Disclaimer: none of the HP characters are mine. I think the plot is.
A/N: Sorry again about the short chapter! I'm really trying to make this story as good as I can, but I'll try to make the chapters longer. R&R
Phoenix Tears
Chapter 2
How long he cried, Harry wasn't sure. All his knew was Ginny's arms were folding around him with a protection so strong, he felt as though his whole body could go limp, and he would remain standing. She didn't try to comfort him, or tell him she understood. She just let him vent off a small portion of his anger, and she was there for him. Harry wished he could emotionally heal, if only for Ginny.
Finally, his tears subsided, and Ginny gently let go of Harry. Glancing around the room, he realized Hermione and Ron had left them alone.
"I don't know what to do anymore, Gin," Harry said quietly, trying to regain his composure.
Ginny turned her face toward his, and Harry saw her eyes were filled with sympathy...no. Sympathy wasn't the right word...it wasn't understanding, as she had never been through this devastation. It was simply...acceptance. Ginny accepted Harry's mood; she wasn't about to give him unwanted sympathy, or try to understand. She just accepted it.
"I know you're confused, Harry. But I want you to know, I'm here for you." She squeezed Harry's hand, and then turned to go up to her dormitory.
"Wait, Ginny." Harry reached out, touching her hand. She turned back to him, a look of question surprise on her face.
"Thanks." Ginny nodded slowly, and retreated to her room. But for a long hour, Harry stood by the chair, thinking about the events of the night. And the more he thought about it, he knew that saying thanks wasn't enough. And he realized something he'd been hiding from himself for a long time: He did care. He cared so much that he felt as though he would bleed to death with the pain of it.
Sighing, he sank back into his cushy chair, and for the first time in a long time, he slept. His dreams weren't haunted by the evil laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange or Lord Voldemort. He didn't see Sirius falling behind the veil. He had a dream...an unexplainable dream...
-------------THE DREAM-----------
Harry was standing at the edge of a huge lake. It wasn't the lake at Hogwarts; it was just a simple stream, outlined with rocks of all shapes. The clear water rippled in a steady motion upstream. Upstream? He had thought it always traveled downstream, but here it was, clear as day, flowing upstream...
Suddenly, he heard the call of a phoenix. Fawkes came flying into view, his tail streaming in the wind. A steady rain began to beat down; it was a soft rain, but yet, it was steady nonetheless. Fawkes landed next to Harry, bending his head up, and from his throat penetrated a soft, soothing, singular note. It sent chills down his spine, but warmed his entire body.
Just then, the noise of splashing water caught Harry's attention. Running towards him was Ginny Weasley, her eyes filled with the same tone of acceptance. She laid her hand on Harry's shoulder, speaking softly to the phoenix.
"We want to help you, Harry," she said softly, as Fawkes flew to Harry's shoulder, where he sat peacefully. Harry turned toward the phoenix and the girl. He was about to say something, and he could feel his body pulsing with the need to tell them...
-------------END DREAM--------------
"Harry! Harry, wake up; we're going to be late!" Harry jolted awake, staring into Hermione's concerned face.Trying not to show his frustration, he rose out of the chair and went to his dormitory to get ready.
As he climbed the stairs, he tried to remember the dream, but with each step, he could feel it floating away, until all he could remember was the water flowing opposite the direction it was supposed to...
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the note so long chapter, but it's all I've got going for me right now. Shout-out time! I didn't get many reviews, but I was ready to post, so thanks to those of you who will review in the future! You just weren't quick enough for a shout-out. ï