Scarlet Flames
Disclaimer: I do not own anything here besides the plot. Characters and names belong to J.K. Rowling and publishers.
Summary: It's been five long years since Ginny's first met Harry, yet he still doesn't seem to get it. Then, when Draco Malfoy comes into the picture, things change. Can Harry realize faith in time? How one girl falls so hard, she can't bear to fall any longer.
Author's Note: Do we sense this fic ending? Hmm, possibly. This is the last chapter. The next thing I post up will be the Epilogue.
---------------------------------
Chapter 6
In love that no believe
Never found inside of me
Built these walls up so high
Needed my room to breathe
Oh baby, oh baby, you tear them down
Can't believe you changed my mind
Oh baby, oh baby, I saw you smile
Stay with me a while
All things fall into place
My heart it feels so safe
You are my melody
That's where you take me
With you I get so high
Lost in the crystal sky
You are this melody
That's where you take me
I never fell before
How did you find the door
The key to my soul
To you forever more
Oh baby oh baby you make me rise
And never did I once think twice
Oh baby oh baby you make me smile
Stay with me a while.
--------------------------------
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry entered the Fall in a frenzy. Students sat in the dungeons at Potions, the cold stone walls and empty fire grate glazed with ice. Professor Snape refused to put on a fire.
The cold corridors looked dark and dreary, and looking out the window, one would only see leaves. Piles and piles of leaves. The frozen trees stood scattered amongst them, their bare branches raised high above, making them look like skeletons.
Ginny had always loved the Fall. It was her favorite season. The way the leaves would turn from green, to red, to orange, and finally to yellow. When she was younger, she used to love hearing the crunching noises the leaves would make as she crushed them under her shoes.
The shock of Ginny and Draco's relationship had died down. Though Ginny hated to admit this to herself, she didn't understand. Why had Draco evenasked her to be his girlfriend. None of the other Slytherins talked to her. In fact, Draco never even introduced her to any of his friends. He had never asked her to sit with him at the Slytherin table. But Ginny tried to push that thought out of her mind.
Some Gryffindors even, only spoke to her curtly, because they felt that she had betrayed them for going out with a Slytherin, nonetheless, Draco Malfoy.
It was on a Saturday though, that something made her think back. She had just been in the library, and was going back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
As she pushed open the portrait of the Fat Lady, the first people she saw was Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The three of them were huddled in front of the fire. Harry sat on an armchair. Ron was sitting across from him, on a footrest. He was leaned in towards Harry, a look of concern across his face. Hermione was sitting on the arm of Harry's chair. One hand was rested on his shoulder, and she was talking soothingly to him.
As Ginny approached, Harry got up and sighed visibly. He walked up the stairs to his dormitory, shoulders slumped. Hermione and Ron looked after him. Ron shook his head.
Although Ginny kept telling herself that she was over with Harry, she didn't know why her heart still plunged into misery, just of seeing -him- being miserable. When he pained, she pained. She hated seeing him so sad.
"What's wrong with Harry?" Ginny asked, as she took a seat next to Ron.
Hermione and Ron exchanged dark glances.
"What?" Ginny asked again.
"He's not with Cho anymore." Hermione said slowly.
Ginny felt her mouth dropped open. "-What-? What do you mean, has she broken up with him?"
Ron shook his head once again. "Actually, they both kind of broke up with each other..."
This time, the shock overcame Ginny like a tidal wave washing onto the beach. She felt the books she was holding slip from her grip. "Why? I thought... I thought he loved her..."
Ron shrugged. Hermione looked uncomfortable, and remained silent.
--------------------------------
Harry lay on his four-poster bed, with the curtains closed around him. He stared up at the ceiling, thoughts running across his mind. He remembered what had happened when he last spoke to Cho Chang.
He was walking her to the Ravenclaw Common Room. They stopped for a while, and she leaned in to kiss him, but he pulled back.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Cho asked.
"Cho... I don't think, I mean, maybe this isn't the best for me.." He had said carefully.
Even though Cho was a year older than him, he was still a few inches taller. He looked down at her bewildered face.
"Are you... are you saying what I think you're saying?" She had said. Her voice was firm.
Harry bit his lip. His first girlfriend, his first breakup. "Well, I don't think that we should--"
Cho cut him off. "No Harry, save it. I know you're going to break up with me. But you know what, I've been feeling the same way, over the pass week. Don't think I don't notice things Harry. I do. I see the way you look at -her-..."
Harry's mouth dropped open. He couldn't have been... obvious?
Cho continued. "I honestly didn't think this relationship was going to go on forever when we first started going out. But you were a nice guy, and it was great being with you. Now though... now, I think we both understand that we're just not... compatible. I'm sorry Harry, but I think we should see other people."
If this weren't happening to him, Harry would've laughed. How did -she- manage to break up with him, when it was he who was going to break up with -her-?
Harry found that he honestly didn't have anything to say other than "Okay". But that was rude, so he just nodded. Cho gave him one last look, turned and walked away, leaving him standing in the empty corridor, numb with shock.
As Harry continued to look up at his ceiling, he wondered why he felt so empty. It wasn't because of Cho Chang. It was something else. Or rather, -someone- else.
------------------------------
"I told you Draco, I told you Gryffindors were a bunch of good-for-nothing whiney little losers!"
Draco stared up wearily and Pansy.
"What have you gotten so far out of Weasley? Hm? If you had honestly thought that she would do -anything- with you... Then you're far more stupid than I thought!"
Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy stared at him, waiting for his response.
He sighed. "I admit... she's quite the stubborn one. Unlike those other girls. I mean, -honestly-, she wouldn't even let me kiss her in front of people!"
Blaise narrowed her eyes. "Why, Draco. Why did you even want her in the first place? She has nothing to give back to you, she's a -Weasley-! A -Gryffindor-!"
"Harry Potter."
Everyone stared at Draco, stunned as he said that name.
"What?" Crabbe said stupidly.
Draco sneered. "She's got Potter. Don't you see the way he's been staring at her for the last week?" He laughed, a cold, merciless laugh. "I thought he might have -some- guts, but, I guess not."
Blaise gave him a Look. "Are you saying... this is just another one of your schemes to get back at Potter? Taking -her-?"
Draco shrugged carelessly. "And Weasel. Imagine seeing his face when I crush his stupid sister's little heart."
---------------------------------
It rained the next day. It rained as if the sky was sobbing out tears. Inside the thick castle wall, one would hear the hard pellets of raindrops beating against the stone.
Ginny had left her Muggle Studies text book in the green house during Herbology lesson on Friday. She had a seven-foot essay to write the next day.
On her way out of the castle, she felt a hand grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. It was Draco.
She smiled. "Draco! I'm just about to go out... it's raining, but I've left my--"
But he was pushing her against the wall, his arms on either side of her shoulder.
"We haven't spent enough time together, don't you think?" He asked, his lips curling up.
He leaned in and pressed his lips hard against hers. Ginny thought if felt wrong... but this -was- what couples did right? So she softened into his kisses.
But then, with a free hand, he slipped in under her robes, and into her shirt, fumbling with the buttons. Her eyes widened and she pulled back, and pushed his hands away.
"What in the name of Merlin do you think you're doing?" She said.
Draco smirked. "What do you think? Honestly, you Gryffindors."
"Draco, I'm just not--"
A dark look crossed over his face. "Let me guess, not ready?" He rolled his eyes and sneered. "You know what Weasley, I don't even know why I waste my time on you. While I could be actually -doing- something with someone else."
Ginny felt as if her entire body had gone limp. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
"The truth is, Weasley, I don't even like you. Although, it was quite funny to see your little friends die with shock when they heard about us." He laughed. "Actually, why am I even wasting my time talking to you. I have better things to do." He turned around and started to walk away.
"Malfoy, wait..." Ginny said.
As Draco turned around, Ginny gave him and blow with all the energy she could muster up. She already felt tears welling up, but she would not cry. At least not in front of him.
"You sadistic jerk!" She yelled at his stunned face, as he clutched his right eye, which was bruised. And she wheeled around and ran. She flung open the doors of Hogwarts and ran outside, into the pouring rain.
----------------------------------
Harry had been roaming around the grounds of Hogwarts in the afternnon, when it started pouring rain.
"Great. Just great." He muttered. But he didn't bother to run back into the castle. He though about going to Hagrid's, but he wouldn't know what to say to him. He wasn't about to go crying to Hagrid about his girl problems.
He walked slowly, his robes already soaked, his hair plastered onto his face. His glasses were wet, but he managed to see through them. And he saw a figure. Whoever it was, she or he was hunched over, under a tree. The person was as wet as himself.
Harry walked closer, and realized it was a girl. It was Ginny. Through the rain, he could hear her soft sobs, and see her shoulders rise up and down from her uncontrollable breathing.
He ran towards her, and he felt the mud squish under his shoes. It was splashing up all over his robes, but he didn't care. He just needed to get to Ginny.
------------------------------------
Ginny ran out of the castle, and realized that she had nowhere to go. The thought of her Muggle Studies textbook was pushed far from her mind. She couldn't even -think- as of that moment. She looked wildly around, and spotted a tree close by. She ran under it, dripping with rain, and sat down amongst the leaves that she loved so much. She sat there and cried her heart out.
She had held back her tears before, but she had to let all of it out now. She knew, Draco Malfoy did not deserve to be cried over, but that was the last straw. From everything else, from the past five years up until now, she had held back. And now, it was time to let it all out, tears worth of five years.
'So this is how I'm going to die.' She thought bitterly. 'Drowning in my own tears.'
The thought of that made her sob even harder. Thinking of Ron, and Hermione, and Harry, warm inside, laughing merrily. Thinking of all the other students with their friends...
Then, she felt an arm on her shoulder. She looked up, and to her surprise, it was Harry.
He didn't say anything; he just pulled her into him, and let her sob into his chest.
If one had been looking at them, they would for a second, think that it was one person. They fitted together so perfectly, her body, against his.
When Ginny had calmed down a bit, she pulled back, though her arms were still around Harry.
"It's Malfoy. He broke up with me. N-Never even liked me. I-it was because of you, and... I'm -so- stupid..."
And she just thought of something. Because of Harry, she had gotten hurt again. Was it really worth it?
Harry gripped her arms firmly. "You're -not- stupid Ginny. And, I'm sorry."
Ginny pulled back, a look a surprise on her face. "For what?"
Harry looked down. "For everything. For not realizing how I felt about you until too late. For being so bloody -naïve-, so -blind- about you."
Ginny looked into his eyes. His emerald green eyes behind his glasses. And she remembered in her first year, she had written that poem to him on Valentine's Day.
'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad.'
"Ginny..." Harry started.
"Harry, don't. Don't do this. Don't feel sorry for me anymore. Just don't." She pushed his hand away, and was about to stand up, but he pulled her back.
"I love you."
And maybe it was because she had been in such an emotional whirlpool over the pass months, but she started crying again. Tears mixed with the rain, pouring down her face.
Harry bit his lip. "I understand, if you don't... if you don't return the feelings. It's my fault..."
Ginny shook her head, as she grabbed his hand. "Harry, I've loved you since.. Forever. You just don't understand. You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that. Why, why have you waited so long? All these years... do you know what I've been through? Because of you..."
Ginny wasn't sure, but Harry looked as if there were tears in his eyes. Or maybe it was just the rain.
But whatever Ginny had said she knew she could never, ever hate Harry. No matter what. No matter how long he's waited to tell her this. No matter what he has put her through. Because she loved him too. More than he could ever imagine.
"Harry, I love you too."
And a look of, was it relief?, washed over his face. He took her into his arms, and they embraced. For a while, both of them just sat there, under the tree, arms around each other, and holding on as if they would never let go. And they won't.
Their bodies pressed tightly against each other's, his fingers intertwined with her hair. Curls like scarlet flames.
-------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: The song at the beginning of the chapter was by Britney Spears, in which I thought was very nice and would fit Ginny/Harry relationship well. Now, any comments?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything here besides the plot. Characters and names belong to J.K. Rowling and publishers.
Summary: It's been five long years since Ginny's first met Harry, yet he still doesn't seem to get it. Then, when Draco Malfoy comes into the picture, things change. Can Harry realize faith in time? How one girl falls so hard, she can't bear to fall any longer.
Author's Note: Do we sense this fic ending? Hmm, possibly. This is the last chapter. The next thing I post up will be the Epilogue.
---------------------------------
Chapter 6
In love that no believe
Never found inside of me
Built these walls up so high
Needed my room to breathe
Oh baby, oh baby, you tear them down
Can't believe you changed my mind
Oh baby, oh baby, I saw you smile
Stay with me a while
All things fall into place
My heart it feels so safe
You are my melody
That's where you take me
With you I get so high
Lost in the crystal sky
You are this melody
That's where you take me
I never fell before
How did you find the door
The key to my soul
To you forever more
Oh baby oh baby you make me rise
And never did I once think twice
Oh baby oh baby you make me smile
Stay with me a while.
--------------------------------
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry entered the Fall in a frenzy. Students sat in the dungeons at Potions, the cold stone walls and empty fire grate glazed with ice. Professor Snape refused to put on a fire.
The cold corridors looked dark and dreary, and looking out the window, one would only see leaves. Piles and piles of leaves. The frozen trees stood scattered amongst them, their bare branches raised high above, making them look like skeletons.
Ginny had always loved the Fall. It was her favorite season. The way the leaves would turn from green, to red, to orange, and finally to yellow. When she was younger, she used to love hearing the crunching noises the leaves would make as she crushed them under her shoes.
The shock of Ginny and Draco's relationship had died down. Though Ginny hated to admit this to herself, she didn't understand. Why had Draco evenasked her to be his girlfriend. None of the other Slytherins talked to her. In fact, Draco never even introduced her to any of his friends. He had never asked her to sit with him at the Slytherin table. But Ginny tried to push that thought out of her mind.
Some Gryffindors even, only spoke to her curtly, because they felt that she had betrayed them for going out with a Slytherin, nonetheless, Draco Malfoy.
It was on a Saturday though, that something made her think back. She had just been in the library, and was going back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
As she pushed open the portrait of the Fat Lady, the first people she saw was Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The three of them were huddled in front of the fire. Harry sat on an armchair. Ron was sitting across from him, on a footrest. He was leaned in towards Harry, a look of concern across his face. Hermione was sitting on the arm of Harry's chair. One hand was rested on his shoulder, and she was talking soothingly to him.
As Ginny approached, Harry got up and sighed visibly. He walked up the stairs to his dormitory, shoulders slumped. Hermione and Ron looked after him. Ron shook his head.
Although Ginny kept telling herself that she was over with Harry, she didn't know why her heart still plunged into misery, just of seeing -him- being miserable. When he pained, she pained. She hated seeing him so sad.
"What's wrong with Harry?" Ginny asked, as she took a seat next to Ron.
Hermione and Ron exchanged dark glances.
"What?" Ginny asked again.
"He's not with Cho anymore." Hermione said slowly.
Ginny felt her mouth dropped open. "-What-? What do you mean, has she broken up with him?"
Ron shook his head once again. "Actually, they both kind of broke up with each other..."
This time, the shock overcame Ginny like a tidal wave washing onto the beach. She felt the books she was holding slip from her grip. "Why? I thought... I thought he loved her..."
Ron shrugged. Hermione looked uncomfortable, and remained silent.
--------------------------------
Harry lay on his four-poster bed, with the curtains closed around him. He stared up at the ceiling, thoughts running across his mind. He remembered what had happened when he last spoke to Cho Chang.
He was walking her to the Ravenclaw Common Room. They stopped for a while, and she leaned in to kiss him, but he pulled back.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Cho asked.
"Cho... I don't think, I mean, maybe this isn't the best for me.." He had said carefully.
Even though Cho was a year older than him, he was still a few inches taller. He looked down at her bewildered face.
"Are you... are you saying what I think you're saying?" She had said. Her voice was firm.
Harry bit his lip. His first girlfriend, his first breakup. "Well, I don't think that we should--"
Cho cut him off. "No Harry, save it. I know you're going to break up with me. But you know what, I've been feeling the same way, over the pass week. Don't think I don't notice things Harry. I do. I see the way you look at -her-..."
Harry's mouth dropped open. He couldn't have been... obvious?
Cho continued. "I honestly didn't think this relationship was going to go on forever when we first started going out. But you were a nice guy, and it was great being with you. Now though... now, I think we both understand that we're just not... compatible. I'm sorry Harry, but I think we should see other people."
If this weren't happening to him, Harry would've laughed. How did -she- manage to break up with him, when it was he who was going to break up with -her-?
Harry found that he honestly didn't have anything to say other than "Okay". But that was rude, so he just nodded. Cho gave him one last look, turned and walked away, leaving him standing in the empty corridor, numb with shock.
As Harry continued to look up at his ceiling, he wondered why he felt so empty. It wasn't because of Cho Chang. It was something else. Or rather, -someone- else.
------------------------------
"I told you Draco, I told you Gryffindors were a bunch of good-for-nothing whiney little losers!"
Draco stared up wearily and Pansy.
"What have you gotten so far out of Weasley? Hm? If you had honestly thought that she would do -anything- with you... Then you're far more stupid than I thought!"
Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy stared at him, waiting for his response.
He sighed. "I admit... she's quite the stubborn one. Unlike those other girls. I mean, -honestly-, she wouldn't even let me kiss her in front of people!"
Blaise narrowed her eyes. "Why, Draco. Why did you even want her in the first place? She has nothing to give back to you, she's a -Weasley-! A -Gryffindor-!"
"Harry Potter."
Everyone stared at Draco, stunned as he said that name.
"What?" Crabbe said stupidly.
Draco sneered. "She's got Potter. Don't you see the way he's been staring at her for the last week?" He laughed, a cold, merciless laugh. "I thought he might have -some- guts, but, I guess not."
Blaise gave him a Look. "Are you saying... this is just another one of your schemes to get back at Potter? Taking -her-?"
Draco shrugged carelessly. "And Weasel. Imagine seeing his face when I crush his stupid sister's little heart."
---------------------------------
It rained the next day. It rained as if the sky was sobbing out tears. Inside the thick castle wall, one would hear the hard pellets of raindrops beating against the stone.
Ginny had left her Muggle Studies text book in the green house during Herbology lesson on Friday. She had a seven-foot essay to write the next day.
On her way out of the castle, she felt a hand grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. It was Draco.
She smiled. "Draco! I'm just about to go out... it's raining, but I've left my--"
But he was pushing her against the wall, his arms on either side of her shoulder.
"We haven't spent enough time together, don't you think?" He asked, his lips curling up.
He leaned in and pressed his lips hard against hers. Ginny thought if felt wrong... but this -was- what couples did right? So she softened into his kisses.
But then, with a free hand, he slipped in under her robes, and into her shirt, fumbling with the buttons. Her eyes widened and she pulled back, and pushed his hands away.
"What in the name of Merlin do you think you're doing?" She said.
Draco smirked. "What do you think? Honestly, you Gryffindors."
"Draco, I'm just not--"
A dark look crossed over his face. "Let me guess, not ready?" He rolled his eyes and sneered. "You know what Weasley, I don't even know why I waste my time on you. While I could be actually -doing- something with someone else."
Ginny felt as if her entire body had gone limp. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
"The truth is, Weasley, I don't even like you. Although, it was quite funny to see your little friends die with shock when they heard about us." He laughed. "Actually, why am I even wasting my time talking to you. I have better things to do." He turned around and started to walk away.
"Malfoy, wait..." Ginny said.
As Draco turned around, Ginny gave him and blow with all the energy she could muster up. She already felt tears welling up, but she would not cry. At least not in front of him.
"You sadistic jerk!" She yelled at his stunned face, as he clutched his right eye, which was bruised. And she wheeled around and ran. She flung open the doors of Hogwarts and ran outside, into the pouring rain.
----------------------------------
Harry had been roaming around the grounds of Hogwarts in the afternnon, when it started pouring rain.
"Great. Just great." He muttered. But he didn't bother to run back into the castle. He though about going to Hagrid's, but he wouldn't know what to say to him. He wasn't about to go crying to Hagrid about his girl problems.
He walked slowly, his robes already soaked, his hair plastered onto his face. His glasses were wet, but he managed to see through them. And he saw a figure. Whoever it was, she or he was hunched over, under a tree. The person was as wet as himself.
Harry walked closer, and realized it was a girl. It was Ginny. Through the rain, he could hear her soft sobs, and see her shoulders rise up and down from her uncontrollable breathing.
He ran towards her, and he felt the mud squish under his shoes. It was splashing up all over his robes, but he didn't care. He just needed to get to Ginny.
------------------------------------
Ginny ran out of the castle, and realized that she had nowhere to go. The thought of her Muggle Studies textbook was pushed far from her mind. She couldn't even -think- as of that moment. She looked wildly around, and spotted a tree close by. She ran under it, dripping with rain, and sat down amongst the leaves that she loved so much. She sat there and cried her heart out.
She had held back her tears before, but she had to let all of it out now. She knew, Draco Malfoy did not deserve to be cried over, but that was the last straw. From everything else, from the past five years up until now, she had held back. And now, it was time to let it all out, tears worth of five years.
'So this is how I'm going to die.' She thought bitterly. 'Drowning in my own tears.'
The thought of that made her sob even harder. Thinking of Ron, and Hermione, and Harry, warm inside, laughing merrily. Thinking of all the other students with their friends...
Then, she felt an arm on her shoulder. She looked up, and to her surprise, it was Harry.
He didn't say anything; he just pulled her into him, and let her sob into his chest.
If one had been looking at them, they would for a second, think that it was one person. They fitted together so perfectly, her body, against his.
When Ginny had calmed down a bit, she pulled back, though her arms were still around Harry.
"It's Malfoy. He broke up with me. N-Never even liked me. I-it was because of you, and... I'm -so- stupid..."
And she just thought of something. Because of Harry, she had gotten hurt again. Was it really worth it?
Harry gripped her arms firmly. "You're -not- stupid Ginny. And, I'm sorry."
Ginny pulled back, a look a surprise on her face. "For what?"
Harry looked down. "For everything. For not realizing how I felt about you until too late. For being so bloody -naïve-, so -blind- about you."
Ginny looked into his eyes. His emerald green eyes behind his glasses. And she remembered in her first year, she had written that poem to him on Valentine's Day.
'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad.'
"Ginny..." Harry started.
"Harry, don't. Don't do this. Don't feel sorry for me anymore. Just don't." She pushed his hand away, and was about to stand up, but he pulled her back.
"I love you."
And maybe it was because she had been in such an emotional whirlpool over the pass months, but she started crying again. Tears mixed with the rain, pouring down her face.
Harry bit his lip. "I understand, if you don't... if you don't return the feelings. It's my fault..."
Ginny shook her head, as she grabbed his hand. "Harry, I've loved you since.. Forever. You just don't understand. You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that. Why, why have you waited so long? All these years... do you know what I've been through? Because of you..."
Ginny wasn't sure, but Harry looked as if there were tears in his eyes. Or maybe it was just the rain.
But whatever Ginny had said she knew she could never, ever hate Harry. No matter what. No matter how long he's waited to tell her this. No matter what he has put her through. Because she loved him too. More than he could ever imagine.
"Harry, I love you too."
And a look of, was it relief?, washed over his face. He took her into his arms, and they embraced. For a while, both of them just sat there, under the tree, arms around each other, and holding on as if they would never let go. And they won't.
Their bodies pressed tightly against each other's, his fingers intertwined with her hair. Curls like scarlet flames.
-------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: The song at the beginning of the chapter was by Britney Spears, in which I thought was very nice and would fit Ginny/Harry relationship well. Now, any comments?
