Nitwit

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Draco all sat around a campfire early one bleak morning two days after they had boarded the Knight Bus. Five owls came down and landed in front of to whom they belonged, except for one which circled a bit more.

"Hogwarts letters," announced Harry. "But who's the fifth one for?" The fifth owl must have spotted what he was looking for as he landed in front of some brush and stuck out his leg expectantly. Harry tried to take the letter but got pecked rather hard. He shook his hand then reached out in front of the owl and felt around a bit. Apparantly he found something because he grabbed what appeared to be nothing and pulled an invisibility cloak off of-

"Ginny?" said Ron and Hermione together. Harry surveyed her, apparently having an inner conflict over exclaiming over how glad he was that he hadn't taken her seriously and how upset he was he hadn't taken her seriously. Joy won over.

"Ginny!" exclaimed Harry. "Wait, tell me something only you, not a Death Eater, would know. Ginny whispered something in his ear and it apparently satisfied Harry. He snogged her. Draco mimed vomiting behind Hermione, who was looking at Ron, who was apparently restraining the urge to slap Harry.

"Okay! That's enough!" said Ron after a minute. "Come on, Harry, that's my baby sister."

"I'm not a baby, Ron," Ginny said, opening her Hogwarts letter. Hermione was already into hers, mouthing the words out loud. It read:

Dear Hermione,

We are pleased to inform you that term will start on September the first. The Hogwarts Express leaves from Platform 9 3/4 at promptly eleven AM. Please bring all necessary equipment. Congratulations on receiving the honor of Head Girl.

Yours Sincerely,

Professor Sprout Deputy Headmistress

"So Sprout is McGonagall's right-hand girl?" said Ginny conversationally. Hermione nodded. Then she burst into tears and went into the tent.

"Oi!" said Ron. "What's the matter with her?" Draco picked up her letter and read it through quickly.

"She's been made Head Girl," said Draco softly.

"Then why's she crying?" demanded Ron.

"You idiot! She's not going back to Hogwarts. Of course she's going to cry!" snapped Draco. He shoved the letter at Harry and followed Hermione into the tent.

"You don't get it, do you, Ron?" said Ginny angrily. "She's given up everything."

Ginny went into the other side of the tent where Harry slept. Harry followed her and Ron was left standing by himself. Then it began to rain.

He tried to get into his section of the three-roomed tent but somebody had magically sealed it from the inside.

"Just because I have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean everyone does," he reminded himself. "Just because I have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean everyone does. Just because I have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean everyone does." He repeated this very true phrase that Hermione had said once many, many times.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Seven hours later...

Harry and Ginny came out, both looking rather disheveled and cheerful. Hermione and Draco soon followed, equally disheveled and cheerful.

"You know, Silencing Charms proved more useful than I thought," she commented idly to Ron.

"You-him-you didn't!" Ron sputtered.

"Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies," said Draco firmly.

"Same over here," said Harry. "Us four have reached an understanding and it's time you stepped up to the plate. I really like Ginny. So deal with it, though I have to tell you- she and Luna have a thing going as well."

"What!" exclaimed Ron.

"Shut up, Ron, he isn't finished."

"Like I was saying, Ron, she and Luna have a thing going as well. When we go back to Ottery St. Catchpole we're going to invite Luna to come along with us. I do like Luna and if our friendship developes into something more, so be it. Hermione and Draco are at a place where they don't really understand what is going on. Draco is going to accompany us to Ottery St. Catchpole where you, me, Ginny, and Luna will make a decision as to whether or not he is going to go any further. You, Ron, need to understand that this isn't about you! None of this journey is about you. I value our friendship dearly, but you're a jealous person and I can't deal with that. We have two days left of camping before we go to Bill's wedding. Unless you intend on being left behind-I don't want to have to do it, but sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do- shape up. You have a lot to offer for our attack on Voldemort when the time comes but I won't have you interfering right now."

"You know what, mate? You've changed a lot," Ron said as he looked at Harry with some newfound respect.

"Yeah, you have," said Draco.

But Ginny knew they didn't know half of it. The truth was, Ginny and Harry didn't do anything in the tent but sleep. The point was that Harry really liked her, but couldn't get involved with her. He was thinking about two other girls.

And they were both very close to her, too.