|
HB Prince: Year of Love | ||||||
|
Category: Post-OotP Characters:All, All Genres: Angst, Drama, Fluff, Humor Warnings: None Rating: PG Reviews: 309 Summary: *** The author has been reminded via the e-mail address on file that this story is listed as incomplete and has not been updated in over 2 years *** This story starts at the end of Order Of The Phoenix. Although this story starts as the usual Harry/Ginny romance, I believe after several chapters, you will find that Ancient Dark Magic takes on a whole new meaning to our Harry and Ginny. Will Harry discover the key to the Half-Blood Prince?* * * *American Edition *** * * * Hitcount: Story Total: 196447; Chapter Total: 3312 Author's Notes: SUMMARY: Ginny’s confused. Ginny figures out Harry. |
Previous Next |
|
||||
|
Chapter Seventeen - Tonks’ visit EARLIER THAT DAY: As Ginny was leaving the Gryffindor tower for breakfast, Professor McGonagal stopped her. “Miss Weasley, please come along with me.” Ginny followed her to her office. Standing next to the desk was Tonks. “There is toast, bacon and tea there on the desk. Feel free,” she said then left the room. Tonks put a Silencing Charm on the room. “Ginny! Glad to see ya. I got some time off, Minerva let me use her office, so that we could have a visit. Brought you a little something.” “A gift? OOOOOOOO let me see!” Ginny opened the gift box and found a bright pink pair of silky pajamas. “OOOOOOOO these are pretty, but I’m sure they will clash with my hair,” she said laughing. “I guess it doesn’t matter. Like anyone would see me in them.” “Nope! I changed my complexion and hair to test them.” Tonks changed and put the pajama top up to her face. “See?” Ginny giggled. “Yeah, it does look good. Must be that particular shade of pink. Thank you so much!” “So what made you think about bringing me a gift?” asked Ginny. “I saw ‘em and got me a pair, thought about you. These are just like your other pajamas but a different color. So I picked ‘em up” Ginny beamed, as she poured the tea. “You look good. Minerva told me that you got hurt in Hogsmeade and that you have been right upset about your dorm mates.” “What does Mum know?” asked Ginny. “Hmmmm... ‘bout that much. She doesn’t know how BAD you were injured or how upset ya been, but then, neither do I.” “I’m ok,” said Ginny. “Were you REALLY in Honeydukes?” asked Tonks. “Blimey! I saw it, that place was flattened!” “Yes. Does Mum know I was in there?” asked Ginny in a panic. “Not that I know of. I got my info from Minerva. ‘Course if she hasn’t seen Honeydukes she wouldn’t know how bad it could have been. How’d you manage to survive?” “Harry, of course.” “It always seems to come back to Harry,” said Tonks thoughtfully. “Harry dug me out,” Ginny sighed. “Well? Tell me. And don’t ask me ‘what’ either.” “Harry? He’s driving me crazy. So what else is new?” Ginny made them both a bacon sandwich. “Still ignoring you? Don’t sound like it, if he dug you out,” added Tonks. “No, this is worse. He is NOT ignoring me, but he seems to be running hot and cold. Well not really hot and cold. More like warm and not so warm. I don’t know. He’s changed.” “How?” “Remember the party? He actually asked me on a ‘date’ for the party. He TREATED me like I was his date. He did everything that a boy SHOULD do on a date. He looked at me like, well, like he was interested in me. Very interested.” “You know I try real hard not to see what isn’t there, but that’s what it felt like,” Ginny sighed. “Saw him that night and yes he looked like he was stuck on you. Couldn’t take his eyes off ya, he couldn’t. You weren’t imagining it, Gin.” “Really? So you think so too? You know when you want something, you can make yourself believe what you want. You know we BOTH are trying not to do that,” said Ginny sighing. “Anyway, all night I felt like he was falling for me. Then when we said goodnight, I thought he was going to kiss me. He sort of bent a little and moved close like he was going to, then he just walked off. There I stood, like an idiot. At least I didn’t have my eyes closed and my lips puckered,” said Ginny, dispirited. “Couldn’t of been that bad,” said Tonks. “Oh yes it could. That is exactly what happened. On the way to Hogwarts he didn’t say much to me, but then on the first day of classes, first thing after breakfast he walks me to my first class. He was being so nice, so thoughtful,” she sighed. “It felt like he was staring at me all the time. Like he had a crush or something. He was taking the time to talk to me every day.” “Then one day he stopped staring at me. He started staring at all the other girls. I mean it was like he was checking out every single girl in the school, even the Slytherins. And I do mean he was checking them out. YOU know the look a guy gives a girl when she’s not looking but he thinks she’s hot. That’s how he was looking at all of them.” “Plus! This year the girls are crazy about him. Worse than ever. Even Ron and Neville are getting looks. It’s like they are the hottest guys at the school now. The girls are batting their eyes and acting so stupid.” “Then, he decides to give me private Quidditch lessons.” “What? Harry did? You and him alone at the Quidditch pitch?” asked Tonks. “At night? I had a guy give me private lessons once. Found out he didn’t know anything about Quidditch, thought a Quaffle was something you ate for breakfast. He ended up lying in the pitch ‘stunned’. He got detention too. He didn’t wake up till after curfew,” she laughed. Ginny giggled. “No, I mean Ron, Hermione and Luna were there. But he was taking all this time being patient and showing me how to ride his Firebolt. We did this for a couple of weeks, while we were waiting for my new broom. It was supposed to be RON and him getting me ready for my new broom. But Harry was doing all the instructions. Ron was just there.” “He took me for a ride on his Firebolt and we had a great time,” she sighed. “He had that LOOK again. We had so much fun together.” “Then he was back to checking out the other girls again,” she sighed. “He did that for a few days. Then he stopped looking at the other girls and started looking at me that way again. Almost every day he was taking time to talk to me in private. I just don’t know. I’m really confused.” “Then the day of Hogsmeade I ruined it all,” Ginny started to cry. “What did you do?” asked Tonks. “The worst! I cried all over him. Harry HATES girls to cry around him. Hermione told me that was what Cho was doing all the time around Harry and that’s why he stopped liking her. Actually, I heard him say something about it myself last year,” sobbed Ginny. “Couldn’t have been that bad,” said Tonks soothingly. “You have no idea. I’m not talking about crying like I am now,” she said as she wiped her tears. “I’m talking about being hysterical and crying all over him. I pulled him to me and cried all over his chest,” she sobbed. “What did he do? Run off?” asked Tonks. “No. He was so sweet. He held me in his arms. He petted me. He washed my face and wiped the tears away. He washed my hands and cleaned my scraped knees. He listened to me raving. He was wonderful,” she sighed. “You’re right. That don’t sound like Harry. I mean he doesn’t seem to like to be around emotions too much. Where was Ron?” she asked. “Right there. Ron started to comfort me. I mean I was a total wreck. Then Harry sort of just took over,” said Ginny. “Ginny, you must remember that it WAS understandable. Maybe you didn’t do too much damage. After you settled down and all. How did he react to you later? Or did you see him later? Has he avoided you?” asked Tonks gently. “No and that’s just IT. I didn’t settle down. I mean, I did for a while. I went up to shower, but when I came back down, I sat there trying to compose myself and ended up crying all over him again. I really did try to control myself, but it was horrible at Hogsmeade. Jessica. I won’t let myself get stirred up again!“ Ginny breathed in deeply. “Anyway, he took care of me all night. Poor hysterical Ginny. Weeping all over Harry. I will tell you how bad it was. I cried so hard and long that I exhausted myself and fell asleep on this chest!” Ginny started to cry again. “You mean that you left the room, and he was still there after you took a shower?” asked Tonks. “Yes!” said Ginny. “Wow!” said Tonks. “ I would never have thought that Harry would have stayed. He’s the type that would flee at the first chance.” “Not only THAT, we slept on the sofa that night. Harry held me all night.” “And that’s a bad thing?” asked Tonks smirking. “Well, no, not for me. I loved waking up in his arms. But now that it’s over, he will hate me. I just know it.” “So you and Harry spent the night on the sofa. Well, that’s something,” said Tonks. “Well, no. We were not alone. Ron, Hermione and Neville and a lot of kids all slept down there that night,” added Ginny. “Oh! Well, that puts another favor in the ice cream,” snickered Tonks. “Why did Hermione and Neville stay? I could see why Ron did.” “Because Hermione wanted to stay and Ron was going to stay. So then, Neville was not going to leave Hermione down there with Ron.” “Why would Neville care?” asked Tonks. “Because Neville and Hermione are dating,” said Ginny. “What? I don’t believe it! I thought Neville was dating Luna. What’s going on this year?” “Neville asked Luna to the party, but since we’ve been back at school, he’s been hanging around Hermione. Then he asked Hermione to Hogsmeade. THAT started a row between Ron and Neville.” “Oy!” “Yes, it got ugly. Harry told me that Ron pulled his wand on Neville. Harry got between them. So the whole week before Hogsmeade, Harry has been staying close to Ron to keep him off of Neville.” “Hermione likes Neville? I would never have thought!” said Tonks. “I guess. I haven’t talked to Hermione about it. Been studying for O.W.L.S.” “What about Luna?” asked Tonks. “What about Luna?” asked Ginny. “Who does she like? I thought she liked Neville OR didn’t you say she used to fancy Ron?” “It’s really hard to tell with Luna. She USED to fancy Ron. Maybe she still does, but she’s not saying,” said Ginny thoughtfully. “And what about you? You’ve seen that fellow you was going with last year?” asked Tonks. “I’ve seen him. We’ve nodded to one another but he is with Cho, that’s Harry’s ex-girlfriend.” “So she’s out of the picture with a new boyfriend?” asked Tonks. “She wanted Harry back but he turned her down,” said Ginny. “How’d you find that out?” asked Tonks. “ ’Cause I heard most of the conversation. I happened to be in the room when they ‘discussed it’,” said Ginny. “Then that one’s out of the picture,” said Tonks. “You don’t know how FAR out she is. She was killed in Hogsmeade,” said Ginny. “Blimey! How’d Harry take that?” “I don’t really know. We haven’t talked about it. I was too busy having hysterics,” said Ginny sarcastically. “So how has he been acting since?” “Just as sweet and understanding. I been sleeping in his bed every night since. He sleeps on the Common Room sofa.” “Why?” asked Tonks. “Because he don’t want me to sleep in my empty dorm room. They are either dead or in the hospital wing. So, I’m sleeping in HIS bed until maybe tomorrow or the next day. Until my dorm mates get out of hospital.” “That is very thoughtful of him. There’s not many blokes that would think about that,” said Tonks. “Harry has always been pretty thoughtful about people’s feelings. Except last year. Last year he was a prat most of the time. But this year he is more thoughtful than ever. Specially with me... and Luna.” “He is very concerned about Luna’s feelings. He even made arrangements for Luna to be able to come to our Common Room to study each night AND she can sit at the Gryffindor table as long as she doesn’t eat there,” added Ginny. “He makes sure that he talks to her every day. So she knows he’s there for her. That she has a big brother. He... ” “He what?” asked Tonks. “I just thought of something. Harry don’t have feelings for me, he’s trying to replace Ron. Why didn’t I see that before?” said Ginny. “Ok, Gin, you have to explain THAT cause I’m not getting it.” “Of course, it’s so simple... Ok... at the beginning of school, Harry made arrangements for Luna. He wanted her to feel like she really had a big brother... family... I made a remark about how I wished that Ron cared that much about MY feelings. That’s it, of course!” said Ginny, slapping herself in the head. “Gin, Ron cares about you. He loves you. You know that.” “Yes, Ron loves me. That’s what I told Harry, but Ron don’t like me to be around, not when any of his friends are around. That’s just the way Ron is. I’m used to it,” said Ginny. “Harry disagreed with me, but I think after giving it much thought, he realized that what I said was true.” “That’s why he was giving me Quidditch lessons. He wanted to show Ron that we have something in common, that I was not so bad to hang around with. But it didn’t work, Harry did all the helping. Ron was more interested in riding Harry’s Firebolt and doing his own thing,” said Ginny thoughtfully. “That’s what he’s doing. He’s been talking to me almost every day. Just like he does with Luna,” she added. “So what about the party? That was before all this happened,” said Tonks. “Hmmmm... the party... of course! We don’t really know how the ‘date’ thing came up, but I’m sure it wasn’t Ron’s idea. Don’t think it was Harry’s either, my money is on it being Neville’s idea. Now how they decided about who took who is anyone’s guess. Drew straws or something. Course if Ron picked mine, then they would have to start over. I don’t know, but anyway, Harry got me.” “I know Harry very well, and since the Yule Ball was such a fiasco, I mean, Ron and Harry spent most of it off in a corner talking. They both had dates, for Merlin’s sake! Anyway, Harry would want to make it a ‘real’ date. Remember he did EVERYTHING a guy SHOULD do on a real date.” “How about the way he was looking at you? Explain that.” “I don’t know. Maybe he thought that is the way he should be looking at me. Then, of course, Fred and George were giving him a hard time.” “And the kiss that didn’t happen?” asked Tonks. “That would be the easiest to explain. He probably thought that he SHOULD kiss me goodnight because it was a real date. But... He couldn’t do it, because then I would think that he liked me that way, that I would be hurt if he really didn’t. So he thought better of it and walked away.” “I see. So what about him staring at you since you been back to school?” Tonks grinned. “Well, maybe since he always sits in the same place at the table and I usually sit in the same seat, maybe he feels comfortable in that position while he is thinking. That would explain why it looks like he is looking at me,” said Ginny thoughtfully. “OY! You just talked yourself out of a boyfriend. Congrats Gin!” “I want to know why you seem to be happier now that you think he doesn’t have a crush on you,” said Tonks frustrated. “Tonks, Harry has been driving me nuts with his actions. I know Harry better than anyone. I’ve been STUDYING him for YEARS, for Merlin’s sake! He hasn’t been acting his normal self. This explains it.” “So it’s not possible that he has a crush on you? What ya think, you not good enough for him?” asked Tonks. “Of course I’m good enough for him. I’m BETTER than good enough for him, but that don’t mean that HE thinks so.” “Tonks, he COULD have a crush on me, but IF he did, then WHY don’t he tell me? Like I’d turn him down? No, he’s trying to make up for Ron, that’s more like him.” “So! Have you been keeping the ‘pact’?” Tonks asked with a grin. “Yes I have. May I ask the same of you?” “Hmmmm... we’ll talk about that later.” “I think we will talk about it NOW,” said Ginny. “Come on, confess.” “I’ve been GOOD,” said Tonks as she rolled her eyes. “But I been just as frustrated as you.” “No headway then?” asked Ginny. “Well, can’t say THAT exactly. He’s interested. THAT I know for sure.” “OOOOOOOO, tell me!” said Ginny, excited. “It’s not THAT much to tell. Only that I caught him looking at my bum when he thought I wasn’t looking,” she giggled. “TWICE!” she added. “So he IS interested. At least he liked your bum. What bum were you using at the time?” asked Ginny with a giggle. “Actually it was MY bum,” she laughed. “I’m as frustrated as you are,” Tonks sighed. “I just want to know if it’s my age or if it’s the werewolf thing OR is it both? If I knew THAT much at least I would know what I could do.” “I wonder, do you think that maybe he talked to Harry about it? They did have a lot of nights in that empty house. Maybe they discussed women,” said Ginny. “And your point?” asked Tonks. “My POINT is maybe I could somehow get Harry on the subject of Lupin and MAYBE I could get a clue. What’d you think?” asked Ginny. “First, how would you get on to THAT subject? Secondly, if you talked to Harry about THAT, he is going to want to know WHY you’re asking. I don’t want Harry to know how I feel about Remus,” said Tonks. “Why? Harry likes you. I think he would love it that you and Remus were together. You two are perfect for each other,” said Ginny. “Cause YOU are the only one who knows and I want to keep it that way. If Remus got wind of my feelings, he would avoid me. I don’t want him to do that,” said Tonks sadly. “Why? Cause you’re not good enough for him?” smirked Ginny. “Ok, I get your point. But it is different with Remus and I and you and Harry,” said Tonks. “We have discussed this before, there isn’t any difference! We are both in love with men who, for some reason or another, don’t give us the time of day,” said Ginny. “As long as we keep our ‘pact’, then whatever the outcome, we have done our duty,” said Ginny. “I have kept the ‘pact’, but I’m getting weak,” said Tonks. “You’ve GOT to be kidding! Tonks! You can change your body to anything you want. You just can’t be changing your personality, not in THIS matter. We HAVE to be ourselves or we are cheating ourselves!” said Ginny. “I know, you’re right. Besides, how would I act if I knew it made any difference. Probably would make it worse.” “Yes, that is why we are committed to be ourselves around any male. If they don’t like who we really are, then what’s the point? RIGHT?” asked Ginny. “RIGHT!” said Tonks. * * * * |
| Reviews 309 |
Previous Next
|
