Harry must Die

Chapter 6!!!

Harry had been lying in bed starring blindly at one of the beams in the ceiling for over three hours, just listening to the soft peaceful snores from his wife on his right. He looked out of the window and saw it was still dark and sighed heavily into the night. He didn´t know what time it was and didn´t want to risk waking Ginny up to find out. He turned on his side to look at her. He could just about make out her features from the strong moonlight beaming through the French windows next to her. Harry lay still for a while, watching her sleep until he heard a small scuffling noise against the window. He sat up abruptly and jumped out of bed when he saw a big brown owl tapping against the French door from out on the balcony. He managed to move around the bed without waking her up and opened the door to let himself out. The owl dropped an envelope in his hands then swooped back out into the moonlit night. He leant against the balcony fence as he opened the envelope to find two Hogwarts Express train tickets from Kings Cross Station. He frowned slightly when he noticed the second ticket but stopped when he found an extra piece of parchment still in the envelope.

Mr Potter,

I have included another train ticket for Ginny because she is very much welcome to attend the evening meal in the great hall with you. I thought that it would be nice for her to see Robin and James for a while and she is welcome to stay the night.

You will start lessons this Monday and will receive your timetable as soon as you get here. As you are filling in as a professor in such short notice, I will completely understand if Ginny will want to visit for weekends or when you are free and I will have a floo network joined from your room to your house to make it easy for you both to talk.

I am sorry that this is so late but I am sure that you understand how abysmal I am at remembering to post things on time.

I look forwards to seeing you tonight and I hope Ginny will attend tonight´s meal.

Yours Truly

Albus

Harry smiled as he read, then sighed as he wondered whether Ginny would be pleased or not. He really was not sure.

"Harry?"

Ginny was standing in the doorway to the balcony. The moonlight bounced over her lighting up bits of red in her hair and her green nightdress swayed in the breeze.

"Did I wake you?"

"You left the door open, I got cold," she stepped out onto the balcony and snapped the door shut behind her.

Harry groaned inside, "Sorry, Gin..."

"Ginny," she corrected him.

"I always call you Gin..."

"And I´ve always hated it!" she stepped away from him and looked out over the field.

"Why are you being like this?" he stepped next to her, "Why do you never speak to me anymore, why?"

"Why is it always about you, Harry?" she muttered.

"What?" he clenched his fists, "What do you mean, always about me? It has to be about me because I´m your husband, the husband you never even want to touch anymore, the husband you never seem to ever talk to, or even look at, what´s wrong with you if it isn´t bloody about me?"

"Don´t shout at me?" she snapped, "It´s too early to be shouted at by you." She spat out her words and moved away towards the door.

"I´ll shout as much as I bloody want if that´ll only get you to talk to me," he spat resentfully. He grabbed her hand to stop her walking back into their bedroom and lowered his voice, "What´s wrong with you, with me," he paused, "with us?"

She looked up at him tearfully, "I´m sorry, Harry."

She pulled back her hand and rushed back inside leaving Harry standing alone, shivering on the balcony.

...

He came back inside about an hour later after he´d watched the sun rise. He rubbed his hands together as he walked down the stairs spreading a little warmth up his arms.

Ginny was sat in the kitchen trying to listen to the Wizarding Wireless with a steaming mug of tea cupped in her hands. She turned the volume down as he walked in and looked up at his serious, tired face starring down at her.

"I´m sorry about before," she put the mug down, "I was tired, you know what I´m like in the morning..." She tried to smile up at him but stopped herself when she saw his swollen eyes and stern face. She got out of her chair to walk over to him and took his hands in hers. The touch of his hands sent a shiver down her spine making her gasp slightly. "Harry, you´re frozen to the bone..."

She massaged her hands over his, holding them tightly together, giving her warmth to him.

"I had a lot to think about," he mumbled.

"Yeah, I´ve been thinking too," she swallowed loudly, "and I know I haven´t exactly been... erm," Ginny fumbled for the words squeezing Harry´s hands gently as she paused, "well, fun to live with over the past month but you must understand that it´s nothing you´ve done..."

"Then what is it, you´ve been like this ever since we saw Malfoy..."

"Draco," she whispered lightly.

He stepped back a little when she said his name. It echoed around in his head.

"What has he done to you?" Harry whispered softly to his wife.

She stared up at him, "He hasn´t done anything..."

"Then why..."

"This is nothing to do with Draco Malfoy, this is to do with me and you, not him." Ginny took a deep ragged breath puffing her chest out and back in again and looked back up to her husband.

"Is it because you´re worried about me not loving you anymore?"

"What?" She starred at him, confused.

"Well, I do... love you, I mean."

"I know you love me." Her eyelids fluttered slightly, to hold back the floods of tears locked behind them.

"Well, then say it back for God´s sake!" He gripped her hands desperately making her flinch in pain.

"Of course I love you, Harry. Just because I feel a little down on myself does not mean I don´t love you!" she snapped, "bloody hell, Harry, not everything is so black and white! When will you realise that?"

He starred down to her tense body. Her knuckles were white and throbbing from holding his hands and a green strap fell down her arm, off her shoulder.

"You´ve been invited to dinner at Hogwarts."

"What?" Ginny shook her head and stepped back, "Don´t change the subject!"

"I wouldn´t normally but if you´re going to come, you need to get ready now, the train goes at eleven and I know you hate being late."

Harry kissed her on the forehead as if nothing had happened and walked back upstairs. Ginny put her hand to her forehead and felt where it was still moist from his kiss. She sat back down and cried.

...

"´Arry! Ginny!" The train pulled in at Hogsmeade station and they were greeted by a loud shout by Hagrid and high yelps by a hyperactive puppy leaping about his side.

Harry jumped off the train immediately when he saw his old friend and embraced him like a brother, "I´ve not seen you in ages!"

"Two years, `Arry," He patted him on the back making him shift forwards a little, "Two lonely years!"

"Ahem!" Ginny was standing in the doorway with a big suitcase at her side.

Hagrid ran over to her chucking the big heavy suitcase back to Harry as if it was a small toy and hugged her tightly with pleasure.

"Little, Ginny!"

"Not so little anymore..." she gasped in his big arms.

"No, quite right you are!" he chuckled, releasing her and escorted her back to Harry who smiled.

"It´s so good to be back..." Harry muttered, looking around the old train station with pleasure.

"Yes, it is." He looked down at Ginny with surprise who had linked her arm with his and gazed up at him.

He smiled, "I take it we´re still friends..." he whispered.

"Oh..." she kissed him on the cheek, "I always love you, Harry."

A loud chuckle erupted behind them, "Always the happy couple!"

"Not always," Harry thought to himself as they walked to the same old carriageways that would lead take them up to the school.

The carriage creaked loudly as Hagrid sat opposite Harry and Ginny. The hyperactive black dog jumped up next to Harry, licking him madly.

"What happened to Fang?"

Hagrid´s face saddened, "Old age got to `im, just last Christmas."

"Who´s this little fellow then?" Ginny said hastily to stop him from crying.

His face lit up, "She is called, Daisy. Beauty aint she?"

She looked like a miniature Fang and left a trail of drool from Harry´s black cloak to her mouth. "How old is he, erm, she?" he said to avoid answering the question, (beautiful wasn´t really the word Harry would describe her.)

"´Bout one month, got `er from one of em muggle dog pounds. Got two actually."

"Where´s the other one?" Ginny asked nervously, hoping the answer wouldn´t result in him crying.

"Oh, he´s `ere," he beamed while he rummaged about in his pockets revealing a tiny mongrel with one black ear, and the other white. It was so small it lay happily in the palm of his hand sleeping.

"Awwww, he is soooo cute!!" Ginny squealed and lent in to get a better look at him.

"Called `im, Sting."

"Why Sting? He hasn´t got one has he?" Harry laughed a little.

"That was a bad joke, Harry!" Ginny said, her eyebrows raised.

"I thought it was ok..." Silence... "Yeah, it wasn´t one of my best."

...

"When´s your Dad getting here?" Georgina said, sitting down next to Alan in the Great Hall.

"Apparently now..." Robin mumbled as `Harry Potter´ was hissed around the hall when they saw him and Ginny walk in following Hagrid.

"Wow, Harry Potter´s here!!!" Marcus squealed excitedly next to James.

"Woopy!" Robin said sarcastically.

"This is the closest I´ve ever been to him!" he carried on, ignoring Robin.

"I´ve seen him everyday for the past eleven years..."

"Pack it in, Robin. People are allowed to be excited. He did save the world!" Thomas said over Marcus´s squeals.

"Saved the world?" Georgina repeated in amazement.

"Oh not you too!" Robin rested her head in her hands.

"I´m proud of him," James announced, "I think you should show a bit of respect," he added to Robin who lifted her head to glare at him.

"Oh give me a break," she muttered.

"What´s Mum doing here anyway?" James said to change the subject.

She shrugged her shoulders and turned around to look.

"Wow, is she your mum?" Georgina said, mesmerised.

"Yes, why?"

"She´s stunning!" she replied, noticing her similarities to Robin.

"She´s just, mum!" Robin said, embarrassed but secretly agreeing. She was wearing a long sleeved dark green velvet dress that looked as if it was made for her. It swayed perfectly when she walked and showed off her curves and slimness at the same time. Her hair was down in soft flaming waves and framed her face beautifully. Altogether she looked amazing.

The Hall fell silent as Professor Dumbledore led them to their seats in between Professor Sprout and Professor Fentstone.

Professor Fentstone stood and hugged Harry and Ginny as if they were best friends. The twins watched this in curiosity.

"Pupils, I would like to introduce our new substitute flying teacher. I´m sure you´ve all heard of Professor Potter."

Harry stood up as Professor Dumbledore announced him and waved friendlily, on the look out for his children while the hall erupted in cheers, well nearly all the hall anyway (the Slytherins remained silent, Invidia especially.)

They sat down to eat when the food appeared on their tables.

"God I´ve missed this food!" were Harry´s first words as he scooped mashed potatoes onto his plate and mixed it up with his gravy.

"Well you can cook from now on then!" Ginny replied wittily, snatching the potatoes out of his hands.

"I didn´t mean..."

"I´m joking, Harry," she smiled at him alluringly

"Robin and James are fitting in nicely," Professor Sprout, with out of control grey curls piped in.

"Yes, they look like they are," Harry said through a mouthful of carrots as he watched them chatting on the Gryffindor table.

"I didn´t miss all these bloody stairs," Ginny muttered as Harry helped her climb up the wooden stepladder to a trap door in the ceiling.

He laughed, "You can´t apparate everywhere, Ginny."

"I don´t apparate everywhere if you remember," she replied quickly and reached up her hand to swat him on his shoulder.

"Ow!" He rubbed his shoulder and scowled down at her playfully.

"That didn´t hurt!" she said, hitting him again.

"Well, we´re here now anyway," he grinned as he pushed open the trap door and clambered up into a cosy circular room.

"Wow, it´s beautiful. I can´t believe you didn´t manage to discover this room on one of your mid-night crusades! It could have been quite useful..." Ginny said as she popped her head out of the hole in the floor, "Now give me a hand," she said reaching her hand up to him.

He crouched down on the floor with his back facing her.

"Erm, Harry... You´ve either completely lost whatever was left of your brain or you want me to pull you back down through the trapdoor breaking both your legs! That will seem quite appealing to me if you don´t help me up in a second!"

He laughed, "I am helping you out, just put your arms around my neck."

"I don´t think your life is that bad Harry, or at least do your own dirty work and jump off the balcony or something!" She smiled

"I´m glad you care so much about me! Just do it!"

She frowned but raised her arms up to his shoulders. He clasped them tightly and heaved her up onto his back. She grasped onto his cloak while he held her legs tightly, forcing her further up onto his back. She shrieked with delight as he kicked the trapdoor shut and spun around making her red hair swing outwards in all directions, flopping over her eyes and around her shoulders.

"I demand you put me down at once!" she shouted in between giggles.

"Make me!" he replied, still spinning around the room.

"I´ll throw up what I´ve just eaten all over your back!" she said, hitting him with arms and legs.

"So ladylike!" he joked.

Ginny swatted him hard across his arm, "I´ll show you ladylike..." she muttered playfully.

"I´m hoping you will..." he twisted his head over his left shoulder and looked up into her gleaming eyes, looking back at him with a look he had missed very much. The look that he married her for. The look that made him fall completely head over heals in love with her. His heart melted as she leant forwards on his back and lowered her head down to his.

"Is this ladylike enough for you?" she whispered softly with her nose pressed against his.

He smiled and blinked back the tears that he suddenly found near to impossible to hold back. "I´ve missed you so much."

She paused for a moment with guilt but forgot it when she began to feel Harry´s familiar soft lips pressing softly against hers as he lowered her onto the bed.

...

A loud bell rang harshly around the circular room. Harry squinted as he reached for his glasses on the chunky bedside table next to him. He smiled as he felt a tickling sensation crawl across his chest slowly and looked down to see Ginny´s delicate hand lazily moving down to his stomach. He rolled over to face her and kissed her lazily on the mouth before sitting up and drawing back the curtains from around the bed. The bell rang again.

"Get the door, it might be someone important," Ginny murmured into her pillow.

"Then you´d better get dressed. Wouldn´t look very good if the headmaster came in to find a naked girl in my bed now would it?!"

She smiled, "We don´t have to sneak around anymore remember. We´re adults now!"

"I know, kind of sad really!"

RIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGG!!!!!

"COMING!!" Harry shouted to the floor while he dashed across the room to grab his dressing gown. Ginny sat up and drew the curtains around the bed, "Say I´m sleeping!"

He opened the trapdoor and peered down to see a disgruntled looking James and a smug looking Robin.

"Told you I knew where I was going!" Robin smiled at James who just rolled his eyes then looked back up at her father, "It´s about time!"

Harry smiled, "Come on up!"

"Who is it?" Ginny whispered from inside the bed.

"Rob and James."

"Oooh!" she said, gathering the bed sheets around herself. "And don´t call her that!"

Robin climbed up first and was greeted by her father who swiftly bent down and gripped her tightly. She smiled into his dressing gown and ran over to the four-poster bed into Ginny´s arms. James banged the trapdoor shut after him and pulled away from Harry grinning, "Gerroff!"

Harry laughed and ruffled his hair.

"How did you find us?" Ginny asked when Robin got up to look around.

"Dumbledore." James answered, "oh, and he wanted us to give you this." He turned to his father and handed him a piece of parchment inside a crumpled envelope, sealed with a blob of green wax.

There will be a coach waiting outside of Hogwarts at 8 O clock this evening which will take Mrs Potter to Hogsmeade where she can apparate safely home. I do hope to see you both this evening at dinner and feel free to come and see me in my office if you have any queries, the password is dunglehoppers.

Dumbledore.

"There´s a coach for you to Hogsmeade, Gin."

"What time?" She reached out her hand as Harry passed her the letter.

"Eight, so you can come to dinner." He looked at her as she studied the letter, "Is that ok?"

"Don´t know," she bit her lip, "as long as I can be in Diagon Alley for seven tomorrow morning."

"That won´t be a problem," he said frowning.

"Oh I know," she said quickly, "so, how you finding school, kids?"

Harry chose to ignore the quick change in subject and sat next to her on the bed.

...

Harry and Ginny stood on the pebbled road by the train station where the wooden carriage waited patiently by them. It was to take Ginny to Hogsmeade in a few minutes where she could apparate back home. The night was stormy so Harry had cast a dry charm around them acting like an umbrella while they said they´re good byes. He smiled at her dreamily as she pulled her cloak hood over her head, pushing wisps of flaming hair over her face.

She sighed and smiled back.

"Remember to be by the fire tomorrow night," he said as he took her hands into his, rubbing them gently to keep them warm. They had arranged to talk through the floo network at 9 the following evening.

Ginny nodded and kissed him on the cheek, "Bye, Harry."

"Is that all I get!"

She rolled her eyes as he took her into his arms, kissing her gently as he wrapped his cloak around themselves sharing the heat. She rested her head on his chest as he held her into him and nuzzled into the furry rim around the cloak.

"I really have to go," she murmured.

He hugged her more tightly, "I´m glad we got it sorted out."

She nodded slowly and felt the same old guilty feeling rise back up into her chest. "Bye, Harry."

She stepped out of the dry charm and felt the rain beating down as she rushed up the wooden stairs into the carriage. The door snapped shut behind her.

She gasped out loud when she found the carriage was not empty. He stared up at her with the grey eyes she remembered only to well. She took a deep exhausted breath and looked back down at him coldly.

"Hello, Draco."

...

Harry watched the horseless carriage sway into motion and disappear down the pebbled track. He stepped out of the dry charm and made his way back towards the castle, rain dripping down his neck. Something still wasn´t quite right. He wasn´t quite sure what it was but she still didn´t seem to... he sighed heavily as he tried to think what it was. He didn´t know.

"Arry!" a voice boomed behind him. Harry turned to see Hagrid standing at the entrance to his hut with a lantern and his pink umbrella opened over him, keeping only about a quarter of him dry. Harry rushed over and into the warmth of the hut. He left his muddy boots by the fire and waited in the comfort of the big familiar armchairs as Hagrid boiled the kettle for a cup of tea.

"You look rough `arry! Get somethin´ down you."

"I´m fine thanks, Hagrid. Just seen Ginny off, that´s all."

Hagrid shuffled his way over to him and handed him a mug of tea.

"That´ll warm you up!"

Harry nodded in acknowledgement and cupped the mug in his hands.

"I remember when your `ands `ardly reached round that mug, now you could probably break it with your bare `ands!"

Harry looked up at his old friend and smiled warmly, "known me for a while now."

"I´ve known everyone a while," he chuckled, "good to have you back though. Not been the same without you. Everyone still admires you for what you did..."

"Yeah," Harry interrupted quickly, "let´s talk about you, Hagrid."

"Sorry, know you don´t like talkin´ `bout that."

"Yeah..."

"Stay bit longer? Won´t bring it up no more."

Harry put the mug on the chestnut table and smiled, "Sorry, didn´t mean to be snappy, it´s just..."

"I know I know, still jiggles you a bit eh? I know bout that."

Harry looked around the hut and felt more and more at home here. He remembered coming here to escape whenever he felt slightly uneasy. It felt good to have somewhere that still hadn´t changed throughout all the years that had past. He felt Hagrid´s hut should always remain timeless.

"How are things round here then?"

"Oooh, you know, busy as ever, especially with Halloween comin´ and all."

"Where are the dogs?"

"Sleepin´ out back. Poor mutts, took `em on a hunt for unicorns in forest, think it took it out of `em!"

Hagrid watched Harry fiddling nervously with his thumbs and leant closer to him. Harry looked up.

"Hope you´re not feelin´ nervous around me, eh?!" he chuckled.

"What?"

"You look like a gust of wind is gonna sweep you away any moment."

"Just tired..."

"Excuse of all excuses," Hagrid muttered, "what´s wrong? I aint stupid you know."

"I know that," he sighed, "just miss Ginny that´s all."

"Miss her already?"

"Missed her for a while now."

"Havin´ arguments?"

"On and off, but it´s not so much that, it´s just... can´t explain it."

There was an awkward pause.

"Listen I really had better be off," Harry stood up and walked over to the door, "thanks for the tea, I´ll come down again soon."

"You better `ad do!" Hagrid pushed himself up with a great `ouff´ sound and walked over to Harry, "nice to see you again."

"Yeah it is."

Hagrid embraced him into an awkward manly hug where Harry got a mouthful of brittle grey hairs.

"Don´t worry `bout Ginny. All marriages have their ups and downs. Maybe it´s a good thing you bein´ here and her there. Give you both some space to think, eh?"

Harry nodded and went out into the cold night deciding that he was being stupid. They loved each other and Hagrid was right. Maybe space was exactly what they needed.

...

"Virginia."

She stared at him smirking up at her and felt her stomach twisting into knots. She suddenly felt queasy.

The couch juddered into movement and she tripped forwards, clutching onto the rail above her to keep steady.

"Careful, don´t want any nasty accidents do we?"

She glared at him, "Were you born sarcastic or is it one of the few things your father taught you?"

He smirked and she sat down.

"What are you doing here, Draco?"

"We´re on first name terms are we? Maybe I´d better call you, Gin... Rather ironic that gin is what got you to sleep with me..."

She stiffened when he mentioned the dreaded words. "Piss off."

He rolled his eyes lazily, "you were always lacking in originality when it came to swearing."

Ginny leant forwards and stared into his grey eyes, "Would you prefer me to tell you just to fuck off, or is piss off you manipulating bastard more appropriate?"

"I´d prefer you to take your clothes off and start pole dancing but not even I always get what I want."

Her jaw dropped open in shock and her stomach felt like it had flipped over.

"Don´t look so shocked."

"I hate you."

He flinched she was pleased to notice.

"I know."

There was a few minutes of awkward silence and Ginny looked longingly out of the window, desperately wishing she had walked.

"Why, Draco? Why did you do it?" It was the question she had been asking herself for years.

He looked up at her, "What?"

"You know very well what."

"I know, but why?"

"Why did you..." she swallowed, "sleep with me? Was it to hurt Harry? Wh... what was the point?"

"Why did you do it? I didn´t rape you and if I remember correctly, you were perfectly willing," he smirked bitterly, "and anyway, I didn´t hurt him, you did."

She shook her head.

"He doesn´t love me, God knows why..." His lips curled.

"No-body loves you but that´s irrelevant."

He flinched again. `Good´ she thought, `I´ve touched a nerve.´

"You can only hurt someone if they love you," he snapped.

"Which is why you will always be powerless," Ginny replied with satisfaction.

"Ouch," he smiled, "you´re getting better at this."

"Why did you sleep with me?" She sat up and stared at him.

He seemed to cower under her gaze, "Did it ever occur to you that I wanted to, merely for the fun of it?"

"No," she answered bluntly.

The coach jerked to a stop and the door sprung open. Ginny swiftly grasped her luggage and marched out into the night.

She arrived back in her living room with glazed eyes and white knuckles from gripping her suitcase so tightly. She felt numb. Her heart was racing and she felt sick.

Ginny jumped in shock when the doorbell rang loudly from the hall. She took a deep breath and strode to the front door, peering through the frosted glass cautiously to try and recognise who it could be. Whoever it was had their hood up making her feel slightly nauseous.

"Ginny, I´m sorry for just turning up uninvited I just..." Hermione stopped mid sentence when she realised Ginny had started to cry, "Honey, what´s wrong?"

Ginny fell into her best friend´s arms letting out desperate sobs and clutched at her desperately on the doorstep.

"Shhh, Gin, what´s the matter?" Hermione said soothingly, "let´s go inside and tell me all about it."

Ginny nodded, tears flooding from her face as she stepped aside to let Hermione in.

"What´s wrong?"

Ginny sank to the floor, shaking with anxiety with her cloak bunched up around her knees. Hermione shut the door gently and knelt next to her, putting her arm around her shoulders. They stayed there for a few minutes until Ginny looked up at her friend´s worried face.

"I´m sorry."

"Don´t be silly!"

"No no," she wiped her face with her sleeve hastily, "you came round here, erm, here I am crying as if the world had ended."

"Come on." Hermione got up and lead Ginny slowly into the living room.

She sank into the chair nearest the fire and smoothed out her flaming hair, breathing deeply.

Hermione sat on the arm of the chair and looked down with concern.

"Sorry."

"Stop apologising and tell me what´s wrong." She took Ginny´s hand and smiled, "Is it Harry?"

"No," she replied quickly, "well maybe partly. It´s Draco."

"Draco Malfoy?" Hermione repeated.

"Yes."

"What about Draco Malfoy?" she said bluntly.

"Oh I knew you wouldn´t understand." Ginny muttered.

"Try me." She squeezed her hand.

"I..." she swallowed loudly, "I, well, it´s just... I´ve just seen him."

"What, just now?"

She nodded her head, "Yeah, and it´s just shaken me up a bit that´s all..."

"A bit? What´s he done to you? It´s not like you to let someone get the better of you."

" No..."

"What happened?"

Ginny looked up at her best friend´s worried face and sighed, "Well, nothing. He was on the coach to Hogsmeade and..."

"What was he doing on the coach?" Hermione interrupted, "Sorry," she added quickly.

"I don´t know. He avoided the question." She clenched her fists and carried on, "Well anyway, it was just weird and all the memories of... you know, what happened, and the betrayal, and... and the guilt... it, it all came flooding back. Well it took me by surprise... and then when you rang the door bell, I was scared."

"Scared it was Draco?"

Ginny paused to think for a moment, "Probably."

"What do you mean by probably? Yes or no?"

"Yes... and no."

"Harry," Hermione said bluntly.

Ginny nodded her head, "I think the guilt scares me more than anything."

"You shouldn´t feel guilty anymore, Ginny. There´s no need to feel guilty. What you felt... and did, is in the past now. What´s important is the present."

Ginny nodded her head and forced a smile.

"Unless, it´s not the past..." Hermione looked at her and wondered whether to ask what she´d been thinking for a while now, "Ginny, it is the past isn´t it?"

"Of course it is! You think I´ve been sleeping with him? One, I´d never do that and even if I wanted to, I wouldn´t have the time!" she said flushing.

"I know you´re not sleeping with him, Ginny. I just wondered if you..."she paused to think how she should `phrase´ it, "if you still had feelings for him."

Ginny remained silent.

"Thought as much," Hermione muttered.

"I love Harry," she smiled, "I really do. I couldn´t imagine living one second without him."

Hermione stared at the floor, secretly agreeing.

"But... I won´t deny that the feelings I had for Draco are still there... but I would never... not in a million years, betray Harry," she paused, "even if I wanted to."

"Good," Hermione sighed, "listen I´ve got to go, see you soon yeah?"

Ginny frowned, "What´s wrong? Have I upset you? This conversation won´t leave this room right?"

"Of course not! I would never betray you Ginny... just like Harry wouldn´t."