A/N-Update update update! This is another update! LaLa! Eh hem...Sorry about that! I think there is only one chapter left...I think I can tie up any lose ends by then...I've answered all your questions right? I haven't? Oh well! We can't have everything can we?
Chapter 11-Never been loved
Harry followed Ginny out onto the lawn and cleared his throat nervously. Ginny shivered slightly as the sun was setting and there was a chill in the air. "Oh here. Take my sweatshirt." Harry pulled off his blue hooded sweatshirt and handed it to Ginny.
"Thanks." Ginny said trying to ignore how nice it smelled. Harry's green eyes seemed to glow as they faced the sunset. His messy hair was blowing in the gentle wind and his smile made her tremble. He was wearing a tight gray t-shirt that revealed how hard he had worked at Quidditch this year. Ginny blinked her eyes quickly and looked away. "So Harry, what did you want to talk about?"
Harry smiled and started swaying back and forth. "I just wanted to know how you're doing."
Ginny gave a confused look. "You talked to me the whole train ride home Harry. You know I'm fine."
"I know. I just wanted to be alone with you I guess. You don't mind do you?" He grasped her hand softly and took a step closer. "You know I'd do anything for you right?"
Ginny didn't let go of his hand but stepped back a little. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her. "What are you talking about? Why are you acting like this Harry?"
Harry let go of her hand and looked away. He interlaced his fingers on top of his head and sighed. "I just care about you Ginny. I didn't know how much I cared about you until now. I want us to be together Ginny."
Ginny's eyes began to tear against her wishes. She was furious and confused. "WHY HARRY? WHY NOW? If the twins put you up to this-"
Harry placed a hand on her cheek. "They didn't put me up to this….I promise. I just needed you to know how I felt."
Ginny pushed Harry harshly into a tree he was standing near. "SEVEN YEARS HARRY! SEVEN! You didn't pay any attention to me all that time and now when I appear to have given up…..You-you bring me out here to tell me like this!" Ginny was crying severely now.
So much time had passed since she had given up on him. Now that he seemed interested she couldn't ignore how it affected her as if she had never stopped wanting to be with him. Harry felt terrible now. He wasn't trying to hurt her. He wasn't sure what he was doing. Ginny was crying uncontrollably which caused Harry to pull her into a tight hug. He began to rock her back and forth. "It's alright Ginny. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Ginny pulled away and looked at him appallingly. "Then why are you telling me this now Harry? How could you come here and pull this stunt? You know what Harry? I'm not going to lie to you….You still affect me the same way you did all those years ago. You still-you still- "
Harry smiled and leaned into kiss her but Ginny pulled away and cried out. "It's too late for this Harry! You're too late! I moved on a long time ago!"
Ginny's words had unlocked a fire buried deep inside Harry's stomach that he always ignored in the past. He couldn't let it be too late. He wanted to be with her. He pulled her back to him. "It's not too late Ginny! It can't be too late. You have to give me a second chance! Please?" Harry pleaded.
Ginny shook her head and bit her lip. The thought of Draco inside the house with her family while she was fighting with Harry about their feelings for each other felt terribly wrong. An enormous amount of guilt crept inside her throat. "I can't Harry. I just can't now." She shifted her eyes to the ground trying to stop the tears.
Harry placed both hands on her cheeks and moved her face up to look at him. He took a deep breath as his eyes now filled with tears. "I love you Ginny."
Ginny broke free from his grasp and started pacing frantically. "Don't say that! Don't you dare say that! You can't say that! Not now Harry!"
Now that the words had left Harry's lips he felt relieved and confident. He had just discovered his feelings for her and was truly ready to take on any obstacle to make her his. He spoke extremely relaxed and certain. "But that's how I feel Ginny. I can't ignore it any longer. I love you."
"STOP IT! No you don't! You don't love me!"
"Yes Ginny, I do." Harry said with a smile as he watched her pace back and forth. "Nothing you say is going to change that….Now the question is, do you love me?"
Ginny stopped pacing and stood completely still with her eyes fixed on his. Minutes went by when Ginny suddenly stepped towards him and whispered. "I can't."
She ran towards the house and bolted through the door. She ran up the stairs ignoring everyone's questions of concern for her. They could tell she had been crying and wondered where Harry was. Draco asked Mrs. Weasley if he could be the one to check on her. "Of course dear. But please come down and tell us what's going on as soon as you can."
"I will Ma'am." Draco said and walked up the stairs. He knocked softly on the door.
Ginny shouted loudly. "Go away Harry! You're terrible! How could you?"
Draco became infuriated and threw open the door. "What did he do to you?" He demanded through heavy breaths.
Ginny wiped her eyes and sat up from her bed. "Oh it's you. Nothing. He didn't do anything…..All those years and he didn't do anything until now! I hate him!" She began to sob loudly and laid back down as Draco closed her door behind him.
"What happened?" Draco said as he placed his hand on her back.
Ginny shook her head. "It doesn't matter! He's an awful procrastinating git and I hate him!"
Draco laughed. "He's a what? What happened Kitten?"
Ginny sat up trying to wipe her eyes again. "He told me something Draco….Something terrible!"
Draco pulled her to him and rubbed her back and arms. "Alright, alright. What did he say that was so terrible?"
"He said-he said….He said that he loved me! Can you believe him? How could he say something so horrible?" Ginny cried.
Draco stopped rubbing her arms and looked her in they eye. "Why is that so horrible?" Draco was beginning to feel rage grow inside him.
"Because he's too late Draco. He had all those years to tell me and he waits until it doesn't matter anymore. He's such a-"
"Is he really too late Ginny? Are you sure it doesn't matter anymore?" Draco said trying to hide his anger but Ginny could see his face becoming flushed.
"I uh." Ginny was suddenly regretting not placing a locking charm on her door when she first came upstairs.
"You seem extremely upset over someone who doesn't matter anymore." Draco said with fury. Ginny couldn't answer. The large lump of guilt that had formed in her throat was growing larger. "Do you love him Ginny?"
Just then Harry walked into the room and ignored Draco's presence. "Ginny, I'm sorry if I upset you. I just needed to let you know how I felt. I'm going to go-"
Draco stood and yelled. "Don't bother Potter! I was just leaving. I think she has something to tell you." Draco stormed out and mentioned something to Mrs. Weasley about going for a walk before stepping outside.
He contemplated leaving at that very moment but he had no place to go. The thought of leaving Ginny alone with Harry in her fragile state made him punch a tree in anger. After examining his bloody and stinging hand, he cursed himself for being so stupid. He needed to escape and think things through.
Back in the house Ginny was hiding her face in her pillow wishing everything that had just happened would simply go away. Everyone had run upstairs now and was crowded around her door waiting for an explanation. Harry chuckled nervously as they were all staring at him. "Um, we sort of had a little discussion and I think I've upset her-"
"You think?" Shouted Ron. His tone startled Harry and Ginny.
Harry pressed his lips together and shoved his hands in his pants pockets. "Yes….Maybe I should just go….I'm sorry."
Harry headed for the door but Ginny whispered in between tears. "No, don't go Harry."
Harry smiled and ran over to her on the bed. "I won't you guys give us a few minutes?" Harry asked politely.
Ron shook his head and crossed his arms. "No we can't. Whatever you two have to say to each other can be said in front of us. Ouch!" Mrs. Weasley slapped him in the back of the head and herded her family back downstairs just before she shut the door.
Ginny sat up and wiped her eyes. She stroked Harry's cheek with her hand gently. Harry felt as if his heart would beat out of his chest. Ginny whispered as she hugged him tightly. "I do love you Harry. I really do."
Harry's wide smile strained the muscles in his cheeks. "I knew it. I should have done this a long time ago. It's just that when I saw you with Malfoy it made me realize how much I cared for you. It made me so jealous."
Ginny pulled away and smiled. "I wasn't finished….I do love you Harry but not the same way you love me. I won't deny that I'm attracted to you because I am. But that's not enough. I love you like I love my brothers. This infatuation I've had over you will eventually go away. Actually, I thought it already had until we were outside together but I'm just going to have to ignore it. The truth is Harry, I want to be with Draco…..Even though he's acting like a prat right now."
"What? You must be joking! He's just using you!" Harry yelled.
"Using me? For what? You don't even know him!" Ginny screamed.
"Neither do you Ginny! Do you honestly think he's going to treat you any better than he treated Pansy Parkinson? This little act he's got going will fade away soon. When he's done with you he's just going to toss you aside like he did her! Don't be stupid Ginny!"
Ginny slapped Harry hard across the face and stormed out of the room. She bumped into Ron on the stairs who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He grabbed Ginny's arms gently and looked her in the eye. "What are you doing Ginny?"
"I'm getting out of here! I need to get away from Harry!" Ginny screamed.
"What about Malfoy?" Ron asked with a raised eyebrow. "You just let him go….You didn't even try and stop him. What are you doing to him?"
"He's the one who stormed out! He's the one who's jumping to conclusions Ron….Not me!" Ginny yelled.
Ron shook his head in disbelief. "Ginny, what do you expect him to think? You go on a walk with Harry and run back in crying and yelling about him loving you. Where does that leave Malfoy?"
"Well, if he would have just waited and let me clear things up with Harry-"
"Are you listening to yourself? You wanted Draco Malfoy to wait patiently for you while you cleared your feelings up with his arch enemy? I think I know him better than you because he reacted exactly how I would expect him too. I can't believe how selfish you're being. You need to decide right now Ginny. It's Malfoy or Harry….You can't have them both." Ron said in a commanding tone.
"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" Ginny said trying to hide her smile. "You're right. I was acting like a selfish brat. I'll go find him." Ginny kissed Ron on the cheek and hurried downstairs and outside. She figured Draco would be waiting for her close by but she didn't see him anywhere.
She eyed the line of trees that surrounded the Burrow. It was getting darker by the minute. "Draco?" Ginny yelled as she walked quickly around her backyard. She was still wearing Harry's sweatshirt but it was getting more windy and cold. Suddenly she heard someone yelling her name from behind.
"Ginny!" Harry yelled as he was now looking for her. Ginny panicked and ducked behind a tree. She took off deep into the woods hoping Harry hadn't caught sight of her. The wind was increasing even further causing Ginny to tumble into bushes and trees. Debris was flying around from all angles and Ginny ducked just in time as a branch flew right over her head. She was terrified for Draco's safety along with her own. She came upon a small cave and decided to take temporary shelter there until the wind died down. It was after all, summer so the wind surely wouldn't last too much longer.
Once in the safety of the cave she sat on the ground and began to remove leaves and tiny rocks that had become tangled in her hair. The sound of the wind whistling outside was eerie and made Ginny shutter in fright. Suddenly she realized the sound that was scaring her wasn't the wind at all….It was growling and it was coming from deep in the cave behind her. She gasped and looked at the opening of the cave. The debris outside was getting worse and was extremely dangerous. She could hear the growling getting closer so she took a deep breath and turned to face it. There just behind her was the same blue eyes she had seen at Hogwarts.
Ginny muffled her scream and retreated slightly. She covered her mouth and tried to control her heavy breathing. "Nice doggy….Please tell me you're not hungry." Ginny whispered.
Just then a large tree fell near the entrance cracking and smashing the ground below. Ginny turned around only for a second but then faced the white wolf again who was stepping even closer and growling more. Ginny began to whimper. "I'm not going out there if that's what you're thinking. I have just as much right to be in here as you do."
The wolf's bark echoed loudly through the cave causing Ginny to cover her ears and scream. She took a deep breath again and began to whisper. "Nice doggy….You can trust me." The wolf barked even louder. "Okay sorry! Nice wolfie? I'm just trying to find someone. Someone who is a complete git for getting me stuck in some ridiculous summer wind storm and eaten by a huge wolf!"
The wolf bared its teeth and barked again. "Well he is! I mean really! What is he thinking storming out of my room like that? I know Ron said that I was being selfish but-" Just then the wolf stopped growling and tilted his head. He sat back on his hind legs looking intrigued. Ginny gave a perplexed look but decided to continue talking to keep the wolf calm. If her talking meant postponing him eating her, she could talk all night.
"And then he said that Draco acted exactly how he should! He wanted to know why I didn't stop Draco from leaving and what I was doing to him. I think Ron has either gone crazy or he actually trusts Draco. He couldn't possibly want me with he?" The wolf began to pant and look at Ginny curiously. "The tone Ron used with Harry was strange. I've never heard him sound so angry at Harry. You'd think he would have put Harry up to this but Harry said no one put him up to it." Ginny sighed. "He loves me. I can't believe after all this time, he loves me." The wolf began to growl again but Ginny was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she just kept talking.
Ginny covered her face with her hands. "Oh God! Draco must hate me for even caring! Which I really don't! It was just shocking after all this time. I didn't mean to act like it mattered! How could I do that to him? I don't want Harry! I want Draco! He's the one who makes me tremble when he touches me. His smile makes me melt. When he looks into my eyes it feels like he's unlocking every secret in my mind. I love how he makes me feel. I love the way he holds me. I love him! Aaahhhh!" Ginny looked to her side and found herself nose to nose with the white wolf. The wolf licked her cheek which caused Ginny to back away and cry loudly.
"Draco? Oh God Draco! Please help me!" Ginny scrunched down into a ball and started crying uncontrollably. She was whispering between tears. "Draco….Draco…"
"I'm here Kitten." His tender voice answered as he stroked her back. Ginny sniffed and opened her eyes.
"Draco? How did you? When did?" Ginny was confused as she looked around for the wolf. "Where did it go? It was just about to eat me! It even licked me!"
Draco started laughing loudly as he knelt next to her. "Sorry about that."
Ginny wiped away her tears. "What do you mean you're sorry?"
"Well I couldn't very well kiss you like that could I?" He said still laughing.
Ginny suddenly realized. "You're an animagus? You're a wolf? You scared me you prat! You were growling at me!"
Draco nodded and blushed. "Well I was jealous alright? I'm sorry I never told you. I only learned how to do it during last term."
Ginny jumped up happily but then fell as she bumped her head on the top of the cave. She rubbed her head and squinted in pain. "This is so wonderful!"
"What's so wonderful about it? It's not hard to do when you put your mind to it." Draco said as he stroked the part of her head she bumped.
"Not that hard? It's extremely hard!" Ginny yelled.
"How would you know? You ever tried it?" Draco said arrogantly.
"Ye-What? You don't-I mean….I guess I wouldn't know." Ginny said carefully.
"Exactly. Anyhow, I started practicing for a while when I considered running away like a coward from everything. Kind of like what I'm doing now but I didn't know that I would have so many people willing to help me. I figured I would hide out like that one bloke, Sirius Black did until everyone had forgotten me. I can transform whenever I want. It's so easy. As long as I think about something I really desire it happens immediately." Draco said as he held her hand and looked outside now and then.
Ginny smiled and hugged him. "What did you think about?"
Draco returned the smile. "Well you mostly. That's what made it so simple. But sometimes I thought about that kitten….You remember Red. On the nights I couldn't find her I would transform and go looking for her. I only found her once as a wolf. She bit me the little brat. Remember that 'Quidditch injury' I told you about? I lied. I just didn't want to admit that I had gotten hurt by that tiny kitten again. I can't have you thinking I'm weak now can I? I don't know where that mischievous cat would go sometimes. Now that I think of it, I wonder where she is right now. I hope someone's feeding her. She's so small and helpless."
Ginny bit her tongue. Why she didn't confess at that moment was beyond her. Draco shook his head. "Good God! I'm talking as much as Granger!"
"Yeah you are…Why is that?" Ginny wondered. Draco shrugged and tried to hide a grin. "What? What is it? Why are you smiling?"
Draco bit his bottom lip, pulled her close eyeing her adoringly. "I love you too Kitten."
Ginny immediately blushed remembering what she had said earlier. He kissed her softly and ran his fingers through her hair. Ginny deepened the kiss realizing what he had just said. She shoved him against the cave wall and pressed her body against his. Draco laughed. "Calm down. Let's get out of here."
They walked out of the cave hand in hand. The wind had died down enough for them to safely walk back to the burrow. Draco looked Ginny up and down and removed his green sweatshirt. "You should take that off. Potter may get the wrong idea."
Ginny looked down at Harry's sweatshirt and giggled as Draco handed her his own sweatshirt. "You're right. This is going to be very uncomfortable."
Draco laughed. "Oh I wouldn't say that."
Ginny stopped and stared at him. "You wouldn't? What do you think that drama was earlier? A picnic?"
Draco shrugged but spoke confidently. "You're forgetting who you're dealing with. I hate to say it but Potter's a decent guy. He's not going to try to come between us if he's sure that we care for each other. I have a feeling he'll surprise you once he's had a chance to think things through. I don't doubt that he loves you Ginny. It's kind of hard not to. I just think he'll step aside for your happiness."
Ginny gaped at Draco's sudden change. "You're extremely different now. You've never been so honest or in tune with emotions."
"I've never been loved before Ginny." He said as she winced at the thought of him never feeling love from anyone his entire life. "I've never had a reason to show this side of myself to anyone. I promise you from this day forward you'll get nothing but the real me." Draco kissed her forehead and gestured for her to continue walking.