Ginny's Wrath
Harry froze. His insides were feeling worse than when he had faced the dragon during his fourth year. Now he immediately recognized the voice and the slight scent of Ginny. "Brilliant" he thought, "I am hiding in the same broom closet as the one person who wants to se me about as much as a blast-ended Screwt" He kept absolutely still, not wanting to move with Ginny's wand pushed in his back. He could hear footsteps outside the broom closet and low talking.
After a few minutes the steps disappeared. Harry gathered his courage and said slowly;
"I am going to turn around and light my wand, please don't hex me" He heard a snort in return but as she didn't say anything he slowly turned around and very very carefully brought up his wand so that it was pointing over both their heads.
"Lumos" he spoke calmly.
They both blinked at the sudden bright as they looked at each other. Ginny was still pointing her wand at Harry and he could not read Ginny's face. There was something there that Harry could not quite place, was it anger? sadness?
"Listen Ginny, I am sorry, please you must believe me when I say I had nothing to do with what happened. It wasn't me"
Ginny again saw the pain and fear in Harrys eyes and then and there she knew he wasn't lying, he was telling the truth. What had she done? She would need to apologize but would that be enough?
Would he ever forgive her? She let out her breath that she didn't know she was holding and went to lower her wand.
Harry completely miss-read Ginny's intentions and as he saw her move her hand lower, believing that she was going to jinx him his instincts and reflexes took over, and he cast a shield charm instantly.
"Protego!"
With fear Harry saw his shield burst out of his wand and as the broom closet was very small it had nowhere to go. Ginny was pushed back against the wall and she hit her head on the stone wall with a loud sickening thud. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she slid down to the floor. Harry had immediately lifted his shield and caught her, sliding down together with her. He now sat with his back against the wall and he held her limp form in his arms
"No, no no! Ginny! What have I done?"
What was he going to do now? If he was found with a unconscious student and a girl non the less in the corridors well after curfew he was sure that he would spend the next year in detentions, if he wasn't expelled. He knew that it would look like he had been out for revenge for what Ginny had done to him earlier in the week. No one would believe him as usual.
So. He could not stay here all night, he could not go to the hospital wing and he could of corse not leave Ginny like this. He tried a few times to wake Ginny up but to no avail. He carefully opened the door and peered out. At least the corridor was clear. He silently cursed himself for not having the marauders map and invisibility cloak with him, after all he usually did.
At first he tried to drag Ginny but that made to much noise and he was finally resorted to placing a featherlight charm on her and he carried her in his arms back to the Gryffindor common room. The fat lady gave him a reproachful look at first until he hissed that she had hit her head. He mostly ignored her and proceeded inside after he had given her the password. He immediately went to one of the couches by the fire and lay her down and removed the feather light charm. He sat down and gently placed her head in his lap while he tried to come up with what to do.
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As Ginny lowered her wand she was only aware of a bright light hitting her and causing her to bang hear head on the wall behind her. She saw stars before her eyes and the last thing she was aware of was someone talking.
She slipped into unconsciousness. Ginny was having a very good dream, it must be one of the dreams of the moments she had alone with Harry in the common room. She was laying in his lap and he was gently caressing her hair. She felt warm and safe in his presence and she knew she loved him. Suddenly this dream was interrupted by someone whispering her name; "Ginny…"
Her eyes fluttered open and she felt very dizzy, she was laying down, in a couch in the Gryffindor common room. As she opened her eyes more she could se Harry above her, a very concerned and pained expression his face. She had her head in his lap and he was gently caressing her hair. "Had it not been a dream?" she thought. She was distracted from her thoughts as Harry spoke her name again.
"Ginny, oh I'm so sorry Ginny, I didn't mean to…
Please, how are you feeling?" he asked with worry in his voice.
"Harry…" she whispered. "Im so sorry… For everything… Can you ever forgive me?"
"I…" he croaked and he looked surprised but then she saw tears in his eyes. He smiled and she felt relived as the tears filled her eyes as well. They both sat like this for what felt like ages, crying together, talking and whispering soothing words to each other.
"Harry, can you please help me sit up for a bit? Im still feeling a bit dizzy"
He helped her sit up next to him and she immediately snuggled close to him and he leaned his head against hers. After she apologized yet again for what she had done, Harry started to explain what he had learned so far and about his and Hermione's theories.
"We'll get them back for this Harry" she said with determination in her voice.
"I'm just so glad to have you back, this has been one of the worst weeks of my life" he said.
"It's the same for me Harry, I don't know if you can ever truly forgive me —" she was cut off by Harry.
"Nonsense. If it had been true, you had every right to be angry with me" he said.
"But you wish I had checked with you before I jumped to conclusions? she asked.
"Well yes, I think I wound have preferred it that way, I mean you pack a mean wallop.
She smiled at this. They both stared into the fire for a few minutes before Ginny spoke up again.
"What will the others say?"
"I don't care about that, and I will never do" Harry replied truthfully. "All I care about is you" They leaned in for a small kiss, the first they had had for days.
They were quiet for a few more minutes, just holding each other before Harry spoke again.
"Well, maybe it would be nice to have Ron back as a friend"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, its not like I am not used to this, it was the same in my fourth year. You know with the tournament?" And he told her what had happened earlier that evening.
"Leave him to me" she said with the fire in her eyes lighting up again.
"Now Ginny, please be gentle with him" Harry answered with amusement but also a slight worry at how much she could look like her mother when she got angry. Any Weasley male would be sure to cower under that gaze.
"I'll try" she said with a smirk.
They shared another kiss, longer this time and Harry felt like he was in heaven. As he held Ginny he knew this was where he belonged. They knew they should really go to bed but they both stayed in each others arms, eventually drifting off to sleep as the fire slowly died down.
Harry was dreaming of long red hair. He and Ginny were running on a field of flowers with the Burrow visible in the distance. "Quite a cheesy dream this" Harry thought as Ginny was laughing and Harry was trying to catch her. She was so beautiful when she smiled and he kept thinking how lucky he was. He caught up to her and held her in his arms. As they leaned in to kiss there was a loud noise.
"Oi Potter!" someone shouted.
Harry woke with a start. He was laying down on his back on the couch with Ginny wrapped in his arms. All he saw for a moment was a tangle of red hair.
"Get your hands off my sister!"
Ginny was stirring and as soon as she got her hair out of her face she rounded on Ron.
"Ronald you bloody idiot! Did it ever penetrate your thick skull that I wanted him to have his hands on me?"
"W-what, but you s-said… You heard what he did!" Ron spluttered angrily.
"It wasn't him you prat, someone was using polyjuice potion to make it look like it was him!"
Harry saw that a lot of people had come down the stairs to find out what all the shouting was about this early in the morning. "Great. Another audience that can witness whats going on in my private life" he thought. Ron now looked thoroughly confused but he soon was back on track.
"Still, you should not be spending the night together" he said with triumph on his face.
"You bloody git, we were not doing anything like that and even if we were thats none of your business!" she nearly screamed at him.
Ginny drew her wand and made to cast a jinx at her stupid brother but her row with him had taken the little strength that she had left. As she stood up she felt dizzy again and almost toppled over but harry caught her and held her close.
"I'm fine" she mumbled, but her voice was barely audible and Harry was now very worried.
"I think its best if we got you to the hospital wing just to be sure" Harry said and he led her towards the portrait hole keeping a steady hold off her.
"Thank you Harry" she whispered as she put one arm around his shoulders. They left a very put out Ron standing in the middle of the common room.
They were still in their day clothes on and as it was now morning it was safe to walk around the castle. They made their way to the hospital wing and Harry explained to Madam Pomfrey that he thought Ginny might have a concussion. They both helped Ginny to a bed where the matron began to run diagnostic spells and soon hurried off to fetch several potions. Harry sat down in a chair next to Ginny's bed. When Ginny had taken her potions she was informed by Madam Pomfrey that she did indeed have a mild concussion and that she would have to stay a few hours for observation. Harry took her hand and Ginny drifted of to sleep almost instantly.
Hermione soon joined them. She was smiling and gave Harry a knowing look.
"Oh shut up you" Harry said, unable to keep himself from smiling as well.
Hermione did what she always did when she had free time, she took the opportunity to do a bit of reading and prepare a few items for homework. Harry on the other hand was just happy with sitting and watching Ginny sleep.
Ron came in just after lunch with a sheepish look on his face. Ginny was now awake and sitting up in bed. She was glaring at Ron and had her arms crossed.
"Harry can I talk to you for a minute?" Ron said looking at his feet.
"Sure mate" Harry replied and this seemed to take Ron with surprise. Harry thought that taking the diplomatic and easy route was the thing to do. Partly because missed Ron very much and partly because he kew Ron could sometimes overreact and that Ron probably knew he had done so this time. Ron glanced over at Hermione but she made a point of looking very busy with her book.
Ron walked over to the other end of the hospital wing and Harry followed. There were several moments of silence as Ron seemed to be looking for what to say.
"Listen, Harry, I am really sorry for what I said last night and how I behaved. It's just… Well she is my sister and as her brother I will do anything to protect her. You understand that don't you?"
"Of corse Ron, but you have to understand that I would never do anything like that to Ginny, never. She means everything to me."
"Yea I know" He said shuffling his feet a little. "I'm sorry Harry, this is the Triwizard tournament all over again isn't it?
"Well I wont deny that these past few days have been really difficult for me. But in the end I knew both of you would catch on" He paused for effect. "And you know she is quite capable of taking care of herself don't you?"
"Well yes, she sure is" Ron replied.
"Speaking of that I think we better get back"
When they got back to Ginny and Hermione Madam Pomfrey was busy checking Ginny over with a number of different spells. Ginny glared a bit more at Ron but said nothing.
"Ok, you can go now but you are to take it easy for the rest of the day. No Quidditch, no adventures and certainly no dueling, cursing or jinxing of any sort, is that understood?" Madam Pomfrey said raising one of her eyebrows. Harry thought she must be tired of always having them in the hospital wing. After all, Harry almost had his own bed here by now with all the Quidditch injuries and run-ins with Voldemort and his followers.
"Yes" came Ginny's reply and the matron bustled off to her office.
"Harry, can you give me a hand?" Ginny asked with a very sweet note in her voice.
Harry gave her his hand and helped her out of bed. As they walked back to the common room Harry thought it was not like Ginny to ask for help like this, it was probably just to tease her brother. And probably to make sure he knew she was sorry for everything that had happened. As they entered the common room the low murmur and sound of people playing games and studying dropped a considerable amount as if people were either waiting for another good show of hexes and jinxes or some more shouting. Ginny simply held Harry closer and they made for one of the free sets of couches.
Ron and Hermione took the first and Harry and Ginny the second. Ginny snuggled close to Harry and he put his arm around her. As Hermione tried to help Ron with his transfiguration homework, Harry and Ginny just talked about what they wanted to do during the upcoming visit to Hogsmeade the next weekend.
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The following week was surprisingly normal. The rumor that Harry had been subject to a very cruel and elaborate prank seemed to have spread around the school very quickly. Only the Slytherins seemed amused by this however and Harry was a little surprised. Hermione had explained it to him.
"You know you are more popular than ever" she said when he voiced his observations one afternoon as they were walking back from dinner.
"And why is that? he replied.
"Really Harry, you don't know? Well I think it is a combination of what happened at the ministry, that you were proven right and the stories of you being the chosen one. You have a lot of supporters in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff not to mention the whole of Gryffindor. And lets face it, you have never been more popular with girls either" she said blushing slightly. "You know when you and Ginny were… ahem… lets just say I was approached by quite a few girls who know we are friends and they wondered if I could set up a meeting with you for them.
"Really?" Harry asked bewildered.
"Well they know now to stay away" Ginny said hotly and looked around as if trying to spot crowds of girls lurking in the shadows ready to grab Harry.
Harry chuckled at this which earned him a glare from Ginny. "Don't worry" he said and took her hand. "But as the chosen one, I mustn't let my fans down" he said with a smirk. This earned him a playful swat on the shoulder from Ginny. "Prat" she said with a smile.
"I wonder if they really know?" Ron said.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"You know, The Daily Prophet. You don't think anyone has leaked do you?"
"No, of that I am sure, the only people who know are us four and Dumbledore" Harry replied quickly.
"Of corse they don't know Ron" Hermione chipped in.
"Well they are not far off are they?"
"Well no, but I think eventually even The Daily Prophet must get it right" said Hermione.
"So what should we do in Hogsmeade? Harry said quickly, eager to change the subject as it looked like Ron and Hermione were winding up to another bickering-match.
"Oh, I need new quills" said Hermione. No one was surprised at this.
"I would like to visit Zonko" Ginny said.
"Should we meet up at The Three Broomsticks and have a butter beer when we are done with the shopping?" Harry asked.
"Definitely mate" Ron replied. They spent the rest of the day discussing what they would like to do.
They had all been worried that there would not be any more Hogsmeade trips given the increasingly tight security measures around the school, but was pleased to know that they were going ahead, it was always good to get out of the castle grounds for a few hours.
A/N: Sorry for the slow update but I have been really busy as of late. Please review, fave and follow if you like this story.