Love and Deception

"I love you Ron," said Ginny.

"I love you too," answered Ron.

With those simple words, the bond was complete. Ginny and Ron now shared a compassionate, powerful brother-sister bond that would be useful in the future. The bond was unbreakable. Or was it?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day, Ginny awoke to the bright sunlight streaming through the window. She quickly sat up and looked out at the bright blue sky.

Good, she thought, I want to see Draco again. Wait a minute! What am I saying? Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin all Gryffindors hated, and I'm talking about wanting to see him?

"What is this world coming to?" Ginny thought aloud.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Later that day, Ginny, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley met up with Harry near the back of the Leaky Cauldron. Ginny stared at the ground and did not meet Harry's gaze. Ron stood by her, as if he wanted to protect her from danger.

They stepped into the alley and Mrs. Weasley opened the arch again. The four looked at the now bustling streets of Diagon Alley. They walked through and started to make their way to Gringotts.

Once they arrived, Harry pulled out his key and went a separate way then Ginny, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley pulled out her key and got in a cart where a goblin named Grapp was waiting. They all squished in and the cart pulled away from the main lobby. The wheels squeaked, and they started moving faster and faster.

Ginny loved the feeling of the wind rushing past her face. She felt like all her troubles were flying past her hair and into the darkness.

The torches on the walls flashed past and eerily lit up Ron's face. Ginny studied her brother's face. She was good at reading expressions, but Ron's face was hard to read. His face was set, like he was thinking hard about something, but he had a glazed look in his eyes, like he was staring off into space. He looked a bit angry, but at the same time, he looked sad. Ron caught Ginny looking at him, and he turned his head to look back at her. Ginny quickly looked at the floor of the cart.

Suddenly, the cart stopped at vault 689, and the three gladly stepped out of their cramped quarters. Ron stretched his legs as Mrs. Weasley took the key and handed it to Griphook.

He took the key, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it. The vault opened to reveal a fair amount of gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts.

Ever since Mr. Weasley got a promotion, and Percy has become a personal assistant, they had been earning a lot more than they used to.

Mrs. Weasley took out a bag and stuffed it with various coins.

Ginny reluctantly crammed herself back into the small cart, and they sped off.

Back at the lobby, Harry came from the opposite cart across the lobby with his pockets bulging with money. They walked out of Gringotts and out onto the sunny streets.

"Okay, first stop, Flourish and Blotts," said Mrs. Weasley.

Ginny quietly followed her mother, walking far ahead of Harry. She turned her head once and noticed Ron explaining something to Harry, and she caught the word "cried". He was telling Harry what she had told him yesterday!

She quickened her pace and took out her school list to occupy her. She read:

Textbooks you will need for your Fifth Year:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade V

Advanced Transfiguration

History of Magic

Magical Creatures and Where to Find Them (revised)

Herbology V

Advanced Charms and Spells

Muggle Studies II (Mr. Weasley convinced her to take this, go figure)

Potions and Other Concoctions

The Universe and Beyond

Defense Against the Dark Arts II

She wondered who would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year.

The group arrived at Flourish and Blotts, and Mrs. Weasley handed Ron and Ginny a portion of the money from her leather bag. Ginny took the money and went the opposite way from Harry, trying to avoid him.

She grabbed the required course books and set them by a bookshelf while she went to find her elective course books.

"Magical Creatures, Magical Creatures, Magical Creatures.... ah ha!" Ginny said triumphantly, pulling the book from the shelf. "Now for Muggle Studies."

She ran her finger along the spines of a row of books as she scanned for the book. She set it on top of her Magical Creatures book and moved on to her astronomy book. She found it and pulled it from the shelf.

"Studying astronomy, eh Weasley?" came a lazy drawl from behind her. She whirled around and stood face to face with Draco Malfoy.

"And why would you care?" Ginny asked, matching his smirk.

He sauntered up to where she was standing and put one hand around her waist and moved it slowly down. Her drew close to her and pressed his body against her. Ginny stood it shock and tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter.

He moved his face close to her ear and said, "Wouldn't you like to know."

He let go of her and walked away. When he was about to pass behind the bookshelf, he turned around and winked.

Ginny stood there in a daze for a few seconds before realizing that her astronomy book was on the floor. She picked it up along with the rest of her books and went to buy them.

She walked out the shelf and discovered that Harry was standing there waiting for her.

"Harry!" she cried. Oh no! Did he see us?

"Ginny, uh, look, Ron told me what you said yesterday, and well, I'm sorry. I kinda gave up and said something stupid," Harry said, looking at the ground.

"I forgive you Harry. What were you trying to tell me?" Ginny said.

"What I was trying to say is that, well, I like you Ginny. I've spent so many summers at your house, and I've shared some good conversations with you. And I think, well......er.......um....I think I'm falling in love with you," Harry said, looking into her eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Ron! He told me he was falling in love with me!" Ginny sobbed, almost hysterical. "And I just stood there looking stupid!"

After Harry had confessed to her, Ginny had stood there in surprise until Harry became uncomfortable and said, "Look Ginny, I have to go. I'll see you later." He leaned down and pecked her on the cheek and rushed out of the store.

Now, Ginny and Ron were standing in Madam Malkin's getting fitted for their new robes. Madam Malkin walked into the room.

"Will that be all, dears?" she said.

"Actually, I need a dress and Ron needs a dress robe," Ginny said.

"Badly," Ron added, thinking of the one he wore back in fourth year.

Ginny giggled.

"Well, the dresses are over there on that rack," Madam Malkin said, pointing to a wall on the opposite side of the room. "And you come with me to pick out the fabric for your robes." She walked into the back with Ron.

Ginny walked over to the rack and automatically spotted a beautiful emerald green dress. It had thin straps and a low-cut top. It was a short dress with a long flowing skirt. Ginny immediately fell in love with it and pulled it off the rack. She chose out a white shawl with a silky butterfly pattern. She took it to the counter and waited for Madam Malkin.

Ron strode into the room looking happy with his choice. Ginny was thankful that she and Ron didn't need hand-me-down robes anymore.

Because of Mr. Weasley and Percy's promotions, they could now afford new robes and supplies.

After they had made their purchases, they stepped outside into the bright afternoon sunshine and came face to face with none other than Draco Malfoy.

He smirked and glanced at Ginny for a few seconds before looking at Ron. "Ah, Weasley. Finally got some decent robes?"

"Shut up, Malfoy," growled Ron. "Why aren't you crawling around in the sewer you came from?"

Draco just smirked. They both pulled out their wands and pointed them at each other.

"Ron! Draco! Stop!" Ginny cried, stepping in between them.

Ron stared at her blankly, "You called him Draco."

"So what? Sue me!" she retorted, cursing herself for being so stupid.

"Move out of the way, Weasley," Draco said slowly.

"Which one?" Ginny asked haughtily.

"You!" He pushed he aside and, red sparks shot out of his wand. "CRUCIO!"

"NO!" Ginny screamed. She jumped in front of Ron.

The paint that sliced through her body was more extreme than anything she had ever felt before. It was so intense; she couldn't even hear her own screams. Suddenly, the pain stopped and a dull throb spread throughout her body.

She felt herself lying on the ground. She must've fallen over from the pain. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt like they had bricks tied to them. She faintly felt someone holding up her head. She finally managed to open one eye.

"Ron?" she said softly.

"Yes, it's me. Thank God you're alright," he said.

"Well, if you call this alright, I suppose so," she mustered.

"Shh, Ginny. Don't talk," he said soothingly. He gently lay her head back down. He whirled around and glared at Draco.

Draco looked at Ginny with a look of almost guilt. (A/N: I think Draco would have a reeeeeeeeal hard time looking genuinely guilty.)

Ron stepped in front of Ginny, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU SON OF A-"

"Language Weasley," Draco said, regaining his cool. "A mere accident."

"ACCIDENT? YOU USED AN UNFORGIVABLE CURSE!" Ron pointed his wand at Draco. "Now let me return the favor! AVADA KEDAVRA!" A green flash of light issued out from Ron's wand.

Draco was dead before he hit the ground.