Ginny was shaking, her body lacking sufficient warmth. Her stomach felt twisted and abused and the feeling of nausea was taking over. Her mouth felt parched and her face was sticky and dry from all the tears that had fallen. She was still crouched on the floor of Harry's hospital room, back against the wall, legs pulled to her chest, arms around her legs. Her muscles were tight and she felt the pain in them.
The room was dark now without the sunlight coming through the window. She glanced to a side table next to the bed; atop it was a small digital clock: 1:34. After crying for hours, she must have fallen asleep.
Sighing, Ginny tried to lift herself up. Her muscles ached and her stomach threatened to give up its contents. With one hand on the wall, she stabilized herself. Slowly, she painfully walked to the door. Taking one more strengthening breath, she twisted the door handle, walking out of the room. She peered down both ends of the hallway, searching for any sign of life. She saw Fred and George sleeping in the lobby on two small cots. Their red hair was long now, about to their necks, and the bangs were covering their eyes slightly. She tried to let out a smile at this seldom scene of peace when the twins are around, but her stomach began to swirl again.
Moving down the hall again, she found a restroom; Opening the door and making it to the toilet just in time to empty her stomach.
After she was done, she walked over to the sink. Turning the knob to release the cold water, she cupped her hands under the stream, sipping the water from her hands to rinse her mouth of the foul taste of vomit.
After her mouth rinse, Ginny looked up, reaching her own reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy, with dark circles under them. Her lips looked dry and wrinkling and her checks looked dry and strained. She was all in all in horrible condition. She closed her eyes, trying to shake the thoughts of the previous night out of her head.
Ginny walked out of the bathroom, her stomach a bit more calm, and walked down the hallway. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she knew she couldn't stand still.
Turning a corner, there stood a young child, about five years old with black hair and blue eyes. Dressed in blue pajama pants and matching blue shirt with a broom and snitch on the front, the boy looked lost. He was holding a blanket in one hand, letting part of it drag on the floor and a small glass of water. Ginny's eyes widened at the sight of the little boy. Looking up and down the hallway, Ginny saw no one.
Rushing to the little boy and kneeling down in front of him, Ginny looked him up and down. He appeared to be unharmed.
"What are you doing out in the hallway so late at night?" asked Ginny.
The little boy just stared at her, blank-faced.
"What's you're name?" said Ginny, gently and coaxingly.
Finally the young boy let his eyes meet Ginny's. "James," said the young boy, quietly.
Ginny smiled slightly. "Good, well…" said Ginny, at a search of what to do next, "Nice to meet you James, my name is Ginny." She outstretched her hand, offering to shake his.
The little boy looked at Ginny, a bit more wide-eyed. "Ginny?" said the little boy confused. "My mother's name is Ginny…" said the little boy, his voice trailing off. He began to look frightened and obviously confused.
This took Ginny aback. She paused for a moment to think. "Well, there are lots of Ginny's in the world…" She was at a loss of words. It was a weird coincidence, but she couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity she had for the little boy.
"With red hair?" asked the little boy, looking rather worried.
"Well…" said Ginny, at an obvious loss of words. "Lets go find your parents shall we?" The little boy nodded, and they started walking down the hall. Then suddenly stopped and said, "Where are we?"
"We're in St. Mugundo's. Don't you know that?" Replied Ginny.
The little boy's eyes widened significantly.
"How did I get here? I was just home, and I got my glass of water. I was going back to bed and I walked through my bedroom door and then I ended up here." James' voice began to fill with fear and he had tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
"What door was it you came here in?" asked Ginny, obviously worried. She sounded rushed.
James only pointed to a door with the number 8 over it. Ginny stared at it, and then decided this was a problem all to big for her.
Taking James' hand, she said, "Well, lets go talk to the hospital officials. Don't worry, you'll be home soon enough, okay?" asked Ginny. She was trying to sound confident in her words but she had no idea what she was going to do.
"Ginny?" came Hermione's voice. Turning around Ginny saw Hermione.
"Oh thank goodness that's you Hermione." A feeling of relief overcame Ginny. Surely Hermione would know what to do.
James' face turned white, "You're Hermione? Hermione Granger?" said James.
Looking down at him, Hermione said "Why yes I am, and might you be? You seem up rather late for someone your age."
"My name is James. Don't you recognize me?" said James.
"Recognize you.
Wait…how did you know my name?" said Hermione.
"I'm
Harry and Ginny Potter's son. You're my aunt Hermione." Said
James.
"What?!" said Ginny. Hermione's mouth was wide open and Ginny's face was drained of all color.
Ginny stumbled back for a moment, finally opting to just sit on the ground instead of risk falling over. Thoughts were racing through her mind faster than she could process them. So, this meant that she marries Harry, he survives the battle, they have children...her heart was racing and her eyes were dashing back and forth quickly. Could it be true?
"So...you're…Oh my God...you are…can't be...is it...possible?" said Ginny, looking up at Hermione desperate for answers.
"I….I don't know." Said Hermione, as clueless as Ginny.
James began to become more frightened with the sudden confusion and tension that filled the air. His lip began to quiver and he started to get tears in his eyes. "I want to go home," began James, "I want to see my mommy and daddy."
"Oh my God Hermione, did you hear that, the boy wants to see me!" said Ginny, a bit more angrily than she had meant. She was anxious and scared now and her mind would not settle down. Her heart was racing faster than it had ever before and she was feeling extremely light headed.
"Ginny! Let's be rational now." Started Hermione, looking at James she continued, "Can you tell me what year you were born?"
"2004" said James.
Ginny's eyes widened. "But…that…that means…in three years I'm going to have a baby. In three years time the war will be over. Harry will survive, and we'll be married…and…" Ginny couldn't take air in fast enough to continue talking. Her mind was racing way to fast.
"Ginny! You have to calm down." Came Hermione's voice. She put an arm on Ginny in an effort to soothe her. "Now," continued Hermione, "Let's go find Harry and Ron. From there we can find the rest of The Order and sort this all out."
"Don't worry James, we'll get you home, ok sweetie?" said Hermione.
James nodded, still looking a bit confused and scared.
And the three of them went off walking down the hallway on their search.
