Shades of Gray
Harry was in the semi-awake state where he knew his arm was asleep, that he needed to move it but couldn't understand why it wouldn't move. Shifting a bit to relieve his stiff neck he felt a weight resting against his left side and something pushed up against his right hip.
Opening his eyes, finding that his glasses were still on he blinked the sleep away and finally found the source of his pins and needles.
Hermione was curled up between him and the couch, his arm under her neck with his hand resting on her arm. Crookshanks was pressed up against his other side, curled up into a ball, nose tucked under his tail.
Very carefully Harry moved his arm, feeling the blood rush back into his unfeeling fingers. Hermione shifted, her head
falling on to his chest, freeing up his arm but he made no move to disengage himself.
For the first time in a week he had a restful night's sleep; he was warm and mostly comfortable but still a tad bit surprised to find himself stretched out on his sofa with Hermione draped over him. Her breathing was deep, slow and even; she was as relaxed as he had ever seen her. Then again, maybe she was always like this when she slept but he had never been in this position with her. Ginny was constantly moving, rolling around in bed, stealing the covers the few times she had spent the night with Harry. Hermione seemed to be a deep, restful sleeper; just like Crookshanks who still hadn't moved an inch.
As Harry stared at the ceiling watching the dim shadows slowly lighten with the rising sun, he felt a twinge of relief that the one year anniversary of Ron and Ginny's death was past. He had noticed Hermione seemed to handle yesterday much better than he did. But today, just in the few moments he was awake…he felt a bit better, a bit more of himself. Whether it was because he had actually slept peacefully or that he was, in fact, insanely comfortable at that moment, Harry truly didn't know.
Hermione shifted slightly again murmuring something sleepily then fell quiet. Her arm tightened around his waist then relaxed. He wondered what she was dreaming about, feeling her snuggle closer. Thinking she might be cold he pulled the blanket up over them and tucked it in the best he could sealing in the warmth. Crookshanks evidently didn't like being stuck under the covers and jumped down stretching lazily and walked out of Harry's line of sight. Harry made the most out of the few more inches he had on the sofa and found an even more comfortable position. Reaching up and taking off his glasses, he used his free arm to drop them behind him onto the side table. Closing his eyes he let the warmth of the blanket and Hermione relax him even further into a satiated state. Soon he drifted off into another dreamless sleep.
-----
Hermione awoke to find herself sprawled out on Harry's couch, but mostly over Harry. She could hear the soft thump of his heart and the unmistakable breathing of someone who was asleep and wondered briefly how she could've slept so long in one position. She was stiff but warm and comfortable. Lifting her head slightly she saw at some point Harry had removed his glasses. His profile was sharp against the soft light that filtered in through the double windows.
He looked so different while he was sleeping. Not counting his glasses, his face had an unmistakable relaxed look. Nothing like the stress and nightmares she heard about through their years at school. He deserved so much to be able to relax while awake or sleeping. He had gone through so much just to ensure that good would prevail over evil and as she let her gaze run over his shadowed jaw and cheeks, she hoped that the beginning of this second year without Ron and Ginny would be a bit better for him. Pushing herself up on her elbow she kept her gaze fixed on his face wondering if he always had such dark, long lashes. His glasses hid so many of the small features of Harry in a way she never realized before.
She saw his eyes open slowly and fix themselves on hers, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"What? Am I drooling or something?" Harry teased in a raspy morning voice. Hermione had the grace to blush, realizing he caught her staring at him. Her gaze traveled down to his mouth then to his hand which was resting on his chest. Moving her eyes from him to the clock on the wall she pushed herself up, squinting at the clock.
7:35am.
"No…just…you looked so relaxed," Hermione managed stifling a yawn and struggling to sit up a bit more. Harry kicked off the blanket and sat up, scooting down to give her some space feeling the warmth quickly evaporate.
"I'm sorry to fall asleep on you…your couch," Hermione started, running her hands through her hair.
"Don't apologize. We both fell asleep…something we both needed." Harry dismissed her apology, forgetting how nice it was to wake up with someone in the morning. An image of Ginny shot through his head then raced away as he grabbed his glasses and stood. "Be right back," he touched Hermione's shoulder and paused as she looked up. "Don't be sorry. I don't even remember who fell asleep first." She nodded then stretched her arms as he walked down the hall to the loo.
"Do you want me to make some breakfast or do you want to do that on yourself?" Hermione called from the living room, tucking her shirt back into her jeans, still feeling a bit discomfited that she fell asleep on Harry.
"I don't have any big plans for today, so feel free to stay," Harry yelled in her general direction as he dried off his hands. Staring at himself in the mirror, he ran his hands through his hair twice before giving up. Hermione had seen him in worse shape, so why should he care? Pushing the door open he walked barefoot into the kitchen where Hedwig was waiting patiently for a treat, eyeing Crookshanks warily as the cat drank water from her bowl on the window sill.
"Do you want to get a shower and meet me at my place? I can go whip up something there. You have nothing much to eat here," Hermione asked pulling her hair back into a ponytail.
"Yeah, I hadn't gotten around to shopping; wasn't very hungry."
Hermoine nodded in understanding and watched him refill Hedwig's water bowl, shooing the cat out of Hedwig's perch in the window.
"Breakfast at your place sounds nice. Thanks." Turning around he threw away his owl's old food and placed the dish in the sink. "And, thanks for listening and being here last night," Harry continued a bit awkwardly, shoving his hands into his pockets forcing himself to meet her eyes. "I never said how much I appreciate you being here for me…it's helped." He saw her eyes light up the way they did when she realized something she did helped make a difference.
"That's what friends are for Harry," Hermione tried to make her words light but inside she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. He seemed to be trying to grab back onto his life and pull himself up out of the mediocre life he had lived for a year.
"What do you say," Hermione asked walking towards him to rest her hands on his shoulders, "after breakfast we go to London and be Muggles for the day? Escape this magical world, shop, do a touristy thing or two?" She searched his face and saw he was seriously thinking about it. His eyes shot to the ceiling as he ran through his head what school work he needed to have finished before school on Monday, then he smiled and Hermione knew his answer before he even opened his mouth. She patted his shoulders then turned to search for Crookshanks.
"Bring your best walking shoes," Hermione told him, finding her cat under the table.
"What? No flying on my broom?" Harry joked leaning against the counter. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and he gave a small laugh.
"You haven't been on a broom since our first year…I'll get you up before you're old and gray," Harry teased and she rolled her eyes.
"Good luck, Potter," and with that she disapparated out of Harry's kitchen, cat securely held in her arms.
----
Ginny sat across from Harry watching him tie his shoes. She got the feeling he seemed lighter, a bit less like the world rested on his shoulders.
"I think it's because he actually slept," Ron said hearing Ginny's thoughts bouncing around in her head.
"Could be. Or, it could be something else."
"Like what?"
Ginny shrugged, her eyes following him as he walked to his dresser, pocketed his wand, slid some change into his hand and placed it into his pocket.
"Are we following them to London?" Ron asked standing behind his best friend, his eyes resting with Harry's on a photo adorning the tall dresser; a picture of the seventh year Gryffindor Quidditch team with Harry holding the snitch and Ron holding the cup. They only played for two months, May and June of their seventh year. The hunt for Voldemort and Horcruxes had taken up most of their last year of schooling. Thankfully, Professor McGonagall had let them slide back into the school year, letting them pass nearly all the classes they had been scheduled to take. After all, they had learned so much more than any other student…how to defeat Voldemort.
From Ginny's position she could see the sadness fill up Harry's eyes as they roamed over the picture. Reaching out he touched the frame as if saying good bye the he quietly disapparated.
Turning back to her brother she answered his question.
"No, we aren't going." Ginny could see a flicker of reminiscence move through Ron's eyes, as he remembered the last time he had played Quidditch with Harry. Reaching out she touched his arm in a supportive, sisterly gesture.
"Nick needs us to explain this type of existence… to a new member. I recieved a message this morning and was told we will probably take a special interest in this case."
"Really? Who is it? Someone we know?" Ron asked feeling a tingle of excitement, causing Harry's bedroom curtain to stir slightly.
"Probably, but I'm…you'll see…just follow me. We need to be at St. Mungo's within the hour. We'll visit Harry and Hermione tonight if we have time," Ginny explained passing through the wall to air outside.
"If we have time?" Ron echoed, stopping Ginny with a single movement of his hand on her arm. "Who are we going to see? The last time we explained this to someone it didn't take long until they caught on."
Ginny remained quiet staring at a point past her brother.
"You know who it is don't you? Why did Nick tell you and not me?" Ron said a whisper of his old whining coming through.
"What? And have you blow out every light bulbthat Harry has in those Muggle lamps of his in anger? No way…you'll see soon enough, Ron. Just…come on." Ginny shook her arm free and made her way down the street at an amazing pace, heading towards St. Mungo's where their next "student" was waiting to be versed in what it meant to be part of "the Light".
An hour later Ron stood staring at a pair of familiar gray eyes.
"Bloody hell, Malfoy. What'd you do to get here?" Ron asked in a neutral voice, surprising himself with the lack of hatred that should've bubbled up inside him. Draco Malfoy stared at him then back down at his very still body four feet below them.
"Apparently, I tried to kill myself. At least, that's what I heard a healer say before I came…here. What the hell am I doing here? I assume I screwed up big time."
"Very hard to commit suicide when you are a witch or wizard; only you could make it look easy," a breezy voice said behind Draco and he spun around seeing a very pale version of Ginny Weasley.
"Should've known you two would be here together," Draco said snidely raising a blonde eyebrow; actually having the gall to smirk at the red heads in front of him.
"Don't worry…your rudeness will dissipate the longer you are part of the Light, Draco," Ginny said evenly. He gaped at her thoroughly shocked she used his first name, then as if realizing he was staring, he recovered, turning his attention back to his prone body.
"The Light?" he managed to ask, but Ron talked right over him.
"So how'd you'd to kill yourself? Couldn't take anymore of your banishment? Nice timing you know, dying on the first anniversary of our death," Ron professed cutting Ginny a look that held all the meaning in the world. `This isn't going to be fun'.
"Never mind how. I'm just pissed it didn't work. I'm here…I should be…not here." He gestured to the area around him, clearly confused as to why he wasn't being tended to by many Angels or burning many fathoms below. "And as for being banished to Malfoy Manor, yes, it was pretty much the worst two years ever. Thanks to you, Weasley," Draco directed at Ron who nodded but kept his mouth shut.
"Don't worry," Ginny repeated in the same even tone, "your anger will dissipate along with your rudeness. Then you'll be just like us," Ginny said coming up behind him and peering over his shoulder. "Well, looks like you succeeded. If you really wanted to live, you'd be there, not here. So, what is it you want now? We're actually here to help you."
"Help me with what? I just wanted to be dead; gone from the hell I was living." Draco looked at her amazed at how she could look so pale and clear, but he could still make out the red of her hair and the hazel of her eyes.
Ron snorted, then waggled his fingers at Draco as he looked back over his shoulder at the tall red head. He muttered
something that sounded close to "freaking git," before turning back to Ginny.
"Help you with what you need to move onto the next and final world," Ginny told him in a firm voice, causing him to stare at her, wondering if she was joking.
"What I need to move on from here? I thought I DID that by swallowing that poison. Or, did I really die more than two years ago when I was caught and banished by your lot? Doing nothing but sitting at home listening to my mother talk incessantly about not being able to save my father."
"Your brave attempt to kill Dumbledore didn't have anything to say about that then?" Ron asked crossing his arms and watching the platinum blond Slytherin struggle with his emotions.
"I was young and stupid," was all Draco would say watching as his mother walked in and sat down beside him, taking his hand. Turning he walked out of the room, with Ron and Ginny following.
"Blimey, Ginny…this isn't going to be easy. He really doesn't know what he wants does he?" Ron followed him with Ginny close behind.
"That's our job. Help him make the decision. Help him find the strength to move on from here to the next world. We can't do it for him."
----
"Well, Hermione, I can honestly say I never knew anyone who could buy so many books in one day," Harry gasped setting down the huge bag on her kitchen table with a dull thud.
"I will read and use every one of them; you know that!" Hermione pointed her wand at him and he held up his hands in mock surrender. With a flick of her wrist her books flew from the bag and found slots on one of her three bookshelves in the living room. Her flat was small, but cozy with the sheer number of books and tomes lying on her bookshelves, or any other flat surface she could find. Harry settled himself at one of the two chairs at her kitchen chair and popped open a butterbeer she slid in front of him.
"I can't believe I've never watched the Changing of the Guards before," Harry mused, watching Hermione putter around her kitchen, throwing chicken breasts and onions up on the counter. He made a move to help but she pointed at him to stay.
"I saw it a few times with my parents, but it's still so interesting to watch. I always wondered if someone out there could get one of them to laugh, or break their stony stare and silence, you know?"
"I wondered that today," Harry admitted twirling the bottle around in his hand. "Ginny wanted to go once, but we just never got there. I think she had to work that weekend or something."
"I'm sure she would've tried; then want to fit in some shopping too," Hermione said carefully, placing two chicken breasts into the pan purposefully not turning around. She knew if she kept busy and didn't drop everything to give him her full attention he would keep talking.
"Oh, I'm sure…if anyone could've succeeded she probably would've been the one." Harry took a sip of butterbeer. "Her Ministry paychecks, after helping her parents with certain bills, went to clothes then stuff for her nephew. I think I actually saw her buy two books in the year that…we went out," Harry trailed off. He fidgeted in his chair listening to the hissing, splattering sound of the chicken on the stove.
Hermione felt his change of mood, but pretended to be busy moving the chicken around with the onions and garlic in the pan.
"Probably Quidditch related am I right?" she asked gently, feeling him nod behind her.
"Yep. Molly gave them to me…when…after she died."
Hermione snuck a side long glance at him and saw him staring down at her table, fiddling with an almost empty butterbeer bottle. She was quiet as she cut up the onion magically, so she wouldn't induce crying. It also gave time for Harry to reflect on the more intricate parts of being Ginny's boyfriend.
"Harry?" Hermione set down her spatula and turned around. Harry looked up at her, green eyes expressionless behind his glasses. "Why don't you go get those movies I left at your place? There's one more in there and I'm not wasting what little Muggle money I have by not watching it. It'll help take our mind off things too."
Harry nodded, and tilted back the butterbeer, finishing the last swallow. He had just realized when he mentioned Ginny that it was the first time that afternoon he had really thought about her. As he disapparated, hunted down the movies and got ready to return to Hermione's (with an apple pie that appeared at his table courtesy of Molly) Harry wondered what that meant. He didn't want to forget her, and seriously doubted if he ever could. But for a few hours he had walked the London streets with Hermione, enjoying the simple Muggle life and realized that he had fun. Something he didn't think he would ever be able to have again.
He felt as if his heart was beginning to mend itself, and he had Hermione to thank a million times for that. He realized for the first time how hard she was working to bring him up out of his emotional rut he was living. She had been there every day since last June. Once the families had bowed out of their lives, thinking that they could get back to their own daily routine, Hermione still came to visit Harry on weekends. She stopped by his classroom every morning and evening. For his twentieth birthday, she took him to her parent's where they ate a quiet dinner. And she was still there, holding him up and he truly wondered if he could move on, socially and emotionally with out her. One day, one of them would meet someone else and begin their own lives, again. And then one of them, or both of them, would be moving on. However, he had a feeling it would most likely be her first; she always bounced back from tough situations faster than he ever had or could.
Harry appeared in Hermione's kitchen to a table set with silverware, napkins, and empty glasses. Hermione was in the process of sliding the chicken onto two dinner plates. Setting the bag of movies down in the hall he made his way to the refrigerator.
"So, have you given anymore thought to McGonagall offering you a place to stay at Hogwarts?" Harry asked as he poured two glasses of milk.
"I have and I still like it here. If money becomes an issue then Hogwarts is a fall back. I'm not Head of House, so there's no pressing reason for me to stay there. Besides, I think this place is bigger than what you get at school anyway…where would I put all my books and things?" Hermione placed a baked potato on each plate and set them down on the table.
"Yeah, my thoughts exaclty. And, with only teaching fifth through seventh years, I figure the office hours I keep should be enough."
"Harry, I know McGonagall will offer you the rest of the years in due time. You know Professor Gallows isn't happy teaching the other half of DADA. You're still young, barely two years older than the oldest seventh year."
"I know. I'm in no hurry to add more classes. I'm still trying to grade Thursday's exam," Harry joked lightly, placing the basket of rolls in the middle of the table.
"Really Harry, you should be a bit more organized," Hermione told him sliding into the seat across from him. "It would help to just write out a schedule and stick to it. Even with my four classes, it works well."
"You've been telling me that for the past two years I've been teaching and I haven't yet done it, have I?" Harry bit into his chicken and gave her the thumbs up sign that it was cooked perfectly.
"No," Hermione sighed, "One day you'll realize I'm right you know."
"I know you're right, I just choose not to take that path. Every time something is scheduled in my life, it falls to pieces. I guess I'm used to flying by the seat of my pants and getting it done that way." Harry was cutting up baked potato when her lack of response drew his eyes upwards. "What?"
Hermione was just staring at him, her fork resting in her hand on her plate as if he interrupted her in the middle of taking a bite. She looked as if she couldn't believe he had just said he chose not to keep a schedule.
"Hermione, of all the classes I get to teach I've never been late-," he began trying to explain himself, thinking she was angry he actually admitted he chose not to listen to her.
"I know," she interrupted, leaning forward urgently, "but do you really believe that now with the Death Eaters gone, Voldemort gone and the school back on track, making it past the anniversary, that your life is going to still fall apart?"
Harry set down his fork and wiped his mouth. "Yes I do. I even thought that back in the Spring of ninety-nine. We get back from destroying the bastard and all the horcruxes and I find that Ginny is giving me the silent treatment. Fine, I can deal with that. I hurt her; I probably deserved the silent treatment. I get through the summer, turn eighteen and hang out with you and Ron here. I end up teaching Ginny's class and we eventually become friends again and after she graduates, even more. I think for the first time, when I kissed her on graduation day, `I'm happy! Nothing can ruin this now!'"
"Harry-," Hermione pleaded, her eyes wide, wanting him to stop but he held up his hand.
"For a year I thought that my life wasn't going to fall apart. Then, Ginny AND Ron die because I couldn't save them when those Death Eaters cornered the lot of us at Hogsmeade. Everything I believed crumbled, and quite fast too. So, I'm sorry if I can't, or I won't, believe that something is going to shake my foundation yet again," Harry said vehemently, his eyes flashing. He surprised himself with the force of his words and obviously Hermione was taken aback too because she literally sat back and stared at him.
"So, for this past year, it hasn't been all about missing Ginny and Ron? Some of it is your…hesitancy of building back up your life again only, because you think if you do, that it'll fall down again?" Hermione whispered feeling her heart ache for him. He was almost twenty one and had yet to build his own life out of fear he'd lose it.
"That about sums it up," Harry answered moving his eyes down to his potato noticing all the butter had melted, blending into the potato. Feeling a hand on his knee, he blinked and realized he had been staring intensely at his dinner plate. Hermione was now on her knees, her hands resting on his leg.
"As much as it…hurts me to admit this I can see where you are coming from. I thought maybe this was part of everything you've been feeling the past year, but I thought that if I stayed by your side-," Hermione jiggled his leg as his gaze moved away from hers. Reluctantly he turned and glanced at her, seeing her eyes bright with tears.
`Great, now she's going to pity me for the way my life pretty much has sucked up til now,' Harry thought to himself, trying to keep his face blank as she launched into a typical, drawn out Hermione explanation.
"I thought you would understand that you can count on me. You can count on the Weasleys. Just because Ginny and…Ron," her voice caught for a moment but she moved on, "are gone Molly and Arthur are still wanting you to be a part of their life. You are Bill and Fleur's son's godfather! I've been with you through seven years of school and we're coming up on ten years of being friends. I'm not going to leave you…ever," Hermione grabbed his hand as he tried to pull back.
"You can't promise something like that!" Harry informed her, quietly, rearing back so her head wouldn't collide with his chin. She raised herself up on her knees and was now eye to eye with him.
"I am promising that. I'm not moving, the enemy is gone. I'd like to think that I know you better than anyone else out there and know that in due time you will move on. I'd like to say at that point, we'll move on with our own lives but never stop being the close friends that we are! I'm not pitying you Harry," Hermione shook his hands for emphasis, not surprising him that she was able to see that it was something he was thinking. "I care for you and love you and know that we needed each other to get through the past year and I know you still need some time to put things together and move on. This is about my friendship with you, not me pitying you. If there is another way I can help you or a way to convince you to trust me that you can start living again…," her eyes closed as she pushed back tears and chose her words carefully. "And be that happy, almost carefree person you were back when you were with Ginny then tell me. If that means I need to step back and give you space… I will," she finished with a whisper. Her grip on Harry's hands mirrored his own as she tried to push some of the strength she had found within herself during the past few months into him.
"Ron was really lucky to have you," Harry managed past the lump in his throat. Her offering to help him even if it meant giving him space touched him. He couldn't imagine his life without her and didn't want her to give him the chance to experience what hell that would be. "I know it wasn't all…great… the last few months you were with him, but still…."
"You and Ginny were really lucky and I'm so happy she brought you fun and happiness while you two were together. Ron and I…well…I think we all knew that we were on two totally different levels, but I still loved him. I would be doing the same for him if he needed it if the positions were reversed, Harry."
A tremor ran through him and Hermione tightened her hands around his as if she felt it. He finally realized that she was indeed the greatest friend anyone could have ever wanted. Sometimes he wished it had been him instead of Ron, then he wouldn't be causing so much pain in his friend's lives. He lifted his eyes from their clasped hands as she began speaking again.
"You never asked for my help. You don't like to do that and I know that…I would never tread anywhere I wasn't wanted and I really felt that you needed someone, that you needed me, who could identify with you and comfort you. Now, you seem to be pulling yourself up…do you still want me to be a….a…constant presence?" She asked it with a tone that Harry recognized in her voice. She wasn't sure if she wanted that to happen, but she was going to abide by what he said. He looked at her for a moment taking in the freckles across her nose the way her eyes stayed glued to his. For the first time in his young life he felt that he had someone in his corner. His heart began to pound with the possibility that for once, someone would be constant in his life and not end up being taken away from him.The Dursley's never were.
Professor Dumbledore wasn't around anymore to help him. Snape, who had been killed in the hunt for the horcruxes, had made sure of that.Ron was gone. So was Ginny. Neville dropped him the occasional owl but was busy with his advanced Herbology degree in the swamps of Florida.
As his eyes shifted over her face during the few seconds that ticked by, many thoughts flew through his head.
The triumphant smile she had when she found the counter curse to destroy the horcruxes. The way she and Ron ran to him after he convinced her to perform it on him, knowing his scar was the seventh horcrux (after the book, cup, ring, locket, Ravenclaw's wand from Ollivanders, and the Gryffindor sword), the pain muffling charm she performed until they could get him to Madam Pomfrey.
The way they held each other after the double funeral each trying to be strong for the other one, but tears still streaming down their faces. Molly's arms around both of them, soothing them with words of comfort.
But Hermione was right here in front of him, waiting for him to say something.
Taking a deep breath he kept his eyes on hers to show her he meant every word he was going to say. He had no idea where the words came from that were swirling around in his head, but everything suddenly made sense.
Whether she understood it or not, that was a different story.
"You're my anchor, Hermione. Every boat, whether afloat or grounded needs one. I need you." Harry felt the words flow out of his mouth still wondering where in the hell that philosophical thought came from. For a moment he thought he sounded a bit like Ginny and airy Luna Lovegood mixed together.
Suddenly, he felt himself being smothered in another vice like hug from Hermione. Brushing her hair away from his face, he settled his cheek against the side of her head, feeling her trembling with emotion. He was all talked out and had no idea what to say, but the next words seemed to be the right ones because they got her laughing.
"Hermione? I think our food's cold…and I'm still hungry."
----
"Where in the hell did Potter come up with that boat analogy?" Draco asked staring over Ginny's head as she lounged against the wall closest to Hermione's kitchen table.
"Luna said that to me once and I was thinking it when Hermione was talking; he must've picked it up," Ginny explained with a small note of amusement in her voice. She had been thinking that, hoping Harry would say the right thing back to Hermione.
"That's the first step in Harry accepting that we are truly gone when you can communicate with them almost subliminally," Ron finished, watching his two friends eat the food that was now re-warmed with a few charms.
"That amazes me, Weasley, that you know a big word like that," Draco pointed out, then sighed as if he was bored. "So, this is all you do…watch them? What the hell am I here for?"
"No idea, Draco. Whatever your own personal reasons are for not moving on are your own personal reasons. We are just here to show you what we DO while hanging out in this middle life. We chose to be here, to help them," Ginny pointed to the couple at the table, "but what you are here for, only you know."
"That's the thing, Miss Weasley, I don't know," Draco snapped at her as he crossed his arms, fidgeting with anger and unanswered questions.
For a moment no one spoke as they watched Harry and Hermione finish their dinner and Harry insisting on cleaning up the
dishes. Draco glanced at Harry then at Ginny, who was watching him quite impassively.
"How can you be so blasé, about this whole dead "thing" and seeing him, your boyfriend, out there acting like a baby over the fact that you're indeed…dead," Draco asked finally. Ginny lifted her shoulder then relaxed.
"I wasn't at first, but your emotions even out after awhile.I chose, Ron and I chose, to stay behind to help him and Hermione heal."
"Mainly Harry," Ron interrupted reading the newspaper over Hermione's shoulder.
"I loved him; still do and when you love someone you don't ever leave them. Sometimes it takes awhile for THEM to realize that…and that's what we are here for." Ginny turned and beckoned to Ron.
"Let's go…we have a meeting with Nick about you, Draco."
"Nearly HEADLESS Nick?" Draco felt that surprises were dropping on him from every angel.
"The one and only. Let's go boys," Ginny commanded and they left Grimauld Place as the sun began to set behind the row of houses signaling the end of another day.
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