Separate Ways

Ginny moved the food around her plate listlessly. There was a curious fluttering sensation in her stomach, and her head felt as though it were only barely attached to her body. She heard a metallic clatter and looked up. Professor McGonagall was standing behind Harry. She must be telling him it's time, Ginny thought. The feeling in her stomach intensified as Harry stood and Hermione whispered something to him.

He passed behind her on his way out of the Hall, and she pushed her plate away.

All around her, people were eating, laughing, speculating on the first task. Bets were being placed, and she knew her brothers were at the heart of it. The entire school was inundated with those "Support Cedric Diggory" badges.

Everyone else was excited -as well they should be-and she felt sick. Something inside her wanted to run around the edge of the forest to the site of the task, stand up in front of everyone, and stop the madness. Part of her wanted to crawl into bed, or sit on the floor of the girls' toilet and press her face to the cool tile wall until she was sick or felt better. But most of her felt as though there was a rope around her middle, pulling her along the path towards where she knew the task was about to take place, even though no one had told her and she hadn't seen anything. She felt the pull grow stronger with each passing minute, drawing her outside.

She was afraid. Afraid of what was pulling her down the hill, afraid of what she would find once she got out there, naturally afraid of magical forces she could not control. With the fear, though, came the knowledge that even though she was scared, she would follow the invisible rope, and let it lead her where it would. That much was as plain as the freckles on her skin, although she did not know why.

She stood silently and felt Hermione stand beside her. Together, they walked out of the castle doors and down the faint path, around the edge of the forest. Ginny led, not needing to be told the way, feeling as though she were being dragged along.

She felt a gentle touch on her arm. She shook it off and went on, feeling strongly as though she had almost reached what was attracting her at the end of the rope. Behind this curtain was what was pulling her so--

Her body jerked backward as something pulled hard on her arm. She shook her head to clear the haze she'd been in, and looked around. She was standing in front of a canvas tent, and Hermione had a firm grip on her arm. Her bushy hair flew around her head, and she seemed to have dark circles under her eyes. Her lips were moving fast. Ginny wondered if maybe she were saying something. She shook her head a second time to clear it, and Hermione's words began to make sense.

"--only for the Champions! The spectator stands are around here." With that, Hermione turned around and walked in the direction she'd just pointed, clearly expecting Ginny to follow her.

Ginny took one step after Hermione, and felt the invisible force pull her backward, towards the tent and what was inside it.

Harry.

Slowly, she made her way out to the empty stands and took her seat in the front row next to her friend. Hermione sat quietly, biting her nails, tapping her foot, and twisting a long brown curl around her finger in turns.

Ginny could still feel that invisible connection pulling her toward the tent, but at least she knew now what was at the other end. Her stomach felt like it was trying to escape from her body, and she wrapped her arms around herself as though she could hold it in.

"That's the task," said Hermione, pointing, and Ginny saw a jet of flame fly into the air behind the other side of the stands. A loud roar and some shouting floated from the same spot.

"Dragons," said Ginny dully, without surprise. Somehow she had already known.

They sat there making nervous small talk as the stands filled up.

Ludo Bagman strode out onto the field in his Wasps robes, and Ginny had a ridiculous urge to stand and cheer for the Cannons. He said something, somebody else said something, Dumbledore said something... she wasn't paying attention.

The handlers brought out a bluish-gray dragon the size of the Whomping Willow with smoke trailing from its nostrils. Shortly after, Cedric Diggory walked out of the small tent, his face distinctly green. Ginny watched without seeing as first he, then Fleur, and finally Viktor Krum distracted, enchanted, and hexed their dragons -- and were burned, scratched, and nearly trampled.

When Krum left the enclosure and the handlers had herded the third dragon out, Hermione took Ginny's hand in hers and clutched it tightly. As soon as Harry left the tent, Ginny felt the pull on her strengthen. Without Hermione's grip on her hand, she might well have leapt the wall onto the floor of the arena and run towards him.

He looked so confident with his chin up and his wand in hand, but she could feel his fear and anxiety in her stomach. The dragon's black scales shone in the sun, and her spiked tail thrashed back and forth, leaving huge gouges in the ground. The crowd screamed and cheered, making an incredible amount of noise, but it swept past Ginny without her noticing it. It was as though she and Harry were enclosed in a hazy bubble that blocked out all the other spectators.

He raised his wand and shouted, and somehow over the noise of the dragon, the commentary, the crowd... she heard him perfectly clearly.

"Accio Firebolt!"

For a tense few moments, he stood there waiting, and she could hardly breathe.

Harry climbed onto the broomstick and lifted high into the air. As he dove toward the waiting dragon, she rose to her feet. Hermione stood with her, still clutching her hand, but Ginny was not aware of it. All she could feel was her connection to Harry, which was tugging her towards him and the dragon, growing stronger the farther he flew.

He lifted out of the dive and the dragon released a jet of fire right where he would have been in another moment. Ginny felt a jerk in the connection, a pain in her chest. She needed to go to him, to protect him. It was as clear as day now-Harry's life was in danger, and she had to save him. She was connected to him for that reason, and that reason only-to save his life.

She leaned forward but the railing was in the way. Before she could do more, Harry dove again. The dragon's long, spiky tail whipped around and caught him on the shoulder, sending droplets of blood flying. Ginny screamed aloud, and Hermione put her arms around her. It was meant to comfort, but it also held her back, keeping her from diving into the arena.

Harry drifted above the dragon, staying just out of range, and the pain in Ginny's chest lessened slightly. Harry dodged another jet of flame, and then the dragon spread her leathery wings and lifted off the ground. In an instant, Harry dove under her, grabbed the golden egg, and was gone.

The crowd burst into screams and applause, delirious with Harry's success.

Ginny felt as though she had just awakened from a very bad dream. Harry was out of danger, and the connection was gone. She sat down heavily on the bench behind her, accepting the handkerchief Hermione handed her and wiping her cheeks with it.

When had she started crying?