Chasing Ginny

Chapter One- The Betrayal

He was on a beach lying on the warm sand. He could hear the waves crashing against the shore. Someone was standing next to him, but whom he did not know. The outline was blurred, but he thought that the person strongly resembled Ginny Weasley. The sun was setting. As Harry continued to sit on the beach, he saw the sun slowly move over a mountain and out of view. He thought he heard the person standing next to him say something, though he couldn't quite make out what they said. Harry still couldn't figure out who it was at the beach with him. Suddenly he heard a loud voice and his Aunt Petunia walked onto the beach. He turned and saw his aunt yelling, "Harry, get up right now! Get up!" Harry heard his aunt yell at him once more before the beach left his sight and the world spun around him.

Harry sat up in bed, still trying to wake up. The sun seemed about ten times too bright for his eyes. Rubbing his eyes, Harry turned to the clock. He had suspected that it was a little after seven, but was shocked when the clock read quarter 'till eleven o'clock. Harry had noticed that he seemed overly exhausted this summer, probably the result of being depressed. Harry heard Mrs. Dursley's voice again which only added to his misery. With a groan Harry thought, "oh no, not again." He jumped out of bed and raced out of his room, right into his Aunt Petunia. One look at the expression on his Aunt's face told him that she was very mad at him.

It was only the second week of summer vacation but with Aunt Petunia yelling at him a million times a day it felt like it had been eternity. Of course it didn't help that his godfather, who was his only decent relative, was killed before summer break.

"Get downstairs right now and talk to your silly friend! He has been yelling through the phone and... and..." said Aunt Petunia gasping for breath. "Vernon is extremely upset!"

"Sorry, I..." Harry said.

"No time for apologies, just go!" she said as Harry raced down the hall. "Oh no, wait!" she exclaimed.

"WHAT?" Harry said who was now yelling too.

"Where's the aspirin? The noise is UNBEARABLE! I have never seen Vernon so upset!" Aunt Petunia yelled back.

"Ugh..." Harry ignored her and ran down into the kitchen where he found his cousin Dudley searching through the cabinets for earplugs.

"Where's Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.

"Just follow the noise," yelled Harry's enormous cousin Dudley.

So, Harry followed Uncle Vernon's angry shouts into the living room.

"Hello? Are you still there?" Ron said through the telephone.

"Of course I'm here! What do you want?" Uncle Vernon roared.

"CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Ron yelled.

"I already told you, I can hear you just fine! Why are you calling? If you're from Visa you called yesterday and yes I still have MasterCard and I do not want to switch!"

"Huh? What's a creddish card? Is it one of those game pieces that you can play Go Fish with?" Ron asked sounding confused.

"WHO ARE YOU? OR A BETTER QUESTION...WHAT PLANET DO YOU COME FROM?"

"Err...I A-M F-R-O-M H-O-G-W-A-R-T-S T-H-E S-C-H-O-O-L O-F W-I-T-C-H-C-R-A-F-T A-N-D..."

"HUSH! Who are you and what do you want? Don't tell anyone, please! You must keep this a secret, it's not our fault we were related to someone so...." Uncle Vernon whispered into the phone.

"HELLO! I'm in the room you know!" Harry yelled.

His Uncle Vernon just glared at him and started to open his mouth.

"Anyway, er, Uncle Vernon, I think it's for me," Harry interrupted.

"Just take it already," Harry's uncle said, thrusting the phone at him.

"Ron, I thought we agreed that you wouldn't call me unless it was an emergency. You need to learn how to use the telephone first."

"OH, SORRY HARRY! WHAT DID YOU CALL IT? A FELLYTONE?" Ron shouted.

"SHH! Yeah, that's close enough. Just keep your voice down! You can talk normally and I'll still hear you," Harry explained sounding very annoyed.

"Okay," Ron said quietly. "Sorry about calling, it's just with umm...well, I thought you might want to come to the Burrow."

"Ron, honestly, I wish people would just treat me normally. Do you think I'm going to just break down and cry if you say the name Sirius? Yeah, Sirius is dead. Big deal, now leave me alone! I've gotten on with my life so get used to it," Harry yelled.

"Harry, I'm sorry. We just thought you'd be sensitive and stuff..." Ron said.

"Oh just shut the fuck up! Do you have a group of counselors over there talking about how hard this is for Harry? Pretty soon I'll tell you I got an Acceptable in Potions and you'll say, so, how do feel about this?" Harry left off, sounding tired.

"Harry, I just meant me, Fred, George, Ginny, and Hermione..." he broke off as Harry interrupted him.

"Hermione's there too? Put her on!"

"But-"

"NOW, RON!" Harry yelled through the phone.

"Okay," Ron said softly, a bit hurt.

He put Hermione on.

"Hi Harry," Hermione said.

"Why did you let Ron call me? You knew what happened the last time!" Harry yelled.

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry. I just didn't think. I was so wrapped up in thinking you might like to come over to the Burrow."

"I know, you always mean well."

Hermione blushed on the other end of the line. "I'm really sorry about Sirius, Harry. Ron was just concerned. We all care, really!"

"I know," Harry said softly. "It's just I feel so guilty. I can't help thinking that I could have saved him."

"Harry," Hermione said. "We all feel that way. You have to realize there wasn't anything that anyone could do. I mean how do you think Dumbledore feels about this? He's the one feeling guilty. We know how much it hurt you."

"Well, I'm just..." Harry trailed off sounding embarrassed.

"Just what Harry?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I'm scared," Harry said in a whisper. "Anyone who has a relationship with me gets hurt..."

"Harry, you can't be blamed..."

Harry interrupted her. "First my parents, and then Cedric Diggory, and now Sirius. What if something were to happen to you or Ron? I'm not sure if I could live with that."

"Harry, listen to me. Nothing is going to happen. Even if something does happen no one blames you so you shouldn't blame yourself. Everything will be okay," Hermione said soothingly. "I have to go now. We'll come to pick you up tomorrow. Be ready, okay?" Hermione said. "I love you."

"All right," grumbled Harry. "I love you too." It had been two weeks now since Harry and Hermione had started going out. Harry had called her in the beginning of the summer and told her his true feelings. Hermione had hung up, allowing herself to cry, but had called him back five minutes later saying that she loved him too. Harry didn't think he'd been this happy in a long time.

"Oh, and Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"I'm fine about Sirius. 'Bye."

He put the phone down in a hurry and sank down against the wall. Tears were already flowing down his cheeks by the time he hit the ground.

He was not over Sirius. A part of him had died with Sirius, the normal part of him, the adventurous part, the funny part. He had loved Sirius like he had loved no one else. He didn't even love Hermione as much as he loved Sirius. All in all, he wasn't quite sure why he was dating Hermione. She seemed to like Ron better anyway.

"Boy! Come cook breakfast!" Aunt Petunia called.

"Coming!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~At the Burrow~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"He's lying, isn't he," Ginny said.

"I don't think so," Ron put in. "He got pretty mad at me when I didn't use Sirius's name."

Hermione sighed. "I know Harry pretty well-"

Ginny suppressed a snort.

"And even I can't tell if he's lying or not. He told me not to worry, so I won't."

"You will too," Ron put in.

"I will not!"

"Will too!"

"Will not!"

"Will too!"

"WOULD YOU TWO CHILDREN SHUT UP!" Ginny yelled.

They didn't seem to hear her. Fred opened his mouth and said, "Here we go again."

The twins and Ginny left Hermione and Ron to it.

When Ginny went back in to call them for lunch, she didn't expect to see what she saw. Ron and Hermione were passionately kissing on the couch.

Ginny screamed. Ron and Hermione sprang apart, though not guiltily, just surprised.

"What's Harry going to say?" Ginny yelled.

"I never loved him anyway," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"What do you mean you never loved him? You were just saying a minute ago that you know Harry pretty well. How can you say you've never loved him?" Ginny yelled.

"Ginny, I'm sorry. I've just always had feelings for Ron," Hermione said. "Promise me you won't tell Harry."

"Fine," Ginny grumbled. "Ugh! I can't believe you two. You are the most disgusting people I know!"

"Just promise you won't say anything to Harry, okay Gin?" Ron said.

"And what if I do?" Ginny asked.

"Remember that time when I had some late-night studying to do and I found you and Michael Corner in the Astronomy Tower..." Ron replied.

"Okay, okay, I promise!" Ginny replied hastily. "But I still think you guys are being bastards," she yelled as she stomped back upstairs.

As soon as they heard Ginny's door close, Ron and Hermione went back to kissing passionately.

Once, Fred came into the living room. He said, "Hey Ron I..." suddenly he looked up and was startled by the sight. "Umm...never mind, I see you're busy here..." he said as he exited the room.

"Hey George, you'll never guess what I just walked in on..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back at the Dursleys*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry wiped his tears and went downstairs. When entering the kitchen he heard, "That boy...I can't have his freakish friends calling...can't stand him," Harry's uncle said.

"Vernon, just be patient. We'll find somewhere to send him," Petunia said.

"Wow," Harry thought. "This is going to be a lot easier than I expected."

He walked into the kitchen to find Aunt Petunia and a very red-faced Uncle Vernon.

"Err...I'm going to the Weasley's tomorrow. They'll come to pick me up," Harry said wishfully.

"Pick you up HOW?" Uncle Vernon said. "I will NOT have another fireplace exploding in my living room. The last one was worth a ton. It was an antique!" Uncle Vernon roared.

"Oh, don't worry. They'll find some other way to come," said Harry suppressing a chuckle as Uncle Vernon looked at him suspiciously.

Harry tried to imagine the Dursley's reaction to seeing Fred and George coming in their flying car or even on broomsticks.

"Fine, you can go. But I won't be having you back here if you cause any problems," Uncle Vernon warned Harry.

"And if you or your friends do any, umm..." Aunt Petunia stuttered looking for the word, "funny business..."

"Magic?" Harry asked.

"I thought we told you never to say that word in our presence!" Uncle Vernon hissed.

"Just remember, you don't know anyone with the surname Dursley," Aunt Petunia said.

Harry said, "Fine," and headed upstairs to pack.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*At the Burrow*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginny lay on her bed trying to settle down. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. Everyone had always sort of known that Hermione and Ron had liked each other but she didn't think that they would deceive Harry like that. She couldn't believe Hermione would do that. She cared about Harry too much. Ron certainly wouldn't. Harry and Ron were so close they were almost inseparable. She couldn't believe that her own brother Ron would do such a thing to his best friend.

"Oh well," she thought, "I guess love makes you do stupid things."

Ginny sat down at her desk and stared at a blank piece parchment. She had promised she wouldn't tell Harry. She couldn't...She bit thoughtfully down on her lip. Then again they had betrayed Harry...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Dursley's*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It took Harry a while to pack. He figured that since he would be at the Burrow for the whole summer he would need lots of clothes and all of his school supplies. He had just changed into his Quaffle boxer shorts (a gift from a mysterious fangirl of his) and was about to hop into bed when an owl flew in the open window with a piece of parchment attached to it's left leg.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~At the Burrow~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginny lay in bed wondering if she had done the right thing. Ron would be furious. She decided to send another letter to Harry with Fred and George's owl.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Dursley's*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Harry untied the parchment from the owl's leg, he wondered what Pig would be doing there. He hoped that the plans for tomorrow hadn't changed. He just had to escape the prison that he was in or he felt like he would explode. When he opened the letter he was very surprised. It was from Ginny and it read:

Dear Harry,

Hi! How has your summer been? You're probably wondering why I'm writing this letter (especially since I promised not to). I'm really sorry about this but I had to tell you. Today I walked into the living room and, oh god it was so sick, Ron and Hermione were kissing on the couch.

As Harry read this two large tears fell down his cheek and hit the page.

Harry, I'm really sorry. Well, I'll see you tomorrow!

Sincerely,

Ginny

Weasley

Harry couldn't believe what he had just read. No, surely his friends wouldn't do this to him. He plopped down on his bed as tears streamed down his face. He couldn't believe it. He felt a soft tapping on his shoulder and at first he thought it was Pig, but then he remembered that Pig had already flown back out the window. He got up and found Fred and George's owl with a letter. He untied it - perhaps a little too roughly because the owl screeched - and found another letter from Ginny. Harry was hoping that it said it was all a big joke so he didn't have to worry. Unfortunately that wasn't what it said:

Harry,

I'm so sorry about everything. Please don't tell Ron or Hermione that I told you. I'm truly sorry.

Ginny.

Harry thought, "she's just worried about getting in trouble. She doesn't care. None of them do. They're bastards, all of them. I'm not going to the Burrow tomorrow. No one can make me."

In a classic example of teenage aggression, Harry threw his trunk across the room. It hit the wall with a loud crack as all of his belongings spilled out.

Boy, he was lucky the Dursley's had just left for dinner.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Burrow*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginny woke up to the sound of tapping on her window. At first she thought it was rain but then she realized the sun was shining. It was an owl carrying a letter that was sealed with a red envelope. A Howler. Ginny had half a mind to leave the owl out there but she had a strong feeling that Harry had sent it. Carefully, she opened the window and Pig flew in.

There was a knock on her door and Ron and Hermione came in.

"You didn't tell Harry, did you?" Hermione asked.

"No," Ginny replied in a harsh tone.

She turned her attention back to the Howler. She breathed out a sigh of relief when she saw that it was addressed to Ron and Hermione.

"Here you go, bro," Ginny smirked as she tossed the Howler at Ron. "Came for you n' Hermione this morning. Enjoy"

Ron gulped.

"Ron, darling, is that a-"

The letter exploded and Harry's magnified voice filled the room.

"Hello Ron. I'd like to thank you for taking Hermione, (his voice got louder) OFF MY HANDS! YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND, YOU REALLY HAVE. In case you couldn't tell, THAT WAS SARCASM YOU ASS!"

The letter rounded on Hermione.

"AND YOU! YOU ARE A DISGRACE! DID YOU JUST GO OUT WITH ME BECAUSE YOU FELT SORRY FOR ME? I DON'T NEED YOUR FUCKED UP SYMPATHY! YOU'RE A BITCH AND A WHORE. MALFOY WAS RIGHT ALL THOSE YEARS AGO! I COULD HAVE HAD MUCH BETTER FRIENDS THAN YOU TWO! YOU KNOW WHAT, GO OFF AND NEVER TALK TO ME AGAIN! THE SOONER I SEE YOUR FACE THE WORSE IT IS! I'M NOT COMING TO THE BURROW TOMORROW AND NO ONE CAN MAKE ME!"

The letter spun in mid-air to face Ginny. She paled.

"NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IT'S LIKE TO BE THE DAMN-BOY-WHO-LIVED! I'M THE ONE WHO HAS TO DEFEAT VOLDEMORT! I'M THE ONE WHO'S EXPECTED TO SAVE THE WORLD! DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT STUPID PROPHECY SAYS, BECAUSE I DO! OH AND GINNY, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BROTHER GETS THIS THROUGH HIS THICK SKULL, YOU TOLD ME!"

"DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!"

The Howler burst into flames.

It was a horrific sight in Ginny's bedroom. Ron was sitting in a chair- seemingly petrified. Hermione was pale with shock. Ginny just sat on her bed, unmoving. At last Hermione gained her composure and rounded on Ginny. Just as she opened her mouth, Fred and George's owl floated into the room and dropped another Howler at Hermione's feet.

"IF YOU SO MCUH AS TOUCH GINNY, I WILL SKIN AND BURN YOU ALIVE!" Harry's voice yelled.

Hermione backed up until the back of her head hit the door. The small owl dropped a rolled up letter in Ginny's hands. She tore it open.

Ginny,

I'm sorry about ratting you out but I have a reason and a plan. I will tell you, just not now because my Aunt and Uncle are about to kill me for not getting downstairs to cook breakfast.

Call me!

-Harry

Ginny looked up at the room's other occupants. Ron was hugging Hermione who was sobbing into his chest. Ginny brushed past then on her way downstairs.

"Bastard and his bitch," she hissed.