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If You Can Help Her
By witowsmp

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Category: Alternate Universe
Characters:Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fluff, Humor
Warnings: None
Story is Complete
Rating: R
Reviews: 570
Summary: This story starts with an alternative ending to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where Harry helps Ginny recover from her experience, unknowingly initiating a bond that affects the rest of their lives. Rating is for violence in the later chapters. **A French translation called "Si tu peux l'aider" is being written by the author Sined. It's posted on Fanfiction.Net.
Hitcount: Story Total: 295825; Chapter Total: 9579







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If You Can Help Her — Chapter 36 — Preparing For the Final Task

Before they left the area for the party, Ron and Hermione had come up to congratulate Harry on a job well done. They’d already congratulated Fred on Hermione’s insistence. She figured they’d spend more time with Harry and Ginny, but that Ron should congratulate his brother on winning first place. “You should’ve seen when George came floating up to the surface, mate,” said Ron to Harry. It was hilarious!”

“It did look rather funny,” admitted Hermione with a grin. “I’m just glad I wasn’t down there like you Ginny.”

“I didn’t see anything until I’d already been rescued, and I woke up in the arms of my boyfriend. Believe me, it wasn’t so bad.”

“But what if Harry hadn’t managed to get you?”

“I never had one doubt about that,” said Ginny with a grin as she squeezed his hand. “It’s not his first time rescuing me.” Harry blushed but remained silent.

“Well done Harry-dear!” said Mrs. Weasley from behind Harry. She had been able to come to watch the task. Unfortunately Arthur had to work (but fortunately, so did Percy). He stiffened up but she didn’t seem to notice. She’d come to the task and had just finished smothering her twin sons. “Both you and Fred performed admirably! I’m proud of both of you!” She then nearly broke Harry’s ribs in a hug.

“Er, thank you, Mrs. Weasley,” he said stiffly, doing his best to be polite to the woman who had accused him of wanting to take advantage of Ginny. ‘Truthfully,’ he thought, ‘I would probably not ever speak to her again if she weren’t Ginny’s mother. She thinks I’m a freak just like the Dursleys.’

“You’re welcome, Harry-dear,” she said merrily, completely oblivious to Harry’s discomfort. “And Ginny? How did they ever talk you into being a hostage for this event?”

“They, er, told me I wouldn’t really be in danger.”

“But that’s not the truth,” said Harry thoughtfully. “Maybe the merpeople wouldn’t harm the hostages, but you didn’t see those Grindylows down there! If they got a hold of a hostage, that person would be completely defenseless in that magical sleep and probably die.”

Mrs. Weasley’s eyes went wide. “But Professor Dumbledore would never put students in danger. He always keeps Hogwarts safe.”

Harry chuckled at that statement, earning a glare from Molly. “He’s making me participate in this tournament even though he knows a Death Eater entered me,” Harry said slightly angrily. “Since I’ve been in this school, I’ve faced a troll, giant spiders, a basilisk, a dragon, Grindylows, Dementors, possessed teachers, bewitched brooms and bludgers, among other things, not to mention Voldemort three times. Once in the Forbidden Forest on a detention, once while protecting the philosopher’s stone, and once in the Chamber of Secrets, since I’ve been here.” Mrs. Weasley flinched at the name. “I’m not sure what it is that Dumbledore protects us from. I end up spending time in the hospital wing almost every term!”

“I-I’m sorry that you’ve had so much trouble here, Harry-dear, but I’m afraid you are the exception. Trouble does seem to follow you…”

Ginny could feel Harry’s anger rise up within him, and couldn’t do anything to calm him because she was angry too. Harry very coldly said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have a party to attend,” and stomped off toward the castle fuming.

Ginny, her face redder than her hair, turned on her mother. “HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!?! Most of his trouble is just because he’s brave enough to help people instead of waiting around for the teachers to show up and save the day! The teachers at Hogwarts usually don’t have a clue about how to keep the students safe! I managed to bring Riddle’s diary in here and keep it for a year and none of them were able to detect it! The defense teacher who was supposed to find me attacked Harry and Ron instead! This castle is supposed to be so secure, yet Death Eaters can get in here and enter Harry’s name in a dangerous tournament and Dumbledore and the ministry make him participate!”

“I-I didn’t mean it that way,” said Molly. “I just…”

“Harry thinks you did! He’s totally convinced you hate him! That you think he’s some kind of a pervert out to get me and now a troublemaker too! It’s bad enough that the Dursleys have called him a freak enough times! Now you have to do it too!” She then turned away from her mother and ran after Harry, whom she knew wouldn’t actually be headed to the party. She didn’t pay any attention to her mother calling out after her as she searched for her bondmate. She knew the direction he had been heading, and also knew that he would be passing near their favorite spot where they had first kissed. She decided to check that first.

As she approached the area, she saw him sitting against a tree fuming. She could still feel his anger as she approached. When he saw her, she could feel momentary happiness, but it went right back to anger. She sat down on the ground in front of him.

“I’m not going to try to justify what my mother said. It was totally uncalled for, and I don’t agree! I don’t really think she meant it.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just that she’s a lot like Ron and speaks without thinking.” He raised his eyebrows at her and slightly smiled. “Ok, sometimes I do that too when I’m angry.” He continued staring at her. “Ok, I hex first and ask questions later. Maybe it’s a family trait. Anyway, she was probably upset that you implied that Dumbledore doesn’t keep Hogwarts safe.”

He chuckled. “But I’m right. In my first year, Dumbledore hid Voldemort bait in the castle! Then he protected it with a series of traps, starting with a huge three headed dog that anybody who knew the alohamora spell could get caught by. Of course the only reason Ron, Hermione, and I discovered that was because the bloody staircase took us there when we were trying to get to Gryffindor Tower. Why didn’t Dumbledore charm the staircases not to go to that floor if he didn’t want students there? Anyway, my point is that we can’t count of the staff to keep us safe!”

“I know, Harry. It wasn’t Professor Dumbledore that rescued me from Tom. It was you.”

Harry chuckled. “Good thing too. I just can’t picture you bonded with him. I think he’s a bit too old for you.”

She giggled a bit. “He’s not exactly my type anyway. Well, are you ready to go up to the party now?”

He could feel Ginny’s concern for him and didn’t want to ruin the celebration for everyone by brooding. “I guess so. I hope Fred and George brought enough butterbeer.”

“We’d better hurry before it’s all gone. Come on.” She got up and grabbed his hand, helping him up.

-

The party was one of the best that Gryffindor Tower had ever seen. They did have reason to celebrate. Each of the two Gryffindors individually beat the best that the other schools had to offer twice now, and they were positive that one of those two would win the tournament. McGonagall came up at three in the morning to break up the party.

-

The weeks passed by quickly, and soon Ludo Bagman was showing the champions what used to be the Quidditch pitch.

“What have you done with it!?!” demanded Fred.

“Don’t worry,” said Ludo quickly. “You’ll have your Quidditch pitch back after the tournament.”

He went on to tell them that the last task would be a maze with several obstacles. After Bagman was done explaining it, Fleur and Fred walked away, while Krum said, “Harry, may I haff a vord with you, in private?”

Harry, who remembered Viktor’s threat from the Yule Ball, said, “No thank you. I don’t think that it would be wise to walk off alone with someone who’s threatened me. Goodnight.”

Harry began walking away when Viktor called, “I just vanted to apologize vor my behavior.” Harry stopped and turned to face him. Viktor’s head was facing the ground. I vas just so used to getting my way. I thought vhen I politely asked Hermy-Ninny to the dance, she vould say yes. Vhen she didn’t, I got mad. I also thought she vould want to dance vith me at the ball, and got angry vhen I was proven wrong again. I’ve had time now to consider my behavior, and realize vhat you, Hermy-Ninny and her boyfriend must think of me.”

Harry sighed. “You should be apologizing to them, especially Hermione. You treated her like she doesn’t even have a choice in who she dances with, like she’s a piece of property or something.”

“I vill, but do I haff your forgiveness?”

“If she forgives you, so will I.”

“Very vell.”

-

A few days later, Viktor approached Ron and Hermione while they were taking a walk around the grounds and asked for their forgiveness. Hermione was easier to convince than Ron, who still wished he’d been the one to stand up to Krum at the Yule Ball.

“How do we know you’re not just trying to butter up Hermione so you can have a go at her later?”

“I svear I’m not going to interfere vith your relationship. You are a lucky man, Ronald.”

Ron put his arm possessively around Hermione. “I know.”

-

After finding out about the maze, Harry was practicing hexes and charms and anything else they could think of with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione every chance he got. Finally, the morning of the third task arrived, and while Harry was eating breakfast with them, Professor McGonagall approached.

“Potter, the champions are congregating in the chamber off the hall after breakfast.”

“But the task’s not till tonight!” said Harry, accidentally spilling scrambled eggs down his front, afraid he had mistaken the time.

“I’m aware of that, Potter,” she said. “The champions’ families are invited to spend the day here with them.”

Harry brightened up at that news. “Is Sirius here?”

McGonagall said, “Yes,” and then walked over to where Fred and George were sitting.

Harry eagerly finished his breakfast, kissed Ginny goodbye, and hurried to the place McGonagall had indicated, arriving first. He saw people he didn’t know, that he figured were Fleur and Krum’s families, along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He then saw the person he was looking for. “Sirius!” he said happily, running up to give his guardian a hug.

“Harry! I know I already said it, but I’m sorry I couldn’t make it for the second task.”

“That’s alright! I’m just glad you’re here now!”

“Harry-dear,” said Molly Weasley from behind him.

Harry stiffened and turned. “Hello Mrs. Weasley,” he said politely and turned back to Sirius.

Even though she knew Harry was still mad, she was surprised by this reaction. “Harry, I want to apologize for what I said the last time we spoke. I was very out-of-line.” Although Harry had turned back to face her, he was showing her no emotion. Molly felt tears start to form in her eyes. “I’m also sorry about how I’ve been acting since I found out about your bond with Ginny. I never thought those things about you personally. I over-reacted. I was worried about Ginny.”

“Ginny was happy. I felt her emotions. I SHARE her emotions. If I hurt her, I’d feel it as though I hurt myself. So I could never hurt her even if I wanted to. Secondly, I have no desire to hurt her or use her or whatever it is you think I want to do to her. I love her and she loves me! Our bond exists and is unbreakable whether you ever accept it or not. We are going to be together for the rest of our lives. As I said before, your only choice is whether or not you’re a part of our lives.”

“Mum, dad!” called Fred as he walked inside the room, effectively ending that conversation as Molly walked toward her son, embracing him tightly.

-

In the meantime, Ginny could feel Harry’s emotional rollercoaster as she took her final exams. She realized quickly that her parents had come to see Fred, and hoped that her mum could patch things up with Harry before the final task that night.

At the same time, a Death Eater was inside the castle with one goal, the capture of Harry Potter.

-

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