Chapter 8

Harry found himself on the Quidditch field throwing bludgers into the air and whacking them as hard as he could. He found this relieved his stress a little bit but however didn't help him to think too clearly. The more he thought about the romance situation at hand, the more confused he became about it.

After a while, his arm began to hurt and he decided to go inside. Harry was walking around in a daze, lost in thought. He next found himself in the shower, washing away his woes and dirty thoughts, oh how he wished he could be 12 again. He exited the steamy shower, wrapped a towel around his waste, and stood in front of the mirror to take a look at his 15 year old self.

Harry was about 5'9'' these days, his black hair no longer mopped down around his head and on his forehead, but stuck straight in the air and shot out in all directions. He touched his scar, it was visible to all with his hair like that, but he'd stopped caring. He had grown rather muscular from Quidditch, with defined shoulders and chest. He thought to himself for the first time ever that he really wasn't a bad looking chap. At this point, his glasses began to fog up and he decided it was time to stop staring at himself and perhaps get some food.

When he walked into the great hall, Ron and Hermione were already in there laughing and munching on some sandwiches. He took a seat across from them and the three began to chat about what was going on in the castle.

"I think it's definitely you-know-who" Hermione whispered across to Harry.
"I wish we knew something more"

Just then Harry felt someone plop down next to him.

"Hi Harry, feeling better?" Parvati said with a smile.

Harry couldn't help but smile back at her, her mere presence brought a tingle to him and he lit up.

"Yes thank you" he said politely.

Hermione gave Harry a sympathetic look and started talking about the up and coming charms quiz so Parvati could have a part in the conversation. Harry took notice that throughout their time sitting there, Parvati kept bumping her leg up against his. He rather liked this and found himself joining in on her little game of footsie and took it a step up by putting his hand on her thigh every once in a while. This was new and exciting to Harry and he stopped to think for a moment that he could be like this with Parvati but he could never be like that with Ginny. Especially around Ron, he would just feel odd.

One point for Parvati.

Just then, Professor Dumbledore stood and asked them to remain quiet for a moment.

"Please, all prefects, lead the students in your houses back to the dormitories and stay there for the remainder of the day and evening. There is to be no wondering the halls or going outside."

As the Gryffendor students followed Hermione and the other prefects to the dormitories Harry made his way over to Dumbledore.

"Professor? What is it? Is there any way I can help?"

"Oh Harry I'm sure even if I told you there was not, you would find a way to help" Dumbledore said to him, trying to seem somewhat not glum.

"Well, what has happened?"

"There is a student missing, and we have reason to believe that he has been harmed"

"Why is that professor?"

"Well we found an item of his and a trail of blood to the secret entrance that leads to Hogsmade. We have many powerful wizards trying to find him and doing all that they can so I must ask you, Harry, to not go looking for him. If this is indeed the work of Lord Voldemort… well, Harry, we know you are his main target…"
"I understand, professor."

"Thank you, Harry, now, be on your way, I'm going to need you to look after the students in your house tonight and keep them calm"

"Yes, sir."

Harry made his way back to the Gryffendor common room, and saw professor McGonagall making her way out. She frowned at him and gave a rather large sigh. She looked as though she was going to say something and then just walked away.
"Weird" Harry thought to himself. As he walked into the portrait hole he saw students in a sort of frenzy. Some gossiping, some sitting in silence, some crying, some writing letters home.

Two fourth year girls came down the stairs and walked over to Ron and Hermione.

"Ginny wont stop crying, we're afraid she's going to make herself sick, she's in an awful state right now, we were wondering if you could give her a try."

Ron and Hermione ran up the stairs to comfort their sister and friend. Harry wondered if he should follow. He did, but a good distance behind. He stood outside the doorway and listened/watched Ron and Hermione try and comfort Ginny.

"Ginny, please stop crying" He heard Ron say.
He looked in to see Hermione, frowning and pushing the hair out of Ginny's wet face. She looked horribly upset and he wished that there was something he could do. Instead, he sat and watched her cry.

Ron and Hermione soon gave up and left her with a glass of water and a box of tissues. On their way out of the room, they found Harry sitting in the hallway, back against the wall.

"Perhaps you should give it a try Harry" Hermione suggested, helping him up from the floor.

"She's not crying because of me is she?" Harry asked Hermione.

"No, Colin Creevy is missing and presumed harmed or dead"

Harry felt guiltily relieved for a moment that it was not him that was causing her this pain but then shortly realized what a horrible state she must be in right now.

He didn't know what he would say to her once he got in there or if she would even want him near her, but he nodded his head and entered Ginny's bedroom. He looked at her, sitting on the bed, race red and tearstained. He stood for a good thirty seconds, just watching her cry, and she then flipped over on her side and buried her face into her pillow to muffle the sobs. Harry couldn't think of a single thing to say except "Ginny I'm so sorry"

He got no response from her. He walked over to her bed and sat down. He knew that he could comfort her, he just didn't know how. He looked to the door to see Ron and Hermione peering in from the crack and wondered if he should do this with her brother watching. He decided that Ginny needed him right now and that was what was most important.

He layed down on the bed behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He began to pull the wet hair off of her face and push it behind her ears. He kissed her once on her shoulder and told her it was going to be ok. He was silently hoping that Ron wasn't still watching and that Ginny would give some response to show that this was working and that he wasn't risking his friendship with Ron for nothing.

She then turned to face him and buried her face into his shoulder and sobbed. He continued to hold and rock her and he knew that she felt safe in his arms. This was what she needed at the moment and he was glad he was there to give it. He continued to hold her and kiss her and he didn't care how long he had to be there for her, he just needed to know she felt loved and safe his arms and that was enough to keep him there, comforting her.

*Sorry so short, but I'll update soon!… please keep the reviews coming or I might not have motivation to write!