harry
Harry had stuffed his face at dinner, and he just couldn't will himself to move. He was crashed on a plush chair in front of the fire, Hermione sitting on the floor at his feet revising one of Ron's essays.
It was late, and he knew he needed to get to bed; tryouts were tomorrow, and he knew he'd need all the sleep he could get- at least fifty second years are determined to try out.
Hermione huffed and dipped her quill in the ink at her feet. "Where is Ronald? I swear, that boy-"
"Right here, 'mione, don't fuss." Ron flopped onto the chair next to Harry.
Harry nudged Hermione with his foot. She shot him a 'what-do-you-need-Potter-I'm-working' look, and he vaguely pointed to Ron. She narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head. Harry had been trying to get the two together since fourth year, but somehow he couldn't get Ron to see he liked Hermione as more than a friend.
"Christmas is coming up," Ron said.
"Ronald," Hermione said, "it's September."
Ron squinted at her. "You're the only one that calls me Ronald."
"That's not true." Harry snickered. "Your mother calls you Ronald."
"And the twins." Hermione smiled. "When they're trying to annoy you."
Ron threw his hands in the air. "Both reasons to not call me Ronald!"
Harry smiled. "Oh, sure."
Hermione handed Ron his essay back. "All good...Ronald."
He rolled his eyes at her smile.
Hermione stood. "I need to go. We're all organizing our bunks today, so I'll leave you two to it." She picked up her quill and ink bottle.
As she stood, her hand set right on top of Ron's. He stiffened. She pulled it away quickly, but Ron stared at his hands like he was surprised they were still there.
Harry smiled to himself and went back to watching the flames crack and nursing his overstuffed stomach. He looked straight up at the ceiling. He heard Ron stand and leave, and footsteps approaching, but he didn't focus back on the room.
Someone cleared their throat right in front of him. His head snapped down and he came face to face with Ginny Weasley.
Harry yelped and flopped off the chair. Ginny snorted and looked down at him with her hands on her hips.
"You alright?" She asked.
Harry's ears went red. "You just startled me."
"And you flopped all the way onto the floor?"
He smiled. "I've heard I'm quite dramatic."
She rolled her eyes. "I never would have guessed."
Harry figured she wasn't talking about what has just happened. She had a sour look on her face.
"You alright?" He asked. He pulled himself up and stood next to her.
"Yeah, of course." She didn't seem alright. She turned away to leave.
Harry grabbed her wrist. "No, you're not."
She whipped around to face him again. "Well maybe if-" She stopped cold.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Maybe if...what?"
She took a deep breath and groaned. "I don't know, Potter, maybe if you didn't act so dense all the time!"
Harry was suddenly angry. Here he was, trying to make sure no one hurt Ginny, and she was arguing with him. "Me? Dense?" He was almost yelling now.
Others in the common room were starting to stare. Ginny's cheeks were splotchy and red. She threw her hands up. "Yes, you, Harry!"
"Did it ever occur to you that I didn't want you to get hurt?" Harry's voice toned down as he spoke, turning into a dull whisper at the end of his sentence.
The angry clouds in Ginny's eyes disappeared. "What?"
"Did you ever take a second to think-" Harry's voice cracked- "that I cared too much about you? About Ron? About your family? I can't have any of you getting hurt on my account!"
Ginny stood there, staring at him with her mouth open.
He hadn't ever noticed how full her lips were. Or how bright her eyes were, they now resembled the garden at the Burrow, where they used to play quidditch when Harry visited.
He'd never wanted to kiss her as much as he did right now.
"Did it ever occur to you that I don't care if I get hurt?" She asked in a whisper.
"But I do," Harry said, "and that's why I can't...I can't hurt you."
Ginny was quiet for a moment before looking up at him defiantly. "That's not what you were going to say."
"What?"
"You weren't going to say that. Go ahead, Harry, what were you going to say?" She was giving him a strong glare, as if telling him she could take it. Whatever he threw at her right now, she could take it.
He knew she was strong, but he also knew she was breakable. Everyone had that point. He didn't want to be the reason she hit that point.
"Gin, I-"
She stopped him. "Just say it, Harry," she argued. Her voice cracked.
The other students were still staring.
Harry pursed his lips and closed his eyes tight. "I can't love you. You deserve someone who gives you their undivided attention. Not someone who's always running away and putting himself in danger."
Harry had never seen Ginny cry. Now she was. "Someone like Dean."
Harry felt like someone had smacked him. He knew Dean and Ginny hadn't ended on bad terms- they were friends now. But he also knew that Dean played it safe, and that annoyed the hell out of Ginny. Dean had even pulled Harry aside one night in the dormitory, told him he'd better be keeping Ginny safe, because she was one of his best friends and wasn't going to allow Harry to ruin her.
"Yeah," he spat, "someone like Dean." Someone who wouldn't put her in harm's way. Someone that would be there for her.
"Well lucky for you," Ginny spat back as she stepped away. "Dean and I weren't the best match."
Harry grabbed her wrist again as she tried to leave. "Gin, it's not that-" He didn't get to finish that sentence.
Ginny turned and shoved him as hard as she could. Harry stumbled backward and fell into the chair.
"Ginny!" Harry protested.
She wiped tears from her face and marched up the girl's dormitory stairs. He called to her again but she didn't even turn around.
Harry pulled on his hair and breathed out. Had he just ruined everything? Sent the girl he'd been falling further and further in love with out like the rest of the people in his life?
He turned to the other Gryffindors, third years working on Potions, who'd watched the exchange and shot them a glare. They turned and went back to their work. He then marched up the boy's stairs and all the way into his room. The others in the dorm watched him with wide eyes.
"And what's wrong with you?" Ron asked. He had a small smile on his face, like he knew what his sister and Harry had just spoken about, but not how it ended.
"She's pissed. Livid. Probably will try to kill me." Harry fell back on the bed. Ron looked surprised.
Dean snorted. "You'll probably be dead by morning if she wants to kill you.
Neville nodded with a grimace. "She's dangerous."
"She can't kill Harry!" Seamus said, "He's the quidditch captain!"
"And the only guy that can defeat You Know Who, but hey, who cares about that?" Michael muttered.
Harry groaned. "I'm doomed. How am I ever going to convince her to hear me out?"
Dean hefted his toothbrush to Harry. "Here's to hoping you don't get a new scar."
Ron and Neville followed suit.
Harry groaned again. "Thanks for the backup, guys."
Seamus sent him a bright smile. "No problem, my man."
////
Harry and Ginny fought...man that boy is oblivious!
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