Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Summer of Secrets
Chapter Nine
0 reviewsGinny tries to help reconcile Ron and Harry before the Christmas holidays.
-1Cliche
Warnings For This Chapter: cutting, sexual situations
Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling is a brilliant mastermind and no one can ever be as amazing as her.
Chapter Nine
“Haveyou decided if you're staying here, or going with me to the Burrow for Christmas?” Ginny asked Harry two weeks before the Christmas holidays.
“Has your brother decided where he'll be spending his holiday, yet?” Harry looked up from his last minute Charms homework.
Ginny sighed, took Harry's homework from him and laid it aside. She made herself comfortable in his lap and turned to face him. “Are you still going on about that?”
Harry raised an eyebrow.“Still on about that? Your brother wants to murder me, Ginny. Blood, broken bones, no-body-to-be-found murder.”
“Don't you think you're overreacting, just a tad?” Ginny leaned in closer towards him.
Harry moved his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Nope.”
Ginny stood up and scowled at him. With her hands on her hips, she looked remarkably like her mother. “Fine, then stay here and mope because you're afraid of my older brother.” Ginny turned and left through the portrait hole.
“Not just one! There are six of them, Gin! Count them! There're six!” Harry yelled after her. Sighing, he returned to his homework.
H/G
“Ron,you have to get over this. You can't possibly still be mad at Harry.” Hermione glared at him from across the table in the Great Hall.
“I'm not.” Ron piled as much food as possible on his plate. “I just prefer not to speak to him.”
“What's the difference?” Hermione demanded.
“I don't kill him. Ijust avoid all interactions with him.” Ron began to shovel food into his mouth.
Hermione frowned at his ill manners. “Ron, Harry's your best friend. You can't let this come between the two of you”
“He shagged my sister, Hermione.” Ron managed to speak with a full mouth.
“Get over it, Ronald. What happens between Harry and your sister is their business and no one else's, especially not yours.” Hermione spread marmalade over a piece of toast.
“Thank you, Hermione. I completely agree.” Ginny appeared behind her brother, who jumped, spilling his breakfast onto his lap.
“Thanks a lot, Ginny!” Ron stood up and brushed his robes clean.
Ginny ignored him. “Look, Ron, you start speaking to Harry again or I'll hex you into next week. He's thinking about staying here for the holidays because he's afraid of you and the others.”
Ron glared at her. “I haven't told them anything. Harry has nothing to worry about.”
“So, why don't Ibelieve that?” Ginny fingered her wand fondly.
“I-I don't know.” Ron was suddenly nervous, with his sister's wand in clear sight.
“Talk to him, Ron, or I'll tell Mum all about your secretrelationship with Hermione.” Ginny turned to her friend.“Sorry, Hermione.”
“It's quite all right, Ginny. I understand.” Hermione ate her toast, watching the exchange between siblings with interest.
“You-you wouldn't,” Ron stammered, his face drained of colour.
“Wouldn't I?” Ginny turned to walk out the Great Hall, calling over her shoulder,“I guess we'll just have to see.”
Ron swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “I need to go find Harry.”
And with that Hermione was left alone in the Great Hall. She laughed at Ron's retreating back and quickly finished her toast before following him to class.
H/G
“Er,Harry . . . I've been thinking and . . . and well I . . . I forgive you. I'm sorry I acted like such a prat about you and Ginny. It's none of my business.” Ron stood beside Harry's desk before Transfiguration started.
Harry cocked his head towards Ron. “Your sister threaten you?”
Ron sighed. “Yeah.”
Harry laughed and moved his bag to the floor so Ron could sit beside him. “Took her long enough.”
“Why? Did you put her up to it?” Ron asked as he put his books out on the desk.
“No, I was just wondering how long it would take Ginny to tire of our rowing.” Harry set his bottle of ink on the desk, as well as his books and parchment.
Hermione came into the room and sat down at the desk beside the one Ron and Harry occupied. “Nice to see you two have resolved your differences.”
Neville Longbottom laughed from beside her. “Nice to see Ginny's resolved their differences for them.”
Ron glared at Neville.“Shut up, Neville, or I'll tell Luna all about how you talk in your sleep.”
Neville's eyes widened and he quickly got his things out for class.
“Ronald! That was completely uncalled for!” Hermione hissed.
Ron didn't answer, but instead looked up for Professor McGonagall to begin class.
H/G
Ginny*]had been unusually quiet, for the rest of the week. Only one week was left until she, Harry, Ron and Hermione left for the Burrow for Christmas vacation. Harry was worried about her, but knew she would only talk when she was ready. He wasn't surprised when Ginny retired early that night, claiming she had a headache. Harry kissed her goodnight and watched her leave.
“What do you suppose is her problem?” Ron asked Harry after Ginny had left.
“Whatever it is is none of your business, Ronald, and you would do best to keep your nose out of it.” Hermione didn't look up from her extra-credit Transfiguration essay.
Ron looked at Harry, but turned back to his homework, rather quickly. Around ten o'clock, Ron couldn't take any more work and retired for the night. Hermione followed soon after and Harry not thirty minutes after her.
Harry lay in his four-poster that night, wondering what could possibly be wrong with Ginny. As far as he knew, she hadn't been cutting herself lately, and she appeared to be genuinely happy. But Harry wondered if Ginny was really happy, or just putting on an act all along.
H/G
Whenshe got to her dormitory, Ginny threw her things down and crumpled into a heap by her bed. She hadn't really had a headache, as she had said; she just wanted to be alone. Ginny didn't know why she felt so depressed, so numb inside, but she didn't feel like being around anyone. She didn't have a reason to feel the way she did. As a matter of fact she should have been the happiest girl at Hogwarts. After all, she was dating Harry Potter. But she wasn't the happiest girl in school. That award was reserved for Parvati Patil and her boyfriend-of-the-week.
Ginny dried her tears and pulled herself to her feet. She looked in the mirror and frowned at what she saw. Ginny didn't see an attractive, petite redhead as others would. Instead she saw a hideous, depressed, troubled teenager, who no one deserved to be stuck with. Screaming in frustration, Ginny slammed her fist into the mirror.
The glass shattered. Ginny watched it fall. Piece by piece, it hit the floor, some of them bouncing before they rested, others stopping on impact. Ginny picked up a shard of glass and held it tightly in her left hand. She gasped as the sharp edges dug into the delicate skin of her palm. She opened her fist and examined the damage.
Unlike her right hand, which was covered in little cuts and scrapes from the broken mirror, her left palm had a long gash in it, from the shard grasped in it. Ginny picked the shard out of her palm and brought it to the flesh on her forearm. Many scars already riddled the skin there. She traced one gingerly with her finger before laying the shard of glass where her finger had been and pressing down. Blood came out in a red stream, as Ginny drew the glass over her existing scar again and again.
Finally satisfied, Ginny sighed in relief as her blood ran down her arm, and onto the floor. She cast a quick Scourgify on the floor, so it wouldn't stain, and sat on the bed. As realization hit her, dread pooled in her stomach.
Harry. What would he say? Would he be mad? Would he never talk to her again?Ginny couldn't stand the thought of any of the situations that began to run through her head. She quickly changed into a pair of long-sleeved pajamas before she left her dormitory and ascended the steps to Harry's.
H/G
Harryhad just entered that netherworld between sleep and consciousness, when he felt someone shaking him. Groaning, he reached for his glasses, only to find someone had already placed them on his face.
“Thanks,” Harry muttered as he sat up and illuminated the area around his bed, with a quick wave of his hand.
“Ginny?” he asked in surprise as he focused on her groggily. “What're you doing here? Did you have another nightmare?”
Ginny shook her head slowly, tears beginning to roll down her face. Harry looked at her in alarm and pulled her down to sit by him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair.
“What is it, sweetheart? Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?” Harry was at a complete loss. He had no clue what was wrong with his girlfriend, but he knew whatever it was he wanted to fix it. Harry couldn't bear to see Ginny in pain.
Minutes passed by before Ginny whispered, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” against his chest.
“Sorry for what?” Realization dawned on him as soon as the words left Harry's mouth. He pulled back to look into her eyes and immediately he knew.
“Why?” Harry whispered.
Ginny shook her head. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't want to-to hurt you.” She took a gulp of air and sobbed against his chest.
“Why, Gin? Why?” Harry pushed her back. She refused to look at him. Harry cupped her chin in his hand and forced her eyes up to his. When his emerald eyes poured into hers, she lost it.
“I-I just can't do this. I'm not strong enough without it. I need it. Ihave so much to do and I don't have the time to do it in. Everyone expects me to do well because of Bill and Charlie and Percy, but I'm not them. I'm not Head Girl, or Quidditch Captain, or even a Prefect. I'm just plain old Ginny Weasley, and everyone expects too much of me. I can't do it all. I just can't.” Ginny began to cry again and buried her head in Harry's chest.
“Shhh, I'll take care of you. It's all right. I rather like you being plain old Ginny Weasley, though you aren't plain and you certainly aren't old. I'm very glad you aren't Bill, Charlie or Percy, either. That would make things rather awkward considering. . . .” Harry grinned at her. Ginny managed a weak smile, which warmed Harry's heart immensely.
Harry tenderly took her hands in his and turned them over, palm up. He frowned at the long cut on her left palm, and the smaller ones on her right. He slowly pulled the sleeve of her pajamas up so he could see the damage she had caused herself. Harry sighed before he went and rummaged around in his trunk. He returned with gauze, bandages and other first-aid necessities.
“What-”
“I nicked these from Madam Pomfrey after last time . . . just in case. .. .” Harry pulled her sleeve up higher so more of her arm was exposed. He took his time bandaging her forearm, and both of her hands. While he did this, Ginny thought of what she would say the next morning. A potions mishap, perhaps? Yes, that would work. She was brewing a pain potion in her dorm because it was almost that-time-of-the-month and she had had a bit of an accident. It wasn't completely unbelievable, after all. And her period would begin next week, to make the whole thing even more credible.
“You know you can come to me, Ginny,” Harry said softly as he finished taping her right palm. He sat back and examined his work before he returned everything to his trunk.
“I know,” Ginny replied. She waited until Harry was in bed before she lay down beside him. “Do you think . . .” She trailed off, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
Harry smirked at her. “You want to stay here?”
Ginny nodded.
“Of course, you can. Whenever you need me, you come here and I'll hold you all night long until you don't feel so dreadful anymore.” Harry smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead.
“What if I don't want you to just hold me?” Ginny asked shyly.
“Ginny, are you sure? After what just happened-”
She cut him off. “I want this. I want you. Please, Harry. . . .Please.”
Harry sighed, rolling on his back. “I don't know, Ginny. You just hurt yourself, you're very emotional and your brother is in the next bed . . .”
Ginny seized the moment and climbed on top of him. She straddled him, grinding her hips against his. “Any other pathetic excuses, Potter?”
Harry laughed at her. He rolled them over so he was laying over her and lowered his lips to hers. “None at all, Weasley. None at all.”
[*Warnings For This Chapter: cutting
Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling is a brilliant mastermind and no one can ever be as amazing as her.
Chapter Nine
“Haveyou decided if you're staying here, or going with me to the Burrow for Christmas?” Ginny asked Harry two weeks before the Christmas holidays.
“Has your brother decided where he'll be spending his holiday, yet?” Harry looked up from his last minute Charms homework.
Ginny sighed, took Harry's homework from him and laid it aside. She made herself comfortable in his lap and turned to face him. “Are you still going on about that?”
Harry raised an eyebrow.“Still on about that? Your brother wants to murder me, Ginny. Blood, broken bones, no-body-to-be-found murder.”
“Don't you think you're overreacting, just a tad?” Ginny leaned in closer towards him.
Harry moved his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Nope.”
Ginny stood up and scowled at him. With her hands on her hips, she looked remarkably like her mother. “Fine, then stay here and mope because you're afraid of my older brother.” Ginny turned and left through the portrait hole.
“Not just one! There are six of them, Gin! Count them! There're six!” Harry yelled after her. Sighing, he returned to his homework.
H/G
“Ron,you have to get over this. You can't possibly still be mad at Harry.” Hermione glared at him from across the table in the Great Hall.
“I'm not.” Ron piled as much food as possible on his plate. “I just prefer not to speak to him.”
“What's the difference?” Hermione demanded.
“I don't kill him. Ijust avoid all interactions with him.” Ron began to shovel food into his mouth.
Hermione frowned at his ill manners. “Ron, Harry's your best friend. You can't let this come between the two of you”
“He shagged my sister, Hermione.” Ron managed to speak with a full mouth.
“Get over it, Ronald. What happens between Harry and your sister is their business and no one else's, especially not yours.” Hermione spread marmalade over a piece of toast.
“Thank you, Hermione. I completely agree.” Ginny appeared behind her brother, who jumped, spilling his breakfast onto his lap.
“Thanks a lot, Ginny!” Ron stood up and brushed his robes clean.
Ginny ignored him. “Look, Ron, you start speaking to Harry again or I'll hex you into next week. He's thinking about staying here for the holidays because he's afraid of you and the others.”
Ron glared at her. “I haven't told them anything. Harry has nothing to worry about.”
“So, why don't Ibelieve that?” Ginny fingered her wand fondly.
“I-I don't know.” Ron was suddenly nervous, with his sister's wand in clear sight.
“Talk to him, Ron, or I'll tell Mum all about your secretrelationship with Hermione.” Ginny turned to her friend.“Sorry, Hermione.”
“It's quite all right, Ginny. I understand.” Hermione ate her toast, watching the exchange between siblings with interest.
“You-you wouldn't,” Ron stammered, his face drained of colour.
“Wouldn't I?” Ginny turned to walk out the Great Hall, calling over her shoulder,“I guess we'll just have to see.”
Ron swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “I need to go find Harry.”
And with that Hermione was left alone in the Great Hall. She laughed at Ron's retreating back and quickly finished her toast before following him to class.
H/G
“Er,Harry . . . I've been thinking and . . . and well I . . . I forgive you. I'm sorry I acted like such a prat about you and Ginny. It's none of my business.” Ron stood beside Harry's desk before Transfiguration started.
Harry cocked his head towards Ron. “Your sister threaten you?”
Ron sighed. “Yeah.”
Harry laughed and moved his bag to the floor so Ron could sit beside him. “Took her long enough.”
“Why? Did you put her up to it?” Ron asked as he put his books out on the desk.
“No, I was just wondering how long it would take Ginny to tire of our rowing.” Harry set his bottle of ink on the desk, as well as his books and parchment.
Hermione came into the room and sat down at the desk beside the one Ron and Harry occupied. “Nice to see you two have resolved your differences.”
Neville Longbottom laughed from beside her. “Nice to see Ginny's resolved their differences for them.”
Ron glared at Neville. “Shut up, Neville, or I'll tell Luna all about how you talk in your sleep.”
Neville's eyes widened and he quickly got his things out for class.
“Ronald! That was completely uncalled for!” Hermione hissed.
Ron didn't answer, but instead looked up for Professor McGonagall to begin class.
H/G
Ginnyhad been unusually quiet, for the rest of the week. Only one week was left until she, Harry, Ron and Hermione left for the Burrow for Christmas vacation. Harry was worried about her, but knew she would only talk when she was ready. He wasn't surprised when Ginny retired early that night, claiming she had a headache. Harry kissed her goodnight and watched her leave.
“What do you suppose is her problem?” Ron asked Harry after Ginny had left.
“Whatever it is is none of your business, Ronald, and you would do best to keep your nose out of it.” Hermione didn't look up from her extra-credit Transfiguration essay.
Ron looked at Harry, but turned back to his homework, rather quickly. Around ten o'clock, Ron couldn't take any more work and retired for the night. Hermione followed soon after and Harry not thirty minutes after her.
Harry lay in his four-poster that night, wondering what could possibly be wrong with Ginny. As far as he knew, she hadn't been cutting herself lately, and she appeared to be genuinely happy. But Harry wondered if Ginny was really happy, or just putting on an act all along.
H/G
Whenshe got to her dormitory, Ginny threw her things down and crumpled into a heap by her bed. She hadn't really had a headache, as she had said; she just wanted to be alone. Ginny didn't know why she felt so depressed, so numb inside, but she didn't feel like being around anyone. She didn't have a reason to feel the way she did. As a matter of fact she should have been the happiest girl at Hogwarts. After all, she was dating Harry Potter. But she wasn't the happiest girl in school. That award was reserved for Parvati Patil and her boyfriend-of-the-week.
Ginny dried her tears and pulled herself to her feet. She looked in the mirror and frowned at what she saw. Ginny didn't see an attractive, petite redhead as others would. Instead she saw a hideous, depressed, troubled teenager, who no one deserved to be stuck with. Screaming in frustration, Ginny slammed her fist into the mirror.
The glass shattered. Ginny watched it fall. Piece by piece, it hit the floor, some of them bouncing before they rested, others stopping on impact. Ginny picked up a shard of glass and held it tightly in her left hand. She gasped as the sharp edges dug into the delicate skin of her palm. She opened her fist and examined the damage.
Unlike her right hand, which was covered in little cuts and scrapes from the broken mirror, her left palm had a long gash in it, from the shard grasped in it. Ginny picked the shard out of her palm and brought it to the flesh on her forearm. Many scars already riddled the skin there. She traced one gingerly with her finger before laying the shard of glass where her finger had been and pressing down. Blood came out in a red stream, as Ginny drew the glass over her existing scar again and again.
Finally satisfied, Ginny sighed in relief as her blood ran down her arm, and onto the floor. She cast a quick Scourgify on the floor, so it wouldn't stain, and sat on the bed. As realization hit her, dread pooled in her stomach.
Harry. What would he say? Would he be mad? Would he never talk to her again?Ginny couldn't stand the thought of any of the situations that began to run through her head. She quickly changed into a pair of long-sleeved pajamas before she left her dormitory and ascended the steps to Harry's.
H/G
Harryhad just entered that netherworld between sleep and consciousness, when he felt someone shaking him. Groaning, he reached for his glasses, only to find someone had already placed them on his face.
“Thanks,” Harry muttered as he sat up and illuminated the area around his bed, with a quick wave of his hand.
“Ginny?” he asked in surprise as he focused on her groggily. “What're you doing here? Did you have another nightmare?”
Ginny shook her head slowly, tears beginning to roll down her face. Harry looked at her in alarm and pulled her down to sit by him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair.
“What is it, sweetheart? Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?” Harry was at a complete loss. He had no clue what was wrong with his girlfriend, but he knew whatever it was he wanted to fix it. Harry couldn't bear to see Ginny in pain.
Minutes passed by before Ginny whispered, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” against his chest.
“Sorry for what?” Realization dawned on him as soon as the words left Harry's mouth. He pulled back to look into her eyes and immediately he knew.
“Why?” Harry whispered.
Ginny shook her head. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't want to-to hurt you.” She took a gulp of air and sobbed against his chest.
“Why, Gin? Why?” Harry pushed her back. She refused to look at him. Harry cupped her chin in his hand and forced her eyes up to his. When his emerald eyes poured into hers, she lost it.
“I-I just can't do this. I'm not strong enough without it. I need it. Ihave so much to do and I don't have the time to do it in. Everyone expects me to do well because of Bill and Charlie and Percy, but I'm not them. I'm not Head Girl, or Quidditch Captain, or even a Prefect. I'm just plain old Ginny Weasley, and everyone expects too much of me. I can't do it all. I just can't.” Ginny began to cry again and buried her head in Harry's chest.
“Shhh, I'll take care of you. It's all right. I rather like you being plain old Ginny Weasley, though you aren't plain and you certainly aren't old. I'm very glad you aren't Bill, Charlie or Percy, either. That would make things rather awkward considering. . . .” Harry grinned at her. Ginny managed a weak smile, which warmed Harry's heart immensely.
Harry tenderly took her hands in his and turned them over, palm up. He frowned at the long cut on her left palm, and the smaller ones on her right. He slowly pulled the sleeve of her pajamas up so he could see the damage she had caused herself. Harry sighed before he went and rummaged around in his trunk. He returned with gauze, bandages and other first-aid necessities.
“What-”
“I nicked these from Madam Pomfrey after last time . . . just in case. .. .” Harry pulled her sleeve up higher so more of her arm was exposed. He took his time bandaging her forearm, and both of her hands. While he did this, Ginny thought of what she would say the next morning. A potions mishap, perhaps? Yes, that would work. She was brewing a pain potion in her dorm because it was almost that-time-of-the-month and she had had a bit of an accident. It wasn't completely unbelievable, after all. And her period would begin next week, to make the whole thing even more credible.
“You know you can come to me, Ginny,” Harry said softly as he finished taping her right palm. He sat back and examined his work before he returned everything to his trunk.
“I know,” Ginny replied. She waited until Harry was in bed before she lay down beside him. “Do you think . . .” She trailed off, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
Harry smirked at her. “You want to stay here?”
Ginny nodded.
“Of course, you can. Whenever you need me, you come here and I'll hold you all night long until you don't feel so dreadful anymore.” Harry smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead.
“Thank you, Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you,” Ginny snuggled up against him.
“It's a good thing you're never going to have to find out then,” Harry promised.
Ginny gave him a small smile before allowing herself to drift off to sleep in Harry's protective arms.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling is a brilliant mastermind and no one can ever be as amazing as her.
Chapter Nine
“Haveyou decided if you're staying here, or going with me to the Burrow for Christmas?” Ginny asked Harry two weeks before the Christmas holidays.
“Has your brother decided where he'll be spending his holiday, yet?” Harry looked up from his last minute Charms homework.
Ginny sighed, took Harry's homework from him and laid it aside. She made herself comfortable in his lap and turned to face him. “Are you still going on about that?”
Harry raised an eyebrow.“Still on about that? Your brother wants to murder me, Ginny. Blood, broken bones, no-body-to-be-found murder.”
“Don't you think you're overreacting, just a tad?” Ginny leaned in closer towards him.
Harry moved his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Nope.”
Ginny stood up and scowled at him. With her hands on her hips, she looked remarkably like her mother. “Fine, then stay here and mope because you're afraid of my older brother.” Ginny turned and left through the portrait hole.
“Not just one! There are six of them, Gin! Count them! There're six!” Harry yelled after her. Sighing, he returned to his homework.
H/G
“Ron,you have to get over this. You can't possibly still be mad at Harry.” Hermione glared at him from across the table in the Great Hall.
“I'm not.” Ron piled as much food as possible on his plate. “I just prefer not to speak to him.”
“What's the difference?” Hermione demanded.
“I don't kill him. Ijust avoid all interactions with him.” Ron began to shovel food into his mouth.
Hermione frowned at his ill manners. “Ron, Harry's your best friend. You can't let this come between the two of you”
“He shagged my sister, Hermione.” Ron managed to speak with a full mouth.
“Get over it, Ronald. What happens between Harry and your sister is their business and no one else's, especially not yours.” Hermione spread marmalade over a piece of toast.
“Thank you, Hermione. I completely agree.” Ginny appeared behind her brother, who jumped, spilling his breakfast onto his lap.
“Thanks a lot, Ginny!” Ron stood up and brushed his robes clean.
Ginny ignored him. “Look, Ron, you start speaking to Harry again or I'll hex you into next week. He's thinking about staying here for the holidays because he's afraid of you and the others.”
Ron glared at her. “I haven't told them anything. Harry has nothing to worry about.”
“So, why don't Ibelieve that?” Ginny fingered her wand fondly.
“I-I don't know.” Ron was suddenly nervous, with his sister's wand in clear sight.
“Talk to him, Ron, or I'll tell Mum all about your secretrelationship with Hermione.” Ginny turned to her friend.“Sorry, Hermione.”
“It's quite all right, Ginny. I understand.” Hermione ate her toast, watching the exchange between siblings with interest.
“You-you wouldn't,” Ron stammered, his face drained of colour.
“Wouldn't I?” Ginny turned to walk out the Great Hall, calling over her shoulder,“I guess we'll just have to see.”
Ron swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “I need to go find Harry.”
And with that Hermione was left alone in the Great Hall. She laughed at Ron's retreating back and quickly finished her toast before following him to class.
H/G
“Er,Harry . . . I've been thinking and . . . and well I . . . I forgive you. I'm sorry I acted like such a prat about you and Ginny. It's none of my business.” Ron stood beside Harry's desk before Transfiguration started.
Harry cocked his head towards Ron. “Your sister threaten you?”
Ron sighed. “Yeah.”
Harry laughed and moved his bag to the floor so Ron could sit beside him. “Took her long enough.”
“Why? Did you put her up to it?” Ron asked as he put his books out on the desk.
“No, I was just wondering how long it would take Ginny to tire of our rowing.” Harry set his bottle of ink on the desk, as well as his books and parchment.
Hermione came into the room and sat down at the desk beside the one Ron and Harry occupied. “Nice to see you two have resolved your differences.”
Neville Longbottom laughed from beside her. “Nice to see Ginny's resolved their differences for them.”
Ron glared at Neville.“Shut up, Neville, or I'll tell Luna all about how you talk in your sleep.”
Neville's eyes widened and he quickly got his things out for class.
“Ronald! That was completely uncalled for!” Hermione hissed.
Ron didn't answer, but instead looked up for Professor McGonagall to begin class.
H/G
Ginny*]had been unusually quiet, for the rest of the week. Only one week was left until she, Harry, Ron and Hermione left for the Burrow for Christmas vacation. Harry was worried about her, but knew she would only talk when she was ready. He wasn't surprised when Ginny retired early that night, claiming she had a headache. Harry kissed her goodnight and watched her leave.
“What do you suppose is her problem?” Ron asked Harry after Ginny had left.
“Whatever it is is none of your business, Ronald, and you would do best to keep your nose out of it.” Hermione didn't look up from her extra-credit Transfiguration essay.
Ron looked at Harry, but turned back to his homework, rather quickly. Around ten o'clock, Ron couldn't take any more work and retired for the night. Hermione followed soon after and Harry not thirty minutes after her.
Harry lay in his four-poster that night, wondering what could possibly be wrong with Ginny. As far as he knew, she hadn't been cutting herself lately, and she appeared to be genuinely happy. But Harry wondered if Ginny was really happy, or just putting on an act all along.
H/G
Whenshe got to her dormitory, Ginny threw her things down and crumpled into a heap by her bed. She hadn't really had a headache, as she had said; she just wanted to be alone. Ginny didn't know why she felt so depressed, so numb inside, but she didn't feel like being around anyone. She didn't have a reason to feel the way she did. As a matter of fact she should have been the happiest girl at Hogwarts. After all, she was dating Harry Potter. But she wasn't the happiest girl in school. That award was reserved for Parvati Patil and her boyfriend-of-the-week.
Ginny dried her tears and pulled herself to her feet. She looked in the mirror and frowned at what she saw. Ginny didn't see an attractive, petite redhead as others would. Instead she saw a hideous, depressed, troubled teenager, who no one deserved to be stuck with. Screaming in frustration, Ginny slammed her fist into the mirror.
The glass shattered. Ginny watched it fall. Piece by piece, it hit the floor, some of them bouncing before they rested, others stopping on impact. Ginny picked up a shard of glass and held it tightly in her left hand. She gasped as the sharp edges dug into the delicate skin of her palm. She opened her fist and examined the damage.
Unlike her right hand, which was covered in little cuts and scrapes from the broken mirror, her left palm had a long gash in it, from the shard grasped in it. Ginny picked the shard out of her palm and brought it to the flesh on her forearm. Many scars already riddled the skin there. She traced one gingerly with her finger before laying the shard of glass where her finger had been and pressing down. Blood came out in a red stream, as Ginny drew the glass over her existing scar again and again.
Finally satisfied, Ginny sighed in relief as her blood ran down her arm, and onto the floor. She cast a quick Scourgify on the floor, so it wouldn't stain, and sat on the bed. As realization hit her, dread pooled in her stomach.
Harry. What would he say? Would he be mad? Would he never talk to her again?Ginny couldn't stand the thought of any of the situations that began to run through her head. She quickly changed into a pair of long-sleeved pajamas before she left her dormitory and ascended the steps to Harry's.
H/G
Harryhad just entered that netherworld between sleep and consciousness, when he felt someone shaking him. Groaning, he reached for his glasses, only to find someone had already placed them on his face.
“Thanks,” Harry muttered as he sat up and illuminated the area around his bed, with a quick wave of his hand.
“Ginny?” he asked in surprise as he focused on her groggily. “What're you doing here? Did you have another nightmare?”
Ginny shook her head slowly, tears beginning to roll down her face. Harry looked at her in alarm and pulled her down to sit by him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair.
“What is it, sweetheart? Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?” Harry was at a complete loss. He had no clue what was wrong with his girlfriend, but he knew whatever it was he wanted to fix it. Harry couldn't bear to see Ginny in pain.
Minutes passed by before Ginny whispered, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” against his chest.
“Sorry for what?” Realization dawned on him as soon as the words left Harry's mouth. He pulled back to look into her eyes and immediately he knew.
“Why?” Harry whispered.
Ginny shook her head. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't want to-to hurt you.” She took a gulp of air and sobbed against his chest.
“Why, Gin? Why?” Harry pushed her back. She refused to look at him. Harry cupped her chin in his hand and forced her eyes up to his. When his emerald eyes poured into hers, she lost it.
“I-I just can't do this. I'm not strong enough without it. I need it. Ihave so much to do and I don't have the time to do it in. Everyone expects me to do well because of Bill and Charlie and Percy, but I'm not them. I'm not Head Girl, or Quidditch Captain, or even a Prefect. I'm just plain old Ginny Weasley, and everyone expects too much of me. I can't do it all. I just can't.” Ginny began to cry again and buried her head in Harry's chest.
“Shhh, I'll take care of you. It's all right. I rather like you being plain old Ginny Weasley, though you aren't plain and you certainly aren't old. I'm very glad you aren't Bill, Charlie or Percy, either. That would make things rather awkward considering. . . .” Harry grinned at her. Ginny managed a weak smile, which warmed Harry's heart immensely.
Harry tenderly took her hands in his and turned them over, palm up. He frowned at the long cut on her left palm, and the smaller ones on her right. He slowly pulled the sleeve of her pajamas up so he could see the damage she had caused herself. Harry sighed before he went and rummaged around in his trunk. He returned with gauze, bandages and other first-aid necessities.
“What-”
“I nicked these from Madam Pomfrey after last time . . . just in case. .. .” Harry pulled her sleeve up higher so more of her arm was exposed. He took his time bandaging her forearm, and both of her hands. While he did this, Ginny thought of what she would say the next morning. A potions mishap, perhaps? Yes, that would work. She was brewing a pain potion in her dorm because it was almost that-time-of-the-month and she had had a bit of an accident. It wasn't completely unbelievable, after all. And her period would begin next week, to make the whole thing even more credible.
“You know you can come to me, Ginny,” Harry said softly as he finished taping her right palm. He sat back and examined his work before he returned everything to his trunk.
“I know,” Ginny replied. She waited until Harry was in bed before she lay down beside him. “Do you think . . .” She trailed off, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
Harry smirked at her. “You want to stay here?”
Ginny nodded.
“Of course, you can. Whenever you need me, you come here and I'll hold you all night long until you don't feel so dreadful anymore.” Harry smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead.
“What if I don't want you to just hold me?” Ginny asked shyly.
“Ginny, are you sure? After what just happened-”
She cut him off. “I want this. I want you. Please, Harry. . . .Please.”
Harry sighed, rolling on his back. “I don't know, Ginny. You just hurt yourself, you're very emotional and your brother is in the next bed . . .”
Ginny seized the moment and climbed on top of him. She straddled him, grinding her hips against his. “Any other pathetic excuses, Potter?”
Harry laughed at her. He rolled them over so he was laying over her and lowered his lips to hers. “None at all, Weasley. None at all.”
[*Warnings For This Chapter: cutting
Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling is a brilliant mastermind and no one can ever be as amazing as her.
Chapter Nine
“Haveyou decided if you're staying here, or going with me to the Burrow for Christmas?” Ginny asked Harry two weeks before the Christmas holidays.
“Has your brother decided where he'll be spending his holiday, yet?” Harry looked up from his last minute Charms homework.
Ginny sighed, took Harry's homework from him and laid it aside. She made herself comfortable in his lap and turned to face him. “Are you still going on about that?”
Harry raised an eyebrow.“Still on about that? Your brother wants to murder me, Ginny. Blood, broken bones, no-body-to-be-found murder.”
“Don't you think you're overreacting, just a tad?” Ginny leaned in closer towards him.
Harry moved his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Nope.”
Ginny stood up and scowled at him. With her hands on her hips, she looked remarkably like her mother. “Fine, then stay here and mope because you're afraid of my older brother.” Ginny turned and left through the portrait hole.
“Not just one! There are six of them, Gin! Count them! There're six!” Harry yelled after her. Sighing, he returned to his homework.
H/G
“Ron,you have to get over this. You can't possibly still be mad at Harry.” Hermione glared at him from across the table in the Great Hall.
“I'm not.” Ron piled as much food as possible on his plate. “I just prefer not to speak to him.”
“What's the difference?” Hermione demanded.
“I don't kill him. Ijust avoid all interactions with him.” Ron began to shovel food into his mouth.
Hermione frowned at his ill manners. “Ron, Harry's your best friend. You can't let this come between the two of you”
“He shagged my sister, Hermione.” Ron managed to speak with a full mouth.
“Get over it, Ronald. What happens between Harry and your sister is their business and no one else's, especially not yours.” Hermione spread marmalade over a piece of toast.
“Thank you, Hermione. I completely agree.” Ginny appeared behind her brother, who jumped, spilling his breakfast onto his lap.
“Thanks a lot, Ginny!” Ron stood up and brushed his robes clean.
Ginny ignored him. “Look, Ron, you start speaking to Harry again or I'll hex you into next week. He's thinking about staying here for the holidays because he's afraid of you and the others.”
Ron glared at her. “I haven't told them anything. Harry has nothing to worry about.”
“So, why don't Ibelieve that?” Ginny fingered her wand fondly.
“I-I don't know.” Ron was suddenly nervous, with his sister's wand in clear sight.
“Talk to him, Ron, or I'll tell Mum all about your secretrelationship with Hermione.” Ginny turned to her friend.“Sorry, Hermione.”
“It's quite all right, Ginny. I understand.” Hermione ate her toast, watching the exchange between siblings with interest.
“You-you wouldn't,” Ron stammered, his face drained of colour.
“Wouldn't I?” Ginny turned to walk out the Great Hall, calling over her shoulder,“I guess we'll just have to see.”
Ron swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “I need to go find Harry.”
And with that Hermione was left alone in the Great Hall. She laughed at Ron's retreating back and quickly finished her toast before following him to class.
H/G
“Er,Harry . . . I've been thinking and . . . and well I . . . I forgive you. I'm sorry I acted like such a prat about you and Ginny. It's none of my business.” Ron stood beside Harry's desk before Transfiguration started.
Harry cocked his head towards Ron. “Your sister threaten you?”
Ron sighed. “Yeah.”
Harry laughed and moved his bag to the floor so Ron could sit beside him. “Took her long enough.”
“Why? Did you put her up to it?” Ron asked as he put his books out on the desk.
“No, I was just wondering how long it would take Ginny to tire of our rowing.” Harry set his bottle of ink on the desk, as well as his books and parchment.
Hermione came into the room and sat down at the desk beside the one Ron and Harry occupied. “Nice to see you two have resolved your differences.”
Neville Longbottom laughed from beside her. “Nice to see Ginny's resolved their differences for them.”
Ron glared at Neville. “Shut up, Neville, or I'll tell Luna all about how you talk in your sleep.”
Neville's eyes widened and he quickly got his things out for class.
“Ronald! That was completely uncalled for!” Hermione hissed.
Ron didn't answer, but instead looked up for Professor McGonagall to begin class.
H/G
Ginnyhad been unusually quiet, for the rest of the week. Only one week was left until she, Harry, Ron and Hermione left for the Burrow for Christmas vacation. Harry was worried about her, but knew she would only talk when she was ready. He wasn't surprised when Ginny retired early that night, claiming she had a headache. Harry kissed her goodnight and watched her leave.
“What do you suppose is her problem?” Ron asked Harry after Ginny had left.
“Whatever it is is none of your business, Ronald, and you would do best to keep your nose out of it.” Hermione didn't look up from her extra-credit Transfiguration essay.
Ron looked at Harry, but turned back to his homework, rather quickly. Around ten o'clock, Ron couldn't take any more work and retired for the night. Hermione followed soon after and Harry not thirty minutes after her.
Harry lay in his four-poster that night, wondering what could possibly be wrong with Ginny. As far as he knew, she hadn't been cutting herself lately, and she appeared to be genuinely happy. But Harry wondered if Ginny was really happy, or just putting on an act all along.
H/G
Whenshe got to her dormitory, Ginny threw her things down and crumpled into a heap by her bed. She hadn't really had a headache, as she had said; she just wanted to be alone. Ginny didn't know why she felt so depressed, so numb inside, but she didn't feel like being around anyone. She didn't have a reason to feel the way she did. As a matter of fact she should have been the happiest girl at Hogwarts. After all, she was dating Harry Potter. But she wasn't the happiest girl in school. That award was reserved for Parvati Patil and her boyfriend-of-the-week.
Ginny dried her tears and pulled herself to her feet. She looked in the mirror and frowned at what she saw. Ginny didn't see an attractive, petite redhead as others would. Instead she saw a hideous, depressed, troubled teenager, who no one deserved to be stuck with. Screaming in frustration, Ginny slammed her fist into the mirror.
The glass shattered. Ginny watched it fall. Piece by piece, it hit the floor, some of them bouncing before they rested, others stopping on impact. Ginny picked up a shard of glass and held it tightly in her left hand. She gasped as the sharp edges dug into the delicate skin of her palm. She opened her fist and examined the damage.
Unlike her right hand, which was covered in little cuts and scrapes from the broken mirror, her left palm had a long gash in it, from the shard grasped in it. Ginny picked the shard out of her palm and brought it to the flesh on her forearm. Many scars already riddled the skin there. She traced one gingerly with her finger before laying the shard of glass where her finger had been and pressing down. Blood came out in a red stream, as Ginny drew the glass over her existing scar again and again.
Finally satisfied, Ginny sighed in relief as her blood ran down her arm, and onto the floor. She cast a quick Scourgify on the floor, so it wouldn't stain, and sat on the bed. As realization hit her, dread pooled in her stomach.
Harry. What would he say? Would he be mad? Would he never talk to her again?Ginny couldn't stand the thought of any of the situations that began to run through her head. She quickly changed into a pair of long-sleeved pajamas before she left her dormitory and ascended the steps to Harry's.
H/G
Harryhad just entered that netherworld between sleep and consciousness, when he felt someone shaking him. Groaning, he reached for his glasses, only to find someone had already placed them on his face.
“Thanks,” Harry muttered as he sat up and illuminated the area around his bed, with a quick wave of his hand.
“Ginny?” he asked in surprise as he focused on her groggily. “What're you doing here? Did you have another nightmare?”
Ginny shook her head slowly, tears beginning to roll down her face. Harry looked at her in alarm and pulled her down to sit by him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair.
“What is it, sweetheart? Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?” Harry was at a complete loss. He had no clue what was wrong with his girlfriend, but he knew whatever it was he wanted to fix it. Harry couldn't bear to see Ginny in pain.
Minutes passed by before Ginny whispered, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” against his chest.
“Sorry for what?” Realization dawned on him as soon as the words left Harry's mouth. He pulled back to look into her eyes and immediately he knew.
“Why?” Harry whispered.
Ginny shook her head. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't want to-to hurt you.” She took a gulp of air and sobbed against his chest.
“Why, Gin? Why?” Harry pushed her back. She refused to look at him. Harry cupped her chin in his hand and forced her eyes up to his. When his emerald eyes poured into hers, she lost it.
“I-I just can't do this. I'm not strong enough without it. I need it. Ihave so much to do and I don't have the time to do it in. Everyone expects me to do well because of Bill and Charlie and Percy, but I'm not them. I'm not Head Girl, or Quidditch Captain, or even a Prefect. I'm just plain old Ginny Weasley, and everyone expects too much of me. I can't do it all. I just can't.” Ginny began to cry again and buried her head in Harry's chest.
“Shhh, I'll take care of you. It's all right. I rather like you being plain old Ginny Weasley, though you aren't plain and you certainly aren't old. I'm very glad you aren't Bill, Charlie or Percy, either. That would make things rather awkward considering. . . .” Harry grinned at her. Ginny managed a weak smile, which warmed Harry's heart immensely.
Harry tenderly took her hands in his and turned them over, palm up. He frowned at the long cut on her left palm, and the smaller ones on her right. He slowly pulled the sleeve of her pajamas up so he could see the damage she had caused herself. Harry sighed before he went and rummaged around in his trunk. He returned with gauze, bandages and other first-aid necessities.
“What-”
“I nicked these from Madam Pomfrey after last time . . . just in case. .. .” Harry pulled her sleeve up higher so more of her arm was exposed. He took his time bandaging her forearm, and both of her hands. While he did this, Ginny thought of what she would say the next morning. A potions mishap, perhaps? Yes, that would work. She was brewing a pain potion in her dorm because it was almost that-time-of-the-month and she had had a bit of an accident. It wasn't completely unbelievable, after all. And her period would begin next week, to make the whole thing even more credible.
“You know you can come to me, Ginny,” Harry said softly as he finished taping her right palm. He sat back and examined his work before he returned everything to his trunk.
“I know,” Ginny replied. She waited until Harry was in bed before she lay down beside him. “Do you think . . .” She trailed off, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
Harry smirked at her. “You want to stay here?”
Ginny nodded.
“Of course, you can. Whenever you need me, you come here and I'll hold you all night long until you don't feel so dreadful anymore.” Harry smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead.
“Thank you, Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you,” Ginny snuggled up against him.
“It's a good thing you're never going to have to find out then,” Harry promised.
Ginny gave him a small smile before allowing herself to drift off to sleep in Harry's protective arms.
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