Scarlet Kisses

Chapter Three – Confront

[Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.]

After the sad day of Fred's funeral, Harry sat wondering what he had done for Ginny to ignore him. Sure, he did break up with her and left to go on his quest, but she didn't despise him that much, or did she? That was the question that was constantly buzzing around his head. It just had to be deeper than that! She said it was okay when they had broken up, but the she could be just saying that to make Harry better about himself. He wanted to help her, he really did. But he couldn't if they couldn't if they couldn't spend more than five minutes in the same room if Ginny keeps on walking out.

Outside and underneath their tree (Harry's and Ginny's) is where you would find Harry Potter. Most of the funerals have been so the clean-up of Hogwarts can begin. The goal is to finish cleaning up the school before the new school year starts, as most of the students want to repeat the previous year and pass their NEWTs or OWLs, or just have classical Hogwarts experience, not have a Headmaster that was influenced by the Dark Lord and was still fighting for the Order in secret. Hermione, of course, was thrilled for this opportunity as she wanted to fulfill her duty of Head Girl and complete her education at Hogwarts.

Ron on the other hand is thrilled about the fact that Draco has been placed into a holding cell at Azkaban to have further questioning about his involvement with the Dark Lord. Ron was even more thrilled to learn that Draco's father has been given a life sentence to Azkaban. 'That should teach them who's superior.' Ron would always boast. Hermione would always turn around and say something like: 'Ronald! How can you say that?' Then Ron would revisit all the times that Draco had called her Mudblood and teased her about her, his and Harry's blood status. Normally it would turn into a debate that Harry could never stop.

During those times Harry would slip out of the room unnoticed and go for a walk with his thoughts always drifting back to Ginny. This is how Harry found himself in front of their tree with most of the leaves creating puddles around him. Puddles of red, yellow, orange and brown. It was truly beautiful, but Ginny could beat this any day, in Harry's mind that is.

Ginny on the other hand still stayed in the abandon classroom. Ginny has recently sent a letter to Gringotts to have an appointment to empty her vault. She desperately wanted to get out of England and on the way to France. Ginny had to admit that after the confrontation with Harry before Fred's funeral was awkward and made her remember who to talk to people and to realise that she has to talk to people. She just cannot not talk when she sees people.

Ginny sometimes think that her and Harry are living like the famous muggle star-crossed lovers: Romeo and Juliet. No matter how hard they try and get together there is always something in the way. At first it was that Harry only saw her as a fangirl, and only thinks about kissing Harry. Secondly Cho, after Cedric died Cho was trying to use Harry as a way to get over Cedric and Harry was too blind and in 'love' to see it. When they did get together their time was short because of the war and Harry wanted to keep Ginny safe. Now both Ginny and Harry have shut everyone out for their own reasons. And it's Ginny's reason why they cannot be together. It's not like everyone would like to be with you after they know what you have done. Ginny bitterly thought to herself.

Ginny's thoughts were soon broken as she had heard scratching on the window. Ginny carefully got up, because she realised that it was an owl. Ginny opened the window, she was soon greeted by a chilly autumn breeze and an eagle owl with a letter attached to its leg. Ginny removed the letter from the owl's leg. The owl in return cocked its head to the side like it was asking for a treat.

'Sorry I don't have anything you can eat,' Ginny said quietly to the owl. The owl hooted as it wanted some kind of payment. 'Fine, you may come in.'

Ginny opened the window wider and the owl flew in and around the room until it came to a stop and perched on the frame of Ginny's transfigured bed. Ginny closed the window and steadily made her way to her bed to sit and read the letter. As soon as Ginny sat down she turned the letter around to see a green wax seal. A rush of excitement came through Ginny as she realised that it was from Gringotts.

Miss Weasley,

We accept your offer on emptying your vault. We would like and need Mr or Mrs Weasley to accompany to Gringotts when you empty you vault. This is just to confirm your identity and to have your caregiver's approval as you are under the age of seventeen.

As of the appointment, we have an opening in two weeks. This is because of an incident we had with people entering vaults that are not theirs.

We hope to be hearing from you soon, Miss Weasley,

Yours Truthfully,

Frederick Charles,

Head Goblin at Gringotts.

Ginny smiled the only thing that was bad was the fact that she would need to wait at least two weeks until she can leave the country and carry on her life somewhere else. Though she couldn't tell her parents why she needed them to come with her. She could just say that she is going to Wizarding University. Which isn't a lie, she was going to attend a muggle university. She really didn't know what she was going to study but she is going to go to university. Maybe something cheap and easy like teaching or nursing.

Ginny had decided to go for a walk around the castle to clear her head. But never did she thought that Harry would be on the prowl close behind and actually looking for her.

Ginny was still on Harry's mind. He was still wondering what he had done to make Ginny avoid him like a contagious muggle disease. It's probably some stupid girl problem. Harry thought to himself as he walked around the castle.

Harry turned a corner to see a flash of long orange hair. It was Ginny. Maybe today won't be so bad. Harry thought to himself as he walked quicker so he doesn't lose Ginny again.

'Ginny!' Harry calls out as he was about three metres behind her.

'Harry!' Ginny says in shock as she turned around to greet him.

'Where have you been?' Harry questioned her.

'Oh, you know around.' Ginny replied as she looked at the ground. The awkward tension in the corridor was filling up like a balloon.

'Define "around".' Harry asked.

That caught Ginny of guard she couldn't possibly say that she had been hiding in an abandoned charms classroom. 'Um, yah know… the girls dorms.' Ginny quickly said.

'Oh right.' Harry said as he was suddenly interested in the floor. 'Would you like to go for a walk?'

'Sure, I don't see why not.' Ginny replied unsure of herself.

The lovebirds walked around the castle and were sharing things about what happened. As they were walking around the castle, they bumped into numerous people: Professor McGonagall, Luna and Neville, Susan Bones, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley. All in which gave them massive smiles and bided them a good day.

'Let me get this straight, you were both Quidditch captain and Head Girl.' Harry said with his eyes wide open.

'Well yeah,' Ginny said. 'You see after you and Hermione and Ron left, naturally I went to be Quidditch captain because I was the one person that more experience playing Quidditch,' Ginny said as she started to explain.

'How did you get Head Girl then? Especially with Snape as Headmaster?' Harry questioned.

'McGonagall managed to twist a few things for me to be Head Girl.' Ginny said.

'Good old McGonagall.' Harry laughed, and soon Ginny had joined into.

The duo continued to walk around and was soon standing outside and underneath their tree. Harry lay back on the tree and then slid down and sat on the leaves that were gathered at the base of the tree.

'Sit.' Harry said.

Ginny followed Harry's request and slid down the tree and sat on the same pile of leaves. A gentle breeze came through the grounds and rattled the non-existent leaves and the branches of the tree. The wind picked up all of the leaves at were scattered around the ground and blew them everywhere. Harry felt the awkward tension disappear with the wind so he decided to place an arm around Ginny. Ginny flinched at first but slowly snuggled into Harry's shoulder.

Their peace wasn't kept for long as Hermione came running out.

'Harry! Ginny!' Hermione called out. Both Ginny and Harry turned their heads to their friend who was slowly coming closer to the tree.

Harry was a little angry with Hermione with her interrupting their peace and quiet. When Hermione finally arrived she was out of breath and looked very excited.

'Guess what!' Hermione exclaimed once she had caught her breathe back.

'What?' Ginny and Harry said at the same time and looked at each other and started to laugh.

'Kingsley said that I can go over to Australia and find my parents!' Hermione exclaimed excitedly.

'Wow! This is great news!' Ginny exclaimed as he got up to give her friend a hug.

'Yeah I'm quite excited.' Hermione said smiling. 'Well I'll leave you to lovebirds to carry on talking.' Hermione said as she walked away.

Ginny took her place next to Harry and smiled brightly at him.

'Aren't you excited?' Ginny questioned.

'Um yeah.' Harry said in an unconvinced voice.

'Why aren't you happy?' Ginny said turning right around to see Harry.

'I'm thrilled that she can go and find her parents,' Harry stated. 'But why have you been avoiding me.'

'Reasons.' Ginny said looking at her lap.

'Reasons!?' Harry exclaimed.

'Well yeah, I can't exactly tell you.' Ginny mumbled into her lap.

Harry considered Ginny's response. The war did change everyone, and Ginny is included in that everyone.

'I'll give you all the time you need, but I'm not dropping this.' Harry said.

Ginny smiled sadly. Ha, you're never going to find out. Ginny thinks to herself. Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny and pulled her into him once more. The pair sat in the sun admiring the beautiful day.

Harry sat in the Gryffindor year seven boys dorm, most people were down in the Great Hall eating dinner, but Harry was sitting on his bed with a dinner plate abandon, which one of the elves had brought up. Roast chicken and mix vegetables must be one of the dinner options tonight. Harry thought as he looked over at his dinner plate which still had some chicken and gravy on the plate.

Harry soon heard people coming running up the stairs and burst into the room and started talking about Quidditch. Harry remembers that late night conversations him and everyone in his dorm would have every time there was a Quidditch game on at school. Most of the time they would be ranting on how Slytherin's are dirty cheats and shouldn't ever step foot onto the pitch again.

'We should have a friendly game of Quidditch.' Ron said breaking Harry out of this thoughts.

'Yeah I know what you mean, everyone seems down and maybe a game might make everyone a little happier.' Dean said.

'Yeah what do yah say Harry?' Ron said and he patted Harry on the shoulder. 'Wanna play seeker for us?'

'Sure! I don't see the problem.' Harry said.

'Then it's settled then, now we just need to find more players.' Ron said smiling brightly.

On the other side of school Ginny sat at a desk writing many letters, a reply to Gringotts, a request to leave the country for the Minister of Magic, a letter of application to the University of France and a few other minor letters to many other people.

'The sooner I'm out of here the better.'

Author's Note: I'm not sure if I'm dragging out too long. I'm wondering if I just need to get Ginny out of England and into France? I'm sorry that this update took so long. I hope you're all well.

-Ashley