Want to Go for a Ride?

Want to Go for a Ride?

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted was somebody who cares

--Michelle Branch "All You Wanted"

The Day After Dumbledore's Death:

Orange light splashed the walls as the fireplace burst into flame. The flames licked the wood which made it crackle and hiss. Night fell outside the nearest window like a blanket of darkness covering the sky. The stars twinkled like glitter. A light summer breeze whispered through the trees gently. So gently, it was soothing. A few candles burned peacefully in the silent room. The dim lights made the atmosphere warm and welcoming. At such difficult times, candles can do the soul wonders. But for a certain individual, it was going to take more than twinkling stars and candles to make things better. A miracle was needed, a miracle that could not be found.

All the Gryffindor students went to bed at an early hour for such a sad occasion. All except two, one less aware of the other. One sat in a cushioned armchair staring at the fire while the other sat at a nearby table next to the window.

She stared at him, longingly. Her deep, brown eyes alit from a burning candle placed next to her right hand. Her flaming hair looked somewhat softer because of the glow. She wondered silently. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? Did he feel at all, or was he numb? Did she want to know? Her rosy cheeks flushed from the warmth of the candle. She looked at the watch on her wrist and saw that it was a quarter 'til nine.

~

Questions rushed through his head, his mind ablaze like the fire he saw before him. His emerald eyes transfixed and focused, thoughts racing. He felt his temper rising the longer he sat there. He tapped his finger repeatedly on the arm of his chair.

"How could this have happened to me? Me of all people?" he thought. "It's my destiny. With Dumbledore gone...I'm stuck. I can't do this on my own. And Snape left...the coward. He should have never trusted him." Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. His eyes began to burn with tears. "Forget my destiny. I don't want this. I don't want any of it! I want out, but I can't! I can't have my friends suffer on my behalf! Ahh...why did I have to care about people so much?" Harry ran his fingers through his dark hair in frustration.

After a few minutes, Harry couldn't stand another minute of this so decided to get up and go to his dormitory. When he stood and turned around, he found himself looking at a red-haired, freckled girl sitting at a table next to the window. His girlfriend, Ginny. Harry was startled.

"How long have you been there?" he asked.

Ginny looked down at her watch again. "About thirty minutes, I expect."

Harry paused for a moment. "I thought you where in your dormitory. What are you doing?"

"Just sitting is all," Ginny replied. "What were you doing?"

"Just sitting," Harry lied.

"Really?" Ginny questioned, "I got the impression you were doing more than just sitting."

Harry knew that Ginny was quite right but didn't want to justify that with an answer.

"Sit down," Ginny said gesturing to the chair across the table from her.

Harry hesitated. "No, I was just going--

Ginny persisted, "Please, I insist."

Harry, at first, questioned whether he should. He didn't want her to see him in such a state, but then saw how understanding her smile was. He pulled out the chair and sat down in front of Ginny.

~

"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked.

"Fine," Harry said.

Ginny knew he was lying. The truth was in his eyes. She could see it.

"So Dumbledore's death had no effect on you?" Ginny continued.

Harry didn't respond. His face was illuminated with the light from the candle. She could see his tear stained cheeks and his lightening bolt scar, his trademark of who he was and what he had become.

Ginny could tell by his expression that he didn't want to lie to her, but wasn't sure if he should tell the truth. "He knows better," thought Ginny. "He knows he can tell me anything."

"Please...tell me the truth. Trust me," Ginny said pleadingly.

~

Harry stared into her eyes. "Such eyes," Harry thought. He didn't want to tell her how he felt. He didn't want to go through his thoughts at the moment, but knew that she cared and would keep persisting if he didn't. He opened his mouth reluctantly to speak.

"I...I just have been thinking that...that," he began. "I...I...I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!" he shouted. "I HAVE BEEN TORTURED, HURT, TORMENTED, AND HUMILLIATED AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE ANY OF THIS EVER HAPPENS TO!"

His shouts filled the room. Ginny looked at him innocently.

"Besides you," he said a little more calmly. "You are an exception."

"But everybody hurts, Harry" Ginny said.

"Not like I do!" Harry yelled.

Ginny nodded. "This is true."

There was a pause in their conversation and then Harry spoke.

"I WANT TO RUN AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK BUT I CAN'T! WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULD I BE? I JUST WANT TO BE--

Harry cut off. He began to chock on his words. Tears began to fill his eyes. "I have to leave," Harry thought. "I don't want to look stupid."

"I have to go," Harry said getting out of his seat as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

"No, wait!" Ginny said urgently. "Please stay. I don't mind. You can cry if you want to...I would."

Harry stared at her. He didn't understand. She was so understanding and unbelievably kind. Maybe the best thing would be to stay.

"Please stay," she said again calmly. "There's nobody here. It's okay. It's just you and me."

~

"He is so afraid of looking foolish in front of me," Ginny thought. "How sweet! Oh wait. Stop, Ginny. This is neither the time nor the place."

Harry stopped, tears streaming, and then sat down again.

"This is too much," Harry said. "I don't know what to do."

They paused. Ginny thought through this silence. She wanted to make him feel better...somehow. After a few moments, she got an idea.

"Want to go for a ride?" Ginny asked finally.

~

Harry was surprised by her suggestion. He wasn't sure if this was the best time to go riding anywhere. But then again...he did like to fly. The best feeling in the world. Maybe it would be a good idea after all.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked.

"Of course. Trust me. Go get your invisibility cloak and your Firebolt and meet me back here," Ginny replied.

After a few minuets, Harry met Ginny in front of the portrait hole and slipped the cloak over the both of them. They snuck out of the Gryffindor common room and walked down the empty corridor.

~

Ginny led Harry down the hall, around the corner, up a couple flights of stairs and through a door. Once she knew they were safe inside, she took off the cloak and set it on the floor. Harry looked around. They were in the Astronomy Tower.

"What are we doing here?" Harry asked.

"Look out," Ginny said leading him to the open window. "It's wide open field. It faces away from the rest of the castle so know one will see you. There also isn't a muggle for miles. You should be able to enjoy yourself without being seen. I hope you clear your head out here."

She turned away from Harry and headed for the door to leave.

"Wait," Harry said. He didn't want to see her go. "Um...want to come with me?"

Ginny turned to face him and smiled. "I'm afraid I didn't bring my broom and if I did, your broom is much faster than mine. I wouldn't be able to keep up." Ginny turned back to the door.

"Wait," Harry said again. Ginny looked back at him with her famous, innocent look.

"Ride with me," he said.

Ginny's smile widened. "Okay."

~

Ginny sat in front of the broom, gripping the handle while Harry sat in back, holding his arms around her waist and holding onto the broom with his knees. They soared through the sky like a bullet. Ginny was surprised. She had never ridden a broom that could go so fast. The wind whipped through their hair and cooled their faces. With the sun down completely, the stars twinkled brighter than before and the moon was now visible. It was a waxing crescent moon that seemed to smile at them. It was like freedom to Harry. The breeze, the height, the thrill...The stars above with the ground below. It was a feeling beyond magic.

"Take control of the broom," Ginny said.

"Why?" Harry questioned.

"Just do it," Ginny responded.

Leaned forward and gripped the handle in front of Ginny. He could smell her hair. It smelled of sweet strawberries.

"You use strawberry shampoo, don't you?" Harry asked.

"What?"

"Ah...never mind."

Once Harry got a firm grip, she continued.

"Now...go faster," she ordered.

"What?"

Ginny sighed. "You're angry, right?"

"Yes," Harry replied.

"And you wish you could just fly away?"

"Yes."

"Don't you just want kill the man who did this to you and make everything right again?" Ginny said motivationally.

"Yes! Where is this going?"

"Well, channel your anger into your speed." Ginny said.

"What?" Harry said with a puzzled look.

"Go so fast, the anger is rushed out of you."

Harry thought for a moment and it seemed to make sense. He gripped harder on the wooden handle and in no time at all, they rushed through the air, faster than Harry has ever gone before. The wind hit hard on their faces as they swerved and swooped through the air. He was having the time of his life but feared that this might frighten Ginny. He could hear her yelling but when he looked at her, there was a wide grin on her face. She wasn't yelling in terror. She was yelling in delight. Harry was so amused, he decided to yell along with her. After a few times around the field, he decided to slow down.

"Wow," Ginny said exasperated. "Talk about the thrill of my life. I have never flown that fast before."

Harry laughed. "Funny...neither have I. I don't think I've ever gone that fast."

They both laughed together. When the laughing ceased, they grew quiet. They rode along across the field at a very slow pace. So slow, in fact, that Harry didn't feel the need to grip the broom with his knees. Though, he still clung to Ginny, maybe tighter. She didn't seem to mind.

Both Harry and Ginny looked up to the sky. They both took the time to appreciate how beautiful the moon and stars were. They stared into the sky for quite sometime when they saw, or could have sworn they saw, a shooting star pass by at top speed. Harry knew that it was silly to wish on shooting stars, but if a wish on a star could come true, he'd wish for one thing: for this night to last forever.

~

Ginny closed her eyes and thought to herself. "I wish that Harry and I could be together forever." Ginny hoped deeply that this wish would come true. She had never felt so happy to be where she was.

"Harry?" Ginny said breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" Harry responded.

"Thank you...for giving me the time of my life," Ginny answered.

"No," Harry said, "Thank you...for caring...and understanding."

Without realizing it, he planted a tender kiss on her cheek. Ginny blushed. She turned to face him. She had never seen him smile the way he was. He looked a little embarrassed but he also seemed to have meant to do it.

Ginny suddenly felt weightless. She breathed in slowly and took in her surroundings. It was the perfect place to be at this moment. Under the moon and the stars with a light breeze while flying through the air; it was wonderfully and conveniently the most romantic location.

They looked into each other's eyes deeply. Ginny's heart fluttered and beat loudly in her chest. She desperately hoped it didn't beat too loudly. She moved closer to him. He didn't object. He leaned toward her and she followed suit. When they finally got close enough to each other, their lips touched.

It was bliss. They kissed like it was the last kiss they'd ever get. The stars twinkled above them enthusiastically as they enjoyed each others company. The moon glowed, the breeze lighted. It was as if nature was cheering them on. The kiss seemed to last for hours at a time, but only lasted for three minuets. Finally they broke apart. When they pulled away, neither said anything for a moment. Then Harry spoke.

"We should go back to the common room," Harry said.

"Yeah, we should," Ginny replied.

~

With Ginny now gripping the handle, she turned around and they headed back to the Astronomy Tower. In minuets, they were back inside under the invisibility cloak and heading back to the common room. They walked beside each other, not saying a word.

"How?" thought Harry. "How can Ginny be so wonderful? How is it that she is the only one that I feel truly happy with? Her smile, her voice, her laugh are all so...beautiful."

Was she the miracle he was looking for?

"Harry?" Ginny asked.

"What?" Harry replied.

"Why are you just standing there? We're in the common room now."

Harry looked around and she was right. They were back in the dim, candle lit room with the fireplace roaring with life. He must have not been paying attention and didn't realize that they had made it back.

"Oh...sorry. Lost in my thoughts."

Ginny, yet again, smiled her innocent smile; the one Harry liked so much.

"What if something happened to her?" Harry wondered sullenly. "What if I could never see that smile again? I could lose her, especially now that a war is going on. Voldemort would most definitely use her to get to me, like before. He can't know how much she means to me. I guess I have only one choice...to let her go."

"Well...I'll see you tomorrow, Harry," Ginny said softly. She walked over to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"Yeah, alright," Harry said.

And they both went up to their dormitories and slept until dawn, dreaming about that one special night when they went for a ride.