One Year

One Year

Chapter Nine:

April

~*~

April 1^st...The Twins' Birthday.

Ginny had always dreaded this day. The twins always made complete arses of themselves and made everyone around them walk on tenterhooks, wondering what shite they were going to pull. It also made the family scrounge around for enough money to get them gifts that wouldn't garner some sort of idiotic joke rather than a polite 'Thank you.' For this reason, Ginny was particularly grateful that she was at school, rather than at home. She'd sent them a full report on the stunt she'd pulled on Harry and felt that was gift enough. Even though they'd never complained about her relationship with Harry, Ginny knew that both Fred and George would be proud of her, and most likely, they'd develop some sort of product that had the same effects to market to pre-pubescent boys in the near future.

Ginny shook her head and placed the last bit of clean clothing into her trunk. Today was the start of Easter break, and even though it was only a week, Ginny was very excited, as it would be her first chance to see her nephew. Charlie, Amanda and Kristoffer were coming for a visit and Ginny was nearly bouncing off the walls in excitement. She still had a difficult time thinking of her brother as a father, but she was fairly certain that the little one would be decked out in little clothes with tiny images of dragons and would be wearing dragon-hide booties before he could walk.

With the last of her things inside her trunk, Ginny shut the lid and expertly levitated it out the door, down the stairs and across the Common Room, and waited in the queue for her turn to exit out the portrait hole. There was a tapping on her shoulder and she turned around.

"Ginny, have you got a moment?"

"Uh, Sarah, can't it wait until the train? I really don't want to lose my place in line." Ginny wondered why Sarah was even being as polite to her as she was, and in fact, it was rather disturbing. Sarah always had ulterior motives.

"I'm not going home, Ginny. I just wanted to talk. Anyway, this is for you. I know how much you liked it." Sarah stuffed a package into one of the pockets of Ginny's robes and hastily turned around, heading back up the stairs to the dormitory.

"Weasley! Get a move on!" a disembodied voice shouted at her. Ginny turned around and discovered she was next in line to leave the Tower. Regaining her composure, she continued on with her trunk toward Professor Lupin, who was ticking names off the list.

"I'll see you on Sunday, Ginny," Lupin told her.

"Oh, I thought you and Tonks would be visiting her parents, what with the baby coming and all."

At Ginny's remark, the remaining Gryffindors broke out in cheers and questions about the arrival of the Lupin baby. Remus and Tonks had tried to prolong the announcement of the pregnancy, but when Tonks substituted for Remus back in February, it was a lost cause. The Gryffindors still loved to tease their Head of House, and he managed to turn a very attractive crimson, rivalling any live Weasley. Someone even broke out singing, "And I'm hungry like the wolf." That had to be Adam Donohue.

"Thanks, Ginny," Lupin muttered.

"Oh, sorry," Ginny apologized, feeling about an inch high. "I really didn't mean to embarrass you."

"Embarrass me? I'm becoming a father! If anything, Tonks should be embarrassed by having this old man as the father."

"Lupin, thanks. I'll never be able to think about sex in the same way." That was Adam again. A number of students laughed at the remark and Professor Lupin began shooing the rest of Gryffindor out the portrait hole and down the stairs. Once Ginny reached the Entrance Hall, she met up with Luna and they exited through the old oak doors together, making their way to the awaiting carriages and Thestrals.

"You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to these things, even after riding them," Ginny muttered to Luna.

"Well don't you remember this one, Ginny? You rode this one." Luna ran her hands over the Thestral's mane in a soothing manner. "She has sparkly green eyes. Like Harry's."

Ginny stepped in front of the creature and looked into its eyes, unable to see anything resembling green eyes. "Come on, Luna, let's get in." The two of them climbed into the carriage, along with three other Ravenclaws, and they made their way toward Hogsmeade station.

"What's in your pocket, Ginny?" Luna asked. Ginny had forgotten about the paper bag that Sarah had given her, which was still in her robes.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about it." Ginny removed the package, unwrapped the brown paper wrapping and pulled out a ceramic picture frame with tiny roses arranged around the outside. "Oh my. Sarah's had this forever. She used to keep a picture of her parents in here." Ginny shook her head. "Why would Sarah of all people give this to me?"

"Well, perhaps there is a simple explanation, Ginny."

"Like what? She wants to be best friends? That's not very likely," Ginny pointed out.

"True. Or perhaps the Good-Deed Goblins got to her. It's been a warm winter, so they are more active. Father wrote about them in a letter." Luna could always make her smile, and this time was no exception. The trip to the station was quick and uneventful.

As Ginny and the others disembarked the carriage, Ginny heard her name down the platform. She turned around and watched as the crowd of students parted dramatically to reveal black Auror robes flapping about the body of a dark-haired young man who was able to set her heart aflutter with a single look. "Harry!" Ginny's levitation spell broke and her trunk fell to the platform with a thud as she sprinted to him, untold numbers of eyes staring at the pair of them. She leapt into his arms, nearly knocking him to the ground in her enthusiasm. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's nice to see you, too, Ginny," he murmured before she fastened her lips onto his. They both got lost in their kiss and Ginny felt Harry's hands begin to wander over her school robes before heading up into her hair.

"Potter! Weasley!" The pair broke apart reluctantly to find a very irate looking Hagrid standing in front of them. "What ya thinkin' actin' like tha' in public? And you in yer Auror robes, Harry. You have got ter be more respons-ble." Ginny had never seen Hagrid speak to anyone like that before.

"Sorry, Hagrid. But what's wrong with you?" Ginny asked the half-giant angrily.

"I'm on duty, you two. I'm s'posed to keep this lot in check. Now get on th' train," Hagrid ordered, his hand pointing in the direction of the scarlet train.

"Hagrid," Harry began, "I'm taking Ginny home." Ginny smiled up at him, excitement filling her up inside.

"Not wit' out her parents' permission, yer not," Hagrid told him.

"I've got it." Harry thrust a note into Hagrid's hand and stood impatiently while he read the note. "Now what's the matter with you, Hagrid? You're angry and you never get angry." Ginny watched as Harry and Hagrid began a staring competition. Hagrid broke first.

"It's not yer fault, Harry. I jus' got word from Romania. Norbert's taken ill," Hagrid announced, his big eyes watering in front of them.

Ginny placed a hand on his elbow sympathetically. "Oh Hagrid, I'm sorry." Hagrid blew his nose loudly. "How is he?"

"He should be fine an' all, but I feel a right mess. If only I coulda kep' him, this might notta happen'd." Hagrid pulled Ginny in for a bear hug. "You go on now, Ginny. Harry, I'm sorry 'bout before. Ye deserve any happiness you can get. Both of ye." Hagrid turned around, walking down the platform only to return with Ginny's trunk in his arms.

"Oh thanks, Hagrid," she said, smiling at him. "So are we Apparating, Harry?" Harry gave her a sheepish grin and shook his head.

"Nah," he answered. "I drove."

"Harry! When did you leave London?" London was hundreds of miles away and he drove here?

"Well, remember your flying car?" he asked and she nodded. "Well, let's just say that your dad helped me make some modifications to mine.."

"Harry! Dad got into so much trouble for that!" she reminded him.

Harry looked at his feet and shuffled them across the wooden platform sheepishly. "Well, it's all legal, Gin. I, uh, pulled the 'Chosen One Card'."

She gave him a swat on the arm in disgust. "Shame on you!" In all honesty, Ginny was rather pleased with him. He never expected any of the attention or accolades he received for what he did, even though he could have got anything he wanted. For him to use his fame like this was funny and she thought, deep down, that he really should have done it earlier. Harry must have sensed that she was pleased with him and smiled at her, chuckling slightly.

"Hagrid, you want to see my car? I don't think you've ever seen it," Harry asked his old friend.

"No, s'okay, Harry. I 'spect I need ter get a move on wit' me duties. You have a safe trip now, ye hear?" He patted the two of them on the head lightly. Well, lightly for Hagrid. Ginny knew she would need something for her headache when they got home.

Harry resumed levitating Ginny's trunk and the two of them walked down the platform, their hands firmly clasped together. As they walked, Ginny placed her head on Harry's shoulder, feeling warmer and happier than she had in a long time. Harry turned his head to kiss her hair softly while he squeezed her hand in his. They walked in silence, but in Ginny's mind talking would only distract her from the feelings she was experiencing.

"You're quiet tonight." Ginny realised they'd stopped walking and were already at the car. He opened her door before going around to the boot with her trunk.

Once inside the car, Ginny was engulfed in Harry's scent: woodsy with a touch of leather and a light floral scent. She leaned into the driver's seat and breathed deeply, closing her eyes as she smiled, remembering their times together these last few months.

"My car smells?" Ginny's head popped up and she saw him hiding a laugh behind his wide smile.

"No," she said, shaking her head, "I just like your smell."

"My smell. How am I supposed to take that?" He slid effortlessly into the driver's seat and Ginny snuggled into the crook of his arm.

"Well, you smell..."

"Now I smell," he chuckled back, earning him a soft punch in the arm.

"Will you just shut up and let me finish?" She eyed him warily as he clamped his mouth shut. "You smell like leather from your jacket." Her finger ran down the sleeve. "You smell like fresh air like when you ride your broom." She lifted herself up and breathed deeply with her nose in his hair. "You remind me of the scent of the flowering fruit trees in the orchard at The Burrow." She nuzzled her nose into his neck and quick as lightening, licked his warm skin and sucked it into her mouth, making him squeal. With the widest grin she'd ever known, Ginny pulled back and looked at Harry, giggling to discover that he'd turned a nice shade of pink.

"Ah, it's a good smell," he said huskily. Harry reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear and then rested his hand on her cheek. He was going to kiss her. But she had an even better idea.

"Move."

"What?" His startled and confused look was well worth it.

Ginny tilted her head towards the back of the car. "We never did get to try out the back seat, Harry. Hermione always said it was fun." With a quick hop, Ginny leapt to the back and with a quick swish and flick, enlarged the back seat and lounged back, looking sexy, or at least she hoped she did. "Come over here, Harry." She beckoned him with her index finger and he gladly obliged.

"Miss Weasley, are you trying to seduce me?" Harry ran his hand over her hair and soon it was tangled inside, weaving around his fingers, as he pulled her in for a kiss. Without any protest, Ginny melted into him and let Harry control the kiss. She moaned as his strong tongue caressed first her lips and then her own tongue before running alongside the inside of her mouth tantalizingly slow. He pulled her to him and leaned over so that he was lying on top of her, his knees on either side of her supporting him as they kissed.

Hands, both Harry and Ginny's, began roaming around their bodies, bringing forth moans of pleasure and annoyance as clothing got in the way of eager hands. Ginny had long ago removed her cloak and jumper, leaving her in a thin t-shirt and jeans that were proving to be more of a hindrance than anything else. Harry was bare-chested and breathing heavily into Ginny's mouth as he kissed her, all the while sending shock waves of pleasure through her body. Harry groaned in frustration as he tried to open her bra without stopping their kiss. When did I lose my top?

"Let me," she moaned into him and playfully slapped his hands away and removed the offending piece of lace and satin before tossing it to the side.

"You're beautiful, Ginny," Harry eeked out and fastened his lips to the nipple on her left breast and his hand began massaging the other with gentle tugs followed by stronger ones that brought another moan of pleasure from her lips. Harry's mouth left her breasts and made their way down her stomach until his lips touched her jeans.

"Harry," Ginny whispered, "take them off, please." She began wiggling her hips, hoping to encourage him but all he could do was stare at her as he moved to his knees at her feet.

"Ginny, I, uh..." Before he could finish, Ginny sat up and kissed him, knocking him against the window of the car. Her fingers went to his fly to begin working on the button and zipper. "Ginny! Stop it!" Harry grabbed her wrists and pushed her back onto the seat. He looked terrified, something she wasn't used to seeing.

She stared at him in disbelief. "Harry, I'm ready." Ginny kneeled in front of him again, rubbing her hard nipples against his hot skin. He let out a low growl.

"No," he whispered, his answer sounding more like a question than a statement. "Not now. We've got to get back, Ginny. Your parents are expecting us and the train's left already." Ginny turned around to the window and wiped away the condensation, showing her an empty train station.

Her face fell and she suddenly realised the amount of frustration she had caused Harry over the last few months. Looking around at the interior of the car, she had to admit it wasn't exactly where she wanted to have sex for the first time. And he was right, her parents were expecting them and if they got to The Burrow later than anticipated, there would be hell to pay. Ginny reached for her clothing and silently redressed herself, not wanting to meet his eyes. But he was quiet, too, she noted. Usually he spouted off after she halted any of his advances but this was different. He stopped her. Something was wrong.

"Harry," Ginny began, touching him lightly on the shoulder, "is something wrong?" She bent forward to look into his eyes, searching for an answer. To her surprise, he shrugged off her hand and crawled into the driver's seat.

"You ready to go?" Ginny nodded unenthusiastically and joined Harry in the front seat. With a turn of the key, Harry started the engine and soon they were in the air, the landscape of Scotland slowly giving way to the beauty of the Lake District and then to the countryside of Devon. All the while, the car was silent, save for the music from the CD player, which was currently playing Def Leppard, Harry's favourite Muggle band.

Ginny wanted to fall asleep but she was too anxious over Harry's demeanour and the sudden lack of attention. She felt the jerk of the car as Harry began the car's descent toward The Burrow and the sudden jolt of the landing.

"Sorry," Harry said finally, looking at Ginny for the first time since they left the station. As the car slowed to a halt, the remaining Weasley family came tearing out of the house and very nearly ripped the passenger door off its hinges.

"Ginny!" George tugged her out of the vehicle and scooped her up into his arms. Ginny was laughing so hard she didn't notice that she'd been passed along to Fred who planted a wet kiss on her cheek. These were not her brothers. These were some sort of poor imitation of the twins, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Put me down!" she laughed. Fred put her on the gravel and her mother then immediately swooped upon her.

"Thank goodness you're home, Ginny. I wasn't sure that I should have allowed Harry to pick you up in that blasted car of his," she said quickly. "And look at you! Have you grown?" Ginny was held at arms' length and then was enveloped by her father.

"Hi, Dad," she told him, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. "How's work?"

"Boring," he laughed. Ginny turned around to look for Harry, but she only saw his back as he entered the house. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Fred and George giggling hysterically and shyly pointing at her.

"What's the matter with you two?" she asked them, getting angry at them. Both of them walked over to her and leaned in close, one on either side.

"Just thought we'd tell you," Fred started.

"That we are very proud of Harry." George looked at his twin with a toothy grin. Ginny looked at them as if they were out of their minds.

"What?"

"Let's just say, sister dear," said George.

"That Harry's left his mark on you. Right there." Fred put his finger on her neck, just below her ear. Her hand replaced her brother's and Ginny felt her face grow warm in embarrassment.

"She better make sure that there aren't any others, right Fred?"

"Absolutely! Mum'll think you're a scarlet woman or some other rubbish," Fred pointed out.

"But we know you're as pure as the driven snow," George said cheekily before taking off for the house with Fred on his heels.

With a smile for her parents, Ginny walked quietly to The Burrow, looking for Harry so she could corner him and find out what was bothering him so much. He wasn't in the sitting room or the kitchen. On her way up the stairs to her room, she heard footsteps on the landing above her.

"Harry?" Ginny peered up into the stairwell and caught a glimpse of his black hair. "Harry can we talk?"

"Not now, Ginny, okay? I'm tired." The sound of a door closing ended the conversation and only served to increase her frustration.

Harry was uncharacteristically quiet the rest of the evening as well. He'd taken a nap and at dinner, barely said more than eight words to Ginny or anyone else. Her mother tried unsuccessfully to engage Harry in conversation, answering her in either yes or no. Ron, who arrived home right on time for dinner, took note of Harry's mood.

"Harry, what's the matter? You look worse than when you got to Grimmauld that summer." It was true. Harry was surly and made the rest of the family feel just as morose.

"Nothing. Please excuse me," he announced, suddenly rising from his seat and headed up the stairs.

"What did you do to him, Ginny?" Ron accused.

"I don't think she wants to tell you what she did to him, Ron," Fred chirped.

"Boys! That's enough," their mother admonished. "Whatever is going on is none of your business." She rose from the table and began collecting plates and silverware. "Now you three come help me with the dishes." A collective groan emerged from the mouths of Ron, Fred and George in protest of their mother's orders.

"What about her?" Fred nodded towards Ginny.

"Fred," his mother began, "Ginny's going to cheer Harry up."

"I bet she does more than 'cheer him up'?" George suggested lasciviously. Before George could be scolded by either of his parents, Ginny shot a hex at her brother, leaving him lying on the floor covered in bat bogeys, then left the room, taking the stairs two at a time, not stopping until she stood outside Ron's room, where she knew Harry would be. Not bothering to knock, she entered the door to find Harry sitting in the middle of the floor, looking at pictures from his time at Hogwarts.

"Hi Gin," he muttered not bothering to turn around. "I thought you'd be up sooner or later."

"So are you going to explain your behaviour or do I have to drag it out of you?" She sat on the floor next to him and picked up a picture, looking at it carefully. "Is this from the Yule Ball?" Harry nodded.

"I was miserable. Ron was miserable. Neither of us were with who we wanted to be with."

"Neither was I, Harry. I really wanted to go with you." She set the picture down and picked up one taken at the third DA meeting. She smiled at the gathering of old friends in the picture.

"Yeah, uh, sorry about that, Ginny," he said softly, still not meeting her eyes. Harry took a deep breath and took the picture from her hands. "You realise how many of these people are gone?" He traced his fingers over the faces of friends he'd lost: Lee Jordan, Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin and Katie Bell. Gryffindor had been hit hard during the war, and Ginny knew he still felt responsible.

"What brought this on?"

"I ran into Katie's mum the other day at the Ministry. She was polite and told me how much Katie liked me and that she was thankful that I let her have that extra year and a half with her." Harry put his head on his hand and continued. "Funny how keeping Katie alive that year at Hogwarts meant so much to her."

"Harry, it's okay, you know. That was a good thing." He nodded at her statement and finally looked at her. "Can I ask you another question?"

"You can ask me anything, Ginny," Harry reminded her, taking her hand and giving her a weak smile.

"Is there anything else bothering you? I mean, after...uh, when we left the station..." Harry interrupted her with a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry about that."

"I know, but why, Harry? Why did you stop talking to me the whole way home?" Ginny brushed the fringe from his face and placed her hand on his chin, turning his face to hers.

"I...well, uh, I got scared," he told her. "You'd stopped me so many times and all of a sudden there you were, ready and willing, and I froze. I don't know what to do, Ginny. Maybe those people are right."

"What people?" Ginny watched as Harry got up off the floor and began pacing, something he did to help himself think.

"There's a rumour going around about me."

"Harry, there've always been rumours about you." Ginny got up and stopped his movements, steering him over to the bed. "Usually you don't let them bother you."

"These are different, Ginny. They're personal." He looked away from her and began staring out the window. "There are some people who think I'm not... normal."

"Not normal? You mean like..."

"Yes!" His face began to turn red and he ran both his hands through his hair. "I've been receiving all sorts of stupid newspapers, mostly geared toward, well, uh..."

"Men who fancy men?" Harry nodded and she laughed out loud. "Well that's laughable! You are very much in love with the female population."

"No." Ginny's eyes grew wide in astonishment. "I'm in love with one female. I love you, Ginny, not any other female, and certainly not any bloke."

Ginny smiled at him, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "Then why are you worried about it?"

"Well, I thought about some of the things those papers said about me. I didn't kiss a girl until I was fifteen. I was brought up in a not so loving home. I had no real parental examples." He started pacing again. "And then there's the fact that I live with Ron. People think that we're, well, that Ron and I are, uh, together."

"Does Ron know about this? He'd burst a vein if he ever heard that." Ginny began.

"No! He's got no clue! And then at the gala, they made a big deal that you weren't there."

"Well that was your own doing, Harry," she pointed out, stopping her movements and sitting back on the bed.

"And that's what made me think maybe I am," he admitted. "I mean, how many blokes would stop their girlfriend when she's lying in front of them, nearly naked, ready to fuck in the back of a car?" His eyes were wild with something akin to fear. "I couldn't do it. If I was really straight, we'd still be at the bloody station." Harry sunk down onto the bed beside her and Ginny wrapped her arms around him pulling him close to her.

"First off, Harry, Ron didn't kiss anyone until he was almost seventeen. Now that's pathetic." Harry chuckled. "Second, coming from a bad home environment doesn't mean you'd be gay. I'm sure there are some who came from very loving homes. Third, Ron lives with you because you don't charge him rent." Harry chuckled a bit more and nodded his head. "Fourth, Ron's been in love with Hermione for, what, almost eight years. I think he'd notice by now if he didn't feel right. And finally, just because you don't want to have sex when the opportunity arises..." Harry snorted this time. "...merely means you are a gentleman. And if I recall, you were the one who put a halt to my advances when I stayed at your house before school started."

"I did, didn't I? You were all randy," he pointed out. "But it was because of your dad."

"Yes, I know," she said, stroking his hair. "You respect me and my family. That surely doesn't make you gay, Harry. Like I said, you're a gentleman." Ginny let go of Harry and put her hands on his cheeks. "And I love you, Harry Potter. More than anything else in the world." Ginny leaned into Harry and they slowly, ever so slowly, met each other's lips in a gentle kiss that promised everything, yet delivered nothing but reverence.

"Mum!" came a shout from the door. Ron had burst into his room loudly, causing Harry and Ginny to jump apart. "Mum! Ginny's snogging in my room!"

It was the day before Easter and Ginny couldn't recall being so excited. Charlie and his little family were due to arrive any minute and she couldn't wait to see her nephew.

"Who does he look like, Mum?" she asked her mother for the third time since arriving home.

Giving Ginny a little squeeze, her mother told her, "Oh he's a strapping boy, dear. He has curly red hair, like Charlie, and lovely green eyes like Amanda's." A dreamy look came over her mother's face as she spoke of her grandson. "He has the temper of a dragon, too, I might add. Charlie has his hands full with that one." The new grandmother had spent two weeks in Sweden with Kristoffer last month and she was on a mission now to encourage Bill and Fleur to give her another grandbaby.

"Gin, you'll love him. He's a little fireball," Bill told her as he walked in from the kitchen.

"I'd think he'd be more like a Hungarian Horntail. Those buggers are wicked nasty," Harry added, receiving a few laughs from those around him. "You say he has red hair and green eyes?"

"Bright red hair, Harry," pointed out Ginny's father. "My hair used to be a bit like that."

"A long time ago, Dad, huh?" Fred ruffled his father's head from behind. There wasn't much hair left, but Fred had made his point. "If he's cute, Harry, then you'll get a good idea what your kids'll look like." Harry coughed in shock, nearly choking on the chocolate egg he had in his mouth.

"Fred, leave the poor boy alone." He received a nudge on the shoulder from his mother as she walked by.

A popping noise from the fireplace drew the family's attention away from Fred and a letter flew into the room. Fleur caught the parchment and handed it to Bill.

"It's from Charlie. They're on their way!" The family and Harry looked expectantly out the window and within a few seconds, Charlie and Amanda appeared near the chicken coop. The room quickly emptied as the Weasleys ran out of the house to join the new arrivals in the yard.

Ginny was amazed at how tiny Kristoffer was. After everyone greeted the newcomers, they were escorted into the sitting room and the littlest Weasley was soon making the rounds. Ginny now held him, admiring the tiny fingers with their even tinier fingernails. He was alert and looked at her with wide eyes and Ginny couldn't help but smile at him. Kristoffer held one of her fingers tightly and made little gurgling noises as he did. She was so involved with Kristoffer, Ginny didn't feel someone touch her shoulder. It was Harry.

"I thought you might like something to drink," he shyly said, holding a large glass for her.

"Thanks," she whispered. Kristoffer was starting to fall asleep. "Wanna hold him?" Ginny nearly laughed at the look of panic in Harry's eyes. "I can't hold him and drink this, you know."

"Uh, yeah, right," he stammered. "Lemme just put this down." Harry placed the glass on the table in front of him.

"Here, now make sure you hold his head." She leaned over and placed the baby in Harry's shaky arms. "Good. Relax, Harry. He can't hurt you."

"I just don't want to hurt him, that's all." Harry's finger went to the little boy's hair, sweeping it to the side. Ginny watched as Harry's eyes travelled over the little boy in his arms and the smile that was forming on Harry's lips. It was surreal, actually, that Kristoffer had green eyes and red hair. Fred was right. If she and Harry did have children some day, she was sure one of them would certainly look like Kristoffer.

Ginny continued to watch Harry hold Kristoffer and soon forgot about her pumpkin juice, she was so absorbed in Harry. She leaned into Harry's shoulder and looked at the baby as he slept, a chubby fist wrapped around Harry's thumb. .

"Gin," he whispered softly, barely enough for her to hear him.

"Yeah?" Ginny lifted her eyes to Harry's.

"I love you." He smiled. Ginny closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

"I love you, too, Harry," she answered and leaned up and kissed Harry softly on the lips. She knew, at that moment, that nothing but good could come from her love for Harry. When they broke apart, she laid her head on his shoulder again, watching the baby sleep.

"Harry, Ginny, are you two asleep, too?" It was Amanda. Ginny looked around and noticed the shadows in the room had shrunk. They had fallen asleep.

"I guess we did," Ginny said, half yawning in answer. "Should we wake them?" Harry's head had fallen to the side and rested on his shoulder and Kristoffer was still peacefully asleep in Harry's arm.

"No. Grab a blanket, okay?" Amanda smiled, reassuring Ginny that it was fine with her that Harry held her son. Ginny took the crocheted blanket from the back of the sofa and laid it across Harry's lap, draping it across his shoulder so that part of the soft covering lay across the baby. "He looks nice holding him." Ginny's face grew warm.

"Uh, yeah." Ginny smiled at them again. "He was scared to hold him, you know? But he got the hang of it."

"Kris looks like he could be yours and Harry's," Amanda observed, sitting down next to her sister-in-law. "Oh, I heard about what Fred said. He's right. Charlie said the same thing."

"Really?" Ginny shook her head, trying to get the thought of her and Harry having children out of her mind.

"Yep, he did. You two are good for each other. I saw it at the wedding," Amanda told her quietly as they continued to watch the pair sleeping. "Harry's smitten, Ginny. He's in it for the long haul. I'm sure of it." Amanda patted Ginny's shoulder and gathered her son in her arms, leaving a sleeping Harry to pull the blanket over his other shoulder and lay down against the arm of the sofa.

Ginny got up from the sofa and kissed Harry lightly on the cheek, and turned off the light next him. As she left the room, she took one last look and smiled, knowing, some how, that she and Harry would have their own turn. Some day.

After Easter, Harry had to return to London as he only had a few days off from training. He reassured Ginny that he was fine and that he had settled things in his mind.

"So, we play Ravenclaw in May. Could be for the Cup. Will you be there?" Ginny looked up at Harry's eyes, wanting to remember every detail until they could be together again. The sunlight of that April morning was reflecting brilliantly off the irises of his eyes, making them look like sparkling jewels.

"Wild hippogriffs couldn't stop me." Harry kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose and turned to open the car door. "Study hard, love. NEWTs are coming up quick."

"Really means a lot coming from someone who never took them." Ginny smiled as she leaned into the open window of the car, not wanting to say goodbye. "Hermione gave me her study notes, so I think I should be fine."

"Good. Well," Harry began, touching her softly on the cheek, "I've got to get going. There's only two and a half months left, right?" Ginny nodded, fighting back the tears that were building. "Hey now, don't do that."

"I can't help it. I love you so much, Harry."

"I know. I love you, too. But it's not that long. You'll be so busy with studying for exams that you won't have time to miss me," he told her optimistically. Ginny gave him a small smile and stepped away from the car.

"You go now. Fly safely, okay?" He nodded and started the engine. Ginny wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold in the warmth of his touch while she watched him drive down the gravel road, leaving only a cloud of dust behind him. She startled as someone touched her shoulder. Ginny turned around to find Charlie standing beside her, his arm around her shoulders.

"Hey there, Midget." He hadn't called her that in years. "You okay?"

"I think so. I just hate leaving him." She sighed and pulled her jumper tightly around her.

"Well, I think he'll be just fine, Midget. Can I talk to you?" Ginny turned to look at her brother, curious as to what Charlie would want to talk to her about.

"Yeah, Charlie. On the tree swing?" The two of them quietly walked across the grass and sat on the creaky old swing, which happened to be Ginny's favourite place to think about things, especially Harry.

"Well, uh, Amanda told me to talk to you."

"About what? Why couldn't she talk to me herself?" She thought Amanda knew her well enough to talk to her about anything. Was she wrong?

"Kristoffer. He needs a godmother." Ginny's jaw dropped.

"Me? You're kidding, right?"

"No. We want you to be his godmother. Sven had agreed to be godfather, and we wanted someone from my family, too," Charlie told her. Sven was Amanda's younger brother and a year older than Harry.

"But why me? Is it because I'm the only female?" Ginny asked him, bringing a smile to her brother's face.

"A bit, but not much," he answered. "Bill has his hands full already. And would you trust Gred and Forge with a kid?" Ginny shook her head. "And as much as I love Ron, he's a tad insecure around my son. He did, after all, almost drop him the other day."

"Yeah, I remember. He didn't want Hermione getting any ideas by seeing him holding a baby." Ginny rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Hermione has her own ideas about that without Ron putting any there."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. While she loves Ron and all, she really doesn't want to get married for a while. She wants to work and travel before she settles down. Don't tell Mum, but she told me once that you were onto something living with Amanda." Charlie was taken aback by her comment.

"Hermione wants to follow in my footsteps? Oh my. I don't think Mum'd like two of her boys getting in the family way before it's all legal." Ginny nodded but smiled at him before she spoke.

"No, no, no. Mum scared both of them after we found out about you, Charles." Ginny was the only one who could get away with calling Charlie by his full name. "In fact, thanks to you, all of us got these lovely lectures from Mum and Dad, and you can probably imagine how comfortable that was."

"Ah yes. But did you know that Mum did the same thing?"

"What?!?"

"Do they not teach maths these days? Can't you add, Gin? Bill was born almost six months to the day after Mum and Dad were married." Ginny's jaw dropped for the second time that afternoon. "You mean you didn't know that?"

"No," she said flatly. "You forget that I am the innocent princess, Charlie. Mum would prefer to think that I remain a virgin until my first child is conceived." Ginny laughed at the look Charlie gave her.

"I'd rather not think of you doing that, sis," Charlie pointed out. He cleared his throat and began again, in a more serious tone. "Are you, Ginny? Are you and Harry..."

"No," she blurted out, feeling her cheeks warm at Charlie's question. "Harry doesn't have a death wish, Charlie." There was no way she was going to tell her brother what she and Harry had done, that was for sure. She didn't have a death wish, either.

"Understandable. Just when you do, make sure it's right. For the both of you," Charlie said softly, his own cheeks reddening in embarrassment. Ginny smiled at him, grateful that she could talk to at least one of her brothers about something like this. She missed him a lot when he was in Romania. He wasn't around much during the war, and shortly after, he moved to Sweden, coming home on the occasional holiday.

"Thanks, Charlie. I know. I love him, you know. I can't think of anyone else that I would even think about doing that with." Ginny patted Charlie's hand before she stood up. "Come on. I think Mum is going to corner Tonks pretty soon and we all know that Mum will hover over Tonks like she never got to with Amanda."

"Oh, yes, Midget. We must go rescue the war heroine and her war hero husband from the baker of fine pastries," Charlie said with a chuckle. "Just wait until Fleur has a turn."

"The apocalypse. I tell you, Charlie, that'll be the apocalypse."

The returning train ride to Hogwarts was filled with chatter about Ginny's new nephew. In the compartment with Luna, Colin, Dennis and Demelza, Ginny passed around photos and rambled on about the new addition to the Weasley clan. She mentioned her new role as godmother, and was proud as a mother hen.

Ginny was the first seventh-year to return to the dormitory at the top of the stairs that night and was grateful for the return to what she considered normalcy. As she lay on her bed, reflecting on her holiday, she heard a sob from the other side of her bed followed by the popping of a cork. Ginny sat up and made her way to Sarah's bed. Ginny remembered that Sarah stayed here during the break, and she almost forgot about the frame Sarah gave her as she was leaving the tower. Suddenly, a terrible thought entered Ginny's head and she tore back the curtains of Sarah's four-poster bed. She was shocked by what she found.

Ginny's eye immediately went to the now empty bottle with the cork lying on the top of the sheets. Her gaze travelled up to the still form of Sarah Mitchell, who was clutching a note in one hand as she lay still.

"Sarah! Sarah wake up!" Ginny shook the girl, hoping to rouse her from whatever sleep she was in, silently praying that she just took a sleeping draught and didn't do what Ginny most feared. Ginny ran to the door of the room and stuck her head out into the corridor. "HELP! Someone help us in here! Get Professor Lupin!"

She ran back to the room and again tried to shake Sarah awake. The sound of footsteps thundering up the stairs was soon followed by the entire female population of Gryffindor Tower. Enid ran to Ginny's side and stopped short as she reached the bed.

"NO-O-O! SARAH!" The girl leapt onto the bed next to Sarah and placed her ear next to Sarah's mouth and nose. "Quiet! All of you!" The chatter and crying stopped as Enid tried to listen for Sarah's breathing. Enid let out a large sigh before saying, "She's breathing. But just barely. Where is Lupin?!?"

Ginny looked toward the door, willing Professor Lupin to run into the room and take over. She felt herself shaking in fear and shock. She had seen people die in the war, but this, this was different. Sarah did this to herself. Hundreds upon hundreds of questions were racing through Ginny's mind as she tried to come up with a reason why Sarah would do this to herself. The slam of the heavy door drew Ginny from her thoughts, causing her to turn around and find both Tonks and Remus charging into the room.

"What's happened? Who's hurt?" Lupin skidded to a halt as he noticed who was lying on the bed.

"What happened here?" Tonks chimed in, her eyes darted around the crowd of girls, all scared and looking frightfully white. "Remus, you get her to the Hospital Wing." Not needing further instruction, Remus scooped Sarah up into his arms and took off down the stairs.

As soon as Lupin left the room, Tonks took control of the situation. "What happened? Does anyone know?"

"I...I heard her cry...crying," Ginny spat put between quick breaths as she fought to keep her composure. "And then I heard a cork pop." Ginny looked onto the bed and saw the empty phial and cork. She reached over and picked them up in her hands, giving them to Tonks.

"Ginny, come with me. The rest of you, go to the Common Room. I'll send up Professor McGonagall. And for Merlin's sake, PRAY!" Tonks shoved the items into the pocket of her oversized shirt and pulled Ginny by the arm and led her out the door.

The two of them nearly flew down the many flights of stairs and Ginny couldn't help but wonder if this was good for Tonks, especially in her condition. Tonks slammed the portrait hole open and pulled Ginny away from the stairs toward a corridor on the left.

"Tonks! It...it's the...wr-wrong way!" Ginny stopped and bent at the waist, trying to catch her breath.

"No, Ginny." Tonks was barely out of breath. "There's an emergency portal to the Hospital Wing over here. Come ON. Let's go!" Tonks took off again and Ginny had no choice but follow her to a cluster of small statues Ginny had never really noticed before. "Stand next to me." Ginny followed Tonks' instruction and as soon as Tonks snapped her fingers, the two of them were in the Hospital Wing.

"Mrs. Lupin! What happened? Did anyone see?" Ginny watched as Madam Pomfrey charged over to them, peppering both Ginny and Tonks with questions Ginny had no idea how to answer.

At some point that night, Ginny was placed in a chair while Lupin, Tonks and Madam Pomfrey huddled around the sleeping form of Sarah Mitchell. Ginny tried to listen to their conversation, but she was fighting a more powerful foe than curiosity; sleep.

Ginny awoke to hear a murmured conversation across the room. Focusing on the voices, Ginny discovered that Professor Lupin was speaking with Sarah's mother.

"She took it so hard when he died, Professor. But she didn't want to miss school," Sarah's mother explained in a tearful voice. "She...she loves it here, and I thought it would be the best place for her."

"Why didn't she come and speak with me about this, Mrs. Mitchell? I would have given her all the time she needed to come to terms with this."

"Sarah doesn't like to burden people with her problems. I tried convincing her to stay home for a few days, but she refused." Mrs. Mitchell sniffed again. "I couldn't force her to stay."

"Yes, I know." Remus sighed heavily. "Here, let's get you into this chair. Madam Pomfrey says Sarah will wake up in a few hours." Ginny watched as Professor Lupin guided Sarah's mother to the fluffy chair next to the bed. "You get some rest. Do you want a sleeping potion, Claudia?" The woman shook her head and smiled as Remus conjured a patchwork quilt and tucked it around her. He patted her on the shoulder and began walking toward Ginny.

"Are you awake, Ginny?" Remus stood at Ginny's right and looked down at her, his face highlighted by the light from the waning moon.

"Yes. Why did she do that, Remus?" Ginny could feel hot tears begin to make their way down her cheeks. "What happened?"

"Come with me. We'll talk on the way back to the Tower." Ginny got off the chair, feeling chilly from the sudden loss of the chair's warmth. Once they were outside the room, Remus spoke again. "Her father died over the Christmas holiday."

Ginny paused and looked up at her friend and teacher. "She never said anything, Remus. Why didn't she say anything?" Remus ushered her back down the corridor, continuing on their journey.

"Ginny, I don't know. People react differently when faced with a great loss." Ginny remembered how Harry felt after Sirius died and how other people she knew handled the death of a loved one. Every person was different and there was no way to predict how they would handle the situation.

"I just don't understand why she would do that. What could make her lose hope like that?" Ginny knew there were no answers to her questions, and really, the only who held those answers was Sarah herself. It certainly wasn't very Gryffindor of Sarah, Ginny thought to herself, and tried to put those kinds of thoughts away as they reached the Portrait Hole and said goodnight to Remus.

Back in her bed, Ginny couldn't help but think that if she had been a bit more tolerant of Sarah, this may not have happened. Sighing heavily into the darkness of her curtained bed, Ginny closed her eyes and willed those thoughts to leave her mind, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Ginny's dreams were troubled that night as images of a dead Sarah asking her why she took so long to find her. Ginny was haunted by dreams of a similar theme all night leaving her tired, sweaty and shaking when morning finally came. Ginny sat up, deciding a cold shower was necessary that morning and vowed to figure out the whys of Sarah's actions.