Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

A/N: And welcome back to chapter 4! Will Harry be safe in time? We shall see…. Thank you all for your kind reviews and if you're new, a very big Hello to you! Btw, in this story Ginny and Sirius connected easily and have grown close, almost like father and daughter. Reading suggestion: 3/4 width.

From Last Time

She opened the door and found Sirius at his desk, writing something on an official looking document.

"What are those?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Curiosity killed the cat, but the cat still had another eight lives.

"Official Guardianship Papers for Harry. Once I'm free, I'll be able to keep him."

Ginny took a deep breath as all the puzzle pieces fell together. She knew what she'd seen. "I might be able to help you with that."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah, but first I need to show you something."

Xoxoxo

Meanwhile, words were forming on a blank page of Ginny's journal.

H: Ginny…. Uncle Vernon…. Drunk.. beaten… helppppp.

Chapter 4: Rescue

When Ginny entered her room five minutes later, the first thing she noticed was an extreme sense of fear and danger was swirling around the room. The second thing she noticed was that she could sense Sirius behind her. That was new. Was it a hidden power that Tom had given her? The third and final thing she noticed was that the journal was glowing. As it happened, so had he.

"Ginny, is that thing glowing?" he asked, shock evident in his voice. When he'd given her the book that had the charm that the mirror used, he hadn't expected such a work of art.

"Uh… yeah. Apparently. I charmed it to glow when Harry sent me a message while the it was closed. I better see what he wants." she replied. Something didn't feel right. Cautiously, she moved forward.

From behind her, Sirius watched as the girl walked over to the journal. He watched in horror as she screamed "NOOOOO! HARRY!" and dropped to her knees, her spirit crumbling. Quickly he lowered himself to her level, laying a hand on her shoulder and whispering "Ginny? What is it?"The girl in question just sobbed as she handed Sirius the journal and fell into his embrace. Using one arm to keep her steady, he used the other one to read the offending line. His heart almost stopped seeing the desperate scrawl of his godson. Ginny…. Uncle Vernon…. Drunk.. beaten… helppppp. Harry was fading. Knowing he couldn't go and rescue the boy, he cradled the precious gem in his arms. Ginny had even more of a capacity to love than Harry did, and Harry's he knew, ran deep. "Oh sweet child, come here. It'll be alright."

Ginny trembled. "He's fading, I can feel it."

"You can FEEL it? Oh honey, I'm so sorry. We'll see what we can do."

Moments later, there was a loud knock on the door. "Hello? Ginny? What's wrong? We heard you scream. It's Ron and Hermione."

Sirius took a deep breath, steeled himself for the impending reaction and called back "Come on in!"

Xoxoxoxoo

A few minutes earlier…

Ron and Hermione were in the Black family library, reading the latest letters from their love interests. Hermione smiled softly as she read hers.

Hey Mione

I hope you don't mind me calling you that. I've heard the boys do it before and I kinda picked it up. How have you been getting on? Have you completed your summer homework yet? I've done everything but Potions… even the thought of Snape makes me tremble. Maybe we can work on it together. In answer to your question, I most definitely can and would love to help you with your Herbology assignment. When would be a good time? Gran has been treating me a little better this summer, but she still believes that my father's wand is suitable for me. I beg to differ. What day are you all going to Diagon Alley? Maybe I could meet you there. I can't wait to see you.

Love

Neville

She giggled. Had he done that on purpose? Needless to say, his words warmed her heart. She quietly asked Ron, who had just finished reading his, when they were going shopping.

He responded, "In a few days. I think mum wants to wait until Harry is here so we can all go together." The unlikely pair, who'd bonded over a mountain troll in a bathroom, talked softly about their letters. Hermione couldn't stop babbling and Ron was rather chuffed to tell her that his girl would be meeting them at Diagon Alley. Once again, their conversation turned to their best friend and middle man, Harry. If it weren't for him, they may not have made it as far as they had.

"Ron, what do you think is wrong with Harry? He seems to be having some trouble with his relatives." Hermione questioned. Ron had since had a talk with his sister, who'd not so quietly reminded him that he was Harry's first friend, and had way more than Harry did. Ginny at least understood that money wasn't what mattered. Love was.

"Yeah, I agree. I'm not sure. I'm sure Harry is fi—". He was interrupted by a scream and went white as he heard his sister yell "NOOOOO! HARRY!"

Hermione looked at her friend and in silent agreement they made the trek to Ginny's room. Hermione knocked softly on the door, saying "Hello? Ginny? What's wrong? We heard you scream. It's Ron and Hermione."

Their fear was mixed with confusion when it was not Ginny, but Sirius, that answered.

Walking into the room, their hearts shattered at the sight before them. Sirius was sat on the floor against the bed, with Ginny pulled across his lap as he stroked her hair and whispered comforting words to her. They watched a tear streak down his cheek as the girl that had become like a daughter to him grieved for the boy she loved.

"Siri? What's going on?" Hermione asked softly. He didn't hear her. "Siri? DAD?"

Hermione smirked slightly. That got his attention.

"Hermione, love, I'll tell you soon but first could you and Ron do me a huge favour and go and get Remus, Tonks and Moody? And Dumbledore, if he's there?"

"Sure, Siri"

Xoxo

A few minutes later, Remus, his girlfriend Tonks, Alastor Moody and Albus Dumbledore appeared in the doorway. Albus reopened the conversation. "Sirius? Is there something you'd like to tell us?"

Sirius sighed. "A few weeks ago, Ginny came to me asking for a way to communicate with Harry and not have to use an owl. I showed her the book that we made the mirrors and the map with and she, with my help, created this journal. They've been talking nonstop with it the last couple of days. Today, she came to me with an idea about something. After telling me her initial thoughts, we came back to this room to see it glowing. She informed me that it meant he'd contacted her while she was away. She opened it to find this…" He passed it to Albus and watched as the man's jovial expression morphed into one of total anger. Pain sparking in his sea blue eyes, he passed it to Moody, who looked at it and passed it to Tonks and finally, Remus, who growled. Ron and Hermione were the last ones to receive it. Hermione buried her head in his shoulder.

Deafening silence filled the room as the enormity of the situation before them was realized. It was broken by Moody, the first one to recover from the news. "Albus, you and I will go immediately to Privet Drive. Remus, you floo call Madam Pomfrey. Tonks, you send for Madam Bones. She'll need to be informed of this. She's the head of Law Enforcement after all. Black, you stay here and look after the girl. We know you can't leave. Granger, Weasley, inform your mother and then prepare the boy a room. He'll need it, if he's still alive."

Agreement echoed around the room. As the group walked out, Hermione quietly asked Remus if Neville could be allowed to be with her. She didn't feel good at all.

Xoxoxoxo

When Albus Dumbledore and Alastor Moody arrived at Number Four, Privet Drive, the sight that met their eyes was a rather gruesome one. Shattered glass littered the driveway like melting snow and an eerie silence filled the air. They glanced at each other before bravely shifting on.

Albus drew his wand and whispered "Alohomora" and stepped through the now unlocked door. Vernon, Petunia and Dudley Dursley were nowhere to be seen. The house seemed empty. Moody wasn't fooled though. His magical eye shifted around, searching for signs of life. A sigh came from beside him.

"It appears as though Vernon took his wife and child and ran once he realized what trouble he'd just made for himself. Where might Harry be though?" Albus stated gravely.

Moody, who could see through doors, paled as his eye fixed on the first room upstairs. He cleared his throat. "Albus, you might want to try up the stairs and to the right." The men hurried up the stairs, hoping with all they had that their saviour hadn't lost his life at the hand of a muggle.

oxoxoxoxoxo

Back at Grimmauld Place, there was a flurry of activity. Poppy had come through the floo the second Remus had informed her of the situation, and Tonks was already back, having apparated directly into Amelia's office. Now that WAS funny, Tonks thought to herself. Amelia had been rather surprised to see the ministry's clumsiest auror splayed across her floor.

Upstairs, Ron and Hermione talked as they prepared a room for their best friend.

"Mum seemed pretty upset hey?" Ron said as he threw a sheet across the bare mattress. He received a sniff in reply. Ron paused in his bedmaking. Hermione stood by the door, frozen in shock. He prayed that Remus had gotten hold of their dorm mate because he didn't know how to be there for her. He was used to fighting with her than anything.

Ron carried on with his task. Clearly, she was more shaken than he was and as one of her best friends, he'd have to be the strong one. Abandoning the bed making, he pulled into his arms.

"Mione', my dear sister, everything will be alright. Our Harry is strong. He's faced V-V-Voldemort three times. He can fight through this."

Someone banged on the bedroom door. "Who is it?" Ron asked.

"It's me." The voice replied. It sounded familiar, but he still wasn't sure.

"Who is me? Give me a hint."

"I sleep in your dorm, obsessed with plants, clumsy as heck.. is that enough hints mate?"

"NEVILLE? Is that you? What are you doing here?"

"Right in one. I was asked for apparently. So, can I come in?" he asked tentatively.

"Oh sure…" Ron said as he opened the door. "How did you know where to find us?"

"Oh, Mr Lupin told me you were up here preparing a space for Harry. Is he alright?"

"Right. Uh, Harry's not good. Ginny received a desperate plea asking for help - apparently his uncle beat him. Mind helping me with the bed? Thanks mate." Neville nodded in reply. "Hermione, Neville is here." Another sniff. Quickly, the boys finished with the sheets and stepped back.

Neville rolled his eyes. No matter what changed, Ron would always be the same old boy.

After five minutes of being frozen, it clicked in Hermione's mind that she was not alone. She gasped and stiffened as the tender young boy in her letters became young man in the flesh. Neville Longbottom had the heart of a Gryffindor but the soul of a Hufflepuff. He was as gentle as could be and carried a quiet strength that had come from years of living with a grandmother who tended to show tough love more often then not. However, the tension left her and she relaxed as he began to gently stroke her curls and provided the comfort she needed.

Xoxoxxo

Still on the bed, Sirius was lost in his thoughts as he let Ginny cry. In the short time he'd known her, she'd become like the daughter he thought he'd never have. When he left Hogwarts, he'd had a girlfriend but following an attack on her home in Kensington, she'd disappeared. He'd been heartbroken. Marie had been the only girl he'd ever loved. The day before she'd vanished, she'd told him she was pregnant. Marie had a hot temper, just like him. He loved pranks, she did too. Most importantly, she was fiercely loyal. Maybe that was what drew him to the only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. She was a living reminder of what he'd once had.

"Shhh" he continued to whisper, wondering when Albus and Alastor would be back.

Xoxooxoxoxox

Albus and Alastor were greeted with a rather large welcoming party consisting of Ron, Hermione, Neville, Remus, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Amelia Bones, Sirius, Ginny, Arthur and Molly Weasley.

"Oh my goodness gracious me," Molly gasped, tears filling her eyes as she took in the sight of the broken, bruised and battered body before her. Madam Pomfrey immediately sprung into action. "Set him gently on the couch for now. We must get him stable first. Oh, Mr Potter, I was hoping not to see you for a whole" she tsked as she began scanning him for the full extent of his injuries. "Mr Longbottom, please get me a wet wash cloth and some warm water in a basin. You'll find it all in the kitchen I believe. Isn't that right Molly?" Neville looked to the woman in question for reassurance. She nodded warmly, trying and failing to stop crying. Arthur wrapped an arm around her. "Ronald, Hermione, I know you're upset but could we have a blanket or two? Here, Miss Weasley, take this." Instructions and tasks were once again delegated. Pomfrey passed Ginny a calming draught and watched tenderly as Sirius helped administer it. Here was the Sirius Black she'd watched grow up. She hadn't believed for a second that he'd betrayed his best friend.

Minutes passed in silence as the kindly matron began to clear away the cuts and bruises with various potion and salves. She'd seen much in her career as a healer, but this had to be the worst case in her entire life. The team of aurors, led by Amelia Bones and Mad-Eye Moody, kept their eyes closely on the scene before them, knowing every piece of evidence against those wretched relatives of his would help. Ginny, now settled, tiptoed over to Dumbledore and whispered "thank you for getting him Professor." She hugged him quickly before once taking up residence in Sirius' arms. He felt safe.

Albus, overcome with emotion, whispered gravely "I should have gone as soon as I suspected…" Madam Pomfrey continued her work, barely managing to keep her own head as she examined the boy before her. His skin was almost translucent and his ribs were dangerously visible. He was cool to the touch and his eyes were swollen shut. It was a difficult sight and all were clinging to each other. Hope was what would keep them united.

All they could do now… was wait. And wait was all they did. The youngest Weasley especially was vigilant in making sure no one except those who needed to could touch him. He'd become her world, her being. As she sat, she swore to herself that she'd do everything in her power to keep him alive. Because life wouldn't be worth living if he wasn't part of it. She loved him, scars and all.

She would make sure he never forgot it.

A/N: ANNNND that is a wrap for this chapter. It was hard to write. On the subject of Sirius and Ginny, they're close because she showed him acceptance from the moment she met him. In this story, she listens before she judges. Why Neville? I like him. Simple as that. Don't forget, any plot bunnies you want me to consider, throw them my way.