" Ginny," Harry said, as she began to go up the staircase to her dormitory.
" Yes, Harry?" she turned around, hoping beyond hope that there would be
more to this evening. He walked up to her and smiled. He placed his hands
on her waist, pulling her close to him. The common room was adorned with
Christmas decorations. Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were the only
Gryffindors left. Her curious brown eyes peered up into his loving emerald
ones. " I really want to kiss you," he whispered. " I really wish you
would." No more words were spoken. She closed her eyes as his lips met
hers. It was the most wonderful, free-floating feeling in the world. After
not nearly enough for Ginny, Harry stopped. She looked down at her feet. He
lifted her chin and looked deep into her eyes. " I want to tell the whole
world," she said. She leaned against his chest and heard his heart beating.
It sounded as if it were going to leap right out of his chest and gallop
around the room. She smiled. "Don't tell anyone right now." " Why not?" she
said as he put his arms around her. " It would seem so weird if everyone
knew that we have been seeing each other for so long." " Not even Ron?" "
Especially not Ron." Ginny's silence stated her puzzlement. " You see-"
" What are you two doing down here all alone?" Harry immediately let
go of Ginny and they both backed away from each other. Ron was standing at
the bottom of the stairs, looking at the pair. " Ron," Ginny said,
nervously," How long have you been standing there?" Ron noticed Harry and
Ginny's eyes met and exchanged nervous glances. " Just a second," he said.
Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. " Only long enough," Ron's voice became
very smooth," to figure out what is going on." His rage came out just then.
" You have been with each other the whole time. Secret lovers. I bet that
if I would have walked in a second earlier I would have seen you wrapped in
each other, kissing. How great," he threw his hands up in frustration. "
What makes you think that?" Ginny asked nervously. " Well," he fumed," when
you walk in and see Harry's arms around your waist and your head on his
chest, that sends a message, don't you think?" "Ron, wait a second," Harry
tried to make him calm," We were only just-" " Don't lie to me, Harry! I
know what you've been doing with each other!" Ron shouted. " Ron," Ginny
said, walking toward her brother," We haven't done anything." " Stop lying
to me!" Harry thought he saw tears in his eyes. He had been hurt
obviously. His best friend and his sister had kept this major secret from
him.
"Ron?" Hermione's voice called down the stairs," Ron? Are you okay?"
She emerged in her nightgown, looking worried. " No, I am not okay!" he
spat at her, not sure what to do with all the anger inside him. " What's
wrong?" she asked, putting her hand on his arm. " Everything!" She turned
to Harry and Ginny, sensing that she wasn't going to get an answer from
Ron. " What's going on?" she asked, seriously. Ginny looked at Harry as he
looked back at her. Ginny took a deep breath. " He walked in while Harry
and I were-" she stopped, looking at her feet. " All over each
other.....his hands on your waist, your head on his chest," Ron nudged
apparently still annoyed," and since you seem to think that I don't know
the rest, one of you is going to have to finish." " It was just one kiss,"
Harry nearly whispered, shaking his head. He closed his eyes and looked
toward the ceiling. His eyes flicked open. " It's our choice what we do and
what we don't do. Why does it really matter to you?" he asked. " Because
Ginny is my sister and you are my best friend!" There was a long awkward
silence. " Ron," Ginny started to say. " Ginny, just be quiet!" Ron yelled
back at her.
She put her head on Harry's chest again and turned away from her
screaming brother, her hand on her ear. Harry put his arms around her and
gently kissed the top of her head. Harry turned his face to Ron, anger
spreading over him. Ginny sobbed quietly into his chest. Hermione barely
caught Ron as he lunged toward Harry. " Let go of me," he flailed his arms
out, trying to get her off of him. " Stop!" she yelled, grabbing his
shoulders. He was breathing very hard, glaring at Harry as he continued to
comfort Ginny. " Think of what you are doing," Hermione whispered," to your
sister and your best friend. They are in love. Let them be happy together."
Ron looked at his baby sister with adoration. His anger seemed to ebb away
as he watched them together. He sat in a nearby armchair and put his head
in his hands. He motioned for Hermione to sit next to him. She took his
trembling hand away from his head. " How could I have been so stupid?" he
asked. He thought for a moment then said," I almost ruined a perfect
thing." He got up and walked over to Ginny. Harry turned where his back was
shielding her, as if Ron was going to strike his sister. Ron couldn't help
but smile at the way he protected her. " Ginny," he said over Harry's
shoulder," I'm sorry." She looked up at Harry, who smiled at her. " I
jumped to conclusions. I just got really mad that you hadn't told me," he
confessed," I shouldn't have said everything that I did. I don't mind if
you are with Harry." She walked around Harry and threw her arms around her
brother. " I love you, Ron," she said, looking at her older brother with
gratitude. " Yeah, yeah," he said, pushing her off," Go back over there
with him. He doesn't mind being hugged by you." She walked into Harry's
strong arms. "Well," Hermione said, standing up and stretching," I hate to
leave you all but now I am going to bed." " Goodnight," Harry said. " Yeah,
you too. Don't stay up too late, you two," she teased. Ron didn't move. "
Come on,'' Hermione rolled her eyes," Give them some privacy." Hermione
pushed him up his staircase. He reluctantly walked up, with several looks
behind him. Harry put his arm around Ginny's shoulders and put his head on
hers. Hermione smiled, but not before giving them an almost longing look.
She sighed and went up to bed.
" I'm going to go on up, too," Ginny said, as she yawned. " Alright
then," Harry smiled as he pulled her in for one last kiss. She turned
around for one last look at him before she disappeared at the top of the
staircase. Harry put his hands in his pockets and sighed. He was about to
go up to bed when another thought struck him. He spun around and went up
the girls' staircase instead.
