Love Behind the Shadows

Chapter Eighteen: Loves Marathon

"Hurry up now dears! We mustn't miss the train!" Mrs. Weasley called over the hustle and bustle of the surrounding passengers.

Ginny sighed, shifting the handle of her trunk from one hand to the other. "Mum, we're not going to miss the-"

A sudden wailing whistle split through the air.

"Bloody hell!" Ron hissed, annoyance apparent in his voice.

"Oh Ronald, calm down! I'm sure we'll make it." Hermione assured him. "Hopefully…" she added under her breath.

The group slipped in and out of clusters of people, there pace quickening by the second, until finally the Hogwarts Express came clear into view.

"See what did I tell you? I knew we wouldn't miss it!" Hermione stated.

Ron sighed, rolling his eyes. "Mione-"

"All of you hush now! Get on the train, it's to be leaving soon!" Molly scolded, giving Ron a gentle nudge.

"Goodbye mum." Ginny called, glancing over her shoulder and gracing her mother with a sweet smile as she boarded the train.

"Goodbye Ginny dear! Be good, no getting into trouble you hear?"

Ginny nodded robotically, this was more pointed towards the trio than herself, and gave a short wave. "Bye mum!" She shouted one last time.

"Bye Mrs. Weasley!" Harry called. "Thank you for-"

"Oh, it's no trouble Harry. No trouble at all!" Molly said, smiling brightly.

Harry grinned, and entered the express after Ginny, soon after Hermione and Ron followed.

"Now to find a compartment," Hermione began. "Well, I think it's best for us to split into sets of two. That way it'll be easier to find a compartment." She concluded.

Ginny glanced at Harry, a frown beginning to knit at her brows. Harry only smiled, before turning back towards Hermione.

"Alright then, sounds good to me. I'm assuming I'm with Ginny and you're with-"

"Ron, exactly."

"Okay, we'll see you later then."

"See you." The brunette answered, turning fully around and heading off down the hall, Ron soon trotting after her.

Harry turned back around, gazing down at Ginny.

"I suppose we're on our own then!" He said with a chuckle.

"I suppose so…" Ginny muttered, dreading the upcoming train ride.

"Well then, errrr," Harry cleared his throat, at a loss for words.

"I say we go this way." Ginny stated, gesturing in the opposite direction of the bushy haired girl, and her flustered brother.

"Good idea." He answered flatly.

Slowly the couple began their search for suitable compartment for the two of them, and no sooner had they begun had they found an empty one, perfect for the two of them.

"So much for having trouble finding one…" Ginny mumbled under breath, an annoyed tone apparent in her voice.

Harry chuckled, "I don't think that was the real reason for Hermione wanting us to split up."

Ginny couldn't help the sly grin that slipped onto her lips as he said this. "I'm sure…" she muttered, still smirking.

Harry sighed, sliding into the plush cushions of the bench behind him. "I bet there off having a lovely snog right about now." He stated, sounding rather annoyed and a tad bit jealous.

"Probably but, you never know. Hermione could have him in there studying!" Ginny replied, trying to ease the tension that was gradually thickening the air around them both.

Harry smiled weakly, slumping down lower in the cushions, and running a hand through his mess of black locks.

"That's possible…but highly unlikely. Those two have really gotten close over the year…haven't you noticed? It's quite hard to miss."

"Well, yes I've noticed but, that isn't a bad thing…is it?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, his emerald eyes fastening themselves to Ginny's figure.

Ginny shifted uneasily under his intense gaze, and cleared her throat. "What I mean is, is it that bad that Hermione and Ron are becoming closer? Shouldn't you be happy for them?" She inquired.

"Of course I'm happy for them Gin, it's just-"

"What?"

"I don't know," he sighed. "I suppose I'm a bit jealous. They seem so much closer than you and I. I just wish we had that same bond…"

Ginny's body became on high alert, her muscles tensing slightly.

"Oh…" she whispered, not knowing how else to respond.

"I mean those two are almost impossible to separate! There constantly with each other! And the way they look at each other…I've never seen such…such…desire! You've never looked at me like that…in fact you hardly look at me ever, anymore." Harry stated, his eyes still focusing on Ginny.

Bloody hell…he just has to pull this act today! Not yesterday, or the day before that! And worst of all…I actually feel bad. He's not supposed to be skilled in the art of making me feel guilty! Ginny sighed, her eyes casting downwards and catching a sudden interest in the floor beneath her, she didn't have the slightest idea what to say.

"Gin…is there something wrong? I'm almost positive there is…but every time I question you about it you deny it." Harry began, breaking the thick silence filling the compartment.

"Harry," Ginny began quietly. "There's really nothing wrong…I'm fine."

"Ginny, you-your lying-"

"No I'm not! Harry, why would I lie to you? What would I gain by doing so?" Ginny snapped, pulling off the wonderful look of being hurt.

Harry opened his mouth to say something but, soon closed it, find he was at a loss for words.

"Gin…I-I'm sorry…I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine Harry, let's just drop this whole charade…okay?"

"Fine…" He muttered.

Slowly, he scooted towards her and moved to pull her closer, only to have his arm eased away gently, this only caused his concern to deepen. He sat back for a moment, racking his brain for an idea of how to prove his point, that something was indeed wrong with her. Maybe if I-ahhh! That's it! I've got it! Harry leaned over, and before Ginny knew what was happening his lips were pressed against her own. Tears pricked at Ginny's eyes, and she sat stone still, not making one move to meet his own. Her lips remained still, as pain and betrayal coursed through her. Suddenly, Harry pulled away, and he glared daggers into her eyes.

"Your one bloody arse, you know that!" He hissed.

Ginny's eyes widened, in shock.

"All I've been trying to do is find out if you're okay! I care about you so much Ginny and you've had me worried sick for months!" He sighed, and roughly stood from the couch.

"I-I don't know what to think of you any more Gin. You're a completely different person now…"

With this said he stormed from the small compartment, leaving his trunk behind along with all of his other belongings. Ginny sat paralyzed against the seat, her eyes wide with shock. What-what have I done? She thought a new type of fear coursing through her. She had never thought she was showing signs of a secret love but she had certainly been wrong. For now Harry had a strong sense that something was going on, and although he didn't know what it was, he knew that there was something. If Ginny didn't make quick and precise movements to get things back to normal, her entire cover would be blown…and everything she had worked so hard to build would unravel with great ease.

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Harry walked briskly down the small, cramped hall glancing in each compartment he passed. He was desperately trying to find Hermione and Ron, and had been for the past twenty minutes. His patience was about to reach breaking point and then only merlin would be able to save the foolish idiot who dared to get in Harry's way. Suddenly a familiar giggle rang in his ears, and his eyes shot ahead to a compartment about three feet ahead of him. Another giggle rang out, causing a skeptical brow to arch high with suspicion. Slowly, he made his way over towards the compartment, then in one quick motion, he flung the door open wide.

"Ron…did you hear something?" Hermione whispered.

Ron frowned, and he perked his head up to get a good look at the door.

"Bloody hell!" He shrieked, jumping up and causing Hermione to tumble to the floor. "Ha-Harry…how long have you been…errrrr….well you know." Ron hurriedly questioned, ignoring Hermione's annoyed muttering.

Harry sighed, "I didn't see…well, I didn't see I too much." He answered.

Hermione stood straight dusting off her skirt in a rather irritable manner. "Ruddy boys and there manners! You'd think after all these years, they'd know to knock before barging in!" She seethed through clenched teeth.

Harry glanced a Ron, a frown knitting at his brows, and mouthed. "What's wrong with her?"

Ron shrugged, casting a glance at Hermione. "I dunno." He answered flatly.

"Well, Harry what do you need?" The bushy haired girl asked hotly.

"A place to sit." Harry replied, entering the compartment, and plopping down on the plush bench.

Ron frowned, looking over at Hermione, as if to cue her to begin the interrogation.

"Whatever happened to Ginny? Weren't you two-"

"Going to sit together? So much for that idea…she'd rather sit with…well probably Malfoy more than me!" Harry stated, a fire of hatred burning in his eyes.

Hermione's hazel orbs widened for a moment, and she found her mouth opening and closing at a loss for words. "Ummmm…well…errrrr," she cleared her throat. "I doubt that Harry. Out of all people, she surely wouldn't want to sit with Malfoy! He's-he's…well, it's Malfoy!"

Harry sighed, his emerald eyes shifting to gaze out the window. "I don't know what happened to her…she used to be so," He paused, trying to find the right word. "Alive. And now, well now…everything's just gone down hill. What did I do?" He turned towards Hermione, looking at her with pleading eyes.

Hermione felt a stab of sympathy pull at her heart. "Harry, you didn't do anything wrong." She said comfortingly.

"Come on Hermione, I must have done something to make her loath me the way she does!" He countered.

"Oh merlin Harry! Ginny doesn't bloody loath you! She loves you…maybe there's just something preoccupying her mind." The Gryffindor inquired.

Ron stood in awe; he had never really noticed how close Hermione and Harry were. They certainly did share a special bond. A sudden wave of jealousy crashed down on Ron's emotions, and he felt his hands ball up into tight fists. Taking a deep breath, he sat down across from Harry, and continued to watch.

"It's no use Hermione, she hates me! That's all there is to it…she just hates me." Harry snapped, his eyes welling with sadness.

"Harry, I can assure you…she doesn't hate you! Now, go talk to her I'm sure you two can clear things up."

"But-"

"No buts Harry, I won't settle for a negative answer. Now go."

"Hermione-"

"Out!"

"Bloody hell!" Harry hissed, standing abruptly from his seat and exiting the compartment with a sullen look upon his face.

Hermione sighed, gazing over at Ron with a sympathetic look.

"She has changed…hasn't she?" she said quietly.

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Harry stormed down the cramped halls of the Hogwarts Express once again, his emerald eyes ablaze with anger. His gaze stayed fastened ahead, never flickering away for a moment, until suddenly his previous compartment came into view. His eyes flashed dangerously, and he took a deep breath, attempting to calm his nerves. In one swift motion, he gripped the handle and flung the door open. What happened next could only be surprised as shocking. As Harry stood transfixed by the scene before him, sniffles could be heard echoing throughout the hall way.

"Gi-Ginny?" Harry asked, shocked.

The red head looked up, and almost instantly her brown orbs widened. She quickly reached up, wiping away the tears that had ran like rivers down her cheeks only a moment earlier.

"Oh…hi Harry." She said quietly.

"Are you…crying?" He questioned.

Ginny rolled her eyes, rubbing her red and puffy nose. "Bloody hell Harry! What else would I be doing if tears were falling from my eyes?"

Harry sighed, "I-I'm so-" But he caught himself.

For some reason, un-known to even himself, he couldn't apologize to her. Maybe it was because she had caused him so much pain already, and he didn't find the need to apologize. Or maybe it was because; she had just been so rotten to him a few minutes before hand. But, whatever the case…Harry found himself at a loss for words.

Ginny watched him carefully, a red brow slowly inclining itself.

"I-I errrr…came to get my trunk." Harry said, tripping on his words tremendously.

"Oh right…those." Ginny whispered.

Harry nodded, and proceeded to gather up the few items he had lay strewn about before snatching up his trunk and leaving the compartment without a single word. As soon as the door clicked shut, Ginny burst out into a fit of tears. For some reason she had the worst sense of guilt pulling at her stomach. I shouldn't feel bad…should I?

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The Hogwarts Express lurched to a complete stop, causing a low 'creak' to hum through the air. Slowly, the students filed from the train, trunks and the like trailing behind each student. But, what used to be a cheerful setting to be greeted by was now a horrible and unkindly scene. All around the station Aurors stood, wand at the ready, and there eyes scanning the crowd dangerously. Girls and boys huddled in groups, there hushed tones whisking through the murky sky airily.

As Ginny stepped lightly onto the platform her eyes widened in horror. "Oh merlin…" she whispered terrified.

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Well, that's it! I've updated twice in one weekend! I'm quite proud of myself actually! Anyway, after this chapter there's only two left, not including the Epilogue. tear Then LBTS will be over. So, please REVIEW and continue reading! I thank you too all the fans who still read and review, even though I've been slacking on my duties of updating!