Split Second

Chapter 8

    “Ginny don’t go with her.....Ginny....”

    Harry awoke in a strange place hearing the voice of......Dudley? No, no. Dudley didn’t know Ginny....

    “Gins, please, don’t go with her....”

    Ron! Now he remembered. Harry realized he was in Ron’s room, on the cot. He was staying with the Weasleys. “Families stick together in a time like this, Harry,” Mr. Weasley had said tearfully. “You know you’re like a son to Molly and me. Please stay with us.” Harry couldn’t turn down the offer, especially since he felt more like a member of the Weasley family than he ever had with his OWN family. So, he’d agreed to stay. Now, he had to awaken Ron.

    “Ginny...”

    “Ron...”

    “Ginny, Ginny....no...”

    “Ron....”

    “GINNY! GINNY NO! NO! GINNY’S NOT DEAD!!!”

    “RON!!!!!”

    Ron shot upright just as the bedroom lights came on; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing there, stricken.

    “What’s......going on?” Ron asked.

    “Ron, you were shouting about Ginny in your sleep,” Harry tried to explain.

    “Ginny? Why would I...” and then the sudden realization of it hit him. “Oh no....oh Ginny...” and tears formed and fell from Ron’s eyes. This triggered his parents who both also began to cry, and cradled their youngest son, their newfound ‘baby of the family,’ in a hug.

    Harry felt that this was more than he could bear, and to allow the Weasleys some alone time, he quietly walked out of the room. When he turned to proceed down the staircase, however, he was confronted with Ginny’s bedroom. The door was open, as it always had been......A symbol of her mind and her heart. Harry’s hands trembled. Was he really ready to confront Ginny’s bedroom? Her things? Her scent? Her soul?? Harry stood outside the door before carefully stepping onto the carpet and flipping on the light switch.

    Everything was left as Harry had last seen it.....

~*......FLASHBACK.....*~

    “Harry....Harry, come ON! We’re going to be late!” Ginny said, grabbing one last hair tie from her dresser and tossing it into her bag. “Daddy will NEVER forgive me for taking his muggle car like he did Ron when YOU went with him!”

    “Oh Ginny, I’m not sure he ever DID forgive us!” Harry laughed, remembering. Then, he got a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

    “Harry, wha--AHHHH!” Ginny squealed as Harry grabbed her and tossed her onto her bed.

    “Maybe I’ll just have to give you a taste of what punishment awaits you if you DO touch the car!!” And with that, he dove into tickle torture, and Ginny was rolling in laughter.

~*......END FLASHBACK.....*~

    Harry walked over to the bed, where the dent from Ginny’s laughing body had last seen it’s spot in the Weasley household. He gingerly touched it, so as not to erase her imprint. Tears formed in his eyes.

    “Oh Ginny....” he whispered. He turned to face her dresser, where there were bottles of spray, and hairbrushes, as well as hair ties, barrettes, and other girly paraphernalia. He picked up one of the sprays, coincidentally the one he had given her for Christmas, entitled “Lost in Heaven,” because that’s how Harry felt when he was with her--lost in Heaven. It was almost empty, and Christmas had only been a few months prior.

    “I love it Harry, it’s so beautiful....” Ginny had said.

    “Beautiful scent for a beautiful girl....” was Harry’s reply, right before they embraced.

    Harry sprayed it onto himself. He didn’t care what Ron would say about him wearing girl’s perfume, or, if at this point, would Ron say anything at all? He decided now was a good time to retreat to bed. He walked to the door, took one last glance into Ginny’s room, and turned off the light.

    Back in Ron’s room, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were preparing to leave Ron, who was propped up in his bed, now much calmer. As Harry walked past Ron’s parents, they called for him.

    “Harry?”

    “Yes?” Harry turned.

    “That’s.....That’s Ginny’s perfume on you,” Molly said a bit choked.

    “Yes....it is,” Harry flushed.

    “You.....may have that bottle if you so desire it.....” Molly said, new tears forming in her eyes.

    Harry thought about that. “No, Mrs. Weasley. Leave it in her room, that’s where it belongs.”

    “That’s where GINNY belongs....” Ron said spitefully.

    “Ronald....” his father said.

    Harry could have sworn he heard an “I’ll never forgive Hermione for this” under Ron’s breath, but he wasn’t certain. He decided to let it drop for the moment.

    Mrs. Weasley was still looking at Harry. “You don’t want it?”

    “No, ma’am. Let it stay here. That way, when I visit your family, I’ll still.....I’ll still be....be visiting a part of Ginny....” At this, the tears came again for Harry, and he turned quickly so as not to upset the Weasley parents any more. He felt to hands on each of his shoulders, belonging to both parents.

    “You’re a strong boy, Harry,” Mr. Weasley said. “But you don’t have to be strong with us. We love her too.”

    With that, Harry crumbled into their arms for his turn. Love. They hadn’t used the past tense. Everything had been said past by everyone else so far, but he knew, no matter what, here or not, that the Weasleys’ love for their daughter would continually be a present thing.