A/N: If you survived the Author's Note, or even if you skipped it, welcome
to the next chapter! My God, thank you for all the reviews and cookies, I'm
swimming in cookies right now. Wheeeeeee! Airlift the milk! Lol! Thanks
again to Kristi who is now my beta for this story!
Also one quick question to answer: yes adults WILL appear in this. They nearly appeared in the last story, but every time I wrote them in, I wrote them back out again *shugs*. Also, this chapter will flash things forward one month, so two months I believe have passed since the story began back in WD. So hopefully, we'll see things begin to pick up.
****To the persons, who could not access chapters in WD, try again, because I'm not having any trouble. It may have been a glitch. If not and you still can't read it. Give me a bit and I'll send you those chapters via email. Anyone else, who would like me to do the same for them, can just email me. FFnet has become infamous for its bugs and glitches, so believe me, I understand.
That's all! BP
Hearts are made to be broken
************** A month later
"Maybe, Ginny."
Maybe was all that he could say. Maybe, the worst word in the human language. It's not yes, it's not no, it's a verbal uncertainty where scenarios were played over and over you can't help but wonder what you'll do if it doesn't go the way you planned it, or if you said something wrong. Maybe had become Ginny's personal hell since the words passed from Harry's lips.
"Maybe I talked to him too soon," Ginny mused as she sat on her bed. Hermione had been brushing Ginny's hair when Ginny spoke. Hermione stopped mid motion.
"Talked to who Gin?" she asked.
"Just Harry," Ginny admitted quietly.
"Oh."
Neither said anything for next few moments, so that all that could be heard was the gentle sound of the brush moving through Ginny's orange blonde strands.
"Gin," said Hermione, "I've been meaning to talk to you. About Harry, that is."
"Sure. What is it?" Ginny hated the funny pitch her voice hit when she was nervous, but all she could do was clear her throat and say, "Well, go on."
"I overheard him talking to Ron about a recent conversation that you had with him."
Ginny's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. She had to bite back the words "I'm going to kill him," before they slipped out. She wasn't exactly surprised; after all, her antics were hardly forgotten. It wouldn't surprise her if Harry were still on edge. She would be if she were Harry.
"Why did he have to talk to Ron?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know. Maybe he wanted to clear things up with Ron, after all you *are* his sister."
"How could I forget," Ginny said dryly. Despite the remark, she was seriously indebted to Ron. He hadn't owled home once about her strange behavior in the past. Maybe he was trying to cut her a break (especially with the stripping incident which would have been the end of her life as she knew it), albeit a big break, but she still didn't like the notion of him getting involved with her business.
"Still," said Hermione, cutting into her thoughts "he seemed a little reluctant."
*You'll have to try harder*
Ginny heard Draco's voice in her head so clearly that it made her jump.
"You all right?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, it was just a thought." It was actually more the voice than the thought. 'Don't think about him, don't think about him,' the silent command went repetitively through Ginny's head, and she still found her thoughts drifting to Draco. Those gray eyes stayed with her, even when she closed her own.
Ginny didn't want to think about what he would do to her if she walked away from this sick game of his. The things that he could do. The reach the Malfoy's had in the world of wizardry was far and nearly unstoppable. Things were hard as it was for her parents as it was. She didn't want things to get harder. The Malfoy's could put a serious squeeze on them financially, not to mention destroy their family entirely. She didn't know the measure of his ruthlessness or wraith and she certainly didn't want to find out. It was going to be Harry or it was going to be her. Ginny had decided: It was going to be Harry.
*******************
Harry really needed to talk to Ginny again. In one week the autumn term would be over and this was not something that could wait until after the break. He'd asked Hannah Abbot to send Ginny into the common room. She greeted him with a slightly apprehensive look on her face.
"Walk with me," he said simply.
As they were walking through the halls, Ginny couldn't help but notice a couple of things. One, how refreshingly quieter the halls were on weekends. Secondly, how much taller than her Harry was, at least he made her feel small when she walked beside him.
"The boy who lived", and Ginny for one was glad he had. Ginny smiled sideways at him, giving him an affectionate stare. Actually Ginny wasn't "staring" at Harry, only thinking about him. She wasn't really concentrating on him. Harry didn't know this, and he wasn't blind to her stare. Funny how you can see someone and not *see* them.
"Something you want to say?" Harry asked with a small laugh.
Ginny came out of her preoccupation with a blush. Looking like a lovesick idiot came naturally to her.
"Um," 'Oh what the hell,' Ginny thought, 'I'd might as well say something.' "Harry," Ginny began, "What did you mean by 'maybe', when I told you, um, about-"
Harry smiled kindly down at her. Ginny was hoping it wasn't in amusement.
"You can't rush some things, Ginny, especially as serious as what you were talking about."
Ginny wanted to scream, "But I've loved you since I first laid eyes on your scarred head and beautiful face!" It wouldn't have sounded mature; it would have sounded dumb, so Ginny relented from saying it. She decided to stick to a safer subject.
"So why go to my brother? If it bothered you that much you could have told me."
Now it was Harry's turn to color a little. He looked absolutely sweet when he was embarrassed. The thought made Ginny's skin tone return to its normal shade.
"Well, I don't think he's forgotten that scene at the lake. I promised him, well, forget it, it's not important right now. I did need to talk with you, which was why I asked you to walk with me."
Did she forget to breathe? It seemed like her lungs had forgotten to accept or release air. She could only nod for Harry to go ahead.
"Why do you want this Ginny?" Harry asked, slowing to halt.
Ginny stopped with him. She stared up at Harry, not knowing quite what to say.
"Damn," she muttered, looking briefly down. "Not exactly easy for me to put it into words."
Harry frowned, but wasn't really angry.
"Strange how you can say 'fuck me' easier than 'I love you.'"
Ginny did go flush in the face then and red right afterwards.
"Harry James Potter," she said as she clenched her teeth tightly, "don't you *dare* bring that up!"
"Aww," Harry pouted, "no shagging into next week?"
"No," Ginny said with a shove, "and if you keep pushing me, you'll have nothing to shag with!"
Harry raised an eyebrow and Ginny felt the sudden need to be swallowed by the ground beneath her feet.
"Well," Harry said huskily, "how would you manage to do that? By hand?" Harry laughed as Ginny's jaw dropped momentarily.
"No," Ginny said crossing her arms, "by wand. Or I could always tell Ron on you."
"Okay, okay," Harry said putting his arms up defensively, "truce."
'I'm evil,' Ginny thought, her face revealing her sudden sadness. Seeing her visible change in mood, Harry stopped smiling.
"Ginny," he asked in concern, "what's wrong? Why do you look so sad?"
"Nothing," Ginny said trying to push her feelings of guilt away, "I...I guess I'm just going to miss you over the break. Are you really staying at Hogwarts?"
The smile returned to Harry's face, a flattered one.
"I think so, though Ron said his parents wouldn't mind if I came home with you two. I think I just need a bit of time to myself is all. Who knows, I have a few days to change my mind." He paused, still looking deep into Ginny's eyes.
His emerald eyes were unreadable. It was eerie to Ginny how at times she could look into either Harry's eyes or Draco's and not know what it was that they were thinking. Yet she sensed that at the same time that both boys knew her better than she did herself.
Ginny looked nervously away from Harry's unnerving stare, saying, "It's a bit chilly out here isn't it? Maybe we should head back in."
Harry nodded slowly, and then they turned, heading indoors.
"Ginny," Harry said as they entered the school.
"What," Ginny replied.
"You never answered me, you know."
****************
No that *wasn't* a cliffie. Also, Ginny may have been *wrong* about Ron's not owling home. Please review and send milk for the cookies!
Also one quick question to answer: yes adults WILL appear in this. They nearly appeared in the last story, but every time I wrote them in, I wrote them back out again *shugs*. Also, this chapter will flash things forward one month, so two months I believe have passed since the story began back in WD. So hopefully, we'll see things begin to pick up.
****To the persons, who could not access chapters in WD, try again, because I'm not having any trouble. It may have been a glitch. If not and you still can't read it. Give me a bit and I'll send you those chapters via email. Anyone else, who would like me to do the same for them, can just email me. FFnet has become infamous for its bugs and glitches, so believe me, I understand.
That's all! BP
Hearts are made to be broken
************** A month later
"Maybe, Ginny."
Maybe was all that he could say. Maybe, the worst word in the human language. It's not yes, it's not no, it's a verbal uncertainty where scenarios were played over and over you can't help but wonder what you'll do if it doesn't go the way you planned it, or if you said something wrong. Maybe had become Ginny's personal hell since the words passed from Harry's lips.
"Maybe I talked to him too soon," Ginny mused as she sat on her bed. Hermione had been brushing Ginny's hair when Ginny spoke. Hermione stopped mid motion.
"Talked to who Gin?" she asked.
"Just Harry," Ginny admitted quietly.
"Oh."
Neither said anything for next few moments, so that all that could be heard was the gentle sound of the brush moving through Ginny's orange blonde strands.
"Gin," said Hermione, "I've been meaning to talk to you. About Harry, that is."
"Sure. What is it?" Ginny hated the funny pitch her voice hit when she was nervous, but all she could do was clear her throat and say, "Well, go on."
"I overheard him talking to Ron about a recent conversation that you had with him."
Ginny's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. She had to bite back the words "I'm going to kill him," before they slipped out. She wasn't exactly surprised; after all, her antics were hardly forgotten. It wouldn't surprise her if Harry were still on edge. She would be if she were Harry.
"Why did he have to talk to Ron?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know. Maybe he wanted to clear things up with Ron, after all you *are* his sister."
"How could I forget," Ginny said dryly. Despite the remark, she was seriously indebted to Ron. He hadn't owled home once about her strange behavior in the past. Maybe he was trying to cut her a break (especially with the stripping incident which would have been the end of her life as she knew it), albeit a big break, but she still didn't like the notion of him getting involved with her business.
"Still," said Hermione, cutting into her thoughts "he seemed a little reluctant."
*You'll have to try harder*
Ginny heard Draco's voice in her head so clearly that it made her jump.
"You all right?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, it was just a thought." It was actually more the voice than the thought. 'Don't think about him, don't think about him,' the silent command went repetitively through Ginny's head, and she still found her thoughts drifting to Draco. Those gray eyes stayed with her, even when she closed her own.
Ginny didn't want to think about what he would do to her if she walked away from this sick game of his. The things that he could do. The reach the Malfoy's had in the world of wizardry was far and nearly unstoppable. Things were hard as it was for her parents as it was. She didn't want things to get harder. The Malfoy's could put a serious squeeze on them financially, not to mention destroy their family entirely. She didn't know the measure of his ruthlessness or wraith and she certainly didn't want to find out. It was going to be Harry or it was going to be her. Ginny had decided: It was going to be Harry.
*******************
Harry really needed to talk to Ginny again. In one week the autumn term would be over and this was not something that could wait until after the break. He'd asked Hannah Abbot to send Ginny into the common room. She greeted him with a slightly apprehensive look on her face.
"Walk with me," he said simply.
As they were walking through the halls, Ginny couldn't help but notice a couple of things. One, how refreshingly quieter the halls were on weekends. Secondly, how much taller than her Harry was, at least he made her feel small when she walked beside him.
"The boy who lived", and Ginny for one was glad he had. Ginny smiled sideways at him, giving him an affectionate stare. Actually Ginny wasn't "staring" at Harry, only thinking about him. She wasn't really concentrating on him. Harry didn't know this, and he wasn't blind to her stare. Funny how you can see someone and not *see* them.
"Something you want to say?" Harry asked with a small laugh.
Ginny came out of her preoccupation with a blush. Looking like a lovesick idiot came naturally to her.
"Um," 'Oh what the hell,' Ginny thought, 'I'd might as well say something.' "Harry," Ginny began, "What did you mean by 'maybe', when I told you, um, about-"
Harry smiled kindly down at her. Ginny was hoping it wasn't in amusement.
"You can't rush some things, Ginny, especially as serious as what you were talking about."
Ginny wanted to scream, "But I've loved you since I first laid eyes on your scarred head and beautiful face!" It wouldn't have sounded mature; it would have sounded dumb, so Ginny relented from saying it. She decided to stick to a safer subject.
"So why go to my brother? If it bothered you that much you could have told me."
Now it was Harry's turn to color a little. He looked absolutely sweet when he was embarrassed. The thought made Ginny's skin tone return to its normal shade.
"Well, I don't think he's forgotten that scene at the lake. I promised him, well, forget it, it's not important right now. I did need to talk with you, which was why I asked you to walk with me."
Did she forget to breathe? It seemed like her lungs had forgotten to accept or release air. She could only nod for Harry to go ahead.
"Why do you want this Ginny?" Harry asked, slowing to halt.
Ginny stopped with him. She stared up at Harry, not knowing quite what to say.
"Damn," she muttered, looking briefly down. "Not exactly easy for me to put it into words."
Harry frowned, but wasn't really angry.
"Strange how you can say 'fuck me' easier than 'I love you.'"
Ginny did go flush in the face then and red right afterwards.
"Harry James Potter," she said as she clenched her teeth tightly, "don't you *dare* bring that up!"
"Aww," Harry pouted, "no shagging into next week?"
"No," Ginny said with a shove, "and if you keep pushing me, you'll have nothing to shag with!"
Harry raised an eyebrow and Ginny felt the sudden need to be swallowed by the ground beneath her feet.
"Well," Harry said huskily, "how would you manage to do that? By hand?" Harry laughed as Ginny's jaw dropped momentarily.
"No," Ginny said crossing her arms, "by wand. Or I could always tell Ron on you."
"Okay, okay," Harry said putting his arms up defensively, "truce."
'I'm evil,' Ginny thought, her face revealing her sudden sadness. Seeing her visible change in mood, Harry stopped smiling.
"Ginny," he asked in concern, "what's wrong? Why do you look so sad?"
"Nothing," Ginny said trying to push her feelings of guilt away, "I...I guess I'm just going to miss you over the break. Are you really staying at Hogwarts?"
The smile returned to Harry's face, a flattered one.
"I think so, though Ron said his parents wouldn't mind if I came home with you two. I think I just need a bit of time to myself is all. Who knows, I have a few days to change my mind." He paused, still looking deep into Ginny's eyes.
His emerald eyes were unreadable. It was eerie to Ginny how at times she could look into either Harry's eyes or Draco's and not know what it was that they were thinking. Yet she sensed that at the same time that both boys knew her better than she did herself.
Ginny looked nervously away from Harry's unnerving stare, saying, "It's a bit chilly out here isn't it? Maybe we should head back in."
Harry nodded slowly, and then they turned, heading indoors.
"Ginny," Harry said as they entered the school.
"What," Ginny replied.
"You never answered me, you know."
****************
No that *wasn't* a cliffie. Also, Ginny may have been *wrong* about Ron's not owling home. Please review and send milk for the cookies!