Ron, I'm in Love with your Sister

"Ginny, I don't think I can do this," Harry confessed as he paced across the floor in the Gryffindor common room. He was feeling very nervous and very nauseous; he was going to tell his best friend Ron, that he was in love with his sister, Ginny.

Ginny watched as Harry paced back and forth, "Harry, you can do this, just tell him," she said, in hopes of getting her boyfriend to stop his pacing.

Ginny knew why Harry was scared of telling Ron. He was, of all her brothers, the most protective of her. Her first boyfriend Michael, Ron thought he was a git. Then there was Dean, who treated her horribly, they were always fighting and it would end with Ginny in tears. Ron scared away any other potential boyfriends.

How would he react if his own best friend was in love with his sister and asked her to be his girlfriend?

Hermione came down the stairs and looked over at Ginny and the nervous wreck that was Harry.

"Harry, you have known Ron for how long? Six years? I think he would be more understanding if it was you. He knows you well and knows, or should, that you would treat her well," Hermione assured her best friend.

Hermione and Ginny watched as Harry's face turned green, an alarming shade of green.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Ginny asked, walking over to where Harry was standing.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up," Harry warned as he pressed a hand to his stomach, feeling it churn under his hand.

Ginny watched as Harry slapped a hand over his mouth and ran towards the bathroom. She got up and followed. She found him in a stall, sitting on the floor in front of the toilet and leaning against the door.

"I can't do this, my stomach feels like it's going to come up," Harry admitted, ashamed that he couldn't face his best friend and tell him that he was dating his sister. Ginny knew Harry had every right to be nervous, but at this rate, he'll be in the hospital wing.

"Come on, let's get it over with. You'll feel better afterwards," Ginny said, helping him up from the floor. Harry looked up at her with a scared expression on his face as he let Ginny help him up

"Unless he beats me up afterwards," Harry deadpanned.

Dejectedly, Harry followed Ginny down the stairs and back to the common room where they met Hermione. Together they made their way to the Great Hall. Harry felt butterflies in his stomach, at the same time, he felt like he was going to throw up again. Ginny squeezed his hand, reassuring him that he can do this.

Hermione watched as Harry sat down, one foot on one side of the bench, the other on the outside of the bench, ready to run if he needed to.

He instantly went pale when he saw Ron enter the Great Hall. The closer, Ron got to him, Ginny, and Hermione, the more nervous Harry felt.

Neville leaned over and whispered, "Alright Harry?"

Harry shrugged and replied, "I'll let you know."

Ron sat down next to Hermione and greeted her with a "Good morning beautiful" and then greeted his sister. He then looked over at Harry, noticing that he looked pale.

"Are you okay, Mate?" he asked.

Harry looked at Ginny, asking silently what he did now. She gave him, an assuring smile and a squeezed his hand.

Harry took a deep breath, as much of one he could without throwing up.

"Um, Ron," he began. Ron looked over his best friend, wondering what he was about to tell him. "I have something to tell you."

"Okay," Ron said, slowly thinking what Harry needed to tell him. Harry had Ron's full attention. Another reassuring smile from Ginny and Hermione, Harry took a second deep breath.

"Remember when I told you that there's this girl that I like, and that I think I'm in love with her?" When Harry paused, Ron nodded.

"Well, Ron…I'm in….." Harry decided to bite the bullet and tell him. "Ron I'm in love with your sister." Harry watched Ron's face. He let his thoughts run wild. "Is he mad? Is he angry? Would he tell the others? Oh Godric, the others…I'm a dead man".

Ginny broke the silence when she said, "Ron, please say something?"

Ron looked at his sister and then to his best friend.

Harry slowly got up because he had a feeling he needed to run. Without hearing Ron's response, Harry took off running out of the Great Hall. Where was he going to go? He didn't know where, but somewhere where Ron couldn't find him.

Harry chanced a look behind him and seen Ron right behind him.

"Harry…HARRY JAMES POTTER STOP RUNNING!" Ron called.

Harry stopped, ready to protect himself, Ron stopped in front of him. They both were panting breathing hard, from the running they had done.

"Harry…. You didn't, "Ron panted. He paused to catch his breath before he continued. "You didn't give me a chance to say anything. Did you really think that I'd be mad at you for dating Ginny? I couldn't have picked a better guy for her."

Harry let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks Ron," he breathed.

They were walking back to the Great Hall to have their breakfast when Ron stopped, realizing there was something he wanted to warn his best friend.

"You may want to avoid Dean for a while," Ron advised.

Harry was puzzled. Ginny had told him she had broken up with him. "Ginny broke up with him, didn't she?" he asked.

"Yes, she did," Ron confirmed. "But he claims to still love her and he wants her back."

Harry and Ron returned to the Great Hall, at a beaming Ginny.

"I told you would make it out alive," she said, smiling. Harry just laughed.

Harry and Ginny were starting their conversation when a cough from Ron's direction interrupted them.

He motioned toward the end of the table were a murderous looking Dean was. Ginny pulled Harry's head to her he was face to face with her.

"Don't worry about him, he's not worth it," she whispered.

Ron and Harry looked at each other, brows raised.

A few minutes later they were leaving for classes. Harry leaned over and kissed Ginny "See you at lunch?" he asked. Ginny nodded and kissed him again.

It was going to be a good day…or was it?

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Ginny was walking down the hall when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her…it wasn't Harry's. His were stronger

"DEAN!" She screamed.

"Hey baby, what's wrong?" Dean asked.

Ginny made for her wand. "You don't call me that! We broke up! I don't want you anymore! I never loved you!"

Dean tightened his grip on her waist. "I'm more of a man than Potter is, you'll end up hurt," he said, making Ginny's blood boil.

Ginny glared at him. She growled at him, "Harry is a better man than you ever will be. He will protect me; he's provided more protection than you!"

Dean pulled her close, almost to kiss her….until….

"I will give you five seconds to let go of her," a pleasant voice said from behind them.

Ginny never was so glad to hear Harry's voice. Dean obeyed and Ginny launched herself into Harry's awaiting arms.

Harry looked at Ginny, who was shaking "You okay?" Ginny nodded.

Harry turned his attention to Dean. "Keep in mind that not only does she have me, but six overprotective brothers. Keep that in mind next time."

Dean looked like he wanted to kill someone.

Ginny allowed Harry to lead her away from Dean, but she was too shaken up to walk. Harry stopped and picked her and carried her bridal, style and they walked to Gryffindor tower.

"You know Harry; I was thinking we'd do this after the wedding," Ginny said, jokingly.

Harry nearly dropped her, but was able to keep his grip on her. "Well milady, I'll see that we repeat this when the time comes," Harry said, the only thing that can to mind when Ginny said that.

They passed some third and fourth years on their way, awing over the sweetness that was the couple walking towards their house common room. Some of Ginny's friends appeared from one of the halls. They awed at the sight that they knew Ginny had dreamed about.

"What is it girls making that aw sound?" Harry asked himself. He concluded that he was never going to understand women. That is except for the one in his arms at that moment.

"It's James and Lily all over again," said the Fat Lady, as Ginny gave her the password.

Once they went inside Harry sat Ginny down.

"Harry?"

Ginny turned in unison with Harry and seen her brother coming down the stairs from the boy's dorm. "Did you carry Ginny all the way here?" he asked.

Hermione and Ron settled on the couch as Ginny explained what happened. When she was finished, Hermione awed. Ginny laughed at Harry's face when Hermione awed.

Ron decided it was time to call in the brothers and Ginny agreed. Her reason was she wanted to be able to walk the halls and not worry if and when Dean would turn up. Not only that, but she was concerned for Harry.

"Don't worry about me, babe. I can take care of myself," Harry said.

This made Ginny calm, but didn't fully take away her concern.

Ron left to write the letters to the brothers, while Ginny filled in Hermione on the damsel in distress scene while Harry listened. Hermione didn't know Harry could be romantic.

It was in that moment that she realized just how much Harry loved Ginny.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

It was after dinner and Ron had sent the letters off to his brothers asking for help with Dean and tell them about Ginny and Harry. He should be getting a reply either in the morning or evening post the next day. Ginny decided to write her mom to let her know about her and Harry. She also included that Harry would be joining them for the holidays.

She was waiting for Harry to return from Dumbledore's office and his lesson with the headmaster.

"Shouldn't he be back by now?" she asked out loud. Hermione and Ron looked at each other. Harry would be gone for an hour to two hours at a time when he met with Professor Dumbledore. But it was approaching three hours. These lessons never lasted this long.

When the fourth hour approached and no sign of Harry, Ron and Neville decided to go and look for him, figuring that something had happened.

Hermione had a feeling that something was wrong. Glancing around the common room and was alarmed when she discovered that someone was missing.

"Um, Ginny…. Where's Dean?" She asked, slowly. Ginny shot up from the couch and ran up the boy's dorm and burst into the six year's door.

Seamus was the only in there. He jumped when Ginny barged in.

"Where's Dean?" She demanded. Seamus stammered out a reply, telling Ginny that the last he had seen of him was at dinner.

Hermione had followed Ginny up the stairs when she rushed up the stairs. She watched as Ginny whirled around and her expression changed to one of anger. Hermione followed her line of vision and noticed that Dean had entered the dorm.

Ginny charged at him and growled, quite literally, "What did you do to Harry?"

"I didn't do anything with your precious Harry," Dean replied, angrily.

Hermione led Ginny out of the sixth year boys' dorm. She was about to cry when she heard Neville frantically calling her name.

Hermione and Ginny glanced at each other before they flew down the stairs and met Neville at the foot of the stairs. The look on his face was that of horror.

"Neville, what happened?" Ginny asked, slowly.

Neville swallowed thickly, hating that he had to be the one to tell her. "We found him Ginny, but he looked beat up."

Ginny's blood went cold. She realized Dean had lied to her.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Harry was walking back to the Gryffindor common room, after his lesson with Professor Dumbledore. The headmaster had concluded that they needed to get a memory from Slughorn.

"How am I supposed to that? Do I go up Professor Slughorn and say 'Hello Professor, just wondering, do you have any interesting memories that would tell us something on Tom Riddle?' Harry snorted. "That would work well," he muttered sarcastically.

Harry was almost back to the Gryffindor tower when he felt himself being pulled into an empty classroom. He was stunned and then his hands and feet were tied together and he was hanging upside down.

He heard a "Lumos" and Dean came into the light.

"What do you want Dean?" Harry asked, trying to free himself.

Dean chuckled, evilly. "Oh, just a little revenge."

Harry gulped, suddenly feeling the fear fill him.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Ron and Neville were walking down the hall, looking for Harry. They had passed Dean on the way, looking suspicious. Ron suddenly knew what happened.

Dean was already out of sight and Ron followed the trail back to where he came with Neville following him closely. Ron rushed into the first classroom, he came into and found Harry lying on the floor.

Getting his wand, Ron whispered, "Lumos" and he wanted to beat Dean to a bloody pulp. Harry lay in the corner of the classroom, bruised and battered. He moaned in pain which made Ron's blood boil all the more.

"Harry, are you okay?" he asked, softly. He moaned response.

Between Neville and Ron they helped Harry up from the floor and started to lead him back to Gryffindor tower. Once Ron had a good grip on Harry, Neville ran ahead, hoping to give Ginny a fair warning.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Ginny couldn't help the gasp that escaped her mouth when Ron came in with Harry. Even thought Neville had told Ginny what happened, nothing prepared her for what she saw when Ron brought Harry back to the common room.

"Let's get him upstairs," Ginny said, leading her brother and boyfriend up to the sixth year boys dorm.

She helped Harry lay down on his bed and Ron said that he was going to help Hermione take Dean, who Hermione had stunned when Dean returned to the common room.

Now alone, Ginny took over. She noticed he had a black eye, a bruise on his cheek, and a busted lip. She collected the balm for the bruises and black eye and waved her wand over his busted lip. As she applied the paste, she noticed Harry wincing in pain every so often.

"What hurts, sweetie?"

Harry motioned to his stomach. Ginny pulled up his shirt and had to hold back a gasp. Harry's stomach looked bruised. To check for internal damage, Ginny used a diagnostic spell on his abdomen.

Hermione came up to check and see if Ginny needed anything from the hospital wing or to get Madam Pomfrey.

"Is anything broken?" She asked. She felt relieved when Ginny shook her head.

"Ron's keeping on an eye on Dean. I'm going to get Professor McGonagall and tell her what happened."

Ginny was left alone with Harry. She felt guilty and this happened because of her.

"I feel like this is my fault," Ginny said, softly as she sat down on Harry's bed. She didn't realize that Harry had heard her.

Harry took her hand and squeezed it gently. "It's not, Gin. It's not your fault."

Ginny looked down and her brown eyes met with Harry's green eyes. "What did he do?" She asked.

"He said something about wanting revenge." Harry went on to explain what happened and what exactly Dean did.

Ginny hesitantly touched a bruise on Harry's stomach. "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, nodding.

Ginny started to apply the bruise balm to Harry's stomach.

For a second Harry had braced himself as he knew that some balms, pastes, or creams would do. He wondered if it would burn or sting.

A cooling sensation was his answer.

"That feels better" Harry sighed.

"I'm glad," Ginny murmured as she finished applying the balm. She checked Harry's abdomen for more bruises and applied some balm to any she found. When she finished, she applied an ice pack to help with the pain.

She tapped her wand on the ice pack to just cool the area and not be so cold that it would stick to Harry's skin.

"I'm back," Hermione announced as she came back. She handed Ginny a pain potion. "I figured Harry would need one. Professor Dumbledore viewed Dean's memories and when he and Professor McGonagall emerged from the Pensieve, she was livid and Professor Dumbledore didn't have a twinkle in his eye. He said that he was moving Dean to the seventh year boy's dorm and is suspended for two weeks."

"Good," Ginny said. "He deserved more than that, though," she whispered. Dean could have easily hit Harry in the head in a particular spot or one wrong punch to the neck….Ginny couldn't let herself go there.

Dean could have killed Harry. Too easily.

"He wants to talk to Harry in the morning," Hermione said, noticing that Harry fell asleep.

Professor McGonagall came up and checked on Harry. She told Ginny that she would award her twenty points to Gryffindor for aiding a Gryffindor in need, in lame man's terms she was giving the points to Ginny for taking care of Harry.

"I'm going to stay up here with him in case he needs me in the night.

"That's fine, good night ladies."

Ginny waited until Ron came up and changed for bed before she left and changed for bed in her dorm. A few of her friends had asked her if Harry was okay and she assured them that he was fine now.

She returned to the sixth year boys' dorm and seen that Ron had conjured a cot for Ginny beside Harry's bed.

"Thanks, Ron," she whispered. She did not want to wake up Harry.

"You're welcome, sis. Good night."

Ginny went to sleep that night, thankful that Harry was okay and that he wasn't more seriously hurt.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The next morning Harry woke up with a sore stomach. He found a pain potion for him on his nightstand with a note from Ginny to take it after he had eaten the banana. Harry ate half of the banana and then took the pain potion. After waiting to see if the potion would work, he got up and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower and dressed for the day.

Once dressed, he headed down to the common room where Ginny was waiting on him. After greeting each other and kissing each other good morning, Ginny told Harry about the meeting with Professor Dumbledore.

"After breakfast we need to go to Dumbledore's office," she said.

They headed down to the Great Hall and much to Harry and Ginny's relief, word hadn't got out about Dean beating up Harry, yet. They ate breakfast quickly and headed to Professor Dumbledore's office.

Harry spent an hour, explaining what had happened the night before. Professor Dumbledore confirmed what Hermione had told them the night before regarding what they decided to do regarding Dean.

As it was a Saturday, meaning no classes, Harry was slightly confused as to why Ginny was leading him to a classroom. When he walked in he saw why.

In an empty classroom were four Weasley brothers, who were waiting for them.

Bill was the first one to speak. "Harry, Ginny, how are you?"

They answered fine at the same time, making Fred and George chuckle. Ginny moved to a corner of the classroom, as she told her brothers the only way they would interrogate Harry was if she was present. As always, Ginny got her way.

"So, you're dating our sister?" Charlie asked, beginning the questioning.

"Yes, I love your sister, very much." There was a slight pause to gage their reaction. He already told Ginny he loved her, but it was different to tell someone else, especially Ginny's brothers. "She's been a good friend to me and I noticed I started to see more than a friend. I realized I'm in love with her. She makes me feel cared for and well, loved."

George and Fred looked at each other, knowingly. They knew Harry was never shown love or that someone cared about him. That is until their mother. A woman who made him a sweater and had only met him once. He didn't have the heart to tell her that it was the first Christmas present, he ever got, and that he still had it. Molly had taken Harry in, fed him, and gave him a mother's love. Ginny provided more than that.

With Ginny, Harry felt he was loved and cared for. The exact opposite of what his relatives had told him his whole life.

"Who would love a freak like you?"

Ginny and her family, along with Hermione and Remus, proved them wrong

"Will you protect her?" Bill asked. "I know she can take care of herself, but will you protect her?"

"I will, even if it means harm comes to me," Harry answered. Ginny wished it didn't come to that.

"Will you take good care of her?" Charlie asked.

"I promise. She deserves the world and I hope I can give that to her." He glanced back to Ginny, who smiled at him encouragingly, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

Bill and Charlie glanced at each other, having a silent conversation between looks. This was more to give Bill and Charlie a chance to get to know Harry and to scare Dean from ever touching Ginny again.

"We couldn't have picked a better guy for our sister, Harry. Just be good to her.

"I promise I will," Harry assured the older Weasley boys. Bill and Charlie nodded, accepting the answered and left the room, not before patting Harry's shoulder and hugging their sister with a promise of letter next week.

Fred and George were left and before they followed their brothers, they approached Harry.

"Just so you Harry….." Fred started, speaking in twin speak, where he and George finished each other's sentences.

"…..Take care of our sister….."

"…And if you hurt her…"

"We'll hurt you," they said in unison.

When they were alone, Ginny took Harry's hand and whispered, "Let's go out flying, it's a beautiful day out."

Harry led Ginny drag him outside and to the Quidditch where he and Ginny mounted their brooms and flew together, side by side.

From a window at the castle, Professor McGonagall smiled at the scene before her, remembering a similar one, many years ago of a boy with messy black hair and a red headed girl.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Later that night, Harry laid in his bed thinking about how lucky he was. He was alive after surviving the interrogation of the Weasley brothers and he and Ginny were dating for a few weeks and everyone knew, including Ron and more importantly, he had Ron's blessing.

Could life get any better?

"Harry?" Ginny's voice broke his thoughts. He turned over on his side to face her.

"What's wrong, baby?" Harry asked.

"I just wanted to say good night," she said, leaning over to kiss him. Harry met her halfway and his lips met hers. They kissed a few times before Ron came in the dorm, coming from the bathroom.

"As much as I don't mind you two dating and kissing, I don't need that image in my head before I go to sleep."

Ginny kissed Harry one more time and said, "Good night Harry."

This time, Harry leaned over and kissed her one more time. "Good night, Gin," he said, using her nickname he came up with.

Ginny climbed down Harry's bed and pulled the covers up to Harry, so he can cover himself with the duvet.

"I love you," she said, softly.

"I love you too," Harry replied and kissed her once more before she headed to the door of the boys' dorm.

"Good night Ron," she said over her shoulder.

"Good night, Ginny," he said, as he settled into his bed. He looked over his best friend, noticing how happy he looked.

"Good night, Harry," Ron said to his best friend, as he settled in his bed.

"Ron, I'm in love with your sister," Harry murmured.

"I know, Harry," Ron chuckled.

"Good night, Ron."

Harry laid down in his bed, falling asleep when his head hit the pillow. He dreamed of a life with Ginny, with a couple of kids and a black shaggy dog. The biggest hurdle Harry had faced, thus far, was telling Ron, "I'm in love with your sister."