Down Came the Sky

Chapter Nine: Revelations

Ginny had determined that repeating Runic phrases after Professor Bystrom wasn't that bad. In fact, she had decided in her third year that she liked the practice because it helped her to memorize the words better. Even if the old Professor liked to prattle on a little too much about his travels in Sweden while he was "a strapping young lad," Ginny found most of his teaching to be useful. And the language fascinated her. The lesson ended all too soon, however, and Ginny, grumbling, was fully aware that she had Potions next.

The castle was chilly as she quickly made her way down to the dungeons, carefully avoiding the eyes of all the students she passed. A line of Gryffindors were already queuing outside of the classroom when she reached it. She glanced at Hadley and Amy, whom she would have originally joined in the queue, but they only shot a fleeting glance her way. She reckoned that they must still be a little upset with her. Biting back her frustration at moody teenage girls (herself included) she located Colin and walked over to stand next to him.

"Did you find what you needed on Vampires?" she said, dropping her satchel in front of her. Colin raised his eyebrows and nodded.

"Yeah, volume 17 was helpful," he replied, glancing over at Ginny's roommates and back to Ginny. Ginny ignored his curious look and smiled. Colin cleared his throat and shifted, casting her a peculiar expression.

"So, er, are you nervous about the Hufflepuff game?"

"Sort of, but Harry's loads better than Summerby..." Ginny's stomach contracted horribly as the comment slipped out and she pressed her fingers to her lips to hide her obvious frown.

"Are you okay?" Colin said, placing a careful hand on Ginny's shoulder. Ginny nodded and dropped her hand from her mouth.

"I must be under the weather," she said weakly. Colin stared at her disbelievingly, but nodded anyhow. They stood silently until Snape opened his classroom. She tried deliberately harder that lesson as focus was the only way she could keep her stupidity off her mind. Her stomach turned uncomfortably as lunch drew closer and she nearly dropped her flask of potion before heading to the Great Hall. She had avoided Harry since she had told him she loved him, but she knew she couldn't forever.

By the time she reached the Great Hall, her heart was hammering so hard that she could feel the vibrations in her stomach. She swallowed and pushed the doors open. Ron, Hermione and Harry were sitting at the Gryffindor table with the seat next to Harry empty. She slowly walked up to them, shifting her bag as she went and quietly slid in next to Harry.

"Did you forget to eat breakfast," he said staring at his plate. Ginny shoved her bag under her feet and muttered a "yes." Harry turned to look at her, but she wasn't quite sure what to make of his expression. Was it relief? Fear? Uncertainty? He picked up his hand and let it hover over hers until he blew out a shaky breath and covered her fingers. Ginny swallowed and turned her hand over to lace their fingers together. It made her feel a little bit better, but something about the way that they held hands felt apprehensive. They had rarely entangled their fingers so limply. Ginny felt her hand tense at the thought, and Harry's hand followed for a moment until they both relaxed back to the limp like state again.

"What's wrong with you two?" Ron said, and Ginny noticed for the first time that meal that he was cheery. She glanced over to Hermione, who was smiling at her plate. She looked up at Ginny, embarrassed, and grinned. Ginny's jaw dropped when she glanced at her brother again. She gently kicked Harry under the table and widened her eyes at him. He smirked and she felt his first two fingers gently press on her knuckles. For some reason it gave her butterflies. She just about started teasing Ron and Hermione but then she changed her mind, deciding that she would let them get used to each other first. She thought that they deserved the same advantage she and Harry had. Her stomach jolted again when she thought of Harry and she turned her head quickly around to him to study his face.

"What?" he uttered to her as he shifted his head.

"Nothing..." Ginny responded, turning around to look at Ron. "How d'you reckon the Hufflepuff game will go?" Ginny said, successfully guiding Ron into outlining the finer points of Hufflepuff's weaknesses. Ginny counted herself lucky that the topic was of interest to both her and Harry. She was afraid at what might be said otherwise. He kissed the top of her head before they departed for afternoon lessons. Harry had barely let his lips touch her at all since the employment of the rule, causing Ginny to stare after him in disillusionment while she absently touched the top of her head. She all at once felt a rush of emotion coupled with a strong despair. She wished he loved her.

Ginny wasn't sure how long she absently gazed out the doors of the Great Hall until a voice interrupted her trance.

"Ginny?"

She felt her stomach turn uncomfortably as she saw Dean seating himself across from her. She took a breath. "Yes," she replied, congratulating herself on how pleasant she responded.

"I, erm, don't know how to say this..." Dean trailed off and shifted uncomfortably. "But I reckon I'll just get right to it." Ginny suddenly felt nervous and twisted her fingers together in her lap wondering what in the world Dean was thinking. He leaned in toward her and dropped his voice. "I heard this rumor--"Ginny groaned and buried her face in her hands"--and you know what I'm talking about," he finished slowly, gazing at her inquisitively. Ginny shook her head and peeked out through her fingers at him.

"It's not true, whatever you heard..." Ginny said dully, dropping her hands to her lap.

"All of it?" Dean queried uneasily.

"I don't know what you heard, but the whole thing was one big, fat misunderstanding courtesy of my roommates Hadley and Amy."

"Oh." Dean looked relieved and he smiled faintly. "I didn't really believe it," he said, though the statement sounded a bit like a question. "I wouldn't think Harry would ever..." he continued, "...he's a decent enough bloke, even if he does have all that You-Know-Who rubbish plaguing him." Ginny looked at him sharply as his last comment came out and he shrugged his shoulders. "I've shared a room with him for the last six years," he said simply.

Ginny bit her lip and nodded. "Dean..." She looked at him a moment and took a breath. "Er...thanks. I mean, you didn't need to see if I was okay..." Dean shrugged again and Ginny gave him a small smile.

"I would be a right prat if I didn't." Ginny smiled a little wider at him and nodded. "We had fun together," Dean said casually, though his tone was tinged with a bittersweetness. Ginny could feel a similar pang run through her and she stared down at her hands until he spoke again. "Glad it's all okay then," he said, rising from the table.

"Thanks," Ginny smiled. He smiled back and shouldered his bag.

"Seeya," he said, turning to leave. Ginny sighed and pushed her food away. She wasn't in the mood to eat any more.

***

She didn't see Harry approach the table she was occupying in the corner of the library, so it surprised her when his hand slid over her parchment and moved it away from her. She stared up at him quickly, her stomach jolting nervously.

"You're avoiding me," he whispered over the hushed tones of the library. Ginny stubbornly shook her head and attempted to push his hand from her parchment. Harry only strengthened the weight of his hand.

"In case you haven't noticed," Ginny whispered fiercely. "This is my OWL year and all my homework is beyond stressful." Harry clenched his jaw, his eyes meeting hers in challenge. Ginny huffed and tried to push his hand from her parchment again, but he was stronger than she was. She pressed her foot down on his and attempted to move his hand again, but he merely winced and held his hand firmly in place.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered irritably. Anxiousness flitted across his face, but it almost instantly disappeared.

"Yesterday--" he started, but Ginny shook her head.

"Forget about it Harry," she said, attempting to push his hand off her parchment again. Bloody stupid boys and their strength! she thought as his hand didn't budge. She growled under her breath, bent down and bit his hand. He yelped and pulled his hand off of her parchment while she pulled her homework toward herself.

"You're making this entirely too difficult," he said quietly, nursing his hand. Ginny felt a pang of guilt when she saw some of her teeth marks had drawn blood.

"It's okay Harry. I didn't mean to say it. Let's pretend it didn't happen." She tried to sound casual about this, but it was difficult as her throat clenched tightly and her eyes clouded. Harry sighed and rested his forehead in his hands.

"Can we talk about this somewhere else?" he muttered.

"No."

Ginny hadn't meant for it come out so harshly and Harry looked slightly taken aback.

"Why not?"

Ginny shook her head furiously and started writing on her parchment again until Harry snatched her quill from her hand.

"Harry, please, my homework is important."

"This is more important," he insisted in a low voice. Ginny felt her body go slack in resignation as he walked around to stand her up and guide her out of the library.

"You can't just say something like that and ignore me," he said once they had reached the corridors. His mouth quirked at the irony as she had said something similar to him before they had gotten together. Ginny merely stared at him. The amusement died off his face and he stepped closer to her. "Er--did you mean it?"

Ginny searched his face for a while. She couldn't determine what he wanted to hear and then she realized that she couldn't lie to him. She dropped her eyes and whispered a "yes," as though ashamed. Harry tipped up to her chin and looked closely at her.

"Its okay, Ginny," he said softly.

Ginny shook her head. "It doesn't matter," she mumbled, looking away from him.

"No, I--I reckon it does matter."

"I don't want you to feel obligated--"

"Of course I don't--"

"It was too soon--"

"Ginny," he said, exasperated.

"I don't expect anything from you, Harry."

"I understand that," he replied in irritation.

"Fine then," Ginny said, turning back to the library.

"Stop." He said it so forcefully that Ginny froze in place. Her stomach fluttered nervously as he gently turned her around. "Will you listen to me?"

"I know what you're going to say, Harry," she choked, stepping out of his grasp. "Can't you just save my pride and forget about it?"

"Merlin, Ginny! Do you really think so little of me?"

"What?" Her vision blurred and she covered her face, turning away from him. He drew nearer to her again and turned her by the shoulders toward himself.

"Because I hope you meant it," he said shakily, dropping his eyes. "I might more than like you too." He continued to stare at the ground, though his breathing noticeably quickened. Ginny released a sob of relief and leaned her head on his chest. He seemed momentarily startled, but then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She had never felt so protected.

"You're such a git," she cracked when her tears abated.

"Me? You were the one acting thick."

"I s'pose I'm used to things being one-sided," she said quietly. Harry frowned and reached a tentative hand toward her cheek.

"You don't have to believe that anymore." He dropped his hand and stared at her. "Ginny?" he muttered, running his thumb across her cheek.

"Yes, Harry?" she whispered.

"Please..." He took a great shuddering breath, "stay..." His last word hung in the air as his sentence remained unfinished. Harry appeared utterly frightened at his unfinished request but Ginny thought she could determine what he was going to say. She was amazed at his insecurity; as if there was ever a question, she thought fervently.

"Of course," she said, reaching toward his fingers. She slowly looked up at him and felt her breathing cease at the expression on his face. His own breathing quickened and he bent down to kiss her.

Ginny could tell that he missed it by his enthusiasm and the fact that she was backed against the wall almost instantly.

"Harry," she panted as she pulled away. "Is it okay?" His breath was hot on her face and he cracked his eyes open to look at her. Without thinking, she reached up and ran her hands down the front of his robes.

"I don't care," he breathed, pulling her into another kiss. She was barely aware of the awkward sounding voice that was seemingly addressing them.

"Erm, maybe you should take that elsewhere."

They broke away from each other and Ginny felt her face heat magnificently, certain it must have resembled a tomato. Ernie Macmillen was standing in front of them, his eyes darting uncomfortably around the corridors.

"At least go to an empty classroom," he said quietly.

"Right," Ginny responded, ceasing Harry by the hand. He stared at her in bewilderment as she dragged him to the nearest flight of stairs.

"What about your things," he said stupidly as she pushed him against the banister.

"I've spent too long hating that rule," she replied, planting another kiss on his lips. He wrapped his arms around her and she felt her feet briefly leave the ground as the staircase shifted below them, causing Harry to loose his balance so she toppled down on top of him. She pulled away from him, heaving him up in the process and led him to another flight of stairs, only to stop and kiss him again. They continued in this pattern until they reached Gryffindor Tower. She lifted her head as they kissed outside of the portrait of the Fat Lady so that he would kiss her neck. She groaned as his lips met the column and shrieked almost an instant later when something hot grazed the side of her ribs. When Harry stepped back from her, she saw that the tips of his fingers were singed.

"I burned you," he gasped, looking from his fingers to her side.

"Argh!" Ginny shouted, pushing him back in frustration. "Can't you just focus you so that I can kiss you like a normal girlfriend?"

"No," Harry emphasized, matching her tone. "That's why we had the sodding rule!"

"You focused it once!" she retorted, crossing her arms. The material of her robes chafed her new burn and she winced. He frowned at her and tried to look at her burn, but Ginny only pulled away.

"Ginny," he breathed as she stepped back from him.

"I know...no more kissing," she replied, dropping her arms despondently.

"Are you okay?"

"It's nothing. I'm fine," she responded, reaching out to squeeze his hand lightly. "I'm going to finish my homework." Harry nodded and gazed at her longingly before entering the common room. Ginny sighed and cursed under her breath as she trudged back down to the library.

*

Ginny returned to Gryffindor Tower hours later, attempting to ignore the burn on her side and the patch of her robes that were marred around it. She would have done something about them, but she didn't feel like going to the hospital wing again and fixing her robes felt like too much effort at the moment.

Muttering the password to the portrait of the Fat Lady, Ginny stumbled into the common room and saw her favorite three people sitting around a table. Harry noticed her first and gave her a shy smile, unconsciously rubbing his fingers as he did so. Hermione's head snapped to her a moment later and she jumped up toward Ginny, seizing her by the hand.

"We need to talk," she whispered, dragging her toward the dormitory stairs. Ginny glanced over at Ron whose ears were bordering on crimson.

"All right," she replied, slightly dazed. She glanced back at Harry, who was staring at her in disappointment, but he bent over his parchment and muttered something to Ron. Hermione pulled Ginny up the stairs and into her room, shutting the door behind her.

"He did something!" she beamed.

"Finally," Ginny grinned back, reaching out to give Hermione a hug. "But I figured as much this afternoon."

"I thought that," Hermione replied, going over to sit on her bed, "but I wanted to tell you about it anyway." She bit her lip as another grin stretched across her mouth.

"So, what happened," Ginny asked, joining Hermione on her bed.

"Er, well, it was a bit strange, but he and Harry had to leave the library last night while we were studying for a bit and then Ron returned by himself--"

"That's because Harry took me to the kitchens," Ginny cut in.

"Did he? Oh, well, Ron came back and didn't say a word. He was completely silent for about five minutes and I just about asked him where Harry was when he slipped this note to me that said 'Harry and Ginny want me and you to go to Hogsmeade with them.'"

"What a wimp!" Ginny exclaimed.

"That's what I thought," Hermione continued enthusiastically. "I had half a mind to yell at him for not being direct, but then he leaned across the table and told me he would rather it just be the two of us, if that was okay." She sighed dreamily and laid back on her bed. "I'm so relieved..." her voice faded and she closed her eyes. Ginny laid down next to her.

"We're all relieved," she giggled teasingly, poking Hermione in the side.

"I'm sure you are," she replied, poking Ginny back. Ginny sucked in a sharp breath and winced in pain. Hermione's eyebrows contracted and she looked down at Ginny's side. "What happened to your robes?" she asked, fingering the fabric.

"Harry, er, accidentally burned me," she said lightly, pushing herself up to a sitting position.

"Did you go to the hospital wing?"

"No, I've been there too much recently," Ginny muttered with a weak smile.

"You should get that healed," Hermione said seriously.

"It's probably fine," Ginny responded, waving her hand. "Tell me more about Ron."

"How did he burn you?"

"It's a long story, I'm sure you're not interested--"

"Ginny, please tell me." Hermione crossed her legs and leaned toward Ginny attentively. Ginny sighed.

"Er, I s'pose I should start with last night then." Hermione propped her chin in her hands and nodded as Ginny took a breath. "I sort of let it slip to Harry that I loved him and he looked at me like I was a Blast Ended-Skrewt or something, so I ran away from him. And got sick," Ginny added with a grimace. Hermione's eyes widened, but she stayed silent so that Ginny would continue. "But then he found me in the library after dinner today and made me talk to him, even after I bit him, and he said he more than liked me--"

"You bit him?" Hermione exclaimed in disbelief.

"Only because he wouldn't move his hand off my essay."

"Oh," Hermione responded, nodding for Ginny to continue.

"Well, after something like that is said, it's only natural to kiss...but we haven't kissed for a while because he reckons it makes his magic out of control. I think fire came out of his fingers or something, because they were singed."

Hermione stared at her with her mouth hanging open for a while until she shook her head. "Let me see your burn," she insisted, reaching for the clasp of Ginny's robes. Ginny pushed Hermione's hands off her and took it off herself and pulled up the side of her shirt. Hermione gasped.

"What?" Ginny said nervously.

"It's purple," she responded softly, "and quite blistered."

"Really?" Ginny said, getting up toward the mirror. A thin purple burn bubbling with sickly yellow blisters streaked across her side. Ginny pursed her lips; she could tell why Hermione gasped.

"You need to get that healed," she said forcefully, pulling Ginny out the door.

"It's not that bad..." Ginny trailed as Hermione shot her an incredulous look.

"You also need to tell Harry," she instructed as she dragged Ginny toward the stairs.

"He already--"

"And," Hermione cut in, "the two of you need to speak with Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore?" Ginny echoed weakly.

"Yes, Dumbledore," she said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Harry!" Hermione spoke loudly, dragging Ginny over to the table. "I'm taking Ginny to the hospital wing, you need to get Dumbledore and meet us there."

"The hospital wing?" he repeated in alarm, rising from his chair. "What's wrong, Ginny," he said nervously. Ginny pressed her lips together and silently lifted the side of her shirt so he could see the burn. He backed away from her, shaking his head.

"Hermione thinks we should figure this out," Ginny said weakly.

"What did you do?" Ron demanded, looking heatedly from Harry to Ginny as she pulled her shirt down.

"He can't help it, Ron," Ginny replied, grabbing for Harry's hand. He quickly pulled it out of her grasp and stepped back from her.

"Hermione's right," he said, turning to Ron. "I'm going to get Dumbledore."

"I'm going with you," Ron said earnestly. "We'll meet you in the hospital wing."

"I swear I should just move in there," Ginny muttered under her breath as Hermione hurriedly guided her out of the portrait hole.

***

"That's a third degree, magic induced burn. You should have come to me much earlier, Ms. Weasley," Madam Pomfrey tutted as she gently applied the orange burn healing paste on Ginny's side. Ginny didn't respond, but sucked in a sharp breath as the cotton dabbed her tender side. "Well, it'll heal, but it will probably scar since you waited so long," Madam Pomfrey continued briskly. Ginny nodded mutely and smiled weakly at Hermione. "It needs to heal in open air for a while," Madam Pomfrey went on, pulling out a clear healing salve, "so you should probably stay here until you are able to put you shirt back on."

"But I need to talk with, er--some males," Ginny responded anxiously. She didn't fancy sitting around with Dumbledore, Ron and Harry in merely her bra.

"Then stick your head through the curtain," Madam Pomfrey stated swiftly, screwing the top back on the healing salve. She smiled. "I'll warn you when they come," she said, leaving the girls alone and enclosed around the bed where Ginny was sitting.

"If Harry saw you now, he would probably burn down Hogwarts," Hermione jested quietly. Ginny rolled her eyes and laughed softly.

"I reckon he would," she replied, feeling her throat close in. "At least I don't have to question being attractive to him," Ginny joked tightly. Hermione smiled and shook her head. Ginny half laughed and half sobbed in response.

"It'll be okay, Ginny," Hermione urged soothingly. "We'll get this all figured out." Ginny sighed, giving Hermione an affirmative nod while they waited silently for Ron, Harry and Dumbledore.

And they waited.

Madam Pomfrey came to check on Ginny and examined her burn. "It appears to be healing nicely," she said, dabbing a different healing salve on it and fitting a bandage to her side. "Come by tomorrow so that I can change your dressings."

"We're done?" Ginny said weakly.

"You've been here for over two hours, Ms. Weasley."

Ginny pulled her shirt over her head and looked at Hermione questioningly. Hermione was staring at the ground, apparently deep in thought.

"Should we go find them?" Ginny queried, trying to get Hermione's attention.

"I wonder what's taking them so long," Hermione muttered to herself, chewing the tip of her thumbnail. "Should we go find them?" Ginny pushed herself off of the bed and nodded, thanking Madam Pomfrey on the way out.

The girls wandered to Dumbledore's office and stopped outside the statue of the gargoyle. "Do you know the password?" Ginny asked Hermione. Hermione shook her head and Ginny sighed, leaning against the nearest wall. "I s'pose we'll have to wait then," she said, sliding to the floor.

"I could go ask McGonagall," Hermione offered, still staring at the statue.

"Does she know about the prophecy?" Ginny replied pointedly.

"No, but she knows enough. She is in the Order--"

"I'd prefer to wait," Ginny cut in quickly. She didn't fancy dealing with McGonagall after the bruise misunderstanding. In fact, she had been avoiding the professor since then.

"Fine," Hermione responded, leaning against the nearest wall. "I hope that they don't take too long."

Ginny wasn't sure how long they waited, but it felt like eternity because neither she nor Hermione spoke a word until Harry and Ron emerged from the spiraling staircase. Ginny, who had sank to the ground as they were waiting, jumped to her feet quickly and instantly felt nervous at Harry's state. He appeared to be more disheveled than usual and what was more, he was pale and shaking. Ron didn't look much better as she cast a quick glance over to him. Harry's eyes widened when he saw Ginny and Hermione and he coughed quickly before saying, "Is everything all right, Ginny?"

Ginny nodded. "Fine. What about you?" Harry wiped his forehead with the back of his arm and shook his head.

"Nothing makes any sense," he breathed shakily.

"How do you mean?" Ginny said, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She wasn't certain how much closer she should get to Harry.

"Dumbledore thinks my accidental magic with you is a good thing...but it hurt you...and the book says it's a dangerous emotion..."

Ginny stared at the ground and crossed her arms. "So what are we supposed to do about it, then?" she asked petulantly.

Harry shrugged. "Act normally while I try to control it."

"And that's been working..." Ginny trailed sarcastically. Harry flushed and stared at the ground as well. "What took you so long, anyway," Ginny inquired, glancing over at Ron. He gave her a lopsided smile.

"I was irking Harry--"Harry snorted, interrupting Ron. "Dumbledore wanted to see if it would work as strongly with other emotions, so I tried to make him angry and fearful."

"Did it work?" Hermione interjected suddenly. Ron's eyes widened at her comment, but he shook his head slowly.

"He didn't do anything more than levitation," he explained to Hermione.

"We'll try it this way then," Ginny said more bravely than she felt, grabbing Harry's hand.

"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.

"Of course I'm sure," she replied, happy with the steadiness of her voice, though her insides were trembling.

"What if--"

"Everything is a 'what if', Harry!" Ginny retorted shrilly, turning to face him fully. "I'm going to do everything I can to help you win, okay?" Harry stared at her with his mouth agape. "You'll swallow a fly if you don't close your mouth," Ginny muttered, pushing his shoulder.

"How can you stand all my rubbish?" Harry said, his voice cracking slightly.

"I thought we covered that earlier," Ginny responded, crossing her arms. Harry slowly placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her into him, burying his head in her neck. He held her for a long time. Ginny sighed and raked her hands through his hair. "Don't forget, you asked me to stay," she whispered, running her lips over his head. She wasn't sure because his breathing was heavy, but she thought he whispered 'I love you' in her ear.