PhoenixSong.net :: A Harry/Ginny Fanfic and Fanart Archive

Author: pottervader

Story: Harry Potter and the Prophesized Six

Part: 46: An Eventful Valentine’s Day Part I

Rating: Teens

Setting: AU

Status: WIP

Reviews: 15

Words: 6,264

Updated: April 11, 2009, 3:31pm

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46: An Eventful Valentine’s Day Part I

Disclaimer: This story was made without any intention of profiting from it. Only the original characters and the plot are mine. The rest of it belongs to JKR.

A/N: Okay, here’s the next one, as promised in time for Easter. Enjoy. Hopefully, I’ll have the next one out in less than two weeks. Happy Easter, everyone!

Harry grabbed Ginny around the waist and spun her around. She laughed at his silliness then drew him to her for a kiss. Harry wrapped his arms tightly around her as he deepened the kiss. He was so glad to have her back. Yet, in the back of his mind, he felt like she wasn’t there in front of him.

“Harry,” someone called to him. He felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him. But he didn’t want to pull away from Ginny. He swatted the hand away. “Harry!” the voice insisted and the hand was back on his shoulder, shaking him even more vigorously.

Harry opened his eyes. He was lying on a bed, without Ginny beside him. Someone was standing above him but the image was blurred. He reached over to the night table beside the bed for his glasses and put them on. The image of his surroundings sharpened to show that he was in the hospital wing and it had been Hermione who woke him up. Rose and Ron were standing beside her.

“I’m sorry to wake you, Harry,” Hermione said, “but you need to shower and have some breakfast. Classes will be starting in a couple of hours.”

Harry sat up and glanced to his right. Ginny was lying there as if she was just sleeping, just as she had been for the past two days, her presence through their Bond still weak and distant. He sighed. She looked so beautiful, a real sleeping beauty.

“I don’t want to go to classes, Hermione,” he said, “I need to be here by Ginny’s side.”

“Harry, don’t be stubborn,” Hermione said, “Molly will be here shortly. She’s going to be with Ginny all day. You can come back during lunch and after classes.”

Harry didn’t answer her. He got up from his bed and sat down beside Ginny on her bed. Grasping her hand, he brought it up to his cheek, seeking comfort in its warmth. He called out to her again through the Bond. Again, he was disappointed and hurt that he received no answer.

The doors of the hospital wing swung open. Through them strode the Weasley matriarch, a basket slung under her arm.

“Hello, dears,” she greeted them as she hugged Ron, Rose and Hermione in turn. “Any change?”

Harry shook his head as he continued to hold Ginny’s hand to his cheek. He kissed the hand’s palm and grasped it in his own.

“You’d best be going, Harry dear,” Molly said, wrapping one arm around him, “if you want to have breakfast before classes this morning.”

“I’m not hungry,” Harry said.

Molly sighed and shook her head. “Now see here, Harry Potter, I know how much you love my daughter, but I know she’d be the first to hex you if you starve yourself waiting for her to wake up. She wouldn’t want you to just mope around. She’d want you to go on with whatever you have to do in the meantime.”

“But I don’t want to leave her,” Harry said, tears brimming in his eyes.

Molly grabbed him in a fierce hug. “Of course not, but you have her inside you. You can feel her in your heart and in your mind. I’m sure she can, too, even if she’s sleeping like this. Go on now, get to class and, for Merlin’s sake, eat some breakfast before you do.” She released him and gave him a push. “Don’t make me call Lily. I doubt your mother would like what you’re doing to yourself.”

Harry gave a shudder. His mum had little tolerance for anything stupid he had done when he was younger and she still didn’t. She would consider what he was doing now to fall into the stupid category. He ignored the smirk on Rose’s face. She was probably thinking the same thing.

“I’ll be back during lunch,” he told Molly as he gave her a hug, before leaving with Hermione, Rose and Ron.

True to his word, Harry was back in the hospital wing after eating a quick lunch. He stayed until his next class and was back after a quick dinner. Once again, he spent the night beside his soul mate.

As the days passed with little improvement in Ginny’s condition, Harry established a new routine. His time was spent only between his classes and Ginny. He only visited his dorm to shower and change clothes. He did his homework in a desk he conjured beside Ginny’s bed. He didn’t attend Quidditch practice or DC meetings. He even asked Professor McGonagall to excuse him from Prefect patrols for the meantime, promising to make up for it once Ginny was awake.

The other New Marauders often visited Ginny in between classes but couldn’t stay as long as Harry. They tried to cheer him up when they were there but as they were leaving, they could see the brightness of his green eyes dull with worry.

Ginny’s continued coma was taking a toll on him. He was more moody. His spell work started to suffer, with him taking longer to make a new spell work in Charms, Transfiguration and DADA. The worst happened in Potions on Friday afternoon, after lunch.

For the first time in years, Harry botched a potion he was brewing. When Snape made some snide remarks about it in connection with Ginny’s condition, Harry got into a shouting match with him, which landed him in detention for three nights, starting that night.

*******

Later that night, Hermione was working on an essay for Transfiguration in a corner table of the library with her back to the door. She was alone in the table though there were a few more students around, including Draco Malfoy, all studying or doing homework. She hoped that being in the library allowed her to get her mind off her worry over Harry.

Harry’s detention with Snape meant even less time for him by Ginny’s side. It soured Harry’s mood and made him almost unbearable to be with for the rest of the afternoon. It was almost a relief to see him head for the dungeons after dinner. Hermione felt guilty for feeling that way but she couldn’t help it, given Harry’s state.

While she was in the library, Ron was visiting Ginny with Rose and Neville. They had invited her but she wanted to get her homework done so she could spend more time with Ginny during the weekend while Harry did his detentions.

She felt someone sit down beside her. Glancing to her side, she was surprised to find Draco was now seated beside her.

“Um, hi, Gra-, uh, Hermione,” Draco said, sounding a bit nervous.

“Hello, Draco,” Hermione said, eyeing him suspiciously, “is there anything I can do for you?”

Draco sighed. “Look, Hermione, I just want to say I’m sorry about what happened to Potter in Potions earlier. I guess he’s really worried about Weaselette, uh, Ginny. It’s been a long while since he’s ruined his potion like that. I guess Professor Snape should have cut him some slack instead of castigating him like that.”

Hermione looked at him again with surprise. “Why, thank you, Draco. I’m sure Harry will appreciate the sentiment.”

“Well, I never thought I’d see the day I’d feel sympathy for Potter,” Draco said, “It feels…strange, but good.”

“I’m glad, Draco,” Hermione said, “I guess you do have a heart after all.”

Draco shrugged her comment away. “So, there’s been no change in Ginny’s condition?”

Hermione shook her head. “None, I’m afraid. It’s really tearing Harry inside.”

“Yeah,” Draco said, “I can see that, based on what happened with Professor Snape. I do hope she gets better. If anything, it’ll get Potter out of his funk and the rest of us will be happier.” He got up. “Just let Potter know I sympathize with him over what happened in Potions and hope Ginny gets better.”

Hermione smiled and placed her hand over his and gave it a brief squeeze. “Thanks again, Draco. I’ll let Harry know.” She watched Draco walk away for a few seconds before turning back to the essay she had been writing.

After a couple of minutes, she finished her essay for Transfiguration on the different ways to manipulate the basic spell for Transfiguring humans to animals. It was fifteen feet long, about three feet longer than Professor McGonagall had asked. Hermione sighed happily, thinking about how pleased her favorite professor would be. Just as she was packing her things, she heard the library door burst open with a bang.

Turning around, she was surprised to see Ron, looking around with a wild look in his eyes. Spotting her, he almost ran over to her.

“Hermione!” he cried, “Thank Merlin, you’re okay. I saw Malfoy coming out of the library and was worried that he’d bothered you.”

Hermione frowned. She looked around for Madam Pince and found the library matron glaring at them, well, more specifically at Ron. She grabbed Ron’s hand and pulled him out of the library into the corridor.

“I’m fine, Ron,” she said, “you shouldn’t have gone bursting in there. It’s rude.”

“Hey,” Ron said, looking affronted, “I was looking out for you.”

Hermione gave him a smile. “That’s sweet, Ron, but you needn’t have bothered. Draco was here, doing homework like the rest of us. He did approach me before he left.”

Ron’s eyes narrowed. “What did he want?”

Hermione inwardly sighed before answering him, “He just wanted to say he sympathized with Harry over what happened in Potions. He thought that Professor Snape was being unfair with him since Harry was worried about Ginny.”

Ron raised an eyebrow. “He said that? Malfoy, sympathizing with Harry over what Snape did?”

“That’s Professor Snape, Ronald,” Hermione corrected him. “Yes, he did. I know it sounds unbelievable but I heard him say so. Remember, he came by after the Quidditch game to say he was sorry for what happened to Ginny. Maybe Ti is right and Draco’s changing.”

“I really doubt it, Hermione,” Ron said, “even if he did, he’d still be a foul git to me.”

Hermione shook her head in exasperation. “Come on, We’d better get back to Gryffindor Tower. It’ll be curfew soon.”

*******

The next day, the students were having breakfast when Dumbledore stood up. All the students stopped eating and focused their attention on the Headmaster, even Harry.

“Good morning,” he said, “I know that next Saturday is Valentine’s Day. Ordinarily, it would have been the perfect time for a Hogsmeade visit being a weekend and all. However, I’m afraid that is not possible since we would like to prevent a recurrence of the attack on the village last October. In lieu of that, we have decided to allow some of the merchants of Hogsmeade to enter the grounds of the castle and hold a mini-fair for Valentine’s Day in the open area beside Black Lake.”

The Great Hall erupted in an explosion of noise as the student reacted to the news. There was extra excitement among the first- and second-years since they ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to go to Hogsmeade to celebrate the day. Of course, at their ages, it wasn’t expected for many to have someone to celebrate with in a romantic sense. That didn’t lessen their enthusiasm for the news.

Dumbledore let the students react to the news for a few seconds before raising his wand and releasing several red sparks to gain the students’ attention once more. He waited a few more seconds for the hall to quiet down before continuing.

“I know it is wonderful news,” he said, “however, for your protection, some measures will have to be enacted. First, the wards around the castle will be strengthened. The rest of the castle will be off limits to the merchants, whether they were former students or not. No student will leave the grounds on that day for anything less than a family emergency. In addition, there will be Aurors allowed into the grounds, both to screen the participating merchants as they enter the grounds and to guard us and the grounds during the fair. Further details, including which merchants will be on the grounds, will follow in the coming week. Now, enjoy your breakfast.”

He sat down. Immediately, the noise level in the Great Hall increased ten-fold as the students resumed discussing the coming Valentine’s Day fair as they ate breakfast.

“Oh, isn’t that wonderful, Ron?” Hermione asked her boyfriend who was sitting beside her as Harry looked on from Ron’s other side.

Harry couldn’t feel any of the same excitement as Hermione. How could he, when Ginny may not be there to enjoy it with him? His thoughts must have been visible on his face because Ron said, “Hey, why the sad face, Harry?”

Harry grimaced. “How do you expect me to feel, Ron? Ginny won’t be there to spent the day with me.” He got up from the table. “Excuse me, I don’t feel hungry anymore.” He headed for the doors out of the Great Hall, wanting nothing more than to escape the sounds of his fellow students excitedly discussing the coming Valentine’s Day Hogwarts Fair. Once he was in the Entrance Hall, he broke into a run, headed for the hospital wing.

*******

Rose watched her brother leave the Great Hall and sighed. She knew that the fair would have been another time for them to revel in the love they shared. So, she understood what he must be feeling.

It was so unfair for this to be happening to two of the people she loved. They deserved so much better after so much of what had happened to them.

She felt a gentle hand on hers. She looked up to see Neville looking at her. He nodded his head at Ron and Hermione with a grin on his face. She turned to see Hermione berating Ron for being insensitive again. Ron started to argue with her, causing Rose to turn away.

She didn’t want to watch them row again, especially since Ron’s continued immaturity was the reason for it. It was just getting old. She thought they’d stop rowing once they were together but it had never really stopped.

“Don’t worry,” Neville said. “They don’t fight for long anymore. Frankly, I think it’s their way of foreplay.”

Rose screwed up her face as an image of the two older Gryffindors having sex popped into her head. “Eww, Neville,” she said as she pushed him away. “Please don’t place that image in my head. Hermione’s like a sister to me and Ron’s my brother’s best mate and my best friend’s brother.”

Neville laughed. “Sorry, Rose.” He took hold of her hand and squeezed it gently. “I just wanted to get your mind on something other than what happened to Ginny and how it’s affecting Harry.”

Rose nodded and squeezed his hand in turn. “I know, thanks for trying. Are you done? I’ve lost my appetite. I want to be somewhere else when those two,” she nodded her head toward Ron and Hermione, “start snogging.”

Neville nodded and stood up. Rose did the same and they walked together out of the Great Hall, holding hands. They walked out of the castle down to Black Lake where they sat in the shade of the oak tree they had spent many a day with the others. Neville wrapped his arms around Rose as she leaned against his chest.

“She’ll wake up, Rose,” Neville said, “I’m sure of it.”

“How can you be sure?” Rose asked.

“Well,” Neville said, “Harry still feels her through their bond. She’s probably using all her magic to heal herself so she can’t answer back. Once she’s almost healed, I’m sure she’ll be able to talk to Harry again.”

“I hope so, Neville,” Rose said, turning to look up at him. “It’s tearing Harry apart. If it lasts much longer, I’m afraid it might be too late. I’m not sure I can stand to lose both my brother and my best friend.” Tears started to flow down her cheeks. “What’s even worse about it is that I never saw it coming,” she said. Then she buried her face in his robes and sobbed as Neville comforted her.

*******

Hermione’s forehead scrunched up as she attempted to concentrate on the book she was reading in the library. After berating Ron for his insensitivity to Harry’s plight, she had left him in the Great Hall and returned to Gryffindor Tower for her schoolbag before going to the library to do her homework in Arithmancy.

About half an hour after she started, she was joined at her table by Malfoy.

“Hi, Hermione,” Draco said. “Mind if I join you? I see you're doing that assignment in Arithmancy. Maybe we can share some thoughts on it.”

“Sure, Draco,” Hermione said, “I don’t mind.”

Draco sat down across from her, facing the door, and pulled out his Arithmancy book, some parchment and a quill. They worked in silence for a few minutes. Then Draco looked up at Hermione and asked, “Um, Hermione, could you check if I got this formula right?”

Hermione looked at him in surprise. She’d never expected Draco to ask for help, much less from her.

Draco flushed and looked back down at his work. “Oh, never mind.”

“Wait, Draco,” Hermione said, “it’s all right. I’d be glad to check your work. You just surprised me, that’s all. You don’t usually ask for help.” She moved closer to him and looked over what Draco had written. “Ah, you see here? This figure should go over there…”

Sometime later, Hermione looked at her watch and gasped, “Oh my, look at the time. We’ve been working here for more than two hours. It’s almost lunchtime. Ron will be so worried if I don’t show up.” She started packing her things.

“I doubt it, Hermione,” Draco said. “He’d probably be too busy eating to notice you weren’t there yet.”

“Hey! He’s not that bad,” Hermione said.

Draco just looked at her with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh, all right,” Hermione said. “Maybe he is a bit obsessed with eating.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Draco said. “Well, speak of the devil, here he is.”

Hermione looked around and sighed. Ron had apparently seen who was at the same table with her and decided to get angry about it. She turned back to Draco. “I’d better head him off before he gets here. It was nice working with you, Draco.”

“Thanks, Hermione,” Draco said, “you too.”

Hermione picked up her bag and stood up. But it was too late since Ron had already reached them.

“What are you doing with my girl, Malfoy?” Ron demanded, placing his arms on the table and glaring at Draco.

Draco just smirked and said, “Nothing to get worked up about, Weasley. We were just doing some homework together.”

Before Ron could answer him, Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Draco. She didn’t let go of him until they were outside the library.

“Why the hell did you drag me away from that ferret?” he demanded.

“Because I didn’t want you to start a fight in there, Ron,” Hermione said, “especially since he wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“Why are you defending him?” Ron asked. “He could have been waiting for you to turn your back to him before hexing you.”

“You shouldn’t judge him so harshly, Ronald,” Hermione said. “He’s not done anything threatening to us since the attack on Hogsmeade last year.”

“That doesn’t prove anything,” Ron said. “He’s just more subtle this year. I still think what happened to Ginny was done on his orders.”

“Whatever you think, Ron,” Hermione said, “there’s no proof. We just have to believe he didn’t order it.”

“Oh yeah,” Ron said, “take his word over mine. I never thought you’d side with someone who’s always put you down.”

Hermione gritted her teeth before answering him. “I’m not taking anyone’s side, Ron. There’s no issue for me to take someone’s side. Come on,” she said, taking hold of his arm, “I’m sure you just need some food in you.”

He shook off her hand. “Why does everyone think all I do is eat? I don’t need you to lead me around, Hermione.” He stalked off without another word.

Hermione sighed and shook her head in frustration. Ron was so pigheaded and stubborn. He was so set in his thinking about Draco. She sighed again and followed him.

Later that afternoon, as they headed up to the hospital wing with the rest of their friends to visit Ginny, Ron took her arm and held her back from the others.

“Ron, what is it?” Hermione asked.

He looked sheepishly at her. “I’m sorry, Hermione,” Ron said, “about earlier. I’m sorry for getting mad at you about being with Malfoy. Maggie told me you were just studying together. I was just worried that he was getting you to like him more than me.”

“Oh, Ron,” Hermione said, shaking her head before encircling her arms around his neck. “How on earth would he do that? He has nothing over you.”

“Nothing?” Ron asked her, incredulous. “He’s richer and more good-looking than me. Now that it seems he’s no longer a slimy git, I thought he’d be more appealing to you than a Nobody like me.”

“You stop that, Ron Weasley,” Hermione said, glaring up at him. “You are not a Nobody. You’re brave, funny and loyal to your friends and family. You’re also a tactical genius, one of the best Keepers that Gryffindor has seen and our Quidditch Captain. You’ve also been my best friend since first year and the one I love. If that makes you a Nobody, then we’re all Nobodies. So, I don’t want to hear you put yourself down like that again.”

With that, she pulled his head down so she could capture his lips with hers. They arrived at the hospital wing a half hour after the others and wouldn’t tell anyone why they were late.

*******

Neville looked up from his breakfast on Monday morning as Ron sat down beside him. Now that was unusual. Ron usually waited for Hermione before coming down for breakfast.

“Uh, Neville,” Ron said, looking nervous, “can I ask you for some help?”

Curious, Neville nodded. “Sure thing, Ron. What is it?”

“Well, uh,” Ron stammered, “I need some help coming up with something for Valentine’s Day.”

Neville looked at him in surprise. “Why don’t you ask Harry? He’s the one who you usually run to for those things.”

“I normally would,” Ron said, “but, um, with Ginny unconscious, Harry’s not much himself. I don’t think he could help me.”

Neville had to agree with Ron. Harry had stopped coming to the Great Hall for meals since Saturday, eating food delivered to the hospital wing by the Hogwarts house-elves. He stayed there the whole day, never leaving Ginny side except to go to the loo, even as the rest of his friends and family visited his soul mate.

“All right, Ron,” Neville said, “have you come up with anything?”

*******

After dinner on Thursday, Hermione was once again in the library, working on an assignment for Ancient Runes. She was so intent on her writing that she didn’t notice anyone sit beside her.

“I have to admire your concentration, Hermione.”

She jumped a bit, startled. Looking around, she found Draco seated next to her, smirking.

“What was it that old codger Mad-Eye Moody used to shout at us?” he asked. “Oh yeah. Constant Vigilance! He’d be disappointed in you, Granger.”

Hermione’s eyes narrowed as she replied, “Are we back to last names, Malfoy? You shouldn’t mock Moody. He gave his life for Harry.”

“All right, all right,” Draco said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry for mocking your hero and I was just being sarcastic, Hermione.”

“You’d better be, Draco,” she said before turning back to her work.

After a few minutes of silent work, Draco spoke up again though he didn’t look up from the parchment he was writing on. “Is there any change with Ginny?”

Hermione sighed. She didn’t want to talk about it but knew she had to tell Draco something without any hint of Harry and Ginny’s Soul Bond. She very well couldn’t tell him that Ginny wasn’t answering Harry’s mental calls yet though there was some good news.

“Not really,” she answered, “she doesn’t seem any closer to waking up though Madam Pomfrey said earlier that the swelling of her brain is almost gone.”

“Well, that has to be something good,” Draco said, “I’d have thought she was getting worse, seeing as Potter’s wandering around between classes like an Inferi.”

Hermione shrugged. “He just misses her. They’ve known each other as friends for years, then they got together three years ago. They’ve never been apart for more than a couple of days since then. He really loves her. When you love someone that much, their absence feels like a hole in your heart.”

“Wow, that’s really deep, Hermione,” Draco said, rolling his eyes.

“Just because you’ve never felt love like that doesn’t give you the right to scoff at it,” Hermione said, glaring at him.

“Just what do you mean by that?” Draco asked angrily.

Hermione placed her hand on one of Draco’s as she answered him, “I’ve talked to Ti, Draco. He’s told me about how your father never gave a word of affection to two of you, acting cold and detached and demanding you act the same. That’s not the way to treat kids.”

Draco flushed as he drew his hand away from hers. “It’s the pure-blood way.”

Hermione shook her head in sadness. “That’s not the way it should be. Ti’s already free of that. It’s not too late for you to do so, too.” She silently packed her things before getting up. “Think about it, Draco. You’ll be better for it. Good night.”

*******

Harry woke up on Valentine’s Day in the same bed he had been sleeping in for the past two weeks, beside Ginny’s own bed in the hospital wing. As he reached for his glasses, he remembered what day it was. The clock on the bedside table showed that it was just after six. He quickly moved to sit beside Ginny, taking hold of her right hand.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, love,” he said to her. He suppressed the disappointment he felt when she didn’t answer back but continued to lie there. He sighed and started to run his hand through her hair. He really wished she would wake up. He felt so lost not hearing her lovely voice and feeling her hands going through his hair. He was shaken from his musings by a discrete cough.

“Harry,” Madam Pomfrey said, “I’m sorry, but it’s time for me to clean up Ginny so you can spend the day with her. Why don’t you go have a shower and some breakfast in the meantime? It won’t take long.”

Harry nodded. He knew that Madam Pomfrey would have to undress Ginny while cleaning her up. While he wouldn’t mind seeing her naked, it would not be considered appropriate to those who didn’t know they were married because of the Soul Bond and would cause problems and questions if certain people found out he was present while his ‘girlfriend’ was naked.

He kissed Ginny on the forehead before standing up and leaving the hospital wing. When he got to Gryffindor common room, he found it still empty and headed up to his dorm. Only Neville was awake.

“Hey, Harry,” Neville said. “How’s Ginny?”

Harry sighed. “Hi, Neville. Still the same, but at least I can still feel her presence. So, have you anything special planned with my sister for today?”

Neville blushed. “Um, nothing as grand as you’ve given to Ginny before. We’re just going to the Fair together. But before that, I’m having a great bouquet of roses of different colors brought to her by owl during breakfast then giving her this.” He pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a sapphire teardrop pendant on a gold necklace.

“Wow,” Harry said. “That’s beautiful, Nev. Rose will be gobsmacked.”

“I hope so,” Neville said. “It’s something that’s been in my family for a few generations.”

“You really love her, don’t you?” Harry asked quietly.

Neville nodded and looked nervously at him. “Yeah, I think I do. Don’t tell her, okay? I’d like to tell her myself, when I’m ready.”

Harry clapped a hand on one of Neville’s shoulders and squeezed it. “Sure thing. Oh, one thing, though.” He looked Neville in the eye seriously. “If you hurt her, we’re going to have a problem. I don’t care if you’re supposed to have as much power as I do. I’ll take you down.”

Neville nodded in understanding. “I know. I probably wouldn’t fight back if that happened.”

“Good,” Harry grinned. “Now, let’s hope it never comes to that. I’m taking a shower before heading down for breakfast.”

“I’ll see you there,” Neville said, getting up and heading for the door.

After his shower and a change of clothes, Harry headed down to the common room which was filling up now. He spotted Hermione and Rose there. “Hey girls,” Harry said, “Happy Valentine’s Day.” He hugged both of them.

After returning his greetings, Rose asked, “Anything new?”

Knowing what she meant, Harry shook his head, “No, she’s still not answering me.”

Rose gently squeezed his hand. “Hang in there, bro. She’ll snap out of it soon.”

“How do you know?” Harry asked. “Did you ‘see’ something?”

Rose shook her head. “No, I haven’t. I’m sorry I didn’t see it ahead of time.”

“It’s okay, Rose,” Harry said. “You can’t see everything ahead of time. I know you can’t control those visions and Astral walking is still dangerous. Don’t worry about it. I’m headed down to breakfast. Want to join me?”

“Sure thing,” Rose said. “Is Neville still up there?”

“And Ron?” Hermione asked.

“Neville was already up when I got back from the hospital wing,” Harry said. “I think he’s already gone to the Great Hall. I think Ron’s still sleeping.”

Rose looked disappointed but didn’t say anything. Hermione, on the other hand, looked annoyed. Both of them accepted his invitation to go with him down to the Great Hall.

As they were going down the main staircase, they could see the grounds through the windows of the castle. The stalls the shopkeepers from Hogsmeade would be using for the Fair were already up and decorated with gay bunting and signs.

Seeing the Fair brought Harry back to thinking of Ginny not being around to enjoy it. He suddenly felt the need to be with her again.

Harry stopped walking just as they reached the doors to the Great Hall. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I’m not feeling hungry at the moment. I’ll see you girls later.” He turned around and headed back up the main staircase.

When he reached the third floor, he broke into a run toward the hospital wing. Reaching his destination in short order, he threw open the doors.

Madam Pomfrey looked up in surprise as he ran over to Ginny’s bed. “Mr. Potter,” she said, “is something wrong?”

Harry ignored her as he flung himself on the bed and embraced Ginny’s still form. He could feel the tears flowing from his eyes but he didn’t care if the matron saw him cry. He just felt empty without Ginny. He wasn’t sure if he could go on without her by his side.

He heard the door to Madam Pomfrey’s office open and close. She must have withdrawn to give them some privacy. He felt a moment of gratitude for her before turning his attention back to Ginny.

“Oh, Ginny, why can’t you answer me? Please, love, talk to me,” he called out to her through their bond as he continued to embrace her, “I can’t go on without you.”

He continued crying for what seemed like hours but was actually just a few minutes. Then Harry did something he hadn’t done in two weeks, he kissed her on the lips. “Please, Ginny, come back to me.”

Suddenly, he felt a small increase in her presence, like she was nearer him. Then he heard, “H-Harry.” It was faint but it was definitely her voice. He pulled back and stared at her. “Gin? I’m here.”

“Harry, I feel so weak. I can barely feel anything.”

“Oh, love, that’s okay. At least you’re talking to me again,” he said to her as he kissed her lips again. Then, he broke away for a bit and called out, “Madam Pomfrey! Come quick!”

The door to the matron’s office opened. “What is it, Mr. Potter?” she asked.

“She answered me through the Bond,” Harry said loudly. “She actually talked to me in my head.”

Madam Pomfrey’s eyes widened. She swiftly walked up to Ginny’s bed and waved her wand for several seconds. “She does seem stronger, much more than in the past two weeks.” She then looked thoughtfully at him. “Did you do anything different with her while I was in my office?”

Harry looked sheepishly at her. “Well, um, I just kissed her.”

Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. “Really? Well, I guess it can’t hurt. Try kissing her again, Harry, but do it for a longer time.”

Looking skeptically at her and feeling nervous over having the matron watch him snog his wife, Harry said, “Okay.” He sat back down beside Ginny, leaned over her and started kissing her. After a few seconds, he felt her presence through the Bond increasing.

Feeling elated with this development, he continued kissing her. Then to his surprise, she started kissing back. He pulled back and was glad to see her chocolate brown eyes staring back at him.

“H-Hi,” she said groggily.

Harry felt tears prickling in his eyes as he answered her, “Hi.” Then he hugged her tightly. “You’re awake, you’re awake!”

“Harry, um, I can’t breathe.”

“Oh, sorry,” he said, lessening his hold on her. “I’m just so glad you’re awake.”

“Why?” she asked. “What happened? Why am I in the hospital wing?”

“Oh, baby,” he said, “Goyle hit the Bludger to you while you were doing that last goal. It hit you on the head and knocked you off your broom. I barely caught you before you hit the ground. You’ve been unconscious for two weeks now.”

Ginny’s eyes widened. “Oh, Merlin. I’ve been here in the hospital wing for two weeks?”

Harry hugged her again. “It’s all right. You’re awake now.”

“Harry,” Madam Pomfrey said from behind him, “if you don’t mind, I’d like to examine Ginny now.”

“Oh, all right, Madam Pomfrey,” Harry said, gently lowering Ginny back on the bed and moving to sit beside her bed, though he didn’t release her hand.

After a few minutes, Madam Pomfrey smiled and said, “She’s almost completely back to full health.” She looked at Ginny. “How are you feeling, my dear?”

“I feel a bit weak, ma’am,” Ginny answered. “I’m also feeling hungry.”

Madam Pomfrey smiled. “That’s to be expected. The nutritional potion I have been giving you for the past two weeks isn’t perfect, but at least it kept you hydrated. I’ll have the house-elves bring something up for you, and for you as well, Harry. I doubt you’ve eaten breakfast yet.”

Harry shook his head sheepishly. “No, ma’am, I wasn’t feeling hungry then, considering what day it is. But now, I’m famished.”

“All right,” Madam Pomfrey said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She walked out the doors.

“Harry?” Ginny said. “You mentioned something about not feeling hungry because of the day. What did you mean by that? Is there anything special about today?”

“Well, it’s a day that has been special for us for the past three years now,” Harry said. He leaned over her and kissed her slowly. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Gin.”

Ginny’s eyes widened, then she was kissing him back. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Harry.”

They continued kissing for several minutes before lack of oxygen forced them to break apart. As they recovered their breath, Ginny asked, “So, did you have anything special planned for today before I went to sleep?”

“Well,” Harry said, “I had a vague idea that I was planning to work on after the game. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to finalize my plans. But then, you waking up is an awesome Valentine’s Day gift.”

“Glad I could oblige, Mr. Potter,” Ginny said, kissing him again. “I wonder if Neville and Ron have something planned for their girls. Do you have any idea?”

“Well,” Harry said. “Neville told me earlier that he was giving Rose flowers by owl delivery this morning then he showed me this great-looking sapphire pendant he was also giving her. She’ll probably show it to you once they find out you’re awake.”

“Probably,” Ginny said. “I can’t wait to see them. What about Ron?”

Harry shrugged. “I have no idea if he planned anything for Hermione for today.”

“Oh dear,” Ginny said, “I hope he planned something simple he could pull off.”

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