"Bittersweet"
A/N: The Sailor Moon reference in the last chapter was after the Newspaper Headline, the author of the story- Cele Remlis. In SuperS, one of the Amazon Quartet is Remlis Cele Cele. No one spotted it. I guess no SM fans are reading this!
***
III. Err, Romantic?
It was a dark, starry night. The full moon shined its light over a graveyard- a forgotten graveyard. A red glow overtook one headstone. A ghostly figure seemed to float over it. The ghost, with its long hair and black shining eyes, the only part of it that seemed real, screeched a laugh, a laugh that was not of this world. The transparent robes he- was it a he? Did it matter?- wore had stains of blood, the ghost's slumping figure seemed to bear the weight of defeat of a war so long past that many had forgotten. He was looking at a still piece of paper of the ground. The title of it shone- The Daily Prophet. The ghost again laughed his laugh that sent chills up and down your spine and seemed to plunge you into depression. He began to speak- but was he speaking? For no one was there to hear his musings. "Dear Tom was defeated by a mere boy. At least I had the fortune to be defeated by a powerful man. I'd like to have some fun. It's been so long......let's turn this boy's world upside down.
His cold, merciless laugh rang into the still air.
***
Ron yawned heavily as he sat down, murmuring a good morning to his family. Tonight was Weasley Bonfire Night. He grinned. Fred and George had come up with the idea to have a bonfire to signal the start of the last week of summer. Dad had bewitched a wireless to play Wizarding music, and muggle music from both Britain and America. It started at 9:00 and ended at midnight. It was going to be wicked.
They had decided not to use the plan tonight, even though Sirius, Remus, and Arabella were to be there. Arabella loved being minister, but often slipped away to have fun.
Sirius thought of the plan. More like remembered it. When the Marauders found out that James liked Lily, and Lily liked James, they decided to help bring them together while infuriating them at the same time. They created perfect situations, and then pulled them apart. It got interrupted, though, as James and Lily simply ignored their calls one time. Sirius, when he found out about Harry liking Ginny, suggested they put the plan into play again. Even Hermione and Mrs. Weasley had agreed immediately.
Harry stumbled in, yawning. "G'morning." he muttered. He was greeted with a chorus of "Morning." He slipped into a seat in between Ginny and Hermione. Ginny and Harry both flushed slightly as he sat down. It had been a week since the night Harry came back, and all they did around each other was blush, stumble, and drop things. Ginny demonstrated this by knocking over her goblet when their elbows touched. The goblet was thankfully empty.
A loud rapping noise was heard. Assuming it was Sirius or Remus, Mrs. Weasley walked to get it. However, when she opened the door, she cried out and pulled out her wand. Death Eaters.
They still attacked- it was rumored that Lucius Malfoy was calling the shots now.
Harry pushed Hermione and Ginny under the table before pulling out his own wand and ducking. The Death Eaters, there were three, had filed in and began to throw spells.
Jumping up, Harry and the Weasley brothers starting firing spells.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Impedimenta! Petrificus Totalus! Stupefy! Impedimenta! Stupefy!"
The Death Eaters dodged and rolled out of the way. Arthur socked one in the eye.
"Wormtail!" Harry cried, not caring very much that he sounded pretty stupid. For once, he was quite grateful that the Dursleys had forced him to take Ballet with Dudley over the summer, who needed it for football. He leapt over the table and slammed his foot into the slimy git's face. He flinched as he heard the shattering of china on the other side of the room.
This was ridiculous! After kicking the Dork Lord's butt, he still had to deal with thugs A-F! "Remember what Dumbledore told you in that one letter," He reminded himself, "and release your inner power!"
Harry closed his eyes, and concentrated. After finding the river of magic that coursed through his very being, he swirled the power together, and pictured the scene around him- he didn't know how he knew where everyone was, he just did. He concentrated on gathering the power around his wand, and felt his eyes snap open. "Stupefy!" he roared.
He heard Hermione shriek as the idiots formerly known as Death Eaters were hit with the red light and got knocked unconscious. He waited for the sense of victory to penetrate his mind as he looked around the room at the grinning Weasleys, Hermione, and the unconscious crones.
But, it never came.
***
The glow of the bonfire flickered and cast its eerie light about the hill overlooking the Burrow. The group of friends and family chattered and danced to the beat of the music. Only one did not participate with his usual muster, and it was no mystery to the others as to why. Harry had always felt responsible for all the evils, and they knew that he thought them associating with him was dangerous. True or not, his friends would never leave him. And he knew that. But he still felt guilt.
A slow song with a slow beat came on the radio. It was American, but Ginny, music fanatic that she is, recognized it immediately. "Oh my god! It's Iris!" Noting the lost stares of those around her, she continued. "Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls. Harry! Let's dance." She grabbed him and pulled him next to the bonfire, and he twirled her before placing a hand in hers and another on her waist. *Say something witty, Potter!* he thought. "I, er, like this song too." he said loudly to be heard over the music. *Oh, that's real smooth.....*
Ron and Hermione grinned at them from where they themselves were dancing. The adults were sitting at a picnic table.
"Sweet Merlin!" Sirius exclaimed. "What's wrong?" Arabella asked worriedly. Sirius swallowed before answering, the others leaning in while Ron and Hermione twirled closer as to listen. "Look at Harry and Ginny. They look exactly like James and Lily!" Remus drew a sharp intake of breath. "Morgana's bane, you're right." "Just like when you were in fifth year and Lily and I were in fourth." said Arabella. Ron's jaw dropped. "Ginny's a year under us!" "History repeats itself in some ways." Molly observed. They watched as the two, totally oblivious to anything they said, danced in their own world.
Harry listened as Ginny sang the words softly as they danced. *Is this s'posed to be really romantic or something?* Harry thought wildly, *'cause all I can think about is not stepping on her feet...* A loud "Oww!" broke his reverie. "Err, sorry." Harry muttered sheepishly. "Oh, spoil the moment..." he heard her whisper to herself. *Ah ha! It is supposed to be romantic! Should I kiss her or something....hmm. Don't, and be killed by her. Do, and be killed by her entire family...* After a pause of consideration, Harry came to a conclusion. *She'd look for a spell to reincarnate me. Don't.*
As the song came to an end, Harry felt an unexplainable sense of relief. He just hated dancing! They walked back to the picnic table, where Ginny let out a huge yawn. Harry slipped an arm around her waist, mentally congratulating himself for remembering too. Ron eyed the arm. Harry swallowed when he saw the look on Ron's face, which stated plainly, 'Well, that's new.'
"I think I'm going to go to sleep." Ginny said through another yawn. There was only five minutes before the party ended, after all. Harry nodded in agreement. "I think I will, to. Goodnight everyone." "Goodnight!" They began to walk silently back to the house.
"They are going into separate rooms, right?" Sirius said, a mischievous grin on his face. Arabella answered him by slapping him upside the head. "Oww! Bella!"
***
Harry and Ginny stopped in front of Ginny's room. It was an awkward moment. They stood there, looking at each other, for a full five minutes, not realizing that the others were probably well on their way back to the house. *What am I supposed to do? What the hell am I supposed to do?*
Ginny began to turn towards her door, but tripped. Harry caught her. "You ok?" he asked, blushing furiously. She nodded her face crimson. Standing her back on her feet, Harry pecked her cheek, and ran up the stairs, face bright red. *Smooth! You did SOMETHING right!*
The other Weasleys and Hermione, having just walked into the house, exchanged amused glances at Ginny's concentration on the complex task of opening her door and Harry's retreating back. Saying their goodnights, they went to their separate rooms.
***
Hermione walked into Ginny's room to find her friend lying on her bed, fully dressed, touching her cheek with her eyes closed. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed as Ginny giggled. "Did you kiss?"
Ginny shook her head. "Nope. He kissed my cheek though." Hermione grinned. "Do you know what Sirius, Remus, and Arabella were saying?" Ginny shook her head, her eyes still sparkling. "That you two look exactly like Lily and James." Ginny shot up. "Really? Wow."
"What's it like? Being in Harry's arms. Don't worry, I'm just wondering, not interested." Ginny sighed. "Wonderful. He's so warm, and he smells so good, and he feels strong." She sighed again. "It's finally happening, I can't believe it!" They both were sent into a fit of giggles. "By the way, has Ron kissed you yet?" Hermione groaned. "Not yet, he hasn't. He was about to one time, but he chickened out." Ginny laughed, before flopping backwards again. "I hope he kisses me soon." she whispered.
*** Harry glanced at Ron. Ron glanced back. Harry looked down at his trunk. Ron looked at his own trunk.
They went to sleep. Well, Ron did, it took Harry a while, as he was worried that Ron was going to kill him.
***
A/N: The Sailor Moon reference in the last chapter was after the Newspaper Headline, the author of the story- Cele Remlis. In SuperS, one of the Amazon Quartet is Remlis Cele Cele. No one spotted it. I guess no SM fans are reading this!
***
III. Err, Romantic?
It was a dark, starry night. The full moon shined its light over a graveyard- a forgotten graveyard. A red glow overtook one headstone. A ghostly figure seemed to float over it. The ghost, with its long hair and black shining eyes, the only part of it that seemed real, screeched a laugh, a laugh that was not of this world. The transparent robes he- was it a he? Did it matter?- wore had stains of blood, the ghost's slumping figure seemed to bear the weight of defeat of a war so long past that many had forgotten. He was looking at a still piece of paper of the ground. The title of it shone- The Daily Prophet. The ghost again laughed his laugh that sent chills up and down your spine and seemed to plunge you into depression. He began to speak- but was he speaking? For no one was there to hear his musings. "Dear Tom was defeated by a mere boy. At least I had the fortune to be defeated by a powerful man. I'd like to have some fun. It's been so long......let's turn this boy's world upside down.
His cold, merciless laugh rang into the still air.
***
Ron yawned heavily as he sat down, murmuring a good morning to his family. Tonight was Weasley Bonfire Night. He grinned. Fred and George had come up with the idea to have a bonfire to signal the start of the last week of summer. Dad had bewitched a wireless to play Wizarding music, and muggle music from both Britain and America. It started at 9:00 and ended at midnight. It was going to be wicked.
They had decided not to use the plan tonight, even though Sirius, Remus, and Arabella were to be there. Arabella loved being minister, but often slipped away to have fun.
Sirius thought of the plan. More like remembered it. When the Marauders found out that James liked Lily, and Lily liked James, they decided to help bring them together while infuriating them at the same time. They created perfect situations, and then pulled them apart. It got interrupted, though, as James and Lily simply ignored their calls one time. Sirius, when he found out about Harry liking Ginny, suggested they put the plan into play again. Even Hermione and Mrs. Weasley had agreed immediately.
Harry stumbled in, yawning. "G'morning." he muttered. He was greeted with a chorus of "Morning." He slipped into a seat in between Ginny and Hermione. Ginny and Harry both flushed slightly as he sat down. It had been a week since the night Harry came back, and all they did around each other was blush, stumble, and drop things. Ginny demonstrated this by knocking over her goblet when their elbows touched. The goblet was thankfully empty.
A loud rapping noise was heard. Assuming it was Sirius or Remus, Mrs. Weasley walked to get it. However, when she opened the door, she cried out and pulled out her wand. Death Eaters.
They still attacked- it was rumored that Lucius Malfoy was calling the shots now.
Harry pushed Hermione and Ginny under the table before pulling out his own wand and ducking. The Death Eaters, there were three, had filed in and began to throw spells.
Jumping up, Harry and the Weasley brothers starting firing spells.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Impedimenta! Petrificus Totalus! Stupefy! Impedimenta! Stupefy!"
The Death Eaters dodged and rolled out of the way. Arthur socked one in the eye.
"Wormtail!" Harry cried, not caring very much that he sounded pretty stupid. For once, he was quite grateful that the Dursleys had forced him to take Ballet with Dudley over the summer, who needed it for football. He leapt over the table and slammed his foot into the slimy git's face. He flinched as he heard the shattering of china on the other side of the room.
This was ridiculous! After kicking the Dork Lord's butt, he still had to deal with thugs A-F! "Remember what Dumbledore told you in that one letter," He reminded himself, "and release your inner power!"
Harry closed his eyes, and concentrated. After finding the river of magic that coursed through his very being, he swirled the power together, and pictured the scene around him- he didn't know how he knew where everyone was, he just did. He concentrated on gathering the power around his wand, and felt his eyes snap open. "Stupefy!" he roared.
He heard Hermione shriek as the idiots formerly known as Death Eaters were hit with the red light and got knocked unconscious. He waited for the sense of victory to penetrate his mind as he looked around the room at the grinning Weasleys, Hermione, and the unconscious crones.
But, it never came.
***
The glow of the bonfire flickered and cast its eerie light about the hill overlooking the Burrow. The group of friends and family chattered and danced to the beat of the music. Only one did not participate with his usual muster, and it was no mystery to the others as to why. Harry had always felt responsible for all the evils, and they knew that he thought them associating with him was dangerous. True or not, his friends would never leave him. And he knew that. But he still felt guilt.
A slow song with a slow beat came on the radio. It was American, but Ginny, music fanatic that she is, recognized it immediately. "Oh my god! It's Iris!" Noting the lost stares of those around her, she continued. "Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls. Harry! Let's dance." She grabbed him and pulled him next to the bonfire, and he twirled her before placing a hand in hers and another on her waist. *Say something witty, Potter!* he thought. "I, er, like this song too." he said loudly to be heard over the music. *Oh, that's real smooth.....*
Ron and Hermione grinned at them from where they themselves were dancing. The adults were sitting at a picnic table.
"Sweet Merlin!" Sirius exclaimed. "What's wrong?" Arabella asked worriedly. Sirius swallowed before answering, the others leaning in while Ron and Hermione twirled closer as to listen. "Look at Harry and Ginny. They look exactly like James and Lily!" Remus drew a sharp intake of breath. "Morgana's bane, you're right." "Just like when you were in fifth year and Lily and I were in fourth." said Arabella. Ron's jaw dropped. "Ginny's a year under us!" "History repeats itself in some ways." Molly observed. They watched as the two, totally oblivious to anything they said, danced in their own world.
Harry listened as Ginny sang the words softly as they danced. *Is this s'posed to be really romantic or something?* Harry thought wildly, *'cause all I can think about is not stepping on her feet...* A loud "Oww!" broke his reverie. "Err, sorry." Harry muttered sheepishly. "Oh, spoil the moment..." he heard her whisper to herself. *Ah ha! It is supposed to be romantic! Should I kiss her or something....hmm. Don't, and be killed by her. Do, and be killed by her entire family...* After a pause of consideration, Harry came to a conclusion. *She'd look for a spell to reincarnate me. Don't.*
As the song came to an end, Harry felt an unexplainable sense of relief. He just hated dancing! They walked back to the picnic table, where Ginny let out a huge yawn. Harry slipped an arm around her waist, mentally congratulating himself for remembering too. Ron eyed the arm. Harry swallowed when he saw the look on Ron's face, which stated plainly, 'Well, that's new.'
"I think I'm going to go to sleep." Ginny said through another yawn. There was only five minutes before the party ended, after all. Harry nodded in agreement. "I think I will, to. Goodnight everyone." "Goodnight!" They began to walk silently back to the house.
"They are going into separate rooms, right?" Sirius said, a mischievous grin on his face. Arabella answered him by slapping him upside the head. "Oww! Bella!"
***
Harry and Ginny stopped in front of Ginny's room. It was an awkward moment. They stood there, looking at each other, for a full five minutes, not realizing that the others were probably well on their way back to the house. *What am I supposed to do? What the hell am I supposed to do?*
Ginny began to turn towards her door, but tripped. Harry caught her. "You ok?" he asked, blushing furiously. She nodded her face crimson. Standing her back on her feet, Harry pecked her cheek, and ran up the stairs, face bright red. *Smooth! You did SOMETHING right!*
The other Weasleys and Hermione, having just walked into the house, exchanged amused glances at Ginny's concentration on the complex task of opening her door and Harry's retreating back. Saying their goodnights, they went to their separate rooms.
***
Hermione walked into Ginny's room to find her friend lying on her bed, fully dressed, touching her cheek with her eyes closed. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed as Ginny giggled. "Did you kiss?"
Ginny shook her head. "Nope. He kissed my cheek though." Hermione grinned. "Do you know what Sirius, Remus, and Arabella were saying?" Ginny shook her head, her eyes still sparkling. "That you two look exactly like Lily and James." Ginny shot up. "Really? Wow."
"What's it like? Being in Harry's arms. Don't worry, I'm just wondering, not interested." Ginny sighed. "Wonderful. He's so warm, and he smells so good, and he feels strong." She sighed again. "It's finally happening, I can't believe it!" They both were sent into a fit of giggles. "By the way, has Ron kissed you yet?" Hermione groaned. "Not yet, he hasn't. He was about to one time, but he chickened out." Ginny laughed, before flopping backwards again. "I hope he kisses me soon." she whispered.
*** Harry glanced at Ron. Ron glanced back. Harry looked down at his trunk. Ron looked at his own trunk.
They went to sleep. Well, Ron did, it took Harry a while, as he was worried that Ron was going to kill him.
***