A/N: Back for more…
As their minds connected surroundings vanished, replaced by a memory. As it came in focus slowly, Petunia spoke aloud.
"Are we really in the past?" She said disbelieving.
"Yes but only in memory, your body is still untouched in your kitchen, remember these will be Harry's memories, you'll see things and hear things you did not bother with at the time these things happened in your life, but this is about Harry's life…
"Where are you starting your little intervention then?" Asked Petunia snidely, lingering on the last word.
"Take a look around, but if you need a clue, I'm not starting any later than when Harry was six." Hermione instructed bluntly. "Because thankfully you had enough common sense that you couldn't leave a toddler to fend for themselves." She added with notable distain.
Petunia huffed audibly and looked around…
October 31st, 1986
It was late evening on Halloween, Petunia had taken Dudley out for trick-or-treating. A six-year-old Harry was stuck inside yet again because she refused to take him too.
"Stop pouting boy, dinner is one thing but you're not getting candy, the last thing you're Aunt and I need is two boys bouncing off the walls!"
"I can be good Uncle I can!" Said Harry insistently.
"I told you no, ask again and I'll think twice about dinner!" Snapped Vernon harshly.
"But Dudley gets twice as much dinner, and I'm the quiet one… "He said this not in complaint but rather confusion.
"Dudley is my son. You," He became irritated. "Are an obligation I have no choice but keeping under my roof."
"I don't understand that obli-word?" Said Harry questioningly. "I don't understand why, why you don't treat me the same, like a son… Aunt Petunia was Mum's sister, we're family."
"They share an unfortunate relation." He said snidely
"But I thought I was supposed to come here if she died?" Said Harry blankly.
"I have no ruddy idea about your mother's affairs before her death, but I can tell you it was not MY choice to be stuck with you! Now, talk about this anymore and you won't get supper and I'll send you to your cupboard early!" He threatened loudly.
"No, not tonight, I always have nightmares on Halloween." Said Harry timidly.
"Then I suggest you stop with questions!" He warned.
Harry was given his dinner and ate in silence… One piece of toast and a small bit of fruit. Aunt Petunia was the one who cooked so Harry hadn't expected a lot of food. Still even when she did cook Harry was given minimal portions, going to bed hungry. He was always afraid of making Uncle Vernon even more angry, so he didn't ask for more. It hadn't happened yet, but he was terrified of getting hit…
Aunt Petunia and Dudley returned home before Harry was done eating. Predictably, Dudley had gotten a massive amount of candy which he teased Harry with.
"Three bags full! I have enough for months!" Said Dudley who was salivating from his three extra large bags of candy being completely full.
"I have to check it first darling." Reminded Petunia softly.
Dudley was impatient and vented by stealing Harry's remaining toast. Harry instantly tried to get it back but Dudley was much larger and overpowered him in the struggle knocking Harry harshly to the floor on his back.
"Owww my elbow!" Said Harry woozily.
"Ha ha I win!" Said Dudley snidely.
"Makings of a wrestler my son!" Said his father praisingly.
"Get up before you get filth from your cupboard all over my kitchen floor!" Snapped Petunia sharply.
As he tried to get up Dudley kicked Harry hard in the side. Once, twice… on the third time Harry closed his eyes bracing for more pain… Dudley was thrown several feet backwards by an invisible force, though he landed softly, unlike Harry who was still wreathing in pain where he lay…
"Dudley, darling!" She shouted running to him, ignoring Harry who was actually injured.
Aunt Petunia became thunderous after Dudley was taken upstairs buy his father. "What did you do?"
"What but he was kicking me! My right side really
hurts!" Said Harry anxiously.
"But your legs and arms are perfectly fine, get up and go to your cupboard for the night, now!" She said harshly.
Harry only managed to get himself into a sitting position, the pain was throbbing too much to stand.
"I have nightmares on Halloween, scary blackness, screams, a flash of green light and when I wake up I'm sweating… Not tonight please." Harry begged looking extremely timid now.
"Then consider that your punishment!" She said unsympathetically. She pulled a bottle of Tylenol out of a drawer and tossed it to him. "Take one of those!"
"But it hurts!" Said Harry desperately.
"And that will dull the pain, if you can't walk, I will have Vernon carry you there when he comes back down here."
"Was I always supposed to come here if Mum died?" Asked Harry quizzically.
"Don't ask questions!" She left the room without even checking how badly he was injured.
Harry knew waiting for Uncle Vernon would just add to how miserable he felt so he took a pill and forced himself to walk gingerly to his cupboard, falling to his knees, opened his cupboard door and curled into a ball on the floor. Soon Harry's eyes began tracking a select few spiders nested in one corner…
"At least the spiders mean I'm not alone…" Said Harry with genuine solace. "Why did I end up where people would hate me? Mum, why did you have to die?"
Harry began to cry until he couldn't anymore, exhaustion carrying him off to an uncomfortable sleep, plagued by awful dreams… Dudley in his zombie costume kicking him routinely, then actual zombies chasing him and a loud scream that didn't belong to him as they ate his flesh and finally a burst of green light… Harry woke up in a cold sweat shaking and completely frightened, crying anew.
The memory over, Petunia was shaking still stuck to the chair in her present-day kitchen.
She whispered accusingly. "What… did you… do to me?"
"I probably should have mentioned," Began Hermione unapologetically. "That you would feel Harry's emotions Legilimency causes a kind of empathetic transference."
"He was so sad, and confused, and scared!" Said Ginny, her voice dangerously quiet… "I can't believe…" She trailed off.
"You were there?" Asked Petunia almost fearing Ginny.
"Ginny and Harry's souls are bonded; it seems that they have a lot of magic that has unique ways of presenting itself…" Hermione said bluntly. She noticed that Ginny was back in a sort of trance.
When her eyes opened again, Lilly spoke venomously. "How dare you, Petunia Marie Evans!" The switch went unnoticed by Petunia who shot back angrily. "Last time I checked I'm the fully grown adult here.
They were nose to nose now. "Look at me!"
It registered for Petunia now, noticing the difference in Ginny's voice and eyes…
"No, it can't be, it's not… This is impossible!" She said blankly.
"What's the matter Petunia, don't recognize your little sister or are you just scared of what else I will find out my son suffered through under this roof!" Said Lilly harshly.
"No this can't… You did something else to me, it's a trick!" She said anxiously, staring at Hermione who was wearing an amused smile. "My sister is dead!"
"Now that's just hurtful, I'm standing right here." Said Lilly in a fake sulky tone. "Well, technically it's Ginny's body, she let me into her soul quite a while ago and that is a very powerful magical bond, enough that with her permission I can at least share her body because she is a willing vessel." She turned serious now. "You should know, Ginny is furious with you, she gave me control to me because she wants to hurt you and Vernon badly… Something called the Bat Bogey hex."
"Ginny isn't the only one, Harry thinks everything is his fault, even as an adult, that's because he spent most of his childhood blamed for everything by you and your arse of a husband." Said Hermione angrily.
"Do you care at all that my son felt nothing but cruelty from this family, from my own sister! I would never have treated Dudley like that if you were killed and he was left on our doorstep!" Said Lilly angrily.
"None of this even matters now!" Said Petunia impatiently.
"You still can't understand how much your cruelty destroyed Harry's childhood, but you will!" Said Hermione threateningly.
"But Vernon— "
"Your husband is watching TV and will not move until you can return to him." Said Hermione stiffly.
"Keep going Hermione, I want to see the worst of my son's childhood." Said Lilly with a hard edge to her words as she glared at her sister.
"Are you sure? These are going to be difficult to see."
"I know, that's why Ginny switched with me, she couldn't bare to watch. As his mother however, I do wish to see exactly how much they failed Harry before people who actually cared about him entered his life." She smiled kindly at Hermione.
"Alright then… Legilimens." She said again firmly.
1987 After Harry's first day of school…
"I don't know how it happened; I swear!" Said Harry desperately.
"You were the only one around!" Said Vernon hotly.
"He was bullying me he's always bullying me… He was going to break my nose and he just flew backwards landed on his back on the playground. Maybe it was Karma, like they talk about in church!" Said Harry angrily.
Vernon was dragging Harry roughly by his hair from the kitchen doorway to his cupboard, he roughly tossed him inside and slammed the door…
"Don't act like you're some saint boy!" He spat snidely. "My son frequently gets hurt around you! No meals for a week!"
"No please, I'll starve by then!" Harry begged.
"You'll still have water, but I'm not going to encourage things to keep happening by feeding you when you are— "
"I haven't done anything, he is so much bigger, how— "
"Don't test me further boy, or it will be worse for you!" He said threateningly.
"You never believe me!" Said Harry somberly.
"You are the common denominator in every incident where Dudley is unexplainably hurt. Why would I not blame you? Here's hoping time without food will stop your nonsense!" Said Vernon snidely before waking away.
"But I never touch him, I don't, I don't know how it happened… I never know how it happens…" Said Harry quietly to himself as he began to cry, alone and confused. "They, they all hate me…" He was sobbing angrily now. "Well fine then, I hate them all too!" Fresh sobs flooded over Harry with quiet intensity. "I know Mum and Dad loved me, I can feel it, but nobody else does, maybe nobody ever will." Harry cried until he fell asleep…
The memory ended and all the usual surroundings fell into place once more. Petunia was shaking more violently than at the end of the first memory…
"Stop, stop doing this to me!" She pleaded in an angry whisper.
Hermione leaned forward so her face inches from Petunia Dursley, her tone perfectly calm. "I told you, you were going to feel Harry's pain and suffering, which you caused and allowed… I have only shown you two memories and your crumbling under the weight of Harry's suffering and misery! I can't believe you are Lilly Potter's sister, you disgust me!" She finished savagely.
"How are you both fine?" She asked desperately.
Lilly answered now. "Wizards and Witches can shield the mind from Legilimency with the counter charm Occlumency. Hermione has clearly become adept at it—I am learning not to be surprised by her talent, I'd guess only Voldemort and Dumbledore could use both simultaneously… Me, I am a reincarnation, greater than ghosts but no longer physically human, please go again Hermione." Said Lilly calmly.
Hermione nodded and began again… "Legilimens!"
Christmas 1988
Harry was outside mid morning shoveling the driveway free of snow… Not once had he ever gotten anything from them, not even acknowledgement of the day. He hated himself but he wanted something for Christmas this year even if it lacked any of the cheer that up, he was sure normally accompanied the holiday. It took three hours to shovel the snow—the one time when Dudley's much larger hand-me-downs were useful for layering in the harsh Winter cold.
"I'm finished shoveling Aunt Petunia!" Shouted Harry as he came back in the house.
She was indifferent as she entered the kitchen. "Good, we're going to visit Marge today, if you behave— "
"Not Marge, she bullies me worse than Dudley! Can't I just stay next door with Mrs. Figg?" Harry asked desperately.
"Use your head, she is with her family. I'm never pleased when Marge is around you, always insulting my sister but we're not leaving you here and there is nobody else to take you." She was very irritable.
"I thought you would love that she insults her." Said Harry surprised.
"Only I have a right to hate my sister." Said Petunia defiantly. "Believe me if we could leave you, we would."
"Alright, may I still have something for Christmas?" Asked Harry, more hopefully than he wanted to admit.
"Yes, as long as you behave." Said Petunia bluntly.
"I will if she does!" Said Harry through gritted teeth.
Harry didn't think this would go well and sure enough… Several hours later as they came back from Marge's place his Uncle Vernon was dragging him roughly inside the house to his cupboard.
"WHAT HAPPENED!" He shouted see red.
"I tell you… All the time… I'm not… doing anything!" Harry choked out; he was suffocating rapidly from the weight of his Uncle's hands around his neck.
"Vernon, let him go!" Said Petunia anxiously.
"HE BROKE MARGE'S ANKLE!" Roared Vernon madly.
Petunia was pleading. "She simply fell down the stairs Vernon, he is too skinny to budge her! Calm down!"
Vernon let out a strangled yell and roughly threw Harry against his cupboard door fuming heavily. Harry slumped to the floor trying to breathe properly again, his lungs tight from pain… Harry had the feeling that stopping her husband was not out of concern for his well-being.
"He is responsible, I know he is!" Said Vernon hotly.
"I'll deal with the boy Vernon just go to bed." She said urgently. He grumbled accent and left.
Harry stood up gingerly. "Are you going to hurt me?" He asked timidly.
"Why couldn't you just keep your mouth shut?" She said angrily.
"You don't think I did this!" Harry sounded disbelieving.
"Just, stay in your cupboard as much as possible for the next few days, at least you can't be a burden when you're contained in there!" She said bitterly before walking away.
Harry waited until he was alone than wretched his cupboard door open and slammed it shut. A somber fury came over him. He punched the back wall, then moments later hugged himself in quiet sobs, not out of control or in complaint, but coping with his misery.
"Happy Christmas, Harry, you're a burden!" A little voice shrugged in his head. "At least you can get some food once they're all asleep… That's a present if you really think about it. It would be better if they cared about me… But they don't."
Harry was angrier than he had ever been in his life. Angry at them, angry for caring about Christmas. Angry he wanted them to care about him even though he hated them all… Angry his parents were dead angry he seemed to have the worst luck in the world… Angry he was stuck here…
"Please let it get better someday. Please let it get better someday, please let it get better some day…" He repeated the mantra quietly to himself over and over, eventually slumping to his side on the floor and falling asleep.
The memory ended and this time Petunia spoke hoarsely as if the sensation of being choked was leftover in her own body.
"Stop, stop it, I don't want— "
"Stop what? Forcing you to feel just how miserable you all made Harry's childhood? Don't you think I could have just attacked you with hexes and jinxes if I wanted. I'm trying to be more productive than that!" Said Hermione bluntly.
"How often did your husband choke my son?" Asked Lilly with dangerous calm.
"He never tortured him like this." Said Petunia shakily.
"How…often…Petunia!" Lilly punctuated each word through gritted teeth.
"Only a few times, usually after Dudley or Marge got injured because of him." Said Petunia unsympathetically.
"Because of accidental magic you mean?" Said Hermione quiet rage in her words.
"You knew, you knew Harry would show signs of magic and you did nothing but stand by while he was terrified and confused blaming him for something he couldn't control." She was crying through anger now. "Your just like Severus, hating my son because he reminds you of what you couldn't have!" She shouted angrily.
"Don't you compare me to that creep!" Spat Petunia sharply.
"You're right! You are worse because you were supposed to protect him as a child and all you did was treat him like a burdensome prisoner you were keeping an eye on. You didn't give a damn about your own nephew! Snape might have loathed my son but he at least put his safety above petty jealousy." Said Lilly with utter distain.
"He was quite unfair to him." Said Hermione pointedly.
"Severus was always that way to anyone he hated and if Harry has any of James temperament it didn't bother him at all. Besides, after what they'd done," Lilly glared at her sister. "I'm sure he was more than capable of tolerating whatever Snape did… Keep going Hermione!"
"No leave me alone, he's grown now! Leave— "
"Sorry, I'm not letting you off that easily!" Said Hermione bluntly.
Two, three, four more memories. By the fifth in a row Petunia was in hysterical sobs.
She begged now. "What do you all want from me? To pretend I could handle him?"
"Handle him!" Hermione said incredulously. "He's not a criminal, he needed what every child does from parents' and guardians, love! You love your son; Harry is your family too!"
"What…do…you…want!" She said angrily.
"Gee I don't know, maybe you could try being an adult!" Said Hermione rhetorically.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Petunia looked affronted now.
"Be an adult… Try for some remorse." Hermione punctuated the last four words slowly as if she was explaining to a five-year-old, just like Harry had to Voldemort in his last few moments of life…
"Unless you don't care? Or are you just being stubborn?" Lilly had a piercing look.
"You didn't save yourself and I hate you for it. A prophecy tells you a lunatic is after your son and you don't escape out of the magical world… That's why I hate you, and I hate Harry for being a constant reminder that your inability to be selfish is the reason I lost my only sister!"
The words came tumbling out so quickly there was unmistakable contempt in them.
"So you love me so much you hate me for not leaving magic behind, that I can accept." Said Lilly thoughtfully. "But Harry…"
"I'm sorry he's in a coma." There was some measure of sympathy in those words. "But it doesn't matter that I hate the boy, he has more than enough people who love him now." She sighed and her face looked alarmingly wrinkled. "Please, stop showing his memories, it won't change anything, I just want to leave magic behind, forget it ever existed and for me that means forgetting about him and you." Her tone wasn't hostile anymore just defeated…
"Okay then Tuney." Said Lilly her eyes pitying now.
"I can modify both you and your husbands' memories Mrs. Dursley, so that you forget you ever had a magical sister or nephew." Said Hermione plainly.
"What about Dudley?" Asked Petunia uncertainly.
Dudley had come back into the room. "What's going on?" He asked uncertainly.
"Your Mum wants to forget about magic and Harry and her sister. I can make that happen, for you too if you want." Said Hermione delicately.
"No way!" Said Dudley quickly.
"Just you and your husband then, you can go back into the sitting room now. You won't even know it's happened." She stood up again.
"I think I'll visit with my nephew while you're taking care of that." Said Lilly quietly. "Tuney…" She said embracing her sister. "I love you; I hope that forgetting about all this gives you peace from it."
Moments later the kitchen was empty… Dudley spoke uncertainly. "So, you're my Aunt then, you share that girl's body?"
"Yes, though I don't plan to regularly borrow it, this was very personal. You've probably never heard the slightest thing about me from when I was alive." Said Lilly quietly.
"No, but Harry used to have nightmares." Said Dudley quietly.
"Of the night Voldemort came back." Said Lilly knowingly, her expression somber.
"I think so, I mocked him about it… I shouldn't have." Said Dudley regretfully.
"You seem a far cry from the eight or nine-year-old boy who bullied Harry whenever you could catch him, and you seem comfortable even fascinated with magic." Said Lilly calmly.
"Yeah well getting attacked by one of those Dementy—things… Well, Harry saved my life." Said Dudley with a shiver.
"A dementor, yes they can humble even the most stubborn witches and wizards in a heartbeat." Said Lilly matter of factly. "I'm glad you're alright, I wouldn't wish my worst enemy, and certainly never my own flesh and blood." Said Lilly kindly.
Hermione had just come back into the kitchen. "It's done Lilly." She said quietly. "Are you okay?"
"I think I expected it, she never could cope with magic, especially when I had it and she didn't." Sighed Lilly somberly.
"But, if I have a kid with magic, will they hate me too?" Asked Dudley.
"I erased their negative memories, maybe if that happens with you they will react better." Said Hermione encouragingly. "We'll tell Harry you were worried about him."
"We'll he be okay?" Asked Dudley nervously.
"We really don't know, all we can do is wait." Said Hermione quietly.
Ginny was back in control now. "Thank you for showing remorse, but you should know I hate your parents." She said unapologetically blunt.
"We should go." Said Hermione.
They returned to the Burrow a short time later… Ginny went to her room immediately, where Harry lay on her bed very unmoving and asleep…
"I know you'll hate that we did that today, but we had to try and hold her accountable, and your uncle is lucky I didn't kill him!" Said Ginny emotionally. "Come on Harry, don't check out of life when you finally have the chance to live it!"
Molly knocked gently on her door. "You should eat dinner."
"I'm not hungry, I'm not moving." Said Ginny somberly.
"Staying here won't make him wake up any faster honey." She said softly.
"I know, but I need to stay because if I don't I'll just go mad." Said Ginny anxiously.
"I had Poppy check on him while you were gone. He's just sleeping deeply for whatever reason, stress finally caught up with him, there's nothing wrong with him physically… I'll bring you food." Said Molly quietly.
"Thank you." Said Ginny gratefully. She sighed anxiously taking the remaining bed space and holding his hand tightly. "You have to wake up Harry, you're my future. I want to be with you, I want to shag, and I don't care how long it takes us to get there. I want to marry you and I'm going to ask when the time is right." She laughed reprovingly now. "Sorry, but your mental if you think I would let you ask me when I've been in love with you since I was five even if it was childish back then." She smiled thoughtfully. "The ring is all yours though… I don't know whats going on over there on the other side but wake up will you."
But even after a week there was no change… Still, Ginny hardly left her room. Hermione's Legilimency lessons and using the loo the exceptions. She'd taken it upon herself to wash and redress Harry at his bedside regularly, wanting him to be as comfortable as possible… It was easy with magic allowing her to change his clothes automatically. She found caring for her Harry in this way soothing under the unpredictable circumstances. She was thankful for her small frame too because she could sleep right next to him in the bed at night which also kept her sane… Late one night about ten days after he had fallen into a coma, Lilly appeared, the doe setting at the foot of the bed…
"He will be alright." Said Lilly calmly. "I can feel his soul is still tethered on Earth, he hasn't wandered into limbo."
"What's going on then?" Asked Ginny quietly.
"Sleep restores the mind, but it has been very hard for Harry to sleep without going through an emotional breakdown, I'm sure you are aware of that, his mind is simply using a deep sleep to heal." Said Lilly calmly. "You can't rush things…"
"I am learning that the hard way." Said Ginny sighing heavily.
"I know you want to consummate your relationship, but don't wish it so quickly that you lose sight of just being together." She said thoughtfully… I know it's difficult because of your premature, not to mention quite harsh introduction to sex thanks to the horcrux."
"Yes…" She said ashamed.
"Don't let him have you thinking you shouldn't enjoy it when the time comes. It is quite enjoyable an the deepest expression of love and commitment, or it will be for both of you." Said Lilly kindly.
"I always forget that you know my emotions and memories." Said Ginny blushing some now.
She was quiet. "You'll get no lecture from me, I know you love Harry and he loves you, though I am quite sure that he is relatively ignorant about sex. Yet another failure of my sister sadly."
"Harry prefers the simple things right now." Said Ginny quietly.
"That doesn't surprise me, he didn't get a normal childhood and he certainly didn't get to be a normal teenager. I'd have given anything for him to have a normal life." She sighed heavily.
"You couldn't have known how things would turn out Lilly." Ginny said dismissively.
"You are very kind, but if nothing else I should not have refused Dumbledore's offer to be secret keeper. I ruined my son's life."
"Lilly." Said Ginny delicately.
"Can I tuck him in? I haven't done it since he was just older than one." She asked uncertainly.
"You don't have to ask me for something like that… Anytime you want to share my body just ask, as long as I'm not busy it's fine." Ginny smiled, half tickled half worried that Lilly would think that she would refuse a request to tuck in her only child.
"Thank you, Ginny." Said Lilly emotionally.
A few minutes later Lilly was sharing Ginny's body again… She slowly put a thin blanket over her son and then bent over him whispering softly. "I'm so proud of you sweetheart, and I'm sorry you've suffered so much, but you have people to live for. Ginny hasn't left your side so come back to hers. Wake up soon." She smiled. "I know you are too old to be tucked into bed, or looked after but I didn't really get to do it so don't give me too much of a hard time about this or your Aunt okay." She said before kissing her son gently on the forehead.
Ginny was back and after changing into a nightgown settled into bed for the night… "Still, not good enough at Legilimency to enter his mind, but I'll get there. How does Hermione learn magic so fast…" She sighed. If he hasn't come round by then I'll bring him out of this myself!" There was quiet determination in her voice
That morning was greeted with intense sunlight… Sunlight so bright it blinded Harry as he opened his eyes… He looked around, he was in Ginny's room but she wasn't there. What was going on? His brain was fuzzy at best, his mother's voice was and Ginny's were all he could recall. Had he been dreaming? Why did his stomach ache so badly like he hadn't eaten in days? What day was it? He had no idea… He had on a night robe, of all the things he couldn't remember he definitely knew that he hadn't put that on himself. Harry sat up and fully open his eyes, his vision was it's usual mess without his glasses, which like his wand he couldn't tell where they were…
A familiar voice came from a blur of red hair. "I got up to use the loo, and take a shower. I hadn't done in a few days…" Said Ginny in shock.
"Just how many days has it been exactly?" Asked Harry with a confused smile.
"Too bloody many…" She said weakly.
Harry's response was cut off as Ginny came running so fast into Harry's arms that she bowled him over to his back on the bed… The towel she wore fell away in the process, leaving Harry feeling quite uncomfortable, but he knew something had been wrong so he swallowed his discomfort.
"I'm guessing I had you worried then?" He asked delicately.
"Worried, try terrified!" She said through halfhearted anger that dissolved into tears. "Ten days in a coma, you promised me that you would stop fake dying you prat!"
"Ten days? Why? What happened?" Said Harry shocked and confused:
"Everyone seems to think you checked out, like your mind just broke and so you slept while it mended itself." Said Ginny somberly, she didn't even care that she was naked, she held Harry so tightly that she may as well have been glued to him.
"Blimey, I— Hey Gin your squeezing me to death, I'm skinny remember." Said Harry apologetically.
They sat up and she blushed, now realizing that she was accidentally completely naked…
"I should wake up from a coma more often." Said Harry playfully.
"That is not funny!" Said Ginny her face a reproachful glare.
"Just trying to lighten an awkward situation." Harry said defensively.
"You got a problem seeing me starkers Potter?" Said Ginny challengingly.
"Well I didn't picture it happening like this." Harry admitted sheepishly.
"Neither did I but here we are." She shut and magically locked her door. "So, how do I look?"
"Is that supposed be a trick question?" Said Harry rhetorically.
"Well, I had planned to look a lot more cleaned up before you saw me starkers." Ginny admitted with a blush. "And under much happier circumstances."
"Gin you could look like a cave woman and you would still be beautiful." Said Harry truthfully. "Did you take care of me all this time?"
"I couldn't not… I love you so much Harry, I am trying but I don't think I'll last much longer without us shagging… I just need that part of us too because it's the only thing I don't have with you." Said Ginny anxiously.
"I just came out of a coma so I don't think shagging is on the table right now. Harry admitted apologetically. "And I don't want to do a bad job of it, which I would because I don't know how, not really."
"How to shag?" She asked delicately.
He shrugged. "No, I know how it all works, kind of… But I don't have the slightest clue about girls downstairs and I just don't want to mess up!" He said this rather quickly.
"You're worried you won't be able to make me orgasm?" Said Ginny parsing his words.
"Well, yeah I mean how am I supposed make you feel good when I don't know what the bloody hell is going on down there." Said Harry in exasperation.
Ginny was inwardly tickled now. "Harry why didn't you tell me that specifically sooner?" She chuckled in relief. "You had me worried that since you knew I discovered sex early, you'd think that you had to measure up to the stuff I saw in the diary, some of it quite disturbing."
"What, no! I just don't know anything about vaginas." Said Harry anxiously.
"Harry your forgetting one obvious thing, I know more than enough to teach you what to do, I went through puberty early thanks to that bastard… I've been taking care of myself since I was 12." Said Ginny reassuringly.
"So you can show me then?" He asked relief spreading over his face.
"Yes, I can, happy to do it." Said Ginny smiling. "But like you said you just woke up from a coma so let's table that and go downstairs for breakfast. I just need to get dressed." When Harry turned away Ginny laughed. "I appreciate the chivalry, but the cat is already out of the bag so you may as well get used to watching me put on, and take off clothes." She said with a wry smile.
"I guess I should get dressed too." Said Harry standing up and stretching.
"I've got a lot of your clothes in here because I wasn't sure how long…" She trailed off and they dressed in silence together, until Ginny spoke again. "Harry, what happened while you were in your coma?" She asked quietly.
"That, is quite the story… One I can't tell on an empty stomach." Said Harry teasingly.
Well, I have one too, something probably won't like." Said Ginny sighing heavily.'
"Trade stories after breakfast then?" Said Harry putting his arm around her.
"I'd like that." Said Ginny smiling contentedly.
"Hey, thanks for taking care of me, I haven't had that from anyone except your Mum." Said Harry gratefully.
Ginny turned to face him her words quiet with emotional weight. "Thanks for waking up, and Harry, as long as we stay together, I'll take care of you for a lifetime."
"There's no way I couldn't have, and seeing as I have roughly 17 years of not being cared for, a lifetime with you that makes up for that sounds really good to me, even if we have a lot to deal with. I really owe it Kingsley to take some pressure off him." Said Harry thoughtfully.
"That can wait another day or two." She said firmly. He nodded.
Ginny kissed him tenderly, just glad Harry was awake again and that they were going down to breakfast together, she was going to make sure that she mastered Legilimency and that they all followed through on becoming Animagus… Sure that transforming into an animal was a much better way to escape stress than falling in a coma.
A/N: More to come…
I recently recovered from a "wake coma" of sorts as in I was conscious but not fully aware of my surroundings or people and barely spoke. That is what this was inspired by and given the nature of the story it was easy think Harry would suffer a mental collapse. That is what happened to me for the last two months until early November, except mine was induced by counter acting medications and I was awake the whole time…
If I had not written several chapters in the process of editing the story it would probably be less than five chapters published still. Thankfully I save everything I write for later use.
Anyway I had always planned for a Dursley confrontation, in the end I decided to effectively write out Petunia and Vernon, but not before they were held accountable. As for Dudley JKR seemed to plant the idea that nearly having his soul sucked out by Dementors, softened his feelings towards Harry and so I continued what she started there.
Lilly having told Petunia about the prophecy was my idea I just felt she needed a more substantial reason to hate her sister for so many years. Regardless Petunia is a completely broken person in my eyes so I don't think she would budge much and I stuck to that. Like I say in the chapter Harry would not have bothered with this confrontation but Ginny, Hermione and Lilly would even if it didn't result in much difference it's about accountability.