Chapter 24

"You're not seriously leaving the light side?" a familiar voice screeched. Harry sighed inwardly - it would have been too much to ask to avoid confrontation. Slowly, he turned to face Ginny, a sharp retort on his tongue. "I thought you loved me!"He stared at her, aghast, any response dying on his lips. What? When had he…oh crap. She was crying. "You traitor!"

"I…" he honestly didn't know what to say.

"Well. I can tell you Mr Harry Potter!" she sobbed, pointing a trembling, accusing finger at his chest. "If you love me you'll stay. You take one more step and don't accept to be welcomed back into Gryffindor ever again!"

He stared at her, completely bemused. Death Eater comments he could make sense of, anger at his 'betrayal', but this? What was this? Had he started dating the youngest Weasley without his own knowledge?

"Ginny!" The rest of the red headed clan present protested. Namely; Ron and the Twins.

"Fine," he said stiffly. "I'll have my trunk then." The banshee like wailing stopped, as Ginny stared incredulously. She obviously expected him to pine for forgiveness.

"You're dumping me?" she sniffed. They were never together! Had she taken to a confundus to the head or something? "Wow, that's really nice of you snake. Lead a girl on and then ditch her, just like you're ditching the light. The wizarding world needs you! How can you abandon them?"

"The wizarding world shouldn't get off their lazy asses instead of leaving everything to a fifteen year old then, shouldn't they?" he spat. "I'm sick of being used. I also don't believe I said anything about joining the dark side."

Her expression morphed to anger.

"Yeah, well it's obvious you will. How can you treat me like this? I've done everything for you! What, are you gay or something?" she shrieked. He blinked once. Then twice.

"Where the hell did that come from?" he demanded.

"HIM!" Ginny pointed hysterically at Tom. "You're always with him! You don't even look at me! I've never even see you express interest in a girl." Oh.

"I'm not gay!" he yelped. He glanced at Tom, who was staring at Ginny with his normal unreadable expression. Harry thought he could detect a hint of something there though - amusement? Horror? Annoyance? Surprise?

"Then why are you always with him? You're always trading stupid little glances and stuff! It's sick! He murdered your parents."Maybe it was all the stress catching up with him, but he couldn't help himself.

He started to laugh.

This was ridiculous. Out of all the consequences he had expected from his switch, this definitely wasn't one of them. Tom eyes flicked to him, then back at Ginny. A cruel smirk twisted his lips for a moment.

"Jealous, blood traitor?"

Harry's laughter abruptly stopped. Was this a joke? He glanced uncertainly at the Slytherin heir. Tom grinned at him.

"Are you?" he spluttered. "I mean…it's fine if you are, I just…"

Zevi seemed to take pity on him.

"Tom's straight. Don't worry about your virtues little lion, he's just messing with you."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. That would have just been weird.

"You've gone really quite red Harry," Tom noted evilly.

"I hate you."

"Oh, I'm wounded. I thought we had some…chemistry Harry! I thought you loved me!" Tom mimicked Ginny's gushing voice.

"Shut up."

"I could make toast on your cheeks."

"Never become a comedian. You're just not funny," he hissed. The tension in the room was abruptly draining away as everyone watched them with entertainment. Ginny looked peeved.

"He's joined the Dark Side and all you can do is smile, what are you people?" she screamed, glaring at everyone around her before storming out the great hall. Harry couldn't bring himself to care. All he could think and feel was shock and the horrible flames rising off his skin. He wanted to crawl in a hole, and die. Then the ground could eat him. He covered his face with his hands.

"That really is a spectacular red. Something you're not telling us?" Abraxas questioned innocently. That was the thing about being the only lion in a bunch of snakes - you got teased mercilessly.

"M not gay," he mumbled. "And I don't fancy Tom. He's an arrogant prat."

"They always say that there's a thin line between love and hate," Alphard remarked, sounding suspiciously like he was trying to stop laughing. Harry narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Will you guys cut it out?"

"But you're so cute when you blush," Tom cooed mockingly. "It's adorable."

That was it. His wand was out in a flash. The laughter stopped as his magic crackled.

"You have five seconds to run," he warned.

They exchanged looks, then muffling snickers, fled.

"I love you too Potter!"

"GO BURN IN HELL RIDDLE!"

His life was a nightmare.

AN: I'm in a bit of a block for this story again, so have a mini chapter. I hope it's okay, but I figured I'd add a bit of humour (hopefully it isn't completely pathetic). Hope you managed to enjoy it. Note, this is still not a slash. - The Fictionist.