This is my favorite chapter to read so far.  Interesting that Harry’s first thought in the morning is for Ginny. Grin.  I find it hard to believe they wouldn’t have a little pity on Harry.  A day of painting is hard work out in the summer heat.  He couldn’t have slept in?  (Our boy is getting no love…)

Even more interesting that he doesn’t want Ginny to be dating Dean. Grin.  I laughed at the exchange over Ron’s level of gitness.  He’s always felt pretty typical boy to me. 

Ginny seems much more aware of both her feelings and Harry’s reactions in this chapter.  I like that.  She seems pretty self aware to me in the books, so that feels real.

I like the setting of the flowers, and it reminded me of strawberry picking.  I don’t know why…(teasing grin.)  A minor quibble, but I always equate mums for later summer early fall, rather than June.  This might be different in England, I don’t know.  (Pretty girly comment, huh?)

I laughed out loud at Ginny’s answer to Harry asking if he’s about to be hexed.  Grin.  She didn’t say she didn’t want to, just that she would never get away with it.. Hee.

You do a nice job of showing the love between Molly and Ginny.  Mother daughter bonding is hard to write realistically, but I feel that you have done so. 

One of the best scenes was, without a doubt your scene where Ginny realizes that Harry is acting out of emotional pain rather than physical.  In just this short time, she has learned to think of another person’s feelings.  If, as she says it’s not all about Harry, (previous chapter) now she realizes her feelings can’t always come first. 

Harry hearing about the summer, finally was bittersweet.  I hate thinking of all the stories he’ll never hear from Sirius himself.  But I’m glad he laughed at the idea of Ginny attacking Padfoot, and now knows that his friends share his pain.

I like the easy friendship shown between Harry and Ginny when she arrives to study, and typical Weasley kicking him while he’s trying to avoid his cousin discovering her.  After all, she isn’t the twins’ sister for nothing.

(And you know a boy is falling for a girl when he’s fascinated by the freckles on her shins for crying out loud! Hee.)  Very cute that Harry is now glad to see he can make her blush.  What was even better, is that she returns the favor!  What a difference in older Ginny from the little girl she was when she first met him.  Best lines (well maybe not best, but the ones that gave me that girlish squee moment:

“"I haven't even eaten lunch and here you go giving me dessert."
Heat crept up Harry's face and he instantly straightened. "Sure, you think it's good now, but what you don't know is that I usually do this in the buff."
Ginny's mouth went slack and a glazed look passed over her face for a second before she shook her head clear. "You can't tease me like that, Harry, unless you're going to make good on it."  Giggle.  I can picture their reaction.  Don’t blame Ginny one bit…

From these moments of humor, you lead us to Harry’s pain of being alone.  Alone in a way that’s even worse now.  You made a nice choice having Ginny finish her talk of Sirius then, while Harry was emotionally vulnerable.  He was able to hear it, and express his own pain seeing someone else share it.  His anger, not just his loss needed to be expressed.  The guilt is still there I think, but Ginny stopping him from taking so much responsibility is a good start. 

Now for my real favorite line.  (Or, my favorite for less salacious reasons.) “She smiled and this time, Harry realized that beauty was something that was not made or bought, but existed in the smile of a friend.” 

What a wonderful way to end, with for the first time Harry feeling some hope, some joy.  Maybe he’ll realize sharing things that bother you can make the burden lighter.  I can’t wait to see how the two react to each other the next time they are face to face.

Oh, I forgot to say that I love the reference to Fiddler on the Roof.  I adore that show!

Sarah

This was such an emotional chapter.  First off, I really like the relationship between Molly and Ginny.  I've often wondered what it was like, being that Ginny's the only girl and the yougest.    It makes sense that maybe they haven't been as close in previous years. 

"Her mother cupped her check and pulled Ginny's gaze up to meet her own. "He needs to heal before he can love. Be there for him through this and then see how things go, all right?""

That is such a great line, and so very true. *sniffle*

Okay, Ginny's relationship with Sirius... love it.  There are so many missing moments in OotP that could be written.  I think that the ones you've written here are really great.  Ginny and Harry's talk at the end was very emotional and heart-wrenching.  I often find it unplausable when author's have Harry sobbing and crying all over the place, but I think that the subject of Sirius would do it, especially the things that Ginny explained to him here.

Okay, this review is long enough, so I'll stop here.  Lovely chapter.

Sarah

I was so happy when I got my up date and there was more to this fic. I can't wait to read the next little bit....wonderful Thanks!

Obsidiana Get to work on the next part, Please!

I was so happy when I got my up date and there was more to this fic. I can't wait to read the next little bit....wonderful Thanks!

Obsidiana Get to work on the next part, Please!

Excellent! I have wondered about Ginny's birthday in one of the threads here at PS and I feel as though you filled a gap here brilliantly. Ginny's reollection could almost stand alone as a 'missing moment', in my opinion.

I have no idea where you are taking this story but I'm loving the scenery along the way. 

I'm really enjoying this one so far.  I've always thought that it would take something drastic like a fight to bring  and  together and you seem to have found the way   Great work so far and keep it up!  Oh, and post, Post, POST!