One Year

Hogwarts was all abuzz at the beginning of February. The morning edition of the Daily Prophet had arrived at breakfast, and the big news was that the Ministry for Magic had announced that there would be a gala in honour of the defeat of Voldemort the previous year. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were to be the guests of honour at the lavish celebration which was to be held the week before Valentine's Day.

Ginny knew that some things didn't make the paper. Even though the Ministry tried to palm all the glory off on Harry, he'd said he wouldn't participate if his friends weren't involved. His loyalty to them is what changed their minds. It was that same loyalty and his desperate search for privacy that caused him to tell Ginny he didn't want her to go. He was being stalked everywhere he went lately, and he didn't want his private life on display for the entire Wizarding world to see. She was thankful for that, in a way. The part of her that held a grudge was the part that longed to spend time with Harry.

She felt a nudge at her side and turned to find Sarah with a goofy grin on her face. "So? Are you going? I mean you were there. You were part of the defeat"

"No," Ginny replied rather glumly. "Harry doesn't want our private life in the paper." Ginny knew she didn't believe that statement completely herself and that Sarah would read much more into it than was necessary.

"Oh really," Sarah replied, her eyebrow cocked in an expressive arch. She knew better than to continue pressing Ginny, and instead left the Great Hall to spread the news of Ginny and Harry's imminent break-up, Ginny was sure.

"Don't let her get to you, Ginny. You don't want to be a piece of meat for the press and neither does Harry," Colin reassured her. "Is he still at boot camp?"

"Yeah," she answered. "He has three days left, and then the damn gala and six days after that he'll be here for Valentine's." The last phrase brought a smile to her face. She'd been looking forward to this Valentine's Day since she left Harry at the gates of Hogwarts after Charlie's wedding.

In his last letter from boot camp, Harry'd told her to make plans for them all day and to see if Remus would be willing to let her stay out all night. Ginny's thoughts became rather steamy, imagining what Harry and she could get up to. Oh, she knew what they could get up to if left to their own devices, and even though she told herself she wasn't ready to take that step with Harry, she was making lists of things she did want to try with him.

Valentine's Day is going to be good.

~*~

A familiar tapping awoke Ginny, bringing a smile to her face as she saw the snowy owl perched on her window ledge. The air was cold as she drew back the blankets and stepped over to the window, letting in the bird.

"Hi, Hedwig. Oh, you're so cold. You stay in here today, okay?" Ginny reached down and stroked the silky feathers and kissed the top of Hedwig's head. The owl lifted her leg and patiently waited as Ginny untied the message before flying to the top of Ginny's four-poster bed and burying her head under one of her wings.

Morning, Sunshine.

Ginny smiled. She missed these kinds of letters from Harry.

Well, tonight is the bloody gala, and Ron is actually looking forward to dancing with Hermione tonight. He says he wants to make up for the Yule Ball and be the best date he can be. Hopefully, neither of the Patil twins will be around to remind him of what an utter ass he was before.

You wouldn't believe the number of offers I've had for dates tonight. I think I lost count at forty owls yesterday. It was nice that none of them could find me at home, but Ministry officials are rather perturbed that I had a slew of them waiting for me in the training room. I've even received some rather peculiar gifts. Lacy things. They're nice and all, but I don't think they'll fit me. So I'm saving them for you. Ron found some of them sitting in my room. He asked me, "Harry, are you the kind of guy that wants to play for the Harpies? You know the kind that swings the Beaters' bat the other way?" I kid you not and you can just stop laughing! I know you are.

Ginny wiped away tears from her laughter.

The look on his face was just pitiful. He really didn't appreciate it when I put my hand on his shoulder and smiled strangely at him. He nearly ran out of the room. I don't know how long it will take for him to forgive me for that one, but it was so worth it. When I finally ended up explaining to him what happened, he was a bit jealous of the kind of mail I'd received. I then reminded him of Natalie's latest package in which she sent him a lacy red bra and a pair of crotch-less knickers, and that made him shut up.

I'm going to be rather busy the rest of the month. After the ball (gag), I have three projects that I have to work on, plus I have another memorial thing to attend. That one is in Ireland. When all this is over with, I swear I'm going to shut myself in my house and not come out for a month.

So I'll have your dad take some pictures and send them to you so you will see how desperately bored I will be. I'll make sure he gets some pictures of Ron twirling Hermione about the floor as well.

Love, Harry.

She folded the letter and placed it in her now overstuffed drawer with all his other letters. As she closed the drawer, she remembered that he hadn't mentioned anything about Valentine's Day and coming up to visit her. Well, he did have a lot on his mind, she told herself.

She dragged herself out of bed and headed toward the bathroom for a quick shower before breakfast. She began to open the door and stopped midway upon hearing her name mentioned.

"Ginny's not going? You're not serious!"

"She told me herself. He doesn't want to 'put her on display.' I'd say they'll be finished soon. With all the time they spend away from each other, it's no wonder."

"Oh come on, Sarah. They spent all that time in Sweden together for her brother's wedding. They must have enjoyed that," Demelza chirped.

"Well, they could just be staying together for the sex, you know." Ginny never hated Sarah Mitchell more than she had at that moment.

"You still think they do that? Even after what happened in November?"

"He's a man, Dem. How can he not want it? If she's not having sex with him, someone else is." Ginny let the door close and decided she'd rather do a Cleansing Charm than take a shower today.

~*~

"Miss Weasley!" Ginny's head popped up at the sound of Professor McGonagall's angry reprimand. She heard the laughter around her and she soon discovered that her mouse was ticking rather than squeaking, and rather loudly, too. "Miss Weasley, would you please stay after class?" Ginny nodded. "I didn't hear that."

"Yes, Professor."

"Now, kindly fix your mouse."

Ginny's gaze fell back on her mouse, and noticed that the tail had turned into the hand of a watch. She slapped her forehead with disgust, realising she had incompletely transformed her mouse into a watch.

Standing at the teacher's desk after class was not the most exciting of prospects Ginny had ever encountered. She knew Professor McGonagall was angry with her and prepared herself for the worst. Since coming back from Sweden, her performance in her classes had decreased significantly.

Professor McGonagall turned around, treating Ginny to her pursed lip expression which meant any number of things.

"Now, Ginny, I have heard some rather disturbing news about you." She crossed her arms in front of her, and all Ginny could do was to open her mouth in disbelief. What the hell happened now?

"Pardon? Excuse me, but I have no idea what you are talking about." Ginny shifted nervously back and forth on her feet.

"I have heard from several students that you have been sneaking out to the village and meeting Mr. Potter for, how can I say this, relations," said McGonagall, looking highly uncomfortable.

"Well, that's not true at all. Any of it." Ginny felt her blood begin to boil and tried to calm herself in the coming tide. "Who told you? Sarah? Romilda?"

"Miss Weasley that is not the point. I want to get the bottom of your behaviour, and Mr. Potter's."

"Will you please listen to me?" The older woman nodded. "I swear I have NOT been sneaking out of the castle. Harry has been in Lake District for boot camp for nearly two weeks, so unless I can Apparate out of the castle I haven't been going anywhere."

There was a silence between them as McGonagall processed the information. After a fashion, she nodded at Ginny, pointing to the empty chair near her desk. "Please tell me what has been going on that would make people think this of you. Have you and he...?"

"Professor! That is absolutely none of your business." Ginny felt her face redden. "And just so you know, we haven't done anything, and anyone who says we have is a lying, evil snake!"

The older woman looked at her, astonished at Ginny's words.

"I have an idea who is it, anyway, Professor. Jonathan Martin is a royal pain in the arse. Do you know what he and his friends have got going?" she asked and watched the woman shake her head. "They have a fifty Galleon bet on Jonathan getting me in the sack for Valentine's, and seeing how close it is I'd say they're getting a bit desperate."

"And why didn't you tell me about this when it all started?"

"Because I thought Harry took care of it in November. Obviously Jonathan recently got his balls back," Ginny retorted.

"Language, Miss Weasley," McGonagall warned. "I will handle Mr. Martin and his friends, thank you very much. You may go now, Ginny."

Ginny ran a hand through her hair and sighed heavily. "I just want this to go away. I'm tired of everyone assuming the worst of me. I'm tired of everyone looking at me."

"Then perhaps it is a good thing you're not going to the gala this evening." Ginny was shocked at how gentle her teacher sounded at that moment, and felt almost as if she had her mother there. "I was young once, too, Ginny, and I am not unaware of how fragile emotions can be when faced with gossip." She tenderly stroked Ginny's shoulder and began leading her out of the room. "May I suggest a visit with Mrs. Lupin?"

Ginny nodded and whispered, "Thank you, Professor," as she wiped a tear from her eye and headed toward the Great Hall.

~*~

"...and then, I asked for a bowl of spinach ice cream. He nearly lost his lunch that day," Tonks chuckled. She and Ginny were sitting on the sofa in her and Remus' quarters eating ice cream and ignoring the man sitting across the room from them.

"Love, I am not that weak-stomached, and you know that," Remus chimed in. He barely looked up from his paper as he spoke, rustling the paper as he turned the page.

"Oh, Remus, lighten up, you old fuddy duddy," Tonks laughed. "Here, Ginny, have some more ice cream. It always helps to eat chocolate when you've been exposed to the Dark Arts." Ginny laughed.

"Are you referring to me, my little Kneazle?"

"Wouldn't dream of it, poopsey!"

"Oh stop it, both of you! Ron and Hermione were never that bad," Ginny said sourly. "And don't you dare say anything about Harry and me."

"So, Ginny, did Minerva actually try to talk about sex with you?" Tonks asked with her eyebrow raised as she turned to Ginny.

"Okay, I'm leaving." Remus got up off his chair and took his empty bowl into the kitchenette. "I prefer not to imagine one of my oldest friends and mentors talking about that subject. I fear I shall never enjoy copulating again." This statement brought forth another round of laughter from the ladies.

"Okay, fine, Remus, but the next time you feel the urge to go all doggy on me, I'll remind you of that statement, okay?" That remark earned her a tea towel on the head, which Tonks immediately transformed into something a bit more silky and lacy before tossing it back to her husband. Remus shook his head as he left the room.

Ginny calmed herself down and looked seriously at Tonks. "You know, I have a strange feeling Harry forgot about Valentine's Day. He didn't mention it in his last letter."

"Well, ask him, Ginny," Tonks suggested.

"I can't do that. He'll think I'm a clingy little...oh, you know."

"No he won't. He'll give himself a quick kick in the arse, that's what he'll do!" Tonks took another bite of her chocolate ice cream with marinara sauce. "Men need to be reminded of those sorts of things, especially the older they get!"

"I heard that, Nymphadora!"

~*~

The next few days seemed to rush by in a flurry for Ginny. She tried several times to begin her letter to Harry but was either interrupted or was called away for one reason or the other. Before she knew it, it was February fourteenth and the day was a intensely bright as she woke up. The first thing Ginny did was to eagerly look toward the window for any sign of Hedwig. There was none.

"Well, the mail will come soon enough," she told herself as she threw back the covers and stepped onto the chilly stone floor underneath her.

Dressing quickly, she headed down the stairs and entered the Great Hall, which was bedecked for the holiday with sparkly hearts, roses, and twinkling fairy lights. Her mind went back to her first year and she was reminded of the garish decorations that Gilderoy Lockhart thought were so appropriate.

"Dear Merlin, did Madame Puddifoot vomit in here?" she asked as she sat down next to Colin at the Gryffindor table. She shook her head as glitter sprinkled into her hair. "Whose bloody idea was this?"

"Sorry you don't appreciate it, Ginny." She turned around and saw Tonks standing there with a smug look on her face. "Call it the whim of a pregnant woman and the fact that we could all use a little cheering up today. Oh, by the way, what time is Harry coming?" Tonks sat down next to Ginny and took a piece of bacon from the plate in front of her.

"Don't know. He hasn't sent a letter since after the gala. I'm getting nervous now. I've got all the plans made, and I'm not sure if I'll get to see him at all now."

"So, Potter gave up on you?" asked a deep voice that made Ginny cringe. She turned around and saw her least favourite Ravenclaw standing in front of her with a bouquet of roses and a satisfied smirk on his face.

"No, Jonathan." Ginny stood up and looked at Tonks. "Sorry, I seem to have lost my appetite." Making her way toward the door, she strode past him, ignoring the looks of the rest of the students that had gathered for breakfast that morning.

"Oh come on, now! The least you can do is thank me for the flowers! It took me a lot of work to get these," he pleaded as he chased after her. The sound of his feet was thudding against the hard floor. He was pathetic and so very transparent. Jonathan caught up to her and stepped in front of her, holding the flowers to her and cocking his head to the side.

"Thank you," she said flatly. "But I'm sure you can find someone else who'll want them."

Jonathan moved in and whispered, "But you're the one I want to give them to. I've been dreaming of our kiss, Ginny. Remember?" Reaching for her hand, he pulled her to him, in front of the whole school no less, and leaned in as if to kiss her. "I can take your mind off your troubles today, love."

With her free hand, Ginny slapped him across the cheek, the sound echoing through the Great Hall. She'd pay for that, she was sure, but it felt damned good just to see the look of shock on his face. "Sorry. I think you'll owe your little friends a right sum of money, yeah? Yes, I know." She swung around and marched into the Entrance Hall and out the front door, fighting to hold back the anger that was bubbling up inside her.

The cold air cleared her head far faster than she had thought it would, but she couldn't bring herself to head back into the castle. This was supposed to be a special day for her and Harry and it was just starting out altogether wrong. She kicked the snow in front of her. How could he forget Valentine's Day? He'd asked her to plan something special and he had the NERVE to forget? Harry Potter would wish that he had been blown to bits by Voldemort when Ginny Weasley was through with him.

It was the worst Valentine's Day she ever had. It was even worse than the one during her first year when she'd embarrassed herself and Harry with that damn singing Valentine.

She sat at The Three Broomsticks watching her friends huddle around the ones they loved and exchange looks and kisses that were painful to watch, hoping against hope that Harry would burst in through the doors, throw himself at her feet, and beg for her forgiveness. But that moment never came and instead of feeling loved and valued, she felt cheated and more alone than she ever felt in her life.

As Ginny, Luna, Dennis and Colin made their way back to the castle, a small Hufflepuff came running up to them.

"Are...are you Gin...Ginny Weas...ley?" he huffed, leaning down with his hands on his knees.

"Yes," she answered wearily. "What's the matter?" The boy handed Ginny a rolled-up piece of parchment tied with a piece of red ribbon. She took it from him and the boy ran back the way he came.

"Open it, Ginny!" Luna urged her eagerly. She watched as Ginny hastily tore the ribbon from the parchment and unrolled it in her hand.

Ginny---

Sorry I'm late. Meet me at the cave behind the Hog's Head.

Harry

"Luna!" Ginny hugged Luna in a tight embrace. "He's here! He's here!" Ginny gave Luna her bag and took off toward the cave in a flat out run.

Ginny slowed down as she approached the entrance of the cave, taking deep breaths to calm herself down but her heart was thumping wildly inside her chest. "Harry? Harry, you in here?" She stepped inside the darkness of the cave, and lit her wand softly, giving the inside of the cave a warm inviting glow.

"Gin?" She watched as he approached her from the shadows, bringing a smile to her face. In her excitement, she ran at him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him in for a kiss, his glasses falling to the side of his face. Ginny's hands went to his hair and her fingers buried themselves in his thick locks. She moaned as he deepened the kiss, eagerly seeking entrance into her mouth and she willingly gave it.

In the darkness of the cave, they kissed and lost themselves in the moment. Ginny was amazed at his ardour and forwardness, if not slightly taken aback. But it had been so long since she'd seen him that she soon let those worries disappear.

He moaned and began tugging her down onto the floor of the cave, which she discovered was covered with cushions that they sank into as he gently laid her on her back. His kisses followed a trail down her neck while his fingers began trailing down her arm, sending tingles up and down her spine. With boldness he'd never shown before, he rolled on top of her, pinning her beneath him and pulling open her shirt roughly.

"Har...Harry!" Ginny tried to lift his head from her now exposed upper body. His mouth fastened onto the swell of her breast and he began sucking on her tender flesh. "Ouch! Harry, that HURTS!" Ginny fisted her hands in his hair and yanked his head up to look him in the eyes. A beam of light fell on his face, causing her eyes to widen in both fear and anger. "Jonathan!" Ginny began to scoot herself backwards away from him, her feet skidding in the gravel beyond the cushion.

"What's the matter, Ginny? Don't you like the way I kiss?" he asked with an evil smirk on his face, tossing the glasses onto the floor of the cave. "You kiss like a dream." Ginny scrambled to her feet and began turning from him, hoping to get away.

"Jonathan, I told you before. I love Harry! Why can't you understand that?" Ginny inched her way slowly across the cold wall toward the opening in the half-darkness of the cave. Without taking her eyes off him for a second, she took hold of her wand and closed her eyes, saying "Expecto Patronum" over and over in her mind. A silver, misty doe appeared and leapt toward Jonathan, catching him off guard before prancing out into the daylight.

Ginny, emboldened by the appearance of her Patronus, pointed her wand at him menacingly and cast a non-verbal spell that sent Jonathan's wand into her other hand. He was still in shock after her actions and made no movement. Taking the opportunity, she cast another spell on him, magical ropes bound him and a cloth wrapped around his mouth, effectively silencing him.

From outside the cave, Ginny heard footsteps and people shouting her name. She forgot that any Order member would follow her Patronus to offer their assistance. Both she and Jonathan turned toward the light at the opening of the cave to see Luna, Tonks, and Professor Lupin charging into the cave.

"Ginny! What happened?" shouted Professor Lupin. He and the others stared at the scene in front of them. "Jonathan! What is going on?"

"That's not Harry," Luna stated plainly. "She got a note saying that Harry wanted to meet her here. And that, Professor Lupin, is obviously not Harry."

"Tonks, take Ginny and Luna back to the castle while Mr. Martin and I have a word," Lupin said gruffly, almost growling at the boy who still bound and gagged on the ground.

Tonks stepped forward to place an arm around a now shaking Ginny and began pulling her out of the cave. "Ginny," Tonks whispered, "you should button up." Ginny looked down to see her shirt unbuttoned and a rather large, rather dark love bite on her left breast. Feeling her face flush, Ginny's hands went to her shirt, pulling it shut before allowing Tonks to lead her back outside.

Ginny was silent the entire walk back to the castle, and she let Tonks take her to the Hospital Wing without any protest. She gave no resistance when Madam Pomfrey administered a Calming Draught and even allowed the woman to tuck her into a bed, all the while not saying a single word.

"Miss Weasley, this came for you shortly after they brought you here," Madam Pomfrey told her, handing Ginny another letter. "Do you want me to read it to you?" Ginny nodded and the matron began reading:

Ginny--

Just wanted to let you know that you became an aunt today. His name is Kristoffer Arthur Jenz-Weasley. He's adorable, Gin. Can you believe it? I'm a father!

Charlie, Amanda and Kristoffer

Ginny wiped away the tears that formed in her eyes and she smiled over at Madam Pomfrey, who wore a slight smile on her face.

"I'm an aunt," she simply stated.

After a nice nap and a meeting with Lupin and McGonagall in the infirmary, Ginny was released to Colin, who escorted her back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Ginny, are you going to be alright?" he asked at the bottom of the stairs that led to the dormitories. She nodded and gave Colin a warm hug.

"Thanks, Colin. I'll be fine." Deep inside, Ginny knew she wouldn't. It was perhaps the worst day of her life. She was pleased with the punishment handed down to Jonathan; he'd been expelled and sent packing that very afternoon. But what really bothered her was that she let her love for Harry get in the way of her better judgement. She should have known there was something wrong when she entered the cave; Harry would have never met her in a cave. It would be as if he were trying to hide their relationship from others.

Harry. She was angry with both herself and him. She was angry with herself for being so naïve and stupid; she was upset with Harry for leaving her alone on Valentine's Day, seemingly having forgotten about the entire thing.

As she huddled inside her curtained four-poster bed, she tried thinking of ways to make Harry as miserable as she felt. Things like cursing him with a Fat-Lip Jinx, or a Mole-Vision Spite Spell sounded good to her about five minutes ago, but as she sat there listening to the slow breathing of her roommates she knew nothing she or Harry did would make things any better. She was just about to extinguish her light when a familiar tapping at the window drew her out of her curtained bed.

"Better late than never, Hedwig," she scolded the white owl before showing it to the top of her bed-post. Harry's hurried handwriting across the parchment angered her and yet it made her heart soften. At least he remembered.

Ginny,

I know nothing I say will make up for the stupid mistake I made today. There's no excuse. I have been pulled every way the last few weeks and things just got away from me. I blew it. I'm sorry...

The rest of the letter was full of him trying to explain things away and offerings of tokens of his sincerity. It was the last thing she needed right now. She needed Harry; she needed him to hold her and say he loved her; she needed to kiss him and feel herself drift away on clouds of bliss. She wanted to do all the things she had planned for the two of them, on his insistence, and make him forget that he was famous. She just wanted to be his girlfriend.

Taking the letter, she did something very unusual. She crumpled it in her hand and threw it into the heater, watching it turn to ashes.

Over the next few days, Hedwig was an almost daily visitor. She would arrive in the Great Hall with the regular post; she would arrived early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Each time, the owl would look at her quizzically as if to say, 'Read the letter. The boy misses you.' And each time, Ginny would take the letter, shoo Hedwig away and toss the letter aside. Her roommates knew better than to ask her about the letters, and Sarah Mitchell even stopped bothering her.

After two weeks of letting Ginny shoo her away, Hedwig became insistent. She stood firm and bit Ginny a time or two, even drawing blood one particular morning.

"Damn you, Hedwig!" she shouted at the calm bird before she sucked on her finger. "Fine. I'll read the damn note." Ginny untied the parchment and unrolled it carefully.

Ginny, it's Hermione.

Harry feels terrible about what happened and is taking it very poorly. His hair stopped growing and is actually starting to fall out. He goes to bed right after he gets home and has taken to drinking on the weekends. Ginny, you have to talk to him.

I understand that you are angry with him and goodness knows I would be with Ron if he did something like this, but you really need to let Harry tell you what went on. He's miserable and I think you are the only one that can fix him right now.

Harry will Floo call you Saturday at ten. Don't let him down.

Please Ginny.

Hedwig gave Ginny an accusatory glance and looked at her sternly as she reached into her bag to retrieve a quill, quickly scratching her reply. Satisfied that Hedwig wouldn't bite her again, Ginny fastened the note and away Hedwig flew.

Ginny found it difficult to concentrate on her studies knowing that Harry was going to call her in a few days. She was caught daydreaming in Charms, she completely destroyed her Rejuvenating Potion and had to stay after class to redo it, and to top it all off she'd received a detention from McGonagall when she hexed a third-year Ravenclaw who asked for Harry's autograph.

She just couldn't catch a break.