I'm sorry it's been taking so long but I've been…detained, in a word. I'm not making any promises on if I'll be able to keep this up to date as often as I did, but I WILL try. Anyway, don't own blah blah blah. Enjoy!
It was a rainy, dreary evening at Hogwarts. Nevertheless, Quidditch practice went on as normal, the air thick with anticipation. It was only three weeks until the first game of the year against Slytherin, so Harry was drilling the team hard. Fred and George were yelling wise cracks back and forth to each other, making the whole team laugh. Harry was high in the sky, as was Ginny, who was practicing being Seeker. Lei was waiting at her goal posts for the Quaffle, Ron doing the same on the other end of the field. Ginny ducked out of the way of a Bludger. Fred zoomed after it and whacked it at Ron. While he dodged it, Ginny's substitute threw the Quaffle straight into the middle hoop. Ron's face turned as red as his hair and he glared at his brothers. The twins both laughed and exchanged high-fives as they flew past each other. The sun glinted on something and Harry shot toward it, closely followed by Ginny. They went higher, higher, higher, until the field was far below and they were amid the clouds. It was here that they stopped, no longer seeing the Snitch.
"Harry."
"Ginny."
"I-I…"
"I know. You saw it; you weren't just following me."
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Ginny, think. I may be the boy who lived, the one who defeated Voldemort, but I don't have it in me to tear my friends apart."
"Just your friends? Nothing more?"
"Even the one I would rather be something more."
"Well at least give me the solidity of a declaration!"
"I can't, Ginny!"
"Why not?!"
"Because it just can't be!"
The chat was interrupted suddenly when Harry saw the Snitch behind Ginny's head. It darted downward and Harry followed it. He pulled up and flew closer to the ground, reaching for the golden ball. Then he got it and blew the whistle at his neck. Everyone flew down and gathered around Harry.
"Alright, good practice but we can do much better than that. Fred, George, in the actual game try to restrain yourselves from joking quite so much. Lei, don't be so tense. Ron, don't make such big dodges. Ginny, you did fine just keep your eyes peeled better; you could have seen it before I did. All in all, well done, everyone."
Everyone clapped and went to the castle with their brooms. Fred and George flew back up to wrangle the Bludgers. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lei, and Ginny stood in the center of the field. Ginny eyed Harry with hurt eyes, which didn't escape Ron's notice. However, he had the grace to ignore it. They all stayed long enough to get the Bludgers from Fred and George and put all the balls back in the box. Then they all took off to the castle together, hunched over against the rain. The twins kept sneaking glances at Lei, making her blush slightly. Hermione made it a point to walk between Ron and Harry [she could sense the tension], and Ginny walked in between Ron and Fred, pointedly ignoring Harry although she was glad he hadn't shown what had happened by not talking to her in the after-practice meet. But still, it'd take her awhile to take in what Harry had said to her.
In the common room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in their pajamas in a corner. Fred, George, and Lee were close by, also in their pajamas. Ginny came in, said good-night, and went to the girls' dorms. Lei came in, exchanged her own pleasantries with everyone, and went to her own room.
"Alright," Ron started, "Harry, you owe me an explanation."
Harry sighed, "Yes, I do. And I'd be more obliging if you asked me more civilly."
Ron took in a deep breath before starting again, more friendly, "Mate, would you like to explain to me what happened between you and my sister?"
Harry stared into the fire. "Well, I flew up high after the Snitch. Ginny followed me. Once up there, in the clouds, we lost sight of it. We…talked."
"I know what you did and it bloody well wasn't talking."
"Yes, actually, it was. Ron, Ginny likes me. Really likes me."
"Don't you pretend you don't like her."
"I'm not. And that's what I told her. I also told her that it wasn't right and could never be."
"Why?!"
Hermione looked up from her book. The room got quiet as everyone stared at Harry and Ron. Harry felt their stares but ignored them. "Because of you! I did it for you!"
The color drained from Ron's face as it dawned on him that Harry had given up loving his sister for the sake of their friendship. Hermione just stared, dumbfounded. But the silence ended abruptly when they heard a door creak. Everyone jerked their heads to see Ginny standing in the doorway to the girls' dorms. Tears were streaming down her face.
"You…you don't want me because of him? He's my brother; he's seen me date plenty of guys and he's okay! I can't believe you don't trust him. I can't believe you don't trust me!"
"I trust you; I trust him. I just can't believe that it wouldn't tear up all I've ever wanted for you if we were together."
"So you'll break my heart and send me crashing instead of trying?! I can't believe you don't trust me!"
"It's not that I don't trust you! I just don't trust your judgment!"
"Oui!" As Harry turned to Ron, he met the mean Weasly's left hook. Then he had a knee to his middle. Immense pain flooded his body as he fell to the floor, gasping. The sudden shock and straining for breath triggered an attack, one which he was totally unprepared for. Ron, instantly realizing his mistake, fell to his knees at Harry's side, unsure of what to do. Hermione patted Harry's legs, looking for a pocket or something where his inhaler might be, while he beat the floor with one hand and grasped his chest with the other. His movement got weaker as the seconds ticked by and Ginny started screaming. Lei ran in, took one look, and ran back out. Shortly, she was back with Harry's inhaler and knelt in front of his face. She put the yellow tube in his mouth and pushed the button, telling him to breathe as deeply as he could. It did no good. She tried again with the same effect. By the third try, Harry was unconscious. Hermione shook him and Ron mumbled his name. Lei looked up.
"Someone get Madame Pomfrey in here now!" Lee ran out the portrait hole. Lei turned to Hermione and whispered, "Go get Snape." Hermione nodded and ran out behind Lee. Lei and Ron turned Harry over on his back, trying to relax him. Ginny had stopped screaming and was slumped against the wall, Fred and George on either side of her. After the longest few minutes known to mankind, Lee returned with Madam Pomfrey in tow. The matron instantly cast a charm that returned Harry to consciousness. He wheezed as she put the inhaler in his mouth. Again, it had no effect. Harry slipped into unconsciousness and Madam Pomfrey scooped him up. In a moment they were off to the hospital wing, the whole lot of them, pajamas and all. Ginny had to be supported by Fred and George because she was shaking so bad. She was hysterically mumbling about how it was her fault Harry would die.
Harry's pulse was so weak it took a charm just to find it when they got to the hospital wing. Hermione and Snape were waiting for them there. Hermione rushed to turn the sheets back on an isolated bed and the matron laid Harry out on it. Snape was at his side in a second with a vial of green liquid. Madam Pomfrey brought him back to consciousness, which was harder this time, and Snape put the vial to his lips.
"Potter, you are to drink this, every drop. Do you understand me." Harry nodded his head slightly, his eyes already starting to roll back into his skull. However, he drank all of the potion and visibly relaxed a bit. But he was still barely breathing and his skin was turning cold and clammy.
A/N: Wonderful cliffhanger isn't it?! I love reviews so make me feel better, eh? Don't worry; I'll tell you what happens soon enough.
