So... I know it's been a while. A VERY long while. And I apologize... Anyway, if you have me on authors alert, and not just story alert, you might have noticed that I uploaded another story. Just a short oneshot. If you like you can go check it out, just click on my name at the top of this page. And also, I'm probably going to be uploading new chapters for this story a lot more often now. :) Yay! And, with that said... onto the new chapter.
Harry sighed, once again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. He set his bag down on one of the many tables throughout the common room. His shoulder was killing him from all the books stuffed into his satchel. The teachers had loaded him and all the other 6th years with tons of homework for over autumn break. He didn't expect to have much free time, even though they got a whole week off from school. This was the only time where students got a week off of school, yet not very many decided to go home. It seemed like it was mostly just first through third years that left during thanksgiving, considering fourth years and up were packed with work for O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.s or just tons of homework that prepared them for said tests. This was Harry's least favorite break at Hogwarts, only because it wasn't really a break at all. It mostly just an excuse for the teachers to load the students with a weeks worth of work, without having to sit in classrooms and teach them.
Even with all the negative points of autumn break, Harry was still glad it was here. He was also somewhat glad of the homework, because it gave him an excuse to stay inside the Gryffindor common rooms. He really hated walking in the corridors now, considering recent events.
Cho had been cornering him the hallways between classes ever school began. Each time she would smile strangely at him and whisper "hey" before trying to run her hand up his arm or down his chest. He would catch her hand every time, tell her to leave him alone, and walk off again. He wasn't really sure what she wanted from him, but he didn't want to stay long enough to find out. She was very pretty, and lots of guys Harry knew liked her, but with the way she had been acting lately, the only thing he was feeling was confused. Especially with Ginny, who sometimes saw them together. When Cho was about to run her hand down his chest, or him having a hold on her wrist to keep her from doing so. Sometimes Ginny would get angry, and stomp away, her face red. But other times, times that Harry felt so guilty after -and he had no idea why-, she would look away or straight ahead, and he see tears starting to from. Both times this had happened, Harry felt as if a lead weight had been dropped in his stomach. So, all in all, he really despised the corridors, and was thankful break had just started.
He sighed, plopping down in one of the couches and spread his schoolbooks on the floor next to him. He might as well get started now.
"Harry, Harry wake up! Your going to miss dinner."
He slowly opened his eyes. His mouth felt dry, and the back of his neck was sweaty. He supposed it was because he had been lying next to the fire. The common room was mostly empty, most of the students having already left for dinner.
Harry rubbed his neck and eyes, before getting up and stretching. His books were no longer littered along the floor by the couch. Panicked, Harry turned to Ron.
"My books, they're gone."
Ron pointed to the dorm rooms. "Hermione told me to put them upstairs and get you up for dinner."
"Right. Okay. So dinner."
"Right, come on."
They were headed out the portrait hole, when hurried footsteps were heard coming down the girls staircase.
Ginny came into view as she skipped the last few steps and came skidding to a halt. Not noticing Harry at first, she said, "Oh, Ron, your late too, I thought I was the only one. I was trying to finish some of my homework and lost track of the time. Fifth year is the worst."
"Yea, I know, if it wasn't for Hermione, well... Anyway, you can walk with Harry and I."
"Oh." Ginny took a small step back in surprise, finally noticing Harry. "I, um, I didn't see you there."
"Yea. Obviously, Ginny." Said Ron in a bored voice, "But lets go, do you not remember? We are late. For. Dinner."
"Oh, yea, well, you two go ahead, I just realized I have to do something."
"Like what? You just said-"
"Yea I know what I said Ron. Just go, I'll be down later."
"Later?" Ron said, his brotherly side starting to show. "Ginny, dinners almost over right now. If you wait any longer your going to miss it. You not like, starving you self or anything cause you like, think your um, fat... and stuff, are you?" Said Ron, a little uncomfortably.
"What? No, Ron don't be a git."
"Well, come on then, Mum would never forgive me if she found out I let you skip dinner." And he grabbed Ginny's elbow and started to pull her out of the common room.
"Ron, don't touch me! I'm not skipping dinner. I'm just going to finish up a few things, I will come and eat, okay?"
Harry, having gotten fed up with the whole argument, said, "Ginny, seriously, I know why you don't want to walk with us, and I think your being very childish. I mean, seriously, we can walk down the corridor at the same time, it's not that big a deal. Get over yourself already."
As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted saying them. He went a little overboard with the 'get over yourself' comment. Yup, he was positive, he though as he watched Ginny's anger spike.
"Oh, really, because I would have thought that you would want to walk alone, considering you think you 'a danger to everyone around you.' And another thing, what right do you have, to tell me, that I need to get over myself. I'm pretty sure your the one that needs to do that, considering you think Voldemort's has nothing better to do than to just sit around all day watching your every move, waiting until you start to be with someone so he can, like, kidnap them, or whatever nonsense you made up."
It was Harry's turn to get angry as he spat back, "Ginny, that is what Voldemort does. Merlin! You don't. Under. Stand!" He yelled, "He want's me dead, and he doesn't care who he kills in order to get there! Your so bloody stupid. You think, as long as were in this castle, that were all going to be safe? You don't think he's got spy's watching me from in the castle? He wants me dead. Get that through that thick skull of yours. Yes, he will kidnap you, if he thinks it will make me follow him. And yes he will kill you, if I come to him or not. You were there last year, you saw what he did with Sirius! And now guess what? Sirius is dead. Because of me. Because Voldemort. Wants. To kill me. I can't let someone else get killed because of me. First Cedric, then Sirius, I can't let you be next. I won't."
Harry lowered his hand, which had been continuously running through his already messy locks. His chest heaving, as he breathed harshly from the yelling.
He stared at Ginny, watching her face. Her cheeks were red. Either from earlier when she was angry, or now, Harry didn't know. He felt bad for yelling at her. He hadn't meant to start that whole rant, but if she hadn't said trying to protect her was nonsense, well...
She sat frozen for a few more moments and Harry started to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed as she continued to stare at him. He hadn't meant to tell her those things.
He opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could say anything, she had jumped on top of him and engulfed him in a gigantic bear hug, her legs coming up to wrap around his hips and her arms snaking around to the back of his neck. Surprised, he quickly slid his arms around her back to keep from falling. She was very light, though he had always suspected, considering how trim the rest of her siblings were, and that she worked out, training for quiddich and all.
He had no idea why she was suddenly hugging him. He supposed it was because she was...? No, he had no idea, but he hugged her back, pulling her small frame closer to himself, and wrapping his arms more securely around her. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck, smelling, her. He felt lighthearted and happy, and all just because she was hugging him. He didn't know why, but it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
She pulled out of his arms and step back onto the ground, her face bright.
"Thank you, Harry."
"Um... Thank you for what?" Harry had no idea what she was so happy about. He had just yelled at her for Merlin's sake.
"For telling me why you're so opposed to being with me. Now I understand."
"But Ginny, I've told you all those things before."
"Not like that though."
Harry sighed. Girls are so confusing.
"What. The bloody hell. Is going on," Ron stated. His tone bewildered.
"Nothing." Ginny said, before skipping towards the portrait hole, "Now come on, didn't you want me to go to dinner and everything?"
Ron turned his glare towards Harry.
"I'll tell you tonight." Harry really didn't feel like having this conversation now, no doubt it would take much longer than the time they had left before dinner was over. Plus... he really wanted to eat.
Ron didn't seem to like that answer very much, but his hunger won out and they headed for the great hall.
Ron, Ginny, and him were close to the doors when Cho and one of her many friends walked through them.
She immediately spotted Harry and smiled. Then she looked to his right and saw Ginny standing next to him and her smile twisted into a frown.
She whispered to Marietta, who's eyebrows rose and she immediately whispered something back. Cho nodded her head and ran ahead towards Harry while Marietta hung back.
"Hey Baby..." Cho said as she sidled up to Harry.
"Umm..."
"So, I was thinking, you know, when we were having one of our many talks yesterday, that you haven't met my parents yet, have you."
"Umm, no? Why wou-"
"Exactly, and my parents are kind of old-fashioned you know," she laughed, her voice tinkling lightly, "and they want to meet you before we become anymore serious than we already are. You know, they want to know that you're a good boyfriend and everything." She smiled.
And then all of a sudden, Ginny was shouting.
"I can't believe you. If you had just told me that the reason you don't want to be with me is because you were with Cho, then I would have been a little better. But no! You had to go and make up some stupid nonsense about how you don't want to be with me because you don't want Voldemort killing me. Merlin! I should have known better than to believe those lies!"
She turned and stormed the rest of the way to the great hall. Marietta snickering as she blew past her.
"Ginny, wait, that's not-" To late. She had already stomped out of sight.
Cho looped her arm through Harry's and stated, "I've always said she needed anger management, that one."
Harry pulled his arm away from Cho's, glaring at her, and said, "What was that for? Were not dating! I barely even talk to you. Wh-"
"Harry, calm down, sheesh. I know were not dating... Yet. But I can see the way she looks at you, and she's is totally crushing on you. I had to get her away before she got in the way of things."
"Got in the-. What are you talking about Cho?"
"I'm talking about how were going to be dating soon and if Ginny starting hanging out with you more, then she might get the wrong idea in her head."
"Were not going to be dating, Cho. I don't like you. And Ginny wouldn't be getting in the way because I'm not going to be dating her either."
"Well, duh your not going to be dating Ginny. She's a child. You need someone older, with more experience. Like me."
"Like-. What?"
"Aw... Harry, your getting all flustered. It's so cute." She reached to pull at his tie.
Cho, stop it. I don't like you and I don't want to date you. Just leave me alone."
She got an offended look on her face.
"Harry, Ginny's not here anymore, you don't have to pretend no not like me to spare her feelings, like in the hallways."
"I'm not. This has nothing to do with Ginny. I just don't like you."
"You wrong. This has everything to do with Ginny. Last year we were dating and everything was good, except I wasn't quite over Cedric. But this summer, I worked on that, for you Harry. So that I could be a good girlfriend to you. And what do I find when I get on the train? I find Ginny, eavesdropping on my conversation with Marietta, and jumping on me when I mention that I'll be good for you now. She's messing with your head Harry. Tell me, would you think any different if you hadn't found out Ginny likes you?"
"I don't... I... Well, yes! Yes I would feel different. I got over you the moment I realized you would never get over Cedric. After that Valentines date, I didn't want to date you or do anything with you. It was because of that. Not Ginny."
"Well, I am over Cedric. I want to be with you now Harry. We can be together now."
"Cho, just, no."
"I'm going to change your mind Harry. I will."
"Please don't try, Cho. I-"
Cho had already smiled sweetly and motioned to Marietta, and after a wave to Harry from the both of them, they walked off to the Ravenclaw dorms.
Ron, who had just been watching the whole time, spoke now, "Okay, you have so much to tell me, Harry. So much."
And Harry... feeling as confused as ever, followed Ron into the great hall. So? How do you like it? I made it a tad longer to make up for such the long wait. If I get some reviews, I'm thinking another chapter will be posted by the end of this week. What do you think? It's going to be confession time for Harry... And Ron's going to be in for a long explaination. Hope you liked. Review... Please! :D Love ya guy.
~Harmony
