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Conversations

Harry waited in the background as Healer Berns spoke to the Weasleys. He had insisted on being the one to tell them what happened in the beginning of the ICFC to spare them as much distress as possible. As he had expected, Molly (she and Arthur had insisted on being called by their first names after the battle) had been very much upset first, bordering on hysteria. Loosing one of her sons had made her even more protective of her other children. But after a few moments of assurance that Ginny was not dying and would very probably recover fully from Harry and some calming words from Arthur, she had calmed down and concentrated on what she could do to help. That was when Harry had handed over to the healer who explained the medical details and what was necessary for Ginny's recovery.

The Weasleys had argued not coming to Australia at once first, but had given in eventually and consented to stay in Britain for the time being. In the meantime, Mr. Weasley could initiate travel arrangements at the ministry; either for the Weasley's to Australia or for Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and the Grangers to Britain, depending on what was deemed more appropriate by the healers. He would also register for daily ICFCs so they could be kept updated.

Now Harry was returning to the fireplace to. "I can't say how sorry I am, Molly, Arthur. I was just a short distance away, but I was not fast enough to catch her."

"Oh Harry, this is not your fault. If anybody could have caught her, you would have. And we know that you probably have done more than is humanly possible to get her to a hospital at once." Harry was blushing slightly at this. Apparating to an unknown place with an unconscious girl in his arms had seemed the most normal thing in the world at that time, but while worrying and waiting for somebody to tell him what was wrong with Ginny, he had also taken about three seconds to wonder how he managed that.

Arthur added to his wife's reassurances: "We are sure that you will be doing everything you can to help her now. This has to be hard for you, too, not being able to talk to Ginny as you normally do and concealing most of her own past from her for her own good."

"Knowing that this is the best help I can give her will help me to keep it together. Don't worry about me. Ron and Hermione will probably get in contact soon. I imagine Ron will probably come back at once when he hears what has happened to Ginny."

Molly gave him a watery smile. "As much as I would like to have my baby close by so that I can nurse her myself, it was a blessing in disguise that this has not happened here."

"What's wrong?" Harry was so used to troubles, he was instantly alert.

"Don't worry, it is nothing that bad, only … well it seems as if some of the so called journalists have turned bold due to your absence and have returned to their old ways. Rita Skeeter, especially, has written two articles about your … social life in Witches Weekly. In one of them she implies that Ginny is a gold digger going after "Britain's most wanted bachelor". The other … well, you know what kind of stories she writes. It would have been very hard to shield Ginny from all this here."

Harry grounded his teeth in anger. The day after the battle, reporters had swarmed Hogwarts. Kingsley had organized a press conference, trying to get across the facts the Order and the DA had agreed upon, which they had deemed necessary for the reassurance of the public. After the 5th question ignoring his statement and pestering Harry about his hero-status, his plans for the future, and if he was currently going out with someone, Harry had lost his temper. "There are more than 30 people in the great hall, who died yesterday in order to give us a chance for a life in peace and freedom, regardless if we are pure-bloods, half-bloods, muggle-borns or muggles and we will probably never know exactly how many people were murdered during the last year. We stand at the threshold of a new era with the chance to improve our ways so something like the rise of Voldemort will not happen again. And all you are interested in is if I am going out with someone? Every one of you who failed to inform the public of what has happened last year had his share in the disaster, is accessary to the murders. Why should anyone be interested in what you write if it is gossip at its best and lies or dark propaganda at its worst? If you don't start covering the important news, it is only a matter of time before the news system is overturned and the public finds new ways to get to know what is happening."

He did not know if they felt real shame at that moment or if his last words had been interpreted as a threat to their jobs, but the news had focused on more important matters after that, covering the re-structuring of the ministry and leaving his private life mostly alone. Now it seemed that that period of grace was over.

"Well, I hope that the Australian news will find those rumours uninteresting, given that nobody here knows who Ginny is and few people know more about me than my name and that I helped to kill Riddle." He never understood fully why people were so interested in him in Britain anyway.

"Yes, hopefully. All right, I will arrange everything with the ministry and book ICFC slots for the next few days, so we can keep in contact. We will talk to you tomorrow." Arthur pulled back from the fireplace.

"Take care of yourself and of Ginny, Harry." Molly vanished too and the purple flames went back to their normal colour.

…………………………

Ginny was sitting in her bed, propped up against the head board with a pillow when Harry and Healer Berns re-entered the room. "How are you feeling, my dear?" Healer Berns had put a cheerful smile on his face that Harry would have found more worrisome than reassuring, had he been in Ginny's position. "I hope the period of quiet did you some good and you haven't worried yourself too much?"

"I have been trying to keep myself as calm as possible." Was there a hint of sarcasm in her voice? Harry hoped so, it would be so typical for his Ginny – but he should not think of her as his right now. "I have tried to organize my thought a little and found that I have loads of questions I want to ask. I know you said not too much at once, but I really think you should answer some of them – to reduce my stress-level." Her innocent smile at these words gave Harry another burst of hope. Not my Ginny! he reminded himself sternly. But at least no a total stranger! something inside him was answering.

Healer Berns, not knowing her as Harry did, smiled back. "Of course, my dear, if it is just a few questions … Now, will you be comfortable if I go on my usual rounds and leave you alone with Harry? You could talk for half an hour and then visiting hours will be over, anyway. Oh, and we have arranged for an ICFC with your parents by tomorrow."

"Thank you. Yes, I will be fine with Harry here." Another innocent smile from her, and the healer left the room.

Harry pulled up a chair to her bed; close, but not too close. "Now, what would you like to know first? Healer Berns said that I could tell you everything that won't stress you too much."

She looked directly into his eyes. "That might be some kind of a problem as I am most interested in the things that have made my life so stressful that you think you have to hide it from me."

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AN: I have done a lot of changes in this document and can only hope that I managed to find all the mistakes now ...

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