Title: FB
Chapter 4: the runaway
Disclaimer: see chap 1
As always, thanks for the reviews
"Potter! POTTER!"
Harry and Ron were on their way to Divination when they heard Malfoy's irritating tone behind them
Harry reluctantly turned around. Malfoy was smirking from ear to ear. "Is it true?"
"Is WHAT true, Malfoy?" Harry demanded.
"Did you finally dump that disgusting Mudblood?"
Harry sneered at Draco. He might be mad with Hermione at the moment, but she was still his friend. He whipped out his wand. "What did you say?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Just when I thought you and I could be allies, Potter."
"Malfoy, when you grow some balls, stop walking around like your piss don't stink, and quit being Snape's lap dog we'll be allies." Harry said.
Ron laughed out loud.
"Until then, earn some respect," Harry said.
"What did you say to me, Potter?" Draco pulled out his wand as well.
"You heard me," Harry replied, pointing his wand at him.
"What is going on here?" a voice asked behind them. Professor Trelawney was coming up the corridor.
"You mean, you didn't see this happening?" Ron joked.
She ignored him. "Boys, put those away and go your separate ways."
Draco and Harry stared at each other.
"Now," Trelawney said. "Mr. Potter, I believe you belong with me?" she pulled down the ladder. Reluctantly, Harry trudged up, followed by Ron.
The Great Hall looked beautiful. Everything was decorated in white--- white lace hung on the windows, little white fairies flew throughout the hall blowing bubbles through small wands. The house tables had been pushed to the walls and a large dance floor was in the center. Ice sculptures of the four house animals were in the corners. Lavender and Ron spotted Ginny and Harry on the dance floor, and danced their way over.
"Ginny!" Ron called. "You didn't tell me you were coming with Harry,"
Ginny blushed. "I wanted to surprise you,"
"I'm just concentrating on not tripping over my feet," Harry moaned.
"Oh, you," Ginny said, hitting Harry playfully on the chest. "You're doing fine."
Ron cast a nervous glance over his shoulder at their table. Hermione sat there, looking beautiful, but her arms and legs were crossed. He had convinced her to come, not knowing that Harry would be here with Ginny. "Let's sit down," he told Lavender. "I'm starved."
Lavender laughed. "Okay. We'll see you two later," they said and left the dance floor.
"You look… really nice," Harry told Ginny.
And she did. Her red hair was up in curls, and her new robes fitted her nicely. "Thank you," she said.
"Uhm, Hermione," Ron said as they sat down.
She turned to him. Ron opened his mouth, but just then Neville showed up.
"Hermione, do you want to dance?"
"Sure, Neville," Hermione got up. "I'll be back, okay, Ron?"
All he could do was nod.
Neville led Hermione onto the dance floor and she disappeared into the crowd.
"This is bad," Ron said. "If Harry sees her…"
"Ron, are you here with me or Hermione?" Lavender asked.
Ron turned to her. "I'm here with you, of course."
"Then act like it! Hermione is a big girl, she can take care of herself."
Ron felt guilty. He had been ignoring Lavender, but Hermione needed him too. "Sorry," he muttered.
"It's okay," she said. "Can we dance?"
"Can't we eat first?"
"Ron!"
"Okay, okay," he said, getting up and reaching for her hand. "But when my stomach rumbles, remember, it was you that denied it food."
Lavender laughed. "Just one quick dance and then we can eat. I like this one,"
"It's a slow one!" Ron exclaimed. "That's going to make me hungrier!"
"Oh, come on!" Lavender grabbed his hand and pulled him into the crowd.
She was there. Harry saw her dancing with Neville, and she put her head on his shoulder. Harry looked down at Ginny, who looped her arms around his neck.
"I'm really glad I'm here with you," she whispered.
Harry smiled at her.
He kept his eyes on Hermione.
When the dance ended, Ginny excused herself from him to go use the ladies room.
Hermione thanked Neville for the dance, and walked back to the table. Lavender and Ron weren't there.
"Figures," she muttered. "I should just go, but after I rest my feet since these damn shoes are killing me,"
Harry didn't know if it was the way she looked, or how he felt seeing her sitting there alone, but all of his anger seemed to just disappear. She was just trying to protect him, after all. Her emerald robes made her skin glow, and she didn't look real. Like some angel sent from heaven. Harry started over to her.
Hermione bent down and pulled off her shoes. "Ahhh," she grinned and wiggled her toes. When she looked up again, she saw someone standing before her. "Harry," she whispered, and then locked eyes with the ground.
He offered his hand to her.
She ducked.
He rolled his eyes and pulled her to her feet and out onto the dance floor.
"I'm really sorry," she whispered.
"Shhh," he said as he put one of his hands onto the curve of her hip and took the other one in his own.
And they started dancing. And suddenly, they were in their own little world. They were blind to everything around them.
Ginny returned from the bathroom, and spotted Harry and Hermione dancing. She frowned, and sat down at Ron and Lavender's table.
A few seconds later, Ron and Lavender hurried over.
"Ginny, you look beautiful!" Lavender cried.
"You too," Ginny said. "Wearing Lavender was really an original idea,"
"Oh thanks," Lavender gushed.
Ron gave a small yelp. "Is that… Harry and Hermione?"
Ginny ruffled her nose. "Yeah."
"Looks like they've made up by the way they're dancing," he replied. After seeing Ginny's face, he said. "I… mean… damn, I'm hungry!" he picked up the menu from his dish and ordered a steak.
"Harry IS my date tonight," Ginny said. "It's not like he's all over her or kissing her or… anything. They're just dancing,"
Ron was stuffing steak into his mouth. He wasn't going to bother telling his little sister that one of his best friends was in love with his other best friend--- the best friend his little sister was in love with. It was just way too complicated. And he didn't want to hurt her.
Harry's emerald eyes burned into Hermione's amber ones. It was like no one else was in the room except the two of them. And then… their lips met.
"Uhm…" Lavender gasped, watching Harry and Hermione.
"What?" Ginny asked.
"NOTHING!" Lavender exclaimed. "Just don't…"
Too late.
Ginny turned her attention on Harry. She gasped. "No. He wouldn't…"
"Ginny, wait, I've got to…" Ron started.
Tears were leaking out of Ginny's eyes. "I have to go!"
"Ginny," Ron protested.
Ginny, sobbing ran out of the Great Hall.
Ron slumped down at the table.
"It's not your fault, Ronnie," Lavender said soothingly. "Ginny has to be alone right now."
"I… I know…" Ron sighed. He turned back to Harry and Hermione. They were making their way over to the table, hand-n-hand. "So, did you make up?" he asked.
Hermione grinned and nodded.
"There's a slight problem," Lavender said. "While you two were out there lip locked, Ginny saw you... and she ran off."
"My words exactly," Ron glared at Harry.
Harry clapped a hand to his head. "Ginny!!!"
"How could you, man?" Ron asked. "That's my sister!"
"Ron, I…" Harry sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
"And you too," Ron said, turning on Hermione.
"Sorry," she squeaked.
"Yeah, you're sorry," Ron moaned. "For killing my sister!"
"We should leave Ginny alone for now," Lavender advised. "Let her cry herself out. She's hurt, but she'll be okay,"
"Shouldn't we go to her?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, one of the last people she wants to see right now is you." Ron snapped.
Hermione went red and hung her head. "I knew it was a mistake coming tonight."
"Well, I don't feel any more like dancing," Harry said. "I'm going to bed."
"Me too." Hermione said.
They said goodbye to Ron and Lavender (Ron ignored them.) and made their way into the Entrance Hall.
"I can't believe all of this is happening," Hermione said.
"Yeah, me either." Harry said.
They walked through the Portrait Hole.
"It's hard to believe just a few days ago, we were all happy… and friends." Hermione said.
"Yeah," he said. "I hope Ron will cool down,"
"I'm sure he will… Ginny's going to be devastated."
"She'll get over it in time," Harry said.
They looked at each other.
"Well, good night, Harry." She kissed him on the cheek.
"'Night, Herm."
Hermione climbed the stairs to the girl's dorm. She checked the sixth year's dorm, and all of the bathrooms. Ginny was nowhere to be found.
Two days later, Ginny was still missing. Ron refused to talk to either of them, and avoided them at all costs. Hogwarts sent out a search party for Ginny over the next week, turning up nothing. Harry fell asleep, thinking of nothing but Ginny. He had hurt her so bad, he knew that. He just wanted to find her and make it up to her somehow. But he loved Hermione. Ginny would have to understand that. Hermione was the one he wanted to be with. That night, he had the same dream that had been plaguing him since the Burrow. Only this time, when he woke up in a cold sweat, he knew who the voice belonged to. The voice that kept calling to him for help. The voice of Ginny Weasley.
End of chapter 4! revieeeeeeeewwwwwww
