Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all other characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and this version of the Mask belongs to New Line Cinemas; I'm just using them for this story.
Feedback: I'd appreciate it, believe me
AN: When I go into italics later on, the italics are song lyrics and anything beside them in brackets is the actions that are being performed at that point in the song
Harry Potter and the Mask of Loki
Ginny sighed as she sat idly in her room, staring at the photograph in her hand. It was a relatively recent picture, taken during one of those rare weekends that Harry and Ginny had been able to spend time together on their own without Snape's detentions getting in their way, and it captured the spirit of those free times expertly. When Harry's photographic self wasn't grinning out at whoever was holding the picture like a lunatic, he was turning around to give her photographic counterpart a brief peck on the forehead, have a brief waltz to some unknown music with her, just hug her as though he never wanted to let her go…
Ginny sighed.
"Why couldn't he be that eager to be with me in real life?" she said, looking over at Hedwig's cage, which still contained Harry's beautiful white owl. Ron had been so shaken after he woke up and found Harry's note that he'd originally neglected to notice that Harry had left Hedwig behind; either Harry couldn't be bothered to carry the cage around with him, or he hadn't been sure he could find somewhere safe for the owl while he did… whatever it was he was doing right now.
Either way, when Ron had gone back to Harry's room and noticed the owl's cage standing beside Harry's bed, Ginny had volunteered to take care of Hedwig while Harry was gone. If nothing else, it helped her feel closer to the man she…
No. Ginny told herself, stopping that line of thought; if she started thinking that, she'd start crying and never be able to stop.
Hedwig hooted slightly at Ginny and cocked her head slightly to one side in a quizzical manner, as though asking her temporary owner what was wrong with her.
Ginny chuckled slightly at that.
"I wish you could talk, Hedwig," she said, reaching through the cage bars to stroke the owl's white feathers. "After all, you're the only one of us who's seen Harry be totally himself; maybe you'd have some idea why he did this…"
It may have just been her ruffling her feathers, but Ginny could have sworn that Hedwig shook her head and then jerked it briefly towards Ginny at that comment.
Almost as though she was saying that Ginny had seen Harry in that position as well…
Then there was a knocking at…
The window?
"Ginny?" a voice said from outside. "Are you in there?"
Looking over in the direction of her window, Ginny blinked in surprise at the sight in front of her. Standing outside the window, dressed a cream-coloured silk outfit with gold trim on the shoulders, his face looking at her earnestly with the slight edge of a grin, was…
"Mark?" Ginny asked, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and walking over to look at the young men she'd met last night. "What are you doing here?"
It was all Mark could do to stop the Mask from expressing his appreciation of the sight in front of him in a very expressive manner- namely, diving through the window and snogging Ginny senseless. As attractive a prospect as that sounded, he wasn't here as Harry; he was here as Mark, a young man with a green head and odd powers that Ginny had only met once. He had to take things slower, no matter how much he wanted them to go faster as he saw Ginny standing in the room. She was wearing a simple sky-blue T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans; evidently, she hadn't changed for bed yet. Some may have thought the effect wasn't that attractive, but, as far as Mark was concerned, Ginny would have looked gorgeous wearing a rubbish bag and with her hair and face covered in grim…
"Well, that's a fairly long story, but I'll try and make it quick," he said, smiling at her as she walked over to him and opened the window; he had to keep his mind on track. "Basically, after our little dance the night before last, I wanted to see you again."
Ginny blushed slightly at that, but then regained her composure as she looked at him again.
"Well, that's one answer," she said, evidently trying to pass off her earlier blush, "but I was more curious about what you're doing outside my room when it's on the second…"
Then she looked down, saw the purple-and-gold carpet that Mark was standing on, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"…floor," she finished, before looking at Mark in confusion. "You have a magic carpet?"
"So?" Mark asked, smiling back at Ginny. "Why can't I? They're not illegal, are they?"
"Um… yeah, actually," Ginny said, looking back at Mark in confusion. "They're too obvious to Muggles when they're flying; you'd be spotted as soon as you go too low! Brooms may not be large enough to be seen, but carpets-"
Mark rolled his eyes in an exaggerated manner of exasperation.
"Why is it people never consider the easy option?" he said, as he floated up slightly, allowing Ginny to see the other side of the carpet; namely, the side that was totally invisible.
Ginny blinked in surprise as Mark lowered the carpet down again so that they were at eye level once again.
"How… how'd you do that?" she asked, looking from him to the carpet in confusion.
"Disillusioning charm on the bottom of the carpet; whole thing's rendered totally invisible to anyone looking at it from that side," Mark explained, smiling at her eager curiosity. "It's a complicated way to fly, I know, but it's worth it; brooms are good for speed, but carpets have a certain comfort about them that no broom can equal.
He held out a hand to her, and grinned. "Care to come away for a quick spin so I can show you what I mean?" he asked, enjoying the sight of her eyes widening as she stared at him. "What do you say… want to see the world from a different angle? Take a bit of a fly on the wilder side?"
"Really?" Ginny asked, looking at the carpet curiously before looking back at her room. "But… but what if…?"
"Your parents find you gone?" Mark asked, smiling. "Don't worry; I'll have you back soon enough."
He looked earnestly at her. "Please?" he said, holding out his hand again. "I… I really would like it."
Ginny smiled shyly back at him and took his hand.
"OK," she said, as she stepped onto the carpet.
Then she shot Mark a glare as the smile faded. "No funny business, or you're off the rug; got me?"
"Of course," Mark said, holding up his hands in a reassuring manner. "I promise you, my dear girl, as I promised your brother at the party; I am the very picture of discretion!"
"And then, as I recall, you went and danced with me for most of the night, to music that you seemed to whip up of your own accord?" Ginny asked. "Not exactly my idea of discreet, Mr Tiller."
Mark shrugged. "Hey; I didn't try anything, right?" he said. "That's discreet in my book."
Then, before Ginny good reply, he stood up and tugged Ginny up onto her feet by tugging on her hand. "Just a tick; you're not quite dressed right for this…" he said, spinning her round once. When she re-emerged from the green vortex that had briefly surrounded her, Ginny was dressed in a sleeveless, off-shoulder blue top and skin-tight blue silk trousers, her hair tied back in a long ponytail.
Mark nodded in approval. "Perfect," he said, smiling at her stunned expression as she examined her new outfit. As she looked up at him, he shrugged. "I saw this in a muggle movie once and I always wanted to try it out," he explained, before he sat down with her once again. "Anyway, shall we?"
Ginny nodded uncertainly as she sat down besides Mark. Raising his right hand, his left arm wrapping itself around Ginny's shoulders, he clicked his fingers, and the carpet flew away from the Burrow, as music began to play…
Mark looked down at Ginny, who was staring around her as the village of Ottery St Catchpole sped along below them, as he began to sing.
Mark: I can show you the world, (Mark indicates the village below them)
Shining, shimmering, splendid.
Tell me, Ginny, now when did you last
Let your heart decide? (He raises his hand and the carpet begins to fly up into the sky)
I can open your eyes (He smiles at Ginny as she stares around her as they fly above the clouds, the stars visible above them far more vividly than down on the ground)
Take you wonder by wonder (The carpet descends and, suddenly, they are flying through New York)
Over, sideways, and under (Flies above a building at 'over', weaving around a skyscraper at 'sideways' and duck under a railway bridge at 'under')
On a magic carpet ride
A whole new world (The carpet begins to go upwards as it spins around, as though caught in a whirlwind))
A new fantastic point of view (Mark clenches one fist in the air as though he has just caught something)
No one to tell us no (He shakes his head)
Or where to go (He points in a direction)
Or say we're only dreaming
(Looking back at the rapidly-receding city behind them, Ginny smiles slightly as the clouds surround them once again before picking up the song herself, the words flowing from her as though they were pre-rehearsed, instead of coming from something inside her even she couldn't identify)
Ginny: A whole new world (She looks over as a plan flies near them, but they are near enough and low enough so that none of the passengers or the pilots can see them)
A dazzling place I never knew (She spreads her arms wide, as though trying to get the maximum amount out of this experience)
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear (She looks over at Mark, a slightly awed expression on her face as she considers the implications of her next line)
That now I'm in a whole new world with you!
Mark: (Smiles and takes her hand) Now I'm in a whole new world with you!
(They each catch a small cloud as the carpet continues the flight. It then circles a pillar of clouds, giving it a swirl-like look)
Ginny: Unbelievable sights (The Eiffel tower is briefly visible as the carpet ducks under the clouds before flying back up)
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling (The carpet does these things as she speaks)
Through an endless diamond sky
(They join a flock of birds in the air, one of them looks terrified and squawks. The carpet does somersaults and flips, at times putting Mark and Ginny in free-fall, but catching them. They then zoom above the clouds where a starry night awaits them.)
Ginny: A whole new world! (Ginny shuts her eyes as the wind hits her)
Mark: "Don't you dare close your eyes (Mark glares at Ginny in a mockingly serious manner until she opens her eyes, looks back at him, and grins sheepishly)
Ginny: An hundred thousand things to see!
Mark: (Holds up one hand as though to stop her) Hold your breath- it gets better!
Ginny: I'm like a shooting star,
I've come so far (The carpet briefly accelerates, as though to reinforce the idea that she is going to go even further)
I can't go back to where I used to be!
(They zoom down over the Nile, the Great Pyramids visible a short way away)
Mark: A whole new world! (The carpet spins around to fly past the pyramids)
Ginny: Every turn a surprise (They turn and, after a few seconds of accelerated flying, they are approaching the sphinx)
Mark: With new horizons to pursue (He points forward, as though at some unspecified destination)
Ginny: Every moment, red-letter
(They fly alongside wild horses running. Ginny pets one of them, and Mark smiles as the horse nuzzles her hand)
Both: I'll chase them anywhere (They fly upwards again)
There's time to spare (They look into each other's eyes, and Mark gives Ginny a dashing grin; one tooth twinkles as the light hits it)
Let me share this whole new world with you
(Mark leans over and puts his arm around Ginny as the carpet descends, to show a vast city stretched out before them)
Mark: A whole new world
Ginny: That's where we'll be
Mark: A thrilling chase
Ginny: A wondrous place
(The two of them turn to look at each other as they sing this last line softly)
Both: For you and me…
As they flew back up above the clouds once again, Mark leaned slightly towards Ginny, raising one eyebrow in an inquiring gesture.
Ginny didn't answer him in words. Instead, she leaned towards Mark, and, her eyes slightly closed, she kissed him.
But even as they kissed, teeth clashing, skin on skin, tongue on tongue, even though Ginny knew that this wasn't him, even though she was trying to move on in case he never came back…
She still couldn't shake the vague impression that she wasn't kissing Mark Tiller, a rather strange young man with curious powers and an unnaturally athletic dancing ability…
And that she was actually kissing Harry Potter instead.
AN: For anyone who may protest about Mark being able to get around the world as fast as he did in this chapter, the guy has the power of a God at his disposal; why shouldn't he be able to 'teleport' from place to place at a rapid rate? Sure, Loki took some time to travel in the myths, but who's to say what limitations the Mask has these days, especially since it's tapping into Harry's own magical powers?