadn’t all escaped from?

“Harry,” His name left her lips like a caress.

“I can leave if you want to be alone?” 'Please don’t send me away.'

Ginny shuffled slightly, freeing up one side of the sofa. “Come here, please?”

Harry moved with a speed he hadn’t thought possible, given the bruised and battered state of his body. He sank into the seat beside Ginny and marvelled at how close he was to her. Her feet were tucked underneath her and her knee was only inches from his. His hand was so close to hers, it would take very little to reach over and hold it, but he didn’t.

Ginny’s eyes roved over Harry as though she was cataloguing every inch of him. He saw her wince slightly when her gaze met a particularly nasty burn or bruise but other than that her expression was unreadable.

He’d dreamed of this moment so many times, in the stillness of the tent or the darkness of Shell Cottage at night, but now that Ginny was here in front of him he had no idea what to say.

Ginny’s gaze landed on Harry’s wand, still grasped tightly in his hand. She reached out and tentatively prised it from his grasp; he let her without a word or movement of protest. She turned and gently placed it on the table beside them, next to her own.

“I thought you were dead,” Ginny said with a tremor in her voice, as she turned back to face him. Her hand reached out once more and her fingers entwined with Harry’s. The feel of her hand in his felt like coming home, or what he’d imagined coming home must feel like to people who had one.

“I’m sorry,” Harry said once more, he still didn't know exactly what he was apologising for. Everything, he supposed.

“I wanted to die too,” She said in a whisper. “When I saw your body, I wanted to die too.”

As if he was drawn to her, as if someone had compelled him to do it, Harry reached out and wrapped his arms around Ginny’s waist, pulling her onto his lap. She eagerly accepted his embrace, curling her arms around his neck and leaning her forehead against his. Her floral scent, another thing he’d thought he remembered perfectly until he smelt it, engulfed him. Her body against his felt like the last real thing in the world.

“I’m so sorry,” Harry whispered once more, tilting his head and pressing his lips to Ginny’s temple.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Ginny’s arm unwound from Harry’s neck, her fingers met his face and she stroked lightly down his cheeks, up his chin, across his lips, as though she needed to feel every part of him to ensure that he was real.

“You were supposed to move on.” 'Please, please, tell me you didn’t move on.-

Ginny pulled back from him slightly so that her soft, brown eyes met his. Harry’s arms involuntarily tightened around her waist, terrified that she was going to move away from him. “How could I move on? You took my whole heart with you when you left.”

Her words were like a symphony played just for him. He wouldn’t believe he was hearing them, but for the way Ginny was looking at him; as if it was just as much a miracle to her that Harry was there as it was to him that she was.

“I thought about you every day,” He said, not removing his eyes from her. There were so many things he wanted to tell her. So many things he’d not been able to, to keep her safe, but now he could. “Every night before I fell asleep, every morning when I woke up.” ‘And right before I died.’ He refrained from telling her the last part, he would one day, but right now he was too exhausted to even contemplate it.

Ginny said nothing as she pulled on his arms, arranging the two of them so they were lying, facing one another, on the sofa. Harry’s arm wrapped around her waist once more, pulling her closer to him so they were connected at the forehead and the chest and their legs were tangled together.

“I spent nine months wondering where you were,” Ginny’s breath tickled his face as she spoke. “If you were okay, or alive, or happy. I feel like I’m going to blink and you’ll disappear.”

Harry lifted himself slightly, freeing the arm that rested below him. He reached up and cupped Ginny's face, brushing his thumb across her soft cheek. “I’ll never leave again, unless you ask me to.”

Ginny’s eyes fluttered closed briefly at his touch but she quickly opened them again. “I just want to look at you.”

They lay like that for seemed like hours, or maybe just seconds. The warmth from the fire and Ginny’s body seeped into Harry, easing his aches somewhat. He drank Ginny in; the way she felt pressed against him, the steady rise and fall of her chest proving that she was alive, the blazing look in her eye proving that the fire still burned within her even when it felt like the world must have burned itself out.

“I love you.” She didn’t even blink as she said it. Words Harry had heard before but never directed at him. Words that were like a balm to his damaged heart.

“I love you too.” Words he’d never said before but he did now, without question. He’d known it since the day Dumbledore had died, he’d felt it long before then but the feeling was so unfamiliar, so foreign to him that he hadn’t recognised it right away.

Ginny tilted her head just slightly so that their lips met and finally after nine hellish, torturous months, Harry was kissing her. The inner peace he thought he would never feel again flooded his tired body as Ginny’s lips brushed gently against his.

It wasn’t like their first kiss in the common room, which had been a desperate release of tension that had been building for weeks, months even. It wasn’t like the kiss in Ginny’s bedroom on his birthday, which had been a frantic goodbye. This was a kiss all of its own. Soft and tender and achingly deep. This kiss was a promise.

Ginny sighed against his lips as they pulled apart just slightly, still connected at the forehead. Harry’s thumb still lightly resting on her cheek.

They stayed there with their bodies pressed together and their gaze locked only on each other in comfortable silence. Slowly their breathing turned even and their eyes fluttered closed and the hazy fog of sleep descended upon both of them