If She Fell

If She Fell

Chapter 6: Because I Knew You…



disclaimer: I own nothing but bits and pieces of the plot. JK Rowling owns all the good bits.



Harry entered the castle in search of Ginny. He wanted to ask her to dinner again and spend some more time with her. Much to his surprise, he spied the gifts that he had sent for Ginny on a small ornate table in the entry. He picked up the wilting flowers, his brow etched with confusion.



“Hi Harry,” said a soft voice behind him.



Harry turned slowly and found himself face to face with Kyla Bennett, the mediwitch assistant.



“Hello Kyla,” he said, “have you seen Ginny?”



“She went to Hogsmeade, I believe,” replied Kyla, “she had some supplies to pick up.”



“Ah…” said Harry, turning the large bouquet of flowers over in his hands.



“Pretty flowers,” said Kyla, her eyes drifting to the package in Harry’s hands, “they need water.”



“They were for Ginny, but she seems to have left them behind.”



“Maybe she was just in a hurry to get to town,” ventured Kyla.



Harry nodded, “You’re probably right.”



“I could put them in water for Ginny, if you’d like.”



“Thanks,” Harry replied.



“My pleasure. So,” said Kyla, somewhat shyly, “how’s the season going? Do you think you’re ready for Bulgaria?”



Harry looked up at the pretty witch in front of him, “You like Quidditch?”



“I love Quidditch. I played on the Ravenclaw team…Chaser.”



“I had no idea,” said Harry, “so, are we ready for Bulgaria…I think so.”



“Robinson needs to keep a watch on Kishishev. The man plays dirtier than any Slytherin. There were rumors that he has a secret hex he uses on Keepers…”



“I’d heard that, too.”



“Robinson should be shielded with an anti-hex spell to be on the safe side,” stated Kyla.



“Agreed. Any other advice?”



“How is Mettly’s arm?”



“Healed well. Had to regrow the bone, but I think he’s ready.”



“He’s the only one who can effectively shield Robinson from Kishishev and Lechkov,” stated Kyla.



“You know your Quidditch, Kyla,” said Harry, smiling.



“Thanks Harry. Well, let me take these and put them in water for Ginny, it was great talking to you. Maybe we can chat again soon. Hermione doesn’t care for Quidditch too much, and Ginny barely talks to me, so sometimes I feel there’s really no one to talk sport with, you know?”



“Yeah,” nodded Harry, “Hermione is not a Quidditch fan, and I don’t know why Ginny doesn’t talk to you. You’re a very nice person.”



“Thanks,” said Kyla, taking the flowers out of Harry’s hands and bidding him a shy goodbye.



Harry watched Kyla mount the stairs towards the Hospital Ward. He marveled at how comfortable he felt talking to Kyla. The sound of laughter and the stamping of snowy boots on the magical mat at the front door broke his reverie. Harry turned to see Ginny entering the castle, leading Remus by the hand, neither of them noticing him.



“Honestly Remus, I can’t believe we went out to see some flowers and you ended up buying a house,” she laughed, her cheeks sporting a healthy rosy glow.



“You talked me into it,” protested Remus.



“Because it’s perfect for you,” smiled Ginny, pulling off her mittens and taking Remus’ hands in hers.



“You’ll have to help me decorate,” stated Remus, “I’m hopeless with that.”



Ginny pulled Remus closer to her and smiled, “First things first, the house needs to be structurally sound before I’ll even so much as enter the place.”



Remus found himself in close proximity to the pretty redhead. She was gazing up at him, her cheeks flushed from more than the cold, her brown eyes bright and glimmering with untold mischief. At that moment, Remus understood what made a woman kissable, and Ginny was all that and more. Without a word, Remus let go of Ginny’s hands and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer. Ginny tipped her head towards him and Remus bent his head to catch her lips in a shy kiss.



“Am I interrupting?” remarked Harry, his voice icy, a sardonic grin on his face as he watched the couple fly apart before their lips touched.



“Harry,” said Ginny, “I didn’t know you would be here today. You should have owled me.”



“Why?” said Harry, “so you could change your plans to accommodate me?”



“I wouldn’t have changed my plans, I would have told you that I was busy today.”



“Maybe I didn’t come to see you.”



“Well then,” shot back Ginny, “there’s no problem, is there?”



“I thought we were seeing each other,” commented Harry, giving Remus a calculated look.



“We had a lovely date,” agreed Ginny, “but I wasn’t aware that a date equaled commitment.”



“I thought I meant more than that.”



“Harry,” said Ginny gently, “I’m a single woman trying to figure out what I want for my life. I told you that. I don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship that is so possessive.”



“Ginny,” said Remus, “I’m going to check on the Thestrals.”



“We were going to go together, Remus,” protested Ginny.



“I know, but you seem to be a little…involved…right now. If you need anything, you know where I am. Thanks for letting me tag along to Hogsmeade with you. I had a great time,” he said, kissing Ginny gently on the cheek and smiling, “I’ll talk to you later, Gin. Take care, Harry.”



Remus left the castle, well aware of the glare leveled at him by Harry. As he walked down the front steps of the castle, he grinned to himself. Snape was right. All Remus had to do was be himself and be a gentleman. If he were meant to be with Ginny, he would be. And Harry Potter would be responsible for the demise of his own chances with the youngest Weasley. It was all so simple, and so brilliant. There wasn’t a need for subterfuge. For the first time in a long time, Remus felt that he actually had a chance with a woman. Spending the day with Ginny had shown him that. Ginny was comfortable with him. She was relaxed. She had fun. If that was what she wanted, Remus would be there for her. If not, so be it.



Ginny watched Harry glare at Remus’ retreating back. She shook her head. It was clear that Harry was jealous, but he had no claim on her.



“What was THAT all about?” she questioned, drawing Harry’s eyes back to her.



“I can’t believe you were going to kiss him.”



“How is that your business? I had a wonderful time with him today. Why is it a problem if I kiss him? We’re not married Harry. We had ONE date.”



“And I sent you flowers and candy.”



“I know. I was going to owl you a thank you.”



“You left the flowers and candy here,” accused Harry, pointing to the chocolates that still lay on the small table in the entry.



Ginny felt herself color. She hadn’t realized she left the gifts in the hall. She had been so happy at the prospect of spending time with Remus that the gifts had slipped her mind.



“Where are the flowers?” she asked.



“Kyla took them to put them in water for you.”



“Oh. That was nice. Thank you for the flowers and the candy, Harry.”



“You’re welcome,” pouted Harry. “I was hoping we could have dinner again, maybe tomorrow night?”



“I’m sorry, I have plans,” said Ginny, apologetically.



“With Remus.”



“Actually, no. I have plans with Hermione.”



“Thursday night, then?”



“I have to work.”



“Friday?”



“You have a match.”



“Come to the match,” said Harry, his eyes lighting up.



“I can’t. I promised mum I would help her prepare for Charlie’s wedding.”



“Come to the wedding with me.”



“I’ll be busy helping mum. I wouldn’t be a good date. Besides, we’re already both going to be there.”



Harry sighed. “Sunday?”



Ginny blushed, “I’m sorry, Harry. I promised Remus I would help him with his house.”



“Fine Ginny,” stated Harry, “clearly you have no desire to see me again.”



“Harry, I said I would see you at the wedding. We’ll have a dance or two. My schedule’s just a little busy with work and family obligations…”



“And dates with Remus.”



“I talked him into buying the Shrieking Shack. The least I can do is help him make it habitable. You really aren’t be fair, Harry. We had ONE DATE. One date does not exclusivity make.”



“I have to go, Ginny. I’ll see you at Charlie’s wedding.”



“All right. Have a good week, and good luck in your match on Friday,” said Ginny.



“Yeah, thanks,” remarked Harry, as he turned and stalked out of the castle. Ginny watched him, her eyes glittering with anger.



How DARE he act like he owned her? She was a single woman who had every right to date whomever she wished. Harry acted like a possessive lover when he was nothing of the sort. Yes, she had fun on their date, but thinking about it, she felt more alive spending the day with Remus. Her heart filled with laughter when she thought of the former werewolf. She felt as though he really knew her. She liked the flowers from Harry, but the single rose from the Hogwarts garden was more her style. She liked the fancy dinner she shared with Harry, but lunch at the Three Broomsticks…THAT was fun. Ginny used to think she wanted the fancy trappings, but she was quickly discovering that it was the simple things that really mattered to her. Harry may be fantastically wealthy and his life may be exciting, but when it came down to it, Ginny was a simple girl from the Burrow. She didn’t want the life her mother had, as much as she loved and respected Molly, but neither did she want an empty life of luxury. She wanted laughter. She wanted acceptance. She wanted professional success. She wanted simplicity. She wanted…



“Remus,” she said out loud.