Chapter 2
Despite what Blaise said, Ginny managed to get another hour and a half of sleep before the first Weasleys were pushing their way past Madam Pomfrey. Molly and Arthur Weasley returned to their usual seats on either side of Ginny, places where they had spent multiple hours over the past three days. They had remained by her side for as long as Poppy would allow, leaving only when Professor McGonagall arrived periodically to make them go so that they could eat and get a few hours of sleep.
As soon as her mother picked up her hand, as she had for each of the three days Ginny had been unconscious, Ginny woke up. At the feeling of someone touching her she began to thrash and pull away. She pushed herself out of the bed and was standing in the back corner of the hospital wing before she was awake enough to take in her surroundings.
"Mum," Ginny gasped. Her breathing settled slowly back into its normal rhythm. Her eyes lost the haunted look they had held just a moment before. Ginny sank to her knees as Molly Weasley began to cry.
"Gin?" Arthur moved toward his youngest child slowly, afraid that he would scare her.
"Daddy," Ginny's tears joined her mothers' as she folded in on herself. Wrapping her arms around her knees, Ginny leaned into the corner and tucked her head, refusing to look at her parents. Her father knelt down in front of her and slowly moved to hug his daughter. As soon as he did Ginny grabbed him tightly and sobbed into his chest. Molly joined them once it was clear that her daughter was not prepared to move back to the bed yet.
They were still in this position, arms wrapped tightly around one another, when Madam Pomfrey entered the room with Ginny's breakfast tray. At the sight of one of her strongest students reduced to tears on her floor Poppy Pomfrey put down her tray and jumped into action.
"Come now Ginevra," her eternally upbeat voice pushing sunshine and warmth into the room. "Let's get you back into bed so we can see how you're healing." In almost no time Ginny had been jostled toward her bed and found herself laying against her pillows eating toast and eggs with a parent once again on each side as Madam Pomfrey swooped in and out waving her wand to check Ginny's vital signs. She wasn't sure what had happened, but she was glad for the distraction of Madam Pomfrey because she did not want to discuss her momentary break down with her mother and father. Ginny was determined to reassure her family. They had been worrying about her for more than a week since she had gone missing and she was not going to cause them any more distress.
She put a small smile on her face and ate her eggs with renewed effort. "If you're feeling up to it dear, the boys and Hermione would like to come see you." Molly was almost whispering, which made Ginny cringe. She had never in her life heard Molly Weasley speak that softly. Molly's face fell at Ginny's response.
"You don't need to darling. They'll keep."
"No mum, I'm fine." Ginny protested immediately and tried to keep her face pleasant and reassuring.
"I don't know, you've only just woken up. I don't want you to push yourself."
"I want to see everyone." Ginny knew they would all keep worrying until they had seen her awake and smiling.
"Molly, she'll be fine," her parents eyes met over the bed and significant looks passed back and forth. "Alright," her mother sighed "but not all at once."
"Why don't we go deal with the hoard while Madam Pomfrey finishes up with you, Gin-Bug? We'll bring some visitors and some presents when we come back." Her father stood up with a smile and a wink and pushed past the curtains surrounding her bed.
"Are you sure you're alright with visitors Ginny dear?" Ginny smiled, her mother could never resist coddling. Her father stuck his head back through the curtains
"Come on Molly, let's go take everyone to get some breakfast and we can come back once Ginny gets dressed." Ginny smiled a real smile as with one last put upon sigh her Mum stood and slowly made her way out of the hospital wing with many glances back toward her daughter. Ginny sat relatively patiently as Madam Pomfrey continued to look her over. She presented her hands when asked. She flexed and stretched her fingers which, though they were still stiff, seemed to have had all of their bones regrown properly. Then she lay back and let her ribs and stomach be poked and prodded. Finally Madam Pomfrey examined her eyes and nose ensuring that there were no remaining problems from her concussion.
"You're healing well, physically." Madam Pomfrey smiled at Ginny sadly. "There is something I should warn you about though Ginevra. I'm not sure what you remember about the time you were missing, but…" Madam Pomfrey slowed, as if unsure how to continue.
Ginny's eyes widened in concern, "But what?"
"In addition to the injuries that I've healed they seem to have cut, they cut-"
"Yes, I remember," Ginny whispered. She met Madam Pomfrey's eyes, steadily, waiting for the healer to finish whatever she was trying to say.
"They seem to have used some type of hex," Pomfrey looked apologetic as she explained. "Nothing I, or the headmistress, have tried has been able to remove the cuts and we were not able to heal them. It seems that they will need to heal naturally."
"Ok, I understand," Ginny fidgeted with the blanket as she spoke, but displayed no reaction otherwise. "If that's everything I'd like to shower now."
"I also think that we should contact a mind healer, to ensure-"
No" Ginny protested at once. "I'm fine. I don't need any more healers, especially not someone who's going to be mucking about in my head."
As Madam Pomfrey drew in breath to start her counter argument Ginny continued, "I'm of age anyways. I can make my own decisions and as I'm no longer a child, I have confidentiality. You can't speak to my parents or the Headmaster about my condition, right? If I ask that you not tell them something, that's my choice. I do not want a mind healer, and I don't want my family worrying about me anymore than they already have."
"Well," Madam Pomfrey seemed reluctant to admit that she was in fact correct. "Since you're still a student under the protection of the headmistress, I could tell her, but I won't. We can wait and see how you're healing before we make any decisions. I would like you to stay here for a few more days though, to get you back into top shape before you need to deal with the entire school."
"Good," Ginny grinned again, to show just how fine she was. "In that case can I shower and get dressed before they all come barreling in?" Madame Pomfrey smiled as she showed Ginny to the infirmary bathroom equipped with a deep tub and fluffy, magically warmed towels, before leaving, promising to bring some real clothes to Ginny's bed while she bathed.
The moment the door shut Ginny closed her eyes, she leaned her hands on the sink, and finally released the deep sigh that she had been holding in since she had woken up. All of the tension slid out of her shoulders and her hands shook as she straightened and examined herself in the mirror.
She was paler, something she found impressive in and of itself, and she had lost weight. That much was obvious immediately. She supposed that a few days of not eating would do that to a person though. The remnants of her broken nose and blackened eyes were gone, all healed with a few words and the flick of a wand. Ginny knew that wasn't what was responsible for the deep purple marks under her eyes or the haunted look she saw reflected back at her.
She forced herself to break the eye contact as soon as she felt the prick of tears behind her eyes and instead continued her critical analysis. The scrapes and bruises had all been fixed. Se flexed her hands. The fingers were sore, but everything worked like it should.
She turned away from the mirror and took off her robe. Ready to just lay back in hot bubbles and think of nothing but the pretty smells all the different soaps made. As she started to remove the hospital gown however she saw the bandage on her arm. She immediately went cold, chills raced down her spine and goose bumps raised on her arms.
She wanted to see it. She had to see it, to know what she was dealing with. Cautiously she peeled the adhesive off of the gauze wrapped around her right forearm. As soon as it was unwrapped she froze. There in large, scabbed over, block letters were carved three words: BLOOD TRAITOR WHORE.
It was a phrase she had heard a hundred times. It was something she'd been called for years during the war as she laughed, flipped her hair, and hexed the person offending her, but in this moment, all alone, she let herself feel the pain that those words evoked. The tears that she had held back began to fall freely, slowly, and quietly down her freckled cheeks.
Despite this, Ginny continued to move automatically. Before she knew how it had happened she was sitting in a deep tub of warm, soapy water. Her arms rested on bent knees and her head was lowered n her crossed arms as she slowly gained more control of her emotions. The scent of jasmine filled the warm damp air around her, soothing her aching head. In that moment Ginny decided that she had allowed herself enough time to wallow. There was really no use to it she thought as she straightened her spine and rolled her shoulders.
The facts were unchanging. She had been taken. She had been hurt. She had been marked. The only thing that remained for her to choose was how to deal with these events. She could be the broken little girl that their enemies probably hoped she would be, or she could be strong. She could not let them hurt her. Ginny knew she would choose the latter. She would be fine because she had to be.
Besides, there were a whole bunch of Weasleys outside who needed her to be alright. So she would be.
Her family visited in pairs.
Bill and Charlie were first. Ginny sat cross legged on the hospital bed. She had been given some of her own clothes and felt a lot more comfortable in her old, worn in jeans, and a Weasley sweater. Ginny unconsciously but her lip as she pulled the sleeves down over her forearms instead of pushing them up like she usually did, but otherwise she was all smiles for her oldest brothers.
Bill reached the bed first and enveloped her in a full body hug. His arms felt comfortable, safe and stable around her shoulders. Despite this however Ginny couldn't help flinching in his grasp. Bill released her as soon as she cringed and instead moved to sit at the end of her bed. Close enough for comfort, but not invading her space too much.
"I'm sorry, Gin, I didn't think." Bill had tears in his eyes.
"What? No! It's fine Bill." Ginny smiled at her oldest brother, willing him to believe her.
He simply pursed his lips in response, but didn't respond.
"Hey sleeping beauty, how ya feelin?" Charlie broke the silence with a grin as he joined Bill at the foot of the bed. "We brought chocolate." His eyes danced and Ginny found herself immensely grateful for Charlie who seemed to be alright with following her lead.
They spent the next few minutes keeping careful grips on chocolate frogs as the candy tried to wriggle out of their grasps.
"Where's Fleur?" Ginny asked suddenly. Worried that something may have happened to her sister in law or her unborn niece. There was no reason for Fleur to not be here with the rest of the family.
"She's fine, Gin" Bill said quickly, reaching for her knee slowly, giving her enough time to move if she wanted to. "She's at home, resting. We've all been under a lot of stress recently, the healer put her on bed rest for the last month or so of her pregnancy. But they'll both be fine. I promise."
Ginny felt her heart sink at his words. "I'm so sorry," she said quietly. "It's all-"
"No. It's not your fault Ginny and I won't have you thinking it is," Bill cut her off. "In fact, we've been talking about it and, well, Fleur and I would like you to be the baby's godmother."
"What?"
Bill smiled at her, "There is no one we would trust our daughter with more than you Gin, we know that if anything ever happened to either of us you would do everything you could to take care of her. So, will you?"
"Of course. Of course I will Bill. I'll protect her with everything I have," Ginny promised fiercely.
Charley looked on smiling at his siblings and the fire he saw in Ginny's eyes.
After this they continued to talk for a few more minutes without really saying much, but Ginny, whether from the chocolate, or the company, felt her smile become just a little more truthful by the time they left her.
After the first two came Percy and George.
Ginny felt a momentary pang. These two brothers had never been paired up, before. It had always been Fred and George, a set, with Percy falling in somewhere else, anywhere else.
Bill and Charlie must have talked to them before they came in because instead of reaching for a hug George had his arms wrapped around himself. His eyes were red rimmed as he sat in the chair beside her bed.
"Ginny, I thought…" he broke off shaking his head. But he didn't need to explain. Ginny knew that George was hardly holding himself together at the moment. Even the possibility of something happening to any of the Weasley siblings would crush him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry George," Ginny whispered as she grabbed for her brother's hand and held on tightly. "It alright though, see, I'm here. I'm fine. I'm not going anywhere. I promise." She continued whispering reassurances to her brother for several long minutes. Ginny wasn't even sure what she was saying really. Just whispering to him and clutching at his hand, trying to prove through the sheer force of her words that everything would be alright, or as alright as they could be at the moment.
He started to visibly relax, finally deflating as Percy went to stand behind him and place a firm, grounding hand on his brother's shoulder.
"You look good Ginny," Percy's time at the ministry must have given him an amazing ability for falsehood, because Ginny knew just how much of a lie that statement was, but she took it with a smile anyway and squeezed George's hand again.
"So I heard there were presents coming." Ginny tried to sound light and childish, but George still looked a bit unfocused. Percy nudged George lightly and he startled, reaching for a small box in his pocket.
"Right, here you go Gin."
Ginny opened it to find a silver necklace nestled inside. It had a small, clock shaped pendant hanging from it.
"Thank you George, it's beautiful." Ginny met his eyes and smiled.
"Oh, thanks," he replied still sounding dazsed.
"It's more than just a necklace though," Percy prompted George.
"Yeah, right, it's enchanted," he seemed to remember. "I, um, it will tell us where you are. Its keyed into a finding spell, I combined it with some of the enchantments that were set on the family clock and… well, if you ever need us to find you, just flip the hands to twelve o'clock and we'll be able to find you. Not that we can spy on you or anything, it only works if you activate it, don't worry."
Ginny had no idea what to say. Trust George to know what she needed to feel safer, and to be able to craft such a complicated magical object. She felt awed at how truly intelligent her brother was, even when not operating at one hundred percent. Thankfully Percy stepped in.
"It really is an impressive bit of charm work, George. I'm sure the ministry would love to get their hands on something like this if you could key the spell to some other object."
George nodded absently, still looking at Ginny. "This way I know you're safe. I'll always find you if you need me."
"See," Ginny smiled softly at him, "everything's good. I'm not going anywhere."
The last pair was Ron and Hermione.
They had been dating, seriously, since the end of the war and Ginny for one was glad they had finally gotten over themselves enough to see what everyone else had known for ages. She still got inexplicably happy every time she saw them together, like they had been let in on a secret that she had known for years.
At the same time she couldn't help but be a little bit disappointed as they approached her bed. If Harry had been waiting to see her, he would have come in with Ron and Hermione.
"Good to see you up Gin," Ron smiled as he tossed her an enormous bag of Bertie Botts every flavored beans.
Ron didn't seem to know what else to say, so he stood, awkwardly, at her bedside as Hermione animatedly filled Ginny in on all of the gossip she had missed in the past week and they all picked though the beans looking for the least harmful flavors. Ginny thought to herself that her best friend had a gift when it came to filling the silence in the room by prattling on about useless matters. Ginny felt grateful that Hermione was simply acting like normal, her soothing voice washed over Ginny as they settled into a routine of talking about the trivial Hogwarts blather as they always did.
After a while though, Ginny decided to ask the question she knew the other two were avoiding.
"So, let's address the hypogriff in the room, shall we? Where is he?" Ginny asked.
"Actually no, never mind." Ginny decided as Ron opened his mouth to no doubt make some excuse for his best friend.
"I know exactly where he is. He's in your dorm, or hiding in the library or down on the quidditch pitch blowing off steam, and avoiding me for my safety. Right? I mean he's Harry Potter so if someone around him gets hurt, it's obviously his bloody fault. Of course my getting kidnapped is because of him, not because I'm a Weasley, someone whose entire family was in the Order, or even just because I'm me. I fought in the war, maybe they just wanted me. Maybe I was an easy target sitting like that all alone, not paying attention to my surroundings like an idiot. No, it's obviously his fault for letting people know he cared about me, I'm his weak spot so he's just going to try to keep his distance and leave me all alone for my own good, because that worked so well the last time." Ginny had tears in her eyes again, but these had nothing to do with pain and everything to do with the anger bubbling under her skin against her idiotic boyfriend. She glared at Ron as he opened his mouth to respond.
"Pass along a message for me will you?"
Hermione nodded in understanding at her friend.
"Tell my martyr of a boyfriend that he's being immensely stupid." Ginny ground out between clenched teeth. "And then tell him that he'd better come down to see me soon, because we obviously have some things to discuss and if I have to wait to find him until after I've gotten out of the hospital it's going to go very badly for everyone involved."
"Gin, just-" whatever Ron had been about to say, likely in Harry's defense, went unfinished as Hermione, quite unsubtly, elbowed her boyfriend in the ribs.
"Of course Ginny, you know Harry's a bit thick. You'll sort him out," Hermione smiled and kissed her friend on the cheek before dragging her boyfriend out of the infirmary while not too quietly explaining all the ways in which he was to not get involved in Ginny's relationship, even if she was his sister and Harry was his best mate.
