Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Chapter 8
Harry lay awake in bed thinking. It had gotten very late, past midnight. Harry knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight, and kept thinking about the situation he was in. He had to agree with Ginny, the biggest mystery was in fact what had happened to Lucia and Zachariah. If he and Ginny were in their place, had they gone to Hogwarts in the future? There was one other thing that was still bothering him, something that seemed very trivial compared to the ordeal with going back in time, but it concerned him nonetheless. What was that loud bang at the end of the dream? He knew it was a familiar sound, he knew he had heard it before. He just couldn't put his finger on it. Harry finally decided to forget about it for a while; he wanted to explore the Garibaldi Manor. Harry left the room he was in and turned right, heading down a long red and gold decorated corridor. He instinctively reached for his wand, not remembering that it had been left in the cave where the Death Eaters had attacked him.
Harry looked to his right and saw a wooden door. A small piece of wood was hung on the wall next to the door, carved into the wood were to words, Signorina Lucia Garibaldi. Above the carving was a small portrait of Lucia. Harry knocked on the door gently, but there was no answer. He opened the door and walked in to see Ginny sleeping beneath a silk canopy, wearing a white nightgown. She looked like an angel. Harry moved a few locks of blazing red hair out of her face, and then gently rubbed her shoulder to wake her up.
"Ginny." He whispered.
"What?" She replied without opening her eyes.
"Do you want to go look around the manor with me?" He asked.
"Harry?" Ginny questioned.
"Oh, you're quick when you're tired." He said jokingly.
"Shut up! Sure I'll come." She whispered. Ginny stood up and reached for the white dressing gown hanging on a hook on the wall next to the bed. She put it on and followed Harry out the door. They walked aimlessly through corridors finding many bedrooms and bathrooms. They found several large sitting rooms, all of which looked very similar, two large, green couches, flowered patterns on the walls in gold and cream colors, and cherry wood floors and end tables.
After about half an hour of exploring, they came to the end of a particularly long corridor. There were large double doors, and the carved wood sign hanging next to them read Garibaldi Library. Harry and Ginny quickly pushed the doors open and stepped inside. Being barefoot, Ginny immediately noticed that this was the only room in the manor thus far to have carpet. It was soft, royal purple carpet. The walls were done in gold with a pattern of leaves in different shades of gold. This room was also the only room in the house with mahogany woodwork in place of cherry. The three-floored library had bookshelves to just below the floor of the next level. The top two levels had shelves around the walls only, and the middle was open space, around a spiraling staircase. One could see from the ground level all the way up to the ceiling by looking through this space. The ceiling had been painted a royal purple, matching the carpet. On the first floor, there were lavender couches and two mahogany desks among the bookshelves. The couches where arranged around a fireplace, with end tables in between them, and a small coffee table in the middle. Oil lamps rested on various bookshelves, as well as desks and tables. Ginny had gasped immediately upon entering.
"This place is unbelievable!" Ginny said breathlessly.
"Yeah, and if we think this is amazing, just imagine what Hermione would say." Harry pointed out. Ginny climbed up the staircase to the top floor and looked down at Harry.
"Harry, this is incredible!" She said laughing, "Get up here!" Harry ran up the stairs to where Ginny was standing. When he got up there, Ginny was looking over the railing down at the first floor, and she had her back was to him. He ran up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and picked her up and put her down, slightly to the side of him. Ginny shrieked when she felt his arms go around her. "Harry James Potter! You scared the living daylights out of me!"
"Sorry Gin, but you had your back to me, I couldn't resist." Harry said laughing.
"Since when do you call me Gin?" She said suddenly. Harry's face immediately straightened and he looked uncomfortable.
"I, uh, I don't know, it's just easier to say I guess, you know, I'm too lazy to say two syllables when one would do." He joked.
"Alright." Ginny said feeling awkward as well. Gin was a name that only boyfriends, and very rarely one of her brothers ever called her. Never friends, she wasn't sure why, that was just the way it was.
"Is that okay?" Harry asked squeamishly.
"Sure...Harr." She said jokingly.
"Okay Gin is a cute name at least, Harr is just awful that's going to have to stop." Harry said acting as though he was really mad.
"Fine, fine, I just wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine." Ginny replied. They stood there in silence, and just as it was beginning to get really awkward, Ginny walked over to a bookshelf and began looking at books. "These are all muggle books." She blurted out suddenly.
"Well, maybe Lucia's family is interested in muggles, like your father." Harry suggested.
"I suppose...Oh this one looks good!" Ginny said holding a book out to Harry, Pride and Prejudice. "I'm going to sit in here and read it, it's so cozy." She said sitting down on a small couch, the only couch up on the third level, there wasn't a lot of extra space up there.
"Mind if I read with you?" Harry asked.
"Not at all." Ginny replied making room for Harry to lie down on his back. Ginny lay on her side, between Harry and the back of the couch. She rested her head against Harry's head and propped the book on his chest. Harry pulled his arm out from underneath Ginny and draped it around her waist. He used his other hand to help hold up the book on his chest. Harry and Ginny read like that for hours.
Early the following morning, Harry and Ginny could be found in the library sleeping in the very same position, only the book had fallen to the floor, and Ginny's arm now lay across Harry's chest. They had fallen asleep reading. Ginny woke up first, as sunbeams pouring through a small window between bookshelves hit her directly in the eyes.
"Harry, wake up." She said groggily, poking him in the arm. Harry just made an incoherent groan and settled back to sleep. "Harry!" Ginny said impatiently, now ruffling his hair.
"Gin, let me sleep!" He grunted. He was so sleepy it was hard to understand him.
"I have a question to ask you, so just wake your brain up, you don't have to move!" She said anxiously.
"Fine." Harry said opening his eyes and blinking a few times. "What did you want to ask?"
"Did you have any dreams about Zachariah and Lucia last night?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"No, did you?" Harry asked, wondering why it mattered now that they were in Zachariah and Lucia's time.
"No." She said solemnly, and then answered what Harry had been pondering in his mind. "I was hoping we'd dream up where they'd gone, now that we're in their place." Ginny said.
"Oh!" Harry said wide-eyed, as if a light bulb had been turned on in his mind.
"Oh my gosh!" Ginny said realizing where they were. "We have to get out of here! What if Signore Garibaldi catches us?" She asked, frantically jumping off the couch.
"You're right!" Harry stood up as well. Just then, it didn't matter to them why Signore Garibaldi couldn't tolerate Zachariah and Lucia being together, it only mattered that he couldn't. And although they had only met him once, they could tell he had a horrendous temper.
Harry and Ginny exited the library and ran off toward the corridor their rooms were in. Ginny's room was the first one on the left, and she dashed in as soon as they got there. Harry continued down the hall three more doors, but still on the left side, Harry dashed into the guestroom the Garibaldi's had let him use.
Only minutes after Ginny had climbed back into bed, pretending to be asleep, Maria knocked on the door lightly, and then came in.
"Lucia! Get up! It's time for breakfast!" Maria barked at her.
"Okay, I'll be down in just a minute." Ginny replied. Maria left the room, and Ginny could hear her shoes clicking down the hallway toward Alessio's room, and eventually Harry's. Ginny ran to Lucia's closet, and pulled out a simple, burgundy dress. It had a portrait neckline, and simple black lace trim around the wrists and neck. The hem came down to the floor, and compared to the other elaborate Victorian dresses in her closet, it seemed suitable for family breakfast. Ginny quickly brushed her hair, and pulled the front off her face and secured it with a small clip. She then hurried down to the dining room.
When Ginny entered the dining room, everything was set the same as the night before, except Alessio had sat near the end and left her a seat next to Harry.
"Good morning, Signore." She said to Signore Garibaldi before sitting down. Signore Garibaldi didn't answer.
"Good morning, Lucia." Alessio said smiling.
"Good morning, Alessio." She smiled back. He certainly was more agreeable than Ron, though seeing the physical likeness made her miss Ron.
"How much longer is he going to be here?" Signore Garibaldi asked, sounding hostile and pointing at Harry.
"At least a month, but his parents are out of the country on business, the stay is indefinite, Signore." Alessio said politely. Signore Garibaldi grimaced at the word indefinite. At this moment one of the twins spoke up.
"Signore, perhaps Alessio, Lucia, Theresa and myself could give Signore Butarelli a tour of the manor." Rosalia said.
"Fine, fine." Signore Garibaldi grunted. Harry spoke up at that moment.
"I'd just like to let everyone know now, there's no need for formality, please just call me Zachariah." Harry was actually thinking he'd never figure out these Italian titles, and would be better off trying to avoid them. Signore Garibaldi grunted at this as though it was ludicrous, but Harry ignored him. As soon as everyone had finished eating, Lucia, Zachariah, Alessio, and the twins began wandering the corridors. But rather than giving them a tour, Alessio led them straight to the library where they all sat on the couches around the fireplace on the first floor. Both Harry and Ginny began to get nervous. What if Alessio had seen them the night before? Maybe he approves of their engagement, but wouldn't want them spending the night together when they're not married. Ginny in particular, thought that if he looked so much like Ron, he must have some characteristics like Ron. Ginny's thoughts were interrupted when Theresa spoke up.
"Look everyone, we'd love to stay here and do nothing, but Rosalia and I have a plan to prank mum and dad's friends that are coming to visit."
"And we promise, it will be a good one!" Rosalia added. Alessio laughed and told them to go ahead and go. As soon as the twins had left the room, whispering on the way out, Alessio turned to Harry and Ginny.
"You two aren't really Zachariah and Lucia, are you?" He asked critically. Harry and Ginny were rendered speechless.
AN: Aw, a fluffy chapter. I enjoy the cliffhanger as well. Well, I would being that I'm the sadistic, diabolical author who knows what happens next but is making you sweat it out. I appreciate reviews, and I bow down to those who have reviewed. Even if all you have to say is three words, please just do it, a review of any kind makes an author's day, really it does! See, look, I'm begging you now! Thanks for reading and thanks so much to those who review! I reposted this chapter to change one tiny little thing, the title of the book Ginny and Harry read because, as an on-the-ball reviewer pointed out, Gone With the Wind wasn't published yet. But, I assure you, Pride and Prejudice is old enough, so that's what it says now.
Chapter 8
Harry lay awake in bed thinking. It had gotten very late, past midnight. Harry knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight, and kept thinking about the situation he was in. He had to agree with Ginny, the biggest mystery was in fact what had happened to Lucia and Zachariah. If he and Ginny were in their place, had they gone to Hogwarts in the future? There was one other thing that was still bothering him, something that seemed very trivial compared to the ordeal with going back in time, but it concerned him nonetheless. What was that loud bang at the end of the dream? He knew it was a familiar sound, he knew he had heard it before. He just couldn't put his finger on it. Harry finally decided to forget about it for a while; he wanted to explore the Garibaldi Manor. Harry left the room he was in and turned right, heading down a long red and gold decorated corridor. He instinctively reached for his wand, not remembering that it had been left in the cave where the Death Eaters had attacked him.
Harry looked to his right and saw a wooden door. A small piece of wood was hung on the wall next to the door, carved into the wood were to words, Signorina Lucia Garibaldi. Above the carving was a small portrait of Lucia. Harry knocked on the door gently, but there was no answer. He opened the door and walked in to see Ginny sleeping beneath a silk canopy, wearing a white nightgown. She looked like an angel. Harry moved a few locks of blazing red hair out of her face, and then gently rubbed her shoulder to wake her up.
"Ginny." He whispered.
"What?" She replied without opening her eyes.
"Do you want to go look around the manor with me?" He asked.
"Harry?" Ginny questioned.
"Oh, you're quick when you're tired." He said jokingly.
"Shut up! Sure I'll come." She whispered. Ginny stood up and reached for the white dressing gown hanging on a hook on the wall next to the bed. She put it on and followed Harry out the door. They walked aimlessly through corridors finding many bedrooms and bathrooms. They found several large sitting rooms, all of which looked very similar, two large, green couches, flowered patterns on the walls in gold and cream colors, and cherry wood floors and end tables.
After about half an hour of exploring, they came to the end of a particularly long corridor. There were large double doors, and the carved wood sign hanging next to them read Garibaldi Library. Harry and Ginny quickly pushed the doors open and stepped inside. Being barefoot, Ginny immediately noticed that this was the only room in the manor thus far to have carpet. It was soft, royal purple carpet. The walls were done in gold with a pattern of leaves in different shades of gold. This room was also the only room in the house with mahogany woodwork in place of cherry. The three-floored library had bookshelves to just below the floor of the next level. The top two levels had shelves around the walls only, and the middle was open space, around a spiraling staircase. One could see from the ground level all the way up to the ceiling by looking through this space. The ceiling had been painted a royal purple, matching the carpet. On the first floor, there were lavender couches and two mahogany desks among the bookshelves. The couches where arranged around a fireplace, with end tables in between them, and a small coffee table in the middle. Oil lamps rested on various bookshelves, as well as desks and tables. Ginny had gasped immediately upon entering.
"This place is unbelievable!" Ginny said breathlessly.
"Yeah, and if we think this is amazing, just imagine what Hermione would say." Harry pointed out. Ginny climbed up the staircase to the top floor and looked down at Harry.
"Harry, this is incredible!" She said laughing, "Get up here!" Harry ran up the stairs to where Ginny was standing. When he got up there, Ginny was looking over the railing down at the first floor, and she had her back was to him. He ran up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and picked her up and put her down, slightly to the side of him. Ginny shrieked when she felt his arms go around her. "Harry James Potter! You scared the living daylights out of me!"
"Sorry Gin, but you had your back to me, I couldn't resist." Harry said laughing.
"Since when do you call me Gin?" She said suddenly. Harry's face immediately straightened and he looked uncomfortable.
"I, uh, I don't know, it's just easier to say I guess, you know, I'm too lazy to say two syllables when one would do." He joked.
"Alright." Ginny said feeling awkward as well. Gin was a name that only boyfriends, and very rarely one of her brothers ever called her. Never friends, she wasn't sure why, that was just the way it was.
"Is that okay?" Harry asked squeamishly.
"Sure...Harr." She said jokingly.
"Okay Gin is a cute name at least, Harr is just awful that's going to have to stop." Harry said acting as though he was really mad.
"Fine, fine, I just wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine." Ginny replied. They stood there in silence, and just as it was beginning to get really awkward, Ginny walked over to a bookshelf and began looking at books. "These are all muggle books." She blurted out suddenly.
"Well, maybe Lucia's family is interested in muggles, like your father." Harry suggested.
"I suppose...Oh this one looks good!" Ginny said holding a book out to Harry, Pride and Prejudice. "I'm going to sit in here and read it, it's so cozy." She said sitting down on a small couch, the only couch up on the third level, there wasn't a lot of extra space up there.
"Mind if I read with you?" Harry asked.
"Not at all." Ginny replied making room for Harry to lie down on his back. Ginny lay on her side, between Harry and the back of the couch. She rested her head against Harry's head and propped the book on his chest. Harry pulled his arm out from underneath Ginny and draped it around her waist. He used his other hand to help hold up the book on his chest. Harry and Ginny read like that for hours.
Early the following morning, Harry and Ginny could be found in the library sleeping in the very same position, only the book had fallen to the floor, and Ginny's arm now lay across Harry's chest. They had fallen asleep reading. Ginny woke up first, as sunbeams pouring through a small window between bookshelves hit her directly in the eyes.
"Harry, wake up." She said groggily, poking him in the arm. Harry just made an incoherent groan and settled back to sleep. "Harry!" Ginny said impatiently, now ruffling his hair.
"Gin, let me sleep!" He grunted. He was so sleepy it was hard to understand him.
"I have a question to ask you, so just wake your brain up, you don't have to move!" She said anxiously.
"Fine." Harry said opening his eyes and blinking a few times. "What did you want to ask?"
"Did you have any dreams about Zachariah and Lucia last night?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"No, did you?" Harry asked, wondering why it mattered now that they were in Zachariah and Lucia's time.
"No." She said solemnly, and then answered what Harry had been pondering in his mind. "I was hoping we'd dream up where they'd gone, now that we're in their place." Ginny said.
"Oh!" Harry said wide-eyed, as if a light bulb had been turned on in his mind.
"Oh my gosh!" Ginny said realizing where they were. "We have to get out of here! What if Signore Garibaldi catches us?" She asked, frantically jumping off the couch.
"You're right!" Harry stood up as well. Just then, it didn't matter to them why Signore Garibaldi couldn't tolerate Zachariah and Lucia being together, it only mattered that he couldn't. And although they had only met him once, they could tell he had a horrendous temper.
Harry and Ginny exited the library and ran off toward the corridor their rooms were in. Ginny's room was the first one on the left, and she dashed in as soon as they got there. Harry continued down the hall three more doors, but still on the left side, Harry dashed into the guestroom the Garibaldi's had let him use.
Only minutes after Ginny had climbed back into bed, pretending to be asleep, Maria knocked on the door lightly, and then came in.
"Lucia! Get up! It's time for breakfast!" Maria barked at her.
"Okay, I'll be down in just a minute." Ginny replied. Maria left the room, and Ginny could hear her shoes clicking down the hallway toward Alessio's room, and eventually Harry's. Ginny ran to Lucia's closet, and pulled out a simple, burgundy dress. It had a portrait neckline, and simple black lace trim around the wrists and neck. The hem came down to the floor, and compared to the other elaborate Victorian dresses in her closet, it seemed suitable for family breakfast. Ginny quickly brushed her hair, and pulled the front off her face and secured it with a small clip. She then hurried down to the dining room.
When Ginny entered the dining room, everything was set the same as the night before, except Alessio had sat near the end and left her a seat next to Harry.
"Good morning, Signore." She said to Signore Garibaldi before sitting down. Signore Garibaldi didn't answer.
"Good morning, Lucia." Alessio said smiling.
"Good morning, Alessio." She smiled back. He certainly was more agreeable than Ron, though seeing the physical likeness made her miss Ron.
"How much longer is he going to be here?" Signore Garibaldi asked, sounding hostile and pointing at Harry.
"At least a month, but his parents are out of the country on business, the stay is indefinite, Signore." Alessio said politely. Signore Garibaldi grimaced at the word indefinite. At this moment one of the twins spoke up.
"Signore, perhaps Alessio, Lucia, Theresa and myself could give Signore Butarelli a tour of the manor." Rosalia said.
"Fine, fine." Signore Garibaldi grunted. Harry spoke up at that moment.
"I'd just like to let everyone know now, there's no need for formality, please just call me Zachariah." Harry was actually thinking he'd never figure out these Italian titles, and would be better off trying to avoid them. Signore Garibaldi grunted at this as though it was ludicrous, but Harry ignored him. As soon as everyone had finished eating, Lucia, Zachariah, Alessio, and the twins began wandering the corridors. But rather than giving them a tour, Alessio led them straight to the library where they all sat on the couches around the fireplace on the first floor. Both Harry and Ginny began to get nervous. What if Alessio had seen them the night before? Maybe he approves of their engagement, but wouldn't want them spending the night together when they're not married. Ginny in particular, thought that if he looked so much like Ron, he must have some characteristics like Ron. Ginny's thoughts were interrupted when Theresa spoke up.
"Look everyone, we'd love to stay here and do nothing, but Rosalia and I have a plan to prank mum and dad's friends that are coming to visit."
"And we promise, it will be a good one!" Rosalia added. Alessio laughed and told them to go ahead and go. As soon as the twins had left the room, whispering on the way out, Alessio turned to Harry and Ginny.
"You two aren't really Zachariah and Lucia, are you?" He asked critically. Harry and Ginny were rendered speechless.
AN: Aw, a fluffy chapter. I enjoy the cliffhanger as well. Well, I would being that I'm the sadistic, diabolical author who knows what happens next but is making you sweat it out. I appreciate reviews, and I bow down to those who have reviewed. Even if all you have to say is three words, please just do it, a review of any kind makes an author's day, really it does! See, look, I'm begging you now! Thanks for reading and thanks so much to those who review! I reposted this chapter to change one tiny little thing, the title of the book Ginny and Harry read because, as an on-the-ball reviewer pointed out, Gone With the Wind wasn't published yet. But, I assure you, Pride and Prejudice is old enough, so that's what it says now.