Delusional

Chapter One: Supernatural

Supernatural, International, Unstoppable

That's just how it goes

It's practical, it's actual

It's a fact that everybody wants to be loved

Sugababes; Supernatural

Ginny stuffed her foot into the long and lean high heel in front of her. Despite her foot protesting in anger as she did so, she didn't stop, only shoved it further into the heel, watching as her toe poured out in wrath and vengeance.

"It's only for tonight," Ginny told the heels lightly, before turning and catching her reflection in the mirror.

She looked so much unlike herself that she had to look twice before knowing it was her. Her eyes were hollow with bags hanging beneath them, and she was suddenly more aware of the many sleepless nights that followed dating Harry Potter. With someone - or something - always after Harry, being his girlfriend wasn't a normal thing. It was rather a burden at times, always having to look after your own back for the sake of Harry's and vice versa. So this had been the cause of her insomniac nights, staring deranged at the wizard wireless at the foot of her bed, and glancing at the window every now and then. Just to make sure nothing was standing there.

She had also inherited the tall and lanky trait, and she was so tall that the full-length mirror in front of her was too small. She had to bend to capture her face at all. Ginny remembered the compliments she got for being so tall and thin, mostly from Lavender and Parvati, who would always stare at her enviously for the fact that she never gained weight. They had pointed and glared, making comments that would be flattering to someone who wasn't going through the same shit Ginny did, or to someone who looked to being thin purposefully. Ginny just stumbled into it. She was sort of sickly.

True it surprised even herself how she had turned out. She never figured her thin-lipped, tiny-nosed, flatchested, plump-bottomed, tall and skinny frame could actually be so sturdy on the outside. And she was surprised at how her personality had evolved, from shying away from Harry to dating him and literally arguing in public. Or how she was so gullible and now so opinionated. She laughed slightly at the times her fully evolved and opinionated mind had struck. She was shot down eventually, but that never stopped the fact that she caused arguments with her opinions.

She sighed and brought herself up to full height, sucking in her stomach for no reason, strictly out of habit. Yawning, she smoothed her simple black dress over her ruler-like body and sat on her bed, scrunching up her toes in pain. Why did Harry have to buy her these shoes? Ginny cursed him for not knowing her correct shoe size. But what were shoe sizes when you were trying to keep yourself alive? And she did promise she would wear them for the next date.

Harry had planned a special dinner for the two at a new restaurant which was to open that day in Diagon Alley. Harry, being Harry, was able to snag the best seat in the house just for the two.

She sighed again. Slowly she let a grin play about her mouth. She could never help it when she thought of the fact that she had gotten the guy. She had finally gotten the guy! Ginny Weasley was going to become Ginny Potter! As cliché as it sounds, her love actually when Harry asked her out. And she didn't have to say anything either; just the fact that he was asking her out completely opened up the ball she had crawled into. It was as if the simple question of, What are you doing Saturday? had some sort of mystical power that trampled over her insecurities and left her completely naked and vulnerable to Harry, forgetting any of her childish obsessions. Sighing happily one last time, she stood up to leave.

"Mum, I'm going to meet Harry now!" she called to her mother as she skipped down the stairs, wand in hand and purse dangling from her other.

"Wait! Gin, come back! I need to ask you something!" Ginny stopped abruptly and groaned. "Ginny, get your plump arse over here!" Mr. Weasley called.

Ginny skipped into the living room accordingly and contorted her face into the most realistic smile she could conjure: which looked kind of like shit, turned upside down.

"Mum," she said through teeth that were gritted together so tight she could barely let the word out. "Hurry!" She was so eager to meet Harry. She hadn't seen him in ages, and now she was finally going to meet him for dinner. He had said he had something to talk about, and he had also mentioned that due to unlikely consequences and a turn of events she would have to get there on her own. He, of course, owled her the directions.

Mrs. Weasley had been too busy marveling at what Ginny was wearing. "Oh! You just look so wonderful dear! Like...well, something black, but your hair just brings out the best in the outfit! And you're filling in fine now, not so sickly as you used to be, then. And those shoes! Did Harry get those?!"

"Yes!" Ginny said, breaking her grin and staring at her mother in shock. She could go on forever. "What was it you had to say?"

"I just need to make a quick copy of those directions there, dear, that's all," Mrs. Weasley said, whipping her wand out and rushing to use a Copying Charm. With a flick of her wand, another piece of parchment slid out from the bottom of the original. Mrs. Weasley gripped it steadily, studying every inch of it. "If you need anything, just owl; since the Eyelops is right by the way."

"It's Harry, mum," Ginny pointed out.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley said, "it's just that this whole scenario is so familiar. It's like history repeating itself."

Ginny stood, staring at her mother, willing more of a sensible story to escape her lips. "What are you talking about? What scenario?"

"He didn't pick you up. He's taking you to the nicest restaurant he can afford at his age...."
"What are you getting at?" Ginny asked.

"....Reminds me of the time my boyfriend Elliot Twillips - before your father, of course - broke up with me."

Rolling her eyes, Ginny said quickly. "I think Harry would break up with me in a more fashionable scenario. I mean...well, I think you know what I mean."

"All right Ginny. But remember, Eyelops is only two shops away," Mrs. Weasley said defensively.

Ginny was about to turn and leave, when she remembered that she didn't have a ride. She had been thinking to use Ron's broomstick, but in a skirt that would be quite uncomfortable, not to mention make her feel violated. She was also too young to Apparate, having only just turned sixteen. "Mum, could I have a ride?"

Mrs. Weasley placed the map of Diagon Alley on the countertop and said, "We just purchased more floo powder..."

"Floo powder? Mum, really. I don't want to turn up in the fireplace! Any other place would be fine, but this is a restaurant... Could you call dad?"

"ARTHUR!" Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed annoyingly up the stairs and rang throughout the house. Ginny could hear her father's heavy footsteps gliding down the stairs quickly. When he appeared he looked worn-out and tired, but with a certain alert in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Molly?" His voice was frantic and stripped, worry dripping all over it like cake frosting.

"It's Ginny. She's meeting Harry and she needs a ride," Mrs. Wealsey said coldly. Ginny stepped forward to lean on the counter.

"Not picking you up?" Mr. Weasley asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I just said she needed a ride," Mrs. Weasley said icily. Then she grabbed her parchment and pointed out the restaurant.

"Well, Eyelops is right there..."

"He's not going to dump me. Give me a break! I'm not mum!" Ginny pointed out angrily, shoving her mother's bit of parchment toward her and grabbing her father's arm to drag him out the door. "Now come on! I'm going to be late!"

The two hurried out the door, and Mr. Weasley pulled open the car door for Ginny. The Ministry had given him the car for assisting in certain Memory Charms for Muggles who had seen the Death Eaters wavering around the phone booth that led to the Ministry. The certain teenage Muggles that had seen a tall, bony hooded figure enter the phone booth after him were still being worked on.

Shutting the door after Ginny was situated, Mr. Weasley made his way round to the drivers' seat and began to pull out of the driveway.

"Ginny, you're mother and I are only taking into account possible reasons why Harry didn't come to pick you up. That used to be the highlight of the date - not that I was there," Mr. Weasley said, trying to start a conversation of some sort.

"You're paranoid," Ginny said simply, and the car was silent for a few moments. "Besides, Harry couldn't pick me up..."

"Something suddenly came up...there all signs. You're mother was hurt badly, though I don't understand why. That Twillips kid was a downright prat."

"...the Muggles wouldn't let him out," Ginny finished.

"Which leads me to my next question. Why isn't Harry here this summer?"

Ginny sighed loudly, but begun to tell her father why, for the thousandth time. "He's safer at the Muggles place. You-Know-Who can't go near him there. Dumbledore gave him instructions to stay there. He wants to come, I know, he's said it in owls. His Aunt Petuna, though, is more stern and protective than ever now. It took him days to confirm this date. Tonks, Mad-Eye, and Lupin have all tried to get him, but he doesn't budge."

"Ah..."

The rest of the ride was silent. Mr. Weasley developed a sort of odd cough halfway into Diagon Alley, and though Ginny began to worry she was happy when her father pulled up to the restaurant.

"Goodbye, Gin. Have a great time...."

"And..." Ginny waited.

"Eyelops is straight away. Love you dear." And he pulled away. Ginny watched as the car disappeared into the distance. Then she turned toward the restaurant. It looked like the rest of the stores on the outside, but Ginny knew that once she entered it she would forget she was in Diagon Alley. So she pushed the door open.

The inside was absolutely extravagant. Ginny seemed a little underdressed in the place because everything was elegantly adorned in bright colours, with tiny crevices of glitter here and there, making the place look like it was shining. The restaurant's primary colours were burgundy and beige, which contrasted all too perfectly. The windows were long and slim, the glass decorated with moving pictures of witches and wizards in excellent dress robes of all different colours and of all different races and nationalities. They glided so well in the windows, sliding in and out of view.

Ginny knew she was staring, but she didn't care as her mouth slowly slid open in awe. The tables were all round, with the exception of booths for families in the backgrounds and by the windows. In the direct center of the restaurant there was a very round bar, four overhead projections with the same channel on the wizard wireless on. Right now there was a game of Quidditch ahead. Ireland was slaughtering Scotland.

Ginny could see Harry sitting alone in a table for four. He looked fidgety as he watched the screen, his eyes glazed over oddly. For a moment her stomach sunk, and the looming terror of My parents were right reared its ugly head. But she was brought out of her reverie as a snooty looking woman coughed incompetently.

"May I help you, miss?" she asked rudely, her hands twisting together in dismay. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders like a model's and Ginny was reminded of her appearance. For a second she wanted to leave, but she was too eager to see Harry.

"Yes, er...Potter for two," Ginny said, remembering the instructions Harry had sent her.

The lady slipped her dainty fingers down the list until she found Harry's last name at the bottom. Smiling, she grabbed a menu for Ginny from under the podium she was standing at and led her to the table.

Harry looked just a handsome as he did when he left at the end of fifth year. His hair was as untidy as ever but it fit, his robes were quite ravishing as he stood to pull Ginny's seat out. He gaped at her for a moment after the lady had walked away.

"You look great," he said, sitting back in his own seat.

"So do you, Harry. It's so good to see you! How have you been?" Ginny said, leaning forward and brushing her lips against his cheek.

"I've been....caged, but all for the better of course. How are you? How's Ron? And Hermione?"

"They're all good. All very good. We all miss you so much! Why don't you come...there hasn't been anything in the prophet..."

"Except for the Death Eaters escape, Lucius Malfoy's death, and Bellatrix Lestrange's disappearance," Harry pointed out.

"And...the obituary," Ginny said in a small voice. She knew all too well that just the topic was enough to make Harry loose his top, but he didn't. Instead, he was silent for a moment, closing his eyes an breathing deep. Deciding to change the subject, Ginny said, "Well I guess you should stay then."

Harry seemed to jump out of a deep daydream and stuttered a quick yes. Then the waitress came.

"Hello, I'm Tina Bickle, and I'll be your waitress today. Our specials include the superb a fudge based meal and escargot with a delicious side of flatworm. Some of the flavours you may choose to make you flatworm taste..."

"Hi, Tina, I think we're ready to order," Harry said quickly.

Ginny, who had been flipping through the menu as Tina was speaking looked up from it, her finger on an entrée. She nodded, then said, "A diet coke and the fish 'n' chips meal. No sauces, but I'll take the vinegar."

"Vinegar...diet coke..." Tina looked up. "A diet coke? Would you like it magicked so there's no aftertaste?"

"I prefer the distinction."

Tina looked confused.

"I would rather keep the aftertaste, thanks."

Harry then spoke, "I'll have this-" he lifted up the menu and Ginny noticed him point to a meal in written in French- "And a Butterbeer."

Tina finished writing and began to gather their menus. "Any appetizers as you wait?"

"No, thank you," Harry said. She retreated. He looked at Ginny. "Ginny," he said.

"Yes," Ginny said, suddenly aware of the coldness in the restaurant.

"We...I need to say something."

Ginny felt her stomach disappear. Her parents were right. Well, Ginny thought, Eyelops was only two stores away. She looked down at her elaborately folded napkin and felt like such a fool. Why did she think she was going to be Mrs. Potter?

"Oh...my...um...Harry...I..." She couldn't stop the tears from coming. She felt exactly the way she felt when Tom Riddle had trapped her in his thoughts. She was lost, confused: she wanted an explanation. A tear reached her mouth and she wiped it off with the right side of her hand.

"Ginny, we can't see each other anymore. This, just, it's not working," Harry said blatantly.

"Why?" Ginny said, and she felt a surge of anger fill the emptiness in her stomach.

"We're two different people, Gin -"

"Virginia," Ginny corrected.

Harry sighed. "Look, I know you're angry...but...did you think we would even make it this far?

"It's only been one and a half months!" Ginny yelled angrily, gathering a few unwanted stares.

"You're...you're Ron's little sister...it's kind of hard to see you as...my future wife or anything more than a friend."

"Right," Ginny said, clenching and unclenching her fists in contorted rage. She wanted to punch Ron. She had heard these words before. From Dean. "Fuck Ron," Ginny said crossly. "To fucking hell with Ron!"

She stood up quickly and the room started spinning. Waiting a few minutes to gather her strength, she stood still, but when she could see clearly enough she walked over to Harry and leaned over toward his ear. She traced the earlobe for a moment, knowing that she would miss it. "And fuck you to Harry Potter."

***

Mum, dad,

You were right. Don't badger me until I get home though, I feel stupid enough. I think I just want to be alone for a while, so don't wait up for me. I won't be home later than one or two. I'm going to stop at Flourish and Blotts. I could do with a good book excerpt or magazine right now.

Stop smiling.

Gin

Ginny sent the baby owl zooming out the window, and she was reminded of Pig. The letter was stained with a few tear droplets, and Ginny cursed herself for crying. She should go out with some sort of vengeance, but instead she was in Eyelops Owl Emporium watching a baby owl zoom off unknowingly to the Burrow, tears streaming down her face.

She was glad she had decided against eyeliner, though.

Flourish and Blotts was only about five stores up, and Ginny knew she could use the walk. She needed to analyze some things, sort them through and think thoroughly. The stores were spaced far enough for that.

She began walked up, the current of Diagon Alley heading the other way with only a few other people going the same way as Ginny.

How could I have been so stupid? thought Ginny as she watched her feet lead the way to the bookstore. Me, Virginia Weasley Potter. Mother of Harry's children. Rubbish! All fuckin' rubbish! His loss, right? I think not.

"Where's the bitch now?" A harsh voice cut through Ginny's thoughts like paper and she stopped, shocked, to listen. The voice was distant in the Diagon Alley's bustle, but she knew it from somewhere. Where she didn't feel like specifying. She concentrated on trying to dissect the voice.

"At some restaurant a couple of stores down," came another voice, a grunt sort of, but a voice nonetheless.

"Prat!" the other voice roared, deep but dark.

Ginny sidled off toward the side to try and glimpse the characters talking. They weren't trying to lower their voices, but why would they need to? Nobody was paying attention to them.

"Want me to go?"

"No, you idiot. That would be too obvious."

She still couldn't make out the voices, and she couldn't see them either. She decided she would casually walk by, perhaps catch their faces. Who were they talking about anyway?

"Try and get him here," the first voice was saying.

"How?"

"Find out!"

Ginny began to walk by when someone cut in front of her and apparently grabbed the senseless person, the person whose voice sounded more like a grunt.

"Let go of him! Who the fuck are you?!" The first voice was bellowing. He began shouting incoherent spells and Ginny could only glimpse patches of and streams of light. She caught green streams and stood back, afraid one might strike her. Then the lights stopped coming, and curiosity took full hold of Ginny. She streaked past as quickly as she could, feeling her hair float behind her. Then the first voice shouted another spell.

"Avada Kedavra!" it said.

People all around Ginny began to duck at the sound of the spell so loud. It had cracked through the air, and Ginny had turned in shock toward the suspect. Bad idea.

The jet of green light hit her full on in the chest and she felt something surge through her body. It hurt, Ginny knew it, but for some reason she couldn't feel it. All she felt was her body being wiped off her insides. Everything was disappearing from her... out of reach... she was spiraling away...

And suddenly she was walking again, chaos all around her. Everyone was running and screaming, the bodiless voices were gone, and there was a crowd of people around somebody. Ginny inched forward to see who they were tending to. A lady she didn't even know was screaming, "In Diagon Alley! For god sake!"

Ginny continued to inch forward, then, when she found a small hole she was sure she could peak through, she looked forward and her voice caught in her throat.

It was her. She was lying, limp on the floor, lifeless. From behind her she could hear a truck behind her, and men jumping out of it.

"Hello!" she yelled. "I'm fine! I'm right over here!"

But nobody seemed able to hear her.

"Hey! You Ginny Weasley?!" Alas, somebody could hear her. She whirled around, grinning broadly. But that grin disappeared as she stared at the person.

"Who are you?" was all she could say.

"I am God," the person said. Ginny frowned. "I'm Jacob Emerson. One question. Do you want to become a ghost?"

"No!" Ginny yelled loudly. "What the hell is going on?! How do you know me?!"

Jacob handed her a piece of parchment about the size of her handbag, which, by the way, was lying beside the dead her on the ground.

Virginia "Ginny" Weasley; red-haired, tall, thin; Killing Curse

Ginny dropped the parchment. Something clicked.

"Am I..."

"Dead? Yea, but you get past that minor detail once you've been dead for a while."

"I'm dead?!"