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Author: Smith Story: Sometimes It Takes A Dream To Wake You Up Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 1 Words: 35,204
Harry sat in the middle of his bed, legs crossed, left cheek resting on his left fist, right hand palm up at eye level while he and the toad stared each other down. Not that the toad was animated at all. Harry vaguely remembered reading somewhere that jade was one of those materials naturally resistant to magic. No, his green eyes were staring into its green eyes and it was simply a credit to the sculptor that they seemed to have some life. "What do you mean, toad?" he asked in an accusatory tone and then looked over to the scrap of parchment with Ginny's note. "And what do you mean?" Tonight's dream Ginny had been very bold and very un-Ginny-like. This gift and note also seemed un-Ginny-like but then was it? Again, he asked himself if he really knew anything about her. ‘Alright Potter, what are the facts here? That she sent you a gift at all is the biggest thing I think.' ‘Yes, but did she send it because she is over any feelings for me or because she isn't?' ‘Now what the Hell does that mean? How do you get she's over you?' ‘I didn't say that she was, just that she might be. She's never given me anything before. Something must have changed.' ‘You may have a point but it's pretty weak. She complimented your eyes.' ‘Everyone does that. And when she did that she also brought up a rather embarrassing moment in her life.' ‘So?' ‘So I was the cause of it.' ‘Oh yes, everything's your fault. Not full of yourself are you?' ‘Well maybe this toad is a way of saying that her feelings have changed and she can laugh about the Valentine's dwarf and the whole crush thing too for that matter.' ‘You're bloody mental.' ‘I am sitting in the dark having a conversation with myself, staring down a piece of rock. Yes, I am mental.' ‘She's not over you.' ‘Well, something's different.' ‘Yes you idiot. You! You finally see how cute she is. How it could be.' Harry's cheeks heated, ‘I don't want it to be like that. I want it to be…nice.' ‘And snogging her isn't nice? You ARE mental.' ‘You know what I mean. So I'm different. That still doesn't explain the gift.' ‘So just ask her, you git. Don't be a Ron.' Harry sighed and lay painfully back on his bed. He turned on his side and put the toad in front of his face on the pillow. He resolved to write his ‘thank you's after a few more hours of sleep. He stared down the toad for some time trying to think what he might write to Ginny about all this. * Harry woke up the next morning, still very sore but strangely rested. He'd had no dreams that he could recall. It was late morning which was odd because no one had awakened him for chores or odd job duty. He dressed quickly and went down stairs prepared to be yelled at for laziness but the house was deserted. Harry had a quick panic and an urge to go get his wand, but then he spotted a note taped to the stove. Gone all day on errands. Eat your meals as you must but otherwise stay in your room or get out of the house. Harry gave a loud whoop. For having never bothered with his birthday before, the Dursleys sure knew the spot on gift. He quickly retrieved one of Mrs. Weasley's meat pies and warmed it on the stove. They were delicious cold but incredible with a bit of warmth in them. He would have shamed Ron at how quickly he wolfed the pie down. Next, he took a long bath. The water was as hot as he could stand hoping to buy some relief for his muscles, paying for it with scalded skin. It helped somewhat and the aspirin "borrowed" from Uncle Vernon's medicine cabinet made regular movement bearable for a time. Harry decided to chance not getting dressed at all today and drew his robe around his boxers and undershirt. His aunt and uncle would most certainly not approve and would probably punish him for wasting the day, but then it was HIS day to waste and they most likely would not find out. He eyed the gifts and letters beside his bed and the toad still on his pillow before retrieving his writing supplies and then moved the birthday items to the desk so he could look at each one as he responded. The toad had center stage. Harry inked up his quill: Ginny, Into the trash, fresh parchment: Dear Ginny, ‘Better, though maybe...' Into the trash, fresh parchment: Dearest Ginny, ‘Too much.' Into the trash, fresh parchment: Dear Ginny, ‘Better, for now.' Do you still like me? ‘Uhg, that's awful!' Into the trash, fresh parchment: Dear Ginny, Thanks for the toad. What did it mean? ‘Worse.' Into the trash, fresh parchment: Dear Ginny, The toad watched him silently. Harry figured if it could, it would roll its eyes. He reached over and turned it around to face away from him. Where was he? Dear Ginny, ‘Damn.' Dear Snuffles, The pensieve sounds brilliant! Please do fill it up and I will always be grateful to anyone who lets me borrow their memories even if it is only temporary. Not that I needed another reason to want to be back at Hogwarts but I really can't wait now. Hagrid's photo album is wonderful but even if they are wizard photos, they are still just photos. Thank you for doing this! Hermione and Ron are at it again but when aren't they? Hermione got me a really cool backpack and a book about preparing for the O.W.L.s. As I said the backpack is really cool and I'm sure the book will help me get to sleep at night. As a man on the move yourself, can you make some suggestions on what to keep in the pack for emergencies? Ron got me a book on how to be Quidditch Captain. I don't really see that happening but it looks to be a good read. Hagrid gave me some really nice dragonhide gloves his dad owned. I'm going to offer them back to him even though they fit almost perfectly. I wouldn't part with anything my dad owned. I hope you and Moony are being careful. I would eventually like to see you again so please don't get killed or caught. Once again, be careful, Harry. Dear Ginny, ‘It can't really be this difficult. Save it for last.' Ron, Thanks for the book and the book jacket. The jacket looks like a real winner and did work well on Hermione's book. Glad you're keeping busy with the twins. What does your mum have to say about consorting with the enemy? I doubt they hexed the robes but checking them out with Flitwick isn't a bad idea. As to the book, I don't know if I'm Captain material and if I am, if I even want it, but there are some interesting plays to study and stuff about group dynamics in a team. Should be a great read. Did you have a look at what Fred and George sent? That phony waiver looks incredible. I need to figure out how to let the Dursleys see it though. I hope they'll buy it. They've left me alone in the house today and I could definitely use more of that. Do you remember me telling you about the pensieve in Dumbledore's office? Well Snuffles has acquired one for me and is going to fill it with people's memories of my parents. I can't wait to try it. You and Hermione will have to come with me and see them too. And speaking of Hermione, she still answers my letters. You really need to ease off. She's picked up some inexpensive potions refills on her trip if you need any let me know and I'll get them from her. Hagrid gave me a pair of horntail hide gloves his dad owned. Do you think I should try to give them back? I don't want to hurt his feelings but I mean they were his dad's. I'll hold off sending him a letter of thanks until I hear back from you. Since you're asking me to, I will have a talk with Ginny when I see her. Your mum mentioned some plan for us all to get together before King's Cross. Perhaps Ginny could come too and she and I could chat then? See you whenever and wherever that is I hope, if not, see you at King's Cross, Captain Harry, Hah! Dear Hermione, The backpack is really cool. Thank you! I can think of many times I could have used it already and I'm sure it will help with getting to and from classes on time this year. As for the book, well, I hope you won't be too offended if I hold off using it until we get to school. Once there, I promise to give it a good read. Glad you're having such a nice trip. I think I'm good on my potions refills but I'll check again sometime today. Today will be a great day to do it since the Dursleys have run off on some errands and left me here by myself. Yes! Snuffles is getting me a pensieve and is going to try and fill it with memories of my parents. I'd like for you and Ron to come with me sometime to see them too. You know Ron means well but he just has trouble expressing it without making things really, really terrible. Can we call it part of his charm? He actually got me a book too but I'm afraid it wasn't about O.W.L.S. He seems to think I'll be the next Gryffindor Quidditch Captain so he got me a book on team building and leadership. Hagrid gave me a pair of horntail hide gloves his dad owned. Do you think I should try to give them back? I don't want to hurt his feelings but I mean they were his dad's. I'll hold off sending him a letter of thanks until I hear back from you. Ron's mum mentioned a plan to get us all together before school starts. Do you think you might forgive him before then? I really miss you two. No definite plans that I know of yet but please say you'll come if you are able. Here's hoping, Harry Fred and George, I haven't figured out how to get the Dursleys to accidentally find your waiver but you can be sure I will. Life was so much quieter when they were afraid of me, that is, more afraid of me. Ron seems happy with his new robes. Would you two be more offended if I agreed that he should have them checked by Professor Flitwick or believe you that the robes are safe? Since you two are on the team, what's all this Captain nonsense? Harry Dear Mrs. Weasley, I really appreciate the food you sent. I had one of the pies this morning for breakfast and it was unbelievably good as usual. I think I'll have some for lunch and dinner as well and finish up with one of the chocolate cakes. I do hope you are able to arrange something so that Ron, Hermione, and I can spend some time together before school. And Ginny too if she wants. Harry Dear Ginny, The toad's butt was mocking him. Harry turned it back around. Its eyes were just as bad. Harry sighed loudly. Dear Ginny, Your mum says that they are working on a way for Ron, Hermione and I to spend some time together before school starts. If they do manage something, it doesn't seem likely to be at the Burrow. I was wondering if you might like to come too, provided it doesn't turn out to be too unpleasant a location and doesn't clash with any other plans you might already have. Nothing definite yet as far as I know but please consider it. Have you any ideas on what to do about Ron and Hermione? They are round the bend if you ask me. I assume you know what I am talking about. It seems to be obvious to everyone but them. Ron recently tried to give me some advice concerning girls and I thought that was hilarious considering his situation. But then it seems I'm no genius on that matter either so I was hoping you might help me in figuring a few things out. I'm sitting here at the moment looking at your gift and I think it is a very good match for my eyes. I'm pleased you remembered the color so well. Love, Harry ‘Wait! Love?' It seemed to have come off the quill by itself. ‘Too much again? Perhaps "affectionately"? Too puppyish. Or "yours"? Too blah. Or "sincerely"? Ditto blah. Or what?' Harry looked back over the other letters he'd just written. He hadn't used "love" with any of those. Had he ever used it? ‘What would Ron do if it were Hermione?' ‘Not use "love".' ‘So?' ‘Love it is.'
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