Chapter 4 - A Secret Love and A Prophecy

Katie Bell sat behind her office desk, contemplating what she was going to do with her life. She just received wonderful news about her internship and she was now going to be sent off to Paris, France. She didn't know whether or not she should go. Her mind began to beg her to stay, only because there were two people she cared for the most.

Percy and Alexa Weasely.

She looked at the picture she had of the three of them in America. They had taken a trip to California a few months ago and she couldn't be anymore happier. They've lost contact for almost a month because of her job and studies. Running a hand through her curly blonde hair, she sighed loudly, unable to make a decision.

Alexa was waving wildly in the photo, her legs outstretched and her beautiful red hair in two pigtails. Percy had his arm around Katie's shoulder, his face beaming. Katie's smile grew wider as she stared at the touching between them. Katie's ex-friend, Ismene, was Alexa's biological mother. The thought of the girl made Katie frown. They've been friends for all their lives, but when Ismene started to sleep around, Katie grew cautious.

When Ismene told Katie of her conquest with Percy, Katie felt sympathy for him. Ismene soon dated him and brought him over to their apartment a lot. That's when Katie fell in love. Percy was level-headed and reliable, the perfect boyfriend. What hurt Katie even more was the fact that her best friend had him.

One morning, on a Friday, Ismene came to Katie with a problem. She demanded that Katie take her to a Muggle doctor.

She wanted an abortion.

Katie felt a thump form in her throat as she heard what Ismene said.

"An abortion?" asked Katie, holding her hand to her heart.

Ismene shrugged, not really caring. "It's not like I haven't done it before," replied the girl. "It's easy. Just take me to the butcher."

Katie winced. "The butcher? Ismene, what the bloody hell is wrong with you!? Who's is it?! Have you been cheating on Percy?!"

"Nope. It's the bloke's child. I just don't want it. So tell me, when and where can I get to a doctor?"

Katie shook her head at the memory. She then remembered the day she told Percy.

"You're lying," he stated, pointing an accusing finger at her.

Katie looked hurt. "Why would I lie to you, Perce? She's pregnant and with your child! She wants to have an abortion! She asked me to get her to a doctor to kill it!" yelled Katie, tears now running down her cheeks. "Don't ever accuse me of lying to you!"

Percy paced the room. "This can't be. She wouldn't kill our baby. She loves me and I love her .. She would never," he said, trying his best to convince himself.

"How could you believe someone like her? I can't believe this, Percy! She's not the right girl for you! She's going to kill your child!" screeched Katie. Her blonde curls were whirling around her face as she screamed.

Percy sat down on the worn couch, his dace in his hands. He sighed. "I guess I'll just have to talk to her."

Katie was appalled at his respect for her friend. "You can do that .." she said bitterly. "But, I will not speak to her."

Months passed and soon Alexa was born. Right after, Ismene fled and never came back. Katie was quite grateful for that.

She still remembered the first day Alexa said something special to her.

"Aunt Katie?" asked a almost four year old Alexa.

They were sitting on a metal bench in the park. "Yes, honey?"

"I love you," said Alexa, smiling. She was holding a chocolate chip cookie that Katie packed for lunch. "Can you be my Mummy?"

Katie looked at her. "Oh, Darling .." she said softly, picking up the red head and placing her on her lap. "I love you, too. But, I can't be your Mummy."

"Why not?" pouted Alexa.

"Because, Mummies and Daddies are usually together, honey," said Katie.

"But, my real Mummy and Daddy aren't together," Alexa said confused.

"I mean .. Mummies and Daddies are usually in love," explained Katie. "And your Daddy and I aren't in love." Actually, I'm in love with Percy .. But he's not in love with me..

"Oh," sighed Alexa. "What if you and Daddy were in love? Can you be my Mummy then?"

"Yes, sweetie. I can."

Katie smiled.

She's made her decision.

Ginny waited in the waiting room of St. Mungo's, playing with the hem of her new skirt. Luna owled her new clothing just after her talk with Eliza. Ginny was supremely nervous, not only because she was about to see her family, but because she was about to see Harry. Luna informed her that Harry would come and visit the Burrow today. No one really seemed to want to tell her about what happened. Eliza was the only one who filled her in. Ginny owled Luna back, asking her if Harry was alright and how he was going.

Ginny got no reply. Sighing heavily, she rocked her legs back and forth impatiently. She couldn't believe that Harry would do such a heroic thing. What freaked her out the most was that he did it just in the nick of time. Ginny smiled at the thought of Harry saving her. He was always looking out for her, just as a brother would. It made her feel happy inside that he truly did see her as his little sister.

Looking up, Ginny found her mother and father approaching. "Mum? Dad? Where's everyone else?" asked Ginny, getting up from her seat and walking over to them. She gave them each big hugs.

"Well, everyone is back at the Burrow preparing for your return, dear," replied Molly, stroking Ginny's hair. "Come on, now dear. We are going to floo."

"Do you need anything before we get home, Darling?" asked Arthur, leading his daughter to the nearest fireplace.

Ginny smiled at her father. "No, it's okay, Dad. I'm fine. I just want to go home," she said, taking a deep breath.

Arthur nodded and handed her a fistful of floo powder. Ginny grasped it tightly and stepped into the fireplace.

"THE BURROW!"

Draco woke up to people screaming in the morning. Rubbing his forehead, he jumped out of bed and stalked out the door, ready to bloody the people yelling.

He stumbled down the stairs, still following the racket. He found out where the source was: the kitchen.

Vincent and Andrew were having a bit of a verbal fight. "Bloody hell, Andy! Why did you say that to her?! You called her a bloody whore!" yelled Vinny.

Draco rubbed his eyes, listening to the two. Andrew sighed. "I .. I don't know! She just .. She was with that stupid Irish guy again! Why the hell does she insist on having a meal with him and not with me!?"

"Give her some time to breathe! She is a woman!" yelled Vinny, taking a seat on the stool in front of the counter.

Andrew rubbed his temples. "I like her a lot, Vinny .. It's just .. I can't stand seeing her with that bloke. He irritates me," said Andrew.

"Well, then I suggest you call her back. You don't want to lose her, do you?" he asked his friend.

"No .." replied Andrew.

Draco finally decided to stride in. "Make me breakfast," he said sleepily to Andrew.

Andrew snorted. "Make your own bloody breakfast."

His stomach growling, Draco plopped down beside Vinny and banged his head on the table. He laid it there for a while. "I kissed her."

All breathing in the room stopped. "What?" asked Vinny.

"I kissed her," Draco said once more.

Andrew whooped with joy. "Finally! Merlin, I thought you were never going to get the nuts to do something like that!"

Draco glared at him. "Ruddy bastard .." he muttered.

"You kissed her? What did she do? Did she punch you?" asked Vinny eagerly.

Draco glared at him, too. "Why do I even bother talking to you guys," he mumbled, getting up and walking to the cabinet. He pulled out a mug and yawned.

Before anyone did anything else, they heard a few taps coming from the kitchen window. Andrew opened it up and found a small owl flying outside, a parchment hanging down by its legs. He untied the parchment and closed the window, disregarding the crazy creature. "Draco, it's for you." He handed Draco the paper.

Raising an eyebrow, he ripped open the envelope and unfolded the letter.

It was from Ronald Weasely.

Ginny sat on her old bed, a huge smile on her face. She spent at least three hours catching up on what happened why she was gone. Hermione and Harry had broken up a year and a half ago. She was now engaged to someone she truly loved. Harry was still to come later that night and that's what Ginny dreaded the most. No one seemed to answer her questions about what happened and they usually avoided it. Resting her head on the headboard, Ginny pulled her legs up to her chest and sighed. Her beautiful burly auburn hair was sprawled on her shoulders and for some odd reason, she liked it.

It was much longer than before and she thought she looked better that way. Her cheeks were now a light pinkish color and her lips were much fuller and more red. It looked like she was pouting. It made her the perfect woman. Her breasts filled our her body, causing her to have wonderful curves.

She fiddled with a lock of her hair, hearing the door knock. "Come in," she yelled.

She looked up and saw the door open, a certain green-eyed boy come through. "Ginny?" he asked, thin rimless sunglasses over his eyes.

Ginny felt her throat go dry. "Ha-Harry?"

Harry didn't answer. He merely closed the door and stepped into the room, exactly knowing where he was going. He gracefully sat on the bed, across from the red head. "I can't believe it," he whispered, leaning over and embracing her. "You're awake," he said through her hair.

Ginny shut her eyes closed and felt tears sting down her cheeks. "Oh, Harry!" she said happily, hugging him back tightly. "Thank you so much! Thank you!" she blurted out, not able to control her happiness.

Harry pulled back and grinned sheepishly. "You don't have to say thank you."

"Yes, I do," she stated. "You saved me, Harry. Even though my family won't say it, I already know it was you."

"Who told you?" he asked curiously.

"A nurse at St. Mungo's," explained Ginny. "Did you not want me to know?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "No one but Hermione, Ron, and the people at St. Mungo's knows that I did that."

Ginny touched his cheek. "Why did you do it, Harry? You could of just left me there .. I would of taken the blindness .."

Harry grasped her hand. "You were a great friend to me, Ginny. You understood me when nobody else did. I did it because I wanted to." He grazed his fingers over her knuckles.

Ginny moved her hand to his sunglasses. "How do you know your way around?"

Harry lifted up his right hand and pulled back his sleeve. Dangling on his wrist was a silver bracelet, a small green rock hanging off of it. "It's charmed so I know where I'm going. I've tried to repair this blindness, but nothing worked."

Ginny caressed his wrist. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I don't know what happened that day .. But, I'm so sorry. I wish I didn't leave so early and I wish those Death Eaters didn't attack me."

Harry sighed. "Did you know that that whole thing started the war?"

Ginny gasped. "What?"

"Death Eaters were planning to attack Hogwarts. When Dumbledore saw you fall, he called upon the Professors and they immediately started scurrying the students through a few secret doors. Hexes and curses were thrown everywhere. My vision was blurry, so I had to have Hermione guide me. It was horrible, Ginny. Three first years died. Three of them .. And I couldn't do anything. I was just sitting there, helpless."

Ginny let him rest his head on her shoulder. "Harry .. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself," she soothed.

Harry wrapped his arms around her waist, silently crying on her shoulder. "I saw your body on the ground .. You weren't breathing .. And .. And .. Bloody hell, Ginny! I thought you died!"

Ginny kissed his forehead. "Harry, I'm here. I won't leave. I'm right here."

"Please, don't leave me, Ginny. Don't leave me," he said softly.

Ginny was confused. "Harry .." she started. "Why would you depend on me so much? It's just me .. Why aren't you asking Ron or Hermione to do this?"

"Ron has his own life," he said gently. "Hermione's getting married .. And I .. I keep blaming myself for what happened that day. If only I knew they were coming. Why didn't my scar burn? Why didn't I watch out more cautiously?"

Ginny shook her head. "Just because your Harry Potter doesn't mean you need to know all the bad things that would happen. You couldn't predict it, Harry. You couldn't .. please, Harry .. Don't hold yourself accountable."

"I'm happy your awake, Ginny," he stated, lifting up his head and turning his head to her.

Ginny smiled and touched his sunglasses. "May I?"

Harry nodded. Ginny took the sunglasses off tenderly and looked into his green-emerald eyes. She remembered the first day she fell in love with him. She was such a school girl, her hair pure straight. She cupped his cheek. "Harry .." she whispered. "I wish you hadn't of done that .."

"I had to .. I've done so much wrong in life .. I needed to show that I care .. I do care about you, Ginny. I really do. I hope you don't think otherwise," he explained.

"I care about you, too, Harry," she consoled. "You're a wonderful person and have always been an amazing friend. It's just .. Why on earth would you save me? How did you see that coming? Why didn't Ron or Hermione see it?"

"We have a connection, Ginny," said Harry, his eyes boring into hers, as if he could see her.

Ginny looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I can see you," he said simply.

Ginny's eyebrows scrunched up in perplexity. "But, you're blind .."

"I visited you once when you were first in St. Mungo's. I entered the room and all I saw was your body, surrounded by pitch black air. I couldn't believe it, Ginny. I can see you .. You're the only one I'm capable of actually seeing."

Ginny's mouth was agape.

"You don't believe me?" he asked.

Ginny's mouth stayed open.

"Fine then .." He touched her red golden locks. "You're hair's longer and it's a darker color. You're eyes have also turned into a deep brown. Right now, you're mouth is open and a few bits of drool is hanging out."

Ginny closed her mouth immediately. "But .. But .. How .. ?"

"I talked to Dumbledore. He says its some sort of prophecy .."

"Prophecy? If you've defeated Voldemort, I don't see the purpose in a prophecy," retorted Ginny, obviously confused and shocked.

Harry sighed deeply. "I never defeated Voldemort, Ginny."

"But, back in fifth year .. You .. You .."

"No. I thought I did. But, the day of the battle .. I found out I didn't. He took eleven lives, Ginny. Eleven. Three of them were first years, five of them were seventh years, and the last three were professors."

"What sort of prophecy is this?" asked Ginny, not believing him.

"I don't know. Dumbledore wouldn't tell me," replied Harry.

"If you can see me .. Then can you tell by my expressions of how I feel?" asked Ginny.

Harry smiled. "You look really happy. Something you're not telling me?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

Ginny's smile grew wide. "No, there's nothing."

"Did everyone done there tell you what happened the past two years?"

"Well, I heard you and Hermione broke up .. Why is that?" Ginny asked, throwing her hands around.

"We were just .. Too much of friends. So .. We parted. It's no big deal, really. It was mutual. I started to see her as my sister and .. Things happened. She was afraid to tell me of how she felt, mainly because I was blind .. But, I told her that it was alright. And see how happy it's got her .. She's engaged!"

"I know .. I've yet to see her. Ron told me she was on vacation with her fiancée," said Ginny.

Harry scooted closer to Ginny. "She's in American with him. They wanted to see the sights of New York."

"Who did she marry exactly?" asked Ginny. "Do I know him?"

Harry nodded. "That seventh year Slytherin .. Blaise Zabini."

Ginny began to choke. "WHAT?!"

Harry chuckled. "I was surprised, too. But, you should see how happy she is. She's ecstatic about being engaged to him. He's all she ever talks about and I'm happy for her."

Ginny got up and grabbed Harry's hand. "Want to go downstairs?" she asked playfully.

"As long as you have lunch with me tomorrow," reasoned Harry.

Ginny raised a finger to her chin and thought for while. "Hhmm .. Maybe .." she teased.

Harry pouted, as Ginny rolled her eyes. "Alright, Mr. Potter. We shall have lunch tomorrow!"

Ginny apporached the door, but quickly spun around to face Harry. "Oh .. And we are going to talk about this little prophecy more, okay?"

Harry nodded. "Alright .." he said impatiently.

They both exited the room, their hands together, smiles on both their faces.

Author's Note: So .. what did you all think? Aren't you happy that I didn't leave you at a pretty big cliffie ..

What's to come:

- Draco reads Ron's letter and replies.

- Harry and Ginny share their lunch.

- Molly transfers the baby to its surrogate mother.

Well, there's more, but you will all have to see.

Thanks to all those who reviewed .. in the next chapter .. I promise I'll respond to each and every review I get .. thanks again guys .. and happy reading!

as always - fawning over cheese,
chalk & gatorade :)