Howdy boys and girls! Ok, here it is, a new chapter. I rewrote Ginny's
speech in Ch. 4, so go check it out; there's even an extra author's note at
the end. Everything's marked by ******s. Hope you enjoy; we're pretty close
to the end now.
Soon the notes of Ginny's song ended slowly- sorrowfully- and for a moment, there was silence. Harry fancied he could picture Ginny sitting at the old piano, her head resting on the back, over the keys. He almost thought he could here her sigh through the open windows. It was probably just his imagination, because the next moment, she started to play a happy, sweet tune.
"They all laughed at Christopher Columbus, when he said the world was round. They all laughed when Edison recorded sound. They all laughed at Wilbur and his brother, when they said that man could fly. They told Marconi, wireless was a phony; it's the same old cry."
Harry thought it very ironic that a witch was singing a song about Muggle inventions, but it was a pleasant song, so maybe she had calmed down a bit more.
"They laughed at me wanting you, said I was reaching for the moon. But oh, you came through. Now they'll have to change their tune."
That line prompted Harry to pick up his quill and get things over with. Just sitting there, thinking about what he wanted to write wasn't going to accomplish anything- he had to actually write it.
"Ginny," he began. OK, he told himself, see there? That wasn't so hard, was it? Just keep going like that.
"Yes, I did have your notebook all day. I never meant to make you upset, or angry, or hurt. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I can't express how sorry I am. But I think if I had the chance, I still wouldn't take back what I did. I suppose you're wishing you had another chance to throw something at me, and I'm sure you'll get one soon, but just here me out first." Ok Potter, he thought, this is it. Just write exactly how you feel, that's all you have to do. Huh, easier said than done.
"I wish I could tell you that I noticed you all along, that your fears in the entry you wrote only a day or two ago were unfounded, but that would be a lie. The truth is, I didn't notice you. I should have, and I don't want you to think that I only ever saw you as 'Ron's Little Sister' because I did see you as Ginny, as your own person… it's just that I never gave that own person a second thought. I hope you know that I would never tell you this if I wasn't sorry for it, and ready to make up for it in any way I can.
"That notebook made realize that I should have given you a second thought, heck, even a third and a fourth, and that I was wrong. I wouldn't take that back if I had the chance. Every time I see you, I won't be pitying you, or thinking you're silly, or pathetic, or stupid because you aren't, and never were. I'll be thinking, 'I wonder what she's feeling? How could I have missed her? I wonder if she'll ever forgive me for everything I've done, or didn't do? I hope she will.'
"It sounds corny, I know, but you of all people should know how much my friends mean it me, and how much it means that I want you to be my friend. I'm sorry I can't say that I'm in love with you. I would if it were true, but I honestly don't even know one way or the other, because I feel as if I've only just met you. Hopefully, you'll let me get to know you better, because I can't imagine you learning anything about me you don't already know. So, what do you say? Give me an another chance?"
Well, thought Harry, at least I mean every word of it, even if it doesn't sound so great. Was there anything else he needed to add? He pictured Ginny as she looked earlier in Ron's room, cool and joking, and how she looked when she was angry, eyes flashing and hair flying everywhere. Yes, there was something else.
"One more thing, when you said you weren't beautiful, it wasn't true. You really are." How should he sign it? He decided on just his name.
Reading it over, and then reading everything Ginny had written, he decided to write something at the very bottom.
"P.S. Do you really think I'm a wanker?"
Just when he had finished, Ron came in the room. "Dinner's almost ready," he said. Harry nodded.
"How am I supposed to get this to her without loosing an eye?" he asked. Ron shrugged.
"Run really, really fast?" he suggested. "I don't think she's that mad anymore. She played an upbeat song and hasn't played anything since, so I think the coast is clear. How're you going to apologize?"
Harry pointed to the book. "I wrote it down," he said.
"How'd it come out?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. I was really just going for sincere. Do you think she'll forgive me?"
"I'm sure she will," Ron assured him. "I mean, Hermione and I were mad at you, but we're not anymore. Come on now, there's food downstairs."
As they passed Ginny's room, Harry slipped the notebook under her door. He could hear her inside, from the sound of things, cleaning the vase she had broken earlier. Please let this work, Harry prayed.
Dinner went by slowly. Mrs. Weasley had made Shepard's Pie, but Harry didn't have much of an appetite. He picked at his food, trying to eat, after all he had missed lunch and hadn't much breakfast either, but he couldn't manage more than a few bites. He kept glancing at Ginny's empty seat next to Hermione.
Halfway through the meal, however, Ginny came down, looking just as calm as she did before she had found Harry in her room. Harry froze, not sure what she would do, hoping that she would acknowledge him, and at the same time, hoping she wouldn't. She ended up meeting his eye and giving him a small, polite smile as she sat down. That was all he needed. Suddenly, his appetite came back and Harry began to really eat.
"Ginny, dear, are you going to Diagon Alley with us tomorrow?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Harry had completely forgotten they still needed to get school supplies and things. "Good," she said when Ginny nodded. "I wasn't sure if you were going with your friends or not."
"I'm supposed to meet Adriana and Rose and, I think, Collin there," Ginny explained. "Noon at Gringotts."
"Well then, we'll leave at 11:30," Mrs. Weasley announced. "Give everyone a chance to get out money and what-not." Everyone nodded they're agreement; it was settled. "You're playing was beautiful this afternoon, Gin. I was surprised you didn't come and get me to put a silencing charm on your room."
Ginny looked a bit uncomfortable and couldn't help but cast a quick glance at Harry, blushing all the while. He was looking at her too, waiting to see what she would say, if she said anything. Instead of falling apart though, she sat up straighter and smiled slightly.
"Well, you know," she said. "When inspiration strikes…" She looked pleadingly at Ron and he changed the topic to (surprise of surprises) Quidditch.
The meal didn't last much longer after that though. It was Ginny and Ron's turn to clean up afterwards, but Harry volunteered to help them. He desperately needed to see if Ginny was still mad at him, and while it probably wasn't wise to do this while she had a kitchen full of dishes to throw, he didn't care much. They worked for a few minutes in silence until Ron took a stack of dishes to the sink and left them in the other room, alone.
"Did you get the notebook?" Harry asked, trying to look anywhere but right at her. He wasn't sure he wanted to see what her reaction was.
"Umm… Yeah," she said. He chanced a look at her to see that she was busying herself with the table and trying not to look at him either. She stopped though and he quickly looked away. "I'm sorry for throwing those things at you." He looked back at her to see her a light shade of pink, but she held his gaze. He smiled.
"Not as sorry as I am," he joked. She laughed a little. "I mean it, those things were really hard. What were they?"
"My dad gave me these little trinkets. There's a little bird, and a horse, and dolphin or something I think." She paused for a moment to gather a few more glasses and Harry held the door open for her. "I never had the heart to tell him they were really ugly, so I've had to keep them."
Ron turned around from the sink to look at them as they talked. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "So," he interrupted. "This then," he gestured between the two of them and Harry tried not to laugh. "This is all cleared up?"
"Yes, Ron," Ginny said as she dumped the glasses into the sink. "This," she mimicked his motion between herself and Harry, "is all cleared up. You needn't exile him just yet," she added laughing.
"I wasn't going to *exile* him," Ron told her. "I was just going to scare him a bit. Maybe tip off Bill or Charlie on what he'd done."
"Thanks, Ron," said Harry, rolling his eyes. "I'm standing right here." Ron smiled.
"I know, just making sure you heard. You know-"
"Older Brother Handbook?" Harry finished for him. He wondered just what it would take to burn that thing.
"Hey," Ginny interjected. "Don't make fun of it. It's because of that thing that no one's ever walked in on me in the bathroom."
"See," said Ron, pointing at her. "Someone around here appreciates the rules."
"Hermione's rubbing off on you too much," Harry said in a warning tone. Ron just laughed.
"Yeah, I know," he said "… and I don't think I really mind." Right on cue, Hermione walked in.
"Nice way to leave me all alone," she said, frowning and walking to Ron's side. He planted a sweet, little kiss on her forehead.
"I'm sorry," he cooed in her ear. Harry noticed Ginny choking on laughter, trying to hide it by biting her lip.
"Is this what we'll have to watch all day tomorrow?" he asked her. She grinned.
"You will, I won't. Remember, I'm meeting my friends and getting the heck away."
Harry remembered now, but he wasn't as thrilled as Ginny. He looked back at Ron and Hermione, laughing quietly together, and back at Ginny, laughing quietly at them. The choice was obvious.
"You can't leave me alone with them!" he cried, panicking at the very idea. "I mean, look at them! For a whole day? No, you have to come with us."
"Oh no," she said, shaking her head and taking a step back. "I am not watching my brother and his girlfriend get all… all… couple-y like that."
Harry was desperate. He could not, under any circumstances, be left alone with Ron and Hermione acting like *that* for a whole day. But when he thought about them even with Ginny there, he didn't think he liked that much either.
"Hey Gin, do you think I could come with you?" She looked at him, surprised. It was obvious she wasn't expecting that.
"I- um… yeah, I guess, if you really wanted to. Are you sure, though? I mean, you don't even know my friends."
It was true, he hardly knew anyone in Ginny's year. Colin was the only one he could name off the top of his head. But, he decided, it had to be much better than the alternative, as the alternative had just slipped out the back door holding hands.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm sure." She smiled, but seemed a little nervous.
They said good night after that and she went up to her room, even though it was still early. But Harry didn't have to guess why she left. A few minutes later, he sat on the front steps (as far away from the back porch as he could manage) and listened contentedly to her play and sing through the open window.
"Moon River," her voice carried. "Wider than a mile. I'm crossing you in style, some day. Oh you dream maker; you heartbreaker. Where ever you're going, I'm going your way… Two drifters- off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same, rainbow's end… Waiting round the bend… My Huckleberry friend, Moon River- and me."
Wow. Ok, that took longer than I expected, but I think I needed to slow down posting anyway. So, there you have it, the lead in into the next chapter. There should be 2 more after this one. Also, my little sister read this story and asked about the Fred and George thing. "You couldn't come up with anything, could you?" (She's *9*.) I- I was trying for an air of mystery. Am I that obvious? If I must admit it… No, I couldn't come up with anything. Sorry folks, but I just am not much of a prankster I guess.
And I just wanted to say that I didn't mean to make Ginny so 0-60 in under a second. She came off as just a little bi-polar, but I'll find a way to fix that. Calm!Ginny was actually not part of the story when I made it up, I was going to make her Fiesty!Ginny, but she just happened.
Thanks:
Circinius (I read your story Stranded a while ago and was so impressed that you reviewed mine. Wow! Glad you're enjoying this.), norafran31, Sparkle, kitty (Just like you? That's good, right? I think it is because I think Gnny's awesome.), Llynya, Arien, ShellyK, Princess of Mordor, Beccy (I've thought about writing the OBH, Julie suggested it, but I don't know if I could pull it off.), bucky, Jellybean Oasis, Rouge Angel (Did he get it right enough?), IcantBELIEVEitsNOTbutter, Hermy-own-ninny, Lame Duck (Thanks for the e-mail's Lor!) and Jules (Find the misspelled word! You know it has to be in there!)
I have a total of 41 reviews. Hmm, not bad for a first fic, right?
Did you know Serpent's Bride has like 350-some reviews? Woah. I have a new goal! Lol.
Soon the notes of Ginny's song ended slowly- sorrowfully- and for a moment, there was silence. Harry fancied he could picture Ginny sitting at the old piano, her head resting on the back, over the keys. He almost thought he could here her sigh through the open windows. It was probably just his imagination, because the next moment, she started to play a happy, sweet tune.
"They all laughed at Christopher Columbus, when he said the world was round. They all laughed when Edison recorded sound. They all laughed at Wilbur and his brother, when they said that man could fly. They told Marconi, wireless was a phony; it's the same old cry."
Harry thought it very ironic that a witch was singing a song about Muggle inventions, but it was a pleasant song, so maybe she had calmed down a bit more.
"They laughed at me wanting you, said I was reaching for the moon. But oh, you came through. Now they'll have to change their tune."
That line prompted Harry to pick up his quill and get things over with. Just sitting there, thinking about what he wanted to write wasn't going to accomplish anything- he had to actually write it.
"Ginny," he began. OK, he told himself, see there? That wasn't so hard, was it? Just keep going like that.
"Yes, I did have your notebook all day. I never meant to make you upset, or angry, or hurt. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I can't express how sorry I am. But I think if I had the chance, I still wouldn't take back what I did. I suppose you're wishing you had another chance to throw something at me, and I'm sure you'll get one soon, but just here me out first." Ok Potter, he thought, this is it. Just write exactly how you feel, that's all you have to do. Huh, easier said than done.
"I wish I could tell you that I noticed you all along, that your fears in the entry you wrote only a day or two ago were unfounded, but that would be a lie. The truth is, I didn't notice you. I should have, and I don't want you to think that I only ever saw you as 'Ron's Little Sister' because I did see you as Ginny, as your own person… it's just that I never gave that own person a second thought. I hope you know that I would never tell you this if I wasn't sorry for it, and ready to make up for it in any way I can.
"That notebook made realize that I should have given you a second thought, heck, even a third and a fourth, and that I was wrong. I wouldn't take that back if I had the chance. Every time I see you, I won't be pitying you, or thinking you're silly, or pathetic, or stupid because you aren't, and never were. I'll be thinking, 'I wonder what she's feeling? How could I have missed her? I wonder if she'll ever forgive me for everything I've done, or didn't do? I hope she will.'
"It sounds corny, I know, but you of all people should know how much my friends mean it me, and how much it means that I want you to be my friend. I'm sorry I can't say that I'm in love with you. I would if it were true, but I honestly don't even know one way or the other, because I feel as if I've only just met you. Hopefully, you'll let me get to know you better, because I can't imagine you learning anything about me you don't already know. So, what do you say? Give me an another chance?"
Well, thought Harry, at least I mean every word of it, even if it doesn't sound so great. Was there anything else he needed to add? He pictured Ginny as she looked earlier in Ron's room, cool and joking, and how she looked when she was angry, eyes flashing and hair flying everywhere. Yes, there was something else.
"One more thing, when you said you weren't beautiful, it wasn't true. You really are." How should he sign it? He decided on just his name.
Reading it over, and then reading everything Ginny had written, he decided to write something at the very bottom.
"P.S. Do you really think I'm a wanker?"
Just when he had finished, Ron came in the room. "Dinner's almost ready," he said. Harry nodded.
"How am I supposed to get this to her without loosing an eye?" he asked. Ron shrugged.
"Run really, really fast?" he suggested. "I don't think she's that mad anymore. She played an upbeat song and hasn't played anything since, so I think the coast is clear. How're you going to apologize?"
Harry pointed to the book. "I wrote it down," he said.
"How'd it come out?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. I was really just going for sincere. Do you think she'll forgive me?"
"I'm sure she will," Ron assured him. "I mean, Hermione and I were mad at you, but we're not anymore. Come on now, there's food downstairs."
As they passed Ginny's room, Harry slipped the notebook under her door. He could hear her inside, from the sound of things, cleaning the vase she had broken earlier. Please let this work, Harry prayed.
Dinner went by slowly. Mrs. Weasley had made Shepard's Pie, but Harry didn't have much of an appetite. He picked at his food, trying to eat, after all he had missed lunch and hadn't much breakfast either, but he couldn't manage more than a few bites. He kept glancing at Ginny's empty seat next to Hermione.
Halfway through the meal, however, Ginny came down, looking just as calm as she did before she had found Harry in her room. Harry froze, not sure what she would do, hoping that she would acknowledge him, and at the same time, hoping she wouldn't. She ended up meeting his eye and giving him a small, polite smile as she sat down. That was all he needed. Suddenly, his appetite came back and Harry began to really eat.
"Ginny, dear, are you going to Diagon Alley with us tomorrow?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Harry had completely forgotten they still needed to get school supplies and things. "Good," she said when Ginny nodded. "I wasn't sure if you were going with your friends or not."
"I'm supposed to meet Adriana and Rose and, I think, Collin there," Ginny explained. "Noon at Gringotts."
"Well then, we'll leave at 11:30," Mrs. Weasley announced. "Give everyone a chance to get out money and what-not." Everyone nodded they're agreement; it was settled. "You're playing was beautiful this afternoon, Gin. I was surprised you didn't come and get me to put a silencing charm on your room."
Ginny looked a bit uncomfortable and couldn't help but cast a quick glance at Harry, blushing all the while. He was looking at her too, waiting to see what she would say, if she said anything. Instead of falling apart though, she sat up straighter and smiled slightly.
"Well, you know," she said. "When inspiration strikes…" She looked pleadingly at Ron and he changed the topic to (surprise of surprises) Quidditch.
The meal didn't last much longer after that though. It was Ginny and Ron's turn to clean up afterwards, but Harry volunteered to help them. He desperately needed to see if Ginny was still mad at him, and while it probably wasn't wise to do this while she had a kitchen full of dishes to throw, he didn't care much. They worked for a few minutes in silence until Ron took a stack of dishes to the sink and left them in the other room, alone.
"Did you get the notebook?" Harry asked, trying to look anywhere but right at her. He wasn't sure he wanted to see what her reaction was.
"Umm… Yeah," she said. He chanced a look at her to see that she was busying herself with the table and trying not to look at him either. She stopped though and he quickly looked away. "I'm sorry for throwing those things at you." He looked back at her to see her a light shade of pink, but she held his gaze. He smiled.
"Not as sorry as I am," he joked. She laughed a little. "I mean it, those things were really hard. What were they?"
"My dad gave me these little trinkets. There's a little bird, and a horse, and dolphin or something I think." She paused for a moment to gather a few more glasses and Harry held the door open for her. "I never had the heart to tell him they were really ugly, so I've had to keep them."
Ron turned around from the sink to look at them as they talked. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "So," he interrupted. "This then," he gestured between the two of them and Harry tried not to laugh. "This is all cleared up?"
"Yes, Ron," Ginny said as she dumped the glasses into the sink. "This," she mimicked his motion between herself and Harry, "is all cleared up. You needn't exile him just yet," she added laughing.
"I wasn't going to *exile* him," Ron told her. "I was just going to scare him a bit. Maybe tip off Bill or Charlie on what he'd done."
"Thanks, Ron," said Harry, rolling his eyes. "I'm standing right here." Ron smiled.
"I know, just making sure you heard. You know-"
"Older Brother Handbook?" Harry finished for him. He wondered just what it would take to burn that thing.
"Hey," Ginny interjected. "Don't make fun of it. It's because of that thing that no one's ever walked in on me in the bathroom."
"See," said Ron, pointing at her. "Someone around here appreciates the rules."
"Hermione's rubbing off on you too much," Harry said in a warning tone. Ron just laughed.
"Yeah, I know," he said "… and I don't think I really mind." Right on cue, Hermione walked in.
"Nice way to leave me all alone," she said, frowning and walking to Ron's side. He planted a sweet, little kiss on her forehead.
"I'm sorry," he cooed in her ear. Harry noticed Ginny choking on laughter, trying to hide it by biting her lip.
"Is this what we'll have to watch all day tomorrow?" he asked her. She grinned.
"You will, I won't. Remember, I'm meeting my friends and getting the heck away."
Harry remembered now, but he wasn't as thrilled as Ginny. He looked back at Ron and Hermione, laughing quietly together, and back at Ginny, laughing quietly at them. The choice was obvious.
"You can't leave me alone with them!" he cried, panicking at the very idea. "I mean, look at them! For a whole day? No, you have to come with us."
"Oh no," she said, shaking her head and taking a step back. "I am not watching my brother and his girlfriend get all… all… couple-y like that."
Harry was desperate. He could not, under any circumstances, be left alone with Ron and Hermione acting like *that* for a whole day. But when he thought about them even with Ginny there, he didn't think he liked that much either.
"Hey Gin, do you think I could come with you?" She looked at him, surprised. It was obvious she wasn't expecting that.
"I- um… yeah, I guess, if you really wanted to. Are you sure, though? I mean, you don't even know my friends."
It was true, he hardly knew anyone in Ginny's year. Colin was the only one he could name off the top of his head. But, he decided, it had to be much better than the alternative, as the alternative had just slipped out the back door holding hands.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm sure." She smiled, but seemed a little nervous.
They said good night after that and she went up to her room, even though it was still early. But Harry didn't have to guess why she left. A few minutes later, he sat on the front steps (as far away from the back porch as he could manage) and listened contentedly to her play and sing through the open window.
"Moon River," her voice carried. "Wider than a mile. I'm crossing you in style, some day. Oh you dream maker; you heartbreaker. Where ever you're going, I'm going your way… Two drifters- off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same, rainbow's end… Waiting round the bend… My Huckleberry friend, Moon River- and me."
Wow. Ok, that took longer than I expected, but I think I needed to slow down posting anyway. So, there you have it, the lead in into the next chapter. There should be 2 more after this one. Also, my little sister read this story and asked about the Fred and George thing. "You couldn't come up with anything, could you?" (She's *9*.) I- I was trying for an air of mystery. Am I that obvious? If I must admit it… No, I couldn't come up with anything. Sorry folks, but I just am not much of a prankster I guess.
And I just wanted to say that I didn't mean to make Ginny so 0-60 in under a second. She came off as just a little bi-polar, but I'll find a way to fix that. Calm!Ginny was actually not part of the story when I made it up, I was going to make her Fiesty!Ginny, but she just happened.
Thanks:
Circinius (I read your story Stranded a while ago and was so impressed that you reviewed mine. Wow! Glad you're enjoying this.), norafran31, Sparkle, kitty (Just like you? That's good, right? I think it is because I think Gnny's awesome.), Llynya, Arien, ShellyK, Princess of Mordor, Beccy (I've thought about writing the OBH, Julie suggested it, but I don't know if I could pull it off.), bucky, Jellybean Oasis, Rouge Angel (Did he get it right enough?), IcantBELIEVEitsNOTbutter, Hermy-own-ninny, Lame Duck (Thanks for the e-mail's Lor!) and Jules (Find the misspelled word! You know it has to be in there!)
I have a total of 41 reviews. Hmm, not bad for a first fic, right?
Did you know Serpent's Bride has like 350-some reviews? Woah. I have a new goal! Lol.
