This is a H/G story with some R/H maybe if the author can write it in.
Disclaimer; If I owned Harry Potter would I be writing in here?
Chapter One –The Gift.
Number 4 Privet drive was a lovely three bedroom detached house. It's garden had neatly trimmed hedges and the lawn was immaculate. It was, at the minute, empty. The occupants having just left for a week holiday. Well, it was almost empty; a lone figure with messy black hair and bright green eyes was sitting at the kitchen table eating a bacon sandwich and wondering how he should spend his free week. The figure was Harry Potter. Harry was a wizard and a special one at that. When he was one he survived an attack by the evil dark wizard, Voldemort. His parents died in the attack and he was forced to live with his aunt, uncle and cousin who were muggles (Non- magical people). When he was a eleven Harry received a letter confirming his place at Hogwarts School Of Witch Craft And Wizidary, and the full story came out. Harry was now 16 and in his sixth year at the school. During the five years he had been there, he had survived Voldemort another 3 times, two year's was by far the worst. When Harry had survived the original attack, Voldemort had been reduced to a spirit, his powers lost he fled. Last year he used Harry's blood and an ancient spell to regain his power. Cedric Diggory, the handsome Hufflepuff seeker and quidditch captain, had been the first victim of Voldemort's new reign of terror and Harry had escaped with the aid of his parent's ghosts and a few others that Harry had forced out of Voldemort's wand. Last year Voldemort was nowhere to be seen but his attacks had started again this year. Harry came to his senses when there was a tap at the window, he opened it and a snowy owl and a small grey owl flew in. The snowy owl was Hedwig and belonged to Harry, the other was Pigwidgeon and belonged to Harry's best friend, Ron Weasley. His other best friend, Hermione Granger, was currently staying in her holiday home in France. About two days ago Harry had written to Ron, sending it with Hedwig, to see how he was. Hedwig and Pig dropped their loads and, after Harry had given them each a bacon rind, they flew up to Harry room to Hedwig's cage. Harry laughed as he saw the adoring look in Pig's eyes as the owl followed Hedwig to her cage. Picking up the letters he recognised the scrawl that was Ron's handwriting, that had been delivered by Hedwig. The letter Pig brought was written in a handwriting much like Hermione's but slightly less tidy. Harry picked up Ron's first and broke the seal which held it together. The writing was very untidy and was smudged in places,
Harry, Ginny's gone! We were in the woods on Wednesday and we heard a scream and we couldn't find her. She owled us yesterday saying that she was safe but she needed time away she's going to stay with a friend but she won't tell us where. What does she need time for? Harry she's been having nightmares about You-Know-Who for weeks but we could never comfort her. Harry I'm so worried.
Dumbledore says it's safer for you to stay with the muggles this summer. I'll see you in Diagon Alley I expect, or on the train on September 1st.
Ron .
Harry dropped the letter on the table and sat there in shock. Ginny had run away. He looked at the other letter, he knew without looking, who it was from. Ginny had had a crush on him ever since they had met in Harry's second year, the year he saved her life. He picked up the letter and broke the seal.
Harry, It's Ginny. I've run away, I expect Ron's already told you. Harry, the death-eaters came after me. When we were in the forest, they kidnapped me but I escaped. I can't go home, they know where I live. Voldemort wants me dead, but I don't know why. My family don't understand so I'm going to the only person who will. I don't expect him to help me but I don't know where else to go. Please don't turn me away Harry, don't tell my parents either. I'll owl them and tell them soon. Harry I need you. I'll be there on Friday. Thank you.
Yours, Ginny.
Harry breathed out, he didn't understand. Ginny was coming here? Why did Voldemort want her dead? Harry put his head in his hands and massaged his temples. He had spent half the night awake with his lightening shaped scar, the remnants of Voldemort's attack, hurting him and so didn't have much sleep. The pain wasn't the problem, it was the knowledge that Voldemort was doing, or thinking something murderous somewhere. Harry picked up his dishes and washed them in the sink. Today was Friday and Ginny would be arriving, but when he didn't know. To take his mind off the eminent arrival he took out his quills, parchment and text books to get a head start on his holiday homework. Professor Mcgonagol had set them a very nasty essay on why you shouldn't transfigure someone into something prickly. Harry thought it was rather obvious, but she expected at least 2 rolls of parchment on it. After a roll and a half of pure waffle he was stuck, and he wished Hermione was there, he also wondered if Ginny was good at transfiguration. It was at this point he realised how little he knew about the youngest Weasley. There was a timid knock on the door, Harry wasn't even sure if it was really a knock. Then it came again, he got up and crossed to the window that looked out on the porch over the door. Peering around the corner he was startled at what he saw. Ginny stood there but she was no longer the little girl he remembered. She'd grown up a lot, physically; but the thing which scared him the most was the fact that he recognised the look on her face, it was the same one he wore. The look of someone who had been forced to grow up faster than was meant. There was a cut across her cheek and her hair was wild. Her trousers were filthy and torn and she was covered in dust and mud. He went to the door and opened it slowly, he smiled at the sad figure in front of him and beckoned her to come in. She did so, but not before looking around her carefully. Harry also looked around once but saw nothing but a solitary tabby walking across the road. If his mind wasn't so full with other worries he would have recognised the cat. It was, in fact not a cat at all; but an animagi. A wizard or witch that can transform into an animal at will. This particular animagi was Professor Mcgonagol, she watched sadly sitting on the wall of the house opposite.
"And so it starts" she sighed before jumping off the wall and prowling down the alley leading off Privet Drive.
"Ginny, what happened?" Harry wasn't sure what to say. He'd never had a real conversation with Ginny and here she stood, so sad and filled with worry. Ginny looked at her feet and whispered,
"I'm sorry"
"Gin..."
"Harry, can I have a bath?" He almost laughed at this ordinary request but stopped himself.
"Sure, this way" He walked up the stairs and turned to check that the redhead was following him. She walked slowly and painfully up the stairs. Harry showed her into the bathroom and turned on the taps, he gave her one of the fluffiest pink towels and showed her where everything was.
"Thanks" she sounded hoarse and strained, as if she hadn't talked out loud in a while. He left her there and went downstairs to prepare a pot of tea and some chicken soup; Mrs Weasley always made chicken soup so he was guessing that Ginny liked it. After about 40 minutes Ginny walked to the top of the stairs wearing only the pink towel.
"Er, Harry?" Harry walked into the hall and gulped, quickly diverting his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Do you have anything I can wear? My clothes aren't..."
"Oh, of course!." Harry had been shopping in London at the beginning of the summer and had a whole new wardrobe, there was bound to be something that would suit Ginny. He found her some blue combat type trousers and a light blue T-shirt. Ginny dried her hair with Aunt Pertunia's hairdryer and tied it back with a piece of ribbon that Harry found on his Aunt's dresser top. Going down stairs they sat in silence at the oak table sipping cups of tea and eating bowls of soup.
"So, Gin what happened?" Ginny looked away, "Please" he said. Ginny took a breath and a single tear rolled down her cheek, skating over the cut on her left cheek, glistening like a dew drop at dawn.
"Me, Ron, Fred and George were in the forest near our house. We were looking for Ron's wand, he had dropped it somewhere. I found myself alone and I heard a noise behind me. Two Death-eaters came out from behind a tree and I ran. I ran and ran and I fell into a river. It was so cold it took away all my breath away and I couldn't run any more. They tied my hands and feet together and carried me somewhere. That night the one who was supposed to be standing guard fell asleep and somehow I got out of my ropes and I fled. I heard a voice in my head." Harry wanted to interrupt but he knew better. When you had to tell someone something that was hard, it was easier if you did it all at once.
"It said, 'I'll kill you, you and Potter, like I got Lily and James'" Ginny's voice cracked and she took a steadying breath. "It said some other things but I tried not to listen. I've never heard him before but I know who it was. It was him Harry, it was Voldemort" The last word barely escaped her lips, she usually said 'you-know-who' but something had changed. For some reason all he could say was,
"You heard it in your head?"
"Yeah. Harry I have to tell you something else. When you escaped Voldemort he passed on his ability to communicate with snakes"
"Yeah" That was true, Harry had discovered in his second year that he was a Parselmouth.
"He passed on a different ability to me. Voldemort is a mind-reader, he can read minds and speak to people through their minds. So can I"
"What?"
"It's true," she replied, "Do you believe me?" The voice however, came not from Ginny's lips but from somewhere inside Harry's mind. It was definitely her voice though. Harry looked at her very startled and Ginny laughed. It was the first time she had laughed in a very long time and the sound filled the kitchen.
Dusk began to fall and Harry noticed that Ginny was becoming more agitated. He pulled the cream curtains across the bay window and switched on both lights in the lounge.
"Ginny you should owl your parents and let them know you are safe. Tell them you're here."
Ginny looked at him and bit her lip,
"Ok, but I'll tell them not to come and get me." Ginny closed her eyes for a second and opened them again, "Don't worry Harry. I'll make sure Ron doesn't think you knew all about this, or that you kidnapped me"
"How did..."
"Well I wonder!" Harry laughed at the voice in his head,
"Oh yeah."
After 15 minutes of 'um'ing, and 'ah'ing; and several pieces of parchment later Harry read Ginny's finished letter.
Dear everyone, It's Ginny. I'm really sorry for everything that's happened. I can't explain, not yet anyway. I just wanted you to know I'm safe. I'm staying at Harry's (And Ron before you say you'll "kill him" He had nothing to do with this. I turned up on his doorstep. It was his idea that I write to you.) Please could you send me some clothes and my Hogwarts stuff. I'll see you all soon.
Much Love, Ginny xxx
And Harry, (Ps We have pig here, I'll send him to you with Hedwig, whom he seems to be quite fond of!)
Harry called Hedwig down stairs and Pig came with her. After attaching the letter to her leg he told her where to go and to get there as quick as she could. They watched the white and grey owls grow fainter as they disappeared into the horizon.
"Harry, can we stay down here tonight. I don't want to be alone."
"Sure" They watched telly until it got quite late, Harry felt his eyes closing but noticed that Ginny was sitting up stiffly staring straight ahead. Harry recalled Ron's letter,
'Harry she's been having nightmares about You-Know-Who for weeks but we could never comfort her.'
"You know Gin, at the beginning of the summer I was afraid to go to sleep. I kept having nightmares about Voldemort killing Cedric and my parents coming out of the wand and stuff." This was actually true but he wanted to make Ginny feel better. Ginny looked up and smiled,
"Didn't know you were a mind reader Harry?"
"Ahhh I have the inner-eye" Harry spoke in a mysterious way in an uncanny impression of Professor Trelawny, the divination teacher.
"Thank you"
"That's all right"
"What?" Ginny spoke a look of surprise came over her face.
"Eh?" Harry asked completely nonplussed.
"You spoke in, your head, to me. I heard you. Do it again." Ginny urged
"Ok, Er... Lupin rules, Snape sucks!" Lupin was the DADA Professor in Harry's third year, he was missing in Harry's fourth year but he was back as Harry's favourite teacher again; Snape is the potions master and Harry's worst teacher.
"That's true" She laughed. "Looks like you inherited part of his gift too."
Disclaimer; If I owned Harry Potter would I be writing in here?
Chapter One –The Gift.
Number 4 Privet drive was a lovely three bedroom detached house. It's garden had neatly trimmed hedges and the lawn was immaculate. It was, at the minute, empty. The occupants having just left for a week holiday. Well, it was almost empty; a lone figure with messy black hair and bright green eyes was sitting at the kitchen table eating a bacon sandwich and wondering how he should spend his free week. The figure was Harry Potter. Harry was a wizard and a special one at that. When he was one he survived an attack by the evil dark wizard, Voldemort. His parents died in the attack and he was forced to live with his aunt, uncle and cousin who were muggles (Non- magical people). When he was a eleven Harry received a letter confirming his place at Hogwarts School Of Witch Craft And Wizidary, and the full story came out. Harry was now 16 and in his sixth year at the school. During the five years he had been there, he had survived Voldemort another 3 times, two year's was by far the worst. When Harry had survived the original attack, Voldemort had been reduced to a spirit, his powers lost he fled. Last year he used Harry's blood and an ancient spell to regain his power. Cedric Diggory, the handsome Hufflepuff seeker and quidditch captain, had been the first victim of Voldemort's new reign of terror and Harry had escaped with the aid of his parent's ghosts and a few others that Harry had forced out of Voldemort's wand. Last year Voldemort was nowhere to be seen but his attacks had started again this year. Harry came to his senses when there was a tap at the window, he opened it and a snowy owl and a small grey owl flew in. The snowy owl was Hedwig and belonged to Harry, the other was Pigwidgeon and belonged to Harry's best friend, Ron Weasley. His other best friend, Hermione Granger, was currently staying in her holiday home in France. About two days ago Harry had written to Ron, sending it with Hedwig, to see how he was. Hedwig and Pig dropped their loads and, after Harry had given them each a bacon rind, they flew up to Harry room to Hedwig's cage. Harry laughed as he saw the adoring look in Pig's eyes as the owl followed Hedwig to her cage. Picking up the letters he recognised the scrawl that was Ron's handwriting, that had been delivered by Hedwig. The letter Pig brought was written in a handwriting much like Hermione's but slightly less tidy. Harry picked up Ron's first and broke the seal which held it together. The writing was very untidy and was smudged in places,
Harry, Ginny's gone! We were in the woods on Wednesday and we heard a scream and we couldn't find her. She owled us yesterday saying that she was safe but she needed time away she's going to stay with a friend but she won't tell us where. What does she need time for? Harry she's been having nightmares about You-Know-Who for weeks but we could never comfort her. Harry I'm so worried.
Dumbledore says it's safer for you to stay with the muggles this summer. I'll see you in Diagon Alley I expect, or on the train on September 1st.
Ron .
Harry dropped the letter on the table and sat there in shock. Ginny had run away. He looked at the other letter, he knew without looking, who it was from. Ginny had had a crush on him ever since they had met in Harry's second year, the year he saved her life. He picked up the letter and broke the seal.
Harry, It's Ginny. I've run away, I expect Ron's already told you. Harry, the death-eaters came after me. When we were in the forest, they kidnapped me but I escaped. I can't go home, they know where I live. Voldemort wants me dead, but I don't know why. My family don't understand so I'm going to the only person who will. I don't expect him to help me but I don't know where else to go. Please don't turn me away Harry, don't tell my parents either. I'll owl them and tell them soon. Harry I need you. I'll be there on Friday. Thank you.
Yours, Ginny.
Harry breathed out, he didn't understand. Ginny was coming here? Why did Voldemort want her dead? Harry put his head in his hands and massaged his temples. He had spent half the night awake with his lightening shaped scar, the remnants of Voldemort's attack, hurting him and so didn't have much sleep. The pain wasn't the problem, it was the knowledge that Voldemort was doing, or thinking something murderous somewhere. Harry picked up his dishes and washed them in the sink. Today was Friday and Ginny would be arriving, but when he didn't know. To take his mind off the eminent arrival he took out his quills, parchment and text books to get a head start on his holiday homework. Professor Mcgonagol had set them a very nasty essay on why you shouldn't transfigure someone into something prickly. Harry thought it was rather obvious, but she expected at least 2 rolls of parchment on it. After a roll and a half of pure waffle he was stuck, and he wished Hermione was there, he also wondered if Ginny was good at transfiguration. It was at this point he realised how little he knew about the youngest Weasley. There was a timid knock on the door, Harry wasn't even sure if it was really a knock. Then it came again, he got up and crossed to the window that looked out on the porch over the door. Peering around the corner he was startled at what he saw. Ginny stood there but she was no longer the little girl he remembered. She'd grown up a lot, physically; but the thing which scared him the most was the fact that he recognised the look on her face, it was the same one he wore. The look of someone who had been forced to grow up faster than was meant. There was a cut across her cheek and her hair was wild. Her trousers were filthy and torn and she was covered in dust and mud. He went to the door and opened it slowly, he smiled at the sad figure in front of him and beckoned her to come in. She did so, but not before looking around her carefully. Harry also looked around once but saw nothing but a solitary tabby walking across the road. If his mind wasn't so full with other worries he would have recognised the cat. It was, in fact not a cat at all; but an animagi. A wizard or witch that can transform into an animal at will. This particular animagi was Professor Mcgonagol, she watched sadly sitting on the wall of the house opposite.
"And so it starts" she sighed before jumping off the wall and prowling down the alley leading off Privet Drive.
"Ginny, what happened?" Harry wasn't sure what to say. He'd never had a real conversation with Ginny and here she stood, so sad and filled with worry. Ginny looked at her feet and whispered,
"I'm sorry"
"Gin..."
"Harry, can I have a bath?" He almost laughed at this ordinary request but stopped himself.
"Sure, this way" He walked up the stairs and turned to check that the redhead was following him. She walked slowly and painfully up the stairs. Harry showed her into the bathroom and turned on the taps, he gave her one of the fluffiest pink towels and showed her where everything was.
"Thanks" she sounded hoarse and strained, as if she hadn't talked out loud in a while. He left her there and went downstairs to prepare a pot of tea and some chicken soup; Mrs Weasley always made chicken soup so he was guessing that Ginny liked it. After about 40 minutes Ginny walked to the top of the stairs wearing only the pink towel.
"Er, Harry?" Harry walked into the hall and gulped, quickly diverting his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Do you have anything I can wear? My clothes aren't..."
"Oh, of course!." Harry had been shopping in London at the beginning of the summer and had a whole new wardrobe, there was bound to be something that would suit Ginny. He found her some blue combat type trousers and a light blue T-shirt. Ginny dried her hair with Aunt Pertunia's hairdryer and tied it back with a piece of ribbon that Harry found on his Aunt's dresser top. Going down stairs they sat in silence at the oak table sipping cups of tea and eating bowls of soup.
"So, Gin what happened?" Ginny looked away, "Please" he said. Ginny took a breath and a single tear rolled down her cheek, skating over the cut on her left cheek, glistening like a dew drop at dawn.
"Me, Ron, Fred and George were in the forest near our house. We were looking for Ron's wand, he had dropped it somewhere. I found myself alone and I heard a noise behind me. Two Death-eaters came out from behind a tree and I ran. I ran and ran and I fell into a river. It was so cold it took away all my breath away and I couldn't run any more. They tied my hands and feet together and carried me somewhere. That night the one who was supposed to be standing guard fell asleep and somehow I got out of my ropes and I fled. I heard a voice in my head." Harry wanted to interrupt but he knew better. When you had to tell someone something that was hard, it was easier if you did it all at once.
"It said, 'I'll kill you, you and Potter, like I got Lily and James'" Ginny's voice cracked and she took a steadying breath. "It said some other things but I tried not to listen. I've never heard him before but I know who it was. It was him Harry, it was Voldemort" The last word barely escaped her lips, she usually said 'you-know-who' but something had changed. For some reason all he could say was,
"You heard it in your head?"
"Yeah. Harry I have to tell you something else. When you escaped Voldemort he passed on his ability to communicate with snakes"
"Yeah" That was true, Harry had discovered in his second year that he was a Parselmouth.
"He passed on a different ability to me. Voldemort is a mind-reader, he can read minds and speak to people through their minds. So can I"
"What?"
"It's true," she replied, "Do you believe me?" The voice however, came not from Ginny's lips but from somewhere inside Harry's mind. It was definitely her voice though. Harry looked at her very startled and Ginny laughed. It was the first time she had laughed in a very long time and the sound filled the kitchen.
Dusk began to fall and Harry noticed that Ginny was becoming more agitated. He pulled the cream curtains across the bay window and switched on both lights in the lounge.
"Ginny you should owl your parents and let them know you are safe. Tell them you're here."
Ginny looked at him and bit her lip,
"Ok, but I'll tell them not to come and get me." Ginny closed her eyes for a second and opened them again, "Don't worry Harry. I'll make sure Ron doesn't think you knew all about this, or that you kidnapped me"
"How did..."
"Well I wonder!" Harry laughed at the voice in his head,
"Oh yeah."
After 15 minutes of 'um'ing, and 'ah'ing; and several pieces of parchment later Harry read Ginny's finished letter.
Dear everyone, It's Ginny. I'm really sorry for everything that's happened. I can't explain, not yet anyway. I just wanted you to know I'm safe. I'm staying at Harry's (And Ron before you say you'll "kill him" He had nothing to do with this. I turned up on his doorstep. It was his idea that I write to you.) Please could you send me some clothes and my Hogwarts stuff. I'll see you all soon.
Much Love, Ginny xxx
And Harry, (Ps We have pig here, I'll send him to you with Hedwig, whom he seems to be quite fond of!)
Harry called Hedwig down stairs and Pig came with her. After attaching the letter to her leg he told her where to go and to get there as quick as she could. They watched the white and grey owls grow fainter as they disappeared into the horizon.
"Harry, can we stay down here tonight. I don't want to be alone."
"Sure" They watched telly until it got quite late, Harry felt his eyes closing but noticed that Ginny was sitting up stiffly staring straight ahead. Harry recalled Ron's letter,
'Harry she's been having nightmares about You-Know-Who for weeks but we could never comfort her.'
"You know Gin, at the beginning of the summer I was afraid to go to sleep. I kept having nightmares about Voldemort killing Cedric and my parents coming out of the wand and stuff." This was actually true but he wanted to make Ginny feel better. Ginny looked up and smiled,
"Didn't know you were a mind reader Harry?"
"Ahhh I have the inner-eye" Harry spoke in a mysterious way in an uncanny impression of Professor Trelawny, the divination teacher.
"Thank you"
"That's all right"
"What?" Ginny spoke a look of surprise came over her face.
"Eh?" Harry asked completely nonplussed.
"You spoke in, your head, to me. I heard you. Do it again." Ginny urged
"Ok, Er... Lupin rules, Snape sucks!" Lupin was the DADA Professor in Harry's third year, he was missing in Harry's fourth year but he was back as Harry's favourite teacher again; Snape is the potions master and Harry's worst teacher.
"That's true" She laughed. "Looks like you inherited part of his gift too."