Disclaimer: Read the first one! Also Harry's summer friends are mine!
Thanks to: klb14345: your reviews are great, but say more, there has to be something you don't like about the story,
something you want me to change! Anything?
Mabel Weasley: As ever, thank you! I bet no one else would have bothered to help! And I'm glad you liked that, as I said
before, if it works for me it'll work for Harry. Of course I didn't chicken out when it came to asking my girlfriend out but
anyway... R+R this one should be fun!
Chapter 8.
Anyone but her...
Harry woke up in the morning to the blast of orange that he had come to know and love. He did a check with a glance that he
was actually in Ron's room and not still dreaming and looked around at the floor. There was an empty black sleeping bag in
between his and Ron's beds that last night had been inhabited by Sirius black. A few years ago he was a wanted criminal, one
that most wizards wanted to kill or see in Azkaban. A few days ago he had become a Weasley family friend, one that they
would very probably die for. After Harry had told Ginny, the last Weasley who didn't know of his innocence about him, he was
able to walk around all the time as a man, not a dog. He had quickly fit in with the rest; Sirius, Remus Lupin and Arthur
Weasley being old friends. That had been his best birthday present ever, apart from Sirius' bike. Not because it was a bike,
but because of what he had done and who he was with, the first time he rode it...
He looked over at Ron's bed to see it empty; Ron must have woken up extra early to make Hermione breakfast in bed, like he
said he was going to. Harry smiled to himself as he put on his extremely baggy black cords, his black and red fishnet top
and his dragons hide boots. He could vaguely make out his contacts on the shelf and was about to grab them when he saw his
coloured ones. They were going to Diagon Alley today; he may as well go all out! He walked over to the mirror and put them
in. After making sure they were secure, he took out his wand and pointed it at his trunk.
"Accio Make-up!" immediately a small black bag flew out of his trunk into Harry's left hand. He pulled out the eyeliner and
held it close to his eye. He stopped for a second. Was he doing this for himself? Or was he doing this on the off chance that
he might see his other friends today, sitting in the alley outside the Leaky Cauldron as they always seemed to? He banished
that thought as soon as it arose, there was no way he could be doing it for them. They had ruined his life a hundred times
over, he never wanted to see them again! He couldn't help but smile however when he heard Ron singing the Qudditch anthem as
he strode upstairs. Harry just finished applying his lipstick as Ron knocked loudly on the door.
"Wake up Harry! It's time to go!" he said as he sheepishly opened the door. Ron had gotten the shock of his life the first
night Harry had slept here this summer, when he walked in to find Harry getting out of bed. It was not the fact that he was
already awake before Ron had called him; even though Harry liked to sleep in. He was shocked to find that Harry had started
sleeping naked, and was there standing in front of Ron as bare as the day he was born. From then on he had always knocked
before walking into his own room, just in case. This time though Harry greeted him fully dressed and ready. Ron just stood
there in awe. He had never seen Harry wearing make-up, and still had a hard time getting used to his contacts, "I'd never
have thought that make-up would ever look good on a guy!" he said grinning. Harry knew that Ron was poking fun in a friendly
way, but also that he meant it.
"What do you think of the new hair?" asked Harry as he did a twirl. He had waited until Ron had gone to sleep last night and
pulled out his wand to change his hair. Now, instead of black spikes with red tips that hung down to passed his chin, there
were red streaks all through it.
"You better not stay here anymore Harry," Ron said with a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "Your turning more and
more Weasley everyday! And we can't have that if you've got your eye on Ginny!" Ron laughed to himself, but Harry hung his
head. Ron saw this and a look of sudden realisation came over his face, "You've had that face since the party, is it because
of her?" Harry looked up at him, expecting another mischievous smile on Ron's face but Ron looked concerned and Harry was
sure it was not for him, "Sit down Harry..." he said as he motioned Harry to his bed.
"What is it Ron?"
"This thing with Ginny," Ron began and Harry raised his hand to stop him going any further. But Ron looked at him and Harry
got the feeling he wouldn't take kindly to being interrupted. he put his hand down and let Ron continue, "At first I thought
it was silly, and you couldn't possibly be serious. But I have noticed you together, and I kinda guessed that you've walked
around depressed for the last couple of days because of her. So, as her brother I'm saying that you end this now..."
Harry sat back shocked. Ron was warning him off and his voice was no longer friendly, in fact it was filled with threatening
intent. But Ron looked at him suddenly, teary eyed, a pleading look in them, and Harry understood how much it had hurt Ron to
say that. And now he understood why. Harry had told Ron, like he had told Hermione, Lupin and Sirius all about this summer.
After that no brother would want Harry going anywhere near his little sister, and Harry found himself starting to agree. How
could he have ever thought that he could trust himself around Ginny, with his body possibly under Voldemorts control.
He could have kicked himself for being so stupid but just at that moment Ron put his arm around Harry's shoulder's, "However,
you could use all the friends you can get!" he said smiling, this one strong and genuine. Harry nodded back at him and they
hugged, just as Hermione came bursting into the room. After she glared somewhat jealously at Harry's make-up, Ron looked up
and she gave him a long passionate kiss, as Harry; still sandwiched in between them, struggled to breathe. When he began
coughing loudly, Hermione disengaged with a satisfied grin on her face and with some effort, pulled them both to their feet.
"Time to go now or we won't be able to get through the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron without bumping into someone like
Neville along the way!" she said urging them to the bedroom door. With one last look in the mirror at his perfect make-up, he
followed Hermione and Ron out of the door.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny looked at the pot on the coffee table in front of her and waited silently. She was confused as to why they were not
aloud to go alone this year if they were last year. She fumed as she heard the sound of heavy steps in Ron's room. They were
both awake, on a day like this Ron would not have let him sleep. But Ginny found herself wishing he would. She had spent the
last three days trying to forget about their bike ride, about Harry raising her hopes up, leading her on and then tossing
her aside. She felt as if he was used to it, but didn't understand why. In fact, since he had got here, she had realised that
there was a lot about Harry that she didn't understand, and some she really didn't want to. He had been so happy before
school broke up, what happened this summer to make him like this. She banished the question from her mind, she didn't know
and she didn't care. If Harry was going to leave her out of something so important then she had no time for him. Just then
Mrs. Weasley walked into the room.
"Hello Ginny dear. Is everyone ready?" she asked, obviously talking about Harry and the others, because they were the only
ones going.
"I don't know do I!" she said, her voice angrier than she would have liked when speaking to her mum. When her mum wheeled on
her violently Ginny just smiled, "Sorry, I just sent Hermione upstairs to check on them... But mum, can't I go on my own?" she
asked, her eyes pleading with her mothers set features.
"No Ginny. The reason we're all going together this year is because the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron has caved in.
There's no way through, so we're going to come out in an old house across the street. I'm there to see that you don't get
into any trouble. There will be lots of Muggles about..." Ginny quickly stifled an argument. She was sure that Harry and
Hermione could make sure they were okay, but that would mean having to spend a few hours with no one to talk to but Harry as
Ron and Hermione would obviously pair off, too wrapped up in each other to realise where they were. Jus then she heard the
three upstairs, running downstairs. As they came Remus and Sirius emerged from the kitchen with lots of plates in their
hands. They had been making breakfast, and Ginny had to say, that Sirius did look quite fetching in her mothers pink apron.
Ron stifled a giggle as Harry took the plates from them and they all sat down on the couch next to Ginny. Harry she noticed,
was sitting furthest away. The adults spoke quietly and then came and congregated around them, smiling.
"These came for you this morning, Dumbledore's sorry they're a bit late," said Remus as he handed Harry and Hermione letters.
Ron looked shocked as he saw the initials after their names on the envelopes, HB and HG and they could defiantly make out the
badges in the envelopes. Ginny however turned to her food and ignored the excited banter around her. She had avoided looking
at Harry since he had got to the bottom of the stairs but now it was becoming harder. She wanted to hate him, she wanted to
want him out of her life, but it was impossible. She couldn't lie to anyone very well, especially herself. She was just too
honest; and if she was honest to herself she knew that she couldn't live without him in her life. After she finished her
food, she was about to get up and take her plate to the kitchen when Ron spoke to her.
"Look at them Gin, what do you reckon? Should they go on the tie or on the robe?" she was forced to look at Hermione first
and saw her smile expectantly. She thought that the badge would look better on their robes, it would be easier to see, but
when she was forced to look at Harry she forgot all about badges. He looked at her smiling, his face unreadable beneath his
pale skin and black make-up. His eyeliner seemed to make his eyes shine, as if he trying to penetrate her very soul with a
stare, "Gin, are you okay?" Ron's voice brought her back to reality but she had completely forgotten what they had been
talking about, it had been something about badgers hadn't it?
"Badgers are Hufflepuff though, aren't they?" she was shocked to see everyone on the room staring at her confused.
"Badgers? What's up with you Gin?" asked Hermione as she got up to get a closer look. Ginny had no idea how she was going to
get out of this. She had just made a complete fool of herself and for the life of her she couldn't come up with a reason.
Until Harry got up and gingerly put his arm around her.
"She probably didn't get much sleep. You know Ginny, she's probably still dreaming!" to everyone in the room it sounded like
Harry was taking the piss out of her. This she did not take kindly to and she was about to throw his arm off and shout at him
when he gave her a knowing look and took the plate out of her hand. Did Harry know how she felt? She thought as he collected
everyone's empty plate and walked towards the kitchen. Did Harry know why she had been staring at him so intently? Did he do
that because he felt the same way? She laughed and looked at everyone smiling at her, but really she laughed at herself. How
could he know? How could she have possibly thought that he felt the same way?
After a while they all started talking about the school list. Harry Hermione and Ron would be needing The Book Of Spells.
There was no grade on it, which confused many of them except Lupin, who just smiled knowingly and avoided their questions.
More suprising however was the fact that they had left out one very important book; there was no DADA text, for them or for
her. Again Lupin avoided the questions by saying plainly, "All will be made clear when you get there..." No one questioned
him further on this. They would have more time for that on the train, when Ginny's mum wasn't there, maybe what he had to say
would frighten her? In no time at all it was time to go.
"We have been given an arrival window of the next fifteen minutes. We all need to be out of here by then, there will be a lot
of people trying to fit through today! We're going to the Other Place," there was a chuckle at the name of the place as
Ginny's mum as she opened the pot on the table and started to pass it around. Ginny took up a pinch of Floo powder and
approached the fire. She threw it in and instantly the fire flared up and turned green, its flames licking at her ankles.
She smiled at the others lingering a little on Harry; she wanted to kiss those lips so much, and then turned into the fire.
"The Other Place!" she shouted and immediately found herself spinning, until she thought she was going to throw up. She hated
travelling by Floo powder, she would have much rather been on the back of Harry's bike, holding him tightly. She smiled at
this as the fire spewed her out at the other end and forgot to stop herself. Instead of falling though, she was caught by a
very large dark man who smiled a perfect white smile and put her down on her feet. He must have been the guard of the fire
because he silently pointed through a door, where there seemed to be a small living area, a waiting area. Ginny sat down on
the comfortable but dusty couch and starting reading an issue of Witch weekly. She pretended not to notice when she heard the
fire flare up again and Harry popped his head around the door. When she looked up she saw him smiling down at her.
"Did you get here okay? You didn't fall?" he sat next to her, and she smiled at his concern. Why did he care so much, it
wasn't like she could have broken anything. She smiled weakly back at him and they sat in silence as they waited for everyone
to arrive. Her mum came last and almost fell over in shock as she saw how dusty they all were. She pulled out her wand and
was about to clean them when the guard silently took it off her. Ginny thought her mum looked about to explode as she looked
at the guard, but he silently pointed at the wall opposite them. Ginny saw a huge wall length window. They could obviously
be seen by the multitude of muggles that passed the window continuously. Her mum blushed deeply and hurried to put her wand
back in her pocket. She looked around for her bearings and Ginny noticed the front entrance of the Leaky Cauldron across the
road.
"Come on then!" her mum said and she almost dragged them out of the dusty room and into the street. They moved quickly across
the road, the many muggle cars avoiding the party without the drivers even noticing. When they stepped onto the pavement
outside the Leaky Cauldron Ginny was about to open the door, when a loud young voice shouted from nearby.
"HARRY!" she turned to see a boy as tall as Harry and Ron sprinting across the road, a group of Goths following slowly. Her
mum looked horrified as he winked at her before turning to Harry, "Harry, haven't seen you in a while, where've you been?"
Ginny looked at his clothes. He was wearing close on what Harry was but she was sure that his trench-coat was not made of
dragons hide. Her mum coughed loudly as the group caught up and they all looked at her.
"Are you going to introduce us Harry?" she said politely, obviously not really wanting an introduction. Harry proceeded to
explain that he had met them at the beginning of summer, and that they were his friends. Ginny however, couldn't help but
notice the conflict in his voice when he called them "friends!" Her mum visibly calmed down, but Harry looked horrified,
along with Ron and Hermione when her mum made a suggestion, "If they've missed you Harry, you four can stay with them, I'll
get your things!" before Harry could protest, as Ginny was sure he wanted to her Mum disappeared into the Leaky Cauldron.
Ginny turned back expecting to see Harry's friends smiling, but the boys looked angry, while the girls looked hurt. Ginny
watched one of the girls; Katie, Harry had said, walk over to him and drape herself over him.
"Why you no say goodbye Harry-san?" she might have been Japanese under her mound of make-up but Ginny couldn't tell. Katie
tried to kiss him but he moved away, making her let go of him, shocking Ginny by coming to stand very close to her. Katie
gave her a once over and hissed at her like a cat before walking back into the open arms of her friends. Ginny noticed that
she was crying. The leader Andrew walked closer to them and staring at her with a strange smile on his face.
"So this is why you left huh? Cute, nice tits!" he said laughing at Ginny. Ginny crossed her arms, trying to hide her body
from his gaze and looked at Ron. Ron looked about to explode and kill the boy; Hermione held him back with all of her
strength. Ginny was surprise however when she turned back to see Harry and the boy standing so close their noses were
touching. There was no friendship in Harry's eyes though, only hatred and loathing. The boy however smiled, "I guessed that
you liked this girl a lot, but anyone would think that you were in love with her. You two together yet?" It took Ginny a
moment to realise that he was talking about her. She looked at Harry shocked as he looked back at her blushing but still with
gritted teeth, "I'll take that as a no then..." he hissed as he broke away from Harry and started to circle her. He ran his
hand along a loose strand of hair and she flinched until Harry slapped it away.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HER!" he shouted as he moved closer. Ginny almost fell back in shock, and even Ron stopped fighting;
he was so amazed by what Harry had said. Harry had never said a word worse than "bugger" or "bloody" in his entire life. How
angry was he?
"Now, now, Harry! I was just admiring this little one, she does have an amazing ass!" he said and grabbed it in both hands.
Ginny felt quite uncomfortable but no sooner had she felt the boys hands on her than she opened her eyes to see Harry's arm
fly passed her face. She didn't understand what had happened until she heard a dull crunch behind her and turned to see the
boy unconscious on the floor. She realised Harry had done this and turned around to thank him when she almost cried out and
went for her wand. Harry had been jumped by a huge guy who had him bent over, while trying to elbow him hard in the small of
the back. Harry however was too fast for him. He punched the guy hard in the crotch causing him to let go and keel over. As
Harry came back up quickly she saw another guy running for Harry, she was about to call out but Harry already knew. Still
using his momentum from pulling himself up, he kicked the guy on his knees in the head, hard enough to send him flying back
into the approaching assailant. They both fell to the floor, to tired or dizzy to get back up and Harry glared at the rest
of them. She turned to see the boy he had hit first trying to get back up, blood running from his nose like a tap turned on
full. She smiled at this and kicked him in the crotch hard. He groaned loudly and lost conciousness again. She turned back to
see that the rest of the group had thought better of attacking him and were in the process of dragging their fallen friends
away. Harry was in the process of wiping a little blood off the shiny metal at the front of his boot. Hermione just looked
at the carnage horrified while Ron beamed at him.
"Shall we go in then?" Harry asked quite calmly; the anger seemed to have drained from his body. Ron clapped him on the back
and kept his arm there as he guided Harry towards the door.
"That's what I call closure mate! Where did you learn to fight like that?" Harry just smiled at him and pointed at the still
moving group of Goths. This put Ron into hysterical fits of laughter, until they all realised that Ginny was fixed to the
spot outside. She looked at Harry, shocked, not understanding anything that had happened, why Harry had gotten so angry, or
why the boy had said those things to Harry, but she was going to understand.
"You left them for me?" She saw Harry's smile sink so far she was sure his face was going to fall off. But he motioned for
her to follow him and they entered the darkness of the Leaky Cauldron.
~~~~~~~~~~
Harry didn't really know what to say as he started to explain to Ginny in a quiet corner of the Inn. He looked over to
Hermione and Ron; who were sitting alone on the opposite side of the room to give them both privacy. Hermione smiled in
upport, but it was Ron's view that would effect whether he would tell her the whole truth or not. Harry could see the
conflict on Ron's face, and he could tell he was thinking about what he had said to Harry in his room this morning. After
what seemed like an eternity Ron finally nodded his consent and looked away. Harry looked back to Ginny and saw her expectant
eyes welling up with tears. She looked so confused, he wanted to just hold her, and kiss her, and tell her it was all okay,
but it wasn't. So realising this he told her everything, his feeling for her, when they had started, what he had done over
the summer, Voldemorts apparent influence over him and finally, exactly what her brother had told him this morning. He could
tell that Ginny would forgive him, she would probably forgive him anyway, as she had told him half way through his
explanation that she felt the same way. But he knew nothing could come of it and he had to make her understand.
"I know you don't like your brother interfering with your life but he's right this time!" he noticed her breathe out hard at
this but carried on, "I... I love Ginny Weasley!" at this she looked up at him, and saw the sadness in his eyes, "But I have
Voldemort in me. I can never get rid of him. SO because of that we can never be together, I could never live with myself if I
ever hurt you in any way... Can we just be friends?" He just looked at her. That was it, everything he had been hiding from
her for so long was out and he had nothing else to say or do but wait for her answer. It took a long time for Ginny to
process all the information and come to a decision, but eventually she did.
"I love you just as much as that Harry Potter, maybe more, and I couldn't live without you in my life, even if it is just as
friends..." Harry shot over the table and held her as tight as he could without suffocating her. He was overjoyed at her
answer and for a long while they just smiled at each other. Eventually they got up and moved towards Ron and Hermione who
looked apprehensive. Harry felt Ginny hug him tightly and he saw her smiling at her brother. This settled their feelings and
made them smile back at Harry and Ginny, "Now are we gonna do some shopping or what?" said Ginny and they all linked arms to
walk out of the back door; into Diagon Alley.
~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: "Awwww in that sweet!" I hear you say, but could you live like that? Everyday with the person you love knowing they love
you back and not being able to hold them, or kiss them, whenever you feel like it? And with a Blast from Harry's Past (and I
do mean blast) in the next chapter, will they ever be able to stay just friends? (Let's be honest who wants them to?)
Please R+R!
Thanks to: klb14345: your reviews are great, but say more, there has to be something you don't like about the story,
something you want me to change! Anything?
Mabel Weasley: As ever, thank you! I bet no one else would have bothered to help! And I'm glad you liked that, as I said
before, if it works for me it'll work for Harry. Of course I didn't chicken out when it came to asking my girlfriend out but
anyway... R+R this one should be fun!
Chapter 8.
Anyone but her...
Harry woke up in the morning to the blast of orange that he had come to know and love. He did a check with a glance that he
was actually in Ron's room and not still dreaming and looked around at the floor. There was an empty black sleeping bag in
between his and Ron's beds that last night had been inhabited by Sirius black. A few years ago he was a wanted criminal, one
that most wizards wanted to kill or see in Azkaban. A few days ago he had become a Weasley family friend, one that they
would very probably die for. After Harry had told Ginny, the last Weasley who didn't know of his innocence about him, he was
able to walk around all the time as a man, not a dog. He had quickly fit in with the rest; Sirius, Remus Lupin and Arthur
Weasley being old friends. That had been his best birthday present ever, apart from Sirius' bike. Not because it was a bike,
but because of what he had done and who he was with, the first time he rode it...
He looked over at Ron's bed to see it empty; Ron must have woken up extra early to make Hermione breakfast in bed, like he
said he was going to. Harry smiled to himself as he put on his extremely baggy black cords, his black and red fishnet top
and his dragons hide boots. He could vaguely make out his contacts on the shelf and was about to grab them when he saw his
coloured ones. They were going to Diagon Alley today; he may as well go all out! He walked over to the mirror and put them
in. After making sure they were secure, he took out his wand and pointed it at his trunk.
"Accio Make-up!" immediately a small black bag flew out of his trunk into Harry's left hand. He pulled out the eyeliner and
held it close to his eye. He stopped for a second. Was he doing this for himself? Or was he doing this on the off chance that
he might see his other friends today, sitting in the alley outside the Leaky Cauldron as they always seemed to? He banished
that thought as soon as it arose, there was no way he could be doing it for them. They had ruined his life a hundred times
over, he never wanted to see them again! He couldn't help but smile however when he heard Ron singing the Qudditch anthem as
he strode upstairs. Harry just finished applying his lipstick as Ron knocked loudly on the door.
"Wake up Harry! It's time to go!" he said as he sheepishly opened the door. Ron had gotten the shock of his life the first
night Harry had slept here this summer, when he walked in to find Harry getting out of bed. It was not the fact that he was
already awake before Ron had called him; even though Harry liked to sleep in. He was shocked to find that Harry had started
sleeping naked, and was there standing in front of Ron as bare as the day he was born. From then on he had always knocked
before walking into his own room, just in case. This time though Harry greeted him fully dressed and ready. Ron just stood
there in awe. He had never seen Harry wearing make-up, and still had a hard time getting used to his contacts, "I'd never
have thought that make-up would ever look good on a guy!" he said grinning. Harry knew that Ron was poking fun in a friendly
way, but also that he meant it.
"What do you think of the new hair?" asked Harry as he did a twirl. He had waited until Ron had gone to sleep last night and
pulled out his wand to change his hair. Now, instead of black spikes with red tips that hung down to passed his chin, there
were red streaks all through it.
"You better not stay here anymore Harry," Ron said with a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "Your turning more and
more Weasley everyday! And we can't have that if you've got your eye on Ginny!" Ron laughed to himself, but Harry hung his
head. Ron saw this and a look of sudden realisation came over his face, "You've had that face since the party, is it because
of her?" Harry looked up at him, expecting another mischievous smile on Ron's face but Ron looked concerned and Harry was
sure it was not for him, "Sit down Harry..." he said as he motioned Harry to his bed.
"What is it Ron?"
"This thing with Ginny," Ron began and Harry raised his hand to stop him going any further. But Ron looked at him and Harry
got the feeling he wouldn't take kindly to being interrupted. he put his hand down and let Ron continue, "At first I thought
it was silly, and you couldn't possibly be serious. But I have noticed you together, and I kinda guessed that you've walked
around depressed for the last couple of days because of her. So, as her brother I'm saying that you end this now..."
Harry sat back shocked. Ron was warning him off and his voice was no longer friendly, in fact it was filled with threatening
intent. But Ron looked at him suddenly, teary eyed, a pleading look in them, and Harry understood how much it had hurt Ron to
say that. And now he understood why. Harry had told Ron, like he had told Hermione, Lupin and Sirius all about this summer.
After that no brother would want Harry going anywhere near his little sister, and Harry found himself starting to agree. How
could he have ever thought that he could trust himself around Ginny, with his body possibly under Voldemorts control.
He could have kicked himself for being so stupid but just at that moment Ron put his arm around Harry's shoulder's, "However,
you could use all the friends you can get!" he said smiling, this one strong and genuine. Harry nodded back at him and they
hugged, just as Hermione came bursting into the room. After she glared somewhat jealously at Harry's make-up, Ron looked up
and she gave him a long passionate kiss, as Harry; still sandwiched in between them, struggled to breathe. When he began
coughing loudly, Hermione disengaged with a satisfied grin on her face and with some effort, pulled them both to their feet.
"Time to go now or we won't be able to get through the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron without bumping into someone like
Neville along the way!" she said urging them to the bedroom door. With one last look in the mirror at his perfect make-up, he
followed Hermione and Ron out of the door.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny looked at the pot on the coffee table in front of her and waited silently. She was confused as to why they were not
aloud to go alone this year if they were last year. She fumed as she heard the sound of heavy steps in Ron's room. They were
both awake, on a day like this Ron would not have let him sleep. But Ginny found herself wishing he would. She had spent the
last three days trying to forget about their bike ride, about Harry raising her hopes up, leading her on and then tossing
her aside. She felt as if he was used to it, but didn't understand why. In fact, since he had got here, she had realised that
there was a lot about Harry that she didn't understand, and some she really didn't want to. He had been so happy before
school broke up, what happened this summer to make him like this. She banished the question from her mind, she didn't know
and she didn't care. If Harry was going to leave her out of something so important then she had no time for him. Just then
Mrs. Weasley walked into the room.
"Hello Ginny dear. Is everyone ready?" she asked, obviously talking about Harry and the others, because they were the only
ones going.
"I don't know do I!" she said, her voice angrier than she would have liked when speaking to her mum. When her mum wheeled on
her violently Ginny just smiled, "Sorry, I just sent Hermione upstairs to check on them... But mum, can't I go on my own?" she
asked, her eyes pleading with her mothers set features.
"No Ginny. The reason we're all going together this year is because the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron has caved in.
There's no way through, so we're going to come out in an old house across the street. I'm there to see that you don't get
into any trouble. There will be lots of Muggles about..." Ginny quickly stifled an argument. She was sure that Harry and
Hermione could make sure they were okay, but that would mean having to spend a few hours with no one to talk to but Harry as
Ron and Hermione would obviously pair off, too wrapped up in each other to realise where they were. Jus then she heard the
three upstairs, running downstairs. As they came Remus and Sirius emerged from the kitchen with lots of plates in their
hands. They had been making breakfast, and Ginny had to say, that Sirius did look quite fetching in her mothers pink apron.
Ron stifled a giggle as Harry took the plates from them and they all sat down on the couch next to Ginny. Harry she noticed,
was sitting furthest away. The adults spoke quietly and then came and congregated around them, smiling.
"These came for you this morning, Dumbledore's sorry they're a bit late," said Remus as he handed Harry and Hermione letters.
Ron looked shocked as he saw the initials after their names on the envelopes, HB and HG and they could defiantly make out the
badges in the envelopes. Ginny however turned to her food and ignored the excited banter around her. She had avoided looking
at Harry since he had got to the bottom of the stairs but now it was becoming harder. She wanted to hate him, she wanted to
want him out of her life, but it was impossible. She couldn't lie to anyone very well, especially herself. She was just too
honest; and if she was honest to herself she knew that she couldn't live without him in her life. After she finished her
food, she was about to get up and take her plate to the kitchen when Ron spoke to her.
"Look at them Gin, what do you reckon? Should they go on the tie or on the robe?" she was forced to look at Hermione first
and saw her smile expectantly. She thought that the badge would look better on their robes, it would be easier to see, but
when she was forced to look at Harry she forgot all about badges. He looked at her smiling, his face unreadable beneath his
pale skin and black make-up. His eyeliner seemed to make his eyes shine, as if he trying to penetrate her very soul with a
stare, "Gin, are you okay?" Ron's voice brought her back to reality but she had completely forgotten what they had been
talking about, it had been something about badgers hadn't it?
"Badgers are Hufflepuff though, aren't they?" she was shocked to see everyone on the room staring at her confused.
"Badgers? What's up with you Gin?" asked Hermione as she got up to get a closer look. Ginny had no idea how she was going to
get out of this. She had just made a complete fool of herself and for the life of her she couldn't come up with a reason.
Until Harry got up and gingerly put his arm around her.
"She probably didn't get much sleep. You know Ginny, she's probably still dreaming!" to everyone in the room it sounded like
Harry was taking the piss out of her. This she did not take kindly to and she was about to throw his arm off and shout at him
when he gave her a knowing look and took the plate out of her hand. Did Harry know how she felt? She thought as he collected
everyone's empty plate and walked towards the kitchen. Did Harry know why she had been staring at him so intently? Did he do
that because he felt the same way? She laughed and looked at everyone smiling at her, but really she laughed at herself. How
could he know? How could she have possibly thought that he felt the same way?
After a while they all started talking about the school list. Harry Hermione and Ron would be needing The Book Of Spells.
There was no grade on it, which confused many of them except Lupin, who just smiled knowingly and avoided their questions.
More suprising however was the fact that they had left out one very important book; there was no DADA text, for them or for
her. Again Lupin avoided the questions by saying plainly, "All will be made clear when you get there..." No one questioned
him further on this. They would have more time for that on the train, when Ginny's mum wasn't there, maybe what he had to say
would frighten her? In no time at all it was time to go.
"We have been given an arrival window of the next fifteen minutes. We all need to be out of here by then, there will be a lot
of people trying to fit through today! We're going to the Other Place," there was a chuckle at the name of the place as
Ginny's mum as she opened the pot on the table and started to pass it around. Ginny took up a pinch of Floo powder and
approached the fire. She threw it in and instantly the fire flared up and turned green, its flames licking at her ankles.
She smiled at the others lingering a little on Harry; she wanted to kiss those lips so much, and then turned into the fire.
"The Other Place!" she shouted and immediately found herself spinning, until she thought she was going to throw up. She hated
travelling by Floo powder, she would have much rather been on the back of Harry's bike, holding him tightly. She smiled at
this as the fire spewed her out at the other end and forgot to stop herself. Instead of falling though, she was caught by a
very large dark man who smiled a perfect white smile and put her down on her feet. He must have been the guard of the fire
because he silently pointed through a door, where there seemed to be a small living area, a waiting area. Ginny sat down on
the comfortable but dusty couch and starting reading an issue of Witch weekly. She pretended not to notice when she heard the
fire flare up again and Harry popped his head around the door. When she looked up she saw him smiling down at her.
"Did you get here okay? You didn't fall?" he sat next to her, and she smiled at his concern. Why did he care so much, it
wasn't like she could have broken anything. She smiled weakly back at him and they sat in silence as they waited for everyone
to arrive. Her mum came last and almost fell over in shock as she saw how dusty they all were. She pulled out her wand and
was about to clean them when the guard silently took it off her. Ginny thought her mum looked about to explode as she looked
at the guard, but he silently pointed at the wall opposite them. Ginny saw a huge wall length window. They could obviously
be seen by the multitude of muggles that passed the window continuously. Her mum blushed deeply and hurried to put her wand
back in her pocket. She looked around for her bearings and Ginny noticed the front entrance of the Leaky Cauldron across the
road.
"Come on then!" her mum said and she almost dragged them out of the dusty room and into the street. They moved quickly across
the road, the many muggle cars avoiding the party without the drivers even noticing. When they stepped onto the pavement
outside the Leaky Cauldron Ginny was about to open the door, when a loud young voice shouted from nearby.
"HARRY!" she turned to see a boy as tall as Harry and Ron sprinting across the road, a group of Goths following slowly. Her
mum looked horrified as he winked at her before turning to Harry, "Harry, haven't seen you in a while, where've you been?"
Ginny looked at his clothes. He was wearing close on what Harry was but she was sure that his trench-coat was not made of
dragons hide. Her mum coughed loudly as the group caught up and they all looked at her.
"Are you going to introduce us Harry?" she said politely, obviously not really wanting an introduction. Harry proceeded to
explain that he had met them at the beginning of summer, and that they were his friends. Ginny however, couldn't help but
notice the conflict in his voice when he called them "friends!" Her mum visibly calmed down, but Harry looked horrified,
along with Ron and Hermione when her mum made a suggestion, "If they've missed you Harry, you four can stay with them, I'll
get your things!" before Harry could protest, as Ginny was sure he wanted to her Mum disappeared into the Leaky Cauldron.
Ginny turned back expecting to see Harry's friends smiling, but the boys looked angry, while the girls looked hurt. Ginny
watched one of the girls; Katie, Harry had said, walk over to him and drape herself over him.
"Why you no say goodbye Harry-san?" she might have been Japanese under her mound of make-up but Ginny couldn't tell. Katie
tried to kiss him but he moved away, making her let go of him, shocking Ginny by coming to stand very close to her. Katie
gave her a once over and hissed at her like a cat before walking back into the open arms of her friends. Ginny noticed that
she was crying. The leader Andrew walked closer to them and staring at her with a strange smile on his face.
"So this is why you left huh? Cute, nice tits!" he said laughing at Ginny. Ginny crossed her arms, trying to hide her body
from his gaze and looked at Ron. Ron looked about to explode and kill the boy; Hermione held him back with all of her
strength. Ginny was surprise however when she turned back to see Harry and the boy standing so close their noses were
touching. There was no friendship in Harry's eyes though, only hatred and loathing. The boy however smiled, "I guessed that
you liked this girl a lot, but anyone would think that you were in love with her. You two together yet?" It took Ginny a
moment to realise that he was talking about her. She looked at Harry shocked as he looked back at her blushing but still with
gritted teeth, "I'll take that as a no then..." he hissed as he broke away from Harry and started to circle her. He ran his
hand along a loose strand of hair and she flinched until Harry slapped it away.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HER!" he shouted as he moved closer. Ginny almost fell back in shock, and even Ron stopped fighting;
he was so amazed by what Harry had said. Harry had never said a word worse than "bugger" or "bloody" in his entire life. How
angry was he?
"Now, now, Harry! I was just admiring this little one, she does have an amazing ass!" he said and grabbed it in both hands.
Ginny felt quite uncomfortable but no sooner had she felt the boys hands on her than she opened her eyes to see Harry's arm
fly passed her face. She didn't understand what had happened until she heard a dull crunch behind her and turned to see the
boy unconscious on the floor. She realised Harry had done this and turned around to thank him when she almost cried out and
went for her wand. Harry had been jumped by a huge guy who had him bent over, while trying to elbow him hard in the small of
the back. Harry however was too fast for him. He punched the guy hard in the crotch causing him to let go and keel over. As
Harry came back up quickly she saw another guy running for Harry, she was about to call out but Harry already knew. Still
using his momentum from pulling himself up, he kicked the guy on his knees in the head, hard enough to send him flying back
into the approaching assailant. They both fell to the floor, to tired or dizzy to get back up and Harry glared at the rest
of them. She turned to see the boy he had hit first trying to get back up, blood running from his nose like a tap turned on
full. She smiled at this and kicked him in the crotch hard. He groaned loudly and lost conciousness again. She turned back to
see that the rest of the group had thought better of attacking him and were in the process of dragging their fallen friends
away. Harry was in the process of wiping a little blood off the shiny metal at the front of his boot. Hermione just looked
at the carnage horrified while Ron beamed at him.
"Shall we go in then?" Harry asked quite calmly; the anger seemed to have drained from his body. Ron clapped him on the back
and kept his arm there as he guided Harry towards the door.
"That's what I call closure mate! Where did you learn to fight like that?" Harry just smiled at him and pointed at the still
moving group of Goths. This put Ron into hysterical fits of laughter, until they all realised that Ginny was fixed to the
spot outside. She looked at Harry, shocked, not understanding anything that had happened, why Harry had gotten so angry, or
why the boy had said those things to Harry, but she was going to understand.
"You left them for me?" She saw Harry's smile sink so far she was sure his face was going to fall off. But he motioned for
her to follow him and they entered the darkness of the Leaky Cauldron.
~~~~~~~~~~
Harry didn't really know what to say as he started to explain to Ginny in a quiet corner of the Inn. He looked over to
Hermione and Ron; who were sitting alone on the opposite side of the room to give them both privacy. Hermione smiled in
upport, but it was Ron's view that would effect whether he would tell her the whole truth or not. Harry could see the
conflict on Ron's face, and he could tell he was thinking about what he had said to Harry in his room this morning. After
what seemed like an eternity Ron finally nodded his consent and looked away. Harry looked back to Ginny and saw her expectant
eyes welling up with tears. She looked so confused, he wanted to just hold her, and kiss her, and tell her it was all okay,
but it wasn't. So realising this he told her everything, his feeling for her, when they had started, what he had done over
the summer, Voldemorts apparent influence over him and finally, exactly what her brother had told him this morning. He could
tell that Ginny would forgive him, she would probably forgive him anyway, as she had told him half way through his
explanation that she felt the same way. But he knew nothing could come of it and he had to make her understand.
"I know you don't like your brother interfering with your life but he's right this time!" he noticed her breathe out hard at
this but carried on, "I... I love Ginny Weasley!" at this she looked up at him, and saw the sadness in his eyes, "But I have
Voldemort in me. I can never get rid of him. SO because of that we can never be together, I could never live with myself if I
ever hurt you in any way... Can we just be friends?" He just looked at her. That was it, everything he had been hiding from
her for so long was out and he had nothing else to say or do but wait for her answer. It took a long time for Ginny to
process all the information and come to a decision, but eventually she did.
"I love you just as much as that Harry Potter, maybe more, and I couldn't live without you in my life, even if it is just as
friends..." Harry shot over the table and held her as tight as he could without suffocating her. He was overjoyed at her
answer and for a long while they just smiled at each other. Eventually they got up and moved towards Ron and Hermione who
looked apprehensive. Harry felt Ginny hug him tightly and he saw her smiling at her brother. This settled their feelings and
made them smile back at Harry and Ginny, "Now are we gonna do some shopping or what?" said Ginny and they all linked arms to
walk out of the back door; into Diagon Alley.
~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: "Awwww in that sweet!" I hear you say, but could you live like that? Everyday with the person you love knowing they love
you back and not being able to hold them, or kiss them, whenever you feel like it? And with a Blast from Harry's Past (and I
do mean blast) in the next chapter, will they ever be able to stay just friends? (Let's be honest who wants them to?)
Please R+R!