A/N: GUYS, I AM SO SORRY. I don't know what
happened, but somehow, this chapter got lost in the shuffle and I don't think
it got sent to TsukiKou and you all read the endings before you read the forest
scene and I am so, so sorry. I very possibly ruined the story for you, please
forgive me and pretend it never happened? *gives readers most innocent, hopeful
smile* Try to read it in the right order, and pretend you never read the
endings – I hope I caught this before too many people read it the wrong way –
special thanks to maidmarian62 and Xavian for alerting me of this mistake. You guys
are great. Again, I am so sorry.
This chapter is EXTREMELY short, because the only thing after it is
the ending, and I wrote more than one. I'm posting them as separate chapters,
so you don't get confused.
Thanks to all who reviewed, and special thanks to TsukiKou.
Mixed Messages
By Ariel Star
Chapter 9
Harry skidded to a halt beneath the old oak, grabbing Ginny's arms and
asking her roughly, "Who told you I was in love with Hermione?" Forget beating
around the bush, Harry thought grimly. Something's wrong, and she doesn't know
how much I care about her. She thinks I like Hermione? Who would tell her that?
Ginny stared up at him, her eyes a little frightened from his grasp on
her. He turned her loose and sat down on the grass, Ginny settling herself
beside him. "You told me, Harry," she said quietly.
"What?" Harry was dumbfounded. "I never said anything…"
"Oh, yes you did!" Ginny cried, turning to face him. "Back before
school started, before we were back here at Hogwarts – oh, Harry, forgive me, I
shouldn't've found out…"
Harry sat, waiting. Ginny cleared her throat and continued.
"Harry, I put a spell on you," she explained, looking into his eyes.
"I wanted to find out who you loved, so I made you dream it. I thought I
knew…before your dream. I thought it was me. But you were sending so many mixed
messages (a/n: TITLE! FINALLY! Do you get it?). It was horribly selfish of me
and I know it was wrong, but when you told me you loved Hermione I was just so
sad…" she turned back to face the lake, silent tears streaming down her
freckled cheeks.
Harry processed this information. Spell? A spell…a dream…it was coming
back. Ginny had asked him – but no. No! He had lied! Lied about it all! And he
had caused her all this pain…oh, what a fool he had been…if he had just
confessed his real dream they wouldn't even be having this conversation. Harry
said softly, "Gin, are you all right?"
Ginny nodded and wiped her eyes. "It's okay," she said, flashing him a
watery smile, "I like Hermione."
"So do I," Harry agreed. "As a friend."
*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny felt her heart stop.
A friend?
No.
He was lying. She peered closely at him – his eyes betrayed his
honesty in his statement. He only liked Hermione as a friend. What did that
mean? Did he like her as more than a friend?
Harry nudged her gently with his shoulder. "Hey," he said softly, "you
confessed, so now let me make a confession." He blew air out from under his
upper lip and sighed, saying, "I haven't been honest with you, either." He had
forgotten about his earlier romantic feelings in the need to make Ginny feel
better. Ginny sat, still looking at him. Harry continued, "When you put the
spell on me, it worked, but I guess it didn't work like it was supposed to. Maybe
you did something wrong – not that you can't cast a spell or anything, 'cause I
know you can, you're in advanced classes," he rushed on. Ginny looked affronted
and turned to look out at the lake.
"Anyway, I did dream about Hermione – but I also dreamed about – about
you." Harry paused, waiting to see what effect this would have on Ginny. Oddly
enough, she looked much as she had before he had made this statement, but
unknown to Harry, Ginny's mind was scrabbling frantically for a foothold,
knowing one was just below where she had fallen from – there was an
explanation, but what was it? Harry went on.
"The thing is, in my dream, you were wearing this ring – and so was
Hermione," he corrected himself, "but yours was bigger. Or shinier, or
something – oh, but who cares?" he suddenly cried. "I don't need some dream to
tell me what I feel about you! I know how I feel! Ginny - "
But he faded off, shocked at the look on Ginny's face. Her eyes, which
had already been wide with curiosity and tears, were now even wider in
amazement and awe, shining as brightly as two stars. A little smile was tugging
at her lips, threatening to pull them apart in an all-out grin. She whispered,
"That's it!" Turning to Harry, she said loudly, "I don't need a dream either.
It was stupid of me in the first place, and caused you and me both a lot of
extra heartache – well, I don't know about you, but you can't have been that
happy with me avoiding you if I'm the one you really care about, right?" Harry
nodded unconsciously and suddenly wondered where Ginny had gotten the idea he
really cared about her, then recalled vaguely that the spell was about love.
"Well I've been miserable," she declared. "Justin's nice…"
"And Cho's nice," Harry offered, feeling he should come to her defense
even if she wasn't the one he really liked. Ginny nodded.
"But there's only one person for me, Harry, and it's you!" Ginny had
stood up. Her eyes were blazing with some kind of deep self-triumph, and Harry
suspected she had been plucking up the courage to say that for a while. The
thought suddenly struck him as bizarrely funny – Ginny Weasley, little Ginny,
being braver than him by taking the risk to admit her feelings, when he hadn't
been about to say anything all year! Ginny, more daring than Harry Potter! He began
to laugh, standing up to look at her. Ginny looked quizzically at him, first
looking hurt (was he laughing at her?) but then sharing in his humor, whatever
it might be about. Her knees buckled with the strength of her mirth and as
Harry caught her by the elbows, her laughter suddenly stemmed. He realized that
he was holding her awfully close. She was looking up at him expectantly, her
eyes shining and holding a look that seemed to say "I'm ready for my kiss now."
Harry had stopped laughing too, though he was still smiling, and he bent down
to give her a soft kiss before letting her go.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: We're nearing the finish line, guys! I wrote two endings - I was
only going to post one, but I liked both ideas, so you can only read one or read
both and pick your favorite. On to Chapter 10…
