Torn

Draco sat with his legs hanging over the edge of his bed, staring at the vial of liquid that was rolling around in the palm of his hand. Why would she have needed Pepperup potion? He wondered. She looked fine - happy, really. Especially since she'd gotten together with Saint Potter.

He toyed with the cork that stoppered the thin tube closed and stared vacantly at the stone wall in front of him. Echoes of his father's voice bounced around in his head; ghosts of things he'd been told in the not-so-long-ago past. Weasleys are filthy creatures. Disgraces to the wizarding world, really. This school has been overrun with them for far too long. He winced; that last comment had been in his own voice.

Would Ginny Weasley poison him? He looked back down at the vial and slid his thumb up along its smoothness. She was too sweet; too pure to poison anyone. She was almost as pure as Potter himself - they belonged together. He frowned at himself. Why was he allowing himself to be ruled by his emotions? And over a muggle-loving Weasley, no less? He pulled the cork out of the vial and downed it quickly before rolling onto his back and staring at the ceiling.

**

"Ginny, are you alright?" Harry's green eyes were full of concern. She smiled and nodded at him.

"I'm fine," she said, patting his hand reassuringly. He smiled and the concern melted away. He looked back down at the Charms essay he'd been attempting to work on for the last half hour. He, Ginny, and Ron had been sitting at the corner table, working on different assignments. Where Hermione had disappeared to, no one seemed to know. Ron had been fuming all night about it, too. Harry looked up and quirked an eyebrow when Ron threw his quill down on the table, disgusted. Ginny didn't even look up from her book.

"That's the third one in a half hour, Ron," she commented. He glared at her, and then eyed his broken quill.

"Why don't you just go look for her?" Harry suggested, glad that for once, Ron was the one having girl problems, and not him.

"Why don't you tell me where she is, Harry?" Ron asked, leaning forward on the table. Harry blinked.

"What makes you think I know where she is?"

"You might not, but your map would." Realization dawned on Harry, and he nodded. He reached into his bookbag and cast a furtive glance around the library to make sure that no one was watching. When he was sure that they were quite alone, he tapped his wand against the seemingly blank parchment.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he whispered. Lines and dots began to appear all over the parchment, and Harry had to squint to discern the writing. His eyes scanned for her name, looking in all of her favorite places. Ginny was peering over at the parchment with growing interest. Harry's mouth went dry when his eyes finally fell on the dot marked "H. Granger." He looked up at Ron, who was waiting expectantly.

"Well?"

"Ron," he started, shaking his head. Ron shook his head and grabbed the map from Harry. He let out a tiny hiss and his eyes narrowed.

"She's with Neville again?" He gritted his teeth, and Ginny winced. If he kept grinding them like that, he would surely break them. When she pointed this fact out to him, he glared angrily at her.

"Ron, maybe it's not what it looks like," Harry said gently, taking the map from him. He raised his wand, but Ginny placed her hand on his to stop him. She peered closer and her heart began to speed up. The dot labeled "D. Malfoy" was coming towards the library. Her face paled as she dropped her hand, and Harry tapped the parchment with his wand. "Mischief managed," he whispered. The parchment went blank, and he shoved it into his bookbag again.

"Maybe we should go and see what's going on with her," Ginny suggested, wanting to get away from the library as quickly as possible. Harry nodded and began gathering his things, and she turned and hid her face from him as she did the same.

What was the sudden interest that Malfoy seemed to take in her? She felt sure that he had a darker motive for wanting to get to know her, and she was also fairly certain that it had something to do with Harry. She fumed silently as she cleaned up the broken quills that Ron had shoved carelessly onto the floor. She would not be used as a pawn in Malfoy's sick little game, whatever it was! She would turn the game on him before she'd let him get to Harry!

She grabbed her things and turned to walk away from the table, running headfirst into the person she wanted to see least of all. The force of the collision had knocked them both to the ground. Ginny raised a hand to her throbbing temple and lifted her eyes. For the briefest of moments, their eyes met. She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth at the look of pained amusement that he wore, and then felt a hand reaching down to help her up. She clambered to her feet, seeing out of the corner of her eye that Draco did the same.

"What's the matter, Malfoy?" Ron asked, feeling particularly venomous. "Couldn't see her bright red hair in the light of the library?" Malfoy gave him an odd look, then a curtain of coldness descended across his face.

"Is it my fault that your sister is an even bigger klutz than you, Weasel?" he drawled, being careful not to meet her eyes. Ron's face turned pink.

"Ron, don't waste your time," Harry said. "We've got better things to do, remember?" Draco turned cold eyes to Harry and immediately wished he hadn't. Potter raised a protective hand and pressed it to the small of Ginny's back. The warmth of it spread through her like wildfire, and she gazed up at him. Draco wanted to retch; there was that look again - the look that Potter was totally oblivious to.

"What's the matter, Potter?" Draco forced his voice to sound condescending. Ginny gave him an odd look - did she hear the falseness, the lack of conviction behind his words? "Afraid if you stay here much longer, your girlfriend might trade you in for a real man?" Harry's fists clenched instinctively, but Ginny put a soft hand on his arm. He looked down at her and she smiled softly at him, and then touched his cheek with her hand. Before Harry or Draco knew what was happening, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against Harry's, wrapping her arms around his neck. Ron turned his head, his face turning a funny shade of green.

When Ginny stopped kissing Harry and pulled away to look at him, she was surprised by the raw desire reflected in his eyes. Her heart was in her throat; she'd felt it, too. For the moment she was tempted to forget that anyone else was standing there and just snog him senseless, but then she remembered why she'd done it. She turned and looked back at Draco, who was gaping openly.

"I don't think Harry has anything to worry about," she said sweetly. Draco blinked as the trio brushed past him - had she winked at him?

"Okay, Ginny," Ron started, putting a defensive hand in the air. "I know that you probably just kissed Harry back there to prove a point to Malfoy, but did you have to do it in front of me?" He whined. She giggled and Harry chuckled softly.

"Oh, Ron, grow up!" she laughed. "You were going to see it eventually anyway, you know." Harry blushed slightly, and she smiled to herself. He was so sweet!

"All I know is that seeing it once was too much," Ron shook his head. "I never want to see it again."

"Oh really?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. Harry stopped just short of running into her, since she had suddenly stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. "What happens when you and Hermione kiss?" Ron's face turned purple.

"I can't snog Hermione," he whispered, his stomach doing nervous somersaults. "It just wouldn't be ... right."

"You like her, don't you?" Harry asked. Ron nodded.

"You mean to tell me that you've never imagined what it might be like to snog her?" Ginny asked, crossing her arms over her chest in disbelief. When the tops of Ron's ears began to turn red, Ginny smiled with satisfaction and began walking again. "That's what I thought."

They headed towards the Room of Requirement in silence. Hermione and Neville were both inside, according to the map. Harry took a deep breath, then pushed the door open. Two very surprised sets of eyes looked back up at him, and Hermione jumped to her feet.

"Harry!" she breathed. Neville was sitting on a large armchair, a book open in his lap. Hermione was standing in the middle of a pile of books, looking for a way to push them aside so she could walk. Ron poked his head around the door and pushed his way into the room, looking around in confusion.

"You mean you're just studying?" he asked quietly. Hermione's eyes flickered from Harry to Ron, and her expression hardened.

"Of course we are, Ron! What did you think we'd be doing, snogging each other senseless?" Neville blushed at this and cast his eyes back down towards his Herbology book. Ron had the good sense to look embarrassed, and Ginny poked her head beneath Harry's arm. She smiled brightly.

"Hi Neville!" He looked up and waved feebly. Harry bit his tongue to keep from laughing as Neville gathered his things. He shot an apologetic look at Hermione before pushing past Harry and Ginny. When he was gone, Ron looked up at her.

"Well, how was I supposed to know you were studying?" he asked angrily. "You were holding his hand earlier, so how did I know you weren't in here snogging?" Her face turned red.

"Because we weren't, Ron, that's why! And for the second time today, why do you even care? What would it matter if we had been?"

"It does matter!" he protested, sputtering.

"Why?" she asked, pursing her lips.

"Because you shouldn't be snogging Neville, you should be snogging me!" he yelled. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny's jaws all dropped at the same time. Slowly realization washed over Ron and he felt his stomach churning. "Wait, I didn't mean... I mean, I didn't ... I mean ..." his voice faded. He squeezed his eyes shut and wished he could suck the words back in.

"R-Ron," Hermione stuttered, her hands dropping to her sides. "Did you just say-"

"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "I-I didn't mean to say that." Harry and Ginny were watching with bated breath, and she didn't realize she was squeezing his arm with anticipation. Hermione looked down at her feet wordlessly, her face crimson. Ron shuffled his feet and sighed noisily, causing Hermione to raise her eyes cautiously to his. Her blush deepened, but she didn't look away.

"Ron, did you mean that? What you just said?" He couldn't find his voice, so he nodded. She took a hesitant step towards Ron. When he didn't run away from her, she took another, and another, until she was standing right in front of him. He watched her with bated breath until she was almost nose-to-nose with him.

"I don't want you to snog Neville," he said, his voice barely audible. She blushed again.

"I don't want me to snog Neville, either," she whispered back. She bit her bottom lip, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Hermione, I like you, as -" he paused as he was considering the impact his words might have. "As more than a friend, and I don't want you to have any other boyfriends except me." The words came out in a rush and jumbled together, but Hermione had heard every last syllable. Tears flooded her eyes, and Ron gave Harry a helpless look. Harry just shrugged and tried not to smile.

"You idiot!" she said, stomping her foot lightly. Ron blinked in surprise. "If you'd just told me that as soon as you knew you felt that way, we could have avoided this whole situation!" Then, without warning, she threw her arms around Ron's neck and squeezed. He turned a red face to his sister and best friend.

"Erm... do you two suppose you could... give us a little privacy?" His ears were scarlet. Harry sniggered softly as Ginny nodded and pulled him away from the door.

"Wasn't that sweet?" Ginny sighed, a dreamy smile playing at her lips. Harry reached for her hand, and when he caught it in his, she blushed.

"I'm just glad Ron finally told her. Maybe now we can get some peace," he said, chuckling softly. She beamed at him, and he was suddenly overcome with the urge to feel her lips on his. He stopped walking, and she turned when he tugged on her hand. He pointed to his left, and when she looked, she blushed again. "Remember this?"

"How can I forget, Harry? That's where we kissed for the first time," she looked down, and then looked back up at him through the fringe of her lashes. He grinned wickedly, then pushed the door to the classroom open and pulled her inside.

"Ginny, I-" he took a deep breath to steady himself, then decided against declaring his feelings to her. She'd probably think he was insane anyway. What did he know about love? He'd never had anyone to love - his parents were gone, Sirius was gone, and he sure as hell didn't love the Dursleys. How could he know if the emotions that coursed through him were love?

Because you know, a small voice in his mind protested. It's because you've never loved anyone before that you know you do now. His heart began to pound madly as he slipped his arms around her waist and drew her to him. Her breath caught in her throat at the look in his eyes. With every moment they maintained eye contact, she could feel herself falling deeper into him.

He watched as her eyes closed slowly, and his eyes drifted down to her lips. They were parted breathlessly, awaiting his kisses. His mouth descended on hers lightly, and he shuddered as her hands came to rest on his shoulders. For some reason Harry couldn't explain, this sweet, simple contact was no longer enough for him. He hesitated for a moment, and then timidly touched his tongue to her lips. She opened to him immediately, and his head became foggy as he drank of her sweetness.

Harry's tongue was creating havoc for Ginny. She had wanted this for so very long, and almost wanted to cry with relief when he finally touched his tongue to her lips. She was amazed and excited and nervous and overjoyed all at once, and felt that she might smother under the weight of her emotions. She was dying, but so sweetly.

Harry pulled her closer to him, and she gasped into the kiss before relaxing again. They were so close that she didn't know where she ended and he began. His hand moved from her waist up her back, then to the back of her neck, where he gently wrapped his fingers in her scarlet locks. She shivered, and his mouth dropped from hers to trail fiery kisses down her neck. His lips scorched the creamy skin of her throat, and she was sure that if she lived through this that her neck would be burnt from the heat of his mouth.

He licked her neck gently, savoring the taste of her. She smelt of raspberries and jasmine, and he couldn't get enough of it. He didn't know what had come over him - suddenly all he wanted to do was consume her and make her wholly his. She moaned softly when his lips found the sensitive spot at the base of her throat, and gooseflesh rose on his skin. He stopped and looked up at her with clouded eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes falling on her lips. They were still glistening from his kisses. "I didn't mean to go this far, I just wanted a kiss."

"I'm not sorry," she breathed raggedly. He was sorely tempted to forget that they were in a Hogwarts classroom after curfew, but his fear of getting her into trouble quashed that thought. He reached out a hand and pressed his palm to her cheek, marveling at its smoothness. She leaned her face into his hand, and then kissed his palm. Tiny waves of heat washed over him, and he slid his hand down her arm, and then laced his fingers through hers.

"Bruja," he whispered. "You have bewitched me, Ginny Weasley." She didn't remember to blush as she gave him the softest of smiles.

"Is that Spanish?" she asked quietly, as he led her out of the classroom. He nodded. "Where did you learn it?"

"I got bored this summer, and since I was stuck at the Dursleys' house, I didn't have much else to do but read. Hermione'd be proud of me, really. I finally read Hogwarts: A History." He grinned and led her up a flight of stairs.

"So you taught yourself Spanish?" she asked, surprised.

"Not exactly," he said. "I managed to learn a few choice words from the book, but that's about it." She laughed as they reached the fat lady's portrait.

"So you cheated," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"Something like that," he nodded, grinning. He turned back to the portrait and whispered the password. They clambered through the opening into the common room, and were greeted by silence. Harry blinked, then turned to look at Ginny. "I guess we're later than I thought."

"I wonder if Ron and Hermione have managed to tear themselves apart and make it back," she mused out loud. He grinned and raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know... they've both been holding this in for an awful long time. Maybe they'll stay there and snog all night!"

"But Hermione isn't much of a rule breaker," she reasoned, smiling. He considered this for a moment, and then shrugged.

"Either way, let's just hope that tonight marks the beginning of the end of the fighting."

"You know it won't, Harry. Now that they've declared their feelings, the arguments will probably get worse." He winced.

"Worse? Oh, don't even say that - they're bad enough now, I can't imagine them getting worse!" She giggled, and he squeezed her hand. Her breath caught in her throat as he gently tugged on her hand, urging her closer. He bent down and placed a tender kiss on her lips, then pulled away to look at her. "I hope I didn't push you too far tonight."

"You were the perfect gentleman," she said, smiling softly up at him. "I know you would never force me to do anything I didn't want to do. I trust you, Harry."

"I trust you, too," he said. As the words slipped out of his mouth, he knew they were true. He trusted her implicitly; he would trust her with his life, just as he would Ron and Hermione. He bent down for another kiss. His lips had just brushed hers when the portrait hole opened.

"Oh no," a voice whined. Harry smiled against Ginny's mouth and felt her smiling, too. "Oh no, no, no!" Ron grabbed Hermione's hand, which was gripping her wand, and pointed it at himself. "Hermione, obliviate me!"

"What? Ron, you're cracked! I most certainly will not obliviate you!" she huffed. He shook his head and closed his eyes.

"I know you can do it!" He squeezed his eyes shut, and Harry sniggered. Ginny rolled her eyes, and then planted a soft kiss on Harry's cheek.

"Well, I know I can do it, too, but that doesn't mean I'm going to!"

"Please! Just obliviate me and give me warm fuzzy memories instead of this one!" he begged.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Ginny whispered, her cheeks burning. He nodded and squeezed her hand gently before she turned and went up to the girls' dormitory. He turned to Ron and Hermione, who were still arguing over her wand.

"Ron, don't be ridiculous! You've seen them kissing before!" she said, her hands on her hips. Ron still had his eyes closed, and he was shaking his head.

"Find a happy place, find a happy place!" he muttered. Harry laughed. Before Ron could say it again, however, Hermione had planted a quick kiss on his cheek. His eyes flew open, and he stared at her.

"Maybe that will work instead," she said, blushing furiously. She turned and smiled at Harry as she made her way to the girls' dormitory. Ron stared after her, his mouth slightly open.

"Well?" Harry asked expectantly. He waved a hand in front of Ron's face, and Ron jumped.

"Well what?"

"Did it work? Did she obliviate you with her kiss?" Ron's ears turned crimson, and Harry grinned wickedly.

"She did more than that," Ron muttered good-naturedly. Harry's jaw dropped.

"Ron, if you keep talking like that about Hermione, I'm going to have to obliviate myself!" Ron grinned.

"Serves you right. Now you know how I feel."