MetaFic

SAVED

Harry Potter did not see the small, red-haired torpedo until it slammed into him.

His mind had been occupied with going over his latest lessons in Occlumency with Professor Dumbledore: studying what he and the Headmaster were doing, trying to find ways to make his defenses stronger.

Instead of practicing, the Headmaster had questioned him closely that day, slowly getting Harry to open up about how he was feeling. It was something the Headmaster and Professor Lupin, who came to visit and sit in on his training sessions, had become adept at doing. The Harry of last year would have resented their intrusion. The Harry of this year understood what they were getting at, even if he thought all this touchy-feely talk was a bit of nonsense.

That day, after their usual Monday morning discussion, Dumbledore had glanced over his half-moon spectacles at Harry and pronounced that he, Harry, was to take the rest of the week off and do something fun.

Harry had been a bit put out, and told Dumbledore so. He really thought that, what with Voldemort on the loose, and the Ministry still a shambles, and everything else going on, it seemed a great bloody waste of time for him to take an entire week off when he should be trying to learn new and interesting ways to put Voldemort into a muddy grave.

Dumbledore had frowned and told Harry that if he kept up his current pace, there wouldn't be anything left for Voldemort to try to kill, because Harry would have done a right admirable job of driving himself into the ground, and that, at least this once, it didn't matter what Harry wanted, because this was not a request, it was an order in both of Dumbledore's capacities as Head of the Order of the Phoenix and Headmaster of Hogwarts, and if Harry liked, he could use his position as Chief Warlock to make it an official decree.

Harry had actually laughed. The two of them had reconciled after the end of the previous year, and with the Occlumency training, the level of candor between them, at least in private, was not that of student and teacher, but of friends.

Dumbledore had made sure that all the other Professors knew that he was to take a week off, and the library was forbidden to him until next Monday. Dumbledore had told him to explore the castle, prank Draco Malfoy, sneak into Hogsmeade, snog a girl in a broom closet, fly recklessly through the forest, or whatever Harry wanted, as long as he relaxed and had fun.

And so Harry found himself walking the grounds of Hogwarts, unsure of what to do with his spare time. He had thought he might visit Hagrid. Harry knew that the fifth years would ending their session soon and that Hagrid had an hour before his next class. He had been, despite Dumbledore's admonishments, reviewing his lessons in his head and not paying attention as his feet carried him toward the Care of Magical Creatures Training Area.

He was almost to the corral when Ginny Weasley smashed into him like a rogue bludger. He looked down, shocked to find the normally level-headed and confidant girl in tears, but before he could do anything she had snarled, pushed him away, and started sprinting as quickly as her short legs would carry her toward the opposite side of the grounds.

Harry looked up at the class of fifth years, who were watching Ginny flee. It was a mixed class of Gryffindors and Slytherins, and most of the Slytherins were laughing and sniggering. The Gryffindors seemed mostly shocked, though a few of the girls looked almost sad. But what Harry noticed the most was the look several of the boys were giving Ginny's retreating form. It was the same look on Seamus' face when he was trying to decide if a girl was bedable and assigning them points out of ten.

Harry scowled at them, and the various fifth year boys of both houses suddenly found something else to look at, like passing clouds or ants on the ground. Harry locked eyes with Hagrid, who nodded Ginny's direction. Harry got he message. He turned and sprinted after her.

Harry knew that this would just add to the rumors about his and Ginny's relationship. It seemed that the entire school thought he and Ginny were dating. Just because she sat by him at meals, just because they studied together in the library while Ron and Hermione did their prefect rounds. Just because–

Harry suddenly realized that it must look like they were a couple to outsiders. He and Ginny had even gone to Hogsmeade together this term. Harry sighed and tried to run faster; Ginny was rather quick for her size.

He finally caught her in front of the Whomping Willow.

"Hey," Harry said, eyeing the thrashing tree carefully.

"What do you want, Harry?"

"I just — I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Yes, fine, thank you, having a wonderful day," she mumbled.

"Ah, good. Because you know, with the tears and the splotchy face and the running away from class and all, someone could get the impression that something is wrong." Harry watched her shoulders shake and detected a tiny smile on her lips.

"Yes, I could see how that could happen," Ginny said.

"So, do you want to talk about it?"

Ginny went silent and started to sniff tears again. Harry knew whatever had happened in Care of Magical Creatures must have been bad. Ginny had been one of the driving forces behind getting Harry to open up, first to Lupin and then to Dumbledore. She had become a good friend to him over the summer, and even more so since Ron and Hermione had become joined at the lips, and he didn't want to see her in this much pain. Harry came to a decision.

"You want to sneak into Hogsmeade and get something to eat?"

"Harry–"

"Because Dumbledore's making me take the rest of the week off. He says I need to have fun; practically gave me permission to sneak away if I wanted. Why don't you come with me?"

"I'll get a detention," she said, the smile back on her face.

"And since when has fear of detention ever stopped you?"

"Well–"

"Great, it’s settled." Harry took out his wand and froze the Whomping Willow into place. Taking Ginny by the hand, he led her through the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack and then down the hill to Hogsmeade. There was a moment of silence as they stepped into the Three Broomsticks, and then Rosemerta came over and took their order, smiling at them the whole time

"Bet you a galleon she floo calls Dumbledore and tells him where we are," Ginny said to Harry in a conspiratorial whisper.

"No bet. I know for a fact she's one of Dumbledore's unofficial eyes and ears."

They chatted about Quidditch while they waited for their food, both happy to avoid the subject they knew needed to be spoken of eventually. Halfway through the meal, Hedwig swooped into the room, dropped a letter on Harry's plate, and swooped out.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, daintily wiping the side of her mouth with a napkin.

Harry read the message carefully. "Letter from Dumbledore letting me know that you, Miss Weasley, are excused from classes for the remainder of the day, but that he would like to see both of us this evening in his office."

Ginny sighed and placed her napkin on her plate. She looked down again. "I suppose he'll want to discuss this afternoon," she said softly.

Harry reached out and took her hand. "You want to take a walk and talk about it?"

Ginny nodded, and after Harry paid the tab, they used the tunnels to sneak back onto the school grounds. They ended up near the lake, where Ginny found a spot to nestle behind some large boulders. They would be out of sight, but still able to hear if anyone approached them.

"So, what happened?" Harry asked, sitting across from her.

"Bloody unicorns," Ginny mumbled.

"Ah yes, fifth years have that whole Unicorn Encounter Day," Harry said. "I would have thought you'd like unicorns."

"I do. I think they're beautiful creatures."

"But?"

Ginny looked up and gave him a sad smile. Her eyes were filling with tears again. "But they don't like me very much," she said in a harsh whisper.

"Why?" Harry asked, confused. What was there not to like about Ginny Weasley? If it wasn't for the fact that, as Hermione had told him last year, Ginny had gotten over him, he would have asked her out at the start of term.

Ginny continued to have that sad look on her face, but it now included a bit of frustration. Harry suddenly understood. "Oh," he said. Now he understood exactly why the boys had been giving Ginny such considering looks.

Ginny wiped her eyes. "Hagrid meant well, of course. How was he to know that the unicorns would not only shy away from me, but would be outright hostile?"

"So–" Harry asked started to ask her when this had happened, his mouth a bit dry. He suddenly realized it was not really any of his business.

"It's not exactly like that," Ginny told him. "There are other ways to lose your innocence."

"Riddle?" Harry asked, comprehension dawning.

"Yeah. I might still be — intact. I might still technically be a virgin, but the unicorns know when you've been used and touched by evil." Ginny sniffed and looked at the ground.

Harry reached out and took her hand. "You listen to me, Ginny Weasley. I'm going to tell you the same thing you told me all summer long: it's not your fault."

She nodded her head and wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve with her free hand. "I know. I know. But you and I both know how the Hogwarts rumor mill works. By now half the school thinks I'm a slag." She suddenly looked up at Harry. "You know, everyone already believes you and I are a couple; they're probably going to think–"

"They can think whatever they want," Harry snarled. "But I won't tolerate any nonsense from any of them; not Malfoy, not Parkinson, not even from Ron."

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't need you to protect me!"

Harry smiled. "Who said you needed protecting? Help you, now, I will do that, but I know you can protect yourself."

Ginny suddenly deflated. "Ron will go nuts. He's probably writing Mum a letter right now."

"Well, I'll be there for you when the Howler comes."

Ginny looked up at him again. "She'll probably pull me out of school. She's always seems to assume the worst."

Harry scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her. "I have an idea."

"What?"

"Tonight when we talk to Dumbledore, I'm going to ask him if we can go to Headquarters and speak with your parents. I don't want them getting all their information second hand."

"Do you think it would help?"

"It helped when you didn't get that prefect's badge," Harry said.

Ginny snuggled into him, letting him pull her closer. "That was inspired thinking, Mr. Potter."

"Why thank you, Miss Weasley," Harry laughed.

When Ginny's letter had turned up with no prefect's badge, the look of disappointment on Molly Weasley's face had been enough to make Ginny swallow in fear. Ginny had known that it was unlikely she would get the badge, but she knew her mother still expected it of her only daughter. Before Molly could say anything, Harry had piped up that at least he would have someone to keep him company while Ron and Hermione went to prefect meetings. Then Harry had looked wistfully off into space and muttered about how he hated being alone. Molly Weasley had sniffed back a tear, her anger at her daughter's failure to become a prefect melting away. In that moment, Ginny could have kissed Harry.

"Do you think it will really help, you talking to them?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I'd say if anyone knows what it's like to be touched by evil, it's you and me. I think, between us, we can get them to understand."

Ginny nodded into his chest. "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

They were silent for a few minutes, and then Harry felt Ginny tense up again. "We can't walk into the great hall and sit together at dinner tonight," she said.

"Why not?"

"Because–"

"Because people think we're a couple?"

"Because everyone will think I've slept with you."

"So?"

"Harry, you have enough problems. You don't need my petty little drama added to it."

Harry squeezed her tight. "I think this is way more than petty drama. What Riddle did to you was horrible, and you shouldn't have to face the fallout of that alone."

"Thank you. You don't mind? I really don't want to go back alone, but–"

"I'll be right there with you." Harry paused for a minute. "I'm going to kill Riddle, by the way."

"That's very sweet of you, Harry, but–"

"No, seriously, Ginny. I'm going to kill him," Harry said softly. "That's what was in the prophecy."

Ginny sat up and stared at him. "What?"

Harry licked his lips. "The prophecy, the one that we were fighting over at the end of last year? I heard it. It says that one of us has to die at the hand of the other. So, since I don't plan on dying anytime soon, I'm going to kill him." Harry felt almost ridiculously calm. "I haven't told anyone else."

"Why are you telling me?" Ginny asked.

Harry shrugged. "Like I said, you and I know what it's like to be touched by real evil. I wanted to tell someone who would understand."

Ginny smiled and touched his face. "Thank you for trusting me."

Harry blushed and stood up suddenly. He held out a hand to her. "Come on. Let's go up to the castle before dinner. We might as well get this over with."

Ginny took his hand and let him draw her to her feet. They turned toward the castle, and Harry kept a very firm grip on her hand. When they approached the school proper, students turned to stare and whisper as they passed. Harry gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and smiled down at her.

"Anyone who didn't think we were a couple before will certainly think so now," Ginny whispered.

Harry took a deep breath and screwed up his courage. "Would that be a bad thing? Us being a couple?"

Ginny stopped dead in her tracks. "What do you mean?" her breaths were coming hard and fast.

Harry turned to face her, keeping hold of her hand. "I meant what I said; would it be a bad thing? I know you got over me and all, but — but I've been wanting to ask you to be my girlfriend pretty much since the middle of summer. I was going to ask on the train, but just as I was about to say something, Malfoy and his goons came barging into the compartment."

"And when he called me your girlfriend, I blasted him through the door," Ginny whispered.

"You were brilliant, by the way. You're very pretty when you're furious. But after that, I thought your feelings were pretty clear. We were friends, nothing more."

"Harry," Ginny licked suddenly dry lips. "I never got over you. I gave up."

Harry blinked.

"You do understand the difference, don't you?" Ginny asked.

"Ginny?" Harry said in a very small voice.

"Yes?"

"I know I've been a bit of an idiot and all–"

"True."

"–but please don't give up on me."

Ginny Weasley smiled at Harry through her tears. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly on the lips. "Okay, I won't."

Together they turned toward the castle doors, knowing that whatever nasty rumors they faced on the other side of them, whatever evil they faced in the days and months and years to come, they would not have to face it alone.

***

High in his office tower, Albus Dumbledore watched the young couple approach the castle. The phoenix on his shoulder trilled a beautiful string of notes, and Albus turned and smiled at his oldest friend before turning his eyes back to the couple below. Fawkes understood as well as he the significance of what they were witnessing.

Tom Riddle had tried to destroy both of these remarkable young people, and in doing so had sown the seeds of his own fall. Albus knew that Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley would soon unlock the power to vanquish Tom Riddle forever.

Dumbledore stepped away from the window. He allowed himself a happy smile. There would still be battles to fight, there would still be dark days ahead, but hope and victory were walking into his castle, hand-in-hand.

That night, Albus Dumbledore lay down in his bed and slept the peaceful sleep of the saved.