THE SEVEN SINS


CHAPTER 3: WRATH: IRA

An angry man opens his mouth and shuts up his eyes. Cato.

It was a week later when something else happened. Binns had gotten rather incontrollable. He had taken to shouting at everyone in his rooms, and everyone had labeled him a horror that was even worse than Snape.

Of course, the Slytherin professor hadn't exactly been very happy about his reputation –some of the students actually had the audacity to sigh with relief when they entered the Potions classroom –and was demanding that his colleague be locked up.

McGonagall had at first laughed at Snape's predicament, but after having been insulted so awfully in the Grand Hall (everyone had stopped eating in shock as soon as Binns had said "I could teach your subject any day! Ten times easier than mine; the things taught are so easy, anyone could have passed that load of crap in a month!") had also supported his cause –quite vehemently too.

He'd been in a meeting with Dumbledore, but it had resulted in little change. The shouts had turned into whispers, but they were stage whispers, and were obviously meant to be heard.

The students had no idea why he was that way, but none of them dared to whisper rumors –they were too afraid.

Yet it wasn't Binns that created the next incident.

The Trio were walking down the stairs (the staircases had moved again, creating a roundabout route –for fun, Ron had said, rather exasperatedly –which meant that the students trapped on the particular path had to walk first down, then up towards their classrooms), when they encountered Ron's sister.

Ginny was standing rather insolently in their way. Ron stepped forward, puzzled and already not a little frustrated. "Ginny, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in class!"

She didn't move, her position quiet, and reticent. Her lips were thin, and her eyebrows drawn together in a stormy scowl. She reminded Harry of a deadly snake he had spoken to in the summer. Another zoo-convict; a murderous one, one that seemed to stand on it's coils, and fix you with it's beaded stare. Her arms were held out in front of her –an offensive attitude, and Harry almost instinctively took a step back.

"Is something wrong?" Ron asked. He was concerned now, his forehead creased, his mind wondering what had happened to his sister. "What's wrong, Ginny?"

"You stopped me." Her voice was low, soft, terrible.

"I stopped you from what?" Ron asked, annoyed. Transfiguration was one of the things he enjoyed most, especially given to the fact that Hermione was his partner.

"You stopped me from seeing Harry." Her usual lilting tone was dangerous now, and despite himself, Harry felt a little fear race down his spine.

Ron's eyebrows shot up. "I stopped you from seeing Harry? You know he's gay, Ginny! I told you that ages ago!"

"He is not! You stopped me from seeing him! I had a chance, you little prejudiced idiot!"

"Harry's gay, Ginny!" Ron exclaimed loudly, rather irritated by now. He was late for Transfiguration, Gryffindor was losing points, and he was arguing with his sister about his best friend's sexuality.

"You little bastard!"

A loud slap echoed across the corridor, as Ginny's hand connected with skin.

A red mark appeared on his cheek. Ron touched the mark slowly, the tingling feeling giving way to pain in seconds.

"Ginny?" Ron asked, aghast.

His sister sneered. Hermione inhaled sharply, her eyes narrowing into slits worthy of Crookshanks' glares. She forcefully dragged a somewhat shocked Ron behind her. Absently, Harry noted that even with her much smaller stature, she was still shielding him rather impressively.

"What do you think you're doing?" she hissed. Harry too, stepped forward, to guard his friend.

"Doing what I should have done five bloody years ago!" Ginny snarled back. Harry scoured her face keenly; her cinnamon eyes seemed to glow with fire, as she let her anger rip through her.

"He's your brother!" She exclaimed, her feet tense like a hawk defending it's nest.

"He's not my brother."

Immediately Ron flinched, light blue eyes turning dull with hurt, his tall build seemingly shrinking in on itself. Hermione, seeing this, grew furious.

"How can you say that?" she seethed. "He's done so much to keep you safe! How can you say that?" Her voice rose up in tone, ringing louder and louder.

Hermione advanced a step, her arms raised up like a lioness about to attack, but Ron placed a fe fingers on her arm.

"No." And his voice was broken, shattered, a mourning wind compared to former blue skies. "Let's go." He looked at them sadly, eyes begging to leave, like a little child.

Hermione's stance softened, and she led him away by the hand, a mother leading away her child, her little darling. Harry followed them slowly.

When he looked back, Ginny was still staring at them, and her eyes were no longer warm and kind.

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When he'd returned to the house common room (despite all explanations, he still had to make his rounds), Hermione and Ron had settled on the sofa. They were the only two in the room. Doubtless, Hermione had used her rather unnerving stares to send everyone away –even in situations like these, she did not like using her power over the younger years.

She was stroking Ron's hair, now, running her fingers through the soft wavy strands. Ron's body was tense, curled up into a tight fetal position, his head on her lap, pillowed on the soft folds of her robes. He was clutching the creases between his fingers, and his back gave a shiver occasionally.

Harry did not need to see his face to know that he was crying.

Gently he sat down near Ron' legs, sideways along the sofa, and touched his side, where Ron's ribs were. He dragged his thumb over the bones, counting, and comforting. His friend was still radiating the silent sobs that he hated the most.

Then Harry spoke.

"Ron, you can let it out now."

And a soft cry uttered from dry lips, coarse and raw, and Harry cringed at the amount of anguish buried in the little sound.

Instantly Hermione covered his body with her own, leaning over him, cradling his head in her right arm, as the left encircled his frame. She murmured little nothings, crooning sweet mother-like sounds, not really saying anything, but saying something all the same. Harry continued to knead his back, giving his friendship, giving all he had in those touches.

For that was all he could do, really.

That was all he could do.


A/N: I'm afraid some of my somewhat angsty week entered into this chapter update, but I was struck by that image of Ron. He is the tallest of the Trio, and people portray him as everything from evil, to pious, but I liek him like he is.

Response to reviews: thunderslightning: Did I ever tell you I love rainstorms? They're so hauntingly beautiful, that if it ever took on a persona, I swear I would see a lady dressed with a cloth made out of a cascading waterfall, and raindrops as jewels in her hair. She would have a dreamy look in her eyes, but suddenly the lightning would flash, and she would sparkle, like a field of energy…

I'm updating now! Are you happy? Lol, hope you liked it.

Aseret Kitsune: Yes, but much, much later, I'm afraid. But hey, the person who takes on Lust will be interesting to know wouldn't they? Try guessing who it is!

I'll add an epilogue if anyone can!

Meg Finn: Lol, I'm back into the confusing thing, huh? Yes, I love the fly too…although I hate them in person. Draco's got a sympathizer. Yes, it rhymed! Hermione wasn't PMSing but she's a little effected by something or other…a bad day…or something else? Hmm…have to wait and see.

Clayscarface: Thank you for reviewing again! I like to figure out plots too…as for the Binns thing, you'll see about that later…I promise I have the whole thing figured out, as I'm rather a details-person…I constantly scream with horror at my typos…

Queen of the Fairys: Thank you so much! Hope you liked the chapter…Will do the uploading…uh, and did?

Frankie and Avery.dont ask: I'm very very happy you told me about the mistake, but haven't exactly changed it yet as I want to get the whole thing figured out. You see, what I meant by Hermione saying it was the NEWT year, was that it was their NEWT course year, but not the year they were taking their exams…sort of like the A levels. The course is over two years, but the exams are in the second year, at the end of the course, right? If I'm still wrong, and the NEWT course lasts for one year, and one year only, please inform me…it means as much to me as to you, I promise! I'm not making fun of you; I'm being really serious with this request, as I really am rather confused about the course years.

Jessy: Thank you for commenting, it means so much to me! Hope you liked this chapter, and I'm glad you liked the plotline! I love little things like the old myths, and so. They are so interesting to get to know about. I learned so much from researching the 7!

California smells funny: I SO love your name! My dad's family lives in San Francisco…but in Sacramento. I don't really think the plot is original though…so many people have used it! I'm glad you like it however, and blithely imagine you reading it happily (I hope)!