DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books and Scholastic Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: I'm about to take a big risk here, to capture points of view of four different people and weave them into one comprehensive story. Four different outlooks on love and heartaches.
Please bear with me if somehow the characters turned to be diverting from their personalities in canon. Ginny, she's got spunk and is quite a powerful witch but I don't think she is the bitch that some fanfic writers made her out to be.
This is a 3-part work and the first chapter may not go the way you are all expecting. But hey! This is Portkey after all, so all things have got to end the H/Hr way.
Fanfic writers don't get paid for writing, but your comments and reviews will suffice. So please leave a review after you have read it and let me know what you think of this.
Chapter 1 - The Tension and The Spark
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Why is it that in heterosexual friendships, one is bound to fall in love with the other? They say it was usually the girl who falls for the guy. I told myself I would not allow myself to be a part of that statistics when I gained two new friends in Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, and yet I did.
Yes, I, Hermione Jane Granger fell in love. With whom, one may ask? I'd say both.
Those feelings surfaced in our fourth year at Hogwarts, back when I dated Viktor Krum. Such a sluttish girl, people who definitely knew nothing of who I really am may say. I went out with Krum mainly for the reason that he was the only one who dared to ask - well okay, Neville did too. I declined, however, because I had already said yes to Viktor.
I thought then, that I liked Ron. Those heated arguments we were having were like love quarrels, and I kind of relished those moments. I thought Ron liked me in a more-than-friends way and maybe I did felt the same.
Then Viktor told me something that opened my eyes to other possibilities. The thing he said was that I'm in love with Harry.
"Wh - wait! Where did that come from? Oh those Rita Skeeter articles!" I said.
"I have never read any paper when I was here," Krum corrected me. "I am saying all this for having spent some time with you."
Surprised, shocked, flabbergasted, call it whatever you want, but that was how I felt on our train ride back to King's Cross. I really had no idea on what to make off it. And so, out of impulse, I kissed Harry goodbye, on his cheek, at the train station.
I am not sure if that kiss helped at all, but when I spent most of my summer with Ron, I had come to the conclusion that it was Harry whom I love more.
Fifth year had come and gone, still I was left pining for the boy whom I think I could never have. He likes pretty girls with long, flowing, shiny hair, and playing Quidditch was another plus. I am not one of those girls and could never be. And so, for the most of our fifth year, I helped him get the girl he pined for.
I merely smiled my way through it all, though my heart was breaking inside. I never knew that putting on a fake smile could be such pure agony. I almost heard myself cry in pain.
I was a fool. I was not brave enough to tell him what I felt, and he fell in someone else's arms. I had loved… unconditionally, and all I got was pain… pure unadulterated pain.
Why did I allow myself to go through all that? I had asked myself the same thing hundreds, if not thousands of times. He is a boy and a man at the same time. He has the most multifaceted, mystifying and fascinating personalities I had ever met. With him, I often embark further than the surface of life and of love.
Harry is a friend after all.
So here I am, watching him fall for another. Yes, I, sitting beneath a tree at the paddock near The Burrow, watching my two best friends play Quidditch under the heat of summer sun. I am not blind, though I could turn a blind eye, I can feel. He's smitten… again. However this time around, I have decided not to be affected.
Yes, I gave up.
I was a fool, but I'm never going to let myself fall for it again. I have learned that I have to find my own happiness.
And I have.
He, too, was up there playing with my dear old Harry. My other best friend is coming down for me.
*********
I had loved her for years.
Yes, I can now finally admit it. What? You think those petty quarrels I initiated were just cheap shots at getting Hermione's attention? Hah! Okay, they were. Trying to be cute? Alright, you got me.
However which way, nothing will change the fact that I do love her. I, Ronald Bilius Weasley, am in love with my best girl friend, the smart and sometimes acerbic, Hermione Granger.
You don't have any idea of what sort of battle went through my head when it dawned on me that I was a bit taken by Hermione. Let's forget about that, because thinking back, it was kind of scary.
Let's focus on to what is now and what lies ahead.
I descended softly towards the tree she had been using for a shade for the past two hours since we started our little Quidditch match. Her brown and unruly hair shining against the sun, she waved and flashed her brightest smile. Man, those teeth are really fetching! I could barely remember the time when those two front teeth were bigger.
"How was the game?" she asked loudly.
"I thought you were watching," I retorted. I knew that Hermione and Quidditch don't mix very well.
She frowned and rolled her eyes, uh-oh not a very good reply. "Not bad actually," I snapped back. "How was your sojourn in this - this corner?"
"Quite alright - calming actually," she beamed. "Heading back to the house, already?"
I turned back to the others and saw that my older brothers had already started the trek down the hill, towards our rickety old house. Ginny had her back turned, though I can see that she was waiting. Harry, on the other hand, looked like he was torn between coming over to us or following Ginny.
I called onto him, "It's okay, you can go ahead!" Quite hard to shake that boy off our butts, really. Luckily, Ginny had served such a relieving distraction.
"Do you want to go flying?" I asked Hermione, not knowing where that idea came from.
She looked surprised. "I - I am not sure… you know I hate flying… I never really had a knack for riding broomsticks…" she stammered.
"Oh, come on. It will be fun," I waved it off. "We'll start low. I can take care of you."
"You sure?" she said raising her eyebrows. Now that's scary!
"Yes," I replied confidently, though suddenly I didn't know why there were butterflies doing somersaults inside my stomach.
"Okay, take me for a ride," she said getting up.
I slid a little towards the back of my broom to give Hermione some more space to sit on. I suddenly got a whiff of her sweet scent. I wondered if she ever used that perfume I gave her for Christmas last year.
Knocking off that Christmas memory, I kicked my right foot on the ground slightly to give us some lift a few feet off the ground.
"Whoo!" Hermione yelped at the sudden jerk.
"We are just six feet above the ground at the most, Hermione!" I chuckled. I made the broomstick hover around a small tree.
Hermione's grip on the handle tightened. She started to smile as she got the hang of it.
"We'll go a little higher so you could enjoy the view better," I whispered. I tilted up my Cleansweep Eleven just a bit to give us more ascent.
Hermione shrieked even louder but it was more mixed with laughter than fear or anxiety. The sun was about to set and it added more beauty to the surroundings.
"This is so lovely," she said grinning.
"Yes, wonderful…" I answered back absently, never taking my gaze off her.
This could be the happiest day I have ever had for the past sixteen years. It doesn't matter that I don't have a Firebolt for a broom; nothing could beat flying with the girl of my dreams in my arms.
"I love you," I hushed to her ear absentmindedly. Then realizing what I have just said, I squinted hoping that I won't receive a slap on the face for my rashness.
"You do?" she said turning her head to look at me.
I swallowed hard, fearing the worst. "Yes," I replied softly.
"Me too," she said smiling.
Bewildered at what she just said, "I - I supposed you should," I said.
"No," she sighed, "that's not what I meant." I stared at her still with that confused look plastered on my face. "What I meant was, I feel the same way about you," she said earnestly.
I felt like a bludger just hit my chest. She felt the same way? I must have died. Or better yet, a bludger hit me in the head, that made me fall off my broom, hit the ground, twisted my neck and died. Or what could be worst? Hermione smacked me in the head after hearing me say I loved her while we were up there, which set me off falling, hitting the ground with a twisted neck and then I died.
"Ron! Ron, are you okay?" she asked frantically.
Still bewildered I simply replied, "Ugh? Huh?!" Smooth, mate, that was real smooth. Afraid that my shock could affect our flying, I lowered our altitude.
Hermione was still staring at me and beaming, enjoying the fact that she got me speechless. Gathering all the courage, Gryffindor style that is, I leaned in closer and kissed her.
Remember what I said awhile ago about flying with the girl of your dreams? I take that back. Nothing beats flying with the girl of your dreams in your arms and kissing her. It was the sweetest of the sweets I have ever tasted from Honeydukes. I am seeing fireworks far better than Zonko's or Fred and George could ever muster.
This is the happiest moment in my life and I am spending it with Hermione.
*********
"That git! He only wanted to spend some time alone with her," I said aloud knowing no one could overhear me. He should have told me a long time ago to scram and I would have done so. Not that it would surprise me; I knew that Ron had a thing for Hermione for ages. Was it in our fourth year? I can barely recall.
Oh yes! The Yule ball… fraternizing with the enemy… bollocks! That was pure jealousy. I do hope he doesn't mess it up this time.
I turned around to see what they were doing and saw that Hermione stood up and approached Ron's broom. Uh-oh, he's asking her to come flying with him? That's a bad idea. Hermione hates flying. However, I was surprised to see Hermione mount Ron's broom. I thought she hated flying, maybe I was wrong.
Oh well, like what I had said before, I do hope Ron doesn't mess it up.
I then turned and went back to my hike back to the Burrow. Ginny was a few feet away from me now, with her back turned from me, and then something struck me. I somehow experienced an epiphany, something that made me view other things differently.
Long, shiny red hair… looks soft to the touch… Ginny turned and looked at me, which caught me off guard.
"What do you think my brother is up to, Harry?" she asked me.
"Who?" I asked back, not knowing what to reply really.
She rolled her eyes and said sharply, "Ron, of course!" She waited for me to catch up with her. "He's crazy about her," she said softly. "Did you know that?"
"Yes," I replied. "What about her? Do you think she likes him too?"
Ginny simply gave me a smile and shrugged. "I'm not sure. Well, girls can really be hard to figure out anyway."
"Tell me about it," I responded sarcastically. "So what happened to you and Dean?" I asked changing the subject.
"I'm not sure on that one, either. Some things were really not meant to last, I guess," Ginny replied.
We walked silently back to the Burrow. When we arrived at the yard, I asked her, "Do you want to go in?"
"No."
"How about we sit by the bench over there at the garden and wait for Ron and Hermione," I invited. "Maybe watch the sun set."
"Okay," Ginny sighed.
The first few minutes had been enveloped with pure silence, saved from the chirping of the birds and noise coming from the house. I took the time to study her, which I hadn't done since the first time I stayed over at the Burrow.
Ginny had grown from the girl who used to stumble at my presence. Had she really gotten over me, like what Hermione said?
She certainly had changed, she had become such an amazing young woman that a lot of guys fell on her feet. Would I become one of those men, worshipping the ground she walked on? Certainly not! Harry James Potter does not worship girls. Fancy her? Definitely a yes to that. Enamoured? Yes. Fascinated, charmed, captivated? Yes, yes and yes.
So what do I do? Ron's going to kill me, or would he? He said I wanted someone more cheerful and Ginny fits the bill. The Weasley clan is going to ask for my blood, or would they?
Will this ever be just as hard as talking with Cho? I hope not, we've got far more things to talk about than what I had with Cho, which was mainly Quidditch.
Maybe I should start with Quidditch. "Say, Ginny, when the school starts are you really going to try-out as a Chaser?" I asked breaking the ice once more.
"Yeah, do you think it's a good idea?" she replied.
I nodded. "I've seen your play today, and I can say you're pretty good."
"Huh! Thanks," she said looking all too surprised to hear the fact that I have been watching her. "What about you? Going back as a Seeker?"
"I'm not sure," I said blandly. "A lot of things changed when the school year ended."
"You meant after the encounter at the Department of Mysteries?" she corrected.
"Yeah, that."
"So you faced You-Know-Who - you've done it almost every year. What's different now?" she asked.
I looked at her meaningfully and sighed. Much… so much had changed. Her eyes were waiting for my reply. "I - "
"What's in that crystal ball anyway?" she interrupted.
"I - I actually have no idea," I lied. "Now that it was shattered, I couldn't care less."
"Do you think that was what the Order had been guarding?" Ginny further asked. "Pity though, if it was, 'cause it's all gone now."
"Were you scared that whole time? When the Death Eaters surrounded us?" I asked to divert thoughts from the prophecy.
"Who wouldn't be? A lot of people got hurt," she said absently. A slight pang of guilt bit my ego for awhile there.
"Sorry if I convinced you all to go there with me," I mumbled. "Hermione could have died because of my recklessness."
"It's okay… I got my ankle broken," she said and I snapped and looked at her feet. "No, not now! My ankle was broken then."
Feeling stupid now, I just said, "Yeah, I remembered that. But Madam Pomfrey fixed you all right, didn't she? I wonder if Hermione was completely healed, though."
Another silent spell engulfed us. I looked at the horizon and watched the sun go down and spread its fiery orange light around us. Ginny's hair color flamed even brighter.
"I wonder what's taking Ron and Hermione so long…" I said earnestly.
"They're coming now, alright," Ginny responded by pointing at the two figures approaching from my right. Two figures joined to the hip, one red-headed boy and a familiar girl with unruly hair.
I can clearly see that Ron did not mess things up. Hermione has got the widest smile I had ever seen. I caught Ginny's eye and we shared a grin.
My friends are in love and found happiness, now the question is - could I?
*********
A romantic - a swooning, starry-eyed, hopeless and idealistic lover of love - that's what they say I am, Ginevra Molly Weasley. I won't disagree, though. Yes, I still long for my Prince Charming to sweep me off my feet, to shower me with gifts and flowers, take me to fancy dinners and whisper to me sweet promises and give me tender kisses.
I had drifted off to dreamland far too often yet I have never forgotten to get a life. Yes, indeed I had kissed so many frogs and have yet to find my prince. I knew he would come along because I know he does exist.
Oh yes, he does.
He is embodied by the boy whom I had known since I was a little girl. The boy who conquered the Dark Lord… he had even rescued me like some damsel in distress, even better that I was tripping on the edge of death and him brandishing the sword of Godric Gryffindor… the boy who lived… Harry Potter - and he's sitting just across where I am right now. So near yet beyond my reach. Now really?
They say good things come to those who wait. I waited all right. Honestly, I have been hanging around since I was on my first year at Hogwarts. When Harry didn't even bother to think of me as a possible date for their Yule Ball, I resigned to the fact that he could never see me beyond the best-friend's sister point.
I gave up, as what Hermione may have put it bluntly.
However, do girls really ever give up on love? Young girls, like me, I believe don't - or better yet, we have the right to change our mind.
So here I am again, dreaming, wishing of what could happen if ever my prince looks my way. And he does, quite often now, making me feel my heart propelling blood through my veins and the wild rush of energy surging within me, sending me into fits of delirious ecstasy.
For who could resist those bright almond-shaped green eyes? Witches practically threw themselves at him and worship the ground he walked on.
So what's a giddy girl to do? Sigh and bat my eyelashes? Well, I simply smiled back and hoped that I have conveyed all my feelings in a split-second eye contact.
I turned my way towards my brother Ron and his new girlfriend, the ever-present Hermione. How I wish I could have what they are enjoying right now, the bliss of a new found love. I told you I am the idealistic one… chronic romantic.
I never thought those stolen moments of sharing a silent grin would ever end. One fine day, as Ron and Hermione went off for a walk, Harry approached me. Yes, my prince came down from his pedestal and talked to me.
"Uhm, Ginny - er, are you doing anything today?" he asked almost stuttering.
"No," I replied and smiled sheepishly.
"Would - would like to go for a walk?" he said, which almost sent my knees to buckle.
"Sure… why not?" I responded in a voice that almost sounded like a squeak.
The Burrow was surrounded with a lot of twisted trees and hedges that can sometimes grow awry. I have had a lot of nightmarish episodes from the illusions my young self could imagine from these plants, but now I am thankful that my parents kept them as they are. For they have now served a different purpose, an obstacle for prying eyes.
"Why don't we go up the hill to the Quidditch paddock?" Harry suggested.
I nodded, not really having the energy to muster a single word.
Harry extended his hand inviting me to hold onto, which was a good idea as I felt like my legs had turned into molten lead.
The touch.
It may sound hackneyed, but the feel of his hand on mine sent shocks throughout my body. I now know the reason why I am alive.
Without me noticing it, we reached the tree, which Hermione usually used for a shade whenever we had our Quidditch practises. I guess they were right, time really stands still whenever you are with the love of your life.
Harry motioned for me to sit beside him as he leaned his back on the tree trunk just as Hermione does. I had no idea what to do, really, so I complied. Sitting with him in the cool shade, watching the green hills before us was calming.
He did not utter a single word for a long time, so I did not bother to start up any conversation. I guess he too needs to collect his thoughts, like I do.
I have been in this position, having dated other guys; however, this one was different. Those other times I just went with the flow. How does one say they have loved a person for the longest time?
Harry squeezed my hand that made me turned my gaze on him. He was smiling and his eyes were like dancing. "I - I have been blind," he muttered softly. "I'm sorry - sorry if I have ignored the attention you have been giving me."
I stared at him and searched his eyes. Is he shattering my dreams? The very dreams that were just starting to get off the ground. I felt my face grow hot; I knew that meant that my face has reddened. I lowered my eyes to hide the sadness that has started to creep into my being.
"No… No… No… don't - don't cry," Harry scuffled in his place. "This - this isn't going the way I had planned -," he huffed. "I guess I said the wrong words." He scratched his head that ruffled his already messed up hair, which was quite endearing.
I then lifted up my gaze and locked into his eyes. You don't know how many times I feel my heart surrender each time I see his face.
Harry was beaming. His hands were still holding mine. "You have such an unassuming beauty," he said faintly, brushing my face with the back of his hand. He then ran his fingers through my hair and said, "I am now often dazzled just by looking at you."
I felt like I have drifted into a dream. Everything stood still… my heart stopped beating… then I can hardly breathe… Then all of a sudden I felt my heart aflame; I bravely leaned over and captured his inviting lips. All the love I have for him, I conveyed through that kiss.
My prince, indeed, had come for me.
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A/N : Tell me if I am on the right track or should I stop writing. Though I could not leave this story as it is right now because this could be a good reason for them to kick me out of Portkey. *wink*
The chapter title I used was an album title, which I chanced upon while I was visiting a music store. Can you guess the artist's name? And if you have a copy of this album, tell me if it is good.
While writing Ginny's part, I was listening to my favourite Josh Groban songs… so if you found some lines that reminded you of some of his songs, it was because the lyrics had sipped into my subconscious and I am picking them up by chance.
Special thanks to my beta readers Austenlover and Raven.