Chapter 8
They entered together, and saw Ron and Hermione sitting on the couch again, arguing quietly.
Ginny was scared beyond reason; she wasn't looking forward to Ron's reaction.
"I have something to say." Ginny said, and the pair shut up.
"Me first," Hermione stood across from Ginny, who had her back to the fire, and Harry was sitting in a nearby armchair.
Ginny looked at her quizzically.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking between Harry and Ginny, " We should've told you. Friends don't sneak behind each other's back, and I'm ashamed I did so." Apparently, Hermione's earlier rage had subsided.
Then Ginny felt her stomach clench in guilt. Hermione knew what was coming, because she knew all along.
"I find it odd Ron is so quite." Ginny said, looking at her brother.
"I let her do the talking, because she knows what she's talking about. I'm sorry too, by the way."
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"There was something you wanted to tell Ginny?" Hermione said, with a raise of her brows. Hermione wasn't looking forward to this either. She kept it from Ron as well; she was nearly as guilty as the others. But it was their business to tell, and sure enough, they'd get the first blow from Ron.
Throwing a pleading look to Harry, Ginny took a big breath, facing her older brother. Harry rose and stood by her.
"I don't know where to start." She murmured.
"Ginny and I are-" Harry saw Ron's eyes go wide, and his red brows raise, "- seeing each other."
She was grateful Harry piped up. She was unbelievably grateful. Squeezing her eyes shut she waited for Ron's response. She felt Harry slide an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him.
When Ron spoke, she looked up.
"Well." He didn't look all that surprised. "Good for you."
"What?!" Ginny said, not believing what she just heard.
"I said good for you."
"But-"
Ron interjected, "How long have you been together?"
She looked at Harry quickly, "I'm not sure. About 2 months? Maybe less than that." She grimaced at the look on Ron's face now. Fury was forming in his eyes.
"Oh. That long? And you didn't tell me?" anger Rose in him like a blazing fire. He was aiming his anger at his little sister, but he wasn't sure whom he should be madder at: His best friend, or his sister. He'd trusted them both evenly. "Two months you've been seeing each other, behind Hermione and mine's back?"
"Well," Ginny said, looking at Hermione, "she knew all along."
Ron spun around to look at Hermione, who coward under his fierce gaze.
"You knew too! And you didn't tell me!" He spun back at Ginny and Harry. "What is with you guys? You don't think I can handle information like this? We're you expecting me to get mad, just because you're with someone you want to be? You don't give me enough credit. I'm happy you're with each other. I am, really. But I never expected you to do such a thing behind my back. Especially from you," He turned back to Hermione, and she winced.
"Ron," Ginny pleaded, "we were just trying to-"
"Protect me. Right. Protect me from what Ginny? I'm the big brother here; I'm supposed to protect you. I thought we had a friendship Ginny, you could tell me anything."
That stung her heart terribly. Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I should've told you Ron. I'm sorry." She sobbed.
Ron just shook his head, still looking grim.
"She was afraid." Harry spoke finally. "Afraid you'd disapprove, and be angry with her."
"I probably would've been angry, yes, if you would've told me from the beginning. But Ginny-" He stepped up to her, and Harry backed away.
"Ginny, you're my baby sister, I love you, and I only want the best for you. Even if you think he," He motioned toward Harry, "is who is best for you, then I'll support you." She gave him a watery smile.
Ron had grown up, Ginny realized. And it seemed he'd grown too fast. He was mature, not over reacting like she thought. He had been right; she hadn't given him enough credit.
"I'm sorry. You're right." He gathered her into him, and hugged her.
"Just tell me next time." He said, "If there is a next time."
She laughed and hugged him again.
"You're right, I don't give you enough credit." He smiled.
"You do realize I get to tease you now, right?" He pulled away and grinned down at her.
"Yes," she said grudgingly. Harry and Hermione smiled at each other, things were working out better than they thought.
"Little Ginny has a boyfriend." Ron said playfully, ruffling her hair.
She gave a loud, "Humph," and crossed her arms. Harry smiled. Ginny was so cute. "Just look at that." Hermione said. "We're paired off. How strange."
"It was going to happen eventually," Harry said, smiling at Ginny. She came over and sat on his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry rested his hands on her waist.
"Never thought it would be like this though," Ron said, sitting next to Hermione.
"Me either." The other three said simultaneously.
~*~
That night, Harry was sitting on the couch in front of the dying fire, staring absently into it. His love for Ginny was growing rapidly each moment he spent with her, and I was annoying him that he didn't have the guts to tell her. It seemed to be eating him up inside, and he was annoyed with that too.
Slowly, he ran a hand through his hair, blew out a breath, and watched the dying embers flicker. Sirius, I could use your wisdom right about now, he thought with an ache in his belly. He dropped his head on the back of the couch, and closed his eyes with another sigh. What now? He couldn't keep feelings like this to himself, it just wasn't healthy, he decided.
"Harry?" Ginny closed the girls' dorm door with a small click. The common room was empty except for the two of them.
Harry sat up quickly.
"What are you doing up so late?" Ginny asked sweetly, coming to sit next to him.
"Thinking," he sighed.
"About what?"
"Sirius."
"Oh."
He reached out for her, and she drew herself into him for a hug. He loved to hold her, and feel her warmth in his arms. He kissed her neck, and pressed his cheek to her hair. She drew away from him, and watched him with concerned eyes.
"Harry, what's wrong?" His green eyes were so filled with emotion; she couldn't decide which emotion they were filled with. It was a passionate look he gave her now, and he tenderly rubbed his thumbs along her shoulders. "Harry?"
"Shh."
"What-" He pressed a finger to her lips, and then kissed them softly.
"I'm trying to savor you. You're so beautiful Ginny." As she flushed pink, which she rarely did, he kissed her again.
Smiling, a surprising thick sensation flooded her, and pumped through her veins, leaving a hard feeling in her stomach.
Harry ran a hand over her smooth red hair, and smiled as well. She let out a small giggle when he trailed his fingertips across her neck.
"Harry, promise me something." She said, taking his hand from her neck.
"Anything."
"Promise me you'll always be here when I need you." She never needed anyone in her life, but all the emotion that flooded out of him, and care he always showed, had her relying on it, and living off it. "I've never needed anyone more than I need you."
"I promise Ginny." He was sincere, and she new it. "But the same goes for you." He grinned and touched a fingertip to her nose. She laughed. "And-" he said, looking at his watch, "I'd say it was past your bed time."
"Bed time?" She rose, and he rose with her. "And just who do you think you are? -" She poked him in the chest-"telling me I have a bed time, psh."
With a slight raise of his eyebrow, he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her forward.
"I'm my own woman, thanks Potter. I can make my own decisions."
"Decide this." He crushed his mouth to hers, in a quick kiss.
"Oh I've decided." She laughed, and wrapped her arms around his neck, and dipped her fingers in his hair. He rocked as he hugged her.
It annoyed him still that he still could not tell her he loved her. It wasn't that he wasn't able to, but for the first time in his life, he was afraid of rejection. Rejection from the girl he loved would break his heart, and he didn't want to risk it. He'd wait until the best moment, when he knew she loved him too. Though he didn't know how much longer he'd have to wait.
They entered together, and saw Ron and Hermione sitting on the couch again, arguing quietly.
Ginny was scared beyond reason; she wasn't looking forward to Ron's reaction.
"I have something to say." Ginny said, and the pair shut up.
"Me first," Hermione stood across from Ginny, who had her back to the fire, and Harry was sitting in a nearby armchair.
Ginny looked at her quizzically.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking between Harry and Ginny, " We should've told you. Friends don't sneak behind each other's back, and I'm ashamed I did so." Apparently, Hermione's earlier rage had subsided.
Then Ginny felt her stomach clench in guilt. Hermione knew what was coming, because she knew all along.
"I find it odd Ron is so quite." Ginny said, looking at her brother.
"I let her do the talking, because she knows what she's talking about. I'm sorry too, by the way."
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"There was something you wanted to tell Ginny?" Hermione said, with a raise of her brows. Hermione wasn't looking forward to this either. She kept it from Ron as well; she was nearly as guilty as the others. But it was their business to tell, and sure enough, they'd get the first blow from Ron.
Throwing a pleading look to Harry, Ginny took a big breath, facing her older brother. Harry rose and stood by her.
"I don't know where to start." She murmured.
"Ginny and I are-" Harry saw Ron's eyes go wide, and his red brows raise, "- seeing each other."
She was grateful Harry piped up. She was unbelievably grateful. Squeezing her eyes shut she waited for Ron's response. She felt Harry slide an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him.
When Ron spoke, she looked up.
"Well." He didn't look all that surprised. "Good for you."
"What?!" Ginny said, not believing what she just heard.
"I said good for you."
"But-"
Ron interjected, "How long have you been together?"
She looked at Harry quickly, "I'm not sure. About 2 months? Maybe less than that." She grimaced at the look on Ron's face now. Fury was forming in his eyes.
"Oh. That long? And you didn't tell me?" anger Rose in him like a blazing fire. He was aiming his anger at his little sister, but he wasn't sure whom he should be madder at: His best friend, or his sister. He'd trusted them both evenly. "Two months you've been seeing each other, behind Hermione and mine's back?"
"Well," Ginny said, looking at Hermione, "she knew all along."
Ron spun around to look at Hermione, who coward under his fierce gaze.
"You knew too! And you didn't tell me!" He spun back at Ginny and Harry. "What is with you guys? You don't think I can handle information like this? We're you expecting me to get mad, just because you're with someone you want to be? You don't give me enough credit. I'm happy you're with each other. I am, really. But I never expected you to do such a thing behind my back. Especially from you," He turned back to Hermione, and she winced.
"Ron," Ginny pleaded, "we were just trying to-"
"Protect me. Right. Protect me from what Ginny? I'm the big brother here; I'm supposed to protect you. I thought we had a friendship Ginny, you could tell me anything."
That stung her heart terribly. Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I should've told you Ron. I'm sorry." She sobbed.
Ron just shook his head, still looking grim.
"She was afraid." Harry spoke finally. "Afraid you'd disapprove, and be angry with her."
"I probably would've been angry, yes, if you would've told me from the beginning. But Ginny-" He stepped up to her, and Harry backed away.
"Ginny, you're my baby sister, I love you, and I only want the best for you. Even if you think he," He motioned toward Harry, "is who is best for you, then I'll support you." She gave him a watery smile.
Ron had grown up, Ginny realized. And it seemed he'd grown too fast. He was mature, not over reacting like she thought. He had been right; she hadn't given him enough credit.
"I'm sorry. You're right." He gathered her into him, and hugged her.
"Just tell me next time." He said, "If there is a next time."
She laughed and hugged him again.
"You're right, I don't give you enough credit." He smiled.
"You do realize I get to tease you now, right?" He pulled away and grinned down at her.
"Yes," she said grudgingly. Harry and Hermione smiled at each other, things were working out better than they thought.
"Little Ginny has a boyfriend." Ron said playfully, ruffling her hair.
She gave a loud, "Humph," and crossed her arms. Harry smiled. Ginny was so cute. "Just look at that." Hermione said. "We're paired off. How strange."
"It was going to happen eventually," Harry said, smiling at Ginny. She came over and sat on his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry rested his hands on her waist.
"Never thought it would be like this though," Ron said, sitting next to Hermione.
"Me either." The other three said simultaneously.
~*~
That night, Harry was sitting on the couch in front of the dying fire, staring absently into it. His love for Ginny was growing rapidly each moment he spent with her, and I was annoying him that he didn't have the guts to tell her. It seemed to be eating him up inside, and he was annoyed with that too.
Slowly, he ran a hand through his hair, blew out a breath, and watched the dying embers flicker. Sirius, I could use your wisdom right about now, he thought with an ache in his belly. He dropped his head on the back of the couch, and closed his eyes with another sigh. What now? He couldn't keep feelings like this to himself, it just wasn't healthy, he decided.
"Harry?" Ginny closed the girls' dorm door with a small click. The common room was empty except for the two of them.
Harry sat up quickly.
"What are you doing up so late?" Ginny asked sweetly, coming to sit next to him.
"Thinking," he sighed.
"About what?"
"Sirius."
"Oh."
He reached out for her, and she drew herself into him for a hug. He loved to hold her, and feel her warmth in his arms. He kissed her neck, and pressed his cheek to her hair. She drew away from him, and watched him with concerned eyes.
"Harry, what's wrong?" His green eyes were so filled with emotion; she couldn't decide which emotion they were filled with. It was a passionate look he gave her now, and he tenderly rubbed his thumbs along her shoulders. "Harry?"
"Shh."
"What-" He pressed a finger to her lips, and then kissed them softly.
"I'm trying to savor you. You're so beautiful Ginny." As she flushed pink, which she rarely did, he kissed her again.
Smiling, a surprising thick sensation flooded her, and pumped through her veins, leaving a hard feeling in her stomach.
Harry ran a hand over her smooth red hair, and smiled as well. She let out a small giggle when he trailed his fingertips across her neck.
"Harry, promise me something." She said, taking his hand from her neck.
"Anything."
"Promise me you'll always be here when I need you." She never needed anyone in her life, but all the emotion that flooded out of him, and care he always showed, had her relying on it, and living off it. "I've never needed anyone more than I need you."
"I promise Ginny." He was sincere, and she new it. "But the same goes for you." He grinned and touched a fingertip to her nose. She laughed. "And-" he said, looking at his watch, "I'd say it was past your bed time."
"Bed time?" She rose, and he rose with her. "And just who do you think you are? -" She poked him in the chest-"telling me I have a bed time, psh."
With a slight raise of his eyebrow, he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her forward.
"I'm my own woman, thanks Potter. I can make my own decisions."
"Decide this." He crushed his mouth to hers, in a quick kiss.
"Oh I've decided." She laughed, and wrapped her arms around his neck, and dipped her fingers in his hair. He rocked as he hugged her.
It annoyed him still that he still could not tell her he loved her. It wasn't that he wasn't able to, but for the first time in his life, he was afraid of rejection. Rejection from the girl he loved would break his heart, and he didn't want to risk it. He'd wait until the best moment, when he knew she loved him too. Though he didn't know how much longer he'd have to wait.