Chapter Thirteen

Pact of Two Friends

When the darkness overcame Ginny, Harry quickly pulled his thoughts from hers to avoid being pulled down with her. When he pulled his mind from hers she shuddered and closed her eyes tightly, her hands clenching the bed sheets.

'What's happening?' Harry asked Hermione quickly.

'Nothing, Harry its fine.' Hermione replied, waving her wand across Ginny's body.

'What are you doing?'

'Im beginning the incantation.' Hermione said softly, her head bent over Ginny's now sleeping form.

She began muttering incantations under her breath; most which Ron had never heard of before, with such intensity that it caused chills up his arms. Hermione paused every now and then to catch her breath, whilst he and Harry waited with baited breath. She suddenly stopped and looked up at them.

'This is the last part of the spell; once it is spoken I will no longer hear you. I am going into the deepest parts of Ginny's mind and I cannot be distracted for any reason.' She smiled at them both slightly, 'we will be fine. Just give us time.'

Turning back to Ginny she pushed back her robes and placed one hand on Ginny's forehead and the second upon her forearm.

'Aperire,' she spoke.

The effect was instanteneous. A deep purple light began to pulsate from Hermione's fingers slowly entwining itself over her fingers, up her arms until the light seemed to be apart of her and Ginny, connecting them in a deep bond.

Harry and Ron exchanged a look before Ron hesitantly said Hermione's name; to no effect.

'Well that must mean it's working,' Harry said, trying to see Hermione's face which was hidden by her bushy hair.

'So what do we do now then?' Ron asked.

'We wait.' Harry replied.

Ron sighed and sank down the wall folding his arms over his knees. Harry remained beside Ginny staring into her face trying to assess what she was feeling; it felt odd to have to use the mere skills of an ordinary man to define her feelings.

Ron stared across the room at his best friend wondering. Since when does one's best friend have such interest in his little sister? Even if she was an Ex. Something was going on, he surmised. Harry, unthinking, tucked a lock of Ginny's hair behind her hair his hand lingering upon it slightly. Something was definitly going on, Ron decided.

'Harry,' Ron said breaking the thirty minuite silence, 'what's going on with you and my sister?' Harry's head snapped up, instantly on the defensive.

'Nothing.' He said defiantly.

Ron simply looked at him with his eyebrow slightly raised.

'Nothing is going on Ron,' Harry repeated. 'We are just friends.'

Ron continued to stare him down, it was not often he could make Harry squirm and he was going to get the truth for the first time in four months.

Suddenly a low moan came from Ginny's lips and Harry whirled back around to crouch beside her, his face almost touching hers.

'Just friends, sure,' Ron said dryly, 'I'm pretty sure when I've been unconsious you haven't looked like you want to kiss me.'

'How do you know?' Harry asked, biting back a small smile, 'you would have been unconsious.'

'True,' Ron said slightly rueful.

There was a moments silence where Ron wacthed Harry absently stroke Ginny's hand. Sighing he pushed himself up from the wall and cracked his neck working out the kinks.

'Look Harry, if you don't want to tell me, that's your call. But just remember that out of anyone, Hermione and I would never betray you. Never.' He sat down heavily on the bed gazing at Hermione's bent head sadly.

'I love Hermione you know.' He told Harry softly. 'Always have.'

'Mate I know you fancy the robes off her,' Harry said still gazing at Ginny's silent form.

'No Harry, fancying someone is different. I love her mate, as in want to marry her, love her,' Ron said, it felt good to say it aloud.

'You want to marry her?' Harry asked, dragging his eyes away from Ginny to look at his best friend in a new light, 'I didn't know you had it that bad.'

'Well I do,' Ron said suddenly embarrassed, 'and I know that's how you feel about Ginny. Just say it.'

Harry bowed his head.

'Mate I know you love her. Just say it so I'm not the only lovesick puppy in here.'

'Fine.' Harry said raising his head, 'I love her, more than anything in the world. Which is why I can't lose her.'

'Why would you lose her?' Ron asked tilting his head slightly and gazing at him quizzically.

'Voldemort.' Harry replied, 'that's why nobody can know. It would be a danger to all of us if he found out.'

'Well he won't find out, you have my word on it.' Ron said seriously. Harry nodded in reply.

A few more moments passed where Ron carefully re-counted the past months putting a few pieces together. It was so obvious now.

'You're fucking aren't you?' he demanded.

'What?' Harry exclaimed dropping Ginny's hand on the bed in shock.

'You heard me,' Ron briskily stated, 'you are, aren't you?'

'No! We are not fucking!' Harry declared.

'Well you're doing something aren't you?' Ron asked shrewdly.

'Nope, nothing mate.' Harry said biting his gums.

'Sure, the blush on your neck says otherwise.' Ron nodded at his neck, which slowly began to darken his cheeks.

'Mate, I'm happy for you. I'm not to chuffed it's my baby sister, but, I know you won't hurt her. People should be with who they love.' Ron said, laying back on the bed and staring up at the ceiling. Harry, face still flaming looked at Ron from across the room, then glanced at Hermione's head before returning to Ron.

'You and Hermione are fucking, aren't you?' he asked bluntly. Judging from the broad grin which stretched across Ron's freckled face he guessed his assumption was correct. 'So what was all that about Parvarti the other day then?'

'A cover mate. Just like Cho was yours?' Ron replied, still grinning stupidly, 'Hermione didn't want anyone to know. She said it could cause problems with Hart, that we could be a hazard to our team. But now I know you and Ginny are in the same boat I can concentrate on protecting Hermione first.'

'Thanks mate,' Harry said dryly.

They both turned their attention back to the silent girls surrounded by the purple pulsating light.

'I hope their alright in Ginny's head.' Ron said worriedly.

'I've survived in there before, metaphotoically of course.' Harry replied.

Ron rose and sat at Ginny's feet staring at Hermione's face.

'Can we keep this between us mate?'

'The intrusion of Ginny's mind or your love life?' Harry asked.

'Both, the secrecy of them both is rather profound don't you agree?' Ron replied.

'Profound?' Harry repeated, 'that's a big word for you, especially at this time of night.'

'What can i say? Hermione's rubbing off on me.' Ron smiled.

'In more ways than one.' Harry smirked.

Ron laughed and nodded.

'I agree though, lets keep this quiete.' Harry said.

Ron winked in reply.

'It's a pact.'

HHHHhhhhh

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Short and sweet.

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