Chapter 9: Diamonds and Dreams

It was almost dinnertime when Ron and Hermione climbed through the portrait hole. They looked at Harry and Ginny with raised eyebrows and walked over. Ron had the same smirk on his face that he had at Honeydukes. Their expressions quickly changed to looks of concern when Ginny looked up with red, puffy eyes.

"What happened?" Hermione exclaimed as she sat down and put her arms around Ginny. Ginny told them everything that happened at the Three Broomsticks.

"The jerk!" Ron yelled. "How could he do that to you? He--wait a minute," he stopped in midsentence and frowned. "You were still dating him? But I never saw you with him! You've been with Harry all the time!"

Hermione shot Ron a reproving look and hugged Ginny again. "Hey, you did the right thing," she said. "Nobody deserves to be treated like that. Come on, let's go to dinner. Maybe you'll feel a little better after you eat something." Hermione and Ginny stood up, their arms still around each other, and headed for the portrait hole. Harry and Ron watched them for a few seconds, looked at each other, shrugged, and followed the girls out.

Hermione stayed close to Ginny all through dinner while Harry and Ron hung around nearby, feeling a little superfluous. After they ate they returned to Gryffindor Tower.

"Do you want to stay down here a little while?" Hermione asked, her arm still around Ginny's shoulders.

Ginny paused for a moment. "No, that's alright; I think I'll just go upstairs." She pulled away from Hermione and turned to Harry. "Thanks for staying with me today Harry," she said quietly and smiled up at him.

Harry felt like his stomach had turned a back-flip as he grinned back. "Hey, no problem," he answered.

Ginny looked down at her hands and noticed she was still holding Harry's handkerchief. "Oh, I'll wash this for you--"

Harry waved it away. "Keep it," he said.

Ginny's smile grew wider as she threw her arms around his neck. Harry slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her hair, letting himself get lost in its scent. Then she let go of him, walked over to the couch by the fireplace to pick up her cloak and bag, and headed for the stairs. Hermione quickly kissed Ron goodnight and followed her.

Harry was so absorbed with watching Ginny leave that he didn't notice Ron turn to him until he spoke. "So you're dating my sister," he said with a business-like air.

"Huh?" Harry turned distractedly to see Ron looking down his nose at him with his arms crossed. He was trying to look as serious as possible, but Harry could tell Ron was fighting back a grin.

"Oh...what?...Well I...no I...well," Harry stuttered for a moment before looking back at the door Ginny just disappeared into. A wistful smile slowly spread across his face as he turned to Ron, who by now had dropped all pretense and joyfully slapped his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Harry, this is fantastic!" Ron exclaimed. He pulled Harry into a big bear hug and laughed. His attitude was so infectious that, before Harry knew it, he was laughing too.

"You mean you--you like the idea?" Harry asked.

"Like it? I think it's great!" Ron said, beaming. "I thought you would sooner or later. Say, you coming upstairs?"

"No, I'll be up in a little bit," Harry answered. Ron nodded and headed for the stairs to the boys' dormitories. Harry watched Ron for a moment and then went to the spot where he left his cloak and bag.

As Harry picked up the cloak he noticed the extra weight in his pocket. He reached into the pocket, pulled out the white jewelry box, and smiled. Well, I can give this to her now, Harry thought. I'll need a note for it. He sat down and dug some parchment and a quill out of his bag. After thinking for a while and scratching out several ideas, he finally came up with a satisfactory note:

Dear Ginny,

The moment I saw this I knew it was yours. The sparkle in this diamond is the same sparkle I see in your eyes.

I am amazed that, after all these years, the one person I can truly feel close to was right in front of me. And I am excited to see where this is going to take us.

Merry Christmas,

Harry

Harry folded the note and tucked it into the box. Some spare blue ribbon was lying on a nearby table and Harry used it to tie a bow on the box. Once he was satisfied with the present, he tucked it back into his pocket and headed upstairs.

The moment Harry entered his dorm, he became acutely aware of an icy tension in the room. Ron, who had already changed into his pajamas and was climbing into bed, was periodically throwing nasty looks at Dean, who was sitting on his bed with his arms crossed, scowling.

Harry stepped cautiously over to his trunk and pulled out his pajamas. "So did you enjoy yourself today, Harry?" Dean suddenly said.

Harry turned around to see Dean glaring at him. "Excuse me?" he said.

Ron immediately jumped in. "Listen, you were the one cheating on Ginny!" he yelled. "You gave up your right to be upset!"

Dean ignored Ron as he stood and walked slowly toward Harry. "I wouldn't get too cozy if I were you," he sneered in Harry's face. "She might have had a crush on you before, but feelings change."

"Don't worry," Harry said coolly. "I don't plan on snogging other girls while I'm with her."

Dean's eyes grew wide. He stuttered for a moment before stomping angrily back to his bed and yanking the curtains shut. Harry paused for a moment and then turned back to Ron, who was sitting up in his bed and glaring at Dean's closed curtains.

"I'm glad she's not dating him anymore," Ron grumbled under his breath. "Mental, that one. All that talk about football, pictures that don't move..."

Harry did his best to suppress an amused grin as he finished getting ready for bed. After Ron finally pulled his curtains shut, Harry took the jewelry box out of his pocket. He smiled at it for a moment and carefully hid it in one of his robes. Then he climbed into bed.

Me and Ginny, Harry thought as he stared up at the ceiling of his four poster. He still couldn't believe it himself. After all these years, after everything that's happened, he could suddenly feel like this. Yet somehow, he knew that this would work. This is going to be great, he thought with a grin, and drifted off to sleep.

"And once again, congratulations to the class of 1998..."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione threw their hats into the air and whooped as the bells of the school let loose. "Graduation! We finally made it!" Hermione yelled as they surged out of the Great Hall.

"Was there ever any doubt?" Ron laughed.

They went outside where family members were waiting for the new graduates. The entire Weasley clan was waiting by the lake. Mrs. Weasley immediately pulled all three of them into a big, stifling hug.

"I'm so proud of you!" she cried. She then proceeded to fuss over Ron while Harry turned to Ginny, who was standing next to her mother.

Ginny was all smiles as she threw her arms around Harry's neck. "Congratulations Harry!" she exclaimed and gave him a big kiss. Harry's eyes crossed for a moment before he wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss. He smiled at her and then looked out over the mass of people walking around. He gasped.

James and Lily Potter were making their way through the crowd with Sirius and Remus not far behind. Harry walked in a daze as he went out to meet his parents.

His mother reached him first. "Oh, my baby's graduated!" she cried as she kissed and hugged him.

"Aww Mum, come on," Harry complained, but he was grinning the entire time.

"Yeah Lily, stop hogging the man of the hour!" Sirius laughed. As he and Remus moved forward to congratulate Harry, his mother turned to Ginny.

"Hello Ginny dear, how are you today?"

"I'm fine Mrs. Potter! And you?"

"Nice girlfriend you have there Harry," Harry's father whispered into his ear. "We Potter men never could resist redheads, could we?" They laughed for a moment. Then his father's eyes got a little misty as he clapped his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'm proud of you son," he said gruffly. Harry smiled, his own eyes starting to tear up. He had never been so happy in his entire life.

"Okay, let's get a group picture!" Mr. Weasley called, waving a camera in the air. "Graduates, front and center!"

Harry hurried over to where Ron and Hermione were standing. Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulders and kissed her just as Harry reached them, then turned to put his other arm around Harry's shoulders. Harry pretended to grimace and pull away. Ron looked puzzled for a moment, then clucked his tongue in annoyance, grabbed Harry in a choke hold, and rubbed his fist in Harry's hair. They laughed as they turned to grin for Mr. Weasley. The camera flashed...

...and suddenly the scene changed.

Harry was in an oddly familiar curtained room lit by a single branch of candles. A woman was standing in a dark corner of the room and a small man was cowering and whimpering before him. And Harry was in a rage.

"WHY?" he shouted. "WHY DO I KEEP GETTING STOPPED?"

"Calm yourself, My Lord," Bellatrix Lestrange whispered as she stepped out of the shadows. "He's nothing more than a boy--"

"AND HOW IS THAT BETTER?" he screamed. "EVERY TIME THAT POTTER CROSSES MY PATH, I'M FORCED TO PULL BACK! WHY? IF HE'S SO HELPLESS HE SHOULD BE DEAD BY NOW!" He sank into a nearby chair and buried his face in his long-fingered, white hands. "Why...he is just a boy...I don't understand...he can't be..."

Bellatrix took a hesitant step toward Harry. Her face looked calm, but her hands were shaking slightly. "No one is more powerful than you, Master," she whispered. "No one, especially that boy. He's just lucky, just living on borrowed time. You will triumph in the end, My Lord. You always do."

"There's something about that Potter though. Every time I make a move, Bella. Look at where we're at now. Almost everyone is in Azkaban. And now I don't even have the edge of being able to access his mind! I can't keep going on like this. I must get rid of him or it will all be for nothing."

"Potter will be destroyed, if you wish it. If we find a weakness we can manipulate, it will be easy." Bellatrix thought for a moment. "He's a teenager now, isn't he? There must be someone he has an emotional attachment to...a girl, perhaps...he has shown vulnerability before when we tortured people in front of him..."

Harry's eyes lit with hope, then clouded over again. "And just how do you propose we find this little bit of information? I can't see his thoughts anymore!" The anger that had momentarily subsided was starting to well up again in his chest.

"The information will present itself, My Lord," Bellatrix reassured him as she cautiously stepped back, away from Harry's resurfacing anger. "If we just remain patient--"

"If? IF? I SPENT FOURTEEN YEARS BEING PATIENT!" Harry roared as he leapt from his chair. "HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE TO WAIT?"

The small man on the ground slowly lifted his head and revealed himself to be Wormtail. "P-perhaps Lord, i-if we simply m-move forward with our plans, if w-we just forget about Potter, m-maybe--"

"SILENCE, YOU BLUNDERING, INCOMPETENT FOOL!" Harry yelled again, his fury back now in full force. "Crucio!"

Bellatrix jumped back into her corner with a terrified shriek as Wormtail fell onto his back, writhing and screaming in pain. Harry's anger seemed to be getting stronger and stronger, coursing through his body and out through his wand. And all through the time, a voice kept ringing in his mind: you will fail...you will fail...YOU WILL FAIL...

"Harry!"

Harry's eyes flew open. He was lying in his bed, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. As he slowly calmed down, he realized that Ron, Seamus, and Neville were standing around his bed looking very concerned. Dean apparently hadn't even opened the curtains of his four-poster.

"Harry, what happened?" Ron asked as he sat down on the bed. "I thought you stopped having these kinds of dreams."

"I--I did," Harry whispered as he sat up. His head felt like it was going to split open. "I--I think I forgot to clear my mind last night."

"What did you see?" Neville asked nervously. "What was You-Know-Who doing?"

Harry rubbed his forehead in an attempt to slow the throbbing pain in his scar. "Nothing," he said as he worked to remember what happened. "Actually he--he was angry because he couldn't do anything."

The rubbing was not helping and Harry let his hands fall from his face. Then his eyes fell upon his trunk, still open at the foot of his bed, and the bulge in his robe on top. Suddenly everything in the dream came back clearly to him and he felt like the bottom had fallen out of his stomach. "No...no..."

"What is it? Harry, what is it?" Ron asked.

Harry turned to Ron. The sight of his face only accentuated the terror he was feeling at that moment. He couldn't tell Ron. How could he tell him that his little sister could be in danger...for dating him?

"No-nothing, I--erm," Harry muttered incoherently as he stumbled out of his bed. He stood still for a moment, holding his head, before he turned around to find his roommates still standing there staring at him. He forced himself to smile.

"It--it's nothing, really," Harry said quickly. "I guess I--erm--I guess it was just a shock after going so long without having these dreams. You know, I'll--I'll just wash my face and I'll feel better." He let out a nervous chuckle as he turned around and headed for the lavatory.

Harry stood over the sink, staring at himself in the mirror. He thought about everything he saw in his dream--Ginny and his parents, the vision of Voldemort--and sighed. What in the world made him think that he could actually have something normal in his life? It apparently wasn't enough that his parents and his godfather were all killed. Now the girl he wanted to date was threatened.

Harry waited in the lavatory until he was sure everyone else had gone back to bed. Then he returned to the dormitory and retrieved the jewelry box. He pulled out the note inside and stared at it for a moment before he crumpled it up in frustration and threw it into his trunk.

He sat back in his bed and stared at the blue diamond lying inside the box. There is no way I can give this to Ginny now, he thought. No way at all...best to nip it in the bud...but she already thinks something's going to happen...I'll think of something...what'll I do with this necklace now? Harry absentmindedly brushed his finger against the stone.

Suddenly a red spark flashed at the center of the diamond and Ginny's name reverberated in the back of Harry's mind. His eyes widened. What is that? he wondered. He stared at the necklace for a few more moments. He didn't know what it was about this diamond, but despite every reason he tried to come up with against the idea, something deep down inside his heart told him that this belonged to Ginny.

Harry dug up another piece of parchment and wrote a new note. As he wrote, a tear fell down his cheek and smudged the ink, but he didn't even notice. When he finished, he tucked the note into the jewelry box and put the box back in his trunk. Then, as he climbed back into bed, he noticed Sirius' mirror sitting on his nightstand.

"I really wish you were here," he whispered. "I am in so much trouble, and I feel so alone right now." After making a point to stop and clear his mind first, he went to sleep.