Short Change Hero

Chapter 27: Come With Me Now

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Here in the Black

"Here in the black there's a feeling of loss,
But it's hungry and restless (and it's),
Looking desperate for something,

Absent of mercy,
It's alive and it feels but
not a shred of compassion or love,
It comes like a pouring of evil,
It's a stain on the ground,
It's a desolate shadow of fear..."

Here in the Black by Gary Numan

Still Thursday October 31st, 1996

Just outside the Haunted corridor, quarter past ten at night

Ginny exhaled softly as she watched Harry making his way towards the Gryffindor common rooms away from everyone else after the Malfoy confrontation. Crossing her arms, she walked over towards a small table that had been set up, reached for a cup with what looked to be fire whisky inside it. Throwing back her head, she gulped the drink down to find that it was in fact fire whisky and then pursed her lips afterwards. Ginny then winced from the harsh burning while looking towards Harry's figure slowly shrinking in the distance.

'That boy needs someone to put him straight or at least have someone to talk to...' Ginny thought to herself as she took another cup and grabbed a bottle of fire whisky. Pushing past some random fourth years, she made her way towards the Gryffindor commons deciding that it was now or never, and that she really needed have a talk with Harry.

Climbing the stairs with a huff, two empty cups and a bottle in hand, she mumbled the password once she got to the entrance. With a gasp she made her way inside, where she saw Harry tearing at his dress robes, probably in order to loosen his tie. Before she had the chance to turn around, she swallowed the sudden nerves that decide now it was a good time to surface and cleared her throat.

"Hello Harry," she spoke. He abruptly turned towards her as he ran a hand through his already tousled chocolate hair and looked right at her. "So, normally after a run in with Malfoy I'd leave you to your brooding. But I couldn't bring myself to just let you be up here alone, especially tonight... So I've brought a bottle of fire whisky and incase that doesn't help, I am able to lend an ear, or two if need be."

Ginny smiled softly as she made her way over towards where he stood, setting the cups down upon the side table next to the couch. When she turned back towards Harry she noticed that he couldn't stop himself from smiling for a second before sitting down. Sitting down next to him she looked towards him as he messed with his glasses before looking at her yet again. Shaking off a sudden aching feeling she got in her head, she continued to watch him as he spoke.

"I appreciate the gesture Ginny, really," he sighed. "It's just, well it's been a pretty rough night and I could use a bit of sleep..."

"Harry," Ginny shook her head, interrupting him. "I know for a fact, that there are more than a few people that are this close to hexing you... Hermione included. Why are you shutting her out, anyway? It isn't like she asked to be partnered with Malfoy."

"It's complicated..." Harry sighed, "I'm trying to understand what Hermione's thinking- I just know that Malfoy is responsible for cursing Katie Bell and who knows what else. He's dangerous and if he's playing nice with Hermione of all people, it means he's up to something... Because someone like him doesn't just wake up one morning and decide they're no longer prejudice towards muggleborn's..."

"Harry, that still doesn't explain why you're acting like a bit of an arse towards Hermione," Ginny said. "Talk to her, she's one of your best friends. If anyone has a way to figure out what he's up to, it's her and you know it. So I say, trust her..."