Disclaimer: I don't own. I only own Riona. Joy.
Feeling Known
Kathryn Ella/Short 'n Simple
Summary: Can a previously unknown girl befriend the Gryffindors and pals, and help them find true happiness within themselves? Matchmaking and pranks. Chaos ensues. Lord knows what else.
: Chapter Two,Loss of Vigor:
Harry just stood, smiling, and walked out of the compartment, taking his time, wondering if Ron found Hermione, and wondering who this girl was that Neville had met. His thoughts soon turned to a redheaded beauty he had given up. He sighed, and remained quiet until the feast.
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A sudden sense of depression grew over the large group of students. The sudden overpowerment of the loss of the headmaster overwhelmed some.
Harry completely lost his vigor, and became sluggish. Hermione almost reduced back to tears, sending Ron into another one of his fits. Ginny looked over at Harry, a few second glance, but enough to tell her she was going to need help with keeping Harry's spirits up this year.
The redhead sighed and quickened her pace, catching up to the Quidditch Captain, laying a hand on his shoulder. The sparks that were sent through her body surprised her, familiar, causing her grip to faulter.
Harry himself shuddered lightly as he felt the ominous sparks shoot through his body, and quickly turned, "Yes," He caught her eye, "Ginny, what's wrong?"
She narrowed her eyes, and scrunched up her face, softening moments later, "I'm.. I just don't want to see you upset, is all..."
Harry smiled, "I'm alright..." He felt his throat dry, and tears tickle the backs of his eyes, "I just...
Ginny blinked, the change in his voice was a dead giveaway, "Oh.. Harry..."
He shook his head, stopping, leaving the other students to pass them. He let his body fall backwards, all his weight against the wall. "I'm.." He shook his head, "Fine..."
Ginny stared at him, and shook her head, stepping towards him, "Tell me.. tell me the truth. I don't want to sit here and watch you suffer."
Harry shook his head, listening to the reoccurring voices, the sound of Albus' voice when he pleaded to Snape. The sounds of his best friends sobbing, the sounds of his teachers. The look of Dumbledore's limp body. He felt his body fall, and his shoulders shake with such force he fell, only to be caught.
Though, it didn't keep him from falling apart.
Ginny sat there, hold his upper body in her lap, his head cradled against her chest. She stroked his hair, murmuring sweet nothings, her voice wavering, and she too, began to cry.
Passer-bys did nothing but stare and keep on, not uttering a word out loud nor taking a moment to ask.
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McGonagall sat quietly, eyeing the crowd from her new spot at the Head's Table. The sorting had ended, as well as the song-- A queer warning of sorts -- and everyone remained silent.
She stood, pushed back the large, eloquently designed chair. She spoke lightly, her old voice weary, but loud.
"Welcome back, students, I know this may seem... Odd, but I will be taking over as Headmisstress. Though I know I will never be able to take Professor Dumbledore's spot completely." She took a breath, stopping herself while she was ahead.
"I would like to inform you that the slight inconvenience on the train this afternoon was nothing to be alarmed of, though we are still not quite sure what happened.
"We are taking safety precautions to another level this year, aurors will be stationed around the castle, protrolling with the prefects and heads. Who I would love to announce happily."
She eyed Hermione Granger and Zacharias Smith. "This years appointed heads are, Hermione Granger-"
Hermione stood and nodded, blushing as her housemates and classmates clapped for her.
"-And Zacharius Smith." McGonagall smiled politely when he stood, and clapped.
"Now, after the feast I would like to speak with the Heads." She waved her right hand and the food appeared instantly, the faces of the students brightening slightly, "Now, eat."
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Riona looked up at Zacharius as he stood, she could care less about the prat. She sneered at him as he sat back down.
The prat should go burn in hell, he doesn't deserve the Head's spot. She thought bitterly, not listening to the end of Professor McGonagalls annoucements and was thouroghly surprised when the food appeared, causing her to fall backwards. She swore under her breath as people laughed.
Riona stood making a haste effort to leave the Hall. She pushed open the large doors and stopped, watching carefully.
Here, she witnessed Ginny continuing to hold the sobbing Harry.
The redhehad stroked his hair, and kissed his forehead, her own shoulders shaking. Harry let out a cry of depair and fisted Ginny's robes, she just held him tighter.
Riona felt tears well behind her eyes and she hurried past them, and up the stairs, tripping as she went. She walked quickly towards the Hufflepuff common room where a few idle housemates laid around. She sighed and made her way towards the girls dorms and lay on her bed.
What is wrong with myself? She let out a soft breath of air, I mean... I wonder what happened to Harry, he looked so... upset. She kept making up possible answers, but soon lolled herself to sleep only to know she would wake in a few hours to watch the stars dissapear and the sun rise.
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Ron exited the feast early, in search of his best friend, whom he had not seen since he had chased after Hermione. "What fun that was." Ron thought sarcasticly, rolling his eyes.
He bade farewell to the Head Girl and opened the large doors, staring at the sight in front of him. Ron strode toward his upset friend and baby sister.
"Ginny?"
Ginny looked up, her eyes red, "Ron... he's so upset."
Ron looked towards Harry and took a deep breath.
"Help me carry him, Ron, take him to the common room to rest." She tried to move from under him, but no luck, Harry had fallen asleep, his body exhausted.
Ron sighed and picked Harry up, and walked towards the stairs. "Go get something to eat, Gin, you must be hungry."
"But-"
"He'll be fine."
Ginny shook her head and wiped her eyes, "Fine, but I want to see him when I come back."
Ron just nodded and proceded up to the seventh floor and muttered the password to the Fat Lady, laying Harry down on the common room couch.
He sat in an arm chair, ignoring the murmurs coming form his housemates, and stared into the fire, his thoughts of Hermione and Harry filling his mind.