"Please, please, remain seated!" George said graciously.
"Right, there's no need to stand on our account," Fred responded.
"Oh, get out of my way, you two! My baby!" Mrs. Weasley ran forward to hug Ginny but stopped short, seeming to remember that her daughter was bound to still be in a great amount of pain. Instead, she sat on Ginny's bed and held her hand.
The Weasley's had just arrived at Hogwarts by floo powder and Ginny was overjoyed to see them. They'd all been at the hospital to see her when she'd woken up but she had been so weak and tired she'd fallen asleep minutes after they'd gotten there. To see her mum and dad walking in with Fred and George made Ginny smile so wide her cheeks hurt. The only thing topping off the excitement was to see Fred and George standing off to the side where they'd been shoved by their mum, both wearing rather put-out expressions.
"What are we, the unwelcome houseguests?" Fred demanded.
"No, I'm just the favorite," Ginny retorted, making George's mouth drop open.
"Oh, stop pouting boys," Mrs. Weasley admonished. "Ginny, Hermione dear, how are you both feeling?"
"We both feel great," Hermione answered. "Madam Pomfrey's already letting us get out of bed to walk!"
"So soon?" Mrs. Weasley frowned.
"Well, I don't think it counts as 'walking' just yet," Ron said wryly. He quickly clamped his mouth shut when Ginny and Hermione glared at him. "Uh, Harry, care to go get some food?" Ron needed to escape the looks his sister and girlfriend were sending his way.
"Sure," Harry smiled and pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning on to watch the scene unfolding in front of him. He and Ron made their way down to the kitchens where they had their pockets stuffed full of food by Dobby and the other house-elves. The trip back to the hospital wing took a little longer with the extra weight, but Ron was doing his part to help ease their burden by eating all of the pumpkin pasties.
"Do you think we got enough?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Mum and Dad won't eat much and—" Ron stopped short, making Harry crash into him.
"Ron, what are you do—" Harry's voice trailed away as he caught sight of what Ron was looking at. Just down the corridor was a group of boys who were coming their way and Harry and Ron had locked eyes with the pale, blonde boy in the middle. Malfoy was flanked on either side by Crabbe and Goyle, who sent nasty smirks towards Harry and Ron, while Malfoy stared blankly at them. Ron clenched his hands into fists and Harry took a step forward before thinking about how upset Ginny and Hermione would be if they went after Malfoy. It took several moments after Malfoy had left the hallway for Ron and Harry to calm down enough to go back to the infirmary. They knew they couldn't avoid Malfoy forever but they knew being in his presence didn't have a good ending for any of them.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"I forbid you from going!" Ron said.
"You forbid me!?" Hermione shrieked. Ron flinched as he realized what he'd said...and to who he'd said it.
Harry and Ginny were sitting quietly on Ginny's bed watching the scene before them. It had been two weeks since Ginny had been brought back to Hogwarts and she and Hermione had been slowly regaining their strength. Hermione was now able to walk from her bed to the hospital wing doors, although it took quite a while for her to do it. This reclaimed ability had made Hermione decide that it was time she went back to classes. Ron had not taken this news well and had spent the last thirty minutes trying to stop her.
"That's right, you can't. You just got out of the hospital, you aren't ready to go back to classes." Ron frowned at her.
"Oh, honestly, I've been out of the hospital for over three weeks. Madam Pomfrey says I can go, so what's the problem?" Hermione crossed her arms.
"What if you get too tired and aren't able to carry your books? Or what if you hurt yourself and have to go back to the hospital?"
"I'm not going to hurt myself and if you aren't with me, I can ask someone else to carry my books for a little bit, like Seamus or Dean or maybe Cormac McLaggen." Hermione held back her laughter as she watched the color rise into Ron's face as she said the last name.
"If I find out McLaggen came near you, I'll beat him to a bloody pulp!"
"Fine, I'll ask Seamus or Dean," Hermione said.
Ron opened his mouth to argue but knew that it was getting him nowhere. He had no choice but to watch Hermione go to classes and know she was walking around Hogwarts without him with her. He scowled down at her, "Fine."
"Ron, she'll be fine," Ginny rolled her eyes at him.
Ron opened his mouth but Hermione threw the bedcovers away from her and slowly stood up. Ever so carefully she made her way to the infirmary doors. She took a second to rest and gather herself so that Ron wouldn't see how tired she was already and then walked back to her bed, "See?"
"I still don't like it," Ron grumbled.
Hermione ignored him and looked over to Ginny, "Do you think you'll have all of your work done by next week, Ginny?"
"What's next week?" Harry asked.
"My first day back to school," Ginny smiled sweetly and went back to talking with Hermione.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
It's too soon, Harry thought. What if she falls during class like the last time? What if a spell goes wrong in class and hits her? Harry was going mad. All week he and Ron had stayed with Hermione as much as they could so that she didn't have to carry her books or so no one would accidentally bump into her. He'd thought Ron was going to grab Hermione and carry her back to the infirmary by the time Friday came around.
Hermione for her part took it all in stride. When she'd walked into the Great Hall that morning, the room went quiet for a moment before the hall erupted into whoops and cheers. Hermione turned pink and moved as quickly as she could to an empty spot along the Gryffindor table and sat down. She ate a small breakfast and tried to prepare herself for the day. She was brimming with excitement about going back to class, but by the time lunch came she was exhausted. Her arms were trembling with the effort to lift her things out of her bag and her stomach felt like it was twisting in on itself. Trying to hide it from Ron was near impossible. He rarely left her side and she couldn't risk letting him see how tired she was. If she felt this awful she could only imagine how Ginny would feel.
After Ginny had told Harry that she'd be starting the week after Hermione, she'd watched the color drain from his face. She could see the worry in his eyes just as plain as she could see it now. She just hoped Ginny had as easy a week as she'd had. The days had gone by fairly quickly and Hermione had made it through unscathed. She'd caught up on her homework while she was still in the infirmary and as soon as she got out of classes she went to see Ginny, which is where she was now. It was Friday and the last class of the day had just gotten out. For Hermione, the last class was Ancient Runes which meant she'd been on her own without Harry or Ron there to help her. Hermione didn't like to rely on other people to do things for her but she had to admit that having her friends around to help carry her things made the day go by easier. She wasn't sure how she was going to make it all the way through dinner but at least she had a chance to rest while she was talking with Ginny.
Ginny was practically bouncing up and down with excitement about going back to classes on Monday, "I can't wait, I'm even okay with going to Potions."
Hermione laughed, "I know, it does feel good to be getting back to normal. Just be prepared for Ron and Harry to hover over you."
Ginny smiled and then frowned, "Do you think Harry's going back to how he was after Sirius died?"
Hermione didn't have to ask what Ginny meant. She'd seen how Harry had been on edge since Ginny had been taken. "I think he's so worried about the Death Eaters coming back for the people around him that he feels like he needs to be on guard all of the time. Give him some time, he'll be back to his normal self."
"I hope so." Ginny felt better with Hermione's reassurance so she changed the subject, "Have you heard anything about Professor Bovin setting another advanced class?"
"Katie said that he'd had one but it was when we were still at St. Mungo's. I doubt he'll let us go if the next class is anytime soon."
Ginny tamped down her disappointment. She always looked forward to Professor Bovin's advanced classes and it had made Ginny feel good that she was the first fifth-year asked to join. Ginny laughed out loud remembering the look on Ron's face when she'd walked in during the first class.
"What's so funny?" Hermione looked over at her.
"I was just thinking about the look on Ron's face when I came to Bovin's first advanced class."
Hermione laughed, "I think the look on Harry's face was even better. He was so nervous around you."
Ginny blushed, "He was not, he acted the same as he always did."
Hermione snorted, "That's what you think. He was so in love with you even his Patronus acted strangely."
"What?" Ginny didn't remember anything particularly unusual about Harry's Patronus. "His Patronus was a stag like it usually is. I mean, it seemed less calm than it normally is."
"Remember when I went back to talk with Professor Bovin after class and I said that I was asking him for tips on casting the Patronus Charm?" Ginny nodded her head and Hermione continued, "I saw that your patronus was acting odd as well and I wanted to see if he thought the same thing I did."
"And?" Ginny was getting impatient.
"He did. Both of your Patronus' were panicking because they couldn't find each other." Hermione grinned.
Ginny would have thought about this more but at that moment Ron burst through the double doors followed by Harry, "There you are!" Ron looked furious.
Confusion marred Hermione's face, "What?"
"I've been looking all over for you. I thought you'd gotten sick or cornered by that McLaggen prat."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I've been right here talking with Ginny. If you'd like to stop shouting you're more than welcome to join us."
Ron plopped himself down on the hospital bed next to Hermione, grumbling under his breath, "stop shouting...can't find her anywhere and she says stop shouting."
Ignoring him, Hermione returned her attention to Ginny, "Have you walked at all today?"
Ginny nodded happily, "Yes, I got up with Madam Pomfrey. I stumbled a little but I got better." Hermione watched Harry's head whip around to focus on Ginny when she said she'd almost fallen. She decided to keep Ginny talking so Harry wouldn't try to convince her to stay in the infirmary any longer.
"You'll be okay, I mean you were out of bed the day after falling off your broom," Hermione hoped the reminder of how tough Ginny was would help put Harry at ease.
"I think the worst part is going to be sitting on those awful wooden benches in the Great Hall," Ginny smirked. Falling off her broom had given her an idea of the discomfort she'd be facing in the coming week and she knew this time was going to be a lot more difficult.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Wouldn't you rather try next week?" Harry had been pacing back and forth in the infirmary for the last hour. Today was Ginny's first day back to school and he, Ron, and Hermione got to the hospital wing early to help. Seeing Ginny struggling to pack her books in her bag, though, had made Harry's anxiety return ten-fold.
"No, I don't want to try next week. And if you don't stop pacing, I won't talk to you for the rest of the day!" Ginny scowled at him and Harry clamped his mouth shut. He'd just have to stay as close to her as he could.
"Fine."
"Harry, stop pouting. You're as bad as Ron," Hermione smirked.
"What's that supposed to mean? I don't pout!" Ron's outraged voice filled the room.
"See, they're back to normal. This day is going to be like any other. Now, are you ready to go?" Ginny raised an eyebrow at Harry, who just scowled.
Ginny bent to pick up her bag and held back from flinching in pain as the weight pressed on her back. As soon as the weight was there, though, it was gone. She turned her head to see Harry behind her, slinging her bag over his shoulder with his own. Ginny smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. His only response was to grab her hand as they started forward.
Hermione was holding back a laugh, though, as she watched Harry's face turn red when Ginny kissed him. She knew Harry could never really be mad at Ginny and Ginny's continued cheerful attitude was bound to make Harry go back to being his normal self. Hermione grabbed hold of Ron's hand as well and followed her two friends out the door. She herself was feeling less stiff and the pain in her stomach became less frequent and intense with every day that passed.
Before they knew it, the group had arrived at the Great Hall. Ginny gave Harry's hand a quick squeeze and they entered the hall to hundreds of heads swinging in their direction. Like for Hermione, the Gryffindor table once again broke into applause but this time for Ginny. Ginny, however, was zeroing in on two people in particular. She found Malfoy's pale blonde hair first. He didn't turn around to glare at her or send a nasty look which was surprising to Ginny. The second person she looked for was Cho, who was sitting with her friends at the Ravenclaw table. She scowled when she saw Harry holding Ginny's hand, which made Ginny hold back a smile. The group found seats at the very end of the table, which was unfortunate for Ginny who was already starting to breathe heavier. She sat down and closed her eyes briefly to gather herself.
"Ginny, are you okay?" Ginny opened her eyes to see Harry watching her with a worried look on his face.
"I'm fine," she smiled. "Just getting used to things."
Harry didn't look like he believed her but he let it drop. The rest of breakfast was spent eating all of the food that the hospital wing didn't have and being visited by their classmates. Seamus and Dean came by and made jokes about Ginny trying to take over for Harry for most injuries during the school year and Lavender and Parvati came and gave her quick hugs, which made Ginny bite her lip against the pain. She was more frustrated with herself than anything, she hated that the simplest act was so painful and that she took so much longer to do things. She just kept telling herself that it wouldn't last forever and that she'd get better like she did after getting hurt during quidditch.
Ginny's first class came quickly and Harry helped carry her things to the room. It took a lot of convincing before he agreed to let her have another classmate carry her bag for her so that he wouldn't be late to his classes all day. It wouldn't have mattered, though, as Harry couldn't focus on anything anyway. All he could think about was Ginny struggling to walk and ending up in the infirmary again.
"Mr. Potter," drawled a nasty tone.
Harry took a breath to calm himself before raising his eyes to look at Professor Snape, "Yes, sir?"
"If you don't wish to blow up this room, I'd advise you to pay closer attention to what you're doing. Even Mr. Weasley is following the instructions and we all know how difficult that is for him," Snape sneered.
Harry saw Ron stiffen and was about to open his mouth when he felt Hermione step on his foot, a silent warning. "Sorry," Harry said shortly. Snape's lip curled with dislike and he swept away.
Harry turned to face Hermione but she held up her hand, "Don't. Arguing would have just gotten you detention and then you wouldn't be able to check on Ginny." Hermione's eyes dared him to argue with her but he couldn't so he just let out a huff and put his attention back on his potion.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Harry, she'll be here. Ron can't follow me everywhere and you can't follow Ginny all day," Hermione rationalized. It was lunchtime and Harry hadn't seen Ginny since he'd walked her to her first class. She was supposed to meet them at the Gryffindor table but she had yet to show up and every minute that passed made Harry's anxiety rise.
"There she is," Ron pointed at the end of the table closest to the doors. Harry scanned the area until he found her, his eyes narrowing. Ginny was walking towards them, another boy beside her carrying her bag. Ginny was listening to something he said and then she laughed, making Harry's blood boil as jealousy struck him.
Ginny reached the group and sat down next to Harry. She felt her bag brush her side as it was set down and looked up, "Thank you for your help, Charles."
The tall boy looked down and smiled, "No problem, Ginny. Let me know if you need help getting to another class." He waved at Harry, Ron, and Hermione before leaving to sit at the Ravenclaw table.
"He seemed nice," Hermione smiled, enjoying the flash of annoyance that crossed Harry's face.
Ginny nodded, "That's Charles, we had Herbology together . My arm was sore, so he offered to carry my bag for me." Ginny reached out to grab a glass of pumpkin juice, attempting to hide the way her arm was shaking with the effort.
"You feeling okay, Ginny?" Ron asked around a mouthful of bread.
"Yes, I'm alright, just a little tired," Ginny smiled weakly. If she was being completely honest, there was nothing she'd love more than to go lay in her nice warm bed, but she couldn't do that. She had to prove she could handle being back in her classes.
"I should probably leave now if I'm going to make it to Transfiguration on time," Ginny reached for her bag but Harry beat her to it. She opened her mouth to protest but he interrupted her.
"I know you don't feel well and if you don't let me carry your bag then I'll just walk behind you until you get to class," Harry folded his arms.
Ginny pursed her lips but nodded. "Fine, but make sure you can keep up," Ginny grinned at him and Harry laughed for the first time in a while. He could feel some of the tension leaving his shoulders as he swung Ginny's bag over his back. They passed by the Ravenclaw table and he pulled her closer when Charles waved as they walked by, ignoring the chuckle he heard coming from Hermione as he did so.
Harry was quiet while they made their way to Ginny's class, he couldn't stop thinking about the relief he'd seen on Ginny's face when he'd laughed. He knew he had been more guarded in the last couple of weeks, but he couldn't help it. Ever since Ginny had gotten out of the hospital all he could think was that she and the people he cared about were still targets. They reached the Transfiguration room before anyone else and Harry set Ginny's bag down at her desk, "Ginny, I...I'm sorry that I haven't been acting like myself lately."
Ginny smiled sweetly at him, "It's alright Harry, I understand. I know you've been worried about the Death Eaters coming back and now about me and Hermione getting hurt. I just don't want you to feel like you have to handle everything on your own."
Harry nodded his head, "I'm sorry." Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, leaving him with a silly smile plastered on his face. He turned to leave but remembered something, "Hey Gin?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember how Ron told Hermione he'd beat McLaggen to a pulp if he went near Hermione?"
Ginny's face clouded with confusion, "Yes."
"If Charles comes near you again, I'll do the same to him." Harry ducked out of the room, Ginny's laugh following him down the hall.
