Disclaimer--If you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. Conversation between Harry and Ginny is modeled on the CoS movie script--no copyright infrigement is intended by this, and no money is being made. Please don't sue.
Author's Notes--For artistic purposes, this scene deviates slightly from the one described in CoS as well as the one in the second Harry Potter movie, however they remain essentially the same as it is the same event being described...I like to think of it as differing accounts from eyewitnesses. ;-)
Strawberries and Blueberries--I'd have gotten this to you a lot sooner, but I couldn't find Fanfiction.Net! I was going nuts! Anyway...hope it was worth the wait, and thanks for your continued enthusiasm! :-D
EEDOE--Wow...I'm breathless in the wake of such undeserved praise. Without your support and encouragement, this story probably would have been stillborn. Hope this is worthy of your faith in me, and that you continue to accompany me in the future! *hugs and more hugs*
Bill--I'm glad you agree with me about Ginny's involvement making the story more interesting. You make a great point about her feelings for Harry, and one that's probably close on target...if she hadn't loved him, he'd never have been able to rouse her, after all...like any good fairy tale...;-) It's so funny you should suggest Ginny's further influence...you're right, the next installment was pretty much finished all ready, but...*grins and winks* I like the way you think. Ginny's feelings have evolved a lot in the last two chapters...near death experiences mature you pretty fast--but she's rising to meet the challenge with surprising fortitude. I'm proud of her...and a little amazed, too! As I said to EEDOE, this story has been a fantastic journey that probably wouldn't have evolved if it hadn't been for your company. I hope you enjoy the destination as we draw close, and continue on the journey in the future! *hugs, hugs, hugs!*
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The basilisk lunged blindly, its forked tongue lashing Harry's side. Harry swung wildly at the serpent, the blade bouncing off the snake's nose, clanging against the stone pillars. Ginny longed to help him with the weight of the sword. She gathered whatever energy she could, whatever energy Tom had left her, and directed it toward Harry with all her heart...
The basilisk struck again. Harry danced out of the way, swinging aimlessly, and the basilisk hit the pillars and fell back.
Regaining its balance, the basilisk struck for the third time. This time its aim was true...and so was Harry's. Throwing all his weight behind the blade, Harry lunged, burying the sword in the basilisk's mouth. Ginny felt a flickering spark of triumph...but suddenly her arm seared with pain... a long, glistening fang protruded from Harry's...the basilisk thundered against the floor and lay with final stillness.
There was nothing left to hold Harry up, Ginny knew. He fell, using the wall behind him to guide his progress to the floor. She wanted to run to his side...staying motionless on the floor was killing her...much more so than Tom Riddle...
As if moved by her thoughts, Harry inched toward her, painfully slow, his good hand wrapped around the penetrating tooth. Pain swirled between them like a cloud, obscuring and clarifying things by turns. His hand on her shoulder was like coming home. They would die, then. Together.
Footsteps echoed as Tom approached them. "I'm going to sit here and watch you die, while I live, Harry Potter," Tom said in triumph. Harry pulled the fang from his arm, dropping it on the floor with a dull clatter.
Everything seemed to be spinning, a whirl of color so fast it barely seemed like moving...
With one high, clear note that seemed to vibrate through time, Fawkes soared overhead, dropping something into Harry's lap. A small, nondescript little book Ginny had nearly forgotten. Tom Riddle's diary. For a split second, time stood still.
Harry moved, but Ginny could have sworn she moved as well...that her fingers closed over his on the basilisk fang, that her arm moved with his, that her strength joined his in driving it as deep as she could into the heart of the diary. Into Tom.
His scream welled through her in intense satisfaction, dissolving invisible bonds that held her tied.
Ink spurted, dark arterial blood, christening their joined hands, setting the Chamber floor awash. They wrenched the fang upward and struck again as Tom writhed...light seemed to be eating through him like some inexplicable acid, wearing gaps...the gaps widened and began to touch...and suddenly Tom expanded in a great, bursting cloud of light...sparks fell to the floor. Ginny could feel the light flooding through her as if dawn was breaking into day...
She felt as if she had been beaten, stiff and sore. Ignoring her own soft moan, Ginny wrenched herself upward and reached out to touch Harry's arm. "It's all right," Harry said encouragingly, his voice unsteady. "You're safe now, Ginny. Riddle's finished."
"I didn't want to, Harry," Ginny said miserably. "Tom...he made me...I swear I didn't mean to."
"I know," Harry soothed. "He told me-Riddle told me. Ginny, you have to get out of here."
"You're hurt!" Ginny exclaimed, indignant he would even suggest she leave him behind.../So I suggested the same thing/, she scolded the sardonic voice in her head. /That was different./
Harry pulled slightly away, trying to shrug as if indifferent, but Ginny knew better. She had felt that pain...Harry was dying. And it was her fault. She forced away useless tears and tried to think of something to do.
Fawkes the phoenix had landed beside them. "Fawkes," Harry said softly, "you were fantastic." Fawkes laid his head tenderly on Harry's arm where the basilisk had bitten him. "Fawkes," Harry said again, and the word held so much meaning.
Ginny made a strangled noise that might have been a gasp...or sob. Fawkes, too, was weeping. She reached out as if to stroke the glossy red feathers, as if to comfort this strange hero she'd never seen...
A patch of thick, shining tears washed the wound clean...it didn't look so bad when it wasn't bloody...small, almost harmless really...Ginny blinked and sat up straight. Either it was her imagination or Harry's wound was shrinking...
"Phoenix tears..." Harry said, as if remembering, "have healing powers."
Tears began to pour down her face, and Ginny let them as she caught her breath, scarcely daring to believe...
"Thanks, Fawkes," Harry said, as if similar things happened every day. Then again, with Harry, maybe they did.
"Ginny," Harry said again, looking her in the eye. She found herself thinking of the meadow on a sunny spring day, and wrenched her thoughts back to reality. "You're okay."
/You're okay/, Ginny wanted to say, but she could only mouth the words, trapped in her own overwhelming relief.
"It's a memory," Harry said, putting his arms around her and patting her back, a little awkwardly. "It's only a memory."
/It always was/, Ginny thought darkly as she leaned into his embrace. But Harry was right. Tom couldn't hurt her now. She was safe. Just the thought made her bury her face in Harry's neck.
Author's Notes--For artistic purposes, this scene deviates slightly from the one described in CoS as well as the one in the second Harry Potter movie, however they remain essentially the same as it is the same event being described...I like to think of it as differing accounts from eyewitnesses. ;-)
Strawberries and Blueberries--I'd have gotten this to you a lot sooner, but I couldn't find Fanfiction.Net! I was going nuts! Anyway...hope it was worth the wait, and thanks for your continued enthusiasm! :-D
EEDOE--Wow...I'm breathless in the wake of such undeserved praise. Without your support and encouragement, this story probably would have been stillborn. Hope this is worthy of your faith in me, and that you continue to accompany me in the future! *hugs and more hugs*
Bill--I'm glad you agree with me about Ginny's involvement making the story more interesting. You make a great point about her feelings for Harry, and one that's probably close on target...if she hadn't loved him, he'd never have been able to rouse her, after all...like any good fairy tale...;-) It's so funny you should suggest Ginny's further influence...you're right, the next installment was pretty much finished all ready, but...*grins and winks* I like the way you think. Ginny's feelings have evolved a lot in the last two chapters...near death experiences mature you pretty fast--but she's rising to meet the challenge with surprising fortitude. I'm proud of her...and a little amazed, too! As I said to EEDOE, this story has been a fantastic journey that probably wouldn't have evolved if it hadn't been for your company. I hope you enjoy the destination as we draw close, and continue on the journey in the future! *hugs, hugs, hugs!*
*******************
The basilisk lunged blindly, its forked tongue lashing Harry's side. Harry swung wildly at the serpent, the blade bouncing off the snake's nose, clanging against the stone pillars. Ginny longed to help him with the weight of the sword. She gathered whatever energy she could, whatever energy Tom had left her, and directed it toward Harry with all her heart...
The basilisk struck again. Harry danced out of the way, swinging aimlessly, and the basilisk hit the pillars and fell back.
Regaining its balance, the basilisk struck for the third time. This time its aim was true...and so was Harry's. Throwing all his weight behind the blade, Harry lunged, burying the sword in the basilisk's mouth. Ginny felt a flickering spark of triumph...but suddenly her arm seared with pain... a long, glistening fang protruded from Harry's...the basilisk thundered against the floor and lay with final stillness.
There was nothing left to hold Harry up, Ginny knew. He fell, using the wall behind him to guide his progress to the floor. She wanted to run to his side...staying motionless on the floor was killing her...much more so than Tom Riddle...
As if moved by her thoughts, Harry inched toward her, painfully slow, his good hand wrapped around the penetrating tooth. Pain swirled between them like a cloud, obscuring and clarifying things by turns. His hand on her shoulder was like coming home. They would die, then. Together.
Footsteps echoed as Tom approached them. "I'm going to sit here and watch you die, while I live, Harry Potter," Tom said in triumph. Harry pulled the fang from his arm, dropping it on the floor with a dull clatter.
Everything seemed to be spinning, a whirl of color so fast it barely seemed like moving...
With one high, clear note that seemed to vibrate through time, Fawkes soared overhead, dropping something into Harry's lap. A small, nondescript little book Ginny had nearly forgotten. Tom Riddle's diary. For a split second, time stood still.
Harry moved, but Ginny could have sworn she moved as well...that her fingers closed over his on the basilisk fang, that her arm moved with his, that her strength joined his in driving it as deep as she could into the heart of the diary. Into Tom.
His scream welled through her in intense satisfaction, dissolving invisible bonds that held her tied.
Ink spurted, dark arterial blood, christening their joined hands, setting the Chamber floor awash. They wrenched the fang upward and struck again as Tom writhed...light seemed to be eating through him like some inexplicable acid, wearing gaps...the gaps widened and began to touch...and suddenly Tom expanded in a great, bursting cloud of light...sparks fell to the floor. Ginny could feel the light flooding through her as if dawn was breaking into day...
She felt as if she had been beaten, stiff and sore. Ignoring her own soft moan, Ginny wrenched herself upward and reached out to touch Harry's arm. "It's all right," Harry said encouragingly, his voice unsteady. "You're safe now, Ginny. Riddle's finished."
"I didn't want to, Harry," Ginny said miserably. "Tom...he made me...I swear I didn't mean to."
"I know," Harry soothed. "He told me-Riddle told me. Ginny, you have to get out of here."
"You're hurt!" Ginny exclaimed, indignant he would even suggest she leave him behind.../So I suggested the same thing/, she scolded the sardonic voice in her head. /That was different./
Harry pulled slightly away, trying to shrug as if indifferent, but Ginny knew better. She had felt that pain...Harry was dying. And it was her fault. She forced away useless tears and tried to think of something to do.
Fawkes the phoenix had landed beside them. "Fawkes," Harry said softly, "you were fantastic." Fawkes laid his head tenderly on Harry's arm where the basilisk had bitten him. "Fawkes," Harry said again, and the word held so much meaning.
Ginny made a strangled noise that might have been a gasp...or sob. Fawkes, too, was weeping. She reached out as if to stroke the glossy red feathers, as if to comfort this strange hero she'd never seen...
A patch of thick, shining tears washed the wound clean...it didn't look so bad when it wasn't bloody...small, almost harmless really...Ginny blinked and sat up straight. Either it was her imagination or Harry's wound was shrinking...
"Phoenix tears..." Harry said, as if remembering, "have healing powers."
Tears began to pour down her face, and Ginny let them as she caught her breath, scarcely daring to believe...
"Thanks, Fawkes," Harry said, as if similar things happened every day. Then again, with Harry, maybe they did.
"Ginny," Harry said again, looking her in the eye. She found herself thinking of the meadow on a sunny spring day, and wrenched her thoughts back to reality. "You're okay."
/You're okay/, Ginny wanted to say, but she could only mouth the words, trapped in her own overwhelming relief.
"It's a memory," Harry said, putting his arms around her and patting her back, a little awkwardly. "It's only a memory."
/It always was/, Ginny thought darkly as she leaned into his embrace. But Harry was right. Tom couldn't hurt her now. She was safe. Just the thought made her bury her face in Harry's neck.
