Author's Note: Hello everyone! I have another chapter here and I hope you like it! And just so you know, the next chapter probably won't be done till after the witner holidays because I'm really, really busy. Sorry, but I promise I'll try to update ASAP!
Happy Holidays!
Gabbrielle
-A Mistake?-
"Oh Ron, please!" said Hermione as she stormed through the portrait hole and into the empty Gryffindor common room. Ron was quickly behind her and seemed really revved up about something,
"Hermione, are you trying to tell me that your parents would like me if I wasn't a wizard?"
Hermione stopped suddenly and spun around on the spot, "Yes! Yes they would! That's what I've been trying to tell you for the past fifteen minutes! You're just so nervous Ron! The things you're talking about are so petty and stupid! You're so concerned with proving yourself right that you don't realise how wrong you are!"
Harry was seated on one of the couches in the common room and had been lost in thought when Hermione and Ron had stormed in. He looked up at his friends who had not yet noticed he was there and watched them in silence.
"I still don't believe it." said Ron stubbornly and Hermione turned around angrily and headed straight for the stairs, while mumbling something that sounded a lot like "idiot" under her breath.
Ron scowled and turned to find a seat when he spotted Harry, "Finally! Someone I know who likes me for me."
Harry raised an eyebrow as Ron slowly walked towards him and sat down in a chair opposite. He looked up at Harry and saw the expression that still rested there and explained in a mocking tone,
"Hermione's parents only like me because I have magical powers. They were so glad to hear that I'm a wizard, because they hope I'll be able to protect her if any Death Eaters ever come a calling."
"And why do you say that?" asked Harry confused.
Ron sighed, "The whole time we were there, her parents kept telling me how happy they were that Hermione was going to marry a wizard. And then they kept saying, 'Make sure you take care of her.'"
Harry smirked, "You realize how stupid you sound, don't you?"
"Thank-you!" yelled Hermione who had been listening from the top landing of the staircase. Ron and Harry looked up towards the landing and saw a swoosh of curly brown hair just as Hermione angrily spun around and slammed the dormitory door behind her.
Ron looked away from the landing and made a face at Harry, but Harry continued on,
"No, I'm being serious here. You really sound stupid. Don't you think that they're happy that you're a wizard because they figure that you're someone Hermione can relate to?" asked Harry, as Ron's expression slowly changed.
"I mean think about it, if she ended up marrying a muggle, he might not be as understanding of her magical side as you would be. And you know that line, 'You make sure you take care of her' is used as a threat to the man in question - warning you that if you cheat on their daughter, expect to be hunted down and slaughtered."
Ron stared at Harry for a moment, and then,
"Oh shit!" spat Ron angrily, only now realizing his stupidity. He quickly jumped out of his seat and ran towards the spiral stairs.
Harry laughed to himself and shook his head, and then turned to stare at the roaring fire beside him. As he stared into the fire his thoughts from earlier quickly came back to mind…
What was he going to do? ….About Ginny? …About Luna? About the whole ordeal?
Harry shook his head. He was completely confused about the events of five hours earlier, and no matter how much time he spent thinking about it, it seemed that he couldn't come up with an answer.
"HERMIONE WON'T YOU LET ME COME UP?" Harry heard Ron yell in desperation up the girls' staircases. Of course he wouldn't be able to climb the stairs unless someone invited him up, and when Ron came back down into the common room two minutes later, it seemed that Hermione was still angry.
Ron walked back to the chair he was previously sitting in, and slumped down. Harry looked up at him and half-smiled.
"How am I ever going to live in the same house with her?" asked Ron while shaking his head slowly.
Harry laughed, "Women: can't live with them, can't live without them."
Ron snorted, "No kidding."
The two boys sat in their chairs and slowly became lost in their own thoughts, but Harry specifically needed help. He looked up at Ron and wondered whether or not he should ask him. After all, the female in question was Ron's own sister, but he didn't have to know that…
"Hey Ron," began Harry slowly, still unsure if he was doing the right thing. Ron snapped out of his trance and looked up at Harry, and Harry dropped his voice, "I need some… help. Female help."
Ron nodded as though he understood and he leaned forward in his chair, so that he could better hear Harry's whisperings. Harry paused and looked around the common room, no one else was present and so Harry leaned forward and continued,
"Okay, I need your advice. But you have to promise me that you won't mention anything to Hermione," added Harry quickly, as though predicting a disaster.
Ron nodded, "Don't worry mate, I won't tell her a thing."
Harry slowly nodded and leaned in closer. "Okay. I, um… don't know where to start…"
"Is it about Luna?" asked Ron, and Harry nodded.
"Yeah it is. The thing is, well… I like someone else."
Ron jerked his head back and rose an eyebrow, "So, ditch Luna if you don't like her."
Harry made a face, "But it's not that simple. You see the girl I like… well, she has a boyfriend too. A long term boyfriend, and I don't know if she wants to break up with him or not."
Ron shrugged, "Just ask her."
Harry smirked, "Easy for you to say! It took you how long before you and Hermione started dating?"
Ron rolled his eyes, "Yeah but you're "The Chosen One". I'm sure all you'd have to do is simply tell her that you're interested and she'd be all over you."
Harry rolled his eyes this time, "But she's not like that. And besides… she's already been all over me…" He mumbled the last bit.
Ron's eyes widened in interest and a mischievous grin broke across his face, "Oh really Chosen One? Been kissing girls behind closed doors when your girlfriend's not around, eh?"
Harry smirked, "It's not like that! It just sort of… happened. And then, when we were walking back - when we were walking down a hallway, we ran into Luna." Harry made a face as he remembered it.
"It was awkward. I mean, Luna had no idea what was going on, and so she ran up to me and kissed me. But the other girl… she didn't seem phased by it at all."
"What do you mean?"
"Well… I didn't expect her to get all territorial or anything, but she just sort of walked away. She said good-bye, and then walked away. I got the impression that she really didn't care if I was still with Luna or not."
Harry sat back in his chair. He had finally said the one thing he that had thinking about out loud, and he didn't like the sound of it. Ron was lost in thought,
"Maybe… she really doesn't care." said Ron slowly, and then he too sat back in his seat. "Maybe she just enjoyed the excitement of kissing another guy."
Harry looked up at Ron with amazement, and then guiltily realized that Ron was not aware that he was referring to his own sister.
"I don't know…" began Harry slowly as he considered the possibility, "it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing she would do."
Ron smirked, "Harry, let me tell you something." He leaned forward in his chair and glanced up at the landing before he spoke, "The one thing I learned from Hermione is that you never know what a girl is really like, until you date them."
Harry was now leaning forward in his chair with interest. "Really? Luna's not all that different."
"But how far have you gone with Luna?" asked Ron earnestly.
Harry pulled back a little, "Well not far… I mean, we've kissed and stuff. But nothing more than that."
Ron nodded, "Yeah well Hermione and I – " Harry made a face and so Ron left it at that,
"Well yeah, you know. But anyway, I never thought in a million years that she would be okay with getting into some trouble every now and then. And she's way more wild and frisky than in my greatest fantasies– " another look from Harry.
"Sorry. Anyways, all I'm saying is that you know this girl from a friend perspective, right?"
Harry thought for a second and then nodded. Ron continued, "And don't you think it's a little odd that after dating a guy for two years, she suddenly goes around kissing other men? I mean, what if you're not the first? Or the last? And the poor chap she's dating - he doesn't even know he's being played!"
Harry leaned back and thought for a moment, "Hey – but how am I any different? I went and kissed her first! That makes Luna the poor chap who doesn't know that she's being played."
Ron's eyes widened and then he leaned back in his chair in a professional manner, "Well, if you kissed her first, that's a totally different quidditch game!"
Harry rolled his eyes at Ron. He was becoming increasingly sorry that he had asked for help in the first place, and as his eyes wandered the room, he caught sight of Ginny walking off the last spiral step. He stared in her direction, and noticed that she had made quick eye contact with him, just before turning to Ron.
"Ron, Hermione wants to talk to you."
Ron turned in his seat and muttered, "Finally."
He then got out of his seat, and glanced in Harry's direction, Harry mouthed the words "Good Luck". And with that, Ron smirked and left the common room.
Harry's gaze then turned back to Ginny, who was standing next to the staircase, seeming unsure of what to do next. He looked her up and down quickly, and as he did, he felt his heart beat quicken.
She was wearing a fitted pair of blue jeans, with a tight green, ribbed tank top that clung to the shape of her perfect breasts. Her hair was in a French braid that she had probably done by magic, and it had emerald green ribbons intertwined in the folds.
She stood there for a moment, one hand on the stone doorway leading up to the spiral staircase, as thought she was planning a quick escape. She looked unsure of herself, as though she was on the verge of speaking but didn't know if she should say what she was thinking.
Ginny stared back at Harry, looking handsome as always as he sat aloof in his chair, wearing a red jumper and a pair of dark wash jeans.
"Enjoying the fire?" asked Ginny, forcing her voice to sound as neutral as possible.
As she made her way towards the chair that Ron had been sitting in only moments ago, she tried not to notice that Harry was watching her; it was a very hard thing to do.
She sat down on one of the arms of the chair, but instead of facing Harry, she positioned her body towards the fireplace, her profile to him.
As she stared off into the fire, she was unsure of what to say next. She had planned this of course, to come into the common room looking as cute as ever, but what she hadn't planned on were the unexpected feelings which had suddenly come at the sight of Harry.
It had seemed so simple to her when she had been alone in her dormitory; she had rehearsed the perfect scene. But now that she had seen him – all her evil thoughts and words had turned into jelly.
Harry too was at a loss for words. He sat quietly and watched her watching the fire, and as he stared, he felt a flood of emotions come over him.
He didn't know what she was thinking, or what she thought of him, but he didn't care. All he knew was that he had the sudden urge to speak, and so he did.
"Ginny… I want to apologize for earlier…" he began slowly and sounding unsure.
But unfortunately Harry took too long to finish his sentence.
At the sound of these words Ginny's heart broke in two. She slowly closed her eyes, her head still facing the fire - she couldn't believe what she was hearing…
Her theory had been proven correct; he regretted kissing her.
There it was… straight from the horse's mouth. No if, ands or butts about it. It was a full out confession…
Ginny tried to take a deep breath without Harry noticing, and then said firmly, "No it's quite alright. It was a mistake that never should have happened."
Now it was Harry's turn to have his heart fall into his stomach.
Was he hearing right?
Just seconds ago he had been in the process of apologizing to Ginny, apologizing for not breaking up with Luna on the spot and confessing his love for her when now… now she was confirming his worst fear - that she didn't like him after all?
Harry was taken aback and he sat back in his chair with nothing to say…
Ginny slowly turned to Harry, still in disbelief about what was happening herself…
"Well I guess we agree then," she said slowly and unsure, for Harry hadn't spoken, "What happened was a mistake?"
Her insides were screaming. She was so desperately hoping that he would suddenly burst out in cries of disagreement. That he would reach forward and grab her into his arms and tell her that it was not true, that the kisses they shared were not a mistake, but instead – he slowly nodded his head.
Harry was at a loss for words and he could feel his stomach tightening and his muscles clinching in rage. A mistake? Is that what I am to her? A mistake?
Ginny held back a flood of tears and tried to maintain her calm as she silently got off of the chair and quickly walked towards the stairs. Once she hit them she ran up as fast as she could, and dashed into the empty dormitory.
She threw herself onto her bed and cried her pain into her pillow.
Harry sat in his chair speechless. The anger in him was quickly rising as he replayed what had just happened to him over and over again in his head…
And then without thinking twice about what he was doing, he suddenly got out of his seat and walked angrily up to the wooden cupboard against the wall.
With a quickly beating heart he clinched his fist and punched the thick wooden door.
There was a loud cracking noise as the wood splintered, allowing his fist to go through it.
With his fist in the cupboard, Harry paused and noticed just how fast and deeply he was breathing.
He slowly pulled his hand out of the broken cupboard...
And when he felt the sting of pain in his hand and saw the blood that dribbled slowly down his wrist, the anger with in him subsided, and was swiftly replaced with unspeakable sadness…