Hanging By A Moment

By Duck Goddess

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot and Leah.

Okay, one thing that pisses me off…I got 22 hits for Chapter Two but only 4 reviews…please review! They make me very, very happy! And I get really pissed when I don't and that's not good because I'll use violence when I'm pissed. My friends should know that.

basketball15 – Yup, Asta drank the Milky Way because she was choking on the world.

NikkiEvans – LOL. I agree with you but I kind of feel sorry for him. He's used to pushing people away when they care about him.

Hana the dragon – Okay, I'm definitely going to finish this story before I get beaten up. –gulps-. I might not be able to update because I might be going on holiday.

eatingmania – Okay, you know what? Your reviews never have anything to do with my story anymore and that sucks. I wanted to make a tribute to you in my story…so I decided to have Draco say that! The point is: you DID eat the world and you DID drink the Milky Way because you started choking on it. Ta-da!

Chapter Three

Harry was sitting in the Common Room by himself. Ron and Hermione were off doing Head Boy and Girl duties. Although they visited Harry often in the Common Room, it wasn't the same in the dormitory with Ron absent.

He shook his head. Harry definitely needed some time to think alone. He got up and exited the Common Room. He headed to the Room of Requirement. God, why did I tell Ginny how I felt about her? Why couldn't I have just kept my stupid, great, big mouth SHUT?

Suddenly, he felt someone knock past him and looked up. It was her. She was running like mad, her wavy, red hair flying behind her like a flag.

"Ginny!" he called as he ran after her. She stopped and turned around. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were tear-stained.

"Ginny, what's wrong?" Harry asked softly.

"Nothing," Ginny said quickly, wiping the tears off her face.

"Don't give me that crap," he said, "I know something's wrong. I've never seen you cry before."

"Nothing's wrong, really!" Ginny protested. Harry stared at her. What happened to her skills in lying?

"I know some people call me oblivious and dense but I'm not THAT oblivious! Now, tell me what's wrong or I'll tell Ron!"

Ginny stared at him. "I'm just really worried about my family," she confessed.

"Oh," Harry said quietly. He hugged her gently and felt her tears soaking his shirt. He kissed the top of her head and Ginny pulled away quickly.

"I'd better get going," she said hastily and ran off.

Harry stood there, dumbstruck. What did I do now?

Leah sat by the windowsill in the Common Room, waiting for her father's owl. She owled him two weeks ago but he never replied. Even though Leah didn't show it, she was terribly worried. What was happening? Was it too dangerous to owl back? Was Tim Campbell in danger?

The Portrait Hole swung open and Colin stepped in. He walked over to her.

"How come you weren't at dinner?" Colin asked. The concern was evident in his voice.

"I didn't feel like it," Leah said softly.

"Hey," Colin soothed, "You shouldn't let it get to you. We're having a war right now. Of course it's dangerous to owl."

"I know," Leah said as she looked away, "It's just…you know how he's the new Head of Magical Law Enforcement. That's the department the Death Eaters want to attack! As well as the Department of Mysteries and my mum's an Unspeakable!"

"Leah! Calm down!" Colin said as he took her hands in his, "Don't worry. You know about the Order. They can help!"

"I've changed a lot, haven't I?" Leah asked.

"Yes, you have. But we can't control how we change or when. Fate's in control," Colin said softly.

"So, I guess the new Leah sucks, then? The old Leah was pretty, outgoing and funny and now I'm just stupid, over-reactive and mopey," she said irritably.

"No, I don't think you've changed at all, you were always stupid, over-reactive and mopey," Colin said, grinning. She slapped his arm but she couldn't help grinning as well. While Ginny was her best friend, Colin always knew how cheer her up.

"Leah!" he suddenly cried.

"What?"

"There's an owl coming!" Leah's head snapped around. He was right. Her father's owl was coming.

"Finally!" she said happily.

The owl perched on the windowsill and Leah quickly opened the window. The owl flew in and she removed the letter. The owl left another letter and flew off before she could reply.

The first letter said:

Dear Leah,

I am sorry that I have not written to you in so long. Things are very busy here at the Ministry, as you probably know, and we're trying our best to catch the You-Know-Who supporters. Don't worry – I'll be fine. I am the legendary Auror, Tim Campbell, after all. Say hello to Colin and Ginny for me.

Love,

Dad

P.S.: Congratulations on getting together with Colin! I always liked him.

P.P.S.: DO NOT reply any of mine or your mother's letters. It's too dangerous. Be careful.

Leah smiled. Typical Dad, she thought, trying to make things light in a serious situation like this. She read the last line and frowned. She handed the letter to Colin. His eyes scanned the letter and he looked up.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied, "I think he means that they're in danger."

Leah reached out to open the second letter. When she touched it, she felt a boiling sensation. She gasped and pulled her hand away. It was burnt.

"I can't touch it," Leah said worriedly. Colin frowned.

"That's weird," he said suspiciously. He reached over and grabbed it. Nothing happened.

"How come you can touch it? It came with my father's letter so it should be addressed to me!" Leah said. Colin didn't say anything. He was reading the letter, his eyes growing dark and his face pale.

"What does it say?" Leah asked.

"I know who you care for, you filthy mudblood. You are worthless and you deserve to die. Run from this world before she does," Colin read out. The letter instantly burst into flames. Leah went silent. How could anyone be so cruel, so malevolent? The one you care for…

"It's because of me, isn't it? My parents' connections with the Ministry," Leah said quietly.

"Leah," Colin began but he didn't get to finish as Ginny ran in, tears streaming down her face.

"Ginny!" Leah cried, "What happened?" It broke her heart to see Ginny like this – Ginny who was normally so strong-willed and independent.

"D-Dr-aco," Ginny stuttered, her eyes red and puffy. I'm going to kick his sorry arse all the way to Pluto and back! Leah thought determinedly.

"What did he do?" Colin asked angrily.

"He said that he didn't trust me because I'm a Weasley and a Gryffindor. I mean, I thought we got over that, you know? Well, I guess he hasn't," Ginny said wryly.

"Oh, Malfoy's a big git, Ginny," Leah soothed.

"No! I mean, I know that's meant to make me feel better but it doesn't. It just makes me feel worse," Ginny said unhappily.

Colin looked at her. Normally, Ginny would happily join the bad-mouthing-fest but today, she just looked sad. How could Malfoy affect her like this?

"Don't worry, Gin," Colin said comfortingly, "You guys are in love. You'll work things out."

"I hope you're right, Col," she said. Leah and Colin exchanged glances.

"God, I am so frichen' mad!" Ginny blurted out furiously.

"Here, you can have my arm," Colin said, immediately regretting it. Ginny took it and punched him again and again, letting out all her anger and depression. He winced. There'll be bruises tomorrow, Colin thought. He heard a giggle. He turned around and found Leah laughing. Colin glared at her.

"Sorry!" she immediately said but continued snickering. Soon, Ginny started laughing and that got Colin started. The three friends laughed their arses off while the ickle first-years started to get freaked out.

"Thanks, guys," Ginny said gratefully, "I'm feeling better already. And guess what? Harry comforted me as well." She gave each of them a hug and walked up the stairs to her dorm.

Leah and Colin looked at each other.

"That was such a Gryffindor act," Leah commented, "Letting Gin punch you like that."

"Well, the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor, didn't he?" Colin asked, smiling. She stared at him. He could feel the heat rise in his cheeks as he observed her light brown hair and sapphire-blue eyes.

She leaned closer and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Night," Leah said and went after Ginny. Why was he still so shy? They were already going out. What was he afraid of?

Ron and Hermione patrolled the corridors, looking for the students out of their dorms. They walked past when Ron caught a flash of pale blonde hair. He looked back and tugged Hermione's sleeve.

"It's Malfoy," he said. Hermione rolled her eyes. Why don't students just stay in their dorms? Didn't they know that they would get in trouble?

"Malfoy," she called. He lifted his head up.

"What are you doing? It's after curfew," Ron said harshly, "Get to your dorm, now!" Malfoy immediately stood up and Hermione was surprised by how unwell he looked. His hair was tousled – it looked like he ran his hand through it continuously; his eyes were droopy and his face was paler than usual.

"Are you alright, Malfoy?" she asked. Ron glared at her. Who cared about how Malfoy was?

"I don't need to be pitied," Malfoy snapped coldly. Hermione jumped back. Malfoy glared at them before stalking off to the dungeons.

"Why did you ask how he was, Herm?" Ron complained.

"I am the Head Girl, Ronald," Hermione said sternly, "It is my job to ensure that the students are well and –"

"Yeah, yeah," Ron said, rolling his eyes, "Come on, let's get back to the Head dorms."

"Do you know what's wrong with him?" Hermione asked. Ron didn't answer. It had been two months since Ron caught Malfoy kissing his younger sister. Hermione looked at him. His ears were red.

"What did he do?" Hermione asked exasperatedly.

"Nothing!" Ron protested but she gave him a look.

"Okay, fine," Ron said, giving up, "About two months ago, I went to the dungeons to get my textbook and I saw Malfoy kissing Ginny."

Hermione's jaw dropped. Malfoy and Ginny?

"What?"

"Yeah, I know," Ron said, grimacing, "It's disgusting, isn't it?"

"But…how?"

"I don't know," he said, shrugging.

"What did Ginny do?" Hermione asked.

"She slapped him," Ron said, grinning. He was obviously proud of his sister's reaction. Hermione rolled her eyes – typical Ginny.

"So you think that's what's bothering him?"

"No, I just brought it up for no reason," Ron said sarcastically, "But what was he thinking? I mean, he wants us all dead!"

"I'm not sure," Hermione answered.

A/N: Yes, I know, this chapter was stupid. Pointless again, I say. It seems all of my third chapters are pointless. Hmm…please review!

Originally written: June 2005