Harry Potter and the Loss of Innocence

Ioci

Story Summary:
Harry is stuck at Privet Drive and has much to think about. A crazed wizard out to kill him. The death of his godfather and friend. The Prophesy looming in front of him. And not even one note from his friends. That's been Harry's summer holiday thus far, so can you blame him for wanting it to end? But should Harry really be looking forward to a year filled with surprises of all kinds and not all of them good? *HP sixth year fic following OotP and not incorporating HBP*

Chapter 28

Chapter Summary:
The Aftermath of what happened Saturday morning. Hermione finds out about the situation and reacts accordingly. She sits Harry down for a heart-to-heart talk with him, but it is interrupted when Harry realizes he's going to be late for his first new lesson. He also comes up with an original use for the Journal Ginny gave him at Christmas.
Posted:
06/02/2005
Hits:
4,164
Author's Note:
A huge thanks to Pixie, RR, Chris, Babe, and DM! I really have no clue what I would do without you guys! You all rock!


Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Aftermath

I never could've seen this far.
I never could've seen this coming.
Seems like my world's falling apart.
~Simple Plan: Perfect World

When Harry entered the bedroom he was surprised to see that the sun was already above the horizon. He glanced at the clock and was surprised to see that it was almost eight. How long had he and Ginny been talking and snogging?

Harry's thoughts turned to what had happened. He had lost control, that was true, but he hadn't tried to stop it. And neither had Ginny. How could she be so sure that it wouldn't have gone farther? He sure didn't want it to and he knew the Weasley brothers would beat him into a pulp if he did. But he couldn't convince himself that they would have. He knew he wouldn't pressure Ginny into sex, but she wasn't stopping him from taking her shirt off.

The other question that was bothering him was how angry Ron really was. Was it just shock or was it more than that? "You're not my best friend!" Did Ron really mean that? What would life be like without Ron there to laugh at it with? Was dating Ginny worth losing Ron?

He thought about the calming effect she had on him. He thought clearer with her around and he could talk things through without being interrupted. That's the only complaint he had with Ron and Hermione; they interrupted too often. Ron was always angry or surprised by whatever Harry said and Hermione wanted to fix the problem before she knew what it was.

"Ginny," Mrs. Weasley yelled from downstairs. "I told you to stay in your room. Get back up there! I will talk to you after I'm done with the boys!"

His door opened and Mr. Weasley and Remus entered. Harry felt his face pale as he saw the look on Mr. Weasley's face; the man wasn't happy. "Sit, Harry," Remus told him and Harry took a seat on his bed. Remus sat on Ron's bed but Mr. Weasley stayed standing.

Harry waited for them to speak first, but he was getting more nervous as the silence grew longer. He shuffled his feet and stared out the window. "I'm not sure what happened," Mr. Weasley started. Harry looked at him surprised, his voice wasn't angry, but disappointed. Harry looked back out the window as Mr. Weasley continued. "I've stood up for you to each of my sons telling them they should trust you. Now, you'll have to gain their trust on your own and you'll need to earn ours also."

Harry ran his fingers through his hair and the guilt on his face was almost unbearable for the two men to watch. "I didn't mean for it to go so far," Harry told them in a small voice. "It's never happened before."

"Have you talked about it?" Remus asked neutrally.

"Yeah," Harry answered. The two men looked at the young man surprised. "We both agreed that we weren't ready for it."

"You've actually talked about it?" Mr. Weasley asked in a low quiet tone. Harry nodded, confused.

"Why is that so important?" he asked after the two adults traded looks.

"Most teens don't," Remus answered. "Especially with their first girlfriends. And, no, Cho doesn't count," Remus added when Harry opened his mouth to point her out.

"It also makes me wonder how this happened then," Mr. Weasley said deep in thought.

"We just got carried away," Harry answered with a shrug. "I know it's not an excuse, but I don't think either of us were thinking properly." Remus smiled.

"How do you know it wouldn't have gone farther?" Remus asked Harry pointedly.

"Because... I don't know," Harry said, running his fingers through his hair. "I just know it wouldn't have happened. I don't think that will happen again either," he added after a thought. "I'm really sorry I lost your trust, Mr. Weasley. Your respect for me means the world to me. I really like Ginny and I don't want to hurt her or you and Mrs. Weasley or her brothers. I wish that we hadn't gotten carried away." Mr. Weasley gave Harry a piercing gaze and Harry tried his hardest to return it honestly.

"What were you both doing down there?" Remus asked after a moment.

Harry looked at his feet and felt a blush creep onto his face; he didn't want to admit to these men that he had problems with dreams. Mr. Weasley misinterpreted this and, taking two steps, he stood in front of Harry. "What were you doing down there?" he asked in the same dangerous tone Ron had used.

"Nothing," Harry said slightly alarmed. "It wasn't a meeting or anything. I've been having really bad nightmares for the past few days and Ginny can tell that somehow. She woke me up yesterday morning because I had fallen asleep on the couch where I had gone to think." Mr. Weasley took a deep breath and took a step backwards. "She said that she wanted to keep me company tonight so that I wasn't alone." Mr. Weasley nodded and turned towards the door. "How are her brothers?" he asked hesitantly.

"I'd stay away from them, if I were you," Remus said with a laugh and left. Harry sat in the room thinking about the situation. Today would be a very long day if he had to hide from the majority of the people who lived here. He thought about Ginny and wondered how she was doing. He decided to go check on her. He opened the door and crept down the stairs. He opened her door slightly, but froze when he heard Mrs. Weasley start asking Ginny a question.

"And how can you be so sure that it wouldn't have gone farther?" she asked. He could just see Ginny through the crack he had made in the door. Her cheeks were red beyond comparison and she looked at her mother pleadingly. "I want an answer, Ginevra," Mrs. Weasley said sternly.

"Because it wouldn't have, mum," Ginny answered honestly. "Harry knows where I stand on this issue. He would never pressure me into anything I didn't want to do. I'm only fifteen, mum. I don't want that. Harry doesn't. I know it wouldn't have gone farther 'cause it wouldn't have."

"I'm disappointed in you, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said sadly. "You and Harry are good for each other, but you both need to learn to control yourselves. You both have lost control before, and that's just this break. I don't want you both to do something you're going to regret."

Ginny nodded and spotted Harry through the door. She didn't acknowledge him, but instead said, "Will I be able to see Harry at all today?"

Mrs. Weasley sighed. "Yes, you may. Your father and brothers might not trust you, but I do. Every young couple makes mistakes and I believe neither of you want to make this one again. Just don't leave Harry alone with your brothers. I'm more worried about what they may do to him. Are you angry with your brothers for taking their anger out on you and Harry?"

"Yeah, it's not fair," Ginny stated. "It's not like they haven't done something like this before me. Or something worse," she finished angrily.

"Then you need to follow by your own rules and not retaliate," Mrs. Weasley told her. "I've already had words with them about their behavior. Now I'm telling you. Be civil. No hexing. No fights. Handle this with maturity and you'll gain your father's trust back. It'll be hard, I know that," Mrs. Weasley said sympathetically, "but if you truly believe that you are in the right, then there's no reason to waste your energy on their accusations."

"But--" Ginny started, before her mother cut her off.

"No but's about this, Ginny. Behave yourself. Use the maturity you say you have." Mrs. Weasley gave Ginny a hug. Pulling out the hug just enough to see her daughter's face, Mrs. Weasley continued, "I know you want to hex them, but that's the childish thing to do. Just like screaming at you both without really listening to you or thinking was a very childish thing for Ron to do. Now, breakfast will be ready in half an hour. Why don't you get dressed and come down for it?" Harry heard Mrs. Weasley stand up and he hurried up the stairs.

When he was positive that she was gone, he walked back to Ginny's room and knocked this time. She told him to come in and Harry entered the room hesitantly. They smiled at each other embarrassedly and awkwardly.

"So," she finally said with a smile, "how long were you listening?" Harry smiled at her, but felt his cheeks burn.

"I heard the reason why you were so positive we wouldn't go farther," he said quietly and Harry saw a soft blush creep onto her cheeks. "Thanks for defending me," he offered gratefully. "But you still have my wand and I'd like it back."

She laughed and handed him his wand. Harry fingered it and then stuck it back into his waistband. "So what do you think?" she asked after an uncomfortable pause.

"About what?" Harry asked.

"About what happened before Ron came downstairs?" she clarified, with a deeper blush covering her cheeks.

Harry felt his own blush and thought about how to answer. "I can't say I didn't enjoy it, 'cause I did," he answered after a moment. "But we can't do it again. Your mum's right, we can't lose control like that." Ginny nodded. Harry looked at her and debated asking his question. He decided to and asked it. "Would you really have let me take your shirt off?" he asked slowly, completely embarrassed.

Ginny looked at him startled and her whole face turned red. "Yeah," she whispered. "But that was it. And I had a sports bra on, so it wouldn't be so bad." Harry looked away from her, trying not to think of Ginny just in a bra. She laughed and jumped up. She ran over to him and hugged him. "Sorry, luv. I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Harry laughed with her and hugged her back. She stepped away and Harry looked at her. She was still in her pajamas and he could feel her working her magic on him again. "I'm going to go get dressed," he told her hurriedly. "Can you bring breakfast up to me in Ron's room? I don't think it's a good idea to see your brothers quiet yet."

"Sorry about them," she apologized. "But I think you should face them sooner, rather than later. It'll make you look guilty if you hide away from them." Harry nodded, but gulped. "How about this, we go down together and if they give you a hard time, I'll hex them."

"My knight in shining armor," he teased her. "Alright, I'll go down with you, but you can't hex them, or your mum'll kill you. How 'bout you meet me in the hall in five minutes?" She nodded and Harry briefly kissed her lips. "See you."

Ten minutes later (Ginny had taken longer to get dressed) they entered the kitchen hand in hand. Each brother glared at them suspiciously, anger written across their faces. Harry realized that Ron wasn't even looking at them. He was determinedly not looking at Harry and was eating his breakfast in silence.

"Good morning, Harry, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said as if nothing had happened earlier. "It's nice to see you both."

"'Morning, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "'Morning, everyone." Tonks and Remus replied in fashion, Mr. Weasley nodded at him, but the oldest brothers just grunted; Ron didn't even do that. Harry felt a stone drop into his stomach and knew that Ron was angrier than he had ever been with him before.

Breakfast was an uncomfortable affair. The adults tried to get the others to talk about mundane things like the weather. It didn't work and Harry was getting nervous with all the glares that he received from the brothers. Finally, Charlie rose and went upstairs. He returned with his suitcase and kissed his mother goodbye. He shook hands with his father, brothers, Tonks, and Remus. He kissed Ginny on the cheek. He glared at Harry and then took out his wand. He left the house and apparated away.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged a look and Harry felt awful. Charlie had looked at him with hate and condemnation. It reminded him of the dream he had had two nights in a row and the look he had received from each of the brothers during it. He stood up and told everyone that he was going for his morning run.

When he came back, he snuck up the stairs and took a shower. He entered the room he shared with Ron and stopped in his tracks. Ron was sitting at his desk staring out the window. He turned and saw Harry standing in the doorway. Harry grabbed some clothes, hoped they matched, put them on, and then fled out of the room.

The day was the longest Harry had had this break. Not one of the brothers would talk to Harry and they would drag Ginny away any time she tried to talk to him. Tonks would burst out laughing at that and Harry felt like silencing her because it only made it worse.

Harry went to bed early, but didn't sleep well. What he would have given to dream of Ginny, but instead he dreamt of all that went wrong in his life. He woke up several times in the night, waking Ron up most of the time as well. Ron didn't appreciate that, but didn't say anything to Harry, not even to yell at him.

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"Hey, Ron, Harry!" Hermione greeted them happily the next morning at the train station. She gave Harry a quick hug, but quickly turned her attention to Ron. "I missed you, Ron," she told him as she kissed his cheek. The parents were talking to each other and Harry noticed the Order members that were now present on the platform.

Hermione stepped away and looked over the group. Her sharp mind realized that the Weasley boys weren't happy with Harry or Ginny, who weren't even holding hands. She didn't say anything, but she gave a quizzical look.

"Later," Ginny mouthed to her and she said goodbye to each of her brothers. She hugged her parents and said goodbye to Remus and Tonks. The train whistled and Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry hurried onto the train.

The two girls entered a compartment, but Ron wouldn't let Harry in. "I'm not sitting with him," he told the girls pointedly and Harry turned away to find Neville. He heard Hermione lay into Ron, but he knew that it would be better if he just let Ron work it out.

Ginny hurriedly caught up with him and they found Neville with Luna, Dean, and Seamus. "You guys mind if we sit in here?" she asked as they entered. "My brother's being a prat and Hermione's yelling at him for it." Neville and the others shook their heads no and the two took the last seats in the compartment.

Harry spent the trip unhappily away from his two best friends and he wished that Ron were more forgiving. He knew Ron and Hermione had gotten carried away once, because Ginny told him about it.

The feast in the Great Hall was delicious, but it didn't go unnoticed that the golden trio wasn't sitting near each other. Harry and Ginny sat next to her fifth year friends and Ron sat farther up the table next to no one in particular. Hermione, who was furious with both boys, sat with the other sixth year girls.

Thia gave Harry a confused look, but he didn't respond to it. He'd tell her Tuesday night. Snape smiled vindictively at their predicament. The other Gryffindors all wondered why and the rumors of old were brought up again. Other students wondered if the Prophet was right and Ron new the truth of Harry's loyalties.

Harry left the table as soon as the plates cleaned themselves and they were dismissed. He saw Ginny say goodbye to her friends and then she hurried after him. They walked up to the common room together, Harry saying goodbye once they were at the steps to the dormitories.

"See you in the morning," he whispered. She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"See you," she whispered back, heading up to her dorm. He pretended to walk up the stairs, but instead waited until he heard the door to the girls' dorm shut. He hurried out of the common room with her gift and nearly ran to the Room of Requirement. He needed to think about this whole mess and try to figure out what to do about it.

He opened the door once it appeared and walked to a spot near the edge of the water. He looked out to the stormy sea and thought about his problems. He knew Hermione was angry with Ron, but she wasn't happy with him either. Would Ginny be able to fix the rift between Hermione and him? He didn't know what he'd do without both of his friends.

He opened the journal and realized that there was writing on the first page.

Dear Luv,

I didn't want my brothers to see this, so I borrowed this back to write a letter to you. I'd rather this be kept between you and me, but whatever you write in here is for you to share with whom ever you want.

You seem to be floundering and have been for a while. I try to pull you back to shore and you usually come, but something always pushes you back out. Let us help you and we will.

I realized as you lay dying in the infirmary that I'd hate a life without you. I don't care if this is just some crush that'll wear off in time, but if it does I hope we'll still be friends of the strongest type. I don't think I'll ever stop loving you as a friend, luv, and I hope you never will either.

Thanks for your mum's ring. I really like it and it means a lot to me because it was hers. Your parents had a deep love for one another and I hope one day you'll be able to see the love that still surrounds you.

Don't be afraid to write in here about everything that's bothering you. As long as you don't throw it down Moaning Myrtle's toilet, no one should find it. Writing does help and I promise that some future Dark Lord isn't trapped inside these pages. I hope it helps.

Love,

Ginny

Harry stared at the letter. He couldn't figure out when she had taken the journal, but she obviously had. He thought about his plans for the journal and then came to a decision; he'd write a letter to her and then give to her, back and forth. Some things were easier to write than to say, particularly for him.

Dear Gin,

Thanks for the letter; I'm still trying to figure out when you took it though. I was wondering if you wanted to write letters to each other? I'd like to and there are some things that would be easier to write.

So, Ron is truly mad at me this time. And Hermione seems mad at both of us. I don't know what I'd do if I lost just one of them, but both. Ron and Hermione have gotten me through the first five years here in one piece. Sure, I had to grow a few bones and spend a few weeks in the hospital wing, but at least I survived.

Ron is so infuriating. I know he and Hermione make out and I know they've gotten carried away (thanks to you) and I know he's only upset because he still sees you as his eleven-year-old sister. Or maybe he thinks of you younger than that, I don't know. The same goes with your other brothers, but they'll cool off or get worse with separation from me, but I can't change that. But Ron... I'll see him every day and it's going to wear me down if he doesn't talk to me.

Thinking back to Saturday morning scares me. We just stopped thinking, or at least I did. I'm pretty sure I would have stopped if you told me to, but how can I be sure? I know you don't want to go farther than that yet and neither do I. We should talk about it a bit more or write about it. Set boundaries, you know?

Before I give this to you, I'm going to talk to Thia about protecting it from prying eyes. I don't want anyone else to read this. This is just for you and me. I think I'll risk some points and meeting Filch to talk with her tonight, but no promises.

Right now I'm in our little get away, looking out at the ocean. I'm always amazed by the power in crashing waves. The weather has calmed down since I got here and the clouds are gone. I can see the countless stars.

Well, if I'm going to go to see Thia, I need to go now. See you in the morning.

Yours,

Harry

He looked at his letter and then closed the book. He shoved it, the quill, and the ink into a pocket and stood up. He walked slowly to the door and looked once more out at the now calm sea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thia," Harry said knocking. "Can I come in?" There was a muffled 'ow' and then she called a yes. Harry opened the door and nearly laughed at Thia, who was sucking her thumb. "What happened?"

"You startled me and I cut my thumb," she said, taking it out and showing him. "You want something I suppose, seeing as it's past curfew."

"Yeah, I was hoping you'd over look that," Harry said with a smile. "I was wondering where I'm to meet Lon tomorrow morning. And then Druce later that day."

"Oh, I completely forgot to tell you about that!" she said hitting her forehead with her bleeding hand. "Most of your work with Lon will happen outside, but you're to meet him in the Entrance Hall. I hope you've been running over break, because he'll run you ragged even if you did." Harry nodded that he had ran and then waited for her to bandage her finger.

"As for the other two. For now you'll meet in the Great Hall, but they're looking for rooms that satisfy their needs." Harry nodded, but didn't say anything about the journal. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask her now. "What else is there Harry? I can see it written all over your face."

Harry glanced out a window, but it was pitch dark out there and he only saw his reflection. "You know how Ginny gave me a journal for Christmas?" Thia nodded and waited for him to continue. "Well, I'd like to write her letters in them," he added shyly and Thia did all she could not to laugh at the boy's awkwardness. "But I don't want others to read it, people who would tell it around the school, you know?"

Thia nodded and thought for a moment. "So, some kind of password like the Marauder's Map?" Harry nodded. "Well, Remus will be a better person to ask, but you won't see him for a week, so let me think about it. If I come up with anything tonight, I'll ask you to stay after class under the pretence of talking about your new classes." Harry nodded and stood up to leave. "Wait, in order for me not to take points away from Gryffindor, I need you to answer one simple question. What's going on with you, Ron, and Hermione?"

Harry looked at her surprised, but remembered that he had silently agreed to tell her. He sat back down and thought about how to tell her. "Have you talked with any of the Weasley's, Remus, or Tonks since Friday?" Thia shook her head no. "Oh." He tried to figure out how to tell her. "Ginny and I were talking early Saturday morning or really just sitting next to each other. I've had some really bad nightmares and have gone downstairs a lot to think them through and Ginny caught on." He stopped and thought about what to say next. "Ron, um, caught us snogging."

"Well, that's not new," Thia said surprised. "Why's he so angry?"

"Well, actually, most of the Weasleys are angry at me right now," Harry told her. "You see, um, I didn't have a shirt on and I was taking off Gin's when Ron walked in." He felt his cheeks burn completely red and wished he didn't have to tell her. "What's so funny?" he asked Thia, who wasn't laughing, but the corners of her mouth were curling up against her will.

"Harry," she said and the laugh was evident in her voice. "Every couple gets walked in on at some point. Ron will calm down and so will the other Weasleys. Besides, they do like you and wouldn't have Ginny date anyone else."

"If you say so," Harry said doubting it. "Charlie didn't even say goodbye to me when he left and Ron wouldn't sit on the train with me."

"Is that why Hermione is mad?" Thia asked.

"I think so," Harry added. "But she seems mad at me too, so I'm not exactly sure. She'll tell Ginny and I'll find out that way."

"Here, let me walk you back to the dorm," Thia said after a moment. "That way you won't get in trouble." Harry nodded.

Thia walked with Harry to the Gryffindor Tower in silence. They did meet Filch and Harry was glad Thia was with him. He hadn't seen Filch in that kind of mood since Mrs. Norris was petrified.

They parted ways at the Fat Lady and Harry entered the deserted common room. He walked over to the fire and almost stayed downstairs to sleep. He wasn't looking forward to seeing Ron. He decided against that and instead walked up the stairs to their dorm.

Harry opened the door to his dorm room slowly, hoping it wouldn't squeak on its hinge. It did, but it didn't matter. Everyone was still up talking, though Ron wasn't saying anything.

"Where've you been, Harry?" Seamus asked from where he sat on his bed.

"Talking to Thia about my classes," he answered with a half-truth. Ron mumbled something, but Harry couldn't understand what he had said. Harry crossed the room, opened his trunk, and pulled out his pajamas.

"What about your classes?" Neville asked curiously. Harry stuck his head through his top and looked at Neville surprised.

"Didn't I tell you that I dropped Charms and Herbology?" Harry asked and was stunned with their no's. "Oh, I did. I'm going to take classes from a healer and a spells master instead. And a fight trainer in the morning."

"Man," Dean said loudly, "why the extra classes?"

Harry looked at them and thought about telling them the Prophecy. That only lasted a split second before he decided against it. "I've been attacked so often and am definitely on Voldemort's to kill list, so Professor Dumbledore and I agreed that more training would be good for me." They nodded in understanding.

"Why didn't you quit Potions?" Neville asked. "I would have."

"The git saved my life and I think knowing the antidotes will be helpful," Harry answered. "And, the spells master loves Charms so I'll learn all I need about them from him."

There was a silence and Harry crawled under his blankets. "So what's up with you and Ron?" Dean asked out right. "You haven't said a word to each other all day."

There was an uncomfortable silence as Harry tried to figure out what to say, but he didn't need to say anything; Ron would. "Some slimy git nearly shagged my sister Saturday morning and would have if I hadn't walked in."

Harry sat up in his bed and stared at Ron angrily. His cheeks were flushed, not out of embarrassment, but in anger. "I did not, Ron!" he yelled at the boy in the next bed.

"It sure looked like it to me!" Ron yelled back. The other three boys realized that Dean had set off a time bomb.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I won't?" Harry asked loudly.

"You can say it all you want, but actions speak louder than words," Ron replied. Harry threw his pillow at Ron, but Ron caught it deftly.

"Ron, I would never shag Gin! Never!" he yelled back. "Get that through your thick skull!"

"Then what exactly were you doing shirtless and taking off hers?" Ron asked standing up to face Harry better.

"I told you, we got carried away, but it wouldn't have gone farther than that!" Harry yelled, his embarrassment evident in his voice.

"You'll have to excuse me because I don't believe you!" Ron yelled at Harry. "You put her in danger just by dating her and now you try and shag her! You're just sick, Harry!" Harry jumped off his bed and faced Ron, his anger radiating off him.

"You... I... Never..." Harry stopped and took a deep breath to calm down enough to speak fluently. "I know about the danger, Ron," Harry said in a voice low and dangerous and Ron took a step back. "I know about that, but I'd fall apart if she wasn't even my friend and the only way to protect her is by pretending to hate her. I can't do that," Harry said in a heartbreaking tone and the other boys were surprised with the amount of emotion there. "I've lost so many, Ron, how can you want to take her away from me?" He grabbed a blanket and pillow and left the dorm. He would sleep on the couch tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Harry what are you doing down here?" Hermione asked early the next morning. He had just awoken and was planning on getting dressed for his class with Lon soon. He only had half an hour to get to the Entrance Hall and didn't want to be late.

"Ron and I had a... a..." He stopped and tried to find the right words.

"A yelling match?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and Hermione sat down on the couch next to him. "He's blowing this way out of proportion."

"I don't know," Harry told her uncertainly. "I think it just brings other things out more. He brought up the danger I pose to her last night."

"He didn't!" Hermione asked surprised and angered.

"He did and I agree to an extent," Harry told her. "I've thought about that since that shopping trip and the only way I can think of to get rid of that threat is by not being friends with you guys."

"Harry Potter, do not turn your backs on us!" Hermione told him sternly.

"I won't," Harry assured her. "I need you guys to get through this and without you, Ron, or Ginny I don't think I will." Hermione looked at him sadly. "Anyway I don't think it would fool Voldemort. I'd have to pretend to absolutely hate you all." Harry looked at her and saw a little bit of respect in her eyes, but she was still angry. "What are you angry about?"

Hermione sighed and thought for a bit. "You know, Ron's been worried this would happen for a long time. And I always told him not to worry because both you and Ginny are smart people and well controlled." Harry snorted a laugh and she smiled. "Yeah, well, you are."

"So why are you angry?" Harry asked again.

"Because you just blow their concern off like it doesn't really matter," Hermione told him honestly. "Harry," she said putting a hand up to stop his arguments, "I know you do care, but only to a point. You see the Weasleys as brothers or surrogate parents and you're like a brother to all of the Weasleys, or a son, except for Ginny. She's the only one to see you like you are underneath."

"I'm not different--" Harry started but Hermione interrupted.

"Yes, you are, Harry," she told him honestly. "You've built walls around yourself, your true self, and you hide behind them. Ginny's the only one to see past those, because she's the only one you let in or she's the only one who has broken past them. I think it's great, Harry, that you have someone you can talk to. But it undermines your relationship with Ron. And it makes them not trust you completely. Ron is the only one who really knew you before the newer walls were built. The twins kind of knew you, but they also know you have these walls. None of them really know who you are anymore; you've changed a lot since the newer, higher walls were put up. It freaks them out because they're entrusting their little sister to you and then you do something like this." She stopped and looked around. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Harry looked around the room and rolled his eyes. "We were sitting together, when I decided to go back to bed. No one had taken the mistletoe down and Ginny kissed me, because we were under it. I don't really know what happened after that. When Ron came in, Ginny had already taken my shirt off and I was in the process of taking hers off."

"How did you get on top of Ginny?" Hermione asked a completely embarrassed Harry. "I'm trying to figure out who's lying and who's not, Harry. And this way I know what happened so that I can tell Ron the truth."

"We were on the couch and Ginny leaned back," Harry answered completely humiliated. "I just followed." Hermione nodded. "Why will this help?"

"Because Ron's blaming the whole thing on you," she answered, "but I know Ginny well enough to know that she wouldn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with. That's what Ginny told me, what happened, I mean."

Harry nodded. "So why are you mad at me?" he asked for the third time.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Ron has reasons to be worried; any older brother does. You just blow them off and don't take them seriously."

"Why should I take his worries seriously?" Harry asked slightly angry. "I'm not going to sleep with Ginny."

"But accidents happen, Harry," she said quietly. She looked around the room. "Ron and I almost went all the way."

"Yeah, Ginny told me about that," Harry told her.

"No, not that time, that was a heavy snog" Hermione said embarrassed. "This was in November, when we were doing one of our rounds. Anyway, it freaked both of us out and Ron's worried that you guys won't get interrupted."

"What?" Harry asked loudly. Hermione gave him a stern glare and Harry apologized. "Sorry. How were you guys interrupted?"

"Peeves flew by singing that horrid song he had made up for you and Ginny," Hermione said with a faint smile. "Luckily he didn't find us or the whole school would know."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked.

"Would you tell Ron, even if he wasn't Ginny's brother?" Harry shook his head no. "Then why do you think we would?"

"Oh, ok," Harry said in understanding. "Ginny can take care of herself though. She could beat me up if she really wanted to and I don't want to be on the receiving end of one of her hexes. I don't see why they worry so much for her."

"Because, and I know this is unfair," Hermione prefaced her answer, "but they all remember Ginny as a young girl, particularly Bill and Charlie. The twins are the most trusting of them and it's because they weren't as responsible for Ginny as the older two were and they weren't as close to her as Ron is. The brothers don't see her as the competent witch she is, but as some young little girl in need of protection. Just learn to work with the fears."

Harry nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but he never said what he was going to say. The clock, instead chimed the half hour and Harry stood up quickly.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry yelled back to her as he went up the dorm steps, "but I have to go to a class. See you at breakfast or at the latest Potions." He ran up the stairs, hurriedly put his school clothes on and ran back down the stairs. Hermione was still sitting on the couch and Harry yelled another goodbye to her. He hoped Lon wouldn't be too angry with him.


Author notes: Well, what to say about that... First, told you Ron had a reason back in November... Second, i wsih Mrs. Weasley hadn't told Ginny not to get back at them, and know many of you are as well, but Ginny's going to be the bigger person... Third, Harry's going to be in trouble for being late!

A huge thanks to those of you who have reviewed since I submitted chapter 27: Melindaleo2000, padfootlives1212, Pheonix Run, LauraBassi, mrivorey, and jerry321! I loved reading your comments, good and bad alike! Hope to hear from you all, even those who haven't reviewed before!

Dark times are ahead... Chapter 29 will be out in a day or two... It's entitled "Lessons" and several interesting changes have taken place... hope you stick around to read that!