Harry Sunday Evening
Harry steps out of unconsciousness but keeps his eyes shut. He takes inventory of his body. His breathing is steady, and his bones are sore, but the pain is gone. His temperature is back to normal, but he feels sticky and unclean.
He slowly opens his eyes and is grateful for the lack of bright lights. There are no white lights hanging over him, or sunshine falling on him. The lights come from flaming candles on the wall, and the light from the moon shines through the windows and falls on the foot of his bed.
"Hey."
Harry looks to his right and smiles.
Sirius.
"Hi," Harry croaks. Harry tries to swallow and soothe his throat but finds his tongue dryer than the Grand Canyon.
"Drink this," Sirius says, putting a straw to Harry's lips. Harry takes the straw into his mouth and sips the water slowly. After a few seconds, Harry finds his strength and takes the class from Sirius's hands, and leans back in satisfaction.
"Good stuff," Harry says when the glass is empty.
"How are you feeling?"
Harry puts the glass on his nightstand and pulls himself into a sitting position. He rolls his neck and shoulders, causing multiple cracks and pops.
"Other than the fact that I'm stiff, sore, and beyond gross? Not bad. A shower will do me some good, I think," Harry says. He smiles at Sirius, trying to ease Sirius's obvious worry.
Sirius nods his head and leans back in his chair. Harry watches him wipe his hands across his pants over and over again.
"Where's everyone else?" Harry asks, looking at the empty chairs around his bed. There's one to his left and one at the foot of his bed.
"They went to the Great Hall to eat. They should be bringing back some food for the both of us."
Harry claps his hands together and rubs them.
"Perfect! I'm starving! I'll eat, shower, and then we can have a meeting and settle when we're going to kick Tom Riddle's ass," Harry smiles at Sirius again, and this time he sees tears in his godfather's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Harry asks.
Sirius exhales shakily and then leans forward, holding the side of Harry's head, caressing it almost.
"You took your sweet time in the afterlife," he breathes.
Harry nods his head. He knows, he remembers.
"I saw my mom and dad," Harry tells him.
The air seems to leave Sirius in one final exhale, the tears leaking to his cheeks.
"I have so much to tell you," Harry says.
"Go ahead. We have some time, I think."
Ginny's POV Sunday Evening
She's exhausted. It's as simple as that. She's overworked her brain, she didn't sleep well, and to top it all off, she's having boy issues of all things.
The night before was in her top ten, for the most intense things, Ginny had seen.
And Ginny has seen intense.
Ginny had woken when Sirius had started begging. She kept her eyes closed, feeling uncomfortable with all the emotions of someone she doesn't know very well. The other adults had rushed from the office, and Ginny found herself in a cocoon of silence. Her best guess is that Albus had placed a few silencing charms around her chair. She opened her eyes at that point and watched it unfold. They were trying to find ways to console Sirius and somehow save Harry simultaneously.
Albus had started waving his wand rapidly, Minerva had her hands on her hips and seemed to be arguing with Poppy, while the Matron started pulling out potion after potion.
It's when Harry started convulsing that all hell broke loose. Ginny disables the silencing charms and almost jumped with the commotion. Everyone was yelling and saying things all at once. Albus and Poppy were screaming about how to stop the pain, Sirius was yelling at both of them to find something to help Harry, and Minerva was yelling at Harry, trying to get him to respond.
It was a mess, and all Ginny could do was squeeze Harry's feet and hope his convulsing would stop. She was frozen. Here was this guy she met almost a week ago and instantly felt a connection to, convulsing on a hospital bed.
She'd never thought she would be in this position, she had studied and studied to keep the feelings that were currently coursing through her at bay, but apparently, she should have paid more attention to healing than just dueling, charms, and transfiguration.
She watched Harry sweat, tighten every muscle in his body only to release and tighten those muscles again. She watched him, groan, scream, and cry. She watched him fight the hands holding him down, watched him break his back trying to spit out a pain potion, and watched him choke on the air.
It's when Harry literally gasped, "stop," that Ginny's mind seemed to kick into gear and take in the situation. Everyone was still yelling, especially Sirius, and Ginny remembers the ear-splitting headache any noise can bring.
Harry was begging them to stop, and everyone was doing something to help, but nothing helpful. She thinks she had started crying, but that was something she would not unpack for a while.
She had stood up and watched as his feet stopped clenching as she let go of them. That was when it all dawned on her, he was oversensitive, and his nerves were overworking themselves. After that, it was a blur.
She had silenced Harry and threateningly pointed her wand at the others. They were so shocked she didn't need to silence them. She walked up to Sirius-ignoring his glare-and gently took his hands until he released Harry's hand.
She summoned a pain potion and tried speaking to him softly.
The first miracle was when he'd instantly calmed when she softly said his name. The second miracle was when he actually responded to her request to lift his head. The third miracle and the thing she'd decided to unpack at dinner was him knowing it was her, through all his pain and overstimulation, and saying her name.
When she says she felt a pressure lift from her chest, she means someone had lifted the sandbag from its place.
Did she know why the relief was all-consuming?
Yes.
Will she admit it to herself?
Maybe later.
"You look like you're going to fall into your mashed potatoes."
Ginny looks up and blinks at her brother for a few seconds. Was he talking to her?
"You didn't go back to the dorms last night. Are you okay?" Hermione inquires her gently.
"Yeah, sorry, I'm just tired," Ginny tells them. She yawns almost instantly, and by the look on her brother's and girlfriend's faces, they're worried about her.
Seamus, of all people, slides closer to her, and jumps into the conversation, "Is it weird that Harry's only been here a week, but when Ginny says she's tired, I automatically expect him to offer to cuddle with her?"
Ron laughs, and even Ginny chuckles softly.
"Yeah, and then Ginny would bat bogey him and tell him she doesn't cuddle with people who can't blow their noses correctly," Dean adds, sliding closer to Ron.
"Poor guy was struck by the lightning that is Ginny Weasley, and became a storm chaser," Seamus says, nudging GInny's side.
"Poor bloke is an awful chaser, though!" Ron exclaims. Ginny wasn't expecting the absolute uproar of laughter from her brother's roommates, but it was like someone cast the tickling charm. They were dying at the table.
Their laughter lasts a minute before Seamus turns to her and narrows his eyes.
"Why don't you like Harry?" Seamus asks.
Ginny keeps her mouth shut, not knowing how to answer his question. Because, it's not like Ginny doesn't like him. Harry is funny, attractive, and unbelievably kind. His problem is that he's overwhelming, spontaneous, and dangerous.
"Maybe the better question is, what is stopping you from liking him?" Hermione asks her.
Ginny wishes she could scold Hermione for asking the right kind of questions, but she instead scoffs.
"For starters, we met a week ago," Ginny tells them. She looks around and notices many more eyes on her than she originally thought.
"And even though it's not your guys' business, but every new person I meet, I can't trust," Ginny gives them a, no duh, look and stands up. She should probably get a plate of food for Sirius.
She quickly makes one, ignoring everyone's stares.
"But, he's Harry Potter!" Lavender exclaims. Ginny rolls her eyes.
"Yeah, he's automatically trustworthy."
"Definitely not a Death Eater."
"If you can't trust Harry, you can't trust anyone."
People all throw in their opinions, and Ginny finally gets fed up with it.
"Yeah, well, can I trust him to not get himself killed? Kidnapped? Tortured to insanity?" Ginny demands. She stares down at everyone and instantly feels bad when she sees Neville flinch from the corner of her eye.
"Look, I don't think now is the best time to catch feelings. Lay off, will ya?"
Ginny grabs the plate she made and, on a whim, quickly duplicates the plate and makes a second serving, just in case Harry wakes up soon.
"Ginny?"
Ginny picks up the plates and quirks an eyebrow at her brother.
"I know saying this makes me a giant hypocrite, but no matter the circumstances, taking the risk and loving someone, should always be done sooner than later."
Ginny nods her head to acknowledge she heard him but leaves without paying him another thought.
She walks to the hospital wing, cursing her Gryffindor friends. Couldn't they mind their own business? She doesn't want to deal with feelings of any sort, so if they could stop bringing it up.
Ginny stops in front of the hospital doors and sighs.
She needs a plan to keep everything under control. She can't be with him, not until she can fully trust him. Even then, Ginny doesn't know if she actually likes him. He's a spinning top, and she doesn't know what direction he'll be pointing when he stops spinning. He was right about there being a connection between them, but that doesn't mean she likes him.
Good. If her thoughts change, she'll reevaluate.
Ginny turns, so her back is facing the doors, and pushes through them. As soon, as the doors close behind her, she hears their voices. She turns quickly and stares at them. They're facing each other with what looks like tear-stained faces. Great, more emotions.
She slowly makes her way toward them, and when Harry looks up and locks eyes with her, she freezes. He blinks at her multiple times, and then a large grin breaks through his face. Sirius turns to her and stares at her as well, but she can't move! Bloody Hell!
"Hi," Harry says.
His voice. His freaking American accent has started getting a British tilt to it, and it's all too pleasant to her ears.
Ginny nods at him and then holds out both plates to them, one to Sirius and the other to Harry.
"I was going to ask for a bite of your potatoes, not for a bite of everything Ginny," Harry says, staring at the plate. Ginny glares at Sirius, who quickly takes the plate from his hand, and then she turns her glare to Harry.
"Hey, at least share with me then. I don't want to steal your food," Harry says, slowly taking the plate from her.
"I made that plate for you," Ginny tells him, turning to leave. Now that she knows he's awake and doing okay, she can leave and get some real sleep.
"Hey, you don't need to lie to me. I'm perfectly fine with sharing."
"Harry! I already ate. I made Sirius a plate and then made one for you for when you woke up," she turns to him, exasperated. She's no liar.
"Come here then," Harry says, scooting over on his bed.
"Why?" Ginny asks.
"If you can sit next to me and not demand a bite of food, then I'll know you've eaten," Harry says, his smile returning.
"Harry, I've eaten, I'm exhausted, and I'd like to go to bed," Ginny tells him.
"Did you not sleep last night?" Harry asks. He looks confused, and Ginny wants to roll her eyes. She does.
"No."
"Well then, come here. You can cuddle with me, and I'll fight off any nightmares you get."
Ginny glares at him.
"Please?"
Ginny doesn't answer him this time. She starts to walk away but pauses when he calls her name again.
"Ginny! No, I just, it would help me sleep if you were here," Harry says.
"I'm sure your Godfather will help you," Ginny says, not turning around.
"Actually, I need to go. I would stay, but I have to work early tomorrow. If you could stay with him, that would mean a lot," Sirius says.
Ginny wants to snap at him as he did her, but she holds her tongue.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday. I should have held my tongue better. Please stay with Harry," Sirius says softly.
Ginny feels a burning heat in her chest, and she spins around and glares at both of them. She is not Harry's ward! She is tired, physically, mentally, and emotionally tired!
"It's not like I was being insensitive! I was scared and worried, alright? So I associate Harry with the war! He's in the middle of it, and I was worried we'd lose if he was gone! I thought maybe you'd appreciate something to think about besides your dead godson!"
Ginny takes slow breathes and tries to regain her composure. She needs to be left alone so she can fall asleep!
"I need you," Harry whispers. He's pleading with her. He wants her to stay, but she can't, not now.
"No you don't," Ginny says softly. She turns and leaves as quickly as possible. She needs to sleep. She needs to take a break from people. She needs space.
Ginny Wednesday
She had avoided everyone the last three days, trying to re-energize herself. Ron and Hermione were worried about her, Colin and Demelza were looking at her like she was going to break, Minerva had skipped on their weekly tea to try and get her to go sleep, and Harry...
He had been back in the common room Monday morning, and he looked as dead as he had on Saturday. He had been pale, and Ginny doesn't think he's slept any more than she had.
She had been so exhausted Sunday night, that she passed out in her bed, and got stuck in her nightmares. When she had finally pulled herself from her nightmares, she couldn't sleep. It was a cycle she's learned to adapt to over the summer. Harry wasn't coping nearly as well as she was, but she couldn't figure out why. Had dying done something to him?
"Ginny?"
Ginny looks up from her book and stares at Hermione. When did she get there? I need to get some real sleep.
"Yeah?"
"Dumbledore wants to see you in his office," she says, giving Ginny a worried look.
Ginny nods her head and puts her homework and books in her bag. She quickly takes her bag to her dorm before she hurries to Albus's office.
Outside of Albus's office, Ginny waits patiently for him to come down.
Two minutes later, she hears footsteps behind her. She turns and sees Albus and Harry talking to each other.
"Ah, Ginny. I hope we didn't keep you waiting long," Albus says when he sees her by the Gargoyle guarding his office.
"Not very long," she tells him. Albus nods his head kindly.
"Gobstopper," Albus says. The Gargoyle starts spinning slowly as it rises, lifting a stone staircase with it.
They each step onto the staircase. When they reach the top, Albus leads the way into his office and gestured for them to sit down.
Ginny ignores his silent request and walks over to Fawkes.
"Hey, boy," Ginny says softly. She strokes his feathers, making him trill. Ginny smiles as the familiar feeling of peace rises in her.
"I missed you too, Fawkes."
Ginny continues to stroke Fawkes's feathers but turns her attention to Albus.
"So, what's up?" Ginny asks.
"I wanted to inform both of you that this Friday, we will go on a search for the Gaunt Ring. I've also, received word from many worried students about both of your guys' lack of sleep," Albus says softly. Ginny nods her head slowly. She saw that coming from a mile away. Hermione would tell McGonagall, who would tell Dumbledore, and she reckons Ron mentioned something about Harry to her, and so that's why Harry's here as well.
Ginny looks at Harry to find him already staring at her. He holds her gaze for a few seconds, but Ginny breaks it. She looks the rest of him over. He's wearing fresh clothing, his hair is a mess, and he's wearing glasses. Something she's never seen him wear before.
"Have you ever felt pain in your dreams before?" Harry asks, turning to Albus.
"I haven't," Albus says slowly. Ginny shakes her head, even though Harry didn't direct the question at her. Had she been terrified? Yes. Has she thought she felt pain and then woken up to find it wasn't real? Yes.
"When I died, I spoke to my parents for hours, and they were some of the best hours of my life. We talked and talked, but when it was time for me to come back, they didn't know how I was to do that, and I didn't either," Harry says. Ginny watches him take deep breaths, to calm himself down.
Fawkes spreads his wings-pushing GInny's hand away- and flies over to Harry's chair and lands on the armrest. The phoenix's trills sound like cooing. Harry smiles at the phoenix and starts rubbing its feathers just like Ginny had been doing.
"I was at the house I lived in with both Remus and Sirius in Texas. We had been talking on the back patio. I couldn't go anywhere, and I didn't know how to get back. I finally decided I should try getting to the front, by going through the house," Harry pauses again and looks back at Ginny.
Fire races through her, and she has the urge to go sit in the chair next to his. Help him with whatever is hurting him.
"The further I got into the house, the more pain I felt. I guess the basilisk venom could only fully extract itself from my body if my heart was pumping. I've been tortured before, but my own body was doing this to me. When I finally reached the door, I'd collapsed to my knees, and I barely got the door open. From there, I collapsed through the door, and then it was dark, and I was in pain, and I didn't know if I was back, or if I was dying for real."
Ginny turns to Albus and watches the emotions of sadness, regret, and worry, flit across his face. She looks back to Harry when he continues.
"I was being assaulted everywhere, and when the pain lessened just a bit, I could finally hear what was going on, and everyone was screaming. It felt like my head was going to explode. Then I don't know how it got quiet, but then Ginny saved me. The pressure in my bones lifted, the pain drifted, and knowing she was there was enough to push away my panic about where I was, and I fell asleep.
"But every night since, I've fallen asleep, and I'm back in that house, trying to push further in no matter how much more pain I feel. Then I wake up, and I'm always somewhere different, surrounded by people I don't know, yelling, screaming, hands around my throat choking me, or I'm being crushed by a machine slowly or, it's been different every time, but I wake up, and my head hurts, and my bones ache.
"It's like Voldemort never left my head," Harry whispers. He lets his head fall, and Ginny can only assume he's embarrassed by admitting his weakness. Ginny understands how he's feeling, and that's why she pulls the other chair closer to his and sits down. She doesn't touch him, but she sits with him, hoping her presence will help. She feels guilty. He'd asked her to stay because he had a feeling he would need someone to guide him back.
But Ginny was selfish and left. Now that she understands what he was feeling, she knows why Harry asked her to stay, and needed her, but at the time, she thought he was being selfish.
She looks at Albus and meets his eyes. He nods at her, and Ginny shrugs.
"I can only take one or two dreamless sleep potions a week. I planned on using one of them tonight. My dreams are the same as they always are. Kidnap, torture, friends, and family dying, unnecessary sacrifices, that sort of thing. I exhausted myself over the weekend so my body wouldn't wake up when the dream got rough, and then by the time I do wake up, I can't bring myself to fall asleep again," Ginny shrugs her shoulders again and looks at her hand when she feels Harry's slip into it.
She tries to pull away, but he holds onto her hand tighter and squeezes it softly. Her hand tingles, and she can't decide if it's uncomfortable and she should forcibly take her hand away, or if it's a comforting tingly feeling and she should squeeze his hand back.
She decides it's not uncomfortable enough that she should rip her hand away and possibly hurt her feelings, but not comfortable enough for her to squeeze his hand back.
"You two are truly remarkable children. I haven't noticed any outbreaks or failing grades from lack of sleep. You're both shouldering your burdens as if you're used to carrying them by yourselves for long periods of time before someone finally notices and helps you shoulder the weight. It's fascinating seeing both of you deal with trauma in the same way," Albus pulls out two rings from his desk and shows them to us with his pointer finger and thumb.
"I'm going to place a protean charm on these rings. I'd like for you to both use them, and when the other needs you, find each other and try to help," Albus waves his wand over both rings and holds out a ring in each palm.
Harry takes it with a sigh, but Ginny can't. She won't.
"No."
"I'm not going to do that," Ginny says, shaking her head.
Albus sighs and gives her a stern look.
"I thought that when you stayed by Harry's side all weekend, you had decided to at least be friends with him."
Ginny glares at him.
"I do consider Harry, a friend, and I stayed with him all weekend because I felt guilty being privileged with the information of him being killed and thought I should be there! This is something I wouldn't even trust Hermione with! I would never burden someone else with a ring like that. You probably charmed it that when my heart rate gets too high, Harry's ring will burn!" Albus looks a bit guilty, and Ginny turns to Harry and gives him a, can you believe him, kind of look and gestures to Albus. She was right!
Harry rubs the finger in between his forefinger and thumb, looking thoughtful.
"I'm not the biggest fan of this idea, but if it helps you, then I'll do it. Ginny, you exhausted yourself to be there for me, when you didn't need to be! I want to help you," he says. He places the ring on his right-hand pointer finger, and Ginny watches the ring adjust its side to his finger.
"I can't put you in a dangerous situation if you don't trust or care for everyone there. That's what makes our enemies fail, they do not care for each other; it's all about survival. I think these rings will make your trust and care for each other rise. It doesn't mean you have to marry Harry! I want you to trust and care enough that you will save the other," Albus says, thrusting his hand further.
"There will be no sacrificing," Ginny says, looking them both in the eyes.
"You try to save only. There will be no jumping in front of spells or any of that shit. Okay?" Ginny asks.
She waits for both of them to nod before she grabs the ring and put it on her right ring finger. Harry gives her a weird look, so Ginny mutters, "What?"
"Do you guys not use the right ring finger for promise rings?" Harry asks, nodding at her hand.
"Promise rings?" Ginny asks, confused.
"Yeah, you give your beloved a ring that basically says you promise to propose to them," Harry explains.
"It doesn't matter. I'm not dating anyone," Ginny tells him.
"Of course, sorry," Harry says, his cheeks turning pink.
She holds the guy's hand for one minute.
Ginny rolls her eyes at him and turns back to Albus.
"Anything else?" Ginny asks.
"Eat a good dinner on Friday, get plenty of sleep, and please, for the sake of your friends, if not yourself, take care of yourselves."
Ginny nods her head and then leaves, not waiting for Harry. She'll be speaking to him plenty soon.
"Ginny!"
Ginny rolls her eyes but turns around to find Harry running after her.
"Yes?" She asks.
"Two things, I was wondering if the common room, would be an acceptable place to meet when either of us has trouble? The second thing, um, would you let me walk with you back to the common room?" Harry asks, his eyes wide and innocent.
"The common room is fine, and if you must, you can walk with me," Ginny says, turning on her heel.
She doesn't wait for him to fall into step with her, knowing he will make up any distance on his own.
She doesn't want to admit it, but she's excited about Friday. Finally, it will feel like she's on the offensive. She won't be stuck waiting for an attack! This time she'll be on the attack.
She flinches when Harry's hand brushes against hers while they swing. She turns to face him, but he only smiles at her. It infuriates her.
Is the man bipolar? He's all over her, and then, he basically avoids her, and then he dies, and he's saying he needs her, and then he's avoiding her again, and wow, looks here, he's trying to hold her hand.
She wants to say something, but she's exhausted, and she doesn't want to have a conversation with him about anything.
She steps further from him, and the rest of their walk is uninterrupted.
Hallelujah.
Ginny Thursday Night
Ginny had become a very light sleeper after her second year at Hogwarts. So, when her ring finger started to warm, she woke up quickly and checked the clock on her nightstand. Three am.
She groans lightly but flips the covers off of her and throws her legs over the side of the bed. She hadn't been dreaming, which was nice, but now she's awake and aware that Harry isn't sleeping well.
She blinks her heavy eyes until she can hold them open for longer than five seconds without letting them droop back down and stands up. She stretches and yawns and then slowly makes her way out of her dorm, down the stairs, and to the common room, where she finds Harry sitting in front of the fireplace.
She waits at the opening of the stairs and watches Harry play with the ring on his finger as he stares into the fire. His hair is a mess, his white t-shirt is wrinkled, and he's wearing plaid boxers, which makes Ginny raise her eyebrows.
"Why are you sitting on the floor?" Ginny asks, making her presence known as she steps further into the room and sits on the couch. She positions herself so her back is to the armrest and she's facing sideways, her knees pressed to her chest.
Harry spins around and pulls his knees up to rest his head on, similar to how Ginny is sitting, his eyes taking her in.
"Didn't want to accidentally fall asleep again," Harry tells her, peeking through his long eyelashes.
Ginny nods and takes a second to look at him. Really look at him. Everything about him contrasts with the fire behind him. The reddish-orange of the fire contrasts with his white shirt and black and blue boxers. His pitch-black hair, his bright green eyes, and or those snitches on his socks?
He's sleepy and looking at her like she's the only one he wants to be seeing, and she feels endeared by him. He's cute, and she's obviously tired because she doesn't mind admitting that certain fact to herself.
"I don't know what Albus expected us to talk about after we woke each other up, but I don't feel like reliving my dream again. You already know what it's about anyway," Harry mutters.
He looks upset with himself and Ginny almost smiles. He thought he'd be helping her more, but Ginny took a dreamless sleeping potion Wednesday, and with the extra rest she got, she didn't get stuck in her dreams and can wake herself up and fall back asleep pretty well.
"Well, come onto the couch, and try to think about something else. Get comfortable and remember that you're alive and healthy," Ginny says, nodding to the other end of the couch.
Harry sighs, but does as she suggested, but instead of sitting on the other end of the couch, he sits down, right next to her, so he's practically sitting on her feet, and puts his arm on her propped-up knees.
"Tell me a story," Harry says, turning his head so Ginny can look into his eyes. His impossibly green eyes.
"What kind of story?" Ginny asks, rolling her eyes. She's too tired to argue with him.
"Talk to me about quidditch."
Ginny nods her head slowly and thinks. What should she say?
"You know how I told you I always wanted to be a curse breaker like my oldest brother Bill?" Ginny asks him.
Harry hums the affirmative, and Ginny continues, "Well, before he was a curse breaker, he played quidditch, and each of my brothers after him have played too. So, when I was six, I started breaking into the broom shed at night and taught myself how to fly.
"When I was younger, I wanted to be like all of my brothers, but better, I wanted to be a professional quidditch player for the Holyhead Harpies. It wasn't until after my first year of Hogwarts that I decided I should probably have a backup career, and then when I went to Egypt with my family, I thought my brother's job was so cool, and then I took Ancient Runes, realized I had an affinity for it, and decided that becoming a curse breaker was everything to me," Ginny says.
She stares into his eyes for a second but turns her head to the fire when his gaze falters to her lips.
"I will love quidditch forever, but it's a frugal occupation, and being a curse breaker is fun and important. I was young and I had silly dreams," Ginny says.
She doesn't know why she felt the need to explain it to Harry. But her story seemed so silly without an explanation.
"No dream is silly, Ginny. When I was younger I wanted to be an Impedimentia flyer for the rest of my life. When I realized my destiny would lead me back to England, and they only played quidditch here, I told myself I'd bring it here and start up a league. As I grew older, I decided I liked fighting off bad guys to the point that I should become an Auror. I'd still like to bring Impedimentia races to England, and I think I'll try to do that when old Voldy is gone," Harry says.
Ginny smiles. She can't help it. Here they are, sitting in the common room in the middle of the night because Harry couldn't get back to sleep, and they're talking about dreams. Silly dreams with little to no importance. Things they shouldn't be focusing on when they have a dangerous mission the next day.
"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look in the firelight, dear?" Harry asks.
Ginny rolls her eyes and scowls. She turns her head and raises her eyebrows.
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?" Harry asks.
"Use random nicknames?"
"That my love was a term of endearment," Harry says, smiling.
"Whatever it is, will you stop?"
"I can't help it. I moved around a lot and only stayed in Texas for longer than a year. Even when I went to school, I'd go home to a new house every summer. So when people ask where I'm from, I tell them I was born in England but was raised in Texas. Every different state I lived in, had its own culture, but Texas has resonated with me the longest.
"So, if you don't know, in Texas, they speak with their southern accents," Harry changes his accent, "and they sweet talk to their lovely ladies. I always loved hearing my neighbor, Ben speak to his wife, he always spoke with this reverence and love when he spoke to her, and his favorite terms of endearment were, sugar, dear, and darlin'. I've known since I was eight that I would speak to my girl like that."
Ginny turns to Harry and really looks at him. He had just called her his girl, and while she wants to slap him upside the head, she also wants to close her eyes and just listen to him talk. Ginny had never heard an accent like the one he was using. It's deep and rich, and she hates that it makes her want to smile.
"Do you think you'll be able to sleep now?" Ginny asks, deciding to not mention his slip.
"Would you let me kiss you if I say yes?" Harry asks, smiling at her softly.
"No."
"What if I said no?" He asks, tilting his head to the side, so it's leaning on the back of the couch.
"Why do you want to kiss me? Why do you even like me?" Ginny asks him.
She honestly doesn't get it. She hasn't been very kind to him; she's pretty, she knows, but most guys would have stopped trying by now.
"You know, I want to say I don't know why I like you. But every second I spend with you, makes me fall just a little further. You make my chest feel warm, you make me say the first thing that comes to my mind, you're strong and powerful, and you never leave my thoughts. That connection I keep telling you about, makes me want to be near you, all the time, it makes my mind hum when I hear your voice.
"I'd go as far and say I love you, but I don't think you're ready to hear that. But I do, really want to kiss you. I thought about it yesterday, the day before, and many days before that. I've thought about it today, and I'll think about it tomorrow and every day that comes after it. There's no question about it. My heart won't let me question it, there doesn't seem to be a reason to. I just know it."
Ginny exhales shakily and tilts her head, mirroring Harry's position, so she's leaning against the couch. He says these beautiful things, and while it makes Ginny's chest feel warm, it makes her head go into a panic.
"Any girl would be lucky to have you. And Harry," Ginny pauses and closes her eyes.
She can't look at him. She can't meet his eyes, she doesn't want to see the denial in them.
"I'm not worth it. I've got issues, and just spending time with me could get you into more trouble than you're already in. I panic when people accidentally touch me. I panic when someone takes out their wand. I panic when I wake up and see my red sheets! Harry, I physically, mentally, and emotionally, can't give you what you want," Ginny shakes her head.
She feels a connection to him, and even then, she can't help but panic. She's damaged beyond repair. He deserves someone who will love him because Ginny can't do it.
"Yet," Harry says softly.
She feels his hand on her cheek, and she shifts backward in alarm but calms quickly while his thumb softly rubs her cheek.
"Ginny, you were tortured, only a short while ago, and we're at war, so there's plenty of reasons to panic. You won't be like this forever Ginny, and who knows, maybe I can help you. I want to help you, in any way I can. You just need to let me. I don't care that you flinch when I touch you. I know why you do, and I know it will go away. Just like I know I will want to kiss you tomorrow."
Ginny opens her eyes and stares into Harry's eyes. His eyes are soft and understanding, but they're narrowed, which makes them look determined too. He's determined to get her to listen.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Try and get some more sleep. I don't want you getting hurt because you stayed up trying to convince me of something impossible," Ginny says. She grabs Harry's arm and takes it off of her knees, and then stands up from the couch. She makes it to the stairs before Harry speaks.
"Goodnight, Gin."
Ginny pauses but keeps going when he doesn't say anything else.
Goodnight Harry.
This is more of a short filler chapter. Sorry.
-Ace