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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter Eight
Candles, Chocolates and Heart-shaped boxes
Ginny stared up at the dress shop glumly. 'Perry's Dresses.' It read.
"Hermione," she complained, "This is our sixth shop and we haven't found anything! When you said muggle's had more styles, you weren't kidding! There are almost too many!"
Hermione sighed. "Yes, well, come on. The right dress isn't going to throw itself at you when you're outside the shop."
They entered the little boutique and the little bell ringing caused a tall, handsome man standing behind the counter to look up. He smiled, his even, white teeth gleaming.
"Hello darlings! I'm Perry, if I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to call me, I am, after all, here to serve!"
Ginny and Hermione thanked him and started pawing through the dresses hanging on the rack.
Ginny sighed. She hadn't imagined finding a dress for her parents wedding anniversary would be so difficult!
Bill had loved the idea of a muggle party and had immediately gone about organising the event. He was going to go the whole way, even hiring out a muggle hall (with great difficulty; luckily Hermione had given him the exact amount in muggle money beforehand so he didn't have to attempt to count out the foreign currency). There was going to be a big movie screen outside (which Harry had volunteered to set up) showing classic muggle Romance films. No wands would be allowed inside and Bill had even organised cooks and waiters so that no one had to worry about doing any of the work.
The only thing Ginny could complain about was the fact that it was going to be the day before Nick got back from America.
'Couldn't we put it back just one day?' She'd asked, but Bill had been firm. 'No,' he'd said. 'It has to the exact day, and we're going to have a toast at the exact second they become husband and wife.' She knew better than to argue because when Bill had an idea, he stuck to it and she had to give him credit for organising the whole thing so fast. She'd only come up with the idea two week ago and the party was in a week.
Which was why she and Hermione were now trudging around trying to find dresses. They'd been to five shops already, none of the dresses catching their eye. Ginny was just about ready to give up and find any old thing but Hermione had warned her to be patient. The right dress was there, she'd said, you just have to find it.
At that moment, Hermione emerged from the change room. The particular dress she now wore suited her slender but curvy frame. It was a golden champagne colour that accentuated her tanned skin. It had a high neck, but came down very low in the back. The skirt was asymmetrical, one side resting down near her ankle, and the other halfway down her thigh. It was beaded all over and the beads twinkled like diamonds when she turned.
"Oh Hermione!" Ginny gasped. "You look gorgeous!"
Hermione smiled and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "I do, don't I." She said quite smugly.
"Hermione, Ron is going to have a heart attack when he sees you! You look amazing!"
"Yes, dear, I must say it suits you very well. This Ron fellow is very lucky." Perry flashed Hermione a bright smile and she would have blushed had he not been so openly gay. Turning to Ginny, he said, "And you my lovely, have you found anything you like?"
Ginny frowned. "No, I'm beginning to think the perfect dress isn't out there."
Perry scoffed. "Nonsense! There is a dress out there with your name on it and have no fear because Perry is the master of fashion and he will find it for you."
He started to rummage through the racks, stopping occasionally to turn to Ginny and mutter something like 'too dark', 'too mumsy'.
Ginny watched him working with such zest in amazement until he suddenly turned around.
"Ah huh!" He exclaimed, brandishing a dress in front of her. "I told you Perry was the master didn't I? Here, try it on…"
Perry was right. The dress was perfect. It was a dark red colour; so dark it looked almost black. It was a halter neck and came down low in the front and even lower in the back. It skimmed gently over her slim hips then flared out slightly so that when she twirled, it flew out around her. The material was a thick silk, smooth and shiny. Delicate beading was scattered around, inconspicuous at first glance but, when the light hit it, sparkling and shimmering.
"Ginny…" Hermione gasped, at a loss for words. "It's…oh, it's just…"
"Perfect." Perry finished, watching Ginny twirl once more for effect. "And what special man are you dressing up for my sweeting?"
"Harry," Ginny said dreamily without thinking, then stopped mid-twirl and said. "Uh, I mean Nick."
Hermione raised an eyebrow and Perry smiled. "Harry, Nick, Nick, Harry" He said
"Nick." Ginny said firmly. "Definitely Nick. Well, except that Nick's not actually going to be there…"
"So it's for Harry then?" Perry asked, eyes sparkling.
Ginny blushed. "No…it'll still be Nick…" She stammered.
Perry smiled at her. "Follow your heart sugar, it'll take you to the right place. Right, so am I ringing up both dresses?"
Ginny and Hermione looked at each other and grinned. "Yes!"
Perry wrapped the dresses in something called tissue paper so that they wouldn't get ruined and bid them a fond farewell, saying, "Good day my darlings! And don't worry Ginny dear, your heart will tell you who is right!"
Ginny was still blushing outside as she and Hermione walked down the street towards the Leaky Cauldron. She chanced a glance at Hermione and wasn't surprised to see that the older girl was giving her a smug smile.
"It was a slip of the tongue Hermione." She said firmly. "I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again. I love Nick"
"You can love Nick but still love Harry."
Ginny turned to face her. "I thought you liked Nick!"
"I do, I'm just saying that it's possible to love two people at once. It's the person who makes you feel special, the one that makes you feel alive that counts."
Ginny opened her mouth to retort, but then shut it and they kept walking in silence. Upon reaching the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione turned and gave Ginny a hug. "I just want you to be the happiest you possibly can be." She whispered before pulling back. "Anyway, I have to go, I was due back five minutes ago. Will you be coming over tomorrow to do the scrapbook?"
"Yes, I'll see you then." Ginny replied, watching as Hermione apparated out.
Sighing, she lifted her own wand to being apparition, Perry's words running through her mind…"Harry, Nick, Nick, Harry…"
**********
When Ginny got back to her apartment, she was surprised to see a faint glow emitting from the rooms. She cautiously got out her wand, but wasn't too concerned as the only people who could get past her wards were her immediate family.
Opening the door slowly, she stood in shocked silence. Candles of every colour, burning low, littered every available space and, floating gently in the middle of her entrance way was a block of honeydukes finest chocolate and a small, silver, heart-shaped box.
Carefully, Ginny reached over to the box and took it. On the top was an engraving of an entwined H and G. She opened it carefully, and, glancing inside, she saw a swirling, silver-white substance and recognised it instantly as a part of a pensieve. She prodded it gently and felt herself being pulled in…
She was in the Gryffindor common room, she noticed and, by looking around, she saw that she was the only occupant…no wait, there was someone else, in the far corner of the room, a tuft of jet-black hair showed from behind one of the plush couches…Harry. He was barely visible from where she stood, but upon walking up to him, she saw he looked tired and drained.
Her attention was suddenly diverted when she heard the portrait door swing open and soon she herself stepped in.
It was definitely a younger her, she recognised it to be perhaps her sixth-year self. She was slightly slimmer, dressed still in the hand-me-down robes she had long since discarded. Her long hair was pulled back, but little wisps had started to escape.
The younger her started to walk towards the girl's dormitories when suddenly she stopped. She turned to the couch where Harry sat, almost hidden and asked in a whisper, "Harry?"
Upon hearing his name, Harry turned slightly so that he was now fully visible. "Hey Ginny." He replied softly.
Sixth-year Ginny walked over to the couch and Ginny was fairly sure that she remembered what this was.
Sixth-year Ginny had now placed herself on the arm of the sofa Harry sat on and sighed.
"What's up?" Harry asked, shifting slightly so that Ginny could slide down and sit beside him
"Oh, nothing terrible. I broke up with Billy is all."
"Oh, Gin, I'm sorry…"
"Nah, don't be. I initiated it, I dunno, I was just getting bored or something. It just felt like every time I went out with him it was out of the obligation of being a part of the Ginny/Billy couple. It was never any fun really."
The older Ginny smiled to herself. She remembered Billy O'Neil, cute with light brown hair and clear blue eyes; she'd started going out with him halfway through her fifth year after her short and tumultuous relationship with Dean Thomas. Billy had been the perfect gentleman and everyone had thought they were the perfect couple…everyone but her that was.
Looking back over at her younger self with Harry, she remembered why. While she had stopped pining away for Harry Potter, there was still a fondness she felt for him in her heart. Not enough to keep her pining of course, but enough to keep her interested if he were to initiate something…
"What are you doing down here so late anyway?" Younger Ginny asked Harry, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ears.
Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "I dunno, waiting…for you to get back?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for me? Why?"
"Well…just in case…you know, if you were upset or something."
Ginny smiled and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "That's sweet Harry, but I'm fine." She said, before getting up. "Well, I'm going to bed, I'll see you tomorrow."
Harry watched as Ginny started to walk away then stood.
"Ginny…wait…" He started, walking towards her.
Ginny turned and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" she asked as Harry came to stand in front of her
"Maybe…" he said, looking down at his feet. "maybe I was waiting because the thought of you with some other guy made me insanely jealous…maybe I was waiting because I care for you as more than a friend…"
Harry paused, as if uncertain and looked up at Ginny, waiting for her to say something.
Ginny smiled. "Oh Harry." She said, before leaning forward to kiss him. It was sweet and gentle and as Harry pulled her closer, Ginny suddenly pulled back. "Maybe?" She asked, eyebrow raised.
Harry grinned. "Okay, definitely. I was waiting because the thought of you with Billy made me jealous because I knew I wanted it to be you and me. Satisfied?"
Ginny smiled back. "Yes. Now kiss me again." She ordered and Harry happily complied.
Then everything was spinning…
Ginny looked around to find that she was back in her apartment. Glancing over at the honeydukes chocolate, she saw a note attached…
"Touch the red candle on the front table…"
Looking over to the front table, Ginny say about 20 candles still burning brightly. In the middle, was the red one, it seemed just like all the rest but it too had the same entwined G and H that was on the lid of the heart-shaped box. When Ginny reached over and gently tapped it, a white mist seemed to come out, forming itself into the shape of an arrow. The arrow flew out in front of her, down the hall and around the corner. Following it curiously, Ginny found that it came to a stop in front of another floating box, this one accompanied by large, brightly wrapped toffees. The arrow vanished into a puff of smoke, and Ginny moved forward to take the box.
Opening it slowly, she was not surprised to find another silvery white mist. Touching it gently, she felt herself being pulled in again…
This time, she wasn't at Hogwarts; rather, she was at the Burrow, and one quick glance around told her that it was Christmas.
A slightly lopsided tree was overflowing with home-made decorations ranging from the time Bill was in pre-school to the paper star Bill's two-year old daughter Kyla had made. A large pile of presents was spilling out from underneath.
Decorations adorned every wall of the room, and the chairs and couches were filled with redheads and their respective partners.
"Come on mum!" someone yelled, probably one of the twins as they had always been the most eager at Christmas time. "It's time to open the pressies! What's taking so long?"
Molly Weasley bustled out from the kitchen, camera in hand. "Sorry dears, I just had to get the camera, want to make sure we get everything! Well, who wants to open the first present?"
Presents were quickly distributed and soon everyone was ripping into them and calling out thanks across the room.
Ginny looked around for where her younger self would be. She found her, tucked away into a corner with Harry watching as she unwrapped another of Mrs Weasley's homemade jumpers, this one more fitted and without the requisite letter. This one had a cowl neck and was made of the softest possible wool. The older Ginny smiled as she thought of that jumper, still being put to good use in the top drawer of her dresser. She watched as Fred threw Harry a present from across the room then laughed as it exploded over him in a shower of confetti. Harry too smiled, then pulled back a strand of Ginny's hair from over her ear and whispered something. She saw her younger self nod then watched as they tried inconspicuously to sneak out the back door.
Outside, Harry put his arm around Ginny and led her down to the backyard where a large oak tree stood.
Both she and Harry sat down and Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulder to give her a kiss.
"Finally. I wanted to give you this alone, without your brothers around." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small, delicately wrapped gift.
Ginny took it with slightly trembling hands and took care not to rip the paper as she unwrapped it.
Underneath, was a dark blue, velvet box. It was too big to contain a ring, but definitely held some sort of jewellery. Her younger self opened it cautiously then gasped.
Ginny, standing by the tree closed her eyes. She didn't need to look at what was in the box to remember. A delicate, silver, heart-shaped pendant on a platinum chain. On one side was an emerald and on the other was a ruby. Ginny knew that if she turned it over, she would find a small engraving of an entwined G and H, the same one that was present on the box and candle. Underneath, it read, "Together forever."
She opened her eyes again. Looking back over at her younger self, she saw that she was kissing Harry passionately. When they finally pulled apart, Harry took her hands, and said, "I love you Gin. You're my world and I love you so much."
"I don't ever want to lose you because without you, I'm nothing." Ginny whispered to herself, in sync with the younger Harry as her eyes glazed over. How many times had she played those words over and over in her mind? Almost too many. She felt a tear slip down her cheek at the same time that she felt herself being pulled backwards.
Within seconds, she looked around and found she was back in her apartment.
Smiling gently, she untied the note from around the toffees and read,
"Touch the green candle"Looking over to her dining room table, she found the green candle and touched it, causing another arrow to burst out.
This one led her into the lounge room where she found another floating box, this one accompanied by some chocolate frogs.
And so it continued. Memories of her time with Harry; Her 18th birthday, where Harry had surprised her with dinner in a fancy restaurant, their one-year anniversary, sneaking away together from Ron's party, the days following Voldemorts defeat, before Ginny had known that Harry was going to leave…
The last one had left her spinning. After Voldemorts downfall, Ginny had truly believed that this was it, they were at last free to pursue their relationship without worrying about the dangers. For those few days, she had been so happy until she'd realised that it was, in fact, the end.
Tears sliding slowly down her face, she reached over to pluck the note from the floating box of Bertie Botts every flavour beans.
"Touch the gold candle…"
She did, and waited for the now familiar silvery arrow to appear.
It did, and led into her bedroom where one last box seemed to be floating. Reaching over the take it, she opened it only to find, not the silvery mist of a pensieve but a piece of thick cream parchment and, underneath, a gold brooch, with the familiarly entwined letters, H and G.
Sitting down on her bed, she opened the note.
Ginny,
Memories from the past don't fade easily. These are some of the many that are etched into my brain and have fused themselves into my heart.
I love you Ginny. You are my first thought when I wake up in the morning and my last when I fall asleep.
You are my world, my everything.
I know you think I failed you in the past, but please, give me the chance to create more happy memories, memories of the future, of our future together.
The brooch I have given you is a portkey. On Thursday night, it will be active from 6.30 until 7.00.
If you choose not to take it, then I promise I will truly leave you alone, once and for all and let you get on with your life.
If you do take it, I will be there waiting for you.
It is your choice.
~ Harry.
Ginny fingered the brooch gently. Standing up, she went over to her dresser. Reaching down to the bottom shelf, she rummaged through it until she found a small, glass case. Taking it back over to her bed, she opened it carefully.
The silver pendant still shone brightly, the ruby and emerald still unsullied.
For the second time that day, Perry's words ran through her mind. "Harry, Nick, Nick Harry."
She looked back over at the parchment and saw Harry's strong handwriting. "It's your choice." She read, over and over.
Her choice. Her choice. What was she going to do? Harry, Nick, Nick, Harry, she was so confused!
Why couldn't things go back to the way they were a month ago? Before Harry came back, Ginny's life had seemed to have a clear direction, moving forward on an unwavering line. Now, that line had become fuzzy, and the direction blurred.
Looking down at the pendant again, she sighed. Thursday was three days away. That gave her 72 hours to make a decision.
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Thanks to all reviewers!
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