𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄

Chapter 6

Chapter Six: To be Rejected

"Harry?"

Harry looked up when he heard Ginny say his name. He was sitting in the kitchens, eating the breakfast the Dobby set up just for him. However, remembering what was said the night before, he was finding that not even Dobby's magnificent pancakes could take away the sudden bitter taste in his mouth.

"What is it?"

Ginny stepped forward and took a seat next to him at the massive table, avoiding all the house-elves that were running around. "I want to apologise for last night. The way Ron and I reacted was wrong. Malfoy…he's not going to hurt any of us, and I know that. I spoke with Tonks and she said that Malfoy doesn't even have his wand…"

"I told you that, too," Harry pointed out with a grumble. He reached out for more syrup, if only to have something to do.

"I just needed extra reassurance, that's all. It's hard to believe that any of this is happening. Malfoy's You-Know-Who's most loyal, but he'd do this to him? It's insane…"

"So am I, apparently."

He was being spiteful, but it didn't bother him. Harry figured he deserved to be this cold with her, at least for another few hours.

"I was shocked, Harry. After what Malfoy did to Bill, it's a little hard to accept that he'll be so close to us."

"Malfoy didn't do that to Bill. Greyback did."

Ginny nodded her head dutifully, but reached out to grab Harry's hand when he started t play with his cutlery without actually eating anything.

"I know that you're upset with how we reacted, but please don't do this. It feels like you're choosing him over us, when all he's ever done is hurt you. We've loved you for so long, Harry. You're our family."

"I know," Harry said, looking down at where their hands were joined. "But it felt like you didn't trust me at all, Ginny. Malfoy's been to hell and back and it isn't going to get any better. He's sided with us and needs all the help he can get. I was just about to finish up here and check on him…"

"Harry, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about," Ginny interrupted suddenly, turning to face Harry completely. Something sunk in Harry's stomach as his body realised what she was going to suggest before his brain caught up. "I think we should start dating again."

"Ginny…"

"Just listen, please," she pleaded, causing Harry to stop. "With everything that's happening to Malfoy and Bill and Fleur, it makes me realise that we really should be together. Malfoy's hurting because he's never been in love before, and Bill and Fleur are getting married in just a few weeks. It just seems like everything around us is about love and breaking up with me because of the war seems…unimportant."

"The last I checked, Ginny, the war is more than important," Harry said as he retracted his hand from hers. "I don't want you to be a target because Voldemort's after me. If he's willing to do this to Malfoy, imagine what he'd do to you."

"I'm stronger than I look, and you know that."

"Voldemort killed my parents, who were both fully fledged Aurors to get to me. This isn't something that you can take so lightly. It's too dangerous."

Ginny rolled her eyes at Harry's words as if he was being too dramatic. "I'm willing to take the risk."

"Maybe I'm not."

Her eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Maybe I don't want to be with someone who's willing to be so stupid in the middle of a war. I don't want anyone else to die, and I'd rather stay focused than risk it. And besides, we're not going to spend much time together once school starts back up. You'll be studying and I'll be training and…" He stopped when he saw her shaking her head.