AN: Got a new one for ya :)

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Harry got dressed for the day and was glad he and Hermione got some much needed sleep. He waited in the common room for a good ten minutes and then went to Hermione's room to see what was taking her so long. The moment he entered her room, he felt like he was in a different universe. Clothes were all around the room a few on the floor, most on the bed and the rest flying around. It took him a moment to place Hermione at the corner of the bed, wrapped in a towel busy going through a heap of clothes near her with a deep frown, hair spilling from the unmade bun and nose scrunched in annoyance.

To see the highly organised Hermione Granger in such a chaos made the situation extremely delicate. Harry was unable to concentrate with clothes flying around randomly. He stilled them in mid-air and called loud enough to gain Hermione's attention. She looked up staring at him for a full minute as if her mind had gone numb and that's saying something, either not caring or not noticing her current attire she stated, "I can't find the right top to wear Harry!" as if it was his fault.

Then he realised that it was indeed his fault, brows raised and nodding in understanding he went close enough to make room for him to sit on the bed covered in clothes from end to end.

After a few minutes of silence in which Hermione magically folded the clothes that she had discarded on the floor and suspended in the air Harry spoke up. "Why don't you wear a loose top like yesterday and umm…a…a…bra…that you girls tie at the back of your neck?" Harry was furiously red in the face all the while fidgeting with the tag of one of Hermione's shirt. When he finally looked up Hermione was staring at him with a raised brow full of accusation. "What? Boys do observe girls…I mean what they wear" he muttered. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Whatever Harry, get out so I can get dressed." she ordered irritated that she couldn't figure out such a simple solution, this was what she said to herself but deep down knew that Harry looking at other girls bothered her. Though she wasn't about to turn into a clingy girlfriend. The room looking much better with clothes obediently folding themselves returned to their assigned place in the wardrobe. She turned with the selected clothes draped on one arm and the other on her hip, Harry was shuffling at the end of her bed. Wordlessly she asked for him to 'get the fuck out' with narrowed eyes and finally got her privacy back.

With the first class cancelled the seventh year students weren't starting any until noon. Hence most were dressed casually for the early breakfast. Harry and Hermione were surprised to find the Gryffindor table scarcely occupied, Hermione purposely sat to Harry's right so he could drape his hand over her shoulder and unthinkingly rubbed his thumb over the bruise peeping out of the top's neckline. "Aren't you a bit too fond of the results of your ministrations Harry?" Hermione asked smiling slightly. "Huh? Oh yeah I did a fine job Hermione, you can't deny that" he mocked with an affectionate kiss to her forehead. Amused she shook her head and went back to reading, both waiting for their friends to arrive for breakfast.

The youngest red head walked her way down the passage with a mission to find the famous Harry Potter. She was so sure to find him alone no matter where he was that on entering the Great Hall her confidant stride flattered. At the sight of Harry's arm around Hermione's shoulder both talking intimately, the urge to blow something or a particular someone apart was very strong. With an almost unnatural good or bad timing Ginny and Luna reached the pair from opposite directions. Ginny sat in front of Harry and Luna next to Hermione asking softly if she was ok and started talking animatedly.

"We have a deal Harry" Ginny started, Harry looked at her expectant face still brushing Hermione's shoulder this time with purpose. When Harry said nothing did she notice his action and see the mark on Hermione's shoulder. Momentarily stunned she stared wide eyed not believing her sight. Everything was in slow motion for Ginny Weasley, her thoughts running a thousand mile with each passing second. The marked proved that last night even if Harry and Hermione fought it had not ended as she expected. She could not stop her mind from conjuring images of the couple being intimate and clenched her fist ready to trash all that was on the table in front of her. "Ginny we have no deal please try to understand that I and Hermione are together no matter what." Harry said with no compassion what so ever. Angry tears threaded to make their presence known and Ginny tried her best to not make a fool of herself. Breathing heavily she could only sit with a blank mind or as blank as it could be watching Harry and Hermione be their usual selves. All the while Hermione chose to be out of it not even sparing Ginny a glance. With her morning stress on what to wear paid off, she straightened her top discreetly and started with breakfast. As much as Hermione wanted to be a good person there is only so good she could be.

Ron and Neville finally arrived they trapped Ginny in the middle by sitting on each side. The conversation was steadily flowing from Quidditch to lessons and back to Quidditch; given Ginny's silence the girls were outnumbered. Neville mustered some courage and asked, "So we are going this weekend to your place Hermione?" With a fleeting glance in Ginny's direction Hermione replied, "If everyone wishes to then yes certainly." "I am unsure, you guys should carry on. Excuse me." With that Ginny took her leave and everyone agreed to go wordlessly.

/

Never once in the past six years of school Ginny wanted it to end so badly. Not in the first year when she missed home in spite of having her brothers around, nor in the second year when she was attacked in the chambers and not even when she and her friends were being tortured by the death eaters ruling over Hogwarts. Just never, until this seventh year. A year she thought when everything will get on track. But now she wondered if all these years of loving Harry were just an unrealistic dream. Lost in the dark night at her new safe haven, no not new, in the year of war Ginny always escaped to the astronomy tower away from the darkness of reality to a darkness of safety.

A few days had passed, since her last word with Harry at breakfast. Tomorrow her brother and friends if she could still call them that would be going at Hermione's house for a day. Ron did his brother's duty when he came earlier that evening to see her and ask how she was faring and she is welcomed to join them if she changed her mind. Feeling bittersweet for not being bothered or buttered for her to join them Ginny was trying hard to come to term with her wayward emotions.

At the sound of a not so unexpected voice she turned, "Why can't you move on like all girls do after a bad breakup?" "Because I love him…" she repeated again, the way she had for years and frowned thinking why was she even bothering to answer him. He scoffed, "Yea, not everyone gets a happily ever after. Get out of your fucking dreams." He walked closer where she was leaning against the stone railing. After a few moments facing her he said, "You know he doesn't love you. Not your fault, nor his and nor hers, then why have you made it a mission to whore yourself to him?"

A surge of anger ran through her otherwise numb body. 'How dare he?' Ginny raised her hand to deliver a well-deserved slap only to be caught mid swing. He pulled her against his body pissed that she could think herself capable of insulting him. The sudden closeness surprised her but his next action shocked her. He pressed her against the railing painfully biting her lower back and held her head firmly by her hair. With jaw clenched and eyes burning with anger he poured himself in a forceful and unrelenting kiss.

He pulled back with a similar force, still fuming, touched his forehead to hers, lips teasing by being a breath away. He pecked her lips once twice thrice even, though perverse to his softness on her lips his hands squeezed her waist, fingers digging into her soft bare flesh. The distance between their lips remained but he had her hips joined to his. Realisation had set well over the pair as there was no change in their position for full five minutes. Each breath laboured as he made sure she knew who he was and not take him to be a certain green eyed saviour of the world.

He was a man full of surprises tonight even to himself. He stepped back and loosened the grip from her waist, only for a moment. This time, his arm circled around her lower back. Protectively. With his hold strong and unforceful. He leaned halfway and she the other half. Drunk with need, they kissed like lovers meeting after years of separation. He was slow, soft, giving and taking only want he got nothing more.

Wanting this kiss to go on forever and realising there will never be a forever for them. But they held on to each other, otherwise they would drown.

AN: Got any thoughts?