Chapter 5: "Ginny's secret"

When Harry entered the room, Draco and Ron were each sitting in separate beds not speaking and throwing malicious looks to each other, Hermione was chatting with Ginny and Luna was staring at Draco and Ron as if they were having the most interesting conversation she had ever heard.

"Hi guys." Harry said.

"Harry, how are you?" Luna said.

"Hello, Luna, I'm fine, you?"

"I'm fine, you sleep here."

"Yeah, I know that..."

"Harry, can I talk to you?" Luna said.

"Yeah, sure, c'mon, let's go outside." Harry took Luna into the room he had been talking with Sirius and they remained silent for a few minutes when Luna finally began to say something.

"I have to tell you this, Harry, I know you'll hate me when I end, but you need to know it."

"What is it?"

"I know that Ginny still likes you, you know that too. She told me a few minutes ago that she would really like you to know, but did not know how to say it. She was afraid to lose you."

"So? What's the news?"

"Well, the news is that you should do something about that..."

"Does she know that you're telling me this?"

"Yes and here comes the part when I think you're going to hate me with all your might. She's waiting outside... and I assured her that I'd convince you to talk to her."

"I don't hate you! It is just that... I'm not sure I'll have the courage to tell her how I feel ..."

"Do you like her?"

"Yes." Harry said, feeling his face going red.

"So? You should tell her that! Why don't you just try?"

"Ok, I will try. Tell her to come in."

"Ginny, come in! Harry will talk to you!"

"What are you doing? You'll wake Mrs. Black up!" Harry whispered.

"Didn't they tell you, Harry? Mrs. Black's portrait was finally taken out by Dumbledore!"

"Good, now make her come in; and close the door! You on the out side."

"Harry! Be nice to her!" Ginny said as she entered.

"All right, all right, I'll try. You have to admit she's weird."

"I know, but she's my friend"

"She told me." He interrupted.

"I know, Harry, and if you don't feel the same, I'll understand."

"Wait, wait. I feel the same; the thing is we are going to have to hide it for some time. Your brother would kill me if he knows I am dating you. Believe me, he is overprotective with you."

"You mean..."

"Yup, I do." Harry said and kissed her slowly and in a sweet way. "I think it's better to tell them now." Harry said after they separated. Ginny's face had acquired a beautiful magenta...

"Why?"

"Because we can't use magic outside school, he can't hurt me here. And, besides, let's face it, your brother isn't the best in muggle duelling."

"Yeah, you're right. He will not do anything in front of Loony; he says he does not want to embarrass himself in front of her because she would tell her father to publish it in the Quibbler. I think he likes her."

"Ron? Nah, I do not think so. He hates her, or that's at least what he tells me."

"People change Harry, people change."

"Ok, let's tell them now." Harry said trying not to talk about Ron's situation and feelings about Luna, and they left the room holding hands.

When they got to the door of the bedroom, they looked at each other.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked.

"I think so."

They opened then door and found that they were all in the same positions as they had left them. Draco and Ron were exchanging one or two malevolent looks, but then Ron heard them laughing at the scene.

"What are you laughing at?" He snapped.

"You" Ginny said simply.

"Ok, guys, we have to tell you something. As you are our friends, you'll be the first to know." Harry said.

"Hey, Malfoy, the term 'friends' doesn't include you! Out!" Ron snapped.

"Ron! He is one of ours now! He'll stay!" Hermione said. Draco stared at her, as if she had confessed she loved him.

"Who says?" Ron asked.

"I do!"

"It's ok, Granger, I'll be outside, call me when you have finished your geek talk." Draco said.

"Oh no! No, no, no! You are staying!" Hermione said.

"Why?" Malfoy asked, surprised at Hermione's politeness with him.

"Because I want you to stay." She said and then continued going red in her face. "What is it Harry?"

"Well, we are kind of... err..." Harry began.

"Dating..." Ginny finished whose face had now acquired a beautiful colour between red and purple.

"That... yeah." Harry agreed.

"WHAT?!" Ron shouted.

"We are dating." Harry said, now he was scared that Ron might do or say something stupid. "Ron, I know it's your little sister, but I promise I won't hurt her. In fact, let's do something; if I ever hurt her in any way, you get to hex me. I swear I love her." When Harry said 'I love her', Ginny looked at him in surprise.

"You love me? Really?" She said.

"Yeah, I do." Harry said. "What? Didn't you know?" He said and kissed Ginny on her forehead. "What?" He added, seeing that Hermione had rolled her eyes.

"I'm tired of saying this, Harry, but you, like Ron, have the sensitive level of a sponge... she's not a Seer, Harry, how could you expect her to know, if you hadn't told her! God, God, I'd kill you!" Hermione said.

"Hey, hey, this is my sister, remember?" Ron said suddenly.

"So, what do you think? You have two choices, either you hex me as soon as we get to school, or you accept that your future brother-in-law is a show-off freak with a scar. You choose..."

"I'd choose the first one, Weasley, I can help you..." Draco said and then laughed. "Hey, I'm just joking!" He added, seeing their faces, well, the only one who seemed to be exploring an exciting new Universe was Luna...

"Ok, choose, Ron! I'm not going to be here all night long." Hermione said.

"It's ok, mate, if you hurt her in any way, you already know what's coming." Ron said and clapped Harry's hand.

"Umm... Draco, Luna, why don't you come with me, you too Ron, I need you to help me unpack." Hermione said.

When Ron was about to leave the room, he whispered to Harry. "Since when does she call him by his first name?" Harry knew that "him" meant Malfoy, but shrugged his shoulders, as he neither cared nor knew why she was being so nice with Malfoy.

"I knew she'd do that!" Ginny said.

"What?"

"Hermione, she wanted to leave us alone."

"And tell me, what's wrong with that?" He said as they both lied down on Harry's bed.

"Nothing at all, it's just that I knew she was going to do that. She wants us to talk about what will happen to us once we get to school."

"Why? What will happen when we get to school?"

"If you hadn't noticed, I am a year behind you, Harry... I won't be able to meet you very often... fifth year is one of the hardest years at Hogwarts, you know?"

"Yeah, I did it last year... but we'll manage, don't worry, we're in the same house. We'll meet in the common room every break and then I'll manage to help you with your homework on weekends."

"You have it all figured out, don't you?" Ginny asked, quite amazed by Harry's fast arrangements.

"Yeah, I guess I got a bit excited with our relationship."

"Yeah, but I like it." She said smiling and kissed him.

"Are we telling your parents now? I don't know how your mother is going to react..."

"She adores you, Harry! She almost worships you! If we ever broke up, she would get mad at me, not you. Don't worry."

"Why don't we tell them first thing tomorrow? I'll tell Sirius tomorrow too."

"Ok, now I should really go to sleep, I wouldn't want my mother to find us awake and together in the same bed..."

"Yeah, me neither." Harry said laughing.

Ginny got up from the bed and felt something holding her robes. It was Harry.

"What? No good-night kisses?" He said smiling. Ginny kissed him and when she was about to leave, Harry said. "Hey, Gin, can I call you that?"

"Yeah, sure." She answered.

"Ok, tell Draco and Ron to come here, tell them I have to speak to them."

"About what?"

"I really think they should be kind to each other." Seeing Ginny's sceptical face, which made her resemble a lot to Ron, he added. "Yeah, ok, I know that's never going to happen, I know it, but they should at least talk to each other without insulting or hexing each other."

"Well, I did hex Malfoy last year..."

"I know, but it was in self-defence. I trust Draco now, you know. He seems honest."

"Yeah, maybe we just have to give him a chance to show he's changed."

"That's exactly what I mean. Maybe I can do something with them... you aren't as stubborn as your brother, are you? Because if you are, we have a problem..."

"No, I'm not, don't worry. Ok, I will go get them. Bye, see you in the morning."