Ginny had thankfully been woken up early by a dream of Madame Pomfrey. She was frowning at Ginny and saying, "Young lady! What on earth do you think you're doing…?!" That's when Ginny realized that it wasn't a dream. She hopped out of Harry's bed at lightening speed, when she realized where she was! She mumbled apologetically to Madame Pomfrey, who sighed and shook her head, and was gesturing for her to leave.
Harry and Ron spent the remainder of the weekend in the hospital wing. Ginny neglected (on purpose) to tell Harry she had spent the night beside him. She thought he may protest and it would become embarrassing. Also, she couldn't tell him in front of Ron if her life depended on it (literally). She popped in to visit the two of them when she could, but that wasn't often as she was hunkered down by essays. Neville often accompanied her to the library these days. If he wasn't doing his own work, he was reading Herbology book after Herbology book.
On Monday evening-Harry and Ron had been discharged from the hospital wing earlier that day- and Ginny was sitting with Neville in the library. She suddenly asked Neville, "Why do you love Herbology so much?" Neville shrugged, "I don't know. Plants are just so…fascinating. Did you know that they can communicate without speaking?" Ginny shrugged, "I mean I know that Mandrakes cry like babies, but I didn't know other plants can." Neville nodded eagerly, "It's so incredible how they do it! I won't go into a long explanation but they know when another has died or not." Ginny nodded but didn't really understand what he was going on about, so she turned back to her books.
When they left the library, Malfoy walked passed her with Crabbe and Goyle, but didn't make a comment or try and upset her. She frowned and whispered to Neville as they walked up the stairs, "Malfoy didn't taunt me…that's really weird." Neville frowned and asked, "Does he normally?" She nodded and shrugged her shoulders before Neville continued, "Well, he has been a bit…not himself recently. Really distracted. But I'm not complaining about it, are you?" Ginny shook her head quickly, "No! Not at all, it's just…" she thought about Harry's theory and whether or not she should tell Neville. Neville glanced at her sideways, "Just?"
Ginny sighed, "Harry has this theory that Draco has become a Death Eater." Neville raised his eyebrows and asked curiously, "Why?" Ginny shrugged, "Because at the beginning of the school year, when we were in Diagon Alley, Harry, Ron and Hermione trailed Draco and his mum into Borgin and Burkes. He thought they were buying a dark object, and there were a load of Death Eater pals with him."
Neville grimaced, "You know, he may actually be right. It doesn't like they were just chit chatting." Ginny shrugged, "I'm surprised you think that. Ron and Hermione are adamant that he's wrong." Neville smiled, "What do you think?" Ginny sighed, "I don't know what to think." Neville nodded, "Fair enough. By the way, I heard Ron and Lavender broke up!" Ginny grinned widely, "Yes! Oh my word Neville it was hilarious! When Ron was unconscious, Hermione got to the hospital wing first and Lavender began arguing with each other when Lavender pitched. Then Ron mumbles in his sleep, "-ermione," while Lavender is saying that she shouldn't have been there!" Neville chuckled, "That's brilliant! What did Lavender do?" Ginny giggled, "She ran out of the room, crying hysterically. She told Hermione before that though, that she wanted to make up with him because he was now suddenly interesting."
Neville rolled his eyes, "Oh please! Those who can't see that Ron and Hermione will end up together eventually are clearly blind." Ginny nodded with a grin on her face, "Yeah, they argue so much as it is, they're like a married couple already. But don't tell Ron about Lavender please. We're not mentioning to him why they broke up, because he's finally talking to Hermione. Just that it got ugly." Neville nodded in agreement, "Good idea. I won't say anything."
Ron had been in a brilliant mood since the accidental dumping of Lavender. He was back to his old cheery self, and Ginny knew that a lot of it must have to do with Hermione being back in his life. She was they were friends again. It decreased the tension in general. Ginny couldn't help but ask, "How's Hannah?" Neville blushed somewhat as he answered, "She's…good. Technically speaking we're dating."
Ginny couldn't help but let out a girlish squeal, "Oh Neville! That's fantastic! I'm really happy for you both!" She hugged him tightly as they reached the Portrait Hole, and just as she did, Harry appeared. She quickly jumped away from Neville, as if he had burnt her and Harry stared at her in a cold silence before his eyes darted back and forth between them and he said tonelessly, "Hi." He nodded at Neville and then walked in through the portrait hole, leaving silence lapsing between them.
Ginny followed Harry and found him to be determinedly reading a book. It was fairly late-past eleven, and there were only a few others around. She sat down next to him, just as Neville walked past. He nodded to her, and she nodded to him as he said, "Goodnight Ginny. Night Harry." Harry nodded in reply.
Ginny sighed and said to Harry, "Nothing happened Harry!" He still refused to look at her as he stared unseeingly into his book. She tried again, "Harry, I'm allowed to hug other guys. You don't need to get so jealous over a hug."He was still silent so she got up and gasped in exasperation, "You are pathetic. You are just as bad as Ron was about Viktor Krum!" That made Harry look at her and he sighed, "I am, aren't I?" Ginny nodded and Harry shook his head, "I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind." He had told her he was seeing Dumbledore for another meeting later in the evening. He must have just returned from there when herself and Neville returned.
Harry opened his arms out to her and she happily cuddled beside him. Ginny smelt his minty scent and sighed, "I've really missed this. It's only been two days since the match and it feels like it's been forever." Harry nodded in agreement, "I know the feeling. We haven't had alone time in a long while." They were silent as they watched the flames flicker in the fireplace and Harry commented, "I'm surprised you haven't asked me how the meeting went yet." Ginny rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Dumbledore asked me not to, so I was respecting his wishes." Harry inhaled sharply, "He actually…asked you to not get involved?"
Ginny hadn't expected Harry to get angry about this, but he seemed angry. His thoughtful expression turned into a scowl. She frowned and whispered, "Hey, it's okay. If I can somehow not let my curiosity ruin everything then it will be fine." Harry said suddenly, "He didn't threaten you or…or anything did he?" Ginny grimaced, "No, he didn't!" she said, taken by surprise. Harry frowned, "What do you mean, 'He,' didn't?" Ginny hadn't meant to emphasize the word he so much, but Harry's question had totally taken her off guard. She blinked perplexedly and Harry asked again irritably, "What did you mean by he Ginny?"
Ginny shook her head and sighed, "I didn't mean anything by it, Harry ok? Just drop it." Harry glared at her, "You definitely meant something by it! Who threatened you? Was it Malfoy?" He was staring at her ferociously now and she refused to back down. She rolled her eyes and retorted, "No! For crying out loud, it was McLaggen. And it was before the match. He just did it because he wanted to find a way to make his place permanent. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd overact. You're just proving that!"
Harry inhaled sharply again and it looked like he was trying to keep his anger under control. She held his hand and said softly, "Harry, it was nothing. Ok? Nothing. Just an empty threat. I can't promise you that enough. Ask Demelza if you don't believe me." Harry sighed and nodded, "Alright. I believe you. But if it happens again Gin…" She nodded and smiled, kissing him briefly which took some of the tension out of his eyes, "I will inform you immediately. Anyway, that's the deal I made with Demelza, so I will follow through on it."
Harry grimaced, "I dislike him so much. And if Ron only knew…" Ginny shook her head, "You can't tell Ron. He will get himself into trouble for no reason. And he's been in enough trouble as it is lately." Harry sighed, "Fine. But we're going on the next Hogsmeade trip together? Deal?" She grinned and nodded, "That would be great. Some alone time has been sorely missed."
Harry laughed in a genuine way that she so loved. She went and sat at a table in a corner, and didn't realize that Harry followed her, dumping his books opposite her and sat down, scooting it closer. She grinned at him and he placed a hand on her knee, sending shivers up her spine. A few minutes later, he was drawing circles on her leg with his finger and she whispered, "Harry, I really can't concentrate when you do that…" He sighed and removed his hand, "Fine. Do you need help with anything?" She nodded and frowned, "Actually it's a Herbology thing. I should have asked Neville earlier but I forgot…" she trailed off and glanced up to find his face passive. Ginny sighed, "Because he's good at it as you bloody well know!"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Yes, I know. The amount of time I spent with him when Ron wasn't talking to me told me as much." Ginny smirked, "Why do you sound so annoyed by it?" Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not…" Ginny nodded, "Indeed you are. Harry…are you jealous about me being friends with Neville?" Harry refused to look at her as he ducked his head and pretended to be writing. Ginny laughed, "Oh my word you are!" She couldn't help but laugh loudly and this caused the remaining people in the common room to shoot her dirty looks. Harry sighed, "I'm jealous that he gets to spend more time with my girlfriend than I do." Ginny couldn't help but feel all warm inside and she giggled, "Well, it's not my fault I'm in my O.W.L year and that my boyfriend is busy all the time too. These things happen." Harry sighed in exasperation, "I know! I'm not blaming it on either of us. I'm just saying it's annoying. And he did invite you to the Yule Ball in fourth year." Ginny rolled her eyes, "Yeah, only cause he asked Hermione and she was already going with Krum."
Harry's eyes widened in disbelief, "He asked Hermione! Wow…I didn't see that one coming." Ginny shrugged, "Hermione's a really pretty girl, Harry. I don't know if you've noticed, but McLaggen has even taken an interest of late, and she's dated Viktor Krum." Harry rolled his eyes, "Don't remind me. But wow…Neville liked Hermione?" Ginny shrugged, "She's always been nice to him. He obviously thought she might feel the same way." Harry shook his head, "Yeah. Well I don't really think about those kind of things too much. And Hermione may be pretty, but you are beautiful." He leant forwards and kissed her gently on the lips, and Ginny couldn't help but kiss him back forcefully. Her body responded and it took all she could to pull herself away from him after a few minutes. She hadn't even cared that people were watching. It had been too long since she'd kissed him like that. He was grinning at her from ear to ear as he chuckled, "I love you." It wasn't the first time he had said it, but it still made her shiver and want to kiss him again. She wasn't used to it, and she didn't know if she could ever get used to it. But that was the beauty of their relationship. It had taken them so long to get to this point where they were comfortable with each other that it made every moment they had together seem precious.
Ginny whispered back breathlessly, "I love you too, Harry." He moved closer to her and placed a hand in her free one. They worked together in silence for the rest of the night, because no other words needed to be said.
IMPORTANT author's note: Hey guys! So sorry this has taken so long! I've had to put my writing aside unfortunately because I've had to focus on work. Sometimes when you study you have to make it your priority, even if you don't really want to. And, speaking of which, I might not be able to post for the next six weeks because I will be on my teaching practical and therefore in a school for a full day and when I get home I need to work on my lessons. Please bare with me during this time because I'm sure I will be sorely missing writing as well. It makes me feel incomplete if I don't write in a long time and it's been hard enough not being able to write much in this holiday.
BUT I can promise you that when the six weeks are over, I can post almost as much as I want until the end of the year because I will have much more free time then and I still hope to finish seventh year before the end of my November/December/ January holidays! That is my goal and I'm going to try and stick to it as much as possible guys, I promise! So please bare with me over the next six weeks! If I find time to write, of course I will! But all I'm saying is just don't expect to see regular (Daily or weekly posts) because it might not happen! Thanks so much for all of your endless support and enthusiasm for my story! It truly means the world to me! I'll post ASAP when I get the chance! Over and out