Author's Notes:

Standard Disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. That you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

I will continue to use the occasional song lyric in the story and will give credit at the time when needed.

This is the fifth book in my Slytherin Harry series.

Book 1 Harry Potter and the Muggle's Daughter.

Book 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Book 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Book 4: Harry Potter and the Blood Traitor's Daughter

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

If you haven't read books 1-4 you won't know what's going on. But the bonus is you've got four completed books before you even get to this one!

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

CHAPTER XXV

True Story

HPHPHP

Later that night Harry was leaning against the wall looking out the window onto Hogwarts' grounds. "Are you just going to stand there?" he asked softly. Hermione transformed and moved out of the shadow to stand in front of him. She said nothing, just watching as a tear slid down his cheek. Harry sank to his knees and she stepped to him. He clung to her, his face buried in her stomach while she held him. "She doesn't remember," he gasped.

Tears slipped down her cheeks to drop on his head. "I know," she soothed. "I know."

HPHPHP

"Hello, Luvs," Mrs Tonks said, coming around the screen.

"Hello, Ma'am," Ginny answered in English.

"Hey, Andi," Harry said. He offered her his cheek. She kissed him and sat down in the chair.

"I see you're learning fast, Ginny."

"I'm trying."

"It would seem you're doing more than trying. You're understanding English perfectly well now?"

"Yes."

"And were you able to read the book I left you?"

"Yes. Harry helped me with the words I didn't know."

Mrs Tonks smiled. "He's rather motivated, I think."

"He's not the only one."

"As you are perhaps the only person I've ever known to match Harry's determination, I believe you."

Ginny blushed. "You really think so?"

"I do."

"Why? Have I done something to make you think that?"

"You have. And I would like to see if I might help you recover your memories? If you are ready, that is?"

Ginny glanced at Harry. He squeezed her hand. "I promise, you can trust her."

"Promise you won't be mad if I don't remember?"

"Promise."

"All right then," Ginny said. "Let's do it. You just need me to look at you, right?"

"It will help, yes."

"I'm ready then."

"Then here we go." A few seconds later Mrs Tonks found herself standing in Ginny's dreamscape. Oh dear, she thought. She shivered and rubbed her arms.

"Hello," Ginny said.

Not even an inkling. Mrs Tonks thought at not having detected Ginny's approach. "Hello, Luv," she said, turning to face the girl. "Do you suppose we could have a bit of warmth?"

"Well?" Bill asked.

Andromeda sat down on the love seat. "Thank you, Lily," she said, accepting a cup of tea from her.

"You're welcome, Andi."

Andromeda took a sip before setting her cup down. "I don't know, Bill."

"You don't know?"

"The only mind I've ever encountered that frightened me more than Ginny's is Lily's. But Lily is not an Occlumens. Ginny was and still is. She is as dangerous and deadly as ever. I see that there are two conceivable scenarios that make this possible. The first is that Ginny is still there, somewhere in her mind and her retained skill as an Occlumens is her pushing pieces of herself past the damage the poison inflicted on her mind."

"And the second?" Bill asked tightly.

"Ginny's mind has been so damaged that while she will fully recover, she will never entirely be whom she was."

"But then how is she an Occlumens?" Lily asked.

"I'm not entirely certain, but my guess is that certain things that were integral to her being remain as an imprint; that, once activated, will return to her fully."

"You mean like a sort of muscle memory?"

"She has already made several statements indicating moments of déjà vu, so yes, I believe that is an apt analogy."

Lily glanced at Bill but he appeared unable to form a response. She turned back to Andi. "And of the two scenarios, which do you think more likely?"

"I hope for the first but feel me must prepare ourselves for the second." She reached for Bill's hand. "I'm sorry, William. I wish I had better news for you." He said nothing. She squeezed his hand. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

"Thank you, Andi," Lily said. She waited till Andi had left before focusing on Bill. "Bill?"

"I've killed her," he croaked.

"She is not dead."

Bill stood and moved to the window. "No, she's not," he agreed softly. "But Fleur is. Cedric and Viktor, all indications say they are brain dead… "Bits and pieces… Ginny isn't one of them… I should be happy… My sister is as good as dead and it's my fault because we left that bastard in place!"

Lily stood and crossed to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "We don't know that for certain, Bill."

"Even if we don't, your son, my sister." He shook his head. "Christ Lily, what have we done?"

"The best we knew how."

A tear tracked down his cheek. "It wasn't enough."

HPHPHP

Ginny picked her purple dread and held it out in front of her face. "Why is my hair like this?"

"Sorry?" Daphne asked.

"My hair. Why is it half black, red, purple and all matted like this? Harry can't possibly find this attractive, can he?"

Daphne pursed her lips. "I don't know as I can answer why you coloured it, or if Harry finds it attractive. As to why you have it in dreads, you did it so it wouldn't be in your face while playing quidditch."

Ginny frowned. "Quidditch?"

Daphne blinked. "You don't remember quidditch?" Ginny glowered at her. "Forgive me," Daphne said. "It's just that you're one of the top players in the school."

"I am?"

"Yes. You've been on the team since first-year. You and Harry both. You're insanely good. First-years rarely make the team at all and almost never as starters. You both have the potential to play professionally. Though personally I think you might be better than him."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"Oh," Ginny said.

"Would you like me to show you?"

Ginny nodded eagerly. "Yes." Daphne stood and grabbed the pensive.

An hour later Ginny lay in her bed replaying the memories Daphne had shared with her. Quidditch was played on brooms! How had she not known that? She'd known witches and wizards used brooms to fly but she'd lost all memory of quidditch. It made no sense. Of course some of the things she'd watched herself doing made no sense either. That Wronskie Feint thing was insanity defined. She didn't think she wanted to even try it. But she'd watched herself and Harry having battles on who could best perform the stunt. She hadn't beaten him, but she hadn't lost either. She also couldn't deny it looked like she'd loved every second of it.

"Knock, knock," Harry's voice came from beyond the curtain.

"I'm awake," she called, sitting up. Harry came around and took a chair beside her bed. He smiled and she couldn't stop herself grinning back at him. She'd yet to recall a single memory of him, herself or anyone else, but he just felt right. She reached out and he took her hand. She'd held hands with everyone who'd visited her since waking but Harry remained the only one who made her fingers tingle with electricity or magic or whatever it was. "Hi."

"Hi back."

"Good rehab session?"

Harry shrugged. "Long ways to go but I'll get there. What about you? Good visit with Daphne?"

"We talked about quidditch."

Harry cocked his head back. "Wow, she really does love you if she talked quidditch with you."

"What do you mean?"

"Just, it's not her favorite subject. She claims you and I talk about it sixteen of the eighteen hours were awake during the day. I'm afraid we're kind of fanatical about it."

"She said my dream is to play professionally."

"It's one of your dreams."

"I have more than one?"

"You've got two that I know of. You want to play quidditch for the Harpies. When you're done with that, you want to be a curse-breaker like Bill."

"What about you, what do you want to do?"

"I'm not sure. Quidditch could be fun; so could curse-breaking. I wouldn't mind teaching Judo either." Harry shrugged. "I haven't thought about it too much."

"You haven't?"

"Not really."

"How come?"

"Don't know. I'm only fourteen. It's not like I haven't got time."

"But isn't one of the characteristics of a Slytherin, knowing what you want out of life?"

"I know I want to be good at what I do. I know I'm driven. I know I work hard. I know I'm loyal. Modestly, I would say I'm pretty brave and fairly intelligent. I think most anyone could easily be in any of the houses. Don't let the narrow definitions fool you. I've seen cowards in Gryffindor, idiots and fools in Ravenclaw, back stabbing gits in Hufflepuff and lazy sodding bastards in Slytherin."

Ginny frowned. "And what am I?"

Harry took a breath. "Honestly, I think you're the bravest person I've ever met. You're probably as intelligent as anyone in the school; maybe not Hermione and Luna, but they're geniuses so they don't count. You're fiercely loyal. And like Mrs Tonks said, you are as driven as anyone to accomplish your dreams."

Ginny considered him for a few seconds. "Why do you think I'm brave?"

"That's a pretty long story; one you'll be hearing bits and pieces of for quite a while till you get your memory back. The short of it is, this isn't the only horrible thing to happen to you. You've got demons in your past, Ginny. You faced them, you recovered from them, you rose from the ashes stronger than ever."

Ginny snorted. "You make me sound like some great warrior or hero or something."

"I'm just telling you the truth."

"And what if I told you the idea of doing those things on a broom terrified me?"

Harry considered her. "I would say Hermione is probably the second bravest person I know and she's terrified to even get on a broom."

Time for a New Headmaster?

Current Hogwarts' Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore is, of course, most famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, with his victory heralding the beginning of the end of the global wizarding and muggle war. Upon defeating Grindelwald, Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts where he continued to serve as professor of Transfiguration and Deputy Headmaster till he succeeded Headmaster Armand Dippet in 1966.

Dumbledore's rise to Headmaster was seen as a sign of great change within the wizarding world, and England specifically, as he was the first wizard not considered to be of pure blood to hold the post. His early tenure was considered very successful with many of the most prominent sorcerers of recent times, including current Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones, to have been educated within Hogwarts hallowed halls under his guidance.

Recent years though have seen Dumbledore's tenure come under fire for headlines ranging from scandalous to horrific. Tragically this trend was continued last week when catastrophe struck the Triwizard Tournament when Beauxbatons' champion Fleur Delacour succumbed to injuries received competing in the second task, perishing two days later.

Ginny set the paper aside. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

Ginny shrugged. "Fleur."

"What about her?"

"She died," Ginny said. "She was trying to save me and she died. Those other two boys, Cedric and Viktor, they were hurt trying to help me and I don't even know who they are."

Hermione reached for her hand. "I can show you, if you like?"

Ginny sighed. "Yeah," she said. "I guess I owe them at least that."

Hermione held her wand to her head. Pulling it away she deposited a long silvery string in the pensive. "Before we go in, let me just tell you we only recently started to become friends with Fleur. Before that, well, we weren't very nice to her."

"Hermione showed me her memories of Fleur today," Ginny said.

"Oh?" Harry asked.

"We're kind of mean sometimes."

Harry rocked his head back and forth. "We can be. Though our ire has always been earned."

"Has it?"

"Fleur started things between us. And it was us who made the overtures to start over."

"I know. I just didn't like some of what I saw."

"To be fair," Harry conceded, "I know I can be a jerk. Honestly, I'm vicious when someone wrongs me or my friends or family. But I'm perfectly willing to live and let live. People don't have to like me. I just ask that they leave me alone. But I'm not going to just sit back and let people take swings at me either. I'll turn the cheek once or twice, but if someone keeps coming, I'm going to hit back."

"And you think that's the best answer?"

"I think, if you won't defend yourself, you'll spend your life a victim. I don't like fighting. I'd much rather just go about my business and live and let live. I've never started a fight and I'm comfortable with that. At the same time, I'm perfectly willing to call a truce and make nice. Don't believe me, ask Neville how he became my best mate."

"Why Neville?"

"Because I terrorized him a good part of second-year."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He deserved it. But then he grew a spine and stood up for Hermione against pretty much the whole of Gryffindor. We've been friends ever since."

She considered him. "You said we've fought?"

"We fought most of second and third-year."

"But we were together from the beginning of this year, yes?"

"Yes."

"Will you show me our worst fight?"

Harry took a breath and blew it out. "How about instead we just start at the beginning?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just start at the day we met and go through our relationship."

"Even with the pensive that will take months."

"True, but wouldn't it be smarter doing that than jumping from one thing to the other and having no context for why something happened the way it did?"

"You can't just tell me the context around it?"

"Unless you regain your memories, even starting from the beginning, I'm going to be telling you the context around things."

"Show me this one thing and I promise not to ask to go out of order again."

Harry sighed. "All right. I'm not sure if this is our worst fight or not, but it was pretty bad. It was during second-year. We were fighting from the beginning because you thought I'd betrayed you and kissed Hermione. By the time the fight happened, you'd learnt the truth about the kiss. But before you did you had accused me of hurting Luna. I was still seriously pissed at you for that, and I was mad at you because you hadn't given me a chance to explain about the kiss. I was giving you shite passes at practice, hoping to get you in trouble with David—"

"David?"

"Our quidditch captain," Harry provided. "Anyway, he was smart enough to see through what I was doing and called me on it. I compounded being stupid by blaming you for being in trouble with David." Harry put his wand to his temple and extracted the memory. Placing it in the pensive he focused on her. "Ready?"

"I've about a million questions, but I guess that's what I get for going out of order, yeah?"

Harry gave her a small smile. "Let's just say second and third-years were a total cluster fuck."

"You swear a lot, you know that?" Harry grimaced, started to respond but stopped

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You promised not to lie to me, remember?"

Harry blew out a breath. "Sorry. It's just you used to swear a lot too."

"Oh," Ginny mouthed. "Sorry."

"It's fine. I just didn't want you to think I was fighting back and throwing it in your face. Foul language has never been something that was taboo around me. I come by it honestly and don't really get why people have an issue with it."

"Sorry," Ginny said again.

"Not a big deal," Harry said. "Shall we?"

Ginny reached for his hand. "Show me."

A few moments later Ginny was watching a younger version of herself kicking Harry in the shin so hard he collapsed. "Oh," she gasped, her hand covering her mouth. She turned to Harry. He was cringing painfully at the sight of his younger self, curled on the floor. "I'm so sorry."

Harry gave himself a shake and turned to her. "I did learn not to give you shite passes."

"Harry says he terrorized you most of second year," Ginny said.

Neville cocked his head. "Yeah, he did."

"But you're friends with him now?"

"Well, he's still an arrogant git, but pretty much anything he did to me that year I deserved."

"Why?"

"Well, it kind of started first year when you were both sorted in Slytherin, but it was the train to school second-year that really set him off."

"Why?"

"Well, there was the kiss between Harry and Hermione, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, your brothers, Fred and George and their friend Lee decided they needed to defend your honor on the train to school at the start of second-year. They started a fight with Harry, only he and Hermione ended up beating the hell out of them. They all got pulled up into the prefects' carriage so the teachers could sort things. While their compartment was empty, me and Ron and the rest of our dorm mates trashed Harry and Hermione's things." Neville paused. "Ron and Seamus knocked Hedwig's cage about; while she was still in it."

"They terrorized her owl!"

Neville cringed. "Not my proudest moment," he agreed. "When Harry and Hermione came back to their compartment they let Hedwig out and she flew right down the corridor to ours. Started pecking the hell out of us. So Harry knew it was us even if he couldn't prove it. Classes start and we get to potions where no one wants to partner Harry, and all the people I thought were my friends pick partners who aren't me. We get stuck together. I was terrified of him and he knew it. He was vicious, but he also pointed out the truth about how the people I thought were my friends were laughing behind my back every time he did something to make me wet my pants. Not literally," he added when Ginny raised her brow. "Anyway, long story short, I start examining things and then I stick up for Hermione against the rest of our house. We've been mates ever since."

"Why do I think there's more to the story?" Ginny asked.

"There's the long winded version," Neville said. "But the fact is I judged you, Harry and Hermione without ever even speaking a word to any of you. Anything Harry ever did to me I deserved. The second I gave him a chance, he's had my back from that moment."

"Why did you judge me?"

"Same reason I did him; you were Slytherin."

"Slytherin really has a bad reputation with the other houses, don't they?"

"Gryffindor is the worst, and most of the time it's more rivalry than anything. But for some reason, with you and Harry it was something more."

"Me? Why me?"

Neville shrugged. "I think because all your family was in Gryffindor. Your brothers, they were all saying how you were no sister of theirs from the moment you were sorted. Said you'd betrayed them. I don't think it helped you'd made friends with Harry. Especially after Ron went and insulted Hermione on the train to school that first time and Harry told him to get bent."

"All my brothers?" Ginny whispered.

"Not Bill and Charlie."

"But Ron and the twins and Percy?"

"I'm sorry."

Ginny shook her head. "No. I asked. Thank you for being honest with me."

"Things have gotten better," Neville offered. "At least with Ron and the twins."

"Not so much they've come to see me."

Neville shifted uncomfortably. "You might not want to blame them for all of that."

"Why not?"

Neville rubbed the back of his neck. "Just… I'm not sure I can answer that. I want to, Ginny," he added quickly at her look of anger. "Believe me, I do. I swear, if I could snap my fingers and have you remember everything, I'd do it in an instant. But there's so much, and your life, my life, Harry's, the rest of our friends, it's diverged so far from what a bunch of teenagers should be living. There's so much Ron, the twins and Percy don't even know about you that it's really hard. It's hard, Ginny. And I know it's even harder for you. We want you back but we don't know how to do it and we're all terrified of messing up somehow… And it's just really hard." He finished, sounding beaten.

"And even if all of you show me every memory you have, there will still be holes," she said.

"I'm sorry, Ginny, I shouldn't have said all that."

Ginny swiped at her cheek. "Don't be sorry for telling me the truth."

Luna considered the pensive. "I wonder—"

"Wonder what?" Ginny asked.

"—No, that won't work either. It'll have to be your mind."

"Sorry?" Ginny asked. Besides Harry, Luna was the only person she was experiencing moments of déjà vu with. As she'd been told Luna was her oldest friend and they were near inseparable growing up, she supposed that made some sense. At the same time she wondered just why she'd had none of those moments regarding Bill or Charlie. Allegedly she and Bill were mutually doting on the other but there had been nothing. Charlie, he was her protector; always defending her against Percy, the twins and Ron when they got to be too much. He was also her biggest supporter when it came to quidditch, wanting her to follow in his footsteps to the professionals. But, like with Bill, she'd had no moments of feeling like she'd done something with Charlie before.

"I thought that, instead of the pensive, perhaps we might be able to get through things more quickly if you were to use Legilimency on me," Luna said. "Unfortunately my mind is a bit fractured and I'm afraid it would just confuse you; Mrs Tonks is only now becoming comfortable with it and she's been visiting with me, or rather us, for nearly four years now. But if I use Legilimency on you, I can bring forth my memories of us and they won't be all discombobulated. It should make things go much faster."

"Erm, all right," Ginny agreed. "Why is your mind all fractured?"

"You said it yourself," Ginevra, "there's more than one of me." Ginny furrowed her brow. "You remember that?" Luna asked.

Ginny shook her head. "Not exactly. I just… it feels right to hear you say that."

Luna nodded knowingly. "Of course it does. You and I have always been right."

Ginny smiled. "We have, haven't we? I don't know how I know it, but we've always been there for each other."

"It's because we were lovers in a past life." Ginny's jaw dropped. Luna giggled. "You should see your face."

Ginny swatted at her. "I can't believe you said that."

"Well why wouldn't I? It's true." Ginny gaped at her. "Shall we get started?" Luna asked.

"I, erm, well…"

"Oh come now, you didn't honestly think this is your first life, did you? You and Harry have lived many times before. In fact, I was his lover once too, before you found each other. Thankfully, this time, you've managed that before one of you took me to your bed. It's ever such a drag losing one of you when the other inevitably shows up and takes you away. I much prefer this set of circumstances."

Ginny stared at her. "You're serious, aren't you? I know you are."

"Oh yes. The six of us have crossed paths a number of times."

"We have?" Ginny croaked.

"Oh yes, five or six that I've been able to determine."

"And, have I, erm—"

"Been with Hermione, Neville or Daphne in any of them?" Almost against her will Ginny nodded. "No, just me and Harry. I seem to be the one who gets passed around." Ginny's mouth flapped. "Mind you, it could be that I'm just completely insane and it's all just a figment of my damaged psyche… Delicious figments, but figments none the less."

Ginny blinked dazedly a number of times. "Let's go with that, shall we?"

Luna shrugged. "If you wish."

Ginny nodded fervently. "Please."

"Very good. Would you like to try my idea now?"

"Erm," Ginny said, "remind me again, what was it?"

"Legilimency. I shall enter your dreamscape and alter it to create my memories within your mind. I believe it will make things go faster."

"Right," Ginny said slowly, "Legilimency."

"There's nothing to fear, Ginevra. If Mrs Tonks is any indication, insanity isn't catching."

Ginny pursed her lips. "Now you're just pulling my leg, aren't you?"

Luna winked. "Am I?"

"Yes. And you can stop any time."

"If you insist. Ready?"

Ginny nodded. "Go on then."

Luna blinked her eyes open. She turned to find Ginny standing before her. "I don't know what Harry was talking about; this isn't terrifying at all."

Ginny grinned. "I figured a beach might be more inviting than a frozen darkness."

"Definitely," Luna agreed. She took Ginny's hand and set off down the beach; walking at the edge of where the water met the sand.

Ginny remained silent; allowing Luna to lead her on for quite a while before speaking. "I'm sorry if I hurt you when Harry came along."

Luna squeezed her hand. "It's my own fault, allowing myself to get mixed up between the two of you, so it's not necessary to apologize, but thank you." She stopped, looking back on the path they'd left in the sand. "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Here we go then." While it might have felt like weeks, only about half an hour had passed when Luna exited Ginny's mind.

"Ouch," Ginny groaned and lay back on her bed.

Luna leaned forward and brushed Ginny's dreads away from her face. You'll get stronger. I promise."

"K," Ginny gasped.

"Rest now." Luna slid her hand into Ginny's, weaving their fingers together. "I'll stay with you till Harry comes back." But Ginny was already sleeping.

"She was joking, right?" Harry asked.

"Why are you asking me?" Ginny countered.

"She's your best friend."

"My best friend who I can't remember… Though I suppose I can see it. I'm apparently madly in love with you, and have been across a number of past lives. It would make sense the one person besides you that seems to trigger something in me is someone else I've known in a past life."

"She said you knew Hermione, Daphne and Neville in past lives as well."

"You know what I meant."

Harry shook his head. "And she said I'd been with her too?"

"You ask that like it'd be a bad thing."

"Well it's a bit disconcerting," Harry retorted. "I don't think of Luna that way. Hell, I don't even want to think of her that way. It makes things awkward."

"How does it do that?"

"Because Luna and I flirt all the time. I don't want her to think there's some underlying attraction to her on my part."

"What do you mean you flirt with her?" Ginny demanded.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Erm, well, the thing is I've been accused of being a bit of a flirt."

"A bit?"

"Maybe more than a bit," he hedged.

Ginny glowered at him. "And I let you get away with that?"

"For the most part, yes."

Ginny frowned. Eventually, she said, "I don't know if I like that."

Harry's fingers tapped a rapid staccato on the table. "I can change, if you need me to. But you should know there's a new rumor about me and Hermione, or Luna, or Daphne, or some other girl nearly every week."

She raised a brow. "Perhaps if you weren't such a flirt there wouldn't be."

"Maybe," Harry agreed. "But there's also rumors about you."

"Excuse me!"

"I know we said we wouldn't, but why don't I show you a few memories from this year?"

"About the rumors?"

"Yes."

Ginny considered. "All right."

"Come on, then."

Harry was sitting on the familiar park bench in front of a shallow river when she appeared in his dreamscape before him. She sat down next to him. "Ok, I'm ready." Though the bench remained, the scene around them changed to a library. "Who's that?"

"Cho Chang," Harry said, "Ravenclaw. As nasty as she is beautiful. For some reason she thinks she can flash me a bit of cleavage and I'll just forget she's spent the last four years as one of Luna's chief tormentors." The scene shifted, showing Harry with Daphne in the stacks in the library. Cho came around the corner and spotted them while Harry was holding her hand. "By the next morning," Harry said, "it was all around the school I was cheating on you with Daphne."

The scenes shifted a half dozen times. In each case showing a new rumor about Harry, herself, or one of their other friends starting. Another shift and she was reliving this past Valentines, watching him give gifts to eight girls who weren't her before they were in the cloister discussing the rumors, he was singing to her, giving her his mother's necklace and she was gifting him a ring and promising to say yes when he asked her to marry him.

Again things shifted and she watched Daphne presenting the idea of a betrothal between them. One last shift and she was in the cloister with Harry again where, she wasn't quite sure, but it seemed they'd agreed to ask Bill and Sirius to betroth them and to curse each other in the process.

Ginny was still trying to process everything Harry had shared with her when she was gently forced from his mind. She blinked dazedly a number of times before managing to focus on him. He was holding the necklace he'd given her and the ring she'd given him in his hand. "Anything at all?" he whispered.

Ginny shook her head. "I'm sorry." Harry was pretty good at hiding the hurt when she didn't remember things, but she was becoming skilled at reading his tells and she could see the slight tightening of his jaw. And it would have been impossible to miss the way his hand shook when he took hers and placed the ring and necklace in her palm.

"Maybe, some day, you'll decide you want to give it back, but I can't hold you to a promise you don't remember."

"Harry, I don't—"

"They're yours, Ginny—"

"Will you let me talk?" she snapped.

"Sorry," he said contritely.

She glowered at him for a second longer. "Is this a breakup, Harry? Are you giving up on me, what?"

Harry cringed. "I will never give up on you," he whispered.

"Then why are you giving me back your ring?"

"I told you, I can't hold you to a promise you don't remember."

"And what would you do if we were betrothed? Because, correct me if I'm wrong, the things you shared with me, there was no going back from them. Not for any reason at all, including that I wouldn't remember asking for or agreeing to any of it."

Harry started and stopped a number of times. "I don't know, Ginny. I just… it has to be your choice."

"My choice?" she asked.

"Yes."

Ginny pursed her lips and fingered the ring for a few moments. "Harry, when did you know I was the one?"

"From the first moment I saw you," he answered immediately

She reached for his hand and slid the ring on his finger. "I might never recover anything of my own. And I know things aren't going to be easy. But ten days ago, that happened for me too, Harry."

Harry stared at the ring. Swallowing, he took a shaky breath. "Ginny, I can't tell you how much I want this. But I knew who I was, you don't."

"No, I don't," she agreed. "But I know things like decency, respect, humility… integrity when I see them. I know, even though I know you'll be back in less than an hour, feeling like it's the worst thing in the world when you disappear around my curtains. And I know attraction and desire and my stomach feeling like a snitch is flitting around in it because you smiled at me. I might not remember being in love with you, but I know watching you wheel around that curtain the first time and feeling at least one thing was familiar." She reached for his chin, lifting his eyes to hers. "Something in me knew you from hello, Harry. I don't need Hermione, or Daphne or even Luna to tell me I was in love with you, I know. I might not remember, but I know. I was in love with you before. I'm in love with you now… So tell me, if that's all there ever is, is it enough?"

Harry stood and she was forced to look up at him. Slowly he leaned down. "Tell me to stop," he said softly.

She reached for his face, pulling him in. It was soft and short, but a flood of familiarity washed through her with the touch of his lips. His scent, his presence, his energy, everything about him was just right. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. "I don't remember," she whispered, "but I know this."

"It's enough," Harry answered.

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"All right, Miss Weasley," Matron Pomfrey said coming around the curtain, "how are we today?"

"Bored out of my mind," Ginny answered. It was April fourth, a full month from the task and two weeks since waking and she'd not been allowed out of her bed once! "What little I seem to have of it anyway."

The matron took out her wand and began examining her. "I see you are picking up Mr Potter's talent for snark."

"I'm told I rather had a talent of my own for it."

"Indeed." The matron tucked her wand away. Ginny looked at her hopefully while the woman eyed her. "Feel like taking a shower?"

"Thank the goddess," Ginny gasped. She tossed her covers back and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Easy now," the matron said. Ginny set her feet down and pushed herself up. Without the matron to catch her she would have gone straight to the floor.

"Whoa," Ginny gasped.

"You're going to be very weak, Miss Weasley. Just take a moment to get your legs under you and we'll go." Ginny nodded. Gathering herself she set off. The twenty steps to the toilet left her with legs shaking and heart pounding. The matron guided her to a chair she'd placed in the shower and Ginny collapsed heavily into it. Her head swam and she rested it in her hands, pressing her palms into her eyes. "Just take a moment," the matron said. Ginny nodded. A few deep breaths and she picked her head up. "Now, do you think you can manage on your own or would you like help?" Ginny looked at her, horrified. "Before you answer, stop and think. I've placed the chair here so you can just sit if you need, but if you fall and hit your head I shall be very upset with you."

"Hitting my head might be the best thing for me," Ginny countered. She covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ma'am, it just came out."

"Indeed," the matron said, maintaining her strict demeanor.

Though Ginny thought she noticed the corner of her mouth twitching. "I think I can manage," she said.

"Very good. You should have everything you need and I shall be right outside the door if you have need of me."

"Yes, Ma'am." The matron turned to go. "Ma'am?"

She turned back. "Yes?"

"Do you have any idea how I'm supposed to take care of this?" Ginny motioned to her dreads.

"I'm afraid I do not."

Ginny frowned. "All right, I guess I'll figure it out."

The matron nodded. "I shall be right outside."

Ginny sat on the chair, thinking. She pulled a dread around and sniffed at it. "Well, I guess they don't smell." Piling them on top of her head she tied them in place. Just that and shrugging off her top winded her and she sat for a few moments getting her energy back before shimmying out of her pajama pants and knickers. That left her a bit breathless also. It was also the first time she'd really seen herself since being attacked and she had to admit, it wasn't pretty. The bruising on her body was fading, but she was still covered in sickly yellow interspersed with deep blues and purples. Add in the fact she'd barely eaten in weeks, turning her into skin and bones, and she looked about as close to a concentration camp survivor as one could be. Sighing, she reached for the water. "Arghh!" she screeched.

The door cracked open. "Miss Weasley?"

Unable to get out of the blast of frozen water Ginny continued to shout. "By the goddess that's cold!"

"Ah," the matron said and closed the door.

"Ahh," Ginny ranted. "I'm having a heart attack underneath a waterfall of ice and all you can say is, Ahh?" The water gradually warmed and her racing heart slowed. "Mental note," she muttered, "stay out from under the stream till after it warms up."

Twenty minutes later the matron helped Ginny back around her curtain. "Bed or the chair?"

"Chair," Ginny said. She didn't care how exhausted she was, she wanted nothing to do with her bed for as long as the matron would let her. She collapsed in the chair. "Whoa, seriously dizzy." She pressed her palms into her eyes. "This is ridiculous."

"You've been poisoned, Miss Weasley," the matron soothed. "On more than one occasion you very nearly died. There is no indication you won't make a full recovery, but it is going to take time and diligent effort on your part to do so. I'm quite pleased with how you managed your first foray."

"It took Harry over a year to recover from being bitten, yes?" Ginny asked.

"It did."

Ginny took a deep breath and picked her head up. "If he can do it, so can I."

The matron bent down and stage whispered in her ear. "Beat him, Ginny." She straightened. Ginny looked at her, surprised. "Mr Potter could stand to have his ego deflated a bit."

"I hadn't noticed much ego from him."

The matron smiled. "Ah, but then you have not had the misfortune of knowing him as long as I have, have you."

"Knock, knock," Harry's voice suddenly called.

The matron winked at her. "Speak of the devil."

Ginny grinned. "You can come in, Harry."

Harry stepped round the curtain. "I'm hurt, you know. Right here." He put his hand over his heart.

"Well perhaps you should get back in your bed," the matron countered. "If you're having heart problems we might need to get you some potion."

"You know," Harry quickly backpedaled. "I'm feeling fine; great even. Must be the company." He winked.

The matron rolled her eyes. "Half an hour," she said to Ginny. "Then I want you in bed."

"Yes, Ma'am," Ginny agreed.

She turned to Harry. "Behave."

"Don't I always?" She raised a brow. "That wasn't me."

"You were an equal opportunity participant."

Harry shrugged. "My shoulder was a mess, couldn't fight her off." She narrowed her eyes at him. Harry grinned. "True story."

She crossed her arms. "I could always order you back to your bed."

"You could, but you won't."

"Oh, and why won't I?"

Harry rocked up and down on his toes. "Bad for the moral of the prisoners?"

She rolled her eyes and walked off, shaking her head. "More trouble than he's worth."

Harry turned to Ginny. "Hey."

"Hey." He grabbed another chair and sat down in front of her.

"What?" he asked when she just looked at him.

"What did we do?"

"Sorry?"

"Equal opportunity participant, what did we do?"

Harry smirked. "I didn't do anything."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "What did we do?"

"You snuck out after curfew to visit me while I was in hospital after the first task. Shoulder ripped open to the bone, I was completely at your mercy."

"I seriously doubt that."

"Poor Daphne was so horrified she cast a bunch of glamours to cover my neck." She glared at him. "True story." Harry crossed his heart. The two just watched each other for a few seconds.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Why haven't you kissed—" His lips on hers silenced her. When he pulled back he picked her right out of her chair and set her in his lap. "Yeah," she sighed, settling into him.

Half an hour later Harry picked Ginny up and tucked her in her bed. "Don' go," she mumbled, reaching for him.

"I'll stay till Daphne comes, but then I need to rest for our session tonight."

"Res' wi' me."

Harry brushed her dreads back. "Believe me, if I wasn't certain the matron would skin me alive…"

"Swear come back?"

"Promise."

Ginny drifted off and Harry just sat. He knew he should get back and rest himself. Things were happening. But since venting his rage at Dumbledore it seemed the only thing he had strength for was putting on a brave face for Ginny. And sitting here now, watching her sleep, he could almost forget he felt like the barest touch would shatter him into a million pieces. She didn't remember, but she knew. She knew and it was enough and he climbed in the bed to lie down beside her and she rolled into him, resting her head on his shoulder, and the matron and the rest of the world could just burn.

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"Harry, please," Hermione said, "I'm not doing anything again. I'm just worried you're moving too fast with her. Ginny isn't like this. She fought against any idea of you being meant for each other for a year. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

Harry glanced at his other friends. "She's got a point, Mate," Neville said. "Ginny isn't this impulsive."

"I agree," Daphne said. "Ginny is bold only after she has been cautious. In relationships that is even more the case."

"We're nearly to the point of moving into second-year now," Hermione said. "She's handled most everything she's learned really well, but the really horrible things are about to happen. I'm not being mean, or picking on her, but don't be so foolish as to think she's going to learn what happened and be unaffected."

"It took her over a year to recover the first time, Harry," Daphne said. "We're just concerned you're setting yourself up for an awful lot of pain if things follow a similar path."

Harry clenched his jaw tightly. "Luna?" he asked. "You're being awful quiet."

"Does it matter?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if what the others fear comes to pass, will you hurt any less by not allowing yourself to be with her now…? Perhaps, this time, Ginevra will weather the storm without capsizing, and perhaps she won't. And perhaps, this time it will drown her." She shuddered. "The future isn't written. I believe the best thing is to live in the here and now. It is, after all, all we have."

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Author's notes:

Well, Luna left us on a rather ominous note, didn't she? Here's hoping things go better than they previously have.