A/N: Another chapter, jus coz u guys r such great reviewers! This mite b the last chappie b4 xmas, as ive only jus started da next one, ill jus av 2 see ow it goes! I've now set a second review challange...who reckons we can reach 400 before xmas? Angel raises hand Just me? Well we can try, can't we? We're doing so well! Go team Casus belli! Hugs n Smiles, Angel x

Chapter 26- Cat among the pixies

A piercing scream made Harry's ears burn. The room turned black. The silence rung in Harry's ears. He had to do something, but his body was paralyzed. The large doors swung open, and light slithered into the room. Harry closed his eyes as he was blinded once more, and unconsciousness closed the scene...

Harry opened his eyes sharply, ready to get up and help Ginny, for he was sure it was her screaming, but found that he was no longer in the Great Hall. He was lying in the middle of his dormitory, with his blankets wound tightly around him.

'Morning Harry.' Ron said ordinarily, as he strolled out of the bathroom. 'Ready for lessons?'

'Do I look like I'm ready?' Harry tried to ask seriously, but ended up grinning. He untangled himself from his cocoon, and put on his dressing gown.

'Don't worry.' Ron said, spiking his hair in the mirror. 'Lessons don't start for an hour.'

Harry picked up his uniform, and was about to tell Ron of his nightmare, when Ron spoke again:

'Hermione's not up yet.' He said sadly. 'She's not in the library, or the Great Hall. I asked Lavender, but she hasn't seen Hermione either.'

'So…Do you like Hermione, or am I barking up the wrong tree?' Harry asked, sitting on his bed.

'What about a tree?' Ron questioned tiredly.

'Never mind…Do you like Hermione?' Harry repeated, and Ron looked away. 'So that's a yes?'

'That's closer to a yes then a no, but more like a don't know.' Ron explained. 'I mean, that pensieve got me thinking about us, if there is an us…I mean, you saw it. It was perfect. What am I supposed to think?'

'You're not supposed to think, you're supposed to feel.' Harry said, explaining it as best he could. 'Do you love her?'

'I'm 17 years old.' Ron said, brushing off Harry's question. 'I don't love anyone…but, I think I might like her a lot. Do you think it would be worth giving it a go with Hermione?'

'That's entirely up to you.' Harry smiled, taking a step towards the bathroom. 'Ask Dean and Seamus if you want advice, they might be a little less biased.'

'But they already think I'm going out with Hermione!' Ron stressed. 'I can't ask them! What do you think?'

'I think you should leave it to Hermione.' Harry said, as he began to close the bathroom door. 'You asked her to think about it, and I'm sure when she has, she'll come to you with an answer.'

Harry arrived in the Great Hall about half an hour later, and found Hermione sitting alone at Gryffindor table. The other Marauders, Erin, and Lav, Pav and crew, were nowhere in sight.

'Where's everyone gone?' Harry asked Hermione, as he sat down next to her.

'Apparently theres some sort of notice about a dueling club in our common rooms.' Hermione droned. 'But I don't know. I wasn't really listening.'

Harry helped himself to eggs and bacon, before turning to Hermione again.

'So have you seen Ron?' He asked.

'No.' Hermione replied bluntly.

Harry poured himself some pumpkin juice.

'Have you though about the pensieve?' He asked.

'I've thought of nothing else.' Hermione sighed. 'What am I supposed to do?'

'I don't know.' Harry said, perking up at the chance to question Hermione. 'What do you think of Ron?'

'You know I think very highly of Ron.' Hermione answered, buttering some toast.

'That's not what I meant.' Harry said simply.

'I know.' Hermione replied.

'So?' Harry said.

'So, I might like him…might.' Hermione stressed. 'But he's my best friend. I don't see how this could work.'

'Of course it could work Hermione.' Harry said. 'If you wanted it to.'

'That's the thing, do I?' Hermione explained. 'I don't think I do. I mean, Ron is gorgeous, but that's it. Why ruin our whole friendship just because I think Ron's good looking?'

'So you don't love him?' Harry asked, seriously.

'No, I don't think so.' Hermione said, putting her forefinger to her lips. 'We're too young to know what love is anyway.'

'That's what Ron said.' Harry smiled sadly.

'Oh.' Hermione said, dropping her fork. 'He did?'

Harry nodded his head, and Hermione suddenly looked upset.

'Well for once Ron's actually got something right.' She said broadly, standing up. 'Me and Ron being together. That's ludicrous!'

'But you're still going to the ball with him?' Harry asked, as she picked up her bag.

'Well, yes.' Hermione answered, almost automatically. 'I mean, he doesn't love me, and I don't love him, so everything's worked out ok. Now, if he'd loved me, then we would have had problems.'

Hermione marched passionately out of the hall, and Harry was sure that she wasn't telling the whole truth, even though it made perfect sense.

For Harry, Friday's lessons were a total drag. He had to sit in between Hermione and Ron (both of whom had momentarily stooped speaking to the other), and Seamus and Dean were of very little help. By the time the final bell rang, Harry was aching to leave.

He charged out of the classroom, and straight to the common room, where he took his favorite chair by the fire, and was joined by Ron and Hermione only minutes later.

'So.' Ron said, clearing his voice in a rehearsed mannor. 'You ready to talk?'

'Yes.' Hermione replied, uniformly.

'So, the pensieve…you think…?' Ron asked, hesitantly.

'I think it was misleading.' Hermione said, calmly. 'I think it put thoughts into our heads.'

'Me too.' Ron agreed. 'I mean, I didn't have a single romantic feeling for you before I saw those memories.'

'Me either.' Hermione smiled. 'So It's all the pensieve's fault.'

'I think it is.' Ron grinned.

'And things are so much easier if we're not together.' Hermione explained.

'Yeah.' Ron agreed. 'We can just stay as we are: best friends.'

'Perfect.' Hermione said, to close the conversation.

'You know.' Harry said, looking from face to face. 'Just because something's easy, it doesn't mean it's right.'

'Thanks for the words of wisdom mate, but I think we're sorted.' Ron said, standing. 'Come for a walk?'

'Sure.' Hermione smiled, taking Ron's hand automatically, and the pair slowly sauntered away.

Harry sighed, and picked up of the table the last letter his parents had written to him. Harry suddenly felt a warmth fill his stomach, as he though of seeing them in just over a week.

'Hi Harry.' Ginny smiled, as she took the seat which Ron had previously occupied. Harry looked over Ginny's shoulder, and found that her small group of followers had stopped right behind her.

'Hey.' Harry grinned confidently, before asking cheekily: 'And how are you and your crew today?'

'Me and my crew are fine.' She replied, looking almost as if she was trying not to laugh.

'Good good.' Harry smiled. 'Would your crew like to go away for a while, so we can have a private conversation?'

Ginny turned to the girls, and they slowly left.

'Sorry.' Ginny apologized. 'They have no lives of their own.'

'It doesn't take a genius to work that out.' Harry laughed, and was surprised when Ginny joined in. He didn't expect her to make fun of her friends.

'This is nice.' Harry said, more genuinely than he had planned. 'We never get to just sit down and talk.'

'I know.' Ginny sighed. 'I'm just always busy helping them with their problems, helping them choose dress robes, telling them which boys to date…'

'Doesn't sound like you enjoy it too much.' Harry said, looking concerned.

'I don't.' Ginny said, shrugging her shoulders.

Harry smiled, thinking about how real Ginny was. She seemed to be the only down to earth girl in the whole of Hogwarts. He could understand why the other Harry had fallen for her, and wished, just a little, that the Ginny in his world was a little more like this one.

'Are you alright?' Ginny asked, putting a hand on Harry's arm.

'Fine. Just thinking.' Harry smiled. 'Fancy a trip down to the kitchens? I haven't seen the house elves in a while.'

'Me either.' Ginny replied. 'Lets go. If we hurry, the house elves will have us a batch of jam tarts done before Quidditch practice.'

Harry and Ginny trekked happily down to the kitchens, and their demands were soon met. The house elves even sorted a table and chairs for them to sit at, while they produced endless sweets and desserts.

'You know what I really fancy?' Ginny giggled, and she pilled apple pie onto her plate.

'Err…A date with Snape?' Harry suggested teasingly, and Ginny swatted him round the head.

'No.' She grinned. 'Cheesecake.'

'You would like Muffy to get Missis some cheesecake?' A black house elf asked Ginny.

'Cool.' Ginny smiled.

'Make that two.' Harry added, as he poured cream onto his chocolate cake. 'So how are you, Gin? Apart from absolutely gorgeous, of course.'

'I'm fine.' Ginny said, though there was something distant about her tone. 'And you Mr Potter?'

'I'm great.' Harry replied, stabbing his cake with his spoon. 'Christmas soon, Quidditch match on Saturday. I'm in a great mood.'

'Good good.' Ginny smiled, as she lent over for the custard and dropped a lock of hair into her cake.

Harry laughed, and Ginny stopped dead still.

'What?' She asked, raising an eyebrow. Harry laughed again, and Ginny noticed the apple slime in her hair.

'Think that's funny, do you?' Ginny asked, looking humorously murderous.

'Maybe…' Harry smiled, and Ginny flicked a spoon full of custard at Harry's face.

Harry wiped the thick yellow glupe slowly out of his eyes, before lifting up the pitcher of cream, and saying: 'This is war.'

Some time later, a very messy Harry and Ginny left the kitchens, laughing their heads off. Each carried a string tied box with cheesecake inside, under their arm, and wore enough dessert on their clothes to feed an army.

'I don't think the house elves knew what to think.' Harry laughed. 'Especially when you picked up that whole sponge cake, and shoved it in my face!'

'At least I didn't hit a house elf!' Ginny exclaimed, as she wiped jam off her neck. 'That gray house elf fell into a trifle, and it took 3 other house elves to pull it out!'

'Oh well, they needed something to do.' Harry insisted. 'You know what they're like: 'Please sir, can I get you some food? Can I wash your socks? Can I lick your shoes?' Can I jump off a cliff for you sir?

Ginny burst out laughing again, as they rounded the corner and approached the Entrance Hall.

'You know, you're the only person who can make me laugh like this.' Ginny smiled. 'I never thought I could have so much fun. I never thought I'd ever have a food fight!'

'Well this is a once off.' Harry grinned. 'I think that jam stained my shirt.'

'That's nothing!' Ginny exclaimed. 'I've got clotted cream down my bra!'

The pair began to laugh again, and Harry couldn't help noticing how beautiful Ginny looked. She was covered head to toe in cake, her hair was clumped with cream, yet she still stood confidently, with her lips formed in a perfect smile. Her eyes were large and bright, and her freckles perfectly placed. She was the only girl Harry could think of, who always looked perfect.

'Harry?' Ginny questioned, and Harry's stomach suddenly fluttered. 'We need to head to Quidditch.'

'Oh yeah.' Harry said clearing his voice, and turning to walk in the other direction. 'I forgot. Match on Saturday.'

'After Hogsmeade.' Ginny grumbled. 'I'm going to be pooped after a day of shopping.'

'You and Hermione are going, aren't you?' Harry asked, and got a nod in reply. 'I think I'll drag Ron to Honeydukes. Can't have too many sweets.'

'Well I've got to choose a dress robe for the ball.' Ginny sighed. 'I have no idea what to get.'

'You'll look nice in anything.' Harry smiled. 'Trust me.'

'Well anything's better than that awful old yellow thing I wore last time.' Ginny joked.

Harry chuckled, thinking of Ginny's second hand Yule ball dress, before it hit him.

'Wait.' Harry said, stopping dead still. His face was white and determined, thinking through the possibilities. Trying to work out the chance that he was right…

'Oh my.' Ginny panicked, with her hands clamped over her mouth. Harry dropped his cake. 'Now the cats among the pixies!'

'Ginny.' Harry said, trying to calm her, as she reached inside her pocket for her wand. 'Ginny stop!'

Harry grabbed Ginny's wand arm strongly, and used his other hand to sweep his fringe aside, revealing a deep lightning scar.

'It's you.' Ginny gasped, looking Harry in the eyes. 'Isn't it?'

Harry nodded his head in disbelief, and let go of Ginny's arm.

'I…I thought I was the only one.' Ginny whispered, tears filling up in her eyes. 'I thought I was the only one whoknew about Voldemort. The only person here alone.'

Harry pulled Ginny into a tight hug, and let her cry onto his shoulder. For a moment, everything Harry knew seemed to fall apart, and Harry felt a large empty gap form in his stomach. The gap which could only be filled by the people he loved, and the life he had led. He suddenly felt like he needed to go home.