Perfect Truth

Harry looked at Hermione and then back down at his parchment. After a minute he looked at her again, opened his mouth and then changed his mind. The third time he did it Hermione's head snapped up. "What is it Harry?" She said.

"It's...nothing."

"Harry?"

"It's just... Does any thing seem off about to you?"

"No... Why; have you noticed anything?"

Hermione stared at him, her eyes bright with anticipation of a puzzle and Harry tried to put into words what it was. "She's not talking to me; I mean, she talks to me but we don't talk."

Hermione looked torn between confusion and amusement as she said, "Have you had a fight with her Harry? Did you say something to her?"

Harry stared at her and said, "Why does everyone keep assuming this is my fault?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Everyone?"

"Ron."

"Oh. Well I don't know. I've never fought with Ginny."

"I'm not fighting with her!"

Hermione's maddeningly calm as she said, "Well what's the problem then?"

"She never sits near me in the Great Hall of the Common Room any more, she tells me she doesn't need help with Transfiguration and she runs off after every Quidditch practise saying she has to study and... What is so funny?"

Hermione wiped a grin off her face and said, "Nothing Harry. It is Ginny's OWL year you know; she's probably really busy."

Harry glared at her and said, "She's never been too busy for me before!" He realised how much of a prat he sounded and stood up. "I'm going to go talk to her," he said.

Hermione nodded. "I think that's probably a good idea Harry," she said, sounding as though she was trying to restrain laughter. "This is obviously really bothering you."

Harry stared at her for a moment – wanting to contradict her, though what she said was actually true. He made his way out of the Common Room, trying to think where Ginny might be. He dimly remembered Colin Creevey saying that Professor Sinistra was going to talk them about their essays – the Astronomy Tower was probably the best bet then.

When he finally got there several fourth years were outside but the was no Ginny. He looked at one who seemed vaguely familiar and said, "Is Ginny Weasley round?" The girl smiled and said, "She went in a few minutes ago. She won't be long." Harry thanked her and sat down to wait.

It had only been a minute or two when Ginny came out – her cheeks rosy and a broad smile illuminating her face. She held a roll of parchment up and said, to the girl Harry had spoken to, "O in Astronomy. Pretty good don't you think!"

Harry stood up and her grin fell off her face, though she said, "Hi Harry!" very brightly indeed. He moved closer to her and said, "Can I talk to you?" Ginny looked confused but nodded and followed him back down the Astronomy Tower. They walked through an empty corridor – Ginny shooting him looks every few minutes but not saying anything. He realised that she was waiting for him to start and said, "What's up Ginny?"

"Oh nothing much. Quidditch, essays, trying to set up Neville and Luna; you know, the usual."

He caught her elbow and turned her round to face. "I don't mean that Ginny," he said, "I mean, how come you're not talking to me?"

She bit her lip but said nothing and he continued, staring down at her though she refused to meet his eyes, "Is it something I said? Did I annoy you – more than usual I mean? Or what? Just, you know, tell me."

Ginny took a deep breath and tried to move away from him, but he was still holding her elbow. She looked up at him and said, "It's nothing like that Harry. I'm not angry with you."

Harry stared at her, mystified, and said, "Well what is it then?"

"It's... You're really not making this easy for me."

Harry, feeling more than a little desperate, stared down at her and said, "Did I hurt your feelings or something?"

Ginny giggled and said, "Did you think of that yourself? Hermione would be proud."

"Well? Did I?"

She sighed and said, "No you didn't. It's just me that's all."

He stared at her and said, "What?"

"Never mind Harry. You wouldn't understand."

He shook his head, completely confused, and said, "But I could try."

Ginny laughed, shaking out her long hair, and said, "It's okay Harry; you don't have to. Do you want to go get dinner?"

"Yeah but..."

Harry followed her, feeling as though Ginny, or perhaps he himself, had missed something important. He listened to her story about a trick Seamus Finnegan had played on Colin Creevey, and the retribution she intended to exact on Colin's behalf – Harry laughed in all the right places but couldn't help but notice that she was looking not exactly at him as she spoke.

Author's Note

The chapter title comes from a line in Jane Austen's "Emma", "Seldom does perfect truth belong to any encounter."