Hey everyone! Just a warning, this chapter deals with some heavy topics, namely abuse. Let me know of things you liked about the story, things I could improve upon, or things/people/plot points you want to see. Thanks for reading!
Another flush could be heard from the loo and this time it was Ginny who took her place at the sink next to the woman. Hermione looked at Ginny with wide eyes and gestured to the door. Ginny flashed her a questioning and slightly concerned glance and followed the older girl back into the restaurant. Ginny dodged the restaurant patrons to a secluded corner near the bathrooms.
"What the hell was that?" She looked genuinely concerned.
"That," Hermione moved her gaze from the floor to her friend's eyes. "That was Petunia Dursley."
"Who?" Hermione stared at Ginny for a second and saw realization dawn on her face. "Oh shit. Really? How do you know?"
"I've seen her a few times at King's Cross when they picked Harry up for the summer. She's-" Hermione stopped suddenly as she heard a door close behind Ginny and Harry's aunt walked by them tight-lipped, clutching her handbag as if she were afraid it would be taken off her person. Four eyes searched her as she walked past, barely noticing the two girls in the corner. Ginny started to go after her, anger starting to flash in her brown eyes, but Hermione grabbed her arm. "Don't. You know that's the last thing Harry would want."
Ginny was still glaring daggers at Petunia as she disappeared around a corner but abandoned her conquest, if only for Harry. "Damn it, Hermione! How can I not go after the person who made my boyfriend's childhood hell? I know it's bad from what Ron has told me, but I have a feeling there's still so much we don't know about."
"I know, G, but Harry's finally somewhat content, and I know he doesn't want you going after her." Ginny's anger was quickly turning into grief and fear. "Come on, let's go back to our table. Do you need a minute to compose yourself before we go back to the boys? Harry's going to be concerned if he sees you in this state."
"No, no I'm fine. Let's go." Ginny focused on Harry in an attempt to appear collected and unaffected.
Though crowded, the duo could see a flash of red hair by the bar as they passed, and the girls turned to meet Ron, but Ginny caught a glimpse of the table the four had previously occupied and saw the familiar messy hair she loved so much. "Come back to the table when you get Ron, Mione." Hermione nodded so Ginny made a beeline for the corner table, ignoring the stares she could feel following her from the forty-year-old guys at the bar. When she arrived, she scooted into the booth next to her boyfriend who was staring into his drink, clutching it like a lifeline. She noticed his demeanor and frowned. "Harry are you ok?" She placed a comforting hand on his thigh and felt him tense up drastically, retaliating from the touch. She pulled away. "Hey." Her voice was raised in alarm. "What happened?" He bit his lip as though fighting back tears and she could see his foot rapidly tapping on the leg of the table.
"Harry James Potter look at me." His gaze snapped up to meet hers and his foot faltered before tapping faster than ever. "You're freaking me out." She reached out to touch his arm and he instinctively pulled away sharply, looking down at the table once again. She studied him for a minute and then snapped her gaze to the table to mirror her boyfriend. Shit. She thought. He saw her. He saw Petunia.
"Harry, love." There was even more urgency in her voice. She wasn't quite sure how to approach this topic but figured it was best not to beat around the bush. "Did you see her?" His leg finally stilled, and it gave her all the answer she needed. "What happened." No response. "Harry, love. I just want to help you. Tell me what you need. Do you need to talk? Do you need me to leave you alone?" More silence. The silence coming from Harry drowned out the noise of the busy pub. She was completely focused on him, and as far as she knew, his silence was not a good sign. Just as she was about to give up, she heard his faltering voice.
"I didn't talk to her, and I don't think she saw me." He breathed deeply and swallowed. She tried to meet his eyes, concern etched in her brow.
"So it was just seeing her that made you upset?" He nodded, still not looking up from his spot on the table.
"Yeah, it just," he faltered for a second. "It just brought back memories. I'm ok. Really, I am." He finally looked up at her, and Ginny could see the pain in his eyes.
"No, you're not. Harry, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine I just, I love you ok, and I hate to see you like this. I would hope you would trust me enough to talk to me about this." More silence and Harry again returned his focus to the table.
"I've explained some of my childhood to Ron. I don't know what he told you and Hermione." He paused, gathering his thoughts, as Ginny gave him her rapt attention. "But I barely told Ron half of it." Ginny could tell he was having a lot of trouble sharing this with her, and he paused again, taking a deep breath. "I told Ron about the emotional abuse, at least part of it, and vague details of the neglect, but that's not everything, and honestly, that's the easiest part to talk about."
"Please don't feel like I'm pushing you to talk about it, just tell me when you're ready, if ever." He shook his head.
"No. I think it will help to talk it over." At her nod, he continued. "It was much worse than what I led Ron to believe." Harry gulped. "Starting from when I was four years old, I was forced to do chores. They started off smaller because I was so young, but they were still way out of range of a four-year-old. They said I had to 'earn my keep'" He looked over at his girlfriend and smiled weakly when he saw that she already looked disturbed. "When I messed up, it wasn't a kiss on the cheek or even a slap on the wrist. In the beginning, I was locked in my cupboard for days at a time, only coming out to do more chores or get Dudley's leftovers, and that was if I got lucky." The black-haired boy could see her sympathetic look and turned to her. "Gin. When I tell you stuff, I'm not asking for sympathy or anything, I just want you to know."
"Harry, I know. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this."
"Gin, I trust you more than anyone." She still was hesitant to touch him. She had a horrible feeling that his earlier reaction had something to do with what was coming up in his recounts.
The couple looked up as a waiter approached their table. "Have you all decided what you're wanting to eat tonight?" Ginny looked at Harry and then ordered a simple dip as both teenagers had rather lost their appetites. She turned her attention back to him.
"What happened later?" She braced herself for his response.
"What?"
"You said all those punishments were 'in the beginning'. What happened later?"
"Oh. Later the emotional abuse and neglect got much worse, sometimes I wouldn't eat for a week at a time. It was always made very clear to me that Dudley was, and always would be, more important than I was and worth more. Not just to them but to our neighbors, kids at school, and pretty much everyone. But then, when I was about five or six, that's when the physical abuse started. No. I'm overreacting, it wasn't that bad and I shouldn't complain." He looked scared and very unsure of himself.
"Harry. Look at me. You are not overreacting. I want you to tell me. I think it will be good for you to share this, and you know I won't tell anyone anything you tell me."
He shook his head slightly. "I know you won't, Gin. It's just, I've never talked about it and I don't really know how to put it." His foot began tapping even faster. "My uncle told me I was never allowed to tell anyone anything or he'd kill me." Ginny began to say something but he cut her off. "I know, it's stupid to still be scared because I haven't seen him in like a year and he's not in control of me anymore, but I guess it was just so ingrained into me that I'm still scared." His girlfriend didn't reply for a while.
"Harry, you are safe with me."
He took a deep breath. "When it started, I was kind of surprised that Vernon would do that, but I learned to manage the pain really quickly. He hated it when I cried so to avoid getting much worse I learned to keep my mouth shut."
"Love," Ginny's voice was a trembling, horrified whisper.
"I got used to it. After a while, so much of me was constantly injured that I kind of went numb to the new injuries." He chuckled darkly.
"H-how," Ginny's voice faltered. She seemed scared of what his answer would be. "How often did this happen?"
"Usually every day. He would go to work and when he got home if I had done anything that Aunt Petunia or Dudley didn't like, he beat me. If I did something he didn't like, it was much worse."
"What about Petunia and Dudley? Were they involved?"
"No. Very aware, but not involved. I don't think they approved of what he did to me, but they were both too scared to ever say anything."
"I need to hold you, but I don't want to hurt you or make you nervous." She looked at him hesitantly holding out her arms. "You know I would never, ever hurt you, right?" He nodded and slid closer to her, leaning on her chest, hot tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. Ginny sat in the hard booth, her legs folded under her. She rested her head on Harry's and rubbed his back.
"Gin," She turned around, hearing the whispered concern behind her. "What happened?" Ginny looked away from her brother and to Hermione.
"He saw her." Hermione looked at Harry and sat down on his other side. He wiped his nose on his sleeve and sat up, turning to Hermione.
"Who?" Ron was still standing by the table looking worried but confused. Ginny gave Hermione a pointed look which the older girl interpreted immediately. Ginny then stood up and grabbed Ron's hand, dragging him away. "Oi!" He shouted and yanked his arm away when they were a reasonable distance from the table. "Seriously, what happened?"
"Petunia was here."
"Petunia." He repeated slowly. "Oh, shit, that Petunia." He looked at Ginny the same way she had looked at Hermione when she heard. "I'm assuming Harry saw her."
"Yeah, no shit."
"I swear to Godric, I'll kill her. I'll bring George, Charlie, and Bill and we'll all go murder that entire family. Hell, you and mum can come if you want."
"Ron, Ron, stop. That's not what Harry wants. Believe me, I've already considered it. He's too nice and noble for that. He'd never forgive himself for letting that happen."
"Damn him. Those people were rotten to him for 16 years, and he's acting like they just had a row over Thanksgiving dinner. Believe me, Gin. If you knew what I know about those years, you would not be able to control yourself."
"I know more than you do." She said quietly, looking at their shoes. "I wish I didn't, but he told me a lot. I have a feeling that it's still not all, but it's more than we could even imagine." She looked up to meet his gaze again. "He asked me not to tell anyone what he told me, not even you. Hey, hey. Stop." She cut him off as he started to speak. "You're his best friend, I know that, but he just doesn't want things to spread."
"But I'm his best mate! Why does he trust you so much more than me?"
"Hate to break it to you bro, but he doesn't snog you. At least I hope not." She laughed at her brother's look. "No. I know he trusts you and wants you to know. You know Harry, he never tells anyone anything. He's the most private person I've met, and I think that has something to do with his childhood. It's just that he doesn't want to talk about it a whole lot, it hurts him, but he knows I won't let him shut me out. I'll talk to him when he's in a better spot and see if he'll let me tell you and Hermione some of it. Anyway, where were you with Hermione?"
"I've never been to a muggle pub so Mione was showing me around. It's really different from a wizard's pub." The siblings spent a while talking about nothing of importance, watching people come and go throughout the pub.
By the time the two got back to the table, Harry was visibly less distraught and he was laughing about something with Hermione. It was almost as if they were drunk. "What is going on?" Ginny's voice was amused.
"Harry ordered a butterbeer and they gave us this. I don't know what it is, but it's really good!" Hermione almost whispered. "This is my fourth one! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside." She took another big swig of the beer and gulped it down.
"Merlin never thought I'd see a wasted Hermione. Or a wasted Harry for that matter." Ginny chuckled and hurried to grab the drink out of Harry's hand before he spilled it all over himself. "Come on, Ron. Get Hermione." Ginny grabbed Harry's wallet and put some muggle money on the table and grabbed his arm. "I'm taking him home, you get Hermione and come along." She rolled her eyes as Harry leaned down and dramatically kissed her. She could taste the alcohol he'd had. "Come on, we'll get you home. She exited the pub, her boyfriend putting what felt like all his weight on her, and returned to the alley they had used to get here.
The couple landed in the yard, their friends right behind them. "Let's take them upstairs," Ron suggested. "Who's room should they go in? I don't really feel like babysitting but I don't want them to be alone, that seems dangerous." He watched amused as Hermione tried to get a piggy-back ride from Ginny. She lost her balance and fell over, laughing as Harry knelt down to check her pulse but ended up tickling her.
"Probably wise. Let's put them in my room. In case they fall down the stairs, it won't be as far." It was Ron's turn to roll his eyes. They walked as quietly as they could to the stairs, hoping to avoid their mother until they were safely tucked into bed. In order to keep them quiet, Ron and Ginny had to clap their hands over their partner's mouths. Harry thought this was funny and stuck his tongue out to lick Ginny's hand. She yanked her hand away, giving him a dirty look, and replaced it once she had wiped it on her shirt. This even had Ron chuckling with the others.
They got to Ginny's room and laid the intoxicated friends down on their respective beds, Harry occupying Ginny's. "Let's grab their wands," Ron suggested. Ginny nodded and reached into Harry's back pocket to grab his wand. As she leaned over him, he reached up and tickled her armpit.
"God, Harry. You're such a child when you're drunk." She and Ron left the room as Hermione started to laugh and they went to the kitchen to find their mum.
"Hey Ron, Ginny." Their mother was wiping her hands on a dishcloth. "How was your time?"
"It was very… eventful," Ginny replied carefully.
"What's that supposed to mean? Where are Harry and Hermione?"
"They're upstairs, sleeping. They're super tired and Harry has to be up early tomorrow."
"Is that so? Well, why don't you go join them, I know you have an early morning too, Ginny. Unless you'd prefer to stay down here and wait for your father with me." Mrs. Weasley raised her eyebrows at her children.
"Goodnight mum."
They checked on their friends and found them both passed out cold, Harry's glasses still on his face. Ginny decided to take Harry's bed in her brother's room, snuggling up with his godson and falling quickly asleep.
Someone was jackhammering his head. That was the only possible reason it could feel like this. Harry opened his eyes slowly and was surprised to find himself in Ginny's room. He rolled over expecting to see the red hair that was so familiar but instead found the curly brown hair of his best friend was in the bed next to his. He could see her stirring too. "Mione" He groaned. "What happened?"
"Shhhhhh." Hermione's eyebrows scrunched in pain. "We're hungover Harry. Let's go downstairs. I'm sure Ginny has some pepper up or something." She heard Harry groan as he rolled out of his girlfriend's bed. She heaved herself up and they trudged down the stairs, rubbing their temples.
Ginny grinned when she saw Harry and Hermione coming into the kitchen. "Hey, sleepyheads!" Ginny sipped her juice with a sideways smirk.
"Gin, shut up! Every word is agonizing."
She mock pouted. "Aww baby, I'm sorry. Come sit here." She patted the seat next to her and tried to stifle her laugh as her boyfriend slumped in the seat next to her. "Here. Take this." Ginny handed him a potion and he drank it immediately. She studied his features and watched as the potion took effect and he visibly brightened.
"Damn. What happened?"
"You and Hermione got completely wasted last night." She stifled another giggle as she handed the same potion to Hermione who had taken a spot on the other side of her.
"How bad was it?" Hermione was now flinching from embarrassment rather than pain.
"At one point you tried to piggyback Gin and it ended in a tickle fight with Harry." Ron was having almost as hard of a time not laughing at her embarrassment.
Hermione visibly cringed. "So pretty bad."
"Yeah. Don't worry though, no one saw you, not even mum. Harry, finish up eating, we have to be at Hogwarts in an hour and I know you haven't packed yet. Go get started and I'll grab Teddy from mum and get him ready." Ginny hopped up to grab the baby. Winking cheekily as Harry rolled his eyes.
"Ok, make sure he gets his bath."
She scooped Teddy up from the garden where he was with Molly. When she got back to the table where Ron and Hermione were sitting, she fed him mashed bananas and talked with the couple about their plans for the next couple of weeks before Ron started training. A half-hour later, Teddy was bathed and dressed and Harry had everything belonging to him and his godson packed up and ready to floo to Hogwarts. He had had the furniture and everything extra shipped to Hogwarts the week before.
"Gin! We're going to be late!" Ginny ran down the stairs and stood beside her boyfriend, ready to enter the floo.
"You ready?" She looked up at him, judging his expression.
He took a deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be." He turned around as he heard Hermione behind him.
"Good luck, Professor Potter." The last thing he saw was her wink as he disappeared in the green flame.
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