Harry of Hog and the Saga of Hogswarth

A/N: Really this is part two of chapter 12. But for some reason it works much better split up… maybe it kind of slows it down a bit. :) Hmm, once chapter titles were the most fun part of writing for me… now it's getting really hard to come up with them! Also, just to clarify: I am not one of those crazy Star Wars conspiratorists who honestly believe that Harry and Hermione are siblings in canon and that that will be the big reveal of HP&DH:D I do think it's really fun to come up with theories about it, and I'd love to hear Eric defend it on MuggleCast and all, but seriously, I know there is not a chance! However, I completely agree with the basis for this theory, that Harry and Hermione have a beautiful relationship, so wonderfully platonic that they could just as well be siblings. I chose to make that literal in this fic because it fits the story, and I like the idea – at least it can be fanon, if nothing else. :)

Reviews:

Avanell, Cynthia, rweasley, Jessica, Sammie (lol! thanks), FerretGurl, Pirategirl12 and Lady Lithe, thank you so much for your amazing feedback!!! The H/Hr sibling issue, well, it was never really meant to be a huge surprise for the readers, but it will certainly be for the characters:D I'm also so happy you liked my portrayal of Lupin, he does feel responsible for Harry and Hermione, even though he can't tell them why… imagine the situation, poor guy. Fanfic Fanatic… um… thanks? Kind of scary, but hey, I'm happy you and your people like the story :)

---------

Chapter 14: Closer

---------

For a long time, they merely regarded each other, both unsure of what to do next. Finally Ginny took a deep breath, and started nervously, "My name is Ginevra. I -"

"I know who you are," Harry interrupted, frowning. "- Your Highness," he added, lowering his head slightly, but holding her gaze.

Ginny cast her eyes down, slightly embarrassed. "Oh, well, yes, I expect you do… I mean," she added, "Not that I would expect you to know who I am, I'm no one special really, I…" she trailed off, inwardly cursing the blush creeping up her face. Why must she be so nervous?

Harry frowned. He was torn between thinking he was dreaming – as he was sure his dreams were the only place in which Lady Ginevra would come visit him in his prison cell – and being utterly bewildered as to why she was here. What could she possibly want from him?

"I don't know why I'm here," she said quietly, as though reading his mind.

"So," Harry said, raising his eyebrows, "You're not here to question me for Riddle, to use your… your womanly charms or something to weasel the truth out of me?"

Ginny gasped in outrage. "I would never do such a thing!"

Harry blinked at her outburst. "What?"

"I would never work for him, Harry," Ginny continued quietly.

Harry gulped, and took a step closer to her. She regarded him warily, but didn't flinch back. He felt slightly guilty; he remembered Lupin telling him that she'd been forced into the marriage to Riddle. "I am sorry," he said. "But you never know… you know?"

"I know," Ginny said, smiling a bit. "I didn't expect you not to be suspicious. Actually, I hardly expected you to give it up so quickly," she smiled a bit more.

"I have it on good authority that you are almost as much a prisoner here as I am," Harry said.

"Well," Ginny said sadly, "Your sources are well informed. I only hope that Riddle won't find and kill them," she added bitterly.

"I really am sorry for what I said, Lady Ginevra," Harry said. "And I did not mean to call you a weasel. It always really riles up my friend Ro-"

"Harry," Ginny interrupted, "I took no offence. And please call me Ginny."

Harry frowned again. "So… why exactly are you here, Lady… Ginny? I mean, if not for information…?"

Ginny paused for a moment. Finally she spoke, slightly hesitantly. "I… needed to see you. I know that Lord Riddle has it in for you, and…" she trailed off.

"I saw you," Harry said, continuing her thought. "In the stands. At the tournament. It was as though…"

"I knew you," Ginny breathed.

For a moment there was silence, as Harry and Ginny stared into each other's eyes. Harry broke away.

"You should go," he whispered. "You'll get into trouble for being here, I can't imagine you asked for Riddle's permission. And don't you have a ball to go to?" he added, in a would-be cheerful voice.

"I don't know what they'll do to you," Ginny said desperately. "I've already lost my whole family, and I…" She didn't know this man. But she knew that she couldn't stand to lose him.

"I know," Harry whispered, stepping closer to her. "I'm sorry we didn't meet before, Ginny."

"I can't watch you die," Ginny breathed, tears now rolling down her cheeks.

"I promise I won't go without a fight," Harry smiled reassuringly. "Besides, maybe my friends will come and save me. Though," he added, biting his lip, "I sort of hope they won't try. They aren't ready… I wouldn't want them to take that risk." He sighed. "Which is also why you have to leave now, Ginny, you shouldn't even be here in the first place."

Ginny blinked. "I'm sorry. If you don't wan t-" she turned slightly from him.

"No!" Harry exclaimed, laying a hand on her arm to stop her. They both gasped slightly at the contact, but Harry didn't remove his hand. "I… Whatever happens to me… I am happy to have met you, Lady Ginevra," he said, hoping that his eyes could express what words seemed incapable of.

Ginny swallowed. "In all my life, I never…" she paused to calm her breathing, "And… I'm about to wed a man who I have no love for. I can't…"

Harry searched her eyes, his breathing slightly shallow.

Ginny stepped even closer to him. "I must do something, or I will die before I've lived, do you ever feel that?" Ginny whispered, never breaking his gaze.

"Yes," Harry replied simply.

"What stops you?" Ginny asked him, their faces inches apart.

And before Harry really knew what he was doing, before planning or considering it, he had seized Ginny around the waist and pulled her closer. Using one hand to brush away a strand of hair from her face, he leaned down slightly, and touched his lips to hers. It was the most wonderful thing Harry had ever experienced. Ginny sighed against his lips, and moved hers gently. She opened her mouth slightly and Harry did the same, and soon their tongues met in a passionate dance, Harry's hand moving behind Ginny's head and pushing it closer, Ginny's hands reaching up into his hair.

"Ginny…" Harry murmured as they pulled away.

A noise made them both jump.

"Lady Ginevra," a gruff voice called as the cell door swung open. "It's time to go."

Ginny turned to Crabbe. "But I'm not…"

Crabbe looked worried. "I think it's for the best."

"I will get you out of here," Ginny whispered tearfully to Harry, so that Crabbe wouldn't hear. "I promise."

"I… I think I love you, Ginny," Harry said urgently, only surprising himself slightly, holding onto her hand. "No matter what happens…"

"I will get you out!" she repeated imploringly. "This nightmare will end, and… and I will say it, too. When this is finished."

"Now, Lady Ginevra!" Crabbe said, grabbing Ginny's arm and yanking her away, Harry's hand slipping out of her own.

---------

I know you all hate me right now, but come on, what better place to end the chapter? I promise more is coming! Your reviews keep me motivated, so please drop me a word!