A/N: Hi. I just realized that I put neither a disclaimer nor an Author's Note in my first chapter. Sorry! I've been a little out of it lately. Have mercy!! As of two weeks ago, I was just a reader myself. Hard to believe, I know, because I'm so good at this. Well, this is my second chapter, originally written this past June. By the way, I've got over 20 chapters saved on my computer, which I will wave in your faces on occasion. Haha, it's my turn! (It's very JKR-ish, isn't it?)
Also, I'd like to thank my first reviewer, Silver Ice. I'm so glad you like my story! It means a lot to me and my confidence that you put it on your favorites list.
Luv, Flan
Chapter 2: Realizations"Hey," Ginny whispered. She retrieved the chair from its place and brought over next to Harry.
"Hi," Harry pushed himself into sitting position as he said this. Looking over at her, his breath caught in his throat. Even in the middle of the night she was stunningly beautiful. How could he not have noticed that before? She'd been right there for years, and he'd let her slip through his fingers.
"Did you see them again, all of them?" Ginny was referring to the echoes Harry had seen come out of Voldemort's wand over a year ago, as well as Sirius Black.
"No, just Sirius," he murmured, "I see him most often."
"Hmm," Ginny said to keep him with her.
Just then, Ron snored loudly, rolled over, and muttered something that was impossible to decipher. Harry and Ginny, who had both frozen at the noise, relaxed.
"Gin, I can't escape it," he continued, "I can't help but feel it's my fault."
"It's not your fault, Harry. You have to remember that you couldn't have known what was going to happen."
"I keep thinking that I'm going to turn the corner and find him there, muttering about not being able to leave this house he hated so much, but then I remember that he's never...h-he's not coming back," Harry lowered his head so Ginny couldn't see the tears that had so readily returned. "If I could just find a way to get to where he is..." Harry trailed off as he realized what he was saying.
"Harry," Ginny grabbed his hand and looked at him with tears in her eyes, "you – you wouldn't...think of..." she could not finish.
"'Course not," he said unconvincingly.
"Harry Potter, you cannot possibly think about things like that, do you hear me?"
"Yeah," Harry sighed.
"I don't know what we'd do without you...We'd all be killed, Harry. We'd go back to those days you and I can't imagine. We both know why no one says his name."
"Thanks, Gin, no pressure," he said wearily but affectionately.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I wish there was something I could do to lift this burden from your shoulders. You've been carrying it way too long."
Harry looked into Ginny's soft brown eyes. They were full of deep concern. She had a way of sounding a lot older and wiser than she really was. None of her brothers could achieve that. He could see that her own experience with Lord Voldemort had aged and hardened her, and for some reason this made him hate Voldemort even more. He had robbed Ginny of her childhood innocence.
The two looked at each other in silence for some time. Each was pondering the effects Voldemort had had on each other. They both jumped when Hedwig flew through the open window. Ginny looked at her watch. She always brought it with her because was no clock in the boys' room. It was 4:30.
"I'd better go," she hastily got off the chair.
"Ginny?" Harry whispered as she headed toward the door.
"Yeah?"
"I want you to know that if it wasn't for you, I'd probably have..." he seemed to be searching for the right words, "I'd probably be having these talks with Sirius right now," he said simply.
These words both broke and touched her heart, and they brought tears to her eyes. She crossed the room to pull Harry into a hug. She poured all the care and compassion she felt for him into that single embrace. She could feel him trembling in her arms as he let out all the suppressed fear and sorrow he had been carrying. Again, Ginny felt her heart break. As they pulled away, Ginny placed a soft kiss on his tear-streaked cheek.
"I'm so sorry, Harry. I'm always here for you," she breathed into his ear. Harry barely had time to figure out what all that had meant before she was gone. He was so exhausted that within minutes he was asleep.
Ginny fumed as she made her way back to her and Hermione's room. How could Harry's life have turned out to be so miserable? What had he ever done wrong? Nothing. It wasn't fair. No one ever said life would be fair, her mother's voice echoed in her head. As Ginny got into bed, she thought of all that Harry had had taken away from him: his parents, his godfather, his innocence, a good childhood, and his youth. Ginny had noticed the premature worry lines in Harry's forehead and at the corners of his eyes. She didn't drift off to sleep for at least another hour.