Revelations

"What If" Coldplay

The days following Harry's birthday passed quickly. He worked the first week in August, but had taken the rest of the month off and would not be back until after the Hogwarts Express had returned Ginny and Hermione to school. It was on a Monday afternoon that he found himself walking through Muggle London, staring into the windows of shops trying to find another gift for Ginny.

She and Hermione had gotten their Hogwarts letters a few days previously. Hermione had been made Head Girl and Ginny Quidditch Captain to her surprise and pleasure. He had gotten her new pads, a new cauldron, and tickets to a Holyhead Harpies game that was to be played on her birthday. He was now looking for something else, something personal that would remind her of him when they were apart.

Ron had a similar struggle with what to get Hermione in congratulations for her achievement. She would have her own dormitory, separate from the rest of the girl's rooms, so he had gotten her some picture frames to put up. He planned on taking her to buy a new wand; she had been using Bellatrix Lestrange's wand reluctantly since their escape from Malfoy Manor. Her birthday was coming up in September and he wanted to get her something nice since that day had been largely overlooked during their school years.

"I'd like to get her a ring, but I know that's just mad to think about at this point," Ron admitted to Harry one evening. "I don't even know if I've ever seen her wear anything like that."

"I haven't, course I haven't looked too closely, either," said Harry.

The idea of jewelry stuck in Harry's mind though, and that was what brought him out shopping. He had found nothing that caught his eye though. Ginny was simplistic, not overly fancy, and he didn't want to get her something she wouldn't wear.

He passed by the Leaky Cauldron on his walk and decided to go through to Diagon Alley. After greeting everyone in the pub briefly, he passed through the magical barrier and began to wander through the shops, still searching for a present. He sighed as he heard his name whispered and saw others pointing in his direction as he passed. He wondered vaguely if this would ever stop.

Harry became frustrated with himself as he went through shop after shop looking for items. He decided against dress robes as he knew her parents had gotten her some. She had her pygmy puff and since Harry and Ron would have his new owl (which he had named Deacon), Ron offered to let her take Pigwidgeon to school, so he passed by the Magical Menagerie. Next to what used to be Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, a new shop had opened up: Torgun's Talismans. Curious, Harry opened the wooden door to the shop and stepped inside.

As he peered around, Harry realized it was a Goblin-owned shop, as several of the small creatures were running the counter and walking along the floors. The shop was filled with various items, all of which Harry assumed were Goblin made. Daggers and swords hung displayed on the wall, and different types of amulets and necklaces were in cases that lined the shop. Harry had just begun to browse through things when a case full of bracelets caught his eye. He wandered over and read a small sign that was attached to the case.

"Affinity Charms: Forged from Italian volcanic crystals and silver, these beautiful bracelets are imbibed with an Attachment Charm. The wearer need only rotate the charm once around their wrist to remind the giver of a bond they share. Should the charm be rotated twice, a summons will be felt by the giver to come to the aid of the wearer.

Customization Available. Price upon request."

Harry looked over the examples that lay out in the display case. They were beautiful and seemed to glow with a bright light, reminding him of a Patronus. Smiling to himself, he approached the counter to discuss pricing of the item.

******

"Mum! Dad! This is wonderful!" Ginny squealed as she opened a box containing a set of brand new school robes. "Thank you!" She held them against up against her, thinking to herself that there would be little tailoring required to make them fit.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," said Mrs. Weasely, beaming at her daughter as she examined her new clothes.

Ginny had been smiling all day as she slowly opened her presents. She wanted to look over every single one thoroughly and express her gratitude. She gazed at her family around her and all the gifts they had bought, feeling a little sheepish that all this money was being spent on her. She had spent at least an hour laughing over a box of tricks that George and Ron had gotten her from the shop and had hugged Percy for the first time in years when he presented her with a set of golden scales and a full supply of potions ingredients.

Her parents had also gotten her a dainty gold watch, similar to the one Ron had been given for his seventeenth birthday. It fit her perfectly and she watched as tears welled up in her mother's eyes over her last child finally reaching this milestone.

"Mum, please don't cry," she begged, not wanting to be overcome with emotion as well.

"Ginny, you're just so grown up now. All of you are. It's amazing to me, I'm just not sure what to do with myself," she sighed, gazing around at her children.

"Somebody better get to having babies soon," George hissed under his breath. "Before Mum goes completely mental over the empty house." He chanced a glance at Bill and Fleur, who both glared at him in response.

Ginny watched Harry's reaction as she opened a beautiful, and rather provocative, halter dress that was given to her by Fleur and Hermione. It was a deep, midnight blue that sparkled slightly when placed in the right light. When worn it would rest just above her knees and the back was cut in a low V-shaped pattern that allowed almost a full view of her back. She had to stifle a laugh as she watched Harry's eyes widen when she modeled it and listened to her brothers and father grumble.

"When is she going to wear that?" Ron hissed at Hermione and Fleur, who were gushing over how pretty Ginny looked.

"Oh, there will be a ball or something she can wear it to," Hermione said simply.

"She can't wear that at a ball! It's … it's…"

"She'll have a cloak on Ron, and Harry will be there so she won't be ogled too much," said Hermione with a wink at Harry. He lowered his eyes as Ron's gaze fell on him.

"What would you wear if there was a ball?" asked Ron, turning back to look at Hermione.

Before she could answer, Fleur laughed and said "Oh, she 'as got somezing jus as gorgeous, Ron. Don' worry," she teased, causing Hermione to blush crimson.

Harry had wrapped Ginny's new Quidditch pads in a simple box, attaching the envelope containing tickets to the evening's game to the wrist guards. Ginny opened the envelope curiously, glancing at Harry before reading the tickets and screaming aloud.

"How did you get these? The game is sold out! Oh my goodness, Harry!" Ginny exclaimed as she jumped to her feet.

"What is it?" Ron asked, looking from his sister over to Harry's exuberant grin.

"Tickets to the Harpies game tonight! Oh, Harry! Thank you!" Ginny squealed, leaping into Harry's arms.

"That's cool!" Ron exclaimed, but then looked slightly downcast. "You guys will have a good time."

"Ron, you git, there are four tickets; we're all going," Ginny explained as Harry set her back on her feet. Ron jumped up as well and clapped Harry on the back while Hermione grinned at him.

Lunch was served early so the quartet could make it back for the game. Ginny kissed and hugged the Weasleys goodbye before gripping Harry's arm as they Apparated back to London. This was Ginny's first experience with Side-Along Apparation, and she voiced her dislike of the method of travel upon landing.

"That was…um," she muttered as she swayed on her feet.

"Bloody awful?" Harry supplied as she nodded, looking rather pale. "You do get used to it, but the first sensation is a bit…odd," he explained recalling Dumbledore's explanation of the process when he had first Apparated.

The Harpies won the match two-hundred and fifty to eighty against Puddlemere United. The game was won when Skylar Garret of the Harpies made a fantastic catch of the Snitch right above the crowd. After stopping briefly to say hello to Oliver Wood as he made his way out of the stadium, the two couples began to walk back to Grimmauld Place.

"That was brilliant, Harry, thanks!" Ron had said as they walked. His and Hermione's fingers were laced together and their arms swung with their steps.

"It was fun, thank you for thinking of us as well, Harry," Hermione said.

Ginny just smiled broadly. They spent the entire walk going over the plays again and discussing tactics. Harry grinned as Ginny talked about plans for the Gryffindor Quidditch team and felt a pang of remorse that he would no longer be playing.

"We can play at the Burrow, no worries. You can come practice with us," she offered, making him chuckle lightly.

"I'll have to do that- make sure you're treating my Firebolt properly."

As soon as they arrived back at Grimmauld Place, it wasn't long before Ron and Hermione retreated to his room. Ginny whistled suggestively at the pair of them, which drew laughter as they ascended the stairs. She hadn't been to Grimmauld Place in a few weeks and was pleasantly surprised by the changes Harry, Ron and George had made. The peeling wallpaper had been removed in the sitting room and kitchen and the walls were now pale beige that made the room appear ten times brighter. The colors in the kitchen were unchanged; the sparkling pots and pans that hung from the ceiling, and the perfectly clean tiled floor was a compliment to the shining counter tops. Most of the furniture had been replaced with several squashy armchairs and a sofa in the sitting room; Ginny was reminded of the Gryffindor Common Room as she glanced around. The place felt homey and comfortable as she sat down on the couch and sighed deeply.

"Is everything to your liking?" Harry asked, sitting down next to her and grinning.

"Yes it is. It's much more appealing now. Did Kreacher help you?" she asked.

"Kreacher did most of it; he insisted I pick out the colors though. That was a nightmare," said Harry, shaking his head.

"You did well, Harry. It's very nice in here," she commented as she snuggled against him. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead. They sat like that for a few moments before Harry flicked his wand at an old radio against the wall.

Soft piano music filled the room and Ginny smiled. "Is that new?"

"No, it was here when we came, I think it was Sirius'. We just got it working the other night," he commented, watching her reaction.

The song changed to a slower, peaceful melody that Ginny recognized from Bill and Fleur's wedding. "This is a Gymnopedie, number 1?"

Harry's eyes widened. "Your guess is as good as mine," he said smiling.

She grinned. "Fleur told me. She plays a lot of classical music. They played this at their wedding," she explained.

She closed her eyes listening to the soothing sound; the music seemed to fill every corner of the room, making it even warmer than it already was.

"Dance with me," Harry requested, standing up and offering her his hand.

"Here?" Ginny asked, glancing around.

"Why not? I didn't get to dance with you at their wedding, and I wanted to very badly," he explained. She stood up and took his hand, slightly nervous as she remembered the last time she had seen Harry dance: he had sat down after the first song was over.

"You didn't dance at the Yule Ball, or at Bill and Fleur's wedding," she commented, placing one hand on his shoulder and her other hand in his outstretched one.

"Ron made me promise I wouldn't dance with you at the wedding. And at the Yule Ball, my partner wasn't as beautiful as you are," he explained simply. He pulled her close to him and began to revolve slowly on the spot.

"Ooh," she teased. "Smooth compliment."

Harry grinned broadly. "I try."

She wrapped one arm around his neck as he pressed her palm over his heart, laying his hand on top of hers gently. Ginny rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes; the slow, gentle rocking motion of their bodies acted like a cradle and she began to feel sleepy.

"I have another present for you," Harry whispered into her hair.

She raised her eyes to his and frowned slightly. "You didn't need to get me anything, Harry."

"It's something personal," he teased, quoting the words she used on his birthday before she had offered herself to him. The phrase caused her to raise her eyebrows and look at him curiously.

He smiled, chuckling slightly before pulling a thin rectangular box out of his. "I've never seen you wear jewelry, but this caught my eye and it's something I think you'll like," he explained before handing her the box.

She took it in her hands, curiously examining the box. Her slender fingers undid the clasps and she opened it, her eyes widening in wonder.

Resting against the black satin inside the box was a delicate, but remarkably beautiful bracelet. Two thin silver chains had been braided around a number of dazzling crystals that sparkled brightly even in the dim light of the room. But what caught her eye the most was the charms that were interwoven into the links of the band: a silver stag was placed between every third crystal throughout the length of the bracelet. The silver was so bright it almost seemed to glow slightly, just like a Patronus…just like his Patronus. Her eyes started to prick slightly as she examined the stunning piece.

"Harry," she whispered, not able to come up with any other words.

"It's an Affinity Charm," he explained in a low voice, handing her a small piece of paper that contained the description of the item. She read through it quickly, citing that if she turned it once around her wrist it would remind Harry of her, if turned twice it would issue a summons for him to come to her.

"How does that work? How will you feel it?" she asked.

He held up his right hand to show her a matching ring placed around the third finger of his right hand. The ring was a simple silver band with little horses carved intricately into the metal. A horse; her Patronus.

"Harry…"

"If you don't like it, I can take it back or exchange it," he said rapidly, misreading her silence. "I just thought … I know how you worry that I'll forget you or something like that. Well, now you won't let me, right?"

"I love it, it's beautiful. Thank you," she finally said, looking into his eyes. His answering smile was astonishing; his whole face seemed to light up at her pleasure over his gift. She held out her wrist and he fastened the little silver clasp before threading his fingers into hers.

She smiled and twisted her wrist slightly, noticing the silver flashes of light that lit up the walls. As her eyes lifted and met Harry's and she was taken aback by his expression. His lips were curved into a small smile, but his eyes were hungry, burning with intensity. He brought his hands to cup her face and gently pressed his lips to hers.

She returned the kiss and sighed deeply as his tongue traced her lips; she parted her lips and the kiss intensified as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leant against him. Harry's hands moved to her waist and she felt herself abruptly lifted off the floor, his arms wrapped around her midsection tightly. She slid one of her legs along his calf, wrapping it around his hip slightly before he laid her down on the couch, never taking his mouth away from hers.

As he settled her down on the couch and began to lay his body across hers, the front door locks clicked and the door opened, a whistling voice echoing through the hallway.

Harry sat up quickly as George wandered into the house, pausing at the entrance to the room and raising an eyebrow. Harry almost fell off the couch trying to arrange himself properly while Ginny glared at her brother.

"Well … hello there Miss I'm-Of-Age-And-Can-Do-What-I-Please. Don't let me interrupt," he laughed as he turned and walked into the kitchen.

Ginny glared at his retreating figure. "If my first act of legal magic would be to hex him I'd be highly disappointed, so I'm going to refrain," she growled, making Harry laugh loudly.

"C'mon, I suppose we'd better get to sleep," Harry said, glancing at his watch. He held out his hands and helped her to her feet. As they approached the third floor of Grimmauld Place, they both stared down the hall at Ron's door. It was shut, but there was an echoing sound of giggling coming from the room. Smirking slightly, Ginny walked down the hall and banged on the door.

"Might I suggest a Silencing Charm?" she asked as she walked away. Harry could hear Hermione laughing loudly and Ron swearing at her as she walked back, neither of them opening the door.

"Someday we'll get some privacy, I suppose," Harry said, placing his arm around her shoulders and leading her to his bedroom. Ginny smiled and snuggled against him, allowing her eyes to take in the changes to his room as well. She hadn't been in the room since it had become his, and was surprised by what it entailed.

The dressers were the same as they had been, except they appeared to be cleaner. The wall coverings had been replaced as well, but instead of the beige and cream that was present throughout the house, this room was a dusky, pale gold with red trim. Harry had left Sirius's Gryffindor hangings on the walls, in addition to several motorcycle posters and a picture of his father and his friends. She smiled as she walked around the room, noting the private bathroom that was located off the west end of the room.

"Can I ask why here? I thought perhaps you'd take the master?" Ginny asked, still staring around her.

"Sirius kept Buckbeak in there, it's practically destroyed. Kreacher stays there now- he seems happy and he has a bed now instead of that small cupboard. Plus it felt … homier in here. More familiar, I suppose," Harry explained, dropping his eyes.

Ginny turned back to him and crossed the room slowly, wrapping her arms around his waist when she met him.

"I know you still miss him, I'm sorry," Ginny whispered into his chest.

Harry's arms circled her and pulled her close. "It's all right. Um … your suitcase is over there," he explained, pointing to a bag by the closet. "I'll um … step out so you can get changed."

Harry smiled as he blushed and grabbed his own pajamas before heading to the bathroom. Ginny thought vaguely about not putting anything on and crawling into bed just to watch the expression on his face when he returned, but decided against it, thinking there would be times for tricks like that later on.

After she had dressed, she moved to look out the window and stare at the stars above. Her eyes closed as she felt Harry's fingers run through her hair and down her back.

"That is very … pretty," he mumbled quietly. She smiled curiously as she turned around and found his eyes wide as he stared at her.

"This?" she asked, indicating her night dress. It was utterly boring; she had much more attractive and seductive night clothes but had not packed them because they would be unnecessary on their trip. The night dress she wore was stark white, long sleeved and ended at her feet. She noted that it did tend to cling to her figure, but it was still plain. The only beautiful thing about it was the faint, intricate lace patterns of flowers.

Harry didn't say anything, just nodded as he traced a line down her neck and over her collar bone. She didn't realize how low the gown was cut until his finger traced below her collar bone along the line of her dress, which rested just above her breasts.

Snapping himself out of his sudden fascination with the way the white dress hugged Ginny's curves, he cleared his throat and shook his head. "Right … I'm very sleepy. Um … do you need any extra blankets?"

"Aren't you my blanket?"

Harry smiled. "I suppose." He took her hand and led her to the bed. They crawled under the covers and she snuggled into his arms, laying her head against his chest as he gently stroked her hair.

"Good night, Harry," she whispered.

"Night," he replied.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Ginny."

The unpleasant, musky smell filled her nostrils as she was drug down the long, dark hallway toward the dungeons. She didn't fight anymore, for she could hear screaming coming from the end of the hall and was afraid of where she was being taken.

Ginny was pushed violently onto the floor; her hands hitting the stone with a loud smack as she felt her wrist crack from the fall. She didn't cry out, however, for when she lifted her eyes she saw Neville lying on the floor in front of her, screaming in complete agony. Clamoring to her feet, she saw Alecto Carrow standing over him, her wand outstretched and her face contorted in fury.

"TALK Longbottom! I can do this all night! Let's see how long you can hold out compared to your parents!" she screeched at him, flicking her wand and causing Neville's body to twitch into an odd position and scream louder.

"STOP!" Ginny screamed. "He doesn't know anything!"

"He might not, but you do, pretty girl," Amycus' voice came from behind her. Ginny swatted his hand away as it traced up her arm. Alecto flicked her wand again, finishing the spell. Neville stopped screaming and rolled on to his side, his eyes barely opening as he gasped at Ginny's presence. She ran to him and frowned in shock. One of his eyes was puffy and swollen, a large gash ran along the side of his cheek and he was breathing heavily.

"What is it that I know?" Ginny asked as she used Neville's shirt to wipe up the blood that trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Where Potter is, and what he's doing," Amycus said simply.

"I've told you and I've told Snape a hundred times- I haven't seen Harry since last school year. Is that why you're doing this? Neville hasn't seen him either! No one has!" she screeched at the two Death Eaters towering over her.

Amycus frowned before grabbing Ginny roughly by the arm and pulling her to her feet. At this, Neville began to stir feebly.

"Leave … her … alone," he whispered.

"Shut it, Longbottom," Alecto hissed, issuing him a violent kick in the stomach.

"No! Stop it!" Ginny screamed, raising her wand only to have her arm pulled behind her back by Amycus.

"Fond of yer friend? How would Potter feel about how fond ya are of him? Or how fond ya are of me?" The Death Eater hissed, sliding his hand along Ginny's hip.

Ginny cringed and gagged; she could smell the filthy, sweaty stench coming off of him as he breathed into her neck. "Get your hands off me," she hissed, pulling away from him.

She couldn't get far as he grabbed her broken wrist and whipped her around, causing stabbing pain to shoot through her arm. She screamed and Neville tried to jump to his feet again, only to be slapped across the face by Alecto.

"Where's Potter?" Amycus roared into Ginny's face.

"I don't know!" she screamed, trying to move away from him. "I don't know!"

"Yer a liar, Weasley," he hissed in return, twisting her wrist hard to the left and causing her to scream again.

"Leave her alone!" Neville screamed from the floor.

"Longbottom here has got a detention," Amycus whispered. "He's been mouthy to me sister, and mouthy about the Dark Lord. You've got a detention coming too; Snape might think you were punished enough for stealing that sword but the Dark Lord doesn't agree, and neither do I."

He whipped her around so she faced Neville, still holding tight to her broken wrist but allowing her wand arm to be free. She moved to stun him and he parried the spell before pressing himself against her and breathing heavily into her ear. She felt him nod against her and watched as Alecto moved over Neville again, who looked defiant as she flourished her wand at him.

"CRUCIO!"

Neville's screams echoed throughout the tiny room. Ginny twisted furiously and waived her wand again and again at Alecto, each spell being blocked or parried by Amycus as he held her tightly against him.

"You can stop it; curse her," he hissed into her ear.

"Crucio!" Ginny yelled through the tears that ran copiously down her cheeks.

"Ya got to mean it, pretty! Would you mean it if you knew that if ya don't I'll be seeing just how pretty you really are?" Amycus hissed into her neck, his other hand tracing along her hip.

"CRUCIO!" Ginny screamed again, twisting away from the Death Eater despite the pain stabbing viciously through her arm and waving her wand wildly at Alecto.

"Yer doing it wrong, Weasley!" Alecto yelled. She flourished her wand again and screamed the curse as Ginny watched helplessly while Neville screamed and writhed upon the floor.

Ginny felt hate flow through her blood- not only at Alecto and Amycus, but at all the Death Eaters that walked freely through the land while Harry, Ron and Hermione were hiding in some cold place she knew not and fighting for their lives, and Neville was being tortured in front of her.

Almost like he could read the thoughts that were taking over her, Amycus leaned closer and breathed against Ginny's ear, snaking his arm around her waist and his filthy hand under her shirt, lightly touching the skin on her stomach before fiddling with the button on her jeans and sliding his fingers lower. She struggled violently against him, but was impeded by the pain in her wrist as he gripped her tightly.

"If ya hate us so much, end it for Longbottom and yerself … help Potter out and get rid of us," he sneered into her neck, his tone mocking her plight.

"CRUCIO!"

Ginny screamed the curse as hate and anger burst out of her. Alecto was thrown violently against the wall and slid to the floor, squirming in agony as Ginny held her wand on her.

Amycus released her with a laugh and she fell to the floor, the curse breaking and Alecto jumping to her feet.

"Powerful this one is; she stung me at the same time she cursed you!" he exclaimed as Alecto approached Ginny and slapped her soundly across the face.

"What's Potter goin' to think of you now? He's fighting the Dark Art's and yer using them?" Alecto taunted, her face coming into Ginny's vision.

Hot tears stung her eyes; she felt so much rage that she could probably have cursed the Death Eater again. Amycus walked back into her line of vision, however, and she cowered as he ran his dirty fingers through her hair before moving close to her face, sniffing at her like a dog. She squirmed away from him and huddled next to Neville, who was shaking violently as he tried to comfort her. The scene around her faded away as the laughter of the Carrow's echoed in her ears. She opened her eyes to find herself in a different place, Neville was gone, and so were Amycus and Alecto. Ginny stood slowly and looked around wildly for any new foes.

"How could you, Ginny?"

Ginny spun wildly to see Harry kneeling to her side, his hands on the floor, head bowed as Voldemort stood over him.

"Harry, No! I had no choice! I –"

"You are powerful, and you can perform the Unforgivable Curses … you will be valuable," Voldemort sneered at her. "I saw it inside you, Ginny Weasley, your first year at Hogwarts. My fragment will never part from you; you'll always have a piece of my cruelty in your heart."

"No!" Ginny screamed, backing away and raising her wand.

"Ginny…" Harry's voice whispered quietly. She just shook her head, tears running freely down her cheeks as she watched Voldemort sneer and raise his arm to curse Harry.

"Ginny? Ginny!" Harry's voice came again, distant this time even though he was right in front of her.

"I had no choice, I didn't mean it," she whimpered while she watched Voldemort sneer and the jet of green light strike Harry squarely in the back.

"STOP!" she screamed, throwing her hands out toward him.

"Ginny!" Harry said, shaking her. His eyes were wide and scared as he watched her cry out and shake violently in her sleep. "Ginny, wake up! It's all right … you're all right," he muttered as he pulled her close to him.

"OH!" she cried, finally waking up from the nightmare. Her head whipped around, taking in the surroundings and realizing she was not in the dungeon, nor in the white foggy place of her nightmares. Her hands moved quickly, trying to figure out what was holding her so tightly when she realized it was Harry, still muttering soothing words into her hair. "Oh, God!" she cried, beginning to sob again.

"Ginny, it's all right, you're safe," Harry said as he stroked her hair. Her nails dug into the bare skin on his chest as she clung to him, trying to make sure he was really there and this wasn't still a dream.

A resounding crack filled the room and Ginny heard Harry ask Kreacher for a glass of water. She sniffed, trying to calm herself, and saw the light from the hallway spread through the room as the door opened and Hermione leaned through the door.

"Harry, is she okay?" Hermione asked in a soft voice, Ginny forgot she had witnessed her nightmares before.

"Yeah, yeah we're okay," Harry muttered, turning toward the door and nodding. "I've got her, thanks Hermione." Hermione nodded and the light left the room.

"Ginny, are you awake? What's wrong? What happened?" Harry asked, still holding her close. She didn't want to look at him, and didn't want to tell him about the nightmare that had plagued her since January of last year. She pulled gently out of his vice-like grip, observing the kneeling figure in front of her as his hands gently cupped her face.

"Merlin's Beard, Harry!" she exclaimed suddenly, noticing a large purple-green bruise that covered part of his chest. "I didn't do that, did I?"

"No, of course not, that's where the curse hit me," he explained, looking down and shrugging.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, tracing her finger lightly over the area.

"It's going away, it's not nearly as bad as it was," he said quickly. "Enough about my bruise- what happened? What were you dreaming about?"

Ginny froze, "I don't remember," she lied quickly.

For the first time since the war ended, Ginny watched anger flash through Harry's eyes. He pressed his lips together and grimaced at her, dropping his hands from her shoulders.

"You can't honestly expect me to believe that," he muttered.

Her first reaction was to stare him down in defiance, part of her thinking that she was going to keep her vow and that he would never find out about all that she had been through the previous year. But as she stared into the emerald green depths of his eyes, her resolve crumbled like an old brick wall and tears began to flow down her cheeks.

"I've had the same nightmare for months, since January," she whispered quietly. "After Christmas, when Luna didn't come back, Neville and I started asking what happened to her. We started with McGonagall, who didn't have a clue and was just as upset as we were. Then we started harassing the Carrows about it."

"I'm guessing that didn't go over well," replied Harry as he reached out and took her hand in his, gently stroking the back of it with his thumb. She looked up and saw that his eyes had softened, but she read within their depths that he wanted the whole story before they could continue to progress in their relationship.

Ginny launched into the explanation of the dream and the events that caused the reoccurring nightmare. Neville had mouthed off to Alecto, threatening that if anything happened to Luna, she would answer to him personally. That same day, Ginny had been overheard by Amycus talking to Parvarti Patil about Harry and the others breaking into the Ministry. Under the presumption of making her serve a detention, he dragged her down to the dungeon where Neville was being tortured.

Ginny sobbed as she explained how the Death Eater threw her to the ground, breaking her wrist, and then threatened her with both watching Neville be tortured and having him take advantage of her in her weakened state. She explained how, in her efforts to stop Neville from being tortured, she tried every spell she could think of, but Amycus blocked everyone one but the Cruciatus Curse and threatened to "see how pretty she really was" unless she could pull it off.

"I did it … I was able to do it, and I stopped her, but that didn't stop them," she muttered, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her night dress. "Alecto slapped me, and Amycus … he … I don't know what he was going to do and then they cursed me. I could hear Neville screaming, but he couldn't do anything; he was so weak. I … don't know how long they used it … I started to see things, horrible things, but when they stopped Amycus was over me and he was … touching my legs and …" she stopped when Harry's hand squeezed hers roughly and watched the anger flash through his eyes again.

"But, that's where the dream changes," she explained. "It changes to you … and sometimes Voldemort is there telling me how I'll make a good Death Eater, or he's killing you, or … sometimes it's just you, asking me how I could practice … Dark Arts when," she paused, sobbing into her hands, "When … you've always been fighting against them and … it's taken away everything you've loved and now it's taken me away," she whispered through her muffled cries.

Harry pulled her into his arms and held her close, wiping her tears away with his fingers and kissing her eyelids. "Ginny, you didn't have a choice. You didn't practice anything- you were forced down there. I would have done the same thing, and I'm glad you did … I'm so sorry that happened, and I'm so sorry I wasn't there," he whispered. He thought about Ron being able to comfort Hermione instantly after she had suffered torture, and here he was, eight months later, just now finding out about Ginny's ordeal and trying to comfort her. The guilt of his absence settled in his chest. "I shouldn't have left; I should have stayed and fought them. I'm so sorry."

"If you had done that, the war wouldn't be over," she explained. "You can't change it; it happened and it's over. It's just hard for me to forget. I wish I could just erase it from my memory."

"I do too," he said as he kissed her forehead. "You said that's where the dream changes. What happened in the chamber? Did …?" he trailed off the question as it caught in his throat. She felt him tense against her with anger, not at her, but at the thought of what might have happened.

"Snape heard Neville screaming for them to leave me alone and he came in. He told them that all punishment was to be reviewed by him before it was carried out and took Neville and I to the hospital wing. I remember trying to yell at him for allowing them to be there in the first place, for making this happen … he didn't say anything. He just brought us, and left," she explained quietly. Harry's arms relaxed around her. "I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't come," she said quietly.

"Don't think about that … don't," Harry said, pulling her in front of him. She could see relief in his eyes as he again wiped the tears away from her face. "It didn't happen, so there's no point in the what-if's. You're here and you're safe, and I swear on everything I own that I will –"

"Don't, Harry," she said warningly. "Don't go running after them. I know they're on the most wanted list, and if the other Auror's are with you that's fine. But don't go after them by yourself on my account, please. They'll kill you, or something worse, and I don't know what I would do if you were gone. Please don't go chasing them," she pleaded as she snuggled into his chest.

Harry sighed deeply and snuggled back against her. He offered her a drink of water which had appeared magically on the night stand. When she was finished he put the glass back and lay down on his pillow, beckoning her to come into his arms. She lay her head against his chest and snaked her arms around his waist.

"I won't Ginny, I won't leave you again," he promised, pressing his lips to the top of her head. "I wish you would have told me sooner though. I wanted to help; I wish I could help more. I wish Neville would have told me," he said as he stared at the ceiling.

"I made him swear not to," Ginny muttered.

"Why?"

"I thought that either you would be repulsed by what I had done, or you'd be so angry you'd seek them out for vengeance and I just didn't want you to leave again," she explained. "I promise, Harry, that's the worst that happened last year. I won't hide anything like that from you again, I was just … scared of what you'd think. But now you know, and only you and Neville know … so please, please, don't tell my family; they would go insane," she begged him.

"I promise I won't tell a soul about anything that happened, but I don't think you should hide it forever- they care and they just want to help."

"I know, but Mum and Dad would lose it, you know they would. It's just better for them if they don't know … I didn't even want you to know … I don't want you to think badly of me for letting that happen."

"Ginny, there is nothing you could do that would make me not want you or think badly of you," Harry assured her, rolling onto his side and pulling her closer to him. "And you didn't let anything happen, so don't blame yourself. I love you, and I wouldn't want to imagine my life without you in it again."

Ginny smiled slightly and pressed her lips against the large bruise on his chest. "Me either, so let's make sure that doesn't happen, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan," Harry whispered. He nestled his face into her hair and breathed in her scent, waves of guilt over his absence still washing over him.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?" Harry muttered as he pressed his lips to Ginny's forehead.

"I love you; I have for the longest time. Please, please say you won't leave me again?" Ginny whispered, chastising herself for giving into her weakness as the words came pouring out. "I know that's incredibly selfish of me to ask and I don't expect any promises or –"

Her explanation was silenced by Harry's lips as they pressed against hers firmly. She felt her body relax into his as his arms tightened around her, and she pressed her palms softly against his chest, allowing the sensation of his bare skin to overwhelm her.

"I promise, Ginny, I won't leave you again," Harry whispered against her lips, nuzzling his nose against hers gently. "Go to sleep; I'm here with you now and I won't ever let anything happen to you."

Ginny sighed and snuggled into his chest, allowing sleep to overcome her again as her head filled with dreams of Harry holding her tightly and staying by her side forever.