Disclaimer: Harry Potter is from the creative genius that is J.K. Rowling. I am not her. This is merely a fan fiction to keep us occupied until Book 6.

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. I am sorry about the cliffhanger. I will try to update soon.

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Harry managed to find his way out of the Hogs Head. He was half blinded by anger and a little tipsy so the fact he even made it to the door was an accomplishment in itself. Bursting through the doorway he immediately ran into Ron and Hermione.

"What happened Harry?" asked Ron.

"Did you find out any information on the letters?" Hermione said.

"I found out some information," Harry sputtered. "And a lot I didn't want to know. Bloody wanker Malfoy, if he thinks he can just go and take her he's got another thing coming. Not that it's any of my business or anything. Oh no, just because it feels like my heart is in my stomach when she's around or that with just one smile the whole room lights up. Oh no, why would it be any of my blood business especially since she feels a tingle for the bloody wanker. No tingle for me, bloody hell. not even a little."

Hermione and Ron exchanged glances as Harry continued to rant.

"Good Lord Harry you drunk," Hermione stated scrunching up her nose.

"Half pissed is more like it," Ron said taking a hold of Harry so he was leaning against him. "Come on let's get him back to the common room, unless you happen to know the sobering charm."

"I'm sad to say I don't. Just look at him and what is he going on about still?"

"I need to find Neville. If I'm going back to the common room, I have to talk to Neville," Harry was insisting in a rather loud voice.

"O.K. calm down, Harry," Ron said as they started down the road. "We'll find Neville. Won't we Hermione?"

"Sure. He and Ginny were headed toward Honeyduke's."

Hermione ran ahead to Honeyduke's as Ron helped Harry sit down. Ron just shook his head as Harry kept muttering to himself about tingles, bloody Malfoy and real estate among other things. Ron looked up to see Hermione come out of Honeyduke's shrugging.

"Dean said Ginny and Neville left about an hour ago to go back to Hogwarts."

"Well let's go back then," Ron said helping Harry up.

"I hope he remembers enough information to help us with those letters," huffed Hermione as she too helped Harry as the trio headed back to Hogwarts.

Ron managed to maneuver Harry onto a seat in the common room as he and Hermione collapsed at the table.

"Any idea where we look for the sobering charm?" asked Hermione.

"How would I know?"

Hermione snorted. "Let me go get my books. I'm sure it's in there somewhere."

A half hour later, books were spread all around the table. Hermione was in research mode, which was pretty interesting considering Harry continued to mutter the entire time.

"Is he at least saying anything intelligent?" she snapped at Ron.

"The only things I can get are Malfoy's a wanker, someone's going to be Mrs. Malfoy over Harry's dead body, something about a bloody tingle, and how Ginny feels safe around Neville. I don't quite know how the last part fits in there. You don't think Malfoy put a spell on Harry to make him act like this do you?"

"No, I think that was his own idiocy."

The common room door swung open as laughter filled the room. Neville was carrying Ginny in his arms. The two of them were laughing hard.

"I told you I could get you up here if you were too stuffed to move," Neville told her.

"I'll never doubt you again," laughed Ginny.

"And where have you two been?" asked Hermione.

"We got got some food from the kitchens and went to eat it in the Room of Requirements," Neville said sitting Ginny down.

"What were you doing with my little sister in the Room of Requirements?" snarled Ron at Neville.

"Oh, Ron we were just having a picnic," snapped Ginny.

"Don't worry about Neville. She feels safe around Neville, but not around me, bloody hell. That would be too much to ask wouldn't it," snapped Harry. "Not that I pulled her out of the chamber of anything. Saved her life, oh no. She feels safe as long as Neville's around and a bloody tingle for Malfoy. Virginia Malfoy, I'll

"What is he talking about?" Ron said angrily.

"You feel safe when I'm around?" Neville asked as smile crossing his face.

"Yes she does," stated Harry, before turning to Ginny. "Not around me though. Have too much baggage for you? Well I'm sorry if a Dark Lord is after my ass, it's not like I had a choice in the matter."

"Merlin, is he pissed?" asked Ginny amazed, before pulling her wand. "Here sobrius."

Right away Harry felt his mind clear up a bit, however he was still quite angry at Malfoy.

"How did you know that spell?" Hermione asked Ginny.

"Please, remember six brothers? Between Fred, George and Ron this summer I don't know how I couldn't know it."

"What were you drinking?" Hermione said turning to Ron with her hands on her hips.

"Don't worry about it Hermione," Ginny said. "All he kept muttering was about you and Victor, and how he should have taken you to the dance your fourth year."

"I would like some answers here!" shouted Ron, pointing at Ginny, Neville and then Harry. "From you, and you and you."

"About what?" snapped Ginny.

"How about you feeling a tingle when Malfoy kissed you?" said Harry angrily.

"You did what?!" said Ron.

"It was nothing. Just stupid hormones. It's not like I would want to do it again," she snapped.

"It didn't seem that way to me," Harry replied.

"Well you don't know everything."

"And you feel safe with Neville and not with me. Is it because of all the danger I get into because that's not my fault and if you think for one minute -"

"Now just you wait Harry Potter," snapped Ginny. "The world does not revolve around you. It is none of your business how or what I feel for Neville or Malfoy for that matter. Yes, I feel like Neville wouldn't let anyone hurt me, and yes, I know you're sorry for what happened, but back off. I can feel any damned way I want for anyone. You can't tell me what to do."

With that she turned around, planted a kiss on Neville's lips and stomped up to the girls dormitory. In her wake she left a slightly put out Harry and Ron, a happy Neville and a smirking Hermione.

"Well," Neville said breaking the silence a few minutes later. "I think I'll go to my room now."

"Oh no you don't, " snapped Ron following him. "It's time we had a talk about little sisters, the bird and bees and what big brothers can do to a bloke."

Harry sat down at the table with Hermione. He put his head in his hands.

"I don't understand women," he said softy.

"Harry," Hermione said gently. "What did Malfoy say to you to get you this worked up?"

"He wants to marry Ginny. Have little spawns running around. I'm afraid she just might do it."

Hermione started to laugh. She tried hard to contain it, but still it erupted from her mouth.

"How is that funny?"

"It's just someone would have to have an imperious curse on Ginny before she'd do that. She hates Malfoy, and you've got her running to him with open arms."

"She felt a tingle when they kissed."

"I felt a tingle when Victor kissed me it doesn't mean anything," she said waving him off.

"I wouldn't tell Ron that Victor kissed you. What do you mean it doesn't mean anything? It was a tingle for Merlin's sake."

"Yes, the same tingle you get when you do something you're not suppose to. He's a bad boy Harry, just face it. I think any girl in Hogwarts would feel that if they kissed him. I bet she's ashamed she did feel it too."

Harry nodded his head. "She didn't feel a tingle for me though, and she feels bloody safe like nothing could happen to her around Neville of all people."

"Harry," Hermione said patting his hand. "I hate to tell you this but she has given up on you. She has for awhile now. As far as Neville's concerned he's a sweet boy. Ginny's always saw something in him more than the rest of us did. She never lets him put himself down and always believes that he can do what he puts his mind to. She won't take kindly to you putting him down."

"I'm not, I just don't understand."

"Well I don't have time to explain everything to you," Hermione said, looking at the stairs to the boys dormitory. "I hope Ron's not traumatizing Neville too much up there. Oh well. Were you able to get any information to help us with the letters from Malfoy when you were in there or did the two of you just get drunk?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's get started. Every moment we waste another person could be dying."

At breakfast the next day, Harry picked at his eggs as he looked down the table. Neville was sitting beside Ginny again. Despite her apologizing to him for kissing him in haste last night, Neville still looked like he owned all the gallons in the world, and Harry couldn't blame him.

The owls soared into the great hall dropping packages and letters off left and right. Harry elbowed Ron and motioned to look over at the Slytherin table as Malfoy untied a letter.

"Hermione, look Malfoy got another letter," Ron whispered to her, but Hermione's face was plastered to the front of the Daily Prophet.

"Hermione what's wrong?"

"Harry," she said softly. "Did you say the Malfoy's had land in Halesowen?"

"Yes," he said raising an eyebrow at her. "Malfoy didn't like it so much. Said it was chalked full of muggles. Why?"

"Not too many anymore," she said turning the paper to face them. Pictures of fires, homes ablaze and general chaos littered the front page. The Dark Mark hung in the air. "We have to tell Dumbledore what we have."

"Dumbledore's gone to the Ministry," Ron said. "Dad said he had business with Fudge today."

"I'll get a hold of Lupin then," Harry said getting up.

Back in the common room Lupin's head filled the fireplace.

"How did you get this information?" he asked.

"From letters between a Slytherin and his Death Eater parents, how else?" snapped Ron.

"There have already been attacks in London, and a few light ones in Catania," he said. They are trying to keep those hush-hush. I don't think we have to worry about Varia. They may teach Dark Arts to students in Drumstrang there, but let me tell you when they catch Death Eaters they don't get a trial, just straight to an execution if they're lucky. I'll tell the Order to keep close watch in the Dales. Aurors have already been posted at every professional quidditch match too. Is there anything else?"

"Hermione check to see if you have the new letter yet," Harry said. "Malfoy got one this morning."

Rummaging through some papers, Harry and Ron heard Hermione say yes. She ran back to the fireplace.

"What does it say?" Lupin asked.

"All it says is 'the ruby is not meant for you son.' It looks all crinkled too, like Malfoy wadded it up."

"Any idea what it means?"

"He never said anything about a ruby. Are there any powerful rubies in the wizarding world?" asked Harry.

"Not really unless you count the crown jewels and they're cursed. I doubt he'd want those," said Hermione.

"Look I have to go, but if you find out anything else let me know, okay? And no more detective work for you three. Look you three, Molly would kill me if she knew I condoned this, but good job," he said before his head disappeared.

"Well what do we do now?" asked Ron.

"Keep our eyes peeled and try to figure out what Ruby is," answered Hermione.

It wasn't until two weeks later and a few moments too late before Harry realized through his tears and frustration that Ginny's hair was ruby- colored.