Once AGAIN, I do NOT own anything but the plot, JK Rowling owns all the
characters. OH yeah, I read Order of the Phoenix, but I am keeping this a
fifth-year based story! LYA! ~BabeyRachey
Sorry it took so long! I have been busy... ok, and a little lazy, I admit! I will try and post as much as I can before camp, and that's only for a week. Thanks so much! (
Thanks by the way, VickiRyan and all my loyal readers.. You're a big help!
Stepping Sideways
Chapter Seven: Tears
Harry ran aimlessly through the woods, ignoring the thorns and branches that kept snagging and catching on his feet. All he could feel was his anger, complete fury, which engulfed him. He had never been this mad before, except when he accidentally blew up his Aunt Marge.
Harry barely felt branches scraping his face and sides as he ran past. He just had to get away, run away, from HER. Harry a wave of hurt rush over him this time. He had come to the Weasley's expecting fun, relaxation, and relief. He had that, for a while. But now THIS had to be added to everything else.
Blinking away the tears that threatened to fall, Harry didn't notice the log in the way until he was flying over it. He landed on the hard, rocky ground with a groan. 'This is just my lucky day, isn't it?' He thought. Coughing up pine needles and dirt, Harry once again crawled into a sitting position and leaned up against a tree.
He hadn't been ready to tell Ginny, not at that moment. In fact, he was on his way back to apologize and tell her when he heard her poetic little speech. The anger came back this time, almost worse than before. Harry couldn't believe she had said that about his scar, mocking his parent's death. Harry threw his fist on the ground, and felt it hit something sharp. He didn't look down to see what it was, or if he was bleeding.
Harry had trusted Ginny, more than he usually trusted people. He had told her secrets and fears that he had never even told Hermione or Ron about. Then she threw it all back in his face.
"Well," He muttered to himself. "That's what you get for trusting people." Harry felt something wet on his cheek, and lifted his hand to wipe it off. He realized he was crying. "What am I crying for?" He said. "I shouldn't be!" But he couldn't get himself to stop. He didn't expect the pain or loneliness that hit him just then, but it did.
The raven-haired boy rested his head on his knees, and let the tears fall. He cried for Ginny, for his Parents. He cried for Cedric, and all the victims of Voldemort. Harry cried for Sirius who had no freedom, he cried for Remus, who had always been rejected.
After he had cried all he could, Harry, feeling quite exhausted, fell asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny sat at the kitchen table, staring sullenly into her cup of tea that she had made. Where was Harry? What was he doing? Is he going to hate me forever? These thoughts kept up a constant cycle in her head. Her mother sat across from her in an angry silence, making perturbed noises in between sips of her own tea.
After Ron had run out of the house, Bill had told her to make a pot of tea, and put a shot of fire whiskey in Mrs.Weasley's cup who was thin lipped and pale. Everyone was once more around the table, except for Sirius who had run out shortly after Ron, all in a stunned silence.
Bill heard a small sniffling sound and turned to see a lone tear slide down Ginny's cheek. He got up silently and went to sit down next to her.
"Gin?" He said softly.
"What?" She answered with another sniff.
"I'm not going to say it wasn't your fault, because it was. But it's not the end of the world; you can mend things with Harry." Bill put a hand on her shoulder.
"Did you see the look on his face, right before he- he left?" She didn't wait for a response. "It was hatred. He hates me, Bill." Ginny cried harder.
"No he doesn't hate you. He hates what you said. You hurt him Ginny, pretty deep from the looks of it. It's gonna take time, but everything's gonna be ok. I'm sure of it." The younger girl turned into his arms and sobbed.
"B-But w-what if he n-never for-forgives me?"
"I know you Gin, and I know Harry. You two will be patched up before you know it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Harry?" Ron called out, but all he heard was some birds singing and the sniffing of Sirius, who had followed him.
Only ingrained respect for his sister had kept Ron from lashing out physically at her. He shook his head. Girls could be such idiots.
"Harry?!" Ron called out again. But before he could do anything else, Sirius suddenly let out a bark, and began running in a different direction. "Sirius!" Ron called, barely keeping up with the animagus. Sirius, who was now following Harry's scent, paid no attention to the redhead following him.
After several more minutes, Sirius leapt cleanly over a fallen log, and nearly ran into his godson who was fast asleep by a tree.
Ron jumped over the log as well, and was greeted with the sight up his battered-looking friend. "Oh, good. You found him." Ron gave a sigh of relief. Sirius nudged Harry's slightly scratched face with his nose, trying to wake him up. Harry stirred, but didn't wake. Ron noticed there were dried tears on Harry's cheeks, and a smear of blood.
"Girls. . ." Ron muttered. Sirius barked his agreement. Harry's eyes shot open at the noise, and he started, banging his head on a low branch.
"Oh. Hey guys." Harry muttered, rubbing his head. Ron held out his hand and helped Harry up.
"You alright, mate?" Ron asked, concerned. Harry just shot him a look that clearly said 'What do you think?' "I mean physically. You look pretty scratched up." Ron said, catching the look. "It's nothing." Harry said, but winced when tried to take a step forward.
Both Sirius and Ron noticed this, and soon Sirius was looking down at his godson in his human form. "It's not 'nothing'." He said, "What happened?" Harry just shrugged. "I wasn't watching where I was going and went flying over that log there." He pointed, and Ron saw a large gash along the side of his hand that was bleeding badly. "I guess I also got some scratches from tree branches and stuff, but I wasn't noticing anything."
Both Ron and Sirius nodded in understanding. "Well," Said Sirius, after a few minutes of tense silence. "We can't stay out here forever. We should get back." Harry nodded, but didn't say anything. He tried taking another step, and barely stayed up, grimacing. "I think I sprained my knee or something." Harry said, "But I think I can make it, if I had a crutch or something."
Sirius suddenly turned back into his dog form, and ran off. Harry and Ron looked at the spot he had been standing in, bewildered.
"What was that all about?" Ron wondered. But his question was answered when Sirius came running back, carrying a stick. It was the perfect size for Harry, and even had a little Y at the top so it would fit under his arm. "Gee, thanks Sirius." Harry said, grabbing the stick from out of the dog's mouth.
They started off, Harry hobbling after Sirius, followed by Ron. It took a while, getting through all the brambles and thorns,
Harry limped resolutely back through the woods, not exactly looking forward to going back to the Burrow. He was still too angry. Feeling slightly dizzy, Harry paused and leaned against a tree for support. He was feeling rather weak, 'From emotional stress.' He told himself, but he couldn't find the effort to start walking again.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to look at Ron, who was looking at him, concerned. Ron noticed his friend was looking rather pale and sick. "Are you ok?" "Just a little Dizzy, Ron." Harry replied, words slurring slightly. Alarmed, Ron suddenly noticed Harry's hand, which was still bleeding steadily.
"Uh oh. Sirius!" Ron called. Sirius came running back, looking puzzled, then worried as he spotted Harry. "Look at his right hand." Sirius then looked alarmed. Turning once again into a human, He grabbed Harry's injured hand.
"He's lost a lot of blood." Sirius said in a tight voice. "We need to get back." Tearing off a piece of his shirt sleeve, the older man pressed it into the wound. Harry winced, before promptly fainting.
"This just isn't your day, is it Harry?" Ron said as he caught the boy before he fell. Sirius looked slightly grim as Ron gingerly picked up the black-haired boy into his arms. "You need to eat more, mate." Ron muttered. Sirius nodded.
"He needs to get back. Let's go."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mum?"
Mrs.Weasley looked up at her only daughter, who looked very miserable and forlorn.
"Yes, hon?" She inquired in a soothing voice.
"I- I'm sorry." Ginny's voice broke slightly as she said this. Bowing her head, Ginny didn't notice her mother had moved until she had her arms around her.
"I'm sorry for being so angry. I completely lost my temper." Ginny nodded. "Does that mean I'm not grounded?" The girl asked hopefully. "No." Some of the warmth left her mothers voice. "What you did was completely out of line, Ginny."
"I know."
Suddenly Ginny perked up, as if listening to something. Yes, there it was! "Do you hear that?" Mrs.Weasley listened to. "Barking?" Ginny nodded. "Yes, and it sounds like there's trouble!" Mrs.Weasley got up and opened the kitchen door, Ginny right behind her.
"Oh no." Ginny gasped. Mrs.Weasley paled. Ron was running towards the house, a very pale, bloody Harry in his arms. They both stood back as Snuffles entered the house, followed by a tense looking Ron. "What happened?" Mrs.Weasley asked as Harry was set on the couch. "Was he attacked?" ron shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?" Ginny demanded. Her brother gave her a cold look before stating. "He was so upset, it seems, he was not watching where he was going, and fell over a log. He sprained his knee, but Snuffles found him a crutch. We noticed on the way here that his hand-"
Ginny glanced at Harry's thin pale hand had a long gash along the side. Feeling slightly sick, she looked back at Ron, who was still speaking. "Was cut and bleeding badly. We, I mean, I didn't notice until Harry stopped, looking sick and said he was dizzy. He's lost too much blood."
Ginny's hands covered her mouth in horror. "Will he be ok?" "He will be if we get him to a Healer." Mrs.Weasley answered, looking as nearly as pale as Harry. "I have some potions here, but I can't administer them, not with his allergy."
"Hogwarts" Ginny said instantly.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Hogwarts. We have to take him to Hogwarts." She said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Madame Promfrey is the best Healer I know. And Dumbledore is the only one who knows about Harry's allergy. And Snape is there if Harry needs a different potion made."
"Ok." Said Mrs.Weasley. "Let's go."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once again, Ron bundled Harry up into his arms. "Ginny, you go first. Go immediately and tell Dumbledore why we are here and what happened. Ron, take Harry straight to Madame Promfrey. I will follow you, and meet you both in the infirmary. Got it?" Mrs.Weasley looked at the three children in front of her, on unconscious and two looking very worried.
Ginny grabbed a pinch of floo powder from the pot Mrs.Weasley offered her. Throwing it into the flames, she stepped in and cried out loudly. "Hogwarts!" She was gone in a flash.
When she reached her destination, she realized she was in the Gryffindor Common Room. "That's odd." She murmured, before immediately heading out the portrait hole. Luckily, the Fat Lady was not in her portrait at the moment, so Ginny was saved from odd questions.
She remembered where Dumbledore's office was too, and before she knew it she was standing in front of the gargoyle.
"Er." Ginny had no idea what the password was. "Phoenix?" The statue didn't move. "Grimmuald?" Nothing. "Order? Socks? Pancakes?" Ginny was just naming random things now. Suddenly the gargoyle shifted to the side, and out stepped Dumbledore, who gave Ginny a slight smile.
"Hello, Ginny. What a surprise." But the look on his face told her that he wasn't surprised at all. "Is something wrong?" Ginny nodded. "Yes, sir. And it's my entire fault."
"Is it really?" He wondered. Ginny didn't bother with the question. "It's Harry. He's hurt. He's lost too much blood. Ron's taking him to the Hospital Wing now." Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. Come with me." Together, the professor and student walked down the stone halls o fHogwarts, until they were right outside the infirmary.
"He should already be in there, professor." Ginny said, as the older man gazed at her. "Yes, I'm sure he is. But you must listen to me, Virginia." Ginny looked into his eyes, and felt the familiar peace of Dumbledore's presence. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You may have been in the wrong, but you never know what good will come of this."
With these mysterious words, and swept past Ginny and into the infirmary, leaving Ginny with very confused thoughts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wahoo! Finally! There ya go! I hope you enjoy it! I really am sorry it took so long. Tell me if you like. And don't worry; Things will get better for Harry. I promise! I have camp coming up soon, so I might be able to get one more chapter in before I leave. Keep up the great reviews! Tell your other friends about my story.;) lol. Jus pickin. Have fun!
~BabeyRachey
P.S. Do you think I should add a little Ron/Hermione into the story? Lemme know!
Preview of Next Chapter:
Harry blinked, making sure he was seeing things right. A pure black owl on his bedside table, holding what looked like a muggle envelope, with Block lettering on the front: TO HARRY POTTER
Sorry it took so long! I have been busy... ok, and a little lazy, I admit! I will try and post as much as I can before camp, and that's only for a week. Thanks so much! (
Thanks by the way, VickiRyan and all my loyal readers.. You're a big help!
Stepping Sideways
Chapter Seven: Tears
Harry ran aimlessly through the woods, ignoring the thorns and branches that kept snagging and catching on his feet. All he could feel was his anger, complete fury, which engulfed him. He had never been this mad before, except when he accidentally blew up his Aunt Marge.
Harry barely felt branches scraping his face and sides as he ran past. He just had to get away, run away, from HER. Harry a wave of hurt rush over him this time. He had come to the Weasley's expecting fun, relaxation, and relief. He had that, for a while. But now THIS had to be added to everything else.
Blinking away the tears that threatened to fall, Harry didn't notice the log in the way until he was flying over it. He landed on the hard, rocky ground with a groan. 'This is just my lucky day, isn't it?' He thought. Coughing up pine needles and dirt, Harry once again crawled into a sitting position and leaned up against a tree.
He hadn't been ready to tell Ginny, not at that moment. In fact, he was on his way back to apologize and tell her when he heard her poetic little speech. The anger came back this time, almost worse than before. Harry couldn't believe she had said that about his scar, mocking his parent's death. Harry threw his fist on the ground, and felt it hit something sharp. He didn't look down to see what it was, or if he was bleeding.
Harry had trusted Ginny, more than he usually trusted people. He had told her secrets and fears that he had never even told Hermione or Ron about. Then she threw it all back in his face.
"Well," He muttered to himself. "That's what you get for trusting people." Harry felt something wet on his cheek, and lifted his hand to wipe it off. He realized he was crying. "What am I crying for?" He said. "I shouldn't be!" But he couldn't get himself to stop. He didn't expect the pain or loneliness that hit him just then, but it did.
The raven-haired boy rested his head on his knees, and let the tears fall. He cried for Ginny, for his Parents. He cried for Cedric, and all the victims of Voldemort. Harry cried for Sirius who had no freedom, he cried for Remus, who had always been rejected.
After he had cried all he could, Harry, feeling quite exhausted, fell asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny sat at the kitchen table, staring sullenly into her cup of tea that she had made. Where was Harry? What was he doing? Is he going to hate me forever? These thoughts kept up a constant cycle in her head. Her mother sat across from her in an angry silence, making perturbed noises in between sips of her own tea.
After Ron had run out of the house, Bill had told her to make a pot of tea, and put a shot of fire whiskey in Mrs.Weasley's cup who was thin lipped and pale. Everyone was once more around the table, except for Sirius who had run out shortly after Ron, all in a stunned silence.
Bill heard a small sniffling sound and turned to see a lone tear slide down Ginny's cheek. He got up silently and went to sit down next to her.
"Gin?" He said softly.
"What?" She answered with another sniff.
"I'm not going to say it wasn't your fault, because it was. But it's not the end of the world; you can mend things with Harry." Bill put a hand on her shoulder.
"Did you see the look on his face, right before he- he left?" She didn't wait for a response. "It was hatred. He hates me, Bill." Ginny cried harder.
"No he doesn't hate you. He hates what you said. You hurt him Ginny, pretty deep from the looks of it. It's gonna take time, but everything's gonna be ok. I'm sure of it." The younger girl turned into his arms and sobbed.
"B-But w-what if he n-never for-forgives me?"
"I know you Gin, and I know Harry. You two will be patched up before you know it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Harry?" Ron called out, but all he heard was some birds singing and the sniffing of Sirius, who had followed him.
Only ingrained respect for his sister had kept Ron from lashing out physically at her. He shook his head. Girls could be such idiots.
"Harry?!" Ron called out again. But before he could do anything else, Sirius suddenly let out a bark, and began running in a different direction. "Sirius!" Ron called, barely keeping up with the animagus. Sirius, who was now following Harry's scent, paid no attention to the redhead following him.
After several more minutes, Sirius leapt cleanly over a fallen log, and nearly ran into his godson who was fast asleep by a tree.
Ron jumped over the log as well, and was greeted with the sight up his battered-looking friend. "Oh, good. You found him." Ron gave a sigh of relief. Sirius nudged Harry's slightly scratched face with his nose, trying to wake him up. Harry stirred, but didn't wake. Ron noticed there were dried tears on Harry's cheeks, and a smear of blood.
"Girls. . ." Ron muttered. Sirius barked his agreement. Harry's eyes shot open at the noise, and he started, banging his head on a low branch.
"Oh. Hey guys." Harry muttered, rubbing his head. Ron held out his hand and helped Harry up.
"You alright, mate?" Ron asked, concerned. Harry just shot him a look that clearly said 'What do you think?' "I mean physically. You look pretty scratched up." Ron said, catching the look. "It's nothing." Harry said, but winced when tried to take a step forward.
Both Sirius and Ron noticed this, and soon Sirius was looking down at his godson in his human form. "It's not 'nothing'." He said, "What happened?" Harry just shrugged. "I wasn't watching where I was going and went flying over that log there." He pointed, and Ron saw a large gash along the side of his hand that was bleeding badly. "I guess I also got some scratches from tree branches and stuff, but I wasn't noticing anything."
Both Ron and Sirius nodded in understanding. "Well," Said Sirius, after a few minutes of tense silence. "We can't stay out here forever. We should get back." Harry nodded, but didn't say anything. He tried taking another step, and barely stayed up, grimacing. "I think I sprained my knee or something." Harry said, "But I think I can make it, if I had a crutch or something."
Sirius suddenly turned back into his dog form, and ran off. Harry and Ron looked at the spot he had been standing in, bewildered.
"What was that all about?" Ron wondered. But his question was answered when Sirius came running back, carrying a stick. It was the perfect size for Harry, and even had a little Y at the top so it would fit under his arm. "Gee, thanks Sirius." Harry said, grabbing the stick from out of the dog's mouth.
They started off, Harry hobbling after Sirius, followed by Ron. It took a while, getting through all the brambles and thorns,
Harry limped resolutely back through the woods, not exactly looking forward to going back to the Burrow. He was still too angry. Feeling slightly dizzy, Harry paused and leaned against a tree for support. He was feeling rather weak, 'From emotional stress.' He told himself, but he couldn't find the effort to start walking again.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to look at Ron, who was looking at him, concerned. Ron noticed his friend was looking rather pale and sick. "Are you ok?" "Just a little Dizzy, Ron." Harry replied, words slurring slightly. Alarmed, Ron suddenly noticed Harry's hand, which was still bleeding steadily.
"Uh oh. Sirius!" Ron called. Sirius came running back, looking puzzled, then worried as he spotted Harry. "Look at his right hand." Sirius then looked alarmed. Turning once again into a human, He grabbed Harry's injured hand.
"He's lost a lot of blood." Sirius said in a tight voice. "We need to get back." Tearing off a piece of his shirt sleeve, the older man pressed it into the wound. Harry winced, before promptly fainting.
"This just isn't your day, is it Harry?" Ron said as he caught the boy before he fell. Sirius looked slightly grim as Ron gingerly picked up the black-haired boy into his arms. "You need to eat more, mate." Ron muttered. Sirius nodded.
"He needs to get back. Let's go."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mum?"
Mrs.Weasley looked up at her only daughter, who looked very miserable and forlorn.
"Yes, hon?" She inquired in a soothing voice.
"I- I'm sorry." Ginny's voice broke slightly as she said this. Bowing her head, Ginny didn't notice her mother had moved until she had her arms around her.
"I'm sorry for being so angry. I completely lost my temper." Ginny nodded. "Does that mean I'm not grounded?" The girl asked hopefully. "No." Some of the warmth left her mothers voice. "What you did was completely out of line, Ginny."
"I know."
Suddenly Ginny perked up, as if listening to something. Yes, there it was! "Do you hear that?" Mrs.Weasley listened to. "Barking?" Ginny nodded. "Yes, and it sounds like there's trouble!" Mrs.Weasley got up and opened the kitchen door, Ginny right behind her.
"Oh no." Ginny gasped. Mrs.Weasley paled. Ron was running towards the house, a very pale, bloody Harry in his arms. They both stood back as Snuffles entered the house, followed by a tense looking Ron. "What happened?" Mrs.Weasley asked as Harry was set on the couch. "Was he attacked?" ron shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?" Ginny demanded. Her brother gave her a cold look before stating. "He was so upset, it seems, he was not watching where he was going, and fell over a log. He sprained his knee, but Snuffles found him a crutch. We noticed on the way here that his hand-"
Ginny glanced at Harry's thin pale hand had a long gash along the side. Feeling slightly sick, she looked back at Ron, who was still speaking. "Was cut and bleeding badly. We, I mean, I didn't notice until Harry stopped, looking sick and said he was dizzy. He's lost too much blood."
Ginny's hands covered her mouth in horror. "Will he be ok?" "He will be if we get him to a Healer." Mrs.Weasley answered, looking as nearly as pale as Harry. "I have some potions here, but I can't administer them, not with his allergy."
"Hogwarts" Ginny said instantly.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Hogwarts. We have to take him to Hogwarts." She said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Madame Promfrey is the best Healer I know. And Dumbledore is the only one who knows about Harry's allergy. And Snape is there if Harry needs a different potion made."
"Ok." Said Mrs.Weasley. "Let's go."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once again, Ron bundled Harry up into his arms. "Ginny, you go first. Go immediately and tell Dumbledore why we are here and what happened. Ron, take Harry straight to Madame Promfrey. I will follow you, and meet you both in the infirmary. Got it?" Mrs.Weasley looked at the three children in front of her, on unconscious and two looking very worried.
Ginny grabbed a pinch of floo powder from the pot Mrs.Weasley offered her. Throwing it into the flames, she stepped in and cried out loudly. "Hogwarts!" She was gone in a flash.
When she reached her destination, she realized she was in the Gryffindor Common Room. "That's odd." She murmured, before immediately heading out the portrait hole. Luckily, the Fat Lady was not in her portrait at the moment, so Ginny was saved from odd questions.
She remembered where Dumbledore's office was too, and before she knew it she was standing in front of the gargoyle.
"Er." Ginny had no idea what the password was. "Phoenix?" The statue didn't move. "Grimmuald?" Nothing. "Order? Socks? Pancakes?" Ginny was just naming random things now. Suddenly the gargoyle shifted to the side, and out stepped Dumbledore, who gave Ginny a slight smile.
"Hello, Ginny. What a surprise." But the look on his face told her that he wasn't surprised at all. "Is something wrong?" Ginny nodded. "Yes, sir. And it's my entire fault."
"Is it really?" He wondered. Ginny didn't bother with the question. "It's Harry. He's hurt. He's lost too much blood. Ron's taking him to the Hospital Wing now." Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. Come with me." Together, the professor and student walked down the stone halls o fHogwarts, until they were right outside the infirmary.
"He should already be in there, professor." Ginny said, as the older man gazed at her. "Yes, I'm sure he is. But you must listen to me, Virginia." Ginny looked into his eyes, and felt the familiar peace of Dumbledore's presence. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You may have been in the wrong, but you never know what good will come of this."
With these mysterious words, and swept past Ginny and into the infirmary, leaving Ginny with very confused thoughts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wahoo! Finally! There ya go! I hope you enjoy it! I really am sorry it took so long. Tell me if you like. And don't worry; Things will get better for Harry. I promise! I have camp coming up soon, so I might be able to get one more chapter in before I leave. Keep up the great reviews! Tell your other friends about my story.;) lol. Jus pickin. Have fun!
~BabeyRachey
P.S. Do you think I should add a little Ron/Hermione into the story? Lemme know!
Preview of Next Chapter:
Harry blinked, making sure he was seeing things right. A pure black owl on his bedside table, holding what looked like a muggle envelope, with Block lettering on the front: TO HARRY POTTER
