Chapter 3

Harry looked at Ginny and then sighed. He looked back down at the ground. "I, uh. I am sorry, but I really don't think we should see each other anymore."

For a flash of a second, Ginny looked hurt, but then she crossed her arms across her chest. "And why is that?" she asked, cocking her head to one side.

He thought about lying to her, telling her she was ugly or something ridiculous, but the look of determination on her face made him what to tell her everything; things that he had held inside for too long.

"I'm not who you think I am," he said finally. "I'm dangerous."

She looked amused, but didn't say anything.

"I could honestly hurt you and I don't want to do that." He looked very, very sad. "My parents died because of me, I can't get close to anyone because I couldn't stand for that to happen again."

"You didn't kill them. You-know-who did. You certainly can't blame yourself for that."

Harry looked down at his hands. "I think I must have."

Ginny took his hands in hers. "Look, Harry Potter, there are hundreds of wizards out there who are depending on you. You have given them hope. "

"But how? I haven't done anything. I can't do anything. I wouldn't even know what to do."

"Merlin, you're a whiner." She laughed. "I'm joking. You are brilliant; you just need to believe in yourself."

Ginny sighed dramatically. "I'm not giving up on you, Harry. I'm going to be here. I'm going to be your friend. I'm not afraid."

Harry wished she would have kissed him again but, she didn't. He watched her leave and he felt disappointed. He was glad she wouldn't take no for an answer, but he was still worried about hurting her.

Suddenly, Harry knew what he had to do. He had to tell others what he'd seen in the grave yard. The part of him that was aware of what was going on sincerely wanted to fight the evil part. He doubted if anyone would believe him, but what was new about that? The only question he had was who should he tell? Professor Snape? That might backfire if the rumors of him being a death eater were true. He despised Professor Umbridge and he was terrified of Dumbledore.

Harry thought about it more that evening. He went to the library where he knew he'd be left alone and began finishing his homework. There seemed to be more people about, for some reason. He heard grumblings about Professor Umbridge and how she was ruining the school. The voices were very low, so he couldn't recognize them, but he saw that most of the students were Gryffindors; one girl who had bushy hair seemed to be doing most of the talking. What was her name? It was that smart Granger girl. She went to the Yule Ball with Victor Krum; Ginny told him that. One of the boys was Ron, Ginny's brother, who didn't like him at all. He'd been friendly the first day they met on the train. Maybe they could have been friends if he hadn't been sorted in Slytherin. Anyway, he sure didn't like him now after having him see Ginny kiss him.

The other boy with the others was the one that Professor Snape abused on a daily basis in Potions. His name was Neville Longbottom. Oddly, Harry had dreamed about him. He thought Longbottom was a lot like him. Perhaps he could be friends with him one day. He took the abuse fairly well. He was a lot smarter than he looked, Harry decided. There was something about him he really liked.

Boldly, he got to his feet and walked over to the group of people. They looked up when he approached and immediately fell silent. He smiled shyly and unbelievably, they (except Ron, of course) smiled back.

"Hello," the Granger girl said.

The Longbottom boy looked extremely uncomfortable, very nervous, but he nodded at Harry. The Weasley kid sort of rolled his eyes and looked at him with a kind of menacing-bored look. The others, two boys named Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas and the Weasley twins just looked at him.

He smiled shyly. "I don't mean to interrupt…"

"You're not," Granger said quickly. "We were just talking about Professor Umbridge," she lowered her voice as if the woman would hear her. "We're concerned about what's happening to Hogwarts with her in charge."

Neville Longbottom winced when the girl said Umbridge's name. He looked very nervous. Harry knew exactly how he felt.

"Ah, yes, the good Professor," Harry said, smiling wryly.

"Hi, Harry." Harry flushed as he turned around. It was Ginny. He grinned in spite of himself. She graced him with a smile. "I'm happy to see you." She stood next to him and immediately he felt calm.

"I'm glad you're here," Hermione Granger said. She looked at Ginny knowingly. "How was your DADA today?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's a good thing you-know-who isn't back and all is well with the Ministry," she said.

"But he is back," Harry said quickly. "I know. I saw him."

"I knew it!" Hermione said. "At the tournament. They said Cedric's death was an accident, but I watched you; there was something else, wasn't there?"

Harry looked at Ginny and then at Hermione. "Yes," he said just barely a whisper. "Voldemort killed him."

Neville blanched.

"I don't believe you," Ron said.

"Fine," he said, shrugging. "I don't expect you to. But I saw things that scared me. I can't describe everything, but he has followers…"

"Death eaters," Hermione supplied.

"I don't know, but they wore masks and they bowed down to him. He was very angry with some of them."

"You're making it up," Seamus Finnigan said. "You want all the attention."

Harry shook his head adamantly. "No! I'm telling you the truth."

"Did you tell anyone else?" Hermione asked.

He nodded. "When I came back I told Professor Snape some of it. I couldn't tell him everything, I was too frightened and I was hoping it was all a dream." He looked at the stunned crowd. "But, it wasn't."

"Can you prove it?"

"I wish I could." Harry said, frowning suddenly. "But I don't think anyone at the Ministry, at least, wants to know. I tried talking to the Minister of Magic, but he didn't want to talk to me."

Ginny put her hand over his. "I believe you Harry," she said.