Disclaimer- J.K. Rowling/Warner Bros. own all things Potter. This story is in no way intended as an infringement of that copyright.
A/N- Thanks to those who have taken their time to read this. Added thanks to those who've taken the time to review. You're thoughts and opinions are appreciated.
I know its been awhile since I've posted anything. Life Happens. Sometimes it affects things like writing time. However, in an effort to make it up to those who have been waiting for the next chapter- I've made this one longer. I hope you like it.
Chapter 12
Ginny noticed that something was distinctly different with both Harry and Hermione when they re-entered the kitchen and took their seats at the table. She also noticed that Harry's features were downcast, almost ashamed, whereas Hermione's was clearly angry.
Not being able to remember a time when she'd ever seen Hermione particularly mad at Harry, Ginny wondered for a moment what could have happened. Of course Ron was oblivious to all of this as he shoveled food into his mouth. However Ginny suspected that both her parents were aware that something was going on. They just chose to keep their mouths shut about it. For now anyway.
Ginny however had no such intentions; "Everything alright?"
"Fine," Hermione quipped, glaring at Harry.
Harry looked at her and shrugged his shoulders, "I'm good. Sorry we took so long,"
There was something about Harry, the cast of his facial features and his body language as a whole that had Ginny feeling that something was really off. He seemed a little down today, almost depressed. He had taken off to be by himself earlier and now he was acting almost guilty. Like he'd been caught at something that he didn't want to be, and after the conversations she'd had with Ron and Hermione just today...and then it clicked.
The only reason that Harry would be acting guilty and Hermione angry is if he had done, or tried to do something particularly stupid. While she continued eating her dinner, Ginny watched and stole glances at Harry and Hermione both.
Hermione went about eating her dinner with an angry gusto. She looked up once to see Ginny watching her and ever so slightly shook her head. Whether it meant don't worry about it, or now was not the time to discus the issue, Ginny wasn't sure. She decided to err on the side of caution.
As she watched Harry, she noticed him looking at Hermione a little mutinously, and when he looked at Ginny or even her Mum, it was different. Almost apologetic. This only served to convince Ginny of what she already knew: Harry was trying to leave again.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, she knew she was right. And if Hermione was mad at Harry then it meant that he'd just tried to leave. Without them. Again.
It took Ginny several moments to bring her temper under control. Now would not be a good time to draw attention to the fact that she was angry, nor would it be a good time to advertise something that she knew would have to happen eventually. That in order to get things started with this hunt for the Horcruxes, that they were going to have to leave. Mum would be devastated.
The others at the table were not immune to the situation that was going on since Hermione and Harry came back into the room. Except for Ron, who continued shoveling food into his mouth, Ginny noticed that her Mum and Dad were strangely silent as they ate. Even Dobby, who was normally happy to be bustling around the kitchen as he prepared food, set out dishes or whisked away dirty ones, felt the growing tension. He dropped a stack of plates as he moved them off the table making everyone jump.
Ron, who nearly choked from the surprise, saw Dobby running to bang his head into the wall in a fit of self punishment for the transgression.
"Oh no you don't," Ron said reaching out and catching him.
Dobby struggled momentarily; "Dobby broke the dishes sir! Dobby must be punished!"
"Fine then, your punishment is to clean up the mess. Then its over. It's no use bashing yourself into the wall over it," Ron said in a voice that was both half amused and half exasperated.
"Harry's Weezy is too kind. He must truly be a good friend to Harry," Dobby said as he finally settled down. He set about immediately cleaning up the mess of shattered glass and getting it thrown away.
"Well..., Sure, Yeah, I guess so," Ron said as his ears turned red.
Ginny stifled a grin, relaxing a bit at the sudden distraction. Chancing a look over at Hermione, it was clear that she too was distracted. At the moment she was beaming at Ron and her eyes were glistening.
Grateful for the distraction, Ginny took another opportunity to steal a glance at Harry. He was looking at her directly. Immediately a strong sense of anger flooded through her veins. How could Harry do this? How could he leave and abandon them? Again, now, after everything that had happened? After the conversation they'd had just that afternoon? What was he thinking?
The anger she felt must have been successfully communicated in the look she returned. Harry's eyes widened and he quickly looked away. Good. He shouldn't be happy about what it was he tried to do, Ginny thought.
Later that evening it was a very quiet night in Grimmauld Place. No one seemed to want to talk. Ron had tried to get first Harry, then Hermione, and finally Ginny talking and then sat down frustrated when no one really responded to his efforts to have a conversation or maybe even strike up a game of Wizard's Chess.
Ginny watched all of this with a growing sense of anger. It wasn't Ron's fault that everyone else in the drawing room was so upset. Harry had tried excusing himself from the room but neither Hermione nor Ginny would let him go alone, except to the loo.
That was when Ron started figuring out that something wasn't right, and that Harry was at the center of it. He turned first towards Hermione, but at the look she wore turned to Ginny instead.
"What is it? What's Harry done now? He wasn't trying to leave again, was he?"
She knew that Ron only meant his question as a joke, but his bringing it up this way only made it that much worse. Ginny leveled a look at her brother and saw his eyes widen as he realized that what he'd meant as a joke was actually really what was going on. His look of surprise was replaced by one of anger.
"You're not serious, are you? Was that why Hermione left at dinner? Did she...?" Ron turned and looked at Hermione who was by now looking back at him.
"Yes, I caught him. Shh. Your parents are still awake,"
"I'm going to kill him!" Ron exclaimed in an angry whisper.
Join the club, Ginny thought. She couldn't decide which feeling dominated right now; anger, betrayal, hurt that he would leave them, especially her after everything that had happened just so recently... She could feel the emotions roiling around in her stomach like a bubbling cauldron.
Right now she was waiting. As soon as her parents went to bed, she was going to get some answers from Harry. If she had to curse him in his bed and hold him there, then by Merlin's Beard she would do it!
Ginny had never been so mad at Harry. She'd never been so sorely tempted to curse him with something just to make him stop and listen. Well, she'd get her chance soon enough. Harry Potter had a load of explaining to do, this was true. But he had a LOT more listening to do as well.
When Harry left the loo, he didn't bother coming back downstairs. Instead he just went into the bedroom he'd been using, the one that had belonged to Sirius, and shut the door. It was obvious to Ginny he knew that everyone was mad at him at the moment. She just would make sure he understood the why's and how's of it.
Looking at Hermione and Ron, Ginny found that they were locked into a deep, though virtually silent, discussion. She waited until they paused for a moment before asking; "What is it?"
"We're trying to decide about when we want to go talk to Harry," Hermione answered promptly.
"I say we go now. I want to hit him!" Ron growled.
"Ron! That's a terrible thing to say!" Hermione chided him.
"Who cares?" Ron snarled back, "Harry bloody well doesn't, that's for certain. If he did, he wouldn't keep trying to run out of here like a Dementor avoiding a Patronus!"
"Ron, you need to calm down. Hitting Harry won't solve anything and you know it!" Hermione told him. Ginny thought she looked much like she wouldn't mind hitting Harry herself.
As angry as she was with him, as hurt as she'd been by the thought of him trying to leave them all again, seeing Ron and Hermione this angry with Harry did have one effect on her that she didn't expect. It arouse feelings of loyalty and love.
Ginny, now also feeling very confused at the moment, was feeling a deep seated need to defend the one she loved. At the moment it was quite the effort to keep her mouth shut.
However she felt; Harry needed to account for his actions, "We'll talk to him. But I think we should wait until Mum and Dad go to bed to do it. Otherwise we might cause more problems than we'd solve,"
Hermione was nodding in agreement with Ginny as she said this. Ron looked from his sister to Hermione and back to Ginny again. He shrugged his shoulders and settled back into his seat. There was nothing left to do now but wait. Ginny was determined to get her answers and she knew that she would have them soon enough.
As it turned out, her parents went to bed not long after dinner. The fact that dinner was late and that there was still grieving to be done over the loss of Percy and Charlie probably had a lot to do with the headache and claims of being tired that were voiced by her Mum.
That was also something that still hurt in Ginny's heart as well. Her brothers were gone. That was a wound that cut deep and Harry trying to leave her when she needed him most hurt her even more. All she wanted from him right now was for him to hold her and let her grieve her loss. Damn him for trying to do something so selfish that she didn't want to be near him because of it!
When Hermione stood up to go get dressed for bed, Ginny took it as her cue to get moving as well. They all three went up the stairs and got into their pajamas before Ron knocked softly on the door of the bedroom Ginny and Hermione shared. Hermione answered it and Ron stepped into their room.
"I don't know about you two, but I want to talk to Harry now,"
"Impatient are we?" Ginny asked him.
"I want to know what the Bloody Hell he was thinking, trying to run off like that. Didn't we agree to go with him? Doesn't he realize that this is our fight too?"
"Ron, I'm sure he does. At least on some level. You know Harry as well as I do. He's already seen people get hurt and some even killed since Voldemort came back..You don't need to do that!" Hermione chided him crossly when Ron winced at hearing Voldemort's name mentioned, "My point is that Harry probably thinks that maybe he can prevent more people being hurt or killed if he faces this alone. I don't think he understands that he's wrong and that the one who will be hurt or killed is him,"
"I thought you were as mad at him as I am," Ron said looking askance at Hermione, "What're you playing at?"
"I'm not playing at anything, Ron. I've just been trying to put things into perspective," Hermione answered.
They made their way down the hall towards the room that was Harry's. Ginny reached out and tried the door. It wasn't locked. She opened the door and stepped inside the room followed immediately by both Ron and Hermione. As soon as the door clicked shut, Ron pointed his wand at the door and said quietly; "Muffliato!"
Harry's eyes flew open and he sat up in bed quickly, his hand reaching for his wand. Ginny, in a moment's inspiration, reacted faster.
"Accio wand!" She said. Harry's wand flew out of his closing grip and into Ginny's hand.
His eyes betrayed his confusion, but Ginny was just getting warmed up. The feelings she'd held back of anger, hurt, betrayal, and frustration boiled over. Directing her wand at Harry she quickly fired off three curses; "Silencio! Langlock! Petrificus Totalus!"
Arms and legs immediately locking to his sides and becoming rigid, Harry was laying flat on his back, propped up only slightly by his pillow now. The look on his face was frozen in shock and even hinted at a little fear. Good. If he was a little afraid of her, maybe he would be more likely to listen to what she had to say. And the fact of the matter was, Ginny had a LOT to say.
She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to start laying into him, but Ron startled exclamation interrupted her.
"Bloody Hell, Ginny! What was that?" Ron asked.
"He's going to listen. He's going to listen and he's going to pay attention. Apparently what we'd told him before didn't sink in. This time I want to make sure it does,"
"But petrifying him?" Ron asked.
Ginny shrugged. She wasn't going to apologize for what she'd done. As deeply as Harry had hurt her by trying to leave, again, she figured he'd gotten off lucky. At least she'd not hit him with the bat bogey curse. Yet.
Not wasting any time, Ginny immediately climbed up on Harry's bed and straddled his stomach so he could look right into her eyes. She took out her wand and held it pointed at his nose. In another situation the sight of Harry's eyes crossing as they looked at the tip of Ginny's wand might have been comical. But the hint of fear she saw in those emerald green orbs that she loved so much made the situation anything but funny. He was completely powerless and at her mercy.
"Harry James Potter! You are going to listen to me and you will hear what it is that I have to say, do you understand me! You...you...you ARSE! How could you do it? How could you even think it? After everything that just happened, now you want to leave us again? What the Bloody Hell do you think you're doing? You're not the only one in this fight! It isn't just you that's in danger! Don't you get that? Ooh!" Ginny shouted as her emotions gave way and she took a moment to get her thoughts together again. She felt angry tears welling up in her eyes but she didn't care. Maybe Harry seeing her like this might help to drive the message home.
"I know you didn't ask any of us to join you, least of all me! But you know what? We did! We joined you because we believe in you! We believe in what you're doing and what it is that you have to do.
We've agreed to do this with you, Harry. Not because we have to or even because we want to. We're here, all of us, because we love you. I love you. I love you, Harry Potter and damn it that should bloody well be worth something!
You think you're protecting us by leaving again? Is that it? Let me make this quite clear; you're not. You're not going anywhere. Not without us going with you. Do you hear me? Not. Without. Us. Going. With. You!"
By this time Ginny was leaned over and nose to nose with Harry. She could see the emotions he was feeling in his eyes. Anger, was there. So was fear. There was love present too, which in her current mood made Ginny's reaction to the next emotion all the more severe. She saw pain. A lot of pain.
Thinking quickly Ginny moved off of Harry's chest but the pain in his eyes didn't go away. She took a moment to step aside and compose herself. While she did this, Hermione cleared her throat. Apparently she was going to get a few things off her chest too.
"Harry, I'm sorry. I know that you must think we're being horrible and cruel. But please try and see things from our perspective. How do you think we felt to find out that you were trying to leave again? Last time you left us and went off by yourself, you were nearly killed. Do you really think any of us want that to happen? You need us, Harry. You need more than you think. Do you want to know something? We need you too. Ron needs you, I need you and Ginny needs you. You're abandoning us all and everything that we've ever done by trying to take off on your own again.
I know that you are the chosen one, Harry. I understand that. I understand that going with you puts us in danger. But Ginny is right. My parents have moved to Australia, I may never see them again," Hermione's voice broke at this point but still she went on. Ron stepped forward and put an arm around her shoulders. He handed her his handkerchief as she went on, "But I did that so that I could go with you. All of us, Ginny, Ron, Me, Ron's parents, Remus, Tonks, Bill, and more people than I can name right now, we all believe in you and what it is that you have to do. But the fact is, Harry, you cannot do it alone.
We'll find the Horcruxes. We have a way to destroy them when we find them. But Harry, we're your friends. You have to trust us. You have to. The way that we trust you. Or used to,"
"She's right, mate. Walking out on us doesn't do anyone any good. Not after all the trouble we went to. Me, Hermione, my family, and everyone else have chosen to support you and make sure that you would be able to fight this war. You can't walk out on us now.
Don't make my brothers deaths in vain. Help me, help us, make those deaths count for something. We'll leave here and we'll find those damned Horcruxes. We can't do that and stay here, I get it. You know that mum will have kittens when that happens. You know that she'll worry about Ginny and I. But you know what mate? She'll worry about you too. She loves you. Dad loves you. You know how much leaving again will make them worry?
If we're going to make Mum and Dad worry, if we're going to walk out of here and do this thing, then we're going to go together. I'm not going to watch everyone try and put you together again. Not without knowing that we did everything we could to fight them and beat them.
Harry, you're my best mate. But I'm telling you now, if you try to leave again without us. I'll curse you myself and have done with it,"
Ginny had turned and looked at her brother. There was no mistaking the sincerity in his tone or his eyes. She looked over at Harry and studied him for a moment. She then went back over to Harry and this time sat down next to him.
Resting her hand gently on his chest, she bent down low so that their faces were very close and her words could be whispered for him and him alone to hear.
"Harry, I love you. I really do. I know that we've really not had much time alone together since all this began. I'm sure hurting me or Hermione, or my Mum or Dad wasn't something you thought of when you decided to leave either time. But you can't keep hurting people if you need them to help you. And the fact of the matter is you really do need us. Hermione was right about that. But we need you, no, I need you too.
Please Harry, listen to us. Listen to me. Let's finish this thing that you have started. Then maybe once everything is said and done, we can have some time together and see what happens. Maybe then we can see what its like being a couple and not having anything hanging over our heads to worry about. We can be together. I would love that, Harry. You said you love me, and I believed you. But after these most recent events you're making me wonder if you were telling me the truth when you said that. I don't like having to second guess your feelings about me, Harry. Please, just think about this. I love you, Harry. Really I do. I'm sorry I had to do this. I didn't think you'd really listen any other way."
Finished with what she had to say, Ginny gently, lovingly, pressed a kiss on Harry's petrified cheek. She stood up then with Harry's wand still in her hand.
"I'm holding on to this. You'll get it back in the morning. Right now, I just want you to think about what we've said. I know that sounds very patronizing and I'm sorry about that. Your drastic steps to try and get away and do things on your own have given me cause to take some steps myself. Remember, I love you,"
At that Ron cancelled the Muffliato charm on the room and opened the door. As everyone filed out, Ginny pointed her wand at Harry one more time.
"Finite Incantatum," She said quietly. She then stepped out of the room.
They stood outside the door for a minute as they listened. There were no sounds from the inside of Harry's room. Ginny looked at Hermione who shook her head slightly.
"He's probably in shock. That must have been quite the experience for him," Hermione said, her voice nothing more than the slightest whisper.
"Good," Ron said bluntly, his voice just as quiet, "Maybe he'll think about what we said to him,"
"Do you think it will do any good?" asked Hermione.
"I hope so, I sincerely do," Ginny answered.
"You really love him, don't you?" Ron asked her.
Both girls turned and looked at Ron incredulously.
"What I meant was," Ron went on hastily, "That he really means a lot to you. That he's not just some other boyfriend like Dean or Mark were,"
Ginny and Hermione looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"What?" Ron asked, looking confused.
As Ginny was lying in bed that night waiting for sleep to claim her, her mind wandered back over the things she'd said to Harry and the feelings that having to say those things to him had brought up in her.
She had to admit that she felt confused. Harry had finally, gloriously, told Ginny that he loved her. She remembered back to that night when they'd first showed up at Grimmauld Place and that horrible nightmare he'd had. It had felt so good to be able to hold him and not have Harry push her away telling her that they couldn't be together.
It had hurt more than she'd cared to admit when Harry had taken it upon himself to leave everyone and go gallivanting off to Hogwarts by himself when they'd heard the news of her two brothers.
She knew why Harry had left; he was blaming himself and wanted to be out there doing something. Ginny even identified with this to some degree. What bothered her was his callous disregard for her, and everyone else in the house with her. She knew that Remus was upset beyond words with Harry but had quickly put that aside when Harry had returned back to them injured.
It was no secret that everyone else in the house had been upset with him as well. However, after his recent injuries and the time it had taken him to heal from them, most everyone seemed willing to put those angry, hurt feelings aside. For awhile anyway.
She knew that Harry only wanted to protect them. To keep them from getting hurt. But how could he be so short sighted? He had to have known everything that they'd said to him tonight. Ginny felt more than a little angry that he'd had to be reminded of it at all.
What would he do next? She wondered with more than a little exasperation. She honestly didn't think that Harry would have made this latest attempt. Not after the injuries he'd sustained the last time he went off by himself. She would never forget the sight of him lying there, helpless, in an expanding pool of blood. The thought of coming so close to being killed when there was so much left to do would have scared her.
Could that be it? Ginny wondered, Could he be scared?
There would be no blaming him if he was. He had lost his parents to Voldemort as an infant and nearly lost his own life when bumping into him while trying to get the tools he would need to destroy those Horcrux things. That had to have affected him. Could he have felt that more intensely than anyone had realized?
Feeling suddenly guilty for yelling at him and cursing him the way she had, Ginny was forced to admit that she likely had just stumbled on the real reason why Harry had tried running off this time so recently. He was scared to death.
It made perfect sense. Everyone else in the house knew that it would be Harry who faced You-Know-Who. It was a common topic of conversation. It wasn't like it was something that Harry could get away from.
This new food for thought occupied Ginny's mind as she finally drifted off to sleep in the early morning hours.
When her eyes opened the next morning, Ginny felt tired but better. She'd gotten a lot off her chest when she went in and let go on Harry. That his feelings were probably hurt by the things that were said and done crossed her mind. Ginny decided that in the end, this would be a small price to pay if it accomplished something.
That set her mind to thinking about everything she'd said to him. That she was angry with Harry for the things he'd done, or tried to do, there could be no doubt. But having slept through the night thinking about his actions and the things she'd said to him left Ginny wondering. What were Harry's thoughts about all of this? Surely he had to have some.
Sitting up in her bed, Ginny noticed that Hermione was starting to stir as well. As she reached out to pick up the clothes she'd laid aside the night before, her eyes fell upon Harry's wand.
Dressing quickly and quietly so as to allow Hermione a few minutes more sleep, Ginny was brushing her hair but still she kept looking at the wand. Putting down her hairbrush, she picked it up and looked at it closely.
She'd heard more than once that it was Holly and Phoenix feather. It was about eleven inches long and seemed to be in very good shape considering all of the things that Ginny knew that it had been through. There were little scratches and scuff marks but otherwise the wand was perfectly fine. It felt a little odd in her hand; kind of like borrowing someone else's jacket for an hour or two. On a whim she pointed the wand at her hairbrush and levitated it over towards the dresser where she set the brush down.
"Having fun are we?" A tired Hermione asked as she sat up.
"I was just looking at Harry's wand," Ginny explained, looking a little sheepish.
"You don't think that maybe you over did things by doing that, do you?"
"No Hermione, I don't. I think I did the right thing. He's not going to go anywhere without his wand. That means he'll have to stay here and think about what we've said," Standing up now with his wand in her hand, Ginny looked at her best friend defensively, "Maybe this time it will have sunk in."
"I hope it does. He has so much to do, the last thing he needs is to think that he can't trust us,"
"I know that. I just got so...mad!" Ginny exclaimed. Then sitting down with a sigh she went on, "I can't explain how much it hurt to find out that he was trying to leave again. It felt like..."
"A slap in the face?" Hermione asked quietly. Ginny nodded.
"You know, I really do love him."
"Which is one reason why it hurts so much. You feel like he's abandoning you when you went to such great lengths to be there for him," Reasoned Hermione who was now finishing up getting dressed herself.
Watching Hermione for a moment, Ginny was struck by a stray thought; "What about you and Ron?"
It was asked very gently and quietly. She tried to convey in her tone and the way she spoke that she genuinely wanted to know and to be there for Hermione as her friend was there for her.
"What about him?" Hermione asked carefully.
Ginny just looked expectantly at friend until she seemed to deflate and sat down with a sigh. She looked up at Ginny and said; "I just don't know,"
"What do you mean, 'you just don't know?' You like him, don't you?"
"I think its a little more complicated than that," Hermione said, her voice still quiet.
"Why do you say that?"
Hermione looked long and hard at Ginny, as if she was assessing her. Ginny waited patiently for Hermione to decide how she wanted to phrase what it was that she was going to say next.
"Ron is...Ron. Sometimes I think he likes me and that maybe something is developing between us. Then there's other times when he says something really insensitive or opinionated and I'm not so sure."
Knowing that Hermione wasn't done, Ginny waited a few moments for her friend to go on. Seeing that her friend was assessing how Ginny had just taken what she'd said, she added a polite nod for Hermione to go on.
"It's not that I don't like him. If I'm being honest with myself, I have to admit that I do. It's just that..."
"You're afraid you're going to be hurt by him. That maybe even if you two do end up together, that maybe it won't work out," Ginny finished. Hermione nodded.
She stood up and sat down next to her friend. Since everything had happened at Bill's wedding, and then the sudden trip here followed by the death or her brothers, the arrival of her parents and the near death of Harry, the two friends had had precious little time to really talk. It seemed like if it wasn't one thing, it was another. Right now though things were quiet. Harry was sleeping down the hall. Ron was out in his room. Even her parents were likely still asleep. They alone were the only two awake in the house. To Ginny at least it was a perfect opportunity to catch up on things.
Wrapping an arm around Hermione, Ginny pulled her in close. She felt her friends head rest on her shoulder as she sighed again deeply.
"You really want it to happen, don't you?" Ginny asked gently.
She felt Hermione nod her head even as she whispered, "Yes,"
"Have you ever given any thought to the fact that maybe you'll have to...um...help things along?"
"Ginny, I couldn't do that," Hermione said shyly.
In that moment, Ginny realized something. For all of her friend's intelligence. For as smart as Hermione was and for as much as Harry, Ron, and others relied on her, when it came to matters of her own heart, Hermione was just as scared and vulnerable as anyone else. It was quite the realization to make.
"Why not?" Ginny asked kindly.
She didn't want to add that it had worked for Lavender. She'd seen Hermione's face the first time Ron had snogged her. That was a memory that she really didn't think Hermione would appreciate right now.
"That's just not...me,"
"Maybe not, but it could be. I don't think he would object. In fact, I think Ron's the kind of bloke who really doesn't have much of a clue until a girl makes it obvious to him,"
"Ginny!"
"I'm not saying you have to go and snog him. Try something simple, like holding his hand. If that seems like to much, try smiling at him a little more. I think you'll be surprised at the response you get," Ginny explained as she pulled her friend in for a bit of a tighter squeeze.
She thought it was kind of different, her giving Hermione advice for once. However she also felt like she owed it to her friend. It was Hermione's advice that had, in no small part, finally helped Harry to take notice of her last year.
"I don't know, Ginny. With all of this that we have to go through, I'm not sure if now is even the time to be thinking about a relationship with Ron or anyone,"
"If not now, when? We may be going through all of this for quite a while. Who knows when its going to be over? Who knows how many more will be gone before it is? I say take what you can get while you can. You don't know what tomorrow has in store,"
"Do you think Harry is going to try and leave again?" Hermione asked.
Ginny noted the subject change and let it slide. She was worried about Harry and how he was going to handle everything that he'd been put through the night before. Talking to Hermione about Ron and their relationship, if you wanted to call it that, had given her mind a blessed break about what might be happening with Harry.
Now that the conversation seemed to have stalled, Hermione and Ginny gave each other a quick hug before stealing out into the hall. It took only a moment to decide what to do next.
Holding Harry's wand in her hand, Ginny crept back down to Harry's room and opened the door just a little bit. He was facing away from the door and looked like he might still be sleeping. Thinking for a moment that she might just leave his wand quietly on his nightstand, Ginny opened the door to go into his room.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked from behind her.
"I was going to return his wand to him,"
"You can do that later. Let him sleep,"
Closing the door behind her, Ginny noticed that it no longer squeaked. Had it always been like this? She couldn't remember.
They went downstairs to the kitchen and found Dobby hard at work getting things ready to prepare breakfast. He looked up at the two girls who had interrupted his work.
"Oh! Hello Miss Weezy, Miss Granger. Is Harry Potter alright?" Dobby asked worriedly.
"I'm sure he's fine, Dobby. Why do you ask?" Hermione smiled sweetly at the diminutive house elf.
"Dobby heard Harry Potter in the night. Harry Potter was most upset, he was..." Dobby seemed to feel as if he were betraying some kind of secret. He turned and grabbed for a rolling pin. Ginny, sensing what was about to happen, deftly took the rolling pin out of Dobby's hands before he could hurt himself with it.
"Dobby," Hermione said looking aghast, "Why would you do that? You shouldn't hurt yourself if you're concerned about Harry. There's nothing wrong with telling us he's upset,"
"She's right, Dobby. You're being a good friend to Harry by talking to us," Ginny added. Hermione nodded her agreement.
The elves bulbous eyes glistened and shined as he looked admiringly up at the two young women. His large, bat-like ears quivered a little as he seemed to be evaluating them. Finally Dobby looked down at the floor, wiped his nose on the filthy wrap he wore and said,
"Harry Potter was still awake when Dobby went in to his room to make sure Harry's blankets hadn't fallen to the floor. Harry Potter moves a lot in his sleep. Last night, Harry Potter was...crying." Dobby's eyes looked around like he was searching for something to harm himself with, immediately Hermione interjected.
"He might have been upset or sad, did he tell you what was wrong?"
"No, Harry Potter would not say what was wrong. But Dobby still worries about his friend..." He stopped cold and his eyes went wide as he looked at the wand in Ginny's hands.
"You have Harry Potter's wand!" The elf accused looking scandalized, "You should not have Harry's wand! That wand belongs to Harry Potter! You give that wand back!" The elf ordered. He was looking more and more upset by the second.
"She tried, Dobby. Ginny did try. I told her to let him sleep!" Hermione exclaimed in a harsh whisper.
"Miss should not have taken Harry Potter's wand!" Dobby admonished, "You is not a good friend!"
Ginny felt horrible being taken to task by the house elf. What was more was she thought he was right. She just didn't want Harry running off again. She didn't mean to..
"I'm sorry! Dobby, please believe me, I'm very sorry! I...I'm going to go give it back to him," Ginny said on her way out of the room.
"Hmph" Dobby said crossing his arms. His eyes followed her out the door before they turned back on Hermione.
"Why would Harry Potter's friend take his wand?"
"It's a long story, Dobby," Hermione said feeling the heat creep up in her cheeks.
He continued to look at Hermione expectantly, so Hermione added quietly, "Harry tried to leave again. You saw what happened last time. He's just barely recovered from that. We didn't want him to do anything rash,"
The look of horror that appeared on Dobby's face made Hermione question the wisdom of telling the house elf what it was they were up to.
"Harry Potter cannot go outside! The Wizarding World is not safe for him!"
"We know that, Dobby. That's why Ginny took his wand last night,"
"Miss doesn't understand! This is bad! Very, very bad!" With a snap of his fingers, the elf disappeared. He left a very bewildered Hermione behind him.
Ginny had made it upstairs and was standing outside Harry's room again. She wasn't sure how she felt about this house elf taking after her the way he did but she figured he must have meant well. Besides, maybe it was overstepping things a little bit to take Harry's wand from him.
Cracking open the door, Ginny peeked inside. The room was still dark but she could just make out his form under the blankets. Checking the hall to make sure the coast was clear, she then entered his bedroom.
It took only a minute for her eyes to become used to the gloom. There was some light coming in from the window and that helped. Ginny carefully walked around the bed to the side of the wall that Harry was facing. She only meant to deposit his wand on his nightstand and leave the room. What stopped her was the expression on his face that he wore as he was sleeping.
She sat down on the chair next to his bed to study him a little closer. This was the same chair that she had occupied while he was recovering from his fight with Voldemort and his Death Eaters. His hair was covering a lot of his face, Ginny gently and with a lover's touch brushed it aside.
At this point a sudden compulsion came over Ginny. One she was powerless to fight against. As mad as she was at him, as much as he'd hurt her, he looked so helpless lying there asleep. Her heart swelled as she watched him sleep. No matter what, Ginny loved him.
That she loved him was not something that she'd ever denied. How deep that love went was another matter. It wasn't until recently that Ginny had found out the true depth of her feelings for Harry. There was only one problem.
While Ginny knew that Harry loved her, she wasn't completely sure how deep his feelings for her ran. That he'd tried to run off after being hurt so badly before did a lot to undermine her confidence in those feelings that he was supposed to have.
"Ginny,...please," Harry sighed in his sleep.
This caught her off guard. He was dreaming of her? What was he dreaming about? Was it a good dream?
"No, please, not her," Harry's whisper was pleading. What was going on in this dream? Ginny found herself wishing suddenly she knew more about Legillemency.
"No, take me, not her. Don't hurt her, please. I'll do anything just leave Ginny alone,"
Harry started moving in his sleep, becoming restless. He was clearly having some sort of dream about her and in it he was begging for Ginny not to be hurt. Her heart went out to him. While she wanted to let him sleep, she couldn't help but think that it might be kinder to wake him up and let him see that she was alright.
Leaning forward she gently pressed a kiss on Harry's cheek. It didn't seem to have much of an effect. Switching her seat from the chair to the edge of his bed, Ginny started brushing his hair back from his face and gently kissing his cheeks, forehead, and even his lips.
While she was gentle about what she was doing, there was an insistence to it. She really wanted Harry to wake up and see that she was okay, even if he was going to be mad at her for what happened the night before. Ginny just couldn't bare to see him this way when the situation was so easily fixable.
"Leave her alone! Don't touch her! Take me, please, take me!" Harry exclaimed.
"Harry! Harry my love, wake up!" Ginny told him. Her voice was a little louder this time.
She was holding his face in her hands when his eyes flew open suddenly.
"Oh! Ginny!? I...? Are you...?" Harry said in a pained whisper.
Feeling his heart thudding rapidly in his chest, she pulled Harry into a warm and tight embrace. She held him tightly while he recovered from his dream. There was no denying how good it felt to feel his arms wrap around her and pull her tightly into him.
"Are you okay, love?" Ginny asked.
Harry pulled away and embarrassedly wiped at his eyes, "I'm sorry,"
"For what? For dreaming? You couldn't help that," She was brushing the hair away from his face, looking into the eyes that she loved so much. There was no hint of the anger there that she thought she would see.
"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered again, looking down. Ginny could see a tear sliding slowly down his cheek.
"Harry, it's okay. Nothing is happening. It was only a dream," Reaching out she pulled him to her again and held him there for a long time. That he let her do this Ginny took as a positive sign. Maybe they could avoid the row that she had thought was coming today.
"Ginny," Harry whispered against her neck.
"Hmm..?" She responded quietly. Truth be told she was truly enjoying this moment of closeness to him. That he felt comfortable being vulnerable with her spoke volumes, she thought. Ginny wasn't ready to give up that moment any time soon if she could help it.
"I love you," Harry breathed quietly, "I'm sorry if what I tried to do hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you like that,"
"You didn't leave. You're still here and you're not going to go anywhere without us, right?" Ginny asked.
She got more reassurance from how much more tightly he held her to him than his words when he answered, "No, I'm not going anywhere without you. Not after...not after...that,"
Ginny carefully pulled away from Harry now. She wanted to see his eyes. When she looked into them, her heart melted. There could be no doubt of his truth or sincerity. Nor could there be any doubt that he loved her and cared for her deeply.
As she was looking into his eyes, her mind started faltering and her heart started picking up it's pace. They leaned forward into each other and kissed. Gently at first, then with more heat and fire. There was a need and a passion to this kiss that Ginny hadn't felt since that recent day back in her bedroom at the Burrow. And even that paled in comparison to the way she was being kissed now.
All sense of time was lost during those minutes that Ginny and Harry were alone together in his room. They took that time to get to know each other. They kissed, they talked, they shared joys and fears. It was time that they needed.
Later that morning, the sun was just coming to pause on the horizon as it began its daily climb into the sky as Harry and Ginny left his room. There was a closeness to them that hadn't been there before.
When they entered into the kitchen, it was to find Hermione, in a conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley
"So where could Dobby have gone?" Mrs. Weasley was asking her husband.
"I'm not sure. House elves have always had their own kind of magic. Unlike humans, they don't use wands and," Mr. Weasley leveled a serious look at Hermione, "are quite content to live their lives in servitude. That is their preference. Dobby seems to be more one of a kind in that he likes his freedom. Where a free house elf would go when he's upset is anyone's guess,"
Mrs. Weasley had noticed Ginny and Harry come into the kitchen together. She was happy that after this last summer, Harry seemed to be coming around about Ginny. Mrs. Weasley knew that Harry had broken things off with her because he didn't want to see her get hurt. However if their relationship was developing like it seemed to be, maybe he would think twice before wanting to leave again. If that was the case, that meant that she could keep her children closer to her and away from this madness that seemed to be happening everywhere these days. That was something to be happy about.
Mr. Weasley only smiled at his daughter and Harry as they entered the room, as did Hermione. Ginny was ecstatic. There was a new confidence to her that had everything to do with what she and Harry had just shared. She and Harry had had a long and very educational talk about various things. The feeling now of his hand firmly grasping hers as they entered the kitchen only seemed to underline the things that they had discussed. Hearing her parents and Hermione talking about Dobby made Ginny do a double take.
"Dobby's not here?" Ginny asked.
"No, he left right after you went upstairs," explained Hermione carefully.
"Dobby left? Where did he go?" Harry asked.
"That's just it, Harry. We don't know," Mr. Weasley advised.
Ginny thought he looked like he wanted to ask more but stopped. When she saw the look on Hermione's face, she understood why. Her parents still didn't know about what had happened just yesterday.
Before more could be said, Ron came stumbling down the stairs. He was only half awake as he entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. He did a bit of a double take seeing Harry and Ginny holding hands and seeing that their was obviously no animosity between them.
"Alright there, Harry?" Ron asked tiredly.
"Sure, never better," Harry replied sheepishly.
"What's for breakfast? I'm hungry," Looking around expectantly, there was still no sign of the house elf, "Where's Dobby?"
Hermione looked a little annoyed at Ron's expectation that the house elf should be there to answer his whimsical needs. Her jaw set and her eyes took on a fiery gleam.
"I'm sure he's waiting for you to call on him, just so he can serve you," she said waspishly.
Ron looked back at Hermione in confusion, "I only meant that..."
"Oh, I think we can all infer what you meant, Ronald," Hermione interrupted him her tone colored by anger.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley traded knowing looks. Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes. Mr. Weasley answered Ron's question for him with a tolerant look at Hermione. His eyes, always so kind and curious, had a bit of a worried look as he spoke, "Dobby has left this morning. Apparently something upset him and he disapparated away,"
"What upset him?" Ron asked.
Harry looked annoyed at the question. Ginny couldn't blame him. She was sure that if Ron only thought about it a moment, he'd clue in.
"I'm not sure," Mr. Weasley said as he turned to Hermione, "Do you know what it might have been?"
Looking suddenly uncomfortable with everyone's attention on her, Hermione looked like she wanted nothing more than to escape the room. Her face started turning a bright pink.
*POP*
In the midst of the kitchen, Dobby suddenly appeared again. He looked very distressed and was weighed down with an armful of Daily Prophets. Everyone jumped, especially Harry who seemed to have been particularly affected by the elf's sudden appearance.
"Dobby!" Harry exclaimed as he stepped forward to take the precariously piled bundle of papers the elf was carrying.
"Harry Potter is too kind!" Dobby said gratefully.
It turned out that not only did the house elf have a dozen copies of different days worth of the Daily Prophet, but he'd also done a bit of shopping. He was carrying some bacon, eggs, and the makings of biscuits in a large burlap sack he had slung over one shoulder.
While Harry was setting down the newspapers, Dobby went about putting the items out to use for making breakfast. Harry was turning back to Ginny when he heard Hermione make a loud noise.
"Oh no!"
"What is it, Hermione?" Mr. Weasley asked, his voice full of concern.
"It's Harry!" She exclaimed her voice very shrill.
Turning back to look at her, Harry was surprised to see the fearful look on her face. Her hands were trembling as she picked up a copy of the Prophet that was several days old.
On the front cover was a picture of Harry from what looked like the beginning of sixth year. Above the picture was a big, bold caption that read; 'Harry Potter; the Unstable One?'
Holding the paper in hands that shook, she read on;
'Harry Potter the Unstable One?
Recent events that have occurred at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry resulting in the death of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore have recently been reported by this paper.
Reputedly with Professor Dumbledore at the time of his death was none other than the famed Harry Potter, aka The Chosen One.
Mr. Potter, who is still wanted for questioning in the death of his Headmaster, with whom reports say he was alone and off school grounds only moments prior to his death, is also now being sought for questioning in the deaths of several other wizards including the accomplished Auror Alistair "Mad-Eye" Moody, notorious murderer and Azkaban escapee Sirius Black, and fellow student Cedric Diggory.
Reports from eyewitness accounts suggest that Mr. Potter was with all of these individuals immediately before their untimely deaths.
Other students from Hogwarts have reported Harry is known to associate himself with wizards of power, such as Professor Dumbledore, or who are of questionable repute such as his former and controversial Hogwarts teacher, Professor Remus J. Lupin, who is known to be a friend of Sirius Black's and a werewolf.
According to one student, Mr. Draco Malfoy, Potter is known to have a temper and has in the past assaulted other students when angered. This statement was supported and confirmed by other Hogwarts students Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.
Percy Weasley, the late brother to Potter's known friend and confidante, Ronald Weasley, and until the time of his death a working Ministry official, had been heard decrying Potter and those who support him. It is interesting to note that Mr. Weasley's death occurred outside the Ministry, along side the death of his brother who was there for unknown reasons. Could it have been an attempt to garner support for Mr. Potter and his cause?
Since Harry Potter is on the run and has not yet been located, he has not been able to be brought in for questioning by the Ministry. Even if it's just to clear his own name.
We here at the Daily Prophet caution our readers to exercise extreme caution if they are ever confronted with Harry Potter. Do not try to detain him but do call upon the Ministry of Magic who will dispatch Aurors to bring Potter in for questioning.'
"What a load of tripe!" Ron exclaimed standing up in Harry's defense when Hermione finished reading the article.
"Language, Ron," Mrs. Weasley chided her youngest son.
"I'm sorry, Mum but they really can't expect people to believe this, can they?"
Dobby looked up at Ron and nodded his head, his eyes shining and solemn.
"Harry's Weezy is loyal to his friend, he is most noble. But he is wrong. It is bad out there for Harry Potter. He must not go outside. Many bad wizards are looking for him!"
Ginny looked at Dobby closely. It was clear that the elf really believed what he was saying. Looking at the stack of newspapers in front of them, she could see why. A motion next to her shook her out of her thoughts. Harry was leaving the room and he was in a hurry.
Looking back at the others, she could see the looks on her parents faces. The expression her mother wore particularly reflected her own feelings; there was no way Harry could have been involved in any of these things he was being linked to.
Ron stood up to follow his friend. Hermione and Ginny were right behind him. There was the sound of a door slamming from upstairs.
"Poor dear," Mrs. Weasley said quietly as she sniffled, "When we were with Harry, at Hogwarts, he was torn up over the death of Cedric Diggory..."
"Professor Dumbledore was particularly concerned for Harry," Hermione added, "He didn't want any of us to talk to him until after he'd had a chance to speak to us first. Hearing these accusations being leveled at him, even knowing that they aren't true, can't have been easy for him,"
"Harry knows that we don't believe any of that though," Ron stated firmly.
"But that doesn't make hearing it come out of the Daily Prophet any easier to bare," Mr. Weasley answered wisely.
Silent while everyone else was talking, Ginny's eyes kept going back towards the door that Harry had just left through. Her heart ached to hold him. To reassure him that no one believed any of this nonsense from the Prophet, particularly her.
"We should go after him," Ron said looking concerned.
"I think that's a good idea, but give him a minute first," Mrs. Weasley said as her eyes turned towards the ceiling, "The poor dear just had quite a shock."
Turning towards the stack of papers still on the table that were now scattered pell mell over the top of it, Mr. Weasley picked up another copy of the Prophet.
"What are you doing, Dad?" Ron asked scandalously.
"I'm reading these papers. We've been so out of touch these last few days, I want to know what's going on. Something tells me that we may have missed something important," Mr. Weasley said as he settled back to read.
Ginny was torn. She wanted to go on up after Harry. She felt that he needed her. Looking at Ron and Hermione, she could see that they felt the same way. Though truth be told it also looked like Hermione too wanted to get her hands on another one of the papers Dobby had brought back with him.
Her mother caught her eye. There was a great sadness there. Her mum had been through so much. But there was love and kindness too. Ginny knew that her mother understood. That was confirmed when she nodded at her only daughter, "Go on, Dear. I think Harry needs you right now."
That was all Ginny needed to hear.