Chapter 52: Aspects in Jeopardy

Ginny awoke due to the feeling of warm sun rays on her face. The moment she sat upright in bed, however, the languid quality to her limbs and the previous day's events all rushed back to Ginny and erased her somewhat decent mood. She looked around the unfamiliar room, seeing that it was richly furnished and very decadent in its design. Dread pooled at the bottom of Ginny's stomach, wondering why she was left alive at Avery's old manor house.

Ginny stepped out of bed, surveying the room's extremely lavish furniture and Persian rug. Avery could never afford anything like this. Thankfully, Ginny was clothed in a modest silk white gown that was very comfortable.

Malfoy Manor. Ginny recognized it the moment she entered the en suite's sitting room and saw the pale vanilla walls with gold trim and the most expensive artwork and tapestries that she'd ever seen in her life. How did I get here? Who dressed me?

Ginny was just about to leave the room when suddenly a house elf apparated right in front of the door she was about to open.

"Hello, Miss. Weezy." The very young elf said somewhat energetically before bowing. "I am Bliss and I is taking care of you. I can show Miss downstairs. Would you like that?"

Ginny smiled down at Bliss; she found Bliss's enthusiasm quite infectious.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, please."

As they left the room, Ginny was grateful that Bliss arrived when she did. I probably would've gotten lost in this place.

Ginny followed Bliss down the several halls and then the winding staircase, past the house's main sitting room, and into the dining room. Upon entering, she saw Draco sitting at the head of the table attempting to read the Daily Prophet. In Draco's lap, was Connor who was repeatedly smacking the palm of his hands down onto the paper.

"Connor!"

Ginny rushed over to her boy, lifting him from Draco's lap and pulling him tightly against her in a snug hug.

"I'm here as well." Draco drawled with more amusement than actual sarcasm.

"What's he doing here, Draco?" Ginny asked, foregoing the greeting and sitting to the left of Draco. "What am I doing here?"

Draco smirked, setting aside his slightly crumpled paper before giving Ginny an assessing gaze full of concern. Yet he wasted no time telling Ginny what she needed to know.

"The moment the Dark Lord's essence was destroyed, we all knew. Our marks began to burn," Draco explained, pulling back the sleeve of his black, velvet robes to reveal a fading gray mark on his arm. Ginny peered down at hers and saw that it was the same as Draco's.

"Immediately after that, Severus sent Blaise to go get you while we still could. Blaise has the mark; he was able to apparate in and get you out before the Death Eaters locked down the manor. Severus suspected they'd either flee, or try to salvage what they could at their headquarters before consolidating their strength elsewhere. Fortunately for us, they chose the latter option. They were caught unawares but we were not. The measures put in place to contain them at Avery's home proved very successful. The Ministry rounded up most of the head Death Eaters and loyalists, though I suspect they have another hundred and a half to hunt down. Either way, you did what you had to—and it worked."

It was great to hear all that, but Ginny was far from comforted. Ginny looked down at Connor, smiling as she saw him tugging on her hair and placing light hits on her shoulder.

She looked back up at Draco, ignoring his very scrutinizing gaze.

"And Harry?"

Draco wasn't at all surprised by her question. "It doesn't look good, Ginevra. The Ministry's debating whether or not to keep him on some oxygen machine the muggles donated to St. Mungos."

"That's not up to them." Ginny said, trying to keep her voice steady. On the inside, Ginny was raging at the Ministry's audacity.

"All but one of Potter's muggle relatives is fighting to keep him on this breathing machine and it's all very tentative, Ginevra." Draco explained with a regrettable tone. "Severus said the toxicity in his internal organs is irreversible."

Ginny didn't even bother hiding her tears. Draco looked away upon seeing them. Ginny took comfort in Connor, clutching her baby tighter to her.

"I need to speak to Severus."

Draco nodded. "I ordered Bliss to contact him the moment you woke up. He'll be here shortly."

Ginny gave Draco a watery smile that he didn't quite return. Yet Ginny knew the blond sympathized with her. She was also confident that Draco didn't want Harry to die. They were far from being best friends, but they still grew to understand one another. Draco would never admit it, but Ginny knew he respected Harry a great deal.

It's hard for Slytherins to not respect someone of that much strength and unshaken principle despite the terrible odds against them.

Draco chose to change the subject, hoping to end the awkward, sad silence. "Twinky brought Connor over last night after Nott Sr. turned himself in. Severus told her you were here."

Ginny nodded and then wiped away her tears. Breakfast suddenly appeared on the table, but Ginny didn't have much of an appetite. Draco fixed Ginny with a very pointed, disapproving glare that finally made her take a couple of bites of scrambled eggs. Draco was far from satisfied but he chose to let her be, picking up his morning paper for reading.

"Where's your mother?" Ginny asked, trying to make conversation. After three months of being locked away in a room with only murderers for company, Ginny was no longer fond of silence.

"I suggested that her and Astoria go shopping for our wedding."

Ginny gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Draco. Who knew you'd grow to be so thoughtful?"

Draco raised a single silver brow at her. "You're not the only one who's changed."

Ginny beamed at Draco; her smile widened, noticing the indulgent, soft look to his eyes as he watched Connor.

"So…when is this wedding of yours?" Ginny said, once again changing the topic.

After explaining how he wanted to wait till next year for the ceremony—Draco wasn't looking forward to dealing with the societal ramifications of a Malfoy wedding so soon after the war—the rest of their breakfast was filled with small talk about Astoria's improving artistry (she was both a painter and a pianist) and Draco's taking over as Head of the Malfoy family. Ginny could tell Draco was finding his new responsibilities overwhelming, especially as he explained the pressures on him to change their family's public perception and what dealings his family's money funded or propagated.

Eventually, Severus entered the room, cutting Draco off during his venting. Ginny made a mental note to check in with Draco later on about the new pressures on him.

"You look well," Severus greeted Ginny, taking a seat right beside her.

Ginny offered him a small smile. A part of Ginny wanted to hug Severus and thank him for ridding them all of Tom. Another part of her wanted to give Connor to Draco and smack him out of his chair.

It isn't his fault.

Yet the way Harry's eyes were filled with such agony made a little voice in the back of Ginny's mind think differently. Thankfully, this voice was all Ginny. She just couldn't let go of the notion, that if Severus had given Ginny more time, they could have found a potion and a ritual to both extract Riddle's essence and protect Harry's body, mind, and magic.

But he had to rush it and now Harry's going to die.

She understood Severus's argument for why it had to happen that way, but Harry far from deserved that. His being a good man one too many times is what finally killed him.

"I'm glad you came. I, ah, wanted to know how they're treating Harry." Ginny said, seeing Severus's blank gaze change to an expression that revealed much self-flagellation on his part.

"Every hour, the hospital is performing blood transfusions to rid his body of the venom's toxicity—."

"The bezoar should've done that…unless it's the toxic blood flowing out of his organs that's the real problem." Ginny said, watching Severus give a single nod before continuing.

"They're pumping his body full of fluids, but it's just not proving as effective as we all need it to be. His magic is fighting to keep him alive, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to stabilize him after organ failure. One of Potter's kidneys had to be removed this morning; it looks like he'll lose the other and the liver in a couple of hours."

His body is shutting down.

Ginny dazedly nodded, wordlessly handing over Connor to Draco before hurrying upstairs to the room where she'd woken up. The moment she closed the room door behind her, she broke down and wept. The sound of apparition filled the room and Ginny looked up to find Twinky standing beside her. Twinky lightly touched Ginny's shoulder, offering silent comfort and understanding.

Ginny clung to Twinky, crying herself out until she couldn't anymore. When she was finished, Ginny saw the change of clothes that Twinky had brought her.

"Twinky, I want to thank you for everything you've done for Connor and me." Ginny said, hugging the elf once again before releasing her. "If no one's told you, you're the real hero. Without you, I wouldn't have had what I needed to finally finish him. And if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to handle being there with Him. I'll never forget how you helped us."

"You is always welcome, Mistress." Twinky said with happy tears. "After you is dressed, I is taking you to Harry Potter."

Ginny nodded, smiling gratefully at Twinky before heading to the Loo to change. Ginny hurried to get herself ready, and in no time, Twinky had taken her by the hand and apparated Ginny into Harry's room at St. Mungo's.

Upon arrival, Ginny heard her parents and Hermione.

"Ginny!" they all said.

"Oh thank Merlin, you're here!" said Molly.

"How are you, sweet heart?" said Arthur.

"You should sit. You don't look so well." Hermione said with concern.

Ginny struggled to smile at them, so instead she hugged them all. I never thought I'd embrace them again. Ginny often had nightmares that the next time she'd ever see them was when Tom would force her to watch him murder them. The moment Ginny pulled away from them and took a seat next to Harry's bed, Remus, Bill, and Ron entered the room with trays full of food and drink.

When Ginny saw Ron, she felt a painful spasm within her temples that made Ginny fear that she was having an aneurysm. Yet, just as quickly as the pain began, it abated. After it was over, her wide-eyed gaze on Ron made her brother shuffle uncomfortably from side to side.

It's like I haven't seen him in years.

Without realizing what she was doing, Ginny stood and ran to Ron. She gave him a tight hug that he awkwardly returned, patting her on the back. It wasn't that Ginny couldn't sense the indifference and dislike that she'd so long regarded Ron with in her mind, but it definitely was losing the war to her feelings of unconditional love for him.

It's been seven years since I felt like he's really my brother.

"I'm sorry I said what I did. I meant it but not anymore."

Ron's blue gaze was wide and incredulous. "You mean, you don't hate me." He said with hope.

I never thought it bothered you. How stupid of me.

Ginny shook her head. "It's a jumbled mess, but despite what He did to me, I feel how I should about you."

Ron grinned at her, and for the second time in seven years, Ginny felt like they'd truly be okay from this day forward. Fred and George are my favorites but I've always been closer to Ron. We'll just have to relearn being brother and sister again. At least, we have time to do that.

Ginny greeted the others, ignoring how they watched her like she was some porcelain doll that would shatter at any minute. It was mostly Bill and Remus that wanted Ginny to (if not talk then to) allude to her most recent experience with Riddle. Ginny was firm about flat out refusing to discuss any of that today.

"No—and we can talk about it soon, but right now, I just want to be here for Harry." Ginny told Bill and Remus after they both asked her had Riddle done any lasting damage to her.

Why would they think He had? I'm fine. Harry's the one dying on the hospital bed.

After four hours passed with Fred and George joining them in the hospital room, Ginny was growing increasingly frustrated with the situation.

This is Theodore all over again. Ginny was watching a loved one die without any power to change their fate. It was the most maddening thing that made Ginny blame herself. I failed him. Like Theo, Harry never failed me.

Ginny clung to his hand while the others talked around her about what the Dursleys would decide on. It seemed Harry's cousin—Dudley—hoped that Harry would survive this. Just by touching his hand, Ginny could feel Harry's magical energy waning with each hour. The muggle machines monitoring his vitals and breathing showed a rapid decline in his health as well.

I don't know how much longer I can stand seeing him like this.

Eventually, the sun set and the medi-witches came into the room, telling them all that visiting hours were over. Most of the others left, but Ginny, Ron, Hermione and the twins outright refused to leave. Despite the nurses' insistence, no security or Aurors were called to make them leave Harry's side.

That is, until his second kidney failed.

They were all rushed into the hall, where they sat outside Harry's room that was packed to the brim with Healers. As Ron himself silently wept, he despondently clung to a bawling Hermione. Ginny stood outside Harry's door, trying to hear what she could about his status. She offered comfort to no one and rejected it from everyone.

Is that it? Is he gone?

More hours passed and all they knew was that Harry was getting continuously worse.

By midnight, they'd been told that Harry wouldn't live to see morning and that they'd be allowed to see him one last time before his heart gave out.

After hearing that, Ginny didn't know exactly what it was, but something within her died. She knew in her heart, that after all this, she'd never be the same.


The others couldn't stand to see him like this any longer. They left.

Ginny wished she could leave, but her and Remus couldn't. The Dursleys all agreed to remove the machines by morning. They were awful people but Ginny couldn't hate them for that particular mercy offered to Harry. It's perhaps the only kindness they've ever done him his whole life. It was clear to Ginny that Harry would soon die. She doubted he'd last the rest of the hour.

I don't want him to die alone.

Harry was unconscious and entirely unresponsive to the happenings around him. Yet Ginny could still sense his magic. She hoped that Harry's magic would somehow recognize her. That, on some level, Harry would know that he wasn't alone in this. As Ginny and Remus sat in the room waiting for the inevitable, they didn't speak. They just silently wept and clung to his hand, holding onto Harry for as long as they could.

Suddenly, the smell of burnt ash alarmed Ginny and Remus. They both began to look around the room for a fire.

"You think it's the hospital?" Ginny asked with shock.

Remus reluctantly released Harry's hand, standing from his seat. "I'll go check. Stay here."

Please don't let it be Death Eaters. Please! Isn't it enough that he's dying? Why try to burn the place down? The whole world knows your master finally killed him. Just leave him alone!

Yet the smell intensified and Ginny grew worried when Remus didn't return after ten minutes.

I don't have a wand. I can't stop all of them.

The burnt smell became so strong that Ginny's eyes watered and her nostrils burned. Soon, she'd thought she'd begin to choke.

Suddenly over twenty small flares of blinding, high flames ignited in the room. Ginny screamed, instinctively throwing up a shield over Harry's bed and herself. When the flames died down, the spectacle that Ginny saw instantly made her drop her shield in awe.

Phoenixes…well over twenty. Ginny gaped around the room at them all. She stood after seeing Fawkes land on top of Harry's chest. Who knew that many of them still existed?

"Can you save him?" Ginny asked Fawkes, not feeling at all foolish for speaking to the bird as she would a person.

Fawkes looked at her and then several trills of music filled Ginny with immeasurable hope that they could save Harry.

"Of course, phoenix tears." Ginny realized; her eyes instantly snapped up to the bag providing fluids to Harry. "I have an idea."

Ginny rushed out of the room and found the nearest medi-witch that she could. Thankfully, the woman was very young.

"I need a saline bag—."

"A what?"

"A BAG! The fluids bag that you're using on Harry Potter! I need it now. NOW!"

"Uh, yea, you can't have that."

Ginny grabbed the woman by her shoulders and gave her one good shake.

"I am not mad. There's a way to save him, and if you don't give me that bag, Harry will die. Can you live with that?"

The medi-witch rather dumbly shook her head from side to side. "Please, get me that bag. Hurry!"

Ginny rushed after the witch, following her into a medical supply cupboard where a few of the bags were contained. There were only a handful left, which would prove problematic for Harry.

No matter. I'll steal more if I have to.

"What are you doing with those?" The brunette asked Ginny, staring at the red-head like she was quite insane for taking out the entire box of fluid bags.

Ginny grabbed her hand and ran back towards Harry's room with the medi-witch still in tow. It wasn't easy to get through the crowded halls. From what Ginny could tell, the phoenixes had been noticed.

"Move!"

When none of the Healers and other medical staff made room for her outside of Harry's room, Ginny's magic pushed them out of her way.

"Ginny, what—?" Remus asked, staring from the birds to her in disbelief.

"Ma'am, you can't be in here with that." said a Healer.

"What are you doing? Someone get her out of here!" said another.

Ginny snapped. The palm of her hand glowed blue just before she sent out a shield that pushed everyone but Ginny, Remus, and the young medi-witch out of the room. It tired the hell out of her, but it was far worth it.

"Remus, I think they can save him." Ginny said, sparing the phoenixes a quick glance.

"Just keep them out of here. Go!" Ginny yelled frantically, not even watching him leave.

"Hey, lady—."

"—Helena."

"Whatever! Help me hold this bag while they fill it with tears. Come on!"

The phoenixes flew—one after one—onto the end of Harry's bed, providing all the tears that each of them could. By no means would they be able to fill the entire bag, but it was enough to fill a quarter of it.

That's okay. Phoenix tears are potent.

"I'll hang this up," Ginny told Helena. "You make sure the tears get into him, okay."

"All right."

In no time, the tears began flowing down through the tube and into Harry.

"Are you sure about this?" Helena said just five minutes after the fluids began to enter Harry.

Ginny bit her bottom lip, shaking her head no. "I'm hoping it works. This is his best chance to make it, and I refuse to waste it."

Physically, Harry still seemed (and was) awfully ill but his vitals were slowly improving.

"The phoenixes haven't left so that's a good sign." Ginny said, elaborating upon seeing Helena's frown. "We can give him several rounds of phoenix tears hour after hour. They'll know when it's safe for Harry to quit the dosages."

"How?"

"They'll leave." Ginny said, meeting Fawkes gaze and watching the magnificent bird trill a lovely note at her.

Now, all they had to do was wait. Then suddenly, a thought came to Ginny about a problem that would really complicate Harry's chance at a recovery.

"What did they do with Harry's kidneys?"


(Twelve hours Later)

The sound of chattering voices startled Ginny from her nap. I can't believe I fell asleep. Ginny thought, chiding herself. The next moment, her eyes went up to the fluids bag. The red-head sighed in relief upon seeing that the bag hadn't yet run out of phoenix tears.

"You weren't out for long," a soft voice said, startling Ginny.

The red-head looked around the room, seeing Remus, her parents, Ron, and Hermione. Yet, it was Helena who'd spoken to Ginny.

The medi-witch continued, "You need your rest, Ginny."

Ginny frowned at the brunette, who offered her a wry smile. "Mr. Lupin told me your name. I suggest you rest. I will see that Mr. Potter is administered the tears at the top of every hour."

Ginny sighed, staring at Harry's unconscious, pale form on the bed. Still unresponsive.

"I'm sure you will, but I just can't—at least, not until I'm sure he's through the worst of it." Ginny said, watching her Mum look at her disapprovingly.

"Ginny, when's the last time you slept properly, dear?" Molly asked knowingly.

"A while, but that changes nothing. Mum, please." Ginny said tiredly, not wanting to argue.

Arthur placed an arm on Molly's shoulder, silently urging her to stop.

Molly shrugged, shaking her head and then reluctantly saying, "Fine."

Ginny looked over to her right, seeing Fawkes positioned just below Harry's left elbow near Ginny herself. Slightly behind her, the other phoenixes stood on a long sofa that someone had conjured for them all.

Ginny realized, that for such a short nap, she felt really well-rested. As well as my mind.

"Thanks, Fawkes." Ginny whispered, watching the phoenix dip its head at her.

If only you could stick around.

"He hasn't woken, but his vitals are steadily improving." Hermione told Ginny, while giving Harry a gentle smile. "They're going to operate later to restore his kidneys."

Ginny looked up at Helena questioningly. The medi-witch understood her question without Ginny having to vocalize it.

"You were right: saturating both kidneys in phoenix tears, and using crushed bezoars afterwards as both an anti-toxin and a preservative, has proved very effective. As Ms. Granger said, we're hoping to operate on Mr. Potter tonight. It all depends on his strength."

Ginny nodded, watching the medi-witch tell her parents that she had to step out but that she'd return soon. Ron walked over towards Ginny, conjuring a chair right beside her before sitting down. The silence between them was rather awkward. Ginny didn't know exactly what Ron wanted to say to her, but it was clear that it was important to him.

"You didn't give up on him." At last, Ron said.

Ginny gave him a side-ways look. "I didn't think there was any hope, either; at least, not until Fawkes and the other phoenixes arrived."

Then, Ginny realized what Ron really meant. "Just because I stuck around doesn't mean anything, Ron. It doesn't make you or Hermione horrible or whatever craziness it is that you're thinking."

At that, Ron grimaced and looked down somberly at his lap.

"Harry knows you both love him, and I could see how hard it was for you two to see him like that. I've always envied the bond between the three of you, and it was clear that seeing him like that was killing a part of you both. Harry wouldn't resent you for not staying. I actually think he'd understand and want it that way. You know how thick Harry can be when people see him when he's vulnerable. It's that damn hero complex of his." Ginny said half jokingly, half seriously.

I just hope it doesn't get him killed one day. Ginny thought as she stared at Harry's prone form. Well, it hasn't yet. Ginny understood why Harry fought for his loved ones and for people in general. To Harry, despite the risks, it was well worth it.

There's nothing really all that special about fighting. Anyone can fight, and there comes a point in everyone's life when a person absolutely must fight. Harry's always known that and has never really shied away from fighting against impossible odds, and what's even more impressive is how often he wins despite them. Someone has to do it, so why not him? But when will it stop, if ever?

Ron watched Ginny look at Harry, and his blue eyes on her were scrutinizing.

"You get him. Harry never let on about it, but when he was mad at you, I think most of his anger came from that more so than his feelings of betrayal." said Ron thoughtfully. "Me and Hermione get him, too. We just can't quite relate to the things Harry's seen or went through. Out of us all, you could."

"I'm not used to you being all deep and intense." Ginny said lightly with a small smile at her brother.

Ron grinned. "I'm not as dim as I put on." He said with a twinkle to his eyes. "But seriously, thanks for staying. Thanks for finding a way to bring him back."

"Oh, that was all Fawkes and the others." Ginny said, looking around the room at the phoenixes with gratefulness.

"Well, Hermione and I have already thanked them. It's weird talking at birds who do nothing but nod or sing. No wonder Dumbledore was kind of mad."

Ginny chuckled, beaming at her brother as they shared a moment that they hadn't in years.

"You're both more than welcome." Ginny said afterwards. "So…how are things with you? Other than this, of course."

Again, Ron grimaced and his uneasiness didn't go away. He shrugged, feigning indifference and light-heartedness. Ginny wasn't fooled and it made her truly concerned for his emotional state.

"I…resigned from the Ministry. I thought I should get out before they fired me." Ron said, giving a dry laugh before continuing. "Anyway, even though I've left, they're talking about pressing charges against me and Dad, too. We, ah, kept everything happening with you from Kingsley—well, until we had to tell him about losing Harry."

Ginny gently touched Ron's shoulder, offering what little comfort and support she could.

"I'll try to talk Kingsley out of pressing the charges. I'm sure he'll come around." Ginny said, ignoring Ron's protests not to do anything. She continued, "And I'm sorry. I never meant to cost you your job."

"Don't be stupid." Ron said, giving Ginny a light glare. "I don't blame you. I don't think I really wanted to be an Auror anyway. I just…wanted to be with Harry."

Ginny nodded understandingly with a small smile.

Ron continued, "I just don't know what I can do from hereon out, you know."

Ginny sighed, "I remember what you said at Percy's wedding about you being jealous of us all."

"I was so out of line and—."

"No, let me finish." Ginny said, trying to figure out how exactly to continue, "To me, you weren't out of line—not at all, Ron. I think, too often, you get really down on yourself. I think you are your worst critic and enemy. It's because of that why you've never really tried to excel…at school, at standing out in the family…at Hermione."

At this, Ron blushed so fiercely that he couldn't even look at Ginny or anyone else in the room. Instead, he looked down at his lap.

Ginny continued, "You won't allow yourself to try because you expect to fail because you're you. You don't think you're good enough, when in actuality, you're incredible. I was there in school with you, too. I saw you ghost through it, shadowing both Hermione and Harry. And, yes, you had your moments of epic, jealous idiocy; but not many people could've stayed in the shadows like that and remained that loyally constant and supportive."

"But you did and with little to no bitterness or resentment towards Harry and Hermione. Now, Harry and Hermione might not see it (or maybe they just won't say it) but that means a lot, Ron. It's quite remarkable actually, and if you doubt that, then think about the consequences of Pettigrew turning against his friends."

Ron's head snapped up and he sent Ginny a foul glare.

"Don't compare me to him."

"Now it's your turn not to be stupid." Ginny snapped at her brother, watching her parents stare at them both uneasily. Apparently everyone could sense her and Ron's temper rising but they hadn't said anything yet.

Ginny continued, "Of course you'd never pull a Wormtail. I never said or implied that you would. I only mention him to prove my point, Ron: that eventually he was driven to bitterness and resentment against his so-called friends when you were not…at least, not yet."

"What the bloody hell are you getting at? I'd never, on my life, hurt them. I wouldn't."

Ron stood, leaving the room. Ginny wasn't going to leave it at that, though. Against her parents protests, she followed Ron right out of the room. Ginny stood directly in front of Ron, blocking his way to escape her. Ginny knew he was barely stopping himself from forcing her out of his way, so she decided to be quick about what else she had to say.

"I know you'd never pull a Pettigrew, Ron, but you have to admit that your inferiority complex is, on some level, driving a wedge between you three. The row at the reception wasn't the first sign of your friendship being in trouble."

"What the hell are you talking about now?" Ron gritted at her, rounding on Ginny.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. That horcrux preyed on your insecurities, using them to drive a wedge between you three. You still haven't forgiven yourself for that, and you damn well know why. It's the same reason why I haven't forgiven myself for the way I am today, Ron, and for all the shit that I've done. Because that horcrux both preyed on the underlying parts of myself and made me act on them, Ron…just as it preyed on your insecurities—and yes, your budding resentment or bitterness towards them—that made you walk out on your friends."

Ron stepped back from Ginny as if she'd stunned him with a blow to his face.

"No one's ever talked with you about leaving them. It makes the family uncomfortable. And why talk about it when Harry and Hermione are over it? But I'm not mentioning this for either of them. I'm doing this for you, Ron." Ginny said.

Ron had a pained look on his face. He shook his head, clearly not wanting to hear anything else that Ginny had to say.

"Please…just…stop. Move!"

"I'm not judging what you did, Ron, and I'm not ashamed of you for what happened. I'm telling you that I get it. I understand how what you went through can make you really hate yourself for what you did…and for why you did it, based off of what you really felt."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I'm your sister and I care about what you're going through. Because your inferiority complex is causing Harry and Hermione to doubt whether or not they can truly count on you to be a genuinely supportive friend. They've forgiven you, yes. But they haven't forgotten your underlying feelings that made you do what you did. And they shouldn't forget. Neither should you."

Ginny grasped her brother's face, watching tears leak from his eyes.

"It's okay to feel what you're feeling. All of it—the love, the support, the envy. You're entitled to that, Ron, but don't get stuck on that. You've seen the rift it can create in your relationships. You've seen how down you get on yourself because of your insecurities. Ron, you are so much more than that and it's time you started to believe that. If you don't, you will lose them and you'll never be happy."

Ginny watched Ron nod. She pulled him to her and let him cry it all out on her shoulders.

As he clung to her, he quietly asked, "How?"

"Start by admitting how you feel and why you feel that way. Then, you change. Others will see you changing and that's how you heal together." Ginny assured him, feeling him nod as his chin touched her shoulder. "I could see the way you watched Harry. You were doubting yourself about how good of a friend you've been to him. You thought he'd die without knowing how sorry you really are or how much he really means to you. Ron, now that Harry's recovering, you can turn things around between you three."

"It'll be okay," Ginny whispered, "Forgive yourself and start believing in yourself. You matter, Ron, and we all love you."

Much like Percy, Ron felt like he couldn't talk to any of the family or his friends. He'd kept his feelings to himself, and just like Percy, his frustrations and insecurities built up and exploded at a very inconvenient time. That caused a rift between the Trio, while also making Ron despise himself for feeling those feelings.

It became uncomfortable for Ron and the others to discuss the horcrux incident and his feelings, so they ignored it but not all of it. No one—especially the Trio—could forget what happened.

They couldn't forget, so it festered on the very foundations that their friendship was built on, slowly but surely weakening it. Yet the Golden Trio had the chance to reverse the damage. It was a chance that many others weren't fortunate enough to have or act out on in enough time. Ron's cries were now coming to an end. Ginny could tell because he was sniffling a lot.

"It'll be all right," Ginny told Ron, as he pulled away and wiped at his red, tear-stained face. "Once you all work past this, you'll be stronger than ever."

"Thanks, Ginnikins." Ron said sincerely, giving her a watery smile.

"Anytime, Ronnie." Ginny said with a smile of her own at their childhood names for each other.

"I'm going to go clean up my face."

"Yeah, good idea. You might want to hurry. Fred and George are coming up behind you."

Ron groaned before hurriedly walking past Ginny and down the hall. The twins stopped right in front of her, frowning at Ron's retreat.

"What's up with him?" George asked.

"You've taken the Mickey out of him, haven't you?" said Fred with a teasing smile.

"Not today." Ginny said, before leveling a stern, cold glare at both Twins. "And if you two know what's good for you, then neither will you."

Both Twins put up their arms in mock surrender. Meanwhile, they were grinning almost goofily.

"I mean it. Not today." Ginny threatened before going back into the room.

Upon entering, Ginny froze. Not even Fred and George pushing past her was enough to make Ginny move.

I can't believe it. He's actually awake.

Ginny hesitated before slowly walking towards Harry's bed.

I should've known something was up. How could I not notice the phoenixes trills—and their effect on my conversation with Ron.

As Ginny watched Harry and her family, she noticed that he wasn't saying anything. It was mostly Molly and Hermione doing all the talking, filling Harry in on the events of the past few hours. Pretty soon, Ron re-entered the room. He rushed over to Harry's bedside and joined the others in vocalizing their sheer relief at him recovering. Throughout all of that, Ginny just stood by his bed and remained quiet.

Soon, Harry's eyes were beginning to droop. He turned his head and his jade eyes found Ginny's. His left hand slightly twitched, and Ginny smiled down at him, grasping his hand in hers before giving it a light squeeze. She nodded at Harry, knowing he understood mostly all of what she felt: Relief that he was alive, gratitude for fighting Tom, and that Ginny could never blame him for anything that monster did (or tried to do) to her.

She didn't have to say it. The gleam of understanding in Harry's eyes just before he closed them proved to Ginny that he already knew.

Ginny resumed her seat, and then called for Helena to refill Harry's fluids bag with tears. After the medi-witch finished, Ginny propped her left arm up on Harry's left bedside. She lowered her head on top of it and easily nodded off to sleep.

And not once did Ginny release Harry's hand.


A/N ( 's):

On romantic shipping in my story, many of you will see how this turns out pretty soon. I think I should be able to finish this story up in three more chapters.

As for the issue of Ron in my story, I've read several fan fictions that thoroughly bash-Ron and even canon-Ginny. To those fan fiction authors, I say that's their right and it's their prerogative.

Yet some HP fans fail to take into account that people change over time, some for the better and others for the worst. Some HP fans give canon-Ginny a hard time for being a fan-girl, like that's all she ever was throughout the entire books. Ginny was raised in a Light, pure-blooded family that well-understood the tyranny that Voldemort spread throughout the country. After his defeat, all wizarding children would've been told the tale of Voldemort's demise and Harry's role in that. Yet people fault a young girl for idolizing him—and the fact that she continued to idolize Harry, NOT b/c of his name or his achievements, but by how incredibly good and loyal a person he is. THAT alone makes Ginny far more than a simple fan-girl. In my story, that is a major reason why Ginny feels so loyal and caring towards Harry.

Despite the whole Horcrux fiasco in Book 7 (Ron leaving Harry and 'Mione), he still loved them enough to find his way back to them. He's still that boy that sacrificed himself as a knight FOR his friends. I'm stunned by how many people give Ron a hard time for both arguing with his friends AND for being jealous and envious of Harry and Hermione, like friends aren't allowed to argue/disagree with each other. Like friends don't sometimes envy one another or feel jealous of each other. Siblings do it all the time, so why can't friends? Friendships are complicated relationships that aren't always sunny, but it's about how despite the hard times, the friendship endures. The friends remain close partners that are loyal to each other's overall well-being. That's why there is no Ron-bashing in this story. Yes, he's messed up several times—but he's still a true friend to Harry and Hermione despite all that. The purpose of Ginny & Ron's scene above is to show sibling love, which they haven't experienced in years.

Many of you are back in school; I hope it's going well for everyone. Pretty soon, this story won't be a distraction for you.