Chapter Text
There was a knock on the curtains beside her bed in the hospital wing. Ginny looked up, unsure who it could be. Her parents had gone to discuss things with McGonagall and Dumbledore further and her brothers would all be at the feast.
To her surprise, she saw Harry standing there, a leaden plate in his hands. His shoulder was hard to see, his invisibility cloak was tucked over it.
“Hey, Ginny.” He smiled at her. “I thought you might like something from the feast.”
Despite everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, that smile caused her stomach to do a flip. However, she could not deny that she was in fact hungry.
“T…thank you, Harry.” Ginny did her best to force away the stutter. “Did you sneak in here?”
He nodded, handing her the plate and a fork. “Yeah, Madam Pomfrey is very particular about food up here. I’ve done a few stints in here.”
She giggled before digging her fork into some mashed potatoes. “Well, I appreciate you freeing my stomach from hospital food.”
They sat in silence for a bit, while she ate.
“I’m sorry.” Harry said, breaking the quiet.
Ginny looked over at him. “Why are you apologizing, Harry?”
Harry sighed. “I should have remembered I saw you writing in the same diary and asked you about it. If I had, maybe I could have prevented what happened today.”
Ginny sighed. “I wouldn’t have admitted it.” She spoke. “I can be real stubborn, Harry. I know you’ve only seen Ron’s younger, blushing, sister, but I had so many older brothers. If I don’t want to share something, I know ways to keep it to myself.”
Harry smiled again. “So, you take after the twins then?”
This made her laugh. “Not quite that bad.” Worry filled her. “Did you just come up here to apologize?”
Harry shook his head and relief coursed through Ginny. “The Weasley’s are my favorite wizarding family. Only seems right I correct the mistake of not getting to know you properly.”
“You have good taste, Potter.” Ginny held out a chicken leg and Harry accepted it. “Its not like I gave you the chance to get to know me, though. Always hiding and stuttering at you. I must have looked like just another fan girl. Start over?”
Harry held out his hand. “Hello, my name is Harry Potter. Your brother Ron is my best mate.”
Ginny giggled as she took his hand and shook it. “Hello, Mr. Potter. My name is Ginny Weasley. My brother is a git, so I apologize for any grief you suffer as his best mate.”
They laughed together. It felt so good to sit there and talk. The conversation did much to make her forget the creeping cold that had been settling in her heart before.
“We should talk about the other stuff too,” Harry started. “But it can wait until you’re ready. If you need someone to talk to, write to me this summer. I can’t promise the muggles will let me write back, but I’ll give you my replies when I see you next.”
Ginny blushed, hiding her shyness behind a mouthful of food. “Thank you, for understanding.” She said. “When I’ve had time to process everything, you’ll be the first one I talk to about it. I promise.”
Harry rose. “After all, we share something that no one else can really understand. Tom Riddle messed with both our lives. I felt alone for a long time and I never confessed about it to anyone, when really all I wanted to do was talk about it. I’ll be that person for you, Ginny.”
The smile she gave him was radiant. Sadly, it all came to a shouting end when Madam Pomfrey came in the check on Ginny.
“WHAT IS THIS? FOOD FROM THE FEAST? HARRY JAMES POTTER, IF TERM WASN’T PRACTICALLY OVER I WOULD SEE YOU SCRUBBING BED PANS FOR THIS! GET BACK HERE!”
Ginny laughed as Harry fled from the wraith of the healer witch. Pomfrey returned, shaking her head. “What next? Will he smuggle a toilet seat in here?”
Ginny finished her food and handed the plate to the Healer. “I’m feeling much better now.”
The kindly witch gave her a bright smile. “I’m glad, dearie. Get some shut-eye. Make sure you take your potion.”
But she did not. Ginny wanted the sweet dreams her encounter with Harry might bring. Except she got the nightmares instead, waking up after midnight and downing the potion for dreamless sleep. She sank back into sleep and knew no more until morning.