Come On Harry

Chapter 4: Struggle and Compromise

Harry struggled to open his eyes, but his eyelids were so heavy that he just let them sit closed. His limbs felt as if they were filled with lead, and his neck felt as though it were being kept in line by a million metal bars unnaturally stuck through it. He strained himself to see light or to feel anything other than pain but was in both accounts unable.

Finally he focused his ears until he could hear jumbled noises. This didn't really help, however, and just gave Harry more of a headache, until the sounds eventually died down and he could make out two distinct voices.

"It's about time," said a low male voice, the irritation evident in his tone. Harry figured the other boy must have been about two meters on his right. "You've got quite a fan club, you know. It's hard to find you alone anymore."

A female voice answered, "Well, I'm glad you manage to. And before you go off about how much you hate all the other seventh year boys, tell me what the bloody hell happened last night."

His voice grew deeper. "What do you remember?"

"Absolutely sodding nothing. You heard me tell Madame Pomfrey that, Draco."

"How was I to know you were telling the truth?"

"Do I lie that much?" He didn't answer. "I don't remember a thing, okay? The last thing I remember was you and Ron fighting, which I'm not going to forgive you for by the way."

"Well, tah. I'm not going to apologize," Draco replied haughtily. After a few seconds, he added in a whisper, "Between you and me, Gin, you were put under a spell." Harry struggled to move his fingers in vain. "When I found you... in the forest... Gin, your skin was boiling hot. That's a sure sign that you were under a spell at some time last night."

Ginny answered desperately, "I don't remember..."

"You're fine now. Aren't you?"

She made a disgusted noise. "I've got a god-awful headache."

"Hmm, Madame Pomfrey didn't ask you why you were so hot, then. I find it hard to believe that she wouldn't have noticed." He paused, thinking. "And though an uptight witch who's particularly nasty to me, she's no simpleton. She knows you were under a spell. She probably just didn't want to put further weight on you by pointing it out." He paused and drew in breath. "Do you have any enemies?"

Ignoring him, Ginny cried, "Ugh, I hate this. It makes me feel completely out of control. I wish I remembered..."

"Maybe you will if I tell you what happened."

She took her time answering. "I was under the impression that you didn't know."

"I know what happened with me and Weasley. Well nothing happened really. We were just looking for you, and he got us lost, the prat, and then we saw a silver light. Do you remember a silver light?"

Harry remembered a silver light. He and Hermione had seen it, too. He wanted to tell Ginny, to help her, but he couldn't move his lips.

"...no, I don't," she said.

"I found you around the same spot it was coming from. A little ways off. Potter and Granger were near it. There was nothing there, though, as we got closer. The light went out."

"What do you suppose is wrong with Harry then? Madame Pomfrey told me Hermione hit her head on a rock... that explains why she was out. But what about Harry? He's not even awake yet. Madame Pomfrey says he's very ill."

Draco sighed. "So you care about the old wanker again, do you?"

"I never stopped." Harry's left pinky jutted out very quickly, but neither Draco nor Ginny noticed. "Why would I have?"

Ignoring her question, he sneered, "You've just got a little charming place in your heart for everyone, don't you?"

"Oh shut up, Draco. You're just jealous that he likes me and not you."

After a pause of silence, he responded in a flat tone, "That's not even funny."

"It wasn't meant to be," she added quickly.

There was silence for a minute or so, and Harry found he could move both wrists and wiggle his toes.

Ginny's voice sounded much more devious now. "We're on a bed, you know."

The Slytherin boy laughed. "Oh, ho. And you say I'm the horny one?"

"Come on, Draco. I'm in a horrible mood; the least you could do is cheer me up."

As he heard them quickly kiss, Harry clenched his fists.

Draco's voice was lower now. "You know I want to, baby, but... we don't know who has lain in, pissed on, or been sick all over this bed."

"She changes the sheets, Draco."

Quickly, he responded, "What if she were to walk in?"

"Since when do you care," she asked softly.

Draco snorted. "Potter is two beds over."

She started to laugh. "Still thinking about him?"

"So are you," he said irritably.

Harry heard them kiss again, before Ginny promptly asked, "Do you always think of him while we're snogging?"

In jest, he said, "Why, don't you?" They kissed again, this time slower.

"Not most of the time."

"Well, me neither, you vixen." She laughed. "So, only sometimes then? Hmm, well, it's something. You fancy him. You must. You sure as ruddy hell don't think about Michael Corner while we're snogging. Or Terry Boot, or... who's the other dark-haired bloke in love with you? Oh yeah, there are about fifty of those, but I was specifically thinking of Anthony Goldstein. I hate that speccy git." He paused to sigh. "Point being, Gin, you fancy Potter."

"Shut it now."

"No, I don't blame you. You know I don't," he said with an undertone that Harry didn't quite understand the meaning of. Suddenly, however, Draco's voice grew louder, and Harry could sense the other boy's shadow overhead. "Harry Sodding Potter," he drawled, moving closer with every word. "Such a perfect specimen. Saves the wizarding world from all evil, and still has time to catch the snitch and my lady's heart."

Harry felt a cold hand on his face.

"You're just oh so vulnerable at this very moment," Draco continued, his cold hand gliding down Harry's cheek and neck and resting on his collarbone. "I could do whatever I want to you right now and no one would ever know."

"I would," Ginny pointed out dully from the other bed. Harry couldn't believe his ears. Was she that disinterested in Draco hurting him? Didn't she care at all? Had she swtiched sides?

"But you already know how I feel about the sod," the Slytherin answered, suddenly placing his other hand in Harry's hair, playing lightly with a few strands. Harry pricked up, ready to attack Malfoy if he tried anything. But rather than hear a murmured incantation, Harry felt a pair of cold lips on his.

His eyes flew open faster than it had taken him to realize what had just happened. He felt a certain spark still left over on his lips as he watched the Slytherin back away quickly, his eyes wide in shock. "What the hell were you doing?" Harry shouted before he could think of anything else to say.

He stared at the blonde boy in front of him, the fear apparent in his face. It wore away as a few seconds passed, and Draco again combed his hair back with his hand and jutted out his jaw to look menacing. "Can't you guess, wonder boy?" he finally answered with a smirk.

Ginny tried to contain her laughter and shock. Harry finally saw her, lying down in bed, her long red hair reaching the bottom of her breasts, clad in a white and green plaid boys' pajama. After all his years in the hospital wing, it was the first time that Harry noticed that the pajamas Madam Pomfrey provided looked an awful lot like Slytherin colors... and Ginny looking daringly traitorous in them.

Harry spun his head back towards Draco. "Why'd you kiss me?" he spit out.

"Well I hardly thought you'd notice, being asleep and all," Draco answered truthfully.

"What the bloody hell is going on? Are you trying to play a trick on me? Some kind of joke?" He looked towards Ginny, who suddenly stopped giggling. "Well, it's not funny."

"Come on, Harry," Ginny urged. "Just calm down." She looked towards Draco questioningly and Harry watched as they exchanged gestures. Ginny turned back towards him as he let out a frustrated sigh. "Draco's just... What do you remember about last night, Harry?"

"Don't change the subject here." He suddenly sat straight up, ignoring the piercing pain in his lower back. "Malfoy just kissed me; I want some answers."

Draco turned his face away from Harry's prying eyes, but not before Harry was able to spot how red it had gotten.

Ginny slid one slender leg out from under the covers, then the other. She placed both feet hesitantly on the floor. Slowly she opened her mouth. "He fancies you."

"What?" Draco and Harry yelled at the same time.

Draco approached her, looking suddenly very tall. "Bloody wench! If I weren't a gentleman, I'd strike you across the face." His hands remained at his sides, trembling ever so slightly.

Ginny stood up defiantly. "You're not a gentleman, so go ahead," she replied icily. Draco didn't move. "Admit it to him then," she added after a few seconds.

Moving less than a centimeter per second, the Slytherin boy shifted his body to face Harry. His mind moved quickly to find the right words, but he found himself silent, facing the other boy's expectant eyes.

Harry shook his head hard, trying to fit everything together. He pointed to Draco suddenly. "You don't hate me?"

"No," the blonde boy shouted, appearing outraged at the possibility of not hating Harry Potter. "'Course I do."

"What?" Harry asked.

Draco sat down, now looking very small next to Ginny, who was standing up in his place. He put his head in his hands and said as if ashamed, "You're bloody well fit, Potter. Have you looked in a mirror this year?" Lifting his head, he spat, "Actually, I know you haven't, seeing as how your hair and robes are always in such a miserably unkempt state."

Ginny tugged on the sleeve of Draco's white collared shirt. "Can you give a compliment without throwing in an insult? Or is it not part of your Malfoy nature?"

"Don't mock me, woman."

She pretended to kick him and Harry shouted out, "How do you two get along? You... don't."

"So?" They said together, each looking at Harry with a different expression.

Harry tried to put his feet on the floor. It was cold as ice, and he suddenly felt extremely nauseous. Standing for the first time, he stretched out his arms. "I'm too confused right now. First you reject me, then you tell me your boyfriend likes me. And I'm not even going to think about the fact that he's Malfoy at this point. I'm going for a walk, so if you'll excuse me..."

"I'm still here you know," Draco muttered with his arms folded, clearly annoyed.

"Harry, don't go," Ginny called. She ran over to him, while Draco sat back on the bed.

The Gryffindor boy turned back around as Ginny laid an arm on his shoulder. He stared at her face for a moment before looking away. "Let me go, please."

"No. You've got to listen."

"I don't particularly want to, Ginny." He looked at her sharply.

She glanced back at Draco, who was now fully lying on the bed, looking dejected. "Look," she whispered. "You occupy eighty percent of our conversations. That's not really a coincidence, Harry. We both fancy you. And...I want you to consider us..."

"Consider you... both?" His eyes grew dark and he started to yell, "And consider what exactly? What the bloody hell is this, anyway, Ginny? If he's got you playing jokes on me now, you're already too far gone."

She glared at him and said acidly, "Stop it, Harry. I'm serious."

There was a moment of silence, and then Draco stuck his head up and said, "It's okay if he doesn't want it, Ginny. Can't very well force the bloody wanker." He stood up and approached the other two. "Of course, I'll find a way eventually," he added, in a sinister way.

Harry lifted his head, and felt Ginny's arm slide off his shoulder. He gulped.

"Don't tell me you didn't like that kiss," Draco said, his hair sparkling in the faint light floating through the window.

The Gryffindor boy fought the urge to put his hands up to his lips. "Don't be ridiculous," he spat. "You're so utterly disgusting."

The Slytherin boy fumed. "And you're a liar."

***

There were several reasons why Ronald Weasley could not sleep. First, it was in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. Second, Hermione was laid out on top of him, not particularly worried about crushing him now that she was asleep. Third, the fact that he knew that Hermione's knickers had been shoved somewhere under the bedcovers earlier in the day and had not been found after a cursory search meant that Hermione was currently not wearing anything under her nightgown, and this led Ron's mind to wander.

Unlike Harry and Ginny, Hermione had returned from the hospital wing that very morning, back to normal health. As far as Ron knew, neither Harry nor Ginny was awake yet. And as much as it was worrying him, he was overjoyed that Hermione had decided to stay and keep him company while he stressed out about it.

He nudged her shoulder with his nose softly, then more forcefully when she didn't respond. "Hermione," he whispered.

"Hmm..." She turned to face him, keeping her eyes shut.

"Hermione? You really that tired? Because if you sleep now, you won't be able to sleep tonight," he said, unsure if she was listening.

She reached her arms up and crossed them around the back of his neck, stretching. "That was a nice nap," she said, looking perfectly contented.

"Well I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," he responded, lying back against the maroon bedcovers. He was glad the curtains were pulled shut although it was silent, so he was certain there was no one else in the room.

Hermione rested her head on Ron's chest and sighed. "I wish I could stay like this forever."

"Believe me, me too." He caught her eye and they stared at each other awkwardly for a moment before he looked away. "Er... maybe we should go see if Harry and Ginny are awake yet."

She had already found her knickers from under the covers but was not able to put them on without elbowing Ron slightly. "Sorry," she said quickly. Then after clearing her throat, she added, "Excellent idea. I'm sure they're up now."

Ron hadn't moved yet. "Hermione," he called, looking straight ahead. She glanced towards him and was about to answer when she saw the determined look on his face. "Hermione, maybe we shouldn't go quite yet. I'm a - I'm a bit... not ready."

"Didn't you sleep at all?" she asked, turning towards him. When he didn't answer, she grazed her fingertips over the bags under his eyes. "I suppose not."

He smiled with her touch, and leaning forward, grabbed her wrist quickly and brought her closer to him. Her head was tucked neatly now in between his chin and collar bone and he could feel her calm breathing on his chest. Glancing down, he noticed her eyes watering. "Hermione? What's...?"

She looked up towards him and wiped her eyes quickly. "I..." she paused and searched Ron's face for a sign of understanding. "I want this," she finally said hesitantly, her face flushing as the seconds passed.

But he jumped in quickly. "Me too. And Harry doesn't even care, it would be fine."

"But, Ron," she said as if reminding him of something he ought to know, "It would ruin our friendship."

He looked towards her now, certain that she was going to bring that up. He reached out to her chin and made her face him. "I hate to say this, 'Mione. But our friendship is already ruined."

Her cheeks flushed even more red. "Don't say that!"

He leaned down towards her, their eyes now at the same level. "There's really no going back to the way things were before," he whispered, his breath brushing against her cheek softly. "I - I fancy you. And there's no changing it."

***

Ron swung upon the door to the hospital wing a little too hastily, almost knocking down Hermione who was trailing behind him. When he saw Harry and Ginny standing up, he shouted gleefully and ran to greet them. He gave Ginny a light hug because he wasn't sure whether he were angry with her or not, and he patted Harry on the back with an encouraging, "I'm glad you're okay, mate."

Harry attempted to smile back, Hermione noted, but there seemed to be a strange tension in the room. They all sat down, Hermione thought, in an attempt to talk excitedly about the night before, trying to put as many clues together as possible. However after a while it seemed that only Hermione and Ron were in the mood to talk.

Ginny was sitting silently with her legs crossed, trying not to look at either Ron or Harry. Her skin looked more pale than usual; many of her freckles had faded and her hair stood out against her face.

Harry looked bothered, crossing his arms fiercely across his chest. It was clear that he was refusing to speak to Ginny, but only Ron didn't seem to notice this.

"Well, what do you all remember? Ginny, there's bloody well got to be something you remember." She didn't respond. "Harry? Anything different than what Hermione just told us?"

"Naw," he answered laconically. "Same."

"Alright well...maybe we ought to ask Madame Pomfrey what she thought of your illnesses. It would give us more information, right?" Ron added, hopefully.

Hermione looked towards him, worried. "And we could start researching in the library, too, about silver lights and such." Ron nodded, but no one else moved. "Okay, Ron, why don't you and I start? Er... the two of you can just... rest."

"Sounds like a good plan," Ron said, finally catching on. He looked from his sister to Harry and back again, shuddering at the unpleasant sight. "C'mon then, 'Mione," he said looking desperately towards her.

Before they walked out, Hermione reached in the pocket of her robes and pulled out the gold bracelet that she and Harry had found the night before. Ginny looked towards it and said, "Oh. I was wondering where that went. I didn't remember lending it to you, that's odd..."

"Harry and I found it in the forest last night. It's yours then?" she asked and walked towards Ginny.

"Oh. Yes. Thank you, Hermione." She smiled lightly.

Hermione slipped it onto Ginny's left arm slowly. She heard Harry gulp. Ginny looked up and blushed as Hermione put her arm back down. "Your wrists are so skinny," Hermione said, looking into Ginny's brown eyes. "No wonder it fell right off."

"Yeah. I s'pose," the redhead said, still blushing. Hermione had not said anything about Malfoy yet, although Ginny was certain she knew and was most likely not very pleased about it. What a good friend, she thought to herself. "I'm sorry," she shouted suddenly.

Hermione turned around. "For what, Gin?"

Ginny shifted her feet. "It's my fault. All of it. For what happened last night. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Ginny. Trust me. If anyone's, it's Ron," she said, smiling towards Ron, who didn't look too thrilled.

But Ginny stepped forward. "And Draco's. And mine."

Hermione realized she was apologizing for more than last night. She didn't know what to say for a moment, but then she lifted her head and said reassuringly, "It's okay, Ginny."

Ron looked like he wanted to agree that it was Malfoy's fault, but instead Hermione pulled him out of the infirmary in a flash.

When they were gone, Ginny looked towards Harry. "I really am sorry," she said in a low voice to him.

He looked away. "Don't apologize to me, Ginny," he replied in an indescribable tone.

"What do you want me to do then? Yes, last night was my fault. And yes, it's my fault that I'm dating Draco. But it's hardly my fault that he likes you, and... that I like you." He didn't say anything in response, so she added in a nasty tone, "And it's definitely not my fault that you're acting like a baby."

He turned around to face her now. "Me?" He fumed. "What, did you think we were all just going to give you our blessing? Do you think his family will either?"

She put her arms on her hips and faced him boldly. "I don't care what his family thinks. And of course I knew you weren't going to be pleased, but when I'm around Draco, none of it seems to matter." She looked out the window.

Harry uncrossed his arms and let them fall to his side. "So you like me then. And you know that I like you...." He tapered off, hoping that she'd finish his sentence for him.

She turned around quickly. "I have no idea what to do, either."

Harry moved closer to her, his eyes more inviting now as he attempted to speak. "Is there any way, that... that you and I can... that we - "

His body was close to hers now and she could feel the heat coming from him. Placing her index finger on his chest and pressing it meaningfully against his pajama, she said, "It's going to take a lot more than that if you want to be with me." He questioned her with his eyes, then watched her mouth as she said slowly and forcefully, "If you want to be with me, you have to be with him, too." She watched his face for any sign of an expression. "So what's it going to be?"

There were a few seconds of silence, then Harry stepped backwards, apparently overwhelmed. He brushed his hand through his hair quickly. Then he said heavily, "God, Ginny." He paused, taking in a deep breath. "Well, I think th - "

The infirmary door swung open and Parvati Patil stepped in, looking as if she were headed out to a club as usual. Her tight glittering sleeveless shirt was held up by her full breasts, while her skirt was more than a foot about her knee. "Harry." His attention was immediately drawn away from the redhead in front of him as he turned to face Parvati. "I was so devastated when I found out you were sick. I had to come by."

He stepped further away from Ginny. "Yeah, well, I'm okay now, thanks."

"Oh, posh," Parvati said, nearing with every second. She laid a bracelet-ed hand on his shoulder and spoke slowly and as usual, seductively. "Sit down, you must be exhausted."

Gulping, he replied, "Actually, I am, so I think I will sit down." He placed a hand on his bed before sitting to make sure he wouldn't stumble and fall in front of the two girls now staring at him. He noted as he crossed his legs that Parvati seemed to be ignoring Ginny's existence and that Ginny looked thoroughly annoyed by this. "So...erm, how's everything?"

Parvati was already sitting beside him, her hand nearing his thigh. "I watched the game yesterday, Harry. It was thrilling, to say the least."

"And to say the most?" he joked, hoping at once that she wouldn't answer.

In response to the few seconds of silence, Ginny stepped in. "Parvati, if you don't mind, Harry and I were actually in the middle of a conversation. One that had a purpose, you know."

Parvati looked up through her dark brown eyes as if she had just noticed Ginny standing there. "Well I hardly think it's fair for you to tell me to leave when I've only just arrived. Besides, I was here to see Harry, so he should be the one to tell me to leave. If that's what he wants." Both girls looked at him expectantly, each moving closer, until Parvati's hand was gliding up his thigh and Ginny's legs were nearly touching Harry's.

At that moment the infirmary door opened again. "Oh, Mr. Potter!" an older female voice said. Harry turned around and saw Madam Pomfrey rush over towards him with a tiny instrument in her hand that he couldn't quite see. Both girls immediately flew a few meters away from him as the mediwitch approached. "Open your mouth, dear." Harry complied, and she stuck the instrument in his mouth and then quickly out again. She stared at the instrument for a moment before saying, "You have a fever. Get in bed and bid your visitors farewell for now."

"Sorry, Parvati," he said, turning towards her, feeling eternally grateful that Madam Pomfrey had interrupted them when she had.

Parvati pulled her skirt down a bit. "It's fine. I'll see you later. In class, perhaps," she said, looking meaningfully at Ginny, who understood that she would not be in class with them. After smiling one last time at Harry, Parvati walked out of the hospital wing, swinging her hips exaggeratedly.

"Miss Weasley, I told you to stay in bed as well." Harry couldn't help smile a little.

Ginny crossed her arms. "But I don't have a fever, Madam Pomfrey."

"That may be so, Miss Weasley, but you're still weak. I'll let you know when you are free to go, but it might not be for some time. Also, your Head of House informed me that you two will be receiving detentions once you leave the hospital wing." She gave them both a certain look. "So I expect lying in bed sounds a lot more pleasant now, doesn't it?"

"Detentions for what?" Ginny asked because Harry was too tired to.

"Why, for being out of bed after hours, not to mention, going into the Forbidden Forest. I don't imagine they will let the five of you off easily. It was a very silly thing to do. Look how much damage you caused yourselves." She paused to sigh. "But children will be children, and I suppose we ought to be grateful that you are both all right. And Miss Granger, as well." She watched as Ginny slowly climbed into bed, still wearing the plaid pajamas. "But don't trouble yourselves. Just rest and focus on getting better. I'll bring you both your medicines in about an hour. Right now I have to help Severus with a few things, but if you really need something, just tell Mr. Audwilde on the north wall and he will inform me," she said, pointing to an old graying wizard in a wooden picture frame, who at the moment, appeared to be eating chocolate covered strawberries.

Harry replied at once, "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."

"Yes, thank you very much," Ginny added, slowly putting her head down on the pillow. The second Madam Pomfrey left the room, Ginny sat back up again and started to throw back her covers. Harry gave her a confused glance. "You didn't honestly think I was going to stay in bed, did you?" she asked, seeing his face.

He furrowed his brow then looked back up at her. "Malfoy must have rubbed off on you more than I thought."

"Oh, stop it with that, Harry. Maybe you just didn't know me well enough before now. But I grew up in a family of all boys, and a lot of them at that... you don't think that perhaps Fred and George may have had an influence on me? 'No, it must be Malfoy. He must the bad influence on Ginny.'" She stepped towards him now, pointing her index finger straight ahead. "Well, you know what, Harry? I don't let anyone control me anymore. Not Draco, not my brothers, not even you. So if you absolutely refuse to be with Draco and me, then there's no way that I'm going to change my current situation just to be with you."

Harry sat up now. "Ginny, geez, no need to get so worked up."

"Worked up, am I? Whose fault is that?" She crossed her arms.

For the first time, Harry noticed all the flowers by the side of Ginny's bed. Each bouquet was bigger than the next, with more elaborate ribbons which glimmered and flashed messages which read "Get Well Soon" and "I Love You". "Look, I'm sorry," he finally said to her, his hands shaking. "I can see now that you won't let anyone push you around. And that's good. I really like that in a..." he gulped, "...a woman."

Ginny uncrossed her arms and looked at once pacified.

"But I just have to think about this a bit more," he continued, now looking down at his large hands from all angles. "I'm not really sure - "

"Just let me know," she replied almost amiably, walking past the foot of his bed. She gave him a quick wink as she passed by, which he would have missed had he not been watching her attentively. "Okay? See you in an hour." Not waiting for an answer, she opened the hospital wing door and greeted a dark-haired boy outside with a hug. "Oh, Anthony. How nice of you to stop by!" he heard her say before the door slammed shut.

Harry put his head back on the rock-hard pillow and tried not to think.