15

Ch 23: - Unwanted Attention.

Monday morning,

and it was cold,

and it was raining,

and snow was forecast.

Harry sat morosely eating his bacon and eggs. Ron and Hermione were side by side opposite him, Hermione reading the recently delivered and still slightly wet Daily Prophet, whilst Ron wrestled with the sports pages that Hermione had handed him out of pity. Even Hermione's brilliance had been unable to fully dry the sodden mass delivered by the paper owl. The soggy and irate bird had dripped all over Hermione's toast until she paid it double for delivery in such miserable weather.

'Bottom of the league again,' grumbled Ron, taking a drink of pumpkin juice.

Harry grunted in apparent agreement with Ron's disgust. In fact he thought the Cannons to be particularly inept this season, but didn't really need the hour long arguments that admitting this would entail.

'They're rubbish Ron, that's why!'

Harry looked round to the person who had so eloquently voiced his thoughts.

Ginny.

She held his Firebolt GTA in one hand, like a troll holds a club, handle down and with intent to kill. He thought of remonstrating with her, but the look in her eye dissuaded him. Ron was goggling at her, although Hermione just kept reading the paper quietly and munching a fresh piece of toast.

'Your broom, Mr Potter,' said Ginny coldly.

Harry put his hand out to take the broom, but as Ginny swung it towards him, it mysteriously caught his goblet of pumpkin juice and dumped the whole lot into Harry's lap. He tried to jump up, but Ginny was behind him now and he couldn't move. He could feel the juice seeping through the gown and into his trousers – in the middle of his lap.

He sat still for all of ten seconds, by which time Ginny was already leaving the hall, hand over her mouth and trying not to giggle.

Ron had recovered his composure now and was beginning to smirk, even Hermione had a tiny smile playing round the corners of her mouth. Chuckles and giggles sounded from nearby as faces turned towards the scene of the disaster. Face red, Harry gingerly levered himself off the bench, picked up his broom and made his way out of the hall, clutching his gown round him.

Most of the chuckles were good natured, except from the Slytherin table, from which Harry heard a few jeers. It sounded like they came from Crabbe and Parkinson. Draco Malfoy's voice , however, rang out loud and clear.

'OOH look! Mister Potter has we-'

Malfoy froze in mid word as Harry swung round and pointed his finger at the Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were visibly leaning away from the finger, leaving Pansy Parkinson open mouthed at the sudden change from bully to wimp. Draco tried, as he always did, to brazen it out.

'Touchy today aren't we? MISTER Potter?' he hissed.

Harry smiled slowly. 'You have something to say, Malfoy?' he asked in the tense silence that followed Malfoy's taunt. 'You have something you feel it is - Imperative- that you share with us?'

Malfoy tried to think of something to say, but nothing came out. He looked around at his house mates, but none could meet his eye. Slowly, glaring at Harry with a malevolence that could have killed at ten paces, Malfoy eased himself back onto his chair.

Harry smiled frostily.

'Thank you for your contribution, Mister Malfoy, ' he sneered then he turned and swept out of the hall.

He could hear the sound of voices growing as he walked away.

In the common room, Harry found several Gryffindor's who had finished breakfast, or were late to start. Alison and Natalie were of the latter group, and they crashed into Harry as he stepped through the porthole. Stepping back, they both saw the pumpkin juice stain on his trousers, looked at one another, looked at Ginny, and then rushed out of the Porthole trying to keep themselves from laughing.

Thanks Ginny, he thought, nice of you to tell them. He tried to ignore the stares as he made his way towards the boys' dormitory staircase, but a comment from the opposite corner made him cringe;

'That looks bad, Harry, want me to rub it dry for you?'

It sounded like Parvati.

Harry took the stairway two at a time to escape the outburst of giggling.

The sight of Ginny grinning at him did nothing for his composure at all.

- o -

Ginny was still grinning when Harry returned to the common room. The other faces had changed though, so it looked as though she was waiting for someone, probably Dean. He moved to pass her, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. He looked pointedly at the arm, but she didn't let go.

'I'm sorry, Harry,' she said, trying unsuccessfully to control her smile. 'I really hadn't intended to do that, I just saw the goblet and – well – it seemed so – so – right!'

Harry stood still, looking into her eyes, as her laughter died. Slowly he realised that he was acting like drama queen. He could feel the corners of his mouth beginning to turn up at the edges.

'Not sure about right,' he mumbled; she still had hold of his arm. 'Pity you left so quickly, you missed me frightening the life out of Malfoy.'

She lifted an eyebrow.

'He was trying to get a cheap laugh. He ended up backing away from my finger! And a reference to "imperatives".'

Ginny's nodded in understanding. 'So, something good came out of it then?'

He looked at her once more: he was enormously pleased to see that her enmity seemed to be gone. 'Yeah, one thing. I'll see you later.'

'See you later, Harry.' she replied, at once.

- o -

The lesson was going well. Much as Harry hated to say it, the lesson was going well. The Slytherins were behaving themselves, the Gryffindors were practising hard, what could go wrong?

Harry looked over the class again. The protego spell was proving tricky for one or two students. One had to try to hex the other, who then defended. Shouts of Immobilus and Protego, rang out. One or the other would stand still for a few seconds, depending on how well the defence was carried out. Most were coping admirably, - except Alison Linney.

'I'm sorry, Harry, she asked, 'could you guide me through the wand movements again, please.'

This was the third time, and Harry was wondering what was wrong with the girl. He moved over to Alison and her spell partner Natalie. Natalie seemed to think the whole thing highly amusing.

Harry stood behind Alison and held her hand. 'Like a sword stroke, 'he said, moving her arm in the correct defensive sweep.

'Like this?' she said, getting it wrong again.

'No.'

He grabbed her hand and made the sweep once more. This time she backed up until she was touching him and her hair was almost in his face. Her perfume hit him like a sledgehammer, and he was suddenly uncomfortably aware of her proximity.

For once he was grateful that they were all wearing school gowns. Natalie turned away and giggled quietly.

Harry dropped Alison's hand. She turned to him and smiled sweetly.

'Thank you, Harry, I think I've got it now.'

'Well – good, - if you could just – practice a bit more, hmmm? I'll check over the others' work.' He turned away, to see at least half a dozen other students grinning at him. He tried to hide his confusion by returning to his desk, sitting carefully down and glaring round. Alison had suddenly mastered the defensive stroke perfectly.

Nothing more was said during the lesson, and all the students filed out quietly. Alison gave him a sweet smile as she left, but that was nothing unusual. Harry relaxed at last, hoping this was just a bit of a game, which would go no further....

- o -

'A sickle for your thoughts, Harry?'

'Oh, hi Ginny.' He said, distractedly.

'Well, - what are you thinking about that makes you stare into space for five minutes at a time, Dora?'

Harry snapped back to reality. The library was filling up after dinner.

'You mean apart from the trouble I'm in for using the cruciatus curse?'

'They'll never do anything to you Harry, you know that'

'Bloody Umbridge will, if she gets a chance!' he hissed.

Ginny was taken aback for a second or two. 'Perhaps.' she said quietly, 'but it's not that, is it?'

'No,' he whispered. 'and it's not Dora. She's not – part of the equation now. You know that!'

'I'm sorry, Harry, I was just being flippant again. - So what is it?'

Harry considered sending her away with a flea in her ear for being nosy, but found he just couldn't, and she might be able to help. 'It's Dear Miss Linney, if you must know. She's still playing silly games.

'Oohh, of course.' She smiled wryly and sighed. 'I remember exactly how she feels.'

'That's no help at all.' grumbled Harry. 'I can't afford to wait a year or so before it wears off!'

Ginny's face closed up and she stared straight ahead. Harry wondered what on earth he'd said.

'Would you like me to have a word with her?' she said distantly.

Harry looked at Ginny silently until she turned to face him once more. Harry thought he could see hurt in her eyes for some reason, and a sort of sadness, but it slowly dissipated as she looked steadily back at him.

'Please.' He said quietly. 'She's a sweet kid, but I just don't need this kind of trouble, really I don't.'

Ginny nodded slowly. 'I'll speak to her tonight.'

'Don't be too hard on her, Ginny.' He asked urgently.

She looked at Harry suspiciously.

'You don't fancy her, by any chance, - do you?'

Harry looked her in the eye. 'She's pretty and sweet - and she's thirteen and a half. No, I don't "fancy" her. – I just - like - her.'

Ginny regarded Harry for a few seconds more.

'I'll speak to her tonight.'

'Thanks.'

- o -

By the time Harry reached the common room, most of the students had gone to bed. Only Ron, Hermione and a couple of seventh years were still about.

'Hi Harry,' said Hermione in greeting, 'working?'

'Yeah, and keeping out of the way.'

'What of?' asked Ron.

'Things' he mumbled, as he set off for the dorm.

'What things?' demanded Ron.

Hermione sighed and looked severely at her boyfriend. 'Things Harry doesn't want to discuss, Ron,' she growled. 'Does the word empathy mean anything at all to you?'

Harry looked back down the first few steps and smiled at the look of indignation on Ron's face. 'Never mind, mate,' he said, and continued up to bed.

- o -

Next day, Alison Linney was a completely changed girl. She didn't smile, or giggle. She didn't even look at Harry, avoiding his eye scrupulously whenever they met, which was much less often than usual. All Harry got from Ginny was a satisfied smile that spoke of a job well done.

By the end of the day, Harry was wondering what Ginny had said to reduce a bubbly cheerful girl to a wraith; he was also wondering whether Alison would ever speak to him again;

- which was why he was so surprised when she appeared at the door of his classroom after dinner. He looked up from the report he'd been writing on the third years' progress.

Alison seemed as subdued as before, but there was a determination in her movement that suggested that she had something important on her mind. She appeared to gather her resolve as she strode up to Harry's desk and stood stiffly looking at him. He waited patiently as she tried to force herself to speak.

'Harr - Mr Potter – Sir - - I – er – want to a-apologise – for - well – I -' she lapsed into an awkward silence. Harry could see tears beginning to well up in her eyes. He let the silence draw out for several seconds, but she seemed to have frozen up, simply looking at him helplessly. He was surprised she didn't turn and run, but she just stood in front of his desk looking wretched.

Finally Harry stood up and walked round his desk to stand before her. Tentatively he put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her until she raised her face to look at him. He could see the shame written in her eyes.

'Alison,' he said gently, 'It's alright.'

Alison finally found her voice once more. 'Ginny Weasley told me that you d-didn't like m-'

'I said, - it's alright!' he repeated.

'But I – I want to say sor-'

'Shhhh' he whispered, 'that's enough! I don't know why Ginny Weasley said that, because she's wrong. I don't know what else she said, either, but I didn't expect her to turn you from the life and soul of the class to one of the living dead.'

Alison finally stopped trying to explain, and simply stared at him. 'Y-you don't h-hate me?' she finally managed.

'No, I don't. - Look, I know you were just having fun, but as a teacher, I simply can't accept that sort of behaviour. I'm supposed to be in charge of the class, not playing games with the pretty girls. In effect, during that class, I'm your guardian.'

Alison was now looking at him in what appeared to be slight awe. In a very small voice, she said, 'I'm sorry, H-Harry, it's just that you've been so kind this term that I thought – well – ' She stopped but after a few seconds simply stared at the floor and sighed, 'I'm so sorry.'

Harry was suddenly overcome with the urge to hug her. The image of him and his little sister welcoming his father home from Askaban had reared up out of his memory; only this time the sister was Alison.

A mad thought stirred in his brain.

'One kiss.' he said. 'I'll give you one kiss.'

Half of his mind started beating on the closed window of his conscience, begging it to come out to stop this madness. The other half was resolutely marching forward, certain that the girl needed some recompense for the fright Ginny had obviously given her.

A look of hope slowly appeared on Alison's face. 'Just the one?' she said wistfully.

'Just the one.' repeated Harry. 'For the fright Ginny Weasley gave you; and no more!'

Alison hesitated, but eventually nodded slowly. He gently drew her towards him, noticing once again how small she was. He bent down as her face rose to his. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing slowly.

The kiss was totally innocent, but from the effect it had on Harry it might just as well have been one of Dora's!

He broke the kiss and watched Alison sway for a second as he let her go, then panicked when she put her arms round him and hugged him tight. She tensed as she realised the effect she'd had on him, but the tension was momentary and then she snuggled against him in a manner so familiar that it frightened Harry far more than he'd ever thought a girl could.

After a while Harry managed to gently disentangle himself from Alison and stood back. Once more he thanked Merlin that he was wearing a cloak. She was more relaxed now and looked up at him with a hint of confidence.

'Thank you, Harry.' she said quietly.

'That's it, no more.' He reminded her; she nodded. 'You'd better get back to the common room, then.'

Alison nodded once more, whereupon her newfound confidence seemed to desert her and she rushed for the door. Harry expected her to hare through it and disappear, but he was wrong. She stopped and turned to look at him, and he saw she was smiling shyly.

Her voice held a hint of pride and a touch of mischief as she spoke. 'At least now I know that you really do think of me as one of the pretty girls.'

He realised she was looking down at his waist level.

Slowly her smile was replaced by a look of sadness, and her last words before she left the classroom were much softer, - almost a whisper. 'I'll see you in my dreams, Harry.'

- o -

'HARRY POTTER! What the blue blazes do you think you're DOING!'

Harry jerked his head up as the door was flung back by Ginny Weasley. She stormed into classroom fourteen and marched up to his desk.

'Are you completely MAD?' she yelled, 'Have you taken leave of ALL your senses?'

Harry just sat there stunned. He wondered how Ginny could possibly know about the kiss! It had only happened an hour before – then he realised – the link must have worked again!

But why hadn't she got there even quicker? Had she gone to punish Alison?! He mentally cringed back against the wall, trying desperately to work out some sort of defence of his behaviour. 'She, - you, I – ' he stuttered, 'I – I really didn't think the link would work again!'

Ginny was staring balefully at him, though at his words she started slightly. 'It didn't, thank Merlin! The last thing I want to see is you kissing some third year! What on earth were you doing? I spent an HOUR knocking some sense into that child and what do you do? – Well? – What do you do?'

'I try to cheer her up when she comes to apologise in tears!' Apology was turning to anger as he remembered the wraithlike Alison of the morning.

Ginny flinched slightly at his obvious wrath. 'I didn't tell her to apologise!'

'But she was so sorry, that she did! She said you'd told her I didn't like her. I don't know what else you said, Ginny, but you crushed her!'

'You asked me to help!' Ginny said defensively, 'I did what I thought was necessary!'

Harry regarded her silently as she glared at him. He could see her eyes slide sideways every so often, though, and he just knew she had begun to realise how harsh she had really been. She opened her mouth to speak, but he forestalled her.

'So, how did you find out then?' he growled.

Ginny grabbed the lifeline with both hands. 'I just happened to hear her talking to MacDonald. They were in the 6th floor corridor, trying to raise their patronuses.' She looked uncomfortable. 'I gave them the roasting of their lives, Harry!' she said carefully.

He looked severely at her.

'I daren't let them breathe a word of what you did!' she continued. 'They could destroy you with a single misplaced word!'

Harry realised Ginny was actually frightened for him, and the anger slowly abated as understanding took its place. 'Hmph. - Well - maybe you're right, - I just hope you haven't crushed Alison again. She was one of the living dead all today. It hurt just to watch!'

Ginny sighed. 'I – I' better go and check I suppose. I didn't realise you cared so much for her. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though.'

Harry glanced at her, to see a look of dejection on her face. She seemed to shrink inside herself as Harry watched.

'Why?' he asked. 'What do you mean, care for her? I like her, that's all.'

'Are you sure, Harry?' murmured Ginny. 'Are you really sure?'

Harry just nodded, wondering what on earth was wrong.

Ginny slowly stood up straight. 'I told you the two of them were trying to raise a Patronus.' She started toward the door.

'One of them managed it Harry,' she said over her shoulder, 'Alison managed to raise a full corporeal patronus.' She stopped at the door and turned. 'She was telling MacDonald that she used the memory of your kiss to power it.'

Harry just stared at Ginny. He was astounded and proud of Alison; the youngest Gryffindor to master the patronus charm, apart from himself. There was more though, he could sense it.

Ginny opened the door and stood with her hand on the latch. 'I saw her patronus, Harry' she said, 'It's a Hind.'

She was gone before he had a chance to take a breath.

Harry had sat down at his desk and thought for several hours after Ginny left. Alison's patronus was a hind! The female of the stag.

Was this a sign?

Harry didn't really believe in signs and portents, or any of the other more nebulous magical enthusiasms. The memory of Alison as his sister, however, and the insanity of his desire to kiss her, made him wonder if she was really the girl he was supposed to love, instead of Ginny Weasley.

By the time he'd had to refresh the candles for the third time, he was no further toward a resolution of his problems, so he gave up and went back to the tower.

All the other students were thankfully in bed, and after sitting for another half an hour staring into the fire, he too climbed the staircase to the dormitories - and a troubled sleep.