When Harry Met Ginny...

Author's Notes: I now offer you the third and final chapter of "When Harry Met Ginny..." which has become the 1st part of "The Dragon-Phoenix Saga." This chapter is one long conversation between our favorite couple. This is definitely a character-driven chapter instead of a plot-driven one. I wanted their first conversation to be memorable, and to help set the tone for the rest of their relationship throughout the series

Let me just say before anyone writes this in their reviews that I know that Harry and Ginny will come across as being somewhat mature, and many may find that that is unrealistic given their ages. I disagree. I beg you to look at the depth of maturity displayed by a young Harry and a young Ginny in Sovran's "Meaning of One, Parts 1 & 2" and The Seeker's "Saving Harry." I also believe that Harry's past experiences give him a big step-up the maturity ladder as compared to his other friends. At the same time this is a magical universe, and there are forces of magic at work that are helping to make my Harry and my Ginny more mature than their ages might imply.

I anticipate that there might also be some criticism over the depth of the feelings that Harry and Ginny experience, owning to the fact that they just met each other. I answer that response by quoting the wonderful wisdom of one of my favorite philosophers, the late great Dr. Dietrich von Hildebrand. He says, and I quote, "But two human beings can also turn to face one another, and in touching one another in an interpenetrating glance, give birth to a mysterious fusion of their souls. They become conscious of one another, and making the other the object of his contemplation and responses, each can spiritually immerse himself in the other. This is the I-thou relationship, in which the partners are not side by side, but face to face.... The fact also THAT THIS LOVE CAN ARISE QUITE SUDDENLY, AND EVEN DEVELOP TO MATURITY AT THE FIRST ENCOUNTER OF TWO PERSONS, emphasizes the typical contrast between this and any other kind of love. In this love, the personality of the beloved is instantaneously revealed as a complete unity." (Marriage: The Mystery of Faithful Love, pg 9 & 11.) There is some deep food for thought in these wise words, and I believe in terms of fanfiction, that they can provide a deep well from which to draw upon, especially for writers of bonding fics. This is the type of love I envision between Harry and Ginny in my story, so if it is good enough for Dietrich, it is good enough for me.

Please read and review! I would love to hear from all my wonderful readers! By the way this universe is not mine; I am just playing in a corner of the sandbox! See my second Author's note at the end of the story for further clarifications and future directions!

Chapter 3: When They First Talk

Harry entered The Burrow's living room cautiously, his eyes never wandering from the young girl who sat on the couch as if he expected her to jump up at any second and attempt to grace his other cheek with a second imprint of her small but powerful hands. Ginny was dressed in a short-sleeve green shirt and a pair of faded Muggle jeans, though her feet were bare. Her legs were wrapped in a white blanket that had obviously been made by hand and was beginning to fray around the edges. She had her long red hair pulled up and twisted into a knot behind her head, with what appeared to be a Muggle pencil stuck through it to keep it in place. Her chocolate-brown eyes reflected the light of the glowing fire, and Harry momentarily found himself getting lost in them. The last time he had looked into her eyes, while they were down at the pond, he had seen nothing but pure rage and hatred in them. Now, her eyes were soft, but the sparkle of playfulness and innocence that he had seen the morning he arrived was not present.

Harry had several different lines of thinking racing through his mind as he gazed at the red head in front of him. He briefly wondered what Ginny was doing up at four in the morning fully dressed. He wondered once again why the young girl appeared to be so calm and was not literally ripping his head off considering the way she had reacted to him the afternoon before. Harry tried to puzzle out how Ginny might have discovered that he was not responsible for what had occurred with Dobby. He was so caught up in his silent contemplation of the situation and the young girl seated in front of him that the sound of her voice startled him as she spoke again.

"Harry, it's ok. I promise I won't slap you again," the young red haired girl said softly, all the while staring directly into his emerald-colored eyes. Harry got the suspicious feeling that Ginny was actually looking deep down into his soul, and he found this idea both highly disturbing and highly exciting at the same time, a fact that left him somewhat confused. He then realized with a start that Ginny was staring directly at him without the slightest trace of a blush gracing the creamy white skin of her face. Harry decided in a split second to stare right back at her.

"She really is cute," Harry thought to himself, as he looked unabashedly at her. Immediately, he felt his own cheeks heat up like a nuclear reactor, and he was convinced at that moment that the world's reddest tomato had nothing on him. What startled him the most, however, was the fact that the previously white face of the girl in front of him turned a striking shade of the deepest crimson, her eyes widened to the size of large apples, and her mouth fell open in utter surprise. Harry was taken aback, and he looked down suddenly to see if he had remembered to come downstairs wearing clothes, convinced that he was walking around in his boxers and that might explain her embarrassed response.

"Wh-, wh-, what did you just say?" Ginny asked, her face still resembling someone who had received the biggest shock of his or her life.

Harry stared at the girl dumbfounded, as a wave of confusion washed over him.

"What is she talking about? I didn't say anything."

"What do you mean, Ginny? I haven't said a word," Harry stated truthfully.

Harry was startled out of his confusion as he saw Ginny's face change its features from a look of total amazement and shock to one of fierce anger. Harry knew that look well. She had had the same look on her face down at the pond right before she slapped him.

"WHAT are you playing at, Harry Potter?" Ginny asked him in a voice so deadly cold that it sent shivers down his spine and forced him to take an involuntary step back.

Confusion again washed over Harry, mixing with the fear that had sprang up within him at the sight of Ginny's angry expression. This mix of emotions was drowned out, however, by a stronger emotion of deep agitation. The confusion, the anger, and the irritation that he had experienced because of the situation with Dobby and Ron suddenly congealed with his present feelings, and Harry found himself getting extremely frustrated with the only Weasley girl.

"What is she on about? AAGGHH! First Ron, now her!" Harry thought, while forcing himself to keep quiet as an angry retort struggled to escape his lips. "This is getting really old!"

"I said, just what are you playing at, Harry Potter," the girl said just as coldly as she had before.

Unable to suppress his growing frustration any longer, Harry lost his battle with his anger and the words started spilling out of his mouth. "Ginny, what are you talking about? I haven't said a word to you since I tried to stop you from running away when we were at the pond. Is that what you're angry about? I was attempting to explain what happened, but you didn't give me the chance! Instead, you slapped me so hard I thought that my head might come off, and then you kneed me right where it hurts! If anyone has a right to be angry here, it's me! And now, when I want to explain about what happened down there again, you start going off about Merlin knows what. What is your problem?"

The instant that last sentence left Harry's mouth he regretted it. Ginny's face went from an angry expression to one of hurt and shock. That look, however, only remained for a moment, before Ginny's cheeks stained an even deeper red. Harry could tell that it was not the red of embarrassment, but the scarlet color of anger. Ginny tossed the book out of her lap and threw the blanket off her legs. She immediately stood up and strode directly over to where Harry was standing, and got up right in his face. For an instant, Harry was convinced that she was going to pummel him. Even though she was several inches shorter than he was, Harry realized at that moment (the first of many times he would become conscious of this fact) that Ginny Weasley was a force to be reckoned with. The sweet-smelling aroma of flowers suddenly assaulted him, and as the scent registered in his brain, Harry realized that the smell was coming from her hair. He was violently pulled back into reality at the sight of the single tear the slowly fell down Ginny's left cheek, even though her eyes still burned with quiet fury.

"Why are you doing this to me? Think it's fun to toy with the feelings of a ten-year-old girl? Having a bit of a go at poor, defenseless Ginny Weasley," the red head said, as she began poking him quite hard in the chest with the index finger of her right hand. "Well let me tell you something, Potter, if you ever try to mess with me again, what I did to you at the pond will be a picnic in comparison. I thought you were different, but you're just like my dear pratty brothers. Who would have thought the Savior of the Wizarding World could be such an insensitive git! Just stay away from me Harry Potter, if you know what's good for you, and keep your comments to yourself!" Ginny exclaimed. She immediately pushed past him, deliberating knocking his shoulder out of the way as she made for the stairs.

Harry was stunned and speechless. It felt as if the girl's words were stuck within his auditory canal, as if they had been locked out of his brain, and his mind absolutely refused to allow them entrance in an attempt to prevent their full impact from registering with him. Yet, his shock soon gave way to his fury.

"That little brat! Who the HELL does she think she is?"

He spun around and stared at the retreating form of the young red haired girl. Harry was about to yell out these very words, when he realized suddenly that that would probably be a choice that he would regret for a very long time. Harry was beyond frustrated now, but he took a deep breath, and steeled up his courage. He was going to be damned if he let her get away again without attempting to talk the situation through first.

"Ginny, wait!"

Ginny, who had already reached the fourth step, stopped dead where she was, although she did not turn around to look at him. Harry took this as a positive sign and he once again steeled himself for the confrontation he was sure was about to occur. He closed his eyes for a split second and took another deep steadying breath. He and Ginny had already gotten off to an explosive start yet again and he did not want to cause the situation to deteriorate further by saying something foolish. After his anger had partially come back under his conscious control, Harry opened his eyes and saw that Ginny still had her back facing him, though she appeared to be waiting for him to speak again.

"Ginny, look at me. Please!" Harry begged.

After about a half-minute's deliberation and a long sigh that Harry heard clearly, Ginny turned around, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared down at him.

"Ginny, I'm not trying to mess with you. I swear that I'm not. I really, honestly don't have the slightest clue what you're so angry about. I know that you're probably pretty pissed about what happened down at the pond, but I swear to you that I had absolutely nothing to do with that. If you give me a chance, I will explain everything as best I can. But, unless you're angry about the pond-incident, then I really have no freaking idea what's got your knickers in a twist. I've put up with enough garbage today, especially from your youngest brother, and I don't have the patience to play these stupid little games. Just come on and tell me what I've done wrong. What have I done to make you this angry?" Harry asked, as he waved his arms in an exasperated manner.

To say that Ginny was stunned would be an understatement. Nobody, absolutely nobody, talked to her like that and got away with it.

"Who the HELL does he think he is? If my brothers said something like that to me they would be running from their own bat-bogeys for at least a day!"

Ginny, being both a red head and a Weasley female, was legendary for two things: her passionate and vivacious spirit towards life, and her blazing temper. When she was angry, other people cringed and got out of her way. All of her older brothers always backed down when she got really angry with them and they had quickly learned the hard way to stay out of her way when she was on the warpath. She had inherited the legendary Weasley temper by the boatloads from her mother. In fact, her mother was the only person who never really backed down when Ginny got angry, and Ginny's bum could attest to the stubbornness of her mother in those situations many times over. Yet, this was not her mother. This was Harry Potter, the Boy wonder, the Boy-Who-Lived. Here stood a snotty little boy who thought he could string her along, deliberately play with her feelings, deny that he had done anything wrong, and get away with it. Ginny was fuming and she briefly thought about introducing him to her legendary and infamous Bat-Bogey hex. The fact that he had used the phrase "knickers in a twist" only served to infuriate her more because it brought up painful and embarrassing memories of pranks that the twins had pulled on her that had been "based" on the truth of that saying.

Harry, on the other hand, was no stranger to the look or wrath of angry people, having grown up in the company of Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley Dursley, who all seemed to live in a perpetual state of rage that had been unanimously directed at Harry. Yes, there was no doubt in Harry's mind that Ginny Weasley was mad, steaming mad, though he could not for the sake of his own life figure out what she was so angry about. He thought for a moment that she might still be angry at what had happened down at the pond earlier, and that she did indeed hold him responsible for what had occurred. While Harry knew the truth of the matter, he could not help but acknowledge the fact that with her limited knowledge of Dobby and the "situation" that Harry found himself in with the house-elf, she had every reason to assume that Harry had been involved. This conclusion, however, just did not make sense in light of the fact that Ginny had not brought that situation up when she questioned him moments before and because of the knowledge that Ginny had been smiling when the twins encountered her for the first time after her run-in with Dobby and "himself." Despite her obvious displeasure at him, Harry could not help but realize just how beautiful Ginny Weasley looked when she was angry. Her cheeks were flushed, but were not completely red. Her eyes were alight with a fierce blazing light. Her soft pink lips were pursed into a thin line. Her flaming red hair had started coming loose from the knot behind her head, and stray strands of it fell gracefully along the sides of her face. Harry had a sudden desire to reach out and gently tuck the loose strands back behind her ears.

Ginny stood contemplating him for several moments before she walked back down the stairs and moved to stand directly in front of him once more, though she did not get back in his face. She stared intently into his eyes once again as if measuring the truthfulness of this statement despite the raging voice in her head that told her to just go ahead and sock him a good one. Even though the stare slightly unnerved him, Harry did not break eye contact with her.

"Potter, did you or did you not just say that you thought I was cute?" Ginny questioned.

Harry felt like he had been hit in the gut with a concrete pylon. He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He closed his eyes and tried to focus his thoughts. For the first time that Harry could remember his mind was completely blank, like a brand new, untouched blackboard in a classroom just waiting to be written on for the first time. He shook his head slightly, convinced that his ears must be clogged up because he was certain there was absolutely no way on Merlin's sweet earth that Ginny could have possibly asked the question that had just issued from her mouth. He reopened his eyes and fixed them on the face of the girl standing before him. She was looking at him expectantly, her hands on her hips, her body weight tilted slightly to rest on her right leg. Her eyes still carried that hard, blazing look he had seen in them when she was on the staircase, and her mouth was still pursed into a thin line. Harry suddenly realized that the pose she was in reminded him of a very young and beautiful version of Mrs. Weasley. He realized with a start that if the way Ginny looked right now resembled even to the slightest degree how her mother had looked when she was younger, he had no problems understanding how Mr. Weasley had been so smitten with her.

"She really is pretty," Harry thought suddenly despite himself and the murderous glare of the girl currently staring him down.

Ginny's facial expression changed in an instant. The blazing look disappeared and her eyes immediately softened. Her slightly pink cheeks instantly stained a deeper shade of red and the thin line of her mouth slowly changed into a slight smile as the ends of her lips curved slightly upwards. Swallowing what appeared to be large lump in her throat, Ginny moved one-step closer to Harry, her large chocolate-brown eyes peering deep into his soul once again. The sweet smell of flowers enveloped Harry once more, and his knees began to shake, his hands started sweating, and his mind started spinning a thousand miles an hour.

"Harry, did you just say that I'm pretty?" the red haired girl asked him softly, all hints of her former anger gone.

Harry was convinced that his legs were about to disintegrate into a pile of useless mush at any moment. He swallowed thickly, his mouth feeling as though it was laced with fluffy cotton.

"No," he managed to croak out.

Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it, as if contemplating exactly what she wanted to say. She looked at him pointedly for just a moment before she attempted to speak again. When she did, her voice was almost as quiet as a whisper, as though she was divulging to him a secret of the utmost importance.

"Harry, did you just think to yourself that I'm pretty?" Ginny asked.

If Harry thought this conversation could not get anymore disconcerting, he would have been dead wrong. He literally felt his legs give out and his body visibly slumped. Ginny reached out and grabbed his hand, attempting to steady him. He could not help but notice how soft her skin felt and how warm it was. The warmth in her hand felt like it was a true living presence all its own, and he felt it flow out of her fingers and into his hand. The moment this occurred, Harry felt a large weight being lifted off his shoulders. He felt inexplicably lighter somehow, though Harry knew at that moment that this sensation had nothing to do with a physical lightening, but with an emotional and spiritual one. With Ginny's assistance, Harry stumbled over to the couch and collapsed down into the left cushion. Ginny followed suit and seated herself in the right cushion, leaving the middle space free between them. Harry resolutely stared off into the waning fire as another clap of thunder rumbled outside and a somewhat distant flash of lightning briefly illuminated the living room further. He felt Ginny shift in her seat, and he could see out of the corner of his eye that she had swung her legs up onto the free middle cushion so that she could now face his profile head-on. Harry pointedly refused to look at her.

"Harry?" the girl asked softly. He made no movement or reply.

"Harry, please talk to me," Ginny said. Fighting down a sudden swarm of butterflies in his chest, Harry turned to look at the girl. When his eyes found Ginny's, he almost burst out into tears. They were alight with the most profound kindness and tenderness he had ever seen and they radiated it in waves. Harry's breath caught in his throat, and he quickly snapped his eyes shut before they could betray him.

"What the hell is wrong with me? What the hell is going on? How does she know I was thinking that she's pretty? Maybe she knew my earlier thought too, and she thought I'd actually spoken the words out loud."

"Harry?" Ginny asked. "Did you just say to yourself that you think I'm pretty? Did you say to yourself that you think I'm cute when you first came into the room?"

Harry refused to open his eyes. He briefly considered what he would say. The truth of the matter was that he really did not think she was cute or pretty. He thought she was beautiful, gorgeous, amazing. He had thought that from the first moment he had seen her in The Burrow's kitchen two mornings ago.

"I can't say that to her, can I? I don't even know why I feel that way. She's only a ten-year old, for Merlin's sake. I've never felt this way about any girl before, even the older girls at Hogwarts that I thought were pretty."

"Harry? It's ok. I won't laugh at you or get angry with you. Please tell me," Ginny pleaded.

Harry's mind was spinning wildly. He briefly consider saying no, but he knew that would be a lie, as well as the fact that he was positive it would break the young girl's heart. He decided to tell the truth and admit that he had thought she was cute and pretty. The fact that Harry did not think, but knew she was beautiful was a fact that he decided to keep to himself.

"After all, she's just a ten-year old girl? I can't tell her that! She'll think I'm in love with her or something, or that I want to be her boyfriend. I hardly know her, and this is the longest conversation we've had. I don't love her and I don't want to be her boyfriend. Or do I? Damn, why does this have to be so confusing?"

Harry was about to speak out the words that he had decided on when he felt his whole body instantly heat up. The emotions that he had felt flare up when he had heard Ginny singing the other day suddenly roared to life within him again, and a single, clear thought ran through his head, stunning him with its clarity.

"I don't want to make the same mistakes that Wil made. I vow to never ignore her and I promise to tell her how incredible and beautiful she is before it is too late."

Harry finally opened his eyes and looked at the girl. He gasped at what he saw. Ginny was staring right at him with a look of absolute vulnerability and longing. The look was so endearing, Harry had to resist the urge to reach out and embrace her. He felt a steel-hard resolve rise up within his heart as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Yes, Ginny. I thought to myself that you looked very pretty and cute," Harry admitted.

Ginny's whole face lit up as though the sun had been hidden behind the moon and had suddenly reemerged from hiding.

"But Ginny, I have to tell you, that I really don't believe that," Harry began. Instantly, Ginny's face lost all of its brightness and a flash of pain crossed her face that was so intense Harry swore he could almost literally feel it stir the air around them as she turned her face away. He hastened to finish his thought as he saw Ginny's eyes pooling with tears.

"I don't really believe that, Ginny, because what I really think is that you're beautiful," Harry said.

Ginny gave off a small sob and the tears start falling slowly from both of her eyes. What caught Harry's attention the most, however, was the fact that her face had lit up once again with such brightness that it almost made her tears sparkle. Ginny turned her tear-stained face back towards him and he saw that her chocolate-brown eyes were sparkling with pure innocence and bliss again.

"You, you think I'm beautiful," Ginny asked.

"Yes, Ginny, I do," Harry said. "I'll be honest with you, I have no idea why. I've never thought that about any other girl before, and the only girls I've ever thought were even slightly pretty were several years older than either of us." Harry swallowed thickly and then said, "But I do Ginny, I think you're very beautiful."

Harry was convinced that had someone stuck a pin into Ginny she would have burst open and nothing but pure joy and happiness would have come spilling out of her. Emboldened by Ginny's response to his admission, Harry steeled himself to continue.

"Ginny, um, do you have feelings for me?"

Ginny's face turned so red Harry was convinced he could have fried bacon on it. To her credit, however, she did not look or run away from him.

"Well, you've been very honest with me. I guess I can be honest with you too. Merlin, this is so embarrassing," Ginny said. The girl reached up and covered her face with her hands. Surprising both himself and Ginny, Harry reached out and gently grabbed her wrists. He gently probed both her hands away from her face.

"It's ok, Ginny. I promise that I won't laugh or make fun of you."

"Ye-, Yes, Harry. I have feelings for you," Ginny said. "I've had them for a long time actually. I know my brothers told you that I grew up hearing stories about the Boy-Who-Lived. It was my favorite story. I always felt happy at the fact that you were able to stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but I also always felt sad when I thought about the fact that your parents were dead. I always used to dream about meeting you, and," Ginny hesitated, as her cheeks burned with a fresh wave of crimson color, "I always imagined that when we did you would, um, fall in love with me and we would get married. Eck!" Ginny's hand flew up and covered her mouth at that moment, and Harry was convinced that she had not planned to reveal that last small bit of information.

Harry figured that under normal circumstances if a girl was to reveal that to him he would have run as far away from her as fast as his legs could have possibly carried him. Yet, for some reason, he did not feel that way at this moment. He was definitely embarrassed, his own cheeks burning hot red, and he felt just a little awkward sitting mere inches away from a girl who had just admitted she really liked him and that he had admitted he thought was beautiful. Surprisingly, however, Harry felt a deep sense of peace and contentment wash over him. He had no delusions about being in love with Ginny Weasley, or about her being in love with him. He was convinced that she definitely had a crush on him, but that most of that steamed from her seeing him as the Boy-Who-Lived. At the same time, he did find himself strongly desiring to get to know her, and had he really taken a moment to contemplate the truth of the situation much more deeply, he would have observed that deep down he knew that both she and he had the real chance to truly like, and possibly love, each other one day.

"Ginny," Harry began, "I think that we're just a little too young to get married, don't you?" Ginny flushed red again, but a small smile graced her lips. "And I think we're both too young to really, um, be in love with each other right now. I know that you feel strongly for me, and, uh, I really think you're an amazing, beautiful girl, but we don't really know each other. I mean, we seem to know a little bit about each other, but we don't really know each other, yeah?" Harry was slightly surprised to see that Ginny's smile had only gotten bigger and she was nodding her head in agreement.

"So, what, um, do you think we should do, Harry?" Ginny asked tentatively.

Harry blushed again as he felt his heart rate start to speed up and his palms get sweaty. "I, uh, think that we should work on really getting to know each other and spend some time with each other. We, um, have plenty of time for other things later," Harry said. Ginny's left eyebrow lifted up slightly, a calculating look plastered on her face. Harry continued quickly before she could comment. "I think we should work on being friends first, and then see where it leads us. After all, we're only twelve and ten. So, what do you say, Ginny? Friends?" Harry asked as he extended his hand out for her to shake.

Ginny, pushing his hand aside, reached over and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a warm hug.

"I think it's brilliant, Harry! I would love to get to know you better and spend time with you. Friends!" she stated happily.

At the first moment of the hug, Harry had stiffened instantly, his head, neck, and back going rigid. He had never received a hug before except once from Hermione the year before, but her hug had felt nothing like this. Harry felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and peace wash over him as he relaxed in Ginny's embrace, and he soon found himself wrapping his own arms tightly around her shoulders. Neither child attempted to break off the hug. In fact, Harry found himself melting into her arms. It felt, for the first time in his life, as if everything was right and good in the world. At that moment, the "dragon" that he had felt awaken when he had first heard Ginny singing, roared to life within him again, and those unknown emotions he had felt at that first moment whipped back into motion. Harry was suddenly aware that the fabric covering his right shoulder felt damp, and he realized that it was getting soaked from Ginny's tears. He was slightly amazed to feel that several tears were falling slowly from his own eyes as well.

"Ginny, I..." Harry chocked out, his throat burdened with a large lump.

"I know, Harry," the young girl whispered back. "I know. I feel the same way." She finally pulled herself back out of the hug, and looked into his emerald-green eyes once more. "Friends, yeah?" she asked.

"Yes," Harry said, and he broke into a big smile mirroring the one that had spread across Ginny's face just seconds before. They both pulled completely apart and Ginny moved back to her former place on the couch.

Taking a moment to collect himself, Harry decided to ask the question that refused to leave his mind.

"Ginny, why aren't you trying to kill me because of what happened down at the pond? Why didn't you say anything to your parents or your brothers about it? I figured you hated me and wanted to see them send me back to the Dursleys for what happened," Harry said.

"Well, when I first saw you out at the pond with your arms on that creature's shoulders, I thought you had definitely sent him to attack me," Ginny said.

"What happened? What did Dobby say?" Harry asked.

"Well, while you were out playing Quidditch with my brothers, I decided to go swimming at the pond. When I got out there, I swam for a while and then I was going to lie out and get some sun while I waited for mum to bring me lunch. That creature showed up about five minutes before you got there, I guess. I was lying on my towel and he just appeared out of nowhere. He said his name was Dobby, and that he was a house-elf. He said that you had sent him to warn me not to go to Hogwarts. I thought that was strange because I didn't think there was anyway you could possibly own a house-elf, since you live with Muggles. But when he kept going on about how you had definitely sent him, I thought maybe you knew him from Hogwarts or something," Ginny explained.

"What did he say exactly?" Harry asked.

"He told me that I couldn't go to Hogwarts this year. He said that you'd sent him because you were embarrassed by my crush on you, and that you thought I was ugly and a nuisance. He said that you didn't want me bothering you at school, because there were several other girls you liked and you were afraid that having me hanging around being all-lovesick would drive them away. When I told him that I wouldn't do any of those things to you he grabbed my diary and threatened to tell you what I had written about my crush on you," Ginny said, as her face flushed slightly red again. Harry gave her a small smile.

"Go on, Ginny."

"Um," Ginny started, attempting to fight down her blush but failing miserably. "He also threatened to destroy my wand, well actually my great grandmother's wand, and then when I refused again, he snapped his fingers and suddenly I was pulled up into the air and hanging over the pond. He threatened me again and I refused, so he started dunking me. That happened several times until I finally came up and saw you there with your hands on him. I couldn't believe it, because it looked like he had been telling the truth about you. Then I was back underwater and when I surfaced again, I saw only you and the two piles of ash lying nearby. I was furious. I assumed the worst about you. Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry that I slapped you and, uh, kneed you there," Ginny said all the while struggling not to look at the area of his body she was referring to. "Did it hurt terribly?"

Harry released a somewhat loud snort. "Yeah, just a little." Ginny cringed apologetically. "Good one though. I would have probably done the same thing had the situation been reversed. At least I know to never grab your wrist when you're pissed off."

Now it was Ginny's time to snort and she playful added, "And don't you forget it, Potter!" She paused for a second, before a very shrewd look came over her face. "How did you know his name was Dobby?" Ginny asked somewhat icily as her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Anticipating where her line of thought was headed, Harry mentally jumped into gear in an attempt to cut her off.

"I've met him before," Harry responded quickly. Ginny opened her mouth to retort, but Harry cut her off again. "He did something similar to me several days before your brothers came and fetched me from the Dursleys."

Harry proceeded to tell Ginny the whole encounter with Dobby. How he had returned to his room one night after dinner to find the elf standing on his bed. The strange request the elf made about Harry not returning to Hogwarts because great evil would be unleashed. How Dobby punished himself whenever he tried to reveal too much information and how the elf had admitted to stealing all of Harry's letters to make him think that his friends had abandoned him. Finally, how Dobby had dropped his aunt's pudding on the kitchen floor during his uncle's business dinner to get him in trouble with his "relatives" and the Ministry's Department for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery. He also briefly explained the events that had transpired between Dobby and himself down at the pond, but decided to leave out the part about him referring to them as Harry Potters and the jets of red light that had erupted from his hands.

"He said that going back to Hogwarts was too dangerous for the great Boy-Who-Lived," Harry said, while rolling his eyes dramatically. Ginny giggled at his silliness, and he noticed with a sense of relief that her shrewd look had disappeared and her eyes were once again twinkling with playfulness. Harry felt his heart skip a beat as he gazed at the face of the young girl in front of him. He noted that not a trace of a blush was present on her beautiful white cheeks despite the fact that they were talking and laughing freely with each other. He marveled at the fact that less than two days ago she was running for her life whenever she saw him. Her laugh was a pleasant sound to his ears, and her smile made her face glow with joy. Ginny suddenly became aware of Harry's scrutiny, and she stifled her giggles as a huge blush grazed her cheeks, and she quickly averted her eyes down to the couch they were sitting on. Harry reached over and gently lifted her chin up with his right hand until her beautiful brown eyes were looking right back at him.

"Ginny, we can't have this! Friends, remember? I'm sorry that I was staring at you, but I can't seem to help myself," Harry said. Ginny's lips widened into a smile so big Harry was convinced that her skin would be permanently stretched out of place. "You're beautiful, Ginny, and you don't have to be ashamed of it. Any guy who can't see it is a fool."

Ginny's lower lip slightly trembled, as she launched herself at him and enveloped him in another warm hug. "Oh, Harry!"

This time Harry did not stiffen at all, but those amazing feelings from their earlier hug came back in full force. Harry absentmindedly reached up and started stroking the young girl's hair with his right hand. He marveled at its softness, almost like what he would imagine the finest silk would feel like. He heard Ginny give off a small sigh, and the sound of that response sent a jolt of absolute thrill throughout his body all the way down to his toes. Harry suddenly realized that Ginny's behavior was not the only pleasant mystery of the evening. He was overwhelmed with a sense of wonder concerning his own behavior. Harry was convinced that had a girl that had such an obvious crush on him done the same things in his regard that Ginny had done only days before, he would have buried himself in the cupboard under the stairs permanently. He was amazed at his own boldness and frankness during the past two days and especially during the past hour. Harry briefly mused that if he were to die at that very moment then he would die a truly contented boy, though the exact reason why this would be true was unclear to him.

Ginny finally pulled back, but as she did so, she paused for a second and seemed to contemplate something seriously. Finally coming to a decision, she gently moved forward and softly pressed her lips to his right cheek, the same cheek she had slapped while they were out at the pond, before she completely pulled away and retook her previous seat on the couch. At the spot where Ginny had kissed him, Harry's skin felt as if it was on fire, and he found himself longing to feel that fire on more than just his cheek.

It took him a moment to compose himself and when he finally looked back at his companion, he could see a look of total contentment and amusement on her face. It must have been contagious, for Harry soon felt his own face light up once more with a big smile.

"Ginny, what made you decide that I didn't have anything to do with Dobby?" Harry asked her finally.

"Well, like I said, I didn't think it was possible that you owned any house-elves because you live with Muggles. I also stopped to realize just who it was that I was blaming. I may not know you that well personally, Harry, but I know enough about you to know that you aren't the kind of person who would do something that cruel to someone," Ginny said.

"Of course there was that dream I had right after that, but I won't tell him about that, at least not for a while," Ginny thought to herself.

As the two children sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, Ginny's mind formulated a new question as she contemplated the things that Harry had told her so far.

"Harry, if you were so worried about Ron forgetting about you, why didn't you send him a letter?" Ginny asked.

Harry immediately shifted uncomfortably in his spot on the couch while the smile on his face slowly disappeared, two actions that were noticed by Ginny.

"Um, my relatives locked Hedwig up in her cage when I first got home, and, um, they wouldn't let me let her out all summer," Harry said quietly.

"WHAT?" the red head exclaimed.

Harry quickly turned away as he saw Ginny's face adopt a new appearance. Harry hated to see that look in the faces of people that knew him. It was a look of pity. The only thing that Harry hated more than people fawning over him or staring at him because he was the Bloody-Boy-Who-Lived was when people pitied him. That is why Harry never told anyone about the situation with the Dursleys. Even though Harry was eternally grateful that the twins and even Ron had come to rescue him, he hated the fact that they got to see the bars covering his bedroom window, a visible sign of the hell that was Number 4 Privet Drive. The only person that Harry had ever opened up to about the full extent of his suffering at the Dursleys was Albus Dumbledore at the end of last term. He had hoped that Dumbledore would have allowed him to stay at Hogwarts or maybe even with the Weasleys during the summer once he understood what Harry's life was like at the Dursleys.

Harry, however, was sorely disappointed. Dumbledore had listened attentively to Harry's concerns, but then revealed that he himself was the one who had sent Harry to live there at Privet Drive after his parents died, though he pointedly refused to tell Harry why. Harry got the impression that Dumbledore either did not truly believe the situation at Privet Drive was as bad as Harry said it was, or he was deliberating ignoring the truth of Harry's words. The Headmaster had promised to contact his relatives to make sure that he was being treated properly, but he had also stressed that Harry absolutely had to return to Privet Drive this summer and every summer while he attended Hogwarts. Harry had been furious with the Headmaster that day. Up until that point, Harry had revered the aged-wizard educator, but that confrontation had caused Harry to lose both a great deal of respect for and trust in the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Harry vowed to himself that he would find a way so that he would never have to return to Privet Drive ever again, a resolve that had only hardened after the incident with Dobby and the bar-covered windows of his bedroom.

Harry glanced out of the side of his eyes and found that Ginny was looking at him intently. After the let down of his conversation with the Headmaster, Harry had all but vowed to never speak of the situation with the Dursleys again to anyone. Yet, at that moment, he felt a sudden desire to spill it all out to the young girl who was sitting with him.

"Ginny, uh, I haven't spent a lot of time around your family, but the last two days, as well as conversations with Ron during this past year convinces me that you have a wonderful family." It was Ginny's turn to roll her eyes dramatically, and Harry chuckled lightly at her antics.

"Yes, even though my brothers tease me mercilessly sometimes, and mum can drive me nuts with her worrying, I wouldn't trade my family for anything in the world," she said. Harry flashed a brilliant smile her way as he turned his head to look at her once more.

"Yeah, I guessed as much," Harry said. "Well, as good as your family is, I imagine my 'relatives' are about the exact opposite in everyway." Harry paused to take a deep breath, while Ginny fixed him with a penetrating gaze. "I, um, can't tell you everything, well, um, because to be honest with you, I just don't like to talk about it. And I'm, uh, afraid that you will start feeling sorry for me, and I hate it when people act that way towards me."

"Harry, I..., uh, you don't have to share anything with me that you don't want to. Just know that I'm always here for you to talk to no matter what. Friends, yeah?"

"Friends. Yes! Thanks, Ginny! You don't know how much that means to me," Harry said. "I promise that I will tell you about them some other time, ok?" Ginny nodded her head in affirmation.

"You know, I don't know how my dear brother Ron is going to take to us being friends," Ginny said, chuckling to herself quietly as she imagined Ron's possible facial expressions. "The way he's been acting towards me this summer so far, he'll probably think I'm trying to steal his best friend."

Harry felt his heart constrict at her words and before he even realized that he was speaking the words came right out of his mouth.

"I don't think that will be a problem."

"Why?" Ginny asked.

"Oh crap, I didn't mean to say that!"

"Um, well, it's like this," Harry started.

"What has my darling prat of a brother done now?" Ginny asked sarcastically.

"Should I tell her? Will she be pissed at me for hitting him? He is her brother after all. No, I can't lie to her. Damn, I guess this conversation is about to be over."

"Well, see, we sort of got into a fight with each other yesterday evening down at the pond," Harry said rather quickly, as he ran his hands through his messy black hair.

"You and Ron got in a fight?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, well, I actually started it. I socked him in the nose pretty hard. Caught him completely off guard," Harry said.

Harry gazed at Ginny as if to determine just how long it would be before she lashed out at him. He was completely thrown for a loop when Ginny started laughing aloud.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! What is it with you and that pond, Potter? Seems to bring out the fight in people when you're around," Ginny said in between her fits of laughter. Harry couldn't help himself and he started laughing as well.

"What did he do to deserve a punch in the nose?" Ginny asked.

Harry shifted uncomfortably again. He cleared his throat and whispered his response.

"Sorry, Harry, I didn't catch that," Ginny said.

"I said, he, um, was reading from your diary out loud and he was making fun of you for what you wrote in it," Harry stated, quickly ducking his head down as if afraid that it would get hit by a stray flying fist.

Harry watched in morbid fascination as the core of Ginny's eyes turned from a look of playful mirth to one of outright fury in less than three seconds.

"He did WHAT!" the red head spitted venomously. "I'll kill him! The stupid, selfish prat! Oh, he is going to taste his own bat-bogeys for breakfast! How dare he read from my diary?"

Ginny was overcome with so much rage and anger at the thought of Ron invading her privacy and reading her private thoughts out loud, particularly in the presence of Harry, that she leapt up from the couch and starting pacing around the living room furiously. Harry could see that her face was scrunched up in a deep scowl, and she was emitting noises that sounded suspiciously like growls. Suddenly, Ginny stopped pacing and looked down at Harry who was still seated on the couch.

"How could Ron have possibly read from my diary if that house-elf burned it?" Ginny asked.

Harry could have slapped himself upside the head for his forgetfulness. Jumping up from the couch himself, Harry yelled a quick "Wait a second, I'll be right back" to the young girl as he bounded up the stairs and entered his new bedroom. He hastily grabbed the silver-colored wand and Ginny's diary and rushed back down the stairs. He entered the living room to see Ginny still pacing furiously until she noticed that he had returned. With a huge smile on his face, he lifted up his hands and held out the perfectly sound diary and wand to her.

"I, uh, was holding on to them until I had a chance to explain what really happened," Harry said.

Ginny looked dumbfounded. "How, How.... They were ashes.... I, I saw them.... Harry, how is this possible?"

"I don't know, Ginny," Harry admitted truthfully. "After, um, our confrontation at the pond, I sort of fell asleep. When I woke up the twins and Ron were down at the pond. Ron was holding your diary and was reading from it, and your wand was lying on the ground. Ginny, I have no idea either. I saw Dobby burn them, and I saw the piles of ash. I can't explain it."

Ginny took the items from Harry's hands tentatively, as if she were afraid that by touching them they might fall apart back into a pile of ashes. As she grabbed the wand and felt its firmness, Ginny let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Well, I don't know how this could possibly happen, but I'm thankful that it did. I was terrified of what mum was going to say when I told her about the wand," Ginny stated.

"Why? Whose wand is it?" Harry asked.

"It was my mother's grandmother's wand, so my great grandmother's wand," Ginny said.

"Why would your mum kill you? Obviously she wouldn't think it was your fault would she?" Harry asked.

Ginny flushed crimson again, and started shifting her feet nervously.

"Um, Harry, I don't know if you've noticed, but our family isn't terribly well of, money wise that is," Ginny said, as a flash of embarrassment passed over her face.

"Ginny, I think your family is wealthy in all the ways that really matter," Harry said.

Ginny lifted her face to look at Harry and there was so much pride, affection, and admiration in her gaze for him that Harry felt his breath catch in his throat. Her face lit up with a huge smile.

"Thanks, Harry!" Ginny responded happily. "Nevertheless, we're pretty poor money-wise. Mum and I got into a big row last month because she told me I had to use my great grandmother's wand and I said I wanted a new one for my birthday on August 11th. I mean, after all, a wand is a very important thing for a witch. Mum let me try a few household spells with the wand when she first gave it to me, but it just never felt right. It seemed like it almost resented being my wand," Ginny said.

Harry looked at her and burst out laughing at her last comment. Ginny released a half-snort, half-giggle as well.

"Well, Mr. Ollivander, the wand maker in Diagon Alley, told me that the wand chooses the wizard, um, or witch," Harry replied.

"Yeah, I kind of said the same thing to mum, but she just refused to even consider getting me a new one. She said I would have to make do. Well, needless to say, I got pretty angry with her. And I'm sure that you can tell that I can fly off the handle pretty easily when I get mad," Ginny said, which earned another snort from Harry. "Anyway, I kind of said that I might just accidentally break this one, and mum threw a fit, and said if I did she would spank me until I couldn't walk straight and that I would go to Hogwarts with no wand at all! That was one of the reasons I was so angry down at the pond when I saw what that elf did to the wand. I was terrified that if I told mum what had happened that she wouldn't believe me and she would think that I'd done it. Trust me, I've had plenty of Molly Weasley spankings in my life, and I certainly don't want any repeat performances."

"Well, like I said, I don't know how it happened, but I certainly am glad that it did. My bum aches for yours at the very least," Harry said. As the words escaped his mouth, both Harry and Ginny burst out into laughter once more.

After a few moments of good-natured banter, Ginny blushed again and looked at Harry shyly.

"I guess I shouldn't be so embarrassed considering what we've talked about tonight, but I hope that you weren't too humiliated by the things that I wrote about you in my diary," Ginny said quietly.

Harry smiled at her and said, "Ginny, I really wasn't paying too much attention to what Ron was reading, I was so focused on how angry I was that he was treating your private thoughts so heartlessly."

"What exactly happened between you and him down there, Harry?" Ginny asked.

Harry proceeded to tell Ginny about his confrontation with Ron, the part the twins had played, and the cold attitude that Ron had treated him with when they arrived back at the house. Ginny apologized to Harry on behalf of her brother, but Harry assured her, now that he and she were officially friends, that he would refuse to spend time with Ron unless he apologized to both him and her and if the Weasley boy did not start treating his sister better. Normally, Ginny got extremely irritated when other people, especially her brothers, attempted to be overprotective of her, but for some reason Harry's resolve to stand up on her behalf left her feeling extremely giddy and warm inside. Ginny went on to explain that she had been keeping a diary since she was four-years-old and that her brothers knew from personal experience that Ginny didn't take too lightly to them trying to pry into her secret tomes. She also stated that she was almost at the end of this diary, and Harry had a sudden inspiration that he mentally stowed away for later.

"Harry, is it just me, or has there been a lot of strange things going on lately? Hey, wait a minute, where are your glasses, Harry?" Ginny inquired.

"Funny you should mention that," Harry replied. "That is one of those funny things that have happened lately. When I woke up from my nap down at the pond, I was able to see clearly without my glasses. I've absolutely no idea how or why, but I do."

Ginny looked flabbergasted for a moment before she moved her right hand and placed it over her right ear.

"I had something similar happen. When I was about six, Fred and George were practicing some of their stupid pranks, when they set off a loud explosion right next to my head. Completely on accident of course, but my ears started ringing really loudly and I could barely hear out of either of them. After a few days, the ringing had not stopped, so Mum took me to St. Mungo's. Oh, it's a Wizard hospital in London," Ginny said in response to Harry's puzzled look. "Anyway, they said that I'd lost most of the hearing in my right ear and almost half of it in my left one. The Healers were able to restore some of it. Ever since that day the hearing out of my right ear has never been too sharp and I always have a ringing sound in it, though it has gone on for so long that I kind of just ignore it without thinking about it anymore. After I ran away from the pond this afternoon, I fell asleep in the back yard. When I woke up, I noticed that the ringing in my right ear was gone, and everything sounded so much louder and clearer. I think my ear might be completely better!" Ginny stated with glee and awe.

"So, other than mysterious bodily healings, flying-car rescues, deadly but concerned house-elves, self-repairing wands and diaries, and family squabbles, and being able to apparently hear some of your thoughts, are there any other strange occurrences that you've noticed?" Ginny asked.

"Can you really hear my thoughts?" Harry asked.

"Well, um, I heard the ones you had earlier didn't I?" Ginny said cheekily, causing Harry to blush.

"Have you heard any others?" Harry inquired after his face cooled off somewhat.

"Well, I think so. That first morning you arrived here, when I made my graceful entrance into and exit from the kitchen," Ginny began with a giggle, as Harry snorted, "I think I heard some of your thoughts. You were thinking something like 'I hope she doesn't hear what they're saying about her, it would only break her heart more.' Does that sound right?" Ginny asked.

Harry's mouth fell open again. "Yeah, I was definitely thinking that!"

"Harry, um, have you heard any of my thoughts?" Ginny asked hesitantly.

"Well, uh. Now that you mention it, uh, when I was playing Quidditch with your brothers, did you think to yourself 'I can fly better than all of them'? Did you think that 'I was a good flier, but not much of a Chaser'?" Harry asked in return.

Now it was Ginny's turn to stare openmouthed at Harry. She quickly confirmed that she had indeed been thinking thoughts exactly like that.

"Harry, how is this happening? Why is this happening?" Ginny asked with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Harry could tell that she was beginning to retreat within herself, a response that he knew only too well from years of doing the same thing as a defensive measure. He desperately did not want them to lose the amazing progress and comfort they had achieved in their new friendship that morning.

Harry suddenly reached out to her and grasped both of her hands with his, willing some of his strength into her. Truth be told, Harry was feeling just as apprehensive as Ginny was. Obviously, he thought that Ginny was great, especially after getting to know her better throughout the course of their conversation. Still, the prospect of being able to hear someone else's thoughts, and having that person hear yours was somewhat disconcerting and frightening, as thoughts were a very private thing.

"Ginny, I don't know why this is happening, and I don't know how," Harry said. "When we get to Hogwarts, maybe we can ask one of the teachers, like Professor McGonagall. We can also check in the library to see if we can find any books that might help us. But, no matter what, I promise you, Ginny, that I won't deliberately try to 'hear' your thoughts, because I know that they are extremely private. Friends, yeah? And I will say that if I have to have anyone 'hearing' my thoughts, I can't think of any person I would want more to do so than you, Ginny."

Ginny blushed furiously at Harry's last comment, but she did not break his gaze.

"Harry, I feel the same way. And I promise I won't try to deliberately hear your thoughts either," Ginny said.

Both children smiled at each other, and they felt that an immense weight had been lifted off their shoulders. They released each other's hands after giving one another a slight squeeze. At that moment, Harry noticed for the first time that the storm that had been raging outside earlier had subsided, and the first glimmer of morning light was beginning to peek its way through the windows. He glanced at the clock to check the time. Ginny and he had been talking for almost two hours.

"Wow, it's almost six already," Harry said. "Hey, what were you doing up so early fully dressed anyway?"

The gleam of playful mischievousness that had filled Ginny's eyes the first morning that Harry had seen her suddenly came back to full life, as a wicked smile crossed over her face.

"Well, you remember when I thought 'I can fly better than any of them'?" Ginny asked. Harry nodded his head in response. "Well it's true. My brothers have always refused to teach me how to fly or to play Quidditch, so I decided to teach myself. I've been sneaking out and practicing flying on their brooms almost everyday since I was about five."

Harry was stunned, and Ginny laughed heartily at his expression.

"This girl is just full of surprises, isn't she? She's amazing!"

"And don't you forget it, Potter!" Ginny said. Harry blushed a fiery red as he realized that Ginny had heard his complimentary thoughts.

Recovering his dignity somewhat, Harry asked her cheekily, "Are you any good, Weasley?"

Ginny cocked up her eyebrows and he could see a competitive spirit gleaming in her eye. That got him really excited.

"I can hold my own," she replied smoothly.

"Well, maybe we'll just have to have a late night race to find out," Harry said.

"Is that a formal challenge, Potter?"

"Let's just call it a friendly contest. You could even have a go on my Nimbus if you'd like," Harry replied.

Ginny looked like she had been dropped right in the middle of the largest candy store on earth. Harry was overjoyed that he was the reason she was feeling and looking this happy, though once again he was not so sure why he felt that way.

"Really, Harry? That would be awesome! I'd be your best friend forever!" Ginny squealed, to which Harry responded with a light chuckle.

They spent several minutes talking about flying, different kinds of brooms, Quidditch, stories about Harry's exploits as Gryffindor's Seeker, Ron's obsession with the Chudley Cannons, and Ginny's nearly as great obsession with the Holyhead Harpies, the only all-women pro-Quidditch team in England.

"You know, Harry, as much as I like Quidditch and flying, I've really missed out on my true passion, until now that is, at least I hope," Ginny revealed.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Music," Ginny said. "I have always loved music. Singing, playing, even writing music. Mum let me take singing, piano, and violin lessons when I was younger, but I had to give it all up after that incident with my ear. Apparently, one of the side effects of both the explosion and the healing potions they gave me was tone-deafness. That's murder for a musician. But I'm starting to wonder if I might be able to go back now that my ear seems to be ok again."

Even though Ginny explained this rather calmly, Harry got the sense that she was bursting with excitement and anticipation inside, but that she was afraid to let it show on the chance that her tone-deafness had not truly been healed. He sensed at that moment just how deeply Ginny had loved music and the heartache it had caused when she had lost it. She was hesitant to get her hopes up because she did not want to endure more pain if her dream was squashed again. Harry was suddenly hit with a somewhat selfish inspiration.

"Ginny, would you like some practice?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean?" the girl questioned.

"Well, I noticed that you were singing a song the other day, you know, uh, when I was peeking in your bedroom," Harry said as he went instantly red again for the sixth or seventh time during their conversation.

"Harry, did you really like the song?" Ginny asked.

Harry was certain his face was now glowing so brightly it could have been seen from the surface of the moon. He had loved the song she had sung. More importantly, Harry realized, it was not the song that he had enjoyed so much, but the lovely sound of Ginny's soothing voice. It had touched and awoken some deep part of him and he vividly remembered the feelings that had literally raged through him when the sound of her voice had washed over him.

"Ye-, Yes, Ginny. I really did. I couldn't make out every word that you said, but the sound of the song was amazing," Harry admitted, as his face flushed yet an even more violent shade of red upon his admission.

Ginny chuckled to herself. "So, who is the dumb-blushing bunny-rabbit now, Mr. Potter?"

Harry snorted and then laughed aloud as he felt a lot of his embarrassment melt away. This was another thing that amazed him about Ginny: the fact that she could make him feel so at ease, even in the midst of the most embarrassing circumstances.

"I guess that would be me, now wouldn't it?" Harry replied.

"Harry, would you like me to sing it for you now properly, when there are no crazy brothers or ink bottles around?" Ginny asked as a slight pink tinge graced her cheeks.

Harry felt his heart swell and he was convinced that he would permanently need a larger chest to contain it. "I would love that, Ginny," Harry stated sincerely.

Leaning back into the cushions of the couch, Harry folded his hands over his chest and closed his eyes. There were a few moments of silence before Ginny began. The sound of her voice reached him slowly and he could feel it softly flowing into his ears as if it were a living being all its own. He felt her soft melody flow from his ears, up into his mind, which was wiped clean of every thought, as a deep sense of contentment settled like a blanket over it. From his mind, he could feel the song flow into his heart. The instant Harry knew that it had penetrated there, he felt his heart burst open. The powerful emotions that had been stirred when this song had been sung before suddenly exploded back into existence. They were overwhelming in their raw power, and intoxicating in their intensity. Harry, quite simply, felt as if he was truly alive for the first time, and every other moment of his life had in fact been a walking death of sorts. Even though Harry was convinced that his heart had just burst open, he could feel it still beating furiously within him, and the emotions that he was experiencing were being pumped by his heart throughout his body. Harry felt power course through him, the same power that flowed in him when he had defended Ginny against Dobby and Ron. That fierce sense of protectiveness for Ginny rose up within him now like a whirling tornado and Harry allowed himself to be swept away in its swirling vortex.

At that moment, Harry made a vow. A vow made not with words, for words were unnecessary. No, this was a vow that was made by a sheer act of the will, unconsciously made, but freely made all the same. Harry vowed that he would do anything for the red headed girl who sat beside him. He would lay down his life for her; he would face down death itself if necessary; he would walk into the flames of hell and blast down its ancient gates, all for the sake of Ginny Weasley. Little did Harry know that the young Weasley girl was making a similar vow as the words of her song flowed forth from her mouth like fluid magic. Unbeknownst to the two young children, due to the fact that they both had their eyes closed and were so caught up in the power of their emotions, a blinding golden light blazed and danced around them like liquid fire, forging and igniting a bond of such power and beauty between the two children that the light and fury of the sun itself paled in comparison.

At that exact moment, several thousand miles away, Charlie Weasley, who was working the mid-morning shift at the dragon preserve in Romania, stared in wonder and awe, along with all of the other workers on duty that morning, at the sight before him. Every male dragon in the preserve reared himself up and let off simultaneous roars, the likes of which no human ear had ever heard before, as huge bursts of flame exploded forth from their mouths immediately afterwards.

At the same time, a small glass sphere containing a bluish-white mist appeared on a large dais waiting to be placed by an Unspeakable on one of the thousands of shelves located within the Hall of Prophecy in the Department of Mysteries of the British Ministry of Magic.

Moreover, within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a trill of the purest bliss echoed loudly through the ancient halls of the venerable institution, while an old tattered grey wizard's hat perked up in anticipation.

"They are coming!" it said.

The End
and
The Beginning

A/N: Thus ends Part 1 of "The Dragon-Phoenix Saga." Part 2 (which is currently unnamed) will cover the events that transpire as Harry, Ginny, and their friends return to Hogwarts (Harry's second year, Ginny's first). Just for clarification, the three chapters of THIS story cover the events of the first three days that Harry spent at The Burrow after the twins and Ron rescued him from Privet Drive (August 4-6, 1992, according to "The Harry Potter Lexicon"). For further clarification, the diary that Ginny has in this story IS NOT Tom Riddle's diary. This is her personal, non-magical diary! As for those of you who want to know what Ginny sang to Harry, it will be revealed in due time. I am currently working on two other stories, and after I have written several chapters for each of them, I plan to write Part 2 of this series. It will also be three chapters long. Look for it sometime this summer. You can check out my author profile page on SIYE and FF.net for status updates. I also have a link to the "Yahoo! Group" account I have set up for my fanfiction stories on both those profile pages as well. Stay tuned for more!