Ginny bit her lower lip and watched Dean's reaction to what she told him with a sinking heart. Dean frowned at her obviously considering the matter before stating, "I don't know Gin, Neville's pretty hopeless when it comes to potions. He's terrified of Snape and through that terrified of the subject. Seriously though, he gave you a whole point?"

Ginny rolled her eyes before telling him sarcastically, "No, Dean he gave me half a point."

Dean shook his head smiling at her, "Well I wouldn't put it past him."

Ginny sighed, "I'm going to lose us a whole thirty points."

"Well," Dean mused, "don't mention the points to Neville. It'll make him too nervous."

Ginny sighed again before looking over the couch they were sitting on. With another sigh she asked, "Do you think Harry forgot about us?"

Dean shook his head with a laugh, "No, I saw Hermione drag him and Ron into an empty classroom. Give him a few more minutes."

His comment caused Ginny to raise her eyebrows and then shake her head, "If I didn't know how those three plan and don't even notice when they exclude everyone else I'd have decidedly bad thoughts about them."

"Is a bit rough being on the outside looking in when they get groupish. I wish I knew what they were talking about, their not the only ones worried about Lupin."

"Lupin? What happened with Lupin?" Ginny asked worriedly. After the unusual and rather unproductive array of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers most of the student body had been relieved when they'd managed to get the one competent teacher to return. Except for those who abstained from his class and opted to take the course under Snape, Lupin was up for everyone's favorite professor.

"He acted a bit odd before class. It's probably nothing, but if it's something those three would know."

"And wouldn't share either," Ginny pouted, "You think Ron being my brother would give me some leverage, but no."

She sighed again, "I hate going blindly into the dark."

This caused Dean to frown, "Who said anything about going into the dark?"

Ginny gave him a look that spoke volumes, "Dean, you know as well as the rest of us what happens when those three start to get groupish. It makes me nervous."

"Hey," Dean told her in a comforting tone, "Nothing usually goes bad for months and schools almost out." Then he reached across the couch and pushed some hair out of her face.

"Dean Thomas take your hands off my sister this instance!"

Both of them snapped around to take in a seething Ron and bewildered looking Harry.

Dean recovered first, "Hello Ron, nice to see you too. You mean you want me to stop doing something I've done for months and you haven't taken notice of till now? Not very likely. Your sister and I are friends and if I feel like pushing the hair away from her eyes I will do so until she objects to it."

Ron's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Dean, don't, he's got the worst temper," Ginny warned.

"What are you doing with Hermione tomorrow?"

Dean's answer was to give them a confused look.

Harry sighed in an exasperated way, "Hermione wanted to know if you two were still on for tomorrow."

Dean's attention turned from Ron to Harry, "Don't see why she wouldn't just ask, oh I see. Poor poor clueless Ron, lets see if I can help."

"What?" Ron sputtered, "I'm not clueless!"

"Think about it Ron, Hermione and I are both muggle-born."

"I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"I like Quidditch as much as I like" Dean trailed off as he looked at Ron expectantly a moment before continuing, "Come on Ron, you nearly ruined my poster first year with all your poking at it."

Ron looked at him blankly but still indignantly.

"Ron," Ginny chided, "Dean and football, not to mention Dean and Moon."

"Moon?" Harry asked, "What's Moon got to do with anything?"

His question caused Dean to give them both a stern look, "Well I wouldn't expect either of you to notice, since she doesn't play Quiddtich, but I have been seeing her for…Gin how long has it been again?"

"Well you did give her that locket last week."

Dean smirked, "Oh yes that's right. Six months now I've had a girlfriend so why don't you keep your accusations to yourself."

"You and Moon?" Ron asked unconvinced.

"Six months?" Harry exclaimed, "I didn't even notice."

Ginny giggled, "How could you miss it? She gets all swoony over Dean."

"Congratulations Dean," Harry said softly.

Ron's eyes though had narrowed again, "Still on the you and Hermione on for something tomorrow."

Dean sighed, "Promise you won't tease her?"

Ron took a menacing step towards Dean which caused Dean to scowl and round around the couch at him, "It must be easy for you, to have always had all this, but it's not like that for all of us. Some of us had other lives up till the age of eleven. Some of us are still trying to hang onto what few muggle friends we only get to see over the holidays and its less time for Hermione because she spends every one but summer here. I'm thinking you didn't know, but she's only got one muggle friend left and she trying hard to keep her. The girl likes to play football and Hermione's, brilliant though she is at studies, is not so great at sports. I'm helping her with her football skills, nothing more. So stay out of my face! You're very close to ruining our friendship here Ron, I suggest you back down."

Ron's angered vanished as quickly as it had risen, he even managed to look sheepish as he said "I'm sorry Thomas. I didn't realize."

"Accepted, now go get your broom before I change my mind about waiting for you."

Ron nodded before heading up to the boy's dormitory.

"Dean, I..." Harry started.

Dean cut him off, "It's nothing to do with you Harry, just go get your broom."

"All right," Harry nodded before following Ron.

Dean sighed as he watched them go, "We should call them the Terrible Three or something equally wicked. I wish Hermione wouldn't tease him so."

"I wish he wasn't so stupid!"

"Gin, don't be too hard on him. She's teasing him and he's…he just needs to realize what he has before they both end up hating each other."

Ginny scowled at him, "Well at least he doesn't have to teach Neville potions in a week or lose thirty points."

"Sorry Gin, but really you don't have it so bad," Dean laughed slightly, "Just be glad you're not Harry having to help Fleur with her English. I swear that girl spends more time trying to blast him with remnant of veela power than actual studying."

Ginny shook her mane of red hair, "He should just kiss her and be done with it."

"But then she's won."

"Yes, but at least he'll have shut her up. That girl's annoying."

Note:

Okay, I know I said the next chapter would be Dumbledore and Willow's conversation in his office but this part just goes before it. I'm almost done with that chapter, I just need to fine tune a few things. Anyway:

John - Thanks, like I said to Raystla earlier I'm not really feeling the ready to move on vibe from Willow, she's still dealing with the events at the end of season six. The pairings I like for her are in my profile.

X-Lander - Thanks, am working on the conversation with Dumbledore and the one with Lupin, hopefully both will be up soon.

Rath - thanx, and you are not weird, you are unique. I actually hadn't considered flying at all and now you have me thinking about it. So we'll see what happens.

Sigma - Wow, that is really high praise. Thank you.

lime green lion - lol, you're so enthusiastic, thanks

changjessica - Thanks for the review. I like Snape too and I'm not planning on hurting him physically.

Midnight - thanks.

elizabeth - thanks for the review, I'm glad you liked my fic. The Gred and Forge comment is a joke and a general tie in with the first book. It's in reference to Fred and George calling themselves that at Christmas in response to the sweater's having their first initial's on it. It's one of my fav scenes and I couldn't resist using it.