Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Sixty-eight: Smelly Frogs

Chapter 68: Smelly Frogs

After breakfast, Harry and Ginny walked to Charms class together.

"Oh, look, they're already here. They must have skipped breakfast," Harry said to Ginny. They'd been wondering where Ron and Hermione were.

Draco was sitting toward the back of the room, which was unusual for him. When Ginny and Harry walked in, Draco stood up.

"Ginny, may I have a word with you?" he asked, striding forward. He stepped between her and Harry, forcing them to let go of each other's hands. This annoyed Harry, but rather than interfere, he simply waited to see what she'd say to him.

"What is it?" she asked. She sounded kind, if a little impatient, which surprised Harry.

"Potter, will you leave us? I doubt Ginny would want you to hear what I have to say to her." Harry didn't think he'd ever heard him use such a polite tone. At least, not with him.

"Er," Harry said, looking to Ginny to see what she wanted him to do. To his dismay, she nodded.

"I'm sure it'll only be a minute. I think my dear brother wants to talk to you anyway," she said, lifting her chin in a gesture towards Ron, who was walking toward Harry.

"Alright," Harry said, reluctantly turning away as Ginny and Draco stepped out into the hallway.

***

"Please think of what you're doing," Draco said, holding onto Ginny's arm out of force of habit. She shook his hold off.

"I'm fine. Everything's fine."

"You're back with Harry then? Already?"

"You have a problem with that?"

"Do you know what the magical power of a life debt is?"

"Are you saying that you want to make sure I don't kill Harry out of some worry for your own life?" Ginny said, shaking her head.

Draco only stared at her for a moment. "Aren't you worried that you might kill him? It only takes two seconds for you to lapse."

"I went to his room last night but I was able to snap out of it."

"But lately, you've been losing time. Do you remember getting there?"

"Well..."

"You're being reckless. I thought you loved him? Is this the way you treat someone you love?" Draco said, grabbing hold of her shoulder.

"People are sitting down," Ginny said. "I think class is starting."

"You must tell him. I'll give you until the end of the day. I have no wish to burden you any further than you already are, but you must think of the potential consequences. If you don't tell him soon, I will tell him."

"Alright, fine. Just give me a chance. I meant to tell him last night, but... well..."

"I understand. You don't need to elaborate," he said, leading her back into the classroom while still holding onto her shoulder.

***

"Hi," Ron said, smiling at Harry.

"Hi," Harry said, half-smiling at Ron. Why was he smiling like that? Unless... "So did you forgive Hermione?" He peered around Ron and saw that Hermione was alone, sitting back in her chair with her legs crossed, a book propped up. She looked at ease.

"Yeah," Ron said. "Yeah, we more than made up. Wedding's back on."

"That's great," Harry said, smiling because Ron was smiling.