I'll Always Remember You
By Duck Goddess
Disclaimer: All the characters mentioned here are owned by JK Rowling.
HarryGinnyfan23 – Yeah, I didn't think a lot of people would be unsurprised. I even surprised myself by writing that. I don't usually write that kind of stuff. Thanks for reviewing!
basketball15 – LOL, well, I can't help but channel my emotions into this story…its natural. Thanks!
Baby-Atemu – LOL, I wish! The spell was a pregnancy-checking spell. I know you normally wouldn't be able to check that early but they're not witches for nothing! And Ginny did the spell, not Luna, by the way.
icymist07 – Thanks!
bubble – Wow, thanks! That means a lot to me. But I highly doubt that I'm the best out there…I can think of a hell of a lot of authors who are way better than me…just see my favourites on my author page!
hermionebabe06 – Thanks! Yeah, I feel sorry for them too…they've both been through so much and they have to go through a lot AGAIN. Just to find love.
BowlingStar – I hope the Vikings win!
HGshipper – Thanks! I like your penname, btw, LOL.
Not so sour Lemons – Thanks!
KRB91 – Thanks! I'm glad you found that part funny. Normally, I don't think you can tell if you're pregnant that early but in my mind, its different for witches.
BoOkWoRmof2005 – Yeah, I didn't think you would expect that.
Giligan – LOL, thanks!
CriplrCrssFce06 – You're welcome. LOL, I couldn't torture Harry…yeah, they don't get together until nearly the very end. I hate stories where they just get together all of a sudden…it just seems so…forced.
Wolf's scream – Thanks for your comments…I really appreciate them. I know Harry was acting very OOC but I think that maybe Harry WOULD lose control. He was going through a very…interesting time. And I remember Harry losing control at the end of OOTP when he started throwing things around in Dumbledore's office. Of course, the circumstances were totally different, though. Yes, it is a relief (the spell worked properly!). I hate fics where Ginny and Harry are forced to be together because she's pregnant or something…I want to show that their feelings really are genuine. LOL, I agree, its definitely not smooth.
eatingmania – LOL, wow, mushy – I never thought I would hear (technically, read) that word out of you. You like reading fics about drunk people? Well, that's kind of typical, I guess.
stressygirl – Thanks! I'm glad you liked that part. The Common Room scene is one of my favourite moments in HBP (if not THE favourite moment). The fluff! I hope this update was fast enough…
Chapter Twelve – Realizations
Ginny and Harry walked towards the shop with Hermione's and Ron's instructions. They had to be careful about what they chose otherwise Hermione would slaughter them.
They walked side by side and they blushed every time their hands accidentally touched. They didn't speak at all and Ginny was soon getting tired of it.
"Look, Harry –" she began.
"No, Ginny, let me explain. I'm really, really sorry. It was a mistake and we shouldn't have done that," Harry said quickly.
Her heart unknowingly sank even though Ginny didn't think she had feelings for him. A mistake, huh?
"You're right. It was a mistake," Ginny replied softly, not looking at him.
"Okay. So we'll always be friends, nothing more, right?" he asked, looking at her carefully. We'll ALWAYS be friends and nothing more? I thought he was in love with me!
Ginny didn't have time to answer as they had arrived at the shop. The shopkeeper bustled out to greet them.
"Hello! Ron and Hermione, right?" she asked brightly.
Both Ginny and Harry blushed.
"No, actually, we're the maid-of-honour and best man. I'm Harry and this is Ginny," he explained.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I just thought you were together. Well, I'm Anna. So, come in!" she said, leading them inside.
"So, we have Italian, good old English, French…which would you like to try first?" Anna asked.
"Let's try the Italian," Ginny said and Anna hurried off to get the dish. They soon finished sampling the food and they chose the Italian.
"Do you think Ron and Hermione would like it?" Harry asked.
"We don't have to worry about Ron 'cause he'd eat anything. I think Hermione would be alright with it," Ginny replied. They continued walking while Harry contemplated the idea of her still liking him.
Is Hermione right? I mean, she's ALWAYS right.
I doubt it. If she did, you'd already be going out by now.
But that's because I haven't done anything!
Well then, do something!
"Ginny, you didn't answer my question before. Are we just friends?" Harry asked bravely. Ginny, however, wasn't looking at him. She was looking across the street.
"Er, Gin?" he asked.
"It's Zacharias Smith," she said quietly. Harry's heart sank. Her ex-boyfriend. God, did he always have to get in the way?
Zacharias Smith was walking slowly, his head bowed and he was slouching. Daphne Greengrass wasn't next to him and Harry guessed that she found out that he was cheating on her.
"Are you okay?" he asked. Inside, he was cursing Smith for existing on this planet.
"I'm fine," she replied boldly, "What were you saying?" Not now. She just saw her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her.
"Er, nothing," Harry said hastily.
"Do you want to get an ice-cream?" Ginny asked as they were outside an ice-cream shop.
"Sure," he said, shrugging.
They bought their ice-creams and sat down.
"Do you remember the time Ron, Hermione and Luna tricked us into going on a date?" Ginny asked, smiling slightly.
Oh yeah. I'll always remember that day. The only date we'll ever have.
"Yeah. I remember Ron's face when you shouted at him," Harry said, laughing.
"Well, he's always been afraid of Weasley women," Ginny replied, smirking.
Harry couldn't help but think of the time Ginny and Ron had that fight about her snogging Dean. How he wanted to be in Dean's place. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"Hey, you know how you saved me in my first year?" she asked unexpectedly. Harry's heart stopped beating. Does she remember us?
"Do you remember all of me?" he asked eagerly.
"I think so. I've been getting flashbacks ever since I met you and I had one yesterday after we…you know," Ginny explained, turning scarlet.
"Ah," he merely said. There was silence after that.
"So," Ginny began, trying to break the silence.
"So," Harry repeated.
"Er, how are you? I mean, I haven't exactly talked to you," she quickly said, cringing.
"Well, Auror training's as tough as ever and Ron keeps freaking out about the wedding and he uses me as his stress ball. It's so weird, to think that my two best friends are getting MARRIED. I keep thinking that they're still fighting over some stupid thing like Hermione's cat eating Ron's rat," Harry said and Ginny giggled.
"Well, they still fight over stupid things. Hermione's always complaining about how Ron can't do anything about the wedding," Ginny said, still giggling.
"Well, they're meant to be," Harry said softly.
Ginny stared at him. Luna's words kept replaying in her head. She looked at Harry. His eyes were so…unique. You could easily see how he felt but sometimes he hid his emotions really well.
"Yeah, I guess they are," she agreed, "I hope I find that one day."
"You will. I mean, you're always getting stares from other guys," Harry said, somewhat jealously. Ginny laughed.
"So that's why you keep shooting glares at them," she joked.
"Of course," he said softly.
She looked at him. Were they meant to be? So many things were stopping them from being together. I don't even know if I want to be with him! she reminded herself. He's a great friend…I mean, he's sweet, he's caring, he's kind. I can't screw this up. Besides, I don't think I have feelings for him.
You don't THINK. That's your mind talking.
So my mind doesn't matter?
Remember the summer? You were marveling at his chest when you two went swimming!
That was the summer! So what if I'm physically attracted to him? It doesn't mean that I have REAL, GENUINE feelings for him!
So you don't like his actual personality?
No, I never said that! How can I NOT like him?
Aha! You've said it!
I said LIKE not LOVE. Oh God, this is too confusing. If I really do go into a relationship with Harry, I can't screw it up. I'd lose one of my best friends! And he's like a brother to me!
You wouldn't be physically attracted to your brother. You wouldn't be emotionally attracted to your brother. You wouldn't dream about snogging your brother. And you wouldn't SLEEP with your brother either because that's just sick!
Okay, so maybe I'm a little attracted to him. It doesn't mean I'm in love with him.
Attraction leads to fancying. Fancying leads to love. And love leads to…a relationship?
Okay, okay, I get it. I'm going to fall in love with Harry.
Face it. You've always been attracted to Harry – even before you lost your memory. That's why you were upset when Harry left in the summer to go somewhere with Ron and Hermione! Mum just thought it was PMS!
So do I tell him now? That I'm attracted to him and that we should try something?
You can't tell him now! He asked if we were just going to stay friends! He hasn't done anything! He hasn't flirted or anything.
Maybe he's just shy.
Or MAYBE he doesn't like you at all!
What did you expect him to do, profess his undying love for you? He's probably gotten over you! Hermione doesn't know that because she's too distracted with the wedding and work so she's misinterpreting things! It's been two years since you guys went out, Ginny! He's OVER you! But he's a nice guy so he wants to be friends with you! That's it!
"Harry, I'd better get home. I'll see you at the Ministry on Monday. Bye!" she said abruptly and she Disapparated. Harry sat there, confused. Why did she suddenly leave like that?
Ginny arrived home to find Luna and Hermione chatting on the sofa.
"Hi, guys," she said wearily, sitting next to them, "How was table shopping?"
"It was alright. We chose these lovely chairs," Luna replied dreamily.
"How was food sampling with Harry? You'd better have chosen a good dish!" Hermione warned, narrowing her eyes.
"We chose Italian. Is that alright, Mum?" Ginny said sarcastically.
"Yes, DEAR. That's fine," she replied, playing along.
"So, how was it? And don't tell me about food sampling. Did he do anything?" Luna inquired.
"No, he didn't. Well, things were pretty awkward between us. He asked me if we were just going to stay friends or something. And then I saw Zacharias Smith," Ginny said.
"Ooh," Hermione and Luna said sympathetically.
"And then we were talking like before. It's so weird – I never realized how great Harry is. I mean, we talked loads over the summer but I didn't even consider the idea of being with him. Remember when he saved me from that damn bludger? It's strange…it's like I always liked him but I just found out," Ginny blabbered.
"So, does that mean you like him now?" Hermione asked, beaming.
"I think so. It sucks, doesn't it?" Ginny said sadly.
"What? Why? This proves that you're meant to be! You two can finally be together!" Luna said, smiling.
"Ha! Meant to be…that's just a piece of shit. We're not meant to be at all," Ginny said dryly.
"Ginny, this is destiny! Harry was DESTINED to destroy all those Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. You were DESTINED to be possessed by Voldemort and lose your memory because of Lucius Malfoy. And you two are DESTINED to be together!" Hermione cried passionately.
Ginny and Luna stared at her. Hermione was NOT the type of person who would say these things. Ginny was actually surprised that she believed in this destiny stuff.
"You know what, Luna? I think you're growing on me," Hermione said thoughtfully after her outburst.
"Clearly," she said.
"Why don't you think that you guys are meant to be together?" Hermione inquired.
"Well, I know one thing – Harry doesn't like me anymore. He didn't even do anything today. And he asked if we were always going to be friends, nothing more. Would a guy who wants to be with me ask that?" Ginny said miserably.
"Ginny, I am 99 percentsure that Harry's in love with you," Hermione said.
"Yeah, even I see it," Luna added.
"Well, maybe that 1 percentis…you know," she said sadly.
"Ginny…you know what? Let me get Ron. He actually WANTS you to be together and he's hated all your boyfriends. He's witnessed Harry's groveling and gushing. He'll set you straight," Hermione said and she stood up, getting ready to Apparate when suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Who the hell's that?" Ginny asked irritably as she got up to open the door. She gasped and stood back. It was Zacharias Smith.
A/N: PLEASE REVIEW! Oh, and if you think that Ginny liked Harry all of a sudden...she didn't. She just realized it now (hence the name 'Realizations', LOL). She DID show signs in the previous chapters after all...stupid Zacharias Smith ruining everything!