Harry woke the next morning after a very unpleasant dream of being chased by Luna, Snape, and Ginny Weasley (who had been attempting to beat him with his own broomstick).

Harry pulled himself up in his bed groggily and yawned. It was 8:30.

"RON!" Screamed Harry. "We're late for charms!"

Harry leapt out of his bed and pulled Ron's curtains aside.

"AHHHH!" he screamed, falling over backwards, shielding his eyes from the horrible sight, which lay before him.

"HARRY!" barked Ron, pulling his sheet over his bare chest and shoulders. Hermione sat up next to him, quite unabashed, wearing Ron's old, faded T-shirt.

"Harry," she said, sounding a bit like Mrs. Weasley. "What are you doing?"

"What do you two think you're doing!" Harry shouted at them. "Have you both lost your minds! You're both in enough trouble as it is without sneaking into each other's rooms! Besides," he said, gasping for air. "We're late for charms!"

"NO!" screeched Hermione. She looked like she was going to move, then thought better of it. "Harry, get out!"

"I'm still in my pajamas, what am I—"

"I'LL BE OUT IN JUST A SECOND, GO!"

Harry fumed as he left the room, kicking the door out of the way. He felt very much like kicking, hitting, or destroying something as he listened to them talk quietly to each other, laughing occasionally. Two weeks ago he didn't even know they were dating, and now they suddenly had an entire world between just the two of them.

"Thank you Harry," she said, followed closely Ron. He scowled at both of them and slammed the door.

Harry changed slowly; he was not really intending to show up to Charms at all. He'd had all of Ron and Hermione he could stand for a month. He searched for his Charms book slowly (although he always suspected it would be under his bed, and it was). He took a long time looking around for his shoes, which were buried beneath his Potions book and a pile of old shirts.

Finally, when it was time for Herbology, he started down the stairs toward the common room.

"No, no," said a female voice. "That's not what I heard. Seamus told me he was dating Parvati—or was it Padma? Oh, I can't remember—too."

"Well," said what sounded like Romilda Vane's voice. "I can't say it would surprise me in the least. He's not exactly the brightest boy around, is he?"

Harry stopped and listened.

"I don't know," said the other girl. "We don't exactly talk."

"How could you know Ginny and not know him too?" Asked Romilda.

Harry guessed that the other girl shrugged.

"I don't know," said Romilda doubtfully. "But Harry seems to like him, and if Harry—"

"Oh, come on," said the other girl. "You don't still like Harry, do you?"

"Shut up!" said Romilda, sounding hurt. "You're the one who had a crush on Dean. Like that would ever happen. Ginny'd have your insides for dinner."

The other girl retorted bitterly and he heard them both step through the portrait hole.

Harry tried his best not to think it, but the name was already creeping into his mind. Ron? No! Ron wouldn't! Ron's with Hermione!

He shook his head and walked out the door, resolving to talk to Ron first before he did anything else. That was, if he could get him away from Hermione.

Harry went to Herbology and ignored people's stares and furtive whispering. When class was over, he went to the Great Hall and found Ron and Hermione, who were talking to each other in a way that was not at all secretive. Instead, they seemed to be having a normal conversation, the sort they hadn't been able to have for what seemed like ages.

"Hi, Harry," said Ron as he sat down. "What happened to you in Charms?"

Harry shrugged. "Didn't feel up to it, I guess," he replied.

"WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!"

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and a number of other people turned to look at Ginny, who was standing opposite Dean in the path of a lot of a crowd of Hufflepuffs, who were all watching rudely. Ginny was red in the face and was standing in a way reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley. She looked livid.

Dean, on the other hand, was wearing a blank expression. Harry decided to take this for fright.

"PARVATI?" she screeched. Harry winced. "PARVATI PATIL!"

Once again, Ginny's wand arm was twitching next to her back pocket. This time, she went for it.

"RICTUSEMPRA!" she shouted. McGonagall leapt to her feet, shouting something. Dean flew backward and hit Seamus; they both fell to the ground with a crash.

"HEY!" shouted Parvati, but she sank back as Ginny turned on her, eyes wide and terrifying. It wasn't like Ginny at all.

"Ginny, NO!" shouted Harry. Ron sprang forward and pulled her back. Snape and McGonagall were both sprinting over towards the scene, where Neville was helping Dean up and Ron and Harry were both restraining Ginny, who was nearly foaming at the mouth.

McGonagall was livid.

"GINNY WEASLEY!" she barked. "I expected better than that out of you!"

Ginny was now glaring at McGonagall, but it was almost as if she didn't know she was there.

"Longbottom, Finnigan," said Snape curtly. "Take Mr. Thomas to the hospital wing immediately. Potter, Weasley, take this one to my office and stay there."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. Ginny had kind of collapsed in their arms; she was shaking and looking from side to side, as if she didn't quite remember what had happened.

Harry and Ron did as they were told and walked down the corridor with Ginny propped up between them. She wasn't saying anything. She only stared, dazed.

"Mr. Potter," said McGonagall from behind them. "I think it would be best if you took Ginny to the hospital wing."

"But—" said Harry. "Snape told us to—"

"I am well aware what Professor Snape told you, Mr. Potter. Now do what I told you to do," she snapped, and started walking away from them briskly toward the hospital wing.

Ginny drooped on Harry's shoulder. She was looking at Professor McGonagall. Since they'd never really paid attention to Snape's orders anyway, they followed after her.

When they entered the hospital wing, a big curtain was set up that Madam Pomfrey came bustling through.

"Oh," the woman said. "Here's the one who—"

"Mr. Weasley, I told you to take the girl up to my office," spat Snape, looking angry.

"I told them to come," said Professor McGonagall. "I feel it is best to have Miss Weasley looked over."

Harry and Ron helped Ginny onto the nearest bed. She lay down; her eyes were still wide and terrified and she looked sick.

"You're not really under the authority to disregard my orders," said Snape, sneering. McGonagall glared at him.

"Are you going to fire me, Severus?" Asked McGonagall. "Poppy, can you please take a look at Miss Weasley?"

Madam Pomfrey looked at the girl disapprovingly, but checked her over anyway.

McGonagall shot Harry a dirty look.

"You two may go."

Ron opened his mouth to protest.

"NOW, Mr. Weasley," she barked.

Both Harry and Ron turned to leave, rolling their eyes. When they appeared on the other side of the door, Neville was there, staring blankly at them.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Ron accusingly. Neville blinked, and said nothing. Harry and Ron continued to walk.

"What do you think that was all about?" asked Ron, frowning. Harry had an idea, but he didn't want to say anything.

"Dean was cheating on Ginny with Parvati," said Neville, racing after them.

Ron stopped and glared at Neville. "WHAT?"

"Well...Icicle—"

"What?" asked Harry.

"Icicle," said Neville. "Draco's new girlfriend from Hufflepuff. Anyway, Parvati told Icicle and Icicle told Draco, who told Pansy who asked Lavender who didn't know who asked Justin Finch-Fletchley who had walked in on them snogging earlier that day. Justin told Hannah Abbott, who told Susan Bones, who told Colin and Dennis Creevey who went and blabbed to Madam Hooch. She told McGonagall of course and McGonagall told Percy, who sent a letter to Fred. George told Mrs. Weasley and she sent Mr. Weasley an owl and he told Tom, from the Leaky Cauldron. When Tom saw Hagrid he told him and Hagrid told Madam Rosmerta who told Lucius Malfoy, who told me."

Ron blinked.

"Why were you talking to Lucius Malfoy?" asked Harry, confused.

"Oh," said Neville. "The Hogwarts-Azkaban Outreach Association," he explained. "We write letters to lonely Azkaban prisoners begging them to change their ways."

Ron blinked again.

"You're pen-pals with Lucius Malfoy?" Asked Ron, giving him a dirty look.

"How long has this been going on?" asked Harry.

Neville shrugged. "No one knows for sure. Lucius only found out three days ago from Rodolphus."

"How did Rodol—" Harry stopped, deciding not to ask.

Ron looked angry suddenly.

"Dean Thomas was cheating on my sister!" He demanded. He turned sharply, but Harry caught him.

"Ron, don't," said Harry. "That's just going to make Ginny more upset."

They walked back to the common room while Ron harped about Dean and how dead he was going to be as soon as Madam Pomfrey let him out of the hospital wing. When they arrived back in the common room, everyone was still sitting up talking about Ginny Weasley and Hermione ran into Ron's arms like he was some sort of horrible, tragic hero.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only ones who sat up, waiting for Ginny to return. They understood that she had done something pretty wrong, but it wasn't any worse than anything anyone else had done before. After all, she could have used an unforgivable curse, but she settled for one of the nice, legal ones.

It wasn't until close to four in the morning when McGonagall suddenly appeared, creaking through the door of the portrait hole loudly. They were all suddenly wrenched out of their sleep.

McGonagall motioned for all of them to follow her, and they stepped out after her, all tired and very suddenly confused.