Will You Ever Return to Me?

Chapter 7.

Three days after arriving at Salem, Harry's head was still spinning from everything that happened--especially the information regarding Hund. He was mildly disappointed that it didn't put him on Hund's trail, but he hoped that would change soon--and learning advanced Transfiguration with Diana Clarence was preferable to aimlessly wandering the country.

He didn't talk to Ginny since the night he arrived. They didn't avoid each other, but neither seemed willing to start a conversation. It was almost as if their relationship reverted back to their childhood, when Ginny was simply too shy to talk in front of him.

Harry was eating dinner in the local bar--he preferred it there rather than the school food--when someone sat across from him. He looked up from his plate. "Ginny?" he said.

"Hey," she replied. "How's training?"

"Well enough," Harry said. "Why?"

"Can't I be worried for you?"

"You weren't be--"

"I always worried for you, Harry, and you should never pretend otherwise. If you're allowed to break up with me to keep me safe--"

"You used that time quite productively, if I recall," Harry said.

"Enough with the sarcasm, Harry. It doesn't suit you. I've met Hund. I've fought him. He's dangerous."

"More dangerous than Voldemort?"

"Voldemort didn't put you in jail," Ginny said.

"He didn't try. he always tried to kill me."

"He didn't do that, either."
"Ginny, do you even know Malfoy was in league with Hund and Bellatrix until they turned on him? I was there. He was shocked when Hund killed him."

"You feel sorry for him?"

"Not really. Do you? He was your husband--"

"In name only."

"What?"
"I told you already, Harry; I don't know why I did it. Why I married him, why I stayed with him--"

"Love potion?" Harry suggested.

"I wish it was that simple. But would you forgive me if it was?"

Harry shrugged. "It wasn't, so why consider it? It doesn't make sense, anyway. If you were free of influence when you escaped, you wouldn't go back."

"I am trying to figure out what it was. Because I remember my feelings clearly. I loved him. I don't know why. But I never stopped loving you."

"Ginny, if you think--"

"I'm just worried about--"

"I don't need your worry. I don't want it," Harry said angrily. "There are enough people obsessed with me without you adding to the mix."

"No one's obsessed with you anymore," Ginny said coldly. "Least of all me. You got what you always waned. Happy?" She got up and headed towards the door.

"Ginny--" Harry managed before she vanished outside.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" someone else asked.

Harry turned, drawing his wand. In front of him stood one of the women who tried to capture him when he trespassed SWI territory. "Can you talk any louder?" he said sarcastically. "Yes, I am."

"Oh. Megan Shelley," she introduced herself and grinned, white teeth flashing against the dark skin of her face. "Can I sit down?" she asked.

"Sure," Harry said. "You were the one Professor Clarence chastised for failing to act like an Auror, since you want to be one."

"That's what I came to talk to you about. But first... what is it between you and Nurse Weasley?"

"Nothing," Harry said. "We used to date when we were still in school. I broke up with her--"

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why'd you break up?"

"I was afraid Voldemort would use her to get to me."

"I see... you acted all noble."

Harry was stunned. Not only Megan was blunt, but she had used almost the exact words Ginny had the last time they talked as a couple. It's some stupid, noble reason, isn't it?

"What happened?" Megan asked, as if not noticing his reaction.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Curious. The way she looks at you--"

"That doesn't matter--"

"If you say so."

"She married my worst enemy at school."

"Oh," Megan said. "I'm sorry."

Harry didn't reply. "What did you want to ask me?"

"Well, Mr. Potter, I really do want to be an Auror."

"So? If you think I can help you get in, you better think again, since I got dropped from the program myself."

"No... I want you to teach me. I want to improve my fighting skills."

Harry didn't expect that. "Why me? Why not ask--"

"Miss Lyman? Ms. Clarence? They're Transfiguration teachers, it's not their specialty. And I don't really feel like signing up for an IS with anyone else around."

"IS? Harry asked, confused.

"Independent Study. Besides, you've already taught me a very important lesson."

"What's that?"

"That my fighting skills need improvement. You demonstrated that very clearly three days ago."

Harry laughed. "That wasn't my intention."

"I know. Will you help me?"

"Where do we practice. We need a rather large space--"

"In the forest. I know plenty of nice places."

Harry finished his food. "Well, come on."

"Now?"

"Harry looked at her. "Do you want to learn, or do you want to talk? The most important thing when it comes to combat is being able to deal with surprises. Consider this one."

Megan smiled and followed him. "I think I'm going to like learning from you, Mr. Potter."

"Just one thing. It doesn't matter how good you are; If you aren't focused on succeeding in your training, if you try to go through it half-heartedly, they'll notice it and they'll drop you... like they did with me."

He looked up at her, expecting her to ask what distracted him during training. He wouldn't answer her, and he doubted she'd insist once he said it was personal... but instead, the woman just nodded and proceeded to walk into the forest, holding her wand at the ready.

And here I was talking about surprises, he thought. It seems Megan surprised me.