Ginny opened the door to Dumbledore's office slowly and entered. She kept her eyes on the ground until she reached his desk.

'have a seat' he said, she did as she was told and then chanced a look up at Dumbledore, who was smiling at her reassuringly. She relaxed. 'Miss Weasley I have been told many versions of this story today, and of course only this morning in the hospital wing as well. Although these versions have all been in the smallest ways different, many details have stayed the same throughout. I know and believe that you were not there when the fight had been going on and so can only give me limited details, however each of your friends have agreed or in Miss Granger's case suspected that the argument was about you. Do you disagree that it could be?'

'no sir. In fact, I have been told myself that it was about me by all of the boys individually. Apart from Harry of course.' Dumbledore nodded

'Are you willing to tell me what you know, or have heard from the others? In addition to this morning's information.' Ginny took a deep breath

'yes sir.' she agreed 'Most of the details have stayed the same but firstly, when I walked past Harry earlier that night to go up to bed, he had a drink in his hands and although he tried to hide it I saw the colour, and I think it may have been firewhiskey, that's why I avoided talking to him before bed. I probably should have done, to stop him drinking more but I decided I was too tired to deal with any consequences it may have caused, whether he was aggressive or just hyper. When I walked past though Dean immediately sprung on me loads of questions about where I had been, but I was annoyed about him treating me like a child and decided not to answer. So all he knew was that I was with Harry. I could've done loads to stop this fight from happening but I never done even one.' Ginny told him guiltily 'after this I had went to bed and of course never heard anything until Ron's patronus woke me up. Of course you know the story that I went to get Hermione then joined you all in the hospital wing and heard the story; but when we left after returning to the common room I pulled Dean to one side to talk to him…' Ginny paused but decided it was best to continue with what she was saying as she had started and anyway, it'd get Harry the treatment he needed 'Dean told me more about the argument. Harry had had several punches to the head, and so had Dean. But as Ron woke up and Neville updated him on what was happening, Dean was hit in the head again and fell backwards, but this time he saw his wand on the side and decided to grab it. To defend himself, and as Ron cast a spell, Dean cast one as well but Dean doesn't think anybody really noticed, I don't know what he told you. But it means Harry was actually hit in the back of the head and in the chest. And I could've stopped it.'

'Miss Weasley, I must insist that you could not have done anything of the sort and what these boys did was completely of their own accord, you mustn't feel guilty about it.' Dumbledore told her warmly

'anything is possible sir and it could have made a big difference' Ginny told him firmly

'yes, I believe that myself Miss Weasley, but unless you tell me that you had a vision or a divination ball then I do not expect you to have ever been able to make a difference in this particular matter. And I do not believe that you have planned for it to happen and twisted fate in this way. However if this is the case then feel free to speak up as I already have two divination teachers in this school, one being a centaur and they may need some help occasionally. Now, did you have such a vision?'

'no sir' Ginny admitted truthfully.

'All the same, your information this afternoon has been useful and I must thank you for being honest. I will talk to you and all of your friends together later on today once I have conversed with Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey. It may also interest you to know that Madame Pomfrey will allow you all to visit Mr Potter in no more than twos from now until dinner. You may go.' Ginny got up and left the office sensibly but as she reached the corridors below the office she ran full pelt through the grounds back to the common room where they arranged to see Harry in pairs. Dean agreed to go first to apologise to Harry and although Hermione and Ginny prompted Ron to do the same he rejected the suggestion and so Ginny went with Dean instead.

As they reached the hospital wing they knocked on the door Madame Pomfrey opened the door and quickly scuttled away calling back to them.

'I hope there's no more than two of you. If Potter tells you to leave you must go but be quiet when talking I'm trying to tend to others' She reached the drawn curtain and disappeared behind it. Ginny and Dean exchanged a look of wondering at who may be behind the curtain but headed for the one that was around Harry's bed. Ginny poked her head around first, a huge grin over her face, but she never went in immediately, instead she waited for Harry to see her. He looked up at the rustling sound to see Ginny's face and attempted to grin back. She suddenly noticed burns on his face, cuts and bruises that were barely shadows in the night's candle light.

'Oh my gosh, Harry!' she gasped, her grin falling and entering the cubicle made by the curtains. Dean followed her in, making Harry's grin drop too. Ginny knelt beside Harry's bed and put a hand on the side of his face, one finger tracing the most pronounced cut on his face, a long wound that went from his hairline to the centre of his cheek, Ginny's mouth hung open ever so slightly at the sight. He winced slightly

'sorry Harry' Ginny apologised, removing her hand quickly.

'no, it's okay.' he said, 'does it really look that bad?'

'this was my fault' Ginny whimpered almost silently, she fell lower to her knees, until her heels met with her bottom. Dean came around and put a hand on her shoulder

'it doesn't look that bad, man.' he told Harry, 'look I'm really sorry' but Harry wasn't listening, instead he was looking at Ginny, he put his hand out to touch her face and her head shot up to look at him again.

'it's not your fault, Gin' he told her firmly

'Hello! I was trying to apologise here' Dean interrupted, this time getting both of their attentions. Ginny pulled away from Harry's hand and stood up to hug Dean tightly for reassurance.

'it's alright' Harry said, annoyed as Ginny's face was suddenly missing from his fingertips, he hated him more for that than all of the cuts that he had caused on his face. 'I was the one drinking, it was me that caused the fight, it was me that caused myself to be like this' Dean never bothered to retaliate, but forced a small smile to Harry before pulling Ginny into a tighter hug before letting her pull away entirely to sit by Harry's bed on the nearby chair, but she chose to sit on the bed itself, allowing Dean to have the seat.

'how did you get burns on your face, Harry?' Ginny asked confusedly

'well it was probably something to do with the spell as well, but mainly they're grazes from the stone in our dormitory.' he told her 'but don't worry, Madame Pomfrey will fix me easily' At this Ginny unexpectedly burst into tears, shocking both Harry and Dean. Dean however hopped up from his stool, faster than Harry could reach her, and hugged her until she calmed down.

'I'm sorry' she whimpered, 'I just can't convince myself that it wasn't my fault… I broke Harry!'

'um…maybe, we should go.' Dean suggested, looking apologetically at Harry, who was annoyed but disliked Ginny crying so near to him without him being able to do anything so nodded.

'sure.' he agreed

'we'll visit again when Ginny calms down if we're allowed, or tomorrow, if you're not out yet.' he told him 'Again, I'm really sorry.'

'Bye Harry' Ginny said, 'I'm really sorry too' with that they both left, Harry never needed to reply to either because they continued in a conversation about how it wasn't Ginny's fault immediately which continued till the large bang of a closing door echoed loudly around the silent room.

x.X.x Outside the hospital wing x.X.x

Dean shut the door behind them and turned to see Ron and Hermione approaching, Hermione wore a fierce look of fury on her face, while Ron looked childishly sulky.

'honestly Ronald, if you don't come in now then I'm not coming back with you later!' Hermione was telling him from almost an entire staircase above; neither of the couple heading down the stairs had seen Ginny or Dean yet but they were watching them walk down moodily towards them in complete disbelief at the abruptness. Suddenly Hermione turned, flicking her hair behind her and saw Ginny, standing with Dean, still with red eyes and wet cheeks. Hermione sped up, rushing to the bottom of the staircase.

'what's wrong? Has something happened? How's Harry?' Hermione said fearfully, Dean looked at her sternly,

'nothing's wrong. Harry is fine, but Ginny got a bit overwhelmed and so we left' he told her sharply. Hermione pulled Ginny into a friendly hug, which Ginny never returned.

'what's going on with Ron now?' Ginny asked as Hermione pulled away

'well he's still refusing to apologise to Harry, I can't believe he'd do this to his best friend and not feel sorry about it! I asked him to walk me down to the hospital wing anyway and he can decide when we got here if he was coming in or not, and I've tried persuading him but it's just impossible!' she complained, Ron joined them at the bottom of the staircase

'Harry is no longer my best friend, and Ginny get away from the person who caused all this!' he ordered

'RON! I CAUSED THIS! IT WAS MY FAULT!' Ginny shouted and ran off up the stairs before anybody could stop her

'Oh thanks a lot Ron, that made it loads better' Hermione told him 'and I don't know how you can say that he caused this when it was you who cast that spell!'

'it was HIM that asked out my sister, and it was HIM that beat up Harry, and HE cast a spell too! Directly into Harry's chest'

'What?' Hermione said shocked looking between the two boys, but suddenly she shook her head, 'forget it, be like children, but I want one or both of you to explain this to me later, I'm going to see Harry whether you come in or not Ronald' Hermione marched towards the door and went inside.