Disclaimer:
The characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.

No profit is being made off this story. It is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Reconnecting"

The hospital wing was deserted when they arrived, dark and quiet.

"Take him over there, Ginny," Stephen said. "I'll go wake Madame Pomfrey." He hurried off without a backwards glance.

Ginny did as she was instructed and helped a dazed Harry to the nearest bed.

He wasn't so out of it that he didn't notice Ron and Hermione hanging back, whispering fiercely with each other and casting him worried glances, but Harry ignored them. He clutched Ginny's hand, grateful for the connection but otherwise kept her at arms length. She seemed to accept this and didn't push.

It was hard to describe how he was feeling – the closest thing that came to it was numb. He lay down on the bed impassively, still fully clothed, trying to clear his mind by focusing on a spot on the ceiling.

He could tell that his silence was troubling the others; it was leaving a sense of uneasiness hanging in the air. So far he had spoken to no one but Ginny through their mind link, and honestly he had no desire to talk. His senses were so overwhelmed right now that no words seemed to cover what he was thinking. The words refused to form in his mouth and he couldn't look any of them in the eye, either. It was frustrating for them, he could tell, but he just couldn't muster the energy to care.

Ron shuffled nervously. "Good to have you back, mate," he said in a squeaky voice.

Harry's eyes drifted over to him, but he didn't know how to respond. Was it good to be back? He couldn't decide.

"Can I get you anything?" Ginny asked anxiously. "A drink of water, or something from the kitchens, maybe?

He shook his head but otherwise didn't acknowledge her.

"How about some more light," Hermione suggested. "It's really dark in here."

Panic shot through Harry at her words, but before he could stop her, she had said the incantation and bright light filled the room.

Involuntarily, Harry's body reacted – the bright light was too much. His heart pounded painfully in his chest and he tried to scramble away from the brightness, wildly fighting to find a place where he could hide. The end result was that he jerked away from Ginny, flew off the bed, and dove underneath it. Like a child trying to escape punishment, he hid under the bed, hugging his drawn up knees tightly and burying his head on top of them to escape the harsh light.

"Turn it off!" he heard Ginny scream from afar. "Can't you see it's frightening him?"

He felt Stephen's presence again along with Madame Pomfrey's. Someone dimmed the lights and he felt his breathing begin to return to normal.

"Out!" she shouted to all of them, even Stephen. "All of you! I need to examine my patient, and you'll all need to wait in the hall. Now shoo!"

He felt all of them leave hesitantly one by one – all but Ginny.

"You too, Miss Weasley," Madame Pomfrey said firmly, and he felt her disappointment, but acceptance.

The idea of Ginny leaving him alone scared him almost as much as the light and he raised his hand to stop her.

'No!'

Ginny froze. From his position on the floor he couldn't see her face but he could see her feet, and they stopped moving in mid-stride.

"Well?" Madame Pomfrey said in her usual snappy voice. "What are you waiting for, child? I said you need to leave."

"Umm…" he heard Ginny say. "I don't think I can." Her voice was slightly worried, but slightly amused, too.

"Of course you can," the nurse said, moving towards her. There was a pause, and then Harry heard her surprised exclamation.

"I seem to be stuck," Ginny said helplessly.

Harry felt the magic form to try and undo the spell but he sent his own magic out to block it.

"It's not working," Ginny stated, earning an exasperated sigh from the matron.

"I can see that, Miss Weasley," she said sharply. Bending down, she pulled the coverlet up to expose Harry huddled under the bed. Her face took on a measure of shock that quickly softened. "All right, Mr. Potter," she conceded. "If you'd like her to stay, then I suppose that's what we'll do. Could you release her now, or will I have to sedate you?"

Harry knew it was a bluff; there was no way that the nurse could sedate him if he didn't want to be sedated. But he was pleased that Ginny had gotten the green light to stay, so he waved his hand and released her.

Ginny bent down to look at him too, her eyes twinkling. "Thank you," she mouthed gratefully behind Madame Pomfrey's back.

He didn't answer but offered her a tentative smile.

"Now, let's get you out from under there, shall we?" Madame Pomfrey said with a sigh.

Ginny offered him a hand and he took it, scooting out from underneath the bed. The hospital wing was much more comfortable now. The lights had been dimmed to a low setting that allowed the nurse to see but didn't make him panicky.

"Into those pyjamas," the nurse said indicating the striped outfit neatly folded on the bed. Harry fiddled with the pyjamas nervously as Madam Pomfrey pulled a screen around the bed. "We'll give you some privacy to change. Miss Weasley will help you settle into bed when you're ready. I'll be in the hall speaking with Professor Hunter, but I'll be back shortly for your examination."

Harry nodded his understanding. She gave him an odd look, but didn't linger to ask him why he wasn't speaking. Grateful for the distraction, he took off the unfamiliar black cloak and the clothes underneath, slipping on the familiar pyjamas he had worn during his various trips to the hospital wing over the years. As soon as he was finished, he pushed the screen away and Ginny helped him get comfortable in the bed.

"This seems familiar," Ginny mused, echoing his thoughts out loud. She fluffed his pillow and helped him adjust the bed so that he was sitting up rather than lying down. "I bet you thought you were going to escape the hospital wing this year, didn't you, Potter?"

Harry made a face, then offered her a half-smile. He leaned back in the bed and drank in her image as he watched her pull a chair up from nearby. Soon she was close enough to hold his hand again.

'You look…beautiful,' he said sadly, his heart filled with regret at how much time they had spent apart.

"Well, you're a right mess,"she countered with a grin.

Her good mood was infectious and Harry felt his burden lighten just a bit. Harry was about to retort when the door opened and Hagrid rushed in – or tried to, at least.

"'Arry! Yer back!" Hagrid's excited, gruff voice exclaimed from the doorway.

Hagrid was rewarded with Madame Pomfrey's screech of, "OUT! Rubeus Hagrid, you get OUT of this infirmary this instant! I haven't even had a chance to examine my patient yet!" He continued to wave at Harry enthusiastically from the doorway as the nurse hustled him through the door.

"I'll be back 'Arry! Don't ya worry none, I'll be right out here," he yelled over his shoulder just before the door was slammed behind him.

Harry just looked at the door impassively. He was glad to see Hagrid, but he really wasn't in the mood to answer questions about where he had been. At that thought, everything about the past months came crashing back down on him and he turned on his side away from Ginny and stared at the wall. He felt Madame Pomfrey come over to his bedside and hover there for a minute, but he didn't turn around even when she said it was time for his examination.

Quietly, Madame Pomfrey asked Ginny to step away from the bed and then pulled the screen around them for privacy. "I'm just going to run my wand over you now, Mr. Potter, to see if everything is as it should be," she said gently. "Turn over on you back, please."

Harry turned obediently and stared up at the darkened ceiling feeling a sense of disjointedness with his body as she examined him.

"Hmm..." she murmured when she was finished. "Nothing out of place, nothing much out of the ordinary… In fact, you're in quite good health." She looked at him wryly. "I suppose we can be grateful for that, can't we? I do detect lingering traces of Dark Magic, but I can't identify the source. How do you feel, Mr. Potter?"

Harry just stared at her silently, his face void of emotion. How the bloody hell was he supposed to answer that? He noticed a troubled look flit across her face at his prolonged silence, but she quickly schooled her features.

"Yes… well, I think a Dreamless Sleep Potion will do wonders for you," she said faltering slightly. "I'm sure Miss Weasley will keep you company while I prepare it." She pushed the screen away and motioned for Ginny to come back.

Harry felt his chest tighten painfully at her words. The last thing he wanted to do was succumb to the darkness of his own mind. What if Voldemort got to Ginny while he was asleep? They would make Ginny leave and he couldn't protect her… He tried to protest, but his voice wouldn't work. Frustrated, he lashed out with his magic and a glass water pitcher on a nearby table shattered causing the nurse to jump in frightened shock.

"Its okay, Harry," Ginny said gently soothing him. "I'm right here and I'm not leaving you. I'll be here when you wake up, love. I promise." She turned to Madame Pomfrey. "He's afraid something will happen to me if he's asleep and unable to wake up. He doesn't want me to leave."

Madame Pomfrey looked like she wanted to protest – to say that it was highly unusual for a patient to have visitors all night in her infirmary – but she clamped her mouth shut and pursed her lips into a thin line. Finally, she nodded as if making up her mind. "Miss Weasley may stay for now, but I insist on the Dreamless Sleep Potion. You need your rest." She turned on her heel and bustled away in her no-nonsense manner.

Harry knew it was a lost cause, but he was grateful all the same that she had agreed to let Ginny stay. He felt himself relax a bit, reaching up to grab Ginny's hand again. The contact felt extremely good. She shot him a dose of her special soothing feelings through their connection which was still running wide open, and his body seemed to uncoil even more.

"Are you hungry?" she asked him.

He shook his head. The thought of food made him feel sick. Besides, his body told him that it hadn't been that long since he's eaten, although he couldn't remember what he'd had. His eyes drifted off to the wall, staring at it blankly, but his grip tightened even more on Ginny's hand.

He felt her lips graze his knuckles, sending warm feelings through his body, but he didn't turn to look at her again. His mind had begun to recall images of things the snake had done, and the nausea roiled in his stomach. How could he have allowed himself to be duped so badly? He was such an idiot! Voldemort was an expert liar – he had known that. He shifted restlessly.

"Don't blame yourself, Harry," Ginny's muffled voice admonished firmly. She had her mouth buried in his hand and he felt her breath tickle it as she talked. "This wasn't your fault."

Harry wanted to scream and protest that it was his fault, but he feared letting his temper get out of control. For some reason, his magic seemed to be especially strong right now, and he wasn't sure what the consequences would be if he lost control of it. Thankfully, Madame Pomfrey came back just then with his potion, distracting him.

"Bottom's up, Mr. Potter," she instructed. "You know the drill."

Harry did as he was told and, before he knew it, his eyes were drooping heavily. The last thing he saw as he drifted off into a peaceful, dreamless night's sleep was Ginny's worried face staring at him. She had such heartbreaking love shining on her face that it made him wonder if things wouldn't work out after all. He had been given a miracle tonight, and he didn't intend to waste it.

(Break)

Stephen shuffled his feet impatiently, waiting for Harry to open his eyes. It had been a long night for them all. Ginny had stayed by Harry's side, sleeping in an extra bed beside Harry's. Stephen had paced nervously out in the hallway with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, waiting for news. When it came, it was better than expected but grim, nevertheless.

Harry had been severely traumatized by his time in captivity. Although he was physically in good shape, he was in a great deal of mental distress. This was not a surprise; they had seen his reaction to being touched on the school grounds, and they had seen how he had reacted to the light. Hermione had practically done a house-elf on them in the hallway after that debacle. She blamed herself for her insensitivity, although both he and Ron had tried to make her see that there was no way she could have known Harry would react that way just from turning on some lights.

As Stephen stared at the two forms sleeping on separate beds, he was grateful that Ginny at least had been there for Harry. Whatever he had been through, Harry still reacted positively to Ginny, and that was a good thing.

The early morning sun was beginning to rise in the horizon, but the effect had been muted with a tinting charm on the windows. As he stared out at the new spring day replaying the events of the last few months, the door opened and the commanding figure of Albus Dumbledore strode tiredly through the threshold. Dumbledore's eyes sought out and found Stephen's and they exchanged a wealth in information in that one glance.

"How is he?" Dumbledore asked quietly, his gaze shifting to the still sleeping form on the hospital bed.

Stephen sighed. "He's not talking," he told him, frustration edging his voice.

Dumbledore nodded. "Harry has never been one to discuss his feelings. He tends to hold everything inside and put on a brave front, even when he is obviously in pain."

Stephen shook his head sadly. "No, Albus. I mean he's literally not talking. He hasn't said anything to anyone, even when asked a direct question. There are other signs of trauma, too." Stephen looked over towards the bed, avoiding Dumbledore's alarmed expression. "He's scared. Wherever he's been all this time hasn't been good. The only one he responds to is Ginny."

Dumbledore patted Stephen's arm comfortingly. "There is hope, then," he said as both pairs of eyes drifted towards the sleeping red-head. "Please keep me apprised of the situation. I have some matters to attend to but I will be in my office, should you need me. Please tell Harry…" He paused and looked over at the sleeping form. "…Tell him that I wish him well, and that I will call on him later."

Stephen nodded his understanding and watched the old wizard leave, closing the doors silently behind him, lost in thought.

A moan roused him, and he turned instinctively to Harry's bed. The sound wasn't coming from Harry. Ginny's face was screwed up tightly, as if she was in pain. She jerked her head to the side but did not open her eyes; obviously she was having a nightmare. Concerned, he moved closer to the bed but, before he could wake her, Harry had shot up, wide awake. In a flash Harry had thrown the bed-sheets off himself and had moved to Ginny's side, his face worried and pinched. Gently the boy slid into the bed beside Ginny, stroking her face and hair until she had quieted down. He did this all without saying a word or making a sound. Stephen wasn't even sure Harry knew he wasn't alone; he didn't turn in Stephen's direction or acknowledge him in any way.

But obviously Harry had known Stephen was there. When Ginny was fast asleep again, Harry looked up strait into Stephen's eyes, and they weren't surprised to see him. Stephen almost took a step back from the intensity of Harry's gaze.

Harry didn't smile or attempt to speak; he just looked up with a perceptive expression. In that instant Stephen was sure Harry had known all along that he was not alone. Harry stared at him expectantly, waiting for Stephen to say something. The way the boy was watching him made Stephen feel uncomfortable – like he was looking at someone much older than sixteen. No sixteen-year-old should ever have such knowledge behind their eyes.

Stephen stepped forward awkwardly. "How are you feeling this morning, Quetzal?"

His question was met with silence, but Stephen's keen eyes picked up on Harry's confusion at the question.

He sat down on the edge of the bed opposite Harry, his hands in the pockets of his robes. "I suppose that's a stupid question, isn't it? Of course you don't know how you're feeling." He and Harry watched each other warily for a minute until Stephen's senses became aware of something cool and hard in his pocket. He pulled it out, realising what it was – Harry's phoenix pendent.

They both looked at it in surprise. "I forgot I had this," Stephen said absently. "I picked it up off the ground in the park the night you… disappeared." He held it out for Harry to take. "You should have it back. It might help you."

Harry stared at the pendent for a moment pensively, and then reached out to take it from him. His eyes seemed to be saying thank you.

"You're welcome," Stephen answered. As Harry put the necklace around his neck Stephen took the opportunity to say something he'd wanted to say for a long time.

"Professor Dumbledore was here earlier," he told him, noticing how Harry seemed to hear everything being said and react appropriately to it. At least he understood what people were saying to him – another good sign. "He said to tell you that he wishes you well and that he will call on you later."

Harry clutched the pendent in his hand tightly and nodded his understanding. A long silence stretched between them and then Stephen could stand it no longer.

"I'm sorry I failed you, Quetzal," he blurted out.

Harry looked up quickly, his brow furrowed. Stephen couldn't believe it, but it looked like he was trying to disagree with him.

"I should never have left you alone that night. I should have been there… I should have known something was off-"

His voice cut off abruptly as a wave of magic unlike anything he had ever felt before washed over him. It was powerful and beautiful, like a song, and it was coming from Harry. His eyes were focused on Stephen and he seemed to be trying to tell him to stop blaming himself.

Stephen staggered up off the bed but Harry's eyes and his magic followed him. "Stop doing that," he said forcefully. "Whether you know it or not, you should be angry with me – I'm supposed to be your protector and I failed you!"

Harry's mouth opened and it was apparent that he wanted to say something. His face flushed with frustration and then Stephen felt the familiar mind invasion of Legilimency on the edge of his consciousness and willingly let him in.

'It was my choice – my decision,' was the clear response. 'This isn't you're fault.'

Stephen looked at Harry in shock. He shouldn't be able to do that – Legilimency wasn't a form of mental telepathy, only a means to enter someone's mind and extract emotions or memories. Then again, Harry had a habit of breaking all the laws of magic, so why was he surprised?

Harry was still staring at him with those vivid green eyes that looked so much brighter than normal, probably because they were no longer hidden behind the round spectacles. Without warning, Stephen had the urge to run away… to hide from those eyes that seemed to see right through him, all the way to his soul.

Abruptly, he stood, moving towards the door. "You–you should rest a bit," he stammered awkwardly. "When Madame Pomfrey agrees, we're going to move you to the Hideout until you're ready to face the rest of the school and deal with the fallout from the last eight months."

Harry didn't comment, but continued to stared at him unblinkingly, the confusion on his face palpable.

Stephen knew he didn't deserve Harry's compassion or forgiveness and he didn't feel up to having this conversation anymore, so he did the cowardly thing and fled. "I've got to go see to my classes…" he said lamely, even though he knew it was a lie. "I'll be back to see you later."

(Break)

Harry wasn't sure what had just happened, but it was disconcerting to see Stephen leave so abruptly. He couldn't believe that Stephen was blaming himself for what Harry viewed as his own stupidity. It didn't make sense. Clearly, no one was at fault here except him – he alone had the blame for this one and he knew it.

Underneath him, Ginny stirred, drawing his attention back to why he was in Ginny's bed in the first place. He couldn't explain how he knew she was having a bad dream, but his eyes had barely opened and he just knew she was in distress. He hadn't even stopped to think – he had just reacted. Ginny's dream had obviously been a bad one, but thankfully she was calmer now. He hated to think of her living through another one of those Chamber nightmares he had witnessed last summer, but he suspected that Ginny's worst dreams were no longer centred around what Tom had done to her when she was eleven. If he was a betting man he'd say they had everything to do with him, and what had happened last night before he had managed to push Tom out of his mind. He had a vague recollection of standing close to Ginny and feeling her fear, but he couldn't remember what had been said.

…Of course, there was the nightmare of the past few months to relive as well…

Deliberately, he pushed his mind away from those thoughts. If he was going to get through this he had to stop dwelling on the past and start looking towards the future.

"Is it morning already?" Ginny groaned, rolling over and snuggling closer to him.

Harry hugged her close, concentrating.

"Y-yes."

It was just one tiny word but it took as much effort as casting a Patronus for the first time.

Ginny's eyes flew open and she scrambled up, looking at him like she could hardly believe what she was seeing and hearing.

"It wasn't a dream then," she whispered in a groggy voice, touching his face. Her gentle caress had his senses on immediate alert and he flushed. "You're really here! …Say something else."

Harry didn't know if he could do it again, but seeing the look on her face he wanted to answer her. "Missed y-you," he managed, practically breaking out in a sweat with the effort. He wasn't sure why such simple words would exhaust him so much, but they did.

"Oh, Harry," Ginny said, her eyes glistening. She buried her face in his shoulder, hanging on for dear life. "I never gave up hope, but it was so hard," he heard her say in a muffled voice. Then squared her shoulders suddenly, her tear-streaked face mutinous. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" He backed away slightly alarmed at her change of mood, but she pulled him closer, holding him with a fierce grip. "I'm never letting you out of my sight after this, you know, and it's entirely your fault," she mumbled into his chest.

He relaxed a bit and moved back to cuddling, suddenly understanding her anger. "Okay," he said, sending her his agreement. He could think of nothing better that, actually.

Tentatively, he leaned down to kiss her lightly on the top of the head. Just as they were about to take it to the next level, however, Madame Pomfrey made an abrupt appearance, a tray of potions in her hand. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the two of them in the same bed together in such a compromising position.

"WHAT do you think you're DOING?" she screeched in alarm.

Harry jumped up and scrambled back into his own bed, pulling the covers over him as if they could protect him from the matron's wrath.

"Harry woke me up from a bad dream," Ginny said quickly, sitting up. "Nothing was going on, I swear."

"There had better not be," Madame Pomfrey admonished primly, softening just a bit. "You may get away with that elsewhere, but not in my hospital wing. Young witches and wizards today… they have no sense of decency! In my day it was considered improper to hold hands in public unless there was a ring on the finger." She bustled to the side of Harry's bed and set the tray down on the bedside table with a thump, clattering the glass potions bottles noisily. "I've prepared a Pepper-Up potion, and also an elixir with a time-released Cheering Charm for you, Mr. Potter," she said, shoving the concoctions towards him roughly. "Drink up. I don't have all day."

Turning to Ginny, she said firmly, "Miss Weasley, I think it is time for you to return to Gryffindor Tower."

"But-"

"No arguments. If you don't get back soon people will be knocking down the doors inquiring about you, and we simply don't want that right now. We have decided to explain your absence as exhaustion – I kept you overnight for observations and a Dreamless night's sleep, in case anyone asks. It's due to stress from your upcoming exams. However, this will not excuse you from lessons today, so you'd better get a move on. Professor Dumbledore thinks it's best to keep Mr. Potter's presence in the castle secret for now, so don't go blabbing that he's here. Even the portraits have been sworn to secrecy. Understood?"

Ginny lowered her eyes submissively, but Harry could feel her irritation at being kicked out. "Yes, Ma'am." She slid out of the bed and grabbed her clothes from a nearby chair, making her way to the changing area after casting Harry an anxious look.

Harry thought about trying to stop her from leaving again like he had done the night before, but Madame Pomfrey seemed to read his mind. "Don't you try and stop her, young man," she said, pointing a stern finger in his direction. "We have some tests to run and I'm sure you'd rather that Miss Weasley were not here for them."

Harry gulped. And here he thought he was done with the torture.

(Break)

That afternoon Harry was moved to his secret room on the third floor, escorted by Remus Lupin under the invisibility cloak at a time when most students were in lessons. The trip over was uneventful except for a minor brush with Peeves in the hallway. The poltergeist was trying to pelt Remus with stink bombs but a well-placed spell by the wizened ex-Professor took care of the problem straight away.

When Harry saw the room again, it was exactly as he had left it – with a few differences. A door had been added to the wall next to the fireplace. Remus explained that they had added a bedroom and that his belongings had been moved from storage and should be waiting for him in there. The other difference was how lived-in the room seemed. Books were scattered here and there and a chess set was sitting out on a table, the pieces already lined up and yelling for a match.

"Ron, Hermione, and Ginny have been using the room all year to study or to get some peace and quiet when things got too much for them," Remus explained. "Ginny sometimes even slept here at night. I'm told she's had some bad dreams and she sometimes keeps her roommates up at night. Stephen added the bedroom for her and keeps an eye on them. Hermione has been working as his teacher's assistant and he often comes here to play Ron in chess about once a week."

Harry nodded, walking around the room and trying to soak in exactly how much he'd missed while he'd been gone. Instinctively, he glanced up at the Marauder's portrait, which was covered.

Remus gave a nervous laugh. "They've taken to covering it because the noise gets really loud otherwise and the other portraits complain. It was why we got put into storage in the first place, I think." He walked over and pulled open the drapes, which were on a drawstring.

Immediately, the Gryffindor common came alive with loud seventies music. Even Remus held his ears. "Turn that thing down!" he bellowed at the boys in the picture, sounding very fatherly in Harry's opinion.

"Huh?" Sirius yelled back, still dancing on the table.

"I said," Remus yelled, "turn the music OFF!"

"Okay, okay Moony," James said loudly, walking over to the stereo. "Don't get yourself all worked up or you might have heart failure. You're not getting any younger, you know." He flipped the wireless off dramatically and, in a normal voice, said sarcastically, "…Better?"

"Much," Remus said with relief.

"It's probably the werewolf ears," Remus' younger counterpart explained with a helpful grin. "I'm told that past a certain age, they tend to get more sensitive."

"Quite," Remus said primly, straightening his robes and ignoring the roars of laughter coming from the group in the painting. Even Harry had to smile.

"Harry!" James exclaimed, noticing him for the first time. "You're back! It's good to see you again, mate. Where've you been?"

The loaded question gave Harry pause and he froze, looking up at his teenage father. He still hadn't spoken to anyone other than Ginny, and Remus saved him from answering by patting him on the back reassuringly.

"Harry's had a hard time of it, mates," he told the boys. "He's really not in the mood to talk, so please don't push him. Maybe when he's ready, he'll tell you all about it."

James' face darkened with concern, but he nodded. "That's cool."

"He's going to be staying here for awhile until some things can be worked out. Professor Dumbledore would like you lot to keep an eye on him for us. I'd appreciate it if you gave him some space – he has some recovering to do, so take it easy on him, okay?"

Harry heard their murmurs of concerned agreement as he wandered away to explore the rest of the room. He ignored the whispered conversation Remus seemed to be having with the Marauders and ducked into the privacy of the bedroom.

The room was cosy, with a full bed, plush carpet, and the other side of the fireplace casting a warm glow on the place. There wasn't much in the way of decoration, but a few tapestries hung from the walls and a dresser stood regally in the corner. His trunk sat at the end of the bed, and beside the headboard was a bedside table. Harry could see a picture there of Ginny and him smiling into the camera. He couldn't remember when it had been taken, but they looked fairly young.

Deliberately, he walked over and picked it up. The photo had obviously been taken before they had started dating because he and Ginny were sitting much too far apart. He vaguely recalled something about an argument between Ron and Hermione, but he wasn't certain. He was amused to see the two of them casting mischievous glances at one another, as if sharing a secret. Sighing, he put the picture frame back down on the table. After everything they had been through, he had a hard time believing he had once been thick enough to see Ginny as Ron's little sister.

Voices from the other room pulled him out of his regrets.

"Honestly, Ron," he heard Hermione complain loudly, "if you'd just ignore him he'd probably stop."

"How was I supposed to ignore him, Hermione?" he heard Ron retort. "You didn't hear the foul things he was saying about Ginny. Just once I'd like to-"

Ron stopped when he saw Harry in the bedroom doorway, a questioning look on his face.

"Harry," Hermione said a little too brightly. "How are you feeling?"

Harry ignored her and snapped his fingers. Immediately, a parchment and quill appeared out of thin air and he grabbed them, scribbling furiously. As soon as he was finished, he shoved the paper at them, indicating that they should read it.

"Who's saying things about Ginny?" Ron repeated, his voice high-pitched and squeaky as he read Harry's note. He reddened. "It's nothing – just Malfoy spouting off again… Don't worry, I took care of it," he said, a hard edge creeping into his voice. "He's been doing it all year since you've been gone, but so far he's done nothing but talk."

Harry's face darkened at the mere thought of Malfoy saying nasty things about Ginny. If he ever laid a finger on Ginny, Harry knew he'd kill the little twit without a moment's hesitation. He grabbed the parchment back from Ron and wrote, thrusting it back into Hermione's hands when he was finished.

"Harry, Ginny is in class right now," Hermione said gently, like a parent talking to a very small child. "I'm sure she'll be all right. I'm not sure Professor Flitwick would appreciate me barging in his classroom and demanding that she come with me – at least not without a good reason."

Angrily, Harry snapped the paper back, wrote something, and then thrust it back towards her, looking at her pleadingly.

Hermione sighed. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt if I hung out in the hallway and waited for her. I could mark some of Professor Hunter's essays while I wait." She collected her bag and promised to be back with Ginny as soon as possible.

"I think I'll report in with the headmaster," Remus announced. Harry had forgotten that he was even in the room, but apparently he had been keeping quiet so as to not interrupt their conversation – such that it was. He waved good-bye and disappeared out the door behind Hermione.

Ron and Harry were left alone looking at each other awkwardly.

"Er… You're looking well today," Ron said, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

Harry didn't answer. He was too anxious to know exactly where Ginny was that his eyes kept darting towards the door, hoping to see Ginny there even though he knew she wouldn't be back for awhile. He walked over to the billiards table and fidgeted with the balls nervously. He knew he could use their mind link to check on her, but he was reluctant to do it. He wasn't exactly sure what frightened him about using the link to check on her, but he supposed the thought of what he might find on the other end was reason enough.

Swallowing his fear, he tentatively opened the connection. Relief flooded him as he felt her there. She was a bit anxious and slightly bored, but he didn't sense that she was in any danger at all. His invasion startled her, and he sent her a message to let her know that Hermione would be waiting for her outside the classroom. She seemed confused by this but accepting, and he quickly shut the connection down to allow her to get back to her studies.

While he had been doing this, Ron had been observing him with a perplexed expression on his face.

"You checked on her, right?" he said unexpectedly.

Startled, Harry nodded. He expected Ron to be all weirded out by his admission, but Ron surprised him.

"Is she okay?"

Harry furrowed is brows but nodded, affirming that she was safe for now.

"Good," he said firmly. "I know you've been through a lot, Harry, but so has Ginny. She's been a right mess since you disappeared, and the rumour mill has been working on her really hard. When you didn't come back she went a little nutters at first and most people didn't understand it. But somehow she managed to pull it together and keep her marks above water. The nights are worst…" He sighed, seeming to shake himself out of his memories. "But now that you're back, I think things will get back to normal. She's due to take her OWLs in a week, you know."

Harry hadn't realised that the end of term was that close and for the first time he wondered about his own education. He had missed almost all of his sixth year. What did that mean for him? Would he have to make it up, or did it even matter? With Voldemort still out there and on the loose, there was no way he could focus on being a normal student right now anyway. The thought of sitting through potions or transfiguration right now with everything he'd been through was laughable.

When Harry didn't answer, Ron shifted uncomfortably again. His gaze drifted off and fell on the chess board.

"What to play?" he asked hopefully.

Harry shrugged. He needed a distraction until Ginny got back, and even though he knew Ron would trounce him, it might be enough to help him pass the time. They moved over to the board and Ron took a seat opposite him at the table.

The pieces cheered to see him, knowing that they would finally get the fight they had been looking for, but Ron frowned.

"Don't know how this is going to work, mate," he said looking at the animated pieces in disappointment. "You're not exactly Mr. Chatty right now, so how are you going to tell them where to go? Too bad we don't have one of those Muggle versions. There's no talking needed with them."

Harry stared at the board for a minute, then an idea struck him. He waved his hand over the board and cast a Full Body Bind charm on the pieces, watching in satisfaction when they froze in place.

"Wicked!" Ron exclaimed. "Their going to be hacked off about this next time I try to use them though," he grumbled.

Harry's face fell in disappointment but Ron waved it off.

"S'okay," he assured Harry. "Mine will be fine once we win, and I'll make Professor Hunter play yours." He grinned. "That might be fun, actually. I'm tired of losing to him."

They were still playing when the girls got back. Ginny came bursting through the door first. She threw her bag on the floor and racing towards Harry who was just about to make a move. Like she couldn't wait to touch him again, she threw her hands around his neck from behind and hugged him tightly, making them both blush. Harry dropped his charmed chess piece, which he could have sworn let out a yelp, although it could have been his imagination.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I don't know why I did that."

Harry responded by scooting out his chair and pulling her in his lap. For the first time that day since she had left for classes, he felt some of the tension ebb away and his nerves calm their pattering. For a moment they embraced and he felt complete, like everything he had ever wanted or could ever want was right here in his arms. He felt her sag against him and knew that she was experiencing something similar. Their foreheads touched and Harry closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of her shampoo from the tendrils of red hair that tickled his face.

A pointed cough made them break apart. "We can leave, you know…" Ron said from across the table. "It's alright if you want some time alone."

"N-No," Harry said immediately. "S-Stay. Please."

Both Ron and Hermione looked startled that he had talked. Ron got a funny look on his face, like he was fighting some internal battle, but Hermione's eyes immediately teared up.

They grasped each other's hands and Hermione, who was standing behind Ron, put her other hand on her boyfriend's shoulder.

Ron cleared his throat noisily and then nodded towards the board and the fallen piece. "You're move, mate."

Silently, Harry picked up his fallen Queen and nudged her into position but he held firmly to Ginny as he did this. He knew she probably had revising to do, but for now he couldn't bare to let her go.

Hermione pulled up a chair next to Ron and the four of them concentrated on the game. It didn't matter that Ron was winning, or that Harry was less than interested in the planning out appropriate moves and counter-moves. They were together, and that was what was important.

(Break)

Far away Voldemort was seething. His plans had been ruined once again by Stephen Hunter. He'd make sure his old enemy paid dearly for interfering, this time with his life. The loss of the Dark Prince was not going to go unnoticed by his followers, and if there was anything he hated it was to look weak and foolish.

For now he had to re-evaluate his master scheme and make some decisions. One thing he'd most certainly turn his attention to was that little island. He had a feeling it held many useful secrets that he could exploit.

The other thing he must have would be much harder to obtain – harder but not impossible. In that brief instant on the Hogwarts grounds before he was driven out of Harry's body he had discovered something intriguing… something he now knew he must possess. It was, perhaps, the solution to everything.

Controlling Harry had been exhausting but worthwhile. Harry hadn't made it easy for him to maintain absolute control. He was very headstrong and stubborn – but powerful. Without a doubt, the boy's power was astounding. Voldemort knew that he hadn't even come close to unlocking the full potential of what lay beneath the surface. Luckily, Harry had no idea what kind of gold mine he was sitting on, thanks in part to the help of a very special operative within the walls of Hogwarts. Because Harry had no clue how to wield his power, Voldemort really didn't fear the boy – at least not yet. But there was no question that he'd have to find a way to take back that power – to steal it for himself.

Yes… it just might work. And he knew exactly how he could accomplish it, provided he obtained the Key.

He laughed loudly but without humour.

Soon he'd have the Key, and when he did he'd also have Harry.

"Goyle!" he commanded.

A figure appeared at the door. "Y-Yes, Master?"

"Get me Severus Snape. I have a job for him."

Goyle bowed awkwardly. "R-Right away, Master." He straightened to leave but Voldemort stopped him.

"Tell no one of this, Goyle, or you will find yourself on the wrong end of my wand," he warned in a deadly quiet voice.

Goyle was so frightened he could only nod his head as he backed out of the room to do the Dark Lord's bidding.

"I'm coming Harry," Voldemort murmured to himself once he was alone. "But this time it's not you I'm coming after. Once Ginny Weasley is under my control, you'll do anything I want and I'll have back what is mine."

He laughed again, pleased with himself and his own genius. It was only a matter of time now.

(End Chapter)

A/N: Thanks to everyone who voted for me for the DD Silver Trinket Awards at Sink in Your Eyes Harry and Ginny website. I really appreciate the support, although I was up against some very stiff competition. I'm not sure how it will turn out, but it means a lot that I was nominated and that so many of you voted for me.

On that note, I have decided to skip this Friday's deadline and try and get caught up. That means I'll try to have a chapter posted by June 23rd. Hopefully the extra time will allow me to write ahead, easing the pressure somewhat. I don't want to do away with the deadline altogether because it motivates me, and I am so close now I can see the end in sight. However, I want to make them the best chapters that I possibly can, so rushing them isn't an option. I hope you agree. Only six more chapters to go… See ya on the 23rd!