Fire and Ice

Catching Up

After many hugs, knowing looks and a couple more tears, Ginny walked away from Parvati and drifted towards Harry and Hermione, who were in deep conversation.

"...But who could it be-"

"-Harry, just leave it-"

"-Hermione, I know for- Ginny!"

"Oh, hi Ginny!"

"Hey, you two. Long time, eh?"

Hermione laughed. "You've been asleep for a week, Ginny. That's a long time!"

"Wow," Ginny said, "it is. I must've missed out on loads...?"

Harry shook his head. "You really haven't. Malfoy Senior and his little pals are off to where they belong, I'm guessing Ron has told you?"

"Yeah..." Ginny said brightly, voice shaking slightly.

"You're not happy about it." Harry stated. Hermione frowned.

Even to this day, Ginny was still suprised at how well Harry could read her. Even though they were no longer dating, Harry always knew what she was feeling, what she was thinking. To avoid replying, Ginny looked at their surroundings. In the Great Hall, students had already begun standing up and leaving their plates as they headed back to class. Seeing as Ginny had just awoken from a week-long sleep, she was told that it wasn't mandatory for her to go to lessons for one day. Ginny hid a grin as she watced a scond-year Hufflepuff trip over his own feet.

"Ginny."

"What?" Ginny said, momentarily diverted as she watched the clumsy student scramble back up.

"Azkaban, remember?"

"Oh!" She started. She noticed Harry staring at her very carefully, and chose to ignore it. "I just wouldn't wish that fate on anybody. Anybody. It just seems a bit harsh."

Seeing Hermione's disbelieving expression and Harry's shrewd one, Ginny could tell that they weren't buying her story. But she wasn't about to say that she was worried about her Slytherin boyfriend having his father locked away.

"Ginny," Hermione said slowly, "those Death Eater's were sent to KILL you. They Imperiused Evenry Valance to try and set you on fire, and make you fall off your broom during the Quidditch match. Heck, Lucius Malfoy DID kill you, but thankfully you're alive-"

"Thanks to you, Hermione," Ginny interrupted, smiling at her bushy-haired friend. She was thankful, but mostly just wanted Hermione to stop talking.

A soft blush crept on Hermione's face as she bristled. "No no, not me, thank Dumbledore, he's the one who spent months teaching me it- ouch!" She cried in annoyance. Ginny assumed that Harry stomped on her foot. Hermione's eyes widened as she realised what she'd said.

"Dumbledore spent MONTHS? You all knew this was going to happen? What, was there a fucking prophecy to go with this as well-"

"Ginny," Harry interrupted, looking mildly irritated. "Of course we knew some things, how else would we have beat by them?"

Breathing lightly, Ginny nodded.

"Harry, Care of Magical Creatures. Hey Hermione." a voice said behing Ginny. The hand of the voice tugged Ginny's two braids, not unkindly.

"Coming, Ron," Harry replied, getting his bag. He turned to face the two girls. "See you, 'Mione. Good to have you back, Ginny."

The two boys left.

"Why wasn't Ron sitting with the two of you?" Ginny asked suddenly. Hermione scratched her head.

"Because... Harry said some things, about you, and Malfoy, and it got on Ron's nerves. They had a tiny argument, but as you can see, they're fine now."

Ginny craned her neck to watch the two boys walk towards the Great Hall entrance. They were tallking normally, though Ginny could detect a certain hardness in Ron's freckly expression.

"Hmmm." Ginny murmured.

"So," Hermione said, raising her eyebrows. "Are you going to explain yourself, or what?"