I've chosen Dean Thomas.

Ginny recalled her words to her final remaining brother attending Hogwarts in the days leading up to her second-term of fifth-year ending. She knew that his happiness about ending her relationship with Michael Corner, a Ravenclaw in his year, wouldn't last, especially when she told him about her and Dean. She knew she wasn't in love with Dean; she liked him, a lot, and he was a hell of a better snogger than Michael was. However, she had seen the way Dean looked at her, and knew he was a good choice; he was nice, really nice, and Hermione had told her to see some other people.

She hated the illusion that people thought she was in love with Harry Potter, her older brother Ron's best friend. Sure, she loved Harry—but as a brother. Only Luna Lovegood, her closest friend other than Hermione Granger, knew the truth, and it didn't take long for her to come clean to Harry about it. Harry confided a secret of his own, that he was gay, and unsure how to come out to his other friends. Ginny rushed to support him, letting him know that her mother's elder brothers, Gideon and Fabien Prewett, had been gay, and it was one of the many reasons why the Death Eaters had disposed of them. Other than that, Charlie, her brother who was a dragon tamer in Romania, was also gay, and her entire family was supportive of him. She told him not to come out until he was truly ready, however, but promised to be there for him any way she possibly could in the future.

Ginny hoped, as she left Platform 9¾, with a final goodbye to her mother, that things would be different that year. She had a new addition in the form of a purple Pygmy Puff, whom she had called Arnold, and who was currently resting on her shoulder. Once she handed off her trunk to one of the train attendants, she made her way into the Hogwarts Express itself, beginning her search for Dean. In his letters over the summer, he said that he wanted them to share a compartment together, and Ginny wanted him to meet Arnold officially. As she made her way through a gaggle of precocious first-years, she felt her hackles going up then as she looked down the lane of the train and saw Draco Malfoy.

"Ah, the Weaslette," he said in a condescending manner, his silver eyes taking in every inch of her, and Ginny glared at him. "Or would you prefer the term 'Jill'?"

Ginny whipped out her wand without hesitation, and Arnold immediately shrieked from his place upon her shoulder. "Why can't you ever be nice?" she hissed, turning the wand over and over in her fingers.

"Nice?" sneered Draco. "Nice?! Why would I waste my time being nice to a blood traitor? It's a miracle you survived the whole debacle at the Ministry at all! You're lucky you don't have a painted target on your head, Weaslette—that honor goes to potty Potter!"

Without thinking about the consequences, Ginny waved her wand in a motion that resembled a bat's wing, and a sickly-green light came forth from her wand, immediately zapping onto Draco Malfoy's nose. Ginny grinned as he sputtered, and several bats came peeling out of his nose like there was no tomorrow. Ginny felt giggle after giggle escaping her lips, which were instantly silenced when she saw Horace Slughorn—whom she recognized from hearing Harry's description about him—coming out of a compartment and looking back and forth, seemingly surprised at the turn of events.

"Professor Slughorn!" came Draco's voice, shrill from embarrassment, "look...look what the Weasley girl has done to me!"

The man looked at Draco for a moment before he turned to Ginny, looking perplexed for a moment. "And what is your name, my dear?"

Ginny swallowed; there had to be a detention in her future, she just knew it. All she could do was hope to Merlin that it wasn't with Filch. "Ginny Weasley, sir," she replied.

At once, Professor Slughorn lit up once Ginny had introduced herself. "Oh, yes! I knew your mother and father—lovely couple, simply lovely, and quite talented, too. It is no surprise that any offspring of theirs would be talented as well."

"But—but—!" Draco sputtered from behind him.

"I should think that you should be quite proud of your expert spell work," Professor Slughorn went on proudly, amid Draco's yells of indignation. "In fact, I always permit a select few students to come to my rooms for supper parties; I call it my Slug Club, you see," the man continued, and Ginny permitted herself to smile at him. "May I formally extend the invitation to you, Miss Weasley? Your potions OWL last year was impressive—an 'O', if I recall correctly, wasn't it?"

"It was, sir, yes," Ginny affirmed with a nod, and Draco narrowed his eyes, bats still flying out from his nose. "And I'd be honored to accept your invitation, sir."

"You're going to invite her?" Draco cried out. "Sir, my father, Lucius Malfoy, was also a member of your Slug Club—"

"He was," Professor Slughorn confirmed, looking rather disdainfully at Draco. "However, I am under the impression that your own high potions marks had to do with the fact that your godfather was the one marking the assignments."

Draco immediately went red. "I was near the top of the class—"

"Blatant nepotism is not something that I smile upon, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Slughorn informed the seventeen-year-old Slytherin coldly, before turning back to Ginny. "Miss Weasley, I think that this young man has been punished accordingly. Would you please take off the hex?"

"Naturally," Ginny replied, raising up her wand, and whispering a quick, "Finite," and the bats promptly disappeared.

"My father will hear about this!" Draco snarled, before immediately turning on his heel and stomping out of there.

Professor Slughorn chuckled and looked down at Ginny. "And, oh my, what do we have here, then?" he asked, stepping closer, and peering down at Arnold.

"This is Arnold," Ginny replied, lifting and angling her shoulder slightly so as the man could take a closer look.

"Hello, little one," the potions professor said, and extended a finger, gently running it along Arnold's fur, and the small Pygmy Puff chortled in Ginny's ear. "A fine specimen indeed. I wonder, Miss Weasley, where you got him?"

"My older brothers, Fred and George, run a joke shop in Diagon Alley," Ginny explained promptly to the man. "They breed them on premises and sell them there."

"Ah, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!" Professor Slughorn said, clapping his hands with delight. "I journeyed there a couple of weeks ago, when I was collecting books from Flourish and Blotts for my lessons. Quite charismatic, your brothers."

"Thank you, sir. They have their moments," Ginny replied, looking up and through the crowd, where she saw Dean speaking with Seamus. "Oh, I'm sorry, please excuse me, professor," she said politely, turning back to the man. "My boyfriend is over there, and I promised to meet him to talk about our summers. We haven't seen one another since last term, you see..."

"Ah, young love!" said the potions professor, and Ginny nearly gagged at the notion that Rita Skeeter had said those very same words about Harry and Hermione once upon a time. "Don't let me keep you, Miss Weasley. Look for my owl for the supper party."

"I will. Thank you, sir," Ginny called over her shoulder, flitting through the crowd until she came upon Dean and Seamus. "Hello, Seamus," she said, before turning to look at her boyfriend for the first time in nearly three months. "Hello, Dean."

Dean smiled down at Ginny, while Seamus immediately excused himself to find a compartment, and Ginny permitted Dean to lean down and kiss her cheek. "How was your summer?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Percy didn't come home, again," she said, leaning up against the inner wall of the train. "Mum was just beside herself for weeks, not to mention the fact that she sort of lost it at the end of summer..."

"Why?" Dean asked, motioning Ginny to a nearby compartment, which was, thankfully, empty from anyone else. He opened the door for her and guided her inside, and Ginny attempted not to be annoyed by this. "Is everything all right?"

Ginny shook her head and moved to sit down on one of the long, cushioned bench seats. "Not really, no," she told him, permitting Arnold to nuzzle into her hair. "Mum said that we had no business returning to Hogwarts this term. Apparently, she wanted us to believe that there was talk lately about Dumbledore's age..."

Dean blinked as he sat across from his girlfriend; clearly, he hadn't considered this. "Well, I mean, he was your mum and dad's headmaster, too, wasn't he?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes. I know there was a different caretaker when they attended Hogwarts—I think his name was Pringle, which Dad always goes on about being a Muggle snack food, so all I really know is his name, plus him catching them one night after curfew..."

"Crisps," Dean said, and Ginny raised her eyebrows at him. "The Muggle snack," he went on, flushing uncomfortably, and Ginny realized he probably didn't want to think about what her parents had been doing after curfew. "The kids love it, and my dad always gets them for us." He had a faraway look in his dark eyes for a moment. "Brilliant man, my dad. I was just a kid when he and Mum got together; he raised me like his own, and there's never been any discrepancy between me or my siblings..."

"That's lovely, Dean," Ginny told him, because it was.

"Anyhow," Dean said, obviously snapping out of it, "you really think your mum is worried about Dumbledore's age? Binns had us read repeatedly in History of Magic that witches and wizards have much longer lifespans than Muggles..."

"You're right there," Ginny said, shuddering visibly at the notion of the only professor that was a ghost on staff, who really should have been sent off to the afterlife long ago. "Still, I think Mum's got it into her head that, perhaps, he's unable to achieve the things he used to. Sure, he's the best sorcerer in the world, but I think she's afraid that that's not enough..."

Dean pursed his lips, looking contemplative for a moment. "I think that it's a wait-and-see operation," he said softly. "We can't know what tomorrow will bring. Ever since You-Know-Who came back on the night of the Triwizard Tournament, we really can't second-guess what's going to happen anymore."

Ginny nodded. "Poor Harry is still so torn up about it," she said softly, bringing down Arnold from her shoulder and into the palms of her hands. "First watching Cedric die and You-Know-Who's return, and then having Sirius die just three months ago..." She shuddered. "His entire life hasn't been easy. I count myself so lucky that I've got my mum and dad, plus all my brothers, to look out for me..."

"And me," Dean said quickly, and Ginny's eyes flashed to his, noticing yet again that he was uncomfortable, as he always seemed to be whenever Harry was brought up. "I heard he was torn up about not making Head Boy. First Ron and Hermione get Prefect, and he's devastated, and now he's lost out to Malfoy for Head Boy..."

Ginny shrugged her shoulders; she herself had made Prefect her fifth-year, and was going to be accomplishing her second year of it as soon as school started. She had gotten a letter from Professor McGonagall over the summer, letting her know that, if the second year went as good as her first, and if her marks were outstanding by the end of term, she would be a shoe-in for Head Girl next year. "Well, at least Hermione got Head Girl," she said softly, knowing that, if she asked, that Hermione would be more than happy to give her tips.

"Good thing, too," Dean said, nodding emphatically. "I'd hate for Greengrass or Bulstrode to have gotten it," he went on, wrinkling his nose.

Ginny sighed. "We may not agree with their stance on the way they see the Wizarding World, Dean, but instead of condemning them, we should attempt to teach them. And besides, they're well within their rights to believe what they believe; it's what they choose to do with their belief system that's the problem."

Dean's eyes snapped to hers. "Sounds like you've been talking to Harry."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Mum and Dad petitioned for custody of him on the stroke of midnight on his birthday, and got it," she huffed, crossing her arms as Arnold darted out of them, and hopped up onto the window sill of the train compartment. "True, he's seventeen already, but you know as well as I do that the Muggle world doesn't see it that way, and they make you wait another year for full adulthood."

"So, he's staying at the Burrow, then?"

"Yes, if you must know—he shared a room with Ron, but then they gave him Percy's room since he's made it clear he's not coming back," Ginny said blithely.

"Custody... A formal arrangement, and a noble one. It's not the same as adoption, though," Dean said thoughtfully, and Ginny looked up at him. "My dad's a family law barrister, Ginny. Forgive me if I'm aware of the specifics."

"They've agreed to brooch the subject of adoption at Christmas," Ginny told him. "They wanted Harry to get used to the arrangement for a period."

Dean sighed. "Even if he's adopted, it doesn't mean that the two of you couldn't be together," he said softly, and Ginny narrowed her eyes.

"I'll thank you to cease that line of questioning," she said, and got to her feet, gathering Arnold back up into her arms. "If you'll excuse me, I need some space—no, don't get up," she said, and swept out of the compartment, making her way back up the lane.

"Quibbler? Quibbler?" came the familiar voice of Luna Lovegood as she walked down in the opposite direction, and her pale blue eyes lit up as she caught sight of Ginny, immediately gravitating towards her. "Ginny!"

"Hello, Luna," Ginny replied, doing her best to smile.

"Good summer?"

"All right," Ginny told her. "Quiet, thank Merlin."

"We needed it after everything that happened in June," Luna said softly, and caught sight of Arnold in Ginny's arms. "He's lovely!" she cooed, reaching out and caressing him with her finger. "They're known to sing on Boxing Day, you know. Quibbler?" she asked, and held out a copy of the paper.

"Oh, please," Ginny said, clutching at it, knowing that it would prove a worthy distraction. "A Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" she asked, reading the headline.

"Dad's and my trip to Scandinavia wielded more research, but still no sightings," Luna replied with a small shrug. "Perhaps when we return for Christmas, we'll have better luck," she told her, before turning about and heading back down the lane, calling out for anyone who wanted a copy of The Quibbler.

Ginny made her way in the same direction she'd been going, coming to a stop when she spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione sharing a compartment. She slid open the door and remained in the doorway, forcing yet another smile to her lips. "Mind if I join?"

"Yes, we mind," Ron said, huffing as he crossed his shoulders and threw himself back into the seat in a most dramatic fashion. "Can't you see we're busy?"

Hermione's eyes caught Ginny's, and she got to her feet, setting Crookshanks aside and moving forward, enveloping Ginny in her arms. "Ignore him," she soothed, bringing Ginny onto her bench, and waved her hand, so that the door to the compartment slid closed. "Now, then," she went on, easing her onto the seat, so that they were opposite Harry and Ron, "are you doing all right, Ginny?"

Ginny sighed, pushing her hair behind her ears with her free hands. "Dean's still on his track about me being in love with Harry," she groused.

Harry gagged. "Ew, much?" he asked, shaking his head. "You were practically my sister to begin with, and now that I'm living at the Burrow, and we're contemplating making it official come Christmas, it's even more gross, isn't it?"

"It was gross to begin with," Ron said, wrinkling his nose. "That's my sister, mate."

"We know what Ginny's relation is to you, Ron, thank you," Hermione said, rolling her eyes and turning back to Ginny. "Have you explained to Dean about Harry?"

"He knows that you had some troubles with the Dursleys, Harry, but I've kept it to that they didn't like magic and so were pretty rude to you," she went on. "Like you always tell them, and what you mentioned you were comfortable with anyone else knowing. I mean, don't get me wrong, it would be easier if Dean understood the whole truth, but you're well-being is much more important that a teenage romantic relationship that I'm not fully sure will last an entire lifetime..."

"Thanks, Gin. That's sweet of you," Harry said quietly. "And thank you for keeping it at the previously discussed minimum."

"Of course, Harry," Ginny assured him.

"If you're so convinced that your relationship with Dean won't last an entire lifetime, then toss him over, Ginny!" Ron cried out.

Ginny looked over at Ron. "The only reason why you would want me to do so, Ron, is because you're wary of catching us snogging," she said. "You're not Dad, or Mum, and they've got no problem with my relationship with Dean."

"Leave off her, Ron," Hermione scolded him lightly. "If your parents don't mind Ginny seeing someone, then it's really not your business."

Ron turned red. "It's not yours either—!"

"Actually, it is," Ginny countered, cutting across him. "As it stands, Hermione is my closest friend, and the closest thing I've got to a sister. As such, I confide in her about many things, including boys and our respective futures, so pardon me if I feel I'm old enough to decide whose business it is or not. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but that's just the way it is."

They chatted back and forth for the remainder of the journey into Edinburgh and Hogsmeade Station, before they spotted Hagrid waving the lantern about upon the platform, waiting for the first-years to gather around him. By this time, both Harry and Ron, plus Ginny and Hermione, had changed into their robes, with Hermione's Head Girl badge shining pristinely, and Ginny's Prefect pendant just as polished. As they stepped out of the train and onto the platform, Ginny spotted Dean talking with Neville and Seamus, and the trio set off down the path to grab a carriage together. Ginny hung back for a moment, and was relieved when Hermione took her by the hand and guided her to another carriage for the four of them.

"Feeling all right, mate?" Ron asked Harry, as they settled into the small, dark compartment, and went up the winding forest road from the station and towards the castle.

"Just thinking," Harry responded, leaning back in the seat. He'd shrunk down Hedwig's cage before they left the train, putting it into his pocket, and permitting the snowy owl to fly herself to the owlery.

"About Professor Slughorn again?" Hermione asked, from where she sat, again, beside Ginny in the darkness of the carriage.

"He was on the train, you know, just like Lupin was," Ginny observed softly, and Hermione, Harry, and Ron all turned to look at her.

"You didn't mention that on the train," Harry put in.

"Sorry—preoccupied, you know," she replied, shaking her head and twisting one of her long strands of red around a pale finger.

"Did he say anything to you?" Hermione asked.

Ginny nodded. "He caught me, right after I cursed Malfoy," she responded, and she felt Harry turning protective as the carriage burst to life and the Thestral trotted along.

"What'd that blaggard say to you?!" Ron demanded, before Harry had the chance to ask the question himself.

"Poked fun about what happened at the Ministry," Ginny told them, shaking her head in a moment of disgust.

Hermione brown brows knit together. "How did Professor Slughorn fit into the story, then?" she asked. "He was a Slytherin... Did he comes to Malfoy's defense?"

Ginny felt a genuine smile encroach upon her lips. "No, actually. He was impressed with the Bat-Bogey Hex I gave him...wordless and everything..."

Hermione clutched at Ginny's hand. "As Head Girl, I'm beside myself with disappointment," she said, her face softening as Ginny looked up at her. "But, as your best friend, I cannot tell you how proud I am of you."

"He wasn't mad, then?" Ron asked.

"Or take points?" Harry wanted to know.

Ginny shook her head, feeling more secure with her hand in Hermione's. "Nothing like that. He did mention his Slug Club, though, and the supper parties. He invited me to both..." She shook her head in a moment of amazement. "I think I'll go..."

Harry deliberately lowered his voice then, just as the carriage burst out from the final patch of trees and began up the hill to the castle. "In addition to meeting Slughorn over the summer, Dumbledore asked me to get to know him," he said softly, and Ginny, Hermione, and Ron all stared at him with raised eyebrows. "He said something about Slughorn collecting me," he went on, his eyes shifting to Hermione.

"You mentioned all those photographs he had of previous students," Hermione said, stroking Crookshanks as she sat back in her seat.

"On of them as Gwenog Jones, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies!" Ron cried out, looking absolutely besotted, and Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes. "Said something about free tickets whenever he wanted them, didn't he?"

"Obviously," Hermione said, cutting across Ron, "he had his favorites while he was the Potions professor here, before Professor Snape, as any professor does, as evidenced by Professor Snape's blatant favoritism of Malfoy all these years," she went on, shaking her head. "However, my assumption here is that, he'll select a potential favorite from either a good family, one he senses great promise in, or both. After this, he'll give them O's in all his classes, and then, after graduation, if his assumptions have proved correct, in return, just like Gwenog, Professor Slughorn will also get favors."

Ginny bent forward slightly. "Did the headmaster give you any indication of why he wants you to be friendly with Slughorn, Harry?" she asked.

"Something about him having something precious, that he needs as soon as possible," Harry explained effortlessly.

"To benefit the war, mate?" Ron queried.

"Probably," Harry agreed, as the carriage stopped, and waited in the long line to be brought forth to the entrance staircase, so that they could ultimately step out and go inside the school. "Ginny, I don't want to put you in the middle of this, but if you could..."

"My eyes and ears are on full-alert, Harry," Ginny told him, brightening considerably at the notion of a great task.

Harry smiled in thanks. "Hermione, you'll have to help, too," Harry told her. "I may have mentioned to you to Slughorn when I went to see him. Told him you were the best in our year and everything, so I'm sure he's looking forward to meeting you."

Hermione gently stroked at Crookshanks, who she would release as soon as they stepped into the school, as the cat instinctively knew where to go, and she knew that he would know where her private Head Girl rooms were. "Well, I'll certainly do my best," she replied. "Even though Professor Snape left a lot to be desired when it came to his methods of teaching, you know I managed to thrive in the environment."

Ron pouted from beside Harry. "And what am I meant to do, then?"

Harry turned to Ron with a smile. "What you do best, mate! Strategize!"

~*~

It was nearly a fortnight after first-term began that things began to shake up a bit. With Hermione now in her own rooms as Head Girl, Ginny took over watching over Harry and Ron when their bushy-haired friend couldn't be around. She kept on them about studying for their NEWTs, and although Harry seemed to understand, Ron quickly grew annoyed with her. Resolving to put it out of her mind, Ginny went with Harry and Ron to Quidditch tryouts on the second Saturday of first-term, knowing that she had to be on top of her game.

Arriving on the field after changing, Ginny felt relieved that it was an overcast day, but not too dark or too wet—perfect Quidditch weather. She stood beside Harry as he lectured to Ron and the others gathered to try-out, telling all the excited Gryffindors to "SHUT IT!" when they were being a bit too boisterous to listen to Harry's detailed instructions. Once things had been said and done, Ginny took ahold of her Turbo XXX that Fred and George had surprised her with for her last birthday, when she revealed she would be going out for Quidditch, and waited for Harry's instructions; Harry was now Team Captain, and would still be the Seeker, while Ron was going out for Keeper, and Ginny for Chaser.

Ginny kicked off from the ground when instructed to do so, and dived in a zigzag motion to retrieve the Quaffle. She flashed a smile to Hermione, who looked worried, so she followed her gaze to see that Ron was having a rather difficult time. Her brother kept slipping and sliding in front of the goal post, while seventh-year Cormac McLaggen, who was also trying out for Keeper, was giving smug looks Hermione's way. Ginny was angered at the blatant looks that McLaggen was giving her, knowing that Hermione likely wouldn't do anything untoward, given her status as Head Girl. To make matters worse, another seventh-year, Lavender Brown, was watching Ron like a hawk, and Ginny thought she could see lust in her eyes.

Ginny focused as best she could, knowing that she had to make an impression upon Harry, and that he couldn't just give her the role of Chaser, even though she was practically his sister. The try-outs lasted two hours, and Ginny was bone tired afterwards, and yet relieved, knowing that she had played as well as she could have. Hopping down from her broom and shrinking it down, she made her way back to the castle, wanting to shower and change before doing some more studying in the Gryffindor common room.

After working on her first charms essay, Ginny headed down from the common room and into the Great Hall, wanting to eat quickly, knowing that she would be able to finish the essay before curfew arrived. She reluctantly sat beside Dean, telling him how try-outs went, and listening to him going on and on about running around the grounds with Seamus, trying to get Neville to leave the greenhouses for once. Ginny chewed her roast chicken, attempting to listen, but saw Harry stomping into the Great Hall a few moments later, red in the face, with Professor Snape sweeping in behind him, and making his way up to the head table.

This wasn't so perplexing, given that Harry and Professor Snape's arguments were considered to be legend. Shaking her head and turning back to her meal, Ginny did her best to keep her conversation with Dean going. Once dinner and pudding had concluded, she excused herself to return to the common room, so as to finish her essay for Professor Flitwick. It wasn't too loud in the common room, with Hermione visiting and pouring over her Ancient Runes text, and Ron muttering to himself over a Quidditch magazine.

Slowly but surely, the common room became quieter and quieter, with many of the younger years hanging on for as long as they could before trooping up the stairs. Hermione said goodnight after a while, attempting to ignore the looks that Lavender was giving to Ron, and Ginny hoped that her brother wouldn't be swayed. Looking up sometime later, she realized that she was alone in the common room, and set aside her charms essay, and began pouring over her Transfiguration reading next.

The portrait hole opened close to midnight, and Harry walked over the threshold, stopping short when he saw Ginny sitting beside the fire. "Gin?"

Ginny held up her textbook. "McGonagall expects pretty detailed notes on these things," she told him, showing him her sheet of parchment. "I really shouldn't fall behind."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, right," he said, looking unsure.

Ginny sighed, pursing her lips. "Everything all right? It's nearly curfew, you know, and here you are, just getting in..."

"Detention with Snape," Harry said effortlessly, and Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Mouthed off to him before dinner. Just couldn't help it..."

Ginny sighed a second time and closed her book; she would have plenty of time to do the rest of it tomorrow, she reasoned. "Harry, you're a seventh-year now," she said softly, and Harry dragged a hand through his hair. "I won't try to go Mum on you, but you know how she can get when she knows about these things."

Harry's cheeks flushed. "You don't think she'll send me a Howler, do you?"

Ginny smiled softly. "I doubt it," she told him. She gathered her things before getting to her feet, and squeezed Harry's shoulder. "Just be careful," she said, before turning on her heel and making her way up to the sixth-year girls' dorm.

~*~

The following Saturday was the first Hogsmeade weekend of term, and Ginny had agreed to go down to the wizarding village with Dean. The crisp fall air nipped ever so slightly at their cheeks, and leaves of scarlet, bronze, and gold flew around them, permitting themselves to be crunched beneath their feet. Ginny pulled her scarf more firmly around her neck, turning her head slightly to catch Dean's words of conversation.

"My mum and dad wrote me this week," he said, obviously pleased to hear from his family after nearly three weeks of term. "The kids are doing fine, of course. They know about as much of Hogwarts as the Statute of Secrecy allows, but, you know how young children can be..."

Ginny smiled knowingly. "They want to come here, don't they?"

"Yes, exactly," Dean told her, nodding his head. "I imagine it would've been difficult for you, growing up, if any of your siblings couldn't have gone..."

"It was difficult for me, watching them go, year after year," she admitted. "Even Fred and George telling me they'd send me a Hogwarts toilet seat wouldn't do..."

Dean turned and gazed at Ginny. "They didn't, did they?"

Ginny laughed aloud at that; the twins had been in third-year then, and she wasn't really aware of their aptitude for Shrinking Charms, leading her to believed they would've had to ask Percy, who naturally would have demanded to know why. "No, of course they didn't. Too complicated, and mostly because Percy was a Prefect—he never let any of us step a toe out of line."

Dean reached out and tentatively took ahold of Ginny's hand, which she allowed. "I've been a prat lately, I know that..."

Ginny blinked. "Do you mean on the train?"

"And the distance I put between us since then, yes," Dean confirmed. "I suppose I've truly gone and convinced myself that you're only using me as a rebound..."

"Well, I'm not," Ginny told Dean firmly. "Yes, I had a little crush on Harry, especially after he rescued me from the Chamber of Secrets. However, I now realize that said crush was mainly just gratitude for saving my life."

"And you were eleven," Dean put in.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, exactly. So," she told him, standing on her toes and kissing him, "you've nothing to worry about, Dean Thomas."

Ginny managed to keep a smile on her face for the rest of the day, especially when she returned to the castle after the Hogsmeade visit, and saw that the Quidditch positions had formally and finally been announced. Scanning through the names, she was delighted to learn that Ron had beaten McLaggen for the position of Keeper. Even more amazing was the notion that Ginny was now one of the Gryffindor Chasers.

The first official practice session was the following week, and Ginny planned to impress her fellow team mates with her hard work. When the day came, however, Harry's face was a dark as a thundercloud, but she made up her mind not to be distracted. When Harry, who had been missing the Saturday before, wasn't in the common room for hours, Ginny began to worry. It was when he finally arrived that Ginny gathered up her Herbology assignment from Professor Sprout and got to her feet, standing in front of him.

"Late nights, and you look more exhausted than ever... Ron's thinking you're not sleeping at all, you know," Ginny told him, worry in her voice.

"I'm fine, Ginny," Harry said quickly, looking around the room, his body language relaxing as he took note that he and Ginny were alone.

Ginny crossed her arms. "Are you, Harry?" she asked. "You look devastated half the time and I'm really worried about you..."

Harry sighed, his entire body slumping. "I am devastated, Ginny, but not for the reason you might think..."

"So, not the detentions, then?"

Harry shook his head. "It's not detentions, Ginny."

Ginny blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Harry looked around again, before he deliberately lowered his voice. "After Mum and Dad Weasley brought me to the Burrow, I was seventeen, so I was allowed to go off on my own, because I know I can get away if need be."

Ginny nodded. "All right? What are you telling me here?"

"I was in Diagon one day, after I visited the twins, and I saw Snape popping out of Slugs and Jiggers," he went on. "Anyhow, we got to talking, and ever since August, we've..." Harry lowered his eyes. "We're together, Ginny."

Ginny's eyes flew to her lips. "You're together?"

Harry nodded. "Yes."

Ginny slowly lowered her hand then and tentatively took ahold of Harry's. "Does he at least treat you well?" she asked him softly.

Harry's eyes flashed upwards. "Of course! We're in love!" he said softly, breathlessly, and his green eyes shone. "I've never been happier, Gin..."

Ginny nodded at him, and gave him a smile. "Well, I suppose that that's good, then. But who will grade your work?"

Harry lowered his voice again. "Dumbledore knows, and he's arranged something with Professor Flitwick," he said quickly. "Professor Flitwick... Well, I don't know if he knows the finer details of why he has to grade my Defense Against the Dark Arts assignments, but you know as well as I do that it'd be a conflict of interest if Severus did."

Ginny flashed Harry a grin. "So, you call him 'Severus'?" she asked.

"When we're alone," Harry told her, and lowered his voice again. "I suppose that I don't need to impress upon you that this needs to be kept secret?"

Ginny nodded. "Of course. You told me yourself that when you came out that nobody else knew... I mean, you did tell Hermione between now and then, right?"

"I told her when she came to the Burrow two weeks before term," Harry assured her. "I also told Mum and Dad Weasley, of course. They were over the moon, naturally."

"Just like I told you they would be," Ginny assured him. "All they want is for all of us to be happy, you know. And... Well, safe," she said, giving Harry a concerned look. "I won't tell anyone, Harry, and I'll even act as a go-between if need be—you know, covering for you with Ron and Hermione, but..."

"But what, Ginny?"

"But I don't need to tell you that you need to be careful," she told him. "Please, just please tell me that Professor Snape has told you that wizards can get pregnant..."

"He has," Harry said with a smile. "We've decided to wait to get me pregnant after You-Know-Who's gone, and I'm graduated."

Ginny stepped forward then, giving Harry a warm hug. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you, Harry, to have found someone... I'm sure he's different with you..."

"He's kind, intelligent, and I find him dead sexy," Harry whispered, and Ginny giggled. "I felt like I would die if someone didn't know..."

"Well," Ginny said softly, pulling back, "I'm so glad I could be that person for you, Harry. Come what may, I'll always be your sister, and I'll be here whenever you need me."

Harry nodded. "I know, Ginny, and that's a comfort to me. Especially now that we're on the same page as to where we stand."

Ginny gave Harry a small smile. "No time like the present," she said, and although she was worried for her brother, she knew that she would stand by him until the end of days.