Brother and Sister
Chapter 5
"O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were!"-W. Shakespeare
"Harry, watch out!" Ginny shouted. The concern in her voice carried across the wind.
Harry, lost in his own thoughts, moved just in time to avoid the bludger. Two seconds later it would have smashed right into his head. The entire Quidditch team flew down to the ground. They all were eyeing Harry, some suspiciously, others, like Ginny and Ron, with concern.
"I'm sorry. My concentration must be off today," apologized Harry. And he meant it. His concentration was severely off. Ever since he had that conversation with Hermione, he had been looking for a chance to speak with Ginny alone. But suddenly, whereas he and she would often speak alone, now she seemed to be always in the company of someone. The worst, of course, was when he would see her with Dean. And then, on the rare occasion when they were, he would find his mouth suddenly dry, unable to say anything but mindless, stupid things. And now here he was, at practice, a sport he always gave 100% at, and he hadn't even been looking for the snitch. He had only been watching Ginny. She really was an excellent Chaser. If only their Beaters were as good. And that was when he nearly got hit with the bludger.
Ron's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Well, I say let's stop for tonight. We can resume tomorrow, same time okay?" Everyone nodded their heads and began to leave together laughing and joking. This left Harry, Ginny, and Ron alone on the pitch. A few seconds later they were joined by Hermione who was carrying a heavy book underneath her arm. He had forgotten that she had taken to watching them at practice now as well as coming to the matches. Of course, she brought her homework along. He tried to stop himself from smiling but he couldn't help it. And he saw that Ginny was smiling too and that made his heart lighter and not feel so bad about his miserable performance at tonight's practice.
"Hey!" said Hermione brightly. She had immediately summed up exactly what was going on but was exasperated by the slow proceedings of Harry and Ginny that she immediately said, "If you two don't mind, I need to speak with Ronald for a moment." And with that she grabbed Ron's arm with her free hand and began to move him quickly back toward the castle.
Ginny watched them utterly confused and hoped they were going off to have a row. She had hoped that would all be over with now that they were a couple. She knew her brother hated when Hermione called him Ronald. As they walked away Ginny saw Hermione whisper in Ron's ear. She saw him tense. He was about to retort something, possibly turn around, when Hermione put her hand in his and gave him a look. This seemed to pacify him somewhat and then they disappeared into the distance and oncoming night.
This left Harry and Ginny alone in the dusky evening. Ginny turned her attention back to Harry. He had been acting so strangely for the past two days. She was really worried about him. Maybe he was mad at her. She couldn't see why but it seemed like he was barely talking to her when they used to have so much to say to each other. She felt a growing pit in her stomach. His performance at practice and the look on his face right now did nothing to allay her fears. "Well, I guess we should be getting back to the castle. I've got some homework I need to finish for tomorrow."
"Oh, homework, right," said Harry as, if again, snapping out of his own thoughts. "Yeah, let's go." Then, as if on sudden inspiration, Harry said, "Umm...would you like me to carry your broom for you?"
Ginny had to fight down a fit of laughter. But part of her was touched by the gesture. And it greatly allayed her fears that, whatever it was, he wasn't mad at her. She opted for a smile instead and started walking slowly back to the castle with Harry right beside her. "Thanks, Harry, for being a gentlemen, but I'll just carry it. I guess this mean's your not mad at me."
Harry was incredulous. How could she ever think that? Then he remembered that he had said some rough things to her in the past, which he felt then and now, sorry for. But this entire year he had never said anything mean to her. "I'm not mad at you! How could you think that?!"
Ginny stopped and so did Harry. She turned to him and looked at him intently, analyzing him. "You've been acting strangely this past two days. You've hardly spoken to me."
Harry willed himself to speak the words he had been going over and over in his mind for the past two days but his mouth went dry and his mind went blank. All he could see was her beautifully concerned eyes. His heart felt, yet he could say nothing.
Ginny felt painful standing there, so close to Harry and yet him not allowing her in. And what if he did? Wouldn't that make the pain in her heart even more intense? To know that she loved him so completely and that he didn't feel the same. What would happen when the next Cho came around? Surely her heart, so frayed around the edges, would break. But what could she do? If he needed a friend, she would be that friend. He couldn't help it if he didn't love her the way she loved him. He knew he counted her a friend and that would have to be enough. "Harry, whatever's wrong...you know I'm your friend. Please tell me so I can help you. Is it your scar? Is it Voldemort? Because whatever it is, you know I'm here for you. Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone."
Harry's heart melted at such care and devotion as this. And yet the word "friend" still struck a worried feeling inside his stomach. If he spoke as his heart was telling him to, he knew he would be crushed, but he also knew that if he kept silent about his true feelings he would regret it. He had lost so much already and he couldn't risk the chance of maybe losing Ginny too. Steadying his voice he spoke. "Ginny, I love you."
Ginny just stared at Harry, clearly unable to comprehend, not only the change of subject, but also because her mind was completely unable to wrap itself around the concept. She was struck speechless and thoughtless at the words that Harry spoke. It must be a joke. And yet it couldn't be. She knew Harry would never use her so, and yet it couldn't be true. His face, his eyes spoke honestly.
Harry, for his part, must have been channeling Hermione at that moment. He didn't mistake Ginny's silence as the unreturning of his affection. His confidence emboldened he pressed on speaking from his heart and not his memorized speech. "You don't know how blind and stupid I've been, Ginny. I'm so sorry for that. More than you'll ever know. I didn't realize until last year that you had ever fancied me. I didn't realize that's why you didn't talk to me. I just didn't know you. And I've gotten to know you so much better these past two years. And knowing you made me fancy you. But you being happy means more than me being happy. So if you don't still have any feelings left for me, I'll understand."
Ginny, trembling with so many emotions running through her at that moment, took a step in closer toward Harry and wrapped her arms around his waist laying her head on his chest. Harry put his arms around her shoulders and drew her in close. It was all the answer both of them needed. Harry kissed the top of her brilliant red hair and was rewarded with an even tighter hug. There was so much comfort there, so much happiness, and Harry hadn't had a lot of that in his 16 years. Suddenly, thoughts in his mind began to swirl darkly. Voldemort was still out there. The prophecy was still there. He hadn't told anyone yet. There was so much doubt, so much uncertainty about his own future. How could he be so selfish? How could he put Ginny in danger like this? If he lost her.... His stomach clenched painfully at the thought.
Harry began to panic and he began to disengage Ginny's arms from around his waist from a confused and bewildered Ginny. "Ginny, Voldemort's still out there. If he finds out about you and I, we can't..."
Suddenly, Ginny caught on. "Whoa, Harry!" said Ginny grabbing Harry's arm before he took off, making him stay, making him face her. "I don't care about Voldemort. I care about you. And if you care about me I'm not letting him stand in the way of us. I won't let his fear defeat us."
Harry was angry but he was unable to release himself from Ginny's grasp. She had to understand though. She had faced Voldemort's forces before. She knew what they were up against. "Of course I care about you! But I'm not going to be selfish! I'm not going to let you die! If Voldemort ever found out about us, if he ever hurt you, Ginny... He might kill you! I won't allow it!"
Ginny was angry now too. But she was also fearful of losing Harry just when they had found each other. "Who are you to make decisions for me?! Don't you think your life matters to me?! How do you think I'd feel at losing you?!"
"Ginny, you don't understand!"
"What don't I understand?! What aren't you telling me?!"
"Voldemort either has to kill me or I have to kill him!"
They were both breathing heavily, staring at each other, but all anger had left them. Neither spoke for awhile. Ginny was horrified.
Harry sighed and explained softly, "Dumbledore told me what the prophecy was that we lost last year. Either Voldemort or I have to die. And he will stop at nothing to kill me. So you see Ginny. It's best if we..."
But Ginny cut him off and said softly, "You haven't told Ron or Hermione this have you?"
Harry shook his head.
Ginny felt an even greater welling of fear for Harry, but none for herself. "I love you, Harry. And I will stand by you no matter what. You cannot fight Voldemort alone. You cannot keep me away and let me live with the knowledge that I could have helped you, saved you, comforted you in some way. Because together we are stronger. You got to tell Ron and Hermione. You have to believe in us like we believe in you. We will win. But we'll win together. Because love is something Voldemort can never understand and that will be his downfall."
Harry was moved beyond all words. Hardly knowing what he was doing he leaned in close and kissed Ginny sweetly who responded in kind. The entire argument was mute. There was no turning back now. When they finally broke apart, they were both smiling stupidly and a little pink in the face.
It was then that the world around them came back into focus and he realized just how dark it already was. "Well I'd guess we'd better be getting back to the castle, before your brother sends out a search party for us."
Ginny sighed internally, wishing the night wouldn't end, but outwardly she rolled her eyes. "My brother, will be just fine about us." After awhile, she added in her thoughts. She knew her brother thought the world of Harry and would eventually come around.
"Are you certain? I could swear Ron was the one that put the twins' joke cookies in with the real ones that Dean's mother had sent him. The ones that turned his hair pink."
"Oh, Dean." Ginny sorrowfully thought about Dean but then brightened at the remembrance of some girl in Hufflepuff he had said was really nice. Dean probably wouldn't be hurt and the break-up wouldn't be messy. "Don't worry," she said interlacing her fingers with a very happy Harry. "Everything's going to be just fine." She worried about Voldemort but somehow, in a way she didn't herself know or realize yet, she knew that her love would save Harry.
Chapter 5
"O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were!"-W. Shakespeare
"Harry, watch out!" Ginny shouted. The concern in her voice carried across the wind.
Harry, lost in his own thoughts, moved just in time to avoid the bludger. Two seconds later it would have smashed right into his head. The entire Quidditch team flew down to the ground. They all were eyeing Harry, some suspiciously, others, like Ginny and Ron, with concern.
"I'm sorry. My concentration must be off today," apologized Harry. And he meant it. His concentration was severely off. Ever since he had that conversation with Hermione, he had been looking for a chance to speak with Ginny alone. But suddenly, whereas he and she would often speak alone, now she seemed to be always in the company of someone. The worst, of course, was when he would see her with Dean. And then, on the rare occasion when they were, he would find his mouth suddenly dry, unable to say anything but mindless, stupid things. And now here he was, at practice, a sport he always gave 100% at, and he hadn't even been looking for the snitch. He had only been watching Ginny. She really was an excellent Chaser. If only their Beaters were as good. And that was when he nearly got hit with the bludger.
Ron's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Well, I say let's stop for tonight. We can resume tomorrow, same time okay?" Everyone nodded their heads and began to leave together laughing and joking. This left Harry, Ginny, and Ron alone on the pitch. A few seconds later they were joined by Hermione who was carrying a heavy book underneath her arm. He had forgotten that she had taken to watching them at practice now as well as coming to the matches. Of course, she brought her homework along. He tried to stop himself from smiling but he couldn't help it. And he saw that Ginny was smiling too and that made his heart lighter and not feel so bad about his miserable performance at tonight's practice.
"Hey!" said Hermione brightly. She had immediately summed up exactly what was going on but was exasperated by the slow proceedings of Harry and Ginny that she immediately said, "If you two don't mind, I need to speak with Ronald for a moment." And with that she grabbed Ron's arm with her free hand and began to move him quickly back toward the castle.
Ginny watched them utterly confused and hoped they were going off to have a row. She had hoped that would all be over with now that they were a couple. She knew her brother hated when Hermione called him Ronald. As they walked away Ginny saw Hermione whisper in Ron's ear. She saw him tense. He was about to retort something, possibly turn around, when Hermione put her hand in his and gave him a look. This seemed to pacify him somewhat and then they disappeared into the distance and oncoming night.
This left Harry and Ginny alone in the dusky evening. Ginny turned her attention back to Harry. He had been acting so strangely for the past two days. She was really worried about him. Maybe he was mad at her. She couldn't see why but it seemed like he was barely talking to her when they used to have so much to say to each other. She felt a growing pit in her stomach. His performance at practice and the look on his face right now did nothing to allay her fears. "Well, I guess we should be getting back to the castle. I've got some homework I need to finish for tomorrow."
"Oh, homework, right," said Harry as, if again, snapping out of his own thoughts. "Yeah, let's go." Then, as if on sudden inspiration, Harry said, "Umm...would you like me to carry your broom for you?"
Ginny had to fight down a fit of laughter. But part of her was touched by the gesture. And it greatly allayed her fears that, whatever it was, he wasn't mad at her. She opted for a smile instead and started walking slowly back to the castle with Harry right beside her. "Thanks, Harry, for being a gentlemen, but I'll just carry it. I guess this mean's your not mad at me."
Harry was incredulous. How could she ever think that? Then he remembered that he had said some rough things to her in the past, which he felt then and now, sorry for. But this entire year he had never said anything mean to her. "I'm not mad at you! How could you think that?!"
Ginny stopped and so did Harry. She turned to him and looked at him intently, analyzing him. "You've been acting strangely this past two days. You've hardly spoken to me."
Harry willed himself to speak the words he had been going over and over in his mind for the past two days but his mouth went dry and his mind went blank. All he could see was her beautifully concerned eyes. His heart felt, yet he could say nothing.
Ginny felt painful standing there, so close to Harry and yet him not allowing her in. And what if he did? Wouldn't that make the pain in her heart even more intense? To know that she loved him so completely and that he didn't feel the same. What would happen when the next Cho came around? Surely her heart, so frayed around the edges, would break. But what could she do? If he needed a friend, she would be that friend. He couldn't help it if he didn't love her the way she loved him. He knew he counted her a friend and that would have to be enough. "Harry, whatever's wrong...you know I'm your friend. Please tell me so I can help you. Is it your scar? Is it Voldemort? Because whatever it is, you know I'm here for you. Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone."
Harry's heart melted at such care and devotion as this. And yet the word "friend" still struck a worried feeling inside his stomach. If he spoke as his heart was telling him to, he knew he would be crushed, but he also knew that if he kept silent about his true feelings he would regret it. He had lost so much already and he couldn't risk the chance of maybe losing Ginny too. Steadying his voice he spoke. "Ginny, I love you."
Ginny just stared at Harry, clearly unable to comprehend, not only the change of subject, but also because her mind was completely unable to wrap itself around the concept. She was struck speechless and thoughtless at the words that Harry spoke. It must be a joke. And yet it couldn't be. She knew Harry would never use her so, and yet it couldn't be true. His face, his eyes spoke honestly.
Harry, for his part, must have been channeling Hermione at that moment. He didn't mistake Ginny's silence as the unreturning of his affection. His confidence emboldened he pressed on speaking from his heart and not his memorized speech. "You don't know how blind and stupid I've been, Ginny. I'm so sorry for that. More than you'll ever know. I didn't realize until last year that you had ever fancied me. I didn't realize that's why you didn't talk to me. I just didn't know you. And I've gotten to know you so much better these past two years. And knowing you made me fancy you. But you being happy means more than me being happy. So if you don't still have any feelings left for me, I'll understand."
Ginny, trembling with so many emotions running through her at that moment, took a step in closer toward Harry and wrapped her arms around his waist laying her head on his chest. Harry put his arms around her shoulders and drew her in close. It was all the answer both of them needed. Harry kissed the top of her brilliant red hair and was rewarded with an even tighter hug. There was so much comfort there, so much happiness, and Harry hadn't had a lot of that in his 16 years. Suddenly, thoughts in his mind began to swirl darkly. Voldemort was still out there. The prophecy was still there. He hadn't told anyone yet. There was so much doubt, so much uncertainty about his own future. How could he be so selfish? How could he put Ginny in danger like this? If he lost her.... His stomach clenched painfully at the thought.
Harry began to panic and he began to disengage Ginny's arms from around his waist from a confused and bewildered Ginny. "Ginny, Voldemort's still out there. If he finds out about you and I, we can't..."
Suddenly, Ginny caught on. "Whoa, Harry!" said Ginny grabbing Harry's arm before he took off, making him stay, making him face her. "I don't care about Voldemort. I care about you. And if you care about me I'm not letting him stand in the way of us. I won't let his fear defeat us."
Harry was angry but he was unable to release himself from Ginny's grasp. She had to understand though. She had faced Voldemort's forces before. She knew what they were up against. "Of course I care about you! But I'm not going to be selfish! I'm not going to let you die! If Voldemort ever found out about us, if he ever hurt you, Ginny... He might kill you! I won't allow it!"
Ginny was angry now too. But she was also fearful of losing Harry just when they had found each other. "Who are you to make decisions for me?! Don't you think your life matters to me?! How do you think I'd feel at losing you?!"
"Ginny, you don't understand!"
"What don't I understand?! What aren't you telling me?!"
"Voldemort either has to kill me or I have to kill him!"
They were both breathing heavily, staring at each other, but all anger had left them. Neither spoke for awhile. Ginny was horrified.
Harry sighed and explained softly, "Dumbledore told me what the prophecy was that we lost last year. Either Voldemort or I have to die. And he will stop at nothing to kill me. So you see Ginny. It's best if we..."
But Ginny cut him off and said softly, "You haven't told Ron or Hermione this have you?"
Harry shook his head.
Ginny felt an even greater welling of fear for Harry, but none for herself. "I love you, Harry. And I will stand by you no matter what. You cannot fight Voldemort alone. You cannot keep me away and let me live with the knowledge that I could have helped you, saved you, comforted you in some way. Because together we are stronger. You got to tell Ron and Hermione. You have to believe in us like we believe in you. We will win. But we'll win together. Because love is something Voldemort can never understand and that will be his downfall."
Harry was moved beyond all words. Hardly knowing what he was doing he leaned in close and kissed Ginny sweetly who responded in kind. The entire argument was mute. There was no turning back now. When they finally broke apart, they were both smiling stupidly and a little pink in the face.
It was then that the world around them came back into focus and he realized just how dark it already was. "Well I'd guess we'd better be getting back to the castle, before your brother sends out a search party for us."
Ginny sighed internally, wishing the night wouldn't end, but outwardly she rolled her eyes. "My brother, will be just fine about us." After awhile, she added in her thoughts. She knew her brother thought the world of Harry and would eventually come around.
"Are you certain? I could swear Ron was the one that put the twins' joke cookies in with the real ones that Dean's mother had sent him. The ones that turned his hair pink."
"Oh, Dean." Ginny sorrowfully thought about Dean but then brightened at the remembrance of some girl in Hufflepuff he had said was really nice. Dean probably wouldn't be hurt and the break-up wouldn't be messy. "Don't worry," she said interlacing her fingers with a very happy Harry. "Everything's going to be just fine." She worried about Voldemort but somehow, in a way she didn't herself know or realize yet, she knew that her love would save Harry.