He did what?

They woke up early in the morning and they made the short journey back to Hogwarts. They entered the great hall in time for breakfast and as they sat down at the table, Harry realised what he should have been prepared for, everyone was talking about the night before. No matter how many times they loose a friend, the glory of a battle never did seem to dim in the youngsters eyes. Of course they had never been in one, most of them had not been there when Cedric had died at Voldemort's hands. Harry always felt so old when he saw other students who were younger than him.

A young girl must have been in first year he presumed with fiery red hair approached him. She looked at him " Thank you". Harry smiled at her. "Your welcome."

The day would pass like this, the members of the D.A almost held a god like status in the eyes of the other pupils who were too young to join. All through it he would blush and refuse that he had done anything special and then Hermione would giggle and tell him to stop being so modest.

Yet today he was swamped in the corridor with handshakes, hugs and kisses. He saw Persephone who smirked at him when he blushed.

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Paris looked at his sister. "What did Malfoy say to you?"

Persephone looked at him "He told me what our 'Darling mother' had been saying to him, when she found out we were members of the D.A."

"Bet it pleased her no end. Is she proud of us?" He asked sarcastically.

She looked at him "She said that if she couldn't kill a few mud bloods then a few mud blood lovers would do."

Paris nodded "She was after us wasn't she?"

Persephone shook her head "No she was after me."

"How do you know?" he asked

"Malfoy told me, she wasn't here though they were meant to keep me there until some death eaters came for me, I presume they were the three Harry attacked, got lost, thank god for stupidity eh?"

He nodded slowly "Harry?"

"He doesn't know if that's what you mean, he just thought Malfoy was being his usual self." She looked away .

"Why would she want you and not me?" Persephone laughed "What you feeling neglected?"

"I didn't mean it like that and you know I didn't!" Persephone stopped laughing and looked at him. She then did something she rarely did, she apologised "sorry, I didn't mean…"

"Yeah I know, nervous humour?"

She nodded. She noticed Ginny over her brother's shoulder. "Hey Ginny" she said far too cheerfully. Ginny didn't notice however her eyes were red and she could tell she had been crying. "What's wrong?" Paris leapt to his feet and Ginny all but threw herself into his arms and started sobbing again. Persephone looked at her and the puzzled expression on his face. She gestured she was leaving and he nodded, gently stroking Ginny's back, trying to calm her down, she turned away. Just what do you want this time mother?

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Ginny didn't calm down for quite a while and all the time Paris was wracking his brain trying to discover the reason for her distressed state. He started to make out a few words and was suddenly thankful they were in the gardens and not in the castle corridor, at least out here he may escape her brothers temper if he was to see them together.

"He…he… said… that…I…" She choked on a sob. He wrapped his arms around her tighter "Shhhh, it'll be okay whatever's happened we'll sort it out, come on Ginny, calm down, shhhh ."

After a while she stopped crying and sniffled. He couldn't help but think how so vulnerable she looked but how amazing at the same time. Why do us guys always fall for the girls that will allow us to act like our cavemen ancestors, pathetic right? He pulled back from her and gently wiped the tears away from her face.

"I got your robes all wet" Ginny said sniffing and trying to dry the wet patches on his robes.

"It's all right they needed a wash anyway." She gave him a watery smile. He released her and held out his hand she looked at him and placed her hand in his. His closed over hers and she felt scared. Just like she had the moment she had met him, yet it wasn't fear it was a realisation that this was something momentous, something petrifying and electrifying all at the same time. "Come on let's go for a walk and you can tell me all about it." Ginny nodded. And that's just what they did.

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"I can't believe you did it Neville I really can't" Ron blustered.

Neville looked at his feet and then looked up at his friend. How could he explain to Ron something that he could not explain himself. "I don't love her, Ron."

Ron looked at him horrified and Hermione glared at him. "And she doesn't love me either."

Hermione looked at him, "That's not true, she's distraught, she was crying her eyes out!" She said furiously.

"Who did she run to?" Neville asked.

"That's not the point!" Ron tried to justify his sister's actions.

"It is the point. You didn't see her at the meeting Ron, she blushed, she was Ginny, she was my Ginny, the Ginny I fell in love with, but this time she wasn't in love with me, she was in love with… him." Neville spat out.

"My sister is not in love with a … with a….Slytherin!" Ron spluttered indignantly.

Harry spoke for the first time in the last hour "I think she is." He said quietly. Neville's eyes watered and stung with tears. He looked away.

Ron turned on Harry and scowled at him, Hermione however looked at Harry and studied him seriously. "My God your serious aren't you?" She eventually managed to get out.

He nodded. "Luna noticed it the first time we met them, Neville noticed it, I noticed it."

"But… but nothing's happened between them, I'm her best friend I…she would of told me!" Hermione reasoned.

"I don't think she's realised yet." Harry said quietly.

Hermione looked at him, this has stopped being about Ginny now hasn't it Harry? This is about you, you and Persephone.

Neville turned to look at Ron, "It would of happened eventually, at least I can pretend that she still loves me now."

Hermione nodded suddenly understanding "you ended it on your own terms." Neville looked at her. He nodded. He stood up quickly "I'm going for a walk." Harry stood up too "I'll come with you." Neville nodded. They both left and Hermione looked at the white faced Ron. "I can't believe she did that! I can't believe he did that!"

Hermione chuckled. She sat next to him and took his hand in her own. "My sister's in love with a Slytherin." He said slowly, it seemed almost too horrible for him to grasp. She ran a hand through his hair and kissed his forehead gently. He turned to look at her. "I love you." She nodded "I love you too."

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Neville and Harry had walked only a few feet down the corridor when Harry saw the familiar figure of Luna walking towards them. She took one look at Neville and gently put her arm around his shoulders and led him away calling over her shoulder "I'll take it from here Harry." He looked at them amazed. Well I never, he thought, Luna has a thing for Neville. As he stood staring after them he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned around and there was Persephone.

"Hey" he said gently. "How are you?"

"Tired." He laughed.

"Was a rough night wasn't it?" She nodded. "Persephone?"

"Yeah?" She asked.

"Do you fly?" She looked at him and nodded.

"Love it, I'm on the Quidditch team. I've watched you fly, your amazing!" She enthused. He chuckled.

"I've never seen you" he replied apologetically.

"Why?" she asked.

"Well I don't usually watch Slytherin's and when I play them I keep my mind focused on the snitch." She laughed.

"No I meant why do you ask?" She rephrased the question.

"I wanted to take you flying." He answered sheepishly.

"I'm all yours." She spread out her arms and Harry grabbed her arm and they walked towards the gardens hand in hand.

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"I'm sorry Ginny." Paris offered. "Did he give you a reason."

She nodded and looked at him " He said I was in love with someone else." She whispered.

Paris felt his chest become too tight and he realised where this conversation was going. "Are you?" He asked his voice barely audible.

She nodded. "Yeah I think I am."

"Who is it?" He asked needing to hear her say it before he did something that could be so incredibly stupid.

"You" she replied so quietly he nearly didn't hear her.

He tipped her head back and kissed her gently. His head spun as she pushed back against him. His hands found her hair and he entwined his hands in it. He pulled away breathless, their noses touching "I love you too". Their noses brushed each others lightly and then she dipped slowly and kissed him again.

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Up in the air Harry and Persephone had witnessed the exchange between them. "I can't believe he just did that!" Persephone exclaimed.

"Does it bother you?" He asked from behind her. His head was resting gently on her shoulder and he had allowed her to ride but had insisted they shared his broom. I'm being romantic, aren't I? This is so not going to turn out well. Stop it now you idiot. He looked at the girl in front of him and no matter what he knew that he was falling.

"No, but what about Neville?" She questioned.

"They're over." Harry replied.

"Oh"

"Oh indeed." He chuckled.

The sun was setting and Harry knew they would have to return to the castle soon. Persephone seemed to read his mind. "Do we have to go back?" She asked.

"Soon."

She turned to look at him "I don't want to." She replied honestly. It was a dangerous thing to say and they both knew it. It acknowledged whatever it was between them.

"Neither do I" Harry responded. Harry leaned forward and kissed her gently, but the increased weight made the broom dive and they both sprung apart and Persephone with Harry's help managed to level out. Suddenly it seemed so funny and she started to giggle. Harry joined in and he felt Persephone lean into him ever so gently. They finally guided the broom to the ground and as they stepped off it. " It's late we should be getting back we have lessons tomorrow" Harry stated. They talked easily as he walked her to her common room. Outside they stopped.

"Well night Harry" she said and kissed him on the cheek.

As she turned towards her door Harry caught her wrist and spun her around. He kissed her gently and pulled away cupping her face "Goodnight 'sephone" he whispered in her ear "Thank you."

He turned away and walked back to Gryfindor tower when he turned around she was watching him leave, she blushed and as he half waved she disappeared into her common room.

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In the shadows Draco Malfoy watched them. He smirked to himself. It was working, going exactly to plan and of course Harry would be the hero, good people were so predictable.