Misplaced Desire

As the fiery haired boy sat on the end of his four poster staring at the floor, he heard her words and whimpers through the door which he had sealed earlier. He knew she was on the other side, knew he should talk to her, but the tears that tracked her cheeks were too much to bear. He heard her sobs through the heavy oak door and his heart wrenched enough to change his mind. Slowly he stood and crossed the short distance, removing the barrier between himself and the woman that he'd loved since his first year at Hogwarts. Swinging the door back he was faced with the sight of her tear filled chocolate eyes and cheeks streaked with dark trails of mascara. His first instinct was to hug her close, but how could he even think of touching her after the pain she'd caused him? After he'd told her he loved her, after the promises of forever, after all of that and she'd still done what she had.

She'd told him that she and Victor were over for good, that she'd only wanted him, what rubbish. And the sad part was, He'd believed her, completely trusted her.He was a fool and no matter what happened, even if they did get back together, things wouldn't ever be as they were. He let his cornflower blue eyes trail from her shaking hands, to her rumpled and tear dampened shirt, and back to meet her gaze. Her lips were trembling and he knew she was about to speak, but beat her to it.

"Don't Hermione, just don't say it. I know what you're going to say and I don't want to hear it. Just go."

"But Ronald, I need to --- please, just listen to me," she pleaded.

"Listen to you what, Hermione? Listen to you explain how you didn't mean to hurt me when you slept with your wonderful, Vicki? Listen to you tell me again that you're sorry, that it was an accident? I don't want to hear it!"

Ronald Weasley was now red in the face out of frustration at the brunette before him and had tears shining in the corners of his eyes.

"Damnit 'Mione! I trusted you, I loved you with everything I had, I was going to ask you to marry me, to be my wife, and this is what I get in return? Well thanks 'Mione, I love you too," he practically yelled at her.

The tears clinging to his lashes freed themselves then and fell freely down his cheeks, scorching his skin with their heat. He stared at her, his face showing all the emotions flooding through him at the moment. He watched her tremble again, but was caught off guard when she threw herself against his chest, fresh tears pouring down her cheeks and onto his dark green shirt. Through her slightly parted lips a barely audible whisper of "I love you Ronald" was heard, but it made his heart skip a beat and he knew that she meant it. No matter what had happened she meant it and it changed everything. Stroking her hair and tilting her chin up so that they were looking at one another, he let his lips brush hers and gathered up the strength to smile.

"I love you too, 'Mione. Everything is going to be alright, just don't worry, okay?"

As she snuggled her face into his chest and he burried his in her soft brown hair, he knew that everything was going to work out. It was their final year and they'd been able to make it work almost flawlessly for the last three years, there was no way he was going to lose her now. He knew it would take a lot of work, but that's what relationships were, work and compromise, but in the end it would all work out.


* While Ron and Hermione ar talking *

"Let me go Harry, I am going to go tear the bitch a new one and you as well if you don't get your nails out of my arm."

"Gin, calm down, let them talk it out. I know you are furious and you have every right to be, but Ron gets first when it comes to berating her judgement and making her cry."

"Fine, but I swear, if he goes soft and takes her back, I think I might hit him first."

Ginny Weasley sat in one of the deep maroon armchairs in the Gryffindor common room surrounding the dim fire , her hair looking alight in the fire's orange glow. Her cheeks were flushed with anger and her hands were balled into fists at her sides as she sat and stared at Harry, anger in her honey colored eyes. Had it not been for his grip on her arm moments before, Hermione Granger might be going home in a matchbox, as Snape might say. She had just heard the rumors circulating through the halls about her brother's girlfriend and her late night whereabouts with the Bulgarian pea brain, Victor Krum. She had come to see if the rumors were true and one look from Harry told her that they were. It was then that she had gone into a fit of rage and begun spewing obscenities about the normally chaste brunette they had all known for years. Now she sat in the chair, blazing with fury, but unable to throttle the girl's neck as she wished. Then it hit her, the whole reason Hermione was in this mess was because of Mr. Quidditch, who better to beat sensless than him. Getting to her feet, she gave Harry a quick hug and without telling him where she was going, she ran out of the room and headed toward Hogsmead.

Harry watched her go, unknowing of her plans and figuring she just needed to hit a bludger around or something. Much as he wanted to let her storm up and have a word with Hermione, he knew that Ron could work it out if he tried hard enough. It wasn't as if it was the first time it'd happened, as if it was new to him, he just needed to calm down a bit and they would get through it. He knew Ron loved Hermione and vice versa, but they just had some kinks that needed to be worked out. It was more than he could say for him and Gin's relationship, which was almost non-existant nowdays. He tried to push the thought away, but it forced it's way back to the front of his brain. He remembered when they'd first gotten together, how happy they'd been then, before everything began falling apart, before malfoy entered the picture. He remembered the moment he'd found out she'd cheated on him, Malfoy's smirk ever imprinted on his memories. After that they'd broken up, Harry finding solace in friends and studies, while Ginny found hers in men. At first it was Draco, and only Draco and they'd seemed happy. Then when things got boring or went downhill there, it was Seamus, then Dean, and after a while Harry lost count, or just was too ill to even try.

Now it seemed that she was back to being a friendly single again, but he was sure she was still busy what with the looks Draco gave him, Seamus's flawless description of her secret place in the woods, and many other little clues he caught along the way. He still loved her though, no matter what happened or who she was with, he'd always love her. Currently he was seeing Luna, and things were going pretty good, though they didn't really have much in common aside from Gin. He felt kind of bad, because Luna was beginning to believe what others were saying, about him only being with her because she was close to Ginny. That wasn't the case though, he really did find her quirky humor and odd placed quotes endearing, didn't he?

* In Hogsmead *

Ginny made her way through the streets of the magical community, ignoring looks of townsfolk and curious people as she muttered under her breath about sleazy Bulgarian Flyers. She was headed in the direction of the Three Broomsticks when a male voice sounded from next to her and caused her to look over. Standing there in all his glory was Draco Malfoy, his normal smirk plastered to his pointy face. He gave her a half smile, which she ignored and continued walking, noticing that he seemed to stay in step with her. Her brown eyes a bit dull with exhaustion, she looked at him once more and couldn't help, but let her mind wander back to the nights they'd spent together at that clearing in the woods. He was so thin, but he had proven it was all muscle, tossing her around on the ground like she was a doll. God, she needed to stop, get her mind back on track, she had things to do now. Besides she was certain he'd let her mount him later if she asked nicely, or maybe if she begged. His voice brought her away from those thoughts once more.

"Please don't tell me you had him too, Gin. I figured it from Granger, but you can do so much better, I mean you have. You had me at one point."

"Shut up, Draco. I am going to find that foreign piece of crap and murder him."

"You sure you don't want to have your way with him, then commit murder? That'd be way hotter."

"Damnit Draco! I have things to do, people to maim, do you want to be added to my list?"

"Rowr, feisty! Just meet me at the clearing when you're done, and stay messy, you know how I like that."

Ginny glared at him, but there was a gleam in her amber eyes that let him know she would be there, as always when he requested it. She made a mental note to redo her eyeliner before she met him and focused back on the task at hand. As she turned to leave she felt his hand grab her bum and then he disappeared into the crowds. Shaking the chills that he gave her away she hurried into the pub and questioned the barmaid about Krum. He apparently had a room at a tavern on the other end of town and she could find him there. Thanking the woman and ordering a butterbeer to go, she opened her bottle and headed back out into the crisp fall air to get to the tavern in question. Reaching it, she noted that it seemed a bit fancy and stepped inside as a swift wind rattled the door behind her. Looking around her she saw tables full of mostly middle aged men and a few disreputable women, drinking and groping one another. Ignoring the patrons, she went to the bar and smiled at the cute young bartender there as he spoke.

"Hello there Miss, what can I get for you tonight?"

"Oh, drink wise, nothing, but I was wondering if you could give me some information."
The dark haired boy cocked an eyebrow and gave her a smirk almost like Draco's though it was not meant to be mean. After finishing filling a glass with Firewhiskey and wiping down the bar he set the towel down and smiled at her. He had a cute smile and Ginny was fixated on his strong jawline before she realized she was getting off track. She smiled back to him and that seemed to be what he'd needed to talk some more.

"Well, depends on what kind of information you're looking for? Got a person you're looking for or what?"

"Yeah, actually, I was told victor Krum was staying here and I needed to speak with him. Can you arrange that?"

"Yeah - Wait, are you one of those crazy fan girls of his, all giggling and shit, pissing off my patrons? If you are, I demad you leave my tavern at once." He pointed to the door with his thumb and waited for her reply.

"Oh, lord no! If anything I want to kick all those girls in the head. No, I - He hurt a friend of mine, being Mr. hotshot and I needed to let him know what I think of that, that's all."

The guy behind the bar smiled a bit wider and leaned across the counter, getting a bit closer and speaking in a softer tone. His dark hair fell in his eyes and Ginny felt it brush her cheek, causing it to tickle. She made a mental note to get his name before she left the tavern entirely and waited to hear what he said.

"Good to hear it. Krum is in room four and I'd give you a key, but I'm afraid I'd get fired. I can tell you though that he normally leaves it open in case the maid wants something. I think Sophie is gone for the night, but her apron is back here. If it'll help, you know."

Ginny smiled again at the guy and looked at his name tag. "Thanks for your help, Thomas and if I could get that apron, as well as your number, I'd be pretty damn happy."

As Thomas handed her the apron and slid a piece of paper to her that had some numbers scribbled on it with a sly grin she pocketed the paper and headed for the staircase that led to the rooms upstairs. Slipping the apron on over her jeans and dark green top, she stood in front of room four and knocked lightly on the door. When a gruff voice with a thick bulgarian accent asked who it was, she grinned to herself and politely said, "Maid Service."