Stolen Moments

snoopy_pie

Rating: R
Genres: Angst, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 07/03/2007
Last Updated: 24/10/2008
Status: in_progress

Rated R for future chapters. AU In this fic book 7 didn't happen. Ron and Hermione were NEVER together. Harry and Ginny didn't HAPPEN the way JK says they did. Enjoy!! "cheating" Challenge from Portkey SNIPPET: I so love how he touches me. Every time I tell myself I will not give into him. I will not allow him to consume my entire being but it is a lie. He knows me just as clearly as he knows himself and I have no choice but to open up my heart and my bed to him.

Chapters

1. Stolen Heart

2. Home Sweet Home

3. Morning Chaos

4. Hidden Truths

1. Stolen Heart

Hello readers!

This is another challenge from right here at portkey. It is a cheating challenge where Harry is cheating on Ginny with Hermione. So be warned if you don't like a cheating Harry. But I hope that I don't totally destroy his character. Let me know if he gets to terrible kk?

The characters do not belong to me nor do I make any money off of my stories. They belong to JK. Thanks!

Manda

I am lying here waiting for the clock to strike because that is when he will leave me once again. I turn over to watch him and his green eyes pierce my soul. How could we have messed our lives up so badly? He smiles that sad sweet smile and gently pulls me to him for another amazing kiss that makes my heart skip. I can't help myself. I have to give him everything I have. His life with her is so different from what he has with me. I honestly don't understand how we can go on like this.

“Hermione…”

“No…please, just a little longer, Harry,” I whisper desperately against his lips.

He groans and sweeps my hair away from my eyes. I so love how he touches me. Every time I tell myself I will not give into him, I will not allow him to consume my entire being but it's a lie. He knows me just as clearly as he knows himself and I have no choice but to open up both my heart and my bed to him.

“I have to go…Hermione.” He doesn't say that he has to go to his wife. He doesn't have to because I was at his wedding. I know exactly who he has to run home to, only too well. Secretly I hope he calls her and tells her he won't be home tonight. He has to work, or he is staying over at Ron's again. Or hell, I don't know, let him tell her he's making love to another woman. I am a woman whom she trusts, a woman who lives for these stolen moments with another woman's husband. Sometimes I hate myself for what I'm doing but then he touches me and the guilt fades. It has always been that way between us.

The first time we were 17 and foolish. It was one of those moments that you wonder what the hell you're doing, but I know exactly what we were thinking. He was leaving Ron and me to finish what we had started. He was going to play the hero again and I was livid with him. I didn't want him to go. I begged and pleaded until I could only sob weakly onto his shoulder. I remember it like yesterday how his heart was beating so wildly. It was like we were inexplicably drawn to each other. We gave ourselves to each other that night and we forever possessed one another.

After the war things somehow got very complicated and it was difficult to absorb everything that had happened to us. It was like we didn't know what to do with each other anymore. Were we friends? Were we lovers? That line had been blurred.

I loved him then. I know that now but at the time I was young and confused over what had happened both with Voldemort and with Harry. So I pushed him away and he allowed me to do it. What else could we do? We were just kids after all. Time passed and no one knew of our indiscretion. We kept telling ourselves it was only one time. One time that happened out of hurt and fear. It was perfectly natural we had said. We were just friends and we always would be. How wrong we were to think it would be just one time.

“Harry…” I ask tentatively. His heart was beating wildly again. I loved how I could do that to him. “Why don't you stay with me tonight? You could call her…” There I had said it. I had broken our rule of never mentioning her during our times together. He stiffened.

“Hermione…you know I can't.” He pushed me away and swung his legs over to the side of the bed. I loved his body and I couldn't help but sigh appreciatively when he stood up to pull on his pants. “She was suspicious last time, we can't chance it.” He swiftly pulled on his T-shirt and looked down at me with those incredible eyes. I know my eyes are filling with tears. I get so lonely at night. “Hey…don't cry…I'll try and work something out for next weekend okay?”

“You know as well as I do it will never be a weekend,” I say nastily. I don't know what is wrong with me. Why am I ruining this?

Harry sighs and stares at me. “Maybe you are right. You deserve to have a man who is whole. I'm sorry I can't give that to you.” He grabs his shoes and I watch him walk out of my bedroom leaving me to my emptiness.

[Author ID0: at Fri Dec 13 15:45:52 1901 ]

[Author ID1: at Wed Aug 27 10:36:00 2008 ]

Author Note: Hey guys it's me Snoopy and I have at last found a beta and this is the beta version of the previous chapter 1. Hope you all enjoy it.

Love,

Snoopy

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2. Home Sweet Home

Thank you all for the lovely reviews. I simply love reading them. You all are so kind. Anyway, all will be explained in time. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I love writing from Harry's point of view. He is my favorite character after all. ;)

Manda

Chapter 2

I can still hear her sobbing as I sit on her sofa and put on my shoes. Something inside of me breaks each time I have to leave her alone. She has been the one thing in my life that I could always honor and trust and damn it I treat her like a whore. There are a thousand what ifs circulating through my head as I try and think of a way out of my situation. I never meant to cheat on Gin. I really didn't. It is just Hermione is…well…I love her. I loved Gin too once, but it was in a different way. Hermione has my soul where Gin was only pure insanity. I've been so unfair to everyone that I have loved.

She has stopped crying now although I doubt she is asleep. She deserves so much more than what I offer her. Someday Potter she is going to refuse you. Someday she is going to say go home to your wife and never come to me like this again. She did it once before and it nearly killed me. I don't think I could give her up so easily now that she is so deep into my heart. But then she has always been there anyway.

I creep back to her bedroom door and peek in. I see her soft hair fanned out behind her as she gazes out of the window beside the bed. I like to think of it as our bed. The moonlight shines down over her and it reminds me of many nights past when we were hunting Horcruxes so long ago. Has it really been 6 years? I close my eyes and offer a silent prayer that she will forgive me once more. I back up and go find her desk where I know she keeps the bills. I grab the three of the most expensive and I apparate away reluctantly. I will write bank notes for them in the morning I think to myself. She will be livid with me and call it obscene, but I really only want to help her. It is so unfair that I have turned her into some sort of kept woman. It sickens me. I sicken me. Someday my guilt will destroy us both.

My home is very large which is how Gin prefers it. Mansions, champagne, fine clothes, and the many fancy parties that my wealth can offer her. Hermione prefers the soft practical two bedroom flat that we found after the war. I like it too. It feels like home, but maybe that is because Hermione is there. The second bedroom is utilized only when her parents come to visit. I guess Hermione has disappointed them by not marrying or even appearing to date other men. That is my fault too.

Ron tried talking to me about what I was doing only one time after me and Gin had been married for about a year. He told me that after everything we had been through I had his trust but he said he doesn't ever want to see the relationship or hear about it. I have honored this request. I know how difficult it must be for him to know his best friend is cheating on his little sister. If only I had listened to Ron in the beginning perhaps I wouldn't be in this mess. He never wanted me to marry Ginny anyway and I feared our friendship wouldn't survive it, but in the end our past prevented that. You don't live through a war guarding each others back without having some kind of bond. Hermione and I are very good actors or our friendship with Ron wouldn't have lasted. It is easy to do I guess. Hermione and I are such good friends it isn't often people even contemplate how close we actually are.

I walk slowly up the steps to my room as the clock strikes 9:30. I think of Hermione and how she looks fresh from a shower. The tiny glistening beads of water shining over her amazing body as she towels her hair is truly a sight to behold. I was almost to the brink of going back to her when I heard Ginny's voice call my name.

“Harry…”

“Yes Gin?” I weakly smile at her and wipe all traces of my earlier musings from my mind. A million things filter through my brain. Did I get rid of Hermione's perfume from my clothes? Did I forget to replace the golden band that signifies my prison? Does my body bear the signs of a man who has made love to another woman? Yes once again I am safe. I've gotten good at Lying I guess. What would people say if they found out that the worlds golden boy whom everyone trusts and respects is a fraud? How ironic that it is I who is false where Voldemort at least had stayed true to himself. I am a sham.

Ginny wraps a thin silk robe tightly around her small frame. She is beautiful with her flaming hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders, but I no longer desire her. She ruined anything I might have felt for her long ago. My mind is clouded with images of Hermione who likes to eat ice cream in bed and wears one of my muggle T-shirts as her pajamas. The women in my life are as different as night and day.

“I thought you would be home earlier. Did my hero have a difficult night?” She reaches up and plays with a wisp of her hair and I cringe. “You just missed Ron about an hour ago. He seemed upset about something. Do you think He and Luna are having trouble?”

“Yes, and no I don't think they are having trouble.” I pass by without touching or looking at her. I can't go on like this anymore. Ginny follows me to the door of my room.

“You missed dinner. Marie really out did herself tonight. You must be hungry.” How can I explain that the beautiful dinner that Hermione and I made together was more than enough to satisfy me?

“No, really Gin, I just want to go to sleep.” I take a deep breath and reach out to the door knob. Almost there.

“Well…would you like some company?” The request is there. Once again she tries to step into my world. A place that she can never go. I shake my head solemnly and open my bedroom door.

“Wait Harry…” She hesitates and takes a step closer. My back is to her and I close my eyes not wanting to do this again. My mind thinks back to Hermione and the life we could have shared filled with happiness and love. “I know you feel trapped, but we could be good together Harry.” I sigh and whirl around to face her. Hermione is not here. She is in London weeping from the pain that I caused her.

“You have what you want Ginny. My fame has given you exactly what you schemed for. But my heart is my own. Have a good night.” I close the door in her face and slump against the wooden frame. I hear her perfectly manicured feet slip away to her own suite of rooms before I get up and fall into my bed. I am alone in my darkness. My dreams soon turn into nightmares and I awake in a cold sweat. What was I dreaming about? I can never remember. I ache to have her with me. I fall back against the pillows. There can be no forgiveness for what I have done to us.

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3. Morning Chaos

Authors Note: Hello everyone! I am back again! I hope that you all aren't terribly angry with me for taking so long, but what can I say? I'm sorry. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I am liking how Ginny is turning out to be. I'm Still not sure how I feel about Harry but we will see what happens. Somehow he is developing a lot of anger in this story. Well Maybe Hermione can help him heal later on ;)

As always, these characters don't belong to me because if they did Ginny certainly would have never ended up with Harry and Hermione wouldn't have been tortured with an eternity with Ron. Poor guys. I feel sorry for them. Anyway enjoy! And please Read and Review!

Love,

Manda

Chapter 3

“What in bloody hell do you think you are doing Harry?” Ron held up an issue of The Daily Prophet and threw it down on my desk. I discreetly pick up the paper and read last night's headlines. “Potter: Is he as noble as he seems? ”

“Well good morning to you too.” I throw the paper in the bin and pretend to look over some of Ginny's shopping expenses. “You would think your sister would run out of things to buy wouldn't you?” I say it with a measure of teasing but he is unperturbed.

“Harry, they are saying you are paying for a small residence in London. It is a small two bedroom flat that is in your Fucking Name!” I raise my eyes to his guiltily but say nothing. “Well?”

“Look Ron, you know as well as I do that we found that flat together long before I was married…or anything.”

“It is in your Fucking Name! How is this going to look if they find out Hermione lives there?” His temper was nearing its height and I decided that if he said fucking one more time his head might explode.

“Ron calm down. Of course the flat is in my name. I was the only one who had the money to get it at the time. Remember?”

“But why is it still in your name? How is this going to look for my sister damn it! It's going to make her look like a fool. Harry, you've got to end this shit. I can't even look at my own sister anymore.” I could tell he was walking a tight rope. On one side he was my friend and on the other he was Gin's brother. Didn't they say that blood was thicker than water? I wouldn't know. My blood kin wasn't as loyal.

“This will all blow over. Nobody pays any attention to Rita Skeeter anymore…”

“Who says it is Rita Skeeter? You know Harry you really should read more about what they write about you. You might be enlightened.” With that he stormed out of my office and out my front door. I slowly pick up the paper from the trash and read a little further my face growing paler by the moment. Draco Malfoy was one of the most popular, charming and respected young journalists in Wizarding London right now. If anyone knew my shortcomings it was him. I realized I would have to talk to Ginny. She would probably see the headline sometime today. My real worry wasn't with how my lovely wife would take the news however. It was how a stubborn yet utterly beautiful brunette would handle the latest gossip. With one look of disdain from those beautiful brown eyes and I will crumble. I should have given the flat to her years ago but something inside of me wanted to be a part of her and our little place gave me a way to do that. I close my eyes and let my head fall down onto my desk. What the hell was I going to do?

That was where she found me. I heard the door open softly and the sound of her feet until she was standing in front of me and she sighed. Oh God. Here we go.

“Harry, I think we need to talk.” Who knew that one little sentence could instill such dread and anxiety?

I look up to see her pretty face frowning at me. I try to smile at her but she holds up her hand as if to stop me and before I could think of what to do I hear myself begin to explain.

“I suppose you've seen the paper this morning and I'm not going to lie about it. The flat is in my name and—“

“I don't give a damn about that stupid flat Harry.” She flipped her long hair back over her shoulders and glared at me. “I know you help Hermione. I'm not stupid you know.”

I look at her and wait for her to continue. “Then why are you here?”

She smiled at me the way she did when I vowed to marry her and I shudder. “What do you want Gin?”

“I want what every wife wants from her husband.”

My blood goes cold. “Ginny…”

“You married me Harry, I am your wife.” She paused and practically licked her lips. “I have dreamed about you so many times. Only dreams won't give me a baby.” She slowly steps around the side of my desk and slides her delicate fingers along the collar of my robes. I feel frozen inside but I stand up. My muscles tense and I feel a slow rage begin to burn. “I think I've waited long enough for you to come to your senses. I've tried seduction, I've tried to be a doting wife and last night I practically threw myself at you.” Her lips were inches away from mine and when she leaned up to kiss me my hands seized her shoulders roughly.

“Enough!” My voice sounds cruel even to my own ears but I don't care anymore. I fling her away from me before I lose control and it takes some effort to stop myself from hexing her. Then I blurted something out that has been gnawing at my soul for three years. “You killed our baby. Or don't you remember?” The color drops from her cheeks making her appear pale as a ghost. “You didn't think I knew what you did? Haven't you ever wondered why…why…I stopped caring about you?” I'm shaking all over now and the anger that always simmers inside of me starts to overpower my ability to think clearly. I'm scaring her. I know it. I don't care. She backs away from me fear clearly growing within her eyes. I'll always be The Chosen One in her eyes. I have never been just a man to her. A man with fears and insecurities. That has been our greatest obstacle in our relationship.

“Harry…no I would never… You have to understand.” Her voice sounded wild and her hands fidgeted up to twist around her hair. With my voiced suspicion that she killed our unborn child everything had changed. I hated myself for feeling like this.

“Get out.”

She stares at me wide eyed with shock. “Wh…What are you going to do?”

“Ginny…”

“Harry, we are still married. We can work this out. I'm sorry about everything but can't we just…”

“Shut up!” For once I don't feel anything for her and that scares me. “You used me Gin. You used my guilt over Neville dying to manipulate me. Your own brother told me about the potions you used and still I stayed with you until one day I found myself at the altar. I made a vow to protect you and took you as my wife, and I could've forgiven you everything else, but when you killed my baby you ruined everything. I know I had my own reasons for marrying you and you're not the only one to blame for our failure, but I'd rather die then take you back into my bed.” The honesty of that statement was frightening.

She nodded and once again I saw that blazing fire spark within her eyes. “I think I get the point, but please remember my darling husband that you are the one who comes home hours after your office closes. It is you who comes home reeking of some tramp whore.” Her eyes gleamed with the victory that she knows I am not celibate.

“You don't know anything about it.” I say with disgust. “And you never will.”

She gives me an icy stare before walking rigidly toward the door. “I'm going to the burrow for a few days. Try not to miss me too much...husband.” She slammed my door so hard I thought I might have to replace the frame.

My head was beginning to throb. We can't keep living like this.

“Dobby!” My voice is cracked and shaky.

The little elf popped into my study almost immediately. “Yes Harry Potter Sir? Is there something Dobby can do for his friend Harry Potter?”

“I need you to do something for me.” I hesitate but I knew it was the only way. “I want you to follow Ginny.” His large round eyes grew wider still if that was possible and then he looked very sly.

“Harry Potter wants me to spy upon his Lady?”

“Yes Dobby…but you can't let anyone know. Not even Ms. Ginny. It is a secret between me and you. Okay?”

“Yes Sir Harry Potter Sir!” He saluted which almost made me laugh. “You can count on me yes Sir!”

With a loud pop the loyal little elf apparated away.

I rub my temples and like a bad habit I touch the fading scar at my forehead. “We will see if I am the only one unfaithful.” I whisper more to myself than anything.

“You are doing the right thing dear,” said a mousey looking young woman in the portrait behind me.

“I hope so.” I say. “For my own sanity there has got to be a way out of this mess.”

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4. Hidden Truths

Authors Note: Hey everyone. I've been trying to get this chapter finished and beted for you but I suppose my new beta doesn't have the time to help me anymore so I am uploading this with only myself editing it. I have changed a few of my chapters so you might want to reread them but it isn't necessary. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'm sorry for it taking me so damn long to update. After I finish my current stories I am going to completely finish a story before publishing it so that the updates are much faster. Anyway, as always not mine don't make any money from it and its just for fun. Please read and review as they are the closest thing to a beta that I can get at the moment. Oh and if anyone is interested in being a beta for me please email me or send me a pm on the forums.

Warning: a lot of angst in this one. But what else did you expect? It is a cheating fic after all :P

Love,

Manda/snoopy

I was late getting off work and the sun was almost completely out of sight when I showed up at her flat. The door was locked so I used my magic password to open the door. I could hear the shower going and my heart thumped loudly within my chest. I hadn't seen Hermione since that stupid article came out so I was a little nervous that she would throw me out on my bum. I knew that she probably should. She doesn't deserve this. Ron was right it had to end. I flipped on the telly even though I wasn't really in the mood and just flipped through the channels one after another. I hoped she wouldn't be very angry but to be honest since Ginny's little outburst earlier this morning I was ready for anything.

“Harry…” She whispered with surprise and I watched her cross the room like a ghost. She looked beautiful wearing her blue fluffy robe and I could smell the soap she had used. My heart tightened within my chest and I took a deep breath. The sorrow in her eyes was more than I could bear. She looked so sad and I wanted to take away every hurt I had ever caused her. I wanted to take care of her and forever walk away from all of it, but I know she never would.

“Hey.” My voice sounds odd and disconnected to the gravity of the situation.

“I didn't think you would come by today with everything going on.” Her eyes were already tearing up and her soft voice usually so sure and confident wavered slightly. She has been crying. Over me.

I was at her side in an instant. We clung to each other. Our world was about to come crashing down around us and there was nothing we could do about it. I look into her eyes and touch her cheek lightly with my fingertips. She is everything to me. I will die if we can't be together soon.

“Harry…I…”

“Shhh…don't talk about it.” God I love her so much. She is so soft and I can't help but touch her skin and kiss her lips. To Hell with Ginny. This is where I belong.

She feels so good but she pulls away from me. Her eyes stare into my very soul and I know what is about to happen.

“Harry…I have to talk about it. I have to talk about everything.” She drops her eyes to the floor in an attempt to escape the situation. I can't blame her. “For years we pushed each other away in one way or another and then you married...” Her voice caught and I looked away. “I didn't think my heart could take it when that happened. Then…that one night after you came here all upset it was like my heart had started beating again.” She shook her head and I began to die inside. “I guess I was happy that you wanted me like I wanted you.” She gave me that sweet little smile and I shattered into a thousand pieces.

“I love you Harry, and I probably always will, but we need to move on from all this deceit before it smothers us.” She held her head up high then and I knew she meant for me to go. I loved her for it. She was always much stronger than I. I nod my head solemnly and walk over to her. She holds her breath and I reach out to wipe the stream of tears away from her cheeks. She closes her eyes and holds onto my hand briefly.

I can't tell her that I'm going to win her back someday. I can't tell her that I have a plan to end it all. I can tell her only one thing that I know she yearns to hear. I bring my lips down to hers and gently kiss her. I release her and look down into her expressive brown eyes that hold so much power over me. “Hermione…I…I…love you so much. I'm sorry for what I've done to us.” She sobs and I turn to go. I want to stay with her and hold her. I want to make it okay but I know the only way I can do that is to escape from my prison. Then I'll come back to her as a new man. I'll be free to take her into my arms and love her without any guilt. I don't know how I could walk to the door without collapsing. The only thing driving me now is her. It's always been her.

Hermione…

I hear the door shut softly and I fall to the ground with my head on the soft cushions of my couch. My soul was shattering and my heart felt like it was going to split into, but I did it. I saved us both. “He said he loved me…” I whisper softly. How ironic that he can only tell me that sentiment on the eve of our end. I rise up and go to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. It would have been so easy to just allow him to ease my pain and sorrow with his kisses. I could have let him make love to me but I knew when I read that article that it was only a matter of time before the press found out who I was. Now at least he can be truthful when he is asked the nature of our relationship. What is the nature of your relationship? Can you pretend that years of your life had not happened? Perhaps I should move away? I was lost in thought when I heard a knock on the door. Part of me wanted it to be him.

It is Ron. He comes through the door looking grim. “Hey Hermione. Is…uh…Harry here?”

I look up at him and shake my head. “I assume he went home. To be with his lovely wife.” I didn't mean for my jealousy to sound so obvious.

Ron nervously steps from one foot to the other clearly agitated. “Is he ever really with her Hermione?”

“Look Ron I'm tired of all this bull shit! I've had a really bad day and I have a headache. So Say what you mean to say. It's not like you don't know what has been going on. You obviously feel like it is your business.” My tone is a bit harsher than I usually am.

He looks at me and softens a little. “I'm sorry…I just have something I need to tell him and I thought he would be here.”

I sigh, “He was here, but he left about an hour ago.” I feel tears begin to burn behind my eyes. “For good I guess.” I turn away hoping that Ron wouldn't decide to comfort me. I was wrong.

He comes around to take me in his arms and that is all it takes. I am openly sobbing on his shoulder and he is patting me on the back. “It's alright Hermione. Did you do it or did he?” He pulls back to look in my eyes.

“I…I told him we needed to stop and he told me…he told me he was in love with me.” I felt Ron stiffen a little at the words but he was my best friend after all and I had to tell someone. He nodded his head.

“Yeah, I kind of knew he did.” He said quietly and stepped away from me awkwardly. He offers me a handkerchief and leads me to the couch. “Are you going to be okay?”

I nod my head and give him a weak smile. “You're a good friend Ron. Thank you for not judging me.” I look into his freckled face and concerned eyes and I feel thankful that I at least still have Ron's friendship. Maybe someday I'll have Harry's friendship back as well. The way it used to be. My heart aches.

He pats me on the back a little and stands up to leave. “Well, if you need anything let me know okay?”

I nod my head and stand to give him another hug. He smiles at me before walking to my door. “Give Luna a floo this week. Maybe you two could…I don't know. Go shopping or something.”

I smile at him. After all these years he still associates females with shopping, clothes…and perfume. I do love him for trying though.

“Thanks Ron. Maybe I will.” I close the door softly behind him and for some reason I feel free. I hated the lies and charade of what my life had become. My only hope was that I could stand up to my ideals this time. I had to be strong for both of us and maybe things would be okay…in the long run. They just had to be okay.

Harry…The 2nd Day of The Breakup…Very Late…

I don't know the time when I stumble into my cold empty house. Hell I don't even know what day it is. I don't even care if she is back. I stagger into my office falling down onto my lounge chair and pray I don't heave. My mind is clouded with the firewhiskey and I feel my mind slowly growing numb to the pain. I have only one person on my mind as I sink into oblivion and she is soft and gentle. She is Hermione.

Early The Next Morning…

I hear a loud crack and my brain bursts into agony. I try to raise my head and speak but it feels like my mouth is packed with sand and my head must be crammed with marbles. “Who the hell made that noise?” I croak feebly.

“It is Dobby, Sir.” The little house elf rushes over to my side and helps me to sit up. “I have news sir of Ms. Ginny!”

I at last take a good look at my little friend, who is dressed in a miniature little overcoat and a large wide brimmed hat just like those old private investigator movies. For some reason he had taken a liking to muggle entertainment. His eyes are so big the sunglasses can't even cover them. I can't help but smile at him as he bows just like always. Apparently, Dobby must have taken this assignment seriously.

“So what have you found out?” I hope that no one saw him dressed up in that get up.

He gives the room a sly glance before stealing closer and whispers. “Your wife has not been as sly as Dobby has oh no. She has been having meetings Sir.”

Harry murmured a focus charm over himself to help with the hangover and stared at Dobby. “What do you mean by meetings?”

“Well Sir, I have been following Ms. Ginny for two days. The first place she went was to her Family's house for an evening. Then she left sir and I followed her to London where she spent a great deal of gold.” He then stopped and brought out a little pad of paper and began reading. “Ms. Ginny bought three new hats, a green cloak with a fur lining, a black cloak with red velvet lining, two pair of shoes and a small bottle of perfume.” Dobby was breathless and licked his lips before continuing. “Then Ms Ginny sir…she went inside a muggle restaurant, sir, and Dobby can't stand what happened next sir!”

“It's okay Dobby,” Harry said anxiously. He was leaning forward now trying to decipher everything the little house elf was trying to say. “Keep going. You can do it.”

“Well sir, she met someone there!” Dobby dropped his head in his hands and moaned pathetically.

Harry could feel his heart pumping hard. This was it. He knew it. “So…who was it?”

Dobby, jumped up and blinked several times before backing away from Harry awkwardly. “Dobby is not sure he should say sir. Harry Potter must promise not to be angry.” Dobby shook his head. “Dobby knows that Harry Potter will not be happy with Ms. Ginny at all!” He wrung his hands over and over nervously.

“Now Dobby…it is very important that you tell me what you saw.” I try to remain calm. Dobby blinks uncertainly and shifts his glance to some sort of commotion in the hallway.

“Ms. Ginny is home sir!” he whispered pitifully.

I reach out by instinct and gently grab him by the arm to him calm. I shake my head. “No…no…no…Dobby don't run away.” I whisper hastily. “Just tell me…what did you see?”

“Mr. Malfoy sir…”

Ginny flys into the room gracefully and finds Harry holding onto the little elf. A moment of understanding passes between them and Dobby blinks before disappearing with a loud pop.

“So I see your little spy has made it home. Honestly Harry, if you wanted to know what I was up to why didn't you just ask me?” She gives me a sneer.

“Do you like my new cloak?” She twirls it around with delight and I feel sick inside. “I saw it at Jenkin's Cloaks and Robes and simply had to have it.”

“What have you been telling him Ginny?”

“Whatever are you talking about Harry?” She smiles innocently and I close my eyes.

“You know what I am talking about.” I am finding my patience with her growing thin. How could I have married her? “It's not that I care who you see behind my back but what the hell did you tell him!”

She stops and glares angrily at me. “I told him the truth Harry! That used to be a quality you valued. Remember?”

“Look, I'm not mad okay? Just what did you tell him?” I see the fire in her eyes change, they seemed to soften and she backed into the high back chair by my desk to sit down.

“I didn't know he would use any of it, in the beginning. He is quite charming you know. We became friends and I trusted him. Then things changed and he kept asking me questions...I…I didn't know how to stop answering him!” Her eyes filled with something almost like regret but my clouded mind was thinking only of Hermione and how for the millionth time I had let her down.

“What…did…you…tell…him!” I forwarded on her and she shrunk back into my chair.

“I to…told him about the flat…and…and…how you always come home…late.” She looked up at me then and for the first time in a long time I felt sorry for what I had done to her as well. “Don't you get it Harry…I am so lonely. I know what I did was wrong but I couldn't help it!” Her sobbing grated on my nerves.

“Don't you see Ginny? Don't you see what all of this deceit and damn idiotic pride is doing to us?” I shake my head at her. “This isn't a marriage.” I whisper weakly.

She angrily shook her head… “No! You promised Neville you would take care of me! You swore it!”

“Don't…Don't tell me what oath I swore to a dead man.” Her bottom lip trembles slightly. I rub my temples wearily. “Gin, I am moving out.”

“Let the world be damned I'm moving the hell out!”

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