Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Sixty-nine: Sanguis Dolore

Chapter 69: Sanguis Dolore

After class, Harry handed Ginny's wand back to her. She stared down at it in her laxed hand as though she didn't know what it was. "I have to teach for most of the rest of the day... I think you should probably hang onto this."

"I only ever really need it in Charms. You can keep it for me," said Ginny. Sliding her arm around him under his unfastened robe, she slid her wand into his back pocket of his jeans.

"But why?"

"Because I... I'll explain later. Anyway, I only have History of Magic left today and that's not until after lunch."

"You're taking the N.E.W.T. in History of Magic?" Harry asked, momentarily distracted. They started walking toward the stairs.

"Yeah, I need the newt if I want to work for the Daily Prophet as a journalist," she said, shrugging.

"You want to be a journalist?" Harry asked.

"I've always wanted to be a journalist. I've always loved to write."

"That's really interesting... I didn't know that."

"Really?" she said. "Well, I don't like telling people about it. I've only ever really talked about it with Mum." Ginny glanced over at him but looked away when Harry looked back at her. "I had always wanted a diary, and when I got one back in second year... it seemed like magic at first. Like someone was telling me to write. Little did I know why they wanted me to write." She let out a dry laugh. "But I thought you might have figured it out at some point because of that. I don't know why."

"Well no, lots of girls write in diaries, don't they?"

"I suppose." She shook her head. "I've never met anyone else who likes to write like I do though. Mum used to have me write persuasive essays before I was in Hogwarts. One of them convinced Dad not to buy a muggle toaster."

Harry laughed. "Well, you'll meet some at the Prophet who enjoy writing, I would expect. I could put you in touch with Rita Skeeter if you want."

"I know you're joking, but actually she'd be a good connection to have."

"Well, yeah... I suppose. Depends on what sorts of connections you want." Harry shrugged.

"She's become respected in the past year mostly because of you. Didn't you realize?" Ginny said, studying his face. They reached the third floor landing and were heading down toward Harry's classroom.

"Has she?" Harry said, mildly surprised. Ginny nodded. "Sorry, so anyway, what was it that you were going to tell me?"

"Oh..." Ginny glanced around at the little first year students who were filing past Harry and her, into his classroom ahead. "Well, this is going to be hard to say."

"Okay." They stopped outside his doorway for a second. Ginny grabbed his arm and led him to the opposite side of the hallway so they wouldn't be so near to the students going to Harry's classroom.

"I..." Ginny started. Harry looked down into her eyes, which looked glassy. Was it just the lighting or was she trying not to cry? "I did something that I didn't mean to do. And now I can't take it back."

"Okay..." Inexplicably, Harry became afraid when she said this but he tried to hide it. He wanted to hear her out.

"I didn't know what I was doing at the time. I don't think any of them knew... I only know because, well he picked me and—"