First I must thank JamieBell for helping me out so much! You're an angel!
Thank you to primate_toosh (munkie_butt) for giving me your imput, and for pointing out the problem with chapter 5.
Also FYI my fingers weren't agreeing with me in the chapter that I called Mrs. Putnam Angelina, but I fixed it, so it should all be okay now.
Ally pirate; thank you for your reviews. They are encouraging, and make me want to write more quickly.
If I forgot anyone, sorry, but thank you for reviewing and letting me know what you think!
Last, if you haven't noticed, I have a pretty good idea of what I'm doing with this one, so I'm trying to post at least every other day, or so. That's why when some of you get on there are two or three new chapters. Sorry if you don't like it that way, but I know I hate having to wait forever for a new chapter on a story I like, so I try for ya'll!
Chapter 9- Confessions of the heart
The rest of the week went rather smoothly at the Burrow. Fleur had finally been able to come. Jeanette, Bill's and Fleur's six month old baby girl had been sick for a couple of weeks, so Fleur had been staying home to help her get better before taking her anywhere. Of course, after their arrival on Thursday, that was almost all Ginny and Jasmine paid attention to. Fleur was happy to get a break, and Bill was satisfied with the admiration shown for his baby girl.
The bridal shower went well. All the girls that had attended Hogwarts with Hermione were able to attend. Hermione was completely surprised and they all had a blast turning her face red with revealing undergarments and games that brought up rather… personal things in Ron and Hermione's relationship.
The most interesting part of it all, though, was during the clean up. Ron, Harry, and Bill had all offered to come help clean up after the party, since it had to be done the muggle way. Christine and Jasmine had hit it off right away, just as Ginny had expected, and she was once again alone with Elizabeth.
"I saw you flirting with him," Elizabeth accused.
"We're friends, you know, when you talk and all that. Just because you're throwing yourself at him doesn't mean that I will." Ginny smiled at out doing Elizabeth, because the silly girl couldn't even think of a response to come back with. "You know, it might help if you actually got to know him first." After she stated this, Ginny couldn't believe she had said it. Was she actually trying to help her?
No, it was more said in spite, but Elizabeth took this as a challenge, and spent the rest of the time while they were there talking to Harry. To Ginny, it appeared to be working. She just watched from a distance, and gradually became more and more distraught in his apparent interest in the conversation. He might just be being polite, Ginny tried to convince herself.
After a half an hour, Elizabeth and Harry were still talking. Ginny felt a little taken back by this, but she tried not to let it bother her. Maybe I can just see what he thinks about it. Maybe I don't have any reason to worry at all. She had never gone up against such a strong mind before, and she didn't know what kind of an effect it would have. Ginny took in a deep breath, closed her eyes, concentrated, and tried to read Harry's mind.
For a moment, she thought it was working, she saw a picture of what he was thinking of, but it was very unclear, just a figure of a girl. This was a far as she got before feeling a blinding pain in her own head. Before she knew it she couldn't feel anything, and all there was, was darkness.
***
Harry's POV
Harry had been talking to Elizabeth for a half an hour. Is that it? He thought it seems like it's been an eternity. Despite the fact that he had no interest in Elizabeth, Harry had to admit that this conversation was a whole lot more comfortable. She actually seemed genuinely interested in what was happening, and not how she could get him to kiss her. However much of an improvement this was, Harry felt that she was droning on and on. So his mind began to wander. It wandered in the same direction his eyes seemed to be taking lately, straight to Ginny.
It was so nice to have her back, and Harry didn't want that to end. He was gaining a picture of her in his mind when he heard a scream coming from the other end of the room.
He turned to see that Ginny had her head in her hands, and looked pale and pained greatly. At that moment, he didn't even bother to excuse himself, but was off to Ginny's side.
"Ginny?!" He knelt next to her and tried to look up into her face. She was violently shaking. "Ginny, can you hear me? Ginny!" By this point, everyone was gathered around. It was only seconds later that Ginny collapsed from the pain into a dead faint. Harry, being the closest, felt for a pulse, and when he had found it, took her up into his arms, to carry her out into the car.
He placed her limp body in the back seat, and turned to see Kathryn, Bill, Jasmine, Christine, Hermione, and Ron right behind them. He could only assume that Lynol (Hermione's dad) was calming things down in the house. "I think she's just been very stressed lately. I'll take her home, and I'm sure Molly will be able to get her to wake up very soon. I'll send Hedwig when I have more news. Jasmine, do you want to come with?"
Jasmine nodded. Christine was there, practically holding her up. "Ron, Hermione, Bill?"
"No I think we'd better stay," Hermione stated with a look of distress. "Ginny shouldn't be crowded."
"And I'll catch the bus," Bill said indiscreetly, and started walking down the street. Harry figured that Bill would just apparate when he had gone far enough out of sight and tell Molly of what had happened
Good, Harry thought, knowing what kind of reaction would be received if he just started carrying in Ginny, looking dead. Harry got into the car, started the engine, and got back to the Burrow as quickly as he could.
***
Ginny's POV
Ginny slowly began to regain consciousness. Her eyes started to open, and for a moment, she was very confused. She had been placed in her bed, but the last thing she remembered was being at the Grangers. I must be going crazy, were her first thoughts. She turned over on her side, to see a concerned Harry at her bedside.
"Ginny, are you alright?" His eyes were slightly red, and a bit swollen.
"Yeah, just a bit of a headache." It was coming back to her, and she was ashamed of herself for even trying to read his thoughts.
"Here," Harry handed Ginny a glass of water and a glass of potion that her mother had made upon hearing what had happened. "Drink it all, it should go away rather quickly." Thank God that you're okay, Harry thought, as he watched his favorite red head drink from both cups to their fullest. "What happened?"
"I don't think you want to know."
"Sure I do, just tell me. You can trust me."
Ginny didn't know how she could trust him, though. Before now she had a test that she could use to make sure about how a guy was reacting. On the other hand, all that the test proved was that they were a bunch of jerks and perverts. What did that say about Harry though? Ginny knew that he wasn't like most guys, but she couldn't access his thoughts to prove her own self doubt wrong.
"Promise you won't get angry with me?"
"Promise."
"Okay, then, I- I, uh. I was trying to see what you were thinking." She looked down in shame.
Harry was shocked that his Occlumency could have such an effect, and he also felt guilty for causing her pain. Then he went back to what Ginny had told him less than a week ago. '…when I go on dates, I like to see what the guys intentions are…" Could this mean that she was interested in him? Did she return his affections?
"Please don't get mad at me, I didn't mean to do it to hurt you, and well I didn't see anythi-"
"It's okay, really. Why were you trying to read my mind anyways?"
"I don't know. I just wanted to see what you thought about Elizabeth, and all of that." She could feel herself turning red, and cursed herself inside.
"I think Elizabeth is rude, obnoxious and spoiled. In fact she'd get along well with Dudley."
"Oh, well I'm sorry, none the less."
"Don't be," Harry smiled over at her, and, for once in his life, let impulse take over. He leaned over and kissed Ginny lightly and pulled away before either of them really knew what had happened.
***
The Wedding day
Harry and Ginny began to avoid one another in the following time preceding the wedding. Neither had talked about the kiss they had shared. I can't believe that I'm nearly twenty years old, and I'm still embarrassed about kissing a girl! Harry scolded himself every time he felt himself blush when they made eye contact.
Ginny had been acting equally strange, and didn't know what to do about it. The week prior to the wedding was a lot of work. The Burrow looked spectacular, though. Molly had invoked Ginny's help in doing some long standing decorating ideas she had had. It took all of the Weasley boys, Molly, Arthur, Ginny, and Harry to fix the architecture of the lopsided house. By the time it was done, the Burrow looked to be a mansion, and Molly was near tears.
Two days before the reception was to take place, the family took to freezing all of the pictures, de-gnomeing the garden, and hiding all other traces of magic. Ginny was right in thinking this would be a challenge. Even with Angela helping out it took five hours to accomplish.
The day of the wedding had finally arrived. Hermione was so thrilled. Ginny had spent the morning at the Grangers, where Hermione's entire family was getting ready. All the girls (including Elizabeth and Christine) all went to get their hair, nails, and toes done at a salon. Jasmine was disappointed at not being able to come, but her mom didn't want her to be a burden, and promised she'd give it all to her with magic before the ceremony.
When they arrived at the chapel that had been selected for the ceremony, they went and all got changed in the restroom. Hermione looked like an angel. She had a dress with sheer angel sleeves, an emperior style waist, and silk roses that lined the waist line. There had to be fifty silk covered buttons going down the back, and Ginny carefully buttoned each one.
"Just look at you," Ginny said when they finally had a moment alone. "You look so beautiful. I think Ron might faint. I can't believe you're marrying my brother."
"Neither can I. Ginny I'm so happy!"
"Good. And if Ron does anything to change that, even in the slightest, he'll have to answer to me."
Hermione turned around, eyes full of tears, and pulled Ginny into a hug.
That was the last moment Ginny would have with Hermione for the rest of the day. Ginny understood this, but was still a little disappointed.
When the doors opened for the wedding march to begin, Ginny took a deep breath, and stepped out to the staring eyes. She gave an encouraging smile to her brother before locking eyes with the best man. Ginny couldn't help but look at him, as if this were her wedding instead. It was only when she had to start up the steps that she tore her eyes away from Harry's, yet she could feel that his stare hadn't broken.
***
The reception
A muggle DJ had been hired to do the music for the reception, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The twins were making fools of themselves trying to dance, Bill was dancing with the sweet little Jeanette, and Christine and Jasmine were having a blast imitating all sorts of muggle dances from the 60's and 70's. There were many people there sitting on the sides doing nothing at all, and others were mingling with old friends that they hadn't seen in quite some time.
At the moment, Ginny was catching up with Colin, who she hadn't seen since the previous July.
"Professor Dunly was always strict, it's not just you Colin."
"I know, but I get so flustered, you know? Anyways, enough about the Auror Academy, how's America?"
"It's wonderful. You've met the Putnams, right?"
"Yeah, they seem really nice, especially Jasmine."
Ginny gave him a look, "Jasmine, huh? How 'nice' do you think she is?"
"Well," Colin started to blush, "I don't know. She's kind of young for me, but-"
"Hey, Jasmine!" Ginny shouted across the garden.
"No, Gin, no," Colin hissed, "Please, Ginny."
"Don't worry, she won't bite," Ginny said as Jasmine approached.
"What is it?" Jasmine looked between Colin and Ginny.
"I just thought I'd introduce you to one of my very good friends. Colin, this is Jasmine, and Jasmine, this is Colin Creevy. He was part of the reason I decided to move, and ended up in Salem."
"Oh, really?" Jasmine seemed interested in this. "Good to meet you, Colin." Ginny could have been hallucinating, but she was pretty sure she saw Jasmine blush slightly as Colin shook her hand. "Did you go to the same school as Ginny?"
"Uh, yeah, yeah I did." Colin was starting to loosen up a bit.
"Well, I have to see if Hermione needs anything, so I'll leave you two to talk." Ginny left with a smirk spread across her face.
She did as she said, though, and found Hermione rather quickly. "Oh good, here you are," Hermione said before Ginny could even ask. "They'll be playing the first slow song pretty soon, and we need you and Harry to dance a little after we start."
"Oh, okay," Ginny said. Great, I wonder how this will go. She had hardly spoken ten words to Harry since the kiss, and now she was going to be dancing with him!
Ginny decided that she would follow his lead in how to act about the whole situation. Harry came up, and stood right next to her.
"How are you holding up?"
"Fine, I suppose. I don't like the idea of having to dance with everyone watching."
"Yeah, it reminds me of the Yule Ball in my fourth year, but at least it's you I get to dance with."
Ginny was becoming more comfortable with this situation. "Are you sure you don't want Parvati again? I'm sure Dean wouldn't mind if you stole her for one dance," Ginny teased.
Harry, staying completely serious, replied back, "I don't want to dance with anyone but you." They smiled at each other.
I can't believe I'm falling for him again! How stupid could I be? She had been considering the fact that she wasn't sure on how Harry felt or what he thought at all. Not to mention the price to attempt finding out was too high for her. What if he just likes me for my family? That was the only thing that truly bothered her.
The song 'All I Ask of You' started to play as Hermione and Ron moved closer together. The sun was past setting, and the only lights were candle worked light posts. Harry and Ginny waited for their cue, before going onto the dance floor at the same time as Molly and Arthur, as well as Kathryn and Lynol.
They had joined after the first verse. Harry had put one arm around her waist and the other held her hand. Ginny placed her remaining hand on Harry's shoulder, and they started to dance.
Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Let me lead you from you solitude.
Say you'll need me with you, here beside you,
Anywhere you go let me go too…
"Ginny?"
"Yes?"
"Ginny, I just, I think you should know that-" She'll think you're an idiot! Stop stumbling over your words!
"Is something wrong, Harry?"
"No, Ginny, that's just it. Ever since you've come back everything seems so right. I don't even know what to do with myself anymore. I feel like I completely loose myself when I'm around you, and I think I might just be falling in love with you, Ginny Weasley." He stopped here and realized that in his rambling he had confessed what he truly felt for her. There was suddenly a grave silence between the two of them.
Anywhere you go let me go too,
Love me, that's all I ask of you.
The song ended, but they stood there for just a moment longer, Ginny wishing she could read what was going on in Harry's mind.
"May I cut in," came a sing-songy voice from behind Ginny. She turned around to see Elizabeth there, anticipating getting to dance with Harry.
Ginny looked up at Harry then turned back around. "Sure," she said quickly before running off to the garden.
"Sorry, Elizabeth, I don't want to be rude, but I have to go find Ginny now." Harry rushed off, but was stopped by a few people along the way.
Elizabeth was distraught that he would go chasing after Ginny, and was highly offended that he would dance with that red headed ingrate, but not her!
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A/N So…did ya'll like it? Review either way, please. I do like to get constructive criticism if you have any. Part of my reason for writing fan fics is to improve on my creative writing skills.
