Author's Note - And so ends 17, Clumsy and Shy. The sequel In Essence: Undivided is waiting in the wings and I will start publishing that soon. Thank you for reading, whether this is your first or your third time. The sequel will be finished and no longer abandoned. I hope you'll stay along for the wild ride.

o-o-o-o-o

Harry and Ginny awoke early the next morning and finally made it to the shower. However, Harry found that making it outof the shower without indulging themselves was a bit trickier. Ginny, for her part, didn't complain much, although she did seem a bit sore.

"Next time we shower, we're transfiguring something into a nice soft, impervious-to-water bench. I don't think I'm too keen on getting slammed into walls all that much."

She lay back on the bed, rubbing her shoulder, and Harry immediately went to her, massaging her back.

"I'm sorry; did I hurt you?"

Ginny smirked at him. "You didn't seem to care a few moments ago, Harry."

Harry felt his skin heat. "Turn over; let me rub you properly." Maybe he had been a bit over-zealous in the shower.

"Oh, rubbing me properly now, are you?" Ginny said coyly, turning over. Harry started massaging her shoulder through the bathrobe she had put on, and after a moment, she sighed happily.

"Hmm...much better. Okay, I take it back; you can slam me into anything as long as you do this afterward."

Harry smiled and bent down to kiss her neck. "That's a deal that seems fair."

Ginny turned and grabbed his hand, pulling him down to her. She kissed him, running her hands through his hair. She smiled up at him. "You know, Harry...I think my favorite way to have you is wet and clean."

"Oh?"

Ginny smiled as her hand continued to play with his hair. "I get to style your hair, for one thing, and..." she took a deep breath, "I love your scent."

They shifted, and Harry found himself beneath her, her hands moving over him, as she pulled at the belt of the bathrobe he'd put on.

"You know, I don't think I was quite forceful enough in that shower, after all," he mused as she pulled back the robe to get better access to his chest. Ginny's eyes shone brightly, and she licked her lips, lowering her mouth down to his.

"What can I say? It takes a lot to wear me out," she whispered. Harry laughed, his arms around her waist undoing her robe, his hands finding the spot where he knew she was the most ticklish at.

Ginny pulled out of his grasp. "Watch it, Harry. No tickling allowed before lunch. House rules."

"When did I agree to that?" he said, and he pounced on her, causing her to squeak in surprise. They wrestled on the bed, flipping positions. Ginny, for her part, gave as well as she got, and soon had Harry gasping for mercy.

"Okay! Okay! No...tickling...before...noon..." He exhaled sharply, trying to catch his breath. They fell in a tangled mess of arms and legs onto their sides, facing each other. Ginny smiled and raised her fist in the air.

"Yes! A Weasley victory!"

"Yeah, yeah..." Harry said, smiling at her. "So, what does the champion want as a reward?"

Ginny raised her eyebrow. "I can have a reward?"

"But of course," Harry said, pulling her closer to him, his hand snaking its way up between them and under the robe that was still around her shoulders. He watched as she closed her eyes as he caressed her. She exhaled a deep breath.

"Hmm...Harry..." she said softly as she rolled back, giving him more access. He moved and propped himself above her, kissing her gently. She opened her eyes as he pulled away, and they didn't say anything for a moment. Harry lowered his eyes as he took in the pink glow of her skin, his eyes tracing over every curve and part of her that he was beginning to know better than his own skin. He placed his hand at the base of her throat and trailed it downwards, gently. He rested it in the small curve of bone and flesh at her hips, where her upper body met her lower half. Harry dropped his head and kissed the hollowed area there, moving upwards to the soft skin of her stomach. He gazed at her breasts, their peaks already firm in the cool air of the room, and he cupped one in his hand, gently rolling his thumb over it, causing her to inhale sharply.

He met her eyes and smiled when he saw the look of wonder and desire on her face.

"Do you know how utterly beautiful you are?" he asked.

"I'm not beautiful, I'm just...me. And I'm delighted that you happen to enjoy me being me or otherwise..." Her voice trailed off, a flash of insecurity on her features. "You're the one that makes me beautiful, Harry. Anything anyone sees in me, it's because of you." Harry growled in disagreement and lowered his face to hers, making certain she could see his eyes.

"You are beautiful, Ginny Weasley. Not just to me, to everyone. Never doubt what you are," he finished softly, using his hand to spread her hair out behind her. He shook his head at her. "Regardless of whether I'm here or not, you just...shine."

He kissed her, and she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. He shifted and found himself in between her legs. Ginny pulled back and smiled at him, removing one of her hands from his neck and moving it in between them. He closed his eyes as she gently stroked him to a more aroused state. She opened her legs, bending them at the knee, and kissed him quickly. He shrugged off his robe and reached for his wand from the pocket, performing the Contraceptive Charm.

"Take me, Harry," she whispered, her voice soft in his ear. He slid into her slowly, teasing her at first with the just tip of his body inside her. She shifted her hips, and Harry moved into place; as long as he lived, he would never get tired of that first feeling - that first feeling of connecting with something that was everything he knew, and yet nothing he understood all at the same time. He looked down and saw Ginny watching him. Harry started to move slowly, and even though some part of him wanted to hurry, he didn't. Ginny breathed heavily against his shoulder and closed her eyes, letting him set the pace.

He didn't think they had ever done it like this before, so slow...so carefully...he watched in amazement as the deliberate momentum of his body brought about a different reaction in hers.

"Gin, look at me, open your eyes," he said softly, and he was surprised to see a touch of wetness in them, as though she were about to cry. "What's wrong?"

Ginny shook her head, and he felt her tighten around him, causing pleasure to travel through him. He lowered his head and kissed her. She smiled when he pulled away, and he moved his hand to her face, tracing his fingers over her lips.

"I love you," he said, and he didn't think he could probably ever say those words enough; she deserved to hear them every second of every day, and it still wouldn't be enough. Ginny moved underneath him, gripping onto his arms with her hands.

"I know, Harry, I feel it every time you touch me...every time you kiss me...don't worry about not saying it enough, you say it with your eyes every chance you get."

Harry moved his hips gently as he pushed into her, as though to prove her point. He heard her sigh, and their eyes met. Harry didn't know if it were possible to love anyone as much as he loved her - he felt a warm feeling break through him, causing his skin to tingle as though it had been caressed. Ginny's eyes widened, and her body moved upward, her hips meeting his for the first time.

"Oh, Merlin, what is that?" she whispered, and he shook his head. He felt as though he were wrapped in something warm and fine; every muscle in his body seemed full of energy.

"Oh...oh, my..." Ginny half-moaned as she bucked underneath him, the friction between their bodies, causing him to speed up his actions. "Oh, Harry...what are you...oh!" Her voice was full of heat, and he felt her surround him as he moved deeper into her. She called out, and then he felt her body's release - her climax causing her to rise against him, making their bodies meet again. "Faster, Harry...do it faster now..." she whispered as he felt her legs wrap around his waist.

Harry let go of his control and did as she asked, forgetting to be gentle and slow. He thrust powerfully inside of her, and something seemed to take over his mind; he only had one thought - to move inside of her as fast and as rough as he could. He closed his eyes as his mind focused on the feeling of her around him, his thoughts giving way to pure sensation and need.

Somewhere, he heard Ginny saying his name, but he felt as though it were in another time and place. He moved in and out of her quickly - forcefully - biting his lips as he felt his body gather, ready to explode. Harry felt Ginny buck underneath him; he heard the pleasure in her voice as she cried out and knew that she had come again. It was the thing that sent him over the edge, and he pushed into her one last time, his body finally letting go deep inside of her.

Harry felt the energy that had been inside of him begin to wan as quickly as it had started, and he felt as though he came back into his head, his senses slowly returning. He realized he was probably crushing Ginny beneath him, and he pulled away, looking down at her.

"Oh, my god, Harry..." she said, her voice rough. "Oh my...oh...my...Harry."

"Gin? Are you okay? Did I hurt you? I'm sorry, I couldn't control myself..." Harry quickly shifted and rolled off of her, afraid he'd broken something in his exuberance.

Ginny reached a hand out to quiet him, and he watched as she took a deep breath.

"Ginny?"

"Let...me...catch...my breath," she said softly. Harry realized her skin was glowing, much like it had on the night the flowers had appeared on their floor. Harry wondered for the first if what he had felt inside of him had come from himself...or from her.

Ginny finally turned and looked at him, a smile on her face. "You're amazing, Harry."

"I was just going to say the same thing about you, actually," he said, hearing the worried tone of his voice.

Ginny heard it as well and moved closer to him. "What's wrong?"

"It's just...you're glowing. Look at you..."

Ginny looked down at herself, seemingly unsurprised. She smiled at him. "Well, I've read that when a woman is pleasantly fucked and fucked well, she glows." She touched his chest gently.

Harry shook his head. "Ginny, what just happened? The...feeling...it felt powerful. It was like I wasn't myself."

Ginny frowned. "You mean, you felt like...?"

"No," Harry said quickly, understanding her meaning. "No, I didn't feel like him. I just...there was all this...feeling...in here," he said, putting his hand over hers, on his chest.

"I know, I felt it too...I feel it all the time now," Ginny said softly.

'You mean...this...has something to do with Aine?"

"I don't know. I just...sometimes the energy inside of me, I can't...hold it. Dumbledore said this might happen, although I don't think he meant like this. I think...I don't know. I think there's something about us...the way we are together. It brings it out of me, and I think...I think you react to it, or we react to it together. I'm not certain."

Harry tried to wrap his mind around what she was telling him. She shifted and then sat up, not looking at him.

"There's probably something else you should know too," she said softly, her voice cautious. Harry realized she was refusing to meet his eyes.

"What?" he asked, suddenly not sure if he wanted to know.

"Well, I...I don't think you have to worry about Voldemort being in your head any longer, Harry."

"What do you mean?"

Ginny glanced at him and then back down at her hands. "I've been shielding you from him, ever since that night the flowers appeared. It was something Dumbledore wanted me to try; I didn't expect it to work. But you were able to throw off the Binding Spell last night, and you didn't feel him, did you?"

"No..." Harry started, frowning. "What do you mean you've been shielding me from him?"

Ginny's cheeks blushed, and she shrugged her shoulders. "This...this gift...this power, whatever...it's like a shield inside of me. I...can block loads of spells Harry, I told you that, remember?"

"Yes, but -" Harry stopped, his mind finally catching up to what she was saying. "Ginny, look at me. What are you saying exactly?"

Ginny met his eyes and smiled. "I've put...sort of a...spell around you, except it's not one like we know it to be. It's all inside here," she said as she touched her forehead. I just...concentrate really hard on surrounding you with...I don't know, light...love...something, and it keeps you protected. It's like the human variation of the Protego Spell. At least, that's how Dumbledore explained it."

"But...I don't understand," Harry said, touching her arm. "How can you do that? So Voldemort doesn't feel me at all now?"

"Yes, and no," Ginny said as she reached for the robes they'd pushed off of each other during their session on the bed. She handed Harry's to him and slipped one over her own shoulders. She sat crossed-legged on the bed and used his wand to wrap her hair up, magically cinching it into a pony-tail. Harry put his own robe on and sat across from her, staring at her expectantly.

"Dumbledore thinks it works like this; Voldemort knows you're out there, and he can...get a read on you, but he can't tell what you're feeling or what you're doing. If he tries to, you're likely to feel a twinge of something, but it won't be something you'd really give any second thought to. What Dumbledore doesn't know is if it is because of what I'm doing or because the two of you are separated by so much distance. Or even if your Occlumency is mixing with the spell. It could be a combination of all three, really."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Harry said, trying to keep his voice even.

Ginny sighed. "I told you we were working on spells..."

"Yeah, and that's sort of like saying Hagrid only likes interesting pets."

Ginny touched his knee. "Don't be cross, Harry. I didn't keep it from you on purpose. I just...I wanted to make certain that it worked."

"I trusted you to tell me what was going on."

Ginny looked in his eyes and then away. "I know; you're right. I should have told you. I...I didn't want you to worry about me or...I don't know...maybe I didn't want to get your hopes up. Getting Tom out of your head...it was all I wanted to do."

Harry struggled with his anger and then released a long breath. He was mad at her, but he knew why she had done it. He took her hand.

"What else do you have to tell me?"

Ginny looked startled, and her ears turned slightly pink, reminding him of Ron suddenly. "Ginny," he said sternly, hoping he could guilt it out of her.

"It's...nothing...I mean, this is only my theory, and Dumbledore doesn't...well, he doesn't know about this. Not really. It's just...the ability you have to break the Binding Spell...I think...it's somehow connected with what I can do now. I'm not certain, but I think either I am giving something to you or you're giving something to me...but it's making the Protection Spell stronger, whatever it is. Dumbledore did tell me he was happy that you and I had started a relationship before the thing with Aine occurred. He thinks that our...connection only deepens and intensifies the power within each of us, and it's causing us to change. And I think he has a point, Harry...the deeper in love I fall with you, the more energy I feel inside me...in fact, I think you can feel it too now, can't you? When you were inside me, I felt...like I was wrapped up in something safe...it made my skin tingle...you made my skin tingle."

Harry felt his head spin. What she was saying made some sort of weird sense, he reckoned, but he didn't know if he understood it correctly. But he knew she was right about one thing, there was something happening to him...to them...the closer they grew.

"So is that why Dumbledore arranged for this trip, really? So we could grow closer together and strengthen this...whatever it is between us?"

"Well, he'd probably deny it being the main reason...but yeah, I think he wanted us to be with each other naturally."

Harry shook his head. "Well, I reckon I'll have to thank him then."

When Ginny gave him a blank look, he smiled and squeezed her hand. "For giving me a month to shag you senseless andcome up with a way to keep Voldemort out of my head."

Ginny smirked, but then frowned at him. "So you're not mad at me...for...not being completely honest with you?"

"No, I still am, but I know why you did it. Although I really want you to promise to me, right now, that nothing like this is ever kept from me again. I don't care if it's just to tell me you slipped me some Pepper-Up potion in my morning tea. I want to know," Harry said forcefully.

"I promise. With all of my heart, which, since you have anyway, you should know that I mean it."

Harry smiled and leaned in to kiss her. A thought occurred to him, and he pulled away, suddenly, staring at her.

"Ginny...this protection whatever...it means Voldemort can't get inside my head but...doesn't that also mean I can't get into his?"

Ginny nodded her head, solemnly. "Dumbledore said that would be the only downfall to it, although we both agreed that having you without him outweighed the price of any information we could get from your connection."

"But...what if he tries to hurt someone or something happens, and I can't warn anyone?"

"Then it happens," Ginny said, and she sat back from him, her eyes taking on an angry glint. "I don't want you to use your connection with that bastard to act as a warning sign. That's nuts. You don't deserve to be used as a guinea pig so that the Order knows if Voldemort is in town or not. I won't allow it."

Ginny looked so determined that Harry felt as though she'd physically pushed him away. "But Gin -"

"No, Harry!" Ginny said, getting off of the bed suddenly. Her eyes blazed at him. "Don't you get it? The more you let him inside, the more he takes and takes. You can't just...open up to him and then close back down again. He's too strong, too charming...too..." Ginny gasped, and then her face turned an ashen color that Harry didn't care for at all. He got up and went to her, pulling her into his arms.

"He told me...he told me..." Ginny was saying against his chest, and he pulled away from her, confused.

"Who told you what?"

Ginny sucked in a breath of air and wiped belligerently at the tear that had started to form in her eye. "Tom told me he told me you would never love me and I...I believed him. When he took me to the Chamber he...he laughed...he said you wouldn't even notice I was gone. He...he...he's so strong, Harry. He twists and turns everything around; I don't want him in you, and as long as there is a breath left inside my body, he won't be inside you. I'm never letting him have you again."

Harry felt his heart shatter into a million pieces at the determination and pain he saw reflected on her face and in her eyes. He loved her more than anything, and yet, even he often forgot that she had been through hell with Voldemort in her own way. Maybe because she never spoke of it, perhaps because her strength always overcame any weakness she had.

Harry remembered that day he had found her in the Chamber of Secrets; how small and lost she had looked lying on the cold stone floor. He remembered feeling as though it was the worse day in his life, and maybe even then, some part of him had known that Ginny was meant to be his. Harry pulled her to him again, wrapping his arms around her, shushing her. To her credit, Ginny didn't cry, and he felt an overwhelming surge of pride at how incredibly strong she truly was.

"Tom Riddle is, and was, a liar, Ginny. That's all he ever was. He lies to everyone he touches; he even lies to himself. Anything he told you about me, or you, or anything at all for that matter, was a pile of codswallop because I love you more than anyone I have ever known in my entire life. You are my life."

After a few moments, he heard Ginny hiccup and take a deep breath. He looked down at her and tilted her head up to look in her eyes. She blinked, and then a ghost of a smile crossed her face, and he knew she was okay.

"Reckon I know how to spoil a good mood," she said softly, shaking her head.

"Never," Harry said and hugged close again. "Hey, I might have something to take your mind off things, at least for a few minutes. Professor Lupin gave me your OWL results. Do you want to see how you did?"

"What? When? Why didn't you mention this before now?" she said, looking up at him.

"Er...because we were sort of busy last night," Harry said, raising his eyebrow at her.

"Oh, that we were," Ginny smiled. "Well, let me have it then, how did I do?"

"I didn't open it; here, let me get the envelope." Harry pulled out of their embrace, looking for the shirt he'd worn the day before. Finding it, he pulled out the letter from the pocket and joined Ginny on the bed. She took it from him with a slight tremor of hesitation.

"Reckon there's nothing else for it," she said after a moment, and turned the envelope over, ripping it open with her nail.

"Just remember, if your brother can barely pass Potions, so can you," Harry said lightly, and she smirked as she opened up the letter. He watched as she scanned the letter, unable to read the expression on her face.

"Well?" he asked, worried she'd received a T in something, judging by the way her eyes clouded over.

Ginny looked at him and handed him the letter, her mouth pursed. He read and then looked back up at her, quickly.

"Ginny, this is brilliant...you got high marks in everything! Even Divination. I'm impressed. I had no idea my girlfriend was Hermione the Second."

Ginny glared at him and folded her arms. "Gee, Harry, I don't know if I should hex you for comparing me to the swottiness that is Hermione or for the fact that you're so surprised at how well I did."

"Why aren't you happy about this?" he said, handing the letter back to her. He, himself, had done about average on his OWL's. Astronomy had been a total wash, of course, and his Potions success had been a rather depressing turn of events, but on the whole, he'd done pretty much as usual, not too great and not too bad.

"Because look at how many classes I'm going to have to take next term! I'm going to be simply loaded down with courses, and who wants that? Charms and Divination alone means my Wednesday and Friday evenings are a loss. When are we ever going to see each other?"

Harry reflected on that and shrugged. "We have Quidditch."

"Brilliant, Harry. We'll just tell everyone else to practice while we go shag. Maybe during games, you can catch the Snitch extra quick, and we'll be able to get a leg over twice."

Harry laughed at the thought. "Look, Gin, I don't think getting great OWL results is the end of the world. You know you're brilliant, I know you're brilliant, and now everyone else can know it as well. We'll just...never rest or something. Because basically, if it comes down to sleeping or shagging, you know which one I'm going to choose."

Ginny laughed, shaking her head at him. "You are absolutely incorrigible, Potter. But I love the fact that you'd rather shag then sleep."

"You thought I meant I'd choose shagging? No way, it's sleep for me -" Harry stopped as the pillow hit his face. "Ow, that hurt," he said as he straightened his glasses.

"Bet I can make it better," Ginny said coyly, moving into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oh, I know you know how to make it better," Harry said as she started kissing his neck. "But honestly, I think we should get dressed and get some breakfast."

"Hmm..." Ginny murmured as she continued kissing him in a way he didn't think he would ever get tired of. He sighed as she made a quiet, sucking noise against his skin. She pulled away, her expression impish.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Harry asked later as they finally disentangled and got up off the bed. She smirked and rubbed at his neck with her hand.

"I don't know, I thought I saw something on your neck there, for a moment..."

Harry gave her a mystified look and went into the loo to see what she meant.

"Ginny!" he bellowed a moment later, causing her to stand in the doorway, biting her lip to keep from smiling.

"Yes, my love?"

He narrowed his eyes at her and pointed to his neck. "You...you...gave me...a love bite!"

Ginny's face turned pink, but she managed to keep her expression sober as she came into the bathroom, looking at him closely.

"Did I really? Where?"

Harry felt his mouth open and close like a fish as he pointed to his neck in the mirror. His neck was now wearing a huge, red, ugly mark where just a moment ago, her mouth had been.

Ginny squinted her eyes. "Honestly, Harry, I don't see a thing. Are you certain you don't need your eyes checked?"

"Oh, Ginny, I swear, if you don't know a spell to make this disappear I'll -"

"You'll what, Potter? Shag me senseless? Already done that, thanks," she turned and shook her head at him. He grabbed her and pulled her roughly to him.

"Ginny," he said harshly, trying to look menacing. "Don't make me hurt you."

Ginny's eyes widened as she looked at him, and then a familiar devilish glint entered her eyes, but Harry didn't care; she'd met her match.

"Don't make you hurt...me? What exactly are you going to do to me, Harry? You know I can take you; you may be the Boy Who Lived, but I'm Fred and George Weasley's little sister...I know a thing or two about hexes!"

"What if I refuse to let you have your way with me until you remove this mark?" he said as he pointed to his neck, raising his eyebrow at her.

Ginny snorted before realizing he was serious. She laughed out loud and shook her head. "Honestly, Harry. You could no more keep yourself away from me, then Ron could stay away from chocolate. I'm in your bones, Potter...you're all mine...any time I want you."

"Oh, is that so?" Harry said smugly. He released her and folded his arms over his chest. "Fine then, suit yourself. No more sex. We're done for. I existed seventeen years without it, I can hold out a long time -"

Ginny cut him off with a kiss, her hands pulling at his, making him relax against her. She pulled away from him, a coy smile on her face, and he watched as she untied the belt to her robe, shrugging it off of her in one easy step. Despite his resolve to the contrary, Harry's eyes swept down and then back up again, only to see her laughing at him.

"Oh yeah, right, Harry...you'll last exactly two seconds if all I have to do is chuck off my robe in front of you."

Harry grimaced at her and shook his head, determined. "No, no...no...it takes more than you in all your glory to get me to lose my resolve...what sort of wizard would I be if...um...oh...I see...huh..."

Harry stopped talking and watched as Ginny's hand slowly made its way over her body, lingering in places he suddenly wanted to be touching himself. She gazed boldly at him as her hand traveled lower and lower, pausing at the edge of her hip.

"You were saying, Harry?" Ginny said.

Harry licked his lips as her hand darted downwards in between her legs, and he suddenly didn't think having a love bite on his neck was really all that important a cause to get upset over. Ginny took a deep breath as her hand moved faster, and he suddenly lost all ability for rational thought.

"Me? I was saying nothing...nothing at all," Harry said quietly, unable to take his eyes off of her.

Ginny removed her hand and brought it up to his mouth, teasing his lips with her fingers. He could smell her scent and licked his lips appreciatively. Ginny smirked at him and laughed, suddenly bending down and picking up her robe.

"Merlin, we're lucky Voldemort is an ugly git, you'd be in real trouble. Honestly, men."

He stared at her in a daze, watching her slip the robe over her shoulders. His brain didn't seem to be functioning right.

"Where are you going?" he asked. Don't we have things to do that involved me getting naked and you keeping that robe off?

"We have to get dressed, Harry, for breakfast...remember? It was your idea," Ginny said playfully and walked out of the bathroom. He heard her open the wardrobe and blinked as she called out to him, "You'll be wanting something with a high collar then, Harry?"

He glanced at his neck again in the mirror. Perhaps she'd been right...it didn't look that ugly now that he saw it again. Rubbing his neck and shaking his head, Harry went to get dressed. Forget Voldemort, I think I need to be saved from women that are too sexy for their own good.

o-o-o-o-o-o

"So you'll be learning Apparation this week, Harry?" Mr Cosgrove asked him as they tucked into breakfast a little while later. He nodded, and Ginny gave him a questioning look. He'd forgotten to tell her about getting lessons from Professor Lupin.

"Yes, Professor Lupin mentioned he would arrange something?" Harry asked the other man and then turned to Ginny. "Sorry, I forgot to mention it. Apparently, Dumbledore is trying to see if your parents will consent to you learning how to do it as well, but they're not too keen on the idea."

"Oh," Ginny said, frowning. "I know how to do it already, actually...I just...can't. I mean, Fred and George told me what to do really. They wanted to make certain I had the knowledge at my fingertips, should I ever need to Apparate somewhere. But I don't think I'd quite like to try it without practicing first."

"Yeah, I don't think I'd like you splinched. Having one of you around to torture me is enough. I don't know what I'd do with two of you, even if they were just parts," Harry said, smiling, and she stuck her tongue out at him. Harry turned back to Mr Cosgrove as Brogan and Garrett came into the room, both yawning and looking exhausted.

"Yes, I think there is an area outside of town that we can use. It should suffice to our needs; it's out of the way, and you can pop in and out rather nicely. And perhaps we can get Brogan here to offer to do some security for us," Mr Cosgrove said, turning to the other man.

Brogan yawned again as he sat down next to Mr Cosgrove, blinking rapidly. "Er...certainly. For what, exactly, am I volunteering?"

"Harry is going to be learning how to Apparate before he goes back to London; I thought we could use Feoras's farm?"

Brogan nodded and took a long drink of tea. "Aye, it'll work. It's private enough too. So if you do splinch yourself, no one will see except the crows and me. And this Professor Lupin, of course."

Harry made a face at Brogan but didn't say anything as he noticed the other man suddenly become quite alert. Harry glanced at the door and saw Sioda staring at them. She glanced away from Brogan's gaze first and started talking to Garrett at the other end of the table. Harry looked back at Brogan and saw the other man watching her, his eyes narrowed.

Brogan's eyes flicked to Harry's, and then he seemed normal again; he yawned widely and nodded at Harry before taking another deep sip of his tea. Harry frowned but didn't say anything as he reckoned whatever was going on between those two was definitely their business and not his. He looked down at his plate to see Ginny stealing his bacon.

"Um, Gin, isn't there a fresh plate of bacon at the other end of the table?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes, Harry, there is."

Harry moved his fork to her plate and started taking back what she had just pinched. "Well, then, why don't you get your own? I haven't started eating that yet."

"But yours is the right temperature, and I'm comfy where I'm at," Ginny said sweetly, blinking her eyes at him as she took the bacon back. Harry smirked at her and let her keep it. He already knew he wouldn't win; giving her a disgruntled look, he got up to refill his plate.

Sioda glanced up as he approached, and she smiled widely at him. "Good morning, Harry," she said, her voice sickeningly-sweet. Garrett nodded at him and pushed the plate of bacon towards him without him having to ask. Harry smiled at them as he began to load up his plate again. "And what are you planning to do today?" Sioda asked him, leaning forward towards him. Harry stared at her for a moment, unable to comprehend why she was sitting so awkwardly. He then realized that because of the way she was sitting, he was staring right down her... Harry felt skin heat, and he looked down at his plate, which he realized he had just filled with far too much bacon.

"Harry is going to be revising with Ginny and me today, Sioda," Brogan said from behind him. "I thought it might be nice if I take them down to the river, actually." While Brogan's tone remained even, Harry thought that the look Brogan was giving her was definitely hostile.

Sioda sighed and sat back, seemingly unaffected by this news. "Pity. I thought perhaps Harry would be interested in the history of the Abbey a bit more. Oh, and I reckon Ginny could come too, of course. I have my meeting in town today with Peter Keelan. He's the local expert about all things odd and strange about the area," she added, looking at Harry. "Also, I'll be heading home soon for a break, and this may be the last time I get to spend any time with our visitors."

"I'm certain Harry would prefer to be around the Abbey today, wouldn't you, Harry?"

Brogan was giving him an odd look, so Harry just nodded, and Brogan led him back to their side of the table. All in all, something very strange was going on. Ginny looked at the two of them as they sat down. Mr Cosgrove had finished and bid them good-morning.

"What was that about? And Harry, you brought enough bacon back to feed Ron."

"Sioda mentioned something about meeting some expert on the Abbey in town today, and Brogan didn't seem to want me to go," Harry said frankly, looking at Brogan.

"Peter Keelan is a crushing bore; believe me, you are not missing out," Brogan said simply. "Trust me, you should be thanking me. He would have bored you to tears."

Harry nodded, although not convinced that was all there was to it. They continued eating, with Ginny stealing more of his bacon. He couldn't get rid of the feeling that Sioda was watching them, but every time he looked down the table at her, she was talking with Garrett, and then later, Kieran, who had made an appearance.

The lingering idea that something was going on still continued to bother him, but he pushed the thoughts out of his head. He had other things to worry about than Sioda.

"Come on, Brogan, I can't believe you won't tell us what it is."

"No. It's silly, actually...I've always been embarrassed by it."

They were outside under an old willow tree, their books and parchment forgotten for a picnic lunch Brogan had surprised them with. They'd headed down to the river that flowed past the Abbey, in the middle of the greenery they'd initially walked through when they'd first arrived. To Harry, it felt as though he were a million miles from nowhere - the Abbey and everything else seemed lost to another time.

Brogan was currently refusing to tell Ginny what his Animagus form was. Harry idly popped grapes into his mouth and squinted at the other man, who was sitting back in the sun. Harry sat forward, lying down in the grass and rested his head on his hands. He rolled his eyes at Brogan.

"You should just tell her, mate. Make it easy on yourself. When Ginny wants to know something, she'll eventually find out. And the way she finally does get the answer probably won't be pleasant."

"Harry," Ginny admonished him, throwing an apple slice at him. "That's not very nice."

Harry shrugged. "No, but it's true," he said cheekily, picking up the piece of apple and eating it. Ginny rolled her eyes at him. She turned her attention back to Brogan.

"Please tell us? I won't laugh, promise...no matter if it's...well...even if you turn into a hedgehog or something."

Harry snickered, and Brogan gave him a funny look. He sighed. "Fine, fine. Look, with all the stuff you've been reading about Aine, you can probably guess what it is already."

When they both gave him blank looks, he chuckled. He moved into the shade of the tree and ran his hands through his hair. "Look at it this way...the form or animal I take...well, it sort of...runs in the family."

"You turn into a rabbit?" Ginny asked, and Brogan gave her a disgusted look.

"No. I'm not that much of a...well, anyway, no, think a little bit higher on the scale."

"A red mare?"

"A goose," Harry said after Brogan shook his head at Ginny again. Brogan smiled appreciatively at him.

"Excellent, Harry. Close, but not quite."

"Your form is a swan?" Ginny asked, excited. "But that's not silly...that's...well, that's sort of romantic, isn't it?"

Harry and Brogan both turned to look at her, and her skin went pink. "Well, I mean it is, really. Swans are very...well, they're just nice. What sort of swan do you turn into?"

Brogan shrugged. "Just a regular one, I believe. White, long neck, black, and red bill. My transfiguration tutor used to tease me after I'd finally achieved the ability to change that I was the official ugly duckling story come to life. It did wonders for my morale," he said dryly.

"Harry's father was an Animagus. Harry's Patronus takes his shape, the stag."

Brogan looked at Harry. "Does it really? I bet that was a bit odd the first time you saw that."

Harry glanced down at the rest of the food, taking another apple slice. "Well, I didn't know it was his form at the time. I didn't know anything about my father for a long while. I still don't, really...if you want to be technical. I only know what other people can tell me."

Ginny touched his shoulder and moved closer to him, stretching out next to him. He offered her a part of his apple, and she took it, smiling at him. Brogan nodded at them.

"I understand. But still...if your father was an Animagus, certainly you must have the ability as well?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope. I'm rubbish at Transfiguration."

"Harry, you are not," Ginny said, loftily. "He received an Exceeds Expectations on his OWL, don't listen to him."

"The only reason I did any good on that exam is because of Hermione," Harry said reasonably, knowing it was probably her notes that had saved him from being a troll.

"And what about you, Ginny?" Brogan said, watching her.

She shrugged. "Well, I'm fair at it. But I don't know...I don't think McGonagall thinks I have it in me. She became very cross with me when my guinea fowl refused to turn into guinea pigs."

"You did excellent on the exam," Harry pointed out.

"Yes, and like you just said, Hermione helped me a lot as well. She'd sit there knitting elf hats, and I'd try to get answers out of her while I was revising. Lucky for me, she's such a bad knitter, I could easily distract the answers out of her."

Harry and Ginny shared a private smile at picturing Hermione and her infamous attempts at elf clothes. Brogan looked confused.

"Why was your friend knitting elf hats?"

Harry chuckled. "See our friend Hermione; she's got this thing -"

"Where she thinks that all elves should be set free, even the ones at Hogwarts -"

"Even though my friend Ron has explained to her that they sort of like it there -"

"So she took it upon herself to knit clothes for them, in case they wanted to pick up and see the world at large." Ginny finished, laughing.

"What ended up happening is that this one elf, a friend of mine, Dobby...well, he was the one picking up all the hats and scarves and whatnot, and using them because all the other elves refused to clean our common room after Hermione kept leaving the clothes out for them to find," Harry further explained, seeing that Brogan still had a confused look on his face.

"Oh, Hermione's heart is in the right place," Ginny said after she finished laughing. "Don't get us wrong. We love her...she's just...she gets very determined."

"And single-minded. Especially when she thinks she's right," Harry said, musing to himself. He missed Hermione and Ron, actually. He wished that they could have joined him and Ginny at the Abbey.

"I miss them, actually," Ginny said after a moment, echoing his thoughts. "My family, in general, is a mad lot, but individually...you do sort of start to appreciate them more when you're away from them."

Brogan nodded that he understood, and they finished eating in enjoyable silence. Afterward, Ginny and Harry walked down to the water's edge, holding hands and watching the swift current of the water race by them.

"Hey, what are you thinking?" she asked him, tugging on his arm. He turned and smiled at her.

"I love being here at the Abbey, but..."

"You want to go home," she said wisely, nodding her head. "I know. I felt it today, too...talking about Hermione and Ron. I miss my Mum, believe or not. And of course, Dad. I mean, I wouldn't trade the time we've had here together in a million years, Harry, but...I wish we could share it with them."

"Yeah," he said simply. Harry's mind was on something else, and he knew he should mention it. He sat down on the ground, and Ginny joined him, their feet hanging above the top of the water.

"When we get back...we're...we're going to have to tell everyone about us, you know that right?" he asked quietly, looking into the cool blue and green of the river. He glanced at Ginny.

"Yes, I know," she said, her face serious. "Especially my parents. They...well, they deserve for us to be truthful with them. I don't care about my brothers, but I do want my Mum and Dad to be...well, happy for me. For us. And they will be, Harry. They love you like a son already; you know that."

Harry shrugged. "They might feel different after they realize how serious we really are. They might not like the idea of their only daughter getting shagged senseless by the boy destined to pick a fight with the Dark Lord. They might think...well, they might wonder what kind of future I could possibly give you."

He didn't meet her eyes and looked back down into the water again. It looked cool, and Brogan had told them that it was freezing for this time of year, which was why no one had been swimming in it as much.

"Harry, do you really think that?" Ginny asked him, touching his shoulder, causing him to look away from the water.

"Think what?"

"That you can't give me a future? I thought you had decided that you wanted it now?"

"I do, Ginny. But that doesn't mean I'll be able to actually give it to you. Anything could still happen."

"Nothing is going to happen that we can't face and survive."

He looked at her and saw how earnest she was. He wondered at her ability to always make him feel as though what she said was true - that what she thought was going to happen wasactually going to happen, simply because she believed it.

"I wish I had your faith, sometimes," he said now, as he took her hand.

"Well, so do I...I want you to believe in yourself, Harry. But until that time comes, you can have all of mine. I have more than enough for both of us."

She smiled and leaned in to kiss him softly. He pulled a stray lock of her hair from behind her ear and let it fall through his fingers in the sunlight. He loved the way it always looked like fire.

"You know Bill and Charlie are probably going to clobber me when we get back," he said as she batted at his hand, tucking the hair back into her pony-tail again.

"Why?"

"Because I let my seventeen-year-old urges get the best of me, and I defiled their sister, silly."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't you worry about them; I've been thinking about Bill, and I know how to get him back. He thinks he's a moral superior in this case, but he's not. I've got a bit of dirt on him that he doesn't think I know. Or at least, he doesn't think I'll use it. It serves him right."

They stood up and headed back to where they had left Brogan, reading. Harry shook his head. He watched her out of the corner of his eye - so very headstrong and so very much like all of her brothers put together that it was scary.

"Gin?"

She stopped and looked back at him, a question on her face.

"Remind me to never truly get on your bad side, okay?"

She smiled and pulled him to her. "You know, Harry, some people say you're thick, but really...you're just...a bit slow, aren't you?"

"Oh, nice Ginny. But what is that supposed to mean, exactly?"

"It means what it means," she said mysteriously, and she wrapped her hands around his neck. "Now kiss me again, before you do get on my bad side. And Harry? Like we discovered today, going slow is a very goodthing."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

SempervirentRosetum

Etitur ad astra

Etitur ad astra

Evergreen, a rose garden

And we go to the stars...

And we go to the stars.