Disclaimer: If I were JK Rowling and/or owned anything she created, I wouldn't
be sitting here wallowing in my pitiful existence.
Freya4: I'm really flattered that you think my portrayal of Ginny is valid. Thanks!
86uiyig: thank you so much! your reviews make me so happy!
Joyrider: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Hopefully this one will be up to scratch.
Sabin Strohem-Moss: I'm glad you loved the fluff-I'm such a hopeless romantic lol.
peppy132: Thanks for continuing to read my story! I appreciate it more than I can say.
Sometimes You Just Need a Slap in the Face
Chapter 5: Bittersweet Symphony
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
"Er...I...we...I can explain!" Ron and Hermione both sputtered at the same time, their faces an equal shade of crimson.
Ginny's face was screwed up in an very fierce attempt not to laugh. She took at deep smiling breath and said, "I'd like to think that was explanation enough." Then seeing the lingering look of utter surprise on Harry's face, she lied, "Well-I need to go finish my Tranfiguration essay," and walked briskly up the steps to her room.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah,
Harry now looked more curious than angry. "So...how long has this been going on?"
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
A touch of fear flashed across Hermione's face. "Harry, we're really sorry. After the Department of Mysteries, I think Ron and I realized that we could have lost each other there, and that our relationship is a little more than platonic," she said.
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
Ron's face was still beat red, and his voice was laden with dread. "Harry, mate-we just didn't want-we knew you already had a lot on your shoulders-and that was even before we knew about the prophecy!"
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
Harry narrowed his eyes. "But why did you keep it from me? It's not like I would've gotten angry or anything!"
Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
Ron and Hermione gave each other the same skeptical glance.
Harry continued, "I mean, of course I'd be a little surprised, but it's not like I didn't see it coming."
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You saw it coming?"
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
"Hermione, anyone who couldn't tell after fourth year that you and Ron liked each other must have been blind, deaf, mute. On second thought-they'd have to be mentally dead." The corners of Harry's lips turned up slightly.
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
Relief washed over Ron's increasingly red face. "So, you're not mad at us?"
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
"Well-I still want you to tell me when exactly you were planning on letting me know."
I can't change
I can't change
"The thing is, Harry," Hermione started, "we hadn't really planned on the whole prophecy event. Now don't get angry, Harry, but if you'd just told us the prophecy before, Ron and I would have felt a lot more comfortable telling you-it always seemed like you were keeping something from us."
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
"I ALREADY TOLD-" Harry began, then took a deep breath and continued, "Look, what's done is done. I'm happy you two finally realized your feelings for each other. Really-I couldn't think of anything better." Though Harry was smiling, his eyes betrayed his hopeful words.
Try to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Ron beamed, "Thanks, mate! Thanks a lot!"
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the things meet yeah
Hermione, however, knew Harry was again hiding something, but smiled anyway. "Thank you for understanding Harry."
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
As Harry walked upstairs to the room he and Ron shared, he heard Hermione's voice.
"Now, where were we?"
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
Locking the door to the room, Harry sat on the edge of the bed and thought.
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
Not of Sirius. Not of the Department of Mysteries or the prophecy. Not even of Hermione and Ron.
I can't change my mold
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Harry thought about Ginny. He didn't try to, but the thoughts just came. Their run that morning, Ginny pulling him into the lake, Ginny with the joke hand. The thoughts and memories were for the most part platonic (A/N I know, I know, I bet I got your hopes up, sorry.)
Can't change my body,
no, no, no
I just can't think up anyone else to talk to, Harry thought, now that Ron and Hermione are together. I know they want things to be same, but that's not possible. I really amon my own now.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
With that thought, Harry went to the next room over (A/N, I don't know the exact placement of Ginny's room) and knocked on the door.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
"Come in," said a smooth, solemn voice.
Been down
Harry slowly creaked open the heavy door to see a Ginny sitting cross legged in the middle of her bed, her head down, writing in a small journal. As she raised her head, Harry recognized the look in her eyes as one he hadn't seen in her for over two years-vulnerability.
Ever been down
Ginny saw that it was Harry who entered, and assumed her usual warm demeanor. "Hello, Harry. What's up? Come on in, don't just stand there, go on, sit."
Harry walked over to the edge of her bed and sat on it awkwardly. "Ginny-I just realized about a minute ago that you're a person."
Ever been down
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "You just realized that I'm a person," she repeated. "Well, that's one I haven't heard before."
Ever been down
Seeing that Ginny was failing to mask the hurt in her eyes, Harry hurried, "I didn't mean-I-I just meant that now that Ron and Hermione are together, I finally realized that I am alone. I was starting to get all...you know...sad, but then I remembered what you said about how I could always come and talk to you. So-here I am."
Ever been down
Ginny blinked. "So, basically what you're saying is Ron and Hermione won't be available for a a while, and I'm the next best thing, so I'll have to do for now." Harry opened his mouth to retort, but Ginny cut him off. "No, Harry. I understand, I really do. I was stupid to think you'd actually want to talk to me even if you did have other options, but I keep my promises. Now what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Have you ever been down?
Harry eyes accentuated the sullenness in his unwavering voice. "Well, by 'I realized you are a person' I just mean that I really trust you, and you've been so good to me in these last couple of days, so I owe it to you to tell you about the prophecy."
To Harry's surprise, after he finished telling Ginny about the prophecy, she simply hugged him without a word.
Well, I'm glad Harry trusts me enough to know that I can understand him and will be there for him, Ginny thought after Harry had left, but I still can't help wishing he thought of me as more than a human pillow. Bittersweet, isn't it?
Have you ever been down?
"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve
A/N: I hope you liked it! Sorry this one took so incredibly long. It comes with a story. So I got back from Brazil, then packed at home in California, then flew to the other side of the country on the same day. I started school on that same day. My schedule is SO CRAZY. On top of that, I can't remember anything I learned last year. Basically, I'm doomed.
However, never fear, because I will never give up fanfiction. I'm still going to try to update every weekend, but please forgive me if I skip a weekend or something.
I can never fully express how much I LOVE you all for reading, and even more fore reviewing-it makes my life bearable.
Much love,
India
