Hello to all who remember me. I know it has been forever, and I could make up an excuse like I was busy, or had writers block, but that would be lying. I have no excuse. *sigh* Oh well. Hope you like this chapter. I hope to get the next out within the next six months. I would like to thank AriaStar for beta-reading, and Gred Weasley who inspired me to send this to AriaStar.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one. It all belongs to J.K Rowling.

Keeping Harry Sane

Awakenings (hehe, I got creative)

Part Seven

Something was stinging her eyes. She tried to lift her hands to rub them, but she discovered they were too heavy. She tried to open her eyes, but they were stuck. She tried to scream, but her mouth was sewn closed. Something was soft beneath her, but she couldn't quiet reach it. Above her she could hear noise, although she couldn't tell what it was. The noise was getting farther and farther away. It was almost as though she was trapped between worlds.

Sunday, November 1, 1998

Dear Diary,

Draco brought me flowers today. I haven't told anyone (other than you). Not even Tracy. I'm not sure what he is playing at. Is he trying to make a fool of me, or is he being nice? I suppose it was a nice gesture, seeing as he is one of the only people who know what really happened. Although I would like to be friends, I don't know if I would want to be anything more, so I hope it doesn't come to that. (He did sign his card "Love, Draco" but that is how I sign everything.)

On a different note, Ginny still hasn't woken up. Harry hasn't left her bedside since he was allowed out of bed (and even before that—Madame Pomfrey can't watch him forever). It's kind of weird, because everyone always said that he liked Hermione. Right now, though, I would bet my life that he likes Ginny. It would be so perfect if he did, because everyone knows how she feels about him.

I feel so guilty about what happened that night. If only I had had been awake… If only I hadn't been caught… It was so full of 'if only's. The biggest was probably 'if only I hadn't sneezed.' Can you believe it, Diary? There I am, crouched behind a statue, watching Goyle give Crabbe a piece of paper, and I sneeze. What sort of idiot am I? Of course they would find me. Geez, Harry and Ginny could have died (Ginny still could, I suppose) all because I sneezed. You know what I don't get though? Why didn't Dumbledore send some sort of Law enforcement people down, instead of two students? Well, I guess Harry because he could speak Parseltounge, but Ginny? I would think he would be as careful as possible. Oh well.

Shoot.

Draco's back. He's trying to get in (Madame Pomfrey won't let him. Go Madame Pomfrey!) (Not that I don't want him here.) (Well, maybe I don't) (Why am I having conversations with myself inside parenthesis?) (No idea) He seems to have won the fight with Madame Pomfrey, so I better go. I'll write more later. ~Lisa

Monday, November 2, 1998

Dear Diary,

More flowers today.

I wasn't sure what to do. I mean, once can be considered a get well soon thing, but twice? I smiled and thanked him, hoping beyond hope that he was just being friendly. Sometimes I find it funny. I never thought of Draco Malfoy as a flower bringing kind of person. Harry found it incredibly funny. He laughed for at least ten minutes after Draco left. (I don't think he dared to it while Draco was here.) I didn't exactly tell Harry, but he is in the hospital wing, and he does have eyes, so he can see Draco enter with flowers. I guess the laughing must have been contagious, because I couldn't stop laughing either. I felt kind of bad.

Big News!! I leave tonight! Thank God, this place is so boring. There are only so many times you can count the blue checkers on the curtains around our beds. (5,025, by the way.) I am so glad that Harry has been here. Although he can't move around without crutches (Muggle things to help you walk), he's someone to talk to. We have spent hours upon hours sitting on his bed playing all these great Muggle card games he taught me. And when we felt as though another game of Go Fish would kill us, I taught him all those hand games that girls are obsessed with at about age nine. He isn't very good at those yet.

Last night we had a SID meeting (held in the hospital wing for mine and Harry's, but mostly Harry's convenience). We discussed what happened in the Chamber of the Secrets, and I told the story about my unfortunate sneeze. Then, they brought the topic around to what could have been done to prevent it.

"Well, that's a no-brainer," Draco had drawled. "Tell Turpin to carry a nose plug."

Others had more constructive advice, although I did agree with Draco.

When Draco and Kevin were getting ready to go back to their dorms, and conversation had turned to Quidditch tryouts, Dumbledore showed up. He told us he was canceling classes on Wednesday, in order to seal the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, and to add some additional security to the castle. When Death Eaters can hold you captive in your own school, something is very wrong. He would need all the teachers and our help for this. (I'm not sure why he needs our help, but whatever.)

He also mentioned a full ADM (anti-Dark Magic) meeting. (That includes all volunteer anti-Voldemort workers, not just SID's.) It was going to be a week from Wednesday. We were going to have to fill in all the adults about what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, and Dumbledore will give out new assignments. (Why do I have a funny feeling I'll be in watch duty for a while?) (Right now that little annoying voice in my head is screaming 'because you sneezed!')

I have to go write a letter to my mom. I got one from her yesterday that had tear splotches all over it. ~Lisa

A field of green spread out in front of Ginny, as far as she could see. It didn't look like anything see had ever seen before, and it gave her an eerie feeling. Still, she supposed it was better than that strange trapped feeling from before. She had no idea how she had gotten here.

"Hello, Virginia."

Ginny jumped and instinctively reached for her wand. This was unnecessary, because she recognized the voice, and there was only one person who called her Virginia. Her Grandpa. The only problem was, he had been dead since she was nine.

This was someone's idea of a funny joke. She had been very attached to her grandfather. He had always treated her like an individual, not 'the only girl in the Weasley Clan'. Ginny spun around, but no one was there. She blinked several times, and turned in several circles.

"What are you doing?"

Ginny jumped again, but didn't stop turning around.

"Honey?"

"Who's there?" Ginny said slightly shakily.

"You don't remember me?"

"No, I know who you are, or at least who you are supposed to be. But I don't find it funny, whoever you really are."

The voice answered back sounded puzzled. "Whoever I am? I thought you said you knew who I was."

Ginny crossed her arms and glared at the spot she thought the voice was coming from. "I know who you are trying to be. Not who you really are. You are pretending to be my grandfather, and, frankly, I am not going to fall for it."

"But, Virginia, honey, I am your grandfather."

"One small problem. He's dead."

"That isn't as much of a problem as you may think. People who are dead don't ever leave us. And yes, I am dead, but I am standing here talking to you."

Ginny tapped her foot impatiently. She was not going to fall for this. "Standing where exactly?"

"Right here."

"No offense or anything, but I don't see anyone."

"What!?" She could hear mad muttering. He seemed to be holding a conversation with someone else. Then he said to Ginny, "Virginia, you just have to believe that it is me. You can't see me because you aren't dead."

"Well, of course I'm not. Did you think I was?"

"Well…yes, but that doesn't matter."

"It might. But first, where am I, and who are you?"

The voice sighed impatiently. "I already told you. Joshua Franklin Weasley."

"Prove it." This whole thing wouldn't have bothered Ginny so much if it had been anyone else they had picked to impersonate. But the death of her grandpa had always been a very touchy subject for her. It was, in a way, her first wake up call to what the world was really like out there.

'Hummmm…ok. Your father has a telephone. The number is 245-436-7755."

Ginny's eyes narrowed. No one was supposed to know they had a phone. And anyway, that wasn't their number. It had changed six years ago. "Okay, whatever you are playing at, it isn't funny."

"Remember your ninth birthday, and what I told you?"

Ginny's mouth opened into a small O. She nodded slowly.

" 'What is right isn't always convenient'. Was that it?"

Ginny nodded again.

"Do you remember why I said that?"

Another nod. "Voldemort."

"And Harry."

"I never forgot," she breathed. "You died two days later."

She could hear a low chuckle. "Yes, I did. Now that we have established that I am indeed your grandfather, I am sure you are curious as to why you are here."

"And exactly where here is."

"Yes that too. Now, I was lead to believe that you were dead. Otherwise I would have never agreed to meet with you. But, anyway, that doesn't matter. You are in heaven."

Ginny's jaw fell.

"Well, not exactly in heaven, you have to be dead for that, but almost there. To tell you the truth, I have no idea why you are here. I have never, in my seven years in heaven, or 62 on earth, heard of dead people talking to live people. I never knew anything to be so important."

"Wait, so if you don't know why I am here, or talking to you, then how did I get here?"

"You will need to talk to the Almighty about that."

"Do I get to meet him?" Ginny was starting to feel foolish talking to nothing.

"No, no one does. I never even have. But you do get a note from him." A piece of parchment appeared in the air in front of Ginny. "Now I have to go. I'll see you again, Virginia, but let's hope not too soon. Goodbye." She heard a wind rushing kind of noise, and figured he was gone.

Reaching out a shaky hand she grabbed the paper.

Think about what you would miss most if you never went back.

Okay, she thought sarcastically. That makes perfect since. As if looking for more explanation, she flipped it over.

I take care of my people:

Sic Semper Tyrannis Noniam

"Great," she said out loud to herself. "I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere, literally, with a piece of paper with some kind of riddle." She stamped her foot in frustration. "There is no place like home, there's no place like home." Just for fun, she closed her eyes and clicked her heels. It didn't help.

"Okay, so, what do I miss most? No idea." She glared at the paper. "Okay, I'll try harder. I'd miss Harry, and Hermione, and Ron, and Lisa, and Watch Duty, and Hogwarts, and my family." She paused for a moment. "So this doesn't seem to be helping."

Ginny screwed up her mouth and really thought. What would she miss most? As easy as the question seemed, she couldn't think of answer. Well, definitely Harry, but not Harry, himself. It would be more the idea of Harry. Not being able to think about him.

Then, of course there was her family. As much as she loved them, and would miss them, she wasn't sure if that was what she would miss most.

"Think, Ginny, think," she told herself. "This is going to drive me crazy…." Her head snapped up. "Crazy…," she muttered, "hmm… 'only when I'm with you.'" She grinned. "That is so it."

She knew what she would miss. There really weren't any words to describe it. It was a feeling. That sort of adrenaline rush you get Christmas Eve, right before you go to sleep, or before a big quidditch game. Although those weren't the times she would miss it. It was the times around Harry.

"Okay."

She was beginning to wonder if talking to yourself is unhealthy.

"Now what do I do?" She looked back down at the paper. "I have to think about it. How is this going to help me? I don't know."

Now she was answering her own questions.

Squeezing her eyes closed, she drew the feeling back. She could almost see Harry moving his lips toward hers. She could see him laughing, and kissing her cheek. She could see the way he brushed his hair from his eyes, and how he pushed his glasses up his nose.

It was almost immediate. The closest thing she could describe it as was the feeling you get traveling by portkey.

The sensation didn't last for long though. It was replaced by the searing pain in her eyes she had experienced before. She squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to block it out. It just kept getting worse and worse.

And then it stopped, just as quickly as suddenly as it had started. She wondered what had happened.

To tell the truth, she hadn't thought that thinking about what she would miss most would do anything, so she was very surprised. She seemed to be horizontal, and judging by the softness, on a bed. Very cautiously, she unclenched one eye.

She could have cried. It was the hospital wing. It was only a dream. She didn't really talk to her grandfather, or get that weird note. Everything that had happened came rushing back. She gave a loud sigh and opened the other eye. A rustle of noise came from the side of her bed. She heard a loud gasp, and then…

"GINNY!"

…and she couldn't breath. There was something heavy on top of her. All she could make out was a fuzzy black spot a few inches from her face. The heavy something removed itself from her chest, and if she squinted up her eyes a bit, it looked like Harry.

"Harry?" Why does everything look so blurry? She wondered.

"Shhh…." He put his finger on her lips and leaned forward. Ginny didn't need to be told what he was going to do. But, like the time before, moments before she would have experienced the thrill of her life, they were interrupted.

"Oh my god! Ginny!" It was her mum, closely followed by Mr. Weasley and Madame Pomfrey. Her breathing was once again cut off, as Mrs. Weasley threw herself on top of Ginny, sobbing. "Ginny…oh…Ginny…. We were so worried…."

She pulled back and stared at Ginny, whipping tears as the flowed freely from her eyes. Ginny tried to struggle into a sitting position, but was pushed back down by Madame Pomfrey.

"Stay down, dear. I will need to ask you all to leave, so I can perform some tests on Miss Weasley. Mr. Potter, if you would be so kind as to go and get the Headmaster. Ask him to come by in about thirty minutes. I should be done by then."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left, Mrs. Weasley still crying, and Mr. Weasley trying to comfort her, but looking on the verge of tears himself.

"Bye, Gin." Harry leaned down to kiss her cheek, and whispered so Madame Pomfrey couldn't hear, "I think fate is trying to tell me something."

Ginny grinned, and Harry hobbled out on wooden things she had never seen before. Afterwards she realized that she had forgotten to ask about them.

Harry moved slowly towards the gargoyle leading to Dumbledore's office. This was a perfect opportunity to talk to Dumbledore by himself. Harry hadn't had a moment with Dumbledore since he had explained what had happened, nearly four days ago. This may have been due to the fact that he still wasn't technically supposed to be out of the hospital wing. And he had something very important to discuss.

By now he was standing in front of the gargoyle. "Turtle Taffy."

"To you too," grunted the gargoyle. Harry gave it a funny look as he entered the moving staircase. He was still gazing uncertainly at the entrance, when he banged into something very hard.

"Headmaster?"

It certainly looked like Dumbledore. The only thing was he was wearing bright pink cotton pajamas with broomsticks flying around, and little snitches waving their wings.

"Mr. Potter, what a surprise."

"Sorry to disturb you so late but…" He couldn't hold it in any longer. He gave a small laugh and attempted to go on. "Madame Pink, no I mean, Madbroom Pomfrey, no…"

Dumbledore followed his gaze down to his pajamas and smiled. "I know they are pink, but the PPGL, Perfect Pj's for Quidditch Lovers, was all sold out of purple."

"Really? I had no idea there was such a store."

Dumbledore nodded. "My favorite, but back to why you are coming up to my office at," he took a moment to consult his watch. "11:45."

"Oh, right. Madame Pomfrey sent me. Ginny woke up."

Dumbledore smiled. "Wonderful."

Harry went on. "And I need to talk to you about—."

"Can we walk and talk? I was on my way to the kitchens for a midnight snack." He started to continue down from his office.

"Right, anyway, as I was saying—."

"Harry did you happen to hear about the Cannons last game?" Dumbledore asked. "I heard it was a real nail-bitter."

"That's nice, Professor, but I really wanted to ask you what is going to happen to Sir—"

Dumbledore stopped walking and turned to look seriously at Harry. He placed both his hands on Harry's shoulders.

"Look, Harry, I think I may know what you are going to ask. I have been waiting for you to come to me. I want to clear Sirius just as much as you do. Trust me, but as of now we don't have enough evidence. We could clear him of Pettigrew's murder, but Pettigrew could plead that he transformed out of self-defense. The only way may be if Pettigrew pleads. This will depend on his loyalties, and if he sees an advantage for himself."

Harry thought for a moment. "Can't we create an advantage?"

Dumbledore smiled. "We very well might be able to."

Harry and Dumbledore arrived the hospital wing exactly a half hour later (after a brief stop so Dumbledore could change into robes), laden down with sweets from the house elves. When they heard Miss Weasley had woken they insisted on sending enough pie and cakes to feed all of Gryffindor house for several weeks. Ginny found this very cute, and went on for a while about having to go down and thank them.

Ginny then insisted that everybody leave so she could talk to Harry alone. Madame Pomfrey put up a small fight, but then gave in.

"Close your eyes and sit," Ginny instructed, pointing to the seat next to her, as soon as everyone had left.

Harry raised a questioning eyebrow, but nevertheless, he placed his crutches against the bedside table, sat down, and closed his eyes.

Several seconds later, "Okay…open."

Harry opened his eyes. It took him a moment to realize what it was he was supposed to notice.

"Glasses? When did you get glasses?"

"Like ten minutes ago. Madame Pomfrey ran about a thousand tests and this was the only thing she found wrong. But what I really wanted to ask you was, do you think these are too thick? Do you think I should go for these?" She pulled off the pair she was wearing and put a different pair on that had been next to her.

Harry looked at her for a moment. "No idea. I don't think I'm the right person to ask. Otherwise you might end up with thick round circles for glasses."

She put the first pair back on. "I like these better. They make me look smart."

"I think so too," Harry agreed.

Ginny readjusted the pillow that was propped up behind her. "Do my parents know?" She said, her expression immediately changing.

"What? About the glasses?"

"No, stupid, about SID and everything."

"Well, not everything. But they do know about SID. Dumbledore owled them as soon as you joined."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "I would have expected several howlers. They always are so over protective."

Harry shrugged. "Maybe they deserve more credit than you give them."

Ginny shrugged too. "Oh well. There are more important things. Tell me everything. What happened after I, uh… left? What happened to you?"

He shrugged. "Nothing big. Just have to use those for a while." He gestured at the wooden things leaned against the table. "Lisa's fine. Dumbledore came just in time."

Ginny did not look satisfied. "No. Details. I want details."

Harry sighed, resigned to tell the whole story. "Just tell me one thing first."

"Anything."

"Where did you learn that spell? It saved my life."

Ginny grinned. "I'm glad to have been of service. I read it in a book."

Harry laughed. "You have to tell me what books you are reading. I have never seen anything so useful in my life. Did you know it block unforgivables? That was amazing." He was smiling so genuinely, it hurt Ginny's heart. If only he knew….

"So what was it?"

Darn. Even though Ginny knew if was coming, she wished it hadn't.

She adverted her eyes. "I really can't tell you."

Harry looked confused for a moment. The smile disappeared. "I won't tell anyone."

Ginny wanted to point out that she did not care if everyone else in the world knew what spell it was. She just couldn't tell Harry. "I know," she whispered.

"I don't understand why you can't trust me."

"It's not that I don't trust you, its that I can't tell you. Not yet at least. Maybe someday."

Harry snorted. "What am I not mature enough yet? I can't handle the truth?"

"No. Look, okay, if I tell you it might influence your thinking. There are some things you have to realize on your own."

"What did Lucius mean when he said 'evil will triumph over love?'"

"Harry, please…" she buried her face in her hands. This was so difficult, why couldn't he just accept it?

"Where had Lucius seen it before?"

She uncovered her face. "I will not tell you. So stop asking."

Harry finally backed down. "Okay, lets change the subject. I don't want to fight. Let me tell you what happened…"

Ron was in bed, asleep, like any normal human being, when Harry arrived. Harry limped over and whacked him with a crutch.

"Oww…." Ron sat up rubbing his head. "Harry what are you doing here? I thought you weren't allowed out of the hospital wing." It was then that Ron caught sight of the clock on his table. "Harry, it's two in the morning, what could be so important?"

"Well, I guess it can wait." Harry turned and started to leave.

"Good." Ron lay down again. "Hey, wait! Where are you going?"

Harry grinned from the doorway. "To go talk to Ginny."