A Cinderella Story - In the Universe of Harry Potter

Rescue

Ding-dong! Knock, knock, knock!

"Ahhh!" squealed Pansy, dropping her brush onto the dressed. "He's here1"

"Honestly, Pansy, act your age," Millicent said with sharp authority, straightening up to her full six feet and two inches.

Ginny's heart raced as she silently exited the room into the hallway, and it was beating wildly against her ribcage.

The very boy she loved was standing on the other side of that door.

She leaned over the empty tray she was carrying, trying to fix her hair as best as she could.

She pulled her hair away from her face, trying to make it look like it had that night.

"Oh, Ginevra. . ."

Ginny turned towards the voice. "Yes, Stepmother?"

"Stupefy!"

*~*~*~*

Harry sighed, holding the glass slipper against his chest.

This was the last house. She had to be here, or . . . He'd have to marry someone else.

The large door of Madam Sinistra's opened, revealing the woman in deep purple, a humble smile on her face.

"Price, Harry," she said with a bow. "How wonderful to see you."

"The pleasure is mine," Harry said, kissing her hand.

Draco sniggered quietly behind him.

"Come in, come in," Madam Sinistra said, standing aside and opening the door wider.

"Just stay here," Harry said to his guard.

He and Draco were led into the house by Sinistra, into the foyer.

Immediately the two young women bounded from their room, only slowing when they set eyes on the two young men in their household.

"Prince Harry," Pansy purred when she reached him, giving a curtsy.

"Pansy," Harry said, bowing in turn. "You seem to have . . . Blossomed overnight."

"You are too kind, my lord," Pansy said, batting her eyelashes.

"And the same to you, Millicent," Harry said.

Millicent smiled.

"And this is Draco," Harry said, turning to his best friend. "He's just . . . Here," Harry said, throwing his friend a glare unseen by the others.

Draco looked ready to burst with laughter.

"Greetings," he said. "E-excuse me for a moment. I seem to have left something in the carriage."

Harry forced a smile to the others.

*~*~*~*

Ginny awoke with a splitting headache. The last thing she remembered was her stepmothers face. . . .

Francesca had stunned her!

Tears rose in Ginny's eyes.

How could she do such a monstrous thing?

Her body aching in protest, Ginny sat up. Where was she?

The attic. . .

Ding-dong!

she heard in the distance.

Oh here. That meant Harry was here.

Ginny stood in and ran to the door, pounding on it.

"Oh, please let me out!" she cried. "Stepmother, please!"

*~*~*~*

Down in the kitchen, Remus was peeling potatoes.

Remus froze when he heard a pounding in the distance.

"Did you hear that, Hermione?" He asked. It sounded like. . .

"Remus?" the young girl turned to him, currently stirring soup.

"I don't know," Remus said absently. "I just have thing strange feeling . . ."

"What's the matter?" Ron asked, joining Hermione.

Remus went to the end of the kitchen, listening hard. He opened the door to the hidden staircase.

Poof!

"Remus!"

He fell to the floor in surprise as a cloud of sparkles erupted in his eyes and a young woman appeared in front of him. She looked at least ten years older than Hermione and Ginny. Her hair was a very bright green that he had never seen before. She had a heart-shaped face and wore purple robes. Her dark eyes glittered, her face a mask of a fluster.

"It's you!" Remus gasped.

It was the very woman Ginny had been speaking with yesterday.

"Ginny's in trouble," the woman said, offering her hand.

Remus was too stunned. He just stared up at her with an open mouth.

"COME ON!" the woman repeated. "She won't call for me, so I don't' know where she is!"

Remus snapped out of it and grasped her hand. "Let's go," he said the other two.

"I'll go get Minerva," Ron said, heading out toward the garden.

Remus, Hermione and the young woman hurried up the narrow staircase. Remus had a million questions.

"Who are you anyway?" Remus asked, panting with the effort of keeping up with her.

"Nymphadora Tonks, Ginevra's Fairy Godmother," the woman said rather quickly. "But it's a long story -- I'm sure we'll get a chance to explain later."

The pounding grew louder and louder with every step they took.

"Help!" said the much muffled voice of Ginny.

"The attic!" Hermione said.

*~*~*~*

"Oh come on!" Pansy cried as she tried to pull on the glass shoe.

Harry stood there, shifting from foot to foot. "Oh -- please, be careful --"

"My foots swollen, that's all," Pansy said. But that was the same thing Millicent had said. "So much dancing last night, my lord."

"I don't think it's going to--"

"Of course it'll fit!" Pansy snapped. She then forced calm. "It's got to."

*~*~*~*

"Ginny?"

Ginny looked up, wiping her eyes with her apron. She had been sitting. "Remus?" she asked, her voice thick with tears.

"Yes, it's me, are you all right?" Remus answered.

Ginny stumbled to her feet and to the door. "I--I'm fine now that you're here!" she said with a relieved laugh.

"It's not just me," Remus said. "Hermione and Madam Tonks as well."

"Hermione!" Ginny repeated. "Tonks!"

"Just give us a moment," said Tonks' voice.

Ginny stood back and watched in wonder as a pink light filled in the cracks of the door and the pins holding it unscrewed themselves.

Then the door opened, revealing all three of her friends. Elated, Ginny nearly jumped into Remus' arms. "Oh Merlin, I'm so glad you came!" she cried. "All of you!"

She hugged Tonks and Hermione in turn.

"We don't have much time," said Tonks, holding Ginny at arms length. "Your Prince is downstairs."

"Prince?"

"Long story, the explanation will come when we have time, but we must get her downstairs."

"B-but -- look at me," Ginny said desperately, indicating her tear-stained face and ragged appearance. "He will never --"

"Don't let that horrible doubt of yours creep in now," Tonks said. "He loves you. He'll know who you are."

Ginny couldn't help the smile and blush that creep up her cheeks. Tonks smiled fondly. "Now come on. Everyone grab hold."

Ginny already knew what Tonks was doing, but Remus and Hermione just stared.

"Just take my hand," she said.

Without another moment's hesitation, Remus grasped her much smaller hand, and Hermione grasped his.

"One -- two -- three!" Tonks said.

And then they were downstairs, right inside the kitchen.

Ginny looked anxiously at the door.

"Just breathe," Tonks said. "He'll know."

*~*~*~*

"I must insist, no more," Harry said, grasping the slipper from Pansy.

"Let me try it once more," said Millicent, trying to grab the slipper.

"No," Harry said, turning away.

"But -- I just --"

"Be careful -- I --"

"No --"

All of a sudden the slipper went from his hand.

Both Harry and Millicent tried to grasp for it, but it slipped from both of their grabbing hands and fell to the marble floor, shattering into many pieces.

Harry froze, staring at the once beautiful shoe. It sparkled in the sunlight.

The whole entire room was silent. Draco had wide eyes, Millicent looked green. Pansy's mouth was hanging open, and Madam Sinistra looked furious.

Harry shook with his anger. That was it. That was the last of her.

"Thank you, Misses, Madam," he said, not meeting anyone's eyes. "Goodbye."

Harry whirled about on his heel, rushing out of the house. It wouldn't be the same, even if he repaired it. He was a fool. A foolish boy, and stupid for thinking he could ever find her.

*~*~*~*

Ginny rushed through the room, noticing the broken glass on the floor. There was a shard that still had a bit of shape: a heel.

"That's my shoe!" she said.

"Do you have the other?"

"Y-yes --"

"WHAT?" Pansy screamed.

"Just go," Remus said. "We'll take care of this. Or rather, Madam Tonks."

"All right," Ginny said. "Thank you, Tonks."

"GO!"

Ginny rushed out the door to see such a sight. There was a rather handsome carriage outside of her home, led by . . . Nothing it seemed. Two men were boarding the carriage, one with blonde hair and the other . . .

Raven.

"Harry!" Ginny cried.

The young man turned about at the sound of him name. Silent tears were rolling down her cheeks as she watched him. He stepped of the carriage, looking at her thoughtfully.

"Have we met?"

Ginny silently nodded. "Twice."

He was closer now, his brow furrowed. "I know you from somewhere," he said.

Ginny pulled her right glass slipper from her pocket. She handed it to him, before pulling her hair away from her face.

Harry looked down to the shoe, then up at her.

Finally.

He was putting everything together. When they ran into each other in the village, now . . . And the Ball, most importantly.

He reached for her then. "It is you," he said.

Ginny smiled, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh Merlin," Harry said, his breathe ghosting on her cheeks. "I have been through so much looking for you . . ."

"I'm sorry," she whispered as he cupped her cheek. "I would have found you sooner,
but . . ."

"It doesn't matter now," Harry said, his lips very close to hers. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is that?" Ginny whispered.

"I love you," Harry said. "There is no one else. I've never known anyone like you -- and I don't want to lose you again. . . And I still don't know your name."

More tears.

"Ginevra," she said. "Ginevra Weasley. . . But call me Ginny."

He closed his eyes, a slight smile on his lips.

He finally kissed her. Her first, sweetest, most loving and passion-filled kiss. This was real.

Harry knelt down on one knee, reaching for her foot.

"Ginevra Weasley . . . I would be the happiest wizard in the world, if you gave me the greatest honour. . . There is no one else that I love, and I will love no one else. . . I may not deserve it, I'm selfish and foolish . . . But give me the honour of . . . Becoming my wife."

He slipped the shoe on her foot, and she broke into silent sobs. She buried her face in her hands as everything from the past came crashing down on her.

She fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around him. She buried her face in his shoulder, squeezing him tight.

He drew back a little to kiss her cheeks.

"Yes," she said when she had caught her breath. "I will marry you."

Harry kissed her again, holding her tight against his lean form. He lifted her off her feet, spinning about with elated happiness.

"I love you!" she said over and over again.

And Draco leaned back into his seat, a happy grin on his face.