Twenty-Two
The sun hadn't rose yet, Ginny could see out the window that the sky was slowly beginning to lighten. She had spent the night in Harry's arms; he had clung to her tight the entire night. Ginny slipped quietly out of the bed as Harry rolled onto his back one arm raised above him. She stood there for several minutes watching him sleep. Reaching over she gently brushed stray raven locks from his forehead. Turning she walked to his desk grabbing a piece of parchment and quill. "Harry," the note said, "Gone for a run since the weather has improved. Don't worry I'll see you at breakfast. All my love, Ginny." She stood the note up so he would see it right away and silently slipped out of his room. Once she was in her own dorm she was relieved to see her roommates were still asleep. Changing into a comfortable jogging outfit she zipped up her lightweight jacket over her jogging top. Ginny pulled her hair up into a quick ponytail reaching over and stroking Clark before heading out.
Over half into her run Ginny had taken her jacket off wrapping it around her waist. She had a light sheen of perspiration covering her exposed arms and chest as she pushed to finish her jog and head back to the castle for a shower. Ginny had plenty of time to think about everything, she could never stay mad at Harry, which irritated her to no end. Rounding the final edge of the pond she broke into a run feeling the need to return to the safety of the Gryffindor tower. She came up the lawn and turned the corner of the castle when someone stepped out in front of Ginny causing her cry out and make a hard stop lurching herself off balance falling back onto the ground. The sun had creep over the horizon setting the sky into a rainbow of morning colors. In the slight dim she didn't need to think twice about who it was that caused her fall, Draco stood over her with his hands to his sides a cold smile playing across his features. "Kitten, what have I told you about being out by yourself, it's not safe." Ginny got up quickly dusting herself off, "I'm in no mood for your games Malfoy," she said making her way to walk around him. Draco sidestepped to block her. Ginny tried to keep her anger in check; this was her first face to face confrontation since the quidditch game. "Draco, I am going to the castle now, and you are going to move out of my way." Before she could take another step Draco's hand reached out quickly grabbing her arm. Ginny gasped at the cold shivers his touch created, look up stunned into his face she watched as some sort of inner battle waged within him a mixture of emotions flash over his eyes as; anger, panic, misery. Draco's next words came out hoarse as if he was struggling within himself, "Go in where it's safe," he growled at her before giving her arm a shove. Beyond confused Ginny didn't wait to notice the cold distant mask slip back down over his features as she quickly ran to the castle entrance.
Ginny returned to see the common room was mildly busy with morning activity. Not wasting time she rushed up to her dorm to grab a quick shower. Ginny noticed the dorm was empty save her beloved pet. Ginny tossed her cloths off rushing into the shower stall; she enjoyed the hot spray over her head and back. After completely scrubbing herself until her skin was pink she turned to shut off the water when her shower stall door was opened. Ginny jumped and screamed she someone stepped in covering her mouth shushing her. She realized it was Harry, her eyes were huge taking in his naked frame, "What are you doing in here?" she stammered. Harry on the other hand seemed completely happy and relaxed wrapping his arms around her waist turning his face up allowing the spray to wash over him. "I'm taking a shower, what does it look like?" he spoke looking back down at her. "You can't be in here! What if someone comes in?" Ginny was still in a state of shock and disbelief. Harry gave her a crooked grin pulling her tighter to him, "I've taken care of that, anyone coming close to the door has the sudden urge to be elsewhere. A charm that I've found comes in rather handy." Harry said leaning his head down kissing just beneath Ginny's ear. "But we have to get to breakfast," said Ginny. She was having an impossible time pulling coherent thoughts together with Harry's roaming hands and kisses covering her. Harry chuckled deep in his throat noticing her weaken, "Then perhaps we should hurry along then," He said before capturing her lips in a dizzying kiss.
Entering the main hall Harry and Ginny made their way over to a bickering Ron and Hermione. Ginny noticed that it was in more of a playful manner, "You know you only argue so you can kiss and make up," Ginny said sitting down across from the couple. "And you point would be what?" said Ron. Ginny smiled rolling her eyes. A flurry of owls filled the air as parcels and letters descended on the students below. Hermione picked up her copy of the Daily Prophet turning to the front page. Her eyebrows furrowed down in concern as she searched the column. Ron looked over her to see what had caught her attention. "Shit," he hissed. "What is it?" Harry said frowning at the back of the newspaper. Hermione turned the paper around so Ginny and Harry could see the front page. "Death Eaters attack village in Wales, 30 dead," The paper read. Ginny instinctively reached out rubbing Harry's tense back. The group could see Harry sink into his black hole of guilt and rage he often felt every time Voldemort lashed out with an attack, feeling that he was some how to blame for it all. "Harry, he's all our enemy, not just yours alone," said Hermione. Harry shot her a harsh look but said nothing. "Honestly mate, don't guilt yourself about this along with everything else you try to shoulder," Ron added. "Harry?" Ginny spoke softly, "Don't let him steal every moment of your happiness. Don't blame yourself for every move he makes, if you do, then he's already won."
No one seemed hungry after that, standing Ginny laid her hand on Harry's shoulder, "Walk me to class?" she said with a small smile. Harry left out a deep sigh standing, "Sure, let's go," he said in a sullen tone. Ron and Hermione stood and the four made their way to the corridor. Ginny linked arms with Hermione and the two girls walked ahead, their heads bent together. "Seriously, Ginny's right," Ron said walking along side Harry. "Doesn't change much though does it?" Harry said in a flat tone pushing his hands deeper into his robe pockets. "True, it doesn't change the fact of what he does. You can only live your life to it's fullest and not allow him the satisfaction that he has taken away everything good in your life," said Ron watching the two girls walking ahead. "Since when have you been so deep?" Harry said chuckling. "Since I see my best mate tearing himself up for things that he shouldn't be," Ron said looking serious. "Thanks," Harry said pushing his elbow into Ron's arm. Ron looked over at his best friend and smiled.
Several paces ahead the guys heard the two girls giggle. "What's so funny?" Ron asked. "What are you up to?" said Harry. Turning their heads back to look at the men Ginny and Hermione continued to walk, a wicked glint in both girls' eyes. "Oh nothing," the girls said in unison turning their heads the continued down the corridor. At the same moment Harry and Ron both came to an abrupt halt, both taking in a shuddering breath struggling to regain their composure. They watched the girls walking on; both females turned their heads back with the same wicked glint in their eyes to go with identical wicked smiles. Ron and Harry turned to look at each other, nodding they took off running after their little mischief makers. Hermione and Ginny let out a shriek before breaking into a run, knowing they were in for it when their boyfriends caught them.
The sun hadn't rose yet, Ginny could see out the window that the sky was slowly beginning to lighten. She had spent the night in Harry's arms; he had clung to her tight the entire night. Ginny slipped quietly out of the bed as Harry rolled onto his back one arm raised above him. She stood there for several minutes watching him sleep. Reaching over she gently brushed stray raven locks from his forehead. Turning she walked to his desk grabbing a piece of parchment and quill. "Harry," the note said, "Gone for a run since the weather has improved. Don't worry I'll see you at breakfast. All my love, Ginny." She stood the note up so he would see it right away and silently slipped out of his room. Once she was in her own dorm she was relieved to see her roommates were still asleep. Changing into a comfortable jogging outfit she zipped up her lightweight jacket over her jogging top. Ginny pulled her hair up into a quick ponytail reaching over and stroking Clark before heading out.
Over half into her run Ginny had taken her jacket off wrapping it around her waist. She had a light sheen of perspiration covering her exposed arms and chest as she pushed to finish her jog and head back to the castle for a shower. Ginny had plenty of time to think about everything, she could never stay mad at Harry, which irritated her to no end. Rounding the final edge of the pond she broke into a run feeling the need to return to the safety of the Gryffindor tower. She came up the lawn and turned the corner of the castle when someone stepped out in front of Ginny causing her cry out and make a hard stop lurching herself off balance falling back onto the ground. The sun had creep over the horizon setting the sky into a rainbow of morning colors. In the slight dim she didn't need to think twice about who it was that caused her fall, Draco stood over her with his hands to his sides a cold smile playing across his features. "Kitten, what have I told you about being out by yourself, it's not safe." Ginny got up quickly dusting herself off, "I'm in no mood for your games Malfoy," she said making her way to walk around him. Draco sidestepped to block her. Ginny tried to keep her anger in check; this was her first face to face confrontation since the quidditch game. "Draco, I am going to the castle now, and you are going to move out of my way." Before she could take another step Draco's hand reached out quickly grabbing her arm. Ginny gasped at the cold shivers his touch created, look up stunned into his face she watched as some sort of inner battle waged within him a mixture of emotions flash over his eyes as; anger, panic, misery. Draco's next words came out hoarse as if he was struggling within himself, "Go in where it's safe," he growled at her before giving her arm a shove. Beyond confused Ginny didn't wait to notice the cold distant mask slip back down over his features as she quickly ran to the castle entrance.
Ginny returned to see the common room was mildly busy with morning activity. Not wasting time she rushed up to her dorm to grab a quick shower. Ginny noticed the dorm was empty save her beloved pet. Ginny tossed her cloths off rushing into the shower stall; she enjoyed the hot spray over her head and back. After completely scrubbing herself until her skin was pink she turned to shut off the water when her shower stall door was opened. Ginny jumped and screamed she someone stepped in covering her mouth shushing her. She realized it was Harry, her eyes were huge taking in his naked frame, "What are you doing in here?" she stammered. Harry on the other hand seemed completely happy and relaxed wrapping his arms around her waist turning his face up allowing the spray to wash over him. "I'm taking a shower, what does it look like?" he spoke looking back down at her. "You can't be in here! What if someone comes in?" Ginny was still in a state of shock and disbelief. Harry gave her a crooked grin pulling her tighter to him, "I've taken care of that, anyone coming close to the door has the sudden urge to be elsewhere. A charm that I've found comes in rather handy." Harry said leaning his head down kissing just beneath Ginny's ear. "But we have to get to breakfast," said Ginny. She was having an impossible time pulling coherent thoughts together with Harry's roaming hands and kisses covering her. Harry chuckled deep in his throat noticing her weaken, "Then perhaps we should hurry along then," He said before capturing her lips in a dizzying kiss.
Entering the main hall Harry and Ginny made their way over to a bickering Ron and Hermione. Ginny noticed that it was in more of a playful manner, "You know you only argue so you can kiss and make up," Ginny said sitting down across from the couple. "And you point would be what?" said Ron. Ginny smiled rolling her eyes. A flurry of owls filled the air as parcels and letters descended on the students below. Hermione picked up her copy of the Daily Prophet turning to the front page. Her eyebrows furrowed down in concern as she searched the column. Ron looked over her to see what had caught her attention. "Shit," he hissed. "What is it?" Harry said frowning at the back of the newspaper. Hermione turned the paper around so Ginny and Harry could see the front page. "Death Eaters attack village in Wales, 30 dead," The paper read. Ginny instinctively reached out rubbing Harry's tense back. The group could see Harry sink into his black hole of guilt and rage he often felt every time Voldemort lashed out with an attack, feeling that he was some how to blame for it all. "Harry, he's all our enemy, not just yours alone," said Hermione. Harry shot her a harsh look but said nothing. "Honestly mate, don't guilt yourself about this along with everything else you try to shoulder," Ron added. "Harry?" Ginny spoke softly, "Don't let him steal every moment of your happiness. Don't blame yourself for every move he makes, if you do, then he's already won."
No one seemed hungry after that, standing Ginny laid her hand on Harry's shoulder, "Walk me to class?" she said with a small smile. Harry left out a deep sigh standing, "Sure, let's go," he said in a sullen tone. Ron and Hermione stood and the four made their way to the corridor. Ginny linked arms with Hermione and the two girls walked ahead, their heads bent together. "Seriously, Ginny's right," Ron said walking along side Harry. "Doesn't change much though does it?" Harry said in a flat tone pushing his hands deeper into his robe pockets. "True, it doesn't change the fact of what he does. You can only live your life to it's fullest and not allow him the satisfaction that he has taken away everything good in your life," said Ron watching the two girls walking ahead. "Since when have you been so deep?" Harry said chuckling. "Since I see my best mate tearing himself up for things that he shouldn't be," Ron said looking serious. "Thanks," Harry said pushing his elbow into Ron's arm. Ron looked over at his best friend and smiled.
Several paces ahead the guys heard the two girls giggle. "What's so funny?" Ron asked. "What are you up to?" said Harry. Turning their heads back to look at the men Ginny and Hermione continued to walk, a wicked glint in both girls' eyes. "Oh nothing," the girls said in unison turning their heads the continued down the corridor. At the same moment Harry and Ron both came to an abrupt halt, both taking in a shuddering breath struggling to regain their composure. They watched the girls walking on; both females turned their heads back with the same wicked glint in their eyes to go with identical wicked smiles. Ron and Harry turned to look at each other, nodding they took off running after their little mischief makers. Hermione and Ginny let out a shriek before breaking into a run, knowing they were in for it when their boyfriends caught them.
