CHAPTER 6:

Ashley OR Ginny?

The fact that Ashley was back was enjoyed more surprisingly by Harry himself.

'He likes sitting in the Head boy and girl common room completing his homework or laughing at mine and Malfoy's jokes at people or watching me for no reason. He's even ignoring Ginny. Its surprising.' Ashley was thinking one day as she sat in the library supposedly completing her astronomy homework. The thought kept repeating in her mind and she was finding it exceptionally difficult to concentrate on it making her cross out the spelling of meteorite.

"Shit!" she crossed out the spelling for the sixth time. "Why cant I concentrate?" she muttered exasperatedly throwing the quill on the table. She rubbed her tired eyes and stared out of the window towards the grounds. She was tired, tired of the questions revolving into her head like a top.

'I want to get out of this. I need to talk to Harry about this now. It is not the question of mine and Harry's life, it concerns Malfoy's, Ginny and Ron too.'

"Ashley, I'm talking to you, are you alright?

"Huh?"

She looked round. Harry, looking very dreary, had joined her.

"Oh, hi," she said, pulling her books and parchments towards her. "How come you're not with Ginny or Ron?"

"Just like that," said Harry shrugging. "Anyways… I want to know why have stopped avoiding me."

Ashley just wanted to say, 'You are making me' but she just shrugged and looked out of the windows biting her lip.

"Anyways, you've just received this." He said hoisting a box wrapped in brown paper. Ashley looked up at him.

"Thanks." She said forcing her face into an feeble smile.

"That was ok." Harry said shrugging. He watched Ashley open the package. It was a small ring box. She looked at

him frowning. He just shrugged and looked out of the window. Ashley opened the box and let out a shriek as a small jack in the box leaped at her. Harry who had fallen down looked up.

"What?" he asked her thickly. "You scared me." He added, because she was glaring at him.

"You scared me." She snapped at him. Harry smiled at her.

"I wanted to make you laugh." He said. Ashley rolled her eyes.

"A good way to make me laugh." She jeered. Harry felt much better.

"You know what," he said after staring at the window.

"What?" Ashley asked looking in the direction Harry was looking in.

"I'm a bastard." Harry said sighing silently.

Ashley stared at him surprisingly.

"What?"

"Yep, I'm not interested in Ginny anymore." Harry answered.

"Why?" Ashley asked trying to hide her grin. The monster inside her chest was dancing a conga.

Harry looked at her.

"Cause I love someone else." He said looking into her eyes. She couldn't help notice the a certain twinkle in his eyes. Ashley bit her lip and shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"Who is the lucky one then?" she asked. But before Harry could answer,

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"

"Oh damn," whispered Ashley jumping up on her feet. "I forgot—"

Madam Pince was swooping down on them, her shrunken face twisted with anger.

"No shouting in the library!" she screamed. "Out—out—OUT!"

And whipping out her wand, she caused Ashley's books, bag, the jack in the box and inkpot to whack Harry and her around their heads and bottoms as they ran.

***

Harry and Ashley sat all alone on the shade of the beech tree on the edge of the lake. The sunlight was dazzling on the smooth surface of the lake on the bank where a group of girls were sitting tickling the giant squid.

"I don't know, but you are really avoiding me." Harry said. He looked over at her, while her eyes were fixed on a pebble on the ground. She remained silent.

"Ashley, I'm talking to you." Ashley shook her head.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. Harry blinked. She was looking down, her eyes fixed on the same pebble.

"I'm not avoiding you Harry, you don't understand the way I feel." Ashley said after sometime.

"Make me." He said in a whisper moving close to her.

"I—" Harry leaned down and kissed her. And guess what? She kissed him back.

When they broke the kiss, Harry looked into her closed eyes and smiled. Ashley sighed silently and opened her eyes and found him staring into them.

"Harry," she whispered.

"Yes?"

"I love you." She whispered. Harry smiled.
This time, she was the one to kiss him. Harry kissed her back, cupping her cheek with his hand.

"I love you too, love." He whispered against her lips. When they broke the kiss, Ashley sat up and snuggled close to Harry.

"Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Were you talking about me the other day?"

"Guess??"

"Harry, stop being chicken shit and answer me."

Harry mumbled a swear word. Ashley giggled.

"Tell me please." She said innocently.

"Yep."

"Harry?"

"Hmmm..mmm"

"I'm scared."

"Of?"

"Malfoy and Ginny."

"Huh?"

"Yes." Ashley said looking into his eyes.

"I don't see anything to be scared of, Ashley." Harry said running his hand thru his hair. "I don't care what or how Malfoy reacts.." he said sighing slightly. Ashley nodded as he got to his feet and pulled her up forcefully so that she dashed onto his chest. She looked up and smiled up at him. Ashley laid her head against his chest, and it felt good. He stroked her hair and back slowly.

"Say you'll never leave my side." She whispered.

"I promise." Harry said as they set off towards the castle in hand in hand and the sun set on the horizon.

This one was short one but the next one is humorous!

PLEASE R&R