The Cerebral Coordination of Ginny Weasley

Rating: T

Author: Valor Orgulloso

Chapter XVII: In Which I'd Do Anything For You

We quickly spotted Ron and Hermione, who were standing over by a window talking quietly to Seamus Finnegan, who was pale and looking nervous, and we made our way towards them. It looked like the two were trying to make Seamus feel better.

I knew they saw my puffy eyes from the way Ron eyed Harry a bit hostilely and Hermione's worried expression increased as she looked at me. Seamus ignored us, instead diverting his attention out the window to look over the lake.

"Seamus?" I asked tentatively the boy. Seamus and I didn't know each other well, if at all. I talked to him a couple of times; most of those being a hurried excuse me or could you pass the jam? We recognized each other. That was all.

He turned to look at me sullenly, his freckles contrasting darkly against his pale skin. When I just stared at him a moment, not saying anything, he asked, "Yeah?"

I shook my head, suddenly at a loss for words. "Nothing. Sorry." He sighed and turned back to the window. What was there to say? His best friend had been captured by Death Eaters. All I felt was pity for him, and, as much as I hated to admit it for I felt a sharp pang of guilt, relief that it wasn't Harry.

The Great Hall had the four tables set up, and many of the students were sitting on them, talking, probably wondering what the reason was for keeping them there, away from their studies.

I leaned against the wall by the window and slid down to sit, and I was glad today I decided to wear pants instead of the usual skirt. A few yards away from me, I saw Ron and Hermione talking "quietly" with Harry. By quietly I mean I could hear every word they were saying.

"What'd you do to my sister, Potter?" Ron hissed venomously. I looked up and watched the exchange interestedly; but I felt a little detached, and I barely registered Ron's words as offensive.

"N – nothing," Harry said, taken aback. Whether by the tone, the words, or the use of his surname, I was unsure.

"Oh, Ron, leave Harry alone," Hermione scolded. When Ron opened his mouth to retort, Hermione sent him a hard look, but effectively shut up.

Harry hesitantly left the situation, and, when his back was turned, Ron sent him a dirty look until Hermione grabbed his arm sharply. Hermione leaned up and whispered something in his ear, and his features changed, becoming softer and less angry; even a little guilty.

I shifted my attention upwards, and Harry looked down at me wearily, leaning sideways against the wall. I returned the tired look, and he took this as an invitation to sit by me.

He snuck an arm behind my shoulders, and I leaned into him, burying my face in his chest.

"Thanks for staying, Harry," I murmured. His hand rubbed my shoulder appreciatively. Tingles ran through my neck.

"Anything for you." I smiled a little; at the truth in the statement as much as the cliché remark itself.

"Same here."

"You know, a year ago at this time –" Harry started but I finished his sentence.

"– I had no idea I'd ever be your girlfriend."

Harry laughed a little. "Yeah. A lot has changed since then." He paused then, and I pulled back to look at his face. It seemed a little sad, and I guessed he must have been thinking about the last task of the Triwizard Tournament.

"Hey, not all of it's bad," I told him. He looked at my face amusedly. "I mean, you've got me; a beautiful, red-haired goddess."

"And that's a good thing?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Harry!" I shrieked, and a few nearby students looked over at the two of us along with Ron and Hermione; they were now sitting on a portion of the bench at the nearest long table.

Harry nuzzled his head in the crook of my neck, and I laughed quietly, trying to push his head away. "That tickles!"

"Mmmm…," Harry murmured, pulling back. "I suppose I can live with you…"

"You're mean," I pouted, crossing my arms across my chest.

Harry pulled me closer to his side, kissing the top of my head. "And I love you," he murmured.

"Well, I guess I can live with that; if not with you," I said. Harry laughed quietly in my ear.

"But really, would you mind living with me?" Harry whispered. I was sure no one else could hear us, and Harry's words made me stop and think. They had actually kind of shocked me into submission. I never really thought about my future too much to be honest. Now, though, thinking about it, one without Harry seemed depressing.

I turned my head to look at him. Our faces were only a few inches apart. "No, I think that'd be nice."

"Really?" Harry asked disbelievingly, but a small smile was appearing on his face.

"Harry, why wouldn't I want to live with you?"

Harry shrugged and puffed out his chest a little. "That incredible, yeah?" he asked arrogantly. I grabbed his side playfully, and he pushed my hand away quickly.

"Shut up," I ordered. He smirked before closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the wall. His smile faded into worried lines.

I sighed, knowing his good attitude wouldn't be lasting too long. But, to my surprise, he continued the conversation.

"D'you think we'll stay together, Ginny?" His eyes opened back up, and he looked me in the eye.

I nodded. "Yes, don't you?"

Harry shrugged, and my stomach dropped a little. "You don't?" I asked.

"It's just… things happen," Harry tried to explain. He was doing a pretty rotten job at it because my eyes started watering a bit.

"Like what?" I whispered, and I was ashamed to admit it sounded like I was choking back tears. It was one thing to sob in the middle of a deserted corridor, but in a room full of the rest of the student body was another.

"Um, I might… change comes, and there's nothing we can do to stop it."

"What change?" I demanded, confused.

"Well, Voldemort for one…," said Harry.

"And how does that affect our relationship?" I asked.

"He could hurt you… use you." Harry took a deep breath. "This thing with Dean just proves it. Voldemort captured someone who I just share a dorm with… what if it was you next? I couldn't live with myself if it was you." And then he fell silent.

"You can take care of me, Harry. I trust you. We don't have to split just because of Voldemort. We can't let him run our lives." I placed my hand on his chest, and begged him to see sense. We remained eye contact until he sharply looked away. He pulled back a little.

"I'm sorry," he said in a voice quieter than the rest of our conversation. It could've been the wind, but we weren't outside. He gently but firmly removed my hand from his chest and unwound his arm from around my shoulders. My stomach felt like ice. I was numb. What was he doing? A hot, slow stream of dread began to trickle into my mind through the freeze.

"Harry?" I asked in a weak voice. He avoided my eyes. "Harry, did you think this through?" He still wouldn't look at me. "Are you – " I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut tightly. "Are you breaking up with me?" I opened my eyes, needing but not wanting to know the answer.

"I have to…," he argued weakly. I sat back in disbelief.

"Why?" I asked. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears, but I refused to cry; not in front of everyone, and I didn't know if I wanted to let Harry see how much he was hurting me.

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I'm so sorry." And, before I had the chance to stop him, he stood up and went over to talk to Neville. Like nothing just happened. I wanted to scream. At him. I wanted to storm right up to him and hit him and yell at how stupid he was being and how he was such a bloody prat. But the publicity of it all stopped me, and I was frozen. I couldn't move – the drug of shock keeping me in place.

I heard a faraway voice call to me, but my vision was blurry, and I couldn't see who it was. I somehow found use of my arms and hastily rubbed my eyes. My vision cleared slightly, and I saw a concerned Hermione squatting in front of me.

"Ginny?" she said quietly. I let out a short sob – one I couldn't hold in, and I saw people send me looks, wondering what could be wrong. Everything. I looked over towards Neville to see Harry talking quietly to him, and I felt so hurt I thought I'd burst. Neville suddenly gestured towards me, and Harry turned his head ever so slightly. He saw me, and I glared at him to the best of my ability. He quickly looked away. I looked back at Hermione in despair.

"It's over," I said brokenly, and Hermione hugged me tightly as I tried to hide my sobs against her shoulder. Anything for you. Yeah. Right.

A/N: This chapter was tough to write – mostly due to "writers block" if there is such a thing (mostly when authors say they have this, I just ignore them because really, coming up with ideas isn't that hard – it's just the following through part). But I pushed through "it," and we're nearing the end, my friends… It's a snow day. This one went out to you.

And I think I lied when I mentioned it was the last angsty chapter for a while a few chapters back. I just can't help myself.

PS: Do any of you watch 24? Jack Bauer can fight gravity. And win. This season isn't too good, so I might go get out my 24 DVDs (we own 2 seasons…) and watch the first season again. Lin (who played a hobbit in LotR), Meester Bowaaa (according to the Chinese govewnment... who has a vewy, vewy long memowy), and Barry the life coach are my favorites. Nerve gas season and the second season are the best :)