Chapter 8- Putting out old Flames

The common room was entered abruptly by a joyous Ginny Weasley near the hour of six. McGonagall had excused her from all classes today, which was an even better reason for last night's expedition. Even if her eyes were dragging, Ginny thought she'd take the opportunity to see what her fox-self looked like with a smile.

As Ginny started to bound towards the girls' stairs she heard her name. She turned perplexed and saw Dean sitting in one of the arm chairs. "Good morning," she said nervously. "You're up early."

"So you're running off in the middle of the night now?" he asked, sounding upset. "And as a fox?"

"It's none of your business," she retorted, wondering if McGonagall would still let her help if she knew Dean had caught her.

"Like Merlin it isn't!" he shouted. Ginny's face turned red, ready to yell back. "I have been worried all night!"

"It's not your place to worry about me," she said with just as much force, her hands on her hips.

She was shocked as Dean grabbed her by her upper arms. "Don't tell me that," he said quietly with some sort of pain in his eyes. "If you think for one second that I have ever stopped thinking about you and keeping you safe, then… You…" he trailed off, then let go. Ginny didn't say anything. "How long have you been going out like that?"

Ginny's eyes were still wide. "Last night was the first time," she said, her voice feeling weak.

"I have half a mind to tell—"

"McGonagall already knows," Ginny interrupted.

Dean looked confused. "She knows?" Ginny nodded. "Did she teach you?"

"Yes," Ginny said. Dean seemed to continue thinking.

"I want to learn too, then," he said.

"You can't," Ginny said.

"Why not?" he asked. "Does this have something to do with You-Know-Who?" he whispered.

Ginny swallowed and nodded. Dean looked around the common room, pressed his lips together, then turned to go up the stairs. "Wait!" Ginny called. "You can't tell anyone!"

"I won't," he said shortly and continued towards his room. Ginny half thought to run up after him, but turned towards her room, thoughts of the glorious night gone.

School, which had become rather bearable for Ginny, once again became a prison of interacting seclusion. This time, though, it was self inflicted. Ginny went to practice—arriving last and leaving first—took her meals in to her room—though she didn't eat nearly as much as was normal—and was mechanical in her classes. This was just a place to bide time. Most of it was spent in her room.

Spring came one early weekend in March. She saw the blooming trees and remembered last spring, when the Quidditch championship was approaching. They were training just as hard. Now Ginny felt ready and wanted to get it over with. Even when they won, which was rather likely, there wouldn't be a celebration for Ginny. She'd just end up in her room again, reading her letters over and over as she had for the past few months.

She smiled as she saw an owl approach from over the sun-kissed lake. It wasn't often that she saw Hedwig, in Harry's effort to still remain inconspicuous. She looked at her small lunch: an apple and muffins. "Perfect day for a picnic, don't you think?" she asked Hedwig with a tilt of her head. Hedwig gave a similar tilt and watched as she took the letter and packed up.

With a whistle, Ginny called Hedwig to her shoulder and they walked down, to the ground. Ginny picked at the muffins, giving Hedwig bits as she situated herself against a large tree. She picked up and took a bite of her apple and opened her letter.

Dear Ginny,

I can't tell you half of what's going on and I'm sure you don't care about the rest. You might find it interesting to know that every time we're near shops, Ron stops to look at rings.

Ginny practically squealed at this news. He implied that he wasn't impartial to look himself a bit. Ginny blushed there and continued to read. Harry had become very good at saying nothing and everything at the same time. It wasn't until the last paragraph that Ginny's demeanor changed over something he wrote.

We were in Hogsmeade the other day—her jaw froze mid-bite—I wanted to see you so badly. I fought myself, as well as others, but I still wanted you to know I was thinking of you the entire time of our visit. It came to nothing and it would have been far more successful if I could have at least seen your lovely face.

Harry

Ginny wiped a tear, wondering how it had got there. Her heart twisted at the thought that he had been so close, yet she was glad he told her. She thought about what she might write back while feeding Hedwig more of her muffins.

"Hey Ginny," a voice said, standing over her as she started to reread the letter. Pressing her lips together she looked up.

"Hey Dean," she said with a half hearted smile.

He took it as an invitation and sat down. Hedwig flew off in an offended huff. "I've been trying to catch you by yourself."

"Not an easy task, it sounds like."

It was several moments before Dean spoke again. "Look, I'm just worried about you."

"No need to be."

"Easy for you to say," he retorted, then looked towards the lake. "Last year I could have killed Harry when—"

"Dean don't," Ginny interrupted. He looked back at her.

"Let me finish," he asked. Ginny let out a breath with a sigh and listened. "I could have killed Harry at first. It might have been over for you but it wasn't for me." He paused. She didn't say anything. "I dreamt all summer, hoping that I could find a way to get you back, day dreamed of how you decided you didn't want Harry anymore. It wasn't until I came back that the rumors started being told. You and Harry weren't dating.

"It was all I could do to keep from hoping. I wanted to believe it and I've watched to see if others asked you out."

"No one has," Ginny pointed out.

"I know," Dean said. "At Christmas I decided that I'm going to try and get what I want."

Ginny looked down. "What if you can't?"

She didn't look to see Dean's reaction. "Then I'll settle for the next best thing."

"And what's that?" she asked.

"To take care of her," he said, his fingers touching her cheek. She looked at his eyes. They were sincere.

"I'm no good for you," she told him quickly.

"You're better for me than you know," Dean replied. "But I didn't come over here for me. You can't follow through with it, Ginny, don't put yourself in harm's way," he begged.

Ginny's brows furrowed as she pulled his hand off of her. "It's none of your concern what I do," she said. Standing, she started to gather her things. Dean stood too, folding the blanket for her. His expression looked sad.

"I'll make you happier than you know, just don't leave," Dean pleaded.

"My heart is somewhere else," Ginny said, thinking to her letter, but not wanting to say what was the truth. The force of Harry's decision struck her as she realized that she would now keep him safe by not telling of their moments together.

"It always has been, but I've decided that I don't care," he said, grabbing her arm as he had the other night and pulling her around. Ginny's grasp let go on her things as her pulled her into a kiss. She pushed on his chest to get away, but it did no good. Dean's embrace was tight, then loosened to look at her. Ginny's hand went to the right and then flung towards Dean's cheek.

The smack was loud and seemed to echo down by the lake, but Ginny didn't care as she ran towards the castle, not stopping until she was in her room, tears running down her cheek.

"Can I tell one person?" Ginny asked as she entered McGonagall's office for class the following Monday morning.

"One person what?" McGonagall asked.

"About my new… form," Ginny said.

"I don't know that that would be wise, Ms. Weasley."

"Just one," Ginny requested.

"Who," McGonagall asked.

Ginny took a deep breath. "Hermione."

McGonagall seemed surprised. Ginny figured she had other expectations, but Ginny also knew who could be trusted; who wouldn't do something drastic with the information. She wouldn't bother telling Hermione either, but there were other aspects of the weekend that she needed her friend's advice about.

"You will use my owl to ensure it gets to her safely," McGonagall said. "And whatever the letter contains, it must be destroyed after to she reads it."

Ginny nodded.

"Now today we will be discussing the laws of apparition and the history of those judiciary declarations," McGonagall said, reminding Ginny that she hadn't done her reading.

Ginny waited every morning for a week to get a response from Hermione. She continued to hide away from those on the Quidditch team, in class, and most of all from Dean. Luna would join her in the library to do research and the two would find a secluded corner of the room, where they often had to clear of younger snogging students. Ginny was grateful for her authority as a prefect then.

It was when she was assigned with her co-Gryffindor prefect to wander halls that she would have rather been relieved her duties. Dean seemed just as awkward around Ginny as she felt around him. The only difference is that he was dead set on making things right again.

Hermione's letter was a great relief in her day to day stresses and a treat as well: a letter from Harry. At first Ginny wondered if she had been wrong, but his was just as the others. She smiled, glad to be in the privacy of her room where no one could disrupt her enjoyment, but then, it was Hermione's comfort that would be of assistance today.

My Dear Friend Ginny,

Rest assured, the letter has been destroyed and there is no person in this world that will steal this information from me. Not even your nosy brother. Ginny laughed.

I must say I had a good time with the idea that you had been the one to… injure Ron at Christmas. He still complains that your parents haven't found the creature that did it. He set a trap, by the way, in case you ever decide to use your new talents again.

Before telling you of any opinions you should know how proud I am. Your family is proud too, even though they don't know all they should be proud of. It sounds as though others have that same pride in you as a person. Ginny paused and took a deep breath.

As for matters of love and war, I'm not the best expert and hope what I would say would be of comfort to you. I'm sorry that you're having to face this on your own. There are a great many aspects to your circumstances that should not be faced alone, but remember that there are those here waiting for your return, who feel just as alone at the moment. Dean will eventually understand. Just be clear and fair in those matters and all will happen as it should. Ginny wondered if her slap had been clear enough.

Thank you for writing. I do miss you and the escape from male company.

Your friend,

Hermione

Ginny didn't see much that would help her, though she was glad to have some encouragement. She read over it again, wondering if she'd missed some small and hinted advice, but it was simple and kind and in every way unhelpful. She would deal with it on her own, as Hermione mentioned, in hopes that soon she would never be alone again.

A/N: I've always thought that Dean wasn't as happy about the break-up as Ginny, which is evident in his shock. I hope you all enjoyed it.