Chapter 8: Preparations/Erotic Dream

The week before their departure was a busy one, what with making preparations for same, making sure they had all the necessary supplies that they could lay their hands on as well as having gone with Ron and Hermione to help pick out their rings. They had naturally been thrilled to hear about Ron's proposal, and there had been hugs and backslapping all around; Harry had naturally agreed to be Ron's best man and Ginny would attend Hermione, either as a bridesmaid or matron of honour.

She couldn't have said which at the moment because she had no idea when she and Harry would be able to get married. So much depended on the circumstances and conditions being just right! There was also another secret she was concealing from Harry at the moment: the night before they had gone out with Ron and Hermione to help pick out their wedding rings, she and Harry had once again shared a tenderly passionate night together.

In fact, it seemed even twice as tender and passionate as usual. What's more, Ginny had again "forgotten" to put the Contraceptive Charm on herself. Harry had not asked whether or not she was doing it, and she was glad of this, for she could never have lied to him, but he would surely be livid if he found out she wasn't doing it.

If they made love without the protection of the Contraceptive Charm even once more, there was a 99% chance that she would end up pregnant by the end of it, so she would have to do her best to see that she seduced Harry into making love to her at least one more time before they left on their quest. Of course, if she did end up pregnant, it would be a question of how long she could conceal it.

Even if Harry and Ron didn't know the signs to look for, though, Ginny was willing to bet that Hermione did and would be the one most likely to confront her on the subject at some point, if not owl her mother about it. She and Ron were likely using the Contraceptive Charm themselves and no doubt intended to continue to do so throughout their quest. But no amount of lectures as to how foolish her actions were...particularly considering the kind of danger they were likely to find themselves in...would change Ginny's mind; to her it was only logical to ensure that she became pregnant at least once, particularly if something happened to Harry. In that event, at least she would have his child to live for ... provided she survived their "adventures" herself.

On a brighter note, Ginny recalled when Harry had described to her his experiences in the Prefects' bathroom in his fourth year. How she wished she could have been there, somehow been able to conceal herself...perhaps with an Invisibility Cloak...to observe him as he bathed. She had always wondered what he looked like without clothes. His body seemed so beautiful and perfect when he was clothed, but how she wished she could have known then what she knew now! Even after only their first night together, she knew she had been right. Harry's unclothed body was every bit as beautiful as his clothed one. She always blushed crimson at the thoughts this prompted, particularly when she had had a dream based on these same recollections ...

She and Harry had spent most of the evening in the Gryffindor common room; it was fairly late, and everyone else had gone to bed by the time he stood up and held out his hand to her, as if to follow him. But follow him where? She soon found out; upon reaching the fifth-floor Prefects' bathroom, Harry gave the necessary password and they went inside.

Harry released her hand and turned to face her with a sly smile and suggestive wink. "Why do you think we're here?"

How very much he ached to kiss and caress that sweet perfection, feel that silky skin beneath his hungry eyes ... and even hungrier hands and lips. Ginny, you're so beautiful ... But she was a shy and sheltered young woman; he mustn't rush her. A shy and sheltered young woman, yes...but a shy and sheltered young woman with six older brothers, one of whom was his best mate! He had better be careful.

With or without clothes, he thought daringly as he inched closer, until he was able to grasp her right hand, then lift it to his lips and kiss it gently. This was when their eyes met...and both of their young hearts pounded with a mixture of desire and anticipation. "Ginny, may I ... hold you?"

Need you ask? he thought...but outwardly, merely said, "Very much." It took a few seconds to manoeuvre her properly, but he soon had her facing him, kissing-close. A moment later his lips found hers, gently, carefully ... then the pressure deepened and his arms tightened gently around her. "Ginny ..."

"Harry ..." she whispered against his lips, and one of his hands began to cautiously explore her. She gasped softly at his touch, but didn't try to move away...didn't seem to want to, for which he was immensely thankful.

A moment later she felt his lips travel down her body until he reached her breasts. She again gasped softly as his lips found one and one hand found the other, gently kissing and caressing. Her gasp became louder as his caresses became more intimate, although still tentative, and her nipples became hard and erect with excitement. "Harry ..."

"Ginny ... let me touch you. Let me ... love you. I ... need you."

Her answer was only a whisper, but it was the one he wanted to hear. "I ... need you too, Harry."

She then felt his hand slide down her body until it reached the junction between her legs. "Ginny, open your legs for me." Harry's voice was so sweet and held a crooning quality. Ginny could scarcely bear its beauty, much less the perfection that was his eyes, his face, his nose, his smile... every inch of him!

His fingers moved tentatively and her legs opened, almost of their own accord. He gently, cautiously, moved to stroke her intimately in her most private spot. He soon found that she was very wet there...a wetness that had nothing to do with the water. He gently explored further and soon began to fondle her in her most secret place. In a short time she began to softly cry out.

"Oh ... oh ..." It didn't take much longer for her to almost be literally writhing under his touch. "Oh ... Harry ... Harry ... that feels so good."

"Do you want me to keep doing it?" he whispered, the warmth of his breath feathering her nearest ear.

"Yes ... yes ..." she almost moaned. "It feels ... so wonderful. So ... very wonderful ..."

It wasn't much later that Ginny found herself reaching a peak of pleasure she had never felt before; soon she was literally panting, and her writhing had increased geometrically with every passing moment. About thirty seconds later, however, she came back down to earth. "Oh ... Harry ... I've never felt anything like that before."

"I'm ... glad you enjoyed it," he returned softly, attempting to conceal his own arousal but not quite succeeding.

"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. You must need something too."

"You ... might say that," he forced out, gently guiding her hand to his iron-hard manhood.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked as their eyes met.

"Just stroke it, caress it ... but be careful, it's sensitive," he admonished.

"I would never hurt you, Harry," she crooned. "I love you."

"I know, Gin. I know. Now, if you would ..." He gently pressed down on her hand, which held his hardness in it.

"Of course." With that, her hands gently began caressing and stroking him. It wasn't long before he began to moan in pleasure and move restlessly.

"Oh ... Ginny ... keep ... doing ... that. It ... feels ... wonderful."

Ginny had no idea what she was doing; all she knew for sure was that her partner was enjoying it ... and enjoying it immensely! She continued to stroke and caress him; not long afterward, Harry arched his back and cried out.

"Oh, Merlin ... I can't stop ... I can't ..."

His hardness seemed to pulse in her hand for a time; then it stopped and he settled back onto the edge of the bath, almost literally as limp as the proverbial dishrag...then after he had rested a few moments, he lifted his head and smiled radiantly at her.

"Thank you, Ginny. Now may I ask something else of you?" His voice had once again taken on an almost unbearably sweet quality that Ginny just couldn't resist. She was literally putty in Harry's hands, and he knew it! But fortunately he was decent enough not to try to take advantage of her innocence, vulnerability or trust in him. "I ... want to ... make love ... to you."

"How do we do that?" was her only question.

"Lean against the side of the bath. Now open your arms ... and legs ... wider. Wider. Yes. That'll be fine. Now once I get situated, put your arms and legs around me."

She soon felt his arousal once again, having regained its former hardness, the head gently pressing at the opening between her legs. She even felt it going inside a little ... more ... more ... then she flinched and cried out softly.

"Ginny? Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"

"No. It just ... startled me, that's all," she assured him.

Harry frowned but didn't question her, simply resumed his previous ministrations ... until he felt himself roughly a quarter of the way inside her. But he couldn't go any further; there was a barrier preventing it ... so he knew what he had to do. She then felt him begin to move his hips faster and faster; when she least expected it, he thrust forward sharply, eliciting a soft cry from her...and felt himself break through the barrier. After that he seemed to sink into her with no barrier between them whatsover...and they were one.

Once they had finished, she asked, "Why did you want me to come here tonight, Harry?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow," he said.

"Leaving? Where are you going?"

"Where do you think? To find Voldemort ... the Horcruxes ... and destroy them all. But I wanted to be with you like this at least once, since we might never have this chance again, depending on what happens. You were wonderful, Ginny. I'll never forget what you've done for me, the beautiful memories you've given me. Thank you." He lifted his head and found her lips in a deep, delicious kiss.

"Thank you, Harry. I love you."

"I love you, Gin. Please stay as sweet as you are ... and take care of yourself for me while I'm gone."

"I will. You be careful too."

"I'll do my best. We'd better get dressed now." They stood up and he helped her out; they were still naked but she no longer felt any shyness around him. He disappeared into the shadows for a while, then reappeared, carrying her clothes. "Here you go."

"Thanks."

Once she was dressed and the tub had been drained, they left the bathroom. He walked her as far as the door to the Gryffindor House girls' dorm. "I wish you could come up with me," Ginny blurted out before she could stop herself.

"Wouldn't that be something to explain!" Harry laughed. "Maybe another time, Gin. Right now I've got to get some sleep. I want to get an early start tomorrow. See you later." He drew her close and kissed her deeply, sweetly, one last time, then released her and walked away without looking back.

Oh, Merlin, what a beautiful dream it had been ... yet no more beautiful than what was her reality now. She would have to tell Harry about the dream at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, she had a job to do. Washing clothes, packing ... fortunately, she had magic to help her do everything, so it could be done in a fraction of the time. There were only three days to go now until they left. She supposed they would either Apparate or use their brooms, she wasn't sure. She'd have to ask Harry; he had the last word on such things.

Ginny noted that he wasn't in bed with her, then heard the sound of the shower going in the bathroom ... then he came out, a towel tied around his slender middle, his hair as unruly as ever...but at least it was clean. She moved to kiss him, then nuzzled his neck. "Mmm. You smell wonderful."

"No more than you," Harry countered with a smile and wink, nuzzling her in return...then they released each other and resumed their previous business. "When are Ron and Hermione supposed to come Friday?"

"Around seven, I think ... so we'd better make sure to be ready and not forget anything because we won't be able to come back for it."

"By the way, how are we going to get ... where we're going? Apparate, use our brooms or what?"

"I was thinking, a combination of the two, so we'd better get our brooms ready while we're at it."

"Are we going to take our owls with us?" she wondered. She had recently gotten one of her own, a male greatly resembling Harry's own Hedwig ... but this one had different colour eyes. Blue to Hedwig's golden brown. Maybe they could even breed the owls at some point if things worked out and everyone returned alive.

"Probably better take at least one, just in case of an emergency. How about your Armand, since he's youngest and fittest?" Harry suggested.

"What'll you do with Hedwig and the others?" Ginny wondered.

"Keep them at your mum's for the time being," was the reply. "Best place for them until we can get back." If we get back, Harry finished in his mind, but said nothing more out loud ... at least not in Ginny's hearing. Yet he had to be careful nonetheless; she seemed to be able to pick up his thoughts from thin air, even without Legilimency.

* * * * *

The three days seemed to pass like sand through an hourglass...and true to form, Ginny was indeed able to seduce Harry into making love to her one last time before they left. The only question now, how long would it take before her likely pregnancy started to make itself known...and not only to her?

* * * * *

They spent the last day making arrangements for the care of their homes ... that is, the one Harry shared with Ginny and the one Hermione and Ron shared. One could only hope, however, that they would actually return to them. After this night, only Merlin knew where they would be, the places they would have to sleep. That is, when they got the chance...or dared to do so.

Perhaps they could take turns, two of them keeping watch over the others who slept ... then vice versa. Of course, there was always the possibility that one or the other couple would want to be alone for a little romantic interlude. At a time like that, the last thing they would want was to be overheard or observed ... maybe a Silencing Charm and an opaque forcefield, which would only work for the people casting it.

Would they even have a chance to keep themselves properly clean, clothed and fed? They were witches and wizards, after all; it was certainly possible, but what if they were in a danger zone or something and didn't dare use magic for fear it would give their presence away? It was as likely to be simply a matter of taking advantage of one's opportunities as they came along, if nothing else.