They were lying together on Ginny's bed in Gryffindor Tower when Harry finally remembered to ask Ginny about something she had said earlier.

"What was it we needed to talk about? You said something yesterday, about kissing?" To stress his point, Harry leaned over and found Ginny's lips.

Ginny kissed him back and then pulled away. Harry could see she was blushing.

"What is it? Does my technique embarrass you?" he teased. "Cause I think with a lot of practice, I'll only get better." He leaned in again.

Ginny swatted him. "Your kissing is great, Harry," she said. She bit her lip. "I just think we need to figure out what else we want to do . . . beyond kissing." She gestured weakly in the area around their waists. The blush was back but Harry also detected more than a hint of interest in her tone. Ginny sounded somewhat . . . aroused?

Harry hadn't wanked that morning. He'd stayed over with Ginny and then taken a quick shower in one of the boys' dormitory bathrooms, where he had refused his body's urges that he behave like one of the teenagers who normally washed there. Now they were relaxing and talking before Harry had to leave. He shifted so he could look Ginny in the eye.

"You want to do more than . . . just kissing?" he asked carefully. Belatedly, he realized his body was already reacting. He scooted his hips back.

Ginny looked down. A small smile played on her lips as she brushed her hand along Harry's hip, close to, but not quite touching his growing erection. She nodded mutely.

Harry let out a breath. "Okay then," he said. He scooted his hips closer again. "What do you want to do?"

Ginny took Harry's hand and moved it down to the space between them. "Show me what you like," she said shyly.

HPHPHPHPHPHP

All the other Weasleys were already at the Burrow when Ron and Harry stumbled tiredly through the Floo on December 24th, fresh off a particularly tough training week. Harry knew his hello to Molly and Arthur was rather perfunctory; he also knew they didn't mind that his eyes then immediately sought out Ginny. He wrapped her in his arms and rested his cheek against the top of her head.

"How were your semester exams?" he asked.

"Brilliant," she answered. "Professor McGonagall says I'm all caught up and will be able to take my Newts in the spring."

Harry tightened his arms around her. "That's wonderful, Ginny," he said. His voice broke around an enormous yawn. She tugged on his hand.

"Let's go to my room," she said. "Mum already set up the second bed."

Harry pulled back and looked at her. "I'm sleeping there? Not with Ron?"

Ginny bit her lip and smiled at him. "Yes," she said. "And no. Not with Ron." She nodded her head in her brother's direction. He looked half asleep, standing with Hermione. "Mum's decided to let us be proper adults. Besides," she said slyly, "it's not like we haven't shared a room here before."

Harry swallowed. "Yeah, but that was before we were . . ." he swallowed again. "It's going to be brilliant," he said through another yawn.

Ginny tugged on his hand again. "You need a nap," she said. She gave an exaggerated stretch. "And I think I do too."

HPHPHPHPHP

Christmas was particularly spectacular that year. Molly had outdone herself with food and decorations, and Christmas Eve supper was a lively and raucous affair. After everyone had taken their turn putting gaily wrapped presents under the tree and sharing a final glass of eggnog, they all trooped up to bed; Christmas morning always started early at the Burrow.

After his nap that afternoon, Harry was feeling rather un-ready for sleep. By the way Ginny's eyes sparkled at him, he suspected she felt the same way. With all the people staying in the house, it took somewhat longer to get into the loo, and Harry rushed through his time there so that Ginny could take her turn. He was sitting on the camp bed in his pajamas when she returned. Instead of putting her wand on the bedside table she held it up towards the closed door. Her locking and silencing charms made a familiar squelching noise, and Harry felt his stomach swoop. He stood up and took a few steps towards Ginny, and whenn she turned to face him, he gathered her in his arms and gave her a deep kiss.

"Should we . . . do you want to . . . lie down on your bed?" He gestured behind her.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, please," she said.

It was both familiar and altogether new, facing each other under Ginny's blankets. Harry propped himself up on one arm and ran his other hand down Ginny's hip. "I love you," he said quietly.

"I love you," she answered. Harry leaned in to kiss her again.

"Tonight, it's my turn to make you come," he said thickly. "If you want."

"I want," said Ginny softly. Then she gave a small smirk. "Although I suspect you'll be needing me to take care of you right after?"

Harry nodded, hands already busy pushing off Ginny's pajama bottoms. He'd completely stopped even trying to hide how aroused he got whenever they did anything more than kiss. He knew Ginny was rather proud her ability to use her hands on him; it was so much better than wanking in the shower.

"I hope I get this right," he said.

Ginny arched towards him and moved her hand to cover his. "Let me show you."

HPHPHPHPHP

The next morning, Harry felt like any gifts he got were just icing on an already delicious cake. Not only had he successfully gotten Ginny to climax – and she'd screamed his name – but she'd then scooted down and used her mouth on him until he could barely string two words together to tell her how brilliant it was.

He knew her family would likely give her a lot of Quidditch-related gifts, and indeed, she was soon surrounded by Chaser's gloves, a broom polishing kit, books on strategy, and more. His gift was in a much smaller box, and it was with some trepidation that he watched her fumble with the wrappings.

Ginny's eyes shone as she held up the silver bracelet. Two charms, a stag and a doe, dangled from the links. "It's perfect, Harry," she said. She reached out her wrist. "Put it on for me, please?"

HPHPHPHPHP

They saw each other regularly throughout the next cold weeks, usually at Hogwarts. In between, their owls got regular workouts, flying their increasingly long – and suggestive – letters back and forth.

It was Valentines Day the next Hogsmeade weekend, and Harry took rather more care with his appearance than usual before he showed up at Ginny's dorm. She noticed.

"Are those new robes?" she asked, fingering the heavy fabric.

Harry nodded, his mouth already busy at her neck. "I realized," he said, "that I've actually never taken you on a proper date." He pulled back. "Would you like to?" he asked. "Go on a date with me for Valentines Day?"

Ginny giggled. "I'd love to," she said.

They walked hand in hand through the village before Harry suddenly pulled Ginny into an alley and wrapped his arms around her. He'd braved a Muggle bookstore to find a dining guide listing the best restaurants in Scotland, and the place they stood outside of looked properly romantic without being cloying or stuffy. Ginny inhaled appreciatively. "Smells delicious," she said happily.

Harry carefully transfigured their robes into more mundane outerwear before pushing open the door. "I hope it tastes just as good," he said.

They lingered for hours over the delicious meal, talking and talking and talking about everything and nothing. Only once they were back in the road and getting ready to Apparate back to Hogwarts did Ginny speak up.

"Do you think . . . we could stay at your flat tonight?" she asked softly. "Ron's going to be at Hermione's."

Harry stilled, the implications swirling over him.

"I already asked mum; she signed me out for the night when she heard I'd be with you." A blush crept up Ginny's cheeks, but her voice was firm. She looked at Harry straight in the eye. "I've been practicing the charm," she said frankly.

Harry swallowed. "Me too," he said hoarsely. "The one for blokes."

Ginny nodded, moving closer to Harry and slipping her hands inside his robes. And wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'm ready, Harry," she said quietly. "I love you."

He looked down at her. "And I love you," he said simply, before turning them on the spot.

A/N: And . . . it's done! I felt it appropriate to finish the story today, in honor of my user name. Happy Birthday Lily Evans Potter!

I apologize (but not really) to those of you who may have wanted more explicitness here. It just didn't feel right in this story. Use your imaginations however you want. Maybe something will show up as a Watching and Waiting one-shot one of these days. For those of you who don't follow that story because you don't read M rated works, I just posted a clean and fluffy one-shot there called Love Letters to My Future, if you are interested. Enjoy!