Awkward Silences

She looked so beautiful just standing there. Her red hair fell lightly over her shoulders. Then Harry remembered why she was there.

"I'm - I'm sorry, Ginny. I didn't mean to wake you."

'What is he doing up? Mum was so right saying that we should go to the Burrow. It just pains him to stay here any longer.'

"It's okay. I heard you leaving your room." Blushing slightly, she admitted, "I think you're not the only person who's been having problems sleeping."

Harry shivered for a moment, partially out of fear of the past, partially because he was cold. Ginny noticed and started to take off her dressing gown.

"Here. You look frozen standing here." She held it out to him.

"No, Ginny. I don't need it. Besides, your brothers would kill me if they found out I saw their little sister in just her nightdress."

Ginny looked at her stocking feet as she blushed and put her dressing gown back on. She was trying to be caring, but all he was doing was pushing her away. Even when he did have a point.

"But, Gin, there is a way you can help." Ginny's head raised slightly in wonder. "Come here."

Ginny found herself being draw into another hug. His muscles bulged out a bit underneath his tee shirt, but his skin was like ice. Ginny turned so that her back was to his chest, though his arms still encircled her.

"You miss him still?" she whispered.

"Always."

Ginny raised her hand up to lightly stroke Harry's hand in a way of comfort.

"I don't even know how I can continue without him. I've already lost everyone. I'm just a curse to everyone around me."

"You haven't lost me yet, Harry. Or Ron, Hermione, even Mum for that matter."

Harry gripped onto Ginny tighter.

"But I'm going to lose you. Not now, not tomorrow, but I know I will."

Ginny suddenly pulled away, and turned to face him. Harry barely registered that he had never seen her so angry; he was still in shock that she pulled away.

"Now you listen to me, Harry Potter. You might feel the need to always be morbid and pull people down, but you will not talk like that to me. You are never ever going to lose me. I promise."

Harry stood looking at her numbly. 'Can she really think that? How can she be so sure that I'll never lose her?'

"Gin, I'm sorry. It's just I've always lost people. And so I don't like setting everyone up for a giant disappointment."

Ginny ran forward and hugged him. "I'm glad you understand, Harry. But you won't lose me. Ever. I'll always be here with you."

~-~

Harry and Ginny spent hours in each other's arms just looking out the window up at the stars.

"You know," Ginny started, "I've always wished on each and everyone of these stars."

"All of them?"

"Yep," giggled Ginny. 'And all of them were about you.'

"When I can, I do. But I've never placed much faith in stars. Maybe it's just Trelawney's doing, but I don't trust the skies anymore."

"How could you not trust them? I always see them as little eyes that watch over us and keep us safe from harm, be they dark wizards or teenage boys." Ginny giggled and hugged Harry's arms tighter.

Abruptly, a clock began chiming in the distance. Neither child could tell if it was in the house or out.

DONG! DONG! DONG!

"Goodness!" cried Ginny. "Three o'clock! Mum's gonna kill me if she found out I stayed up all night."

"We don't want that now, do we?" joked Harry as he absentmindedly twisted some of her hair about his finger. "Come on. I'll take you back to your room."

Harry walked Ginny back with his arm around her all the time. When they reached her door, he gave her one last quick hug.

"Night, Gin."

"Night, Harry."

Ginny entered her room and was just about to climb into her bed when she saw a bright star in the middle of her window. Walking over, she peered out at it.

"Help me find a way to decide between Dean and Harry. That's all I wish," she mumbled as to not wake up Hermione.

Ginny's eyes lingered on the star and then she went and climbed into her bed.

Meanwhile, Harry himself had just returned to his own room and saw the same star. Glancing at his warm bed, he slowly went over to the window.

"I don't usually do this, but I wish that I would never lose Ginny to anybody, ever."

Harry turned as he heard Ron stir.

"What's this about Ginny, mate?" Ron mumbled.

"Nothing, Ron. Nothing."

Harry looked back at the star. "Let me never lose her," he mumbled and then he crawled into his own bed and fell asleep.

~-~

Mrs Weasley was her usual bright and chipper self in the morning, and it was affecting everyone. Even Ron and Hermione were able to say things such as "More salt please" or "Pass the bacon".

Harry smiled slightly, glad that his friends were talking again, even if it was minimal. He glanced up to see Ginny. She looked as beautiful as she did last night, maybe even more since she was rested.

'He's looking at me, I know it.' Ginny glanced up and flashed him a small smile. Turning to her father, she asked, "So Dad, how are we getting home?"

Mr Weasley coughed. "Ahem, well we were planning on going by Floo. It's still too light out to fly on brooms, and besides, we have all your trunks and everything."

"Sow ben arbe leabin?" asked Ron with his mouth full.

"Ron!" cried his mother. "Mouth empty first!"

He swallowed and then tried again. "So when are we leaving?"

Remus spoke up. "You can leave as soon as you finish breakfast if you wish."

"Aren't you going to come with us, Professor?" asked Hermione.

"Alas, I have to stay and keep an eye on the headquarters, but I'll keep in touch."

There was a clang of dishes as Harry stood up. "I'm going to go upstairs for a moment."

He carelessly dropped his dishes into the sink and started to go upstairs. Mrs Weasley started to say something.

"Har-"

"Leave him, Molly," said Arthur. "He just needs to cope with leaving again."

Mrs Weasley shook her head as she sat down. Ginny's eyes drifted up the stairs to where Harry had gone, but when she felt people looking at her, she looked back down at her food.

~-~

"The Burrow!"

A bright green flame engulfed Harry as he dropped the Floo powder. He was sent hurdling through grates and finally fell out into the Weasley's living room. He stood up and gently shook the soot off of himself, and then started to get it off of Hedwig. She clicked her bill together, and then nibbled his finger when he had finished.

"Come on, Harry," said Ron. "Help me get my stuff up to our room."

"Okay. We'll do two trips, first your trunk and then mine. Just let me let Hedwig out."

Harry opened Hedwig's cage and watched her take off into the sky. Turning to Ron, he grabbed an end of his trunk.

As they were walking up the three stories to Ron's room, Ron and Harry chatted like they always did.

"So Harry, what was that last night about Ginny?"

Harry was taken aback. "What in the name of Merlin are you talking about?"

"I heard you last night talking about my little sister."

"You must have been dreaming, Ron. I never said anything, and besides you've been the one who's always been advocating our getting together."

"True, I just swear you said something last night."

Harry hated lying to his best friend, but this was something that needed to be done. He had to switch the conversation to something else, and fast.

"So have you and Hermione finally gotten over your differences?"

"Don't talk to me about that nincompoop. She's being difficult and won't listen to common sense."

"Really? Cause normally it's you who won't listen."

"I swear, if I wasn't carrying this trunk I would strangle you now."

Harry laughed out loud for the first time in days. "Sure you would, Ron."

~-~

The two boys had finally gotten one trunk into their room. They were just on their way down when they heard a knock on the door.

Ron turned to Harry. "I wonder who that is."

"Dunno. Let's go and check it out."

They raced down the stairs and were facing the door when Ginny opened it. Ron and Harry froze mid-step. They couldn't believe it; what Ginny had said was true. Harry found himself wishing that she had been lying this whole time. Their shocked silence was broken by a scream.

"Dean!"

Ginny jumped into his arms and gave him a tight hug as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Hey, Ginny."

"Where have you been? I only got like one owl from you."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I got grounded a little after the last owl I sent, but despite my protesting, Mum wouldn't let me send another owl."

'Dean's back! Dean's back! Dean's back!' was all Ginny could think of. The night before with Harry seemed to have been erased from her memory.

Ron and Harry seemed to be thinking the same things, because their faces were in the exact same contorted mess. 'You slimy piece of filth, get your hands off of her.'

Dean finally was able to tear his eyes away from his beautiful Ginny. He looked around and saw Ron and Harry giving him equally vicious looks.

"Hello, Ron. Harry." Ron's greeting was friendly enough; he was dating his younger sister anyhow. But Harry's was nothing more than a curt nod.