Forgetting the Past

Chapter 6: The Truth?

Having the true Gryffindor three back together again was proving to be just like old times, full of fights. Ron was angry, Hermione was angry and for once Harry just wanted to be left alone. Ginny was also angry and for some reason Hermione had thought that it would be a good idea to invite her over, to Harry's place, that night to sort things out. This was, of course, not a good idea. Ron rolled his eyes when she came in the door and she shot him a look that made him get up and leave the room. He was instructed to go find Harry. He found Harry out in the garden, sitting on a bench and staring up at the moon.

"Harry? You're wanted indoors," Ron said briskly, still hurt at being pushed aside for Malfoy that afternoon at the museum

"Look Ron I..."

"Whatever." Ron started to walk back towards the house.

"No wait! I want to talk about this okay? We've been friends a long time, too long to let whatever the hell this is get in the way of our friendship. Hermione wants to sort everything out tonight, let's start right here." Harry said it in a voice full of authority but his eyes were pleading Ron to stay, not demanding him to.

"What is there to talk about? You invite us down here, and then you end up spending more time breaking my sister's heart and hanging out with that idiotic Malfoy than with Hermione and me! Why invite us over if you don't like us anymore? Maybe Hermione and I should just go home."

"The only reason I've been spending time with Malfoy is because I really want to be sure he's right for the Potions position. As for Ginny, you know as well as I do that she's always felt much more for me than I do for her. I can't change that. I thought giving her the teaching position would help but it's made things worse. Look mate, I love spending time with you and Hermione, that's why I invited you, it's just ended up being a really busy week for me and I'm sorry. It'll get better I promise. Why don't we catch a quidditch game this weekend?" Harry held out his hand for a shake. Ron took it hesitantly and smiled.

"I'm sorry; Hermione's been so tense lately and..."

"No worries mate." Harry grinned and they sat down on the bench together. "But Ron, I want to talk to you 'bout something else. It's kind of weird but I think I'm..."

"Harry! Get in here right now! What an earth has been keeping you two?" Hermione's shrill voice rang through the night. Ron smiled sheepishly at Harry and trudged towards the kitchen door. Harry followed reluctantly, he couldn't expect the fight with Ginny and Hermione to go as well as the one with Ron had.

"What do you want?" Ginny asked accusingly as Harry stepped through the door.

"Look, I'm not the one who wanted you here at all!" Harry said quickly, shifting the blame away from him.

"So, now you don't want me?" Ginny sniffed, her eyes threatening to spill over onto her lap at any second. Hermione looked warningly at Harry who looked to Ron for help.

"I'm going to walk Hedwig!" Ron mumbled as he practically ran out the door, not taking Hedwig with him. It didn't matter of course though because Hedwig did not need to be "walked".

"Ginny, do you like working at Hogwarts?" Harry asked kindly, sitting down beside her.

"Of course I do! It matters to me more than anything." She looked up at him with her big, sad eyes and he stared into hers, not backing down, not turning away. Letting the truth be seen.

"Then we need to keep our relationship professional; I wouldn't want to lose you," Harry said patting her back awkwardly.

"Only some principal/teacher relationships are all right, isn't that right?" Ginny said quietly enough so that Hermione could not hear but Harry certainly could. He jerked his hand away and looked at her surprised, "It's okay Harry, honest." Harry looked at her in a more caring way than he ever had and she wished once again that he loved her as much as she loved him. "Well I better be off Hermione. Night Harry." She kissed Harry on the cheek and gave Hermione a hug. Harry went over to where Hermione was standing by the counter to grab one of the cups of tea she'd just made.

"Well that seemed to go well!" Hermione said brightly.

"Yeah, it was all right," Harry said distractedly. He looked around himself at the messy kitchen and wished that Ron was home. He needed very badly to talk to him.