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Category: Alternate Universe, Post-HBP Characters:None Genres: Tragedy Warnings: Dark Fiction, Death, Sexual Situations, Violence Story is Complete Rating: R Reviews: 1174 Summary: Harry gets one night that gives him a glimpse into what life could be like with the Dursley's. But events turn for the worse and both Harry and the wizarding world are left wondering what it's consquences mean for the future of the world. Hitcount: Story Total: 501419; Chapter Total: 14001 Awards: View Trophy Room Author's Notes: I don't own anything. The entire Potter Universe belongs to JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended. I just write fics to take up time between books. |
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Chapter 22: Too Far Gone Ginny breathed into the softness of the sheets, taking in the quietness and the perfect-ness of the situation. Her body still hummed with the excitement and the remnant pleasure of the night’s events, despite the fact that it had been a while since they had been doing anything but sleeping. Harry and she had lay there after, talking quietly about everything and nothing in general, relishing in the closeness and the moment instead until they slowly drifted of to sleep. Before they had fallen asleep, Harry had divulged bits of his talk with Remus and even shared that he had been quite disheartened when Remus told him he’d be rubbish his first time and would probably hurt Ginny. She had begrudgingly told him that it had been a bit painful, but reassured him that it wasn’t entirely his fault and she’d be glad to help him “get better with practice.” When the exhaustion of the long day had finally taken them, Ginny had found herself waking up every ten or fifteen minutes to find herself nestled closely to Harry’s body, his arm wrapped tightly around her as if bringing her to him. She couldn’t help but notice how well she fit within him and his embrace. A few times she had taken the time to study his sleeping features and lightly trace his cheeks with a finger, somehow confirming to herself that this was real and causing Harry to flinch and swat at the invisible touch from within his dreams. But when she woke this time, she didn’t feel the smoothness of his chest against her, his breathing into her hair, or the warmth that radiated from him. She didn’t even hear the soft snores that emanated from him and vibrated against her face as he slept next to him. She rolled onto her side to see the place next to her empty and the sheets wrapped up around herself. She lifted her head and allowed her eyes to adjust to the dark room. It was then that she noticed him. Harry was sitting on the edge of the bed, his tall lanky frame obscuring the moonlight that was pouring in through the window. She could only see his back from were she lay, but it looked as though he must be gazing thoughtfully out into the night. She didn’t want to startle him, so she took the moment to take him in. From this angle you couldn’t tell he had lost his arm and you couldn’t see the large, raised scars that adorned his chest and stomach. There were a few light, finger-length, thin scars that ran down his right side. But otherwise his back was pale and unblemished. As Ginny traced his body, she could help but notice that, despite how broad his shoulders had gotten and his muscles had become more defined, he was still rather thin and slight. As she followed the length of his long, slender back, she couldn’t help but observe how it narrowed into a rather slender waistline. ‘A waistline that some girl’s might kill for,’ she laughed to herself. She let her eyes wander a little farther down, noticing he still was without boxers. She couldn’t help but appreciate how nice a bum he had as he sat still, unbeknownst of her attention. She was busy watching him, when he turned his head and looked back towards the bed, starting a bit when he noticed she was awake and studying him. He smiled at her softly as he looked over his shoulder. “Hi,” he whispered quietly, “I didn’t wake you did I?” “No,” she assured him as she slid across the bed next to him with the sheet wrapped around herself, and then rested her head on his shoulder, with an arm around his back. He exhaled steadily through his nose and then glanced back out the window. “Harry? Are you okay?” she asked gently. “Yeah…” he breathed, letting a crooked grin slide across his face and his head rest on Ginny’s. “Do you want to tell me what you’ve been thinking about as you’ve been staring out that window for the past few minutes?” she questioned, trying to hide her air of concern. “I was watching you sleep before…thinking about how gorgeous you are,” he breathed into the top of her head. “How wonderful you are and…how I must be the luckiest bloke in the world.” “Oh,” she teased, “that all?” “No…” he sighed. “I was thinking about how I thought this…us…would be more awkward. I was worried that after we’d done this that things would be different or weird somehow.” Ginny wanted to interrupt and try and assure him that nothing had changed and she wasn’t ashamed, but he let out a quick chuckle and then went on. “But it’s not…and…” he paused, smiling to himself again. “Having you in my arms--arm, lying next to you, being with you…it all felt so natural. Like this is the way it should be.” Ginny didn’t really know how to respond to that. Here he was, being so sincere and so open with what he was feeling and all she could do was smile oddly at him as she leaned against him. “I was watching you too…” she blurted without knowing what she was going to say, “…when you were sleeping before.” Harry raised his brow. “And I feel the same way about this,” she added quietly. “I was afraid that once we had sex…that we’d feel uncomfortable…I’ve heard girls talk about how different things were between them and their boyfriends after…I always had a bit of worry…” “But I wouldn’t mind going to bed and waking up in the morning beside you everyday…” she added, saying what she was really getting at. Harry turned his head slightly and cocked the corner of his mouth into a sort of half smile. “You wouldn’t?” he asked hesitantly. “Of course I wouldn’t,” she said matter-of-factly. “Well…we wouldn’t have to…do that…every time…but yeah…” she added. “So you’d…you’d want to be…be…Mrs. Potter…someday?” he stuttered, his heart and mind beating a mile a minute. Ginny nodded and gave him a small squeeze with the arm that was around his back. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said quietly. “If I ever need a back-up,” he added quickly, trying to suppress a grin. Ginny let out a vehement cry of indignation and punched him playfully in the arm and trying her hardest to look angry. When Ginny had reluctantly let her grin slide across her face and her giggles over take her, Harry took the opportunity to let out a huge breath, falling back onto the bed from his sitting position, bringing Ginny along with him. “I still can’t believe we did this,” he exclaimed disbelievingly. “No?” questioned Ginny, leaning on an elbow to prop herself up so she could see his face, which was fixed in an ear to ear grin. “Well…I might just have to give you confirmation and a little reminder that this is indeed real,” she added cheekily, raising her brows up and down implyingly. Harry narrowed his eyes in confusion and then raised them so that they disappeared into his newly grown hairline. “A-again?” he stuttered, searching her face for any sign of teasing. “There’s no rule we can’t do this more than once in a night…is there?” she asked sheepishly before she attacked Harry’s lips once more, stifling the gasp of surprise that came from his mouth. -------------------------------- -------------- Several hours later, Ginny silently slipped out into the dark hall of the now silent Burrow, closing the door silently behind her. She paused for a minute listening for any voices or footsteps before turning towards the landing that led to her bedroom on the floor below. She had just begun to make her way slowly and a bit painfully down the stairs, careful not to step on the creaky stairs, when a voice from the landing above rocked her out of her concentration. “Gin?” whispered Bill’s voice through the darkness, causing her heart to skip a beat. She took a deep breathe and turned around slowly to face him, seeing him standing in the middle of the hall, without a shirt and wearing an old pair of sweatpants. He was squinting into the darkness, trying to get a better look at who he had seen. “Bill?” she breathed, trying not to sound too alarmed. “What are you doing up?” she added, hoping the guilt and surprise wasn’t evident in her voice. “It’s been a long day and I couldn’t sleep…just thought I’d make a cup of tea or something,” he explained quickly. “At four o’clock in the morning?” Ginny teased. “Needed a bit of a break from the wife,” he grinned, causing the scars on his face to twist oddly with the motion. Ginny couldn’t help but smile at her eldest brother’s admission. Even in the dark she could see him blush and flush at the words “wife.” She knew he was so happy and ecstatic to be married to Fleur, amidst all the violence and terror going on. The two continued to chuckle for a bit and then Bill stopped and surveyed his sister and youngest sibling thoughtfully. There was a small smile and knowing gleam in his eye. “So…” he offered, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “Harry’s finally a man?” Ginny’s tried to keep the look of horror from creeping up her features, but wasn’t so sure she was doing a good job. She was sure though, that despite the darkness, anyone could have noticed that her face had paled considerably at Bill’s words. While she stood there terror-stricken and worried he would tell or worse, beat Harry up, Bill continued to smirk at her from across the hall. “What?” she finally blurted, hoping to feign confusion. “Come on Gin,” Bill pressed, “It’s not like I’m going to go in there and beat the crap out of him. I’m not angry or mad…I just want to make sure…you’re alright.” Ginny took in his genuine look of concern and couldn’t help but appreciate his brotherly worry. “How did you–?” she started to question, but Bill cut her off with a sly grin and a snort of laughter. “It’s sort of obvious,” he began to explain. “First, your wearing Harry’s t-shirt and a pair of his boxers,” he added, point at Ginny’s attire and noting she was carrying her dress in her arms. Ginny looked down and began to regret not wanting to put her dress back on when she had decided she’d better head to her own bedroom. She had dug around for some of Harry’s clothes in his trunk, thinking of comfort instead of thinking it might be a dead giveaway. “Second,” Bill started, “You probably should have cast a silencing charm on the room.” “Bloody hell,” Ginny swore, hitting herself repeated mentally over missing that little detail. She’d been more worried about remembering to remind Harry to cast the Contraceptive Charm, than remembering to sound-proof the room and keeping the rest of the drafty Burrow from hearing them and what they were getting up to. “Don’t worry,” Bill assured quickly, “Fleur and I were in the bedroom next door…I don’t think anyone else heard…or were in any state to care…” Ginny couldn’t help but sigh in relief and chuckle a bit at Bill’s comment. “So that’s how you knew?” Ginny asked, sighing and biting her lip, still feeling a bit uneasy with sharing this information with her brother. “Yeah…and the way you’re walking,” he laughed quietly. “You bear all the hallmarks of having taken your first ride on–“ “Bill!” Ginny hissed highly outraged with what her brother was about to say. “Sorry,” He added hastily, trying to suppress his grin. “So…you’re ok…both of you?” “Yeah,” Ginny breathed, casting Bill a reluctant smile. “So, you’re really not…angry…or disappointed?” “Disappointed?” Bill repeated quietly. “No Gin, I’m happy for you two. I know Harry loves you and you love him. I’ve seen the way he looks at you…like you’re the only person that matters…I’ve seen how you two act around each other.” “I know how it is to feel that strong about another person Gin,” Bill sighed as he put an arm around his sister. “I feel the same things about Fleur that I know Harry feels for you. He’s a good kid Ginny and I know he’d never hurt you. You two are good for each other and this…sharing these sorts of things…are part of that relationship. Plus–I can’t pretend you’re that little pig-tailed girl that used to drag around her doll as she chased after us boys anymore. You’ve grown into a beautiful and lively young woman Gin, Harry’s a lucky man and I couldn’t be prouder of you.” “Thanks Bill,” Ginny said quietly as she hugged him back gratefully, but not being able to help being a bit uncomfortable of the fact that her brother had no shirt on. And she also noted he was a lot hairier than Harry was. “He was a gentleman though…right?” Bill asked as the siblings broke away. Bill peered down into his sister’s face with that same look of concern. “He treated you alright? He used…protection?” “Yeah Bill…we both did,” she assured him. “And he was…wonderful…bloody nervous…but wonderful.” Bill chuckled a bit and then ran a hand through his bed-messed red hair. “My first time I was a wreck,” he laughed quietly. “I think it took me longer to perform the charm than actually doing the deed. I hope Potter lasted longer than that,” he snorted. Ginny shrugged and put on a smile of her own. “He’ll get better,” Bill offered. “Oh…he got better,” Ginny cheeked, causing Bill to cock his brow at his younger sister. “That…animal,” Bill teased, causing Ginny to laugh and stifle a snort. A new thought flickered across her mind. “You’re not going to say anything…are you?” Ginny blurted suddenly. “No Gin,” Bill assured her. “This is between you and Harry. And besides…I don’t think the rest of the family would be as understanding as your favorite brother here. Ron might even get a few shots in on him,” Bill joked. “Right,” Ginny breathed, feeling a bit relieved. “So…you’re on your way to your room?” Bill asked “Yeah…figured a bit of sleep would be nice,” Ginny answered, stifling a yawn. “Well…I’d venture to guess that Ron is still in there with Hermione…so maybe the couch would be a better bet,” Bill replied. “Actually I think I should save Ron and Hermione some embarrassment and get him back to his room before someone else walks in on them,” Ginny told Bill, remembering how Hermione had saved her and Harry some embarrassment when she had come up and discovered them on her birthday. “Good idea,” Bill agreed. “Well…night sis.” “Night Bill,” Ginny replied as she turned towards the stairs again. “Oh Gin,” Bill interrupted quietly. “Since we can’t have a real honeymoon because of…well the war and things…Mum’s having a picnic and a relaxing day down by the pond tomorrow with all the guests who are leftover. It probably won’t be till afternoon…seeing how everyone seems to have a late night…but just so you’re aware.” “Right,” she replied as she tiptoed down the stairs, allowing Bill to pass and make his way quietly into the kitchen. Ginny stopped outside her bedroom door, listening for any sound, but only hearing silence in return. She rapped quietly on the door and listened. There were hushed voices and the sound of someone falling or knocking things over. She figured that both of them had panicked and Ron was trying to hide or something. “It’s Ginny,” Ginny said quietly as she leaned against the door. “I came to claim my bed back. You can open the door when you’re decent,” she laughed quietly. Half a minute later the door cracked open and Ron haphazardly dressed in a t-shirt and his dress pants stood before her. “What time is it?” he grumbled groggily. “A little past four. I thought you might want to go upstairs to your room before everyone else wakes,” Ginny explained. “Yeah…thanks,” Ron said sincerely. “Where’s Harry?” he added, looking around as if expecting to see him around. “He’s already sleeping,” Ginny invented quickly. Ron nodded in response and then stepped aside so she could go in. “Night Ginny,” Ron smiled softly to her as he made his way up the stairs. “Night Romeo,” Ginny teased, causing Ron to turn and cast a sly and slightly embarrassed grin back at her and his face to turn a brilliant red. Ginny sighed deeply and then entered the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Hermione was pretending to sleep soundly in her bed when Ginny walked past to her. Ginny didn’t even bother to blow Hermione’s cover, but instead slid slowly into her soft four poster bed, letting the events of the night melt into the sweet darkness of sleep. -------------------------------- --------- “Harry?” “Harry…wake up,” came a soft voice, pulling Harry from a very enjoyable dream. He rolled his head toward the sound of the voice, trying to pry his tired and exhausted eyes open. Every muscle in his body was tired and we desperately wanted to ignore the voice and sink back into his blissful sleep. Harry opened his eyes, to see a red blur sitting near him on the bed. He rubbed his bleary eyes and opened them as wide as he could. His glasses were shoved into his open hand and he pushed them on and Ginny’s face soon swam into focus. “Morning,” he grumbled, collapsing back onto the pillow. “Tired are we?” she teased, rubbing a hand through his hair. “I wonder why?” he sighed sarcastically. “Slave driver,” he added cheekily, holding up his hand to ward off the impending slap or hit from Ginny for his chide. “You weren’t complaining before,” she joked, kissing him on the forehead. Harry couldn’t help but smile and relax even further into the mattress. “Well I came up here to inform you that we’re going down to the pond for the day. Ron said he tried to wake you before but you were dead to the world,” she explained. “Anyway, Mum’s made some food and there’s still a ton left over from yesterday. It’s a lazy day and we’re all going to just hang out and eat all day,” Ginny informed him. “Do I have to get up now?” he whined in a hoarse voice. “No…everyone else is already…but I reckon you can come down when you want,” she conceded. “I figured you needed your beauty rest…so I laid out a t-shirt and the swim trunks you got for your birthday. I also put out a pair of Ron’s sandals. You’d look pretty funny wearing your trainers to the pond. These will work much better.” “Thanks,” Harry mumbled as he closed his eyes again. “Well I’m off to enjoy the sun while you recuperate in this bat cave,” she ribbed. She leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips. He reached up and pulled her close. “Love you,” he whispered as they pulled away. “Love you too,” she returned as she pulled the covers up further on him and turned out of the room. --------------------------------- ----- He didn’t know how long he had drifted back to sleep and enjoyed the rest he was getting, but Harry soon found himself rolling out of bed and pulling on his discarded boxers and a t-shirt and padding off to take a long hot shower in a quiet house. After he had returned to Ron’s empty bedroom, he pulled on the clothes that Ginny had laid out for him and slipped on the worn leather sandals. He checked out his reflection in the mirror, liking how the red t-shirt and yellow, cargo swim trunks looked on himself. Though he did have to admit, he rarely showed his legs and couldn’t remember the last time he wore shorts, so his legs were a bit pale. The sound of laughing floated through the upstairs window and he decided to head down and see what the fun was all about. He headed through the empty house and out through the screen door in the kitchen, entering the garden and exiting on the far side that led to the small meadow where the Weasley family pond was. As he made his way slowly down the sloping lawn, the picnic tables and various lounge and beach chairs situated around the pond came into view. The distant outlines of many red-haired people could be seen, as well as the Fleur’s leftover relatives and any other guests that stayed the night. As he got closer, people started to notice his approach and several people waved at him and the splashing crowd in the pond called his name and waved him towards them. He could see Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, along with the twins and Charlie goofing around in the water. Some of Fleur’s cousins were also enjoying the opportunity the water held. “Hurry up and get in here Harry!” shouted Ron as he motioned with a long gangly arm. “Yeah…chop, chop Potter!” yelled Fred as he dunked Charlie. Harry paused to survey the cool, clear water of the pond, fighting the internal battle of his mind he had been since he had slipped into the yellow swim trunks. The water did look inviting and he had to admit that spending a day splashing around with Ginny sounded like fun. But he really didn’t want to take off his shirt in front of all these people he really didn’t know. He also didn’t really know how well he’d be able to swim. He had never been a strong swimmer, with the exception of when he had the help of Gillyweed. And with one arm he was a little afraid that he might embarrass himself or worse…drown. Finally letting the paranoid part of his brain win, he shook his head and waved off the people in the pond and turned towards the rest of the crowd where the food and chairs were set up. There were several shouts calling him back to the pond and protests at his decision not to join them. But Harry ignored them and instead headed to the table to get himself a plate of food. “Oh Harry dear,” Mrs. Weasley greeted him as she looked up from her own plate she was filling. “Morning–er–afternoon,” Harry stuttered, returning her smile. “Are you feeling alright Harry? You slept awfully late,” she asked with a tone of motherly concern for his well-being in her voice. Harry’s stomach flipped uncomfortably as he met the inquisitive gaze of Mrs. Weasley. “Yeah…I…It…was just a long day and I guess…I’m….still not up to all that…excitement,” he blurted quickly. ‘Yeah…you had a long night too Potter,” his inner voice jabbed. ‘You’re probably tired because you spent the whole night shagging her dau-’ ‘STOP!’ interrupted the other part of his brain. “Are you sure dear?” Mrs. Weasley asked for reassurance and not noticing Harry’s internal dialogue. “Yeah…” Harry repeated. “Alright dear. Help yourself to some food,” she reiterated as she turned away from the table and went to sit with Mr. Weasley. Harry piled his plate with various rolls and snack foods and found an empty chair near Tonks and Remus who were talking to both Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt. “Hello Harry,” Kingsley greeted him in his deep colorful voice as he noted Harry’s arrival. Harry nodded in return and then inclined his head at Moody who had done the same. “Hiya Harry,” Tonks said sweetly as she looked up from a conversation with Remus. Harry returned a mumbled response through part of a crisp he had just shoved in his mouth. “We were beginning to wonder when you were going to make an appearance,” she said smiling at him. “Must’ve had a pretty good night to make you sleep past one.” Harry choked down the last bit of crisp in his mouth and swallowed hard. He was sure he had turned several shades of red at her comment. Did she know? Did everyone know that he and Ginny had sex? Where they going to be upset? Or was it going to be funny to them? Feelings of horror and paranoia that weren’t there last night were suddenly filling him and making him feel slightly ill. “Lay off the boy Tonks…you’re making him turn red,” Moody gruffed with a hint of a laugh in his voice. “Last night was probably the longest Potter’s been awake since his accident…” But Harry wasn’t listening to Mad-eye go on, he was watching Remus out of the corner of his vision, who was eyeing him with a peculiar look. It was almost as if Remus was studying him and looking for some sign or symptom to manifest is self out of nowhere. Hermione had given him the same type of look-over when he had come to the Burrow the summer after Sirius’s death. ‘Bugger…he knows!’ Harry swore to himself internally as he tried to focus on eating his food instead of the way Remus was watching him. ‘He told me to be careful and I go and repay him for his advice by sleeping with Ginny a few hours after…real smooth Potter.’ After Harry was busy berating himself mentally, he chanced a glance at Remus. Remus caught his eye and raised his brows slightly and cast what Harry took as a smile, before turning to the conversation that Tonks was having with the other Auror’s about some inter-office memo. Harry shifted uncomfortably in the fluffy arm-chair, trying to balance his plate of food on his knee while he ate with his hand. He was about to grab for a delicious desert bar when he felt a wet arm wrap around his neck. “Did you think you were getting off that easy?” Ginny whispered into his ear and placed a kiss on the side of his cheek. Her wet hair tickled the side of his face and he felt droplets hitting his neck. He turned his head to face her and instead of being greeted by her radiant smile, he found himself with a face full of Ginny’s breasts, dressed in a skimpy red bikini top. The current view seemed to be making everything go fuzzy and coherent thought seemed to be just out of reach. So did the ability to avert his eyes or turn his head away. “Up here,” Ginny’s voice teased through the haze and Harry wrenched his gaze up to her face. She was smirking disbelievingly at him and shaking her head slightly from side to side. Harry quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed his little ‘peep’ show. Everyone seemed to be in their conversations and didn’t seem to have noticed. “Hi,” he greeted her hoarsely. “What’s up?” “Are you sure you don’t want to join us for a swim?” she asked, sitting in the chair next to him and keeping her hand on his arm. “Yeah…I’m fine here,” he answered quickly. She nodded her head and then sighed leaning closer towards him. “Harry…” she said quietly and pausing to pick her words. She didn’t want to cause Harry to erupt or get mad at her. “I know you don’t feel comfortable taking your shirt off in front of everyone, but…you could keep it on and come join us. I don’t want you to have to sit up here alone with Phlegm’s–I mean–Fleur’s family.” “They’re not that bad,” Harry joked as he turned to look at the stuffy group of wizards who seemed to be sitting off to the side in their own little group. “Harry?” Ginny pleaded, trying to be serious. “What if I can’t swim?” Harry said in return, just as serious. “You can swim…did you forget fourth year during the–” but she was cut off by the narrow-eyed look Harry was giving her. “I could–but now…” Harry said open-ended. “Is that what you’re worried about?” she asked quietly. “Harry…the pond isn’t that deep…I’ll be there–” “Ginny…I don’t want to,” Harry replied, trying not to sound testy. “I just…please understand that.” Ginny met his eyes and then pursed her lips and put a hand on the side of his face. “Won’t you at least come sit on the dock so we can talk to you?” she offered. “You can put your feet in and at least enjoy the water a bit.” Harry pondered the thought for a second. What harm could come from just sitting there? “Alright,” he sighed, putting the plate on the ground next to him. Ginny let out a tiny sqee of happiness and helped him out of the deep lounge chair, leading him across the lawn and towards the pond. “You did that on purpose,” Harry blurted suddenly. Ginny turned to her head up to him giving him a highly confused look. “Snuck up behind me with only that on,” Harry explained, gesturing to her top. “Oh…well…I guess I could have put on a t-shirt,” she said cheekily. “You’re evil…” Harry teased as they reached the foot of the dock. “Finally!” came an interrupting shout from the water. Ron appeared near the end of the dock with Hermione swimming in tow. “No…” Harry answered shaking his head and sitting down at the edge of the dock, so his legs half-way up his shin were covered with water. Ginny jumped off the dock beside him, getting him a bit wet with the splash from her dive. She emerged from underneath the surface beside his feet, treading lightly. “Coming in Harry?” asked Hermione as she tread beside Ginny. “Not today,” Harry said politely, “This is as far as I go.” Hermione smiled knowingly and disappeared under the water, surfacing beside Ron who was throwing a Quaffle across the pond to Charlie. “You can go join them Gin,” Harry told Ginny as she watched her tread water beside his feet and glance over at the others. “I’ll be fine right here.” “No I brought you down here so I could be with you,” Ginny replied, “and look, Ron and Hermione are coming over here.” Harry looked to see the both of them splashing their way over, taking their time to take cheap shots at the other. “God Harry…I think legs as white as yours should be outlawed,” Ron teased as he slapped the water and splashed Harry thoroughly. “Ha…ha…ha,” Harry laughed sarcastically as he kicked water in Ron’s face from his seat on the dock. “You should talk,” Harry added, “At least I’m not covered in freckles.” “I’m covered in freckles,” Ginny said indignantly. “Yes, but yours are cute,” he said turning to her. “What was that Potter?” Ron said in a mock outraged voice. “You said you wanted to come in the water?” Before Harry had time to say ‘what?’ or react in any way, Ron had grabbed him around the ankles and pulled him hard off of the dock and under the dark water. “Ron!” cried Hermione, “What did you do that for? He didn’t want to come in--” “Where is he?” Ginny interrupted Hermione’s berating of Ron in a slightly panicked voice. She had just noticed that Harry had yet to surface from under the water and there were no longer bubbles from the splash or of breathing coming from below. Ron suddenly dropped his amused grin and gulped audibly looking around him for any sign of his best friend. “I was…just joking,” Ron stuttered before he dove under the water in search of Harry. “Harry?” Ginny called out, thinking perhaps he maybe swam and was hiding under the dock or had found the shore. But there was no sign of him and no answer. “This isn’t funny…” “I can’t see him,” Ron sputtered as he emerged from under the water. “He’s not down there.” “What do you mean he’s not down there? Where the hell is he? Why’d you have to pull him down in the first place you dolt?!?” Ginny shrieked. Ginny’s sudden outburst had caused the others in the pond, as well as some of the adults on shore to turn their attention to the water. They had been watching as Ron had pulled Harry in and thought it amusing. But now their faces showed genuine concern. “What’s going on here?” Charlie asked as he swam over. But before Ginny could answer or let out a cry of surprise, she was pulled underneath the water and out of sight. “Gin!” Charlie, Hermione, and Ron cried together as Ginny’s Red hair disappeared underneath the surface. The people on the shore began to move towards the bank at the trio’s shouts of surprise and several of the Auror’s had their wands drawn and were watching the water. “Charlie…what–” Arthur Weasley started to question as he hurried down the end of the dock. But his words were drowned out by the sputtering and splashing coming from a few feet away from where Ginny had disappeared. Ginny’s red hair and arms flailing uncontrollably broke the surface, along with coughing and sputtering strings of very un-ladylike curses. Next to her, a mop of black hair and broke the surface next to her, chuckling loudly to himself and catching his breath. Ginny turned toward the sound of the laughing and used a hand to brush the hair that was plastered across her face out of the way. When the red veil was out of the way, she saw Harry’s green eyes and wire-rimmed glasses a few feet away from her, a huge grin on his face. “You should have seen–” Harry started to laugh, but was cut off by the sound and sensation of Ginny’s hand connecting with the side of his face. SMACK! The sound of wet palm against wet cheek seemed to ring throughout the silence now enveloping the get-together. Harry’s senses were rocked and he staggered backwards from the blow, holding his hand to his cheek and his mouth, feeling a coppery taste reach his tongue. “What the bloody hell was that about?” he yelled as he wheeled back around to face Ginny who was still trying to catch her breath and control her shock and anger. “Don’t…ever…do that to me again,” she yelled back at him. “Do what? I was joking around,” Harry blurted incredulously. Ginny glared at him contemptuously. “I lost my arm in the accident…not my sense of humor,” he added sarcastically as he lifted his hand from his mouth, showing a small streak of blood on his palm. But apparently his intended sarcasm was not the right thing to say. “That was…this is…not funny Harry!” she fumed back. “I thought you drowned.” “Ginny look,” Harry exclaimed, “I can stand up and touch right here.” It was true. The water came up to his shoulders and it was clear that he was standing flat-footed where Ginny could not touch. “And I’m glad you were so worried that you felt the need to slap me,” he hissed quietly as he walked slowly toward the shore. Ginny was totally shocked at the whole situation. Her heart was still racing from the panic that had filled her when Harry had gone under. The adrenaline that had caused her to slap him was still filling her. And her shock at his reaction was occupying the rest. She really hadn’t meant to slap him, and definitely not that hard. The grin on his face after they surfaced had infuriated her more than laid to rest her worry. She looked around to see everyone who had been on alert when Harry had went in, were trying to look as though they were trying to pretend to be going back to their previous activities. But they kept chancing glances back at the couple and then eyeing each other apprehensively. “Harry…” she pleaded as she started to swim towards him. “Harry come here…I’m sorry.” He continued to trudge his way through the water and seemed to be heading up the far bank. She knew he was looking to make an escape and head back up to the house where he could be alone. She was determined not to let him get away. “Harry stop…” she pleaded as she swam quickly towards him and reached he hit the shallow shoreline. “What?” he asked quietly as he stopped and turned to face her, his hand still up against his reddened cheek. “Let me look at that,” she said reaching for his hand. But he pulled away and shook his head. “I think you’ve done enough,” he grumbled between his fingers. She pulled her hand away and shook her head disbelievingly. “I’m sorry ok?” she admitted. “When you went under I freaked…I was afraid. You said you were worried about not being able to swim. So when you didn’t come up right away…I thought something had gone wrong. When you came up laughing after pulling me down, I snapped…I was angry that you’d made me worry so much for nothing.” Harry stared at her hard, trying to keep his angry look on his face, but he knew that she hadn’t meant to embarrass him. He had worried her and he knew it was genuine and warranted. He wanted so much to be mad and to run away. He was embarrassed that his girlfriend had slapped him in front of everyone. But he couldn't stay mad. “Did you really have to slap me that hard though?” he asked quietly, still holding his face. Ginny sighed and then let a reluctant smile flit across her lips. “I really wasn’t thinking about control at the time,” she whispered. “Can I see?” she added reaching for his hand. He slowly and reluctantly let her pull it away so she could survey the damage. “It’s not that bad,” she said as she pressed her thumb against his swollen lip, causing him to wince and raise his brows. “Alright…I guess I went a bit overboard,” she conceded. “Mum can fix it up for you." "Gin," Harry interupted quietly. "I'm sorry I yelled at you...especially in front of everyone. I was just...shocked and I really was just trying to lighten up the mood...just have bit of fun. I really didn't mean to worry you." "I know...and I guess I deserved it for hauling off and wolloping you like that," she laughed. "Sometimes it's a bit hard not to worry about you Harry," she continued in a more somber tone, "considering everything that's happened. I think I've just gotten used to worrying a bit." "I can imagine it probably wasn't the best thing to do," Harry agreed. "But it was pretty funny you have to admit," he chuckled. Ginny let out a snort of laughter and nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah...maybe even Weasley worthy," she admitted. "Even this Weasley?" He asked, pushing aside a stray strand of hair on Ginny's face. "Yes...but you had my approval a while ago," she teased. "Or have you forgotten?" "No...didn't forget," Harry replied quickly with a smile. Harry sighed deeply and looked around at the others who had resumed their play in the water and left the couple alone. "What?" Ginny asked as she followed his eye line. Harry smiled and then reached down and began to peel his wet t-shirt off. "What are you doing?" Ginny questioned, knowing he didn't want to show everyone his scars. "I'm already here...might as well enjoy it," Harry shrugged, throwing his wet heavy t-shirt towards the shore. "That thing was heavy." Ginny grinned back at his boldness and his getting over his shyness. "Let's go get Ron and Hermione to play chicken," he said enthusiastically and sounding more like an overgrown kid as he gestured towards the other two teens who were splashing each other. "Chicken?" Ginny said confused. "Oh...it's a Muggle game where a guy puts a girl on his shoulders and goes against another couple. The girls try and knock each other off and tip the guys over. I've never played it actually...but I've always wanted to," he explained. "Oh...sounds like fun," Ginny said, still trying to picture the game. "Well...I guess we'll play only if you're up to it," he said in a challenging and competitive souding voice. "You're on Potter...race you to the dock,"she replied as she took off. "Hey...that's not fair...CHEATER!" Harry yelled as he dived after her. -------------------------------------- ---------------- "I think my girl's faulty," Ron whined after being knocked into the water for the eight time in a row. Harry and Ginny had knocked them over three times. And suprisingly, Neville and Luna, who had joined them when they had started playing, had knocked them over the rest of the time. "If you could stand on your big feet Ronald," Hermione hissed as she brushed her hair out of her face, "we might actually stand a chance." "If you weren't so top heav--" but he was cut off by the surge of water that went over his head as Hermione dunked him under. Ron emerged from under the water, swiping away the wall of wet fringe and spitting out the water he had injested. "Normally it's not a bad thing," Ron admitted, causing Hermione to throw him a nasty look and the rest of the teens to stifle their laughter. "Mate, I'd shut it if you knew what was good for you," Harry advised Ron through his laughter. "And she might have a point. She hasn't fallen off you're shoulders, it's you whose gone down." "You're all barmy," Ron scoffed. "Here, let's prove it's not my big feet...trade me." "What?" Harry replied. "I'll take Ginny, you get Hermione and we'll so who really is the deadweight on this team," Ron offered. "Ron I don't--" Harry started. "No...you're on," Hermione interupted him and throwing Ron a very competitive and un-Hermione look. Harry looked over at Ginny for her approval and got a nod and an amused grin in return as she waded over to Ron. Hermione smirked at Ron and then switched and made her way over to Harry. "I'll show him deadweight," Hermione gruffed. "Let's get him Harry." "Alright," Harry said nodding, "climb aboard." Harry bent his knees like he had for Ginny, so he could allow Hermione to climb onto his back and sit on his shoulders. He felt her hand grasp his left shoulder as if she was about to hop on, but she paused. It seemed to be taking an awfully long time for Hermione to slide on. He turned around to face her and see what the problem was. "Everything alright?" he asked. "Yeah...fine," she said a bit too quickly. "Ok...so what's the hold up?" Harry asked, not buying her reply. Hermione bit her lip and then breathed out heavily. "I'm not going to hurt you am I?" she asked quietly. "Hermione...you have realized that Ginny's been on my shoulders the last ten times we've done this," Harry said quietly. "I'm bigger than Ginny is..."Hermione reasoned. Harry had to admit that Hermione was a bit curvier than Ginny was and was a little more...endowed...in some areas than Gin. But she wasn't fat or big by any means. "Hermione," Harry said firmly. "You're not going to hurt me," he finished, pounding directly on the area where his arm had been amputated. "So hop on," he ordered. Hermione nodded reluctantly and Harry turned to his original position to let her on. Harry felt Hermione scramble up his back and slide her legs around each side of his neck until she was comfortably seated on his shoulders. She tipped precariously to the right and Harry had to reach up across her legs to steady her with his left. Harry couldn't help feel a bit uncomfortable. Not because she had made a deal about his shoulder. But because his best friend was sitting on his bare shoulders in nothing but her wet swimsuit. The lack of fabric between them and the placement of her legs and other parts of her body made him have to try very hard to keep his head straight. Not that he ever thought about Hermione like that, but having a pretty girl in a swimsuit draped across your shoulders did things to a guy. "Ready?" called Ginny from Ron's shoulders, shaking Harry back to reality. "Ready!" shouted Hermione. "Come on," she ordered to Harry. Harry and Ron walked towards each other until they were close enough were the girls could start throwing shots at each other in an attempt to topple the other. Harry fought hard to keep his balance and had to admit that Ron might be right about the top heavy thing. But he wasn't going to say that out loud. Both Harry and Ron were trying hard to stay up as the girls tried unsuccessfuly to upend the other. Cheers could be heard from the others in the pond as well as people on the shore. But the fight seemed to be going nowhere. Harry was beginning to wonder if his lowered stamina was going to be a factor when Ron caught his eye and mouthed something. Harry shook his head and narrowed his eyes at Ron. 'Dump them,' Ron mouthed again, gesturing with his head towards the girls. Harry nodded in understanding and let a playful grin catch his lips. 'On three,' Harry mouthed back and Ron nodded, smiling devilishly. 'One...' 'Two...' " THREE," both Harry and Ron shouted out loud as they tossed Hermione and Ginny from their shoulders. The girls both let out squeals and cries of suprise and protest and hit the water with huge splashes. They both came up splashing and flailing, calling both boys names. Ron and Harry, as well as most anyone who was watching, had a hard time hiding their laughter. --------------------------- ---------------------------- After an hour or so more of playing around in the water, the group of teens made their way out of the pond, wrapping themselves in towels and heading back towards the food. Each with a plateful of food, they sat in the lounge chairs, eating and talking animatedly about anything and everything. The conversations were centering on how to prank Fleur's cousin Franco for the guys and some Witch Weekly article for the girl's, when Bill's voice interupted the nice atmosphere. "Hey," he said to the party at large, "how bout a game of Quidditch. We've still got about three hours of sunlight left...and I haven't had time for a game in ages." "Sure that's not just a sign that you might be to old for it?" Fred mused out loud. "You're never too old for a game of Quidditch," Mr. Weasley offered, looking a bit put off by Fred's comment. "Hey...how bout we play old timers against us young in's?" George laughed. "Watch who you're calling that," Remus teased as he broke from his conversation with Tonks. "We don't have enough for two teams," Charlie interupted, taking a head count. "We could play...six on six. Two Beaters, two Chasers, a Keeper and a Seeker," Bill said counting up the prospects. "How do you reckon that works?" Fred said, taking his own count. "Well...Dad could be Keeper. Remus and I could be Beaters....ummm...Fleur and Tonks Chasers...and Charlie of course as Seeker," Bill explained. "And you guys get Ron as Keeper. You and George are built in Beaters. Ginny and...Neville--?" Bill waited for Neville to nod, "Neville as Chasers. And...well--you guys have the unfair advantage. You've got the guy who was the youngest house player in a century and undoubtably the greatest Seeker Hogwarts has ever seen." Everyone looked at Harry, who had been trying to ignore and stay out of the converstation since the subject of Quidditch had been brought up. He was sipping a Goblet of pumkin juice and staring out over the smooth surface of the pond, away from the eyes that he could feel on him. He really did want to play Quidditch. He had thought about trying to get back on a broom since the accident. He just didn't think a game of Quidditch, seeking against the great Charlie Weasley, was exactly the first test he had envisioned. He didn't want to make a fool of himself of everyone and he didn't want everyone watching as he adjusted to flying again. He also didn't want everyone to think he was afraid of getting up in the air again. He was in quite a position. "How bout it Harry?" Fred asked seriously. "How bout getting back up in the air?" Harry bit the inside of his lip, trying to force his jumbled brain to come to a decision. "It's just for fun Harry," Ginny assured him, putting a hand on his knee. "Come on Potter," Charlie pressed. "You're not going to deny me the chance to test out my skills against my famed protege, are you?" "Protege?" George scoffed. "I think Harry's the one who could teach you a thing or two." "Well let's see then," Charlie said with a competitive and hungry tone to his voice. "I saw you fly against that dragon, but I've never seen you on the pitch. I've heard stories...but i'd like to see the real deal." Harry swallowed again. Talk about pressure. Harry looked around at all the eyes on him. Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Remus were all looking at him with looks of encouragement. They had heard his admission a few weeks earlier about not ever playing Quidditch again. They wanted him to prove himself wrong. The rest of the players seemed like they just wanted to test Harry to see if he was as good as advertised. 'What have you got to lose?' his inner voice chimed in. 'A bit of pride..." another part answered for him. 'I think you lost that when Ginny slapped you earlier,' another part reckoned. Harry's inner monologue was driving him crazy...so he said what his heart was telling him. "Alright," he sighed. "I'm in." -------------------------------- ------------------------- Ten minutes later, everyone arrived on the Weasley family Quidditch pitch changed into jeans and t-shirts with their brooms slung on their shoulders. The spectators who had been eating and conversing all day had moved the chairs to the hill nearby so they could enjoy the game. "I haven't been up on a broom in a while," Remus said as the two teams gathered. "How about ten or so minutes of warm-up and strategy and then we start." The group agreed, mostly the older adults who hadn't flown in perhaps years and the others pushed off and began to meneuver around, testing out their rusty skills. Harry took his time, slowly putting his leg over the handle and straddling his Firebolt for the first time since the final match of the season where he had been knocked out cold by a bludger hit by his own Keeper. The broom seemed to vibrate beneath him. It wasn't like when he held his wand and could feel it humming in his hand. No. This was a familiar sensation and feeling. The vibrations were filling him with a sort of warmth and calmness. Harry placed his hand on the broom, feeling the familiar grain of the worn wood against his fingers. He looked around and was about to kick off when he noticed Ginny shifting uncomfortably on her broom a little ways away. "You alright?" he asked her, throwing her an odd look. She looked over at him with a strange look on her face and nodded hastily. "Mmmhhhmm," she responded. "Just wish I could cast a Cushioning Charm on my broom," she added as she shifted again. Harry cocked his brows at her and then his eyes widened in realization. "Yeah...you're fault," she jabbed at him. "You weren't complaining last night," Harry whispered as he leaned in close to her, repeating her sentiments when she had come to wake him up this morning and he had grumbled about being tired. Ginny snorted with laughter and then sighed and smiled in return. "Are you ready?" she asked him when she had composed herself. Harry sighed and looked up at the others who were circling around and shaking off the rust. "Yeah...yeah..." Harry breathed out shakily in response. "On three we'll go," Ginny assured him. Harry nodded and steadied himself on the broom, gripping the handle tightly. "One...two...three," Ginny said slowly. On the count of three, both her and Harry pushed off from the ground. The moment his feet left the ground and his Firebolt soared upward, Harry suddenly felt completely at home. He circled the pitch slowly with Ginny close behind, pushing his broom to go a bit faster as he made the second go round. Turning was a bit tricky as he only had one hand to steer, but he tried to compensate by using his legs more to push and pull the broom. All the while he was testing things out, he could feel the others glances and their eyes watching him as he became accustomed to flying again. He did a few more laps and even chanced a few short, brief dives before landing in the center of the pitch where the others were gathered to start the match. "Alright...we'll play normal rules...team who's Seeker get's the Snitch gets 150 points....team with the most points wins. Or...whoever's ahead when it gets to dark to see wins," Charlie told everyone, setting the rules. "Oh...and call your own fouls," he added, looking pointedly at the twins, who responded by feiging confusion. "Ok...everyone up and take their positions," Bill ordered and everyone pushed off, Mr. Weasley and Ron flying off to their respective set off homemade hoops. Harry and Charlie circled high above the Chasers and Beaters who were situated in a circle below. Bill waved his wand at the previously inanimate set of worn Quidditch balls that were lying on the grass in the middle of the pitch. The Snitch was the first to take off. It's tarnished surface was soon lost as it zoomed off towards Mr. Weasley's end of the pitch and out of sight of both Seekers. The Bludgers shot in different directions and began to pelt around causing Fred, George, Bill and Remus to spread out in separate directions at Beaters. The worn Quaffle shot straight into the air for the Chasers to go after and the match to officially begin. ------------------------------ --------------------- Harry had been circling the pitch for nearly half an hour now searching for the Snitch. He had spotted it a few times, but it dissapeared and was gone before he could act. The younger team was currently winning by three goals due the impressive teamwork between Neville and Ginny. Harry had to wonder to himself why Neville had never considered joining the team. He wasn't a bad flier and despite his usually clumbsy nature, was good with the Quaffle. Ginny of course was her usually brilliant self, making Remus and Bill miss her with Bludgers repeatedly, often hitting their own teammates instead. Aside from not being able to spot the Snitch, Harry also had to deal with Charlie, who was tailing him and circling the pitch as he was. Harry had faced this tactic before and once again found it rather annoying. Other Seekers had used it to rattle him and be closer to him when he spotted the Snitch so they could stand a better chance. Harry got the fleeting idea that Charlie was testing him, willing him to do something. Harry had been battling within himself to do what he desperatly wanted to. Normally he would have went into a Wronski Feint and caused the other Seeker to either pull up and leave him alone or send them straight into the pitch. He just wasn't so sure he could pull out of it himself and didn't want to risk coming up with a faceful of turf. After circling the entire pitch a third time with Charlie close behind, Harry knew he'd never get enough distance to truly focus on his search. So he decided to go for it. He had previously been hanging above the action, but he went into a quick dive, zooming in and out of and weaving between the other players. He looked back to see Charlie following closely behind, taking the bait and just waiting to be set up. --------------------------------- ------------------ "What is he doing?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she watched the match with the other guests. She had been watching Harry closely, hoping that he didn't hurt himself. Despite the fact that most of her sons and her daughter had played Quidditch, she had never seen them play an actual game. In fact she hadn't watched an actual Quidditch game since she was in school. So it was quite confusion when Harry ceased his casual circling of the pitch and began to race between the action, dodging Bludgers and players at breakneck speed. "Potter wants to play," Moody said from his seat, watching Harry and Charlie race around the pitch, with a smile on his face and that showed through his tone. "Of course he does," Mrs. Weasley reasoned without taking her eyes off the game, "he's on a broom isn't he? I don't really think going at that speed is necessary." "I'd worry about Charlie if I were you," Moody laughed as he watched Harry make a sudden cut upward, climing high into the setting sky with Charlie in tow. Molly turned away and looked at Mad-Eye incredulously. "Watch," Moody said as he gestured to the sky. "He's not going to--" Kingsley Shacklebolt started to ask as he watched the Seeker's progression, but was cut off by Moody's gruff and highly amused voice. "Yep...here it comes," Moody said matter-of-factly. And right on cue, Harry broke from the top of his assent, high above the pitch and went into a nearly vertical dive towards the ground. Charlie followed suit, blissfully unaware that he was being had. Everyone stopped to watch the players speed towards the ground with abated breath. Even the players around them had stopped to watch. Hermione, who had seen Harry perform the move before in games, sat in her chair besides Luna, gripping the arms of it, hoping that Harry could pull out in time and he'd have enough common sense not to push it too far. "They're going to crash," Mrs. Weasley shrieked as she covered her eyes, watching on tenterhooks through her fingers. Neither one of the players was going to give up first and it looked as though the ground might be the only thing that would stop them. "Pull up...pull up...pull up," Kingsley whispered as he watched the two in their kamikazi dive. "I can't watch," Mrs. Weasley cried again, turning away just before the two Seekers were mere meters from the ground. A startled cry of pain and frustration met her ears and the groans and sounds of concern from the spectators met her ears and she turned around slowly, afraid of what she was going to see. As she surveyed the scene, she was keen to notice that there wasn't a pile of body parts and broken boys, but only Charlie sitting on the ground looking slighly dazed with his broom on the grass beside him. Harry on the other hand was steadily climbing higher and away from the ground, completely unscathed and with a wide grin of satisfaction on his face. Her sudden fear of a crash was calmed, but she still couldn't help but be worried for her second eldest son and if he was injured from the crash. But that fear too was soon washed away when Charlie shakily got up off his feet and dusted himself off, looking thouroughly embarrassed. "What did Harry do that for?" Mrs. Weasley asked in interest suddenly. "Potter was feinting," Moody explained. "Charlie was tailing him and keeping him from concentrating on finding the Snitch...so Potter taught him a bit of a lesson for trying to keep tabs on him." "Harry did that on purpose?" Mrs. Weasley asked, slightly miffed sounding. "Yes, it's called a Wronski Feint," Kingsley interjected. "I've never actually seen that pulled off before....except in some Quidditch World Cups..." "Well it certainly looks like Potter's pulled that off more than once," Moody smiled. "Yes..."Mrs. Weasley interupted in her motherly tone, "but that doesn't make it any less dangerous." ------------------------- ---------------------------------------- - After Charlie's spectacular bailout on the feint, the two teams had called a mutual time out to let Charlie regain his bearings and let Harry catch his breath. The strength and concentration it took to pull out at the last minute seemed to be grating on him more than usual, but he soon had his breathing back to normal. "Mate, that was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed as the team huddled in mid-air. "I've never seen Charlie taken out like that." "To tell you the truth Harry," Fred said genuinely, "I think we were all a bit worried you weren't going to pull out of that. Brilliant piece of flying, though. It's nice to see Charlie finally getting the other end of things." "Neither was I," Harry admitted with a big smile. For a fleeting moment he had thought he wouldn't have enough pull to break out of the dive. "Don't expect me to do that and catch the Snitch at the same time without breaking my neck." "I don't expect you to try it either," warned Ginny from beside him. -------------------------------- ------------------------------ "What the heck was that Charlie?" Bill asked as the older team huddled on the other end of the field. "What?" Charlie replied exasperatedly. "I didn't expect him to pull that off. I thought he'd bail out before we got that close and I'd have time to break it." "You were wrong," Tonks laughed along with Fleur. "Perhaps you should quit tailing him and start looking for the Snitch," Mr. Weasley offered. "Well I thought if I'd stay close and let him do the work, I could...outreach him when the time came," Charlie reasoned. "You think because he's got one arm you can take it easy?" Bill asked incredulously. "If you haven't noticed, Potter came to play...and he just made you look pretty stupid." "Charlie..."Remus interrupted as it looked like Bill's competitive edge was getting the best of him. "Don't take it easy on Harry. For one thing it'll make him angry if you do. And he needs to do this...to prove he can still do this." Charlie sighed and shook his head in agreement. "Alright..."Tonks said when nobody had anything more to say, "let's teach these kids a lesson." ------------------------------ --------------------------------- The game had resumed with renewed fervor. The adults were playing harder and were gaining on the slim lead the younger team had accumulated. Harry also noticed that Charlie was no longer tailing him, but zooming around and attempting to get Harry to follow. Harry had to constantly duck and dive to miss the Bludgers being pelted at him. He even had to chance a roll one time to avoid one, causing him to have to hold extra tight to the handle to avoid falling off mid roll. Harry was circling and making his rounds around his own goal post when he spotted the Snitch amidst the current action. Harry looked up to Charlie grinning wildly at him. He had seen it also. Both Seekers took off at breakneck speed towards the Snitch, each of them equal distance away. It was just a question now of who the better Seeker was. As if sensing their presence, the Snitch took off towards one side of the pitch and away from the Seekers. Charlie and Harry met in the middle, going in pursuit of the Snitch side-by-side, their brooms matching speeds and any attempt at a move to shake the other. In normal circumstances, like when playing against Malfoy, Harry would have used an arm to shove Charlie and throw him off, but he didn't have an arm to spare. So instead he weaved from side to side and up and down, forcing Charlie to mimic his moves to stay with him. But no matter how he tried, he couldn't shake him. Charlie was too experienced and too good of a flier to lose that easy. As the two zoomed around the pitch, they caught up with the Snitch and it was below them as they flew next to each other. It was just a matter now of someone making the next move to swoop down and snatch the Snitch from beneath them. And Harry had to admit that it would take a spectacular and risky move to catch it. If one of them missed, the other would have free reign to snatch it. This was just a pick-up game, but Harry didn't like to lose. He kept looking from the corner of his eye at Charlie, who was doing the same. Each one was willing the other to make the first move, each afraid to take that uncalculated risk. Funny thing was...Harry had a knack for taking that risk and doing something that would seem completely stupid to the normal spectator whenever he found himself on a broom. This time proved to be no different. He cast another quick glance at Charlie and then turned to grin devilishly at him before making his move. Harry spun away from Charlie and into a roll that brought him upside down beneath Charlie's broom and left the Snitch fluttering inches from his face. Harry grabbed for the Snitch, leaving only his legs to hold him tight to his broom. His momentum continued to carry him out of the roll, but his lack of grip and control on the broom made the usually smooth rolls Harry performed, to wobble out of control. Harry soon found himself separated from his broom and hitting the ground hard on his back, where he rolled pell-mell across the pitch until he came to a stop on his stomach, gasping for breath. On impact, Harry had felt a popping sensation, followed by the familiar burn and pain in his chest that he had experienced after the accident. A horribly familiar sense of panic coursed through him, adding to the pain and worsening the current situation even more. The last time he had felt like this, they had put a tube down his throat and cracked his chest. This pain meant something was wrong, terribly wrong. Air also seemed to be a rare commodity and every breath he took felt as though it was being sucked in through a deformed straw. Along with each breath was an odd sucking sound and he felt as though he was being stabbed repeatedly by a blunt knife. It hurt to attempt to breathe, but he knew he desperately needed to. He felt strong arms flip him onto his back and cradle his head in their lap. Harry looked around confusedly to see everyone gathered around him, yelling and talking to him. But could only make out bits of what they were telling him. The pain and the panic were consuming him. With the little amount of air getting to his lungs and up to his brain through blood supply, his vision started to blacken and waver. It was that all too known feeling of helplessness and fear that was enveloping Harry as he rolled on the ground, clutching his chest and trying to stave off the darkness. But he could only hold out for so long. There were only two things on his mind before the lack of air and unconsciousness consumed him. 'Ginny told me not to do anything stupid.' And...'At least I caught the Snitch.' ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------- Those who were watching didn't even have time to react or swear at Harry's bold move before he hit the ground and flipped like a rag doll to the ground. Those watching from the ground swore in shock and at his stupidity before rushing over to where everyone was landing around Harry. "Breathe Harry," Remus pleaded as he flipped Harry over and propped him up. "It's ok Harry...you're fine...just breathe kid." But Harry continued to gasp sickly for air that wasn't getting to his lungs. His eyes were flitting around wildly in panic and fear. Those who had been on the ambulance when he had come home knew that look. It boded ill. This wasn't just a case of getting the air knocked out of you. Something was wrong. Mrs. Weasley had to plug her ears to drown out the sick sucking and wheezing sounds coming from Harry. She also had to turn away after watching him open and close his mouth in search of air. "Minerva's getting Poppy," Tonks said as she flew back over to the crowd. Remus nodded as he continued to try and calm Harry down. "Does you're heart hurt you Harry?" Ginny asked as she kneeled beside him, noticing he was clutching at his chest. But Harry didn't try to answer. Instead, his eyes began to roll back in his head and his frenzied attempts at bringing in air slowed. "Harry...stay awake!" she yelled as she grabbed for his hand. His eyes flickered back open but then closed again and his grip against her hand slackened. "Harry...Harry...don't do this...not now!" But Harry didn't respond or flinch at Ginny's yelling anymore. He went unnaturally limp in Remus's lap. Those around started to panic, frantically yelling at each other, trying to figure out what to do. "Is Poppy coming?" shrieked Mrs. Weasley as she searched around for any sign the matron had arrived. "Minerva was Flooing her," Tonks answered as she watched the Remus run his hand through his own hair, looking wildly down at Harry, lost on what to do. "Oh my God," someone said in a shocked voice. "His lips are turning blue." Suddenly, Hermione pushed her way past Ron and kneeled down beside Ginny who was still holding Harry's hand and looking around exasperatedly for someone to do something. "Put his head down Remus," Hermione ordered. Lupin gave Hermione a questioning gaze, but nodded and lay Harry down flat on the grass. "Ginny could you move over a bit," Hermione ordered as she positioned herself above Harry and reached for his face. "What are you doing?" asked Ron from behind Ginny, his freckles standing out against his pale skin. "CPR," she blurted as she pinched Harry's nose shut and put her lips on his blue ones breathing into his mouth. All the wizards looked around in shock and confusion at what Hermione was doing. Hermione came up and put her hands on Harry's chest. "We need to keep oxygen going in and his heart beating until Madam Pomfrey gets here," she explained. "This is what Muggles do to keep people alive. They did this to him after his accident to save him." She placed the heel of her palms on his sternum and began to thrust down, causing everyone to jump and again look around in shock. "Hermione you're going to hurt him," Ron cried in outrage, having no clue as to what Hermione was doing. "No Ron," Ginny interupted, watching Hermione alternate between Harry's mouth and chest. "Let her do this." Hermione looked up and nodded at Ginny, trying to assure the other girl she was helping Harry. Hermione continued to do her CPR on Harry, everyone else was gazing fixedly on the scene going on before them. Remus kept checking Harry's pulse between reps, assuring everyone it was still beating and it was working. But as they waited for Madam Pomfrey to come, no one could breathe freely or let down any of their fear they had for Harry's health. A/N: A bit of a cliff...but you know I'm not going to kill off Harry. This actually sets up the next chapter nicely so I thought I'd stop here. I'm going to a wedding tonight and wanted to get something to you since I haven't updated in a while. So here it is...go to work! |
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