Soul Connection

Chapter 1

Harry sat on the couch in the Griffendor common room, Ginny was seated next to him. They were both reading their transfiguration books, admittedly Ginny more intently than Harry, he had other things on his mind, his two best friends had been acting differently lately, in truth since the summer and it was now November. He tried to list the things that had changed, firstly they hardly argued anymore and certainly not to the extent that they used to. They also tended to sit closer together and talk in whispers, sometimes Harry had to remind them that he was there. Lastly they kept disappearing, one minute they were all walking into the common room and then they were both gone. He suspected they had finally admitted their feelings to each other. Ron had fancied Hermione since fourth year or so he told Harry, just a few weeks before the Yule ball. After Ron's pathetically useless attempt to ask her to go with him, Hermione had, in tears, told Ginny that she felt the same way. Of course Harry and Ginny both knew that they had had feelings for each other since the day they met on the Hogwarts express, but they kept that to themselves. He hoped this was the case, he wanted them both to be happy together, he just didn't understand why it was such a big secret. He was a little hurt.

"I know what you're thinking Harry." Ginny's voice broke his thoughts.

"You do?"

"Yep, you're thinking were are they?"

"Am I that transparent?" he asked, hoping his wasn't due to the thoughts that continually raced in his mind about Ginny herself.

"Only to me….it hurts doesn't it?" she asked putting her book down and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"What?" He swallowed hard.

"Being left out." she stated

"Yes it does." he replied sadly.

"You think they've told each other then?" she hoped they had, she couldn't take another minute of Ron's sulky mood when Hermione wasn't around.

"Maybe"

"It doesn't explain the secrecy though. We're all friends, and we already know how they feel." she smiled at him weakly, partly trying to comfort him and partly hoping he would catch a clue and realise she was trying to hint about her own feelings for him. Harry turned to face the redhead, his heart pounding, he didn't know when but at some point over the summer he had realised that Ginny was a girl, and very attractive. He wondered how badly Ron would hurt him if he asked Ginny out, he hoped that being with Hermione would have softened him a little, as his best mate he was really a great choice for a boyfriend for Ginny, he hoped Ron believed this. He looked at her, taking a deep breath, he thought he might ask her, but he knew his courage would fail him. As it happened his courage didn't have time to fail. The common room door opened and he heard familiar voices.

"I'm telling you," came Ron's deep voice, "don't worry, it's getting late, no one will be up."

"What if they are? What if it's….Harry!" she stopped and quickly wrapped her arms across her chest.

"All right mate, we were just in the library" Ron said

"Well see you tomorrow" Hermione smiled at the three and rushed upstairs, Ginny ran after her throwing a quick, "night." over her shoulder, Ron watched them go with a silly smile on his face, Harry watched Ron.

"well night then Harry"

"Ron" Harry yelled, "wait can we talk?"

"Sure," Ron came to the couch and sat down, "what's up?"

"I was going to ask you that," Ron didn't seem likely to divulge any information, "look I'm going to ask you something, and I'm only going to ask once, I want the truth and if you lie to me it may seriously damage our friendship." Ron gulped at the seriousness in his friends tone, "are you going out with Hermione?" Ron visibly relaxed the question not being quite as serious as he imagined.

"Actually yes I am," Harry punched him in the arm, "what was that for?"

"Why didn't you tell me you git?"

"I don't know really, it sort of happened by accident, one minute we were arguing and then we were kissing and we were going to tell you, but I don't know, we just enjoyed having some thing that was just ours." Ron looked sheepishly, in truth he liked the secret, he was worried that if he told anyone then he would wake up and find it was a dream.

"It hurts Ron, being pushed out , having your two best mates sneak around and keeping secrets."

"I'm sorry mate, we didn't mean to hurt you."

"Okay then, no more secrets."

"Promise." they both stood to go to bed.

"Ron, why have you got ink all over your hands?" Ron turned scarlet.

"Long story mate." he replied and led the way up the stairs.

Meanwhile

"Hermione wait." Ginny called

"Hey Ginny, I'm really tired, I have to go to bed."

"Please wait," they stopped outside the door to the sixth year girls room, "I just want to know something, I want the truth and I promise I wont be mad okay." she was more certain by the second that she was right.

"Okay" Hermione breathed, knowing what she was going to ask and resigned to finally spilling the beans.

"Are you going out with my brother?"

"Yes, yes I am," she felt a pang of guilt at keeping this secret, along with relief that she was telling someone, she wasn't nearly as comfortable with the secret as Ron was.

"Oh my gosh!" the younger girl exclaimed, "since when?"

"Since the summer, at the burrow"

"I cant believe you never told me, you know what I don't care that you never said, I'm just happy I know now, and relieved because now I want have to listen to Mr moody pants every holiday, sulking because you're not there."

"He sulks." Hermione was genuinely surprised but then this is Ron Weasly they were talking about, "I'm sorry Gin."

"Don't be" they hugged each other lightly, "err Mione why do you have ink all over the front of your shirt? And why is it in the shape of handprints?" Hermione blushed a deep crimson and giggled slightly, remembering the library and Ron knocking over the ink. Of course not realising until a bit later was a draw back, ink stain removal was a spell she had never got the hang of, "why Hermione Granger, I think Ronald is a bad influence on you." Ginny scolded her jokingly as they parted for their separate rooms.