Note: Firstly. I give up. You don't want to review, fine. Whatever. I didn't think that 5 reviews would be hard, but after 81 hits on chapter 11, and only 3 reviews on it, I see that it's just nothing something I'm going to get.
Other notes, it is eluded here that the war is obviously prominently going on around them –because it is. I choose to focus on Harry/Sev's relationships rather then his place in the ongoing war, because I'm not good at writing a lot of action-filled-suspense stuff. I'm good with warm fuzzy feelings, and all that jazz…which is funny because I'm really not a warm-and-fuzzy person. Weird! But rest assured, eventually, later (possibly 'Year Seven') this will start to wind towards and end, and I'll start mentioning more about Harry/Sev preparing for final battle, and all of that.
–Also, a small note to the person who suggested a beta reader… I am a college student. I don't have the time, nor the effort it takes to find/use a beta reader. I would much rather just spend my time between school, school, and more school, writing. If you don't like it, then maybe you shouldn't read it? Also –did you even read past chapter two? I wrote that, like, three years ago. Don't judge what I wrote three years ago, when what I've written in the last week is right beside it.
To everyone else, thank you for reading –and to the 8 people who have me on their favorites…I would love to hear from you!
Harry Potter And the Great War
Chapter Twelve
"I, uh…I bought this for you." Ginny shoved a small, neatly wrapped gift into Sev's hands. "While we were still going out, and I thought you should have it –otherwise I'll just, err, give to one of my brothers or something."
"What is it?" Sev asked, carefully started peeling away the paper, to revel a rectangular jewelers box.
"Well, you'll just have to open it, won't you?" Ginny crossed her arms.
He looked up at her before opening the box to reveal a black leather banded watch with a gold face, "Ginny –it's wonderful."
"Well, I noticed you didn't have one, and I thought you might like something practical…"
"Thank you," He touched her hand. "I. uh, have something for you too." He reached into his pocket. "I wasn't sure if I should give it to you…" He pulled out a similar box to what she had handed him, "Sorry it isn't wrapped."
"That's alright." She opened the box with a crack, trying not to let any kind of emotion show over her face as she looked at the silver heart pendant on the matching chain, "It's very pretty."
"Do you like it?"
"It's very pretty." She repeated.
"That wasn't the question." Sev smiled.
"I like it." She nodded, snapping the box closed, "Thank you very much."
"Your welcome, Ginny –maybe I'll get to see you wear it sometime."
"Maybe some time." She nodded, and pushed the box into the pocket of her sweater, "Well, I still have some homework to finish. I'll see you at dinner."
"Okay." Sev nodded, watching her disappear back into the room she was sharing with Hermione across the hall. He looked back down at the watch, lifting it out of the box, brushing his thumb over the face. Was this a sign that she was starting to forgive him?
"Nice watch." Don commented, sprawling over his bed a few minutes later. "Who gave you that? You know we're not opening gifts until tonight."
"Err, Ginny gave it to me just now."
"Wow! Ginny could afford that?" Don peered over at it. "That must have cost her quite a bit of her savings!"
"Don't make me feel bad, Don. I don't want to know that she spent a lot of money on me." Sev folded the band around his wrist, clasping it shut, and extending his arm to look at it. "It is a really nice watch though isn't it?"
"Did you give her, her gift?"
Sev nodded, "I was going to give it to her tonight, but…I figure that as long as she had given me mine…" He let himself trail off.
"Do you want me to talk to her?" Don asked. "Knock some sense into her?"
"No, no, Don. It's…it's alright. I'm just, I'm confused I guess. She tells me she doesn't want anything to do with me now, but…she gave me this fantastic present, and let me give her that necklace. Does she still like me or am I just making up excuses for her?"
"Don't be silly, Sev. Of course she still likes you! She's just still reeling from Hermione opening her big mouth about Draco."
"I still can't believe she did that." Sev shook his head. "And I tried to explain it all to Ginny, but I wasn't doing a very good job."
"Well obviously." Don rolled his eyes.
"Don't be such a prat, Don. I'm having a legitimate problem here, and you aren't being very supportive."
"Sorry, Mate. I'm finding it hard to be supportive of the guy who's breaking my sister's heart."
"I didn't mean to!"
"I know."
"Urgh! You are infuriating! I'm going for a stroll." Sev tossed the box the watch had come in, onto his bed, and picked up his jacket. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Are you sure you should go out on your own?"
"I doubt I'm going to get attacked by anything like this, Ronald!" Sev shrugged into his jacket. "Shove off for a bit, alright?"
Don nodded, "Alright, fine. –You know, Harry…I'd be nice to me if were you. I don't have to be going through any of this for you, you know. I can change back to being plain 'ol Ron any time I bloody want, understand?"
"Yeah, whatever." Sev brushed him off, shutting the door firmly behind him.
"Where are you off to in this weather, Sev?" Remus stopped him before he could get to the front door.
"I just needed to take a bit of a walk."
"Well, you shouldn't go on your own –hold on, and I'll go with you."
"I really just…"Sev sighed, watching Remus shrug into his own coat and hat.
"Nonsense, we'll have a little chat. I can tell that you want to talk."
Sev nodded, "Fine, Remus." He ran his fingers through his hair, following the older man out the door, and down the path towards the sidewalk.
"Now what's going on?" Remus asked, shoving his hands into his pocket.
"Ginny found out about that thing with Draco. She didn't exactly take it very well, as you can imagine." Sev followed suit, shoving his hands into his pockets as well, "And now whenever she talk to me, she's all aloof, and distant about it. She just gave me my Christmas gift." He took his hand out long enough to display the watch to Remus. "I don't know if she was just being…polite, or if she's really starting to forgive me."
"Well, how much does she know about this…tryst with Malfoy?"
"All of it…bloody all of it! Once she started asking about it, I couldn't shut up! I wanted to just hit myself over the head, but I couldn't stop!"
"So…I take it there was quite a bit going on between the two of you."
"Well, sort of, Remus. We did, you know… 'stuff', but the whole business didn't last very long, and after Ginny asked me out, I told Draco it was over. He doesn't seem to understand what 'leave me the hell alone' means. Every time he sees me, he's got to touch me, or kiss me, and he always does it in the worst places! I don't think I've gotten to take an uninterrupted shower in weeks! Even the library hasn't gone untainted."
"Well, I'm afraid Severus and I never had that kind of problem."
"Well…how did you feel when you found out that he had slept with my Mum?" Sev asked. "I mean, it's sort of similar…"
"Well, I was confused, I suppose. I didn't think he had been that upset with me to do something like that, but I got over it, obviously." Remus shrugged. "It…wasn't that big of a deal, at the time, because we had just found out that Lily was pregnant, and I was busy being happy for friend becoming a father… It never crossed my mind that you were Severus's child, not James'."
Sev nodded, "And when you were still upset wit him –what did he do?"
"Well, he gave me some space, time to think about it. Eventually, my heart over ruled my head, and I forgave him. Don't worry, Sev. If Ginny feels the way you think she does, then, she'll forgive you too."
"I hope so." Sev shrugged. "I feel really bad, but whenever I try to explain, it seems like I just make it worse, and I can never seem to say the right thing."
"Sometimes the 'right' thing to say is to say nothing at all, Sev." Remus put an arm over his shoulder. "Now, can we go back to the house or haven't we suffered this chilling weather long enough?"
"I think I just want to walk for a bit more… You can go back if you want."
"No, no, that's alright." Remus shook his head. "You shouldn't be out on your own anyway. You never know what might happen."
"I'm really not that concerned." Sev shrugged.
"You should be, Sev. While the Order tries to keep you as informed as possible, there are still many things going on around us. This war is very much underway, and soon enough it's going to be imperative that you take a bigger responsibility. You may be our last hope."
"I understand." Sev nodded, "I really do, but…I really just want to be a teenager. Why should I have to care, Remus? I'm sixteen years old. What do I know about fighting a war?"
"You'll learn." Remus nodded. "And you'll learn quickly."
"Thanks, Remus –that makes me feel loads better."
"So, what do you think is going to happen when we get back to school?" Don asked, as the two packed together their things before the return trip to Hogwarts, "Between you, Gin, and Draco I mean."
"I don't know." Sev shrugged, closing up his bag, "I guess I can only hope that this all blows over, and she starts talking to me again."
"And Draco?"
"He can rot in hell." Sev sighed, running his hands through his hair, and turned to his friend, sitting on the edge of his bed, "Look, Ron…maybe you should go back to Gryffindor? I mean, I know what I'm doing now, and we can still be friends, obviously… I don't want to feel like I'm holding back from anything."
"What are you talking about?" Don smiled, shaking his head. "You aren't holding me back from anything, Sev."
"Don't be stupid." Sev shook his head. "I know you're not happy living this way."
"This is my choice, not yours." Don shook his head. "I'm sticking by my friend, and there isn't anything you can say that will change my mind."
Sev nodded, "Alright. I just thought I'd let you know that…it's okay, if you don't want to this anymore. I wouldn't blame you for anything."
"Harry, I'm not going anywhere, alright? I promise. I am one person who is not going to leave you, no matter what." Don shook his head.
"I know." Sev nodded.
"Then don't say stupid things like that." Don shook his head, zipping up his own bag. "Now c'mon, or we're going to be late for the train."
"Now you're all sure you have everything?" Molly was seeing everyone off at the train station, Ginny holding Sev's hand so that it wouldn't look odd that they were all together.
"Yes, Mum, we're fine." Ginny sighed. "Please, can we just get on the train now?"
"Yes, yes…of course." Molly nodded. "Have a good second term, darling." She kissed Ginny on the forehead, and spoke to the boys, "Take good care of her, alright?"
"We will, Mu-Molly." Don nodded.
"Good." She nodded, "Now get going! That's the last whistle!" She shoo'd them towards the train.
Ginny sighed, still tugging Sev along behind her, "C'mon, I suppose we had better sit together. We'll have to break up publicly after school starts up."
"Ginny…" Sev sighed.
"C'mon, lets get one all together." Hermione tugged on Don.
"Um, Herm, I think we should leave them alone for a bit." Don whispered. "Lets go sit with Neville, and Luna, and them."
Hermione nodded, "Alright…uh, we'll join you guys later?"
"Sure." Ginny nodded, ducking into an empty compartment with Sev.
"Ginny, we don't have to sit together." Sev sat across from her rather then beside her.
"It's fine." Ginny shrugged.
"Are you going to be mad at me for ever?"
"Maybe." She shrugged, pulling a book out of her bag, "Now be quiet, I have some reading to do."
Sev nodded, "Fine."
The two were quiet for a few minutes, the train clanking from the station, putting them underway, back towards Hogwarts. Both of them looked up when a throat cleared in the doorway, "Well, look who we have here."
"Draco…what are you doing here? I thought you stayed at school." Sev stood up, surprised.
"Well, there was a little change of plan. I just managed to catch the train home, and decided not to tell you so I could surprise you. You are surprised, aren't you?"
Sev glanced at Ginny, who was trying to look immersed in her book, but color was flooding up her cheeks, "You should go, Draco."
"Why? Don't want me to talk to you and your little girlfriend, Sev?" Draco tilted his head to the side. "I thought we were friends…silly me."
"Go away, Draco."
"Did something happen?" Draco asked, stepping inside of the compartment, and sliding the door closed behind him, "Let me guess…" He looked over Sev's shoulder, "You found out about our little tryst, huh, Gin-gin?"
Ginny looked up, her face quite red now, "Go to hell, Malfoy."
"Ooh, big words for just such a little Weasel." Draco crossed his arms, and looked up to Sev, "So, did you tell her? Or did someone else?"
"Bugger off!" Sev hissed.
"Why? She knows now, doesn't she? We don't have to hide anymore…this is great." Draco grinned maliciously, "Isn't it, Sev? I can have my wicked way with you whenever I want, now. It's obviously over between the two of you. I love your little charade though."
"Don't be stupid!" Ginny dropped her book onto the seat next to her, shoving Sev out of her way, "Just because he did stuff with you doesn't mean that I broke up with him!" She tossed her hair over her shoulder in a defiant way, "I happen to love Sev just as much as I did before I found out about the two of you. If anything is over, Draco Malfoy, it is this conversation! I suggest you go find your own compartment. You certainly aren't welcome here, or even remotely near my boyfriend. Understand, you twitchy little ferret?"
Draco nodded, with a slight sniff, "Yea, I understand. And I believe it when I see it. No girl, under any circumstances could accept something like that."
"Believe it, Draco. I'm not like other girls." Ginny shook her head, taking Sev's hand. "Now leave."
Draco crossed his arms over his chest, "Well, I don't believe it, so I think I'll stay right here, thanks."
"Fine, then I guess you'll have to find out why our other friends won't sit with us." Ginny pulled Sev's arms around her waist, looping her arms over his shoulders and around his neck, kissing him. Sev couldn't help but raise his eyebrow, surprised that she would go through all of this trouble, but slightly comforted by it as well, letting his eyes close, kissing her back.
"Ugh…" Draco scoffed. "You two are disgusting!"
Ginny broke their kiss to look over her shoulder, "Do you believe now, Draco?"
"I think I'm going to be sick." Draco put a hand to his stomach, pushing open the compartment door, to stumble out, letting it slid back closed behind him.
Ginny turned back to Sev, her lips pressed tightly together, "I, uh, I'm sorry."
"Did you mean it?" Sev asked, tightening his grip around her waist, not wanting to let her go, "Do you still love me as much as you did before?"
"More." She nodded, and laid her head against his chest, "I'm sorry…I was going to make up with you after we got back to school –I just wanted to make you feel bad for a little while longer, but then Draco had to show up." She sighed, looking up at him. "It's really over between the two of you?"
"Completely." Sev nodded. "He won't leave me alone, Ginny. I don't…I'm not antagonizing him, I guarantee it."
"I believe you." She brushed his hair off of his forehead.
"I'm trying to get away from him, Gin, but nothing works. He's like…obsessed."
"I could tell." She nodded, her hands sliding down his shoulders. "So, uh…I'm really sorry I spent all of vacation being mad at you. I had kind of been hoping that…vacation would be a good time to…um, you know… Get to know each other better." She winked.
Sev raised an eyebrow, "Are you…serious? We've only been dating for two months."
Ginny shrugged, "Well, I know girls who've been dating a lot less longer then us, who've…you know."
"Really?" He held her a bit away, "Like who?"
"I'm not telling!"
"Oh, why not; I'm not going to say anything! –Oh, what about Hermione?"
"Sev!" She swatted his arm, "C'mon! She's one of your best friends!"
"She has, hasn't she!"
"She wouldn't tell me if she had!" Ginny shook her head.
"Who?"
"Stop it! We're not talking about this anymore…c'mon, let me go." She reached for his hands.
"Oh, we are so talking about this!" Sev pulled her closer, "Was it someone in Gryffindor?"
"Sev…"
"Hmm…Dean?"
"No!"
"Seamus?"
"Oh, come on…"
"Neville?"
"Oh, Severus, that's just cruel!"
"Was it Ron?" Sev pressed his forehead to Ginny's, "But he'd tell me, wouldn't he? …Right? But when would they have –did they do it over vacation? Where?"
Ginny's eyes narrowed, "Sev…"
"Alright, alright, I'm stopping." He nodded, kissing her, "I'm glad you're not mad at me anymore. Maybe in the spring, we can have some time alone, if you want."
Ginny nodded, "Maybe…I'm not sure if I even want to sleep with you anymore, Sev. You've lied to me."
"Hmm…yes, I've been very naughty." He smiled.
"Don't be disgusting, what do you think this is? A muggle romance novel?"
"Err, I thought girls liked it when boys talked like that?"
"It doesn't suit you at all…maybe you should just stick to kissing?" Ginny suggested.
"I think I can handle that." Sev nodded.
