Down Came the Sky

Chapter Eight: The "L" Word

"Ginny..."

She heard her name rest inches above her ear, thickly blanketed in the silence. She absently reached up to rub the heavy air off her ear and, groaning, she turned over in her bed while her breathing deepened.

"Ginny...Ginny..."

Her eyes fluttered open and she turned over again only to see her room cast in the dim moonlight, still with the steady breathing of her roommates. Her eyes weighted and her breathing deepened once more.

"Ginny, Ginny."

She opened her eyes a crack and felt a nervous jolt at the sight of a dark haired boy leaning languorously against the wall toward the corner of the room. Fear descended in her, dropping her heart all the way to her stomach in a beating frenzy. She wanted to scream, but she felt paralyzed. C'mon, she thought furiously, just open your mouth and make him go away.

The boy sauntered toward her and peered down. "I want you to help me win," he whispered close enough to her ear that her cheek felt the strange, cold humidity of his breath. He brushed her cheek with the tips of his icy fingers. Ginny was still immobile. It's a dream...it's a dream...wake up! Wake up! She frantically repeated to herself.

The boy stood above her, still gazing down at her still frame with a soft red gleam shining off of his eyes. Wake up! Ginny screamed in her head.

And then he was gone.

Ginny sat up with a start and scanned the room, which was still while the dull moonlight lightened it to a dusty color. She was sweating and her hair stuck uncomfortably to the back of her neck. Pushing it off, she took a deep breath and willed her nerves to lessen. The dawn of the sky invaded the night further so that her room resembled a picture painted in entirely grey hues. She closed her eyes and gently lay back on her pillow. He will never win, she thought hazily as she settled into a dreamless sleep.

***

Ginny stopped into the hospital wing first thing and was pleased to see Hermione propped up by pillow, reading a book. She never thought the image would seem so comforting.

"How'rya feeling?" Ginny said as she dragged a chair to Hermione's bed.

"Stressed, actually," Hermione said, looking up from the book. "I'm a day off schedule since I didn't get anything done yesterday." Ginny snickered under her breath and shook her head.

"But physically, you're feeling better, right?" she said, straightening her face.

"Oh yes, well, I'm awake, aren't I?"

"I don't understand all this Kaigdin business," Ginny said suddenly. She hadn't intended that it come out as adamant as she had spoken it and this seemed to startle Hermione.

"It's very old magic," she said almost automatically. "And mostly illegal." She added the last part as an afterthought, but the thought stuck to Ginny's brain. She knew the magic was hard to control, but she had forgotten about the laws regarding it and that many countries had banned it. It made her feel uneasy.

"Hermione..." she started slowly, feeling her teeth slowly gnaw anxiously at her bottom lip. Hermione raised her eyebrows and placed the book in her lap. "Does it ever, I dunno...bother you that Harry is learning this magic? It doesn't seem to be helping. I--I even feel like its affecting my moods..." She hadn't realized she had thought this until it slipped out and another cloud of anxiety settled on her. She stared at Hermione, her voice lost in her throat.

"Er--"Hermione said, furrowing her brow. "I suppose it has bothered me at times, but then I remind myself of when Harry was learning Occulmency. He felt like it was making him weaker for a while, but then he mastered it." She smiled peacefully, but Ginny still felt unsettled.

"But I don't think he's really mastered Occulmency," she said, turning to the window. She wanted to share more, but she realized that Harry had shared a lot with her and she didn't know if he wanted Ron or Hermione to know. But they probably know more than you anyway... a small, cynical voice suggested. When Ginny spoke again her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you remember that night when I broke up with Dean and kissed Harry?" She winced at how brass the situation sounded and she turned toward Hermione.

"Yes, of course I do," Hermione said while leaning forward, poised for more information.

"Harry told me recently that You-know-who has been lingering in his head ever since then until--" she felt her cheeks flush, but she ignored it and continued. "Until that time in the common room when he used that emotion. I'm not sure what he did, but it made him go away."

"Kaigdin magic must work for him then," Hermione said. Ginny frowned and pursed her lips.

"How can he do something so powerful using--" she choked a little from embarrassment and cleared her throat. "Lust?" she finished, feeling a tad too vulnerable.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, shifting under her covers.

"He said he couldn't do more than levitate things with you, but with me he broke a vase and caused You-know-who to leave his head..." Ginny trailed off pensively and felt her cheeks warm again at the direction her conclusion was taking.

"So you reckon he needs to be aroused to use his magic?" Hermione concluded unabashedly.

"Hermione!" Ginny squealed, feeling herself flush further. Hermione sighed.

"I'm sorry--I need to be blunt to work this all out." She chewed the tip of her thumbnail and gazed down at her book with her eyes unfocused. "So that's all he's done with you, the vase and the thing in the common room?"

"Yes. Oh, I mean no! Yesterday he levitated my mitten from my pocket because I told him to try the magic by focusing on me, but not touching me."

"Was he aroused then?"

Ginny laughed nervously, her cheeks heating again.

"I don't know, we were just talking...but boys think about that sort of stuff a lot--"

"Have you considered that it wasn't arousal, but something else?" Hermione said matter of factly. Ginny had perhaps wished, but never considered that it was something deeper. She shook her head and stared down at her knees.

"I know I'm in love with him, does that make a difference?" she asked quietly, still looking down.

"Yes," Hermione said. Ginny looked up at her quickly, but Hermione shook her head. "I'm rubbish at explaining it because I reckon I don't know how to, but yes. It does make a difference."

Ginny didn't understand what she felt at Hermione's comment. Was it fear? Doubt? Elation? Depression? Insecure thoughts whirled with her feelings of adoration for him and she stood up quickly, blowing out a shaky breath.

"Go and see him, I need to finish reading," Hermione said briskly, raising her knees so that she could peer at her book more closely. Ginny wrapped her arms around her stomach, walked numbly out of the hospital wing and stopped by the outside benches. She felt lost and didn't know where to go.

"You're up early." It was Neville. He approached her casually, his hands in his pockets.

"I was anxious about Hermione," Ginny replied, trying hard to focus on him instead of her jumble of emotions.

"How is she? I heard she wasn't doing well last night." He looked nervous when he said this and Ginny gazed at him shrewdly.

"Much better," she responded slowly. "She's reading right now." Neville nodded and smiled slightly, looking past Ginny and into the hospital wing. Ginny had never been completely certain of how Neville worked and a thought budded as she watched him peer toward Hermione.

Ginny had thought he had fancied her last year, but she was with Michael, so she paid it no mind. Instead, she merely decided he was a really sweet bloke. She also thought he fancied Hermione at one point in her third year, but he took her rejection to the Yule Ball with such grace that she was convinced he simply admired Hermione.

At that particular moment outside the hospital wing however, Ginny intuitively wondered if his feelings for Hermione were more than admiration. He certainly didn't need to come see how she was doing, Ginny mused.

"Neville," Ginny said softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. She wasn't sure what to say next and he was staring at her curiously. "Er--thanks for helping me and Harry to the hospital wing the other day."

"Of course," Neville said quietly. "I--" he stopped suddenly and swallowed, releasing his hand from Ginny. "I'm going to see her now," he finished, smiling weakly. Ginny nodded and turned to walk away herself, not sure where her feet were leading her. She was surprised when she reached the bottom of the boys' dormitory stairs, but she realized that she really did want to see Harry badly.

She reached the door to the sixth years' room and gently rapped on the door. No response came. She knocked louder and waited. Still nothing. She sighed in frustration and removed her shoe. Closing her eyes, she quickly opened the door and threw it in as hard she could, blindly aiming for a bed. She shut the door and opened her eyes as a stream of curse words sounded in her brother's voice. His voice grew louder and he swung open the door, looking severely rumpled and wearing a comically deep scowl.

"Good, you're up," she said, smirking at him.

"What the hell was that?" Ron yelled.

"I wanted to make sure I didn't walk in on any indecent boys. Is it okay?" Ron crossed his arms and walked back in his room, leaving the door ajar. Ginny walked in lightly and surveyed the beds. Harry seemed to have been unaffected by the noise, but she couldn't tell as his hangings were closed. She had disturbed Seamus, who was muttering and shifting under his covers and she gingerly turned her gaze to Dean, who was pushing himself up to a sitting position and rubbing his eyes. Ron picked up Ginny's shoe from his bed, threw it unceremoniously on the floor and crawled back under his covers.

"Aren't you Mr. Sleepy-Head?" she said sarcastically. Ron moaned and buried his face in his pillow.

"Why are you here? Get it over with so I can sleep a while longer."

Ginny started walking over to Harry's bed unevenly as she still had only one shoe on. She turned around to retrieve it and uncomfortably noted that it was lying at the foot of Dean's bed. He quickly pushed himself over his footboard, scooped up the shoe and held it out to her. Ginny took it from him and attempted to say 'thanks' but she could only shape the word with her mouth. Dean nodded, staring at her for an odd moment before he drew the hangings of his bed closed.

Instead of putting her shoe on, Ginny opted to take the other one off and walked lightly to Harry's bed, placing her shoes neatly next to it. She carefully drew back a hanging and was surprised to see him staring at her. She climbed onto his bed and let the hanging fall close.

"I saw you go in there," Ron said forcefully and Harry grinned.

"Go back to bed, Ron," Ginny said loudly, grinning back at Harry. "What am I going to do with you lot in the room?"

Ginny swore she heard him mutter, "Not like it stopped you before," but ignored it. Harry shifted over and she lay down next to him, placing her face close to his.

"Hi," she whispered, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Morning," Harry replied, pulling his cover from under her so that he wasn't so tightly wrapped in them. Ginny had the fleeting desire to crawl under them with him, but she knew that the heavy comforter would provide some sort of dangerous freedom that she thought should not be released yet. Instead she pulled her legs closely into herself so that she resembled a ball.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, blinking slightly and then squinting at her as he had yet to put his glasses on. Ginny realized that she didn't really know what she wanted to talk to Harry about. Her conversation with Hermione back in the hospital wing seemed ages ago and it was easy for her to be distracted when in an even slightly intimate contact with Harry. As it was, lying on his bed in the morning and whispering a conversation to one another reminded Ginny of how it might be wonderful sometime in the future to wake up in the same bed as him.

"Hermione's doing well," she said quickly. A light shadow passed over Harry's face.

"Good," he said seriously, "She needs to be and...I couldn't...it would be awful..."

"Don't feel bad," Ginny said over his fading voice. "You had no idea." She leaned her face closer to his, close enough in fact that it was almost too alluring. "How are you feeling?" she whispered, pulling her face from temptation. Harry stared at her a while, his expression unreadable, and Ginny started feeling uncomfortable. "Harry?"

"Fine...I'm fine," he said, closing his eyes briefly and then looking away from her. His covers looked lovely and comfortable as he shifted, Ginny observed, and without thinking she shifted closer to him and laid her head on his stomach. He still didn't look at her but as Ginny closed her eyes she felt his fingers tentatively drag through her hair. It was hypnotic. His hand reached the ends of her hair, which trailed down her back, and a surge of Goosebumps rose all over Ginny. She shivered and moved herself closer to him.

"Would you want to practice later?" she murmured. She felt his hand stop abruptly and she opened her eyes to look at him. "Not like we did the first time of course," she said quickly. "Like yesterday with my mitten."

Harry shook his head. "I promised Ron I wouldn't with you."

"No, you promised you wouldn't practice with that emotion, not all together."

Harry rolled away from her, causing Ginny to feel slightly empty at the absence of his warm body.

"I can't practice with you," he said softly.

"But why not? We want to practice what will work."

He turned back toward her, his face set in determination. Ginny had never noticed how affecting the expression was on him before. She reckoned the absence of his glasses may have made it more prominent, but nevertheless, the look made her slightly nervous.

"Fine," she whispered, fighting a scowl. She felt disappointed in her lack of resolve and even more disappointed in herself for letting herself get intimidated into it. "But you know I'll help if you ever need it."

Harry's face softened and he reached over to run his thumb over her hand. "I know," he said gently. Ginny felt herself melt slightly and she curled her fingers in his.

"I never want to leave you," she whispered, lifting their locked hands toward her mouth. She pressed the top of his hand to her lips. "I hope that's okay."

She had meant her last comment to be in response to her kissing his hand, but she realized how it may have come across when he didn't answer her for a long time. She felt a gentle swooping of her stomach as he slowly nodded, even though he remained stationary. They lay motionless, staring at each other for a long time until Ron pushed Harry's hangings apart.

"Oi! Let's go visit Hermione!" Ginny gently released Harry's hand and rolled away from him.

"Come and get me when you go," she said lightly, smoothing her jeans.

"Yeah, fine..." Ron mumbled, looking between her and the door suggestively. Ginny smiled sweetly at him and left without a word, though her mind was working at about a mile a minute. She wondered if Harry was watching her walk out and she almost looked back, but for some reason decided to keep her eyes ahead.

***

Ginny had two large essays to write and Charms to practice over the weekend and as Sunday wore on, she anxiously realized that she still had only completed one of the essays and hadn't practiced at all. Even though she really wanted to go back to see Hermione, she sent Ron and Harry ahead without her. She knew Hermione would understand anyway.

She blinked hard and stretched her hand after working on her History of Magic essay just as her stomach growled. She rubbed her eyes and checked the time, surprised at how late it had gotten. She had forgotten to go to breakfast and lunch had already passed. Her stomach rumbled and she shoved her things to the side quickly so that she could rummage through her bag to see if she had at least any sweets. She found a small, squashed box of sweets at the bottom of her bag, sighed, and popped one into her mouth.

"Did you have much luck with the part about the Vampire decrees?"

"Hello, Colin," Ginny responded as he sat in a chair next to her. "I reckon I found what I needed. Why? Did you have trouble?"

He leaned back in his chair. "A little," he replied, smiling slightly.

"Did you try looking in Magical Laws and Restrictions?" Ginny said, leaning back herself.

"No...I didn't know which volume to look in."

Ginny stretched and pulled her essay back into her lap. "I found some information in volume 17."

Colin closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "I'll go when I have the energy to stand up."

Ginny snorted and began re-reading her essay. "All right, I'm going," Colin said, pushing himself out of the chair. Ginny mumbled a goodbye without looking up as he opened the portrait hole.

"Hey, Harry," Colin said enthusiastically and Ginny turned her head around quickly as he clamored through and turned around to help Hermione. Ron scrambled through after them with an impassive expression that Ginny could tell was completely put on.

"Hermione!" she shrieked, letting her essay fall off her lap.

"Madam Pomfrey said that I had enough energy to come back," Hermione smiled, gently tugging her elbow from Harry's grasp. Harry let his arm fall to his side, his eyes fixed guiltily on Hermione. "And now we're all going to do Herbology," she said, looking at Ron pointedly.

"We're meeting Neville in the library," Ron said tightly. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Do you want me to get your bag?" Ginny asked Hermione.

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "I'm quite capable of walking up stairs." She said this while looking at Harry and she turned back at Ginny, giving her a small smile. "D'you want to make some hats later? I don't have many to put out tonight."

"You know that it's only Dobby who takes them," Ron pointed out abrasively. Hermione pursed her lips.

"I'm getting my things," she said softly, patting Harry's shoulder before ascending the stairs. Ginny inched toward Harry and let her fingers play closely to his before he slipped their hands together.

"Do you always have to do that?" Ron said crossly, stepping closer to them.

"What?" Harry responded, looking between Ginny and Ron in puzzlement.

"You act like you'll die if you don't have your hands on each other. I mean, give it a rest once in a while!"

"Excuse me, but that is what couples do," Ginny responded more vehemently than Ron. "It's not like we're kissing in front of you or anything."

"But you did. And you know what they say about couples who can't keep their hands off each other in public," he said, poking Harry in the chest with his finger depreciatively. Harry's mouth was pulled tightly in anger, but he stood stiffly.

"What, Ron?" he said in a low voice.

"That they can't control themselves when they're alone."

Ginny blew out a frustrated breath in forced calmness and released Harry's hand to rub at her temples. "If you want her so much, than get your arse going and do something already. Don't take it out on us," she grumbled quietly, dropping her hands.

"You don't know anything," Ron said icily, pushing past Ginny toward the dormitory stairs. Ginny heard Harry grumbling under his breath as they watched Ron go.

"Neville asked Hermione to Hogsmeade," Harry said when Ron was out of earshot.

"What?" Ginny looked up to Harry quickly while he shook his head. "What did she say?" Harry fixed his eyes on Ginny, a small smile quirking the corner of his mouth.

"She said she would have to check with me and Ron first."

"And Ron was mad?"

"Sort of," Harry answered, tucking a lock of hair behind Ginny's ear. "He likes Neville though, so he tried to pretend. But he got a bit snide anyhow. Then Hermione said that she wanted to join me and Neville when we studied Herbology and Ron said he wanted to come too." He chuckled and shook his head.

"You're studying with Neville?"

"He's helping me in Herbology since I'm helping him with Defense Against the Dark Arts," Harry replied, scuffing his trainer on the floor.

Ginny furrowed her brow, "I didn't know you needed help in Herbology."

"I don't really," Harry responded, grounding something invisible into the floor with foot. "I just figured it would make him feel smarter or something."

Ginny stared at Harry as he focused on the ground with his head bowed, pieces of his fringe brushing the top of his glasses. He looked at her self-consciously and raised his eyebrows.

"Why are you staring at me?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck. Ginny shrugged her shoulders and reached up to run her thumb down his jaw. He closed his eyes and opened them again when Ginny picked up his hand and kissed it. She felt it was almost as good as one on his lips.

"I'm lucky to have you," she said, swinging their hands. Harry suppressed a smile and stared at their hands moving lazily.

"Likewise," he replied, looking at her face tentatively. Ginny stopped their hands and gazed at him, feeling her emotions swell in her chest. If there was any time that would warrant her confession of emotions it would be now. She heard a shuffling on the dormitory stairs but ignored it. "Harry--" she whispered, locking her eyes on his. She heard his breath quicken just as a bag clunked beside them.

"Where's Ron," Hermione said breathlessly. Harry abruptly pulled his gaze from Ginny and she felt her emotions fizzle.

"I think he went to get his things," Harry said, taking a step backwards and releasing Ginny's hand. "I'll go see...I need to...go...too." He looked around the common room with an expression of mixed worry and confusion before bounding up the stairs.

"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked, perching on the arm of the closest chair.

Ginny bit her lip and shrugged. "He told me about Neville."

Hermione's nostrils flared and she stared at the fire darkly. "I don't know what his problem is. Surely he would see that I was giving him a chance to ask me instead."

"You shouldn't expect as much out of him. He won't even admit he fancies you."

"Oh he admitted it," Hermione said dryly. "Then he took it back." She shook her head and mumbled "git" under her breath.

"Hermione, if my brother keeps treating you this way, then move on. Seriously." Hermione grimaced and crossed her arms.

"You think so?"

"I mean, you could warn him. Give him an incentive or something. But yeah, if he won't pull his head out of his arse, then you should go to Hogsmeade with Neville."

"How do I give him an incentive?" Hermione said, suddenly looking scared. Ginny sighed and shifted her weight.

"I don't know, but we'll think of something. I reckon we could discuss it when we make hats."

A noise from the stairs caused the girls' attention to snap to its source, and Ginny saw Harry gripping Ron's forearm and pulling him down the stairs.

"We're ready," he said with a slight edge in his voice.

"Yep," Ron added rigidly. Hermione nodded silently and shouldered her bag. Ginny watched the three of them clamber out of the portrait hole and her stomach growled again. She found some more sweets and popped one in her mouth as she attempted to focus her mind back to her essay. Her hunger, however, was starting to make her light-headed, so she pushed her essay to the side again and decided to go down to the kitchens. Fred and George had told her how last year, and Ginny reckoned that now was as good a time as any to give the kitchens a visit.

Ginny had to walk slowly through the corridors as her lack of food caused her to feel faint. She had to stop a couple times in order to regain her balance. She ate the last of her sweets on the fourth floor, bracing herself on the wall and determinedly set off toward the kitchens once more, resolving never, ever to skip two meals in a row again. As she made her way to the nearest staircase, she heard familiar voices echoing in the distance and she carefully detoured to the source, curious at the cause of the yelling.

She peered around the corner and saw Ron pacing back and forth while Harry watched him with his arms crossed.

"I reckon it wouldn't bother you so much if you weren't jealous," Harry said harshly and Ron stopped pacing so that his back was to Ginny. The tips of his ears flamed brilliantly.

"Why would I be jealous?" he replied, apparently forcing his voice not to rise. Harry took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Look mate, everyone knows that you fancy Hermione, so do something already." Ginny caught a glimpse of Ron's face as he moved to sit on the floor and saw it was flushed until he placed his head in his hands.

"We did do something, remember? On New Years? And she was embarrassed--"Harry started laughing at this. "What?" Ron snapped, causing Harry to stop abruptly.

"You think she doesn't fancy you because of that?"

"Shouldn't I?" Ron sounded suddenly nervous at this last comment.

"No."

"Oh."

There was a pause and Ginny watched Ron stand up while Harry clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Ask her to Hogsmeade," he said quietly.

"What?" Ron replied in alarm.

"She didn't say anything to Neville, so ask her."

"What about you?"

"I'll go with Ginny," he responded plainly.

"How do I do it?" Ron's voice rose in a slight terror.

Harry shrugged. "I dunno, just ask her."

"Just like that?"

Harry shrugged again and grinned stupidly at Ron. "Please, just ask her."

Ginny saw Ron nod and watched as the boys started making their way toward her. She panicked and tried to find a staircase to conceal herself in, but it was too late.

"Ginny?"

"Er, hey, Ron...Harry," she said awkwardly. Ron narrowed his eyes at her and she looked quickly at Harry, who was merely staring at her curiously. "I was just going to the kitchens."

"The kitchens are the other way," Ron said suspiciously, peering at her more closely.

"Are they? I've never been before...I s'pose I didn't remember what Fred and George told me correctly."

"I'll take you," Harry said quickly, giving Ron a pointed look. Ron's suspicious expression shifted to one of fear instantaneously.

"No," he almost squeaked, "I'm hungry too. Let's all go to the kitchens."

"We'll bring you back something," Harry said, raising his eyebrows.

"I'd rather go myself."

"Well, I do need to speak to Harry privately," Ginny piped in, smiling at Harry. Ron looked between the two of them and sighed in resignation.

"Yeah, fine," he said, leaning against the wall. Ginny hooked her arm through Harry's and tried not to grin.

"I'll bring him back," Ginny called over her shoulder as she and Harry walked away. They moved silently toward the kitchens until Harry stopped suddenly, causing Ginny to loose her balance slightly until he caught her.

"What?" she said, blinking until she no longer felt dizzy. Harry stared at her with his brow furrowed, but didn't say anything. "What, Harry?" she said more irritably. Malnutrition did not fair well with Ginny, she decided.

"Er--" He screwed up his face in concentration and then shook his head.

"Spit it out," Ginny said not so gently.

"Why were you going to the kitchens?" he said so quickly that Ginny could tell he had meant to bring something else up to her. She sighed.

"Because I missed lunch...and breakfast for that matter. I need to eat something before I pass out."

Harry creased his brow. "You haven't eaten?"

"I forgot," Ginny replied, grabbing his hand again and leading him forward.

"How could you forget to eat?" Harry responded as he let Ginny drag him onward.

"I was preoccupied." She stopped suddenly as a wave of wooziness hit her and she leaned against Harry.

"Are you okay?" he asked, resting his hand on her back.

"Fine--just a little light-heated. I'll feel better once I get some food in me."

Harry led her by the small of her back and Ginny felt a light tingling sensation shoot down her legs. She watched Harry approach a painting of a pear and tickle it and then lead her into the kitchens. She barely had time to register the business surrounding her as the elves bustled around them.

"Harry Potter has come to visit Dobby!" Dobby grinned largely while the stack of hats on his head tipped precariously.

"Hi, Dobby," Harry said, smiling down at him. "D'you think you could find something for Ginny to eat?" Dobby looked up at her and beamed, nudging Harry's leg.

"Dobby has heard all about her, Harry Potter, sir," he said, winking one of his large, tennis ball sized eyes.

"Er--" Harry started as Dobby seized Ginny by the hand and led her over to sit down.

"What does Ms. Ginny Wheezy want?" he said, looking back at Harry and grinning again. Harry flushed slightly and walked over to join them. Ginny fought back a grin.

"What do you suggest?" she said, trying to keep her voice casual. Dobby dashed out of sight and Ginny shoved her fist in her mouth as a particularly strong giggle threatened her. She turned to Harry, who smiled weakly at her and she ducked her head quickly in order to regain her composure.

"Dobby has been experimenting," he said, beaming at a bowl of stew he had placed in front of her. Harry eyed it warily and Ginny picked up the spoon. She smiled at Harry, who sucked in his breath as Ginny took a bite and felt her faintness disappear immediately. The stew had a strange flavor that Ginny wasn't sure of, but after taking another bite, Ginny decided that she liked it.

"Taste this, Harry," she said, holding a spoonful out to him. Harry took the spoon from her and took a hasty bite. He looked surprised as he swallowed.

"Wow, that's good, Dobby," Harry said, reaching for some more. Ginny smacked his hands away.

"Get your own," she said, seizing the spoon from him. Dobby placed another bowl in front of Harry and Ginny asked Dobby if he wanted to join them.

"Dobby knew Harry Potter would love someone like you!" Dobby exclaimed, seating himself beside them. "Ms. Ginny Wheezy exceeds in her goodness," he said, nudging Harry, "and loveliness," he continued, raising his eyebrows at Harry suggestively. Harry flushed and stared down at his bowl of stew while Ginny pushed her lips together to avoid laughing at Dobby's ridiculous expression.

"Er, thanks, Dobby," he said awkwardly, taking a swift bite of his stew. Dobby stared between the two of them for a while with a strange, wistful expression on his face as they ate in silence. Harry would shift and smile at him uncomfortably every once in a while, and Ginny tried to get her mind off of how amusing the situation was so that she wouldn't hurt Dobby's feelings by laughing. She let her spoon drop in her empty bowl with a clatter.

"That was excellent, Dobby," she grinned at him.

"Does Ms. Ginny Wheezy want some more?" he said eagerly.

"Oh no, I'm fine. One bowl really hit the spot."

"Harry Potter and Ms. Ginny Wheezy must come back and have more then!" Dobby beamed, taking Ginny's empty bowl.

"We will," Ginny replied, smiling at Harry. He smirked at her and rose from his seat.

"I reckon I should see how--er--finish with Herbology," he said, offering his hand to Ginny. "Thanks, Dobby."

"Of course, Harry Potter, sir," Dobby responded with another wide grin.

"We'll come back," Ginny said, taking Harry's hand and lacing their fingers. She heard Dobby sigh dreamily behind them as they exited.

"I reckon Dobby approves," Ginny said amusedly after they reached the corridor.

"I reckon so," he responded. "Did you need to speak with me?" he asked, suddenly seriously.

"Oh...no..." Ginny said as she started walking forward. "I knew you were trying to get Ron and Hermione alone, so I thought I'd help."

"You could tell?" Harry trailed off until realization dawned on his face, "You were eavesdropping!"

Ginny smirked. "I couldn't help it. I could hear your voices from miles away." Harry looked down at her skeptically. "Don't give me that face, Harry. You'd've done the same thing. Besides," she added, "I'd find out eventually anyway."

"You're so sneaky," he said, pulling her close to the crook of his arm.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," she quipped back, wrapping her arms around him so that she could place her face close to his chest. He smelled wonderful to her.

"Only if we're on the same side," he said softly, curling the ends of her hair in his fingers.

"You'll never have to worry about that, Harry. I love you too much." Harry's hands dropped from her hair unexpectedly and he stepped back from her. Merlin! Ginny panicked in her head, I can't believe I just said that! The words echoed in her head and she gazed at Harry anxiously, feeling beyond idiotic. He wasn't ready for this, she could tell he wasn't. And by the look on his face, Ginny determined that he didn't feel the same way. Her stomach dropped at the thought and she felt a wave of nausea.

"Er--thanks," Harry said, looking utterly bewildered.

"I need to finish my essay," Ginny blurted out. "Bye," she yelled as she sprinted away, leaving Harry in her wake.

She hurried to the nearest girls' lavatory and promptly emptied the contents of Dobby's stew into the toilet.