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Author: Velvethope Story: From Answers to Questions Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 8 Words: 201,438
"How did you sleep?" Hermione awoke, startled. She rubbed at her eyes and realized she had a piece of parchment stuck to her face. Pulling it off with disgust, she looked up at Ron, who was facing her with a fresh kettle and a plate of orange and cranberry muffins. Any sort of rapprochement she may have had died on her lips when she realized the muffins were still hot. She'd been feeling queasy the last couple of mornings, but the sight of the freshly baked muffins actually made her hungry. After she had eagerly poured herself a cup of tea and buttered her muffin, she looked over at him and smiled. "You know perfectly well how I slept, Ron. While you were out there baking, I was in here pouring over these notes. Although," Hermione paused, enjoying the sensation of the freshly baked bread on her tongue. "I think you did a better job than I. These are delicious. And for once this week, I'm actually hungry." Ron smiled and then reached across to read some of the papers she had set aside. "That didn't stop you from taking those blueberry scones for spite the other day. But I'm taking that to mean that you've had no luck with all this mess." 'This mess' referred to the bulk of parchment they'd received from the last Obliviator they'd contacted. The only one who'd even had a scrap of paperwork to back up the Fagan case. Hermione had to admit his style of organization left something to be desired. She frowned. "I found half of a testimonial from the first Muggle girl, Victoria Johnson of 112 N. Westbury Road, London. All it basically says is that she met Fagan in a bar, they had a few drinks, and she woke up pinned to the ceiling. No details or anything. I'm assuming there's more, but who can tell? Quite frankly, I'm beginning to think this is a lost cause...." Ron frowned at her. "That's not like you, Hermione." Reaching for another muffin but then deciding not to push it, Hermione shrugged. "You haven't been privy to the memos I've been receiving either. The Wizengamot is all but convinced. I'm the only one who seems bothered by the fact that Fagan appears to be a miscreant who shouldn't be allowed to practice magic on a Doxy, let alone the world at large." "Well, I can't believe the other Obliviators don't have their histories anymore. Aren't they supposed to hang on to all of that?" Hermione nodded. "Yes. And don't you worry; I'll be getting that Jameison written up for being unhelpful. Told me his goat ate the parchment. As if I'd believe that! I swear if I didn't know any better, Donald Fagan has bought people off." "Maybe he has, Hermione. He seems awfully determined." Hermione shook her head. "There's no proof, really. None of the former Obliviators are living in luxury, Ron. I can't very well go into the hearing saying they've been paid off when one is living in a shack outside of Leeds, and another is selling bat-dung out of their house to make extra money. If only there was some other type of reference we could use...someone else who had something to say about Louis Fagan's obvious lack of character." The two sat in silence for awhile, and then Ron sighed, putting down the papers he'd been ruffling through. "Well, there's always Neville." Hermione stopped taking a drink and stared at him. "What?" "Neville. Didn't you tell me he had a run in with Louis a few years ago? You never told me what it was about; you two kept it very hush-hush, but I got the feeling it had something to do with something Louis had done to someone." After staring at Ron as though she'd never seen him before, Hermione's face broke out into a wide grin. She jumped up and ran over to where Ron was sitting, throwing her arms around him. "You! You are brilliant, you really are." Ron turned red and looked at her, astounded. "What did I -" "You reminded me of something I'd forgotten, that's what! Oh I could sing! Neville is the perfect reference for this...in fact there's even...." Hermione paused and looked at Ron, apprehensive. She shook her head; no, there'd be no reason to bring that up now, would there? "No," she said aloud, as Ron continued to give her an odd look. "Neville should be fine. He's known Louis Fagan since Hogwarts, I'm certain he can lend some insight into his lack of character. Oh, Ron, you're brilliant!" Hermione kissed him and then ran off to get ready. Ron shook his head. He wasn't certain what he'd just done so brilliantly, but he couldn't help but enjoy the rewards. With that in mind, he got up to follow Hermione into the bedroom. Maybe he could be brilliant at something else as well this morning. *** Later than she'd expected, but happily pleased with herself and Ron, Hermione made it out to the greenhouse before 11:00 A.M. None of the children were about, which seemed odd to her, and when she went inside, it was dark and cool. She was about to assume that no one had come in to work when she heard noises in the back. Making her way past the lilacs and the burgeoning snapdragons, Hermione stumbled onto a very strange scene. "Oh. Oh! Sorry. Neville, I came to speak to you about something. Hi, Susan." Hermione had to blink to make certain she wasn't imagining the fact that Susan Bones had just been holding Neville's hand. Neville offered a kind smile. "Hi, Hermione. I reckoned I'd hear from one of you today." He looked at Susan, and Hermione watched as some unspoken communication passed between them. Susan smiled at Neville and then nodded at Hermione. She got up from her chair and walked past her. "I'll look at that new plot of Red Heather we just planted and make certain it's moist enough. Let me know if you need me." Hermione watched her go and then looked back at Neville, a question on her face. But she forgot it when she got a good look at her friend. He seemed so...well, sad. "Neville, is this a bad time? Is everything okay?" Neville looked at her, surprised. "I thought you knew. I mean, I thought that was why you'd come out here. But you haven't spoken to Ginny have you?" Hermione shook her head. "No, I haven't. I've been working on something the last few days; I haven't seen Ginny since the party. Is everything all right?" Hermione moved into the seat Susan had vacated and looked at Neville. "Nothing a few hundred years won't cure. Well, I may as well tell you, Ginny and I...we...uh...broke up." Hermione pulled back and felt her heart ache a little bit. "Oh, Neville. I'm so sorry. When? No wonder you look so sad." "Just yesterday afternoon. I...oh, it doesn't matter. The details of it," Neville shook his head and then looked at her. "You don't seem very surprised, Hermione. I'm wondering if everyone knew we weren't right for each other and just went around never bothering to say anything." Hermione bit her lip. "Well, no. Surprised isn't the right word, really. And you were really good for Ginny at a time -" "But she's grown past me, I know." "Oh, Neville," Hermione reached out and put her arms around her friend. How do you commiserate with someone when you know that he's right? Neville pulled away and offered her a little smile. "It's okay, Hermione. Me and Ginny...we're still friends. I reckon that's all we ever were really. I'm just a little blue. I'll get over it." "Neville, you've cared for Ginny for a long time. I can't imagine you'll just get over it -" "It's for the best, Hermione. I know she doesn't love me -" "Neville! That's not true; you know Ginny cares for you -" "But she's never truly loved me, Hermione. Don't worry about my feelings. I know I'm not the great love of her life or anything. You know, it's amazing...just a few days ago I was fine, ignoring all the signs, sticking my head into the soil, and now...now I realize that Ginny and I have been drifting apart for awhile. We're not interested in the same things or even have much in common, really." "Oh, Neville. You two had a very...well, you both cared for each other. That counts for more than hobbies. I think -" "Hermione, it's okay. No need to shelter me from the reality. I've been in love with the wrong girl for a long time. Let me just accept that and move on." Hermione frowned. "I don't want you to think that you've just been wasting your time, Neville. I think you and Ginny were very good for -" Neville laughed, and it had a choked sound to it. "Maybe. Once upon a time. I told her that, at any rate. But maybe I should have just let her be. I don't know. I don't know a lot of things, it seems." Neville ran his hand through his hair and looked down at the ground. Hermione wanted to comfort him but he didn't seem to want to be comforted. Suddenly, she knew she couldn't ask him to do what she'd come to ask him. "You know, I think of all the things I'll miss, spending time at the Weasleys' will be the tops. They're a great family. They always made me feel at home," Neville said softly. "Well, I'm certain they will still expect to see you. If you and Ginny truly are still friends, I know she'll expect to see you there as well. Ginny's not likely to throw you away, Neville. She's...she's a very true friend. Like you are." Neville nodded. "Yeah. But she might have her hands full at the moment...what with...Harry being back." Hermione didn't say anything. She couldn't very well tell him he was right, could she? Neville didn't need to hear about Harry's desire to be with Ginny after all this time. She'd let Harry himself handle that one. "Well, what did you come to see me about, anyway?" Neville asked after a moment, forcing a smile onto his face. Hermione shook her head. "Never mind, Neville. I don't want to bother you with it. Just something about a former student. It'll keep. Take care of yourself. Work with the plants, it'll lift your spirits. Spend some time with...Susan." She wasn't certain, but she could have sworn she saw Neville blush a bit. He looked away and then back at her. "Tell Ginny I'm okay though, if you see her. I don't want her to worry about...me. Let her get on with her life, for once and for all. Oh, and you can give her something for me," Neville said as he stood up and walked over to a small container that held a batch of what looked like weeds to Hermione. Neville nodded sheepishly as he handed over the small container. "She'll know what they are. They should bloom later, if I did it right. They should be planted into the little garden box I made her before the next week though. So they don't die." Hermione took the container and nodded. "Are you certain you're okay?" Neville looked away, but he met her eyes a moment later. "I'll be fine. I've got...things to get ready for. Things to take my mind off of stuff. Why don't I owl you and Ron next week, and we can have dinner?" Hermione smiled. "Of course, Neville. I don't want you to think you're losing us as friends either. We've all been through so much. And you'll be okay, again. I promise." She gave her friend one more hug and then turned to leave. When she turned back to wave goodbye, she noticed Susan was already in her place, holding his hand again. Hermione had a feeling that Neville would eventually be very okay indeed. *** A little while later, Hermione was knocking on Ginny's door, the container Neville had given her held out in front. Ginny answered the door, a huge smile on her face. "Now what did you forget to do? Kiss my earlobes goodbye?" She sobered when she saw Hermione and then blushed a deep red colour. "Er...Hermione. Sorry. I...thought you were someone else. Come in. And what's that in your hands? It looks rather weedy," Ginny said, covering her surprise quickly. She opened her door so that Hermione could enter. "I stopped off at the Ministry first, and Dex was rather put out to say that you were, 'yet again, taking the day off'. I get the feeling he thinks you've been slacking off and -" Hermione's voice trailed off, noticing the two sets of dishes still sitting on the table. Breakfast for two, isn't that interesting? "Who were you expecting me to be just now, Ginny?" she said as she turned and gave her friend her most direct look. The look that usually made Ron's ears turn pink. Ginny shrugged and took the container from her. "What are these, and where did you get them? They look a sight -" Hermione watched her friend and folded her arms. "I stopped in and saw Neville this morning." Ginny stopped and looked at her, a guilty look finally flashing across her face. "Neville? How is he? Did he seem okay? Did he - ?" Hermione nodded and took off her outer robes, sitting down at the table. "He told me. Now do you mind filling me in about what is going on with you? I'm assuming you thought I was Harry coming back. The question is, how long was Harry here, Ginny? And really...on the night that you break up with Neville? I don't want to sound as though I'm judging you but -" "It wasn't like that," Ginny said as she turned pink. "It was all perfectly...well, not innocent. But...nothing happened between me and Harry last night. Nothing I wouldn't feel comfortable telling my mum about, anyway." Ginny looked away and put the container on the table. She sat down across from Hermione. "Well, pretend I'm your Mum, then. Tell me all the perfectly innocent details." Ginny scowled. "I said, it wasn't innocent." "Right, sorry. But please continue." Rolling her eyes, Ginny sat back and looked at her. After a moment, she finally decided to speak. "I came back from seeing Neville feeling worn out and drained. Harry was waiting for me, to see if I wanted some dinner. So for some reason, I invited him in, and we cooked some stew. And...then we sort of had a fight." Hermione nodded. "Okay, sounds about right. Then what?" "Well, we sort of had it all out. You know, him leaving and being the prat that he is...er, was," Ginny's ears had turned a deeper shade of pink, and Hermione bit her tongue to keep from smiling at her. "And well, we then sort of...made up, really," Ginny said continuing. Her face lit up at the memory of it. "But then we fought again, and Harry was being...." "More of a prat?" "No, actually. He was being very...clever. He let me rant and rave and then he sat me down, and we spoke about things some more, and then we were tired, and he didn't want to leave, so we slept. And that's it." Hermione raised her eyebrow. "That's it? Ginny, those are the worst details ever." "Well, that's all I'm going to say." Hermione folded her arms. "You answered your door talking about him kissing your earlobes goodbye and that's all you're going to say?" Ginny blushed and then finally, giggled. "Well, we did do a fair bit of snogging." Hermione laughed. "Ah-ha! The gory details. Come on, Ginny. I'll tell you something about your brother, if you tell me something about Harry." Ginny's face widened in surprise. "Hermione! That's...I don't want to know anything about Ron. Eww." "Not like that," Hermione said laughing. She shook her head. "Okay, fine. Don't kiss and tell. Besides, I've already kissed Harry once or twice, myself." Ginny looked at her, flabbergasted. "What? Does my brother know this?" Hermione laughed. "No, and don't you tell him. Oh, it was ages ago. Luckily for Ron, I thought kissing Harry was like kissing a brother. If I had a brother, that is. Something tells me you find the situation to be completely the opposite." Ginny shook her head. "I thought you'd lecture me about Neville for some reason." "Well, I do feel bad for him. But...I don't know, I think Neville will be okay, really. And as long as you're okay with it too...Harry's return didn't really have that much to do with it after all, did it?" "No. I reckon Harry's return played its part, but...no. In the end, it was me having to finally own up to the fact that I'm not in love with Neville. Even though I worry about him," Ginny frowned. "Are you certain he was okay when you left him? I don't want him to be alone -" "Oh, he wasn't." When Ginny looked at her, questioning, Hermione smiled. "Susan was with him. She was...taking care of him." Ginny blinked and then shook her head. "Susan works fast." "Do you have a right to be self-righteous about that? Didn't you just spend the night with someone?" "Well, yeah, but they don't know that...oh, yeah, I see your point. Well, I'm glad then. Neville deserves someone who's in love with him." "Very mature of you." Ginny rolled her eyes. "All right, Hermione." Hermione held up her hands. "Sorry. Can't resist being a bit of a big sister. Even if you are only a year younger than me. Ron is going to be dumbstruck when I tell him this - oh! look!" Hermione nodded towards the container she'd brought along from Neville. The weeds had turned into tiny blue flowers. Buds opened up here and there through the container, and she suddenly could smell something sweet and light filling the flat. "I don't believe it. That looked like a bunch of weeds a while ago. Neville's truly amazing at Herbology, isn't he?" Hermione glanced at Ginny and saw, that instead of the flowers making her happy, her friend was sad instead. "Ginny - what's- ?" "Do you know what sort of flowers those are, Hermione?" Hermione peered closer and shook her head. They looked familiar, yet she couldn't place the name. "No, do they hold some sort of meaning?" Ginny gave her a half smile. "I think Neville's trying to tell me something." "What?" "They're called Forget-Me-Nots. They're the first flower he ever grew for me. They'll bloom forever, if you plant them right. He made me learn all about them. There's an old tale that says they were named for a knight that died while walking with his love. He fell into a raging river as he bent down to pick some wildflowers for her. As he was falling, he tossed them back to her and cried out, 'forget me not'. Since then, they've always been called that. They're a symbol for broken hearts everywhere." "Oh. Oh, Ginny. I'm sorry, I didn't know...I reckon they're Neville's way of saying goodbye." Ginny stared at the flowers a moment longer and nodded. She wiped at a small tear in her eye. "Reckon you're right. Or maybe he just thought I'd like the colour." Ginny stood up and took the flowers to the shelf by the window. It was here that Neville had built her a garden box, and Hermione could see other flowers blooming as well. She got up and walked over to her friend. "Why, these are lovely. You must have a bit of green thumb yourself, to keep them so nice -" Ginny's voice sounded gruff. "No. It's all Neville. He'd come in some times when I was at work or out, and he'd tend to them. He'd make certain they were always healthy and blooming. He always took care of them...and me." "Oh, Ginny. Maybe you should have sent Harry home last night, I'm not certain starting something up with him so soon is -" "Nothing happened, Hermione. Just a few kisses. Actually, it was probably the happiest night of my life, if I'm truthful. I mean, after we got done fighting about things." Ginny paused and shook her head. "Just being around Harry makes everything else seem far away. Why is that, do you suppose?" Ginny turned to face her, and Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. Ron does the same to me some times. I'll be angry at him for something, and he'll just...give me that look he has and suddenly, nothing else matters. It's all very foolish, I'm afraid to say. Makes no logical sense whatsoever that another human being can do that to you, but...there it is, and oh dear -" Hermione felt weak suddenly and reached out to hold Ginny for support. "Hermione? Are you okay? You look...Hermione!" The last thing Hermione saw before she blacked out were the small blue blooms of the Forget-Me-Nots as they faded into the darkness of her mind. *** The man was growing tired of this one. He realized his attention span for them, once he had them fixed up right, was growing shorter. None of them lasted, it seemed. Eventually they'd mess up or do something out of character, and he'd realize it was all a facade. None of them were the one he wanted. Still, he enjoyed his endeavours. He couldn't lie about that. Seeing them so helpless, it did something to him. And this one had been a real redhead, a nice change. No glamour for this one, no sir. He'd used up all that she could give him. He watched as she whimpered in the corner, trying desperately to cover herself. Suddenly he felt disgust for her. With a sharp slap of his hand against his leg, she stopped moving. Good, at least she'd learned that. Maybe this one was salvageable, after all. He walked over to the girl and pulled her head up. She blinked at the bright light and made certain not to look him in the face. Ah, yes, this one did show a great capacity for learning, didn't she? He kneeled down in front of her and used his wand to tie the ends of the dress he'd made for her back together. With a tender hand, he patted her head, loving the feel of her hair in his hands. Maybe he wouldn't get rid of this one, just yet. He'd keep her for a little while, maybe give her another go. He reached over to the table and into the drawer to pull out the rope again. The girl moaned softly as it slid over her and suddenly she was still. The nightshade always worked so quickly, didn't it? They never felt a thing. More importantly, they never saw a thing. The man removed the mask he wore and grinned down at her unseeing eyes. This was only the beginning. *** "Hello there! Harry!" Harry turned in the direction the voice was coming from and had to stop a scowl from appearing on his face. "Hi...er...Dex, was it?" Dexter Eoghan smiled and stuck out his hand. "Yes! Pleased to meet you again, of course. I thought that was you I spied coming out of the cauldron shop. Picking one up for a spot of some cooking? That's a nice one. Self-stirring even. Perfect for bachelors, of course. I have a few myself." Dexter nodded at the very nice, copper pot Harry had just purchased. Harry gave a little smile and then decided to collapse the cauldron. Dexter whistled. "Collapsible too, eh? Must have cost a pretty galleon. Care for a drink at the Leaky Cauldron?" "Er...well, actually I'm going back -" Dexter smiled again. "I have to say I was really happy to see you out and about. Took a load off my mind, actually." Curiosity got the better of him, and Harry looked at the man, confused. "Where did you expect me to be?" Harry thought Dex turned a bit red, but the other man shook his head and looked away so fast, he wasn't certain he'd seen it. "It's silly, really. Since my partner skived off work, yet again...I thought you might be the reason for it. She's been in a state ever since you came back, really. Of course, no one really notices this except those close to her," Dexter paused and looked a bit sheepish. "Reckon it did my heart good to see that if she's not with you and not at work, then she might really just be taking a day for herself. Now how about that drink?" Harry had told Ginny that he would come back later and take her out to an early dinner, but something told him to take Dexter up on his offer. He wanted to know exactly where Dex stood as far as his feelings for Ginny went. "All right. I reckon I can have a small one. We can...get to know each other better." Dexter's face brightened. "Splendid! After hearing so much about you, I have to admit, I feel like I know a bit already." After they settled into their booth, Dexter ordered a whiskey, and Harry asked for a butterbeer. After a silence fell between them, Dexter cleared his throat. "Well, now since I've got you here, I seem a bit...well, how did you find America, Harry? Loud? Obnoxious? Some place you'd like to return to soon?" Harry couldn't resist a smile. "I found America to be quite nice, actually. Different, but the same. But no, I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. England is my home, really. I'd like to settle down here for good." Dexter nodded, although he seemed disappointed. "Aye. Understood. I felt the same, actually, after I'd come back. I grew up in Scotland, but my dad was always transferring around. He settled in America when I was the right age, and off to Jones Academy I went. I always thought I'd received a bit of a raw deal, not going to Hogwarts, but you've seen Jones, you know it's a capable place." Harry nodded. "Yes, it's a great school. The professors I met were all extremely knowledgeable about things. There was one or two that were former Hogwarts students themselves, I believe. Why did your father move around a lot?" "Well, he and my mum, they fought a lot about...well, me mostly. About how I was to be raised, of course. My mum's family is practically Scottish royalty, and she wanted her only son to be raised the proper way. She didn't go in for all this magic business. She is as Muggle as they come. Falling for a wizard was her greatest travesty, of course." Dexter paused, his voice softening. "Don't get me wrong, my mum is a wonderful woman, but she's got a bit of that Scottish hard-headedness about her. Reminds me a bit of Ginny, to be truthful. I'm certain you know all about that." Harry didn't comment and took a swig of his butterbeer instead. He wasn't about to tell Dexter anything about what he knew of Ginny. "Yes, well, anyway, Dad would get angry and move about, teaching here and there. Worked for the Ministry a few years. Scotland's pretty rural in some parts, and not every wizard sends their children to Hogwarts. But he'd always give in to my mother. When the offer came from America, he convinced her that Jones was just as good as Hogwarts, and that living in another country would be a good thing for me. I think by that time my mum was tired of bickering. She acquiesced and the rest, they say, is history." "And how did you end up working with Ginny? I mean, after you moved back here?" Dexter smiled. "Bit of luck, really. I've always been interested in strange things...ever since I was a boy, and didn't understand yet that my father was a wizard. I was fascinated by things that went bump in the night, as they say. Scotland was my playground, as you can imagine. The land is full of rich ghost stories and the like. I think a bit of that rubbed off on me. My mum's family is full of hauntings and strange occurrences. Oh, I know, most hauntings are just angry ghouls or pesky poltergeists having a bit of a go at Muggles, but when I was young, it really inspired me. When it came time to finish school, I kept on at Merlin College for awhile and studied all I could about strange occurrences in the Wizarding world. We don't know any of the answers more than Muggles do, really." "So...you moved back here to work on those types of things for the Ministry and then met Ginny?" "Sorry, didn't answer your original question, did I? I get long-winded sometimes, when I have a willing victim." Dexter paused and nodded at Harry's drink. "Want another one? On me, of course." Harry looked down and realized he had drunk his entire butterbeer without noticing. Almost against his will, he realized he was actually enjoying talking to the man in front of him. "All right, but just one more. I've...got to be somewhere for dinner." "No problem. Hold on a bit," Dexter got up and sprinted up the bar. Harry watched him, noticing the women in the pub staring at him as well and, despite his natural jealous tendencies to the contrary, he could see what Ginny would find attractive about the man. He was charming and easy going. Someone Harry could see hanging around with Ron and himself after a long day at work. Dexter came back and flashed him another smile. I reckon he's handsome, too, thought Harry. Well, as long as Ginny didn't think so, Harry reckoned he could live with that. "So, as I was saying, I've been fascinated by strange things. Yet, I have never had an ounce of luck at Divining a thing. I've tried, too...most forms of it. Usually, I'm stuck staring at my own dull reflection instead of smoky clouds predicting the future. I tried really hard to get into the Department of Mysteries, but that's queued up for the rest of our natural lives. And I knew I didn't have what it takes to be an Auror, so I settled into Muggle Affairs, under your friend Ron. That's how I met the fairest Weasley." Harry made a non-committal sound and nodded his head to make Dex continue. "She was just back from Italy, I think...oh, about 3 years ago. Of course, I'd heard the story of her gift of Sight, how she'd been instrumental in bringing about the downfall of Voldemort. I was really impressed with the fact that Ginny knew what she was doing and had such a clear head for a Seer. Usually, they're the worst lot of...well, you know, not the stable sort. And chance would have it that I got to work with her on a couple of cases for the Ministry, and they were so impressed with her that they gave a whole Department to her. I dare say I impressed her with my Muggle know-it-allness and understanding of the different techniques Seers used. Or maybe I was just in the right place at the right time. She got me on as her partner from the get-go. Personally, I think she just wanted someone to do all the paperwork." Dex gave him a long suffering sigh, but Harry didn't believe it. He took another swallow from his new drink and wondered what to say. Dex flashed another smile at him. "Well, now since I've bored you to tears with my telling tale, care to answer a few things for me?" Harry looked at Dex, guarded. "For my part, I'll try to answer. I've been gone for five years though, not much I know about some...things." "Oh, well, this doesn't have to do with the five years, really. Just the time before it. I take it you and Ginny were close before...when you were at school?" Harry frowned. "Well, no. I mean, yes. But not close, close. She was the sister of my best friend. She was always around, of course." "Ah. I see. Didn't go out or anything did you?" Harry squirmed, suddenly uncomfortable. "Er...why exactly do you want to know? I don't want to sound rude, but is it really any of your business?" Dexter looked at him a moment longer and then shook his head. "No. You're perfectly right. Rude of me to ask. It's just...Ginny gets sort of...quiet about the past, and I've always had the feeling, despite the occurrence of Longbottom in her life, that something happened to her that made her sort of...shut down her emotions. I work day in and day out with the woman, and I still don't know the real heart of her." Harry studied Dexter and then decided to just be direct. "And is that what you want, then? To know the heart of her?" This time, Harry did see Dex turn red. He watched as the other man took off his glasses, so like his own new ones, and clean them on his shirt. An old Muggle habit that Harry knew he still did himself. "Well, Harry...since that was a direct question, I'll try to answer in a direct way. I know Ginny cares for Neville, but I know she doesn't really love him. I've been biding my time on that relationship for awhile, truth be known. And I reckon I'm just a little unnerved by the fact that only after one week of you being back in town, she seems flustered, out of sorts, has gone missing from work, and basically, just not up to her usual self. So my question was mainly to determine if you're competition or not. If you're an old boyfriend, then I might think you have a bit of claim. But if you're just...how did you put it...the best friend of her brother, then I'd say my field is wide open." Harry blinked at Dex in disbelief. Feeling a bit self-conscious of the fact that he'd forgotten to even ask himself the very same question last night, he ploughed on. "What about Neville? How is your field open with him there?" Dex smiled. "They broke up. Or so a little bird tells me. I reckon a respectable amount of time can pass, and I can make my intentions known. I think Ginny deserves a bit of real happiness." Harry felt the coolness of the glass in his hand as he tightly gripped the butterbeer bottle. "And you think you're just the man to give it to her, is that it?" Dex smiled, and Harry suddenly understood how truly presumptuous he must have appeared last night to Ginny, after setting the table in such a romantic fashion. No wonder she got mad at me. Just staring at the smugness on the face of the man in front of him made him want to smack it off with the bottle he now held fast in his hands. Dex cast him a superior look. "Well, I won't lie about the fact that Ginny and I...well, we've always had one of those types of relationships that could go further, if you know what I mean. She's a bonnie lass, to steal a phrase from my old mum, and she's got quite the passionate nature. I know I'm more than willing to be up for the challenge. That is, if she'll have me, of course." "Of course," Harry said absentmindedly. He suddenly had an urge to be as far away from Dex as possible. He set his butterbeer down firmly on the table. "Since you're just an old friend, I reckon it's okay that I've told you this. I mean, there's nothing there, right?" Harry narrowed his eyes at Dex. "Actually, the past between me and Ginny is not so cut and dried, Dex. In fact, there was a time when Ginny was in love with me, and like an idiot, I didn't understand what that meant. I'm back now to set things straight." Dex didn't seem as surprised at this news as Harry had expected. The man nodded and smiled at Harry, giving him a calculating look that Harry didn't like. "Ah, I see. You broke her heart then, and now you've come back to make amends?" Harry nodded in slight surprise. "Aye. I reckoned as much, to be truthful, Harry. You must be the mysterious boy who done her wrong," Dex said with a small grin. "But what makes you think you can just come back and have her? You've broken her up with Neville, which is something I never had the guts to try, so for that, I thank you. But what makes you think she'll be so easy to sway? She's not a seventeen year old girl, with a mad fancy for you. She's a grown woman with real needs and requirements." "Oh, and I suppose you think you're the one to fulfil those needs?" Dex looked him straight in the eye then and didn't blink. "Well, I've never hurt her, now have I? I've never run away from her. She knows she can trust me. Does she know that about you? I mean, have you ever given her a reason to trust you?" Harry stood up. He'd heard enough. "Look, thanks for the drinks, Dex. I'll be certain to pass along your well wishes to Ginny tonight as I have a nice romantic dinner with her." Harry didn't wait for a reaction and turned away, his anger getting the best of him. But as he stepped out into the warm summer night he couldn't shake the sound of Dex's voice asking him the very same questions he'd asked himself. He would have to prove to Ginny that she could trust him. For her sake...and for his own. ***
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