This is a non-canon story. Different couples, different situations, etc. I am changing a lot from the book and doing it my own way. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it. If you do like it, then please, leave me some reviews because I love reading about what people think of my stories.
Disclaimer – I own nothing except my own ideas. Everything else belongs to Rowling.
Chapter 16
The Gryffindor Common Room was booming with music and loud voices as most of the students danced and conversed. Ron held onto Lavender Brown's waist as she popped her skirt covered ass and grinded into his crotch in time with the music. Harry shook his head at Ron's blatant display before looking away. His eyes landed on Ginny's, who seemed to have been crying again. He sighed and stood up, leaving the common room in search of his new commanderies, ignoring the glares that all the girls in the common room were shooting at him.
After the night Hermione was attacked, Harry had decided to end things with Ginny. He had seen a side of her that he wished to never be involved with; a dark cruelness; and after ending things, it seemed Ginny had become the embodiment of what he had seen that night. With everything going on, the last thing he needed was someone who didn't care about him or his feelings, or his true friends for that matter. He and Hermione had kept their promise to the Order and Mrs. Weasley, and returned to the Burrow for the Christmas holidays. However, it was one of the worst Christmas' they've had in a long time.
Ron and Hermione were still not speaking to each other, Ginny and Harry weren't speaking to each other, and by association, Ron and Ginny were collectively not speaking to either Hermione or Harry. In the end, Harry and Hermione kept to themselves and spent the holidays together, planning their horcrux hunt next year. They had decided to continue with their plans, with or without Ron, and surprisingly the plans were going much smoother.
At the end of the Christmas holidays, it was finally cemented that Harry and Hermione were no longer close to Ron, as Ron walked away from them and found another compartment to sit in with Ginny, Dean, Seamus and Neville, during their train ride back to Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione found a compartment for themselves and settled in for the long ride in contented peace. Draco walked by their compartment and offered them both supportive but secret smiles, which was the beginning of a very unlikely and unexpected friendship between Draco and Harry.
Once they returned to school, Harry had begun to accompany Hermione to Professor Snape's quarters for her secret meetings with Draco. Hermione had revealed everything to him while at the Burrow and Harry had wanted to get to know Draco without any malice in his mind, especially after finding out how much input Draco had had in all their misadventures. It was clear that without Draco's help, they wouldn't have survived half of the things they had all gone through. He felt as if he now owed his life to Draco.
Surprisingly, Draco wasn't one to be called a Hero, but he did accept Harry's offer of friendship and the two had grown closer than Harry had ever been with Ron. It was Harry who was first to accept what Draco's mission from Voldemort entailed. After discussing things many times with Professor Dumbledore, it was settled that Draco would disarm Dumbledore but Snape would perform the killing curse. But that time was yet to come, and until then, Dumbledore kept up with Harry's private lessons.
Hermione was very relieved to have her best friend and boyfriend become such good friends. She had opted out of the birthday party in the common room that evening, knowing that her presence wasn't really wanted. Ever since her defection from Ron, most of the Gryffindor House had opted to be on Ron and Ginny's side of things. Which gave Hermione a real insight to the people she had always considered friends.
"Ron and Lavender are once again making a huge scene in the room." Harry announced as he walked into Severus's living room.
"They both lack intelligence and common sense, so they're a good match." Severus Snape murmured as he glanced up from his oversized tome.
Harry chuckled and nodded to the professor who he had recently come to care for greatly. For the past few weeks, Harry had also gotten to know the unpopular professor. Severus had explained his history with Lily to Harry, and everything he'd done since for the Order. At the end of it all, Harry felt a great deal of respect for the outcasted and misunderstood professor.
"That's not a very nice thing to say, Severus." Hermione chastised.
"Doesn't matter, it's the truth." Draco gave Hermione a smirk as he sipped on his ginger tea.
"How was the party anyway? Was he at least having a good birthday?" Hermione turned her eyes to Harry.
"Does it really matter?" Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "He's a fucking wanker at this point."
"You can't have already thrown away almost 6 years of friendship, Harry." she frowned.
"Why not? You did...right?" he gave her a handsome smirk.
"Touche." Draco chuckled as he glanced over at his blushing girlfriend.
"I had my reasons." Hermione snapped. "You know I did."
"And since Mr. Potter considers you his first and foremost best friend, Hermione, it's only natural for him to side with you in this situation. Besides, Miss Weasley's cold words didn't help the situation any. At least she was obliviated before she had chance to speak to Mr. Weasley." Severus pointed out. "In all honesty, as we move forward, if we are to indeed save the Wizarding world, Mr. .Weasley would only slow us down. Perhaps once this war is over and everyone around us knows the truth about everything...perhaps then Mr. Weasley might come around and accept things."
"No, he won't." Hermione mused quietly. "He hates us now too much to even try to make amends."
Hermione closed her book, stood up and returned the book to Severus' book shelf. She turned to give Draco a look that indicated she was ready to head for bed. Draco nodded silently and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. Hermione inhaled his minty scent and leaned her head up to peck him on the lips. Draco smiled against the kiss, lifting his hands up to entangle his fingers in her hair as he deepened the kiss, causing Hermione to moan against his lips.
"Perhaps the two of you will feel better taking...whatever that is...in a different room." Snape suggested.
"No." Hermione said firmly as she reluctantly pulled away. "I need to sleep. Our DADA professor claims to be giving us a pop quiz in the morning."
"I hear it's a tough one too." Harry smirked.
"Indeed." Severus closed his tome and stood up. "Therefore, perhaps it would prudent for all of you to exit my quarters and get a good night's sleep for the torture that awaits you in the morning."
Draco and Harry began laughing as they headed to the door while Hermione suddenly had a terrified look on her face as she stared at the smirking professor.
"Maybe I should stay up a few more hours...get some more studying in." Hermione murmured to herself.
"You'll do fine babe, even if you didn't study at all." Draco kissed her temple as the three of them walked out of Severus' quarters.
As the exited the DADA classroom first, Hermione and Harry gave Draco a wave before heading towards the Gryffindor Common Room, leaving Draco with 5 minutes to wait before he exited the classroom himself.
"I wish there was another way for us to get into our dorms." Hermione muttered. "I really don't want to see the entire house stare at us while we walk to our rooms."
"Sometimes I ask myself what's the point of fighting Voldemort for these ungrateful people." Harry admitted before raising a hand to stop Hermione from lecturing him once more. "But I know I know, it's for the greater good. Once this war is over though...I'm going somewhere warm and sandy for a vacation."
"I think I'll join you with that trip too." Hermione chuckled softly.
"Do you mean the beach, Harry Potter?" the singsong voice of Luna Lovegood gravitated towards them. "I think that would be a divine idea. The beach would be a nice place to recuperate after...everything."
"Hi Luna." Hermione smiled at the only person who seemed to still want to talk to them all.
"Hello, Hermione." Luna gave her a warm smile. "You two haven't seen my long galaxy colored socks have you? I asked them not to use those for their pranks, but you know how playful my house mates are sometimes."
Harry frowned at that, thinking that Luna was just too nice of a person to see how mean her house mates really were. He shared a knowing look with Hermione before resting his eyes upon the gorgeous but quirky blonde.
"Come on, Luna." Hermione said gently. "I'll help you look for it."
Luna gave her a grateful smile and nodded.
"Goodbye, Harry." she waved lightly to him as she walked away with Hermione.
Harry stared after the two of them, giving Luna's behind a longer look than he had intended before continuing on to the common room.
"Dilligrout." Harry recited to the Fat Lady guarding the room's entrance.
The Fat Lady inclined her head and opened the door for him to pass through. The loud music he was expecting to hear never reached his ears. As he stepped into the room, he noticed that is was almost empty, with the exception of a few students doing their homework quietly.
"McGonagall came and sent everyone to bed." Ginny spoke up from one of the room's corner tables.
Harry turned to her and watched as she stood up quickly and gathered her books to her chest. She walked towards the girls' dorm staircase, avoiding his eyes.
"Ginny…" Harry began, causing her to stop moving, but not look back at him. "Are you...ok?"
"You broke up with me, but gave me no reason. Do you think I'll ever be ok?" Ginny snapped.
Harry sighed and walked over to her, reaching out to touch her shoulder, but she quickly flinched away from him.
"Ginny, I'm not the right one for you." Harry said gently.
"You should have let me make that decision for myself." She snapped. "Instead of acting like a fucking asshole. Maybe that's what you've been the entire time. The Boy who lived is actually the boy who's the biggest wanker. And you wonder why no one will take yours or that bushy haired Hermione's side."
"Let me correct myself." Harry's tone turned dark as he instantly regretted even speaking to this new version of Ginny. "You are not good enough for me. I deserve someone who isn't a total bitch."
Harry walked off as she turned to stare at him in shock. He walked up the stairs to his own dorm, clenching his fists tightly, as he looked around at his sleeping room mates. Neville, Seamus and Dean were snoring quietly, but Ron's bed was completely empty.
"She loves me…" Ron's voice sounded completely off as Harry turned around to find him sitting on the floor at the foot of his bed, eating from a box of chocolate that Harry quickly realised was meant for him.
Harry frowned and picked up the card, groaning as he saw Romilda Vane's face blowing kisses at him. He picked up one of the half eaten chocolates and sniffed it lightly.
"Fuck...love potion." Harry sighed and looked down at Ron. "Ron...you've been poisoned with a love potion, snap out of it mate."
"No!" Ron snapped. "She loves me!...I have to go to her…"
Harry knew that he could easily make an antidote potion with Snape's book, but this could be the perfect opportunity to get back on Slughorn's good side. He needed to complete the mission Dumbledore had given him. They needed to know, if possibly, what exactly Slughorn told Voldemort about horcruxes.
"Alright Ron, let's go." Harry sighed as he grabbed Ron's arm to help him up.
"Go? Where? To Romilda?" Ron's eyes glossed over excitedly.
"Sure Ron...I'll take you to Romilda." Harry rolled his eyes and ushered him out the door.
The next morning…
"Harry! Are you alright?" Hermione yelled as she ran into the Hospital Wing.
"I'm fine, Hermione." Harry waved her over to the last bed in the room.
"What happened?" she glanced between Ron laying in the bed unconscious, to Harry's worried face.
"He ate some chocolates that was meant for me...it had a love potion in them, so I took him to Slughorn's office." Harry rushed out. "After Sulghorn gave him the antidote, he offered us some...well...alcohol. It was laced with poison. I forgot that...you know...I forgot what the bottle Draco showed us looked like. Anyway, Ron drank from his cup first and started seizing out. I shoved a bezoar into his mouth and he's fine now, but I took him to Hospital Wing just in case. Madame Pomfrey gave him something to sedate him because he was freaking out a bit."
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked again as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine." Harry nodded. "I just...I want it all to end."
"Her...mione…" Ron breathed out in his sleep.
Hermione turned sharply to Ron's bed and stared at him with wide eyes. She backed away slowly before turning around, almost colliding with Ginny.
"He loves you." Ginny deadpanned. "Why can't you see that."
"Ginny...don't…" Harry warned.
"Why not?" Ginny snapped. "I don't understand anything at this point! The three of you used to be best friends! Yeah, ok, Ron messed up a bit by saying what he said to Hermione in front of everyone, but come on! You guys have forgiven each other over the years for more shit than that! He loves you, why can't you give him a chance?!"
"Because I'm not interested in Ron." Hermione said honestly. "You can't make someone love you. I don't love Ron."
"You love someone else…" Ginny concluded. "I can see it on your face. Sometimes I see you come in late at night with a relaxed and happy look on your face. You've been seeing someone else...but it's someone that Ron won't approve of, otherwise you would have told him long ago. Who is? Is it a fucking Slytherin? Are you a Slytherin-whore?"
Hermione took a deep breath and stared directly into Ginny's eyes.
"It's none of your business Ginny." Hermione said flatly. "I do not love Ron. That is the only thing that matters here."
"Since you didn't deny it...I must be right then." Ginny spat out. "You are such a fucking whore. For years, you've acted like you loved Ron. And now, it's been a lie all along!"
"I did love him!" Hermione yelled. "As a friend...just like I love Harry."
"No, it's not the same." Ginny shook her head and walked to her brother's side. "You're just a worthless whore Hermione."
"Ginny! Enough!" Harry bellowed. "Apologize."
"No." Ginny glared directly at Harry. "Get the fuck out of here. I'll take care of my brother since I'm the only one here who actually gives a shit about him. Take that muggle-born slut and get out of here!"
Harry never wanted to hit a girl so much in his life, but the tears flowing down Hermione's face caused him to do the right thing. He gently wrapped an arm around Hermione and led her towards the door. He stopped briefly to glance back at Ginny.
"Considering that you were hooking up with Dean, Seamus and Lee Jordan during the entirety of last year, I think the slut here is you, Ginny." Harry threw at her.
"Our friendship ends with that." Ron's voice weakly sounded suddenly. "Don't speak to us again. Don't come near my family again. Don't help me again, even if I am dying. I'd rather die then get help from the boy who lived."
A/N
I hope there aren't many Ginny-lovers out there. But I honestly never really liked Ginny for Harry. Anyway, I hope this was a good chapter. We're about to end the 6th year and begin Harry and Hermione's journey. Let me know your thoughts!