Encounters of the Future Sort

Damn Red Headed Complexion

Continuation of Chapters 6 & 8 from Ginny's perspective

Ginny

Hospital Wing

with Hermione and James

"I trust there is a good reason for this intrusion?" Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips, glaring at Ginny and Hermione.

"Well, you see…" Ginny began, twirling a strand of fiery hair that had fallen out of her ponytail. She watched as Madam Pomfrey handed a very pale second-year Hufflepuff a glass of dark green, syrupy liquid.

Ginny opened her mouth, then hesitated. How can I explain this properly? Yes, Madam, I believe Harry Potter has finally cracked…

He was certainly acting very odd. To Ginny, Harry was tall, dark, and mysterious—but always very humble. Almost intimidatingly so. When he wasn't brooding, and he usually was these days, he was so gentle and always unusually kind. He had a sharp edge sometimes, though only when it was warranted.

Harry had never been full of himself in the slightest—even when he had every right to be. That was one of the many things she always admired about him, so it was very off putting when he puffed out his chest and ran a hand through his (quite lovely) untidy hair, like he had suddenly developed insufferable ego.

Hermione also seemed to be at a loss for words as she chewed on her bottom lip, nervously hugging her crossed arms.

Ginny glanced around to make sure no Slytherins, familiar faces, or any members of the Inquisitorial Squad were lurking about. There were a handful of younger students lying in hospital beds, two of whom had large red boils sprinkling their faces. She smirked. Apparently, Fred and George's skiving snackboxes were becoming quite the trend.

Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat and appeared rather irritated. Ginny decided it would be best to jump straight to the point.

"He, er," Ginny lowered her voice, "thinks he's his father…"

She glanced over her shoulder at Harry, who was tying his shoe.

"Hey, I don't see Evans here," Harry called from across the infirmary. "Tell her I'll catch up with her later, yeah? I still need to find Sirius, Remus, and Peter."

Ginny heard Hermione gasp as she watched Madam Pomfrey clutch her heart.

Having spent the entirety of last summer at Grimmauld Place, Ginny knew there was no one in the world Harry loved or valued protecting more than Sirius. The way he yelled Sirius' name so casually gave her goosebumps, like he wasn't a world renowned escaped convict in hiding. Like he was talking about a different Sirius, from another time…

Maybe a time when Sirius and Remus had been friends with his father? He'd also mentioned Peter, who Ginny was nearly positive had been the same Peter masquerading as Scabbers for nearly twelve years. No one ever semed keen on discussing precise details of that disturbing revelation, but she'd gathered bits and pieces of the story listening in on Order meetings over the summer and she knew the whole subject made Ron insanely uncomfortable.

"Oh-okay?" Harry said as Madam Pomfrey led him to a bed with white cotton sheets, his expression akin to that of her brother's when their mother was overreacting.

It was awful to hope that he had been cursed, but she'd honestly prefer it to the thought of him loosing his mind. Ginny watched as Madam Pomfrey examined Harry with her wand, then checked his pupils—

Weird.

Ginny stepped a foot closer, in case her eyes were deceiving her. By the tip of Madam Pomfrey's wand, Harry's eyes were lit up—and they were brown. Or rather hazel, with amber tones and subtle flecks of green. But, Harry had bright emerald green eyes…

She took a moment to digest this information, then glanced over at Hermione, who had a strand of frizzy hair falling across her anxious face. Ginny didn't suppose she noticed his eyes—Hermione had been incredibly strung out preparing for her O.W.L's. It had been difficult for Hermione to string two words together unless they were about the history of Giant wars, the properties of moonstone, or the translation of rather complicated looking runes.

Harry blinked and his strange hazel eyes looked right through her. Something was very off…though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

For all of his physical appearance, he looked just like Harry: tall and thin—but muscular from years of quidditch—with his long nose and unruly raven hair. Even his voice sounded the same, it was only what he said, and how he carried himself that was so eerily uncanny.

Ginny gathered herself from fixating on Harry's jawline and watched curiously as he answered Madam Pomfrey's questions.

"My name—it's James Potter." Harry said once again, and he was so convicted, Ginny couldn't help but consider the probability…

Madam Pomfrey, however, grew increasingly concerned. "A-and what year is it?"

"It's April 1st, 1976."

Ginny tuned out of the conversation. 1976…how old was Sirius again?

Madam Pomfrey left for her office and Ginny blinked, wondering how viable it was that he was telling the truth. At that moment, Harry ruffled his lovely hair again, like it was a reflex, solidifying this nearly impossible thought. She thought of what her brothers would say.

"The thing about growing up with Fred and George, is that you sort of start thinking anything's possible…" —Ginny, OotP, chapter 29

Harry turned quite pompously to Hermione and Ginny when Madam Pomfrey was out of earshot. "Look, I respect your dedication, but this is kind of becoming a drag." He jumped to his feet and waved a hand in farewell, with a disarming smile. "Peeves is at large and I'm a deserter, so…nice to meet you both, I appreciate your time, and see you around!"

Ginny watched him leave the infirmary, mouth slightly ajar. How could this be Harry?

"We're supposed to write an essay on the properties of moonstone, which is the main ingredient in a love potion…" Hermione squeaked, tucking a long frizzy strand behind her ear. "I wonder if maybe someone slipped him one? Although I don't think it's possible to—to, you know, use it in connection with a deceased person…"

Ginny bit her lip, wondering if Hermione could handle her new theory, and feeling slightly vulnerable being the one to point it out. Everyone knew Ginny had a terrible crush on Harry when she was younger and she didn't particularly enjoy calling attention to it.

"Hermione, did you notice his—erm…his eyes?"

Hermione blinked, staring blankly. "What about them?"

"They…weren't green." Ginny bit her lip again, feeling her cheeks flush.

Damn red headed complexion, she thought haughtily.

Hermione knit her brow, her eyes darting around as if searching internal files for an explanation. "What d'you mean?"

"When Madam Pomfrey was shining her light," Ginny continued. "His eyes were hazel."

Hermione blinked again, still seated at the foot of the bed, staring at the infirmary door. She suddenly jumped to her feet. "We should go after him."

Ginny nodded and the two of them hurried out the grand wooden doors of the infirmary, leaving an agitated Madam Pomfrey in their wake.

"He can't have gone far—oh!" Hermione stopped short, eyes very wide.

Ginny spotted a flash of pink a little ways down the corridor, just outside the entrance to the library.

One good thing about Umbridge, Ginny mused, you could always see her coming.

"Is that—?" Hermione squinted.

"Yeah, it is." Ginny sighed. "Bullocks."

Harry was standing there, caught right between Umbridge and Snape. Ginny and Hermione watched for a moment, as Umbridge turned on her heel and led a reluctant Harry down the opposite end of the corridor.

Ginny adjusted her fiery ponytail, preparing for battle. "I bet she's taking him back to her lair…"

"Her lair?" Hermione bit her lip and cracked a smile.

Ginny nodded, unable to stifle a grin herself. "That's what Fred and George call her office." She shrugged. "It's quite fitting, actually."

Hermione gazed down the corridor, contemplating. "We have to do something."

Ginny took a sharp breath in with a bolt of inspiration. She grabbed Hermione's elbow. "C'mon, I have a plan…"

2/3/24 Notes:

The next couple chapters are already written and will be a lot longer. I prefer posting on a different ff platform now, this is kind of a little test to see if I should continue to post here as well. Let me know! And hope you enjoyed :)