I Like You, I Love You, I Hate You
A/N: Here it is: the last chapter. Written all at once, under the heavy influence of a whole lot of love songs on the radio, so it's very sappy. You have been warned. Enjoy!
This chapter is
dedicated to everyone who reviewed, because if it weren't for you people, I
never ever would have written it. Thanks to each and every one of you!
Disclaimer: All
characters, places, ideas, and everything else Harry Potter belong to J.K.
Rowling and Warner Bros. "A Friend to
Me"(the song) is by Garth Brooks, from his CD "Sevens."
The year passed. Chess games, Charms Competitions, Quidditch games, classes, homework, studying, days off. It seemed like it might actually be a normal year after all. Or as normal as Hogwarts ever got.
The seventh years had a dance, the Last Dance, the last night of school. This time Ron asked Hermione way in advance.
"Oh Ron," she smiled, "you don't need to ask! You know I'll say yes."
"I think she does that just to get to me," Ron later muttered to Harry.
Harry was determined not to wait until the last minute to ask someone. He just didn't know how. Not that he didn't have someone in mind. Plus, he was positive she would say yes. Well, pretty sure. 95%…no 85% sure. Ok, 75% sure. All right, he wasn't sure at all. But he was positive she didn't already have a date. Well, pretty sure…
"Harry?" Ginny interrupted his thoughts.
"Huh? What?" Harry blushed a little guiltily. Talk about having the tables turned!
"Something on your mind? You've been awfully quite lately."
"Ummm," Come on, Harry, now or never. "So, hey, Ginny…."
"Yes?" She looked hopeful.
"Uh…how's your homework?" Coward.
"Oh." Sheer disappointment filled Ginny's face. "Good. You know, studying for finals. Divination. It'll be my last one." She made a face. "I have to know…will I have to sacrifice a goat?"
Harry grinned and moved to her couch. "Nah, just a bird!" Ginny looked nauseous. "It's easy enough, once you get it cut open. Just pretend to look at the guts, predict your own imminent death, and don't confuse the small and large intestines." Ginny still looked a little sick. "It helps if you think about something else while you do it."
"Why? What did you think about?"
"Oh, I had…the dance to…think about." No, don't think about Cho.
Ginny gave him a sympathetic smile. "Well, I won't have that option will I?"
"Uh, right." Say it. "So, if you live through the bird entrails…" Say it! "Uh, you want to go to the dance with me?"
"Really?" Ginny looked excited, then her face fell. "Is everyone taken already?"
Harry took a deep breath. "No. No, you're the first one I've asked. I really want to go with you."
"Really?" Now she was very excited. "Oh, yes! Thank you!"
She jumped up and hugged him. Then she turned red, grabbed her books, and ran with a hurried "Bye."
Harry grinned. Things were back to normal.
Ron walked over. "What was that about?"
"I asked her to the dance," Harry explained proudly.
Ron frowned. "Is everyone already taken?"
"No…" Ron gave Harry a look that suddenly reminded him that Ginny was Ron's little sister. "Uh, I just had a great time with her at the Ball…better to go with a friend than with a date, I think."
Ron nodded, looking satisfied. "Good." Then a suspicious look. "You're not…falling for Ginny, are you?"
"Um, nope. Still just friends."
"Good. I mean it's good that you two are friends." Then Ron stood up and walked away.
Harry had the distinct impression he'd been threatened.
***
Ginny felt like she was flying for the next few weeks. All her friends wanted to know what was up, but she refused to tell. It would be a fine way to thank Harry if she gossiped about him to all her friends!
Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup, the Charms Competition, and Hogwarts won the Chess Championship. Ginny found beautiful dress robes in Hogsmeade, just her size, and cheap enough that she still had some money left over to buy makeup and some hair things. She aced all of her finals; even Divination couldn't faze her. Her friends all said she looked more beautiful than ever before, positively glowing. She was going to the Dance with Harry. Life was absolutely perfect, and nothing, nothing could bring her down.
Well, except one thing.
"Ginny?" Ron called, knocking on her dorm room door.
"Come in," she called dreamily, sitting in front of the vanity mirror and fixing her hair.
"So, you're going to the Dance with Harry tonight?"
"Mmm-hmmm." Would her hair look better all up?
"You excited?"
"Uh-huh." No, those curls were too nice to hide. Down.
"I bet you were thrilled when he asked you."
"Uh-huh." No, she couldn't leave her hair all wild. Something to hold back the curls.
"I suppose you still…like him?"
"Mmm." Two mini-French braids, from the front of the part line and around the extremes of her hairline, around to the base of her skull.
"Are you even listening to me?"
It was like a headband made of her hair. The curls hung loose, but wouldn't fall in her face or ears all night. Perfect. "Course I am, Ron." She turned to her carefully pre-determined makeup colors.
Ron scowled. "You do know this isn't a date, right?"
Ginny stopped, the foundation halfway to her face. "What?"
Ron leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "He told me he asked you because he wanted to go with a friend instead of a date."
Ginny's face fell. "Oh. I…I…." She would not cry. She would NOT cry.
Ron was suddenly next to her. "Are you alright?"
Stupid question. "When he said he really wanted to go with me, I thought…" Don't cry!
Ron knelt beside her, more sympathetic than she'd ever seen him. "Oh, Ginny! I'm sure he didn't mean you to think like that! And you were the friend he picked to ask." Ginny nodded and wiped her eyes. Ron put his arm around her shoulders and gave them a little squeeze. "Don't look so sad."
Ginny forced a smile. "I…I know. It's just…well…after this he graduates, so this Dance is really my last chance, you know? And I thought…but now…."
Ron smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry. I happen to know Harry makes a great friend. Don't know how he is for a boyfriend, though."
Ginny laughed, wiping her eyes again. "Now I'm all blotchy."
"No. You look great. Put on your makeup." He stood up and smiled from the doorway. "It's a night of last chances. Who knows what might happen?"
He left, and Ginny turned slowly back to the makeup. Well…even if Harry didn't think of her that way, she could still look nice for him. And, like Ron had said, who knew what could happen?
***
Harry was lying on his bed. A few weeks ago, he had received a letter from Cho. Reading only one or two sentences a day, he had managed to finally get through it all. She was fine, she hoped he was fine, hadn't found anything yet, but things were looking up, and now she was "seeing" that man, Todd. It made Harry wonder if something had been going on between them before, but that depressed him, so he started thinking about Ginny. He really did like her, but Ron didn't want them together. Maybe he didn't want to "share" his best friend with his sister. Or something. It really made things tough, but—
Just then Ron came in, looking angrier then Harry had ever seen him. Harry had spent the whole year being exposed to sibling rivalry at its worst. But this was only one extreme, and he was about to get his first taste of the other.
"Why didn't you tell Ginny you're going to the Dance as friends?"
"Uh…I thought she knew."
"Well, she didn't! She was almost in tears because she thought you finally liked her, until I told her the truth!"
"What? Why did you tell her?" Harry jumped to his feet.
"Well, someone sure had to!" Harry suddenly noticed how much taller than him Ron was. "Have you seen the way she's walked around school these last few weeks? I couldn't let her go to the Dance thinking that you…and then have her find out there!"
A thought abruptly struck Harry. "Umm, why didn't you want me to, you know, date her?"
Ron was surprised by the change of subject and narrowed his eyes. "I just don't want her to get hurt by some guy."
"Okay, two things. First, I am not just 'some guy'!" Ron didn't find it amusing. "Right. Second, I wouldn't hurt Ginny. She's too important to you, and she's pretty important to me, too. There are guys in this world you should be worried about. But not me."
Ron thought about this and relaxed. "Good." Then he grinned. "What was I worried about?"
"Has anyone ever told you how scary you are when you're defending her?"
Ron considered this. "I am?" His eyes got a look that made Harry a little nervous. Then he blinked and it was gone. "Let's get ready."
***
Unlike the Ball, the Dance was held outside in the vast field behind Hogwarts. Lights shone from floating balls in the air. Music was amplified so everyone could hear it, wherever they stood. There was no feast, but there were some tables and a little buffet of finger foods and Butterbeer. The students stood on the grass, listening to Dumbledore.
"Seven years ago, all of you were just starting Hogwarts. Actually, seven years ago would be before you started, when quite a few of you didn't even know this world existed, never mind that you were a part of it. So much has happened since then, of which I don't think you need to be reminded tonight. Tomorrow, you will all get on that train home, and never come to this school again. Well, as students, at least. Many of you will never see each other again. Since this is your last night, I won't take up any more of your time. Just remember, this night is about last chances. Leave this school with no regrets." With that, he stepped down amid cheers, and was replaced by a Wizarding band, the Weird Sisters.
The band began playing and everyone started dancing. Ron was thankful he didn't have to dance in front of everyone this time. He and Hermione danced a few songs, Ron wondering where Harry and Ginny were. Then he saw why Ginny would be hiding.
He stepped away from Hermione and marched to a lone figure. "Colin Creevey, what are you doing here?" Ron demanded.
Colin smiled and gestured with his camera. "Pictures for the school paper. Why? Wanna pose?"
"Colin, it's the last day of school," Hermione reasoned. She had followed Ron. "When will you run the article?"
"First thing next year, of course." He grinned. "It was my idea."
"I'll just bet it was," Ron muttered.
"So, I hear your sister is here. Seen her?"
Ron just turned and stalked away.
He and Hermione danced a few more numbers, then went for Butterbeers. Ron saw Colin talking with Ginny and Harry. Ginny suddenly ran, nearly in tears, Harry following her.
Ron turned red. He began walking fast, Hermione calling for him to slow down. Ignoring her, he grabbed Colin's robes and pushed him against the table.
"Listen, Creevey, I don't know what your problem is, and I don't want to know. What I do know is that Ginny is not interested in you, and if you come near her ever again, I will personally beat you into a bloody pulp. Do you understand?" Colin nodded weakly. "Good." Ron liked that word. You could put a lot of different meanings to it.
Ron walked back through a group of open-mouthed spectators, one of whom was Hermione. "I can't believe you just did that!"
Ron grinned at her. He felt really good. "No regrets. Can we go find Draco Malfoy?" He cracked his knuckles.
She shook her head, leading him back to the dancing. "I don't think you need to do that."
"Last chance," he reminded her with a wicked look.
"I'm sure you'll have plenty more chances to threaten Malfoy."
"Alright. But if he ever bothers you again…"
She sighed and they danced again. Dancing with Hermione wasn't too bad…Ron actually liked it, a lot. He hardly ever stepped on her feet.
It was a good song. Ron hadn't heard it before.
We're
buddies
And
we've been since we first met
Me
and you
Well
we've sure been through
Our
share of laughter and regret
Lord
knows we've had our bad days
And
more than once we've disagreed
But
you've always been a friend to me
You
can be so stubborn
There's
times I think you just like to fight
And
I hope and pray
I
live to see a day
When
you say I might be right
And
there's times I'd rather kill you
Than
listen to your honesty
But
you've always been a friend to me
You've
always been
Time
and again
The
one to take my hand
And
show to me it's okay to be
Just
the way I am
With
no apology
Oh
you've always been
And
you will 'til God knows when
Yes
you've always been a friend to me
Ron began to think he was being steered. Hermione seemed to be looking at something behind him. Then she sighed and looked at him.
"Well, I don't think there will be anything I'll regret not doing. Do you?"
Ron thought, and then shook his head. "You sure?"
She sighed. "Well, there's something I should say." She looked deeply into his eyes. "I love you. I love everything about you. Fighting with you, making up, and just being with you. I probably will regret saying this, but I never want you to change. You're perfect just the way you are, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Including me."
Ron smiled. "I feel the same way about you. And I've never loved you more then at this moment." He pulled her close, wrapping his arms tighter, closing his eyes, and resting his head on her hair. The music swelled, and Ron dissolved in the bliss of dancing with the one he loved.
***
The band began playing and everyone started dancing. Except Harry and Ginny, who sat at a table, talking. Ginny was absolutely gorgeous, in flowing blue robes, perfect makeup, and that wonderful braid-and-curl combination. Harry had been a little intimidated, between her beauty and Ron's threats, but now he was relaxed around her. It was just Ginny, after all, his partner for so many trips to the Three Broomsticks.
Harry had discovered something new about Ginny. She seemed to know an amazing amount about other people's love lives. She could say a lot just from watching them dance. But whenever Harry asked about this talent, she would simply say it was a "trade secret."
"Okay, will you at least tell me what the 'trade' is?"
She grinned wickedly. "Not a chance. Pick someone else."
Harry considered the dancing couples. "There. Neville and Parvati."
"Less than twenty-four hours. He asked her on the whole 'no regrets' thing, and she couldn't bear to say no. She'll dump him on the train tomorrow, or maybe tonight, if he steps on her feet as much as he did mine." She leaned back in her chair. "Next?"
"Um, there. Seamus and Lavender."
"Hmmm, a few months, end of the summer at best. They've been on and off for years. He's too 'dull' for her. She'll leave him as soon as someone more interesting becomes available." She shook her head. "School romances are too easy. I need a challenge!"
Harry grinned. "Are you this good at predicting your own boyfriends?"
Ginny looked uncomfortable. "I need a Butterbeer."
Harry followed, easily picking the red hair out of the crowd.
At the buffet table, Ginny ran straight into Colin. What are you doing here?"
He smiled. "Photographs. I suggested the paper run an article on this Dance next year. What do you think?"
"You came here just to follow me, didn't you?"
Colin just kept smiling. "I heard you were coming. With a friend." Ginny looked ready to deny it. "Isn't that right, Harry?"
Ginny turned slowly to look at Harry. She hadn't known he'd followed her. She turned back to Colin. "Yeah. Friends," she muttered, head down.
If possible, his stupid smile grew. She was trapped, and he knew it. "Would you like to dance with me?"
Her head slowly rose. "Why would I dance with you?" Harry couldn't see her face, but he could hear the anger in her voice. She would stand up to him. Good for her.
Colin leaned forwards, as if telling her a secret. "Because no one else is going to, are they?"
Ginny backed up as if he'd hit her, then turned and ran, nearly in tears. "Ginny!" Harry called, chasing after her.
He found her back at their table, eyes full of tears. "Ginny?"
The tears fell. "Why? Why is that the best I can do? Am I so repulsive that no other boys will look at me? It's true, isn't it?" She looked at Harry, waiting for an answer.
"No," he said softly, decisively. "No, it's not."
"Then why…why won't anyone dance with me?"
"Maybe they're afraid,"
"Afraid of what?"
Harry thought hard. "I don't know." Then, firmly, "Ginny, will you dance with me?"
She gasped and blinked. The tears dried quickly. "Uh…yes!" Then she turned away. "My makeup is all smeared, I must look--"
"You look beautiful. Come on." And he pulled her onto the dance floor before he could lose his nerve.
After a few awkward seconds, they got into the music and began to dance. Ginny looked at him, hope rising in her eyes once again.
"Ginny," Harry murmured. "I have to tell you. We can't…we can't be a couple. Not now."
"Why not?" Her eyes were absolutely blank.
"Because…because of what happened with me and Cho. The whole long-distance relationship thing. I don't want to put you through that. Not like I was." He smiled. "But we can have tonight." She smiled back, just a little.
After a little while, Harry got into the rhythm of the song and stopped stepping on her feet. He noticed Ron and Hermione nearby, dancing close. He pointed. "There. How long?"
Ginny thought for a moment. "That's a tough one. I give them a year. By then, they'll either be killing each other…or the happiest married couple I've ever seen." They both smiled at that.
After a moment, Harry asked, "Have you ever been kissed?"
She looked down, shaking her head. Harry remembered Hermione and her three good-bye kisses. The worst kind, the saddest kind. But tonight wasn't a good-bye.
Harry looked at Hermione and Ron. Ron had his back to them, and Hermione was watching Harry and Ginny dance. She gave Harry a smile and a wink.
He took Ginny's chin in his hands and gently raised her face to his. "No regrets," Harry said. The kiss was long and deep, and pretty darn good for a first kiss.
When they pulled apart, Ginny smiled at him. It was a sweet, blissful smile, not one Harry had seen before.
The next day would bring good-byes, the trip home, and the uncovering of an evil plot involving Voldemort, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and Draco Malfoy. And the years that followed would bring the war against Voldemort, a long and bloody war, a time of darkness and sadness.
But tonight there was the wonderful music, and Ginny's loving brown eyes.
A/N: That's it. I'm done. The story is over. And if anywhere in there I copied someone else's work, or missed
on a disclaimer, just tell me and I'll fix it. I might some day write a sequel, which tells where they all are about
ten years later. It just needs a
plot… But until then, thank you to
everyone who reviewed (J): Sharpshot Legend, velvet sun, The_Blue_Pen_Fairy, ayellowbanana,
Songficcer, violet, Eris Snow, Professor Zodiac, rebekah, ~Sarcastic Princess~,
snickers, starfishy,
Jessika Organa Solo,
Desiree, moonymeggers, Galadriel, eos. You are all the best! By the way, if anyone out
there would like to earn my eternal gratitude by beta reading my future
stories, email me at pixiedust122@hotmail.com
I just can't guarantee how soon the next story will be done…
One last thing: I know, the
story is done, so no matter how much you review I won't write another chapter,
so why bother? Well, reviews feed my
muse and when my muse is happy I write better, so if you review there's a good
chance that thanks to YOU my next story will be written faster and better. So, please, review! J