Disclosure: still don't own it : (
A/N: So second chapter! I'm going to warn you right now that Harry isn't the same person you saw at the end of the fifth book. I honestly don't like how Harry rolled over and let everyone manipulatute him. I'm not going to automatically make him kick ass because no one is really like that in life. He'll be changing and become more mature as you'll see. If you don't like that kind of thing and prefer that Harry take orders with blind faith then don't read because I'm changing the way Harry sees things. You've been warned.
"CHARLIE! OPEN THE DOOR! I NEED TO GO. NOW!"
Ginny banged her fists against the wooden bathroom door, ignoring the yellow flecks of fraying paint that floated to the ground gently. She wasn't afraid of her family's reaction because when you lived eight other people, there was always someone screaming for someone else to get out of the shower. She loved her family, she really did, but one bathroom between nine people wasn't enough. It was perfectly fine for her brothers who could all go to the bathroom outside if they had to but Ginny was a girl and as much as she was a tomboy, she did not pee outside. Not for Merlin, not for You-Know-Who and certainly not because her older brother wouldn't get his arse out of the shower.
"CHARLES WEASLEY! IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR ARSE OUT OF THAT SHOWER RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO TELL MUM WHAT YOU DID LAST WEEK!"
The reaction was almost immediate and Ginny smiled as the pipes stopped groaning and everything went silent as her brother shut off the water. Inside the room there were a few bangs and her brother let lose a curse befitting of a dragon handler. The door opened abruptly and Ginny was almost flattened to the ground as her brother walked out only clad in a fluffy pink towel that hung around his waist.
"You promised you wouldn't tell!" He hissed.
"I did but I need to pee so that makes my promise to you moot."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "I'm sure."
Ginny quickly walked into the bathroom and relieved herself before having a quick shower (unlike certain brothers, she knew how valuable hot water was in their house) and changing into a pair of denim shorts that had been given to her by Hermione and Charlie's old Quidditch jersey from when he had been captain. The shirt had been modified so while it was still quite large on her, the summer heat didn't make the shirt unbearable. She'd had Bill do the charm on it years ago because her mother had refused in the attempt to get her to wear girlier clothes. Ginny pulled her hair into a messy bun and pinned back her fringe before throwing her clothes in the hamper and running down the kitchen, two steps at a time.
Downstairs in the kitchen her mother was carefully watching the Twins serve themselves as if they were about to do something to the leftover food. Her concern wasn't unfounded, the summer before they had hexed Dung's food to make him tap dance for an hour. Ginny watched as her brothers dug into their food heartily and wasn't surprised when the Twins weren't eating much. Fred and George, contrary to popular belief considering they were in fact both a Weasley, didn't gorge themselves. Yes, they eat disgustingly on birthdays and Christmas but on an everyday basis they didn't over eat. Ginny didn't either because while playing Quidditch in the backyard and running around was exercise, it wasn't the same as if you were walking up all the moving staircases, walking down to Hagrid's or going to Herbology. At Hogwarts you easily burned off the food you ate but the Twins were going to their shop in Diagon Alley so there was no point in eating a gourgious amount of food that they knew they wouldn't be able to burn off. That was the secret of why every Weasley child (except for Ron) wasn't as disgustingly large as Harry's cousin Dudley, they knew how much was practical to eat.
Ginny watched as Bill quickly walked around the kitchen, a piece of Jam toast in his mouth while trying to stuff one arm into his dress shirt. When he finally managed to do that he began to button up his shirt and looked around the bookcase for something he'd obviously lost.
"Hee itte oone."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Hey, Bill."
Bill took the toast out of his mouth when his mother glared at him. "Little One, have you seen that roll of parchment I had with me on Wednesday night? I need it for work and if I can't find it soon I'll be late."
"You mean the parchment about Osiris?"
"That's the one."
"Try under Charlie's book of dragons in the study."
Bill ran into the study and came back with the parchment. He gave Ginny a kiss on the forehead, kissed his mothers cheek, wished the Twins a good day and then disappeared into the emerald green flames of their Floo. Ginny stole a piece of toast from Fred's plate who didn't seem to notice because he, and George, were both staring at her with amazement.
"You can read those things?" Fred asked.
"Those what?"
"Those drawing thingies." George said, waving his hand around as if it made all the sense in the world.
"You mean hieroglyphics?"
"Yeah, since when can our Ickle Gin Gin read heiroglyphiees?"
Ginny rolled her eyes at Fred's mispronunciation. "Bill taught me a little bit of it when I was little, enough to learn how to write my name and simple words, but it wasn't until we went to visit him in Egypt that I really learnt. He gave me books about all the Gods and the hieroglyphics and about curse breaking."
Ginny sighed when everyone clammed up as she mentioned their visit to Egypt. She really wished they wouldn't treat her like glass when someone mentioned anything connected with the Chamber. Yes, she still cried over it when things became too much. Yes, she still had nightmares that often resulted in Harry lying dead on the cold wet floor of the Chamber. Yes, she still had her moments of weakness. Yes, all of these things still happened, no matter how tough she tried to be. But that didn't mean that she was fragile. It meant she was a human and she damn well wished they'd stop treating her like some precious object ready to break.
"I'm going to start on my potions essay, Snape decided to be a right bastard and-"
Ginny would have continued but was interrupted when Errol flew straight into the glass window. George quickly opened the window and ducked as Hedwig swooped in, landing on the kitchen table regally. Errol somehow manage to weakly fly himself up to the window ledge and collapsed forward into the sink. George carefully prodded the owl with one of the many fake wands that lay lying around the kitchen.
"I think he's going to be okay."
Fred rolled his eyes. "He's always okay."
"Not true, I thought that trip last year would've finished him off." George said.
"Ahh, actually you're right, we did bet over that didn't we. You lost two sickles."
"Why use Errol? Why not the school owls?" Ginny asked.
"They don't like us much."
"Especially after we accidentally turned them blue in our first year."
"Too right George."
"Then why not ask Harry to borrow Hedwig? I mean that seems like the most logical answer."
"Like you can talk Gin Gin."
"Actually I can, I borrowed Hedwig to owl Mum."
Fred and George's mouths dropped open and in unison they said "You actually asked Harrikins for something? Our little Gin Gin is all grown up and talking to boys!"
Ginny ignored them as Fred and George wiped away a fake tear. She turned to Hedwig and gently ran a finger down the glossy white plumage. Hedwig barked(1) in content and held her leg out for Ginny to retrieve the letter. To her surprise the letter was actually addressed to her and wasn't to Ron like she had expected. Thanking Hedwig she held her hand out and felt the familiar weight of an owl on her arm as she carried Hedwig up to her room. She offered the owl a treat and opened her bedroom window up so Hedwig could explore the Burrow as she pleased.
"Does Harry need a reply?" She asked the owl, her fingers ghosting over the envelope.
Hedwig shook her head and swooped out of the window, no doubt in search of prey. Ginny flopped down onto her bed and carefully opened the envelope. Once she had pulled out the parchment she hesitated, not sure if she really wanted to know what was inside the letter. For all she knew it could be an angry letter about her actions on the train. Ginny steeled her nerves and sucked in a deep breath as she began to read.
Dear Ginny,
I don't know exactly how to start this letter, I've never written to you before after all. I suppose I should start off by thanking you and apologising at the same time. You didn't have to risk your life, you didn't have to follow me but you did. I don't know many people who would follow me into a suicide mission but I guess you're not all people. You've definitely proven to be more than you appear and I'm glad I had you backing me up. At the same time I'm sorry you got into that situation, as talented as you are it only takes one lucky shot and you're dead. I learnt that the hard way with Sirius.
While I'm in the process of apologising I wanted to also apologise for everything. It's kind of broad but I have a lot to apologise to you for. I'm sorry I never looked out for you in your first year. Fred and George looked out for us but we didn't look out for you. We didn't pay attention and that got you hurt. I'm also sorry that I made that mistake again and didn't get to know you after the chamber. I'm sorry but it was my loss, I lost time to get to know such an amazing person. But I'm glad I got to know you during the year and hit me if I ever forget about you again, yeah?
I've been thinking about your offer for the last few days. I wasn't sure what to think of you on the train but eventually I realised that I trust you and I don't have much to lose. I'm going to take you up on your offer, if it still stands I mean. I hope it is because if it's not I'm going to sound like a real idiot. You're probably wondering why I'm agreeing to your proposition. I kind of realised that I can't lock myself away and mope, that I need to talk to someone. But at the same time I know I can't talk to Hermione and Ron, not about this.
Hermione and Ron don't understand what it's like to have Voldemort take over your mind and rip your life apart at the seams. You're the only one who knows what it's like to take on Voldemort and win. You were strong enough to hold him off for almost an entire year and you were eleven. That's what made me realise that I had to talk to you, you are an incredibly strong person and you didn't let Voldemort take over even after the Chamber. I need someone to remind me, someone to show me how to get up again in the mornings. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm putting a lot on your plate but you're the kind of person I need.
I don't know how long it will take for me to open up to you Gin, but I know you won't push me like Ron and Hermione will. I guess I should also say that you can talk to me about the Chamber too. I never really talked to someone about it and I'm not sure if you talked to someone. You probably did but if you want to talk to me I'm here. I'm the only other person who was down there so you could say anything to me and I wouldn't think you were crazy because I'd believe you.
I don't know what to say other than that I hope you keep this letter a secret from Ron and Hermione. It's not that I don't want them knowing that I'm writing to you but I'm worried. I've never been someone to open up and I don't know why I feel so open around you. You're a strange one Miss Weasley (I mean that in a good way). But at the same time I'm worried someone might read my letters to you and try to send me to the nut house (a place where muggles send crazy people). You know just as well as I do that when people find out a big secret, they look at you differently. I'm trusting my instincts and hoping you won't look at me differently but I think I know you well enough to know you won't. You know what it's like to be looked at like you're someone different, like you're going to crack if they don't walk around you on eggshells. I'm trusting you won't be one of those people. I know you won't but it's hard not to be paranoid after what I've been through.
I've decided I need to change my life but I can't do it alone. The way I am right now (physically, mentally and emotionally) isn't cutting it. Sometime in the future I'm going to have to go up against Voldemort and right now I'm nowhere near being ready. I'm still a naive kid and that needs to change. I need someone to let me prattle on to them even when I sound insane. I need someone to yell at me and tell me when I'm wrong, push me when you know I can do better and tell me to be careful but let me go knowing I'll probably get hurt anyway. I was kind of hoping you'd be that friend. You don't have to be but I thought I'd risk it and just tell you that I really hope you'll help me.
On a totally unrelated subject I hope your holidays are going well, mine are pretty much the same but Lupin's threat seems to be holding so it could be worse. There's a little note inside somewhere here for your parents to tell them I'm okay. I'll be seeing Lupin on Sunday anyway but I thought I might as well write them a letter while I write yours.
Harry.
P.S Hedwig will wait for a reply; she seems to enjoy the Burrow a lot more than she does where I am right now. If you don't want to write back just tell Hedwig and she'll come back.
Ginny wanted to smile at Harry's letter. He was so open to her, he was asking if he could confine in her. At the same time Harry was scared that she'd ignore him, brush him off like he meant nothing. How could he even think like that? She'd offered to listen to him because she wanted to and because, like Harry had pointed out more than once in his letter, she was the only one who actually understood. Sure, thousands of people could say Voldemort ruined their lives but how many of them had had him possess them and live to tell the tale? How many had a connection to Voldemort? How many had the same scarring she and Harry had? Hers was figurative while Harry's was both literal and figurative but that was besides the point. Harry James Potter was asking for Ginny Weasley's help and there was no way she was going to say no.
Ginny was almost giddy, Harry was asking for help and not for her brother's. He'd asked her to specifically not tell Hermione and Ron. He was confining in her. Her! Ginny sighed in happiness but then shook herself out of it. Harry was going to need support, someone who would listen and encourage him. He had mentioned that he would have to go up against Voldemort. Ginny wished it weren't true but some part of her knew that eventually, with the way magical England was right now, that he'd probably have to. And he was right, Harry wasn't ready for it. Ginny wasn't either but who was ready to fight a magical war at the age of fifteen and sixteen? The both of them should be worried about Snape's essay and the Quidditch cup next year at school but now Harry was planning to become someone who could do something about Voldemort and he'd all but begged her to come with him for the ride.
Ginny searched herself and knew the answer immediately; yes she wanted to help Harry become the person he wanted to be. It was going to be dangerous and it was going to break a lot of rules. Her mother wasn't going to approve at all and at some point she'd probably be going against Dumbledore. There was so much that could go wrong but at the same time she knew that if they could really pull off whatever Harry was thinking about, they could do a lot of good at the same time. Harry was asking for her faith, asking her to do something he hadn't asked anyone else. There really was only one answer. She was going to be that person but first she'd have to write to him back. Ginny quickly looked through her trunk (which she still hadn't unpacked) and found some spare parchment and a quill.
Now, all she had to do was figure out what she was going to say.
Ginny happily jumped down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Charlie, Ron and the Twins (who had come back from the shop for lunch) sitting down with their mother eating ham sandwiches. She slapped Harry's letter to her mother on the table and sat down next to Charlie, grabbing a sandwich from the pile sitting on a large plate sitting in the middle of the table.
"Whad'sat?" Ron asked, his mouth full of food.
"Harry sent a letter for Mum and Dad." Ginny answered.
"What did his letter to you say Firefly?" Charlie asked, reaching for his second sandwich.
"Harry sent you a letter?" Ron gaped incredulously.
Fred nodded. "Errol crashed into the window this morning and Hedwig didn't seem too impressed."
"But why would Harry write to Ginny?"
George scowled at his younger brother. "Maybe because they are friends."
"Or are you just assuming that only you can be friends with Harry, Ron?" Fred glared menacingly.
Ron gulped. "No I just don't see why he would write to her and not me."
Ginny sighed. "Ron he was just thanking me for going into the Department of Mysteries with him. It was short and to the point, nothing to get your knickers in a twist over."
"Did he seem okay, dear?" Molly asked her daughter concerned.
"Why don't I read his letter and we can find out?" Charlie picked up Harry's letter and read it aloud. "Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley, Everything is okay here with the Dursleys, Lupin's threat is working so they're mostly just ignoring me. I miss your cooking but don't worry, I'm still being fed. My real letter will come with Remus after he meets me on Sunday. Hope you're all well, Harry."
"He doesn't seem too bad." Ron said.
Ginny snorted. "That's what he wants you to think."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"It means we won't actually know until Lupin has dinner with us on Sunday night."
"Well I think Harry's fine."
"Well you're an idiot." Ginny said, mumbling under her breath.
"What was that?" Ron asked.
"Nothing, Ron."
"It's not like you know anything about Harry anyway, you're just happy that he's actually putting some interest in you because you have a crush on him. But he's only doing it because you're my little sister. He's being nice because that's what Harry does, he's nice to people."
At this point Charlie had put a silencing charm on Ron and frozen the Twins in their seats. Fred and George looked like they wanted to jump Ron and Ginny smiled at the murderous looks on their faces. Ron had really stepped in it this time and Ginny felt no remorse for what was to come for her brother. Ron needed to learn to stop being so stupid. The twins were very attached to Harry in a suspicious way that nagged at the back of Ginny's mind. She was also their protégée of sorts and would be continuing their legacy throughout the rest of her school years. In short, Ron saying anything bad about herself and Harry wasn't a smart thing to do in front of the two of the most feared Hogwarts students. Well, ex-Hogwarts students. Charlie was almost as bad for what he lacked in camaraderie with Harry he made up tenfold with how close he was to his little sister. Ron had really stepped in it and by the look on his ghostly pale face, he had realised it too.
"Mum, I'm going to go out to the lake okay? If I'm ever going to get this potions essay done I'm going to need fresh air and plenty of room to think. It's going to be horrid so I probably won't be back for a few hours." Ginny said, putting her now empty plate into the sink.
"I'll get one of the boys to get you if you aren't back before dinner." Her mother nodded, "but keep inside the boundaries and make sure you don't do anything stupid."
"Mum you're talking to the wrong child." Fred said.
George grinned. "Yeah, Harrikkins isn't here yet remember? He's off being tortured by the Dursleys."
"George!"
"Would you look at the time? Fred I think it's time we get back to the shop, Verity is probably wondering where we are."
"Too right George, see you at dinner Mum."
And with that Fred and George, like Bill had earlier that morning, disappeared within the green emerald fire.
Ginny left Ron's fate up to Charlie and ran upstairs to find her potions book, the three feet of parchment required for the essay, a pot of ink and two quills. She made her way outside and began the trek across the property until she found the lake near the south west end of the property. It was close enough to the border of the property to make her mother slightly anxious while still close enough to the house that it would take someone a minute and a half to get her if they ran.
She settled down against a large boulder, feeling the slightly warmed stone against her back with a sigh. The wind swept across leaves that had fallen to the ground, making them dance wildly with the sway of the wind. Ginny brought her knees up to her chest and rested her potions book against her thighs gently. She thumbed through the pages until she found the section dedicated to the wit-sharpening potion they had made towards the end of the year. Snape wanted three feet on how to make the potion along with the advantages and disadvantages of taking the potion during fifth year when trying to study for the OWLs.
After five minutes Ginny gave up, slamming her textbook closed with such ferocity that a bird in the tree ten meters away flew off in fright. "Bloody Merlin this is impossible!"
Hedwig swooped down and landed on the soft grass next to Ginny, barking a hello. Ginny stroked the owl's white glossy feathers once more and dug out a treat she'd stuff into her pocket earlier in the day. Hedwig took the treat happily and nibbled on it before looking at Ginny with wise eyes. When Ginny didn't understand what Hedwig wanted, the owl gave her an almost disappointed look and Ginny swore the owl barked in disapproval. Watching as the regal owl scratched at her parchment she realised what the owl wanted. She wanted Harry's letter. Ginny quickly pulled the envelope that contained the letter from the inside of her potions book and tied it to Hedwig's leg before watching as the owl took flight and flew away until she was out of sight.
Ginny sighed and eventually forced herself back to her potions book. There was no point in delaying Snape's essay, no matter how well she did it the Potions Master would be a git about it so she might as well get it over and done with. Ginny cringed as she thought about Hermione's reaction if she had of been there to hear it. Oh well, potions didn't really matter than much anyway did it?
(1) JKR wrote in the first book that Hedwig hoots and then discovered that Snowy Owls actually bark, she decided to continue with the use of the word hoot to consistently use the same terms when describing Hedwig. I'll be using the word bark just because it's what they do and I havent seen anyone else write anything other than "Hedwig hooted" and all that stuff.
On another note... PLEASE REVIEW! I love to hear your opinions. Thanks to those who reviewed, favourited and alerted the story, you're awesome. So yeah, review! It makes me happy!
