Story: Blossoming Heart
Entry Ten: My Blossomed Heart
Author: Miyoko

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Diary,
Long day today.

Mum basically smothered me because of the whole Hangleton incident. On top of that, the boggart made her reassure me (several times) that they will always stay with me (I find it reassuring). And my blood dripping face made her to stay the night at Hogwarts it self!

In all, I turned into a busy teen. The whole school was asked to attend the Triwizard Award Ceremony. Krum was given a consolation prize and Fleur received a small trophy in order to equalize her status between Krum and myself. I was given the cup and Dumbledore placed it in the Gryffindor common room. His eyes won't stop twinkling and Professor McGonagall was no less in her cheer. She was beaming at me the entire time but only after she was assured that I was alright after seeing Voldemort. Dad had a mixed reaction. He was proud but also worried. After some talk with Sirius, he went on all James Potter mood, cheering and even forgetting that he was a professor! Sirius just couldn't stop wagging his tail when he transformed into Padfoot (which was happening more than usual) and the proud glint in Remus' eyes made my day.

Mr and Mrs Weasley as well as Mr and Mrs Longbottom were called in the next day. Both the compassionate mothers gave their children the exact treatment that mum gave me when they heard of 'The Incident'. I could not spend any time with my best friends as the adults used all of my time talking to me.

I was gently disappointed to see that Ginny had not made any effort to talk to me. It made me nervous too. Questions like, 'what if I shouldn't have kissed her?' and 'what if this ruins our friendship?' roamed like a ghost in my cluttered mind. Fortunately, I received a letter from Hedwig. It was from Ginny. This surprised me as Ginny wasn't living one hundred miles away from me to send a letter. We were in the same castle! Her handwriting was sleek and stylish. As I read through the letter, my eyes widened. I was in for surprises but what pleasantly shocked me more was Ginny inviting me to the pitch, that night for a midnight adventure. I cannot stop thinking about what happened, Merlin and the events that took place in Little Hangleton . . . Merlin, help me! Those curious brown eyes. . . Diary, I think I am going insane.

It's high time you, being Harry James Potter's diary, go insane as well. Hear me out! I'm excited.

The cold, moisture filled wind pinched Harry's cheeks as he made his way down the castle to the Quidditch pitch. The skies were void of rain bearing clouds. There were some scattered, but none were rain or snow bearing. Harry trudged the rest of the way, tying his Gryffindor scarf tightly to his anterior region. Despite being under the invisibility cloak his hair was getting messier thanks to the wind but he did not care. His heart was beating fast. Ginny. GINNY! Harry's best friend, his crush, his Yule Ball date, the one with whom he had shared his first kiss, had invited him on a midnight adventure without Neville. That was a rarity. Not a rarity. It was an impossible circumstance. He hoped that whatever adventure he was going to face, it better be a good one. After all, he was having a personal question to ask her which was burning his brain.

After a few more minutes of walking down the hill, Harry finally reached the pitch. He now stood, without the cloak of invisibility, at the stands admiring the night scene when he spotted a lone figure flying. Harry squinted his emerald irises and could make out red hair. It was Ginny. He raised his arm and waved, hoping that it would catch her attention. It worked and Ginny flew towards him. He smiled at her just as she came to a halt in front of him.

"Hey, Harry," she said. Harry decided to reply in her style.

"You call a boy to the pitch at midnight and all you say is 'Hey Harry'. You think me as a joke, Weasley?" Harry joked. Ginny pouted cutely.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Potter," she retorted in kind. The two of them burst into fits of laughter. "I need to talk to you," Ginny said urgently, after they calmed down. Harry raised his eyebrows, urging her on. Ginny looked around timidly before grabbing Harry's hand and making him mount her broomstick. "Hold on."

That was all the warning she gave before they dived down in full speed. Harry held onto the broomstick for dear life. He never really fancied dives. The ground was approaching quickly. Harry could even spot the droplets of dew on the grass but that was when his roller coaster ride stopped. Ginny leveled with the ground and motioned Harry to climb down. He quickly scampered down and she dismounted as well and sat down on the grassy area. Harry followed suit and sat down beside her.

"You know, I never really noticed and you have been an idiot," she said, after about five minutes of companiable silence. Harry did not understand so he let her talk. "The yule ball, Harry. I should have noticed but I did not. Now I know after being spoon fed by overhearing Sirius talk in the DADA classroom. I know, Harry. I know that you fancy me."

Harry turned beet red. It should not have been this way. It should have been the other way around. Of course Ginny heard. She was under the cloak of invisibility for Merlin's sock's sake!

"Y-you are not mad at me, are you?" Harry asked, tentatively. Ginny chuckled.

"Why else would I kiss you, Potter? Truthfully, I am mad at myself for not realizing it sooner. Only after thorough thinking did I find the obvious hints that you were dropping since we met. That's the reason for writing to me, if I am not wrong," Ginny said. It was true. After Harry met Ginny, he sent her letters, almost twice a month unless he had exams. It was his first year at Hogwarts and since Ginny could not go, owing to a year difference between them, he wrote to her. That was how their friendship was formed. The next year, Harry formally introduced Ginny to Neville just as Ginny started her first year and Harry and Neville continued the schooling, advancing to their second year.

"Kinda, yes," Harry replied, looking down at the green grass which seemed to be dancing in the wind and mocking him. Ginny smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. Harry tried to keep his heartbeat down though it was a lost cause. "Ginny, listen. I am sorry. The kiss. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done it. I could not help it, I really couldn't! There were times when I tried hard to think of you as a best friend only but I couldn't. I-I just err," Harry stammered. "I don't want my crush to ruin our friendship."

"Oh, shush, Harry. Why would you think like that?" Ginny asked, looking up at him.

"Because. . . Because you fancy Krum. . . well the real Krum," Harry said. Ginny suddenly started laughing as she removed her head from his shoulder. Harry raised his eyebrow.

"Viktor? Oh my gosh! Harry! I'd fancy Merlin rather than Viktor! He's a nice friend but no. He is more of the. . .sickly sweet type, I guess and I prefer the braver type."

"Braver? I thought there was no guy here who is braver than Krum," Harry retorted with a nervous laugh. Ginny chuckled again.

"Oh, there is!" she said and turned to him. "You, Harry. Why do you think I kissed you?"

"I don't know. Adrenaline rush? Heat of the moment, perhaps? And me? Me and brave? Just because I am a Gryffindor doesn't mean I am brave. That sorting hat seriously considered putting me in Slytherin. Imagine that! I would have been the first Slytherin in the lineage of Potters!" Harry exclaimed. "Besides, I cowered in fear right in front of my dad!" he added. Ginny shook her head.

"You stood up to your own father twice, Harry. Once for Nev and myself. Second for Professor Lupin. The Yule ball, Harry. You saved not one but three lives, that evening. You saved mine, Nev's and Luna's lives. You saved the friendship between Professor Lupin, Sirius and Professor Potter. You saved me from the Chamber of Secrets, fought a venomous and dangerous basilisk, fought against the fragment of your mortal enemy. There may be even more, Harry, the recent one for instance. There may be even more additions to your heroic tales but truly you are the bravest man I have even known. Not even Albus Dumbledore can steal that title which I have given, from you."

Harry looked down. He did not know what to tell. That was when he felt a small hand grip his. He looked at Ginny then their entwined hands.

"Only after that entire incident did I realize that I fancy you, Harry."

Harry's heart stopped circulating blood to the rest of his body. He felt dizzy and shook his head, trying to get the non existent water out of his ears. His breathing turned ragged and he bit his lips so as to not shout his feelings out to the sky. The monster in his chest was as confused as he was but Harry felt an odd pleasure to have heard those words from Ginny's mouth. His hormones were playing very happily right now and Harry hoped this was not a nightmarish dream. He did not want to wake up and find no one there only to start the day by meeting a Ginny who never fancied him. His doubts were rushing as flashes through his mind. Sure, they had shared a short kiss at Little Hangleton but hearing her confess was different.

"Did you mean it, then? The kiss?" he asked in a low tone, feeling stupid.

"Of course I did, silly."

"So what does that make us now?" Harry asked.

"Anything you want us to be," Ginny whispered.

He dug into his pockets and took out a small velvet box - the box which Sirius gave him on the night of the Ball. With trembling hands he gave it to Ginny and looked at her. She took it with a confused look and opened it. Harry saw her eyes widen and instantly regretted giving the box. Sirius was a bad romantic.

"I-er it-" Harry stuttered but stopped himself when Ginny squealed. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I should never have given tha-"

"Oh shut it, Harry. You boys and 'I am sorry's'! I love this!" Ginny squealed and hit him playfully on his arm. Harry scratched his neck. "I will treasure this, Harry," she whispered, taking out the silver heart from the box. On it was engraved the words, 'Fire for Fire'. It was not a keychain, nor was it a necklace. It was a simple jewel heart. "Thank you so much!"

He turned to her and stared at the depths of her bright brown, curious eyes which were challenging him to stare even more deeper and into her soul. Not caring about his heartbeat exceeding the usual count of seventy two, he leaned in to finish what he couldn't earlier only to meet Ginny's cheek with his lips.

"What the hell, Ginny?" Harry asked. Though he felt irritated for what she did, his voice sounded cheeky.

"I'm not ready to snog you yet, Potter!" Ginny said and with a wink, got up. Harry followed suit and looked at her with crossed arms. "On the other hand, keep giving me that look and I'm going to strangle you," Ginny said. She leaned in and hastily placed a kiss on his cheek before running away, leaving her broomstick for Harry to carry. "Catch me and reduce your baby fat, Potter!"

Harry grinned and started running behind her. The moon's angelic aura looked upon the young teens with utmost gentleness as they enjoyed each other's company.

Wasn't that just incredible?! Oh diary, I am truly going insane. Ginny Weasley. My crush, my best friend, my girlfriend. . . Oh how pleasurable that sounds to my ears. It's like soft music after a heavy downpour of crystal rain beads. Now, that was the perfect romantic end I have wanted.

Ginny is not only my girlfriend. First and foremost, she is my best friend. She was there for me when I needed her the most. She was open to my suggestions and worries when many condemned me. She stood by my side even if it was against her friends. She encouraged me when I was broken because of dad. She (totally) made me blush each time she so much as touched me (it sort of continues even now). If I were to write about her, it would go on all day, diary but for now, I think receiving her love it self is more than I could ask for.

Mum was right. It is because of her that I could share several things which I couldn't to Ginny. It lessened my burden too. As much as I wouldn't want anyone reading this, I think mum deserves to read it. She knew all along about her son's blossoming heart.

I thought of this Triwizard Tournament as a trouble but little did I know that it not only brought me eternal glory but also eternal love? This whole year was memorable in it's own way and I would never dream of changing even a moment.

Diary, if you are hearing (or reading) this, I will end it here. A fourteen year old shouldn't write more in depths. Ginny brightened my life. I will never let her go. How can I? She is a true angel. Externally as well as internally. Glistening brown eyes, fiery red hair, cute freckles, strikingly beautiful and chiseled face, sweet and angelic voice, fierce bravery and unfailingly loyal, wonderfully kind and incredibly powerful. That is my witch. My Ginny. My heart has truly blossomed with love for Ginny and it will grow forevermore.

Sincerely,
Harry James Potter
30th June 1995

The story ends here. It was a wonderful and challenging journey, writing this book but no matter what, your support really did the magic. It showed by typing the words on this platform and I am truly grateful for that. Thank you so much!

Edit: Edited typos, grammar errors and added a scene. I had forgotten to include the gift which Sirius gave so, I have added it!

There might be a surprise bonus chapter for you so keep an eye for that!

Word Count: 2485 words

With all my love,
Miyoko x