Chapter 26
The ground was hard and sharp against her side as Ginny started to wake. She tried to move but found it impossible to move more than a little bit. Her back hurt so bad that she fought the urge to cry out. But something about the darkness kept her quiet praying for safety of family. The pure silence that surrounded her was worse than the silence the burrow had taken after Fred's death. Briefly she thought that maybe she was dying but she knew that she couldn't be as long as she was feeling pain. For now pain would be her friend. The one thing that told her she was still alive.
As the first wave of pain ebbed away she could hear the noises of the forest beyond her. The howls and calls of animals she couldn't see. She grasp her wand tighter and tried to move her arm but at the odd angle it was hanging she knew it was impossible. She tried to move her legs but couldn't seem to do it. But she pushed the fear that shot thru her aside as she began focusing on just surviving. Her thoughts drifted to Harry wondering where he was. Deep down she knew that he must be searching for her. He wouldn't let her just stay out here. Neither would her brothers or parents.
Time seemed to be moving so slowly as she tried to figure out. But she had to admit that from where she laid nothing looked very familiar and to add the darkness made it near impossible to do.
Molly felt exhausted as she sat next to her husband clinging to his arm. She felt numb as she thought about Harry and Ginny being out there somewhere. She tried to stay positive and think of what she would say to them when they returned but doubts seemed to plague her as she sat lost in thought. She looked over her boys who had came back in briefly to rest before resuming the search. Bill and Charlie both had a lost look about them that hadn't been there before. Percy had a look cross between I told you so and shock. George however looked confident. Ron and Hermione still hadn't returned and that worried Molly. Hopefully they had found Harry. But all she could force herself to do is wait. Going out there wasn't an option she couldn't even stand anymore. She could hear the quiet murmurs of her family discussing where to search next but she couldn't find the words to join them.
Percy knew that Ginny shouldn't have been fighting. Harry had lied to them all. He promised that he would protect her and he didn't do that. Now Ginny was missing. He was there he saw it all. Harry got revenge on the guy who cursed at her but that was all too late. But he knew how it was going to go. Harry would return and the whole family would be going on about poor Harry this and that. But he knew the truth and he wasn't going to forget it. And he was sure he wouldn't let Harry forget it either.
Edward and Sam walked slowly thru the underbrush and trees into the forest area in front of the school. They could sense eyes on them but didn't bother to look for them. They was searching for Ginny. Nothing would stop them or so they told them self but as they neared a clearing a sight stopped them in there tracks. Edward called out for Carlisle and with in moments the doctor was there. Harry was there on his hands and knees overturning every rock looking for something. Carlisle approached him carefully and slowly. He could tell that the young man was hurting with every movement.
"Harry come on now, you really must go back to the castle. Let Edward and the others continue." Carlisle said firmly.
"I have to find it. They may be able to help find her. If I can just find it." Harry said in a distant voice. Ron and Hermione arrived with Harry's wand and gasped as they listened.
"Harry please let me take you back. You can barely stand. Let us search while you get some rest. We will find her. I promise we won't stop searching for her." Carlisle said compassionately.
Harry tried to stand but his legs wouldn't hold him. Carlisle gently picked him up and carried him towards the castle stopping long enough to take Harry's wand from Ron as he passed. It took him mere moments at his speed to gently carry him to the castle. Every ones eyes turned towards the door as he entered carrying a silently sobbing Harry into the room. He gently put the man down in an empty bed and with out saying a word motioned for Arthur and Molly to come with him. They joined him in the hall quietly.
"Keep an eye on him. When Edward found him he was searching for something. He was telling me he had to find something that they might be able to find her. He just seems like he's not there. I think he might be going into shock. He doesn't have the strength to go back out there. But he is going to try. Do your best to keep him in bed and calm." Carlisle said before going to resume his search.
Molly and Arthur looked at each other sadly before they heard angry voices inside. They could recognize Percy but it took a little to recognize George and Bills voices. They rushed inside to see Percy standing over Harry angrily talking to the motionless body in the bed. George and Bill was pulling on Percy's arm desperately trying to get him away from the bed.
"I told you Harry that she shouldn't fight. I told you. But you were too good to listen to me. The rest of the family may not remember this but I will never forget that this is all your fault." Percy went to go on but was yanked away by an extremely angry father. He was shocked never had his dad ever gotten this angry.
"Enough, if you remember correctly that Harry agreed with you and told us not to go out there but we did anyway. It was Ginny's decision to go out there. She wanted to fight. She isn't some child that needs to be protected Percy. She may be young but she has seen more and done more than you or I combined. It's time you realize that she makes her own decisions now. He can not be held accountable for her decisions anymore than he was for Fred and the others." Arthur said with a look that stopped Percy in his tracks.
Molly had passed them and went to Harry's bedside. Poppy and Minerva joined her quickly. They listened carefully as Harry quietly talked to himself or to some unseen person.
"I have to go find it. They will help me. I know they will." Harry said
"Harry what are you looking for?"
"the stone, I've got to find the stone so they can help me."
"who can help you?"
"mum and dad They'll help me."
"Harry honey look at me. Your mum and dad can't help you. Just relax and rest. Edwards going to find her. She is going to be fine." Molly said sincerely. He continued to argue with her until with tears in her eyes Poppy spelled a strong sleeping potion into Harry's stomach. With in minutes he was asleep. A tear stained Molly found her family out in the entrance hall much quieter than before. She rushed into her husbands arms and stayed there for several minutes.
Poppy followed a few minutes with Minerva. She didn't want to have this conversation with the Weasely's. She didn't even want to think it let alone speak it out loud. Minerva understood how she was feeling. Poppy cleared her throat slightly and motioned to some chairs that Minerva had conjured for them.
"I don't want to talk to you about this but you are the closest to family Harry has. So I have to ask you all to make some tough decisions." Poppy said quietly. "He is obviously very distraught. I've given him a strong dreamless sleep potion but I can't keep giving them to him. Molly you were in there and heard him yourself. He was talking about things that doesn't make any sense at all. I hate to even think it let alone voice it but I think that Ginny's disappearance has done something to his mind."
"What do you mean done something to his mind?" Percy asked confused.
"He was talking about how if he found some stone his Mum and Dad could help him find her. Now we all know that they can't help him anymore. I'm really afraid that this might have finally broke him. Now we have some decisions to make. We could take him to St. Mungo's right now or we could just keep him sedated until we find her." Poppy explained.
"Can he recover from this?" Arthur asked.
"I don't know Arthur I can't answer that. Even when we find her he may never be the same again."
"Will keeping him sedated hurt him in the long run?" Molly asked thoughtfully.
"No I won't be using dreamless sleep potion all the time so he should be fine physically at least."
"I think we should keep him sedated and in the castle. When Ginny is found she will be furious if we send him to St. Mungo's." Bill said. Everyone agreed even a guilt filled Percy.
Ginny was staring up at the half moon above her. Pain was coming in waves but she stayed strong. She listened for signs that some one was near. After a few hours she remembered how to produce a patronus but after a few minutes she realized she was to injured to even attempt. She cried out in frustration. There had to be something that she could do to get some ones attention. She thought about Harry and how she wished she could talk to him right now. She jumped as for a brief moment she could swear she heard his voice in her head. She tried to think as hard as she could again calling out in her mind to him and this time she heard him loud in her head.
"Ginny where are you?"
"I don't know. I can't recognize anything right now."
"Don't give up we are looking for you. We will find you. Are you hurt bad?"
"Yeah I can't move right now. It's hurts so bad Harry. I can't take it anymore."
"Ginny I want you to give it to me. Just think about the pain for a little bit so I can take it"
"Harry I don't want to hurt you. What if it doesn't work?"
"Ginny don't worry I can handle it. Just try just so you can stay awake."
"Ok I'll try I love you Harry"
"I love you too Gin, don't be scared if I don't talk after this. Just remember to keep making noise so they can find you. Scream if you have to."
Ginny thought about the pain allowing it to consume her. Within minutes it was gone and all she heard was a scream that she knew was Harry inside her head and the connection closed but the pain was gone. She started to make some noises periodically in between worrying about Harry.
Kingsley was quietly talking with some of the portraits when they heard the scream coming from Harry's bed. He rushed over and saw him thrashing and gripping the sheets so hard they were ripping. Harry's eyes flew open and he cried out again. He gasp as he tried to talk. Sirius and Remus looked down from their portraits in horror at the sight of him so obviously in pain.
"Molly please get Molly" Harry said in a hoarse voice.
Kingsley wordlessly ran out of the room. Every one in the room watched the usually collected man run out of the room. Kingsley looked at the seated people frantically.
"Molly Harry is calling for you. He's in pain and all he wants is you." he said quickly.
Molly ran practically running Kingsley over leaving Poppy bewildered to get to Harry's side. Even though her daughter was missing she would not forget the young man who she had taken into her home several times and loved as one of her own. She rushed to his side and put a calming hand on his forehead. As she looked into his eyes she could see the pain in them. She waited patiently for Harry to regain ability to talk.
Poppy Pomfrey was confused. No one woke minutes after taking a dreamless sleep potion even when they were in pain. Harry should not be awake. She thought about sending him to St. Mungo's straight away now but something Arthur's eyes stopped her. She couldn't place it but she would almost swear it was hope. Hope for what she couldn't answer. But right now she couldn't take that away from them. They were holding on to such little hope as it was.
Harry looked up gratefully at Molly before swallowing. She could tell that even breathing was beginning to be a struggle. He took a ragged breath before he began to speak.
"Mrs. Weasely, she is alive. I know she is. We can speak thru our bond thru our mental connection. She is alive. They have to go back out and look for her. She will be making as much noise as she can."
Arthur had slipped in just before Harry managed to speak but said nothing. He didn't want to scare Harry out of talking but he did want to know what was going on.
"Harry dear how do you know it wasn't a dream?"
"I could feel her. Even with the connection closed off I can feel her on the grounds." Harry said begging her with his pain filled eyes for her to believe him. For some reason she did believe him and Arthur although unseen by them did too. As he started to speak again another wave of pain hit him causing him to tear another section of the sheet in his clenched fists. The pain was not only his own pain from his not yet healed injuries but that of Ginny's untreated injuries. He thought for a brief moment he was going to pass out from it but he managed to stay conscious.
"Is she in any pain? How bad is her injuries?"
"She is hurt bad. But she is no longer in any pain." he stuttered out harshly.
"what do you mean no longer in pain?" Arthur asked finally letting his presence be known.
"I took her pain. We can do that now. I wasn't sure it would work but we had to try. I couldn't find her but I could take her pain on with my mind and body." Harry said as another wave hit him causing him to scream. The scream was loud enough that the rest of the family came running in followed by the headmistress and healer.
"Harry How long can you take it?" Arthur asked.
"As long as it takes to bring her home. I don't care how bad it hurts I won't let her feel it as long as I have a breath in my body." Harry gasp out. Something in his voice caused everyone to believe him. The portraits couldn't believe everything they had heard. Dumbledore smiled serenely at the young man in the bed.
"Harry you are an extremely unique young man. Let you heart give you the strength you need to do what you have to do. As you always have." the portrait said calmly.
Harry said nothing but moaned slightly. Molly grasp his hand in hers and held on for dear life while the rest went back to searching. Percy lingered over Harry for a brief moment opened his mouth to say something but closed it and ran out of the room.
"You know he didn't mean what he said before." Molly said softly.
"I know he's just scared. We all are. I just want her safe here with me. I'll take the pain as long as it takes and longer if necessary." Harry said with a ragged breath.
"Shh now no more talking. Just rest now. I'm here and I'm not going to leave you." Molly said with a calming voice.
Harry closed his eyes tightly as another wave of pain hit him. Blood slowly dribbled down his arm from a cut that they had healed. Molly cried out as she saw it. Poppy ran into the room hearing Molly screaming. She turned slightly pale as she saw the blood starting to run onto the bed underneath Harry. She went to work quickly to stop the bleeding.
Harry fell back into a fit filled sleep as Molly sat holding his hand. Her thoughts turned to her daughter. She wished she could hold her daughters hand right now. But hearing Harry say her daughter was still alive gave her the hope that had been dying. Suddenly she had the energy to wipe the sweat off Harry's brow. She was sitting there when she heard the door behind her open. She turned to see Ron and Hermione walk in with their heads down.
"Ron, Hermione what's wrong?"
"We haven't found her yet Mum. What if we don't find her in time?" Ron said starting to sob.
"Ron listen to me. Ginny is alive. We know she is. Harry and Ginny have a connection to each other thru their minds."
"since when?" Hermione asked letting her curiosity get the best of her.
"They found it this evening. Harry got to talk to Ginny. She is hurt but still alive." Molly said looking down at Harry and checking his scars. Some of them had started to open yet again and Molly groaned slightly.
"Poppy it's doing it again" She called out. As Harry ripped another sheet in what they could tell was another wave of pain.
"What's wrong with Harry?" Ron asked with a pale face.
Poppy shoed them away as she went to work. Molly pulled them closer to Fred and Tonks portraits.
"He has taken on her pain so she can stay awake and call out for help. For a little bit we were afraid that his sanity was leaving him. He was out there looking for a stone. He swore that his parents would help him." Molly told them.
"The resurrection stone that has to be what he was looking for." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"That's just an old fairy tale." Molly said.
"Mum that is what we thought too. But we've seen it, it's real. He must of thought that if he could find it again they could tell him if she was alive or dead or where she was." Ron said sadly.
"Those story's are real." Molly said still confused.
"Mum we have a lot of things to tell you. But it's going to have to wait for a while. Would you like me and Hermione to wait with you for a while?" Ron asked kindly.
"That would be lovely. I'm sure that Harry will appreciate your company as well." Molly said leading them back to the bed.
"that was his fourth blood replenishing potion tonight. They have to find her and soon I'm about out." Poppy said in an exhausted voice. "What on earth is happening to him? He wasn't in this much pain a few hours ago."
"Harry took Ginny's pain for her so she can stay awake. How long until it becomes a real problem?" Molly asked.
"at this rate an hour. If we don't find her it could put him at risk." the healer said.
"Excuse me but I know of a muggle method that might help him. It's called a blood transfusion. We would need to find out what his blood type is and then find some one who is a match." Hermione suggested.
"Where could I find more information?" Poppy asked.
"We could try St. Mungo's and maybe my parents could help. My parents are muggles and only dentists but they could help us get started."
"Ok Hermione you contact your parents and I'll contact St. Mungo's meet me back here with your information in a half hour." the healer said.
"Ron Carlisle is a doctor. Go find him. Get him back here before Poppy and Hermione get back. Hurry!" Molly said quickly.
Ron rushed out of the room and out of the school. He called out furiously for doctor Cullen hoping that his voice would reach him in time. As he was nearing the forest he saw a flash run towards him and stopping short of him. There standing in front of him was the doctor and his wife looking very worried.
"Doctor Cullen we need your help. It's Harry we can't help him for much longer. Could you please come help?" Ron said. Carlisle saw the desperation in the young mans eyes.
"Of course I'll help any way I can." Carlisle told him allowing the young man to lead him.
They arrived in the great hall as it was at the height of activity. Harry had obviously started bleeding again. While Poppy worked on Harry she explained to the doctor what was going on. Carlisle explained what they would need to do in order to do a transfusion. They quickly sent a list of supplies with Ron to give to Hermione's parents. An hour later they had the supplies and was beginning to test willing adult's blood for a match.
Edward and Sam and Jacob was about to give up for the night when they heard a small voice in the distance. It was definitely a female voice they heard. They started running towards it as fast as they could. They stopped just short of where they thought they heard it from. It was loud now and they could tell it was Ginny. Edward called out to let her know it was them and they were going to help her before moving the brush back. As they knelt by her she could only murmur her thanks she was so tired. But surprisingly she was still feeling no pain. It confused Edward as he did a few things that he had been taught so that he could move her safely without causing more injuries.
Slowly they made their way to the castle as much as they would have preferred to run they thought it best to walk. It seemed to take hours to get back to the castle. As they neared it they met up with most of the Weasely family who nearly hugged them if it wasn't for the small form they carried. Bill opened the huge doors while Charlie went to go tell the others inside.
Charlie was a bit confused at the sight in front of him. Two people that he didn't know had needles in their arms with tubes leading to bags below them. A red liquid was moving slowly from the needle thru the tube to the bag. Doctor Cullen was taking samples and doing something to each one. Charlie shook his head and moved to where Ron and Hermione sat with their mother next to Harry's bed.
"They found her. They are bringing her in right now." He said. Carlisle who heard what was said told Poppy that he would take care of Harry if she could take care of Ginny.
The doors opened and Edward and Sam entered carrying Ginny between them. They walked over towards the bed next to Harry. Ginny looked over and gasp at how pale Harry looked.
"Harry" Ginny said weakly.
"He'll be ok soon enough dear." the healer said kindly. She jumped slightly at the ragged voice that came from in back of her.
"Ginny, You're here. I knew they'd find you. I'm sorry."
"don't talk Love just rest." Ginny said in a low voice.
The Weasely's were sent out of the room while the healer and doctor worked. Andromeda sat next to Molly and Arthur and tried to take their minds off of what was happening. They had been sitting there for quite a while when they heard Ginny scream in pain. Molly rushed in despite Kingsley trying to hold her back. Poppy was just finishing spelling the pain relieving potion into her when Molly reached her side. She looked over to see Harry sobbing with Edward and Esme trying to comfort him.
"He couldn't hold it for her anymore. He tried for so long. We are giving him his transfusion. Dr. Cullen thinks that he will only need this one. As for your daughter, she is a very lucky young lady. She has a few broken bones that are now on the mend as well as bumps and bruises. But no spinal or head injury. She is going to make a complete recovery in a few days with rest." the healer said without looking up from what she was doing.
"what about Harry?"
"He is on the mend now as well. He won't be holding on to her pain so he shouldn't be ripping cuts and scars open. Physically he is going to recover in a few days. What worries me is his mental and emotional. I swear if he saw someone else do something he would find a way to make it his fault."
Molly thanked the healer and went out to tell her family the good news. They all looked relieved. The Cullen's watched as they all hugged each other and rejoiced. They new in a few minutes most would be crashing down with the news about Harry finally hit them. Rosalie held Emmett's hand as she thought about everything she saw. It had been an amazing fight and even she had to admit she was impressed with them all. They sat quietly as the Weasely's all sat down.
"Why does it always have to be Harry that almost dies?" Ron asked angrily.
Hermione looked very thoughtful before she answered. "Because He always goes in to these things with everything he has."
"and we don't?" Percy asked confused.
"I'm not saying that you all don't. It's just that he always tries to do more than he is able to do physically especially when it comes to those he loves."
"You mean he would get himself killed to save any of us?" Bill asked trying to understand.
"Yes that is exactly it. You all have given him something he has never had. A real family. People who love him and care for him. He would die before he let any of you die. Ron before you get all jealous like you usually do. He doesn't want to take your family away from you he wants to try and prevent you losing anyone else. He's already watched you lose Fred and he sees the pain your in. He would rather die than allow you all to feel that type of pain ever again."
"Hermione how do you know all this? Has he been talking to you or something?" Ron asked.
"She doesn't have to talk to him. Any fool could see it." Kingsley said.
They all said their goodnights as Molly and Arthur went in to sit with Ginny and Harry and the others went on off to bed for the night. They all thought about everything that had happened and was said. It was a sad situation but they knew that they would be ok eventually. They slept on as the Cullen's kept watch over them. After all that was what friends do for each other.