Disclaimer: I didn't make the marionettes, I just pull the strings… OK, in plain English; JK's characters, my plot…
***
Boys you know…***
"Ron?" Ron looked up from his planet-chart.
"Yes, Harry?"
For a second Harry looked about ready to say something. Then he just shook his head.
"No, never mind." Ron sighed, returning to his homework. But only seconds later he was disturbed again:
"Eh, Ron?"
"What is it, Harry?" Ron snapped. He was getting sick of being interrupted every five seconds. Harry looked at him rather startled.
"No, nothing," he said silently.
"Are you sure?" Ron urged. "Because if so, you've been trying to tell me nothing for the past hour and a half."
Harry just shook his head.
"It's nothing, I assure you. I'm gonna go to the library."
He got up, and Ron watched him go.
"What's up?" Ginny's voice made Ron jump. He hadn't even noticed that she'd sat down.
"It's Harry," Ron sighed. "Something is troubling him, and he wont tell me what. I don't get it, he's always trusted me."
Ginny was blushing, but she always did at the mention of Harry's name so Ron hardly noticed.
"Maybe it's something he doesn't feel comfortable talking about," she suggested.
"Like what?" Ron asked.
"Love," Ginny blurted out, and as a result blushed heavily.
"Nah, I'd know if he fancied someone," Ron dismissed. "He was too obvious with Cho."
"If you say so," Ginny shrugged, getting up. "I'm going to the library… to find Hermione." She rushed off and Ron shook his head.
"Hermione's had a bad influence on her."
*
Ginny found Harry where they'd arranged to meet. He gave her a long kiss hello.
"You haven't told him, have you?" Ginny said immediately after he stopped. Harry laughed.
"I've missed you too." But Ginny wasn't thrown of trail that easily.
"You have to tell him, Harry. I'm sick of sneaking around."
Harry sighed.
"So am I," he said. "But it's not that easy. What if he…" His voice trailed off.
"What's he gonna do?" Ginny asked. "Forbid you to see me?" She snorted. "Like he has a say in that."
"It's not just Ron," Harry argued. "Fred and George too. They… they'll use me for bludger-target practice."
Ginny giggled, but stopped as soon as she realized Harry wasn't joking.
"They won't mind, really."
"You weren't the one sitting next to Ron that day Neville tried to ask you out." Harry imitated Ron's voice: "If he as much as looks at her, I'll… I'll."
Harry stopped. Some words weren't fit to use in front of girls. Ginny just shrugged.
"If you don't tell him, I will."
"No," Harry protested. "That'll only make things worse. I'll tell him, just give me a little more time." He put his arms around her. "I haven't been this happy for ages, Gin. I don't want to ruin it." She kissed him.
"When you put it that way, how can I say 'no'?"
Hermione was surprised to find she was still holding her books. Harry… and Ginny? When? How long? And more importantly; How had she not noticed?
'And he's afraid to tell Ron,' she though. 'That's so sweet of him.'
Hang on, that wasn't sweet. It was the only smart thing to do. Ron would throttle him. Sure, Harry was his best friend, but Ginny was his little sister. In Ron's opinion, she shouldn't be dating until she was at least 35.
'What do I do?' Hermione thought. This was too big to keep to herself. Should she tell Ron? No, that would make matters a million times worse. How about Harry? He'd deny it, surly. If she were going to talk to anyone it would have to be Ginny. She could tell her that she knew, and that she thought it was great.
A voice interrupted her thoughts;
"Hermione, how long have you been standing here?"
Oooo… Cliffhanger…