Ron ran the grueling practice for almost two hours, and by the end of it, everyone looked ready to fall off their brooms and keel over. Ginny was sweating and grimy, and after saying a quick farewell to Katie as the older girl headed up to breakfast, she headed for the changing rooms.
After her shower, she took the charm off her neck and examined her skin, standing in front of the mirror only in a towel. The bruises were beginning to fade, to her great relief, but she would have to keep the charm on for a couple more days just to be safe. The water dripped from her curls as she ran her fingers over her neck, skin warming with the memory of what caused the little marks.
Harry always wanted to talk at the oddest times. This same thing had happened just a few days ago, except instead of being thoroughly playful with her, he had been quiet, almost sad as he spoke to her. His energy would shift suddenly like that in a matter of days, even hours. Everyone was starting to notice it, and Professor Lupin had even stopped her after her last class with him yesterday to talk.
***
“Ginny, is Harry all right?”
She looked up at him in shock. “Why would you think I would know, Professor?” she asked carefully, sitting down at his desk.
He seemed uncomfortable. “Well, I had a letter from your mother, and she was under the impression that you and Harry...”
“Oh! She told you?”
He looked oddly relieved. “Yes, she thought it was prudent for me to know. Is there a reason you haven’t told anyone else?”
She blushed lightly, looking down at her hands. “Harry wants to keep it a secret. He seems to think I’d be in danger if it was known I was close to him,” she replied softly.
“Ah. Well, it’s a good idea in theory. But, has he spoken to you about anything to do with Sirius?” His voice had tightened slightly at Sirius’ name.
She shook her head. “He doesn’t like to talk about it. He only said something to me once during the summer, but since then he’s never alluded to it. I think he wants to put it in the back of his mind, and forget it happened, especially since he’s back at school. He doesn’t want to look weak in front of all his peers,” she commented, looking up at the worried man in front of her.
Lupin sighed. “Well, he should talk to someone. Would you tell him he’s always welcome to come and see me? He hasn’t really talked to me since the start of school.”
Ginny smiled slightly. “I’ll tell him, Professor. I’m sure he wants to talk to you. He just can’t get past himself yet,” she said gently, standing and heading for the door.
“Thank you, Ginny. And,” he paused as she was about to head out the door, and she turned back to him. He smiled, eyes misting over as if he was remembering something from long ago. “You can call me Remus in private. Harry does.”
***
Ginny opened her eyes and sighed in memory, meeting her own gaze in the mirror. That conversation with Lupin had added weight to her own growing concerns over Harry’s welfare. She didn’t want to push Harry, but he was sucking everything he felt into the deepest protections he had inside himself, and if he didn’t open up soon, he would explode when least expected. She had been very gentle with him over the summer. Maybe it was time to get a little tougher.
She flipped her hair over her face and scrunched the damp curls briefly, feeling a stone drop into her stomach. Harry might not like the tough side of her. What if he didn’t want her? Her insides churned at the thought, and she flipped her hair back, looking in the mirror.
And meeting a pair of dark, vivid green eyes.
She squealed, and spun around, seeing Harry’s head floating not five feet from her. “d#amn you, Harry! You shouldn’t be in here,” she hissed as he laughed at the look on her face.
“But, I had to show you my amazing popping head trick,” he explained impudently, a quick swish of a fluid silver cloak revealing the rest of his body. He was still in his Quidditch robes, and her heart fluttered at the sight.
She struggled not to swoon, and glared at him. “Couldn’t it have waited until I was dressed?”
He smirked, an eye traveling up her toweled form. “It wouldn’t have been as fun, love.”
“For who? I’m not having any fun,” she retorted, crossing her arms over her chest.
His eyes darkened and he stepped towards her, hands reaching out to grasp her waist. “Me, Ginny. I’m having lots of fun.”
His breath was very hot on her skin, and she felt heat gather unbidden in her body, shuddering lightly through her. He kept her gaze with his as he pulled her to him, resting his mouth near her ear. “I can make this fun for you, Gin. Very fun,” he breathed, kissing her earlobe. She jumped in his arms, letting out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding until just then. A low chuckle escaped his throat, and his lips pressed against her neck.
Her breath came sharply, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing his cheek as he kept up his attentions to her neck. She had a feeling that once she got out of here she’d have a few more of those bruises on her neck, if not in other places...
She was jolted out of her Harry-induced daze as one of his hands came across her stomach, tugging gently on her towel as he slanted his mouth across hers. The feelings running through him were explosive, and she felt every one of them. There was mostly desire coursing in him, mixed with what seemed like hate, pain, guilt. She struggled to pull her lips from his insistent mouth, feeling her self-control slip away as fast as her towel was. “Harry! Harry, wait! Please,” she gasped when his lips left hers momentarily. Her hands untangled from his unruly hair, and cupped his face, making his gaze focus on her. “Wait a minute, Harry,” she echoed gently. “We need to talk.”
For moment, he didn’t seem to understand her, but soon he nodded, breathing heavily. His hands left her body, and she pulled back from him, a hand going to latch onto her towel. They stared heatedly at each other for a minute, regaining their breath. The look in his eyes frightened her and excited her at the same time.
Suddenly, she giggled lightly. “Hormones, Harry. My goodness,” she teased, needing to lighten the mood that had dropped over them.
He cracked a grin, eyes still smoldering at her. “It’s those towels you’ve taken to wearing. They drive me nuts,” he replied huskily.
She smiled crookedly, remembering the hate and guilt she had felt pouring from him only a few minutes ago. “Harry, Professor Lupin is worried about you.”

He blinked, then let out a short, tense laugh. “Well, that was a bit random.”
“Why won’t you talk to him?”
He stiffened, and she could see the walls close in around him. “Does it matter?”
“Yes. You should talk to someone, Harry,” she said softly, leaning against the sink behind her. “We’re all worried, Harry. You go up and down so fast we’re afraid to say something wrong, in case you’re in the wrong mood!”
“You shouldn’t worry, Ginny. I’m fine,” he stated coolly, crossing his arms over his chest.
She pursed her lips, and paused momentarily. She had attempted to get him to talk, and he had refused. Wasn’t that enough? She had a sinking feeling that if she said anymore, he’d become furious.
But, he had said, “I’m fine.” She remembered the fight he and Hermione had had in the summer when he had said that. Soon after that, Ginny had discovered he was far from fine. And the thought of him telling her of all people that he was fine angered her.
“Like hell you’re fine, Harry,” she blurted out hotly. “You’re not fine, and I can’t believe you would try to fool me like this! I can feel everything you’re going through, and I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting.”
His eyes were wide with horror. She kept on talking recklessly, feeling the dread rise within her. “You’ve got to stop this “I’m fine,” rubbish, Harry, because I know you’re not. Why are you keeping things from me? Don’t you trust me?”
He looked outraged. “Of course I trust you, Ginny----“
“Then why don’t you tell me anything? I can’t be the only one trying to make this work, Harry! It doesn’t help that you want our relationship to be a secret, but you want your whole mind to be a secret, too!” she exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes.
Harry gazed at her for a moment, anger darkening his eyes to black. Then, he leaned over to pick up his Invisibility Cloak from where he had dropped it during their kiss, and met her eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Ginny,” he said tonelessly, and walked out of the locker room.
Her legs gave out from underneath her, and she fell onto the stone floor, tears running down her face silently as the best thing in her crazy life walked out for good. So much for tough Ginny being wanted the same way as gentle Ginny.

~*~

Shrewd eyes watched from his hiding place as he saw a tall, dark-haired boy storm out from the girls’ changing room, a furious look on his face. The watcher gaze a little shout of surprise. Potter? Why was Potter in the girls’ locker room?
A few minutes later, another shock jolted through him as a slim red-head followed in Potter’s footsteps, face pale and stained with tears. The youngest Weasley...and Potter? A smirk crossed the watcher’s face. His lord would enjoy this. All he needed was the proof.
He would get it.