For some reason that Harry couldn't entirely fathom he, Ron and Hermione were sitting together on the stairs of Grimmauld Place. Hermione was perched on Ron's knee, and whenever their arguments became too heated he would bounce her up and down. Harry had attempted to make himself scarce, as he knew they wouldn't get much time alone at school, but Hermione had portested with such vigour that he had thought it best to stay where he was.
Harry pressed his head against the bannisters. He had spent several hours talking with Lupin the night before and felt as though he had been pounded over and over again. Hermione and Ron were laughing loudly when he heard Ginny shout "Bill!" At first the others didn't notice, but Ginny kept yelling, and soon Harry heard Bill thump up the stairs above them.
Ron raised his eyebrows and said, "I wonder what that's about."
Hermione giggled, "As long as it's not like last time she started yelling."
Ron snorted and Harry looked from one to the other. "What are you talking about?" he said.
Hermione smiled broadly and said, "When we all got here after fourth year, someone had to forgot to tell Ginny that Sirius was innocent," Ron cleared his throat ruefully and Hermione continued, "Anyway Ginny saw him when she was making tea. She came running through the house shrieking like..."
But Hermione couldn't complete her story as Ginny came rushing past them. Harry caught a brief glimpse of a dead white face before she ran into her room and slammed the door. Ron and Harry looked at each other as Hermione went to knock on the door. There was no answer.
Bill sat down beside them, sighing heavily as Ron said, "What happened?"
"Boggart. In the attic."
"Is Ginny all right?" Hermione said.
Bill's face looked very grim as he said, "I don't know. It turned into a boy... looked a bit like you actually Harry. Anyway she won't talk about it – you know how she gets."
"Riddle," Harry said, "Tom Riddle. It must have been."
Bill looked even more tired as Harry's words sank in. Ron shook his head and said, "Maybe if we make some hot chocolate she'll come down. I'll get her to play Exploding Snap or something."
Hermione looked rather disbelieving but she seemed to change her mind as she looked at the door. "All right then, "she said, "Let's go."
Harry stayed where he was, pressing his temples against the bannister. Ron gave him a look as they went downstairs, but he didn't say anything. After a minute or two Harry stood up – he didn't quite know why he was doing this, especially as all his attempts at comforting Cho had been so disastrous – but he couldn't just leave Ginny in there.
He knocked softly on the door and opened – he heard Ginny say quietly, "I'm all right Hermione, I just want to be alone." Harry stepped inside the room and closed the door.
Ginny lay on the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest. She looked very small, and Harry could see tear-tracks on her cheeks. She flinched when he sat down beside her on the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock. "Harry," she said, "What are you doing here?"
He cleared his throat, feeling awkward beyong imagining, and said, "Bill said you saw Riddle. I thought..."
"Really Harry I don't want to talk to anyone if you don't mind."
"Well that's a bit stupid of you, since you don't know anyone but me who's been possesed by Voldemort and I can tell you how it feels."
Ginny stared at him for a moment and then gave a gasp of laughter. She twisted so that her head was near his knee. She sighed and Harry saw a few more tears slide down her cheeks. Very carefully he laid a hand on her head and stroked her hair. It was very soft.
"I wish it would go away," Harry heard her say. He didn't know what to tell her, but he kpet stroking her hair. Eventually he said, "I'm sorry Ginny."
She gave him a keen glance and said, "Why? If it wasn't for you I'd be dead. I just... I wish I hadn't been so stupid. People nearly died."
"We all make mistakes," Harry said, feeling something swell in his throat.
Ginny sat up – her lower lip was trembling. Desperately wanting to say something Harry asked, "What did he say?"
"Who?"
"Riddle. Just now."
"Oh, " Ginny chewed on her lip for a second, "He said I was his. He said I'd always be his." Harry wanted to stop her, but he couldn't think how as she said, "And it's true isn't it. I'm always going to be dirty... He's contaminated me."
"No! Ginny we got you out of there, remember? Riddle's fone."
"I know you did Harry, but I still, I still feel like he's with me."
Ginny looked strangely lonely and Harry reached out and took her hand. "Ginny," he said, "If it helps... I'm not going to let him do that again."
Ginny smiled and threw her arms around him, "Oh Harry," she said, "Like that's what you should be thinking about."
Harry squeexed her for a moment – he felt lighter when he was thinking about her. He could feel the damp of her tears against his neck, but he ignored it and held on. After a moment she pulled away from him. A gentle smile spread over her face and she said, "Thanks Harry. I was just going to stew up here for a while."
Harry grinned and said, "I think we all had enough of that last Christmas. Come on – you should go downstairs. Ron's making you hot chocolate."
He sprand off the bed and pulled her up with one hand. Ginny stood close to him for a second and said, "Harry... Not just for today." He smiled at her and followed her out of the room; he was looking forward to a game of snap.
Author's NoteA thousand apologies for using the incredibley hackneyed 'Ginny sees a boggart' scenario – I'll try not to do it again! The chapter title comes from "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare:
"...She never told her love,
But let concealment, like a worm i' th' bud,
Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought
And with a green and yellow melancholy
She sat like Patience on a monument,
Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?
We men may say more, swear more, but indeed,
Our shows are more than will; for still we prove
Much in our vows, but little in our love."
Act Two, Scene Four