An Unhealthy Escape

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters used in this story.

A/N: Hello! Sorry it's been so long, I got a new computer and it took a while to get Microsoft Word installed. I have just read over the last few chapter and found a lot of errors and things that need to be fixed. Sorry about that. I hope the rest of the story will be better, and have less stupid plot holes! Once the story is finished, I plan on going back and fixing a few things that need to be fixed. Milo.

Chapter 15

"Hey Harry, where have you and Ginny been all morning?"" Ron asked suspiciously when the two walked into the kitchen. Although his friends often told him he was very dense when it came to things like feeling and relationships, even he had noticed that Harry and Ginny had seemed a lot closer lately.

"Oh, we were just talking with Sirius and Remus," Harry replied evasively. "Hey, what's for lunch?" he asked, quickly changing the subject. Ron and Hermione weren't fooled.

"We're having chicken sandwiches. What were you talking to Sirius and Remus about?" Hermione asked. Harry and Ginny both looked at each other hesitantly.

"Nothing much," Ginny told them before sitting down and pulling Harry into the seat next to her. They now sat opposite Ron and Hermione at the very far end of the table. Harry and Ginny quickly struck up a conversation about the amount of homework they would be getting this coming school year. Ron and Hermione joined in, realizing that they weren't going to get anything out of their stubborn friends.

After a few minutes, Mrs. Weasley brought over their lunches before bustling out of the room, probably off to clean something else.

"So, now will you tell us what you were talking to Sirius and Remus about?" Hermione asked quietly once the door had shut. Harry and Ginny looked at each other again. They both knew that they wouldn't be able to hide this from their friends forever. Ginny grabbed Harry's hand under the table and gave him a reassuring nod.

"Uh – we were just talking about…" Harry's voice trailed off. He didn't know why he was so nervous. This was Ron and Hermione, his best friends in the world. He knew he could tell them anything, he knew that they would always be there for him. But somehow that didn't make it any easier. His two friends looked at him expectantly. Harry sighed.

"We were just talking about what happened," Harry said. "The other day." Ron and Hermione seemed to be expecting this. Of course, Sirius and Remus would want to talk to him about it.

"Harry…" Hermione started cautiously. "I know you told us that you didn't mean it… and I believe you and everything. It's just… if you don't want to die, then why do you do it? I don't understand, I mean, I've never wanted to hurt myself before. I know that people do it, I just don't get why. And I want to know why, because I want to help you Harry." Hermione seemed nervous about Harry's response. He could be very unpredictable sometimes; he had a terrible temper and hated to talk about personal things.

Harry eyed the other two wearily before turning to Ginny. It was funny how he just automatically turned to her whenever he felt unsure or needed help. And it was also funny that Ginny seemed to know exactly what he needed.

"I guess the main reason is that the physical pain takes away the emotional pain," Ginny told them knowing that Harry wouldn't be able to do this on his own. Harry smiled gratefully at her, and Ginny offered a small reassuring nod in return. Harry cleared his throat.

"Right. I guess it makes everything… easier to deal with. Gives me – something to focus on… when things get too hard." Harry and Ginny both knew there was a lot more to it than that. But it wasn't like Harry could tell them the rest of it. He couldn't tell them how much he loved the pain, how much he needed it. He couldn't tell them about the twisted, sick joy and relief that he felt when the blade sliced his arm. He couldn't tell them how it was almost like he was getting revenge on himself for all the innocent lives that had been lost because of him. Cedric, his parents, and others that Harry hadn't even known. He couldn't tell them any of that. That was personal.

Hermione nodded, taking in and processing the new information. "Ginny how did you know that? Did Harry just tell you? Or…" Hermione couldn't finish her sentence. Ron's head whipped around so fast Harry was sure he had hurt his neck.

"What are you suggesting?" Ron demanded looking furiously at Hermione. It sounded to him like Hermione was suggesting Ginny had… hurt herself.

"I'm not suggesting anything Ronald, I was just asking," Hermione assured him. Ron did relax; instead he turned to his sister. Ginny's cheeks were a light shade of pink and she was staring down at her lap playing with Harry's fingers.

"Well? How did you know that Ginny?" Ron demanded. This time, instead of anger his scorching gaze was full of worry and concern. Although many people thought he had the emotional range of a teaspoon as Hermione put it, he was actually quite observant. Especially when it came to people that he knew and cared about, and right now he could tell his sister was hiding something. Surely she hadn't… no, that was impossible.

"Well… Harry did tell me that," Ginny whispered. She drew in a shaking breath, unsure of how to phrase what she had to say. She'd never told anyone about her self-harming apart from Harry. She had also had to talk to her parents about it because Sirius told them, but she hadn't actually told them anything.

She felt so sorry for Harry; she couldn't imagine how hard it would be for him with all those people in there interrogating him like that. Ginny thought they were handling it really terribly, and she could tell that both Remus and Snape though so too, but Remus would never speak up against Dumbledore. She wasn't sure about Snape though; he had stood up for Harry back in the room. Ginny knew that if Snape thought what Dumbledore was doing was wrong he wouldn't have a problem standing up to Dumbledore. The only problem was whether he would stand up for his enemy's son.

Harry carefully detached his hand from hers and wrapped his arm protectively around her. She leaned happily into his embrace, drawing comfort from his closeness. Ginny didn't wan to tell Ron and Hermione about her self-harming, but it didn't look like she had another option at the moment. Also, a small part of her wondered whether she would feel better once she told them about it. Ginny gave up on talking and instead rolled up her jacket sleeve to reveal the fresh cuts that had been made only a day ago.

Hermione gasped and hurried around the table. She wrapped her arms around Ginny awkwardly, unable to give her a proper hug because of Harry's arm around the younger girl's shoulders. Ron sat there in shock. This was his baby sister. The baby sister that he should have been looking out for all these years. He should have known about this; he should have been there for her.

"Ginny," Ron choked. "I am so sorry. I should have known about this. I should have helped you," Ron said.

"Ron, don't. There was no way you could have known. Don't start feeling guilty because of this, we don't need another Harry. One is more than enough," she joked. Everyone laughed slightly.

"You knew about this?" Ron turned to Harry. Harry was suddenly very scared of his best mate.

"Well… I only found out recently. I've been helping her as much as I could, and she's been helping me," Harry said quietly.

"Thank you," Ron said. Everyone could hear the sincerity in his voice. "I wish you had told me, but I guess I understand that she wouldn't have wanted you to." Harry nodded at him.

"Alright, well I have had enough sadness for today. How about some good news?" Ginny asked grinning up at Harry. Harry smiled back knowing what she had in mind. He wasn't too keen on telling Ron that he was dating his baby sister, but anything to get them off this topic.

"What?" the other two asked at the same time. Hermione returned to her seat.

"Well… Ginny and I – err… you see we kind of…" Harry looked to Ginny for help. Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Why do I always have to tell people things for you?" she asked playfully.

"Well, this involves you as well!" Harry said.

"You're just a coward," Ginny smirked.

"My dear Ginevra, you wound me!" Harry cried, taking his hand from around her shoulders and placing it above his heart. "Besides, when was the last time you had six angry Weasley brothers chasing after you?" he asked indignantly. Ginny giggled. Ron and Hermione gasped, waiting for Ginny to explode; she hated her full name, and had let her brothers know this many times by the use of her infamous bat bogey hex. The explosion didn't come.

"They're not that scary Harry. Besides, they won't touch you. Then they'd have me to answer to," Ginny told him cheerfully.

"Well, you are pretty scary," Harry muttered truthfully, wrapping his arm back around her shoulders.

"Don't you forget it," Ginny whispered in his ear. Harry shook his head, a grin on his face.

"Ginny and I are… together," Harry told them. He looked down at the table, a bright red blush creeping up his neck.

"Congratulations!" Hermione squealed, jumping up to hug them both tightly. Ron watched the scene thoughtfully. He wasn't exactly happy with his best mate dating his sister. But even he had seen how much they both trusted each other and needed each other, just in their short conversation they'd just had. He knew that harry would treat her right. He couldn't deny that Harry was a good bloke. No bloke would ever be good enough for his sister, but Harry was pretty damn close. Also, he knew that they needed each other now, more than ever. They were the only ones who could truly help each other through this. He didn't know why Ginny would hurt herself, and knowing his sister he was unlikely to find out. But he just hoped she would tell Harry and he would help her. Everyone else could make them talk about it, they could get them mind healers or potions. But Harry and Ginny had both been through terrible things; they both had trouble trusting anyone. They really were the only ones that could help each other out of this mess.

Harry turned to Ron nervously after Hermione had finished trying to suffocate them.

"You treat her right," Ron said. Then he smiled. "Congratulations guys." Harry grinned at him and nodded. Hermione looked at Ron in shock.

"What? "asked Ron, catching her staring eyes on him.

"When did you get so mature? "she asked. She was used to childish Ron who never noticed anyone but himself, who never considered other people's opinions or feelings. It wasn't that he didn't care, he just didn't notice.

"I've always been mature, I just don't show it often," Ron said in an all too innocent voice. Everyone laughed. The words Ron and mature in the same sentence was just too funny for them all."

"I got new exploding snap cards in Diagon Alley last week!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly. "We should have a game!"

"Loser has to wear a green and silver shirt on the train!" Ron cried running up the stairs. The other three raced after him, all bumping each other out the way in an effort to get up the stairs first. Their previous conversation forgotten for the moment, they spent the rest of the afternoon playing and laughing like normal teenagers.

A/N: Hello! Sorry this is such a short chapter and I'm so sorry it's been so long! I got a new computer a few weeks ago and I only just got it working! It was playing up and it took me ages to install Microsoft Office. I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's not as good as I would have liked, but leave a review telling me what you thought! Milo.