Chapter 9- Big Trouble from Big Brother

"Come on Hermione," Ron said. "Tell me what's wrong with Ginny."

Hermione kept to her book as she had for the last half an hour that Ron had been at breakfast. Hermione had spent the entire night before getting it out of Ginny herself and wasn't about to go spreading the information to just anyone… and as she still wasn't speaking to Ron, he didn't count in the mix of important people to inform. She had also noticed Harry's absence at breakfast this morning. She had seen him briefly waiting at the bottom of the staircase, but he went back up to his dorm after he saw Hermione.

"Hermione, she's my little sister and I should know what's wrong!" he demanded.

Hermione looked over the top of her book. "She'll tell you, if you deserve it," she said, her eyes moving back onto the page.

"Look," Ron finally said. "I know it was an awful thing I said, probably the most horrible thing I've ever said to you—"

"Keep groveling," Hermione said with a turn of her page.

Ron took a deep breath. "You're the smartest, most clever witch in our year, which is probably how you got Ginny to tell you what was wrong. Without you, Harry and I—"

"I don't think it was Harry who insulted me."

"Without you I am hopeless and wouldn't know what to do," he said. "Besides that, you're the prettiest girl at this school," he added tentatively.

Hermione's brows furrowed as she looked up, expecting to see him laughing at her reaction. Instead, his face was red and he was combing through his scrambled eggs. "Anything else?" she asked.

Ron looked up at her. "I'm terribly sorry," he said. "I can't even tell you how sorry, but I wish you'd forgive me."

Hermione looked at Ron before letting out a deep breath. "Alright, did you know Harry asked her to Hogsmeade?"

"No," Ron said with obvious surprise. "She's upset about that? Why would she be—"

"I wasn't finished," Hermione said. Ron shut his mouth and leaned forward. "Last night, she went out to get more food and saw Harry kissing Cho."

Ron's ears grew redder than Hermione had seen them in a long time. "After he… he asked her out?"

Hermione nodded.

"But why?"

"I don't know, and don't you go being an idiot and causing a row," Hermione warned.

"What makes you think I'd do that?"

"Because it's just like you to be an idiot and cause a row."

"Damn straight it is! What did he think he was doing? No wonder Ginny's upset!"

"What?" Dean asked as he was passing by. "What happened?"

"Harry was kissing another girl after asking Ginny out!" Ron shouted.

"RON!" Hermione declared.

Lavender and Parvati now seemed highly interested in something other than last night's party and were looking at the three people now discussing this.

"He did what?" Dean asked, brows furrowed. "Why?"

"That's what I want to know," Ron said.

Hermione placed her head in her hands. "Please don't blow this out of proportion," Hermione pleaded. "Please say you'll let them talk this out themselves."

"Talk it out themselves? Have you gone daft?" Dean asked. "Does he know how many people want to date your little sister?" he asked hypothetically.

"What?" Ron asked. "Who?"

"Oh well," Dean said. "That's sort of confiential."

"You do mean people besides you, right?"

"Of course, of course," Dean said.

Hermione cleared her throat. "I have to go study a bit before your parents come, Ron."

"That's it!" Ron said. "I'll tell Mum what he did! Harry won't know what hit him."

"What? A bit of yelling isn't—" Dean started.

"You haven't ever heard my mum yell," Ron clarified.

"Don't you dare get your mother involved," Hermione said. "There's no reason to get her all upset over nothing."

"Nothing?" Ron asked. "This is nothing? I mean, it's one thing when he didn't ask Ginny out before going to snog Cho under the mistletoe, but this just isn't right."

"Look," Hermione said, standing as Ron did and walking on the other side of the table that Ron and Dean were walking together towards the exit of the Great Hall. "I didn't tell you what Ginny told me so you could have a go at Harry about it. Just let them solve it!"

They were approaching the table and Hermione tried to head them off. "Nothing good can come from you getting into a fight with him," Hermione warned, standing in front of Ron, his lanky frame towering her, though she didn't look as though she really cared.

"I won't rough him up too bad," Ron promised, then leaned down and kissed Hermione on the lips. "I'll see you at lunch."

Standing wide eyed in the same place, Hermione didn't know quite what to do. By the time she turned around Ron and Dean were already gone. "NO!" she shouted and made an attempt to catch up to them as a large group of Hufflepuff got a head of her at the door.

"What were you thinking?" Ron asked as he entered the dormitory, Dean on his heels.

"What?" Harry asked from his bed. He had been laying there looking up at the ceiling until now, wondering about when he should go down to breakfast. Certainly Hermione would still be there and her chances of knowing were quite great.

"What in bloody hell were you doing, asking my sister out then kissing Cho?" Ron demanded, taking a step forward.

"You're nuts, you know," Dean added in. "Half the guys in this school would give their right arm for a date, and you blew it!"

"Really that bad, eh?" Ron asked Dean with a bit of surprise. Dean nodded.

"She told both of you?" Harry asked. He didn't even imagine Ginny would tell Ron.

"Hermione told us," Dean said.

"Me," Ron said, "Dean overheard."

"Why did you do it?" Dean asked.

"I don't know," Harry answered. "I don't even… think… I did, you know?"

"All I know is my little sister has been in her room since last night crying because of you."

Harry guilt increased as he thought about it. "She came up to me," he said. "Cho just… leaned in… I didn't do anything."

"You expect me to believe that?" Ron asked.

"Yes, Ron, I do," Harry said back, standing up.

"Wow, that's convincing," Dean said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's just go back and tell everyone that we were wrong about Harry and his slobber-fest with Cho."

"Look, you don't understand," Harry said angrily, taking a step towards the door.

Ron caught Harry by the shoulders, pushing him back. "Leave me alone!" Harry shouted as he started for the door again, this time Dean helping Ron in stopping him.

"Not until you tell me why you did it!" Ron demanded.

"I TOLD YOU!" Harry yelled, his face becoming red. "I DIDN'T KNOW THAT CHO WAS GOING TO KISS ME! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SHE WOULD TALK TO ME!"

"You promise?" Ron asked, still sounding skeptical.

"Yes!" Harry said, sitting back on the bed. "I… I didn't know what to do… then Ginny came and walked off before I could explain myself."

Dean and Ron looked at each other. "What are you planning on doing about Ginny, then?" Dean asked.

"I don't know," Harry said with obvious frustration. "She won't talk to me! She hasn't even come down from her room. When she did, she walked straight past me without even a second glance."

Ron nodded. "It's been a while since she's been like this."

"What do I do?" Harry asked. "I can't explain if she won't talk to me."

"Well… usually when a girl is mad at me, I start with flowers," Dean said.

"What are her favorite?" Harry asked, looking at Ron with a bit of determination.

"How should I know?" Ron retorted with a lift of his lip. "Like I would get her flowers."

"Snapdragons," Dean said. Both of them looked at Dean. "I told her she was overreacting once… she threw her pumpkin juice on me."

The other two nodded with understanding. "So get her some flowers… how do I get them to her?"

"Let's think… when's a perfect opportunity when Ginny has no choice but to see you," Ron said. "Earth to Harry… come on, it's not that hard."

"I can go to the girls' dressing room before the show," he said.

"Thank you," Ron said. "What are you going to say?"

"If he couldn't figure out when to give her flowers, what makes you think he can figure out this one," Dean said.

"Hey!"

"Sorry Harry."

"You need to get her attention," Ron said, thinking. "Say something that makes her curious enough to listen."

"Yeah… yeah, that's good," Harry said, standing a pacing back and forth. "But what?"

"Tell her you've got six months to live," Dean said.

"Not helping." Harry took a deep breath and leaned against the wall. With a sigh, Harry ran his hand through his untidy mess of hair. "I'll figure that out," he said. "Ron, do you know of anywhere I can get flowers?"

"I can ask Mum when she gets here," he said.

"Okay," Harry said. "Just let me know and I'll send Hedwig for them."

"Looks like you two have this under control," Dean said. He looked at his watch. "As for me, I have a date with Parvati," he said. "Good luck, Harry," he added as he turned to go.

Harry took a deep breath, then jumped. "There's something I have to tell you!" he said. "Last night, as I was leaving, Draco was talking to his band of idiots." Harry continued to explain exactly what he'd heard.

"What do you think he's got in mind?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Harry said.

"Lucius is coming just for it, though?" Ron asked. Harry nodded. "Bet he's going to do something to Hermione," he said.

"I think he'd be smarter than to try getting the better of her, especially in front of a bunch of teachers."

"What about when she's onstage?" Ron asked. "He might make it look like an accident."

Harry thought about this. "Well… when she's onstage, we'll just have to make sure we're in the wings."

"Yeah," Ron said. "We can see if Dean will help," he added.

Harry nodded. "We'll get as many Gryffindors in it as possible."

"Let's just not let Hermione," Ron said. "I don't know if she'll like it, and right now I think it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission."

"Right," Harry said. "When's your mum coming?"

"She should be here in an hour or two," Ron said. "Dad will be here too."

"Okay," Harry said. "I'm starving, let's get something to eat."

Ron didn't argue as he followed Harry out of the dorms and down the stairs.

"Oh goodness, it's wonderful to see all of you!" Molly said as she pulled each of her children into her. "Harry, dear, you're looking well," she said with a pat on his cheek. "I heard you did wonderfully last night," she added.

Harry gave a half-hearted smile. "Thanks," he said. "Who told you?" he asked.

"Ginny wrote," she said. Harry felt like he had cheated Ginny further as she avoided his eye contact. "And she told me that you, Hermione, stole the show," Molly told the other girl in the area with a hug.

"Ginny's become quite the fibber," Hermione responded mid-hug.

"Are your parents coming?" Arthur asked with excitement.

"No," Hermione said. "McGonagall said it would be too difficult, but that's okay."

"Too bad," Arthur said. "I was quite looking forward to seeing them again."

"Why don't we show your father the grounds, Ron," Molly said. "He hasn't been here for some time now," she added, linking her arm in his.

"I have to go study, Mum," Ginny excused herself. "I'll see you after the show," she added, kissing Molly on the cheek and giving Arthur a hug.

"I've … got to go grab something," Harry said as Ginny walked away. "I'll catch up to you guys."

He ran to catch up to Ginny, who had just turned a corner. "Ginny!" he called out.

She turned for a moment, but continued walking.

"Listen, I wanted to talk to you," Harry said, trying to get her arm.

Ginny pulled it from him. "Don't bother, please," she said, picking up her pace. "You know… I didn't force you into asking me out."

"I know that," Harry said, matching Ginny's step, walking along side her. "You have to understand… I didn't mean for that to happen."

"What did you mean, then?" Ginny asked, walking up a staircase. "Just a peck before coming up to tell me when to meet you next week?"

"No, it's not like that," he said, stepping in front of Ginny to stop her. "Please, just listen."

"I don't have time," Ginny said, again avoiding his eyes as Harry saw tears in her own. "Goodbye, Harry," she added, side stepping him and jumping on a moving staircase before he could do anything else.

A/N: Chapter 9 done! Just to clarify, Cho wasn't really being the bad guy in this… it was just a situation that really sucks. I don't know what she would have done if she had known Harry had already asked Ginny on a date, but I needed something to stir things up :D I don't particularly like the way Cho is most of the time, but I thought I'd say that in her defense. PLEASE REVIEW! (much thanks if you do).

Thanks:

Lynsey: Seems everyone has a connection to Guys and Dolls! hehehe Good musical... not my fav, but wonderful none the less. Very entertaining.

MsMissProngs: Yes, definitely sucks for Ginny, but sometimes things like this happen!

Marauders babe: I'm trying to get them out there in looks at watch 9 days! chapter 10 is almost done... so I'll be posting that tomorrow or Friday.

neespence: I'm glad you're enjoying it! I didn't just want the characters to becoming the characters they're playing or get stuck as them or whatever it is most people do... but I definitely wanted to utilize the potential of a school play.

Phillipa of the Phoenix: ding ding ding! Exactly! Well... I'm not sure how many more chapters, as the next two will include quite a bit of action... but once the action is over, that should be about it.

Withered Quill: hehehe yup... as you see in this chapter something's finally giving with RHr, but Harry still has some esplainin' to do (thank you Ricky Ricardo). Keep in mind, Cho didn't know he had asked someone else out, though it might have been wise for her to pay attention or find that out or something. Still... she's not entirely to blame... the scenario just sucks!

Hogibear92: Oh thanks! It's definitely coming, but this isn't it... a couple more plot dealios before finishing it up... gonna try and wrap it up by the 15th, however.

Julesfire: now 9 days! and yes... Harry has to answer to her now (though you now know exactly what happened from his side of things)

Mrs. Norris II: Get it at the movie store... Frank Sinatra plays Nathan in it. Good stuff, let me tell you. And no, I didn't abandon it... I just lost all ability to do what I wanted with my time.

Tria Marie Val: lol don't worry... I had to have something of excitement happen, didn't I? Keep in mind, Cho wasn't trying to break anything up... she had no idea Harry had asked Ginny out... as far as she knows, he still likes her (as he did at the beginning of this fic)

Rupertsgrl479: Mugglenet was always a bit stringent... but then again, their forte isn't fanfiction... still, Checkmated is just overboard. Thanks for your review! It's appriciated.

CountessMel: That's such a cool part you had! Hard musical to not have a few underclassmen have major roles in. Especially since characters like Mary have to be shorter/look 10ish. and it's cool about the vaca thing... so understandable. :D When it comes to Ginny being 'foxy' I don't see her as foxy as playing a role (most of the time) of a 'foxy' character, and my attempt is to bring out more of OoTP!Ginny where she's a little more daring and willing to be funny, like Fred and George. On top of this, I thought I'd add an explaination in response to your review on Grounded...
I think that Ginny might very well talk boys with Hermione at that age ( I think too often we forget how young we were when we started talking about dating and what not... and I don't think the things she said are even really 'sexual' as much as concerning boys). I based what Ginny would know on what Ron seemed to know, and continued on the rumor that Fred and George had told Ron about having to wrestle a troll to be sorted.

bhekie: I know, I know... but she didn't ;) It just really sucks for everyone, really... although I think Cho should be more decisive (which is something that I feel was a big part of why things didn't work out between Harry and her during OoTP.

dancerrdw: I think we all have some sympathy for Ginny... poor dear.