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Author: emmamoonpotter Story: The Reason Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: WIP Reviews: 1 Words: 19,688
A/N: Thanks so much to all of my reviewers. You make me smile! A big thanks to Muggle Witch and xtrememama2001. You guys are my sounding boards and have saved my sanity with this story over and over again. An extra big thanks as always to ninkenate, my tireless beta. Trying hard to reach out But when I tried to speak out Felt like no one could hear me Wanted to belong here But something felt so wrong her So I prayed I could break away I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly I’ll do what it takes till I touch the sky And I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change And break away Out of the darkness and into the sun But I won’t forget all the ones that I love I’ll take a chance, make a change And break away Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson The morning started as normally as any other for Ginny. She woke up late and spent precious minutes frantically running around her room trying to locate her school uniform. Her blouse was in her trunk, her skirt was stuffed under her pillow and her socks were lying on her bedside table. She quickly dressed and put her trainers on, brushed her teeth and hair, grabbed her book bag and headed to the common room. Taking the stairs two at a time, Ginny attempted to throw her thick hair out of her face and try to keep her footing at the same time. This however proved futile when her hair blocked her vision and she tripped over her shoelace, which she had forgotten to tie, falling head first down the few remaining steps. Ginny could feel the strap of her book bag slipping off her shoulder and bouncing down the steps before her. Closing her eyes, Ginny threw her hands out in front of her, hoping to at least not break her neck, and ended up hitting something solid. Out of instinct, Ginny immediately grabbed whatever she had fallen against and felt her face pressed against soft linen. A deep rumbling vibrated against Ginny’s cheek. Eyes still squeezed shut, now in embarrassment, she got past the roaring in her ears and discovered the object she had a death grip on was laughing. “Dare I hope that you’ve fallen for me?” It asked with amusement. Tentatively opening her eyes, Ginny looked up at the voice and caught her breath. The last person she had expected to see was cradling her in his arms and gazing down at her. “Harry,” Ginny said breathlessly. She saw his eyes darken slightly. The smile on his face immediately turned to a frown as he gently ran his hand down her arm sending delicious shivers across her skin. “Are you okay, Ginny?” Harry asked with concern. His hand was now tracing small circles on her wrist. “Um, yeah. Thanks.” Ginny moved back slightly, and to her consternation, Harry still had his arms wrapped around her. She immediately felt her face heat and glanced nervously at anything but him. It was an interesting position for her to be in. The boy she had secretly loved for the past five years was holding her in his arms and she couldn’t think of anything clever to say. Wait, hadn’t there been a fight between them? Ginny’s fuzzy mind refused to work properly. Harry slowly released her and stepped back. There was a small beam of sunlight streaming from a diminutive window behind Ginny. It lit her hair with gold and red glow. It gave her an almost ethereal look. Her eyes were shadowed and it gave her a hint of mystery. And her lips... A slight pink color tinged his cheeks as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his trousers and studied her. Harry prayed fervently that Ginny couldn’t tell he was mentally waxing poetic over her. “What?” Ginny snapped. Her composure was shot. After weeks of avoidance, it was too much to take in all at once. His emerald eyes sparkled down at her from behind his glasses and there was that sexy smirk... He almost seemed to be sizing her up. ‘Merlin! Get a grip Ginny!’ she mentally scolded herself. ‘You can’t think about his beautiful eyes or his mouth and how it would feel...’ With a moan, Ginny turned away from him and picked up her book bag from where it had fallen on the floor. “I need to go Harry; I’ll be late for Potions,” she said quickly. “Wait, Ginny. I wanted to talk to you about what happened,” Harry implored. He stood in front of Ginny, slightly blocking her way out of the common room. “Oh really? As far as I’m concerned, it’s over and done with. Nothing to talk about.” Ginny replied firmly. Harry scowled at her. Ginny wasn’t making this any easier for him. “Listen, I just need a few minutes to tell you...” Ginny looked at him with irritation. “A few minutes? What, I don’t rate more than that?” Her voice rose in volume. “I’m trying to apologize!” Harry shouted at her. “Humph,” Ginny snorted. “You’re awful at it.” She hefted her book bag over her shoulder and made her way out of the portrait hole. To her surprise, Harry was right behind her. “If you would just hear me out...” Harry persisted as he fell into step beside her. “Why should I? You were very clear on how you feel about me.” A sudden thought came to Ginny. “Ron put you up to this didn’t he? I should’ve known! Why else would you talk to me?” Ginny ranted. “No,” Harry said emphatically. “Ron has nothing to do with this. I feel bad about the way our conversation went and...” “So you feel bad. No surprise there, and now after weeks of ignoring me, again no surprise there, you finally decide to apologize. Excuse me while I swoon.” Ginny mocked placing her hand against her forehead and rolling her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry asked defensively. He walked a bit more stiffly, his arms held rigid against his sides. Ginny stopped walking and faced him. “It means that my world doesn’t revolve around you!” She emphasized this by roughly poking him in the chest as she spoke. “I wanted to be your friend. I wanted to help you because I miss him too, but you’re always too wrapped up in yourself to notice those around you,” Ginny declared angrily. The hallway was occupied by a handful of students all hurrying to get to class on time. The arguing pair was for the most part ignored. Ginny started walking again, not noticing that Harry had stopped dead in his tracks looking at her in confusion. ‘Stupid prat!’ Ginny fumed inwardly. ‘The nerve of him thinking he could try to sweet talk me after weeks of silence. Why bother now? Does he think I’ll fall at his feet in gratitude because he’s deemed me worthy to talk to? Not bloody likely.’ Harry rapidly caught up with Ginny and grabbed her arm. “You don’t know anything how about how I feel, Ginny,” Harry said hotly. “I’m trying to do the right thing here. At least let me apologize!” He was being so stubborn! Why was it so important for him to apologize? He never bothered before. Why now? “Why? So you’ll feel better? Fine. Apology accepted. Your conscious is clear. Now let me go.” Ginny stared pointedly at her arm, then at Harry. Harry shook his head. Ginny rolled her eyes and shook his hand from her arm. “What do you want from me?” she demanded. “I don’t think we should be fighting about this, Ginny. I don’t want you to be mad anymore. Besides, we’ll probably be teammates and...” Ginny saw a red haze cloud her vision. “So that’s what this is all about,” she whispered hoarsely. “You and Ron got together and schemed to find the best way to get me to try out on Saturday. This is all about Quidditch and has nothing whatsoever to do with a sincere apology.” Ginny fought the urge to hex Harry into oblivion. She should have known better. Her brother and Harry would do anything to win at Quidditch, including manipulating her. “Wait, Ginny.” Harry said with alarm. “That’s not what I meant!” He held his hands up and slowly backed away. “It has nothing to do with Quidditch or Ron! I swear! Let me explain...” “I think you’ve said enough,” Ginny said flatly. “You can go tell Ron you did what you were supposed to do.” Dejected, Ginny turned, with shoulders slumped, and trudged to the entrance of the dungeons where the Potions classroom was located. Harry was desperate. Nothing was coming out right. Instead of mending the rift between them, he had made it worse. “Ginny...” Harry reached out and touched Ginny’s arm again. With a growl, the small redhead turned and before Harry knew what happened, he found himself face down on the floor. His breath had left his lungs with a loud whoosh, and he struggled to get to his knees, wheezing with the effort. Ginny stood over him, disbelief etched on her face. Had she done that? Disbelief quickly turned to horror. ‘Oh no! I punched Harry Potter!’ Her mind felt detached from the rest of her. She briefly felt the sting of the knuckles from her right hand, but it was a far away pain, hardly noticeable. “Harry! I’m so sorry! Here let me help you...” Ginny held out her hand to grasp Harry’s wrist and haul him up. He gazed at her blearily, his glasses had fallen off when he hit the stone floor, and slowly shook his head. Surprise was etched on his face. He couldn’t believe that little Ginny Weasley had punched him. “I’m fine,” he gasped. “Just give me a minute.” Harry’s chest felt as if it were on fire. The unexpectedness of the punch had literally floored him. His book bag had wedged underneath him and caused the air to leave his lungs quickly. Ginny winced at the bright red mark on his jaw. She opened her mouth to apologize again when another voice cut in. “Well, well, well. What do we have here? Fisticuffs in front of my classroom?” Professor Snape descended upon them like a giant, black bat. Ginny closed her eyes in defeat. Her day had gone from bad to worse. “Miss Weasley, I am surprised that you would stoop to such levels.” A quick glance down at the heavily breathing Harry caused Snape’s lip to quirk up in a sneer. “And against the famous Potter? Now what to do with you? Hmmm?” “P-Pro-Professor, Ginny didn’t do anything wrong. I fell and she was just trying to help me up,” Harry sputtered. Snape narrowed his cold, black eyes at Harry. “Fell? Interesting. Did you happen to fall on her fist? The mark on your jaw decidedly resembles the shape of a fist. 10 points from Gryffindor for lying,” he drawled. Harry, after some difficulty, finally stood. “With all due respect, Professor,” Harry grit out between clenched teeth. “I’m not lying.” Snape lifted his hand in a slashing movement. “Enough! Detention. My office. Eight this evening, Potter.” “Professor, please. Harry didn’t do anything wrong. If anyone should be punished, it’s me,” Ginny appealed desperately. “Ginny...” hissed Harry warningly. Ginny looked at Harry and shook her head. She wasn’t going to let him accept punishment for what she had done. Ginny felt a slight pulling in her head, but it was quickly gone. Snape’s face held a triumphant look. Ginny felt confused. What had made the Potions master look as if Christmas had come early? “I agree Miss Weasley. 15 points from Gryffindor for tardiness.” Snape turned sharply, causing his black robes to billow around him. Suddenly he stopped. “Oh, and Miss Weasley? Detention in my office at eight this evening as well,” Snape tossed over his shoulder. With that last parting comment, he continued forward and disappeared through the entrance to the dungeons. ‘My day is definitely getting worse by the moment,’ Ginny thought. She reluctantly followed Snape into the classroom, not once looking back at Harry.
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