Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters and in fact I shouldn't even be allowed to write about them considering how long it took this chapter to get out

Chapter 19: Things Change

A week went by and then another. Students fell into the familiar pace of classes and tests. Hogsmeade weekends came and went with smiling children piling down into the small village.

A cozy fire blazed from the fireplace in the Three Broomsticks. Ron and Hermione sat a round table; three butterbeers sat dripping with condensation.

"How long did he say he would be gone?" Ron asked idly as he swirled the amber liquid around in his frosted mug.

Hermione swung her head away from the crackling flames. "Hmm... Oh Harry! He said just a few minutes. He needed to send an owl off or something of the like." She nodded as she ran her finger over the rim of her cup.

Ron looked at Hermione, really looked at her for the first time in weeks. Her eyes were weary, he'd almost say red-rimmed. She looked as though a strong wind would blow her over at any moment. He furrowed his brow and looked back down at his drink.

He didn't know how things had gotten to be like this. Their relationship had always been about fire and sparks; now they barely even spoke let alone argued. He knew the change had come about as soon as Hermione had started dating Harry. It was to be expected he thought. After all hadn't the majority to their relationship been childish flirting, getting a rise out of the other just to see their cheeks flush and their eyes flash. But they had parted ways, Ron with Lavender briefly and Hermione with Harry. Now they sat here, seemingly strangers.

He raised his head and looked over at Hermione. "Are you okay, Hermione?" He asked quietly, not sure what kind of answer he would receive.

Her immediate reaction was to smile and assure Ron that she was fine - which she did. Ron nodded his head, seemingly resigned to accept her placating response, as if that were what he was accustomed to receiving from her.

Something slipped in Hermione; she supposed it was her resolve. She couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't be the perfect girl that she strove to be. She couldn't push Ron away anymore. She couldn't hide behind the unflappable exterior that she had built up over the years.

"No..." She finally murmured into her drink. "No, I'm not alright." She closed her eyes. Ginny's back retreating slowly up the stairs seemed burned into her eyelids. Hermione's eyes flew open. She couldn't stomach what she had done. How could she have been so selfish, how could she have tried to make it all better with such a half-hearted attempt? A numbness settled over her. She supposed this was what it felt like to truly muck a situation up. This wasn't a situation that her intelligence could logically argue its way out of... and it scared her.

Ron's eyes were on hers, the corners etched in worry. Merlin she missed him. How could she have let him slip away... her mind briefly mused. She knew that she had looked into Harry's worry-worn eyes and saw something she could fix, something that she could unquestionably solve. It was a logical conclusion to share her love with him, to help him heal. She'd always loved him. But was it the love that he needed or she needed for that matter.

"Hermione?" Ron asked. "What is it?" All the blood seemed to have drained from her face over the space of a few moments. He scooted his chair closer afraid that she would faint.

It was a mistake to let her mind begin down this path. But then again, she seemed to be doing that quite a lot lately. She was sick of feeling numb, sick of wondering what could have been.

"I... Ron... I..." She hung her head, unable to articulate (for perhaps the first time in her life) what she was feeling.

A corner of Ron's mouth pulled down in consternation. It wasn't like Hermione to be unable to find the words - that was typically his department. He placed a hand on her shoulder and she started.

Hermione stopped thinking. She pushed thoughts of Harry, her mum, and Ginny from her mind. She wanted to act and feel - not think! Resolved to do just that. Murmuring "I want to make a mistake," Before she leaned forward and placed her lips on Ron's.

Ron had been momentarily distracted by her small uttered comment. He hadn't caught all of it and had opened his mouth to ask her to repeat it, when her mouth had closed over his.

To say he was shocked was the understatement of the year. But to say that he didn't want to continue to feel the warm pressure of her lips or the soft sweep of her tongue would be a lie and he knew it. He felt Hermione's hand creep up and around his neck, her small fingers curled into his red hair as a small murmur of pleasure escaped her lips.

He needed to pull away, but he couldn't seem to remember why. Harry! Yes, that was it! This was his best mate's girlfriend and his best friend, they couldn't do this... in a public place no less.

Ron was saved from having to pry his lips from hers by a discreet cough. Hermione flew back, a flush covering her entire face.

There was silence for a moment as Ron raised his head to see how had caught them. He didn't know what he would say to the observer, he only hoped it was a regular patron of the restaurant not a student.

"I suppose I'm no longer needed here..." The voice sent Ron's heart plummeting into the farthest reaches of his stomach.

"Har..." Ron's head fell. What did one say in such a situation?

Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't thought kissing Ron would feel as it had. Every spark that they had ever had while arguing culminated in that kiss. She could feel her lips, hot and swollen. She could also feel Harry's gaze intent on her. What had she just done? She hadn't intended Harry to see... she had just wanted a moment... a moment to see what existed.

"Harry!" She exclaimed a note of hysteria in her voice.

Harry raised his hand as if to ward off an invisible blow. "Don't... Not now... I'm... I'm going back up to school now." He quickly downed the glass of butterbeer that had patiently been waiting his arrival and turned quickly, resolutely leaving the small room.

Hermione dropped her head into her hands and let a sob escape her lips. Ron leaned back in his chair, his eyes hooded as he contemplated what had just happened.

Draco rested his arm against the stone door jamb as Ginny packed up her small book bag. He'd loaned her his potions notes from the year before with a smirk and a reminder that he was the only one to get higher marks than Granger in that subject.

He hated this part of the evening: the part where they went back to their respective dorms, the part where they didn't see each other and the part where he remembered the complications of the outside world.

Ginny stood up and smoothed her robes down as she slung her pack over one shoulder. She looked around the deserted classroom that she had been coming to nightly for several weeks. Despite its dank walls and dusty desktops it was cozier than the Gryffindor common room at the moment. But, she mused, that probably had more to do with the company than the accoutrements.

"I'll see you tomorrow right?" He always asked even though he knew the answer; it was part of their routine.

"Of course. Rumor has it that Flitwick is going to assign a nasty essay so be prepared to listen to my griping."

Draco groaned. "I thought you got that out of your system today with the potions assignment."

"Nope. I'm afraid you aren't that lucky. It's never-ending fun with me." She smirked over at him as she moved toward the door where he stood.

Draco straightened as she prepared to leave. The owl he'd received last week weighed heavily on his mind. This time the missive had informed him that he had been seen with a red haired Weasley near the lake and that if he didn't wise-up he could expect consequences.

Draco reached out an arm to still Ginny. "Please, be careful." He'd had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach all week. "You're going straight to the tower right?"

Ginny furrowed her brow. He'd been off all week, extraordinarily concerned about her safety. "Of course... what's wrong Draco?"

He shook off her question. "Nothing, just make sure you head straight up." He closed off the worry that had crept into his eyes as he held the door open with one arm.

"Yes sir." She mocked him with a salute.

Draco couldn't help but smile back at her. He knew that she wasn't nearly as lighthearted as she used to be, so moments such as this were an achievement that he couldn't help but feel proud over.

"Glad to see you've finally come around,"" he answered with a smirk.

Ginny thawpped him on the arm as the exited the old Potions classroom. "See you tomorrow!" She called over her shoulder as she headed down the damp stone corridor.

Draco shook his head as he turned and made his way to the Slytherin dormitories.

Ginny pulled herself up the stairs to the Gryffindor tower; a small smile still graced her features as she thought about the snarky blonde boy she had just departed ways with. She tried not to think too much on their relationship; instead she accepted what she had and didn't question the possibilities.

With her head tucked down she didn't see the figure that rounded the corner at the top of the staircase at the same time she did.

As she toppled back toward the staircase, she felt someone's arms save her from Merlin knows how many broken bones.

"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed as he pulled her from the edge of the staircase. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you coming 'round the corner."

Ginny slowly opened her eyes, thankful that someone had been there to catch her. She blinked as she caught sight of her rescuer. "Harry?" she asked softly. He looked horrid! His hair was disheveled as if he has spent the better part of the day running agitated fingers through the dark locks. His eyes were tired, she could almost say red-rimmed, and his cheeks were gaunt.

"I'm fine... But, Harry... are you okay?" She asked pointedly as she eyed him.

Harry's arms fell away from her sides and he looked away. "I'm fine. What are you doing out so late?" he asked sharply, quickly changing the topic.

"I was studying," Ginny responded her eyes narrowed at his tone.

"On a Saturday night?" he countered. He knew that he was being inflammatory with no good reason. He was angry at the world at the moment and unfortunately Ginny had happened upon him. Chances are she had been with Draco... Harry didn't know what their relationship was about. He didn't feel the way Ron did.... but... who was he to say. People were surprising as he had learned the hard way earlier that afternoon.

"Yes..." Ginny bit out. "What are you doing wandering the halls of the school on a Saturday night... wasn't it a Hogsmeade weekend anyway." Ginny cocked her head to the side slightly as she caught the scent of hard liquor wafting off Harry. "Is that Firewhiskey I smell Harry?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "So what if it is?" He turned away from her quickly. "I have a right to get pissed if I want don't I?"

"Of course Harry." Ginny's brow wrinkled further. "Any particular reason?"

"Your bloody brother and my girlfriend... I thought that reason enough."

Harry wandered over to a small bench that rested underneath a portrait of two toothless wizards. "Ginny... I should have saved you... you always loved me didn't you?" Harry asked tipsily.

Ginny gasped at his rambling, but Harry continued before she could say anything.

"I always knew you liked me... but you were Ron's little sister. Hermione was my closest friend and she always told me she loved me. I think she was the first person to actually say that to me. But I guess that wasn't true now was it. I always wondered if she still had a thing for Ron... I was right." Harry raised his eyes to hers, they were watery now. "D'you think we could give it a go now? I don't want to be alone again."

Ginny was torn by pity and anger. It was hard to watch Harry like this. She knew most of his speech was attributable to the whiskey... but from the sound of it something had happened between Hermione and him this afternoon. On the other hand, she couldn't believe that he was saying this to her... how could he think that she would simply run into his arms because he sought her attention now. After everything that had happened... she honestly couldn't believe it.

"Harry... Get into the common room. You should sleep this off." Ginny stayed where he had left her and indicated with her head toward the portrait of the fat lady down the hall.

"C'mon Ginny... I don't want to go back in there. They're probably in there... Merlin knows she'll want to talk it out or some such rubbish... and at the moment I just don't feel like it." Harry stood up again and approached her, a lop-sided grin on his face.

"I'll go in, if you'll join me?"

"Harry Potter!" Ginny hissed. "Absolutely not! Now get your drunken arse inside." She'd seen her brothers drunk often enough to know how to deal with one pissed, randy boy.

"But..." He whined. "Hermione was kissing Ron in the Three Broomsticks. I can't see them right now."

Ginny sighed. It was as she thought. She knew Ron had never gotten over his crush on their bushy haired friend, but she was a bit surprised at this turn of events.

"Harry... just go to bed and it will all look differently in the morning. I promise."

Harry leaned forward. "You'll still be just as beautiful won't you?"

"Harry! Stop it and get inside." Ginny grabbed the crook of his arm and pulled him toward the portrait. She uttered the password Hogwarts, a History and the fat lady opened the entry with a disapproving cluck at Harry.

"Ginny!" Harry resisted. He pulled her back towards him as she stepped inside. Surprised, she fell into his arms. He laid a sloppy kiss on what he probably intended to be her lips, but ended up half on her cheek.

A gasp from inside filled Ginny's ears. "Harry!" came Hermione's voice followed by "Ginny!" from Ron.

Ginny struggled from Harry's grasp. She felt her skin crawl with his touch... she hated being held, his grip on her upper arms burned. Harry's hands fell slack as the voices of Ron and Hermione came to his ears.

He stared dumbly down at Ginny, suddenly more sober than he had been in his entire life. "I... I'm sorry Ginny!" He hung his head. "I don't know what I was thinking." "Don't worry about it Harry..." Ginny backed away from Harry her arms crossing over her chest. She could feel Ron's eyes on her, as well as Hermione's. She felt anger well up in her chest. What in the hell had he been thinking?

"Ginny?" Hermione questioned quietly. Ron wouldn't speak; he merely stared at her...

With a slow shake of her head Ginny backed away. With one last look at the three pairs of eyes glued to her she turned her head and fled from the hallway.

The stone steps flew by underneath her feet. She hadn't a location in mind but she found each level she descended growing darker and the stone damper. Gasping for breath she stood outside the Slytherin common room... or rather what she expected was the entrance to the common room.

Ginny was doubled over; catching her breath when the portal opened and a dark-haired girl stepped through, a scowl on her face. Ginny raised her head as she clasped the stitch in her side.

Millicent's eyes grew round. "The girl Weasley? What are you doing here?" She snapped.

Ginny shook her head, her eyes wild.

"Do they not teach you to speak in Gryffindor?" Millicent questioned her head tilted to the side; she'd never seen a Gryff venture down to their neck of the castle and certainly not in the state Ginny Weasley was in.

"I... I... need..." Ginny gasped for a moment, not sure how to approach this situation. Obviously this was not a well thought out plan.

"You need something..." Millicent's eyebrow quirked up. "...and why on earth would I help you?" She questioned softly.

Ginny was saved from answering by the appearance of yet another Slytherin, Blaise Zabini. Ginny groaned could this get any worse.

"Oi! Mils where you off to?" He shouted as he bounded over to where Millicent stood in the opening. He paused abruptly behind Ginny and raised an eyebrow as well. It must be a Slytherin trait, Ginny mused grumpily. "Well what do we have here? Lost?"

Millicent turned to Blaise. "Apparently she's mute as well as lost... Haven't gotten anything out of her."

Blaise smiled at Millicent. "Aren't very smart in that house are they... hopefully Wes will be the exception." Millicent's face which had tightened imperceptibly, relaxed into a grin.

"Of course he will!" She jabbed him in the shoulder, Ginny's presence forgotten for a moment.

"Given that established fact, what do we do with this one?" Blaise inclined his head toward Ginny who was attempting to peer over his shoulder into the common room.

The soft fall of footsteps on the stone floor stilled all their actions. "I think I can handle this...." A lazy drawl interrupted the moment of silence.

Blaise turned his head toward Draco and then back to Ginny, blinking several times at the expression she was valiantly trying to hold back.

"Of course... as Head Boy I'd expect no less." Blaise smoothly interjected. "Let's go Millie, I know you were going to sneak cookies up to him, I'll help." Millicent narrowed her eyes as she looked between Draco and Blaise then to Ginny. She nodded her agreement, joining Blaise down the hallway.

Ginny raised her eyes; the space between them seemed infinite and unfathomable. He watched her silently, a light of question in his silver eyes. "I don't suppose I need to say that I didn't expect to see you here?"

His voice bridged the chasm and her body found its motion. In three short steps her arms were flung around his neck and her cheek pressed into his crisp white button-down. His arms instinctively closed around her back, despite his confusion.

"What happened?" He whispered into her hair, breathing in the smell that was definitively Ginny Weasley, a mix of vanilla and warmth.

She shook her head against his chest, remaining silent. He looked around for a moment determining the best course of events. "Come on." He tucked his arms around her back and led her to a suit of armor just down from the Common room entrance. He whispered the password so low that she couldn't make out the words and the armor moved aside to grant them entrance.

Ginny had kept her face pressed to his chest as he maneuvered her toward what appeared to be his room. The door shut quietly and the crackle of the fireplace was the only sound in the room. Draco placed his hand on her other shoulder and turned her toward him.

"Now will you tell me what happened?" He stared down at her. The corners of his eyes were crinkled slightly, an expression that only occurred when he was concerned. She stared up at him for an indefinable moment, letting the mercury warmth of his eyes soothe her soul and erase the past for minutes.

She gnawed at her lower lip for a moment, as if in indecision. He watched her closely. The confusion in her eyes was slowly being replaced by something new... a look of wildness.

"Ginny?" He questioned softly.

Any response that he could have hoped for was quashed by the surprising pressure of her lips on his. Draco's eyes widened. Her lips were soft and pliant, just as he had imagined... he shook that thought from his mind ruefully and pulled back sharply, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"What are you doing?"

Ginny stared up at him and blinked several times. "I wanted to see if I would always hate it..." She murmured.

His eyes softened at the corners. He brushed a lock of hair off her forehead.

"Harry tried to kiss me tonight... he was pissed..."

Draco's eyes darkened at her words. "What the fuck did he think he was doing?"

Ginny shh'ed him and placed a finger on his lips. "He didn't realize what he was doing. It... It scared me and disgusted me. The only thing I could think of was to find you. I don't know what that means." Her eyes were solemn as she stared up at him.

He cupped her cheek with one hand. "Did you hate it?" He asked quietly.

Her eyes never left his as she shook her head. "No... No I didn't hate it."

Gray eyes melted into molten silver and his hands tightened on her shoulders. Ginny moved a step closer to him, the hems of her robes brushed against his body. "You don't scare me..." She smiled cheekily up at him, her earlier fear having disappeared.

"Ginny..." her name slipped from his lips. "Are you sure?"

She barely had time to nod in the affirmative before his lips crashed down on hers. His arms slid down from her shoulders and banded around her back as his tongue traced the seam of her lips. A soft sound of pleasure slipped from her lips as she opened her mouth.

Draco hadn't let him think about what this moment would be like or even if there would be such a moment. He would have felt the biggest cad in the world to have pushed anything of this sort. But he knew he could never have done it justice had he tried.

It was a whole new feeling. Granted she had kissed Michael Corner when they had dated, but that had been the small pecks of a young relationship... this was entirely different. It seemed to wipe every memory of those previous experiences from her mind. She was able to forget the chilling touch of his hands on her skin as the soft weight of Draco's hands on her back swept away the memories.

She pulled her head back finally, her breathing heavy. Her hand lifted up to cup his cheek and her eyes locked with his. "I'm quite sure. How about you?"

A grin curled up on one corner of his mouth. "Positive." He turned his face and kissed the palm of her hand. He instantly regretted the words, it was impossible right now. He couldn't pull her into whatever danger it was that continued to haunt him. "But... I can't."

Ginny's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?" she asked softly.

Draco was silent... he stared down at her upturned features, his expression grim. He had two choices... to lie and just say he didn't want that sort of relationship with her. It would be cruel, but she would be safe. Or... he could tell her the truth. He warred with himself for several moments. He wanted nothing else to protect her, he didn't question the desire anymore... it was what he felt and for once he wouldn't ignore the desire.

"I just can't..." He started lamely. Her warm brown eyes locked with his and he felt a plummeting sensation in his stomach. He closed his eyes, he had to protect her. "We can't be together... it wouldn't work," he finished vaguely.

Ginny's entire body stiffened. She turned to walk away. She longed for some sort of retort to spring from her lips, but nothing came to mind nor fit the situation.

He opened his eyes and immediately saw that she had moved away. A wave of regret washed through him.

"Gin!" he called out whirling to where she had begun to head off.

She spun back to him, her eyes haunted. She opened her mouth several times, finally a single word made its way past her lips. "Liar..."

Draco rapidly strode forward to where she stood still. "Yes... Yes I am." Her features flickered at his response. "There is nothing I want more," he whispered softly.

She raised her chin. "Then tell me why you just said you couldn't."

"You," his statement seemed final and served to only confuse her more. Sighing he raked a hand through his hair. He couldn't lie to her, her eyes saw all too much in him. "I don't want you to get hurt," he started slowly.

Ginny scowled up at him, her face darkening with anger. "You don't think I can protect myself do you? Do you really think so little of me?" Her emotions boiled over resulting in an eruption of the famous Weasley temper.

"No," Draco stilled her with a touch of his hand to her shoulder. "I mean that it's not over for me... there are people out there who do not approve of my actions and somehow... they know about my connection with you."

He raked a hand through his hair. "They threatened YOU." His brow had come together in anger and his eyes darkened. Ginny's expression softened at his heated response. She raised her own hand and cupped his cheek.

"It's okay... They won't hurt me." Her eyes were soft as she gazed up at him. His words meant more to her than he could possibly know. It struck a certain cord in her that she was his sole concern, that he had an overarching desire to protect her... and her alone.

She reached up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, lingering for a mere moment. "No one needs to know..." An impish grin lit her eyes as she wound her arms around his neck and her lips once again met his.

AN: I want to thank everyone who has stuck with this never-ending story especially after this hiatus that I seem to have taken from the story. It wasn't my intention, but I had a summer study abroad session in London that managed to eat up my time and access to the internet. There are only a few chapters left and I hope to get them out in a much more timely manner fingers crossed

HUGE THANKS to my beta clanmalfoy glomps her