Advice From A Centaur

Ginny panted as she climbed the seemingly endless stairs that led to the top of the East Tower, having not returned since her conversation with Professor Firenze two weeks ago. She still thought back on their meeting with something close to incredulity; the centaur was more human than any of them had realized. More than once she had caught herself gazing at him during class with tears in her eyes, and they weren't from the bitter sage fumes. Firenze, of course, did little more than nod and offer the merest hint of a smile when he saw her looking at him.

She still couldn't believe she had gotten up the nerve to ask Harry to meet her here tonight. Of course, she hadn't actually asked him face-to-face; Ginny didn't think her face could handle the heat from the inevitable blush. It wouldn't do to spontaneously combust at such an important moment. Not that this morning at breakfast was any easier...when he had gotten her owl, Ginny had been so nervous she was quite sure the Ravenclaws at the next table over in the Great Hall could hear her heartbeat.

The look of confusion on his face as he reached out for the owl had been priceless. She didn't think anybody owled him at school besides Hagrid, now that Sirius was...er... Anyway, Ginny knew for a fact that they had just been to see Hagrid the day before. His puzzled expression was followed by a fleeting look of...hope? But utter horror replaced any hopefulness as he looked across the table at Ron and Hermione, who were so busy bickering with one another they didn't notice the delivery owl had stolen Hermione's toast and flown off over their heads. Ginny had watched on tenterhooks as Harry read the note again:

Dear Harry,

Could you meet me at the top of the East Tower tonight at ten?

Love,

Ginny

She had turned away from him so quickly when he looked up at her that she had almost knocked over the pumpkin juice. Blushing furiously, she studied the plate of kippers next to her right elbow until she saw him leave the table with Ron and Hermione ten minutes later.

He hadn't been at dinner that night.

Ginny couldn't decide what that meant. Was he avoiding her? Or was he as nervous as she was? In your dreams, Ginevra. She couldn't help but remember the terrified expression Harry had worn after realizing Ginny was the one who had sent the letter... In the end, she decided to go up the tower anyway. Besides, if he's not there, I can just throw myself off, she thought darkly.

When she reached the top of the stairs and peeked out over the tower roof, Ginny saw with relief that Harry had come. She would recognize that messy hair anywhere. Then she realized with an unpleasant twist below her navel that his hair was all she could see of him.

He spun around at her scream so quickly that she was amazed he didn't lose his balance. She was even more amazed when she felt hands she couldn't see keep her from sinking to the stone floor.

"Ginny! Are you alright?"

She motioned weakly to where his body should have been. Harry looked down, confused, then realized the reason for her fright.

"Oh! I forgot to take my cloak off!” He shrugged out of the legendary Invisibility Cloak Ron had told her about so many times, and it pooled at his feet, creating the impression Harry was standing in the middle of a puddle of water.

"I'm fine, really..." she laughed nervously. He was still holding her steady; realizing that those were Harry's hands sent a little thrill of excitement up her spine. "I just-- just wasn't expecting that."

He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I kept it on in case someone came up while I was waiting for you. I wanted to be alone."

"Well I could go back down to dinner if you like," said Ginny, grinning. What? Am I flirting with Harry Potter

"What? No, stay! Besides...didn't you want to talk?"

Trying to flirt, anyway. "Er, right. Well, I wanted to tell you something that I just have to get off my chest...” She took a deep breath and tried to look anywhere but his enchanting emerald eyes, which now shone with concern. "I-I really--"

"Damn!” Harry interrupted suddenly. In a surprisingly intimate move, he reached an arm around her waist and drew Ginny to him before pulling his cloak over them both.

"Harry--what--?"

"Shhhh," he whispered in her ear, making her shiver. "Mrs. Norris. Filch'll be here soon."

Ginny turned around, careful to keep under the Invisibility Cloak. Filch's cat was standing at the top of the stairs, gazing directly at them with her luminescent yellow eyes. "Come on," breathed Harry, and they silently moved to the stairs. Disconcertingly, Mrs. Norris followed their progress across the roof.

Just as they reached the top stair, Filch himself came shuffling up. Ginny stifled a gasp and they backed up enough for the caretaker to pass, dangerously close to the tower's edge. She gulped as she peered over, then glanced up at Harry, who was ignoring the terrifying drop behind them and was watching Filch croon to his cat instead. I've never been this close to him before...

"C'mon," he muttered. They made their way down the tower without making a sound. Harry led her behind tapestries, down staircases, and through passageways. They finally came to a stop outside the Gryffindor portrait hole, and Ginny was suddenly very conscious of his body pressed up against hers.

He turned to look at her. "It's pretty late; everyone else is probably in bed. We could finish talking in the common room...” He didn't move right away, simply gazing down at her instead.

She nodded her consent, blushing. He seemed to realize he was staring, and quickly gave the Fat Lady the password. As soon as they were inside the deserted common room, Harry pulled off the cloak and dropped onto the overstuffed sofa in front of the fire.

Nervously, Ginny sat down next to him, and they gazed in companionable silence into the flickering flames for a few moments. Eventually, Harry turned to her and prompted, "So, you wanted to tell me something...?"

She gulped and faced him. "Well...yes...” She faltered, unable to continue. Harry watched her with growing concern.

"Gin? You all right?"

Ginny gulped and closed her eyes, remembering her talk with Firenze two weeks ago. "…but how would I tell him? Just walk up to him and say, “Harry Potter, I love you'?” “If you like...” She opened her eyes again and took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Harry?"

He frowned. "Yeah?"

"I love you."

They stared at each other, Ginny holding her breath, Harry with his mouth hanging open slightly. After a moment, Harry shook himself and croaked, "I--you--what?"

Now blushing furiously, Ginny repeated, "I love you, Harry.” Her heart was pounding and blood was rushing in her ears.

"You love me?"

Ginny didn't think her burning cheeks could take any more of this. "Yes! I always have done!” When Harry just stared at her, she took a deep shuddering breath and stood up, fighting to keep her tears in check until she could make it to bed. "I'm sorry, Harry, but I-- I just couldn't stay quiet any longer.” She turned to go upstairs, but something was holding her back. Looking down, she saw Harry's hand on her arm.

"Gin, wait! Don't be sorry. I-- I love you too."

Now it was Ginny's turn to stare with her mouth open. "You do? ...Really?” Even though she had been waiting five years to hear those words, they were still completely unexpected.

Harry was blushing as deeply as she was. "Well, yes. But I didn't think you were interested in me any more... Last year, Hermione said you'd given up on me, and you've had a few boyfriends too, so I thought..."

She fell on him, laughing and crying with relief. He wrapped his arms around her, and Ginny had never felt more at home than she did then in Harry's embrace. She buried herself in his shirt and robes, grasping at him like she would never let go, and he held her just as tightly.

"Oh, Ginny..."

She smiled up at him through her tears. His brilliant green eyes were misted over, and she could feel herself drowning in them. He was leaning down to her, and she raised her lips to meet his.

When Harry and Ginny broke their kiss, the fire had been replaced by glowing embers. They settled into a more comfortable position, Ginny resting sideways on his lap with her head on his shoulder, and Harry holding her around her waist with his head resting against hers. After gazing into the fireplace for a moment, Ginny snuggled closer and asked, "How long have you felt this way?"

Harry sighed contentedly and hugged her tighter. "I reckon since last term, when you helped us get to the Ministry...you were so selfless...you didn't even ask for an explanation. You didn't give a damn about the consequences of running off to London, you just wanted to help us...help me. How could I not love you?"

Ginny smiled and reddened slightly. She toyed with the hem of his shirt as she told him, "I told Hermione that I had given up to help convince myself that I had given up, but it didn't help; my boyfriends broke up with me because they could tell I was in love with someone else. I was much too afraid to tell you... It was actually Professor Firenze who convinced me to."

"Firenze?" he asked in surprise.

"Mm-hmm."

"I'll have to remember to thank him."

She adjusted her head to look up at him, grinning, and he gazed down at her fondly before capturing her lips with his own. This kiss was soft and loving, without the primal need they had both felt previously.

Ginny pulled back after just a few moments, and they held each other in front of the burned-out fireplace, where an infuriated Ron and an overjoyed Hermione found them together the next morning, still in each others' arms.