A/N: I want to thank all of my lovely readers and reviewers for...well, reading and reviewing! I was so excited when I got over a hundred reviews! Anyway, thank you all so much and I hope you all like these next two chapters. Also I would just like to say that I won't be able to update again until the tenth- I have exams, arrghh. Sorry to keep you waiting :(
Nightwing 509- Thanks for the review. I like knowing that the story makes people laugh!
Severus' Wife- Haha, I'm glad you weren't disappointed. Thanks for the review, keep reading!
Josephine Sawyer- Oh no! I don't have a beta so things like that happen a lot. I rewrote the chapter so it didn't have as many typos. Thank you so much for telling me that! Thanks for the review!
Eric2- Thanks for the review!
MuggleNet27- Aww, well at least now there is some suspense ( Thanks for the review, keep up the R&R!
Me, the infamous- Lol I am glad you are enjoying reading the story as much as I enjoy writing it! Thanks so much for the wonderful reviews, keep reading!
Edvardo- Thanks for the review, I'm glad you're liking it.
Luckyloo16- Read this chapter to find out! Thanks for the great reviews all though!
Skittish- Thanks for the review!
Darkness Shattered- Here's more!
Lurid-eyes- Here are two chapters but I won't be able to post more for a week (. Enjoy these, I loved writing them! Thanks for the review.
Bando2- Here it is, enjoy!
Dragonstorm316- !!! I'm one of the better writers? I'M ONE OF THE BETTER WRITERS! Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoy these chapters.
Silvercrystal77- You must be a Seer!!!. Thanks for the review, keep up the great R&R!
Carmel March- Thank you so much, it makes me crazily happy when people tell me they love this story. Enjoy!
Silver Warrior- He definitely did. I hope you are enjoying reading the story! Thanks for the review.
Lourdes- I think you misunderstood- It was the next day, but Harry hadn't really seen or talked to her during the month he had had with his kids. Sorry if that was confusing! Thanks for the review! I'm glad my endings are improving.
Fluffy-CSI- You're absolutely right- I don't like the phrase myself, I just wanted to use it there rather than say anything else lol. I'm glad my story cought your eye! Its probably true about the 'creamy skin' and such, but I love writing descriptions of characters and their clothes and their houses and stuff (as you might have noticed). Gulty pleasure! Will try to cut down :)
Eat paper- lol....sorry to dissapoint you! Don't be angry, we all know everything will end up just the way you want it. Enjoy this chapter thanks for the scrumptious review!
Jamie Bell- Thanks for all of the reviews! I have a 120 I am soooo proud. I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Here's more for you :)
Harrysmom- thanks for the review here and on Harry Potter and the Power of Gryffindor! I am focusing more on this one because I have more ideas and I guess I'm on a rill with this, but I am definitely continuing that. This is not an epilogue to that story however- that one will have a different epilogue. I'm glad you like this!
Chapter 11-Ginny stared at him, her eyes wide.
She shook her head, trying to gather her wits. She had promised herself to stay away from Harry for six months, yet being around him was intoxicating. She felt a desperate urge to accept him. Her heart was telling her, say yes, say yes, say yes and be happy, but in her mind all she could think about was that if she went to that ball with Harry, she would never be her own person again. Going to the ball would lead to too many other things.
She screwed her courage to the sticking place and resolutely looked Harry in the eyes.
Harry knew the second she had decided her answer. He knew her so well he could look at her face and know exactly what she was thinking. His heart plummeted as he saw the resolute look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Ginny said, voice low, "I really am. I want so desperately to go..."
Harry grasped the moment of weakness.
"It will be fun. It'll be just like old times...I've learned how to dance better, Ron and Hermione'll be there..." He coaxed gently. But Ginny remained firm.
"I can't Harry! Don't you understand? I can't be around you for too long without wishing, without regretting that..." She trailed off, afraid of saying too much.
Suddenly Harry realized just why Ginny had been avoiding him. Ginny saw the realization dawn in his eyes, just as his face fell. He stepped closer to her, grasping her forearms in his own strong hands.
"Ginny," He said huskily, "You don't have to worry about that. I've forgiven you, you've forgiven me. We can start over. We don't have to start where we left off, we can't. I know you're afraid that if we get back together you'll lose yourself. You'll lose the strong, beautiful, grown up Ginny you've become and just become a footnote to Harry Potter. Isn't that it?" Ginny looked up at him from under her thick red lashes, her eyes swimming with unshed tears.
"I would never push you, Ginny," Harry said, leaning closer, "But I know that we belong together. Even if we don't go back to the way we were, we still belong together."
He suddenly pulled away from Ginny's upturned face, turning around quickly and Apparating back to his apartment.
Ginny stood still, her feet planted awkwardly, two small triangles facing away from each other, body stock-still. As if when she moved from that small square of ground she would fall.
Harry Apparated into Ron and Hermione's apartment in a disheveled heap. He cursed as he stood up, then smiled as he watched unnoticed the four people in front of the fireplace.
Ron was sitting with Rilla, eyes wide as she checkmated him again and again. Jem sat on his other side reading a book about Quidditch. One of Ron's arms hung loosely around Jem while Rilla was comfortably ensconced in Hermione's lap.
Harry grinned as he saw Ron's obvious adoration of his niece and nephew, but he was startled at Hermione's face. It was clear and vulnerable looking at Ron with the two children, an unexpressed wish shining clearly in her eyes.
And Ron said Hermione didn't want kids, Harry thought, smiling to himself, these two will never learn.
"Daddy!" Shouted Jem, dropping his book. Hermione and Ron looked up and smiled at Harry.
"Blimey, mate," Ron remarked, "This one's almost better than me at chess!" Rilla gave a toothy smile to him.
"You're taking them home with you?" Hermione asked, a little disappointedly, Harry noted.
"No, actually I was wondering if one of you could drop them off at Ginny's when you can. I have some things to do," Harry said.
Hermione nodded, "All right. But what sort of things?"
"Oh, this and that," Harry said evasively, avoiding Hermione's eyes. She smiled knowingly but didn't say anything.
"Well, I'll be off then. Good night kids," He kissed Jem and Rilla before Apparating back into his apartment, when he collapsed onto a chair.
Harry leaned back. She had said no....but she did have a reason. He understood why she wanted to be away from him, but he didn't like it any better. He just wanted to be with her, close to her, making her laugh and smile. But he would wait...
A small smile played on his mouth. He didn't have to show her that she was waiting. He would be hurt at first, but her fighting spirit would be back, and she would realize that she belonged with him. He threw some powder into the fire. "Alexis Kwikwill!" He shouted clearly. Lex's disgruntled face appeared in the fire.
Harry laughed loudly at her face. It was covered in a thick, greenish paste, leaving only her eyes and lips uncovered.
"What in the world is that?" Harry said between gasps of laughter.
Lex frowned at him. "It's a seaweed mask," She said haughtily, "Muggles use it. Now what do you want?"
"Well," Harry said, kneeling, "I was wondering if you would honor me with your presence at the Annual Society Ball." He smiled winningly.
Lex smirked. "Other dates fall though?" She asked wisely.
Harry frowned at her. "Yes or no?"
Lex batted her eyelashes at him, and coupled with the puce of her face the effect was enough to make Harry go into another fit of laughter.
"I suppose," She said, pretending to consider his offer doubtfully, "Since my date with the Russian Minister of Magic fell through, I'll have to do with the second-best." Harry grinned widely at her.
"I would give you a kiss," Harry said, "But I would rather not get that stuff all over my face." He looked at the slime distastefully. Lex blew him a kiss and her head disappeared.
Harry went into his room and went to bed in a very self-satisfied mood. He would win back Ginny Weasley if it was the last thing he did.
Ginny entered her apartment just as Hermione and Ron Flooed in with the twins.
"Ginny," Ron said earnestly, "Y'don't mind if I put them to bed, do you?" Ginny smiled a little and shook her head. Hermione looked after the three of them fondly, then turned to Ginny and pulled her onto the loveseat.
"Now Ginny," Hermione said bossily, "Tell me all about it. Although I have to say I'm glad you turned him down. So many girls fawn over him that I have to admit he is a bit spoiled."
Ginny shook her head. "No...he was nervous. I could tell. He knew I wasn't going to say yes...but I can't raise his hopes and mine about our relationship, because I don't even know if we can have one."
"And why not?"
"Well, because the trust isn't there. And I don't know...Harry doesn't look at me the way he used to at school. At Hogwarts when I looked in his eyes I could see the trust and the love. Now when I look, I see the love, but his eyes are guarded...and every time all I want to do is run into his arms and cry, but as long as that look is in his eyes..."
Hermione gave Ginny a tight hug. "It's all right," she soothed, "Everything will sort itself out."
As she pulled away, Ginny saw the wheels turning in Hermione's mind.
"What are you thinking about?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Nothing...only I think I have a way for him to drop the guardedness and show you how he really feels." Hermione said, a smile playing at her lips.
"But I already know he loves me, Hermione. How do you win back trust?"
"Oh, Ginny, Harry trusts you. The guardedness isn't about trust," Hermione said slowly, as if figuring a difficult problem, "It's about the fact that he doesn't know what you want, he doesn't know how you feel. You've been avoiding him so right now his heart is crushed because he thinks you rejected him. But he's going to pretend it didn't make a difference at all, you just watch..." Hermione trailed off.
Ginny shot her a half-laughing, half-astonished look.
"You know, I think you're right!" She exclaimed after thinking. Ginny grinned at Hermione.
"Ever though of psychotherapy as a new career, Hermione?" Ginny teased.
Hermione laughed, saying, "Actually, before I found out I was a witch, that was what I wanted to do!"
Hermione leaned into Ginny's ear and whispered something.
"That should do it." Hermione said.
Both girls laughed mirthfully, so that Ron looked a little revolted as he saw the two girls side by side giggling.
"Not interrupting any girl talk, am I?" He asked a little warily. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Ron, I have to talk to you," Hermione said, leading him into the kitchen. Ron threw a confused look at Ginny as he was dragged away.
Ginny sat comfortably against the pillows, feeling a twinge of guilt as she heard Ron say "What?!" loudly and a little angrily. She heard some muffled arguing, and then a very annoyed looking Ron stepped out of the room.
"She's working late tomorrow!" He said to Ginny, "Can you believe it? She says that finding the antidote to Basilisk venom is more important than going to the Ball! This is only the second time we've been invited and she wants to go off and work. She has her priorities all wrong, I tell you. As if I'm going to go without her. I'll stay at home then, thank you very much," He said, shooting Hermione a venomous glare. She ignored him.
"Ron, why don't you take Ginny then? I'm sure she would like to go. That way you could go to, since you are so keen to mix with the cream of society," She said.
Ron was about to protest, but noticed Ginny and Hermione's secretive faces. He sighed.
"All right," He said grudgingly, "I can tell you're up to something. Okay Gin, I'll take you with me." He flounced out of the room.
Hermione giggled, but Ginny looked a little remorseful.
"Are you sure you don't want to go?" She asked worriedly. Hermione shook her head.
"Of course I don't want to go! All of those stuffy people, the stuffy food, ugh. Not my thing. I would much rather figure out that antidote. We almost have it, you know. All we have to do know is find some of that vampire skin, its extremely hard to get..." Ginny nodded, pretending to be interested. Soon after Hermione left and Ginny went to bed, dreaming about Harry's reaction when he saw her at the ball...
THE NEXT DAY... An hour before the Ball...
Harry ran a hand through his hair. He was ready, dressed simply in charcoal gray satin robes that opened a little at the top to show a white collar. He Apparated to Lex's apartment.
He made his way through the array of cardboard boxes, stray pencils, and strewn blankets lying on the floor to the door of her room. He knocked loudly.
"Can I come in?" He called.
"Just a minute!" He heard her reply before she opened the door. Harry looked at her appreciatively.
She was wearing low cut robes of navy blue satin that clung to her slim hourglass figure. Her face was curtained with long, thick black hair, a black velvet ribbon around her throat.
"Wow Lex," He said, "You look nice."
She gave him a dirty look. "I didn't spend five hours getting ready for you to tell me that I look nice. More compliments, please." She sat down on one of her old, tattered couches.
Harry smiled at her, making her heart give an odd jump. He sauntered closer to her.
"Did it hurt?" He asked in a husky voice.
"Did what hurt?" Lex asked, eyes twinkling.
"When you feel to the earth. It's an awfully long way from heaven."
Lex laughed at him and got up. "It was cheesy," She said over her shoulder, "But you really couldn't be any more adorable."
Harry held out an arm. "Shall we go?"
The two went out to Harry's car.
"I don't know..." Hermione said frowning, "Somehow, it just doesn't look right on you. It fits beautifully but there's something..."
Ginny stood in front of the mirror, taking in her appearance. She didn't think she looked half bad in Hermione's robes. It was made of thin silver silk that draped in folds down her back, leaving the bare skin exposed. Ginny had spent hours curling her straight hair into thick, shining, dark auburn curls that cascaded around her face. She wore a simple yet expensive diamond choker with a matching bracelets.
Hermione was fiddling with the robes. "I have it!" She cried. Whipping out her wand, she pointed it at the robes and said, Orofini!
Ginny watched as the thin, dull silver was covered instead by a rich, delicate gold.
Hermione gasped. "Ginny, you're stunning."
Ginny just smiled happily. So Harry was going with that pretty woman who was Cho's secretary. She felt the jealousy rising but fought to bring it down. You know Harry is just trying to make you jealous, Ginny, she chastised herself.
Ginny kissed Hermione gratefully and ran out the door, knowing Ron's impatience. Ron's eyes widened when he saw her.
Ginny took his arm and the two took Hermione's car to get to Hotel Amorphous. A/N: Do you like? Not like? I'm always opened to suggestions so PLEASE review!
