Forging Alliances

Chapter 5

The next day dawned bright and warm. Sirius and Remus ambled down to the kitchen for their morning tea and a bit of toast. Both wizards were feeling exceedingly content. They were now in a beautiful home living with all the people they cared most about. Best of all they had Harry who was finally happy and content with his life despite Voldemort, who had not made any attempt to harm Harry through the scar connection in a while.

"Moony?"

"Yes Padfoot, my friend?"

"I've been thinking."

"Well that's not a very safe activity for the likes of you."

"I know, but all joking aside, I've been thinking about Harry and that blasted prophesy Dumbledore was so short-sighted about."

Sirius had Remus' attention now. "What about it, Sirius?"

"Well obviously it's genuine, right? And obviously, Harry is the One, he was marked by Voldemort."

"Yes, that is an established fact. What do you have on your mind about it?"

"I was thinking that since Harry is marked as Voldemort's equal and he's the only one who can kill the bastard then he needs to know how to do it, right?"

"Of course, Sirius but that's the question, isn't it? What's the power Harry has that Voldemort doesn't know about?"

"You're right but I was thinking more along the lines of getting him tutoring in certain subjects, you know like Occlumency and dueling, maybe that hand to hand combat you learned while gallivanting around the world."

"You mean martial arts?"

"Yeah, that. See I was thinking that since the old codger didn't really prepare him for any of this, I mean look at some of the Defense professors Harry has had. Perhaps we could train him. And possibly get some others in on it like O'Malley or Bill and Tonks."

"That seems acceptable. We would need to run it by Harry first before we started calling people in, but I think it's a brilliant idea."

"Alright. I'll go find our little pup and see what he thinks."

Sirius was all pumped up about getting Harry extra lessons and he knew that his young charge would be as well once he heard what Sirius had in mind. Remus was right in advising they talk to him first though. He was not about to turn into another Dumbledore and start ordering Harry's life without consulting the young wizard first. He found Harry still buried underneath his cozy blankets so he decided to do something he'd always wanted to do. He jumped on Harry's bed and wrestled him awake.

"Bloody hell! Sirius, what do you think you're doing?"

"Oh I thought it was time for you to get your lazy arse out of bed so I came to wake you up!"

Harry just grunted and threw his blanket over his head. Sirius pulled it off in retaliation.

"Sirius, it is seven in the bloody morning! I don't get up this early in the summer now that I'm not at the Dursleys!"

"Okay, okay fine but hear me out. Then you can sleep 'til your little heart is content, okay?"

"Fine. What is it?"

"Moony and I just had a little conversation and we were thinking you might like a little extra defense training. What d'ya say?"

"Really? Like you guys would teach me how to duel and stuff?"

"Yeah, amongst other things."

"Brilliant! When do we start?"

"Whoa there pup! One thing at a time! We'd need to come up with a schedule after we talk to everyone. But I was thinking Tonks and I could work on your dueling and Bill could probably teach you some pretty wicked Egyptian curses and jinxes..."

"Oh that reminds me! Bill told me I should tell Tonks a story about my hair growing back over night one time," Harry interrupted.

"Really, it grew back over night?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Definitely tell Tonksey that one; you might have a hidden talent there, pup. Back to the topic at hand, O'Malley is planning on coming by twice a week to teach you Occlumency so maybe we can set up a whole program for you. By the time you get back to school you'll be well on your way to being ready for Auror training. Maybe we could get you some help with potions too so if you didn't get a high enough OWL in it you can still try for the NEWT later on. What do you say?"

"When do we start?"

"Soon; I'll get the word out and try and come up with a schedule." Sirius hopped off the bed and left Harry to do what he chose.

Being much too excited about learning from some of the people he looked up to the most, Harry got out of bed and started getting ready for the day. Having taken a cold shower the night before, he didn't take long at all. Thinking of that cold shower, he decided he needed to have a serious conversation with Ginny. He needed to know what her intentions were which seemed odd. It should be the other way around but it wasn't. With Mr. and Mrs. Weasley staying in his house he didn't want them thinking he was accosting their only daughter even if it was the other way around. Not that he didn't like it when she kissed him, he did. He liked it as much as any red blooded man who was interested in pretty ladies would but he wasn't sure just snogging was the best idea. He wanted more; he wanted to have a real relationship not just acting on lustful feelings. 'I think Hermione has finally rubbed off on me,' he thought as he walked down to the kitchen.

Sirius' back end was in mid air while his head was in the fire place. Remus was at the table jotting something down on a roll of parchment.

"Morning pup! Sirius is just talking with Tonks. We've just sent an owl off to O'Malley asking him to come by next Tuesday for your first lesson. I'm trying to work up a timetable for you so we know what your summer will look like."

"Tonks is in. She'll be stopping by in a bit. I told her you had a story for her, Harry," Sirius announced after pulling his head out of the fire.

"Sounds good! Thanks you two, for working all this out for me. This is what I've been hoping for. Maybe we can continue some of it after term starts since you'll be teaching Sirius?"

"Sure thing, kiddo. I'll make sure and try to set up some extra sessions on the weekends for you." Sirius smiled indulgently at his godson.

Harry set about making some eggs and rashers of bacon for his morning meal and listened amiably as his godfather and former professor turned friend worked out their plans. 'Yes,' he told himself, 'this is going to be the best summer ever.'

Everyone started trickling down for breakfast not long after Harry, Sirius and Remus started cooking. They had not started their Animagus training yet and now that everyone knew their forms they were anxious to get started. They all convened at the lake after they had finished eating and cleaning up for the day.

"Right everyone. First, you need to start out with the theory of transfiguration..."

Sirius continued to lecture them on the how to's of human transfiguration and started them out small, teaching them how to change their appearance in minor ways explaining that it would be easier to make the large transformation if they could do the small stuff first. Once they had that down they walked back to the kitchen for a light lunch and their swim wear. The afternoon was spent in a combination of swimming and sunning themselves before Molly called them into dinner at dusk. Tonks, Kingsley and Bill decided to join them for the evening meal so they could work out a schedule for tutoring Harry.

"So Harry what's all this talk about your hair growing back over night?" Tonks queried.

"Oh that. Well My aunt chopped my hair off, well all but my fringe to cover this unsightly blemish," he pointed to his lightening bolt scar. "I was so worried about how much I'd be made fun of the next day at school it was all I could think of before finally drifting off. The next morning my hair was back to normal, well as normal as you could call that rat's nest," he laughed.

"Sounds like metamorph abilities to me. That's how we figured out I was a Meta; changing little things like the length and color of my hair. Occasionally I'd change my eye color to match my clothes. Once I got really good I was able to truly change things around like height, weight and bone structure. Took a while to learn though, I was the first to display the talent in Britain in generations and the few living on the continent couldn't be bothered to help me with training. Needless to say I was reading a lot of books on human transfiguration and was spending a lot of time trying to figure it all out on my own."

"But you did, I mean you're impossible to catch onto unless you want someone to find you out, well if you don't move that is," Kingsley joked.

"Ha ha! You think you're so funny don't you, Shack?"

"I try, Tonks, I try real hard."

"So moving on, I'd be glad to work with you Harry, I can come by in the evenings. I might have to miss a few lessons here and there if things get mad at work but how do Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at around seven sound?"

"You'll have to talk to my secretaries here, they're setting up my calendar," Harry said with a haughty tone pointing to his godfather and former professor. This got a good laugh from everyone.

"I must say Sirius you came out well with the reparations. Arthur told me about it yesterday. It's very surprising how they rushed that all through. Seems to me that sort of thing would take forever what with all the red tape." Sirius just shrugged and she went on. "I had a chat with Minerva today; turns out the High Inquisitor had a few secrets hiding out in her office. There's going to be an official investigation and if anything comes of it Umbridge will be charged. She said they'll be interviewing all the students who'd been disciplined by her so it looks like Harry will be summoned to testify."

Everyone was now focusing their attention on Harry which made him squirm even more then when Molly Weasley was discussing the bane of his fifth year.

"Harry you want to explain why they'd need you to testify?" Remus challenged.

"Well you know I had a good few detentions with the hag. They probably just want to ask me about it," Harry muttered, focusing on his hands as he rung them repeatedly in his lap.

"Harry, mate, I really think it's about time you told them. You don't need to prove anything now," Ron advised.

Harry knew he was right. There was no need to try and prove anything to these people. They were his family and friends for the first time in his life he was really among people whom he knew he could trust. Even if he thought something was trivial they all would want to hear about it. Being tortured two weeks in a row at the beginning of last term was not what he would consider trivial but he knew that once he told everyone what that woman forced him to do they would be pissed off, to put it mildly. Yes but they won't be pissed off at you, smart guy! Okay maybe a little because you didn't tell them before now but they'll get over it. Just tell them and get it over with.

"Harry." Sirius pulled his attention away from his hands and internal dialogue with the warning tone of his voice.

"All right, all right! She made me use this quill, I don't know what it's called, but it didn't need ink and it would carve the line I was set to write into the back of my hand as I wrote it on the parchment. The words would appear on the page as I wrote in my own blood instead of ink."

Everyone with the exception of Ron and the twins looked appalled by Harry's proclamation. They were brought back to reality when Arthur spoke up in an even, quiet yet very furious tone. "Blood quills were banned by the ministry while I was in school. They were deemed an inhumane form of torture and the use of one will get you at least a year in Azkaban. What was that woman thinking that she was above the law just because of the position she held?"

"Is there a way to prove that it was actually used?" Bill queried.

"Well if you Finite Incantatem my right hand there is."

Bill muttered the spell as Harry was still under age and they hadn't put dampening charms on the property to mask underage use. The pearly white, spidery scars caused by the two weeks worth of detention Harry spent at the beginning of his fifth year under Umbridge's supervision appeared suddenly. Molly pulled Harry's hand to her so she could appraise the damage to her honorary son.

"Harry why didn't you go to Poppy? The foul woman could have been ousted immediately," she whispered.

"I couldn't. They were passing educational decrees left and right, Fudge would have just made it legal again. I got through it just fine, no real harm done."

"Harry I'd say there was a good deal of harm done. That scar will never fade because it was not treated properly and no one has the right to harm a student entrusted to his or her own care. I suggest you come clean if that woman did anything else to you specifically because she needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Remus chastised gently.

Harry looked around the table feeling very self-conscious. "I know I'm not the only one, Lee Jordan was forced to use it in detention as well."

"Why did no one report this?" Molly was furious.

"Like I said, she had Fudge passing out educational decrees like they were candy it would have done no good at all to rat her out, she'd just sack whichever professor brought it to light. As for Lee, Fred and George would know better then I do as to why he didn't say anything."

Everyone turned their attention to the twins.

"Erm...well I think he said something about his mum working for the ministry and her warning him not to step out of line so I think he figured he should just take the detention and bear it," George said.

"None of us knew that the thing was banned and we figured it would get someone sacked if we complained, just like Harry did," Fred added.

"Well they'll have plenty to charger her with if that's the way she was running things," muttered Bill.

Harry convulsively cleared his throat knowing that she'd attempted more then just the use of a blood quill in her endeavor to shut him up. Unfortunately this got the attention of the others.

"Harry?"

"Yes Remus?"

"What are you not telling us now?"

"What makes you think I've got anything else to tell?"

"Because you look decidedly guilty, like you're keeping something to yourself that is very important and are too ashamed to tell us," Sirius answered, deadpan.

"How do you know?" Harry asked, incredulously.

"Because James would get the exact same look when he was keeping a secret that he either wanted to tell and couldn't or didn't want to tell but knew he should," Remus answered in an unaffected monotone.

"All right fine! She tried to use the Cruciatus on me after she caught Hermione and I trying to fire call you before we ran away to the Ministry and she confessed that it was she who set the Dementors on me last summer. Supposedly Fudge didn't know about it but he wasn't too unhappy that he had a reason to discredit me. Seemed her whole purpose was to shut anyone up who opposed Fudge or her in any way. Hermione was there as were several Slytherin students so there are other witnesses."

"Well looks like we'd best be off. We have a government official to arrest," Kingsley said as he and Tonks rose from their seats.

Harry was struck suddenly. What if they were arresting her for the attempted Unforgivable? What would happen to him if it ever got out that he'd cast the very same spell on Bellatrix Lestrange, granted it was a very pathetic go at it. He could feel beads of sweat forming between his shoulder blades and just below his hair line.

"Wait! What exactly will she be arrested for, I mean she never got the spell off so..."

"Harry sending those Dementors was essentially an assassination attempt. She'll get time tacked onto her sentence for attempting an Unforgivable on a minor for sure but essentially it is the attempt on your life that will get her sent to Azkaban." Tonks was very adamant.

Harry had to know if he'd suffer the same fate for his try at the same Unforgivable. "Legally would someone be held to the same standards if they used an unforgivable in battle... let's say against a Death Eater who'd already tried to kill you or someone else on your side, then what would happen?" Everyone was looking to him then back to Tonks, confused by Harry's line of questioning.

Tonks eyed him critically as if she knew exactly to what he was referring. "It depends on circumstances of course but say you used one at the Ministry earlier this summer against a known Death Eater you would not be arrested for it. Umbridge was not in a battle situation and it sounds as if it was more of an interrogation. She was trying to find out what you were doing in her office, was she not?"

"Yeah."

"Aurors aren't even permitted to use Unforgivables in an interrogation situation; it's considered a method of torture so she was definitely out of bounds. There have been instances when civilians have been caught in the middle of battle and not held accountable for the use of the 'Big Three' but ideally it's Aurors doing the fighting and civilians getting to safety. Shit happens though and we can't protect everybody so people tend towards the fight or flight mindset. If they stick around to help we're more grateful then anything if they know what they're doing."

That had Harry relieved. The last thing he needed was to get thrown into Azkaban for trying to avenge Sirius after he'd thought his godfather dead. Kingsley and Tonks left with the promise that they would keep everyone informed about Umbridge. They were sorry that the woman was the cause for disruption but they were obligated to make an arrest now that there was proof of her breaking the law. The whole thing left a bad taste in Harry's mouth figuratively speaking but they all tried to move on to more pleasant topics such as upcoming birthdays and school years.

Later that evening Harry was settled in one of the sitting rooms just staring into the fire. Kingsley had fire called earlier to apprise everyone of the situation with Fudge's lap dog turned attempted murderer. She'd been arrested in her home and interrogated with veritaserum; her confession matched everything Harry had said. Names of other students she'd used the blood quill had been recorded. She seemed to favor Gryffindors for that form of punishment. Harry just could not fathom how anyone could be so cruel. It brought home the idea that it mightn't be safe for his friends to associate him. Self doubt and depreciation started to set in. He wasn't so sure it would be a good idea to date Ginny if people like Umbridge were out to get him on top of Voldemort and his sycophants. Now he had no idea what to say to her, not that he had before, about them dating. Just as he decided he'd talk to Sirius or Remus about it they both entered.

"Harry what are you still doing up? I thought you went to bed hours ago." Remus looked concerned.

"Just thinking. Moony, can I ask you to a question?"

"Any time pup, what d'you need?" Remus queried.

"Well see I was just thinking... see I think Ginny likes me and..."

"Harry that's hardly a news flash, even us old men know all about her crush on you," Sirius ribbed.

"That's not it, I know she likes me, she didn't for a while but she does again but I'm not sure it's such a good idea if I date her. I mean... what if something happens to her because of me. Or what if being associated with me more then she already is brings undue attention from people like Umbridge or worse yet, Voldemort?

"Harry, I think that is entirely up to her. I mean it's not as if the Weasleys are unknown to Voldemort and it's not because they have taken up with you. The Prewitts were staunch enemies of Voldemort in the first war as were the Weasleys so if anything it would be the fact that she is the descendant of two clans that are strong light magic supporters. Besides Harry you have had to grow up much to fast it would do you a fair bit of good to live a little. If you like her then take her out, romance her a little. It'd be good for you."

"Sirius is right Harry, and Ginny is known to Voldemort not only because of her family ties but also because of what happened to her in her first year. Snape informed the Order that Malfoy gave a detailed report of all that happened to the diary and who it was that he used to bring the whole thing about. She's already in danger and I'd think having you two together would actually be a plus because you're both extremely powerful and together you'd be more than a force to be reckoned with."

"Not to mention that she is very much like Lily. Blokes always go for women who are like there mothers. Well unless they have a mother like mine," Sirius added as an afterthought.

"I do like her, she's loads better then Cho ever was just in terms of sanity alone. I have a lot of fun with her and I really respect her as well as her family. We seem to have a lot in common and now that she's got over her star struck mentality I know she likes me for me and not my name which is a must."

"What makes you sure she likes you again, just out of curiosity?" Remus asked.

"Well I'd say kissing me is a pretty good sign."

"Could be," Sirius gave Harry a discerning look, "but plenty of girls give their guy friends kisses. Take Hermione for instance."

"Well a full on snog session between platonic friends such as Hermione and I would be normal now would it?"

"Wooohooo! She snogged you? Where? When? I want details!"

"Come on Padfoot, calm down!"

"Moony our pup just confessed to being thoroughly kissed by a lovely young woman I think I have a right to be excited you lout!"

Harry laughed at his godfathers antics, very glad he had Sirius to talk to this time around unlike with Cho. He wasn't too sure about giving all the details however.

"Well are you going to tell us?"

Harry looked from Sirius to Remus. Despite Remus' calm demeanor he thought he saw a bit of a twinkle in the werewolf's eyes. Sirius looked like a puppy presented with a treat. If he was transformed into his animagus form Harry suspected that his tongue would be lolled out of his mouth and his tail would be wagging rapidly enough to shake his whole body. He had to chuckle at the thought.

"All right, fine, I'll tell you! The other night when I had a dream vision thing of mum she came in and woke me up thinking it was another nightmare and she kissed me goodnight then last night she came into my room to see why I was up so late and she ended up snogging me senseless, well almost senseless."

Sirius smirked. "What do you mean 'almost'?"

"Let's just say that the water was decidedly cool during my shower before bed last night and the fact that I got to the shower was proof I hadn't lost all sense in that kiss." Harry received a knowing look from both men.

"Well that sound's proof enough to me as well," Remus mused.

"I'd say so," Sirius agreed. "Have you talked to her about it at all?"

"I wanted to today but didn't really get a chance plus I have no bloody clue what to say to her. I mean it's much easier to talk to her then most girls but still I'm rubbish at it no matter who the girl is when it comes to stuff like this."

"Come on, Harry. It can't be all that bad."

"Sirius when was the last time you had to tell a girl you liked her and wanted to start a relationship?" Harry was incredulous.

"Point taken, it is easier said especially since I've not asked a woman on a date in over fifteen years. Bloody hell, I need to get a life!"

Harry laughed at the despondent look on his godfathers face.

"What you need is to get laid my friend."

"Oh and you're one to talk Moony!"

"I have sworn myself to celibacy, last thing this world needs is more werewolves running around," Remus responded dully.

"Come on Remus there is such thing as Muggle condoms, they're rather effective in preventing Muggle disease I'm sure they'd be just as effective in preventing Lycanthropy."

"Sirius we are not having this discussion again."

"You are such a spoil sport! You and Tonks would make a perfect couple, come on! She doesn't care that you get all furry once a month. I could set you up."

"I will not allow you set me up with your extremely young cousin who, might I add, endeavored to call me Uncle Remus as a child! Besides I think there is something going on with her and Bill."

"I heard the same thing from his brothers and Ginny," Harry added, very amused by the direction their conversation was going. He'd never seen Remus blush before and it was very entertaining.

"Bill? Really?" They nodded in confirmation. "Why am I the last person to know everything?"

"I don't know Padfoot my old friend but let's get to the topic at hand; Harry and Ginny."

"Righto! So I say you just corner her and snog her senseless in return and tell her you like her."

"That Harry, is Sirius' way of dealing with all women of interest; kiss first ask questions later." Remus rolled his eyes at his best friend's face splitting grin.

"That may work for you Sirius but I wanted to have a conversation of some substance. I'd like to know why she's being so bold all the sudden and whether or not we should go a bit slower. I mean she's not even fifteen yet and I'm just a few weeks shy of sixteen. I don't want to rush into anything I'm not ready for."

"See? I told you he had Lily's sensibility!" Remus was beaming.

"It's not as if I don't think about it, what bloke doesn't, but I just don't think I could deal with all that goes along with shagging and what if something happened?"

"Wise words from one so young. I think it best if you just ask her the things you just said you wanted to know and see what she says."

"Okay, I think I will. Thanks you two, you made figuring all this out so much easier than it would have been, not to mention a lot more amusing."

They both smiled indulgently at their young charge and waved him off.

Harry noticed a light peaking out from under Ginny's door as he approached his room. He steeled himself before he knocked on her door. This was it, after this night everything would change between himself and Ginny. He raised his fist and rapped on her door twice very quickly.

"'S open!"

Harry turned the knob and pushed the door ajar. Ginny was sitting at her mirror brushing her hair when she caught sight of him in it and he walked in. He was taken aback by how elegant she looked. She had a light blue satin dressing gown on and underneath it was a small camisole much like the one she wore the day before in London yet of a style decidedly made for bed as well as a matching pair of drawstring trousers. Her hair was flowing down her back, somewhat naturally curled under at the ends. There was that air of beauty about her that seemed so natural and pure he had been compelled to capture on paper the night before. He was floored by the undeniable fact that until just recently he'd been completely blind to this witch's charms and there were many.

"Harry! This is a pleasant surprise!"

"Hey Gin. I was wondering if we could talk?" He noticed her stiffen slightly and he put a hand up in a placating gesture. "Nothing bad I just wanted to ask you a few things, that's all."

"Oh, sure Harry. Come sit down." She relaxed a bit as he sat down on her bed. "Mind if I finish while we talk?"

He smiled and nodded his response. He'd never really seen a woman brush her hair before and he found it quite mesmerizing watching her run the brush through her long locks of flame-red hair. He was brought out of his reverie suddenly when she asked him what he wanted to know.

"Well see... I was just wondering... that is... well you just seem different lately. You know, more bold I guess you'd say, with me that is. I just wanted to know what brought it on and all that."

"Oh... I haven't made you uncomfortable have I?"

"Well in a manner of speaking no, I just was a little shocked last night by what happened and I wanted to know what it was all about. Don't get me wrong I liked it, a lot but you always seemed so shy around me until last year..."

She looked at him critically for a few moments as if searching for the right words.

"Yes I was very shy around you until this past year. I guess after a while I just got over my silly school girl crush but I never stopped caring for you. I just didn't think anything would come of it so I decided to see other people. I didn't want to wait around for something that mightn't happen."

Harry nodded, that was essentially what Hermione had said when Ron said he thought she liked him all those months ago on their first Hogsmeade weekend last term.

"But after the battle in the DoM I realized that life's too short so I made a move, took a risk and you responded. I'd like to think it's because you like me at least a little."

"I do like you Gin, a lot. I'd like to see where things go with us. I was just confused but I see your point. Life is too short to waste on and I really think you'd be a good girlfriend I just hope I'm not a wretched boyfriend, if you'll have me that is."

"Well I'm not sure I'm ready for a full on commitment right now. Things with Michael are still kind of fresh in my mind. I was just thinking we could have a little fun and take each others minds off of things when everything gets too hard to deal with." She shifted to sit next to him on her bed and wound her fingers with his all the while staring into his eyes.

"Ginny I... that is to say I'm not sure that's the best idea. It'd be nice, don't get me wrong but if one thing to lead to another I mean I... I just think... Oh bugger! Ginny I think you are one of the most beautiful women I know but if we have too many repeats of last night I think we'll be in trouble. I mean I am a bloke and we're famous for thinking with the lower region of our anatomy and I respect you and respect your family to much to get you into any kind of trouble. So maybe we should just cool it for a while until you've made up your mind."

"I know Harry, I'm not at all ready for that kind of thing but the fact is we've known each other a long time and I just thought we could be there for each other with no strings attached."

All Harry could do was swallow hard. He was relieved by the fact that she didn't want to move things along too quickly but he wasn't so sure he could pull off what she was proposing without getting attached. Then the conversation on the train ride home came to mind. She had mentioned Dean Thomas. What had come of that?

"Hey Gin, what about Dean? You said you liked him."

"I did, when?"

"On the Express on the way home."

"Oh that," she laughed. "I was just trying to get a rise out of Ron. Dean's a decent bloke and all but he's too, I don't know, passive maybe? I did think of him a bit after Michael and I broke up but not for long."

"Well that's good then I guess. I mean I'm glad you thought of me enough to well... yeah. I better think about this a bit before I say one way or the other."

Ginny smiled and nodded her understanding and Harry couldn't help but return the gesture. He made his excuses and headed to bed. He had a lot of thinking to do.

Sleep definitely did not come quickly. On a purely physical level what Ginny proposed sounded brilliant but he had a big responsibility with the prophesy looming in the horizon and he was not at all sure he could, in good conscience get involved with anyone on a purely physical level. He would be putting whoever it was at too great a risk.

The more he thought about it he realized how analytical he'd been while he debated the issue with himself the night before. Granted, Ginny was beyond better than Cho on so many levels he really hadn't given her much thought until this summer. If he was totally honest with himself he didn't know her well at all. And as good as friends with bennies sounded he knew if he was to get into a relationship he didn't want the other person to see it as a way to get their kicks at his expense which essentially that was exactly what that kind of situation would lead to. He would never take advantage of a person that way and did not want anyone to do the same to him. It smacked of 'Draco Malfoy' too much for his own comfort.

In the end Harry decided that his initial reaction towards the negative was the right decision but he'd talk to Sirius and Remus about it just to be sure.