Come On Harry

Chapter 3: The Silver Light

As Harry stepped out of the boys' changing rooms, a warm voice greeted him. "Great job on the game, Harry," Hermione said, lifting herself onto her tiptoes every few seconds.

"Thanks."

"Do you know where Ron is?" she asked, holding a copy of Advanced Transfigurations close to her chest.

"You two have studying to do, have you?" he responded in a tone that made it clear he knew otherwise. She reddened. "He's still in the showers, I think."

"All right, well... I suppose I'll be off to the common room. See you later. And good job, again," she said, turning her back slowly away from him.

A little ways away, Harry spotted Ginny exit the girls' changing rooms and walk along the edge of the Quidditch field. A few of the older boys on the Ravenclaw team surrounded her and greeted her warmly as soon as she arrived. Harry felt suddenly nauseous and desperately needed something to lean on.

"Wait, Hermione," Harry shouted, running up from behind her. "Let me come with you." She turned around and smiled. When he reached her a few seconds later, he put his arm around her waist and squeezed her tightly to conceal the fact that he needed her for physical support. The surprise was apparent in her face, but she didn't say anything. "It's cold," he muttered, in some justification.

Once they had entered the common room, Harry ran up to the boys' dormitories and shouted back to Hermione, "Meet me out here in two hours."

Hesitantly Hermione agreed, and entered her dormitory slowly. Harry was acting very odd, she thought to herself, but at least he was talking to her like she asked him to. Not about anything important yet, but perhaps that's what he wanted to meet about later.

She rolled out onto her bed and opened up Advanced Transfigurations to the page she'd left off on during the Quidditch match. She was chapters ahead of the class, but the subject just kept getting more and more interesting so she wasn't able to put down the book.

She ignored all her roommates as they came in one by one, wearing cheery faces of victory. Her only interruption was when Lavender strutted into the room and Hermione felt obligated to tell her what a good job she'd done.

After roughly two hours however, Hermione headed down the stairs into the common room. It was nearly empty except for a standing figure leaning against the corner of the room. It appeared to be Harry, and Hermione grew less worried of what he'd want to talk about when she saw that he was holding up a book in his large hands.

Harry lifted his head when he heard her come in. A sly smile crept onto his face, and he lifted one of his hands from the book to motion for her to come closer.

"Do you need help?" Hermione asked, hopefully. He kept motioning to her. "What book is it? Let me see."

She was about to reach out for the book to look at the front cover, when Harry dramatically dropped it, his hands still in the same position as when he was holding it. A soft bang was heard as the book hit the carpeted floor, and Hermione's head jerked up with worry.

Harry's expression stayed the same. "Come closer," he whispered before she could bend over to pick up the book. Hesitantly she stepped forward, her chest now almost touching Harry's stomach. Leaning down, he grabbed one of her arms and put it around his neck, and then for the second time in his life, he put his lips softly on hers.

This time Hermione swung her other arm around his neck and stood on her tiptoes in order to reach his lips. She pressed against them lightly until he forced his tongue through, into her mouth. She tensed, realizing how unlike Harry this was.

He reached his hands under her bottom and pushed her up, wrapping her legs around his waist so that he could reach her more easily. Now he was propped up against the wall, supporting Hermione on his chest, and kissing her madly. Her only response was a quick squeal, but she soon let go and got lost in his kisses.

But Harry wanted more. He reached his right hand under her gray jumper and moved it upwards onto her bra. She began kissing the side of his neck because he was too distracted by the offending pink lace to move his lips. He moaned as she sucked harshly on his collarbone.

Giving up, he glided his hand down Hermione's thigh under her skirt and slowly slid his hand into her knickers. At that moment, Hermione pushed away from his chest and shouted, "Stop."

Harry looked down, surprised, as Hermione climbed off of him and fixed her skirt and jumper angrily. "What?" he asked her.

Her cheeks were red. "I'm not - I'm not just some dirty prostitute that you can - "

"I didn't say you were," he interrupted her, still leaning against the wall desperately.

Her eyebrows dropped down as she stepped forward and accused, "You think you can shag me just because Ron does."

Harry examined his hands and thought for a moment. "Well...yeah," he finally said, not in the mood to lie.

She jerked her body and gave a tiny angry scream. "You can't just have me whenever you want."

"Why not? Ron does. What's so different about this?" He felt his stomach drop in pain, a million needles poking his insides.

She put her hands on her hips and kept her feet together as her expression narrowed and she decided to say something nasty. "With Ron, it's consensual."

"You're telling me you didn't want this? Kissing me back was just an act?" Harry wondered how he was managing to stay standing, and he knew if the wall weren't behind him, he'd have fallen already. "What, you don't find me attractive enough?"

Looking suddenly guilty, she shook her head and said, "No, no. With Ron, I know that it's coming. And if I don't, he's usually sweet about it. But this - this was just... hunger."

He managed hoarsely, "What's wrong with that? It's a normal human emotion."

She crossed her arms around her chest and said forcefully, "Well I want nothing to do with it."

"You know, if you don't find me sexually attractive, you could just say so."

Turning swiftly around, Hermione stomped up to the girls' dormitories without another look back at Harry.

***

An hour had passed and Ginny still hadn't come through the portrait hole. Harry sat on the couch, imagining the hours away. He had screwed up with Hermione, but he couldn't help it. He was too angry about Ginny.

I'm going to go look for her, he decided, getting up from his resting spot and marching over to the portrait hole. He fingered his wand in the pocket of his robes as he walked out into the unlit hallway.

The first place he searched was the library, but there were only a few students spread out among the tables, studying. Harry approached Terry Boot, who was alone in a well-lit corner, reading from an Arithmancy textbook. "Terry," he called.

Terry lifted his head and smiled genuinely. "How goes it, Harry? I've barely seen you at all this year. What have you been up to? Good job in the game today, by the way. I figured Gryffindor would win, but I have to cheer for my house all the same."

"Yeah, thanks," he replied distractedly. "Have you seen Ginny recently by any chance?"

"Nope, sure haven't," Terry said, flipping a page in his textbook.

"How about Michael Corner, then?"

Terry looked up. "No, why?"

"Well... he was with Ginny after the match, so I was just wondering... maybe - she might be with him or something. But, it's fine."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Terry responded, putting his book down. "He's head over heels in love with her. But then, so is everyone else now. Bet he's downright depressed that she dumped him fifth year, even if he did go out with Cho afterwards."

"Yeah," Harry responded with an uneasy laugh. He started to walk away. "Well, thanks, Terry. See you later." Outside the library, he leaned against a wall to catch his breath. After a few seconds, he headed out to the spot where he'd seen Ginny with all the Ravenclaw boys. There was no one there now, of course, as it was getting dark.

Realizing that she must be with Malfoy, he went around to the same spot near the Quidditch field where he'd heard them before. Rounding the corner, he hid behind a nearby tree, at once irritated that he hadn't brought his invisibility cloak with him. He caught sight of the couple amidst a passionate kiss. When Malfoy pulled away, Ginny grabbed his arm and they hugged each other. Harry was slightly taken aback. He had never seen Malfoy hug anyone. It was the oddest sight, especially since it looked so normal. Harry's heart started beating faster. Does Malfoy actually like Ginny? Are they in love?

"So, how was your day?" Malfoy asked in a generally warm tone.

Ginny smiled and looked up. "It's not over yet, but it's been satisfying so far."

Malfoy crossed his arms. "Not flirting with any unsuspecting boys, I hope." It was more playful than threatening, as Harry imagined such words from Malfoy would usually be.

"Come on, Draco. It's just flirting. You do it all the time."

"It's to keep up appearances, baby."

She placed two arms around his waist. "It's okay. I don't really mind anyway."

"You don't?" Draco raised an eyebrow and joked, "Neither do I." He leaned his head down and touched his forehead to Ginny's. She smiled and was about to say something, before Malfoy asked, "Have you talked to him yet?"

Her expression changed. "No. I can't even bring myself to tell him about us, much less... suggest such a thing."

"Come on, Gin. I just want to see if he'll accept."

She turned away. "He won't. Just because you feel that way, doesn't mean he does. Trust me." Malfoy looked a bit hurt. "Let's not talk about him anymore."

"I'm sorry. I don't want to upset you."

She looked up and threw her arms around his neck. "You're not." He gave her a quick peck before pushing her onto the wall and kissing her neck. He put his hands up her skirt and Harry couldn't bear to watch any longer.

He wanted to yell out so Malfoy would stop. But he couldn't find his voice. Malfoy went on to touch Ginny's entire body and Ginny tried to undress him as well. He wouldn't let her take his shirt off, but he helped her to unzip his pants right away. Pretty soon, Harry was able to see Ginny's bare chest.

Harry couldn't take it anymore. "Get off her, Malfoy," he shouted, running out to them from behind the tree.

Malfoy quickly hugged Ginny in order to cover her bare body from Harry's sight. Ginny tried to pull her dress up but could not under Malfoy's tight grip. When she saw Harry, she froze.

"I said get off her," Harry shouted, when he was less than a meter away.

"You jealous, Potter?"

"Yes," Harry admitted. "As a matter of fact, I am." He paused. "Ginny, come here."

Ginny didn't move. Draco laughed. "Hah. See, Potter? I always knew I was better than you."

"Draco," Ginny said, disappointedly. She tried to pull her dress up again, but Malfoy wouldn't let her. "Draco, let me go, please." It was clear that he did not want to let her go, but he released her, anyway. Ginny quickly pulled up her dress and walked to Draco's side.

Harry wanted to cry.

Ginny pleaded, "Harry, don't te - "

"Tell Ron or Hermione. I know," said Harry, suddenly embarrassed and looking down towards his feet, which he pretended were infinitely more interesting than the arm that Draco had just slung around Ginny's waist. The situation was so awkward that Harry couldn't even begin to comprehend it. "Why are you doing this Ginny?" he finally asked.

Ginny didn't answer. Instead, Malfoy said, "She couldn't resist me." He laughed, but neither Ginny nor Harry seemed very amused.

"I like him," Ginny quietly answered.

"HOW?" Harry yelled. "Why don't you like me?"

"Er...Harry, you never showed any interest in me." She looked up at Draco, who was quietly chuckling. "Draco did. And he's wonderful to me. And he makes me feel good."

"Physically, too," Malfoy added, smiling. Then he stopped smiling. "Why in the hell are we having this conversation with Potter? Sod off." He tried to get Ginny to turn around, but she wouldn't budge.

"Harry's my friend, Draco."

"Fine," Malfoy said, clearly upset. "But I'm leaving. I'll be back in ten minutes, if you want to continue." Ginny nodded, and Malfoy walked off.

The moment Malfoy was out of earshot, Harry yelled, "So this is who you've chosen? Out of all the boys that want you, you picked Malfoy? How could you do that?"

Ginny shouted in return, "Why do you have to question what makes me happy? Why does it matter if it's Draco? I like him. I think I love him. I know you're thinking he's probably using me, but at this point, I honestly don't care what you think."

Before he could let her words affect him, he shouted back, "Bloody hell, Ginny. I love you."

Ginny stood, shocked. "What?"

"I love you," he repeated, hopeful for a positive response.

"But...no you don't. You like Hermione. She told me you kissed her once."

Harry looked at his feet again and muttered, "I wished it was you."

Ginny didn't say anything for a long time. "I... I don't know what to say."

"It's okay, Ginny. I'm really sorry. For coming here and interrupting you. And for lying, too. I saw you with Malfoy a few days ago...I followed him today and was finally brave enough to tell him to stop. I just didn't realize that that's not what you wanted. I...I always thought you kind of liked me."

"Well I did, Harry, back before my fifth year. But you never showed any affection; I just never thought you cared for me."

Harry moved forward. "Well now you know that's not true. What are you going to do about it?"

Ginny breathed in and out with difficulty, but did not think for long. "You're too late, Harry." She stormed off in the direction Malfoy had gone without looking back.

***

Harry approached his sleeping best friend in their dormitory. "Ron," he urged, shaking the snoring body. "Ron!"

"What?" Ron said, springing up. "What is it?"

"Ron," Harry said, softly. "I've got to tell you a lot of things that you won't like at all."

The other boy looked a mix of fatigue and curiosity. "What, then?"

"Well, first off, I fancy your sister." Harry watched Ron's face blow up, but didn't give him a chance to say anything. "Second, she's been shagging Malfoy. And actually dating him, I believe." At this, Ron couldn't tell if his best friend was joking of not. "And last, she won't leave him for me."

Harry paused, while Ron tried to figure out if this joke was supposed to be funny.

"The worst part, though," Harry continued, "is that Malfoy and Ginny actually like each other. You should see them; they were holding hands before. Actually, I hope you don't see them..."

Finally Ron spoke. "This is a sick joke, Harry. Never wake me up to tell me something as stupid as this again." He pulled the covers over his head and turned away.

"But it's not a joke," Harry insisted, pulling the covers off Ron again. "In fact, I'm wishing that this is the part where I wake up."

"Bloody hell, Harry. You've got to be kidding. Ginny? Malfoy?" He paused to put his head down and took in a few deep breaths. "This is too ridiculous. Now I have a good bloody excuse to chop his overgrown head off."

Harry nodded, but then said, "Ginny'd never speak to you again."

"Who cares? Malfoy would be dead!" Ron jumped out of bed and threw on a ratty black jumper. "Where is that slimy git?"

"Uhm, outside near the Quidditch field, I think," Harry shared reluctantly.

Ron picked up his wand. "Bring your invisibility cloak and let's go."

"Ron? Do you really think this is a good idea? He might use Dark Magic on us."

The other boy turned around and looked at Harry incredulously. "When in the bloody hell have you ever been afraid of Malfoy? Don't you want him dead? Let's go!" Harry picked up his invisibility cloak slowly and found that Ron had already run out the door.

When Harry entered the common room, he saw that Ron was climbing out the portrait hole. "I'm getting Hermione," Harry called, but Ron was already gone. Harry wallowed up into the girls' dormitories. All the girls were asleep, except Hermione, who was still sitting up, reading, with Advanced Transfigurations in her lap. "Hermione," he whispered.

Recognizing him, Hermione gave him a steamy look. "What are you doing in here?" she whispered as angrily as she could manage without waking up her roommates.

"Come on, Hermione. We've got to help Ron before he gets himself killed."

The girl hopped up very suddenly, leaving her book open on her bed. "What's going on?" she asked, grabbing her wand and leading Harry out of the room.

"He's after Malfoy," Harry explained once they were in the common room. "It was my fault for telling him and Ginny."

"What about Ginny?" Hermione asked, rushing out of the common room into the hallway.

"Hadn't you guessed? The boy she's dating... it's Malfoy."

Hermione suddenly stopped following Harry. "WHAT?"

"Yeah, come on. We have to stop Ron before he does something rash."

"Oh, stupid Ron," she agreed, running outside behind Harry. It had gotten infinitely darker since Harry had last been outside, and the wind was whipping against their skin without warning. "Oh, dear, it's freezing. Where do you suppose Ron has gone off to?"

Harry ran in the direction he'd seen Malfoy go earlier, but the field looked pretty clear. "We can only guess," he said in a low voice, feeling Hermione's presence right behind him. "I saw Malfoy go this way earlier, but Ron didn't know that, so he could've gone anywhere really."

"Harry, look!" He followed her pointing hand towards the Forbidden Forest, where there was a faint silver beam of light sticking out from above the trees. She started running towards it.

He flew after her. "What the hell is that?"

"Let's find out," she stated, creeping through the trees. She lifted up her wand. "Lumos."

"Nice thinking," Harry said, walking along the path next to her.

They had been walking for no less than ten minutes when Hermione blurted out, "You don't think Malfoy would kill him, do you?"

"What do you think?"

"He wouldn't. He has more sense than that."

In a startlingly hoarse voice, Harry pointed out, "Doesn't mean he wouldn't hurt him." Hermione suddenly stopped walking. "What is it?" Harry asked.

She bent down and put her lit wand close to the ground. When she stood back up, she showed him a gold bracelet. "Do you recognize it?" she asked him.

"No, you?"

"No." She raised it in her hand as if weighing it. "It's too light to be real." She pocketed the bracelet anyway. "It could be Ginny's. She said she likes gold jewelry."

They walked on. "Why does she wear a silver necklace then?" Harry eventually asked.

"How am I to know?"

"You know everything," he said plainly.

"Ugh. Don't flatter me. I haven't forgotten what happened this evening."

Harry blushed but it was too dark for Hermione to notice. "I'm sorry about that."

"Let's not talk about it," she said, clearly wound up.

He took a few more steps, not sure of what he was stepping on. "That's certainly a first."

"What?"

"You not wanting to talk about something."

She made an irritated noise. "Fine. Let's talk about it. We have nothing else to do, and we seem to be getting nowhere. I don't even hear anything, do you?"

"No, it's pretty quiet out here."

"I can't even see that silver light anymore," she said, holding out her lit wand in all directions.

"Let's talk about it, then. I already apologized."

"Oh, that's not nearly enough."

"What do you want then?"

She snorted. "Assurance that you don't view me as some...whore."

"I told you I don't," he urged again.

"Fine. Assurance, then, that our friendship isn't ruined." She turned her head towards him as her voice became softer.

He stepped closer. "It's not, Hermione."

Suddenly there was a scratching noise in front of them, and Hermione quickly whispered "Nox" and the light went out. "Did you hear that?" she whispered to Harry.

"Yeah," he replied, holding her close. "Something's out there."

***

"It's all your fault, Weasley," Draco called, his lit wand up in front of his face.

Ron stepped forward, his wand also lit, and bellowed, "If it hadn't been for you, she wouldn't have gone off."

"How in any way, can you blame this on me? You're the one who was making threats to her boyfriend, in case you don't remember." He put his hands angrily on his hips.

"If you weren't her boyfriend, I wouldn't've had to make threats."

"That's pretty faulty reasoning, Weasley. Besides, it's hardly my fault that I'm her boyfriend. She can't resist me."

"And you can resist her? Half the student body is after a date with my sister, you don't think I know?" He put his wand down.

Malfoy looked up into the trees. "All right. I need your sister. I admit it. Doesn't change the fact that she needs me."

"Oh that's disgusting." Ron looked around him. They had been walking for twenty minutes, and every spot they passed looked the same as the one before. "Of all places, why'd she have to run off into the Forbidden Forest?"

"I think she assumed we wouldn't follow her if she came here." He paused to sigh. "Almost more reason to follow her, really. To make sure she's safe. It was stupid of her to think that I wouldn't follow her."

"Don't call her stupid," Ron countered heatedly.

The other boy looked Ron in the eyes. "She was in this instance. Usually she has insanely brilliant logic."

"Oh, shut it," Ron shouted. "Let's just find her and get out of here."

"You're one to talk. You've been yelling nonstop the second we entered the forest."

"Honestly. I wouldn't be if you weren't such an annoying prat."

Draco walked along the path again, following the bright light coming from his wand. "Just shut up, Weasley. You're giving me a headache. Besides, I need to tell you something."

Crossing his arms, Ron said stubbornly, "I don't want to hear it."

The other boy turned back around. "Come on. Just do me this one courtesy, and then you can go back to being your usual obnoxious self."

"And why should I?"

The Slytherin rolled his eyes. "Because your sister wanted you to hear this." Not waiting for Ron to respond, he continued, "Your sister, Weasley, is a fine girl. I adore her more ardently than I can express to you - or care to, at any rate. We've had a lot of fun over the past couple months... I know she never told you about us, because we both agreed to keep it a secret. I don't really feel the need to tell you all this, but Ginny felt it necessary if you ever found out: My intentions for your sister are pure."

"And that's why you've been shagging her?!" Ron yelled.

Ignoring him, Malfoy stated, "I love her."

In disbelief, Ron mumbled, "Oh Merlin..."

***

The scratching noise stopped and it did not repeat itself again. Harry and Hermione figured that it was probably just a small animal living in the forest. Their search had been fruitless so far, and they were starting to get frustrated.

"What if they're not even in here?" Harry asked.

"If they're not, we should at least find out what that silver light was."

"You're right. I think we're headed in the right direction, then."

"I certainly hope so. It feels like we've been walking in circles," Hermione admitted, looking at the cluster of trees surrounding her and Harry. "Oh great," she added, shivering. "The wind's starting to pick up."

Harry tore off his red jumper. "Here, you must be cold."

"Yes, well, you neglected to tell me we'd be going outside," she snapped, but then looked back at Harry thankfully as she took the jumper out of his hands. "Now you'll be cold."

"It's okay," he said, as brightly as he could. "I've got this." He held up the invisibility cloak. "It's bound to keep me warm, somewhat."

"Oh no, I'd be too frightened if you disappeared completely. How could I be sure you were still next to me?" She turned to him, worried.

He laughed a bit. "I'll keep my head uncovered."

"No, it's alright. You lose the most heat from your head. I wouldn't want that." She paused, thinking. "Perhaps you can hold onto me. That way we can keep even warmer."

Harry tried to avoid Hermione's face as he slid on the cloak and held her waist tightly.

After a few moments, she sighed, "Oh, I hope they're okay."

"Who?" Harry asked without thinking, his mind clearly elsewhere.

"Ron and Ginny." She turned to him but realized that she wouldn't be able to see him anyway. "What, did you think I meant Malfoy?"

"No. Never mind." He looked down at her shoulders, one of which was uncovered because the jumper was too big for her. He pulled it up so that it covered her bare shoulder.

"Harry?" she whispered nervously.

"Yeah?"

"Was that you?"

"Yeah. My jumper's too big for you, is all."

"It's fine. Thank you." She leaned on him a bit more, and then suddenly jumped off. "Harry, Harry, look!"

Again Harry looked to where she was pointing. In the distance, he could see a dim silver light. "Looks like we've found it," he said excitedly. Lifting the invisibility cloak slightly, he draped it over Hermione as well. "Best be safe," he explained as they neared the light.

It became brighter and brighter the closer they got, and when they were within a few meters of the source, the light was so strong that it burned their eyes and they couldn't see a thing. "Back up," Hermione whispered. "We'll be able to see better."

There was no response, and Harry didn't move. Instead, a few seconds later, Hermione felt a huge weight bringing her down and she realized that Harry had collapsed onto the ground. She fell on top of him and hit her head on something hard.

***

"Don't you dare say that word again!" Ron yelled at the blonde boy in front of him.

"What word? 'Love'?" Draco said in Ron's face in an attempt to annoy him more.

"Yes. Malfoys are incapable of love."

Draco kept walking ahead of Ron. "And how the hell would you know?"

"You don't love my sister. You just shag her because you think she's hot. You're just using her and that is completely wrong."

Draco stopped walking and turned on Ron. "This is coming from the man who fucks Granger every night, no strings attached."

"Hey! How do you know about that?"

"Everyone knows, Weasley."

Ron looked down at his hands. "Well, that's completely different."

"How is that different? Besides the fact that Granger's a Mudblood and Ginny's not..."

"Hermione's my best friend!"

Draco turned back around and continued to walk, while Ron followed him. "Ginny's my best friend," he said softly.

"No, she's not! Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson are."

"They're followers. Not friends. There's a difference," he said callously.

"But you flirt with Pansy all the time."

The Slytherin turned around again. "What, and your sister's an angel? She flirts shamelessly with almost every seventh year boy in the school. Of course, I tolerate it, because at the end of the day, I know she'll be in bed with me."

"That's IT, Malfoy!" Ron ran straight up to Draco and poked his wand into the other boy's face. "You are dead."

"Can't this at least wait until after we find Ginny?" Draco asked without a tone of worry in his voice.

"No, it can't."

"I really don't want to have to defend myself."

"Then don't."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "It would upset Ginny and I really don't want that. But if you do make a move, I'm going to have to."

"Good, then maybe she'll end up hating you."

"Oh, trust me, she'll hate you, too."

Ron put his wand down slowly.

Draco kept walking. "Let's just find her, all right?"

"Hey!" Ron shouted suddenly and pointed full east. "What's that silver light?"

"Let's find out," Malfoy said before running towards it.

Ron followed cautiously, murmuring "Nox" so that he could see the silver light better. After they had run a bit further, Ron put up his arms to block the light and said, "It's definitely getting stronger."

"Maybe that's because we're getting closer, you dolt," Draco barked.

Ignoring him, Ron urged, "We're almost there, come on."

Draco took one more giant leap closer and the silver light went out. "What the hell?" he shouted. "Come on, maybe we can find who conjured it."

"Maybe it's not a 'who'. Maybe it's a 'what'," Ron pointed out, gulping.

"Oh, come on," the other boy said, and continued running.

Suddenly, Ron tripped and sent out a shrill yelp.

Draco turned around. "Oh, nice going, Weasley. Chances are whoever's out there heard that and is getting away quicker than we can follow."

"But there's nothing here," Ron said, looking up helplessly from the ground. "I tripped on nothing!" He looked back towards his feet, and saw a piece of a fabric floating in the air. "What?" He leaned forward to touch it and in doing so, the invisibility cloak slid off, revealing two unconscious figures.

Harry's face was pointed straight up, his eyes closed and his arm loosely around Hermione's waist. Hermione's face was bleeding; it looked as if her head had landed on a rock.

"Well, well," Draco drawled. "Looks like you're not the only one who shags Granger. Maybe things just got a little out of hand."

"Shut up, Malfoy. I know they don't do that. Not to mention, they're fully clothed."

Draco smirked. "Well, she is wearing his jumper. Girls tend to do that after a nice shag."

"Or when it's cold, you sod." Changing the tone of his voice, he continued, "What the hell do you think happened? We have to get them back to the castle, to Madame Pomfrey. Right away."

"And leave Ginny out here in the forest? I don't think so," Draco said before finally noticing the cloak lying beside Harry's body. "Is that what I think it is? How the hell did Potter get one of these?" He leaned forward to grab it, but Ron already had it in his hands.

"Don't," he said, glaring. "Maybe they saw the light, too. I know Harry was following me when I came out to find you."

"Of course, leave it to Potter to head straight for trouble."

"You mean, like we were doing?" Ron said grumpily, as he felt for Hermione's pulse. "I really wish we could get them back to the castle." When he looked up, Draco was gone. "Malfoy?" He paused, worried. "Malfoy, where are you?"

Several meters away, the blonde boy responded, "We can go now. Look."

Ron murmured "Lumos" and pointed his wand towards the direction of Malfoy's voice. As Malfoy stepped closer to the light, Ron realized that he was carrying a limp body in his hands. It was Ginny.

When Draco saw the horror-stricken look on Ron's face, he said, "She's breathing, don't worry." He paused. "But she's awfully hot." Her limbs dangled as he carried her closer.

"I know, you told me before," Ron said, irritated.

Draco shook his head. "No, I mean, temperature-wise. Feel her skin."

Ron reached forward and felt his sister's soft temple. It was burning. At that moment, the thought struck him that the person he hated most was holding his sister. "Let go of her now!"

"No. We have to get her back to the castle. You take Potter and Granger. I'm going."

"You don't know the way back!"

"Neither do you. I'll find it."

Ron looked towards Harry and Hermione hopelessly and then back to Malfoy.

"Oh, honestly," Draco said, rolling his eyes, before he muttered a lighten-ing charm on the two Gryffindors lying in a heap on the ground. "Now you can carry them at the same time. As well as the damned invisibility cloak. I'm going to have to tell Dumbledore about that." He hurried off into the woods and was not surprised to find Ron panting behind him a few seconds later.

"Dumbledore already knows," the redhead said matter-of-factly.

Draco gave him a nasty look. "I should have figured that that hippie would favor Potter so damn much as to give him an invisibility cloak, or let him keep one at any rate."

"Don't call him a hippie," Ron growled.

"If you don't want to hear it, then don't follow me."

"I want to make sure you get her back," the Gryffindor explained.

"Yeah, fine. Just don't say anything."

"Same to you," Ron replied, awkwardly holding his two best friends on either arm. With Malfoy's charm, they weighed barely more than a Quaffle each, Ron thought.

"Fine," Draco agreed, and they continued on their silent trek out of the Forbidden Forest.