The Sixth Sense
Chapter 2- The Weasleys Arrive
Disclaimer: Everything you don't recognize belongs to me, and everything you do recognize doesn't.
A/N: Thanks a lot to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. I really enjoy writing this, and if you bear with me you'll find it turns out to be some plot, and some romance. (I hope it will!: ) ) For now, enjoy!
Harry gaped at the wizard before him, his eyes wide.
"Dead? But-but he can't be dead..I *saw* him..he was talking to me!" he sputtered.
"Perhaps it was another Robert McKinnon," said Dumbledore calmly.
"Yeah..must've been," Harry frowned. But two Robert McKinnons who had been Aurors and had known Lily Potter?
"What did he look like?" The Headmaster resumed his pace again, and Harry hurried along beside him, trying to remember.
"Middle-aged..no, older, - I think- black hair, he had dark blue eyes..I remember they were strange eyes."
"How do you mean, strange?"
"I- I don't know, professor..there was just something weird about them..like they were all wrong."
"Robert did not have eyes like that- indeed though, they were dark blue. As was his hair dark, but- I suppose there are lots of people who have dark hair and blue eyes." He paused, looking thoughtful.
It was still too much of a coincidence to Harry. "Maybe I saw his ghost..?"
"As far as I know, he did not become a ghost when he died- not all wizards do, you know- besides, he couldn't have been a ghost if he was solid and looked like any other man," said Dumbledore.
Harry wondered why some wizards became ghosts when they died and some did not. Maybe those who did had unfinished business in the world..
"How did he die?" he asked suddenly.
Dumbledore sighed. "As many wizards did at that time sixteen years ago, when Voldemort was at the height of his powers. The McKinnons were very powerful, they were known for fighting with our side. Robert was an Auror, he was killed fighting Death Eaters. It was around the time just before his downfall.." He nodded towards Harry, who absentmindedly fingered his scar.
He thought hard..that couldn't be the same McKinnon..could it? Maybe it was his brother, no, Dumbledore would've said if he had a brother.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "Professor, there are potions to get the body of someone else, right? Like Polyjuice, maybe. What if it were a Death Eater in disguise, wanting to confuse me?"
Dumbledore was smiling at him. "You have a good brain there Harry- (Harry reddened)however, any potion like that would require a part of the person you want to become, and as probably Mr. McKinnon's body by now is, well.."
"Yeah," said Harry quickly. He didn't think he'd like the mental image.
"I wouldn't worry about this if I were you, though. There are probably millions of possibilities to explain who you saw, and right now there are more important things at hand. While I must admit this is most peculiar, we can just let it aside for the time being."
Harry nodded, but he still couldn't help feeling unconvinced. 'Dumbledore's right,' he tried to reassure himself. 'In the magic world, there could be a million ways to see something that wasn't there, or whatever. Besides, I have enough on my mind right now.'
They had reached the magical entrance to Diagon Alley and they left through it to the Leaky Cauldron, where Tom greeted them and at Dumbledore's request, led them over to a private parlour where they could talk discreetly.
"Now, tell me about that attack," said Dumbledore seriously, taking a sip of tea which had been brought in. "You're sure it was Lucius Malfoy and his men?"
"Yes, I'm positive. Mr.Malfoy admitted it to me himself today- I saw him in the pub."
"You saw him here?"
"Yes. He threatened me, but he couldn't do anything with all those people around, I guess."
Dumbledore nodded, his hand stroking his beard thoughtfully. "We must find out what has happened to your relatives, of course."
The Dursleys. He'd completely forgotten about them. "Do-do you think they have them?" he asked hesitantly. "It is possible," replied Dumbledore. "How else could they have gotten to you at the house, if not by getting them to lead them there?"
"You don't mean- by Imperius?" Somehow he doubted that Uncle Vernon would give directions to his house to a bunch of freaky looking black- robed figures who had ambushed them, out of his own free will.
"Precisely."
Harry fiddled with his fingers. Were the Dursleys safe? He hated them with all of his being, but it didn't mean that he was fine with it if they were- murdered.
"Harry, leave the Dursleys to me; I will see if I can track them down and find out where they are. They might even have returned them home, though I doubt it. *You* concentrate on staying safe. I don't want you leaving the inn alone, not even into Diagon Alley."
"What? But I'll be fine, professor, really! I-"
"Harry, it's for your own safety. It'll only be a few more days until term begins anyway."
The tone in Dumbledore's voice told Harry the subject was closed, and he decided it didn't matter anyway. So what if he went out for walks? Nothing would change. It was better, anyway, if he stayed cooped up in his room at the Leaky Cauldron, blaming himself for Cedric's death, Voldemort's return, Wormtail's escape..all of it. And at night he would close his eyes, knowing that the nightmares would plague him yet again, that Voldemort would be there, and Cedric- it was inevitable. And then he would wake up, breathing heavily- he had taught himself not to cry out- and then spend the whole day blaming himself again, and so on.
He turned to Dumbledore. "If you say so, sir," he said tiredly.
"Harry," the old wizard said gently, "are you all right?"
He wasn't, he hadn't been for two months, but he didn't say that. "I'm fine, really.."he said, staring at the fireplace. The crimson flames danced merrily, but that did nothing to lighten his mood. It wasn't the first time that his gloomy mood came suddenly like that. Sometimes he would be feeling completely normal, and then it would descend on him, driving dark thoughts into his mind, much like a dementor.
Dumbledore pierced him with that penetrating blue gaze, then, "You haven't been sleeping well, have you,"
Harry set his jaw firmly but didn't answer.
"Harry.." "Please, don't worry about me," said Harry quietly.
The headmaster sighed. "I cannot force you to say anything." He reached inside his robes and pulled out a small bottle that Harry recognized, a bottle he had been dying to get his hands on for weeks..
"Sleeping Potion," Dumbledore said, handing it to Harry. "That's fine if you want to deny it," he said before the fifteen-year old could say anything. "Just take it, alright?"
"Thank you," he said softly.
Dumbledore nodded. "I should get going," he remarked, standing up. "Oh, the Ministry have been wondering about the magic used in Privet Drive; I shall let them know it was an emergency case. I'll see you at school, Harry."
"Professor Dumbledore?" he said before the wizard could Apparate.
"Yes?"
"What-" he swallowed, "What's new with, I mean, did anything happen..Voldemort?"
"No, he hasn't made an appearance yet- but be on your guard."
"And Sirius, is he all right?"
Dumbledore smiled. "He's fine, he sends his regards, and so does Professor Lupin."
Harry nodded, relieved. Now he could go and brood in peace.
"I shall be in touch," said Dumbledore, and then he was gone, leaving Harry standing there and clutching the bottle of Sleeping Potion tightly.
*~*~*
*Taking your opponent by surprise- a well-known, commonly used maneuver; however, few have truly mastered it. You could lead him to believe that you are weakened, or disabled, and as such, catch him off guard. Some consider this technique cowardly..*
Harry rubbed his tired eyes and flipped to the next page of the book he'd bought. Somehow he didn't think all the books and spells in the world would help- in the end, he was going to face Voldemort again no matter what. Still, he had to be prepared..
A noise to his right brought his attention to the window of the comfortable inn room. Harry grinned in delight as he spotted the snowy-white owl beneath the glass.
"Hedwig!" he exclaimed, pulling the window open and letting her playfully nip his finger. He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out some old biscuits he'd kept from the Dursleys.
"Here you are girl, sorry- they're all I've got now."
As the owl busied itself with eating, Harry eagerly untied the note from its leg and read.
*Dear Harry,
Dumbledore told me about what happened -are you all right? I was crazy with worry when I heard. Please be on your guard, and don't even venture a step outside the inn by yourself. It worries me that you're staying there alone. Please be careful, Harry.
The Weasleys are coming to stay at the Leaky Cauldron soon (perhaps today)- that'll definitely make me and Dumbledore feel better. Still, Mr. Weasley will be away most of the time, and I don't want you to leave anywhere with the kids except if he or Mrs. Weasley is with you. I'll be in touch, and you may see me soon.
-Sirius*
Harry put away the letter, smiling slightly. Well, he would be seeing the Weasleys, and maybe even Sirius not so long from now. He doubted though, that he would make good company.
Why did they have to be so overprotective? Harry knew he was in danger. And he also knew by now that staying safely inside didn't make him truly safe. Soon, no one would be truly safe nowhere. He shuddered. All that was because of him, his own fault.
He wondered if Hermione would be coming too. Things weren't very pretty between her and Ron lately, as she had seen Viktor Krum once and gone out with him while he happened to be in England, although she hadn't gone and visited him in Bulgaria.
Harry scowled; how he wished that he could be like that, a small rivalry between friends the only thing on his mind. Ron had no idea how lucky he was.
He leaned back in his armchair, his eyelids drooping. The urge to sleep was now becoming so rare that Harry took this as a blessing, and he surrendered to slumber. The slumber; however, was anything but peaceful..
*The gray eyes were back, dark, haunted, and hollow. Blood streamed down the once- handsome face as though it were tears. The mouth grinned, revealing jagged white fangs. Harry shrieked, backing away from the monstrous creation.
"You see what I have become? You see, Harry?"
"No! It's not you, please, it can't be!"
"It's me all right. Do you know how I became like this? Hideous.. dead.."
"No! I.."
"YOU! I became like this because of you! Every misery the world will face soon, will be your fault.." The voice lowered until it was a dangerous whisper. "Don't ever forget that, Harry, when something bad happens. Your fault.."
Cedric disappeared, and a tall, black-robed figure appeared in his place. Harry started shaking violently.
"The Dark Lord always wins," the high-pitched voice said, before erupting into cruel laughter. "Always wins..always wins..always wins.." The words rang in his ears.
"No.." said Harry weakly. "Can't.."
Voldemort laughed again, and suddenly Cedric's face- now normal- was right in front of Harry's, those gray eyes boring into his terrified emerald green. And then-
"I'll see you soon Harry," he whispered. *
Harry screamed, a long, blood-curdling scream. He jolted up, sweat and tears pouring down his face, his scar burning, Cedric's whisper still in his ear,
*I'll see you soon, Harry..*
And he screamed again. He jumped out of the armchair like a mad thing, seeing nothing but Cedric in front of him. Where was he, anyway? A door magically burst open as he hurtled towards it, and continued sprinting beneath the doorway, the screams now groans, gasping for breath.
Something was ahead, something nice, if only he could get there- then everything would be all right. He ran with all his might, and then it was right in front of him. A feeling of warmth spread through him, and the next second, he had thrown himself at that something nice, wrapped his arms tightly around that something nice, and sobbed onto that something nice, until he had run out of tears.
The image of Cedric was now disappearing, and instead he could see flashes of red. What a nice red- so fiery, and happy, so alive..
Wait..red? Something in his brain screeched to a halt, and he seemed to be jolted back into his senses. He jerked his head back and his eyes widened.
That something nice was Ginny Weasley. "Oh, my God, Ginny..I'm so sorry," he gasped. His face burning, he let go of her, staring in disbelief. "I can't believe I did that.."
Hell, he barely knew the girl and had thrown himself at her like that. He glanced at her face: she was blushing even harder than him- well that was no surprise- and she seemed to be at a loss for words. Finally, she muttered,
"I- it's all right, I mean- I - heard you, um.. you were screaming, and-"
Harry swallowed. How was he going to explain this?
"I had some stupid dream- I was still not conscious I guess, and I just jumped at the first person I saw. I really am sorry, I didn't even know it was you." He bit his lip.
"Oh, um."
Was that disappointment he'd heard in her voice? He groaned inwardly, remembering the singing valentine. He sincerely hoped he wasn't going to get stuck in something now. He *really* had enough of his mind, what with trying to deal with- Ron's little sister. She was a really nice person and everything, and by the looks of it had grown to be very pretty since the last time he'd seen her, but Harry wished she would find someone who could give her what she deserved.
"Are you all right?" she asked suddenly, her deep brown eyes wide. "You- you look like.." she stopped, flustered. "I'm sorry, it's none of my business." She nervously tucked a few strands of red curls behind her ear.
Harry smiled in spite of himself. "No, that's all right. I'm fine really, just a bit tired- nothing a good night's sleep wouldn't fix," he lied.
She nodded politely but looked unconvinced.
"So-um, when did you guys get here?" Harry asked.
"Just now," she said. Harry noticed she wouldn't look him in the eye. "Um, the others are in the pub- Tom's finding us rooms." She paused. "I was just passing by here when, um.." she trailed off.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, about that, Ginny.." He cleared his throat. "Would you mind if you don't mention what you, ah- heard to anyone? I mean, I'm fine and everything, and we wouldn't want your family to worry about nothing right?"
Ginny looked uncomfortable. "If you're not feeling well or- something, don't- don't you think they should know?"
Harry could tell she didn't believe that he was fine and wanted to tell her parents about his having nightmares, which was the last thing Harry needed. He didn't want them worrying about him on top of everything that was going on now. He was fine; Dumbledore had given him that potion.
"Yes, but I feel great, really." The words sounded false even as he said them. "And you know they'd worry for nothing.."
She didn't look happy at all, but apparently wasn't brave enough to contradict him. "I guess so," she muttered.
"Great, then," Harry flashed her a smile, and she blushed.
An awkward silence passed between them, which Harry finally broke by saying, "Well, we better go and meet them.."
"Um, yeah." Ginny cleared her throat.
Soon they were walking down the passage back to the main room of the inn, Harry anticipating finally seeing his best friend after almost a whole summer.
But again, he doubted he would make good company. Oh well, he'd have to try and be cheerful. For the sake of those who cared about him.
Chapter 2- The Weasleys Arrive
Disclaimer: Everything you don't recognize belongs to me, and everything you do recognize doesn't.
A/N: Thanks a lot to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. I really enjoy writing this, and if you bear with me you'll find it turns out to be some plot, and some romance. (I hope it will!: ) ) For now, enjoy!
Harry gaped at the wizard before him, his eyes wide.
"Dead? But-but he can't be dead..I *saw* him..he was talking to me!" he sputtered.
"Perhaps it was another Robert McKinnon," said Dumbledore calmly.
"Yeah..must've been," Harry frowned. But two Robert McKinnons who had been Aurors and had known Lily Potter?
"What did he look like?" The Headmaster resumed his pace again, and Harry hurried along beside him, trying to remember.
"Middle-aged..no, older, - I think- black hair, he had dark blue eyes..I remember they were strange eyes."
"How do you mean, strange?"
"I- I don't know, professor..there was just something weird about them..like they were all wrong."
"Robert did not have eyes like that- indeed though, they were dark blue. As was his hair dark, but- I suppose there are lots of people who have dark hair and blue eyes." He paused, looking thoughtful.
It was still too much of a coincidence to Harry. "Maybe I saw his ghost..?"
"As far as I know, he did not become a ghost when he died- not all wizards do, you know- besides, he couldn't have been a ghost if he was solid and looked like any other man," said Dumbledore.
Harry wondered why some wizards became ghosts when they died and some did not. Maybe those who did had unfinished business in the world..
"How did he die?" he asked suddenly.
Dumbledore sighed. "As many wizards did at that time sixteen years ago, when Voldemort was at the height of his powers. The McKinnons were very powerful, they were known for fighting with our side. Robert was an Auror, he was killed fighting Death Eaters. It was around the time just before his downfall.." He nodded towards Harry, who absentmindedly fingered his scar.
He thought hard..that couldn't be the same McKinnon..could it? Maybe it was his brother, no, Dumbledore would've said if he had a brother.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "Professor, there are potions to get the body of someone else, right? Like Polyjuice, maybe. What if it were a Death Eater in disguise, wanting to confuse me?"
Dumbledore was smiling at him. "You have a good brain there Harry- (Harry reddened)however, any potion like that would require a part of the person you want to become, and as probably Mr. McKinnon's body by now is, well.."
"Yeah," said Harry quickly. He didn't think he'd like the mental image.
"I wouldn't worry about this if I were you, though. There are probably millions of possibilities to explain who you saw, and right now there are more important things at hand. While I must admit this is most peculiar, we can just let it aside for the time being."
Harry nodded, but he still couldn't help feeling unconvinced. 'Dumbledore's right,' he tried to reassure himself. 'In the magic world, there could be a million ways to see something that wasn't there, or whatever. Besides, I have enough on my mind right now.'
They had reached the magical entrance to Diagon Alley and they left through it to the Leaky Cauldron, where Tom greeted them and at Dumbledore's request, led them over to a private parlour where they could talk discreetly.
"Now, tell me about that attack," said Dumbledore seriously, taking a sip of tea which had been brought in. "You're sure it was Lucius Malfoy and his men?"
"Yes, I'm positive. Mr.Malfoy admitted it to me himself today- I saw him in the pub."
"You saw him here?"
"Yes. He threatened me, but he couldn't do anything with all those people around, I guess."
Dumbledore nodded, his hand stroking his beard thoughtfully. "We must find out what has happened to your relatives, of course."
The Dursleys. He'd completely forgotten about them. "Do-do you think they have them?" he asked hesitantly. "It is possible," replied Dumbledore. "How else could they have gotten to you at the house, if not by getting them to lead them there?"
"You don't mean- by Imperius?" Somehow he doubted that Uncle Vernon would give directions to his house to a bunch of freaky looking black- robed figures who had ambushed them, out of his own free will.
"Precisely."
Harry fiddled with his fingers. Were the Dursleys safe? He hated them with all of his being, but it didn't mean that he was fine with it if they were- murdered.
"Harry, leave the Dursleys to me; I will see if I can track them down and find out where they are. They might even have returned them home, though I doubt it. *You* concentrate on staying safe. I don't want you leaving the inn alone, not even into Diagon Alley."
"What? But I'll be fine, professor, really! I-"
"Harry, it's for your own safety. It'll only be a few more days until term begins anyway."
The tone in Dumbledore's voice told Harry the subject was closed, and he decided it didn't matter anyway. So what if he went out for walks? Nothing would change. It was better, anyway, if he stayed cooped up in his room at the Leaky Cauldron, blaming himself for Cedric's death, Voldemort's return, Wormtail's escape..all of it. And at night he would close his eyes, knowing that the nightmares would plague him yet again, that Voldemort would be there, and Cedric- it was inevitable. And then he would wake up, breathing heavily- he had taught himself not to cry out- and then spend the whole day blaming himself again, and so on.
He turned to Dumbledore. "If you say so, sir," he said tiredly.
"Harry," the old wizard said gently, "are you all right?"
He wasn't, he hadn't been for two months, but he didn't say that. "I'm fine, really.."he said, staring at the fireplace. The crimson flames danced merrily, but that did nothing to lighten his mood. It wasn't the first time that his gloomy mood came suddenly like that. Sometimes he would be feeling completely normal, and then it would descend on him, driving dark thoughts into his mind, much like a dementor.
Dumbledore pierced him with that penetrating blue gaze, then, "You haven't been sleeping well, have you,"
Harry set his jaw firmly but didn't answer.
"Harry.." "Please, don't worry about me," said Harry quietly.
The headmaster sighed. "I cannot force you to say anything." He reached inside his robes and pulled out a small bottle that Harry recognized, a bottle he had been dying to get his hands on for weeks..
"Sleeping Potion," Dumbledore said, handing it to Harry. "That's fine if you want to deny it," he said before the fifteen-year old could say anything. "Just take it, alright?"
"Thank you," he said softly.
Dumbledore nodded. "I should get going," he remarked, standing up. "Oh, the Ministry have been wondering about the magic used in Privet Drive; I shall let them know it was an emergency case. I'll see you at school, Harry."
"Professor Dumbledore?" he said before the wizard could Apparate.
"Yes?"
"What-" he swallowed, "What's new with, I mean, did anything happen..Voldemort?"
"No, he hasn't made an appearance yet- but be on your guard."
"And Sirius, is he all right?"
Dumbledore smiled. "He's fine, he sends his regards, and so does Professor Lupin."
Harry nodded, relieved. Now he could go and brood in peace.
"I shall be in touch," said Dumbledore, and then he was gone, leaving Harry standing there and clutching the bottle of Sleeping Potion tightly.
*~*~*
*Taking your opponent by surprise- a well-known, commonly used maneuver; however, few have truly mastered it. You could lead him to believe that you are weakened, or disabled, and as such, catch him off guard. Some consider this technique cowardly..*
Harry rubbed his tired eyes and flipped to the next page of the book he'd bought. Somehow he didn't think all the books and spells in the world would help- in the end, he was going to face Voldemort again no matter what. Still, he had to be prepared..
A noise to his right brought his attention to the window of the comfortable inn room. Harry grinned in delight as he spotted the snowy-white owl beneath the glass.
"Hedwig!" he exclaimed, pulling the window open and letting her playfully nip his finger. He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out some old biscuits he'd kept from the Dursleys.
"Here you are girl, sorry- they're all I've got now."
As the owl busied itself with eating, Harry eagerly untied the note from its leg and read.
*Dear Harry,
Dumbledore told me about what happened -are you all right? I was crazy with worry when I heard. Please be on your guard, and don't even venture a step outside the inn by yourself. It worries me that you're staying there alone. Please be careful, Harry.
The Weasleys are coming to stay at the Leaky Cauldron soon (perhaps today)- that'll definitely make me and Dumbledore feel better. Still, Mr. Weasley will be away most of the time, and I don't want you to leave anywhere with the kids except if he or Mrs. Weasley is with you. I'll be in touch, and you may see me soon.
-Sirius*
Harry put away the letter, smiling slightly. Well, he would be seeing the Weasleys, and maybe even Sirius not so long from now. He doubted though, that he would make good company.
Why did they have to be so overprotective? Harry knew he was in danger. And he also knew by now that staying safely inside didn't make him truly safe. Soon, no one would be truly safe nowhere. He shuddered. All that was because of him, his own fault.
He wondered if Hermione would be coming too. Things weren't very pretty between her and Ron lately, as she had seen Viktor Krum once and gone out with him while he happened to be in England, although she hadn't gone and visited him in Bulgaria.
Harry scowled; how he wished that he could be like that, a small rivalry between friends the only thing on his mind. Ron had no idea how lucky he was.
He leaned back in his armchair, his eyelids drooping. The urge to sleep was now becoming so rare that Harry took this as a blessing, and he surrendered to slumber. The slumber; however, was anything but peaceful..
*The gray eyes were back, dark, haunted, and hollow. Blood streamed down the once- handsome face as though it were tears. The mouth grinned, revealing jagged white fangs. Harry shrieked, backing away from the monstrous creation.
"You see what I have become? You see, Harry?"
"No! It's not you, please, it can't be!"
"It's me all right. Do you know how I became like this? Hideous.. dead.."
"No! I.."
"YOU! I became like this because of you! Every misery the world will face soon, will be your fault.." The voice lowered until it was a dangerous whisper. "Don't ever forget that, Harry, when something bad happens. Your fault.."
Cedric disappeared, and a tall, black-robed figure appeared in his place. Harry started shaking violently.
"The Dark Lord always wins," the high-pitched voice said, before erupting into cruel laughter. "Always wins..always wins..always wins.." The words rang in his ears.
"No.." said Harry weakly. "Can't.."
Voldemort laughed again, and suddenly Cedric's face- now normal- was right in front of Harry's, those gray eyes boring into his terrified emerald green. And then-
"I'll see you soon Harry," he whispered. *
Harry screamed, a long, blood-curdling scream. He jolted up, sweat and tears pouring down his face, his scar burning, Cedric's whisper still in his ear,
*I'll see you soon, Harry..*
And he screamed again. He jumped out of the armchair like a mad thing, seeing nothing but Cedric in front of him. Where was he, anyway? A door magically burst open as he hurtled towards it, and continued sprinting beneath the doorway, the screams now groans, gasping for breath.
Something was ahead, something nice, if only he could get there- then everything would be all right. He ran with all his might, and then it was right in front of him. A feeling of warmth spread through him, and the next second, he had thrown himself at that something nice, wrapped his arms tightly around that something nice, and sobbed onto that something nice, until he had run out of tears.
The image of Cedric was now disappearing, and instead he could see flashes of red. What a nice red- so fiery, and happy, so alive..
Wait..red? Something in his brain screeched to a halt, and he seemed to be jolted back into his senses. He jerked his head back and his eyes widened.
That something nice was Ginny Weasley. "Oh, my God, Ginny..I'm so sorry," he gasped. His face burning, he let go of her, staring in disbelief. "I can't believe I did that.."
Hell, he barely knew the girl and had thrown himself at her like that. He glanced at her face: she was blushing even harder than him- well that was no surprise- and she seemed to be at a loss for words. Finally, she muttered,
"I- it's all right, I mean- I - heard you, um.. you were screaming, and-"
Harry swallowed. How was he going to explain this?
"I had some stupid dream- I was still not conscious I guess, and I just jumped at the first person I saw. I really am sorry, I didn't even know it was you." He bit his lip.
"Oh, um."
Was that disappointment he'd heard in her voice? He groaned inwardly, remembering the singing valentine. He sincerely hoped he wasn't going to get stuck in something now. He *really* had enough of his mind, what with trying to deal with- Ron's little sister. She was a really nice person and everything, and by the looks of it had grown to be very pretty since the last time he'd seen her, but Harry wished she would find someone who could give her what she deserved.
"Are you all right?" she asked suddenly, her deep brown eyes wide. "You- you look like.." she stopped, flustered. "I'm sorry, it's none of my business." She nervously tucked a few strands of red curls behind her ear.
Harry smiled in spite of himself. "No, that's all right. I'm fine really, just a bit tired- nothing a good night's sleep wouldn't fix," he lied.
She nodded politely but looked unconvinced.
"So-um, when did you guys get here?" Harry asked.
"Just now," she said. Harry noticed she wouldn't look him in the eye. "Um, the others are in the pub- Tom's finding us rooms." She paused. "I was just passing by here when, um.." she trailed off.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, about that, Ginny.." He cleared his throat. "Would you mind if you don't mention what you, ah- heard to anyone? I mean, I'm fine and everything, and we wouldn't want your family to worry about nothing right?"
Ginny looked uncomfortable. "If you're not feeling well or- something, don't- don't you think they should know?"
Harry could tell she didn't believe that he was fine and wanted to tell her parents about his having nightmares, which was the last thing Harry needed. He didn't want them worrying about him on top of everything that was going on now. He was fine; Dumbledore had given him that potion.
"Yes, but I feel great, really." The words sounded false even as he said them. "And you know they'd worry for nothing.."
She didn't look happy at all, but apparently wasn't brave enough to contradict him. "I guess so," she muttered.
"Great, then," Harry flashed her a smile, and she blushed.
An awkward silence passed between them, which Harry finally broke by saying, "Well, we better go and meet them.."
"Um, yeah." Ginny cleared her throat.
Soon they were walking down the passage back to the main room of the inn, Harry anticipating finally seeing his best friend after almost a whole summer.
But again, he doubted he would make good company. Oh well, he'd have to try and be cheerful. For the sake of those who cared about him.