Parallel
By deemarie
Chapter 1
Ginny wanted to scream, she was angry. But she couldn't let Mum or Dad know how angry she was. Not when they were so happy. So instead of yelling and storming up to her room, she quietly left the parlor and made her way upstairs to bed. Once she was safely in her room, she flung open the dresser drawer looking for her favorite nightdress. She tore the drawer apart, finally locating the worn pink flannel and flipped it out, slamming the drawer behind her. She didn't move her finger quickly enough and slammed it in the drawer. At least she had the presence of mind not to scream as she pulled her hand away. Tears were streaming from her eyes as she sucked on her injured finger and threw herself facedown across the bed.
She knew she wasn't crying just because of the pain. It just wasn't fair! Why hadn't they talked about this with her? She lived here too. Harry Potter was coming to stay. Tomorrow. Permanently. How could they do this to her?
Ginny turned over and grabbed her pillow, the pain in her hand subsiding. Of course, Mum and Dad would want Harry there. They loved him like one of their own. Harry needed a place to stay. Now that Voldemort was gone, Harry didn't need to live with those muggles anymore. He was being discharged from St. Mungo's tomorrow and needed a place to live. Mum and Dad immediately offered Harry the twin's old room. Even if Harry didn't need a place to stay, he would have come for the summer anyway. He would be coming for Ron and Hermione's wedding in August.
Now that she had calmed down, she began to think clearly. Mum and Dad couldn't know how she felt about all of this. They weren't at Hogwarts' after the battle. They spent their time at St. Mungo's waiting for word of Percy. Thank goodness he was all right. Thank goodness Percy had come to his senses and reconciled with their parents.
Harry had been seriously injured. Madame Pomfrey raged at Harry for refusing to go to St. Mungo's. He wanted to stay for the Leaving Feast. It was his last at Hogwarts and he didn't want to miss it. So he had stayed.
Ginny had kept a surreptitious watch on Harry all through the feast. He had grown steadily paler as the feast went on. Ginny had seen the lines of stress grow around his eyes and mouth. When he had gotten up after the feast was over, Ginny was sure he was bout to faint. But Harry steadied himself and made his way up to Griffindor Tower. She had followed behind, but not too closely. Ron and Hermione were at his side. When she entered the tower, they were all sitting in their favorite chairs near the fire. Ginny had joined them, but sat silently while they talked quietly about nothing, really. They all knew Harry needed the rest before he went up to pack.
Why had Dean picked that moment? Why? He came bounding down the stairs and headed directly for Ginny. He stopped right in front of her and bent to one knee and proposed to her. It was the shock of the proposal, she supposed, that caused her reaction. Why had she laughed like that? What had possessed her? Dean, in shock, had fallen right to his behind on the rug.
She remembered telling him what a dear boy he was. She had truly enjoyed his company. But hadn't she made it plain to him right from the first, that she could never be interested in him in that way? They were just good company together. Ginny simply wasn't ready for that serious a relationship. When Dean had finally looked into her eyes she realized how badly she had hurt him. And to have done it in front of Ron, Hermione and Harry...what a fool she was.
She punched her pillow as she remembered how Dean had slowly gotten to his feet. His feeble attempt at an apology had torn at her heart. He wasn't the one who needed to apologize, but Ginny couldn't bring herself to say anything. Dean had shuffled his feet then took off as quickly as his bruised dignity would allow. Ginny looked at the others. Hermione's mouth hung open. Ron's expression was one of anger mixed with relief. He had never liked the fact that she was dating Dean. But Harry's expression was what stunned her the most. He was furious. But why should he be? This had been her business, not his.
Too stunned to say anything, Hermione just got up and left the common room. Ron muttered something about needing to pack and asked Harry if he was coming. Harry said that he would be along directly and Ron left the common room. Ginny had started to rise to go finish her packing.
"Don't go," Harry had said.
"Why?" she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"That wasn't very nice, what you did to Dean." Ginny vividly remembered her hackles rising. "He's a good man, and didn't deserve that."
"Deserve what," she replied tersely.
"You embarrassed him," he said quietly. "You could have at least, been a little more circumspect." Ginny turned to him at that. "Dean really loves you and you just threw it aside."
"You don't understand it, Harry. You should just stay out of it." Ginny knew she was being unreasonable, but she was getting angry. Harry should know her better by now. "What I do and who I do it with is none of your business." She was breathing heavily now. For some reason she could not fathom, she just wanted to lay into Harry. She knew he was right, Dean didn't deserve that treatment, but Harry couldn't see how he had just thrown her for a loop. She had every intention of going to Dean to beg his forgiveness and talk to him. But Harry had just assumed she was toying with Dean and cared not a whit for his feelings.
Harry got to his feet slowly. "Maybe you're right, Ginny. But when you do something like that in front of other people..." He swayed slightly, Ginny remembered now. But at the time, in her anger, she hadn't noticed.
"Why do you care," Ginny had shouted as she rounded on him. "In all the time I've know you, you never said anything to me about who I choose to be with. You've never cared about me as anything more than Ron's little sister! So just leave me alone!" She couldn't stop herself, she tried but all those years of caring for him and him not caring for her just came pouring out, like a broken water pipe, she kept on going. "When I was 11, there you were, the boy who lived. What a tragic hero you were. I just couldn't help but care for you. You seemed so alone, you needed someone who cared. And there I was. But for some reason all I could do to get you to notice me was be about as clumsy as anyone could be. I couldn't even talk to you.
"And then after..." this was so hard, but now that she had started she couldn't stop. "After Riddle had taken me, there you were. You rescued me, saved my life, but that didn't mean anything to you, did it? You just came after me because I'm Ron's sister.
Then there was Cho Chang. All you could think of was her. But I still held out hope. My hopes were dashed, weren't they? Even after you and Cho broke up, you still didn't see me at all. Not during the next year or any that followed. You are so blind, Harry. You don't care about anyone's feelings except yours, Ron's and Hermione's.
"So I tried to forget you. I tried to get someone to take your place in my heart, not that you care. I'm still trying to do that, Harry. I know you don't care for me. Not like that, so just mind your own business and let me try to get on with my life!" She was nearly nose-to-nose with Harry now, her anger flowing over him like waves beating rocks.
"I'm glad you're leaving! I hope I never see you again. That way you won't have to put up with Ron's baby sister anymore! Go, go and pack your bags. And don't worry; you won't have to see me on the train tomorrow. I'll stay out of your way. Oh, and Harry, if you come to the Burrow to visit, tell Ron ahead of time, I'll make myself scarce."
There was pain in Harry's eyes. Partly because of the hurtful words she had just shouted, but partly because Harry had reached his breaking point. He had opened his mouth to tell her something, but before he could respond, his eyes rolled up and he fell to the floor at her feet.
The rest of that night had passed her by in a blur. She remembered shouting to Ron for help before running for Madame Pomfrey. They had taken Harry to St. Mungo's then. He'd been there for the last three weeks.
Ginny couldn't bring herself to visit Harry. She didn't think she could face the hurt and anger he felt for her now. And tomorrow she would finally have to face him. She tried not to cry as she changed into her old flannel. She had always felt comforted and warm in it. But tonight here was no comfort to be found. She lay awake long into the night, finally crying herself to sleep.
By deemarie
Chapter 1
Ginny wanted to scream, she was angry. But she couldn't let Mum or Dad know how angry she was. Not when they were so happy. So instead of yelling and storming up to her room, she quietly left the parlor and made her way upstairs to bed. Once she was safely in her room, she flung open the dresser drawer looking for her favorite nightdress. She tore the drawer apart, finally locating the worn pink flannel and flipped it out, slamming the drawer behind her. She didn't move her finger quickly enough and slammed it in the drawer. At least she had the presence of mind not to scream as she pulled her hand away. Tears were streaming from her eyes as she sucked on her injured finger and threw herself facedown across the bed.
She knew she wasn't crying just because of the pain. It just wasn't fair! Why hadn't they talked about this with her? She lived here too. Harry Potter was coming to stay. Tomorrow. Permanently. How could they do this to her?
Ginny turned over and grabbed her pillow, the pain in her hand subsiding. Of course, Mum and Dad would want Harry there. They loved him like one of their own. Harry needed a place to stay. Now that Voldemort was gone, Harry didn't need to live with those muggles anymore. He was being discharged from St. Mungo's tomorrow and needed a place to live. Mum and Dad immediately offered Harry the twin's old room. Even if Harry didn't need a place to stay, he would have come for the summer anyway. He would be coming for Ron and Hermione's wedding in August.
Now that she had calmed down, she began to think clearly. Mum and Dad couldn't know how she felt about all of this. They weren't at Hogwarts' after the battle. They spent their time at St. Mungo's waiting for word of Percy. Thank goodness he was all right. Thank goodness Percy had come to his senses and reconciled with their parents.
Harry had been seriously injured. Madame Pomfrey raged at Harry for refusing to go to St. Mungo's. He wanted to stay for the Leaving Feast. It was his last at Hogwarts and he didn't want to miss it. So he had stayed.
Ginny had kept a surreptitious watch on Harry all through the feast. He had grown steadily paler as the feast went on. Ginny had seen the lines of stress grow around his eyes and mouth. When he had gotten up after the feast was over, Ginny was sure he was bout to faint. But Harry steadied himself and made his way up to Griffindor Tower. She had followed behind, but not too closely. Ron and Hermione were at his side. When she entered the tower, they were all sitting in their favorite chairs near the fire. Ginny had joined them, but sat silently while they talked quietly about nothing, really. They all knew Harry needed the rest before he went up to pack.
Why had Dean picked that moment? Why? He came bounding down the stairs and headed directly for Ginny. He stopped right in front of her and bent to one knee and proposed to her. It was the shock of the proposal, she supposed, that caused her reaction. Why had she laughed like that? What had possessed her? Dean, in shock, had fallen right to his behind on the rug.
She remembered telling him what a dear boy he was. She had truly enjoyed his company. But hadn't she made it plain to him right from the first, that she could never be interested in him in that way? They were just good company together. Ginny simply wasn't ready for that serious a relationship. When Dean had finally looked into her eyes she realized how badly she had hurt him. And to have done it in front of Ron, Hermione and Harry...what a fool she was.
She punched her pillow as she remembered how Dean had slowly gotten to his feet. His feeble attempt at an apology had torn at her heart. He wasn't the one who needed to apologize, but Ginny couldn't bring herself to say anything. Dean had shuffled his feet then took off as quickly as his bruised dignity would allow. Ginny looked at the others. Hermione's mouth hung open. Ron's expression was one of anger mixed with relief. He had never liked the fact that she was dating Dean. But Harry's expression was what stunned her the most. He was furious. But why should he be? This had been her business, not his.
Too stunned to say anything, Hermione just got up and left the common room. Ron muttered something about needing to pack and asked Harry if he was coming. Harry said that he would be along directly and Ron left the common room. Ginny had started to rise to go finish her packing.
"Don't go," Harry had said.
"Why?" she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"That wasn't very nice, what you did to Dean." Ginny vividly remembered her hackles rising. "He's a good man, and didn't deserve that."
"Deserve what," she replied tersely.
"You embarrassed him," he said quietly. "You could have at least, been a little more circumspect." Ginny turned to him at that. "Dean really loves you and you just threw it aside."
"You don't understand it, Harry. You should just stay out of it." Ginny knew she was being unreasonable, but she was getting angry. Harry should know her better by now. "What I do and who I do it with is none of your business." She was breathing heavily now. For some reason she could not fathom, she just wanted to lay into Harry. She knew he was right, Dean didn't deserve that treatment, but Harry couldn't see how he had just thrown her for a loop. She had every intention of going to Dean to beg his forgiveness and talk to him. But Harry had just assumed she was toying with Dean and cared not a whit for his feelings.
Harry got to his feet slowly. "Maybe you're right, Ginny. But when you do something like that in front of other people..." He swayed slightly, Ginny remembered now. But at the time, in her anger, she hadn't noticed.
"Why do you care," Ginny had shouted as she rounded on him. "In all the time I've know you, you never said anything to me about who I choose to be with. You've never cared about me as anything more than Ron's little sister! So just leave me alone!" She couldn't stop herself, she tried but all those years of caring for him and him not caring for her just came pouring out, like a broken water pipe, she kept on going. "When I was 11, there you were, the boy who lived. What a tragic hero you were. I just couldn't help but care for you. You seemed so alone, you needed someone who cared. And there I was. But for some reason all I could do to get you to notice me was be about as clumsy as anyone could be. I couldn't even talk to you.
"And then after..." this was so hard, but now that she had started she couldn't stop. "After Riddle had taken me, there you were. You rescued me, saved my life, but that didn't mean anything to you, did it? You just came after me because I'm Ron's sister.
Then there was Cho Chang. All you could think of was her. But I still held out hope. My hopes were dashed, weren't they? Even after you and Cho broke up, you still didn't see me at all. Not during the next year or any that followed. You are so blind, Harry. You don't care about anyone's feelings except yours, Ron's and Hermione's.
"So I tried to forget you. I tried to get someone to take your place in my heart, not that you care. I'm still trying to do that, Harry. I know you don't care for me. Not like that, so just mind your own business and let me try to get on with my life!" She was nearly nose-to-nose with Harry now, her anger flowing over him like waves beating rocks.
"I'm glad you're leaving! I hope I never see you again. That way you won't have to put up with Ron's baby sister anymore! Go, go and pack your bags. And don't worry; you won't have to see me on the train tomorrow. I'll stay out of your way. Oh, and Harry, if you come to the Burrow to visit, tell Ron ahead of time, I'll make myself scarce."
There was pain in Harry's eyes. Partly because of the hurtful words she had just shouted, but partly because Harry had reached his breaking point. He had opened his mouth to tell her something, but before he could respond, his eyes rolled up and he fell to the floor at her feet.
The rest of that night had passed her by in a blur. She remembered shouting to Ron for help before running for Madame Pomfrey. They had taken Harry to St. Mungo's then. He'd been there for the last three weeks.
Ginny couldn't bring herself to visit Harry. She didn't think she could face the hurt and anger he felt for her now. And tomorrow she would finally have to face him. She tried not to cry as she changed into her old flannel. She had always felt comforted and warm in it. But tonight here was no comfort to be found. She lay awake long into the night, finally crying herself to sleep.