Shattered Hearts


By hgseeker



A/N: I know it's a bit late but this little plot bunny hopped into my head and wouldn't leave until I wrote this.



Harry mentally kicked himself in the arse as he dressed, keeping his back to Hermione as she did the same. Bloody hell, he'd really done it now! How would he ever be able to make amends, ever be able to explain what Ginny had just seen? Especially since he had always been so circumspect with her, never tried anything even remotely inappropriate physically ... not for lack of wanting to, of course. It was mainly because of the frightening prospect of her six brothers hexing his bits off should something untoward happen, such as her getting pregnant when she shouldn't have.



Of course, what could he say that could even begin to justify what he had done with Hermione? It would take far more than a simple apology; even someone as clueless as he was about women knew that--but it was a good place to start. Of course, actions generally spoke louder than words, but what could he possibly do to regain her trust, make her believe in him, or more accurately, his integrity, again after what he had done?



Not that it was really a smart thing to do for her to have not announced herself beforehand, owled him or something, given him some sort of warning that she was coming ... but after Hermione had told him how Ginny had all but browbeat her into sharing that spell she had learned for extra credit, how to incorporate part of one's real heart into an inanimate object, Harry had surmised that Gin might have something like that in mind to give him for Valentine's Day. He thought he had done pretty well, giving her a single red rose and heart-shaped chocolates earlier that day, but mostly his studies had kept him away from her for most of that day. At least he had remembered her, that was something--but now ... How was he ever going to straighten out this latest mess he had gotten himself into? And getting caught on Valentine's Day, seemingly cheating on his girlfriend ... To say the least, the timing stunk to high heaven!



Hermione had been upset after a fight with Ron, come to him for comfort and things had gotten totally out of hand ... the end result of which Ginny had inadvertently walked in on. For that matter, how would he ever be able to explain what had happened to Ron? He wouldn't blame her if she didn't want anything further to do with him; Ron either, for that matter. In fact, it wouldn't surprise him if Gin eventually surmised that the reason Hermione had been so reluctant to share that spell was because she'd intended to give it to Harry herself rather than to Ron, even though it was Ron she had been dating steadily since the beginning of term.



And how did he know that Ginny wouldn't owl her mother about it and it wouldn't make the rounds through the entire family? It was fortunate that he still had Sirius to talk to about such things. Maybe he ought to owl him, explain the situation and see what advice he could give him, if any.


It wouldn't surprise him if his godfather lectured him as well for his boneheaded stunt, but he would gladly suffer whatever he said if Sirius could help him in any way. It had not been one of the things Hermione had suggested he do, but he felt it was a good idea to get some advice from someone he trusted and believed in. Merlin knew what Ginny was thinking and feeling now; even if she somehow managed to eventually forgive him, Harry was certain that she would never forget, and it would take a long time before she fully trusted him again ... if she ever did.



Meanwhile, he had best find out just what it was he had shattered in his anger and regret. Followed by Hermione, he left his room to discover the still-glowing pieces of the clay heart Ginny had meant to give him as a Valentine's Day gift. He didn't see this, but Hermione turned pale, knowing what the recipient breaking the gift infused with a literal part of another person's heart meant. The legend behind the old spell had indicated to her that should the recipient break the clay heart, the real heart would end up broken and would likely never be repaired, no matter what the person did to try to make amends. This was part of the reason she had been reluctant to give her the spell, because things could and often did get broken unintentionally, as had been the case this time.



"'Mione, was this something Ginny had intended to give me as a gift when she caught us?"