A/N: The songs for this chapter include, 'Truly, Madly, Deeply,' by Savage Garden, 'You're Beautiful' by James Blunt, 'Don't ask for more' by Abby Dobson and 'I Try' by Macy Gray.

JK owns Harry Potter. DUH!

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Chapter four – Here and There

Ron leaned against window sill stared out at the darkening sky, the common room was unsurprisingly empty as everyone was too embarrassed to see anyone, he did however see Ginny pass by him hurriedly, Harry followed some twenty minutes later, both looking depressed. He on the other had been waiting for Hermione, after asking some girls to check for him he found out that no one had seen her in the girl's dormitory. Which left him with the conclusion that she was either in the dormitory and avoiding him or at the library avoiding him, either one left him with the same problem, he couldn't talk to Hermione. Finally, tired of waiting Ron decided to check out the library and have his inevitable confrontation with Hermione.

The entire school was empty with students and teachers alike too afraid that they would start to sing whatever they were feeling, Hermione was glad for the quiet as she walked slowly up and down the hallway leading to the Gryffindor common room, every time she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady she turned and walked hurried back the way she came, she had repeated this so many times that eventually the Fat Lady had eventually given up waiting for her and left and to visit some friends on the second floor. So apart from seeing Ginny and Harry walk past her, she had been quite alone in the corridor. Once more she made her way back towards the common room weighing the possibility of meeting Ron, she took a few deep breathes as she approached the portrait. She felt completely humiliated and now that she knew that she had no one to blame but herself she felt even more embarrassed not to mention the fact that in one foolish moment she had lost Gryffindor one hundred house points. Just as she reached the portrait it swung open to reveal Ron stepping out into the hallway. The couple stood motionless and thankfully speechless before Hermione hurriedly escaped into the safety of the common room the portrait shutting behind her. She was in such a hurry to leave that she didn't hear Ron sing the first few lines of his song,

"I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy.

I'll be your hope, I'll be your love be everything that you need.

I love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do...

I will be strong I will be faithful 'cause…."

The music faded and Ron realized that he was singing to empty corridor. Ron scratched his head frustrated at the fact that he hadn't been able to tell Hermione how he felt.

"Tough luck, but I thought you had a lovely voice," a nearby portrait of a witch comforted.

"Thanks," Ron replied dejectedly as he returned to the common room. He quickly looked around but he saw no trace of Hermione, he sat down in one of the chairs and stared at the blazing fire.

"So I'm pretty sure Ginny will never speak to me again," Harry said matter-of-factly sitting down next to Ron.

"Oh yeah? Well you'd be surprised the lengths you'd have to go to shut her up," Ron joked. After receiving no reply from Harry, Ron looked over at his friend, Harry was sitting on the sofa his legs stretched out in front of him as he stared into space. Ron nudged him in the ribs to get his attention, when Harry turned to look at him, Ron knew instantly that this was not the time for jokes, instantly putting his own problems aside Ron gave Harry an empathetic look before patting him on the shoulder.

"What happened?" Ron questioned simply as he leaned against the chair.

Harry retold the event that passed a few hours earlier, and Ron quietly listened carefully noticing the pained expression on Harry's face when he recalled how Ginny had cried before running away from him. Anyone who didn't know Harry would think that he had just told Ginny to leave him alone but Ron knew him better he could see in Harry's mannerisms the tell-tale signs of self abuse that Harry had perfected since their first year at Hogwarts. It took all his strength to not beat some sense into his friend, literally, especially considering that the person that they were discussing was Ron's sister. Carefully considering the approach he would take, Ron questioned Harry,

"So do you think Ginny got the hidden message in your song?"

Harry hesitated before responding calmly, "There was no hidden message, it was pretty clear if you ask me and I should know I was the one who sang it,"

Ron remained quiet for a moment, expecting Harry to admit what he was really thinking but seeing as how Harry was being stubborn as usually Ron decided he would steer the conversation in the right direction.

"Yeah, you're right, you were the one who sang the song so you would know what you meant when you begged Ginny not to say 'Goodbye',"

"…I still want to be friends," Harry mumbled lamely.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure the 'I still want to be friends' line has been used to death by now. Come on mate, we both know what you were trying to say to Ginny, but you had to be difficult and test her didn't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry responded sitting up in his seat and glaring at the fire, its burning embers reminding him of the Ginny's sparkling hair in the sunlight. He frowned when he realized what he was thinking; he turned from the fire to look at the red carpet.

Ron heard Harry curse under his breath as he stared at the carpet.

"Ginny's not stupid, give her a few more hours to stop crying and to think clearly about what you just said to her then she'll figure it out in two seconds flat. And by the way when that happens you're on your own mate, because she'll tear you apart for thinking so little of her. Do you really think her feelings for you are that superficial that she'll just abandon you? We both know that she cares about you more than that, as disturbing as this is for me to say I really thinks she loves you, she always has and always will. Nothing you say or do can change how she feels...that's true love and if you can't at least acknowledge that then forget about Ginny, I'll beat you up myself, my little sister deserves better than that," Ron finished saying slapping Harry across the head for effect.

"Do you think she's still crying?" Harry questioned looking up the stairs leading to the girl's dorms.

Ron rolled his eyes at Harry, "And you say you don't care about her, if all you got out of my speech was that she's still crying then you got it bad,"

"Or I could just not want people crying because of things I say," Harry defended himself.

"Well I don't see you rushing off for tissues every time you say something terrible to 'Mione or me!" Ron retorted.

"Well you guys are my friends…" Harry began but Ron interrupted him,

"And Ginny's not?"

"NO! She's more than that!" Harry's eyes widened when he realized what he just said.

Ron was just about to congratulate himself for forcing Harry to confess his feelings when he heard a gasp of shock behind him, he turned his head to see a bushy brown head and a red one disappear up the stairs. He heard music echo in his head as a voice began to sing.

"My life is brilliant…

My love is pure.

I saw an angel.

Of that I'm sure…"

Ron looked over at Harry but his friend didn't appear to notice anything out of ordinary so Ron dismissed the music when it had stopped suddenly. Instead, Ron laughed at Harry's lost expression but Harry's face suddenly hardened when he looked at Ron.

"You tricked me!"

Ron almost fell off the chair laughing, if ever Harry sounded like a six-year old child whose favorite toy was taken from him it was now. Harry suddenly stood up and stomped angrily away from Ron. But Ron stopped him, you better stay here, I'm pretty sure Ginny will come down any minute and kiss you senseless," Ron scrunched his face in disgust when the image of his words formed in his head, "And with the disgusting thought I think I'll make my timely exit," with those words Ron stood from his seat.

Harry had thought that Ron would be heading up the stairs but instead Ron waved goodbye as he disappeared out the portrait hole.

Hermione caught her breathe when she had entered the common room, she had just escaped another encounter with Ron which was lucky because she had distantly heard the beginning beats of music drifting in the hallway before she left. Hermione checked that Ron had not followed her into the common room then sighed as she slowly made her way up the stairs.

Hermione gasped when she felt herself being jerked into a cupboard.

"Lumos," Ginny said lighting up the linen closet.

"Ginny? What on earth…" Hermione started to say but stopped when she noticed how red and bloodshot Ginny's eyes were. And she knew only one person was capable of causing the usually bubbly to cry herself for hours. Ginny sat down on the floor of the cramped linen closet and hugged her legs to chest, Hermione soon joined her and patted her head softly as though she were comforting a lost puppy, she remained in silence as Ginny continued to cry on her shoulder explaining the cause of her tears. Hermione frown deepened as she listened to her friend, the more she listened and Ginny's sobs continued Hermione's guilt increased.

"If it weren't for me than none of this would never have happened, all because of my selfishness! I'm so sorry Ginny," Hermione apologized.

Ginny picked up one of the towels in the closet and wiped her tear stained face, "Don't Hermione, it was good for me to hear it, I don't want to spend my life dreaming about something that's obviously not going to happe-…" Ginny dropped the towel onto her lap, her heart was beating rapidly as she considered the words that Harry had sung to her. She instantly conjured a parchment and quill and wrote out the words from memory.

Hermione sat silently watching Ginny as she hurriedly wrote on the parchment, she of all people knew when someone was having a 'light bulb moment'. She sat leaning against the shelves waiting patiently for Ginny to explain what she had discovered.

Ginny finished writing and stared down at it as the words practically jumped at her from the page, she quickly crossed out the lyrics she had sung and underlined some others lyrics before showing Hermione. Hermione took the parchment from her and read the lyrics.

What do you say,
when words are not enough
Too few won't sum it up
Too many's just too much

I've read all the signs,
but still don't know the way
I can try and lead you there,
but I'd just lead you astray

Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies
If you wanna be with me
Cause the truth'll set you free
Don't look to closely or you'll see my disguise
I saw the love between us die
But I'm not ready for goodbye

Don't ask for more
'Cause what you're searching for
You won't find at my door
Don't ask for more
My heart already knows
But my head won't let you go

Please try and understand
This is all I am
I keep holding on
But half of me is gone
The pieces of my heart
Are lying on the floor
It's been broken up before
It can't be broken anymore

Hermione stared at the page letting the words sink in, she looked up at Ginny and smiled, "'I can try and lead you there, but I'd just lead you astray', 'If you wanna be with me cause the truth'll set you free, Don't look to closely or you'll see my disguise,' Gin he's telling you not to give up on him, to look beyond what he's saying and to emotion behind them instead. Here look," Hermione pointed to some other lines that Ginny had underlined, "This one says, 'Please try and understand, this is all I am,' He's telling you that he can't change who he is or the fact that he'll always have to deal with the constant threat of Voldermort, but these following lines, 'The pieces of my heart…its been broken before it cant be broken anymore', he's saying that no matter what you decide, he'll accept it even if it'll break his heart! But this line here," Hermione pointed to another line that she just noticed, "'I'm not ready for goodbye' it's clear that he doesn't want you to abandon him…"

"I'm gonna KILL HIM!" Ginny cried angrily grabbing the parchment from Hermione's hands, "If he has to ask whether I actually love him than he's…he's denser than my brother!"

"Wait Ginny!" Hermione said just as Ginny left, Hermione quickly followed Ginny down to the common room, she was running so fast that she bumped into Ginny who had stopped suddenly on the stairs.

"Wha…mmmph" Hermione spoke but her mouth was quickly covered by Ginny's hand, Ginny tilted her head to downwards and when Hermione leaned forward she saw Ron and Harry sitting talking. Ginny and Hermione quietly made their way down the stairs stopping in the shadows so that the boys wouldn't see them but still close enough that they could hear what Harry and Ron were talking about so intently.

"That's true love and if you can't at least acknowledge that then forget about Ginny, I'll beat you up myself, my little sister deserves better than that," the girls heard Ron say before they heard him slap Harry on the head.

"Do you think she's still crying?" Harry questioned Ron, concern evident in his voice.

"And you say you don't care about her, if all you got out of my speech was that she's still crying then you got it bad," Ginny held her breathe waiting for what Harry would say in response, Hermione clutched onto Ginny's arm listening intently.

"Or I could just not want people crying because of things I say," Harry finally said.

"Well I don't see you rushing off for tissues every time you say something terrible to 'Mione or me!"

"'Mione?" Hermione whispered but Ginny ignored her.

"Well you guys are my friends…" Harry spoke again catching Hermione's attention.

"And Ginny's not?" Ron questioned,

"NO! She's more than that!" Harry retorted angrily, causing Hermione to smile, 'Checkmate, Potter,'

Ginny gasped at what she heard, Harry Potter had just confessed how he felt about her, that she was 'more than just a friend' she felt her heart leap into her throat and she wished to stay there to hear what else he would say but for some reason Hermione was pulling her hurriedly up the stairs not stopping until they had reached the door to their rooms. Hermione hugged Ginny happily but Ginny suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be angry with Harry.

"I'm going down there," she said determinedly though she felt a nervous wreck.

Hermione gave her arm an encouraging squeeze, "Good luck!"

Ginny nodded her thanks before rushing down the stairs, she felt as though she was walking on air.

Harry sat quietly staring at the dancing flames of the fire, he hoped yet dreaded the moment that Ginny realized what he was trying to tell her beside the lake. He closed his eyes suddenly feeling exhausted, he began debating whether he should listen to Ron and wait for Ginny or just go to sleep, his head told him to go to sleep but his heart told him to wait.

"Harry, c-can we go outside for a second," Ginny's voice jolted Harry awake instantly and he jumped from his seat to see Ginny standing next to him, he had no idea what Ginny had to tell him but he quickly followed her as she walked out of the common room.

Ginny walked briskly down the hallway, she heard Harry behind her and she wished that Hermione's spell was still working because she didn't know if she had the courage to say what she wanted to say without it. She stopped in a corridor and turned out into the balcony; she stood in the moonlight and leaned against the ledge. Ginny looked down at the wide expanse of he Hogwarts grounds and she could have sworn she saw a figure walking alone, their robes billowing behind them in the night breeze, a melody drifted to her ears but her attention shifted when she saw Harry step onto the balcony beside her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard music surround them before she began singing.

"Games, changes and fears

When will they go from here?

When will they stop?

I believe that fate has brought us here

And we should be together

But we're not

I play it off but I'm dreaming of you

I'll keep it cool but I'm feigning.

I try to say goodbye and I choke,

I try to walk away and I stumble

Though I try to hide it it's clear

My world crumbles when you are not near

Goodbye and I choke,

I try to walk away and I stumble

Though I try to hide it, it's clear

My world crumbles when you are not near

I may appear to be free

But I'm just a prisoner of your love

I may seem alright and smile when you leave

But my smiles are just a front,

I play it off but I'm dreaming of you

I'll keep my cool but I'm feigning

I try to say goodbye and I choke,

I try to walk away and I stumble

Though I try to hide it it's clear

My world crumbles when you are not near

Here is my confession

May I be your possession.

Boy I need your touch

Your love kisses and such

With all my might I try

But this I can't deny…

I play it off but I'm dreaming of you

I'll keep my cool but I'm feigning

I try to say good bye and I choke,

I try to walk away and I stumble

Though I try to hide it it's clear

My world crumbles when you are not near…"

As the music faded, Ginny stepped closer to Harry, "Harry, my world just doesn't work without you," she softly touched his face and looked deeply into his green eyes that were swirling masses of emotion and she now knew 'love', 'May I be your possession? Harry, I need your touch, love and kisses…" Ginny whispered softly, though there was only the two of them standing on the balcony, her words were for Harry and Harry alone and she didn't want anyone else not even the night sky to hear.

Harry closed his eyes he took a deep breathe before opening his eyes to look lovingly at her, he instantly pulled her towards him and embraced her as though afraid that she was disappear into nothingness at any moment.

"I love…I love you Ginny, I don't know what I would do if you abandoned me," he whispered into her ears causing her to shiver slightly, he instantly wrapped her in his robes and pulled her tighter into his chest.

"I love you too, Harry," Ginny whispered just as Harry leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips. The stars above them twinkled happily down on them and the clock bells rang loudly. There was a sudden gust of wind before the night returned to its peaceful stillness.

"Good morning," Ginny whispered happily looking up at Harry when they had broken from their kiss and the 12th of the clock bells echoed through the school.

"If you were always the first thing I saw every new day then I would be happy the rest of my life," Harry sighed kissing her briefly before leading her from the balcony.

"Harry, I never knew you to be the romantic type," Ginny gasped in mock horror at his words, "That last line was bordering on 'mushy'" she teased.

He laughed with her as they walked back to the Gryffindor dormitory.

A/N: Hmmmm, actually there's a lot of H/G going on, but don't worry this is definitely a Ron/Hermione fic…you'll see what I mean…that is if you review.