Unexpected Heritage
Disclosure: I Own Nothing!!!
Warning: This chapter is a tough one for Harry and Sev, but there is a happy outcome. Also, you may think that what happens is too soon in the relationship, but I want you to understand that both are quite desperate for affection. There are also flashbacks containing sexual abuse. If you don't want to read this chapter, I totally understand and I will let you know if they occur in future chapters as well. For those who wish to continue, please be generous and review.
Major Book 5 Spoiler in this chapter.
Ginny woke up shortly after Harry did and they both got dressed before heading downstairs into the dining area for breakfast. Seeing Ron at one table and Hermione at another, the two Gryffindors chose to sit with Hermione.
"So, Harry, I take it that all of your stuff is already in the tower."
"Actually, it's not. That was what I was planning to tell you all this morning." Harry took a sip of his coffee and continued. "I'm not living in Gryffindor Tower this year. I'll still spend plenty of time in the common room, but my rooms are in the dungeon, adjoining Professor Snape's. You can visit me any time and, if you give me a little notice, you can use my rooms as a private little area."
Harry smiled knowingly at both girls. He knew that they had to spend most of their time in the library or in the gardens if they wanted to be with their significant others. If they had access to Harry's rooms, they would be able to have a little more privacy. They finished their breakfast and, still without saying a word to Ron, went upstairs to get their trunks. Harry helped the girls by carrying the animals. Ginny got an owl the year before for making prefect and Hermione still had Crookshanks. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were waiting in a rather modified Volkswagen Golf. Ron jumped into the front seat with the adults after throwing all of his luggage into the trunk. Ginny, Harry, and Hermione filed into the backseat with Harry in the middle, chatting softly.
"Harry, dear, did you have a nice summer?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for asking. How's the rest of the family?"
"They're all doing well. Bill was transferred from Egypt to a very old branch of Gringott's in China. He's sent us many photos everybody's got copies of them; I'm sure Ron will be more than happy to show them to you."
Ron snorted at this and muttered under his breath.
"Now Ron, speak up. What did you say?" Mr. Weasley nudged his son.
"I said that he can stuff it. I'm not going to associate myself with them."
Mr. Weasley stopped the car, pulling off onto a deserted street. Mrs. Weasley looked shocked. The three in the back continued chatting, not really paying attention to what was going on in the front seat.
"RONALD PATRICK WEASLEY! WHAT ON EARTH DOES THAT MEAN?"
"It means, Mrs. Weasley, that I am currently in a situation that Ronald does not approve of." Now she looked confused. "What I'm trying to say is that James Potter isn't my father, I'm actually half-elf and Professor Snape is my soul-mate," Harry said as quickly as possible.
Mr. Weasley turned around in his seat to look at the boy he had taken to be like another son. Regarding him for a few seconds, Arthur smiled.
"Well, I won't say that this isn't a shock, but once you get to know him, Severus can be rather pleasant. Have you spoken with him about this yet?"
"Yes, sir, we've spoken quite a bit. And we make each other happy. I know Ron can't accept it, but you've been like the family I've never had, and I hope that you can accept me and Severus into your family."
Mrs. Weasley reached back for Harry's hand. "Of course we do, right Arthur?" Her husband nodded with a great smile on his face. "If you're happy and he treats you well, then there is nothing more that I can wish for you. Congratulations."
Harry smiled as Ginny wrapped her arm around his surrogate brother's shoulders and Mr. Weasley continued on to King's Cross. Pulling into a parking spot, Harry got three trolleys, put Crookshanks and Reginald, Ginny's owl, on one and helped the girls get their trunks on their trolleys. Leaving Ron behind, who was still struggling with his trunk, they walked briskly to the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. After they made sure that there was no one watching, all three strolled through the barrier and onto Platform 9 ¾. Everyone was looking at Harry, trying to decide if they liked his new look or not. Pretty much everyone agreed that it was a great look. Padma and Justin spotted Ginny and Hermione; they came to join the three Gryffindors, each going to their girlfriends. Harry let a slightly dreamy look cross his face.
~I wish that Sev was here. Ginny and 'Mione don't have to hide their relationships. I have to hide mine for an entire year. And I can't even see him until tonight at the very earliest.~
Hermione gently shook Harry by the arm. She leaned close to whisper in his ear, "You miss Professor Snape, don't you?"
The Boy-Who-Lived looked her in the eye and smiled, "Yeah, I do. I wish he could be here with me."
"I know. You'll see him tonight. Come on; let's get one of the big compartments before they're all taken."
The group of 5 strolled onto the train and got the last large compartment. Their trip to Hogwarts started and the three Gryffindors and two Ravenclaws played an entertaining game of Exploding Snap. After an hour or so, a small white cat scratched on the door. Justin opened the door and the cat strolled in with a small parcel on his back that was addressed to Harry. The Hogwarts Governors decided that it was easier to use cats than owls for messages that needed to be delivered on the train. Harry took the parcel, petted the cat, and opened the envelope on top. It was a very short message, but it meant everything to Harry.
Open the package and meet me in the
Professor's compartment.
~ S
Harry tore into the package and found a tiny glass pixie. It was pale blue and fluttered its wings softly as it sat in his palm. Padma looked more closely at the figurine, smiling.
"Who's it from, Harry? It's so beautiful."
"Padma, Justin, I have something that I have to tell you, but you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone. This is a secret that cannot leave this compartment, okay?"
They nodded and Harry continued.
"I have just found out that I am really half-elf. Hermione can answer any of your questions about that. Now this is the hard part. I know who my soul mate is and I have spent the past few weeks getting to know him better. I don't know exactly how you feel about him, but it will be better if you know so that you won't be shocked if Gin or 'Mione slips. My soul mate is Professor Snape, and I have grown to love him."
Padma and Justin just sat there for a few moments, taking in the revelation. Then Justin clapped Harry on the shoulder with a huge smile on his face.
"Congratulations mate. I just hope he makes you happy. Other than that, I don't give a damn who you're in love with…Well, as long as it not my girlfriend."
"'Mione's not exactly my type. Thanks for not throwing a fit, mate. Padma? Are you alright?"
"I can't say that I'm not a little put off by this, but it's not really about you or Professor Snape. It's just the age difference that bothers me. I mean he's old enough to be your father. But if you're happy, then I'm happy for you."
Harry smiled brightly as he stood up. "Now I really hate to leave, but there is someone waiting for me in the Professor's compartment. See you at the feast!"
Everyone said their good-byes and Harry slipped out of the compartment, jogging to the front of the train with the pixie in his hand. Stopping in front of the Professor's compartment, the Boy-Who-Lived hesitantly knocked on the door. Remus opened the door and pulled the young man into a hug.
"Oh Harry, it's so wonderful to see you! How are you? You're looking well."
"Thanks Remus. I'm great. And you?"
"I'm getting along well. I've been speaking with someone who is hoping to see you. Go see Severus; we'll have plenty of time to talk later. And yes, I know. Severus told me everything and I couldn't be happier for you."
"Thank you so much! I promise that we'll have a long talk soon."
"He's in the adjoining sitting room."
Harry smiled and strolled nonchalantly into the adjoining room. Severus was sitting there, nursing what appeared to be a glass of white wine. He walked up behind the Slytherin and gently wrapped his arms around Severus' waist. The Potions Master tensed before relaxing into the embrace. Harry kissed the incredibly sensitive spot behind his ear.
"What are you doing here, Sev?"
"I will throw you into the Whomping Willow if you laugh at me, but I missed you. I've gotten so used to having you around that I just couldn't wait until tonight to see you. I hope you don't mind."
"Believe me, I don't mind at all. You can just ask Hermione and she'll readily tell you that I noticeably missed you as well."
Severus turned around on his stool and pulled Harry into his arms. Harry nuzzled the older man's neck as Severus ran one hand through the Gryffindor's long tresses. The Boy-Who-Lived hummed softly in pleasure; he loved the feeling of someone running their fingers through his hair. Severus ducked his head down to kiss his mate. Harry leaned into the Slytherin's chest as he lightly sucked on Severus' lower lip. Severus moaned, opening his mouth to Harry's delicious ministrations. Harry slid his tongue past the Slytherin's lips and explored every centimeter he could reach. Severus broke away when the need for air became too great.
"Would you like to move this to the couch? I do believe that it would be a great deal more comfortable."
Harry smiled and nodded, taking the Professor's hand and dragging him to the small couch. Gently guiding him to lay on the couch and placing the pixie on the side table, Harry settled himself on top of Severus. The Slytherin wrapped his arms around the Gryffindor; one hand teased the hair at the nape of Harry's neck and the other rubbed soothing circles in the small of his back. Harry dipped his head down to hungrily kiss Severus. Tongues battled once again and this time, Severus was allowed control. The Slytherin caressed the Gryffindor's teeth and gums, tasting and teasing, burning and freezing all at the same time. Severus' head fell back, away from Harry's luscious tongue.
"Harry…please"
"Please what, Sev?" Harry moved slightly lower to nip and suck the soft joint of flesh where neck meets shoulder.
"More"
Harry captured the older man's lips again. With their mouths otherwise occupied, Harry unbuttoned the Slytherin's robes and shirt at an almost painfully slow rate. Pushing the fabric aside, Harry continued his exploration of his soul-mate's body. He ghosted his fingers over the older man's chest and abdomen. Severus arched up trying to feel more of Harry's hands on his body, but the Gryffindor pulled his hands away. The Slytherin growled in protest.
"Eager, aren't we? Are there any professors here other than you and Remus?"
"No, and he said he'd leave us alone."
"Four more hours and I have you all to myself. I wonder what we should do."
Severus reached up and, with a hand firmly on the back of the Gryffindor's neck, pulled Harry down, kissing him hard. Harry's hands slid between them to roll the Slytherin's nipples between his fingers. Hearing his mate moan into his mouth, Harry pulled away from the kiss. He licked and nipped his way down the Potions Master's chest. He blew a cool breath across a moistened nipple before taking it in his mouth to suck and nibble on the hardened nub. Harry kissed his way across pale skin to do the same to the other nipple. By the time he was done, Harry was settled comfortably on top of a puddle of Severus. The Gryffindor sat back on his heels and slowly undid the Slytherin's belt, followed by the button and zipper of his cotton pants. The younger man gently slid his hand under the waistband of Severus' black silk boxers. Tentative fingers ghosted over hard flesh. Unconsciously, Severus thrust his hips up hard, forcing Harry's palm to flatten against his penis. The Gryffindor was more than a bit shocked; he quickly pulled his hand away and huddled in the opposite corner of the couch. All arousal gone and completely forgotten, Severus closed his pants and fastened his belt. The Potions Master carefully got up and knelt in front of Harry. The young man had curled himself around his knees and was rocking back a forth, mumbling incoherently.
"Harry…HARRY!"
Severus' shouting served only to frighten the young man even more. He now had his head buried in his arms; Severus could tell that he was crying. What the Slytherin didn't know was that Harry was having a flashback.
**~Flashback~**
A tiny, 6-year-old boy sat on the floor of his room, peacefully drawing pictures on the back of old homework papers. It was the only paper he had to draw on without getting in trouble. The light was starting to fade, but the boy was used to trying to draw in the dark and was becoming quite adept at it. As the room became darker, the child finished putting details on the tiger he was drawing. Sliding the picture under his bed with the others, the boy sat on the mattress and stared into the darkness, not making a sound. It was a cycle that passed through fully every day. When his aunt lowered the light in his room, he would sit on his "bed" which was really just a thin mattress on the lowest shelf of the cupboard. He was supposed to go to sleep now, but as he grew older, he wasn't tired when the light went out. So the child would sit there until he was sleepy. This night, however, was to be the first in a frightening cycle that would continue until he was finally old enough to leave for good.
The door under the stairs was flung open, but the bright light that should have invaded the small cupboard was blocked by the boy's large uncle.
"Get up boy."
The voice was a growl and the small child obeyed, scared, but not showing it. The man grabbed the boy's arm and dragged him into the kitchen, plopping into one of the chairs. Fat hands unzipped a fly; pants and briefs were pushed to the floor. Underneath the fat, the small boy could see his uncle's "down-there" and it was pointing straight up in the air.
"Touch it boy."
The child could smell the alcohol, but didn't think there was anything wrong. His uncle smelled like that all the time. Reaching out slowly, his fingers were shaking, but the boy touched his uncle ever-so-softly. But the man wanted more. He smashed his huge hand on top of the tiny one touching the hard flesh so that the child's whole hand was over his uncle's hardness. Holding the boy's hand there with the grip of a vice, the man thrust his hips back and forth, drawing himself to orgasm under the small hand. Sticky, white liquid splashed on the child's face.
**~End Flashback~**
The image Harry was seeing flickered and reformed itself behind his eyelids. He barely stifled a loud sob that escaped his lips as the invading images continued.
**~Flashback~**
The boy was older now; he was nine years old. Sitting on the floor in his cupboard, he was reading a book he managed to smuggle into his room. He heard the beginnings of the doorknob turning and he quickly hid the book under his pillow. His uncle pulled the door open and grabbed the boy's arm, dragging him out of the cupboard. He followed reluctantly into the informal sitting room; he dropped to his knees between his uncle's legs as the man sat on the couch. Reaching up with shaking fingers, the boy undid his uncle's fly and pulled the pants and underwear down. No matter how many times he was made to do this, his hand never stopped shaking. He wrapped his hand around the man's erection and started rubbing. The man took hold of the boy's head, forced his mouth open with his thumbs, and forced himself into the boy's mouth. His mouth was small, so he gagged and choked even though the man wasn't very well endowed.
"I'd better not feel your teeth, boy, or there will be quite a price to pay."
The boy took special care not to let his teeth touch anything as his uncle moved his head, thrusting into his mouth. His eyes filled with tears when the man held his head painfully against his pelvis as he came down he boy's throat. He gagged and coughed, vomiting all over himself; his uncle was already standing and walking to the stairs.
"Clean yourself up. And don't get any of your freakish mess on the carpet."
He curled himself around his knees and sobbed.
**~End Flashback~**
Severus gently rubbed Harry's upper arm; he flinched and pulled away, burying himself further into the couch. The Potions Master sat back on his heels and carefully put his hands on the edge of the couch.
"Harry…Harry, my lion, say something, please."
The older man spoke as softly and with as much love and concern in his voice as he could. Harry uncurled ever-so-slightly, turning his head to face Severus even though his eyes were still closed. The Slytherin inched slightly closer to the edge of the couch.
"Talk to me, love. Harry, please look at me."
Cloudy green eyes fluttered softly open and focused hazily on Severus.
"Sev?" His voice was quavering and barely a whisper.
"Yes, I'm right here."
"Nobody else?"
Severus could feel the fear weighing down the normally bold Gryffindor's voice.
"Only me. Remus is in the other room. Would you like me to get him?"
Harry's eyes grew wide and his bottom lip quivered. It broke Severus' heart.
"N—n—no, no…please don't leave. Please."
"I'm not going anywhere; I promise."
Huge tears tumbled down Harry's face as he reached out his hands to be held like a small child. Severus sat on the couch and pulled the shaking young man onto is lap. He clung to the fabric hanging loosely on Severus' shoulders; the older man's robes and shirt were still open. Tears welled up for the first time in a long time in the Potions Master's eyes. He rested his head on top of Harry's and let his tears fall to mix with the light sheen of sweat that clung to the younger man's hair as a result of the flashbacks. Harry snuggled against the Slytherin's bare chest; the shaking calmed but didn't stop and Severus could still feel fresh teardrops from Harry's cheeks clinging to his chest. The Potions Master gently rubbed the tears off the Gryffindor's cheeks. Harry looked up into the Slytherin's eyes and found them to be wet with a few lingering tears. Severus blinked them quickly away.
"Are you ready to let me inside that head of yours so I can know what's wrong?"
Harry looked frightened again, shaking his head as another tear clung to his eyelashes. Severus carefully leaned down and kissed the tear away.
"I—I'm sorry, but—but I can't."
"Alright, nothing to worry about just now. Can you tell me…was it bad memories?"
"Mmm-hmm…please don't make me talk about it, please."
"Sshh, you don't have to say anything. But I think that maybe it's time we got you a Pensieve. That way you can take away the bad memories until you're ready to face them."
"Do you really think it would help?"
"Well, I'm guessing that you have a lot of unhappy memories running around inside and they're just too much to deal with all at once. You'll still know the memories are there, in the Pensieve, and you'll have a very basic idea of what the memories are about, but the great majority of the details will be out of your head. You won't have to constantly think about them. How does that sound?"
"Once I put the memories in the Pensieve, do I have to face them, or can I just leave them in there forever?"
"Your memories are yours to deal with however you wish. If you want to remove them and never look at them again, it is your choice and yours alone. I won't look at them unless you say I can."
A hint of a smile played on Harry's lips. Sighing softly, the Gryffindor traced a curve of muscle on the Slytherin's chest, earning a shiver. Harry closed his eyes and rested his head on Severus' shoulder.
"I don't want to remember anymore, Sev. No more of the bad stuff."
"There are plenty of people who would like nothing more than to see you happy. I'm sure that they will all be there to help you through this…as will I. Alright?"
"Yes, thank you. Will you read to me…please?"
This was something that they started early in their time together when there was nothing worth watching on television. Severus' voice always had the uncanny ability of making him relax and forget about whatever was worrying him.
"Of course. Shall I continue with The Phantom of the Opera?"
"Please"
Severus smiled and stretched out on the couch. Harry curled up against his side, his head comfortably resting on Severus' chest. The Slytherin took out the book, opened it to the proper page, and began reading to the young man in his embrace.
"Raoul left the building a prey to the gloomiest thoughts. He resolved, come what might, to go and inquire of Mamma Valérius. He remembered the strong phrases in Christine's letter, forbidding him to make any attempt to see her. But what he had seen at Perros, what he had heard behind the dressing-room door, his conversation with Christine at the edge of the moor made him suspect some machination which, devilish though it might be, was none the less human. The girl's highly strung imagination, her affectionate and credulous mind, the primitive education which had surrounded her childhood with a circle of legends, the constant brooding over her dead father and, above all, the state of sublime ecstasy into which music threw her from the moment that this art was made manifest to her in certain exceptional conditions, as in the churchyard at Perros; all this seemed to him to constitute a moral ground only too favorable for the malevolent designs of some mysterious and unscrupulous person. Of whom was Christine Daaé the victim? This was the very reasonable question which Raoul put to himself as he hurried off to Mamma Valérius.
He trembled as he rang at a little flat in the Rue Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. The door was opened by the maid whom he had seen coming out of Christine's dressing-room one evening. He asked if he could speak to Mme. Valérius. He was told that she was ill in bed and was not receiving visitors.
`Take in my card, please,' he said.
The maid soon returned and showed him into a small and scantily furnished drawing-room, in which portraits of Professor Valérius and old Daaé hung on opposite walls."
Severus stopped reading when he felt Harry's breathing become slow and steady. He accio'd a blanket and draped it over himself and Harry. The Slytherin wrapped his arms protectively around the sleeping young man, settling into the couch cushions before also falling into a light sleep.
Two and a half hours had passed since Remus heard Severus summon the blanket and the train was nearly at Hogsmeade Station. It had been completely silent in the adjoining compartment since then. The werewolf knew that they needed to be getting ready to get off the train and also that it probably wouldn't be a very good idea for them to be seen leaving the Professor's compartment together. Knocking softly, Remus heard no sound. He knocked a little louder on the door and called this time to his best-friend's godson.
"Harry? We're almost there. Severus?"
He heard movement on the other side of the door and opened it up a tiny bit. He saw them just waking up on the couch, stretching and yawning. Seeing that everyone was mostly clothed (Severus' shirt and robes were still unbuttoned), Remus strolled into the room and smiled brightly at the two on the couch.
"Good morning! I trust you two had a nice nap?"
Severus attempted to sneer at his fellow professor, but a yawn prevented it. Harry stretched and sat up, wrapping his arms around his soul-mate's waist. The Slytherin performed a quick ironing spell on both of their robes, buttoning his shirt and robes. The younger Gryffindor fixed his ponytail and made sure that his robes were straight. Chuckling, Remus approached Severus with a decidedly mischievous look on his face.
"Hmm, Professor Snape, I do believe that it might behoove you to fasten the top button of you shirt. You might give the students ideas about appropriate school behavior."
Severus quickly swept over to the mirror and stared at his reflection. Sure enough, there were a number of small, red bite marks from where Harry had been sucking and biting his neck. Severus glared at the two Gryffindors that were chuckling softly as the Slytherin transfigured his shirt into a Victorian-looking one with a high collar.
"Leave it to a bloody Gryffindor to make me wear winter clothes in September."
"You know you love it, Sev. Now I have to get going, but I want to know why you gave me that pixie."
Severus took a deep breath as he handed the figurine to Harry.
"It was a gift to me from my mother. She told me to give it to someone. When I asked her who I was supposed to give it to, she told me to follow my heart and I would know who the right person was. So I am giving it to you."
Harry stared at Severus with wide, bright eyes. A smile covered his face as pulled the Slytherin into a tight embrace. Before Harry left the compartment, Severus captured the Boy-Who-Lived's lips in a quick kiss. Remus smiled and took a couple steps back.
"Thank you, Severus. You have no idea what this means to me."
Remus could just hear Severus whisper a reply.
"And you have no idea how much you mean to me. I'll see you tonight."
"See you tonight," then Harry's voice dropped so low that Remus found himself unconsciously leaning closer to the couple. "Love you, Sev"
Severus tensed for less than a split-second before pulling Harry tighter in his embrace. The younger Gryffindor didn't notice the moment of shock, but the elder Gryffindor did.
"I love you as well."
They shared another soft kiss before Harry disappeared down the corridor. Remus placed a gentle hand on the Slytherin's shoulder.
"I just witnessed something amazing, didn't I, Severus?"
"Yes you did."
"You love each other and I wish the both of you all the happiness in the world. Congratulations."
Although the words were happy, Severus could see the sadness in his eyes. The loss of the only person he ever loved still haunted him, as it did Harry. The Slytherin was just waiting for those horrible memories from the young man's 5th year to come forcibly to the surface.
"I know you miss him, Remus. As much as I hate to admit it, I do too. We all do, especially Harry. Sirius was the only thing resembling a family that he had. I don't want to replace him—"
"I know you don't. Harry knows it too. I think that you are the best thing that has happened to Harry. He's like a son to me, so you can take this to be that 'you're dating my child' discussion."
"So does that mean that I can call you 'pops'?"
"Your ever-changing sense of humor never ceases to amaze me."
Severus smiled, finally and permanently realizing that Remus Lupin wasn't out to get him.
**I can't believe that I am standing here having a conversation with Remus Lupin. Things have changed so much since Harry became a major part of my life. I do love him. And I actually told him. Merlin! That boy does something to me and I've got to admit that I like it. And Lupin isn't so bad either.**
"I would just like to say thank you to you Severus."
"Whatever for? I have been a thorn in your side since we were in school together. For Merlin's sake, I got you fired, which was a grievous mistake on my part. If anyone should be thanking anyone, I should thank you for putting up with me."
Remus put both hands on Severus' shoulders. The Slytherin looked straight at the Gryffindor.
"I want to thank you for being there for Harry. I didn't hear it very well, but I could tell that he had a flashback in there with you. It doesn't really matter what the circumstances were that caused it; you stayed with him, comforted him, and actually got him to rest afterwards. He even fell asleep, which is incredible. He's usually too wired to do much of anything, but he slept…in your arms. That's something that neither Sirius nor I could ever accomplish. That tells me something about you that you might never admit to anyone. It breaks your heart to see him hurting. I know I'm right; you do too."
"Thank you, Remus. I didn't think it would matter to me, but having your approval makes me feel so much better."
Remus smiled and nodded, stepping out of the compartment to get off the train.
Meanwhile, Harry strolled happily down the corridor and into the compartment where Hermione, Ginny, Padma, and Justin were chatting. The male Gryffindor sat between Ginny and Hermione, grinning madly. His eyes glittered. It was a scene that had not been seen in over a year. Harry was happy and he wasn't faking it. Hermione pulled her compatriot into a tight hug. She whispered in his ear.
"It is so wonderful to actually see you happy again."
"It's wonderful to feel happy again. He said he loves me."
Hermione pulled away to look Harry in the eye.
"He really said that?"
"Yup." If possible, Harry's grin widened.
"I never would have guessed! Well, not so soon at least. Oh, that's so sweet!!"
"What's so sweet, hun?" Justin leaned over.
Hermione looked at Harry as if to ask if it was okay to tell everyone what had transpired.
"Professor Snape said that he loves me."
Everyone started chattering. Ginny kissed his cheek and quieted them all down.
"Come on, Harry. I want details!"
"It's not as great as you may think. We were in one of the rooms in the Professor's Compartment and I had a flashback, a really bad one. Severus pulled me out of it and held me for a while. Then he started reading to me; don't laugh! It's something he just started doing sometime last week and I enjoy it. I listened to him read for a bit, then I fell asleep—"
"Wait a sec…you're telling me you fell asleep after a flashback? That never happens."
"I know, Gin. It was weird, but it felt so right. I feel so comfortable with him. Anyway, I was about to leave to comeback here and I let it slip and said that I love him. He just hugged me tighter and said it back. I got this warm tingly feeling inside. So, I told you that it wasn't that incredible."
Ginny clicked her tongue and got up to leave the train. No one seemed to notice other than the red-head that they had arrived at Hogsmeade. Padma shook her head, both thought that it was amazing, and followed her girlfriend off the train. The other three got the idea and exited as well. Hermione, Harry, and Justin strolled off the Hogwarts Express at a casual pace, getting into a carriage with Neville Longbottom. Everyone chatted about nothing in particular throughout the ride to the castle and up into the Great Hall. Everyone took their seats at their respective tables, waiting for the feast to begin.
A/N: I know it's a really crappy way to end the chapter, but I want to work a bit on the Sorting Hat's song and Dumbledore's speech. It might be a little while before the net chapter is posted, but I will have something to post within a couple days; I'll guarantee something to read by Monday. Please bear with me.
Reviews really make me feel like there are people who want me to continue this story, so if you want more, please let me know.