*UPDATED*

In the last chapter:

She reached Remus's door as quickly as she could. She didn't even bother to knock. She simply touched the door and it opened for her.

"Professor!" she shouted at the man, who awoke with a start. She didn't even give him time to speak.

"It's Tonks! She's been attacked by Nagini... she was next to Zonko's in Hogsmeade. I don't know if..."

But Ginny didn't have time to finish, for Lupin was out before she had started the second sentence. The girl fell to the ground and held her head with her hands tightly, begging, praying for the pain to go away.

Chapter 11

Questions

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers." James Thurber

She didn't really look like herself.

Or, maybe, she looked exactly like herself, like her real self.

Nymphadora Tonks lay on a hospital bed under a thin white sheet that covered most of her body.

Her hair, which Harry had normally seen spiky and pink, was now shoulder length and straight, with a mousy brown colour and some lighter natural highlights. Her heart-shaped face remained the same, but her nose looked smaller, as did her lips.

There were scratches all over her arms and there was a huge bite mark on her chin, as well as other marks that had been bandaged due to their severity. Harry had to admit that seeing Tonks like this sent shivers up his spine.

Remus was looking at her as he sat to the left side of her bed; not even the strange looks that he had received from the young woman's parents moved him away from there, he looked like he was stuck there, like he wouldn't move until she did.

"I'm sure she'll be fine, Andromeda," Sirius spoke clearly, resting a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder. "My cousin's strong, she'll get past this, and she'll be firing spells at Death Eaters in no time."

Andromeda tried to smile a little, but the corners of her mouth barely moved.

Sirius turned to look at Harry and moved his head, telling the seventeen-year-old that it was time to get himself back to Hogwarts.

Harry nodded.

"Dumbledore wants to talk to you," Remus spoke without taking his eyes off Tonks for a second. "He said so before, when he brought her. He also wants to talk to Ginny."

"Yeah, sure..." Harry spoke. "Sirius is right," he then spoke to everyone in the room. "She's Tonks... she's gonna be fine."

"Remus," Ted Tonks then spoke. "Dumbledore mentioned you should be there too."

Remus didn't answer.

"Son," the man spoke again. This time the sandy haired man looked up. "She's not going to wake up until tomorrow at least, you can come back here when you're finished."

Remus looked at Sirius, who nodded in agreement.

Remus stood up slowly and then leaned down to place a soft kiss on Tonks's temple, not caring if her parents would be confused by the gesture. He then looked at the man and woman in question.

"If she does wake up... could you send a Patronus or Floo or-"

"We will," Andromeda spoke clearly, nodding at the man.

Harry felt himself spin as he arrived at the fireplace in Dumbledore's office. However, Dumbledore wasn't there, only Ginny was.

"He said he'd be back in a second, I don't know where he went," Ginny spoke as she saw Harry's eyes search for the old headmaster. Harry walked towards her and gave her a hug, surprising the red-headed girl. She pressed her head against his chest tightly, loving the feeling of safety and warmth...the pain was gone now, he had left the minute Harry walked, or more like stumbled, into the room. "How is she?"

Harry pressed his lips together. "They're pretty sure she'll live, but they have no idea how she'll react to the treatment, there was a kind of venom but well...they know it was a Snake, but they're not completely sure it was Nagini."

"Harry, I'm pretty sure it was Nagini, the darkness and they way it felt when it was hiding..." Ginny spoke as she looked at the boy

"Yeah, it felt like Nagini but last year -"

Suddenly Harry stopped and he looked down at Ginny and then she realized her error, she'd just confessed she had seen the vision too.

However, when Harry was about to say something, Dumbledore opened the door and Sirius appeared in the fireplace, followed by Remus; the two of them had obviously spoken about something when Harry had left.

"Harry, Miss Weasley, I'm sorry to disturb you like this, you probably haven't had any sleep, but... I just wanted to make sure that Harry told me everything he saw," Dumbledore spoke, smiling at the boy.

"Yeah, I think I did..." Harry spoke, still looking at Ginny hardly from the corner of his eye. "But, Professor, I think Ginny should leave... I mean, she's of no use here..."

His voice was hard and Ginny could feel him observing her. He probably thought it was something else that she'd kept from him, if only he knew she was as surprised as he was.

"Well, that's my second question... How come it was Miss Weasley who came to inform professor Lupin of the occurrence?" The headmaster asked, now looking at the girl, who was looking down at the ground.

Harry looked at the headmaster. "Ginny and I were speaking last night and we fell asleep on the common room sofa." As he said that, Harry could swear that he heard Sirius snort. "When I woke up, the pain was excruciating so I told her to reach someone."

"That's all?" Dumbledore spoke, looking straight at Ginny, who looked up and nodded.

"Yes," the girl answered. "I...I was going to wake up Professor McGonagall, but I had the feeling that Professor Lupin...well, I..."

Dumbledore nodded and waved his hand dismissively. "That's fine, Miss Weasley, I think I can understand. Now you can go back to you dormitory and get some sleep."

Ginny nodded and stood up, looking at Harry as she did, but he didn't return the look.

"Goodnight," Ginny spoke quietly. The three grown men returned her goodnight, but the one she was hoping for didn't.

As Ginny left, Remus walked towards Harry. "Ginny said it was Nagini, how did you know?"

"I..." Harry was silent for a few moments and Sirius eyed him carefully when he realized that his godson didn't know that it had been Nagini. "It felt like it, it felt like Voldemort... and I think I caught the colour... it looked like it and, I wouldn't have been able to see it if not, would I? It had to be Nagini."

"But the venom didn't reach Tonks's system, Harry. Why would Nagini do that?" Sirius asked.

Harry stood up angrily. "I don't know!"

He didn't know why he had suddenly snapped like that, but Remus's eyes on him were making him nervous, and Sirius asking him questions that he had no idea of made it all worse.

"I have no idea! I may have a connection with him, but it doesn't transmit his thoughts. I can't think like him, my brain and his are two completely different things," Harry shouted at the three.

"Harry, son, please calm down," Dumbledore begged. "We're just trying to help Nymphadora here."

Harry breathed in and nodded. "I know," he then spoke and looked at Remus. "I'm sorry, I just... I have no idea, Remus... I wish I could, you know that I would search in his mind if I could, but I can't...I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Remus whispered. "I have to get back to St. Mungo's. Get some sleep, Harry."

When Harry reached the common room, Ginny was sitting on the sofa, obviously waiting for him.

"I-I... I can't deal with this, not tonight," Harry spoke, making Ginny gulp. She couldn't help but think about how little that attitude went with Harry. Not caring, not being bothered... that was something she'd never seen in the young man.

He started walking toward the staircase and Ginny didn't say anything, she had no right to. However, when Harry reached the first step, he kicked it hardly and turned around to face Ginny.

Realizing that this was probably going to get loud, Ginny waved her hand and placed a muffling charm on them, not wanting the whole tower to wake up to their discussion.

Harry started in a low tone. "Every single time I think I'm a bit closer... you just... Are you really ever going to tell me something, Ginny? Because right now I feel like a puppet that you've been moving to please you. What am I? Really, truthfully... am I a game? Or are you really a Death Eater that he's sent so he can keep his tabs on me and then..."

Somewhere along the speech Ginny had stood up, and before Harry could finish, she slapped him, hardly. Harry took a hand up to his cheek.

"You have a right to be angry," Ginny spoke harshly. "You have a right to shout and be hurt and confused. You probably should try to hear me out first, but I get it, Gryffindors tend to do first and listen later. However, you never should, and if you ever want me to look at you again, you never will accuse me of working with him. Specially working with him against you."

Harry looked down. He wasn't sure what he should say. He was fed up of the lying, of the not knowing. He wanted Ginny to tell him everything once and for all; he wanted to be able to truly be a part of her life. He didn't know why he was being like this, he wasn't sure why he wasn't being more reasonable, but he was confused... here she was, making him angry like no one else, making him doubt her and yet he knew that he wouldn't survive without her.

"Explain yourself, then... What are you? Why haven't you told me you had a connection with Voldemort?" he asked her, looking at her with the light from the fire illuminating her face.

Ginny bit her lip and gulped once again. "What I saw today, Harry... I, it's the first time I've ever seen something like that."

She thought about telling him about the voice in her head, but she knew she couldn't; she wasn't ready.

"One thing is not being ready to tell me something, and another thing is to lie, Ginny. I'm not going to stand here like an idiot, believing false words," he told her seriously, although he could feel that she wouldn't lie to him so openly.

She eyed him incredulously. "Are you serious? I'm not lying to you, Harry! That's the first time I have EVER seen anything through someone else's eyes! I... I'm not totally over what happened in the Chamber and that still has an effect on me, but I have NEVER..." She quietened down for a second and then continued with a lower tone. "You know what? Why am I even explaining myself? If you don't want to believe me, you're not going to believe me, it's as easy as that."

Harry looked down and he suddenly felt the need to cry, he felt like oxygen wasn't reaching his lungs, he felt like he could faint any minute.

"Are-Are you...you're not lying?" Harry's asked and he winced as he saw Ginny's hurt expression.

She looked at him for a second. "I've already told you, Harry. There's things... from the Chamber... from the young Tom but, not this."

Harry breathed in and out a few times, trying to calm himself. Finally, he took a step forwards and took Ginny in his arms. She was right to slap him when she had, he couldn't believe he had even suggested that she would betray him like that, he should know by now that no matter how troubled she was, she would never turn her back on him.

"I'm sorry, I... Look," he spoke pulling back and looking into her eyes. "We're going to find out what's going on. We're going to talk to Dumbledore, ok? He'll help us find out what's going on with you."

Ginny shook her head. "No."

"What do you mean, 'no', Ginny? Dumbledore is experienced..."

"Harry, I said 'No'...do you know how many people know about your connection with Tom? You told me the other day that Sirius nearly got killed a few years back, didn't he? And all because it reached Voldemort. There are spies everywhere!" Ginny insisted.

Harry untangled his arms from hers. "You can trust Dumbledore."

Ginny shook her head once again. "I know Snape works for both sides, but I'm not risking it, Harry...Tom already wants me dead because he didn't finish his job five years ago, I'm not going to make it easier for him."

"Trust Dumbledore, trust me," Harry continued saying.

"I trust you!" Ginny shouted. "Of course, I do... the slip I had... I was going to tell you anyway. I know it might seem like a lie, but it's the truth... I was going to let you know... let you help me."

"I can't help you, Ginny," Harry spoke. "I can't keep you in the dark!"

Ginny looked down. "If you tell him... then, I'm done, Harry. It's not a threat; it's simply the truth... If you leave my life in his hands, I'll run away to wherever I need to. You've seen what I can do, so don't underestimate me; If Dumbledore finds out about my powers or any other thing I've confided in you... I'll go back to my life before, and I swear I'll find a way."

Ginny started turning around, ready to leave him with his thoughts.

"You wouldn't do that," Harry suddenly said. "You wouldn't leave me."

Ginny sighed. A month ago she would have laughed at that, now she knew that he was most probably right.

"If I convinced myself that leaving was the best thing for both of us... yeah, I would," Ginny told him and, with that, she dissaparated.

Harry closed his eyes, realizing her last action was the best way to show him that she could carry out any wish she had. Leave it to Harry Potter to fall in love with the only human being who could Apparate in Hogwarts.

He walked up to his dormitory and slowly took the Marauder's map. He sighed with relief as he saw Ginny Weasley's name in the sixth-year girl's dormitory.

It had been two days; two horrible days, in Harry's opinion.

He still hadn't decided what he was going to do and Ginny still wasn't talking to him; he knew that she wouldn't until he had made his choice.

Why couldn't she just understand? If he wanted to talk to Dumbledore it was for her own safety, as well as the fact that this was key information for the war. She was so stubborn that he couldn't help the need to hex her until she came around, but he knew that no hex would do that and he also knew that there was no way that he could hex Ginny Weasley, she'd outdo him in any duel.

The worst thing was that she wasn't even coming down to dinners and lunches; Harry knew better than to think she wasn't eating, but it still made him feel uneasy. Every second that they spent apart was getting to him, not only mentally but physically, he could actually feel how drained his body was, how dizzy these feelings made him.

Hermione had asked what was going on yesterday, but Harry had dismissed her worries, telling her that it'd been a stupid fight that would be over soon enough, or at least he hoped it would.

He heard muttering and looked opposite him to find Hermione and Ron fighting in whispers. Ron looked up at Harry, ignoring Hermione's protests.

"What's going on, mate?" he asked. Harry turned to look at Hermione, who shrugged, indicating she hadn't said anything.

Harry shook his head. "What d'you mean?"

"You know what I mean. What happened with my sister?"

Harry gulped and then swore under his breath. He felt the need to glare at Hermione for letting this slip out, but she looked genuinely surprised too and he didn't want to get her in trouble if it really hadn't been her.

"I...well, I...I don't know, Ron," Harry spoke.

Ron rolled his eyes. He wasn't smart, he knew that... but he was not that clueless a guy. It didn't take a lot to figure out what had been going on between his best mate and his sister, everyone could see it.

"Fine, whatever, but just... solve this, ok? There's a war going on and I don't want someone to end up dead because my sister's got you in a foul mood or the wrong way around," Ron told him seriously.

Harry looked like he was about to say something, but he decided against it, stood up and left the Great Hall.

Hermione Granger turned to look at her boyfriend questionably. "You're okay with it?"

Ron rolled his eyes once again, irritating Hermione. "I have no idea what is going on between them, but he's happy and Dean says that the glare Harry threw him the other day made sure that it would hurt to even think of Ginny, so...let them do whatever they feel like..."

Hermione couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips.

"What if they fall in love? What if they have fallen in love?" Hermione asked him, causing Ron to choke on his orange juice as he let out a laugh.

"You've been reading far too many romance novels, Hermione."

Harry saw her red hair about ten metres away. She was walking beside Luna, a white text book in her hand as she spoke to the blonde girl.

"Gin! Ginny!" Harry shouted; nevertheless, Ginny didn't turn around, she simply continued walking.

Harry took a few quick steps and was beside her in less than 10 seconds.

"What is it, Harry?" Ginny asked, stopping and turning around.

Harry suddenly felt a little loss for words; he gave Luna a little wave, which she returned. The blonde girl then started walking ahead slowly.

He tried to grab Ginny's hand, but she pushed it away. "Are you going to stop avoiding me?"

"Are you going to choose if you're going to tell Dumbledore or not?" Ginny answered in response.

Harry was silent.

"That's what I thought," she spoke quietly before preparing to turn around again.

Harry grabbed her arm and turned her around so she was facing him. "Please, Gin... I love you."

Ginny laughed ironically. "Harry, that doesn't change anything... you know I'm not one of those girls... you can't just say you... it's not going to work on me, it's pathetic!"

Harry sighed deeply. "I'm just trying to do what's best for you, for everyone."

"And I've told you what the best for everyone is... whatever is going on with me is for me to figure out, and you, if I let you," Ginny spoke seriously. "I know what's best because that's what my instinct tells me; but if you feel your instinct telling you to go to Dumbledore... go, don't let me change your mind... I'll deal with the consequences then," Ginny let him know.

Obviously, she didn't want him to do that... if he did tell Dumbledore, she'd have to take matters into her own hands and she would leave him here; it's not that she thought the old man was evil, it's just that she thought he had been through too much and was only human, he could make mistakes.

"I don't want to lose you, I only want to help you," Harry protested.

Ginny shook her head. "Do you think going to Dumbledore is the right thing?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I'm sure it is."

"Then go," she insisted. "I promise I won't go away immediately, I'll only do it if I think things will get out of hand. But, Harry, I can feel I will have to end up leaving, so don't get your hopes up, okay?"

Harry looked completely confused, not knowing what to say. Ginny caressed his cheek with her hand and planted a small kiss on his left cheek before moving away.

Harry walked up the stairs, a battle taking place in his head. It was late and he should probably be in bed, but he had to get this sorted.

Ginny had said that he should follow his instincts, but he really didn't think he could live without her, as crazy as it sounded, he really didn't think he could. There was this kind of pull between them that didn't allow him to.

"Ah... Harry," Dumbledore spoke as he saw Harry enter the room. "To what do I owe this visit?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair, his mind still moving rapidly; he'd come up here, hadn't he? That meant that, subconsciously, he was decided.

"Professor, I... Is there any way to see Voldemort's visions like I do? I mean, any other way," Harry tried to ask the old man without giving anything out; if he could avoid telling him all together, he would.

"Harry?" Dumbledore asked, asking a silent question as he said his name.

Harry moved forward and sat down. "I was just wondering... could there be anyone else to have this connection like me or would you have to survive the killing curse-"

"Where is this coming from, Harry?" the headmaster asked him with raised eyebrows, yet his face still looked peaceful and calm.

Harry shook his head. "I... I really was just wondering-"

"Well," Dumbledore, who didn't look really convinced, started. "I don't know. I'm sure there could be reasons for it, rational reasons, but why this question, Harry? Truthfully? Does this have anything to do with one of your friends? Because, if you know someone who is having visions, they need to be treated like you."

"Treated like me, how?" Harry asked, confused once again.

Dumbledore stood up. "They need to receive Occlumency lessons like you."

"They've not been much use to me," Harry retorted under his breath, but Dumbledore smiled sympathetically, obviously having heard him.

"Yes they have, Harry... but it's very hard to block out a mind with such power, especially when you're sleeping; how long has it been, Harry, since you had a vision while you were awake?" Dumbledore asked him, trying to make a valid point.

Harry sighed, seeing he was right. "Years," he answered clearly. Still, his head was sending him mixed signals; he didn't know what to do. Maybe he could teach Ginny Occlumency and then Dumbledore wouldn't even need to know, and then Ginny would be happy, and she'd stay.

"Harry, will you tell me now what this is about?" Dumbledore asked the young man.

Harry shook his head. "I really was just wondering... if, you know, there's someone like me out there... that knows how I would feel."

Dumbledore nodded as Harry stood up. "You do trust me, do you not, Harry?"

Harry turned around for a second and nodded. "I do."

Harry paused for a second and then turned back to look at Dumbledore and walked towards the professor.

"There's something I need to tell you, Sir, but you have to give me your word that it will never get out..."

"My word, Harry," Dumbledore spoke with a knowing smile that also reflected sadness. He knew that whatever Harry was going to do know might cost him a friendship, but he also knew that if Harry's instincts had lead him to tell the old man, it was for a reason.

"Can I ask you a question?" a hushed voice cut through the silence of the night.

The red-head blinked a few times before leaning over to face the bed next to hers, holding her head with her hand. "Yeah," she whispered.

"Why did you leave?"

Anna hadn't really talked to Ginny that much since she had arrived, a few good mornings and meaningless comments, but none of the girls that shared the dormitory with Ginny had sought a real friendship with her. But that was alright; Ginny had Luna, who kept her entertained most of the time and then she had Harry, who normally did the same when he wasn't acting like a git.

Ginny pressed her lips together. "I...The Chamber shook me up a lot; it was for the best," she simply said.

Ginny could barely see the other girl, but she could swear she saw her shake her head. "I'm sorry," the voice came again. "I just...I always wondered and kind of felt a little guilty... we left you behind that year, didn't we? You had that crush on Harry and we all used to laugh and we were a little cruel... as cruel as a Gryffindor eleven-year-old can be, but, still, we were... anything but nice."

Ginny snorted silently. "Don't worry... I was a mess that year, it's the past."

The girl made a sound that Ginny couldn't really understand. "Good night, Ginny."

"Yeah," Ginny spoke quietly. "Goodnight, Anna."

It took ten minutes until Ginny could hear Anna's soft snores and she could finally relax, she had the bad habit of not being able to fall asleep before everyone around her also was.

Her eyelids began feeling heavy and she closed her eyes, beginning to drift off.

"Hey," a deep quiet voice suddenly spoke, startling Ginny.

She put her hand in front of her, ready to stun the intruder when she realized it was Harry.

"Bloody hell, Potter!" she muttered under her breath. "I could've killed did you get up here!"

Harry chuckled quietly as he pointed at the broomstick that was next to the door. He began pulling the bed's curtains around the two of them. "Could you...?" he asked in a whisper, pointing at the cubicle that surrounded the bed.

Ginny understood and cast a silencing charm silently. "Done," she spoke, now in her normal tone.

Harry looked at her for a second, not knowing what to say to her. He tried to think rationally but he couldn't, not with how she looked. Her hair was a mess, sticking up in different directions and her face was completely make-up free, all he could see was completely natural. He couldn't brush off the need to kiss every single freckle that made its way from her rosy cheeks to her straight nose, she was truly a beauty.

"Potter?" Ginny asked for the second time, waving a hand in front of the seventeen-year-old. Harry blinked twice, coming out of his trance. "Why are you here?"

Harry looked down for a second and then shifted on the bed, taking seat closer to Ginny. He offered her his hand and she hesitantly took it, but not without eying Harry carefully.

"I talked to Dumbledore."

The minute those words left his mouth, Ginny's face fell and her hand was out of his in a second. Harry felt his insides sink to the bottom; he wanted what was best for her, but he couldn't stand her leaving or hating him. He wanted to be truthful, he wanted that with all his might, but he knew what the best thing to do was, and it was to keep them together, if he had to lie to do that, he would.

Ginny was about to get out of the bed when Harry grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes, Ginny could feel his fear.

"I-I didn't tell him anything. We can solve this together, I can help you," Harry spoke, trying to remain calm.

Ginny looked at him for a second. There was something about him that was off, she could feel her gut tell her, she could actually feel the mixture of emotions that she was sure Harry was feeling. She shook her head. Harry wouldn't lie to her, he wouldn't look into her eyes and lie... she trusted him and he trusted her and she needed to get used to that.

She put her arms around him and pressed her lips against his, letting his tongue make its way through her teeth and battle against her own for dominance. This was right, she told herself, this was what she was supposed to feel like when she was kissed.

She pulled back. "Thank you... for trusting me, for listening," she spoke.

Harry ran a hand through her hair, not caring that it was tangled and not as smooth as usual; he pushed her fringe behind her ear and shifted so that he was leaning against the wooden headboard, with Ginny curled up against him, her head leaning on his chest and his arm around her waist.

"Can you tell me something?" Ginny asked him innocently, reminding him of a small girl. "One of you adventures, what did you do the year I left?"

Harry looked down at her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Third year? Well, that wasn't the most interesting, but there was a certain punch given by Hermione..."

Half-an hour later, Harry was still talking quietly when he realized Ginny had dozed off.

He smiled sadly to himself and moved her carefully so that she was resting her head on the pillow instead of his chest. His smile grew a little as he realized that she had fallen asleep with him looking at her, two weeks ago she had confessed that she couldn't.

Yet, the smile dissapeard as soon as it come and Harry slid of the bed placing a light kiss on Ginny's temple and looking at her with guilt marked on his face.

"Merlin, Ginny, I hope someday you can forgive me."