Harry and Ginny

Chapter Six

Hey I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who have taken the time to read my story so far! I've been trying to stay true to the stuff we know happened after the battle, so please tell me if I've done anything wrong or if there is anything I should add! And if you like my story and know people who love Harry Potter, tell them to read it! Ok enough babbling back to the story...


...


Professor McGonagall looked expectantly at them. She sighed. "I am afraid that Hogwarts will not be opening for the coming year, unless we are able to repair and restore it in time. This poses a nearly impossible task, so I came to ask if you four would be willing to help." She looked almost apologetic as she finished. "Of course we want to help!" said Harry. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all nodded. "Hogwarts must be reopened," said Harry. "What would life be like for everyone without it?" Professor McGonagall smiled at all of them appreciatively. "Thank you all so much for your willingness to help," she said, "but unless we have more people to help, it will never be done. I also came to ask if you could help me find people who would help us. If we don't, the school will remain closed." Ginny realized then just how tired and old she looked. Like any second she might collapse.


She felt sorry for her, and wondered if she had slept at all since they had last seen her several days before. "Don't worry Professor. We will find people for the job and take care of everything," said Harry. "You look like you could really use some sleep. You need to take some time to rest and recover. Don't worry, we will take care of everything," said Harry. Professor McGonagall just looked at him. "My dear boy, I couldn't ask you to do that. After all you all have have been through this year-" Harry cut her off. "Honestly Professor, we will handle everything. Go and rest up for as long as you need , then you can come back to help when you feel better," he finished. She looked up at him. "Thank you, Harry," she whispered. "Now go and relax," he said again, gently guiding her away from them. "And don't you worry about a thing."


Professor McGonagall walked away from them. "Now then. To find people to help us," said Harry. "Come on then, lets go." They started walking towards a group of students who were huddled together, talking quietly. Ginny recognized many of them. Harry cleared his throat when they reached them. "Hello, everyone. I know this isn't a very good time, but we came over to ask a really big favor. I know it is a lot to ask, but Professor McGonagall has asked us to find people who are willing to help repair the castle. Hogwarts will not be opening in the fall as usual unless we do something about it. It will be hard work, but it has to be done somehow," he said.


"I'll help," said Neville, a long time friend of theirs. "Me too," said Luna. Soon there was a chorus of "Count me in!" "I'll do it!" and "I will help!" from the whole group. Harry smiled at their enthusiasm. "Right then. Tell as many people as you can because we are going to need a lot more help. I say we start in a few days. I think it would be easier for us all to stay at the castle while we work, so bring your clothes and belongings with you. We will organize and group everyone when we start. Does that sound alright?" he asked. Everyone nodded looking around at each other. "Well then I'll see you all soon," said Harry. They waved to their friends and started on to the next group. Soon, they had a lot of people ready and willing to help them work. When they had finished, they all apparated back to the Burrow, where the rest of the Weasley's had already arrived.


"There you are! I was begining to worry," said Mrs. Weasley, giving them all a hug. Ginny saw her eyes were still wet and puffy, and wondered if she looked the same as her mother. "We were recruiting people to help us repair Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall asked us to help," she said. Mrs. Weasley nodded and smiled. "How wonderfull you all are to do that. I am so proud of all of you," she said. Then, she smiled and walked away. "I'd like to help," said George. "Me too," said Percy. Harry nodded. "The more people the better," he said. "We are starting in a few days and everyone is planning to stay at the castle while we are there." They nodded. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione all walked upstairs to change out of their dress robes. Ginny and Hermione walked back downstairs when they were finished, and went into the kitchen. The smell of cooking food, made Ginny realize how hungry she was.


"That smells great Mum!" said Ginny. Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Why thank you dear," she said. Ginny and Hermione sat down where Bill, Charlie, and George were already waiting. After a few minutes, everyone else was seated at the table. Mrs. Weasley set the food on the table and they all began to eat. Everyone remained silent. Pain, and grief replaced what would have been an awkward silence on any other day. A chill ran over Ginny as she realized that there would be no more 'normal' days. All of a sudden she was overwhelmed, and pushed back from the table with such force, that the whole table shook and she knocked over her chair. "I can't do this anymore," she said. Her heart was aching so much she felt it would explode. She ran from the room and out the door, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. She ran across the back garden, past the broom shed, and across a small field they used a a quidditch pitch during the summer. Beyond the field was a much larger one, with tall grass that separated her house from the others nearby. After a minute, she stopped and sat down by a small pond that was well hidden in the thick brush.


She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on top. The sun was beginning to set, and she could see a few stars twinkling in the darkening sky. Ginny started crying. For the loss of Fred, for all her friends that had died, for the stress of a long emotional day and for an agonizing pain she had grown so accustomed to feeling. She heard voices in the distance calling her name. She ignored them and tried to clear her head and calm down, but her mind was racing away too fast to stop it. She covered her ears as if she could stop more thoughts from coming into her head, but they wouldn't. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed harder but nothing helped. She was scared. Nothing was ever going to be the same again. How were they all supposed to go on without everyone that was left behind?


Ginny sat there until she was cried out, then wiped her eyes. She looked up at the stars, and wondered if Fred was looking down at her, watching her, protecting her. She took a deep breath. "Fred, I don't know if you can hear me, but it's me, your sister. I just wanted to tell you that I miss you. I wish you wouldn't have left us. I just hope you are happy, wherever you are. I wish I could see you again, just one more time. I know it's time that I should let go, but It's so hard. I've been trying my best to be happy, like you would've wanted. Tell everyone hello for me up there. I love you." Ginny blinked back tears, but she wasn't going to cry again. There was a rustling nearby and she turned around to see George watching her. He came over and sat next to her. "Ginny-" he started, but she interrupted. "He needed to know. I had to tell him. I never got to say goodbye," she said. George put his arms around his little sister. "I know," he said. Together, they stared up at the night sky. "I miss him," she whispered. "Me too," said George.


Ginny leaned closer to her brother. She knew he had been the most affected by the loss of Fred, and all of a sudden, she felt very selfish for how she was acting. It wasn't right that she got to be mad at the world, and at her family, when George was always so quiet and depressed. She realized that she hadn't once seen her brother cry since the night it happened. "Can I tell you something?" asked George. Ginny nodded. "He was ready to die. When they asked us to join the fight, we immediately agreed. He knew the risks as much as I did, as much as anyone. You would know about risks wouldn't you? Seeing as you left the Room of Requirement to fight, when Mum told you not to," he pointed out. She cringed. "Nevertheless, he understood, he was ready. It may be hard for us, but I can guarantee you he is still joking around and laughing as much as ever. He wouldn't want us to be sad, he would want us to live carefree and to make life funny and enjoyable. He isn't going anywhere. Even though Fred's not here, he will always be around."


George kissed her forehead, something he had never done before, but felt nice. He stood up and helped her to her feet, and she gave him a hug. "Thank you, George," she said. "Come on, lets go back. Everyone must be getting worried by now," said George. Together, they began walking back home.


...


Okay so, for some reason this chapter was really hard to write. I needed some more George in my story, and I thought this would be really sweet. Please tell me what you think and I will love you forever!!!