Thanks for the review! JKR shot down the Ginny speaking Parseltongue thing in her interview this summer.  Oh, well.  I have another minor character fluff and then I'll be working on a Ginny alternate point of view for HBP.  It might be awhile.  I actually have a married H/G story  I need to dust off . . . So many plot bunnies - so little time!  Thanks again - I'm glad this story is still being read.  That makes my day!

How charming!  I really did enjoy this story! These quotes made me giggle:

Laughing he picked it up and flourished it in front of him. "Take that, chocolate icing!"

"Ginny, you have to get your hair out of my face, I can't see anything," Harry said impatiently."

  and on to the next part; a sequel, perhaps? (Please?) Again, this really was enjoyable; I love the adventure interwoven with drama and fluff.

Delani

I hope the explanations make sense - but I do have some!  If not, maybe they'll get someone else thinking.  Thanks for the review!

She put both hands on the handle in front of her, making up her mind that she would not scream, hang on to Harry, or generally act like a girl from now on.

As someone who grew up constantly trying to suppress my inner girly-girl (the only way to survive childhood with four older brothers), I can't tell you how amusing that line was to me.  I don't think I've ever related to Ginny more.

The sunflower shower nozzle was a beautiful touch, and as everyone else has said, your action scenes were great.  They were so good, in fact, that I didn't even miss the fluff! 

Oh I'm glad to know that about the girly-girl "issue" because that is one of the things I have Ginny exploring in later chapters.  After the revelation that her brothers wouldn't let her play Quidditch , I wanted to deal with that part of Ginny.

I tend to miss the fluff in adventure tales - so I'll try to have a balance!

Aunt Martha really does think there are two beds - she is over 100,  you know, and doesn't have overnight guests. 

Lotty knows - but she isn't talking!

Very Good!!  I love all of your stories.  I'm looking forward to updates.

Woot! Great start. I love the little details you've put into this, things like Ginny's hair in Harry's face. Great job. I'm looking forward to more.

 &     

amulder, you're so nice! John actually e-mailed me to clarify and I was able to set his mind at ease without giving away too much of the story!  Hopefully he will be able to tolerate my version of the "chaste nap" when the time comes.  (Did I mention the bed test takes place over three nights? - evil cackle)  So you all will have two more nocturnal "tests" to worry about!

Ha! I've never heard of the chaste nap - perhaps that is a fan fiction cliche I haven't run across.  My inspiration for this little divergence comes from the romances and epics of the middle ages.  In many of the medieval epics there is a "bed" test - usually over the course of three nights - to determine the knight and lady's virtue.  We'll see how H/G do with it.  Hopefully they will pass and still be in character. 

Well you know, you're doing your Occulemency exercises and boom - sound asleep!  Plus Ginny took a long time in the bathroom!

This is amazing! I couldn't believe that Ginny would open the letter! I kept saying "no, Gin, don't do it." But, of course, she did. At least she had Harry with her, and a Harry who kept his head.

Their conversation at Aunt Martha's had the gritty feel of on-the-edge realism that occurs after one of those soul-jarring moments in life.

I like the shower... so cute and yet I could imagine it being that way. And the last scene... can't wait for the next chapter, if only to see H&G's reactions!

I was worried about that conversation - how they just blurted everything out.  Almost a oneupmanship - I'm glad it rang true because I wanted to have that angsty stuff out in the open quickly.

It's fun to write from Ginny's PoV because she would notice different things than Harry - like the sleepy sunflower and all the nice shampoos.

Oh, no!  One bed!  Whatever will she do? 

V. v. interesting.  I can't wait to find out more.  Loved the dancing girl candle!  Oh, and I also think that Ginny's a Parselmouth.

Just a tiny bit convenient, that there was only one bed.  Oh, how will they awaken?  Write on, you have me hooked.

Awesome!  This is so great!!!!  I was thrilled and mystified, and so looking forward to more.

Holy crap, I think there's a law that says you can't end stories like that. I don't know if I want to kiss you or throttle you!

Wonderful story. I was expecting a piece of H/G fluff and instead got some lovely insight into Ginny's character - and Harry's. It's the details, I think, that make Rowling stand out as a writer, and you've captured so many of them in this story.

First off: the stripping candles - too funny! And so very in character for the twins. Plus, I always love authors who mention Ron's ears turning red:).

I am of the opinion that the fact that Ginny was able to take over for Harry as Seeker will be important to the story - so I love that you included that they were both Seekers - and it's a very believable scenario for them to both grab the Portkey (and Thank Heavens Harry did so).

Ginny's quick defense of Percy was great.

I think, being the H/G gal I am, that Ginny may prove a seductive hostage to the Death Eaters and Voldemort - and Harry's explanation about her over coming Tom's evil is a perfect example why. And I've always wondered whether Ginny could speak Parsletounge or not - I'm glad you addressed it.

A couple of lines I loved:

And

Both seem to sum up something deep inside the Harry/Ginny dynamic - the attraction will always be there, but both are so ingrained in the outcome of the war, that the attraction will have to wait - it won't hurt, however, to think on it every now and then.

Lovely story!

Thank you for your lovely long review!  I'm going to do a lot of delving into Ginny's character - which is where the title comes from. 

I don't think I'll wait until the end of the war for a little fluff between them - since I'm an impatient sort.  But H/G will have to learn a few things about each other before such a thing happens.