Chapter 13: Two Steps Back

Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to JKR.

A/N: Many thanks go to my awesome beta, Southern_Witch_69!

After the game, Harry was exhausted and simply wanted to go back to his room and sleep. However, once he arrived, he discovered that no such luxury would be allowed him. Cho Chang was in his room waiting for him.

Harry sighed. He just wasn't up for another emotional confrontation today. "What are you doing in my room? What is it that I can I do for you, Cho? I'm rather tired and would like to rest. Is it something that could possibly wait?"

"You lied to me," Cho accused.

"No, I didn't. I simply let you believe what you would. After several attempts to set you straight, I might add."

"How hard is it to say, 'I'm not with Ginny any longer?' You knew how I felt about myself after being intimate with you!"

"Yes, I did know. And I was also aware of how you felt about me. Quite the opinion of your old flame, eh?"

"You bastard! Obviously my opinion of you is spot on if you couldn't even coerce your little puppy dog to go through with the marriage to you!"

If Cho had taken a knife and slashed through his heart, Harry couldn't have been more hurt. "Bitter Bitch. If you were a man, I'd hit you for your remark about Ginny. As it is, I would like for you to go."

Cho's face reddened. Harry wasn't sure if it was from anger or embarrassment, and frankly, he didn't care. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'll admit I went too far."

"Fine. You've apologized. Now go. I'm tired of your endless judgment of me. We were fifteen, Cho. Let it go already."

"You think all of my anger and hurt are directed at you?" she asked incredulously.

Harry shrugged. "I'm the only one at the receiving end of it. I know that you miss Cedric, Cho, but I am not the one who took him from you. If I could, I'd do anything to bring him back."

"Harry, it's not just Cedric, though I do miss him terribly. Do you realize that after that incident with Marietta I was essentially ostracized? Even though it was her and not me, I was basically treated no differently than she was. Even by you and your two sidekicks."

"What did you expect? You gave your word."

"And I didn't break my word! She did! But you're right, that was then. You call me bitter? I suppose that I am. I've had to work much harder than most. Do you know what it's like to walk into the locker room with the other Aurors and have all conversations stop? To hear someone say, 'Better hush, the snitch has entered the room.'

"To have no one want to go on missions with you because they don't trust you? To question your Superior Officer when raids are being planned because you're in the room? I jumped at the chance to come here, to get away from all of that, and then you come...just another reminder."

Harry chuckled, then bending over grabbing his stomach, laughed out loud. "You are going to stand there and say that I don't know what it's like to be ostracized?" Harry thumped his chest. "Me? I have been an outcast my entire life! In both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds. So, if you want to feel sorry for yourself, be my guest."

Cho stared at him, gobsmacked. "You're mental! You're adored!"

"Now I am. What am I saying? I won't defend myself to you because I shouldn't have to. You were there and you know, whether you'll admit it or not." He waved his hand in the air. "Anyway, it doesn't matter now. That was then, this is now. How about growing up?"

Cho turned her head. "You think grown-ups don't have feelings?" She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Soon, I will go undercover and do whatever I can to help solve this case, and then maybe, just maybe, the other Aurors won't see me as some... some... Umbridge in training."

"Hold on! Is that why you're doing this? Because if it is, I don't think you're emotionally available to be objective."

"How dare you? I can do this job as good as anyone!"

"Cho, this one little thing could get you killed! Why won't you see that?" he asked her, exasperated that she wouldn't listen to him.

"Saying that I'm too emotional to do my job is not one little thing! It's implying that because I'm a woman, I get emotional and can't perform!"

"I NEVER said that! Now, you're putting words in my mouth! Damn it!" Harry stormed to his dresser and grabbed the photos he kept there. "Look at these, Cho." When she averted her face, he demanded, "LOOK!"

She glanced down at each photo and then looked up into Harry's eyes. "I've seen these, Harry. They're one of the reasons I'm so determined to stop this maniac!"

"This is what that sicko does to his victims, and you're willingly putting yourself in the position to be next when you don't have to."

"What kind of Auror would I be if I only took the easy or non-dangerous cases? I'll tell you. I'd be the kind that all of my co-workers already think I am. Look, I fit the description, I am trained, and I can do this. Why are you being so stubborn about this? I'm not going to back down, so why can't you just support my decision?"

"Because I care about you!"

Cho laughed. "You care about all the Aurors you work with, and I don't see you trying to dissuade them from taking the more dangerous cases."

Harry sat on his bed, deflated, putting his head in his hands. "You don't understand, Cho. I mean, I care about you. I want to be with you. I want to give us another chance."

Cho glanced around the room, nervously twisting her long hair around her finger. "Could we possibly talk about this after this job is finished?"

"That's just it. I'm scared to death that there won't be an after. Couldn't you just..." Harry sighed and lay back, throwing his arm over his eyes without removing his glasses. It had been hard to admit that, but since he'd had her, she'd been on his mind constantly.

Cho walked over and gently sat beside him. "Harry, this is something that I have to do. I know you think I'm being careless and that I don't understand the risks. But I do, and because of that, I will be even more careful." She smiled sadly. "Can't you just break from the rest and have a little faith in me and my abilities?"

Harry's chest hurt so badly that he couldn't breathe. "I do have faith in you."

Cho stood and walked to the door. Just as she was walking out, she turned and looked at him. "Prove it," she challenged and closed the door quietly behind her.

~*~

Oliver walked into his and Ginny's room and slammed the door behind him. Slinging down his gear, he stormed into their bedroom. "Why did you leave after the game, Gin?"

Ginny looked up from her book, startled. "Oliver! What are you doing here? You've not even showered! I assumed you and the team would be celebrating the win. Congratulations on winning the World Cup by the way!"

Ignoring her congratulations, he asked, "Why would I want to celebrate without you...my wife...with me? Why didn't you stay?"

Ginny shrugged. She was glad that she and Harry had talked, but she felt unsettled still. "To be honest, I didn't think you'd even notice my absence. I thought you would be out, partying with the rest of the team."

"I see. No, I don't actually. Why wouldn't I have noticed that you'd left? Why would I want to celebrate without you? As a matter of fact, why wouldn't you want to celebrate, too? Not only does your husband play for the World Cup winners but you will also be playing for the winning team in a few months. Does it have anything to do with Potter being there? Did you even know that he was in Italy?"

Ginny's stomach clenched. She knew Oliver was going to misinterpret everything. "I knew he was here working on a case, but I had no idea he'd be at the game. Ron had told me that he would be here upon Italy's Ministry of Magic's request."

"And you didn't tell me? Why?"

Ginny shrugged. "I didn't see that it mattered. It had nothing to do with us."

Oliver raised his eyebrow. "Nothing to do with us, yet you looked pretty damn happy that he was there, clinging all over him the way you did."

"Clinging to him! That's absurd, Oliver! I was merely trying to explain things to him, trying to make him understand. He's still so upset about everything. I think at the end he seemed to..."

"Right. And he showed his understanding by knocking you on your arse?"

"No! That was an accident! He was walking past me and accidentally pushed me. I'll admit he was angry at the time, but he didn't mean for me to fall."

"Well, accident or no, I don't want you seeing him anymore, Ginny. Actually, I'll have to insist that you don't."

Ginny's mouth gaped open. "Now see here, not you or any other man will forbid me anything. I'm a big girl, Oliver. I can take care of myself just fine."

"Oh, yes, so fine that you got pushed." He held up his hand when she started protesting. "I clearly saw him push you down. And then when I came to defend you, you dismissed me as if I was insignificant."

"I was not dismissing you! I was embarrassed that I'd fallen. You're blowing this completely out of proportion."

"Look, you say that I need to respect you by not flaunting or innocently flirting with my groupies? Well, I expect you to show me the same courtesy. I don't think that it's too much for a husband to request that his wife stay away from her ex-fiancée, Gin, especially when all parties involved are constantly in the public eye."

"But our situation is different! You know that. Harry is not simply an ex. He's family to me and to my family as well."

"Then, you're going to have to decide who means more to you. Him or me."

"That's not fair! I've done nothing wrong! Why are you being so unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable? You've done nothing wrong, except lie to me about him being in Italy!"

"I. Did. Not. Lie!"

"Keeping it secret is a form of lying. You're not getting off on a technicality."

Ginny growled. "I suppose that in this, we're just going to have to agree to disagree because although I won't purposely seek him out, I refuse to say that I'll not see Harry anymore."

"Then you've made your choice, I see," he told her as he turned to leave.

"Stop! I did no such thing! Don't you walk out on me, Oliver Wood!"

He said nothing, simply took out his wand and Disapparated. Ginny fell back onto the bed with a choked sob. She had no idea how her life had become such a huge mess.

~*~

Ron sat in the tent, alone and brooding. Luna had gone hiking with her co-workers earlier, and when they'd returned, she'd stayed outside with them by the fire, talking shop and roasting what smelled like marshmallows. She'd not even poked her head inside to let him know she'd returned.

It was getting rather late, and Ron was tired. Deciding enough was enough, he opened the flap to ask Luna if she planned on sleeping outside just in time to see Stanly lean down and eat a toasty treat off of a stick offered to him from his wife.

Ron flung the flap to the side and stepped out. Folding his arms across his chest, he said, "Don't mean to interrupt, but it's getting late. Ready for bed, Luna?"

"No, I'm not tired, but you go ahead, Ron."

Ron's face reddened. How dare she opt to stay out here with that Stanly? "I wouldn't want you to overdo. From what I've been hearing, you have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow."

Luna huffed out an irritated breath. "I've already got one father, Ron; I don't need another. I can decide if I'm ready for bed, thanks."

This time, Ron turned red with embarrassment. She'd just very thoroughly dressed him down in front of everyone. "Luna, I really think that..."

"I don't recall her asking what you think, mate," Stanly told Ron in a deceptively kind tone. "She's perfectly capable of coming to bed when she's good and ready."

Ron lowered his head and raised his eyes in a very threatening manner, clenching his fists at his sides. He didn't bother trying to hide the hatred in his voice as Stanly had done. Taking one step forward, Ron said, "That'll do, mate. I'll thank you not to be butting into any business I have with my wife."

Luna jumped up quickly, placing herself between Ron and Stanly. Yawning hugely, she said, "You know, I am getting quite tired. I think I will call it a night. See you all in the morning!" She quickly made her way to the tent and slipped inside.

After she'd left, Ron told Stanly in a low voice so that only he could hear, "I'd watch my step if I were you. The sooner you realize she's not for you, the better off you'll be."

"Oi!" Stanly yelled very loudly, causing a few of the others to look in their direction. "Are you threatening me, Weasley?"

Ron stepped close so that he and Stanly were nose to nose. "Damn right I am."

Stanly immediately backed off. Lowering his voice, he informed Ron, "If you didn't treat her like shite all the time, then you wouldn't need to worry about me, would you? You don't even know how lucky you are, do you? But that's just fine with me because once you hurt her, and I've no doubt that you will, I'll be right there, picking up the pieces."

Ron looked him up and down with blatant loathing and said, "You seem like the type that would settle for someone else's leftovers. Let me give you some... friendly advice. Stop sniffing around my wife because you won't get any there." He left then to have a talk with Luna.

Once he walked inside their tent, she was already in bed with her eyes shut. "What's going on, Luna?"

"Nothing. You went on and on about it being time for bed, so I came to bed. Happy?"

"No, not really. What was that outside with Stanly?"

"I wasn't just with Stanly! Most of my co-workers were there, too!"

"Whatever. I didn't see you personally feeding anyone but him. You were practically sitting in his lap!"

"For heaven's sake, Ron." Luna sat up, and the blanket slipped down to her waste revealing her white tank top. Ron wondered what was under the blanket. "I am not going to say this to you again, so listen to me very closely. I don't want Stanly."

"Then I have to wonder how you act with someone you do want!"

"OH!" Jumping out of bed and allowing Ron to see that she only had pale pink knickers on under the blanket, Luna yelled, "Well then let me tell you how I act! I make sure that I'm home before he is every night so that dinner can be waiting! I go out of my way to find out the dishes he likes, I clean his home and keep fresh flowers around. I do his laundry. I bring him breakfast to work! In short, I bend over backwards to make sure he is happy at the expense of my own happiness! That is how I act when I want someone!"

Breathing heavily as if she'd run out of steam, Luna quietly said, "I'm tired, Ron. Okay? Let's just go to sleep now."

Ron was on her in two strides. Taking her face into his hands, he kissed her with all the built up frustration he'd had all day while she'd been gone. She didn't respond at first, and then he licked her lips, seeking entrance, and she suddenly opened her mouth and answered his kiss with frustration of her own.

She started backing towards the bed, but he pulled her to the floor, sucking her nipple through her tank top. She moaned, jerking his shirt off, and he felt powerful that she seemed to want him as much as he wanted her. He lay on top of her, holding her head in his hands and cradling himself between her thighs.

"Ron," Luna groaned, and he started kissing her face and eyes while slowly making his way to her jaw and neck, grinding his hips into hers as he kissed her.

Never speaking, he lazily moved his hand over her body, hitting all the right spots on his journey down. When he slipped a hand inside of her knickers and found her wet and ready, he quickly slid them off, along with his jeans.

He slid inside of her tight heat and thrust instantly, enjoying the feel of her around him. Wasting no time, she hurriedly met him, pound for pound, and before long, they were both spent and sated.

Ron sighed happily and fell halfway on top of her, mindful of his weight. When he felt her trembling, he opened his eyes and looked at her face. He was shocked to see tears. "Luna?"

His wife gently pushed his chest. "Let me up, okay?"

"All right?"

She shook her head. "I'm serious, Ron. Let me up."

He reluctantly moved off of her, and she hastily jumped up and ran into the loo. Soon after, Ron heard the shower running.

When she came back into the bedroom, she had on a pair of pajamas. "Come to bed, Luna," Ron told her, and she jumped when he spoke.

Saying nothing, she walked to the bed and got in, careful not to touch him. "Luna, listen..."

"No. I don't want to listen to you any more tonight. I'm tired, and I want to go to sleep. Please, respect my wishes... just this once."

Nodding once, Ron turned on his side facing away from her. He felt that she'd done the same. What's wrong with her? If she's been wanting me so badly like she says she has, then why isn't she happy? Just like Hermione, nothing I ever do is good enough. Claims she wants me, but when I'm not around, looks quite happy to be with someone else! Punching his pillow, Ron drifted off in a fitful sleep.

~*~

Severus sat in the sitting room, staring into the fire, sipping his tea. Hermione would be up any moment, and he wasn't sure how to act.

Yesterday had been one of the most emotional days he'd had since... well, since Lily. He didn't care for it one bit. Scowling, he placed his tea on the table and leaned his head against the back of the chair. Closing his eyes, he thought back to the reception.

After thinking on it, he didn't think he was totally at fault. Yes, he'd let Lucius and Narcissa monopolize his time, but if Hermione had felt that he'd abandoned her as she'd claimed, why hadn't she gone over to him?

He shook his head. Naturally, she wouldn't have. Nor would he have done if the situation had been reversed. He supposed that his conversation with Madeleine could have looked untoward, but he desperately hated having to defend himself to anyone, including Hermione.

Sighing, he picked up his cooling tea to take a sip when he heard a tentative, "Severus?"

"In here."

Hermione walked into the room and took a seat in the chair beside his. "Fire gazing?" she asked, seemingly as unsure as he was.

"More like woolgathering. Do you feel better this morning?" he asked. He'd still not really looked at her. He was a little embarrassed by the emotional apology he'd given her the night before. He'd held her all night for Merlin's sake!

She simply nodded, looking down at the hands she'd been wringing in her lap. "Um, actually, I'm a bit hungry."

"Shall we have breakfast sent to our chambers this morning? I don't really feel like the Great Hall."

"Yes, that would be lovely."

After the house-elf had set their food up, they both sat down and began to eat. Picking up the Daily Prophet by his plate, Severus handed Hermione the society page.

She hadn't been looking at it long when he heard a loud gasp and his wife say, "I'm going to kill her! I am going to squash her like the little bug she is!"

"What is it?" he asked. His stomach filled with dread.

Hermione turned the paper around so that he could read the headline.

Trouble in Paradise?

Then beneath was a half page picture of him speaking with Madeleine with her hand placed on his arm. She was leaning into him speaking. It looked very intimate. Below that was a smaller picture of his wife, standing alone with, if he was not mistaken, tears in her eyes. He could just make out Draco and Pansy behind her, snickering.

"Bloody fucking son of a whore!"

"It's all right, Severus. We know the truth. Rita hates me and takes every opportunity to deface me publicly."

"This article is making it seem as if..."

"I know that!" Hermione snapped, cutting him off. "I can see! That horrid cow! I didn't even know she was there! Did you?"

"No, but I'd bet my right nut the Malfoys knew. It wouldn't surprise me if Narcissa didn't see the opportunity and ask her to take the picture."

Hermione slumped back. "I will be giving Rita Skeeter a piece of my mind." She started biting her lower lip.

Severus stood abruptly. "No, don't bother with her. I'm going to settle this, once and for all."

"How? Where are you going?"

"To have a word of prayer with Lucius and Narcissa."

~~~

Lucius jumped slightly and placed his fork on his plate when Severus came barging into his dining room. "Oh, please, come right in. Have a seat. Eat a bite."

"Stop your prattling, Lucius! A word, please."

"Severus, please do sit down and join us," Narcissa invited.

Severus sat and gazed at his two friends. "You can't honestly be surprised to see me."

"No, not surprised to see you. We are, however, surprised of your actions yesterday," Lucius answered.

"In what way?"

Narcissa patted her mouth daintily with her napkin and turned to Severus. "Come now, darling. Your defense of your wife, of course."

"Why would that surprise either of you? She is my wife, after all!"

Narcissa had the audacity to chuckle. "Severus, lest you forget, you were sitting right here at this table when you received that Ministry letter informing you of your upcoming nuptials. Your reaction was less than stellar."

"Also," Lucius continued, "may I remind you of your constant complaints of the girl? During Draco's time at Hogwarts, if I wasn't listening to his complaints about Potter, Weasley, and the Granger girl, I was listening to yours."

"Honestly, Severus," Narcissa said as she laid her hand over his, "Lucius and I thought that we were doing you a favor. Of course, had we known different, we wouldn't have dared to interfere."

"Bollocks! You've wanted me to meet your friend for months. Do you know what I think? I think that the two of you saw an opportunity and took it." He pointed at the paper. "I don't appreciate that at all."

"Now see here, man! We do not dictate what that woman publishes. I tolerated your harsh words to my wife last night. I won't tolerate them this morning," Lucius warned.

"Same goes for my wife. If the two of you, and your son for that matter, cannot treat Hermione with respect, then the best thing would be for you to stay away from me and mine."

Lucius stared at Severus in utter shock. "You can't be serious? You would end a life-long friendship over a woman you will only be with a few more months?"

"I am with her now, and that is what matters!"

Narcissa laughed softly and clapped! "I have the most fabulous idea! Why don't the two of you join us for dinner next week when Draco and Pansy return from their honeymoon? That way, we can get to know your wife better, Severus!"

"I don't know that she'd agree," he said thoughtfully, "but if she does, you must promise that nobody else will be in attendance. I won't have her hurt by you again."

"Of course," Lucius said.

"Fine. I'll ask her and get back to you. You know, it would really mean a lot to me if the two of you would truly try to get along with Hermione."

"Anything for you, Severus," Narcissa purred.

Severus nodded and stood. "I need to get back. Owl me with the arrangements," he instructed as he left.

Lucius turned to his wife and raised an eyebrow. "What are you up to, pet?"

"Lucius!" she said with mock hurt. "Why, I'm not up to anything at all!"

A/N: Ah, it seems we've hit a few bumps in the road...