Chapter 11: The day continues…

Charlie returned with some tea…"Hey why didn't you get us some?" asked Ron

"Hmmm honestly … I don't know…why don't you get some yourself! I am sorry I didn't ask you Harry…and not at all sorry about you Ron" said Charlie with a smile and handed over some sickles to Ron.

"Uh Thanks Charlie" replied Harry. Ron took the sickles and the two headed where Charlie had been earlier. After some time, Charlie saw them coming back with tea and something to eat as well…the three sat silently waiting for Hermione to come out. Harry then decided to go check up on Hermione; Charlie tried to stop him from doing that, "Don't Harry! It's suppose to be a private session"

"Oh I am just gonna peek … no harm in that…" Before Charlie could stop him … he already had opened the door slightly to peek, the sight made him shudder, Hermione was standing with her hands up, her shirt pulled halfway up and her overalls pulled down till hips – she had a nasty looking wound that looked really painful, it seemed like the place had been stabbed over and over again though he would not really know how a stab would look but somehow that's how it seemed. Harry could see the pain in Hermione eyes when a healer rubbed some potion on it while another one was doing the same to her back. He really felt bad for Hermione and wish he had not seen it. Harry then wished that of all the people Hermione should not have suffered such wounds. He decided to close the door and go back. He then thought how come a cruciatus caused her so much damage, he had been hit with it too but he didn't suffer something looking like that.

Charlie and Ron saw him returning…"So how much more time Harry?" asked Ron.

"I think almost done, the healer was ready to apply bandage" Harry said this in a low voice and not once looking up.

"Are you alright Harry?" Asked Charlie.

"yes…yes I am fine but … I don't think Hermione is " replied Harry;

Ron immediately got up at this … "What do you mean…Is she not recovering…I want to go see her…." While saying all this Ron had almost reached the door to the room where Hermione was currently getting treated; But Harry and Charlie got to him in time.

"Ron! Just sit down. Hermione is recovering, it's just that I kinda saw her wound and it was not a good site…trust me. "Said Harry

When Ron did not look convinced, Harry continue, "Listen I just thought that after I saw her wound. The way she is moving around and everything – seems like doing a lot with the kind of injury she has … that's all. It just came out of my mouth ok…now Relax. I think she is getting a good treatment"

Finally the three of them were back on the benches. Charlie smiled to himself while seeing the whole exchange between the two friends. "They care for their friend so much…but can be DENSE …really dense. Imagine having such a perfect girl for their best friend and they don't appreciate her the way she should be appreciated and looked after…." Charlie was thinking all this and then mentally slapped himself for thinking this way. "She is your younger brother's best friend Charlie boy…You shouldn't be thinking this way about her…"

"What am I thinking anyway…I just think Ron and Harry should pay more attention to her, it's not like I am hitting on her or something"

Charlie shook himself out of all these thoughts. Finally the door opened and Hermione came out with a bag in her hand; all three of them stood up with big smiles on their faces…she looked at them and gave them a forced smile.

They were just near the stairs when the four heard some kids calling out to Hermione…they all turned around to look at a boy and a girl, probably of age 12 or 13 waving madly and calling out for Hermione. Charlie, Ron and Harry looked at Hermione questioningly, she just blushed and waved back at the kids…she moved towards them followed closely by both Ron and Harry.

"Hey Hermione…what are you doing here? We saw you and we had to come see you…" the boy said all this panting.

"Hi Sam and Hi Denise…I was just here to get some bruise fixed…what about you two? I hope you didn't get in to any trouble with your mother again? "Asked Hermione jokingly.

"No, no…we are here to visit our father. He works here, our mother is also with us but talking to a healer on third floor…" said Denise (the girl standing next to the boy)

"Hey we did all our homework…well Mum helped but still we managed just fine" said Sam in a hyper tone…his eyes finally landed on Harry and he gave the biggest grin that he could muster.

Seeing the look on his face, Hermione decided to introduce them to her company, "Hey Sam and Denise…Meet Harry, Ron and Charlie…"

"We know them but not HIM…he is too old to be in Hogwarts…" said Denise

Charlie laughed at this, "Yeah I am not in Hogwarts anymore but I use to go there…anyway it was nice meeting you two…But we have to take your friend Hermione back home…it's getting late"

They all exchanged goodbyes and finally left…"So who were those two kids…Hermione? Asked Ron

"Oh some kids in school I tutor…" answered Hermione who still seemed a bit put off.

Charlie who looked at her when she answered and got a dreamy look on his face and immediately looked forward…can this girl get any nicer, she is brilliant, brave, helpful, down to earth and pretty…yes definitely pretty.

"I never knew you were tutoring any kids Hermione…I've never even seen those kids in Hogwarts …" said Harry

"Are they in Gryffindore?" asked Ron without giving Hermione a chance to answer.

"Well I've been doing it for past three years Harry; I wonder why you wouldn't know what I have been up to since you guys know everything about me right? And Ron they are in Ravenclaw" Hermione replied sarcastically.

Ron who didn't seem to catch on the sarcasm continued, "Yeah it sure is strange…since we spend almost every minute together…anyway I am not complaining. I don't mind not being part of your study session…"

Both Harry and Ron shared a laugh … Charlie rolled his eyes with a "not again" look. Hermione after sometime smiled as well.

"Ron even I am glad you were not in it…it was an advance study group, every member of the group is all set to appear for NEWTs …." Hermione said with an exaggeration…"You would not survive 15 minutes … "she then patted Ron on head. Harry and Charlie laughed while Ron just shot her a dirty look. Hermione grabbed Ron's hand…"Kidding Ron…just kidding"

Ron seemed to like this latest addition and threw an arm around her shoulder…"Good that you were or I would've proved my NEWT level to you…"

"Oh no…I said that too soon….I would love to see you in FORM you know" Hermione said sarcastically.

Harry looked at his two friends and got this feeling of jealousy and thought how come Hermione didn't joke around him like this so much. All we ever talk about is Voldermort or deatheaters or study or homework. Harry decided to hold Hermione's other hand (out of jealousy – wanting to be in Ron's position with his arm around Hermione) but he couldn't because she held a stick in that hand. Charlie finally offered to take the bag from Hermione to ease her burden.
"Thanks" Hermione shyly said this.

"Damn! Why didn't I think of that" thought Harry.

Finally the four reached The Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was done with Ron's packing which he left in the middle. Ginny greeted poured some tea for the four of them, Harry looked at Hermione and both shared a knowing look. Finally Harry gathered some courage and asked Ginny if she could go with him somewhere private.

Ginny and Harry chose the same place to talk where he had earlier come with Ron and Hermione.

Ginny stood with her arms folded leaning against the tree while Harry sat on the bend with his arms on his knees, looking down as if in deep thought.

"So what is it you wanted to talk about Harry? Ginny asked arrogantly.

"Well here's the thing Ginny… I don't really know how to start or where to start for that matter but I'll try. The thing is Ginny, what I said on the day of Dumbledore's funeral….Well I meant every word of it Ginny…" He saw Ginny fuming up and about to talk when he told her to listen to his end of the story…Ginny just looked down – all annoyed and angry.

"Ginny I think I still like you but the thing is, with this war on head I don't think I can stay in any relationship. Ginny you are a beautiful girls who is followed around by guys, you are brave, you are funny – well Ginny you are perfect and I don't want all that taken away from you by being close to me. I want you to move on, the little time we had was brilliant, it was like I said as if I was leading someone else's life…"

"It doesn't have to end then Harry. We can still be together. I don't care what kind of danger you have to face. Harry I've liked you when I had not even formally met you. You have no idea how much I wished to be your girlfriend, when I got what I wanted, it didn't last long. I think I deserve to be happy too, why is it only your choice? You should consider my opinion in this too. I really care for you. I think I proved myself when I went with you to the ministry and last year as well…" said Ginny pleadingly

"That's the thing Ginny…I can't afford the same situations…I will be too focused on protecting you…I will worry about you all the time. I want you to stay safe, not in some kind of moral danger because of me. Please understand, I am taking this step because I care for you deeply … I care for you so much that it scares me." Argued Harry.

Ginny sat on the bench next to Harry but not very close…"So this is it then! But I think you owe me some answers Harry…I want some answers…"

"I will answer your questions if I can but don't expect me to let you in on everything Ginny. I can't do that" replied Harry who had a faint idea what she wanted to know … thanks to the conversation he overheard earlier between Hermione and her.

"Ok I guess you won't tell me anything. Harry its not fair…you never opened up completely with me, why can't you trust me like you trust Ron and Hermione, I am his sister and I think I have proved my loyalties and bravery enough for you to let me in on things. I know there is some reason why Ron and Hermione are going with you…why can't you tell me what it's about?"

"Yes there is a reason and long one at that. And Yes I am not going to tell you anything. As far as why I can't trust you…well I do trust you. It's just that the connection I have with Ron and Hermione, I can't have that with anyone. I know you have proved yourself … I am grateful for that. You have no idea how many times I thank God that I have people who care for me so much…who are ready to risk their lives even but Ginny I don't want something like that to happen. I don't want anyone to risk their lives for me specially people I care for. I already lost Sirius and I don't want the same fate for anyone else that I care for. Ginny it was you who brought me comfort when Dumbledore died…you pulled me out of that shock…I can never thank you enough for your actions. Please don't expect me to tell you everything because I can't and I won't" replied Harry.

"Your choice Harry! I must say I expected that. Harry I think you need me, you don't realize it but you do need me. You know Ron and Hermione will get together and who will you turn to then? That's why you need me Harry. Only time will tell. I am sorry for being forward and a reminder of what your friends had been up to all year or are you forgetting. Hermione was jealous the entire year of your success and was following Ron everywhere and where was she when there was a battle going on? Nowhere Harry, nowhere. You put more faith in her than you …. Well I just think you need to sort out your priorities based on facts and not on how things were once! "Ginny said this and resumed her old position by the tree.

Harry flared up at her little speech, "You Are Wrong about Hermione! I am not going to explain why because it is not worth it. I would appreciate it if you get off her case. And another thing Ron doesn't fancy Hermione nor does she fancy Ron. We share things Ginny…we tell each other everything … get it EVERYTHING" Harry took some deep breaths and getting thoughts like "She has never thrown it in my face…not once how she is loyal to me and has done so much for me. And I know the little 'pass the wrong information' game you've been playing. I will get my chance to confront you about that some other time" But dared not said what he was thinking.

After some quiet moment between the two Ginny covered the distance between herself and Harry…"Let me do this one last time then …" saying this she bent down and gave Harry a kiss on lips, he was taken totally unexpected and didn't return the kiss …finally he kissed her back…Ginny straddled him and continued kissing him passionately when Harry realized how wrong this all was and for some odd reason he thought about Hermione (what would she think)…he immediately pushed Ginny away. "No Ginny…No more! Please don't make this harder for yourself…" saying this Harry got up and left Ginny.

Unknown to them both, Hermione had been seeing the entire time from Ginny's room. She felt jealous but then ignored the feeling. She turned around and left for Ron's room. Finding it empty, she decided to take a nap; they still had couple of hours more before they left for the Dursleys.

Remus and Tonks had apparently paid them a visit before taking the trio there as she was told by Mrs. Weasley. Then they decided to take the trio late at night at around 11 pm because they wanted the muggle neighborhood to be quiet and dark when they got there.

Author's Note:

Thanks everyone for the amazing reviews. I enjoyed all the reviews. HAPPY BELATED NEW YEAR everyone. I hope it will turn out to be the best year for you all. I had a bad start but being an ever optimistic person looking forward to rest of the year. Love to all.