Visitor from the Future

Chapter 10: Worth It

Last time:

..."Hey, Harry mate, have you seen Ginny anywhere-" Ron froze in the doorway when he caught sight of his best friend and his little sister kissing in the library.

They both broke apart at turned and just stared at Ron, who was staring with his mouth open in shock at the two...

Harry felt his stomach drop at the sight of his best mate standing there staring at him with such a gobsmacked expression on his face that would have been rather comical if not for the fact that he hadn't just walked in on his little sister and best friend kissing.

For a moment, no one spoke, and the tension in the library was thick and almost oppressive. Finally, Ron seemed to regain the ability of coherent speech, and swallowed heavily before speaking, his voice higher than normal, a testament to how uncomfortable the lanky redhead was feeling.

"What- were you two- kissing? You... and- and... Ginny?" Alright, maybe not coherent speech, but speech nonetheless.

Ginny blinked rapidly a couple times and shook her head slightly, as if clearing it, then, out of Ron's sightline, gently squeezed Harry's hand. "Yes, Ron? Was there something you wanted?" She spoke slowly and calmly to her brother, the only indication of any unease was the almost iron grip she had Harry's hand in.

Ron's ears began to turn slightly pink, and Harry felt his stomach drop even lower, something he had not thought possible. It was always easy to tell Ron's emotions by his ears. When he was embarrassed or angry, they would turn pink, and eventually red. Harry didn't think Ron was embarrassed, but instead angry, since he knew how protective Ron was of his sister.

Ron opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again before opening it again. After doing this a few times, Ron looked away from them, and shoved his hands in his pockets, and turned away and walked towards the door, mumbling, "No... nothing... just- never mind..."

Harry sighed, and stood up.

"Where are you going, Harry?"

"I've... I've got to go talk to Ron." He gave Ginny a soft smile, which she returned. Hesitating for only a second, he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, squeezed her hand before turning and walking out of the library.

Looking up and down the corridor, Harry saw Ron's figure turning and walking down the stairs. Taking a deep breath, Harry rushed after his best friend.



"Ron! Ron, wait up! Ron!"

Ron stopped, and reluctantly turned at the sound of his best mate's voice. Waiting for Harry, Ron just stood there, unable to look his friend in the eye, his mind still on the sight of Harry and Ginny kissing in the library.

When Harry caught up to Ron, he was slightly out of breath, and he too couldn't look the redhead in the eye.

"Yeah, Harry?" Ron's voice was not angry, as Harry had feared, but it was lacking any emotion, which scared Harry even more, since his friend never had talked like that before.

Hiding a wince, Harry answered, "Um... listen, Ron... about- about in the... library-"

Before Harry could continue, however, Ron cut him off suddenly, finally looking his friend in the eye. "Do you like Ginny? Like like?"

Harry just stared his friend straight in the eye before answering softly, "Yeah, Ron. Yeah, I do."

Ron sighed, then ran his hand through his hair. Looking sharply at his friend, he said, "You do know that if you hurt her, it doesn't matter if you're my best mate or not. I won't leave you in one peace if you hurt her. And anything left over, everyone else will finish off, okay?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, Ron. I know, and I would never hurt her." A slight smile crossed his face for a moment. "You do realize, however, that I would be more scared of Ginny than you or the rest of your brothers, right?"

Ron finally cracked a grin, and laughed under his breath. "Too right, mate."

Harry laughed as well, then sobered and looked back at his friend, his emerald green eyes searching Ron's blue ones. "Are you... okay... with this, Ron? Me liking Ginny, I mean?"

"Yeah, Harry, I am. What do you want me to say? 'You can't date my sister?' I'm pretty sure we both know how well that would go over with Ginny. I mean... yeah, it was kind of strange, walking in on you two, but... you're my best mate, Harry. I trust you, and... I really can't think of anyone else I would be okay with Ginny dating. I thought I would freak out there for a minute, but... it's you, Harry. As long as you two are happy, I think, then who am I to interfere?" Ron shrugged, his voice soft yet earnest, trying to convey to his friend that he really was okay with what had happened. "Just... promise me something? Don't make me watch you two... doing... that... again, okay? Please?"

Harry laughed slightly, relieved his friend really was okay with it. "Alright, I promise, Ron, that we won't, as long as you and 'Mione make the same promise, okay?"

Ron spluttered, blushing so much his entire head seemed to be on fire, it was so red. "What?! I-I don't know what you're talking about mate. Me and- and... 'Mione? What..."

Harry laughed outright at it, and clasped his friend on the shoulder. "Ron? Everyone knows how you feel about her. Heck, I think that there are a couple of pools going on, betting on when you two will just snog and get it over with."

Ron continued to splutter incoherently for a moment before sighing, "Is it really that obvious?"

"Yeah, Ron, it is. I'm pretty sure everyone knows. 'Cept for you and 'Mione, of course."

Ron still was speechless, and stared at his feet as the two friends walked down the hallway. Eventually, he looked up at Harry, then around the empty corridor. "It's strange, being here with no one else around, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Um, Harry, can you tell me... I mean, if you want to talk about it... what... happened? I mean, why you're here? I mean, here at Hogwarts? I mean... staying here during the summer? Did- did something happen? 'Cause Mum and Dad wouldn't say anything, and I was just..." Ron trailed off as he saw his friend's shoulders tense slightly. When Harry wouldn't look at him, Ron stopped walking and put his hand on his friend's shoulder, his worry increasing even more when he felt Harry tense slightly at the sudden gesture. "Harry? What happened?"

"Can... can we not do this here?" Harry still refused to look his friend in the eye, and his voice was quieter than normal, which increased Ron's worry again.

"Um... do you want to go to... where you're staying right now?"

Harry sighed, then nodded. "Yeah, okay. Let's go there."



Walking into his and Remus' rooms, Harry walked over to his favorite chair and sat down. Ron sat down in the chair closest to Harry's and waited patiently for his friend to start.

After a moment of silence, Harry sighed then began, resting his elbows on his knees, and looking down at his clasped hands. "My... uncle... had a problem at work, and he... um, he went and got drunk, then came home, and... he... kind of... beat me up. It, um, it set off the wards around the house, and... the Order... came in and rescued me. They brought me here, and... I've been staying here ever since... Um, Remus was assigned guardianship of me, since... Uncle Vernon... got arrested and... sent to jail, and..."

Ron was, for the third time in less than an hour, rendered speechless, and felt fear flood his veins at hearing what his friend had just admitted. Feeling anger surge through him when he realized that Harry's family had hurt him, Ron asked, "He... he hurt you? What? How- how long, Harry? Was... that the first time?" Suddenly running through what he had just said, Ron groaned and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have said that. God, that was stupid of me to ask..."

Harry shook his head, and mumbled, "Don't worry about it, Ron."

Ron, reigning in his emotions, leaned forward in his chair. "Harry?"

"Yeah?" Harry didn't look up, but continued to look down at his hands.

"... I-I'm sorry, Harry..."

"For what?" Harry looked up quickly at his friend.

"For what?! For your family being such bastards! Why... what did you think I was apologizing for, mate?"

Harry looked down again, and shook his head slightly. "I don't know... it was stupid to ask..."

Ron stared at his friend, confused as to what was going through his friend's head, then, realizing what it must be, got up from his chair and kneeled in front of Harry's.

"You... you thought I wouldn't want to be your friend anymore, didn't you? That I would think that you were weak or something? Harry... you're my best friend. Hell, you're like my brother. You're not weak, Harry, your relatives are bastards, and they were stupid to think you were weak, or- or worthless, or whatever else they told you. You aren't worthless, Harry. Don't ever think that, please."

"Why?" Harry's question was so soft that, had Ron not been right in front of him, he would not have heard it.

"Why what, Harry?" Ron was confused as to what his friend was talking about.

"Why... why are you so sure that they're wrong? How can you be so sure?"

"Harry... I told you. You're like a brother to me. You're not worthless. You're not." Ron was at a loss of how to get Harry to see how much he and his family cared for him- to see how many people truly cared about him. "You're not worthless. I don't think you're worthless, Ginny doesn't think you're worthless, my parents, my brothers, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, 'Mione, and... and Remus doesn't think you're worthless. Everyone cares about you Harry, and would do anything to help you."

Harry finally looked up, and the pain and anguish in his eyes tore at Ron's heart. "Why? Everyone around me just gets hurt because of me. Why can't you see how dangerous I am? Why won't you all just leave? You'd be safer if you weren't friends with me. All I do is get people hurt and killed!"

Ron shook his head vigorously. "No, Harry, you're wrong. It wasn't your fault. Cedric, Sirius, none of it was your fault. And... and we won't leave you. Harry, you're worth it. You're worth the danger, cause you're family, and family doesn't run away when it gets tough. Mum and Dad always say that, and they're right, Harry. You're family, and you're worth it."

Harry scrubbed at his face with his hands, and sighed. Looking back up at his friend, Harry spoke. "Thanks, Ron." Everything else, everything that Harry couldn't express was obvious from his eyes, and Ron, understanding what Harry meant, smiled, and clasped his friend on the shoulder.

"No problem, Harry."

After a moment or two of silence between the two friends, Ron's stomach suddenly grumbled, and Ron blushed, then looked towards the clock on the fireplace mantel.

"Hey! It's dinner time. Do you want to go down to the Great Hall for some food? I'm starving!"

Harry laughed out loud, looking genuinely happy for the first time since the conversation had begun. "Well, I think if we don't get down there pretty soon, you'll start eating anything you can fit in your mouth so..." With that, he stood up and walked towards the portrait hole, laughing even more at Ron's indigent, "Hey!"

Maybe Ron's right. Maybe... maybe I do have people who care about me. Well, I know that, as much as they will try to protect me, I will try even harder to protect them. I have to, since I'm the one who knows what is coming. I may be the one who has to stop it, but I guess I won't have to do it alone. With these thoughts, and Ron's good natured grumbling about being "a growing boy who needs to eat," Harry felt that the day, and his life in general, was beginning to look up. He had Ginny, and he had his friends and family. Even though it would be dangerous, with Voldemort out there still, Harry knew they could get through it together.