"I still can't believe the advice you gave Ginny," Ron muttered. It had been a whole week of awkward meetings in the hallways between his baby sister and best friend. Ginny had taken to sitting at the other end of the Gryffindor table with Neville and some of her fellow sixth years. It was a bloody mess.
"I thought we weren't going to talk about this," Hermione said arranging the blanket. Spring had finally come to Hogwarts. The sun shined down warmly on the lake and a soft breeze whispered through the trees. It was their only free afternoon and they promised to leave all the troubles behind and just enjoy each other's company.
"Sorry," Ron sighed settling down next to her. Wrapping his arms around Hermione he pulled her close. He tucked her head between his head and shoulder and buried his face in her hair. The familiar scent and softness of her hair comforted him. "I just hate seeing them both so unhappy."
"Me too," Hermione concurred running a soothing hand up and down Ron's arm. "I even feel a bit guilty." Two of her dearest friends were miserable while she was ecstatically happy, it just didn't seem fair. "Not about my advice … Ginny did ask after all."
"I know. I just wish …" Ron trailed off. His gaze fell on the lake. He remembered during their fourth year being down in that lake, he'd been the bait for one of Harry's tasks.
Hermione twisted in Ron's embrace and cupped his face so that he would look at her. "You said you weren't mad with me."
Ron kissed her forehead. "I'm not," he said on a slight laugh. "At least not anymore. Not even five minutes," he grumbled playfully. "All you have to do is look at me, with that sad look of yours, and I'm a goner."
"I love you too," Hermione said softly. It was the first time either of them said the words.
"I … well bugger me," Ron said flushing. "I wanted to be the first to say it."
Hermione grinned. "You haven't actually said it yet."
Ron tugged a hand through his red hair. "You're a handful you know that, don't you? Smart, stubborn, brave, beautiful," he said caressing her cheek. "And I love you. I think I always have and I know I always will."
~*~
Standing before a large stone hearth gold flames played on the Dark Lord's face. His pale scaly skin took on an unnatural glow before the fire. A large pot of semi-clear liquid bubbled above the flames. "Three more weeks," Voldemort said his red eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Hogwarts will be in chaos," he said gleefully turning to face Lucius and Bellatrix. "I can see it now … friend turning against friend. Potter's little band of helpers will do him little good."
"Fighting one and other instead of us," Lucius smirked. The sewage that would spew forth from students and professors alike was a thing of beauty. All the anger and resentment, the bile that people held back would rush upon them and fill Hogwarts with such volatile hatred.
"A masterful plan Lord," Bellatrix agreed with a slight bow. "Lord?"
Voldemort laughed, "I know what you wish to ask Bellatrix. Yes," he consented with a nod, "you may kill the Longbottom brat. And if you insist on it Lucius," he continued his eyes falling on the younger man, "you can look after your son. I have no doubt he's created an enemy or two at Hogwarts. He will make a fine addition to our ranks when the time comes."
~*~
"Ginny," Harry called out running down the hallway to catch up with her. It was the first time he'd seen her by herself all week. At first he had welcomed the distance she had purposely put between them, but as the week went on he missed her more and more. Missing her hurt.
"Harry," Ginny said tartly when he stopped a few feet from her. He has some nerve, she thought, he went a week without even looking at her and had the audacity to look hurt by her cool greeting. Boys.
"Hi," he said somewhat out of breath. Harry hadn't known what to expect, certainly not the barely polite greeting he's received, though he supposed he deserved it. At her silence he continued, "It feels like forever since …" he trailed off, last talk wasn't the way to go, of that he was certain.
"Yes?" Ginny questioned. The baffled and confused look on Harry's face was doing her in. It touched her so completely, but the last thing she wanted to do was make a fool of herself again.
"Well … I …"
"There you are Ginny," Neville said coming up the stairwell. He stopped on the top step when he spotted Harry. His eyes went wide.
"The study session in the library," Ginny said remembering where she had been headed. "Right."
"If you're busy," Neville said dropping his eyes. He could be Ginny's friends and Harry's, but he couldn't watch them come together, it was too excruciating.
Ginny looked back up at Harry. "Are we?" she asked.
His shoulders sank. "No," Harry replied softly. He saw pain flickered in her eyes before she turned away from him.
Forcing a smile Ginny walked towards Neville. "Come on," she said her voice a little to cheerful.
~*~
In the kitchen the House Elves were busy preparing dinner. Dobby shifted his miss-matched clothing so it wouldn't get caught when he lifted the chopped vegetables into the stew. As they fell into the steaming broth liquidly plops could be heard. Stepping back Dobby grinned with satisfaction.
Everything suddenly blurred and the kindness seeped from Dobby's face. From behind Dobby's big blue eyes, Voldemort looked on.
Buried deep inside his own mind Dobby quaked. It was happening again. He always knew when it happened, but could never remember that it occurred afterwards. Hearing the invaders thoughts Dobby knew Hogwarts was in trouble. Though he promised never to save Harry Potter's life again, he repeated what he knew over and over again so that this time he would remember.
"Dobby? Dobby come on," another House Elf said, "or dinner will be late."
Dobby shook himself. "Sorry," he said with an easy going smile. "We'll need more vegetables don't you think?"
The other Elf examined the stew. "Another batch at least."
Happily back at work Dobby didn't remember a thing.