For Your Love

A/N: Just a brief note about plot development here. Several people commented on the deliberate pacing of Harry & Ginny's relationship in this story. I've always been a big believer that true love takes time. It's not quick snogs and rash declarations. It takes effort and long conversations and tension and heartache. But in the end, it makes the love all that much sweeter when you see what you've gone through to get there. So, to those of you who are enjoying their ride as much as I enjoyed writing it, I thank you. And rest assured that even though there will be many obstacles in Harry & Ginny's path soon, they will find each other in the end.

Chapter 6: In the Wildflowers

The small lake that lay beyond the Quidditch paddock was swollen after the previous day's rain. Two rowboats sat moored to the old wooden dock that Mr. Weasley had built long ago. Ron had suggested a day out, first leaning toward a picnic lunch and swimming. But when Hermione objected, saying it was a bit too chilly for a swim and that really, who wanted to lie about in wet bathing suits all afternoon, they settled on boating instead. Ron, however, who had rather been looking forward to an afternoon of Hermione in a wet bathing suit, was determined not to let the day go to waste.

As the four trudged through the paddock toward the lake, carrying a large picnic basket and blanket, Ron held Harry back and let the girls go on ahead.

"After lunch, I was thinking, would you mind if Hermione and I went in one boat? You know, kind of on our own?" Ron said in a low voice. "Only she's just here for a few more days and I'd like to... well... spend as much time with her as I can. You know," he swallowed and glanced at Harry, "alone."

Harry looked ahead at the girls, talking and laughing together as they walked. He wondered distantly what Ron might be planning to do with Hermione once he got her alone before shaking the thoughts from his head. "Sure, I figured you two would want to go together."

"You don't mind being stuck with Ginny," Ron said apologetically.

Harry looked at Ginny again. She had reached the lakeshore and was spreading the blanket on the ground, reaching to smooth out the corners while Hermione walked out on the dock to inspect the boats. "No, I don't mind," he said, not taking his eyes off her.

Ron gave him a shrewd look, but didn't comment. "Thanks, mate."

They set the basket down on the blanket, and Hermione took out her wand, levitating the sandwiches, plates, drinks, and other goodies out until they were all arranged neatly into four place settings.

When they finished eating, Ginny began to clear away the plates, but Harry laid a hand on her arm to stop her.

"Ron," said Harry, "show Hermione how good you are with those cleaning spells."

"What cleaning spells?" asked Hermione. Ron gave Harry a look of horror and shook his head furtively.

"C'mon. Watch, Hermione," Harry went on. "He taught me how to do some the other day and he's really good at them."

"It's just a Scourgify," said Ron dismissively.

"Well," smiled Hermione, turning to Ron, "let's see it then."

Ron fixed Harry with a stern glare while he dug out his wand and cleared his throat. He spoke the spell forcefully, waving his wand over the dirty cups and plates until they sparkled in the sunlight. Hermione picked up her plate and examined it, but could find no specks of food left.

"Hmmm," she mused, "That's quite good! Of course, it's not a very difficult spell..." she began, but caught herself when she met Harry's raised eyebrows. "But still... you've mastered it really well. Well done," she said, tweaking Ron's arm affectionately. Ron smiled and his cheeks flushed. They finished cleaning up and made their way out to the dock.

"That was nice of you," Ginny said once she and Harry were settled in their boat. Ron and Hermione had already pushed off from the shore, Ron rowing steadily toward the far side of the lake.

"What was?" asked Harry, fiddling with the oars.

"Talking Ron up to Hermione like that."

"Yeah, well, I have a feeling he's going to need all the help he can get," he replied, still struggling with the oars. "Why can't I get this in here?" he said exasperatedly, trying to force the end of the oar through the small ring on the side of the boat.

"Here, I can do it. Those are always real buggers to get in." She leaned forward, her hair brushing his hand as she bent over the ring and slid the oar in.

They sat again and Harry pulled on the oars, but the boat spun sideways and got bogged down in the bulrushes. He pressed his lips together in an embarrassed smile and looked around.

"I guess this isn't as easy as it looks."

Ginny chuckled. "Do you want me to..."

"Yeah, maybe you'd better..."

They crawled gingerly past each other, grasping arms for a brief moment to steady themselves as the boat rocked back and forth. Once they were seated, Ginny steered them from the shore and soon they were floating lazily around the edge of the lake. The oars slapped the water, sending ripples through the surface. They watched Ron and Hermione pull their boat up onto the opposite shore. Hermione turned and seemed to be waiting for them to catch up until Ron took her hand and led her away into the trees. With one more glance over her shoulder, they were gone.

"So, what do you think?" Ginny asked. "About Ron and Hermione, I mean."

Harry shrugged. "Anything that makes them fight less is fine by me."

Ginny cocked her head to the side. "Really?"

"Why?"

"You just seemed a little... out of sorts the other day, when you caught them together."

"Well, it was a bit of a shock. But, you know, if this is what they want, who am I to say anything?"

"Mmm," Ginny replied. She noticed that he hadn't quite answered her question.

A few strokes of the oars carried the boat farther along the shore, a warm breeze rustling the leaves of the branches that dipped toward the water's edge. A dragonfly hovered just beyond Harry's reach as he tried to snatch it out of the air.

Ginny began to hum softly, the musical rhythms filtering into Harry's consciousness. It was a tune he recognized from somewhere.

"What's that song?" he asked.

"Scarborough Fair. It's an old wizarding song, one of my favorites."

"I've heard that... when I was young, I think. I thought it was a Muggle song."

"Is it?" Ginny furrowed her brow. "But the song is about a witch and a wizard. Haven't you ever noticed that he is asking her to do things that would be impossible without magic?"

Harry shook his head. "I never paid attention to the words."

Ginny began to sing, her voice warm and clear.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

Remember me to one who lives there

For once she was a true love of mine

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

Without no seam nor fine needle work

And then she'll be a true love of mine

Have her wash it in yonder dry well

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

where water ne'er sprung nor drop of rain fell

And then she'll be a true love of mine

She continued singing and Harry closed his eyes, letting the sound of her voice lull him. When the last tones died away, he asked, "Why does it keep saying 'parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme'?"

"It's an old potion. Not a love potion exactly... When the herbs are brewed together into a tea, it enhances feelings of love that are already there. Parsley takes away bitterness, sage for strength, rosemary for faithfulness, thyme for courage. In medieval times it was traditional for a witch and wizard to drink it together at their wedding, but I don't think people do that anymore."

"How do you know all that?" Harry asked with a bemused grin.

"Mum used to sing it to me when I was little. She told me about it."

They reached a break in the trees and Ginny stopped rowing, looking out over a field of flowers that emerged into view. A shadow passed over her face and she seemed lost in thought.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

She continued to stare for a moment before answering. "See that field over there? During the summer after my first year at Hogwarts, after the... you know... I used to sneak over there and just lie in the wildflowers. I'd stare at the sky for hours."

Harry stared at the field where yellow and blue flowers swayed in the breeze. He had never heard Ginny talk about her experience in the Chamber of Secrets. He didn't want to ask her to relive it now, but was curious to have yet another glimpse into her.

"Can we go there?"

She looked startled for a moment, but then nodded. "Sure."

She steered toward shore and they scrambled onto the bank, pulling the boat behind them. Ginny waded into the knee-high flowers, bending to skim her fingertips over their tops. Harry followed her trail, crunching the broken stems beneath his feet until the flowers gave way to a grassy clearing. Ginny sunk onto the soft ground, and he dropped down beside her.

"Great spot," he said.

"I know," she smiled. She held up some flowers she had picked and began pulling off the petals. "Harry, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why now?"

"Why now what?"

She pulled off another petal and let it float to the ground. "Why this sudden interest in getting to know me?"

Harry hesitated, pulling at some grass. "Is it sudden?"

"Well... seems sudden to me. We've known each other for years and you've never shown any interest in getting to know me before, other than me being Ron's sister, I mean."

"I don't know. We've been through some pretty intense things together." She nodded. "But it's different, being here and seeing you at home. I feel like I'm seeing what you're really like for the first time, and I realized that I don't know you that well at all."

"But you've been here before."

"Yeah, I guess. But I'm not just here for a week or two, I live here now." He paused. "I'm sorry, is this too awkward for you?"

"Why would it be awkward?"

"Well... I know you used to... um... fancy me a little."

Ginny gave a short laugh. "Yeah, you could say that."

"But you're over that now, right?"

Ginny didn't think that giving up on Harry ever noticing her was exactly the same as being "over" him, but she thought better of correcting him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrogate you. I just wanted to be sure of what was going on here."

"Look Gin, I have no ulterior motives, honest. I just thought it'd be nice to spend some time with you."

"Okay. Thanks. This is nice. A bit strange... but nice."

"So," Harry said, lying back and propping an arm behind his head, "tell me something I don't know about you."

Ginny smiled and looked sideways before turning back to her flowers. "Well, tell me what you do know about me first."

"Oh. Hmmm, let's see." He thought for a moment. "I know you like waffles and strawberries on your birthday. And that you've had that pink princess plate since you were three."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes, obviously. Anything you didn't learn in the past week?"

Harry's brow creased, and he brought his free hand to his mouth, chewing on his thumbnail. "I know you dated Michael Corner when you were in third year. Or was it fourth year?"

"Both."

"And that he started seeing Cho Chang after you dumped him."

"Yes, I suppose you would have noticed that," Ginny teased. Harry smirked.

"I know how good you are at Quidditch, of course." Unlike Hermione, Ginny could happily discuss Quidditch with Ron and Harry for hours on end, and having been teammates for a year now, it was the one area in which Harry really felt they had a lot in common. "Alicia was at one of the matches at the end of last year and told me afterwards she thought you'd really improved your passing skills."

"Really? Well, Katie ran me through enough drills, it'd be pretty appalling if I hadn't improved by now. Though now that you've been made captain, I'm sure you won't work me nearly as hard, will you?" she kidded.

Harry laughed. "Don't bet on it, Weasley."

They chatted about the Gryffindor team and Harry's need to find a new Chaser this year to replace their previous captain, Katie Bell, who had just left Hogwarts. When they had exhausted the topic, they fell into a comfortable silence.

After a minute, Ginny recalled what they had been talking about. "So, that's it? Michael Corner and Quidditch?"

"Pathetic, I know," Harry smiled, squinting against the sun. He rolled over onto his stomach and began playing with the blades of grass under his fingertips. "Who's your favorite brother?"

"Oh no..." Ginny laughed and shook her head. "I don't know if I should say anything that could be used against me later on."

"I just wondered. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to grow up in such a big family. Do you have different relationships with each of them? I know you're close to Ron."

"Well, Ron and I have always been close because of our ages, but let's face it, he can be a real prat sometimes." They both chuckled. "I love them all, they're each very unique, but Charlie is my favorite."

"Why Charlie?"

Ginny didn't say anything right away. Harry looked up at her and saw that she wore a thoughtful expression, as if considering how much to tell him. Finally, she said, "Mum has always said that she thinks I have Legilicor abilities."

"Legilicor? You mean like Legilimency?" Harry looked at her in alarm. "Can you read people's minds?"

"No," she smiled. "A Legilicor can't read minds, but they can sense strong feelings and emotions in other people. It means 'reading the heart.' I've felt it sometimes, with people I'm close to. I suppose it's a type of Divination, so it can be imprecise. But Charlie has it too, though mum says it's not as strong in men. He's a lot older than me, but I remember him being here when I was young and on summer holidays. He never teased me as much as the other boys. I think he could sense how I was feeling and was always a bit more kind toward me. He used to let me look at all his dragon books. I loved to watch them flying around.

"Once when I was five or six, I remember I was in the living room looking at one of his books that was pretty frightening, pictures of dragons setting villages on fire and people running and screaming. Fred and George were there and they could see that I was getting scared. They started telling me these stories about how dragons could come to the house at any time and that they would come into my bedroom and eat me up. Well, I tried to be so brave, because you know Fred and George, if you give them an inch they'll take a mile, but inside I was really in a panic. Then all of a sudden, Charlie came bounding down the stairs from his room, and when he saw the twins he grabbed them by their necks and threw them out the door into the garden." She laughed at the memory while Harry listened, transfixed.

"He came and put his arm around me and said he was up in his room when he felt that I was really scared, like I needed to be protected from something."

"Your knight in shining armor," said Harry, thinking of the dragon globe Charlie had given her.

Ginny smiled and shrugged. "I was little; I was at home all the time. My brothers were my whole world."

"But not now?"

Ginny waved him off and shook her head. "No. I don't really see them much anymore, any of them... except Ron, of course. They all have their own lives now." She shifted so that she was also lying on her stomach, propped up on her elbows beside him. "So what about you? Tell me something from when you were little."

"I thought you already knew all about me."

"There must be something."

Harry was still working on shutting out the memories of his life with the Dursleys and was fairly sure he didn't want to dredge them up again just now. "I can't think of anything." He gazed off into the trees for a moment before turning to her. "So, can you tell what I'm feeling right now?"

"Oh, um," Ginny shifted uneasily. "I suppose I could try. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm curious."

She regarded him for a instant before agreeing. "Okay, sit up then." She sat up and crossed her legs in front of her. Harry brushed the grass from his shirt and did the same, resting his elbows on his knees. Ginny looked into his eyes, trying to shut out everything but him. "Well... I think you're happy, but also a bit nervous. Oh dear, am I making you nervous?"

"A little," he smiled. "What else?"

She concentrated harder. As she focused on him, a feeling came to her that surprised her and made her heart ache.

"You feel lonely," she said in a quiet voice, as much to herself as to him.

His face betrayed a flicker of surprise, but he covered it and lowered his eyes, breaking their connection. "Anything else?"

"No," said Ginny, somewhat disappointed, though she didn't know why. Maybe she had expected him to have stronger feelings directed towards her, feelings of desire or attraction. But she felt none of that from him. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Harry, feeling uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going, cast about desperately for something to say. "Aha! Bat Bogey Hexes!"

"What?" said Ginny, startled out of her thoughts, her hand going instinctively to her nose.

"You cast a nasty Bat Bogey Hex. You even did one on Malfoy, remember?"

"Oh," Ginny chuckled. "Yes alright, guilty as charged."

"C'mon," said Harry, jumping up, "let's walk some more." He held out his hand and pulled her up. "Bet you can't beat me to that tree over there," he said, pointing to a large oak some distance away.

Her eyes lit up with the challenge. She feigned a look of surprise and pointed over Harry's shoulder. "Hey look, a hippogriff!"

Harry turned for a fraction of a second before Ginny took off across the field toward the tree, her hair streaming out behind her.

"That's cheap, Weasley!" Harry called, tearing after her.

She laughed. "I know, but it worked!"

* * *

Hermione stood in front of the Weasley's large fireplace a few days later, her bags packed at her feet. She hugged Ginny.

"Bye, see you in a couple of weeks. It was so great to be here," she said, squeezing Ginny's hands. "Thank you."

"Bye," said Ginny, "we'll look for you in Diagon Alley when we go to buy our things."

Hermione turned to Harry. "Okay, bye." She kissed him on the cheek. "We didn't really get to spend much time together did we?" she apologized.

"It's okay," he assured her, "we'll catch up at school."

"Yes, let's," she said and hugged him hurriedly.

She turned lastly to Ron. They stared at each other, putting off the inevitable until the last possible moment. Ron fidgeted until Hermione reached up and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I'll miss you."

"Me, too."

"It's only two weeks."

"I know."

She pulled away, her eyes bright, and gave him a quick peck on the lips before grabbing her bags. With a last smile at everyone, she closed her eyes and was gone.

Ron stared at the place she had Disapparated from, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Harry and Ginny exchanged a pitying look.

"C'mon, Ron, let's go flying," said Harry.

Ron gave a half-smile. "Yeah, alright."