Getting Use to Change

Ginny sat running her fingers through Harry's hair. She couldn't believe how her brother had acted. She suspected that he would be mad, but she didn't think that he would physically hurt Harry; no there was something else going on with Ron, and Ginny wanted to figure out what it was. Her thoughts were stopped as Harry grabbed her hand and held it.

"Hello Harry," Ginny said letting a sweet smile cross her lips before her visage changed to an apologetic one. "I'm really sorry about what Ron did! I don't know what's up with him, do you?"

"First off, quit apologizing for Ron. I'm a little shocked that he punched me, but I deserved it! I know how mad I was last year when everyone was keeping information from me! And secondly, Ron hasn't said anything out of the ordinary. He must have been extremely mad, I mean we were pretty heated back there," at the last comment Harry began to blush, and Ginny squeezed his hand. When was it that she fell in love with Harry James Potter? She had always had a crush on him, but this feeling was different...stronger, It has to be love, Ginny thought. Then she smiled at Harry because he was staring at her intently.

"What were you thinking about?" Harry asked amusement crossing his face.

"Where Harry James Potter learned to kiss like that, surely Cho Chang wasn't that good of a partner. Especially if she was crying the whole time!" Ginny smiled.

"True, true. Well, to that I must say...some people were born to snog!" he said a grin penetrating his serious features.

"Ha!" Ginny laughed heartily, "Harry Potter Snogger Extraordinaire! I like it, you should keep that as your new title." Harry pulled Ginny closer to him on the couch in the common room, Madame Pomfrey had released them after she had stopped the bleeding and repaired his nose. Harry and Ginny decided that they were going to wait for Ron to return so they could explain everything to him; Harry had dozed off just after eleven, now it was twelve thirty and still no sign of Ron.

"I hope he didn't do anything stupid," Ginny said, her voice held the worry that her features wouldn't show.

"He seemed pretty mad Gin," Harry looked around the common room, "hey...where's Hermione?" Harry asked noticing that she was nowhere to be seen.

"Well, when you fell asleep she came into the common room crying, Ron must've exploded at her or something because she couldn't stop crying. I helped her brew some sleeping potion so she could fall asleep. It was horrible Harry," Ginny's features showed more worry than her voice did. Harry drew Ginny further into his embrace, she smelled of vanilla and cinnamon, he loved that smell. It was the way Ginny was supposed to smell. He breathed in her scent.

Ginny smiled up at him and he placed a light kiss on her lips right as the portrait hole flew open. Harry looked up to see a tremendously upset Ron.

"Oh bugger!" Harry said.

"What?" Ginny asked turning around to see who had entered. Of course it would be Ron, he always has to come at the worst of times. Ginny stood from the sofa and started the long walk over to Ron.

"Couldn't keep your hands off her could you Harry? Can't help but take her innocence can you Potter?!" Ron spat in disgust.

"Listen Ron," Harry said slowly because Ron was walking toward him now, "Ginny and I haven't done anything except kiss." Ron's pace was steady and persistent. Oh damn, he's gonna hit me again. "Ron, come on mate--"

"Don't 'come on mate' me. I leave here to cool off some steam and I come back to apologize, but when I come back you still have your GRUBBY HANDS ALL OVER MY SISTER!"

"Ron please...you'll wake up the whole tower," Ginny warned.

"I DON'T CARE IF I WAKE THE WHOLE BLOODY SCHOOL! I'M PISSED!"

"Ron...come now," Harry was worried because Ron looked menacing.

"DON'T 'COME NOW' ME POTTER! I'LL SPEAK IN WHATEVER TONE I CHOOSE TO SPEAK IN! GOODNESS!" Ron looked absolutely menacing, "KNOW THIS POTTER, YOU TOUCH MY SISTER AGAIN AND I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!"

"Oy," came a voice from the stairs, it was Dean, "what's going on down here." He was rubbing his eyes. Seamus, Neville, Lavander, Pravati and many other Gryffindors started filing into the common room, following Dean's entrance. Ron didn't seem to notice that he had an audience he just kept yelling, "KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM HER OR I SWEAR I'LL--"

"You'll WHAT Mr. Weasley?" Professor McGonagall said her voice bouncing off the now silent walls of the Gryffindor common room.

"I'll make sure he regrets it!" Ron stated, trepidation absent from his eyes.

"Mr. Weasley...out of all the foolish things you have done over the course of your time here at Hogwarts, this was by far the most injudicious. Follow me Mr. Weasley, it seems as though you will not be stable if you stay here the night, we will talk about your punishment in the morning. As for the rest of you," McGonagall said to the rest of the common room, "go to sleep! Classes will be starting in a few hours! It's best you all get as much sleep as possible." People slowly started walking back to their dormitories in hushed whispers about what they had just witnessed. Harry and Ginny were slowly making their way to the stairs when a voice came from behind them, "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley," they both slowly turned to face Professor McGonagall, "I will need to see you both tomorrow to talk about what happened here tonight. I trust that you two will agree."

"Yes Professor," Harry and Ginny stated in agreement. McGonagall was searching the room with her eyes before she continued, "Where's Miss Granger? She is a Prefect, why didn't she stop all of this mess?"

"Oh, Professor," Ginny piped up, her voice small and unsure and very unlike Ginny, "she was worn out from her other encounter with Ron earlier, so I helped her brew a sleeping potion. She is probably still under it's effects." Ginny waited, Professor McGonagall seemed to be mulling this over in her mind.

"Fine. I suspect that it must have been really horrid if she needed a sleeping potion, but I trust Miss Granger knows what she's doing. As for you two, I don't know the whole story, but I do have a pretty good idea, please try and set a good example!" she looked to Harry, "People look up to you! They're always watching, don't forget that please." With that last request she briskly left the common room.

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