Harry took Ron, Hermione and Ginny into a room that Mrs. Weasley had told him would be his and Ron’s. Once he was sure no one would overhear, he told them all about the prophecy between him and Voldemort. They sat in shocked silence as he announced the final part, “So, in the end, either I have to kill or him, or he kills me.”
Ginny had her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide in amazement. “Harry, please tell me this is a joke. Please tell me that this is some twisted joke.” A tear started to roll down her cheek.
“I wish I could tell you that, Ginny,” he replied. “But it is all true.”
“How can it be true if Professor Trelawney predicted it?” Hermione said. “She never had been the most reliable person, or the most competent.”
Harry knew that Hermione had no love for Professor Trelawney, which is why she would probably be the last to accept this. “Hermione, as much as I never liked her, she has made some accurate predictions, and Professor Dumbledore believes her. Not to mention that the Ministry of Magic chose to record this prophesy and keep it in the Department of Mysteries.”
“Besides, this means that Harry is going to beat him,” Ron added, trying to lift all their spirits. “Because we all know that Harry is going to come out on top.”
“Thanks, Ron,” Harry said. He could always count on his best friend to be on his side. “Guys, I know this is hard for you all to handle with everything going on, but don’t worry. I’m sure that Professor Dumbledore won’t let anything happen to me. I probably won’t even have to fight Voldemort until I’m ready.”
This didn’t help calm Ginny in the least. She got up quickly and left the room. Harry got to his feet to go after her, but Hermione grabbed his arm. “I wouldn’t, Harry. Let her be alone for a while.”
“Yeah, mate,” Ron said. “I know that she cares for you and this is got to be hell for her.”
Harry looked over at his friend. “You’re all right with this?”
“Harry, I’ve known that she has feelings for you for years, but I never could understand why you never knew.” He walked over and hit the side of Harry’s head. “Wake up, you great git.”
Harry rubbed the side of his head and smiled. Just then, a tapping sound came from his bedroom window. He looked over and saw Fawkes, Dumbledore’s phoenix, standing outside on the sill. Opening the window quickly, he ushered the bird in. “Fawkes, this is a Muggle village. What are you doing here?”
Fawkes extended his leg, which had had a small package tied to it. Harry untied it, and a note fell from it. Ron picked it up and, on Harry’s request read it:
To Harry and Ginny:
I found these in the main corridor after all the commotion ended. I had hoped to give them back to you before you left, but I am afraid that I was detained in the Ministry of Magic. Keep them close to you, and remember, that those close to you will never turn their backs on you.
Harry opened the package and pulled out two wands. “These were taken by Griff,” he said. “I guess he must have dropped them when Hagrid had him by his throat. I never even realized they were gone, what with everything that was happening.” He pocketed his own wand. “I should give Ginny back hers.” As he walked out of the room, Hermione made to grab his arm again, but Ron put a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him and he shook his head.
Harry walked down the hall to the room that Hermione and Ginny shared. The door was slightly cracked open. He reached out his hand to knock, and then stopped. A sound could be heard from inside the room. Leaning in close, he peaked through the crack in the door. He couldn’t see anything, so he gently pushed the door open. He stepped through the door and saw Ginny sitting on her bed, her face in her hands.
She heard the door creak and looked up at Harry. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red from crying. She turned her face away so Harry couldn’t see her pain. “Go away, Harry. I don’t want you to see me like this.”
Harry walked over to her. “Professor Dumbledore found our wands. He sent them to us.” He held out her wand. “I thought you might want it back.”
Ginny turned her head. “Thank you.” She took the wand and laid it next to her. “Was there something else you wanted?”
“Why are you crying?”
She wiped her sleeve across her eyes. “Why do you think? I’ve just heard that one of my best friends has to either kill the worst dark wizard ever or be killed himself. After everything that’s already happened, how did you expect me to take it?” She lowered her head and looked at the floor.
Harry sat down beside her. “Ginny, you don’t have to be sad for me. Dumbledore won’t let anything happen…”
“Did Dumbledore stop you from fighting Quirrell your first year? Did he protect me from Riddle’s diary? What exactly has he done that you put your complete faith in him?” A new flood of tears burst from her eyes and she leaned in to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Oh Harry, I don’t mean to say these things, but why do you have to face these things?”
Harry slipped his arm round her. “I wish I knew why these things keep happening to me, but I’ve always come out ahead. I’ve always come out…” His mind went back to all the times he had come face to face with a dark wizard.
Three times, he had come close to dying at the hands of Voldemort or one of his followers. Last year, someone close to him had been killed while trying to protect him. Harry had always come out ahead, but it often carried a high price. “I’ve always had friends by my side to help me. I want you to be there too, Ginny.”
She pulled her head back and looked up at him. He could see something in her eyes, something that looked like confusion mixed with longing. As if on instinct, he leaned in close to her and placed his lips upon hers. Ginny shook a bit out of surprise, but soon became comfortable with the contact. Harry tightened his arms around her midsection, drawing her closer to him.
The two held the kiss as long as their lungs would allow them. When they broke, their faces still remained close to one another. Harry inhaled a breath. “Ginny, whatever I have to go through, I want you there with me. I want to know that I have something to come back to. You’ve been my friend for so long, and now I want you to be more.”
Ginny didn’t dare take her eyes away from him. “I’ve waited so long for you to say that, Harry. I never want to be away from you.” She leaned in and kissed him again.
They stayed with one another until Mrs. Weasley called them down for dinner. Walking hand in hand, the bounded down the stairs and found Lita sitting at the bottom. She looked up at the two of them and cocked her head to one side. Her eyes seemed to be gauging the two human. Harry looked down at her, and smiled. “What are you looking at?”
The Golden Retriever bowed her head towards their intertwined hands. She rubbed her nose against them, and then walked off towards the dining room. Ginny looked quizzically at the retreating dog. “You ever get the feeling those animals are more then we think they are?”
Author's Note: And a million voices cried out in satisfaction.