Legend
Chapter XIV: Discussions
by Marie McKinnon
Harry's broken nose had not improved while Ginny let her anger out in the form of
glittering scintilla. He trudged down to the Hospital Wing, waited a bit for it to heal, and insisted
that he return to his dormitory. After all, he was a Prefect, and his House relied on him for
leadership. Madam Pomfrey let him go reluctantly, clucking about children who didn't know
what was good for them. Her subtlety, or lack thereof, had no effect on him.
The lovely paintings and tapestries on the walls were unnoticed as he placed foot before
leaden foot. One picture was on his mind, and that was the picture he felt branded across his
forehead. It was more like a movie, really, had he cared to think about it. Ginny, calm and
bothered, looked him right in his mind's eye. As though seeing it from outside, he watched
himself put his arms around her waist and kiss her. His lack of control was obvious, but just the
memory of her heat against his torso sent shivers of pleasure up and down his spine. She had the
softest skin he'd ever touched, and couldn't stop tracing circles on the back of her neck with his
thumb and index finger while his mouth was glued to hers. Her gasps encouraged him to liven
things up with a little bit of tongue. He'd just begun to get into it when her fist smashed into his
nose. Blood spurted onto both of their robes. Smiling smugly, she watched him rush out to get
professional help.
Harry almost hurt the still-tender cartilage of his nose by walking into the Fat Lady.
"Pufferfish scales," he said before she could ask him for the password. The flickering firelight of
the common room tossed shadows onto the stone floors outside. He slipped through without
hesitation and looked for Ron and Hermione.
They sat together, bickering as usual. "No, he'd done something to his face, there was
blood everywhere!"
"Yes, well, where exactly do you think he was before his nose started bleeding? D'you
think it just appeared by magic?"
Ron pretended to look thoughtful and said "I think it's possible, actually."
"I *know* it's possible! I've learnt the spell, but he hasn't." Hermione, exasperated with
the vicious cycle her arguments with Ron followed, spotted Harry and called out "Harry! Are
you all right? What happened to your nose?"
"I'm all right," he replied with a note of compunction in his voice. "It kind of broke, but
Madam Pomfrey fixed it up."
"How did it break on the balcony? Did you fall asleep and bang your head on the
railing?"
"Not quite," he said, evading the question.
Hermione was considerably more observant than Ron and knew that Ginny had been
outside when her friend had expressed a sudden urge for fresh air. "Exactly why did she hit you
this time?"
"I just-- I mean, she wasn't even there, what're you talking about?"
His best friend looked up at him and said "I can't argue with you about this any more,
Harry. Why can't you leave her alone?"
"I can't. I just can't. Ginny's gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, divine, I can't go on enough
to say it properly, and I seem to be incapable of not--you know. Please, convince her I'm not
that bad, I can't stand it," he finished with an imploring look at Ron.
"I'm not convincing her of anything. That's your job. You won't get any pity from me,
though, if you keep trying to win her over and she hits you."
Harry sighed. "As long as you don't bellow at me, I won't ask for pity."
"Deal."
*
"Ginny, did you hear? Potter--"
Ginny rolled over onto her stomach and finished "--broke his nose, I know." The soiled
robes now rested in the hamper and had been exchanged for black pajama shorts and a sleeveless
shirt.
Frances looked at Ginny, bemused. "How d'you know? He just got back, and he hadn't
told anyone it'd been broken."
"How do you think I know?" Her self confident smile made it apparent that she'd had a
hand in the destruction of Harry's face, or rather a fist. She stretched, a very graceful and catlike
movement, and yawned as though she were bored. Her velvety coverlet wrinkled as she curled
up and stretched out. It was dark green and comfortable, perfect for reclining and snuggling
under during the winter.
No answer was needed for that question. "What did he do?" Her friend sat down on the
bed, looking very earnest and worried. Blue eyes wide, she stared at Ginny in disbelief. She had
seen this girl in first year hiding from everyone, especially herself, so timid that if she were in the
room, no one knew. Now she was confident, powerful, elegant, and able to talk about her recent
fights without a hint of remorse. True, Ginny had been very calm and controlled last year, but
the difference was still startling. It was as though something had taken her over and exaggerated
her traits, making her better and stronger than before. Frances thought it was an improvement,
but to a certain degree. If the development continued, she would be uncontrollable.
Her cold voice cut through her companion's pensive mood. "He snogged me, what the
Hell did you think he'd done?"
He seemed to be changing too fast as well. "I don't know," she replied, buying herself
some time to ponder Harry's turmoil. He'd been enamored of Cho Chang for as long as she
cared to remember, and suddenly he was all over Ginny. "Any details you'd care to give me?"
"Not particularly, but I will anyway. I was out on the balcony, kind of in the corner,
trying to be alone and think about something. He walked right up behind me and put one of his
hands on either side of mine on the railing. Pleasant conversation didn't quite work while I was
facing the other direction, so I turned around, and he was about two steps away and leaning over
me. You know the drill, hands on waist, my threats, his disregard of my threats. He kissed me
and pinned my arms so I couldn't hit him. There was no room to back away because I'd already
been in the corner. I just was furious, especially when he dared to start-- I think you understand
without details-- so I broke his hold and punched him in the nose. Made some comment about it
being a pity that he'd gotten blood on my robes. He left and I stayed outside a bit to calm down.
Didn't work, though," she added, leaving out the silver that had swirled into shape around her.
"I'm still rather upset."
Frances sucked in a breath. "Well," she said delicately, "I think I can understand that."
*
At breakfast the next morning both Ginny and Harry appeared, the former calm and
collected, the latter somewhat nervous about the gossip already spreading about him. The
familiar faces at the Gryffindor table gave him no solace.
The younger Gryff searched for a spot as far away from her enemy as possible. Ron and
Hermione had different ideas, however. They saw her scanning the table for an empty spot and
not finding one, even among her friends and classmates.
"Ginny!" Hermione called. "Come sit with us. There's an empty seat next to Harry."
Her breath caught in her throat and she swore softly. She would've preferred to sit next
to Malfoy, for Heaven's sake. Well, that couldn't be considered all that odd, as she didn't
particularly like Harry, and had a penchant for that extremely handsome Slytherin. Ginny didn't
want to seem cowardly, so she put a little swagger into her walk and slid elegantly into the seat
next to Harry.
A sweet smile and the seemingly kind "How's your nose this morning, Harry?" made his
anxiety more profound.
He reddened at her comment. "Much better, thanks," was all he said, but he avoided her
eyes. Partially because looking at her at all would have caused him to try something that Ron
wouldn't appreciate, but also because he was half afraid of what he'd see there.
"So, have you told Ron and Hermione about your evening?" She asked, trying to make
him embarrassed. It had already worked somwhat, but she was almost sure that they hadn't
gotten the full story.
"We got the general idea," Ron growled, "but he didn't tell us anything."
Her shocked expression made it clear that she was just trying to shock and outrage her
brother. "Why don't you give them the rest of the story? I'm sure they'd love to hear it.
Especially the part where I told you, in no uncertain terms, not to come near me, and you did it
anyway."
"Ummm." He said, redder than before. Hermione's eyebrows were a mile high and she
looked at her best friend suspiciously.
"I'll just leave now," Ginny said, smiling to herself as Harry began to stutter out his story.
Once outside the Great Hall, she laughed. She had no pity for Harry, but it looked like
she'd come off the better in that discussion.
Chapter XIV: Discussions
by Marie McKinnon
Harry's broken nose had not improved while Ginny let her anger out in the form of
glittering scintilla. He trudged down to the Hospital Wing, waited a bit for it to heal, and insisted
that he return to his dormitory. After all, he was a Prefect, and his House relied on him for
leadership. Madam Pomfrey let him go reluctantly, clucking about children who didn't know
what was good for them. Her subtlety, or lack thereof, had no effect on him.
The lovely paintings and tapestries on the walls were unnoticed as he placed foot before
leaden foot. One picture was on his mind, and that was the picture he felt branded across his
forehead. It was more like a movie, really, had he cared to think about it. Ginny, calm and
bothered, looked him right in his mind's eye. As though seeing it from outside, he watched
himself put his arms around her waist and kiss her. His lack of control was obvious, but just the
memory of her heat against his torso sent shivers of pleasure up and down his spine. She had the
softest skin he'd ever touched, and couldn't stop tracing circles on the back of her neck with his
thumb and index finger while his mouth was glued to hers. Her gasps encouraged him to liven
things up with a little bit of tongue. He'd just begun to get into it when her fist smashed into his
nose. Blood spurted onto both of their robes. Smiling smugly, she watched him rush out to get
professional help.
Harry almost hurt the still-tender cartilage of his nose by walking into the Fat Lady.
"Pufferfish scales," he said before she could ask him for the password. The flickering firelight of
the common room tossed shadows onto the stone floors outside. He slipped through without
hesitation and looked for Ron and Hermione.
They sat together, bickering as usual. "No, he'd done something to his face, there was
blood everywhere!"
"Yes, well, where exactly do you think he was before his nose started bleeding? D'you
think it just appeared by magic?"
Ron pretended to look thoughtful and said "I think it's possible, actually."
"I *know* it's possible! I've learnt the spell, but he hasn't." Hermione, exasperated with
the vicious cycle her arguments with Ron followed, spotted Harry and called out "Harry! Are
you all right? What happened to your nose?"
"I'm all right," he replied with a note of compunction in his voice. "It kind of broke, but
Madam Pomfrey fixed it up."
"How did it break on the balcony? Did you fall asleep and bang your head on the
railing?"
"Not quite," he said, evading the question.
Hermione was considerably more observant than Ron and knew that Ginny had been
outside when her friend had expressed a sudden urge for fresh air. "Exactly why did she hit you
this time?"
"I just-- I mean, she wasn't even there, what're you talking about?"
His best friend looked up at him and said "I can't argue with you about this any more,
Harry. Why can't you leave her alone?"
"I can't. I just can't. Ginny's gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, divine, I can't go on enough
to say it properly, and I seem to be incapable of not--you know. Please, convince her I'm not
that bad, I can't stand it," he finished with an imploring look at Ron.
"I'm not convincing her of anything. That's your job. You won't get any pity from me,
though, if you keep trying to win her over and she hits you."
Harry sighed. "As long as you don't bellow at me, I won't ask for pity."
"Deal."
*
"Ginny, did you hear? Potter--"
Ginny rolled over onto her stomach and finished "--broke his nose, I know." The soiled
robes now rested in the hamper and had been exchanged for black pajama shorts and a sleeveless
shirt.
Frances looked at Ginny, bemused. "How d'you know? He just got back, and he hadn't
told anyone it'd been broken."
"How do you think I know?" Her self confident smile made it apparent that she'd had a
hand in the destruction of Harry's face, or rather a fist. She stretched, a very graceful and catlike
movement, and yawned as though she were bored. Her velvety coverlet wrinkled as she curled
up and stretched out. It was dark green and comfortable, perfect for reclining and snuggling
under during the winter.
No answer was needed for that question. "What did he do?" Her friend sat down on the
bed, looking very earnest and worried. Blue eyes wide, she stared at Ginny in disbelief. She had
seen this girl in first year hiding from everyone, especially herself, so timid that if she were in the
room, no one knew. Now she was confident, powerful, elegant, and able to talk about her recent
fights without a hint of remorse. True, Ginny had been very calm and controlled last year, but
the difference was still startling. It was as though something had taken her over and exaggerated
her traits, making her better and stronger than before. Frances thought it was an improvement,
but to a certain degree. If the development continued, she would be uncontrollable.
Her cold voice cut through her companion's pensive mood. "He snogged me, what the
Hell did you think he'd done?"
He seemed to be changing too fast as well. "I don't know," she replied, buying herself
some time to ponder Harry's turmoil. He'd been enamored of Cho Chang for as long as she
cared to remember, and suddenly he was all over Ginny. "Any details you'd care to give me?"
"Not particularly, but I will anyway. I was out on the balcony, kind of in the corner,
trying to be alone and think about something. He walked right up behind me and put one of his
hands on either side of mine on the railing. Pleasant conversation didn't quite work while I was
facing the other direction, so I turned around, and he was about two steps away and leaning over
me. You know the drill, hands on waist, my threats, his disregard of my threats. He kissed me
and pinned my arms so I couldn't hit him. There was no room to back away because I'd already
been in the corner. I just was furious, especially when he dared to start-- I think you understand
without details-- so I broke his hold and punched him in the nose. Made some comment about it
being a pity that he'd gotten blood on my robes. He left and I stayed outside a bit to calm down.
Didn't work, though," she added, leaving out the silver that had swirled into shape around her.
"I'm still rather upset."
Frances sucked in a breath. "Well," she said delicately, "I think I can understand that."
*
At breakfast the next morning both Ginny and Harry appeared, the former calm and
collected, the latter somewhat nervous about the gossip already spreading about him. The
familiar faces at the Gryffindor table gave him no solace.
The younger Gryff searched for a spot as far away from her enemy as possible. Ron and
Hermione had different ideas, however. They saw her scanning the table for an empty spot and
not finding one, even among her friends and classmates.
"Ginny!" Hermione called. "Come sit with us. There's an empty seat next to Harry."
Her breath caught in her throat and she swore softly. She would've preferred to sit next
to Malfoy, for Heaven's sake. Well, that couldn't be considered all that odd, as she didn't
particularly like Harry, and had a penchant for that extremely handsome Slytherin. Ginny didn't
want to seem cowardly, so she put a little swagger into her walk and slid elegantly into the seat
next to Harry.
A sweet smile and the seemingly kind "How's your nose this morning, Harry?" made his
anxiety more profound.
He reddened at her comment. "Much better, thanks," was all he said, but he avoided her
eyes. Partially because looking at her at all would have caused him to try something that Ron
wouldn't appreciate, but also because he was half afraid of what he'd see there.
"So, have you told Ron and Hermione about your evening?" She asked, trying to make
him embarrassed. It had already worked somwhat, but she was almost sure that they hadn't
gotten the full story.
"We got the general idea," Ron growled, "but he didn't tell us anything."
Her shocked expression made it clear that she was just trying to shock and outrage her
brother. "Why don't you give them the rest of the story? I'm sure they'd love to hear it.
Especially the part where I told you, in no uncertain terms, not to come near me, and you did it
anyway."
"Ummm." He said, redder than before. Hermione's eyebrows were a mile high and she
looked at her best friend suspiciously.
"I'll just leave now," Ginny said, smiling to herself as Harry began to stutter out his story.
Once outside the Great Hall, she laughed. She had no pity for Harry, but it looked like
she'd come off the better in that discussion.