Before we start, I just wanted to clear up a few things:
Extended summary:
For years Ginny Weasley has tried to bring an end to her feelings for the boy who lived and get over him. Broken, defeated she's lost herself and even forgot how to breathe. But what happens when a beam of hope steal its way through warming up her tormented heart and bringing it to life again?
Hope starts off at the beginning of the Easter holiday of Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts (Ginny's fourth), and explores what could have happened if Ginny was kidnapped by the death-eaters at the battle of the department of mysteries. There will be an absolute big non-cannon turn of events that will dominate Harry's sixth year and the beginning of the seventh year, in which cannon events are followed up with extreme changes about Harry&Ginny's relationship.
Warnings:
If you feel that you don't need them, then skip down to the start of the story because they are spoilers.
For those who do want warnings, this story contains (in no particular order):
Intimate sexual content, rape, physical and mental abuse, violence, extreme language (swearing and the like), negative alcohol use and perhaps a few other things that I can't think of at the moment.
Disclaimer:
I do not own any rights to the Harry Potter franchise nor do I own the Harry Potter copyright. I do not own anything relating to the Harry Potter series (Unless my name is J.K. Rowling ... which is not!). This is done purely for fun, not profit.
Make your voice heard:
If at any time you have questions, please feel free to shoot me a review or a PM.
Special thanks:
I want to thank who was patient enough to bear my craziness. Thank you, it really means a lot to me.
Enjoy reading!
Hope
Chapter 1: By the black lake
It was a wonderful shiny Friday morning and several teenagers, some of them wearing almost identical uniforms, the others clothed in ordinary muggle garments, were scattered here and there around the grounds of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry by the lake enjoying the beautiful sunny Spring day.
The air was sweet with the scent of the blooming wildflowers that dotted the sloping lawns. The place was green, very green and bursting with sweet-smelling flowers and plants that Hagrid had taken to growing as a hobby. The trees were just shedding their blossoms as new leaves took their place, the fallen petals swirling like snow around the bunch of chatting students.
The light breeze carried the sounds of laughter in the Spring air – in particular, that of the 'Golden Trio'. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger had gathered around an old wooden table to relax, chat and have some fresh air and a bit of fun. Although bit of fun, for Hermione doesn't always imply the same meaning as for most of the people. Let's just say that fun, in Hermione's case, involved getting some extra charms work finished and revising for O.W.L.s.
It was a picturesque day, Hogwarts was calm and peaceful, and the inseparable trio decided it was a perfect chance to spend the day outside, especially when almost all students went home for the Easter holidays. When they met in the common room earlier, Hermione announced that she agreed to join them as long as she used her time wisely in revising her transfiguration notes, finishing her charms homework, deciphering some runes codes and maybe having a bit of light-reading. Ron and Harry fought the urge to roll their eyes at her and just nodded.
In the meantime, Ron was getting fed-up. Harry and Hermione were discussing how Harry's break up with Cho went.
"Aren't we supposed to have some fun!" complained the poor red-haired boy impatiently.
"Revising is fun, Ron," replied Hermione, not lifting her eyes from her eight inches -not yet finished- charms essay.
Ron just sighed and mumbled something such as, "Like Hell it is!" under his breath.
The bushy haired girl ignored him and went back to studying again. Ron turned to his best mate and they soon were chatting excitedly about the upcoming quidditch match against Ravenclaw.
Close by, under the ancient tree by the lake which was whispering softly as the fresh air pressed through its twisted twigs, lounged an angelic redheaded girl with an extraordinary breathtaking beauty, on its wooden swing. She was humming some kind of muggle lullaby.
The girl wasn't skinny, nor was she fat ... it seemed as though her body was drawn to make perfection and to symbolize passion. Her moves were slow, counterpoised, more similar to pieces of eternal melodies. Her voice was low, sweet adorned with soft sighs which poured like dewdrops down flower crowns as the zephyr passed by from between her full, crimson, strawberry-like lips. And, her face -How could anyone describe her face? In which words can any author draw a sad looking face, covered and yet not really covered with a rosy transparent veil? In which language can any poet speak of features expressing in every second one of this great defeated soul's secrets and making every pair of eyes looking at them remember a spiritual world that is hidden far away from this one?
The beauty in that girl's face didn't correspond to any of the standards used by muggles -or even wizards, for that matter. Her face has a level of beauty like in a dream, or a vision, or an upper idea that can't be measured, nor limited. The captivating grace of that girl wasn't in her abundant hair that was like some wonderful red river traveling down her back, long, silky and shiny flaming curls that were considered the most wanted, yet forbidden curls by almost all the Hogwarts male-population, of course it wasn't just in that, it was in the fascinating glory of innocence that surrounded it. The thrilling fairness wasn't about her big brown eyes with marked contrast between black and white, but it was about the sensation of heavenly peace they gave anyone looking into them. The magnetizing loveliness wasn't in her radiant skin that gave you the strange urge to touch her cheek just to make sure it wasn't really some kind of milky raspberry cream, but it was in the glowing moon-like beam that radiated off it. The enchanting glamor wasn't in her soft, ivory, shapely and evenly developed neck that wasn't too long nor too short, neither too fat nor too lean, it was in the way it arched lovingly forward. Nor was the spellbinding gracefulness in her florid, blissful and smooth lips, but it was in the sweet hazel dribble that poured from between them.
Cuddled in a dark blue jeans that rolled up to her knees hugging her aphrodisiac curved hips and showing her male hair-stirring legs, along with a peach cotton t-shirt that framed her upper body tightly in an erotic sexy way that showed her acceptably beautiful massive breasts and unbelievably tiny slender waist, Ginny Weasley was enjoying her day outdoors as did most of the Gryffindor students, swaying on the old swing attached magically to a very strong twig of that ancient, tall, green tree that bowed delicately into the lake in a way that allowed its occupants to rinse their feet in the cold waters of the black lake.
Ginny liked listening to muggle songs and music since her friend -you may even say sister, now- Hermione, brought her the mini-stereo for her birthday last year, as a present. She remembered how her father was extremely excited about turning the right button without anyone telling him about it after buying some muggle CDs. He and Ginny were so delighted for finally turning on the music, listening to the weird and equally nice songs, dancing and swaying together as father and daughter until it was very late.
Smiling at the memory, Ginny got off the swing and bent down to lie under the tree adjusting her back to its huge trunk. She looked up into the sky clouded over with the tree's entangled twists, bright sunny streaks stole their way through warming up the redhead's bare legs. The sounds of the muggle lullaby never leaving her mind, nor her lips. She felt as though someone was raining butterfly kisses to her legs. Actually, maybe some-particular-black-haired-green-eyed-handsome-o ne. Was she imaging it?
Ginny stirred up a little and gazed down as she took notice of some strange feeble movement under her leg. Well, it was a butterfly, and it was fighting it's way up Ginny's leg. Instantly, the girl reached out and pulled the poor creature helping it to an adjusted temporary station, even if it was her leg. Ginny kept gazing at the tiny butterfly for a moment then murmured an inaudible, "Hi ... "
To her surprise, she watched as the colorful wings moved lightly taking off the redhead's leg slightly and then landing down again as if attempting to greet her back. The lovely butterfly rested for a little more and then took off flying wildly into the Spring air.
"Ginny?" came a dreamy voice.
The young red-haired witch turned her head following the direction of the voice. A girl with soft blond curls approached the trio's wooden table. Ginny watched as Luna stopped to greet them and knew that her blond friend was looking for her when Hermione reached out with her arm pointing her index in Ginny's direction indicating her location.
"I'm here Luna," called out Ginny waving at her.
Luna waving back as well, thanked the bushy haired girl and murmured something about seeing them later then headed down to the old tree.
"There you are," beamed Luna in her Lunish voice. "I was looking for you, I headed to the Gryffindor tower, but the fat lady said that you decided to finally give her mercy and spend the day outside."
"Yeah, it's such a wonderful day to waste it in doors," replied Ginny matter-of-factly.
"I suppose you're right, it's so peaceful down here, except for the dreadful sounds of frogs and bugs," smiled Luna widely.
There was a short silence, but Ginny cleared her throat wearing a quizzical look in her chocolate brown eyes, "Why were you looking for me?"
"Well, I just knew about your argument with Romilda yesterday, and I wanted to make sure you hear my opinion about it. Do you want to hear it though, my opinion?" questioned the blond witch in a calm voice.
"Erm ... sure," answered the beautiful other witch not really wanting to hear Luna's opinion about anything.
"I think Romilda Vane is probably jealous of your bum—" uttered Luna in a certain accent, but was quickly cut off.
"WHAT? My bum ... " shouted Ginny in lightly high whisper.
"Well, yes. It's big ... I mean in a lovely way that makes her jealous. You see ... I think maybe she's got Jinbuncks messing with her head—" stated Luna.
"Jin- what?" cut in the redhead looking at her friend strangely.
"Jinbuncks, don't you know them? Well, they are very tiny magical creatures that can't be seen by the naked eye ... They live inside weak brains to get energy from wizards' and witches' insecurities and start destroying their brain cells slowly. Once they are settled there, they are never out again and they keep feeding the brain with self-down attitudes and ideas, which explains Romilda's behaviour toward you. She sees in you what she doesn't have and wishes for, but can't get. That's why she's attacking you ... Well actually, I suppose Jinbuncks are the ones responsible for that really not her, Therefore, you should blame them," explained the blond girl.
"But what I have got that she doesn't?" asked the gorgeous witch not believing that she's having this kind of conversation with Luna.
"Your bum!" answered Luna as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole world.
The two girls sat in a comfortable silence, gazing out to the dark waters. Ginny wishing it was a bit warmer so she can swim freely in the calm waters, but then even if the weather was nice enough for swimming maybe she couldn't do it due to the presence of firstly the giant squad and secondly the merpeople.
"Ginny, can we go earlier to the D.A. meeting today, you know ... for practice?" suggested the dreamy voice of Luna, her eyes winking when saying the word practice.
Ginny knew why Luna wanted to go earlier to the room of requirement. It was going to be their last D.A. meeting because Marietta Edgecombe, betrayed them to Umbridge. She was a friend of stupid Cho Chang and Ginny hated both of them. She was mostly glad that Harry dumped Cho, but the fact that he was planning a last meeting under Umbridge's nose that will probably get them caught was very risky, especially when Dumbledore wasn't there to rescue them once again. Nevertheless, this was going to be absolutely exciting. At least that's what Ginny thought.
"Er ... yeah, sure, why not? I mean, my patronus needs some serious improvements and—" nattered the young lady, but was soon cut off by a third male voice.
"Your patronus?" exclaimed Neville in a harsh tone. " Ginny, are you sure? Because if yours need more development, then mine doesn't stand a chance!"
"Yours is absolutely fine, Nev. Nothing is wrong with it as I have seen ... " complained the girl in a miserable voice and then added, "My patronus on the other hand ... No, let me finish! It's true that it is well structured, but it doesn't last for more than seconds ... "
"I know," Luna addressed Neville in a rather knowing tone. "She's trying to be modest."
"No, I'm not!" shouted Ginny in protest. "It really doesn't last for long, Nev ... I mean, the first part of concentrating on good memories and then casting the spell is more or less easy ... But keeping it is impossible, I get there and then suddenly I lose control and it just vanishes—"
"Oh come off it princess, Harry said that your patronus is the best one of all the D.A. members'," said Neville. "And that's including his."
"He did?" wondered Ginny in a low whispering accent, the corner of her mouth turning up slightly. "But of course it doesn't include his patronus, I mean it's Harry's patronus for Merlin's sake!"
Luna was giving Ginny a What-Is-Wrong-With-You-Woman look by now and she protested stubbornly, "No, he did it, I heard him!"
"Really?" questioned the redheaded witch casting a quick sideways glance at Harry from a distance.
"Yes Ginny, really. He exactly said -and that's including mine- to be precise," replied Luna. Neville nodded in agreement. "Actually, that's why I thought about asking you to go to the D.A. meeting earlier than it's supposed to be today, for practice," added Luna smiling warmly.
"What? without tellingme, traitor?" accused Neville grinning widely.
"Well, it is not like I intended to exclude you or something!" defended Luna.
Harry was having a hard time trying to beat Ron in a third round of chess. The red-haired boy was getting the better of him every time, but he didn't really mind as long as it kept him away from a very-engaged-in-her-never-ending-revising Hermione who continued to spur them on with doing an extra work on their transfiguration notes every ten minutes. Harry honestly thought that if he was going to do one more task involving either transfiguration or charms -or any other study subject, for that matter, he was certainly going to be seriously sick.
Contemplating his next move, Harry's mind, without him knowing or even noticing it, kept ordering his eyes to stay focused on something. And, that something was definitely not the chess board above the garden table. The boy who lived was seemingly to the other people having a very good time, but truthfully, the feeling of weirdness that enveloped his head was getting to his nerves. It was as though his own eyes had a mind of their own, and were doing a great job with making sure about keeping him in the fog. Every time he caught himself staring, but not exactly into space. Staring at what? He didn't know. Every time he was deadly close to catch the "something", it was as though he was trying to catch the air between his fingers. It was futile. Absolutely of no effect. His eyes kept wandering around, obsessed about looking there, but exactly where? He had no idea at all. This was definitely awkward, his own eyes kept sneaking around watching particular -maybe, important- thing and making sure he stood in the dark and didn't know about it. Maybe he should ask Hermione about this. He was contemplating the idea of approaching the bushy-haired girl with the matter when he was startled out of his train of thoughts by Ron's voice.
"What again?" questioned the green eyes.
"You have got that strange look again," repeated Ron giving his friend a quizzical look.
"What look?" asked Harry not sure he wanted to tell Ron about what was happening on his mind yet. What is he going to think of me? thought Harry.
"Well, the one when you seem like you are ... " cleared up Ron searching the correct word with his eyes. "Like you are ... observing something," blurted the redhead boy and then quickly added, "you have got it yesterday too, in the common room."
Harry passed his hand through his hair, making it look even more messy. Well, that could describe it ... I'm observing something that I have no idea about! This is funny! Thought Harry miserably, smiling to himself in mock. He shot a quick look at Hermione, the girl was too absorbed by her stupid homework and revising. The black-haired boy just shrugged his shoulders in response to Ron's question.
Ron's next move ended the game. He won again.
Soon enough, the two boys were yet again, observing the unsupportable sight of an awfully busy Hermione who was still consumed by refinishing her charm homework for only-Merlin-know time. Ron looked like he was going to cry like a baby.
"Let's go to Hagrids' ... " suggested the red-haired boy cheerfully, high enough for both of his friends to hear. He moved his eyes to the bushy-haired witch in a hopeful expectation. Harry did the same.
"Nice try, Ron," said Hermione in her nerve killing tone. "Try something better".
"Repeat our charm homework for the third time, maybe?" murmured Ron in a giving up manner.
"Now you're smart" grinned the hazel-eyed girl widely, lifting her eyes from her neatly organized writings.
"Honestly Mione, can't you just take a break?" pleaded Ron.
"No, I can't. I have a scheduled curriculum that I mustn't mess up with," answered Hermione narrowing her eyes at Ron's -I-Do-Not-Even-Want-To-Know-What-A-Scheduled-Curri culum-Is comment. "I barely have time for eating and sleeping. I'm surprised you both didn't start revising until now. What a shame? It's O.W.L.s for God's sake. And, let me tell you that stupid Umbridge frog isn't going to make it easy for us. That's for bloody ... Um-Umbridging sure!"
And with that Hermione finally managed to take a calm breathe and return to her homework again.
Harry and Ron's face expressions were moving from an open-mouthed surprise to an irrepressible skin-reddening from trying to control their laughter. They looked as though they were going to explode in a second.
After a few challenging minutes, they appeared to gain a bit of self-control upon the laughter. They were almost managing it when Ron threw a glance at Harry and they both erupted into dreadful, uncontrollable laughing that made their eyes water.
Ginny, Neville and Luna were joined by Misha, a fourth year Gryffindor, Ginny's classmate and best friend. The girl had a petite figure, a kind face adorned with a dark smooth hair that came to a few inches below her shoulders. Her eyes were deep blue and her skin was bright. She was going to join her parents and only brother for Easter in London, tomorrow morning.
They spend a great time together talking about all and nothing. Ginny was having a good time keeping herself busy with listening to Misha's up-coming summer plans, admiring Neville's devoted ambitions to become a great herbologist someday and avoiding as much as it can be Luna's odd comments about some impossibly bizarre bird that made your nose disappear when flying above your head.
"So, how was Quidditch practice?" Misha asked Ginny.
"It was a nightmare," said the redhead in a surly voice.
"Oh come on," said Neville, looking at Ginny, "I'm sure it wasn't that—"
"Yes, it was," said Ginny. "It was appalling. Angelina was nearly in tears by the end of it."
Neville stood up and moved restlessly to the shore of the black lake, staring out across the dark waters.
"I'm off to take a shower, we will skip dinner and go up to the room of requirement, just make sure to grab a sufficient amount of sandwiches later at lunch, we have to be really careful," proclaimed Ginny rising up. The redhead witch quickly added adjusting her jeans after noticing Misha's questioning look, "We're going to the D.A. meeting a bit earlier."
Misha, who was also a D.A. member, nodded and replied with slightly glowing eyes, "Well, I'm definitely going to be there ... I need help with my reductor curse."
"Okay, sure, we'll meet up at the great hall, then. See you later," smiled Ginny and her friends nodded in unanimous agreement.
Twisting a fiery curl of her silky hair behind her ear, she started to head up to the castle. Ginny was still smiling broadly with a mouth stretched very wide when she turned to the direction of the front gate, but a sound of inciting guffaw made her heart slump to her knees and the only thing she could think of was how much she was becoming liable to sink low, to such dangerous depths, almost in a deadly way, just by the simple act of hearing his laughter. Her eyes were urging her to a swift glance at the source of the laughter, but she refused to give them that satisfaction. She wouldn't dare do it. So, she tried to persist her way totally ignoring the wooden table to her right.
"Ginny?" came Ron's not very distant voice.
Ginny sighed, moaned actually. Cursing, her mind pleaded with Ron to stop calling her and she continued her way ignoring him.
"Ginny, where are you going?" Ron was now shouting, higher then first.
Damn it, Ron! Why can't you just leave me alone? She murmured under her breath, starting to walk slowly and hesitantly towards the trio's wooden table.
"Hi,"said the chocolate brown eyes avoiding any eye-contact with him and keeping their gaze focused on the top of Hermione's head. They greeted her back.
"Where were you going?" demanded Ron again, his voice sounding more annoying then ever.
Before she even got the chance to answer her brother's question, a weight stood off the table's side bunch abruptly.
"I'm going to Hagrids', see you both later." came Harry's unmistakable voice and he turned on his heels to the direction of Hagrid's hut.
Ginny snorted inaudibly mumbling something like "Of course!" in a mocking way. The boys maybe didn't notice it, but it surely enough didn't go unheard by Hermione. The red-haired witch collapsed softly in front of Hermione, her face strained and weary.
"Wait for me, mate, I'm coming with you ... " stated Ron rising up as well and giving his sister an other annoyingly questioning look.
"I was heading up back to the tower. To take a shower." uttered Ginny, her voice clearly sinking to a weaker whisper with every word.
Ron seemed satisfied with this, and both he and Harry left leaving her in the presence of a seriously-entirely-engaged-with-her-bloody-light-r eading Hermione. Ginny wailed miserably to herself. Now she was certainly going to vomit.
"Okay, I'm listening." bellowed Hermione arranging all her books and parchments and quills with a flick of her wand.
"W-w-what?" stammered Ginny in clear astonishment.
"Something is off, what is it?" snorted Hermione impatiently.
Ginny just stared at her not-in-blood-related-sister open-mouthed.
"Tell me, Ginny," added Hermione calmly.
"I don't know what you're talking about ... " lied Ginny, her eyes dropping to the ground. It sounded awfully false even to her own ears.
"Don't pile on the drama Ginny! What's wrong?" growled Hermione a bit higher then she meant to.
"Nothing is wrong Hermione," roared Ginny, her voice on the edge of a bad temper. She rose up to her feet. "You're imagining things."
She intended to walk away, but Hermione grabbed her wrist. The bushy-haired witch gave Ginny's chocolate brown eyes a slightly begging look in an honest fraternity. She was trying her hardest to seek the truth out of them. Ginny was getting a little annoyed with her best friend, but the look that Hermione's eyes were giving her now showed as much care and concern as they so many times did. It wasn't the girl's fault, Hermione was too smart for her own good and Ginny knew if someone was meant to find out what was bothering her by just looking into her face apart from her mother, it was Hermione. She really considered her as a big loving sister. She just couldn't lie to her, but she also couldn't talk about ... things, because she thought, somehow, talking about things made them more true, more valuable.
"Look, Hermione ... I really appreciate your worry, but I don't want to talk about anything right now ... No! listen to me, I pro- I promise I w- will, though. Talk to you." grumbled Ginny, not sure if she will keep that promise.
The red-haired witch released her wrist from Hermione's hesitant grasp and quickly walked away before Hermione could stop her again. That will not keep her from persisting in, and you know it! Said a familiar voice in Ginny's head. She ignored it. Ginny heard her friend's distant voice mumbling something about seeing her later. She continued her way into the front doors in a hurried pace.
Ignoring the lightly deserted great hall, she kept moving on without stopping. Up the stairs, through the Fat lady's portrait hole, into the totally empty common room, up to her fourth year dormitory. The room wasn't organized the same way as the other three fourth years.
Ginny and Misha's dorm-mates were transferred to carry on with their magical education at Beauxbattons. Their families, it occurred, thought it was much better for them since Hogwarts and its Headmaster were accused by the ministry of spreading lies about the long-defeated dark lord returning. Only that it wasn't lying, Who-He-Must-Not-Be-Named really did return last year causing the death of Cedric Diggory. And, Hogwarts and its Headmaster Dumbledore weren't the ones really meant by this accusation exactly, it was Harry Potter, the boy who lived. He was the one who faced the dark lord again at the graveyard and somehow, managed to run away with his life bringing the Hufflepuff boy's dead body with him. Of course, these were just crazy lies that needed to be denied, at least that's what thought the stupid minister of magic and his frog face assistant Umbridge who teach DADA at Hogwarts this year, turning the teenagers' life to hell, especially Harry's.
Anyway, the two witches left to study in France and the dormitory wasn't the same again. since then, it has become smaller with only two bigger beds, two small desks and two identical closets for individual use. The beds were separated by a tiny side-table and a tall lake-view window. Ginny's bed was facing the even smaller, but luxurious bathroom door as to Misha's one was opposite to the door that leaded in and out of the dormitory. The tiny room was proved to be heavenly warm and cozy with its Gryffindor styled walls, furnitures, sheets and carpets.
Ginny closed the door behind her and looked into the room. Misha's old trunk was left waiting on top of her bed to be completely packed later. Sighing loudly, Ginny grabbed some clean clothes out of her closet and went dashing into the bathroom thinking about the long soothing bath she was going to have in seconds.
Once inside the annoyingly sparkling bathroom, unlike any other piece in the old castle, Ginny took a long breath, closed the door and quickly turned on the water. She started to undress replaying the short conversation that she had with Hermione. I hope she doesn't press on it very soon, thought the witch watching the steamy cloud of vapor growing bigger as the hot water flew steadily.
And then, something just snapped deep inside her.
Ginny got into the bath tube and immediately felt herself relax in the hot sedative water, but unfortunately, the good feelings didn't last for so long as she hoped, and were soon replaced by the sensation of dreadful killing pain that erupted directly from inside her tiny heart. The feelings of torment were increasing in a few seconds and Ginny soon found herself awfully sobbing her heart out, again.
She strangely felt her soul drift into nothing.