I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any money from this story.

Author's Note: Book two of the Manipulations saga begins now.

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Moving Forwards

Chapter 1

Ron sighed and sat back down on the edge of his bed in the Hospital wing, his muscles protesting. He had just finished another physical therapy session for the day, and he was sore all over. It had been a week since he had regained consciousness and since the attack on Ginny.

Dean, the bastard was still in the Ministry holding cells awaiting trial. Meanwhile, their parents had arrived at Hogwarts barely two hours after he had woken up. Madam Pomphrey had urged them to remain calm when they entered the hospital wing, but Molly ignored her, rushing to their sides, desperate to comfort them and worried sick after learning of Ginny's assault and Ron's recovery.

Arthur had been furious at learning that his daughter had been attacked and had done his best to comfort her himself but found that it was better left to Molly. He had focused more of his attention on Ron, who had been in need of moral support as he began the road to recovery himself. Of course that's not to say he ignored Ginny entirely.

Sighing mentally, Ron glanced over at Ginny who lay on her side, facing away from him, unmoving. After Madam Bones had finished with her questions and left and the shock and joy of Ron's recovery had faded, memories of the attack came back and she had withdrawn, taking little notice of the world around her.

Ron had tried many times to reach out to her but every time she would flinch away from him as though afraid, he meant to harm her, and heartbroken Ron would leave her be and return to his perch on the bed beside hers. He wasn't sure what to do or say. Nothing he did seemed to penetrate the barriers she had erected around herself.

Molly had been overcome when she learned what had happened and had not left her bedside for the first five days. Spending hours in the chair between their beds, she clucked and fussed frantically, surprising Ron with her concern for him. He could understand her concern for Ginny but after the last time he had tried to reach out to her only to be rebuked, he had reconciled himself to the belief that his mother no longer held any love for him whatsoever. So, despite everything he had reluctantly allowed himself to enjoy her concern for him, taking comfort in her embrace and loving support.

He wasn't fully aware until now how much he had missed being a part of the family he had known all his life. He only wished he could offer the same comfort to Ginny.

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After a short and badly needed rest, Molly bustled through the den at the burrow, making her way towards the floo, a bag of her famous home cooking clutched in one hand as she tossed a handful of floo powder into the fireplace with the other and called out her destination.

"Hogwarts, Headmistress McGonagall's office." She said before stepping into the swirling green flames.

The flames rose up to surround her as the fireplace spun and finally, she stepped out into the now familiar office of Minerva McGonagall, who looked up as the flames in the fireplace returned to normal.

"Ah, Molly. Welcome back. I take it your back to visit with your children again." Minerva said.

"Yes. I've been so worried about them. I hope you know I normally wouldn't have left them like that, but Poppy insisted I return home to rest. She threatened to remove me forcefully if I didn't and she can be quite intimidating when it comes to visitors in the Hospital wing. Besides I wanted to make them something special to eat to remind them of happier times. Ginny has withdrawn inside herself and barely takes note of anything around her. I'm so worried about her, Minerva. And Ron. I don't know if you're aware, but things have been rather tense to say the least between us lately. I'm hoping to bridge that gap a little considering the developments between himself and…well anyway I should be getting to the Infirmary now. Thank you so much for letting me use your floo." Molly said.

"Think nothing of it, Molly. Take care now. Poppy knows to expect you." Minerva said with a kind smile as Molly left her office.

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Sitting on his bed, Ron stared hopelessly at Ginny when suddenly Ginny sniffled and slowly turned to lie on her back, staring at the ceiling of the hospital wing.

Feeling hopeful, Ron moved slowly closer to her, reaching out to touch her hand, wincing when she flinched at his touch. Uncertain what to say, but knowing he should say something, he seized hold of his Gryffindor courage and plowed ahead.

"Ginny, after what happened you have every reason to fear the touch of a man, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. After all that we've been through together, all that we have meant to each other somewhere inside you must know that I care about you and would never harm you. It's me. I'm still your brother. Try to remember. I know it's hard, but I would never do anything to hurt you. I'll do whatever it takes, no matter what, to make you feel safe again. Please, Ginny. Come back to me." Ron said quietly, concern and desperation in his voice.

Taking a shuddering breath, Ginny swallowed, her hand moving slowly, so very slowly towards his own, and finally, she spoke.

"That's just it, Ron. I don't think I'll ever feel safe again. I don't know when or if I ever will. Whenever I close my eyes, I see Dean standing over me. That horrible look on his face. I feel him touch me and I feel dirty somehow. I feel like everything has been torn apart and scattered and I don't know if I'll ever be whole again. He hurt me, Ron. He took my world away from me and I don't know if I can get it back." Ginny said, trembling.

Heartbroken, Ron moved slowly to embrace her, relieved when she stiffened but didn't pull away and held her in his arms. "No matter what happens, I'll be your rock. Your safe harbor, Gin Gin. I'll stay by your side and keep you safe. You'll recover in time, and I'll help you. I promise you won't be alone. I know you're in pain right now, but I'll do whatever it takes to make you whole again. I love you, Gin Gin. Nothing will ever change that. We'll be together no matter what the world throws at us." Ron whispered softly, rocking her gently in his arms as she cried against his chest.

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Outside the Hospital Wing, Molly stood watching the scene. She was relieved that Ginny was talking again, but something about Ron's words and the way he held her left her with an uncertain feeling she couldn't quite place. Shaking it off she walked inside, intent on helping her children recover from their ordeal.

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Dean stared up at the ceiling of his cell wondering where his perfect plan had gone so wrong. "I never should have listened to that snake. He was responsible for all that had happened. But still, Ginny should have loved me. I'm a decent bloke, right? She shouldn't have been so self-centered. If she had only realized how I felt and been a proper girlfriend, then we never would have broken up in the first place and I wouldn't have had to conspire with that snake. I wouldn't be in this predicament. It's all her fault." He silently fumed.

Footsteps sounded outside his cell door and a hatch opened at the bottom before a tray slid in. They visited his cell three times a day to deliver his meals and twice a week to let him bathe and spend an hour in the exercise yard under the careful watch of the Ministry police. Afterward he was promptly returned to his cell.

When he first arrived, he had protested his innocence to anyone and everyone. He tried to make them understand that it was all a misunderstanding. That he didn't belong in here. But they didn't listen. They took his statement down, registered his magical signature for their files, and locked him away in his cell.

Over time he had settled down into silence ignoring them all. Protesting got him nowhere. They simply ignored him and returned to their duties. His only visitor was his Ministry appointed barrister who visited regularly to update him on the status of his case. He was due to appear before the Wizengamot for trial in two weeks' time.

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Arthur apparated to the end of the driveway and walked up the path to the burrow, stepping inside. Things at the Ministry had been hectic following the recent capture of the remaining death eaters. Trials were underway and everyone was eager to see the end of them. The terror they and their master had sown was a thing of the past and people were eager to see them brought to justice. The idea of a fair trial was laughable. The death eaters would get no sympathy from the populace of Wizarding Britain who was now howling for their blood.

Setting his work satchel down on the kitchen table, Arthur saw the note Molly had left him beside his dinner.

"Dear Arthur, I've gone to look in on Ginny and Ron. I'll be home later. I left dinner for you and Bill.

Love, Molly."

Relieved that his children were in safe hands but exhausted himself, he sat down to eat. He resolved to visit them tomorrow during his lunch break. Hopefully, Bill wouldn't notice his absence. His eldest son had been quite irritable since learning of Ron and Fleur's engagement. And the knowledge that they were expecting a child was a blow to his pride.

While he sympathized with Bill, Arthur was excited at the prospect of a grandchild. Molly was torn between being excited and furious herself and he couldn't blame her. Wondering yet again what could have come between Fleur and Bill, Arthur shook his head and dug into his dinner.

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Walking into her living quarters after a day of classes Fleur eagerly crossed the room and sat down in her favorite armchair, allowing herself to relax for a few minutes.

"This is heaven." She thought to herself, leaning back in the chair. It had been a long day and she had just come from checking on Ginny and Ron after her last class. She hadn't been all that surprised to find Molly once again doting over them both. Molly was there every day which made things awkward when she would come by to visit.

She had tried a couple of times to talk to Molly, but it was simply too soon and too uncomfortable to say much so she kept her visits brief. Fleur looked up when a knock sounded on her door and her sister and Hermione entered the room, taking seats on the sofa opposite her chair.

"Hello, Fleur. How are you holding up?" Hermione asked, looking at her with concern.

"Fine, I suppose. Just a little tired. How are you both doing with your classes?" Fleur asked.

"Quite well actually. I'm busy getting going over my notes and studying for my Newts so Gabrielle and I don't get to spend a lot of time together alone away from prying eyes." Hermione said awkwardly.

"That's too bad. I thought that you were spending time together as a couple in Ron's rooms until you two were ready to make things public." Fleur said, looking between them.

"Not anymore. The Statue of Gryffindor won't let us in while Ron is still in the hospital wing and sidestepping the wards just to get a few minutes to ourselves is a violation of school rules, at least according to Hermione. Honestly you take these things way too seriously." Gabrielle said sparing Hermione an amused glance.

"Oh please. You just like sneaking in there to spy on him and rummage through his stuff." Hermione sighed.

"You're one to talk. You weren't in any hurry to leave once you found his stash of Play Wizard magazines." Gabrielle said, grinning from ear to ear while Hermione blushed crimson.

"I was just curious as to what he was into. That's all." Hermione huffed while Fleur and Gabrielle giggled.

"Just admit you like him. It's okay to be bisexual, Hermione." Gabrielle said teasingly.

"I…I do not…He's your sister's fiancée. Fleur I swear I would never." Hermione started only for Fleur to shake her head, grinning.

"We're more openminded regarding sexual matters in France. I've never understood why people consider intimacy between willing partners to be such an awkward and taboo subject. Physical intimacy is natural. If the people involved care about each other, who cares who or how many people are involved. Besides, Ron is rather easy on the eyes." Fleur said with a smile.

"Oui. Magnific." Gabrielle purred, poking Hermione's shoulder and laughing.

"You two are unbelievable. Besides I'm not sure I'm ready for something like that with Ron." Hermione sighed and picked up that morning's edition of the Daily Prophet that Fleur had left on the coffee table.

"The captured death eaters are facing trials. And look. Dean's trial is scheduled for two weeks from now. Ron is due to be officially seated next week now that he is able to move around more easily." Hermione said, desperate to change the subject.

"Madam Pomphrey said he should be able to leave the hospital wing by tomorrow to resume classes full time." Fleur said, cheerfully.

"That's great news. But I highly doubt he will be all that eager to leave. He has been spending every minute he can with Ginny, and you can hardly blame him after what happened." Hermione said.

"How do you feel about that?" Gabrielle asked, looking to her sister.

"Its fine really. I know how Ron feels about her. They have a complicated relationship and a lot of history together." Fleur said.

"So, you're not jealous that he is slightly more affectionate with her than he is with you or Luna?" Hermione asked.

"Of course not. I mean I know how he feels about her and sometimes I do feel a bit awkward, but I know that he loves all of us equally in his own way. I'm secure enough to not let it come between us." Fleur said.

"Speaking of Luna, where is she?" Hermione asked.

"She's been spending her evenings in the Hospital wing with Ron and Ginny and sleeping in the guest room in Ron's suite. I think the statue of Gryffindor feels sorry for her considering how her housemates treat her." Fleur sighed sadly.

"What do you mean? How do they treat her?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Well as you know when we were staying at Hogwarts during the Tournament a few years ago, Beauxbatons was housed with the Ravenclaws. Apparently, Luna is something of an outcast. They don't treat her very well." Fleur said quietly.

"That's terrible. She never told me. Do the staff here know about it?" Hermione asked, now deeply upset.

"They do but Luna won't say anything about it so there isn't much they can do unless she speaks out." Fleur sighed.

"Well at least she has us for support." Gabrielle said.

"Very true." Hermione said.

"By the way. Have you and Ron discussed baby names yet?" Hermione asked excitedly.

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Walking into the common room, Harry flopped down onto a sofa, letting his school bag fall to the floor at his feet. It had been a horribly long day and he wanted nothing more than to relax and take a long hot shower. After classes had ended, he and the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team, minus Ron and Ginny had spent two hours drilling new recruits for the team.

A few of them had promise but most of them were less than impressive. He had narrowed down his list of choices to three and would have to choose between them at the next meeting tomorrow.

Cormac McLaggen had shown up for tryouts once again and had been his usual charming self. Sadly, he was also extremely talented which made his decision that much harder.

Reaching into his bag he pulled out the letter from Gringotts that he had received that morning in the post. They wanted to meet with him at his earliest convenience and he had arranged to visit Gringotts Friday after classes were finished.

Standing, he went up the stairs to shower and get ready for bed when he noticed that his trunk was open. Peering inside he saw his things had been rummaged through. Whoever it was had clearly been looking for something. Checking through his belongings he decided nothing had been taken. Still he couldn't help wondering who it was and what they had been looking for. Only a Gryffindor could have gotten into the tower. Surely his housemates wouldn't try and steal from him.

Right?

TBC

In the next chapter, a look at the Death Eater trials, Harry visits Gringotts and receives surprising news, Blaise resurfaces, Ron resumes his classes and Arthur sees something he shouldn't.