There's Something About Harry
A Harry Potter Fanfic by Aira
Chapter Two
Disclaimer: All of the characters and settings in this story were created by J.K. Rowling and are being used without permission. The title is shamelessly lifted from 'There's Something About Mary.'
***
"This is wonderful."
The words, spoken in such a tone of adoration, made his heart stop. "Yes," he murmured, pulling her close.
Yet just as their lips met and a jolt of electricity shot through him, she was being dragged away kicking and screaming. "No! Please no."
But there was no stopping the flash of green light that seemed to appear of nowhere. Just as he had failed to stop Cedric's death. There she was, lifeless. Chestnut brown eyes looked back at him, accusing. This was his fault. All his fault.
Somewhere in the distance was cold laughter. "Did you really think it would last? Did you really think we wouldn't come for her?" a voice taunted.
"No," he heard himself gasp. "Not Ginny!"
Harry Potter awoke in a cold sweat. "It was just a dream," he whispered to himself.
And none of it would ever be more than a dream, because he would not allow himself to. He would not risk hurting her, and if that meant not.not being with her, then that was fine. Her safety came first.
Harry would never forget the look on Ginny's face when it had appeared that Lucius Malfoy was seconds away from taking her life. Harry himself had just been rescued by Ginny, and now it seemed as if that rescue had gone to waste. They were both going to die regardless. Harry remembered trying to think of something to do, trying to think of some way to save Ginny, at least. But the pain from the Cruciatius curse he'd been under was still too great. Even standing up drained him of precious energy. He knew he had to think, had to do something, but the effort was excruciating. His mind had simply gone blank.
Looking back, Harry shivered. If Ron and Hermione had arrived a second later, they'd have been met with a lifeless friend and, in Ron's case, sister. But they'd all been lucky that time. What would happen when their luck ran out?
Harry only sighed, rolled over, and tried to go back to sleep.
*
"Oh my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed as the four sipped butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. "My mum's birthday is next week and I haven't bought her a present yet!"
Ginny raised her eyebrows; such lack of preparation was extremely unlike Hermione and therefore suspicious. Hermione, however, didn't seem to notice, and simply rushed off. A few minutes later, Ron suddenly remembered that he had promised Fred and George that he'd send them some things from the magical supplies shop. He too left, with the sly expression he usually wore while playing chess.
Ginny stifled a sigh. Ron and Hermione's ploy had been all too obvious, and embarrassing. She knew they meant well, but still wished they'd been a bit subtler in their matchmaking. "Seems we have two Cupids on our hands," she ventured, hoping to break the awkward silence.
Harry chuckled, though he appeared somewhat bothered. "I'll bet they're somewhere around here right now, spying."
"Either that or snogging."
"Well," Harry said abruptly, his tone losing the jest. "It hardly matters if we are being watched, because we're not doing anything now, are we?"
Ginny tried not to flinch, taken aback by Harry's suddenly forceful tone. "Of course not," she said, hoping frantically she wasn't stammering like an eleven year old again.
Ginny cringed as her thoughts drifted back to singing Valentines and bouts of silence whenever Harry entered the room. She'd acted so silly then, broadcasting her schoolgirl crush to the world. For she was forced to admit that her feelings for Harry had originated as being just that: blind worship for the mythical hero who had conquered the Dark Lord.
Upon first going to Hogwarts, the perfect knight in shining armor had been replaced with the reality of a skinny twelve-year old who was human and made mistakes. Ginny had to admit that it had been almost disappointing. But, despite his failure to live up to her imagination, he'd saved her life. He was the reason she was able to enjoy every day, and he'd demonstrated every possible heroic virtue whilst saving her.
Storybook idol or not, Harry Potter was her hero.
*
"I can't believe you did that to me!"
Ron's eyes filled with surprise. "I thought you'd be glad. We gave you the perfect opportunity."
"Yes-the perfect opportunity to make a complete fool out of myself!"
Harry was seething. Ron couldn't possibly understand, and his meddling was only making things worse. Ginny's life depended on him controlling himself. If that meant avoiding her, then so be it. Of course, he couldn't very well cease all contact; that would hurt her feelings and he couldn't bear that. But sitting alone with her at a bar? That wasn't allowed. That could only make him doing things he'd later regret.
"Oh, so sorry for actually trying to help you, Harry, instead of just watching you make yourself miserable over her," Ron snapped, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "But since I see that you'd rather just pine than actually do something, then I guess I'd best not meddle again."
Harry gaped, at a loss for words. "You-you have no right-" he managed.
"Yes, I do. Ginny's my sister, and you're hurting her. Listen, Harry. We live in-in bad times. If something-if something happened to you-" Here Ron seemed to swallow hard, anger cooling. "If you-you know-won't you wish you had been with her? Won't you wish that you'd had something?"
Ron seemed both winded and embarrassed by this unusually emotional speech, and left for his own four-poster without further comment. But his words had made their impact.
"Won't you wish you had been with her?" Ron had asked.
Harry knew the answer.
*
"Professor Flitwick, if I may borrow Miss Weasley?"
McGonagall kept up her usual professional composure, but somehow appeared more grim than usual. Ginny followed her out of the classroom fearing the worst. "What happened?" she asked bluntly once they were in the corridors.
McGonagall hesitated, and Ginny swore she saw a tear welling in the professor's eye. "Your brother Charlie has been away on a small mission for the Order for two days now. It shouldn't have taken very long at all. He-he hasn't returned yet."
Fighting against threatening tears, Ginny whispered, "Dead?"
"No. We haven't heard anything yet."
That was hardly comforting; Ginny knew as well as McGonagall did that whenever people were missing for several days, they were, in all likelihood, dead. Ginny couldn't even begin to imagine life without Charlie. Don't think about it, don't think about it.
"Does Ron know?" she managed.
McGonagall gave a grim nod. "I have excused him from his remaining classes. I will do the same for you, if you wish."
"Y-Yes," Ginny stammered, still grieved. While the idea of sitting in her dorm imagining horrible possibilities wasn't exactly appealing, the thought of having to sit through Snape's Potions class after what she had just heard felt positively unbearable.
She was then escorted to the common room, where she and Ron sat silently staring at the wall.
*
Harry felt sick. Why did it always seem that whenever things seemed to be back to normal-normal for Hogwarts, anyway-Voldemort and his minions did something to make the cold reality stare him in the face? Harry recalled Charlie Weasley's cheerful grin in great detail. Thinking of that person as simply gone was inconceivable.
And that was only what he was feeling. He could only imagine what Ron must be going through. And Ginny. Harry shivered, remembering her red-rimmed eyes and crouched posture at dinner. Stopping himself from throwing an arm around in comfort had been difficult, to say the least.
Harry wondered, for the thousandth time, what it was about Ginny Weasley that made him feel this way. When had this started? When had she started evoking such emotions in him? He hadn't even thought of her as more than "Ron's little sister" until fifth year.
But then, slowly, she'd stopped displaying the outward signs of her admiration for him. They'd begun chatting occasionally, then more frequently, and he'd soon realized that beneath the shy schoolgirl he'd known previously was a witty, intelligent, even talkative young woman. The natural transition was made from mere acquaintances to genuine friends. Only that by the end of Harry's fifth year, he was forced to admit that his feelings for Ginny Weasley extended beyond the realm of friendship.
Knowing his caring for her would only put Ginny in more danger, Harry desperately tried to stop. He couldn't.
*
The next morning, a letter from Errol arrived, addressed to both Ron and Ginny:
Dearest Ron and Ginny,
You have by now heard the terrible news. Your mother and I can't tell you not to worry, because we've been doing a good deal of worrying ourselves. So, while we fully expect you to be concerned, please do not let this dominate your lives. Charlie wouldn't want it to.
Speaking of which, we do not know for sure that we've lost him. While saying that we have a good chance at finding him seems overly optimistic, all hope is not lost. There is a sufficient search effort underway. I cannot discuss the details in event that this owl is intercepted; suffice to say that your brother is by no means forgotten.
Both of you have acted with more courage and virtue than can ever be expected in these uncertain times, and I am proud to call you my son and my daughter. Keep those merits as you face this tragedy.
Love,
Dad
Ginny didn't even try to stop the tear that leaked as she handed the letter to Ron.
***
Author's Note: Thanks to Anne for the beta-read. (If you want to see great post-Hogwarts H/G, read "From Across the Great Divide.) Also, huge thanks to all who reviewed, and I hope to have Chapter Three out soon.
A Harry Potter Fanfic by Aira
Chapter Two
Disclaimer: All of the characters and settings in this story were created by J.K. Rowling and are being used without permission. The title is shamelessly lifted from 'There's Something About Mary.'
***
"This is wonderful."
The words, spoken in such a tone of adoration, made his heart stop. "Yes," he murmured, pulling her close.
Yet just as their lips met and a jolt of electricity shot through him, she was being dragged away kicking and screaming. "No! Please no."
But there was no stopping the flash of green light that seemed to appear of nowhere. Just as he had failed to stop Cedric's death. There she was, lifeless. Chestnut brown eyes looked back at him, accusing. This was his fault. All his fault.
Somewhere in the distance was cold laughter. "Did you really think it would last? Did you really think we wouldn't come for her?" a voice taunted.
"No," he heard himself gasp. "Not Ginny!"
Harry Potter awoke in a cold sweat. "It was just a dream," he whispered to himself.
And none of it would ever be more than a dream, because he would not allow himself to. He would not risk hurting her, and if that meant not.not being with her, then that was fine. Her safety came first.
Harry would never forget the look on Ginny's face when it had appeared that Lucius Malfoy was seconds away from taking her life. Harry himself had just been rescued by Ginny, and now it seemed as if that rescue had gone to waste. They were both going to die regardless. Harry remembered trying to think of something to do, trying to think of some way to save Ginny, at least. But the pain from the Cruciatius curse he'd been under was still too great. Even standing up drained him of precious energy. He knew he had to think, had to do something, but the effort was excruciating. His mind had simply gone blank.
Looking back, Harry shivered. If Ron and Hermione had arrived a second later, they'd have been met with a lifeless friend and, in Ron's case, sister. But they'd all been lucky that time. What would happen when their luck ran out?
Harry only sighed, rolled over, and tried to go back to sleep.
*
"Oh my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed as the four sipped butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. "My mum's birthday is next week and I haven't bought her a present yet!"
Ginny raised her eyebrows; such lack of preparation was extremely unlike Hermione and therefore suspicious. Hermione, however, didn't seem to notice, and simply rushed off. A few minutes later, Ron suddenly remembered that he had promised Fred and George that he'd send them some things from the magical supplies shop. He too left, with the sly expression he usually wore while playing chess.
Ginny stifled a sigh. Ron and Hermione's ploy had been all too obvious, and embarrassing. She knew they meant well, but still wished they'd been a bit subtler in their matchmaking. "Seems we have two Cupids on our hands," she ventured, hoping to break the awkward silence.
Harry chuckled, though he appeared somewhat bothered. "I'll bet they're somewhere around here right now, spying."
"Either that or snogging."
"Well," Harry said abruptly, his tone losing the jest. "It hardly matters if we are being watched, because we're not doing anything now, are we?"
Ginny tried not to flinch, taken aback by Harry's suddenly forceful tone. "Of course not," she said, hoping frantically she wasn't stammering like an eleven year old again.
Ginny cringed as her thoughts drifted back to singing Valentines and bouts of silence whenever Harry entered the room. She'd acted so silly then, broadcasting her schoolgirl crush to the world. For she was forced to admit that her feelings for Harry had originated as being just that: blind worship for the mythical hero who had conquered the Dark Lord.
Upon first going to Hogwarts, the perfect knight in shining armor had been replaced with the reality of a skinny twelve-year old who was human and made mistakes. Ginny had to admit that it had been almost disappointing. But, despite his failure to live up to her imagination, he'd saved her life. He was the reason she was able to enjoy every day, and he'd demonstrated every possible heroic virtue whilst saving her.
Storybook idol or not, Harry Potter was her hero.
*
"I can't believe you did that to me!"
Ron's eyes filled with surprise. "I thought you'd be glad. We gave you the perfect opportunity."
"Yes-the perfect opportunity to make a complete fool out of myself!"
Harry was seething. Ron couldn't possibly understand, and his meddling was only making things worse. Ginny's life depended on him controlling himself. If that meant avoiding her, then so be it. Of course, he couldn't very well cease all contact; that would hurt her feelings and he couldn't bear that. But sitting alone with her at a bar? That wasn't allowed. That could only make him doing things he'd later regret.
"Oh, so sorry for actually trying to help you, Harry, instead of just watching you make yourself miserable over her," Ron snapped, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "But since I see that you'd rather just pine than actually do something, then I guess I'd best not meddle again."
Harry gaped, at a loss for words. "You-you have no right-" he managed.
"Yes, I do. Ginny's my sister, and you're hurting her. Listen, Harry. We live in-in bad times. If something-if something happened to you-" Here Ron seemed to swallow hard, anger cooling. "If you-you know-won't you wish you had been with her? Won't you wish that you'd had something?"
Ron seemed both winded and embarrassed by this unusually emotional speech, and left for his own four-poster without further comment. But his words had made their impact.
"Won't you wish you had been with her?" Ron had asked.
Harry knew the answer.
*
"Professor Flitwick, if I may borrow Miss Weasley?"
McGonagall kept up her usual professional composure, but somehow appeared more grim than usual. Ginny followed her out of the classroom fearing the worst. "What happened?" she asked bluntly once they were in the corridors.
McGonagall hesitated, and Ginny swore she saw a tear welling in the professor's eye. "Your brother Charlie has been away on a small mission for the Order for two days now. It shouldn't have taken very long at all. He-he hasn't returned yet."
Fighting against threatening tears, Ginny whispered, "Dead?"
"No. We haven't heard anything yet."
That was hardly comforting; Ginny knew as well as McGonagall did that whenever people were missing for several days, they were, in all likelihood, dead. Ginny couldn't even begin to imagine life without Charlie. Don't think about it, don't think about it.
"Does Ron know?" she managed.
McGonagall gave a grim nod. "I have excused him from his remaining classes. I will do the same for you, if you wish."
"Y-Yes," Ginny stammered, still grieved. While the idea of sitting in her dorm imagining horrible possibilities wasn't exactly appealing, the thought of having to sit through Snape's Potions class after what she had just heard felt positively unbearable.
She was then escorted to the common room, where she and Ron sat silently staring at the wall.
*
Harry felt sick. Why did it always seem that whenever things seemed to be back to normal-normal for Hogwarts, anyway-Voldemort and his minions did something to make the cold reality stare him in the face? Harry recalled Charlie Weasley's cheerful grin in great detail. Thinking of that person as simply gone was inconceivable.
And that was only what he was feeling. He could only imagine what Ron must be going through. And Ginny. Harry shivered, remembering her red-rimmed eyes and crouched posture at dinner. Stopping himself from throwing an arm around in comfort had been difficult, to say the least.
Harry wondered, for the thousandth time, what it was about Ginny Weasley that made him feel this way. When had this started? When had she started evoking such emotions in him? He hadn't even thought of her as more than "Ron's little sister" until fifth year.
But then, slowly, she'd stopped displaying the outward signs of her admiration for him. They'd begun chatting occasionally, then more frequently, and he'd soon realized that beneath the shy schoolgirl he'd known previously was a witty, intelligent, even talkative young woman. The natural transition was made from mere acquaintances to genuine friends. Only that by the end of Harry's fifth year, he was forced to admit that his feelings for Ginny Weasley extended beyond the realm of friendship.
Knowing his caring for her would only put Ginny in more danger, Harry desperately tried to stop. He couldn't.
*
The next morning, a letter from Errol arrived, addressed to both Ron and Ginny:
Dearest Ron and Ginny,
You have by now heard the terrible news. Your mother and I can't tell you not to worry, because we've been doing a good deal of worrying ourselves. So, while we fully expect you to be concerned, please do not let this dominate your lives. Charlie wouldn't want it to.
Speaking of which, we do not know for sure that we've lost him. While saying that we have a good chance at finding him seems overly optimistic, all hope is not lost. There is a sufficient search effort underway. I cannot discuss the details in event that this owl is intercepted; suffice to say that your brother is by no means forgotten.
Both of you have acted with more courage and virtue than can ever be expected in these uncertain times, and I am proud to call you my son and my daughter. Keep those merits as you face this tragedy.
Love,
Dad
Ginny didn't even try to stop the tear that leaked as she handed the letter to Ron.
***
Author's Note: Thanks to Anne for the beta-read. (If you want to see great post-Hogwarts H/G, read "From Across the Great Divide.) Also, huge thanks to all who reviewed, and I hope to have Chapter Three out soon.
