Disclaimer: Although they are on an adventure of my own creation, the characters in this story (minus Milius) belong to the terribly talented J.K. Rowling.

Thanks again to all of my reviewers! You guys inspire me to keep plugging away at this story!!

"Is this really happening?" Ginny thought to herself. "It can't be....I must be dreaming. I know, I'll pinch myself. Oops...can't do that, Harry's got my hands."

"Do....do you really, really mean it, Harry?" Ginny asked in a tremorous voice.

"Yeah, Gin, I DO mean it. I...I'm not really sure when...or how it happened. It's like...I don't know. I looked up one day and you were there. It's like I never really saw you until that moment. After that, I couldn't get you out of my head, really. Anytime I wanted to say something to you, I chickened out. The words just wouldn't come, they just kind of..stuck in my throat. Guess I just needed a bit of...encouragement," Harry said, glancing over at the now abandoned griffon quill.

Ginny threw her arms around Harry's neck, knocking his glasses askew. Burying her face in his neck, Ginny said, "Oh, Harry, I've loved you since I first laid eyes on you! I can't even tell you....it's been so hard, loving you and just knowing you didn't care for me. Even now, I can't bring myself to believe this is finally happening. I've dreamt about it for so long." Hot tears of pent up emotion began to run down her cheeks and against Harry's skin, as Ginny began to tremble and cry. Harry wrapped his arms around her slender frame and held her as tightly as he could.

"Ginny...Ginny, please don't cry, I had no idea you felt that way. I....I don't want to hurt you any more than I already have." Harry looked down at the small red head which lay on his shoulder. "Gin....please look at me, please!"

Ginny raised her tear-filled eyes to meet Harry's, her head never leaving his shoulder. Harry gently kissed the top of her head, just holding her and rocking her in his arms, until her crying died down to the occasional sniffle.

"Oh, Harry, please don't let me be dreaming, because if I am, I don't think I could ever wake up. I wouldn't want to," Ginny said in a whisper, her voice still quavering.

"Gin, does this feel like a dream?" Harry asked, as he brought his lips to meet her small, trembling ones. It was a slow and tender kiss, for Harry's feelings were quite new. As they were quite wrapped up in one another, Harry and Ginny didn't notice someone approach them.

"Uh...er, Harry?" Neville asked tenatively. "I really hate to interrupt....but you may want to check on Ron and Hermione." Neville pointed in the direction of the hidden alcove. "A group of first year Hufflepuffs just came in and uh.....they seem to be....enjoying the scenery, if you know what I mean," Neville stammered, his face reddening.

Harry loosened his hold on Ginny, putting his arm around her shoulders, and they quietly walked over to the alcove. Ron and Hermione were obviously enjoying themselves, oblivious to the nearby table of Hufflepuffs who were giggling and staring.

"Um...Ron, mate, you've got an audience."

Ron and Hermione turned their heads at the same time and saw their observers. Hermione turned a deep shade of scarlet and moved farther back into the alcove.

"Uh, well.....oops! We were just watching you and Ginny and got a bit....uh....inspired," Ron stammered, his face turning a shade similar to Hermione's.

Ginny went over to her hidden friend. In an attempt to get Hermione through her embarrassment, Ginny said, "Don't worry about it, Hermione. Besides, now we can take Ron and Harry down to the caves."

"You're absolutely right, Ginny," Hermione replied, shaking off her embarrassment. "But perhaps we should wait until the library is less.....occupied." She glanced meaningfully over at the table of giggling first year Hufflepuffs.

Ron came over and put his arm around Hermione. "So are we going on down to the caves? Or are we....waiting a bit?"

Harry was completely bewildered. "Um..guys? What exactly are you talking about?"

Ginny ushered Harry over to a chair at the table farther in the corner. She, Ron, and Hermione each sat in the chairs around him.

"Well, Harry, it's kind of a long story." Ginny, Ron, and Hermione each took turns explaining to Harry about the caves and all that had happened.

After the explanations were over, Harry sat quietly for a moment, trying to process all of the information.

"Please don't let him feel like I manipulated him!" Ginny silently thought. Harry gave a quick nod as if making his mind up about something.

"Ginny....I'm glad you did what you did. You've given me a reason to be happy again....after all that's happened." Even though Harry didn't say it, the others knew he was referring to the death of his godfather, Sirius Black.

Exuberantly, Ginny threw her arms around him, knocking him backwards a bit. Harry managed to not fall out of his chair, and planted a kiss on her cheek. "So when do we go down?" he asked.

"How about after lunch," Ron suggested, "I'm starving!"

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny burst out laughing, as the four left the library to walk to the Great Hall.

Once everyone had eaten and Ron had sufficiently stuffed himself, they again made their way to the library. After checking to make sure the coast was clear, they proceeded to the tapestry behind the hidden shelf.

"Lemme do it this time," Ron said, pushing against the tapestry. "Bollucks!"

With that being said, the portal opened and Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny went through.

"Lumos!" Ron held up his wand and the tip began to glow. Harry pulled out his wand and did the same, as the girls led the way to the cavern.

"It's hard to believe this," Harry observed. "I mean, first the Chamber of Secrets, and now this place. Makes you wonder exactly how many hidden spots there could be at Hogwarts."

Winding their way along the dark path, they finally arrived at the mouth of the cavern. Hermione flicked her wand at the fireplace, uttering, "Incendio!"

The flames sprang to life, and there before them lay the cavern, with the now opened tunnel under the arch. Harry, as this was his first trip to the caves, could only stand and gaze around him in awe. Ginny tugged him by the arm.

"Come on, we'll give you the tour later," she said with a grin. Finally....there they were, at the mouth of the newly opened tunnel. The tunnel split off in two directions, one path lay directly in front of them, and the other off to the left.

"So which way first?" Ron asked.

"Let's just go straight ahead," suggested Hermione, and the four made their way forward. They made it about a hundred feet before they walked into some type of invisible barrier, which sent them all to the ground. Harry and Ron got to their feet and helped Ginny and Hermione up.

"Great! How do we get through here?" Ginny asked, as she felt the barrier with her hands. It was quite solid.

From out of nowhere, Milius appeared behind them. "In order to procee.....eE..EEECHOO!" he exclaimed, as he fell into his obligatory pile of bits on the floor. "Merlin's nightgown! You'd think that when I died and became a ghost, I wouldn't still be plagued with allergies!"

Finally whole again, he continued. "As I was saying, in order to proceed, you must split up. You will find that the other tunnel contains a similar barrier. Each barrier can only be crossed by one couple walking through together, hand in hand."

"The love thing again?" Ron questioned, and Milius nodded with a smile.

"Right, Hermione and I will go back to the other tunnel..Harry, you and Ginny go on ahead."

Taking Ginny's hand in his own, Harry and Ginny walked forward. They found that, together, they could walk through the barrier with ease. Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione.

"Ron, you two please be careful."

Ron nodded, and Harry and Ginny continued forward until darkness engulfed them, and Ron and Hermione could no longer see them.

"Well, let's get cracking," Ron said, grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her back the way they had come.

"Milius?" Hermione began questioningly. Milius, seeing the concern in Hermione's eyes, tried to put her fears to rest.

"Do not fear, dear Hermione. I will be keeping watch over you all. Not that there's any need, young Ron looks as though he'd slay a whole herd of rampaging acromantulas just to protect you."

Hermione smiled at up at Ron, who, at the mention of giant spiders, looked around as if they might actually be there.

"Tha....that's right," Ron tried to say bravely. "I..If you really were in danger, I'd protect you! I'd hex the legs right off those spiders....then I'd.."

"Ron," Hermione interrupted, "maybe we should just get going."

After a sheepish grin and a quick kiss from Ron, they continued on. Once they had cleared the invisible barrier in the left tunnel, Ron and Hermione, after walking some distance, finally came to a small cave. The cave seemed to be lit up by some light source they couldn't see. When they stepped farther in and looked up, Hermione and Ron saw that there were thousands of fireflies floating lazily around the top of the cave.

"Well, that explains the light," thought Hermione, not wanting to break the mood by speaking out loud.

The cave was completely empty, with the exception of a small, stone table in the center. Upon the table, lying upon a velvet cushion, were two crossed wands. The wands and the cushion they lay on, were surrounded by an electric blue forcefield. A golden parchment bearing a verse lay on the table in front of the wands. The verse read:

On the fourth day of setting sun with lovers' vows spoken Join together two as one in a bond unbroken Oneness will breach the barrier and lovers claim love's token

"Fantastic," Hermione said sarcastically, "more riddles. Milius! Milius, where are you?"

Milius appeared just as Ron began to prod at the forcefield with the tip of his wand. A bright, crackling blue light shot up Ron's wand, knocking him off his feet. Hermione ran to his side.

"Ron! Oh, Ron, are you alright?" she asked, taking his face in her hands.

"Fine thanks, mum, but I don't want anymore kidney pie."

Hermione shook him by the shoulders, which seemed to bring him back to his senses.

"Sorry, Ron, but no amount of prodding or spell-casting will breach that forcefield," Milius explained. He looked over at Hermione. "And no, Hermione, I can't help you with that verse."

"Can you at least tell us about the wands?"

"Now that I can do. These wands belonged to Godric and Rowena. Alone...they are no more powerful than any other wand. However, when wielded together by just the right witch and wizard, they posess extraordinary powers."

"Wicked! Those would definitely be worth having!"

"I'm sure they would, Ron, but....Milius, what about the saying that the wand chooses the wizard? I mean, the wrong wand in the hands of a wizard is completely useless."

"My, Hermione, you really do think of everything. At any rate, that can be easily explained. If you are able to figure out the verse and get past the forcefield, then you are the right witch and wizard to wield the wands of Godric and Rowena. The wands have the power to sense the right couple. However, once you have taken Godric and Rowena's wands, you will find that your own wands will be rendered useless to you."

"Well then that just leaves the verse to solve, and that's going to take a bit of work," Hermione said.

"Then do you think maybe we should head back and wait for Harry and Ginny?"

"That might be best, we can always come back when we've solved it," Hermione replied, as she wrote the verse down on a scrap of parchment she'd taken from her robes.

"Milius, can you go to Harry and Ginny and let them know we'll be waiting for them where the tunnels meet?" asked Ron.

"I shall be happy to. Good luck solving your riddle, Ron and Hermione."

Ron took Hermione's hand, and they walked back through the dark passage to the invisible barrier.

Ginny and Harry had been walking for about twenty minutes before they too came across a small cave. The inside of the cave was lit up by some phosphorescent mineral which ran like veins through the walls and floor. In the center of the cave was a large, flat-topped boulder, which took up quite a bit of room. Upon the boulder sat what looked like a large jewelry box. The box was an ebony color, with intricately weaved silver and gold tracings all over. On both ends of the box, there was a silver lever and a gold push button. As Harry and Ginny moved closer, they discovered they could see right through the top of the box, as the top was made of glass.

Inside the box, laying on a silken pillow, was an amulet. The amulet was half made of gold and half made of silver. It was circular in shape, with the gold half boasting the Gryffindor lion, and the silver side bearing a tree with the Ravenclaw raven. It was almost exactly like the arch! The ribbon which joined the lion to the raven was made of the same phosphorescent mineral that ran through the cave's walls. Two long gold and silver chains ran from the top of the amulet. Laying off to the side of the box, was a stone tablet with a verse etched on it that read:

When four times the moon has risen and love seen in lovers' eyes Toil together two as one as darkness fills the skies Together release the catches and together claim love's prize

"What I wouldn't give to have Hermione's brain right now," Ginny thought, tracing her fingers over the engraved words.

"Hello, young Ginny and Harry," Milius said, appearing at the mouth of the cave. "Ron and Hermione have asked me to tell you that they are waiting for you in the tunnels."

"Milius, what exactly is this?" asked Harry, pointing at the box.

"That, Harry, is the Amulet of Agninus Amicus. Godric and Rowena wore it all the time."

"Godric and Rowena? But how did they both wear it at once?"

"The amulet splits down the middle. Each person who wears a half, will be protected from any type of spell. However, when the two halves are put together, the witch or wizard wearing it will find that their powers have doubled in strength."

"Sounds like something Voldemort would like to get ahold of," Harry thought to himself.

"What about the verse? What does it mean?" asked Ginny.

"Sorry, Ginny, you and Harry must find the answer on your own. You'll find that Hermione and Ron also have a bit of a riddle to work through."

"Gin, have you got parchment and a quill so I can write this verse down before we go?"

Ginny reached down into the pockets of her robes and pulled out a spare bit of parchment....and the griffon quill. Harry smiled as he took them and wrote down the verse. When he was finished, he skipped down to the bottom of the page and wrote, "Thanks....for everything."

"No problem chum, glad to be of service again. By the way...congratulations!" the quill scrawled.

Harry handed the quill and parchment back to Ginny. After a quick farewell to Milius, Harry took Ginny's hand and they walked back to meet Ron and Hermione.

When the group made it back to the main cavern, they each sat in an armchair by the fire. As soon as she sat down, Ginny got back up, abandoning her chair to go sit on Harry's lap. They all sat in silence for a few moments, just watching the flames dance across the logs in the fireplace.

"Well, I guess we all have a bit of solving to do," Ron said, breaking the silence. He was still trying to process all they'd discovered.....the wands and the amulet.

"It's probably getting pretty late. We might want to get back before someone misses us," suggested Hermione.

Ron helped Hermione to her feet and Ginny slid off of Harry's lap, clasping his hand. The foursome headed out the exit tunnel.

"Lumos!" Ron uttered, holding his wand out in front of him. Strangely enough, the tip of his wand did not light up.

"Hey! Something's wrong with my wand!"

Harry, Ginny, and Hermione each pulled out their wands, uttering the words to light the tips. In the glow from their wands, they could see an inky black flowing from the end of Ron's wand.

"Oh, Ron," Hermione said gravely. "What if something happened to it when it came in contact with that forcefield?"

Ron decided to test it with another simple spell. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he said, pointing it towards a rock on the ground at his feet. The ground beneath the rock began to give away, and the rock sank until it was no longer visible.

"Um...Ron? You may want to avoid using that for now, mate," Harry said, as Ron stared at his wand in disbelief.

"Mum's going to kill me! This is the second wand I've ruined since coming to Hogwarts!"

"Maybe she doesn't have to get mad, Ron," Hermione said, "Not if we can get ahold of Godric and Rowena's wands."

Ron shook his head and stuffed his wand back into the pockets of his robes, as the foursome continued on. After climbing the stairs and exiting the caves, they made their way to Gryffindor tower. Seated before the cheerily crackling fire in the common room, they addressed the issue of their verses.

"Well, we can all meet up in the library tomorrow and get to work solving them," suggested Ron.

"Ronald, you're not forgetting we have classes tomorrow, are you?" asked Hermione sternly.

"No, I'm not forgetting. How can I when you're here to remind me all of the time?"

Ron realized the mistake of his answer as Hermione looked like she was ready to really let him have it. Before she had a chance to blurt out whatever she'd been about to say, Ron silenced her with a passionate kiss. Beneath his lips, Hermione's features began to soften. Ron pulled back, and ran quickly off to his dorm room.

"Well goodnight to you too, Ron," Hermione said a bit indignantly, but she looked much calmer than she had a minute ago.

"So how about we meet up in the library tomorrow after classes?" Harry suggested, his eyes emerald eyes locking with Ginny's.

"That will be fine," answered Hermione, "Just make sure one of us lets Ron know." Sensing that Harry and Ginny wanted to be alone, Hermione wished them a good night, and ascended the stairs to her dorm.

Harry, who had been sitting on the sofa next to Ginny, wrapped his arms around her. Ginny leaned back against Harry, and closed her eyes.

"Thank you, Harry."

"For what, Gin?"

"For loving me."

Harry held her tighter, leaning back against the arm of the sofa. The roaring fire was warm on their faces, and, without meaning to, they fell asleep.

A/N: The term Agninus Amicus is Latin for double power, or double powerful. At least, that's what the English-Latin translator told me :)