Chapter Three

Defence Against the Dark Arts had been one of Harry's favourite subjects since his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was also his best subject and his current Professor, Remus Lupin, a close friend of his parents when they were in school, was by far his favourite teacher. However, today Harry was unable to concentrate on a single word of professor Lupin's lecture about the best way to disarm a hag. (They may be old, but they are also very fast.)

Instead Harry was again thinking about Ginny. Two weeks ago he had asked her out, and two weeks ago she said no. Since then, Harry has been dealing with the situation the best way that he knew how.by avoiding her.

If she was in the common room, Harry went to his dormitory. If she was in the Great Hall, having lunch, Harry could be found at the other end of the table as far away from her as possible. He couldn't even make eye contact with her when he passed her in the halls.

Ron and Hermione had noticed this and asked him about his seemingly bizarre behaviour one day at breakfast. Harry had unconvincingly replied that he didn't know what they were talking about. "It's just coincidence, that's all."

To that, Ron had said, "Okay," very slowly as though he found this feeble explanation difficult to believe. Hermione had simply looked at him with a peculiar expression on her face, as if she knew why, but she didn't press for further information. Just as well, Harry excused himself from the table within seconds of this conversation and had not been not seen again until he met Ron in the hall on his way up the North Tower to Divination.

As his mind wandered back to Ginny, he thought about how her hair sparkled in the light of the fireplace and wished he could touch it, feeling its softness in his fingers. He sighed because he knew he would never be able to do that. Ginny had made it clear that she didn't want anything from him except friendship, and he wasn't able, at the moment, to give her just that. It was hard enough knowing that he would never be with her. Carrying on a coherent conversation was out of the question.

Harry was startled from these thoughts by the sounds of his classmates packing up their books and preparing to leave for the next class. He began doing the same, hoping he didn't look as lost as he currently felt. As he, Ron and Hermione were walking out of the classroom, Remus stopped him and asked if he could stay behind for a few minutes.

"Sure," he replied, indicating to his friends that he would see them in Transfiguration.

"What did you need to see me about, Professor?" he asked, walking nearer to the desk.

"How've you been Harry? Is everything okay?" he enquired in a concerned voice.

"I'm fine," Harry replied, more than a little confused by the question.

"Are you sure? You've seemed a bit distracted lately," Remus commented.

"I'm fine," Harry replied, impatience etched in his voice. Why is he asking all these questions, he thought.

Remus continued to study him as if he were trying to assess the situation but did not say anything else.

"May I go now, Professor? I'm going to be late for my next class."

"Yes, you may go," he sighed. "But Harry, if you ever need to talk, please know that I am here for you. I feel as though you are a part of my family. I guess because I was so close to your parents."

Harry gave a small but grateful smile as he said, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."



* * * * * *

After dinner that evening, while Harry was working on his divination homework with Ron at a small table by the fire in the common room, Ginny walked through the portrait hole. She sat down a few tables away them and began working on her own homework assignments. Harry glanced at her but quickly looked away, trying to stay focused on his work, even if it was only divination. Ron was in the middle of predicting a particularly gruesome death for the two of them when he noticed how uncomfortable Harry had suddenly become. He glanced swiftly around the common room and noticed Ginny.

"Are you alright," he asked his friend.

"Yeah, of course," replied Harry as he continued to feign concentration. "After you've been eaten by the Giant Squid, there's just no good way left to die."

"You're absolutely right," Ron played along. "You'd think that after You- Know-Who had been defeated, Trelawney would have given up predicting your death."

"Yeah, she's insane, you know. Though I would've also thought that you'd be able to say Voldemort's name now, " teased Harry.

"Hey, I can say it.Voldemort," Ron said in his defence. "It's just a habit to say You-Know-Who."

"Right, " laughed Harry as he glanced at Ginny again. She seemed to be mesmerised by the essay she was working on. Harry sighed and looked away, his good mood now forgotten. He tried to regain the concentration he lost when he looked at her, but it was a futile effort. He sighed again as he said to Ron, "I've got some work to do in the library before it closes. I'll see you later, okay."

Ron looked between Harry and Ginny but only said, "Okay, I'll see you later, " as Harry turned and walked out of the common room.



* * * * * *

Harry was standing in front of the door to Remus Lupin's office trying to decide whether or not to knock. He had never intended to go to the library; that was just a ploy to get out of the common room without rousing any suspicion from Ron (though he was sure his ploy hadn't worked). He decided, instead, that he needed to talk to someone about what he was going through and Remus had made the offer. The only problem was that he felt so silly about the whole thing. He was, after all, able to face down Voldemort and help in his defeat, but he couldn't overcome the problems he faced in his so-called love life. How absurd.

Well, it's time I swallowed my pride, he thought as he knocked on the door. He knew he couldn't continue running and hiding from his problems, pretending they didn't exist.

Remus opened the door and motioned for him to come in. After they exchanged pleasantries, Remus asked," What can I do for you, Harry?"

"I just wanted to talk if that's alright. You're not too busy, are you?"

"No, it's okay. What'd you want to talk about?" Remus asked.

"Well, um, you know, this morning when you said that I had been distracted lately, you were right," Harry began explaining. "I have been distracted and I really don't know what to do anymore."

"Oh," Remus answered. "Does this have anything to do with Ginny Weasley?"

Harry looked surprised that Remus could guess this. "How did you know?"

"Well, I've noticed how you seem to avoid her in the Great Hall. I've also noticed the way you look at her. It's the same way your dad used to look at your mum."

"Oh," said Harry, fascinated by this information about his dad as well as Remus' intuition.

"Well, what am I supposed to do then?"

"I don't know, Harry. Why don't you tell me a little more about the situation."

And that's just what Harry did. He told Remus things that he hadn't told anyone else-how he had first become closer to Ginny and then drifted away from her from the combined pressure of being marked by Voldemort and classes (mostly Voldemort though). He also told Remus about first realising he was in love with Ginny and how he struggled to keep those feelings in check. He then explained what had happened between him and Ginny a few weeks ago and how he decided that he had to get over her but he didn't know how.

After Harry finished his speech, Remus looked at him thoughtfully. He rubbed his chin, indicating that he was considering all that Harry just said. Finally he responded, "Harry, do you know how your parents first got together?"

"Yes," Harry replied. "Sirius sent me a letter about that a few weeks ago. He said my dad comforted my mum after her parents died."

"Did he tell you anything else?"

"Just that my dad had loved my mum for a long time before he told her," Harry was clearly confused about this line of questioning. What about Ginny? he thought.

"Would you like to know a bit more about what happened between them?"

"I guess so," Harry replied, torn between learning more about his parents and his original purpose for coming here. "What does this have to do with me and Ginny?"

"I think you'll understand soon enough," replied Remus and he began to reveal more details about his parents' relationship...

To Be Continued