Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! I appreciate it so much! I'm glad to hear that you all liked it. I'm trying to work on this story as often as possible, instead of doing it in one sitting at like 2 in the morning. So here's chapter 6! I hope you like it =). And pleaseee read and review!
Disclaimer: Chapter one for the full thing. All characters belong to J., except Maria [who hasn't been in a few chapters now].
Here we go!
Draco POV upon seeing Ginny at the kitchen [first person]
I stopped in my tracks as I saw Harry falter in his sentence. I stared in his direction and my eyes stopped at the sight of the youngest Weasley. Admittedly she didn't look too good.
"Ginerva. Nice to see you in the Auror's Department. This certainly is a surprise." I said steadily. I kept my gaze neutral, trying not to show any resentment through them.
I shifted my gaze to Harry. His face was slightly twisted in a frown. I could tell he was battling several emotions. I heard Ron mumble something in the distance.
I didn't feel like Harry wanted to be alone with Ginny. His discomfort was stark obvious.
Suddenly I was pulled away by Weasley and being dragged down the hallways towards the foyer.
"Ow! Weasley watch the coat." I snapped, not really at all pleased leaving the kitchen.
"Sorry, you're Majesty." He said with a little spite. "Harry needs to talk with Ginny, they need to sort things out." He added stiffly. "I assume you already know." He continued with a slight hope to his voice...which I then squished.
"Yes. Harry did tell me. And I do agree that he has to talk it through with Ginerva, but he certainly looked uncomfortable." I replied, straightening out my jacket again.
"Well honestly, who wouldn't be Malfoy?" he said, as we reached the foyer.
It was a little strange being in a civil conversation with Weasley without the name calling and the malicious intent. But he was Harry's best friend and I didn't want Harry to be uncomfortable with the fact that me and Weasley might not get along...he had enough on his plate with Ginerva.
"Right! Food! Where did you want to go?" Weasley said, rubbing his hands together. It was astounding how he somewhat managed to forget who he was with when food was on his mind and had just managed to ask me nicely to lunch.
I didn't, however, feel like leaving the Department. I knew exactly why, but I wasn't about to go into thoughts about it.
"I don't really feel like heading out anywhere. Let's wait till Ginerva and Harry finish their conversation, we can grab some sandwiches' back from the kitchen." I said with a tone of finality.
In my peripheral vision I saw Weasley's face turn into a sulk at the mention of waiting for food.
"Well you can certainly head somewhere for lunch, don't let my company stop you." I added, raising my arms in a gesture of surrender.
Weasley snorted at that.
"I think I'll wait actually. You'll probably curse Harry or something when he's not looking." Weasley said with a small glare. I was about to reply when I saw Ginerva headed this way. She didn't look to happy. Something in me leapt with slight joy, but I squashed it back down.
Weasley made a move towards her. "Ginny, you ok?" he said, although he sounded strained.
Ginerva looked at me with a confused expression again. I don't blame her. I turned around and pretended to be interested in a rather aggressive purple plant so as to give them some privacy.
They mumbled for a bit before I heard the sound of Floo and I turned around.
"Let's go back." Weasley said stiffly, brow creased in a frown. I felt it was a good idea not to ask what had transpired between them.
We headed back down the hallway, Harry stood in front of the arena door.
Third Person
"Harry mate!" Ron called out as he approached the arena door. Harry spun around.
"Oh hey Ron, Draco." He replied, nodding at both.
There was a slight awkward pause between all three of them...not really knowing what to say or do. They were saved by Kingsley's familiar voice.
"You three! In the arena, now! Malfoy, head to the Healing area."
They all jerked out of their trance and nodded. Despite problems at home, this was work; and it was best in this situation to keep work and home separate so as to not influence either one with complications.
The next hour and a half was spent with Harry firing spells left right and centre, dodging as many as he could and getting blasted back with the spells he couldn't evade. He wasn't exactly in full concentration, his mind was reeling with the conversation he'd had with Ginny...with the conclusion his heart had already come to.
By the end of the mock battle, Harry was covered in bruises, panting from the physical exertion and sporting a rather nasty deep cut on his forehead.
"Mate, you ok? You don't usually get beat up that bad. Anything on your mind." Ron said to him, slightly cautious. Ron got his fair share of the damage. His shirt had been ripped beyond recognizable and his right arm was bleeding from a rather strong hold of the Incarcerous charm from Harry.
Harry snorted a little. "You know what's on my mind Ron." He replied tonelessly as they limped towards the Healer side-door, once again the last ones in line to be healed.
"Listen, Harry I talked to Ginny after. I'm not trying to side too much with my sister, but she seemed really upset about it. I know she regrets it." Ron said.
"Yeah I believe she regrets it Ron. But sleeping with someone else is rather big. I just wonder how much she actually liked me sincerely. Because it certainly must not have been a lot of if she was able to jump into Deans arms." Harry replied, sounding slightly bitterer towards the end.
"Mate don't say that, I know she cares for you. Just...give her chance or something. Everyone deserves second chances. You even gave Malfoy a second chance. If he deserves one, my sister certainly does to." Ron said fiercely.
Harry agreed that Ron had just made a good point.
"Ok Ron. We talked about it before. I just need to hear from her a convincing justification of her actions. I told her I'm willing to forgive." Harry said slowly.
He didn't have the heart to tell Ron that even though he may forgive Ginny, he didn't think he felt romantically of her anymore. It was like her action was a wake-up call for himself.
Ron nodded, seemingly pleased.
"Harry? NOW it looks like you've actually done something in the arena." Draco joked, but his eyes were clouded with concern.
"Harry's one of the best training Auror's right now Malfoy. He doesn't usually get bloodied up so bad, he's just tired." Ron instantly replied back. Harry sighed in relief as Ron stepped in for him.
Draco didn't reply as he dressed Harry's wounds, waving his wand over the bruises and slowly healing up the cut on his forehead. He then moved onto Ron, repairing his shirt and taking a little more time on his arm.
Kinsley strode in at that point.
"Ah! Potter, Weasley! Always the last ones in here. You're on another break for about an hour. There's no more practical for the rest of the day since you training Aurors, seem all to be behind on researching past cases. Head to your offices after break, catch up on it and tomorrow we can have a full day of practical." Kinsley said with a stern tone before nodding to Malfoy and walking out.
Researching past cases was apparently meant to help their problem solving skills and to keep them rational in situations that might call for irrationality. They were to research past cases that detailed the kidnap or a sudden event that might cause Aurors to take immediate action and from there they were told to write a few rolls of parchment on how the situation could've been handled differently and perhaps more effectively. Sometimes they were to do this in groups.
Although some thought that this was a waste of time, Harry felt it was a good idea for him. He had been told he was hot-tempered and jumped straight into situations without thinking if something that he cared about was threatened. Perhaps he felt the extra need to do the research because studying those cases reminded him so much of the situation with Sirius a few years ago at the Department of Mysteries.
The second Kinsley was out the door Ron let out a huge groan.
"I hate researching those cases. They're so boring. You wanna bludge Harry and go play exploding snap in my office or something?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Even at a professional level Weasley, you're still a child." Draco said with a small smirk on his face. Ron was about to say retort but Harry interrupted.
"Nah I think I might do research today. It'll get my mind of things." Harry said, hoping that last part might indicate to Ron that he just wanted some time to really reflect.
He seemed to get the idea because he nodded, gave Harry a clap on the back, a glare to Malfoy and told Harry that he would be getting lunch at the Three Broomsticks.
After Ron left, Draco turned to him.
"How you faring up?"
"Alright. I really wanna get that research done, but I don't think I can concentrate. I should've just gone to lunch with Ron." Harry said with a frown on his brow.
Draco considered him for a bit. Harry began to get unnerved by the way Draco was staring at him. Finally Draco spoke.
"Well go get lunch with Weasley then. I'll see you at my house tonight. Dinner's at 7:30." He said as he started packing up several potions he had brought along.
"Wait, you're not coming to lunch?" Harry said.
"I wasn't invited Harry." He said with an amused look.
"Well I'm inviting you now, come on." Harry replied with a gesture of his hand, already half-way toward the door; not really giving much time to Draco to decide.
They headed together back down the hallway and to the foyer. There was an apparition point right next to the Floo, disapparating together and landing gracefully at the alleyway right next to the Three Broomsticks.
They didn't get too many strange looks walking in together as it was now public knowledge that Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived was friends with Draco Malfoy, Ex-Death Eater. However, it didn't stop a few people from staring up in surprise or awe.
As they entered the Three Broomsticks it took their eyes some time to adjust to the lighting difference. It was rather dim. His search for Ron was saved by his voice.
"Harry?"
Harry spun around and smiled when he saw Ron. His smile, however, disappeared when he saw who he was with.
Ginny sat opposite Ron, her hands clasped in front of her. Ron brow was creased and his cheeks were flushed red. Harry frowned, something wasn't right.
"Malfoy...nice to see you here to." Ron added slowly.
"I invited him to lunch. I uh...didn't know you were going to be here Ginny. I'll sit somewhere else with Draco." Harry said.
Ginny face twisted strangely at the mention of Draco's name out of Harry's mouth. But it was gone the instant Harry and Draco started to walk off in the opposite direction.
"No! Harry come back! I know you wanted to give me a few days to think about it. But I know why. I'm certain of it." Ginny said with determination, standing up.
"Ginny, maybe you SHOULD have a few more days to think about it." Ron said, his face still flushed red. Harry was slightly confused.
"No. I've thought about it and I want to talk about it now." Ginny said, now with an edge to her voice.
Harry sighed. "Alright. Let's take a booth over there or something."
As Ginny nodded and headed over, Harry looked over at Ron and Draco and said "I'll be right back, start eating without me. And don't rip each other's heads of...please."
"Harry, you should let her have a few more days to think about it, she's upset right now. She's not thinking straight." Ron said, his teeth now clenched.
"Ron, I know you're her brother, but she's old enough to make decisions. You have to give her that responsibility. You can't try and make decisions for her...or for me either." Harry replied quickly. He was sure Ron was about to punch him in the face, but after a few seconds of silence Ron nodded. Draco broke the quiet.
"Go Harry. We'll start eating first."
As Harry headed off he heard Draco and Ron arguing about the fat content of treacle tarts. He laughed to himself. But that dissipated as he reached the table with Ginny and sat down.
They stared at each for a while before Ginny spoke.
"Harry I know I'm putting a lot on you lately. I'm really sorry about that."
"I know." Harry replied, a little stoically.
"Anyway...well I talked to Ron for a few minutes after I talked to you then I headed down here for some alone time and had a think. You wanted to know the real reason why I did it." Ginny said, she seemed to be slowing down; a little hesitant to continue.
"Yes?" Harry said, urging her on. He was anxious and he just wanted it over with.
"I love you." She blurted out.
Harry sighed and said "Ginny we've been through this and-"
"No! I mean, I love you Harry, just not the way a romantic relationship...should be." She ended.
HARRY POV 1ST PERSON
I'm pretty sure my heart stopped.
I had asked her to tell me the real reason with the full intention of being able to accept whatever she said. I had already made the decision that I didn't want to be with her because I didn't love her, but hearing Ginny saying the exact same thing to me...almost felt bitter sweet.
"I'm not saying that justifies why I did it Harry. What I did was wrong and I'd admit that 500 times over. I'm just saying I think that's why I did it. A part of me tried not to cheat on you because of loyalty; we were living in the same house, we've been going out for 2 yrs. But I think that part of me clouded over the fact that I just didn't love you like a girlfriend should love a boyfriend. I'm really sorry I'm blasting this all on you at once Harry. You must hate me, I don't blame you." Ginny finished.
I stared at her, mouth numb and eyes wide. I blinked a few times before I spoke.
"I'm just not very pleased that you did it, but you understand that you're wrong and to me that's probably most important." I said stonily, refusing to elaborate.
She reached for my hand and grasped it; I cringed but didn't move away.
"Harry I'm really sorry. I'm sorry that I'm breaking your heart right now, I just think you deserve to be in a relationship where the other partner loves you to, that you're not loving someone who doesn't love you back." She said, leaning her face to mine.
I almost laughed. Almost.
"Well since we're being honest and talking I should probably tell you something to, something that sort of came to me as a revelation after I found you and Dean." My jaw clenched tight as I said Dean. She looked at me warily to continue.
"I don't feel the same way as I used to anymore."
She looked confused.
"What I mean to say is, I don't like you...like that anymore. You're not attractive to me Ginny." I finished awkwardly.
There was silence between us that was so tense I don't think even the Avada Kedavra could've penetrated. Both our eyes were glued to the table and her hand was no longer clenching mine, but loosely sitting on top of it.
I was about to tell Ginny that I needed some time away from her, some serious time away from her. That the fact that I had forgiven her, doesn't mean I can easily forget what she did.
However, the noisy door of the Three Broomsticks was pushed open and the gust of wind distracted me. I looked up and froze.
Third POV
Harry eyes were glued to the door.
Dean Thomas stepped through the entrance way of the Three Broomsticks. He hadn't noticed Harry and Ginny sitting in a booth so he headed over to the bar.
"Ginny I think I should go, I forgive you, but I don't forget easily; I need time away from you." Harry said quickly and bluntly.
Ginny frowned a bit from the urgency in Harry's voice.
"Ok...Harry I'm sorry it ended like this, I really am." She said, clutching onto Harry's hand again.
But Harry was too anxious to really even care what she said. If he didn't leave right now, he was sure he was going to do something he might regret. He simply nodded, stood up; almost ripping his hand from hers and strode over to the door and walked out.
Inside the Three Broomsticks as Harry flees out!
"Where's Harry going?" Ron said immediately as he saw his best mate flee the bar. Draco's head snapped up from his meat pie.
"I don't know, maybe we should follow." He mumbled in return.
"Alright, I'm bringing the treacle tart with me though." Ron said as he dropped a few Galleons on the table. Draco rolled his eyes at the Weasley, dropped a few more Galleons and led the way out of the Three Broomsticks.
None of them noticed Dean walking towards Ginny who was still sitting at the booth.
Ron and Draco found Harry sitting on a rock and away from the shops a few metres down from the Three Broomsticks.
"Mate, you ok? You basically ran out. Did Ginny say something?" Ron asked as he sat next to Harry. Draco stayed standing, although the concern from his eyes could've burned through Harry's head.
"Ginny and I already finished talking. I only walked out cos...uh...I needed air." Harry lamely finished, he told himself that it was partially true.
"You're lying Potter." Draco said almost immediately.
Harry wondered how Draco even knew.
He sighed. "Dean came in. I was already having trouble dealing with what Ginny and I were talking about. I was scared I'd do something I would regret." Harry eventually said.
Ron turned a nasty shade of red.
"That disgusting tosspot! I'm gonna show him what it feels like to have my fist in his face." Ron yelled as he stood up and made his way back.
"Ron!"
"Weasley!" Harry and Draco yelled at the same time, as they hurriedly followed him.
Harry found it highly amusing and highly respectful that Draco seemed to be getting along with Ron without too many biting insults.
They jogged back to the Three Broomsticks. Harry and Draco directly behind Ron.
As Ron barged through the door he froze, effectively making Harry and Draco bash straight into him.
"Ron! What are you-" Harry never finished his sentence because he thought his heart might have stopped.
"Oh that is not good." Draco mumbled behind Harry.
"DEAN!" Ron roared.
Over in the booth where Harry and Ginny used to be, was now Dean wrapped around Ginny and making-out with her so heavily their faces almost weren't visible; just a big tangle of arms and legs.
The entire Three Broomsticks went quiet as Ron yelled. Dean and Ginny pulled apart as though they were opposite sides of a magnet.
Ron charged at Dean, grabbing his robes and lifting him off his feet. He had a few inches on Dean so it made it a lot easier to seem intimidating.
"Ron stop it!" Ginny yelled, pulling on his sleeve. The effect was only to make Ron's face flush more red; if that was possible.
Harry had gone pale white at the sight of Ginny and Dean kissing. It was hard for him to process Ginny's actions. One second saying sorry and apologizing profusely and the next wrapped like an eel around Dean. It made him so so mad and so disappointed simultaneously. His head began to feel whoozy and Draco seemed to realize because he had a hold on Harry's waist from behind.
No-one noticed Draco's stark red blush on his pale face.
"What the hell is wrong with you Dean?! How dare you touch my sister whilst she's with Harry! How dare you have the nerve to come here and do it again with her!" Ron spat in Dean's face.
"Mate, I'm sorry I-"
But Ron interrupted. "I'm gonna re-arrange your face so bad that your mum wont' even recognize you, you filthy bastard!"
The threat seemed to awaken Harry from his daze and he rushed towards Ron, pulling him off Dean.
"Ron, calm down, you're in the middle of the Three Broomsticks. He's not worth it right now, we can deal with it later." Harry hissed in Ron's ear.
"Harry! What the hell are you defending him for?! He screwed Ginny, ruined your relationship! And now he has the nerve to make out with her in public!" Ron said, pulling himself out of Harry's grip.
"I'm in no way defending him, but causing a scene wont' do anything. I'm pissed off to Ron, why wouldn't I be? But we'll deal with it later when we're in private." Harry said softly, his eyes narrowing at Dean.
Ron huffed. He turned around and Harry sighed in relief...but he sighed too soon. Before he knew it Ron had swung back around and punched Dean straight in the nose sending him flying to the floor.
"Shit! Ron!!" Harry yelled, grabbing Ron and pulling him back, but Ron had a lot more muscle on him and Harry was having trouble holding him back.
Ginny was now huddled into the corner of the booth, eyes wide in fear.
Draco darted forward, grabbed Ron's other shoulder and they both restrained him back.
"You're fuckin' lucky that Malfoy and Harry are holding me back or I would've pummelled you to mash by now!" Ron said as he spat down at Dean.
Ron was panting really hard and it took a few seconds for him to calm down. He shook himself out of Draco and Harry. Ron glared at Ginny, eventually shaking his head and striding out.
There was a minute of awkward silence in the entire Three Broomsticks; the only sound was the whimpering of Dean still lying on the floor.
Ginny finally began to shift out of her seat and said "Harry I'm sorry I-"
But he didn't let her finish.
"No Ginny. Don't say you're sorry. I forgave you before, but I really don't get it right now. You apologize and say how sorry you are about hurting me and if you sincerely meant that you wouldn't have done this." Harry said strongly, gesturing towards Dean.
Harry turned to Draco. "Could you fix his nose?" Draco raised his eyebrow in question, but otherwise walked forward and waved his wand over Dean's nose and it healed.
"Thanks." Dean mumbled as he got off the floor and reached for Ginny for balance. This only seemed to aggravate Harry and Draco even more.
"Don't thank me; I didn't do that for you." Draco snapped.
Harry sighed. "Let's go Draco." Before they managed to head out Ginny's voice interrupted them again.
"Harry please..."
Harry turned back around, but he simply shook his head at her and led the way out. Draco sent one last scathing look at Ginny before following Harry.
Harry POV FIRST PERSON
I cringed at the fact that the event that just happened would most likely be on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow, but I couldn't care less right now.
Ginny was more infuriating than.....so infuriating I couldn't even think of a comparison.
"Harry?" Draco's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned to him and was startled to realize how close he stood to me. His silver-grey eyes were smouldering. I gulped.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Are you ok?" He whispered.
"I've felt better." I said, my eyes flickering around his pale face.
Draco leaned in slightly. My heart jumped.
"Harry! Malfoy!"
We jumped apart as we saw Ron marching towards us.
"Tell Kinsley I'm going home, I can't stand going back to work right now." He said, seemingly not noticing how close Draco and I was.
"Sure, I'll floo him, I'm not going back either, I need to...go home and think." I said, subtly taking a step back from Draco. Everything was happening to fast for me to realize what was going on right now.
Ron nodded at me, his face still red and his forehead creased with wrinkles.
"Cya mate. Bye Malfoy."
When Ron left, Draco looked at me again.
"Do you want to go home?"
"Yeah, let's go." I replied.
As we walked to the Apparition point, we had to pass Three Broomsticks. I told myself not to look inside but I did anyway. Ginny had her hands pressed to Dean's face.
I sighed in disgust. A new found hate arose in me.
Yanking Draco's hand and ignoring the spark that went through me, I dragged him faster to the Apparition point.
END.
Hey guys! I know that was the crappiest ending EVER! But it's getting late and university starts tomorrow and I really really wanted to get this finished. So i'm sorry if it was rushed! But I hope you liked it. I changed Ron's character a bit, a more mature, yet still hot-headed best friend of Harry. I really hope you enjoyed the subtleness I tried to incorporate into this chapter =). Please read and review!! You guys are my greatest motivation.
Review Replies:
PottersLittleSister: haha very true! Except Harry's just a liitttlee pre-occupied but I tried to incorporate his attraction to Draco in this chapter, although still subtle! It's getting there! I really hope you like this one. Please let me know if I blab and waffle too much. Sometimes I feel like I do!
Lord Archeron: I'm very glad to hear you liked the duel scene =). I spent quite a bit of time trying to co-ordinate spells and looking up on the internet and stuff! Thanx for the idea! Later in the story there just might be one ;). Thank you for reviewing!
Peachy: hahah yeh I suspect you might dislike her even more in this chapter! Well hopefully by the end of it =). Yeah i agree with you to. I was writing rather late at night and I just wanted it over with! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
