It was the day before Christmas break. Everyone was getting ready to go home, except for Harry, Ron, and Ginny. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone to see Bill for Christmas, and even if they were home, Harry wouldn't be allowed to leave. The Order was so worried of an attack that Tonks and Dumbledore never let Harry out of their sight. Harry walked into his dormitory that afternoon and saw Ron sitting on his bed, with the gold necklace in his hand.
"You didn't give it to her yet?" Harry asked,
"I'm too afraid. I mean... what if she just looks at me funny and throws it in my face?" Ron said.
"What if she takes it?"
"What if she doesn't?"
"Don't worry about it. Chances are that she'll take it even if she does look at you funny. Women are like that."
Ron sighed. "Alright. I'll give it to her."
"You better hurry. She's leaving in an hour." Ron stood up and then sat back down.
"I can't do it."
"Yes you can and you will." Harry grabbed his arm and dragged him to the common room. "Look there she it. Just go over there and give it to her." Ron nodded and walked toward Hermione. Harry decided that he really didn't want to see her reaction, so he went back into the dormitory. Neville was packing his trunk. "I'm surprised they let you go home. I can't go outside without being yelled at." Harry said.
"Well I'm not the prime target." Neville said. "And besides, I live like right next to headquarters."
"You do?"
"Yeah, and I never knew it. They'll keep my house guarded twenty-four seven. And if someone does try to kill me, I have a little bit of a chance to guard myself now. Where were you taking Ron?" Neville asked
"To talk to Hermione. It's so stupid that they fight all the time." Harry said.
"Yeah. I kind of feel bad for him, because I was in the same type of situation last year. But it gets better."
"With who?"
Neville smiled. "Ginny. But I have a new girl to chase now." He grabbed a bag off of his bed and walked out the door. The covers of Semus's bed opened, and he looked out. Harry was shocked. Did he hear what they had said about the Order?
"Geeze. Who would have thought Neville was such a party animal. And with Ginny Weasley too. The very friendly person of Gryffindor..."
"What?"
"She's been with almost every boy in Gryffindor. Except the first years, and Ron... and you. Don't know what she does with them though." Harry wanted to say something back, but instead he walked away. The very friendly person of Gryffindor? He went down into the common room and looked for Ron. Ron wasn't there, neither was Hermione. Must be a good sign, Harry thought. He spotted Ginny leaving the common room.
"Ginny! Wait up!" Harry called. She stopped in the hallway and waited for him. "I was just talking to Semus -"
"Let me guess. The 'very friendly person of Gryffindor' right?"
"Yeah."
"He's been saying that ever since I broke up with him. Just because I've dated a lot doesn't mean anything. All of the boys in Gryffindor are jerks, and Semus is the king of the jerks." She started walking away, and Harry followed her.
"What do you mean we're all jerks?"
"Most boys are. All they do is whine and complain about the girl. Like it's her fault."
"You lost me."
She sighed. "Harry... if you want to make it better then go kill Semus for me. If not then leave me alone."
What? Harry thought. "Ginny?" he said, but she turned and walked away.

Harry didn't see Ron the rest of that day. They must have made up, Harry thought. Fred and George were right. Harry couldn't get Ginny to talk to him. I must be part of the boys that are jerks group now. Since he really didn't have anyone to talk to, Harry decided to walk around the school. Somehow he ended up by Dumbledore's office. He thought about going up there to beg Dumbledore to let him leave, but he knew that it was useless. He kept walking. Maybe I could go check on Hedwig, he thought. Harry heard the statue in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office move. He turned around to see who it was, but no one was there.

That night, Harry came into his dormitory after saying good bye to his friends that were leaving. The sheets on Ron's bed were closed. He fell onto his own bed and looked at the ceiling. Okay, now what? he thought. Just then Ginny walked into the room. She went over toward Harry and leaned closer to him.
"Did you hear what happened?" she whispered. Harry shook his head. She pulled him up and pointed next to Ron's bed. The locket was lying on the floor, its chain had been broken in two places. Ginny pulled him out of the room and closed the door. "She broke it and threw it back at him. I take back what I said about Ron being a jerk. Now Hermione's the one being a jerk."
Harry sighed. "Have you talked to him?"
"No, no one has. He's been in there for almost two hours now."
"Two hours? I told him to give the necklace to her in the morning."
"Well apparently he didn't until dinner. Right in the middle of the great hall too. Malfoy's going to have a field day when he comes back."
"If he does I'll kill him." Harry said. "I've needed a reason to kill him."
Ginny laughed. "Well I'd help, but that would get me into too much trouble. I have limits on how much I can torture a person, unlike my brothers. See if you can talk to him." she said, and then she walked down the hall and into the girl's dormatories. Harry went back into the room and walked to Ron's bed. He felt like he should try to talk to Ron, but he knew that Ron probably didn't want to be bothered. He went to the common room instead.

"Hi Harry." Mark said. Harry was lying on a couch in the common room, looking up at the ceiling.
"What're you doing here?" Harry asked
"I couldn't go home."
"Why?"
"Dunno. Dumbledore just told me I couldn't."
"Oh."
"There was some guy walking around looking for you. He didn't look like a student." Mark said
"What did he look like?"
"Kinda tall... looks like a professor but I've never seen him here before."
Remus, Harry thought. "He was a professor a few years ago." But why is he looking for me?
"You know him then?" Mark asked
"Yeah."
"Oh. That's good. Why is he looking for you?"
"Dunno."
"So why aren't you going home, Harry?"
"I can't. They're afraid I'll die. Like I can't protect myself." Harry said.
"Yeah, you'd think they'd let you leave. You've protected yourself before."
"Exactly. They're paranoid. They want to protect me in case I get attacked."
"Well if there are a bunch of death eaters, then you might need some help." Mark said. Harry sighed and got up. He walked into the hall and looked around. Maybe I can find Remus and see what he wants, Harry thought. Well the most likely place is in Dumbledore's office. Harry went up the hall that led to the entrance to Dumbledore's office. But when he tried the password, it didn't work. Dumbledore had changed the password.
"Great." Harry said. He tried a few words, but they didn't work either. Harry sighed and swore at the statue.
"Swearing won't get you anywhere." said a picture of an old looking wizard.
"Shut up." Harry walked back down the hall. He didn't know where else to look. I should probably stay in the common room, it's easier to look for someone if they stay in one place, he thought. Harry climbed through the portrait hole and went straight up to his dormitory. The sheets of Ron's bed were still closed. "Ron?" Harry said. "Hello?"
"What?" Ron said.
"You can't stay in there forever."
"Yes I can."
"No you can't."
"Shut up." Ron said. "You're lucky that my wand's out there. I'm about ready to kill you."
"Why? What did I do?"
Ron sighed. "Nothing."
"Ron?" Harry said, but Ron didn't respond. My day is getting better by the second, Harry thought.