CHAPTER THIRTEEN: BLACK AND BLUE
It wasn't for lack of trying, but Ginny couldn't seem to keep her mind on the lesson Hermione was giving her on how to quickly heal wounds with only a few, simple medicinal ingredients. At Ginny's request, Hermione had offered what little free time she had to teach the younger girl what they were learning in Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and all Ginny seemed to do was let herself be distracted at every opportunity. Being able to say that Harry Potter, the boy she had pined after for six, long years was finally hers, was something she was still getting used to – she couldn't help but let her mind wander about him, and the way he made her feel when his hands would –
"Ginny, are you even paying attention to what I'm saying?" she heard her friend say in an exasperated tone.
"I'm sorry, my mind wandered for a second," said Ginny, her cheeks reddening just a little.
"You were thinking about Harry."
Ginny tried to look shocked at the accusation. "I was not."
"I've seen that look on Harry's face quite a few times in recent days," Hermione remarked, marking a page in one of her open books for future reference. By doing so she missed seeing Ginny's face go even redder.
Deciding it was time she started concentrating for real, Ginny pushed all thoughts of Harry and what a good kisser he was out of her head. "Ok, teach away," she instructed Hermione, sitting up straighter in her chair. "I'm ready to learn."
"Until Harry pops into your head again?" Hermione said in a teasing voice.
All attempts at seriousness gone, Ginny fell back against her chair with a sigh. "I'm pathetic, aren't I?"
The older girl chuckled. "You wouldn't be the first girl to lose her head over the opposite sex."
"I know I'm going to regret asking this but was it like this for you and my brother?"
"Ron and I are the last people you should be comparing your relationship to," Hermione told her. "We're both too stubborn for our own good and we fight horribly about everything."
"But you two always make up afterwards," Ginny pointed out.
"True," Hermione agreed, and to Ginny's surprise closed her book. "Besides, making up can have its benefits," she added, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Quickly forcing images of her brother and Hermione out of her head, she said, "you're right. I'm already wishing I hadn't asked."
"You'll understand when you and Harry have your first fight."
Ginny was surprised at how open Hermione was being with her. Even spending almost all of the last two summers at The Burrow, the older girl had confided in her very little about anything regarding her relationship with Ron. Ginny suspected it was either because Hermione didn't think she would want to know, being Ron's sister and all, or simply because hadn't wanted to rub in her face the fact that she had no boyfriend.
"You planning on staying like this?" Ginny indicated towards Hermione's hair and the bit of makeup she wore, wondering how many eyes she had opened since her 'image adjustment'. She was still the same Hermione underneath, but where she had been lacking in the confidence department before, she had completely rectified that now.
"I thought I would just keep it up until Ron apologized," she replied, "but then I got used to my hair like this, so I don't think I'll go back."
"You know you've let Lavender and Pavarti corrupt you."
"I haven't," she said firmly, but in a good-natured tone. "The only way I would have been corrupted was if I let myself wear some of those outfits they picked out for me. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever be ready to be that daring."
Ginny giggled, thinking of the clothes the two fashion conscious Gryffindors had tried convincing her to wear.
Shaking her head to clear it, Hermione said, "we better get to work so that this afternoon won't be a total waste."
Ginny silently agreed. These extra lessons with Hermione were helping her advance in her own classes. She had a greater understanding of magical properties now, which aided her when she prepared her sleeping potion for Harry once a week.
"Ginny, would you pass me Broken Bones Healed in Under a Minute?"
Ginny complied, using both hands to pass the immensely thick book, which Hermione took from her – nearly letting it slam on the table when she gasped.
"What happened to your arm?" Hermione squealed in alarm, seeing the massive black and blue bruises on her forearms.
"Happened in Lupin's class," she answered casually, and quickly lowering the sleeves on her robes to hide the marks. "I didn't block the hex in time and I was thrown backwards. I must have hit my arms on the floor harder then I thought."
"That must have been some hex," Hermione commented. She had seen accidents in Dark Arts classes before, but nothing to the extent of Ginny's injuries. She was thinking that the younger Gryffindor should have gone to the hospital wing to get them healed, when Ginny started packing up her school things.
"I better go," Ginny said, looking at the clock on the wall. "I told Harry I'd meet him after practice." Seeing the disapproving frown forming on her friend's face, she added, "I know this stuff is important, and I promise we'll work on it this weekend – with no interruptions from any boys."
She didn't bother waiting for Hermione's response. She knew undoubtedly it would be somewhere along the lines of school should take top priority over everything. For Ginny though, her priority at that very moment was getting away from Hermione's prying eyes, which hadn't left her arms since seeing the marks there.
She surprised Harry in the locker room when she was sure it was just him in there. That didn't mean her heart wasn't beating furiously when she walked in because there was always the off chance she had miscalculated and there would be someone else in there with him. Luckily for her it turned out that he was completely alone. He stood by his open locker, throwing a sweater over his head. She couldn't mask the sound of her footsteps though, but neither did she give him a chance to voice his obvious surprise at seeing her.
"I just thought I'd stop by and say hi," she said, wrapping her fingers around the nape of his neck and kissing him.
His hands wrapped themselves around her waist as he kissed her in return. "You should do this more often," He said between kisses. He let his hands roam up her back, until he felt her flinch under his touch. Concerned, he let go of her. "Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"
A large part of her was burning to tell him the truth, but the other half was screaming at her not to mess up the perfect state her life had fallen in to. In the end, the latter part won out. "I just had a little accident in Dark Arts class this week. Some bumps and bruises, nothing serious," she added, watching as his features deepen with concern for her.
"Did you tell Lupin?"
"I told him I was fine, which I am – so stop worrying."
He seemed to take her word for it because he started kissing her again – but it was gentler this time, as if he were worried about causing her more injuries.
She pulled back just enough so she could speak. "How are you sleeping?"
"Fantastic," he murmured and began leaving a trail of kisses down her neck. "I think I've slept better these past few weeks then I have since starting Hogwarts. Thank you," he said, pulling back, his emerald gaze burning into hers.
That look sent shivers down her spine – but the good kind. Sometimes it scared her the way Harry could stir up these intense emotions inside her. She wondered if she did the same to him. Harry was a very intense person already.
And Hermione was worried about where her priorities lie. Her top priority was helping Harry – and she was doing it in more ways then one.
"What are you doing on Saturday?" He asked her, his hands resting on her waist.
She was going to say nothing when she remembered her earlier promise to Hermione. "I was supposed to have Hermione teach me a chapter on medicinal charms this weekend."
"But that doesn't have to be Saturday morning, does it?"
"Just what did you have in mind?" She asked, watching his face for any clues. Whatever he was planning though, he was keeping it well hidden.
"I thought we could go in to Hogsmeade."
"I hadn't realized it was a Hogsmeade weekend."
"That's because it's not, but that doesn't mean we still can't go," he said, suggestively.
Raising her eyebrows, she said, "are you suggesting we sneak out?"
"Yes I am," he answered, grinning. "We could use my dad's cloak and the Marauder's Map."
"What about Ron and Hermione?"
"I don't think we should tell them. That way they can't get in trouble if they don't know where we are."
"I'm going to have to tell Hermione something." Ginny was sure whatever excuse she gave would not go over well with the older girl. Hermione was already on her case about her lack of focus recently. As much as she disliked the thought of lying to Hermione, this was their first chance to do something as a couple – and their first time back there together since that disaster of a Hogsmeade visit in September. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when Harry had been the one to suggest it.
"I've been thinking that maybe it's time we told Ron about us," Ginny said to him. "He already suspects, but I think he would appreciate us telling him ourselves."
The thought of telling her brother about their relationship sounded even less appealing than lying to Hermione. But Ginny was starting to feel they should just get it over with. Ron was entitled to his opinion, but that would be it. Her brother did not get to choose who she could or could not go out with.
"Should we tell him together?" Harry said, clearly he was not any happier about the idea.
"I thought it might go over better if you tell him yourself, since he is your best friend."
Harry cringed at the thought of having to confront Ron about his 'changing' relationship with his sister. It wasn't as if he was afraid of Ron, but he knew exactly what his best friend's reaction would be. It would certainly not be wishing his sister and Harry all the best.
She could see he was not fond of the thought of telling Ron on his own, so she said, "we could do it together then, if you want."
As much as he wanted to say yes to that, he knew confronting Ron was something he had to do himself. Seven years of friendship could not be erased simply because he had started dating liitle his sister, could it?
"Don't worry, I can handle Ron," Harry said confidently. He decided then it would probably be best to tell him in a public place – one with lots of witnesses.
It was late when Ginny finally slipped inside her room to get ready for bed. Most of her roommates were asleep, and the ones that were still up were in the common room trying to do some last minute cramming for their Astronomy quiz tomorrow.
While she undressed for bed, she nearly let out a gasp similar to Hermione's when she saw the reflection of her bare back in the mirror. Even with the room bathed in near darkness, the deep cuts and bruises on her back were clearly visible. She winced just looking at them. No wonder it had hurt when Harry had touched her there.
"Those look awfully painful, dear," said her mirror. "You should head down to the hospital wing and have them looked at."
Throwing her nightgown over her head, she responded, "they're really not that bad."
Her mirror gave a tutting noise of disapproval but said nothing further.
It was the worst they had ever been, but Ginny knew when she woke up tomorrow morning they would have already started to fade – unless Harry had another night plagued with violent nightmares.
Opening the drawer on her nightstand, she pulled out a vial filled with the same dark liquid she had given Harry to drink before he went to bed each night. Like every other time, it cooled her throat as she swallowed, leaving no bitter aftertaste in her mouth. Then she crawled into bed, waiting for sleep to overtake her, and hoping Harry would have a peaceful night.
It was midmorning when Hermione made the trek down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Sometimes on Saturday's she would still go down early, simply enjoying one of the few meals she got to eat in relative silence. But on that particular morning she didn't feel like eating alone, and waited until a decent time where she figured either Ron or Harry would be up.
When she reached the Gryffindor table she more than a little surprised to find Ron, but no Harry. Ron was rarely ever the first of the three to make it downstairs.
A few seats away from Ron sat Ginny. Before the youngest Weasley could catch her staring, Hermione tore her gaze away and busied herself with pouring a glass of orange juice. She knew she shouldn't be, but she was still troubled by the marks she had seen on Ginny's arms. She had no reason to think her friend was lying, but she couldn't shake the suspicion that those bruises hadn't been the result of an accident in Lupin's class. Even if they had, she knew Professor Lupin would have sent her to the hospital wing right away to get them healed.
"Something wrong?" She heard Ron's voice say to her.
Drawing herself away from her thoughts she responded by saying, "just a little tired." There was no reason to alarm him when she was probably overreacting. Still, the logical part of her brain kept thinking the only reason Ginny wouldn't have let Madame Pomfrey look at them was if she had something to hide. But just what was she hiding? Wanting to ensure that she wasn't over exaggerating what she had seen, she said, "Ginny, could you pass me that plate of muffins?"
The younger girl complied, and Hermione made her stretch a little further then necessary – just to the point where the sleeves on her robes pushed back – before taking the plate off her hands. In plain sight, she could see the skin that had been covered in purple and blue welts yesterday looked completely healed.
"Thanks," Hermione managed to say, taking one off the plate before setting it down beside her.
It was impossible. She knew she hadn't imagined seeing the marks – Ginny had even admitted to them. Something wasn't quite right, Hermione was sure of that now. Marks like that don't vanish over night. Even if she had taken a healing potion the bruises would have faded, but they still would have been noticeable.
Ginny was all too aware of the questioning look Hermione was giving her and quickly turned away. If she wasn't careful, Hermione was going to figure out exactly what she was doing. And the moment she did, she would undoubtedly run to Harry and ruin everything Ginny had been working so hard to accomplish.
"You sure you're all right?" Ron asked, this time his voice etched with concern.
She was saved from having to think up another excuse when Harry dropped down onto the bench beside him. "Morning," he greeted them in a cheery voice.
Hermione almost laughed. She never thought she would see the day where Harry would show up at meal times in a suspiciously good mood on an almost regular basis. Hermione knew who she had to thank for that, letting go for the moment the issue of Ginny's mysterious healing abilities.
All week Harry had put off talking to Ron about his relationship with Ginny. Excuses and distractions kept popping up, and the fact that he was feeling like too much of a coward to say anything. He could feel Ginny's eyes on him then, but he chose to avoid looking at her. She had gotten so fed up with him avoiding telling Ron she had demanded he tell him before they left for Hogsmeade or else there would be no trip. Given that ultimatum he felt he really had no choice but to tell Ron. If he put it off any longer Ginny would probably stop talking to him altogether. She obviously didn't realize how ugly things could get, or had taken into consideration the fact that he had to share a room with her brother for another eight months.
Ron had been watching Harry sit there with an empty plate in front of him, and said, "you going to eat anything, mate?"
"I'm not really all that hungry," Harry told him. He felt much like he did before a Quidditch match – just the sight of food was making him queasy.
Shaking his head, Ron bit into a piece of bacon. "What's going on that I don't know about? You're not eating and Hermione's being all secretive."
"Don't talk with your mouth full," she scolded, " and I'm not being secretive."
Harry knew why the thought of eating was making him nauseous but he wondered what was on Hermione's mind. He raised a questioning eyebrow at her but she just shot him a look back that said 'Ron's overreacting. I'm fine.'
If he hadn't been so preoccupied with his own dilemma he probably would have dwelt on it further. He managed to summon the same courage he had used to face Voldemort many times in the past, and turned to his best friend. "Ron, I needed to talk to you about something."
"I'm listening," he responded, still eating.
Harry thought it best he not have anything in his mouth when he told him in case he choked. "It's important."
This time he had Ron's full attention. Swallowing the remainder of food in his mouth, he gave Harry a curious look. "Go on, I'm listening."
He was starting to wonder why he had insisted he could do this himself. He thought about looking over at Ginny for support, but stopped himself when he concluded it might give too much away. He decided the best thing to do was jump right in before he lost his nerve. "Ginny and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks now," he said in a low enough voice, hoping to keep the rest of the table from listening in.
He could see the muscles in Ron's jaw clench, but he stayed silent. Harry quickly glanced at Hermione, but she was reading her copy of the Daily Prophet, pretending not to listen in.
"She's my girlfriend," Harry added in a moment later. He examined Ron's expression carefully, looking for any sign that meant he was in physical danger.
Ron turned back to his breakfast, but didn't eat anything. "I suspected as much. I was starting to wonder when you were going to get around to telling me."
He didn't seem happy, but he didn't seem angry either. "You're okay with it then?" He wanted to make sure of that. He didn't want his friendship with Ron to suffer in any way.
"As long as you don't give me a reason not to be, I'm fine with you and my sister in a relationship together."
Harry was having trouble believing his own ears. This was a far different Ron, who a month ago had threatened to break him in two if he stepped out of line with Ginny. If he didn't know better he'd say someone had taken a Polyjuice potion to look like his best friend.
"I'll see you up in the common room," said Ron after having drained the last of his orange juice.
After Ron's departure, Harry looked over at Hermione, who was still immersed in her newspaper, and said, "you can stop pretending you weren't listening to every word we said."
She gave him a sheepish grin, but said, "it really was an interesting article."
"I'll bet it was. What's wrong with him?" He asked her. "Did you put some sort of spell on him so he wouldn't take his wand out on me?"
"Magic had nothing to do with it, Harry. He hasn't seen you this happy in a long time, and if being with Ginny is what makes you happy he's willing to accept that."
Hermione's words made him realize how desperately he had wanted Ron's approval. And now that he had it, the first hurdle in his relationship with Ginny had been overcome. Though he had the sneaking suspicion Ron had not come to this revelation on his own.
"You talked to him, didn't you?"
She merely shrugged and started reading her paper again, evading any further questions.
It was clear to Harry then that Hermione was not an innocent bystander by any means. But where he had been angry with her for interfering with him and Ginny earlier on, he was glad she had stepped in this time. Whatever she had said to Ron, he knew he owed her an extra special Christmas gift that year.