Chapter Nine

Blowing Off Steam

Ginny was not speaking to him, verbally or through their bond; privately Harry was relieved he was getting some time to think before the inevitable argument that would be had later. He sighed slightly and rubbed his eyes, it wasn't really his fault. Mrs Weasley had determined that Ginny would be in her response group, as would Hermione; this left Harry and Ron to find another two people to join their group; Tonks had staked her claim to Harry and Ron before the Order had even risen from the table. Was it really his fault that his ex-girlfriend also staked a claim? No, it was not. He couldn't refuse her offer without causing suspicion, and so, Cho had joined their group, closely followed by one of the new witches, Iris.

Harry found himself gazing across their coffee table over to Iris. After the meeting she had told him of her gift, at first he had tried to hide his laughter behind a cough; he had a met few seers during his time in the magical world and all of them were fakes reading cards and tea leaves. But after telling Ron to stand up just before his chair leg had given out, he had begun to believe her, slightly. As though she knew he was thinking about her, Iris turned her extraordinary violet eyes open him and tilted her head slightly gazing at him curiously.

'What do you think, Harry?' a wind-chime voice on his left side said breaking his and Iris's gaze.

'Sorry?' he asked turning from the blonde to the brunette beside him.

'About having partners for the response team?' Cho said again crinkling her brows at him. 'We have just been through this Harry.'

'Sorry,' he said, leaning back in his chair, 'could you go through it again?'

Cho's eyes flashed dangerously and she took in a deep shaky breath.

'Certainly, anything for you Harry,' she said with a smile. Tonks mimed throwing up behind her back. 'Okay look, Ron and Iris are stationed here, Tonks here, and the two of us here,' Cho pointed out the different stations on the blue map before them, 'we can rotate on the hour, that way nobody will think it odd that the same two people are in the same place for too long. Also a guy is with a girl in each of the partners, less susceptible for kidnap. It will also give the appearance of neither being available and will prevent Muggle encounters to a point'

'It sounds rather solid to me mate,' Ron said who was also inspecting the blue print.

'Agreed, you've done well Cho,' Tonks complimented.

'Thank-you,' Cho blushed. 'Iris? What do you think?'

The group looked at Iris and Harry was surprised to see her sat with her eyes tightly shut, he spared a bewildered look with Ron before a soft moan turned his attention back to Iris. Her violet eyes opened and though somewhat bloodshot, they sparkled.

'I can not foresee any dangers with this plan. It shall work,' she said with certainty.

'Did you just have a vision?' Tonks asked intently.

Iris nodded wearily.

'Bloody hell!' Ron exclaimed. Iris smiled slightly at him.

'Did you think me a fake?' she asked in her strangely distant voice.

'Well, no, not, not really-' Harry kicked his leg under the table, 'OW!' he roared. Iris giggled behind her hand and Ron instantly softened at the sound.

'Well if a seer says there is nothing wrong with the plan then I think we should go ahead. Agreed?' Cho asked glancing around the group. They all nodded, Harry rather reluctantly. He did not like the idea of being paired with Cho on an hourly basis and he dreaded what Ginny was going to say on the matter.

'It's a fool proof plan Harry,' Cho said as she rose from her chair to report their plan to Kingsly. Before she left she bent and planted a soft kiss upon Harry's shocked cheek, 'promise', she whispered into his ear. Then she turned and sashayed off to find Kingsly. He couldn't help it, he found himself leaning forwards in his chair to follow her ass with his eyes until she rounded the corner. Ron gave a low whistle from next to him, Harry turned to look at him and was surprised to see Ron also leant forwards in his chair to watch her go.

'Don't let her go again Harry,' Ron murmured, 'at least not until you've got inside her.'

'Ronald Weasley!' Tonks shouted in shock from where she had been inspecting Iris's eyes. The two of them jumped somewhat guiltily. 'You cannot talk about women like that! Especially when they can hear you!'

'Sorry Tonks,' Ron mumbled.

'Iris why don't you go lie down for a moment.' Tonks said softly to her. Iris nodded and rose from her chair before silently leaving the room.

'Okay you two, listen up,' Tonks said sternly, Harry prepared himself for a lecture, 'I don't give a shit about how you talk about girls.'

Harry and Ron looked up at her surprised.

'But you just gave us the riot act about it,' Ron said bewildered.

'For Iris's sake,' Tonks said in exasperation, 'she likes you Ron, do you want her to think you're a sex driven moron? Talk about girls how you want; just don't let them hear you. Got it?'

'Why are you so easy about this sort of stuff?' Harry asked suspiciously.

'Harry, I am an Auror, there are two other female Aurors in the division, I have heard it all, but that doesn't mean every women is as easy going as me, kapeesh?'

Harry and Ron nodded and settled back into their chairs.

'And, Harry?' Tonks said as she began to leave the room.

'Yeah Tonks?' he asked.

'Ron's right, don't let her go this time round. Everyone needs a way to let off steam,' she winked and left the room.

'Do you think she's right?' Harry asked Ron immediately. Ron slid further down in his chair and put his hands behind his head.

'Yeah mate, I think she is. I mean you're the 'effing Chosen One, your now part of the Order, we have a day of actual torture every day and you have a b-e-autiful woman practically opening her legs for you at every opportunity she has. My advice. Take her up on it.'

'What about Ginny though?' he asked Ron.

Ron debated the question for a moment before leaning forwards onto his knees.

'Look Harry, you and Ginny are over. I hate to say it 'cause she's my baby sister, but you two can't keep mooning after each other. It isn't healthy. Take it from someone who knows.'

'What do you mean?' Harry said confused.

Ron looked at him for a second.

'Come on mate, you know I've fancied the robes of Hermione for years. It was driving me crazy, especially with the whole Krum faze. So I found someone that offered a way to blow of steam for me like Cho will for you; you don't have to have a real relationship, Lavender and I didn't. Hell I was even with her mate Parvarti once.'

'Wait, you and Parvarti?' Harry asked, Cho forgotten momentarily.

'Well, yeah. You know how close she and Lavender are, if you get me?' Ron raised one eyebrow and grinned wickedly at him.

'When did this happen?' he exclaimed laughing slightly.

'The night before you and Dumbledore went to the cave, I didn't get around to telling you for obvious reasons.' Ron said looking down at his hands. There was a brief silence before Harry decided to refuse being said,

'So, what were the like?' he said gazing at Ron expectantly.

'Honestly? Lavender was pretty shit; she kept calling me Won-Won the whole time, which was a big turn off.' Ron scowled whilst Harry roared with laughter.

'And Parvarti?' he asked when his laughter had died down enough to string together a brief sentence.

'Parvarti,' Ron sighed gazing up at the ceiling with a small smile upon his lips, 'Parvarti was something else mate.'

'Well congrats mate, least one of us has gotten far enough to have that smile.' Harry murmured.

'Wait,' Ron said holding up his hands, 'you and Ginny didn't...' Ron made a strange hand movement with his hands.

'Nope,' Harry said ruefully.

'Never?' Ron exclaimed.

'Never,' Harry replied.

'Well in that case you definitely need to take Cho up on her offer and get sorted out mate. And thanks for not popping my baby sisters cherry mate.' Ron said smiling at him slightly.

'No worries.'

Harry looked over at Ron and fidgeted slightly with his wand. Ron watched him.

'Just ask Harry,' Ron said impatiently.

'Alright, do you have any tips?' Harry asked reluctantly.

'Okay, tip number one-'

CRASH!

Harry and Ron jumped out of their chairs with their wands raised ready to strike at the flaming tornado that stood in the doorway.

'Merlin, Ginny!' Ron shouted, 'what was that for?'

'I want to talk to Harry,' Ginny said through gritted teeth, 'alone.'

Ron looked at Harry who nodded his agreement.

'Whatever,' Ron said lowering his wand, 'I'm gonna go and find Parvarti,' he winked at Harry who had to bite back a smile. 'Later Harry.'

Ginny slammed the door on his retreating back.

'Muffialto,' she muttered before turning on Harry.

'What. The. FUCK. Do you think your doing?' Ginny screamed at him.

'I haven't done fuck all Ginny!'

'Oh really?' she said sarcastically, 'so did I imagine you allowing the Scottish slut into your little group?'

'I had to, you know I did. What did you expect me to say?'

'Tell her to fuck off!' she yelled.

'I CAN'T Ginny! I have NO reason to! Unless you WANT everyone to know about us!' he shouted,

'Maybe I do!' she shouted back.

Harry roared in frustration and he saw her flinch slightly at the anger he projected about the room.

'Don't be such a child! You know it isn't possible! We agreed to tell no one!'

'Don't call me a child!' the air around her crackled slightly.

'As usual you try to start another argument when you know your losing the first!' he laughed at her, which he realised was not a good idea as he ducked to prevent the vase she had thrown at him from knocking him unconscious.

'What about your little conversation you had with my darling brother just now?' she demanded, 'what do you have to say about that? Before you lie, know I was listening to everything you were saying.'

'I was continuing the pretence that we aren't together! It wouldn't be normal for me to not be interested in Cho, especially with all the hints she has been dropping my way!'

'Of course it wouldn't Harry, please, sleep with the slut to avoid our relationship being outed won't you?'

'You know I wouldn't sleep with her.' Harry said in exasperation.

'Wouldn't you? Because I am obviously not allowing you to blow of enough steam.' She spat.

'Ginny-' he began.

'No, I don't want to hear it. I don't want to even look at you right now. Just leave, and don't come see me, I don't want you too.' She pointed her finger shakily at the door.

'Are you breaking up with me?' he asked brokenly.

'Just leave me Harry,' Ginny whispered.

She is, he thought. Why Ginny?

She didn't answer him.

'Don't try talk in my head, I won't hear you. I've figured a way to block you from my mind.'

'Why Ginny?' he asked aloud.

'I need time to deal with everything I have just learned Harry. Give me some time.' She pleaded, 'now leave.'

He left.

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As he was walking up the stairs he felt anger at Ginny worse than he had ever felt. They were broken up because he had protected their relationship.

I don't understand women, he thought furiously punching his fist into the hallway wall. What did she want me to do? She was acting as though hiding our relationship is the wrong thing, she can't have it one way and then just change your mind when you feel like it and blame it all on him. As though he didn't have enough to be thinking about.

Two horcruxes down, five to go. The cup, the locket, and three others; that could be anywhere. The orphanage wouldn't hold anything, neither would Albania. Perhaps, no, that wouldn't be right.

'Harry?' a voice said to his right interrupting his thoughts. He looked up and was surprised to find himself on the third floor.

'Harry?' the voice said again, this time he turned to it and found Cho gazing through a crack in her door, 'would you come in here for a moment?'

'Err, I'm not sure that would be a good idea Cho,' he said ruffling his hair. Cho bit her lip slightly and he felt a tightening in his boxers.

'Please Harry.' She begged.

Why not. Harry thought.

'Sure,' he said and walked into her room as he did he noticed she was only wearing a black silk robe with a hot pink sash.

As she shut the door and turned around, the pink sash loosened and the black robe opened to reveal a black thong and bra. He gulped as her intentions became clear.

'I want you Harry, and I know you want me. So, why don't we do something about it?'

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