[a/n]Changing another Fanfic. In this one, Harry flipped a Dumbledore/Molly marriage contract scheme into Ginny marrying Draco. Hermione died after having his daughter. Ginny can't accept that he gets involved with Susan. The change I chronicle occurs in ch#9. s/5286735/9/Steps-In-Life Underline is a quote for setup.

Harry Does Different CDXLVI

FStInL By: potter8668

Ginny spent the day in seclusion. Her life was spiraling out of control, with no hope of finding a safe landing with the one that she loved. Each day she watched Harry slip further and further away from her. She couldn't take much more of this. Silently and slowly she made her way to the Astronomy tower. As she reached the top, she went to the edge and looked down. Slowly she climbed onto the wall. Looking towards the darkening sky she whispered "I love you Harry" and stepped off the edge.

The Halloween Feast was in full swing when a much shaken first year came running into the room. Professor McGonagall reached the girl first and quickly followed the child out of the room. Soon several other staff members joined her. At the base of the Astronomy Tower lay the broken body of Ginny Weasley. Professor Snape personally told Draco the bad news. He in turn sent the news on to his mother. The event didn't bother him one way or another.

Harry nodded and stepped around the silently yelling witch. He noted that Dumbledore was watching him closely. "What happened?"

"It seems that Ms. Weasley was unhappy and decided to jump from the Astronomy Tower during the feast."

Harry rounded on Draco. "Where were you at during all this?"

"Eating like any sensible person."

"Did you even notice that Ginny wasn't there?"

"Not really. She had a habit of avoiding the Great Hall during the main meal times."

Harry grunted. He felt slightly guilty over what Ginny had done but not enough for it to really bother him. "Did she leave any sort of note?"

Dumbledore handed him a sealed envelope. "Only to you my boy. It seems that her heart wanted you to know hers. Perhaps this could have been avoided if you had accepted what you should have back in August."

"I doubt that. Still trying to control me old man?"

Dumbledore said nothing. His planned release of the girl's death to the press would help him and make the boy look like the bad guy. He hoped that the outcry from the public would bring the boy back to him for advice. Once that happened the boy would follow where ever he led him.

Harry looked at the envelope for a few seconds. Ginny had addressed it to him, calling him her love. He shook his head at her stubbornness until the very end. Refusing to satisfy anyone's curiosity, he put the envelope into a pocket.

"Aren't you going to read it, my boy?"

"Not here where everyone can see how disturbed she was."

"I highly doubt that Ms. Weasley was what I would call 'disturbed', my boy."

"I don't. She was a stalker thanks to her mother. One that has cost her the ultimate price, her life. If she had and if Malfoy had put a little effort into being with her then I doubt that she would have jumped. I pity her now more than ever."

Dumbledore frowned. "Do you not think that you share some of the guilt?"

"Not really."

"How did you come to that conclusion, my boy?"

"Why should I feel guilty about what Ginny has done to herself? She was the one who couldn't accept what life has thrown at her. She whined, cried, and complained, hoping that like always she would get her way. When I brought the Life Debt into the picture, I think she finally realized that she wasn't going to get what she wanted. But then I wasn't supposed to do a lot of things was I Headmaster?"

"I think that you have wandered off the topic my boy. Ms. Weasley loved you. She was willing to accept that your life would be a hard one. She had every right to dream of being married to you. Only you had to crush those dreams and ignore her until she took her own life. Because of that I will always feel that you are the guilty one."

It was the Western Wizard article that finally pushed Harry over the edge. The few copies of the minor publication that were circulating arrived with the owl-mail. And quickly exceeded any Prophet in popularity. Susan snatched a copy off a random person and rushed from the Hufflepuff table. Impressive was how she managed to get to him, while reading, and without colliding or tripping. By the time he was finished reading, Harry's color would have done Uncle Vernon proud. He stormed his way up to the Head Table. He slapped it in front of the Headmaster.

"Why yes, Mr. Potter. Have you something to say to me?" Albus' eyes twinkled and his tone was highly patronizing.

Harry actually growled "You did this old man!"

"I only reported the truth, my boy. But now, perhaps you see the benefit of my guidance and will do the right thing. I will gladly take up the task of managing your affairs. Together, we will make it our first priority to compensate the Weasleys for your neglect of Ginevra and your responsibilities there. The stain on House Potter's honor must be cleaned before we move forward." Albus was all sweetness and reason, adding after a pause to stroke his beard "Indeed. This opportunity can kill two birds with one stone as it were. You have a long history of insubordination toward Professor Snape. I shall ask Severus to assume day to day control of your finances, while of course retaining - - -"

Not out of idle curiosity for gossip, but a desire to support her wizard, Susan was close enough to hear every word. Until now she'd merely stayed in the background. The redhead intervened cautiously "I can only imagine how angry you are, Harry, but maybe a cooling off period."

Eyes blazing, he snarled "Stay out of it!" then turned back to his target "Remember you made me do this. Sonorus! By now a lot of you have read what's in that Western Wizard rag. A deal was made to punish Ron and Molly Weasley but keep the details quiet. That was fine until Dumb-as-a-dorr here pulled his bullshit!"

"Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall's voice lashed out "Such lang- -" Then was slammed back in her chair.

Harry's glare at his girlfriend was a flashlight compared to the laser he trained on his Head of House "Butt out of things that don't concern you!"

"Now now, Harry, don't do anything rash." The Headmaster tried to placate the teen.

Then he unloaded "I was pressured to keep the truth quiet! Molly Weasley was convicted of potioning me to marry her daughter. Anybody wonder why I wasn't much bothered by Ginny's death? Ron Weasley was using the same potion to force Hermione Granger to marry him. Only he's incompetent as a Potioneer. Now maybe he didn't AK her, but at least it would've been painless. I was there at the end. St. Mungo's told me she was in agony for hours before I got there. Any guesses who plotted the whole thing? Albus-Too-Many-Names Dumbledore! Control me through his version of Death Eaters, then empty my vaults after HE kills me before, as he'd claim, I'm the new Voldemort."

"Harry! The Weasleys are the absolute pinnacle of supporters of the light!" Dumbledore radiated magic in his anger.

Unintimidated, Harry delivered all but a deathblow to the reputations of both "If potioning me wasn't enough, those two pressured my Godfather Sirius Black into signing a lopsided betrothal contract between me and Ginny. Honestly, much as I despise Malfoy, I almost pity him. But as they say, better him than me."

"Come on, luv. I think you've had enough excitement for one day." Susan finally managed to reign him in and guide Harry from the Great Hall..