Chapter 1- New Beginnings With Old Friends
"So denied so I lied
Are you the now or never kind?
In a day and a day love
I'm going to be gone for good again"
~Eve Six
Ginny Weasley, who is said to be the best woman Auror in history, walked into a Muggle bar after her latest capture; Mr. Lucius Malfoy. After Harry defeated Voldemort in his 7th year, all of his followers had disbanded and run for their lives. While Ginny and her colleagues had caught most of Voldemort's supporters, Malfoy had proved himself to be the hardest wizard to catch. While her co-workers had decided to go to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, Ginny instead went to a bar a few blocks from her house. She was not in the mood for celebrating with the rest of her friends. She wanted to be somewhere in which no one would recognize her as a great Auror, Ginny had never been much of the attention type, in fact, she hated it.
It was nearing midnight, but Ginny knew this bar was open at all hours, which was a great convenience to her. Ginny found a stool a few seats away from the closest person, and ordered a Margarita from the bartender, a handsome man in his early thirties. The man three seats down from Ginny looked up at the sound of her voice. Ginny had aged from a cute schoolgirl to beautiful woman, she was much different from how Harry remembered her, but Harry would recognize her voice anywhere. She had not seemed to notice him yet, nor had she noticed any of the other people in the bar.
"Fancy seeing you here." Ginny looked around to find the owner of the voice.
"Harry?" she asked in disbelief. She had not seen Harry in years; in fact, his graduation was the last she had seen of Harry Potter.
"In the flesh."
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, although she also wanted to ask why he was alone. Harry always had a girl on his arm, usually one different from the week before.
"Drowning my self pity in Coronas, I've grown quite fond of them. What about yourself? Why are you in a Muggle bar?" Harry asked.
"We just caught another follower of Voldemort, the rest are out celebrating. I would rather not be with them," Ginny answered.
"You always did keep to yourself."
"Yes, I did," Ginny replied. Not wanting to continue talk about her poor social life, she asked, "And why are you pitying yourself?"
"I am yet again girlfriendless."
"Vanessa dumped you?"
"How did you know who I was dating, we haven't talked in years," Harry asked, with a questioning look on his face.
"I pick up the Daily Profit every now and then to keep up with things," Ginny explained. "As for not talking in years, you left everyone behind after you defeated him. Do you even talk to Ron or Hermione anymore?"
"We send owls every so often. It's not like it used to be," Harry said sadly as he drained his beer and signaled the bartender for another one.
"And why is that?" Ginny questioned gently.
"They both have spouses and children and lives of their own. Look at me, I have nothing. I don't even have a girlfriend anymore."
"Why are you taking this so hardly? You've only been dating Vanessa for a couple weeks. You'll get another girlfriend, you always do. You've dated more girls this year than most men do in their lives." It was a well-known fact in the wizarding community that Harry Potter went through girls as fast as young wizards and witches went through sugar quills.
"You're right I always find another girl. All the witches want to date 'the boy who lived.' They want to be seen with me, but none of them truly care for me. I do everything for them, but they only like my image, not me. I guess Vanessa was just like the rest of them, but I didn't want to see it."
"Someday you'll find someone who loves you for you. I'm sure of it Harry," Ginny said confidently.
"I'm glad someone is sure of it," Harry said, getting up. "I should go, it's very late. It was good talking to you." No sooner had he took a step, Harry threw up all over the floor, along with his shoes. Ginny asked the bartender for a rag with soap on it, and cleaned the floor as Harry watched her with dumbfounded look on his face. Ginny looked up at Harry and asked if he was feeling okay. He just nodded, but his face showed that he was not okay at all.
"They would have cleaned it up, you didn't have to," Harry stated.
"How many drinks did you have?" Ginny asked, ignoring his statement.
"Six, maybe seven," Harry replied.
"Where are you staying tonight?"
"I don't know yet. I'll find someplace."
"Why don't you come with me?" Ginny offered. "You're going to have an awful hangover tomorrow morning, I can take care of you."
"I don't think so, I-" Harry started.
"Why not? You have no one to take care of you, and you have no where to go."
"Okay," Harry said, agreeing. He knew she was right, he didn't have anywhere to go. Ginny paid for her drink, still nearly full, put her arm around Harry to help support him, and they walked to her house. Harry was surprised by the sheer size of Ginny's house. It was only two stories high, but its base was huge. The inside was too much for Harry to take in, being as drunk as he was, but it was beautiful. Ginny led him to the guest room, which was a light shade of blue. Harry found it very calming. There was a twin size bed in the room, along with a bedside table and a rather large armchair. Harry sat on the edge of the bed trying to make himself less dizzy.
Ginny walked out of the room, only to return minutes later with a large men's t-shirt and flannel pants. "Where did you get these?" Harry asked.
"They are Ron's. He left them here the last time he stayed overnight. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you wearing them." Ginny then left the room, shutting the door on her way out, giving Harry privacy to change. A short while later Harry opened the door to say goodnight to Ginny. She was outside his room.
"Thanks for letting me crash here for the night Ginny. Don't worry, I'll be gone tomorrow. Goodnight." Ginny handed him a facecloth that she had put a cooling charm on to put over his forehead.
"Anytime Harry. You really don't have to leave tomorrow."
"I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome."
"You are always welcome here. 'Night." With that, Harry went back into the guest room and Ginny walked down the hall to her room. 'What a night,' she thought as she got under the covers and slipped into sleep.
The next morning Harry was woke to the smell of fresh coffee. He stumbled down to the kitchen and found Ginny there, drinking a cup of coffee and munching on bacon. When she saw him she rose and got him a mug of coffee. She handed it to him and motioned him to sit.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better than last night, but this coffee could really used some sugar and cream," Harry replied.
"If you drink it black it will numb the hangover. Cream and sugar won't help any," Ginny informed Harry.
"How do you know so much about hangovers?" Harry asked. Ginny didn't seem to be the type who would drink enough to feel it in the morning.
"My last boyfriend was an alcoholic. He was drunk often. Sometimes-" Ginny hesitated. "Sometimes he beat me." Ginny shuttered at the memory. It was a memory she tried not to think of.
"I'm so sorry Ginny," Harry said, not knowing what else to say.
"It's okay, that was over a year ago." 'You liar, it's not okay and you know it,' Ginny thought to herself. 'You think about it everyday, you don't let other men near you because you fear it will happen again. You let it run your life. In no way are you okay. You didn't even tell him everything.'
"You haven't had a boyfriend in over a year?" Harry asked, as if being alone was the worst thing in the world.
"Not one. It's not that bad," Ginny defended.
Harry finished his coffee, thinking about what it would be like to be alone. He couldn't imagine it. Or maybe, he just didn't want to imagine it. "I must be going, thanks again."
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked.
"I'm not sure, maybe I'll go on vacation, get away from everything."
"But I haven't seen you in forever, and now you're leaving again? You have to stop pushing everyone away. You should stay with me. Merlin knows it's lonely here in this house alone."
"I don't know-"
"Please Harry. I'd feel so much safer if someone else was here."
"But you're an Auror, you shouldn't be scared of anything."
"That's exactly why I am. Do you know how many people hate me?" Ginny asked.
"Fine, I'll stay with you. I just have some stuff I have to get from Vanessa's apartment. I'll be back later." And with that, he Apparated. Ginny smiled at the thought of her new roommate. An old friend who was now once again becoming her friend. Ginny vowed that she would help him become less dependent on his many girlfriends. He needed to realize that he didn't need to be with someone to be happy.
~*~*~*~
What do you think? The next chapter will be up soon. As for the song in the begining, I've seen many authors put parts of different songs at the start of chapters, and I thought I'd give it a try. I hope you like this story. Any ideas or opinions you have will be consitered. Please Review. Have a great day. ~Kori Bischoff
"So denied so I lied
Are you the now or never kind?
In a day and a day love
I'm going to be gone for good again"
~Eve Six
Ginny Weasley, who is said to be the best woman Auror in history, walked into a Muggle bar after her latest capture; Mr. Lucius Malfoy. After Harry defeated Voldemort in his 7th year, all of his followers had disbanded and run for their lives. While Ginny and her colleagues had caught most of Voldemort's supporters, Malfoy had proved himself to be the hardest wizard to catch. While her co-workers had decided to go to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, Ginny instead went to a bar a few blocks from her house. She was not in the mood for celebrating with the rest of her friends. She wanted to be somewhere in which no one would recognize her as a great Auror, Ginny had never been much of the attention type, in fact, she hated it.
It was nearing midnight, but Ginny knew this bar was open at all hours, which was a great convenience to her. Ginny found a stool a few seats away from the closest person, and ordered a Margarita from the bartender, a handsome man in his early thirties. The man three seats down from Ginny looked up at the sound of her voice. Ginny had aged from a cute schoolgirl to beautiful woman, she was much different from how Harry remembered her, but Harry would recognize her voice anywhere. She had not seemed to notice him yet, nor had she noticed any of the other people in the bar.
"Fancy seeing you here." Ginny looked around to find the owner of the voice.
"Harry?" she asked in disbelief. She had not seen Harry in years; in fact, his graduation was the last she had seen of Harry Potter.
"In the flesh."
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, although she also wanted to ask why he was alone. Harry always had a girl on his arm, usually one different from the week before.
"Drowning my self pity in Coronas, I've grown quite fond of them. What about yourself? Why are you in a Muggle bar?" Harry asked.
"We just caught another follower of Voldemort, the rest are out celebrating. I would rather not be with them," Ginny answered.
"You always did keep to yourself."
"Yes, I did," Ginny replied. Not wanting to continue talk about her poor social life, she asked, "And why are you pitying yourself?"
"I am yet again girlfriendless."
"Vanessa dumped you?"
"How did you know who I was dating, we haven't talked in years," Harry asked, with a questioning look on his face.
"I pick up the Daily Profit every now and then to keep up with things," Ginny explained. "As for not talking in years, you left everyone behind after you defeated him. Do you even talk to Ron or Hermione anymore?"
"We send owls every so often. It's not like it used to be," Harry said sadly as he drained his beer and signaled the bartender for another one.
"And why is that?" Ginny questioned gently.
"They both have spouses and children and lives of their own. Look at me, I have nothing. I don't even have a girlfriend anymore."
"Why are you taking this so hardly? You've only been dating Vanessa for a couple weeks. You'll get another girlfriend, you always do. You've dated more girls this year than most men do in their lives." It was a well-known fact in the wizarding community that Harry Potter went through girls as fast as young wizards and witches went through sugar quills.
"You're right I always find another girl. All the witches want to date 'the boy who lived.' They want to be seen with me, but none of them truly care for me. I do everything for them, but they only like my image, not me. I guess Vanessa was just like the rest of them, but I didn't want to see it."
"Someday you'll find someone who loves you for you. I'm sure of it Harry," Ginny said confidently.
"I'm glad someone is sure of it," Harry said, getting up. "I should go, it's very late. It was good talking to you." No sooner had he took a step, Harry threw up all over the floor, along with his shoes. Ginny asked the bartender for a rag with soap on it, and cleaned the floor as Harry watched her with dumbfounded look on his face. Ginny looked up at Harry and asked if he was feeling okay. He just nodded, but his face showed that he was not okay at all.
"They would have cleaned it up, you didn't have to," Harry stated.
"How many drinks did you have?" Ginny asked, ignoring his statement.
"Six, maybe seven," Harry replied.
"Where are you staying tonight?"
"I don't know yet. I'll find someplace."
"Why don't you come with me?" Ginny offered. "You're going to have an awful hangover tomorrow morning, I can take care of you."
"I don't think so, I-" Harry started.
"Why not? You have no one to take care of you, and you have no where to go."
"Okay," Harry said, agreeing. He knew she was right, he didn't have anywhere to go. Ginny paid for her drink, still nearly full, put her arm around Harry to help support him, and they walked to her house. Harry was surprised by the sheer size of Ginny's house. It was only two stories high, but its base was huge. The inside was too much for Harry to take in, being as drunk as he was, but it was beautiful. Ginny led him to the guest room, which was a light shade of blue. Harry found it very calming. There was a twin size bed in the room, along with a bedside table and a rather large armchair. Harry sat on the edge of the bed trying to make himself less dizzy.
Ginny walked out of the room, only to return minutes later with a large men's t-shirt and flannel pants. "Where did you get these?" Harry asked.
"They are Ron's. He left them here the last time he stayed overnight. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you wearing them." Ginny then left the room, shutting the door on her way out, giving Harry privacy to change. A short while later Harry opened the door to say goodnight to Ginny. She was outside his room.
"Thanks for letting me crash here for the night Ginny. Don't worry, I'll be gone tomorrow. Goodnight." Ginny handed him a facecloth that she had put a cooling charm on to put over his forehead.
"Anytime Harry. You really don't have to leave tomorrow."
"I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome."
"You are always welcome here. 'Night." With that, Harry went back into the guest room and Ginny walked down the hall to her room. 'What a night,' she thought as she got under the covers and slipped into sleep.
The next morning Harry was woke to the smell of fresh coffee. He stumbled down to the kitchen and found Ginny there, drinking a cup of coffee and munching on bacon. When she saw him she rose and got him a mug of coffee. She handed it to him and motioned him to sit.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better than last night, but this coffee could really used some sugar and cream," Harry replied.
"If you drink it black it will numb the hangover. Cream and sugar won't help any," Ginny informed Harry.
"How do you know so much about hangovers?" Harry asked. Ginny didn't seem to be the type who would drink enough to feel it in the morning.
"My last boyfriend was an alcoholic. He was drunk often. Sometimes-" Ginny hesitated. "Sometimes he beat me." Ginny shuttered at the memory. It was a memory she tried not to think of.
"I'm so sorry Ginny," Harry said, not knowing what else to say.
"It's okay, that was over a year ago." 'You liar, it's not okay and you know it,' Ginny thought to herself. 'You think about it everyday, you don't let other men near you because you fear it will happen again. You let it run your life. In no way are you okay. You didn't even tell him everything.'
"You haven't had a boyfriend in over a year?" Harry asked, as if being alone was the worst thing in the world.
"Not one. It's not that bad," Ginny defended.
Harry finished his coffee, thinking about what it would be like to be alone. He couldn't imagine it. Or maybe, he just didn't want to imagine it. "I must be going, thanks again."
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked.
"I'm not sure, maybe I'll go on vacation, get away from everything."
"But I haven't seen you in forever, and now you're leaving again? You have to stop pushing everyone away. You should stay with me. Merlin knows it's lonely here in this house alone."
"I don't know-"
"Please Harry. I'd feel so much safer if someone else was here."
"But you're an Auror, you shouldn't be scared of anything."
"That's exactly why I am. Do you know how many people hate me?" Ginny asked.
"Fine, I'll stay with you. I just have some stuff I have to get from Vanessa's apartment. I'll be back later." And with that, he Apparated. Ginny smiled at the thought of her new roommate. An old friend who was now once again becoming her friend. Ginny vowed that she would help him become less dependent on his many girlfriends. He needed to realize that he didn't need to be with someone to be happy.
~*~*~*~
What do you think? The next chapter will be up soon. As for the song in the begining, I've seen many authors put parts of different songs at the start of chapters, and I thought I'd give it a try. I hope you like this story. Any ideas or opinions you have will be consitered. Please Review. Have a great day. ~Kori Bischoff