Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Rejection: A Double-Edged Sword	By : brooklynvtc Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Ginny Views: 21247 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I do not make any profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
A/N: For those of you who asked, Dean is going to come across as a jealous/over-bearing boyfriend, not a villain that is twirling his nonexistent mustache. He doesn't respect girls all that much, but he would never go so far as to force someone to do anything. This is not that kind of story. I am just the type of person that believes that true-love can conquer all. Same as Dumbledore. ;)

Chapter Ten

Slughorn had left, after Harry hesitantly accepted his invitation to the luncheon. He was embarrassed by the invitation, though, and was annoyed with Slughorn for inviting him in front of Luna and Neville – who the professor had pointedly ignored.
There was no doubt in his mind that Dumbledore was right when he told Harry that Professor Slughorn liked to play favorites. And as for his 'collection' of Harry? Well, it had just begun.
Harry had made an excuse to Slughorn of having to use the loo, so that he didn't have to walk with the man all the way to the back of the train… He needed this time to compose himself, before he joined the Slug Club.
"Do you think that they will have actual slugs at your party, Harry?" Luna asked him, she was now sitting in her seat, upside-down. Staring all around her with those glasses.
Harry smiled warmly at the girl that everyone called 'Looney'. "It would be a better party if they did, wouldn't it?"
Neville snickered teasingly, and said, "Since when is it Harry's party?"
The look that Luna gave Neville spoke volumes in questioning his sanity. "Well, it is rather obvious that it is to be thrown in his honor."
A flush spread over Harry's neck. "Luna! I-It is not…"
Luna turned her eyes to Harry then, confusion evident in her eyes. "It isn't? Oh, well, my mistake then." Then addressing Neville, she said, "I guess it's not being thrown in Harry's honor. Which is disappointing, as margipoles are very loyal creatures to those who have a status of regality…"
Both boys shook their heads, getting used to Luna just being Luna. "You'd better go on and head to your party, Harry. Don't want Slughorn to have to come and find you, again."
Harry nodded and after a goodbye to his two friends, Harry reluctantly stood and left the compartment, and started the walk to the back of the train.
He made sure to quickly pass by Romilda Vane's compartment, not wanting a repeat of the episode from earlier, but with no one to come save him this time.
And he miraculously made it in the clear, without anyone coming to interrupt him.
That is… until he was only three train cars from the back of the express.
Harry passed a compartment with the door open this time, and as he passed, he heard his name being called by someone.
Not wanting to seem rude, he doubled back, only to find it to be Cho who had called for him.
She was just as pretty as ever, perhaps even more so, but Harry found that he was no longer allured by it as he once was.
Before, Harry wouldn't have been able to take his eyes off of Cho in order to take in the surroundings around her… but now, Harry had no such problem. For instance, Harry noticed Cho's friend – the girl who had told Umbridge about the D.A. – was sitting next to Cho. And Harry didn't even bother to hide the smirk at the sight of acne still all over the girl's face…
Harry really had to congratulate Hermione on her genius once again, for that. He felt no pity for this girl, who had betrayed them. And as a result, sent Dumbledore away when they needed him most. And if Dumbledore had been around at the time that Harry had gotten that horrible, fake vision of Sirius getting tortured, then maybe, just maybe… Sirius could have survived. Because Harry had no doubt that he would have gone to Dumbledore if he had been at Hogwarts.
Cho's friend may not have been the direct cause to Sirius' death, but she was the drop in the pond that caused so many ripples… and a bitter part of Harry blamed her for it. Even though he knew how unfair that was…
Finally, he turned his attention back to Cho. "Hi, Cho."
Cho bit her lip as she studied Harry, making him feel distinctly uncomfortable. "C-can we talk, Harry?"
Harry almost groaned out loud, but just barely restrained himself. A voice in the back of his head had warned him that this was coming… he just hadn't expected it to be so soon, or for him to be caught so unprepared. But he found himself nodding, wanting to get this conversation done and out of the way.
Cho's friend took that moment to leave, her eyes distinctly averted away from Harry, seemingly ashamed. Before Harry walked in to the compartment, before closing the door behind him, knowing that neither one of them would want to be overheard during this conversation.
Harry sat down on the seat across from her, and they sat in tense silence, neither knowing where to really start.
Finally, it was Cho who broke the silence.
"So, um, Harry… how are you?" Cho stuttered, a lack of confidence in her soft voice.
Harry swallowed thickly, but determination set firm in his jaw. "Honestly," He began, knowing that it would hurt her more in the long run if he didn't beat around the bush. "I've been doing great. I've had a really good summer. Being around all of the people I love, has done me a world of good, I would say."
Cho flinched at that, and Harry wondered if she noticed that he didn't include her in with the group of people he loved, as she hadn't been around him at all during the summer. It wasn't always easy to hear that your ex was happy without you…
"O-Oh. Well, that-that's really nice, Harry." Cho said, before she sighed, "Honestly, though? My summer wasn't all that great…" Cho confided, and tears started to well in her eyes.
Harry almost groaned out in annoyance at the sight of her tears… his first kiss had been a nightmare because of those tears.
"I feel so terrible for how much I made things more difficult for you, last year," Cho explained to him, "But the truth is, is that, I miss you, Harry. We may have only been together for a short while, but I believe that we had gotten off to the wrong foot. And I believe that we are both to blame for that…"
Harry almost scoffed at that part.
"…but I'm willing to try again from the beginning with you, if you are."
There had been a time where Harry would have jumped at the chance to be with Cho… but it was because of his fascination with Cho, that he rejected the real girl of his dreams.
He wasn't about to fall for that again.
He needed to be a free agent this year, ready for whenever Ginny would become available to swoop in and snatch her off of her feet before some other bloke did it first…
But first, he needed to earn the right to even become worthy of Ginny… to make it up to her for his stupid rejection. And what he was about to do with Cho? Well, that was the first step.
So, Harry swallowed the thick bile in the back of this throat, and gathered his Gryffindor courage to reject Cho Chang.
"I don't think that it's possible to start from the beginning, Cho," Harry began, looking distinctly at the wall behind her, so he didn't have to see the tears on her face, "Too much has happened since when we were together."
"So, what happened at the Department of Mysteries was true?" Cho asked, in a quiet voice, and Harry found himself nodding, solemnly. He started when Cho reached out her hand and grabbed his. "We-We can work through this together, Harry. Let me be there for you, just as you were there for me after the Tri-Wizard Tournament."
Harry pulled his hand out from under Cho's, and replied, "It's not like that Cho… I've already worked through those demons and I've also accepted them. But in the meantime, all that has happened, it has changed me. I've grown up, is all."
He looked at her now, found the courage to, only to find Cho's eyes wandering his frame once again. "I've noticed… That you've grown up, that is."
Harry didn't know what she was implying, but he let it go in order to continue. He did have a party to get to, after all. "I hadn't realized at the time, but we don't really have much in common, Cho…"
Her eyebrows puckered in confusion. "But we have quidditch!" She argued.
"Yeah, but that is just about the only thing that we do have in common." Harry countered, starting to get a tad annoyed at how she was trying to debunk all of his reasonings for not wanting to be with her.
Her confusion hardened into what looked to be determination. "You just hadn't had the chance to get to know me very well, is all. How could you have, really? With Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad making everyone all of last year so tense!"
With his patience starting to get very limited, Harry replied in a harsher voice than he intended to use, "Look, Cho, all that I have to offer you is friendship. It really is all that I can give…"
They both glared at each other before Cho finally sighed, "Fine. Friends, then. What better way for you to really get to know the real me…"
And the look that she gave him spoke volumes in which Harry knew that she hadn't given up on the notion of them being together. He had been about to open his mouth to debunk what she was implying, when the compartment door opened.
"My, my, Harry," Professor Slughorn said with an impish grin on his face, "This doesn't look like the loo…?"
Embarrassed at having been caught procrastinating while alone in a compartment with a girl, Harry swallowed thickly before replying, "Sorry, professor. I got distracted…"
Professor Slughorn waved off his apology, "Yes, yes. I can see that. But we best be off now. We are already late."
And then he was pushing Harry out the door. Behind him, Harry heard Cho call after him, "See you later, friend!"
Harry groaned, and ran a hand over his face. That was not how he had wanted the conversation to go… but Cho had been making it bloody impossible to let her down easy.
This entire train ride was turning into more and more of a disaster. To think that he had been looking forward to riding the Hogwarts Express for weeks now. If only his past self really knew…
That he wouldn't get to sit with Ginny…
That he would be carted into a compartment full of giggling fourth-year girls…
That he would run into Cho, and accidentally encourage her to pursue a friendship with him, in the hopes of it turning into more…
And then, finally, that he would have to sit in a silly club for a good portion of the train ride, instead of spending it with his friends…
His past self certainly wouldn't be looking forward to September first anymore… Oh, no. He would be dreading it, all the while offering another means of transportation to Ron, like they did in his second year with the flying car.
Perhaps he should just be grateful that he hadn't seen anything of Malfoy so far…
With that thought, they finally reached the very last, and largest, compartment on the train. Harry sighed before he opened the door.
But inside, a motioning wave of a hand caught his attention…
It was Ginny!
And she wanted him to come sit next to her!
He grinned broadly at her and quickly made his way over to the empty seat next to her. As he sat down, he thought that things were most definitely looking up. Because Ginny was here, without her boyfriend, as well, Harry couldn't help but notice.
Perhaps the Slug Club would be a good thing to be a part of, after all…
"Hey, Gin!" Harry grinned at her, in a whisper, "What are you doing here?"
He couldn't help but recognize the tingles of goosebumps he felt forming on the side of his body that were closer to Ginny.
Ginny scowled adorably, and replied, "You mean, how did I get roped into this?"
Harry had to hold in his laughter, otherwise risk everyone who was quiet in the room to suddenly take interest in them. "Yeah, that's exactly what I meant. I mean, we both know why I'm stuck being here… but how did you manage to get so unlucky?"
Ginny's scowl deepened into something that looked quite fierce, and Harry found himself glad that he wasn't at the other end of her wand at the moment. Someone had sure managed to piss her off…
With a leap of his heart, he hoped that it was Dean that managed to get her so upset. Because if so, maybe Ginny would remember the promise she had made to Harry about reconsidering…
"It's all the bloody ferret's fault!" Ginny spat, quietly. And Harry only briefly felt a pang of disappointment that it wasn't Dean that had upset her... But then he basked in the notion that the girl that he fancied, hated the slimy ferret as well.
She hated his enemy... that was a good sign, right?
Harry tried not to smile, as he said, "I'm sorry to hear that you had the misfortune of running into the git... What exactly did Malfoy do?"
This question, for reasons unknown to Harry, caused Ginny to pause; seemingly coming up short of an answer, as she thought hard with a bite of her lip...
"I think... I think that Malfoy was hitting on me..." She finally said, her face looking just as confused as her voice sounded.
This shocked Harry for a split moment, before jealousy and anger started to boil in the pit of his stomach. But he tried not to let it show... Ginny didn't deserve his sour attitude for the situation.
But it now seemed to Harry that he and Malfoy had yet another thing to fight over now. And that would be the affections of Miss. Weasley.
Harry pushed down his negative feelings on the matter, before he straightened in his seat and asked, "Did he, really?" Forcing his voice to sound in awe and amusement, "And what did you say?"
Ginny grinned evilly. "I didn't say much before I whipped out my wand and had bat bogies coming out of his nose... Then I let him have it with what I really thought of him."
Harry couldn't hold back his laughter this time. Clutching his sides, he bent over in his chair as he pictured the scenario.
Harry really had been worried about Malfoy for no reason, when regarding Ginny. She would never go for someone like Draco.
Ginny laughed too, now amused by the situation that got her there in the first place. "He had been comparing Dean's blood status to mine, and after I showed him that I am not to be trifled with, Professor Slughorn came and praised me for my curse on the bugger... And that's how I wound up here."
"Well," Harry replied, now suddenly a bit shy, "I-I can see why he would be impressed by you... Y-you are pretty amazing... And so quick with your wand, too..."
There. Now she knew how much he admired her. It was the best he could do as of right then, short of confessing his feelings for her. Which, right then, Harry was sure wouldn't be received as he would hope.
Ginny, however, seemed shocked from his compliment. Did she really doubt her abilities that much? She certainly shouldn't. She was a natural, talented witch.
But then her features melted into awed gratitude. "Harry... Thank-you. Really. Coming from you... that seriously means a lot."
She smiled warmly at him, and Harry felt as though he could float to the moon, sans broom. He thought that he had crossed another vital bridge with Ginny. Sure, he had plenty more roads to travel to get where he needed to be, but Harry was patient.
He would wait for Ginny for as long as she was willing to make him wait.
"Especially, since you taught me how to perfect my wand technique last year in the D.A." Ginny continued, "You were probably the best teacher we had, besides Remus!"
Harry blushed under her praise, but took it with a smile. He was suddenly very excited to tell her his news. "I was talking to Neville, earlier-"
"Oh! Good! They found you," Ginny briefly interrupted.
Harry smiled his gratitude at her, "Yeah, thanks for sending them. They got me out of a rather awkward situation." Ginny looked curious, but didn't interrupt Harry as he quickly continued, not wanting to elaborate how he had been ambushed by a group of fourth year girls... "So, Neville asked me if I was going to start up the D.A. again, and though at first I was reluctant, I now see that it is a good idea."
Smiling wide, Ginny beamed with excitement. "Really, Harry?! That's brilliant!"
Harry nodded eagerly at her, glad to have made her happy about something he caused. "Yeah. I thought it best that we all use this time to train better. You know, with Voldemort out there, on the rise..."
Ginny's mood dampened as she nodded solemnly at him. "That's probably for the best..."
She didn't have time to say much else, though, as Professor Slughorn came through the door, levitating platters of food and drinks behind him.
"Now," Professor Slughorn professed, proudly, "Who would like to try some crystallized pineapple? It is simply a delight!"
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Rejection: A Double-Edged Sword