A/N: Shit happens.
Ginny woke to the flashing of lightening outside her window. She groaned. It had been raining all week and now it was still raining. Sighing, she got out of bed and began to shuffle around, occasionally stopping in front of the mirror and touching her stomach before giggling and going about her business. She wasn't exactly eager in lying to her parents tonight, but she knew if they found out about the elopement then there'd be more disappointment in that.
Ginny walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, looking through a cabinet at the side for some shampoo. Waiting until the small room had filled up with steam, she got undressed and stepped in, letting the water run over her as she reached for the shampoo.
That's when she heard a small thud. Frowning she opened the small screen for the shower and looked out, listening. When she heard nothing she guessed it was just Winifred, her owl. Rolling her eyes she returned to the shower.
Something grabbed her arm and she almost screamed when a hand came over her mouth. She started struggling as she was dragged out of the shower. The person let her go and she whirled around.
"Harry!" she gasped, grabbing a towel. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she growled angrily.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm here for my health," he said sarcastically. He was about to say something else when another thud sounded, only this time it was much closer. Ginny's eyes grew.
"What was that?" she asked.
Harry pulled her to him, away from the door. "It's out there," he whispered.
Ginny paled. "You mean… that thing that attacked me?" she asked.
Harry nodded, holding her as she began to shake. There was another thud then they heard footsteps. Ginny clung to Harry in fear, her wet body shaking in his arms. He held her close, listening until he was certain the thing was not there any more. He shook Ginny a little.
"Come on," he whispered. Seeing as they were in a muggle flat, the only apparition point was the front door. They'd have to make a break for it. He looked down at her. "When we get out of here, I want you to run to the door, okay? I'll be right behind you," he whispered. She nodded. Harry counted to three then opened the door, peeking out. There was nothing in her bedroom so he motioned for her to follow. Harry took out his wand and they headed out to the hall way. They were about to head to the front door when something screeched. Ginny and Harry turned to see the creature's head poking out from the extra bedroom Ginny had. Ginny's eyes grew and she screamed. The creature screeched again and came out of the room, rolling its shoulders and hunching down. Harry turned to Ginny and shoved her to the exit.
"GO!" he yelled right as the creature launched itself into the air. Ginny managed to stumble out of the way but the thing caught Harry in the leg. Ginny turned to see the thing dragging him down the hall.
"HARRY!" she screamed.
Harry was twisting around, getting a good angle before he screamed something. The creature screamed in pain and backed off for a moment. Harry got up, wincing in pain and started running over to her.
"Ginny go!" he screamed as he tried to keep going. They had just made it to the living room/dining room part of her apartment when Ginny turned around.
"Harry, look out!" she screamed pointing behind him. The thing lunged forward and wrapped its tail around Harry's legs, pulling him back into the hall way and quickly into the other bedroom.
"Harry!" Ginny screamed, getting up off the floor and running after the thing. She could hear agonized screams then silence. Ginny skidded to a stop, her heart stopping. The creature appeared out of the bedroom and turned its pale blind eyes on her. Ginny began to back up as the thing headed for her. She let out a scream for help and dove into a little closet in the hall. She slammed the door and held onto it as the creature started scratching the door, screaming and howling something awful. Ginny could feel the tears poring down her face as she struggled to keep the door closed. It was starting to give though, her hands to wet to hold on.
All of a sudden, it stopped.
"Ginny!"
"Charlie!" Ginny screamed.
"Don't worry, I'm here," he said, opening the door.
Ginny scrambled to her feet and grabbed him, sobbing. He held her, looking around.
"What happened?" he asked.
Ginny was about to answer when she remembered. "Harry!" she screamed running off down the small hall and scrambling into the small room.
"HARRY!"
Hermione found herself in her office, sitting on the floor, leaning against her door. Tears were running down her face as she struggled to keep it together.
Everything had changed the moment she had walked into that emergency room.
The stakes had been raised.
The threat heightened.
She had broken down on the spot the moment she saw Harry lying there, barely hanging onto life. The creature must have flogged him. There four large jagged gashes down his back and two across his chest. His legs… oh his legs… they had been shredded so much.
He had promised her. He had promised her he wouldn't do anything dangerous. And now… he was down stairs…
Ginny had been in the waiting room, covered in Harry's blood, sobbing uncontrollably.
Hermione knew Benguard would need her to check the wounds… to be strong…
But seeing Harry had brought new terrors… new nightmares that haunted her in her waking moments.
Alex had gone too far.
They were currently searching for him, ready to make an arrest and send him to Azkaban to await trial.
"Hermione."
She looked up at Ron's voice and wiped the tears away, standing up.
"Wait," she whispered, looking around for her healer robes. Shrugging them on, she opened the door.
Ron frowned and pulled her into a hug, smoothing her hair out and resting his chin on the crown of her head. "Benguard needs you," he whispered.
Hermione shook her head, burying her head in his chest. "Not now," she begged. "Hold me," she whispered.
Ron complied, holding her closer. "He's going to be ok, right?"
Hermione looked up at him, wiping her tears away. "I think so… none of the attacks, though they look really bad, have actually been fatal," she murmured, picking distractedly at Ron's shirt.
Ron reached up and tucked a curl behind her head before pulling her head back to his chest, holding her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, eyes wandering the empty hall.
"Promise me you won't do what he did," she whispered.
"Hermione," Ron whispered.
"Promise me… please," she pleaded, looking up at him with teary eyes. "I don't want to go through what Ginny's going through… please don't make me," she whispered.
Ron looked down at her for a moment then pulled away, leaning against the corridor wall, shaking his head. "I can't promise you that… because I know when it comes down to the moment, I won't be able to keep that promise," he told her quietly.
Hermione stared at him for a moment then looked away, not knowing what to say. She knew he was right, but that didn't make it ok. She didn't want to see him in the emergency room ever, but she knew he'd do something to land himself in there. She closed her eyes and backed up into the opposite wall, wrapping her arms around herself. She was about to say something when Rachel came running down the hall.
"Hermione! Hermione! We have a problem," she said.
Hermione looked at her and frowned. "What is it?" she asked, standing straighter.
"Harry and Hanton are missing. So is Ginny," she said breathlessly.
Ron went over to her. "What?!"
Rachel looked at them both. "Benguard went to check on Hanton and found him missing. When we went to Harry, he was gone as well. Ginny went missing around the same time Hanton did. And the Aurors still can't find Alex," she explained, distraught.
Hermione glanced over at Ron then took Rachel's arm and hurried down the hall. "You go find Benguard and tell him to meet me in Room 245," she ordered before giving Rachel a push in the right direction. She then turned to Ron.
"We need to find Ginny… she's in serious trouble," she said.
"Why is Alex looking for her?" Ron asked, following Hermione back to her room.
"She's pregnant," she said as she gathered her cloak.
"So?"
Hermione turned to him. "With Harry Potter's child."
A/N: Dun, dun, dun.
ronandmion4ever: I did enjoy your little PotC thing. As for Alex, as you can see, things are getting a lot better. Anyway, I needed to show Ron taking charge of what was going on. I think I did quite well, if I do say so myself.
cellogirl: Not exactly Hermione, but I think you got the point.
kerosinkanister: I was actually agreeing with you, so there's no reason so apologize. I hope your load lessens as the summer kicks off!
maddie: Thank you. I'm glad you like it.
LitaFanForLife: Thanks.
OzDust: I'm glad everyone's enjoying this new Ron, because he's usually portrayed as immature until the end of HBP. I really just wanted him to grow up in a wonderful way. I'm not so sure it's Hermione he wants.
charma10: That would actually be sort of cool but that's not me. When is anything ever simple?
Wesker888: They did the right thing for the sake of love making.
Chapter Tease:
"I wouldn't move if I were you."
She turned to see a woman standing there at the side, a man near by holding an umbrella for her. Ginny tried to see who it was then gasped.
"Oh no," she murmured.
Let's see who can guess who it is. Same point system as last time. Just no explanations. One word answers, please!
