Avoiding Our Grasp

Chapter Three****Dreamland

Ginny nearly flew into Bill and Fleur's apartment, and barreled into the kitchen, looking for Fleur. She pulled her into a tight hug.

"Careful!" Bill called from behind.

Ginny pulled away anxiously. "Don't worry, you won't hurt me or the baby. Bill is just over-reacting," Fleur said fondly, reaching up to plant a quick kiss on Bill's lips.

"So," she said, pulling away, "what is the big deal?"

"I heard from someone today..." Ginny said, teasing.

"Really? Someone of interest?"

"Mmm-hmmm..." Ginny said, toying with a piece of her hair.

"Spit it out, Gin!" Bill said, walking over to the cupboard and rummaging for something.

"Neville Longbottom!" Ginny blurted out, and then remembered, "He was with Luna Lovegood!"

"Really? I remember him...always hurting himself. Clumsy kid, right?" Bill reminisced.

"Yeah, that's him. Well, he and Luna are engaged to be married, and they want me to be in their wedding!"

"Ginny, c'est tres bien!" Fleur hugged Ginny again.

"Well, that's lovely, Gin. You'll be returning to London, I suppose?"

"Correct. They're actually holding the wedding at the Burrow! I guess Luna's working for the Daily Prophet now, and when Dad found out about the wedding, he offered our house, as it's also a very safe place. Since Neville's parents can't come, and Luna's dad lives in a very small flat, it seems like the best arrangement."

"Did Luna tell you all this during your fifteen-minute break?" Bill asked incredulously.

"No, I owled Dad and he replied with a LOT of detail."

"He's been doing that since he became Minister. Fleur, do you want help with supper?"

"No, it's almost done, love," Fleur replied and turned toward the stove and began stirring something deep inside a pot.

"So, when's the wedding, Ginny?" Bill asked, turning his attention back to his sister.

"That's the exciting part: It's in two weeks! I have to go back next week, so I can be there to help everyone prepare."

"Oh, that's really soon, isn't it? Is Ron going to be in the wedding as well? I remember him being a friend of Neville's...."

"Yes, I guess he's going to be in it, as a groomsman, or something," Ginny nearly blurted out that Harry was going to be there as well, and that she would be seeing Harry again, after five years of separation from him. She bit her words back, though, remembering with a dreadful thought that Harry could be married by now, and with children, too.... What would she do if he came and she had made such a big deal about a MARRIED man? No, for now, it was better not to say anything. "Hermione's going to be the other bridesmaid, but that's all she told me."

"Oh, I remember Hermione!" Fleur said, turning back around from the stove. "She was always so nice to me, and would translate into French the things I didn't understand.... We're going also, aren't we, Bill?" Fleur inquired of her husband.

"I don't see why not. We were invited, after all. Would you like to go, love?"

"Of course," Fleur replied, and pulled Bill into a kiss.

Ginny turned away, reddening. She really didn't want to watch her eldest brother and his pregnant wife snog in the kitchen. Preoccupied with thoughts of her own, she turned and headed to her bedroom, closing the door softly behind her. She lay on her bed for some time, with one hand behind her head, and her eyes slightly closed. Before she knew it, sleep was chasing its way into her mind, and she was too tired to stop it.

*

Ginny glanced up from the Potions essay that she was writing and into the darkness that lay outside her common room window. Thick, fluffy snowflakes were falling slowly down, and the bright stars seemed to be bursting out of the deep blue-black colour of the sky. She gazed about a bit, scanning the ground for a sign of movement, when something to the north caught her eye. She followed it, and her gaze was met with the visage of Harry Potter, slowly meandering his way back from Hagrid's cabin.

As Ginny watched Harry stomp through the thick snow drifts, she realized how much she longed to be with him. After a moment, she quickly made up her mind, and stood up. She grabbed her warm winter cloak and raced out of the common room before anyone could stop her.

Ginny trudged her way through dense white snow that reached up to her skins, and shivered. She wished she had brought her hat and mittens, but then, Harry wasn't wearing any, and she didn't want to look like a little kid. When she caught sight of Harry in the distance, her mind raced, wondering what excuse she could use for being out in the freezing cold, when he knew she had a Potions essay to do. She had been complaining about it all day to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and they had told her, in no uncertain terms, that they were sick of hearing about it. Well, Ron had told her. Harry was tactfully avoiding the situation, and Hermione was studying for a test in Arithmancy.

Harry neared closer, and Ginny grew nervous, having no idea of what to say. In a moment, Harry was ten meters away, moving closer all the time. Suddenly, she glanced off the right, and they smacked into each other, nearly toppling over.

"Who the- Ginny? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Ginny said, embarrassed, and stood up, brushing snow off her robes.

"What are you doing out here?" Harry asked, confused.

"I'm... err... Going to see Hagrid?" Ginny struggled for a word.

"Oh. Well, you shan't bother now; he's gone off into the woods, looking for one of the Blast-Ended Skrewts. They've run off again."

"Oh, well, that's not very good, is it?"

The pair turned and headed uphill toward the castle. As their booted feet dragged up the hill, Ginny had a desperate want to say something to Harry. Something, anything.... However, Ginny had nothing to say. After a minute, she turned to Harry. "Harry, I... well...." The pair stopped walking and turned to face each other.

"Yes, Gin?"

She loved it when he called her that. Sure, Ron and Hermione both used that nickname, but it sounded different when Harry said it. It sounded... like he loved her. It was special to Ginny, and she relished the shape of his lips, the tone of his voice when he spoke to her.

"Well, Harry, look. I need to tell you something."

"Well, what is it?"

"H-h-harry, I," Ginny stammered. After a minute, her brain stopped working, and she reached up and kissed Harry lightly on the lips. When they pulled apart, Ginny flushed crimson.

"Oh, Harry. I'm so sorry, I don't know...."

Harry looked a bit startled. "Oh, Gin, that's... quite all right," Harry spoke these last few words so softly it was as if he was whispering.

Ginny flushed deeper, and looking so embarrassed, she whispered, "...so sorry...." Silent tears ran down her fifteen-year-old face, and she ran back up to the castle, moving so fast it was as if she was flying.

*

Hermione was busy under a pile of books, writing on a long piece of parchment what appeared to be a Charms assignment. She alone knew that she was writing a love letter to her boyfriend, Ron, but she would NEVER show it to anyone, even her best friend, Ginny. Ginny had expressed her feelings about her brother and best friend's relationship early on. Although she was happy for the both of them, she'd rather not know most of the 'gory-details' that she and Hermione usually shared with each other.

As Hermione continued with her writing, the portrait hole opened with a spark gust of wind, and Ginny scrambled through, red-faced and shaking. Hermione looked up, distracted momentarily from her writing by the noise, and was surprised to see Ginny in such a state. She ran over to her and led her toward the couch.

"Ginny! What's the matter? Are you all right?" Hermione asked, her face marred with concern.

"I'll be fi-" Ginny whispered, and slumped to the ground.

Hovering into and out of consciousness, she heard only snippets of the conversation that ensued.

"Needs- Hospital wing- Madam Pomfrey- Get Ron- Get Professor McGonagall- Leave her here- Give her room- Must get her- Hospital wing-."

*

Ginny awoke to bright sunlight splashed on the drab whitewashed walls of the hospital wing. She opened her eyes slowly, and was greeted with the vision of Hermione's face, peering down anxiously over her. She was white with fright.

"Ginny?" Hermione breathed, not daring herself to believe it. "Ginny? It's been almost a day and a half! You came in on Tuesday night, and it's Thursday morning now! How are you feeling?"

"I'm... fine," Ginny struggled for a word, not remembering immediately why she was there. Then, as the memories of the day before came flooding back to her, she let out a soft groan.

"Is everything all right? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Hermione.... I've just remembered why I was here, that's all."

"I'd better get Madam Pomfrey. She'll want to know that you're awake."

"No, Hermione, don't, she'll just bother me," Ginny protested, as Hermione, deaf to excuses, fled the room.

Ginny relaxed back on her pillows, replaying the scene that had occurred between herself and Harry in her mind. "Why am I such a fool?" Ginny muttered darkly. "What was I doing, kissing him like that? I should have KNOWN he had no romantic interest in me. I'm just a little kid to him; Ron's kid sister. I'm nothing to him. I'm nothing to anyone," Ginny continued to muse dismally to herself.

"Ginny Weasley! Up, are we?" Ginny was stirred out of her reverie by Madam Pomfrey. "Thank you for finding me, my dear, now run along," she admonished Hermione.

"Bye, Hermione," Ginny said, gloomily.

Hermione waved brightly, and disappeared from view.

"Well, then Miss Weasley, there will be no more visitors for you today. We need to concentrate on making you well, so you can return to classes as soon as possible."

"Why can't I go now? I feel fine!" Ginny struggled to sit upright, and was met with dizziness. Madam Pomfrey gripped Ginny's shoulders and forced her back down.

"Not now, Miss Weasley. You've been very ill, and we're not sure what's causing it. Please relax, or I'll have to put you back into an enchanted sleep."

"All right," Ginny replied glumly, and settled herself into her pillows. As Madam Pomfrey turned away, Ginny remembered what she had wanted to ask. "Miss?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know why I'm here? What's wrong with me?"

Madam Pomfrey frowned. "Well dear, to tell you the truth, we're not sure as of yet. We think you might be catching a horrible sickness that's going around, or maybe some item on the food menu was tainted. We don't really know."

"Oh," Ginny was not reassured. "Will you know soon?"

"We hope to. Now please, rest easily. You've been through a long ordeal, and you need to relax." With those final words of guidance, Madam Pomfrey left Ginny alone with her thoughts.

Ginny mentally reviewed everything that had happened that night, wanting to know what exactly Harry's expression had been, how exactly he had phrased his words. Tired out with the strength needed to think so hard, Ginny nodded off again, finally thinking, "...and he looked so wonderful in the snow..."

*

Ginny opened her eyes barely a crack, and was met with a pair of large, googly eyes staring back at her.

"Wheezy is awake?" the eyes whispered.

Ginny bolted upright, nearly knocking Dobby onto the floor.

"Dobby?"

"Yes, it is Dobby, Miss. I have come to do your Wheezy's bidding."

"Ron?"

"Yes, your Wheezy. He asks that I come and talk to you. His Miss said you weren't allowed visitors."

"Hermione?" Ginny was disbelieving.

Dobby clapped his hands in delight. "Yes, that's it! She says that you might want for something, and I can help you with that, I can!"

Ginny slumped back onto her pillows. "What I really want, Dobby, is to get well." And for Harry to love you back... the little voice in her head whispered. "Actually, Dobby... Can you ask Harry, er, Potter, something?

"Whatever pleases you, Miss."

"Can you ask him to come see me tomorrow? Madam Pomfrey said I might have visitors then."

'Surely, Miss, if that pleases you."

Ginny was delighted. "Oh, thank you, Dobby!"

Dobby's entire face flushed crimson with embarrassment, and the colour spread up to the tips of his ears. "You're most welcome, Miss Wheezy." Dobby swept into a grand bow, over-balanced, and fell flat on his butt. He stammered an apology, and vanished with a small 'pop.'

*

"...Dear Ginny. I wanted- to apologize- for the way- I acted- that night-"

Ginny awoke to the soft sound of something speaking quietly to themself. She heard the scratchings and pausings of a quill, and realized that someone was writing a letter. Not knowing who it was, she didn't open her eyes, but listened for more of the letter.

"I didn't- mean to be- such a prat- I dunno- what came- over me-"

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. That's Harry! He's writing to me! Ginny thought excitedly. Perhaps I ought to open my eyes, but I'd really like to hear what he's thinking, and not just what he's writing... I'll listen a bit more.

"I think- you might've- gotten the wrong- impression- of how I- feel toward you-"

Ginny's heart sank with what she expected to hear next.

"But I- really don't- feel the way- you might think-"

Ginny almost opened her eyes, as they were filling with so many tears, they threatened to overflow.

"I love you, Ginny."

The scratchings of the quill stopped, and Ginny heard the sound of an inkbottle being closed. Then Harry stood up, and walked toward the door. Ginny heard his footsteps, and then, suddenly, they stopped. Ginny slowly opened her eyes to see Harry staring intently at her face.

"Harry?" Ginny whispered, unsure if she was still in dreamland.

Harry moved swiftly to her side. "I'm here, Gin. Listen, there's something I want to tell you. Something I need to tell you."

"Harry... I already-"

"Shh," Harry placed a finger to her lips. It felt warm against her cool skin. "I need to tell you that... I love you, Ginny. I've loved you for ages, and I didn't know what to do out there, those few nights ago, and... I never thought you felt the same way. Hermione had said you'd given up on me. She told me last year... and it broke my heart."

"Given up on, but not forgotten. Not ever forgotten," Ginny breathed.

'Ginny, I-" Harry stammered, nervous. An unthinking second later, he reached down and pulled Ginny into a long, warm kiss.

"Harry, I love you, too," Ginny said, louder than any word she had spoken in their conversation.

The pair embraced again, kissing passionately for at least ten minutes, as Harry slowly moved from the uncomfortable chair to next to Ginny on her bed. A few minutes later, Ginny pulled away.

"You should- Madam Pomfrey- Trouble for you-"

Harry was not worried. "I don't mind her, only I'm worried that you might need your rest, Gin. I don't want you to have to stay here any longer than necess-" Harry glanced down, and found Ginny had already nodded off; her head resting on his chest, her breathing constant and reassuring.

"Well, I can't see that a light kip would do either of us any damage," Harry said to no one in particular. "Good night then," Harry whispered to Ginny's slumbering profile, and promptly fell asleep, Ginny's torso on top of them, her legs sprawled out on the rest of the bed. They laid there, sleeping more peacefully than either of them had in days, and were in the same position when Madam Pomfrey found them the following morning.

[A/N] Sorry that it's taken me so long to update, it takes ages to fix comma-use mistakes. Never fear, I have chapters 4 and 5 written already, and six is in the making! Please, review ASAP!!