Harry Potter and the Life after the Old
Chapter 5 – How Connections were Made
The seventh year at Hogwarts had been a hard year for all. Harry, Ron and Hermione had the most important exams that they would face, all the time worrying about when Voldemort would strike next. Harry became unfocused and wished many times that things would just return to normal. On the occasion that Harry was focussed, he spent a lot of time with Ginny, then just a friend. Hermione and Ron were off doing their own thing at the time, occasionally they were doing the opposite of what everyone thought they would be doing. As it later turned out, they were researching spells and curses in the library which they could use in order to try and defend Harry when the time came for the final battle.
Ginny was waiting in the Common Room, looking out of the window. It was an unusually beautiful November evening, the clouds clearing to allow the sun to turn the sky pink for the last few minutes of daylight. Shadows grew longer, and birds flitted around outside the window, trying to find their nests. She looked across the great lake and saw the sun reflecting off the water. The water was still, with a few ripples here and there, where the giant squid had disturbed the surface. She sat transfixed, watching the calm winter evening. Harry came down the stairs from his dormitory. He had red marks down one side of his face, where he had slept on his cloak. He looked slightly dazed. He reached the bottom of the stairs, his shoeless feet making little sound on the stone steps. He looked over towards her, and stared. Her fiery red hair glinted in the evening sun as it began to sink behind the rough crags the glacial landscape. He walked slowly forward, and stood next to her at the window.
"I love times like this" said Ginny, looking out
"Evening is the best time of day for me. Can't stand mornings" said Harry, yawning
"Seems like you can hardly take evenings" said Ginny, smirking at him. Harry smiled back.
"Well you know. Sleep doesn't come easy at the moment. When it does come I try to grab it" said Harry, looking back out across the lake
It was when Harry said that that Ginny realised just how much Harry had learned to control his intense feelings. She remembered back to her fourth year, when Harry had very little command over his anger and upset. She remembered her fifth year, and coaxing Harry out of the little world he'd constructed around himself after Sirius' death. Finally she came to this year. At the end of the last year, Harry spent two days at Privet Drive with his relatives, then spent the rest of the Summer between Grimmauld Place and the Burrow. In that time, he relaxed for the first time, despite the huge threat growing inside the Wizard world. Some families had requested that their children stay in the castle over the summer as it was commonly seen as the safest place on earth to be. She realised to that he had suddenly shown signs of ageing. His hair did not seem to be quite as out of control as it used to be.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Harry said, winking at her
"What?" Ginny said, confused
"It's a muggle thing…don't worry about it. Basically it means, what's on your mind?" Harry explained
"Oh yes. We learned that one in Muggle Studies. Forgetful…" Ginny said
"So, a penny for your thoughts?" said Harry again, smiling this time
"Oh nothing really. The usual. What everyone thinks about" said Ginny
"It's become a popular topic hasn't it. Wonder when he's going to try" said Harry, looking back over towards the mountains
"I'm sure he'll let us know when he attacks" said Ginny "Sorry…" she added quickly, seeing Harry's face turn.
"Its alright. I know its going to come. What with all these spells that are suddenly being inflicted upon me to learn, I'm sure I'll cope" said Harry
"It must be difficult for you. Just know I'm here if you want to talk things through" she replied, looking at him, and touching is arm. To her great surprise, Harry put his other hand up to her hand on his arm and held it there. Their fingers entwined, and their hands dropped down off his shoulder.
Harry was never characteristically one to blurt out his feelings for someone. However, what he did next proved any observer of Harry completely wrong. A moment passed when they were looking into each others eyes. The next moment, Harry pulled Ginny close to him and hugged her. They let go of each other, and stood, holding hands face to face looking into each others eyes. They shared their first kiss together, and bid each other good night. The one witness to the event sat curled up in one of the arm chairs in the common room. Whisper, Ginny's newly acquired tabby cat, mewed at Harry, then bounded up the stairs to meet Ginny.
"You know what?" said Harry, looking up from his divination homework
"What?" said Ron, looking up from a very important book about Quidditch that he was reading instead of doing his Potions essay.
"I reckon I've made an actual prediction here" said Harry
"Really? Lets see…" said Ron, reaching out to look
"It goes 'On the eve of the night of late part of Tuesday 4th March, Hermione will come into the Common Room, you will say something that will lead to an argument, and then you will kiss and make up" said Harry, putting on a mysterious voice
"Sod off" Ron said, looking back at his magazine "Besides, what the hell does 'on the eve of the night of the late part of Tuesday mean?"
"Its emphasising the evening" said Ginny, sitting down at the table "Good prediction, Harry"
"Well naturally you would take his side" said Ron under his breath.
The portrait hole opened to reveal a flustered looking Hermione, dragging her groaning bag behind her
"What's all the rush Hermione? Is there a free book sale in the Library?" said Ron
"For Gods sake Ron! Can I not even come into a room without you insulting me in some way?" Hermione yelled at him "Hi Guys" she said slightly more calmly to Harry and Ginny, who both waved
"The prediction is true so far" said Ginny, picking it up and reading it
"It wasn't an insult! It was a joke! Why can't you ever take a joke?" Ron yelled back, standing up
"I can take a joke…but only when they're funny! Not stupid observations that don't mean anything!" she said back, fuming
"And that's our cue to leave" said Harry, getting up and making his way out of the Common Room
"How long shall we give them?" said Ginny
"I dunno. I'm going to go flying. Care to join me?" he replied
"Yea ok" she said, taking his hand, and walking down to the Quidditch Pitch.
Around three hours later, Ginny and Harry returned to the Common Room, and saw Ron and Hermione curled up together on one of the larger arm chairs
"Your prediction was right, mate" said Ron, as he saw them coming in
"All of it? Even the kiss and make up bit?" said Ginny
"Just about" said Hermione, smiling at them
"You know, I always thought that you two would get together way earlier. Before me and Gin anyway" said Harry, holding his girlfriends hand
"Well your prediction said Tuesday 4th March didn't it?" said Ron
"Guess so. All hail Ron and Hermione. Together through the power of argument" said Harry, bowing
"Shut up Harry" said Hermione, smiling while she said it.
"Is he going to be ok?" someone asked
"He will recover within the week we think" said Dumbledore, herding the crowd of well wishers out of the Hospital Wing "Please let him have some rest. I am in agreement with Madam Pomfrey on this one"
The crowd moved away leaving three people left. Hermione, Ron and Ginny.
"Now I thought that this might happen" said Dumbledore, smiling "Come on in" he said, ushering them in.
They walked forward through the door into the Hospital wing, which was pretty much empty apart from the bed containing Harry. They walked over to the bed and looked over the sleeping body of Harry. Three days ago, he had managed to rid the Wizarding world of its greatest enemy. Apart from a short amount of time after he had returned, he had been unconscious for the whole of three days, and had been visited everyday by Ginny. This was the first time that Ron and Hermione had come up to the hospital wing, as they had been at St Mungo's Hospital in London with Hermione's parents, who had been attacked during the final battle.
Ron looked bravely on, while Hermione tried to disguise her tears in a series of coughs. Ginny sat on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through his hair.
"He's been asleep since he came back. The last thing he said before he collapsed was 'Tell Ron and Hermione that I'm fine', then he collapsed" said Ginny, retelling the story to them. Hermione took a sharp intake of breath, and looked towards the window.
"Its alright, Hermione" said Ron, putting an arm around her. She settled her head on his shoulder, and looked over at Harry
"He's always had this unbelievable knack of being able to survive impossible situations" said Hermione, smiling slightly
"Amazing isn't it?" said a new, croaking voice, that sounded very drowsy
"HARRY!" screamed Ginny, jumping up off the bed in surprise
"Nice to have you back, mate" said Ron, smiling
"You could have told us earlier" said Hermione, slightly taken aback
"I was waiting for the opportune moment. You provided it for me, and I thank you" said Harry, smiling at Hermione's 'I'm cross but happy at the same time' face.
"You really do have that knack don't you?" said Ginny, settling back down on the edge of the bed
"Well he needs to have it doesn't he?" said Ron
"Right all of you. Away, I need to do a check up" said Madam Pomfrey, cottoning on to the fact that Harry had awoken
"See you later Harry" said Ron and Hermione almost in unison, then blushing as they did it. They got up and left, leaving Harry and Ginny alone. Madam Pomfrey moved to the other end of the Hospital Wing to gather some medicines.
"I've missed you, Harry" said Ginny, kissing him on the cheek
"I've missed you too, Gin" he replied, smiling at her, and taking her hand
"Have fun with Madam Pomfrey anyway" said Ginny, getting up to leave, with a sparkle in her eye
"Can't wait" Harry said, watching Ginny walk out of the wing