Challenges #008, 073, 047
Title: The Acromantula Nest
Rating/Warnings: PG
Characters/Pairing: Hagrid, Luna, Neville, Ginny.
Summary: Snape sentences Neville, Ginny and Luna to detention in the Forbidden Forest after trying to steal the Sword of Gryffindor. They dared to hope for an easy ride, but Hagrid is under watch from the Carrows....
Word Count: 1054
Author's Notes: For prompt #008 "Forbidden Forest"
Registered purchases?: Bothz0rz
It was Luna who knocked on the door of Hagrid's hut. The door swung open.
"Ah, 'ere you are. Was startin' to think you weren't comin'. In you get, now. Gotta give yeh yer kit."
The three students stepped in, looking around the hut. Though it was clear the Carrows didn't come down this way very often, it was equally obvious Hagrid had let the school politics get him down. There were a few broken items lying around, and huddles of clothes and rags in heaps on the floor.
"What are we doing, Professor Hagrid?" Neville asked, trying to keep civil to Hagrid who, in spite of being on decent terms with Neville due to their mutual friends in Harry, Ron and Hermione, was still their teacher, and this was not a social visit.
"Tha Carrows 'ave asked me ter put some potion down round the Acromatula colony," Hagrid explained. "Stops 'em layin eggs, y'see. And they like to lay 'em round this time of year when the leaves star' fallin' off the trees; gives the larvae summit teh chew on when they 'atch."
Ginny flushed red, her eyes widened; she may as well have been her brother being told to walk into a nest of giant spiders.
"Now, it's very dangerous teh be roun' acromatula when they're layin eggs," Hagrid continued. "Well, it's pretty dangerous teh be round Acromantula at the best o' times. It's why I need all of you to come down and help. Nobody shoul' try doin' this by themselves. Put on yeh gloves now, I 'aven' got all day."
"Professor?" Neville asked carefully. "You really want us to... walk into an Acromantula nest and kill their babies?"
Hagrid was the one to flush red this time. "Tell the truth, Lon'bo'm, it's partly my fault their nest's so big. They've been allowed to breed for years now. Last year their King died, y'see, and now they're doin' their own stuff, an' I can't get near em by meself."
"But that's not what I mean," Neville asked, his round face showing some of the anxiety of his younger years. "Do the Carrows really expect us to do this?"
"Enough talkin'" Hagrid interrupted. "I'll say this: Amycus Carrow was a student here fifteen or twenny years ago. He was forever goin' in the Forest by 'imself. I don' think 'e's gonna come into the Acromantula nest, but he's gonna make sure you are where you're meant to be."
"How?"
"Homenum Revelio," Ginny said simply. "He can just come to the edge of the Forest and cast it."
"Exactly," Hagrid said. "Now, c'mon. I want to get this over an' done with."
The four of them walked steadily into the Forest, Hagrid leading the way with a lantern, Neville, Luna and Ginny walking with their wands lit. The lights from the school were extinguished in the brown foliage.
"You know, there are meant to be all kinds of fascinating flora in the Hogwarts Forest," Luna said brightly. "Like that braccius barbus over there. If it stings you in twilight hours, you can sprout extra limbs."
"Luna," Neville muttered, "trust me on this: that's just a patch of stinging nettles."
"No, I'll prove it, Neville," Luna said, approaching it, until Ginny interrupted--
"I don't think we should be getting distracted," she hissed. "We should stay with Hagrid."
"I suppose so," Luna said sadly, straightening up. "Though I don't think this Forest is at all scary, now I'm here."
"What?"
"Well, it's like what Harry said, isn't it? Fear of something is often worse than the thing itself. Calling somewhere as beautiful as this 'Forbidden' is misleading."
Ginny and Neville looked at one another, and decided not to say anything. But in doing so, they walked into the back of Hagrid.
"Okay," he said happily, "so 'ere we are."
"I can't see anything," Ginny said simply. "This is a trap."
Luna tilted her head. "A trap?"
"Snape wants to get rid of us, right? So he sent us out to do an impossible task," Ginny whispered. "Acromantula venom is terribly noxious."
"But we're with Hagrid, though!"
"Doesn't matter," Ginny said. "The Carrows and You-Know-Who probably want to get rid of him at the same time. Not just that, the guilt he'll feel if anything happens to us..."
"I can hear you, Ginny," Hagrid grumbled. "C'mon, keep close. Keep your ears open."
A few minutes later, a loud blare scared them witless, followed by a dazzling light. The three students looked at it bewildered, until Ginny finally identified the source of the commotion:
"That's my dad's old car!"
"Too righ' it is," Hagrid said. "Old 'Enry's been in the Forest since Ron an' Harry crashed it 'ere. Now get inside, the three of yeh."
Neville blinked. "Sorry, what?"
"Get in," Hagrid said. "You're spendin' the night in the car."
"You mean we're not puttin' potion down on the nest?"
"Nah, Snape brought the potion down two days ago, so I did it then," Hagrid explained. "I just need you three to stay in 'Enry for a few hours, until it's safe teh go back."
Neville and Ginny, not believing their luck, opened the doors of the Ford Anglia and dived inside. Luna followed, sitting in the front seat.
"Now you three listen," Hagrid said, closing the door. "Things are diff'rent at Hogwarts this year. If you keep crossin the Death Eaters, they're gonna come down hard on yeh. Yeh're too young to remember the last War, but they play dirty."
"Thank you Hagrid," Ginny said.
"Don't mention it," Hagrid said gruffly. Now stay in the car until I fetch yeh.
The three students sat in there as they watched Hagrid vanish into the tree-line. They knew he wasn't far away, simply watching to ensure nothing too untoward came their way. Still, it was better than being eaten.
"Oh, I wanted to look at the animals," Luna said sadly. "But I suppose sitting here is okay too. It's out of the wind."
"Yeah," Neville said. "I guess Hagrid's pretty nice after all."
"How long is he going to be, do you think?" Ginny asked.
"We've probably got a few hours to kill," Neville said. "Any suggestions?"
A pause. Then Luna's voice drifted back from the front seat:
"I spy with my little eye.... something beginning with T."
Title:
Rating/Warnings: PG-13/T. Bit creepy.
Characters/Pairing: Ginny/Riddle's Diary.
Summary: Ginny adjusted to Hogwarts and finds solace in a curious friend. But she has some doubts....
Word Count: 1217. This was worryingly easy to write. D:
Author's Notes: For prompt #073 "Dear Diary." Apologies now in the event of any HTML fail.
Registered purchases?: Bothz0rz
Dear Diary,
I found you in my schoolbooks, and I think you must have come to me by mistake. I wanted to return you to the shop, but you do seem to be a very old book, and it seems to be a Muggle object, so perhaps you were a secret present from Dad.
I'm only writing this to claim this as my own- I might just use you to put my thoughts down; it's all very confusing coming to a new school!!
-Ginny W xx
Hello Ginny,
Please do not be alarmed; I am simply your diary. I was enchanted a long time ago to help my owners think their thoughts through, very much in the way you wish to use me, I must say!!
School is a frightfully daunting place for new students. I see you use the expression "Muggle", so I presume you are from a wizarding family? Are you at Hogwarts by some coincidence? My first owner was a student there, too.
Kindest regards,
Your diary,
Tom
Hello Tom!
At first I was surprised, and thought somebody had stolen my diary and written in it, but then I saw what you wrote. Tom is a funny name for a diary!!! It feels strange knowing somebody is living inside my diary, reading my words!!
-Ginny
Dearest Ginny,
My first owner's name was Tom; I am simply borrowing his name to sound more human, if you pardon the expression. You seem like a very bright girl, and I would love to have you as a friend. How are you adjusting to school life?
Yours,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Sorry if I sounded rude in my last entry, it's just my Dad told me to be careful with enchanted artefacts that talk back to me. I am indeed at Hogwarts, I just started (in Gryffindor, yay!) and am enjoying the work, even if it is very tricky!! Please tell me something about yourself, this sounds so cool!
Dearest Ginny,
I'm glad to hear you're settling in. You seem to be very happy about being in Gryffindor; do you have special attachments to that house? I hear it has a beautiful, warm common room and has a beautiful view over the school grounds. If so, it sounds breathtaking to behold. It's a pity I don't have eyes. I would love to see the school for myself, and experience the wonders my owners have described. Of course, I would also love to see the people who write in me.
Your father sounds like a very wise wizard. Perhaps he does have a point; you should indeed be careful of threats, especially magical ones. Terrible things happen at the worst possible times, and I find that people's fear can often be the scariest, most awful part of the whole situation. It is probably best not to worry people, wouldn't you agree?
Hi Tom
You're ever such a clever book! That's exactly what I think about a lot of things, but you wrote it much nicer than I could have done!
I enjoy being in Gryffindor, but our Head of House Professor McGonagall is very strict, and a little bit scary! She's also deputy head beneath Professor Dumbledore, so that's probably why-- he doesn't seem very strict at all!
All of my brothers have been in Gryffindor as well (I'm the youngest of a big family). My parents too. It's quite cool, there's nine of us Gryffindors in our year group. We've started flying lessons, but I already know how to use a broom. I suppose it's good for kids from Muggle families (one boy called Colin is really excited, but he keeps falling off sideways!)
Thank you for agreeing with my dad, I was getting a little worried. You are right, we works in the Ministry of Magic. Am I allowed to say I think his job sounds a little boring?
I must go, Charms assigment is due in the morning!
-Ginny x
Dearest Ginny
Thank you for your kind compliment, though I ought to remind you I am just a book. I write back to you in your own ink, reflecting your own thoughts. I am simply a reflection of yourself; if you compliment me, then you are truly complimenting yourself. The only difference is how I articulate things: everything you believe in me, I believe in you. Perhaps you do not quite realise your strengths, yet.
It must be crazy being from a big family! You mention having brothers, but you do not say anything about sisters? Do you not have any? I would imagine being the youngest sibling and the only girl can sometimes be isolating, even in the most loving of environments.
It certainly doesn't surprise me the Muggle-born boy is excited to learn magic, he is still exploring the novelty element. Do you think Muggle-born wizards and witches can find their place in our world? It's a very big step to take. And don't worry: everything you say to me is in confidence (including the compliment you gave your father!)
Good luck with Charms!
Always Yours,
Tom
Tom,
You're really really kind. Being the youngest girl is really troublesome. My brothers are always teasing, but they're not very mean to me. They prefer to tease Ron (he's next youngest) over me, but since he became friends with <3 Harry Potter <3 they don't seem to do it as much. I always used to think boys simply don't understand girls.
Well, you're different of course. You say you're just a book, but I think you're more than that. I think you're a friend. You are always there to listen to me, even when I'm having a bad day.
My dad always says that Muggle-borns are no different than us Pure-blooded witches. I think I'll agree. Colin's scoring as well on tests as I am. My dad told me to be nice to Muggle-born families, and that being snobbish is never acceptable. There was a big war just before I was born where an evil wizard tried to kill Muggle-borns, until he was defeated. Thanks for the good luck wish, I got motivated to finish it just in time!!!
Ginny xx
Dearest Ginny,
It does sound like your dad fears for your safety a lot. It must worry your family when you're away from home. I'm sure not all boys are the same. You seem to like this friend of your brother's, Harry Potter?
I find information about the wizarding world very interesting. Could you tell me a little more about that evil wizard? Who was he and what did he do? He sounds scary, and it is lucky he's gone, because I wouldn't want to hear you living in bleak times.
Yours Eternally,
Tom
Tom,
Funny you mentioned Harry and the evil wizard. It was Harry who vanquished him as a baby. Even now, nobody knows how he did it.
Everybody treats him like he was famous. The evil wizard (I don't like writing his name, but he was known as Voldemort.... writing that felt weird!) killed thousands, and did all sorts of nasty things to people.
I am so happy you care about my welfare. I am glad to have you as a friend, Tom.
Love,
Ginny xxx
Hello? Tom?
Tell me more about Harry Potter.
Title: Forever Alone
Rating/Warnings: PG for angst
Characters/Pairing: Harry, Ginny/Michael Corner, references to a few others.
Summary: Harry tries to get back with Ginny after defeating Voldemort, but finds it's not an option. After everything he fought for, he needs to consider life alone.
Word Count: 1210
Author's Notes: Written for prompt #047- "A New Love For Harry". Ironically, it was the first thing I wrote for Pirate Week. >:3
Registered purchases?: Bothz0rz
The celebrations and formalities over, Harry had been congratulated by everybody who could find him, and shared their grief and triumph. The war was at an end, and he, the Boy Who Lived, was the one at the centre of it all.
However, there was only one person he wanted to see right now. He had managed to slip outside, when he had spotted her walk out of the ruined Great Hall. Hurrying after her, he caught up and tagged her on the elbow.
"Hey."
"Hey, Harry," Ginny smiled weakly, as though exhausted from the night's fighting. Harry smiled.
"I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too," she said apologetically. "And I'm glad you're okay as well. And after everything that's happened this evening..."
She closed her eyes; Harry could see a sparkle of water in the corner of one of her eyelids. He understood.
"I'm so sorry about Fred," he said, squeezing her arm. "I really am."
"I know, I know," Ginny said, rubbing her face. "I don't blame you or anything."
To Harry, it hardly mattered; he was racked with enough guilt from the death, anyway. He couldn't bear to see her like this. The weight of the trauma hung between them; they spoke at once:
"Look, I-"
"There's u-"
They looked at one another, Harry's green eyes meeting her brown ones through his smudged spectacles. He indicated to her to start first.
"There's something I need to tell you," she said with a bit of a fidget. "I know you... I know you were away for all those months, and I understand why you couldn't have me with you."
"Ginny, I-"
"No, let me finish," she said with a sigh. "But when I came back to Hogwarts after the summer, it was such a horrible place. I was by myself now, you and Ron, and..."
She was looking a lot sadder than Harry would have thought. She looked more than that, guilty even.
"I, I'm sorry," Harry said. "I know it was tough..."
"Not really, you helped us fight the Carrows," Ginny said with a shrug. "All the other teachers were looking out for us. Even Snape, if what you said earlier was true."
Harry was confused. "Then what-?"
A pair of footsteps. "Ah! Ginny! I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Harry spun round at the boy approaching. The boy spotted Harry, and approached him, just like everybody else had this evening, giving thanks. He then stepped next to Ginny, and put his hand on the slight of her back. Looking at the two of them, Harry's brow knitted.
"Is everything okay?"
Ginny went red. "Um, this is what I wanted to say..."
Harry's eyebrow raised.
"Since you went away this year... I got back together with Michael Corner."
It was as though ice water had been thrown over his face. The fatigue of the night had worn him down, he couldn't comprehend this, not now, not like this....
"I'm sorry, Harry. But... but he's been here, and and I..."
If this had been the Harry from two years ago, he would have been yelling at Michael, at anybody, kicking furniture and breaking ornaments. But he was not that boy any more. He was not that man. He looked at the two of them, smiled with consent, and walked away without another word, feeling more defeated than he had at any point during his hunt for Horcruxes, but he didn't argue.
He didn't have the energy, and there really wasn't much to say.
=======
The years went by, and Harry watched those around him grow up, and move forward. Naturally, he was best man at Ron's wedding to Hermione; since Ron had moved out from the Burrow, this had been the first time Harry had seen Ginny. She looked pretty as ever, but Michael Corner was still there, ever-present, like a blemish on her otherwise perfect skin.
"Hey."
"You okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Ginny said. "That was a lovely speech you gave."
"Yeah," Harry said. "I'm glad you liked it. Ron was embarrassed enough, of course."
"Yeah, sure." Ginny chuckled. "How's everything with you at home?"
"Oh, it's fine," Harry said. "I found a way to keep the curtains covering Sirius' mother's portrait permenantly closed, so I can come in from work without being screamed at."
"Sure," Ginny said.
Another awkward silence. She had clearly picked up on the fact Harry was not seeing anybody, and she didn't press the subject further. Harry, however, felt the conversation falter, so he decided to man up and ask the question lingering in the background: "How is everything with Michael?"
"Yeah, he's fine," Ginny said airily. "He's over there getting food. He never says no to a free buffet. Did you hear he's doing work with disadvantaged wizarding families who lost everything during the war?"
"No, no I didn't," Harry squirmed. "I know about the charities, though. People send owls to me about them a lot."
"I can imagine," Ginny said, with a faint smile. Harry got the feeling she was just humouring him.
"Look, I'd better find Arthur, he wanted to say something to me. Good luck with everything, Ginny."
With that, he excused himself and got as far from Ginny as possible, feeling very awkward.
========
The years went on, and although Harry still had a lot of fanmail from people who were affected by the war, he himself was not having much success with finding a new girlfriend. He would go over to Ron and Hermione's place; Ron would joke at him about how he's lucky not to be tied down, but Harry knew for a fact Ron didn't mean this; he had never seen his best friend this happy, for so long. Hermione was much more sympathetic, often offering him advice on what he might be doing wrong, and how he would find the right person when she came along.
However, beyond that, Hermione didn't really say much of substance, these days. She was always either busy with her job, or, when she fell pregnant, too preoccupied with baby issues. Finally, Harry realised he would have to cut back on his visiting time when Ron suggested he needed to spend more time with his new family, and how they weren't teenagers any more, and couldn't spend so much time hanging out.
Being a dad changed Ron, Harry noticed, bitterly.
So for several years, it was only Harry and Kreacher, sharing evenings in Grimmauld Place, listening to other people's lives develop around him. Ginny had become engaged to Michael (though Harry heard she refused to take his surname, which made him grin), Luna was pregnant with twins, and even Dudley was starting a family now.
Shortly after Ron and Hermione's second child was born, Kreacher passed away, leaving Harry completely alone.
He had come to realise it was the fame. The women he spoke too were daunted by his celebrity, even when he told them there was nothing really to be intimidated about. After defeating the greatest Dark Wizard out there (twice), he didn't think it would cause him misfortune with the ladies. But so it was.
His thirtieth birthday came around, and a familiar owl landed on his table, carrying a card. He smiled, stroked it, and it flew back out the window. It was from the only person who still wrote him fanmail. He smiled; it was a funny card.
In spite of himself, Harry decided to write back to Romilda Vane. A bit of company on his birthday wouldn't hurt, after all.
1054 + 1217 + 1210 = 3481
(3481 / 30) = 116 points + 30 bonus GET!!
Rating/Warnings: PG
Characters/Pairing: Hagrid, Luna, Neville, Ginny.
Summary: Snape sentences Neville, Ginny and Luna to detention in the Forbidden Forest after trying to steal the Sword of Gryffindor. They dared to hope for an easy ride, but Hagrid is under watch from the Carrows....
Word Count: 1054
Author's Notes: For prompt #008 "Forbidden Forest"
Registered purchases?: Bothz0rz
It was Luna who knocked on the door of Hagrid's hut. The door swung open.
"Ah, 'ere you are. Was startin' to think you weren't comin'. In you get, now. Gotta give yeh yer kit."
The three students stepped in, looking around the hut. Though it was clear the Carrows didn't come down this way very often, it was equally obvious Hagrid had let the school politics get him down. There were a few broken items lying around, and huddles of clothes and rags in heaps on the floor.
"What are we doing, Professor Hagrid?" Neville asked, trying to keep civil to Hagrid who, in spite of being on decent terms with Neville due to their mutual friends in Harry, Ron and Hermione, was still their teacher, and this was not a social visit.
"Tha Carrows 'ave asked me ter put some potion down round the Acromatula colony," Hagrid explained. "Stops 'em layin eggs, y'see. And they like to lay 'em round this time of year when the leaves star' fallin' off the trees; gives the larvae summit teh chew on when they 'atch."
Ginny flushed red, her eyes widened; she may as well have been her brother being told to walk into a nest of giant spiders.
"Now, it's very dangerous teh be roun' acromatula when they're layin eggs," Hagrid continued. "Well, it's pretty dangerous teh be round Acromantula at the best o' times. It's why I need all of you to come down and help. Nobody shoul' try doin' this by themselves. Put on yeh gloves now, I 'aven' got all day."
"Professor?" Neville asked carefully. "You really want us to... walk into an Acromantula nest and kill their babies?"
Hagrid was the one to flush red this time. "Tell the truth, Lon'bo'm, it's partly my fault their nest's so big. They've been allowed to breed for years now. Last year their King died, y'see, and now they're doin' their own stuff, an' I can't get near em by meself."
"But that's not what I mean," Neville asked, his round face showing some of the anxiety of his younger years. "Do the Carrows really expect us to do this?"
"Enough talkin'" Hagrid interrupted. "I'll say this: Amycus Carrow was a student here fifteen or twenny years ago. He was forever goin' in the Forest by 'imself. I don' think 'e's gonna come into the Acromantula nest, but he's gonna make sure you are where you're meant to be."
"How?"
"Homenum Revelio," Ginny said simply. "He can just come to the edge of the Forest and cast it."
"Exactly," Hagrid said. "Now, c'mon. I want to get this over an' done with."
The four of them walked steadily into the Forest, Hagrid leading the way with a lantern, Neville, Luna and Ginny walking with their wands lit. The lights from the school were extinguished in the brown foliage.
"You know, there are meant to be all kinds of fascinating flora in the Hogwarts Forest," Luna said brightly. "Like that braccius barbus over there. If it stings you in twilight hours, you can sprout extra limbs."
"Luna," Neville muttered, "trust me on this: that's just a patch of stinging nettles."
"No, I'll prove it, Neville," Luna said, approaching it, until Ginny interrupted--
"I don't think we should be getting distracted," she hissed. "We should stay with Hagrid."
"I suppose so," Luna said sadly, straightening up. "Though I don't think this Forest is at all scary, now I'm here."
"What?"
"Well, it's like what Harry said, isn't it? Fear of something is often worse than the thing itself. Calling somewhere as beautiful as this 'Forbidden' is misleading."
Ginny and Neville looked at one another, and decided not to say anything. But in doing so, they walked into the back of Hagrid.
"Okay," he said happily, "so 'ere we are."
"I can't see anything," Ginny said simply. "This is a trap."
Luna tilted her head. "A trap?"
"Snape wants to get rid of us, right? So he sent us out to do an impossible task," Ginny whispered. "Acromantula venom is terribly noxious."
"But we're with Hagrid, though!"
"Doesn't matter," Ginny said. "The Carrows and You-Know-Who probably want to get rid of him at the same time. Not just that, the guilt he'll feel if anything happens to us..."
"I can hear you, Ginny," Hagrid grumbled. "C'mon, keep close. Keep your ears open."
A few minutes later, a loud blare scared them witless, followed by a dazzling light. The three students looked at it bewildered, until Ginny finally identified the source of the commotion:
"That's my dad's old car!"
"Too righ' it is," Hagrid said. "Old 'Enry's been in the Forest since Ron an' Harry crashed it 'ere. Now get inside, the three of yeh."
Neville blinked. "Sorry, what?"
"Get in," Hagrid said. "You're spendin' the night in the car."
"You mean we're not puttin' potion down on the nest?"
"Nah, Snape brought the potion down two days ago, so I did it then," Hagrid explained. "I just need you three to stay in 'Enry for a few hours, until it's safe teh go back."
Neville and Ginny, not believing their luck, opened the doors of the Ford Anglia and dived inside. Luna followed, sitting in the front seat.
"Now you three listen," Hagrid said, closing the door. "Things are diff'rent at Hogwarts this year. If you keep crossin the Death Eaters, they're gonna come down hard on yeh. Yeh're too young to remember the last War, but they play dirty."
"Thank you Hagrid," Ginny said.
"Don't mention it," Hagrid said gruffly. Now stay in the car until I fetch yeh.
The three students sat in there as they watched Hagrid vanish into the tree-line. They knew he wasn't far away, simply watching to ensure nothing too untoward came their way. Still, it was better than being eaten.
"Oh, I wanted to look at the animals," Luna said sadly. "But I suppose sitting here is okay too. It's out of the wind."
"Yeah," Neville said. "I guess Hagrid's pretty nice after all."
"How long is he going to be, do you think?" Ginny asked.
"We've probably got a few hours to kill," Neville said. "Any suggestions?"
A pause. Then Luna's voice drifted back from the front seat:
"I spy with my little eye.... something beginning with T."
Title:
Rating/Warnings: PG-13/T. Bit creepy.
Characters/Pairing: Ginny/Riddle's Diary.
Summary: Ginny adjusted to Hogwarts and finds solace in a curious friend. But she has some doubts....
Word Count: 1217. This was worryingly easy to write. D:
Author's Notes: For prompt #073 "Dear Diary." Apologies now in the event of any HTML fail.
Registered purchases?: Bothz0rz
Dear Diary,
I found you in my schoolbooks, and I think you must have come to me by mistake. I wanted to return you to the shop, but you do seem to be a very old book, and it seems to be a Muggle object, so perhaps you were a secret present from Dad.
I'm only writing this to claim this as my own- I might just use you to put my thoughts down; it's all very confusing coming to a new school!!
-Ginny W xx
Hello Ginny,
Please do not be alarmed; I am simply your diary. I was enchanted a long time ago to help my owners think their thoughts through, very much in the way you wish to use me, I must say!!
School is a frightfully daunting place for new students. I see you use the expression "Muggle", so I presume you are from a wizarding family? Are you at Hogwarts by some coincidence? My first owner was a student there, too.
Kindest regards,
Your diary,
Tom
Hello Tom!
At first I was surprised, and thought somebody had stolen my diary and written in it, but then I saw what you wrote. Tom is a funny name for a diary!!! It feels strange knowing somebody is living inside my diary, reading my words!!
-Ginny
Dearest Ginny,
My first owner's name was Tom; I am simply borrowing his name to sound more human, if you pardon the expression. You seem like a very bright girl, and I would love to have you as a friend. How are you adjusting to school life?
Yours,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Sorry if I sounded rude in my last entry, it's just my Dad told me to be careful with enchanted artefacts that talk back to me. I am indeed at Hogwarts, I just started (in Gryffindor, yay!) and am enjoying the work, even if it is very tricky!! Please tell me something about yourself, this sounds so cool!
Dearest Ginny,
I'm glad to hear you're settling in. You seem to be very happy about being in Gryffindor; do you have special attachments to that house? I hear it has a beautiful, warm common room and has a beautiful view over the school grounds. If so, it sounds breathtaking to behold. It's a pity I don't have eyes. I would love to see the school for myself, and experience the wonders my owners have described. Of course, I would also love to see the people who write in me.
Your father sounds like a very wise wizard. Perhaps he does have a point; you should indeed be careful of threats, especially magical ones. Terrible things happen at the worst possible times, and I find that people's fear can often be the scariest, most awful part of the whole situation. It is probably best not to worry people, wouldn't you agree?
Hi Tom
You're ever such a clever book! That's exactly what I think about a lot of things, but you wrote it much nicer than I could have done!
I enjoy being in Gryffindor, but our Head of House Professor McGonagall is very strict, and a little bit scary! She's also deputy head beneath Professor Dumbledore, so that's probably why-- he doesn't seem very strict at all!
All of my brothers have been in Gryffindor as well (I'm the youngest of a big family). My parents too. It's quite cool, there's nine of us Gryffindors in our year group. We've started flying lessons, but I already know how to use a broom. I suppose it's good for kids from Muggle families (one boy called Colin is really excited, but he keeps falling off sideways!)
Thank you for agreeing with my dad, I was getting a little worried. You are right, we works in the Ministry of Magic. Am I allowed to say I think his job sounds a little boring?
I must go, Charms assigment is due in the morning!
-Ginny x
Dearest Ginny
Thank you for your kind compliment, though I ought to remind you I am just a book. I write back to you in your own ink, reflecting your own thoughts. I am simply a reflection of yourself; if you compliment me, then you are truly complimenting yourself. The only difference is how I articulate things: everything you believe in me, I believe in you. Perhaps you do not quite realise your strengths, yet.
It must be crazy being from a big family! You mention having brothers, but you do not say anything about sisters? Do you not have any? I would imagine being the youngest sibling and the only girl can sometimes be isolating, even in the most loving of environments.
It certainly doesn't surprise me the Muggle-born boy is excited to learn magic, he is still exploring the novelty element. Do you think Muggle-born wizards and witches can find their place in our world? It's a very big step to take. And don't worry: everything you say to me is in confidence (including the compliment you gave your father!)
Good luck with Charms!
Always Yours,
Tom
Tom,
You're really really kind. Being the youngest girl is really troublesome. My brothers are always teasing, but they're not very mean to me. They prefer to tease Ron (he's next youngest) over me, but since he became friends with <3 Harry Potter <3 they don't seem to do it as much. I always used to think boys simply don't understand girls.
Well, you're different of course. You say you're just a book, but I think you're more than that. I think you're a friend. You are always there to listen to me, even when I'm having a bad day.
My dad always says that Muggle-borns are no different than us Pure-blooded witches. I think I'll agree. Colin's scoring as well on tests as I am. My dad told me to be nice to Muggle-born families, and that being snobbish is never acceptable. There was a big war just before I was born where an evil wizard tried to kill Muggle-borns, until he was defeated. Thanks for the good luck wish, I got motivated to finish it just in time!!!
Ginny xx
Dearest Ginny,
It does sound like your dad fears for your safety a lot. It must worry your family when you're away from home. I'm sure not all boys are the same. You seem to like this friend of your brother's, Harry Potter?
I find information about the wizarding world very interesting. Could you tell me a little more about that evil wizard? Who was he and what did he do? He sounds scary, and it is lucky he's gone, because I wouldn't want to hear you living in bleak times.
Yours Eternally,
Tom
Tom,
Funny you mentioned Harry and the evil wizard. It was Harry who vanquished him as a baby. Even now, nobody knows how he did it.
Everybody treats him like he was famous. The evil wizard (I don't like writing his name, but he was known as Voldemort.... writing that felt weird!) killed thousands, and did all sorts of nasty things to people.
I am so happy you care about my welfare. I am glad to have you as a friend, Tom.
Love,
Ginny xxx
Hello? Tom?
Tell me more about Harry Potter.
Title: Forever Alone
Rating/Warnings: PG for angst
Characters/Pairing: Harry, Ginny/Michael Corner, references to a few others.
Summary: Harry tries to get back with Ginny after defeating Voldemort, but finds it's not an option. After everything he fought for, he needs to consider life alone.
Word Count: 1210
Author's Notes: Written for prompt #047- "A New Love For Harry". Ironically, it was the first thing I wrote for Pirate Week. >:3
Registered purchases?: Bothz0rz
The celebrations and formalities over, Harry had been congratulated by everybody who could find him, and shared their grief and triumph. The war was at an end, and he, the Boy Who Lived, was the one at the centre of it all.
However, there was only one person he wanted to see right now. He had managed to slip outside, when he had spotted her walk out of the ruined Great Hall. Hurrying after her, he caught up and tagged her on the elbow.
"Hey."
"Hey, Harry," Ginny smiled weakly, as though exhausted from the night's fighting. Harry smiled.
"I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too," she said apologetically. "And I'm glad you're okay as well. And after everything that's happened this evening..."
She closed her eyes; Harry could see a sparkle of water in the corner of one of her eyelids. He understood.
"I'm so sorry about Fred," he said, squeezing her arm. "I really am."
"I know, I know," Ginny said, rubbing her face. "I don't blame you or anything."
To Harry, it hardly mattered; he was racked with enough guilt from the death, anyway. He couldn't bear to see her like this. The weight of the trauma hung between them; they spoke at once:
"Look, I-"
"There's u-"
They looked at one another, Harry's green eyes meeting her brown ones through his smudged spectacles. He indicated to her to start first.
"There's something I need to tell you," she said with a bit of a fidget. "I know you... I know you were away for all those months, and I understand why you couldn't have me with you."
"Ginny, I-"
"No, let me finish," she said with a sigh. "But when I came back to Hogwarts after the summer, it was such a horrible place. I was by myself now, you and Ron, and..."
She was looking a lot sadder than Harry would have thought. She looked more than that, guilty even.
"I, I'm sorry," Harry said. "I know it was tough..."
"Not really, you helped us fight the Carrows," Ginny said with a shrug. "All the other teachers were looking out for us. Even Snape, if what you said earlier was true."
Harry was confused. "Then what-?"
A pair of footsteps. "Ah! Ginny! I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Harry spun round at the boy approaching. The boy spotted Harry, and approached him, just like everybody else had this evening, giving thanks. He then stepped next to Ginny, and put his hand on the slight of her back. Looking at the two of them, Harry's brow knitted.
"Is everything okay?"
Ginny went red. "Um, this is what I wanted to say..."
Harry's eyebrow raised.
"Since you went away this year... I got back together with Michael Corner."
It was as though ice water had been thrown over his face. The fatigue of the night had worn him down, he couldn't comprehend this, not now, not like this....
"I'm sorry, Harry. But... but he's been here, and and I..."
If this had been the Harry from two years ago, he would have been yelling at Michael, at anybody, kicking furniture and breaking ornaments. But he was not that boy any more. He was not that man. He looked at the two of them, smiled with consent, and walked away without another word, feeling more defeated than he had at any point during his hunt for Horcruxes, but he didn't argue.
He didn't have the energy, and there really wasn't much to say.
=======
The years went by, and Harry watched those around him grow up, and move forward. Naturally, he was best man at Ron's wedding to Hermione; since Ron had moved out from the Burrow, this had been the first time Harry had seen Ginny. She looked pretty as ever, but Michael Corner was still there, ever-present, like a blemish on her otherwise perfect skin.
"Hey."
"You okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Ginny said. "That was a lovely speech you gave."
"Yeah," Harry said. "I'm glad you liked it. Ron was embarrassed enough, of course."
"Yeah, sure." Ginny chuckled. "How's everything with you at home?"
"Oh, it's fine," Harry said. "I found a way to keep the curtains covering Sirius' mother's portrait permenantly closed, so I can come in from work without being screamed at."
"Sure," Ginny said.
Another awkward silence. She had clearly picked up on the fact Harry was not seeing anybody, and she didn't press the subject further. Harry, however, felt the conversation falter, so he decided to man up and ask the question lingering in the background: "How is everything with Michael?"
"Yeah, he's fine," Ginny said airily. "He's over there getting food. He never says no to a free buffet. Did you hear he's doing work with disadvantaged wizarding families who lost everything during the war?"
"No, no I didn't," Harry squirmed. "I know about the charities, though. People send owls to me about them a lot."
"I can imagine," Ginny said, with a faint smile. Harry got the feeling she was just humouring him.
"Look, I'd better find Arthur, he wanted to say something to me. Good luck with everything, Ginny."
With that, he excused himself and got as far from Ginny as possible, feeling very awkward.
========
The years went on, and although Harry still had a lot of fanmail from people who were affected by the war, he himself was not having much success with finding a new girlfriend. He would go over to Ron and Hermione's place; Ron would joke at him about how he's lucky not to be tied down, but Harry knew for a fact Ron didn't mean this; he had never seen his best friend this happy, for so long. Hermione was much more sympathetic, often offering him advice on what he might be doing wrong, and how he would find the right person when she came along.
However, beyond that, Hermione didn't really say much of substance, these days. She was always either busy with her job, or, when she fell pregnant, too preoccupied with baby issues. Finally, Harry realised he would have to cut back on his visiting time when Ron suggested he needed to spend more time with his new family, and how they weren't teenagers any more, and couldn't spend so much time hanging out.
Being a dad changed Ron, Harry noticed, bitterly.
So for several years, it was only Harry and Kreacher, sharing evenings in Grimmauld Place, listening to other people's lives develop around him. Ginny had become engaged to Michael (though Harry heard she refused to take his surname, which made him grin), Luna was pregnant with twins, and even Dudley was starting a family now.
Shortly after Ron and Hermione's second child was born, Kreacher passed away, leaving Harry completely alone.
He had come to realise it was the fame. The women he spoke too were daunted by his celebrity, even when he told them there was nothing really to be intimidated about. After defeating the greatest Dark Wizard out there (twice), he didn't think it would cause him misfortune with the ladies. But so it was.
His thirtieth birthday came around, and a familiar owl landed on his table, carrying a card. He smiled, stroked it, and it flew back out the window. It was from the only person who still wrote him fanmail. He smiled; it was a funny card.
In spite of himself, Harry decided to write back to Romilda Vane. A bit of company on his birthday wouldn't hurt, after all.
1054 + 1217 + 1210 = 3481
(3481 / 30) = 116 points + 30 bonus GET!!