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Chapter 165
"They wouldn't let anyone talk to me. They went around telling people I was a freak. I didn't make a single friend until I was eleven years old. All my thoughts could only be whispered to myself in my dreams. But even then, I had to be careful not to talk in my sleep."
"If the Dursleys ever found out what I was thinking, they'd be furious. They believed that feeding me leftovers and giving me old clothes was a tremendous act of kindness. In their eyes, they had saved my life and bestowed a great blessing upon me."
"And if I wasn't grateful, then I would be the most ungrateful and wicked person in the world. As for the bullying and humiliation they put me through, they never considered it wrong. To them, it was simply proper discipline from adults toward a child."
Ginny's eyes turned red.
She covered her mouth with trembling fingers and stared at the kind, gentle boy before her in disbelief.
Even though Harry was speaking calmly, the picture he painted of his childhood was heartbreaking.
She couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
"But now, everything is different," Harry continued, his voice brightening as a smile spread across his face.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Ginny.
"Things are getting better."
"I'm studying at Hogwarts now. I'm learning how to be a wizard. I'll never be locked in a cupboard again, and I'll never have to go back to living that way. I have a life I love. I'm attending the school I've always dreamed of. And I have friends."
"I have Ron, Hermione, George, Ginny—and all of your family."
He paused before adding with a soft smile,
"To be honest, Mrs. Weasley can be pretty strict. But she's always been incredibly kind to me."
Hearing Harry speak about her mother that way, Ginny couldn't help laughing through her tears.
She quickly hid her face behind the handkerchief and carefully wiped her eyes.
"Everything will get better," Harry said earnestly.
"Before I turned eleven, I never would have believed that."
"I have friends now. I don't have to hide in a dark cupboard anymore. I don't have to talk to myself in silence or worry that someone will overhear my dreams."
"Ginny."
Harry called her name.
Her cheeks immediately flushed pink.
Normally, Harry would have looked away awkwardly, but this time he kept his gaze fixed on her shy eyes.
"Now I can share my sadness and worries with the people I care about because I want them to be happy."
"Ginny."
He said her name again.
"You're not alone. We're your family."
"When you're sad or exhausted, you can tell us. Whatever it is, you can trust me with it. I'll keep your secrets safe."
"Harry... I..."
Ginny looked at the gentle, shining boy before her and suddenly wanted to tell him everything.
Yet countless thoughts swirled through her mind, and she didn't know where to begin.
Harry could tell she wanted to speak.
So he didn't press her.
"I understand," he said softly.
"There's no rush. When you're ready, whenever you want to talk, you can come to us. We'll always be here for you."
He didn't ask any questions.
Instinctively, he knew this wasn't the time.
If Ginny needed support, he would be there.
And if speaking to him felt awkward, she could always talk to Hermione instead.
"Alright then!"
Harry suddenly brightened.
"Miss Ginny Weasley, are you feeling any better now?"
"Mhm!"
Ginny nodded vigorously.
She fought hard to keep fresh tears from falling.
She truly did feel much better.
Then, before Harry could react, she suddenly gathered her courage and threw her arms around him.
"Thank you, Harry!"
Harry froze completely.
By the time his brain caught up with what had happened, Ginny had already run away.
As she disappeared down the corridor, he could clearly see her ears turning bright red.
Harry scratched the back of his head in confusion.
Was that a successful attempt at comforting someone, or a complete failure?
Still, she looked happier.
She looked alive again.
Thinking about that, Harry couldn't help smiling.
The feeling was even better than receiving praise.
Better than obtaining something valuable.
"Looks like I can comfort people now."
Inside his heart, it felt as though a little bird was happily hopping around and singing.
That was the magic of emotions.
"Ah-choo!"
A cold gust of wind blew past.
Harry sneezed loudly.
The warmth of emotion couldn't compete with winter air.
Shivering, he stamped his feet and hurried back inside.
Everything seemed to be going well.
At dinner, Harry noticed that Ginny looked much happier.
She no longer avoided everyone's gaze.
Even Ron, who was usually a bit oblivious, had become unusually talkative and was constantly trying to crack jokes during the meal.
"Malfoy's face has looked absolutely awful lately," Ron said cheerfully. "It's like he's suffered some huge loss and wants to strangle all of us, but he can't admit it. It's hilarious."
He even mimicked Malfoy's sour expression, earning a few laughs.
At first, Ron had worried that Malfoy might cause trouble after what happened.
But he quickly realized something.
As someone who had gotten into trouble plenty of times himself, he understood exactly how Malfoy thought.
When you make a small mistake, you admit it, learn from it, and maybe make it again someday.
But when you make a truly huge mistake, you never admit it.
You bury it deep inside your heart and pretend it never happened.
Even if you never repeat it, it becomes a forbidden memory.
Watching Malfoy suffer in silence was strangely satisfying.
Clearly, he had taken a huge loss, yet he had to act as though nothing had happened and even help cover it up.
That kind of revenge was the most satisfying of all.
Like breaking someone's teeth and forcing them to swallow the pieces.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, laughing despite herself. "Malfoy's face always looks terrible. Maybe he just has a toothache."
"Malfoy isn't the type to give up so easily," Harry said thoughtfully. "He's probably planning something. But it doesn't matter."
"As long as he doesn't interfere with us, I don't think he'll be able to pull off anything significant."
Harry had complete confidence in both himself and his friends.
"We're the best team around."
"Besides, Malfoy spends all his time with Goyle and Crabbe. Sooner or later he'll become an idiot too."
Ron and Hermione immediately agreed.
The thought of Goyle and Crabbe's spectacular stupidity brought fresh laughter to the table.
(To be continued...)