Story: Moira
Chapter Ten: Dazed

The night was peaceful. The champions had to give the news reporters an interview and had to go through a photo shoot.

Harry found the interviewer, Rita Skeeter, annoying. She changed facts about him and cut through his sentences every so often that Ginny had to keep shaking her head for him to not lose control over his magic. She could not be with him but she managed to sneak up behind the interviewer to keep an eye on him. Harry was really grateful when the blasted interview and photo session ended.

Right now, he was taking a stroll through the huge castle. He had never had a peaceful time for himself ever since he was chosen as the champion. So, when he finally broke free of his friends' clutches, he ran out to explore.

Harry spotted a window and walked to it. The sky was clear and void of rain bearing clouds. The weather was pleasant and ideal for an outdoor picnic. The sound of owls hooting in the owlery was heard along with the sound of shuffling footsteps. Harry immediately turned around and, by a hair's breadth, dodged a nasty curse from his traitor friend, Theodore Nott.

"I never knew you could use curses, Theo," Harry said, looking calm. His wand was ready to hoist itself into his hand if Nott were to attack again.

"You, cheat! Bribed the Goblet, didn't you? You always want eternal glory. Don't you even feel guilty for killing our master?!"

Harry removed his glasses and pocketed them. "Ah. I wonder how long you are going to keep that on me."

"Until you die, Potter. Or should I say, Black? Or better, Riddle."

"Shut up! JUST SHUT UP!" Harry shouted. Then he immediately took deep breaths to calm himself down. He made the mistake of letting his weakness rule his emotions, again.

"Scared, eh! Listen, Potter. You will never see wealth, love or the power you so seek and you can have my word for that. Crucio!" Without any warning, he cast the red unforgivable. Harry dodged it successfully and withdrew his own wand. Before he could erect a shield, three stunners came his way.

"Protego!"

The shield absorbed the three stunners and both Harry and Nott seemed surprised. It was Ginny Weasley who had cast the shield.

"Doesn't it sound unfair, Mister Unforgivable? Using dark curses in corridors of a school housing about a thousand students and to correct you, I don't know if Harry is wealthy, but I'm sure he will see love and he is already powerful."

"What are you doing here?! I don't need your help!" Harry shouted at the newly arrived witch. She looked at him and, for a second, he thought he saw hurt flash in her eyes before being replaced by a blazing look.

"The Little Weasel, eh? Even Potter doesn't want your help and he told it right before your eyes and ears. You are pretty worthless. Better to be burnt alive than stay alive. Reducto!" The spell hit a nearby torch, turning it into ashes. The fire, however, started spreading due to the carpet it fell on.

"Aguamenti," Ginny hissed. A spurt of water flowed out from her wand which extinguished the fire. This distracted her long enough for Nott to use a curse. Luckily, Harry pushed her away from the menacing-looking red spell.

"Why did you even come here?!" Harry shouted again and simultaneously blocked Nott's stunner. "You irritating prat! Singultus!" A blue light hit Nott on the chest and he fell down, sobbing. Harry had used the sob inducing hex. "It will take a day for the hex to reverse. Leave before I do something more to keep you sobbing for your lifetime," Harry told sternly. Nott glared intensely at him before reluctantly leaving. Harry turned to Ginny, who was kneeling down on the floor, looking a bit sad.

"Why did you even come here?! I didn't need your help."

"At times, accepting help is better, Mister." Her voice was low. Harry snorted, then turned his back to her. He made to leave but stopped when she muttered a spell.

"Expecto Patronum."

Harry turned back to Ginny and found a magnificent, silver horse bowing to her. His eyes widened beyond his control. The patronus charm was a spell which he hadn't managed to cast, let alone Master. His master had never taught him that. Sirius tried but failed and Harry gave up after several tries.

"How'd you do that?"

Ginny looked up at him in disbelief. "You don't know how to cast a patronus?" Harry shook his head slightly, scratching the back of his neck. He felt embarrassed to admit that he did not know a spell. He expected her to laugh at him but instead she gave him a small smile. "It is okay, Harry. The patronus charm is really difficult to master. Nev still has troubles with it. If you want, I can teach you."

"I don't see a dementor nearby. Why do you need it?" Harry swiftly changed the topic. He will learn by books but not have her help him with spells. Having her help him with his control over magic itself was humiliating enough for him. Ginny raised her eyebrows before answering.

"I know you don't want others to help. Anyways, I'm going to send a message to Hermione to help me get to the Hospital Wing. I don't think I can make it there all by myself. Merlin, Mister! Your push sprained my ankle."

Harry suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He quickly shook it away and kneeled down in front of her. "Show that to me, I'll take a look."

"I thought you required your glasses to have a clear sight?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Believe me, Gin. I can see pretty well without the damned glasses," Harry replied, withdrawing his wand and inspecting her slightly swollen, red ankle.

"Gin? Is that a nickname, Mister?"

Harry blinked. Did he really call her that? "I - err sorry! I mean. . . I am sorry!" Surprising himself, Harry stuttered for the first time and apologized after several years. Although he apologized earlier, it was for a bigger mistake. Not for tiny blabbers.

Ginny laughed heartily, causing Harry to bend even lower and make it seem that he was looking at her injury when, in reality, he was trying to hide his pink tinged face with his messy locks. This was getting too embarrassing for him.

"Oh, Harry! I pretty much like that nickname!" Ginny said breathlessly after she was finished with her fit of laughter at his expense.

Disregarding her statement, Harry muttered an incoherent healing spell and her ankle glowed green before the glow slightly dissipated, leaving a small amount of glimmer in the affected area.

"It will numb your pain for a while. You can make it to the Hospital Wing without falling over if someone supports you," Harry said in a low voice.

When he heard no response, he looked up at her. Dark emerald met bright brown. His breath caught and he felt something different. Something he had never experienced before with anyone else.

He quickly made himself snap out of whatever he was doing and stood up, pocketing his wand in the process. Ginny turned away too. He took a deep breath then let it out.

"Look. I only helped you because you injured yourself by trying to help me. Don't come at me trying to help me with battles again, okay? I don't need your help nor do I want you to get killed. I can handle myself very well," he said with a frown.

Ginny nodded lowly. He sighed, hoping his words hadn't hurt the witch. Then he extended his hand for her to grab and stand up. "Let me help you," he offered. She looked reluctant at first but took his hand.

Pulling her up with too much force wasn't necessary, but for some bizarre reason, his mind had gone blank and he did it, causing her to fall into his arms instead of standing up straight. For not the first time, Harry felt the same unique feeling as he basked in her scent of wild flowers. His face tinged red.

Although this apparent hug was accidental, it had been years since he had hugged anyone. He closed his eyes but before his mind could even tell him to up his anty and concentrate, Ginny pulled away, looking flushed. He sort of missed the warmth.

"I'm sorry!" they both apologized to each other simultaneously, then looked at each other and burst out laughing. Her laugh was infectious.

"Can you handle till the Hospital Wing or shall I drop you?" Harry asked gently.

"You don't have to take pains. You have done enough. Thank you, Harry. I wish you a good night's sleep," Ginny answered and flashed him a small smile. She then turned to walk towards the Wing but found herself losing her balance. Thankfully, Harry caught her by her elbows before she fell.

"The answer is a yes to drop you, then Miss Weasley," Harry retorted with a mock frown, then smiled as she laughed.

All the way to the Hospital Wing, their chat was pleasant and light-hearted. Ginny even told him about her family and her hobbies. In response, Harry told her about the various times Draco and Ron tried to prank him and failed.

Finally, they reached the door of the Hospital Wing and Ginny turned to him.

"I think I can handle the way from here," she said lowly. Harry nodded, oddly sad about bidding goodnight. "It was beautiful spending time with you, Harry. You are far better when you laugh like others do. Keep that in mind and -" she paused, looking nervous. She looked down at her fiddling hands and in a moment of spontaneous action, she cupped his cheek, leaned in and planted a small and hasty peck on his cheek, surprising him.

Pink faced, she fiddled with her hands again, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "That's a way of telling thanks, I guess," she said, smiling as best as she could.

Harry only smiled in response after breaking out of his temporary stupor. He then bid her good night and left the corridor to the Durmstrang ship, his hand on his cheek where she kissed him and his guard totally down.

When he reached his dorm, his friends started fussing over him, asking why he was looking dazed and clutching his cheek as if it was bleeding. Harry simply intimidated them using his eyes and walked into the bathroom to calm himself down.

That night had been truly miraculous. He had laughed. Harry had laughed. He had smiled, countless number of times at that. He had apologized, twice. He had blushed, more than once. All in one night. He had displayed all his emotions in one night although he had kept his face an emotionless mask for years on end.

When he stood under the streaming hot shower of his dorm's bathroom, he wanted nothing more than the water to wash away his memories. He had made the mistake of displaying too many emotions and it was not right. But when he felt his cheek, that warmth of her lips on his skin always burned and the water could never wash that burn away.

Long chapter again! Phew, I've been meaning to get this chapter perfectly right and I hope I did. What are your thoughts about this chapter?

P.S. Singultus is a fan made curse by me. It means sobbing in Latin and it induces the person to sob uncontrollably.

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x