WITH OR WITHOUT YOU

Thanks to Lucharachan (really? You might know that I'm just crazy about U2, so I started to gather information about the band… and I just fell in love with Ireland! I really want to go there! Yeah… I know about the paragraphs, sorry about that… it's just that I didn't want to split the story… and thanks for saying that the legend and the names are good!), Laendra (I think you'll like that chapter :p!), Dreary Days, Sayaku-chan (yeah, I can't answer… sorry!), MRSLMALFOY, Marmalade Fever (I'm really glad that you liked! And thanks for the grammatical hints! Good luck on writing!), grimmauld (hum… I think you'll like that chapter too… just wondering!), truelove-3545, MarauderGrlEvr, nightmistrie, scarlet-knight13, RenegadeChicklet, my1-and-only, puderschcick, curlyqntx, rose, Lady-Crymsyn, phoenixtamer150 (hi! The story just came in my mind! I have read a little about irish legends and stuff, so it really helped a lot!), WannaBArtist, danny (I did it on purpose… hihihi!), Katjuska, Evie Malfoy (don't worry about that! And thanks anyway!), dd and daniel-radcliffes-girl for the reviews!

Please, don't be mad at me! I know this chapter is short and it's mostly about Ginny and Harry! Please forgive me! But you know… I think you might like it! Anyway, just hope you enjoy it! Cheers!

Chapter XXXVII

Malfoy, huh? Hermione was laid down on her bed, holding the ring right in front of her face. It really seems an engagement ring and there still is that legend Ginny told me… but it's just not possible! Why would he be jealous of himself? Yeah… I always denied it to myself but every time I felt jealousy behind his words. And, if he's not going to stay with me, what's the point in sending me this? She sat and placed the ring again inside the white box. You could show yourself, you know? She stood up and left the room. At the stairs that lead to the dinning room she heard somebody screaming. It seems Ginny. She fastened her pace but then she stopped. Someone was screaming back and it seemed to be Harry. What's the matter with those two? She walked down slowly, because she didn't want to be heard or seen. A few steps more and the phrases now were getting clearer at her ears.

"… always yelling!" It was Harry's voice.

"You began with that! It's impossible to have a civilized conversation with you!" Ginny replayed.

"Me? Don't make me laugh! I already noticed that you can't even hear my voice! Anything that I do or say is a reason to your complaints! I don't know what I did to you! Could it be that you're still upset at me cause I didn't fall at your feet?"

Oh, Harry, that was really a stupid thing to say! Hermione shook her head.

"WHAT? Are you crazy or something? If you didn't notice I'm not a kid anymore, you moron! Harry Potter was my hero when I was a kid so it's totally understandable that, when I met you, I've got myself trapped in a fantasy! It could have happened to any other girl! Or boy, who knows?"

Ginny, you really are stupid too. Hermione sighed.

"Yeah, I know that! I always knew that you fancied me cause I'm the great Harry Potter, the boy who lived! I know you're not different of any other girl! And you know what? SORRY FOR NOT BEING THAT GREAT HERO YOU THOUGHT I WAS!"

"You don't have to be sorry for that". Ginny's voice trembled a little.

"Now you think I don't? Great! What's the matter with you? I did nothing to you! NOTHING! And every time I feel that you wish me to be far from you! What…" He stopped and breathed heavily.

"You're not being that nice with me too! I didn't mention it but I noticed that you also don't want me near you! You hardly talk to me! It's a miracle that you're arguing with me now!"

"And what do you want me to do? We always end up fighting when we talk! Look at us now!"

"Fine! So I have the solution for it! Pretend that I don't exist like I'll do to you beginning right now!" Ginny pushed one of the chairs hard and it collided with the table. She looked into his eyes for a second and turned to leave.

"What… Ginny! Wait!" Harry's calling was useless. She left towards the kitchen without even turning to him. "Fuck!" He kicked the chair nearest him.

"Knock, knock". Hermione entered the dinning room.

Harry pulled a chair and sat. "How long have you been here?" He asked without turning to her.

Hermione raised her shoulders. "Not long. Just enough to hear the end of your… conversation". She sat beside him.

Harry gave a half-hearted smile. "Now you'll tell me that I did everything wrong. That I should have threw myself in her arms and tell what I feel about her, right?"

She was really sad for him. "Since you know it all, I think it's no use to tell you the same thing".

"She also… she's not different from the other girls. You heard her, right? I'm just a fantasy". Harry felt his chest ache.

Hermione passed a hand on his hair. "I'm sure she only said that to hurt you. She was not being serious, I'm sure".

"She was really convincing. Maybe she should think about working as an actress… or whatever they call it in wizards' world".

"Why were you arguing in the first place?"

"I don't know exactly why. She came asking me how much I had paid for a ring that she thinks I gave you and I told her that I didn't know about what she was talking. Then she said I didn't need to pretend cause she understood everything when she saw the ring and talked about a legend that I don't even know and then… sorry, but I don't know how we ended up yelling at each other".

Ginny is still jealous of me, huh?

"By the way, what was she talking about?" Finally, he looked at her, eyes full of curiosity.

"Well, did I tell you about…" she blushed "… my secret admirer?"

"What?" Harry's eyes were wide open. "I know nothing about that".

Hermione sighed. "Alright, I'll tell you about him". She told everything to Harry, since from the beginning and finished telling him about the legend Ginny had told her the day before. "Now you understand why she asked you that?"

"Just cause of the prince appearance? She's nuts! And how the hell will I know about a legend like that? I was not raised between wizards and I don't even like to read". He blushed slightly. "You know I don't like to read".

Hermione smiled. "Don't worry about that".

"But it surely explains some things. Now I know why she yelled that thing at me some days ago, at breakfast. And why she's always saying 'why don't you write a letter?' to anything I say" He imitated Ginny's tone.

"I didn't know she was doing that". Hermione said surprised.

"It got worse here. At school we were able to not meet, but now… she just can't stand being near me, she can't stand the sound of my voice… and all that I wanted… damn!" He punched the table.

She placed her hand over his. "I'm really sorry, Harry. I think Ginny is still misunderstanding things. I wish I could help you but it seems that nothing I say is enough to convince her".

He smiled faintly. "Thanks, Hermione, but don't worry about that. I think you have a lot of other things to think about, like your secret admirer and Malfoy".

She blushed slightly and frowned. "I don't have to think about Malfoy".

He stood up and bowed, kissing her front. "We are really stubborn, don't you think?" and turned.

"Where are you going?"

"To the attic. I was going to feed Buckbeak when I met Ginny here. See ya later". He blinked.

Hermione smiled. "Bye then". She saw him disappearing at the stairs. Yes, we're really stubborn, Harry. She went to the library.

This place really needs to be cleaned. Harry thought looking at the thousand spider webs at the roof and walls. He was laid on his back, on the floor. Buckbeak was some feet away from him, at his left, sleeping heavily, seeming not to care about his existence. Harry didn't know how much time he has been in that position, he just guessed that it should be hours because he could see it was already dark between the openings in the ceiling. His stomach was moaning but he was not feeling hungry. It has been quite a long time since I felt that loneliness. He heard the door opening but it didn't make he move any muscle. I'm at a dark corner, no way I can be seen. I just want to be alone. Why don't they just…

"I know you're here. Mum's calling for dinner". Her voice sounded politely but cold.

Ginny! His heart punched so hard that he thought it would rip his rib cage. "I'm… I'm not hungry". He forced himself to say in the same cold voice. Seconds later he heard the sound of steps and the door closing. Thank God, she left.

"Where are you?" Ginny asked, letting her anger flow a little in her words.

Hell! It was getting difficult to breath. "I said I'm not hungry". Once more he used her tone.

"I know you ate nothing since lunch, so just stop being annoying and come down to eat". He's really getting on my nerves!

Although she couldn't see him, he could see her standing at the middle of the room, hands on her waist, looking at every side, her shining long red hair flying around her face. His eyes began to blaze. "I thought you said I should pretend that you don't exist and vice-versa. Now what? It seems that I still exist for you". He could see her cheeks getting red and smiled.

"I… I just…" She didn't know what to say. She never imagined that Harry would say something like that. "Mum asked me to call you, ok? Nothing more. I didn't ask her to forget about you, you moron!" Her hands began to tremble. She crossed her arms behind her and gave two steps behind, towards the door.

"Where are you going, Ginny?"

She froze. His voice came from right behind her. "W-where? Down, of course, you idiot!" but she couldn't move anymore. She knew that he was near, nearer than she wanted.

"So why don't you turn and leave?"

Coldness went down her spine. His voice sounded closer and, if she was not mistaken cause of the nervousness, she could already feel the warmth of his body. "I-it's ob-vious, you're… you're on the way". She could no longer control her trembling. "What are you doing anyway?" She asked desperate.

Harry held one of her arms and turned her to face him. He smiled at her pale face and at those big blue eyes filled of panic. "I never told how beautiful you are, did I?"

Ginny's stomach flipped. She was dreaming, of course! Those deep green eyes weren't there looking at her, so close. He was not smiling to her like someone who had found an angel. And, the most important, Harry would never tell me I'm beautiful. "Harry, what are you playing?" She asked confused.

He passed a hand through her hair, which made Ginny close her eyes, and got closer her, his face inches from hers. "I'm playing 'I want to be with you', miss Ginny Weasley". Seconds later, his lips touched hers. Ginny didn't stop to think. She passed her arms around his neck and opened her mouth.

Was it a dream? He didn't know, just because it was better than a dream, it was better than flying, it was better than anything that Harry had ever lived. Feeling her body pressed against his, the softness of her lips, her hand playing with his hair… definitely, if it was a dream, he didn't want to wake up.

Was she crazy or was it true? Harry was really kissing her? She dreamt about it so many times that now she was afraid to believe. Even with the warmth of his body, his strong arms around her waist, his breath on her face, it was really difficult to believe. "But he's here!" her heart kept telling her and she couldn't know whose heart was beating faster.

They hugged each other.

"I'm not a fantasy, Ginny. Tell me I'm not a fantasy". He begged, holding her strongly.

She laughed. "Are you kidding?"

"You said earlier I'm just a fantasy to you…" He said seriously.

She held him tightly. "You were a fantasy, Harry, a fantasy that finally came true". She laughed again. "I can't believe this is happening!"

He relaxed at the happy sound of her voice. "Me neither". This time he laughed too.

"It's for real… right? You're not… just playing with me… are you?" She sounded a little bit worried.

"I'd rather stop playing quidditch than play with you".

She pushed him slightly to look into his eyes… and smiled. "I never told you how beautiful you are, did I?"

He smiled back. "No, but I know quite well that you think I'm gorgeous".

"You're really full of yourself, aren't you?" She crossed her arms between them.

"Just because I'm with you".

"Ginny! Harry! Why didn't you come down already?" Mrs. Weasley screamed.

They got away from each other in an instant, worried.

"I think we should better get down… before they get suspicious… you know?" Harry said, a little ashamed.

Ginny smirked. "But you're not hungry, right? I can tell mum that…"

He silenced her with a quick kiss. "Right now I think I could eat a bull".

"Me too". She whispered at his ear.

Harry hugged her again, quickly, and they left the attic.

Buckbeak emitted a sound… it seemed a laugh.