CP 20

Harry appeared behind a large oak tree on a quiet, deserted street on the outskirts of London. This was a street like any other in appearance, but Harry knew he was in the right place at once.

Twilight had come, and in the dusk Harry rapt his wand on his head casting a disillusionment charm. When the feeling of cold water trickling from his head to his toes dissipated, he moved slowly towards the dark house on the far corner.

He was cautious as he approached; Harry didn't know what kind of charms or jinxes that protected the house. He found a quiet nook in between two hedgerows and he waited, watching closely for any sign of movement.

After ten minutes of agonizingly perfect stillness, Harry was rewarded. He saw a small pinprick of light bouncing through one of the back windows on the main floor of the house – a movement that could only be made by someone holding a wand with the tip lit. Harry approached, moving as quietly as a cat. He crept silently onto the back porch, following the point of light inside as he stepped, surprised that he was able to approach the house so easily.

The light disappeared into another room as he said alohomora and the back door opened with a soft "click." Harry tiptoed in and closed the door behind him, looking around for any sign of Ginny. He had been in this house only once, in his fourth year when he and Ron visited Dean briefly on their way to London from the Burrow. He was glad now that he had come then.

Harry was startled when he heard a door open and then close followed by the sound of a lock sliding home. He frowned, hoping that he would be able to open the door without making noise. He moved to the door, and looking around, Harry figured that it must lead down into the basement.

Steeling himself and casting muffliato (hoping that the spell would mask at least some of the noise), he performed alohomora, opened the door and listened. He heard shuffling and a low moaning – Harry froze.

He raised his wand and started slowly down the steps. He bent his head as soon as he was able and he saw Ginny – his Ginny - tied to a mattress on the floor of this grungy basement. Her shirt and bra had been torn away and her breasts were exposed, heaving up and down with every breath she took. Harry paused and closed his eyes briefly, trying not to lose control of himself, planning how to get Ginny out of here in one piece. God help Dean if he touched her…

He stepped again, lower and lower, until a high-pitched squeal of the bottom stair caused him to stop suddenly as Dean swung around, looking for the cause of the noise. Seeing nothing, Dean sneered, and then smiled.

"Ah, it sounds like Potter has come to rescue you, my love," Dean said to Ginny, his eyes never leaving the staircase. Harry meanwhile, used the cover of Dean's voice to step down the last stair and come closer to Ginny and Dean. He circled around, floating past Dean and now stood mere inches from Ginny's head. Harry bent down as Dean moved closer to the staircase, and touched Ginny's cheek.

Harry silently unbound Ginny's ties and fired "sectumsempra" at Dean's torso at the same time. Dean was momentarily cut down and staggered to the ground grasping at the open wound on his chest. It was enough time for Ginny to jump from the bed and stand beside Harry, trying her best to make her shredded shirt cover her breasts again. Harry yelled, "accio wand!" and Ginny's wand darted from Dean's back pocket into her outstretched hand.

"Go, Ginny!" Harry screamed to her. "Apparate out of here! Go!"

"No," she yelled back. "I'm not leaving you!" Harry's eyes grew dark.

"Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?" Harry asked her, glancing at her barely concealed breasts. "Reparo," he whispered, and her shirt stitched itself shut again.

"Yes and no. I'm okay, Harry, but he will never touch anyone again…"

Her eyes were like steel, and rather then waste time arguing with her, Harry approached Dean and saw a steady trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. His shirt had begun to soak through with blood from the ragged gash on his chest. He was apparently knocked out.

As Harry turned to Ginny to beg her to go, he heard "incarcerous" a moment before he felt thick ropes wind around his body, effectively immobilizing him. Dean yelled "incendio" immediately, and a foot from Ginny's shoulder a large bolt of flames began licking the dry wood and creeping swiftly up the wall.

"No!" screamed Ginny, and aimed her wand at Dean's heart. Without thinking, she yelled, "stupefy!" and the power behind her spell was so concentrated that Dean fell to the floor unconscious.

She had to do it. Before she could think, before she even freed Harry from the spell that was binding him, Ginny walked over to Dean and stared down at him, hating him with every fiber of her being. It all came rushing out – all of the emotions that she had held inside of her for so long. The fear, the loathing, the guilt – all stemming from that one act of cowardice so many months ago – the fire at the Burrow. And now she was here, standing here staring down at the cause of it all. Dean.

"Diffindo," she said softly, calmly, aiming at Dean's hands, and one by one she could hear his fingers breaking. The cracking sound gave Ginny a sickening satisfaction, and she smiled at her accomplishment. He would never be able to touch another woman the same way he had touched her today.

Dean woke to excruciating pain. He was bound so tightly that it was impossible to move, even if he wanted to. His fingers felt like they were on fire. He screamed with all his might and looked up into Ginny's eyes pleading for mercy. There was none to be found there.

"Diffindo," she said again, this she time aimed at his wrists, loving the sound of the snap as his bones shattered again and again. Ginny broke every bone in Dean's hands and arms before she was finished.

Dean was sweating, unable to scream anymore. He moved as little as possible, each twitch caused him unbearable pain. He was taking shallow breaths and moaning.

"Please," he said breathlessly, "please, Ginny. I'm sorry…so sorry."

"Not so tough now, are you? You'll never be able to touch another woman again, Dean. How does that make you feel? I'm so happy that I could be the one to do this to you," Ginny said.

She turned to Harry then and said, "finite incantatum" and the ropes binding Harry fell away and he stood, rubbing his wrists. Together, he and Ginny turned to the flames and shouted "aguamenti." The flames faltered and died within minutes.

"Are you alright?' Harry asked softly, holding Ginny in his arms.

She nodded. "I am now."

"Thank you for saving me – you were amazing," Harry said, letting Ginny go.

"My pleasure," she said. They both turned to Dean then, and Harry approached him slowly. Ginny held back, wanting to see what Harry was going to do.

When Harry stood over Dean, he looked down and felt nothing but rage. Pity or compassion had no space in Harry's world at that moment. All he thought about was revenge and pain.

"Nice job on him," Harry said, nodding towards Dean.

"Thank you," Ginny replied with a contented smile. Harry turned back to his prey.

Harry stared at Dean, loathing seething through his eyes. Dean was startled, but remained silent. He struggled against his binds, and screamed again at the extreme pain that he found himself in.

"It's no use," Harry began, speaking slowly but deliberately. "There's no escaping this time, Dean. No breaking through these curses, trust me." Harry walked around Dean, never breaking eye contact. Ginny stood to the side watching, Harry reminding her of a cat playing with a trapped mouse. She had had her moment, and now she would let Harry have his.

"So, you think it was smart to go after Ginny instead of me, huh, Dean? You thought that she would be an easier target? Well, you were wrong, weren't you? I bet you regret that decision now. You will never get close to her again, I promise you that…"

As Harry walked around Dean's bound body, he would flick his wand every so often, and a small, but deep cut would appear on Dean. Harry was casting "sectumsempra" silently – either knowingly or unknowingly, Ginny couldn't tell.

Harry continued, "Thought you were a big man starting that fire, didn't you? Sending the Burrow up in smoke? That was fun, was it? You're idea of keeping Ginny yours? Well, I have news for you – she was never yours, and she never will be. Ginny is mine, she's my wife and I never intend on letting her go. Ever."

"Aah!" Dean screamed and closed his eyes against the pain as another cut was made on his shoulder blade.

By this time, Harry had circled Dean's body three times, more and more cuts appeared along his flesh. The blood began spilling over into long, thin streams, pooling on the floor beside his body.

"Harry," Ginny said softly. He ignored her. "Harry…" she said louder. Again, no response. Ginny approached him as he circled close to her and she touched Harry's arm.

"Harry…" she said, louder than before. He turned to her then. Harry looked through Ginny like she was a pane of glass. For the first time in her life, she was afraid of him, of the power he held, of what he could do.

Harry flicked his wand towards Dean once again.

"Protego!" Ginny said, forming a shield between Dean and Harry.

She steeled herself, and turned him fully to face her. "Harry!" She put her hands on either side of his face and brought it down to meet hers, his deep green eyes finally focusing on her warm chocolate ones, and he exhaled, calming. "That's enough, baby. He's not worth killing, trust me."

"Ginny," Harry said, bringing her into his arms and pulling her tight.

"It's okay, Harry, it's over," she replied, holding him closer. Harry released her then and turned to Dean. Harry waved his wand over Dean and the blood began to recede.

"He'll be okay, unfortunately" Harry said, regaining his self-control. "I'll take him to the Ministry; you find Ron and Hermione and let them know what happened. I'll meet you back home as soon as I can."

Ginny nodded. "Okay, be careful."

"Of course. I love you, Gin."

"I love you, too. See you at home."

Harry levitated Dean's body and as he screamed from the pain Ginny and Harry smiled at each other. They turned into oblivion.