Dealing With Fame

CHAPTER 3

Catching Up

Ginny exhaled deeply as she stared into the eyes of a trembling and seemingly nervous house elf.

"Dobby?" she asked incredulously. "What in Merlin's name-"

"Missus Wheezy?" Dobby interrupted in a squeaky voice. "Harry Potter wants Dobby to get you."

Ginny's eyes widened, causing her to crease her forehead. "You know where Harry is?"

Dobby nodded. "He wants Missus Wheezy."

Ginny looked at him. "But I can't. I'm supposed to stay here," she said.

"Harry Potter wants you now!" Dobby said, the urgency reflecting off the tone of his voice.

"But Mum and Dad might think I've been kidnapped if I go," Ginny thought aloud, "but Dobby does know where Harry is."

"We must go now, Missus," he said persistently.

Before she could say anything, he instantly grabbed her hand and placed it on a dirty looking sock. They both held on to it for awhile, the familiar gushes of wind slowly encompassing them. Everything was a blur to Ginny afterwards, until she found herself face-forward on the ground in an unfamiliar room that was certainly not in the Burrow.

She slowly sat up and rubbed her forehead. "Where's Harry?" she asked, noticing the dark room she was in, the only source of light was from a few candles by what seemed like a sofa.

Dobby ignored the question and said something under his breath. He discreetly walked over to the side door until Ginny caught him.

"Dobby, where are you, going?" she asked as she stood up, dusting her clothes. It was then, that she realized she wasn't wearing the same clothes she had when she was at the Burrow.

She looked down out of curiosity and gasped out of surprise. She was wearing a velvety, long dress that had such an elegant but fanciful cut, showing off her body in a seemingly modest way. The color she couldn't tell, because of the darkness she was engulfed in, but for certain she knew it was a dress that had an expensive price tag which she couldn't afford, even if she worked hundreds of years for it.

"Dobby, why am I wearing this?" Ginny asked, walking over to him.

He looked up at her and said, "They're ready for you, Missus." Before she could say anything, he bowed and vanished out of thin air.

"They?" Ginny asked herself. "Who's they?"

She took a survey of the room again and noticed that there was a nearby door from where she stood. "Isn't this the same door Dobby was going to open?"

She placed a hand on the handle and slowly turned it open to reveal an entirely different room. She took a few steps forward, her heels clacking against the hard, smooth wooden floor. A lamp was lit by an antique sofa, in which a dark figure was resting on. She took a couple steps forward and realized that it was Harry. His eyes were closed, hiding the emerald beauty that she had grown to admire.

She walked over to his side and smiled at how peaceful and calm he looked, despite what he had been through all his life. She kneeled on the floor beside him and ran a hand through his hair, which she knew would remain messy forever and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. She knew it was a daring move, but she didn't care for now.

He stirred. "Ginny, is that you?" he asked, his eyes still closed.

Ginny closed her eyes upon hearing that euphonious sound of his voice that she wanted to hear for the longest time. "I'm here, Harry," she said, opening them.

Harry immediately sat up and hugged her tightly. "Gin, I-" he started.

"Please, Harry, don't say it," Ginny interrupted in a squeaky voice, as if she knew he was about to apologize. "I completely understand. You lot didn't need me. I wouldn't have been of help to you anyway."

Harry sighed and looked up at her guiltily. "We did need you, Gin. We needed someone to think of, someone to keep us sane. We needed you. I needed you."

Ginny stared at him. She didn't know how to respond, especially to that. She was truthfully shocked at how open Harry was being since the Harry she knew was always secretive. "Probably the effects of the war like Ron said," Ginny thought.

"You're all I've thought about since we left," he continued. "You've consumed my thoughts ever since I last saw you. I remember how we simply understood and cared for each other without question. I saw the same thing happening to Ron and Hermione, how their bickering and rows became less frequent. But I saw the one thing in them that I failed to realize in our relationship. It was love. I love you. I've been such a git, an arse, and a prat to you that I understand if you don't feel the same way for me anymore. But no matter what, I'll still love you and I'll keep loving you."

Ginny closed her teary eyes and hugged him. "I've waited for you to say that to me. And to think I'd ever get another chance with you, Harry."

"Y'know, Gin, we never really broke up," Harry whispered as he caressed her cheek. She smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her without thinking twice. Their kiss was as tender and light as their first kiss in the Gryffindor Common Room when their lips touched. They were just about to reach the passionate stage when Dobby reappeared before them, causing them to jump miles apart from each other.

"Hullo, Dobby," Ginny said smiling, knowing how completely ruffled she looked.

"Everyone's wondering where Harry Potter and Missus Wheezy is," Dobby said. "Dobby must go now." He looked at them and vanished.

"Oh, we're- What time is it?" Harry asked.

Ginny glanced at the clock next to the lamp and said, " 7:19. Why?"

"We're late," Harry said, putting on his black shiny shoes.

"Late for what, Harry?" Ginny asked. It was then that she noticed how formal he was dressed. He wore a solid black suit that hung off his broad shoulders and a loose plain white long-sleeved shirt with matching black pants "And where are we?"

"Late for the end-of-the-war celebration here at Hogwarts," Harry replied dully as he stood up.

Ginny looked at him, noticing how he clenched his fists when he last spoke. "What? You don't want to go?"

Harry sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Not really, it's just the last time I was here was for Dumbledore's funeral. I just...I really can't believe he's gone, Y'know? Hogwarts just doesn't feel like Hogwarts without him."

Ginny nodded. "I know," she said. "I couldn't believe it either. After his death, lots of students didn't come back because it just wasn't safe anymore. I thought that the lack of attendance would certainly shut Hogwarts down for good."

Harry rubbed the top of his head. "I am the Guest of Honor, so I have to be present," he said. "But I think I'll live this time since I have you here with me to keep me company."

"So we're at Hogwarts?" she asked, as she stared out the window. "But Mum and Dad don't know I'm here."

"Don't worry about that, Gin," Harry said. "I owled them before you got here, so they should be on their way here, or perhaps they're already here."

"Good thinking, Harry," she laughed.

"Well, what can I say? I'm the Boy-Who-Lived," Harry said jokingly.

He took her hand in his and they walked out the door hand-in-hand. After what seemed like a long walk in the corridors, they reached the giant, familiar doors of the Great Hall, which were apparently closed.

"Ready, Gin?" he asked, sharing a nervous glance with her.

"Ready when you are," she replied casually, but deep down she was just as nervous as he was. She gave his hand a squeeze of encouragement and they stepped forward together, the doors of the Great Hall magically opening to greet their arrival...