Disclaimer: JKR owns the Potterverse. Disturbed owns 'Believe.'

Chapter Three: Another Knight

Ginny sighed as she looked out the window. The common room was packed and she felt crowed and depressed. It was pouring outside and everyone had been hiding inside.

She had managed to squeeze in at a table with her sixth year friends. Ron and Hermione were arguing about doing a Potions essay. Neville was engrossed in his herbology book. And Harry and those headphone things on as he sat there and wrote.

Ginny was fascinated as she looked at Harry. He was sitting there hunched over his books scribbling away but his lips were moving and his head bobbing as he silently sang along to music only he could hear.

At least the muggle thing was playing the music. Ginny giggled at the idea of Harry listening to voices in his head. It was amazing how he could cheer her up.

"Something funny, Ginny?" Neville asked looking up.

"Yeah," she said and nodded at Harry who was lost in his own little world. He was actually singing softly now.

Neville laughed. "Think we should tell him we can hear him?"

"No!" Ron said. "You have to wait. He'll get a bit louder yet. Its too funny."

"He actually sings rather well," Hermione said. "Not that he'd ever do it knowingly."

"Wait, wait, here he goes," Ron said as Harry started to sing.

Believe, when you lie
You will never need to recognize the source
Of deceit
To renew your faith in God
You must believe, in your lie
The redemption is complete when you conceive
And decline
To release your lives
Sacrificed to me
Penance can't absolve your sin
Into me
Penance can't absolve your sin
All your belief
Cannot absolve your sin

Ginny looked at Hermione. "You were right. He does sing well."

Harry sighed and looked up from his work. He noticed his friends watching him again. He switched off the music and slid off his headphones.

"What?" he asked.

"You were singing out loud again," Ron said.

Harry shrunk back a little and blushed. "Sorry," he muttered.

"You shouldn't be," Hermione said.

"Yes I think we found another thing for the list," Ginny said smiling.

"There's a list," Harry asked cocking an eyebrow.

"There is now," Ginny said.

"What are we missing," Ron asked.

"Apparently there's a list of some sort," Neville said.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yes, I caught that. But a list of what? And how did it form?"

"Your sister is making fun of me, Ron," Harry said dryly.

"So it's a list of embarrassing things?" Ron asked. "I'd still like to know why Ginny is keeping this list. And what else is on it."

"That could be fun to know," Neville said. "Blackmail material on Harry could be useful one day."

"Honestly!" Hermione said. "Boys!"

"Oh they're not all that bad," Ginny said.

"No, just our friends," Hermione said. "Actually, I'd rather believe that all boys are like them and we didn't just get stuck with the awful ones."

"Hey!" Harry said. "We resemble that remark!"

"Oh, bad joke, Harry," Ron laughed.

"Another thing for the list then?" Neville asked. "He sings to himself out loud, makes really bad jokes, and whatever Ginny's holding over him."

"Whoever said I had embarrassing information on Harry?" Ginny asked. "I don't think I do."

"But you just said you did," Ron argued.

"No, you said I did," Ginny corrected her brother. "My list is different."

"So what's your list then?" Hermione asked natural curiosity taking over.

"Hidden talents," Ginny informed them.

"I'm going now," Harry said. "You apparently don't need me for this conversation."

"Where you heading, mate?" Ron asked.

"Kitchens probably," Harry said. "I think I owe Dobby a visit."

"I've never met your house elf friend," Ginny said. "Although I certainly remember some of the damage he's done. Seeing someone with no bones in their arm was weird."

"Having no bones in your arm was weird," Harry said. "Although to be fair, Dobby didn't remove those bones, just broke them with a rogue bludger. Why don't you come along and meet him then?"

"May I?" Ginny asked.

"Certainly," Harry said. "That way they can't get any more dirt on me. Not that Ron and Hermione don't know it all between them."

"Yeah, Nev," Ron said. "If you really want to get the dirt on Harry Potter, talk to us."

Neville laughed. "There's actually dirt?"

"Of a sort," Hermione answered cryptically.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Lets go then, Gin."

The three friends watched as the porthole closes behind the pair.

"Twenty Sickles says they're snogging each other silly by Halloween," Ron said.

"That quick, you think?" Hermione asked. "I think at least Easter. Remember how long it took him to ask Cho out?"

"Yes, but Ginny is not Cho," Ron reminded his brilliant friend. "Besides, who says Ginny will wait for him to ask her?"

"True," Hermione nodded.

"You wouldn't have a problem with them being together, Ron?" Neville asked.

Hermione snorted. "Neville, I think Ron wants to see them together more then they want to be together themselves! You should hear some of the hints his been dropping to Ginny. And news flash, Ron, you're not that subtle. It's a wonder the pair of them haven't throttled you for interfering."

"I haven't interfered!" Ron defended himself. "I just know them both well enough to know they'd be good for each other."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, Ron," Neville said, "I've seen them flirting a lot lately."

"And gazing at each other," Hermione said with a dramatic sigh.

"'Gazing?'" Ron repeated. "They were 'gazing' at each other?"

"Oh, you know what I mean!" she said. "They keep stealing glances at each other or staring longingly. You know, gazing!"

"Speaking of people who should just snog already," Neville muttered.

"What was that, Nev?" Ron asked.

"Nothing," the other boy said hiding behind his book.

The hallways in Hogwarts castle are all the same, long, stone passages with moving paintings or old suits of armor lining the walls with bright torches giving off a warm welcoming light. Later in the evenings or nights the halls were practically deserted. If someone did happen to wander these hallowed passages their footsteps would echo in all directions.

This was the sound that surrounded Harry and Ginny as they walked down towards the kitchens.

Harry couldn't help but steal a glance at his companion out of the corner of his eye. He wondered briefly if she realized how pretty she was.

Ginny mean while, was being much more practical.

"How much longer until curfew?" she asked Harry looking up at him.

Harry was startled when she looked up with those bright brown eyes.

"Er, 'bout an hour," he mumbled. "Should give us plenty of time to get down to the kitchens and back."

Ginny nodded. "I don't mind being out after curfew," she said. "I just really don't need another detention."

"Especially not with Snape," Harry agreed smiling.

Ginny gave a fake shudder as Harry actually laughed. Ginny looked back to him and smiled.

"You look so much better when you do that," she told him.

"Do what?" he asked.

"Smile," Ginny said a little wistfully. "You haven't done very often lately."

Harry shrugged. "Haven't had reason to, I guess."

"So," Ginny said hesitantly, "so I give you reason to smile?"

Harry couldn't help it, he grinned at her. "Yes, you do. I suppose with Ron and Hermione, well, they've just been so careful around me lately. Have you noticed sometimes when they talk to me one will be saying something but the other will stop them mid-sentence?"

Ginny nodded.

"It took me a while to notice it," Harry said. "They're just being careful, I know. They're trying to be mindful of my feelings. It hasn't really bothered me that much, but they joke around a lot less, even Ron."

"Do you think they had reason to be so...careful?" Ginny asked.

"No. Yes. I don't." Harry ran his hand through his hair absently. "This summer sucked, to be honest. I've tried not to dwell for morbid amounts of time, but it hasn't been easy. Ron and Hermione being so careful around me, I think I might just go insane."

Ginny laughed. "Sounds like what you need is a good distraction."

Harry glance back down at her. She was smiling slightly and walking along happily.

"Or just a new focus," Harry said. "I don't know if a distraction would be good, I'd fall back on, on Sirius. But if I had something else that was also really important to me, maybe I could finally get past losing him."

"I don't know, Harry," Ginny said. "You seem to be doing a really good job lately. I know a few weeks ago you would barely ever smile. You're doing much better now."

"Well I have you now, don't I, Gin?" Harry asked slyly.

Ginny just looked up at him and grinned. "Always, Harry."

Harry stopped and looked at her. The light from the torches brought out her fire-bright hair more then ever. Her eyes were so dark Harry was sure he'd drown in their depts. And her smile seemed to give off more light then the torches did.

"We're here," Harry said walking past her to the painting of fruit on the wall.

Ginny frowned at his back. He was behaving very oddly, she thought. One minute he was flirting lightly with her like the other night, the next he was serious and quiet again. At least he was talking to her. Harry was getting to be a bigger mystery by the day.

"Coming, Gin?" he asked as the painting opened.

"Right behind you, Harry," Ginny said.

"Harry? Mr. Harry Potter, sir?" a squeaky voice shot across the room. The voice was quickly followed by a green little...thing.

The green thing latched itself to Harry's leg and began squeaking happily again. "Harry Potter, sir has come to see Dobby! Dobby is wondering where Harry Potter sir has been."

Harry smiled, and Ginny noted that once again it reached his eyes. Several other elves crowded around offering greetings and food. Harry waved them off politely before turning his attention to the one attached to his leg.

"Dobby," Harry said, "this is my friend, Miss Ginny Weasley. We just came down for a quick visit before curfew."

"Hello Miss Gin-Weezy!" Dobby greeted speaking very quickly.

"Hello, Dobby," Ginny said happily. "It's a please to meet you. Harry has told me quite a bit about you."

Dobby trilled happily. "Harry Potter sir is a great wizard, Miss Gin- Weezy! A great wizard and a great friend," he added the last part very solemnly.

"Yes, I know," Ginny said and gave Harry a small smile. "Can you spare a few moments to visit?" she asked.

"Dobby can not Miss Gin-Weezy," Dobby said shaking his head sadly. "Dobby must go to clean Gryffindor Tower soon. There is much to do."

"You clean the whole tower by yourself?" Ginny asked surprised. "That's shameful! The others should be helping you!"

"Oh but they would, Miss Gin-Weezy," Dobby said. "If not for...the hats."

"Hats?!" Ginny asked.

Harry tried to choke back a laugh. "Erm, yes. You know Hermione seems to believe that the house elves should be free?"

Ginny nodded.

"Well, she's made it her personal mission to free them, you see. She took up knitting and has been hiding cloths in the Common Room for the elves. Don't worry, Dobby," Harry said turning to the elf. "Only two more years and we'll have left school."

"Dobby would clean Gryffindor tower forever if Harry Potter sir could stay at Hogwarts," the elf said almost sadly.

"Thanks, Dobby," Harry said. "I suppose we'd better get going so you can get back to work."

Dobby nodded vigorously. "Yes, Harry Potter sir must get back to Gryffindor Tower."

"Bye, Dobby," Ginny said.

"Good-bye Miss Gin-Weezy!" Dobby called. "Good-bye Harry Potter sir."

Ginny gave a soft chuckle as they left.

"So that was Dobby," she said.

Harry grinned at her. "Yup! That was Dobby. He really is a good friend."

"He seems quite taken with you, Mr. Harry Potter sir."

"I think he was little keen on you, Miss Gin-Weezy."

Ginny laughed out loud. This was not a good thing however as it attracted unwanted attention.

"A little loud aren't we?" a cold voice echoed in the hall.

Harry quickly jumped in the direction voice had come from and stood protectively in front of Ginny. Stalking down the hall towards them, black robes billowing out behind him, came Professor Snape.

"Perhaps, Mr. Potter, you should consider keeping your voice down when your gallivanting around," Snape said.

"I wasn't gallivanting," Harry said though clenched teeth. "We were visiting a friend."

"A very noble thing I'm sure," Snape sneered. "A sick friend no doubt. Dying for your company."

"We weren't doing anything wrong," Harry said, obviously trying very hard to keep his temper in check.

"I find that hard to believe Mr. Potter," the professor said. "Now, it would be in your best interest to tell my why you and Miss Weasley here were skulking about in the dark."

"Excuse Professor," Ginny said as sweetly as she could, "but as you pointed out we were rather loud, hardly skulking. And we were visiting a friend just as Harry said."

"I find it very unlikely, Miss Weasley, that you and Potter were just innocently walking around down here to 'visit a friend.' What friend could you possibly have to visit here? No, I find it far more likely that you two were involved in some form of tryst." The pair gaped at Snape as he continued. "Especially the way Potter jumped to your defense at my appearance, like some sort of buffoonish knight."

Harry sputtered, at a total loss as to how to respond to Snape. Ginny on the other hand was rather afraid one might hurt the other in the next thirty seconds and so decided to act quickly.

"Well, even if that were the case, sir," Ginny began, "which it's not, we still wouldn't be braking any rules. But we should be going now before curfew hits and we are out of bounds. Good evening Professor." She looped her arms though Harry's and pulled him along. "Come on Harry. It's late."

Snape gave the pair one of his more impressive sneers before they turned the corner and were out of sight.

Harry's silence was starting to worry Ginny just a little. They were half way back to Gryffindor tower and he still hadn't said anything. Every now and again he would look over at her in a funny way, but that was it. Finally the quiet started to grate on her nerves and she spoke.

"Snape is suck a git," she said.

"Yeah," Harry answered. "But you, you were great Gin!"

Ginny turned and looked up to see Harry absolutely beaming at her.

"I've never seen anything like it!" he continued. "You just kept cool and told Snape he couldn't do anything to us. You were amazing!"

"Me?" Ginny said in a slightly squeaky voice. "I didn't do anything. I just got you out of there before Snape hexed us."

"And you were totally brill about it!" Harry said. "I never seem to be able to keep my temper around Snape."

"I'd say you kept you temper pretty well," Ginny said. "And he did have a point."

"About what?" Harry asked. "Snape almost never has a point."

Ginny laughed. "Yes, well, was right about you. You were very knightly. I thank you for defending me, Sir Harry."

Harry smiled. "It is, as always, my please to serve you, fair Lady Virginia."

Ginny grimaced when he used her full name but couldn't help the faint giggle that escaped. "Yes, damsels in distress are old news to you."

"Mastered that when I was twelve!" Harry said proudly. "And a prettier damsel I couldn't have found."

Ginny laughed again. "You know, I don't think I could laugh about Tom with anyone else."

"Well, I'm glad I'm good for something, even if it is just being your personal buffoon," Harry said as they can to a stop in front of the Fat Lady's Portrait.

Ginny placed a hand on arm to stop him from going through. "I rather like the idea that you're my personal knight instead," she said.

Harry looked into her bright brown eyes and smiled faintly. "I'd always come for you, Gin. You know that, right?"

Ginny nodded and smiled back. "Yeah. I know. And Harry, you know the same's true of me, don't you?"

"Yes, Gin," Harry said taking her hand and holding it tight. "I just hope it never comes to that, for either of us."

"Me too," she whispered.
A/N:

Ok, so I like song fics. But was only a little of the song.

Thanks to all my reviewers, you guys keep me going (and remind me to write)