"Letters" Chapter Two continued
"Letters: No Starting Over" ....
Harry cursed under his breath. She was going to tell Hermione what had just happened and he knew that if she found out, he’d never hear the end of it. But instead of getting the upset stare from across the room, Hermione smiled and laughed just before she and Ginny both turned back to Neville, resuming their chat.
“Are you all right mate?” Ron asked as he walked over toward Harry.
“Wha- er…yeah. I’m fine. Why do you ask?” he asked with his eyes still fixed on Ginny.
“…Because ever since you arrived this morning, you’ve been acting strange.”
“What do you mean I’ve been acting strange? I’ve been perfectly fine,” Harry said unconvincingly.
“Yeah, you said that already.” Ron watched him a little longer in silence. Harry didn’t seem to notice that they weren’t talking any longer, allowing Ron to observe him closer.
Ron found his friend’s gaze attached to the sight of his sister. Every move she made, his eyes stayed on her. Ron only noticed a change when they both saw Eric walk over to where Ginny was standing. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. Harry nearly turned green with envy when she smiled as he leaned in to whisper something in her ear before dragging her away to a secluded corner.
“Harry?” Ron asked. Harry did nothing but incline his head slightly. “This has got something to do with Ginny, doesn’t it?”
“I didn’t say anything about Ginny. Who said I did?” he answered nervously, turning to look at the ginger-haired young man next to him.
“No one had to say anything, mate. All they’ve got to do is look at you. I mean, really…” Ron said pointing to him, “…just look at yourself. You’re anxious and fumbling all over the place…not to mention the fact that if looks could kill, Eric would already be cursed.”
“Ron?” Harry asked, hearing him make a small sound in response. “Did you say anything to Ginny about me dating other people?” Ron’s brow furrowed, carefully thinking before answering his friend’s question.
“No…not directly. Actually, I wasn’t going to say anything about it unless it came up…but I reckon it has now,” Ron said, biting the inside of his cheek out of nervous habit. “I’m sorry, mate. I didn’t mean for her to find out. Matter of fact, I had absolutely no intentions of her ever knowing, unless the news came directly from you. But…the day that I received your letter…you know, the one where you told me you were seeing other witches, she overhead Hermione and I talking about it in the kitchen.” Harry dropped his head shaking it slightly as he felt his eyes begin to sting with tears.
“Honest mate, I didn’t want this kind of thing coming from me. Mione and I…we were just worried about you and the type of women that you’ve been with.” Ron was attempting to tread on the subject as lightly as possible, not really knowing how his friend would react.
“What of them?” he asked, keeping his head down.
“I- well…there’s nothing wrong with them. It just seems that most are only looking to shag the Boy-Who-Lived instead of knowing the real you. None of them really know you, except…” Ron’s voice trailed off.
“…Except for Ginny,” Harry said, looking up at Ron with regretful eyes. “I know. Ron, what am I going to do?”
“I don’t think there’s much you can do now, Harry. I’m afraid you’re too late.”
“I know I am,” he whispered with his voice full of remorse.
“I wish that things had worked out differently for the two of you…but Harry, you didn’t see her when we realized she’d found out about you. If we hadn’t been at The Burrow when she found out, I don’t know what she would’ve done. It was beyond painful for her. I swear, she wasn’t breathing for a few moments; she just sort of stood there frozen in shock. Hermione decided to stay with her that night to make sure that she didn’t do something stupid like Obliviate her mind.” Ron heard him curse under his breath and spoke softly, “It was bad, Harry.”
“What have I done?” Harry muttered to himself. “God, I am such an arse. I- I just tried to get her back. I tried to tell her that he couldn’t love her…like I did. I even told her that I wouldn’t believe her unless she told me that she didn’t need me.”
“Bloody hell,” Ron groaned. Without warning, he soundly planted a hard punch to Harry’s arm. “What in Merlin’s name is the matter with you? How dare you make her say that?!”
He rubbed his arm, hissing, “I know! I couldn’t believe my own voice when it left my lips. I didn’t mean to, but…I couldn’t let her go…I can’t-” Harry had continued until Eric’s voice broke through all conversation in the room.
“Ladies and Gentlemen…I know that we’re all here for another celebration-please pardon my brief intrusion, Harry--but I have an announcement to make.” Harry, who was busy glaring daggers at the young man who was speaking, took notice of the small-framed, ginger-haired witch that was tugging on his arm, seemingly begging him to stop speaking. Clearly, he was embarrassing her but Eric did nothing but smile and chuckle, starting again.
“I have just asked this beautiful woman, Miss Ginny Weasley…” at this she stopped protesting him and hung her head, “…to marry me.”
Harry could do nothing but stare at her, looking as if his heart had now been officially ripped out of his chest.
“And…I’m proud to say,” Eric continued, “that she said yes!”
As the surrounding crowd erupted in cheers, Ginny’s gaze drifted up, meeting Harry’s. He didn’t find the happiness in her eyes as he would have expected to see, not even contentment. Instead, he found his very same emotions reflected in her.
Click here for Chapter 3: The Beginning of the End