Smear

Chapter Six

It was Friday, their final date before the banquet, and Ginny couldn't seem to calm her nerves for a moment. She had been edgy all morning, and snapped at anyone who had gotten in her way.

Harry had been the unfortunate one to step into her path that afternoon, without realizing how bad her temper was. She was beyond vicious, as he offered his opinion about why she shouldn't go out with Malfoy anymore.

"Maybe if you had treated me right," she bellowed, "then I wouldn't be in this mess. It's your fault I went out with him in the first place."

"My fault?" Harry said. "How did you come up with that one, Ginny?"

"If you hadn't been so stupid and hurt me, I would never have agreed to go out with him, so maybe I should thank you."

"You were just using him?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. "How very Slytherin of you."

Ginny bit her lip. "Shut up. That's not what I meant. He never would have asked me out if we hadn't made that bet, and you know it."

"Of course not," Harry snarled. "He's Malfoy; he always has something to gain."

"If he wanted to gain something from being with me, he'd have to try a lot harder than he is," said Ginny, narrowing her eyes.

Harry stood with his back against the kitchen table. "Frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't tried to get you into bed already. You know what his reputation was at Hogwarts."

"Do you hear yourself?" Ginny asked, staring at him. "Yes, Harry, his reputation was bad. He's not like that anymore. He grew up. Why can't you?"

"Because," Harry muttered, looking her in the eye. "I still want to protect you from everything evil."

Ginny blinked, and all the anger she felt slowly ebbed away. "As much as I appreciate that gesture, I'm not a child anymore, Harry. I can take care of myself."

"I know that," he said softly. "I don't know. I still think of you as a sister and having someone around who may or may not cause you harm worries me."

Ginny didn't say anything. Instead, she walked over to him and pressed her lips against his hair.

"Thank you."

"When is your date?" Harry asked as she stepped back. He looked like he really didn't even want to know.

"I think he said he was picking me up around dinner time," Ginny said, shrugging. "I'm going to spend a good part of the afternoon trying to figure out what to wear."

"I think I can help with that," said a dreamy voice.

"Luna!" Ginny cried happily as she whirled around. "What are you doing here?"

"I actually came to talk to Harry, but since I'm here I can help you get dressed for your date. Who is it with?"

"Draco Malfoy."

Luna's eyes widened slightly, and then she grinned. "He is rather handsome now, isn't he? Are you nervous?"

"Yes," mumbled Ginny to both questions. "I don't know what to wear," she said.

"I'll help," said Luna cheerfully.

Ginny forced a smile. Her eyes wandered over the lilac-colored shirt and the radish earrings her friend wore.

"You still have those," Harry said.

"Yes," said Luna, shaking her head. "I usually don't keep jewelry for that long, but I'm quite fond of these."

"Hello, Luna!" Molly said as she and Mr. Weasley came in the front door. "How are you, dear? It's been a while."

Before she could answer, Harry interrupted.

"You said you came here to talk to me."

Luna stared at him, her protuberant silvery grey eyes wide. Then she turned to the others. "Yes, it has been a while. I'm doing well, thank you. How are you?"

Ginny giggled at the expression on Harry's face.

"I'm well," Molly said, smiling.

"How is your father?" Arthur asked.

"My father is good. He says hello, before I forget." Luna smiled.

Suddenly, there were four loud cracks as the twins, Bill, and Ron came into view.

The twins took a look around as Fred said, "Holy crap."

Molly cleared her throat.

"Hi Luna," said George. "Don't mind Fred, he's just an idiot sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Ron muttered, sniggering.

"That's fine," said Luna dreamily. "I suppose I deserve that reaction. I haven't been around much."

"Ginny hasn't really been talking to anyone lately," said Fred, shaking his head. "Not since Malfoy showed up. We barely see her either, so don't feel bad."

"Fred!" hissed Ginny. "Will you shut up?"

Fred smirked.

"How is he?" Luna wondered, as she and Ginny exited the kitchen and went up to her room. "I haven't seen him in a long time."

"He's good," said Ginny as she looked around her small room. "Ugh, I have no idea what I'm going to wear. He's already seen me in the only dress I own."

"And is that dress still intact?" Luna asked as she sat on Ginny's bed.

"Well, yes." Ginny blushed. "What are you saying?"

"I just meant that-"

"Not you too." Ginny sighed. "Harry was already a prime target today for the Weasley temper. I don't want you to be next."

"What did Harry say?" Luna asked.

"He was just being overprotective, as usual," said Ginny, shrugging. "He said he still sees me as a sister-"

"But he wanted to date you," Luna pointed out. "That's kind of-"

"Gross, yeah, I know."

"But it's not uncommon for Harry, The-Boy-Who-Lived, to feel as though he should protect the ones who have been kind to him over the years."

"Yeah, I get that, but why can't he grow up?" Ginny said, throwing her hands up. "Everyone else is dealing with the fact that I'm dating a former Slytherin and Death Eater. I don't need anyone to look after me."

"I know," said Luna kindly. "But it's nice that he's doing it, isn't it?"

"No," Ginny muttered. "He's becoming very annoying."

"That's a nice way to talk about a friend, Ginny," said a voice from the doorway. Hermione stared at the two girls.

"Hi," Luna said, smiling. "I didn't know you were staying here. How are you?"

"Fine," Hermione said distractedly as she stepped into the room, her eyes never leaving Ginny's. "Now what's going on?"

"Harry's just being overprotective again," said Ginny. "That's nothing new."

Before Hermione could ask anything else, there was a small tapping on the window behind them, and as Luna opened it, something flew inside. The owl landed at Ginny's feet, and dropped the envelope it was holding onto the floor.