Chapter 5 – Ginny
Ginny fled back to her room quickly. It was only there that she burst into tears. How could Ron have done that to Harry? She didn't even think Draco was capable of that.
"Ginny?" she heard a voice call. It was her maid, Lavender, "Ginny, what's wrong?"
"I just went to the palace and.........," and she told Lavender the whole story. Lavender was shocked as shocked as Ginny
"Why though?" asked Ginny, "Why would Ron do that to Harry?"
"Well, Ron was always jealous of Harry, wasn't he? Maybe that was it?" Ginny looked up, startled
"Ron was jealous of Harry?"
"Yes, of course he was. Harry always had power, which was the thing Ron wanted more than anything. Harry was rich, he was famous and he was more popular than Ron. He was a better soldier, a better General, in line to be the next Emperor. He's much more handsome than Ron. Remember how Ron had to force Hermione to marry him?" Ginny nodded, "That was because she liked Harry not Ron,"
"What? But I thought she didn't like Harry? I told her how much I liked Harry so often and she said she didn't like him that way," said Ginny, confused
"Well, of course she said that. She wasn't going to try and steal the love of her best friend's life. But she certainly didn't want to marry Ron." Ginny stayed silent. This was too much for her. She loved her brother. He wasn't the kind of person to do this, especially not to his best friend.
"You know, if you wanted to go and talk to Harry, no one would here it from me," Lavender offered. Ginny thought for a few moments. She definitely wanted to see Harry again. After all, it had been five years since she had seen him.
"No, I shouldn't. It'll look too suspicious straight after. I'll wait till he's finished his second fight.
XXXXX
Harry sat in the changing room, sharpening his sword. He didn't know what he was going to face when he walked out into the arena, but he needed to be prepared. Then, he heard the call and began to walk to the passage up to the arena. As he went, the other gladiators raised their swords to him, murmuring, "General," as he went passed them. He stepped out into the passage and he heard the announcer's voice
"Ladies and Gentlemen, on this day. One gladiator will attempt the Herculean effort of defeating six men, armed only with his sword. The Emperor is proud to present to the Roman citizens – Scar."
Harry walked slowly up through the passage and into the arena. He felt confetti and flowers being showered over him as he entered. The crowd screamed their support for him. Even though he had been introduced as Scar, the crowd knew that it was Harry.
He crouched down and took some of the sand on the floor and rubbed it between his hands. He picked up his sword, bowed to the opponents and the match began.
Harry parried the strike by the first soldier and stabbed him in the stomach before he had a chance to defend himself.
The second man tried to attack while his back was turned but Harry dodged the blow and hit him on the helmet with his sword, knocking him out.
The third attacked quickly again but Harry's strength forced the man to drop the blade and Harry cut him deeply across the chest.
The fourth was a tall, fat man armed with a heavy metal club, which he swung clumsily at Harry. It was almost too easy to dodge. Harry ducked underneath it and slashed the man in the stomach. Foolishly, he stayed on his feet, so Harry stabbed him in the front of his helmet, where he knew the protection was thin, and then plunged his sword deep into the stomach.
The fifth man approached at a run, armed with two swords. Harry parried his weak blow and stabbed him in the side. Before the man could use the other sword, Harry had elbowed him in the stomach then slashed him from chest down to stomach.
The final opponent waited for Harry to come to him, giving Harry time to pick up one of the swords the previous opponent had dropped. He began showing off to the crowd with his sword skills, before the last opponent got impatient and attacked. He aimed a blow with his metal club at Harry's head. Harry parried it with one sword and slashed him across the stomach, once with each sword. He then stabbed the man with each sword, leaving them sticking out of him. He walked away for a few seconds, and then turned back. He pulled both swords out of the man and beheaded him brutally.
The crowd were almost silent. The fight had been expected to last at least half an hour, and that was if Harry defeated all opponents. But he had, and the fight lasted less than a minute. Harry spat bitterly on the floor, throwing down one sword in disgust. He raised his sword in triumph, saluting the crowd, who finally started to cheer again. He dipped his sword in the blood pouring from his final victim's neck and pointed it towards the Emperor and his cohorts again.
The Emperor was furious. He wasn't supposed to have survived in a 6 on 1 battle. And now he was mocking the Emperor in front of his own people. Ron and Draco were fuming as well. There hadn't even been time for Potter to fall into any of the traps that had been set up for him. However, the others up there were ecstatic Harry had survived again, none more so than Ginny, especially as she was going to go and see him this evening.
XXXXX
Harry was sitting down, eating his meal with Dean and Seamus, the tall gladiator Harry had saved during the recreation of the Battle of Carthage. They were talking and laughing happily, especially as they had just heard the news that no one was prepared to face Harry in the arena, so he would certainly live for a few more weeks yet. Seamus was originally from Ireland, but was captured during a revolution by the British against Roman rule. Ironically, Harry had been the General at the battle where Seamus had been captured and taken to Rome as a prisoner of war. But after Harry saved him, Seamus bore no grudges.
Just then, a guard entered
"General," he called to Harry. They couldn't help calling him 'General'. It was still natural. "You have a visitor." Harry followed the guard into the visitors' room. The guard began to chain his hands, but his visitor, who was dressed in a long cloak that covered their head said
"Don't bother with that, he won't hurt me." They followed the order and left the room. The visitor dropped their cloak and ran up to Harry, flinging their arms around him
"Oh Harry, I missed you so much," Ginny said. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him
"It's ok, Gin. It's ok," he whispered to her gently
"Oh Harry, how could they do that to you? How could they?" she asked desperately
"I don't know, Gin. I guess they just wanted power," he told her, kissing the top of her head
"But your own father did that to you?"
"So it was him?" Ginny nodded. "I thought it was. He always said he didn't believe that prophecy. And yet, I watched it eat away at him for years. I thought he'd be content with just keeping me out of Rome. I never expected that."
He had told Ginny about the prophecy years ago. His father had tried to keep it a secret from him, but his mother had given a letter to his maid and told it to give it to him when he was 15 years old.
"Where were you?" she asked
"I got sold into slavery and I worked for about two-and-a-half years as a slave in southern Spain. Then I got bought about a month ago I was bought and now, here I am." She hugged him tightly again
"What have you been doing? How come you're here? Won't everyone be angry?"
"No, they won't care. Only Ron and Draco and I don't care what they think,"
"How's Draco these days?"
"He's awful. He won't leave me alone. I don't know how many different ways it's possible to say 'no' to someone, but I'm sure I've used them all." Harry chuckled
"Last time I heard, you were going to marry him," he teased, but he was also keen to hear her response.
"Harry, don't say that," she said, swatting him playfully, "I would kill myself before I ever even thought about marrying him,"
"Don't do that, Gin. The world would be so much worse without its most beautiful thing." Ginny blushed furiously but looked up at Harry. He looked down at her, realising just how adorable she was. He moved his mouth down to hers and kissed her. She was shocked, but eagerly kissed back. She had been waiting for this for so many years; it was difficult to believe that it was coming true. After a minute or two of this, Harry broke away
"Gin, you know after all this? If I'm still alive and I'm free? We can be together, can't we?"
"Yes, of course, Harry," she said instantly
"But, you know, I may never be free, and I might be killed during my next fight,"
"I don't care, Harry. I've waited all these years, I'll wait more. Besides, after 20 fights the Emperor has to give you your freedom." Harry laughed darkly
"I'm pretty sure Dad will find a way round that one. Oh well, I'm glad you're still okay, Gin. You don't know how much I missed you." Ginny blushed slightly, and hid it by snuggling closely into Harry's strong chest
"When's your next fight?" she asked fearfully
"Not for a few weeks. They've got to find someone who's prepared to face me in the arena. No one wants to after I beheaded those two people." Ginny shuddered
"Don't say that, Harry. I was nearly sick after your match today,"
"Sorry, Gin. But I've got to send a message to Ron, Draco and Dad." Ginny nodded understandingly
"I think you are. They're all furious. They can't believe you survived. I know that they set up some traps for your fight today but there wasn't enough time to use them,"
"Yeah, I thought they might do that."
They sat and talked for about an hour more, before Ginny decided that she needed to go home. A few passionate kisses later, she left the Gladiators' Barracks and headed back to her home, a broad smile on her lips.
Ginny fled back to her room quickly. It was only there that she burst into tears. How could Ron have done that to Harry? She didn't even think Draco was capable of that.
"Ginny?" she heard a voice call. It was her maid, Lavender, "Ginny, what's wrong?"
"I just went to the palace and.........," and she told Lavender the whole story. Lavender was shocked as shocked as Ginny
"Why though?" asked Ginny, "Why would Ron do that to Harry?"
"Well, Ron was always jealous of Harry, wasn't he? Maybe that was it?" Ginny looked up, startled
"Ron was jealous of Harry?"
"Yes, of course he was. Harry always had power, which was the thing Ron wanted more than anything. Harry was rich, he was famous and he was more popular than Ron. He was a better soldier, a better General, in line to be the next Emperor. He's much more handsome than Ron. Remember how Ron had to force Hermione to marry him?" Ginny nodded, "That was because she liked Harry not Ron,"
"What? But I thought she didn't like Harry? I told her how much I liked Harry so often and she said she didn't like him that way," said Ginny, confused
"Well, of course she said that. She wasn't going to try and steal the love of her best friend's life. But she certainly didn't want to marry Ron." Ginny stayed silent. This was too much for her. She loved her brother. He wasn't the kind of person to do this, especially not to his best friend.
"You know, if you wanted to go and talk to Harry, no one would here it from me," Lavender offered. Ginny thought for a few moments. She definitely wanted to see Harry again. After all, it had been five years since she had seen him.
"No, I shouldn't. It'll look too suspicious straight after. I'll wait till he's finished his second fight.
XXXXX
Harry sat in the changing room, sharpening his sword. He didn't know what he was going to face when he walked out into the arena, but he needed to be prepared. Then, he heard the call and began to walk to the passage up to the arena. As he went, the other gladiators raised their swords to him, murmuring, "General," as he went passed them. He stepped out into the passage and he heard the announcer's voice
"Ladies and Gentlemen, on this day. One gladiator will attempt the Herculean effort of defeating six men, armed only with his sword. The Emperor is proud to present to the Roman citizens – Scar."
Harry walked slowly up through the passage and into the arena. He felt confetti and flowers being showered over him as he entered. The crowd screamed their support for him. Even though he had been introduced as Scar, the crowd knew that it was Harry.
He crouched down and took some of the sand on the floor and rubbed it between his hands. He picked up his sword, bowed to the opponents and the match began.
Harry parried the strike by the first soldier and stabbed him in the stomach before he had a chance to defend himself.
The second man tried to attack while his back was turned but Harry dodged the blow and hit him on the helmet with his sword, knocking him out.
The third attacked quickly again but Harry's strength forced the man to drop the blade and Harry cut him deeply across the chest.
The fourth was a tall, fat man armed with a heavy metal club, which he swung clumsily at Harry. It was almost too easy to dodge. Harry ducked underneath it and slashed the man in the stomach. Foolishly, he stayed on his feet, so Harry stabbed him in the front of his helmet, where he knew the protection was thin, and then plunged his sword deep into the stomach.
The fifth man approached at a run, armed with two swords. Harry parried his weak blow and stabbed him in the side. Before the man could use the other sword, Harry had elbowed him in the stomach then slashed him from chest down to stomach.
The final opponent waited for Harry to come to him, giving Harry time to pick up one of the swords the previous opponent had dropped. He began showing off to the crowd with his sword skills, before the last opponent got impatient and attacked. He aimed a blow with his metal club at Harry's head. Harry parried it with one sword and slashed him across the stomach, once with each sword. He then stabbed the man with each sword, leaving them sticking out of him. He walked away for a few seconds, and then turned back. He pulled both swords out of the man and beheaded him brutally.
The crowd were almost silent. The fight had been expected to last at least half an hour, and that was if Harry defeated all opponents. But he had, and the fight lasted less than a minute. Harry spat bitterly on the floor, throwing down one sword in disgust. He raised his sword in triumph, saluting the crowd, who finally started to cheer again. He dipped his sword in the blood pouring from his final victim's neck and pointed it towards the Emperor and his cohorts again.
The Emperor was furious. He wasn't supposed to have survived in a 6 on 1 battle. And now he was mocking the Emperor in front of his own people. Ron and Draco were fuming as well. There hadn't even been time for Potter to fall into any of the traps that had been set up for him. However, the others up there were ecstatic Harry had survived again, none more so than Ginny, especially as she was going to go and see him this evening.
XXXXX
Harry was sitting down, eating his meal with Dean and Seamus, the tall gladiator Harry had saved during the recreation of the Battle of Carthage. They were talking and laughing happily, especially as they had just heard the news that no one was prepared to face Harry in the arena, so he would certainly live for a few more weeks yet. Seamus was originally from Ireland, but was captured during a revolution by the British against Roman rule. Ironically, Harry had been the General at the battle where Seamus had been captured and taken to Rome as a prisoner of war. But after Harry saved him, Seamus bore no grudges.
Just then, a guard entered
"General," he called to Harry. They couldn't help calling him 'General'. It was still natural. "You have a visitor." Harry followed the guard into the visitors' room. The guard began to chain his hands, but his visitor, who was dressed in a long cloak that covered their head said
"Don't bother with that, he won't hurt me." They followed the order and left the room. The visitor dropped their cloak and ran up to Harry, flinging their arms around him
"Oh Harry, I missed you so much," Ginny said. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him
"It's ok, Gin. It's ok," he whispered to her gently
"Oh Harry, how could they do that to you? How could they?" she asked desperately
"I don't know, Gin. I guess they just wanted power," he told her, kissing the top of her head
"But your own father did that to you?"
"So it was him?" Ginny nodded. "I thought it was. He always said he didn't believe that prophecy. And yet, I watched it eat away at him for years. I thought he'd be content with just keeping me out of Rome. I never expected that."
He had told Ginny about the prophecy years ago. His father had tried to keep it a secret from him, but his mother had given a letter to his maid and told it to give it to him when he was 15 years old.
"Where were you?" she asked
"I got sold into slavery and I worked for about two-and-a-half years as a slave in southern Spain. Then I got bought about a month ago I was bought and now, here I am." She hugged him tightly again
"What have you been doing? How come you're here? Won't everyone be angry?"
"No, they won't care. Only Ron and Draco and I don't care what they think,"
"How's Draco these days?"
"He's awful. He won't leave me alone. I don't know how many different ways it's possible to say 'no' to someone, but I'm sure I've used them all." Harry chuckled
"Last time I heard, you were going to marry him," he teased, but he was also keen to hear her response.
"Harry, don't say that," she said, swatting him playfully, "I would kill myself before I ever even thought about marrying him,"
"Don't do that, Gin. The world would be so much worse without its most beautiful thing." Ginny blushed furiously but looked up at Harry. He looked down at her, realising just how adorable she was. He moved his mouth down to hers and kissed her. She was shocked, but eagerly kissed back. She had been waiting for this for so many years; it was difficult to believe that it was coming true. After a minute or two of this, Harry broke away
"Gin, you know after all this? If I'm still alive and I'm free? We can be together, can't we?"
"Yes, of course, Harry," she said instantly
"But, you know, I may never be free, and I might be killed during my next fight,"
"I don't care, Harry. I've waited all these years, I'll wait more. Besides, after 20 fights the Emperor has to give you your freedom." Harry laughed darkly
"I'm pretty sure Dad will find a way round that one. Oh well, I'm glad you're still okay, Gin. You don't know how much I missed you." Ginny blushed slightly, and hid it by snuggling closely into Harry's strong chest
"When's your next fight?" she asked fearfully
"Not for a few weeks. They've got to find someone who's prepared to face me in the arena. No one wants to after I beheaded those two people." Ginny shuddered
"Don't say that, Harry. I was nearly sick after your match today,"
"Sorry, Gin. But I've got to send a message to Ron, Draco and Dad." Ginny nodded understandingly
"I think you are. They're all furious. They can't believe you survived. I know that they set up some traps for your fight today but there wasn't enough time to use them,"
"Yeah, I thought they might do that."
They sat and talked for about an hour more, before Ginny decided that she needed to go home. A few passionate kisses later, she left the Gladiators' Barracks and headed back to her home, a broad smile on her lips.