Theatrics

Harry laid in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, in a pool of his own blood, which was spreading much too rapidly to be healthy. He gasped for breath as he tried to clear his foggy brain. The fate of the world depended on him, and he sure as hell wasn't going to lay here and die.

"What are you going to do now, boy?" the cold, cruel voice of Lord Voldemort taunted. "All your friends are fighting their own battles, and it's just you and me. I knew you couldn't beat me on your own."

"I...can take you...alone," Harry gasped defiantly. His scar seared with pain as Voldemort's rage hit him.

"You insolent little boy," Voldemort seethed. "I am the greatest wizard of all time, and you think you can possibly stand a chance against me?"

"Dumbledore," Harry said, "is the greatest wizard of all time."

"Albus Dumbledore is nothing compared to me," Voldemort yelled. "I'll show you all just how powerful I really am! But first, there's the pesky little problem of what exactly to do with you. None shall live while the other survives, you know. And, as I don't exactly figure death in my plans for world domination, it'll have to be you."

Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry.

"Well, you'd better start figuring death into your plans," came the cheeky voice of Ginny Weasley, as her lithe, battle-trained figure ran in front of Harry.

Every fiber of Harry's being screamed in protest of this. All three of them knew that Voldemort could kill her in an instant, and yet...he didn't.

"You're a fiery one," he observed. "No wonder Lucius chose you for the diary."

Ginny didn't flinch at all.

"I suppose my sixteen year old self enjoyed breaking you," Voldemort said with malice.

"He was weak," Ginny spat. "He was defeated by a twelve year old boy, for heavens sake. And you're not much better, are you, Tom?"

"My name is not Tom any longer," Voldemort screamed. "I am the strongest wizard in existence, and my name is Lord Voldemort! Fear me or die!"

"No, don't think I will, thanks," Ginny replied casually.

Harry, at this moment, was beginning to experience a strange phenomenon. He was regaining his strength.

He tore his gaze away from Ginny's showdown with Voldemort to see Hermione bending over him, muttering spells under her breathe as fast as she could.

"You mean nothing to me, girl," Voldemort warned Ginny. "I can kill you in an instant. You can't face me alone!"

"She's not alone," Ron said, running over to stand beside her as the battle raged around them.

"Damn straight," Fred Weasley called, as he and George ran to flank their siblings.

"Count me in," Draco drawled, taking up a rather bored pose at George's side.

"And me," Neville said, walking over to stand by Fred.

"Don't forget us!" Dean called, as he and Seamus ran over and took up positions beside Neville.

"I'm all in," Theodore Nott said, trotting over beside Draco.

"As am I," Luna said, joining the line at Theodore's side.

"Don't leave me out," Susan Bones called, nudging Seamus in the ribs as she came to stand next to him.

"Don't move yet," Hermione whispered to Harry. And then, louder, "Me, too!" as she went to stand by Luna.

They formed a barrier between Harry and Lord Voldemort, letting Harry regain his strength while Voldemort dealt with this unexpected twist.

"I suppose you think you can save your precious friend," Voldemort spat.

"We don't have to," Ron called. "I think he can save himself."

And, with that, they all ran backward and reformed their line right behind Harry.

"This is it, mate," Ron muttered. "It's your show."

"Don't choke," Ginny added.

"Thanks, you guys," Harry said gratefully, then straightened up and faced Voldemort, with one thing a complete certainty.

If he didn't do this, and do it right now, all of these people who were backing him up would die.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled, and a jet of green light shot out of his wand.

"No!" a feminine voice rang out.

Harry didn't have time to react before Ginny threw herself at him, catching him around the neck as the jet of green light reached them. It hit her square in the back, and every single cell of Harry's being cried out in anguish. His brain shut down, and only one thought permeated his brain.

Not Ginny.

Then a curious thing happened. Instead of dulling, Ginny's eyes got brighter. Her body glowed green for a moment, and she gasped as if she'd just received a sharp shock. She began to shake all over, clinging to Harry as if she would never let go.

But she wasn't dead.

"What are you waiting for?" she whispered in a hoarse voice. "Get him." She detached her arms from around his neck and fell against Ron, who wrapped an arm around her waist to support her.

Harry's brain clicked back on. Before Voldemort could react, Harry turned back towards him, pulled out his wand, and shouted "Reducto!"

It wasn't what Voldemort had been expecting, and everyone in the Great Hall immediately had their curiosity satisfied as to what effect the Reductor Curse had on the human body.

A Voldemort-shaped cloud of dust fell to the floor amid complete silence.

Then, a sudden spurt of popping noises were heard as Death Eaters began to Disapparate, fleeing for their lives.

Those who were left exchanged glances with each other, not quite believing that it was really all over.

Harry turned to Ginny, who had joyful tears running down her face. "Thanks, Ginny," he said softly, meeting her whiskey-colored eyes steadily.

"You're welcome," she said weakly, giving him a shadow of her normal, radiant smile.

On impulse, Harry put an arm around her back and one under her knees, lifting her off her feet as he gave her a triumphant grin. He looked around at everyone else, those who had stood in front of him to protect him, knowing all the while that Voldemort could have killed them all with a single wave of his wand.

He looked around the room at the Order members, who were standing with their wands dangling at their sides (well, all but Mad Eye Moody, anyway, who never relaxed his constant vigilance) at a loss as to what to do.

"We did it," he said loudly. He smiled at Ginny, who had her arms wrapped securely around his neck. "You did it, Gin-girl."

Ginny shook her head, sending her bright red curls flying. "No, Harry, we all did it."

"We certainly did," the ever-calm voice of Albus Dumbledore agreed.

Everyone in the Great Hall turned to the front of the room, where Dumbledore was standing erect, a scrape down his cheek sending blood mingling with the silver in his beard.

"We came together, all of us," Dumbledore continued. "Aurors, Ministry officials, crooks; Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs; Old and young, male and female. All of us different, but bonded by the same goal: To banish the evil of Lord Voldemort from this world. And, may I say, we accomplished that famously."

Tonks let out an enthusiastic, "WHOOP!" Everyone began to cheer, yell and clap, overcome with the relief and joy of having accomplished this great feat. The group of teenagers in the middle of the Hall were hugging each other in jubilation while shouts tore from their throats, mixed with wild laughter.

Harry spun Ginny around a few times, both of them laughing and crying at the same time.

"It's over!" Harry shouted over the ruckus.

"No it's not!" Ginny yelled back. "It's just beginning!"

*

"But I don't understand," Harry said, sitting in Dumbledore's office with Ginny. "How come she didn't...die?"

"It is because of that power we spoke of two years ago," Dumbledore said. "The power that Voldemort knows not, and therefore underestimates."

"Which would be what?" Ginny asked.

"Love," Dumbledore said. "Your love for Harry saved him, and his love for you saved you in return. Just as your mother's love saved your life once before, Harry, another's love saved you once again. Voldemort couldn't have expected that."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other.

"I've said once before that saving another wizard or witch's life creates a special bond between them," Dumbledore continued. "Your bond formed, not earlier today in the Great Hall, but in the Chamber of Secrets all those years ago. If you hadn't had that bond in place already, Ginny would have died today."

Harry reached over and took Ginny's hand. They clutched each other tightly, still listening to Dumbledore speak.

"A person is lucky if they have one true friend," Dumbledore said. "You two, it would seem, have the truest friendship imaginable, in that you'd give your lives for each other. I advise you not to take this bond you have lightly, as it will no doubt be important in the future.

"But now I will let you go," Dumbledore said. "Go back to your other friends, and celebrate as you should."

Harry and Ginny released each other and got up to leave.

"I'll see you at the Welcoming Feast, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said, smiling at her. "Good luck with training, Mr. Potter, you're going to need it. Alastor is a hard master, but you will find that he'll get you through your training better than many others."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said, nodding his head towards Dumbledore.

"Go on, now," Dumbledore said. "Your friends are waiting for you."

*

Ginny needed someone to take her to Kings Cross Station. Harry and Draco had volunteered, so they both were accompanying her to Platform 9 ¾. Harry, ever the gentleman, was pushing her trolley. Draco, always...well...Draco, winked at the pretty teenage girls and sent them into fits of giggles.

"This is weird, isn't it?" Ginny said ruefully, staring at the scarlet train which would whisk her away to her seventh and final year at Hogwarts in about fifteen minutes.

It would be the first year Voldemort didn't try to kill Harry, which would put a severe dent in her schedule. Take classes, have exams, help Harry evade Voldemort once again, go home. That's the way things went.

"Very weird," Harry agreed. "I'm not going back to Hogwarts. No more end of the year adventures, no more exams, no more anything."

"You say that like it's a bad thing, Potter," Draco drawled, his hands in his pockets.

"I'll miss the old castle," Harry said fondly.

"And I'll miss you," Ginny said, giving Harry a hug. Draco looked slightly put out, so she hugged him, too. "And I'll miss those nasty things you used to say about me, Malfoy."

"I'm sure you will," Draco said dryly. "Have I mentioned how sorry I am about that?"

"Only approximately forty times," Ginny responded. "But I'm kind of nervous. I don't really know that many people in my own year, as I spent all my time with Harry and the rest of the sixth year Gryffindors."

"You've got Luna," Harry pointed out. "And Colin."

"And Dennis," Ginny said fondly. Everyone had a soft spot where the younger Creevey brother was concerned.

"Well, we better get your stuff on board," Harry said, lifting her trunk off the trolley. "Grab Athena, would you, Malfoy?"

Malfoy picked up the cage containing Ginny's speckled brown owl, Ginny hefted her book bag to her shoulder, and they boarded the train.

The two boys followed Ginny through the train until she found Luna. Harry stowed her trunk and Draco put her owl on one of the seats as they exchanged greetings with Luna, whom they hadn't seen in a little over a month.

After a few minutes of idle chat, the boys said their goodbyes.

"Now, Malfoy," Ginny said sternly. "If Harry starts getting broody again, owl me. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will let me take off that weekend and come smack some sense into him. In the meantime, distract him with Quidditch. Ron knows what to do."

"Aye, aye, Captain," Draco said, giving her a snappy salute. "I'm on Harry Watch."

"I can take care of myself, Ginny," Harry informed her.

"But you do have a tendency to feel sorry for yourself," Ginny told him without rancor. "And that cannot be allowed. You're an eighteen year old boy; albeit an eighteen year old boy who's defeated the greatest dark wizard since Grindewald, but still an eighteen year old boy. Have fun, and just don't think about it."

"After all that's happened, you want me to forget it?" Harry asked.

"No," Ginny said, shaking her head. "I want you to move on. Keep going, enjoy life and all of that. Don't dwell on the bad things, okay?"

"I won't," Harry said. "I can't, you won't let me. If I tried, everyone you've lectured about the proper care and feeding of Harry Potter will make me play Quidditch."

"That's the plan, anyway," Ginny said. She hugged Draco. "Be sure to tease Ron for me, okay?"

"It would be my pleasure," Draco assured her.

She hugged Harry. "Owl me, okay? I want to know every single thing that happens while I'm gone, or else I'll feel left out."

"I'll write you every day," Harry promised.

"Come on, Potter," Draco said. "We don't want to be on this train when it leaves. I don't fancy another year at school, thank you very much."

"Bye, you hooligans," Ginny said, lifting a hand in farewell.

"Goodbye, Gin," Harry said.

"Catch you on the flip side, Ginny," Draco drawled.

"See you, Luna," Harry added.

"Later, Lovegood," Draco said, giving her a smile. She smiled back, of course. Not even Luna was immune to his infectious charm.

"Oh, and Ginny?" Harry said, turning in the doorway to look at her again. Draco's impatient sigh could be heard from the hallway.

"What?" she asked, meeting his gaze levelly.

"Thank you," he said softly.

"You're welcome," she replied. "And Harry?"

Draco sighed again.

"Yeah?" Harry asked.

Ginny walked to the door and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Good luck with the Auror thing."

Harry stared at her, as if not sure what had just happened. He touched a hand gently to his cheek where she'd kissed him.

"Thanks," he said. "I'm going to need it. Good luck with N.E.W.T.s, Ginny."

"I'm going to need it," she repeated with a grin.

"Can we get off this bloody train now?" Draco asked. "I mean, if you two are done being all soppy over each other."

Harry sighed, rolled his eyes, and walked out of the compartment. His voice drifted back to Ginny as he questioned Draco indignantly, "Soppy?"

They left. He left. Walked out of the compartment and out of the train, ready to begin his Auror training and the rest of his life.

Ginny watched them shrink into the distance as the train left the station, wanting desperately to go with him.

*

"Miss Weasley, may I see you for a moment?" Professor Dumbledore inquired one Friday after classes let out for the week. "In my office?"

Ginny nodded, thinking that Dumbledore must have found out about those dungbombs she'd set off on the fourth floor. It wasn't an offense that warranted a visit to the Headmaster's office, but Dumbledore had always been odd.

"Professor Dumbledore," Ginny said as they rode the spiral staircase to the door of his office. "About those dungbombs...I didn't mean any harm."

Dumbledore turned to her, his eyes twinkling, and said, "No, Miss Weasley, you misunderstand. After you," he added, with a sweeping gesture towards the wooden doorway.

Ginny opened it. To her surprise, Harry was standing in the middle of the Headmaster's office, evidently waiting for her. Ginny laughed and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him enthusiastically.

Professor Dumbledore considerately left them alone, chortling to himself as he rode the staircase back down to the hall.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked happily.

"I take it you missed me," Harry said, smiling down at her.

"Not at all," Ginny said, grinning unabashedly up at him. "Whatever gave you an idea like that?"

Harry wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I missed you, too."

"Really?" she asked.

"I felt like someone had cut my right arm off," Harry said honestly. "I kept turning around to see what you thought about something, and then you weren't there."

"I kept having all these funny thoughts and turning around to crack a joke to you, and it was Luna behind me," Ginny said, shaking her head.

"Is there really any reason why you have to finish school?" Harry asked, only half kidding. "Move in with Hermione, she's living alone."

"In a flat next to you and Ron, of course," Ginny said dryly.

"We all miss you," Harry said. "It's way too long until end of term."

"Harry, it's only two weeks until Christmas break," Ginny reminded him. "I'll be home then."

"And you'll leave again," Harry said.

"Then there's Easter holidays," Ginny added.

"And you'll leave again," Harry repeated.

"Then there's end of term in June," Ginny said, patting Harry on the head. "Everyone can make do without me until then."

"I hope so," Harry said. Then he grinned. "So, happy to see me?"

"Why are you here?" Ginny asked.

"To take you away for the weekend," Harry replied promptly. "I told you everyone missed you. They sent me to collect you."

"I didn't think students were allowed to leave, except on Hogsmeade weekends," Ginny said in confusion.

"You're Ginny Weasley," Harry said with a shrug. "I'm Harry Potter. War heroes and all. We can do whatever we like."

Ginny stared at him.

"Plus, I got permission from Dumbledore," he added with a rueful grin.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Ginny said enthusiastically.

Harry pulled a small, shiny, black box out of his jacket pocket. He opened the sliding lid to reveal a small, round silver ball with Latin engraved on it.

"Portkey," Harry explained. "But I'm not sure exactly how we're both going to get a finger on it, as it's kind of small."

Ginny plucked it out of the box, laid it in her palm, grabbed Harry's hand with her free one and put it on top of hers. She clasped his hand tightly, so they both had a hold on the Portkey.

"You're a clever one," Harry commented teasingly. He looked at his watch. "Okay, hold tight. Four...three...two...one..."

They disappeared, the familiar hook through the navel not bothering Ginny in the slightest, as she was used to it.

They reappeared in a small flat, greeted by the surprised yelp of Ron.

"Ginny!" her brother cried happily, hurrying to embrace her. "It's great to see you."

"You, too," Ginny said, holding him at arms length to get a good look at him. "Who's been cooking for you, Ron? You look too well fed for a bachelor out on his own."

"Hermione's been coming across all the time," Ron said, giving Ginny a wink. "She's lonely all alone next door. You should drop out of school and move in with her."

"So I've been told," Ginny said with a glance at Harry, who was putting the Portkey back in it's tiny box. "Where is Hermione, anyway?"

"She's coming in a minute," Ron said. "She was here already, but she had to go back to her apartment to get something."

"Fix herself up, more likely," Ginny said dryly. "We're going to see Mum, aren't we?"

"What on earth are you on about?" Ron said innocently, fooling no one.

Ginny gestured to his neck, where a line of red marks were clearly visible. "Doesn't Hermione know a spell that gets rid of hickeys?"

Ron blushed, but was saved answering by a knock at the door.

"Are you decent?" Hermione called, and Ginny got the feeling that it was sort of routine.

"Yeah," Harry called back. "Ginny's here."

Hermione opened the door and rushed in, giving Ginny a hug and Ron an evaluating look.

"Hey, Ginny, how are you?" she asked. "Are you studying for N.E.W.T.s? How's Luna? Ron, come here," she added, pulling out her wand.

"I'm great, Luna's great, N.E.W.T. preps are going surprisingly well, especially the Defense Against the Dark Arts class," Ginny said, watching Hermione touch her wand to the red places on Ron's neck. Ron stood in stoic silence, staring at the ceiling.

"That's good, although I didn't expect anything less," Hermione said. "You've always been excellent in that subject."

"What can I say?" Ginny said with a shrug. "The D.A. was excellent practice."

They all shared reminiscent glances.

"Well, we'd better get to the Burrow," Hermione said briskly, when Ron's neck was all one color again. "I don't suppose either of you boys had the forethought to pick up some Floo Powder?"

Harry and Ron looked blankly at each other, and Hermione sighed. "I thought as much," she said. "I've got some by my fireplace, so let's go next door, shall we?"

They all walked in there, took some Floo Powder, and went through the fireplace to the Burrow.

The rest of the Weasleys were already there, so were Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, and Mundungus. Everyone was excited to see Ginny. They spent the night laughing and talking, just enjoying each other's presence.

When Ginny left late the next day, Harry again escorted her, this time via Knight Bus.

They stood outside the gates of Hogwarts, staring up at the castle through the rapidly increasing darkness.

Ginny let out a sigh. "This was fun, Harry. Thank you."

"No problem," Harry said, turning his head and grinning at her. "Listen, if you ever get homesick or want to talk to Hermione or something, let me know and I'll be here."

"Thanks," Ginny said. "I'll probably take you up on that."

Harry turned and held out his arms, apparently intending to hug her goodbye. Ginny suddenly decided that it was time. Time for Harry to spill his guts, and time for them to get everything taken care of and squared away.

"Why do you keep doing things like this for me?" she asked bluntly.

"Ginny, you saved my life," Harry said with a shrug. "You're my friend. I'd do anything for you."

"Then tell me the truth," Ginny begged, taking one of his hands in each of hers. "I deserve to know."

"Ginny, I..." Harry started, then paused. "This is hard for me. You have to understand."

Ginny raised her eyes to the heavens. "Here we go with the theatrics. Are we going to have to do this again?"

Harry grinned.

"I'm your friend, Harry Potter," Ginny said firmly, looking up into his eyes. "You can tell me anything. I'll understand. There's nothing you've been through that I haven't been through right with you."

Harry gave her an indecipherable look. "I'm not talking about something like that."

"Tell me what you're talking about, then," Ginny pleaded.

"Ginny, why do you have to be this way?" Harry asked exasperatedly.

"Be like what?" she asked indignantly.

"It would be so much easier if you weren't so wonderful," Harry sighed. "But yesterday, in Dumbledore's office, I wasn't lying to you. I feel like I can't function without you."

Ginny's heart soared. She hadn't been thinking about it, she didn't want to think about it, but she had felt equally lost without him. She'd had a lot of time to think since she'd been at school, and had come to a conclusion that had surprised her.

Merlin help her if she wasn't madly in love with Harry Potter.

"I wasn't lying, either," Ginny said.

"Gin-girl," Harry said, looking down at their intertwined hands and biting his lip. "I think I'm in love with you."

"Well, that works out quite nicely," Ginny said happily. "Because I feel exactly the same way about you."

Harry looked up at her in mingled hope and disbelief. "Really?"

"Of course," she said, then let go of his hands to wrap her arms around his waist and hug him tightly. "I always have."

Harry sighed in relief as he reciprocated her embrace. "I'll see you at Christmas, okay?"

"Okay," she said.

Ginny reached up to kiss him on the cheek. Somehow, at the last second, Harry turned his head and their lips met.

A few seconds or a few minutes later, it was hard to tell which, they broke apart, both out of breath and smiling like idiots.

"I'll see you, Harry," Ginny said quietly, her lips brushing his with every word.

"Yeah," Harry replied breathlessly. "See you at Christmas."

"And no more theatrics," Ginny admonished, releasing him and starting towards the chapter.

"No more theatrics," Harry promised.