"Alright," Harry felt the emotion drain from his face. Talk, that couldn't mean good news. He knew that it was only a matter of time before something went wrong, it seemed like it always did.
Ginny sighed roughly, "I don't really know where to start…" Harry could see the stress in the eyes, he wanted to comfort her so much, but he kept himself silent. "A few days ago Draco got a letter."
"He did?" Harry's eyes snapped up, "Why didn't you tell me, Ginny! That's not something you should hide from…"
"Harry," Ginny interrupted his slightly angry tone, "It was from his father."
"His father? But he's in Azkaban," Harry was confused now, there hadn't been any reports of a break out in the wizarding prison.
"He is…well, for now. The letter…it said," Ginny's voice faltered a bit, "'See you and the mud-bloods soon."
Ginny's eyes filled with tears, "I don't know how he found out that Draco was with us, but he did and now…he's in danger Harry. You don't know how awful he was to Draco, he used to….beat him and even use dark magic. He has terrible scars all over from years of abuse. Draco went to Dumbledore, they've upped the security in Azkaban, but…Draco doesn't think it will help. He says that he knows his father will find a way to him. "
Harry gasped for air, he hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. This wasn't good news, Malfoy's father already hated the Weasley family, and now it would be worse. He dropped his head into his hands and did the only thing he could think to do, he laughed. Ginny looked at him in amazement.
He's finally lost it, Ginny thought to herself, "Harry? What…did you hear what I said?"
Harry nodded and choked the laughs away, "I did, yes, but…." Harry sat back on the couch with a sigh of relief.
"Well, why is it so bloody funny?" Ginny had the beginnings of anger in her voice.
"I thought you were going to tell me you were in love with Malfoy."
"What?" Ginny almost fell off the sofa, "Harry, are you out of your bloody mind?" Ginny watched him in absolute wonder. Harry shrugged.
"Well, you've been…busy lately. I don't see you much and, I don't know," He felt a bit foolish suddenly. Why was he always a jealous git? He slapped himself mentally, Ginny had the right to be annoyed, she had told him before to trust her, and he hadn't. When he glanced up he was surprised to see a look of guilt cross her face.
"You're right. I have been…busy, and maybe I was pulling away from you, but not because I love Malfoy. I thought maybe this whole thing would go away, I didn't want to worry you, I thought that we could deal with this on our own, but…" she smiled at him in her Ginny way "Not the smartest idea in the world." Harry was always amazed how she could smile in the grimmest moments. "I'm sorry, believe me Harry, I care for him, but he's got nothing on how I feel for you," Ginny ran her fingers through his hair. Harry flinched slightly at her touch; Ron was sitting not ten feet away from them, playing chess with Hermione. Ginny followed his gaze and rolled her eyes. "Harry, I would appreciate if you would look at me when we're having a heart to heart."
Harry tore his eyes away from Ron, "Ginny, I want to tell you something too." Ginny recoiled a bit, "Alright." Harry took a breath, "In defense class, we…were dealing with Ulenmights…" he stopped, was he really going to tell her this? "Do you know what they are?" Ginny laughed at him openly, "Don't underestimate my intelligence Potter!"
"Well, anyway, when I….saw it, it was….you," Harry stopped again, she was watching him closely, "It was you," he suddenly felt very young. He was in fourth year again, about to ask a girl to a dance, and he was so afraid of the rejection that he went numb. What if she laughed at him? What if she said he was just being dramatic, or worse, what if he had scared her?
Ginny didn't say anything for a moment, he couldn't read her expression. "I never would have thought…" she said slowly after a few minutes. Harry felt his heart hurt a bit; she obviously didn't know how much he cared about her. He knew that it was his fault, he had never been very good with sharing emotions. "I mean, I'll be honest with you Harry, sometimes I look at you and think why me? I mean…what do I have to give to you?" Ginny laughed at herself, how melodramatic could she get?
"You already have," Harry felt the relief wash over him, until he felt eyes on his back. Ron was staring at them again, and Harry knew that they couldn't put this off any longer. "Ginny, we have to tell him," she bit her lip. "Now? But…I thought we could….um.."
"No, now," Harry grabbed her hand and marched towards the chess table. Ginny tried to back away, but Harry was relentless. It always surprised her how forceful he could be when he wanted to.
"Ron," Harry tried to keep his knees locked as he approached the tall red head. He suddenly wasn't feeling so brave. Ron tore his eyes away from the chess board reluctantly, "Yeah?" his eyes traveled from Harry's face to Ginny's, whose was much paler than usual.
"Well…see, the thing is…" Harry suddenly found the power of speech had left him. Ginny was shrinking back quickly, Harry grabbed her hand to prevent her from running, he couldn't figure out exactly why he was so nervous. Ron was his friend, and they weren't doing anything wrong, but it was a bit odd. Dating your best mate's sister, that had to violate some kind of best friend rule. "I…" Harry took a breath; he noticed suddenly that Hermione was smiling stupidly at him, he just had to say it, and quick, "I'm in love with Ginny."
Everyone was silent. Ginny had been prepping herself for a screaming fit, maybe a punch; she had expected Ron to lunge the moment Harry finished speaking. When no one moved she felt very apprehensive. Maybe Ron was biding his time, getting up his strength, she should have brought a healing drought with her.
"Good, I would have been upset if you had just been messing around with her for the past three weeks," Ron moved his knight across the board coolly. Ginny felt her jaw drop, she grabbed the nearest thing, the special edition of Quiddich Weekly, and slapped him across the head.
"OW!"
"You knew?"
"Well yeah, the two of you weren't the most subtle people world about it. I was beginning to be afraid to walk into my own dormitory…" Ginny blushed furiously.
"You bastard!" Ginny spat, "We've been worried sick over what you would think, and you knew the entire time!"
"Why were you worried? Who said I would flip out about it? I mean, yeah, it's a bit weird, but come on; it was you two who got the brilliant idea to try and hide it! When you were snogging all over the castle…." Ron smirked at her as she tried to hit him with a herbology book.
Harry grabbed her hand as she reached for something else to chuck, "So you're alright with this?" he asked Ron cautiously, he couldn't believe it was going to be this easy.
Ron scratched his head, "Well, like I said, it's a bit weird, but…I guess I can learn to accept it. I mean, if any guy is going to get to Ginny, I'd rather it be you," he smiled cheerily.
"Excuse me? Get to me? I'll have you know Ronald that.."
"Not now," Harry mumbled to her. He didn't think that this was the time to let Ron in on all of her past relationships.
Hermione squealed and jumped from her chair, she grabbed Ginny and Harry while dancing in a small circle. Harry pulled away as quickly as he could, "Oh Ron, that was so mature of you," Hermione hugged him as well, turning his ears a nice shade of pink.
"Yeah yeah," he shrugged her off, "Well, I know you two are all lovey dovey, but remember the important things. We have Quiddich tomorrow, so you both need to go to sleep." Harry and Ginny tried to complain but he was rather insistent on the subject. Harry only managed a quick hug before Ron chased him into the dormitory with a protein drink in his hand.
Ginny climbed the steps to bed with a smile. She had to give credit where credit was due, Ron had behaved very well. Ginny was brushing her hair into a loose pony tail when a thought stopped her. Harry….he had said that he loved her…
The atmosphere in the Great Hall the next morning at breakfast wasn't extremely pleasant. It seemed the news of the attacks had spread rapidly, and strange people were being carried in and out of the castle frequently. Since the night before Harry had felt a weight off his chest, despite the grim circumstances with the dementors. Ron knew, and it was all out in the open. The upcoming Quiddich match had also strained the relationship in the castle. The Ravenclaws were glaring daggers at the Gryffindor table when the boys came down to eat. Harry and Ron were sitting contentedly at the Gryffindor table when the day took a downward turn. Harry had noticed a few times that morning that people were giving him quick side glances. This wasn't exactly new, yet another "perk" of being the boy who lived, so he shrugged it off without much thought. Just as he was fixing his second biscuit he heard the doors open, and everyone around him stop speaking. "What?" Harry asked through the mouthful as he looked curiously at Ron, who had a slightly apprehensive look on his face. Ron nodded towards him and Harry turned around slowly, trying his best to swallow.
A very tall Dean Thomas greeted him. Harry was confused for a minute, until he saw the intense look of hate that he wore. "Hello Dean," he wasn't exactly sure what to say. Dean fixed a cold smile on his face, though his eyes showed absolute rage.
"Morning Harry, how are you?"
"Um, fine. You?" Harry looked to Ron for help with his odd behavior but he shrugged and tried to act as though he wasn't watching.
"Oh great! Just asking…see you on the pitch," he nodded curtly at Ron and walked down the table towards his group of friends. Harry turned to Ron, "What was that about?"
"Well, you see Harry," Ron seemed a bit uncomfortable at the moment, "It seems, word about you and Ginny has…well, made it around the school, no fault of mine mind you, and I think that Dean…wasn't too happy about it," Ron poured another glass of juice from the stone pitcher.
"Well I assumed that he knew Ginny wasn't interested in him," Harry suddenly felt very smug. She never had been really, she had told him that earlier.
"Yeah well, he seems to think that it's your fault and…word is," Ron stuffed another sausage in his mouth, "He's going to beat you up."
Harry half choked half laughed at Ron's news. Dean wanted to beat him up? After a girl who had never liked him in the first place? He shook his head with a sigh, "Well, that's bloody stupid, but I doubt he'll try anything."
Ron shook his head slowly, "Yeah, maybe you're right, well, hurry up and finish, I want to get to the pitch early so we can go over plays. Oh and Harry, don't let Dean kill you until after the game," he hit Harry's shoulder roughly and jogged from the hall. Harry shook his head, this couldn't be a good omen before the first match. Ron meanwhile ran head first into Hermione who gave him a few choice words before allowing him to go, still grumbling she sat down beside Harry.
"Just smacks into people and doesn't even say sorry…" she stabbed a piece of egg on her plate. Harry smiled; she always got upset when Ron "forgot his manners" as she put it. Ginny was the next to come into the hall. She was also the recipient of side looks as she made her way to Harry and Hermione.
"Do I have something on my face?" she asked Hermione as she sat down. Ginny wasn't used to having people watch her. She had always been pretty average as far as people were concerned. Hermione laughed softly and turned to Harry.
"No, you look lovely," he kissed her head softly and Ginny knew she was blushing, she wasn't sure if she would ever be used to that. "But apparently your boyfriend wants to feed me to the Ulenmights…" Harry snickered as he reached for a piece of ham. Ginny cocked her head at him, "What are you talking about?" Harry flicked his head in Dean's direction, who was currently grinding his teeth at the sight of him.
"What? Dean…why's he angry with you?" Ginny was annoyed; it wasn't like they were together anymore. They never had been really; it was just a fleeting thing that didn't matter anymore. Harry shrugged, "He thinks I've brainwashed you into being with me," Harry stopped and furrowed his brow, "Maybe he's onto something."
Ginny sighed and hit his chest, making him choke. "Git," she rolled her eyes and decided to put the Dean business out of her head. For a moment her mind had been occupied, but now she was back to feeling sick. Today was her first game as a chaser, and she didn't want to lose the match for everyone. Ron was so fanatical about winning against Ravenclaw that Ginny was afraid he had stopped sleeping altogether.
"Nervous?" Harry smiled at her knowingly, it was kind of disturbing sometimes the way he could read her.
"Maybe…a bit," Ginny knew she wasn't convincing him, but she thought maybe denying it would make it true.
"A bit," Harry smirked a little; he shoved one last sausage into his mouth and stood from the table. It was time to head down to the pitch. Despite the scalding glare from Dean he bent down and kissed Ginny's cheek lightly, "Don't worry."
He grabbed her arm and pulled her out the door, waving to Hermione as they went. Ginny was beginning to worry that her stomach was going to give out on her. When they finally reached the dressing rooms Ginny changed quickly into her scarlet robes and sat down on the cold stone benches. Ron was pacing in front of the team, a look of complete concentration on his face. Ginny watched in confusion as different colored dots raced around the spellboard in front of them.
"Alright team, this is it. We've trained too hard to lose, we can't lose," Ron clenched his fist, "We just can't." Ginny groaned, this wasn't much of a pep talk. Ron seemed as shaken as any of them. After a good thirty minutes of nausea the noise outside announced the beginning of the game. Lee Jordan's voice boomed from the main box, "Welcome one and all to the first match of the season!" the crowed roared and for the first time that day Ginny smiled. Lee had been announcing before her first year, it made her a bit sad to think this was his last season before graduation. Harry squeezed her hand in reassurance as she mounted her broom. Lee's voice came again, "Here are your Gryffindors! Weasley, Spinnet, Finnigan, Thomas, Creevy, Weasley, and Potter," the crowd cheered again and Ginny took a deep breath as she zoomed over the crowd. "And now your Ravenclaws! Davies, Boot, Quirke, Terpin, Stebbins, Ackerley, and Chang!" Ginny found her place high above the ground with Alicia and Colin, squarely facing the Ravenclaw team. Roger Davies and Ron shook hands in the common pre-game formalities. Ginny wiped the sweat from her hands as Madame Hooch surveyed the teams, issued her warnings and blew a shrill note on her whistle.
Alicia had the quaffle in a flash, she had always been the quickest hand on the team. Ginny raced ahead of her, blocking Roger from pummeling her with a bludger. Colin was trying his best to get ahead of Ginny, but his broom wasn't nearly as fast as hers so she opted to meet Alicia by the goal posts. As Ginny passed the main box she noticed Harry circling high above the pitch, followed closely by Cho Chang. He'll find it, Ginny assured herself. Just in time Alicia flew past chucking the quaffle to her. Ginny tucked it under her arm and raced for the goals. Roger was on her tail as she dodged left, throwing the quaffle as hard as she could to the ground. Colin appeared suddenly, grabbing the quaffle and surprising the Ravenclaw keeper, making the score ten to zero for Gryffindor. The crowd cheered and for a moment Ginny was glad Ron had made them practice until their hands bled.
Harry cheered with the rest as Gryffindor scored their first goal. That Colin Creevy was really earning his spot, Harry thought. He saw a blue black blur wiz past his eye. Cho was still circling him, watching him for any movement. Harry felt immensely annoyed, couldn't she play the game for herself? With effort Harry turned his eyes back to the game, no sign of the snitch anywhere. His head snapped back as the crowd under him groaned, the Gryffindors had scored again. Harry flew lower towards the middle, he had never gone so long without even seeing the snitch. Ravenclaws' yelled as they finally got on the board, Harry felt the familiar nerves pull at him. He searched a few more minutes in vain before he saw it. A flash of gold near the Huffelpuff house stands. He flew towards it, but not too quickly, Cho was still behind him. Harry swallowed hard, Ravenclaw was catching up, and the score was now ninety to seventy. Harry's eyes automatically found Ginny's red hair as she streaked across the sky. Ron was looking positively murderous now, Harry felt the pressure mounting. He turned sharply, heading west, trying his best to focus. As he circled again he saw it. The glint of gold just above the Ravenclaw goal posts. Harry forgot about Cho behind him and sped towards it like a mad man. He was close, but it dodged just in time. She had seen it as well, and now it was just a matter of who could get to it first. Harry thought he had never had a tougher game. The bloody thing kept whizzing away from him as he was about to grab it. Finally he had to stop and catch his breath. He looked franticly, and saw it again. Just behind Cho Chang's back. Harry froze if he went towards her she would get it for sure; if he went too fast he could knock her off. There was only one thing to do, Harry held on tightly and zoomed as quickly as he could towards her. Cho seemed startled and afraid; she dove sideways, almost losing her balance. Harry grabbed her blue cloak as he reached his hand, grabbing for the small snitch. He felt his hand close around it, and the crowd roared in delight. Cho seemed quite put out by having lost by a few inches, and even more so that her opponent had saved her from plummeting to the ground. Harry flew down to the rest of the team. Ron was sitting on the ground with his eyes closed. Alicia was jumping up and down with Ginny, Colin was being tossed around by Seamus, and Dean was hovering above. Harry was jumped from all sides, the final score had been two hundred and sixty to one hundred and twenty.
That night there was quite a celebration in the Gryffindor common room. The Quiddich team was treated as a king, though Ron spent the night in a half daze. It seemed as though the stress of the game had snapped him. Ginny spent the evening trying to have fun, and trying not to think. For once everyone was having a great time. Hermione had finally snapped Ron out of his stupor and Ginny had been chasing him around the common room with a spider. There was nothing better than good old fashioned immaturity, Ginny decided.
Harry was on his third game of exploding snap with Seamus when he noticed the sound. Harry walked curiously to the East window. The courtyard beneath was dark and empty, as it should have been since it was nearly curfew. Ginny joined him suddenly, slipping her arm around his. "What is it Potter?" she asked following his gaze. Harry squinted in confusion, he could have sworn he heard….no, it was impossible, it was illegal…
"Nothing," he smiled and kissed her lightly. They sat for a bit, Harry still searching the night sky. After a bit he noticed Ginny repeatedly glancing at his watch, "Got a date?" she elbowed him roughly. "I'm supposed to see Draco," she whispered in his ear. Harry frowned slightly, "Why do you need to see him? Has something else happened?" he asked a bit roughly. Ginny tried to squelch the annoyance; he was just looking out for her. "No, I just haven't seen him today, with all the Quiddich," Ginny fished a hair tie from her pocket. "Why do you need to see him everyday?" Harry was obviously angry now, and Ginny didn't understand why. "I see you everyday," she shot at him hotly.
"Well that's different."
"Why?"
"Because!"
"Because why?"
"IT JUST IS!" Harry's yell attracted quite a bit of attention. He quieted instantly, Ron was looking at them from across the room, and he didn't need anyone else being angry with him right now. Ginny didn't respond, she slung her bag across her shoulders in silence. "Harry I am fed up with the jealous boyfriend routine. If you can't learn to trust me…." Ginny trailed off, "then I don't know how we can be together," Ginny shrugged lightly and left him. Harry turned in anger to the small window. After a few minutes he felt the heat fade, and he started feeling like a royal ass. He didn't know why Malfoy bothered him so much, no strike that, he knew very bloody well why he bothered him so much. Despite his best efforts and recent events, Harry still despised him. Malfoy, he was SO smart, Malfoy, he was SO handsome, Malfoy, he was SO great! Harry kicked a book off the window seat, he felt a hand clamp over his shoulder.
"Hey mate, let it go, girls…" Ron smiled kindly at him. Harry chuckled a bit, "Yeah, you should know, yours is a handful," Ron blushed a bit but choked it down quickly. He mumbled something about going to the loo before disappearing. Harry sat silently by the portrait hole, waiting for her to come back.
Ginny crept down the stairs towards the dungeons as quietly as she could. She was supposed to meet Draco ten minutes ago; the bit with Harry had set her back. She rounded the corner of the bottom stair and allowed herself to breathe again. No one ever came to this part of the dungeons, except for Snape, but Ginny guessed he was already asleep in his grey pajamas. Ginny snickered a bit; Harry had told her that little gem after his fourth year. She felt her face fall, she knew deep down that the fight had shaken her more than angered her. It was true what she said, he shouldn't be so over bearing, but what if her took her words as a relief. Maybe he was looking for a way out…
"You look awful," Malfoy greeted her cheerily from behind a pillar. Ginny jumped a little, she was almost used to the way he always seemed to appear out of thin air.
"Love you too," Ginny shoved a bundle into his hands. He stowed it away quickly, sitting on the cold stone floor.
"Boy problems?" he laughed as he pulled a meat pie out of the bag. Ginny scoffed at him.
"I'm glad you think my life is so pathetically amusing."
"I'm glad you understand," Draco dodged her side swipe easily. Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest and watched him eat.
"When are you going to start going to meals again?" she asked with a frown.
"When is hell scheduled to freeze over?" Draco asked through a mouthful of bread. Hermione would be disgusted, Ginny thought. They would all be disgusted, just from me seeing him, she thought again.
"So, still over me?" he questioned her again despite her silence.
"Of course, more trouble than you're worth," Ginny tossed his cloak at him.
"He still thinks we're going at it?"
"Eww," Ginny wrinkled her nose. During her conversations with Draco she had learned subtlety wasn't his strong point. Her friendship with him was….odd….to say the least.
"Let it go Gin, he's just being crazy and obsessive, you know…himself," Draco snorted as he pulled a jar of pumpkin juice from the bag.
"He's not crazy," Ginny frowned again.
Draco shifted a bit uncomfortably, "So, heard you were pretty good at the match."
Ginny smiled smugly, "I did pretty well."
"Modesty? That's a new trick for you," Draco cocked his head in wonder.
Ginny was considering giving him a rather rude gesture when they heard footsteps. Draco froze like a statue. In a flash Ginny shoved him backwards with the bag and leapt into the hall. She couldn't let him get in trouble again. After the scene with Crabbe and Goyle McGonagall had told him if he so much as sneezed in the wrong direction again he would be expelled, and then what would he do? Professor Silverstalk's pale face greeted her.
"Miss Weasley?" he stared at her in a mixed expression of disbelief. Ginny had always been the star pupil in his class. She knew that she had to come up with a very good excuse for this one.
"Professor, good evening," her mind was blank.
"Yes, may I ask what you are doing…in the dungeons…at midnight?"
"Yes, of course, I was….," she searched her mind, say something, as anything, "looking for my bag, I…I…left it down here today."
"In the vacant sections of the dungeons?"
"Yes, well….I got turned around," alright, she knew she was a terrible liar.
"Alright, well, I'm afraid Miss Weasley I am bound to assign you detention," Ginny felt bad at his genuine disappointment in her.
"Of course sir," she mumbled.
"Let me escort you back," he gestured in front of him. Ginny nodded, casting a quick glance to where Draco was still hiding. She felt like sinking through the stone floor, never in her life had Ginny gotten detention. She had never even lost house points. Professor Silverstalk led her back to the Gryffindor tower.
"Good evening Professor," she mumbled miserably as she went towards the portrait.
"Good evening, Miss Weasley, Oh…."Ginny turned around, "And do be careful, sometimes the walls…they can hear you," Professor Silverstalk bowed his head stiffly and swept down the stairs. Ginny pondered his odd comment for a moment, before ducking inside the dark tower.
Harry heard the portrait close, his eyes snapped open in a flash. Ginny stumbled inside. The fire was nearly out and she obviously couldn't see. Harry followed her quickly, he had to catch her before she went upstairs.
"Ginny," he whispered.
She jumped and whirled around in surprise, "Merlin! Don't do that!"
He was a bit startled to see tears in her eyes, "Did I scare you that badly?"
"No…I," Ginny's eyes welled again and sat down in the armchair by the fire, "I…got….detention," she sniffed.
Harry resisted the laugh and sat beside her, "What for?" only Ginny would treat detention like the end of the world….well, maybe Hermione.
"Professor Silverstalk caught me…downstairs," she still felt a bit angry with Harry, and she didn't want him to forget it.
"I'm sorry," he ran a finger over her chin, "but I have something that might make you feel better."
Ginny smiled despite herself, "what?"
"A present," Harry pulled a small parcel of tissue paper from his pocket. Ginny took it curiously. She unfolded the thin paper to reveal a small mirror. She gasped a bit in realization.
"Harry….this was from…"
"Yeah, Sirius," Ginny realized suddenly he hadn't said his name in a long time, "but I think you need to have it now. I'm going to give the other one to Malfoy, that way you can talk to him whenever you like…without getting detention."
Ginny was touched by the action. "This must be killing you, being civil to him," she smiled a bit. Harry nodded vigorously, "Yeah it is, but…I'll do it for you. You obviously see something good there, and I trust you."
Ginny kissed him sweetly, "Thank you. Whenever you make me so angry I literally want to kill you, you find some way to make everything better, how do you do that?"
"Dumb luck," Harry laughed at her. Ginny curled up against him in the chair. "I can't believe I got detention."
"Want me to get it and keep you company?" Ginny elbowed him lightly. She yawned suddenly, she felt exhausted.
Harry held her lightly. He felt much better about the whole situation now. For a moment Harry considered telling Ginny about the noise…but he decided against it. She looked so peaceful.
Ginny sighed contentedly. Her last thought was about the dim fire before she fell asleep.
Harry drifted in and out of sleep. His first thought was, 'wonder what time it is,' his next thought, 'why am I sitting up?' Harry opened his eyes to find a very bright common room. He stretched and yawned, recalling vaguely the night before. Suddenly his eyes focused on the red blur in front of him. Ron stood stiffly looking down on him.
"Comfy?" he asked curtly, tapping his foot a bit. Harry looked beside him at the sleeping Ginny still clinging to his shirt.
"Uh…" there wasn't really a good answer for this one, "yes?"
"Harry, you know I'd die for you, but," he pulled Ginny up and sat her on the couch, she fell back over instantly, "I'm going to kick your ass!"
"What? Nothing happened! Ron we just…"
"Harry! I wake up to find you asleep with my sister in the common room, I don't care if nothing happened! If you were any other guy.."
"Please, like you could take me!"
Ron's mouth dropped open, "Why you little…" he stalked towards him. Harry paled suddenly, was he being serious?
"Ron, if you come any closer…I…I'll…" he searched for words, Ron wasn't backing down, "I'll tell Hermione!"
Ron stopped cold. Harry smiled he had said the magic words. He seemed to be weighing the consequences. "You…you watch yourself with my sister," he shook his finger wearily. Harry smiled, "Will do mate."
After Ginny had woken up, and been filled in as to why she was sleeping on the couch, she spent a somewhat tense breakfast with Ron. Despite her vigorous denial he still remained suspicious and slightly disappointed in her. Ginny decided it was a lost cause and spent the rest of the morning doing homework with Hermione. After lunch Ginny slipped away from Ron's watchful eye, she needed to find Draco. She had to make sure he hadn't been found…
She skipped softly down towards the dungeons. There was a good chance he was in the library, but Ginny had been avoiding that area of the castle all day. Professor Silverstalk's room was there, and she didn't want to see him right now. Ginny whirled around the corner absent mindedly, meeting a very stiff black figure. Professor Snape regarded her coldly.
"What are you doing down here?"
Ginny raised her chin a bit, "I…I need to speak with someone," there was no reason to lie, she hadn't done anything wrong.
"Oh really? Well, I regret to inform you that Mr. Malfoy is gone," Snape's lip curled slightly. Ginny swallowed.
"Oh, well, thank you, I'll seek him out elsewhere," she turned back to the stone steps.
"I don't think you understand Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy is gone. He's been missing since this morning."
Ginny froze. She nodded at him slightly and walked stiffly up the stairs. After she reached the next landing Ginny broke into a run. She ran all the way to the common room and she felt her lungs were going to burst. Ginny found Ron, Harry, and Hermione sitting huddled together in the corner. Harry jumped up as he saw her come in.
"Harry! Snape…he's….he said….," Ginny tried to catch her breath quickly. Harry sat her down on the chair with a very concerned expression.
"Ginny, we know," Ron nodded and Hermione looked near to tears, "He's not the only one gone."
Ginny pressed her hand over her chest to calm down, "What….what's happened?"
The three exchanged concerned looks, Harry took her hand softly, "Professor Silverstalk is gone as well, vanished, and there was a letter…."
A/N- Hey guys! You thought I'd forgotten about you huh? NEVER! I've been so busy it's unreal! It's never taken me this long to update and I'm sorry, but I promise to get back on my schedule. So, this chapter was all about the mystery. We're more than halfway through, and I have to do some things you guys won't like very much soon, but it will work out believe me. Now, next chapter, a missing person, detention, holidays, and night noises.