Cracker-Pickle Sandwiches

A/n Thanks for all the great reviewsJ!! As long as the reviews keep coming, the story will continue. Also, to anyone that is following my Glimmer series: I have started the new chapter, and I was planning on getting it up tonight, but, unfortunately, I got called into work today so I'll try to get it finished and get it up Sunday.

Cracker-Pickle Sandwiches

Part 3

Harry awoke the next morning by a violent shaking. He rolled over in hopes that it would stop, but to no avail. Finally, he gave up and forced his eyelids open. The first sight he saw was a flash of red hair.

"Harry, get up," Ron shouted.

"It's Saturday," Harry proclaimed, rolling over facing his back to Ron.

"Alright, but don't complain to me if breakfast is all gone by the time you get there."

"Fine, I'm coming," he answered, pulling himself out of bed. While getting dressed, he remembered the events from the previous night. He didn't know why, but he had to stop Ginny from going out with Phillip. Hopefully, he could get to her before Phillip did.

As he descended down the stairs with Ron, he saw Ginny and Hermione standing in the middle of the common room. Apparently they were waiting for Ron and him. Harry also saw Phillip entering through the porthole from the other side. Ginny turned around, and walked toward Phillip. Harry knew he had to get there before Ginny spoke to him.

He walked on down, straight passed Hermione and right to Ginny. Ginny and Phillip dropped their conversation as they both stared at him in light of his rather rude interruption.

"Are you going to breakfast," Harry asked, grabbing Ginny's elbow.

"Um, yeah Harry. In a bit," she replied. Her eyes were mixed with a cross between confusion and frustration.

"Why don't you come with us? Were going now."

"Well…" But, Ginny didn't have time to reply before Harry was pulling her along toward the porthole.

"Oi, wait for us Harry," Ron called to him. Harry turned and motioned for him and Hermione to follow, and proceeded out.

"Harry! What did you do that for?" Ginny looked sternly into his eyes.

"You looked hungry."

"I was talking to Phillip."

"Oh, yeah," Harry said trying to be nonchalant. "So, did you ask him?"

"I was about ready to, until you came along and ruined it!"

"Ready to what?" Ron and Hermione had finally caught up to them.

"Smack you on the side of the head for listening in on my conversations," she answered.

"Hey!"

"I'm joking," she said, finally showing them a smile. "I was going to tell Phillip that I would go out with him."

"That jerk! Why would you want to go out with him?" Harry nodded in response; 'at least Ron is with me.'

"He is not a jerk Ron. You don't even know him."

"Just leave her alone Ron. She's a big girl, she can handle herself," Hermione said. At this Harry frowned; 'no Christmas present for Hermione this year; instead I'll give Ron two.'

"Fine. But he better not lay a finger on you, you hear," he said, shaking his finger at her. 'Alright,' Harry thought. 'Only one Christmas present for Ron this year.'

"Yes father. You don't have to worry about it anyway. Harry probably scared him off when he practically grabbed me and pushed me through the porthole."

"Way to go Harry," Ron whispered in his ear so Ginny and Hermione wouldn't hear.

"I heard that," Ginny answered.

"You know I'm joking sis," he said, looping an arm around her shoulder and continuing into the Great Hall.

Harry found himself in the library latter that day. Hermione insisted they spend some time studying since the NEWTS were coming up. Hermione and Ron were sitting close together, laughing at some picture in one of the textbooks. Harry kept his head down it the textbooks, trying his hardest to pay attention to the book and not to the people around him.

He didn't know why, but his gaze lingered a lot on the little redhead searching for a book in the restricted section. Ginny had told him earlier that Professor McGonagall gave her permission to use a restricted book on a spell she was doing a paper on in class.

Ginny looked up, and when she saw Harry, she gave him a little wave. Then, she came to his table, and sat quietly while researching the book she had plucked from the rack. "Thought you could use a little company," she whispered, nodding her head towards Ron and Hermione who were still reading from the same book.

"Yeah. They do get a little annoying sometimes," he answered.

"I heard that," Hermione said from across the table.

"I know. You were supposed to. Ouch," he responded after Hermione kicked him from under the table. She responded by giving him a satisfying smirk, and going back to the book she and Ron had been reading.

They all sat in the library quietly for the next half-hour. Harry was about to suggest taking a break and playing a game of Exploding snap when Phillip approached their table.

"Hi," he said calmly. "Mind if I sit here?"

"No," Harry lied.

Phillip responded by taking a chair and pulling it right between him and Ginny. "Did you have something to tell me this morning," he whispered to her.

"Yes. Can we go somewhere else," she asked Phillip. "You don't mind, do you Harry?"

"I was about to suggest that myself," Harry responded. "How about we all go back to the common room and play a game of Exploding snap?"

"I meant do you mind if I leave for awhile to talk to Phillip? Don't worry; I won't leave you alone with those two for very long," she giggled.

"No," Harry lied again.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Harry started to get up.

"I wasn't talking to you," Ginny hummed behind her breath.

"How about we go for a walk," he said, looking at the exchange between Harry and Ginny. "Alone," Phillip added as Harry and Ron both got up to go with them.

"Yes. I think that would be best." She pushed Ron back down in his chair, and gave Harry a sympathetic smile as she left him there alone with Ron and Hermione.

Harry sighed and wondered why he was so intent on keeping Ginny away from Phillip, and more importantly, how he was going to keep Ginny away from Phillip.

A/n So, will Harry succeed in keeping Ginny away from Phillip? Will Harry ever get a clue as to why it is so important to him anyway? Probably not for a while, so please stay tunnedJ