A/n: Well, here it is. I tried to make this one a little longer.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Uh Hermione, do you really think this is the best way to solve this? I mean, this seems sort of drastic."
"Harry, that's why I said it was only if you and Ginny wanted to go that extra mile. Ron and I made our choice. You and Ginny can make yours."
Harry stood up. "I-I think I need some air." Then he turned and started to run. He ignored Hermione when she asked if he still wanted his drink. He just ran, ran until he was completely out of breath.
When he looked up, cold sweat trickling down his face, he saw he was at the entrance to the shrieking shack. His head blank, he walked up to the door and went inside. It was in the exact same state as it had been when the trio was here with Sirius.
Harry sat down on the dusty old bed that Ron had lay on so many years ago. The place where he had first met his godfather so many years ago . . .
Looking down at the floor, he spotted a few black hairs. "Sirius," Harry thought as he picked them up. "I need you now. I'm confused . . . What do I do? Should I marry Ginny? I love her, that's for sure. I just . . . I'm not sure if I'm ready for this."
As Harry stared at the solitary hairs in his hand, tears welled up in his eyes against his will. Hermione's words rang in his head, "Ron and I made our choice, you and Ginny make yours." Suddenly, Harry's fist clenched, hairs still in hand. He blinked the tears away, stood up, and jogged outside, his mind made up.
Nearly lunchtime by now, Hogsmead was swarming with workers on their lunch break. Harry pushed by them, making his way to the shop at the end of Hogsmead, Stella's fine Jewels and rings. The little bell rang as Harry walked in to look at the many glass cases.
As he was browsing, a Witch came up behind him. "Anything in particular that you're looking for?"
Harry jumped. "What? Oh, um, I'm looking for the right promise ring for my girlfriend. Nothing too big, but nothing too cheap looking either."
The Witch nodded her understanding, walking up the lines of cases. "Well, Mr. . . . What was it?"
Harry sighed. "Mr. Harry Potter."
The witch looked up. "Harry Potter? Oh my goodness! Who's the lucky girl that's going to marry you in the future?"
"Well, I'm afraid that information is my business."
The Witch raised her eyebrows, but continued her search. "You know Mr. Potter, I think I have exactly what you're looking for." She reached for her wand and muttered a spell that Harry didn't catch. The glass top to one of the cases opened and she reached inside to pull out a ring.
As soon as Harry saw it, he snorted. It was nothing like what Ginny would want. White gold, it bore a large purple stone with small green ones around it. "Um, that's not really what I had in mind. It's a little- what's the word? Oh, overwhelming."
He walked up and got a closer look at the large ring. "However, I do like these little green stones. What are they called?"
The Witch took the ring from Harry and put it away. "They're called Emeralds. If you like them, we have a nice display of rings with Emeralds down at the end there. If you find one you like, feel free to come and tell me."
Harry nodded before heading toward the case that contained the rings. There were a few that were close to the image in his head, though none quite perfect enough for Ginny. Harry rubbed his chin. There had to be something here.
Looking up, he saw a box that was behind the cash register. "What's in there," Harry asked as the witch walked by. She turned to see where he was pointing.
"There? That's just a case holding a few rings that were magically made."
Harry cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean 'magically made'?"
The Witch took the case down off the shelf and placed it on the desk. "They're special rings, made years and years ago. Rings that have stones that change color when the wizard is feeling certain feelings."
"So like if I was thinking about hugging my girlfriend it would turn pink or something?"
The Witch smiled and nodded. Then, reaching behind the case, she pulled out a dusty card and handed it to Harry. He blew off the dust and read the card quikley.
Thinking about talking to loved one green Thinking about kissing loved onepink
Thinking dirty thoughts about loved onescarlet Worrying about loved one blue
Harry finished reading the card grinning. "Can I see the rings?"
The Witch opened the box to reveal five rings. Harry's eyes strayed to the one in the middle. In his opinion, he had found the perfect ring. It was gold with an Emerald carved into a fancy diamond shape. One either side of the Emerald, two small rectangular Diamonds sparkled.
"I'll take it.," Harry said suddenly. The Witch carefully took it from the case, dipped it into a strange potion, then put it in a blue velvet box. "What did that potion do?"
"It made it so that the ring will only work for your girlfriend once you place it on her finger.
"Okay, how much do I owe you?"
"Er, 30 Galleons."
"Sorry? Did you just say 30?"
"Yes, I believe I did."
Harry sighed. It was for Ginny. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out the number for his Gringotts account to be taken by owl order. The Witch stamped it.
"Okay, You're all set Mr. Potter."
"Yeah, thanks a lot," Harry said as he left the shop and headed back to the castle.
End Flashback
Harry opened his eyes once again and took out the blue velvet box from his pocket. He was going to promise Ginny that he would someday marry her. He and Ginny . . . married.
Harry placed the box down on his night stand and rolled over. He hadn't seen Ginny ever since he left the hospital wing. He was scared that he had to do this. Wait, had?
Harry closed his eyes. "No ones making me do this. I don't have to do this so . . . why am I?"
Ginny opened her eyes the next morning with an empty feeling in her body. She sat up trying to figure out why she felt empty. Yesterday she had spent the entire day with her family. It had been great. The only person missing was Ron. He had to go back to Auror training.
Her family had left late last night when they were all completely sure that Ginny was healed. Ginny stood up and started to get dressed. It was then that she realized why she felt so empty. She hadn't seen Harry for a whole day. She would have to change that.
Taking one last look in the mirror, Ginny stepped outside and walked into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Harry sat in his classroom, munching on a chocolate croissant. He was starving because he hadn't eaten anything at all the whole day before. His class didn't start for another seven minutes, so he was surprised when his classroom door opened and Ginny walked in. She dumped her bag on her desk and sat down, looking up at Harry.
"What?" Harry asked nervously as Ginny gazed at him.
"Nothing. Can't a girl stare pointlessly at her boyfriend with no exact reason?"
Harry smiled. "Well, of coarse you can." He too stared at Ginny. "You know, I haven't seen you for almost a whole day."
"And?" Ginny asked as Harry walked over to her.
"I kind of missed you."
"Yeah, well I did too."
"Listen," Harry started. "Is there anyway you can sneak out and come here tonight? I have something to . . . to show you."
Ginny looked startled. "Well, alright. You know I'd do anything for you."
Harry nodded. He hoped she didn't start to get suspicious. When the door opened and Luna walked in, he was more then happy when the two started talking together.
The class began in no time, Harry asking the students to answer the questions on pages 432-434. Instead of working up the next day's class plan, Harry started to grade essays. It was rather boring sitting there looking over third year paper work.
Some of the students were Hermione-like and wrote more then they were asked too. More work for him to grade. Other's wrote sloppily like Ron did, making it hard to read. The most revolting of all, had to be the students who drew pictures on the edges instead of writing.
Probably the only good thing about grading those essays was that class flew by quikley. The bell was ringing before Harry knew it, and he was able to put the never ending stack of essays away. Rubbing his tired eyes, he showed the students out of the room. Harry could have sworn, however, that he heard a soft whisper in his ear saying, "See you tonight."
Harry blushed slightly as Ginny brushed by him among the flock of students. Yes, he would see her tonight. Whether he was going to propose to her, he didn't know. Maybe just pop the question in a hypothetical way. He could also decide at the last minute. It was, after all, what he was famous for.
Ginny lay in the Gryffindor common room, pondering why Harry may have asked to see her that night. She was deep in thought when an owl flew through the room and dropped a letter on her head.
Opening it curiously, she read, Meet me tonight in classroom 14, 11;30. "Huh? I thought Harry wanted me to meet him by his classroom. Maybe he changed his mind."
She crumpled up the parchment and threw it across the room into the rubbish bin. Most of the students had already gone to bed, leaving Ginny alone in the common room. Perfect. Ginny crawled catlike to the portrait hole and went through.
All was quiet the whole time Ginny crept down the hall. She was relieved when she reached the door to classroom 14. Opening it quietly, she slid in. Harry stood, shadowed by the large wardrobe behind him. "I knew you would come Ginny." He slurred his words as he spoke.
"What? I told you I would. Hey, is something wrong with your voice? It sounds funny."
"Why would there be." Harry moved closer, almost falling over. Ginny could see his body now, though his face was still covered.
"Are you sure you're fine? You're acting odd. Are you . . . drunk?"
Harry moved even closer. Ginny could see his face now . . . but it wasn't Harry. It was Colin. Ginny started to back away, his breath smelled vile, putrid. Colin kept moving forward until he backed her into the wall.
His head bent down. It was obvious to Ginny what he was going to do. Her eyes went wide as he moved down to kiss her. Before she could scream, Colin's mouth covered hers, forcing her to stand, routed on the spot, totally helpless.
Harry moved through the dark corridors towards his classroom. He had the ring carefully hidden in his robes. This was it. He wondered how Ron felt before he gave his ring to Hermione as he passed classroom 12.
Just as he passed classroom 14, he thought he heard a muffled noise. Harry stopped moving and pressed an ear against the door. Yes, someone was in there. Straightening his robes, he put on his Professor posture and opened the door.
Harry choked when he realized he had walked in on something. Though the room was dark, he could make out what looked like Colin snogging someone. Stepping forward, he started to clear his throat to get the couple's attention, but stopped.
He had seen red hair. . . Ginny was kissing Colin. And here he was, about to give her a promise ring. Harry felt nothing but betrayal. Three words kept repeating in his head, over and over and over again. Ginny, Colin, Kissing.
Ginny was trying to get Colin off her, she kicked at him, pulled his hair, but he wouldn't budge. She was vaguely aware of someone opening the door through all her trauma. Maybe they would help her. Tilting her head to the side, her heart stopped. Was that? It can't be . . . Oh no. That person is Harry.
Seeing Harry standing there seemed to kick Ginny into action. She kneed Colin with where it hurt. He backed away into the desk, kneeling over in pain. Wiping her mouth in disgust, Ginny turned to Harry.
His eyes were dark with confusion, face showing absolutely no emotion. "Harry, I, I can explain. I-It's not what you think." Tears were streaming down Ginny's face, as she waited for his comment.
"Then what is it Ginny? Not what I think? I'll tell you what I think. I think we are fucking over."
Ginny closed her eyes. Harry had never sworn at her. The words had flung across her like a whip. Over. She and Harry were over. Broken up. When she opened her eyes, Harry was turning around.
"I think your new boyfriend could use some ice,"he snapped, then stalked down the hallway. Ginny ran to the door and watched as her one true love left her sight.
When he had gone, she was only angry. Angry at herself for not sending Harry an owl asking why he had changed plans. Angry that she had actually walked into this door. But most of all, she was angry at Colin.
Colin was standing up, walking towards Ginny. Through her anger and sadness, Ginny whipped around and stunned him. Then, tears flowing freely down her cheeks, she ran the opposite direction that Harry had run. The direction out of Hogwarts.
Harry sat in his dark classroom, going over the events of the night. He was breathing deeply, staring at the wall in front of him. One question hung in the air. Why? Why had Ginny done this? He pulled out the blue velvet box and stared at it.
Suddenly, his anger cracked. He chucked it at the wall where it broke, promise ring falling out. He wondered why he hadn't seen this coming before. He was just a sap. A sap that had actually thought he was in love. He had been wrong.
To Be Continued . . .
A/n: Wow, deep huh? Anyway, I'll try and update soon. Depends on how many reviews I get. lol!
Livy : You're talking about the ring in the second chapter, correct? Well, it was just symbolizing that Harry had quite a few girlfriends, each one giving him lots of gifts. When Ginny saw a ring she hadn't seen before, she asked if Harry had gotten another girlfriend who had given him the ring. Get it?