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Chapter 26

Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one…

Nope. Nothing. Maybe it worked better the other way…

One…two…three…four…five…six…seven…eight…nine…ten…

Ron sighed heavily as he sat on the tattered green sofa in the entrance hall, thumbing through a new copy of The Stealth…and counting. He'd already read through this thing cover to cover, so he was actually just staring at the pictures. He had seen Moody toss it in the kitchen bin one morning, and had sneakily removed it and shoved it under his shirt. The stories weren't really any different than that of the issue he, Harry, and Ginny had read. Just a lot of death and destruction…

He had been hoping that if he read something devastating enough, he might be able to take his mind off of the highly irritating course this week had taken.Or...if he couldn't take his mind off of it, he hoped to dwarf it in comparison to something more horrible.

Ron could hardly believe that one week and one day ago, Harry had blasted a gaping hole in their bedroom. It seemed like a month ago…Everything was moving so slowly now.The damage was quickly repaired…well, at least the damage to the ceiling was quickly repaired… However, the events following Harry's outburst had inadvertently caused a bit of 'damage' to Ginny.

As soon as Phineas strode from his painting to return to Dumbledore's wall at Hogwarts, he informed the Headmaster of Harry's…explosive anger. After hearing this news, Dumbledore arranged to pick Harry up from Grimmauld Place that evening. Ron had heard Dumbledore saying something to his mum and dad about Harry needing to, 'redirect all of his anger to a more productive method of anxiety liberation.' So, he had taken Harry to Hogwarts for the week to resume his training with him and Lupin in hopes that this would clear Harry's mind a bit.

As Harry and Dumbledore were preparing to apparate, however, Ginny had run up to Harry and whispered something in his ear. It wasn't until later that Ron found out from Hermione what Ginny had said. Hermione had been able to read her lips… 'I'm sorry.'To everyone's surprise…everyone being the whole lot of inhabitants at Grimmauld Place…Harry had wrapped Ginny in a fierce hug and kissed her lightly on her cheek. And if the scene had ended there, maybe no damage would have been dealt to Ginny, but unfortunately, Ginny had pushed her luck.

She made a move to cup Harry's face and kiss him on the mouth, but before she could, there was a 'Crack!' And Harry was gone, leaving Ginny standing alone near the front door with her hands held up in a slight V-shape. She had looked like some sort of delicate statue, looking to the heavens…until, of course, she broke the pose to flee to her room. It was Ron and Hermione's belief that Ginny and Harry's brief reunion followed by Harry's refusal to accept her kiss, was what had caused the ensuing 'damage' to Ginny.

Ginny had spent the entire week locked away in her and Hermione's room. Not one soul in Grimmauld Place could pretend that they weren't aware that 'something' was going on between Ginny and Harry. Of course, Ron, Hermione, and Tonks were the only ones who actually understood the situation. Ron and Hermione had explained mostly everything to Tonks, who, as they expected, understood completely that the matter should remain secret. The only bit of the story that they hadn't revealed to Tonks, was the bit about Harry lowering his defenses and seeing that horrible vision of Ginny.

Ron's Mum and Dad, however, did not know any of the secret of Harry's denial of their daughter. They believed Ginny to be upset and scared for Harry after seeing the power of his veiled anger. His parents believed Ginny to be innocent and fragile … unable to fully deal with the war and how it was affecting Harry. And Ginny had readily let them believe this…

Ron's Mum delivered Ginny three meals every day, and Ginny only left her room to go to the loo. Ron had visited her a few times, but she hadn't talked to him. Her appearance made Ron doubt if she were actually eating the food brought to her each day. Her eyes were dark underneathand her skin was pasty. Either she wasn't eating or she wasn't sleeping…or both…but she definitely wasn't taking good enough care of herself, for she did not look healthy at all.

In addition to Ron's worries over his sister and Harry, he felt as if he hadn't seen Hermione for a week. With Harry gone and Ginny hiding away, it would seem ideal for he and Hermione to have ample alone time. But, this wasn't the case. Hermione had been studying all day, everyday with Tonks for her Apparition test. At which times, Ron was made to leave the room. Apparently he made Hermione 'too nervous' to apparate properly. And when she wasn't practicing, she was reading the book Ron bought her for Christmas, A Simple Guide to Apparition. Fortunately, he was able to sit with her while she read.

Who knew sitting with someone could be so fulfilling? It was quite odd how content Ron felt just being in Hermione's presence. But, Ron reckoned love was peculiar in a lot of ways that he'd never really thought of before. For one thing, there was this insatiable hunger to rendezvous with Hermione.

Ron was a connoisseur of satisfying his hunger. Or at least, he had been before he adopted this new hunger that didn't involve stuffing his mouth full of food. He constantly longed to be in Hermione's presence, preferably hugging and kissing her. Hugging and kissing Hermione Granger! Sometimes he had to remind himself that her attraction to him and love for him was not false. Why has she chosen me? Ron would often ask himself. He still didn't really know the answer.

But, Ron felt as though 'answers' were scarce these days. It seemed that all of his questions remained without proper ones. Would Harry ever accept Ginny back into his life? Could Ginny recover if he didn't? Would he and Hermione ever feel as though it were time to tell Harry about their feelings for one another? Would he be able to keep Hermione happy in a relationship so that she wouldn't leave his sorry arse for someone better? Could he recover if she left him? Well, maybe one of his questions had an answer to it… But more importantly at the moment…would Hermione ever get back from the Apparition Testing Center!

Ron shoved the depressing newspaper in between the two cushions of the couch. Hermione had surely been gone for at least two hours! Kingsley had come for her this afternoon, and then Shacklebolt, Hermione, and Tonks had gone to the A.T.C. at the Ministry. Tonks claimed that she was just going along for the ride, however, Ron had a sick feeling in his stomach that told him otherwise. Surely someone being targeted by Death Eaters would need at least two Aurors to guard them. Ron reckoned it was a sign of the colossal love he had for Hermione that he could still be worried sick about her when she was being escorted by two highly capable Aurors.

Ron stood up from the sofa with the intent of going downstairs to the basement and checking the time. If Hermione didn't return soon, he was going to drive himself mad…what with all the counting backwards and forwards, reading depressing newspapers, and dwelling over the past week…

However as Ron reached the top of the basement stairs, he heard someone coming up the steps outside the front door. His heartbeat quickened, and the door opened wide to reveal Tonks and Hermione being ushered inside by Kingsley. Kingsley gave Ron a brief wave from the front steps but quickly apparated after shouting some sort of combined greeting and farewell. Ron didn't hear exactly what he'd said, however, because he was too bothered by the horribly gloomy look on Hermione's face.

"Hermione?" Ron asked tentatively. "How did it go?" She looked up at him sadly, which caused his stomach to clench up, and then…

Pop! She was gone….but then…

Pop!

A mischievously smiling Hermione was now standing about a foot from him. Ron smiled back broadly and quickly scooped her up into his arms. Tonks smiled and rolled her eyes as Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled. He swung her around a couple of times before returning her feet to solid ground.

"Brilliant, Hermione!" Ron exclaimed brightly, both of his hands clasping her arms.

"Thanks." She replied, smiling modestly, although he could see the excitement in her eyes.

"Now, you see? Tonks was right! You didn't have any problem, did you?" He said smiling down at her beautiful blushing face. Ron reveled in causing her to blush from his compliments. It was so delightful!

"The testers were quite impressed. Weren't they, Hermione?" Tonks said matter-of-factly. Hermione just continued to smile as Tonks continued. "Said they hadn't heard a seventeen-year-old apparate that quietly on their first try in ages."

Ron felt a strange sensation wash through him as he looked down at Hermione. The sensation was immeasurable pride! He'd never felt this proud of anyone before. Not even Hermione. He usually always felt at least a small pang of envy when others exceeded above his accomplishments. But he didn't feel that at all at the moment.

Glancing around the room to make sure that they were alone, besides Tonks, Ron entwined the fingers of both of their hands, leaned down, and gave Hermione a congratulatory kiss. Tonks made some sort of whistling noise followed by a snorting sound before making her way past them to descend the stairs to the kitchen.

"Would you like to go with me to show Ginny my new skill?" Hermione asked after pulling away from him slightly. "I thought it might cheer her up a bit, you know?"

"Sure." Ron said, still smiling. Hermione suddenly got that mischievous smile again.

"I bet I can beat you to the bedroom." She said slyly, before…. Pop!

Swirling colors and warmth surrounded Hermione for a brief moment before everything stopped abruptly and she found herself standing outside of her and Ginny's bedroom door. It was a strange sensation, but Hermione didn't mind it, really. She was just relieved that the test was over and she now had her Apparition License. Hermione smiled to herself as she saw Ron running up the stairs three at a time. He stopped at the landing, breathing slightly heavily. Giving her a knowing smile, he approached her slowly, yet determinedly. She found herself leaning back against the wall.

"That wasn't quite fair now, was it?" He asked huskily, as he came close enough to place his hands upon her hips. Hermione felt her heart flip over backward.

"It's fair by my rulebook." Hermione said softly as Ron leaned further over her and squeezed her hips with his warm hands; she could feel their heat through her denims...or maybe that heat was coming from her.

He smiled broadly. "I see." He leaned down until he was breathing on her lips, sending those marvelous chills up and down her body. "Well, if we're playing by your rulebook…" He whispered against her lips.

Suddenly Ron bit Hermione's lower lip ever so gently, before running his tongue across it. She closed her eyes as she felt her legs grow a bit weak and a warmth, much stronger than that from apparating, run through her veins. Before they could continue this wonderful game, however, a door opened somewhere down the hall, causing them to reluctantly, yet quickly part from one another. They gave each other meaningful smiles before creating a friendly distance between them. Although, Hermione's heart was still beating at a non-friendly rate.

Ron stepped back from her and Hermione turned toward the bedroom door as Moody began making his way down the hall toward the stairs. He had come from the loo. Hermione tried to appear to be just now arriving at her bedroom as she slowly opened the door and peaked inside to see Ginny lying on her bed, curled up into a small ball, with her back to the door. Motioning for Ron to follow her, Hermione entered the room quietly.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked in a near whisper.

"Hmm?"

"I'm back from the A.T.C."

Ginny rolled over then and sat up. Hermione felt a small lump form in her throat at the site of Ginny's slightly sunken eyes and weak smile. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with loose strands falling all about her pretty face. She was wearing a light blue, cotton t-shirt and shorts. Hermione would swear that Ginny had lost at least ten pounds in the past week. Was that possible?

"How did it go?" Ginny asked in a small voice.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Hermione focused on the space directly in front of Ginny's bed, closed her eyes, and…

Pop! …warm, swirling colors engulfed her, but then… Pop!

Hermione was now a foot from Ginny, who was smiling up at her.

"Great show, Hermione." She said sweetly before standing up to give her a hug.

Hermione returned the hug and took note of Ginny's noticeably protruding spine as she patted her on the back. Ginny had always been a thin girl, but this was ridiculous. Hermione felt that she should reprimand her or threaten to tell her mother, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't cause her friend anymore pain or stress. As Hermione and Ginny broke their embrace, Hermione decided that she would just have to keep a closer eye on Ginny and make sure that she was eating something everyday.

"Ginny, you look…" Ron began worriedly. Hermione turned around and shot him a warning look. His eyes went a bit wide for a moment. "You look…sleepy. Um, should we leave you to a lie-down?"

Hermione smiled at him, and he gave her one of those wonderful, heart-stopping winks.

"Oh, no. It's really alright…I just-…" Ginny stopped mid-sentence. Her mouth was still partway open, but her pallid face seemed to grow paler as she looked past Hermione toward the door.

Hermione turned around to see Harry standing in the doorway.He must have returnedjust moments after she and Ron had entered the bedroom. He too was staring with his mouth partway open…at Ginny. A deeply concerned furrow appeared on his brow. The last time Harry had seen Ginny, she had looked like a Greek goddess...but now...

"Hey, mate." Ron replied hesitantly, "Glad to have you back."

Harry slowly tore his eyes from Ginny and looked at Ron in confusion for a moment, as if he wasn't sure why Ron was standing there talking to him, before rubbing a hand quickly over his face and then nodding at Ron. In an attempt to break the silence, Hermione was about to ask Harry how everything went at Hogwarts, but she saw something moving behind Harry's legs.

"Dobby?" Hermione asked curiously.

A small head with a long nose and huge, green eyes peaked timidly around Harry's legs, before the large-eared elf stepped out from behind them. "Yes, Miss…it is Dobby." He replied with a small smile. He was wearing about five pairs of differently colored socks, a purple sweater, and some bright green shorts.

"Oh, yes." Harry began with a forced smile,his gaze had returned to Ginny, "Dobby has come to live here at Grimmauld Place."

"What?" Ron asked with one eyebrow raised, but Harry was entranced with Ginny, who was simply sitting quietly on her bed, her small legs hanging off the edge. Her eyes focused on her knees. Dobby took Harry's silence to mean that Ron was addressing him directly.

"Yes sir, Mr. Wheezy, sir." Dobby said smiling proudly. "Dobby will replace Harry Potter's Kreacher because Kreacher is a dark and bad elf."

"Really, Harry?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

He nodded, turning to look at Hermione. "Yeah, well... When I arrived at Hogwarts, Dumbledore told me that Dobby here had a request of me. Apparently he had gotten wind of my ownership of Kreacher through the…well…the Elvaan grapevine."

"Yes." Dobby added, nodding excitedly, "Dobby requested to work here for Harry Potter…for free! Dobby is used to wages, but Dobby could never take money from the great Harry Potter."

Ron chuckled a bit at this before Harry continued, "Uh…I still…well…own Kreacher, but Dumbledore said I could send Kreacher back with him to Hogwarts if I wanted, and bring Dobby to live here. And, well, that's what I wanted."

"Wow." Hermione smiled down at Dobby, who smiled back timidly. He was sort of unattractive at first sight, but his innocence and lovability made him charming.

"Why doesn't everyone sit down for a bit?" Ginny asked softly. Her voice sounded a bit strained. Hermione took a seat on her own bed, along with Ron, who had sat down rather quickly. Hermione wondered if he had simply wanted to sit beside her, or if he wanted to force Harry to sit beside Ginny…maybe it was both.

Harry had his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he walked slowly to Ginny's bed. He took a seat beside her, his eyes sweeping over her concernedly.

"Are you ill?" He asked softly. Ginny shook her head without looking at Harry. She was actually playing absently with the edge of her pillow.

"She's not eating." Ron stated candidly. Hermione thumped him on the knee for interrupting, but he just continued to stare disapprovingly at his sister.

"Is that true?" Harry asked calmly. Ginny didn't respond, but continued fingering the edge of her pillow. "Ginny, are you not eating?"

When she continued to ignore his question, Harry sighed heavily and turned to Dobby, "Dobby, would you mind running down to the kitchen and fixing some hot soup?"

Dobby smiled brightly at this, as if he had just been told that he had won a grand prize. "Of course, sir!" He cried cheerily before he all but ran from the room, almost tripping over his large feet in his haste. Once in the hall, he must've apparated because Hermione heard a loud crack.

Ginny and Harry were staring at one another now. Hermione looked to Ron and with her eyes, she attempted to ask him whether or not they should leave the room. He shook his head at her before turning to look back at Harry and his sister.

"I'm not hungry, Harry." Ginny whispered, looking away from him.

"Well…you sure look hungry."

"But I'm not, and you can't make me eat."

"Ginny, please…" Harry said a bit hoarsely. He then took hold of one of her hands, causing her to look up at him expectantly. "Ginny, what if I sit here with you? Hmm? Will you eat then?"

Without warning, a loud sob burst forth from Ginny's small frame. She quickly grabbed her pillow and buried her head in it. Harry closed his eyes tightly for a mere second before he gently took the pillow from her, tossed it to the floor, and pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck; his arms were about her waist. Hermione quickly stood from the bed and grabbed Ron by the wrist; Ron looked at her with slight confusion.

She pulledRon up from her bed and began dragging him to the door, but before they reached it, the door slammed closed. Hermione turned on her heel to face Harry. He still had one arm about Ginny, stroking her back, but the other was just returning to encircle her after being outstretched toward the door.

"Harry, did you just-…" Ron began in awe.

"Wandless magic…yeah." Harry said shortly over Ginny's shoulder, as he began rocking her still sobbing form back and forth slightly. "You two sit down, will ya?"

Hermione gave Ron a half-questioning, half-astounded look before they both shrugged and returned to her bed. Harry could do wandless magic? Exactly how much wandless magic?

Hermione wasn't quite sure why Harry didn't want to be alone with Ginny, but she couldn't honestly say that she wasn't glad she had the opportunity to watch this sweet exchange between her two friends. She was exceedingly curious as to where this was going…Please don't refuse her after this, Hermione thought desperately.

Just then, Hermione heard another loud crack come from the hallway, followed by the sound of quickly pattering feet. Dobby appeared in the doorway with a large tray. It had four steaming bowls of vegetable soup, along with four glasses of pumpkin juice, four spoons, and four napkins.

"Dobby!" Harry said in surprise as he gently pried Ginny's hands from his neck. He stood up to take the tray from his new house-elf. "How did you cook that fast?"

Dobby laughed a small laugh before he shrugged and simply said, "Magic, sir."

"Thank you, Dobby." Harry said politely as he took the tray and sat it atop Ginny's nightstand. Dobby seemed to be dancing slightly or maybe he was just hopping from one foot to the other, but he began tugging on Harry's jeans. Harry looked down at him.

"Please, Harry Potter, sir…Dobby will serve. Harry Potter should sit back down with his second Wheezy."

Harry nodded and smiled kindly at Dobby as Hermione, Ron, and even Ginny chuckled at this sentiment. Harry did sit back down beside his 'second Wheezy' as Dobby raised his hands and directed one bowl, spoon, napkin, and drink to each of them. As it was a bit difficult to hold all of these and eat at the same time, they all decided to sit on the floor. When they were all settled, Dobby apparated back down to the kitchen to finish serving 'the rest of Harry Potter's family.'

"This soup is bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed through his final mouthful of Dobby's hot, vegetable soup. He and Hermione were sitting across from Harry and Ginny; all of them had their backs against the beds.

"Yeah…I suppose life could become a real doss with Dobby around." Ginny replied, before swallowing a spoonful of soup that Ron guessed to be the first food she'd eaten in a week. Harry turned to her and smiled.

"So you think I'll laze up if he sticks around?" He asked teasingly.

Ginny shook her head with a small smile, "No. But you might fatten up." Harry chuckled at this.

"Well, that's what you need to do." He said as he reached over and scratched her tummy playfully. She giggled.

Ron was beginning to wonder if Dobby had put some sort of Cheering Charm on the soup. Or…maybe some sort of hallucinogen. Were Harry and Ginny actually flirting and smiling again? Was it possible for the madness to finally end? And…Ron thought, with a flutter deep in his stomach…if the madness ends, could he and Hermione safely tell Harry about their romantic relationship?

"So, Hermione," Harry began, "You can officially apparate. What do you think about it?"

"It's alright I suppose." She said casually.

"Alright?" Ron asked with a disbelieving smile, "You suppose?"

Hermione rolled her eyes with her delectable lips pursed slightly, "Alright, then…it's brilliant. I was trying not to boast."

Suddenly Ginny stood up from the floor and grabbed hers and Harry's empty bowls, but Harry grabbed a hold of her ankle. "Hey, Little-bit, where are you off to?" He said before standing up beside her and taking the bowls from her hands. "I'll get them. You lie down."

"But Harry I've been in bed all week." She said with a casual smile. Harry's smile faded slightly as if he were imagining Ginny's pitiful state over the last week. Well he should feel bad! Ron thought vengefully. It was mental to be in love and not share your feelings to the person you're in love with. Of course, it was probably a bit mental to be in love and only share your feelings to the person you're in love with… But still!

As Harry and Ginny stared at one another, however, their bowls disappeared from Harry's hands. Ron then looked down and saw that his empty bowl had also disappeared, as had Hermione's.

"Okay," Ginny said smiling, "I take it back. You're going to laze up and fatten up." Harry smiled weakly before he waved his hand in the direction of the door sending it flying open. He then pulled Ginny to him and, quite unexpectedly, kissed her full on the mouth. Ron was in a semi-shocked condition before he felt a small hand pulling on his arm. He looked up to see that Hermione had stood from the floor and was now bent down, tugging on him to stand, as well.

Snapping out of his trance, Ron stood up quickly and followed Hermione out of the room, but not before he stole another quick peek over his shoulder… As their kissing continued, Harry crushed Ginny to him, Ginny cupped Harry's face, and Harry waved his hand at the door, where it closed softly at Ron's heels.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Aww... Well, I hope everyone enjoyed. Thanks again to the wonderful readers and reviewers! The upcoming chapter may take a while, I never know...but it's very sketchy right now in my mind. Oh, and by "a while," I still mean less than 48 hours. So, don't get too worried if you are anxious for chapter 27.

And about Tonks/Lupin relationship...I've been debating that very thing, but I don't know if I will have a good opportunity to fit that in or not. If I do put that in my story, however, the credit for the idea of that relationship goes solely to Jo. I never saw that coming in HBP. But, I liked it, nonetheless:) Well, stay tuned!