Time Changes Everything

A fanfiction by Aelia

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K.Rowling except this mind-wrenching plot, which keeps me up all night!

Chapter 24: The Pain That Follows

* * * * *

Harry didn't realize how long he'd been out there in the Hogwarts grounds. The storm raved on and on until it blew away, taking with it the thick black clouds. The wind calmed down to a gentle breeze; the night became silent except for the steady hooting of owls in the Forbidden Forest.

Harry lifted his head and looked up at the sky through half open eyes. He didn't realize he had fallen unconscious while he was holding Ginny, lost in his own world while the storm raged on around him. The stars shone down upon him but Harry knew nothing was fine – at least for him, just then. He had hugged the limp form of Ginny to himself, letting his tears course freely down his face, mingling with the torrents of rain.

Ginny felt terribly cold below him and her face was a deathly pale. It reminded him of the horrible reality that lay before him and tears threatened to overflow his eyes once again. He gritted his teeth, forcing them back and tried to get a hold on himself. He had to get up…do something…

Harry got to his feet shakily, bent down and gently lifted up Ginny's limp and drenched form in his arms. He stood still, watching her peaceful face, wondering how he couldn't have ever realized how pretty she was and that he had ignored her for so many years…

It was too late to repent…that time was past…he could never bring it back again…

A tear slipped down his face as he gazed at her, his deep regret saddening him further. He held her closer and kissed her cold cheek softly. Trying to keep himself steady, his head bowed, he slowly carried her into the castle.

Hogwarts was eerily silent and Harry, dripping wet from being in the storm, quietly took Ginny to the only place he could think of. He pushed open the door of the Hospital Wing and stepped in, his footsteps echoing in the large, dim room.

It was dark and all the beds were empty, moonlight falling across them, illuminating them. His mind in a strange haze, Harry walked over to the closest bed, by the window and gently laid Ginny on the soft, white mattress. His gaze never leaving her face for a second, he covered her with a bed sheet, not daring to cover her face.

The very thought shook him, making him shiver. He still couldn't believe he was actually seeing her…dead…

He fell to his knees by her bed, burying his face in the mattress, trying to block out the anguish and pain. He wished he could just escape…run away from the reality that lay before him but he couldn't bring himself to that.  Something stopped him from leaving her side; it was a feeling he couldn't understand.

'Potter?'

Madam Pomfrey's voice startled Harry and he immediately looked up. Her amazement on seeing his tear stained face was clearly visible.

'What are you doing here?' she asked but at the same time, her eyes darted to the still form of Ginny on the bed beside Harry. She immediately rushed over to Ginny's side, ignoring Harry and bent over her.

Harry scrambled to his feet. Soon, she would know, too, that Ginny was…

He turned away. He didn't want to look at anyone or answer any questions.

'Oh no…' He heard Madam Pomfrey's voice come out as a gasp. He steeled himself for the volley of questions that would surely follow. But there were none. Madam Pomfrey's footsteps hurried off, down the corridor and out of the Hospital Wing.

She had gone to get Dumbledore, Harry knew. More pain would follow…Dumbledore would know…then…the Weasleys…

Harry couldn't think of the state the Weasleys would be in when they found their only daughter, sister had…

His tears threatening to spill over once more, Harry hobbled over to Ginny's bed and sat down on the edge, watching her face, illuminated by the silvery moonlight.

The shock that he had experienced had only numbed the pain for a little while, as Harry began to realize as he sat back on the bed, beside Ginny. He didn't want to think anymore, did not want to wonder how – why she had come to such a state…Strange fear began settling inside him…a fear of everything around him.

He just wanted to close his eyes and disappear from the world, not to relive the tragedy, to see her pale face again…

Sleep came to him suddenly but it wasn't the peaceful sleep that he wished for…he felt that he ached all over and was saddened to the depth of his heart. The pain had only begun.

* * * * *

Harry suddenly opened his eyes, jerking out of his very troubled sleep. He was sweating all over and his fingers trembled slightly. He looked around and for a moment tried to recognize the place where he was. And then, the events of the night came crashing down all upon his suddenly. Frantically, he looked around for Ginny…he had been sitting beside her in the Hospital Wing…

It was dawn as the first rays of sunlight were creeping into the room and in the dim bluish-gray light, Harry saw Ginny was no longer beside him and that he was in bed with a blanket covering him. He panicked…where was she? Had they taken her away? No! He had to see her before…

Harry rushed out of bed and looked down the room but Ginny was in none of the other beds. Fear began to rise in him. Where was she?

'Potter?' Madam Pomfrey's voice made him pause in his tracks. He turned to her quickly.

'Where's she?' he asked her. Madam Pomfrey was silent for a moment, regarding him. Harry couldn't see her expression in the dim light of the morning. She sighed, almost inaudibly and took a slow step towards him.

'Potter, you should be in bed –'

'No! I want to see her. Where's she?!' Harry didn't care if she thought he was mad or insane. He had to see Ginny. He didn't like Madam Pomfrey's tone. It caused him to relive those dreadful memories of Ginny, her face pale and cold in death…

'Please,' Harry added, a strange lump forming in his throat. Madam Pomfrey turned away.

'Very well,' she said, her tone low and sad. 'Come with me…'

Harry followed her immediately through silent and dim corridors. He tried to block out his dark thoughts…only some time later, the corridors would be full of light…the people would wake up…the Weasley's would wake up and find their sister missing…

Fighting a mental battle against his dark thoughts, Harry didn't even realize where Madam Pomfrey had led him. Suddenly, he found himself standing in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office. A strange lump formed in his throat as Madam Pomfrey knocked on the door.

There was no answer and shortly, she opened the door and stepped in.

'Headmaster?' she asked softly. There was a muffled reply and Harry followed her inside.

The room was different than Harry remembered it from his visits in the past. It was very dark and Harry suddenly wondered if Professor Dumbledore was there or not. But when he stepped in, he realized the room wasn't empty. His heart skipped a beat.

To a corner of the room, on a bed lay the still form of Ginny while Dumbledore bent over her, undisturbed by the sudden presence in the room. The entire room was dark except for the area where Ginny lay; it was bathed in a strange but warm, golden glow. Dumbledore was muttering something under his breath constantly and Madam Pomfrey silently motioned to Harry to sit down in an armchair in a corner of the room, enveloped in darkness.

He obeyed silently and watched with wonder Dumbledore's still form bending over Ginny. Harry's hands began to tremble, so nervous was he and after what seemed like ages, Dumbledore fell silent and turned around. His eyes fell on Harry and they seemed to pierce right through him. Something warm and strange seemed to be emanating from Dumbledore and when he closed his eyes once, breaking eye contact with Harry, the feeling vanished.

'Harry,' Dumbledore acknowledged. He snapped his fingers once and suddenly, the room was illuminated, lit by numerous candles. He motioned Harry to join him at his desk and Harry silently obeyed. Dumbledore's strange and serious composure could be compared only to one other situation Harry had seen him in; when he had blasted open the door of Mad Eye Moody's room at the end of the previous term. That same aura of power seemed to radiate from him.

Harry was silent; he couldn't manage a word. Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair, gazing at Harry with serious, almost worried eyes.

'Harry. I need to know what happened.'

The statement was simple and even though Harry had known he would be told to this, he hadn't thought about what he would say in answer. What did he know? What happened? He didn't know anything…he had no idea…

Panicking slightly as the reality of everything hit him again, he glanced at Ginny, whose form now lay in darkness; the warm glow of only moments before had vanished.

'Harry…' Dumbledore's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

'Professor…I…I don't know what happened…' he stuttered. Dumbledore sighed softly. His gaze didn't leave Harry's but there was now warmth in it that seemed to help Harry calm down.

'I guessed as much…I didn't think you'd understand this. Even I do not understand what has happened…'

Harry's attention wavered. He glanced at Ginny, a lump forming in his throat as he did so.

'Why did she die?' His voice was on the verge of breaking and Dumbledore got up from his chair, went over to Harry and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Harry tried to blink his tears away and he swiped at his eyes with his sleeve, trying to hold the tears back.

'She didn't die.'

Dumbledore's statement hit Harry with full force, making him jerk out of his reverie and making his hands tremble as he whirled in his chair. He couldn't believe his ears…it wasn't possible…how…

'She's not dead?' he spluttered, numbing relief spreading through him. But one look at Dumbledore's face made Harry's relief vanish just as soon as it had overtaken him.

'No, she's not dead…but…' Dumbledore sighed and looked away, seeming impatient. 'Harry, there are parts of this I do not understand yet. I can only make my guesses. But…' He turned to Harry, his gaze intent and serious again, 'I have to know anything you might have knowledge of…before…before it's too late.'

Harry was silent for a moment as Dumbledore's words, their meaning, sank in. He nodded. He'd tell him anything he knew or anything he thought might help…anything that might help Ginny…

But then suddenly, out of nowhere, out of nothing, Harry's scar burned and the pain spread, in moments within his entire head. It was as if something was crushing him, while trying to burst his head open and even though he had fainted that year, once, because of his scar pain, he could never remember when he had experienced such pain. It was meant to kill, he knew. His face was screwed up in pain as he held his head in his hands. He vaguely heard Dumbledore get up from his chair hurriedly, his name being spoken but he couldn't manage to say a word…he was unconscious within seconds.

* * * * *

'No, please! Have mercy! Please!!'

'Haha! Ha…' Cold laughter…

'Please!! Have mercy!'

Cold laughter…

'Nooooooooooo!!'

* * * * *

'NOOOOOOOO!!!!'

Harry screamed and sat upright in bed, his hands trembling. That nightmare…a violent shiver ran through him at the thought of it. It wasn't possible…how?! How did he get her?! Ginny was right there, in Dumbledore's office! He couldn't believe it but he knew what he had heard was true. He could never fail to recognize that voice…that helpless voice…those pleas for mercy…the words were familiar…but it hadn't been his mother. It had been Ginny.

'Harry! Are you alright?'

Dumbledore was sitting beside Harry's bed, looking at him concernedly. But Harry had no sense of what the Headmaster was saying.

'It's Voldemort!' he practically shouted, 'He's got Ginny! He's taken her!'

Professor Dumbledore got up immediately.

'Did you have a dream?' he asked quickly, his eyes roving over Harry's face. Harry recounted the voices he had heard…one desperate and helpless…the other vicious and cruel. He couldn't forget those voices.

'Have you had any other dreams recently?' Dumbledore asked urgently.

Harry tried to recall…and nodded.

'Yes,' he said, 'Yesterday…but I wasn't able to tell you about it…' He ended regretfully, berating himself for not coming to Dumbledore earlier. When Ginny had…talked to him out in the grounds…he couldn't think of anything else and then…in the night…

Harry tried to push dark thoughts away as much as he could and recounted the previous dream to Dumbledore. And when Dumbledore finally asked, he relayed the events of the night to him – how he had felt the knife piercing his neck and then, seen Ginny…

Dumbledore listened patiently but Harry could tell from the intense look on the Headmaster's face that he was thinking…a mixture of thoughts in head. When Harry had recounted all he knew, Dumbledore looked away for a moment, then got up.

'Harry,' he said, more urgently and sharply than before, 'please go back to Gryffindor tower and stay there. Do not come to me…I will come myself if I need you. If Ron and Hermione or anyone asks you anything, please, it will be better that you tell them to wait. I repeat this – stay in Gryffindor.'

'But Professor,' Harry said urgently, trying to absorb all of the instructions, 'what about Ginny? Voldemort has her, he's taken her away –'

'Harry, he has not taken her away…' said Dumbledore sharply, 'she is very much in Hogwarts at the moment but…'

Dumbledore's eyes softened and he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

'I will do everything that is within my limits and knowledge to save her…' he said softly, even sadly and looked as he might say something more.

 'Please, go back to Gryffindor,' was the only thing the Headmaster said before turning around and leaving the Hospital Wing, leaving Harry very confused and worried.

* * * * *

Harry returned to Gryffindor tower to find it deserted. For a moment, he was surprised, and then he realized that classes were going on. It seemed so strange, he thought, as he sat down in the Common room. It was as if he had forgotten anything else existed. Ginny's screams…he felt as if his school life was so far away…almost as if it had never existed. There was the dread of someone dying…someone he'd begun to love so much…

The day passed in a strange haze for Harry. He sat in an armchair, staring up at the ceiling. All he could think of was Ginny –all the times he had spent her – the Ball at Christmas – going to Hogsmeade together…

It was like he trying to keep hold on those beautiful memories and didn't want to do or say anything else. There was a strange feeing of dread rising in him. Then, his scar began to throb, not violently but enough to help the dark thoughts recur. Time seemed to be passing very slowly.

Then, the portrait hole opened and as Harry looked up, Ron and Hermione came in. They spotted him immediately, sitting in a corner of the deserted room and came over, looking at him very much as they had when he was in the Hospital Wing at the end of his fourth year.

'I'm okay,' said Harry immediately. It wasn't he who deserved those sympathizing looks, he thought bitterly. Ginny was in danger – and danger such as he had never known and one he couldn't understand.

'Harry, what happened?' Hermione asked a moment later, looking at him closely. Harry looked away, motioning them to sit down.

'That's what I don't know,' he sighed, betraying the fear that had been building up inside him.

Ron was staring at him.

'H-Harry…' he said, his voice seeming worried, 'where's Ginny? She wasn't at breakfast and she wasn't in her dormitory.'

Harry looked up at Ron and he realized that he couldn't hide or stall anything from Ron. He was sure Ron could read it off his face as Ron's eyes widened and his face became pale.

'Where's she?' he asked quickly, getting up from his chair, 'What happened to her?!'

Hermione touched Ron's arm but she, too, was staring at Harry. Harry jumped up from his chair.

'Look, I told you I don't know!' he practically shouted. It was devastating for him as well. What would he tell them? That Ginny was not dead but dead…or what? He didn't know anything himself.

'You know where she is,' said Ron quickly, clearly panicking, and stepped towards Harry, 'Harry, I'm her brother…please…tell me. If anything happens to her –'

'She's with Dumbledore,' Harry answered diplomatically. 'I don't know anything else. Dumbledore said he'd tell himself.'

But Harry could take it no more. He whirled around and hurried up the boys' staircase, yearning to get away from any further questions.

Hours later, Harry heard someone come into the dormitory, the hurried footsteps confirming his suspicions. Ron's head appeared through the curtains surrounding Harry's bed.

'Harry,' he said urgently, 'Dumbledore's called you…us.'

When Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Professor McGonagall stood there. She glanced at them for a second, and then turned away. She waved her hand and the entrance opened immediately.

'Please go in,' she said softly in a tone that made Harry dread whatever was lying in wait for them.

~ To be continued…~

Author's Notes:

Hi there!

Firstly, let me apologize, on my part, for taking so long with this chapter. This was probably the most difficult one to write yet. Also, I was suffering from a tad bit of Writer's Block, which was cured by writing a small single-chapter fic – "Unfinished Business". It's H/G and if any of you have been to gryffindortower.net and are familiar with it, you'll understand the story better, I'm sure. I posted that story yesterday, promising TCE will be updated today.

Anyways, I hope you read that and reviewed too!

Okay, about TCE. So, I was true to my word about updating TCE and here I am. Now, about the next chapter. It's done. Yes, it really is. All I need to do is go through it all over again once but right now, it's 3 A.M. My eyes hurt from squinting at the monitor and my fingers ache from typing for the past two hours. Oh well, so anyhow, the next chapter "To Break The News" will be up either tomorrow or day after tomorrow. It's HUGE, about twice the size of this chapter and it pushed the story a far way along. You'll find out a lot of what was happening to Ginny (a LOT of the reviewers WERE right).

Do review if you want the next chapter out in time.

And thank you so much for the reviews I have been getting for a while even when I've not updated! I saw some new reviewers and I'm so glad you've read my story. Thank you, all. I couldn't reply to the reviews that had queries, in this chapter but I'll try to in the next.

And thank you, once more for being very patient with this story and waiting for this chapter, especially, Abba and Ax, who were very, very patient (no offense)!

And so, I should say goodbye for now.

Until the next chapter (which depends on the number of reviews that I get for this one),

Bonjour…