Author's note: Hey, Yeah, you're not imagining things. I did actually upload another chapter to this thing. I knew what I wanted to write, and I had dreamt it all many times, but each time I sat down at my computer to write, my fingers froze. It's a problem of mine.
And just in case anyone is wondering, though probably not, at the moment my main focus is 'My favourite brother' which I am working to complete ASAP. My writer's block is present there too, but I have promised myself to get it finished by the end of June… Damm that gives me only 26 days… I have coursework due as well… Yikes… I'd better go…
Oh, just a quick moment. I'm in serious need of a beta, if anyone is interested. All you would have to do is encourage me (and at times metaphorically kick me up the backside) to complete my fics, and once it's finished, check through for any grammatical mistakes. Also help me with a few plot-holes that seem to crop up every now and then. Contact me via review (which I will reply to if asked) or email me at pudadingding@hotmail.com
Dedication: To my reviewers, RogueAngel, Vicki, Hermione2, Tara, Nicola, Lucky aka Jessica, and Pestruska DYIT. Also to Laura for being my Melody, and to my cowardly Lion, even though you have no idea I even like you in that way, and will most likely never ever read this.
P.S…. Wow! That was a long A/N… I think that's my longest! And now finally, on with the story!
Against all odds
Promises
"What do you mean 'There's more…' " Gypsy looked at her sister curiously, as did the other first years that were listening in.
"I mean just that. There is more to her sadness. Do you want me to continue? It's getting quite late. You should start heading off to bed soon." Melody looked at the young students, concerned.
Gypsy made a face. "Well why don't you hurry up and tell us the rest of the story so that we can get to bed." The rest of the first years nodded in approval.
"Alright." Melody conceded, smiling. "Well, that happened just after Easter, it wasn't until June that they started talking again. If you can call it talking."
"What do you mean?" asked a dark-haired girl sitting on Gypsy's left.
"Well, it was because of circumstances. Harry was just about to go off and battle You-Know-Who. Ginny couldn't let him go without saying goodbye. Just in case…" Melody's voice gave a dry sob. "Just in case he never came back."
*****************
Ginny sat there on the stairs down from the girl's dormitory, thinking. She knew that Harry was about to go and fight Voldemort. 'It was time'. Those were his words. He'd said them just before he had disappeared up to his dormitory. He was just tying up all his loose ends. 'Just in case I don't come back.
What if Harry never came back? Ginny would never ever be able to see him again. Never be able to laugh with him, and see him smile. Never be able to scold him for teasing her brother and Hermione about their relationship. Never be able to run her fingers through his hair and gently stroke his cheek when he needs comforting after a bad nightmare. Never be able to hug him….
Ginny shook her head. The thought was too much to bear.
Then the room went silent. There he was, standing at the bottom of the stairs. His emerald green eyes looked surprisingly red and puffy. 'He's been crying!' Ginny realized. Harry raised his head, and just for a moment, made eyecontact with her.
No words were said. They didn't need to be. It was obvious to everyone in the room, possibly the entire castle, of the feelings Harry and Ginny had for each other. Then with a slight nod of his head, Harry turned and began walking towards the portrait hole.
Suddenly, a soft voice, sweet and gentle, broke through the silence.
"How can I just let you walk away
Just let you leave without a trace"
*****************
"She was singing?" Gypsy asked increduously.
"Yup." Melody replied, with a soft smile at the crowd of first years. "I think it was a muggle song, I didn't recognise it, but she knew it obviously. I think Harry knew it too."
"But why was she singing?" asked a blonde haired girl that Melody assumed to be Debra, from Gypsy's descriptions.
"To this day, I still don't know."
*****************
"When I stand here taking every breath with you,
You're the only one who really knew me at all
How can you just walk away from me?
When all I can do is watch you leave?
Cuz we shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all"
Ginny continued to sing, and her voice became clearer and clearer as she did. Harry continued to walk, although it slowed considerably, and the look of pain on his face was matched by Ginny's alone.
"So take a look at me now
Cause there's just an empty space
And there's nothin left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Take a look at me now
Cuz there's just an empty space
And you comin back to me is against all odds
And that's what I've gotta face "
By now, Harry had reached the portrait hole. However, rather than climbing through it and going to face his impending doom, he just stood there facing the wall. It seemed that he was fighting an internal battle over his two choices, and losing heavily both ways.
Ginny's voice was still filling the room, which was still filled with gryffindors, who were rivveted to the scene before them. All the focus was on Ginny and Harry, but surprisingly they didn't seem to realise anyone else was in the room.
"I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you,
So many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all"
It was then that Ginny's voice started to give way. Tears that had been threatening to fall for ages finally began their stream down her pale cheeks and with it, went the broken pieces of her heart.
" So take a look at me now
Coz there's just an empty space
And there's nothin left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Take a look at me now
Coz there's just an empty space
But to wait for you, is all I can do
And that's what I gotta face"
Harry had, it seemed, made his decision, and in three long steps, had crossed the room and was now standing in front of Ginny. He reached out his hand and nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and out of her face.
"Take a good look at me now
I'll still be standing there
And you comming back to me is against all odds
And that's a chance I gotta take"
Ginny never got to finish her song, as Harry bent his head and gently placed his lips on hers. It wasn't a long kiss, or a passionate one. It was a kiss of complete and utter love, one that was only enhanced by the months (Or in Ginny's case, years) of longing that they had each suffered through. It was the kind of kiss that you will remember when you're old and grey.
Then, with tears still streaming down Ginny's cheeks, and Harry's eyes looking abnormally red as well, they slowly began the walk towards the portrait hole. Before Harry could climb through, Ginny pulled him into their second kiss. Their last kiss.
"I want you to promise me that you'll come back," Ginny demanded.
"Ginny… I… "
"Promise me!"
"I promise." Harry conceeded. He brushed another stray hair behind her ear, and wrapped her in a feirce hug.
"I love you…" he whispered as he passed over the thresh-hold of Gryffindor Tower and began walking to his doom.
"I love you too…." Ginny replied softly, before running up to her dorm and locking the door.
*****************
"But as you know, Harry Potter never did return from his battle against You-know-who. Dumbledore said that the most likely explanation was that when You-know-who was defeated, Harry went too. At first we didn't want to believe it, but the final battle was in june. It's been nearly four months now, and there's still been no sign of him." Melody finished with a sad sigh.
"And that's why she's so sad?" asked Gypsy.
"She hasn't smiled since June 30th." Melody replied, "The day Harry died."
The first years slowly began to trickle up to bed, and soon there were only a few sixth and seventh years left, some playing cards, others studying. Melody looked over to the window seat, expecting to see Ginny, but to her surprise it was occupied by a sixth year couple who were currently very focused on each other.
Melody wandered up to the dorm she shared with Ginny and a few others, hoping to find Ginny as one of the occupants. She was in luck…
Ginny was sat gazing out of the window, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked up when Melody entered the room. "He promised me, Mel!" She sobbed before colappsing in Melody's open arms. "He promised me!"
"I know Gin, I know." Melody replied, comfortingly as she gazed out of the window, and prayed against hope for Harry to be alright. For Ginny's sake, and everyone else…………
Well, there you have it. 74 days after uploading the first one, I've finally finished the second chapter. I have an idea that could finish it off… or I could leave it as it is. It's a happy ending, as a majority of my fics usually are, but I'm not too sure about uploading it. (And knowing me, I'll probably take about three months to write it anyway)
Tell you what! If my reviews for this story go above twenty, I'll upload a third part. Hell, I may even finish my other stories.