Ginny sat at breakfast eating away happily, Harry and the others hadn't arrived yet, but she had been early. She'd practically bounced out of bed that morning, she was so excited. Tonight was the winter dance, something that the students had insisted on. It was only for sixth and seven years so that meant her and Harry could go. She also knew that Hermione was flying solo and she liked it that way. She just prayed her brother didn't do the noble thing and ask her to go; she needed Hermione nice and lonely for her plan to work.

Ginny wasn't a stupid person, she'd picked up on what Harry was hiding probably before he did. She saw the way his eyes flashed to Hermione when he didn't think anyone would notice, and strangely enough it hadn't hurt her. She'd spent hours trying to force herself into hating Hermione, into feeling jealous, but she just didn't feel it. When Harry said he loved her, she knew he wasn't lying. He was completely incapable of lying to her, but she also knew he had strong feelings for Hermione. All she wanted was to have Harry, even if it didn't mean all to herself. She'd lusted after him for so long that he was rightfully hers now, but she wasn't a complete prude. She knew that guys couldn't help their feelings sometimes, just the same as girls. But she also knew to keep him she had to share him, and she'd resolved her feelings on that months ago.

She knew what had happened between them last night, in fact she had set the whole thing up. She'd been slapped in the face with an opportunity to get a jump start on things and so she'd taken it. She needed Harry and Hermione to realise their feelings, and she had wanted it to be before the dance. It was perfect really they knew exactly how the other felt and they seemed to be happy to go behind her back. She just needed to let them know now she didn't care, but she wanted a part in everything. The mere thought of that set herblood alight and she had to gulp down a lot of pumpkin juice before her heart beat steadied.

Eventually Harry and Ron appeared, arguing over some Quidditch rule and took up seat with her.

"Morning boys sleep well?" she asked flashing Harry a dark smile.

He gulped and nodded to her, since his voice box had frozen. He sat directly opposite her and he felt her foot slid up his leg. He glanced at Ron but his mate was too absorbed in eating to notice anything. She smiled evilly at him as her toes slipped up further and he jumped slightly.

"Alright mate?" Ron asked around a piece of toast.

"Yeah fine, just banged my knee," he made out like he was rubbing his knee cap but caught Ginny's foot.

She tried to squirm away but he caught her and tickled her. She let out an ear splitting screech and wrenched her foot away. Both of them couldn't hold the giggles back as Ron looked at them puzzled.

Just then Hermione settled into the seat next to Harry, and he couldn't help but notice what she was wearing. It was a Saturday so they weren't in uniform, but Hermione's outfit made a mockery of the uniform. She wore a tight fitting crimson corset, with a white shirt over it. The shirt was barely buttoned, just enough so it clung to her, but not enough to cover her top underneath. She also wore a short black skirt, and black leggings. He noticed she wore a pair of cherry vans and smiled, she had good taste then.

"Herm you look great," Ginny gushed sitting forward to chat to her friend.

Hermione's face lit up and he couldn't help but notice the way Ginny's eyes lingered on her outfit a little longer than usual.

'What the hell is going on round here?" he wondered as he watched Hermione's eyes flitter over Ginny's outfit.

She to paused at certain points not trying to hid where her eyes were.

"Don't you think Hermione looks sexy Harry," Ginny said causing Harry to splutter pumpkin juice everywhere.

As he tried to gather himself Ginny just laughed, she loved putting him one edge and she couldn't help that one.

Hermione laughed and quickly pulled a sandwich towards her.

"I can't stay long I've got to get to the head mistress office soon. She wants me to help with something to do with the dance," she turned to look at Harry and he instantly noticed the twinkle in her eye, "she wanted me to fetch you as well."

Ginny smiled as she watched them eye each other then cleared her throat, "well then you best be off. Ron can stay and keep me company."

Ron barely looked up from his food, and with a shrug he'd agreed.

Harry organised to meet Ginny for lunch, and in turn Hermione organised to meet her later to get ready. The two disappeared quickly, and Hermione let her breathing steady. She was sure that Ginny would see through the lie, but thankfully it had worked. All yesterday had done to Hermione was leave her wanting more. She grabbed Harry's hand when she was sure the coast was clear and pulled him along the corridors.

He noted exactly where she was dragging him straight away. She stopped outside a small door and whispered something, and when the door sprang open she dragged him in. He looked around and knew he'd been right; they were in the Head bathroom. Before he could even think though she'd locked the door, and locked him with her gaze.

"Everything alright Mione?" he asked as she approached him.

He backed away as she stalked him, but eventually he felt the cold of the marble walls press against his back. She stood in front of him for a second her eyes sparkling, and then she swept him up into a kiss.

Her kiss wasn't soft like the first one he'd shared with Ginny, she was rough and demanding and he loved it. He grabbed her hips and pulled her tightly against his body and smiled as she moaned against him mouth. She slid her hands up under his t-shirt and suddenly it was gone. Harry thought it only fair since he had seen so much of her yesterday and she'd seen barely anything of him. She pulled away, only to attack his neck with heated kisses. His skin burned where her lips touched and left him wanting, no needing more. He wrapped his hands in her hair and forcefully pulled her back up to him. She happily sank back into kissing him as his right hand slid up her thigh.

He grabbed her knee and pulled her hard against him, and she had no choice but to follow. She gasped loudly as his crotch pressed forcefully into hers and she felt his full erection there. She loved that it had taken so little time for her to get him to this point, loved the power she had over him, and at the same time how weak she was against him. All he had to do was press his hips into hers and she could feel electricity running through her body. She wanted to tear his cloths off, but that wasn't the reason she'd brought him here.

She looked up into his emerald eyes, and pressed her hands against his chest telling him to back up. He stopped suddenly and she could see how puzzled and hurt he was.

"Don't give methose puppy dog eyes you'll make me melt."

He smiled broadly at her and wrapping his arms around her body again, pulled her back to his chest. He tried to kiss her again but she managed to squirm away from him just in time, she knew her resolve wouldn't hold out if she carried on.

She looked up at Harry and he could see the sorrow there, "what are we doing?"

Her question struck home and Harry felt his heart tighten. He looked away from her and stared at the stain glass windows. The morning light was pouring in even though he knew it was cloudy out there. It was kind of like what they were facing now, everything seemed alright on the surface to them, but they new underneath it was all stormy.

He turned to look back at her and she could see he was thinking the same things as her.

"I have no idea what we're doing, I hate myself but at the same time I don't care. Part of me wants you so badly, but another wants Ginny," he sighed deeply and looked down at the floor, "and both parts are equal. But I can't have both of you can I, that's not fair."

When Harry looked up she was nodding her agreement and he knew exactly what had been decided here.

"Go back to her Harry, tell her if you want but give it some time. I know her she won't care, she loves you and she'll understand," Hermione turned to go but he caught her arm before she could leave.

For a while they just stood there, Hermione with her back to Harry, but his tight grip on her arm keeping her there.

"I love you Mione," he whispered and she span around to look at him.

"You can't," she said begging for it not to be true more than anything else.

Suddenly his arms were around her and she couldn't help but press her body tightly against his for comfort and nothing else. She could feel the tears trying to fight their way out, but she refused to cry in front of him. She needed to be strong so he could be to. He stroked her hair lovingly and soothingly and this just made things worse.

"I love you Mione and that's the simple truth," he gripped her by the shoulders and looked down into her hunny eyes with his clear emerald ones.

But as she watched they clouded over and she knew he was thinking of Ginny, "But I love her to," he let out an anguished growl and flung his arms in the air in frustration as he moved away from her.

"How can I love both of you? How is it that I can feel exactly the same about two people at the same time, you both complete me. Am I just doomed to forever be half a person," he sighed as he gripped the sink letting the cold marble shock him back to reality.

He felt Hermione's soft touch on is shoulder, but didn't make any move to turn around. He couldn't look into her eyes; see the love there that he knew she held. He didn't think his heart could take it if he did. He felt her slim fingers squeeze his shoulder and he knew she was hurting to but he couldn't give her any comfort, he didn't think he ever would be able to again.

"I should go," he heard her whisper and by the time he pulled himself together enough to turn and look at her she was gone.

He realised then she had never said she loved him, and he felt the sting in his heart worsen. He may have been able to live with himself if he knew how she felt, but he knew the moment where he could ask would never come again. He'd let one of his biggest loves slip through his fingers, and if he wasn't careful he would loose another.

He starred at his reflection and willed his features to soften. He tried his hardest to remove the pain from his eyes, which was evident to anyone, and so would be completely blatantly obvious to Ginny. He concentrated his thoughts on her, forcing all of the love he held into his eyes. Eventually he had created a mask that he was sure would fool anyone, even himself. With his mask in place he could kid himself into thinking he wasn't in pain, he just prayed it never cracked, or he wouldn't be able to take it.

When Hermione had left the bathroom she had made it down the hall before she'd collapsed in tears. The dam burst and everything she had tried to hold back poured out of her. She knew no matter what she would never love anyone the same as she loved Harry now, who could compare to him. He'd been her only true friend since arriving at Hogwarts. Sure she and Ron were close, but with Harry it had been different. He had been automatically understanding, never questioning the way she held herself or sorted things through. He was always there to back her up from start to finish, the only person that had ever done that in her life.

Her whole body ached as if she'd taken a heavy beating and she couldn't will her legs to move anymore. She fell apart in front of a statue and used it to hold herself steady. Eventually the shaking got the best of her and she slowly slid to the floor. She stayed there until she was found.

"Herm," she heard a familiar voice whisper and when she looked up she was met by shinning blue eyes.

Ron stood over her confusion and concern laced across his face. She tried to smile at him, but only broke out in to more sobs. He knelt besides her and suddenly he pulled her into a hug. She buried her head in his shoulder and cried uncontrollably. Eventually her shaking subsided and she knew she'd cried herself into dehydration. She literally didn't have any tears left in her. The whole time he had held her, stroking her hair, and whispering soothing words in her ear.

When she pulled away she wiped her face and smiled warmly.

He smiled back at her but didn't let her go, "are you alright," she nodded and he smiled a little brighter, "want to talk about it?" she shook her head and he understood.

What ever was wrong he didn't want to pry and cause her more pain, he just wanted to help her. He hated seeing his friends in pain and all he ever wanted to do was take it away.

He carefully helped her to her feet and still holding her steady led her back to the common room. When they got there he helped her up to her room but didn't leave her. She curled up in a ball, leaning on his lap, on her bed and soon fell asleep. He didn't dare leave her for fear of how she would be when she woke. Instead he stayed with her stroking her hair and keeping her safe. She had hours until the ball so for now she just slept. Whatever was wrong he knew it had exhausted her and the best thing for her was rest, and he would be right there when she woke.