Chapter 10: Talk It Over

Harry, Ron and Hermione were all walking towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom chatting, Ron and Hermione hand-in-hand. The turned a corner and Hermione hitched her bag into a comfier position with her free hand. They walked into the classroom and Harry stopped at the doorway looking at the teacher at the front of the room. Hermione and Ron were giggling together but they stopped too as soon as they caught sight of who Harry was looking at. Professor Koley wasn't there. Instead, none other than Professor Snape was standing facing all the desks.

Harry swore to himself and worked his way to his desk where he dumped his bag on the floor angrily.

"Thank You for gracing this class with your presence you three," Snape said his lips curling.

"Oh you're welcome, no problem," Harry replied, with an air of mock pretence.

Snape rolled his eyes and snapped open a dusty copy of the text-book. "Now that we are all here we may begin. I believe you were up to Chapter 4, page 101?"

Lavender told him he was correct.

"Good. Well then let's start learning."

Seamus raised his hand. Snape eyebrows raised and he titled his head towards him. "Yes Finnigan?"

"Where's Professor Koley?" he asked lowering his arm.

Snape looked down at the textbook and then placed his eyes on the students again. "Professor Koley will not be teaching at this school any longer. If the Headmaster wants you to know anymore he will tell you himself. No more useless questions please. All you need to know is that I will be taking all Defence Against the Dark Arts classes that do not clash with my Potions lessons. Other Professors will fill in for me when I am busy."

Harry looked nervously at Ron.

Snape swept around the classroom making his regular snide comments – although Harry noticed that all he could find to criticise about Neville's work was his unruly handwriting. Outside the classroom at the end of the lesson Harry Ron and Hermione were chatting away as usual.

"Poor Ginny," Ron sighed.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"I think she really liked Dean. She's been all daydreamy and subdued lately," said Ron.

Harry said nothing.

He and Ginny hadn't spoken again since that night 2 days ago. Harry kept glancing at her in the common room during the weekend but if he ever caught her eye he'd look away again. He couldn't quite explain why but he was trying to avoid her. He supposed he felt guilty about what he'd done and was trying to ignore it. He desperately wanted to kiss her again, just to feel her soft touch – but he couldn't do that to his best friend. It was plain wrong.

Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulder as they walked and she smiled as she pressed her body closer to his. "So you two had fun at Hogsmeade?" he suggested.

Hermione smiled even more broadly.

"Er – yea," Ron answered throwing a mischievous look at his girlfriend.

"Well? What happened?"

Hermione giggled, "He was such a gentleman. I was cold ... so he gave me his jacket ... and then we kissed – like I mean really, really kissed!"

Harry's stomach disappeared. Memories of what had happened between him and Ginny surfaced again. Wasn't that the exact order of his night too?

"Oh ok. Cool. Yanno er – if you ever want me to leave you two alone you just have to say so," he teased.

Ron laughed. "Sorry mate! We don't mean to ignore you or anything."

Harry shook his head "Nah, I don't mind. You're pretty cute together," he grinned. Hermione chuckled.

"There must be somebody you like , Harry?" Hermione asked when they walked down the stone front steps towards the large lake.

Harry shook his head, "Nope I've got other things on my mind," he replied.

Hermione looked at him sceptically, "You're a 16 your old boy, you don't expect me to believe you're thinking of school more than girls, do you?"

Harry looked at his feet grinning, "Yea I do, actually."

They sat by the lake, watching as the giant squid's tentacles occasionally rippling the other-wise still surface of the water. Hermione lay her head down on Ron's lap and he started stroking her hair. Harry caught Ron's eyes and gave him a wink. Ron blushed a bit and continued caressing Hermione's cheek and bushy curls. She closed her eyes.

"So, I guess Koley's been sacked then?" Harry said after a long pause.

"Mmm," Ron agreed. "She deserved it."

"I wonder what happened," Hermione said serenely. "Maybe Dumbledore gave her Veritaserum. Or maybe he gave Dean some."

"Yea."

"Wonder why she didn't go on trial though," she thought sighing peacefully. "Harry was on trial for using under-age magic when he was allowed to... surely this would have to be taken to the Wizengamot too?"

"Yea. Weird, that," Ron agreed.

"Well maybe she did go on trial? On the weekend," said Harry.

"Maybe," Hermione said slowly. Today the sun had been shining stronger than usual and this combined with Ron's stroking seemed to be lulling her into a sleep.

"Do you think Dumbledore will tell the students what happened?" Ron wondered.

"Dunno. Dean's gonna tell everyone though isn't he? So he might as well."

"Dumbledore might have ... forbidden Dean to tell," said Hermione shifting her head into a comfier position on Ron's lap.

"Oh yea. Didn't think of that."

"So what to do you reckon she was doing?" Ron asked.

The three friends continued discussing the topic and slowly their conversation drifted to other subjects. An hour later when most other students had returned to the castle and Hermione had fallen into peaceful slumber, Harry suggested they go inside.

Potions became more unbearable as the week wore on, since Snape now had extra to insult Harry on. He didn't seem to care whether what he was sneering about agreed with what lesson they were in. Things were going downhill for Harry and he still hadn't managed to talk to Ginny about what had happened.

His opportunity came that night though. Hermione and Ron and gone for a 'walk' and the rest of the Gryffindors were asleep or upstairs. Ginny sat facing firmly away from Harry, concentrating on her essay. Harry closed his eyes and plucked up his courage, "Ginny," he said walking towards her, "Can we talk for a second?"

"Sure," she indicated to the chair opposite her with her quill.

Harry sat down and rubbed his knuckles together nervously.  "Um..." I know we kissed but I don't think we should go out ... no ... I want to go out with you but we can't ...no ... It's not that I don't like you but I don't think we can be together because of Ron ...argh, no ... How about we forget we ever kissed?  ..no! .....come on –think!

 "How are you?"

How are you? HOW ARE YOU? You idiot, Harry thought to himself.

"I'm ok thanks," Ginny replied.

"Good," Harry nodded, squashing one fist inside the other.

Harry could see Ginny staring at him, although his eyes were focused on the second-hand feathers sticking up at odd angles from her quill.

There was an awkward silence. "You wanted to talk about something?" Ginny asked.

"Er yea. Yea I did," Harry nodded now squeezing his index finger so the blood circulation was almost cut off. "It's just that – um... it's Wednesday today and er – on Friday – we er ... well you know what we did."

"We kissed."

"Yea. Yea, and um I haven't talked to you since then. S-sorry." This was harder than he thought it would be.

"That's ok. Why didn't you?"

Harry still wasn't looking at her eyes, "Um because I didn't think we should yanno – that we should be together ... because ... because of Ron."

She tried to catch his eye but he stared fixatedly at her quill.

"Oh," said Ginny timidly. "Well um... why not?"

"He's my best friend and your brother!"

"So?"

Harry's hands were starting to sweat now. "Sorry I kissed you."

"Why be sorry? There's nothing to be sorry about!"

Harry swallowed.

"Harry, why should we not do something just because of Ron? The world doesn't revolve around him."

Harry nodded, "Yea but ..." he trailed off.

"But what?" she asked.

"I don't know," Harry shrugged.

Another silence fell over them. "Ok I understand what you're saying," she said finally. "How about we just don't tell Ron?"

Harry's eyes widened. What was she suggesting? "You mean like ... date in secret?"

Ginny nodded.

Relief swept over Harry. It was close to the sweetest thing he'd ever felt. He couldn't help beaming. "Ok."

Ginny giggled and grinned too. Harry laughed and her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. Harry felt like he could fly.