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A/N: A special thanks to all of those who left fun reviews for me to read!
Anyways… I can't believe that we are at Chapter Fifty! :0
When I started this story, I never expected it to become this long. But I got inspired by the story and it just kept extending and extending…
Thanks so much to all of you who have stuck with me to this milestone! :)
As a special thank-you, I decided to gift you with an extra-long chapter. Trust me when I say, that I was tempted, as I always am, to split up the chapters so that I am able to post sooner. It took a lot of resistance on my part.
Take pity on me and leave a long review?
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Chapter Fifty
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Harry was exhausted.
After the incident - which was what he was referring it as - Ginny had lead him back to the Three Broomsticks, where she made him drink a large glass of water.
He was aware that he was being coddled. Treated delicately as though one wrong word or move from her part and he would go off on a mad tangent… Or maybe that wasn't what she was thinking at all and that was what Harry was thinking of himself. Regardless, Harry had felt as though he were petrified the entire time, wondering if he had really, truly, had gone mad.
It was during this time, Ron and Hermione had walked into the Three Broomsticks, took one look at Harry's pale face and came to him right away. Ginny told them what had happened, before Harry took over telling the rest through the shaking in his voice.
It was obvious to him that Ron and Hermione were looking at him in the same way that they had in their second year, when he had heard the voice of the basilisk through the school walls.
After all of this, everything had happened so fast.
As they had been walking back up to the castle, Katie Bell had been cursed by the opal necklace that Harry had seen back before his second year in Borgin and Burkes…
Harry was sure that Draco had been the one behind the attack. In fact, he was positive.
But the looks that he got as he voiced his assumption were skeptical, to say the least.
He spent the remainder of the evening enduring the looks of concern from his friends as he brooded by the fireplace.
The day had been going so great too. His date with Ginny had been amazing. Then he had to go and ruin it by getting hallucinations…
That was what he figured it was. Hallucinations. The question was, were they happening as a result from his lack of sleep, or was Voldemort sending him visions again…?
Harry sighed and grumbled under his breath, breaking the silence that was prominent only in their little corner. "I'm going to bed."
Ginny, who had been lightly holding his hand as she sat next to him by the fire, nodded in understanding. Before she kissed his cheek, her lips lingering on his skin before she pulled away, slowly. Watching him with steady eyes. "Goodnight."
As Harry stood, Ron stood as well from his seat by Hermione on the love seat. "Hey, hold up a minute, mate."
Harry paused by the boy's staircase and waited as Ron hurried over to him. Ron stopped right before him and fidgeted slightly as his hand went up to scratch at the back of his neck. Harry's eyes narrowed in curiosity as he realized that Ron was nervous for some reason... But before Harry could question what was wrong with his mate, Ron dipped his head down low and asked in a low and insecure voice. "Hey, so… I was wondering if I could borrow your invisibility cloak."
Harry's concern lightened considerably as he nodded, and immediately reached into his back pocket for the silky, shimmering fabric. "What for?"
Ron had one hand on the cloak and tucked it under his arm, as he swallowed heavily. He shot a quick look over at where Hermione was still sitting before looking back at Harry, his cheeks as red as his hair. "Er… well, H-Hermione is going to come visit tonight… and she needs a way to sneak out in the morning..."
"Oh." Harry deadpanned, feeling distinctly more uncomfortable than he was previously. His hand nervously lifted to scratch at the back of his head. "Eh… Have fun, I guess?"
Ugh. Why did he say that?
Ron nodded once, without looking at Harry in the eyes, somehow finding his shoes very interesting.
They parted ways immediately after that. Both coming to an unspoken agreement that it was probably for the best that they aren't around one another at the moment.
….
Harry was crawling quietly on the tiled floor, his eyes meticulously watching the single ant that was crawling in front of him, fascinated.
To the six year old, this ant was a welcome sight. A friend. Something that couldn't hurt him even if it tried.
And as little Harry crawled slowly behind the ant, he imagined that he, himself, was an ant as well. That if he just believed it strongly enough, he could follow this ant back to its home and he could have a loving ant family.
Harry looked up, distracted, as his older cousin, Dudley, thundered down the stairs running to the living room past Harry.
His cousin paid him no mind, for once, which Harry was extremely grateful for. He turned his attention back to the ant… only to see it crushed on the tile floor.
Harry's heart sank.
Dudley's big feet had squished the ant as he ran by.
Harry sighed, sadly. So much for playing his little game of make-believe…
The sound of ripping fabric from the living room resounded out into the hall, capturing Harry's attention. Curious, Harry crawled forward into the living room where Dudley just disappeared into.
When he turned the corner, he watched, aghast, as Dudley tore the fabric of the decorative couch pillows, reaching his chubby hand inside and throwing out all of the feathers within onto the rug.
"You shouldn't do that, Dudley…" Harry spoke up in a quiet voice. He knew that he would somehow get blamed for the mess that Dudley was creating.
Dudley's chubby face looked up at him with a glare. "Oh, shut it, you freak. I want to make a feather bed to catch me when I jump off the couch!"
Harry leaned back so that he was now sitting on his knees as he observed his cousin with a shake of his head. That idea sounded dumb… then again, Dudley did a lot of dumb things.
Dudley finished tearing apart the last pillow on the couch before he stood up and announced, "I need to get more pillows!"
Then, his cousin ran out of the room, leaving Harry alone to look at the mess.
Harry leaned back forward onto his hands and crawled into the room, wanting to get closer to see the feathers.
When he reached the pile, he picked one up and held it between his fingers. It was white. They all were. Harry brought it closer to his eyes so that he could observe it more closely. He had trouble seeing things that were far away. His teacher had told his Aunt Petunia that Harry needed to have glasses, but his uncle was stubbornly refusing to spend any money on him. Last he heard on the matter, his Aunt Petunia was vehemently trying to convince his uncle to do otherwise and just buy Harry the glasses.
'Think of what his teacher will think after he told me the boy needed glasses and we never get him any!'
Harry turned his attention back to the feather. He wondered if this was really what caused birds to fly? Harry wished that he could fly… just so that he could fly away from here.
Interested on if the feather could fly on its own, Harry put the feather up to his mouth and blew just as his fingers let go of the stem.
The feather floated high into the air…
Harry giggled as he watched it sway slowly back and forth until it hit the rug once again.
He reached out for another one, brought it to his mouth and blew.
This one went even higher than the last one. Harry giggled with delight.
He kept watching, waiting for it to float down to the rug, once again.
Only it didn't.
It just kept hovering high into the air.
Puzzled by this, Harry picked up another feather, wondering if it would do the same thing… He brought it to his mouth and blew…
It stayed up in the air, close to the ceiling.
Harry watched, his neck craned back as he gaped, fascinated, by the the two feathers flying on their own.
But then, something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye…
Harry turned his head downwards and gasped at the sight. All of the remaining feathers in the room were now hovering above the ground, each slowly rising higher off of the floor.
Shocked, he watched as one feather came closer to him, pausing briefly before coming right to to his face and tickling his nose. Harry's shock broke then as he started to giggle at the sensation before the feather floated away…
"WHAT IN THE BLAZES?!"
All of the feathers fell in an instant as Harry's head snapped to the entryway, to where his uncle stood. Harry's stomach dropped as he stared in horror at his uncle. Uncle Vernon's face was the shade of a deep purple as his eyes bore hatefully at his nephew.
"I WILL NOT ALLOW SUCH FREAKISH NONSENSE IN MY HOUSE! YOU HEAR ME?!" Vernon thundered as he strode forward with malicious purpose and intent. He reached Harry in three large steps, and bent over to grab him hard by the shoulders and harshly stood Harry onto his feet. Cowering under the large form that stood over him.
SLAP!
Harry hadn't even seen the hand coming until after it had already happened. His face was turned away, to the side, from the impact and he could already feel the sting on his cheek.
Immediately, Harry started to cry.
"QUIT YOUR BLUBBERING, YOU FREAK!" Uncle Vernon yelled right in his face, spit shooting out of his mouth and onto Harry's face as he screamed., His one hand held tightly onto his arm, keeping him there, keeping him from running away…
But despite being told to stop, Harry couldn't stop his tears even as he tried.
And this time, instead of a flat hand impacting with his face… it was a fist.
The knock of the punch to his face almost caused Harry to fall over to the ground. And he would have, if not for the tight grip on his arm keeping him upright.
As Harry righted himself and looked back at his uncle through watery eyes, it was to see a deep look of satisfaction as his uncle saw what it was that he did to him.
Uncle Vernon raised his fist, and this time Harry saw it coming.
The fist connected to his jaw and his uncle let go of his arm so that he fell to the ground with the impact this time.
As Harry lay on his back, a steady stream of tears flowing down his face, he noticed that his cheek started to grow warm… feeling better.
Harry didn't know how, but he was healing himself.
His uncle noticed this as well with wide, crazed eyes. "I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU KEEP THE PAIN!" He cried out as he undid his belt from his trousers and folded it in half in his fat fist. "YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAL YOURSELF AFTER I'M DONE WITH YOU!"
He brought the belt down, hard, on Harry. It lashed on his stomach as Harry let out a welp of agonized pain.
This continued on steadily.
Whip.
Lash.
Heal.
Whip.
Lash.
Heal.
Over and over and over…
Until, finally, he stopped healing himself… and the pain started to stay.
But still, his uncle refused to stop… and throughout it all, Harry's screams remained...
…...
Harry's eyes shot open, his mouth wide with mid-scream. A cold sweat drenched his clammy body and bedsheets as his crazed eyes blazed around the room, looking for the threat that was his uncle.
What he saw confused him.
There were objects magically being thrown all about the room within the dim light of the small crescent moon beaming through the window.
Harry jumped back as he realized that there were people in the room. Facing him. They had wands out and pointed at him!
They wanted to hurt him! They were his enemies…!
"Get back!" Harry cried at the figures in the room, his voice agonized and defensive. His hand reflexively reached out blindly for his wand.
But just as Harry was about to defend himself, the door shot open and two more figures ran into the dark room.
One reached into their pocket and produced a wand.
"Lumos!" A sweet, feminine voice cried out amidst the chaos.
The room lightened with the glow of the tip of her wand and Harry was able to take in the scene before him.
Dean and Seamus had their wands out, pointed shakily at him as they leaned against each other in fear.
Ron was protectively draped over a cowering Hermione as they tried to shield themselves from the flying debris that was shooting across the room.
Neville was standing in the open doorway of their dorm room, looking both concerned and fearful as he stared at Harry.
And standing next to him, was Ginny holding her illuminated wand out in front of her. She was wearing her nightgown, with her robe thrown on haphazardly over her shoulders and clumsily tied together by the sash.
One look at her caused Harry's thudding heart to slow and his tense muscles to relax.
Immediately, Ginny rushed forward towards him, sitting herself on his bed as she grabbed his shaking body forwards into her arms.
All of the floating debris dropped to the ground at once with a clatter.
Slowly, Harry brought his shaking arms up until he was clutching at Ginny's back as though she were his lifeline. And tears broke the dam that fear was holding back. Broken sobs escaped him, so severe that he could scarcely breathe.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ron and Hermione straighten from their crouch on the floor.
Ron had a blazing look in his eyes as he walked forward, desperately wanting to come closer to help. But he was stopped by an invisible force.
Ron took a deep breath, running a frustrated hand through his messy hair. "Harry, mate… let us in."
It was then that Harry realized that he was the one that was creating the barrier. Keeping everyone out.
Everyone… except for Ginny, that is.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut, tight, as he concentrated on trying to lower the barrier so that his friends could come through. It took a moment, before he felt the force of the invisible barrier break. And Ron and Hermione rushed forward at once.
It was then that he noticed the comforting hand rubbing through his jet black hair and the soothing words that Ginny was whispering to him. With all of the noise in his head, he didn't notice before.
They all had hands on him then, trying to offer him comfort in ways of touch. And Harry was grateful. He had been touch deprived all of his life until Hogwarts. And their gentle caresses were vastly different to the harsh lash of the belt that he remembered in his nightmare.
"Get. Him. Out of here."
The four of them looked up to see Dean glaring at him with a hard look on his face. Seamus still stood frozen, his face pale and his entire form shaking.
Ginny leant away from Harry, about to get on her feet. "Now, listen here-" She began angrily, about to stride forward to give Dean a piece of her mind, but Harry's grip on her arm stopped her.
"Don't." He stated in a shaky voice. Ginny's face whipped back to look down at him from where she stood. He looked up at her with an imploring gaze, willing her to listen to him. "I should go… Take-Take me to Dumbledore."
Ginny's eyes widened upon hearing this before she silently nodded, immediately reaching forward to help Harry to his feet.
They walked towards the door, where they passed by Dean, who whispered insults towards Harry under his breath. Harry chose not to let it affect him when he heard the word, 'Freak'.
But he felt marginally better as they passed by Neville, and he reached out to pat Harry on the back as they led him out of the dorm.
…..
"Your family will be arriving at any moment," Dumbledore informed calmly as his head popped out from the floo. He regarded Harry's uneasy state with concerned eyes.
Harry only nodded as he continued to pace back and forth in the Headmaster's office. He had been entirely restless ever since he got rid of most of the shakiness and had found his feet. He just couldn't manage to keep still.
Dumbledore sighed as he regarded Harry with on last look, before he took his leave to that door hidden in the wall, heading to his bedchambers. As soon as they had arrived, Harry had asked the Headmaster for privacy. He didn't want him around to hear all that he was about to reveal.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat close by, also watching him with furrowed brows. He hadn't told any of them any details on what happened. The truth was, he had no idea where to start.
All that he knew was that it all finally came to a head. He had to tell someone about his childhood. He had to tell them so that they could help him work through it all... before the memories overwhelmed him and made him insane.
He was aware that they probably already thought that about him. This, as well as the incident in Hogsmeade made him look as though he belonged in the St. Mungos mental ward.
As he passed by Ginny, yet another time, she reached out her fingers as traced him forearm as he passed. The result shot heat and a tingling sensation to break out in gooseflesh up his arm, causing him to pause in his pacing, looking back to where she sat. She stared back at him with regarding eyes.
But he didn't have the time to do anything past that.
Because in that moment, the fireplace in Dumbledore's office roared to life with green flames, and him mum stepped through the thick of it.
Harry's attention snapped over to her, the sight of her most welcome at this time.
"Mum." Harry said with thick emotion in his voice, before he strode forward and collapsed into her arms just a mere second before she managed to open them.
A lump formed in his throat as her scent invaded his nostrils. This was his mother. One of his ultimate protectors. Something that he didn't have for a majority of his life but something that he desperately needed right now.
"Harry," His mum began, her voice panicked as she tried to comfort her clearly distressed teenaged son. Her hand came up to hold the back of his head against her, keeping him steady. "What is it?! What's wrong?"
The fire roared to life again, and this time his dad stepped through the green flames, and nearly ran into where his mum stood with Harry wrapped around her.
Harry saw his dad's eyes assess the situation with bewildered eyes, before he produced his wand out from its holster with a snap of his hand. Immediately prepared for a fight.
"What's happened?" His dad demanded, his eyes roaming the office, looking for any sort of impending threat.
Harry pulled away from his mother's arms and wiped at his eyes with the back of his arm, embarrassed. "I feel rather silly… It-It's just that I had a nightmare."
Both of his parents immediately relaxed at that, their shoulders visibly sagging in relief.
"That's nothing to feel silly over, Harry." His dad told him as he lifted his free hand to rest and rub comfortingly at his shoulder.
His mum stepped forward and embraced him again as she nodded and pulled away, cradling his face with both of her hands. "He's right, Harry, darling. Sometimes, our dreams are trying to tell us important things that we ought to know. This nightmare could be interpreted into a warning."
Harry nodded. "You're right. It was telling me something. It-"
Harry was interrupted as both Sirius and Remus tumbled out of the fireplace and onto the floor.
"Gettoff!" Sirius grumbled as he playfully pushed Remus away, before he stood and straightened, brushing soot off of his clothing.
Then Sirius looked up and took in the situation, his playful features darkened to a serious nature that lived up to his namesake.
"What happened?" He asked as Remus stood immediately next to him on his lanky, shaky legs. His expression confused.
James looked over at his best mates, his features soft but serious. "He had a nightmare."
"Not just any nightmare…" Harry interjected, before too many people decided to brush this under the rug so much that it got to the point where he lost his nerve to say anything at all.
All eyes snapped to him, all looking grave as his words settled. Silence overshadowed everything as slight bouts of fear started to trickle into the awareness of everyone's gazes. They all knew the history of what happened when his nightmares weren't considered 'normal'.
Harry let out a weighted huff of a sigh as he pulled away from his mum's arms and racked a hand through his hand. "We should sit down…"
The four newcomers nodded and they all walked over to the open chairs that sat in a half-circle facing Dumbledore's vacant desk.
Harry went to Ginny's chair and, at first, sat on the armrest. Before Ginny stood up and insisted without words that he sit down. Harry hesitated, feeling too wound up to stay in one place for long… but his desire to be as close to Ginny as possible won out in the end.
He sat down, and Ginny gingerly placed herself sideways on his lap, her hand going up immediately to run soothingly through his hair again.
It calmed him immensely.
Harry took another deep breath, gathering all of his courage to finally reveal the whole truth behind this one aspect of his life that he had previously always kept in the dark… even to himself.
"I dreamed of my childhood." He began, his voice sounding weak and raspy. "I've blocked out a lot of it, you see… and-and," Harry broke off with another huff, immediately frustrated with himself. The hot glow of the crackling fireplace making him feel uncomfortably warm.
Ginny laid her head onto his shoulder, placing a kiss on the clothed skin there. Encouraging him without words.
"I was abused." Harry stated. Not able to look anyone in the eyes as he said it, but he still managed to get it out. Instead, he found his courage by staring at the wildly unique pattern on the tiled floor. It was almost hypnotizing. As the words came out, however, Ginny froze on top of him and her hand stilled in his hair. "Uncle Vernon, he- Well, when I was really young, and I showed signs of accidental magic, he-he would take out his belt and…"
Harry trailed off. The words suddenly getting trapped in his throat. Why did he find it so difficult to breathe all of a sudden?
"He would beat you?" His mum's voice gasped.
Harry's eyes snapped up and connected with hers. She had silent tears of agony flowing down her cheeks. Looking briefly over at his dad, who his mum was sitting on top of, Harry could see that his expression looked pained and his eyes were red-rimmed.
"I-I thought that you would've seen…" Harry thought out loud, a lilt of question in his tone. "You said that you watched me…"
His mum shook her head, turning her face into his dad's shoulder and let her tears flow freely. His dad swallowed heavily and his arms tightened around his mum. "We were only allowed glimpses… We never saw- We never even imagined…"
Harry tore his gaze away, unable to see his mother outright cry. Especially when it was over him. The sight was too much. "That was my nightmare… it was memories coming back to me. Memories that I suppressed."
Ginny's hold on him tightened, constricting him to the point that it actually hurt. "Oh, Harry…" Her voice was thick, mumbled by tears. Harry tightened his hold on her, feeling better about it all now that he was comforting her instead of the other way around.
It was then that Sirius stood abruptly, his chair falling backward with the action, his wand tight within his grasp. "Dursley…" He spat, darkly.
"Wait," Harry started, panicked as he scrambled to get up from underneath Ginny, knowing exactly where this was going by his godfather's tone.
"No more waiting, Harry," His mum said, fierce as she too stood with her wand clutched tight. James and Remus did as well, his dad furious even with his red eyes. "It's about time that I paid my sister a visit."
"Along with her fucking husband," James spat, seething.
"No!" Harry exclaimed, as Ginny finally moved off of him and he scrambled to his feet. "I don't want you to go there just for me!"
He fell to his knees, and didn't even bother to get up as he stared up at both of his parents, pleading with his eyes. He knew that his parents were powerful with magic. Remus and Sirius, too. But just the thought of the Dursleys in the same room as them, made Harry sick.
"But why not, Harry?" Ron spoke up from the side. Harry's gaze snapped over to look at him. He looked positively disgusted. And Harry had to fight off the reflex of automatically thinking that Ron was disgusted with him instead of the situation, itself. Hermione sat next to Ron, but she didn't seem upset. Instead she seemed to be caught in a state of shock. "If I were legally able to perform magic outside of Hogwarts, I would want to go along, too."
"No, you can't! I-" Harry jumped when a soft hand touched his shoulder from behind. His head whipped back to see Ginny… looking at him with deep, knowing eyes.
"What are you so afraid of, Harry?" Remus questioned from his side. Harry whipped his attention to Remus now. And he opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out because, in truth, he had no rational reason for why he didn't want his parents and the Dursleys in the same room.
But all the same, it felt almost as though the whole lot of them were ganging up on him.
And when he didn't respond for a long moment, at a complete loss for words or reason, his mum let out a heavy sigh, before she stepped forward and knelt in front of him, her warm hand coming up to cup his cheek.
Green eyes met equally green. Fear collided with suppressed fury.
"Harry… We are not asking for permission. It is our job, as your parents, to protect you when we see fit. To right the wrongs that have been done to our child. So far, your father and I have been cheated out of that right. But now, we will see this through. We will see that balance is restored."
Harry could only gape at her clear, but firm, reasonings. And all of a sudden, he could see how his parents would view the situation… the helplessness they must feel. The desperate need to protect him, their only son.
His eyes pricked at the mere notion, as he was once again reminded that they really, truly, do care about him.
So, Harry did the only thing that he was capable of in that moment. He could only nod mindlessly at her. At all of them.
His mum gave him a firm nod in return and pulled him close, squeezing him tight, before she let go and stood. Her fury back to blazing within her emerald eyes.
His dad came forward then and bent down low to kiss the top of his head, before he too straightened and turned to his wife in expectation.
All four adults looked at each other and seemed to come to an unspoken agreement, before they headed to the floo… one by one throwing the powder in and stating in clear voices that they desired to return to Potter Manor.
After they had all gone, Harry sighed and looked down at his hands… not really knowing what to feel.
"Ron? Hermione?" Ginny whispered from behind him, her hand still on his shoulder. "Can I have some time alone with him?"
There was silence in response as no one moved.
"Please?" Ginny asked, her voice more pressing and insistent.
Harry heard Hermione sigh heavily before the distinct sound of movement was heard. "Let's go, Ronald…"
"But-" Ron had been about to argue, but it seemed that Hermione wasn't taking any arguments on the matter and dragged him by the arm to the door.
Once the resounding thud of the heavy door closing behind them met the silence of the room, both Harry and Ginny were still, with Harry was still staring down at him hands.
"Harry… Please talk to me." Ginny whispered, her voice cracking when she said his name.
Harry swallowed thickly, now looking up to the entrancing flames that danced in the fireplace. "I'm not sure what to say…"
Ginny removed her hand from his shoulder, and he instantly mourned the loss of it. But he didn't have to miss it for long, as she stepped to the side and sat gingerly onto the floor next to him, her shoulder flush against his.
She deliberately bumped her elbow against his, trying to coax him to look at her. She did this a couple of times until he finally relented and turned his gaze to her beautiful face.
Her light brown eyes were exquisit when they reflected the light of the licking flame, highlighting the flecks of gold that she had around the edges.
And for some reason, while staring into her eyes, Harry's heard started to ache. He was undeserving of so many things… but most of all, he didn't deserve her.
"How about I talk, then, yeah?" She said, her voice as gentle and coaxing as her eyes looked in that moment.
Harry paused before he could only give her a staggered nod.
Ginny gave a single nod in return as her hand landed onto his forearm, sliding down until her fingers found purchase with his own. He opened his palm to allow her to thread them together slowly.
She lifted their connected hands to her lips and pressed the back of his hand in a lingering kiss, before lowering them down into her lap.
The simple gestures did wonders for Harry in that moment. Probably more than she even realized.
"Tell me if I'm wrong," Ginny began slowly, her thumb starting to rub circles onto the back of his knuckle. "But I think that the reason why you didn't want your parents, Sirius and Remus to make a visit to the Dursley's is because you don't think that you're worth it…"
Harry's eyes widened significantly before his whipped his gaze away from her. Not wanting her to see the truth in his eyes.
Ginny sighed. "I thought as much… Harry, you do realize that you're wrong when you think that? You are worth defending. That and so much more."
His throat constricted with sudden thickness. He tried to get rid of it by swallowing, but it didn't help.
"What your uncle did to you was an injustice." She stated, her voice still soft but a tinge of hatred managed to seep through. "Your parents just want to right the wrongs that were done to you. Is it that hard to accept that there are people out there that actually care about you and want to defend you?"
"Yes." Harry hissed, his hand releasing Ginny's as his arms went up and dug his rubbing palms into his suddenly tired eyes. He turned to look at her with an unintentional glare. But he knew that it wasn't really directed at her. It was directed at himself. "Alright? I don't think that I'm worth defending, Ginny! You know why? It gets people killed, that's why."
Ginny sputtered indignantly at his logic. "That's daft-"
"No." Harry argued, interrupting. "It's not. People shouldn't defend me because it does no good in the long run. It never accomplishes anything and only ever gets people killed."
"You're wrong." Ginny hissed with a fierce expression on her face. Merlin, she was beautiful. Even through his anger, Harry could clearly see it. "People defend you because it is the right thing to do! Because following you means a better life for all of us! You think that I didn't want you to defend me from Tom when he possessed me in my first year? Of course I wanted you to! You saved me! So tell me how it is any different for you?! What makes you so privileged in thinking that only you can do the saving and no one else can?!"
Harry could only gape at her as her words registered with him. Because he honestly had no answer to give her.
Ginny kept glaring at him as they stared at each other for a long time. Until Ginny sighed, and the fight suddenly left her. "I'm sorry… Here I am supposed to be the supportive girlfriend and I end up yelling at you…"
"No…" Harry said, his voice void of all negative emotion now. "I think I deserved it. I needed a good kick in the arse. I guess I'm just glad that you decided not to curse me with your Bogey Hex."
Ginny snorted and actually gifted him with a slight smile, bumping her shoulder against his. "If that ever happens, you'll know that you really screwed up."
Harry grinned at that and bumped his shoulder back against hers. "Let's hope that I never get hexed by you then. Believe it or not, I like you and want to keep you."
Ginny chuckled, her cheeks going slightly pink. "Oh, is that the reason why you keep me around? Because you like me? I thought it was because you thought I had a sexy arse and liked looking at my chest?"
A significant flush spread across Harry's face that went all the way down his neck. It suddenly felt really warm in the Headmaster's office. Harry looked away, embarrassed. "You won't ever let me forget that, will you?" He said with an shy chuckle.
"Well…" Ginny drawled slowly. "I rather like it, so I don't want to forget."
Harry's eyes snapped up and connected with hers. She had a blazing look in her eyes as she stared back and Harry had to actively remind himself that he couldn't ravish her with kisses in Dumbledore's office… no matter how much he desperately wanted to.
His briefs within his pajama trousers had suddenly become rather snug…
Ginny reached up her hand and pushed some of loose strands of his black hair up off his forehead. The pads of her fingertips tickling the skin, sending pleasurable shivers to shoot down his arms and spine.
"You remember when you asked me what I am afraid of?" Harry whispered, enjoying her touch like a starved man would enjoy bread. "After that article came out? And you thought that I was afraid of Voldemort?"
Ginny nodded, her tracing fingers stopping to instead slip down to cup his neck in her palm. He wondered if she could feel his thudding pulse.
"I think that I found out…" Harry swallowed, not sure of how he wanted to phrase this. "I may have suppressed some memories from my childhood... It was worse than what I remembered before. But after being raised without any love or care, and after finally coming into the wizarding world and meeting people that actually care about me, I think that what I am afraid of most is losing everyone I love. It terrifies me, actually…. So, no. I'm not afraid of Voldemort, like you thought. What I am afraid of is losing you and everyone else to him."
"Harry…" Ginny sighed. "You won't-"
"No, Gin." Harry argued, insistent. He needed her to hear this. To understand. To know just how much she meant to him. "If it were honestly just between him and I, with no one else that I care about to get in the crosshairs, I would have gone after him a long time ago and just ended it all."
…..
Privet Drive was still and quiet. The hour was late and the people had long gone to bed, sleeping easily with the calm weather the night had brung.
Petunia Dursley was one such person. Sleeping easily to the steady snores from her husband, which she was long used to. Dreaming of nothing in particular, such as was normal for every night.
A crack of lightning breaking out from the sudden, dark clouds broke the peaceful night. Both Vernon and Petunia Dursley bolted upright in bed by the close proximity of the thunder that quite literally shook the house.
The outside was still for another moment, before the whistling wind picked up to become an outright storm. The shutters outside started banging repeatedly against the exterior of the house. The sky lit up with more lightning. The once-quiet night now filled with booming thunder.
"WHAT IN THE BLAZES?!" Vernon cried out as he tried to scoot his large body out of his marital bed.
Petunia jumped as another crack of thunder shook the house, cowering in fear from it. "Where did it come from?" She asked her husband as she too shakily got out of bed.
"Don't know!" Vernon replied, gruffly, as he peered out the window for a moment, and turned hastily back towards her. "Freak storm, that is. We need to get Dudders and get down to the storm shelter!"
Petunia's heart froze with fear. She feared for the safety of her husband and son. But she also feared for the pristine nature of the current state of her house! She didn't want it to come to ruin!
Regardless, she obeyed her husband and they quickly made their way out into the hall, where her sweet Dudley opened his bedroom door at the same moment.
"Mummy!" He cried, just as he did when he was young. Petunia immediately went to him and clutched him tight to her chest.
"We have to get to shelter!" Vernon cried out once again as a window shot open from the extreme force of the wind. The thin fabric of the nightgown she wore in no way saved her from the chill.
Petunia and Dudley cried out as the window hit against the interior wall and sent shattered glass everywhere.
"No!" Petunia cried as she saw glass all over her beautiful carpet.
"Worry about it later, Tuney!" Vernon yelled over the whistling wind, now grabbing her arm and tugging her towards the stairs. Petunia followed, with Dudley still wrapped under her arm, making herself forget about the shattered glass in the upstairs hall.
They clambered down the stairs, walking past the front door, heading towards the kitchen to the back door… where the storm shelter awaited them.
But as soon as they past the front door, it shot open, the back of it hitting the wall. A hole was made from the door handle in the drywall.
They all shot to the floor, cowering as the open door let in the blazing winds. Petunia covered Dudley's head with her bony hands, tucking her face into his wide shoulder as Vernon wrapped himself around the both of them protectively.
When suddenly, everything became still. And the distinct clicking sound of a door being shut echoed through the air.
Petunia shakily turned her gaze back to the front door, and-
"Hello, Tuney."
Petunia could only gape. No… No! This wasn't possible! This couldn't happen! But somehow, she was seeing her sister, her dead sister, standing in front of the closed front doorway in her own house.
"You're-" She began.
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!" Her husband yelled out in extreme shock.
The wicked smile that graced her sister's lips in that moment would forever mare Petunia's memory… haunt her very dreams. "Perhaps I am. Or, perhaps I came back to enact my revenge."
"Revenge?" Dudley repeated fearfully. "Revenge for what? Who is this, mummy?!"
Lily's grin dissipated as she regarded her nephew's words. "Never showed him any pictures, did you Tuney? Same as you never showed my son any pictures? What was it that you told him? That James and I were lazy drunks that got ourselves killed in a car accident?"
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU'VE BEEN ALIVE THIS ENTIRE TIME AND YOU HAD US RAISE YOUR UNGRATEFUL BRAT?!"
Petunia paled as her husband's words made purchase. She knew that he shouldn't have said anything at all. He only made it worse.
Lily's expression became positively murderous. Petunia had never feared her sister more than in this moment. With a flick of her hand, a wooden stick was suddenly clutched within her fist.
They all cowered at the sight of it. They were all well aware of what that stick could do...
"Harry was more than what any of you deserved, and yet, you choose to abuse him! Lash him with a belt until he was bloody! Show him no amounts of love every child needs! Only hatred!"
Her face finally broke as tears started coming out of her eyes. She looked straight at Petunia, her gaze so lost and confused.
"Why, Petunia? Why did you treat my son with nothing but contempt? Why did you ignore the abuse done to him by your own husband?" She cried out with a sob. Petunina felt her own eyes fill with tears. The years of suppressing the guilt she felt, keeping it hidden behind an impenetrable wall, was being torn down with each word Lily said, and Petunia now felt in full force. "You know that if the roles were reversed, I would have loved Dudley as my own… but you couldn't even show Harry an ounce of kindness… Why?"
Petunia didn't say anything. She had no valid reason to give. Because the truth of the matter was that she was jealous. She was jealous of her sister and the life she had. While Petunia got stuck with a mediocre life. And she took that jealousy out on her nephew. Wanted his life to be just as miserable as her own.
The more that she didn't speak the harder Lily's expression became. "Well, it doesn't matter anymore, because you will never see Harry ever again. He will never step foot on Privet Drive again."
"THANK THE HEAVENS FOR THAT!" Her husband praised, and Petunia just wished that he would stop talking!
That evil grin graced her sister's lips. "But don't you see, Vernon? Harry's presence was actually protecting you."
Petunia's eyes widened and for the first time, she finally outright spoke to her sister. "What do you mean?!" She asked, panic evident in her voice.
Lily's gaze zeroed in on her. Now cold and devoid of any emotion. "When I died to protect my son, I unknowingly summoned ancient magic that kept a protection around Harry until his 17th birthday. Dumbledore applied that magic and used it as a barrier around your house, keeping anyone with ill intentions out from entering the vicinity. Harry living her kept the magic in place. The only reason why I was able to make it through the magical barrier is because it was my magic that created it in the first place. And since I created it..."
Lily closed her eyes tight, looking extremely focused. Until, not even a moment later, a flash of yellow light burst out from the house, shooting outward. Petunia shielded her eyes from the blinding light, tears leaking from her eyes in fear.
When the light dissipated, there was nothing but silence. They all unshielded their eyes just as Lily opened hers once again.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!" Vernon demanded, and Petunia anxiously wanted to know that answer as well.
But the answer was given wordlessly not even a moment later. As the doorknob was turned and the front door was opened, once again.
There stood James Potter in the front entryway, with two other men. One, Petunia recognized, was Harry's Godfather… the murderer.
They all had sinister glares on their faces and Petunia couldn't help but scream as they stepped forward into the house.
"Potter magic will no longer protect you, Petunia." Lily stated, coldly. "Remember that you brought this upon yourself."
James Potter took out his wooden stick - his wand - from a holster on his hip. The others followed suit and they walked forward with menacing promise.
…
The next week flew by rather quickly for Harry. Almost too quickly.
He found himself going through the motions when it came to his classes, constantly distracted by everything that had been going on lately. It didn't help that his nightmares had returned to him with full vengeance. They weren't anything at all like the dream he had about the Dursley's or his childhood… but they had everything to do with nightmares of seeing his loved ones dying in horrific ways… in a way that felt almost prophetic.
It left Harry feeling on edge. But he still acted as though nothing were wrong as he went about his day. He didn't want Ginny, Ron and Hermione worrying about something that could be nothing at all.
On Tuesday, he taught his last D.A. class before the holidays. Ginny hadn't been able to make it because she had to study for a rather gruesome exam for Slughorn's Potions class.
But Slughorn made up for it by hosting a Christmas party for his Slug Club members. At first, Harry hadn't wanted to go, but Ginny gave him one look and mentioned how much fun they could have together, and all of a sudden, Harry found himself looking forward to it.
Ginny wore a stunning green dress for the party, looking like Christmas itself when paired with her red hair. Harry hadn't been able to keep himself from touching her all night, at least to some capacity.
It wasn't until Draco crashed the party where Harry's finally found his attention diverted from Ginny and onto something else.
Draco was escorted out of the party by Snape and Harry and Ginny found themselves following them.
The conversation they had only added more questions. But it confirmed to Harry that Draco actually was up to something.
Harry spent the remainder of the week watching Draco's dot on the Marauder's map. Trying to track him to see what he was up to.
It wasn't long before Saturday was upon them, and the final Quidditch game before the holidays was set. And Harry couldn't help the excitement that he felt for it.
Sure, he normally looked forward to his Quidditch games, but this one was especially significant.
For one, he knew that his family would be there, in disguise, as they watched him play.
And as for the other reason… Harry couldn't help but smile into his cup as he took a drink from his Pumpkin juice.
Hermione kept flashing him weird looks every time he suppressed his grin. But Ron took no notice, whatsoever. Instead focusing on his nerves and trying to muster up the willpower to actually eat something.
As Harry scarfed down the rest of his meal, he cast a tempus charm to check the time. He grinned when he saw that it was finally ten minutes to eight o'clock.
It was then that Ginny came to the table and sat down, wearing her Quidditch uniform. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and was about to lean over to place a kiss on his cheek, when Harry shot up out of his seat just as she sat down.
"Sorry, Gin!" He said, in a rush. "I've gotta go take care of something!"
He stepped over the bench and without another word, left for the Great Hall's exit.
"Harry, wai-" But Harry didn't pay her any attention as he briskly walked away. Unknowingly leaving Ginny, Ron and Hermione staring after him with perplexed expressions.
He ran all the way up to Dumbledore's office, his heart pounding with unbridled anticipation.
Once he made it to the gargoyles, he stated the password that Dumbledore had given him secretly the night before.
It let him in.
He climbed the winding steps up to the office door and, as always, raised him hand to knock but was stopped by Dumbledore's voice. "Enter."
Harry turned the knob and opened the door.
"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore stated pleasantly as he saw that it was him. "I was just getting reacquainted with your guest…"
Dumbledore gestured with his hand towards the chair across the desk from him. The person stood from the chair as soon as Dumbledore had addressed Harry's arrival. And at the sight of them, Harry beamed.
"You actually came!"
…
Harry sat on his broom, high in the air. He knew that he should be searching for the snitch at the moment, but he kept getting distracted…
His eyes kept straying over to wherever Ginny was at the moment, making sure that she was playing her best.
And she truly was. She had already score seven goals all on her own! Which was for the best, considering Harry had to replace Katie Bell with a third year for the game. And it was especially impressive because of the current snowfall that they had.
It made it impossible to see much of anything, let alone a golden snitch.
Harry figured that it would be a long while for the snitch to make its appearance. So, he allowed himself time to enjoy watching Ginny dominate the quaffle.
"Gryffindor scores! Another goal by Ginny Weasley!" Seamus Finnigan cried out over the speakers. Luna had been unceremoniously fired from the job. But Luna wasn't bothered by it at all, stating that she would now have more time to keep a watch on the nargles that seemed to plague Harry.
Harry cheered loudly for Ginny as she beamed at her own success. Merlin, she really was something. How had he gotten so lucky to not only have a beautiful, caring, and funny girlfriend, but to have her be a fantastic Quidditch player on top of it!
"Cho Chang just spotted the snitch!" Seamus yelled, his voice panicked.
Harry cursed as he whipped his gaze away from Ginny, his eyes searching for where Cho was on the chase for the snitch. He spotted her on the opposite side of the pitch. Chasing the snitch in the opposite direction from where he was.
"Fuck!" Harry cursed again as he lay forward on his broom, trying to shoot forward as fast as he possibly could…
Only, he was too late.
"Cho Chang caught the snitch...!" Seamus cried out miserably. "Ravenclaw wins…"
Harry froze mid-air and just hovered there. He had never lost a game before… Any other time that he had, at least, had been due to no fault of his own.
He was to blame for this.
He lost Gryffindor the game.
….
Harry sighed miserably as he sat on the bench in the boy's locker room. Everyone else had taken their showers and had towels wrapped around their waists as they morosely thought over their own defeat.
Harry lifted his hands and covered his eyes. "I'm such a bloody idiot!"
Ron looked over at him, and shook his head sadly. "Don't be too hard on yourself, mate. We all have to lose from time to time and-"
But Ron wasn't able to finish his sentence. As the door to the boy's locker room burst open… and Ginny stormed through.
The boys all let out indignant cries.
"Oy!" Ron yelled out at his sister. "Get outta here, Ginny! You're not allowed!"
Ginny turned a fierce glare over at her brother. "Oh, shut it, Ron!"
She then scanned the locker room with her eyes until she spotted him, her eyes narrowing.
Harry visibly gulped.
"You!" Ginny accused, her voice high and almost squeaky. She stormed closer and Harry found himself leaning back as far as he could. "Why did you play so horribly?! And why have you been avoiding me and acting so strangely?!"
Harry could only gape at her. He didn't realize that how she would see his actions from this morning that way… But he could now see that he had actually hurt her. His losing the game was just the tip of the issue.
Harry stood slowly, and reached forward to grasp her elbow. Ginny flinched at his touch but, thank Merlin, she didn't pull away from it. "I want you to meet someone…"
Her demanding eyes turned confused, before they hardened once again. But she did give him a firm nod.
He reached down and threaded their fingers together, which Ginny allowed, and led her out of the locker room. Leaving all of the stunned faces of the other male teammates.
They didn't say a word as Harry led her back towards the pitch, leading her towards the staircase to the teacher's spectator stands.
Harry could almost sense the confusion emulating from her, and he had to deliberately bite his tongue to keep from spoiling everything.
When they finished climbing the steps, it was to see empty stands… except for one person that remained.
It was a woman. With light skin and blonde hair.
Ginny visibly stiffened at the sight of her. Harry looked over, questioningly, and realized with a start that Ginny looked jealous!
"Ginny, no… It's not what you-"
"I have to say, Harry, that wasn't very good seeking on your part…" The woman said as she stood from her seat in the stands.
Harry flushed, embarrassed. Especially since he had no ruddy valid excuse for how he played. "Sorry… I was so focused on how Ginny was playing that I sort of forgot that I had to focus on finding the snitch."
The woman snorted. "The typical traits of a besotted boyfriend…"
She then took out her wand and pointed it at herself, removing the glamour that had been shielding her real identity. The blonde hair turned back to it's dark, reddish brown and her skin turned back to its olive skin tone.
Ginny let out a spectacular gasp and Harry turned his downright giddy attention to catch the look on her face. Her shocked expression was priceless.
"Hello," The woman said as she stepped forward up the steps, stopping only when she was right before them. "I'm Gwenog Jones."
She then smirked at Harry, before she pursed her lips and crossed her arms in thought. "You really did play horribly, Harry. That being said, on the other hand, Ginny you played quite good for a- what are you, a fifth year?"
Ginny could only nod as she continued to gape.
"You've got real potential." Gwenog said as she reached forward to grasp Ginny's hand in her own. "Harry here said that you want to play for the Harpies. If you keep up with the way you are headed with your chasing skills, I'm sure that somewhere down the line, I could get you a spot on the tryouts."
A single gasp escaped Ginny's throat. "You… You're serious?!"
Gwenog laughed and nodded, detracting her hand from the handshake - which had been going on too long.
As soon as Gwenog let go, however, Ginny launched herself forward and attacked Gwenog with the tightest of hugs. Gwenog let out a little yelp of surprise and took it all good-naturedly.
"Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you!" Ginny cried out as she clutched to her Quidditch idol. Harry couldn't help but laugh gleefully as Ginny basked in the potential of her dream coming true.
"Don't thank me…" Gwenog said, a smile in her voice as she finally managed to pull away from the constricting embrace. "Thank Harry. He was the one that wouldn't stop going on and on about how amazing a Quidditch player his girlfriend was. I was curious to see whether his boasting held true or not…"
Ginny's gaze snapped over to look at him for confirmation and Harry smiled sheepishly at her. "Yeah… I may have been bragging a bit."
"A bit?" Gwenog teased. Harry sent her a mocking glare in warning.
His attention was turned back to Ginny who then launched herself at him this time, her arms wrapped completely around his middle.
"I take everything back that I said in the locker room!" Ginny blurted as she pressed her face into his chest. Her voice was thick with tears of happiness. "You are the best boyfriend a girl could have!"
Harry beamed at the praise, for once feeling justified in taking a compliment from someone else. He slowly lifted his arms and wrapped them around her shoulders. He then placed a long kiss on the top of her head.
"I'd do anything for you, Gin…" He murmured quietly. "Anything and everything."
It was the closest that he had ever gotten to telling her that he loved her. And to say that she later snogged his brains out that very evening behind a tapestry, would be an understatement.
…...
Harry sat by the fireplace in the common room, staring aimlessly into the licking flames, mesmerised into a trance.
He had another nightmare. It was clear to Harry that no amount of dreamless sleep potion was going to stop them from happening. This had to be something else. The dreams had to be coming from some magical force in order to render the dreamless sleep potion useless.
Harry pondered and brooded over this throughout the wee hours of the morning, until the chattering of emerging students broke the silence and signaled the start of the day.
The hussle of Gryffindor tower was even more prominent than usual, as majority of students in the castle were gathering their things into their trunks, packing last minute for the train to start the winter hols.
Harry had already packed the night before. So, he merely sat and stared mindlessly at the flames, trying to will away the pure exhaustion he felt.
"Why, Harry… you look troubled." A sudden, dreamy voice interjected. Harry looked up, and was surprised to see Luna standing over his chair. He wondered at what she was doing in Gryffindor tower and who had let her in. And even more curious was the fact that she was still dressed in her long, floor-length nightgown.
"I'm fine, Luna," Harry said, tiredly, "What are you doing in-"
"Is it because Ginny won't have sex with you?" Luna suddenly interjected, a slight note of curiosity painted her dreamy tone as she tilted her head, staring at him appraisingly.
Harry's jaw dropped as he gaped at her. "Wh-What?"
Luna looked away from him, her eyes pondering as she stared up at the ceiling. "To be fair, we did tell her to take her time. She's not like Neville and I…"
If Harry's jaw could fall any further, it would have reached the floor by now. "Y-You and Neville…? What-?"
Luna looked back at him, her eyes shining brightly as a soft smile graced her lips. "Neville and I have sex. It's quite nice. You should try it! I know that you want to…"
The way that she said it… so casually. Harry couldn't comprehend what her words even meant! Neville has sex. With Luna?! Since bloody when?!
All of a sudden, Harry realized why it was she was in Gryffindor tower and why she was still in her nightgown.
Unknown to Harry, Luna had spent the night in his dorm room. In Neville's bed.
Harry flushed at the realization. It was more than he ever wanted to know about his mate. Harry honestly still couldn't wrap his mind around it. "Wh-What?"
Luna looked at him with furrowed brows, as if she were questioning his sanity. "Well, it's rather obvious that you want to have sex with Ginny, Harry. She's like your own personal Skelgrow that makes your bone grow, and-"
"LUNA!" Harry exclaimed, his hand coming up to cover his crotch instinctively in mortification.
Luna now looked incredibly confused before her features softened in realization. "Oh. My mistake, Harry. I didn't realize that it was only your wand in your front pocket that made the tenting in your trousers."
Harry was going to die. Forget Voldemort being the one that could potentially kill him. Instead, he was going to be killed by Luna Lovegood in this very moment. And the cause? Shame and humiliation.
Suddenly, Luna perked up as though she just remembered something. "Well, I'd better be going. I've got to catch the train, too. See you later, Harry."
And with that, she walked away. As though she didn't completely shake Harry to his very core.
Harry felt then that he could no longer stay in that spot. He had to get out of there and try to forget that this entire conversation ever happened.
Harry jumped up from his seat, going for the stairs. On the way up, he saw Neville on the stairway, where he merely mumbled a hello as he avoided his mate's eye.
When he managed to make it to his dorm, Harry leapt for his bed and shoved the curtains shut, basking in the fact that he was now alone to deal with the aftermath of the fact that Luna had just pointed out the fact that she noticed he got a boner whenever he was around Ginny…
His mind wandered past that onto more dangerous grounds as he wondered whether anyone else also noticed his hard-on for Ginny.
Harry paled as he wondered whether Ron had ever noticed. Before he relaxed by the simple realization that Ron would have surely killed him if he had.
Harry thought and stressed over any person that could have possibly noticed his 'problem' in any instance throughout the year, when his curtains were suddenly pushed a part.
Harry jumped at the sudden light that came in through the dimly lit space, as he looked up to find Ginny standing there. Her pygmy puff, Arnold, sitting on her one shoulder while a knapsack rested on the other.
Harry calmed as he realized that it was her, before he took in her appearance for the day…
She wore her hair down, in a tumble of red waves, but with one side pinned back by hairpins. She also wore a little bit of makeup today, something that was rare for her to do, and Harry marveled at the way her eyelashes looked twice as long with the black mascara that accentuated them. She wore her green, Holyhead Harpies t-shirt. The very one that she had worn that day at the pond, when Harry had caught her swimming in her bra and knickers.
His embarrassment was long forgotten as he remembered that day… and his cock twitched with interest as he stared heavily up at her.
Merlin… she was so gorgeous.
"What are you still doing in bed?" Ginny asked him, her eyebrows furrowing as her eyes roamed over him in concern. Looking for any signs of distress and most likely wondering if he had another nightmare.
But Harry didn't answer her question. Instead, he reached forward and grabbed her arm, tugging her forward and onto his bed before he got onto his knees and closed the curtains to enclose them within.
When he turned to look over at her, she had a look of surprise on her face. Arnold had fallen off of her shoulder at the abrupt movement and was now sitting at the end of his bed. But he paid her pygmy puff no mind. Because just as Ginny opened her mouth to say something, most likely to question what in Merlin's name had gotten into him, Harry had leaned forward and aggressively captured her lips with his. Effectively cutting off what she had been about to say.
A shocked sort of choked gasp came from Ginny, but it didn't deter Harry at all. He moved his lips against hers, trying to coax hers into joining the dance that his had already started.
It didn't take much more convincing on his part.
With a long moan, Ginny started to participate. Pressing her soft, pillowy lips to his in a way that made Harry's toes curl and his cock to grow hard in his trousers. But just as he was about to deepen the kiss into a well-needed snog, Ginny pulled away.
Harry let out a noise of needy complaint, as he looked up at her with a look that wondered whether she was daft or not.
Ginny ignored him. Instead she took out her wand and cast a quick silencing charm and a sticking charm on the curtains.
Then, she threw her wand on the mattress next to her and leapt forward, pushing him back onto his pillows as she latched her lips back onto his.
Harry let out a surprised grunt at the action but gave no complaint as he was transported back to the feeling of heaven that Ginny's lips gave him.
She was hovering over him with delicious closeness. Harry wrapped his arms around her tiny torso, then tightened his constriction around her, forcing her body to become flush against him.
He couldn't bloody believe that he had Ginny Weasley laying on top of him.
He would have questioned whether it was a dream, if it hadn't felt too good for his imagination to make up.
But then it ended. As Ginny lifted her hands and pushed against his chest, separating their lips once again with a smack. Ginny panted as she stared down at him with a hard, heavy look. Stopping the complaint that Harry was about to express from her stopping again.
The intensity that she was staring at him with in that moment caused Harry to lose his breath. He couldn't look away, even if he had wanted to.
And he felt all the love that he felt for her bubble up in his chest, swelling within his heart.
Merlin, he loved her so much.
He honestly didn't deserve her.
No one did.
They didn't speak as they continued to stare. And as Harry looked closer, he could see that within Ginny's eyes, there was a war that she was fighting within herself. Almost as though she were trying to come to a decision.
After a long moment, her eyes cleared and she sat up even further, and Harry actually whimpered as she willingly took herself further away from him.
He had never felt such a need for another person in his life.
Ginny bit her lip, no longer looking at him as she worried the swollen skin beneath her teeth as she straddled upon his thighs.
That was when she did the unexpected…
Her hands went down, grabbed the hem of her green, Holyhead Harpies t-shirt, and lifted it up. Whipping the fabric over her head, causing her wavy red hair to become unsettled slightly.
Harry gasped. His eyes instantly roaming all of the newly exposed flesh that was revealed before him. Before his eyes zeroed in on the white, cotton bra that she wore, covering the luscious swell of her perfect breasts. The bra was nothing fancy, but it was still the most amazing fabric that he had ever laid eyes on. Yet, despite that fact, he wanted more than anything to get rid of it.
"Ginny…" Harry breathed, his eyes finally lifting to take in her scarlet face, where her eyes were keenly avoiding looking at his. Instead, electing to look down at his duvet covers.
Harry sat up slightly, resting his weight on his one hand while the other came up to cup her cheek. He turned her head, willing her to look at him. She did so with apprehensive eyes, and he couldn't possibly understand what there was that she had to feel anxious about...
"Gin," Harry said her name again, saying it as though it were a prayer. "You're so beautiful."
Ginny's lips fell open slightly at the amount of sincerity that he forced into his words. He wanted his opinion of her to be made entirely clear.
Then, somehow, they were kissing again. And Harry wasted no time in brushing his tongue against the seal of her lips. Asking for invitation to her sweet warmth.
He wasn't disappointed.
She opened herself to him, and as soon as he entered, their tongues connected. And sparks flashed behind Harry's closed eyes.
Ginny was intoxicating. Better than firewhiskey.
He brought his hand up to rest on her bare side, lying just below the fabric of her bra. He snaked his hand up ever-so-slightly, knowing its goal but treding the road slowly, carefully.
His fingertips touched the edge of the fabric and his hand was about to take that leap upward, when…
"Harry?!" Ron's frantic voice cut through from the other side of the curtain. Ginny jumped off of him, acting as though she had been burned. "What you doing sleeping? We've got to go catch the train!"
Harry grapled for his wand and canceled the silencing charm before saying, "Yeah. I was just talking to Snuffles and Prongs real quick. I'll be down in a moment, mate."
Ron let out a huff of acknowledgement. "Well hurry it up! The train won't wait for you and you'll be seeing them in a matter of hours anyways."
It was clear that Ron wasn't going to go downstairs to wait for him. That he was going to wait right there for Harry to open his curtains so that they could walk down to the train platform together.
Harry clambered onto his knees, his hand digging into his pockets until he finally produced his invisibility cloak.
When he looked over to Ginny, it was to see her shrugging her shirt back on, and a wave of disappointment washed over Harry as he watched it happen.
He would have gladly missed the train to continue with what he and Ginny were doing… as well as where it was leading. When she had straightened her shirt, grabbed Arnold from the end of the bed, as well as her knapsack, Harry handed her his cloak. All the while, he was trying to read her eyes. Wondering whether or not she regretted the fact that they were interrupted as much as he did.
But he had no way of asking her. As they would have the entire train ride surrounded by their friends… and after that, they would officially be starting the winter hols.
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A/N: Welp. That took me forever and a day to write! Please leave me a review! Especially since I am finally starting to give all you horn-dogs out there what you've been demanding since the very beginning. Yes, yes, I know… Harry and Ginny are onto the road of 'exploration'. Are you happy? ;)
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