Setup: This is set in a slightly different universe, in the sense that when Harry killed Voldemort the first time he stayed dead, and that Wormtail went into hiding to escape prison ans Sirius did escape, and with Harry and Remus's help they brought him in and Sirius's name was cleared and now Harry is living with him. I'm not sure how the chamber of secrets or the Sorcerer's stone happened, they just did... XP

Rating: T, but it might go up later, I'm still undecided.

Warnings: Slash, language, AU, Ginny Bashing

Pairings: Draco Malfoy x Harry Potter, Ron Weasley x Hermione Granger, Sirius Black x Remus Lupin, slight Harry x Ginny at first, and slight Dean x Seamus. Might change or I might add more.

Summary: Harry's having odd compulsions, ones making him do things he'd rather not, and now he has to figure out why before he does something disastrous.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of places mentioned, they all belong to JK Rowling.

A/N: First story I've posted here, hoping it won't be my last, but let me know what you think of it :) enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Ouch!" Harry hissed, pulling his finger out of the cage and glaring at the strange creature that had just bitten him. It just blinked it's eight eyes at him and tilted it's head to the side innocently as if asking 'what?'.

Harry decided against sticking his fingers into any of the other cages after that, walking over to the back part of the Magical Menagerie where Ron was waiting in line for checkout, holding a cage that contained a white albino rat.

"Isn't she lovely mate?" Ron cooed, holding up the cage so Harry could get a better look at her. After the incident with 'Scabbers' back in their third year, Ron had been wanting to get a new pet, and now he finally was. From the looks of things, he was already head-over-heels in love with it.

"Oh, yeah, she's... got nice fur," Harry said wearily, the beady red eyes of the creature freaked him out slightly.

"I know, she's just perfect, isn't she?" Ron said dazedly, grinning and stepping up to the counter to buy her.

Harry went out front to wait for him, digging into his pocket and grabbing his school list, checking it over to see where they would stop next. He was startled when someone shoved roughly into his shoulder, causing him to drop his list.

"Potter," the voice of the one and only Draco Malfoy sneered as he shoved past.

"Malfoy," Harry bit back, sending him a nasty glare before picking up his dropped paper. Malfoy just turned, shoving Ron as well as they passed each other in the doorway.

Ron walked up to him, a sour look on his face, "blood hell, what's up his ass?"

"It's Malfoy, what isn't?" Harry just shrugged, laughing with Ron, and they began walking down the street heading to Flourish and Blotts to get their new books. The whole way Ron talked about his rat, saying how she fit perfectly in his pocket and was the most well behaved rat there was, even though Ron had only had her for less than ten minutes.

"What do you think I should name her? It has to be something perfect," Ron said, a thoughtful look on his face as he walked. 'A rare sight' Harry thought to himself.

"I don't know, what about snowy, or whitey?" Harry suggested lamely.

"No way! Those are stupid names, my girl need a pretty name, like Daisy or Elizabeth," Ron replied, petting his new rat and cuddling her against his face.

"Or Hermione?" Harry teased, causing Ron to turn red and sputter.

"S-shut up!"

Harry laughed, dodging his friend's fist, running ahead a few steps where it was safe. Behind him, Ron rolled his eyes, his cheeks still slightly pink. "Git," he mumbled under his breath.

A few hours later they had gotten all of their school shopping done and were back at the leaky cauldron, where chaos had immediately ensued when crookshanks had seen his new friend. Now Harry sat at the table and watched them, only half paying attention as Ron and Hermione bickered about her 'stupid cat' and his 'dumb rat'.

"It's your fault for getting another rat!" Hermione scolded, hugging the orange cat in her arms securely. Ron was holding his rat, Mitsy, in a similar way.

"Yeah, well it's your fault for getting the blood-thirsty monster in the first place!" Ron argued back, his face red.

Hermione scoffed indignantly, "Blood thirsty monster? Well I'll have you know that-"

Harry stopped listening after that, turning to smile at Ginny when she entered the room. She met his gaze, smiling sweetly and blushing slightly, sitting down across from him.

"Hello Harry."

"Hey Ginny," he said, not able to form any other words. They sat there in semi-awkwardness, Harry berating himself for being so bad at talking to girls and not starting conversation, but no matter what he came up with it just didn't sound right.

"I was wonder-" he started, at the same time that she said, "Do you want to-"

They both blushed, apologizing, and Ginny told him to go first.

"Oh um, Well..." He nervously rubbed the back of his neck, studying the table.

"Harry was wondering if you would go on a date with him," Ron said from behind him, making him jump and spin around in his chair, cheeks red.

"Ron!"

"And Ginny says she would be delighted to join you," Hermione interjected, causing Ginny to spin around too, face also flushed.

"Hermione!"

"Hey! We're just trying to help you guys out!" Ron said, holding his hands up, smiling mischievously.

"Yeah, if we didn't interfere, you two would take forever to ask each other!" Hermione pointed out. Before either of them could get a word in, Hermione stepped forward and grabbed Ron's arm, dragging him out of the room, "Come on Ron, let's give the two lovebirds their privacy."

And then they were alone again. Slowly they turned back around in their chairs. Harry coughed, breaking the silence.

"So..."

"Saturday then?" Ginny said, smiling. Harry looked up, nodding.

"Yeah, that sounds great."

Harry was glad he had finally managed to ask her out, even if it was Ron who had done it for him. He'd have to make sure to thank him later. They sat at the table for the next hour or so until Molly showed up, ushering Ginny into the kitchen to help her with dinner. Harry sank back into his chair, a dopey grin on his face. Ron and Hermione walked back in the room, exchanging knowing looks.

"It's about time," Hermione said matter-of-factually. To which Harry just rolled his eyes.

"That's not fair 'Mione, given how long it took you and Ron to finally hook up," he teased, watching as Ron turned red and Hermione blushed slightly, turning her face to the side.

"Yes, well, that was different."

Harry opened his mouth to respond but Ron walked up, slapping him on the back in a friendly way, "I'm happy for ya mate!" Ron said loudly, changing the subject.

"Thanks, Ron."

End Note: Okay, so it seems like a lot of Harry x Ginny, but it will change soon. Please leave a review and let me know what you think :)