Chapter LII — Breaking the News
Ginny woke up the next morning with her head spinning. She wondered if everything that had happened the night before had all been a dream. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Creating fantasies of her having these untapped skills? Or maybe it had really happened. Was Bill right? Did she really have all of these untapped powers? And had she really agreed to go study with this woman for three months in America? She stared up at the ceiling; wondering and she barely glanced at the door when she heard the knock.
"Come in."
She sat up when she realized that it was Bill and Charlie who had just come into her room.
"Hey Firefly, how are you feeling?"
Ginny sighed. "I didn't dream it all last night, did I?"
Charlie shook his head and took a seat on the edge of her bed. "No Shortstop, you didn't dream it last night. I'm sorry that I wasn't here to tell you the news like Bill was. Are you regretting the decision? Bill mentioned that you seemed odd about everything. Not that we expected anything else, but you get my drift?"
"No Charlie, I'm not regretting anything. It's just … it's so surprising and there's something that I never even thought about when I agreed to go on this trip thing."
Bill nodded as he smiled at her. "Harry."
Ginny nodded, a sad smile on her face. "How is he going to react to me going away for three whole months?"
Charlie sighed. "Sweetie, he loves you. You and Harry have a really special relationship. Both of you found each other so young and you know that you're so in love with him. The idea that you have this ability to learn more about your own magic and about what you're capable of … don't you think that he's going to be happy for you and that he'll understand?"
"I know that he'll be both of those things. But I'm not going to see him for three months!"
Bill smiled, a knowing look on his face. "So you can make up when you get back. Gin, it's not like you can't write to him."
"It's not the same. I'm going to miss him so much and then when I get back I won't be able to spend a lot of time with him because I will be trying to catch up on the first two months of my O.W.L. year." She explained.
Bill smiled and sat down next to her, pulling her into his arms. "Firefly, what are you afraid of? Not seeing Harry for three months or losing him?"
Ginny buried her face into his shoulder. "Both."
Charlie sighed and gently ruffled his hand through her sleep-tousled hair. "Shortstop, you're being ridiculous! Harry wouldn't leave you if his life depended on it."
Bill nodded. "He loves you and he needs you. He's going to miss you naturally but he's going to be so happy for you."
"I know," she murmured as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm crying."
Bill laughed. "You always were emotional. Come on, Firefly, I don't want you leaking like a hose all over me!" When she laughed he kissed the top of her head. "Brat! Firefly, you're just scared. I mean you're going to a foreign country with a woman that you don't even know and you're leaving everyone that you love behind in the process. It's understandable. Now are you ready to get up and go downstairs to break the news to Mum and Dad?"
She shook her head. "Is Mum going to flip out?"
Charlie laughed. "Definitely! Her baby girl leaving the country by herself for three whole months! She's going to throw a fit! But Dad will calm her down, eventually. Bill and I actually mentioned this to Dad before and he agreed with us. It's a perfect opportunity for you to learn more about yourself and your magical abilities. Dad remembers how powerful his great-grandmother was. He understands the importance of you learning this. Mum will allow it because she's outnumbered, but she'll flip out."
She nodded. "I have to go see Harry too. I want a few hours alone with him before I go. Especially if I'm leaving tonight. How am I getting there anyway?"
"An international portkey. It will bring you directly to Emma's apartment. From there you will be instructed by her." Bill explained.
Ginny sighed. "Alright, I'm ready. Just let me shower and get dressed and then I guess we'll break the news to Mum."
Charlie shuddered and ruffled her hair again. "Brave, brave soul."
Bill punched Charlie lightly on the arm. "You arse! We're going to be standing by her side."
Charlie grinned. "Damn! I was hoping I'd get out of that one."
Ginny laughed. "No way am I allowing you to feed me to Mum alone."
Bill stood up. "Okay, Firefly, we'll meet you downstairs in a bit."
"See you, Shortstop!"
Ginny watched them leave the room and she sighed. It was going to be an exciting and a very long, stressful, and exhausting day.
When she was done getting dressed for the day she made her way downstairs, wondering again how much her Mum was going to flip out. She stepped into the kitchen and was glad to see that it was only Bill, Charlie, and her parents.
"Good morning, dear," Molly replied.
Arthur looked up and smiled warmly at her. "Good morning, Princess. How did you sleep?"
Ginny shrugged. "Alright, I guess."
Bill smiled. "Mum, Dad, Gin has something big to share with you. Right Dad?"
Arthur looked startled for a minute and then he nodded. "Er, right. Molly dear, why don't you sit down?"
Molly turned around. "Why Arthur? I'm a little busy at the moment. Ginny, would you like some eggs and sausage?"
Ginny shook her head. "No Mum, I think I'll just have toast. Can you sit down please so we can talk?"
Molly looked from her daughter to her two oldest sons and then her husband. "What's going on?"
Bill cleared his throat. "Mum, do you remember how when Ginny was little she used to be able feel emotions or understand moods of everyone in the family?"
Molly nodded as she sank down into a kitchen chair. "It was just a sensitive nature."
Charlie shook his head. "Mum, you know it was more then that. It's only getting stronger, especially with Harry."
"I'm an empath, Mum."
Molly simply nodded. "I know, dear."
Everyone stared at her in surprise.
Molly sighed. "Oh come on, I'm not completely daft! Henrietta had it! I always knew that my daughter had a chance of getting it!"
Arthur smirked. "Oh well, we never thought … I mean."
Molly nodded. "Right. So, what about you being an empath, dear?"
Ginny sighed. "Well, Bill and Charlie know this woman who can help me get a better control on this power and learn how to use it properly. But she lives in New York."
"New York?"
Bill nodded. "Her name is Emma Stanton and she can help Gin out a lot in learning about her powers and how to harness them. She offered to train Ginny if she goes to live in America with her for three months."
"Three months?" Molly exclaimed. "Oh no, I don't think so."
Ginny sighed. "Mum, listen, I can really learn a lot from this woman. I'll be perfectly safe in America."
Molly shook her head. "Oh no, I hear things on the WWN all the time, America is a dangerous place!"
Bill smirked at Ginny. "Mum, look we've already talked it over. Emma is going to teach Ginny all sorts of things that will help her so much and we've already spoken to Dumbledore and he gives her permission to miss the first two months of school. Because of how amazing her final grades were and he knows that she will be able to catch up. She deserves to go on this trip."
Arthur nodded. "Molly, it is so good for our baby to know these things. Especially with everything that's going on here in Britain with You-Know-Who and everything. She needs to know how to better protect herself. This woman will help her do that."
"No Arthur, she's too young!" Molly exclaimed
Charlie stood up now and took Molly's hand in his. "Mum, you know we're right and whether you agree or not Ginny is going to go on this trip."
"She most certainly is not!"
"Yes, she is," Arthur replied, taking off his glasses to wipe them on his sleeve. "I'll allow her to. She's leaving tonight, isn't she, Bill?"
Bill nodded. "At midnight."
Molly's eyes filled with up tears. "I see, so you're all against me on this."
"Mum," Ginny replied. "We're not against you, but really this is a good opportunity for me. You know that. Can't you please give me permission to go?"
"And how does Harry feel about this, Ginny?"
Ginny sighed. "I'm going over to the manor to talk to him after I talked to you. But I suspect his reaction is going to be similar to yours. I'll be gone for three months, Mum."
Molly reached across the table and gently took Ginny's hand in hers. "Is this what you want, Ginevra?"
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, it is. I wasn't sure at first when Bill told me but Bill and Charlie are right. This is a great opportunity for me, one that I don't intend to waste. I want to do this. I want to go to New York and learn."
Molly wiped the tears from her eyes before standing up and walking around the table to pull her daughter into her arms. "Then go. I know I'm being stubborn about it but go. It's what you want and I know that it will be good for you. You have my blessing, honey."
Ginny smiled as she hugged her mum tight. "Thank you."
Molly hugged her a bit tighter before she pulled away. "Now, why don't you floo to the manor and go talk to Harry. I want you back here after dinner to spend the evening with your family before you go."
She nodded and kissed her mum's cheek. "I will be. I love you, Mum."
Molly nodded and shooed her away. Ginny grinned and kissed both of her brothers and her father on the cheek before she hurried into the common room to use the fireplace. She closed her eyes before she grabbed the floo powder and wondered again how Harry was going to react to this news. Then she threw the handful of floo powder into the fireplace and stepped inside.
"Potter Manor!"
A few seconds later she stumbled out of the fire place and into the entrance hall. She carefully dusted herself off and smiled when she recognized Maddy.
"Good morning, Maddy, how are you?"
Maddy smiled. "I am well, Miss Ginny, what can I do for you?"
Ginny smiled. "Actually I really need to talk to Harry about something. Is he awake yet?"
Maddy shook her head. "No Miss, he is still sleeping. But you is more then welcome to go pull him out of bed."
Ginny laughed. "I might just do that. Thanks."
She was half-way up the stairs when she ran into James who was buttoning his shirt as he headed down.
"Good morning, Ginny, didn't expect to see you back so early. Or did I just sleep later then usual?" James asked.
Ginny grinned. "No, it is only eight thirty. Um, something big came up last night and I really need to talk to Harry. Maddy told me that I could go wake him up."
James smiled. "Of course you can. I'm heading off to work anyway but Maddy and Mickey will be downstairs if you need anything. See you later."
She nodded as she watched him hurry down the stairs before she continued her way up them. When she arrived in front of his bedroom door she stood there for a minute and took a deep breath. She was so worried about what he was going to say, no matter what her heart was telling her. She took another deep breath before she opened the door and slipped inside, closing the door behind her.
He was lying in bed, the blankets pulled up to his chin and his hair tousled and sticking up in every which direction, ten times worse then usual. His blankets were also completely pulled off the bed as if he had gotten into a fight with them in the middle of the night. She could only smile as she watched him roll over, pulling half the blankets with him and snuggle into his pillow. She grinned at the thought that he was a cuddler.
She walked over to him and took a seat on the side of his bed, climbing in next to him and slipping under the covers. Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek, his neck, and then nibbled gently on his earlobe. He groaned and rolled back onto his back so she moved to his lips, placing soft open mouth kisses along his jaw line. She grinned when his hands moved into her hair as he pulled her closer and kissed her back. She moaned and snuggled close, sliding her hand over his naked chest as she deepened the kiss. His hand slid down to her waist and he rolled her over so that she was beneath him and he slid his lips down to her neck, planting small open mouthed kisses there before he pulled back and smiled down at her.
"Good morning. I think that I should wake up like this every morning."
She smiled and kissed him softly. "Me too."
He kissed her cheek and she watched him go into the bathroom, blushing when she realized that he wasn't wearing anything but plaid boxer shorts. He came out a few minutes later looking a bit more refreshed and wearing jeans and a white tee shirt. "So what are you doing here anyway? Miss me already?" He asked as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as he climbed back into the bed with her.
"I um, I actually came here because I really need to talk to you. Something huge happened last night after I left here and well I suppose it continued this morning." She replied.
Harry glanced at her quizzically before he pulled her into his arms and held her so that she was leaning back against him. "What happened?"
She sighed and snuggled back a bit before wrapping her arms around his arms. "I learned something really interesting from Bill last night, Harry."
"What kind of thing?"
"Well, you know how you have these elemental power things?" When he nodded she continued. "Well, ever since I was little I sort of have this power where I can read people's moods or emotions."
Harry nodded. "I remember. You mentioned that to me before when you were telling me about the energy thing concerning Uncle Sirius but you said you thought it came from the Chamber. Wasn't the emotion thing attached to that?"
"Sort of. But I had this before I just never really thought about it as it was a part of me. Bill and Charlie noticed it, as did my parents. But like when one of my brothers was upset or hurt I knew it before anyone else, it was like this gut feeling and it still is. I have the same thing with you. Like right now you're feeling a bit worried by the serious tone of my voice and you're confused. Am I right?"
He glanced down at her in surprise. "Er, yeah. That's kind of creepy."
"Not too creepy though, right?"
He shook his head no and turned her head so that he could look into her eyes. "Never." He kissed her softly. "Don't ever think that, alright?"
She nodded. "Alright."
"So does this power thing that you possess have a name?"
"Yes, it's an empathic ability. I'm an empath."
"So what does that entail exactly?"
She shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure. I mean I have this whole feeling ability but Bill says that he's heard that it can lead to many other abilities like Runes and that can be connected to powers like the ones of those that make wands, staffs, magical stones. There are lots of theories connected to this. Defence can also become more useful with this ability as well as ideas of mystic foresight and many others. Or so Bill says."
Harry nodded. "That's really neat. So are you going to have some type of lessons like I'm having with my da to explore those powers?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but that's sort of the problem."
"Problem?" He asked. "How can learning how to improve your magic or learning what you're capable of be a problem? Ginny, this sounds amazing!"
She sighed. "It is amazing! Harry, did you see my grades for this year?"
"No, what about them?" He asked, a puzzled look forming on his face.
"I got an Outstanding Double Plus on everything — the highest marks in my year."
"Wow, baby, that's incredible!" He replied as he kissed her softly. "I'm so proud of you."
She nodded. "Bill says that according to Dumbledore I even did better then Hermione did at my age."
Harry grinned. "She won't like the sound of that. So what's wrong?"
"Well, my skills at school are also part of my ability like the people who have the empathic powers. That's one of the reasons why my grades are so high. I learn quickly at things, which is probably why I mastered so much of the animagus form so quickly." She explained.
He nodded. "That does make a lot of sense. So, Ginny I know that you're not telling me something here? Are you going to have lessons?"
"There's this woman who has this ability. It's pretty rare among the wizarding community but she has it as well. She's Canadian but moved to France and went to Beauxbatons. Bill and Charlie know her. Her name is Emma Stanton."
"Is she going to teach you?" He asked
She nodded. "Yes, she is. But there's a catch, Harry. I have to go to her."
He glanced her quizzically for a minute. "Go to her? What do you mean by that?"
"She's going to train me and help me learn, but I have to go to her for three months and live there. She lives in New York City."
"What?"
"I agreed to go, Harry. Bill told me that he already discussed it with Dumbledore and he says that since my grades are so exceptional that he has no problem with letting me miss the first two months of school because he knows that I will catch up. So I'm going to go to New York City for three months to study with Emma." She explained.
Harry stared at her for a minute and his arms tightened around her. "Oh."
She turned in his arms, cuddling closer. "Harry, are you alright with this?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"That's not an answer."
He sighed. "I'm happy for you. Like you said it's a great opportunity and it's good that you have these powers and someone to help you expand on them or figure out just how much of the power you possess and you can learn to control it and things. It's all great. I'm proud of you and I'm happy for you."
Ginny closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. "You have a but face."
"I — what?"
She grinned. "You look like you're about to say but."
He smiled. "But — it's New York for three months."
Ginny nodded. "I know. I wish that I could stay closer or work closer but I can't. Emma is living there and that's the only way that she'll teach me anything. She has the knowledge and I have to go to her."
"I'm going to miss you."
She smiled. "I'm going to miss you too. But I can write to you, as often as I possibly can, though I don't know how long it will take to send letters."
"Take Hedwig."
"What?" Ginny asked in surprise.
Harry gestured towards the snowy owl in the corner. Hedwig flew over to them and stood in front of them on the bed. "Take Hedwig. You don't have any owls to use. Hedwig will be there with you and that way you can send me letters as often as possible. Hedwig can find me."
"But I'll have Midnight."
Harry smiled. "Gin, Midnight can't send me letters."
She smiled and then she reached around to kiss him softly. "Okay, thank you." She turned to look at Hedwig. "What do you say, girl? Will you keep me company in America for three months?"
Hedwig hooted and then she nipped at Ginny's hand affectionately.
"I'd say she agreed." Harry replied.
Ginny grinned. "Me too. So you're alright with this?"
"Yeah. When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
"To-tonight? Well, not exactly giving you time to get used to the idea, eh?"
Ginny shook her head. "Not really. I won't even be here for my birthday or for our one year anniversary. I have until after dinner to spend with you and then Mum wants me home to spend time with my family before I leave. Around seven I would assume."
He nodded. "That's understandable."
"Are you alright?"
He sighed and buried his face in the crook of her neck. "I guess I have to be, right? Merlin, I'm going to miss you."
"I know, I'll miss you too."
He slid his hands a little tighter around her middle. "Who am I going to hold like this? Who am I going to nibble at like this?" He nipped gently at her earlobe. "Who am I going to play with?" He twirled the locks of her hair around his right hand. "Who am I going to kiss?" He turned her head so that he could place his lips on hers for a soft kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too, Harry."
She turned in his arms so that she was straddling him on the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her hands up into his hair before she placed her lips on his. Harry held her closer, his hands resting comfortably on her hips as his fingers played with the silky hair that dangled above her waist. The kiss was soft and slow. He could taste her and he could taste the raspberry lip gloss that she was wearing. She smelt like strawberries and spring and it was familiar and it was Ginny. Her hands began to move from his hair and down his back, around to the hem of his tee shirt which she slowly began to slide upwards, allowing her small hands to run over the smooth skin beneath.
As Ginny slipped her hands under his shirt, she revelled in the feeling of the smooth skin and muscles that had formed there. He was hard and toned and she never got tired of touching him. The workout sessions that he had started after Christmas had really helped him to build up his body and that was saying something as Ginny had personally not had any complaints before. She smiled to herself when he trembled at her touch. She slid his tee shirt up a little further, positioning herself over him so that she could plant small open-mouthed kisses along his chest. His breathing quickened as she gently circled his belly button with her finger.
"Gin," he gasped, reaching out to pull her towards him. But she shook her head and only continued to plant tiny kisses and little nips along his chest and stomach.
She knew exactly where to touch and where to taste. She wasn't sure how she knew but she enjoyed discovering just the right places to make him sigh. He was sensitive around his belly button and his breath would hitch whenever she got near it with her mouth. He would sigh happily when she nipped at his sides and he would groan loudly when her mouth or her hands brushed over his nipples. She basked in the taste and pleasure of pleasuring Harry. He was completely at her mercy and she loved every second of it.
Ginny slid the tee shirt a bit higher before finally pulling it over his head all together and finally bringing her lips back to his. When her lips met his, her emotions went haywire and that was all Harry needed to gain the upper hand.
He flipped her over so that she was lying beneath him in his bed, his breathing heavy as he continued to kiss her. His lips melded with hers as he tasted her lip gloss and as he tasted her. Then he changed directions and began to move his lips along her jaw line and down the long white column of her throat. Her hands slipped into his hair to hold him tighter as he nipped and nibbled at her skin, bringing his mouth down to the very tip of her v neck top before he moved his hands beneath the shirt. As soon as his hands brushed across her stomach, she gasped. He grinned at her and then slowly slipped her shirt over her head and tossed it aside.
Ginny lay beneath him in a bright blue lace bra that enhanced her breasts enough to make his mouth water. He reached out a hand to run his finger over the swell of each one before he kissed her again, leaving one hand cupped around her.
"Harry," she whispered against his mouth as he tore his lips from hers to work his way down her throat again. Then he used two fingers to flip open the front clasp and watched fascinated as they spilled out into his hands.
"You're so beautiful, Ginny."
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I want you to never stop kissing me."
He grinned. "I think that I can handle that."
He crushed his mouth to hers again, marvelling in the feeling of her breasts pushing against his bare chest. It was a feeling unlike anything that he could describe other then the word paradise.
Ginny clung to him as he ravaged her with his lips. It was such a pleasure to be in his arms like this with the feel of his rough calloused hands, so gentle as they glided over her soft skin. She knew that if they weren't careful, they would go further then either of them were ready for, but at the same time, she knew that she wanted him to never stop touching her.
She pushed him back, rolling over so that she was back on top and she grinned down at him before she took his mouth with hers again. She could feel the emotions pumping from him: pleasure, excitement, happiness, frustration, love. She revelled in the idea that she could make him feel all of those things. She dragged her fingers through his hair as her tongue met his, her hair falling around them to curtain his face, sending the scent of strawberries to Harry and making him moan.
His moan seemed to bring them both back to reality. They pulled back, breathing heavy and just stared at each other. Harry slipped his arms around her waist, sitting up and cuddling her into his lap. She could feel him against the small of her back and a small smile hinted on her face. He reached around for the blankets to cover her bare shoulders with and then he grinned at her.
"Well."
Ginny nodded. "Well."
Neither one of them said anything and then Harry smiled at her and brought his head down to kiss her softly.
"I love you."
She nodded. "I know. I love you too. But this …"
"I know. Much too fast, we need to stop." He replied as his hands continued to roam over her.
"Yes, we should stop," she whispered, moving her hands over his chest.
Harry nodded. "Okay, we're stopping now." He murmured as he pressed his lips to hers.
"Okay," she whispered, yielding to his soft lips.
They got lost in each other again for a time and when they finally pulled back, they grinned.
"Maybe we should just get out of this room." Harry suggested, dragging his fingers through his hair to prevent himself from grabbing her again.
Ginny nodded, glancing over at the clock. "Good plan. It's almost ten o'clock. Where should we go?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I'll think of some … I got it! Get dressed; I've got the perfect plan!"
Ginny smiled at him. "What kind of plan?"
He grinned. "A secret one. But we should probably not be topless. I think that that would be frowned upon."
She laughed. "I think so. But, uh, Harry?"
"Yeah?" He asked, as he slid out of the bed and pulled his tee shirt over his head.
"Where's my bra?"
