Parallel

By deemarie

Chapter 11

She had never seen Bill so angry. They had Portkeyed directly to his flat. He hadn't even given Ginny time to drop her bags when he rounded on her.

"Ginny Weasley, just what do you think you're doing, treating Harry like that!"

"Just how much of that did you witness?" Ginny asked, her temper rising.

"Don't you go blaming me for any of this," he drew himself up to his full height and glared daggers at her. "I saw enough. I saw Harry reach out to comfort you and you recoiled as if snake bit! I don't know what's going on between you two, but Harry doesn't deserve that! Now sit down. You're going to tell me everything, right now." The anger that had flared up in her chest left her as rapidly as a deflating balloon. Bill was right, no matter what Harry had done, she didn't have to treat him that way. Ginny sat down hard on Bill's sofa.

Bill watched as she sat. He had seen the anger leave her. It was just her defense mechanism at work. Bill knew that even though so much time had passed since she was 11 that she still wasn't completely over it. No one could experience something like that and survive without lasting scars. Bill knew, there were things he had seen in working for Gringot's that would stay in his memory forever. He sat next to Ginny and waited for her to begin.

Ginny told him as much as she dared. She told him about the awful row in the common room, all the horrible things she said to Harry. Then he had collapsed at her feet. She told him how she couldn't go to St. Mungo's to see him, because she couldn't bear to face his hurt and anger. He did not seem angry with her at all. She didn't understand that. She told him about that night after dinner, how Harry had tried to comfort her (she just couldn't tell Bill about the kiss) and when he had called her Ron's little sister...how she had just lost her temper with him. When would he ever see her as more than that? She decided she couldn't live like that.

"I needed to get away, Bill. I need to sort things out."

"When did your feelings for Harry change, Ginny," he asked. What did he mean? "When did you fall completely in love with him?" How had he known? "Come on, Ginny, this is me you're talking to. Sometimes I know you better than you know yourself. Or haven't you realized that?"

He was right. She didn't know how, or why, but Bill always knew. It's as if he was in her mind. It was never any use lying to him.

"I can't put my finger on exactly when," she admitted. "But you're right. I do love him. It's hopeless. He will never see me that way."

"How do you know?" Ginny turned to him then.

"What do you mean?"

"Look, Ginny, Harry's been through an awful lot. Almost since the day he was born. Look where he grew up? Do you think he learned how to love, not the romantic kind, but to love someone like family from those Muggles? It can't have been easy for him.

"You and I have all our family. Granted, we may not be the most normal of wizarding clans, look at Fred and George, look at Percy, but do you doubt you are loved?" She shook her head no.

"Harry never had that. Then he discovered he was a wizard. That had to have been a shock. Do you think that even now, he's entirely used to that idea? Then he discovers that the most evil wizard in centuries is out to kill him. And for what? Just because he is who he is.

"Harry's only learned to care for others fairly recently, wouldn't you say? He's still processing all this in his heart. You know with Harry, either you love him or you hate him. There's no in between. There's just something about him. I certainly don't understand it, I suspect he doesn't either.

"And now he finds himself in an unique situation. For the first time in his life, he's not being threatened. He can relax, let his guard down. It's going to be difficult for him to learn to live that way after 18 years. What I'm saying, Ginny, is give him time and have patience. I have a feeling that sooner or later, he will start looking at you in a whole different light." She knew she would have to think about what Bill said. She had never thought of things his way.

"I'll let you stay for as long as you like, Ginny," he said. "But you really have to think and try to understand. This isn't a place for you to hide. Eventually you will have to face your feelings and Harry. I want to see that happen. Okay?"

As she lay on the sofa bed later that night she thought through all that Bill had said. Was he right? Was all that was needed, time? The more she thought, the more confused she became. How could Harry, such a loving person, have trouble loving someone? It was instinctive in Harry, to care for others. It was an essential part of him. This was hopeless. She couldn't figure him out at all.

For that matter, she couldn't figure herself out either. And if she was having trouble with her own motivations, how much more would Harry have? Look, Weasley, you just rejected him totally, but when he finds his birthday present, what's he going to think then?

She hadn't put the pin with all the other gifts. It was too personal. Too personal for her and certainly more so for Harry. She stood on the landing after telling Hermione she forgot something, telling her she would be right there. She supposed Hermione had believed her, because she went down to the party. Ginny had put the gift in her pocket, hoping to find a moment to give it to Harry away from the others. She drew it out now. The black velvet bag was affixed to the ribbon that sealed the parchment where she had written its story to Harry.

Once he saw it, once he read the story, how would he feel? She could imagine him blocking everyone out, reading her tale. She was certain he would cry. Even though two years had passed, she was sure Sirius' death was still too fresh in his mind. He would begin to grieve again. Did she want him to show that to everyone? The only strong emotions Harry ever showed anyone had been elation when playing Quidditch and anger when he had been frustrated. Despite everything Harry was a private person. She couldn't do that to him.

And how would he react to her? She had to admit to herself that if the situation were reversed, her first reaction would have been anger. What if he had kept something of Molly's from her? No, she didn't want him any angrier than he already was with her. You are a real coward, Weasley, she told herself. You know he might be angry if there's no present from you at the party. Well, maybe not angry, Harry wasn't like that, but certainly disappointed.

There you go, Weasley, flattering yourself are you? He probably won't notice that he hasn't gotten one from you in that mountain of gifts. Go on, put it under his pillow. He won't find it until you are long gone. Before she could change her mind, she left Harry his present and went down to the party.

She was glad Bill had arrived earlier in the day. Ginny grabbed him right away.

"Bill, I need to talk to you."

"Ginger!" She always liked his pet name for her. He said she had as much snap as a piece of ginger and it had stuck. It never failed to bring a smile to her face, except for today. He took a second look at her and knew immediately that she needed him more than he needed to say hello to Harry. "What's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong, not really," please believe me, Bill. For once, believe me. "I just want to come stay with you, for a while." He eyed her suspiciously. "Look at what's going on here now and not everyone is here yet. Do you think I could get any work done here? I have NEWTs coming, with Harry here, do you think that I could possibly get the solitude I need to get anything done?" Please, Bill!

Bill considered Ginny. She could tell he didn't quite believe her. His raised eyebrow was a sure indication of that. Ginny was bouncing on the balls of her feet. It seemed to take forever for him to decide. Ginny knew it wasn't fair to spring this on him, but she figured that he wouldn't refuse her if he didn't have time to think. Suddenly, Bill's face broke into a smile. Of course she could come to stay, as long as she needed. She hugged him tightly.

"Oh thank you, Bill," she let him go. This was the easy part. The next part would be considerably more difficult. Ginny couldn't look him in the eye. "Could you ask Mum for me?" She chanced a glance up. The smile had vanished.

"Ginny, you didn't ask them yet?"

"I couldn't. I really hadn't any idea about this until today." Why was she continuing to lie? This was getting harder and harder. There went his eyebrow again. "I'm sorry, Bill."

"Well, we better go and ask now. When Fred and George get here Mum won't have any time to talk."

It had been difficult to get Molly and Arthur to agree. Bill had stood firmly at her side. After a heated but quiet discussion, her parents had finally agreed. She stayed out of the way the rest of the day. Tonight she didn't want to draw attention to herself. Where were Fred and George when you needed them? No sooner had that thought crossed her mind, when the twins had Apparated quite noisily. They immediately monopolized Harry.

Gad, Weasley, you really are in a mess, she thought as she turned under the covers. That's four, no five people you've lied to tonight. Harry, Mum, Dad, Bill and even yourself. You told Bill you would think about what he said. You won't, you know, you hurt too much right now. No, I will think about it, I promised. Okay, but not tomorrow. It's too soon; everything is too close to the surface. Wait a couple of days. Give yourself time to calm down. That's what I'll do. She relaxed a bit after that. Sleep began to claim her. Her last thought before she drifted off was, yeah right, Weasley, go on believing that.