Disclaimer - I own nothing of this. It's all J.K. Rowling's. I am making no profit of this. Only the reviews are my payment.
Authors Note: This idea began just eleven months ago and it is finally--in my opinion--worthy of being shared with this wonderful world of Fanficion. I hope you all enjoy it and any criticism is welcome, but please to my pen and not on the review section of this story.
Thanks and Enjoy,
AlinnyWeasley
And I'm juggling all the thoughts in my head
I'm juggling and my fears on fire
but I'm listening as it evolves in my head
I'm balancing on one fine wire
- "One Fine Wire" Colbie Caillat
Chapter One: One Fine Wire
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June 28th 1998
Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and took off running. He led the way through the Forbidden Forest. Branches and bushes scraped Ginny's bare arms as Harry pulled her along the length of the trees. She'd lost her wand somewhere back and tried to not think of that.
"I will catch you Potter."
Voldemort's voice echoed through the trees. Ginny shivered, even though the blazing summer sun beat down on her. They ran for what seemed like hours, well to Ginny at least.
"Come on Ginny! Faster!"
"Harry, my leg hurts. That curse hit my left leg." Ginny knew she shouldn't complain, but the pain was too much for her to bear as she ran.
Harry stopped as they suddenly burst out of the tree line. They ran the length of the entire forest and now they were stuck. Harry and Ginny were standing on a cliff overlooking hills and mountains. From where they were standing to the tip of the cliff, they had at least 12 yards. Harry turned to Ginny and pulled her close. He pulled her hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek softly.
"Ginny, no matter what happens, I love you. Im pretty sure I always have, it just took me a while to realize it. No matter what happens, Im going to do my damn best to get you out of here alive! No matter what happens."
Tears were filling Ginny's eyes as Harry pressed his lips to Ginny's and kissed her like he never had before this moment. His hands moved all along her curves, pulling her body tighter to his. She moved her hands to his hair and rustled it as best she could. His hands roved along her back and down her bum, wanting to remember every part of her. It burned with intensity as Ginny kissed back furiously, wanting his scent on her own lips.
Wanting to imprint the feel of his lips, wanting him. Ginny placed her hands on his chest. She could feel how well they fit together. Every curve of her body pressing into his.
For the moment, time seemed to stop and give these last few seconds to Harry and Ginny. The Heavens and Fate seemed to finally understand the sacrifice Lily made for Harry. The sacrifice Sirius made and how his death affected Harry so. How George had been taken only forty-two minutes earlier. It all seemed so much more real than when the Final Battle started four days and three hours ago.
Could it have really come to this? To this moment when Harry and Ginny shared one last cherished kiss together as Voldemort chased them through the Forbidden forest nursing a bleeding left forearm?
How could it have come to this?
"How disturbing this scene is."
They pulled apart and Harry threw Ginny behind him protectively and whipped around in a split second.
"How stirring this all is. Love can do nothing but breaks hearts of those foolish enough to believe it."
"But you did, didn't you Tom? And she broke your heart. It's why you started to become what you are."
Voldemort's face exploded in fury. He sent a jet of orange light towards them before either of them could react with wands.
The orange light struck Ginny's leg and she felt to ground clutching it, screaming in agony.
"My leg! I think it's broken.
"Reducto!" Harry shouted.
Voldemort deflected the curse and shot a green light at Harry who ducked just in time.
"She never loved you, never wanted you! She used you, all to have another bloke. The bloke she truly loved!" Harry screamed at him. He rolled up what remained of his long sleeved thermal and clenched his free hand.
"Enough!" Voldemort bellowed.
"No! Im ending this. Now!" Harry shouted angrily.
The rush of anger, hate, and despise flooded Harry's every joint, every nerve. He had to avenge those he had lost. James, Lily, Sirius, George, Luna, Dean, Colin, Dumbledore, Moody, Amelia Bones…and the list continued as he mentally ran through it in a split second.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Tom Riddle keeled over backwards and hit the ground with a sickening thud. His body exploded in a blast of blood red light that hurt Harry's eyes to watch and he covered his eyes with his bloody hands. The ground started to shake and rumble. Rocks and pebbles began to flop endlessly as trees could be heard cracking in the distance. From a mountain above them, boulders and rocks started to rainfall over their heads and Harry quickly put up a shield.
A large boulder crashed down upon it and broke the shield, landing on Harry's wand arm. He gave a yelp of pain and Ginny pulled herself over towards him.
"Where's your wand?" she yelled.
The ground was still quaking and growing more violent. Harry faced the edge of the cliff and Ginny tried to heal her own leg first after finding his wand. She screamed in agony as her leg began to swell, a mixture of purple, green and brown began to envelop her leg.
"Ginny! Send a patronus with my wand! Quick!" Ginny hurriedly muttered the charm and to her disappointment, only a sliver of vapor was produced.
"Ginny hurry!" Harry yelled. Before anything could further could happen, the ground split between them; with Harry and Ginny on either side.
Everything happened at once: The boulder resting on Harry's wand arm, shifted and he rolled out of its path, just as it made its way towards Ginny. Ginny screamed and rolled over. Now she was clinging to edge of the newly made cliff. She dangled almost two miles above the ground.
"Ginny!"
Harry leaned over and grabbed onto one of her hands. "Don't worry Gin. I won't let go. I'll get you up. I promise!"
Harry strained his muscles as he tried to pull her up. But he couldn't do it with only one arm to use. Rocks and debris were still falling and the quaking hadn't stopped or slowed. He just couldn't do it. He wasn't that strong. He had just been physically and magically drained. He felt exhausted and weak, tired and useless. He scanned the area around him, looking for his wand, which was lying five feet away, where he couldn't even reach it if he tried.
"Just leave me, do it Harry. You have to get yourself out of here. I don't want you to die here too! Just go, let me go. Let go of my hand." She was hysterical by this point.
"No! I won't just leave you here Ginny! I can't! NO! Stop trying to let go! Grab the cliff! Put your hand back Ginny!" She had let go of the cliff with her free hand and was crying; tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
"Harry, just do it. I don't want you to die like this."
"I don't want don't want you to die like this!" He screamed
By now Harry was very angry….simply because she wouldn't listen to him. He couldn't let her die like that. Voldemort was dead and they had their whole lives ahead of them.
He wanted her to be a free adult living in a Wizarding world free of Dark magic, and crazy Dark wizards. He wanted to live a life with her. To have a family with her.
None of this felt real and he didn't want to believe it. The air around him seemed to constrict his throat and he gasped for breath. The sky was growing increasingly dark, and a light rain began to drizzle down to the earth. The swaying trees began to waver harshly with the wind.
"Ginny please! Grab the cliff! If you love—"
She cut him off with her own.
"If you love me you'll listen when I say to save yourself! Just do it! Harry let go! Don't be so bloody noble!"
Harry's eyes flooded with tears and he blinked furiously. He leaned down and kissed Ginny's hand three times. Then he kissed the diamond ring on her right hand.
"I love you so much Ginny Potter. I will never forget last night. I will never love anyone else the way I love you."
He kissed her hand once more and closed his eyes, letting go of her hand.
He lowered his head into his hands and let the violent sobs rack his body as he cried.
Ginny's body fell and Harry rolled back over, staying there until someone could find him.
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December 28th 1998
The wintry air whipped Hermione Weasley's long hair wildly. She was leaning against the fence around the burrow; her veil was in her hand. She had a shawl wrapped around her shoulders with lace around the edging that matched the lace on her wedding gown.
"Moine? What are you doing out here?" Hermione sniffled and wiped her nose and eyes.
"Thinking about Ginny."
"Me too. Bugger I miss her. I imagine if she was here, then she would have been in on Fred and Charlie's prank. I can see her now…standing with them on the balcony, changing the wedding party's hair colors."
Hermione's eyes watered and tears fell silently. Ron wrapped an arm around his new wife and pulled her close.
"Ron? Hermione? Everybody's been looking for you. They want you back at the party."
They newlyweds looked up and found a beautiful angelic redheaded girl. She was about eighteen, with brown eyes, and a freckled nose. "Im not sorry for what I had Harry do. I couldn't let him die like that. I hope the both of you understand that."
The young girl was standing in front of them in a dress that Hermione had saved for Ginny. The maid-of-honor dress. It was midnight blue; spaghetti straps with a modest V-neck, showing just the perfect amount of cleavage. It ended right at the knee, with a full swingy skirt. A light blue shawl was wrapped around her bare shoulders, and Hermione could see the goosebumps covering her milky skin.
"Ginny?" Ron was astounded.
"Hey big brother." Ginny smiled tightly and turned to Hermione. "Tell Harry that I love him and that I'll be back soon. I'm almost there. To our spot, tell him. He'll know when the time is right. He will know."
"But you're standing right there!" Ron hissed. "Come back Gin! God I miss you!"
Hermione put a comforting arm around Ron and gripped his hand with her free hand, rubbing his palm with her thumb.
"I want to come back so bloody much Ron! I miss you all something horrible. And Harry—he'll—tell him I love him. And I'll be back soon. I'm almost there; I'm so close I'm watching Harry right now. He can't see me though. Tell him. He'll know when the time is right. And to find me at our spot. Someone is coming for me, I just don't know who yet. Dumbledore said so."
But she disappeared. She was gone. The air seemed colder and harsher as Ron tugged his wife closer to his body.
"Ron?"
They couple turned and found Harry trudging through the snow toward his best friends. His eyes weren't as vibrant as they used to be. It had been six months since Harry's eyes sparkled with happiness. And now, well sadly his eyes were almost brown, they were covered with such a strong dose of grief.
"Ha—Harry. Yeah?" Ron stumbled a bit, and he hmphed when Hermione nudged his sharply in the ribs.
"Yes Harry?" Hermione asked, falsely sweet. Almost Umbridge-like.
Harry quirked an eyebrow at her and cleared his throat. "I thought now would be the best time to give my speech."
Ron nodded eagerly, and Hermione smiled softly. They journeyed through the crunchy snow back to wedding reception.
Hermione leaned into Ron's shoulder and he automatically placed an arm around her. Hermione took in a deep breath and sighed slowly.
"Mione?" Hermione looked up into Ron's worried face. "When do we tell him?"
"Ronald! I can't believe you're serious. How can you really believe that was actually Ginny. She's dead. Harry watched her fall. We watched the memory in his pensieve."
"Mione! That was Ginny! She was wearing the Maid-of-Honor dress any everything! She designed it Hermione. I swear on my mum's life that it was her."
"Ron, a witch or wizard only comes back as a ghost if they feared leaving this world, or if they have unfinished business." Hermione's eyes welled up, and she put her face in her hands. Her heavy sobs racked her entire body; she knew he was right. Her cries of anguish reached Harry—who was two yards ahead of them—and he turned on the spot, wand drawn.
"What's going on? Hermione, are you alright?"
Hermione pushed her head into Ron as Harry approached. Ron moved his hands up and down Hermione's' back in a rhythmic motion, and she slowly stopped shaking.
"I'm just s-s-so happy is all Harry. S-s-so hap—happy." She managed to pull it off as nothing but pure happiness and Harry reluctantly bought it.
Ron had been bringing up the idea to search for Ginnys' body for five months now. Nobody wanted to do it with him. Nobody would help him search for his baby sister…not even Harry. It had seemed too hard for Harry. He didn't want to get his hopes up. Ron had snuck out the night before his stag night. He apparated with a loud crack—outside of the burrow perimeter of course—and found himself on the edge of the cliff where he and Hermione had found Harry. The ground was exactly the same. A faint zig zagging line covered the width of it.
Ron had smiled bitterly. Voldemort had to leave his mark. But the mark he really left was the shadow that loomed over Harry.
Harry just couldn't get a break could he? He could never really live his life could he? He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets and looked beyond the edge. The sun was setting, and it cast a vibrant gold glow across the brooding mountains. The sun had been covered by dim grey clouds all week. Hermione hadn't been counting on snow during her wedding; they used a Water Repellant Charm.
Ron nudged her whenever she mentioned her wedding. It didn't bother him. Really, it made him happier than usual when she mentioned it, because it meant she was happy. She hadn't been that excited since Ron proposed; quite sloppily.
No, this week has been especially hard. Mostly on Harry and his mum. This happened on the same day, of every month. It was the week of Ginny's death. But alas, that is where we find Ron. Standing above the spot she died. She was Ginny, she wouldn't have died. She would have stood up, laughed at the look on your face, and walked away muttering about finding Harry for a good snog.
Really, she would have.
That day held many memories for Ron. He mourned the loss of his only sister. Harry mourned the loss of his fiancée, his remaining tie to Remus which was Tonks, Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy — with who he formed an unlikely alliance with — and Sirius. Hermione mourned the loss of her best friend. Molly and Arthur Weasley stood at Ginny's empty grave for six hours. Molly cried her eyes dry; she literally cried her eyes dry. And his dad? Well Arthur, took over for the Department of Magical Transportation. Went to work, came home, ate dinner, and went to bed. He hardly ever talks.
Bill and Fleur got started on having a family, as Fleur is due in two months and five days; the decided name for the unborn baby girl is Victoire Ginerva Harriet —which Harry hates. Charlie quit his dragon work, and lives in a three bedroom flat—one for Charlie, one for Fred…and George's room stayed the way it was before he died. Fred and Lee Jordan continued work at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Charlie works as a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes employee and hates it.
But Ron can't help but wonder…what if it was he who ended up with Harry that dreadful day? Would the outcome be the same? Would every remaining member of his family mourn the exact same way? Ginny was the "miracle girl", the only girl. She was the little angel everybody loved. Harry loved her. He took the one thing Ron always wanted to keep safe and protected from the world. And now she was gone. And as much as Ron wanted to blame Harry, he couldn't. Because there really was not anything he could have done to save her.
But now as Ron and Hermione entered the large tent that had been ordered for their wedding, he stopped worrying about it for the time being. Yes, he'd tell Harry afterwards. He'd just have to sneak away from Hermione.
Tink…tink…tink.
Harry placed the champagne glass in the air — which secretly had Firewhiskey in it — and cleared his throat. The air grew silent, only the light rustle of remaining leaves could be heard.
"Ron, Hermione. You're both the best mates a bloke could ask for. And I'll admit I was surprised when Ron first told me he was going to propose." And Harry smiled. A real, genuine smile. "He wanted to put it in her wine at the restraunt he would take her to. And he did, only he used an Invisibility Charm on it. And she choked. And when he jumped up to help her, he tripped on the table leg, sending their dinner to the floor.
The guests all laughed, but settled as Harry continued, "They may fight all the time and they may disagree. But that's why they love each other. And I wish I had that." An eerie silence followed this, but Harry didn't falter.
Hermione wanted a large wedding with all of her family. And she did get it. They had a large muggle wedding ceremony for her muggle relatives and a Wizarding ceremony once they returned to the Burrow; to complete the marriage through their magic.
And now here they stood, facing Harry as he toasted his best friends in the whole world. Harry was silent for a moment as three of them shared a small moment in which — they knew — they all thought of Ginny.
A brightness that hadn't been there six months ago now shined with such bright abundance it brought the emerald back to the surface. "I can't even begin to describe how happy I am for my two best mates to finally be joined together…legally. We've all gone through so much. We all have. And for Ron and Hermione to get married and share their special day with everyone shows that we can move on. So tonight I propose a toast . Let us toast to long and healthy marriage full of love and trust. To Ron and Hermione."
He threw his head back and downed his entire flask in one large gulp. The guests followed Harry's example and went on with the night. The band — Azkaband — started playing again starting with a slow song. Harry fought through the throng of people towards the happy couple. Hermione put a hand to her cheek and blood rose to her cheekbones. She looked at Ron and caught his eye as Lee Jordan finished the dirty joke.
"I get at least one dance with my best mate right?" a smile was plastered onto his face now and it wouldn't budge.
"Sorry mate, I don't swing that way." Ron laughed as he pushed Hermione towards Harry.
Harry caught the right side of her waist with his hand and her left hand in his.
"Hi Harry." Hermione smiled warmly as Harry moved her around the dance floor. Behind them Ron caught Mrs. Weasley from behind and twirled her.
"Hi 'Mione."
"I guess the dance lessons from McGonagall have paid off."
"I'm not sure about myself but they certainly helped Neville." They both glanced at Neville who was dancing with Cammy beautifully.
"I loved your speech Harry. Thank you."
"You're welcome. It took about six minutes to come up with."
Hermione giggled and tilted her head. "How are you doing Harry? Really?"
"Really? I feel like crap Hermione. You getting married just brings it all back."
It was a slap in the face. Now she was confused. How could her wedding bring it all back? She thought it was because of the week the wedding fell on.
"Ginny and I eloped the night before…"
He didn't finish his sentence because he knew she knew what he was talking about. But she stopped moving and gasped, a hand clasped over her mouth.
"'Mione, we just…needed it to be official you know? If anything happened. God, I miss her so much." He rubbed his face hard with his hands and Hermione just looked at him.
She moved towards him, her dress making the ruffling sound she loved…and put her arms around him. She made the embrace tighter and she could feel his body shake with dry sobs.
She pulled away and gripped his hand and tugged him towards the house. They crunched through the snow and finally made it into the warm house. Bill and Fleur had just disappeared up the stairs to bed leaving the downstairs eerily quiet.
He paced towards the kitchen and back, as he was on his third turn towards the kitchen, "Harry, I don't think Ginny would like it very much if you sulked allthe time."
Harry whirled around, "Damnit Hermione I know that! I know her. I love her. It's so bleeding hard to not think about her all the damn time!"
"Harry, I know she wouldn't either." She bit her lip, trying to stop the sobs that wanted to break free.
"Do you understand the anguish I constantly feel? It's bloody painful to think of her or see something that reminds me of her."
Hermione had tears welling in her eyes and she couldn't release them. She had to be strong. She had to be strong for Harry and Ron. But they acted like Ginny's death had no affect on her at all. But it did. She was her best friend.
"Harry! Stop acting like you were the only one who loved her! She was like my sister! I lost my sister. Her death hasn't just been eating you up it's been like a bloody dog that always follows you around. It hurts. It hurt to stand up there this morning without my maid of honor. I didn't think I'd be able to say 'I do' at the right time because I couldn't stop thinking of her."
Harry looked bewildered. "I-I'm sorry 'Mione. I had no idea."
"Of course you didn't! Because you're too self absorbed in your own mourning that you don't realize how much we all ache inside! Blimey Harry, for being so modest and unselfish you sure are oblivious to other peoples feelings!"
"Hermi—" he stepped forward to apologize but what was cut off.
"Harry I know you're hurting probably the most because of how close you Ginny were intimately and mentally. I can't even imagine your pain, but you have to remember we all loved her too. We all miss her and would do ANYTHING in our power to BRING HER BACK!"
"Mione…I had no idea. I'm so sorry." His eyes looked worn now and had the same dullness she had seen earlier.
Hermione's posture straightened from her little speech and she sighed. "I'm sorry Harry. I've…just been trying to be the strong one. For you and Ron."
Harry pulled Hermione close to him and wrapped his arms around her upper torso. She closed her eyes and muffled a sob. They remained that way for almost two minutes and Hermione composed herself.
"Back to the reception?"
Hermione nodded and Harry took her hand leading her back to the party.
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The Forbidden Forest was just that. Forbidden. And it was forbidden for a reason. Even more so after Lord Voldemort had been defeated at the northern edge. The grass on the cliff grows no more. Flowers bud, but never bloom. And trees don't grow past the crack.
But the strangest thing of all…are the bright red, orange, and yellow sparks that fly into the sky from the bottom of the ravine below the cliff. It was odd, as it happened on the same date of every month. The sparks splattered across the sky, the colors often floating in the velvet sky like brightly colored stars. And once in a while an echoing maniacal laughter hovers above the trees, and all living within the forest howl or screech.
As Hogwarts looms in the distance, one teacher remains in a small circular office. The office was guarded by a stone gargoyle who asked for the password. Severus Snape stood with his arms folded, facing the looming mountains in the far distance. The window he was at was one he had many memories of. It was when he first spotted Lily Evans kissing James Potter. When he knew for certain that he'd never have a surviving chance with her.
But then Dumbledore gave him a chance to repay his debt to James—through Lily's only son. It seemed as though Fate had turned against him. Harry looked exactly like his father James. Except the eyes; they belonged to her. But as hard as Severus tried, he couldn't see past the childhood grudge he'd held with James Potter to help protect Lily's son, he couldn't help but judge Harry the same way he tantalized James.
And when the time came to give Harry the sword of Gryffindor, he was certain he would be seen. But when he slipped it into the ice successfully, he stayed behind instead of leaving right away. He just wanted to see her eyes just once more.
And when the Final Battle came and Severus offered to find Potter for the Dark Lord, he just wanted to see her eyes once more, before he told Potter his story of love involving his late mother.
And when Potter saved his life after he was attacked by Nagini, he knew he was Lily and James Potters' son.
He remembered it like it was only a few moments ago.
Severus' neck was spilling gallons of blood by the minute and Harry didn't think he'd make it to the hospital wing and meet Voldemort in four minutes. The battle was still taking place and George had just died. Lucius Malfoy had gotten him. And he was attacked by Ginny and her remaining brothers.
So Harry ran with Severus' body leading the way; Ron and Hermione taking up the rear and covering his back. The great hall was atrocious and he had to cover his nose the stench of blood was so overpowering. He made his way to hospital wing, keeping as strong a shield as he could encasing his mothers' friend. Ron and Hermione were hit along the way with a few minor curses. Harry was so caught up in his surroundings he almost passed the hospital wing entrance.
Ginny was sitting on the edge of Fred's bed with sheets drenched with blood from its' previous owner and was leaning over his body cleaning his wounds and healing them with Essence of Ditany. "Harry!" Ginny jumped into his arms and kissed his cheek as hard as she could without hurting him.
"How ith he?" Harry lisp was becoming worse as his cheek and lip began to swell.
"Better than before. Oh dear Merlin! What happened to Snape?"
"He needs help Gin. Can you heal him? Please?" Harry looked defeated and torn, but just as adorable as ever to Ginny. But there wasn't anything she could do.
"Oh luv, I'm sorry. We might have to set him aside with the fatalities."
Madame Pomfrey bustled by and was setting down a phial of Healing potions on a tray where a crowd of trainees grabbed and fought over which of their patients needed to be healed first.
"She's right Potter. There's no chance." Pomfrey was looking at Snapes body that still hung in mid air. The bandage that Hermione had placed on his wound was beginning to drip steadily to the floor.
"I'm bloody Harry Potter! Now try and save him!"
Madame Pomfrey and another trainee were shell shocked but got to work immediately.
"Harry! I'm going with you!" and the red-haired girl left with him.
And he had woken up three days later thinner, and exhausted.
And when Harry returned emotionally broken from watching his wife die, he knew he had to do everything he could to find her body.
And he had been searching since June 28 1998. The day Ginny Molly Weasley-Potters' body was lost forever.
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A/N: Wow, It took eleven months for me to finally finish this! It's been jumping around in my head, nagging me to finish. And here it is!
R and R!