Well of Shadows
Sleeping Arrangements
By Ruskbyte
Chapter Nine
~ Sleeping Arrangements ~
Harry slowly drifted to consciousness, reluctantly letting the veil of sleep fall away from him as he returned to the waking world. His lack of enthusiasm was primarily rooted in the fact that he had
been having a very pleasant dream involving himself, a naked Ginny and a large carton of peanut-butter and strawberry flavoured ice-cream.
He had just been getting to the interesting bits, both of the dream and the ice-cream covered Ginny, when he became aware of a weight resting on his left arm.
Though his eyes remained shut he smiled at the realization that he was lying with Ginny curled up in his arms. His thoughts and memories were still fuzzy, but the warmth of her body pressed against him negated any need to think clearly, he felt. Instead of worrying about the all too real likelihood of being discovered sharing a bed with Ginny at Hogwarts, Harry simply lay in the bed and luxuriated in the sensations that were beginning to seep into his mind.
His right arm was draped over Ginny's waist and had somehow during the night slipped inside her negligee allowing his hand to rest on her bare stomach. He could feel her back and the curves of her rear and thighs pressing along the length of his body. His left arm was curled underneath her, supporting the weight of her head which had brought about his slow awakening.
Memories of his highly entertaining, not to mention erotic, dream began to come back to him. Though no ice-cream was present, peanut-butter and strawberry flavoured or not, a lascivious smile came to him. Why not make his dream a pleasurable reality? Lying there with Ginny cuddled up against him, Harry decided to gently rouse her in a manner he knew, from prior experience over the summer, she would appreciate.
Keeping his eyes closed, Harry slowly began to move his right hand across the silky plains of Ginny's stomach. Breathing in deeply as he cautiously shifted closer to her, Harry could smell the faint scent of apples from her hair. In that abstract manner of drowsy half-wakefulness, he briefly noticed that she must have changed her shampoo.
As he gently tickled the fingers of his hand around her navel, earning soft giggles of enjoyment from Ginny that bolstered his amorous desires, Harry leaned his head in and adoringly nuzzled at her neck. Ginny wiggled about, murmuring quietly, the hand caressing her belly paused as he decided in which direction to proceed.
He blew softly on Ginny's neck, both to stimulate her and remove the stray wisp of curly hair that was tickling his nose. She shivered slightly at his breath and Harry began to ever so slowly let his hand wind its way down. The tips of his fingers were only just brushing against her sleek skin, leisurely dipping fractionally lower with each sway of his wrist.
Hmm... curly, Harry's somnolent mind managed to think. His hand's movements began to slow as his thoughts followed this observation, No. Not curly. Bushy.
Harry froze so still --every single muscle he possessed becoming fixed as stone-- that he could almost have passed for having been petrified by a Basilisk.
Oh dear.
His sudden and total shock, which doused his ardour as effectively as an arctic shower, was further compounded when the bed shifted behind him, indicating the presence of a third person. A slender, clearly feminine arm snaked its way around his waist and a pair of long and silken legs became entwined with his from behind.
The arm curled around his waist was bent at the elbow, so her hand was resting on his naked chest. Her breasts were pressing against his back as she snuggled up to him. Harry could feel her head resting behind his on the pillow and he could detect the familiar fragrance of cherry. There was a warm, tickling sensation on the back of his neck every time she breathed.
I'm going to die of a heart attack, he thought desperately. Either that or Ginny's going to kill me.
Far too apprehensive to even consider opening his eyes to see who is was he was embracing, Harry lay completely motionless between the two women. Licking his lips nervously Harry decided, since it was apparent that he was well and truly trapped, to brave capturing Ginny's sleepy attention.
Gin? he asked, holding his breath as he awaited her reply. The hand at his chest began circling in slow, languid strokes.
~Hhmmmn~ came a sleepy response.
Are you awake?
Ginny replied, ~Mm-hmm.~
The legs entwined with his own were rubbing against his, the silky-smoothness of her bare thighs stroking against him as warmly as any lover’s caress. Wanting to confirm his suspicions as to just who it was behind him that was teasing him so, Harry enquired, Are you behind me?
~Uh-huh~ Behind him, Harry could feel Ginny nodding her head fractionally.
Swallowing nervously he asked the question that was preying very heavily on his mind at the moment. He was slightly, more than slightly to be honest, nervous as to how Ginny would react but he managed to ask, Then who's the half-naked girl in front of me?
"WHAT?!"
.oOo.
- The Previous Evening -
Harry was looking forward to a good night's sleep. No offence to Madam Pomfrey and her work, but the beds in the Hospital Wing left much to be desired. Primarily, Harry felt, they needed the addition of certain nubile, young redhead he had become rather fond of. Yes, the beds in the infirmary would be much more hospitable with a Ginny resting in each of them.
It had been an exquisite torture the previous night, having to sleep with Ginny so near to him but unable to cross the short gap separating their beds.
Suffice it to say the previous night had not provided much in the way of good sleep. Of course, Harry and Ginny had both been worn out so they had managed to get several hours of shuteye in, even though it had hardly been restful for them. Sleeping in separate beds, even only a yard or two apart, was not something either of them was used to anymore.
"Good 't have you back with us, Harry," Seamus said as they readied themselves for bed.
"Yeah," agreed Dean, from behind his drawn curtains. "It was too empty in here with only Seamus, Neville and me."
Harry smiled as he pulled on his pyjama top. "Thanks, mates. After four nights in the Hospital Wing, it's great to be back."
Tonight though, tonight, Harry knew he would be getting a restful sleep. After all, he could not have anything less with Ginny beside him. He had spoken to Dumbledore after dinner, allegedly to discuss the repairs and renovations for the ruined Practical Fighting Techniques auditorium. Towards the end of the conversation Harry had tentatively broached, once again, the subject of him and Ginny possibly sharing a bed.
Surprisingly the headmaster had readily agreed to it, although he had cautioned both of them to be as discreet as possible. That had of course gone without saying, although his grandfatherly entreaty to also be careful about the possible consequences had managed to bring a bright blush to both their faces.
"G'night, Harry," called Neville, already sounding sleepy. Dean and Seamus followed close on the heels of his words and after Harry returned their goodnights, the Gryffindor boys settled down for the night.
Harry lay back on his bed and silently counting off the minutes as he waited. Using his wand for some light he checked the wizard wristwatch Ginny had given him the previous Christmas and saw that it had been nearly a quarter of an hour. Silently stretching out with his senses Harry confirmed that his three roommates were sleeping quietly in their beds.
Ginny? It's clear.
~I'm climbing the stairs now~ came a quick response. As the thought came to him, Harry felt the warm glow Ginny radiated. He had surreptitiously placed a Silencing Charm on the dormitory door earlier, as well as a Muffling Charm on the floor. Added to the multitude of Silencing Charms already in place around his bed, not even the faintest of sounds reached his ears as Ginny crept into the room.
Silent as the night the drapes to his bed parted and a shadowy figure slipped inside. The light from his wand illuminated Ginny's fiery red hair and the dark blue satin nightdress she was wearing. Harry reached out a hand and gently pulled her down to him, half on top of him on the bedside.
~This would be a lot easier if we had your invisibility cloak~ she mentioned, lovingly planting a kiss on the tip of his nose.
Sirius borrowed it, remember? he replied, returning her kiss with one to the cheek. He smiled at her in the dimness. At least we don't have to worry about anybody overhearing us.
Ginny nodded and proceeded to kiss him fervently on the lips, using her hands to grasp his head close against her. Harry's arms were wrapped around her waist and he slid one hand up to press between her shoulders as his other slipped down to cup her rear as he held her tight. She gasped into his mouth and pulled back, breaking their kiss, looking at him with her eyes bright and full of desire.
~It's still early~ she noted suggestively, releasing one hand from behind his head and trailing it down his neck and along his collarbone. She began pulling playfully at the buttons to his pyjama top, deftly slipping them from their holes, baring his chest to her further ministrations.
Why, Miss Weasley, Harry thought, leaning in to trace a path of kisses along her neck. He gently nuzzled against her, relishing in the contact, as she slipped the shirt from his shoulders. In a smooth motion he shrugged the top off, releasing his hands for the act, but returning them immediately to her sides. I thought we told Dumbledore that we'd be discreet.
Ginny grinned impishly, repressing a soft moan of delight as his hands slid up to caress her back and shoulders through the thin fabric of her nightdress. She playfully nipped at his ear. ~We have plenty of Silencing Charms up and around your bed...~
Ordinarily it would have been extremely difficult for somebody to sneak up on the couple, as their connection with the Order of the Phoenix would allow them to perceive the approaching magic early on. At the moment, however, Harry and Ginny were otherwise too preoccupied to be paying any attention to the magic surrounding them. Thus they almost jumped out of their skins when the curtains surrounding Harry's bed were unexpectedly pulled aside.
"Harry?"
The voice came in a hushed, not to mention surprised, whisper. Harry and Ginny, who had jumped apart as if struck by a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky, stared up at the embarrassment flushed face of Hermione.
~I don't care if she's my brother's girlfriend~ he heard Ginny thinking, ~I'm still going to kill her for interrupting us.~
Wait, Gin, wait, he cautioned, look at her face.
Hermione was standing there, dressed in a simple pastel negligee, staring at the young lovers with a look of acute astonishment and awkwardness firmly in place. However, upon looking more closely, it became apparent that there was something more bothering her. Hermione's eyes were rimmed with red, showing that she had been crying recently and her bottom lip was trembling almost imperceptibly.
"Ginny?" she asked, her left hand clutching the curtains, "what are you doing here? I didn't know Dumbledore had agreed to let the two of you sleep together yet."
"It's... provisional at the moment, Hermione," explained Ginny, picking up on the other girl's distress and sitting up straighter. She patted on the bed between her and Harry, motioning for Hermione to sit down.
A small sob escaped from Hermione's quivering lips as she dropped heavily onto the bed. Harry shifted until he was almost right up against her and slipped his arm around her shoulders. He shared a worried look with Ginny behind Hermione's back and then turned to ask, "What's the matter, Hermione? Is something wrong?"
Wordlessly Hermione handed him a crumpled piece of paper she had been holding in her right hand, her movements slow and deliberate, but still unsteady. As Harry took the paper from her, noting that it was Muggle paper instead of proper parchment, she began to weep softly. Tears streamed down her face and Ginny squeezed close and slipped her one arm around Hermione's waist, taking hold of her left arm with the other. His apprehension building, Harry uncrumpled the sheet of paper and began to read.
Dearest Hermione,
This has been a very hard letter for us to write, but we feel, as your parents, that we must do this. It would be in your best interests if you were to leave Hogwarts. --Harry literally felt his heart skip a beat when he read this--We know how much you have enjoyed your time there, but we're talking about your safety now, Hermione.
You have always told us, and everything we've heard and read seemed to back it up, that Hogwarts School is considered the safest place in the magical world. We know that Professor Dumbledore is widely renowned as the greatest wizard of modern times, as that Professor McGonagall told us, and we know that your friend Harry is supposedly just as great, if not more so. But surely now, after this disaster, you must see that this is all wrong and you are indeed at risk there.
Hermione, you've been hurt, and even the wizarding world cannot help you, from what the letter we received from the school nurse said. We simply do not feel that you are safe there. We want you home. We know that you are a witch, and we're very proud of what you have accomplished over the years. We also understand that you won't want to leave your other friend, the one who was so badly injured with you, and no doubt wish to remain at his side. But we want to have you here with us, where we know that you will be safe and sound.
Do not think, even for a moment, that we are doing this to punish you in any way, Hermione. We love you more than anything in the whole world. This was not an easy decision for us to make and we hope that someday you will see that we are correct in our actions.
We have sent a formal letter to the school’s headmaster, informing him of our intention to withdraw you from the school upon the start of the Christmas holidays. We hope that this will give you enough time to tidy up your affairs there and say goodbye to all your friends and schoolmates before you leave.
Perhaps, with some luck, if the situation in the wizarding world improves before long, we will consider reapplying you in a couple of years, once everything has died down.
All our love,
Mum & Dad
Harry had been reading the letter out loud in his mind, so he did not bother handing it to Ginny once he was done. Instead he reached out and gently set the piece of paper down on his nightstand
before turning to Hermione. The tears were falling in a steady stream now and her breath was coming in sharp gasping sobs that seemed to be almost torn from her very soul.
"It's all right, Hermione," he said, taking her in his arms for the most comforting embrace he could muster. He held her to him and rubbed his hands in soothing circles on her back, whispering soft nothings as they rocked back and forth. "We'll work something out, don't doubt that. We'll not be letting you go without a fight."
He was startled out of his soft comfortings when Hermione reached up with her good left arm, while sliding her right around his waist as best she could, and pulled his head down to hers. Her lips sought out his mouth and pushed firmly against it in a desperate and almost frantic kiss. Harry sucked in a sharp breath of surprise, his eyes growing wide at Hermione's inexplicable action.
Out of everything he had been through over the years, this was one of the most terrifying and heart wrenching experiences Harry had ever had. Hermione was so unlike her usual collected and steadfast self. The raw, uncensored need that he could feel as she frantically kissed him was heartbreaking. She seemed so desperate... so... scared...
~Harry?~
Despite the feeling of Hermione's lips against his, the salty taste of her tears, Harry still heard the hard edge that accompanied Ginny's thought. He struggled against the bruising force of Hermione's kiss, sliding his arms up to her shoulders with the intention of gently pushing her back and freeing himself.
Yes?
Ginny's inner voice was frighteningly calm as she asked, ~What are you doing?~
Um... kissing Hermione?
~So I see. Might I ask why?~
Harry could clearly hear the rising cold fire that was bubbling beneath Ginny's words. He could even feel the surge of magic within her aura, a build-up of power in preparation for what he knew would be a horrible mistake if handled incorrectly.
I think it would do more harm than good if I pushed her away right now, he tried to explain, lifting one hand away from Hermione and towards Ginny, behind her, in supplication.
Ginny did not have the time to respond because suddenly Hermione was in motion. Her eyes snapped open and she broke the kiss with a horrified gasp. She jerked away from Harry, as if physically stuck, and lifted her good hand to her mouth in a fist, biting down so hard on her white knuckles that she visibly drew blood. Had it not been for the already almost unearthly quiet that surrounded Harry’s bed, he might not have heard her sobbed whimper, "Oh, Ron, what have I done…"
Quick as a flash Hermione pushed off the edge of the bed and jumped to her feet. Harry could see that she was about to flee, the guilt that had suddenly overwhelmed her was easily visible. He barely even needed to consider his next actions. He knew that if she left it would be disastrous for all involved. Too much would be left unsaid between them for Harry to just let her leave without trying to talk her through this.
As she turned, beginning to take flight to the refuge of her own dormitory and bed, Harry's arm snapped out like a coiled snake striking. His hand grasped Hermione firmly around her upper right arm, holding her in a grip that kept her from running.
His biggest problem, beyond the possible jealousy from Ginny, was that he didn't know where to begin. The way Hermione had seeming lost all control hinted at a bigger problem than being removed from Hogwarts. His friend was hurting in the worst possible way and he honestly doubted that he would be able to help her.
At least, not alone.
Please, Gin, he begged desperately, turning his eyes toward her, I need your help for this.
Ginny looked at him for a long, pregnant moment. Her eyes were bright, even in the dimness. Harry felt a great swell of relief as her gaze slid across from him to where Hermione was standing, head downcast, and gave a solemn nod. She looked back at him and smiled sadly. ~She is our friend~ she told him, ~We'd be no better than Tom if we don't try to help her when she needs us the most. I'll help.~
Harry smiled and let out the breath he had unknowingly been holding. He tugged gently on Hermione's arm, turning her back to the bed, and reached out with his other hand to pull her back to her seat between him and Ginny. Hermione dropped onto the bed with a sob and almost collapsed against him, resting her head on his chest.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she whispered, clenching her eyes closed against the still falling tears. "Oh God, I'm so sorry..."
Harry carefully put his arms around her and pulled her to him, instinctively aware that he had to assuage her fears and prevent her insecurities from dominating her
"It's all right, Hermione," he told her as he softly stroked her hair. He could see Ginny sitting right behind her, looking just as anguished as he felt. They did not speak, nor did they share each other's thoughts. Instead they considered what to do next, merely by looking into the other's eyes.
"Hermione," he said softly, "look at me."
Half-heartedly she lifted her head, her red and tear stained eyes unable to meet his own. He released his supporting hold on her and reached up to hold her face with both hands, lifting her chin up so that she was looking properly at him. She moaned softly, a sound of miserable torment that tugged painfully at his heart, and closed her eyes. She dropped her head against his chest again and whispered in a desperate voice, "Don't leave... Please, I don't want to leave... I don't want to be alone right now…"
Harry said nothing. Instead he allowed Ginny to crawl up behind them both and snake her arms between them, hugging Hermione and silently spilling tears of her own. Together the trio sat on the edge of Harry's bed, holding each other in mournful embraces.
"We won't leave, Hermione," he said after a while, when the girls' tears began to subside and dry away. "You can stay here with us tonight... any night, for as long as you need. We'll always be here for you. Always."
Hermione whispered an almost inaudible plea, "I only want to feel safe..."
"We know," he nodded, slowly running a hand up and down her back. He pulled her tightly up against him and tenderly turned her face to his with one hand, dabbing away her tears with his thumb as she clung to him for support.
It was not the restful night's sleep Harry had been hoping for, but it was… interesting.
.oOo.
There had been many more tears during the night and a few brotherly kisses as well, although fortunately none that matched the initial fervour of the first. Eventually, in the early hours of the morning, Hermione had lost herself to the land of dreams, leaving a troubled Harry and Ginny. The two of them had lain quietly, discussing Hermione's situation, but after a time sleep had claimed them as well.
Consider yourself lucky I remember what happened last night, Harry, Ginny told him as she lean over his rigid torso to confirm that it was indeed Hermione in his arms. Harry's head turned a fraction and he looked at her with wide green eyes.
"I consider myself lucky that I'm starting to remember it myself," he whispered, nodding toward Hermione. "I think I damn near gave myself heart failure when I woke up and realized she wasn’t you."
Ginny chuckled as she recalled how Harry had suddenly tensed beside her as she slowly awakened. Leaning down, she kissed him softly on his cheek. "I'll admit my own heart stopped beating for a second when you asked me who was in bed with us."
He reached up with his right arm --his left was still trapped under Hermione's head-- and ran his fingers through the soft waves of her unrestrained hair. His lips curved in a sad and hesitant smile before he asked, "You're not angry, I hope? About this?"
"Oh, I'm angry all right," Ginny told him, her brows drawing into a scowl not unlike the one her mother was famous for. She paused just long enough for Harry to start looking worried before she finished. "The next time we see Malfoy, you're going to have to get in line when it comes to kicking his misbegotten bastard's arse from here to the South Pole."
"If anyone deserves it, he certainly does," agreed Harry, relaxing.
"Who deserves what?"
Both teenagers turned to the source of the sleepily, barely awake voice. This naturally resulted in Harry burying his face in Hermione's tangled hair and sputtering incoherently for several seconds, earning light laughter from Ginny. Hermione twisted around, resting more fully on her back, and stared at the two of them.
"What's the matter? Y'okay?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her left hand.
"We're fine," Harry told her, "Ginny was simply demonstrating her similarity to Fred and George."
"Ey!"
The two witches and the wizard trapped between them lay in the bed for several minutes, simply basking in the light-hearted atmosphere and friendly camaraderie that surrounded them. The muted laughter at Ginny's expense soon died down and they quietly relaxed in each other's arms.
"Harry? Ginny?" Hermione eventually asked, pushing herself up on her good elbow and looking at them with glistening, soulful eyes. Ginny could only see how small and frightened her friend seemed. "Thanks. You know... for letting me..."
"Don't," Harry interrupted, lifting a finger to her lips. He shook his head fractionally and then pushed himself up so that he was sitting next to her. He gently leaned close and placed a brotherly kiss on Hermione's forehead. "Don't say anything. There's no need for words between us, Hermione. Not when it comes to matters like this. There never should be and there never will be."
Hermione looked over Harry's shoulder at Ginny, a question in her soft brown eyes. Ginny nodded her agreement to his words and reached out to lightly grasp the other girl's hand. Giving her a comforting squeeze, as Hermione pulled Harry into a tearful hug, Ginny rolled to the far side of the bed and sat up to stretch.
It was a luxurious feeling, stretching her arms out high above her head as she arched her back. Ginny loved the way she could almost feel the tension flowing out of her, leaving her muscles quivering in release. This morning, however, the knots in her neck and shoulders seemed to be stubbornly refusing to depart. Ginny smiled as this would be the perfect excuse to get Harry to lay her down and give one of those delicious backrubs she loved.
If there was one thing she had discovered about Harry over the summer, sharing a bed with him, it was that he was remarkably good with his hands. Ginny felt a faint rush of blood tinting her cheeks as she recalled some of the experiences of the summer when she had learnt just how talented Harry's hands could be.
She almost vaporised poor Neville as the rotund boy unexpectedly pulled back the curtains drawn around Harry's bed. He did not appear to be paying all that much attention as he spoke, "Harry, I was wondering if I... i... i-yi-yiiii-yi-yi."
Apparently he had realized that Harry was firmly in the embrace of a decidedly feminine figure, which he must have quickly identified by the way his eyes grew larger than a house-elf's. Hermione pulled back from Harry and looked at the dumbstruck boy, asking in a playful tone, "Really, Neville, is that any way to say good morning?"
"H-H-HU-HUH-HUH-HUUuuu..."
"I think I preferred 'i-yi-yiiii-yi-yi'," remarked Hermione dryly.
Finally Neville managed to sputter out, "H-H-HERMIONE!!"
Hermione was grinning impishly by this point, clearly an expression she had learned from either Ron or the twins. "Ah... now we're getting somewhere."
"B-b-but Harry!" protested Neville, pointing between Harry and Hermione. His expression was almost indescribable. He had obviously noted not only the close proximity between Harry and Hermione, but also the dishevelled appearance of both their pyjamas. His mouth worked soundlessly for several seconds before he tried to ask, "Wh- wha- what about- what about-"
Apparently Neville was so flummoxed by the sight of Harry and Hermione that he had completely failed to notice Ginny sitting on the other side of the bed. She decided that since the poor boy seemed on the verge of a panic attack, that it would be best to reveal her presence. In doing so she leaned across, wrapping both her arms around Harry and asked, "Is there something wrong, Neville?"
Neville remained motionless where he was standing, staring at Ginny with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. After a few seconds, looking from Ginny to Harry to Hermione and back, he did the only reasonable thing he could think of.
He fainted.
"Congratulations, Gin," said Harry, peering over Hermione's shoulder and over the edge of the bed toward the floor, "you've accomplished Snape’s goal in life. You just killed Neville."
***
Gregory and Hilary were standing outside the portrait hole, being closely watched by a suspicious-looking Fat Lady. It wasn't the crack of dawn anymore, but it was not that late in the morning either. Thus the painting was understandably distrustful of the two professors' presence outside the Gryffindor common room at such an early hour. Since neither of them had bothered to introduce themselves to her she was unaware that they were actually members of the staff.
"What I wouldn't give for a photograph of this moment," declared Gregory wistfully.
"You have definitely been spending far too much time with your brothers-in-law than is good for you," Hilary told him, with a jaundiced eye.
"Maybe I have," Gregory agreed and started walking away from the Fat Lady, Hilary following close behind him. Leaving Gryffindor Tower at a brisk pace he said, "Come on, we need to get the lacewings for the Polyjuice Potion."
"Y'know, since we're members of the faculty, we could just ask Snape for the ingredients," observed Hilary as they made their way down to the dungeons. "So why are we sneaking into his storeroom to steal them?"
Gregory grinned impishly and told her, "Old habit."
***
Harry was sitting on the corner of his bed, still in his pyjamas. Ginny was lying behind him with an arm swung around his waist, stroking his thigh with her fingers. All told it would have been a wonderful moment on any other day, but right now Harry was wondering what he had ever done in his previous lives to deserve such bad karma.
They had managed, with an audience comprising of Dean, Seamus, Moira, Carmen and Lavender, to revive the insensate Neville. Fortunately everyone was too amused by his fainting spell to ask what Ginny and Hermione were doing in Harry's bed. Unfortunately this immediately became their primary question when the newly awake Neville sputtered the reason for his passing out.
~Almost reminded me of the scene my family made when they walked in on us that first time~ remarked Ginny, sensing his train of thought.
Not half as loud though, fortunately, he agreed.
After eventually sorting things out, and promising full explanations later, the other students had dutifully filed out the dormitory to leave them in peace. Hermione had remained for several minutes to regain her composure before heading out and making her way to the sixth-year girls' dormitory in order to clean up and change for breakfast. Fortunately it was a Saturday.
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
Ginny shifted until she was able to wind both her arms around his waist, her chin resting on his shoulder. Comfortable, she asked curiously, "If your eyes were closed, how did you know it was Hermione and not me you were holding?"
Harry paused, considering whether or not to tell the truth. He had seen Ginny's temper flare up on several occasions and most certainly did not want to be on the receiving end. In the end though he decided to come clean and so he asked her, "Remember that time when Fred and George were teasing us?"
"Which one specifically? They tease us a lot."
"They wanted to hear if I knew for a fact that you Weasleys are natural redheads," elaborated Harry, feeling a ghost of the fierce blush brought on by that particular tease of the twins.
"Oh," Ginny said.
.
.
.
"Oh," Ginny said again, only this time with comprehension of his meaning, which resulted in the onset of a blush of her own at the recollection. Her grip around his waist tightened for a moment. She released him and shuffled to sit next to him, taking one of his hands in hers as she did. Harry looked at her and smiled apologetically.
"How are you going to explain this to Ron when he wakes up?" she asked.
"I don't know," Harry admitted, "but I'll come up with a bright idea before then."
Ginny grinned and offered, "If he tries to hurt you, you can always hide in my bed."
"Thanks, love. But I don't think we need to worry. Ron may be a little hot-headed at times, but he's an understanding bloke," Harry said with total confidence. Then he shook his head and sighed, "He'll probably try and kill me, won't he?"
"Yep."
He sighed again, "I certainly hope he's in a good mood when he wakes up."
"Hey you two, what's taking so long?" called Hermione from the doorway, sounding very cheerful and in decidedly better spirits than she had been in the previous night. She stuck her head in the room and implored them, "Hurry it up will you, I'm famished!"
"A very good mood."
TBC...