A/N: Thanks to my great reviewers! I've had a great time writing this story. This is the last full-length chapter. You can expect a short epilogue soon, otherwise. Thanks for reading, and I hope you've had a good time!
It Happened Like This
Chapter Seven: It Happened Like That
So, Fred, it would appear the obstacles have been cleared. The stumbling blocks have been removed. Ginny no longer hates Harry, but is in fact quite taken with him. She found that she gets along quite nicely with him. And she no longer has a boyfriend. Smooth sailing, right?
My dear brother…there is always the conflict raging within a woman.
So that's why she made it so difficult for Harry to make a move?
Not that he was making that strong of a move.
I will admit—and Sir Padfoot's loud complaints at the pub would back me up—that Harry is not the most experienced at asking a girl out.
Ginny once spent three pages of her diary wondering if Harry meant anything more when he asked her, "Do you like to eat food?"
Yea…Sir Padfoot had a good laugh at him for that one.
Or perhaps the time he suggested she go see the drama club's presentation of "Merlin Superstar!"
Did you know he actually went to that, hoping she would have been there.
Huh…he was probably one of—
—six in attendance, yea. He ended up being grateful that didn't become their first official date.
I don't get it; Hogsmeade went so well! The kitchens went so well! How could he not be more confident. And why didn't our esteemed Marauder help him out a little?
He refused to, when Harry asked. Said that he had gotten this far, Harry should do the rest on his own. The truth of that matter is that this was the great test for Sirius. He knew that if Harry could rope this girl in, he would be alright—despite, or perhaps because of, Sirius' parenting. Sir Padfoot needed to see this play out for his own conscience's well-being.
Well, it took a few weeks longer than it should have, didn't it? And Ginny didn't speed the process along because of the war waging within her.
And what war was that, Fred?
How could Harry Potter, the Boy-who-lived-and-vanished, the Defender of the Light, Destructor of the Dinosaur-lookalike, war veteran, hot, hot, hot—her words not mine—Harry, like her? Ginny Weasley, of humble origins, owner of two nice sets of clothes (one of which Harry got for her), opener of the Chamber of Secrets, sucker who fell for a Diary, hot-headed Ginny.
What, in Marvelous Merlin's Magical Manhood, happened to our confident and beautiful sister, Fred?
Harry Bleeding Potter—her words not mine—happened. He made her feel like a little child again with his impressive résumé and looks. Remember how quickly she poorly judged him and decided she hated him?
Of course—it kind of kicked off this whole story, didn't it?
Well, as I mentioned before, it was a defense mechanism. The last time she had met someone so compelling and confusing, so powerful and persuasive, so handsome and hot—
—her words, not yours?
No…my words. Anyway, the last time she met someone like that, she had been duped and nearly had her life force drained from her. So, initially she put up a wall, which Harry chipped away at. Then, she got to know him, and found herself surprisingly vulnerable to him—in a way that she hadn't felt, or let herself feel, since Tom Marvolo Riddle had gotten in her head. So, feeling scared and vulnerable once more, Ginny tried to run or hide. But with no emotional wall to protect herself from Harry anymore, all she could do is emotionally shut down around him.
I had no idea she had been carrying this fear around with her for her whole life, Fred.
That's because no one had brought it out in her like Harry did. Family, friends, and other boys Ginny Weasley could handle. They were easy to figure out, understand, anticipate. She never had to leave herself open around them. But Harry was different.
But why?
Because he had touched the devil, too. And in her heart of hearts, it terrified Ginny that someone could actually relate to her. That Ginny might, for the first time in years, feel able to talk about Tom's possession and manipulation. So she felt small, like Harry had weathered the storm that she couldn't. So she closed herself off.
Well, it took Harry many long days of a non-receptive Ginny to realize something was wrong. But realize he did. And he did what Harry does best. He planned his attack.
Even without Sir Padfoot's help?
Yes indeed. He knew an after-quidditch confrontation was out of the question. He needed it to be a private affair, and with the rate at which Ginny headed to the changing room after practice these days, he knew he couldn't get her alone.
Meanwhile, Ginny had been keeping a close eye out for any conniving activities on Harry's part. She was actively avoiding him.
Right, which made using Luna, Ron, or Hermione to get her alone a trying task for Harry. No, Harry needed her to come to him.
So what exactly did his plan entail?
Well, I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say a switched potion ingredient resulted in Snape's hair lighting on fire, sending Ginny to the Hospital Wing, whereupon she encountered a boy who had grown chipmunk fur on the underside of his arms and legs.
And Ginny is allergic to chipmunks.
Don't ask me how Harry knew that, or how that allergy is possible—anyway, with an impending allergic reaction, Ginny grabbed the potion in the Hospital Wing that she had used the previous year to treat her allergy and took a swig without consulting Madam Pomfrey.
I don't blame her. She grows awfully strange scales from that allergy. Can't be pleasant.
No…nor can the spiked potion that Harry planted there. Soon Ginny was running around the grounds with her hands widespread behind her, humming "In the Summertime," by Mungo Jerry.
But it was late November at this point!
Ginny didn't know that. At least not while hopped up on whatever tantalizing potion Harry had her on. Harry was waiting for her near the Whomping Willow and called out to her when she neared him, making airplane noises.
Naturally, our beloved sister vroomed right on over to him and grinned at him with a silly grin.
You know, while his plan was unnecessarily complex, harmed a few innocent bystanders, and included drugging Ginny, to Harry's everlasting credit, he waved his wand and removed the effects of the potion before addressing Ginny. "Can I talk to you for real now, Ginny?"
Ginny froze. Her odd actions now seemed very odd, but she wasn't dwelling on that. Instead, she was faced with the boy causing most of her anxiety and stress. Granted, he was also causing her much happiness and excitement, but it was a lot to juggle for a girl. She immediately turned away and made to leave.
"I'll jump in front of the Willow if you don't give me a few seconds," Harry threatened, and Ginny froze.
Tell me George. Was this part of the plan?
No Fred. You see, while Harry was falling for our dear sister, he may have picked up a few of her more…impulsive traits. It was one of the reasons he liked her so much, and now it was giving him a chance at Ginny.
While it may have solved some of her problems, Ginny didn't truly want Harry to get killed by a tree. She turned slowly around. "You going to ask me if I like food? Or suggest a play to go see?" she asked warily.
Harry couldn't help but grin. "Maybe later. Right now I want to know what's wrong. And while I have to assume I'm the problem, you won't tell me know how to fix it."
Ginny sighed and looked at her feet. "I really don't want to talk about this here…" Harry made to interrupt, but Ginny raised her hand. "If you're going to make me talk, then let's do it inside somewhere, not by a murderous tree in the cold."
Harry nodded before transforming into a falcon and soaring towards the tree. He pressed a knot of the tree, whereupon the vicious plant ceased any movement. Harry transformed back and said, "I know a place."
Ginny shook her head. "Who are you?" she asked while following him into a secret passage under the tree.
Harry had avoiding talking about his past for much of their conversations. But he figured if he was asking Ginny to open up with him, he should do the same with her. "My dad used to come here with Sirius and Remus during the full moons. Like me, my dad and Sirius were animagi. Remus, of course, is a werewolf..."
As Harry went on to explain about his godfather and mentor, Ginny had to admit it was nice to hear Harry talk about his past. He had always avoided the subject, except in rare cases. It warmed her heart that he felt he could trust her.
"…and so I renovated when we came here to Hogwarts, so I could have a place to come. You know, to think and reflect in solitude," Harry finished as they entered the Shrieking Shack.
Ginny's mouth dropped at the beauty of the "Shack" as she entered. It was small and simple, sure. Gone was the room where four animals used to wrestle and fight once a month. Instead, the room had been enlarged to include a large bed, kitchenette, and sitting area. The walls were painted a deep green, which contrasted beautifully with a painting hanging over the fireplace.
Seeing Ginny's gaze on his painting, Harry spoke on his choice of décor as he lit the fire. "It's fascinating, isn't it? It's just a painting of the ocean. I mean, water is so common to us that we die if we don't see it every day. And yet, I can stare at it for hours."
Ginny couldn't help but agree, continuing her gaze on the ocean picture. It was a still painting, depicting a single moment as waves crashed on a plain beach. The sun set over the water. Aside from a few birds, the painting was empty. Yet it was beautiful. And mostly, it was peaceful.
"You've made me come to The Shack quite a bit these last few weeks, Gin," Harry said suddenly, causing Ginny to finally look away from the painting. But Harry was now looking at it intently. "I alternate between looking at this painting of endless, still water and staring at the fire, constantly dancing until it eats itself up and dies. I just can't stop looking at them both."
Ginny bit her lip, quite unsure of what Harry was trying to tell her. But she stayed silent, waiting for him to finish.
"Two contrasting images: fire and water, dynamic and static, excitement and dependability. I sit here and debate with myself over who you are, Ginny. I argue about your dependability: the person I have trusted like no one else. Then I lament and celebrate how you flicker, avoiding me for days at a time only to surprise me with some of the best times of my life. But there is one constant when it comes to my ponderings over you Ginny." He tore his eyes away from the painting and fire and looked right into Ginny's eyes. "You are both fire and water, and I can't stop thinking about you."
Well my dear brother, George. This was the moment Ginny had been dreading. The ultimate confrontation. One the one hand, Ginny was jumping for joy to hear him speak so candidly about his feelings for her. But, she knew she had to be open with him, too. And that meant telling him about her past; her failures and shortcomings. She hated that just moments from now Harry would be disgusted with her, or at the very least, very disappointed in her.
Harry simply waited in anticipation as Ginny looked back at the fire.
"I don't think I'm the ocean, Harry. You are. You are the dependable one. You had the task of defeating a Dark Lord and didn't flicker or shy away. Day and night, you pressed on, pounding away until your task was done. You won, you never faltered."
Harry frowned, not liking where she was heading.
"I'm fire," she continued. "I'm flashy, and I catch people's eye. I can warm people up, but get too close and I'll burn you. I have a hot temper, and I'm too quick to judge. Leave me alone with no help, and I'll…" Ginny faltered as her gaze dropped. "Harry, I was once tasked with facing a Dark Lord, too."
Harry's eyes widened in alarm. "What? When?"
Ginny smiled sadly. "During my first year, I faced Voldemort in a Diary—"
Harry took a sharp intake of breath as his old memory came to the forefront of his mind. It was her, whom he had saved. She had been the victim of Riddle's horror. He made to cut Ginny off and explain that he knew, but Ginny raised her hand to silence him.
Ginny knew she needed to press on or it would only get more difficult. "I got a new Diary in Diagon Alley; I didn't even know where it came from, but did I question it? No. Like a stupid girl, I just starting writing."
"But—" Harry tried to argue.
"I started writing about how nervous I was for school. Wrote about my family. And Harry, someone started responding. And did I stop writing, as I should have? No, like the stupid girl I was, I kept writing."
"But—"
"I even knew it was something wrong. Daddy always told me not to trust anything if I couldn't see where it kept its brain. But did I rush off to an adult and share the dark book? No, like the stupid, weak girl that I am, I kept it, too tempted by the kind words being written back to be."
"But—"
"It started to gain power, and its words grew harsher. Then I lost control; like the weak and helpless girl that I am, I lost. I was possessed by a book and did horrible things, Harry."
"But—"
"No!" Ginny nearly shouted, still staring at the fire. Her eyes were starting to water. She couldn't remember the last time she had talked about this horrible time in her life. She had moved on from it—but had never been able to let go. And now all the pent up feelings of loss and insecurity were piling back on. "I even threw it away for a time. But Ron found it, and I didn't want to get in trouble. So like the stupid, weak, and scared little girl that I am, I stole it back, and succumbed once more to Voldemort."
"But—"
"I nearly died; I nearly let Voldemort return in the Chamber of Secrets, with a monster by his side. But Dumbledore and some nameless hero came to my rescue—the foolish, scared, weak little girl that I am."
"Ginny—"
"No, Harry," Ginny stopped, tiredly, the fire warming her moist cheeks tauntingly. "You don't get it. You stood up to him. You beat him. You stood before the devil himself and won. I…I lost to a mere memory. And the flickering fire that I am, I died. I, the stupid, weak, foolish litt—"
Harry couldn't hear her say it again. This smart, strong, beautiful witch that he had fallen for could not call herself a stupid and weak little girl ever again. Voldemort could not have that victory over someone so good. But his vocal interruptions had not deterred her before.
I think it's safe to say that she stopped talking when he guided her face to his and kissed her, however.
Yes, her surprise lasted longer than the short kiss, too, which left her looking a bit like a fish when Harry pulled back.
When some of her senses came back to her, she finally got a look into his eyes. Before the shocking kiss, she expected to find disgust and disappointment there. But now, in her confusion, she thought she saw admiration and care.
"You know what the wizarding world has conveniently forgotten since my defeat of Voldemort, Ginny? That my own pride and ignorance got him resurrected in the first place. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that Diary wasn't the only object with Voldemort's lingering memory and soul.
Ginny's mouth dropped, terrified to think there were more Diaries out there.
"I found a Locket that Voldemort had left behind, and it spoke to me. It tried to convince me that I could destroy Voldemort forever by opening it up. Eventually, I gave in, and Voldemort used…part of me to come back. And it was entirely my fault."
Ginny sat quietly, fighting the urge to argue with him. Voldemort had returned the year after the Diary incident, which would've made Harry still a young boy. If she argued with him that he had just been a young boy, and that his mistake was understandable, she would be admitting the same about herself. If she said nothing, she would blame him for the return of Voldemort, which was not her belief. She warred with herself for a few second about what to do.
"Trying to decide between condemning me or forgiving yourself?" Harry asked with a slight smile.
Ginny's head shot up to meet his eyes, shocked that he knew her thought process.
"I found that when I forgave myself, life became much more enjoyable. In fact, I wouldn't be alive today if I hadn't." Harry reached forward and cradled Ginny's face in his hand. "Please forgive yourself. It wasn't your fault. It was Tom Riddle, Salazar Slytherin, and a giant basilisk's fault."
The war within Ginny raged on. She was convinced It had been her fault. She knew what she was doing was wrong and stupid. She was selfish and desperate. Because of her, a number of students missed months of their lives. Because of her, a basilisk had been set loose on the school.
Is this where she realized what Harry had said, Fred?
Right you are George. "Wait a minute," Ginny said suddenly. "How did you know about the basilisk?"
"I always wondered who that girl in the Chamber of Secrets was," Harry commented, looking sadly at Ginny. "Of all of the victims I encountered in my war with Voldemort, no one compared with the battle she waged. For nearly a year, she withstood the mind games and power of the most evil wizard of this century. A mere eleven year-old, fighting Tom Riddle. I thought about you often, Ginny, though I never saw your face before Dumbledore took you."
Ginny's mouth dropped as he spoke. "It…it was you?" she asked weakly. "You risked your life for me? You saved me?"
Harry nodded lightly. Still holding her cheek, Harry brushed it affectionately with his thumb. "I forgive you, Ginny. Will you?"
It's an interesting thing, George. Why is it that we are so much more willing to forgive others than ourselves?
I wouldn't know. I've never done anything wrong to need to forgive myself of.
Naturally. But say you were human like the rest of us?
It's a tough question Fred. We are much harder on ourselves than others. We think we're the exception, that we don't deserve redemption or a fresh start.
In Ginny's case, I think she feared forgiving herself before everyone else did. She hated the thought that she could be living peacefully while someone she had hurt was still hurting.
And there was always one person who she could never ask if they were still hurting.
The mysterious hero who had opened the Chamber and slain the basilisk.
Harry Potter.
And now, here he was, sitting in front of her, understanding her, forgiving her, asking her to move on. Her eyes burned, and tears began cascading down her cheeks. Could she do it? Could she forgive herself of the pain and suffering she had caused? The fear and uncertainty that held the school hostage for a year?
Harry wiped her tears away gently as they fell one by one down her cheeks. Then, sensing Ginny had made her decision, he opened his arms up to her.
She readily fell forward into the embrace and cried into Harry's shoulder. "Thank you, Harry," she managed between heavy breaths. "Thank you for saving me then, and thank you for saving me now."
Harry simply rubbed her back gently as he let her release the dirt and muck that Voldemort had placed in her as a little girl.
You know, Fred, this Potter bloke is alright for our sis, don't you think?
So you don't want me to relate the well accounted and overly detailed snog session that occurred a few hours later, which Ginny wrote in her diary that night…
You know, Fred, we should watch this Potter bloke carefully…
…And the similarly comprehensive and lengthy diary entries for many days and weeks following.
…You know, Fred, we should track the Potter bloke down and threaten and beat some sense and manners into him
I think you're right, George. In fact, they've been together for months now, and Ginny still finds new and imaginative ways to describe what her boyfriend manages to illicit in her.
How could you read that without killing the boy, brother?
You forget this boy is a highly trained, dark wizard-killing, highly alert, deeply in love, boy.
You're scared, then?
Yes.
I don't blame you. But what are we going to do about him? I mean, Sir Padfoot has made plenty of jokes at the pub about his…lively and active godson. I always thought he was having me on.
No, I'm afraid he was being quite accurate in his description of Harry. I'm quite worried, however. It's been a few weeks since I last checked her diary. Perhaps I need to sneak back into her room and ensure nothing too untoward has been going on.
Yes. Ginny's been back from school for a couple of weeks and it's been a long time since I've seen Sir Padfoot at the pub as well. Maybe I need to go have a drink tonight.
Alright. Reconvene here tomorrow? Perhaps we'll be concluding our story with the murder of Harry Potter?
Deal. Just pray Ginny doesn't catch you, or the murder victim will be much different.
Victim? You mean victims. If I go down, you go down with me.
A/N: Please let me know what you think! Nothing compares to a reader's review letting me know what they thought! Thanks!
