Twist the Knife

 ~~**-*Twist the Knife*-**~~

          Harry Potter sat up in his four-poster, his knees drawn up to his chest, and his arms wrapped around his legs. He stared blankly at the velvet hangings, his eyes unfocused, thinking.

         He’d finally found love in his life. Something he’d been longing for since he didn’t know when. He’d found it, and lost it, all in a heartbeat.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 His heart raced as he saw her, her fiery red hair gleaming in the sun as she passed the Quaffle. He shook his head; he’d been staring at her, and had lost sight of the snitch.

         He swerved around the pitch, the roar of the crowd dull in his ears. He caught sight of it again.

“Great,” he thought as he raced toward the walnut sized golden ball...For it was hovering beside her gorgeous red hair, seemingly entranced by it. It seemed that even the golden snitch was mesmerized by Ginny’s hair.

         He lunged, and she leaned back, as his nimble fingers closed around the ball. He grinned, and pumped one fist in the air. He looked over at Ginny, and she smiled sweetly back at him . He felt himself blush, and was surprised that steam wasn’t pouring out of his ears, his face felt that hot.

         He landed on the grass in the pitch, and the rest of the team followed.

“Being captain has its perks,” he thought as he dismounted.  

          They all landed next to him, as they heard Luna, the new commentator shout, in a slightly dreamy voice, “Gryffindor wins! 200 to 20 against Slytherin!”

         Harry watched the defeated Slytherin team fly by. They all snarled at him, and one or two made a couple of obscene gestures.

         He was brought back to the present by the feeling of the chasers hugging him, one by one. When Ginny came up to him, he flushed, and grinned. As she hugged him, she whispered in his ear, “Great job! Meet me in the Owlery after you change.” And with that she scurried off.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

           Harry pressed his palms to his eyes, which were slowly filling with tears. He’d been so happy that day. So hopeful that he was finally going to have something go right for once. He laughed out loud, mirthlessly. It had...for a little while.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 Harry cautiously made his way up the owlery steps. He opened the door, and saw something that took his breath away.

Ginny was standing by the window, silhouetted by the sunlight. The sun was gleaming off her gorgeous red hair, and Hedwig was perched off her shoulder.

 She looked up as she heard the door open.

 “Oh, hello, Harry,” she said, placing Hedwig on the nearest beam.

“Hey, Ginny,” he replied, somewhat breathlessly.

 She smiled at him, and he flushed a shade of cherry. She grinned, and then took his hand.

 He felt as if an electric shock had coursed through him. His whole body felt warm, as if her hand was radiating heat. His hand tingled, and pulsed with adrenaline, as she pulled him closer. The next thing he knew, she was kissing him.

 It was a joy he’d never experienced before; his heart soared, and he felt as if he would burst with happiness. He wanted to stay in that moment forever, with her, for all eternity. She pulled away, and their eyes met. His brilliant green looked into her sky blue, and for a few moments, they got lost looking into each others eyes. Finally, Ginny spoke.

 “Well, I bet you’re wondering what that was about.”

 “Um, yeah.”

 “Well, the thing is, I really like you Harry. I thought I was over you, last year, but it as it turns out. I wasn’t. Ever.”

 “Ginny, I-“

 ”Yes?”

 “I really like you too.”

 And with that, they settled themselves comfortably down on the floor, and kissed again.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

           Harry wiped tears from his eyes. He’d been so happy that day. So overjoyed that the object of his affection liked him too. He felt truly happy, for once. But soon everything started to unravel.

 He was too protective. She was too bossy. He’s never around. She spends too much time on homework. They came across so many hurdles, each one harder to get over than the next. But one day, they both snapped.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Ginny, what were you doing?”

They were standing in an abandoned classroom, their faces red, their eyes ablaze with anger.

“I was walking with Colin!”

“Flirting is a more accurate term!”

“So what if I flirt!”

“I’m your boyfriend! You're not supposed to flirt with other guys!”

“Yeah, so where is that set in stone?”

“Ginny, it’s just...ethical, or polite, or something, I don’t know! You’re just not supposed to flirt when you have a boyfriend!”

“Right. And does the same go for boys flirting with girls? You seemed pretty cozy with Hermione in the common room last night!”

“Yeah, ok Ginny. We were studying!”

“Yeah, well the teenage translation for ‘studying’ just happens to be snogging!”

“And how is that relevant?”

“I don’t know Harry, just leave me alone!”

 And with that she stalked out of the room.

            Harry spent the rest of his day looking for her, wanting her to explain, wanting to apologize for lashing out at her. Whenever they fought, he always assumed it was his fault. But she avoided him, never meeting his eye. He didn’t catch up with her until after dinner. However, it was bad timing on his part.

 He was walking down to the kitchens, looking for her, and was just crossing the entrance hall, when he heard two voices. One of them he thought he recognized.

“So, Draco, what do you want?”he heard Ginny say.

“Draco? Since when have he and Ginny been on first name terms?” he thought.

“Nothing much. Just you,” Draco purred.

              Harry turned around, and saw Ginny and Malfoy hidden behind a statue of Beligra the Beautiful, just outside the great hall. Malfoy had his hands on Ginny’s waist, and Ginny was flushed, ginning. Harry felt his heart clench. Ginny and Malfoy....it didn’t make sense.

 Ginny giggled, bringing Harry back into the present. But just as soon as he was, he wished he weren’t.

 Malfoy was kissing Ginny, running his hands through her fiery red hair, the hair that had entranced Harry. Ginny was ruffling Malfoy’s hair, lovingly.

 Harry had had enough.

“Ginny?” he cried, his voice breaking on the last syllable.

 Ginny looked up, her expression shocked.

“H-harry? I-I can explain.”

 Harry took off running, tears streaming down his face. He came to the Fat Lady, breathless, but desperate to find solitude.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 Harry flinched at that last memory. It was still hard to take, even though it had been two weeks since they broke up. He still remembered every detail, though.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

              Harry flung himself on the couch, thankful that the common room was empty. He cried like he’d never before, his shoulders racking and shaking with each sob. He heard the creaking of the portrait opening, and looked up. Entering the common room was the last person he wanted to see.

“Harry?” Ginny asked tentatively.

            He tried to glare at her, but the effect was somewhat dulled by the fact that he was crying a river of tears.

“Harry? I just wanted t-to try to ex-explain.”

“No need, Ginny,” he replied. His voice was shaking, but at least the tears had stopped. “You and Malfoy, behind my back. That’s all I need to know. Gin, I thought I knew you! That I could trust you!”

“But, but Harry, I felt so smothered, I didn’t know what to do!”

 That was the stab in the back.

“What you needed to do was talk to me! But your alternative was to go snog Malfoy!”

“But, Harry....”

“Well, now I feel like an idiot. You never really liked me did you?”

“I did Harry! I did! I still do! It’s just that, well, I love Draco.”

 Harry felt stunned. She’d stabbed him in the back, then twisted the knife.

“Harry? Sure you ok?”

“Fine, Virginia. Just fine.”

 He walked to the boys dormitory door.

“Harry!” Ginny called.

 He turned around, tears poring out of his eyes again.

“W-what happens now?”

“We’re through, Ginny. That’s what happens. Or rather happened. We can’t be with each other, that’s all. You snog Malfoy all you want, and I’ll just......”

“What?”

“Hide in a corner, and rock slowly. Back and forth.”

 With that, he retreated up the dormitory steps, slowly.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

         Harry rubbed his bloodshot eyes. He’d relived those memories so many times at night, that he never slept anymore.

         He was hurting, and he knew that it would next to impossible to get over. But he also knew that he was in love with Ginny Weasley. And he always would be.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I will go down with this ship.

I won’t put my hands up, and surrender,

There will be no white flag above my door.

I’m in love, and all ways will be.

~Dido, from the song “White Flag”