Disclaimer: I don't own it; don't sue me.
A/N: Here you go! Have fun with it… Hope everyone enjoyed book six.
Back Into My Heart
Chapter Two: Living Your Destiny
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
-Unknown
"So, ready to get off work?" Ginny said cheerfully, surprising Paul from behind him.
"More than ready," he agreed and took off his work ID.
Paul told a co-worker that he was leaving, and he and Ginny walked outside. The village children's game of tag had moved from the village square, and they were all running around, screaming happily. Ginny saw Paul's smile, noticing the game, and grinned herself.
"So… you're a muggle," started Ginny, as the two began walking. Ginny glanced at Paul, who was opening his mouth to speak, and looked back at the children.
"Yes," he stated slowly. "And my dad's a wizard, and Mum's not magical. It's weird."
"I can imagine." Ginny smiled and both of them sat down on a random patch of grass. "And your dad's an auror?"
"Yeah. It's… different, you know? I can't do magic, and I know Voldemort was. I know how much danger I'm was in… how much danger Dad's was in. And how much he still is, with the Death Eaters still out there," Paul said, frustratedly. Ginny nodded sympathetically, as Paul looked away.
They sat together, not saying much of anything. Then Paul stood up, a smile on his face again, and pulled Ginny up from the ground.
"Let's go to a store, or something," he suggested.
"Sure. Which one?"
"I dunno. We'll find one," replied Paul, and they started walking to a strip of shops.
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"It figures. Everytime I go shopping, I end up at a café," Ginny said, laughing, as they sat down at a small table. They had just gone to a shop. Paul hadn't found anything he liked, but Ginny picked up a book she was certain Hermione would enjoy.
"Of course. Shopping just wears you out," Paul said sarcastically, but in a playful voice.
Ginny only shrugged, as a waiter came over to their table and they ordered their suppers.
"Yeah, well, it's mostly the walking around the store for hours and trying on clothes over and over that tires you," said Ginny, having ordered.
"I wouldn't know. I usually don't spend more than a half hour in a store, and I don't try on most clothes."
"Eh, well, you are a guy." Ginny handed the menus to the waiter, who smiled and walked away.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Paul grinned at Ginny, and she rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't either," she said, without thinking. Ginny turned a little pink, wondering if she should have said that, but was reassured at Paul's kind smile.
"Yes, that would be bad." He bit his lip to keep from grinning and changed the subject. "What all have you done today?"
"Not much, really… oh, except, do you know a little girl named Lorelai?" Ginny questioned, and glanced around the café to look at the other guests.
"Seven years old with really dark hair?"
"And the biggest green eyes you'll ever see," added Ginny, ignoring Paul who had just snorted.
"My cousin. What's the matter with her?" Paul asked lightly. Ginny looked up into his face seriously.
"She's a witch… and I'm assuming her dad doesn't like it one bit," she said darkly.
"No, he wouldn't. He's right mad that his brother –my dad- turned out to be a wizard. Won't speak to him. He only talks to Mum and me, because we can't help it or some shit like that," said Paul darkly, obviously not liking his uncle very much.
"Should we do anything?" Ginny inquired, slightly alarmed.
"I dunno. We can check up on Lorelai after we eat, and I'll keep an eye on them after you go back to school."
"Sounds good. But can we do anything, if your uncle won't let her go to Hogwarts in a few years?" Ginny propped her head up with her hand, her elbow on the table.
"Not legally. But, still, if Lorelai is magical and wants to, we have to find a way to let her go. Maybe we can talk him into it or something," Paul said desperately.
"Yeah. Don't you worry, we'll find a way," assured Ginny confidently, as she smiled at the waitress that brought their suppers.
"Thanks," said Paul and Ginny, accepting their plates.
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Paul and Ginny had soon finished lunch, and were eager to talk to Lorelai and apprehensive about talking to her father. Paul led Ginny to their residence, and knocked soundly on the door.
"Paul! Haven't talked to you in a while." A gruff-looking man appeared at the door, and slapped Paul on the back in a friendly manner. He stood in the door, however, not inviting the two in. "And… your friend. 'Ello." The man looked at Paul slyly, and Ginny inwardly rolled her eyes. She could tell this man was not the sort she enjoyed talking to.
"Yeah, it has been a while. This is my friend, Ginny. Lives a little ways from the village. Mind if we come in?" Paul took a step forward, still talking in a friendly manner, but hinted that he wouldn't take no for an answer.
"O' course," Lorelai's father agreed, glancing behind him. "Right in here to the livin' room."
Ginny trailed after Paul and his uncle to the 'living room,' which was more like a pile of dust with a hard chair and couch in it. The man, who Paul soon introduced as Uncle Arnie, took the chair immediately. Paul sat down on the sofa and gestured for Ginny to sit beside him.
"So, what would ya like? Ya can see I have no money; I can barely keep a house," Uncle Arnie grumbled.
"Well, I know this is a hard subject, sir," Ginny started, jumping in, "but it it very important to Lorelai's future."
Paul's uncle's eyes and face hardened at Lorelai's name, causing Ginny to wonder how much he hated magic. It reminded her slightly of Harry's old situation with the Dursleys. The man didn't say anything, and Paul continued, not detered by the silence.
"You know how my father is magical-" Paul started cautiously, but his uncle interuppted quickly.
"Are you hear to talk about Peter's… nonsense?" he asked, his face turning purple. "Because, if you are, I don't want to hear it!"
"Zeighler!" Ginny almost stood up, but thought better of it and gritted her teeth, still sitting on the uncomfortable couch. "Mr. Zeighler, this is important. Lorelai is magical, also," she blurted out, and bit her lip.
Arnie Zeighler said nothing, only sitting in his chair, his face becoming darker and darker shades of purple. He refused to look at his guests, and Ginny had no idea what was going on in his mind.
"Uncle Arnie?" Paul asked, staring at the man.
He turned back to them, his complexion resembling that of a human's now. "And what do you want me to do about it?" Uncle Arnie queried. His voice wasn't calm yet, but it seemed to Ginny that he was trying to stay calm.
"Nothing, right now, really. I've already told her, and explained it. But the September after she turns eleven, you should let her go to Hog- a magical school," Ginny explained, looking into the man's eyes and searching for a reaction.
Paul and Ginny waited for a few moments, while Uncle Arnie apparently thought this over.
"Where's this… magical school?" he questioned slightly suspiciously.
"Up in Scotland. It's called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy," Paul told.
"I go there myself. I'll be graduating in June, though."
"And there's… nothing I can do? To stop her from being a witch?" Uncle Arnie said, rubbing his forehead.
"No. It's part of who she is," explained Paul, getting tired of talking to his unpleasant uncle.
"You could choose for her not to go to Hogwarts, though. But I would definitely not suggest it." Ginny shifted on the couch, wondering what Arnie would say. They had to win him over. "But, I understand she's had some magical… incidents. Those will be controlled when she gets older. Hogwarts will help that greatly," she persisted.
"I'll think about it," Uncle Arnie said gruffly.
At least we got that far, Ginny thought, as she and Paul stood up to leave.
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"So d'you think he'll let her go?" Ginny questioned Paul, as he again walked her back to the Burrow.
"Yeah, I think so. If we can persuade him and make sure he keeps up to it. I don't think he'll mind her 'accidents' stopping and having her out of his hair for most of the year," Paul said, tired of talking about his uncle, but continued explaning for Ginny's benefit. "Uncle Arnie will eventually give into to something if you beg him hard enough. Except talking to my dad. He more or less ignores Lorelai, except for food and basic needs. He likes his son, Lorelai's half-brother, a lot more. So, he doesn't really care about 'losing Lorelai to magic,' or whatever."
"That's horrible," said Ginny, feeling sorry for Lorelai, and promising to stop by and see her every time she went to the village.
"Yeah. I still can't believe she's a witch, though. But I'm glad."
"Me too. I think me and Hermione are going shopping at Diagon Alley tomorrow all day, so I probably can't come to the village then. And the day after that is Christmas Eve, which is when we're going to get all the family over for supper. So I'll probably see you on Christmas?" said Ginny, when they were almost in view of the Burrow.
"Maybe I'll come by the Burrow on Christmas Eve day, before everyone comes for supper." Paul looked beside him at Ginny, who immediately agreed.
That means he'll probably see Harry… But it's fine. Really, Ginny told herself.
"Sure. You can meet… everyone," she allowed.
Then, Paul stopped walking, as they had come into view of the Burrow. Ginny stood still, also, waiting for Paul to say something.
"Er, then I'll see you. And I'll owl you." But Paul hesitated, watching Ginny's face.
"Yes, all right," Ginny said softly, having half a mind that he would kiss her. She froze, not knowing what to do, as Paul wasn't leaving.
Paul look into her eyes and smiled a little, taking a step forward. Ginny looked up at his face, tilting her head, still a bit confused as what to do and slightly nervous.
He bent his head, seeing as Ginny was shorter than him, and put his hand on her shoulder. In a moment his lips were on hers, a soft, sweet kiss, and, before Ginny knew what to do, he had drawn back.
"Bye, Ginny," Paul said, and walked away with a grin on his face.
"Bye," she whispered, touching her face.
The kiss was very nice. Very nice. But it was only a little closed-lipped kiss, like a shy eleven-year-old. Still, Ginny smiled a little.
Paul is really wonderful, she thought. Ginny she shook her head at the idea that maybe he liked her more than him… though at the same time wondered if it was true.
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Ginny rolled her eyes as she approached the Burrow's doorstep, and went indoors. Suddenly, she was quiet, because she heard Hermione and Harry's tones in the next room, talking not-so-lightly.
"Don't deny it, Harry. Nothing you say will change my mind," said Hermione, in a voice that Ginny remembered from the time she had met her.
"No, really, I don't. I've told you, Ginny doesn't fancy me anymore, and I'm not dating right now. It's as simple as that," came Harry's slightly annoyed voice.
"It's getting quite annoying that no one will admit anything, when they know it and I know it and they know I know it!" Hermione raised her voice, as Ginny realized what they were talking about and leaned against the wall that they were on the other side of.
"That's not true," Harry said, frustrated.
"It's very true," argued Hermione, and Ginny heard a sound like she had banged her fist on something.
"No, not really."
"Yes. You know it, Harry! You should have learned, after seven years, not to argue with me."
"Well, I don't fancy her," Harry said sullenly.
"Then, you are in love with her," replied Hermione honestly.
A long bit of silence came after this declaration, in which Ginny supposed Harry had sat down and Hermione was staring knowingly at him. But Harry wasn't in love with her! He didn't even fancy her, at all!
"No… no, I'm not," he said, not as sure as he had been before.
"Shut up, yes you are! Get it through you're thick head! And Ginny thinks there's no chance with you, so you better do something about that if you ever want her to think about you again!" Hermione lectured, and Ginny could almost see her finger shaking at Harry.
"Well, thanks for telling me how I feel, because I had no idea," said Harry sarcastically.
"I cannot believe you, Harry," Hermione cried. "All I'm trying to do is help you, before she goes off and marries that Paul guy!" Personally, Ginny thought Hermione was exaggerating a bit too much, but Harry seemed to believe her, because Hermione stormed out and Harry was in silence for a while.
Ginny thought Harry must have left quietly after a while, and almost stuck her head in the room to check, but was glad she didn't. She heard Harry talking softly to himself, and froze again.
She couldn't hear exactly what he was saying, but all she caught was, "Ginny," "Hermione," "fancy," "what," and "convince." Then, he either left the room or said nothing else, and Ginny slipped back outside.
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"Hello, Ginny," Fleur said lightly as Ginny sat down at the kitchen table. Fleur turned around and flicked her wand at several cabinets, opening them and getting the necessary supplies for the Weasley's late supper.
"Where's Mum?" Ginny asked, noticing that her parents were both gone from the Burrow. Her dad was most likely at the Ministry, working late again.
"She went to visit her muzzer for Christmas. I see no one else wanted to join her," answered Fleur, smiling a little. Fleur had lived in England for roughly four years, and her pronounciation of Englsih had gotten much better.
"Not really."
"Oh, yes. You were at the village with zat Paul boy, yes?" Ginny suspected Fleur was smirking, but she had turned around and was cooking, so she wasn't positive.
"Yeah," Ginny admitted, a tiny bit defensively.
"What about 'Arry?"
"What about him?" Ginny asked coolly.
"Do not play games with me, Ginny. Who do you… fancy?"
"Paul, of course."
"Who else?" Fleur turned around, a sly look on her face, and sat across the table from Ginny. She eagerly propped her elbows on the table in front of her, and watched Ginny.
"Harry," said Ginny reluctantly. "I fancy both."
"I see. Now we are getting somewhere."
"Where are you getting?" Ginny queried, raising her eyebrows.
"You will see. Why do you like Paul?"
"He's a great guy!"
"I am not saying zat he is not," Fleur said hurriedly. "But why?"
"Well, he's very, extremely nice. And pretty funny. Very sweet. And I can talk to him."
"How do you feel when you see him?"
"I dunno… excited. Happy, maybe? I like being around him." Ginny smiled happily, thinking of Paul and their kiss.
"And Harry?"
"-is amazing," Ginny continued. "He's nice and smart and funny. And lately I always think of him first thing when I wake up and last thing before I fall asleep…"
Fleur looked smug, and leaned back in her chair. "Which do you like more?"
"Paul likes me. Harry… he says he's not dating. Paul pays attention to me."
"But which of them could you not live without? Which one would you rather spend every day of the rest of your life with? Which could you stand not seeing for months?" Fleur asked softly.
Ginny sat back in her chair, and didn't say anything.
"Ahh!" Ginny suddenly screamed, feeling something hit her on the side of the head and knocked her to the ground. She put her hand to her stinging head, saw Fleur's wide eyes, and turned around quickly, pulling out her wand in a split second.
"Ron!" Ginny yelled. "You prat!"
Ron grinned widely and raised the pillow to hit her again.
"Expelliarmus! Accio pillow!" Ginny said, flicking her wand. Ron's pillow was knocked out of his arms and flew towards, Ginny, who grabbed it and stood up.
At that moment the rest of the guys burst in the room, bearing pillows. Ginny backed away slowly, and Fleur pulled out her wand and yelled for Hermione.
"Six against three isn't fair!" Fleur cried, summoning a pillow.
"Use your wands then," Charlie shrugged and said.
"Shut up, Charlie!" Fred and George hissed at their brother simultaneously.
Ginny heard Hermione run down the stairs. "Wha-?" she inquired, but was cut off as Bill sent a pillow flying at her. She flattened to the ground, and the pillow barely missed her.
Hermione shrieked, and quickly got up and ran over to Ginny and Fleur. "Pillow fight?" she asked in a whisper.
"Yes. We will get them! Wands and pillows ready," said Fleur, not taking her eyes off of the group of guys.
Suddenly all the girls screamed as tons of pillows, more than Ginny was sure the Weasleys had ever owned, came flying full force toward them. The three tried their best to dodge them, but there was too many. Those that missed them kept following until Hermione stopped screaming and said, "Finite Incantem!"
The pillows dropped to the floor and then flew towards the others.
"What the hell?" George yelled, holding Harry in front of him. But with a look at Hermione's red face, and seeing her wand pointing towards them, they knew Hermione was not going to be easy to defeat.
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Another hour and kitchen full of pillows later, all of the Weasleys that were home and their guests were collasped on top of the pillows in the kitchen floor.
"That was fun," Ginny said in a voice that would make someone think she drunk herself silly, but she was just tired and very happy. Harry was laying beside her, his foot against her leg, and she had just had a very fun hour of hitting everyone with pillows. "But I have to write Paul. I guess I'm going on to bed, too. I already ate supper and I'm exhausted."
"Bye, Gin," everyone chorused, as Ginny stood up, realizing that she wasn't going to mention Paul much.
She saw Harry look really odd for a split second, before he saw her looking at him. He smiled easily at her, and she grinned before heading upstairs.
Hello, Paul. Sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to write you a letter. I had a really great time today. When we got home me and everyone else had a huge pillow fight. The girls won, of course. Even though it was three against six… Hermione is very, very smart. I have a few bruises from getting knocked over, but I'm sure everyone else (even the girls, haha) got several bruises from my pillow! It was really fun. Mum is visiting her mum for Christmas, but no one really wanted to go. Grandmum is kind of annoying. And Dad was still at the Ministry, working, so no parents were home and we all went crazy. Can't wait to see you again… Ginny.
Ginny folded the letter and went to Ron's room to use Pig. She never did understand why no one like Pig's name except her. It was a perfectly adorable name!
Coming back to her room, after mailing the letter, she flopped onto her bed, tired from the hour-long pillow fight. She wondered what Paul was thinking… what Harry was thinking…
Suddenly, Ginny woke up, Pig having landed on her head. She almost screamed, but instead put a hand to her heart, gasping. She realized what it was and sank back into her bed in relief.
Hey, Gin. Can't wait to see you again too. –Paul
Ginny raised an eyebrow, wondering why Paul didn't say anything else. She decided not to write back, having nothing else to say, and wondering if he didn't like her or something…
Ginny got up to put the letter on her dresser and heard a tap at the window. She figured it must be another owl, and turned around, but nearly fainted at seeing Paul, hovering outside her window in midair.
She quickly walked over to the window, and opened the window.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Ginny questioned, still not believing what she saw, but nonetheless had a smile on her face seeing Paul.
"Well, you wanted to see me, and I wanted to see you. I didn't think you'd be too tired to ride brooms." Paul put his hand on the window's frame, grinning.
"Er, um, okay, I guess," Ginny said, a little nervously.
Ginny somehow managed to clamber out of her window and onto the broomstick, gripping Paul's shoulder tightly so she wouldn't fall onto the ground.
"How long will we be?"
"No more than an hour. Or whenever you want to go back home," Paul said, turning around and smiling at Ginny.
Ginny grinned, squeezing his shoulders tightly, and looked back at the Burrow. The last thing she saw was Harry's face, staring out of his window with a sad smile, and she remembered what Fleur had told her earlier.
"But which of them could you not live without? Which one would you rather spend every day of the rest of your life with? Which could you stand not seeing for months?" Fleur had asked. And for the first time, Ginny wondered about her destiny.
A/N: There you go! Don't have much time so I'll skip review responses. I didn't get that many… should I threaten not to update until ten reviews? Am I really that mean? I think so. So, please ten reviews! ;)