Hope and Fear

Part 6. A Beginner's Guide to Seduction

***

With a cloak over her gown, Ginny quietly walked to the fourth floor and slipped behind the mirror without being noticed. When she opened the door to the Uncommon Room she was amazed by what she saw. "Oh, Dobby," she whispered in admiration.

The room had been meticulously cleaned and little fairy lights bounced around the high ceiling, giving it an unearthly quality. A vase with beautiful roses sat on the mantelpiece and soft romantic music came from the phonograph. The dining table was covered with white linen and set with fine china. The enticing aroma of fine food floated from under covered silver trays on the table. Ginny saw the large bottle of Champagne Dobby had promised, displayed in a silver high hat and covered with ice. A giddy feeling overcame her, and she laughed as she danced, spinning around the room. Halfway into the room she paused to throw her cloak onto one of the armchairs.

It was then that she noticed it at the end of the room. The large four poster bed was identical to the one she had been sleeping in for six years, but this one seemed different somehow. It wasn't the black satin sheets, although they were striking, that made her feel uncomfortable. No, it seemed to be leering at her, as if it knew what she had in mind. It seemed to know she was lying to Harry, and that she was using her body as bait in a giant deception. She straightened the black sheets unnecessarily and felt the softness of the satin. For some reason this caused a sudden surge of panic in her. "I'll fix you," she said aloud and pulled closed the curtains around the bed.

Composing herself, she sat in one of the armchairs by the fire. "Talking to furniture. Not the best way to start the evening," Ginny thought.

She had just composed herself when two soft knocks came at the door. Terror seized her once again and it was with great difficulty she managed to say, "Come in, Harry." Breathless from tension, her voice sounded much deeper than normal. She heard the door click just as her eyes fell on the flowers over the mantle. Leaping out of her chair, she snatched one of the roses and flopped back into the armchair just as the door opened.

***

Harry adjusted the cravat and straightened the loose sleeves and ruffled cuffs of his white shirt. Checking to make sure his hair was as straight as possible, he pulled on his best dress cloak. Harry took the rose Ginny sent with his invitation and pulled it through his lapel, then studied the effect in the mirror.

He had left Dean, Seamus and Neville in the Room of Requirement to continue their dueling practice. They fought quite well despite what they thought of their skills. Ron slipped out an hour or so earlier when Hermione had turned up, but Harry stayed as long as he could, giving tips and sparring with them. He felt a little guilty leaving them to practice on their own when they were trying to become Aurors, but he'd earned a free night. Spending time alone with Ginny is what he needed to relax and put his world back into perspective. He slipped the small black box Remus Lupin had sent him into the pocket of his robe and headed to the fourth floor.

Harry was so happy that he smiled all the way to the mirror before touching the three stones in the frame and moving inside. Walking up to the door, he took a deep breath before knocking twice. "Come in, Harry," came a surprisingly deep and sultry voice. He slowly opened the door and was struck dumb by what he saw.

Seated in one of the armchairs by the fire, Ginny looked like a vision out of a legend. Everything from her flame red hair, perfectly arranged, to her shapely body, tightly wrapped in green satin, dazzled him. "Thank you for coming," she said, as she held a rose. She slowly caressed her cheek with the bright red bloom before bringing it to her nose. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

"Um, hi Ginny," Harry said after a moment's pause. Collecting himself, he realized that he was about to be outdone. "So she wants to play, does she," he thought. He fixed her with his best sly smile and with one hand grasped the clasp of his cloak, while with the other he drew his wand. With a swift motion, he flung his cloak off his shoulders and sent it flying through the air toward the empty armchair where Ginny's already lay. At the same time he muttered a spell Sirius had taught him. From within his cloak a swarm of multicolored butterflies appeared. They flew around the room before returning to his hands, and turning into a bunch of red carnations. "For you, my beautiful lady," he bowed slightly.

Ginny felt her insides melt, but kept it from showing except that her eyes widened for a second. She ascended from the armchair as gracefully as she could, keeping her eyes fixed on Harry's. With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the rose onto her dinner plate and strode up to him. Taking the flowers, she reached up and gently kissed him. "I suppose that means you did well on your transfiguration test?" She smiled as if she hadn't been impressed with his spell at all.

Harry chuckled, "I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks," he said casually. Ginny went suddenly rigid and the blood drained from her face. She couldn't keep herself from imagining him using transfiguration spells to fight for his life. Harry looked at her in a confused way before adding, "When I get my test results, and go on to Auror training"

"Yes, of course," Ginny breathed quickly in a light manner. "It must be nice to know what you are going to be doing after school."

"It will have its problems," he responded in an offhand way. All this talk about the future was starting to make him uncomfortable. He wasn't really ready for this conversation yet. "Ever since Mr. Weasley put Mad-Eye in charge of Avalon, the training has been difficult."

"I don't think anyone who's seen what you've done this past year thinks you can't handle Avalon," Ginny said looking away. "Why are you talking about Auror training now?" she mentally chastised herself.

He gently brushed a lock of red hair away from her face and raised her chin so that he could look into her eyes. "Maybe, but I'm not looking forward to spending eight weeks away either."

"I'll miss you," she whispered softly. "I'll miss you even more when I have to finish my last year at school. While you go off and ..." she stopped suddenly trying to find a safe way to finish her sentence.

"Maybe I can visit you in Hogsmeade," he said, saving her the trouble of completing her thought. "I should be seeing a lot of Professor Dumbledore, so I'll be around." He smiled in that reassuring way that always made her feel safe and happy. She felt her fear ebb away and smiled back.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, stepping toward the dining table.

"Starving," he responded turning toward the table. "What do we have?"

"I'm not sure, Dobby picked the meal," she responded as Harry pulled out a chair for her. As he crossed to the other side of the table Ginny flicked her wand in the direction of the phonograph. It immediately switched records and began playing a string quartet.

"Apricot glazed pork chops, mixed greens, and mashed potatoes with garlic and chives," Harry said, as he lifted the lids off the plates one at a time. "Shall I open the Champagne?" he asked in his most debonair voice.

"That would be lovely," Ginny answered. A giddy feeling filled her now as she let the atmosphere of the evening wash over her.

Harry picked up the Champagne and, giving her his best dashing smile, began fiddling with the cork. "I look so good doing this you'd think I knew what I was ..."

Pop!

The cork flew out of Harry's hand and across the room. It struck the phonograph which skipped for a moment, then started a new song. Harry stood frozen for a second with foam covering his hands as Ginny hid her mouth in her napkin and shook with silent laughter. Raising his eyebrows in an innocent manner, he proceeded to pour the Champagne as if that was what he wanted to have happen.

"What shall we drink to?" he asked, picking up his glass. "The futu ..."

"Joy," Ginny cut him off "The joy of the moment." This seemed more than a little odd to Harry, but he simply smiled and raised his glass.

Ginny's first taste of Champagne was thrilling and she quickly decided that it was one of the best sensations she had ever had. The happiness she was trying to feel began to slowly creep back into her as she watched Harry. He went on about how good the food was and how the room looked as he helped himself to the pork chops, but Ginny couldn't say she was really listening. She was just watching him, trying to burn every detail in her memory. The way his untamed hair fell around his brilliant emerald eyes. His affectionate smile, which seemed to come so easily to him. Most of all, the intangible sense of grace and power he radiated, even when he was gobbling down mashed potatoes like a starving man.

"Is everything alright?"

Ginny snapped out of her reverie. "What?"

"You're not eating," Harry observed, starting on his second pork chop.

Her eyes glowed over her glass as she took another sip of Champagne. "I was just admiring the view," she purred. Harry swallowed hard and tried not to blush.

The meal ended and Harry pulled the cover off the dessert plate. A mountain of chocolate burst into flame as soon as the cover was off. "Hmm, flaming chocolate cake," Harry observed with a smile, stepping back from the plate. "That is, I think it's supposed to be flaming," He waved the cover at the fiery confection that was now erupting hot fudge. Ginny shrugged her shoulders and laughed as their dessert put on a show of its own, finally extinguishing itself and emitting a heart shaped puff of smoke.

He dramatically poked the cake with a spoon, raising an eyebrow when he looked at her.

"I think it's dead," she giggled. He pulled out a spoonful and gently fed it to her. The delicious cake melted in her mouth and she closed her eyes reveling in the sensation.

"That looks good, do you mind if I try some?" he asked, moving toward her.

"Please do." Her eyes were still closed as he gently cupped her cheek, then covered her mouth with a deep passionate kiss. The taste of Harry mixed with chocolate made Ginny coo with happiness.

"Good cake, don't you think," she whispered finally.

"What cake?" he grinned, giving her another kiss.

It took quite a while to finish dessert that way, as they took turns taking a mouthful of cake and following it with a deep kiss. Eventually they finished, and Harry slowly wiped the last bits of chocolate from her face.

"How about some exercise after a meal like that." Ginny suggested, flicking her wand in the direction of the phonograph. The records changed themselves and a waltz began to play. Stepping to center of the room, Ginny whirled around and muttered "Couturies." Her gown instantly changed to a gold dress which glistened and fluttered as she moved.

Harry just stared at her as she moved gracefully toward him. Not only was that a neat bit of magic, but this new dress revealed a whole new layer of beauty. When she took his hand he remembered he was supposed to participate in this dance. "I'm not much of a dancer," he stammered as she led him to the center of the room.

"So I've heard." She smiled at the expression on his face. "But I also know you're a quick study when you want to be." She took hold of his right hand and placed the other on her waist. Harry's heartbeat quickened slightly as this was not a part of her body the dress covered. Taking a deep breath, he began to dance. Slowly at first, with Ginny helping him keep the count right, but gradually building up speed. By the fifth dance, Harry and Ginny were laughing as he led her faster and faster around the room. Ginny let a wave of serenity engulf her as the rest of the room seemed to dissolve around them and she felt herself, for once, the center of his world.

Harry had to admit that despite the unfamiliar manner of dancing, he was having the best time he could remember. When the music finally ended he spun her around, before releasing her and bowing a deep bow. Ginny twirled in place for a moment, let her dress fly in all directions, then collapsed into an empty armchair.

Breathing hard, Harry smiled as he stared down at a laughing Ginny. How could he have missed that the most wonderful girl in the world had been in his own house for all those years? Taking out his wand, he waved it first at the phonograph which switched records to a slow jazz song, then to the torches and candles, all of which went out. Extending his hand he slowly walked to Ginny.

Watching his green eyes sparkle in the firelight, she reached into her hair and pulled out the clips holding it in place, letting it fall to her shoulders. Feeling all her inhibitions fall away too, she stood up and took his hand, enfolding herself in his arms. Swaying gently Ginny learned everything she could about how their bodies moved together.

Breathing in the sweetness of her hair, Harry felt light headed. Their lips met and it was clear to him that whatever else happened, this was where he was supposed to be. Contentment filled him as they continued to turn in circles, drinking each other in.

Floating around the room in Harry's arms, Ginny couldn't stand to let her lips leave his, but she had to. This was as far as they had ever gone before, but tonight would be different. Because he would never presume to make the next move, she did it for him. Taking her hands from his back, she reached up to his cravat and tugged it loose. Harry stopped swaying and there was a hint of surprise in his eyes as she pulled it from around his neck. Grinning in that mischievous Weasley way, she stepped back from him and whispered, "Couturies."

It took a great deal of restraint not to laugh at the expression on his face as her gold dress dissolved into black lace and silk. She paused for a moment, letting him get a good look at her body and the teddy that barely covered it. With catlike moves, she shifted toward him and pressed herself against his muscular body. "Ginny ...," he started to say, but she silenced him with another passionate kiss. Removing her lips from his, she let her mouth drift down to his neck, causing a moan of longing to erupt from somewhere deep inside of him. Feeling a thrill of triumph, Ginny continued her assault on his senses, finally finding the first button on his shirt with her teeth. Grinning even wider, she savagely ripped the button free and let it fall to the ground. She moved on to the rest of them until she was able to push his shirt off his shoulders. Admiring her handiwork, she let her hands drift slowly across his shoulders and down the hard muscles of his torso. Slowly she began tracing a line of kisses across his chest to his stomach, which quivered as he gasped. While he was distracted, she unbuckled his belt carefully, then tugged it free. Ginny slowly stood up and gave him one last kiss, before stepping away.

Letting her transparent robe slip off her, she drifted away from him toward the bed. Pausing to give Harry a mischievous smile, she stood at the gap between the bed curtains, then disappeared behind them.

It took more than a moment before Harry remembered that he had the capacity of independent movement. He had just had the single most erotic experience of his life and it left him both shaken and charged. Partly to relive his dry mouth and partly to calm himself, Harry finished his glass of Champagne. Blood thundering in his ears, he discarded his shoes, socks, and trousers, then followed Ginny to the bed.

Ginny lay back on the soft black satin sheets, her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest. She had put everything on the line with her actions and she was a little afraid Harry might just walk out after her wanton behavior. Somehow she didn't think so, but it would be a fine thing if she lost him because of her own inexperience with seduction. Thoughts of the reasons behind this were trying to resurface, but she pushed them aside and smiled as she heard movement from the curtains.

With a violence that made her jump, the bed curtains were flung apart, revealing a muscular figure, silhouetted in the fire light. Ginny gasped in spite of herself at the sight of him. There was an expression of desire on his face she had never seen before. Part of her was a little afraid of this craving she had awoken in him and part of her couldn't wait to see where this would carry her. Underneath all of these feelings a dark mist of despair began to slip into the cracks of her mind. She tried to blow away the doubts and forced herself to concentrate on the here and now. As Harry climbed into the bed, Ginny held out her hand to him and was surprised to feel him trembling slightly.

Kneeling on the mattress they faced each other, not touching but only inches apart, feeling the energy flow between them. At exactly the same moment they broke into each other's space and pressed their bodies together as they kissed passionately. The thin silk didn't hide the feel of Ginny's body as Harry's hands traveled down her back. Looking into his eyes for a moment, she kissed him and let her hands push the fabric down off his hips. Laying back onto the pillows, she took a moment to simply gaze at him. Again, she wanted to burn every detail of this moment in her memory forever. Reaching up to him she whispered "Couturies," and felt the last remnant of her old life melt away.

"This is it, my one night of passion with the only one I will ever love." The thought just seemed to come from nowhere and it killed any joy she was feeling and made her blood run cold. With great effort, she kept this from showing as Harry bent down to kiss her. Defiantly she grabbed his hair and pulled him down onto her. His kisses had an urgency to them unlike any she had known before, but that only reminded her of how desperate their lives were. Sadness and fear were openly flowing through her now.

Desperate to divert her mind from her grief, she concentrated on what they were doing. She ran her hands across his back, feeling the hard muscles move beneath his bare skin. Her hand brushed across a scar below his shoulder blade; another souvenir of his world lived so close to death. Her mind flashed back to the exploding house and she shuddered. "No, don't think about that now!" She gently guided Harry's touch, careful not to make a sound that would alert him to the turmoil going on inside of her.

He shivered with passion as his kisses gently explored her body. She felt better realizing the pleasure she must be giving him. "Oh Ginny, my world had become so dark until I found you," he gasped, looking up into her eyes. "All I know of tenderness and love I've learned from you. I will always be yours."

Hearing his words of devotion, she began to break down, she couldn't help it. She truly loved him and with this act she was admitting to herself that she was going to lose him forever. Like an avalanche beginning to burst free, first one, then another tear leaked from her eyes. She clenched her teeth in an attempt to control herself, but it was no use. Suddenly she began to weep in earnest. Her hand flew to cover her mouth and her stomach began to spasm as she sobbed.

"Ginny!" Harry stammered, looking up. "What's wrong, what happened?" Frantically, he scrambled to get off of her, only to have her grab him and pull his body close in a desperate embrace.

"I can't," she choked into his soft black hair "I can't lose you, I can't do it alone. I know it's my duty, but it's too hard, I wouldn't know what to do without you."

"Ginny, what..." Harry stammered.

She curled into a weeping ball, and he kneeled next to her, holding her in his arms.

"Maybe if I had never met you before I could, since it is so important, but I do love you, I've always loved you, and if you're going to die, then I want to die too." She dissolved into sobs, rocking back and forth in his embrace.

Feeling completely bewildered and sick with guilt that he had upset her so, Harry let her cry and held her head into his chest. "It's all right," he whispered into her hair "I'm here. I'm here for you."

It was a long time before Ginny could stop crying. Finally she wiped her eyes and said in a despondent voice, "I suppose you think I'm barking mad now?"

Harry smiled a little and lifted her head until he could look into her eyes and said "I just want to know what's the matter, and what I can do to help."

"There's nothing you can do to help," she said, looking away from him. "I just couldn't control my feelings, and now I've ruined everything."

Harry remained silent for a few minutes. "Do you remember what you said the night we saved Mr. Creevey?" he breathed at last. "You said that I shouldn't harden myself. The same goes for you, Ginny. Believe me, I know all about trying to take responsibility for everything. Whatever is bothering you, I can help."

Ginny bit her lower lip, but didn't reply.

"This has something to do with your meeting with Snape, doesn't it?" he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Please tell me."

Ginny stood up and sighed in resignation "Snape told me how dangerous it had become with Riddle at full power, and you leaving school. After what happened in the village the other day I can see that he is right." She walked toward the fireplace and buried her face in her hands. "That's why I arranged all of this, so we could ...you know, get together."

"You mean we should make love tonight because we might not get another chance." His voice trailed off.

She nodded, moving her hand to her bare stomach. "And I do love you, but I'm not ready to be a ...." She closed her mouth quickly and turned away, afraid she may have said too much.

Harry's eyebrows knit together for just a moment as his keen mind fit all the pieces together. "This is about Snape's mad idea to get me to have a child."

"You know about that?" she gasped, turning to him.

"He's a dead man!" Harry roared. "I know I've said it before, but this time he's gone too far." His wand flew from the pile of clothes on the floor into his hand as he moved toward the door. "Trying to push you into something so ..."

"Harry, stop it!" Ginny said in a stern voice as she stepped in front of him. "This was what I wanted and it's my mistake. I won't have you blaming Snape for what I've done."

Harry raised his eyebrows at the sudden outburst from her but then he smiled. "For your sake, I'll drop it," he said, putting his wand on the fireside table.

Ginny looked at him standing there naked in the firelight and became even more frustrated with herself. "I'm sorry I brought you here under false pretenses, and for nothing at that." Feeling the need to cover herself, she moved over to the armchair to get her cloak.

He caught her hand before she could reach it. "Wait," he said as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You weren't the only one to come here with an agenda," he whispered into her ear. "And it doesn't have to be for nothing."

He kissed the back of her neck and held her as he rocked gently back and forth. Ginny laid her head back onto his shoulder feeling his bare body next to hers and listened to him hum softly to her. It was by far the best she felt since her talk with Snape "Um .. Harry," she gasped, her throat dry. "I, uh, ... used the fertility charm, before. I don't think we can umm ..."

"That's all right, I've got something else in mind." He moved her around the armchair and sat her down. "You see, I've been thinking about the future too." He reached into the pocket of the robe laying on the other chair and pulled out a small black box. Ginny's heart skipped a beat as he bent down on one knee before her. "I know it is a lot to ask with everything going on, but I really don't think that I can go on without you. It's like I can only face the things I need to face because of you." He opened the box. A single blue white diamond in a gold setting glinted in the fire light. Miniscule runes surrounded the stone and ran down the band. "Would you please consider marrying me?"

Ginny didn't dare move. If she moved, this perfect moment might disappear. She could only stare at the figure silhouetted in the fire offering her the most beautiful thing in the world. From somewhere in her mind a little voice registered what was happening. "Harry wants to marry me!" Tearing her gaze away from the ring, she looked into his green eyes. Without uttering a sound, Ginny leapt out of the chair to kiss him.

Harry tumbled back onto the rug in front of the fire with Ginny on top of him. As her body pressed down on him, Ginny didn't let go but continued to kiss him more deeply than he ever dreamed possible. Harry couldn't really breathe, but he didn't care. Her passionate assault on him showed no sign of waning, but was in fact growing in intensity. He closed his eyes and ran his hands over her perfect body, prepared to give himself over to the moment. Suddenly that little corner of Harry's mind that always remained at battle ready shouted in his consciousness. "Fertility charm!"

With great difficulty, he managed to pull her mouth away from his long enough to say, "Ginny, we can't tonight. You still have that spell on you."

Ginny gazed at him for a moment, breathing hard. "I don't think I care," she gasped and made a sudden move to continue her attempts to devour him.

"I care," he gasped, catching her just in time. "We have a lot of preparations to make before we're ready to take responsibility for someone else."

She rolled off of him and lay back onto the rug, banging her head on the floor repeatedly mumbling "It's not fair, it's not fair."

"Tell me about it," Harry groaned with a half smile. "But at least you get a consolation prize." He retrieved the ring from where it had fallen next to a discarded button. "If you want it?"

Ginny smiled broadly. "Yes, I do," she cooed, letting him place the ring on her finger.

"And I think I have some ideas of other things you might find intriguing," Harry said slyly, getting up on his elbow.

She tore her eyes away from her ring to look him with mild apprehension. "What do you have in mind?" she whispered.

His eyes glowed with passion. "Do you trust me?"

Ginny laid back and allowed herself to completely relax for the first time in months. "Now and forever." She gazed up and saw only him.

***

Ron woke up suddenly and looked around in the dim light of his dorm room. From the window he could tell that it would be dawn soon and he wondered what had awakened him. He glanced around and the only thing he found out of place was Harry's empty bed. "It's nearly dawn and Harry's bed is empty?" he thought.

A moment later he realized what had roused him as Crookshanks rubbed against his side. The cat jumped off his bed, walked halfway to the door and looked back at him expectantly. He quietly slipped out of bed and into the hallway.

Huddled in the shadows, a figure Ron knew quite well waved for him to come over. Grinning broadly, he closed the distance between them in just a few strides. Reaching out to kiss Hermione, Ron started to whisper, "Good morning," when she cupped her hand over his mouth and turned him toward the Common Room. Two shadows danced unsteadily in front of the fire.

"It's a good thing you remembered to bring that cloak or you might have been stuck in the Uncommon Room for who knows how long," Harry's voice sounded, as he spun Ginny around, revealing bare legs under her cloak.

With her hand over Ron's mouth Hermione could feel his jaw drop.

"You would have lent me your coat, wouldn't you?" Ginny said, landing not too gracefully in the couch.

"No, not so much," he smiled, sitting down next to her, his buttonless shirt falling open. "But I'd be back to visit you. A lot."

"Rat," she giggled, swatting him with a cushion as he lowered his face to hers. "All. You. Men. Are. Rats," she intoned, hitting him with each word as he started to kiss her.

Ron had heard enough. He started to move forward when Hermione grabbed his shoulder and cleared her throat in a dignified manner.

Both Ginny and Harry began to giggle at the shocked expression on Ron's face. "Heartless rogue, my kinsmen shall avenge this impertinent gesture," Ginny said, causing Hermione to start chuckling too.

As he was the only one not laughing, Ron felt himself deflate a little. "So, I guess you two had a good time then."

"Yes, it was a wonderful evening," Harry responded, hugging Ginny.

"So, everything went as planned?" Hermione asked, feeling an almost Lavender-like curiosity.

"I'm afraid not." Ginny smiled as Hermione raised an eyebrow "You see, Harry is just too noble to be seduced."

"I am not too noble," Harry protested.

Ginny shook her finger at him. "Yes you are, noble and valiant."

"I am not."

"Yes you are, we took a vote," Ginny declared.

Harry tilted his head slightly. "Who took a vote?"

"We," insisted Ginny.

"What have you two been drinking?" Ron grunted, unwilling to let his disapproval evaporate completely.

"Oh, Champagne," Ginny replied. "When we were leaving we thought it might be rude not to finish the Champagne Dobby got for us."

"What, 'we'" Harry persisted.

"Me, myself, and I," she smiled. "I'm afraid you're outnumbered, my love."

"It must have been good stuff," Ron interrupted, starting to see the comedy in the situation. "Next time you should save some for us."

"Oh, you'll get some next year when you do your toast," Harry replied slyly.

"What toast?" Ron replied, his confusion evident.

"A toast," Harry said, "You know, it's what a best man does at a wedding."

This time it was Hermione's jaw that dropped.

"What wedding?" Ron asked.

Ginny held out her hand and showed them the gold ring with the single diamond set in it.

Hermione's hands flew to her mouth and she stifled a squeal, but Ron still looked perplexed.

"What... whose ring is that?" Ron stammered, still flustered.

"My mum's, well, it's Ginny's now," Harry beamed.

Hermione jumped at Ginny and threw her arms around her. "Oh Ginny, that's brilliant, congratulations."

"Married! You two are getting married?" Ron stammered.

Hermione moved to Harry and hugged him too. "When is it? How did you get the ring? Does anyone else know?" she gasped all at once.

"Wow, this is... amazing," Ron said absent mindedly as he shook Harry's hand.

"We were thinking of having it next year, after I finish at Hogwarts," Ginny said, hugging a still dazed Ron.

"And I had Remus Lupin send the ring it to me," Harry added. "Its been in my family's vault at Gringotts since my mum died."

"Your mother's ring? Is it a family heirloom or something?" Ron asked, looking at the ring on Ginny's finger.

"Yeah, sort of. My dad got it from his mother, and gave it to mum. It might go back further, I'm not sure." Harry said, smiling at Ginny, who beamed back at him and admired her ring again. She hadn't known that.

"As for who else knows, we just sent Hedwig with the news to your Mum and Dad." Harry said to Ron.

"We should hear her scream some time tomorrow," Ron smiled.

"Other than that, no one," Harry continued. "And we are going to try to keep it that way."

***

Harry and Ginny's plan to keep their engagement a secret lasted about fifteen minutes into the next day's lunch, which for them was breakfast. Ginny just couldn't help it. The happiness inside of her was so great she felt as if she would burst if she didn't tell someone.

The look on Lavender and Parvati's faces when she showed them her ring made the confession worthwhile. The blood curdling scream they let out took some of the gaiety out of the situation for Harry. Everyone in the hall turned to look as the two girls bounced around Ginny, chanting, "Ginny's getting married."

Ron and Hermione accompanied Harry and Ginny up to the staff table so that Ginny could show Professor McGonagall the ring and tell her about their plans. Wedding announcements from seventh years were not unheard of, but she seemed particularly pleased to hear the news from these two. "Harry, I know your parents would be delighted for you," she said.

"Hear, hear," Professor Flitwick's happy voice chimed in. He was smiling broadly like everyone at the staff table, except Professor Snape. Ginny felt her happiness slip a gear until she saw Professor Dumbledore. He beamed at them in silence, but didn't seem particularly surprised by the news.

"And Miss Weasley, don't forget that you have another year of study ahead of you and I expect top marks no matter what your plans," Professor McGonagall continued sternly before smiling. "I am very happy for you both."

"And do you two have any announcements to make?" Professor Flitwick asked, turning to Ron and Hermione.

"No!" they cried simultaneously, then turned to glare at each other in a 'what's wrong with marrying me' way. They began muttering to each other as they returned from the staff table.

Harry and Ginny remained, talking at the staff table for a few minutes more before returning as well. When they did, almost every girl in the school came over to the Gryffindor table to see the ring and hear a slightly fictionalized account of how Harry proposed.

Everyone wanted to shake Harry's hand and give Ginny a hug, but somehow they weren't separated. Whenever someone would say or do something silly or embarrassing, all they would have to do is exchange looks and instantly formed a consensus on how to react to that person.

Deep down Ginny knew that Harry wouldn't like being the center of attention like this, but he resisted any attempt she made to shorten the impromptu celebration insisting that she bask in the glory that was being showered on her.

During this excitement Ron nudged Harry and whispered "Malfoy" in his ear.

Harry eyes narrowed. He had noticed the Slytherin's reactions too. Some were edging over to see if the ring was real. Pansy had gotten up and stormed out of the Great Hall. Malfoy glowered at him in a menacing way, but was still deep in whispered conversation with Crabbe and Goyle. He expected the vicious looks in his direction, but now Malfoy's calculated hostility was directed at Ginny too. "It should be all right," Harry whispered back to Ron. "The Burrow is one of the most heavily defended homes in Britain now, and then she's coming back here," he said, as much to himself as to Ron. "I don't think Ginny's in any more danger this way than if our engagement were a secret."

"Harry," Ron hissed with more than a little exasperation in his voice. "Ginny isn't the only one in danger," he gave him a penetrating look. "You can't look out for everyone else and sacrifice yourself anymore. The engagement changes that."

"Don't worry Ron," Harry smiled back. "I know, I'll be careful."

***

Pansy sat motionless next to Draco and watched Potter and the Weasley girl parade up to the staff table. "He asked her to marry him?"

She sat and thought for a while as they paid their respects to the staff, but the move didn't make any sense to her. There weren't any long or short term advantages to this, and it would make his life infinitely more complicated and hazardous. The two of them returned to the Gryffindor table and were instantly set upon by the other students. None of the giggling morons that were surrounding him had any idea of how much more danger he was putting himself in. Potter placed his arm around the Weasley girl as the annoying mass grew.

"He did it just because he loves her," she realized with amazement, and Pansy felt a strange hollow space opening inside of her.

She had always considered Potter basically in the same mold as Draco except that he served Dumbledore instead of the Dark Lord. Would Draco do something like this? Would he marry her?

"Yes, he would," she reassured herself. All she would have to do is make sure the advantages outweighed the dangers and she could be Mrs. Draco Malfoy before the Little Miss Weasley finished her first term.

"But that's not the same," a part of her insisted "Would he put himself in more danger just because he loved me?" She looked over at Draco deep in quiet conversation with Crabbe and Goyle. He was coldly trying to work out how best to use this new turn of events in his schemes.

"Does he love me?"

It began deep inside of her, a despair and loss of control that overwhelmed her. She hadn't felt like this in over seven years. "No! It doesn't matter," came the response from the more calculating part of her mind. The corner of her eyes tingled and her lower jaw began to tremble. "No, stop it," she chastised herself. Panic stricken, she rose from her chair and quickly left the Great Hall.

Ducking out the front door, she hid behind some trees next to the castle. "Why should I care if Draco loves me?" she whispered in an effort to master herself. "He's just the best there is. We... we just use each other when it suits us, that's all."

But her body wouldn't let her lie to herself. Tears streamed down her face as she broke the promise she made to herself never to cry again. Her knees gave way and she fell to ground sobbing. "Oh, God. I do love him," she realized looking into one of the large windows of the Great Hall. Crabbe and Goyle had gone and Draco surveyed the Hall calmly. Cold gray eyes, half hidden by blond locks majestically took in everything around him.

Then he leaned back and placed his arm around the chair she had been sitting in just a moment before. If she were still there, he would be holding her right now.

"He does love me," she told herself and slowly her crying stopped. "Maybe, he doesn't know it yet, but he does love me!" Breathing hard and wiping her eyes she finally managed to pull herself together. "I just need to give him some time and he'll realize that he does loves me. Then. Then, we'll be happy."

***

Ginny hesitated in front of the dungeon door before knocking. It had taken quite a while for things to quiet down enough for her to slip away without being noticed by her fellow Gryffindors or her fiancé. Ginny smiled as she thought of the word, when suddenly the door swung open. Snape filled the doorway, casting a grim shadow into the hall. He looked at her a moment before returning to his desk, leaving the door open for her.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," he intoned coldly. "I might have known that Potter couldn't resist the chance to take the high road once he learned he would be a father."

"Professor," Ginny started to say.

"It will put you in considerably more danger," he continued. "I suppose he never thought of that."

"Professor we... we didn't," she stammered. Snape just stared at her wordlessly for a few minutes until she added, "I just couldn't let fear overpower hope."

He sighed deeply and looked at his desk. "Very well, if this is your decision, I accept it," he breathed in a defeated voice.

"We will have a child one day, I hope" she added, feeling as if she had let him down. "Just not yet." He nodded to indicate that he understood. "Well anyway, I wanted to give this back to you." She took out the black stone ring Snape had presented to her the week before and laid it on his desk "Oh, and I wound up with this too." She placed the handkerchief she'd used to wipe her eyes next to the ring.

Snape stared not at the ring, but at the handkerchief as Ginny got up to leave. "Miss Weasley," he said, standing and reaching for the ring. "Once before I tried to give this ring to someone only to have them turn it down." Snape circled his desk and stood before her. "If she hadn't given it up, things would have been very different." He placed the ring back in her hand. "I don't think I am willing to let that happen again."

She looked up at him with a mixture of unease and confusion.

"Consider it a wedding present." he said, as she looked down at the dark stone. "It could save your life, and the life of the child you might one day have," He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please, take it."

Snape had not been so polite to anyone in years, much less a student. Shocked and bewildered, Ginny put the ring on her right hand and managed a small "Thank you, Professor," before turning and walking out the door.

Snape sighed and sat down behind his desk. He picked up the handkerchief and unfolded it, revealing a monogram that Ginny hadn't noticed. "Maybe, this time," he whispered, running his hand over the L.E. stitched into the linen. "Maybe this time it will be better."

End

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