Chapter 3: A New Girl
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Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Harry Potter. Got it?
A/N: I know you might hate me for this chapter, but keep in mind, this is a HP/GW fic. Don't get discouraged… just remember that! I have to add a little drama right?
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Amazing how one simple decision can alter the world so immensely.
Amazing how one simple decision…
Gave me a new chance for a new life… in a new kind of world.
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Harry glanced at the Headmaster, then at Neville, then back at the Headmaster. He had so many questions… so many things he needed to know. What else was different? What else had changed?
Dumbledore seemed to notice Harry's curiosity and raised an eyebrow in his direction. Harry looked at Neville once again and sighed. He couldn't interrogate Dumbledore in front of Neville. That would make him seem crazy.
Then again, you apparently have a concussion, genius. That was a good one, Dumbledore. Real good.
"Well, Neville, you'd best be off. Harry, I daresay your concussion might leave you confused for a few weeks, eh?" He turned to Neville. "His memory may be slightly affected… and he may possibly remember things that have not actually happened. Right, Harry?" Dumbledore suggested.
"Er, right," Harry agreed unconvincingly. "Right. Professor, may I speak with you? Alone?"
The Headmaster grinned. "Ah, Harry, I have a meeting with the Minister of Magic in half an hour, so I'm afraid this will have to wait."
Harry gritted his teeth. He's grinning. The old bat is grinning! He's doing this on purpose. Oh sod it all. He knows something, I know he does. Why won't he tell me?
"Alright," Harry said reluctantly, flashing Dumbledore the fiercest glare he could muster, considering he was ecstatic that the old man was there to blow him off in the first place, instead of being as dead as a doornail.
"Neville, I'd like to see you next Tuesday for a little chat. Would you mind meeting me here around seven o'clock?"
"Sure thing, Professor," Neville replied in a monotone.
"Excellent. Good day to the both of you. Neville, I trust you will inform your friends of Harry's condition?"
"Okay, I will. Bye Professor." Harry just nodded at the old man, narrowing his eyes.
Harry and Neville walked back to the Gryffindor dorms together. "Well, Harry, I hope you're feeling better?" Neville inquired cheerfully.
Harry gaped at him. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked the boy in wonderment.
Neville frowned. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Why would you think anything is wrong with me, when clearly nothing is the matter. No, I'm positive that everything-"
"Neville," Harry said firmly, "Did you honestly hear a word Dumbledore just said?"
Neville paused. "Yes, Harry. As a matter of fact, I did," he said rather coldly. "And I have decided not to dwell on it. I'm just going to live my life. Prophecies change. Look at me… I'm obviously not the one to do this. Someone else can do it, because I sure as hell can't."
Harry stared at Neville. "I know this seems so unreal, but you need to realize… nothing will ever be the same. You were picked to do this…" he died off uncertainly. Harry had never been good at pep talks, but he was trying his best to make Neville understand. He cleared his throat.
"As weird as this may seem, I went through the same thing," Harry chose his words carefully. Too bad you didn't. Not in this world, at least. "A prophecy was made about me, and at first, I tried to deny it. I became angry with everyone around me, as if they were to blame. I didn't want to feel… I pushed my emotions to the side, only to be replaced with anger. Neville, this prophecy isn't going to change. The task is yours to complete, no one else's." Except mine. But now, I get a chance to live without this task. It'll be great! Right?
Neville began to walk faster. "Can you just leave me alone, Harry? You have no idea what I'm going through right now. All the signs over the years, and my grandmother kept all of this from me. And who do you think you are, telling me that you went through the same thing? What the hell is that about?" Neville demanded.
Harry sighed. It's more than you know, Neville.
"Er, nothing. I can't tell you…" Harry said unconvincingly. "You wouldn't believe me anyway. It must have been the concussion," Harry concluded.
Neville's expression softened. "Oh. Sorry. Anyways, Harry – Oh, hey Ginny!" Neville nodded to the girl passing by.
Harry's breath caught in his throat. His heart gave a fluttering feeling at the mere sight of her. She smiled at Neville, that very smile that melted Harry's heart, and then looked nervously at him. He sighed. At least she wasn't glaring daggers at him still for breaking up with her.
"Er, Harry?" she spoke nervously. Harry forced himself to lessen the intensity of his gaze and glanced at her in shock. Now they were on speaking terms?
"Y-yeah?" Harry stuttered.
Ginny sighed. "Look, I'm really sorry about-"
"Gin, what are you apologizing for? I'm the one who broke up with you."
There was an eerie silence that seemed to last for a full minute. "P-pardon?" Ginny asked.
"You what?" Neville questioned.
Harry frowned. "You heard me. I'm truly sorry if I broke your heart, Gin, but you have to realize why I did it. You have to understand, it's for your own good. I have to protect you, Gin." I, er, had to? Where I came from. Uh, yeah.
Ginny gaped at him, then looked at Neville. "Harry, are you feeling all right?" she questioned, putting a hand to his forehead. Shivers went down Harry's spine. Realization dawned on Neville, suddenly.
"Ohh, hey Ginny? Harry suddenly fainted in front of Dumbledore's office, and he has a concussion. Dumbledore said that he would remember some things that haven't happened… just give him a few weeks and he'll be fine."
Harry put on a convincing expression, which worked wonderfully, seeing as he really was extremely confused.
Ginny nodded. "Well, as I was saying, Harry, I just wanted to apologize. You know, for callingHillary a bi-"
"Heyy, Harry," crooned a female voice from behind Harry. He spun around to find a girl standing there with one hand on her hip. She had long, blonde hair, blue eyes, and long legs. Whoa, Harry thought, as he stared at the girl before him, his gaze travelling down her V-neck, way too low, shirt.
"Like what you see?" The girl whispered seductively with a wink. Harry blushed and tore his gaze away.
"Er…" Harry stuttered, but was quickly interrupted.
"Harry, darling," she said in a sickly sweet voice, "I have told you before, you absolutely cannot associate with her." She gestured towards Ginny. Harry caught Ginny clenching her fists as her face grew red as a tomato. Her Weasley temper was rising quickly. Neville, meanwhile, was also staring at the girl, but Ginny elbowed him and he looked away, obviously embarrassed.
Harry normally would've fiercely defended the redhead beside him, but circumstances right now were in no way close to normal. He was mesmerized by this blonde, long-legged beauty.
"I – er…wait what do you mean?" he stuttered in a daze. Harry did not notice Ginny rolling her eyes as they flashed dangerously. She had her arms crossed defensively across her chest. She cut in quickly, her words slicing through the air with venom.
"Why hello, Hillary. Long time no see. It has to have been… oh dear Merlin above …since this morning! What is this world coming to!" Ginny gasped in exaggerated shock.
Hillary cast Ginny a look of superiority and hatred. "Harry, darling, we'd best be getting away from her. It isn't worth your time. Besides, we have more… important things to do, right Harrykins?" she crooned, raising an eyebrow suggestively and winking in the direction of a nearby broom closet.
Harry didn't reply (oh, actually, he did. It was a sort of grunting/gurgling noise. But to Hillary, it most certainly meant yes), which prompted the girl to seize his arm and drag him off towards the broom closet.
"Bloody 6th year Hufflepuff," Ginny fumed at the two retreating figures. "Harry is a really sweet person, but when he's around that girl he just becomes a pile of mush."
"Yeah," Neville said dreamily as he stared at Hillary.
"EARTH TO NEVILLE!" Ginny shrieked and waved her hand in front of the boy's face.
"Oh, er… right. Right. I agree," Neville stated firmly. God, he did hate her, no matter how hott she was. She put most of the Hogwarts male population under a spell or something. And she took advantage of that. Majorly.
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Harry was so shocked that he hardly registered what was happening. A half hour later, he gracefully stepped (try… tripped and fell on the floor) out of the broom closet, his glasses crooked, hair more wild than usual, with wrinkled clothes and lipstick smeared across his face.
What a lovely sight to see.
He stumbled back to the Gryffindor dorms in a daze and sunk into a bed. He was completely exhausted. He wondered why his brain was in such a fog. He couldn't think! Harry let his weary mind relax and sunk his head further into the pillow. What a day.
He was walking out of the dorm now. He walked into the Gryffindor common room and sank into a couch. At the same time, Ginny walked through the portrait and saw him. She glared at him coldly and held her head high as she quickly walked across the room without sparing him another glance. She disappeared up the stairs to the girls' dorms a moment later.
His scar gave painful throb and he cried out in pain.
Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas were pointing at him suspiciously.
Rita Skeeter had written another ridiculous article about him.
He was also banned from playing Quidditch for the rest of his life.
Whispers broke out everywhere in the Great Hall, before Harry realized he was in the common room. How silly of him.
But soon enough, Madame Pomfrey was forcing a Dreamless Sleep potion down his throat.
Harry slept without dreaming for a couple hours…days…decades…eternity. Nothing mattered at the moment. Time was relative.
Suddenly, Cedric appeared… then Sirius… then Dumbledore. They all frowned at him and turned away. Harry continued floating in a sea of nothingness… but wait.
Then Voldemort's sneering face was just inches from Harry's. His wand raised, and lowered.
"I choose you," the Dark Lord said viciously. A green flash engulfed him.
Harry woke up with a start. He was breathing heavily and his scar was aching…er… sorry… his scar was not there. My apologies, the author had a brain fart and narrowly avoided using this typical and seemingly cliché line. Please do continue reading.
Harry's mind was sluggishly trying to process what was going on. I must have fallen asleep… what a terrible dream. How horrible it would be to live like that. Thank Merlin none of that ever came close to happening.
Soon enough, Harry let himself fall asleep again and the dream went in a different direction.
"Harry, have you seen my Remembrall? I seem to have lost it," said Neville, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "You seem to have a certain talent for retrieving it, eh?" He said with a clumsy grin plastered on his face.
Harry grinned as he held the tiny, golden Snitch in his hand and the crowd erupted into cheers.
A party was raging in the Gryffindor common room as a result of the Quidditch Cup being won. In a daze, Harry grabbed a certain redhead and kissed her firmly on the lips. He could almost see fireworks going off…
Fred and George Weasley were gripping their brooms triumphantly, much to the dismay of Umbridge. "Give her hell from us, Peeves."
Hagrid was taking Harry shopping. This was all so surreal… hours ago Harry had no idea that he was a wizard at all, and now, he was the proud owner of a wand, an owl, and much more! Hagrid gave Harry his ticket to the train, leaving Harry in excitement.
He looked down at the Ginny lying on the cold stone floor in the Chamber of Secrets. He was relieved to find her still alive… and beautiful as ever to him…
Harry laughed despite his uncle's presence. His Aunt Marge was rapidly inflating, rather like a balloon.
Harry groggily woke up once more. His brain was in another fog. That was a much better dream. I could live like that.
Harry suddenly regained his senses and sat up tiredly. When he realized the content of his dreams, he groaned. Everything was so confusing.
But now, he was in a new world. He didn't even have to be the Boy Who Lived! He could lead a normal life without the wizarding world's burden on his shoulders. He could only begin to fathom the opportunities!
But why wasn't he excited? This world could bring everything he ever wanted. What was the hesitation in Harry's mind?
Harry tried to shake his uneasiness from his shoulders, but it wouldn't shove.
What was wrong with him?
Why couldn't he just be happy?
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A/N: Hmm, I wonder why? Sorry for the longish wait. I'll try to update a couple more times before "hell week" (band camp from 8am-5pm, oh joyous). Tennis tryouts are from 9-11am that week also so I basically have no time to write. Any suggestions? Ideas? You know what to do.
REVIEW!
Oh, and who likes the idea of Harry having a slutty girlfriend? Haha. I mean, his father was quite the womanizer, and if Harry isn't the Boy Who Lived with rumors flying around, he could possibly be like his father. Hmm?
Again, REVIEW! I really want more reviews ;)