Yet another tid bit for anyone that is reading! Oh and thank you everyone that is following! didn't think I'd get ANY readers being that I haven't posted on this in AGES!
Chapter 6: The Git
A tight pinching began around the region of his shoulders, pressure adding gradually before turning into a painful squeeze. Looking up, Harry found Ginny's face had changed dramatically from glowing with happiness, to concern to scarlet with rage. In one smooth stroke Ginny stood up, dropping Harry's head without conviction and storming away to the Burrow, Harry's skull echoing off the cobbled ground. Confounded and aching terribly, Harry tried to get up only collapsing once again, the rest of his body feeling like jelly. Sighing, Harry then looked up to find Ron, Charlie and now Hermione standing over him, Charlie grinning widely.
"So, want me to get that obituary written up?" Charlie asked.
"I - what?"
"You know if I were you, I'd avoid mentioning your first girlfriend in front of your- OI!" Charlie said, only to be interrupted by Hermione who trod upon his toes before he said too much.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked, throwing Charlie a reproachful hand before hand.
"I think I'm okay." replied Harry as he tried to sit up once again, wincing in pain, "Head's killing me though."
A small snort came from the direction of Ron, who had obviously tried not to laugh at Harry's last comment. "You're lucky it wasn't something else."
"Ron! How old are you?" Hermione bellowed, her eyes burning into him.
"Whatever age you want me to be, dear." Ron replied with a playful grin causing Hermione to roll her eyes then place a kiss upon Ron's cheek.
"Are you quite right there or are you going to help me figure out these memories." Harry huffed, trying not to think too much about why Ginny reacted the way she had done.
As though he was reading Harry's mind, Charlie stood up and brushed himself down, "Looks like my job here is done. I might check on Ginny to see if Harry really does need me to write out that obituary." Charlie grinned, "Harry Potter, was dead but brought back to life, only to be killed by a 5 foot 3" red head. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Get out of here before you're the one that needs an obit." Hermione scolded. Turning back to Harry, Hermione's face relaxed again, "Was it a memory?"
"No, I just felt like saying a weeping girl's name because I felt I needed my head dropped."
"Don't go snapping at me Harry; I'm only trying to help!" Hermione replied quickly.
Sighing heavily, Harry pressed his palm to his forehead. "Fine. Look, are you going to help me or what because I have had enough!" The tone of his voice heating.
Ron frowned then helped him to a small bench like wall in the middle of the garden. "Well, what did you see?"
A sudden iciness flooded over Ginny as she heard the one name she had dreaded hearing ever since he had returned to her, being uttered from Harry's mouth. Her mind went blank except for a feeling of someone ripping her still beating heart from her chest, tearing it into a million pieces then treading on it several times so it resembled nothing like a heart ever again. Struggling for breath, she felt her fists clamp tightly to something fleshy. Looking down, Ginny found Harry's vibrant green eyes searching hers, questioningly.
She couldn't take it any longer, dropping Harry's shoulders as she stood. A shudder rang through her body as she heard his head connect with the cobbles but she couldn't stop, she couldn't show him the hurt, anger, disappointment and the heart break that glinted across her eyes before she completely died inside. She couldn't show him the tears that ran freely down her cheek and onto her robes as she made her way blindly towards the Burrow and directly to her childhood bedroom. After closing her door, Ginny felt herself move without thought, seizing clothes from her cupboard and shoving them unceremoniously into a large, patch covered bag. Ginny mindlessly continued to pack her bag, not even noticing her door open and close behind her.
"Off to a wedding, are you?"
Ginny turned around to find Charlie standing near the door way, his usual smile plastered across his face.
"Charlie? What are you doing here?" Ginny's mock cheery voice was eerily high.
Charlie's face grinned even wider as he looked at Ginny's bag. "I could ask you the same. So, where are you off to?"
"I - nowhere major, Just Luna's for a few days. Supposedly she misses me." She replied with the same cheery voice, the lie forming fluently from her tongue.
"Liar. You're going back, aren't you? You're leaving because of what Harry said."
"Don't be ridiculous; what would ever make you think such a thing?" Ginny answered back quickly, staring blankly into his eyes.
"Oh, no reason, just the fact you are chucking all of your belongings wildly into - "
"I am not chucking my belongings wildly into anything, Charlie!" Ginny finally fired up, her eyes burning yet expressionless and cold.
Grinning again, Charlie rummaged through her bag before pulling out a long gold dress Ginny had worn only once before.
"Oh that, well umm Luna and I, well, we're planning to go to a muggle ball."
"A muggle ball? Right and where would that be?"
"In the village, where do you think it would be?" Ginny replied, continuing to pack her bag, replacing the gold dress carefully.
"And who are you going with?" smirked Charlie.
"Luna will go with Rolf and I'll go with umm - "
"Ah ha! Gotcha, didn't I?"
"No, I'm - I'm going with Neville. That's right, I talked to him and he'd love to go with me." Ginny said, her voice shaking slightly as she finally shopped and looked at her brother.
"I've got to tell you something Ginny and you are going to listen." Charlie said smartly, his hands on his hips in a Mrs. Weasley fashion.
"Oh really, and what might that be exactly?" Ginny replied with a venomous sting, folding her arms across her chest as she waited for Charlie's answer.
"My dear Ginevra, you'll never get anywhere with that attitude." Charlie grinned while taking a seat upon Ginny's bed. "Now, I need to talk to you and I want you to listen and not interrupt me."
Frowning, Ginny opened her mouth to retort, only to have it covered over by Charlie's strong, large hand.
"You will listen to what I say. Whether you listen and take in my advice, well, it's up to you but I recommend you do so."
Ginny rolled her eyes then took a seat beside her brother.
"That's my Ginny; I knew you'd see the light."
Her eye's now burning dangerously, Ginny turned her head and shot her brother a venomous look. "Just get on with this little rant of yours so I can finish packing."
She was sick of everything; she didn't want to have to deal with all the hurtful thoughts that ran painfully through her head. This game, that began the moment Harry re-entered her life, had began to really take its toll, draining her emotionally to the stage where Ginny felt all her heart ache and torment intensified ten fold, turning Ginny into someone she never wanted to be again. The emotional rollercoaster Ginny had been on not only during the past week but mainly for the past seven years was tearing her up inside, creating a shell on the outside. Everything, from losing Harry all those years ago to that very moment felt as if it was a horrible nightmare, one in which Ginny would have to wake from soon. Closing her eyes, Ginny wished upon hope itself, willing herself to wake seven years earlier in the comfort of her old four poster bed in Hogwarts. After a few moments, Ginny slowly opened her eyes again to find herself staring back in Charlie's eyes. With a disappointed tone, she sighed heavily and nodded finally.
Taking a deep breath, Charlie continued, "Ginny, what I want to tell you is that you are a git-"
"I'm a git?" Ginny replied angrily, rising from her seat in a swift movement. Ginny began to pacing, the blood rising to her face as all her emotions overflowed.
Noting the danger signs, Charlie still proceeded, but with caution. "Yes Gin, you're a git. Now, before you start turning all Prewett side on me, I just need you to listen. You can bark at me later." Charlie smiled as he saw Ginny roll her eyes then sit back down again. "Okay, what I meant when I called you a git was exactly that. You're a git for protecting your heart in such a hard shield. You're a git for not letting anyone be there for you all those years ago and you're a git for not letting the one person you've ached for during those painful years get close to you now. And most importantly, you're a git for reacting so badly when Harry said his ex's name."
"He said Cho's name! Don't you know what that means?" Ginny replied frantically, her fear, anger and sadness mingling together to form a slightly panicked state.
Patting Ginny on the shoulder, Charlie just smiled caringly before replying, "Yes, I know he said Cho's name but so what? She's just some fleeting crush he had back when he was 15. Look at Ron, he had a fleeting thing for Fleur and, well, bad example but you know what I mean."
"I hardly know what you mean at the best of times, Charlie." Ginny answered back, smiling slightly.
"Ha! So you do have some of your old self hiding somewhere! You know, over the years I've really missed that about you. Where have you been hiding your old self?" asked Charlie.
"It hasn't been hidden; it died seven years ago when I lost Harry."
"And it still hasn't recovered fully, even though he's back and kickin'."
Ginny stood up once more and began to pace, "It's more complex, Charlie, you know that."
"If it's so complex, then simplify things."Charlie replied, matter of factly.
"I can't. Harry can hardly remember anything about his own life, not to mention me. What if-" Ginny sighed, feeling all her fears continue to consume her, "What if he doesn't feel the same as before, even after his memories return to him?"
Closing his eyes slowly, Charlie smiled then raised himself off the bed. "Look, Harry might not be the brightest candle floating in the Great Hall. I mean look how long it took him to discover you! Five years, even though you were right under his nose, a diamond in the proverbial ruff, as they say. What I'm trying to say is Harry will completely realise how he feels in time, if he hasn't already. To me it looked rather obvious where his affections truly lie."
And with that, Charlie placed a gentle kiss upon his sister's brow before leaving the room and leaving Ginny even more confused about Harry then beforehand.
Millions of thought flashed through Harry's head as he listened intently to both Ron and Hermione, who seemed to both pace up and down a small patch of lawn when they came to a particularly hard memory, causing Harry to feel even dizzier then he already felt. The knowledge of his past seemed to be overwhelming Harry, yet, at the same time his curiosity yearned for more. Though he felt disconnected from his past, talking about people such as Professor Dumbledore gave Harry comfort in the fact that a man so caring, compassionate, wise and obviously powerful was such a commanding presence and council to Harry all those years ago. It saddened him to know Dumbledore passed on at the end of his sixth year of schooling but he couldn't get out of Ron and Hermione how he had died.
This frustrated Harry as it seemed as though Ron and Hermione skipped around certain issues as though to protect him from future hurt. Harry felt he didn't need his own life sugar coated, even if it was devastating, especially considering the rate in which the memories were coming back. At that very moment he heard Ron speaking of Dumbledore an image popped into Harry's head in which Dumbledore was standing in front of his bed in the Hospital wing, his eyes twinkling brightly under his half moon glasses while selecting a jelly bean from a box. A smile crossed along Harry's face as he remembered that the old wizard had selected an ear wax flavoured bean.
Looking up, Harry noted both Ron and Hermione had finished talking among themselves as to what they'd explain next.
"Can I choose?" Harry asked, breaking the silence. "I'm curious about Cho. I'm not still with her, am I?"
The serious expression that was etched across Hermione's face finally softened to be replaced by a genuine smile. "What makes you ask that, Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry frowned and turned his head involuntarily towards a particular window along the third floor at the Burrow.
"I don't know why I asked." said Harry, with only a pinch of the truth, "Just curious, I guess."
A small glint crossed along Hermione's eyes and Harry had the distinct feeling that Hermione knew a lot more about his feelings the he did himself.
"Well, no." Hermione smiled again, she too glimpsing up at the Burrow, "You see, Cho and yourself, well you kind of - "
"Fell apart." Harry finished, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu.
"Got in one, mate. Cho and you haven't been close since the end of our fifth year." Ron added, finding the whole conversation rather entertaining.
"Right." Harry answered, looking back at the Burrow once more. He yearned to ask if there was anyone special after Cho but Harry seemed to feel that Hermione would then know the full reasoning behind his questions and he couldn't bear to have Hermione reading him like a book any longer.
"Any other questions you'd like to ask?" Hermione chirped happily.
Harry then proceeded in asking the couple about other facets of his vision from the time Ron and himself saved Hermione from a troll in their first year to the battle in the Ministry. Though Ron and Hermione seemed to be skimping on some rather important details to save confusion, which frustrated Harry, he did feel content about most of the information he was given in detail.
"How about this, Hermione and I will start working on the stuff we know of your childhood at the Dursley's tomorrow." Ron answered, after withholding details of the Ministry battle, "Then we can work your way up from there so we don't get you too confused muddling up the years. Plus, we can then talk about stuff like that because you'll understand what we're talking about by then. Not to mention you could have your memory back a bit by then."
Hermione gasped at her husband then placed a lingering kiss upon his lips, "Ron, that's a brilliant idea!" Hermione exclaimed.
"You seemed shocked." Ron replied dryly, a slight smile crept across the corner of his lips.
"Well I can't deny I was expecting it, really."
"What, because you're normally the smart, logical one in the relationship?"
"I just didn't expect that to come from your mouth." Hermione sighed.
"That's because I'm the good looking, funny one, right?" Ron replied, laughing.
"Normally I'd agree with you there but-"
"So, I'm not the good looking, funny one or the smart one?"
Hermione sighed once more and smiled at Ron. "I think I'll just say I was surprised, but stranger things have happened."
"I love you too, Hermione." Ron replied, smiling happily.
"You know," Harry said loudly, startling the couple, "I'm rather glad I both can't remember and weren't around when the two of you were courting."
"Oh Harry, I'm sorry. We didn't mean to, honestly." Hermione replied, a worried tone in her voice.
"I'm not, I was having fun" Ron replied simply.
"Really, we didn't mean to get carried away, with you around." Hermione added, giving Ron a reproachful look.
"Don't be. I'm glad you two are happy. Now, I think I'd better lay down, the pain in my head still hasn't gone away." Harry quickly gave Hermione an awkward hug then patted Ron firmly on the back. "Thank you for everything."
Harry began to shakingly make his way to the Burrow but stopped when he heard Hermione call his name.
"Harry! You'll understand why we're keeping things from you soon; it's just that it's hard to tell you everything when you may not understand the circumstances."
Turning around frowning, Harry replied, "I appreciate your concern, but you have to realise where I'm coming from and how frustrating it is, though I guess I'll understand in the long run." Smiling slightly towards his friends, Harry then turned back again and made his way towards the Burrow.
Once he entered the kitchen with a weakened stumble, Harry found a bright faced Charlie humming absent mindedly while he made himself a sandwich, spreading the strange dark brown paste liberally across two slices of bread. Closing the sandwich and taking a large bite, Charlie looked up to find Harry leaning heavily against a chair while rubbing the back of his head.
"Marmite sandwich?" Charlie said through a mouthful of bread, his arms out to offer the sandwich to Harry.
Harry shook his head quickly, barely giving the sandwich a glimpse before letting his eyes rest upon Mrs. Weasley's family clock.
"She's up in her room, if you're interested." Charlie said, taking another bite of his sandwich.
"What? Who are you talking about?" Harry asked, his head paining once more.
Charlie leant back in his chair, frowning slightly. "Professor McGonagall, who do you think I meant? Merlin, you really aren't the brightest candle in the Great Hall, are you?"
Harry stood up straight, ready to reply back acidly, only to find Charlie grinning back broadly.
"Go and talk to her," Charlie said smiling again, "you'll find she won't bite your head off anymore. Can't guarantee anything else, though."
Finding Charlie's words confounding his already muddled mind, Harry just nodded before directing his sore body up the stairs. Once Harry reached the second landing and reached his room, he paused then turned around to make his way up another flight of stairs to the third landing.
Ginny's door stood ajar and Harry's curiosity got the better of him, his eyes peering through the crack. Smiling slightly, Harry watched Ginny wave her wand as several items of clothing flew from a bag on her bed, folded itself perfectly, then place itself a top a pile also on her bed. Harry watched before nearly choking when he caught sight of the same gold dress he had dreamed about. Harry strained his mind to remember the dream, finding an image of a younger Ginny dancing around in that very dress, laughing and looking more beautiful than he had ever seen anyone before. Feeling himself move without a second thought, Harry knocked upon the door, pushing it open at the same time.
"Can I come in?" Harry asked tentively.
Ginny turned quickly, her face draining of colour as she quickly shoved the whole pile of clothes she had most delicately folded by magic, back roughly into the bag.
"Harry! What are you doing here?" Ginny asked franticly as she looked around her room, making sure everything was in its place.
Harry came into the room and tentively took a seat upon Ginny's bed. "Wanted to see if you were okay, you left in a bit of a hurry." he replied.
"About that, I want to appologise. I shouldn't have left like that, dropping your head-"
Harry smiled and vaguely rubbed the back of his head that since ached from its rather violent encounter with the cobbles. "Don't worry about it, my head's fine." Taking in Ginny's expression, Harry smiled again and scrunched his nose, "Okay, it hurt for a bit but a good rest will fix that."
"I see, and you thought you'd make a detour up here to tell me that?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowed.
A tinge of pink crept across Harry's cheeks as he pointedly stared down at his feet. "Sounds kinda suspect when you put it that way but I really wanted to see if you were okay." Harry looked up again, finding himself smiling when he caught sight of her sparkling brown eyes. "Well that and your brother gave me a cryptic hint about coming up here."
"Oh, did he?" Ginny asked accusingly.
"I mean I wanted to come in and see you anyhow, so it wasn't that Charlie told me I had to come up here. I just thought I'd at least wait until I had rested up, you know, because when my head's pounding I can't really concentrate on exactly what I mean to say and I start rambling-"
Ginny frowned slightly, though more out of an attempt to stop laughing. "That's evident, though I have to say people underestimate the value of a good ramble."
Harry's face turned an even brighter shade of pink as leant his hands back in answer, only to retract his right hand when it had grazed something small and lacy. A mortified Ginny snatched the item away, scrunching it into a small ball before quickly placing them into one of her bed side drawers, her terrified look evident across her scarlet face.
It took several, long endured minutes before either could look at each other. Harry looked for something to break the dreaded silence when his eyes glanced across the gold shimmer of the dress. Looking up again, Harry then pointedly directed his eyes to the dress as he spoke.
"That dress is pretty, isn't it?" Harry nearly kicked himself when he heard the words escape his lips.
"Yes, isn't it so." Ginny replied softly, not looking up once but sporting the start of a small grin.
Noticing this, Harry felt his inhibition fly out the window, while the rest of him cried out for it to return. Feeling the words form inside his mouth, Harry spoke, "You looked beautiful wearing it at the wedding."
A polite smile formed before dropping as she finally looked up. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"Only that you did look good in it." Harry said slowly, still looking down. "I dreamt about the wedding in parts the other night." he explained.
A long silence followed once more but this time it was Ginny that broke it. "What do you remember exactly?"
"Not much really. Mostly just watching everyone on the dance floor and you dancing with that Luna girl." Harry replied.
Again silence enveloped the room. Though he didn't look at her, Harry seemed to notice a small tweak of Ginny's lips from the corner of his eyes. Not wanting to sit in uncomfortable silence once more, Harry stood up. "I'd better go and have that rest."
Taking a few steps towards the door, he stopped when he felt a slender hand firmly touch his arm. Turning, Harry found Ginny staring up at him.
"Thank you." Ginny said softly in reply, the words barely escaping her lips.
Harry smiled in reply, not completely knowing what he was being thanked for, only to freeze when she leant in to kiss him gently on the cheek.
I might just add another chapter tonight, which hopefully you'll enjoy! BTW, not a big fan of Author's notes hence the reason I don't say a huge amount before or after a chapter :D