A Conversation in the Middle of the Night

Ginny shot up from her bed, breathing heavily. She woke up from a frightening dream. She had dreamed of the Chamber of Secrets. She was possessed by Tom Riddle, more commonly known as Voldemort. It was almost a year since Harry had defeated him and the events of last May still haunted her dreams and six years since that horrible night in the Chamber. The place where she and Harry almost died.

She had many dreams about Harry, in Hagrid's and this time he was really dead. She would wake from that dream, crying. One of two things would follow that dream, the first being that Harry would hear her and come to check on her. If he did come in and check on her, he would hug her close and comfort her, assuring her that he's not going anywhere.

The second thing that will follow is that she would get up and go to Harry. When she went to him, she would snuggle up in his arms and fall asleep. She felt safe when she was in Harry's arms.

She would sleep with him when he had a nightmare, or just needed to be close to her.

Harry had started Auror training, which made the time past quickly as Ginny had gone to Hogwarts for her final year. They had Quidditch matches and Hogsmeade visits as well as Christmas and Easter holidays. Professor McGonagall had even allowed Ginny to go home for Halloween to be there for Harry when for the first time since he entered the wizarding world, he grieved for his parents.

He was now finished with his training, much to the surprise of everyone, including Harry himself, and he was now a fully fledged Auror and was now working for the Ministry.

Harry would come in her room and sleep with her under the same circumstances that she slept with him. Especially when he came home from a mission, he would sleep with her. He would crawl into bed with her and hold her close, a silent I missed you and she would return in wrapping her arms tightly around him, afraid to let go.

Tonight, was a night she went to Harry's room and sought his comfort.

Ginny slowly got out of her bed and quietly exited her bedroom. Hermione had moved into Charlie's old room, but spent a lot of time in Ron's room, thus allowing Harry and Ginny to have her room to themselves if they decided to stay in Ginny's room.

Ginny slipped into Bill's old room, which is now Harry's room. Harry still lived at the Burrow at the request of Molly. Now that she graduated, she and Harry were planning to either let a flat or build a house of their own in Godric's Hollow. Harry was planning on proposing in the summer and deciding where to live would be considered their first decision they would make together other than the wedding plans.

Ginny tiptoed to the bed, smiling softly. The moonlight was shining through the sheer white curtains and it outlined the familiar form in the bed.

Pausing for a second, she watched Harry sleep. He looked younger when he was asleep and he was more peaceful in his sleep than he was a year ago. She sometimes hated to wake him, especially when she knew he didn't get much sleep or had to get up early in the morning.

Gently, she reached over and gently shook Harry's shoulder, to wake him.

"Harry?" She whispered. Harry didn't respond, only shifted in his bed, and turned over to face Ginny.

Ginny shook him once more and this time, Harry's eyes cracked open. He moved over to allow room for Ginny when he saw her standing there. Ginny complied with the unspoken request and crawled in beside him.

"What's wrong, Gin?" he asked, voice husky with sleep. He wrapped an arm around her, bringing her close.

"I had a bad dream," she whispered.

"About what?" Harry inquired.

"The Chamber."

Harry didn't need to ask what chamber. He knew. The Chamber of Secrets

Ginny snuggled close to Harry, laying her head on his pillow.

"This time, Fawkes didn't come and you died." Ginny's wavered towards the end.

"That didn't happen Gin. I'm still here," Harry murmured, pushing some hair back away from Ginny's face.

"I know that, but I can't help but think, after all, I've been through, about what ifs." Ginny glanced up at Harry, noting that he had slipped on his glasses.

"Gin, it was you who told me not to think about what ifs. Granted, when you told me that, it was when I was blaming myself for all the deaths. Our friends, your brother….."

He was cut off by Ginny.

"Harry, I mean what if you died. You almost did in the Chamber, the Triwizard Tournament, even your first year. Too many times I care to count. I almost lost you in the battle last May when you were fighting Voldemort."

They adjusted themselves in the bed, making it more comfortable for each other. Ginny wasn't going back to her room tonight. She was staying with Harry for the rest of the night.

"I never knew you felt that way," Harry said, rolling onto his back with Ginny tucked into his side.

"I didn't want to add any more stress if I told," Ginny admitted.

"I don't think it would have added any stress on me." Harry turned his head towards Ginny and kissed the top of her head.

"Remember last month when you came to the Quidditch Cup match and Gwenog Jones was there?"

Harry nodded, having an idea of what was coming.

"She invited me to try out for the team to fill a spot she has for a Chaser. If I make the team and accept the offer, I will start training in August, the week following my birthday. I need to owl her tomorrow with my decision."

"What held you back from accepting the offer?" Harry asked, slightly confused. Why Ginny hadn't mentioned anything about this before. He jerked when her finger found a patch of skin exposed between his shirt and pajama bottoms.

"I told her I needed time to think about it. She said I should talk the people who are most important in my life and since I was looking at you talking to Professor McGonagall, she added you. She guessed we were dating. I've talked to Mum and Dad and they told me that it was my decision and they would support what I decide. Then I move on to my brothers and they all said either if it makes me happy, go for it, and wondered if I can get tickets for other teams." She snorted. "You can probably guess who said that."

"Ron," Harry guessed.

"You're right. Although he did tell me that he'll support me if I decide to go for it."

Ginny moved her hand to lie on his chest and she looked up at him.

"What are your thoughts?" She asked.

"Ginny, you are a great Chaser. I've seen you in action and you've put the others to shame, even those on the opposing team. You one of…."

"One of," Ginny repeated, cutting him off once more."

"The best Chaser," Harry corrected. "Gryffindor has ever seen. Better?"

"Yes," She said.

"Ginny, if this is something you want do I'll support you. If it's something that you want to do, go for it. I'm behind you hundred percent."

Ginny kissed Harry's cheek. "Thank you, baby," she murmured. "Do you really think I can do it?"

"I have every bit of confidence that you will do brilliantly," Harry replied, softly.

Ginny smiled, snuggling against Harry's side, head moving to lie below Harry's to allow him to rest his chin on her head. She smiled, knowing she would have Harry's support in her career choice, possibly one of the few sources of support she would have. No one outside of Ron and Hermione, other than Harry, knew of Ginny's dream to play professional Quidditch.

She thought of how wonderful it would be to play for the Holyhead Harpies team. It had been her dream since she was a little girl. Harry was the first person she had told about her dream during one of their many sunlit days by the lake when they were talking about the future they had hoped for.

What surprised Ginny was that she and Harry both wanted a family and that Harry had imagined them married in a few years. Ginny had the same dream, her and Harry, children in a house in the country, far away from the Burrow with a garden large enough for the children to play and for a Quidditch pitch.

Ginny knew Harry's desire for a family stemmed from his desperate wish for a family, one that he had been sadly denied.

"What are you thinking about Ginevra? I can hear those wheels in your head ticking away."

Ginny adjusted her head on Harry's shoulder to where she was closer to his head.

"I'm thinking about telling Gwenog that I accept her offer, I'll need some new gloves and a new broom," Ginny murmured against Harry's shoulder.

Harry sighed as Ginny moved her hand to lie on his stomach above his shirt for a moment before sliding it down to his side, wrapping her arm around his waist.

"The only problem I see is when I sign this contract I'll have practices and training. Because of this, we won't have much time for each other."

Harry's mind starting working overtime, thinking of a solution. He had been thinking about moving out of the Burrow to a flat or a house of his own. He felt that it was time. He hadn't brought it up to Molly yet, but he had talked to Arthur, mainly because he thought that he would ask Ginny to move in with him.

Arthur, fortunately for Harry, gave him his blessing for asking Ginny to move in with him. He said that he wouldn't tell Molly yet. Harry decided to ask Ginny first before telling Molly. Ginny had even expressed her desire to move out of the Burrow.

When Ginny met with Gwenog Jones, she was given a copy of the contract to read over. Harry had read it over after Ginny had read it. He was surprised to learn that as long as Ginny had a floo connection, she didn't have to live directly in Holyhead. The Burrow was too far away from Holyhead to apparate if Ginny decided to use apparition.

Harry had taken Ginny out for dinner a week ago, where he asked her to move in with him. She had said yes and since Harry had the day off, they had planned tomorrow to look at flats in London. Ginny felt that London was the perfect place as she could commute to Holyhead and was close to work for Harry.

"Is London going to be okay for you?" Harry asked. "We can look…."

Ginny placed her hand over his mouth. Harry had brought this topic up a few times before. Ginny had made her decision.

"We decided to look in London first," Ginny reminded him.

"Okay," Harry murmured. He had taken a job at the Ministry as an Auror. Ginny had to smile when she thought about what they had talked about that spring day back in her fifth year, Harry's sixth. They had talked about what they have seen each other doing with their life and ironically, Ginny had seen Harry as an Auror, and Harry had seen her playing Quidditch professionally for the Holyhead Harpies, and she was a chaser. It had surprised Ginny at how spot on they was with each other. Here they were, Harry had his dream job and Ginny was getting hers.

"Do you think we should tell Mum tomorrow?" Ginny asked.

"Maybe we should, or we could tell her when we find something?" Harry suggested.

"We could," Ginny agreed. "Are you sure you want me to live with you?"

"I'm sure. I had asked Ron what he had planned on doing and he and Hermione are moving in together in a flat near Westminster, which is where the Ministry is located on White Hall. Well, underground," Harry explained. "But I decided I would rather live with you."

Ginny smiled and kissed the underside of his jaw, noticing the slight stubble on his jaw. "I'm glad."

"Well, I also thought how nice it would be to come home to you in the evening. I know I do that now, but when we move in together, it would be just the two of us."

"And I can take care you of you," Ginny said, knowingly.

"And you can take care of me," Harry agreed. "You do take good care of me, especially when I come home from a long day at work."

Ginny smiled, once more, at the praise. Since she's been home from Hogwarts, she's been there when Harry came home, sore from a fitness session or tired from a long day in the office. It had worked out to where they either had the house to themselves or Ron and Hermione would be there as well.

Ron and Harry took turns with the shower, both with such hot water that the steam didn't have enough time to disappear or was barely wiped off the mirror when more was added. When Harry finished his shower and dressed, he headed down to the kitchen where Ginny warmed his dinner and they caught up with each other on their day. Then Ginny would take Harry to her room or his room where she would help him to relax after a long day or give him a massage if he was sore from a fitness session.

"Have I thanked you for taking of me?" Harry asked.

"I'll also be there when you're sick," Ginny said.

Harry knew that Ginny will take care of him when he's sick. She's done it before, even when they were dating at Hogwarts. She would stay beside him, never leaving him. For Harry, it took some time to get used to. He was used to taking care of himself. But when he got together with Ginny, he learned that he didn't need to be on his own.

"I was used to taking care of myself," Harry murmured. "And then you came along."

Ginny snuggled closer to Harry's side and smiled as he wrapped his arm around her. She smiled up at him and they kissed.

"I love you," Ginny whispered.

"I love you too," Harry replied. He glanced at the clock and noticed the time. "We should get some sleep."

Ginny nodded, agreeing.

They snuggled closer together, lying facing each other and kissed each other good night.

Ginny sighed, contently as she felt Harry snuggle close to her and tighten his hold on her. She had said that she felt safe in Harry's arms. She always had, even back when they were dating. She sometimes felt she was going to wake up to find Harry gone, but she couldn't help the smile that graced her face when she came downstairs and seen Harry at the table.

She reached up and kissed him one more time before she let sleep claim her once more.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The next morning, Ginny came downstairs for breakfast to find Molly the stove. She was making breakfast for the remaining occupants of the Burrow, which was Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and George, besides Molly and Arthur. Molly had brought over a platter of eggs and sausage and sat them down in the middle of the table.

"Good morning, Mum," Ginny greeted her mother as she headed to fix herself a cup of tea.

"Good morning Ginny," Molly returned. "What are you planning on doing today?"

"Replying to Gwenog's letter about her off," She replied. "I'm going to try out for the team."

"Well, good. I'm glad you're going to do something that will make you happy," Molly said. "I want you to be happy."

"I am, Mum."

"Will you need to live in Holyhead?" Molly inquired as she sat down a plate of scones on the table.

"No, not really," Ginny replied. She wanted to wait until Harry was there before she told her mother their plans.

She turned her head when she heard someone coming down the stairs. They were too quiet to be Ron. She knew that Hermione and George would most likely be gone all ready to work.

She smiled when Harry entered the kitchen and sat down beside her. She smiled at him before turning to her mother.

"Mum, Harry asked me to move in with him," Ginny announced. "We're going to go and look at some flats in London today after I send my reply to Gwenog.

Harry groaned beside her. "Could you have brought this up when I've been awake for more than ten minutes?" He asked her. Then he added, for Molly's benefit. "We'll come and visit often. Ginny can apparate or floo to and from Holyhead, according to the information packet Gwenog sent Ginny. We decided on London as it would be a halfway point for her and close to work for me."

Molly smiled at the young couple. "I understand, dear. I'm just surprised. I wish you luck in your flat hunting."

As they ate breakfast, Ginny told Molly what they were looking for and asked if she would help in finding them all the things they would need for the kitchen. Molly agreed and she and Ginny made the plan to go shopping the next week in London.

When they finished breakfast, Harry headed upstairs to shower first and Ginny wrote her reply letter to Gwenog and send it off with her owl, Dora. By the time she finished, she headed upstairs and took her own shower.

Harry was dressed and waiting for her when she returned downstairs an hour later. She collected her purse and said bye to Molly and left the Burrow with Harry. They apparated to London and walked to the first flat they were going to look at first. They had decided to let a flat instead of buying one.

It was the first one that they had looked at they had decided to let. It was nice and had the space Harry and Ginny wanted. They signed the papers to let the flat for two years as they didn't know what life would throw at them two years from now.

When they returned to the Burrow, they told Molly they had found a flat. She was happy for them, but a little sad in the fact that they wouldn't be living at the Burrow much longer. But Ginny told her that they were going to have a little work done to the flat, as the landlord was in the process of repairing the floor in the kitchen and repainting the walls in the bedroom.

They would be at the Burrow for another two weeks and would move in by the beginning of the next month. Then they would be off to Holyhead for Ginny's tryout and asked Molly to keep this news to herself and not to tell anyone in the family besides Arthur.

That night, Ginny dragged Harry into her bedroom. They discussed how they would decorate the flat, especially Teddy's room. Harry wanted to have a space for him, everywhere that they lived. The flat that they had let had three bedrooms. One would be for Teddy, Harry and Ginny would take the master, and the third small bedroom would be a study for the times that Harry would bring work home.

Moving in together was the biggest step they had made in their relationship. Ginny knew she was ready for this step and that she loved Harry. She could see a future with him. Watching him with Teddy gave her a picture of what it would be like when she and Harry will have a family. She knew that he will be a wonderful father when the time came.

Ginny was looking over a decorating magazine she had picked up while she was out that afternoon when she heard Harry re-enter her bedroom. He had gone to his bedroom to change into his pajamas.

He shut the door behind him and approached the bed. He paused at the side of the bed and pulled off his T-shirt. He tossed the shirt at the foot of the bed and climbed in beside her.

She tossed the magazine on her nightstand and moved down further on the bed, laying down and snuggled close to Harry, laying her head on his bare shoulder.

"Are we going to have another conversation in the middle of the night?" Harry inquired.

Ginny wrapped her arm around Harry's waist and snuggled close to him.

"Not tonight, babe. Not tonight."