"When I first tried it, I thought the memory of my first broom ride would be enough. I couldn't even make a wisp, pretty sure I fainted as well, so you're ahead of me there, Gin." Harry smiled.
"Can we try again?" Ginny asked. She didn't want to be defeated by this, it was important to her. She was more affected by her breakup with Michael than she wanted to admit, she had thrown herself into the DA lessons as a distraction. And Hogwarts didn't feel the same since Umbridge's ascension. She needed to get this right.
"We can try as many times as you like. But this is seriously advanced stuff, Ginny. Loads of adult witches and wizards can't manage a patronus at the best of times. There's no shame in failure here. But I believe in you." Harry replied, and Ginny couldn't help but grin back at him. She was truly grateful that he had agreed to this private lesson. He had noticed her struggling during the last DA meeting. "It must be a happy memory. Your most happy memory, the best you can think of. Or, if not a memory, a feeling. Just use the time you were the happiest."
Ginny searched her mind for the answer, but she kept coming up short. Each attempt she failed. She tried thinking of the Burrow, one of her dad's hugs, the memory of her first kiss. Each time she failed. She huffed in frustration, and Harry chuckled from opposite her.
"Well, what did you use the first time it worked for you?" Ginny snapped at him, and then she felt herself blush and knew her face was a deep crimson. She had asked such a personal question. Harry simply smiled back at her.
"I thought of my parents." Harry replied. "Just what I imagine they'd be like, y'know, if they were alive."
Of course, it would be something sad like that. Ginny felt her heart bursting and tears forming in her eyes. She fought them off and set her face in a determined scowl. Harry had given her an idea.
"One more time, then we'll call it a night." Ginny demanded. Harry looked at her oddly, before nodding his head.
Ginny formed the feeling in her head and said the words. A wispy silver horse burst out the tip of her wand and floated around the room. It was beautiful and she felt accomplished. Then she noticed the way Harry was looking at her. He looked like he was in awe.
"That was incredible, Gin." Harry said with a face full of admiration and pride. "What memory did you use, if you don't mind me asking?"
"It wasn't a memory, not really. And it wasn't necessarily happy." Ginny replied shyly, and she cursed herself. She thought she was past this with Harry. "It was how I felt when Fawkes was crying on you, in the Chamber, when he healed where the basilisk bit you."
Harry was silent for a few moments. He had such an intense look on his face, and Ginny couldn't look away. She silently begged him to reply.
"We've never really talked about the Chamber, have we?" Harry asked pensively. He ran a hand through his hair as he took a seat. He was twirling his wand through his fingers, flipping it around his long fingers, before catching it again in his palm. "I'm sorry about that. I'm a shit friend."
"No, you're not. We never really talked at all, have we? About anything, really. Before this summer, I mean. My fault." Ginny ventured, risking an allusion to her crush on him. She wasn't truly over that, she knew. She just lied to herself about it. It made it easier.
"Do you still think about it?" Harry asked her, and she didn't know what he was referring to. Her crush, or the Chamber. "I have nightmares sometimes. That I got there too late."
Ginny was shocked. She sometimes wondered if Harry even remembered it had happened. So many terrible things had occurred to him since then that the Chamber of Secrets must rank pretty low on a list of horrible events in the life of Harry Potter.
"Sometimes. I had nightmares for months afterwards. Mum and Dad sent me to a mind healer. We talked, that helped. Helped me realise that I wasn't weak." Ginny admitted.
"You're definitely not weak, Gin." Harry replied with another of his smiles.
"What's that about? 'Gin'" Ginny asked. "No one else calls me that."
"I don't know. I just like the way it sounds. I'll stop if it annoys you." Harry replied with a bashful smile and small blush of his own. Ginny didn't mind it, she liked the way it sounded as well.
"I think of it sometimes when I need to conjure a patronus. When you woke up, I mean." Harry admitted in a quiet voice. His green eyes were locked on hers, and she swore they had darted to her lips when he finished speaking. She stopped that train of thought before it could leave the station, but she felt her resolve weakening. "Always works. It was one of the happiest moments of my life."
They were silent for a few moments after that. They just looked at each other, but still his eyes were drawn to her lips. Ginny decided to take the risk. The worst that could happen is he would reject her. She could handle that.
"Harry, do you think I'm pretty?" Ginny asked in a tremulous, shy voice. She almost hated herself, but she was so nervous for his reply. A long moment's pause dragged on for what felt like forever, before Harry snorted.
"'Pretty' doesn't really cover it, Gin." Harry eventually replied
