38. Triangle

I was finally drifting off to sleep when the dormitory door opened and then shut hard, slightly harder than was completely necessary.

"Anyone awake?" I heard Dean say, loud enough to ensure that anyone was wasn't awake definitely was now.

As I sat up, two mumbled 'yeah's came from across the room. I shoved my glasses on my face, squinting as the previously pitch-black dormitory flooded with light.

"It's late," said Seamus, checking his watch and rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah," Dean replied as he began to get undressed. "I was with Ginny."

My body stiffened as he spoke, the smarmy, suggestive tone in his voice undeniable. I instantly felt not only wide awake, but also eager to grab my wand and hex Dean into next Tuesday. I just feel protective, I tried to drum into my brain. That's all.

"You're lucky Ron's not here," said Neville, glancing towards the empty bed that wasn't Dean's. Ron was still in the hospital recovering from being poisoned in Slughorn's office and – not for the first time – I found myself wishing he were well again. Then maybe he could rip Dean limb from limb, save me a job…

"Yeah," Dean replied, laughing, and the sound made my skin crawl. "I don't think he'd want to hear about it."

"Neither do we, so shut up and go to sleep," I found myself saying, trying to keep a joking tone to my voice – trying and failing, if the look on Dean's face was anything to go by.

"What's your problem?"

"Nothing. I just want to go to sleep."

"Fine."

He got into bed and a second later the room was dark again. But after several minutes, Neville's voice broke the tension-filled silence that had fallen.

"You didn't…you know…go all the way?"

I felt my fists clench under the sheets.

"No," Dean replied, his voice suggesting that his answer would be very different if it were up to him. "But we were close. Really close, believe me."

"How about you go say that to Ron, see where it gets you?" I shouted, sitting up again. She's your best mate's sister, I told myself as I tried to unfurl my still clenched fist.

"What is wrong with you, mate?"

"You shouldn't talk about girls like that." Once again, I was resisting the urge to grab my wand.

He snorted. "Who are you, my mother?"

"No, just Ginny's – "

"Ginny's what? Brother? I don't think so. Boyfriend? I really don't think so, mate."

"I'm Ginnys…friend," I replied hesitantly, realising with a pang how much I'd like to be able to put the word 'boy' before 'friend'.

"So? I can talk about what I do with my girlfriend however I damn please."

"And Ginny would be okay with that, would she?"

"Piss off, Harry."

I stuck up my middle finger and let my head fall back down onto the pillow. The room was silent again, but the voices inside my head were deafening.

She's your best mate's sister…