Chapter 8

Harry stood up and went for his wand. The look of fury was so strong and so terrifying that for a split second everyone was afraid of him. Ginny, who had paused only a millisecond to take in Harry's rage filled scowl, reached up and grabbed Harry's wand from his hand.

His look of rage turned on her and he grabbed her wrist twisting it, using a method he'd learned only the day before in Auror training. The movement was meant to break a wrist and avoid a spell.

Ginny's shout of pain snapped Harry out of his rage before he could actually break her tiny wrist. The look of surprise and shock and pain at the fact that he had hurt her cycled through his face faster than some of them could see.

"Ginny! Oh Gin, I'm so sorry," he gasped as he crouched in front of her and laid his head in her lap. He was breathing deeply and trying to get a hole of himself while she stroked his hair with her left hand. She silently held out her bruised wrist to her mother next to her and Molly healed it with a wave of her wand.

"Harry look at me. Please?" she asked calmly. He shook his head so she gently lifted it from her lap and angled it up to see hers. He didn't resist, but closed his eyes. They could all see the tears leaking out and the agony in his facial features. "Harry, please open your eyes. I'm not mad at you," she said softly.

"I know. That's what I'm afraid of," he murmured. A single tear falling down the side of his face and disappearing into Ginny's hand.

"Why does that scare you?" she asked.

"Because it means I don't deserve you. I hurt you and if you forgive me, I don't know how I can handle the guilt," he whispered.

Ginny tried valiantly not to start sobbing right then and there. As it was, Molly, Fleur, and Hermione all grabbed their husbands/beaus and silently cried on their shoulders. Minerva cried onto Kingsley's who was misty eyed as well as all the other gents in the room.

"Harry, you didn't hurt me. You just caught me by surprise that's all. Just open your eyes and see for yourself that there isn't even a bruise," she lied. Everyone now watched Harry shake his head slowly and open his watery eyes. He choked back a sob after seeing her caring worried face and tried to look away, but she held him firmly.

"Harry James Potter, I love you, and I will never stop loving you. You deserve me and I deserve you more than anyone else in the world. Do you understand me? You have no reason to feel guilty, you did not hurt me. See?" She pulled her hand away from his face and showed him her perfect alabaster skin around her undamaged wrist. He gazed at it and pulled her down to him and he whispered over and over, "I'm so sorry."

a/n: so touching and short. Another will be up in about an hour. i just want one review on this one before i'll post another chapter. Nothing bothers me more than seeing a chapter with no reviews. It makes me sad for that chapter. Please review! 1,000 hits and 20 reviews in roughly 4 days! you guys are awesome!