Menace

Chapter Four

The next few days passed by quickly and Ginny had time to reflect on her acceptance of Edwin's offer of a date. Her brother said he wasn't a good man, but so far he had only been nice to her. He wasn't Harry, though, and she sighed despondently. When had she started really feeling anything for the boy-who-lived other than as a family friend since he'd humiliated her? Now all she could think about were his eyes and the way he kissed, his big arms and hands and...she sighed again and squeezed her eyes closed, willing away the image of him. It was all just too familiar and made her feel like an immature little girl all over again. He didn't matter right now, she decided firmly. What mattered was that tonight was her date with Edwin and she had no idea what would be appropriate to wear. She supposed she'd have to wear a dress, although she would be more comfortable in jeans, but if he was taking her to dinner then she wanted to look nice. She opted for a simple black dress th! at hung straight down, only hinting at the curves underneath. It wasn't low cut or short skirted, and she thought it would give out the right sort of message. She looked classy in it, she thought, for a change. Adding kitten heels, she went to her dressing table and brushed her long hair until it hung in a shining crimson curtain down her back. Her face needed very little make up and she only added a touch before she went downstairs to await her date.

She was surprised to find Harry sitting with her brother, as he hadn't been around since he had come to dinner, and she managed to keep the pleased expression off her face, her eyes feasting on him briefly. Edwin was definitely a poor second to a man like that, she thought, and then mentally kicked herself because she shouldn't be thinking that way.

"You look very nice," her brother said, looking fairly solemn. He really wasn't happy about her date, she thought, and he had been quite vocal about it for the last few days. But she ignored him, she still had something to prove to Harry Potter, and this was the only way she knew how. He thought no one would date her, and she was going to prove him wrong!

Harry looked at her almost reluctantly and then froze, his mouth parting on an indrawn breath. She looked more than nice. She looked stunning. He looked her up and down slowly, trying to analyse why he thought that. It wasn't the dress, or the shoes, or any of the peripherals...it was just her. He had missed the sight of her since last week, and he was only just realising it. Dragging his eyes away he stared at the television fixedly, frowning. He had to stop thinking that way... he had to. He was not supposed to think that way of his best mate's little sister. Maybe this Edwin person would be the best thing for her, even if he hated the idea of her going out with anyone at all.

A knock on the door startled him and he glanced up again as Ginny rushed off to answer it, his eyes narrowing angrily as he saw the stocky cowboy type come into the hall and give her a kiss on the cheek, taking his hat off as he did so. The gentlemanly conduct made him wary for some reason, and he frowned as he watched the other man. Something about him wasn't right, but he couldn't for the life of him decide what it was. Just a gut feeling, but he had learned to trust them over the years. Charlie walked out to greet him. His whole demeanour stiff and unyielding, and the look he gave the other man conveyed a message, which should be unmistakable, providing Edwin Blackweed wasn't stupid.

As soon as Ginny left the house with him, Harry stood up and joined Charlie, watching out of the window as they both apparated. "Right, I guess I should get going," he said, pulling his wand out of his pocket. "Did they say where they were going?"

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, something about a steak house on the edge of Lake Street...you know the one?"

Harry nodded and opened his mouth to answer, frowning when a faint noise came from behind him. Both men turned around and Charlie's eyes widened when he saw Rebecca leaning against the wall looking white. He rushed over to her. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"I don't know...I feel dizzy and sick," she said, swallowing down the extreme nausea with some difficulty. She raised panicked eyes to her husband. "Charlie, what if something's wrong with the baby?"

He shook his head, and pulled her into his arms. "It's probably fine, but we'd better make sure. We'll go to the hospital."

Harry shifted behind them. "I'll drive you," he offered, forgetting about Ginny for the moment. This was more important.

"Thanks, Harry," Charlie said gratefully, helping Rebecca out of the house and onto the porch, where they waited for Harry to go get his truck. Ginny was the furthest thing from all their minds at that moment.

Edwin Blackweed pulled out a chair for Ginny and made sure she was seated before he sat opposite her. For some reason women liked all that gallantry rubbish, he thought, hiding his irritation. Why they couldn't just sit down like a man did was beyond him. Still, it could turn out to be worthwhile. Lots of women had fallen for the charm, and those who hadn't...well, he had pretty much had them as well. His eyes ran over Ginny's figure and he had to restrain himself from licking his lips. This one was a nice juicy little package, and he couldn't wait to try her out.

Ginny looked up and caught his stare, and she shifted, feeling a little uncomfortable. There was just something in his eyes that she didn't like, but otherwise he was okay. And it was only a date, just one little date, she reminded herself.

"Decided what you'd like?" he asked her as she scanned her menu, and she nodded with a small smile.

"I think I'll have a small steak and salad," she said, folding the menu and laying it on the table.

Edwin frowned. "That all? You sure? What about a drink?"

"Er...just a coke, thanks," she told him, she didn't really care for it, but this was a muggle restaurant and they wouldn't have butterbeer or pumpkin juice.

"Come on, you can't just have coke. How about a glass of wine? That won't hurt, you know," he teased, smiling warmly at her, his eyes sparkling as she smiled back.

"Okay, then," she said, smiling and telling herself to relax and enjoy the evening.

Edwin ordered for them and then started asking her questions about her life, what she thought of the creatures reserve and how she felt about the Agency. He didn't know very much about her brother, Ron Weasley, except he was the big boss, and he hadn't ever met the man. He told Ginny how he'd watched him on the WVN occasionally, when he played Quidditch and how he also knew Harry Potter from his history, when he used to be Voldemort's number one target. Eventually he managed to get around to talking about himself, and Ginny was sort of grateful, as it meant she really didn't have to say anything, just listen. She ate her dinner slowly while he talked and then they ordered dessert, and she hoped the evening would end soon, because it occurred to her that she and Edwin Blackweed had nothing in common except the reserve.

When the bill came he looked at it briefly and then pulled out some notes, throwing them on the table and getting up. Ginny smiled when he helped her up and they left the restaurant and got back outside. She turned to him and smiled. "Thanks for the meal, it was really nice," she said, trying to inject a tiny amount of enthusiasm into her voice even though she felt none.

"I'm glad, but the evening isn't over yet, cupcake," he said, grinning as he grabbed her round the wrist, hauling her behind the building.

"Where are we going?" she asked him, a little worried.

"Just to a pub I know, you'll like it. It's got a real...old-fashioned feel about it. I thought maybe we could have a couple of drinks and then head back, is that okay?"

"Oh, well, yeah, I guess that would be okay," she said, relaxing a bit because he had actually asked and cringed when he grabbed her by the waist and apparated them both with a loud crack. She didn't really like the pub scene herself, but if it was old-fashioned then it probably wasn't too bad. She pictured something like the Three Broomsticks or the Leaky Cauldron, and a smile tilted her lips.

But that picture didn't last long. When they arrived and he walked her along the street to the pub in question, she looked up to find a huge neon sign with a dancing woman on it. Not knowing what to say, or what she would find inside, she allowed him to lead her into the dim confines of the packed building and guide her to the bar. Her eyes widened as she looked around. Sure, the place was old-fashioned, but the topless women who were dancing on top of the tables and sitting on some of the men's laps were very modern, and she found herself blushing. Someone pinched her backside as they reached the bar and she turned to find out who it was, only to find several men leering at her and she quickly spun back around and moved closer to the relative safety of Edwin. He shouted to the enormously fat bartender and then ordered their drinks, handing her another glass of wine as the fat man spoke to him. She didn't hear what they were saying, she was too numb, and she wanted to go ! home. A huge sip of her wine helped a little, and she risked looking around again, finding herself the object of some attention. The music in the place was so loud she could barely think, but no one else seemed to care, and several people were dancing drunkenly on a lit up dance floor with some of the topless women nearby.

Edwin finished chatting to the bartender and turned to her, giving her a smile that made her shiver, but not in a good way. "You okay?" he asked her, raising one eyebrow.

She nodded reluctantly and let him take her over to a table. "Edwin? Can we leave soon, I don't really like it here," Ginny said, having to raise her voice to be heard.

"Why not? This is a great place, just give it a chance," he said, turning his head away and staring at the nearest near naked woman, his grin widening as he leered at her.

Ginny stared at him and then took another swallow of her drink, wishing she had the guts to make her way out of here on her own. But trying to get out through the crowd of mostly men would be almost impossible, and she doubted she would be untouched throughout the trip. She looked nervously around her, feeling trapped in her seat and a small group of men next to her starting talking about her. She heard comments about her legs, how her backside would look without the dress in the way and how she really wasn't well endowed up top. Turning her red face quickly away from them she tugged at Edwin's sleeve and he turned reluctantly to look at her. "What?" he asked, his eyes harder than they had been.

"Edwin, those men keep saying things...I want to leave, right now!" she said, injecting a note of authority into her voice to make him listen to her.

"Oh, come on, they're probably just complimenting you! Don't be so uptight," he said, going to turn away again.

She couldn't believe his attitude, and it made her really angry. "If you don't take me home right now, I'll go by myself and Charlie will fire you!" she threatened, hoping that would get his attention. Luckily it did, and she breathed a sigh of relief when he rolled his eyes and stood up, holding out his hand to draw her through the crowd.

"Okay," he shouted at her, "fine, we'll go. Better go by the back door, though, it's quicker."

She didn't bother asking why, she was too glad to be leaving the horrible place, and she wondered why anyone would ever come to such a place... aside from perverted men, of course.

Once they got out of the door and the music was finally shut in behind them, she had time to look around, and she found they were in the back alley to the building. "What are we doing out here?" she asked, sounding a bit dumb.

"You wanted to leave, I wanted to get you alone...so, here we are," Edwin said, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her around to face him.

"What?" she asked.

"You heard me, I wanted to get you alone. Come here," he said, pulling her towards him. Ginny put her hands up and pressed against his chest, turning her head when he bent to kiss her. "Oh, come on, Ginny. You know why I wanted to go on a date, you aren't that daft!" he said, pulling her harder until he had his arms wrapped around her and she was trapped. "Or maybe you are, but that doesn't matter." He bent and pressed his lips to hers, having difficulty because she kept trying to turn away, but he moved one of his arms and held her chin in place, moving them both back so she was pressed into the wall and couldn't move.

"No!" Ginny said, shocked by his actions. "Get off me, Edwin!" she yelled, when he released her mouth for long enough.

"Don't play hard to get, honey," he sneered nastily, tilting her head again and attacking her mouth with more ferocity. She struggled wildly, groaning in pain when he slammed her back against the wall hard, her whole back hurting with the force of the movement and her wand, her only sense of security clattering noisily to the ground and rolling under the nearby skip.

Ginny started feeling sick when Edwin tried to push his tongue into her mouth, and his hands roamed her body more freely, trying to find an opening in the dress so he could touch her. She struggled harder, managing to hit him a couple of times in the body, which seemed to make him angrier.

"Fuck, you little bitch," he yelled when she scraped her nails down his face to get him off her. He levered away from her suddenly and then slapped her across the face, hard. She slid down the wall in a daze and stayed still, trying to regain her focus after the blow. Edwin rubbed a hand down his cheek and swore again when it came away with blood on it. "Stay there, bitch. Seems you're feistier than I thought, so I may need help with you. You should have told me you wanted more than one man to bang you. It isn't a problem. I'm sure some of those guys in there would be only too happy, and I don't have a problem with sharing." He laughed and turned away, making his way back into the bar. As soon as he was out of sight Ginny pulled herself unsteadily to her feet, forcing herself into motion and running down the alleyway and into the street.

She had no idea where she was at the moment, but it didn't really matter. She had to get away right now before he came back and followed up on his threat. Tears blurred her vision as she ran and she noticed that it was a very quiet neighbourhood, no one seemed to be around. Eventually the pain in her side from running so fast slowed her down, and she veered into another small alley, relieved to find it was incredibly dark down there and led out into an open lot at the back. No lights would illuminate her and she knew that in this case the darkness was her friend.

She was only glad she had remembered to bring her shell phone out with her, and she flipped it open, dialling her home number and waiting for her brother to pick up. But after several rings she realised that he wasn't there, for some reason, and the tears returned with a vengeance. She was stuck out here with no way to get home, no car, no wand, no wizarding families she knew in the vicinity, and scared to death that Edwin Blackweed would find her. There wasn't really much choice. She had to call Harry. She shakily dialled Ron's floo number and waited, relief making a sob rise up in her throat when it was answered on the second ring. "H-H-Harry?"

There was a pause. "Ginny?" he asked quietly, sounding unsure.

She sobbed again, her feelings coming out more now she could hear a friendly voice. "Yes, it's me. Harry.....Edwin tried to....he tried....I got away, but he... he tried...and I ran."

Harry put his mug of coffee down and sat up straight in his chair, switching the TV off with the remote as his heart started hammering wildly in his chest. "Ginny, sweetheart, calm down. Where are you?"

"I don't know, and I lost my wand!" she wailed, really crying now as she looked around at the darkness.

"Think, sweetheart, tell me whereabouts Edwin took you," he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

"He took me to this pub...and it had naked women in it...I didn't like it there and these men kept saying things and Edwin took me outside and he tried to...to..."

Harry gritted his teeth at the picture he was getting, and he tried to think of the location of some of the bars he and Ron had been to over the years. It sure sounded like a few he had frequented.

"Ginny, tell me what the bartender looked like."

"He was fat...and bald and...and... I think he sounded Irish, but it was so loud I couldn't hear properly, and there was this sign outside with a dancing girl on it...but I can't think...Harry, I'm scared," she said softly, her crying abating somewhat.

Her words tore at him and he closed his eyes. "Okay, sweetie, you just stay put. I think he took you to Murphy's. Now where did you run off to, can you remember?"

"I don't know, it's really dark," she said, her voice shaking. "We were down an alley."

"And you left the alley? Which direction did you go? Left or Right?"

"I w-went right...and I ran a long way and I found another alley...that's where I am now, but there's no lighting down here and there's an empty lot at the end. I don't know what to do...what if comes after me?" she asked, her voice rising hysterically.

"Shh, pumpkin, it'll be okay. I'll get to you before he does. I'm on my way now. I think I know where you are. Stay put and don't make a sound unless you hear my voice, okay?" he asked, grabbing his wand off the table as he stood up, the phone tucked into his shoulder.

"O-o-okay," she stammered, sounding terrified.

"I'll take my shell phone, give me your number and I'll send you mine, so you can call if you need me okay?" he told her, nodding as she recited her number and sending her his before slipping his phone in his pocket. "I'll be with you in a couple of minutes."

Ginny made a small noise of agreement and then he put the phone down, running out of the house and apparating with the barely audible popping sound he'd perfected in the Legion. He knew Murphy's pub and he had a fair idea of where the empty lot was she was talking about, but it would take him at least three minutes to get there, and he only hoped she would be okay in that time.

Ginny huddled against a wall and stared towards the street, tensing anytime she heard movement, but no one came. Still, she couldn't relax because she was sure Edwin would find her. The time seemed to stretch out infinitely, and she felt as if hours had passed when she finally heard the sound of running footsteps. It stopped some distance away and she heard the whisper of a spell, and she hoped it was Harry, but she wouldn't come out of her hiding place, not yet. The footsteps continued to echo in the street as the person walked along, hesitating every now and then until they reached the alleyway she was in. She didn't need to hear his voice to know it was him, the large silhouette at the alley entrance told her who it was and she ran towards him, crying again now help was here.

Harry saw her come rushing towards him and he gathered her small, shaking body up as she launched herself at him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck as she sobbed onto his shoulder. His defined arms closed around her and he stroked her back, feeling it heave with her sobs.

"Shh now, pumpkin, everything's fine, you're safe now," he crooned, his eyes closing with relief that she was apparently okay, at least from what he could see in the dim lamplight from the street. He carried her back towards the lighted street and sat on a bench with some difficulty, because she wouldn't let go of him so he had to sit with her on his lap, knowing he'd have to wait to apparate her home.

She started to calm down after a few minutes and she sighed against him, her grip loosening a little. "I'm sorry," she murmured, still not letting go.

"It's alright," Harry said softly, nudging her face out of hiding so he could get a look at her. When he did he hissed in a sharp breath and swore, one hand coming up to touch her cheekbone. "He hit you?"

Ginny frowned, realising it must have left a bruise. "Yes."

He looked into her eyes for a long time. "What else did he do, Gin?"

She lowered her eyes, feeling strangely ashamed that Edwin had tried to assault her. "He tried to...to touch me and...he was going to rape me, he said he would get someone else to help because I kept fighting him."

"Oh, Ginny," he said, pulling her back into a tight embrace as he comforted her. "No one deserves to be treated that way. Good for you for fighting him. I hope you landed a couple of punches?"

Ginny gave a tiny laugh at his attempt at humour. "Yeah, I did, but I don't think it hurt him much. I scratched his face though."

"When I get my hands on him, I'm going to do more than scratch his bloody face," Harry said, his voice deep and angry as he thought of several different ways to kill the man. "Come on, let's get you home."

He gently moved her from his lap and placed her on her feet, stroking one hand over her face tenderly and smiling before he pulled her tight against his chest and, and forgetting the risks because Ginny was in no fit state to do it herself, Apparated them home. But instead of taking her into her own house, he took her to Ron's, needing to keep her close to him as much as he sensed she needed to keep close. She didn't complain, not even when he scooped her up, cradling her against his chest as he carried her indoors. As soon as they got inside he took her into the TV room and sat back on the couch, draping her across his lap and hugging her as he switched the TV on and let it blare softly in the background.

"You okay, Gin?"

She nodded but didn't say anything, and her face burrowed deeper into his shoulder, a soft sigh issuing from her lips. Harry looked down at her face and saw her eyes were closed, but she seemed content enough. He looked again at the bruise that was already darkening her cheek, and he wished Charlie were here so he could go and find the bastard that did it. But Ginny needed him right now, and his bloodlust could wait, at least for a while.

He realised suddenly that she didn't know about Rebecca. "Ginny? Did you try phoning Charlie first?"

She nodded. "He wasn't in," she mumbled quietly.

"Er, no. See, Rebecca started feeling ill, and so we took her up to the hospital," he said, watching as she sat up and stared at him, her face only inches away.

"Hospital? St. Mungo's? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" she asked quickly, forgetting her own feelings for a few minutes.

Harry smiled and nodded. "No, She's at the muggle hospital in town. The baby's fine, and Becky isn't too bad. Her blood pressure's become unstable and it's too high, so they've admitted her for observation. Apparently it could become dangerous, so they want to keep an eye on her in case they have to induce labour...or something like that," he said, trying to repeat what he had heard earlier that evening. "Charlie is staying there with her, which is why he wasn't home."

"Can we go and see them?" she asked, chewing her lip worriedly.

"Not tonight, it's too late. But first thing in the morning, okay?"

"Okay." Ginny frowned then looked him in the eyes again. " She's really okay?"

Harry grinned, rubbing one big hand up and down her back. "She's fine, don't worry."

"Okay," she said softly, satisfied that he wasn't hiding any bad news from her and she settled back against his chest, not for one second wondering at why she felt so comfortable with him holding her.

Harry gave a sigh and relaxed, his eyes alternately flicking from the screen to her face, and a smile tilted his lips. He rocked her slowly as he watched television, asking every now and then if she felt okay, and he always got the same reaction... a small nod, but no sound.

Eventually his hands rubbed up and down her back again, and he turned her so she was pressed more fully against him, his body reacting predictably. He cleared his throat as he squirmed under her soft weight.

"You okay, pumpkin?" he asked again, his constant refrain. It didn't even occur to him that the boy-who-lived might seem a bit ridiculous saying pumpkin, because it fit her.

"Mmm," she murmured, and he smiled at the small sound, glad she was so comfortable with him.

"Are you sure? Want to talk about it yet?"

"No," she murmured, her breath puffing out onto his neck and making him shiver. "I already told you everything. It's my fault, anyway."

Harry frowned. "Your fault? How do you figure that?"

"I should have listened to Charlie and I didn't, so I guess it serves me right. I'm never going on a date again," she vowed, her voice still soft.

A smile tilted his mouth this time. "No?" he asked her, his eyes taking on a serious gleam as he thought about her words. Suddenly the fact that this was the youngest Weasley, and only girl didn't bother him quite as much as it had. All that mattered was how he had felt when he thought she was in trouble, and his previous doubts disappeared. "Never? Not even if it was with me?"

Ginny raised her head and looked at him, confused. "You?"

"Yeah, me. Well?"

"Why would you want to go on a date with me? You said no-one would go out with me unless they were insane," she said, proving that she had heard his words.

"Ever heard it said that eavesdroppers never hear any good about themselves? You should have got there sooner. I was explaining that that was how I used to feel, but not any more," he told her, his smile widening at her expression.

"Really?" she asked, and paused. "But I thought... you threw me out... that night..." she tried to continue, wondering why her heart was trying to crawl out of her throat at his words.

"Really, and that isn't the reason I turned you away Ginny. That happened because I'm an idiot." he assured her. His eyes narrowed. "Why? Would you say no?"

"No! I mean, yes...I'd say yes," she said instantly, blushing slightly when he chuckled.

"Hmm, so I guess you don't hate me after all?" he asked, his chest feeling suddenly tight as emotions he had thought dead started to flood through him.

"I don't hate you, and I don't know why, because I think I used to," she said, her voice no more than a whisper as she stared into his glittering eyes. "But I wish it had been you taking me out tonight instead of that man."

"So do I," he said, his eyes studying her soft expression. "I don't know why I don't hate you either, if it helps."

Ginny shrugged. "It does, sort of. This is kind of weird, isn't it? Us, like this?"

He nodded, his eyes dropping to her mouth. "I guess it is, but it's...right, somehow." He frowned slightly and tried to look away from her, but it was impossible. He felt as if he had been drugged. "What happened to you tonight was horrible, and I'm glad you called me." His frown disappeared only to be replaced by one of his sexy grins, and he raised an eyebrow as he stared at her lips. "You know, they say that the best way to get rid of a bad experience, is to replace it with a good one. Want to try it out?"

"How?" she said, watching his eyes drop and licking her lips nervously.

"Come here and I'll show you," he whispered, urging her head closer to him and then capturing her lips in a gentle kiss that put almost no pressure on her at all. One hand moved up her back and cradled her head, tilting it slightly so he could fit his mouth over hers with more ease, his tongue flickering out teasing the corners of her mouth until she parted her lips for him. With experience and skill he eased her into the kiss, the gentlest they had shared so far, using all the restraint he had just so he could remind her how a kiss should really be. Not like the brutality she had suffered at Edwin Blackweed's hands.

Slowly he let it grow out of control, just enough that she would be left wanting more, intending all the time to end the kiss before he lost it entirely. But he hadn't allowed for how her hands would feel as they clutched at his broad shoulders, or how the small sounds she was making would turn him on and make his body vibrate against her with need. Her small body was pressed close to him and he could feel every soft curve of her burning through his clothing. He slid a hand around her front and gently cupped a firm breast, kneading the soft pliant flesh, his touch getting more sure as she became noisier.

He broke off the kiss reluctantly and nuzzled her neck, smiling as the noises she had been making sounded loudly in his ear. He had heard such noises before, but so often they had been faked. He lifted his head and looked down at Ginny's flushed face, seeing that there was nothing fake about her reaction to what he was doing. She was refreshingly open and receptive.

Her eyes opened and she stared up at him through a mist, knowing somewhere in her mind that she should be shocked at the way he was touching her, but she couldn't bring herself to stop him. It felt so good, like white-hot needles of pleasure were shooting through her body, and she wanted more of that same feeling. "Harry," she whispered, raising a hand and touching his face, her fingers stroking over the beard he'd allowed to grow. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, letting her explore his features even as his hands remained skimming her softness. The way she was touching his face, her fingertips so gentle as they skimmed over him, made him shiver with more than pleasure. No one had ever touched him like that, not gently, not caringly. He was a rather large man, a hero, and most people didn't think someone like him would ever need tenderness. But he did, and he hadn't known it until now.

Ginny watched his expression and she sat up, lifting her other hand and framing his face so she could place a small kiss on his lips. His eyes opened and stared straight into hers, the warm green colour glowing as she continued caressing him. She pulled his head down and kissed each cheek, then his nose, and then each eyelid, moving to his forehead and then straight back to his lips. This time she nuzzled them gently, initiating the kiss with more enthusiasm than any sort of skill, but he felt the touch all the way to his toes. He chuckled and she drew back, staring at him in confusion.

"I often wondered how women felt when they said something made their toes curl," he explained, placing his larger hands over hers where they rested on his cheeks. "Now I know. Kiss me again, Gin."

Ginny smiled slowly and did as he asked, pressing her mouth to his and doing the same as she'd done before, sweeping her tongue hesitantly over his lips and then pulling back when he opened his mouth. "I'm not sure...I...I'm not very good at this," she said, uncertain of how to continue.

Harry smiled. "You're very good at this, you just don't know it. But if it helps, let me lead, okay?" he said softly, and the next second she found herself laying full length on the sofa, with Harry's long body pressed right up next to her, his head leaning down over hers. "This is better." He studied her shocked expression and stroked the back of his hand down her cheek, rubbing at her soft skin. "We'll only go as far as you want to. If you want me to stop, at any time, you just tell me. I won't make you do anything you don't want to, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered, biting her lip as she lifted her arms around his neck and let her hands feel the sculpted muscles of his shoulders. Her chin lifted as his mouth descended and she met his kiss eagerly, closing her eyes and losing herself in the sensations he caused. She didn't stop him even when he reached underneath her and released the clasp of her bra, knowing that he would be looking for a way inside the dress before long. But she felt no shame for wanting his touch, and when he looked down at the black material searchingly, she directed his hand to the concealed zip underneath her, blushing when he grinned at her.

"Why, thank you, pumpkin," he murmured, leaning down to drop small kisses on her face as he unzipped her, pulling the material slowly down over her shoulders until it was bunched up around her waist, the only thing covering her from his eyes being the loosened bra. With deliberate slowness, he pulled the scrap of lace away from her, revealing the soft pale flesh to his eyes. He sucked in a breath as he stared down at the perfection before him, his hands lifting automatically and closing around her waist so he could lift her to his mouth. For a second he thought she was trying to get away, but then her hands weaved through his hair and he felt himself being pressed closer to her, giving him permission to continue.

Ginny couldn't believe the heat that his mouth generated, and she moaned as he became rougher, wanting him to never stop whatever it was he was doing. She looked at him then, shocked at how it looked to see a man suckling at her soft flesh - and Harry certainly looked like he was enjoying himself. His brows were drawn down as he concentrated on his task, and when he drew back briefly, the eyes he raised to hers were glittering with desire. He looked back down at the perfect breast he had just released and smiled slowly, seeing the tiny marks on the pale skin where his whiskers had rubbed against her. Letting her back down on the sofa he stroked one hand over them. "You'll have marks," he said huskily.

Ginny looked at herself and blushed. "It's okay."

Harry studied her face intently again, that same fierce look in his eyes. "Want some more?"

"Yes, please," she said softly, her body already arching helplessly up towards him as his hands rubbed over her, the slightly callused feel of his fingertips making her shiver. "Harry...I need...." she gasped as he kissed his way over her chest.

"What do you need, pumpkin? Anything you want..." he murmured.

"I don't know," she moaned, running her fingers through his hair and gripping it in two bunches.

Her words made him falter and he raised his eyes to her again, uncertain. "Ginny?"

She opened her eyes reluctantly and looked at him, trapped in his searing gaze. Another shiver worked its way through her as he rubbed a big hand over her quivering stomach, his expression tender. "Are you a virgin?"

Ginny stared at him, embarrassed at the question even though it wasn't exactly something she could help. "Would it...does it matter?"

"So you are?" he asked again, his hand still absently caressing her soft skin.

She gave a deep sigh and dropped her eyes. "Yes." Great, she thought. Now he wouldn't want to touch her ever again. So she was shocked when one big hand lifted back up to cup her breast again.

Harry smiled at her, his eyes holding desire still, and something else, something she couldn't define. "I just wanted to make sure," he murmured, raising his eyebrows. "All the signs were there, but it wasn't until you said you didn't know what you needed, that it really got through to me."

"But you're not stopping," she blurted out.

"Well, no. I don't want to, unless you want me to?" he said, a smile lighting his eyes up. "I like touching you, I like it a whole lot."

"I like it too," she whispered, staring at him with big eyes.

"Good," he whispered back, leaning down to take her lips in a burning kiss that swept all her doubt and embarrassment away, his hand helping the process along as it swept over her body, pushing her dress out of the way almost without her noticing. It was only when that same hand ran down over her stomach and moved between her legs, that she had the sense to open her eyes, and she made a small sound of protest. He stilled instantly. "Don't you want this?"

"I...I don't...kn...know," she stammered, her legs squeezing closed around his hand.

"Want to try it out and see?" he asked her, leaning in and nuzzling her neck. "I'll stop if you don't like it, I promise."

"I...I guess..." she began, and then gasped at the sensations this small movement caused and her legs slackened a tiny bit. He instantly took advantage, and massaged her through the thin material of her knickers, using the heel of his hand in a small circular motion that soon had her arching towards him for more.

"Do you like it Ginny?" he whispered in her ear, knowing she was but needing to hear it.

"Mmm," she murmured, biting her lip as she concentrated on what he was doing to her. Streaks of pleasure ran through her at high speed, and she got the sudden urge for something more...for him, for all of him. "I want you," she said, her voice husky and low.

Harry smiled and kissed her again. "I want you too, but I think that's a little too much for tonight. Maybe next time, when you have more time to think about it," he said, searching her eyes and seeing the moment his words registered.

"You...you don't want to?" she asked, sounding tragic.

Harry chuckled and took her small hand, kissing the palm before he moved it down his body and pressed it over the reaction she had caused. "Does this feel like I don't want to? Ginny, if I was any more turned on, I swear I'd die from lack of blood to the brain!"

Ginny looked down at where her hand was, blushing furiously as she saw the enormous bulge outlined in his jeans, and she felt faintly proud that she had made him like that. "Can't we?" she asked helplessly, her body still tingling from his touch.

"I don't think it's a good idea right now," he said, chuckling again at her eagerness. "I don't want to hurt you, and I will if we get into it now. We'll wait, okay?"

"Okay," she said softly.

He sighed and grabbed her dress, starting to put it on her with more haste than care. "When did I suddenly get morals?" he grumbled as the last bits of her were hidden from view. His hand reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear, a smile softening his features. "You can stay here tonight if you'd like."

"I can?"

He nodded and stood up, pulling her up gently. "Yeah, you can. I'm sure Charlie would like me to keep an eye on you." His words disappointed her because she had thought that maybe he wanted to make sure she was okay, and now it seemed he was only doing it because of Charlie. Harry saw the look cross her face and he tilted her chin up, making her look the long way up at him. "And I want to be sure you're safe," he said, his hand sliding around to the back of her neck and drawing her closer to him.

"Okay," she sighed happily, resting her cheek on the lower part of his chest and closing her eyes.

"Can I stay with you?" she asked him, not liking the idea of being totally on her own.

Harry stood holding her and frowned. He didn't know if he had that much control. "You want to sleep in my arms?" he asked her, his voice deep as he gave in and admitted to himself that he didn't want to be apart from her right now. She nodded and he folded his arms tighter around her, hoping his willpower was as good as he thought it was. "Then let's go."

Ginny gave a gasp of surprise when he scooped her easily up and carried her out of the room, ordering her to switch the lights off as they went. "I can walk," she said, staring at him with huge eyes and wondering how everything had changed between them so fast.

He looked down at her as he climbed the stairs, his eyes glittering. "I prefer it this way. That a problem?"

She shook her head and gave a shy smile. "I kind of like it."

"Really? Why's that?" he asked her, raising an eyebrow as they reached the upper floor and he continued on to his bedroom.

"You make me feel safe," she said, giving a small shrug as she looked over at the large bed he slept in.

Harry looked at her with faint surprise. "I do?" At her nod, he gave a pleased smile. "Not many people ever feel safe with me. I'm always attracting trouble, as you well know."

"But it's not your fault, not really. You have a horrible temper though, but underneath it all you're really sweet," she said, her face a vivid colour as she spoke. It was hard giving a compliment to this man, she decided, but he looked like he needed it all the same.

Harry carried her to the bed and laid her down on the soft mattress, leaning over her. "I haven't always been so sweet to you though, have I?"

"Well....I guess...I deserved it, I was a bit of a brat," she said, unable to tear her eyes away from his, the way he was looking at her making her feel hot all over. "But you came for me when I needed you. I didn't say thank you, did I?"

An incredibly sexy grin transformed his face. "You said thank you alright, just not with your voice. But you're welcome," he said, leaning down to give her a light kiss that made her wriggle about underneath him. He drew back and started carefully peeling her dress off her, his eyes following the material as it slid away from her skin and revealed the fact that he hadn't replaced her bra. He grinned again and wiggled his eyebrows. "Very, very, very nice," he murmured, unable to resist stroking one big hand down her body as he finally pulled the material completely off. He looked briefly down at her pretty lacy panties and had to swallow and look away before he ripped them off her too. "I...er...guess we'd better leave those on."

Ginny was still blushing and she had to fight the urge to cover herself up with her hands, but eventually she couldn't help it and she crossed her arms over her chest. The movement made him look at her again, and his eyes held a gleam of amusement. "Feeling shy?" he asked her, pulling her to sit up as he sat on the edge of the bed. He quickly pulled his black T-shirt over his head and stuffed her into it, nodding happily when he was done. "There, now you don't have worry. It looks good on you," he mused, cocking his head to one side.

Ginny followed the way his hair fell and found herself staring at his chest, now bare and almost shouting at her to touch it. She licked her lips nervously. She had seen him without a shirt before, in fact she had seen a lot of the other agents without a shirt, but never this close up, or in such an intimate situation. But, oh dear Gods, he was gorgeous, she thought. When he laughed she managed to tear her eyes away from the expanse of muscle and look up into his eyes. "You know, I can tell exactly what you're thinking by the look on your face," he said, cupping her chin in his palm. "You look like you want to eat me up. And you know what? Another time I'm going to let you." He gave her a wink and another smile and then stood up, unbuttoning his trousers and starting to slide them down over his hips, aware all the time that she was watching him with those fascinated brown eyes. It made him want to strip off completely, but he kept his boxers on, not wa! nting to scare the life out of her or leap on her and have his wicked way.

Ginny was struck dumb as her eyes followed his jeans to the floor, and she stared at his incredibly long, muscular legs. She could see some faint scars on his legs and she wondered if they were some of the battle wounds Charlie had once spoken about, but she didn't want to pry, so she didn't say anything. His feet, when he took his socks off, made her giggle, and she had to cover her mouth up and look away when he glanced at her.

"What's so funny?" he asked indignantly, standing up straight and planting his fists on his hips.

"Nothing," she mumbled, still trying to control the sudden mirth.

"Don't give me that," he said, his eyes narrowing as he leapt onto the bed and pinned her beneath him in one swift move. "Tell me what's funny."

"It's your feet," she said, letting a giggle escape. "They're so big, and bony...they don't look real!"

"There's nothing wrong with my feet!" he said, looking down the bed and turning his foot this way and that as he rolled off her. "They're perfectly normal."

"Yeah, for a troll!" she retorted, laughing fully now as she got another look at the enormous feet. "The toes look like fingers!"

Harry couldn't help smiling at her giggles and he pulled her leg up, grabbing her ankle so he could examine her foot. "Well, yours look...actually they're kind of cute," he said, staring at the tiny little toes with their pink glittery nail varnish. "Your feet are tiny, like a doll or something."

"Compared to yours, anybody's foot is small," she said, wiggling her toes when he stroked a finger over them, trying to squirm away from him.

"Something wrong? This isn't tickling you, is it?" he asked with a wicked grin, his finger stroking over the arch of her foot and making it curl up.

"Don't you tickle me!" she said, pulling harder. "I'll get violent!"

"I'm very, very scared," he said solemnly, immediately releasing her foot. "Promise me you won't hurt me, and maybe we can get some sleep."

Ginny giggled again. "Okay, I promise," she said, her eyes following his movements as he lifted her up with one arm and pulled the covers back before placing her back on the bed and covering her up.

"Okay, then," he said, climbing into his side of the bed and covering himself, then switching the light off.

"Now go to sleep, you little pest," he murmured, laying his head on the pillow and looking at her profile in the moonlight streaming in the window.

She turned over onto her side and shifted about restlessly, turning back again and facing him, her eyes open. "Harry?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Mmm?"

"Can I have a cuddle?"

He chuckled and reached for her, drawing her over until she was laying half on top of his chest. "I forgot you wanted to sleep in my arms. Is this better?"

"Mmm, this is nice," she whispered, knowing somewhere in her mind that this was really stupid, but for now snuggling against him and closing her eyes with a deep sigh. "Goodnight Harry."

"Goodnight, firefly," he murmured, dropping a kiss on her head and closing his own eyes. Ginny smiled and buried her head in his chest at his words. It had been a very long time since Harry and she were on good enough terms for him to use the pet name he'd given her back in her fifth year at Hogwarts. She wondered if he'd even realized what he'd said and she wasn't about to remind him in case it was a mistake.

Surprisingly, Harry drifted straight off into a peaceful sleep, not having expected to do so. He had thought his body would keep him awake all night, but the feel of her was strangely comforting, and he fell into a sleep unlike any he'd had for a very long time.

Sometime in the early hours of the morning Harry jerked upright in bed when an arm was flung out and hit him in the face, and he automatically turned the lamp on to see what had happened. Then he turned and saw Ginny tossing and turning restlessly, her face screwed up and small distressed noises coming out of her mouth. It was obvious she was having a nightmare and for a second he didn't know whether to wake her up or not, but when she made an even more terrified noise he reached out and gave her a gentle shake, calling her name.

Her eyes shot open and for just an instant she froze as her mind tried to figure out who had gotten hold of her, then she relaxed as she focused on Harry's concerned face. The relief that she wasn't still down that alleyway with Edwin and another faceless man trying to rape her was intense, and she tried to stop herself from crying, failing when two big fat tears slid from her eyes.

"C'mere," Harry said gruffly, hating seeing her like this when she was always so strong, and he pulled her onto his lap as he sat back against the headboard. His hands gently smoothed her hair down her back and he rocked her slowly, letting a sigh out as he made her feel as secure as he could. "Okay?" he asked, kissing the top of her head and stroking her back, much as he had done earlier that evening.

She sniffed and nodded, wiping a weary hand over her eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm such a pain...I didn't mean to wake you up."

"Don't worry about it. I'd rather be awake than have you trapped in a nightmare, anyway. Want to talk about it?" Harry knew first hand what nightmares could do to one's sanity.

She shook her head this time as the dream replayed itself. Thank God it hadn't got that far in reality, but it was still enough to shake her. "Where do you think he is now?" she whispered.

Harry knew she was talking about Edwin. "I don't know. If he has any sense it'll be miles away from here."

"What if he isn't?" she asked him, her voice shaking.

Harry lifted a hand and tilted her face up to his, frowning when he saw the fresh tears there and the obvious fear. "If he isn't, then I'll take care of him. Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't get near you ever again. You're safe, Ginny."

"Thank you," she said softly, flinging her arms around his neck and burying her face against his throat, the action making him smile.

"No problem. Hey, want to see something to make you smile?" he asked, injecting a light note into his voice as he nudged her face out of hiding.

She looked at him warily. "Like what?"

"Well, like this," he said, jerking back the sheet and wiggling his toes for her. Despite her tears and her nightmare, the sight of his abnormally overgrown foot made her giggle again. He shook his head and grinned. "Personally, I can't see what's so damn funny."

"Oh, I'm sorry, it's just...I've never seen feet that big. They're like a clown's! Even bigger than Ron's!" she giggled, mirth making more tears appear, but not sad ones this time.

"Thanks a bunch," he said, looking slightly offended.

Ginny looked at him and bit her lip, realizing what she had said and wondering if he was really insulted by it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that nastily," she said, raising a small hand and placing it against his cheek to try and make him feel better. She thought it must have worked judging by the odd expression that came over him when she did it.

"Hell, I don't care if you did," he murmured, wondering how such an innocent touch could affect him so much. His heart was beating overtime, but it wasn't because he was aroused, it was because she made him feel warm inside...alive. She made him feel alive. He cleared his throat and tried not to look as shocked by that as he felt. "Do you think you can sleep now?"

"I think so...if...could I...?"

His feelings swelled his chest and he gave a reluctant smile. "You want to sleep in my arms again?"

She nodded and closed in on him again, wrapping herself around him without any prompting, and he closed his eyes trying to strengthen his willpower again. It was worth any discomfort his body might give him, just to have her with him like this, even innocently. And he had thought he hated her, he chuckled to himself.

Shaking his head he eased his way down the bed again with her on top of him, and reached out one long arm to switch the lamp off, before wrapping her close and listening to her fall back asleep. For him, sleep took longer to come and take him.