Et Ruat Caelum
By: fiSh
Summary:
What could she do? Walk away? She stared and then there was nothing left to do but talk.
A/N:
randomunicorn: hey! welcome... and super thanks for your review... you're so sweet... this chapter's for you...
FSl: it's good that you read to much ... haha
smartstar: this chapter is also for you... just as long as you don't go and send me nasty emails.. just kidding...
Wytil: im a roYaLpaiN! luvyah!
Disclaimer:
I own this… I own Potter.. Well in my dreams I do.. Haha… I'm insane.. Okay.. On with it!
Chapter 7
Totidem Verbis
Ginny's eyes went wide. She had dreamed of this moment a few times, but she never really knew what to do, at one dream she'd yell and then run away and then another she'd talk and stay. Ginny felt tears come to her eyes as she looked at her brother's torn face. She gripped her daughter's hand hard and released when she heard Molly whimper. Ron's brown eyes stared at her looking her up and down he took a step and she jumped. He took another step and for what seemed like an eternity he reached out and touched her hair. His fingers traced her ears, her jaw, her lips, her nose, her freckles, her cheeks and her eyes and she heard him gasp.
"It's you," he whispered, "It really is you." He brought his hands to her arms to feel if she was real.
"Ron." She cried out barely audible she bit her lip and started to cry. Soft silent sobs escaped her lips as her body shook while she looked at Ron. His orange messy hair, his big brother smile, his long lanky tall figure, the way he laughed all came rushing back to her head, "Ron!" she threw her arms over his shoulders and gripped his body desperately holding on for her dear life as she cried into his shoulder. The two siblings stood there as Hermione stared in shock her hands to her lips and Harry contemplating the situation. They held each other for a few minutes before looking into each other's face again, no words had to be said for their eyes held everything.
Hermione being a girl couldn't hold the emotions in her heart, she began to cry and then she practically threw herself at Ginny making Ginny stagger a bit before wrapping her arms around Hermione mumbling something into her shoulder. Hermione giggled sadly and then whispered something in Ginny's hair. They hugged each other tightly swaying in each other's arms the way girls do when they see a long lost friend. Hermione's hug lasted longer than Ron's and when she let go Ginny's face was flushed as her eyes danced with happiness. Ginny then turned to Harry tucking her hair behind her ear and smiling up at him tears threatening to spill. Harry hated seeing her cry, he hated seeing her get hurt he inched forward and picked her tiny womanly body in his arms and hugged her. She made soft sound before wrapping her arms around Harry's shoulders burying her face in his neck. Memories flooded her brain making tears fall across Harry's neck tickling the fine hairs that grew there.
She inhaled his scent that sent pictures of their time together float through her mind. He smelled like pine trees, fresh air after it rained and smelled like the minty toothpaste he always used. She smiled into his neck and started to cry. Was he feeling pain too? Was he remembering things like she was, things that shouldn't be remembered? Did he long for this moment the way she did? He finally put her down and looked into her eyes. He wiped the tears away and shook his head pleading with his eyes not to cry.
She squeezed his arm with the hand that lay there.
"Who's the kid?" Ron asked breaking the awkward silence, tearing her gaze from Harry she turned to Molly who stared at the four adults.
"Mama," Molly said sternly furrowing her little brows, "I'm so tired of being asked who I am. I am Molly An Charlsehall-Weasley, she's my mama." She pointed to Ginny who stared down at her. "I was born in Italy on November 28, 1998. I love math, I love dragons, I am deeply interested in books and I love my mama and I will hurt anyone who hurts her." She said giving what seemed like an introduction about her, "Mama gets awfully tired when she has to talk about her past." Ginny smiled at the concern and love her daughter was displaying.
"Molly, sweetie it's fine," Ginny said smiling as she walked over to her daughter and picked her tiny body up into her arms balancing her on the crook of her elbow and hip, "This is mama's family that you haven't met yet."
"I know them," Molly said in her know-it-all voice making Ron laugh and poke Hermione in the ribs, "That's Harry, that's Hermione and that is Uncle Rowald!" she said pointing to each and everyone of them. Hermione burst out laughing and Harry sniggered.
"Sorry I tired teaching her Ronald and she can't seem to say it and I tell her to say Ron but she thinks it's a challenge. She loves challenges." Ginny said tucking Molly's red hair behind her ear. Molly smiled brightly and then frowned.
"Mommy," she said looking at her mother, "I did not cheat."
"Yes you did. You ran out of the room distracting me that's cheating." Ginny said playfully as she laughed.
"No, it's not." Molly said giggling, "I think people call it tactics!" Ginny laughed and poked her daughter.
"It's still cheating." Ginny said sternly before breaking into a big smile, "You evil boggart!" Molly burst into a fitful of laughter and then when she calmed down Hermione spoke up.
"I think she's wonderful." Hermione sighed as she reached out with her arms as if she wanted to carry Molly. Molly did not hesitate as she climbed into Hermione's arms.
"Quick put a leash on that one-" a voice came from the door.
"Before she starts wanting one of her own." Came another followed by loud laughter. Fred and George.
Ron's ears turned so red they looked like they were on fire, Hermione almost dropped Molly and then when she regained composure her face was still colored. Ginny looked confused as Fred and George each wrapped an arm around Ginny's shoulders.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked out loud and then when she looked at Ron and Hermione, who each bore the same shade of color on their faces, realization hit her across the face and she burst out in laughter, "Oh! The two of you! Honestly!" she said in between gasps of laughter her body shaking mirthfully.
"What?" Ron mumbled.
"What's wrong with me being with Ron?" Hermione asked over Molly's head.
'Nothing," Ginny said gasping loudly before taking a deep breath and saying, "It's just that with you fighting all the time I'd rather move back to Italy, that's a joke. Oh! Harry you poor dear, having to suffer them all the time." She said in a sad mocking voice. She walked over to Harry's side and sat next to him.
"Actually it's not the fighting that I'm quite worried about." Harry said laughingly, "It's the making up that scares me."
"Harry!" Hermione said in a tone that anyone could say was definitely like Mrs. Weasley's.
The six other people in the house excluding Ron and Hermione burst into laughter.
"Well I don't think it's funny." Ron muttered burying his reddened face into his arms. Ginny reached over the table and patted his head.
Ginny had excused herself while the twins, Ron, Harry and Hermione ate their late dinner in the kitchen. She had told them she would love to stay and chat but she promised to tell Molly a story.
Molly lay in Ginny's bed staring up at her mother who laid half on top of her. With her elbows bent she stroked the hair out of Molly's eyes.
"Snow White woke up from her dream and looked into her Prince's eyes and she was so happy. The Prince carried her out of the glass coffin and put her upon his black horse. After waving goodbye to her seven little men Snow White and the Prince rode off into the happy sunset. Then they-" she was cut off by a dreamy voice.
"Lived happily ever after." Molly yawned, "Mama, sing to me please. I promise I'll sleep."
"You know I'll always sing for you." Ginny murmured as she kissed her daughters nose, "I love you a trillion chocolate chip cookies broken into bits and pieces.." she whispered into Molly's hair.
"I love you a gazillion daisy petals." Molly chirped, Ginny laughed.
"Baby mine, don't you cry. Baby mine, dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine." Ginny sang their favorite song from the muggle movie Beaches, as she sang she stroked Molly's head and forehead and caressed her cheek. Molly yawned as her eyes began to close, "From your head down to your toes, you're not much, goodness knows. But you're so precious to me, sweet as can be, baby of mine." Ginny finished the song and then kissed her daughter's forehead pulling the covers over Molly's body and tucked her in. She reached over grabbing kitty and tucking her in too. She carefully stood up and tiptoed out the of the room and shut off the lights leaving the door slightly open. Taking one last look at her sleeping daughter she turned around and came face to face with Harry who stared at her.
"Oh hello Harry," she said a bit surprised, "Why you still up? Shouldn't you be getting some sleep? I mean I know you must be really tired after all that excitement from the Quidditch World Cup. How was it anyway?" She asked leading him away from the door.
"London won." He said simply, "Ginny?" he asked as she walked slowly down the stairs.
"Yeah?" she asked turning around.
"Nothing I just can't believe you're alive and you're here." Harry said falling into step with her. She smiled up at him and then nodded.
"Where's Ron and Hermione?" she asked softly.
"They went home." Harry said simply, "Sorry, I mean we all have our own flats and houses. You didn't expect us to stay here in the burrow did you?"
"Erm.. no.." she stammered, "Just wondering. Why you still here then?" she inquired as she stepped into the living room.
"Well," Harry said stuffing his hands into his pocket, "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" she inquired biting her nail a silly habit she'd do when she was nervous.
"If you don't mind," Harry said, "I mean I know how tiring your past must be." He said mentioning Molly's talk. Ginny laughed and shook her head, "Well I want you to tell me all about what Tom Riddle had said to you."
Ginny's eyes widened looking absolutely horrified she became pale, "how do you know that?"
"Well, I think I intervened your dream last night." He said slowly, "What was it all about Ginny? Is that what made you leave?"
She pursed her lips and sank into the couch that faced the fire. Harry sunk into the space next to her.
"Well…" she began and as she talked Harry listened as her life story began to unfold before his eyes.
"That's why you left?" Harry asked.
"It's pathetic, I know!" she cried out softly, defeated, "But I didn't know what to do. I was sixteen and I had a whole life ahead of me. I didn't want to go back when I though and I was pretty sure I saw everyone from my family dead. I didn't want to stay with you, Ron and Hermione. I'd be a burden and don't say that I wouldn't be because we all know you and Hermione only tolerate me because I'm Ron's sister."
"No!" Harry said defensively, "We were all devastated when we heard that your body couldn't be found. It was only a year after that we decided that we had to move on. We didn't know you were alive until last night when I had that dream. I wanted to come back here right away and then talk to your mum about a search warrant."
"Harry.." Ginny smiled softly.
"Then you were here. We were so surprised and happy. You will never know how happy we were when you walked into the kitchen. Hermione was rendered speechless for the second time in her life."
"Why? What was the first?" Ginny asked slightly amused.
"When I left them in the restaurant after blurting out Ron's secret." Ginny laughed and then shifted so she could face Harry, her legs folded beneath her and her arm resting on the back of the couch.
"So how's Cho?" she asked nonchalantly and was a bit surprised when her voice didn't crack. Her heart jumped a bit as she was filled with joy that she was finally over Harry.
"Cho?" Harry stammered, "She's great actually."
"So you're getting married huh?" She teased.
"Yeah. It's weird; you know I never actually thought we'd get to this point in our lives. Getting married having children. Speaking of children…" Harry inquired.
"Oh." Ginny's mouth shaped into a perfect 'O', she smiled, "Well, about a few months after the war, I met this guy, Jake. He's not muggle but we started going out and I was happy for awhile then we became so close and I lost it." She blushed and even if it was so dark and the only light that was being emitted came from the fireplace Harry could see her reddened face, "I loved him you know, then he hit me. It was once because I yelled at him. Then after that I found that I was pregnant and then he started hitting me and to protect the child in me I broke up with him. He didn't know I was pregnant when I left him. When he found out, he tried taking Molly away from me. She was just a baby then so she doesn't remember. Well Estella and David hexed him and we were to file a restraining order against him but then he left the country. I haven't seen him since then."
"Oh god Ginny." Harry said placing a hand on her arm. She shook her head to say it was okay.
"It's okay," she smiled, "Would you believe I was in labor for almost 28 hours. Then when she came out, I was so happy when they announced she was a girl and that she was all right and healthy. When they put her in my arms, I never felt so proud of myself that I brought an angel into this world. From then on I vowed to protect her from the evils of the world." Ginny said dreamily a she looked into the fire. Harry could see it in her eyes how much she loved her daughter.
"She was about five months when she learned how to crawl and then seven months when she took her first step and when she said her first words. Her first word, it blew me off the floor, I felt so giddy you know. Like when you catch a snitch, the thrill running through your veins as you feel it flutter beneath your palm, it was something like that only stronger. I was rocking her in my arms singing when she opened her mouth and the tiniest smallest voice she whispered, 'Ti Amo' and I almost dropped her because she said I love you in Italian. Estella used to utter it so many times and I would tell her over and over what it meant. When she said those words I knew she knew what it meant and that she meant it." She laughed softly. Harry smiled at her.
"You raised her well." Harry murmured. Ginny grinned at him.
"You know being called a good mother is probably one of the best compliments any mother can receive."
"She's really smart." Harry added, "I kind of got shocked when you told me she was six. I mean she must be like some golden child." Harry was amazed.
"Don't let her hear you call her that. She hates being called that it makes her sound like a Buddha." Ginny laughed, "Well it's late." Ginny murmured after an awkward silence. Harry smiled and checked his watch.
He stood up and Ginny followed him. He startled her when he turned around and then wrapped his arms around her. She smiled softly and then hugged him back.
"I'm glad you're back Gin." Harry whispered, "Don't ever go away again." He said softly.
"I won't unless you make me." She laughed softly. He stepped back a bit his arms still around her as he looked into her face a serious look washed over him, "I won't Harry."
"I missed you." Harry said smiling down at her, "goodnight Gin." And he bent down and kissed her cheek. She jumped slightly when his lips made contact with her cheek.
"Goodnight Harry." She whispered as he disapparated.
Ginny could have sworn that there was a moment between them back there, then silently she scolded herself reminding herself that he was engaged. Harry was engaged to Cho, the girl who was the cause of why Harry and Ginny had separated.
She remembered that Hogsmeade day, that horrible day when she saw the look on Harry's face it broke her heart.
Ginny's hair blew in the wind as she walked next to Harry, her Harry, her boyfriend. It was so different now that they were together. When someone had asked them if they wanted to go hang out they'd refer to Ginny and Harry as "you guys" and when Ginny would talk she'd be saying things like "Us" or "we".
"Harry? Is something the matter?" she asked turning her head a little to look at Harry. His eyebrows were furrowed as if he was lost in thought; his hands were stuffed in his pockets as he kicked the snow off his shoe. He took a deep breath and looked at Ginny.
"Cho's coming back to Hogwarts to finish her schooling." Harry said as he looked into her eye. Cho had left Hogwarts last year because of the pressure the war had put on he, she had lost Cedric two years before her graduation, then her father died while trying to protect her family. Cho, her mother and her younger brother and sister had left England and stayed somewhere in Asia with the family of Cho's father.
Ginny smiled, "That's nice, I always thought she'd come back." Harry didn't seem to be happy about it, "Harry aren't you happy that Cho's coming back?" she asked.
"I don't know," he whispered.
"Harry? Are you all right?" Ginny asked with a worried tone, "You want to go get some butterbeer? How about checking out the new edition of the Nimbus?" she said giving him a smile. Ginny wanted to wipe of that look on his face and make him smile at her the way he did the first time he saw her, "Did you know Ron still hasn't the courage to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball and then he somehow managed to ask Luna in front of Hermione. Hermione of course threw a fit and Ron was clueless. Neville felt so hurt I tried comforting him. Then Hermione burst into the room and told Neville flat out that she was going with him. You should have seen Ron's face." Ginny giggled.
"Oh?" Harry asked with a tight smile trying not to sound tired.
"Yeah then he started whining about how unfair it was that Neville got a date without having to ask. It was so funny when-" Ginny got cut off by Harry's hesitant voice.
"Ginny." He whispered, "I…' he paused.
"Oh! Harry," she smiled, "Of course I'll go to the ball with you. You don't have to ask you know." She said smiling at him while she walked, then she stopped in her tracks.
"Ginny." Came his voice.
"Cho?" she whispered pursing her lips and squinting her eyes looking a little inquisitive and slightly hurt, "She's coming back." She repeated as if it dawned on her what Harry was saying.
"Ginny," Harry begged silently.
"So it was a lie, sort of, that took her out of your life? That you gave back all the things she ever gave you and that you even gave back the promise ring you two had bought for each other. Yeah you gave everything back to her and you've forgotten to get back your heart?" Ginny smiled painfully, she didn't want to cry in front of everyone she didn't want to make a scene, "Now she's here and it's the perfect moment for you two to get back together." She swallowed, as the reality seemed to smack itself against her face and claw at her heart. She raised her hands to tuck her hair behind her ears and let it fall limply to her sides, "So that's why? Why you've been distant? Why you never were actually there? Why you couldn't…" she stopped. She had wanted to ask him if he loved her but she already knew the answer.
"Don't ask me Gin." He pleaded with pain reflecting in his tone.
"I would never ask you Harry," she said softly as she stepped closer to him so that only he could hear her, "you never told me and I know you well enough to know you never loved me." She tilted her head to the side making the sunlight dance across her pale freckled cheek.
"I didn't want to hurt you." He said dumbly. Bad choice of words Ginny shook her head.
"Okay," she nodded, "but I guess this part is not hurting me?"
"It's only fair for you."
"It's not Harry, it's unfair that I had been able to give something in this relationship and you have given nothing and I've never complained, never. It's only fair to you because the girl of your dreams is not the one standing in front of you but the one you've been searching for so long." Ginny said sadly, she couldn't get upset or yell at him. She was hurting really bad now but she couldn't find the strength to get angry.
She reached out for his hand and held it for a moment. She smiled through her tears she was giving up. Her shoulders sagged and the twinkles that were in her eyes a while ago had faded.
"And she's come back for you." She whispered.
They stood there quiet for a moment, Ginny looking up at him her eyes filled with unshed tears and Harry stared down at her his full of sincerity. Ginny knew he didn't want to hurt her and she knew he didn't know how much pain was tugging on her heart. She tilted her head and scratched the back of it as she laughed a pained laugh, sarcastic and mocking.
She looked down at her feet and she wanted the earth to open up and eat her. She puffed her cheeks slightly aggravated and sighed.
He wanted to reach out and hug her take the pain away from her body, her heart. He wanted to love her, he did. Her head hung down and she knew what he wanted to do. Her head snapped up and she shook her head.
"Don't hug me Harry," she whispered, "I know you can't love me and I know you're sorry and I'm sorry too. For trying too hard to be the girl of you dreams."
"Ginny. What we had was great but.." Harry tried to find the right words to say.
"Let's just forget it okay?" she whispered.
"Wha-" he stammered.
"I mean nothing ever happened between us." She stated pain very evident in her trembling voice, "it's going to be easier to let go of you that way."
"But Ginny..i- I- I could never.."
"You'll get over it." She shrugged and then tiptoed and brought her face to his ear and whispered, she was so close and he knew at that moment that would be the last time they'd stand that close, the type of closeness where he could smell her strawberry scented hair and their bodies emitting certain warmth. He felt something cold land on his cheek, it was snowing. "For what it's worth Harry. I love you." She whispered. He opened his eyes but she was already walking back down the path that lead to the carriages to go back to the castle.
As Ginny sat in the carriage, she cried. It was so funny that in a matter of minutes they had became Ginny and Harry again and the "Us" and "We" had faded into the background landing against the photographic memories of their short time together that clouded her brain.
A/N: the chapter title means, "From The Heart". We all know why right? haha... sigh... so sad... the way Cho managed to snatch Harry back from Ginny again.. hahaha... more cho in the next chapter... im off to the beach... hehehe love you all... be back Mon. the usual read and review...