Harry couldn't help but grin as Madam Pomfrey gave him a last fussing over.
The poor nurse was stunned at his recovery. It couldn't be doubted that he was better. Indeed, she had to agree that he was as healthy as she'd ever seen him.
"I'll be doing my best to stay this way. I can promise that much faithfully Madame Pomfrey." Said Harry as he picked up his stack of work.
"Yes, well don't you go working too hard young man! Remember what Professor Dumbledore said. You're to have extra time before your OWLs to catch up."
Harry nodded and left the room as quickly as possible.
He wasn't really looking where he was going and he bumped into Ginny in the corridor not far from the common room.
"Harry! You're out!" She exclaimed staring at him slightly wide eyed.
"Hi Ginny. How are you?" Said Harry looking down at the mess of parchments that he'd just dropped.
"Oh dear. Here, let me help you!" She said kneeling down and reaching to pick them up.
"No, no, don't worry about it." Said Harry smiling.
He took out his wand and re-stacked the papers also binding them carefully with string.
Ginny blushed.
"I didn't think of that." She confessed standing up.
"So, how have you been?" Asked Harry as he picked up the pile once more.
"Oh, you know, not too bad." Muttered Ginny looking at him almost cautiously.
"Is something the matter Ginny?" Asked Harry with genuine concern.
"Uh, no, of course not. It's just…" As Ginny stuttered and began to go red Harry led her back towards the common room.
"Let's sit down and have a chat okay, there's obviously something bothering you." He said decidedly grabbing her hand on impulse and struggling to haul his pile of assignments using just the other arm.
They hadn't gotten very far before Ginny squeezed his hand and stopped walking.
"Harry. You do realise that you wont get to talk to me at all if we go in there don't you?" She said grinning.
Harry frowned in thought then smiled back, "You're right. Maybe we could just, walk and talk. But hang on a second." He let go of her hand and took out his wand. After glancing down the hall to check that he wasn't going to be caught doing magic in the corridor Harry pointed at the heavy pile and shrank it so that it fit comfortably in his pocket.
"Don't know why I didn't do that in the first place really." He said with a slight laugh.
Ginny was staring at her feet again and Harry suddenly realised that he'd quite like to hold her hand again.
"Come on then Ginny!" He said suddenly, grabbing the aforementioned hand and walking briskly away from the common room.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Lucius trembled as the lingering pain of the cruciatus curse made way to allow his brain to function again.
"M-My Lord?" He stuttered in disbelief.
"You have no idea Luciussss," Hissed the towering figure.
"Mercy! Please have mercy!" Squealed the terrified man all thought of pride and arrogance abandoned.
"You are a fool, I do not know of mercccy, nor would I grant it to you. I ssshall keep you alive asss long asss you have a purpossse." Snarled the voice, which was becoming more serpentine by the second.
"Of course lord." Mumbled Lucius scrambling into a kneeling position.
"Besssidesss, you are amusssing to me." Hissed the man stepping forward.
Lucius hardly dared to lift his head, but he couldn't fight the urge to look at the owner of the menacing hiss.
When he did he almost chocked. He recognised the familiar skeletal features of Lord Voldemort, but some sick twist of fortune had gouged Harry Potter's eyes from his face and used them to substitute the dark lord's own.
"You ssshall do sssomething for me Luciusss. And perhapsss you will live to sssee your ssson again."
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Draco Malfoy sat at his desk pouring diligently over his book.
Sirius had turned out to be a surprisingly efficient instructor, and Draco was certain that he was making very good progress for once.
His eyes drifted away from the page he'd been reading as Draco pondered once again the choice he'd made. He was sure now that it had been the right one. He could never have stayed amongst the other Hogwarts alumni. It would not only have been dangerous but undoubtedly unpleasant.
He did, however, often feel a slight twinge off loss. As though he'd somehow dishonoured his family. He couldn't help but wonder what his Father would do when he found out what was going on.
With a small sigh Draco shook his head and returned to reading up on animagi. It seemed to be a favourite topic of 'Professor Padfoot' as Sirius liked to be addressed both in and out of their lessons. And Draco couldn't help but admit that it interested him too. He grinned slightly and glanced over to where Sirius was currently snoozing, reclined on a sofa, his arm flung over his face, emitting a loud snore from time to time.
Draco knew that worrying about Harry had been the core of Sirius' existence for most of the past few months, even more so than previously, and he accepted easily the frequent bouts of exhaustion, which Harry's Godfather was prone to. He couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of Harry for it, but he settled that out by remembering that it wasn't worth going through what Harry had suffered this year just for a bit of concern. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*
They'd been walking for almost ten minutes and had reached the quidditch pitch before either Harry or Ginny said a word.
Eventually Harry slowed from the hurried pace he'd been employing and motioned towards a couple of seats that looked quite enticing.
"So." He huffed as he sat down. "What's on your mind Miss Weaslette?"
Ginny had to laugh out loud at the name.
"I'm impressed! Not even Fred and George have come up with that one before." She giggled.
Harry shrugged. "Seriously Ginny, it's not like you to be so withdrawn."
Ginny almost smiled at the concern Harry had been showing her.
"Well, it's you. Harry, you've changed so much this year. I don't know if you've noticed with all that's happened but it's almost as if you're a different person. I'm just scared that if we have to get to know each other again…"
Harry held up his hand.
"Hang on a second Ginny. When did we really get to know each other in the first place?" He asked gently.
"Well, I don't know. But I feel like I've known you my whole life, and, well… You did save my life."
For a moment they just looked at each other. For one second Ginny thought he might lean in and kiss her, but he didn't. She was surprised that she felt relieved.
Suddenly Harry smiled.
"Ginny! From this moment we're going to have a crash course in getting to know one another!" He said, a strange sort of childish excitement shining from his face.
"Alright." She said, grinning back.
"Forget what you thought you knew about Harry Potter." He said as if challenging her to do the impossible.
"And you, forget what you though you knew about Ginny Weasley." Said Ginny mischievously, standing up.
"Deal" said Harry holding out his hand.
But at that moment Ginny shoved him in the chest yelling, "You're IT!" as she ran off towards the castle.
After overcoming his astonishment, Harry ginned widely and ran after her feeling as free as he had in a long long time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/NThanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. I have a confession to make, I have lost my list of e-mailees, so please, could anyone who wishes to be contacted when I update let me know in your review or my e-mailing me at dreadlockanoj@hotmail.com. Thanks a lot.
Right-o as for this latest chapter, I'll apologise first for not getting everything that I promised into it, but I thought you'd prefer it if I got this posted then if I spent an age adding more. Also, cringes I hope it wasn't too fluffy, I was going for cute and fun rather than sappy, but I've probably failed miserably!
Lotsa Luv
Jona
x x x