Chapter 46 War Games

As the portrait of the Fat Lady let them into the Gryffindor common room, which they found already empty, Harry said, "You know, it occurs to me that we had better let Ron and Hermione know. They both get so worked up over whatever happens with either of us."

"That's true. Tell you what, I'll get Ron and you get Hermione and we'll meet back here to tell them together."

"What?" startled Harry, uncomfortable at the thought of Ginny going through the boys' dorms to get Ron at this hour. Then the flickering candlelight revealed her mischievous smile. "Erm, yeah, you know, I can't go up the stairs for the girls' dorms. Maybe you should get Hermione and I'll get Ron."

Harry woke Ron up when he got back to the dorm. He didn't want anything to go awry and he knew how protective Ron was about his little sister.

"Mmf. Gerof me, Harry, there's quidditch in the morning,"

"Yeah, but not us; that'll be Slytherin and Hufflepuff."

"Well, we still have to get up in a few hours to run."

"This won't take long. Come down to the Common Room with me to talk so we don't disturb the others."

"Too late," mumbled Dean, throwing his souvenir West Ham football pillow at them.

"All right, Harry, all right," groaned Ron, standing up and pulling on a bathrobe, which he failed to tie.

Ron stumbled down the stairs with Harry and they emerged into the common room only to find Ginny dragging Hermione out.

Ginny giggled at Ron's dishevelment. "Right, aren't they a cheery lot?"

"You reckon they'll even remember this in the morning, Ginny?"

"As long as we've told them, the rest is their problem."

Hermione yawned and leaned sleepily against the arm of a chair near the fireplace. Ron stretched as he walked over to the same chair and gave her a brief kiss – at least he tried, but they missed each other. He flopped into the chair and laid his arm across Hermione's lap and around her waist.

"Okay, ya got us up," he mumbled. "What's up? Didja discover a new use for dragon dung?"

"No, not that," said Harry. He glanced nervously at Ginny, who nodded to him to go on. "We're a couple."

Hermione yawned again. "A couple of what?"

"A couple!" he reiterated, "together! Like you and – No, we're not like you two, at least not yet."

"We'd better not be like that anytime soon, Potter," warned Ginny mockingly.

"Can it be just six months ago I thought they were such a romantic couple?"

"We're romantic," mumbled Hermione, "when we're not asleep."

"Yeah," agreed Ron, leaning his head back against the back of the chair and starting to breathe deeply.

"If you haven't noticed," slurred Hermione, "we have been a bit busy lately. And we were asleep."

"Ick, I hope we don't become a couple like that," laughed Ginny.

"We're romantic," said Hermione again, as if she hadn't already said so, "and we're very happy for you. Really."

Hermione slumped backward over the arm of the chair, sliding onto Ron's lap. Instinctively she snuggled against his body, with the fingers of her right hand sliding against his chest and becoming meshed into his wavy red chest hair, as he wrapped his other arm around her. They both fell comfortably asleep in the chair.

"Mind you," said Harry, "it wouldn't be all bad."

"They do look very content like that. It seems a shame to wake them."

"Yeah, they're fine where they are. We'll get them up for the morning run."

Harry looked at Hermione's left hand hanging out over the top of the armchair. Suddenly he started stroking his chin and got a mischievous look in his eye.

Ginny grinned. "You look like you're ready for a prank."

"Well, in my muggle life, kids always said that if you put someone's hand in a bowl of warm water while they're asleep, it'll make 'em pee in their sleep."

"Did it work?"

"I never tried it."

"There's one way to find out."

"It'd be sort of a research project."

"Oh, absolutely. Besides, I couldn't face Fred and George again if we passed on this opportunity."

"I'll bring the table over. Ginny, you get some warm water in a bowl."

Ginny found a bowl and poured some water from a pitcher. She used her wand to warm it as Harry slid a tall table under Hermione's hand.

"Why her?" asked Ginny.

"Two for one – she's sitting on top of him."

They gently raised Hermione's hand and slid the bowl underneath, then lowered the hand down into it. They had trouble stifling their giggles.

"How long do we wait?" asked Ginny.

"I don't really know. It can't be too long or the water won't stay warm. I think I'd rather be safe in bed before anything happens, though."

"Good idea. They may not even figure things out that way."

They stepped quietly over to the entrance to the stairs for the girls' dorms. They wrapped their arms around each other again, and shared a lingering kiss.

"I can't take the sunglasses off here, Harry, but consider yourself winked at," she whispered

"Wink received," he said, and winked back. Then each went up to their respective dorms.

March is reputed to come in like a lion, and so it did, with a driving sleety rain to greet the students for their morning run. Many students grumbled as they stepped out into it, but Harry and Ginny met it with the hearts of Gryffindor lions. They set a hard pace to keep up with and laughed that the faster everyone ran, the sooner they could be in warm showers. From Harry's viewpoint, the weather also had the salutary effect of suppressing the outbreaks of discord between the students: they all just kept their heads down and ran in a long line. All, that is, except Harry and Ginny, who ran side-by-side smiling the whole way, splashing through the ice cold muddy puddles without hesitation. They were well into their morning training session before most of the others even finished their run.

After quick showers, Harry and Ginny went to breakfast together, still feeling giddy. They sat very close to each other, exchanging glances frequently – as well as the sunglasses would allow – and small surreptitious touches. They had for some time shared little jokes, born of the private training sessions they had shared, but now it was more pronounced and the jokes tickled them more.

"What is UP with you two?" asked Ron, peevishly. "Did you have an accident with Cheering Charms?"

"Oh, you were out of it last night, weren't you, Ron?" said Hermione, with a very superior and smug smile. "They woke us up to tell us they're a couple now."

"Is that how we ended up down in the Common Room? But why were we …"

"Shhhh" hushed Hermione sharply, as Harry and Ginny glanced at each other and suppressed laughter, causing Hermione to eye them suspiciously. "Yes, apparently they decided we should be left in the chair."

"Well, how'm I supposed to remember? A guy needs his rest, you know. Okay, then, congratulations!" he said happily.

"You aren't going to threaten me now, Ron?" teased Harry.

"Why?" said Ron, raising an eyebrow. "Has something happened I should threaten you over?"

"Like what?" said Ginny, challenging him to suggest something.

"Never mind," mumbled Ron.

"Do any of you know how Melony and Dobby are?" asked Harry.

"Why?" asked Hermione.

Harry rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Do you even remember the awful fight they had before the lecture?"

Hermione tapped her lip as she looked off, trying to remember. "No, not really. Dobby was there before the lecture, wasn't he? But he didn't stay – I think he had to be someplace else."

"Okay, Hermione," said Harry, his voice showing tension, "let me put this in a way where I can get the information I want. Have you seen them together since the lecture?"

"Oh, sure," said Hermione. "They took a moonlight stroll and were all lovey-dovey. She's due in a month, you know."

"I know. Let's just hope they both make it that long," grumbled Harry. Then he turned to Ron. "Talk of a birth reminds me: Happy Birthday, mate."

Ron grinned, "Thanks, Harry."

"It's not his birthday" sniffed Hermione.

"It most certainly is – the day after February 28," said Ginny.

"Nope – his birthday's the day before March," said Hermione.

"Oh, yeah?" said Ron. "Then why didncha do anything for me yesterday."

"Ron, I thought I had," said Hermione under her breath, "Don't you even remember last night at all?"

Ron blushed and all those who heard giggled.

Harry said, "Ah, well, maybe it's me - as Hermione's surrogate brother - who ought to be threatening you. Weasley: what, exactly, ARE your intentions with our Hermione?"

"Shut up, Harry."

"No, Ron, I'd like to know," said Hermione. "What are your intentions with me?"

Ron got a devilish grin and leaned over to whisper in her ear. Hermione giggled. "Ooh, that's good for the short term. We'll talk more later."

There was some time between breakfast and the quidditch game for some library time. Before that, Harry called Professor Dumbledore on the mirror and explained his new observations about the curse. He also explained his new relationship with Ginny and asked to have her added to the Restricted Section permission. Dumbledore beamed with pleasure as Harry told him about Ginny and encouraged persistence with both endeavours: research and romance.

At the game, which promised to be a long affair due to the difficult visibility and winds, Harry and Ginny found themselves boxed in by Ron, Hermione and Ernie McMillan. At first they chatted nicely about quidditch, but then it occurred to Harry that during a Hufflepuff game Ernie ought normally be with his house.

"Ernie, I enjoy the talk, but aren't you supposed to be with your house's section cheering on your team?"

"Well, yeah, I'll get over there. We just, ah, needed to square some things away with you."

"And this is the best opportunity to talk?"

"Yeah, it's harder for you to get away," said Ernie, glancing over toward Ron and Hermione, "Harry, it's about the Spring Skirmish."

Harry tensed up. He had not been aware of any talk of repeating last spring's training game, in which the DA's teams had been divided into opposing armies and staged a battle.

"I didn't think the DA would want to do it again this year."

"Oh, but Harry, it was great practice. Remember how well we were prepared for the Battle of Gringott's last year? We learned a lot about placement and discipline and avoiding each other's spells."

"Yeah, Harry," added Ron, "there's been a lot of talk about doing it again. Everybody's looking forward to it."

"Not EVERYbody!" said Harry. "I'm a bit frustrated with unhexing so many of you. And if there's been so much talk about it, why haven't I heard about it until now." Then he turned to Ginny, "You must have known about this, too."

Ginny smiled coquettishly. "Haven't we had other things to talk about, Harry?"

Harry grinned. "Okay, that works for you, Ginny. What about the rest of you?"

"There are reasons. For one thing," said Ernie, "Spring Skirmish is an opportunity to work on strategy and tactics. You've been kept out of those matters because of your … connection."

"Yeah, go ahead and say it - Voldemort," said Harry.

"Also, Harry," added Ron, "we figured you'd get upset because of this weird notion you have about us not being able to get along together."

"WEIRD NOTION?" Harry shouted and then caught himself. "It's no weird notion! I wish a muggle camcorder would work around Hogwarts so I could show you what's been going on."

"Ron, it's real," said Ginny. "I see some of it too. It's like some sort of spell on the school or something that keeps you from seeing what you're doing."

"Sure, she'd say it now!" said Ernie sarcastically. "Supporting her boyfriend."

Ginny rose in her place into a battle stance, turned toward Ernie, and put her hand toward her wand. "Head Boy or not," she snarled, "I'll duel you if you don't take that back. I'm my own person no matter who I'm with!"

Ernie seemed to be sizing up his chances before Hermione intervened. "Ernie, your apology shouldn't be based on whether you can duel her – you were wrong. She's been saying there's something to it for months."

Ernie rose as well and reached toward his wand pocket, but held off withdrawing it. "Maybe she has, but it's beyond the words now. I'm not taking guff off of the likes of her."

The stands around them cleared as the students saw a battle shaping up. Only Hermione, Ron and Harry stayed put, and while Hermione and Ron looked concerned, Harry calmly returned to watching the quidditch game. Hagrid stepped over the seats from the top of the stands and stepped between them.

"Do we have a problem here?" Hagrid asked pointedly.

Ernie and Ginny glared a few more seconds at each other and then turned their heads up toward Hagrid, relaxing their stances.

"Oh, hello, Hagrid," said Ginny. "Come to sit with the students for the game?"

Hagrid's eyebrows shifted from their stern inwardly slanted posture to a questioning upward slant. He turned to Harry, who shrugged in response.

"Let's just enjoy the game, then," he said, "And keep those wands where they b'long."

"Right-o, Hagrid!" called Ernie. "Thanks for stopping by!"

"That was unpleasant," said Hermione, as the students began returning to their places uneasily.

"What was?" said Harry.

"Harry, were you not even going to step in to protect Ginny?" asked Hermione.

"From what?"

"Ooh!" gasped Hermione exasperatedly. "Were you not even aware that she almost got into a duel with Ernie?"

"Hmm. Did something happen?"

"Don't you care? Didn't you even notice?"

Harry looked her in the eye. "Now you get an idea how frustrating it is to have people deny what I can so easily see. Of course I was aware. I would have blocked any dangerous spells, but I can't intervene in every fight, not even Ginny's."

"Well, I like that!" exclaimed Ginny.

Harry explained matter-of-factly. "I can't be around all the time, Ginny. If you're going to get into fights, you'll have to settle them. If your idea of being a couple is just to enlist me as a second for dueling, count me out."

She looked at him, measuring his words, and then she snuggled close to him. "You would have at least stopped dangerous spells?"

He smiled and nodded. "Or disfiguring ones. Now how about the game – there've been two goals scored since you stopped watching it."

"Oh, yeah?" said Ernie, as if nothing had happened. "Hufflepuff?"

"So what about the Spring Skirmish, Harry?" asked Ron.

"What about it? You have plans already, don't you? You don't need my blessing. I'm just the coach, not the boss."

"Now, Harry," said Hermione soothingly, "you say it's okay but your tone betrays annoyance."

"I suppose I am," said Harry. "It's really not that I'm out of the loop – I've gotten used to so much training being out of my ken. This is just a bigger version of what you do out of my sight at DA meetings. What really gets to me is the enormous opportunity this presents for you people to injure each other. We had dozens of injuries last year that couldn't be fixed on the field, and that was when you weren't under a spell making you hurt each other. But now you are, you only seem to get along when I'm around, and I'm the one person you cannot allow to be around! Of course, that doesn't seem to do much good anymore. This has disaster written all over it."

"Okay, Harry," said Ernie, "even IF this spell-thing you talk about exists …"

Harry glared at him so fiercely he quailed. "Okay, okay, even WITH this spell affecting us, we have to do our best to be prepared. You say his forces are preparing to attack. We need to do what we can to prepare to respond – even if there are a few risks."

"There'll be casualties," said Harry.

"Everyone knows that, Harry. There were last year, too. Sometimes people get hurt when they are forced to defend themselves." Then Ernie's voice took on a quieter, darker tone. "Personally, I've seen what happens to those who aren't ready to fight. I'll take my chances fighting back rather than waiting to die."

Harry looked long at Ernie, remembering how intensely his mother getting the dementor's kiss had affected him and his father.

"Right then. You'll have your Skirmish and I'll keep out of the way. But YOU," he said turning and pointing to Hermione, "are going to assemble the best team of referees and de-hexers that can be spared."

Hermione smiled sweetly, "That's already in the works, Harry."

"Have fun, then – knock yourselves out. I just wish that was only a figure of speech."

Ron watched the progression of the quaffle for a few seconds, before adding in an attempt at sounding casual, "So where will you go then, Harry?"

"I don't know, right off. The library, I guess. Maybe the chapel and the dorm part of the time."

"Erm …"

"What!"

"Well, part of the plan is defending the castle itself. We were hoping you would leave Hogwarts for the week altogether."

"NO, nothing doing! I need that time for research and I was going to double up on counseling sessions with Cameron – I can't afford to be away that whole week! Forget it!"

"But, Harry, we…"

Hermione gently interrupted Ron, "No, Ron, we've already pushed Harry to go along with a lot. We can work around this. We'll just have to set boundaries and let Harry know what they are. Will that work for you, Harry?"

"I reckon, so long as I can go to the library and the dorm. Cameron can meet me at one of those."

"Then it's settled."

Ernie returned to the Hufflepuff section and they enjoyed another three and a half hours watching quidditch in the sleet and rain and wind. Only a true fan can explain how such miserable conditions actually enhance the experience, but that's generally true of outdoor winter sports, like American football, hockey (on outdoor rinks) and quidditch. Of course, it helps if you are with your new girlfriend and can regularly duck under the stands with her and get warmed up. This presented a grueling dilemma, as neither Ginny nor Harry were keen on missing too much of the game, but getting warmed up was very nice as well.