Not Mine JKR's

Bad Press.

The weeks began to fly pass, Harry's time was filled with Quidditch practise, prefect duties, and mountains of homework. It was the sheer volume of homework that only ever caused Harry to doubt whether he should have come back to Hogwarts. He could have been sitting about at home living off his money and not doing a lot. He had been sitting at his desk at the time, not working on a particularly boring potions essay, while torrents of rain lashed at the window. It had had been very easy to dream of soaking up the sun on a Caribbean island at the time. Hermione of course ruined that image, when he mentioned it by telling him that it was hurricane season out there at the moment.

"Good morning Harry," Hermione said from behind her copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Morning Hermione," Harry said stifling a yawn.

"Everything go all right on patrol last night.

"Yea it much the same as usually. We ran into Filch, who tried yet again to put Ginny into detention for being out of bounds. He's such twisted git."

"What did you do," Ron asked as he loaded his plate to overflowing.

"I lost my temper with him this time. I threatened to turn him into a toad, and send him to his girlfriend Umbridge in a very small box if he ever spoke to either of us like that again."

"You know if he wasn't a Squib he'd have been a Death Eater," Ron said.

"I'm quite sure he would have been," Harry answered.

"Be fair you two, it can't be easy being a Squib in the Wizarding World," Hermione said. Harry knew she was comparing her life as a witch in the muggle world.

"My old neighbour Mrs Figg is a Squib, and she didn't turn out to be an evil swine," Harry said. "Slightly nuts I'll give you, but that's all. Filch chose to work in a school of magic as a caretaker."

"I love the way you always support a lost cause," Ron said smiling at Hermione.

"Speaking of lost causes," Harry said before his friends started an argument. "We caught the Widdick twins again last night."

"How many times does that make it now?" Hermione asked frowning.

"Three times for us, and last time I heard just the once for you two."

"Hey you have an advantage with that map of yours," Ron said.

"It's not a competition," Hermione said.

"We don't use the map," Harry said.

"Why not?" she asked.

"We felt it would be going against its maker's original intent, and we wanted to honour that."

"Quite right," Ron said, "and there'd be hell to pay if Fred and George ever found out that it was being used for up holding law and order."

"Well ok I suppose I can understand that," Hermione said grudgingly. "What are we going to do with those two? Detentions don't seem to work, and they seem to be out two or three times a week." Far more than that Harry thought, remembering the number of times he had seen them on the map, but he said nothing.

"They don't seem to be very good at avoiding trouble," Ron said.

"Well they don't have the advantages that we had," Harry said.

"That's true it's a lot easier to sneak about with the map, and an invisibility cloak," Ron said turning his attention back to the mountain of food on his plate.

"Nothing else to report then?" Hermione asked.

"No, apart from Peeves making unwanted advances on Ginny again. He's taken a real shine to her. You wouldn't believe some of the lyrics he sings at her. I'm sure one night Ginny's going to die laughing, and don't ask me to repeat any of them. There are young ears around."

"He's only doing it because she's married to you. By the way where is she?"

"She had to drop off a book at the library, but something is getting her angry."

"Can you tell what?" Hermione asked.

"No, but I don't think it's any of us."

"How can you tell?"

"She's trying to keep control. I don't think she'd bother if it was something one of us had done." Ron mumbled something that Harry took to be agreement.

"Well we'll have to wait and see," Hermione said. "Still there's one piece of good news for you Harry the Prophet has finally agreed a price for its shareholders, looks like you've made a bit of money." Harry just shrugged he wasn't all that bothered about the money, and he didn't like discussing it in front of his friends. "They still don't say who the buyer is though, strange that."

"They just want to keep out of the limelight." Harry could sympathise with that.

"Well they shouldn't expect that. People are influenced by what they read. You should know that better than anybody, so it's vital we know who's pushing what agenda and why. Especially considering what they're writing about today." The look on her face made Harry's stomach sink.

"Tell me the worse."

"Well you know they made that idiot Quinton Wriggleswort Minister of Magic last week." Harry wasn't sure he was ever going to forget. Hermione had gone on for most of last week about him. The fact that he had been head of the department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures had not endeared him in her eyes. As far as Hermione was concerned he was solely responsible for sentencing Buckbeak to death.

"Yea I remember," he said hoping they weren't going to have to go through all that again.

"Well he wants to launch an investigation into what actually killed Riddle and Snape."

"That's stupid I told them what happened."

"I know Harry. You don't have to shout at me."

"Sorry, but what are they trying to prove. They've both been dead for months."

"Well it says they've kept the bodies for study at the Department of Mysteries."

"Gross," Ron said before shoving in another forkful of crispy bacon.

"Why?"

"They want to find out why he didn't die the first time he tried to kill you, and why he died this time."

"Ah, well that could be awkward, but I don't see how they could find anything out from their bodies."

"I expect he's just trying to ride along with your popularity in killing him, so it looks like he was actually involved in the whole thing," Ron said. Harry looked at him in amazement, Hermione was more vocal.

"Why Ron that's very perceptive of you. That sounds just like something a politician would do."

"Well whatever the reason I don't care. Let him play his silly games, it's not my problem. Anything else in that rag to spoil my day?"

"Not really it appears someone has destroyed another store in Diagon ally, no-one hurt. I think that makes a grand total of four now. It's not one of yours though."

"Well I hope they catch him soon, before someone is hurt or killed." Harry could tell that Hermione wanted to discuss it further, but the anger he was feeling from Ginny was starting to distract him.

"There's Ginny, and boy does she look mad!" Ron said his eyes widening. Harry turned his head and saw her enter the great hall pursued by a large well built boy with long flowing blonde locks. Harry supposed that most girls would find him attractive, but Harry's first thought was that he looked like a complete ponce.

"I don't think I should see what's going to happen next," Hermione said lifting her copy of the Prophet so high she disappeared from view. Harry looked up at the teachers table to see who was in having breakfast. To his relief McGonagall wasn't there. However he did see three professors in a little group, Kittleson, Rossi, and most worryingly of all Urquhart. He would be the one to intervene first, Harry was sure of that.

"Who is that prat?" Harry asked.

"He's a sixth year Hufflepuff called Travis Breedlove," Hermione's muffled voice said. "According to the girls who care about that sort of thing, he's the current Hunk of Hogwarts, and he knows it."

"Mental girls," Ron said. "Why isn't Harry the Hunk, hey that as a nice ring to it."

"Because everybody knows he's off the market."

"What and Ginny isn't?" Ron said. Hermione didn't reply because they could now hear both of them.

"Come on Ginny you know you really want to. There's no need to play hard to get," Breedlove said running his fingers through his hair a vacant sort of grin on his face. Ginny stopped walking away, closed her eyes took a deep breath, and turned around to face him, her back towards Harry.

"Look Breedlove I've done my best to be polite. I realise that you've not been blessed with a great deal of the grey matter, but if you don't piss off now you re going to be in some serious pain." She might as well have saved her breath for all the notice he took of her.

"We'd have a great time you and me. We're made for each other. We famous people should stick together."

"Is he truly that thick?" Harry said.

"He must be," Ron answered. "Maybe you should intervene."

"No we promised each other we wouldn't, or at least not until wands were drawn," Harry answered still watching the scene unfold. He thought that he should be angry at Breedlove, but frankly he was bemused by the whole thing. He knew where he stood with Ginny.

"Since when have you been famous," Ginny said a little too loudly making more heads turn their way.

"Well I can't really talk about it in public, but I was working for the Ministry all last year in secret. You-Know-Who couldn't have been destroyed without my vital information. When you come with me to Hogsmeade I'll tell you all about it." Harry could tell the fool actually believed what he was saying. Even Hermione's head popped out from her paper a look of utter incredulity on her face.

Breedlove then made another mistake and attempted to grab Ginny's wrist, which she slapped away. Ginny drew her wand, and Hermione's face quickly disappeared again. Ron's mouth was hanging open in disbelief at the boy's foolishness. Having a rough idea at what was about to take place Harry thought as Head Boy he shouldn't witness the actual act. Everybody in the Hall by this time had all stopped eating, and were watching intently, including Harry saw the teachers on the top table. Urquhart instead of getting up to intervene though was leaning back in his chair his hands behind his head with a large grin on his face, obviously enjoying the sideshow.

"You are the sorriest excuse for a human being I have ever laid eyes on and that includes Voldemort and Snape." The use of the Dark Lords name had finally penetrated through Breedlove's thick skull. He realised that he was in trouble and he took a step back. "How dare you try a pick up line like that. While you were gazing at yourself in a mirror crimping your hair and picking your spots, brave men and women were dying fighting that monster." Ginny flicked her wand at him several times, and Harry saw him stagger back, and he crumpled to the floor hands clutched to his face.

With Ginny between him and the prone body, Harry couldn't see the complete results immediately, but he saw several huge bats fly up into the air and begin circling. Ginny turned around her face like thunder, and walked towards where Harry was sitting. All the students who had been watching the argument suddenly found their breakfast more interesting to look at, rather than risk catching Ginny's eye.

"Sit down and have some breakfast," Harry said winking at her, but Ginny's humour had yet to return. He patted the bench beside him encouraging her to sit down, which after a moment's hesitation she did.

"Eat something, it'll make you feel better," Harry said pushing a large plate of toast at her.

"Bloody git wouldn't leave me alone. Kept nagging me all the way back from the library, despite me telling him I was married. Do you know what he said next?" Harry shook his head not daring to interrupt. "He said it wasn't a real marriage. That it didn't count. He's got less brains than a Flobberworm, and what the hell was he doing near a library anyway. I'm surprised he even knew what one was, let alone walk into one." Ginny then stuffed a slice of toast in her mouth chewing violently, and still muttering under her breath, giving Harry the opportunity to see the results of her wand work.

The bats had vanished by now, giving him a clear view of the Flobberworm, which is how Harry now thought of him. Ginny hadn't been satisfied with just the Bat Bogey Hex his head was also covered in multi-coloured boils. His whole head, not just his face, as there was also a pile of blonde hair on the floor making him completely bald.

"Nasty," Harry said and got a glare from Ginny, "but well deserved," he quickly added, not wanting to become the second victim of the morning. The Flobberworm got to his feet slowly, and there was a loud round of laughter throughout the hall when those sitting further away could see the new improved Breedlove. Harry noticed that it came mostly from the male students, and the lower years. From the look of shock from most of the older girls he had been very popular. There was no accounting for taste he thought.

To Harry's surprise the Flobberworm, instead of slinking of quietly to lick his wounds, walked over towards them his cheery disposition a distant memory. Harry had quietly slipped his wand into his hand, but still kept it from view.

"Are you going to do anything about this Granger?" he snapped.

"Are you talking to me?" Hermione said lowering her paper her eyes narrowed, "because if you are I suggest you drop that tone of voice. I will not be spoken to like that by anybody." Harry slipped his hand onto Ginny's knee in an attempt to forestall any more wand work.

"Look at me. Look at what she's done to me!"

"Who's done what to you?"

"Weasley or Potter or whatever the hell she's called."

"Oh you mean Ginny," Hermione said icily. "What's the problem."

"What do you mean what's the problem look at me?"

"You look alright to me. I'm sure Madame Pomfrey can sort those spots out for you. The transition to adulthood is a very awkward time for a lot of people." Ron couldn't stop himself and burst out laughing, at what Hermione was saying. Harry was dumbfounded this was so un-Hermione. Ginny meanwhile was staring at her in disbelief.

"It's not bloody funny she hexed me, and you saw it."

"I didn't see anything, and don't swear. It's a sign of a lack of vocabulary and intelligence." Hermione then picked up her paper again, and disappeared behind it.

"You're meant to be Head Girl. You can't ignore this." Hermione turned a page, shook the paper, and made no sign that she had heard him.

"I'm Head Boy, and I didn't see anything either," Harry said. "I was looking the other way. Tell me do you know a Gilderoy Lockhart?" Ron burst out laughing again, and Hermione's paper began shaking.

"Yea he's my father's cousin." The Flobberworm looked totally confused at this change of subject.

"That explains so much."

"Well perhaps you could explain it to me then Mr Potter. What has been going on?" Professor McGonagall had appeared behind them. "And why is there a pile of hair on the floor?"

"I'll just get rid of that Professor," Harry said sending a small ball of fire from his wand which then incinerated it.

"Hey that was my hair," Breedlove said with a look of horror on his face.

"Mr Potter that could have been reattached," McGonagall said.

"Really, I didn't know you could do that," Harry replied knowing full well that the Headmistress knew he was lying.

"Well perhaps you know why Mr Breedlove," it was as though saying the name caused her pain, "is covered in boils and bald."

"I hexed him Professor," Ginny said turning round for the first time.

"Why?"

"Because the Flobberworm," Harry was sure he saw McGonagall's lips twitch, "wouldn't take no for an answer. What kind of idiot tries to ask me out repeatedly, claims he's famous, and that he's some kind of spy for the Ministry."

"That's no excuse for using magic Mrs Potter. Now please apologies to Mr Breedlove."

"Some people can't be reasoned with Professor, and I have no intention of apologising." McGonagall drew in a breath and sighed.

"In that case I'm forced to give you five days of detention with Professor Longbottom Mrs Potter, and twenty points from Gryffindor."

"Yes Professor," Ginny said with a straight face.

"You can't do that Longbottom's their friend. She won't get to do anything," Breedlove said.

"I am not in the habit of having my decisions questioned Mr Breedlove. You on the other hand will have five days detention with Madame Sprout, and if I hear another word from you it will be ten. Stupidity is not yet a criminal offence, but in your case I'm making an exception. Twenty points from Hufflepuff. Now go and see Madame Pomfrey." Finally engaging a few of his brain cells the Flobberworm left the Great Hall breakfast forgotten. "Now I expect a better example from my Head Boy and Girl, and a senior prefect. This was not the correct way to deal with…"

The Professor though was interrupted when a small brown owl suddenly swooped down, narrowly missing her head, and dropped an official looking letter in front of Harry. There was a distinctive logo on its front. A pair of crossed brooms interspaced with the four Quidditch balls.

"Blimey Harry it's from the England team," Ron said. "Maybe they want you to play for them again." Harry twirled the letter in his hand wondering what on earth they could be writing to him about.

"Well go on then Mr Potter open it," McGonagall said a hint of excitement on her face.

"They'd better not want you to play on the same day as the Slytherin match. If they do you'll have to turn them down Harry. You'll do that won't you?"

"Mr Weasley let him open the letter." A little nervously Harry ripped open the letter, and pulled two sheets of parchment out. The letter, itself was surprisingly brief.

Dear Mr Potter,

Please find enclosed the bill for your medical expenses that you incurred while playing for the England Quidditch team.

You are classed as an amateur player, which means the team's medical insurance does not cover you.

We would appreciate prompt payment on this outstanding bill as a great deal of time has past since these expenses were incurred.

Yours sincerely,

Marcel Wooderson.

Harry had to read the letter twice, and then checked it again for a sign that this wasn't a joke cooked up by Fred and George, but everything seemed genuine.

"What's it say Harry?" Ginny asked confused by his reaction to the letter. Harry passed the first piece of parchment over to her, and glanced at the second to see a figure in the bottom right corner of three hundred and seventy-two galleons and three Knuts.

"Those cheap bloody bastards!" Harry said loudly completely forgetting that he was in the Great hall and Professor McGonagall was standing right behind him.

"Mr Potter there's no need for that sort of language, ten points from Gryffindor. Now explain yourself." Ginny had already finished reading the letter, and Harry could feel that she was ready to explode again. So he careful pulled the offending parchment out of her hands, and wordlessly handed it over to McGonagall to read. Harry watched her face as she read it. Her lips tightened in displeasure, and her eyes glared in barely suppressed anger.

"Sorry about the language Professor," Harry said when she handed the parchment back, which was immediately snatched out of his hands by Hermione.

"Ten points to Gryffindor for unbelievable restraint Mr Potter," she replied.

"Don't you dare pay it Harry," Ginny said through gritted teeth.

"It's not worth the hassle Gin," Harry immediately knew he had said the wrong thing as a surge of anger washed through him from her.

"You bl…," she just caught herself, "pay them and you'll wish you were that dumb Flobberworm."

"Ok, ok I'll let you sort it out," Harry said handing her the bill with his finger tips.

"I'm going to send off a dozen Howlers."

"To who?"

"Anybody I can think of," Ginny said standing up. "I may be late for Transfiguration Professor." It was a sign of the Headmistress's own anger that she just nodded her head in silent agreement, and walked up to the teachers table for her breakfast. Ginny left in the other direction, bill in hand, students parting in her wake.

"Not a bad old stick is she?" Ron said after he had read the offensive letter.

"Well she does love her Quidditch," Harry answered.

"She has a soft spot for you as well Harry," Hermione said folding up her paper.

"She does not," Harry said feeling uncomfortable at the very thought.

"Course she does Harry," Ron added. "She just very good at hiding it."

"Do you think it's wise to let Ginny handle this?" Hermione asked.

"Nope."

"So why are you letting her?"

"Because I'm not stupid enough to try and stop her, and when it comes to standing up to Ginny I'm a complete coward."

"Don't be stupid Harry you're nothing of the sort," Hermione said.

"There's a fine line between stupidity and courage," Ron said, "and in this case Harry's being smart. Ginny will calm down in a month or two." Harry laughed.

"Well it doesn't matter one way or another to me. If she upsets a few twits in the Ministry I won't lose any sleep over it. Come on we'd better get ready for class."

XXXXX

"Come on in you four," Hagrid said once he opened the door to his cabin. All four of them were dripping wet from the horizontal rain they'd walked through to get there. "Get over by the fire and warm up."

"Thanks Hagrid," Hermione said using a drying charm on herself, and everybody else. For a few minutes the hut was full of wisps of steam until they were drawn up the chimney by the roaring fire.

"Great game of Quidditch this afternoon, although I nearly thought you weren't going to get the Snitch there 'arry for a moment," Hagrid said lifting his huge kettle off the fire, and pouring the boiling water into an equally large teapot.

"For a moment there so did I," Harry answered. "That second year Seeker bodes well for the future of the Slytherin team. She's completely fearless I can't image how she didn't get into Gryffindor."

"What's her name again? Hermione asked.

"Tara Hardy she told me she was muggleborn, and wanted to be a Quidditch player from the first time she got onto a broom."

"And then he starts to give her all sorts of tips. Right before the game!" Ron said clearly still upset at Harry's actions.

"She's only twelve Ron, and it's not like it would have made a difference to the result. We were a hundred and ninety points ahead."

"It would have been embarrassing for you Harry," Harry just shrugged at Ron's comment.

"What is with you these days Harry you just seem," Hermione paused. "You just seem, well what's the word for it? You just seem mellow. Nothing seems to rile you these days."

"I don't know there doesn't seem to be anything to get upset about anymore. It all seems to be a bit petty after Riddle. I've never been as happy as I am now," he said looking at Ginny the core of his happiness. She looked back at him with the half smile that always made his insides squirm.

"Well I don't want to rain on your parade 'arry, but I reckon all this nonsense in the paper about whether you or Ginny used an Unforgivable should give you cause for concern."

"Ah come on Hagrid it's all a storm in a teacup," Harry said gratefully receiving the large cup of tea Hagrid handed him, and sitting back in the huge armchair he was sharing with Ginny.

"I don't think you can pretend its all going to go away Harry." Hermione said, "There hasn't been a week when the papers haven't mentioned it. Endless people are writing letters about it."

"Oh come on, I'm not going to take any of those seriously. They range from leave me alone, to we're the new Dark Lord and Lady, and the World is about to end."

"Well I's known you for years Harry and I don't care whether you used an Unforgivable or not. That Riddle needed to be gotten rid of."

"We didn't use an Unforgivable Hagrid," Ginny said through clenched teeth. Harry could feel her anger growing again.

"Of course you didn't Ginny, I knows that. What's I'm trying to say is that thousands of people out there don't care if you did or not."

"Is that true Hermione?" Harry asked. "Has there been a single letter in the Prophet agreeing with Hagrid." Hermione looked uncomfortable at Harry's gaze, and shifted in her seat.

"No Harry there hasn't."

"That doesn't mean anything Harry. The stupid Prophet just hasn't bothered to print them," Ron said.

"Exactly Ron," Hagrid said. "Just about everybody that I've spoken to down the pub have all said it's a load of nonsense, and agree with me."

"But they know you're friends with me," Hagrid smiled at being called Harry's friend. "So they're not going to argue with you, are they?"

"I've never heard such poppycock in my life Harry. A couple of drinks is all anybody needs to start a good argument, and a couple of more to start a fight. I've argued with them all of them over the years about loads of different stuff, never got into a fight mind." The thought of anybody being so drunk they would try and pick a fight with Hagrid made them all laugh.

"Thanks for that Hagrid."

"You're welcome Harry everybody owes you lot a great deal. You've got more friends out there than you know."

"You could end the speculation if you wanted to," Hermione said.

"Oh yes?" Ginny snapped, her temper was never far below the surface these days.

"If you told the full story of went on between you Riddle, and Snape then they wouldn't have anywhere to take it," Hermione said ignoring the warning signs.

"You'd like that wouldn't you. You just want to wallow in the sordid details like every other bloody git, out there," Ginny yelled.

"That's out of order Ginny," Ron shouted back.

"Ginny if you and Harry just said what went on you'd both feel better about it."

"Feel better, feel better about it! You have no idea what you're talking about."

"It's well documented that if you share a trauma it lessens it," Hermione persisted. "You need to talk about it."

"Enough you two," Hagrid said, "we're all friends here."

"Well it doesn't feel like it to me," Ginny yelled at Hagrid, something she had never done before. "I'm sick of being told what to do, and what I should be feeling. You have no idea what that sick bastard did to us, to me. Do you have any idea what it feels like to have… forget it? It's none of your damn business." Ginny stood up suddenly, and in the process knocked Harry's cup out of his hand, which smashed as it hit the floor. She then stormed out of the hut slamming the door on the way out. The silence she left behind was deafening.

"I'd better go after her," Harry said eventually shocked at what had promised to be a pleasant evening turning so sour, so quickly. He hadn't reached the door before Hermione spoke.

"I'm sorry Harry I had bring it up. It needed to be said."

"I'm sure you think that."

"Her anger has been getting worse every day. You must have noticed."

"Of course I've bloody noticed. It's damn near impossible not to with this scar," Harry said pointing at his forearm, and then wrenching the door open. "You just don't know what you're asking of us."

The weather outside hadn't improved, in fact Harry thought it was probably getting worse. Within minutes he was soaked to the skin again, and if it wasn't for the water repelling charms on his glasses he would have been unable to see more than a few feet.

The gap between both of them leaving Hagrid's hut hadn't been long, but in that time Ginny had covered a good distance. Harry was forced into a slow jog so he could catch her up. The ground was saturated making the going difficult. He had no idea what he was going to say to Ginny when he did catch up. He just knew that he had to. Hermione meant well, she always did. It was that sometimes her execution was lacking in tack, and now he was going to have to deal with the consequences.

"Gin wait a moment," Harry said once he got within shouting distance. Ginny though ignored him and started walking faster. Realising that she wasn't going to stop Harry put on a spurt of speed to catch up with her. When he got level he stopped running and began to walk beside her, without saying anything. Ginny slowed the pace down her face looking down as they headed into the driving rain. She was soaked through, and her normally vibrate hair was hanging down in sodden handfuls.

"Even looking like a drowned rat you're still beautiful," Harry said breaking the silence.

"I don't want to talk about it Harry, not now not ever!"

"I know you don't, and I agree whole heartedly," Harry answered.

"You do!"

"I do," Harry said stretching out his hand half way across the gap between them. Ginny gave a side ways glance and took his hand into hers.

"Why does she have to know everything?"

"It's part of who she is my love. She means well. She's worried about you."

"She has a damn funny way of showing it."

"I know, but the intent is there. She wants to be involved, so she can come up with the solution. To be honest she usually does. Your anger has been getting worse, she's right about that."

"I know," she said in a small voice. They'd stopped walking now and were facing each other, the rain still slashing down. "I can't help it, the walls suddenly close in and all I want to do is lash out, and then I feel terrible about it which just makes me even angrier."

"What do you want me to do?" Harry said having no ideas of his own.

"I don't know," Ginny said with a look of desperation. "I don't know what to do." Ginny's face crumpled, and unbidden the tears streamed down her face mingling in with the rain. Harry enveloped her in his arms wanting to squeeze the unhappiness out of her. Her whole body shock as the raw emotion took control.

Harry had no idea how long they stood there in the wind and rain, but it was long enough for the cold to sink into his bones. Pulling his wand out he cast a shield charm lessening the amount of wind and rain they were buffeted with. He followed this with a warming and drying charm over them both, although it wasn't easy as Ginny was tucked in tightly into his chest unwilling to let go.

"Maybe you should talk to somebody about this," Harry said fearful of the reaction he was going to get.

"I don't want people to know. I don't want people making judgements or looking at me with pity."

"I wasn't meaning everybody my love. Is there someone other than me that you could talk to? You could swear them to secrecy, or make an Unbreakable vow if you really wanted to." Ginny looked up from his chest her eyes were red from crying, but the desperation that was there had gone.

"I don't know. Do you have an idea?"

"Well your dad…"

"No! Nor anybody else in the family."

"Professor Urquhart made an offer, but I don't know how much we can trust him. He says he has experience in this, but it's only his word that he has," Harry said. "Mind you I could get him checked out. Shacklebolt has the contacts."

"Well maybe," Ginny said but Harry could see that she wasn't convinced, "anybody else?"

"Well it's a little left field, and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but she has helped me in the past…"

"Luna you're talking about Luna," Ginny interrupted.

"Yea I know it's a stupid idea."

"No it isn't she could be the ideal person," Ginny said some of the sparkle returning to her eyes.

"Well think about it. I think of all the people I know she's the least likely to make any judgement," Harry said tenderly touching her cheek with his hand. "We'd better get out of this weather. I don't want to get a Howler from your mum for not looking after you." They both began walking back up to the castle.

"I'd send one right back," Ginny growled, "with interest."

"I believe you would to. In fact I think your mum would know that as well, so maybe I'm safe. You're always ready to defend me from your family, that's one of the reasons I love you, even though it's not needed."

"I don't understand why you love me Harry. I'm just another cry baby like Cho, and I know you hated that."

"I didn't hate it. I just didn't know how to handle it, that's all. I like to think I'm better at it now, besides you're the toughest girl I know, you're no cry baby."

"I'm the toughest!" Ginny said raising an eyebrow at him.

"In a good way," Harry added quickly.

"There's a good way?" Harry could see that a little mischief had returned to Ginny's mood, and after the emotional rollercoaster they had both been on he was glad. If that meant he had to suffer a little verbal humiliation he was more than happy to pay the price.

"You're mental tough."

"Not just mental then."

"Oh you're definitely that. Growing up with six brothers is bound to leave it's mark, especially when two of them are Fred and George."

"So why do you love me if I'm mental and damaged goods?" Harry never ceased to be amazed at how quickly girls could twist your words around, and Ginny was a past master at it when she wanted to.

"Do you know the real reason I love you. It's because you're just the right height, you make a great chin rest when we hug. I find it very relaxing."

"Oh well so long as it's for a good reason. I thought it might for my charm, bodily assets, or even my sense of humour."

"Nope definitely the chin rest," Harry said with a straight face.

"I suppose I'll have to settle for that then."

"How about a trip to the Prefects bathroom to get the chill out of our bones, and then you can show me these bodily assets you mentioned." Ginny didn't reply just gave him a sly grin and picked up the pace.