Part 29

Harry woke with a start the next morning- morning being 4 AM.

He dreamt of Voldemort. It was all so fuzzy, it didn't make sense. He dreamt of his piercing red eyes and pale skin. His bony hand gripping his wand, his voice right next to Harry's ear.

But nothing happened, it was only Voldemort. He wasn't doing anything, planning anything, Harry couldn't even tell what he was thinking, like he usually could. His dream was just Voldemort.

And the dream was quickly slipping away from him. His dreams were usually so clear. He knew exactly what Voldemort was doing, how he was feeling, what he was thinking. They were difficult to forget. And then Harry looked down.

The night before came flooding back to him. He and Ginny had been talking... and she'd almost said she loved him.

Then they'd kissed. He slipped into bed next to her. They talked for an hour, maybe more. Avoiding the topic of Voldemort, which was easy.

Now Ginny's face was tucked in the crook of Harry's neck. And Harry was clutching onto her for dear life. Both his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into him.

Harry fell back on to the pillow, sighing in exasperation. His dream wasn't a look into Voldemort's mind. It was a normal nightmare. It was a reminder. A reminder of why he broke up with Ginny in the first place, and why he shouldn't be with her right now.

As he thought through the night before, he noticed Ginny's breathing had become quicker and lighter.

"You're awake."

"I know what you're thinking."

Of course she did. She always did. Harry didn't want to say it. He did anyways.

"I need to go."

"I know."

Ginny placed a chaste kiss to his neck and Harry's breath caught in his throat.

"Maybe just five more minutes."

Ginny laughed quietly and unwrapped her arms from his neck, propping herself up on her elbow. Of course she didn't want him to go, but she knew he had to.

This wasn't going to be a repeat of last time. She was a jerk for trying to stop him from pursuing something that he really wanted. Something he had to do.

And she wasn't going to let herself be disappointed. He'd have to go eventually. So last night she fell asleep, happy to be next to him, and prepared for the chance that he wouldn't be there when she woke up.

"You're not supposed to be the sensible one." Harry said, looking up at her adoringly.

"One of us has to be."

Harry sat up next to her.

"When are you leaving?" She asked.

"I don't know. Soon."

"Are you packed?"

"No."

"How long will you be gone?"

"A long time."

Ginny sighed. "Harry."

"Why are you so excited for me to leave all of a sudden?" Harry joked.

"I'm not."

"Is Malfoy gonna be waiting for you when I'm gone?"

"Harry."

"Have you got an agreement with him?"

"I'm serious." Harry looked her in the eyes and smiled.

"You're not funny." She said.

"I am. A bit."

"Would you rather I begged you to stay?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Because if you don't want me to leave... Then I have an excuse to stay."

Ginny cocked her head. "An excuse?You're scared? You've never been scared to go before."

Harry shook his head. She didn't get it. "Stay. Stay with you."

"Me?"

"That's what I said, idiot."

"Oh." Ginny held back a smile. "But you have to go."

"Stop being sensible."

Ginny sighed. "So you've got no plans."

Harry sighed as well. "I do have a plan. McGonagall's ceasing all lessons, right?  My plan is to start planning during the hoildays. At your place."

Harry tucked a strand of hair behind Ginny's ear and rested his hand over her hand in her lap, then began to caress it softly.

"My place?" She replied. "You know we won't be able to..."

"I know." Harry said with a smirk. "D'you think you'll be able to keep your hands off me?"

Ginny smiled. "Oh I don't know..." She said sarcastically. "One whole week..."

"A week?" Harry questioned.

"Well you'll need time to plan, so you might as well stay for Bill's wedding."

Harry leaned in. "I just told you to stop being sensible." He muttered, before catching her lips in a kiss.

This one was longer than the one from last night. Ginny breathed deeply into the kiss, snaking her arms back around his neck.

Harry dipped a hand underneath the covers to rest on Ginny's thigh and rubbed his thumb up and down.

As Ginny leaned forward to deepen the kiss, Harry fluidly pulled her leg over so she was straddling him. Ginny let out a sharp gasp as he did so, and he rested both his hands on her hips.

Ginny weaved a hand through his hair and tugged at it lightly, making Harry exhale gratefully into her mouth, and grip her hips tighter.

When the kiss slowed down, Ginny pulled away.

"Harry." She said sweetly.

"Hm." He replied, pecking the tip of her nose.

"There are other people sleeping in this room."

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

Ginny laughed softly, then buried her face in his shoulder, sighing. Harry dragged a hand up and down her back.

"We can't keep doing this." She whispered.

Harry shifted so that she would lift her head from his shoulder and look at him.

"Get some rest."

Ginny nodded. When she woke up that morning, Harry was gone.