A.N. I'm back! Several people were correct when they guessed what is wrong with Ginny! Read and find out what the matter is!
Malena
"Yes," Harry said, staring at her tear stained face. "Yes, come in." Harry stepped aside and let Ginny walk slowly in.
"I'm s-sorry for disturbing you, but- but your house w-was the closest and I…" She broke off.
"Ginny, what's wrong?" Harry asked. Ginny sobbed and more tears poured down her cheeks. Harry did the only thing that he could at that moment, and hugged her. Harry and Ginny stood there, Harry's arms wrapped around Ginny's shaking body while she sobbed into his shoulder.
"Shh…" Harry said softly. "Shh, don't cry Gin. Please don't cry."
"I-I c-can't help it," Ginny said softly.
"What happened?" Harry asked. He led her over to one of his couches and sat her down on it. "I can't help you feel better until you tell me what happened." Ginny opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"Do you want me to call your family? They can come here and you can talk to them."
Ginny shook her head. "I-I don't think that-that I can."
"How about Hermione?" Harry asked. "And… Jersey. You could always talk to them."
Ginny was quiet for a moment, before she slowly nodded.
"Yes, I-I suppose that I can t-talk to them."
"While I'm calling them, do you want anything to eat or drink?" Ginny shook her head. Harry got up off of the couch and went up to his room to call Hermione and Jersey.
Oh my god, what in the world am I going to say to Jersey, Harry thought bitterly. He flicked his wand and a fire appeared in the grate.
"Show me Hermione," Harry said into the fire. All of a sudden, Hermione's face appeared in the fire, the flames dancing around it.
"Hello Harry," Hermione said, smiling. "How're you?"
"I'm fine Herm," Harry said. "I didn't call to chat. Herm, Ginny just showed up at my apartment, she was crying. She won't tell me what's wrong. I said that I'd call you and Jersey so you could come and talk to her-"
"I'll be right over," Hermione said instantly. "I just have to go cancel my date with Ron."
"All right, but Herm, don't tell Ron about Ginny, she doesn't want to tell her family about whatever happened to her yet."
"Okay." With a small POP Hermione's head disappeared.
Harry heaved a sigh and then said, "Show me Jersey."
Jersey's head appeared in the fire.
"Well, well, well, Harry Potter," she spat. "I told you that you were going to come crawling back to me, what? Ten? Twenty minutes ago?
"Cut the crap Jersey," Harry said, feeling irritated. "I'm calling because of Ginny."
"What's wrong with Ginny?" Jersey asked.
"I don't know, she won't tell me. You and Hermione are the only people who she is willing to talk to right now."
"So?"
"So? She came to my house crying her eyes out! All you can think about is our breakup! She's supposed to be your friend!"
"All right, all right, I'll do it. But only for Ginny, not for you."
"I never asked you to do it for me."
"Whatever." Jersey's head disappeared and Harry went back downstairs. Ginny was sitting on the couch, rubbing Spot behind the ears.
"Ginny?" Harry said. "Hermione and Jersey are on their way. Are you sure that you don't need anything?"
"I'm sure Harry," Ginny said, giving a small smile. "Thank you." Harry gave a small smile in return and then went into the kitchen. Hermione appeared a few seconds later and sat down next to Ginny. Jersey rang the doorbell and didn't speak to Harry when he answered the door.
"Ginny, what happened?" Hermione asked. Ginny was starting to cry again.
"Harry," Jersey said, speaking to him for the first time since she arrived. "Could you please leave, we need to speak to Ginny in private." Harry walked out of the kitchen and said, "I'm going to the Grind so you three can have some privacy. Herm, Jersey, would you like anything."
"Just get us some hot chocolate." Hermione said. Harry nodded and Disapparated.
The Grind was quiet, only two or people were there. Harry ordered a latte for himself, and three hot chocolates. If Ginny still didn't want hers Hermione or Jersey could drink it. Or he could put a heat charm on it until tomorrow, so it would still be warm. Harry sat down on his usual chair and sipped his latte.
He thought about going over to Quality Quidditch Supplies, and buying some more wax for his broomstick, but he instead he just walked around Diagon Alley.
What was wrong with Ginny? Harry asked himself. I feel so worried about her. I've never seen her like this.
Harry sat down on a bench, put the tray of hot chocolate beside him, and glanced at his watch. He had been gone nearly 45 minutes. He waited fifteen minutes until he went back to his home.
Hermione and Jersey were in Harry's kitchen, Jersey sitting at the breakfast bar, and Hermione on the other side of the counter.
"Hey Harry," Hermione said softly.
"I brought you your hot chocolates," Harry said. "Where's Gin?" Hermione glanced back at the couch. Ginny was laying on the couch, fast asleep, with a blanket over her.
"You wouldn't mind if she sleeps here tonight, would you Harry?" Hermione asked. "I mean, she's had a rough day."
"Of course I wouldn't mind," Harry replied. "Though, maybe we should move her to one of the guest rooms. I've slept on that couch before, it hurts your neck. What happened to Ginny? I mean, if you can tell me. If she doesn't want me to know, fine. I'm just worried about her."
"We can tell you," Hermione said. "But first, let's move Ginny to the guest room." Harry nodded and went into the living room, where Ginny was. He put one of his arms around her and the other under her knees, and he lifted her from the couch. Hermione walked up the stairs first and led them into one of the guestrooms. She pulled back the covers on one of the bed and Harry placed Ginny on the bed. Hermione pulled the covers up to Ginny's chin and then retreated from the room. Harry turned off the light and then gave one more glance at Ginny. Her pearly white skin shone in the moonlight that was streaming through the window. The light also illuminated a dark blue bruise on her left cheek. Harry blinked and went downstairs.
"What happened to Ginny?" Harry asked again. Hermione opened her mouth and started, "It all started when Ginny moved in with Matt…"
"That slimy bastard," Jersey said angrily.
"Well, after a week or so, he started to get comfortable with Ginny being there. He started acting like a jerk. He demanded that she-er… did things with him. She refused and he… he hit her. She didn't tell anyone, because he threatened that he would go to the Daily Prophet with all kinds of lies about her. So she kept quiet. And the abuse continued. Tonight he hit her several times, and she couldn't take it anymore. She ran out of his house. She didn't feel up to Apparating, so ran here."
"That bruise on her cheek-" Harry said.
"Was from Matt," Hermione sighed. "It is so sad, in her sixth year she was tortured by Voldemort and now this…"
"Do you two want to stay with her tonight?" Harry asked. "I'm sure she would like to talk to you some more tomorrow."
"I'm going on a business trip," Hermione said. "But tell her that if she ever needs me that she can call me."
"Yeah, me too," Jersey said.
"All right," Harry said.
"Harry, when she wakes up in the morning, be careful about what you say to her," Hermione said. "She's going through something hard."
"All right, I'll be careful."
"Oh, and here." Hermione handed him a key. "That is to my place. Ginny is going to need a place to live until she gets a home. Tell her she can stay at my place when she wakes up."
"I'll be sure to do that."
"Okay, bye Harry."
"Say hello to Ron for me."
"All right." Hermione gave Harry a small hug and Disappeared, with Jersey leaving a few seconds later.
Harry went upstairs to his room, passing Ginny's on the way. She was curled up into a ball, still fast asleep. Spot was sleeping on the bed.
Harry pulled off his clothes and pulled on his pajama pants. He crawled into bed and fell asleep.
Sun was streaming through his window when Harry got up. He pulled on some clothes and went downstairs. Outside of his window was the image of rolling hills and a lake. He had always liked that scenery.
Harry left for a moment and brought back some doughnuts for breakfast, as his cooking usually ended in up bursting into flame or something.
He was sitting at his kitchen table, eating a chocolate glazed doughnut and sipping an Americana when Ginny came downstairs, one of the blankets wrapped around her.
"Good morning Ginny," Harry said, smiling at her. She gave a small smile back.
"Care for a doughnut?" Harry asked, pushing the box toward her. Ginny shook her head and sat down across from Harry.
"Did they tell you?" Ginny asked, her voice hoarse. "About… last night?"
"Yes, Ginny. Hermione told me," Harry said slowly, setting down his food. Ginny nodded and said, "So, what do you think I should do now?"
Harry was quiet for a moment, and then he said, "Well, I think that you should get your stuff from his house." Ginny looked up. "What?"
"Well, you certainly aren't going to be living there anymore," Harry said. "There's no way I am going to let you live there."
"But where will I live?" Ginny asked.
"Until you can find an apartment you can live at Hermione's," Harry said. "She gave me her key last night and told me to give it to you. She's going to be away for a week or two." Harry stood up and took Hermione's key off of the counter. He gave it to Ginny, who turned it over in her hand.
"Tell her I said thanks," Ginny said.
"You can talk to her if you want," Harry said. "She said that you can call her anytime."
"I'll do that later," Ginny said. Suddenly she got a panicked look on her face.
"Harry," Ginny said, shaking slightly. "I can't do it."
"Do what?"
"I can't go back there." Harry was thinking for a moment and then he said, "If you want I can go get your stuff for you."
"Oh, no, Harry you don't have to-"
"I don't mind," Harry said. "You can stay here if you want. It's Saturday, so you probably don't have work."
Ginny turned brilliantly red.
"What's Matt's address?"
Ginny wrote it down and gave it to Harry.
Harry stood on the welcome mat in front of Matt's door. Harry rang the doorbell and he heard Matt call, "Just a minute!" After a few seconds the door flew open.
"Harry!" Matt exclaimed, beaming. "How are you?"
"I'm good," Harry said coldly. "I'm here to get Ginny's stuff."
The smile faded from Matt's face and was replaced by a look of cold fury.
"So," he spat. "That little slut went running to you?" Matt didn't even have time to react as Harry punched him in the face.
"Don't you dare call her that," Harry said. Matt rubbed the place where Harry's knuckles had connected with his jaw.
"What was that for?" Matt asked.
"Don't play dumb with me," Harry said. "Now, I'm here for Ginny's belongings. Could you please get it for me." Matt, frowning and glaring at Harry disappeared into his apartment. He returned with several small boxes that he had shrunk.
"There," Matt spat, thrusting the boxes into Harry's hand. Without another word, he slammed the door in Harry's face.
Ginny moved into Hermione's apartment later that evening. Harry reminded her that if she ever needed anything Harry would be there.
"Thank you so much Harry," Ginny said, running a brush through her hair. "I really…. I just… I'd like to say…"
"Don't worry about it, Gin," Harry said. "Just promise me that you'll tell your family about what happened. At least tell your mom."
"I will Harry," Ginny replied. "Thank you. Bye."
Ginny Disapparated.
A week later Harry was eating dinner when an old owl flew through the window and landed next to his plate. The owl dropped a letter onto his lap and fainted. Harry was greatly reminded of Errol, the Weasley's old owl. Harry opened the letter and pulled out a piece of parchment with fancy calligraphy on it.
To Mr. Harry Potter and Guest,
You are cordially invited to the Witch Weekly awards. You yourself have been nominated for The Most Charming Smile and Biggest Accomplishment awards. You are a nominee of Biggest Accomplishment for your dealings with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We hope that you and your guest will be able to join us, for the Witch Weekly Awards only take place once every five years (excluding the Most Charming Smile award, which take place every year).
Gilda Humphery
Chief Editor of Witch Weekly.
Harry gaped at the parchment and then read the first line again. To Mr. Harry Potter and Guest. He had to invite someone to go with him.
Harry started to pace, he couldn't invite Ron and Hermione, only one guest. Parvati wouldn't go with him, Lavender was seeing someone, and Harry would never go with Jersey.
Finally, he had an idea. He apparated to Hermione's apartment. Ginny answered the door.
"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Gin, I need to ask you something…"