Chapter eight

It was a week after Susan, Harry, Hannah and Neville spoke with Professor Sprout that they were told that six old rooms were going to be converted into common rooms that all students could use. Portraits linked to other portraits would be placed in the rooms and charmed so no student could try to block the portrait from seeing or hearing anything. Those portraits could report any trouble instantly to the headmaster and the four heads of house. Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah stayed after herbology so they could thank the professor for helping.

Harry had noticed since he began to date Susan that the headmaster would continuously watch him whenever he was in the great hall. He mentioned it to Susan, Hannah and Neville, he even told Ron. They decided to watch the headmaster and saw for themselves that Dumbledore hardly ever took his eyes off Harry. None of them knew why but all of them said it was sort of creepy.

A few times over the following weeks, Hermione kept trying to talk Harry into dating Ginny. She believed that if Harry would just give Ginny a chance, she would see how perfect they were. Harry told her it will never happen as he actually hated Ginny Weasley, it's why he always ignored her. Hermione would go to argue so Harry would just walk away, ignoring anything Hermione said. Anytime they were together, Harry acted like he couldn't see her or hear her. Ron had heard what Hermione said and had a got at her. He said it was up to Harry who he dated and it had nothing to do with her. Ginny might like Harry but he didn't like her, so it wouldn't work. Ron hardly spoke with Hermione after that because she just refused to give up.

It was the night of the yule ball, Harry and Neville had gone to get ready early so they could get a hot shower. They were dressed and gone by the time the rest of the boys had returned to the tower to shower and change. Only the Gryffindor girls were already up in their dorm rooms getting ready.

Harry didn't know it but Ginny had written to her mother to see if she could work on some way Harry would take her and not Susan. Her mother had spoken to Dumbledore but it seemed that Harry no longer listened to the headmaster as he continued to spend time with Susan Bones. Now Ginny was stuck without a date, so she refuse to go. Hermione had tried to convince Ginny to go and maybe if Harry saw her dressed up, he might finally see a girl and not Ron's little sister. It took until just before the ball was due to start before Ginny finally thought Hermione's idea could work. Even though the ball was due to start in ten minutes, Ginny had to dress and she wanted to wear some makeup and hoped Harry liked how she looked.

Harry and Neville had picked up their dates, gone to separate parts of the castle so they could spend a few minutes alone and also give their girlfriend the corsage, which match their dresses perfectly. Harry had also given Susan earrings and a matching necklace. He ended up snogged until he couldn't tell anyone what his name was. Harry couldn't stop grinning as he escorted his girlfriend into the great hall. He thought of sitting with Hermione and Ron, until he saw Ginny sitting with them. He directed Susan to another table, Neville and Hannah joined them soon after, along with other Hufflepuff's. He really didn't want to put up with Hermione but he also didn't want to put up with Ginny staring at him all the time.

'I'm glad you didn't want to sit with your stalker,' Susan said.

'I just can't stand being near her and also listening to Hermione going on about her all the time. I basically act like I can't hear Hermione when she begins going on about Ginny. She just refuses to listen to me and she's only thinking of how Ginny feels, not how I feel. I told her I don't like Ginny, she won't listen so I stopped listening to her.'

'Let's forget about them and just enjoy the night,' Susan said as she smiled at her boyfriend.

Ginny was the first to ask Harry to dance, he turned her down saying he planned to dance with his beautiful girlfriend all night. He took Susan into his arms and snogged her right there on the dance floor and in front of everyone. Ginny ended up running out of the great hall and up to Gryffindor tower.

Ron had tried to start a fight, but he was told by many that it was Harry's right to turn down other girls when he was dancing with his girlfriend. Ron had understood that since he had a go at Hermione, now he was upset. Most boys would say no to another girl when they had a girlfriend. Harry refuse to argue with Ron so he just danced away with Susan in his arms. Ron remembered what he said and he realised Harry was right. He had a girlfriend, it wouldn't be right to dance with another girl, especially one that everyone knew liked him. He knew his sister was hurt, but he also knew you can't force someone to like you. They either had feelings or they didn't and Harry didn't have romantic feelings for his sister.

Harry, Susan, Neville, Hannah and many others had a great time at the yule ball. There were only a few who didn't.

The following day, Harry was sitting with Susan in one of the corridors that didn't get a lot of people. The common rooms would be ready after the holidays, so they just found an empty corridor to spend time in. Harry had been explaining about where he ended up staying before he returned to Hogwarts. At the time, he didn't know the Dursley's were dead not until Dumbledore told him. Then Harry told her what Dumbledore said about finding someone for Harry to stay during the summer holidays.

'So, you see, they will make sure I end up there even if I sneak away. If I leave, they will find me.'

'I'm not sure if there is anything that could be done, but I will talk to Aunty about it. You never know, Aunty might threaten the old man with kidnapping.'

Harry chuckled then snogged his girlfriend. They did work out for Harry to send Susan a letter every night, that way she would know Harry was in his right mind or if she would need to speak with her aunt. Neville and Hannah saw them when they joined them.

Just before they were due to leave for the holidays, Susan promised Harry her aunt was trying to work something out. But Harry promised Susan that no matter what, he would always be her boyfriend. If for any reason he broke up with her than her aunt can arrest Molly and Ginny for using a love potion on him because that would be the only way he would ever break up with Susan. He loved her, she knew this so she was going to continue to write so she would know Harry was in his right mind.

When the train pulled in and everyone got off the train, Harry walked Susan over to her aunt and ignored Molly Weasley calling for him to join her and the family.

'If it gets too much Harry, send your owl and I will come and take you home. Students can visit friends. At the moment you do not have a guardian, but I know Albus is trying to work something out. If I can, I will petition the Wizengamot to be your guardian.'

'Thank you, ma'am. I'm not sure what it will be like, but I do know Ginny fancies me and her mother has often sat me next to her. I won't know until I get there.'

'Hopefully, we'll see each other soon,' Susan said then put her arms around Harry. Amelia moved away, not far, just enough to give the teenagers some privacy. She also made sure to stare at Molly Weasley who looked like she wanted to do something and probably pull Harry away from Susan and over to her daughter. Molly knew who Amelia was and just what type of power she had, not just magical power but political power.

Harry and Susan snogged and they didn't care who saw them. When they finished, they smiled, gave each other another small kiss before Harry watched as his girlfriend left with her aunt. He sighed then turned towards the Weasley's who were all watching. He just picked up his trunk and walked over.

'You should not do that in public, or with…that girl,' Molly said.

'It's my life and you are not my mother. When I want to snog the girl I love, I will and no one will stop me,' Harry glared then walked off. He was going to leave but Arthur hurried over to him.

'It is your right Harry. Let's forget it and just get home.'

'It's your home, I'm just visiting again Mr Weasley.'

'But you are always welcome in our home and you can treat it as a home while you are there.'

Harry sighed, then gave Mr Weasley a smile before they walked over to join the others. Harry refused to look at Mrs Weasley or Ginny.

After Harry was settled into Bill and Charlie's old room, he went downstairs ready for dinner. He noticed that the only place to sit was beside Ginny.

'I'm not hungry,' Harry turned around and went back upstairs. He ignored everyone as they called for him. Ron came in a few minutes later.

'Mum said you have to eat at the table or you won't eat.'

'I'm been starved before Ron, if she wants to starve me it's her decision. I'll just make sure the aurors find out how I'm being treated. But I will not sit next to your sister.'

Ron sighed but hurried back downstairs and told his parents what Harry said, even that Harry would tell the aurors that Molly Weasley was mistreating him. Arthur got, went about fixing another plate of food and placed it on a tray. He ignored his wife and walked up the stairs.

'Here, I don't agree with how my wife is handling the situation but I do not want her arrested for starving you. If that happened and with you being the-boy-who-lived, it could mean my wife ended up in Azkaban.'

Harry sighed, 'I don't want that either. But I'm sorry, I can't eat that food. I can't trust it.'

'I dished up new food because I know what my wife is like,' Arthur took the fork and ate some, 'It's not dosed with any potion.'

Harry nodded then took the tray from the man. He waited until Mr Weasley left before he ate a small amount. He had worked out with Susan who would explain to her aunt that Harry would write every day. If Harry didn't write or if he wrote and said he was breaking up with her, then her aunt will instantly come to the Burrow. If she found Harry dosed with any potion, the entire Weasley family would end up arrested until she questioned them to find out who dosed Harry. He had already given Hedwig a letter ready to send off, which would be the first letter. He would send Hedwig off as soon as he ate. He still knew he couldn't stay here or he wouldn't be able to eat or drink anything. Arthur Weasley would be at work and he couldn't trust Molly and Ginny. He figured if he used his clock, he could sneak away from the Burrow anytime during the day and get the night bus, he could buy himself some food. He decided he would do that for now, unless Mr Weasley was home. He knew Harry could easily have his wife arrested if she went to far and he wasn't going to risk it. But Harry would give it a few days, if it got too much, he would work it with Madam Bones to get away from the Burrow and the two Weasley woman.