11 – Pain

"What is going on?" Harry asked, his voice sounding far away, as if another person had spoke for him. His chest heaved as he drew deep breaths. Nothing was registering in his head. Nothing seemed real.

Ginny's face was a shade of red that matched her hair completely, making her look like a large tomato, she opened her mouth to speak up her voice failed her, she tried again but again to no avail. Hopelessly she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, her eyes filled with guilt and pain.

Harry moved his focus onto Severus who was also breathing heavily. His eyes avoided Harrys own and his body gave off the demeanour of a man who had just been caught. Harry felt a sickly hatred rise in his throat.

"You fucking bastard, what are you doing to my girlfriend?!" Harry spat in utter disgust, the fire burning in his chest intensified 100 fold as he expelled his anger.

Snape gulped in air, his eyes darting around Harry, looking for an escape. Harry drew his wand and pointed it at Snape's chest.

"Don't or I will kill you," he snarled.

Snape stepped backwards, drawing his own wand.

"You don't want it to come down to this," Snape responded softly, Harry felt more rage overcome him.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT IT TO COME TOO!" He roared, his voice echoing around the dark trees beyond them. Snape felt his lip curl as Ginny looked downwards, desperate to avoid everyone's eyes.

Harry glared at Snape and angry red sparks emitted from the end of his wand. Snape matched his glare, holding his wand before him like a sword.

Luna lent against the closest tree looking dreamy, the fight between the two males and Ginny's obvious distress did not seem to catch her attention at all. Her eyes followed the flight of an Owl across the sky. The fight before her seemed to bore her.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry roared but Snape was too quick, with a flick of his wand he silently produced a shield charm powerful enough to reflect Harry's curse and send him stumbling backwards.

"Bastard," Harry spat and swung his wand arm down again. "Crucio!"

The curse hit Snape before he could do anything about it. Falling to the ground and withering in pain, Snape let out a high pitched scream that pierced the air and travelled through Ginny, striking her in the heart.

"Harry! STOP!" Ginny screamed. Harry's jaw dropped with surprise and his distraction from the curse caused it to end, Snape rolled gingerly onto his back, panting deeply as a sickly sweat washed over his forehead.

Nothing moved as all eyes turned to Ginny. Even the air was still and silent. Heavy with atmosphere, it could have been cut with a knife. Ginny took a step towards Harry and reached for his hand, lifting it up to her lips.

"Harry, look, I love you, I really do. But not in a romantic way, I love you like a brother, not a lover." She let his hand fall limply from hers and looked him in they eyes. "I don't want to drag this on any longer; you are not the one for me. I am sorry."

Harry stared at her stunned as she turned and knelt next to Snape on the ground. Bringing her head down to his she planted her lips on his own. Snape shuddered underneath her. Ginny lift her head away from Snape's, just enough to break the kiss and placed her hand on his own, staring deep into his eyes.

"Look, Harry," Said Ginny without looking at Harry, "For a while I have been torn between you and Severus, and now I know; it is Snape I am in love with." She took a deep breath. "Please, Harry, please understand."

Harry did not reply, he continued to stare at Ginny's back dumbfounded. Had he just been dumped for a man twice as old as Ginny?

Unbeknownst to anyone Luna moved closer into the clearing, and stood between Harry and Ginny. Harry blinked stupidly as his eyes focused on Luna's dirty blond hair.

"It was me who told Harry about you and Snape," Luna said, her voice filled with a seriousness that no-one had ever heard in her before.

"How," Ginny asked, still not taking her eyes from Snape. "How did you know?"

"I guessed the way you talked about him and the way you looked at him." Luna smiled, "Hermione knew as well, she could tell by the way you acted when someone said his name and by what you had said to her."

Ginny started to laugh, "I should have known Hermione would work it out."

Luna started to hum dreamily, "Yes, as closed minded as she may be, unintelligent she is not."

Harry, who had momentarily lost his voice spluttered in disbelief.

"What? Hermione knew? Why didn't she tell me?"

"I believe," Ginny answered, cutting across Luna, "That she would have rather I told you then you tell her and having you go through all the anger just to find out it was true." Ginny lifted her head and looked into the trees. "I should have told you earlier about my doubts, But I love Serevus, I am sorry."

Harry closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath. He opened them and nodded, his jaw clenched tightly.

"I understand," He said finally. His voice held no emotion. His girlfriend had cheated on him and left him for an older man. What could he do but understand?

"Harry," Ginny said softly but Harry had already turned on heel and was marching out of the clearing. Then he was running, the undergrowth and branches tangling in his clothes. He felt hot tears sting at his eyes. He had to get away, embrace his pain in his own solitude.

Ginny moved away from Snape as he pushed himself into a sitting position, looking every flustered and red-faced. Luna walked over to them and sat next to Ginny.

"Luna," Ginny sighed slowly, "I am a bad person, aren't I?"

Luna shook her head, "No, not a bad person, just made bad decisions'. Anyway, Hermione had a feeling that you would leave Harry. She was right."

Ginny smiled weakly, "She usually is, I didn't mean to cheat on Harry though." The smile vaporised into a frown. "He hates me now."

Luna frowned as well and put a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think he hates you, I think he just needs time to himself."

Ginny nodded, "You know, I have never heard you this serious, Luna."

Luna beamed. "Well I learnt some things from you."

Both girls grinned at each other then Ginny dissolved into unexplained fits of laugher. Snape watched as they laughed and shook his head in incredulity as he mumbled.

"Women, can't live with them, can't live without them."

The End


Author's note: This was orginally going to be the final chapter, but I have decided to write an epilogue to tidy it up abit and clean up the loose ending, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story, you are all great and much love for all of you. The epilogue will be up soon, but intill then, thank you for your support.

Paws

Cager.