By the Fireplace

"Loving someone is the highest achievement anyone can reach."

-Anonymous

CHAPTER 4; Convincing Harry

The pleasant smell of frying eggs awoke Ginny the next morning. She checked her clock, saw it was past eight, and hopped out of bed to change quickly and go down to eat breakfast.

I'm supposed to remember something, Ginny thought foggily, still half-asleep and not really processing anything. She zipped her jean shorts and pulled on a shirt over her sports bra, not bothering to involve herself in the tedious task called thinking.

"Morning, dear," greeted her mother when Ginny stumbled into the room. She handed Ginny a pre-made plate that had three sausages, a sack of pancakes, and fried eggs, and then quickly rushed back to the kitchen in preparation for more hungry children.

Ginny didn't waste a second in devouring her meal, not noticing anything but the yummy-ness in front of her. What was her mum's secret? This food was far better than even Hogwarts dining. Maybe she should suggest cooking lessons to the house-elves, Ginny mused, though, it would probably send them into convulsions, which would result in her spending life in Azkabam, but did you go to prison for killing a house-elf? It seemed fair, but Ginny doubted it...

Her early-morning thoughts were cut to a sharp halt as an amused throat cleared itself.

Her fork, filled up with eggs, froze halfway to her mouth, and all thoughts of cooking lessons fled far away from her embarrassed mind. She knew that amused throat.

Don't make a fool out of yourself, her pride demanded sharply.

Ginny slowly lowered the fork back to her plate. She then lifted her eyes to stare straight into emerald green ones.

"Hello, Harry," she said huskily, half because she'd just woken up and half to make him love her again.

There was a pause where everything seemed to slow down as she lifted her head and they stared at each other. The urge to fling herself into his arms and sob out how worried she was about him nearly overwhelmed her, as she stared fruitlessly into his eyes. His precious poetry-inducing eyes glistened with something that was sister to determination and cousin to resignation.

He was the first to break eye contact, smiling awkwardly.

"'lo, Ginny," he said to the space hovering behind her, eyes unfocused. He quickly resumed eating and was finished a minute later. Without even a 'by your leave', Harry stood and rushed out.

Ginny was still frozen in surprise at seeing him so soon. Knowing he was coming and actually having to bear through it were two completely different things.

She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it just as quickly. What was the use, she wanted to shout, of ignoring me and being so damn noble.

Utter frustration welled up.

"Oh, dear!" Mrs. Weasley, just coming through the doorway of the kitchen, shrieked. "Not my new table cloth!"

Ginny turned her head sheepishly, anger draining out fast as her mother ranted irritably about her beautiful new table cloth.

For the lovely new linen had just gone up into flames.

"I'm sorry," Ginny muttered unheard, slipping out while her mother wasn't paying attention. Getting into more trouble wasn't something Ginny needed right now. Her new...skill--for lack of a better description--required her to be a little more cautious. Though, she now had an idea of power's origin.

It was after careful thought that Ginny remembered where the unique (in an almost way) power had come from. As a child, she, more than her brothers anyway, had been told about how seven was a very magical number, and very highly blessed. Seventh children where known to have very unique abilities. The seventh child was also said to be extremely rare; due to the low fertility of most Pureblood witches and wizards. Not a problem in the Weasley family, to be sure.

Her ability actually wasn't so unique. As she recalled after careful thought, her great grandmother had possessed the same talent; her grandmother, too, as a matter of fact. It was only her mum that had been skipped, and since she hadn't welded the power over fire, she probably put it out of her mind that Ginny might.

Ha. She loved nothing more than defiance. Beating the odds. Going against the current. Getting tangled up in a hairy mess.

A very inappropriate, lewd mental picture assaulted Ginny's mind concerning the last one.

She giggled to herself, attracting curious stares from the rest of her family members accumulated in the living area. She smiled at them sheepishly and raced up the stairs before any of them could question her behavior.

The door to her room was still open from when she had stumbled down to breakfast. She shut it loudly, bouncing onto her bed and laying on her back. She cleared her mind so she could sort out her thoughts.

After her mind was in a semi-controlled state, she allowed her first thought to enter.

Harry had arrived.

It was a good thing she hadn't been fully awake. Because now all the feelings that Harry invoked came crashing inside of her. The love, worry, anxiety, affection, wistfulness, and so many others washed over her.

No, she thought, pushing aside all of them, I'm not going to be a slave to my feelings! I can't let them show until I've reached my objective.

Flipping over onto her stomach, Ginny mentally arranged a list of what she had to do in the next twenty four hours before her brother, Hermione, Harry, and (she hoped) she could leave.

Her main objective was to convince Harry to go, which would effectively get Hermione and Ron to agree.

They were scheduled to leave after the wedding, which started at one (she could hear her mum yelling that they needed to start getting ready) and lasted until at least seven. Her eyes were drawn to her hidden suitcase, packed in case she needed to beat a hasty exit.

Well, she mused, getting up to start the tedious process of dressing for the wedding, the king is in check.

~*~

"Harry, she is really determined...I'm sure she isn't going to accept no as an answer."

Hermione's voice caught Ginny's ear as she was passing by Ron's door on her way down the stairs. Having no qualms, she secured herself out of view and listened attentively.

"I don't care," Harry sounded highly agitated, "'no' is the only answer she is going to get. I won't let her walk straight into danger!"

Ron, Ginny would guess, was nodding his head in agreement, for a moment later he piped in: "That is exactly what I said!"

The redhead fought the urge to hex the stupid prats. She succeeded.

It was a close call, though.

"I think we should leave before the reception starts; then she won't know we've left until we're gone," Harry said. Her hands twitched once more. Why did she have to love such an overprotective git?

"But if we leave without her, she told me she was going to follow us. Wouldn't it be safer just to skip that all together and bring her along?" Hermione's voice was calm and persuasive.

"No!" both boys answered at the same time.

"But really..."

"But nothing," Harry cut in firmly. "She would just be a distraction and end up in much more danger with us than if she just stayed here."

Ginny pictured a wide frown on Hermione's face. "Honestly, Harry," she said a moment later, "Ginny can take care of herself as well as any of us can. The Burrow and Hogwarts are in just as much danger as we are. More, possibly, because neither place can be hidden completely or can continuously move and change identities."

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked in his usual confusion.

If such a sound was possible, the combination of Hermione sighing and rolling her eyes had a distinct beat to it. "Have you boys thought about this at all? We are going to encounter Death Eaters on a daily basis while traveling. We need to be prepared with alternate identities and escape plans, maybe even learn some hand gestures to sign to each other. This isn't going to be a simple find the needle gig, it's an all out war."

From where Ginny was standing, she bit her lip. Sure, she could start a fire without any outside force, but what good would that do in times of laying low? Yes, she had experience hiding from the Twins, but that was different...or was it?...

"...you sure have thought about this a lot," Harry finished. Ginny perked her ears back up and shoved any other thoughts for later.

"What's a needle in a haystack have to do with anything?" Ron asked, fixated on the least important part of Hermione's tirade.

"A muggle expression," the brown-haired girl explained curtly.

"Right." Ron's voice was faintly mocking.

"What is that suppose to mean?" Hermione's voice sounded tight.

"Quit that!" Harry intervened before his two friends could start rowing. Ginny was thankful for his intervention, for she knew those two could go on all day if they were left alone.

"Fine," Hermione said, sounding like she was pouting, even to Ginny's ears.

Harry ignored her. "Yes, maybe a moving target is harder to hit but have you thought about the number of people going to target us? Every Deatheater is probably told to look for us. It is too dangerous," he repeated.

"But..." Hermione started.

"No," said Harry resolutely, "Ginny might not be completely safe at Hogwarts but she is in a hundred times more danger with us."

"I agree," Ron unnecessarily added.

Ginny heard Hermione sigh and change the topic about what they had packed and took that as time to leave her spying nook before she was caught. A dozen thoughts were whirling through her head.

At the top of the stairs, Ginny changed her mind and rushed back into her room where she would be left alone to think.

She shut her door and fell onto her bed with a groan.

For the first time since she had made her plans, doubt plagued her. Was she doing the right thing by forcing her way into going? Would Harry, Hermione, and Ron truly benefit from her being there? Ginny wasn't too sure of anything anymore.

No! Stop it right now, she inwardly chided herself, you have not come this far just to be loaded with doubts now.

Taking a deep breath, Ginny thought of the one thing her mother had taught to all her children: When in doubt, make a list.

Ginny sat up against her pillow and mentally composed such a list.

Pros vs. Cons To Ginny Weasley Going With Harry Potter (She mentally made sure to cap everything.)

Pro 1: An even number means everyone has their backs covered.

Con 1: There is a high chance of Harry getting distracted because of me.

Pro 2: It would be helping The Greater Good.

Con 2: We all might die...

Pro 3: We have the benefit of my super-duper fire powers.

Con 3: Everyone has a wand so it's almost even once the initial surprise element is overcome.

Pro 4: I wouldn't have to wait for Harry, as selfish as that reason is.

Con 4: The risk of getting captured and tortured for information about Harry is very high.

Ginny groaned again and banged her head against the wall. She was achieving nothing.

A knock startled Ginny out of her thoughts.

"What?" she yelled rudely, thinking it was most likely the twins.

"May I come in?" A not-twins voice asked. A so-not twins voice that it resembled, funnily enough, a boy she use to go out with.

"Ginny?" Harry prompted after a couple seconds of still not receiving an answer.

"Yes, come in," she scrambled up into a casual sitting position that she hoped displayed her maturity and general sophisticated-ness.

She probably just looked like a twit.

After another few seconds, Harry hesitantly pushed the door open and smiled awkwardly at her from across the small room. She raised her eyebrows back in greeting. No way in hell was she going to make this easy for him by starting the conversation. Especially since she had not anticipated this surprise visit and was unprepared. The feeling made her annoyed at Harry, and herself.

"So, how are you?" Harry started uncomfortably after it was clear that Ginny wasn't going to be initiating any small talk. He positioned himself leaning against the wall closest to the door, shutting the latter and focusing those emeralds on her.

"I'm just great," Ginny sarcastically replied, her emotions starting to come into play. "Did you hear that my boyfriend dumped me? Oh, and he is going off with a few friends of his for a while to hunt down Deatheaters? They might die, too. Yes, I am doing just great."

Harry winced. "Now, Ginny--"

Ginny stood up abruptly, cutting off Harry. "I know you don't want me to come. I know you don't want me to be in a relationship with you. But have you considered what I want?" Whoa, did that sound as selfish as it felt saying it? Probably, yes. But that didn't stop her from expressing how she was feeling.

"Ginny," Harry said wearily, "what you want is not going to keep you safe for the next few years."

"What if I don't care about that?" she asked wildly, forgetting any other argument she may have made in favor of her going.

"I care!" Harry snapped angrily. "All I want is for you to be safe. You need to stay. You'll do much better here than you will with us."

"Stop trying to protect me from the war, Harry! I am just as much a part of it as you are, just as personally attached as you are. I have to do this. I cannot just stand back and let You-...Voldemort take over my world. It isn't fair to ask that of me."

"You don't understand!" Harry exploded. "You have to be safe; I can't stand the thought of losing you..." He seemed to wilt slightly, and her face softened.

"Oh, Harry, listen to me. Wouldn't you rather be able to watch me at all times instead of being worried that you hadn't received the letter of my kidnapping or death yet?" Ginny asked softly.

Harry flinched; he clearly had not thought of it like that.

But he still shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You're still safer at Hogwarts or Headquarters than you are with me."

Ginny sighed in exasperation and moved closer to Harry. "You need me," she stated boldly. Inwardly, she crossed her fingers and wished it to be true.

"What?" He asked, startled. Well, onto Shock-Him Plan A. Which meant she was making it up as she went along.

"You need me," she repeated. "You need me to keep you grounded, to slap you out of your sulks, to be there when the guilt gets to be too much, to..." She trailed off, almost having said 'to love you'.

"No," Harry denied and Ginny was seriously thinking of Shock-Him Plan B, which, at this point, consisted of jumping out the window. The shock value alone should make him say yes.

She might not survive the fall, but, hey, whatever works, right?

Desperation was an interesting thing.

Ginny shook her head to rid her of those ridiculous thoughts and to get focused. "Yes," she responded simply.

"No," Harry looked stubbornly intent on his answer.

Ginny mentally scoured her Pros vs. Cons To Ginny Weasley Going With Harry Potter list. "But if I come then everyone will have their backs covered!" she shouted triumphantly.

Harry did not look impressed in the least.

"No."

Again, Ginny consulted her mental list. Oh yes! Her super duper power!

Oh Merlin, she hadn't come up with a name yet. Was it appropriate to reveal herself before she had a Hero name? As Hermione had explained to her once, Clark Kent had Superwoman (did that indicate he was a cross-dresser? Or maybe he fought for the 'other' team...those tights looked a little tight for a straight guy, but she digressed), Bruce Wayne was Ratman, Spiderman hid under the alias of Peter Porker, or something. Even Harry had The-Boy-Who-Lived. Granted, Ginny wouldn't want to be The-Girl-Who-Could-Produce-Fire, or something equally stupid.

Firegirl? Nah, too bland.

Red Flame? No. Just, no.

Or maybe--and why was Harry giving her that look of concern?

"Ginny? Are you with me?" His shoulders had relaxed somewhat and his voice had a tint of amusement. At her expense.

"I'm great," she answered sarcastically, hoping to hide her now flaming cheeks behind the wonders of sarcasm. Damn, why did that boy always have to catch her at her most embarrassing?

"If you say so."

"I do."

Harry looked like her answer settled everything. "I'm happy we've got everything figured out," he smiled. Cue her knees melting. No, no, she must stay strong and un-melty.

Which gave her an idea...

Ginny slowly left her position on the bed and seductively, as much as she could anyway, made her way over to Harry.

"Harry," she said huskily, drawing closer to him every second that he blinked those green orbs of his. "You. Need. Me." Now standing directly in front of him, she tilted her head up slowly and his lips met hers halfway.

The kiss was one of a person discovering water after being deprived of it for weeks. Lips moved everywhere, hands buried themselves in hair, and neither would've noticed if Voldemort had decided to blow up the entire Earth right then.

When they finally broke apart, breathing hard, Harry took a step back with a look of hurt in his eyes. "I thought you understood that we couldn't do this," he accused, but the effect was ruined by his more-than-usual rumpled hair and glasses that were askew.

"Don't start," she warned. "I just explained to you that it doesn't matter!"

Harry finally lost it, yelling angrily, "YOU COULD DIE! And I don't think I could handle losing the one person I think I'm falling in love with..."

Ginny gaped in shock. And from the look on Harry's face, he probably hadn't meant to say that.

The anger had drained out of him, leaving a sort of lost look. It occurred to Ginny that Harry had never been loved before by anyone and to love someone else...Harry was a truly special individual, indeed.

"I..."

Ginny interrupted before he could take it back. "I love you too," she said simply.

Harry was speechless.

Ginny was elated.

"Oh," she said, thinking of the other bombshell she had to drop, and believing this to be an opportune time, "did you know that I could start fire with a single thought?"

Harry was grinning now, apparently still stuck on the 'I love you too.' He didn't seem to process what she had said for a minute. "What?"

Ginny concentrated on a piece of paper littered near Harry's feet.

It burst into flames.

Harry jumped, eyes wide in disbelief. For the second time in five minutes, Harry was speechless.

"Yeah," Ginny giggled sheepishly, "I just discovered it the other day. You're the first person I've told."

When he still hadn't replied, she added, "See how safe I'd be with my own magic to guard me? And imagine the advantage we'd have over Deatheaters and anything else we had to deal with."

"How did this happen?"

"Well, from what I've found out, it's an inherited gene. My grandmother and her mother had it, so it's really nothing special."

"Nothing special?" the raven-haired boy gaped. Only Ginny could think the power to call upon fire was 'nothing special.'

"Does this mean I get to come?" she pressed, eager to get his verbal agreement while he was still somewhat overwhelmed by all the news bombs.

"We have to talk to Hermione," Harry said, ignoring her question.

But Ginny, as we all know, was stubborn. "Answer me. Can I go?"

"Ginny..." his voice held a note of warning.

"Harry," she mimicked him.

He was silent for a few moments, thinking hard. Ginny waited patiently.

"Okay," he said finally, and before she could start jumping and squealing (or whatever that noise excited girls made was), he clarified, "but there are a few conditions."

"Whatever it is, I don't care! Thank you, Harry," and she once again dove into his arms and kissed him smack on the lips.

She broke apart for a breath. "I love you," she said again, and it sounded like a promise.

Ginny then ran off to tell Hermione and Ron the latest developments. She didn't think anyone could pry the grin off her face.

Harry stood were Ginny had left him, doubts and worries plaguing him. But the unmistakable jaw-cracking grin was present and he didn't think he could stop if he tried.

Harry then understood what he had which Voldemort didn't.

It was simple, really.

He had love.

~*~

The End

~*~