Prelude
Chapter Two
Harry awoke slowly, sunlight streaming through the small open window by his bed. His blankets were wonderfully cozy, making Harry shut his eyes briefly to bask in the intoxicating warmth. His limbs were heavy, and smiling sleepily, he turned onto his side. His arm wrapped gently around the person next to him. He buried his face into her neck.
"Ginny," he murmured. Harry could tell from her breathing that she was awake.
She didn't answer, nor did she move. Harry, his eyes still half closed, kissed her hair. She made no sound.
"Ginny?" Harry sat up slightly to look at her. A mass of fiery red hair was covering her face. Harry reached for it tenderly, to brush it away.
But as the tips of his fingers slid across the hair, it all seemed to fall into her face. It was as though she had no features, just a glaring hole, a hollowed skull. Her teeth were bared and gaping, her eyes empty and cold.
Harry struggled for breath, but there was none. His lungs contracted, struggling.
He woke up.
The drapes were drawn over his window; no sunlight shone through and his room was stifling hot. Harry kicked off his covers, gasping. He put his hands over his eyes.
It was the third time he'd dreamt anything like that. Always, the dreams left Harry shaking and terrified. And always, the dreams were of Ginny.
Harry looked at the clock on his bedside table. It was almost noon. Shaking his head, desperately trying to forget the dream, he slung himself out of bed and made toward the bathroom to take a long, cold shower.
* * *
Ginny Weasley was not happy. Actually, she was pretty annoyed.
"Ginny, it's nothing really. You'll go to the ball and have fun. Forget about Harry."
She and Hermione were sitting in the kitchen of the Burrow, eating lunch. Ginny's brothers had gone outside for a long desired game of Quidditch. Before Ginny could join in, however, Hermione had pulled Ginny aside to 'discuss' with her, as Hermione had so kindly put it.
"No, Hermione," Ginny told her firmly. "I'm not going. Honestly, I'm surprised you even convinced Harry to come."
Hermione looked uneasy. "Well... see, I didn't actually tell him you would be there."
Ginny snorted in disbelief. "Hermione, I don't understand you sometimes. This is going to be a fiasco."
"No it won't, trust me." Hermione nodded at her, matter-of-fact, and took a small bite out of a chicken sandwich. They sat in silence for a moment.
"Don't tell me you're not a bit curious, " Hermione finally said, watching Ginny.
"Of course I'm curious, who wouldn't be? I haven't seen him in months..." Ginny said casually, though her heart was hammering.
The last time she had talked with Harry was on her birthday, actually. She hadn't even said much, just small talk. But every time she thought back on that night, she wished she'd said more. It was stupid, this fight they were having, but at the same time, it was terribly important. It was their first, technically, if you didn't count all the stupid arguments about Quidditch they'd had.
The truth was, Ginny was more than curious about Harry. She missed him.
Across the table, Hermione shook her head and sighed. "You know what the problem is with you and Harry?"
Ginny had heard this one a million times. It was always different. Sometimes, the problem was they were too easily offended. Sometimes it was that they just like fighting. But normally, in Ginny's view, it was because Harry was a git. Ginny picked at a carrot, waiting for Hermione to add to the list.
"You're both too stubborn," Hermione said, nettled. She took a long drought from her flagon of pumpkin juice and continued. "Harry didn't even believe me when I told him you missed him."
"Hermione!" Ginny cried angrily. "What in the world did you go and say that for?"
"It's true, isn't it?" Hermione asked.
"No!"
Hermione raised her eyebrows at her. Ginny glared furiously back.
Hermione sighed and stood up, smoothing out her skirt. "Fine, if you don't believe me..." She gazed at Ginny for a moment. "Won't you please come to the ball?"
Ginny shook her head lightly, still annoyed. "I'll think about it," she said broodingly.
"Wonderful!" Hermione said happily, clapping her hands together. "I'll go tell Ron. If you decide to go, the ball is tonight at nine, until dawn. It's going to be formal, so if you've still got those dress robes from last year you could wear them. And, of course, we could go to dinner and maybe you could - "
"Hermione. I've only said I'll think about it."
"Right," Hermione said, giving her a dismissive wave of the hand. And with that, she twirled her burgundy robe around her shoulders and left through the back door, still muttering to herself.
Ginny dropped her head onto the table. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
A/N: Sorry this is so short. I wanted the actual ball to be a chapter by itself. So the *next* chapter will be the ball. And trust me, Harry and Ginny will eventually talk to each other. Maybe even snog ... Mmmm. Angsty Fluff. :)