Just Plain Harry

Chapter 28 Family

"What?" Ron said. "That's bloody ridiculous!"

"I know," Harry said, "but it's true, for all of that. Until we can find Aunt Marge, I'm stuck with the Dursleys. And if Aunt Marge won't help them out, then..." He trailed off, unable even to contemplate such a thing.

"Why wouldn't she?" Hermione asked.

The three of them were huddled around their usual table in the common room, their Potions books and notes spread out between them. The common room wasn't the best place to be talking about sensitive subjects like Sirius and Muggles in Hogwarts, but by the time Harry had burst in through the portrait hole after seeing Sirius and Professor Figg, it had been too late to go anywhere else. Hermione had suggested using their Potions work as a shield, and, though the common room was full of Gryffindors, most of them even studying, it had worked so far. Now, Harry pretended to be pointing something out to Hermione as he answered her question.

"From what I could make out, Aunt Petunia told Professor Figg and Snuffles that Aunt Marge never really liked her, she just put up with her for Uncle Vernon and Dudley's sake. She thinks that Aunt Marge might help out Dudley, as long as she could still afford her dogs and her holidays in Majorca, but not Aunt Petunia. Snuffles said she was...slightly hysterical." 'Slightly off her rocker' was what Sirius had really said, but Harry knew Hermione wouldn't like to hear that.

"Well, that's understandable, Harry," Hermione said. "She'd just seen her home and her life in ruins."

"Yes," Harry said, "but that's -" He broke off, because suddenly Ginny burst through the portrait hole, looked around wildly, and practically threw herself at the three of them.

"Harry, you'll never believe," she said, speaking in short gasps, as soon as she was close enough so they could hear and no one else could, "what I saw...I saw Si-Snuffles...he was..."

"We know all about that," Ron said when she paused for another breath. He waved a languid hand at her.

Ginny shut her mouth with a snap, her eyes flashing. She took a deep breath and let it out in a huff.

"You can't possibly," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at her brother.

"Oh, yeah?" Ron said, crossing his own arms and glaring back. "Why not?" Even though he was sitting and she was standing, he barely had to crane his neck to look her in the eye.

"Because this is something only I know about," Ginny said, leaning towards him and pinning him to his chair with her glare. How do the Weasley women do that? Harry wondered. He remembered Mrs. Weasley chastising a towering, but cringing, Fred and George.

Ron was made of stern stuff, though. He glared right back. "Is that what you think? You think that everything about Harry belongs to you now, don't you? Well, you're wrong. We know what you're about to say, because Harry told us. I don't know how you found out - snooping around the hospital wing, I suppose - but Harry told us. So don't you go thinking you own him now!"

Harry felt his face burning, and he was fervently glad that both brother and sister were keeping their voices down, practically hissing their words. He tried to interrupt, but Ron and Ginny both ignored him, and Hermione just put a hand on his arm and shook her head at him.

"I don't think that, Ron, and you know it," Ginny said. "I'm not the one who needs to own people - I'm not the one who keeps secrets from his family - I'm not the one who puts his friends over his family!" Harry could see her practically shaking with anger.

"Oh, yeah?" Ron said. "What about Tom Riddle's diary, huh?"

Ginny and Harry gasped at that, and Harry felt Hermione kick Ron under the table. Ginny's gasp had apparently been a furious one, though.

"I wouldn't have needed to turn to Tom if you hadn't shut me out, Ron," she said, her voice finally rising. They were starting to attract some attention, and Harry looked around wildly for some help. The only other Weasley he saw was Fred, sitting in a corner with Angelina, and she seemed to be holding him back from interfering. "We were such good friends before you came to Hogwarts," Ginny continued, her angry voice not really matching her pleading words, "but after you met Harry and Hermione, you shut me out. Doesn't it say something that a girl with six brothers had to turn to an enchanted diary for friendship and understanding?"

Harry felt the pang of guilt that always happened whenever he thought of Ginny being so lonely she had to turn to a diary in her first year, because of him. He felt Hermione tense beside him, too, but after a moment he realized that she was suppressing laughter. He turned to stare at her, shocked. He certainly didn't feel like laughing right then.

"Oh, that's rich," Ron shot back, his voice rising a bit in turn. "When have you ever been understanding? It's always, 'Don't fight so much with Hermione, Ron,' and 'You know nothing about girls, Ron.' What about -" He broke off suddenly, glancing about wildly. When he realized that he was the subject of most of the common room's attention, his ears turned bright red, and he glared at all the Gryffindors staring at him.

Ginny wasn't done, though. "What about yourself? 'Don't embarrass me around Harry, Ginny,' and 'Stop following him around, he's not interested in a little girl like you -" She stopped in her turn, her cheeks stained pink. She sat down abruptly and bent her head so her hair hid some of her face. She didn't look at Harry, even though he was staring at her.

Since it seemed like the argument was over for now, the rest of the Gryffindors went back to their own business. Neither Ron nor Ginny spoke or looked at each other, and Harry and Hermione exchanged baffled glances. Hermione lifted her eyebrows at him, and he shrugged back. He had no idea what just happened, how it blew up so quickly, or how to cope with it. Ginny had seemed so happy when she'd burst into the room; now she looked miserable, and Harry had no idea what to do. He had no experience in sibling fighting, after all, and when Ron and Hermione used to fight, one of them would stomp off at the end of it, and they'd both ignore the fight when they met again. Neither Ron nor Ginny looked like they were going to do that, and Ron and Hermione's current make up strategy obviously wouldn't work in this case, either.

"So, erm, Ginny," Hermione finally said. "What did you see Snuffles do that you came tearing in here to tell us?"

"Oh!" Ginny said, raising her head suddenly and shaking back her hair. Now, she easily met Harry's eyes, her own sparkling, and he was glad that she could put the argument with Ron out of her mind. "I had a vision of Snuffles, Harry. He was wearing dress robes, and he was laughing. He looked so happy, Harry, so...carefree. It was wonderful to see."

"Ginny, that's incredible," Hermione said, which was a good thing, because Harry was speechless. While Ginny had been speaking, he could almost see a laughing, happy Sirius himself, and she was right - it was wonderful to see. Harry had never really known his godfather to be happy; there was always something horrible happening - usually to him - or someone to worry about - usually him. And, of course, the dark of Azkaban never really left Sirius' eyes. But if Ginny Saw him happy - carefree and laughing - then he would be. Which meant...which meant a lot of things that Harry wasn't sure he should really think about right then. He knew he couldn't actually thank Ginny in words for what she'd given him, so he tried to do it with just a smile, and was rewarded by her own lit-from-within smile, which made him more speechless than ever.

Typically, Hermione wasn't, and this time, Harry was glad.

"Well, you won't believe what happened today, Ginny," she said. "Or actually, you probably will, because you Saw it, didn't you? You'll have to talk to Snuffles or Professor Figg and compare your vision to what actually happened. I'd like to know how closely they match up, so we have a basis for your other visions. You won't mind telling me, will you, Ginny?"

"Of course not, Hermione, but...erm, could you start at the beginning?"

Harry tuned out as Hermione began to tell Ginny the story he had just told her and Ron. She told it much better, of course. He did enjoy watching Ron's gradual entrance into the conversation, though. At first, Ron held himself aloof, although Harry had seen him start when Ginny mentioned her vision. But soon he was embellishing Hermione's facts with his own opinions of the Dursleys, the Ministry, and even Dumbledore. He seemed to have forgotten all about his fight with Ginny by the time Hermione told of the Dark Mark floating over number four, Privet Drive.

"Just like you Saw, huh, Ginny?" he said. "And you were right, Harry wasn't there."

Ginny gave him a look that told Harry she hadn't forgotten their argument, even if Ron had, but then she seemed to put it deliberately out of her mind in order to answer him. Harry shook his head, thinking that this was another thing he'd never understand - the brother-sister relationship.

"Yes, Ron, just like I Saw," Ginny said, then took a deep breath and turned to Harry. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

"Sorry?" Ron said, looking confused and upset. "Why are you sorry that the git who locked Harry in a cupboard is dead? I thought you l-" He broke off and just waved a hand at Harry and Ginny.

"Well, she can be sorry that Harry's forced to deal with the Dursleys," Hermione said. "Oh, I hadn't told you that part yet, Ginny. Apparently, the Dursleys have lost all of their money, so they're dependent on Harry."

"Well, I am sorry about that, though I know you'll do the right thing, Harry," Ginny said, her voice soft, but firm. "But I'm also sorry that your Uncle Vernon was killed by Death Eaters."

That was all she said, but somehow Harry knew what she meant. She was sorry that this was another death to blame on himself, even though he knew he shouldn't, and even though he never liked Uncle Vernon. No one should ever be killed by Death Eaters. And no one should ever be left destitute by them, maybe even especially not Muggles who wanted nothing to do with magic. He gave Ginny a small smile, which she returned after a moment of searching his eyes intensely.

"Where are your aunt and cousin right now, Harry?" she asked.

"Dudley's still at school - he doesn't know yet," Harry said. "And Aunt Petunia's down in the hospital wing."

"Why?" Ginny asked. "She wasn't hurt, was she?"

Ron snorted. "No, but she had hysterics and attacked Snuffles. No wonder she's in the hospital wing."

"Actually, she attacked Snuffles, but that's not when she had hysterics," Harry said. "See, Snuffles brought her back here, because he didn't know what else to do with her. But he couldn't just walk in the front doors, so he took her to Remus' hut first. Erm...Remus and Miss Stuart were there."

Ginny grinned suddenly, but Ron and Hermione looked blank.

"Why would that give Mrs. Dursley hysterics?" Hermione asked.

"Toby and Remus are together," Ginny said, the grin still spread across her face. "I'm sure Harry's aunt was shocked. She sounds like a prude."

"Oh," Hermione said, but Harry shook his head.

"It's worse than that. Remember how I told you that Aunt Petunia was almost nice to me this summer and gave me that picture of my parents' wedding? Well, back then she...fancied Remus."

"Ew," Ron said. Then, he closed his eyes and started muttering, "Malfoy the Bouncing Ferret, Malfoy the Bouncing Ferret..."

Ginny eyed him oddly. "What's with you, Ron?"

"I'm trying to replace the mental picture Harry just forced on me with something better," he said, making Harry and Ginny laugh.

"I still don't see why she would have hysterics," Hermione said, looking like she was trying not to laugh, too.

"She still seemed to fancy him this summer," Harry said.

"But, Harry," Hermione said, her eyes wide with shock, "she was married."

"That doesn't mean she was dead and buried," Ron said, making Hermione turn and glare at him.

Harry just shook his head. "I know that, Hermione. All I'm saying is how it looked to me. Anyway, she and Snuffles walked in on Remus and Miss Stuart, and she had hysterics. Make of that what you will."
"You know," Hermione said, "I thought Miss Stuart...I mean, she and Snuffles..."

She trailed off, then turned to Ginny, her eyebrows raised. "How long have you known about this?"

"A little while," Ginny said. "I think they're good for each other, and all of Toby and Snuffles' past history would just get in the way."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully, and then the two girls launched into a discussion of exactly why Remus and Miss Stuart would be good for each other. Harry listened in shocked amusement, but Ron tried to follow the conversation for a little while, before turning back to Harry.

"Blimey," he said. "It's like one of those Muggle soap plays Lavender and Dean are always talking about. And I understand it about as well."

Harry just laughed, but Hermione, demonstrating her usual ability to take part in two conversations at once, said, "Soap operas, Ron, not soap plays." Then she turned back to Ginny and said, "I can completely understand what attracted them to each other. They both feel guilty for something neither one of them can help, and they both feel ashamed of something they did to cope. It's a different type of guilt from Snuffles - he chose to do what makes him feel guilty."

From overhearing far too many conversations between Lavender and Parvati, Harry knew that this was the sort of thing girls liked to discuss. He just never expected Hermione to be one of those girls.

"Plus, Remus is awfully good-looking, isn't he?" Ginny said, which Harry really didn't need to hear. Besides, Ron had started to lightly bang his head down on the table, and Harry could see a grin starting to spread across Hermione's face.

"Can we come back to the issue at hand, please?" he asked plaintively.

Both girls turned towards him immediately, but neither one looked particularly contrite. In fact, there was something in the intensity of Ginny's gaze that made Harry's stomach do an odd flip-flop.

"Well, I have an idea," Hermione said, but then stopped. Since this was completely unlike Hermione, the rest of them just stared at her.

"I don't know if it's my place," she said, glancing back and forth between Ron and Ginny, "but maybe Mrs. Weasley could talk to Mrs. Dursley? It's been really helpful for my parents to talk to her, I know."

"Why not your mum?" Ron asked. "She knows first-hand about being a Muggle in the wizarding world."

Hermione looked flustered for a moment, then said, "It would take too long to bring her here. Your mum can Apparate to Hogsmeade."

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Ginny said, glaring at Ron for no reason that Harry could understand. "Mum explained things to the Longs, too."

"Yeah, but they wanted to hear what she had to say," Ron said. He kept eyeing Hermione strangely.

"Aunt Petunia won't," Harry said, trying to keep the conversation on track, "and she already knows about the magical world, even though she doesn't like it. The part I don't know how to explain to her is the money. She's going to be furious that I had all this money and I didn't share it with them. Especially because it means that my mum had all this money, and she didn't..." He trailed off, and didn't look at anybody. He was glad none of them commented on that last sentence.

"And she's going to expect you to help her out now," Ginny said thoughtfully. "She's not going to see any reason why you wouldn't."
"What, the years of abuse and neglect aren't reason enough?" Ron said, rolling his eyes at his sister.

Harry shook his head. "Ginny's right," he said. "That's Aunt Petunia all over, especially because of Dudley." He paused a moment, then took a deep breath. "It would...I'd like to have Mrs. Weasley with me when I talk to Aunt Petunia, but I don't want to impose..." He trailed off, and Ron gave a huge snort.

"Stuff it, Harry," he said. "You know Mum thinks you're part of the family - how many Weasley jumpers will it take to convince you?"

"Remember your hand on our clock, Harry," Ginny said softly.

Harry ducked his head so none of them could see his eyes. He had the same reaction whenever he thought of his hand on the Weasley clock.

"So," Hermione said briskly, "how will we contact Mrs. Weasley? An owl would take far too long."

"I'd better go see Dumbledore," Harry said. "Yes, I know it's after hours, Hermione, but I don't think he'll mind."

Hermione nodded. "But don't go alone, Harry. Ron told me about the spy, and, besides, there's always Professor Snape."

"What spy?" Ginny asked.

"You stay here and tell Ginny about the spy, Hermione," Harry said. "Ron and I will go to Dumbledore." He did want a Weasley with him when he asked their mum for help - clock hand or no clock hand - and at least if Snape caught him and Ron, he wouldn't think they had snuck off to find a broom cupboard. At least, Harry hoped he wouldn't.

Luckily, none of the Hogwarts prowlers found the two of them, and Professor Dumbledore hadn't changed his password. Ron made a face when Harry said, "Everlasting Gobstoppers."

"Dumbledore has the oddest taste in sweets, hasn't he?" he said.

"Why?" Harry asked, as they stepped on the moving staircase, and it began to carry them upwards.

"You've never had one? You mean, Seamus hasn't forced one on you? Well, they really do last forever, for one thing."

"Why would someone make sweets that really last forever?" Harry asked. "Wouldn't people stop buying them?"

"See, they change flavors as you suck on them. They start with really good ones, like toffee and lemon, but then they move onto things like roast beef or milk, and then to hay or...seaweed. Bill says he had one that tasted like seaweed. How he knows what seaweed tastes like, I don't know, but that's what he says. And each Gobstopper has a different sequence of flavors."

"So maybe they don't really last forever, it's just that no one's ever sucked on one long enough to work through all the flavors," Harry said.

"Maybe," Ron said. "But you're welcome to try - bet you won't make it through the fish oil."

Harry laughed. "I won't make it through the milk," he said, just as the moving staircase deposited them at the door to Dumbledore's office. That made Harry sober. He was taking Dumbledore's advice seriously - he wasn't trying to make himself feel something about Uncle Vernon's death that he just wasn't feeling. He was still a little surprised at how easily he'd forgotten it, though. Between Ginny and Hermione's relationship talk and Ron's treatise on sweets, he'd put it almost completely out of his mind. He thought about taking out his pocket watch for a little guidance, but didn't like to with Ron right there, because he wasn't sure what it would say, or that he'd like what that said about him.

Just as Ron was starting to look at him funny for just standing there staring at Professor Dumbledore's door, Harry heard the headmaster say, "Come in, boys."

"Have you decided what you wish to do, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, as soon as he'd invited them to sit down and offered them both a sherbet lemon.

"Well, I'll help Aunt Petunia and Dudley out as much as I can, of course," Harry said, though he hadn't really realized that he'd decided that until it came out of his mouth. He could almost feel the indignant stare Ron was giving him, but he knew this was the right thing to do. "I want to ask Mrs. Weasley if she would help me explain things to Aunt Petunia," he continued, studiously avoiding Ron's eyes. Unfortunately, that meant that he met Dumbledore's, and the understanding in them was almost too much for him. Come to think of it, he wasn't sure exactly why he wanted Mrs. Weasley there so much, but he knew he did.

"Of course, Harry," was all Professor Dumbledore said. He reached for a jar, took out some powder, and tossed it into the fire. "The Burrow," he said, then turned to look at Harry.

Harry knelt down in front of the fire, but the thought of just sticking his head into it...he knew it was safe, he'd seen Sirius do it, after all, and it wasn't any different from flooing... He was very glad Ron wasn't saying anything. He took a deep breath and plunged his head into the now purple fire.

Suddenly, he felt as though he had been transported to the Burrow, even though he knew most of his body was still back at Hogwarts. Everything was crystal clear, and he could smell something spicy baking.

"Erm...Mrs. Weasley? Mr. Weasley?" he said, but when no one came, he realized that he'd have to shout. "Hello?" he called.

There was a sudden, arrested feel to the house, then Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, and Bill came running in through the door to the living room.

"Harry!" all three of them said, then Mrs. Weasley added, "Is everything all right? Ginny, the boys - nothing's happened?" She put a hand over her heart and stared intensely at him.

"No, no, they're all fine," Harry said quickly. "It's just...I'd like to ask for your help, if I may." It felt very odd to know that to the Weasleys he looked like a disembodied head, and even odder not to feel like one.

"If you may?" Mrs. Weasley said, taking a deep breath before walking over to a cupboard and pulling out a covered plate. "Don't be silly, Harry, of course we'll help you in any way you can. Would you like a biscuit? They're still warm."

Harry felt tears pricking his eyes for some reason, but he ignored them and nodded. Mrs. Weasley picked a biscuit up with some tongs and popped it into Harry's mouth. It was still warm, and it tasted heavenly.

"Is this about your uncle, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked, while Harry was still chewing. He and Bill had sat down at the kitchen table where Harry could easily see them. He wasn't surprised that the Weasleys knew what had happened on Privet Drive.

"Well, partly," he said, after he'd swallowed. "It's more about Aunt Petunia. I have to explain to her about the money I have, and why I never told them about it before. And then, I have to help her decide what she wants to do now, if she'll let me. Dudley hasn't been told yet, either, and obviously Remus isn't a good person to send with Aunt Petunia to break the news. And I was hoping -" He broke off, suddenly realizing that he was babbling. He never babbled.

"What, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked. She hadn't taken a seat at the table; she still stood very close to him, and her face was full of sympathy.

Harry swallowed, resolved not to babble again. "I was hoping you could help me talk to her, Mrs. Weasley," he said.

"Of course I will, dear," she said. "Would you like me to come to Hogwarts, or are you going to bring her here?"

Harry thought of Aunt Petunia's probable reaction to the Burrow and shuddered. "Hogwarts, please," he said. "But not until tomorrow - Madam Pomfrey gave her some Dreamless Sleep potion. I went down there earlier to talk to her, and she was out cold."

"That's fine, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "I'll come along early, so we can talk, if you want."

"I'd like that," Harry said, ducking his head.

"Let us know if there's anything else we can do, Harry," Mr. Weasley said.

Harry nodded, not really trusting himself to speak.

"Have another biscuit before you go," Mrs. Weasley said, picking one up with the tongs. "And give Ginny and the boys our love."

Harry was glad that he was busy chewing, and didn't have to answer that, as he pulled his head out of the fire. He was still chewing as he stood up and turned back to Dumbledore and Ron, who sniffed suspiciously.

"Mum baked ginger snaps, didn't she?" he asked, and then rolled his eyes as Harry swallowed and nodded.

"So, Harry, what is the plan?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling at the two of them.

"Mrs. Weasley is going to come here tomorrow morning," Harry said. "Would it...would it be..."

"You can meet her here after breakfast," Dumbledore said. "Now, I think you both should return to Gryffindor. Don't brood over this tonight, Harry."

Harry promised that he wouldn't, and he and Ron headed back through the halls.

"Better not let Ginny know you had a ginger snap and didn't bring one back for her," Ron said, as they climbed through the portrait hole. "They're her favorite."

That was good advice, but as soon as they made their way over to where Ginny and Hermione sat, Ginny sniffed suspiciously, exactly like Ron had in Dumbledore's office.

"I smell Mum's ginger snaps," she said. "Ron, did you bring one back for me?"

Ron shook his head and grinned widely, pointing at Harry. "I didn't have one, but Harry did, and he didn't bring any back for any of us."

"Oh," Ginny said. "Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Harry nodded and followed her to a secluded corner, trying to ignore Ron's, "Go easy on him, Gin."
"Ginny, I'm sorry I didn't bring you a biscuit," he started, but she quickly interrupted him.

"Oh, Harry, don't be silly. You don't really think I'm mad at you, do you? Honestly. No, I just wanted to ask for your advice about something, and this seemed like a good chance to do it without making Ron nervous."

"Oh," Harry said. He really had thought she was mad, and he was beginning to suspect that Ginny might make quite a good actress. "What is it?"

She suddenly dropped her eyes to her hands, which she was twisting convulsively in her lap.

"Right before I had the vision of Snuffles," she almost whispered, "I had another one. It was...oh, Harry, Death Eaters were attacking Dean's family!"

Harry had been leaning forward, trying to catch her every word, but at that he sat back. Whatever he'd been expecting, it hadn't been that, though it certainly made sense.

"Are you...are you sure, Ginny?" he asked.

She nodded, then dropped her voice even further. "I Saw Death Eaters torturing Dean's mother - he's shown me pictures of his parents, so I knew it was her."

"Torturing?"

Ginny nodded again, and she kept nodding as she spoke, as though she couldn't stop. "They used Crucio, and Dean's mum was in such pain, she was screaming and crying, and his dad tried to help, but the Death Eaters held him back, I don't know why -"

"Why do they do anything?" Harry muttered.

"And then Dean's dad managed to break free - he shook one of them off, then punched out another, and threw himself down next to Dean's mum...and then, the vision ended." She put both hands up to her eyes for a moment, then dropped them back down into her lap.

"Ginny, you know what this means?" Harry said slowly. "You didn't See the Death Eaters actually murder Dean's parents - maybe they won't. Maybe the Aurors will reach them in time and stop them."

"Do you really think so?" Ginny said, looking up at him through her eyelashes, her eyes full of hope. "That's what Toby said, but...none of my visions has done any good at all, and I can't help thinking this one won't, either." She kept her eyes fixed on his, as though pleading with him for reassurance, and for once, he could give it to her.

"One of your visions has already done a lot of good, Ginny," he said, putting a hand on hers, where she clasped them in her lap. "I really needed to hear about your vision of Snuffles right then, and I think he will be happy to hear about it, too."

"Toby said she'd tell him," Ginny said, dropping her gaze to where his hand rested on hers.

"I'm glad," he said. "Say, Ginny, when did you have this vision of Dean's parents? If you just had the one about Snuffles."

"Oh," she said, looking back up at him, her eyes sparkling. "I had the one about Dean's parents first, and then the one about Snuffles, one right after the other. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Erm...yeah?" Harry said.

"Honestly, Harry, did you never listen to Toby? She told us about this - when a new Seer is becoming more comfortable with her talent, visions often come very quickly to her, almost on top of each other. It's starting to happen, Harry."

"That is wonderful, Ginny," Harry said, and meant it. Aside from the obvious benefits of having a fully-functioning Seer, if Ginny felt that she was becoming comfortable with her talent...he looked down into her eyes, turned upwards towards his. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing quickly...and suddenly, Harry remembered that they were in the common room, with at least two of her brothers right there.

"So, what did you want to ask my advice about?" he asked quickly, drawing back a little. He didn't think he imagined the slight disappointment he saw in Ginny's eyes. He hoped he didn't. At any rate, she dropped her eyes again.

"Well, should I tell Dean?" she asked. "You've lived with this, Harry, you know what it's like to have forewarning of an event. Is that...do you think Dean would want to know?"

Harry thought about the visions he and Ginny had had about him. They'd all foretold of death and destruction, and he hadn't liked a single one. And she was right, none of her visions had helped - they'd hadn't been able to prevent the attack on the Creeveys', or the one on Privet Drive. Maybe they could prevent this one, but Ginny had seen Dean's mother being tortured... Harry groaned and turned away from Ginny, burying his head in his hands.

"I don't know, Ginny. You know Dean better than I do, I think, even if I have shared a dorm with him for all these years. But, Ginny," he said, turning back to her and looking her straight in the eye. "I know what I would want. I'd want to know. That way, if the worst did happen, at least I'd know I did everything that could be done."

Ginny nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"And another thing, Ginny," Harry added. "If the worst did happen, and someone who I considered a friend had known about it beforehand and hadn't told me...well, I don't think I'd consider that person a friend anymore."

Ginny gasped, and her eyes opened wide. She obviously hadn't thought of it that way before. It was the only way Harry could think of it, though - he was coming to realize that trust was very important to him. He knew he still hadn't wiped out all of his jealousy towards Dean, no matter what Ginny had told him, but he also knew that Ginny needed friends, and he wasn't going to sit back and watch while she lost one.

Ginny reached out and touched his hand, sending shivers up his arm.

"Thank you, Harry," she said. Her lips parted slightly, as though to say something more, but she didn't speak again. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her lips, and he felt his cheeks burning, though he couldn't say quite why. She's got brothers, and they're right here, he told himself firmly. I'm sure Ron is watching our every move.

"Erm...happy birthday, Ginny," he said, and managed to drag his eyes back up to meet hers. This time, he could definitely see the disappointment, and it made his heart sing.

She withdrew from him in turn, even moving back a little on the sofa, which didn't.

"Thanks, Harry," she said dully.

"And, erm, thank you for my watch fob," he said, pulling his watch out of his pocket. "This means so much to me." He felt desperate, because he didn't want her to think he didn't want to kiss her. He certainly did, but this was neither the time nor the place.

In his hurry, when he pulled the watch out of his pocket, it flipped open. Harry didn't notice at first, because he was reaching for the fob, but when he heard Ginny gasp, he looked down. "What are you waiting for - Christmas?" it said. Harry felt himself go red all over, and he couldn't meet Ginny's eyes.

"I think I'd better go talk to Dean," Ginny said, in a strangled voice. Then she did something for which Harry would forever be grateful. She leaned over and kissed him - on the cheek, but this wasn't like the kiss she'd given him to thank him for saving her life. He could feel that her lips were slightly parted against his cheek, and she lingered for several moments - long enough, at any rate, for him to clutch at her arm - but she pulled away before he could really react. As she walked away, his eyes hungrily following her, she reached up to touch the claddaugh clip she still wore in her hair. Harry watched her, still, as she approached Dean, and then led him into another corner and began speaking to him earnestly. Only then, did Harry look around.

He felt as though he'd been put in the Total Body Bind. Four pairs of eyes, three Weasley, one Granger, stared at him, pinning him to his seat. Apparently, George had returned from wherever he'd been before, and Harry could almost feel the big brother, protective energy shooting toward him from Fred, George and Ron. Somehow, he managed to stand and make his way back over to Ron and Hermione, since Ron, according to Hermione, was 'all right' with him and Ginny.

Ron met his approach with, "Did my sister just kiss you? Ew."

Harry couldn't help but laugh. It was nice to know that, no matter what life-threatening or life-changing event had just taken place, Ron could always make him laugh.