A/N: I am glad you all enjoyed chapter one. There is a lot more angst to come with this story, which was created by the war. Anyway no more dribble, more story.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine.
Chapter Two: Harry's Secret
The fun filled night, mixed in with some emotional moments, thankfully ended with laughs as old childhood stories were shared. Only Hermione and Ron never spoke of ones involving Harry. It was as if he never existed. Ginny snuggled into her old bed and breathed in the scents from the blankets of jasmine and cinnamon. Hermione lay on the bed across from her, transfigured from a chair and pillow.
"I used to count down the days during the school holidays till I came here after my first visit," sighed Hermione, "Your family is so close and loving. I mean my parents are great and all but I would of loved to have had a sibling to share secrets with and all."
"I on the other hand envied you," Ginny replied, "I would sometimes wish to be an only child just so I could have a moment alone. I loved it the year when Ron was at Hogwarts. I had my parents to myself… although by summer I was glad to have them all back."
"It's a pity Percy didn't come."
"Percy who? Oh him… yeah well its his choice… stuck up git."
Ginny heard Hermione's blankets rustle then silence. Ginny rolled over onto her side and closed her eyes murmuring a goodnight to Hermione who muttered one back in reply. And then Ginny drifted to the land of Nod.
G
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP I CAN DO IT MYSELF!"
Ginny jumped awake and kicked the blankets back. Hermione sat up also in shock and was soon following Ginny out into the hallway. The yelling was coming from Fred and Georges room. Ginny ran up the stairs and stopped at the twin's room doorway where Ron stood also in a daze.
"I AM NOT A CRIPPLE!" came Fred's angry voice, "SO STOP TREATING ME LIKE ONE!"
Ginny gasped as she saw Fred on the ground with Molly, Arthur and George trying to help him back up only Fred was refusing their assistance in anyway.
"Fred just let me help you," pleaded George.
"Just because my legs can't work doesn't mean I need you to hold my hand all the time!" shouted back Fred as he reached out to the chair. He pulled it closer inch by inch. Tears filled Ginny's eyes as she saw the task drain energy from him easily. The chair was finally close enough for Fred to move his other arm to help him pull his body up. But as he leaned all his weight onto the chair, it slid backwards and Fred's head connected with the ground. Ginny screamed and Ron gasped. Hermione closed her eyes and turned away as Fred broke down in angry tears. Reluctantly he allowed his twin brother and father to lift him into the chair.
"I HATE THIS! GET LOST AND LEAVE ME ALONE!" roared Fred wiping his tears away, "ALL OF YOU JUST GET!"
Ginny left quickly, sobbing as she ran down the staircase to the kitchen. It was heart breaking to see her brother in such a state, and yet Harry believed he came worse off in the battle – how was that Ginny wanted to know. He wasn't paralysed from the waist to his feet; werewolves didn't eat him or scarred him on the face.
Ginny sat at the kitchen table and took deep breaths to try and calm her sobs. Molly and the others entered seconds later in silence. George sat beside his shaken sister and put a comforting arm around her.
"It's okay Gin. Fred is just having a bad day. He has one every few weeks now," said George softly, "By lunchtime he will be calmer and more social."
"That's not the point. We have to find a cure! I hate seeing him like that," cried Ginny in desperation, "I'm going to find one or create one."
G
Harry watched from his office window as the carriage pulled up in front of the castle. Second's later Ginny and Hermione hopped out of it, dressed warmly in robes, then right after Hermione stepped away from the carriage another red head climbed out – it was Ron. He looked at the castle smiling then turned to his sister saying something funny to make her laugh.
Harry closed the curtains and walked over to the warm, crackling fire. He sat down and closed his eyes only to be welcomes by horrifying, painful images. He opened them breathing heavily. Surely something could be done about them? They were growing worse everyday! He took a deep calming breath and stood up. He walked over to his bathroom and starred into the mirror. Instead of dull, lifeless eyes starring back him, he was welcomed to pain filled ones. No one understood him. He saw to that anyway, by pushing his bestfriend's away and the one girl who really had known him. It was too late to go crawling back anyway. Ginny wouldn't want to hear a word from him and Hermione would just ignore him in her stubborn manner. But what about Ron? Maybe Ron would listen to him.
Harry washed his face with cold water and dried it off as a knock came from his office door. With a sigh he walked to the door opening it to expect a student asking for him to give some advice about the assignments he'd given out during the week. Instead he was welcomed to a grinning Ronald Weasley.
"Hello Harry," smiled Ron, "Been a while hasn't it?"
"Yeah," replied Harry not smiling, "I guess you want to come in?"
"If you want me too."
Harry stepped aside and let Ron walk into his warm office. No photo's could be seen only his desk, lounge chair, bookcase and the staircase leading to his bedroom. Ron nodded as he looked around then turned to Harry.
"So… congratulations on the job," started Ron, "Ginny and Hermione told me and I thought I would come and see you."
Harry nodded, "Well… you've seen me."
"So Ginny and Hermione weren't lying about you were they?"
Harry looked at Ron blankly, though inside he was confused.
"You are heartless and show no emotion to anyone. What's going on inside of you Harry?"
"Nothing is going on with me."
Ron rolled his eyes, "You can do the whole pushing away thing to Hermione and Ginny, but not to me. I know something is going on inside of you."
Harry turned away and walked over to his desk, "I have work to do before tomorrow."
"What did you see Harry? What happened when you were fighting him?"
"It's something I'd rather not discuss."
"It is something you should discuss. Even Sirius and Dumbledore would say the same thing."
Harry tensed up. He turned to Ron looking furious, "Don't mention them around me! I think its time for you to leave!"
"Fine, fine. Calm down, man. I'll talk to you another time," said Ron walking out Harry's office door.
G
The scent of parchment filled her nostrils as she took a deep breath and stretched. Slowly her eyes fluttered open to welcome the dim light of dawn. Ginny sat up and groaned to see all the work she had marked over the weekend blown across the floor of her bedroom.
"Great, just great," muttered Ginny sliding out of her bed. She grabbed her wand and muttered a spell to organize the marked work to arrange into piles. She would have too organize them back into classes during her spare period after breakfast. So much on spending it trying to find a cure for Fred. Ginny took one more evil glance at the messy piles and headed to her bathroom to change into her school day attire, which was her navy blue robes with yellow lining in the inside. She brushed her hair into a simple ponytail and left her room with just her wand. Students wished her a good morning, which Ginny returned with a smile. Hermione joined her half way to the Great Hall and said nothing, only she was smiling… a lot.
"Are you going to talk? At all?" asked Ginny with a frown.
"Maybe," giggled Hermione.
"You sound like my fifth year female students from Hufflepuff. They giggle if you mention the word private and candy cane."
Hermione frowned, "Why?"
"I have no idea… but allow me to demonstrate," said Ginny pointing to a group of female fifth year Hufflepuff's, "So, Hermione," said Ginny as they walked past, "Did you eat your candy cane," the girls burst into giggles, "in private?" Again they giggled earning weird looks from passing students and Hermione.
"I see. I always believed Hufflepuff students were odd when I was a student but that just proves my hypothesis."
Ginny nodded as they entered the Great Hall, "So why are you so Hufflepuff like?"
"Oh… no reason."
"Hermione," said Ginny warningly, "Tell me."
"Okay… well last night Ron and I… kissed."
Ginny waited for Hermione to continue. But when she didn't Ginny gave her a so what look.
"It was the first time we ever kissed."
"Please tell me you are joking!" pleaded Ginny as she sat in her seat beside Harry, with Hermione sitting on her other side, "The two of you have literally been friends for forever and last night was your first kiss? You both have had a thing for each other since at least second year."
"Well things take a while," shrugged Hermione, "Victor and I were to fast. We kissed and that was all."
Ginny nodded, "So are you and Ron finally a couple or not?"
"I don't know. It was a goodbye kiss. A very nice goodbye kiss at that," giggled Hermione like one of the Hufflepuff girls.
Ginny groaned, "Hermione! He is my brother. I don't need to know how he kisses or whether he is good at it."
"Sorry Ginny."
"It's fine but if you don't find out where things stand between you two I will do it myself."
"Why would anything need to happen between them?" spoke up Harry, "They have practically been a couple since the end of sixth year. Neither of them has dated another person."
Ginny watched Hermione look down at her plate in a mixture of shock and anger. Ginny leaned closer to whisper in Hermione's ear.
"I think it's time you told Harry what is on your mind about his attitude. Tell him Hermione."
Hermione nodded, took a deep breath. She stood up, walked over to Harry and said sharply, "I want a word with you, in private, now!"
"I'm not in the mood," sighed Harry.
"Our so called friendship demands upon it now Harry."
Harry rolled his eyes and stood up, "Where shall we talk Professor?"
"In the room where you went during the tri wizard cup."
Hermione turned to Ginny and signalled for her to follow with a look telling Ginny she needed her support with this. Ginny stood and followed the two into the room. Ginny shut the door and turned around to see Harry and Hermione looking at each other, as if each were a stranger.
"You… you think you were the only one who had a hard time during the war," said Hermione, her voice growing stronger we every word, "What you don't realize is everyone in it had a hard time in their own way. We all lost people Harry. Not just you. People are still loosing friends and family from that war to this very day- you aren't. Neville's parents are growing worse as the days go by. Lavender is slowly dying in her coma… Dean… he never speaks after seeing Seamus die. Fred is paralysed and angry a lot of the time. You think you were the only one who saw bad things happen. But did you see Luna get teared to pieces?"
Harry didn't reply but his eyes looked as if they held a ghost inside them. Ginny looked at Hermione, actually concerned for Harry's well being.
"You never once asked myself, or anyone how we were afterwards. Everyone was concerned about you and only you. Yes you fought Voldemort and beat him. But every night peoples who were fighting the Death Eaters, Werewolves, Dementor's, Giants… and who knows what else, wake up screaming. I do… Ginny does, so does Ron."
"Hermione stop…" said Ginny as Harry began to cry.
"No. This needs to be done. You are my friend Harry, but you are heartless and cold with your words. You have pushed everyone who cared about you away… I have a class to teach."
Hermione glared at Harry and left, slamming the door behind her. Ginny looked at Harry in worry as he sat like a broken man sobbing for the world to fix itself.
"Harry?" whispered Ginny walking over too him, "Talk to me… please."
"No one knows and never will know. They don't care!" he yelled looking up causing Ginny to gasp.
There looking at her was the boy she loved. His eyes, full of emotion. His face showing what he felt.
"Harry… I care. I care about you and what is happening inside of you. Talk to me, it will help. I swear."
"Why do you care?"
"Because you and I had something between us. You are my friend Harry."
Harry looked at his hands and sighed, "You don't know what I saw or felt because of him. You were all giving your lives to let me fight him… and I saw and felt everything. He made me see it all and feel everything. When Luna was getting killed… I saw it with my own eyes and felt every limb being pulled from her. I saw and felt Fred save George. I felt and saw Lavender be hit with all of those curses. I felt your heart breaking with everything you saw… I died that night. Even when I did kill him I still died."
"You lost hope and turned your heart to stone," whispered Ginny in tears herself, "I'm sorry for being so nasty. I just didn't know."
"I have things to do," said Harry suddenly, "Bye."
"Bye," whispered Ginny as Harry walked out of the room and on her.
G
Dad,
I took your advice. Well sort of, you know about Harry. He really is in pain. He told me everything and it was heart breaking. Everything that happened in that battle field, he saw and felt their pain. Even mine when I was watching and he saw Fred risk his life for George. For that moment I saw the old Harry come through. The one I fell in love with years ago. Please don't let Mum see this. I'm trusting you Dad with this secret.
Love from your Baby Girl.
Ginny folded the letter and wrote who it was too. She walked over to her owl, Lita and told whom to take it too. The owl gave a soft hoot and flew off into the cold weather.
"Hi."
Ginny spun around to see Harry looking at her, "Hi. How are you? Don't you have a class?"
"I messed up with my schedule," said Harry half smiling.
Ginny smiled, "It happens."
Harry nodded, "I always liked this place, you know. Even with the owls flying around. You feel free and away from your troubles when you stare out the window and take in the view."
Ginny turned back around to look at the view. She felt Harry stand beside her and breathed in his musky scent.
"Great view isn't it?" asked Harry smiling genuinely at Ginny.
"It is," whispered Ginny finding his smell intoxicating and the view breathtaking.
The school lake was frozen giving the illusion of white water with trees surrounding it going from green branches go white tops. The hills were white jagged tops nearly blending in with the grey, almost white sky.
"I wanted to bring you here on a day like this to show you the view," admitted Harry, "I just never got too it."
"Well you have now. Thankyou."
Suddenly Harry stepped back as though he realized something important or disturbing. Ginny turned around and took a step towards him, only to have Harry turn and run away from her. Ginny frowned in confusion. One minute he was fine the next he was skitterish and cold.
Ginny sighed, remembering she had stacks of paper to reorganize in twenty minutes.
G
"I want that essay redone before next Monday. All of your marks were well below the required standard. I understand the holidays were coming up but no other year handed me essays like yours. You are in your fifth year and all the marks you get count towards your O.W.L's. Dismissed," snapped Ginny looking at the Hufflepuff's and Slytherin's sternly.
The students left the room muttering about how awful Professor Weasley was. Hermione walked in smiling and holding the note Ginny had sent her.
"You said you needed to see me," said Hermione expectantly.
Ginny nodded. She opened her mouth about to tell Hermione Harry's secret but closed it. She couldn't. It was something Harry had to tell Hermione himself in his own time.
"Yeah… have you sent a letter to Ron?"
"No… I haven't had a chance. I'll do it tonight."
Ginny nodded as she wiped the bored clean.
"Is that all you wanted?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Ah, yeah."
"Ginny…"
"I can't tell you the truth. I was going to tell you but I can't. It's not my place."
"It's about Harry isn't it?"
Ginny nodded, "He will tell you… it's just hard for him to speak about… just… just tell him you care. You do don't you?"
"He was my bestfriend… I always will care about him."
"Then tell him that. He needs to know that. Not me."
Ginny gathered her things and both her and Hermione headed to the staffroom.
Inside the staffroom the teachers were lounging around, half asleep. Ginny took her usual spot on the sofa and Hermione sat at the table to begin marking class work. Flitwick lazily waved his wand to pour himself a hyperactive tea so he would be awake for dinner.
"I wish it was Friday," murmured Sprout.
"Yeah," came the reply from all of the teachers.
The door opened and Harry walked in looking lifeless, but as tired as every other. The only spare seat was coincidently next to Ginny. Harry took one look and turned and left. Ginny frowned and ran out after him. She glanced around the corridor and saw Harry walking briskly towards his office. Ginny cried out his name and ran after him.
"Harry will you just stop and talk to me?" yelled Ginny as she caught up to him, "Why did you leave? No one said they didn't want you in that room."
"I realized I had something else to do," replied Harry not looking at Ginny.
"Like what? You don't have any classes and Monday is the day assignments are handed out."
"I have classes to prepare for tomorrow."
Ginny sighed, "Tell the truth Harry."
Harry stopped walking, surprising Ginny, "Quit harassing me! What I do is none of your business!"
Ginny just nodded and watched Harry storm off with a glaring look still on his face.
G
Depending on the severeness of the paralysation of the lower body, full recovery can either occur within a short amount of time, over time or not at all. Magic has advantages that the muggles don't. Many forms of paralysation can be cured with a potion, a spell or both. Only in rare cases it hasn't. The ancient witches of Bulgaria believe numbing the upper body and using the bone-healing spell on the lower half can cure paralysis. Modern Bulgarian MEDI wizards and witches still use this remedy today with great success.
Ginny sighed and rubbed her eyes to stop the tiredness. She then wrote the remedy down and closed the book she was reading from and stacked it with the other five she had fully gone through that night.
Three had helpful bits of information, whereas the other two made no sense to Ginny.
"How is the research coming along?"
Ginny looked up to see Harry taking a seat across from her, "What do you want? Have you come too tell me how to not harass you again?"
"Look I was agitated from my previous class."
"Some apology Harry. I suppose your students in your last class are to blame why when you took one look at me and the only spare seat beside me that you took off in a big hurry?"
"No… I can't explain that."
"Because you know why, but you just aren't going to say anything in case it offends me. Wasn't it just a few days ago that you were being the offending one and not having a care in the world?" snapped Ginny standing up with the notes she had, "When you are ready to bring out the Harry I know and l- just let me know."
A/N: Hey everyone… well there is chapter two. Hope you all enjoyed it!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Coz!
