On and On

Harry is working on his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay on dangerous creatures in the library.  He is doing a study on Giants, which he finds almost amusing, when Johnny walks in.  She grins at him broadly.  "Ready to go, pal?"

Harry nods and stands.  He glances down at his book.  "Maybe I should bring this."

Johnny grabs the huge book and picks it up, grunting with the effort.  She reads the title.  "The Big Book of Giants.  Okay, that's hokey, even for me."

Harry laughs.  "Come on, then.  Hagrid's waiting."

"Forgetting something?" Ginny's voice says suddenly.

Harry and Johnny see Ginny standing at the door of the library, receiving a harsh look from Madame Pince for using a voice louder than a whisper.  "What do you mean?" Harry asks.

"You don't think I'm letting you go without me, do you?" Ginny asks, following them down the hall.

"That's exactly what's happening," Johnny says.  "You're not getting any more involved that you already are!"

Ginny sticks her tongue out at Johnny.  "I can always go to Hagrid on my own, you know.  Or, better yet, I can go looking through the forest on my own.  In fact, that'd probably be more direct, so I guess I'll see you both later, then."

"Wait!" Harry and Johnny exclaim.  Johnny grabs Ginny's arm as she continues.  "Fine.  Come along.  But you better book it on out of there if anything happens."

"I knew it.  You're planning on going into the forest after talking to Hagrid!"  Ginny gasps.  "Why?  We just want to know what they're doing there, not approach them!"

"There's more to it than that," Harry says.  "If there's Giants in the forest, there has to be a reason for them.  And Hagrid won't know everything.  He never does.  So we're going to have to investigate ourselves."

Ginny shakes her head.  "Why?  Dumbledore must have a reason for keeping them there."

"Unless he doesn't know about them," Johnny says.

"Dumbledore knows everything," Ginny replies.  "He'd certainly know about Giants on school grounds."

Harry sighs.  "Look, there's no time to argue.  We're going into the forest to figure things out for ourselves.  There are probably clues as to why they're there.  Come with us if you want but stay close, all right?  We don't need you getting hurt."

Ginny smiles triumphantly at Johnny, who just shakes her head and takes the younger girl's hand.  "Let's get this over with then."

Hagrid is leaving his hut when Ginny, Johnny, and Harry approach him.  He smiles.  "How's it goin', guys?  How was your break?"

"Fine," the three of them say nonchalantly.  Harry smiles.  "Can we talk to you?"

Hagrid shrugs and sits down on the step to his hut.  The three gather around him.  "We were wondering about the Giants, Hagrid," Johnny starts.  She has had this planned for a while.  "When I was out there doing some clean up work, I found a trail that led to them.  What are they doing out there?"

"An', o' course, yeh tol' the gang about 'em, eh?"  Hagrid sighs.  "Dumbledore wants teh  keep 'em under close watch while You-Know-Who starts his campaign again.  They joined up on his side way back in the day an' Dumbledore doesn't want it to happen again, all right?  Now keep yer noses outta the Giants' way.  They'd just as soon step on yeh than talk to yeh."

"Then why keep them in the Forest?  Isn't that a danger to us?" Harry asks.

Hagrid shakes his head.  "Nah.  Dumbledore's talked to them.  They wouldn't hurt a fly as long as he keeps 'em happy."

Ginny chews her lower lip.  "What's keeping them happy?"

"Food, shelter, no one chasin' 'em, an' me t' keep 'em comp'ny," Hagrid chuckles.  He leans close and whispers to them.  "My mum's out there."

The three exchange glances having known that but not wanting to reveal that they've been spying on him.  "That's really neat, Hagrid.  Can we meet her?" Ginny asks.

Hagrid's face pales.  "Uh, that's not the greatest idea.  She… well, they all can get rather ornery if irritated, ya know?"

"What do you mean, ornery?" Harry asks.

"Real mean," Johnny fills in.  "Well, thanks a lot, Hagrid.  We'd better get going, though."

Hagrid grabs Johnny's arm.  "I'm trustin' yeh NOT ta go in there without me, Johnny.  Yeh know it's dangerous in the Forest."

Johnny nods briskly.  "I know, Hagrid," her eyes fall on Harry and Ginny.  "We'll be all right."

Hagrid nods.  "Yeh got a good head on yer shoulders.  See yeh tomorrow," he walks into his hut and closes the door.

"We'll do it tonight," Harry says quietly as they head back to the castle.

"I don't want to," Johnny says.

"What?" Ginny asks.  "You have to.  We're going…"

Johnny shakes her head.  "I can't.  He trusts me.  I don't want to break his trust.  I can't do that."

Ginny grabs Johnny's hand.  "Come on.  You're not trying to break his trust.  You're doing something that can potentially save your life.  Harry's, too."

"That doesn't make it any easier," Johnny says.  "I'd probably be doing the whole school a favor if I just went home.  I wouldn't be the key to this whole plot to kill Harry scheme, I wouldn't have gotten your dad in trouble, and I wouldn't be making any trouble for you…" Johnny says to Ginny.

Harry sighs.  "I can't make you come with us but I'd really appreciate your support in this.  We're going to be sneaking out tonight.  Ron and Dan might be coming along.  We'll meet you by the hut if you decide to come."

Harry leaves Johnny and Ginny at the entrance to Hogwarts.  Ginny, still holding Johnny's hand, leads the older girl around the castle to a large, grassy area.  She drops to sit down and pulls Johnny down with her.  "What's going on?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Ginny asks.  "What's with you?  Why can't you help them out?"

"Not that I can't," Johnny says, sighing heavily.  "I don't want to get anyone else into anymore trouble, that's all.  It's my problem."

Ginny shakes her head.  "It's everyone's problem if Zimmermann and the Dark Lord get their way, Johnny.  You have a chance to help stop it.  Why wouldn't you?"

Johnny touches Ginny's cheek gently, glancing around to make sure they don't get into any trouble.  "I'm scared, Ginny…"

"Scared of what?" Ginny asks.  "We'll be there."

"Not scared of getting hurt or killed or any of that," Johnny says.  "Come with the territory, really.  I don't want to let any of you down.  Especially not you.  If I disappointed you..."

Ginny kneels up to kiss Johnny softly.  She wraps her arms over Johnny's shoulders and nuzzles her neck.  "The only way I could be disappointed in you was if you didn't do your best to do what you know is right.  No matter what happens, how this all ends… I love you.  I know it's… it's really not much.  But, you've made me feel better than anyone ever could.  More real and alive and… more like a person.  Not one of the Weasley crew, not the baby girl… with you, I'm Ginny…"

Johnny strokes Ginny's long red hair, smiling.  "I never saw you as anything else, darling."

Ginny blushes and hugs Johnny.  "Please come tonight.  We need you."

"We do?" Johnny asks.

Ginny blushes even more deeply.  "I need you."

Johnny nods.  "I'll be there, love.  With bells on."

Ginny looks confused.  "Um, that wouldn't be a very good idea…"

Johnny laughs,  "It's a Muggle saying.  Come on, let me walk you back to the Gryffindor Tower."