A/N- No one belongs to me- I'm just borrowing them…

Somewhere

Chapter Four

Ghosts

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Ron sat at the head of the table, with Hermione and Lavender on either side of him. Lavender had really outdone herself, making at least three courses of the best cooking Ron had ever tasted her make- he chalked it up to having a guest.

Hermione knew otherwise. She was showing her up, in every way possible.

"So- your house looks great." Hermione said, cutting off a piece of chicken.

"Lavender did most of it." Ron shrugged.

"What did you do, Ron? Grunt approval?" Hermione grinned.

"Pretty much."

"Ronnie, don't be ridiculous. You helped me pick out everything." Lavender reached across, taking his hand.

Ron looked a little confused how he was supposed to keep eating if she was holding his hand, but didn't dare say anything.

Conversation was pretty thin for the rest of the meal, and by the time they got to dessert, Hermione finally brought up the reason she was here.

"So- what do you think, Ron? Yes or no?"

"Yes or no to what?" Ron looked confused.

"To tomorrow. To finding Harry."

Lavender looked up with wide eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

"He didn't tell you?" Hermione looked between them, stunned.

"What is she talking about, Ronnie?"

"Someone's sighted Harry Potter-"

"-in Australia, yeah, me and Gin got the notice. It's rubbish, everyone thinks so." Lavender waved her hand.

"It's not rubbish." Hermione said rather harshly.

Lavender turned to look at her. "Oh yeah? And what exactly are you basing that on?"

"I just know it's him. I want Ron to help me find him. He said…I thought he was going to ask you."

"I'm sorry, Lavender- I really was getting around to it…" Ron said quietly.

"No need, Ron. I know why you didn't ask me. Because you knew I'd say it was completely ridiculous, and you think so too. Right?" Lavender crossed her arms, staring at her husband.

Ron looked between them both.

"I…"

"No offense, Lavender, but you didn't know Harry like we did. And I trust my own instincts, and Ron's, a lot more than yours in this situation." Hermione said coolly.

"Oh, well- that settles it! Brilliant Hermione's instincts! Sure, Ron, run off with your ex-girlfriend on some crazy rescue mission! Why would I care if you did that?" Lavender's voice was getting a little hysterical as she realized that Ron and Hermione weren't joking.

"I wouldn't be gone long- just a few weeks to try and see if we can find anything." Ron said.

"A few weeks? Snuggled up in some camp site with her? Forget it!"

"What are you so worried about happening?" Hermione challenged her.

Lavender looked at her with an icy glare.

"I'm on to you, okay? I get your little game. You run away for five years, and then you realize you made a huge mistake. You want Ron back. And what's your best chance of getting him? Dangling some story about your long lost best friend that every sane person has given up on years ago! So you can run off together, and reminisce about the good old days- and whoops! Look at that! He'll magically realize he's been in love with you all along, and this whole thing with me was just settling for second best! That's what you think, isn't it? How stupid do you think I am, Hermione?"

"You really want me to answer that?"

There was a long silence as Ron stared at the ground and the two women glared daggers at each other.

Finally, Lavender stood up, her checks flushed red.

"Get out. Get out and never come back. He doesn't need you anymore, Hermione. Get the fuck over it and get back to your sad little life." She crossed to the front door, opening it.

Hermione didn't say anything, getting to her feet.

"Hermione, wait-" Ron stood up, catching her arm.

She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. Lavender raised her eyebrows.

"Go ahead, Ron. What do you want to say to her?"

Hermione shook her head at Ron as if to say it was useless. But he still held on to her arm.

"What makes you think you get to make this decision for me?" He looked at Lavender.

"Because I'm your wife. I get more say in what you do than she does." Lavender said, sounding like she was about to cry as well.

"If Harry's out there, I have to find him. I have to try."

"He's not out there, Ron! She's trying to take you back, and this was the only way she knew how!" Lavender shouted, her voice cracking.

There was a horrible silence as they all stood there, paralyzed.

Finally, Hermione gently took Ron's hand away.

"I'm going to go. Lavender's right- it's not my business anymore what you do with your life."

Hermione walked to the door and had just stepped outside when Ron caught up to her again, stopping her.

"But it's my business!"

"Then what do you want, Ron?" Hermione said, swallowing hard.

Hermione and Lavender both looked at him, waiting for an answer. Something was finally, completely his choice.

"I want to help you. I want to help you find him."

Tears started to slide down Hermione's cheeks as she looked up at him, a wide, grateful smile on her face. The smile that showed what he had always been so scared of and amazed by- that she was proud of him.

"Ronnie! You're not thinking!" Lavender pushed Hermione aside, grabbing his arms.

"I'm going with her, Lavender. I'm not leaving you- I just have to do this."

"You won't need to leave me! If you go with her, don't think you can ever come back!"

"Don't say that, Lavender-"

"After everything I've done for you…after everything she's put you through….I just don't understand." Lavender cried, shaking her head.

"I'll be back. I'll still be your husband. I promised that a long time ago." Ron kissed her forehead, and stepped back towards Hermione.

He couldn't look at Lavender crying as they apparated away.

--

Ginny turned off her bedside lamp in her apartment, the drinks from the bar slowly wearing off. She had had another awkward, overlong date with her supposed "boyfriend" from work- she thought it would make her feel less lonely to give someone a chance, but it wasn't working out quite like she had thought. He had looked so hopeful about coming inside- she felt bad for stringing him along, but maybe it was his fault for liking someone as screwed up as her.

Suddenly, Ginny heard a noise from her kitchen. She sat up in bed, listening closer. Footsteps, loud and heavy, on the tile floor. Her heart thudding in her ears, she picked up her wand from her bedside table, crossing to the door to her bedroom and opening it a crack.

Her wand clattered to the ground as she threw the door open.

It was Harry, standing in her kitchen, looking almost the same as he had five years ago, only a little more tired. He turned at the noise.

"Ginny."

His voice saying her name was almost too much- she couldn't form a response.

"Don't be scared. It's really me, I promise."

"W-What-how?" Ginny finally stammered out, clutching the wall for support.

"I don't have time to tell you- I wish I did. I never know how long this is going to last- sometimes I only reappear for a few seconds, sometimes a few minutes- I've been trying to find you for so long." Harry smiled sadly, his appearance crackling and fading like a picture on a television screen with bad reception.

"Harry- what's happening to you?"

"Please just listen. The man sighted recently, in Australia- I know they're going to go looking for him. I heard them- I hear Ron and Hermione all the time," Harry's voice caught slightly on their names, "But you have to stop them. That wasn't me."

"Then who was it?" Ginny said, her voice sounding very far away and dreamlike.

"He'll kill them. As soon as he gets the chance. You have to stop him- he's got me trapped here."

"What are you talking about?"

"He's not me." Harry's arms and legs were almost completely transparent now, only his face staying in focus.

"Then who is he?"

"I'll try to find you again. I'll try to come back and tell you everything."

"Harry!"

"I love you, Gin."

And his vague outline disappeared completely.

--

A/N- until chapter five…