Finally managed to get back to this story. Only one Chapter to go now, so I will get there. :)
I'd like to throw out another huge thank you to Eric and AmelÃe for their stellar work Betaing! Their comments, patience, help and guidance have been invaluable. You. Are. Both. Awesome! :)
It’s been a long time coming. Enjoy!
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The Lost Prophesy | ||||||
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Category: Post-OotP Characters:Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, Lily Potter, Luna Lovegood, Severus Snape Genres: Drama, Fluff, Romance Warnings: Dark Fiction, Mild Language Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 14 Summary: (Written for the ‘Girl talk’ Challenge, but unable to finish on time.) Fifteen years ago, a young woman learned of a Prophesy. A Prophesy that named her child as the only one would have the power to defeat the Dark Lord. But the Dark Lord had also found out about this Prophesy, and her life had been thrown into mortal danger. Forced to flee, and driven into hiding to protect her baby’s life, this girl made it her mission to find out anything she could about her son’s destiny. She travelled in secret, visiting seers and oracles for any information she could find, knowledge to help shield her child from harm. It was from one of these mystics that she heard a second Prophesy. A Prophesy that named a newly born baby girl, the seventh child of a pureblood line, the first girl born in seven generations, that held the key to her son’s survival... Now, fifteen years later, she must journey back to the other side... and pass on this information... before it is too late... Hitcount: Story Total: 7363; Chapter Total: 1821 Author's Notes: |
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The next day Ginny awoke groggily from her slumber, the red-headed girl of her dream still swimming in and out of her mind. Had it been a dream? Had is just been a dream? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that if she had a ‘secret admirer’, a person who watched her in the Great Hall, during breakfast, lunch, dinner, then she was going to do everything in her power to work out who this person was; this person, who might just be...the one. Her one, the girl had called him. She was much later at getting ready than everyone else, rushing about hurriedly pulling on her clothing, tidying herself, brushing her hair frantically, she had to be down at breakfast, she had to begin her task. But things didn’t go as planned. Maybe it was because she was so flustered after sleeping in, or maybe because she was still feeling half-asleep and without all her wits about her, or maybe because she hadn’t spent long enough tidying herself up and looking her best for him; or maybe it was just because she needed to have all the answers today, and right now. Whatever the reason, today was the day her ‘secret admirer’ would choose to ignore her. Because ignore her he did, of that she was sure. Ginny scanned every table around her, every seat, every face, every glance for some indication or other that someone was interested in her, but there was not one sign, not even the slightest look that told her what she needed to know. There was that feeling, however, that tiniest of niggles that someone was watching her. Actually, she could have sworn it was someone around the very table she was sitting at. But, then, maybe she was just imagining it? Maybe it had just been a dream, and there was no mysterious stranger. Because wherever she turned, wherever she looked, she was either too late to see who it was, or no-one was looking her way. Frustrated at this, she chose to swap places with the girl sitting opposite. But that lead to even more frustration, because every time she tried to scan the Gryffindor table, looking for some sign that someone… anyone was watching her, she kept catching Harry’s eye, because he kept turning in her direction, giving her the strangest look. “God, Harry, stop turning round,” she thought to herself, “I’m trying to see around you!” She just had a feeling, call it intuition or whatever, that whoever was stealing glances at her must be behind Harry, or at least in that general area. She tried again, tilting her head to the side, trying to get a clear view of the boys along that side of the table. Seamus Finnigan… Nigel Wespurt… Ritchie Coote… Neil Randall… Thomas Paley… Terrence Fogarty… “Oh, bloody Hell! Stop turning round, Harry!” She had caught his eye again. This time he turned right round to face her, and gave her a confused look as if to say “you wanted me?” She just shook her head in response as if to say “No, it’s nothing, forget it!” “God, this is hopeless,” she thought. “And now Harry thinks I’m trying to get his attention! Merlin! He must think I’m a right nutter!” Her worst fears were answered shortly after breakfast, because, on the way to her first lesson, Harry caught up with her. “Errmmm… Everything alright, Ginny?” he asked in a concerned voice. “You seemed a little… off… at breakfast…” “Ehh?... Oh… No, sorry, Harry. I was just distracted, looking around, staring into space, you know. I just have a lot on my mind at the moment. Double Defence this morning… and Snape’s being really hard on us this year…” “Well, is there anything I can help with?” he asked concerned. He seemed so sincere and genuine in his request. One thing about Harry Potter, she thought, he really cared about his friends. “Sorry, Harry… Not unless you know anyone who’s secretly fancies me??” she thought to herself. “No, honestly, Harry. But thanks for the offer. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” “Well, OK. But if you ever need help with anything, just let me know.” He gave her a warm smile. “I didn’t get top marks in Defence Against the Dark Arts for nothing, you know.” “Thanks, Harry. I’ll bear that in mind. Tell you what, if ever I need any help in that particular class, I’m sure you’re the first person I’ll look for” “I hope so,” he replied, still smiling, “I’d really like that.” And with that, she headed off in the opposite direction, to her first lesson of the day. Her head still working overtime, trying to figure out who her ‘secret admirer’ could be, if there even was such a person? Maybe it had all been one big dream? Because she had to admit it to herself; if she really did have a ‘secret admirer’, then he hadn’t given her the slightest clue. Bu t if she thought things were bad at breakfast, they were about to get a whole lot worse. Though, if she had really thought about it, she would have known to expect this. Known that, out of all the crimes and misdemeanours she could have perpetrated here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, none could compare the punishment for being five minutes late for this particular class; especially if you were in Gryffindor House. “Ahhhh…. How delightful!” came the cold voice of Severus Snape as she entered the classroom. “So you have decided to grace us with your presence, Miss Weasley. Well, how very thoughtful of you. And just when we were about to send out the search party.” “I’m very sorry, Professor,” said Ginny in her most polite manner. “It won’t happen again.” “Oh, but I am sure it will,” he replied, a malicious smile curling his lips. “You seem to forget, Miss Weasley, that I have been forced to endure for more than a decade of attempting to teach your charming siblings, all of which have been far-from model students, as I’m sure you’ll agree; determined rule-breakers, practical jokers, trouble-makers, all of whom seemed to think the rules at Hogwarts didn’t apply to them, and all of them as punctual as you are now,” he finished sarcastically. “But, Professor…” began Ginny, but she knew there was no hope in arguing. “Fifteen points from Gryffindor!” called Snape in a cold voice, “And another five points off… for… being a Weasley!” Ginny walked hurriedly to her seat, her face turned to the floor, trying to ignore the laughs and the jibes coming from the Slytherin end of the Classroom. “Yes,” she thought to herself, “it is going to be VERY long morning” Ove r an hour had passed, and a long morning it was turning out to be. Though, she hadn’t intended it to go this way. She had intended to put the dream of the red-headed girl well out of her mind, at least until lunchtime. She didn’t want anything to distract her in this class. Not after the way the lesson had started: Twenty points down, and the target of Snape’s every snide remark for the past hour. She had tried to concentrate, had tried her hardest to clear her mind of everything but the lesson in hand. But every now and then she couldn’t help thinking of the girl, and all she had said. And, as much as she tried to block the dream out her head, tried to focus on the lesson, she found her mind wandering back again and again to the girl from her dream. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was as though she knew her, or had met her at some point a long time ago. There was just something about her face, especially those eyes and the way they looked at her, which seemed somehow familiar, though she couldn’t place from where. She thought she must have met this girl before. Was there something the girl said to her that could give her some clue? She had said that... “What’s the problem now, Weasley?” Ginny’s head shot up. It was as though time had just stood still. The entire class in silence, every face turned in her direction, staring, eyes wide like a deer caught in the headlights of a car, unable to look away, and, standing above her, his face a mixture of malice and indignation, was the intimidating form of Severus Snape. “After the way you began this class…” he began, “I would have expected you to at least give your full attention for the remainder of it. So what’s the problem now? This lesson is not stimulating enough for you? Perhaps there is somewhere you would rather be? Or perhaps you think you know everything already? No doubt Professor Potter covered this topic with you last year? Yes? So, maybe I should step outside, and let you teach this class, since you obviously know all this already? What do you think?” “No… sir…” replied Ginny weakly. She knew what was coming next, she could already hear the sniggers and covert whispers coming from the Slytherin end of the classroom. “Then tell me, Miss Weasley,” continued Snape smugly, “What is the answer to the question I just asked?” “I… I…” “The question, girl, before I completely lose my patience!” “I don’t know… professor…” “You don’t know?” said Snape, his anger rising. “Pathetic! Tell me, Miss Weasley, what is so important that you can afford to daydream in my classroom? No… let me guess… you’re trying to decide which boy you’re going to torture next, now that Mr Thomas has finally come to his senses?” Snape fixed Ginny with a cold hard stare that seemed to pierce her, his eyes locked with hers, waiting for a reply. Ginny shivered, the memory of the red haired girl still swimming in her mind. And then, something strange happened. For a second she could have sworn she saw a flicker of fear and… something else in his eyes. And then, as soon as she saw it, it was gone, and Snape was walking back to his desk, and for the tiniest of moments Ginny thought she had been given a reprieve. And then… “See me at the end of the class, Miss Weasley. I will decide your… punishment… then.” T ime moved very slowly after that moment, seconds dragging into minutes, dragging till over an hour. And after what seemed like days, and the school bell had rang, and the class were finally packing up their belongings, their morning’s lesson over, every single pupil had one thing on their mind, the very same thing Ginny had on her mind, though for very different reasons — Lunch. Yes, lunch, and the fact that she would never get to it now. The fact that she was going to miss yet another opportunity to continue her task, and find ‘the one’, and the fact that time was running out, and opportunities were quickly slipping away, that fact now weighing down hard on her mind. Ginny looked up, the last few students now hurrying out the door, to meet the gaze of Professor Snape, who was now was watching her intently. She knew what was coming next. She sat there, silence building between them, like a condemned woman awaiting her fate, awaiting whatever punishment, whatever detentions he had planned. But still he did not speak, yet his gaze did not drift from her, as the door closed behind the last of her fellow classmates, and they were left quite alone. God, this is torture, she thought to herself, just tell me my punishment, and get it over with! And the minutes of silence dragged on. And then, Snape finally opened his mouth to speak… “Tell me about the girl, Miss Weasley,” he said, his voice trembling. “The… girl?” she gasped, her eyes growing wide. She had not expected this. How could he possibly know about that? But then, just before she could ask the question, she felt a sharp stab of pain to her forehead, her head spinning, and, for a second, everything around the room began to blur. She put her hand to her forehead, and thought she was about to pass out. But suddenly, just as quickly as the pain had started, it had completely vanished. She looked up at the potion’s master, who was now standing directly before her. And then, Snape opened his mouth to speak… “Tell me about the girl, Miss Weasley,” he said, staring intently at her. “The… girl?” she replied, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. Hadn’t they just done this? “The girl who now stands before me; the one who thinks she can be insolent in my classroom!” snapped Professor Snape, “….YOU! Who else would I mean? What makes you think you can day-dream during my lesson?” “I…I’m sorry, professor,” she replied timidly, “It... it won’t happen again.” Ginny breathed a huge sigh of relief. For a second she thought Professor Snape had been talking about the girl from her dreams. But that would have been crazy; she had no idea what could have made her so paranoid? “Be sure it doesn’t!” Snape continued, “Next time I won’t be so lenient, girl! Now, please, leave!” “P-professor… don’t I have a punishment…or…” Ginny was confused. “Do you WANT a punishment? Is that what you are saying, girl?” asked Professor Snape, drawing himself up to his full height. “Because if you do, I can arrange one for you!” “N-no…thanks… professor,” replied Ginny, shaking her head. “Good! Then, please leave! Don’t make me tell you a third time! Is it not punishment enough that I have to listen to your incessant whining in class? Do you really think I want to give up even more of my time listening to more of your pathetic prattle, girl?” “I’m sorry, professor, sir. It won’t happen again!” She replied, hurriedly packing her school books into her bag. “Leave! Now!” he snapped again, shaking his head at her. She didn’t need told a fourth time, hurrying out of his classroom as quick as her legs would carry her. Well, that had been a lucky escape! She had expected at least one detention, she was very surprised Snape had been so lenient with her, but she wasn’t about to argue with him about it! She had a task to perform, and had already lost around five or ten minutes being held back now. The sooner she got to the Great Hall for lunch, the better. But by the time she arrived at the Great Hall she was already too late. Half the students had already started packing up, only a few were still having puddings. She could have sworn the lunch bell had rung not more than ten minutes ago? Perhaps they started lunch early? Perhaps the lesson finished late? You will not question the missing time, Miss Weasley. Perhaps they had all started lunch early, she thought. Or maybe Snape had kept their lesson running on an extra half an hour? Yes, that seemed like a more plausible reason. After all, the lunch bell rings at 11:30, but now, looking at the clock, it was almost 12:15! So typical of Snape to keep his lesson running over their lunch hour! Yes, that was the obvious reason! But that didn’t help her, only fifteen minutes left until the lunch break was over, and with so many students already packed up and beginning to get ready for their afternoon’s lessons, she had missed her chance once more! You will do the spell that Lily taught you. You have to trust her; you have to let her help you. You have to complete the task she set for you! Ginny cursed herself for being so distracted in Snape’s class, for missing yet another opportunity. Now she had only dinner time in the Great Hall to work out who her secret admirer was; time was running out for her. And then she remembered the spell, the one Lily had taught her in her dream. If it was just a dream, she doubted the spell would really work...but if it wasn’t? If the spell actually worked, and she could see Lily again, see her before tonight when she slept, and ask for her help? Then, she thought, she might still have a chance. But there was only fifteen minutes left until afternoon classes were to start, there was no time left. You will miss your afternoon’s lessons, Ginevra. You will tell your teacher that you are feeling unwell, you will say that you need to go back to your dormitory to rest. If he asks, you will say it’s woman’s problems, your Charms Master won’t dare question it. You have to do the spell, girl! Time is running out for you! And then, Ginny decided, she would miss her afternoon’s lessons: Double Charms. She would go to Professor Flitwick before her afternoon lessons began, tell him she had female problems; he would probably be too embarrassed to ask; though, if he did, she’d mention the words ‘cramps’ and ‘menstruation’ and he probably wouldn’t want to know any more. Then, she would have the rest of the afternoon before dinner began to figure out what she needed to do to find her secret admirer, and complete her task. Gi nny arrived at the common room just as the lunch bell rang for a second time, signalling the end of lunch and the start of the afternoon lessons. Her short meeting with Professor Flitwick had gone a lot better than she had ever imagined. Indeed, as soon as she mentioned those two little words: ‘female problems’, and gestured down below, he was quick to shoo her out of his room, telling her to visit Madame Pomfrey if things got too bad, and that maybe she should be talking about these things with a female member of staff; she could tell the subject made him quite uncomfortable. She must remember that for future reference, in case she needed to get out of any future Charms classes. She hurried into her dormitory, making sure she was quite alone, before beginning the task in hand. Taking out her wand, she placed the tip of it just over her heart, thinking back to her dream, and the spell that Lily had taught her, trying to remember the exact words: Animus eo ire itum. She closed her eyes, trying to focus all her will on performing the spell, picturing herself stepping forward, while speaking the words clearly, once, twice, three times: nothing. She glanced around the room, no sign of the girl from her dream, but perhaps that was because it had just been a dream? But no, she must try harder, she must be sure. She closed her eyes again, focusing on the spell, picturing herself again stepping forward, concentrating with all her will on performing the task. “Animus eo ire itum... Animus eo ire itum... Animus eo ire itum...” It was when she was almost ready to give up, after a good half an hour of concentration, repeating the words over and over, that she fell a soft tug in her stomach, it was a weird feeling, like she was being pulled out of her body, dragged through the air as if she was floating, her head spinning at the sensation. Ginny’s eyes flickered open, and, looking down at her body, realised she hadn’t moved in the slightest. She raised both hands, examining them, then looked around the dormitory. It hadn’t worked! The spell hadn’t worked in the slightest! Maybe it had all been just one big dream? Maybe there was no secret admirer, no girl with a task for her, no secrets waiting to be told? She was about to just give up completely, when she heard someone stirring behind her. Ginny turned, and gasped in shock at the sight of the girl she was now facing, long red hair, eyes closed tightly, wand still in hand. It wasn’t who she had expected. It wasn’t the girl from her dreams. It was herself she was staring at. It felt as though she was looking into a mirror at her own reflection, but one far clearer than the image in any mirror she had seen before. It was like coming face to face with a twin you never knew existed. She raised a hand, about to touch the mirror image of herself, when she heard someone speak behind her. “Stop!” came the voice. “If you touch her, the spell will end, and all your hard work will have been for nothing.” Ginny turned again, and she was there, the girl from her dreams: Lily. “What the bloody hell’s going on?” she gasped, gesturing to the other version of her, standing frozen beside her in the room, eyes closed. She looked as though she was sleeping. “Ahhh...” said Lily, smiling softly. “I take it you are talking about your body?” “My...what?” Ginny looked at her other self, still standing in the place where the spell had began. “Your physical form, Miss Weasley,” she continued, “I can assure you no harm will come to it while we have this talk. You can, at any time, touch the body, and you will be returned to your complete self. The connection between spirit and flesh will break the spell.” Ginny glanced at the other version of her again. If that was her body, what was she? But Lily was quick to anticipate her question before she asked it. “The spell you have just performed, Ginny, is a very old piece of magic. Something performed by the earliest practitioners of witchcraft. It has many names. It was first performed over thousands of years ago by the earliest magicians of ancient Egypt, who called it ‘soul travelling’; though you may know it from the name given to it by the Native Americans: spirit walking. Their shamans used it to be able to leave their mortal bodies and walk among their tribes unseen by their people, to run with the wolves and to fly with the eagles across the plains. It is a piece of magic that has sadly been lost over time, but I give it to you now to assist you in your quest.” “You mean... I’m a ghost?” said Ginny, still staring at her other self. “Of sorts,” replied Lily, smiling softly. “But I would rather use the term ‘spirit’, as your body is still quite alive. Ghost is a term that applies more to your spirit after you have passed.” Ginny thought about that for some time before she spoke again, taking in all that she had seen and learnt so far. “You’re a spirit too, aren’t you?” said Ginny perceptively. “Yes…I am a spirit,” said Lily. “Though, in my case, you can use the word ‘ghost’, since my body, unlike yours, is really quite dead. It has been for many, many years.” “So, how come I can’t see you when I’m awake, I mean, like the other ghosts here at Hogwarts?” she asked curiously. “Ahhh…” replied Lily. “A very perceptive question. Well, the ghosts here at Hogwarts are on a different plane of existence than I am. They chose to remain earth-bound when they died, while I chose to move on. I travelled back from the other side of the veil to meet with you, Ginny. That is why you, and you alone, can see me. I can appear only in dreams, or, if you use the right magic, and take your spirit form too. Dreams, are, after all, just another part of our spirit life.” “Wow!” gasped Ginny, “I had no idea it was so easy to return once you crossed over. I guess I always thought once you went on, that was it.” “Oh, I never said it was easy to get here, Ginny,” laughed Lily. “I only had a small window of opportunity to do this, on only one day of the year: this day, the day when the fabric between both worlds is at its most vulnerable. I have been preparing for this moment for longer than you realise: a lifetime of preparation to get this chance to meet you, to pass of this information. I had to wait until the time was right, until I knew for certain he had chosen you, only then I could make my journey. There are two conditions where I can return from beyond the veil, and both are equally complicated.” “Two...conditions?” said Ginny curiously. “The first is called a ‘spirit walk’, much like you are doing now, but far more complicated, as I do not belong here. I can cross over, but my time is limited on this plane. I have no anchor here, and the pull from the other side is very strong. It takes nearly all my magical energy just to stay for this one day. I have from midnight until midnight the following day to visit one person, and then my time is up here, there would be no more opportunities until this day a year from now. Those are the rules. So I have to make sure my mission is successful.” “And the second?” asked Ginny. “I mean; the second condition where you can return here?” “The second is much more complicated, but you needn’t worry about that,” said Lily softly, but she could tell Ginny wasn’t going giving up. “The second condition,” Lily began, “is where I can become a ‘spirit guide’. But that is a lot more complicated, and there are spells that need to be used. I have to bind my soul to a living person, and they have to bind their soul to me too, but once they do, I am bound to that person until their death. They effectively become my anchor to this plane. But if I do, I cannot cross back, and I cannot be seen by any other mortal on this side of the veil. It is not something you would take on lightly. I would be tied to that person until they met their end.” “I can see why you went for the first option!” Ginny laughed, amazed at what she was being told. “So,” continued Lily. “Let me tell you my plan...” When the school bell rang to signal the end of the afternoon’s lessons, Ginny was down at the dungeons level of the castle, standing outside the Potions classroom, waiting for her friend Luna Lovegood to finish her last lesson of the day, she would be key to her mission’s success. She didn’t have much time; she would have to fill Luna in on her plan on their way to the Great Hall, or, at least, tell her what she could. She just hoped her friend didn’t mind helping her out, especially when she couldn’t tell her exactly why she was needing her help. But Ginny needn’t have worried; Luna was more than happy to come to her assistance. “Ooohh… I do love a good secret, Ginny! The more you have in your head, the less room for Wrackspurts!” she smiled dreamily, her eyes sparkling with glint of excitement. “Yes...ummm... good!” said Ginny, worrying slightly that she had possibly chosen the wrong friend to help her out in this task. “So, you do understand what you have to do?” “Oh, Of course!” smiled Luna serenely. “You need me to pretend to have a conversation with you while you go to sleep in the Great hall! But wouldn’t you rather just go to your bed, Ginny? If you’re really tired, Daddy always says...” “I’m not tired!” groaned Ginny, now worrying even more. “And I won’t be asleep! I’ll just be...ahhh...resting my eyes! Okay? But I want you to chat away with me as if we’re having a real conversation, as if I’m really awake. Do you think you could do that?” “Well, of course I could, Ginny,” smiled Luna, “Besides, you wouldn’t be the first person to pretend to be asleep while I was talking to them. I could pretend to be asleep too if it helps?” “Absolutely not!” said Ginny rolling her eyes “I don’t want anyone to notice my eyes are closed. Now pay attention, Luna, this is really important! I need you to talk away to me as if I’m listening to every word you’re saying. I don’t want anyone to interrupt!” “Won’t people notice, though?” asked Luna curiously. “That you have your eyes closed throughout our entire conversation?” Ginny just laughed. “Want to see something amazing?” she grinned, and she closed her eyelids over, only, when she did, her eyes still looked like they were wide open, shining brighter than ever before. “Ooooohhhh, that’s wonderful, Ginny! Is that a spell?” smiled Luna, her eyes wide. Ginny grinned wider, appreciating Luna’s reaction. “No, it’s even better than that: ‘Invisible eyelids’! I got them from Fred and George. They’re one of the new products they’re working on for Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes. Fall asleep in class, and never get caught! Well, that’s the catch-phrase they’re planning to use.” “Well I think it’s wonderful!” smiled Luna. “And I could tell you all about the latest copy of The Quibbler if you like? While you’re sleeping, I mean? There’s a wonderful article on how some Vampires have diamonds for skin!” “Sounds perfect!” laughed Ginny. “I’m looking forward to it!” “Oooohh, do you mind if I wear my Spectrespecs?” Luna asked tentatively. “Actually,” said Ginny, grinning even wider, “I was kind-of hoping you would!” Ginny settled down at the table for dinner, making sure she chose a seat far enough from most of her friends, so as not to be disturbed. She was counting on Luna’s presence to deter anyone else from coming over, especially with her Spectrespecs on, and talking animatedly about The Quibbler. For some reason most of her friends tended to keep their distance whenever Luna was around, though she didn’t understand it in the slightest. Sure, Luna could be a bit unusual, but she was also very kind, and fiercely honest, and always said what she really thought no matter what other people thought of her. If only more people were like Luna, Ginny thought, the world would be a much nicer place. Luna had already opened The Quibbler, and had just started talking loudly, when Ginny began her spell. Slipping her wand from her pocket, and keeping it hidden beneath her robes, she positioned it above her own heart. She closed her eyes tightly and began the incantation, picturing her spirit being pulled from her body by an invisible thread. She wasn’t sure how easy the spell would work when she was sitting, though Lily had assured her was just the same mechanism: as long as her feet were touching the ground, her body would be anchored as though she were standing. She pushed the heels of her shoes harder against the stone floor, and concentrated with all her will on completing the task before her. “Animus eo ire itum... Animus eo ire itum... Animus eo ire itum...” And then, she suddenly felt a massive tug to her gut, and she was standing in the centre of the Great Hall, looking back at herself; her body still sitting beside Luna, who was talking animatedly about who-knew-what. “I told you it gets easier the second time,” said Lily, smiling warmly as she stepped into view. Ginny grinned. “And to think I was worried it would take too long!” Ginny glanced back at her real self, who was still sitting beside Luna. The Invisible Eyelids were working like a charm; it looked as though she was listening to every word Luna spoke with rapt attention. But then, just at that second, Luna glanced around in her direction, and, looking directly at her, gave her a small wink, before returning to her fake conversation with her other self. “She’s a smart one, that Luna,” laughed Lily. “Does she...does she see me?” gasped Ginny, her eyes growing wide. “Oh, I wouldn’t think so,” smiled Lily, “Though, that’s not to say she doesn’t know you are here. She may have seen your Wrackspurts, and made an educated guess. They’re always buzzing around incorporeal spirits like angry bees.” “Wait!” gasped Ginny, looking shocked. “What? Wrackspurts are real?” “Oh, yes,” smiled Lily softly, “Why wouldn’t they be?” “What about Blibbering Humdingers?” asked Ginny, growing more impressed by the second with Luna, and wondering whether Vampires did indeed sparkle in the sun. “Are they real too?” “Blibbering what?” replied Lily, looking thoroughly confused. “Are you feeling okay, Ginny?” “Nothing! ...Nothing!” she replied, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter!” “So, are you ready to begin?” Lily asked, her green eyes shining with a glimmer of excitement. “Yes. I’m ready!” grinned Ginny. “And you remember what we discussed?” the girl asked smiling. “Yes, you tell me when he’s looking, and I try to figure out who he is.” Ginny replied. “Good, good, then, let’s get started!” Lily was positively beaming. The task was a lot harder than Ginny had expected. Time and again Lily had told her when her secret admirer was watching, and time and again she could see no one looking her way. She scanned the Gryffindor table again and again and again, looking for a sign, for any indication that someone was glancing her way. “And he’s definitely in Gryffindor?” she asked again, frustrated that she still had no answers, and her time was slowly running out. “What does your heart tell you?” asked Lily. “That he’s in Gryffindor,” she replied, unsure how she knew that, but knowing it was true. “Then follow your heart.” Lily smiled softly, and then, “He’s watching again!” Ginny walked slowly up and down the table, scrutinising every face, watching every move, listening a little to every conversation, watching for any glance in her direction, however subtle. Terrence Fogarty... Seamus Finnegan… Ritchie Coote… Neil Randall… Nigel Wespurt… Thomas Paley… Merlin, this was hopeless! “There’s no one looking!” she said again, frustrated at this, not one sign! “Look closer!” was Lily’s reply. She did, but there was no one watching her! She scanned the table again and again and there was no one looking her way! Well, no, that wasn’t quite true, there was someone staring at her, but he didn’t count, she told herself. Yes, someone was looking her way, but, no, it couldn’t be; not him; not Harry. “You know, don’t you?” came Lily’s voice. Ginny shook her head. No, she thought, I don’t know anything! She glanced around at Lily, and shook her head again. Then she got back to her task in hand. She must be getting close, she felt like she was getting close. She scanned the table again, looking for any sign than someone was watching her. But no, not one solitary glance in her direction. “He’s still watching you,” said Lily, smiling broadly now. No, she thought, No one’s watching me! She scanned every face at the table again and again and again, but not one person was looking in her direction. Well, okay, there was one person watching, but it couldn’t be him; it really couldn’t be Harry. He had never seen her as anything more than Ron’s little sister, and she had given up on hoping that would change long ago. No matter how much she liked him, no matter how much she still secretly burned a torch for him, no matter how much she still fantasised about him, she knew that would never happen, not in this lifetime. She was just about to turn away, to look around for someone else who might be stealing glances her way, when Hermione’s words distracted her… “See anything you like, Harry?” she grinned. Harry’s head shot back around, trying to look innocent, as Hermione’s grin grew wider. “Ummm… ahhh… I don’t know what you mean?” he said, looking flustered, his cheeks glowing red. “Oh, don’t you?” smirked Hermione, her eyebrows raised questioningly. Harry just shrugged, though his cheeks continued to burn, betraying his true intentions. “You know, Harry,” Hermione continued, “You really should ask her out, before someone else beats you to it.” “Eh… I don’t… uhhh… know what you’re talking about?” said Harry, now blushing an even deeper shade of scarlet. “Fine! Fine! Just don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she said, smirking even more than before. Ginny watched the scene unfold in shock, the revelation slowly sinking in. No, she must have misunderstood? It couldn’t be Harry! She watched him intently, sure that this had to be some sort of misunderstanding. “You know, don’t you,” said Lily again. Ginny shook her head again, no, it couldn’t be Harry? She watched him intently, staring at him as he glanced again and again and again at Hermione, until he was sure she wasn’t watching him. And then, he turned again, staring again at Ginny with a look so intense it sent shivers down her spine. It was a look of longing, of untold desire. And, unseen by him, Hermione glanced around again, looking from Harry to Ginny, and back again, and she was beaming. And Ginny looked on, watching as Hermione gave him a knowing look, as if to say “You don’t fool me, Harry. I know you too well!” But, no, I must be mistaken! she thought, still in a state of denial. It couldn’t be him! Not Harry? Harry didn’t see her in that way! Hermione had even said it; he had feelings for someone else! And suddenly her mind drifted back to that particular conversation. The one they had shared several months ago… Three months earlier... “What about Harry?” she asked, “I mean, he has to be the most popular guy in school at the moment. Captain of the Quidditch team, ‘The Boy Who Lived’, ‘The Chosen One’, or whatever the Prophet’s calling him this week? You’d think he could get any girl he wanted?” “Yes, Ginny, you would think that, but I really don’t think he wants just ANY girl.” “You think he’s still hung up on Cho, don’t you?” she said, wasn’t it ALWAYS Cho, she thought. “No,” smiled Hermione, “No, it’s definitely not Cho he’s hung up on.” “But he IS hung up on someone, isn’t he?” she said perceptively. “Yes,” Hermione confirmed. “Yes, he is hung up on someone.” Ginny grinned. She could read Hermione like a book. “Well, why doesn’t he ask her out then?” “If it’s who I think it is,” Hermione replied, “then I think she’s already spoken for.” “Well then, why doesn’t he move on? Find someone who isn’t?” “I don’t think he can, Ginny,” Hermione continued. “Some people just don’t work that way. Some people are willing to wait for the right one.” “We ARE still talking about Harry here?” Ginny laughed, “Not you and my moron of a brother?” “No, Ginny, we are still talking about Harry.” Hermione confirmed “But maybe it’s the same thing? When you fall for someone, I mean, REALLY fall for someone. Not just what I was like with Viktor, or Harry was with Cho. When you open your eyes to love, it’s not that easy to close them. True love doesn’t work that way. When you know how you really feel about someone, you can’t just turn that off.” “And you’re SURE this isn’t Cho again?” she asked. “No, Ginny, it isn’t Cho.” Hermione continued “This is someone else. But I know Harry. I see the way he looks at her, and I’m pretty sure it’s the same… like, the way I feel about…” “My brother…” Ginny finished for her, her eyes wide. “Wow! That IS serious!” “Well then, why doesn’t Harry ask her out?” Ginny continued. “Maybe she’ll dump her boyfriend for him?” Hermione just shook her head. “Because this is Harry we’re talking about! Honestly, Ginny! Harry doesn’t work that way. He would NEVER try to break up a relationship, no matter how much it hurt him to see her with someone else. No. He’s far too noble for that. You know what he’s like! He’d rather see everyone else happy before himself.” “So who is it?” she asked, “This mystery girl Harry has the hots for? Come on, you can tell me. You know I can keep a secret!” Ginny grinned, the anticipation was killing her. “I’m sorry, Ginny. I really can’t tell you,” said Hermione, shaking her head. “I couldn’t break Harry’s trust like that. It just… it wouldn’t be right!” “Please?? You know I’m not one to gossip? At least give me a clue?” “No, I’m sorry, Ginny,” said Hermione stubbornly. “This is something you’re just going to have to figure out for yourself.” And the scene faded… “Something I’m going to have to figure out for myself,” she murmured to herself. And suddenly it hit her! The girl Harry couldn’t have… the girl Hermione had been talking about… it had been her all along, and she hadn’t even realised it! She had been the girl who was dating someone else back then, she had been dating Dean. Had Harry been in love with her all that time, possibly even longer, and she hadn’t even seen the signs. She looked back at Harry, who was still watching her intently from across the table, the same look of longing on his face, a look that told her everything she wanted to know: he loved her. After all this time, and just when she had given up on it ever happening, he loved her. And suddenly it felt as though she was falling, falling into a world full of light and life and joy, pure unadulterated bliss beyond imagining, where birds were singing their sweet serenades to the air, where the sun always shone, bright and warm, its radiance engulfing her, filling her with its light. It’s warmth glowing inside her like a Patronus. Falling into a world full of wonders beyond imagining, where a child’s wishes could come true, and where happiness never ended, because Harry Potter loved her, and the world had become whole again. “You know, don’t you?” the voice came again. She glanced around at Lily, who wore a knowing look on her face. “Yes,” confirmed Ginny, wiping a small tear from her eye, examining it curiously, marvelling at the fact that even in her spirit form, she still had the ability to cry. “Yes,” she said again. “I know.” And Lily walked towards her, and her face was beaming, and there were tears spilling softly down her cheeks too, and it was all too much for Ginny, knowing Harry finally loved her, and seeing the girl crying tears of joy because of it, and, though she told the tears to hold back, though she told them not to come, there was no stopping the waterworks when they finally began. Lily finally reached her, wrapping her warm arms around her in a caring embrace, and both girls stood there, unseen by all around, holding each other, tears flowing freely. And to Ginny, though she hardly knew this girl, it didn’t feel awkward at all, it felt strangely comforting, the way her mother would hold her. Her fingers softly stroking her hair, her other hand gently patting her back reassuringly. “Ssshhhh....” said the girl. “Shhhh.... it’s going to be alright now...” “I know it is,” said Ginny, grinning widely through her tears. “I know it is.” Dusk had arrived, the room was dark, its curtains drawn, only a small candle burning in the gloom, as Severus Snape sat contemplating the day’s events, the Pensieve sitting before him still swimming with the memory, circling in silver strands within its depths. He leant forward again, watching the silver mist swirling in patterns, before finally immersing himself in the memory. The same memory he had been watching all night, over and over and over again, looking for any sign, any clue he had missed. “Tell me about the girl, Miss Weasley,” he said, his voice trembling. “The… girl?” she gasped, her eyes growing wide. “The one from your dreams, if you would?” continued Professor Snape, a note of concern in his voice. “P… professor… I… How do you know…” Ginny looked at him in shock. “Never mind how I know, girl,” he replied. “Tell me what she wants.” “It was just a dream… how...” she gasped again. “To a Master Legilimens,” Snape began, his eyes still fixed firmly on Ginny, “and to someone who mastered wordless magic long before you were born, the thoughts on the surface of a mind are as easy to read as an open book. Now, Miss Weasley, the girl, if you will. What does she want?” “But it was just a dream...” she again protested. “I think both you and I both know it was more than just a dream,” he stated, stepping out from behind his desk and now walking slowly towards her. “Do not worry, child,” he continued, “I mean to help you with your task.” It was almost half an hour later before Snape finally emerged from the memory, raising his head from the Pensieve, deep in contemplation, and, in a corner of the room, unseen by him, Lily looked on. |
| Reviews 14 |
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