Days passed. Those days then turned into weeks and those weeks turned into months. New Year passed in a flourish, Valentine's Day flew past and the forty days of lent began without recognition. During this three month period nothing of much importance occurred on all fronts. At the Burrow Charlie returned from Romania on the night that both Kingsley and Ron had visited them. Since that day Mr Weasley made daily inspections and updates to the defensive enchantments on the border of the Burrow, assisted by George. Mr Weasley who had been unable to work for the Ministry for over a year now had now officially resigned from his position. George closed down all services connected to the Wizard Wheezes business and Charlie was allowed to stay with them for as long as he needed as he had been granted time off by work. Bill and Fleur had sent a solitary letter which detailed their defensive strategies upon Shell Cottage where they decided was best to stay for the time being. Since then the Burrow had had no contact with them as it had been a mutual agreement. Neville had also sent a letter in which he noted that the date for his grandmother's funeral would be postponed until everything was settled and that also he wasn't to move out of his flat with Hannah. Ron had decided to stay put in the Burrow though he found himself immersed in daily fireside conversations with Hermione and the Grangers via Floo Powder. The fireplace itself wasn't to be connected to any other house apart from the Grangers which was secured in Australia. Hermione and her parents had seen an increase in security around the house and had been talked to by Minister Grabbleforn who assured their safety. Luna, on the weekends, was able to visit her father's grave as often as it was possible. Sleeping arrangements saw her sleep alone in Ginny's room whilst George, Charlie and Ron stayed in George's room. Ginny had managed to persuade her parents to allow her to stay in Ron's room with Harry, in separate beds, in order to look after him, especially during the night. It was now a regular occurrence for Harry during the night to experience the worst of nightmares about Voldemort, the Battle of Hogwarts, McKinnon, Draco, Onya and all that had died for him previously. The majority of nights Harry found himself wide awake in the small hours of the morning screaming and covered in cold sweat and tears. Ginny did all she could to keep him calm but Harry still continued to spasm and shout out waking up half the house.
It was also a regular event for either Kingsley or Percy to Apparate outside the house to be allowed in and start to explain everything that was happening in the Wizarding World which wasn't anything of importance. The Ministry of Magic had half of its staff, Auror or non-Auror, they were interrogating and searching every single corner of the British Isles for any sign of the Death Eaters and Voldemort but failed to find any traces. Of course red herrings were left all over the place with the death count of innocent bystanders (Muggle born or Muggle) rose tremendously. People were dying all over, and not just in Britain but worldwide, and yet the murderers could not even be found. As the death toll rose the world's borders shut off and the Muggles in power passed it off to the public that the government was protecting everyone from a new super virus that could be a potential pandemic. In the Wizarding World fliers on how to protect houses and fight off Inferi and Dementors were sent to every home possible. The printing of the Daily Prophet was also cancelled for the time being so that the Death Eaters could not access any information about anyone or anything. The world was in lockdown, everything was cut off and everything was silent. There were numerous deaths and yet no signs of any Dark Magic anywhere to be seen, whether the Death Eaters were to do anything big was unlikely at that current time.
Now in the middle of March the Burrow's activity was low and the Weasleys, Luna and Harry were carrying out their days as per normal, like nothing was happening. It had just turned seven in the morning on the nineteenth of March 1999 when Harry found himself wrapped within a large blanket with Ginny on of the sofas. On the other was Ron and Luna whilst Mr Weasley occupied one of the armchairs. They had all just finished off their breakfast and were now relaxing whilst admiring the spring sunshine which illuminated the living room through the agape curtains. As Harry sat against the sofa for what felt like the billionth time he saw dozens of horrific images flash by his eyes and the migraine he had developed from continuing paranoia increased in its pain. Then, out of nowhere, dressed in dark purple robes that were musty and hadn't been cleaned for weeks, Percy Weasley, looking badly shaven and tired, Apparated in the living room with heavy breathes.
"PERCY!" they all exclaimed cueing for Mrs Weasley, George and Charlie to burst out of the kitchen pile into the living room. The Weasleys, Luna and Harry were now anxious to know what on earth Percy was doing there.
"Percy, how did you get in here?!" Mr Weasley cried.
"There was a breach in your security! I needed to get to you fast too so…!" Percy ejected quickly.
"What's wrong, Percy? What is it?! Is it him?!" Mrs Weasley demanded of her son.
"No, no…"
"Then what is it, Perce?!" Charlie exclaimed.
"All of you, apart from Luna, need to come with me to Azkaban ASAP!"
The Weasleys, Luna and Harry gave Percy looks of shock and bemusement at his wild suggestion that left Harry to respond with; "Are you mad, Percy?! AZKABAN?! Now?!"
"Yes, you're key witnesses!"
"To what?!" Ron bellowed.
"We're holding an emergency trial at Azkaban to decide the fate of Narcissa Malfoy. You were all there when she burnt down Hogsmeade, so you're the key witnesses! We need your statements!"
"Couldn't you just write them down? Why do we have to go there?!" George speculated.
"No, we need verbal confirmation from you all. The governors of the prison can't take my word as it'd be considered bias…"
"How exactly?" Ginny wondered.
"I was there too but I'm the Minister for Magic, being in that position I've promoted the severest of punishments for any involved in the Dark Arts. They've got to have honest judgement from you."
The Weasleys and Harry looked at one another in a manner that saw them silently confer what was best to do about the current situation whilst Luna shared a fleeting smile with a heavily panting Percy.
"We'll go." Mr Weasley murmured from his armchair with a firm nod to Percy who replied with a nod himself.
"Right, well we need to go now. Yes?" Percy breathed.
The Weasleys then shuffled into the middle of the living room leaving Luna sat on the sofa alone. Harry gestured to Ginny and the pair of them reversed towards Luna in order to exchange hugs.
"See you later." Winked Harry.
"Are you going to be alright on your own, Lune?" Ginny asked her friend.
"I'll be fine. You better get going. Good luck." Luna wished them.
Both Harry and Ginny then returned to the group in the middle of living room where Percy took out an oil can from the depths of his robes and placed it upon the carpet.
"We'll back soon, dear!" Mrs Weasley gestured to Luna who replied with a brief smile.
Percy then took out his wand and with an outstretched arm he chanted, "Portus!" therefore illuminating the can with a blue glow as it shook ever so slightly, rattling as the Weasleys understood the procedure. They therefore took their positions with Percy and placed a finger each on top of the oil can which then suddenly took off. With a fleeting glance at the Burrow living room Harry felt an invisible hook tear him away from where he stood by the naval. As his weightless body was jerked around in circles at a high speed Harry felt air rush around him as he began to feel sickly. Then suddenly his previously glued finger on the can came off and he was flung into the air to crash onto solid, cold concrete. On impact Harry felt his knees buckle and bruise and his jeans split partially on the stone. When he opened up his eyes the fear he hadn't felt before suddenly hit him like a train causing him to topple over when he tried to get to his feet. Harry now felt nauseous and his vision blurred as he adjusted to his new surroundings.
They had landed in one of the many corridors that the Azkaban facility held. Only moments ago Harry was happily relaxing after his breakfast, pretending there wasn't anything to be worried about. Now, he found himself in a badly lit corridor with was dingy with a concrete floor, ceiling and walls. There were no windows in that corridor only a set of reinforced steel doors down the right hand side which were sealed with heavy bolts. At the end of the corridor was a door of plain but scratched oak with a brass handle and a grimy plaque that read; 'Governing Body Emergency Trial Room'. As Harry took in everything that he saw he felt a soft hand try and pick him back up from where he had fallen down to. He looked up and saw Ginny's comforting face pull him up onto his feet however he collapsed back onto the opposite wall with a lean. The Weasleys were all on their feet and giving Harry bemused looks as the door to the trial room swung open with a bang to reveal a stout witch with curly grey hair and sharp, darting eyes. Her vision swung to Percy as she looked out of the room.
"Minister Weasley, we were just about to start without you…" she said in a monotonous, dry voice.
"Sorry for that Governor Chalbian…could you just give us another minute?" Percy gave Harry a brief glance, Harry was still trying to get together his paranoia and nerves as the governor took an unemotional look at him.
"Hurry up." She stated blandly before hurriedly re-entering the trial room which Harry who had now gained his balance looked into.
Through the open door which the governor had left open Harry was able to see everything in the trial room which appeared to be bigger in the inside than out. There it saw a long table dotted with official looking wizards and witches who were part of the governing body. Facing them was a lone desk where chained to it was none other than Narcissa Malfoy who had previously been admiring the numerous citizens in the jury seated behind her. When she realised there were others in the open corridor she looked and spotted Harry and together they shared an awkward yet intimidating stare. With dark eyes Narcissa, who looked gaunt, paler and thinner with some missing tufts out of her hair, glared at Harry with pure hatred boiling inside her. Harry then began to experience some sort of panic attack as the events of months gone by abruptly washed over him and he began to spasm, sweat and tear up as Narcissa began to smirk. The tension between them was sudden and unbearable and everybody else who surveyed it failed to do anything about it but watch. Moments that felt like hours passed by as Harry's fear build up inside him, a snake desperate to burst out of his skull! Then…
BOOM! BANG! CRASH! CRUNCH! SMASH!
The left hand side of the corridor's wall which Harry had been leaning on while he panicked suddenly exploded with enough force to send gigantic sections of the concrete into the other side. With this abrupt explosion saw the ground shake, a bowl of dust and rubble fly upwards and a massive, noisy gust of wind came with it all. The debris of half of the corridor wall slammed into the opposite wall rupturing the brick work and smashing door some of the cell doors. One large chunk lodged itself in the trial room doorway to cause screeching cries and hysterics from the people within said room. Harry, who had been leaning against the exploded wall, was thrown off his feet to somersault feet over head to collapse onto the now cracked concrete floor. He was showered with smaller debris whereas the Weasleys, who just managed to jump in time to avoid the flying blocks of concrete, had dived to the dust filled floor being caught by several sharp pieces of brick as they collapsed. One lump of concrete knocked Mrs Weasley out unconscious, George had the hole in his head clipped and it began to slowly ooze out blood. All in all the Weasleys including Percy, whose legs were loosely trapped under some bricks, and Harry managed to avoid the majority of the torn apart wall and land with only minor cuts and scrapes. Harry, who had smashed one of the lenses in his glasses and received a long gash down the left side of his face, opened up his eyes. In the dust-filled corridor Harry heard echoes reverberating from the lower and higher levels of the prison which sounded strangulated, screechy and terrified. Harry was also confident that he heard another minor explosions and the sounds of duelling wands as he just heard various objects smash. He then rolled his head to one side and through the thick fog of dust he saw levitating over the deep sea near to the hole in the wall with their wands aloft; Draco and Lucius Malfoy, Onya Lewis, Bellatrix Lestrange, Amycus Carrow, Alecto Carrow and Goyle Senior. With triumphant, gleeful yet manic smirks on their faces the seven Death Eaters hovered their way into the centre of the corridor before dropping to the ground with a thud.
Harry, like the Weasleys, was disorientated from the blast and didn't have the strength to pull himself up onto his feet. Instead, he surveyed the scene afore him from the ground which saw the Death Eaters settle back to the ground in their identical black robes. In the meantime Harry heard some distant groaning as the Weasleys began to adjust again and bring themselves to stand up. In response the Death Eaters readied their wands as the Weasleys one by one sprung up from where they had lay, wands aloft, and suddenly a mass duel erupted. Harry took the opportunity of the abrupt clashing of persons and colours to jump to his feet too. Nobody had noticed him take to his feet and slip his wand out of his back pocket. From where he stood at the back of the corridor, Harry saw that Ron had instantly immersed himself in a violent wand fight with Draco and Onya who battled back to back. Mr Weasley had ran past his son in order to protect his wife, shielding both himself and Mrs Weasley in order to check whether she was alive. As Mr Weasley monitored Mrs Weasley, Harry skirted past him to spot Ginny entwined with Bellatrix Lestrange who fired random killing curses over Ginny's shoulder. Percy had struck up combat against Amycus and Alecto Carrow whilst Charlie fended off Lucius Malfoy and George attacked Goyle Senior. With no-one to fight Harry was left unscathed and un-seen in the middle of the corridor as he stopped dead in his tracks and had no clue of what to do next. Then, he saw George collapse to the ground writhing in pain to the Cruciatus Curse so Harry bellowed a war cry and rushed at Goyle Senior and fired a Stunning Curse at him, flinging him into the opposite wall. Harry then lifted the curse on George and with a hasty wink the pair of them raced over to Goyle who was recuperating himself and shot a Killing Curse into the ceiling.
Now the Weasleys were combined with the Death Eaters in a spectacular battle (all except Mr Weasley who was bent double over Mrs Weasley trying to help her regain consciousness). Meanwhile, in the duels, Onya shot a trip-jinx at Ron's gangly legs making him sprawl to the ground and leaving Draco the chance to dart off in another direction towards his father. Lucius who was locked in a series of stunning curses with Charlie was sent off balance by a rogue piece of debris at his feet. As he tumbled to the ground his son Draco catapulted sideward and sent a stinging hex into Charlie's face which flung Charlie to the ground gripping his now ruptured, scarred face. Draco then pulled up Lucius and the pair of them then tried to make their way towards the trial room.
Elsewhere, Bellatrix had joined forces with the Carrows and Ginny had teamed up with Percy in a five-way duel which saw a Killing Curse ricochet off the concrete floor and eject into the open air before the green light dissolved into the fog. Percy was responsible for shooting a stunning spell which hit Alecto Carrow in the jaw causing her tumble over a pile of concrete and fall off the edge of the exploded wall and down into the depths of the sea. Amycus, with a mix of anger and upset at his sister's surprise death, shattered a cell door with a swing from his wand before Disapparating with a teary expression. Percy, though he had just accidentally killed someone, shook the feeling off and continued to duel with Ginny against Bellatrix whose insane cackle was audible over the sounds of exploding concrete and cries of agony. On the other side of the corridor Ron had knocked down Onya with his fist. Charlie had joined George and Harry and together with the combined strength of their spells were able to send Goyle Senior hurdling through the air and out into the open where he was just visible to see Disapparate in time before he dropped into the sea. Whereas, Draco and Lucius had swerved past a killing curse to reach the blocked entrance to the trial room.
"BOMBARDA!" Draco shrieked in order to blast the lump of rock in their way into smithereens and so that he and his father could swagger into the trial room. In there they caused horrific, blood curdling cries for help as the jury and its governing body failed to co-operate with one another in sending defensive jinxes at Lucius and Draco. The pair ignored the crying crowd and raced straight to Narcissa who was still chained to the desk in front of the now empty head table. She was teary and gave her husband and son wide smiles as they broke apart her handcuffs and released her. The three then joined in a tight group hug before taking each other's hands and quickly Disapparated. Back in the corridor prisoners from the smashed open cells had now crawled out into the debris to spectate the gradually closing duel. Onya, who was locked in combat with Percy and Charlie, dived on the ground and rummaged in her robes to take out a big handful of wands which she threw into the crowd of at least twenty prisoners. In response they all jumped at the free wands and each one took one with a sense of freedom and glee when unexpectedly fifteen Aurors Apparated into the corridor to immediately fire curses at both Bellatrix and Onya and the newly equipped escapees. The corridor was now full of wizards and witches all fighting for their lives as a couple of Aurors and prisoners dropped to the ground dead already. Bellatrix sliced open George's knee with her wand to distract some of the Weasleys as she made her way to the mass of now fighting prisoners.
"COME WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!" she hollered cueing at least half of the escaped prisoners to grab onto one another linking onto Bellatrix. She then Disapparated and took eleven of the twenty escapees with her. The other six remaining were beginning to be slammed to the ground by Aurors who had vastly depleted in their numbers already.
Harry found himself shoved to the back of the fight as Mr Weasley and a newly awaken Mrs Weasley gave the scene of carnage a quick look before Disapparating together. Charlie, Percy, George, Ron and Ginny found themselves helping the Aurors knock down the few prisoners left who were being helped by Onya. Onya slayed one Auror with a slash of her wand and an emitting of emerald light which tore his throat out and left him to collapse to the floor dead. As Onya then turned to another tactless Auror and brought him to his knees Harry saw Ginny emerge from a band of two escapees with her wand readied. Events seemed to then occur in slow-motion from Harry's perspective as Onya arched her wand over the Auror on his knees. When Onya was due to strike the blow, Ginny launched herself fully in front of the unknown Auror. At this moment Onya had mouthed the Unforgivable Curse which meant a channel of green light spurted from the tip of her shaking wand. The blast of energy propelled forwards and struck Ginny squarely in the chest causing her swept backwards into the air.
As Ginny was flung off of her feet after being hit she span several times in the air like a pirouette but was able to exchange a look with Harry. Harry, as soon as the curse enveloped Ginny's flailing body Harry screamed out, long and drawn, Ginny's name as he launched into a mad, uncoordinated sprint forwards. Harry cried out as tears flowed down his face and he felt his heart smash against his ribs harder and harder, louder and louder. The rest of the corridor's noise had been shut off, Harry only heard the beating of his heat and the pounding of his footsteps as he raced towards Ginny's falling body. Harry's head was whirring and banging with a million and one different thoughts as he saw the love of his life begin to plummet into the open air and into the depths of black sea below.
'Must save her! Got to save her! She can't...! She can't do this…! This isn't fair! This can't be happening! That isn't her…?!'
Harry was in denial, he couldn't face the truth, he couldn't bear the truth, he couldn't accept it. Not now, to him it was impossible and wasn't happening. His body and mind tried to reject such thoughts but he knew it was true, it had to be true.
'No, it can't be?! Not, Ginny! Not, my Ginny! It didn't hit her! It didn't! It wasn't the Killing Curse! It wasn't the curse…! It can't have been! She can't be dead! She can't be dead! Please don't let her be dead! I don't want her to be dead! Ginny isn't falling! She wasn't hit by the curse! She isn't falling…falling…falling…It's my fault! All my fault! Always my fault!'
Harry was still running, the whole world was flat, the duelling was dwindling its perseverance as more of the Aurors, prisoners and Weasleys turned to see Ginny falling out of the open wall. Harry sprung over a dead Auror's body and slid on a puddle of blood as Ginny rolled in mid-air and shared her final, waking glance with the boy she loved. Her face showed she was frightened, more frightened than ever before, her eyes were wide and tears stained her pale face as she began to disappear behind the broken concrete floor. As Ginny's body slipped out of sight to fall into the sea Harry saw her pupils dilate and roll into her skull and the muscles in her face relaxed. Ginny Weasley's eyelids closed together as she exhaled her last breath into air and her limp body like a rag doll span to the raging waves of the icy, black sea. She was dead.
'She's not dead! She can't be dead! GINNY! GINNY! GINNY!'
Harry reached the gap in the wall of the corridor where Ginny had fallen dead towards the pit of water that faced her corpse. As sound resumed to the world Harry heard horrific, strangled cries from the Weasley family as he dived out of the corridor and into the air to fall towards the sea. As Harry took the plunge to follow Ginny's flailing body he felt the strong wind ripple the skin on his cheeks and the tears he had shed splashed back into his eyes and stung them. His jacket ripped off his back as he held his wand tight in his blood-smeared fist and began to smell the salty sea that lied beneath him. Violent, high waves ruptured the surface of the sea and from what Harry saw they easily swallowed Ginny's dead form into its depths. As Harry forced himself to fall faster his thoughts grew;
'It's taken her! She's gone! She's drowned! But wasn't she dead, already?! NO! She isn't dead! Can't think like that! Mustn't think like that! NEVER THINK LIKE THAT! SHE IS ALIVE! She's got to be alive, hasn't she?! SHE IS! She has to! She can't die! SHE'S GINNY! AND I LOVE HER! I LOVE HER! SHE CAN'T DIE! I DON'T WANT HER TO DIE! COME BACK, GINNY! GINNY!'
Harry broke the surface of the sea and dropped into the bone chilling water where he was completely submerged and felt his brain numb with the cold. With his legs and arms also frozen Harry still felt the weight of his clothing dragging him downwards towards the sea-bed which grinned at him from below. Harry didn't know how to breathe underwater or how to swim properly, he had his wand in his hand yet forgot to use it as he swam around the water in order to find Ginny. It was his mission, his sole mission, the only thing he must do, he had to do it, he had to! Harry with the help of his weighty clothes managed to swim deeper under the water in which he saw a quick flash of red in the distance. With this sight he picked up the pace of his swim and manoeuvred his way towards where he had seen the red. As he got deeper and faster he finally spotted her, Ginny's floating corpse drearily drifting its way towards the bottom of the sea. Harry forced his way further down and was finally able to clasp his numb hands around Ginny's waist. He then pulled her up towards him and began to kick ferociously upwards in order to get to the surface. Above him, above the black of the sea he saw a dim light, daylight, the open air. He kicked harder trying to forget about the deadweight he held in his hands which he felt beginning to slip out of his fingers. The surface was getting closer and closer, Harry's wand began to slip from under his enclosed hand around Ginny's waist. He couldn't lose that yet he couldn't let go of Ginny though at the same time. Then he met the surface and felt his head blasted by a fast gust of cold air, as he opened up his mouth he engulfed a large amount of air before continuing to swim. He turned his head to the side and spotted a pebbled embankment which was attached to the side of the prison. With sheer determination but no skill Harry pushed, kicked and swam his way to shore with Ginny's lifeless form and his wand both wrapped to his chest by his hands and arms. After what felt like hours of violent, uncoordinated swimming Harry felt the water level drop and stones brush the bottom of his ripped trainers. He was then on the embankment and dragged Ginny's body onto it and lay her down softly before stashing away his wand into his sagging jeans. Waterlogged and dripping Harry collapsed beside Ginny's body. She was pale and drenched with water, several scars dotted around her face. Her chest was moving, there were no twitches in her body, no signs of body functions…no life signs…Ginny was dead.
"Ginny…?" Harry's voice was hoarse from his previous lack of oxygen and with after no response from Ginny he gently shook her by the shoulders. Again, no response. He didn't know what to do. He had to accept it. Wet, cold and shivering Harry leant back onto his heels and looked upon Ginny's broken body. Her face etched with cuts pale and her eyelids closed she looked like she could have been sleeping…her red hair was tangled and sprayed above her head on the pebbled bank. In Harry's eyes she'd never looked any more beautiful than she did lying there before him without consciousness. Harry had remained calm, shivering just slightly, when he bent over Ginny and lightly pressed his lips against hers for the last time. The skin on her lips were cold, stone cold and wet…Harry lifted his head back up and looked at Ginny's face…she was dead…there was nothing he could do…he broke down. Rocking on heels and shaking violently Harry burst into a fit of fast flowing tears, crying harder than he had ever done before. As he sobbed over Ginny's corpse he began to cough more and more as his wails and moans increased during his fit. As the coughing got worse Harry began to wretch but he could barely feel it as he continued to ball and shiver. All that raced through his head were repetitive, dark thoughts;
'She's dead! SHE'S DEAD! GINNY! Ginny?! GINNY! You can't be dead! This isn't happening! This can't be happening! It isn't real! She's Ginny…! I love her! SHE ISN'T DEAD! I don't believe it! I don't want to! IT CAN'T BE TRUE! GINNY ISN'T DEAD! She's alive! She's got to be alive! She can't die! Please! It's not fair! It's not fair! GINNY! GINNY!'
Through Harry's howling and continuous retching he found himself screeching various phrases that slipped from his consciousness as his brain ticked away. He heard himself through blood and water filled ears her name…Ginny…his heart pounded harder and harder…his insides twisted horribly over and over again… He flung his trembling hands to his face and with his numb fingers scrabbled and tore at his face. He punished himself as he rocked and wretched and cried and eventually swung his head to projectile vomit across the pebbled embankment. His throat was on fire, the sick that he had ejected burnt his mouth and left it dry…failing to mop up the mucus on his chin he turned his heavy head towards where Ginny lay. Harry shook aside his damp fringe to admire his girlfriend's immobile figure…her pale skin reflecting the spring time sunshine back into the broken lenses of his glasses. Harry was beginning to acclimatise to the situation and tried to reel his sanity back in, reducing his shaking and tears but then… there was a gentle tap on his shoulder. He didn't want to look around, he wanted to stay kneeling there and with Ginny, he couldn't leave her, not now, not ever.
"Harry…?" came a familiar, deep, booming voice, "It's Kingsley."
Harry shook his head and stuttered, "K-K-Kingsley….s-s-she's d-dea…"
"I know," he replied simply, "Harry, you've got to come with me."
Harry deliberately ignored this statement and shook his head shakily.
"You must come with me. It's time to come away." Kingsley murmured monotonously.
"I-I-I-I c-can't le-eave h-h-er!" Harry garbled beginning to cry again.
"Harry you've got to come away. You can't stand here. It isn't good." Kingsley attempted to pull Harry back a little by his shoulders which Harry flung forwards. Then, as Kingsley went to try and pull Harry up to his feet, Harry dived forwards onto the embankment towards where Ginny's body lay. Harry then shuffled on his belly to Ginny as Kingsley duly followed him with heavy footsteps. When Harry reached Ginny he threw himself over her and when Kingsley approached him and tried to pull him away Harry held onto Ginny and tried to shove Kingsley away.
"Harry! You've got to come, now! You can't stay here!"
Harry cried harder as he screeched in a strangulated, drawn out voice, "NOOOOOOO! I can't go! I CAN'T LEAVE GINNY! Please, please, please….! I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE! I just can't…YOU CAN'T TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE! She can't be left alone! NOT GINNY! Ginny…!"
Then, Kingsley grabbed Harry by the back of his shirt and turned on his heel and forced Harry to Disapparate along with him. Together they dissolved into the morning air as Harry gave Ginny's corpse a brief final glance as he continued to scream her name and wail with tears. Moments later as Harry lost his breath and was sent spinning in various directions he felt his legs buckle and his knees slam into carpet as he and Kingsley Apparated into another location. Harry opened his dampened eyes and regained the ability to breathe as he realised properly that he had moved. His previously sobbing self-had now stemmed and Harry felt himself be tear-stained, his throat searing like it was inflamed and the rest of his body knelt down on a carpet. It was then we it hit him that he'd left Ginny yet he couldn't muster any more tears so instead he knelt on that spot…lost. He didn't know what to do and so stared blankly into space however his vision was impaired with the missing lense in his glasses. In his sub-consciousness he found himself scanning his new surroundings and trying to identify where he was but he was getting anywhere. Then, he felt Kingsley pull him up by the bit of shirt over his shoulder so that he was able to face him stood up. It was the first time Harry had locked eyes with Kingsley since the latter had arrived for him minutes earlier. It wasn't until he faced Kingsley that he realised everything wrong with his body. Harry then felt his waterlogged clothing, the cuts and bruises on his face, arms and legs, his head felt heavy, his breathing and heart beats were irregular and his throat stung. When he saw Kingsley he exhaled a long breath, realising he'd stopped crying and moaning and though it felt physically better than beforehand Harry felt morally wrong about not being upset. Now, he stared Kingsley in the face in silence without moving a muscle or making a sound.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't of done that. Not really. But I guess it was best," Kingsley muttered kindly, Harry in reply gave a shaky nod, "We're in my office at the Ministry by the way."
Harry had considered Kingsley's office to be his current location and now he had been proved correct. In order to determine that he agreed with what Kingsley had said Harry turned his head to look at the room. Well furnished with polished oak book-shelves, chairs and a long desk tottered with parchment Kingsley's office was dotted with various paintings and what appeared to be an accumulation of random magical objects. The office was rather large in size and had lots of room within it it's paisley wallpaper plastered walls. Near to both Harry and Kingsley was a small leather sofa which Kingsley gestured to Harry to take a seat on. Kingsley decided to pull across a chair and sit directly in front of Harry who perched himself on the edge of the brown sofa.
"Do you want something to drink, Harry?" Kingsley suggested for Harry to reply with a shake of the head, "Is there anything you'd to like say?"
Harry gave the question a few moments of thought before producing any words, his brain ticked away slowly like that of a clock, "There's something I don't understand." Harry managed to spurt out, his voice seemed reasonably normal with only a slight quiver to it now just a bit hoarse.
"What's that then?"
A flash of red hair flicked past Harry's eyes, "The A-Aurors…?"
"Ah," Kingsley shuffled on his seat, "The walls of Azkaban are covered in multiple layers of defensive enchantments. The Death Eaters breaking down that wall on that corridor sent a 'wailing' signal directly to the Auror office. I ordered them to leave immediately and followed them duly afterwards. Once you do something like that to Azkaban, the wall I mean, it disintegrates all defences. It's how we could Apparate in and the Death Eaters could get out."
"How did you find me?" Harry shook his head in disbelief as he saw a brief glimpse of a pale, freckled face swim past his eyes.
"When I arrived at the scene my Aurors appeared to have re-imprisoned some Azkaban inmates. When I got there Ron told me what had happened to Ginny, how Onya Lewis had escaped after doing it, and that you'd followed Ginny out through the wall. I believed that you'd make it alive. You always do. I was right." Kingsley gave Harry a weak smile which wasn't returned.
"Did Ron explain what happened?" Harry quizzed Kingsley.
"Briefly…he couldn't say much…the shock…he was a mess…they all were." Kingsley gave Harry an empathetic look as he spoke this.
"What had happened since I jumped?" Harry winced as he saw a flash of black water and a falling body.
"Onya Disapparated. My remaining Aurors captured the remaining prisoners."
"If the alarm on the prison gets to the Ministry immediately why did it take you so long?"
"Emergency protocols…we had to contact the St Mungo's Emergency Response Team…the same one that helped out at Hogwarts at the battle. I'm guessing they came straight after I left to find you."
Harry thought he saw a green light, "What about the others? What's happening to them? Where are they? Is anyone going to the Burrow? Mr and Mrs Weasley left to go there…!" Harry began slightly frantic as paranoia built up inside of him again.
"Harry, calm…" Kingsley reassured him with the wavering of his hand, "I ordered the Aurors to bring any innocent civilians here. They'll all be here shortly, Harry. Now, you…you should rest."
Harry shook his head for Kingsley to reply with a nod.
"You need to rest, it's the best thing. Try to get some sleep. I'll wake you when the others are here." Kingsley more or less ordered him so Harry decided to shrug his shoulders and lie back onto the sofa, "I will see you later, Harry. Now please, rest…" Kingsley murmured giving Harry a wink and turning to exit his office and into the bustling Ministry of Magic Atrium leaving Harry alone and lay down on the small sofa. Instead of dwelling on events just passed Harry decided to firmly close his eyes shut and try and force himself to sleep.
After what felt like hours of restless shuffling on the squeaky leather sofa with his eyes glued shut and ignoring the pains in his face and his drenched clothing, Harry managed to fall into a light sleep.
It was pitch-black, he couldn't see anything, not even his own hand in front of his face. There wasn't a breeze, the air was still, if there was any air at all. No sounds, no light, no scents, Harry couldn't even feel the ground beneath his feet. What had happened? Where was he? Then he felt himself shift anti-clockwise to where a white spotlight appeared out of nowhere and shone onto a singular, lone figure. It was Onya Lewis. She had had her head facing the floor when she lifted it up and stared at Harry.
"Hello, Harry. Nice to see you here," Onya's voice was thick with sarcasm, it was also eerie and echoed, "You look a bit upset? Couldn't of been my fault could it? Oh it was, wasn't it? I killed her…the ginger tart…you're iccle girly friend? Whoops! Shouldn't of done that should I? Did it make little Potty maddy waddy?" she issued a high pitched cackle, "I killed Ginny Weasley! And wasn't it fun?! Are you going to cry Potter? Are you going to cry?! Ooh, look a little baby Potter! She's dead! MUHAHAHAHA…!" the hysterical laughter continued as Harry felt himself spin again but Onya's cackle remained at constant in the background.
In the blackness, another three faces loomed out of another, bigger spotlight. The people it illuminated were the Malfoys; Draco stood in-between his mother and father. All three of them gave Harry sneering looks.
"Pathetic Potter. How goes the day?" Draco smirked.
"Didn't do very well, did we?" Lucius chuckled.
"Good to see you as always." Narcissa spat.
"You failed, Potter. Failed at protecting her, protecting the love of your life…ouch…that wasn't in your diary was it? How does it feel, hey? How does it feel that I beat you? Beat you at your own game once and for all. And you can't do anything about it." Draco rubbed his hands energetically, a wide grin on his face.
"Thought you killed me, don't you? Your friend; Kingsley…the underperforming, disco-ordinated Minister…didn't do so well today did he? So many loopholes in how he's wrapping up this world in cotton wool…it does feel so good to be back…alive, just like the others!" Lucius pumped his fist triumphantly.
"They managed to break me out. You imprisoned me. Didn't exactly work did it? And how does that feel? The woman who burnt you and an entire street, keeping so many hostage and in pain…guilty as charged and yet here I stand. A free woman and you…a broken, sobbing child…" Narcissa was spiteful in tone and then Harry was swung around again, in the distance he still heard Onya's laughter echoing around his ears.
Another spotlight was switched on and gave Harry the ability to focus on yet another figure who stood before him. This time it was Jeremiah McKinnon who gave Harry a sly, relaxed look of smugness as chuckled; "Harry, Harry, Harry…you never learn do you? It's not going to get any better you know. It's just going to get a hell lot worse. I can't wait what about you?" McKinnon shrugged with a glint of glee in his dark eyes, "Such a shame. You thought it was all over didn't you? Technically it's my fault, guilty as charged…still, me? One of the most dangerous wizards around, I didn't bring back those Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. If two teenagers are capable of that and you can't stop them then what does that mean about stopping me? You haven't got a chance have you? Not one bit. You've got yourself a bit of a dilemma there, Harry. All this moping around, isn't going to get your girl back is it? Unlucky, she looked a keeper too…" McKinnon then burst into a fit of maniacal giggles as Harry was turned again.
Now another spotlight shot down and hit skin that reflected most of the light back, the skin was white and covered a bald head which had two slits for nostrils and a pair of gleaming red eyes. Staring into Harry was Voldemort who sighed, "Harry Potter…it's been so long…who would of thought that after eighteen years of setbacks I'd still be coming back…once again Harry you haven't done your job properly. I'm back and it's your own fault this time," Voldemort sneered, "There's no looking back now…you thought I was dead and I was. Now, I'm back and I've come for you Harry. I've come to get you…to touch you…to rip out your heart…to finally get my revenge onto you! I will kill you Harry and there's nothing you can do about it! I am the only one who can live forever!" As Voldemort joined Onya and McKinnon's continuous cold laughter Harry was swung around one final time.
In the darkness the spotlight lit up the final person to face Harry. Long red hair flowing part way down her back, her skin pale and freckled and her face the way that he had remembered it did not give me that familiar, warming smile. She did not near him or make any other expression than the one of disappointment and solemnness that rested on her face. By the look in her brown eyes Harry felt that Ginny was angry in some way but he couldn't understand why.
"This isn't the first time there's been a risk whilst being with you Harry but what happened today ended my life and I hold you fully responsible," Ginny's usually calm, gentle voice was harsh and cold in tone, "You're the Boy Who Lived aren't you? The Chosen One? You defeated You Know Who? And yet you couldn't save me? You couldn't even save me! Me, Harry! Ginny! The one you supposedly love so much! This should have been you, you know?! Dead! Then none of this would of happened would it? I wouldn't be dead! All those innocent people who tried to protect you are dead! Strangers, friends even family…I've lost people I've known and felt guilty for the ones I didn't. And yet it was you, wasn't it?! You! Always, you! Always! Harry Potter the Sainted Wizard! The Holy One! The Great God of Magic! Let us all worship the selfish, power crazed committer of genocide! Harry Potter the liar! The cheat of death! Why couldn't of just died?! Then we wouldn't of lost Fred! Luna wouldn't of seen her dad killed before her eyes! All those people died for you and what for?! What for?! What's the point of you?! YOU DID THIS! YOU DID THIS HARRY POTTER! YOU KILLED ME! YOU KILLED ALL OF US!" Ginny then began to slip away as Harry was pulled backwards further and further. He tried to shout to Ginny but all he could do was mouth, nothing came out the further and further he got from her. Then, out of nowhere the faces of Onya, Voldemort, Lucius, Draco, Narcissa, McKinnon and Ginny were directly surrounding him as he span in the middle of them. Their faces loomed larger and larger as Harry span faster and faster…their boos, their hisses, their laughter, their cries and shouts got louder and louder…Harry saw flashes of green light…flames…falling bodies…he heard cries of pain…Images began to swim before him and shoot past.
Harry saw his mother collapse to the ground with a flash of green light, screaming…Hedwig fell dead in the bottom of her cage…Dumbledore fell backwards off of the Astronomy Tower, his old body broken and limp like a rag doll…Sirius was struck by the curse and toppled through the Veil and disappeared…Tonks and Lupin's bodies lay next to one another on the floor of the Great Hall…blood spilling out of his open neck Xenophilius Lovegood's eyes crossed with Onya's wand between his eyes as she said the incantation…Snape stared into Harry's eyes, bleeding profusely, tears in his eyes which then shut…Ginny was flung through the air and as her eyes met Harry's her eyelids closed one final time…
"HARRY!"
Harry woke up from his nightmare to find himself writhing violently in a crumpled heap on the carpet in Kingsley's office. Dripping in cold sweat Harry also felt drying tears on his face, it also appeared he'd begun to froth at the mouth. As well as this head ached dully and his throat seared painfully, the inside of his mouth tasted of fresh sick. He'd also managed to bit his lip and split it causing it to bleed however he was naturally bleeding from both nostrils too. As Harry acclimatised to his current predicament he rolled onto his back to look up and spot Ron hovering over him. Still shivering Ron offered Harry a hand and helped pull him up and settle him down onto the small sofa. On said sofa there were several new scratches and drips of Harry's blood. As Harry took his seat beside Ron he looked up into the latter's face. Ron seemed panic-stricken by whatever Harry had been experiencing but also his eyes were puffy and his face was blemished with dried tears.
"Harry, are you okay…?" Ron asked him kindly for Harry to jerkily nod, still quivering, "You were fitting…you were screaming nonsense, shaking, bleeding, frothing, crying…you were even sick," Harry saw out of the corner of his eye a puddle of vomit, "What happened, Harry?"
"N-N-Nothing…n-nightmare…" Harry murmured.
Ron gave Harry an understanding expression before continuing, "You need to get yourself cleaned up. There's an en-suite to this office just at the back, it's a bathroom. Go and tidy yourself up, Kingsley said there's some spare clothes in there too." Ron gestured with his index finger towards the back of the office where there was a door. Harry simply replied with a swift nod before jumping to his feet and hobbling over to the door at the back of the office, he turned the brass handle clumsily and fell into the room. It was a small bathroom with a toilet, a mirror and sink though it was porcelain and highly polished. As Harry slid down the door and onto the floor with his knees to his chin he spotted a pair of jeans, a tee shirt, jacket, boots, socks and underwear nearby. He then rubbed his eyes with his hands in despair as a million and one thoughts fluttered away in his mind's eye.
'What do I say to him?'
'What're you worrying about? It's Ron.'
'Still…it was his sister…I'm not ready.'
'Course you are. He understands. You've both lost the same person.'
'But she meant something different to either of us.'
'So, what?'
'What if he holds me responsible? I'm guilty enough as it is! I can't face him. This is too much.'
'You can do this! It's Ron! He was there, he can't blame you! You went after her! You did your best but it just wasn't enough and he understands that…Harry you've got to speak to him…'
Harry jumped up and trudged towards the sink and stared into the mirror. He spotted the missing lense in his circular glasses and a scratch on the remaining one. His bottom lip was split and still dribbling blood and his nostrils were stained with dried blood. There was some excess froth around his mouth and various cuts and bruises dotted around his face. He turned on the singular tap of the sink with his battered fingers and let the water run as he put his spectacle on the sink side and began to thoroughly rub his face with cold water. He rinsed out the blood on his face causing the open wounds to sting before he gargled a mouthful of water to swill out the taste of sick in his throat. As Harry lifted up his head he spotted a towel and a packet of plasters on a miniature shelf underneath the seat. Harry picked up the towel and scrubbed the remaining grime off his face before taking out some plasters before placing them on various parts of his face and fingers. He then turned to the pile of clothing nearby before stripping off his clothes. In the corner of his eye while he was getting changed he noticed his reflection in the mirror which showed the long scar on his stomach. So he turned to look at the mirror and dropped his head to stare at the long scar which had was now just a thin, red line. He winced as he tenderly poked it and saw a flash of memory of how it happened; the glass sticking out of his stomach at Hogsmeade…the reopening of the wound at the Ministry when Onya killed Xenophilius…painful memories. So, instead of dwelling on the past Harry returned to clothing himself by sticking on the remaining jeans, socks and boots. Now dressed he walked towards the bathroom door and clasped his hand around the brass handle. Ron was on the other side patiently waiting for his return but Harry was unsure whether he could face the brother of his now dead girlfriend. Would he hold Harry responsible? Would he break down? What was going to happen? With no idea Harry decided to be headstrong and burst through the door and back into Kingsley's office. Ron was still sat on the sofa looking particularly startled at Harry's sudden entrance. However, still puffy eyed, he relaxed and shuffled a little more on the sofa to allow Harry to walk over and take back his seat.
"Better?" Ron's voice was quiet, a little choked.
"Better…" Harry replied in a whisper.
"What was your nightmare about?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Was it what I think?"
"Along the lines, yeah."
"Mind if we talk?"
"Course not."
Ron gave Harry a pitiful, solemn glance. As Harry looked into his best friend's eyes he saw a flash of green light reflect back at him. Either a trick of the light or his mind playing tricks on him Harry was disturbed as he took a look at Ron whose face had various similar features to that of his deceased sibling. The red hair, the freckles on the pale skin…Harry felt this heart twist horribly…
"Where are the others? Where's Kingsley?" Harry quizzed Ron.
"Kingsley's with the others in his office. We only arrived about half an hour ago…Kingsley said you were in a state and were resting. I said I thought it best if I saw you on your own first before anyone."
"What happened after I jumped out of the corridor?" Harry asked Ron for a momentary silence.
"The Aurors managed to pin down the remaining prisoners when Kingsley Apparated in. He asked us where you were and we had to explain what had happened and we sent him to find you…we had no idea whether you were alive or not," Ron looked down at his knees, "When Kingsley disappeared to find you the emergency Healers from St Mungo's came and they started to take away all the bodies and tend to our wounds. They collected up all the prisoners and the Aurors and took them back to the hospital but I don't think they were going to try and find that Carrow in the sea. Two of them left to pick up Ginny and took her straight to the hospital we soon followed with the Aurors but we weren't allowed to see her. Kingsley turned up later on after visiting mum and dad at home and bringing them along and told us how you were here and that we'd be able to see Ginny some other time…we more or less came straight away…"
Harry and Ron shared another awkward, silent stare between one another.
"Ron…do you blame me…?" Harry whispered.
Ron gave Harry a wild look; "No! Never! How could I blame you for this?!" he cried.
Harry felt the back of his eyes sting a little, "I don't know…I just thought…"
"Then, you thought wrong didn't you?" Ron assured with a pat on the arm, his eyes red.
"I just…I don't know…I just feel…so…guilty…I feel like it's my fault and no matter how many times I tell myself I'm not the feeling just keeps coming back and it doesn't matter that I hate it because I'm always going to feel like this aren't I?" Harry's eyes became watery, his voice a little strangled.
"Of course you are. It's survivor's guilt, Harry. You can't escape it." Ron's eyes dribbled a tear each.
"It's selfish…I shouldn't be thinking about things like that…I've stopped crying and I don't know why. My head's all over the place…I feel sick…"
"You are not selfish, Harry," tears rolled down Ron's face, "You're the most selfless person I know. You've risked your own life time and time again to save either mine, Hermione's, Ginny's or pretty much anyone whether you know them or not. At the Battle of Hogwarts you could of let everybody in that school die at the Death Eaters' hands but you walked into that forest and gave yourself willingly to Death! That's what you do! You put yourself on the line to preserve what you believe in! Harry, you jumped out of hundred storey prison into the sea to save Ginny! Not even I did that! I stood there and did nothing and do you know how much I regret that?! I wish I could be more like you, Harry! Selfless and brave! Daring to do anything for the people you love!"
Harry had started to cry now, silently, tear after tear dripped down his plastered face as he looked into Ron's eyes, the latter layered in a stream of tears but his voice still strong.
"Harry Potter, you've been my best friend for seven and a half years now. Ever since I met you we've been barely been separated…literally. Yeah, there could be periods of a month or so due to the summer but we couldn't help that. But apart from that, we've stuck together. And all that time we've learnt everything about each other, day in, day out. We've shared adventures…happy times and sad times…we know each other's pasts, we know each other's likes, dislikes, what we like to drink with our breakfast…We know each other too well, Harry. I can read you like a book nowadays. No matter if you're being possessed by You Know Who or speaking Parseltongue or disguised as Vincent Crabbe I still know what you're thinking or feeling," Ron raised his eyebrows and gave a sigh.
"I know how you're feeling right now! I know, Harry, I know! She was my sister and I loved her. For a brother-sister relationship we were close, so close. She was my only sister and when it happened. When Onya killed her, when she killed my sister, I didn't know what was happening. I didn't understand. I didn't want it to be true. And I'm sure you thought the same, I'm actually sure you thought the same. Of course you did. You see, I loved my sister and I still do and so does the rest of my family. But, nobody and I mean nobody, excluding maybe my mum and dad, loved Ginny more than you did," Harry gave a jerky nod, hiccoughing a little as he cried, Ron remained as calm as he could, tears ran down his face, "People can say whatever they damn like but I know the truth. They'll say how she was just your girlfriend but I know that you loved…no, still love her! You two were so perfect for one another and loved each other more than anything in the entire world but that was stolen away from you. You've never had that sort of love given back to you. Your mum and dad, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore…they all were taken away but you had Ginny. Now she's gone you don't know what to do, right? Well she wouldn't want you to do this, Harry! I know I can't talk at the moment but…we've got to move forward."
Harry cricked his neck as he shot a bemused glance at Ron who shook his head slightly.
"Ginny's dead but she wouldn't want us to waste our time…she'd understand that there are greater things at risk…yes, she's gone and yes we have to mourn her but let's get it out of the way now before it comes back to haunt us. There's the possibility of a third Wizarding World War and to be honest I truthfully don't think Ginny would want us to cry over her death when the rest of our family and the world are at risk, more than ever," Ron gave Harry a weak smile, "Ginny was so brave Harry, wasn't she? A fighter, an independent woman in her own right! Nothing could stop her from getting what she wanted and she fight to get it. She waited six years to get together with you, not even Cho Chang being on the scene stopped her though did it? She was selfless too. That Auror was an innocent stranger that she didn't know and yet she jumped in front of him and took the curse for him. No one else would of done that except Ginny and that's what makes her so special, Harry. She was unique, she was beautiful, she was strong and she was the kindest person we ever knew. Now she's gone we fight for her. We fight in her memory and her honour! We defeat You Know Who, Draco, Onya, McKinnon, all of them! All in her name! Yeah?!"
Harry gave a tearful nod as Ron faltered to speak once more and instead offered out extended arms and the two best friends joined in a tight hug, sobbing. Then, after they patted one another on the back they settled back into their seats and rubbed the running tears off of their faces.
Harry then remembered something and jolted in his seat, "HERMIONE! LUNA! BILL AND FLEUR!"
Ron replied with a voice that trembled, "Luna already knows, she was there with my mum and dad at the Burrow but she's stayed there. I think Kingsley's going to Australia to inform Hermione and Percy's gone to Shell Cottage already to bring Fleur and Bill."
Harry gave a shaky nod, "I want to see the others."
Ron mumbled something as he took to his feet and exited the office duly leaving Harry to sit and stare at the walls of the office. After a couple of minutes Harry heard the sound of footsteps approach the office door which was then swung open on its hinges to reveal the Weasleys; Molly, Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Charlie and George. As Ron walked back into the room ahead of his family who stood framed in the doorway, Harry shot up to his feet. The Weasleys were flecked with little cuts and bruises here and there on their tear-stained faces. Their eyes puffy and red and their hair tousled, the Weasleys with wide-eyed, sombre expressions stepped into Kingsley's office. Harry exchanged looks with the family members for a period of time that felt like forever until Mrs Weasley herself rushed forward in a fit of tears and hauled Harry into a back-breaking embrace. The Weasleys soon followed suit by surrounding Harry in what turned out into a group hug with Harry stuck in the middle of it. All he could think about whilst they hugged him was one thought and one thought only.
Ginny.