Chapter 14

After Harry exhausted the castle, he decided that Parvati must have gone to bed early. As he made his way to his dormitory he thought to himself how things were starting to get better for him. Well, in his love life anyway. There's that damned phrase again.

Harry walked into his room to see Seamus' bed empty, and the bed curtains closed on Dean's and Neville's beds, as well as Ron's.
"Ron are you asleep" he asked, beginning to undress for bed.
"Um… no, not really" Ron giggled out.

Harry looked at the floor to see Hermione's slippers next to Ron's bed. And for the first time, he realized that he truly was jealous of Ron and Hermione, and what they shared. Even if it was just adolescent puppy love at the time, it was someone to share something with and to hold and be held by. Harry wanted that more than anything. He decided he was definitely going to take the next step with Parvati. But for now, he wasn't in the mood to fall asleep to the sounds of Ron and Hermione kissing, so he grabbed his Charms book and went down to the common room.

The common room was empty except for one particular, sad looking red head curled up on the couch in front of the fire. As Harry came closer, he could see the tears on her face and the fear in her eyes.

He forgot every promise he had made to himself to stay away from her. He just wanted to be there for her, to comfort her. He sat down next to her on the couch and put his head to hers and kissed her temple.

"Come on then, Gin, you should go to bed."

Ginny just sat there, looking idly at the fire, tears dripping from nowhere.

"Ginny?"

"What if he's dead Harry? What if I never see Colin again?"

"You will Ginny, I promise, Dumbledore is doing everything that he can"

Ginny didn't move, didn't even shift an eye.

"You should get to bed"

"Cant… can't sleep…haven't slept in two days…"

Harry sighed, he knew he shouldn't, but part of him had to.
"Ginny… did you sleep when I was in bed with you?"

She finally broke her staring contest with the fire and looked at Harry.
"Yes" she whispered, in an almost embarrassed tone.

"Alright then, come on" Harry said, taking her hand and leading her to her room. They were careful to be real quiet to not wake the others in the room. All Harry needed was gossip from 4th years that he and Ginny were shagging.

Ginny undressed right in front of Harry, almost like she didn't notice he was there. He tried not to look but couldn't remove his gaze from her beautiful snowy skin. Harry himself decided that he rather not sleep in his uniform again and stripped down to his boxers and undershirt.
The two climbed into the four poster bed and closed the bed curtains. As they climbed under the covers, Harry instinctively wrapped his arms around Ginny and held her close. He could almost smell the tears, still stained on her face and a bit of her wet hair was touching his forehead. He would do anything to take away her pain.

"Goodnight Ginny" he whispered in her ear, kissing the side of her face.
"Goodnight Harry" She whispered back, kissing him back. But her kiss was on the lips. And as hard as Harry tried not to, he couldn't help but return it.

Ginny rolled over to face him and Harry held her closer. As their kiss became more passionate and daring, so did they.
Harry could feel Ginny's hand slide under his shirt and rub his bare back and it was all he could do not to roll over on top of her. It didn't help that she was pulling him that way.
Harry knew this was wrong, but he also knew this was getting her mind of Colin. He didn't know right from wrong anymore and with Ginny beginning to unbutton her night dress he decided he needed to make a quick decision.

"Ginny, we cant… we shouldn't be doing this"

Even in the dark, Harry could see that he had hurt her.
"Look, it's not that I don't want to, it's just you're not in a place to be doing this right now… you're sad and feeling lonely and vulnerable, and I am just not going to be the guy to take advantage of that. I can't… I want to be here for you, and I'll hold you and comfort you for as long as you like, but I can't be doing this with you."

Ginny just rolled over to face the other direction, not saying a word back to him. Harry didn't know what he should do now. But her hand reached behind her and found his and wrapped it back around her as they had started. Harry sighed and smiled to himself and held Ginny close for the rest of the night.

***

Ron woke up holding Hermione in his arms. What a great feeling it was. He didn't want to wake her but he knew that she better leave before the other boys woke.

"Hermione" he whispered into her ear and shaking her a bit in his arms.
"Hermione, wake up"

Slowly she opened her eyes and looked surprised at first but then smiled at the sight of him.
"Oh dear," she said, sitting up in the bed, "I didn't mean to sleep here… I don't remember falling asleep"
"Me either" Ron told her, truthfully.

"Ron, do you think I could use Harry's invisibility cloak to go back to my room?"

"Sure, I'll get it."

Hermione gave Ron a kiss on the lips and wrapped the cloak around her and made her way out of the room.
As she walked down the stairs, she saw Parvati trotting up them. Then she saw Harry came out of one of the 4th year girl's dormitory, half dressed. Harry bumped into Parvati and she stood there looking at him like he had three heads.
Hermione felt SO bad for Harry at that moment and thought about knocking either him or Parvati down the stairs invisibly but she couldn't decide which in time.
"Harry… what were you doing in there…"

Hermione looked at Parvati and couldn't decide what emotion she was feeling… she looked hurt, surprised, mad, and confused all at the same time.

"I… was… checking up on Ginny… making sure she was sleeping and such… she's been real upset about Colin lately.. And Ron's been preoccupied so I'm just playing big brother…" Harry said nervously.

Hermione had to give him props for that, he didn't even lie.

Parvati didn't look like she exactly bought it, and was looking him up and down.
"You look a mess, Harry"

Hermione thought for a moment how happy Harry must be at this moment that they wear a uniform so that Parvati couldn't tell he was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday.

"Headed for the shower" Harry said, looking at the floor.

Things were tense between them, Hermione wished there was something she could do.

"Um… I'll catch up with you later Parvati" he said, giving her a forced smirk and running up the stairs past Hermione.

Parvati stood with a contemplative look on her face. For a moment it looked like she was going to open Ginny's dorm room door. Hermione thought she'd take her out for sure if she even attempted that. But she did not, she just turned back down the stairs and walked to the common room.

Hermione couldn't help but wonder what was Harry doing….

…. Come back soon to find out what exactly Harry is up to!! … let me tell you ALL the characters are going to be surprised soon! Just wait and see.

Review!!!!!!! PLEASE tell me what you think….