Chapter 20 - Jealousy

At lunch, Harry was approached by Cho Chang.

"Harry," she said sweetly, "I've heard you've been looking for me."

He had previously approached her several times only to be brushed off, so Harry wondered why she would act as if it was something she had only just now heard about. Whatever the cause, he really wanted to talk about his feelings for Marietta with someone who also was friends with her.

"Yeah, Cho, there is something I want to talk with you about. How about if we meet right after dinner out at the gazebo? We shouldn't be disturbed there."

Cho smiled. "Okay, Harry, that'd be great. I'll meet you then." She went back to where she had been sitting for lunch with her friends, said a few words to them, and they giggled together. Harry felt like something was up, but he wasn't sure what.

Apparation sessions were to begin at the patronus practice room, since Harry had been using it all along. He and Remus started walking up there early. Harry figured they needed to discuss procedures for this, but there was something else on Remus's mind.

"So have you recovered from this morning, Harry?"

Harry blushed. "Physically, I guess. I'm still kind of embarrassed by it."

Remus smiled. "I can imagine. Are you going to take her up on it?"

"Who, Tonks? What do you mean?"

"She more than offered herself to you."

"Oh, she was just over-enthusiastic and demonstrative – you know Tonks."

"Hmm. I'm not sure she was just teasing, though."

"Oh, she's just a good friend: she's taken it upon herself to show me the sort of horseplay the aurors trade," protested Harry.

"There are worse bases for a relationship than friendship," said Remus.

"I suppose there are. I hadn't really taken it seriously. She just seemed giddy, but you seem to think there's something to it. Maybe I need to deal with it."

"I guess you should, Harry," said Remus. "If she really has romantic feelings for you, you could hurt her badly by being careless."

"You know, Remus, you're being quite protective of her. Are you sure you're not jealous?"

"Jealous? I can't be jealous. With my condition, I can't even think about falling in love," scoffed Remus unconvincingly.

"You're a healthy man, warm, caring, affectionate – how can you not think about love?"

Remus bowed his head. "It's just not possible."

"Remus, so what if you're out of commission one day a month. That's better than most. It's not like you're a drunk or a sports nut or something. Tonks has said before she would be happy to have you."

"It wouldn't be right, Harry," said Remus. "Too much risk."

"Well, then, what do you care who she sees?" prodded Harry.

"Don't you think she's a bit too old for you?"

Somehow this annoyed Harry. "She's closer to my age than yours. Maybe it'd be fun to spend some time with a more mature girl."

"She's not a 'girl,' Harry," said Remus tensely.

Harry smiled wickedly. "All the better!"

"Harry, I don't think it'd be wise."

"So give her an alternative!"

Remus sighed. "I'm sorry I brought it up, Harry. I don't want this to come between us."

"Neither do I."

"Right, then, let's get on with arrangements for these classes, and maybe a little time will give us both a better perspective."

During the apparition sessions, Harry was surprised to find nearly all of the girls he worked with smiling coyly at him. It was rather disconcerning, like they knew something about him, something that they particularly liked, but he had no idea what might have changed since he had worked with them the afternoon before. That reaction did not continue through the last two students for the sessions. The next to last sixth year to arrive was Ginny.

"Hi, Ginny," Harry said warmly, but not overly eager.

"Hello, Harry," replied Ginny stiffly.

Harry arched his eyebrows and smiled lightly. "I thought you said we were still friends."

"Of course, Harry," she replied, just as stiffly, with a half-hearted smile. Then she continued, "I'll bet that was a lot of fun for you this morning, eh?"

"This mo- …? Are you upset about Tonks? Oh, you know how she is. Don't be silly."

Ginny lost any hint of a smile. "Ah, I'm just a silly little girl then, is that it?"

"I didn't say that. But you know Tonks. She overdoes everything."

"Sure, Harry. And I'm sure that when she was shaking herself, with her t-shirt going every which way, you were looking up counting her nose hairs!"

"From where I was, it would have been pretty hard not to notice, Ginny. But I didn't ask to get jumped like that."

"You didn't make much of an effort to get up, did you?"

Remus saw the conflict and interrupted. "Harry, are you two going to talk or apparate?"

"Right, Remus, we'd better get on with more serious things," said Harry pointedly, and put out his hand for Ginny. She took it like she was about to hold Fang's slobbery tongue. Harry grasped her hand firmly and said, "We need solid contact if you want all of you to arrive." Then he disapparated to the far side of the greenhouses.

Ginny pulled her hand away. "I hear you have a date with Cho tonight."

"A date wi-…" Harry started. He wasn't going to play her game. "So what if I do - friend?"

"Oh, nothing, just small talk." She stuck out her hand, he grabbed it abruptly and apparated to the front porch.

"By the way, why haven't you had your family do this with you?" asked Harry.

She stuck out her hand again. "Who says they haven't?"

Harry grabbed her hand again and apparated into a greenhouse. "Ah, just wanted a chance to have some hand-holding then?"

"Yeah, right! As if! Don't expect me to drool over you like some girls do!" said Ginny sharply.

"You're friends with Tonks – why are you sniping about her?"

"I'm not sniping. I suppose she has her qualities. In fact, they're pretty much out there for anyone to see," said Ginny. She stuck out her hand. Harry grabbed it and apparated to the attic.

"Now you're being just plain catty. Two summers ago, you were giggling at Grimmauld Place with her," said Harry.

"Well, then she was more like an aunt or a big sister. Now, she's … different," said Ginny.

Yes, thought Harry, now you're treating her as competition – but why not then give an opening. "Let's focus on what we're supposed to be doing. Concentrate and feel what's happening when I take you places, uh I mean, apparate you." He took her hand and they apparated to the gazebo.

"Hmf," said Ginny. "Had to reconnoiter the site for your date tonight, I guess, make sure you have enough privacy?"

"Privacy?" snapped Harry. "I never have privacy! I've been watched virtually every second for years, and it's only getting worse. You have no idea what it's like to be in a fish bowl like that. So if I find a way to put that out of my head for a few minutes and spend some time with someone who will actually be nice to me, what's it to you, FRIEND?"

"Fine by me, Potter. Go have your time with the jiggly giggly girls. Have fun!"

Harry grabbed her hand and apparated her back to the room where Remus was waiting.

"Ah, Ginny, did you get the hang of it?" asked Remus.

"Put her down for another session, Remus," said Harry savagely. "She wasn't paying any attention to what she should have been."

"Professor," said Ginny, in mock sweetness. "Can you do my session next week? I'd like a teacher who has his students' interests at heart."

He looked at her with a frown. "Sorry, Ginny, I'm not rated to apparate people, and for good reason. And I have trouble believing you would suggest Harry doesn't care."

"Next week then," said Ginny, curtly.

As she left, Remus sidled over to Harry and whispered, "You certainly have a way with the ladies, don't you? I guess I don't have to worry about you and Tonks."

Harry glanced at him and shook his head incredulously.

Luna was next. Seeing Ginny glance back, he made a show of kissing Luna on the cheek. Ginny stomped off down the hall. Luna glared at him.

"Don't use me, Harry," said Luna. "That was not a natural display and we're not 'kissing' friends."

Harry stopped paying attention to Ginny and looked back at Luna. "I'm sorry, Luna. You're absolutely right. It's unfair of me to let things which happened with others affect our friendship. And I value it so much because you tell me so directly. Forgive me?"

"Of course, friend," she said sweetly. "I knew that wasn't the real Harry Potter doing that."