Chapter 4

A week passed. Ginny was in the library, trying to finish up her potions essay. She'd been sitting there for almost an hour already, but she had too much on her mind to write about how to make a stronger shrinking potion.

Dean still hadn't let up on Ginny. He didn't hit her as harsh as he did at first, as long as Ginny kept pretending to be his girlfriend. The only thing she refused to do was kiss him in front of his friends, and she got slapped for that a few times.

All of the stress from Dean was catching up to Ginny. It was making her sick and caused her to throw up every night. She had nightmares about when he pulled her into that room. She cried a lot, asking herself why Dean had to put her in this position. She hated Dean with every ounce of hatred she had, but she was too scared to do anything about it.

But even through all of Ginny's terror, there was something that kept her from just finishing herself off right then. And that thing was Harry.

She had had a small, childish crush on him back in first year, but she quickly got over him. She was only eleven, which was much too young to be in 'love.' She started to date other guys, much to Ron's disapproval. But when she got back on the train just last week, she realized what it was about Harry that she liked so much.

It was the way he'd changed that Ginny was attracted to at first. He wasn't that skinny, awkward boy he had always been. He was a strong, fit, confident man. His face was still the same, but Ginny had ignored it...until now.

She loved his gorgeous, green eyes. They reminded her of a beautiful, emerald necklace she'd found in first year, before she found the diary. She kept it under her shirt all the time, in fear of someone noticing it and taking it away. She never took it off, except when she slept. That's how she lost it in second year. A house elf must have taken it by mistake.

But while they were talking on the bus, she figured out how nice and easy-going Harry was. He treated her just like any of his friends, not like she was any younger. Living in a family with so many older brothers, she'd never known what it was like to be treated this way by another guy.

"Ginny?" Hermione had walked in and lightly tapped her on the shoulder.

Ginny jumped. "Oh, hi, Hermione."

Hermione smiled. "Hi. Do you mind if I sit here?"

Ginny pushed aside some of her books. "No, go ahead."

Hermione set her books on the table and took the seat. Biting her lip, she watched Ginny scratch her quill on her parchment. Hermione was trying to figure out how to ask Ginny what was going on.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Ginny, is...is something bothering you?"

Ginny dipped her quill in her ink. "What do you mean?"

Hermione sighed. "Well, you just haven't been acting the way you usually do. Is everything ok?"

Ginny looked up. "Em...yeah, Hermione. Everything...everything's great." Ginny turned back to her parchment, her heart beating fast. She knows, Ginny thought. Oh great, how does she know?

Hermione blew her bangs out of her face. She knew this wasn't going to be easy.

"Are you sure? There's nothing going on with your classes, or Ron? Or...Dean?"

Ginny looked up again, sharply. "Um. No! No...it's...nothing, everything's fine."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. Ginny's eyes were blinking faster and faster. She looked around to make sure no one was listening, and leaned in closer to Ginny. Her voice just over a whisper, she said, "Listen, Ginny. I know something's wrong...with you and Dean. I saw you guys a couple of days ago at dinner. He was trying to kiss you and you wouldn't let him."

Ginny's eyes widened. "So? I just didn't feel like kissing him then."

"Do you ever feel like kissing him? If I were you, I wouldn't." Hermione dropped her voice even more. "Because I saw him slam your leg with his under the table."

Ginny's heart stopped for a second. "No...that was...an accident."

"It didn't look like one to me."

Ginny furrowed her brows. Slamming her books shut, she shoved all of her things in her bag and sat up. Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she pushed her chair under the table.

"Nothing's wrong, Hermione. Just let me alone and keep yourself out of my business." She stormed out of the library, tears filling her eyes at the thought of what Dean would do to her if he knew people were figuring things out.

Hermione threw her head back and covered her eyes with her hands. "Sure, let me talk to her, she's only gonna be furious with me for the rest of time," she muttered to herself.

Taking out a book, she rested her head on her hand and studied.

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest, walking fast away from the library. She looked at her feet, a million thoughts going through her head. How does Hermione know? Why can't Dean just let me go? What if other people figure it out? What if Ron figures it out? Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she blinked them back. Just forget it.

She kept looking at the ground, wiping her eyes. She didn't notice Harry, who was reading over a page in a book and heading towards the library. She slammed right into him, making his books and papers fly across the floor.

Ginny looked up. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Quickly, she scrambled to pick up his papers.

Harry sighed. "I'm going to have to put those all back in order." He ran his hand through his messy, black hair.

"I'm sorry." She sat down and sighed. "Oh, I ruin everything." She couldn't blink back those tears that were itching to fall from her eyes now, and she just sat there and tried to wipe them away.

Harry looked down at her. "Ginny, it's ok. It's not that big of a deal, it won't take me that long." He sat down next to her and picked up his papers.

"No, let me do it, it's my fault. Everything's my fault, just add this one." She tried to wipe her face clean with her robe.

"Ginny! What is all your fault?" Harry asked.

Ginny's voice broke and tears ran down her face. "Nothing."

Harry sat back. "You're a horrible liar, I hope you know."

Ginny smiled for a quick second, but continued to cry.

Harry awarded himself for making Ginny smile, and went on to ask, "Now, you can tell me. What's wrong?"

Ginny's choked and started to sob, her shoulders shaking furiously. She kicked herself inside for falling for Harry's charm. He made her want to tell him so badly, but she knew she couldn't. Ginny couldn't help bawling into her arms. The sleeve of her robe was soaked as she tried to wipe away the flow of tears falling from her eyes.

It pained Harry to see Ginny cry like this. He could feel his own eyes sting slightly as he pulled her into a hug on the ground. Ginny buried her face in his chest, still sobbing. She tried to wipe her eyes, so she wouldn't get Harry's robe wet with her tears.

"It's ok," Harry whispered. "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me, I was just..." He felt horrible for making his best friend's little sister cry.

Ginny broke away from Harry. Looking at her feet, she whispered in a broken voice, "No...it's not...not your fault." Sniffling and shuddering, she said, "I'm sorry. I...I want to tell you, but I can't." Ginny rubbed her eyes. "I just c-can't."

Harry and Ginny just sat there in the hallway, Harry holding Ginny in his arms and Ginny crying on Harry's shoulder.

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Dean spit on the ground. He was standing against the wall with his hands in his pockets, waiting for Ginny. Where is she? he thought to himself angrily. I told her to be here twenty minutes ago.

He was about to leave, when he saw her walking towards him. Her eyes were red and puffy and her face looked horrible. He wondered why she'd been crying, but at the moment, he didn't really care.

"Where were you?" he asked angrily. "I've been waiting here for 20 minutes!"

"I'm know, Dean. I had to take care of something," she replied coldly.

Dean stomped his left foot. "When I say 5 sharp, I don't mean 20 after!" He grabbed her arm and hooked it in his.

"C'mon, we're going outside."

"Why?" She walked with him.

"Because I say so." He picked up his pace and opened the door to go outside.

Ron was sitting outside on a bench. Smiling, Dean walked over to the other side of the courtyard and sat down. He motioned for Ginny to sit down next to him and put his arm around her waist. Ginny glanced at his hand and stared off into space coldly.

Ron looked up from the book he was reading. He watched Dean and Ginny, making sure they weren't going to do anything. Even though he had let up on Ginny a little after she yelled at him, he still didn't want Ginny to get hurt.

"I'm want to kiss you." Dean said.

"No." Ginny kept gazing out in space.

"Your brother's watching."

Ginny looked up. Ron realized Ginny had seen him and turned away, but still made sure to watch in the corner of his eye. Ginny sighed. She couldn't let Ron see Dean hurt her.

Dean smiled. He moved closer to Ginny and tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. Pulling her face forward, he placed a kiss on her lips. Ginny frowned, but remembered that Ron was watching. She placed a hand on Dean's shoulder and kissed him back.

Ron stood up furiously. He was about to stomp over and punch Dean for kissing Ginny, but he thought about it. She's just kissing, he assured himself. She's old enough for that. He sat back down, but kept watching them.

Ginny had seen Ron stand up. She broke apart for a second, but Dean raised his eyebrows and leaned Ginny on her back. He forced his lips back onto Ginny's, fully aware that Ron had an eye on them. Slowly, he moved his hand to her bent knee. He started to run it down her thigh.

Ron couldn't take anymore. He had nothing else on his mind right then but to hurt Dean, and very badly. He ran across the yard and forcefully grabbed Dean's arm. Clenching his teeth, he pulled Dean to his feet and pushed him against the wall. He didn't care how he hurt him, or that Dean had his wand and he didn't, but he went too far with Ginny.

"Ron!" Ginny got up and pushed her brother back. "Ron! It's ok!"

Ron looked down at Ginny. "Ginny, it's not ok."

"Yes, it is, Ron! Just let him be! It's fine!"

Looking at Ginny again, he took a step back. Glaring at Dean, he walked backwards toward his bench, and turned around.

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took a while to get up. I've been writing little bits everyday when I have time, but I've been busy lately. Well, don't forget, review! Thanks.