Torn

Hermione and Neville chatted excitedly as they made their way towards the Quidditch Pitch. Neville was the perfect companion for Hermione during the matches when her two best friends had to play; he was as miserable a flyer as she was, so he understood how she felt watching Harry soar through the air as though he'd been born to do it.

They took their seats and continued their conversation about Neville's new bouncing bulbs, which Hermione found quite fascinating. Neville was the only other person in their entire house who enjoyed Herbology the way she did, and she loved talking to him about it. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they almost missed the Captains being forced to shake hands by Madam Hooch.

Hermione didn't envy the woman as she realized whom she was standing between. Harry and Malfoy exchanged unwavering glares, neither one willing to break the stare first, and when they shook hands, she was sure they were probably trying to crush each other's hands. Finally Draco yanked his hand away from Harry's and gave him a wide-eyed look. Hermione frowned. Harry couldn't have said anything - for one, she hadn't seen his mouth move. Secondly, if he had said something, surely Madam Hooch would have reprimanded him.

The boys mounted their brooms and prepared to kick off, and Hermione watched with bated breath as Madam Hooch blew her whistle. There was pandemonium for a moment as green and scarlet robes blurred together rising into the air, and then the colors separated distinctly over the pitch. Colin Creevey made his way to the goal hoops and poised himself to block any Slytherin attempts to score.

Hermione had to admit to herself that she'd been surprised when Harry had told her whom he'd chosen for Keeper; didn't Colin worship him enough already? But Harry had assured her that he'd seen him fly, and he was very good - the best that'd tried out for that position so far. She sighed and scanned the other scarlet-robed players in the air, looking for Ron and Ginny.

Dean Thomas was waving in Ron's direction, yelling something at him. Ron nodded and dove, quickly averting a bludger and saving Ginny from being knocked in the arm by it. She had no time to thank him, though, because Euan had just passed her the Quaffle, and she was speeding towards the Slytherin end of the field.

Hermione covered her mouth with her hand nervously, seeing Malcolm Baddock heading straight for Ginny. She covered her eyes with a little squeal, and heard Neville cheering. She peeked through her fingers just in time to hear Madam Hooch's whistle. Everyone stopped in midair, waiting for her to make the call.

"Foul on Slytherin chaser Baddock - blatching!" Cheers and wild screams erupted from the Gryffindor stands, and Hermione stood and stomped her feet, screaming encouragement at the top of her lungs. She saw Malfoy sneer and fly quickly to his teammate. Baddock's face turned red; she supposed that Malfoy was telling him to be sneakier about it next time - he'd been too obvious with his underhanded tactics.

Ginny still had the Quaffle, and when the whistle sounded again, she took off for the goals with renewed fervor. Dean and Dennis Creevey followed her, blocking off any Slytherin attempts to prevent her from scoring. She threw the bludger as hard as she could, and cheers went up from her housemates below as the ball zoomed past Tracey Davis with no interference. Hermione smothered a giggle; Tracey was the first Slytherin girl in ages who'd actually made the team, which meant that Malfoy had either been extremely impressed by her, or she'd bought her way onto the team somehow. She was starting to suspect the latter, considering the ease with which Ginny had scored.

Malfoy flew to Davis and began yelling and waving his arms wildly. She turned very red, and Hermione felt for the poor girl. She knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of the Malfoy anger, and she didn't envy Tracey. Malfoy resumed his position in the air, hovering above the action and waiting in hopes of catching a glimpse of the coveted snitch. Harry was more active; he couldn't stand being still, and was making low circles just below the players. Malfoy eyed him with obvious contempt. Hermione was just about to turn her attention back to Ron, who was batting at the bludger headed in Euan's direction when she caught Malfoy's shifting attention.

She watched the events as though they were unfolding in slow motion. Harry made a dive -for the snitch, she supposed - but Malfoy had turned his attention to the pretty redhead who had her back turned to him. She was watching eagerly and waiting for Dean to pass her the Quaffle, and wasn't paying attention to the snake slithering up behind her. She made eye contact with Dean, who nodded, and started to move forward. Before she could, though, Malfoy reached out and grabbed the tail of her broom, causing her to flip and dislodge herself from it. Hermione watched in horror as Ginny plummeted to the ground, and Malfoy zoomed towards the Slytherin end of the field.

Ginny's body hit the ground with a nauseating crack.

Before anybody else could get to her, Harry had turned and seen her lying motionless on the grass. He raced to her, nearly jumping off of his broom before it even neared the ground. He ran to her and lifted her head up, checking for any signs of consciousness. Madam Hooch, who had missed the entire thing, was being bombarded with loud, angry shouts from the Gryffindor players. Harry looked up angrily at Malfoy, who was standing in front of the entire Slytherin team, grinning maliciously.

Harry gave him a smile just as malicious, then held up the struggling Snitch.

It was enough to make Draco turn as green as his robes.

Madam Hooch had turned just in time to see Harry holding up the golden ball, and blew her whistle loudly. The crowd seemed to hold its collective breath as she flew up and said something to Professor McGonagall, who nodded curtly, then turned to leave the stands.

"Harry Potter catches the snitch. One hundred and fifty points to Gryffindor! Gryffindor wins!" The Gryffindors in the stands were going crazy. Hermione held onto Neville tightly, not wanting to be caught up in the crowd that was surging forth. She would have been trampled if Neville hadn't hugged her back. When the danger had passed, she let go of Neville and peered down onto the pitch, where McGonagall was approaching the Gryffindor team. Harry was clinging to Ginny as though his life depended on it, and she still hadn't moved. Hermione felt tears stinging her eyes. Please, please don't let anything serious have happened!
She looked to the Slytherin end of the field, but all she saw were the backs of the retreating team. She noted with some satisfaction that Malfoy was walking apart from the rest of them, occasionally throwing glances over his shoulder at the clump of Gryffindors.

She grabbed Neville's hand and dragged him down through the stands and across the Quidditch pitch, ignoring Ron's surprised look when he saw her approaching. She was still clutching Neville's hand tightly as she bent over Harry and Ginny.

"I saw everything," she said hurriedly. The six conscious Gryffindor players turned their eyes to her, as did Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch.

"Please elaborate, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said through thin lips. "And Mister Creevey, please go to Madam Pomfrey and let her know that Miss Weasley is on her way." Dennis nodded and took off across the pitch at breakneck speed.

"It was Malfoy," Hermione mumbled, not meeting Harry's eyes, although she could feel their heat focused on her. "He grabbed the tail of her broom, and when she tried to move, it jerked and she fell. I don't think she even knew he was behind her." Professor McGonagall nodded curtly.

"Very well. Mister Potter, I'm entrusting you to take Miss Weasley to the infirmary. The rest of you go back to the dormitory and go on about your normal business." She turned to Madam Hooch. "I'm not looking forward to speaking with Severus, Rolanda. Perhaps you could accompany me as a witness to today's events - otherwise he'll be inclined not to believe me." Madam Hooch nodded and fell into step with her as they moved towards the castle.

Harry put his hand up to reach for his wand, then realized that he didn't have it because he'd been playing the game. Hermione seemed to know what he was fumbling around for and detangled her fingers from Neville's to extract her wand from her robe.

"Mobilicorpus," she said softly, pointing her wand at Ginny. Ron was shooting daggers at Neville with his eyes, though neither Hermione nor Neville noticed it. Neville stayed at Hermione's side as she, Harry, and Ron moved with Ginny to the infirmary. The moment they walked through the door, Madam Pomfrey descended on them.

"Oh! This poor child!" she fretted, allowing Hermione to lower Ginny onto a cot. She turned and tried to shoo them away. "I need to tend to her, and there's no reason that all four of you need to be here."

"She's my sister," Ron bristled.

"She's my best friend," Hermione blurted, close to tears. Madam Pomfrey crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at Harry and Neville.

"I just followed Hermione," Neville explained, looking sheepish. He turned to leave, then looked back at Hermione. "I'll see you later." She nodded and smiled at him. Madam Pomfrey turned her eyes back to Harry.

"I'm her boyfriend," he said, his cheeks burning. She clucked her tongue softly, and Harry realized as she went about tending to Ginny that it was the first time he'd said the word out loud. A tingle of excitement went through him, until Madam Pomfrey moved to her cabinet of elixirs and potions. She chose a bluish liquid and moved back to Ginny's side. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down near Ginny's bed, but out of Madam Pomfrey's way.

"Are you sure you saw Malfoy grab her broom?" Harry asked softly. Hermione nodded.

"Positive, Harry."

"But I thought you said you told him to stay away from Harry and Ginny," Ron pointed out.

"I did, Ron."

"Well, obviously it didn't work," he huffed. Hermione glared at him. Harry would have laughed at them if the situation hadn't been so serious. They were quiet for a few moments until Ron broke the silence.

"So what's going on between you and Neville?" Harry closed his eyes and groaned as he felt Hermione tense beside him.

"Nothing, Ron. Why should there be anything going on between us? We just watched the game together, that's all," her voice was strained.

"It didn't look like that was all to me," he said, frowning. "You were holding his hand!" Hermione sighed and threw her hands up in the air.

"So what if I was, Ron? Big deal!"

"It is a big deal!" he shot back. "You were holding his hand, Hermione! Are you his girlfriend or something?"

"What if I was? Neville's the only boy who's ever really paid any attention to me, isn't he?" Ron's ears turned red at the accusation.

"He is not! Harry and I pay attention to you all the time!"

"Not the way that Neville does," she said haughtily. "He sees me as a girl, and not just one of the guys." Harry tried not to take offense to this, knowing that she was just saying it to provoke Ron. It was working, too.

"You're upsetting Harry!" Ron sputtered. It was plain to Harry that Ron was jealous, and just didn't know what to do about it. Hermione stomped her foot and angrily brushed the wetness away from her eyes with the back of her sleeve.

"I'm not upsetting Harry, Ron; I'm upsetting you, although I don't understand why! What would it matter if Neville were my boyfriend? You should be happy for me, I think. Then you wouldn't have to spend so much time around me!" She stood and fled the room, not looking back. Ron stared after her, then turned and slumped in his seat.

"Ron," Harry said gently, his eyes still on Ginny's unmoving figure. "Why don't you just tell her that you want to be her boyfriend?" Ron turned wide eyes to Harry.

"Because I don't!" he protested. Harry sighed.

"Then why are you so jealous of Neville holding her hand?" Ron paused to consider this, and had just opened his mouth to answer when a soft moan came from the cot. Harry jumped up and ran to Ginny's side. She raised a hand to touch her head gently, then winced.

"What happened?" she mumbled softly. "And why do I feel like I've been through one of Fred and George's Skiving Snackboxes?" Ron chortled and Harry grinned.

"You fell off of your broom," he said, elbowing Ron to stop him from laughing. "But it sounds like you're going to be alright."

"Did we win?" she asked, her eyes suddenly bright. She held her head up off of the pillow to look at Harry. Harry grinned, and she smiled back at him. "Excellent!" Her head fell back on the pillow, and she grimaced.

"You're going to be just fine, young lady," Madam Pomfrey announced. "Amazing, no broken bones or anything. Although you're probably going to have a rather severe headache - I suggest you take this immediately." She handed Ginny a small vial. "And if you need more, please come back and see me." Ginny nodded, and Harry helped her up off of the cot. She winced with the first few steps, but stopped as she walked more.

"Are you in much pain?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow in concern.

"Not really. I'm sore, but the more I move, the less sore I am." She glanced at Ron, and then turned back to Harry with a questioning gaze. He sighed.

"Hermione and Ron have had another row," he said. Ron's cheeks turned pink as his sister glared at him.

"Ron! Just kiss her and get it over with already!" His mouth dropped open, and Harry bit the inside of his cheek to contain his laughter.

"What are you on about?" he asked, his eyes still wide. She growled softly.

"Everyone in the entire school knows how you feel about her except you! So ask her out already, so the rest of us can get some peace finally!" Ron's mouth seemed permanently fixed in the shape of a large O. Harry chuckled softly, then put Ginny's arm around his shoulder for support. She smiled gratefully at him, and they walked the rest of the way to the seventh floor without speaking.

"Ginny! She's alright, everyone!" Dean exclaimed loudly as they entered the common room. The students who'd been waiting for her rushed towards her, and she smiled at them.

"I'm fine, I just have a headache, and I'm a little sore." Harry coughed to hide his disappointment when she removed her arm from his shoulders and sat down in a chair. He sat down in the chair next to hers, and Ron sat across from them, sulking. Harry glanced around while Ginny spoke to Colin and Dennis Creevey, and noticed that Hermione and Neville were missing. He wondered if Ron had noticed.

The purple face across from him told Harry that he had.

"Malfoy grabbed my broom?" He heard Ginny gasp. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then she turned to Harry. "Did he get fouled for blagging?" Harry shook his head.

"Madam Hooch didn't see it happen. Hermione's the one who told us what happened. She saw the whole thing." Ginny's eyes narrowed to slits, and Harry could tell from the way her lips turned white that she was thinking of ways to get back at Malfoy. He understood; the same thought had crossed his mind as well.

"But you should have seen his face when Harry held up the snitch!" Colin said, giving Harry an awed look. "He turned positively green!" Ginny beamed at Harry, and he blushed furiously. He shook his head.

"It was nothing." Ginny reached for his hand.

"It wasn't nothing," she said softly. "You're brilliant, Harry. You're the best Quidditch player Hogwarts has ever seen." He felt as though he might burst. He'd heard similar praise before, but somehow coming from her it was different. The look in her eyes made him feel as though he might really be the best, like she said he was.

"Thanks," he said softly. His cheeks felt like they were on fire, but he didn't care. He was glad just to have her near him and looking at him like that, as though he was the only other person in the room besides her. He had a sudden urge to kiss her; to touch her and hold her, just so he was sure she was real and alive. The way she looked, with her hair disheveled and still in her Quidditch uniform, she was ethereal and somehow seemed like a heavenly creature instead of the girl who had just been lying on a cot in the infirmary.

Harry was distracted from his thoughts when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned in time to see Ron bounding up the stairs, and paused, wondered if he should go after him. Ron answered his silent question a moment later when he came back downstairs, his face still dark. Ginny was staring at him as well, and then glanced around the room quickly. Harry suspected that she was looking for the same pair that her brother was. She stood and pushed her way through the people in front of her, then went to Ron's side. Harry watched as she whispered some things to him, and his face remained the same - wearing that mask of hurt and anger that he donned so often as of late.

Harry sighed. Ron was going to have to admit to himself that he had feelings that went beyond friendship for Hermione, or else he'd never get past this jealous phase that he'd been stuck in since the troll episode. He got up and moved to stand next to his friend, but froze in his spot when Hermione and Neville climbed through the portrait hole, holding hands and laughing. Ron's jaw dropped, as did Ginny's. Harry blinked, hoping he was really seeing what he thought he was. Good for Hermione, he thought. Ron will have to tell her how he feels now, or risk losing her for good.

Hermione and Neville seemed oblivious to everyone else in the room as they took a seat on the floor next to the fire, laughing and talking. They sat across from each other, their knees touching slightly. Ron's face turned an ugly shade that Harry had never seen before, and he wondered briefly if Ron was going to explode from all the pent-up feelings. He started to take a step in the direction of the laughing couple when Ginny grabbed him by the arm and yanked him out through the portrait hole. Harry scurried to follow them, not wanting to be left out of this particular conversation.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Ron asked angrily.

"What the bloody hell are you doing, is more the question," Ginny snapped, her hands on her hips. Harry remained silent - one Weasley temper was bad enough, but two of them made for a volatile situation, and he knew it.

"What? How is this my fault?" Ron simpered. She glared.

"You know you like Hermione as more than a friend, Ron! You said as much to me two summers ago!" Ron's face turned bright fuchsia and he avoided Harry's shocked look. "Why haven't you said anything to her yet?"

"I was getting around to it," he said nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to another.

"Well, you've waited too long. She's tired of waiting around for you, apparently, and she's moved on!" Ron gave her a questioning look.

"What do you mean, waiting for me?" Harry sighed and rolled his eyes, and Ron turned to look at him. "Do you know what she's talking about, Harry?"

"Ron," he said, shaking his head. He put his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes tiredly before looking back at his bewildered friend. "Remember when I said that everyone in Gryffindor but you knew who Hermione fancied?" Ron nodded.

"Well, why do you think that is, Ron?" Ginny asked, tapping her foot impatiently on the stone floor. Her shoes hit with a clack, clack, clack.

"I don't know," Ron said hotly, shrugging. Harry groaned.

"What is the only possible reason that Hermione could have for wanting to keep you in the dark about who she likes, Ron?" Harry asked. Ron frowned.

"Because she thought I'd tease her about it?" he asked hopefully. Ginny stomped angrily.

"You idiot!" she said. Ron blinked. "She didn't want you to know because it was you! She fancies you, you blind idiot!" Ron's mouth dropped open for the millionth time that day.

"She fancies..." his voice died, and he suddenly paled. "But she's in there holding hands with Neville!" Ginny nodded emphatically.

"She's moved on, Ron! You're too late!" Ron looked as though he might be sick to his stomach.

"But... Neville doesn't... and I do... and..." Suddenly he turned and ran down the hall. Harry watched as he disappeared into the loo, and turned back to Ginny.

"Wow," he said, whistling softly. She nodded and tucked vermilion strands behind her ear. He felt his stomach burning pleasantly as he looked at her. They were finally alone again... did he dare? He'd been thinking about nothing but her lips all day - and she was his girlfriend now, wasn't she? He stepped forward and touched his lips lightly to hers. She was taken by surprise, but put her hands lightly on his shoulders as he kissed her. When he pulled back, she was blushing. He loved it when she blushed and he knew he was the cause of it; her skin always glowed from the aftereffects.

"Isn't this a pretty picture," a voice drawled softly. Ginny froze instantly and closed her eyes, willing it to be someone else, but when she turned, it was the person she'd wanted to see least of all. She felt Harry tense and put a protective arm around her, then pull her close to him.

"What are you doing up here on the seventh floor, Malfoy?" Harry asked, his voice low and dangerous. The sound of the hatred he felt made Ginny shiver. Malfoy had been wise this time; Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind him, smirking stupidly. Ginny turned and buried her face in Harry's shoulder, not wanting to look at Malfoy.

"I just came to check on the littlest Weasley, Potter, and see how she's doing," he said, a malicious note in his voice. Harry's frown was so deep that Ginny was afraid it might leave permanent lines on his forehead along with his scar.

"You mean you came to see how much damage you did," Harry accused nastily. Draco arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

"I don't know what you mean, I'm sure," he said softly, his eyes glittering. Harry started to take a step forward, but stopped when Ginny clung to him. She looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Let's just go back inside," she said, jerking her head towards the portrait. Harry's jaw twitched, but he nodded. Ron came back down the hallway just as they had turned to leave, and he eyed Malfoy angrily.

"What's he doing here?" he asked. Malfoy laughed, and his cronies began to laugh with him.

"You know boys," Draco said softly, taking a step forward. Ginny instantly took a step backward, although she met his eyes defiantly. "This school has been overrun with Weasleys for far too long. Perhaps we should take steps to remedy that." Harry started to lunge forward, but Ginny and Ron both held him back.

"You lay a hand on either of them, Malfoy, and you won't live to regret it!"

"Big words, Potter," he spat, his eyes losing their spark and going cold. "From someone who can't even manage to keep his clumsy girlfriend from falling off of her own broom!"

"Sod off, Malfoy!" he hissed through clenched teeth. "We all know what knocked her off of her broom, and it wasn't clumsiness. You knew that she was going to score if she got the chance, and you stopped her the only way you could - by cheating."

"This is getting old," he said, rolling his eyes. He motioned to Crabbe and Goyle, and then turned back to Ginny. His lips curled into a cruel smile. "I told you I could get at you whenever I wanted, no matter who was around. Maybe now you'll believe me." His face turned to steel again, and then he disappeared down the hallway with the two hulking idiots behind him. Harry looked down at Ginny, who closed her eyes and swallowed hard.

"Why is he so interested in you all of a sudden?" Ron asked, still staring down the hallway. She shook her head.

"I don't know," she whispered, wondering the same thing herself.