Chapter thirty: The Return

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K.R. but this story definitely belongs to me…whatever that means. :)

Author's Notes: Hello there, again…I'm back with the latest chapter. As I said last time, I was really excited about this chapter so I wanted to start on it as soon as possible…a.s.a.p.!

I promised you'd love the end but does that really mean that is has to be a happy ending? Not that I mean anything strange! Don't go away! Read this chapter first…it's just that I didn't want to spoil the fun for you. I hope this turned out okay and that no one is disappointed after they read it. This is not the last chapter. I'll probably add two chapters after this…and then, the Epilogue. After the Epilogue, there will be a small chapter – or whatever you may call it – that will be only Author's Notes. It will be a small explanation of anything that was ignored. You found out a lot in the previous chapter when Voldemort explained but after the Epilogue, I'll just point out some things that were ignored – small incidents that happened in between.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews and again Munku who has taken to long reviews!!! About not killing the two of them…well…you should read the chapter…

Okay, I do not want to this note to become too long and I know you're waiting for the chapter. So, go ahead and read it. I'm not holding you back anymore. Just one thing…please review! This is, in a way, the climax so I'll be really watching out for reviews…

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Mrs. Weasley rested her head in her hands, trying to keep her eyes open. She felt very sleepy and exhausted but she just couldn't go to sleep. She was feeling uneasy, as if somewhere something very important was happening. And when she looked at the still form of Ginny, in the bed before her, that feeling magnified. She felt as if something was happening to Ginny and she reached out and held her daughter's cold hand, squeezing it, trying to draw comfort from it and return it as well. She wished and prayed that Ginny was okay.

And Harry.

Her eyes flicked over to Harry, lying still on the other bed, just like Ginny. She couldn't hold back her tears every time she saw Harry. He had put himself in danger and there he was, just like Ginny, motionless on the bed. Time went by, slowly, but every time she saw him, she felt strangely guilty. It had been three days and nights already and there had been no sign from either Ginny or Harry of anything. Everyone was worried. The tension was palpable. Though Ron, Hermione and the twins had been told by Professor Dumbledore to resume their school activities, they did visit Dumbledore's office whenever they got a moment, to check on Harry and Ginny.

There was hope and it was the only thing that kept them going. Professor Dumbledore had said he had no idea of when anything could happen; it could take days, weeks or even months since there was no time in the World of Souls. While time passed in the World of Mortals, in the World of Souls, time was nonexistent. It didn't matter.

Mr. Weasley had also been asked to go back to his office by Professor Dumbledore. It just wouldn't do to sit there and wait. Mrs. Weasley, however, asked to stay back at Hogwarts for some time and ever since she had been getting that uneasy feeling, her resolve to stay by Ginny and Harry had deepened.

Someone came into the room and Mrs. Weasley looked up to see him crossing over to her.

'You should get some rest, Molly,' said Mr. Weasley, looking weary and tired, the lines of worry seeming so deep on his face. Mrs. Weasley nodded in response but kept her eyes trained at Ginny. The silence in the room was comforting and after a while, Mr. Weasley said,

'I'll go and meet Albus…you should lie down. I'm staying here tonight and the children are coming up too.'

Mrs. Weasley nodded again and sat back in her chair, still watching Ginny with hope ad worry in her eyes. Mr. Weasley made for the door when Fred came in, followed by Ron and Hermione. They glanced at the room briefly, by the door, then proceeded slowly to Mrs. Weasley, all except Ron. He stood nearby the door, as if not wanting to go any further, Hermione lingering by him.

Ron's gaze was fixed on Harry, the expression on his face unreadable. When he had seen Harry for the first time, so still, as if lifeless, on the bed next to Ginny, he had almost turned around to run out of the room. The sight of Harry in such a state, for his sister, had hit Ron with such force that he seldom came to visit and stayed by the door. Every time he went there, it only hurt more.

Fred went to Mrs. Weasley's side and after observing a moment of silence, said to her,

'Dad said you should go to bed, Mum, you look –'

'It's okay, I'll be out there in a moment,' said Mrs. Weasley, glancing at Ron and Hermione and trying to smile, for their sake.

Nobody asked when something would happen or if anything would happen at all…it was understood…if anything happened, they'd know immediately and before that, no one would know anything else.

Hermione stepped forward and sat down beside Ginny's bed, glancing at Harry with a pained look in her eyes. She kept her eyes rooted to Ginny's mattress; she couldn't manage to look anywhere else – Harry or Ginny or the sad faces of the people in the room.

Mrs. Weasley sighed, pushing her chair backwards to get up. She took hold of Ginny's hands again, giving them one last squeeze before she left to see Dumbledore.

'Molly,' said Mr. Weasley from the doorway, 'I –'

But then, he was cut short as Mrs. Weasley suddenly sprang to her feet, her eyes wide and the expression on her face totally reversed.

'Ginny!' she gasped, holding Ginny's hand. Hermione jumped to her feet and Ron hurried forwards.

And then, a moment later, Ginny's eyes opened. Slowly, her gaze focused on the people around her bed, looking down at her with shocked expressions.

'Ginny!' Mrs. Weasley exclaimed with relief and rushed to Ginny, enveloping her in a hug. There was a sudden hullabaloo in the room. Mr. Weasley rushed in and Professor Dumbledore appeared at the door a moment later. Mrs. Weasley was now crying and reluctantly pulled away from Ginny to let Mr. Weasley see her.

Ginny didn't say anything but smiled slightly, her eyes seeming wet as she looked around at her family.

'Are you okay?' Mrs. Weasley kept saying, tears flowing down her face. Professor Dumbledore stepped forwards, smiling at Ginny and then, he turned away slowly.

Mr. Weasley had his arms around Ginny, stroking his daughter's hair with relief. Nothing much sensible was said but a lot of noise was made in the room as everyone asked if Ginny was okay at the same time.

When Mr. Weasley let go of Ginny, her gaze traveled across the people surrounding her and then, for the first time since she had woken up, she spoke.

'Where's Harry?'

A hush fell across the room and everybody suddenly turned their heads. They had completely forgotten about Harry in the excitement of seeing Ginny up and alive. And now, as they turned to see, they found Harry unchanged, lying as he had been for the past three days, on the same bed. There was no sign of life from him.

'What?' Ginny asked and turned to see what her family was looking at and where was Harry. She saw him, as Hermione moved aside, lying on a bed a little away from hers. For a moment, she wasn't able to say anything. Then,

'Harry?'

There was no movement.

'Albus…' Mr. Weasley's voice was hoarse and surprised. His face had gone slightly pale. Professor Dumbledore turned to the Weasleys, his gaze lowered.

'What?' Mr. Weasley stepped forward. There was a moment of eerie silence. Professor Dumbledore looked at Mr. Weasley.

'Arthur –' He paused.

'What?' Ginny asked loudly, her voice shaking, as she clutched at her blanket. She turned her head sharply to look at Harry but he still hadn't moved.

'What?' she asked again, more loudly, panic evident in her tone.

'Harry…' said Dumbledore slowly, looking at Mr. Weasley intently, his voice strained and his eyes sad, 'he…he can't. Only one of them could return…Harry…he…'

Dumbledore fell short of words suddenly. Mr. Weasley's face had gone ash white.

'What…?' he gasped. 'Albus, no…'

'I'm afraid…yes,' said Dumbledore slowly, averting his gaze from the shocked Weasleys, 'he wanted to…'

'No!' Ginny gasped, her voice barely a whisper. She flung aside the blankets and go out of bed before anyone could stop her.

'You're lying!' she accused Dumbledore, her eyes wide, and glanced at Harry, 'he was okay, he was there!'

'Ginny –' said Dumbledore.

'No, you're wrong!' She rushed to Harry's side, shaking his shoulder gently.

'He's okay, he was right there…he's alright!' But she was only trying to reassure herself. No amount of shaking woke up Harry.

'Harry…' Ginny said, a pleading tone in her voice, 'you're okay…'

Her gaze was fixed on Harry's face, waiting desperately for any movement…any sign of life…

And then, she raised a hand to her mouth in shock, her hand now completely still on his shoulder.

'Ginny –' Professor Dumbledore said, taking a stepped forward, looking at her with concern, his voice low and sad.

'No!' She gasped and her head snapped her.

'You killed him!' she gasped. 'You let him!' she said, even louder.

'Ginny, I –' Professor Dumbledore tried again, stepping forward.

'Stay away from him!' Ginny shouted, finding Harry's lifeless hand and closing her fingers around it.

'You killed him! Why did you let him…?! You killed…him…' she sobbed, tears rushing to her eyes.

'Ginny, I tried to stop him but Harry – he wanted to –' Professor Dumbledore tried to explain.

'Albus!' Mr. Weasley gasped. 'You did not tell us…when…'

Professor Dumbledore was silent for a moment.

'I promised him I would not let you know…only one of them could come back.'

The words hit everyone with such force that complete silence fell across the dim room. They were frozen, not knowing what to do as they looked at the still form of Harry on the bed.

Ginny burst into tears, her shoulders heaving as she sobbed, and collapsed on Harry's shoulder. Nobody could move a muscle. They couldn't believe that the Boy-Who-Lived was dead.

Then, Mrs. Weasley went to Harry's side and sat down beside Ginny, placing a hand on her back as her gaze remained fixed on Harry's face.

'Go,' Ginny said, her voice muffled in Harry's shoulder. 'Leave us alone,' she pleaded.

Mrs. Weasley pulled back her hand, her face pained. She couldn't decide at all whether she should be happy at Ginny's return or grieved at Harry's death. He had willed to die…for Ginny…

He had met her just before taking the Zirius, that night, in Dumbledore's office and assured her that her daughter was going to be okay. He had known what he was about to do…

The thought brought more tears to Mrs. Weasley's eyes and she got up slowly. Mr. Weasley came forwards and put an arm around his wife; she turned to him, her tears now flowing freely. Hermione had buried her face in Ron's shoulder and he had his arms around her, holding her close, his head bent as tears silently flowed down his face.

Ginny squeezed Harry's hand, her face still hidden in Harry's shoulder, as the tears flowed freely. She didn't want anyone to come close to her and Harry. She wanted to be alone.

Harry had decided to die for her…there was no greater thing he could have ever done and he had know left her alone. In the World of Souls, he had been with her all along, helped her fight off Voldemort, given her strength, and then, the last thing she had remembered…taken her in his arms, holding her so close that she could feel him…as if within her own self.

She sobbed even more at this. It was unfair, she thought desperately, why him? Why did he do this…for her?

'No…why did you…no…' she sobbed.

She felt a hand rest on her back and this time, she was sobbing so much that she couldn't tell her mother to go away and leave her alone with Harry.

'Gin…'

It was as if wind had carried her name to her…so slowly…in a whisper…so close…

'Gin…'

Ginny stopped sobbing. Someone was whispering her name into her ear. Harry's hands, the one she held in her own, moved beneath hers and gave her fingers a little squeeze.

Slowly, cautiously, disbelievingly, she raised her head slightly and found herself gazing into a pair of bright, shining emerald eyes.

Time stopped.

The hand on her back…his hand…came to rest in her hair, his fingers weaving through its depths.

'Gin…' he whispered, more clearly, his wide eyes searching hers.

'H-' Ginny tried to speak but couldn't make any sound. She raised herself up, staring at him, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe what she was seeing before her…but it was true…

'Harry,' she gasped, looking down at him, reveling in his peaceful gaze.

'Harry,' said Professor Dumbledore, suddenly taking notice of Harry. Everyone looked up, Hermione pulled away from Ron.

'Harry…' His name was murmured in amazement and disbelief. They didn't know whether to believe what their eyes were seeing or rejoice.

Professor Dumbledore quickly moved to Harry's side, his eyes wide.

'Harry, are you okay?' he said in a low voice, disbelief and surprise evident in it. Ginny raised herself off Harry as Professor Dumbledore bent by Harry to see if he was alright. Harry didn't smile but glanced at the Headmaster once before looking at Ginny. The expression on his face was unreadable and Ginny and his eyes locked for a moment.

'You're fine,' said Professor Dumbledore in a strange voice, straightening up and adjusting his half-moon glasses, his gaze not wavering from Harry for a moment. Ron and Hermione came around to the other side and Harry tried to sit up in bed.

'I'm okay,' he said when he saw everyone staring at him and then, his weak smile died away when he saw Ginny look away from him.

'Oh, Harry,' said Mrs. Weasley and put her arms around Harry, sobbing all over again.

'Why didn't you tell us?' she asked, her voice shaking. She pulled back and Harry saw Mr. Weasley staring at him through anxious eyes. Everyone was waiting for his answer.

Harry glanced at Ginny to see her looking his way again. Her eyes were wide and, if he wasn't very wrong, they were sad, tears brimming in them. She looked away again and Harry turned his head away, too, confused and worried.

'Molly,' said Professor Dumbledore, identifying Harry's state, 'let him rest. He will tell us himself… when he is ready.'

Harry didn't look anywhere else but stared at his lap, not saying anything. Reluctantly, Mrs. Weasley stepped back, turning to go, her gaze on Harry and Ginny. Mr. Weasley stepped forward and put an arm on Harry's shoulder for a moment, not being able to bring himself to say anything, before leaving.

'Ron, Hermione…' said Dumbledore to Ron and Hermione, who were standing beside Harry's bedside, worried. Ron nodded, understanding and opened his mouth as if to say something to Harry but couldn't. Hermione took his arm and they left the room, glancing over their shoulders at Harry. Madam Pomfrey came into the room just then, glancing at Harry and Ginny with wide and surprised eyes.

'Here,' she said hurriedly, holding two cups of some purple potion. She sounded nervous and seemed to be extra gentle with Harry and Ginny as she handed them the potions and adjusted their blankets. Harry kept glancing at Ginny but she refused to meet his eyes and was staring into her cup of the steaming purple potion.

Professor Dumbledore turned to Harry and Ginny.

'You should take some rest. It is most important for the both of you… take that potion, please, it will help you. I will be back later,' he said, his voice low but still heavy with surprise. Harry nodded mutely and Professor Dumbledore left, closing the door slowly, behind them. Too tired to even think clearly, Harry stared into his cup. Something was wrong. It wasn't just his physical self that was tired… he felt like something close to terrible. Ginny was okay. He should have been rejoicing… when he had woken up and found her sobbing on his arm, his heart had swelled with joy. And when he had looked into her eyes, there had been nothing but joy in them. For that moment, he had forgotten all the pain his soul had suffered at Voldemort's hands. He didn't even wonder how he and Ginny, both, had returned to the World of Mortals… when both of them had almost died…

Harry chanced another glance at Ginny…  she had lifted the cup to her mouth and was drinking slowly. Harry's heart sank further. He felt so tired and seeing Ginny like this hurt him so much, he wanted to break down and cry. Tearing his gaze away from her, he lifted his cup to his lips and drank the potion quickly.

Almost immediately, he felt the potions effect and within moment, he had sunk into sleep.

There were no nightmares… no dreams in Harry's sleep. Yet, he still felt awake… as if something was stopping him from sleeping peacefully. He wasn't peaceful. Something was wrong… he could feel it. He felt as if some part of him hurt… some part of him was sad but he couldn't understand why. It made him restless and he felt more and more weary and tired with every passing second. Finally, the sadness in his soul connected with his body and his eyes opened. Something was wrong.

He stared up into darkness… it was night. Then, he heard someone sobbing and went tense. He did not have to think twice about it. He threw off his covers and got out of bed, his mind spinning slightly as an effect of the potion he had taken. He went to Ginny's side and saw her, in the moonlight, curled up in her bed, hugging herself, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Shocked, he noticed tears flowing down her face, even though her eyes were closed and she was, apparently, asleep.

It was as if he could feel her pain… but not know why it was there. It was as if he had found the source of the sadness he had been feeling, even in his sleep. It hurt him even more now to see Ginny in pain, too. Whatever the reason for her pain was, he didn't care.

Without another moment's thinking, he lifted her bedcovers and got in next to her, slightly uncomfortable in the little space. But he didn't care; he was too sad and too weary to think anymore. He loved Ginny and he was much more concerned about that. He put his arms around her, feeling her tense muscles slowly relax.

Harry leaned forward and kissed her cheek softly, feeling her tears against his cheek. Gently, he brushed them off her cheek, gazing at her troubled face, illuminated in the moonlight. Slowly, her breathing evened out and, as Harry closed his eyes, feeling content where he was, her sobs ceased and both of them were eventually totally oblivious to everything around them.  

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Must we always have a happy ending? But there's the explaining part left…sigh. And this isn't the end, yet. I think we've been having too many dreary, angsty chapters…two more chapters, I guess and then, the epilogue.

Next chapter up…hmm…I hope in two days. Btw, I've got my GCSE result on the 15th. Pray for "A" grades, please! :) If I get A's, I'll put up the next chapter the very same day in celebration!

Love,

Ameera a.k.a. Eimaan