Disclaimer:I make absolutely no claim on any of J.K. Rowlings works or ideas... this is only my escape from the horror that is contract law!
AN: Look at me less than a week between updates : )
Chapter 13 - Confrontations
Her house was silent, unnervingly silent. Hermione sat in her living room watching the telly but not really paying any attention. A knock at the door jarred her from her mindless perusal of Ab Fab reruns.
Hermione rose and made her way to the door to find Harry's smiling face waiting there.
Harry walked in the door Hermione held open. He quickly pulled her into an embrace and kissed her on the forehead.
She looked tired he thought. He knew that something existed between them, preventing them from finding the happiness that they once thought they should have. He wanted to be happy with Hermione; they had been so content before this summer.
"Honey" he leaned back to look her in the eye. "I've missed you."
Hermione smiled at his greeting. She was worn down and being held by Harry was exactly what she needed.
"I've missed you too" Hermione responded with a slight wobble to her voice. She pulled him back toward her and held on tightly.
Harry heard the waver in her voice and felt her cling. He rubbed a hand along her back, "what's wrong 'Mione?" He directed her toward the living room and the couch therein.
"It's my mum." Hermione responded. "Dad took her back to the hospital. She's not getting any better."
Harry let her cry a bit on his shoulder. He whispered condolences and reassurances that her mum would be better. "You know muggle medicine - it takes forever for them to heal anybody. She'll be okay Hermione. Shhhh... Honey." He hugged her tight. He hated to see her in so much pain.
Hermione sat in his arms for a while drawing strength from him. "Oh Harry... I'm sorry I am a blubbering mess. I'm making a mess of your shirt." She dabbed at his dampened shirt front with the edge of her lightweight jumper.
"That's what I'm here for. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't act as a mop every now and then?" Harry lifted Hermione's chin up and kissed her softly. "Really don't be sorry I'm glad I could be here for you." Silent in his statement was his guilt at not having been there for her when she was absconded off the train.
Hermione's tension melted a bit at his words. "Harry you are always here when you're needed." She knew he felt an incredible amount of guilt for the way people he loved had been used against him during the war. There wasn't really anything he could have done differently, but he didn't see it that way. It was all part of what made Hermione fall in love with Harry. He had an air of nobility about him and an intense sense of duty toward those he loved.
Hermione drew him down into another kiss. She wanted to lose herself in him to forget the outside world. For once she didn't want to think of her ailing mother, of those that had died, of her confusion regarding her feelings. She ran her tongue along the seam of his lips, she wasn't satisfied in just a prim kiss - she needed more.
Harry had become accustomed to her more bold advances since the war. Before this summer he, as a typical teenage boy, had to do most of the work. He had been the pursuer. He rather enjoyed this reversal of situations, what 17 year old wouldn't; his girlfriend was constantly seeking more intimacy.
Harry eagerly deepened the kiss. Hermione fell back onto the couch pulling Harry down with her. Harry pulled back momentarily to stare into Hermione's watery eyes. She had stopped crying but tears lingered in her large brown eyes.
"Hermione are you sure you are okay?"
She smiled at him "I'll be okay as soon as you get back to this..." She ran her tongue along the shell of his ear. Harry felt a shiver run down his spine. He turned his attention to her exposed collarbone.
Hermione murmured her approval. She ran her hands through his perpetually messy hair. Harry, with a wide grin on his face, brought his lips back to hers.
He stood up to the protest of Hermione; quickly sweeping one arm underneath her knees and another behind her back. Hermione shrieked in delight as Harry picked her up.
"Why Mr. Potter... where are you taking me?" This is exactly what Hermione needed, a complete escape in the arms of the man she loved.
Harry smiled and continued his progress toward the stairs. "Where do you want to go?" he whispered in her ear, his warm breath pooled heat in her body.
"Wherever you want to take me..." Hermione sealed her lips with his and they stumbled into her bedroom, Harry catching the door with his heel on the way in.
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The kitchen table of the Burrow was crowded with people. Professor Dumbledore sat at the head of the table; he stroked his long beard as he watched the family around him stare uneasily at each other. Molly and Arthur sat to his right, Bill and Charlie to his left. The twins were milling about the kitchen; they looked uncomfortable with the serious note in the air.
Professor Dumbledore had hoped it wouldn't turn out like this. Molly's eager reception had looked promising, but he should have known better. Tempers ran high and emotions were strong in this family - especially with the two youngest Weasleys. He prided himself on ensuring for the welfare of those he cared about, and the Weasleys were top on that list. But preparations for the new school year and the political whirlwind that had resulted out of the final battle had consumed him the past few weeks. For the first time in his life Albus felt genuinely tired.
Ron was the first to come down the stairs. His lip had stopped bleeding, but was swollen significantly. His eyes were hooded as he slouched in a seat at the table.
Dumbledore watched Ron closely. He had a great deal of respect for the redheaded young man. He had fought valiantly, living up to everything that defined Gryffindor. Yet despite all that he had grown into; he was still the stubborn young man that he had known before. Part of what made Ron so strong, but was simultaneously his weakness, was his tendency to view the world in black and white not in the grays that so frequently made up the world.
Dumbledore could see the anger seething in Ron; he had not been privy to the role that Draco had played during the war. Ron's opinion was based solely on his previous interactions with young Malfoy, none of which were favorable. In fact very few had known of Draco's actions. For Draco's safety and the success of his missions it was imperative that his actions were done in complete secrecy.
It was going to be hard to respect Draco's wishes and make Ron understand (if that was even possible) that Draco was not the evil figure that Ron believed him.
The mother in Molly cut the tension at the table. "Ron? Honey, are you okay? Do you need a reducing spell for your lip?"
Ron, still stewing, looked over at his mother. "I'll be fine." He said with obvious pain.
"Don't be obstinate" Molly scolded Ron as she murmured the spell that took away the swelling of his lip.
A pair of footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Seven red heads turned toward the sound awaiting its creators.
Ginny paused on the landing, still out of view from her awaiting family. She took a deep breath stealing herself for the confrontation to occur. Draco watched her silently. He was accustomed to accusatory stares and hatred, in fact he thrived on it, but the girl next to him wasn't as used to such hostility, especially from her family.
"I'm ready" Ginny whispered as much to herself as to Draco who stood next to her.
Ginny entered the room first; all eyes were trained on her movement.
"Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, take a seat." Dumbledore offered his hand out to the seat at the opposite end of the table.
Ginny took a seat; Draco insinuated himself on the mantle behind her. He crossed his arms over his chest prepared for whatever would be thrown at him.
Molly quickly looked over her daughter, "are you alright honey?"
"Yes mum" Ginny responded.
Ron guiltily lowered his head at his mother's question. Whatever anger he felt towards his sister at that moment, he never meant to hit her.
"I'll go ahead and start." Dumbledore began shortly after everybody had situated themselves.
"I'd like to apologize for not having this conversation earlier. It has been a trying time since the end of the battle and I am afraid I have been preoccupied."
Arthur immediately replied, "There's no reason for you to apologize, Albus."
Dumbledore waved off Arthur's comment. "I'd like to begin with what happened this evening. I understand you have an unexpected visitor." Dumbledore swung his eyes over to Draco who continued to stand arrogantly by the fireplace.
Ron was the first to jump in, "I found those two together. Apparently Ginny isn't the Ginny we thought she was."
Molly shot back at her son, "Ronald, what are you saying about your sister. I don't know why Mr. Malfoy is here, but I don't appreciate you accusing your sister in such a manner."
"It's true Mum, Draco was here because I asked him, but it's not what Ron thinks." Ginny quickly followed.
'Sure it's not Ginny, that's why he was holding you, and that's why you wouldn't tell me anything about what happened this summer."
"Ron would you just let me explain!" Ginny snapped back. Gone was the Ginny who was devastated at her brothers rejection, now she was filled with an anger that was fueled by her hurt.
Dumbledore watched the proceedings; he would let it go as long as it was productive. He had a feeling that Ron would need some convincing, other than what his sister could provide.
Ron moved to counter her remark, but Bill raised his hand. "Ron, let her talk. I believe you owe it to your sister to listen to what she has to say."
Ron glowered at his brother. He had thought his brothers would back him up.
Ginny smiled gratefully at Bill. "I asked Draco to come; I hadn't expected him to show up... so soon. Otherwise I would have let you know about his arrival." Ginny let the little white lie slip past. To be honest she hadn't been sure that Draco was actually going to show and if he had, she would have met him privately - but her family didn't need to know that now.
"Why Ginny? Why did you ask Draco Malfoy to come here? He's a Deatheater?" Charlie asked.
"He's not a death eater, he worked was a spy."
Ron's eyes shot up then looked suspiciously at the blonde who now smirked at him. He wouldn't believe that load without proof. He wouldn't put it past Malfoy to make up such a tale.
Ginny continued "He played an important role in the battle; you just didn't know he couldn't tell anyone..." Ginny was prepared to continue praising Draco's efforts to vanquish Voldemort until Draco leant forward and placed a stilling hand on her shoulder. For whatever reason he obviously didn't want her to continue talking about him.
"How do you know all this?" Ron asked slowly his suspicion evident in his tone.
"Draco took care of me after the battle... I thought you all knew this." Ginny looked questioningly at Dumbledore. She had thought that they knew where she had been, and perhaps that had explained why her family had been slightly wary of her.
"I'm sorry; I didn't tell your family where you were recuperating. I didn't want any rash actions taken, but I'm afraid I miscalculated. It appears I cannot predict everything."
"Harry knew, I'm shocked he didn't tell you Ron."
Harry knew! Ron too was surprised that his best friend had not told him where his sister had been. He had known every time that Ron had talked about how much he wanted his sister back and every time he had wondered where she was. He didn't understand why everyone was keeping him in the dark.
"Ginny can you just tell us what happened. I'm sure that it would help everyone..." Molly looked pointedly at her youngest son, "understand."
"I'll tell you what I can." Ginny began slowly. She hadn't wanted it to happen like this. She supposed she never wanted it to happen, but it had to at some point.
"What do you mean?" Bill asked.
"I don't remember everything that happened, yet" Bill and the rest of her family continued to look at her with concern. "I was unconscious for quite a while and apparently I suppressed much of my memory from the summer. The memories have started to come back, but I don't know how much I will ever remember." Ginny finished and expelled a deep breath.
"It's okay." Her father ran a soothing hand down her back. "Just tell us."
Ginny knew she couldn't tell them everything. She wouldn't tell them what had come to her as she woke up mere hours ago. If she ever wanted a chance to reconcile her family they must never know what happened.
"I remember being on the train home, and then being held by two death eaters as Hermione was locked up in the home Voldemort was using as his headquarters. I don't remember very much about the time I spent there, I heard that they thought I would help lure Harry to Tom...er Lord Voldemort." After her slip of tongue, Ginny quickly kept talking hoping it wasn't noticed. "The next thing I do remember is waking up in extreme pain in Malfoy Manor and having Draco care for me."
Her family sat in silence taking in all she said so quickly.
"I didn't have anything to do with Hermione being taken, at least consciously. I have a feeling that the Imperious curse was used on me but I can't be sure. And...And I promise that I didn't have anything to do with Percy's death."
"Oh Ginny! Is that what you thought we were thinking?" Molly rose from her seat and ran to embrace her daughter. "I never for a minute thought you had anything to do with Percy. You would never hurt your family."
For the first time since she was back, she actually felt loved by a member of her family. She didn't know how much they truly believed of her story but she genuinely felt that her mother believed that she wasn't associated with Percy's death.
Molly pulled back eventually and wiped a tear from her own cheek. "Keep going honey. Why did Draco end up here?"
"Like I said I invited him over. Ron and I talked... it didn't end well and I felt like talking with Draco. We became..." She considered him a friend, but could she tell this to her family, "friends during my time at his home. I wanted to talk to him about my time here and about Percy."
Her family stared at her, various expressions of shock and confusion etched in their features. Bill and Charlie were mainly confused; they had little knowledge of Draco being they were long out of school. They knew the Malfoy name for sure and all the horrors that it had caused. The twins' mouths had identically fallen open; their eyes were round in disbelief. They had witnessed Draco in action at school, bullying kids, including Ron and Ginny and were of the general consensus that Draco was a smarmy git. Ron's expression surpassed that of shock, his one eye twitched and his face was entirely red. Ginny feared some sort of hemorrhage. Who knew one small word could cause such varying reactions.
Had she turned around she would have noticed a similar expression on Draco's face; he was surprised that she had gone as far to call him a friend. He hadn't been certain on the type of relationship that they did share. He had finally come to the conclusion that from his point of view they were friends, but he didn't think that Ginny would have ever actually considered him the same. He wasn't sure what it was all supposed to mean, he had little experience in friendships and wasn't altogether sure that he wanted them. He understood his responsibilities as a friend to entail helping when needed, but was that reciprocated? Did he want that reciprocated?
George was the first to reply. "Why on earth would you be friends with such a wanker as him?"
"Gerorge! Language!" Molly reprimanded out of habit, she too was in a bit of shock at the words uttered by her daughter.
"But Mum, he's right. How could she be friends with Malfoy. His father killed Percy for Merlin's sake!" Ron looked over at Ginny hopeful that his barb would hit home and it would force her to understand that Draco was just as evil as his father.
Ginny moved to deny Ron's accusations. Even if Lucius had killed Percy it didn't matter Draco was not his father and she wouldn't let rumor and accusation control her, after all she had enough experience with that to last her a lifetime.
But Draco beat her to the punch with the first words he had uttered since the conversation began. "I am not my father Weasley and it's best that you remember that." His words were sharp and to the point. Draco didn't feel it necessary to waste any more breath on the belligerent redhead.
Ginny turned her head toward Draco, she had almost forgotten he was there he was so quiet.
"Good story Malfoy, you might not be your father but I would say it's only a matter of time and opportunity until you are." Ron replied hotly.
Soon everyone was joining in the argument. Voices were raising shouting out questions and accusations. No one understood how Ginny could even conceive of talking to a Malfoy, let alone enough to actually become a friend. Dumbledore noted the rapid disintegration of the conversation and raised his hand to bring focus back.
Everyone quieted in time to hear Ginny shout at Ron who was now standing with his hands planted on the table, "I'm friends with him because he was there when I needed him; he picked me up when I was broken, not like you who always found more important people to save and more important people to care about."
A shocked silence rang through the room. Ginny gasped, she hadn't meant to say that to Ron, or in the presence of Draco. Her hand quickly covered her mouth and she turned and ran. Ran from the room, ran from her family and ran from her emotions.
Molly stood to follow, but Dumbledore stilled her. "Let him go after her, I would like to explain some things to you all." Molly slowly set down, not completely comfortable with relinquishing her child's welfare to the judgment of another, but at the same time knowing that she trusted Dumbledore with their lives.
Draco had been staring at the doorway which Ginny fled through. He was in shock, he didn't know how important he was to Ginny, and to be honest it frightened him beyond comprehension. He was accustomed to people fearing him, or needing him to lead, but never had someone needed him or appreciated him for simply being himself.
Dumbledore's words cut through the haze that had filled his mind. He inclined his head toward the professor and began to make his way after Ginny. He supposed they needed to talk; it was almost too much for him. He needed time to comprehend, but he also needed to know what she was thinking.
After Draco left the room, Dumbledore launched into an explanation of Draco's role in the war and in Ginny's recovery. He was careful to not divulge information that both had wanted kept private, but he made sure that the Weasley family knew that both were not minions of the Dark Lord. Despite his efforts he could still see that Ron was unconvinced. Molly and Arthur were deeply concerned that they had lost their daughter in the terrible misunderstanding that had resulted upon her return. They had every right to worry; Ginny had been deeply hurt by her family's momentary rejection. Ginny was being asked to overcome emotional and physical scars that far outweighed any he had seen on a girl her age before. He understood that it would take a great deal of time and understanding, it was just that not everyone else involved understood this.
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Ginny sat on a grassy knoll past a large copse of trees that marked the edge of the Weasley land. She had run quickly to this point and was now feeling the repercussions of her actions. The stitch in her side was painful, as were her aching ribs. Ginny needed a moment to gather her breath as well as her thoughts.
She was tired and all her thoughts seemed to be running amuck, she couldn't grasp onto a single thought. The words she had just announced to her family were first and foremost; they collided with her fears of Draco's reaction to those words. At the edge of all her thoughts were her memories from her dream the night before. She knew it hadn't been a dream; rather it was memories resurfacing. Now it was just a matter of distinguishing what was dream from what has reality.
She heard the slow crunch of grass under his feet as he approached.
He was here and she didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to expect from him. She knew he cared; he had come when she asked for him. She thought he considered her a friend, he knew she did. But Draco was not one for expressing his feelings and Ginny at this point had lost all faith in her ability to read people.
"Is it true?" Of all his possible greetings this was not what she had been expecting - perhaps a witty remark or a snide comment about her family, but not this simple pained question.
Ginny raised her cinnamon eyes to meet his silver orbs. For the first time since she had met him there was naked emotion visible on his features. He looked ravaged. Ginny wanted to help him like he had helped her, whether he knew of his important role in her recovery or not. She knew it might mean leaving herself vulnerable, but for the one person who had believed her she knew she had to give that much.
Retaining his eye contact she slowly nodded her head. "Every word."
Draco nodded back. He didn't say a word; he merely took a seat next to her on the ground, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
When Ginny looked back at him, the emotion was gone and Draco's face was back in place. But for a minute she had seen the man inside and she knew it. She would treasure that for the rest of her life.
He was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into all this. Ron read the letter you sent and accused me of betraying the family. I needed someone who didn't think twice about my motives, who understood what happened... you are the only one who does." Ginny trailed off.
"I know... I think that's why I came. I didn't think you would write something like that if you didn't mean it." Draco ached to tell her about his mother, to help her understand why he felt such connection to her and at the same time why it was so hard for him to feel anything for her. He couldn't tell her not when emotions were high and his position was so uncertain.
"I don't want to go back in there; I don't want to stay with them." Ginny petulantly sighed.
"You need to. Don't dismiss your family yet... I know it's a bit shocking that I am telling you to go back to the Weasley's, but I think Dumbledore might be righting things as we speak. Your mother obviously loves you." Draco paused and sighed. "Plus school starts in a couple of days you won't be here long."
She supposed he was right, but she was angry with them....
"Now with Ron, feel free to try that bat bogey hex on him." A smile crept onto Ginny's mouth.
"So you still remember that one, I was rather proud of myself."
"Remember... I don't think I will ever forget. It took me nearly a week to get rid of them and to this day I have a deep aversion to bats."
Ginny laughed at this, Fred and George would be so proud. She loved her family which is what made this all so hard. Ron's rejection of her pained her to the quick especially with the loss of Percy.
"I miss him so much right now... Percy would have understood me; he wouldn't have jumped to a conclusion first."
Draco who had been purposefully keeping his distance, placed an arm around her shoulders. He let her grieve briefly. This is why he had come, to be her shoulder. He couldn't imagine doing this for anyone else, hell he couldn't have imagined doing this at all a month ago. He pushed those thoughts aside for the time being and let the morning sun rise in front of them.
Ginny sat quietly her head on his shoulder. Should she tell him about her dream from the night before? Should she tell him she saw what came out of the door at her? Should she tell him she knew where the pain she felt had come from? In all honesty she didn't know if she could. Her memories were dark and sordid, she was afraid of what he would think. She needed him too much right now to risk his possible rejection.
They sat quietly on the hill until Professor Dumbledore came to collect them.
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Harry arrived at the Burrow the next morning with Hermione in tow. She was complaining vehemently about him not giving her enough time to get ready, while at the same time telling him to hurry up because she needed to get her shopping done so she could go visit her mother before they left the next day.
Harry never made any claims to understand the opposite sex - but for Merlin's sake!
"Ron! We're here!" Harry cheerfully announced blissfully unaware of what had occurred the previous morning.
"Oi Harry!" Bill greeted the younger man.
"Are you leaving Bill?" Harry asked noting the large satchel that Bill had brought down the stairs with him.
"Yes, I need to get back, work calls."
"How are Fleur and Lucas doing?" Hermione asked the eldest Weasley.
"They portkeyed home yesterday..." an edge entered Bill's voice, "I had some things to take care of first."
Harry and Hermione exchanged a slightly confused glance, but Ron's entrance into the room drew their attention.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, "What happened to your face?" She immediately moved forward and touched his bruised cheek lightly.
Ron fidgeted under her ministrations, "Nothing Hermione I'm fine... just a bit of a tussle. Really I am fine." He continued when she threw him a look of disbelief.
Hermione realized her hand was still resting on his cheek and she quickly backed off. She returned to Harry's side and grabbed his hand intertwining their fingers.
"Ron what did happen?" Harry asked not willing to let his friend off the hook quite so easily.
"I said nothing... now could you drop it." Ron testily replied.
Both Harry and Hermione were a bit shocked at Ron's appearance and attitude. Something was under Ron's skin and he wasn't letting on what it was.
"Are you ready to go?" Ron continued on curtly.
"Do you have your list? Your money?" Hermione began to list off everything that Ron could possibly need while on their trip to Diagon Alley.
"Hermione we aren't going to the continent, it's just Diagon Alley. Let the poor boy be." Harry chided his girlfriend.
Hermione stopped and pursed her lips, "I was just trying to make sure he doesn't forget something like he does every year."
"I've got everything... now can we go."
"Ronald Weasley you cannot go yet... not without your sister."
Molly Weasley's yell from the kitchen was met with another sharp female reply, "I am not going to Diagon Alley with him mum! I'll go by myself in a few minutes."
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"Good morning!" She greeted the two new additions. "I trust you are all ready for your last trip to Diagon alley for school supplies."
"Yes Mrs. Weasley, we've got our lists and money ready." Harry responded with a smile.
"If it's not too much trouble can you bring Ginny along with you? Here is her school letter and some money to get the supplies." She extended her hand to Harry, but the goods in her palm were intercepted by Ginny's small hand.
"Mum, I'm not helpless. I can go to Diagon Alley on my own. I told you I refuse to go with him... isn't it enough that I agreed to stay here until school started..." Ginny hated the way her mother always asked for people to bring Ginny along with them, like she was some horrid handbag that you only wore because your Aunt Gertrude gave it to you.
Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise. What had happened here in the few short days that Harry had been gone? The tension in the air was palatable between the two siblings.
"You heard her mum, she doesn't want to come along and that's fine with me!"
Hermione gasped at Ron's comment, there had always been some good natured teasing between the two, but this was open hostility.
"Ronald, she is going with you three and that is final!" Mrs. Weasley said with authority.
Harry could almost see the steam coming from Ron's ears. Ginny looked just as angry. He worried that before long the Weasley home would simply combust.
"How about Ron and Hermione go on ahead, I'll go shopping with Ginny and meet up with them at Floreans? After all I haven't chatted with Gin in a while, it'll be fun!" Harry posed the alternative hoping to neutralize the situation.
Hermione looked doubtful at her boyfriend. Her mind screamed don't leave me alone with Ron!
"Are you sure Harry? This is our last year to go shopping together." Hermione stated, a sentimental note in her voice.
"Leave some shopping for after we meet up at Floreans" Harry smiled at Hermione, he knew leaving Hogwarts was hard on her.
Ron had remained silent throughout Harry's proposal. He supposed that it was a good idea. He didn't want to spend time with his sister quite yet. He still had too many thoughts to sort through. Dumbledore's words rumbled through his mind he didn't know what to believe.
Hermione! She would be the perfect person to talk this out with. Hermione used to be the person he chatted about everything with; somehow their friendship had changed over the years with the stress of relationships and the war. She was still one of his best friends; he wanted more than anything to regain the friendship that they had once had.
"Grand idea mate! Come on Hermione let's go!" Ron grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her toward the fireplace.
"Ron... wait" Hermione floundered a bit as she was pulled toward the green flame.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much."
With Ron's teasing comment the pair was gone.
"Thanks for the offer Harry, but like I said I'm fine. You'd better hurry if you want to catch up with Ron and Hermione." Ginny turned to head into the kitchen.
"Ginny I wasn't lying. Please come with me to Diagon Alley. I miss talking with you."
Ginny stared blankly at him. What was he up to? I miss talking with you... Ginny almost snorted. What rubbish! They had forged a fledgling friendship after his fourth year, while they were staying with the Order. It had been far from deep; it was more brotherly than friendly. For the most part though Harry had been concerned with Hermione, Ron and the Order, not with fostering their friendship.
Harry could tell she didn't believe all he had to say. "Ginny, I'm sorry about how everything played out. I would give anything to take it back, to keep you from being hurt. I wish that I could have protected you."
Ginny stopped breathing. Everything she had ever felt for the green-eyed boy in front of her came flooding back. He wanted to protect her... she didn't know how many nights she had lain in her small bed upstairs wishing that Harry would think of her in anyway. And here he was finally saying words to her that she had only dreamed she would hear from him.
She looked into his eyes, they exuded sincerity. Part of her didn't want to believe him. She had begun to steal herself from the pain he unknowingly was able to inflict upon her. There had been too many times she had conjured up a 'Harry' that would actually see her only to be reminded that he didn't exist and that she wasn't what he wanted.
"Ginny remember, if you need someone to talk to please remember that I want to be there for you."
The part of her that wanted to believe in him reared up, he was Harry Potter. He was the boy she had loved for years, he was the boy-who-lived, and he was the boy who had saved them all.
"Fine Harry." She relented, "let me go tell Mum and we can go." Her voice was flat, she was determined to get through this emotionally unscathed.
Harry smiled at Ginny before she turned to find her mother. As he watched her back head into the kitchen the smile dropped from his features. Harry knew something had happened, something that had set the Weasley's on edge, something that had significantly changed the young girl for whom he now waited. Harry couldn't let this rift continue, he had to start the healing somewhere, if not with himself than with the family he loved as his own.
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Next chapter: Diagon Alley here they come! What will Ginny and Harry talk about? What will Ron and Hermione talk about? Ginny meets up with an old friend Will we ever find out what she dreamt?
Thank you for all the reviews!