Story: Moira
Chapter Forty Six: Deserving

Harry walked out of the bank, his hood still on. Although the clothing covered his face, he felt differently cold. It was not the weather which was freezing him; it was the words he spoke to his better half which made him feel ice hearted.

He absent-mindedly walked to the alley where they had Apparated into and found Ginny, slumped down on the ground, her arms tightly around herself. She was shaking with sobs and with a sigh, he walked into the darkness, simultaneously casting privacy charms around them. When he was sure no one would be able to see them, thanks to the notice-me-not charms, he took off his hood and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Before he could even utter a single word, he was pushed back to the ground and showers of punches hit his chest. He did not cry out in pain; he was numb already. He let her inflict as much damage as she virtually could before slowly taking an hold of her hands and gently pulling them down.

"I'm sorry, Ginny. I did not want the whole world and you to perish at my cost," he whispered as she shook with violent and inaudible sobs. "I've never really been a good guy. Never been a hero. Being a dark wizard all my life, I'd rather die than let you perish along with the world. You know it, Death is cruel. He would keep to his word and I had no choice. You saw Giselle. She died, trying to protect Godric. I would have done the same. The very same. . .you would have lost only one insignificant, vile and useless life unlike Godric who lost three of his closed ones –"

"Insignificant, vile and useless life! Yes, Harry! Yes! You are truly insignificant and vile and completely useless!" she exclaimed, looking at him after a long time. Unshed tears shone in her eyes; despite the darkness, he could see them. Harry felt his own eyes burn with tears. "How –? How could you even think that?"

"I deserve hell, Ginny. I have murdered people for fun; tortured others for thrill; done other uncountable dark curses to several others. I don't deserve heaven. . . Hell, I don't even deserve you!" he retorted, finally letting the tears fall.

It had been, probably, the first time he had cried in his lifetime.

"You don't deserve hell. . . You deserve so much more. . . Just your intention of saving the world at the cost of your own life is enough to tell me that," Ginny whispered. Harry was at a loss to say anything so he kept quiet. "I don't know what I would have done if you – you left me too. . ."

Without waiting for anything, he pulled her closer and hugged her with every inch of his fibre. "I don't want to leave you. . ."

Silence reigned for several minutes before the pair, under disguise, walked to Florean Fortescue's ice cream and bought themselves a treat as well as a parcel for Draco, Astoria and Charlie.

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"Damn it."

"Shut it, Draco."

"Just because you look like Ginny doesn't mean you have to act like her."

"Just because I look like Ginny and you can't snog me doesn't mean you have to swear like hell. To your statement, I must act like her lest someone gets a doubt, you blithering idiot."

Draco sighed. He and 'Ginny' were in the lawn, spending quality 'sibling time' with each other before the party was set to begin. Everyone at the house (except the oblivious ones) had already become suspicious with the amount of time the two 'siblings in all but blood' were spending together; so much so that Ron was peeking from a rose bush. This, as expected, caused him to get pricked and bleed. On top of that, Charlie was acting awkward, fuelling the suspicions.

The sound of Apparition alerted them and Draco and Astoria exchanged looks: Harry had arrived along with an invisible Ginny.

Mrs Weasley welcomed Harry, who was strangely holding the door open for a long time till Ron shouted to close it lest mosquitoes enter the house. With a glance at the Polyjuiced Astoria, he smiled lightly and hugged her for a split second.

"Many happy returns," he greeted. Astoria found herself blushing; he was acting so well. "If you don't mind, can we have a word in private?"

Astoria nodded and led him to Ginny's bedroom. As soon as they were in, Harry placed privacy charms and Ginny emerged out of the cloak. She hugged Astoria immediately.

"Thank you so much, Tori! How long do you have?"

"Five minutes. I was intending to get another vial of the potion before you arrived," Astoria replied, patting Ginny. "Is your work done?"

Harry and Ginny smiled at each other before nodding. "As good as done." Astoria smiled back.

"We brought you and Draco the ice cream. I'll hand Charlie some later. They are kept under freezing charms so you don't have to worry and Harry! Get the hell into the bathroom. Merlin knows when you will transform, Tori!" Ginny ordered and Harry hustled into the bathroom. The two girls chuckled at his awkward behaviour before Ginny let out a dreamy sigh.

"Someone's in love," Astoria teased.

"Shut it, Tori!"

"What? Am I not right?"

"Err – uh. . . You probably are. . . He's so perfect. . . That windswept hair and that crooked smile. . . The way his lips –"

"Enough, enough. I don't think I need the details although if you'd say it, I would probably coo over you guys!" Astoria stopped. Ginny laughed.

"I knew you'd say that!" she teased. The younger girl shrugged. "Let's get you out now." Ginny threw the invisibility cloak over Astoria and after shouting to Harry, who walked out sternly, they headed downstairs. Charlie was keeping the door wide open and when he caught glimpse of Harry nodding at him, he signaled to Draco.

Draco walked to the door to keep guard and Charlie shouted. "I'll go and get Astoria. She's probably running late due to her parents being protective!" The Weasley brother ran out without a word and Ginny felt Astoria slip through the door and out into the open as well. Five minutes later, when everyone were seated around the table, they heard a shriek. Draco got up dramatically and ran out, shouting for his girlfriend.

"Phew! I hate portkeys!" Astoria feigned tiredness as she slipped into the kitchen, Draco and Charlie in tow. "Mum wanted me to take everything! What, I would only be gone for a few hours!"

"It's a concern with –" Molly started before glancing at Harry.

"With Bellatrix and numerous other Eaters at loose. No hesitation required," he completed for her.

"Oh just get it over with!" Sirius exclaimed from Harry's other side.

"We want the cake!" Ron piped in. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Honestly Ronald! It's Ginny's birthday!"

"Well, what do you want him to do, Granger? Snog her?" Draco asked. Ron made a disgusted face as Hermione turned pink. "Sorry mate," Draco added to Harry who gagged in unison with Sirius. The blonde boy was yet to know the secret.

"No, thank you, Draco," Ginny replied, putting her hand on Harry's. The latter was still struggling to recover from the obscure thought his best mate had suggested.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Start the party!" the twins shouted in unison and everything came alive in a moment.

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The party was pretty eventful. Regulus had joined them shortly before the cake cutting. After having the diamond shaped cake, courtesy of Molly Weasley, the young adults enjoyed their time basking in each other's company.

When the dessert time was over, Sirius got up and cleared his throat. Ron stood up as well, pulling Hermione to her feet along with him. Harry stood up as well when Regulus nodded to him.

"I have an announcement to make. Don't worry, it's a good news," Sirius started. The Weasleys looked on in eagerness. "The thing is –"

But Sirius could not finish his sentence: Ron had interrupted him. "What dad means is that the boy, your son," he nodded to Molly and Arthur, "and your long lost sibling–" he looked at all of the Weasley children. "is right here. In this very room."

Dun dun dun! Cliffhanger ;)

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x