Disclaimer: If I can't profit from this story in any way cause it belongs to Rowling… then why am I taking advantage of how happy it makes me?? *Kiss*
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Chapter 12"Heart's Whim"
As February came under way love was in the air and working overtime for the couple. Ron and Hermione had made big plans for their first romantic Valentine's date. However, the over excessive cooing and cuddling had made Draco threaten them to turn into their enemy again as they made their weekly reunions to discuss Lucius. It made him sicker then the new nest of rats that seemed to have made a home in the Gryffindor common room. They were always holding hands or having some form of bodily contact that included rubbing noses together, little pecks on the cheek and hugging. And when they couldn't touch each other their body language seemed to subconsciously beckon the same as pouty invisible kisses fluttered in the air and playful stares would be shot from one to the other.
"Harry... what?" said Ron one day as Harry had pulled him aside.
"My gosh Ron! I mean, you were fine before but now it's getting down right annoying,"
"What are you talking about?"
"You and Hermione,"
"Oh… Well, I'm sorry Harry. We're just both really excited and I've been leaving hints for her as to what the surprise is and-"
"Have you forgotten what we're supposed to be doing?"
"What?"
"We're supposed to be helping Malfoy regain his mind!"
"It's something right difficult to forget Harry! I go to visit Lucius at Hogsmeade every 3 days. I mean, it's not my fault he's more used to me then even Draco right now and -"
"Then you have to realize that right now there's no time for romance and -"
"You're just jealous aren't you?"
"What?"
"Yeah, cause you keep thinking of Ginny and – I mean -"
Harry lowered his head. He had to admit that he had felt slightly jealous of how happy Ron and Hermione looked together and was trying to take most of the responsibility so he didn't have to think about Ginny or Colin for that matter.
"I'm sorry mate. Listen, this weekend why don't I treat you at the Three Broomsticks? Just you and me no girls allowed," said Ron with a grin.
"I'd like that,"
"As strange as this sounds… I might be able to help you with Ginny. I mean, it took me a while to get over it when both started dating – Yuck! But now, I've gotten used to the idea that you might end up my brother someday," he winked. Harry smiled.
"I guess I should be making my move soon anyways,"
"That's the ticket! Come on, let's go," he said as they both walked to the main hall.
Little did they know that someone was listening in to their conversation.
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The closer Valentine's Day approached, the more Ron's mind seemed to stray. Although this new light-hearted version of him was a wonderful change from the emotionless copy, it was obvious that he sometimes didn't realize what he did or said. He would sporadically be caught in the common room, openly talking about Lucius without saying his name. Although he assured everyone that there was never any real way of knowing what he meant, they didn't believe it to be such a good idea. However, Ron's heart was in too much of a flutter to care. He would be finally sharing a night alone with Hermione and he wanted it to be perfect. It was, after all, his first REAL date with her. Hermione had tried to once again focus on gaining ground in school but Ron's giddiness was apparently highly contagious. She would find herself questioning Ginny constantly on their date but the redhead would tell her that she knew nothing, which was true, until two days before the 14th.
"You better not say a word Ginny!" said Ron on that very day.
"I promise! I really had no idea you were so romantic Ron!" said Ginny giggling.
"Oh quiet! Say, speaking of which… have Harry and you -"
"No we haven't," she said stiffly.
"It's just a matter of time right?" added Ron.
"I don't know…"
"Let your pride go Ginny. You know you want to be with him,"
"Have Harry and you arrange some sort of alliance? You ask me about this every time you see me when you should be concentrating on you and on… our plans," she said in a soft tone.
"We have not but just know that Harry just might make a move soon… he still feels the same way about you,"
"Well, he's busy with our plans right? He won't be making any moves until we're done with all of this. I know him. He prioritizes… And he's taken all the responsibilities lately,"
"That's cause he wants to! I keep telling him to leave things up to me but he keeps planning and scheming - Oh, I've got to go. I've got to study for Transfiguration," said Ron looking at his watch.
"You? Study now? I guess Hermione's waiting," she said smiling.
Ron simply growled in annoyance and walked in the other direction. Ginny began to walk to the common room to get her things before class when and met up with Colin, turning into another hall. She smiled at him and he gave a half-smile back.
"Ginny... are you ready for History of Magic?"
"Yes. Why? Are you having trouble?"
"No… I just wanted to know so we could talk before today's quiz,"
"Sure Colin. What's on your mind?" she said grinning.
"You haven't answered me about whether or not you'd like to -" he said timidly.
"Oh Colin," said Ginny. She didn't want to hurt his feelings for he had been a very good friend to her for the last year. "I think you're very sweet…"
"But who wants a sweet boyfriend right?" he said miserably.
"No-no! It's not that! I just -"
"Then what's wrong? Don't tell me you're still infatuated with HIM are you?" he said.
"For heaven's sake Colin! You haven't even been able to say his name since I started going out with him! It's Harry! Harry!" she said in a bit of a whine.
"I can't stand HIS name being everywhere Ginny… And especially not on your lips," he said as he looked at her.
"Colin, listen to me. There's more to this. I mean, I don't know if I can see myself going out with you. You've been a very good friend to me and I don't want to change that. I look at you and I don't feel the same way I've always felt for Harry. I'm sorry," she whispered.
"If you really care for me, you'd at least try,"
"Colin, I can't. I don't want-"
But before she could utter another word Colin leaned over and kissed her. She was stiff with shock. He closed his eyes tightly hoping that Ginny wouldn't tear herself away but to his disappointment she did.
"Why did you…" said Ginny in a nearly scared tone.
"Because-because I knew that if I didn't take my chance now it would be too late and I'd never get to-"
Colin's speech was cut short however as he stared into the other side of the hall. There stood Harry with his books in his hands heading to the Gryffindor Common Room. He looked furious. His eyes glowed with a fire that could melt metal and his breathing became quick and heavy. Harry didn't know how he was going to deal with this but one thing was assured, he wasn't going to take it.
Colin's Eyes filed with fear as Harry began to walk nearer. Ginny turned around to see what made the boy so tense only to find Harry walking at a fast pace. Ginny quickly grabbed Harry's arm and could feel him shake with anger.
"Harry! I know what you're thinking -"
"Let me go! He had no right to do that! You didn't want it!" he shouted.
"Harry!" said Ginny.
"As always, little Colin Creevly thinking he has the right to do what ever he wants without caring if it annoys others! Tell me Colin, how many times have you pressed yourself to others until they got fed up of you and cast you away? It wouldn't surprise me if you were the most hated boy here the way to stick to people like slimy glue!" started Harry as Colin moved back, eyes lowered in shame.
"Harry that's enough!" shouted Ginny but it was too late. The floodgates were opened and Harry had been waiting to unload all these feelings for far too long. Now, he had justification to.
"And here, you've finally found the only person in the school that can stomach you and what do you do? You force yourself upon her just like you do to everyone else! Over-obsessive, oblivious, possessive freak!"
"Harry!!!" shouted Ginny again.
Harry's face was red. The number of times he'd held his thoughts back, the uncountable moments when he'd wanted to punch this boy square in the face were secret wishes. Harry felt he had his chance now, not only for himself but also for Ginny's sake. Harry felt pain in seeing her being pushed around. She was so sweet, so kind and was unable to see the evil in anyone and to take advantage of a person like that was crime too heinous to leave unpunished.
"I-I-I… I'm sorry! I didn't know -"
"You didn't know? How could you not?!"
"I mean - I didn't think -"
"Well? On with it Creevly!" shouted Harry as Ginny continued to urge him to stop.
"I-I… I love her and -"
"Love? Love??? Do you really think you know what love is? Love isn't telling someone that they have to love you! Love isn't making the other person care for you! LOVE is nothing like the way you've imagined it!"
People began to crowd around because of Harry's shouting and soon a good mass of students formed around them. Draco was among them and was smiling at Harry. He knew he'd crack eventually and was glad to be there to see it.
"And-and… I s-s-suppose you know? Who do you think you are? Oh wait! I remember! Famous Harry Potter! Our savior! YOU found the four treasures! YOU save us all from terrible destruction!" said Colin sarcastically in his defense his voice growing from a dim mumble to more coherent speech.
"You try and mock me Colin!?"
"Ginny doesn't care for you anymore! You think you're so righteous and perfect… well - you broke her heart before so why should I allow you to do it again!" he said but those were the final words that he would utter that morning for with one might swing…
"POW!!!"
Colin hit the floor with a thud and spat out a bit of blood. His lip was badly bruised and strangely enough, Harry felt wonderful at the sight of it. Draco cheered loudly from the crowd as most of the Slytherins began to laugh. "As annoying as Potter is I'll have to admit that that was great!" he said as they cheered. Ginny went to Collin's side to help him stand but he pushed her back. He slowly walked away defeated as Harry's words echoed in his mind. Harry turned around to look at Ginny who simply walked away without turning back. Was this scene really worth having her see him this way?
***
The first sight to catch Harry's eye once he entered the common room that evening was that of Ron running towards him, a look of disbelief on his face. Hermione followed behind with quite a different expression.
"Is it true?" she asked pointedly.
"Yeah! Did you really - I mean, you and Colin - Well?" Ron asked excitedly.
"I... I sort of lost it,"
"What did he do anyways? I mean, what did he do to make you get that mad?" continued Ron.
Harry couldn't say it. He knew how Ron would get and if it took so little for Harry to throw a punch at Colin there was no doubt that it would take even less for Ron to do much worse.
"He did something I didn't like… we'll just leave it at that,"
"I can't believe you Harry! You do know I'll have to tell McGonagall about all of this. Justin was telling me that this rumor has gone around the school already –"
"He probably spread it," interrupted Ron.
"AND," Hermione said louder. "That it's better that one of us become the voice of reason. I've heard that Colin missed his classed today and locked himself in his dormitory. As Head-Girl -"
"Hermione! Come on! You're going to listen to Fletchly?
"Finch-Fletchly," she corrected him.
"Okay, Justin. Just cause he's Head-Boy? You've got to admit that Colin had it coming for a really looooooong time! Besides, Harry's never done anything like this before! It was just -"
"Besides," interrupted Harry. "I'm sure Colin's going to be off to tell her anyways,"
"No I'm not," said a voice from above them.
It was Colin. He had a hand on his lip and looked at Harry with determined eyes.
"Why?" asked Harry prudently.
"Cause there are better ways to deal with things," said Colin as he walked down the stairs and passed them.
Ron looked at Colin with a mixed stare. Hermione huffed and decided to let this one event slide. If Colin didn't want to go on with this then she'd let it pass and avoid complications. Ginny had emerged from the top of the stairs staggered nearer to the group, her head low. She lifted it a bit to see Colin exit the room and Harry look at her. She had a piece of parchment in her hands and held it out nervously.
"Gin, what's that?" asked Ron as he looked at Ginny.
"It's a letter from Malfoy. He wants us to meet with him tomorrow after classes," she said trying to escape those fixed green eyes.
"Tomorrow? But I have to visit… well, you know," said Ron.
"Well, that's what's written in this parchment. But you can do what you have to Ron. We'll just tell you what he wants to discuss,"
"Ginny, how did you get that from him anyways?" asked Hermione.
"I met him in the Hall after -" she began but didn't want to mention the latest events. "I mean, before classes and he just ran up and said: "Make them read this Weasley," and left,"
"It's terribly like him! Two months and not even first names yet! Oh well!" said Ron indifferently. "Well since I still have to visit HIM you all go to this and I'll meet up with you in the common room afterwards. Plus I still have other little things to take care of," he said shifting his eyes gently towards Hermione.
"Ron, are you sure? I mean, you don't have to go through all this trouble just for me," said Hermione.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't worry Hermione, Valentine's Day will be a day you'll never forget!" he said smiling as Hermione looked down with rosy cheeks.
Harry then looked at Ginny who looked grimmer then he'd even seen her. He knew she didn't like those kinds of scenes and ones including both her and him must have been frustrating.
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A/N: Okay, Seriously, I want at least 5 reviews!! I barely got any for the last one! And If you're not enough, then tell your friends! Your neighbors! Your family! LOL. I REALLY want to know if this is still worth putting up!! Cause if not…