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Author: Sassenach Story: Residual Remains Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: Completed Reviews: 12 Words: 49,143
Ginny was busily going about her work at the shop, when the front door chime jingled. She turned to greet the customer and only frowned to see Colin standing in the doorway. He looked thoroughly apologetic, but that didn't mean Ginny was going to cave so easily. Turning back to her work, she ladled some of the Pepperup Potion she had just completed into a flask. Corking the flask, she placed it down in a holding tray and began to clean up the cauldron. "I know you don't want to speak to me right now," Colin began hesitantly. He stepped into the room and hesitantly followed Ginny into the wash room. She only shook her head and began to rinse out the dirty rag. He took this as a "yes." "Ginny, I'm really sorry. I was totally out of line and you have every right to be upset with me." "You've got that right," she stated sharply. She passed back out to the main room, and dropped to her knees and began to move the cauldron back into the fireplace. "But Ginny, you've got to forgive me. I just get jealous sometimes." She stopped and got up. "What are you so jealous of?" Colin shrugged, before stating, "Harry." Ginny shook her head and looked down at the floor. "I don't know why you are." "Because Gin, he's had your heart since the first day you saw him." He shot her an accusing glare, which bared all his animosity toward Harry and how easily he won her heart. Bitterly he choked out, "It took you years to get over him and when you did I thought that maybe I could be there for you. Then, the two of you got together and I was out of the picture." He paused to clear his throat painfully before saying, "It hurts because I just get left behind." Ginny raised her head to meet his gaze. There were tears in her eyes. "Colin, I'd never leave you behind," she murmured. He sighed and shook his head. "That's not true. You'll get back together with him and I'll just be a memory. Of course you'll write every once in a while but it won't be the same. It'll happen all over again, I know it." Wiping at her eyes, Ginny shook her head furiously. "No, Colin, I swear that won't happen. I'm so sorry for before. I never knew you felt that way." Looking at her cry made Colin's insides twist painfully. He hated to see her like this; he knew he was responsible for her sadness. With a few strides, he had her in his arms and they hugged. "I just don't want to be left on the sidelines when it comes to your life. You're my best friend before anyone else." She smiled into his chest. "Colin, you're my best friend, too and nothing will come between us." "Good," he breathed into her hair. Pulling away slightly, he smiled at her. "Now, what was that stuff you were brewing?" "Oh, it's a potion for Madam Rosmerta. She has the flu." Ginny pulled away from Colin and retrieved the flask. "Could you run this down to her for me after you leave? I'm so swamped with work that I'm behind in my orders." Colin nodded his head grinning. "Of course I can deliver it for you. So, the business has taken off on wings I see." "Yes," Ginny answered breathlessly. "I wasn't nearly as prepared for this as I had hoped. I'm almost out of stock on certain items. The twins stopped by today to see how things were going, but I'm afraid they were up to more than just that. I expect they'll be back soon with something that will explode." Colin laughed slightly. "Well, that's the least you could expect from those two. Anyway, I really have to run so I'll take this now." He took the flask from her. "I'll see you tomorrow." Kissing her goodbye on the cheek, he was gone in an instant. Ginny pulled out her list of orders and sighed, realizing that her next order required an ingredient that she didn't normally have in stock. Deciding that this was something she couldn't purchase in. Diagon Alley, she resigned herself that she would have to venture down Knockturn Alley. ~@~ Harry had just arrived at his desk when Gypsy came running into his cubicle. She'd nearly knocked him over in the doorway. "We've got to go!" she cried out as she collected herself. "What for?" he asked giving Ron a side long glance. "Bellatrix Lestrange has been sighted at Diagon Alley. Madam Malkin claims to have seen her milling about with a black robe on. She'd only noticed her before she slipped down a side street and let her hood fall." The urgency in Gypsy's voice was apparent but the enthusiasm was even more noticeable. Ron and Harry weren't going to hesitate, so they followed Gypsy out of the Ministry of Magic. Running down a few blocks, they entered the Leaky Cauldron through the Charing Cross Road entrance. Quickly weaving their way through to the back door, they stopped in front of the brick wall. Gypsy was in the lead and tapped the bricks, thus opening the passageway to Diagon Alley. The narrow street was packed with witches and wizards, but Harry wasn't fooled by the crowd. He kept his guard up and kept in pace with Ron and Gypsy. Coming to Madam Malkin's shop, they stepped inside. Ron remained at the front door as a guard and flipped the sign to saying 'Closed.' "Hello, Madam Malkin. I'm Senior Auror Meander and you remember Lieutenants Potter and Weasley. We'd appreciate it if you would give use a few minutes of your time to answer some questions on what you've seen today," Gypsy began. "Yes, I know who you are," she stated in exasperation. "As plain as day I saw Bellatrix Lestrange skulking about the street. She wore her hood down over her face. I noticed, because her robes were fashionably out of style." Madam Malkin seemed overly proud of herself. "Yes, well, we want to know where you think she's gone," Gypsy stated. "That's easy, I'll show you," the older woman stated. She walked to the front door and out to the street. Pointing a gnarled finger towards the entrance to Knockturn Alley Madam Malkin said, "She went that way." "Thanks," Harry said in a hurry. He knew that alleyway because in his second year he had found himself there by accident. Pushing through the crowd, Harry rushed ahead with Gypsy and Ron in tow. ~@~ Ginny wiped the soot off her clothes and glanced around the shop where she'd exited the Floo network, and decided that she had gone one grate too far. She exited the shop quickly, avoiding the cages of large spiders as best she could, and began hurrying down the dark, narrow street toward her destination. As an added precaution, she pulled her hood over her bright red hair and glanced warily around looking for any signs of danger. Reaching down into her robes, she rested her hand lightly on her wand. She reached the shop she was aiming for and began browsing. As she reached for a high jar on a shelf, an oily, slick voice behind her asked, "May I help you?" Startled, Ginny turned to face an oily-haired smooth-talking man that she recognized to be Mr. Borgin himself. "No, I'm fine. I know exactly what I need." She turned back to the shelves and reached for the jar she wanted. She took it down and proceeded to the counter where Mr. Borgin rang her up. "I've never seen you around this area," he commented quietly. Ginny answered shortly, "I don't shop here much." "That would be eight galleons," he sneered. For a second, Ginny believed he thought she couldn't pay for it. Reaching into her rucksack, she pulled out the money and placed it on the counter. She safely tucked the jar into her rucksack and turned to leave as fast as she could, but he stopped her before she could reach the door. "I know your face," he stated as if playing around with an image in his head. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Reaching deep into her cloak pocket, Ginny gripped her wand firmly. "You're a Weasley. I can tell from your face and hair." Ginny hadn't noticed that her hood had fallen when she was reaching for the jar and now deeply regretted that she hadn't cast a temporary sticking charm on it. Rumors would spread that she had been here and father would want to know what business she had in such a place. Mustering up enough courage she haughtily stated, "I have no idea who you are talking about and furthermore I am insulted that you would call me a Weasley." The man looked taken back but not convinced. "There aren't many Wizard families with such a strong hair color. You must be the youngest, Miss Ginny." Ginny couldn't hold back the gasp and turned to him in horror. He knew her name. "Stay away from me," she hissed in fear. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at his throat. He wasn't in the least bit alarmed. "You're very brave to have shown your face in this area when there are killers running about." "What are you talking about?" she murmured as she took a step toward the door. "Bellatrix Lestrange," A female voice answered from two rows down. "Honestly, haven't you heard of her? She's deranged, maniacal and blood thirsty." Ginny's eyes went wide in terror as the possessor of the voice stepped out of the aisle, revealing herself. The long black hair and heavy-lidded eyes were distinguishable in the dim light and instantly gave her away. She looked to Mr. Borgin and asked, "Who is she and is she worth killing?" Mr. Borgin answered with satisfaction, "She's Potter's girlfriend." With a haughty laugh, Bellatrix advanced upon Ginny. "Well, that answers my question doesn't it?" Not wasting time, Bellatrix pointed her wand at Ginny and sent a hex at her. Diving to the side, Ginny narrowly missed being hit. Instead, the shop's window blew out and glass littered the alleyway. Crawling behind a shelving unit, Ginny avoided any further hexes. "Come on, wittle weasel. Auntie Bella wants to pway wif woo. Come out, come out wherever woo are," Bellatrix taunted. Ginny could feel her heart lodged in her throat. She couldn't breathe and everything seemed to be blurry around her. Had she completely avoided that hex, she pondered. Sliding down the aisle, she panicked as a glass jar exploded right next to her head. "Oh, I'm afraid I missed," Bellatrix said in a teasing manner. "I won't next time," she stated with an angry snarl. Running toward the back of the shop, Ginny could feel her hands beginning to shake. Come on you twit, pull yourself together or you're going to end up dead, she scolded herself. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her wand and began to think of a spell she could use as she huddled behind a stack of boxes, silently waiting. Footsteps approached and Ginny could narrowly see Bellatrix's form as the dark woman hissed, "It would have been quick and easy if you had just stayed still, but no, you had to run and make me miss. Now, I'm going to make you scream in agony." The thought of being tortured under Bellatrix's favorite sadistic curse, the Cruciatus, made Ginny's stomach churn nauseously. Tensing slightly, she waited for the woman to come into full view before attacking her. She'd only have one chance and if she screwed up she'd be dead faster than she could say Polyjuice Potion. Before Ginny could have her chance at taking a shot, there was a loud crash from the front of the shop and Bellatrix whirled around. She opened her mouth to call out to Mr. Borgin when he yelled, "Oi, what business do you Aurors have here?" Ginny followed Bellatrix's gaze toward the front door, then thought better of it and turned back to find that her pursuer had disappeared. Sighing in relief, Ginny hoped that Ron and Harry weren't among the Aurors that had appeared. She began to move from her hiding spot in the direction of the front of the shop. Before she had gotten very far, she felt intense pain shoot through her from the side. The force of the spell sent Ginny flying into a display case. Weakly, she turned to see Bellatrix coming toward her with a look of complete triumph washed over her face. Ginny's vision blurred as more severe pain shot through her entire body and in reaction she was jolted even harder into the glass display case which shattered from the force. "What was that?" a familiar voice cried out in reaction to the noise.
"It seems like our hero has come to save you," Bellatrix stated with a sinister grin as she looked over her shoulder to the front of the shop. From her position on the floor, Ginny watched with mounting dread as Harry moved into her view, confirming Bellatrix's words. Harry immediately moved away from Ron and Gypsy. Running towards the back of the shop he came to a screeching halt at the sight of Bellatrix Lestrange, the fugitive they had been looking for. Without a thought, he raised his wand and shouted "Expelliarmus!" The result of the spell sent Bellatrix flying to the side revealing Ginny crumpled on the floor. His heart stopped and he stared at Ginny's limp form on the floor. "Ginny," he barely whispered as he approached and knelt down beside her. She stirred and looked up at him. She tried to sit up but couldn't. Reaching out toward her, Harry pulled her to him. Ginny looked over his shoulder and nearly screamed as Bellatrix rose from the floor and approached them, storming mad. "Reducto!" Bellatrix yelled and the pair flew back, crashing into the fireplace. "Two for the price of one," Bellatrix stated in cold triumph. "I'll enjoy killing you most of all Harry." As Bellatrix taunted them, Ginny noticed the small a tin of Floo powder which had spilled beside Harry's foot. Just as Bellatrix raised her wand, Ginny threw some of the powder into the air and yelled out, "Ginevra's Apothecary!" Gypsy and Ron ran toward the back of the shop and witnessed Harry and Ginny disappear in flames within the fireplace. Bellatrix heard them behind her and quickly Disapparated. Ron ran toward the fireplace and cried out, "Harry, Ginny!" Gypsy followed him and tried to calm him down. "Ron, it's okay they'll be fine. I saw the green flames. They were only traveling by Floo." "What in Merlin's name was my sister doing here?" Ron asked fiercely. "Where in the bloody hell did they go?" "I've no clue, but we need to get back to head quarters fast," Gypsy stated. Ron nodded and followed her out of the shop. ~@~ Ginny landed face first on the hard wooden floor of her apothecary. Why did I forget to remove the cauldron from the corner of the fireplace, she thought miserably. Momentarily, she lay there panting and looked over to see Harry prone on the floor not too far from her. Pulling herself up into a sitting position, she reached out to him. "Harry, are you all right?" she asked shakily. The effects of the curse were still lingering in her body. He coughed loudly and his body shuddered. Rolling onto his back he took a deep breath, before looking at her. "I thought we were going to die." "Me too," she admitted. Raising her hand to her face, she sucked on her bloody knuckles. "Are you all right?" Harry grimaced as he moved to sit up. Pulling up his shirt, he revealed a long gash down his side that seemed to have reopened. "If you call this being all right, then I guess I am," he groaned unhappily. Unsteadily, Ginny crawled over to where Harry was sitting. "May I?" she asked, reaching for his shirt. Harry nodded his head and leaned back to let her examine his wound. The cool fingers of her uninjured hand gently skimmed over his skin as she examined the gash. He sucked in his breath as she touched a particularly tender spot. "I'm sorry, Harry," she apologized as she recovered him with the shirt and slowly got to her feet. "Don't sit up. I think I can fix this." Harry sat up again, ignoring her request, as she crossed the room to one of the banks of shelves and began collecting bottles and jars. She carried her ingredients over to the fireplace and hoisted her cauldron onto its hook. She lit the fire and began to mix the ingredients. "What are you doing?" he asked as he watched her. She turned to him and frowned. "I'm making a salve for that wound. It's pretty deep and I'm sure you've had it for a while now." "How'd you know?" he asked looking down at the gash. "The skin around the area doesn't seem disturbed. Usually, a wound like that irritates the flesh surrounding it." Reaching for a clean strip of cloth, she dipped it into the finished concoction and pulled it out. "Lay down, Harry," she ordered. Sitting beside him, she pushed his shirt well away from the gash and placed the strip over the wound. Wincing, he made a face and stated, "It burns." "It's supposed to burn at first," she answered looking into his eyes as she finished securing the bandage with a temporary sticking spell.Harry stared at her and frowned. Her hand had come to rest over his hip and without thinking he reached up and covered it with his own. She turned hers over and squeezed gently. "Ginny, what were you doing in Knockturn Alley?" he asked softly, his voice laced with concern. She looked down at the floor and sighed. "I was purchasing some illegal ingredients." "You should not have been there by yourself. You could have been hurt or worse." He reprimanded her. Taking on a harder note he stated, "Ginny, I don't want you going there ever again." Looking up at him, she made a face. "Don't tell me what to do Harry." Letting go of his hand, she stood up and looked down at him as she stated unwaveringly, "I can take care of myself." "I'm sure you were taking care of yourself while you were lying on the floor half unconscious! You've no idea what Bellatrix is capable of!" He barked at her. Ginny glared at him angrily. "I would have been fine. In fact, I was doing great until I heard Aurors were at the front of the shop. I was trying to escape, but she caught me off guard." "You're not trained to fight someone like her," he cried out. Trying to rise from the floor, Harry groaned in pain and clutched at his side. The wound seared in agony from his every movement, making him feel as if the rocks of the prison's island were slicing into his skin all over again. Ginny caught him in her arms and pulled him toward her. "Harry, stop trying to move or you'll loose more blood." "I have to leave. Ron is probably worried," Harry breathed into her hair. He thought dimly of how it smelt like fresh flowers. Ginny released him for a second, but reached for him a moment later as he keeled over in pain once more. "You're in no shape to go anywhere," she scolded lightly. "You're staying here until you're better. And I'll just let Ron know you're here and safe." "Gin, I can't stay here," he half whispered, his voice sounding slightly panicked and nervous. "Harry, you can't even walk and I'm not letting you Disapparate. You'll get splinched." She levitated him off of the ground with her wand and floated him upstairs to her flat. Settling him down on the couch, she left to go notify Ron. Just as she approached the fireplace, she was startled by Ron's head popping into view. Upon seeing her, he demanded, "Where's Harry?" The worry in his voice made her wince. "He's here with me and he's safe, but he's not coming home tonight," she answered, knowing her brother was going to make a fuss. "Why not?" Ron asked suspiciously. "Because he's hurt and I'm not letting him Disapparate," she answered stoutly. Ron looked adamant. "Then I'm coming over." "Ron, is that really necessary? I just put him to bed." She stated feeling more than a little peeved. "Don't even look at me like that Ron. I can handle this, so stop treating me like a child!" "I want to make sure that he's fine," Ron answered, clearly lying. Ginny sighed and replied ardently, "If you show up at my door, I'm not letting you in. Don't think I haven't sealed the house off already. I had Bill come by and put up some strong wards." "Fine, Ginny, but I want him home the minute he wakes up. Do you understand?" Ron asked angrily. She had bested him, but he wasn't going to let her completely win. Harry wasn't going to go free without hearing from him. "Goodbye, Ron." She frowned before pulling her head out of the fireplace. She wondered how she was going to deal with Harry being in her house overnight as she left the fireplace. Entering the living room, she watched him attempt to sit up. "I told you to stop moving," she scolded him from across the room. He looked over at her and grinned sheepishly. "Gin, I have to use the loo and unless you want a puddle on your couch I'm going to need to move." "Oh, well, in that case let me guide you there," she said with an embarrassed smile. She helped Harry stand up and steered him gently to the bathroom Closing the door behind him, she let out a sigh. Harry was in her house, sleeping over and now using her loo. Silently, she hoped he'd put the toilet seat back down. Walking into the small kitchen, she pulled out a teakettle and filled it with water to make tea. At the moment, she really needed green tea to 'Zen' her out. As she pulled the tea leaves stored in a tin from a cabinet along with the strainer, Harry flushed and opened the bathroom door. Making his way over to the small kitchen table with better ease than before, he took a seat. "What are you cooking?" he asked with a hint of anticipation. "Tea, but if you'd like I'll whip something up," she offered as she lighted the cooker. "Tea sounds good, but if you're making anything else I won't say no. I missed dinner in all the chaos." Harry answered truthfully. Opening the refrigerator, Ginny pulled out a tray of lasagna she had made the day before. Using a heating spell, she quickly warmed up the food and served Harry a large portion. He took the plate from her with a grateful smile and began to eat leisurely as if savoring every morsel. The sound of the kettle whistling brought Ginny back to the cooker. Positioning the strainer over each mug, she poured the steaming hot water filling each; returning to the table, she slid a mug over to him. "Thanks, Ginny," he stated pointing to the lasagna with his fork, "this is really good." She smiled at him and watched as he dug into his food hungrily. Blowing on her tea, she took a cautious sip. It had cooled off quickly and she was able to drink it with ease. Finished, Harry pushed the plate away and smiled at her in satisfaction. He pulled the mug toward him and regarded her over its rim "Why didn't Colin go with you?" he asked suddenly. If there was one person who would go everywhere with her, it would be Colin, Harry thought morosely. "Because I don't go everywhere with Colin," she answered stiffly. "Besides, you make him out to be some puppy dog following me around all the time." Harry hadn't anticipated her reading him so well and choked on his tea. "Well, he almost does follow you like that." "Colin's a good guy, but we're just friends and he's got better things to do than follow me around." She finished her tea and set the mug down on the table. "I didn't mean to sound like that." Harry frowned as he contemplated how much of a git he'd just made himself out to be. "It's really none of my business." Ginny shook her head. "No, it's okay Harry." There was a silent pause and Harry pictured Ginny lying on the floor again. "I thought… you were dead," he admitted hesitantly. "What," she asked, baffled. "In the shop. When I saw you lying there, I thought you were dead," he repeated. "I saw Bellatrix standing over you and I thought she had killed you like she had killed Sirius." He paused trying to control the knot that immediately had lodged in his throat at the thought of his godfather. With suppressed emotion he added, "That would have been two people I love that woman's taken from me." Ginny watched him as he stared blankly into his mug as if it were replaying the memories in his head of both her and Sirius. His words had struck her in such a way that she needed to touch him, to affirm that his feelings were true. She reached across the table and twisted her hand into his. Looking up into her eyes, Harry realized exactly what he had said. He'd finally admitted to her how he felt. "Ginny, I should have told you a long time ago, but I didn't want you to get hurt and this isn't the best time for it either," he admitted. "Harry, you told me to leave three years ago. You wouldn't even let me stay to help you fight. You let everyone else be there for you, but you sent me away. You said that you didn't have feelings for me and that you didn't want me around. Do you know how much that hurt?" she asked as tears rimmed her eyes. "I know. Bloody hell, Ginny, I was stupid and scared back then. I didn't want to lose you too," he answered. "It's like you've come back right when everything is supposed to be over and I wanted to come to you, but now everything is slipping away. I don't want to lose you this way either." Getting out of her chair, Ginny came over to Harry and knelt beside his chair. "What are you saying Harry?" "I made so many mistakes, Ginny, ones that I can't take back. But I'm willing to try and make it up to you," he breathed before pulling her onto his lap and staring into her eyes. "I'm saying that I love you, Ginny, and I can't be without you…not anymore." Ginny was stunned into silence, and could only stare into his eyes searching for some confirmation of his words. She needed to know that what he was saying was for real, and that she wasn't just hearing things. Finally, she found her voice, "Harry, I…" "Ginny, I mean every word," he stated fervently, his eyes locking with hers in an intense gaze. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as her eyes searched his, realizing the love that was held within them. Barely whispering, Ginny leaned toward him, "Kiss me, Harry." Harry didn't even hesitate; he immediately pulled her to him and pressed his lips softly against hers. Glasses pushed askew, he hastily tore them away from his face to deepen the kiss as his hands resumed their position on the curve of her hips. A small noise of joy escaped Ginny's mouth in response, sending a tremor of pleasure through Harry's body. Consumed by his desire, Harry continued to hungrily kiss her. Breathless, Ginny hesitantly drew away from the kiss. She caressed his cheek as she composed herself murmuring, "I dreamt you'd say it one day, but I never thought it would feel like this." She sighed happily, wrapping her arms around his neck tighter as she hugged him. Whispering into his ear she replied, "I love you, too, Harry. I always have."
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