Down Came the Sky

Ginny was bursting out of her skin to see Harry again by the time breakfast rolled around the following morning. Even though it was slightly risky to her health, she was itching to press her lips on his again. They hadn't done it nearly enough, she determined. And he loved her...Ginny was almost certain that Harry loved her. She wasn't quite secure if it was actually love, per say, but Ginny knew that Harry most possibly felt loving feelings toward her.

Ginny stared at her porridge, which was looking increasingly unappetizing, and she pushed it away, cursing herself for not waiting for Harry. Yes, he definitely has strong feelings that could be interpreted as love for me, Ginny thought as she took a sip of orange juice. Her stomach churned uncomfortably and she set the glass down, letting her thoughts wander. Indeed, her mind skipped into dangerous territory not a moment later and she found herself wondering if she had interpreted Harry's feelings for her too strongly. She realized that in actuality he never did say "I love you," but merely "I more than like you." And last night? Ginny told herself that it was more likely that he whispered something like "thank you" in her ear, or was simply breathing heavily. Harry wasn't the type of person to say the "L" word, Ginny determined. Doubts began cropping up in her mind more rapidly and Ginny felt dizzy with thought. Taking a deep breath, she decided that there was only one way to work out his feelings for her. She had to find a way to get him to tell her.

The plan for this, however, was unable to be formulated as Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall. Harry made a beeline toward her and sat down, staring at her anxiously.

"Hey," he smiled, pushing his satchel under his feet. He looked at her for a while until he leaned in and kissed her cheek only to snatch a piece of toast a second later.

"So far so good," Ginny said encouragingly, placing her hand close to his. He nodded and almost spastically grabbed it.

"The way you hold my hand won't change your magic, you know," Ginny snorted softly, holding his hand a little firmer in her own.

"Sorry," Harry replied sheepishly. "I s'pose I'm a bit jumpy." Ginny had to admit that she was a bit nervous herself, but she loved that there was no more rule and that thought almost trumped her anxiety. She glanced across the table at Ron and Hermione, who were speaking quietly to each other, seemingly in their own world.

"Were we ever like that?" Ginny muttered to Harry, shifting closer to him.

"Dunno," he replied, pulling a plate of food toward himself. "They're actually not that bad," he went on, tipping some sausages onto his plate.

"Really?" Ginny replied doubtfully. Harry pushed the plate toward her, but she declined it wordlessly.

"Really," he emphasized, locating the toast. "I reckon they feel better about acting that way around me when you're around."

"Makes sense," Ginny responded, picking up a piece of bacon. She chewed it and moved into Harry further so that she could lean her head on his shoulder. He leaned his head on top of hers and her stomach jumped in a fashion that was most enjoyable to her. She smiled as she finished her bacon and felt his arm slide to her waist.

"I missed this," she sighed contentedly, lifting her head so that she could eat some more. Harry made a noise of agreement and reached over for the marmalade. He scooped up a mound and stared at it. "Is something wrong?" Ginny asked as he turned to look at her. Ginny stopped chewing and raised her eyebrows at him as he grinned and spread the marmalade over her nose. "Harry!" she shrieked, grabbing for the nearest napkin. He smiled smugly.

"You always do this sort of stuff to me," he said casually, moving his fingers so that Ginny was aware that his arm was still around her waist. She stifled a laugh and shot him the most dangerous look she could muster.

"But you forgot one thing," she replied in a low voice, crossing her arms.

Harry still was staring at her triumphantly when he responded, "What's that," in a tone that Ginny thought made him sound more confident than he ought to be.

"That I always win," she grinned, picking up the nearest condiment within her reach. It happened to be sugar and Ginny quickly dumped it on Harry's head. Harry cursed and stood up while Ginny watched him, smiling innocently. She heard a reaction from Ron, and she turned around to him and grinned. "Don't mind us," she said jovially, basking in her sugar triumph.

"I don't understand you--" Ron started, then his eyes suddenly widened and he started laughing as Ginny felt something cold and liquid slither down the back of her robes. Ginny shrieked again, and grabbed the butter off the table, smashing it in Harry's face. Harry wiped it off and attempted to lean around her, but she grabbed his wrists. He was stronger than her, but she didn't loosen her grip, causing him to have extreme difficultly in attacking her with another food item.

"Give--up. You can--never--beat--me--" she struggled to say as he attempted to reach behind her.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley, what in heaven's name do you think you're doing?" Ginny dropped Harry's wrists quickly and Harry backed away, eying Professor McGonagall nervously. He looked strange, standing there with his hair speckled with sugar and clumps of butter smeared across his face. Ginny wondered if she looked as funny.

"Erm..." he started, looking at Ginny for help. Ginny smiled at her professor.

"I couldn't let him beat me, Professor," Ginny said seriously.

"I see," Professor McGonagall responded slowly. "As enjoyable as your flirting is to you two, this is not the place," she continued in a clipped tone, though Ginny swore she was masking amusement. Ginny nodded solemnly, and glanced over at Harry so that he would do the same. "Now go clean yourselves up before your lessons," she finished sternly. Ginny felt a rush of relief as the professor departed.

"I can't believe we didn't get detention," Harry gaped.

"What can I say...scorgify," Ginny smirked as she cleaned off Harry. She did the same for herself and snatched up another piece of toast.

"You think you got us out of detention?"

"I'm better at avoiding trouble than you are," she responded with a mouthful of bread.

"That's not saying much," Harry mumbled, slightly smiling at Ginny.

"No," Ginny replied lightly, sipping her orange juice again. "But it does mean I win." Harry opened his mouth, as though to protest, but Ginny grinned and leaned into him so that she could lightly press her lips on his. He seemed startled and a bit distracted, causing a grin to stretch across Ginny's face.

***

Ginny sighed as Madam Pomfrey examined her burn and dabbed a gooey green healing salve over it.

"The bandages will be ready to come off soon," Madam Pomfrey said as she fitted some new ones to Ginny's side. "Until then, be patient." Ginny felt the corner of her mouth pull into a small smile and she nodded, hopping off the hospital bed as soon as her burn was covered once more.

"Thanks," she said, retrieving her bag from a chair in the corner. Madam Pomfrey nodded slightly in response and Ginny left to meet Luna in the library, this time for a Herbology essay.

After pushing through the heavy doors of the library, Ginny located Luna spreading her things over a table in the corner. She approached the table and smiled. "Ready?" she whispered. Luna looked up at her slowly and nodded serenely. Ginny placed her bag in front of an empty chair and began to take out her things.

"You're looking well, Ginevra," Luna stated, staring at Ginny intently.

"I'm feeling better," Ginny responded, settling down in her chair. Luna nodded, still watching Ginny, and took a seat beside her.

"Its quite different," she said softly, peering at Ginny more closely. Ginny shifted in her seat and shrugged her shoulders.

"Where d'you reckon we should start," she said, hoping to talk about something else. Luna furrowed her brow and turned to the contents of her book.

"Chapter 7 has the most information," she replied, sounding a bit put out. Ginny was slightly confused and turned to chapter 7 of her Herbology book. She and Luna were silent for a while and Ginny was starting to feel uneasy. Usually when she and Luna didn't talk it felt comfortable, but this time it was different. It was as if they had just had an unspoken argument. Luna kept her eyes on her book, but Ginny could tell she wasn't reading as they unmovingly fixed on a picture of a Fanged Geranium.

"Are you angry with me?" Ginny blurted, unable to keep it in any longer. Luna looked slightly taken aback but shook her head. She watched her friend bite her lip and stare down at the table. "Is something the matter?" Ginny asked. Luna drew her eyes up and nodded.

"Why don't you ever talk to me?" she queried softly. Ginny wasn't used to seeing Luna appear so vulnerable and timid. In fact, she wasn't even used to seeing Luna bothered. Ginny leaned in toward her friend, frowning.

"What do you mean?" she replied, feeling her forehead began to ache from the worried expression she was holding. She relaxed her face and continued to watch Luna.

"I know that there are things going on with you and Harry. I hear the rumors and I've seen you act strangely. But you never tell me. I wish...you're--you're one of my only friends and I hear everything about you second hand."

Luna shook her head and picked up her quill, her hand shaking, and attempted to start her essay. Ginny felt her mouth turn downward and she picked up her own quill. She let it hover over the ink bottle as she turned back to Luna, who was writing quite slowly. Ginny dropped her quill and leaned in to whisper to Luna.

"I'm sorry--"

"It's all right. I know that I'm being silly--"

"You're not, Luna. I've been too wrapped up in myself to be a good friend--"

"I know it must be hard with everything Harry's going through--"

"I want to tell you more," Ginny finished and Luna smiled gratefully back at her.

"Thanks," she replied, giving Ginny's arm a small squeeze. Ginny smiled back and turned to continue her essay, but she felt Luna's eyes still upon her.

"You worry about him a lot, don't you," she said quietly, focusing her large, protuberant eyes on Ginny. Ginny smiled to herself. Of course Luna would want to start talking now, she thought.

"I s'pose," Ginny replied, setting her quill down. "He's going through a lot." Luna nodded seriously.

"Yes, but you know he's strong."

"He is," Ginny agreed, feeling herself swell with a bit of pride. Her boyfriend was one of the strongest people she knew. Even so, Ginny couldn't help the inward anxiety that surmounted when she dwelled upon the weight of his task. She knew he could do it, but it was still a lot; almost too much. And learning Kaigdin magic didn't seem to be helping him, Ginny mused.

"But you're still worried," Luna said, dragging Ginny's mind back to the presence of the library. Ginny sighed.

"I wish I could tell you more, Luna, but I'm afraid I can't. It's not my information to tell." She blew out an anxious breath and stretched her mouth into an unnaturally wide smile. Luna smiled back and started working on her essay again. Ginny followed her lead and let herself get lost in her studies.

*

Ginny was surprised when Gryffindor Tower was mostly empty by the time she returned that evening--she usually observed students mulling about until at least ten. Her eyes were beginning to feel heavy, even as she stood in the middle of the common room, and Ginny decided that she would go to bed early. Her energy was quickly being swallowed up by homework, Quidditch and all the worrying she directed in Harry's direction.

She could almost feel the soft comfort of her quilt as she dragged her feet heavily up the stairs to her room. Slowly turning the handle, she was not shocked to see both Amy and Hadley sitting on Amy's bed chatting. Ginny quietly smiled at them and went over to her trunk to get out her pajamas. She heard Hadley clear her throat softly, and Ginny turned her head around.

Hadley studied her for a while and then turned to raise her eyebrows to Amy. Amy shook her head and stared down at the bed.

"What?" Ginny said sharply, dropping her pajama bottoms on her bed.

"You've seemed awfully sad lately for someone who snagged her long standing infatuation," Hadley said quietly, peering more closely at Ginny.

"I'm not sad," Ginny replied, pulling a t-shirt out of her trunk. Hadley snorted and whispered something to Amy. Ginny sighed in irritation and began to change into her pajamas.

"Ginny, I heard you crying last night," Amy said softly, looking up from the bed.

"It wasn't me," Ginny replied automatically, pulling her t-shirt over her head. "It must have been someone else." Hadley frowned at her, looking unnaturally concerned.

"We promise we won't say anything," Hadley said gently, scooting toward Ginny. "We just want to help." Ginny shook her head, and went to climb under her covers.

"I really don't know what you're talking about," she responded, pulling her blankets to her chin. Amy stood up resolutely and approached Ginny.

"We've all heard you at night...what's going on?"

"Nothing," Ginny muttered in frustration, gripping the top of her covers.

"But, I've heard you crying...almost every night," Amy retorted forcefully, looking Ginny in the eye. "And I hear you talk in your sleep too." She hesitated for a moment and looked back to Hadley. Hadley nodded for her to continue and Amy turned around, her eyes glinting with determination. "Who's Tom?"

Ginny felt her stomach drop, but she tried to control her feelings of dread by offering her roommates a feeble shrug.

You can tell me anything, Ginny...you know that I will win...

Ginny slowly lifted her shaking arms and wrapped them around her stomach. Amy's hand slid over her back and rubbed it in small circles.

"Let us know how we can help," she whispered soothingly. Ginny looked up at her quickly and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I need to...I have to..." she looked wildly around the room, feeling as though the walls were closing in on her. Hastily throwing off her covers, Ginny pushed herself off her bed and bounded down the stairs. She drew in a deep breath, attempting to ease her panic, as she noted a group of fourth years lounging on the chairs by the fire. She didn't know where to go, but her attention became so fixated on the fourth years that she was almost hypnotized by the laughing group. The portrait door opened, but Ginny continued to stare at the group as a petite brunette giggled at the comment one of the boys made. The boy mumbled something else that caused the girl to laugh again.

"Are you okay, Ginny?" Ginny turned her head slightly, idly noting that Dean was talking to her. "You don't look well."

Ginny reached up her hand, which still shook, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Dropping her hand, she turned her attention back to the group of fourth years.

"Ginny?" Dean continued, lightly shaking her by the shoulders.

"I'm fine." Her voice shook, and Ginny knew that Dean wouldn't be convinced. He turned around and said something to Parvati who nodded and gently grasped Ginny's wrist.

"I'll take you to your room," she said, gently leading Ginny forward.

"No!" Ginny burst out, pulling her wrist from Parvati. "No...I can't..." Parvati frowned at her but Ginny shook her head and walked toward the portrait hole. She had to find Hermione, she decided. She reached out her hand to open it and was startled as it swung open before she even touched it. Harry was standing on the other side, looking extremely worried. Ginny backed up as he stepped through.

"I had this strange feeling..." he said, staring at her. "Are you okay?" Ginny felt her fear turn to worry almost instantly.

"You had a strange feeling?" she asked sharply. Harry raised his eyes over her head and noticed Dean and Parvati staring at them.

"We need to talk some place alone," he whispered in her ear, tugging her out the portrait hole by the hand. Ginny could feel Dean and Parvati's eyes on them as they left.

"Where are we going," she asked Harry as he dragged her forward.

"Dunno," he replied, glancing in an empty classroom. He pulled her in and shut the door. "Ginny, are you okay?" he said once he had closed the door.

"What? I'm..." He was staring at her intensely and Ginny felt her words tumble to the floor. She silently shook her head and leaned it on Harry. He ran his hand down her hair and murmured lightly to her. "It's okay...it'll be okay..."

Ginny pulled back from Harry abruptly and he stared at her, bemused. "What do you mean, you had a strange feeling?" she said. Harry crinkled his brow and touched her shoulder lightly.

"I--I was reading and all of a sudden it was like I knew you weren't doing well." He shrugged and placed his other hand on her shoulder.

"And you were right," Ginny whispered in reply, drawing her eyes to his. How could he know that, she wondered? Harry frowned and lightly ran his thumb across her cheek.

"What happened?" he asked softly.

"I--it's embarrassing," she replied, stepping back from him. His arms dropped to his side and he peered at her closely.

"Please tell me," he entreated quietly. Ginny shook her head and lowered herself into the nearest seat. "Ginny..." he pleaded, finding a seat near her. Ginny cleared her throat and dropped her eyes to the floor.

"I've been having nightmares again," she mumbled stiffly, too afraid to look back at Harry. "My roommates have been hearing me."

"Have you tried putting a silencing charm around your bed?" Harry asked gently. Ginny looked up at him quickly, wondering how she could have been so thick. Of course Harry would know about nightmares, she realized. She numbly shook her head. Harry seemed to struggle with himself for a moment until he took a steadying breath.

"Are they about the Chamber?"

Ginny nodded and Harry cursed under his breath. She pulled her knees to her chest and gazed out the window, which only displayed the reflected gleam from the lights of the classroom. She stared at Harry's reflection in the window as he leaned his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor.

"When did it start?" Harry asked finally, sitting up fully again. Ginny didn't want to answer--she knew he would blame himself. It wasn't his fault and she didn't want him feeling like it was. She wanted him happy. "When did the nightmares start again?" Harry questioned more strongly. Ginny pursed her lips and dropped her eyes to her hands. "You won't answer..." Harry got up and started to pace, "...you won't answer because you started having nightmares after I was possessed, is that right?" Ginny still didn't answer and she heard Harry growl in frustration. "Am I right?" he asked again, raising his voice.

"Harry," Ginny whispered, drawing her gaze to him, "No matter what, I'm sticking by you."

"Am I causing you to have nightmares?" he said fiercely, as if she had said nothing.

"No," she replied softly.

"That's not true," Harry responded in a low voice as he slowed his pace.

"Yes it is!" Ginny retorted, standing up from her chair. "Maybe something was triggered in me that night, but it was never you. You don't cause me harm. It's all him."

"But I'm linked to him!"

"By some bloody prophecy, yes...but who you are is not linked to him. You're..." Ginny struggled with her words, unable to find the right way to express herself, and slumped down into her chair, feeling defeated. "I don't want to have this fight again," she murmured.

"I don't want you to leave," Harry spoke quietly, taking a seat beside her again. "I just had to know..." he trailed off and pulled his chair closer to her.

"We have to get back to Gryffindor Tower," Ginny whispered, realizing that curfew must be drawing near.

"I know," Harry replied, though he didn't move.

"You're going to win," she said softly, staring at his hands which were placed in his lap.

"I hope so," he responded.

"You're going to win!" Ginny repeated with more determination, grabbing both of his hands and looking him straight in the eye. He looked at her sadly and leaned in slightly. Ginny felt her pulse quicken as he leaned in further and she met his lips. She encircled his neck with her arms and he pulled her closer, running his hands down her back. She pulled away for a breath and was startled as the sound of small crashes resounded around her. Her eyes flew open and she saw all the chairs in the classroom strewn about and lying at odd angles. Ginny snorted. "It will never be normal with us, will it?"

"It never has been," Harry smirked.