Bruise

Part 1: Smile

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It started with a smile.

To be fair, it was a brilliant smile. Harry's fork was halfway to his mouth when he saw it. A few seats down from him at the Gryffindor table, he could have sworn Ginny Weasley flashed him a knowing smile. Her eyes had sparkled, and the brightness of her face seemed to reflect the torchlights. But as quick as it was there, it was gone. Confused, Harry looked behind him to see who the smile had been meant for. He looked up and down the table, but no one seemed to be looking towards where Ginny was sitting. Behind him was Ron and then Neville and Colin, all three of whom seemed to be occupied with either eating or talking with their neighbors. Had she flashed that smile for one of them? He turned back to Ginny, but she was now sitting over at the Ravenclaw table, talking animatedly with Luna. A boy Harry had never noticed before was subtlety trying to move himself and his plate of breakfast closer to the two girls, and when Ginny looked over at him with a friendly smile, he knocked over his orange juice.

Harry sighed in exasperation. Merlin's balls, the situation was getting out of hand. Now that Ron's little sister was quite grown up in all the right ways and on the Quidditch team, all the boys seemed to notice at once. At first, Ron had taken it upon himself to chase away the wandering eyes. Ron had found it a near full-time job in simultaneously keeping tabs on which boys were drooling after Ginny and threatening them, while also keeping himself attached to Hermione's hip, (or hands or lips, or whatever part of her was available at the moment). When Harry wasn't feeling like the third wheel and trying to escape the new couple's disgusting displays of affection, he found himself picking up the slack in the role of big brother. But someone had to do it, Harry reasoned. Afterall, they couldn't have these young, untrustworthy blokes clambering after the girl. As a result, Harry spent many hours rolling his eyes and intercepting the feeble attempts the younger males of Hogwarts were doing to get Ginny's attention. He interrupted whispers in her ears, snatched away hand-written notes, and ushered along the older males who seemed to want to congregate whenever she started stretching for Quidditch practice.

Overall, Harry thought, there were way too many blokes at Hogwarts, and life would be so much easier if Ginny wasn't so damn friendly. She listened attentively to anyone who stopped her for a chat. She smiled and nodded at any new face she saw. She was a laughing, loving, thriving being, and the more Harry watched her, the more he-

"God she can be so annoying," Ron lamented, as he purposefully elbowed a Hufflepuff boy who had tried to pass Ginny a chocolate frog. "She never shuts up, and does she have to flirt with every single boy she meets?"

Harry hardly thought Ginny's warm smile that she gave to everyone could be considered flirting, but as a Slytherin boy walked by where she was sitting, and put a hand on her shoulder to ask her a question, he reconsidered. He had the sudden urge to accidentally-on-purpose break all the fingers of the boy's hand that lay on her shoulder. Then he thought it might be a good idea to tear down one of the drapes from the window, roll Ginny up in it and throw her in a closet. Then maybe he could have some peace and quiet...

"She's just being friendly," Hermione interrupted, walking alongside Ron, hand in his, "and I could hardly call her behavior flirtatious compared to how the other girls of Gryffindor behave. It's not as if she is throwing herself at anybody. Face it, Ron, she's grown up, she's pretty, and she enjoys talking. It makes people want to be around her. There isn't anything wrong with that."

But as Harry thought about the Slytherin boy and his hand on her shoulder, he felt there was definitely something wrong with that. She needed to put away that pretty smile and maybe wear a larger sweater over her school uniform to hide those lovely-

Harry's thoughts stopped abruptly as he saw both Hermione and Ron staring at him questioningly.

"What?" he snapped. For goodness' sake, he was just being protective like any good big brother would, and seeing as Ron had a large distraction in the form of Hermione, it was understandable that he needed to step it up a notch.

The two just shrugged at Harry and kept on walking. Harry heard another slip of laughter from behind him, where he knew Ginny was walking with Luna and Neville.

"Does she have to be so damn happy all the time?" Harry growled.

Hermione laughed. "It's a bit refreshing, I'd say. Since you're so dark and brooding all the time."

"I am not!" Harry retorted. "I don't brood."

"Yeah, you do, mate." Ron said simply. "You're about as cheerful as a flobberworm."

Harry growled again in a very uncheerful like manner, and stormed up to the dorm.

Yes, the big brother role was definitely wearisome.

The next day, the Gryffindors headed in a large crowd back to their common room for the evening. Harry was walking solo, far behind the crowd. He had his hands in his pockets and was lost in thought, purposely walking slow. He heard a tinkling laugh and he looked up just as the portrait swung open to admit the students. Ginny had stopped near the entrance, and appeared to be talking with Demelza and Colin. She was nodding, but must have felt his gaze, because she looked over at where he stood.

It happened again. For a millisecond her lips twitched, and a blush creeped up her cheeks, and she had a knowing look in her eyes. Like she knew some big secret. Harry couldn't resist the urge to look behind him again, so he did. The hallway behind him was empty. When he turned back around, his brow furrowed in confusion, Ginny had already climbed through the portrait with Demelza and Colin. Harry slowly made his way up to his dorm, brushing away the confusion at the knowing looks of Ginny Weasley.

That night, Harry dreamed.

He was swimming in the lake. Students were all around him, laughing, drinking, casually treading the water. It was a big party, and everyone seemed to be celebrating. The water was warm and comfortable, and Harry swam causally, content to people-watch. As the neared the middle of the lake, he saw Hermione lounging on an inflatable chair, and Ron resting his arms in her lap as he floated alongside her. The couple seemed content in their own little world, so Harry smiled and swam on. A little farther from the crowd he saw Ginny and Demelza. The two were surrounded by a group of boys, laughing and chattering excitedly. Demelza scooted very close to one of the boys, and he watched as he took her hand and the two swam off together. Ginny looked uncomfortable as she watched Demelza swim away. She was now alone with five or so boys treading water next to her. Harry sensed danger, and began swimming towards her. As he neared the group, the boys closed in on Ginny. Her face was paling slightly, and she looked afraid. As Harry approached the group, Ginny caught his eye, and he saw relief spread over her face.

"Harry!"

The group of boys all turned to Harry in one movement. All five boys had raven black hair, and as if they were of one mind, all five flashed him a sickening smile. Harry's stomach dropped to his feet as he realized five Tom Riddles were staring back at him. Surrounding Ginny, the Riddle's stared at him, and they started to laugh. Harry drew his wand, and all the Riddles save one, seemed to evaporate. The one Riddle left was behind Ginny, his hand wrapped around her throat. Harry froze in horror, unsure of what to do. Before he could decide, Tom let out a barking laugh, and disappeared beneath the water of the lake, pulling Ginny down with him. Harry didn't think, he simply dove down into the water. He saw Ginny struggling to swim back to the surface, but a sinking Tom had her by the foot. Harry zapped Toms hand with his wand, and he felt him immediately let go. Pulling Ginny by the arm, he swam to the surface, taking deep gulps of fresh air. Ginny broke the surface as well, gasping.

"Harry!" she gasped, clutching his shoulders tightly, "what just happened?"

Harry held her tightly, and looked around the lake. The water was like glass, and they were the only souls in sight.

"I-I don't know."

They were still treading water, and he seemed to be holding up Ginny, but he didn't feel tired in the least. He peered down at her. "Are you alright?"

She leaned away from him so she could look up at his face. Her wet hair was crimson around her face. Her dark brown eyes sparkled, her full lips were pink and slightly parted. Harry's gaze traveled downward to her swim suit, taking in every inch of smooth skin and her toned muscles. He held her tightly to him, and could feel her full breasts pressed up against him. A very different, very un-brotherlike feeling began to rise up in him, filling him up with hot liquid. He held her so tightly he heard her quick intake of breath, and he leaned down and-

"Oi, we're late, mate!"

Ron shook Harry's shoulder.

Harry's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in bed. He took a moment to calm himself.

Just a dream...

Much later, Harry was staring unabashedly at the youngest Weasley. She had clearly gotten into his head. His big brother duties were clearly messing with him. She was beautiful as always, but seemed a bit more morose than her usual self. He wondered if she had also had unsettling dreams last night...

Today's foe appeared to be Dean Thomas. He was sitting next to Ginny and talking, while she smiled and nodded, though her smile seemed the tiniest bit forced. Harry didn't care if he looked like a creep, he stared at the couple, hoping his gaze might actually bore holes into Dean's skull.

"Dean's a good bloke," Ron interrupted his brooding- wait, no, he didn't brood, he was... thinking. "Maybe we should let him go out with Ginny and then we wouldn't have to babysit her all the time."

"What?!" Harry shouted. A couple people stopped talking and stared at him. "Sorry." he muttered, embarrassed for his outburst. Ron and Hermione looked at him with calculating looks, and he felt the need to flee the scene rather than explain himself. Besides, what did he have to explain anyway? What was wrong with wanting to throttle anyone with boy bits who got near Ginny Weasley? And what's wrong with the boiling hot rage and wanting to tear Dean Thomas limb to limb for even thinking about going out with her? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with that. Those are perfectly normal big brother feelings.

As Harry jumped from his seat, his eyes were drawn like a magnet to the red-headed siren. Yet again, he caught a glimpse of those big dark eyes, and they stared into his soul. She didn't smile this time, but there was something incredibly heated in her gaze, something she was holding so secretly but seemed desperate to blurt out. Harry held her gaze for several moments before tearing his eyes away.

Yes, Ginny Weasley had a secret, and he'd be damned if he didn't find out what it was. Afterall, that seemed like a normal big brother duty anyways.

Harry lay in his bed, and tried to empty his mind of the images swirling around in it. He tried not to think of smooth, pale skin, crimson hair, and pink lips... but he dreamed anyway.

Harry tossed and turned, and instead of a dream playing out in his mind like a bizarre movie, he simply had flashes and images come and go. He smelled something familiar and flowery that made his insides melt. He saw long, dark red hair splayed across white linens. He felt soft skin under his hands. He touched pink lips, feeling soft breaths on the pad of his fingers. He was back in the lake with Ginny, and she was pressed tightly against him, the warm water lapping around them. He held her close, and his lips were on hers. He moved his lips across her soft mouth and it was delicious and wonderful and he never wanted it to end-

Harry sat up in bed, sweating and trembling. He took a moment to get his breathing under control, before swinging his legs over the side of his bed. He hung his head, and rubbed his face with his hands.

So that's it, that's why his big brother protective feelings were flying off the radar. Because they weren't big brother protective feelings at all, were they?

I don't want anybody to have Ginny Weasley, because I want her.

I want Ginny Weasley.

Harry felt despair wash over him. He had tried to be so careful. He had tried to not let it happen. He had decided long ago when he found out what he had to do to destroy Voldemort, that it was something he couldn't do... He was the Chosen One, and loving someone and having them love him back was a luxury he could not afford.

Harry plopped back down on his pillow, allowing himself to wallow in his misery. He was doomed to watch from afar, as Ginny would continue to smile and laugh and live. Harry felt his heart clench, and he was filled with longing for something he just couldn't have.