Part 11

Later that night, with Ginny and Hermione.

Ginny re-read the letter again and sighed lustfully as she laid back on the bed. Hermione propped herself up on one elbow to look at Ginny from the bed over, and smiled loftily. "What?" She said. Ginny shook her head, still looking at the ceiling. "It's nice, not having to question how he feels about me."

"Who, Dean?"

"Yeah!" Ginny said, sitting up. "This relationship, it's not confusing, it's not dramatic it's not moving too fast. It's peaceful, and comfortable, and I like that."

"I'm happy for you."

"Thanks."

Hermione still stared at her, expectantly. "And?" She said. Ginny looked confused. "And what?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "What about Harry?" Ginny sighed. "Don't get me started on him... Not one letter personally to me, all summer, but as soon as he shows up with his stupid hair and stupid eyes I go weak at the knees." Hermione was grinning wildly now. "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"It means that he wrote to you and Ron plenty, but didn't send a single splotch of ink to me. It also means that joking with him this morning, in the garden, was a mistake." Hermione tilted her head. "How so?"

"He still sees me as Ron's little sister, I'm not an individual yet. I'm not gonna waste my time on people like that." Hermione shook her head, yawned, and laid back in her bed. "Whatever you say..." She sung. Ginny whipped her head around at her. "What?" Hermione smirked as she shifted her position so she was facing away from Ginny. "Oh, nothing..." Came her tired voice, and she left Ginny wondering what could possibly make her so skeptical.

With Harry and Ron.

"Who d'you think? Dean Thomas? Lee Jordan? Maybe it was that arse Michael Corner... Could be Cormac Mcglaggen, but he's stared at every girl at the school at least once..." Ron gasped. Harry looked up from the Marauder's Map. "What?" Ron stood up and started pacing again. "You don't think it was that Slytherin sodder, Blaise Zabini?" Silence. "You know," Ron said, to Harry's confused expression. "He's one of Malfoy's mates? His mum killed like, eight people?" Harry shook his head. "No, I know who he is, but why would he send Ginny that letter?" Ron shrugged. "Who knows? She's popular and he's always staring at her during dinner." Harry retreated back to looking at the map. Horace Slughorn, the teacher that Harry and Dumbledore had visited over the summer, was moving in to his new office. McGonagall was in the greenhouse, with Professor Sprout. And Hagrid, Professor Flitwick, and Sir Nicholas, were all in Hagrid's hut. Maybe sharing a drink. He glanced at Dumbledore's office. Snape was still there, pacing. Dumbledore was at his desk. What could they possibly be doing? Thought Harry. Apparently Ron was still talking, because he was now snapping in Harry's face. "Oi, how could whatever's happening at Hogwarts possibly be more important than this?"

"Ron why does it matter?" Harry said, setting the map aside. "It's just a stupid letter?" Albeit Harry was curious about its author, but not that curious. Ron scoffed at Harry in disbelief. "Why does it matter? WHY DOES IT MATTER?" Ron looked livid, and was pacing again. "It matters because I need to know which boy that's been talking to my baby sister I need to hex into the next century!" This caught Harry's attention. "Wait, Ron I thought this was just about the letter?"

"It's not, Harry. Ginny's too young to date."

"She's only a year younger than you are."

"Whatever, she's my sister. I don't want boys near her."

"Ginny can take care of herself. Why does it matter if she gets a boyfriend?"

Ron went silent as a realization grew larger in his eyes. Harry only just noticed that he had gotten up from the bed and was standing in front of Ron. Ron looked him up and down, eyes narrowed. "You like her... Don't you?"

"Don't be stupid, Ron" Harry sputtered.

"Don't play stupid, Harry. I always see you staring at her." Harry looked down at Ron's finger poking him in the chest.

"Ron... What has gotten into you?!?" Ron laughed maniacally. Frankly, the whole vision was frightening. Ron's voice then came out low and drawling. "You better stay away from her." Harry scoffed, shook his head and backed away from Ron, slowly. "You're mad, mate." In one swift motion, Ron had stepped forward, picked Harry up by his shirt, and had him pushed up against the wall. "You'll leave her alone. Say it. I won't catch you talking to her. Say it." Ron's eyes were deep and dark. It looked as though his face had transformed. Harry knew it was Ron in front of him, but he found him hard to recognize. Harry's mouth went dry. He struggled to swallow before saying: "y-yeah. I promise." Ron released him and stomped over to his bed, slipped in, and turned the light off without a word. Harry's brain was blank. He'd never in all his years of knowing Ron, seen him so mad. Only one thought wasn't part of the jumble in Harry's mind. He certainly wasn't talking to Ginny any time soon.