Love, War and Friendship - The Wizarding Way

"Ah good," Dumbledore clapped his hands in delight as he approached the bed. "Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy I hoped I would find you here."

"I'm not going anywhere," the girl smiled good naturally gesturing at her hospital gown while her boyfriend averted his gaze. He never seemed comfortable in the company of the headmaster.

"No of course not," he patted her hand gently. "I was wondering if I might have a word with you two?"

"Sure have a sentence even," Ginny offered brightly, her cheekiness proving she was feeling much better and ready to be discharged. He must remember to mention this to Madame Pomfrey later.

"Draco?"

"Yah I suppose," he muttered still unwilling to look Professor Dumbledore in the eye.

Dumbledore nodded and drew up a chair regarding the couple with total seriousness. "Now Ginny are you aware that all Seer's must register with the Ministry-"

"Why?" Draco asked bluntly not caring that he was being rude. "That shouldn't be public information. The Ministry has no right to obtain it."

Dumbledore smiled at the young boy in spite of the scowl etched across his face. Draco was so much like Lucius in so many subtle ways.

"Oh but they do," he disagreed cheerily. "You see being a Seer can be dangerous. Ginny you have access to several different dimensions. It's important that the Ministry keep tabs on this in case something happens."

Ginny nodded slowly, ignoring the sharp poke in the ribs she received from Draco. "Alright. What do I need to do?"

"I have the forms. Your parents filled them out already. All you need to do is sign and send them off to Tara McLean, she handles all the divination cases," Dumbledore told her handing over a thick packet of papers.

"Well," Ginny put the unopened envelope on the side table. "Thanks."

"That's not all there's something else that involved you, Draco."

At his word's Draco's head shot up quickly, risking whip lash to finally look into the glittering blue depths of Professor Dumbledore's eyes. What did he know? He thought fearfully.

"I'm sure your father told you of the long feud between the Malfoys and the Weasleys, Draco. No doubt he asked you to continue with it."

"What?" Ginny turned to look at Draco in confusion.

"It started hundred's of years ago," he explained picking at the bed sheets. "Basically my family treated yours like scum because they didn't have enough money or they worshiped Muggles and ever since the Malfoys and the Weasleys have been enemies."

"So you mean you're the first Malfoy to be nice to a Weasley because we don't have enough money?" she asked sounding rather put off.

"Not the first," Dumbledore answered before Draco could say anything. "There were two, years ago right before Voldemort rose the first time. I thought for sure they would be the end to all the fighting between families and perhaps even the Slytherins and the Gryffindors but," he shook his head.

Ginny looked back and forth from Dumbledore to Draco. "What happened?"

Draco sighed. "My uncle Ben," he said in a quiet voice. "I never knew him but I've heard all about him. He was a lot younger than my father so he must have been in his last year's at Hogwarts when he fell in love with - was her name Evelyn's?"

Ginny gasped. "Not Auntie Eve!" The two turned to Dumbledore for conformation.

"Yes those were them," Dumbledore smiled glad they were catching on.

"Well then how come I haven't heard of him before? She's married to a Jonathan Falcon not a Ben Malfoy," she protested with her arms crossed.

"That's because my uncle died a few months before I was born."

"Oh Draco," a hand flew to her mouth in horror. "I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter like I said I never knew him."

"So because Ben died the truce with our families ended?" Ginny asked Dumbledore who shook his head.

"There never was a truce. They'd been together a year when Benjamin Malfoy was given a choice: love or evil. He chose the wrong one," Dumbledore said sadly. "He became a death eater along side his brother Lucius."

Draco stared at the Professor fiercely. "Why are you telling us this?" he hissed not being quieted by his girlfriend's soft murmurings. "Why?"

"Because Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore began in a firm voice. He stood up not willing to be bullied by one of his students. "You two are next in line to stop the fighting and you," he said pointedly at Draco. "Have been given the same choice. I just hope you're able to make the right one. We wouldn't want history to repeat itself now would we?" His normally caring eyes looked sharply through Draco as if he like his father could read all of his thoughts.

Ginny laughed in a carefree way breaking the tension that hung in the air. "But Professor Dumbledore Draco already did make the right decision." She laid an affectionate hand on his arm. "He had the chance to be a death eater and he didn't take it."

Dumbledore merely smiled at the red head in response but his eyes remained cold, reminding Draco that he couldn't be truly accepted until he cut himself off from his father entirely.

"Well that was pointless," Ginny said absently as she leafed through the papers Dumbledore had given her. "But the thing about us was kinda cool."

"What do you mean?" he asked giving her a blank look.

"You know it's like Romeo and Juliet, our families being enemies and all," she sighed wistfully thinking about the two star crossed lovers she'd seen in the play her father had taken her to when she turned seven.

Draco wrinkled his nose. "Ginny they killed themselves."

"So? It was romantic. They died because they loved each other. Besides how would you know? It's a Muggle play."

He shifted uncomfortably, feeling his cheeks warm. "My mother took me one time my father went out of town."

"Am I hearing you right?" Ginny grinned. "Draco Malfoy has actually kept company with Muggles?"

This time he did blush surprising Ginny as the crimson color rushed over his pale features.

"Hey don't spread it around. It'll wreck my already tarnished reputation." The harsh bitterness in his voice froze her hand mid signing.

"No one's stopping you from going back to your old ways Draco," she said remembering what the Oracle had said about Dark habits being hard to break.

"No!" he shuddered involuntarily. "That's not what I want."

"Then what do you want? And don't lie to me you've been wallowing in self pity ever since we got here."

"I don't wallow," he muttered indignantly, quailing slightly under her gaze. "Look I want to be 'good' I just didn't think it'd be like this."

She finished signing the papers before responding. "Explain."

"Did you even read those?" he grabbed the forms from her. "You could be signing your life away to become Dumbledore's private sex slave." He waggled his eyebrows at her and she tried uselessly to stifle her giggles.

"Don't change the subject."

"All I'm saying is you can never be too sure these days."

"Draco," she said sternly.

He sighed. "Back when I was rightfully considered my father's heir everyone respected me. I don't care if they didn't really like me but -"

"You thought if you changed sides people would treat you the same way they do Harry?"

"I used to have all the Slytherins now I have you and possibly Harry. Everyone else hates me."

He looked so angelic and beautiful at this moment that she wished all those people he was speaking of could see him the same way she did. If only he let it out more often. Ginny knew if he did they would love him just as much as she did ... although perhaps that wasn't such a good idea she thought as she put her arms around his neck pulling him closer.

"Give them time, sweetheart. Give them time and they'll come around, I promise."

Though Draco didn't believe her he smiled at the pet name. He called her love as he called all girls when the time called for it but when Ginny used one it was deliberate, a subtle way of showing her feelings.

"Are we done talking?" he whispered as her lips hovered dangerously close to his.

"Actually -" her answer was cut short as Draco made the decision himself. She'd wanted to ask him about his father but Draco had this habit of knocking all the thoughts out of her head, leaving her senseless until a stiff hand pried them apart.

"Honestly," Hermione tutted her voice thick with disapproval. "Do you two ever do anything else?"

She stood next to Madame Pomfrey who's own face, which usually held an aggravated expression, looked extremely embarrassed as Ginny and Draco scrambled to disentangle themselves.

"Professor Dumbledore said you were feeling better." The nurse expertly took her temperature and pulse rate at the same time. "Everything seems normal, you're free to leave." She bustled away quickly cheeks red as tomatoes.

"You'd think she never saw two people kiss," Draco shook his head with laughter.

Ginny was too distracted to find the situation funny. "She didn't give me back my robes."

"Oh Gin, you wouldn't have wanted them anyways. They were pretty beat up from...whatever happened to you. I could go and fetch you some new ones if you'd like?"

"Nah," Draco spoke for Ginny as he pulled out his wand. "I can handle it. Stand up." Pointing his wand at her, a shower of silver sparkles shot from it's tip hitting her square in the chest and filling her with an icy coldness. He let out a low whistle when he was finished; giving Ginny a once over while Hermione covered her mouth to hide a snigger.

"Draco!" Ginny shrieked, hurrying to conceal her scantily clad body when she looked down to see he'd transfigured her hospital gown into a bikini. "Change it back!"

He grinned mischievously. "Remind me to take you swimming someday, love."

"Draco!" she said again not enjoying a second of the display she was putting on for him. She had never been fond of her body and it was cold with such little clothing.

"Nice legs, Weasley," an appreciative but nasty voice commented from behind Hermione. It was Blaise Zabini. She'd never seen anyone move as fast as Draco as he immediately changed the bathing suit into regular clothes though she noted the skirt was still several inches shorter than she would have made it.

"What are you doing here Zabini?" Draco growled his wand raised and ready as he took a step forward to shield Ginny with his body.

Blaise laughed, throwing a look of contempt at the group. "I've a bit of a headache."

"Oh poor baby," Hermione trilled sarcastically.

"Shut up Mudblood," he snapped angrily, his grin widening at the tears that filled her eyes. But not one fell. She had trained herself long ago not to let them see how much hurt that filthy word brought her.

Ginny expected Draco to jump to Hermione's defense but he didn't. He glared at Blaise's turned back but said nothing. Blaise gave up quite shortly on taunting them and went off in search of Madame Pomfrey.

"Are you alright?" she asked her friend, moving away from Draco a little annoyed with him.

"Yah I - I'm fine. I can't let stupid jerks like him bother me now can I?"

For the first time Ginny noticed how awful Hermione looked. Her hair hung almost straight, having lost a lot of its curl and her eyes were dull with tiredness.

"Is there something else? You look about to drop," she said cautiously.

"Oh," the tears began to fall. "I had a fight with Harry. It was stupid really. I don't even know why I'm crying." Hermione wiped her eyes with the corner of her sleeve and suddenly the whole story spilled out. Ginny put a comforting arm around her. Draco watched the wall awkwardly pretending he couldn't hear a word she said.

"Am I wrong to want to wait until he apologizes better? Do you think I should just go say sorry and end it?"

"No, it's his fault," Ginny argued fervently. "He's got to learn to trust you."

Hermione nodded brushing away more tears. "I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right! Now it should be lunch soon," she checked her watch. "Yes it's nearly noon. Let's go down to the Great Hall and get you some nice warm tea to calm you down."

"Ok," Hermione agreed slowly as Ginny looped arms and began to lead them out of the hospital wing turning to mouth, "Talk to Harry," over her shoulder at Draco.

Ever since Harry and Hermione had gotten together they seemed to fight way more than they had as friends. It was impossible to get the two sorted out. Draco sighed and made his own way down to Gryffindor tower thinking again how stupid Weasley was for making the password -

"Wingardium Leviosa." Even the Fat Lady appeared to find it funny, as she swung open on her hinges to admit him entrance.

"Malfoy what are you doing here?" A few seventh year boys glared at him.

"Is Harry here?" he asked politely, ignoring the very rude gesture one of them made at him. It took all his self restraint to keep from hexing them all as he stood through ten minutes of tough ridicule before a sympathetic fifth year, who was probably friends with Ginny pointed him out, sitting by the staircase looking simply miserable.

"What's up Potter?"

Harry raised his head sulkily to glower. "You haven't heard? I thought everyone knew by now. The Slytherins are already doing renditions from our fight."

Draco wondered if he should tell Harry that he had heard since Hermione had come running to Ginny and all he had to do was make some grand gesture of love and Hermione would be his again but he thought Ginny would regard this as cheating so he kept his mouth shut.

"Fight?"

"Oh yah," Harry squeezed his eyes shut. "I told her I didn't trust her."

Draco, as he already knew this feigned a look of shock. "Harry you idiot. You should have just told her you were jealous."

Harry opened his eyes. "I - wait how did you know I was jealous?"

"Well you were, weren't you?"

"Yes."

"Aha see?" Draco clapped Harry over the shoulder; thankful he could come up with lies quicker than Ginny. "I can read you like a book."

"I totally blew it."

Draco didn't comment, waiting for Harry to elaborate, which didn't happen.

"Can I ask why you don't trust her?" He felt a little guilty asking this but he was pretty sure when Ginny told him to talk to Harry she hadn't meant comforting him but digging up any dirt that could be told to Hermione.

Harry blew a big breath of air causing his hair to flutter up before promptly falling straight once more. "Would you be able to trust her after what happened this summer?"

"That can't be all this is about," he persisted. "Surely you're over that by now?"

"Of course I am but I don't feel like going into detail about the tragic highlights of my life with the likes of you."

Draco felt a twinge of hurt to be referred to in such a hateful tone. It had to be because of his row with Hermione but then he remembered the time he'd taken the Knight Bus to Privet Drive and Harry had sent him away. Although Harry had also helped Draco be allowed to attend class with the Gryffindors. He now suspected that might have been out of pity.

"I've gotta go," he said quickly, barrelling into the side of the couch in his haste to get out of there. He vaguely heard Harry calling after him, "If you see Ron tell him I want to talk to him."

Of course he wanted Weasley. He and Potter had been friends from the day they'd met. Draco'd never had a friend like Ron though he'd always longed for someone he was able to both have fun with and tell his darkest secrets to. He'd thought once he changed and proved his innocence he and Harry might strike up a friendship like that but the thoughts seemed only one sided.

"Hey Draco what's the rush?" Seamus Finnigan grinned at Draco, who was in the process of running over him. "Would you like to play a game of exploding snap with me and Dean?"

It was funny how while he'd always imagined Harry to be the only Gryffindor he might associate with and Seamus (someone he'd always deemed a good for nothing air head) seemed to be the nicest out of all the Gryffindor males.

"Maybe later," he said gruffly shoving past the two to exit the common room. It was awfully lonely to know Snape shared the only common room he had to return to. That was a very lonely thought indeed.

***

"So your best friends are fighting and you're happy?" Ravey gave him a questioning look as she took a long swig of the Butterbeer she'd stolen from Pansy Parkinson's private stock.

"I'm not happy about it."

"Really?" Ravey frowned. "Then what's with that huge smile on your face?"

"I'm smiling cuz I'm here with you," Ron said pleased with the delighted gleam in her blue eyes.

He found it rather easy to say things like that when she wasn't too close but whenever they came within a three-foot radius he got tongue-tied.

"It's Harry's fault I presume?" She screwed the lid back on her bottle and set it down on the firm ground.

She'd managed after ten minutes of encouraging to convince Ron to have a small picnic with her in the shadow of Hagrid's hug, where no one could see them but Hagrid if he looked out his windows. Ron was wary of this but Ravey reasoned he probably wouldn't as the curtains were drawn.

"Somewhat," Ron answered truthfully. "But she's taking it way too seriously. Harry has issues Hermione should realize that."

"Well it would sure as hell bug me if my boyfriend said he didn't trust me."

"And why's that?" he asked hoping to maybe find out some tidbits of advice to share with Harry.

"Because a relationship is built on trust. If you don't have trust or even honestly it'll fall apart."

"Then what are you doing with me Ravey? We have no honesty. I don't know anything about you besides your name, the fact you're a quarter veela and that you have an intense attachment to some silver pendant. That doesn't give me a load of trust."

Ravey's smile faltered by his bluntness. She had been wrong in thinking he was just a naive little schoolboy.

"You'll know someday," she said distantly. "Right now we're just having fun together. It's not like I'm keeping you from being a girlfriend. We're only friends remember?"

"People who are just friends don't usually kiss," Ron pointed out though it had only happened once. "And there isn't anyone else."

"What about that blonde haired girl?" She passed him a cupcake, which he accepted eagerly.

"Lavender? No she actually is a friend."

"Harry's girlfriend?" Ravey knew she'd hit pay dirt when he remained silent. "So that's why you're so happy."

"No that's not it," Ron sighed. "I'm glad they have each other, really I am. I'm getting over her but sometimes, sometimes I look at her and all I want is to be Harry."

Ravey's face softened. Reaching over to squeeze his hand she said, "Don't worry you're getting there. You are," she laughed at his dubious look. "It's funny how it happens but it does. After a while you'll stop hurting and then you'll stop needing her like you used to and eventually...you just stop loving her."

He wondered what stage of that process he was in. "Sounds like you've had experience."

Ravey shrugged. "It wasn't love but close enough to hurt."

"What happened?"

"Lots of things. He didn't want to get serious. We were too young and there was his father's hate toward my family to consider so it was a summer thing. We said we'd still be friends but he never did owl me once he got back to school."

The description fit someone he knew quite well (unfortunately). "Ravey, you don't mean Draco Malfoy do you?"

A sour expression comes over her face. "He's with your sister now isn't he?"

Ron nodded wishing just as much as she for this not to be the case.

"If I ask you one thing will you answer honestly?"

"Depends what but go ahead," she downed the rest of her Butterbeer.

"Why all this?" he gestured to the quilt and small picnic basket. "And why me? You could probably have any guy in school."

"That's easy," Ravey said, stretching out on the blanket. "But technically you do know that's two questions but I'll answer them anyway. First off I'm lonely and I get the feeling you are too. Second," a dreamy look filled her eyes. "You remind me of someone I admire greatly."

Ron took a second to take in what she'd said. He wasn't sure if he liked the secrecy but she was right they were both lonely with no opportunities to be with the ones they really wanted so why not settle for what they could have, although how Ron was ever able to get a girl like Ravey he didn't know.

"Ok," he agreed holding his Butterbeer up to her. "To moving on."

She grinned and raised her empty bottle to meet his, enjoying the gentle clink they made as they bumped together.

"I'll have you over that girl in no time."

Ron tried hard to smile back but there was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. This was a sure way for someone to get hurt.

***

Lavender had never been one for worrying, not about guys anyway. She knew without question she was a great catch; any guy would be lucky to have her. That was until she'd taken a liking to Ron Weasley. He was infuriating and loveable all at the same time but he obviously felt nothing for her. She saw the way his eyes bugged out whenever that Slytherin girl walked by or the furiousness in which he showed every time he had to sit through another one of Harry and Hermione's cuddle sessions.

"Oh Lavender stop sulking," Hermione chided her irritably.

"I'm the one that's sulking? Look in the mirror."

Hermione hadn't spoken to Harry since their fight and vice versa. They both sat at opposite ends of the table stonily stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

"At least I have a reason to sulk," said Hermione staring down at her mashed potatoes. "You're not Ron's girlfriend so quit babysitting him."

"Hey," Ginny stepped in from her seat across from them in order to stop a catfight from occurring.

"Yah ladies play nice," Draco said with a wink.

"Shut up Malfoy," Lavender and Hermione snapped together.

"Come on don't you guys ever wonder where he disappears to at night? Ginny?"

"That's his business."

"He probably just wants to get away from you lot."

Draco's comments were once again met with glares this time including Ginny. Why couldn't he ever be nice to anyone but her?

"Lavender if you really want to know where Ron went go look for him," Hermione told her calmly, pushing her plate away and getting up from the table.

"Are you going to find him?" she sounded hopeful

"No," Hermione said shortly. "I'm going to bed."

The half of the table that heard her burst out laughing while Ginny simply said, "Is this about Harry?"

"Ginny, not everything's about Harry."

"To you it is," she muttered under breath dashing from the table after Hermione's now retreating figure. She finally caught up to her as she neared the marble staircase.

"Leave me alone Ginny," Hermione turned at the young girl's touch. Her face revealing the toll all this stress and little sleep was taking on her. "I'm tired. I just want to go to bed."

Ginny frowned in suspicious. "Alright." She relented leaving Hermione to hurry up the stairs without further disturbances. It would be nice if those two could put their stupid insecurities on hold for a moment...or Harry at least.

***

Ron pulled back from the kiss his every nerve ending ready to explode. Ravey looked just as stunned as he at their fireworks.

"You are one complex girl," he said after a few moments of silence had passed.

"Me?"

"Yah," he nodded. "The first time we met you called me a twit and accused me of degrading veela and today you're asking me to go on picnics with you and end the night with a kiss."

"Well you were very unkindly when you judged all veela after the like one veela you've ever known personally," she told him pressing a finger to his lips as he leaned in for another kiss. "Not all of us want the same thing."

"But-" Ron was still dazed.

Ravey pointed to his watch. "We've been out here for two hours."

Ron didn't seem to care. "It's only seven."

"People will suspect something's up...," she said letting her voice trail on.

"How can people suspect anything if nothing's up?" he countered.

Ravey sighed and looked away, quickly pulling the blanket out from under him and stuffing it back in the picnic basket which disappeared at the point of her wand. "I knew this was going to happen. Do you want something to be up?"

"Maybe."

"Well it can't be. I'm a Slytherin and you're a Gryffindor."

"Draco's almost like a Gryffindor and I bet you a hundred galleons you'd go for him in a second."

"You haven't got a hundred galleons," Ravey rolled her eyes as he opened his mouth to speak again. "Look Ron I don't want to argue. This is all we get ok? Friends." And then proving Ron's theory of her complexity without waiting for an answer she pushed him back down on the ground and kissed him hard on the lips before running off without a backward glance.

***

Ravey wiped the spit from her lips as she tore across the school grounds and back to the Slytherin common room. What are you doing with him, Ravey? She thought to herself, shaking her head as she said the password ("Death Eaters"). You have no right to take advantage of him just because he reminds you of -

"Jagts," a beefy arm was swung around her shoulders ushering her over to the fire where the ominous group of Slytherin's stood. "How did it go?"

"H-how did it go?" she echoed nervously.

"Yes," Blaise said impatiently forcing Ravey into an uncomfortable chair. "Did he tell you anything useful?"

Ravey breathed a sigh of relief resuming her usual confidence. "No," she said awarding him with a defiant glare.

"God damn it Ravey," Blaise thundered throwing one of a small first year's china ornaments at the wall. She winced at the shattered mess on the green titled floor imagining what he could do to her.

"You told us you could handle this job. If I had known you were going to take it this slow I would have -"

"Assigned Pansy to do it?" Ravey chirped sweetly glad that the other girl wasn't around to hear her. She was probably down in the Great Hall stuffing her face along with Crabbe and Goyle. "Come on Blaise you know better than that. I'm the only one who can help you with this one."

Blaise's face constricted as he thought her words over in his mind and judging by the intense look of fury that overcame him he knew she was right.

"So is that all?"

"Not quite," he put an arm out in front of her to keep her from moving. "The Dark Lord wishes to meet his newest accomplice. As soon as you've picked up a decent shred of information involving Harry Potter you will go to him."

A flicker of fear passed through her eyes so quickly Blaise wasn't sure if he'd seen it or not. Whatever. All new recruits were scared to meet their master at first but they would get over it. He removed his arm as Ravey stalked past, tilting his head slightly to get a better look at her swaying hips.

"Ron?" Ravey asked as she opened the door of her room squinting at the red head seated on her bed staring into space. How had he gotten past the Slytherins and figured out the password? But as the boy turned to face her she saw it wasn't Ron but George Weasley.

"George!" she squealed.

"Hey," he greeted her with far less enthusiasm as she.

"What are you doing here?"

"I've got some information I need you to pass onto the man." He handed her a crumpled up letter. "No one else can see this. I trust you Ravey. Give it to him straight away." He got to his feet and covered himself with a new invisibility cloak, vanishing beneath it.

"Where'd you get that?" Ravey asked finding it rather odd to speak to nothing. "And how?"

"The Dark Lord gave it to me. He understands why the Slytherins don't care for me being a Weasley and all." He didn't elaborate but Ravey watched as the door open and closed. George was gone without any I miss you's or even a simple good bye and especially not the thing she longed to hear.

Sighing Ravey smoothed out the letter and strained to read the coded words. It was useless though as she couldn't understand any of it. She hated how they tried to shield her from everything. She had signed up for this and yet she was still out of the loop. She was sixteen years old after all not five. She had lived through her mother's drawn out death a result from her frequent Dark Arts overdoses. Her father had been no better fleeting the country the night after her funeral leaving Ravey to be raised in the worst area of Bulgaria by a few sympathetic veela. If she could deal with all that plus the following years of waitressing in a sleazy pub against her will she could certainly handle knowing what was going on in the world.

***

He was glad he had joined the Order if not for the honor it brought him knowing he was part of the team that would one day destroy You-Know-Who but for the useful information it provided in times of need. If it hadn't been for the Order he wouldn't have known about the Riddle estate and that it was where Tom Riddle more formally known as Voldemort or You-Know-Who was currently residing.

He stood in front of the mansion without regret. It had been hell trying to navigate his way and having to use Muggle transportation. He should have listened more at dinner when his father lovingly spoke of Muggle's and their means of travel. But it didn't matter now. He had only one mission: to get George out of there. He had long decided that his twin must be under the Imperius. There was no way he would do this on his own free will. And since no one else would save him Fred would.

Taking a deep breath he stepped across the threshold, unaware of the silent alarm that rang throughout the house.

***

Glistening droplets of rain splattered against the glass windowpanes of Gryffindor tower, casting a gloomy darkness over the room. Hermione scarcely noticed any of this her attention directed only at Harry, who was playing chess with Ron. Two fourth year girls were eagerly cheering them on and it was quite clear by the gleeful looks sent her way they were both certain she was out of the picture. Harry, on the other hand didn't seem to notice their flirtatious smiles which made her feel a bit better because the truth was she missed him. There was nothing she wanted more than to be sitting between her two best friends laughing and joking the way they used to her but her sense of pride kept her from apologizing.

"Feeling ok?"

Hermione jumped, upsetting her usual collection of books piled in her lap. "Seamus! Hi."

"Is this seat taken?" Seamus asked, climbing up beside her on the window ledge.

"It is now."

She moved her legs to give him more space. The two had struck up a sort of friendship during her two-week stay in Ireland. Hermione had found that while he wasn't the best wizard he was an excellent listener.

"You ok?" he asked again.

She gave a half shrug, averting her gaze. "Sure I'm just peachy."

"I heard about the fight you and Harry had."

"Who hasn't?"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Hermione didn't answer, her eyes trained on the dark gray carpet.

"All right," Seamus sighed, starting to get up. "That's a no." But as soon as his feet hit the ground she let a strangled sob that made him turn back around. "Hermione?"

"Why doesn't he trust me?" she whispered, swiping at the tears flowing steadily down her cheeks.

Seamus hesitated. "I can't answer that. But think about this: trusting someone is like this gigantic leap of faith. You can never be sure you're going to get it back. Maybe Harry thinks you're holding something back." He smiled at her uncertainly as if he knew more than he was letting on. She didn't have time to ask him about it though as he left to talk to Lavender, blushing feverishly as she punched him playfully in the shoulder.

Hermione turned to look out the window at the storm outside. Of course she was holding back. She hadn't told him the real truth since - a giggle from across the room interrupted her trail of thought. Looking over at the fireplace she felt a sting of jealousy shoot through her body as a blonde girl patted Harry on the arm as Ron raised his fists in triumph, obviously having won another game. As the girl began to whisper something in Harry's ear she breathed in sharply, immediately jumping to her feet and hurrying over to his side. The blonde glared at Hermione as she pulled him out of her clutches. Harry looked stunned also but altogether pleased as he followed her out of the common room all the way down through the pouring rain into the owlery.

"Hermione why did you bring me here?" he asked forgetting to be angry with her as he strained to dry his now soaking shirt.

"Because no one else will come out here in this weather," she said simply. "I wanted to talk to you."

Harry nodded, motioning for her to go on.

"Last week...well the day after we got here Ginny and I - now this may sound a little odd but we - we switched bodies. You see we went to visit the Powers that Be and I didn't do the right thing when we were going back so we switched."

"Er..." Harry looked confused. "It is you now right?"

"Yes," Hermione smiled a real smile for the first time in days, moving closer to take his freezing cold hands in hers. "But that's not really what I needed to tell you. The reason I've been acting so weird since Ginny got put in the hospital is well you sees I don't think we got back properly."

"Come again?"

"When I was unconscious in Ginny's body Ginny must have done something to switch us back except it didn't work...not entirely. I mean I'm still me but there's a part of me -" Hermione stopped, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. "A part of me can still feel Ginny's impulses and reactions as well as my own."

Opening her eyes she found Harry still confused. "I don't see why that was such a big deal," he said. "You could have told me - wait," and like a flash of lightening streaking through his emerald green eyes she saw his understanding grow. "By impulses you mean her..." He dropped her hands. "And here I was worried this had to do with Fred." His voice was dry and brittle and as he backed away it was clear he wanted nothing to with her.

"Harry," Hermione started anxiously. "Please hear me out -"

"You're attracted to Malfoy!" he exclaimed. "You're -"

"It's not my fault!" she shouted so loudly several owls hooted at her in annoyance. "The spell went wrong. I can't help that and," she added in an attempt to provoke him, "who's to say I wasn't attracted to him to begin with?"

"Hermione!" Harry looked disgusted. "What are we going to do here? Do you want -"

"If you dare suggest we break up I'll give you a scar big enough to rival the other," said Hermione savagely, tired of having the same conversation over and over again. "If you're going to run from every problem we encounter there's no point in us being together."

"I'm not the one who's running," Harry crossed his arms stubbornly, his eyes narrowed.

She laughed sardonically. "Oh that's right I forgot it was me who protested so much to this relationship in the first place."

"I'm sorry it bothers you that I'd chose your life over going out with you. Must have been a great blow to your ego, me being the only guy in Grimmauld Place who wasn't jumping at the chance to date you."

Hermione glared back, her hands clenched in tight fists. "And I'm really having a really hard time remembering why I wanted to date you."

Harry took a step forward, looking furious. "At least I would never cheat on you with some random girl."

"Oh and I would?"

"Yes!"

"No!" Hermione stamped her foot, sending several owls scuttling from their perches. "I'm sorry that I gave you that impression but I would never do anything to mess up what we have."

"Good!" Harry snapped hotly. "Because neither would I!"

Before she realized what was happening Harry had tackled her to the owlery floor and was kissing her with more passion and fire than she had known he had in him. The ground was damp and cold but the heat from his body warmed her as she struggled to kiss him back with just as much ferocity as he showed her. Ignoring the small bits of straw poking sharply at her bare legs, she lost herself in Harry's anger for that was what she realized this was. The feelings that he poured into her she could recognize as all of his pent up misery over Sirius's death, his frustration over her and school and the fear that they both shared of You-Know-Who. He pulled back moments later but his lips remained only inches from his hers, his body still crushing her own with it's weight. He stared down at her, his eyes not twinkling the way they usually did but filled with the heaviness of unspoken feelings.

"Thank you," he whispered through deep breaths, reaching out to gently tuck one of her curls back into place.

"For what?"

"For not treating me like everyone else does, like I'm some delicate little boy and for trusting me when I couldn't do the same, even if you do think Malfoy's hot."

Hermione cringed. "We're going to fix this Harry. I've been researching it and I'll find an answer soon but for now I know a solution that can solve everything."

Pushing him off her she ran out the owlery door knowing that he would follow her as she raced out into the howling wind, catching the raindrops on her tongue.

"What are you doing?" he shouted at her.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" she asked and offered him her hand as she continued to spin, her eyes locked on the skies above. "I'm dancing in the rain."

"You'll catch pneumonia," Harry warned, his arms above his head to shield himself from the icy water.

"Oh Harry you're starting to sound like Ron's mum," she laughed as she danced away looking to Harry like a bright water nymph flitting back and forth around the grounds. He finally gave in and taking her hand the two twirled and ran along the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest until they were both soaked to the bone but Harry had to admit it had been the most fun he could remember having in a long time.

***

He moved stealthily against the rotting walls, searching for any sign of movement. If he found Death Eater's he would find George. He hadn't yet made a plan for what he would do once he found him he just knew he had to get him out of there. Surely the sight of Fred would motivate his twin to fight the curse. He had told his suspicions to his mother, who was dealing with the loss of George's morality far better than him. She said that it was his grief talking, that George hadn't finished the potion nor left any of the unsigned owls on his porch.

Catching a glimpse of light he quickened his steps, being sure to keep them light. He traveled up spiralling stair cases and rickety hall ways but he didn't know what he was seeing until the blinding flash of green hit him hard in the chest, knocking him to the ground in an instant.

***

No one commented at the sight of Harry and Hermione hands clasped, giggling like schoolgirls as they dripped both mud and water all over the castle floors. Professor McGonagall, who saw them pass by her office watched with a smile and didn't even scold them for the terrible mess they were making. It warmed her heart to see the children happy again.

The fourth years still talking animatedly to Ron in the common room glared furiously to see that the two had made up while Ron shook his head, not wanting to know why stray bits of straw were stuck to both Hermione's legs and hair. They didn't seem to take any notice of him though as they strode over to one of the couch's located far away from the rest of the Gryffindor's. Ron wanted to go talk to them but he could tell by the way Harry kept stroking Hermione's face that they were having a very personal conversation that shouldn't be interrupted.

He was tired of being surrounded by so many people and yet feeling so alone. Dean and Seamus were busy teasing Lavender about the chunks of red she'd streaked through her hair earlier in the afternoon. Neville was studying intently for the quiz they had scheduled in Potions on Tuesday and Ginny as always could be located in the clutches of Malfoy, although he looked just as Ron felt as he rested his chin on Ginny's shoulder, glaring sullenly at her group of chirping friends.

Maybe he should go find Ravey. He felt she understood him somehow or else she just knew about the terrible loneliness that he felt lately. So he set off with no idea where she might be just an inkling.

***

"Ginny," Draco whined into her ear, inhaling the flowery scent of her hair.

She ignored him as she had for the past thirty minutes. None of his pokes, prods or nags could tear her away from the mindblowing conversation she was having about make up charms with her friends.

"Ginny," he said again, starting to get irritated.

She shifted uncomfortably in his lap, leaning forward to hear something the girl on her right was saying. It was something about an article in Teen Witch Weekly, a magazine Draco deemed as utter crap. He had no idea why anyone would want to waste a whole galleon on it.

"Ginny," this time he spoke loud enough for the rest of the girls to hear.

They all turned to look at him expectantly, some with expressions of interest and others with disgust.

"Yes?" she turned to look at him finally, her voice barely concealing her own annoyance at him for interrupting.

"Can I talk to you alone for a moment?"

Ginny nodded and marched him away, arms crossed. "What is it?"

"I just - I," Draco started, not knowing what to say. He hadn't really had anything he needed to talk to her about; he'd only wanted to get her attention away from the other airheads she hung out with.

Ginny sighed, making a noise in the back of her throat, not unlike Hermione's disapproving tut.

"I see," she said. "Draco I can't spend every waking moment with you. I have a life and friends and homework and -"

"Must be nice," he murmured softly.

She looked stricken. "I - I didn't mean that you don't have those things too."

He shrugged. "But I don't."

Ginny stared at him. Draco didn't seem to care that he'd just admitted he had no friends. His proud nature never left his face even as the words did. She had never really thought of him that way before: alone. But he really was. Any of the true friends he might have had in Slytherin would have dropped him the second he associated with Harry Potter, though he was still one of them. Draco was still the same hard, cruel person many a Slytherin had idolized.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be," he said indifferently. "We are who we are. You can't change it."

"Yah I guess."

Draco gave her hand a gentle kiss before retreating from the common room without being asked. Ginny shook her head. Not even Harry could compare to the cloud of confusion Draco sent her to. She wouldn't ever be able to understand him.

She glanced over at Harry and Hermione as she walked back to her seat. Things seemed to be working out for the two of them.

Turning back to her friends, who were now giggling hysterically over some picture Miranda had unearthed she could see how Draco could find her friends and their choice of conversation topics trivial but she loved them. At home or among Harry, Ron and Hermione she felt out shadowed and lonely but here was where she was valued. Miranda, Kylie, Anna and Hallie weren't overly intelligent nor widely known like Harry but they were her friends all the same and she wasn't about to exclude them and let Draco monopolize all her time, no matter how important he was to her.

***

Hermione was silent as she listened to Harry speak. Their talk of trust appeared to have unleashed something that had been holding him back from her and Ron for a long time. She pretended not to notice the tears in his eyes as he spoke of Sirius and Lupin in various tones of love and admiration. She wished as she often did that his parents hadn't been ripped from him so early in life. When he was finished it was her that was left crying, a similar feeling to that of which she'd had when she watched Draco spill his heart to Ginny.

"I'm worried about Ron," Harry told her commenting on his recent disappearance's that Lavender had brought up the previous night.

Hermione was a bit annoyed that while here she sat wiping away tears at his childhood woes he was worrying about Ron. "Maybe he's been taking on extra prefect duties," she suggested, mentally taking note that she must ask the Head Boy or Girl when the next meeting was scheduled.

"Or maybe," Harry grinned wickedly. "Maybe he's found himself a girl."

Hermione struggled to keep a straight face as jealousy threatened to overwhelm her but she dismissed the thought. Ron certainly couldn't have a girlfriend. If he was going to go out with anyone it would be Lavender Brown although possibly not as she noticed she and Seamus had been awfully giggly around each other lately, well Seamus at least.

"Are you feeling all right?" Harry asked with concern. "You look about to be sick."

"No," Hermione forced a smile. "I'm fine."

"Ok," he agreed but continued to peer at her from behind his glasses, not quite convinced. "Do you want to go find him then?"

"Who?"

"Ron."

"Oh," Hermione blushed, completely lost. "Uh sure. We could check at Hagrid's?"

Her guess was only half right as they stumbled across Ron just outside the entrance doors. He didn't see them as he paced back and forth mumbling to himself, "She is definitely avoiding me," and then in a much louder voice, "Why would she be avoiding me?"

"Who's avoiding you?" Harry asked curiously, making his presence known.

"What?" Ron spun around fearfully, his face white. "N-no one."

"Whatever you say mate," Harry laughed as he clapped him heartily on the shoulder.

Hermione furrowed her brow. There was something he wasn't telling them. Her mind drifted back to the necklace up in her room locked in her dresser drawer. But that couldn't be. Ravey wanted nothing to do with any of them. She and Ron - no that would never happen.

"We were going to go visit Hagrid. Want to come?"

Ron, his face still ashen nodded enthusiastically. "Sure."

As the trio walked the remaining few feet towards Hagrid's hut Ron noticed Hermione seemed a little dazed. She had the dreamy look she always got when she was deep in thought.

"Whatcha thinking about?" he asked, nudging her gently to pull her from her reverie, wherever that may be.

"What? Oh," Hermione looked up. "You, I suppose."

Ron felt his face flush happily as his heart twirled wildly in his chest. She whipped all thoughts of Ravey and her obvious avoidance out of his mind. "Me?"

"Yah. Everyone's wondering where you keep going. Harry thinks you've got a girlfriend."

"And you?" He swore he could hear a hitch in her voice when she said the word girlfriend but he was sorely mistaken, his stomach plummeting at her answer. Like he would actually go out of his way to do prefect work. Sometimes he wondered if she knew him at all.

Ron quickened his pace as an eager Hagrid, who cupped Harry's shoulder and shook him vigorously, flung the door open.

"So you've finally come ter see me!" he boomed from his doorstep, hurrying over to give Ron and Hermione the same attention.

"Hagrid," Hermione smiled. "We see you in class."

He grinned and pulled them all inside, thrusting cups heaping full with tea into their hands. "So what have you all bin doing?"

The three exchanged weary glances at the memories of all that had gone on during the brief time they had been at Hogwarts.

"I hear yer sister's bin carrying on with tha' Malfoy," Hagrid made a face as he placed a plate of sandwiches in front of them. "Wonder what he wants from her."

Ron scowled deeply into tea but said nothing. Hermione looked nervous. Harry was the only one who answered.

"I reckon he's all right now, Hagrid. Really he is," he added for Ron's benefit as the redhead looked over at his friend in disbelief.

Hagrid shook his head. "Yer too trusting, Harry. Believe me if there's one thing I know it's never trust a Malfoy. All of 'em are evil. Have been for centuries. He's got something up his sleeve that's fer sure."

"No I don't think so," Harry disagreed quietly.

He and Hagrid had always been on good terms but for some reason it angered him to hear someone else rap on Malfoy. It used to give him pleasure, now however he only felt pity for Draco. He wasn't all-bad. Some part of him must be good.

Harry ducked his head uncomfortably at the sight of Hagrid's bugged out eyes, looking at him incredulously. "Well he treats Ginny good," he offered helplessly when neither Hermione nor Ron rushed to help him defend Draco.

Hagrid nodded with a small ounce of approval. "Good fer him. She deserves nothing but the best. O' course I always thought you and her but well it seems the situation's changed just o' bit," his eyes shifted over to Hermione's redden cheeks.

Ron clenched his fists as he listened silently to Hagrid congratulating the two. He couldn't stand it.

"I gotta go," he said, jumping from his chair and tipping it over backward. "Something I have to do. Thanks for the tea."

He ran out of the small hut feeling horribly embarrassed for his impromptu departure. He could normally be in control of his jealousy of Harry but he wasn't sure if he could hold it all in this time and he didn't want another fight in the near future.

"Ow!" a high pitch squeal filled his ear as he stomped accidentally over someone's small foot.

"Ravey!" he made a grab for her arm before she could run as she did before.

"Ron," she smiled uncertainly, her expression faltering and crystal blue eyes seemingly troubled. "Hi. I was just -"

"Running away from me?"

"No, no. Ron, no," she insisted, wrenching her arm from his grasp. "Get a grip. So I pass you in the hall and I don't say hello -"

"You didn't even acknowledge me."

"So?" Ravey crossed her arms irritably. "I was busy."

"Busy?" Ron repeated doubtfully.

"Yes!" she exclaimed although her eyes darted away from him as she spoke. "Stop acting like such a girl!" She turned on her heel, determined to have the final word and not confess that she was simply using him.

Inside Hagrid's Harry had stood up to look out at Ron through the window. "That's Ravey isn't it?" he asked Hermione, watching them closely.

She shrugged appearing disinterested.

"Yah," Hagrid answered for her. "That's her all right. Saw the two of 'em kissin' outside my window last night."

Hermione's jaw dropped. Ron and Ravey? Harry, however found it funny. "Good for Ron," he chuckled while Hermione tried to keep her stomach from doing icy flip-flops at the knowledge. Her mind knew she didn't love Ron that way but her heart felt that he was hers anyways. No one else was supposed to have him. She was ashamed by this realization, knowing it was deeply selfish but she couldn't help it. She didn't want Ron to be with anyone, especially not Ravey.

***

"Mr. Malfoy you have a visitor," Snape announced with a sharp rap on the door.

Draco looked up in surprise. Who could possibly be visiting him? No one ever came near Snape's corridors except that new Slytherin, Ravey Jagts who had arrived last night flushed and nervous to hand deliver a letter to Snape.

"Hey," Ginny stepped out from behind the potions master's shadow to smile at Draco.

He grinned. It couldn't have been more than twenty minutes ago since he'd seen her last. "Hey."

"I'm trusting you two," Snape warned as he shut the door, going against the rules he'd set before.

"What are you doing here?"

Ginny looked down at her feet, a little embarrassed. "My friends, they told me it was very stupid of me to let you go off like that and," she shrugged sheepishly. "I guess they just made me realize how lucky I am to have someone willing to spend all of their time with me."

Draco continued to grin but made no move to get up from his bed, simply opening his arms to her.

"I'm sorry?" she said cautiously, climbing onto the bed beside him. "I didn't mean to...to take you for granted. I - you're really enjoying this aren't you?"

"Yep, it's not everyday beautiful girls throw themselves at me."

"I did not throw myself at you," she said indignantly, pulling herself from his embrace. "You think I'm beautiful?"

"You noticed that huh?"

"I did," she smiled.

"Ginny," Draco started, brushing a stray strand of red from her eyes. "The truth is you're so beautiful that sometimes I look at you and I wonder exactly why you're with me because you could have anyone here."

"You were right," she said softly. "Not about that but what you said before. That day in Flourish and Blotts I saw something in you that I liked but I never saw it again. In fact I actually thought I'd imagined it because you turned out to be such a heartless bastard."

"Well that was brutally honest."

Ginny shrugged. "Just repaying the favour."

"My honesty is nice," he countered.

"It wasn't always."

Draco didn't reply as she nestled back against his arm and picked up the book he'd placed face down on his chest when Snape had knocked.

"Hmm," she murmured flipping a few pages before putting it back down again. "I didn't know you liked to read."

"I don't," he said discarding the book on the floor. "Just something to pass the time."

"We're not having another fight are we?"

"No why would you think we were having a fight?"

"Because it feels like one of those times you hint that something's wrong but when I call you on it you get all defensive like you are now," said Ginny tersely. She hated it when he said things that made his life seem so barren and lonely. It wasn't as bad as he said.

"We're not having a fight and nothing's wrong," Draco told her stiffly.

"Really," she had now pulled away entirely, sitting at the edge of the bed, accidentally kicking the tower of textbooks.

"Yes."

"History of Black Arts Century Through Century?" Ginny asked, staring down at the top of the pile. "Ok your bedtime reading consists of these," she held up two more books about Dark magic, one of which she knew was from the restricted section of the library. "And you expect me to believe that nothing's wrong?"

"What does my choice in reading have to do with my well being?"

"I just think for someone who claims they don't enjoy reading you've got an awful lot of books checked out on the Dark Arts."

"I still don't think that gives you any grounds to think something's wrong."

Ginny tossed him a frustrated look, worry lines etching themselves across her forehead. "I understand that Dark habits are hard to break but this can't be healthy."

"I'm not researching the Dark Arts so I can practice them. I'm researching them so I can get my father out of my god damn head!" Draco snapped suddenly, shedding his cool composure.

"Your father's been in your mind?"

"No," he denied quickly.

Ginny frowned. He was lying to her. She hadn't known the spell put over him while at the magical camp in Bulgaria was still in effect but now that he mentioned it, it must be.

"You know where I went those few days I was up in the hospital wing?"

Draco shook his head.

"I went back into your past. I know what happened to you so there's no use lying." She proceeded to tell him about the Oracle and Little Draco.

"Ah," he said coolly when she'd finished. "That's a bit evasive don't you think?"

Ginny glared. "I didn't ask to be shown any of that!" She sounded remarkably like her brother Fred. If they hadn't been fighting Draco might have found it rather amusing to list all of the annoying traits the Weasley siblings had in common.

"No you just willed it into being. Ginny the Oracle shows it's visitors whatever they most wish to know so whether you asked for it isn't relevant."

It wasn't that Draco was angry at her for seeing his past, he had told her all about it himself after all, he merely felt the gnawing of doubt and horror knowing she knew the terrible things he'd done.

"Well next time I'm unconscious I'll be sure to keep my thoughts off you," she said sarcastically.

Draco sighed. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

"I rarely know what you mean by anything," said Ginny teetering at the edge of the bedspread. "So what do you mean?" she gently reached across to take his hand. She hadn't been guilt tripped into coming here for this.

"You know me now," he said.

Ginny smiled sweetly. "I always did."

"No, this is different, Gin. You know things that I've never wanted nor planned to tell anyone. It -" he was cut off by Ginny's soft lips offering him one of the few comforts he had grown to rely on.

"Doesn't change the way I feel about you," she attempted to run her fingers through his hair with great difficulty, as it was back to its regular style, slicked back and thick with gel. "I liked it much better the other way."

"What other way?" Draco asked, thankful for her quick change of subject.

"When it was loose and natural without all that hair gel, kind of messy."

"Sorta like Harry's you mean?"

"No," she said with a quick shake of her head. "Sorta like Draco."

He liked the way she said it as though he were someone of great importance.

"So can you tell me what's bothering you and what it has to do with your father?"

"Maybe later, right now we should take advantage of the fact that Snape stupidly trusted us alone in a room with the door closed. Who knows when that'll happen again?"

***

It took only seconds for George to realize who had gotten the brunt of the curse, Knott's wand arm obscuring his view. As soon as it was lowered and the crumpled body was revealed he felt his body seize up. There wasn't a doubt in neither his mind nor anyone else's who it was.

Knott laughed. "Stupid boy."

"Dispose of him."

It wasn't until he heard the cold, mirthless voice that he fully grasped the horror that had come down upon him. Choking back his grief, George threw himself down on the body and the wands that rose towards him.

Goyle smiled wanly, his own wand pointed directly at George's forehead. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I can't let you take him."

"And why," Crabbe senior joined the throng. "Is that? You know the rules. As soon as you take the Dark Lord into your heart all other emotional ties must be severed."

George struggled against the need to keep us his evil facade and the sharp pain that was beginning to fill his head. "I have to take his body home to my family."

"Your loyalty is to us not your family."

"Please, this has nothing to do with my loyalty. I need to take his body back," his voice shook at the intense emotion funning rampant throughout his body at the loss. "He's my twin."

"Perhaps it has everything to do with your loyalty," the Dark Lord interrupted from his perch. "I have long since felt the presence of betrayal in this household." He spoke as if they were nothing more than a happy family though his voice showed no love or care. "It is clear to me now. It appears boys," Voldemort addressed his surrounding Death Eaters. "It appears the double crosser has double crossed us. I am right in thinking it is you who has been passing information to the other side am I not?"

George didn't answer, flinching at the hate and anger in the pair of red eyes. Dumbledore had warned him things might get ugly when the time came they'd just hoped it hadn't been as soon.

"Ah," the almost inhuman face curved downward into the worst looking frown George had ever seen. "Well then."

George held tightly to the cold, stiff arm, gripping his wand tightly behind him. In a minute he would do it but where to go? Charms were placed all over Hogwarts to keep people from Apparating in the grounds and Dumbledore had not lifted them for any of his spies as no one could be trusted in times of darkness.

Hogsmeade. That's where he would go and so he whispered the spell feverishly not knowing the fate that would reach him as soon as he apparated with Fred's body in the centre of Hogsmeade.

***

Hermione shivered in the cold though perfectly warm under Harry's strong arm and winter cloak. There was something about the way the cloudy skies smirked down on her that made her feel quite uneasy.

"Cold my love?" Harry asked her.

She was surprised by how he acted around her lately. With Cho he had been bashful and a bundle of nerves with her he had a certain sense of suavity she had never noticed before. "Just a shiver," Hermione explained, giving his hand a friendly squeeze.

"Someone must have walked over your grave. What?" he cried at her look. "Muggles say that all the time!"

"I know," she said quietly, another shake rippling through her body. "It's just a creepy thought that's all." She fought to keep the memory of her dead body held loosely in Harry's arms at bay.

"You're not going to die," he told her a bit forcefully.

Hermione shot him a watery smile. "Who knows? I am a Muggle after all and you were the one to tell me that being with you could result in death."

Harry came to a sudden halt, his cold hands shaking her shoulders. "You aren't a Muggle. Hermione you are the best witch I know."

"Thanks Harry," she said, massaging her shoulders once he'd let go. "But notice how you didn't deny the fact I might die."

He hung his head. "It's true, I suppose. But everyone dies sooner or later."

"I'm just going to die sooner," she fixed him with a stern look that refused to accept any lacklustre answers.

"We can't tell the future. It could change at any given moment. No one knows -"

"No one except Ginny," she cut in looking completely lost in awash of desperation.

"Possibly," he agreed slowly. "But even Seers can't See everything."

"Maybe," her voice was low and distant and the reproachful gaze in her hazel eyes stopped him from asking anything more as they continued the short trek back to the school.