Disclaimer: It must be obvious by now....
Chapter 22: Goodbye(s)
Harry rolled over; the sun was hitting him right in the eyes, waking him from his dream. The sun always managed to wake him up like that. Especially when he was dreaming. It had been such a good dream. He had danced with Ginny all night. Then later he had told her he loved her and she had melted into his arms and they would spend the rest of their life together. She had stayed the night that night, and they would be together forever, all their past troubles and differences were behind them. She should be right next to him, smiling like an angel.
Harry looked over his shoulder, and there she wasn't. He had danced with her all night though, and he remembered every little detail about her. But she wasn't there. Pain and grief flooded through Harry. And anger, angry at himself for not telling her. He just couldn't bring himself to destroy he guaranteed happiness with Mick and have her join him in a life of love and uncertainties. He refused to hurt her; but if anyone else did he would be right there for her, right after he murdered whoever hurt her.
Harry laid there all morning, waiting for his dreams to become reality. Was she leaving today? Was she leaving a week from now? He couldn't remember. Not that it really mattered, because she was as good as dead to him in America, he knew he would never be able to go over to America; or tell her that he loved her more than anything else. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. He had faced down Dementors, Hungarian Horntails, and Voldemort yet the opposite sex still scared the living daylights out of him.
BANG! The door slammed open and nearly knocked it off the hinges. Harry saw long red hair and thought it to be Ginny; it was Molly, Mrs. Weasley.
"Get up you mopey pathetic thing!" Mrs. Weasley yelled as she completely threw back the curtains and pulled the covers off of Harry. Harry silently thanked God for sleeping with boxers on.
"What do you want Mrs.W- I mean Molly?" Harry had to remind himself to call her by her first name.
Molly turned around and verbally attacked him in only a way a mother can and get away with. "YOU'VE SLEPT THE WHOLE MORNING AWAY! YOU'VE GOT TO PACK; WE CANNOT STAY HERE AT THE CASTLE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND! You already missed breakfast and lunch! Almost everyone else has gone home!"
"I am home." Harry said.
"What? What about your house?" Mrs. Weasely had not been told of Harry's plans.
"Dumbledore hasn't announced it yet? About my coming on to be a part of the staff?"
"Oh, well, that makes a little more sense. I wasn't going to say anything, but you do need to find yourself a proper job. I would have thought more along the lines of joining the ministry, but.. as you wish. Seriously Harry, I can understand you leaving full time active duty with the aurors, they are all only acting on minor jobs, but really Harry, ministry work seems like where you belong."
"I am where I belong. I love this castle, it's been my only true home, you house was wonderful growing up, but my own house isn't mine, it's still Sirus's house. I know Hermione and Ron are moving out, and I can't bare to be alone there, not with Ginny moving." Harry looked away, he felt tears, TEARS coming.
Mrs. Weasley sat on the edge of his bed. "You know Harry, I always wanted to adopt you. I have always thought you to be one of my own. I liked thinking that one of my children didn't have flaming red hair." She glanced off.
Harry felt a warm feeling, she had told him, after the war about wanting him to become part of her family, and it always cheered him up considerably. Today however, he was afraid nothing would cheer him up.
"Harry, I've been thinking lately and all of my children have chosen people to love them that I generally like. They aren't all married yet, but I can fix that. All of them have done well for themselves but you and Ginny."
Harry swallowed a lump.
"Now, I don't want for you to take this the wrong way, but recently I had a thought. I was sitting in my living room, after Mrs. Clearwater had left, she was telling me the funniest tale about her son's friends, wife-" She paused with a look from Harry, "I always forget that you men don't like my little stories, I'll continue. I was thinking to myself, it's good really that I never was allowed to adopt Harry."
Harry was stunned.
"Do you want to know why Harry?" Mrs. Weasley was laughing on the inside, Harry could tell. Harry nodded. " I was glad I never adopted you so that way you could marry my little girl and have none of the awkward questions. Dumbledore must have known. That man, after all the years he's been around, he's still right on about some things."
"Um, but Ginny is marrying Mick." Harry said stupidly.
"Clearly you aren't following," Mrs. Weasley bit her lip in a way that reminded Harry of Ginny. "I don't want my Ginevra going to America. I don't want her to marry that nice fellow Mick. I want her to marry you, Harry."
"But, he loves her." Harry said stubbornly.
"He does, yes, but not in the same way you do. Mick is a nice young man, wealthy and intelligent, a mother could ask no better for her daughter. However, I look at him and I think: Does he really have what it takes to keep my dear daughter happy?"
"I suppose he could." Harry yawned, he was still a tad groggy from being up so late.
"He could keep her happy for a year, maybe two. But he doesn't have what it takes to keep her happy for a lifetime, to keep her loved all of her days. And, by the way Fred, George and you tortured him, I think he may not have the skills it takes to survive in the family, and he definitely doesn't have the skills to rescue my little girl."
Harry was scared, for some reason he was really, really scared. "There's nothing really to rescue her from anymore."
Mrs. Weasley sighed, "Harry, there still is a lot to save her from, and one of the major things would be herself. Do you know she still has nightmares? Not as often now, no, but you can relate to her. You can understand. Mick can't. You her night and shining armor. I know it. And so do you. Deep down she does as well."
"Well we can't really say that. We don't really know him."
"Always modest. Harry, your right, we don't know him. He could be horrible and we would never know because she is so far away. I watched you two last night. You stayed with her all night, I know because I set an alarm on her door to alert me as to when she returned. You danced with her until 5 a.m. Harry."
"So, anyone would dance all night."
"The band left at midnight."
"And you point is?" Harry was getting cross.
"And you didn't even try to sleep with her. You look at her like she's the most wonderful thing in the world."
"She is."
"Would you do anything for her?"
"And then some."
"Then get her off that plane she's taking off on tonight. 9 o'clock. If she leaves Britain tonight, it'll be all your fault." Mrs. Weasley didn't even wait for a response. She got up, turned heal and slammed the door behind her.
What the hell I am I going to do, Harry thought to himself. Life just wasn't being fair. The woman he loved was taking off. But she didn't have to, he still had a fair shot at getting her back.
Harry got showered, dressed, ate something and walked around the castle. Surely there would still be some people around. Harry walked up the Gargoyle staircase, and knocked on the door. It opened, showing a very upbeat and energetic Dumbledore. It was always a shock to see a man of that age bouncing off the walls. Fawks, the Phoenix, but flying around the office, trying to stay out of the old man's way.
"Professor?" Harry cautiously asked.
"Why Harry! How do you do?" Dumbledore asked as he magicked some weird instrument off of a shelf and into a large trunk.
"I'm all right, but what on earth are you doing?" Harry asked as robes began folding themselves up and packing themselves into neat piles.
"Oh just a little packing."
"I thought you weren't leaving so soon."
"NO, not so soon. But it is time to get a move on, I've got a lot to pack."
Harry had to agree.
"Not as much as before your fifth and sixth years, goodness you were rather destructive." Harry felt a rather large twinge of guilt. "There's no need to apologize, I've lived too long and collected too many things."
"What are you talking about?" Harry was feeling uneasy once again.
"Look Harry, all I'm saying is that it's time for me to move onto my next challenge, there is nothing left for me to do here."
"Yes there is, you .."Harry really couldn't think of anything left for Dumbledore to stay around for. "I need you though."
"I'll always be here for you, and I'll stay until your settled, but really, after that, it will most certainly be time."
Tears began pouring down Harry's face. He didn't even try to hide them.
Dumbledore dropped an armful of books and gave Harry a fatherly hug. "You are truly the son I never had. I really love you Harry, your dear to me, and I have enjoyed watching you grow and live. I know you'll live a long healthy happy life."
"Yeah right," said Harry darkly as he turned and walked toward the window.
"There is still time Harry."
Harry jumped, he had been lost in his thoughts and had forgotten he was having a conversation with Dumbledore. "Time for what." Harry had a sneaking suspicion he knew.
"Harry, with time, there is always hope."
"Well that's great," said Harry sarcastically.
"Harry, for once in your life, get off the pity party train and take action. Get to the airport and stop her."
Harry didn't even respond. He agreed. It was time to live. It was time to love. It was time to get Ginny.
Chapter 22: Goodbye(s)
Harry rolled over; the sun was hitting him right in the eyes, waking him from his dream. The sun always managed to wake him up like that. Especially when he was dreaming. It had been such a good dream. He had danced with Ginny all night. Then later he had told her he loved her and she had melted into his arms and they would spend the rest of their life together. She had stayed the night that night, and they would be together forever, all their past troubles and differences were behind them. She should be right next to him, smiling like an angel.
Harry looked over his shoulder, and there she wasn't. He had danced with her all night though, and he remembered every little detail about her. But she wasn't there. Pain and grief flooded through Harry. And anger, angry at himself for not telling her. He just couldn't bring himself to destroy he guaranteed happiness with Mick and have her join him in a life of love and uncertainties. He refused to hurt her; but if anyone else did he would be right there for her, right after he murdered whoever hurt her.
Harry laid there all morning, waiting for his dreams to become reality. Was she leaving today? Was she leaving a week from now? He couldn't remember. Not that it really mattered, because she was as good as dead to him in America, he knew he would never be able to go over to America; or tell her that he loved her more than anything else. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. He had faced down Dementors, Hungarian Horntails, and Voldemort yet the opposite sex still scared the living daylights out of him.
BANG! The door slammed open and nearly knocked it off the hinges. Harry saw long red hair and thought it to be Ginny; it was Molly, Mrs. Weasley.
"Get up you mopey pathetic thing!" Mrs. Weasley yelled as she completely threw back the curtains and pulled the covers off of Harry. Harry silently thanked God for sleeping with boxers on.
"What do you want Mrs.W- I mean Molly?" Harry had to remind himself to call her by her first name.
Molly turned around and verbally attacked him in only a way a mother can and get away with. "YOU'VE SLEPT THE WHOLE MORNING AWAY! YOU'VE GOT TO PACK; WE CANNOT STAY HERE AT THE CASTLE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND! You already missed breakfast and lunch! Almost everyone else has gone home!"
"I am home." Harry said.
"What? What about your house?" Mrs. Weasely had not been told of Harry's plans.
"Dumbledore hasn't announced it yet? About my coming on to be a part of the staff?"
"Oh, well, that makes a little more sense. I wasn't going to say anything, but you do need to find yourself a proper job. I would have thought more along the lines of joining the ministry, but.. as you wish. Seriously Harry, I can understand you leaving full time active duty with the aurors, they are all only acting on minor jobs, but really Harry, ministry work seems like where you belong."
"I am where I belong. I love this castle, it's been my only true home, you house was wonderful growing up, but my own house isn't mine, it's still Sirus's house. I know Hermione and Ron are moving out, and I can't bare to be alone there, not with Ginny moving." Harry looked away, he felt tears, TEARS coming.
Mrs. Weasley sat on the edge of his bed. "You know Harry, I always wanted to adopt you. I have always thought you to be one of my own. I liked thinking that one of my children didn't have flaming red hair." She glanced off.
Harry felt a warm feeling, she had told him, after the war about wanting him to become part of her family, and it always cheered him up considerably. Today however, he was afraid nothing would cheer him up.
"Harry, I've been thinking lately and all of my children have chosen people to love them that I generally like. They aren't all married yet, but I can fix that. All of them have done well for themselves but you and Ginny."
Harry swallowed a lump.
"Now, I don't want for you to take this the wrong way, but recently I had a thought. I was sitting in my living room, after Mrs. Clearwater had left, she was telling me the funniest tale about her son's friends, wife-" She paused with a look from Harry, "I always forget that you men don't like my little stories, I'll continue. I was thinking to myself, it's good really that I never was allowed to adopt Harry."
Harry was stunned.
"Do you want to know why Harry?" Mrs. Weasley was laughing on the inside, Harry could tell. Harry nodded. " I was glad I never adopted you so that way you could marry my little girl and have none of the awkward questions. Dumbledore must have known. That man, after all the years he's been around, he's still right on about some things."
"Um, but Ginny is marrying Mick." Harry said stupidly.
"Clearly you aren't following," Mrs. Weasley bit her lip in a way that reminded Harry of Ginny. "I don't want my Ginevra going to America. I don't want her to marry that nice fellow Mick. I want her to marry you, Harry."
"But, he loves her." Harry said stubbornly.
"He does, yes, but not in the same way you do. Mick is a nice young man, wealthy and intelligent, a mother could ask no better for her daughter. However, I look at him and I think: Does he really have what it takes to keep my dear daughter happy?"
"I suppose he could." Harry yawned, he was still a tad groggy from being up so late.
"He could keep her happy for a year, maybe two. But he doesn't have what it takes to keep her happy for a lifetime, to keep her loved all of her days. And, by the way Fred, George and you tortured him, I think he may not have the skills it takes to survive in the family, and he definitely doesn't have the skills to rescue my little girl."
Harry was scared, for some reason he was really, really scared. "There's nothing really to rescue her from anymore."
Mrs. Weasley sighed, "Harry, there still is a lot to save her from, and one of the major things would be herself. Do you know she still has nightmares? Not as often now, no, but you can relate to her. You can understand. Mick can't. You her night and shining armor. I know it. And so do you. Deep down she does as well."
"Well we can't really say that. We don't really know him."
"Always modest. Harry, your right, we don't know him. He could be horrible and we would never know because she is so far away. I watched you two last night. You stayed with her all night, I know because I set an alarm on her door to alert me as to when she returned. You danced with her until 5 a.m. Harry."
"So, anyone would dance all night."
"The band left at midnight."
"And you point is?" Harry was getting cross.
"And you didn't even try to sleep with her. You look at her like she's the most wonderful thing in the world."
"She is."
"Would you do anything for her?"
"And then some."
"Then get her off that plane she's taking off on tonight. 9 o'clock. If she leaves Britain tonight, it'll be all your fault." Mrs. Weasley didn't even wait for a response. She got up, turned heal and slammed the door behind her.
What the hell I am I going to do, Harry thought to himself. Life just wasn't being fair. The woman he loved was taking off. But she didn't have to, he still had a fair shot at getting her back.
Harry got showered, dressed, ate something and walked around the castle. Surely there would still be some people around. Harry walked up the Gargoyle staircase, and knocked on the door. It opened, showing a very upbeat and energetic Dumbledore. It was always a shock to see a man of that age bouncing off the walls. Fawks, the Phoenix, but flying around the office, trying to stay out of the old man's way.
"Professor?" Harry cautiously asked.
"Why Harry! How do you do?" Dumbledore asked as he magicked some weird instrument off of a shelf and into a large trunk.
"I'm all right, but what on earth are you doing?" Harry asked as robes began folding themselves up and packing themselves into neat piles.
"Oh just a little packing."
"I thought you weren't leaving so soon."
"NO, not so soon. But it is time to get a move on, I've got a lot to pack."
Harry had to agree.
"Not as much as before your fifth and sixth years, goodness you were rather destructive." Harry felt a rather large twinge of guilt. "There's no need to apologize, I've lived too long and collected too many things."
"What are you talking about?" Harry was feeling uneasy once again.
"Look Harry, all I'm saying is that it's time for me to move onto my next challenge, there is nothing left for me to do here."
"Yes there is, you .."Harry really couldn't think of anything left for Dumbledore to stay around for. "I need you though."
"I'll always be here for you, and I'll stay until your settled, but really, after that, it will most certainly be time."
Tears began pouring down Harry's face. He didn't even try to hide them.
Dumbledore dropped an armful of books and gave Harry a fatherly hug. "You are truly the son I never had. I really love you Harry, your dear to me, and I have enjoyed watching you grow and live. I know you'll live a long healthy happy life."
"Yeah right," said Harry darkly as he turned and walked toward the window.
"There is still time Harry."
Harry jumped, he had been lost in his thoughts and had forgotten he was having a conversation with Dumbledore. "Time for what." Harry had a sneaking suspicion he knew.
"Harry, with time, there is always hope."
"Well that's great," said Harry sarcastically.
"Harry, for once in your life, get off the pity party train and take action. Get to the airport and stop her."
Harry didn't even respond. He agreed. It was time to live. It was time to love. It was time to get Ginny.