Crash And Burn
Author's Note: Thanks to all my reviewers! This fic is turning out to be longer than I expected, not that I'm complaining! I love this fic! *hugs reviewers* And you guys like it too!
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Harry was still looking Ginny over after a few minutes, stuttering as he tried in vain to get something out. He couldn't though. The way the shirt hugged tightly to her chest, the way the snake skin pants showed off her curves. It was almost too much. "Ginny," he breathed out, "you look……wow. Damn sexy."
Ginny blushed deeply. She could feel the red in her face. She watched him as his jaw dropped to the floor. She watched as his eyes wandered hungrily over her, taking in her hourglass figure. She reached a hand up and turned his face to hers. "Harry? You still in there?" He nodded his head slowly, shaking it to come back to reality. "Harry? You were about to say something?"
Harry tore his eyes away from roaming and looked to her face again. "Well," he said, his eyes still as wide as saucers and his hands wringing, "I thought I would take you out to Hogsmeade and we could spend the day together. You know, just walking around, looking in all the shops."
"That'd be great Harry! I'll go get my robe." She ran up the stairs, grabbed her robe, and came back down. "Shall we," she asked, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the portrait hole. He didn't move at first though. When she turned around to ask him what was the matter, he stared into her eyes, pulling her to him and bringing his lips to hers.
Ginny melted into the kiss and his arms, savoring the sweet taste of his lips on hers. Soon his tongue was begging for hers and they were locked in a passionate embrace, their lips doing battle with each other as their love overflowed. They were so into each other that they didn't notice the pair of eyes watching her from the shadows. The eyes grew narrowed as they watched the two. ~You'll pay Weasley. You'll pay.~
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After Harry and Ginny left, the figure stepped out of the shadows. It growled, the anger building inside them at the display they had just seen. ~How could they do that? They know how much I loved her, they know how much Cho loved him. Perhaps she took the right path. Oh well. No matter. I'll put an end to that relationship. Soon she'll see the mistake she made, how the lies she told will come back to haunt her. Oh yes, she'll see. And so will that bastard Potter.~ The figure made their way out of the portrait hole, following Harry and Ginny yet far enough behind that they wouldn't know they were there. They would follow them around that day, that week, that month, until they knew all their hiding places, knew where they went, what time. They'd make sure to have it down. Then, just when the two were least expecting it: Avada Kedavra. ~Betrayal leads us to do many things we wouldn't normally do. Nobody would suspect me. Everyone would suspect that idiot Chang or that fool Malfoy. He may be sly but he falls short of cunning. And I have the means to keep close tabs on them. They'll never know until the end, right before I kill them. They'll see. Ignoring me is not the right thing to do.~
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"Keep them closed," Harry said, laughter in his voice. Ginny was struggling, trying to open her eyes and see where they were going. Harry had told her that he had a surprise planned for them when they got to Hogsmeade. As soon as they entered the village, he had put his hands over her eyes, using his body to guide her around. It felt as though they had walked miles to Ginny when in fact it hadn't really been that far.
"Are we almost there yet Harry," she asked. She suddenly felt the crunching of leaves and the snapping of twigs underneath her feet. "Harry," she whispered, "are we in the forest?"
"Yes," he whispered back. "Now quiet down. We're almost there. It's someplace I've wanted to visit for a while. Someplace I saw in a picture." After a few more minutes Harry stopped. "We're here," he said, taking his hands off her eyes. She inhaled sharply at the sight before her.
They were standing on a ledge next to a waterfall, the colors of the rainbow dancing in the water's reflection. The cascade fell into a sparkling clear blue lagoon, the crystal clear water barely disturbed by the falling water. Around the lagoon was a bright green blanket of grass, hoofprints evidence of animals being near. Towering trees with blue flowers and wispy leaves dotted the landscape. There were fields and meadows full of wildflowers, their brilliant shades of red, yellow, purple, almost any color you could think of dotting the tall grass. When the wind blew, and a slight breeze rippled the grasses and wildflowers, it looked as though a giant flag were waving cheerfully to them. There was so much beauty there that Ginny almost cried at the sight.
Harry had his arms around her waist, letting her lean on him as he surveyed the surroundings as well. In the distance he could see a unicorn playing joyfully with its baby, the two engaged in some equine game of tag, running back and forth, each getting close enough to touch the other with their nose before jetting off. He could see flocks of birds flying overhead, small herds of kashyas and even a few Centaurs that happened to be roaming through the forest. The land before him was amazingly beautiful, as if it had been protected from the outside world, like something you would see in a dream. "What do you think Ginny," Harry asked, staring straight ahead of him.
"It so beautiful. There are no words that can possibly describe the beauty of this place. How did you find this," she asked, a tear of joy trickling slowly down her cheek.
"This," he said, taking on arm from around her waist and sweeping it out in front of her, "is all my own. The deed I found in that box from my mother was for this land, as far as the eye can see here. I don't know how they came across it, or how they got it, but I own this. This is my land," he said, taking a deep breath. Thinking about the deed meant thinking about his mother and father. He closed his eyes, steadying himself before he continued. "Come on. I want to see something," he said, taking her hand and leading her down the path that lead to the lagoon.
At the bottom of the path they turned to the right, admiring all that was there, the moss covered rocks, the singing fish jumping playfully in and out of the water, threading themselves between the rocks on the bottom. Harry lead her over to a large rock, flat on the top, that sat on the edge of the lagoon. It was close enough to get a light spray from the waterfall yet far enough away that you wouldn't get wet. He led her up on top of it, the two of them sitting down, Ginny leaning back on Harry. "Look," he said, pointing to a carving on the rock. Ginny turned and looked.
It was a carving of a stag and a winged horse, running side by side for all eternity. Underneath the horse was written "Forever yours, Lily" and underneath the stag was written "Forever yours, James." He sighed, watching the two animals run together. They were right. They would be together forever. The stag and the horse, immortalized on this rock. "I wanted to come here because I saw this place in a picture that was also in the box, in the envelope with the deeds. There are many more places to see around here, places my parents visited, or were, where they took a picture. I wanted to come here first though. I wanted to come here with you," he said, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Harry, this place is too beautiful to be described by words," she said, sighing with happiness. She closed her eyes for a bit, leaning more onto him so she could hear his heart beating. She felt him slip something into her hand and when she opened her eyes she saw a parchment envelope and in shimmering blue ink the words "Harry James Potter." "Harry," she asked, looking up at him, "are you sure you want to open this now?"
"Wherever I open it, I'll open it with you. You've been there for me so much recently that holding this back from you would be like lying to you. I couldn't do it. I want to open this here. I'm sure this is what my mother would have wanted. Go on Gin, open it up. We can both read it," he said, kissing the top of her head and playing with her hair.
She looked up at him one last time before turning back to the letter. She flipped the envelope over, her hand shaking a bit as she tore around the seal, careful not to disturb it. It was his parents' seal, something he should keep she reasoned with herself. She flipped open the top of the envelope, cautiously grasping the folded paper between her fingers as she pulled it out of the envelope. She took the papers and unfolded them, opening them up in her hand. And she began to read, as did Harry, the last words that his mother ever wrote for him:
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this it means we are gone. There is so much to tell you that I can't begin to write it all. We know Voldemort is on our tail. We had the Fidelius Charm cast yesterday, Peter Pettigrew as our secret keeper. He was always a good friend when you needed him. I just hope he isn't captured by Voldemort and tells where we are. Otherwise I fear all is lost.
What do you say to a son who you'll never get to watch grow up? I can't begin to describe the sadness that overcomes me writing this. I fear that in the end all my efforts to change the future will be lost and we will never get to see your smiling face as you get your letter from Hogwarts. Oh, you're sure to get in there. In fact, thinking about it, you're probably there right now, snuck off to your hiding place with your girlfriend, same as James and I used to do. Oh to see your face. Dumbledore came the day after you were born. He gave you your first toy, a small stuffed stag, a replica of your father. You could never be parted from that afterwards. You kept that stag at your side all the time, same as you are now. I'm watching you, running around the house, your energy amazing us both. You are everything we could hope for in a son.
I couldn't write all the memories, all the things I wanted to. Everything I remember, everything your father remembers, everything we wanted you to know is in that Pensieve in the box. Look into it. You'll see a lot of moments of you growing up, and even some of the adventures the Marauders took. Just don't any ideas! Perhaps I shall explain everything else in the box. In the other envelope is a deed and some pictures. Your father and I bought that land just a few days ago from a very nice old man in Hogsmeade. He said that his family has kept it safe from the outside for many years, trying to preserve its natural state. It would be the perfect place for you and your wife to start your lives together. There's room for your children to grow. The pictures are of different places on the property where your father and I thought it necessary to take a picture. Some of them are goofy, others are not. The wedding bands in there are ours. I hope that you share my ring with the one you intend to marry. She'll be a very lucky girl to get you Harry. Even at just under a year you already show all the makings of a perfect gentleman and you'll be devilishly handsome just like your father.
I do have to warn you though, warn you of something to come. They thought your father and I were the ones. Unfortunately, Yule's Night came and went and proved we were not meant for that task. Dreams and visions of mine showed me the future, where you and your future wife will be the ones to end the reign of Voldemort. If you are old enough by now you will know of the prophecy, perhaps even have already met the girl. Perhaps she's even sitting there with you right now, reading the letter. If not you'll know who she is. She'll have red hair like mine. Ask this one about my journal. She is to keep it, but I want you to look at it, to read through it. Find out what your mother was like. Your father still won't tell me if he kept one. He always did want to be mysterious like that. Maybe that's why I love him so much.
Go through with the prophecy Harry. Find your girl and end the reign of Voldemort. Make the world safe for your children to grow up in. Make sure they'll have their parents growing up. I'm so sorry that we weren't there for you when you were growing up. I only hope nothing happens to Sirius and you have to go live with my sister. She's really soft at heart but is so afraid of magic, perhaps so jealous of the gift of it, that I have it and she doesn't, that she resents you. Go on now Harry. Look into the Pensieve. Find your girl. Get rid of Voldemort and start living your life. I love you so much I can't put it into words. I'll always love you Harry, and I'll always watch over you. Though you may not see us your father and I will always be with you, in your heart.
With All My Love,
Lily Evans Potter
Ginny was tearing by the time she got through the first paragraph. She was full out crying by the end. It was so sad to think about. Harry's mother had known that she would never live to see him grow up. She knew he would grow without having his father to teach him Quidditch, his mother to keep him in line when his boyishness took over and he got into things he shouldn't have. She knew she'd never see him get his acceptance letter, or graduate, or marry. She'd never see her grandchildren. Yet they thought of all that, putting everything they could into the box, trying to show their son what they were like. She slowly folded the letter, her breathing ragged from the sobs racking her body, and placed it back in the envelope, putting the envelope inside the pocket in her robes before turning around to face Harry. She saw the tears running freely down his face, same as she could feel on her face. She put her arms around her neck, kissing him before laying her head on his shoulder and crying.
Harry watched as she cautiously folded the letter back up and put it into her robes, felt the sobs racking her body, her will power trying to hold back the tears and slowly losing the battle. She felt her in his arms as she turned around to face him. He saw the tears streaming freely down her face as he felt them falling down his, cascading like the waterfall they were near. He closed his eyes as she kissed him, her love for him shining through before she lay her head on his shoulder and held him as he cried, feeling her cry too. His sobs, his cries of anguish, all came out then. Seventeen years of pain came out just then, and Ginny was there with him. He held onto her like he was grasping life itself, crying like a child on her shoulder.
Ginny held him as he cried, his cries of anguish tearing at her heart. She so much wanted to take away the pain in his heart, the seventeen years of not knowing what his parents were like, the eleven years he spent suffering at his aunt's house. She could almost feel his heart breaking as she read the letter, and now she was sure it was in pieces. The two of them sat there like that for a long while, absorbed in each other's company, the tears free falling, the world around them ceasing to exist. She had gotten her tears under control after a long while. She still held him though, trying to comfort him as his past came crashing in around him. She was doing all she could do, just holding him, being there for him. After a while she could feel his sobs slowing down, his breathing ragged but becoming more normal, and soon he sat back, his eyes bloodshot from the hours of crying. The sun was setting behind them, the sky once again turning its vibrant colors.
Harry stared at her once he pulled back from her, stared into her eyes, realization hitting him. "You're the one. You really are Ginny. You're my match," he said. He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately, the emotions overflowing in him still from the letter. He held her close, their tongues battling each other again, the world blurring until all either one could see or think of was the other. Ginny leaned back on the rock, Harry leaning with her, and soon the two were laying there, kissing each other as only those in love would understand. In that moment, in that time, the rest of the world disappeared, forgotten. The two of them were in their heaven, their hearts joined as one. In that moment, Harry knew that this was it. She was the one.
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The eyes watched them from above, in a tree. The figure that had followed them from Hogwarts was there, watching this scene unfold. First them sitting on the rock, the letter, the tears, and now the kiss, the kiss that sealed his fate. They watched, anger and hurt, anguish and pain in their heart. They had trusted those two, thought they were friends. They both knew of the affections they had. They both knew and carelessly discarded them, stomping on their emotions and therefore their heart. Their plan was coming into play. Soon. Soon they would fully understand the consequences of their actions.
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After what seemed like hours Harry and Ginny broke the kiss, still wrapped in each other's arms. They lay there on the rock, their robes covering them, staring into each other's eyes, smiles on their faces from ear to ear. Ginny rested her head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart as they watched the sun slowly setting in the distance. Finally Harry sat up. "Come on sweetheart. We should get into the main town before dark."
Ginny pretended to pout, puffing out her bottom lip. "But I wanted to stay here with you." She broke into a smile. "I suppose it would be a good idea. Maybe we could drop in on Fred and George or get a bite to eat. What do you think," she asked.
"Whatever your heart desires my dear. But we better hurry. Come on," he said. He stood up, helping her to her feet. "Accio Firebolt!" he cried out. Soon the whooshing sound of a broom met their ears and shortly after that the Firebolt appeared in front of them. Harry climbed on, helping Ginny on so she sat in front of him. They jetted off, flying over the tops of the trees and landing in front of Zonko's. He didn't notice anyone in there, but, knowing the twins, they probably saw them land and went into hiding. The two of them cautiously entered, the door creaking as they pushed it open. A bucket full of what they thought was water dropped on them, soaking them from head to toe. Harry heard Ginny start to giggle. He looked at her. "What's so funny," he asked, a smile and laughter breaking through.
"Well," she said, in between laughs, "you have donkey ears!" She doubled over in laughter, falling to the floor. Harry soon joined her. "So do you! A match made in heaven," he exclaimed, exciting more laughs from them. The twins appeared from behind the counter soon, wondering who had fallen victim to their latest invention. "So it's you two," they said in unison, their faces showing a smirk. "I was wondering when you'd stop by dear sister," said George.
"Why George, if it isn't the great and wonderful Harry Potter! And so kind as to escort our dear sister around Hogsmeade! Perhaps we should thank him for his kindness," said Fred, watching as Ginny's face grew into a look of horror, expecting them to pound him. Harry immediately jumped in front of her.
"Oh no you don't. You're not yelling at her for anything. I'm the one who asked her out. She's my girlfriend and I'm damn proud of it. She's probably too good for me but by god I'll spend the rest of my life trying to be just as wonderful to her. Now, gentlemen, is there anything you would like to say," he asked, a slight edge in his voice.
Fred and George burst out laughing, confusing both Harry and Ginny. "Don't worry you two. Ron told us all about it when he came in here with Hermione last weekend. Sure, we wanted your head on a stick at first, but we thought about it and figured if it should be anyone it should be you Harry," said George.
Fred nodded his head in agreement. "So how's about dinner at the Three Broomsticks on us?"
"That'd be great. We've been out…exploring all day and we've worked up an appetite," said Ginny, catching Harry's smile as he tried to hide it.
"Right. Exploring what is something I'll leave unquestioned. For now, we go," exclaimed George, heading out the door with Fred, Ginny and Harry after them. Her family was taking this a bit better than she had expected, considering how overprotective they'd always been of her.
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By the time they got back from Hogsmeade the moon was already high in the sky. Harry had called the Invisibility Cloak to him and they secretly flew in the common room window, which, by a stroke of luck, happened to be open. They landed softly on the floor before removing the cloak. He banished the broomstick and cloak back to his trunk and they sat down on the couch next to each other, resting in each others' arms.
"So, where have you two been all day," came a voice. Harry turned and saw Ron leaning against a chair, Hermione in his arms, both looking content and a slight bit sleepy.
"Out and about in Hogsmeade. We did a little sightseeing, went and ate dinner with your brothers, a bit of window shopping. You know, just a wonderful, amazing date with my lovely girl in my arms," said Harry. Ginny giggled a bit. She caught Hermione's eye and winked. Hermione knew what that meant. Gossip in the room they shared. Both girls yawned at the same time, Ginny stretching to accent the tiredness. "Well, I've had an exhausting day. All that sightseeing takes a lot out of you. I'm gonna head off to sleep hun," she said, turning her head up and locking lips with Harry again. It was hard not to keep kissing him. In fact, the only thing that kept them from doing so is the fact that her brother and Hermione were watching. She stood up and went up to the dorms, a spring in her step the whole way.
Hermione repeated Ginny's performance, getting a long kiss goodnight from Ron as she too headed up to the dorms.
"You think those two just played tired so they could go gossip," asked Ron, watching the stairs as Hermione faded.
"Yep," answered Harry, still watching the stairs after Ginny disappeared. The two looked at each other and laughed. "Women," they said together.
"So Harry, what exactly did you two mean by sightseeing," asked Ron, his eyebrow raised in suspicion.
"I plead the fifth," answered Harry, full well knowing what Ron was getting at. "I can only say that I love your sister more than life itself and would do anything in the world for her."
"And I the same for Hermione," answered Ron. The two boys headed up the stairs to their dorms, they day's activities wearing on them. They heard a burst of laughter and giggling coming from the girls room. Both boys looked at each other and shook their heads, opening the door to their room, ready for a good night's rest.