Disclaimer: I Don't own Harry Potter and I'm not making any money off this story and that applies to all further chapters as well. A/N: This is a fic that has been posted at DarkMark under the penname aimers110879, same title. Check out my homepage link on my bio page to join my yahoo group.
Chapter 1
Rain spattered against the window pain. There was no use fighting it, insomnia had set in. There would be no sleep tonight, like so many nights before. She had overheard the conversation hours before and could not get it off her mind. They had been discussing him again. The thought of him always brought back thoughts of the battle they had waged. She was of the opinion that they had fared much better than those they fought. Then it came to her once again. He was falling beyond the veil. She saw it while asleep and again when awake. She no longer had peace.
Earlier that evening:
"He's got to learn it"
"No! He's much too young."
"Molly it's the best chance we have. He's got a connection, it needs to be utilized."
"Lupin, NO"
"Molly it's not your choice, it's his."
"Don't you think I know that it's not UP to me? He shouldn't even be given the
opportunity. It's much too dangerous."
"You're right, it's dangerous, but he's the One Molly. Normal rules don't apply! Sirius would have wanted him to fight. To do what ever he could."
"Sirius, Sirius was much too rash to make any decisions about it all. You're right it's his choice but if he says yes Ginny, Ron and Hermione are to be told nothing. You make that clear, do you understand me"
"Yes."
Present:
So it was decided, Harry would be asked if he wanted to learn Ligilimency. The thought sent shivers down her spine. It was one thing to have Voldemort inside your head, she knew, but to reach inside his would be entirely different.
Several months later
She had just left the common room as Harry entered from his lesson with Dumbledore. He was silent. He was always silent. He never spoke to anyone anymore and walked around as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Occasionally she would lock onto his emerald green eyes and hope he would look into her mind, but he never did. Why would he want to? She was just a friend. She was mulling this all over while surrounded by the four posts of her bed, curtains drawn. She could not sleep for the third night this week. That's it I'm going to him! She thought to herself and made her way down the stairs. He was still there, staring into the fire. She knew he would be.
"Harry" She said in a quiet tone. He did not respond. "Harry" she said a bit louder. He jolted, turning his face toward hers.
"Ginny, sorry, I didn't see you there." Anxiety, loneliness, confusion, anger, depression all lined his face. She moved forward then sat next to him. They said nothing. They did not need to. The scene had played itself out so many times before. They just sat, quietly together, staring ahead, never a word. This was it, she would ask him. She had wanted to so many times before.
"Harry"
"Hmm"
"Will you teach me"
A glance was snapped in her direction. "What are you talking about"
"Occlumency and Legilimancey."
"I don't know what you're talking about" he said shortly.
"Come off it Harry, I'm not thick. You come in late every night from Dumbledore's office."
He shot another glance. "How'd you know where I was"
"Do you really think Fred and George would have given you the Marauder's Map without finding a way to replicate it first"
"Suppose not, it still doesn't explain how you knew what I was doing there."
" I overheard Mum and Lupin talking this summer about your lessons, before they asked you if you wanted to take them"
"Oh."
"So will you"
A pregnant pause filled the air. "What for"
"You're not the only one who's had him in your head."
He stared at her a long time, contemplating his answer. "I...I guess so, but no one knows about it, okay"
"You have may word."
"We'll start tomorrow morning. Meet me at the lake before breakfast hour."
"Before breakfast, you got it."
She stayed by his side for a while long. His breathing became steady and she knew he had fallen asleep. She padded back to her dorm room feeling as if she might actually get some sleep.
She woke with a start. She had it again, the nightmare that plagued her while sleeping or awake. She knew there was no getting back to sleep. It was dawn so she readied herself and ventured down to the lake.
"You made it."
"Course I did."
"First, you should learn Occlumency. Clear your mind. Make it a black void."
"Okay."
She concentrated. Her eyes were boring into her like hot pins and needles. She fought hard but it was no use. Her dream came to her. She could not stop it.
Tears were streaming down her face as she lay in her bed. Then a Flash. The fight, all of them dueling. Another flash. She was in her bed thrashing, crying. Flash. The curse, then he fell in slow motion, Harry running, trying to catch him. Flash. She shot up in her bed, tears and sweat running down her face, arm reaching out as if trying to catch them both, screaming "Sirius! Harry"
With that, it was over. She did not realize she and Harry were on all fours facing each other. He was panting. She was fighting down vomit, but it was no use, she could not hold it in. He crawled to her side and pulled her hair from her face. She let loose once more then collapsed. He pulled her into his arms as they sobbed. Finally they calmed down.
"You have that dream too" He asked in a barely audible whisper.
"Every night."
"Me too."
They sat there holding each other, rocking back and forth not aware of time passing by. Finally, Harry looked down at his watch. It was half past ten.
"Ginny get up. We've missed breakfast. We need to get you back you look terrible."
"Thanks!"
"That's not what I meant."
"Well what then?"
"You have dirt all over you, you still look sick."
"So is that always how it is?"
"No, I don't know what went wrong. Tell me, how did you know what happened that night? No one saw it but me and that hag."
"It's just something I saw. I dreamt it the night before we went to the Ministry. I know now it was a vision…of the future."
"Have you had more?"
"No."
"Does anyone else know?"
"No! Don't tell them either, okay."
"Sure Gin."
Gin, he never called her that before. It was nice coming from him. They walked the rest of the way to the common room, Harry's arm supporting Ginny around the waist. She still did not have her strength back from that morning's ordeal and missing breakfast. They braved the odd stares and Ron with a jaw that looked as if it would hit the floor.
"Can you make it the rest of the way? I can't go up there."
"Get Hermione, She'll help me."
He gestured toward Hermione to come help. She rushed over and took Ginny from his arms. They hiked the rest of the stairs with Harry looking after them with confusion and worry in his eyes. Yes, Ginny Weasley had seen what would happen before it happened that fateful night. She never said anything to anyone because she thought it was just a nightmare. She now knew it was not a dream and that she could see the future. She had hoped to keep it from her friends. She did not want the pressure of others expecting her to see how things would turn out in the end, with the war.
After she had taken a shower and got all the sand out of her hair, she got dressed into her muggle jeans and loose white t-shirt. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in front of the fire. She could see the concern lining their faces. Harry looked down at his folded hands as she spoke.
"Hey all."
"Feeling better Gin?"
"I'm fine Ron, I think I need some lunch though."
"What were you doing all morning?"
She looked at Harry for help. None came. The thought Harry must not have given an explanation so she had to think fast. "Just some Quidditch tips, Harry was showing me some new moves and I fell."
"Harry why weren't you more careful?" Ron flashed him a look.
"I tried. Guess my reflexes haven't fully recovered from not playing last year," he said while Hermione looked at him disbelievingly.
They all enjoyed their lunch and went to the lake to do their homework. Things were fine until he handed her a piece of parchment that was folded in a small rectangle. She opened it and read:
Gin,
You need to tell someone. Dumbledore would know what to do. Tell him please. You need to hone this skill. I am worried about you. You need to learn how to deal with this. You cannot ignore it.
She looked up and his eyes were the only things that met hers. His eyes were pleading with her. She shook her head no. She could not tell anyone. She knew if she did, everything would change if she took that step. She continued her homework, hoping that he would not press the issue. She was wrong.