Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Rejection: A Double-Edged Sword	By : brooklynvtc Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Ginny Views: 21247 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I do not make any profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
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He seemed to be stunned at the sudden contact, before he relaxed and wrapped his own arms around her back, constricting to bring her closer.
And it was at that moment, the compartment door opened with a loud bang.
The action was so abrupt and noisy, that they both couldn't help jumping back, startled.
"Get your hands off of my girlfriend, Potter!"
Chapter Twelve
Ron was in a terribly, bad mood. It was bad enough that he had to go to a Prefects meeting so soon after he had woken up... But a group of third-year Slytherin students had decided that it would be funny to pick on a few first-year muggleborns by magically dumping buckets of mud over their heads!
Ron was seething... It had only just happened a moment ago, when Ron and Hermione came upon the scene. And one look at the sadness in Hermione's eyes at the mistreatment of her fellow muggleborns, had Ron in a right fury.
Ron wasn't as oblivious as others may think. He couldn't be an expert at chess without being able to notice a few things here and there.
And it was entirely obvious to Ron that Hermione was constantly trying to prove herself in a world that doesn't fully accept her... It was why she worked and studied so hard. So, it was in moments like these, with seeing the mud all over muggleborns, where Ron knew that it was a harsh reminder to Hermione that she would never be truly accepted anywhere.
Not in the Muggle World or the Wizarding World...
He had stopped himself many times already to ask if she was alright, knowing that she would dismiss his concerns entirely. And she wouldn't want his pity, anyways...
She was much too strong for that.
Yes... Ron was in a very sour mood. And to make matters even worse, they had already missed the food cart because they had to deal with the third-years! Now they both had to wait until after the sorting to finally eat!
Merlin help whoever decided to get on the wrong end of his wand at that moment.
"I think that those Slytherin students really learned their lesson..." Hermione chatted to fill the air, "After, a months' worth of detentions each with Professor McGonagall, I doubt that they would be willing to try something like that again."
She said it with an air of superiority, but Ron still knew where her real emotions lay... It was readily available for him to see in her eyes.
Her beautiful, brown eyes...
Ron shook himself, and decided that he needed to distract himself. Which usually came in the form of starting an argument with Hermione.
"Come off it, Hermione..." Ron countered. Arguing with Hermione was almost like playing chess. He made his move, and she would counter, and so on. He liked discussions and arguments with Hermione... But he would rather throw up slugs again than to ever admit it out loud. So, he steeled himself and readied for his counter-attack. "They're Slytherins! Children of Death Eaters! If there was ever a chance for them to learn their lesson, it would have been when Harry vanquished You-Know-Who when he was a baby!"
Hermione sputtered indignantly, "Ronald! You have to learn to at least give them a chance to-"
"Get your hands off of my girlfriend, Potter!" A loud voice yelled at the opposite end of the train car.
Both Ron and Hermione looked up to find that it was Dean, standing in the door of a compartment, that had yelled.
The lingering students started to gather closer, wanting to hear what all of the commotion was about.
"What's your problem?" They heard Ginny's annoyed voice float from within the compartment, "It was only a hug, Dean..."
"My problem is that it's you that Potter was hugging!" Dean countered, anger evident in his glare.
Quickly realizing what was going on, both Ron and Hermione tried to get their way through the growing crowd of students coming out of the compartments.
Hermione, heading to go do some damage control, no doubt. But Ron... He was pretty sure that he was gearing up to defend his sister's honor... and he was pretty sure who was going to end up at the other end of his wand.
"Don't be ridiculous, Dean!" Ginny exclaimed, her annoyance quickly turning into her famous fiery, red temper. "I'm the one that hugged Harry! He just offered me a position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, is all, and I was excited and grateful! It doesn't mean anything...!"
Ron and Hermione were having a difficult time of things with getting around all of the students. With Ron trying to shove his way through, and Hermione politely saying, "Excuse me, Prefects coming through. Please go back into your compartments." Over and over…
No one listened to her.
Dean sneered. "You have a funny way of showing your gratitude!"
Ron whipped his wand out fast, grabbed at the collar of Dean's shirt, and pointed his wand in his face.
"What did you say to my sister, Thomas?!" Ron thundered, an angry redness creeping up his neck towards his cheeks. "Because it sounds to me that you were implying that my sister was some sort of slag... Which you better hope is a misunderstanding on my part, you prat!"
Ron jabbed his wand into the other boy's nose with each emphasized word that he spoke, and a large part of him was proud to see the look of horror on Dean's face. A thin sheen of sweat gathered at the top of his brow as his eyes crossed to look at the wand sticking him in the nose.
"Ron!" Ginny exclaimed, and Ron shifted his eyes towards her, he realized that she was embarrassed by the situation. Which was right barmy to him! He was only trying to protect her! She should be grateful!
"Stop it, please! Ju-just let him go!" Ginny stared at him imploringly, her eyes begging him to listen. But Ron now directed his glare at her.
"I'm only keeping your so-called boyfriend in line!" Ron argued, "Which I shouldn't even have to do! He should be respecting you all on his own!"
"Ron..." Hermione hissed softly next to him, and Ron turned his gaze to her now, his hard eyes softening of their own accord. "Just do what she says... Let him go. Fighting him won't solve anything, it will only make things worse."
As hard as he tried, Ron couldn't explain away that logic... and it was difficult for him to go against Hermione. Sure, they argued, but he always did what she said in the end. They were a team. Along with Harry. And they all listened to one another.
So, with a heavy sigh, he loosened his tight grip on Deans shirt, which was now heavily wrinkled, and lowered his wand.
"Consider yourself lucky, Thomas..." Ron muttered, sourly.
Dean, on his part seemed baffled by what happened, but then his demeanor turned stiff and he said to Ginny, without even looking at her, "Let's go, Ginny."
...
Harry had been astounded by what had just happened. But one thing he knew for certain, was that he had to stop himself from outright cheering when Ron jabbed his wand in Dean's face.
But he found himself angry all over again when Dean practically ordered Ginny to leave with him.
Apparently, Ginny wasn't all that fond of his attitude either...
"No." She said, sternly, "I think that you need to be alone for now, Dean. I'm going to ride the rest of the way here."
Dean opened his mouth, now finally looking at Ginny, looking ready to argue.
"Just go," Ginny stressed, now looking thoroughly worn and tired, "We will talk about this later..."
Dean sighed in defeat and nodded, before turning a hateful glare at Harry.
Again, Harry had to contain his excitement at the turn of events. He felt the urge to jump up and down, grab Ginny for a dance, or even kiss her to celebrate! But he settled for just smirking smugly at Dean.
Dean glared harder at that, before he huffed and strode away. "Fine!"
And then he was finally gone. Harry settled back in his seat, relaxing in the seat next to Ginny. Who, Harry noted, would be sitting next to him for the rest of the train ride!
Sure, Ron and Hermione would sit with them too, but Ginny was right next to him! His whole body was acutely aware of this fact.
"What are you all bloody looking at!" Ron yelled at the crowd, before he slammed the compartment door behind him and Hermione. He strode over to the bench opposite of Harry and Ginny, and roughly threw himself down on it. "Your boyfriend is a prat, Ginevra Weasley."
But Ginny chose not to answer. Instead she brought her knees up on the seat and hugged her arms around them, looking distinctly out the window.
Hermione walked slowly forward then, and kneeled on the floor before Ginny. "Gin?" She asked, quietly.
Ginny turned her face further away. "Not now, Mione. Please."
They all stared at Ginny's prone form, before Hermione sighed and got up to sit next to Ron.
Harry had been disappointed to see that Ginny didn't say much after that... Eventually, when Neville and Luna had rejoined them, she had said hello to them.
But they all mostly left her alone. Which saddened and gave Harry hope all at the same time.
Sure, he wanted to spend this time talking to Ginny, but he hoped that she was using this time to think about her promise of reconsidering her relationship with Dean, after he had acted like a total prat!
After all, the hug that Ginny had given him was purely innocent... to her. For him, on the other hand, it was less innocent and more of, well... a huge turn-on.
To have her there, pressed so close to him... He couldn't believe how right it felt. How well they fit together. He could only hope that Ginny felt the same way that he did from their embrace, even if it were just an inkling of what she had felt before for him.
Right then, with seeing Ginny so quiet and sad, he wanted more than anything to reach out and tug her close to his side. Protecting her from everything negative in the world. Including Dean.
He hoped that she would realize that she had options and that she doesn't have to be with someone who won't let her spend time with her friends and other people. Harry reasoned that jealousy was an acceptable emotion to have, so long as it was kept under control. And didn't hurt the person they loved in the process.
So, it was for the rest of the Express ride that Ginny would sit quietly, while Harry peaked at her through the corner of his eyes.
It wasn't long before they were approaching Hogwarts and had to change into their school robes. When the train stopped, Ginny seemed rather distracted as she stood to leave the compartment. And as she stood, Harry noticed a purple fluff ball left behind on the seat next to where Ginny sat.
He suddenly remembered that this was the Pygmy Puff that Ginny had bought from Fred and George's shop.
Quickly scooping up the fur ball, as well as his own stuff, Harry ran out of the compartment after her. But she was no longer in the hall. Jumping off the first exit of the train, Harry stretched up on his toes, trying to find any trace of her fiery red hair.
"Harry, what are you-" Ron had tried to say behind him, but it was at that moment that Harry had spotted Ginny up ahead, waiting in line for a carriage. Harry bolted for her, weaving in-between students, leaving Ron and Hermione behind.
"Ginny!" He called, for some reason he was frantic. "Wait, Ginny!"
Ginny was just about to board a carriage, when he called for her and turned. Other students took advantage of her distraction and boarded ahead of her. Harry was annoyed to noticed how some of the other boys whispered to one another as they stared leeringly at her.
Harry quickly caught up with her and thrust forward her Pygmy Puff. "You forgot him."
Ginny looked surprised for a mere moment, before she exclaimed, "Arnold!" She quickly took him from Harry's hands, it squeaked from being transferred from one hand into another, "I'm so sorry that I forgot you...!"
Then she looked up at Harry and her eyes didn't seem as sad anymore as she smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks, Harry."
Harry smiled back and nodded eagerly in return. "It's no problem. Fancy if I join you on the carriage ride?"
Ginny smiled sweetly and nodded, "Sure!" Then a grimace grew on her face, "I'm sorry I was so boring for the rest of the train ride... I just wasn't in the mood to chat after what happened with Dean..."
Harry waved off her apology, as they both boarded a carriage together. "Don't be sorry! It's not your fault. You aren't responsible for his actions."
Hope, real hope, started to blossom in his chest. He really didn't think that it would be this easy to tear Ginny and Dean a part. Dean was cursing himself in his own toe... and if he kept it up, then it wouldn't be long until Ginny was single again. And Harry could swoop in and make her single no longer after that.
Harry smiled at the thought. The only downside he had about all of this was trying to find a way to break it to Ron... but he also reasoned that Ron would rather Ginny get away from Dean more than anything. So much so, that he wouldn't care as much that it was Harry stealing her away from the git that did the trick.
On the ride up to the castle, Harry and Ginny talked over various things. Like Quidditch, the Holyhead Harpies, chocolate frogs and treacle tarts, as well as when the first Hogsmead trip would be arranged.
Harry was almost tempted to ask her to spend the first Hogsmead with him, but knew that at that moment, she would probably say no.
He had to take his time, space every baby step accordingly, to ultimately win her heart back.
As they exited the carriage in front of the large, Hogwarts doors, Ron and Hermione found them and they all entered the castle and made their way to the Great Hall for the sorting.
As they sat together at the long, Gryffindor table, Harry making sure that he got his seat next to Ginny, Ginny had asked Ron and Hermione how their Prefect duties went.
Harry relaxed back in his seat as Hermione rambled on about the details of the meeting, and the events that they were planning for the year.
Ginny looked thoughtful as Hermione described that they had all thrown in ideas for a 'Hogwarts Unity Day', where all of Hogwarts would spend the day learning about all of the other houses, and what makes each great.
"That's a good idea and all, Hermione, but you've all got to add a little fun into it, don't you? Otherwise people won't really want to participate, will they?" Ginny said, and Hermione gave her an expression that looked like a frazzled raisin to Harry.
"What exactly do you have in mind? Learning new things about each house seems fun to me..."
She cut off at Ron's snort of amused indignation. And was about to turn to him to tell him off, when Ginny quickly intervened before they started to argue. "Well, why don't you throw a ball at the end of the day? You can call it, 'Hogwarts Unity Ball'."
Hermione smiled wide at Ginny, "That's a good idea! I'll bring it up at the next Prefects meeting!"
Ron audibly groaned aloud, "Not another bloody ball! The last one was bad enough!"
Sneering, Ginny glared at her brother – obviously still annoyed at him from embarrassing her in front of a whole train car of students – and replied, "Oh, do shut it, Ronald! If you aren't careful, I'll get mum to buy you dress-robes like you wore for the last ball… but if you aren't on Hermione's case about it, then maybe I can convince her to get normal, black dress-robes for you." She smirked deviously at her brother, and Harry had to hold back a snort at how well she could back Ron into a corner. "It's your choice…"
Ron swallowed heavily and quickly replied, "A-A ball sounds like a good idea."
Nodding with finality, Ginny replied, "That's what I thought."
It was then that Professor Dumbledore walked into the Great Hall and sat down at the head table. Everyone was commenting quietly about his black, shriveled hand… and Harry found himself, once again, curious about it himself. But knew that the Professor wouldn't tell him about it.
It was then that Harry caught Professor Dumbledore's eye, and the old wizard winked at him, a secretive twinkle in his eye, and Harry smiled back cordially at his mentor.
Ron leaned forward, across the table, and quietly hissed, "When was it that you were going to start those private lessons with Professor Dumbledore?"
Hermione gasped, and hit him on the shoulder. "Don't talk about that here!"
But Harry merely shrugged and replied, "Don't know."
Professor McGonagall came in through the double doors then, leading all of the awed and frightened first-years that stared all around them with a sense of anticipation.
Harry zoned out of the sorting, robotically clapping when the hat added another Gryffindor to their numbers. He was too lost in his thoughts. There was so much that he had to do this year, and he had forgotten, for a while, that he even had private lessons with Dumbledore… His mind had been too occupied with trying to find ways to get his girl… And Harry suddenly felt guilty. He should really be more focused on training and defeating Voldemort.
But as Harry glanced sideways at Ginny, his heart melted and he couldn't even begin to imagine giving her up.
The sorting ended, with the last first-year joining his place with the Ravenclaw table, and Dumbledore stood.
"A few announcements before we eat, as always the Forbidden Forest is just that, Forbidden. And consequences will be severe whether you return from a trip there, or not," Dumbledore chuckled as though he said a very funny joke, and left the hall of students at a loss of how to respond to such a statement. "Mr. Filch would like me to remind you of his list of banned items, which is posted on the outside of his door, and would like to add Wizzing Frisbees from the joke shop known as Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
"Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. And captains of each house will decide upon when tryouts will be, as well as who is chosen. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, if any believe that they are befitting to the role.
"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn." Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, and his big waist-coated belly casting the table into shadow, "He is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."
"Potions?"
"Potions?"
The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.
"Potions?" Ron, Hermione, and Ginny said together, turning questioning eyes to Harry. "But you said -"
"Professor Snape, meanwhile," said Dumbledore, raising voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "Will be taking the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"No!" said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned in his direction. He did not care; he was staring up at the staff table, incensed. How could Snape be given the Defense Against the Dark Arts job after all this time? Hadn't it been widely known for years that Dumbledore did not trust him to do it?
"But Harry, you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts!" said Hermione.
"I thought he was!" said Harry, racking his brain to remember when Dumbledore had told him this, but now that he came to think of it, he was unable to recall Dumbledore ever telling him what Slughorn would be teaching.
Snape, who was sitting on Dumbledore's right, did not stand up his mention of his name; he merely raised a hand in lazy acknowledgment of the applause from the Slytherin table, yet Harry was sure he could detect a look of triumph on the features he loathed so much.
"Well, there's one good thing," He said savagely. "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, and Harry looked at her, a cute pucker of confusion was in-between her brows. He wanted more than anything to smooth it over with his fingers or to kiss it away. To reassure her that Snape wasn't teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts… But he could hardly reassure himself.
"That job's jinxed. No one's lasted more than a year... Quirrell actually died doing it... Personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death... "
"Harry!" Hermione said, shocked and reproachful.
"I didn't know that there was a curse on the position…" Ginny said, a thoughtful gleam in her eye, "But I suppose it makes sense, seeing as we have a new DADA teacher every term."
Harry had been about to reply to her, when Dumbledore cleared his throat. They weren't the only ones who had been talking; the whole Hall had erupted in a buzz of conversation at the news that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire. Seemingly oblivious to the sensational nature of the news he had just imparted, Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments, but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing.
It was then that Dumbledore went on about Voldemort and his followers. About how dangerous these times were, and that they all had to ban together in such troubling times. It hit Harry even more, that this, perhaps, wasn't the time to pursue Ginny when there were more important things to worry about… Like, making sure that Ginny and all of her family survived the looming war.
"But now, you all have to be as hungry as I am! So, tuck in!" And with that, Dumbledore sat with a flourish, and the platters of food appeared on all of the tables. Harry could have sworn that he heard Ron's stomach growl loudly over the chatter of the hall, as he almost lunged for some brisket to devour.
As Harry stared at the delicious food on the table, he suddenly found himself without an appetite. Feeling quite sullen as he weighed both his responsibility and his heart.
It was about a minute later, when he still hadn't touched a bit of food, that Ginny reached over and grabbed his hand under the table.
Harry's heart nearly leaped out of his chest and the feeling of her palm cupping his. His palm started to sweat excessively, and a part of him worried about if she noticed.
Ginny didn't react as though she didn't notice anything about his reaction to her hand in his. Instead she merely leaned over and whispered close in his ear, her warm breath sent shivers down his spine as well as tickled the little hairs on his ears. "Harry, I know that you are thinking about the prophecy, and that you should bear this burden alone…" How did she know? "…but just know that you have all of your friends, and we are here to help you whenever you need."
Harry's throat tightened, and his eyes started to sting. "Thanks, Gin." Harry whispered back, and he squeezed her hand in his, marveling at how right it felt to hold, before she released her hand from his grip and continue eating.
Rather dazed at what just happened, Harry robotically started to dish up his plate and eat the delicious food before it disappeared.
"Mr. Potter?" Harry jumped from the voice that came from behind him, and turned to see Professor McGonagall looking down at him.
"Oh! Hello, Professor," Harry said, surprised, "How are you?"
She waved his greeting away. "I'm find, Potter, fine. I trust that you had a good summer as well?" Harry nodded slowly, wondering why she was there. She must have seen the question in his eyes, because she went on to say, "Professor Dumbledore asked me to give you this, Potter."
She thrust forward a note and Harry took it. "Thanks."
McGonagall nodded, and her stiff upper lip melted into what looked to be a small, secretive smile directed at him… before it went back to normal and she turned towards the head table and walked away.
Harry stared down at the note in his hand, before unfolding the bent and creased parchment paper, and began to read the slanted writing that he recognized as Dumbledore's.
"What's it say, mate?" Ron asked, impatiently. For once, his food forgotten.
Harry finished reading and folded the note back up. "It said that he wants to meet me at the end of the feast in his office."
All three pairs of eyes bugged out at that news. "He wants to start your training tonight?!" Hermione exclaimed, surprised.
Harry shrugged. "Doubt it, he probably only wants to go over what he plans to teach me this year. And..."
He trailed off as another presence came to join them, taking the liberty of sitting on the other side of Ginny. They all stared at the newcomer, and he fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Hey, Ginny." Dean said quietly, in a sad, embarrassed tone. Harry wondered if it was all an act just to get forgiveness. "Is it 'later' yet?"
Ginny looked at him for a long moment before she sighed and said, "I suppose. I'll meet you after the feast..."
Dean let out a heavy sigh, looking extremely grateful. "Thanks, Ginny. I'll be right outside the great hall."
Ginny nodded, demurely, and Dean got up and left.
Harry was shocked... He couldn't understand why Ginny was willing to give the prat the time of day... But a part of him mused over if Ginny would use to time to break things off with Dean. He was almost tempted to outright as her, when Dumbledore announced that it was time for all of them to head up to bed.
They all stood together and walked towards the double doors to exit the hall. Prefects, including Ron and Hermione, started to lead first-years up to their dorms.
Harry and Ginny walked together, but when they finally got through the doors, Dean was already waiting for her.
Ginny turned to him with a small smile. "See you, later Harry." She was about to walk away, but turned back and quietly said, "Let me know how the meeting with Dumbledore goes."
And then she winked at him, leaving him breathless, and she and Dean went off together. But not before Dean sent him the stink eye over Ginny's head.
Harry glared right back at him, thinking, 'The git is about to get all that he deserves when Ginny gets through with him...'
Then Harry sauntered off in the opposite direction of his fellow Gryffindors, making his way to Dumbledore's office.
When he reached the giant gargoyles, Harry recited the password that had been in the note, and the winding staircase appeared. He made his way up them and just before he had been about to knock...
"Come in, Harry." Dumbledore said through the door from the other room.
Harry entered without hesitation, and was met with the familiar sight of a circular room full of magical instruments and portraits of former headmasters.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Harry asked.
"Yes, yes. Come in, Harry, and please take a seat. We might as well get comfortable." Dumbledore replied.
Harry did as he was told, and sat. Dumbledore offered him a lemon drop, by gesturing with the bowl, but Harry declined, knowing that they were spiked with a calming drought and didn't like his emotions being tampered with.
"What did you want to discuss, Professor?" Harry asked, sitting stiffly in his chair.
Professor Dumbledore sat back in his chair, however, and folded his hands over his stomach. "I wanted to discuss your schedule this year, Harry."
Harry relaxed in his chair, "Oh... That's it?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in amusement. "But of course! What else had you expected?"
Pondering for a moment, Harry replied, "There wouldn't happen to be a secret chamber under the Boy's bathroom, would there?"
Chuckling, Dumbledore said, "Not to my knowledge, no Harry. But there have been a few moments where I have been surprised. Many of those instances involve you."
Unsure of how to take that, Harry decided to change the subject. "Speaking of my schedule, sir, I wanted to ask you permission to start up Dumbledore's Army again this year."
And an actual look of surprise dawned the Professor's face. "Whatever for, Harry?" His aged face melting into curiosity.
Swallowing, Harry replied, "I just feel that I shouldn't be the only one with extra training this year... It's like you said at the sorting feast during your announcements. Voldemort is out there, and we all need to get ready."
Dumbledore stated at him for a long moment, long enough for Harry to fidget in his seat, feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Before a smile grew slowly on his lips. "I must say, Harry, that it a very mature, thought-out decision you've made. And if you don't mind my saying so, I must express how proud I am of you and the man you are turning into. And I know that your parents and Sirius must feel the same."
A lump formed in his throat that Harry couldn't quite swallow, and his eyes pricked with unshed tears that glistened in his eyes. "Thank-you, sir. Th-that really means a lot." And he gave him a sad, watery smile.
Dumbledore returned his smile fondly, and said, "You have my permission to start the D.A. whenever you want. And of course, any professor, including myself, will be available as chaperones if you see fit or if you have any questions."
Harry nodded, "Thank-you, sir."
"Now, we are going to try and aim for your private lessons on Wednesdays. And if that needs to be postponed, we will try for a different day that week. Your lessons will take place two hours before curfew, so you may plan time for Quidditch practice, the D.A., as well as your studies any time before then." Dumbledore said, and hearing it all listed out like that, made Harry's head spin. How could he fit Ginny into a schedule like that?
Harry nodded robotically in reply. And Dumbledore paused and studied him. But Harry didn't seem to notice this time, instead he was sullenly staring at his hands in his lap.
"You seem to be out of sorts, Harry." Dumbledore observed out loud.
This shook Harry out of his thoughts. "Wh-what? Oh, no, sir. Just tired, is all."
Dumbledore pursed his lips as he mused, "This wouldn't have anything regarding Miss. Weasley, would it?"
Sputtering, Harry started a fit of coughing and almost choked. Finally, after a moment, when he caught his breath, Harry exclaimed, "How did you know?!"
Chuckling, Dumbledore said, "Why, Harry, one does not become such a powerful wizard as myself without knowing things that people would otherwise keep secret..."
Harry only stared at him in confused horror.
"...And it was rather obvious at the sorting feast. Just from observing you, I've noticed that you couldn't let your eyes stray from her for long."
Harry gasped. "Was it really that obvious?!"
"Only to the observant eye..." Dumbledore reasoned. "But may I ask what seems to be the problem?"
Defeated, Harry slumped into his chair with a heavy sigh, and covered his eyes with his hands. "It was just a thought that I had as you were listing what my schedule would be like this year… And it had me wondering if I would even have time for pursuing Ginny, when there are more important things that I could be focusing on..."
With sad eyes, Dumbledore watched him, one hand coming up to stroke the beard at his chin. And Harry just knew that this was the moment that Dumbledore was going to tell him that he would have to forget about Ginny... In fact, Harry felt himself tensing from bracing himself from the disappointment. And his hands fisted at the edges of the chair and he glared at his lap.
"My dear boy..." Dumbledore spoke, slowly, "Why would you ever think that?"
Harry's head snapped up, shocked. "Wh-what?"
Dumbledore folded his hands once again. "Would you like my advice, Harry?" Harry nodded, and Dumbledore continued, "Do you remember last spring, when Voldemort possessed you in the Department of Mysteries?"
Harry nodded once again, unsure of where the Headmaster was going with this.
"As Voldemort was possessing you, he wanted me to kill you, as that would have been the only way for you to be free from his parasitic mind. But I had no need to do anything. Because though your mind was trapped away at the time, it was your heart that freed you. Do you remember, Harry?"
"You said it was love," Harry recalled, "That my ability to love is what hurt Voldemort so much. You said that it was 'the power he knew not' from the prophecy..."
Dumbledore smiled wide, "Exactly, Harry, exactly."
Harry only stared at him, confused at what the point of going down memory lane was and how it could possibly help him with Ginny. Dumbledore chuckled, "Harry, do you not see? It is essential for you to have love in your life and in your heart in order to have the power to defeat Voldemort."
It took Harry a second, before a smile started to grow on his face. "Are you saying that it a part of my training to pursue Ginny Weasley?"
Chuckling, Dumbledore replied, "I shall assign it as homework."
...
Harry left down the winding staircase from Dumbledore's office, only to find someone waiting for him.
It was Ron, looking rather sullen. "What's up, mate?" Harry asked him.
"Ah, it's nothing." Ron quickly waved off his concern, and they both started to walk back to Gryffindor tower. "Hermione and I just got into another argument is all..."
Harry frowned at his friend before a mischievous smirk graced his lips. "I should really just lock the two of you into a broom closet, so you can snog it out..."
A violent coughing fit took over Ron before he finally sputtered, "What?! Hermione and I don't want to... That is bloody mad, that is!"
Harry had to keep himself from laughing. "Come off it, Ron! I know the two of you like each other!"
Even in the dark, Harry knew that Ron's face was a Weasley red. "No we don... Do you really think that Hermione likes me?"
Harry nodded amused, "Well, it is rather obvious, isn't it? Well, at least to people who don't have such a thick head." Harry knocked his knuckle on Ron's head lightly for emphasis, and Ron pushed his hand away.
"I don't really think that-" Ron was cut off from what he was saying by a long, guttural moan coming from behind a tapestry.
Ron and Harry looked at each other inquisitively, before turning towards the tapestry.
Ron lifted the edge and they both looked behind...
"GINNY!" Ron exclaimed, aghast.
Harry felt his heart freeze in his chest and fall to the bottom of his stomach. He had thought that he was heartbroken before when he found out that Ginny wasn't available. But that was nothing compared to how it felt to see her up against the wall, with Dean aggressively kissing her... His hands bunching the fabric of her shirt at his waist... Her arms wrapped around his neck... kissing him back.
They jumped a part, however, when Ron called her name. Ginny looked a bit embarrassed, but Dean... when Dean saw that Harry had caught them, he flashed him self-satisfied smirk that made Harry's blood boil.
"Ginny!" Ron yelled again, "WHAT the bloody HELL do you think you are doing?!"
Harry had seen Ron angry before, but never like this. This anger in Ron had a sort of edge in it that Harry had never noticed before. But he knew what it was that Ron was feeling. Harry felt the exact same... But obviously for different reasons than Ron. He wanted nothing more than to step forward, force the two apart and take Ginny into his arms and never let her go...
"What does it look like, Ron? I was kissing my boyfriend." Ginny replied, her own voice carrying an edge. Harry almost hated that even though he was so angry, that he couldn't help but notice that Ginny looked sexy when her temper got up.
Before Ron could open his mouth to retort, Ginny said in a snarky tone, "You're just jealous that I have someone to kiss and you don't."
This staggered Ron, and actually caused him to take a step back, flabbergasted. "Wh-what?"
Ginny glared with her smirk, and Harry thought that it wasn't an appealing look for her gorgeous face. Ginny was so much kinder than the expression she wore on her face right then. "Oh, sure. I've kissed Dean, Hermione had kissed Krum, and Harry had Cho..." Harry tried not to flinch at the last one, "And that leaves you, alone. Taking out your jealousy on people who actually have someone."
They stood in shock as they stared at her. Harry couldn't believe that this was Ginny saying these things. He turned his head towards Ron and saw a look of hurt on his face, before he turned and walked down the hall, his head down and not looking back.
Harry watched him leave, and turned his attention back to Ginny, who still looked smug. And Harry was left feeling... disappointed.
"That wasn't nice..." He said, quietly. His tone perfectly implying how he felt.
He watched as the smugness melted off of Ginny's face, twisting into a form of regret.
"Bugger off, Potter. This has nothing to do with you." Dean said harshly, his face still self-satisfied.
Harry did just that, and turned to leave.
"Harry, wait, I-"
"Don't be out past curfew." Harry cut off her quiet apologetic voice, fighting to not meet her eyes. Because it ashamed Harry that all he had to do was look once into her sad eyes, and he let the entire matter be forgotten.
So, he didn't look. Because Ron needed his best mate to be strong for him.
He started to walk away, down the hall. Ginny called his name once more, asking for him to come back. But he took his invisibility cloak out of his pocket and draped it over his head. Just so that she couldn't run after him.
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Rejection: A Double-Edged Sword