Chapter 8: The story reveals

Harry and Ginny were now eating their breakfast in the great hall. They were surprised to see all the others come and sit opposite them but didn't bother to speak a word with them. Harry and Ginny ate their breakfast quickly and went to the grounds for a stroll. They would have asked the others why they did that in the great hall but they hadn't yet decided how they were going to approach them.

Harry and Ginny were walking when they spotted the whole gang behind them acting as though they also came out for a stroll. Harry and Ginny looked at each other with a confused expression on their faces. They sat under their usual tree and the others did the same but sat under the neighbouring tree.

Until mid afternoon, they were being followed by the others. Harry and Ginny got bugged when the others sat right opposite them and spoke about them, though Harry and Ginny did not get what they were talking because all they did was say out their names aloud and drown the rest of the sentence in a whisper. Harry got an idea and whispered something in Ginny's ears. According to the idea, after they finished their lunch, Ginny said out loudly "common Harry……….lets go to the room of requirement….." and pulled Harry out of the hall before the others could react.

Outside the room of requirement, all the others did not know how to enter the room as Ginny and Harry had locked it from inside. After what seemed like 4 hours…..…….they slowly unlocked the door but the others didn't notice. After another hour, Harry peeped out and was shocked to see all of them waiting, a few sitting in corners, a few standing, he was about to close the door when Hermione said "stop it Harry, we have come to speak to you……. Please, allow us inside" she pleaded. Harry said "ha, its been days since I heard that voice" he answered with a sheepish smile and allowed everyone inside as he didn't want to hurt them the way they did.

Harry's and Ginny's plan was to make them approach Harry and ginny and it had worked. After they entered the room, they took seats. It was similar to the common room. Harry and Ginny were on the other side of the room. Harry took a seat next to Ginny and they both sat in silence. All were silent for a few minutes when Hermione started (isn't it obvious) " Harry and Ginny, I guess you figured out why we have been behaving like this for the past few days. I am sure you're bloody angry, even I will be if I were in your position" she said with a concerned look.

"So you know why we did this or do you want to know?" she asked with a questioning look.

"Yaya! We know……………. You wanted me and Harry to get together and that's why you did this" said Ginny with a fierce look. "But I don't understand……… what's the use of not talking with us for a few days bring me and Harry together" she asked with her face glowing red of anger this time (surprising).

"Knew you would ask that question" said Parvati. " Well!... It goes like this……. On Christmas Eve, while we were all enjoying, all of us noticed 1 thing………. You and Ginny were standing close to each other…………. I don think you would remember…………. But all of us had the same thought……….what a cute pair you two make…………"she said with a smile as Harry and Ginny tried their level best not to blush. "While the party was going on, we passed a message to every 6th year Gryffindor asking them to come to the common room at 1…….after you both slept…….we all met in the common room and everyone except Ron knew what was going on………..obviously no one expected him to know………..he's as thick as a pineapple…" she said and looked at him as he scowled at her.

Then Colin continued "we discussed about you and Ginny, we thought it was high time Harry realized his feelings for her and we tried to figure out a plan" he said and sat down. Dean continued, saying "Then Hermione came up with this brilliant idea……….. She told us that…. You, Harry, hate to be alone unless it comes to difficult times. She figured out that it's because of all of us that you, Harry haven't yet realized your feelings for Ginny. What we then decided to do was to move away from you so you would move closer to Ginny" he said, winking at Harry.

Ron continued "I told them that you wouldn't come approach anyone if you didn't do the mistake…. i.e. we didn't talk to you….right?...you never approached us……..because you knew you didn't do anything wrong. I told them this remembering our small misunderstanding in our 4th year" he said and put his head down.

" We guessed that Ginny wouldn't dig her nose into something when people don't want her there…….so she wouldn't mess with our plan" said Parvati. " So we avoided both of you, especially Harry because he had always been surrounded by us that Ginny had been out of his sight……..and its his 6th year, and we thought there is a limit to how long Ginny can wait………. so we thought………. Out of loneliness….Harry would end up becoming Ginny's friend and then would realize his feelings for her" said dean.

It was now Hermione who spoke "We had guessed that all of this would take the whole of Christmas holidays, as Harry is not lesser than Ron at being thick………" she trailed away as Harry stared at her with raised eyebrows and immediately Hermione said "but he's been a good boy………" she added with a smile. " After that meet we had in the common room, we all owled our parents saying we wouldn't be coming for Christmas and gave some excuses…….." said dean.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other and said " can you guys give us a minute please……….we need to talk over something" they said with pleading looks. All of them went out of the room and Harry closed the door. After 5 minutes, Harry opened the door and let them in and joined Ginny who was in the other end of the room. They both stood up, their hands folded and their faces facing the ground, they said "We are sorry guys, we really thank you for doing this for us………you all didn't go home for your Christmas because of us and we are really sorry and grateful about it……………..you can give us….." Harry said ….. When Ginny said " we owe you…….."……… Ginny stomped Harry's foot as Harry had skipped to the next sentence forgetting the other sentence they had by hearted and Harry let out a small "ouch" and both continued saying "we owe you for what you have done for us and we accept any punishment you give us" Saying this, they ended and looked up at all the others face to see them laughing.

Ron said " you bet we are going to give you a punishment………….. You made us wait for bloody 5 hours outside this room, we are going to lock you both up and open the door after 5 hours" he said with a stern look. Harry said " that's ok with us………….isn't it gin, you can lock both of us in a room for 5 hours………….its ok…" but he was interrupted by Ron who said " Aahhh………Are you kidding me………. I didn't say both of you together………. I said both of you separately" and he gave a victorious smile. Harry said "oh!... that's ok too…….Mmmm…..its… fine…..aah…….Mmmm…..its ok……." he said but was very hesitant and everyone could notice that and all started to laugh…….and Hermione said between laughs "he was just kidding Harry".

Harry blushed as he had made a fool outa himself and laughed along with them.

The all hugged and the rest of the holidays were the most memorable times they had together.

(All of them gave Harry and Ginny their Christmas presents which they had hidden……….)

THE END