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"...and then I killed him," Ginny concluded. Although she wasn't entirely sure that she was comfortable with the compassionate look that Rowena had on, it was definitely loads better than feeling alone.
"Lord, Ginny," Rowena breathed, "Harry?"
Ginny nodded her head.
"Well," Rowena said as she got up and started pacing the room, "Maybe you're not really a seer...you could just be exceptionally good at divination."
As much as Ginny wanted to believe that, she knew it wasn't that simple.
"But what about the dream?"
"You said that it looked kind of like the Chamber. Maybe this dream is some sort of amalgamation of your fears from that. You were worried about Harry then too."
"I don't know Rowena. I don't think so."
"Maybe we should talk to Dumbledore. He'll know how to go about proving that you're not a seer."
"How do you know that I'm not?!" Ginny's frustrated voice rang out.
"Well, for one, because you would never kill Harry," Rowena reasoned as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Ginny didn't bother correcting her. No need bringing up the fact that she'd almost gotten him killed once already, nearly five years ago.
"Two, it's simply entirely improbable." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"However," Rowena added, "We can't say that it's impossible unless we prove it so we will."
"We will?" Ginny said hopefully. She was suddenly very glad that she had taken the risk of telling Rowena. Maybe it would help to have someone to see this logically and from a clearer perspective.
"Sure," Rowena said, "We just need to find a spell that will definitively show whether or not you are a true seer. There has to be one out there."
Ginny nodded. If it was like Rowena thought and all the product of her subconscious, then things might work out. Her calm reasoning was certainly tempting.
"Okay," Ginny said, "let's try that."
Even if it wasn't like Rowena thought, Ginny decided that letting herself believe it for a while might be nice. Denial suddenly seemed like such a pleasant option.
"Maybe we should ask Dumbledore. He'd probably know," Rowena said as she said down on Ginny's bed, the closest to the window seat.
"No!" Ginny shouted. Rowena looked at her in shock and she decided to amend her statement. "I mean, I don't think I should tell him, at least not yet. We don't even know if it really is something and I don't want to bother him if it's not."
Ginny surprised herself by using the same argument that Rowena had earlier - that maybe she'd all made it up in her head. She didn't know why she wanted to keep it a secret from Dumbledore, maybe because telling him would make it more real. She just prayed that Rowena believed her reasons.
"I guess we'll have to look in the library ourselves then." Ginny nodded in agreement. "Ginny, does anyone else know?"
"What? Why?" The question had caught her off-guard.
"It's just that it would be easier to search the library if we had help."
"No," Ginny said looking down at the red carpet, "I haven't told anyone but you."
"What if we told your brother? I'm sure he'd help. And Hermione's brilliant at research."
"Well, even if they were talking to me right now, I couldn't tell them," Ginny said ruefully. "You can't tell them either Row. You have to promise me. No one can know."
"I suppose, but I really think that we should at least tell Dumbledore."
"No Row. No one can know. Because if this is true we have to do everything in our power to keep it from coming true. And that includes blocking off all ways that this information could leak out." Ginny sighed, "I probably shouldn't even have told you."
"Ginny, I'm glad you told me. You would've gone crazy keeping it to yourself much longer. Don't worry, we'll go to the library tomorrow morning between Potions and Charms and we'll figure it out."
Rowena walked over and hugged her friend and Ginny murmured a soft thanks.
"I'll always be there for you. You know that, right?" Rowena said into Ginny's hair as the redhead nodded. "Trust me, things will be okay."
*********
Harry tried to lose his anger in the cool night breeze streaming across his face as he attempted one death-defying dive after another. He wasn't supposed to be out on the grounds past nightfall, especially after last term, but Harry didn't really care. He was tired of feeling trapped and utterly helpless. He hadn't been able to save Cedric, or Sirius, and now Ginny was involved in something that he was sure was dangerous and was positive was somehow indirectly his fault.
He grazed the grass with his foot as he glided dangerously close to the ground. Everything Ginny had said tonight was the truth. Why should she trust him? He'd lied to her and had a tendency to get those around him killed. Bloody good qualities in a friend. And he wanted to be her friend. Somehow he felt that it would be good for the both of him. Assuming she ever forgave him. At least she hadn't brought up that awful moment over Christmas when he'd forgotten about second year and all of the horrible, traumatic things that she'd been through. Harry didn't think that he'd ever felt more horrible than when she'd said, "Lucky you" after he'd admitted it.
Harry thought about that day a lot and about how he'd finally realized that he wasn't the only one who'd had to deal with being linked to Voldemort. He wondered if Ginny ever got that disgusted, dirty feeling when she thought about it.
Doing a quick aerial loop, Harry turned back towards the opposite hoops, pushing harder. Ginny was the only person alive who could possibly understand what he was feeling sometimes, but he doubted she would ever talk to him again. Maybe if he found someway to make it up to her, prove that she could trust him and that they could be friends...
Harry quickly slowed his descent and rolled off his broom just before he hit the ground. Arms and legs spread out on the ground and panting heavily, Harry closed his eyes wondering why everything in his life always went so thoroughly wrong. He couldn't let something else happen and if he had to grovel every day he was going to fix things with Ginny and eventually figure out how to help her with whatever it was that she was going through. Harry knew that he had to make things right. He wouldn't lose Ginny too.
********
"You wanted to see me Albus?"
Minerva McGonagall peeked a head inside the Headmaster's office, not bothering to keep the curiosity and concern out of her voice.
"Yes Minerva. Please have a seat."
"What is this about?," she said sitting down across from Dumbledore, "You said that it was urgent." She had been about to retire for the night when she had received the coded summons from the Headmaster.
"It seems that the incident with Voldemort's diary has had more drastic repercussions than we realized." The Headmaster sighed and put his hand to his forehead, suddenly looking much older. "I had assumed that the rumored companion prophecy to the one that Sybil made was false, but I was mistaken. This changes everything Minerva."
"Does the girl know?" She hadn't expected this and apparently neither had Dumbledore.
"No, not yet. Though I don't doubt that she'll discover it soon enough."
"What shall we do?"
"Until the time comes that we can do more, pray that Miss Weasley has the sense to keep her friends close and recognize that things are not always as they seem."
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A/N: Hope you liked this chapter! As always I will be waiting for your reviews with bated breath.
Kitten530 – I'm glad that you're liking it! I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter.
lavalampronsgirl – Glad you loved the chapter! I'd also like to be a seer. It would be a cool ability. Although I'd hate to have the type of problems that Ginny is having with it. Hope you liked this chapter!
Echo256 – Thanks. Hope you liked this chapter too.
amyaggie – Don't worry about the publish date. I planning on updating this story on a regular basis until it's done. I just went though a hectic time a few months ago and had to put this story on hold temporarily. I'm glad you like this story and can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter!
dementorchic – I agree. It's great that Ginny's told someone. It'll loosen her up a bit and as you'll see soon enough, opening up to Rowena will make her more likely to open up to Harry (until the inevitable complications). Harry and Ginny's relationship will be tough for a while, but it won't die because then I wouldn't have a story. As for the prophesy, it'll come out eventually, but Harry, like Ginny, has his reasons for keeping it to himself. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter.