One Day

Chapter 3

Ginny was dizzy. She needed to catch her breath, only she couldn't stop running. She had to get out of there. She needed to get as far away from Harry as she could.

She ran into the hall and frantically looked for Hermione. She saw her on the dance floor with Ron. She didn't understand how he could be here, but she couldn't stop to think about that. She started toward them, but was stopped by Luna. She had that all knowing look in her eyes

"He came, didn't he? I told you that chair was for you." Ginny was stunned. How did Luna know? "I have to go now, Luna. Good to see you again. I'll owl you soon." She turned back to the dance floor. Ginny had lost sight of Hermione, but she saw Ron standing tall above the crowd getting a glass of juice for his wife; she followed him.

Hermione turned to take the glass and saw Ginny. She smiled, but it was quickly replaced by a frown. Ginny didn't look happy - she look scared. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. How could it be? Harry talked to your right?" Ron failed to notice Ginny's panicked state.

Hermione threw him a glare and continued, "Ginny, what happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I need to go. I'm sorry to leave so early, but I really need to get out of here." Ginny eyes kept darting around, watching for Harry.

"Come on, stay. It isn't every day my little sister gets a proposal from Harry Potter." Ron was all smiles; he still didn't notice that something wasn't quite right.

"What! How do you know?"

"Well - why do you think 'Mione asked you to come? Why did you sit at Neville's table? Why was there a "reserved" sign at the table?" Ron had no idea he was making Ginny turn red. Hermione put her hand on Ron to stop him, but he kept on going.

"We had it all planned. I faked not being able to come. 'Mione would get you to come with her. Harry had a place saved for him next to you. He was supposed to show up for dinner, but that didn't happen. You two would walk under the moonlight - Ouch! Why'd you do that?" Ron was rubbing his arm and glaring at Hermione.

Hermione had an innocent look on her face. "I don't know what you're talking about." Putting an arm around her sister-in-law she asked "Ginny, did something happen?"

Just then Ginny saw Harry coming through the doors. "I've got to run. I will deal with you two later." Ginny glared at them and turned away. She was immediately lost in the crowd.

She ran through the happy guests and entered a small room off the Great Hall. It was just a parlor, but Dumbledore had made it available for people to Floo if they were not Apparating to the station.

Ginny didn't want to see Harry, but she was certain he would know where to look for her. She knew she couldn't go to The Burrow, or her place. She grabbed a handful of powder, threw it in, and said, "The Leaky Cauldron". Ginny would walk Muggle London and gather her thoughts.

Though it was late, people were still enjoying the evening when Ginny arrived at The Cauldron. She immediately exited the inn. Her feet seemed to have a mind of their own, which was good, because hers was too full to do two things at once.

How could she have reacted to Harry as she had? What was wrong with her? Was she insane, or just the world's biggest idiot? In truth, Ginny knew why she had said and did what she had. How could she even begin to explain it to Harry, though?

He wouldn't understand her struggle, her doubts. Ginny had tried to project to the world a sense that she had control over her life. It was a great charade. Until 5 months ago, she thought she was more than good enough for anyone. But her foundation was shaken; her self-esteem was non-existent. Thanks to Marcel she didn't know whom to trust, not even if she could trust herself. Ginny walked from Diagon Alley towards her apartment. She knew Harry would be waiting for her at her apartment. She decided she had let him worry long enough. Ginny headed home.

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Harry strode over to Ron and Hermione, hoping that Ginny would be with them. She was nowhere to be seen.

"Have you seen Ginny?" Harry could tell by the look on their faces that they had. Ron looked confused and Hermione looked worried. "Where did she go?" Harry needed to find Ginny quickly. He wanted to straighten things out.

"She said she had to go. She didn't look happy. Harry, did something happen?"

"It went wrong - it went all wrong!" Harry was shaking his head and running his hands through his hair. He felt like pulling it out.

"Would someone please tell me what is going on?" Ron was getting mad. He was standing between his two best friends with his hands on his hips. He kept looking back and forth between Harry and Hermione. He didn't understand what could have gone wrong.

"Ron, are you blind? Didn't you see how upset Ginny was?" Hermione was also getting upset. What was wrong with him? Why did he have to be so dense? Hermione mumbled something under her breath that sounded strangely like "teaspoon".

Harry could tell they were gearing up for a fight. He needed to nip this in the bud. "I need to find her. Do you know where she was headed?"

Hermione shook her head. "You may try her apartment - or The Burrow."

"Why is Ginny upset? She has loved Harry since she was 10 years old. What does she have to be upset about? This should be the happiest day of her life." Ron's face was red and he was tired of being ignored.

"I'll call you later." Harry left, going out the front door. He ran down the steps and headed for Hogsmeade. He hoped he would find Ginny on the way. He needed to find out what was wrong.

How could she not believe him? How could she think he didn't love her - didn't want her? Harry ran all the way to the village, but he never saw Ginny. He decided to Apparate to The Burrow.

When Mr. Weasley had been appointed as Minister of Magic, the wards protecting their house were strengthened. Harry was one of the few people who were allowed to Apparate to the house directly. All others had to Apparate to a special area a mile away and walk the remaining distance to the house.

He made a small "pop" as he appeared in the garden. He decided to look in the windows to see if Ginny was here. Most of the lights were off. Harry noticed the light in Ginny's old room was not lit. He peeked in through the kitchen window and saw that no one was home. He knew the Weasleys were at a banquet. They had not returned. All the children had their own places, so no one was around.

Harry decided Ginny must have gone to her place. His next stop was her apartment. She lived in Muggle London - not far from Ron and Hermione. She decided to move near them when Hermione got pregnant. She had said she wanted to be close in case of an emergency.

Harry had Apparated into a deserted alley across the street from Ginny's apartment building. It didn't look like anyone was home. There were no lights on, though that didn't mean that she wasn't there. He crossed the street and walked inside. Ginny lived on the third floor and her apartment stretched across the entire front of the building. He came to the top of the stairs and stopped. His heart was beating fast and his stomach felt like he had eaten some of Hagrid's treacle tart.

Harry cast a Silencing Charm on the other apartment and knocked on Ginny's door. No response. He knocked again, saying, "Ginny, please let me in?" Again - nothing happened. Harry really wanted in, except he wasn't comfortable opening up her door. He wanted Ginny to open the door.

"Gin, please, can't we talk? I don't know what I did wrong. Please tell me? Please let me in?" Perhaps she wasn't home. He decided to wait until she returned. He sat on the floor next to her door, getting as comfortable as possible. He wasn't leaving until he saw her and they talked.

Harry kept running the night through his head and he could not come up with a reasonable explanation for Ginny's reaction. He loved her. He thought when he told her she would be happy, would throw her arms around him and kiss him. Harry really wanted to kiss Ginny. He had been thinking of nothing else for several days. Harry could not understand why his dream was falling apart.

Didn't she care for him? Both Ron and Hermione told him she still cared. Could they be wrong? Was she finally over him and didn't want to tell him, didn't want to hurt him. She was probably in love with someone else. She didn't want him any longer. He had been so messed up, for so long, she got tired of waiting.

Harry had just managed to convince himself of this and was getting up to leave when Ginny walked up the steps. Harry froze. Ginny hadn't seem him and he didn't want her to run away again.

Harry watched as Ginny stopped half way up the stairs. She slowly raised her head. The look on her face was so full of sorrow, Harry wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be fine - he would protect her. Instead he stayed where he was and asked, "Are you ok?" Harry's voice sounded strange to him, quiet and scared. His throat was dry. He couldn't make himself speak up. He thought it might scare her.

Ginny seemed to be looking at a spot on Harry's left shoulder. "Yeah, I just wanted...I guess I just needed to be alone, to think. I'm sorry I ran away like I did."

Harry was trying to look into her eyes, but she wouldn't look at him properly. He took a tentative step forward. "I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to upset you. I wasn't...it wasn't...what I said wasn't a joke. I really meant it, every word."

Ginny stood still. She was gripping her wand so tight, Harry was afraid she might hex him. "Thank you. It was ...very nice. I think I'll just go inside now. Goodnight." She moved toward the door. Harry came up behind her.

"Can I...could we talk, Gin?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea. I think you should go home, Harry. It may be best if we just forget what happened tonight."

"I could never forget." Harry took a step and closed the space between them. They were almost touching. "I finally had the chance to tell you how much I care for you. I held you in my arms, and ran my fingers through your hair." He reached up and gently placed the back of his hand on her hair and stroked it.

"I'm sorry I scared you - I didn't mean to. I just wanted you to know...I wanted you to love..." Harry swallowed the lump rising in his throat. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry I hurt you. I'll leave now, if that's what you want. Just know I will always love you. Goodbye, Gin." Harry's voice broke as he finished. He didn't want Ginny to see how she had torn his world apart. He took a step back and Ginny 's voice stopped him.

"Harry..." Ginny had turned to face him, she had tears running down her face, "did you ...do you really mean it? Do you love me?"

Harry turned toward her. He looked her into the eyes and smiled. "Yes, with all my heart. I would never lie to you about that."

"Maybe you should come inside."