Author's Note: I know that RW and HG get together at the end in the 7th book, but that's only with Harry watching remember ;) whatever happened in the background when he wasn't watching? Hope you like! Please review
CHAPTER 10 -Criminal
Ginny could hear voices around her as she started coming to her senses.
"I was helping her down the corridor and she just all of a sudden fainted." Jason's worried voice broke into the silence.
"Thank you Jason. You may go back to your common room now." McGonagall dismissed him quickly.
"What do you suppose is the problem?" McGonagall spoke softly as Jason left the hospital wing.
"Possibly exhaustion. I wouldn't doubt her being tired, she's dealt with more than anyone should lately, with Mr. Potter's disappearance, her family's vacancy, then starting a new school year without her own brother or Ms. Granger." Madam Pomfry replied empathetically.
Ginny let out a silent breath of relief.
"But we should probably run some tests to rule out any of the possibilities." Madam ended.
Ginny's body tensed up, and she instantly awoke, sitting up in bed and startling Madam Pomfry, while McGonagall stood still with her usual pinched expression.
"Nice to see you awake, Miss Weasley." McGonagall acknowledged, still eyeing Ginny curiously.
"Thank you Professor. May I, go to my room now? I'm sorry, I have not fulfilled the rest of my Head Girl duties tonight…" Ginny made to climb out of the bed.
"Deary, we are still worried as to why you would all of a sudden faint within the halls. It's not a safe habit to get use to." Madam Pomfry pushed Ginny back onto the bed in concern. Ginny's breath quickened, but thankfully, she was a quick thinker. Ginny faked a deep sigh, her words starting to jumble in a mess.
"I don't know, it's just been hard lately. I, I guess it's been a bit too much, having to deal with my brother gone, and my family, and Harry…" Ginny put on her best acting face she possibly could, starting to sniffle and wipe her nose.
"Oh, deary" Madam embraced her, patting her back. "Why didn't you just say so? I'll give you some sleeping drought to make sure you get a good night's sleep."
"Can I go back now?" Ginny sniffled, trying to avoid eye contact with Professor McGonagall who seemed skeptical of Ginny's behavior.
"Maybe you should stay and sleep in the hospital wing tonight, just to make sure." She offered. Ginny grew tense again.
"Please!" Ginny burst out unexpectedly, practically pleading. "Please, I have to get back. There, there are a couple students I need to help tutor tonight and I still have my duties to fulfill!" she lied, her voice sounding even more desperate. Inside, she was crying because she was so desperate. The last thing she wanted was for the faculty, most of all McGonagall, to find out her secret.
"Alright, alright." Madam Pomfry chuckled. "I'll send some potion down with you. Minerva?"
McGonagall looked at Ginny for a long second before nodding her head, turning to leave. "But I expect you to be well rested for class tomorrow, Miss Weasley. No exceptions."
"Thank you Professor" Ginny graciously smiled, taking the sleeping draught and starting on her way to the common room, all the way trying to calm her nervous and racing heart.
However, the next week didn't even seem to lighten up. Instead it became worse.
Ginny struggled more than ever to conceal her weakness to her friends and classmates.
She continued to eat ferocious amounts of food, but would then throw it up in the bathroom hours later from stomach sickness. One 5th year in the stall beside her, had started even asking her tips on how to become bulimic – which, of course, Ginny vehemently protested, claiming she had stomach sickness, and scolding the girl's student decision to perform such a horrid habit.
Initially, she tried to shy away from them as much as possible, only hanging out with Luna and Neville and a few close friends. But the more she hung out with them, the more she got to know Jason, a fellow Ravenclaw of her new friend Madeleine, who became very friendly and close with Ginny.
It was drawing to a close in October when Ginny realized she had put the Quidditch tryouts long enough. If she was ever going to convince everyone else that she was normal, she would have to hold them, despite her condition.
"Are you sure you are up for this?" Luna had asked during her visit to the Gryffindor common room. Ginny often snuck Luna her into the common room for late night talks by the fireplace when everyone was in bed.
"I'm fine" Ginny smiled, eyes frowning at Luna's suspicions "why do you ask?"
"You seem…tried lately, more tired than usual, that's all" Luna turned her head back to her reading on the Snorkback, humming a song to herself. Ginny screwed up her face, leaning it onto the palm of her hand. Her eyes lit up with the light from the hearth, her eyes almost willing the embers to burn out.
"I better get going. It's getting late. I'll see you at your tryouts tomorrow, captain." Luna smiled, saluting her before opening the common room door and leaving.
As the embers slowly began to whither away and die, Ginny escaped deeper into thought.
Oh, how much she needed Harry. She didn't even know where he was. She had sent countless letters in code to Hermione through Pig, and she had replied to every single one, telling her that Harry sent all his love. But Ginny needed someone, physically, preferably Harry - she couldn't stand being alone anymore.
There was nothing left for her to hold onto, except the constant reminder of the bump growing in her stomach.
Ginny struggled for breath as the tears fell, finally giving in.
Within a few hours after her letter was mailed, Ginny hadn't expected Hermione's arrival so soon.
It was around 4 AM, and the embers of the fireplace in the common room had finally gone out. Ginny's body was sunken in the chair Harry usually sat in when he was around last year. She leaned her head on the cushion pillow, staring into the empty black space, unable to sleep, unable to think, sinking deeper and deeper into a state she was always afraid to enter. But now, anything seemed possible, even depression. Without Harry around, she felt like she was living a half-life, unfulfilled, and every moment she was dying.
Tears still silently fell down her streaked cheeks, her body shuddering every once in a while from the strain.
"Ginny"
She heard Hermione's gentle, melancholy voice and lifted her head to find her standing close by, watching her from under her dark cloak. Ginny's breath hitched-
"Hermione"
Both embraced each other tightly, holding onto each other as long as possible. Ginny openly cried on her shoulder – it felt like forever she had to wait to hug her – her best friend. Did she know how much she needed her? Ginny gave her a tight squeeze before pulling away.
"How are you?" Hermione held her at arms length, looking her over, her eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine. You?"
"As good as I can be." She stifled a laugh. "Although I'm not having any luck with turning mushrooms and overgrown grass into tasty meals."
"How's,…how is Harry?" Ginny managed to ask unsteadily.
"He's fine. He's with Ron right now. I can only stay a short time, but I had to come. Ginny, how could this happen!"
Ginny shook her head, water welling up in her swollen eyes. "I didn't mean to, it just…it just happened."
"Did you use protection?" Hermione asked.
Ginny remembered back to that night. Blushing profusely, she bowed her head and shook it silently – tears pattering to the floor.
Hermione let out a heavy sigh, and took Ginny into her arms.
"It's alright Ginny, we'll make it through this."
"But Harry can't know. If he knows, it'll distract him. And I can't tell mum or dad, they'll freak, not to mention what Ron will do to Harry if they find out…Merlin knows what McGonagall would do – she'd send me right home – and what if Snape or any of the ministry members discovered me?!" Ginny's face was the epitome of terror. "Death Eaters would be swarming and Harry-"
"Shhh" Hermione stroked Ginny's hair, comforting her. She led her to the sofa, sitting her down so that she could lay her head in her lap.
As Ginny continued to cry herself to sleep, Hermione ran her hand through her hair, talking soothing words to her.
"Everything will be alright Ginny, I'm here for you. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." But in the back of Hermione's mind, panic was setting in. She knew that Ginny wouldn't be able to go long without Harry, she needed him. Hermione didn't know herself how a 16 year old could handle the strain of a pregnancy – let alone without the father. But at that time, the worst time ever for this to happen, he needed to concentrate on other things, and both Ginny and her understood this was the last thing he needed on his mind.
Hermione trailed into the tent at 6 AM after she made sure Ginny was sound asleep.
"How is she?" Harry instantly bolted from his position on the floor, faking his slumber.
"Um, fine. She worries about you, a lot." Hermione smiled, trying to sound convincing.
"There's nothing wrong?" Ron came up alongside Harry. "Well in that case, did you bring us any food from the kitchens? I'm starving!" Ron joked, chuckling as Harry nudged him hard in the ribs.
"Oh, you know how Ginny is. She worries about all of us. She just wanted to make sure we were safe." Hermione tried to reassure, stepping away from the boys. It was growing harder and harder for her to lie while her mind was screaming out in panic for Ginny and Harry. What if they were discovered? What if Voldemort or a Death Eater found out Ginny's secret? Ginny was already seen as major leverage over Harry despite their breakup…but now that she was pregnant? Not only was Hermione overwhelmed with the emotional and physical stress Ginny must be going through, despite Ginny's infamous obstinate and tough predisposition – so much like Harry and her brothers – but the fact that Ginny would become Voldemort's number one target if discovered…
Ron came up beside Hermione, starting to rub her shoulders.
"You seem tense." He whispered soothingly in her ear.
"A bit. I guess we've just been hiding in these forests for so long I didn't realize how much I've missed the outside world."
Ron's face fell, both of them watching as Harry sulked over a bed, lying against it and trying to read up more on Hogwarts' History to search for a possible 7th Horcrux.
Ron sighed heavily, drawing Hermione away for a second till they were watching the sun rising over the meadow before them. They could hear the distant crashing of waves over a nearby cliff at the edge of the forest. Ron rested his head upon Hermione's.
"He's a bloody mess Hermione. I had to hold him back from you when you apparated to Hogwarts in the forest. He was going ballistic." Ron looked into Hermione's eyes worried.
"You know he can't see her Ron." Hermione frowned. Ron looked out in silence at the rising sun.
Hermione smirked. "You never realized did you? How close your best mate is to your sister?"
"I never knew they were that bloody infatuated." Ron laughed.
Hermione's face darkened and she turned away, crossing her arms as she walked.
Ron, who hadn't noticed, had to take a double take to realize Hermione's comforting presence was gone from him and he hurried after her.
"Hermione"
Hermione stopped, covering her eyes and wiping the tears quickly. But Ron saw past her façade easily.
"Hermione" his soothing voice echoed, lifting his hands to her shoulders. "What's wrong?"
"Everything Ronald" she sobbed, falling into his chest. Ron leaned down, holding her close as he breathed in the scent of her hair.
When Ron's shirt had been thoroughly soaked, Hermione let off, apologizing. He could read the troubled expression on her face.
"What's happened Hermione?"
She drew back slightly, unsure of how to answer, but in the end decided on half-confessing.
"Ginny's practically dead up at Hogwarts. She can't sleep at night, she has nightmares about our deaths. Ron, Harry is going crazy- we all are! We've been cooped up in these bloody forests away from civilization for so long, I can't stand it anymore! It's criminal how we're torn apart- I feel like a fugitive, always on the run – and I'm sure Ginny feels the same way, cooped up in Hogwarts like its some sort of cage. I don't care if it's safe or not! Any damn moment could be our last- this could be our last day!" she sniffled, her eyes blazing. "I don't want to go on another day, knowing that within a second we could be attacked and killed…and I would never get to tell you what I have been holding in my heart all these years…" the tears were streaming freely down her face as she spoke to a startled Ron, who looked flabbergasted in the least, his eyes wide, his body still inches from hers.
"I love you Ron. I've loved you ever since I first saw your ears redden and blush. When you were hurt in the Department of Mysteries, I didn't know what to do with myself- I thought I was completely lost without you. I love you Ronald Bilius Weasley, and I forever always will."
Ron's eyes seemed to ignite immediately, and within a second, his hands had grasped Hermione's arms, his lips pressing firmly against hers.
When Ron broke away, a different smile had claimed his brightly glowing and flushed features.
"I love you too." He huskily replied, with all the love he had for her shining through his eyes. In that moment, Hermione practically died on the spot, laughing inside at how happy she was. Then he kissed her again, her arms flung around his neck- finally showing what they had felt for each other all along…