Author Notes: Just a quick note on the Ginevra / Virginia thing - I know Ginny's real name, Harry doesn't. As for why he keeps using her full name- I guess I just have a weakness for a couple using names that are more special somehow and that is what Harry is going for. I have a name commonly shortened - and EVERYONE calls me by the shortened version, EXCEPT a few boyfriends I have had and I always really liked that. And Harry will find out eventually. As for why Ginny isn't correcting him - she will explain, and I just gave a very big clue. I can accept the fact that this all may seem a bit artificial - but the line where Harry finds out is the first line of dialogue I wrote for the story, so I am kind of married to it. Also, it is really a homage to the fact that the fandom didn't know Ginny's true name until last summer when Rowling revealed it on her website. A wealth of fiction was written assuming her name was Virginia, before we found out it was really something far more unique and beautiful.
Bewitched and Bewildered - Chapter Five
Ever since Ginny had brushed him off that morning, Harry had spent the rest of his day in utter turmoil.
He was still extremely happy with how the whole Dean thing had turned out. He had been granted a second chance and he knew he had to take it. Now. Before Ginny decided to choose someone else. The problem was he had absolutely no idea what to do. And the very idea of doing anything had him virtually immobilised with fear. Asking out Cho had been frightening enough, and he didn't even have to see her everyday if he didn't want to. This was Ginny. He lived in the same house as Ginny. He played Quidditch several times a week with Ginny. He was best friends with her brother, business partner to the twins and practically an honourary son to her parents. He was friends with Ginny.
At the same time, he was still muddled over the fact that the turn of events that were filling him with such relief, were causing her pain. Worst of all, apparently some of that pain was being directed towards him. And despite the fact he wanted to tell himself he had no idea why, the truth was he had a vague idea. Though she had apologised for snapping at him and he was fairly certain she wouldn't have bothered if she didn't mean it.
Harry really wished he could just have a chance to chat with her as they did normally, so he could have some clue as to where they stood. That opportunity was what he was looking forward to when he went to the Great Hall for supper.
Problem was, Ginny never showed.
Not asking about her nearly drove him mad. Fortunately, when it started to get late, Ron actually took the time to question one of the other girls from Ginny's year. It was strange, Harry thought, a couple of years ago, Ron probably wouldn't have even noticed her absence. Now she was a part of the group.
In response to Ron's inquiry, the girl said, "Ohh, she um, had a bit of an incident in Potions this morning."
"An incident?"
The girl looked a bit nervous. "I don't think she was paying as close attention as she usually does. She stirred counter-clockwise instead of clockwise and the whole thing exploded in her face. She's been in the hospital wing ever since."
"Huh," Ron said after he returned to his pudding. "I suppose I ought to go check on her."
Hermione glared at him from over her book. "You suppose?"
Harry and Hermione went back to the common room to start on homework while Ron went to make his visit. When Ron joined them half an hour later he brought the news that Ginny was covered from head to toe in rather painful looking blisters.
"Madam Pomfrey said they wouldn't be permanent," Ron explained, "but she'll probably be in there for a day or two until they go away. I think she's feeling a little self-conscious. She kept looking at herself in a hand mirror and moaning."
"Hmmm," Hermione said thoughtfully, "someone ought to do something to cheer her up."
Harry had never been so happy for prefect rounds in his entire life. After a few minutes of staring into the fire, he had come up with the most excellent plan. A couple of hours with his Charms textbook and he was ready. It was perfect. Something to cheer her up and would also give him a chance to let her know at least a little of what he was feeling. Best of all, he hoped it would be sort of funny. He was a genius, really.
Still with an hour to go before curfew he made his way to the hospital wing. When he walked in Ginny was poking at her face while looking in the mirror Ron had mentioned. "You know," he kidded, "you're probably not supposed to scratch. We're not going to have to get you gloves are we?"
Embarrassed at having been caught, Ginny slammed the mirror down with an exaggerated groan.
Then she gave him an adorable mock frown. "They're really bad aren't they?"
Harry shrugged. "I've seen worse. You never did get to see Hermione during her week of being a cat person." He tried to swallow down how nervous he was feeling. It was now or never. Or possibly now or next week. No, no, he had come this far. "I ah, I brought this for you."
Ginny took the card from him curiously. "What is this?"
Harry beamed. He was brilliant. "It's a singing get well card."
Ginny opened it and was immediately blasted in the face by a screeching noise that could only be considered singing in the very loosest terms. "It's a bit off key."
Harry's smile became impossibly larger. "I know. Here," he grabbed the card from her and placed it under an enormous fruit bowl he assumed came from her family, "it's the only way to keep them quiet."
Ginny gazed at the now muffled card dubiously. "Are you making fun of me?"
Harry's mouth dropped. "No!" When Ginny finally met his eyes she looked almost hurt. "No. You gave one to me after I fell during Quidditch and I figured it must have been embarrassing for you, so I thought... I just wanted to show..."
"I wasn't embarrassed," she said flatly.
"What?"
"I wasn't embarrassed by the card I gave you," she repeated.
Harry was stunned. "You weren't?"
Ginny looked down into her hands. "I was proud of it. It's a rather complicated charm. Though not for a sixth year I suppose. George sat with me for three hours teaching me how to get it right."
All of this was shocking news to say the least. Especially the part about Ginny going to one of her brothers for help. From what Harry had seen they had been a little merciless about her crush. "George helped you? And he didn't, didn't tease you?"
"I think it was my one free pass owing to you saving my life the year before. That and both he and Fred were nearly sick after watching you hurtle to the ground."
This wasn't going well. Ginny seemed almost angry. In all the years he had known her Ginny had never mentioned him saving her life, except for that one conversation the past summer, and that had the air of a special allowance. Here she was almost hurling it like a weapon. "Oh." It was all he could manage.
Ginny looked back at the muffled card and sniffed, "Did you put my card under a fruit bowl?"
Harry took his time on his way back to the common room. Of all the reactions he had imagined, this wasn't anywhere close.
He sat in front of the fire and tried to concentrate on an essay, but really, he mostly just sulked. When Ron and Hermione returned from rounds he used all his powers of concentration to try to freeze Hermione to her chair. He desperately needed to talk to her. Finally, mercifully, Ron headed off to bed.
Harry leaned forward in his chair. "I went to visit Ginny."
Hermione gave him a broad smile. "So how did it go?"
"Awful." He flopped backwards. "I gave her a singing get well card like the one she gave me once and she thinks I'm making fun of her. Apparently I've insulted her twelve-year-old self."
"Oh," Hermione said wrinkling her nose. "Well that's not good."
Harry pointed madly towards the boys' dorm. "You know I still have that card in my trunk and it is excessively loud. I'm not wrong about this."
Hermione's eyes went wide. "You kept the card?"
"Yes."
"Do you keep all the cards you get?" she asked innocently.
"Are you mad?" Harry exclaimed. "Of course not."
"So why did you keep the one from Ginny?" Hermione asked, sounding as though she were his therapist.
Harry shrugged. "Just didn't feel right throwing it away. I have all the letters from you and Ron too you know. It's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal Harry. You should have shown her that instead." For a moment her eyes went disturbingly dreamy. "That would have been romantic."
Harry had no choice. He had to go back and see Ginny that night. He couldn't leave it alone.
He donned his invisibility cloak and made his way slowly though the halls. When he reached her bed he stayed under the cloak for a minute, watching her. She was holding the card. She opened it for a moment letting it sing its horrible tune and then frowning, slammed it back under the fruit bowl. Harry waited a full minute before revealing himself, so as not to let on that he had seen.
When he pulled off the cloak Ginny nearly leapt off her bed. "Blimey Harry! Are you trying to scare me to death?" she asked taking a deep breath.
"Sorry about that Gin, but I had to talk to you..."
"Look, I've been thinking," Ginny cut him off, sounding highly agitated. "I might be overreacting because I feel deeply ugly right now and I am insecure enough at the moment, but I just don't think I can take being teased about the fact that you never liked me. I realize we're friends, and maybe it is something we should be able to joke about, but I just can't. Not yet. You've never thrown it in my face before, I don't understand why you are choosing to now."
Harry tried to remain calm. "I'm not throwing anything in your face."
Ginny pointed at the infamous signing card, still floundering under the fruit bowl. "Then what the bloody hell do you call that!"
Harry forged ahead. It had to be done. "You gave me a card because you liked me. I am sorry I said it embarrassed you when it didn't. But I assumed it did and I was trying to do something embarrassing for you."
"Why?" she asked, flabbergasted.
"I was trying to," Harry waved a hand around at a loss. "I don't know, to prostrate myself or something. To try and make up for whatever I must have put you through then."
"What are you talking about?"
"I guess I was hoping it was obvious." Harry rubbed his hands through his hair furiously. This was it. He was just going to have to spell it out. "Look, I kept the card you gave me. Hermione said I would have to do something to convince you. Something good. She said you might not want to like me again. I kept the card. I might not have liked you the way you wanted then, but I also couldn't throw away something you gave me. I'm hoping that says something." He stopped and lowered his voice. "Because I am noticing you now."
Ginny looked terrified. Great, now she thought he had gone absolutely nutters. Why did he have to be such complete and total rubbish when it came to everything to do with girls? He felt like an idiot. Perhaps the biggest idiot ever to walk the earth.
And then she said something that made him feel even worse, "I'm not sure I do want to like you again Harry."
The next day Harry felt terrible. He must have looked it to, because Hermione kept shooting him concerned glances. Finally, after lunch she actually sent Ron off on a false errand to the library to find a book for her. Harry appreciated how worried she must be to use such a tactic.
Alone, she immediately asked, "You went to see Ginny again didn't you?"
Harry thumped his head against the table. "Yeah."
"And?" she asked eagerly.
"She's not sure she wants to like me."
"Well that's good news," Hermione said sounding rather matter of fact.
Harry was gobsmacked. His head shot up. "How is THAT good news?"
"Because it means she hasn't absolutely decided against it," Hermione said helpfully. "You could still convince her."
"Maybe I'm not sure I want to," Harry grumbled. "Last night was the most humiliating of my life. Sorry if I'm not keen to endure a repeat performance."
Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she said, "For my birthday Ron and I had a picnic by the lake."
"What are you going on about?"
Her eyes glazed over a bit as she remembered. "It was sunny and warm and it had been a really stressful week and somehow I fell asleep. When I woke up, Ron was curled around me, playing with my hair. The way he was gazing down at me it seemed like he would always love me, always take care of me and watch over me. Then he kissed me and I knew it was true. We spent the rest of the afternoon out there. I can still remember every detail: what the air smelled like, how scratchy the blanket was..."
Harry decided to interrupt before the image of his two best friends together became really disturbing. "Hermione, I really don't want to know this."
"I know you don't. But do you want to feel it, with Ginny?"
The image changed and that was it, clarity. To feel that close to someone, that cared for. It was something Harry had never felt. A simple sunny afternoon on a blanket with a girl. He wanted it. So terribly his mouth went dry.
Hermione's voice suddenly raised dangerously. "Then for crying out loud, act like the wizard I know you are and fight for her!"
