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
- 17
- 18
- 19
I just wanted to let you know, that there is no way I will ever give up on this story. I'm a firm believer in finishing what I started, and that will include the finishing of this story… which I anticipate will include MANY more chapters to come.
Thanks for sticking with me and understanding. Be sure to leave a review, as they really encourage me to continue. (:
Now, onto the story!
Chapter Eighteen
Ginny was sitting in front of him, smiling widely at their surroundings. He really couldn't help but smile as well, as they had chosen quite the spot to spend the twilight evening together. Also, because he just loved to see her happy.
They were both currently sitting in a row boat on the Great Lake, but they found a hidden little harbor on the side, near the thick brush of the Forbidden Forest, where the water was calm. And tiny fairies and fire-flies fluttered around them, creating an ethereal glow on the water's surface.
In the boat, they had a lantern lit, and Harry couldn't help but marvel at how the yellow glow illuminated Ginny's fiery, red hair...
Finally, Ginny seemed to sense his gaze, as her eyes finally met his. She smiled at him, a gentleness in her eyes that Harry wasn't used to seeing in anyone's eyes... at least not directed at him... it made Harry feel wanted and protected, so Harry really couldn't help but return her smile.
Reaching forward, Harry clasped both of her hands in his, and felt gratified in feeling her squeeze his in reassurance.
"Gin..." Harry started, nervous but excited all the same. Knowing that it was right to tell her what he was about to say. "I've wanted to tell you for so long... but I was afraid. Afraid of rejection. The same rejection that I gave you..."
Ginny's eyebrows puckered together in confusion, but she didn't say anything, indicating that he continue.
"What I mean to say is," Harry swallowed heavily, trying to find the nerve to say what he needed to say. "I love you."
It took a moment for Ginny to react, as Harry waited on bated breath for her to say, well, something... anything really!
Until, finally, Ginny's smile grew larger and Harry felt a sense of relief in the pit of his stomach at the sight of it. But then, Ginny started to giggle... which left Harry a little confused, but it wasn't an altogether terrible reaction. Maybe she was giddy with joy?
Which was what he thought, until her laughter grew until she was outright cackling. A strange sound to hear from Ginny's feminine tone.
It was then that the wind suddenly picked up, Ginny's red hair flew around madly in the air surrounding them. The fire in the lantern blew out, and the fairies and fireflies disappeared, enclosing them in darkness and shadows.
"You really think that I would ever love you?" Ginny cackled loudly, as though the very idea was hilarious to her. Harry watched on in dread, as the boat they were on started to rock forcefully back and forth from the waves and the storm. "No one has ever loved you in your entire life!"
Ginny's vibrant, red hair started to turn grey and became shorter. "You are nothing but a nuisance! An ungrateful nuisance!"
Thunder crashed overhead in the sky, and a bolt of lightning struck down on them, getting terribly close to his head, that Harry instinctually ducked and covered his head from the impact.
"No... no... no...!" Harry chanted as a mantra, not quite able to believe that this was really happening.
"You're a thief, that's what you are!" Ginny's feminine voice stated, before it delved deeper, becoming masculine. Harry peeked up from his crouched position, and saw that Ginny's face and body were now bloating, getting bigger and bigger to the point where Harry thought that she was going to explode!
Until the growing finally stopped, and it was no longer Ginny sitting in the boat in front of him... it was Uncle Vernon.
"You're a freak! A freak, I tell you! No one has ever loved you and no one ever will!"
"No, No, NO!" Harry cried out, trying to cover his ears from the terrible words, but it did him no good. He could still hear every insult thrown at him as clear as day.
"Not even your parents loved you! They died just to get away from you!" Uncle Vernon sneered, his face purple with fury and malicious glee. "And your Godfather, he didn't even bother to keep you. He had wanted to go to Azkaban, just to get away from you!"
"That's not true!" Harry screamed, but in his mind, he knew it was all true. Everyone wanted to be rid of him. All of his life, it had been that way. He was nothing but a burden. A freak...
"Don't listen to him, Harry."
Harry's eyes shot open wide, at the voice that came behind him. He whipped his gaze away from Uncle Vernon and turned to find Sirius, staring right back at him. Sitting on the edge of the little boat, as though he belonged there. He looked younger than Harry had ever seen him, healthier… more alive. But Siruis' eyes looked sad, as he took in the scene in front of him. With the howling wind, and Harry cowering under the imposing frame of Uncle Vernon. Further proof to Harry at how weak he truly was… as it was displayed at that very moment.
The great Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, afraid of a mere muggle.
Tears started to leak from Harry's eyes and down his cheeks, and he turned his face inwards. Cowering himself into his burrowing arms, to hide his shame from his beloved Godfather.
Sirius leaned in closer, putting one hand on Harry's shoulder, in the same comforting way that he did when he was still alive. While the other hand gripped Harry's chin, and lifted his face up to face him.
"This is all a dream, pup. None of it is real." Sirius informed him, reassuringly.
This news shocked Harry momentarily, before his resolve hardened. It still didn't change anything. He was still weak… unloved… a burden.
A freak.
All of this must have shown in his eyes, as Sirius' hand went from holding his chin, to cupping his cheek tenderly… in a way that Harry always imagined a parent would do when comforting their child.
"I've loved you since before you were even born. Ever since your mum and dad told me that they were going to have a baby." Sirius said, passionately. "And you know what else?"
Harry shook his head slowly, not knowing what else there was that he could possibly add to that.
Sirius smiled at him, a certain spark in his eye, as he reached up with his other hand to caress Harry's other cheek affectionately, as though he were still a young boy, and wiped away Harry's tears. "You turned out better than what I ever could have imaged. You really have been so brave… braver than you have any right being at your age. And I am so proud. My only wish is that I got to spend more time with you..."
Newfound tears started to leak out of Harry's eyes. With each word that Sirius spoke, the chaos of the storm calmed more and more. And it was as Harry launched himself into his Godfather's arms, did their surroundings finally quiet to a whisper.
Harry sobbed into his shoulder, not even bothering to care how immature he might look at the moment. He needed this comfort… the type of comfort that one could only get from a parental figure. Someone who loved him unconditionally.
"I've missed you so much!" Harry cried, basking in the feeling of his Godfather's embrace, as Sirius ran a comforting hand at the back of his fringe.
"I know, Pup, I know." Sirius sighed, before kissing the crown of his head. "It wasn't easy, leaving you behind..."
They held onto each other for a long moment, before Sirius sighed, and pulled away. Harry tried to hang on with all of his might, but he wasn't strong enough.
"Sorry, Prongslette." Sirius whispered, his grey eyes sad again. "They aren't letting me stay any longer... I've got to be going."
"No!" Harry shouted, his hands fisting at the fabric of Sirius' clothing. "Don't leave me! Not again! I can't stand it!"
Sirius, with tears in his own eyes now, gave him a watery smile. "This is all only a dream, Harry. When you wake up, you'll be reminded of all that are still around to love you... You don't need me around for that."
It was as he said this, Sirius gently pried the fingers Harry had fisted on his robes off, and stood up in the boat.
"Give my best to Remus, for me?" Sirius asked, before winking for added measure, in a way that screamed 'Sirius Black'. Then with a flash of white light, he was gone...
And Harry was left on his own, the dark night quiet, and the black water still.
"Please come back, Sirius..." Harry whispered, before breaking down and crying into his open hands...
...
"Harry…" A gentle hand shook him awake, and Harry opened his eyes. His cheeks wet, and his eyes blurry… from not only his terrible vision, but the leftover tears in his eyes.
He quickly rubbed them away, embarrassed at whoever it was that was watching him cry, then grabbed for his glasses on the nightstand table.
Righting his glasses on his face, Harry was greeted with the sight of half-moon spectacles in front of him. Professor Dumbledore was sitting in the chair besides his bed, his form only illuminated by the glow of a single candle.
It was dark in the hospital wing, and Harry wondered at what time it was… or why Professor Dumbledore decided to wake him.
"Professor?" Harry asked, the sleep entirely gone from his eyes and voice.
Dumbledore watched him for a long moment, before giving him a sad smile. "Bad dreams, Harry?"
Harry sighed and sat upright more in his bed, bringing his knees close and hugging them to his chest, before nodding.
"I find that it helps to talk about it," Dumbledore said, an offering in his tone.
Running a tired hand through his hair, Harry wasn't really sure that it would help. But he resolved to try, even though he was hesitant. "I dreamed of Sirius…"
Dumbledore's eyes lit up with understanding, and his eyes became sad. "Ah… I see." Dumbledore expressed in a heavy tone. "If I may, Harry, I feel I haven't expressed my deep regret for not being here when you needed me most, last spring."
Harry gave a shuttering breath, trying to keep any tears at bay, before replying in a croaking voice, "It's not your fault. It's not even mine… It took me a long time to come to terms with that, but I wasn't the one who killed Sirius. And I had no idea that it was all a trap…"
Harry took a deep breath before letting it out as a long sigh, "I just miss him, is all… In my dream, he was reminding me of all the people that I love that are still in my life right now. And as much as it hurt to see him disappear again in my dream, I can't deny that I really needed to hear what he was telling me. That I have so many people in my life that I love… people to live for… to fight for. Ron, Hermione, the Weasleys, Remus, and especially Ginny. Even you, Professor. You all make it worth it. But…"
"But?" Dumbledore asked, pure curiosity in his voice and all over his face.
"But I miss him." Harry admitted. "And my parents… I wish that I had the chance to get to know them. Or even talk to them – just once. What I wouldn't give to tell them that I love them. To thank them for sacrificing themselves for me."
Something about Harry's words seemed to shake Dumbledore's core, Harry noticed. He seemed deeply shaken by something, and rather deep in thought as he mulled over Harry's speech.
"Sir…?" Harry asked, hesitantly. And his interruption of Dumbledore's thoughts seemed to startle the headmaster. But also, seemed to resolve any issues that he was thinking about, as he now looked determined… as though he just came to a very important conclusion.
"I would like for you to come with me, Harry." Dumbledore said, his eyes somewhat uncertain, but alight with clarity. Harry, on the other hand, was hesitant… unsure that if he was even allowed to leave the hospital wing. Dumbledore must have noticed, as he quickly said, "It's quite alright, Harry. I just have something that I would like to show you."
Nodding, Harry sat up and turned down the covers. His bare feet touched the cold floor, and a violent shiver went down Harry's back. Dumbledore stood as Harry did, and Dumbledore lit his wand with a silent 'Lumos' charm.
The castle was so quiet at this time of night… Harry had almost forgotten. And he found himself quite uneasy traveling about the castle at night, without his invisibility cloak. Even though he was allowed with the company of the headmaster.
As they passed by snoring portraits and sleeping ghosts, Harry felt quite reluctant to break the silence by speaking to the professor.
It was just as they turned another corridor, when they ran into Mrs. Norris. Harry visibly startled to a halt, out of habit, a normal reaction from him at this point.
She watched them creepily for a moment, before coming closer and rubbing up against Dumbledore's legs, startling Harry at the obvious affection the cat had with the Headmaster.
Dumbledore himself, chuckled, and bent down to scratch at the patch of fur behind her ear. A purring sound emitted from the fearsome cat, astonishing Harry even further. "It's been some time since I've run into you in these halls, hasn't it?" Dumbledore spoke to Mrs. Norris, and a higher volume in purring was what he got in reply.
The pounding of footsteps from the opposite end of the corridor came about, and Mr. Filch came bounding around the corner. A suspicious gleam in his eye as he came upon them. "Ah, Headmaster. Found some vermin sneaking about the castle past curfew, have you? Have you thought up a suitable punishment, yet? I may have a few ideas if you haven't…"
Mr. Filch flashed Harry his crooked, yellow teeth… which Harry supposed was actually meant to be some form of a leering smile. But looked more like a grimace, to Harry, than anything.
Dumbledore chuckled merrily, and waved off Mr. Filch's suspicions. "Actually, Mr. Potter is out past curfew on my request. But I thank you for your diligence against any rule-breaking, Argus. You are so vital in helping mold the young mind against any wrong-doings."
Mr. Filch harrumphed in reply, crossing his arms in disappointment. "My help is more than what the brats deserve." Mr. Filch spat in a superior tone. "But try my best, anyways, I do."
Dumbledore nodded seriously. "Yes, and it is very much appreciated, Argus."
Mr. Filch seemed pleased by the praise, but was trying not to show it. "Best be getting back to it." Mr. Filch commented, then crooned to Mrs. Norris to be off in catching any more 'trouble-makers' that were bound to be out and about.
Dumbledore chuckled again, before continuing on his way. And Harry followed, as he mulled over the bizarre occurrence that he had just witnessed.
It wasn't long before they made it to the gargoyle that guarded the outside of the Headmaster's office.
"Fizzing Wizzbees." Dumbledore declared confidently at the gargoyle. And the statue turned to reveal the spiral staircase. The Headmaster stepped forward to the staircase, and Harry dutifully followed, his mind guessing at what was so important for the Headmaster to show him.
Once inside his office, still decorated heavily with odd trinkets and portraits of Headmasters' past, snoozing away in their frames… though, Harry could tell that a few of them were faking slumber.
"Please, take a seat, Harry." Dumbledore offered, indicating to the vacant chair across from his desk. "I'll only be a moment…"
Harry nodded and went to take his seat, and watched as Dumbledore left through a passage-way door that Harry had never noticed before. And then he was all alone… and it occurred to Harry that it would be entirely silent in the room, if not for the dramatic snores coming from the portraits of the former Headmasters.
Suddenly, a form swooping down from above landed in front of him, startling Harry, which quickly changed when he saw what was in front of him.
"Fawkes!" Harry exclaimed, happy to see the Phoenix that had once helped him to defeat a giant basilisk, and saving his future love in the process. "How have you been?"
Fawkes let out a beautiful trilling sound in reply, and nudged his head forward into Harry's outstretched hand, basking in the warm touch of a friendly presence that he trusted. Harry chuckled and scratched lightly at the feathers at the top of Fawkes' head. "I'll assume that means you've been good."
"The only other person I've seen him act so affectionately with is myself…" Harry whipped his attention to the door, where Dumbledore was standing – a ornate wooden box held in his hands. One normal hand, the other blackened and dead looking…
Harry forcibly took his attention away from Dumbledore's hand - thinking that if Dumbledore wanted to tell him about his hand, then he would – and smiled softly at the Headmaster. "Yeah, I missed him. It's been so long since I have seen Fawkes…"
Dumbledore smiled warmly at that, and walked forward to his desk, box still tightly clasped in his hand.
Harry didn't say anything as he watched Dumbledore take his seat across from him, behind his desk. He waited until Dumbledore got comfortable, and set the wooden box down on the desk in front of him, both hands still clasping it tightly.
It was a lengthy moment in tense silence. With Dumbledore staring at the box in his hands, not breathing a word, and Harry waiting for the Headmaster to speak, with an anticipation in the bottom of his stomach that Harry didn't know where it came from. Perhaps it was just a reaction to the way that Dumbledore was acting… it burned Harry's curiosity, trying to guess what could possibly be in the small box.
It was another long moment, before Dumbledore finally opened his mouth to speak. "I normally wouldn't entrust this possession I have with anyone… In fact, I barely trust myself with it."
This shocked Harry greatly, never seeing this side of the Professor before. If Dumbledore wasn't trustworthy, then who was? Certainly, not him! But Dumbledore seemed to think so… as all of his actions and words indicated that he was going to give Harry whatever was in this box. An item that Dumbledore admitted that he didn't trust himself to possess.
"But I find that you have proven yourself, Harry," Dumbledore continued on, "Proven yourself far more worthy of it than myself. Your desire to live for those who you love is what has decided my decision, as I know that you won't do something we will both regret after I give this to you…"
Dumbledore patted the top of the box with his good hand, then stroked the smooth wood with his fingertips.
Once again, Harry found himself wondering if the Headmaster really was mad… his words made absolutely no sense to him. What did his desire to live for his loved ones have to do with the item in that box? And what about his desire make the Headmaster decide to gift him with this possession?
Dumbledore's fingers stopped stroking the smooth wood, and looked Harry in the eye, quite seriously. "What I'm about to give you has been sought and coveted by many witches and wizards over the centuries… Many believe it to be a myth. There was a time that I thought as much, as well. That was until after your father graduated from school here."
Harry's eyes widened at the mention of his father, his attention and curiosity even more piqued. Leaning forward in his seat, Harry hoped that the Headmaster was about to tell him another story about his dad that he had never heard before. As Harry had heard many stories of his dad during his Hogwarts days, but not much of his father, or even his mother, after they had left school.
"It was after the Order of the Phoenix had been created… James and Lily had both become members. Along with Sirius, Remus… as well as Peter Pettigrew."
Harry tried not to show any emotion at the name of the traitorous rat, but his whole body did twitch at the name… almost like a reflex. As though his body wanted to get up and move… to fight.
"I had started to assign all of them onto assignments. It was during this time, I had found out that James had the most remarkable cloak…"
Hearing this, Harry paused, before reaching into the back pocket of his pajamas and pulling out the cloak in question. He always kept it on his person, after Dumbledore had asked him to always have it on him during the summer.
Dumbledore smiled as he saw the very cloak that he was speaking of. "That would be the one. Imagine my surprise when I found out that James had been using this very cloak to sneak around the castle during his school days." Dumbledore broke off with a chuckle, and Harry couldn't help but smile at his father's past antics.
"But when I saw the cloak for myself, I found out something quite remarkable about it… it was one of the three Deathly Hallows…" Dumbledore continued on to tell Harry the fairytale in the book of The Tales of Beetle the Bard… about the three Peverell brothers cheating Death, and the Deathly Hallows.
Harry was shocked. He looked down at the shimmery fabric in his hands… fabric that came from Death, itself. "You mean… that my dad's cloak is…"
"The very same cloak of invisibility. I believe that you are a descendant of the brother who greeted Death as an old friend, Harry. And the cloak has been passed down through your family for centuries."
Harry fell back into his chair, feeling very overwhelmed all of a sudden. It was a lot to take in at once. He had thought, at a time, that the biggest shock that he would ever get in his life, would be the time when Hagrid had told him that he was a wizard… but his life had really been nothing but surprises since then. He really wondered when he would stop being so surprised.
It was then that Harry was reminded of why he was even in the Headmaster's office in the first place. His eyes keenly landed on the box underneath Dumbledore's hands, already having a suspicion of what lay inside…
"So, in the box…" Harry said, carefully, "It-It's another one of them, isn't it? Another Deathly Hallow."
Dumbledore nodded, very serious. "Indeed, Harry. It is. One that I have only just found this last summer, before I came to take you away from your relatives…"
Harry was only half-listening, too busy staring at the box with wide eyes. Why in Merlin's name was Professor Dumbledore going to gift him with a Deathly Hallow, of all things? It was a priceless item… something that wasn't to be taken lightly. The Professor really must be mad to give away such a valuable possession… one that was most-likely killed over in the attempts to obtain it.
"Harry," Dumbledore said, his voice calling Harry out of the trance that he was under, the Headmaster's voice very serious. "Inside this box, is to not be taken lightly by you. You are not to abuse it's power in any way, for it may drive you to madness or your own death…"
Harry swallowed heavily at that and nodded quickly, trying to convey his seriousness in the matter. Wanting to please the Headmaster in any way that he could.
Professor Dumbledore let out a large breath, and sighed. Then standing, he pushed the box forward to Harry. Then, lifted a long chain that was clasped around his neck, a small silver key attached to the end of the chain, and put his hand forward, offering the key to Harry.
Harry felt his whole body shaking with anticipation, as he slowly lifted his hand to the key. And finally clasping the cool metal in his hand, then slowly bringing his arm back to his body… Harry looked down at his tightly clenched fist, which surrounded the key, with the chain dangling from in-between his fingers.
"I trust that you can manage yourself from here?" Dumbledore asked him, and Harry found himself nodded robotically.
Dumbledore himself nodded, then stated, "Good. I shall leave you to it, then."
Fawkes flew up to Dumbledore's shoulder, then the Headmaster was walking away, heading for the very door that he had retrieved the box from. And then, after opening the door, he walked through it and shut the door with a final thud.
Leaving Harry alone, once again…
The blood in his veins was pumping fast, his heartbeat pounding loudly in his ears. Sweat started to gather heavily in the palm that was clenched around the key. And Harry found himself sitting there, hyperventilating, not able to get a good breath.
After a very long moment, Harry's eyes traveled upwards to the box that lay before him.
The box itself was nothing special… it was nicely carved, but it was ordinary. Something that could easily be found anywhere. But it was what was on the inside of this very box, which made it seem so daunting.
Harry didn't think that he would ever really have any true courage to open it. He was afraid to try. But he found that even though he was terrified of what was about to happen, he knew that he had to face his fears, and just do it anyways. That was what true bravery was.
So, with a heavy breath, and a shaking hand, Harry loosened his grip around the key and placed it in-between his thumb and pointer finger.
Biting his lip, so hard that a part of him wondered if his bottom lip had torn and bled, Harry slowly reached forward and placed the key into the lock of the box…
It went in easily, and didn't stop until it was met with the resistance of the end of the lock. Swallowing again, to get rid of the dryness that suddenly overcame his throat, Harry turned the key until a small 'click' resounded in the almost-empty room.
And with his other shaking hand, he placed it on the top cover of the box. Harry closed his eyes, and before he lost his nerve, quickly whipped the top off of the box open.
It was another moment before Harry opened his eyes, and found himself not at all surprised at the sight that lay in the box before him…
It was a stone. Small and black, it was. In the shape of a diamond. But Harry knew that it wasn't just any stone… it was the stone that Dumbledore had just told him about, in the long tale from 'The Tales of Beetle the Bard'…
The Resurrection Stone.
Another one of the Deathly Hallows.
And possibly the one that would most-likely impact his life the most.
Harry could only stare at it mindlessly. His mind empty and his thoughts blank.
He really couldn't believe that the time has come. For so long had he wished to meet his parents… talk to them, feel their love for him and return it in spades. And he now had the means to do so… it was almost too much to process. Too unexpected, it was.
And then there was Sirius. Harry remembered finding the mirror after Sirius had fallen through the veil. How he had tried ruthlessly to contact Sirius on the other side through the mirror… only it hadn't worked. The magic of the compartment mirror didn't reach upon the grave.
It had devastated Harry. He had wanted so desperately to talk to Sirius… at least one last time. To tell him how sorry he was. To tell him how responsible he had felt for his death.
And now, he was able to do just that.
Why was he so afraid?
Before he even asked himself that question, he already knew the answer…
What if it didn't work? He had faced far too much disappointment in his life many times over in his short life, so far. It wasn't unprecedented that he should prepare himself for the worst when regarding this crucial moment in his life.
But there was also another nagging thought that was holding him back from greedily grasping the stone in his hand…
What if they didn't like him? What if they were disappointed in how he chose to live his life, so far? What if they weren't proud of him?
But even as Harry faced these doubts as well, he knew that he couldn't get answers to these questions until he reached forward and grasped that stone…
So, with bated breath, Harry slowly reached forward, his hand twitching as it made its way into the box, and grasped the smooth texture of the priceless stone…
Harry hadn't realized that he had closed his eyes, as he had done this. Afraid to see what may or may not be in front of him. So, he waited, with eyes clasped tightly shut, for any sign that getting his hopes up wouldn't be in vain…
"Harry…"
A/N: I know! What a twist! Remember to leave a review! (:
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Rejection: A Double-Edged Sword