Harry aparated back, he was wanting to go home, but, unfortunately his mind was muddled and he was thinking of talking to Ron, so, he ended up aparating into Ron and Hermione's bedroom. Hermione screamed, and then started breathing more normally when she realized who it was.
"Harry! Don't scare a person like that!" she said, pulling the blankets around herself.
Harry's hand, meanwhile, had flown to cover his eyes. "Sorry..." he mumbled." Little... miscalculation in direction?"
"Obviously." she said wryly. "Now, out of here. Wait in the den; Ron and I will get dressed."
"But..." Ron protested, sounding almost pitiful.
"No, no; you two... stay." he said uncomfortably. "I'm going to bed."
And, Harry rushed out of the room, shutting the door quickly behind him. Hermione stood and began getting dressed, and Ron sighed, flopping back against the pillows.
"Reckon your mood's ruined, then?"
Hermione nodded. "Getting walked in on does that."
Ron nodded, slowly and reluctantly pulling his pajamas on. He, Hermione and Harry were sharing a two-bedroom flat. Which, he hadn't admitted to his parents about roommate number three. He was sure they had inklings, but, they left it as an unsaid, which was much better in his eyes. He and Hermione walked out of the room and saw Harry, sitting forward on the couch, staring into the round fireplace.
"Ah, sorry if ya saw anything, mate." Ron said delicately.
Harry looked at him sideways. "I think I can live."
"Then, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, sitting beside him.
"It's---" he started to tell them about Ginny, but, it just wouldn't come out. "Nothing." he said finally. "It's nothing."
"Come on... don't do that. That's what messed ya up last time, 'member?" Ron said, leaning an arm on his friend's shoulder.
Harry took a deep breath. "Yes." he admitted. "But, it's kind of an issue between Ginny and I? I think the two of us should discuss it first."
Ron nodded, accepting this. "One word of advice, mate." he said solemnly. "The women in my family... crazy as bats."
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The next day Harry could not concentrate during his training. All he could think of about was of what Ginny told him happened on the way to Hogwarts. He was sure she was in class now. He hoped that gave her some immunity to Lockhart's advances. Ginny told him that it was nothing but he couldn't shake the image from his mine.
"Harry?" Hermione looked at him with concern. "Still thinking about whatever happened last night? Maybe writing to her will help?"
Harry huffed at the idea. "She will think that I am being overbearing."
"Harry," she said gently. "You can be sometimes."
"Ha!" Ron said.
"Hey, I never said that I am not as well"
"But... Well, never mind it is not my business. But you have to trust her Harry." Hermione said.
"She isn't the one I don't trust."
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Meanwhile, Ginny entered her second hour class.
"Okay," began Professor Lockheart, "Now this plant is..." and here he grabbed an index card... "Mandrake Root."
He reached over to pull out the plant, and everyone's hands flew to their ears, as the infant plant began wailing. However, Professor Lockheart was not so fortunate, and he fell to the ground, some blood coming out of his ears.
Ginny sighed and quickly grabbed the creepy-looking plant-baby and shoved it back into the dirt. Lockheart adjusted himself. "Ahem, yes, thank you. See, now that was a demonstration of why you do not do that..."
Ginny exchanged glances with a few other classmates. This, was going to be a long term...
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When Hermione went off for a training exercise, Ron nudged Harry. "All right, she's gone. Tell me."
"Ron---"
"No, you said something that struck me. What happened, or I'm gonna go ask her."
"She told me it was nothing," Harry stated.
"What was nothing? She wouldn't have told you at all if it meant nothing," Ron pressed. "Now tell me, or I will ask her and make a bigger scene then you."
Harry cringed.
"Fine. She told me that Lockheart slapped her thigh the other night..."
"What?!" "Why... I oughta..."
"She said he was just talking like if they were old pub buddies."
"Really...weak story if you ask me. Did he do anything else? Not I need more to want to knock his block off."
"She said it was innocent and that was it."
"Innocent?"
"Well, she probably just doesn't want a fuss started." Harry sighed.
"Well, there should be..." Ron grumped.
"Ron, that's not helping... You think I don't want to go down there right now and 'talk' to him about it? Or, at the very least put on my old cloak and make sure nothing ELSE happens? But, I can't; she asked me to leave it."
"Well, she didnt' ask ME to leave it. Or, any of the other guys for that matter..."
Harry groaned, a flash in his mind unbidden of the six Weasleys, walking across Hogwarts to the theme of "Resivoir Dogs"...
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"Thanks for all your help Ginny," Professor Lockheart replied after class. "You have a flair for botany."
"Thanks," Ginny replied trying to be polite.
"If you would be so kind, I would ask if you would like to help with tomorrow's lesson plan. I would give you and your house more points."
"Well, I have to get to my next class Professor," Ginny replied. "Thank you for your offer though."
Lockheart looked at the clock, "Oh of course, how about this afternoon then? After your last class?"
Ginny nodded. "All-all right." she said. "Really, I told Harry there was no reason to doubt him, no sense being a hypocrite..." she thought to herself.
Lockheart nodded, and she went out of the room. However, instead of heading to Double Potions, she went into her dormitory. Suddenly, the air around her began to waver, and someone was aparating into the room...