A/n It's been so long since I worked on this story, I almost forgot how much fun it was to write it. Poor Phillip, everyone seems hostile at the poor guy. It's not his fault Ginny charmed himJ
Cracker-Pickle
Sandwiches
Part 6
Harry glanced across to the source of the constant giggles on the other side of the common room. Sure enough, he spotted the exact thing he was expecting, or rather, fearing. Ginny was seated on the other side of the room, discussing something funny with Phillip. Phillip shot his head quickly toward Harry and gave him some sort of warning look, and went back into his conversation with Ginny.
Harry couldn't believe it. For the last week, whenever Harry almost got the chance to talk to Ginny alone, Phillip would be right there, pulling Ginny off to the side with something very important he had to discuss with her. As soon as Ginny's attention would wonder, he would glare at Harry in sort of an 'I win' fashion. This irritated Harry greatly. What did Phillip think he was winning anyway? And why wouldn't he let Harry get a word in edgewise with Ginny? Harry had to admit, he missed spending time with Ginny. He decided to ignore the fact that he didn't know why it was bothering him so much that Ginny was going out with Phillip. He concentrated more on why Phillip was being so hostile towards him.
Harry was tired of his charms homework, and he was especially tired of receiving looks of hatred from Phillip. He packed up his books and uttered a quick excuse to Ron and Hermione whom were seated beside him. He walked on out of the common room, and past the portrait of the Fat Lady. He kept walking until he found his way outside. He went to sit on one of his favorite benches by the lake. There was a slight breeze, and the air was starting to get that wintery feeling. Luckily, he remembered to bring a jacket to put over his robes. He sat there for a while, letting all of his thoughts to flow out of his head.
"Harry?" He glanced up to see none other than Ginny Weasley standing beside him. Even more suprising was the fact that Phillip was nowhere to be seen.
"Hi Ginny. I haven't seen you around lately," he lied.
"I've been around. Been spending a lot of time with Phillip lately." Harry thought the last bit sounded almost bitter. He didn't call it on her though. He rather liked the bitter edge to it. Maybe Phillip wasn't so perfect after all?
"So, you broke away from the leash," he asked. At the simple statement, a bright pink twinge started to outline her face.
"Yeah. You could say that. So, what are you doing here Harry?"
"Came out here to think. I love it out here."
" I do too. This is my favorite bench," she said, sitting down on the other side of the bench.
They sat there like that for five minutes. They didn't speak, just stared at the water. All the while, Harry's brain was going haywire. He kept getting little voices in his head saying things like, 'Ginny broke away from Phillip to talk to me," and, "I've waited all week to talk to her and now I don't know what to say."
"So, what are you thinking," Ginny finally asked. Harry quickly shook the silly voices out of his head.
"Nothing, er…just needed to think, that's all."
Ginny got up from the bench. Harry watched as she walked up to a nearby tree and grabbed onto a low branch. She gracefully started to climb until she was seated on a large branch higher up on the tree. "You know, I miss it," she called down to Harry once she got settled.
"Miss what?"
"Being a little girl. I used to love to climb trees. My family always used to tease me about it. My father called me a 'little monkey'. But, when you have six older brothers, it was always the safest place to go when they wanted to try their newest experiment on you…or when you accidentally got on their bad side."
Harry laughed at the thought of a smaller version of Ginny running up a tree with a pack of redheaded brothers running after her.
She stared off into the sky as she started to talk. "When I was little, I got a lot of attention from everybody. Not only was I the youngest, I was the only girl. I know they teased me a lot, but in reality, my brothers all adored me because I was their 'baby sister', the only little sister they had. But, then I grew up. I know they still love me, but it's not the same. Playing and hanging out with their 'baby sister' all the sudden wasn't cool anymore. I will always be their little sister; nothing will ever change that…and they will always get the pleasure in threatening anyone who ever tries to hurt me." Harry could almost hear Ginny smile with pride at the last statement. "It's just not the same. I miss those days of being the 'baby sister'."
Harry saw her look back down at him and give him a weak smile through the shadows. "I'm sorry Harry, I didn't mean to go on. I know my problems must seem very minor compared to yours."
"No, it's okay," he answered. "It feels better if you voice your problems. I learned that this summer…with you." He said the last part softly, causing a blush to spread across his face.
"I suppose I should get down now, it's dark out already." She skillfully climbed back down the tree, and met Harry at the bottom. She took about two steps before tripping over a fallen tree limn at landing flat on the ground.
"Are you okay?" Harry bent down beside her to check for injuries.
"I'm fine. Graceful, aren't I? Maybe I should just stick to climbing and forget about walking," she giggled as she sat up.
"Did you hurt anything," Harry glanced down at her, still worried.
"Just my pride," she laughed. She tried getting up, and fell back to the ground clutching her foot. "Ouch, okay, and my ankle."
"Hold on I'll get someone…"
"No, I just need to walk it off. Will you help me to the castle?" She held out her hand for Harry to take. He pulled her up, and put an arm around her to guide her to the castle. About half-way there, her limp resided and she started walking normally. "See, I just needed to walk it off a little. I'm fine." Harry wasn't listening though. He continued to guide her until they arrived in the common room. He walked passed the looks of confusion from Ron and Hermione, and the angry glare from Phillip as he set her down on the couch. As she sat, he noticed his arm was still throbbing from where he had it around Ginny. It felt like little fiery needles were poking him in the skin.
"What's going on," Phillip asked as he trudged over to where Harry was standing.
"Ginny fell," Harry answered.
"Oh my God, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I twisted my ankle and I just needed to walk it off a bit. Harry just insisted I sit for a while."
"Maybe we should get Madame Pomfrey," Phillip told Harry. Harry thought he looked pretty smug, like he just found the cure for a terrible disease Ginny had contracted. Harry knew he could top that idea.
"I have some tape up in my dorm. Maybe we could tape it up?"
"Where's it at Harry. I'll conjure it down and tape it up for her."
"No, I can tape it. I've had enough Quidditch injuries to know what I'm doing when it comes to taping up ankles."
"Will you guys just quit it?" Ginny was now standing beside both boys, her face bright red from either anger or embarrassment. Harry thought it looked like it was a mixture of the two. "I'm fine. Look, I can walk. I'm not going to be permanently paralyzed from the waste down; it's a miracle, isn't it? Little Ginny got hurt and she's going to live through it? Now quite pampering me, I'm going to bed…and when I wake up in the morning, this whole incident is going to be forgotten." She trudged up the stairs, walking perfectly normal, and slammed the door behind her.
Harry looked up amazed, and almost missed it when Phillip muttered; "Think you got her now, don't you."
"What," he fixed his attention to Phillip.
Phillip simply walked off, replying something along the lines of "you know what I mean."
Harry sign and sat down on the couch. He could still feel the heat from when Ginny was sitting there. Soon afterwards, Hermione came and sat beside him.
"You look like you could use a friend," she said to him.
"Where's Ron," Harry asked.
"I told him that if he finished his Charms essay tonight, I'd go on a broomstick ride with him tomorrow night. He should be upstairs finishing it up right now."
"I take it you saw that," he said, referring to the whole scene with Ginny."
"Yeah…Harry, there's something I think I should tell you."
"What?" Harry didn't like the slightly worried tone in her voice.
"Well, you probably won't understand why I'm telling you this now. But, I feel as if I should." She sounded torn between actually telling him, or hushing up and telling him to forget it. Nonetheless, she was going to stall and make him pry it out of her.
"What is it," he asked a bit more curios now.
"Well…Harry, you're like a brother to me, that is the only reason I'm telling you this. But, it's about Ginny."
"What about her?"
"She's going to let Phillip kiss her tomorrow. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal or anything, but to her it is."
"You mean they haven't kissed yet?" He found this statement somewhat hopeful.
"But you don't understand Harry. Ginny likes to have everything planned out. She isn't the type to kiss just anybody that comes along. She is really beginning to like Phillip, and this'll mark a big step in their relationship."
"So, she's going to kiss someone that she is really beginning to like. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," Hermione yawned. "I'm going to bed. Let Ron know that as soon as he's finished with his report to leave it on my Charms book sitting on the table. I want to be sure he actually did the essay correctly instead of just writing a bunch of nonsense down. See you tomorrow Harry."
"Yeah, see you."
"And Harry, Phillip isn't the only one Ginny thinks is special. Remember that," she said before entering her dorm.
Harry didn't know what that last comment was suppose to mean, but he wondered if Ginny ever thought he was special. He certainly thought she was.
A/n Well, I can't tell you when the next part will be out, but it should be sooner than three weeks this time since I'm out of school.J In the next chapter (once I get it written), tensions will be coming to an all time high, and Harry may finally get his feelings in check. And I guarantee, much to everyone's dismay, there will be a kiss.