Chapter 28: Winter Holidays

Harry awoke the next morning feeling strange and then remembered why. He'd kissed her. He couldn't believe he'd done that. He needed to explain to her now. They could never be a couple. He wouldn't endanger her like that. The problem now was to make her understand that. Finally he got up and got dressed before walking down to breakfast with Ron. He would have to find a way to talk to Ginny before breakfast was over. The Weasleys and Hermione were all taking the train to the Burrow but Harry was going to be picked up from the school directly. If he didn't talk to Ginny now he wouldn't get a chance until Christmas.

 He watched the doors until she entered, Hermione at her side. He was surprised when she sat down right across from him. He was surprised when Hermione shot a glare at him. He tried to concentrate on his toast when Hermione spoke up.

"I need a word with you Harry," she said briskly as she rose from the table. Harry thought it was very McGonagall-esque.

"Er... Okay," he said and allowed her to lead him out of the hall. Soon she was dragging him down the corridor to an empty classroom where she shut the door and cast a silencing charm.

"WHAT ON EARTH DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?" she shouted. "DID YOU EVEN THINK OF HOW GINNY WOULD FEEL WHEN YOU RAN OFF LIKE THAT? IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE HER YOU COULD HAVE JUST LEFT HER ALONE."

"But, Hermione," said Harry quietly, "I do like her."

"Then why did you run off from her last night; after kissing her!" hissed Hermione.

"Because I can't go with her," said Harry. "We can't be a couple he exclaimed."

"Why on earth not?" asked Hermione. "You like her. She likes you. It's very simple. Do you need a diagram?"

"It's not safe for her," said Harry. "Why do you think I didn't ask her to the ball in the first place? I shouldn't have let myself get carried away last night."

He thought for sure this would shut Hermione up, that she would see the logic in it. Unfortunately for Harry he was wrong a lot lately.

"I can't believe you're saying this," Hermione nearly shrieked. "Don't you think Ginny's old enough to know what risks she wants to take? You certainly take plenty yourself. And if you stay away from her because of Voldemort you just let him win. For gods' sakes Harry, Think about these things."

"If she got hurt it would kill me," said Harry. "I barely made it through after Cedric died. It would be even worse if I lost one of you."

"That wasn't your fault either, Harry," said Hermione who was now thoroughly exasperated. "You need to talk to her, soon" Then she glanced at her watch. "The train's going to be here soon though," she said before getting a devilish glint to her eyes. "Only, if poor Ginny missed the train you know Sirius wouldn't begrudge taking her back with you."

~*~

 So thanks to Hermione that was how it came to be. Somehow all three people managed to fit on the back of Sirius' infamous motorbike, cloaked under an invisibility charm of course. When they reached the house Sirius left Ginny and Harry in the living room telling them he'd make some lunch before using the fireplace to contact the Weasleys. This left the two fifteen year olds in, needless to say, an uncomfortable position. Harry finally spoke.

"Ginny," he said "I really like you, but it wouldn't be safe if we were y'know a couple." He was having difficulty finding the words that would make her understand. Everyone else thought this was so simple, that he was an idiot for wanting his friends safe.

"What do you mean 'safe'?" scoffed Ginny, "You should know that Weasleys are already a target for Voldemort anyway. It's not just about you Harry. Don't you think he's likely to want to get me after the diary incident? It's up to me to choose whether I'll take a risk or not. You're my friend, not my keeper." She took a deep breath. "Think about it." Then she left speechless Harry in the living room to talk to her mum in the fireplace.

 When Harry finally went to follow her she was already preparing to leave.

"See you at Christmas Harry," she called before disappearing into the green flames.

 Harry sighed and walked to his room where he laid on his bed.  Soon he drifted off into a catnap, not even bothering to crawl under the blankets.