Harry and Ginny: A Love Story

Chapter 9: Weren't We Here Before?

It was after breakfast the next morning when Harry came down dressed in some of his new clothes. He had a new pair of jeans that actually fit him, a nice new tee shirt that fit as well, instead of one the size of a tent and new trainers that didn't need paper stuffed in the toes and the soles weren't half off, flopping with every step he took.

He did have a slight air about him with all the new clothing and he found himself tugging and straightening everything because to him is seemed a little tight. He knew, of course, that it just because everything use to be so big and now things actually fit right. He just hoped that things would break in quickly and he'd get over the feeling of snugness.

Ginny was waiting patiently in the kitchen and smiled as Harry entered. He looked at her and blushed, he could feel her enjoyment at looking at him. He actually looked totally different. You could actually make out his body and wiry frame now.

"Turn around, Harry," she sent, as she studied him closely.

Harry turned in a circle, much to the amusement of Molly.

"Very nice Harry," Ginny sent, her smile widening. "You look totally different and I mean that in the nicest way possible."

Ginny got up and went over to Harry and hugged him, causing him to blush once again.

"What's so different?" Harry sent back.

"I can see your cute butt now," Ginny sent saucily.

"Ginny!" Harry cried in embarrassment.

Ginny just smiled back at him and returned to her seat. Molly looked at her daughter and asked, "What did you say to him?" she asked.

"I told him what a cute butt he has," Ginny said to her mother.

Molly almost choked on her tea when she heard Ginny, "Ginny, what a thing to say!" she chided.

Harry was blushing furiously now and had buried his face in his hands. "Godric, Ginny. Can you make this any more embarrassing for me?"

Ginny just giggled at him but did send him her feelings of pride and support. She couldn't believe at how much better her Bond-mate looked now.

Getting up she took Harry by the arm and led him out back into the garden. She steered him over to the wooden bench under the huge old oak tree that dominated the area. It's wide canopy casting a large area of cool shade.

Ginny sat beside Harry but not too close. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Harry," she said softly. "But I think you look so handsome in your new clothes, I mean things actually fit you now and you have to admit that you do look much better than in your cousin's cast offs."

"I know Ginny, it's just that growing up I learned never to draw any attention to myself," he replied sadly, his head drooping as he stared at the ground.

Ginny laid her hand on his shoulder in sympathy. "I'm so sorry Harry. I can guess how bad things must have been, but you no longer have to return there and as you Bond-mate, I feel that I have a right to admire your physical attributes. We are a couple you know."

Harry tried to calm his racing heart. He knew intellectually what Ginny was saying was true, but his heart didn't want to listen. The concept was still so foreign to him.

Ginny could feel his continued melancholy and she felt bad that she was the trigger that had brought the issue to the forefront. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. Harry was beginning to come around, but it was evident that he still had a long way to go.

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Molly watched as Ginny and Harry went out back. She was a little concerned about Harry's reaction. Though she thought it normal for a boy his age to be embarrassed by what Ginny had said, there was something about it that worried her.

It wasn't the embarrassment and as she thought about it, she realized that it was because he turned sad because of it. That wasn't a normal reaction at all and she wondered just how much his treatment at his so called relatives had to do with it.

She vowed to herself to try and keep a close eye on him, not that she wasn't going to anyway, what with his just coming to live with them. Sighing, Molly knew that raising Harry wasn't going to be a bed of roses and he brought his own problems with him.

It wasn't that her kids were perfect, far from it, all had issues while growing up and still did for that matter. She just realized that Harry's were different and perhaps a bit more pressing and serious.

She did take encouragement from the fact that just by getting him into a much healthier environment was going to be a big help all by itself and she was sure that even though she didn't know much about them, his Bond with Ginny certainly was going to be a positive thing in Harry's life.

She was just starting the dough for that nights bread when there came a knock at the door. Wiping her hands she quickly answered it and was surprised to see the young Auror, Nymphadora Tonks standing there.

Her heart caught in her throat for a second, but she relaxed when the girls said, "Hey Molly, you always said I could come to you if I ever needed someone to talk to. I was wondering if you had some time now?"

Molly noticed how down she seemed and with a glance toward the garden where Ginny and Harry had disappeared to, she smiled and said "Sure, come on in. I'll put on some tea and we can have a nice girl to girl chat."

Molly didn't want to alarm or tip off Tonks, but she also didn't want her to discover Harry was there until she knew where the Auror stood and maybe even talked about it with Minerva.

Molly made a quick decision, "Could you keep an eye on the kettle while I run out back and tell Ginny something?"

Tonks smiled at her, "Of course Molly."

Molly hurried out to where Ginny and Harry were. "Ginny, Harry, please don't come back in the house till I come and get you, OK?" she said, trying not to alarm the two kids.

"Sure Mum," Ginny answered, "Is something the matter?"

"Nymphadora Tonks has shown up and wants to talk with me. She's a nice young lady I've met several times at a couple of the Ministry functions I've attended with your father. I'd just rather not have Harry seen just yet."

Harry and Ginny nodded, "OK, we'll stay here or be down by the pond," Ginny replied.

Harry wondered about their visitor, and he hoped it didn't have anything to do with him. He didn't think so because of what Molly had said, but he knew adults didn't always tell you the truth about some things.

He watched Molly go back to the house, "Ginny, do you think the Miss Tonks is here because of me?" he sent, a little worried.

Ginny thought real hard and wondered the same thing but she knew her Mum and she was pretty sure she had told them the truth. "No, I don't think so Harry," she replied.

Harry nodded, feeling relieved that Ginny didn't think anything of Tonks' being there, and the feelings he was getting from her let him know she was telling him exactly what she thought.

"Can we go see the pond you mentioned?" he asked with a small smile.

Ginny smiled back, feeling Harry calming down and his curiosity about the pond. "Sure, Harry," she said as she stood, taking his hand and leading him down the path towards their pond.

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Molly returned to the kitchen just as Tonks was removing the kettle from the stove. "Thank you Nymphadora," she said with a smile.

Tonks blushed slightly, "I prefer it if you would just call me Tonks, or if you must, Dora."

Molly eyed the young Auror, an eyebrow raised critically, "OK, Dora," she replied. "I'm sorry, I just have a hard time calling someone by their last name." She then chuckled, "My Mum would have smacked me if I ever did something like that."

Tonks smiled back at the older witch, "Dora will be fine, but she never named one of her kids Nymphadora, did she."

"No, she didn't," Molly assured her as she prepared the tea. Plating a few biscuits she placed everything on the able and sat down across from her and said pleasantly, "So what did you want to talk about?" as she sipped her tea.

Tonks got a frown on her face, "That's the thing Molly. In a sense, I'm not really sure. It's just that something has been troubling me and I don't know who to talk to about it."

"Well tell me and we'll see what we can come up with," Molly replied.

Taking a deep breath, Tonks hesitated for a moment before beginning. "It's just that I feel something is wrong. It's like I'm trying to remember something important and just when I think it's going to pop into my head it slips away. It's just so damn frustrating!"

"I imagine," Molly said in agreement. She looked at the young woman sympathetically, "Can you associate anything with it?"

"What do you mean?" Tonks asked.

"I mean are there any thoughts going through your head, just before or just after you have this feeling come over you?"

"I'm-m, not sure," Tonks said slowly. "If I could just remember!"

"The harder you try, the worse it will get," Molly said, with a chuckle.

Tonks took several deep breaths,slowly exhaling each one, she let her eyes drift shut and just tried to relax, emptying her mind and letting what may come to her.

Molly waited patiently, and let Tonks take her time. She saw Tonks' head make slight movements and she could see her eyes moving under her closed eyelids.

"What are you seeing?" Molly whispered.

"It's kind of jumbled," Tonks said softly.

"Don't try and put any order to it, just tell me what is flashing into your mind."

"Something to do with Privet Drive," Tonks said lowly.

Molly's heart caught in her throat, eyes widening at what Tonks had said.

"And somehow Minerva keeps popping up, but I don't know why," Tonks said in frustration. She opened her eyes and shook her head morosely. "It just doesn't come together, it's like there is a hole there or something."

Tonks took a sip of her tea and looked sheepishly at Molly. "I shouldn't say anything, but, well Professor Dumbledore didn't say not to."

"What's that dear?" Molly asked, masking her growing sense of panic.

Tonks' eyes darted around the room, as if looking for hidden listeners. "Harry Potter is missing," she said conspiratorially. "Please don't say anything, Albus is trying desperately to track him down. He's enlisted the aid of Mad-eye and wants me to keep a ear open at the Ministry."

Molly breathed a sigh of relief and hoped that Tonks didn't notice any change in her demeanour.

Luckily, Tonks didn't notice the look of relief that flashed over Molly's face. "I was helping keep watch at Harry's Aunt and Uncle's house. I never did see him this year. Anyway, Albus finally came and checked on Harry, well actually the wards to begin with." She took another sip of tea, before continuing, "He and I went and talked to the Aunt and she told us that someone had come and had her sign papers giving up her rights to Harry."

"Did they say who it was?" Molly asked, hoping that she would say no.

"No, they were most uncooperative, glad to be rid of Harry by all accounts," Tonks said compassionately. "Poor kid, I can't believe Albus had him raised there to begin with."

"Why's that?" Molly asked, wondering what Tonks thought about Harry's prior situation.

"I wouldn't wish that family on anyone," Tonks said with disgust. "They are without a doubt the worst of the worst when it comes to Muggles who hate the Wizarding World. I don't think you could come up with a more loathsome family of Muggles if you tried."

Molly sensed Tonks' underlying feelings of sympathy towards Harry and his situation and she wondered how deep that it actually went and if she might be a possible ally. For now all she could do was try to calm the young Auror and talk to Minerva.

"Trust me Dora, I promise I won't say a word to anyone, it will be out little secret," Molly said, softly.

Tonks flashed her a wan smile, "Thanks Molly, I'm just glad that I have someone to talk to. Things have been a little tense with Mum of late, she was really unhappy when I moved out and got a place of my own."

Molly sighed, "I know what she must be feeling though, I mean when Bill and Charlie graduated and started their own lives it was tough. Though with Charlie going to the Dragon Preserve in Romania and Bill off to Egypt for Gringott's it was a little different. Their jobs took them away and you are right here still in England working at the Ministry."

I know Molly, but I just felt I needed to get out on my own," Tonks said, a little defensively.

Molly gave a chuckle, "Don't misunderstand me, as a woman who was young once myself, I completely understand, but as a mother I can see your mother's viewpoint too."

Tonks gave a laugh, "It's funny, when I was still at Hogwarts I couldn't wait to graduated, now that I am, I sometimes wish I was back there, carefree and the only thing I had to worry about was the next exam coming up."

Molly laughed heartily too, "Don't I know it. Trust me, there have been times when I thought the same thing."

Tonks finished her tea and glanced at the clock, "Well I've taken up enough of your time, I really should be going."

They rose together and Molly went and took Tonks into a hug, "Just remember dear, you're always welcome here."

"Thanks Molly, I can't tell you how much that means to me," Tonks said lowly, returning Molly's hug.

Molly watched as Tonks made her way to the Apparation point and saw her disappear. Sighing she grabbed a piece of parchment and jotted down a quick note to Minerva, saying she need to talk to her. She climbed up the stairs to Harry's room where she found Hedwig.

"Hey girl, can I have you deliver a message for me?" she asked pleasantly. Harry had told her that she was welcome to use Hedwig at any time but she still felt it was polite to ask the Owl if she would.

Hedwig, shook out her wings and looked back at Molly who got the distinct impression that it was definitely OK with her, after all that was one of her primary jobs.

After taking the message, Hedwig hopped to the windowsill and with one last glance back at Molly, she launched herself out the window and swung north towards McGonagall's Castle.

Molly watched her till she was out of sight, wondering what Minerva would think about Dora becoming an ally.

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Harry and Ginny were sitting on the end of the small dock of the pond, their shoes off and pant legs rolled up so that they could put their feet in the cool water.

They were idly talking, just enjoying being together, something they felt more and more at ease doing. Sometimes doing nothing more than exchanging shy glances and smiles.

Harry loved the way the sunlight turned Ginny's hair into a halo of fire that surrounded her face, making her look very beautiful.

Ginny could feel Harry's growing sense of happiness as he looked at her. At first it embarrassed her quite a bit but she was getting use to it and it actually made her feel happy too.

They both had laid back, turning their faces towards one another, just enjoying the warm sun along with the cool water. Ginny didn't think she'd ever felt as contented and happy as she was at that very moment.

She let her thoughts drift where they may and as she stared up into the sky, a twisting cloud brought a flash-back of the Basilisk down in the Chamber. She gave a small shudder and before she could say anything, Harry sent, "Are you OK, Ginny?" his thoughts full of concern for her.

"It's OK, Harry," she said. "That cloud reminded me of the Basilisk and made me think about the Chamber."

She glanced over at him, "Harry, will you tell me something?" she asked quite seriously.

Harry rolled onto his side, facing Ginny, propping his head on his hand and elbow, "Of course you can Ginny, I'll always answer your questions."

"Why did you come down into the Chamber after me?" she asked softly, having a hard time keeping her eyes locked on his.

Harry considered her question carefully, wondering if there was more to it than what she was really asking. Keeping his eyes firmly on her he said, "It was the right thing to do," he replied softly.

He sighed, "That and something more. . . . I don't know, it was like I just knew I had to. I mean Dumbledore was gone, McGonagall and the other Professors didn't seem to want to listen to us. Heck we had to force Lockhart at wand point, he was going to run away."

Ginny listened intently, hanging on ever word. She really had never heard what was going on while she was down in the Chamber, fighting for her life.

Harry gave a small chuckle, "Though it was the first time I ever saw Ron really concerned about you."

Ginny made a face, "I bet if it wasn't for you Harry, Ron wouldn't have done anything."

Harry shrugged, "I don't know Ginny. By that time we were just going on instinct. I mean, at least I felt there wasn't a moment to lose. I had the compulsion to get to you as fast as possible."

Ginny got a very thoughtful look on her face. "Do you think that means that the Bond was already there?"

Harry got a surprised look on his face, "I never really thought about that before," he said.

Ginny could see Harry thinking hard, a slight frown on his face. "Looking back, I wonder. . . . I mean I noticed you when you arrived at King's Cross Station my first year, you and your family."

Ginny blushed slightly, remembering how she reacted when the Twins had said the boy they had helped was none other than Harry Potter.

Harry noticed Ginny blush, but he choose not to draw attention to the fact. "Then I watched as you told your Mum you wanted to go on the train and see me."

Ginny's eyes locked on Harry's and she blushed even deeper.

"And then you followed the train as far as you could until you ran out of platform."

"You really did notice me," Ginny said in a whisper.

It was Harry's turn to blush, "Yeah I did Ginny. There was just something about you that seemed to draw me to you."

Ginny reached out slowly and brushed Harry's cheek with her fingers, smiling at him as she did so.

"Then when I arrived at the Burrow before school started this past year, I couldn't help but notice how nervous you got every time you were near me," he whispered back to her, his face breaking out into a smile as he did.

"I just seemed to turn into a blithering idiot every time I saw you," Ginny said, softly.

Harry took a hold of Ginny's hand and held it against his cheek, relishing the softness of her fingertips, feeling their warmth against his skin.

"I felt my stomach do flip-flops, every time you came near too," Harry said with a smile.

Harry lightly brushed his lips across Ginny's fingers and he felt her give a small shudder. "So to answer your question, maybe that was the Bond showing itself. I don't really know, I just know that I couldn't be happier than I am now, being here with you and your family. But especially you Ginny."

Ginny found her heart pounding and her feelings for Harry seemed to intensify, she had to shut her eyes for a moment as her senses seemed to get overwhelmed.

Things seemed to shift and Ginny felt better and happier. Her eyes opened and she saw Harry staring at her. "Thank you Harry," she whispered.

"For what?"

Ginny giggled, "I'm not quite sure but I felt I needed to say it." She contemplated his question for a moment. "I guess for being who you are. For saving me when you didn't have to. For being noble enough to do what was right when others tried to stop you. For being there for me, not only in the Chamber but also the other night when I had my nightmare. What I'm trying to say is, thank you for being you."

Harry didn't know what to say, they just lay there staring into each others eyes, smiling and feeling the wonderful emotions that were bouncing back and forth between them.

Suddenly, the moment was broken when they heard Molly calling from the direction of the garden. "Ginny, Harry, where are you?"

Harry rose and extended his hand to help Ginny rise. They smiled at each other, grabbed their shoes and socks and started walking back towards the house, hand in hand, both feeling as happy as they had ever felt before.

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Ron watched Harry out the window, frowning at him as he studied Harry's new clothes. He looked down at what he was wearing and silently cursed the fates that seemed to favour Harry.

He couldn't understand why Harry got new clothes when all he had ever gotten was hand-me-downs from his brothers. Sighing he flopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling.

Part of him knew deep down that he should be happy for Harry. He had seen what Harry had been forced to wear at his relatives, most pieces contained enough cloth for two or three pieces of clothing Harry's size.

The problem was the part that seemed to be the loudest, didn't care what Harry had been subject to and forced to wear. It yelled out that why couldn't he have what Harry had. He had also seen the new dress robes that Ginny had gotten, and he seethed at that too.

That fact bothered him almost as much Harry's acquiring his new clothing. He keep repeating in his mind, Harry and Ginny! Ginny and Harry! They seemed to be getting special treatment at every turn.

As his anger rose, Ron couldn't remain still, he sprung to his feet, and began to pace in his room. The longer he paced, the more his anger rose and as he came to the end of one circuit, he kicked a stack of old Quidditch magazines and shouted, "It's just not bloody fair!"

He spun around in surprise when he heard behind him, "What's not fair?"

Standing in the doorway were Fred and George, looking at him questioningly.

Ron frowned and said sullenly, "Nothing," as he sat back down in his bed.

George looked at Fred, "Do you believe that, brother?"

Fred shook his head, "Not in the slightest," he replied.

Ron just continued to glare at the Twins, doing nothing to dispel their suspicion that something was really wrong.

Knowing Ron as they did, the Twins separated slightly and continued to stare at Ron.

Ron's eyes kept flitting back and forth between Fred and George, his anger growing by the minute as their concentrated stares began to work on his composure.

Ron finally cracked, "Fine! I'll tell you what's wrong! Harry "Bloody" Potter, that's what's the matter!"

Fred and George looked at each other before looking back at Ron. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?" George asked.

"Oh come on! You can't tell me you haven't noticed him and Ginny getting all kinds of special treatment," Ron spat out bitterly. "Did you see him strutting around in all his new clothes?"

Fred and George looked at him not believing what they were hearing. "Ron, you can't be serious," Fred said.

"I can't believe you're actually saying that," George added, shaking his head.

Not getting any support from the Twins, Ron scowled at them. "Sure! Take his side!"

Fred's looked at Ron incredulously, "What! Ron, you are totally losing it," he said, shaking his head.

Ron's face began to turn a deeper shade of red, "You. . . he. . . Ginny," he sputtered.

"Make sense, Ron," George said with a chuckle, which did nothing to calm Ron down.

Ron stared at the Twins, each in turn, "You mean it doesn't bother you that Harry has only been here a short time and has gotten all new clothes, gets to take liberties with Ginny and everything."

Fred and George looked at Ron seriously, "No Ron, it doesn't bother us," said Fred.

Did you see what he was forced to wear?" asked George, looking intently at his younger brother.

"I. . . well, yeah, but that doesn't mean he should get all new stuff, does it?"

"I just don't understand you Ron. You're supposed to be Harry's best mate but I can't see it," Fred said, sadly.

"Yeah Ron, I'd think you'd be happy for Harry and Ginny," George added.

"We almost lost Ginny and if it wasn't for Harry, we'd have never got her back," Fred said.

Fred must have struck a never, because Ron's anger became somewhat subdued. He sat down on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands, with his elbows resting on his knees.

"Little Bro, you need to really think about what you are doing and what it is you're risking," George said as he rose. His eyes meet with Fred's, who nodded at him.

"Listen Ron, this past year was a horror for Ginny and we think that anything that will help her is OK with us. We feel guilty that we didn't realize something was up. You use to be her best friend, why didn't you welcome her into your circle of friends when she started school?" Fred pressed.

Ron got very quiet, not meeting his brother's eyes and they could tell he was quite embarrassed.

"I think I know the reason, don't I?" George said pointedly.

Ron's eyes flitted to George's but he didn't say anything as he frowned.

"You didn't want to share Harry with her, did you?" George said.

"You wanted to be able to lord it over her that you were friends with the "Great" Harry Potter," Fred added, his vice dripping with disdain.

They watched as Ron paled, his eyes darting around the room, as if he wanted to look anywhere but into their eyes.

"You knew that since she was a baby that she had a crush on Harry Potter, and you thought that you could make her jealous because you were his friend and she wasn't," George stated.

"Are we getting warm?" asked Fred.

"Just leave me alone," Ron finally said sullenly.

"Oh! Now there's a snappy comeback, isn't Fred?" said George.

"To right brother," snorted Fred.

"Bugger off," snapped Ron.

The Twins stood, "Ron, you need to get over yourself and remember you're part of a family," George said softly.

"We love you Ron, but you're acting like a prat," Fred said.

Ron just stared at the floor, so the Twins just shook their heads and left a sullen Ron to think on what they had said.

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A/N: Just wanted to get this posted so I can finish your Christmas present. Look for a special Christmas story to be posted late Christmas Eve / Christmas Morning.

As always, your reviews are what make this all worthwhile for me.

Merry Christmas,

Steve