Hot and Cold
Harry had decided to act as if nothing had happened between him and Ginny, pretending they were still just friends. For two weeks, he managed to maintain this façade. He cowardly averted his gaze to avoid seeing the disappointment in her caramel-brown eyes. Whenever Ginny tried to strike up a conversation, he was evasive, and when she attempted to join the trio for meals, he let Ron make her feel unwelcome without standing up for her.
Four days before the decisive match against Ravenclaw, Harry noticed Ginny entering the Great Hall for breakfast. She gave him a sad smile that felt like a punch to the liver. She didn't even attempt to join him for breakfast. Instead, she walked past to sit with her roommates.
Harry noticed that it seemed the boys at Hogwarts had decided that two weeks was enough time after Ginny's break-up for them to make their moves on her. A steady stream of boys from all Houses approached her in the corridors and the Great Hall, trying to strike up conversations or offering to carry her books. Ginny managed to extricate herself gracefully in most instances, but on occasion, she resorted to threats of violence. There was a rumour circulating that Cormac McLaggen spent a night in the hospital wing after Ginny kneed his bits and then tap-danced on his balls when he was down. McLaggen was too proud to admit that a girl had rejected him. He hadn't made a complaint to the staff.
Ginny's response was always the same whenever anyone asked about the incident: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Colin Creevey followed Ginny around like a puppy, as if she were the Sun and he was a sunflower. His eyes never strayed far from her. Harry felt a pang of jealousy and began to wonder if he was doing the same and if others had noticed. He kept trying to steal glances at the petite redhead, and whenever she looked back at him and smiled softly, his heart always skipped a beat. The worst part was that it made him paranoid. He could swear that Ron gave him disapproving looks, while Hermione, who was always perceptive, smiled smugly at his plight. Ron would run interference whenever Ginny was around, making it more difficult for them to talk. Harry dreaded the possibility of having to choose between Ginny and Ron at some point. Sometimes, it felt like the universe was conspiring to keep them apart.
That night, Harry was making his way down to the Great Hall for dinner when, on the spur of the moment, he decided to take a detour through the seventh-floor corridor. He peeked at the Marauder's Map and saw Draco Malfoy in the girl's bathroom. Curious, he decided to investigate.
O-o-O-o-O
Ginny sat down for dinner close to Ron and Hermione but not quite with them. She began to serve herself generous portions of food, resisting the urge to ask them for Harry's whereabouts. Sighing resignedly, she began to eat.
"MURDER! MURDER IN THE SEVENTH-FLOOR GIRLS' BATHROOM!" Peeves ghostly figure screamed as he flew across the Great Hall toward the teachers' table. The ghost stopped beside Dumbledore and whispered into his ear.
There was bedlam in the Great Hall as hundreds of conversations erupted simultaneously. At the teacher's table, Dumbledore leaned in to whisper to Professor Snape, who immediately stood up and hurriedly left through a door behind the table.
"Where's Harry?" Ginny asked Ron and Hermione, her voice filled with alarm. She had no recollection of standing up and walking over to them. Her heart sank to the floor when a confused-looking Hermione replied that they didn't know.
A moment later, Parvati Patil ran into the Great Hall. "The portraits are saying that Harry Potter just murdered Draco Malfoy," she screamed. Her voice echoed through the Great Hall, eliciting a collective gasp from the students and a stunned silence from the teachers.
Ginny's heart raced as she sprinted toward Parvati, her mind spinning with fear and confusion. "Is Harry all right?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," the bewildered sixth-year Gryffindor replied.
Ginny ran at full speed towards the hospital wing without hesitation, with Ron and Hermione trailing a few steps behind. They shouted at her to wait for them, but she continued her frantic race unabated until she reached the doors of the hospital wing.
"Is Harry here?" she asked a startled Madam Pomfrey.
"No. Has something happened to Mr Potter?" the school nurse replied.
At that moment, Professor Snape entered the room, levitating the body of a whimpering and sobbing Draco Malfoy ahead of him. His shirt was bloody and torn to shreds. Hermione gasped, but Ginny just glared at the Slytherin boy. As soon as Snape placed Malfoy onto a bed and Madam Pomfrey began to waive her wand, Ginny stood resolutely before Snape.
"Where's Harry?" she demanded.
The sallow-faced professor looked at her with his usual disdain. "What is it to you, Ms Weasley?"
"ANSWER ME!"
A crackling sound of static electricity discharging filled the air as several strands of Ginny's hair began to rise in every direction, signalling that an accidental discharge of magic was imminent. Snape was startled by the ferocity of the redhead's expression. Composing himself, the professor answered calmly.
"Last time I saw him, he was leaving the seventh-floor girls' bathroom and heading toward Gryffindor Tower."
Ginny turned sharply, ignoring the shocked expressions on Ron and Hermione's faces, and exited the hospital wing, making her way to the Gryffindor common room.
O-o-O-o-O
Two days after the duel in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, most students had practically forgotten the incident. That Friday evening, the Gryffindor common room was buzzing with excitement. An important match between the Holyhead Harpies and Puddlemere United was set to be transmitted on the Wizarding Wireless Network that night, and a crowd of students was gathered around the wireless, their cheers and laughter filling the room.
Ginny sat in the far corner, feeling tense about having to play Seeker again the following morning and about her argument with Hermione. Ginny truly loved Hermione like a sister, but there was no doubt that the bushy-haired witch could sometimes be insufferable. Malfoy had nearly used an Unforgivable Curse on Harry, yet all Hermione seemed to care about was trying to score points for warning Harry against using the Half-Blood Prince's book.
As far as Ginny was concerned, the Sectumsempra curse, despite being a dangerous spell, was a proportional response to Malfoy's actions, and she made her feelings known to Hermione in no uncertain terms. Ginny had used some harsh words that she later regretted. Since that night, a mix of guilt, anger, and hurt had been gnawing at her conscience, creating an awkward tension between the two best friends.
What surprised Ginny the most was how Harry had gotten away with just detention for the incident. The trio and she had expected Harry to be called to the headmaster's office at any moment, either to be summarily expelled or be subjected to some official inquiry. Yet, in two days, nothing had happened. Not even Lucius Malfoy had made an appearance to demand justice for his cowardly son.
No other students aside from Ron, Hermione or Ginny had seen the extent of Draco's injuries, so the incident was dismissed as another one of Peeves's pranks. Although normalcy had returned to Hogwarts, the rift between Ginny and Hermione remained. The redhead was ready to apologise, and she stared at the portrait hole, nervously anticipating the return of the bushy-haired witch from the library.
Hermione entered through the portrait hole and noticed Ginny sitting across the room. The brunette smiled timidly at her, and Ginny felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. She resolutely got up and walked straight to her friend.
"Will you please step outside with me for a moment?" the redhead asked meekly.
Hermione nodded and followed her. Once outside the common room, the two witches stared at each other briefly before jumping into each other's arms.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Ginny said emotionally, tears filling her eyes. She felt relief as she finally voiced her apology. "I shouldn't have talked to you like that."
"No, Ginny. It is I who needs to apologise," the equally weepy brunette replied. "I was being such a bitch to Harry, and someone needed to set me straight."
The redhead chuckled between sniffles. "We were both being bitches."
"Yes. I'm sorry…"
"No. I'm sorry…"
As they stepped back, a profound sense of relief washed over them. The weight of their argument had been lifted, and their smiles now shone brightly.
"Are we friends again?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"We never stopped being friends, did we?"
"No. We didn't."
The two briefly embraced again, pulling apart a little embarrassed by their emotional display and drying their tears.
"I apologised to Harry this afternoon at the library," Hermione said, feeling more composed. "I can't believe I argued with my two best friends over Draco Malfoy."
"Is Harry okay?" Ginny asked, unable to hide her concern.
"He is upset about missing the game tomorrow and leaving his team in a bind. I can't believe that of all the stupid things I said that night, that's what hurt him the most." Hermione looked searchingly at the redhead. "Has he talked to you?" she asked cautiously.
"No," Ginny replied dejected.
"Remember what I said before. Harry has a lot on his shoulders. Don't give up on him."
"I won't… but it still hurts."
Hermione hooked her arm around Ginny's and gestured toward the portrait hole. "Let's go back in. I'm sure you want to hear the game."
"I'm not in the mood for all that noise and cheer," Ginny said sombre. "I'll walk the grounds for a while if you don't mind."
"Of course not," Hermione said, letting go.
The brunette entered the common room as Ginny made her way to the seventh floor. The redhead wanted some solitude, but she still wished to listen to the game of her favourite team. Once she reached the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, she walked back and forth three times, concentrating on what she needed, and then entered the Room of Requirement.
Inside, the room had created an exact replica of the Gryffindor common room. Logs crackled on the fireplace, creating dancing shadows in the dimly lit space, which revealed scenes on the tapestries depicting the story of Godric Gryffindor. In front of the fireplace, a cosy two-seater sofa with plush cushions beckoned the redhead. A wireless set on a nearby table was already tuned to the game, where one of the narrators provided his pre-game analysis.
Ginny let herself fall on the sofa and lay back, propping her white-socked feet on the armrest after kicking off her shoes. She closed her eyes, feeling relief from defusing her recent quarrel with Hermione, but Harry's exasperating behaviour towards her still weighed heavily on her mind.
The adorable git thought that he was being subtle when he looked at her longingly with those mooncalf eyes whenever they were in the same room, but he was anything but subtle. Ginny knew Harry was involved in something dark related to the "lessons" with Dumbledore about Voldemort. Still, she refused to accept that it meant they could not be together. She tried to force his hand by joining the trio during meals and in the common room, but with no success so far.
Frustrated, Ginny was seriously considering simply walking up to him and snogging the living daylights out of him when she heard the door to the Room of Requirement opening.
Harry stood a few steps away, staring at her while holding his Firebolt in his right hand. Ginny was too startled to move.
"Harry!" she exclaimed, surprised. "How did you find me here?"
He reached into his back pocket with his other hand and briefly showed her the Marauder's Map before putting it away. "I was looking for you in the common room, and Hermione told me you were out for a walk. I couldn't find you on the map, so I figured you were here," he explained.
Harry stepped forward to stand before the sofa and looked down at her. Ginny was still wearing the Gryffindor red and gold tartan skirt from the school's uniform. Her white shirt, with the Gryffindor coat of arms on the pocket, was untucked in places, and the knot of her red and gold silk tie was loose around her neck. Harry couldn't help but notice her creamy, toned legs and calves. The innumerable stairs of the castle had done a magnificent job of shaping them.
"Are your legs getting longer, or are your skirts getting shorter?" Harry asked with his eyes glued to her lower limbs.
Ginny looked alarmed down at her legs and realised that propping them up on the armrest had made the skirt ride up. She quickly adjusted her skirt, blushing brightly with embarrassment before sitting upright. "Were you out flying?" she asked, ignoring his question.
"No. I just wanted to give you this for tomorrow's game," Harry said, offering her the broom.
Ginny's eyes widened. "Oh," she hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Harry thrust the Firebolt forward. "Of course."
She took it and placed the broom across her lap, reverently running her hand along the length of the polished handle. "Are you really going to let me ride your broom?"
"I beg you, Ginny. Stop stroking my broom handle, and for Merlin's sake, stop talking about riding my broom," he said, struggling to hold back his laughter.
Ginny blushed furiously and bit her lower lip to avoid laughing at his cringe-worthy joke. "Get your mind out of the gutter. I don't joke when it comes to Quidditch, Potter."
"Pity," he said suddenly in a deep, mellow voice. "For I dearly love to hear you laugh."
Her face became a lovely shade of pink as the two stared at each other in silence. The corners of Ginny's mouth slowly tugged up, and her shoulders shook before she let out the uproarious laughter she had been holding back. Harry joined her, and they laughed unabashedly until their merriment gradually faded.
"I'll leave you to your game then," Harry said tentatively.
"You can stay… if you want to," she replied shyly, taking the Firebolt off her lap and propping it against the table on the side. "There's room for both of us," she added, scooting over to one side.
Harry looked at the spot offered. He swallowed and pursed his lips, debating whether to accept the invitation, but in the end, he couldn't resist the temptation of being close to her. He sat down feeling awkward, giving Ginny darting glances. Their hips were separated by mere inches.
The game was about to start, and the narrators were reading the starting line-ups for both teams.
"Which team do you support, Harry?" asked Ginny, turning to look at him.
"Sirius once told me my dad was a Puddlemere supporter," Harry said in a subdued tone. "I guess I'll support Puddlemere," he added, glancing at Ginny, who he knew was a rabid Harpies supporter.
The redhead gave him a mischievous glance before suddenly throwing a cushion at his head, which he caught on the bounce.
"How dare you," she said with exaggerated outrage. "I consider it most disloyal on your part. The Harpies will trounce Puddlemere," she proclaimed, sticking her tongue out to him.
In Harry's mind, few things could be sexier than that glistening, pink tongue. He had to tear his eyes away from her mouth once she closed it, and as a precaution, he placed the cushion on his lap.
The game started, and the narrators made every play seem exciting. Ginny quickly got into the match, restlessly moving on the sofa as if she was doing the flying being narrated on the wireless. Her eyes gleamed, and she hooted and squealed each time the Harpies scored. The redhead even yelled advice at her team's Chasers, like: "Elbow that wanker!" or "Do a Wollongong Shimmy".
Harry found her enthusiasm endearing, and a grin was plastered on his face. He also got into the match, openly cheering and celebrating every Puddlemere score.
At first, Ginny was completely unaware of how much contact their hips and shoulders were sharing due to her constant movement, but now that Harry was doing the same, she became acutely aware of every touch between them. Finding her Gryffindor courage, Ginny transformed her cheering into playful flirting. Whenever Harry celebrated a Puddlemere score, she would playfully elbow his ribs and boo loudly. Harry retaliated by pushing his shoulder against hers, and she would push back. The distance between them had completely vanished, and every brush against each other made the skin of both teens tingle with excitement.
The first hour of the game flew by, easily becoming one of the most enjoyable hours of their lives. They laughed at each other's witty and not-so-witty comments about the game or the opposing team.
There was a short lull in the action. Harry sighed contentedly, thinking of the beautiful and charming witch beside him. While she was momentarily distracted, he spied her legs and the lovely swell of her breasts.
"Wouldn't it be funny if the Harpies distracted the opposing team by flashing their tits at them," he said without thinking.
His face contorted into an expression of horror when he realised what he had just said. He heard Ginny gasp and slowly turned to her. Suddenly, the room seemed deathly silent.
The redhead was staring at him incredulously with her mouth hanging open.
"I'm sorry. That was a stupid thing to say," Harry said apologetically, his voice subdued.
Ginny's expression of surprise slowly shifted to a mischievous grin.
"No. I think you may be onto something, Potter," she said with a wide smile. "Do you think that if Demelza, Katie and I flash our tits to the Ravenclaw boys during the game tomorrow, we will win? I'll do anything to win the Cup."
"That's not funny," Harry growled, a frown on his face
"Why not? You thought it was funny a moment ago."
"It wasn't. It was stupid," he replied, looking sullen and clenching his teeth.
Ginny's expression softened, and she smiled fondly at him. She placed her hand gently on his upper arm. "I'm glad that despite being The Boy Who Lived, despite all the evil that revolves around you, despite everything, you're still a normal bloke who has fantasies about women flashing their tits," she concluded with a wide grin.
Harry's sullen expression slowly transformed into a smirk. "To answer your question: I don't know if flashing your tits at the Ravenclaws would win us the game tomorrow."
Ginny feigned offence. "Why not?"
"I haven't seen them, so I don't know if they're worth losing a game over. I would need a peek to give my opinion."
Ginny's jaw dropped again, and the look of incredulity returned. "You pervert!" she shouted, laughing.
She slapped Harry's upper arm and reached for the cushion on Harry's lap to hit him with it, but he fiercely fought her for it. The redhead continued to laugh madly as they struggled, wondering why he was resisting her so much for the cushion.
Then, she had an epiphany about what was under the cushion. Ginny sat back and froze, glancing sideways at Harry. He was making sure the cushion was securely on his lap. His ears were bright red.
The game continued in the background, but an awkward silence settled between them. A contrite Harry spoke up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect you."
"I know. I'm not a wilting flower, Harry." She turned to face him. "If you had truly disrespected me or done something I didn't want, you would get the Cormac McLaggen treatment."
"Ouch!" he exclaimed with a chuckle. "For what it's worth," he continued, "your legs are beautiful. You should wear skirts more often."
"Thank you," she replied evenly. "I prefer the pants uniform, though, even during the Spring."
"I know," he nodded. "But on second thought, it's better if you only wear pants. There would be too many lecherous gits gawking at you if you wore a skirt all the time. Even more than now."
"Good thing you'll be there to protect my honour," the redhead said cheekily.
"What makes you think I wouldn't be one of the gits gawking at you?" His voice dropped several octaves to a low, husky tone. "You're quite fit."
For the first time, Ginny did not mind the flush creeping into her cheeks. Harry was practically admitting that he fancied her. She already knew that, of course, but it was always a thrill to see it confirmed.
"You're quite fit yourself," she declared, looking demurely into his emerald-green eyes.
Harry's gaze drifted from Ginny's eyes to take in the rest of her. Her hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, and even in the dim light, it gleamed with an almost supernatural shine. He was convinced that her hair was a manifestation of her magic. It had to be. Unable to resist the temptation, he reached out and touched the tip of her ponytail. It felt softer than he had ever imagined.
Ginny shifted slightly and, without saying a word, undid the band holding her ponytail. With a quick shake of her head, her lustrous red hair cascaded down her back like a silk curtain.
Harry buried his fingers into Ginny's fiery hair, and they slid smoothly between the strands. She sighed contentedly, and that sound elicited a shiver that ran down his spine. He looked into her eyes, and she turned to meet his gaze. He examined her features one by one: the arched red eyebrows, the long eyelashes, the impossibly straight nose, the attractive philtrum, the strong chin, and finally, the plump, rosy lips.
"Ginny, I..."
She saw the struggle in his eyes.
"We cannot continue like this, Harry," she said softly.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"This hot-and-cold dynamic going on between us isn't fair," she explained, gesturing back and forth between them with her arm. "It's not fair to you. It's not fair to me. One moment, we're close, touching and flirting, and the next day you ignore me."
"You are right," Harry admitted dejectedly. "I haven't been fair to you, but I have my reasons…"
Ginny took a deep breath. She had anticipated his reluctance to commit, but it was still hard to accept. "I want you to know that whenever you have to face Tom again, I'll be there, whether you like it or not."
Her determination was palpable, and her eyes shined with unwavering resolve.
Harry looked at her, concern etched on his face. "Did Hermione say anything to you?"
"No," she replied, irritated, "but I'm not an idiot. Voldemort keeps coming after you, and he won't stop until one of you is dead. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. I know what you're facing," she concluded fiercely. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she turned to the fire, fighting back a sob.
There was a long silence. Slowly, Ginny's agitated breathing returned to normal.
Harry nudged her shoulder playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
"So… You are worried about little old me?" he smirked.
"Only because I don't want to lose my personal masseuse," she protested with fake seriousness. "If you snuff it, who's going to give me foot massages?"
Harry looked down with concern at her feet. "Is your left ankle still bothering you?"
Ginny chuckled. "No, silly boy, but I'm not opposed to you giving me a foot massage."
Boldly, she shifted on the sofa and placed her legs across his lap, resting them on the cushion. Harry gazed into her caramel-brown eyes, and then his gaze leisurely moved down her creamy legs until it reached her feet. Ginny watched, transfixed, as he bit his lower lip. He tenderly removed her white socks and caressed her feet before properly massaging her right foot.
Ginny closed her eyes and exhaled, but just then, the game's narration rose to a fever pitch: the Golden Snitch had been sighted, and the chase was on. The two Quidditch fanatics could not ignore the exciting narration for long. Ginny sat up straight, and both of them looked expectantly at the wireless, urging the Seeker of their team forward.
A couple of minutes later, the Harpies' Seeker caught the Golden Snitch. Ginny jumped excitedly around the room until Harry caught her in a tight embrace, pulling her close to his body. They had shared a few friendly hugs before in front of their friends and family, but never anything this close and intimate. Her face rested against his shoulder, just below the crook of his neck, and for the first time, her nose inhaled the alluring woodsy musk of him.
"Congratulations," he said, smiling brightly at her.
"Thanks," she replied, looking up at him.
That embrace made Ginny realise she had arrived where she wanted to be: in his strong arms. With sadness, she saw him step back. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and for a moment, it looked like he regretted that embrace. It almost broke her heart.
Harry looked at her beautiful face and sad eyes and realised he could no longer fight his feelings. "You choose your boyfriends; they don't choose you, right?" he asked.
Ginny looked up at him with a mixture of surprise and hope in her expression.
"Have you set your sights on a new boyfriend already?" Harry continued with trepidation.
Ginny stared into his eyes. "I've tested the dating waters over the last couple of years. I've seen what the male population of Hogwarts has to offer, and I have made a decision."
Harry's heart felt like it would beat right out of his chest. Ginny's unblinking gaze was fixed on him, and he knew it was useless for him to try to speak.
"I want to come home, Harry," she said softly. "I want you."
Ginny leaned her head until it rested on his shoulder, and Harry wrapped an arm around her back. At that moment, they felt united in their resolve to face the challenges their relationship would encounter. They remained motionless for a moment, and then Ginny lowered her head further, placing the side of her face against his chest. She closed her eyes and smiled happily when she heard his heart racing with staccato beats against her face.
Harry gently caressed her hair and cheek, and Ginny sighed contentedly. "Your heart is beating really fast," she observed calmly.
"What about yours?" Harry asked.
Ginny straightened up and placed a hand behind Harry's head. Without saying a word, she pulled him toward her and gently cradled his head with her other hand, guiding the side of his face to rest against her chest, just above the swell of her breasts. "Close your eyes," she whispered.
Harry obeyed and heard and felt her wildly beating heart against his face. "We can try to deny what we feel, but our hearts can't," he said introspectively, moving his face away and looking down into her eyes.
"I think my feelings are unmistakably clear, Harry. What happens next is up to you," Ginny finished almost with a whisper.
Harry took her into his arms, and Ginny's heels raised off the floor. His head tilted down to gently join their lips together. That first kiss stretched for many seconds until they came apart, and their lips joined again hungrily, their mouths opening and closing with delightful smacking sounds. Soon, their tongues were brushing on the edge of their lips, their warm breaths mixing until Harry deepened the kiss, and his embrace became tighter.
How sweet and warm her mouth was. Their tongues moved slowly, in unison without a struggle, neither one dominant nor submissive. Harry's hand moved to touch the nape of her neck and sank into Ginny's soft, silky hair, making her moan into his mouth. That moan sent a jolt down Harry's spine, and he subtly drew his hips away from her.
They reluctantly came apart for air, but Ginny captured his lower lip with her incisors, unwilling to let go as she moaned again. Their eyes remained closed, and after Ginny finally relinquished his lip, Harry pressed their foreheads together.
"We should have done that much sooner," he whispered huskily.
"Yes, we should have."
"Sorry if I'm not a good kisser. I don't have much practice."
Ginny pulled away to see if he was kidding. "That was the best kiss ever, Harry. It was my first kiss… because it was the only kiss that has ever mattered to me."
Harry kissed her just as sweetly once more, and they continued to kiss for several more minutes. Ginny felt fortunate that Harry was so respectful because she understood the risks that their complete privacy posed. The intensity of her desire was difficult to resist.
"It's late, Harry. I'm afraid we should go." Ginny said sadly.
"Yes, you're right," he replied but didn't move. "Ginny… are we together now?"
Ginny beamed at him. "Of course, Harry. If you want us to be…"
"I would like that very much," he said, taking her hand.
"All right then," she smiled and pecked his lips.
"I think we should keep this secret for now," Harry suggested tentatively.
"Why, Harry?" Ginny asked, furrowing her brow. "I want to shout it to the whole world!" she added happily.
Harry smiled brightly at her. "Me too… but the thing is… the news might upset Ron, and we need him at the top of his game tomorrow."
Ginny laughed. "I hadn't thought about that. You're right. I guess that's why you're the captain of the Quidditch team."
The new couple walked back to the Gryffindor Tower, holding hands and laughing happily, but composed themselves before entering the common room.
Ginny went directly to her dormitory, worried that her swollen lips would give her away. She also urgently needed a change of knickers.
O-o-O-o-O