QoH: This is my first HP fic, so I'd love to know what you all think! Oh, and this will probably be just a harmless bit of fluff, though I'm not sure, as I haven't written all of it yet.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, more's the pity. ^_~ He, and the rest of his marvelous world, belong to the utterly brilliant J.K. Rowling. I only own all 4 books in the series (^_^ I plan 2 get em all, o'course, if I can manage it…) and the 1st movie. I saw the 2nd one recently while visitin with a friend and it ruled! Actually, certain scenes had something to do with the inspiration 4 this in the 1st place… Oh, yes, and before I forget… any certain songs I use in here a strictly the property of their respective owners (duh. Wonder what gave everybody that idea…) Besides, it wouldn't do any good to sue me, since I'm broke. Sad how so many fanfic writers r able 2 use this excuse, isn't it…
Truth in DreamsChatper 1: A New Year, A New Beginning?
Ginny's POV
As I stand before Platform 9 ¾, I can't help but feel a twinge of fear. I really don't know what's going to happen this, my fourth, year. With everything that's happened since the Tri-Wizard Tournament, everyone's been on edge, expecting attacks everywhere they went. Of course, for the most part, they were right. The Death Eaters are definitely showing their disappointment at not being able to kill Harry. Fortunately, the Ministry's been able to help protect everyone from the most serious, at least, so far.
Harry. My eyes shift to him as he quietly waits beside me, Ron and Hermione. Ever since his duel with Voldemort last year, he's been withdrawn, melancholy. I know he still blames himself for Cedric Diggory's death, even when we all tell him he had no way to stop it.
He stayed at the Dursley's for the majority of the summer, until Professor Dumbledore said it was all right for him to come and stay with us, only a week and a half ago. As we take our turns going through the portal, I keep wondering whether we really helped him, or not. On the one hand, living with those horrid relations of his, especially in such a difficult time, certainly couldn't be good for him. He has no one there who cares about him at all, no one to listen to him, even for the briefest amount of time. On the other, when he's with us, the everyday magic seems to remind him of the whole thing.
Noticing this, Mum started making us do our chores and everything the muggle way. The only one who had any fun in this, of course, was Dad. He was really in heaven when he tried doing the dishes by hand, even when he broke some of them. To his dismay, though, it last very long. Harry, seeing our "difficulties," told Mum that he didn't want us all going out of our way to avoid the subject, since he'd have to be dealing with it full-time soon enough, anyway. Mum tried to convince him otherwise, but Harry was insistent. He said he didn't want to be a burden to us. Fred and George showed their appreciation by giving him a canary creme hidden in a chocolate eclair. Harry molting feathers over dinner certainly lightened the mood. Harry even laughed then, a rare occasion these days.
How could he ever be a "burden," I'd like to know? He arrived at the same time as Hermione, and they were quite helpful while we had to do everything without magic. She really has an uncanny sense of being where she's needed at the precise moment, that girl. My thoughts drift back to that night as we find an empty compartment near the end of the train. Hermione, Ron, Harry and myself had all stayed up late, and finally really talked about it all. We all sat in the dark of Ron's room, but even in those shadows, the pain on his face was glaringly obivious. As the three of us listened to him tell about his confrontation with Voldemort, all I wanted to do was hug him. Either that, or blast Voldemort to unrecognizable bits.
Yeah, I guess you could say I still have a crush on him. Since the whole "Chamber" thing, though, I really haven't had the courage to talk with him beyond the "friendship" level, namely because I'm afraid of what he'd say. As it was, I just sat beside him in silence, only putting in the occasional comment or question. Ron kept glancing at me, curious about my lack of speech. I think he knows I still have feelings for Harry. I really hope he doesn't say anything.
Though, frankly, I believe he's got problems of his own on this front. I have to smile as I watch the sparks fly between my brother and Hermione as they chat next to us. I don't think either one knows how the other feels, or even themselves, really. For the entire week and a half Hermione and Harry stayed with us, whenever Hermione talked about that Viktor Krum guy, Ron would get this rather dark scowl on his face and not talk for a while, except maybe to snap at somebody. It has it's good points, though. More than anything else, it seems to bring Harry back to normal. He and I usually end up being mediators for the two. Hermione might have more of a clue to what's going on than my big brother does, which I find quite amusing. Sometimes, she brings up Krum, just see what Ron does. She doesn't say that's why she does this, but I can tell from the look in her eyes. But then, she gets miffed when Ron drools over that veela-girl, Fleur Delacour, even when he knows he doesn't have a snowball's chance in a volcano with her.
It's kind of weird how life has changed recently. I can even say Voldemort's name without flinching now. After everything he's put Harry through, I don't want to give that walking skeleton the satisfaction that he's so feared. I won't quake in terror at the mere mention of what Tom Riddle, former Head Boy, has turned himself into. He doesn't deserve it.
~All my life
is changing every day,
in every possible way.~
QoH: So? *waits on pins and needles* What do you all think? *listens 2 the e-crickets* Rats...