Gryffindor Common Room

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Dean met her gaze, a stubborn set in his jaw. "But nothing." he said firmly. "It was a half-thought idea and it doesn't matter anyway. Like you said, stooping to their level would make us monsters as well."

[Ginny Weasley]

Her expression didn't change as she searched his eyes for a few long, drawn out moments.

"Yes it would," she said at last, voice low but passionate. "Never forget that. The moment we start to think like them, they win, understand? We aren't fighting for ideals any more, we're fighting to keep our humanity. That's what Voldemort wants to take from us. We don't have to be on his side for him to succeed."

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He nodded then, the stubborn set remaining in his jaw. "Sometimes it's hard. I want to hurt them as much as they're hurting us." Dean shook his head. "Potions, keep my nose clean, don't kill people. Easy enough list to remember."

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny's eyes flickered over him a beat longer before she shook her head and turned away.

"We all have moment's like that, Dean. Weak moments... but we can't let them consume us, even for a moment. We just can't afford it, the slope's to slippery."

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Dean nodded. "I won't. You try not to either." he said, reaching out to touch her shoulder lightly. "Are you okay, Gin?"

[Ginny Weasley]

She glanced up at the gentle touch, her eyes running over his face, for a moment looking incredibly weary before she forced a smile and lifted a hand to scrub at her features.

"I have to be okay, Dean," she told him with a wry quirk of her lips. "Not being okay is a luxury I can't afford right now... but thanks."

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Dean was struck by how tired she looked and he gripped her shoulder in a gentle comfort. The little redhead was always running on full energy. She never looked tired like this.

"Forgive my saying so, but you look awful Gin." Dead murmured to her.

[Ginny Weasley]

"Always the charmer," she deadpanned back.

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Dean blinked then laughed. "I'm sorry Gin. You should go back up to bed. Or at least sit down." He took her hand and pulled her back to the chairs in front of the fireplace, settling her into the comfiest one.

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny allowed herself to be tugged over, shooting him an amused look as he fussed.

"You're like a mother hen at times you know that?" she accused him, though the tone was fond. This was the side of Dean that she had first fallen for after all - sure he could be a bone head at times, but underneath he really was quite sweet, a little suffocating with it, but still, sweet. It was something lacking from people more than ever right now.

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Dean grinned as he dropped down into the seat beside her and gave a one-shouldered shrug. "You enjoy it. You want to be fussed over. I can see it in your eyes."