Chapter 4: These Precious Illusions
They wasted no time in getting to the infirmary. A million thoughts were racing through Ginny's mind; why did Snape admit to it? Is Ron alright? Will he be angry at me? She stopped questioning herself as soon as they got to the infirmary door. Ginny took a deep breath, and swung it open, revealing rows of beds, two of which were occupied. They were on complete opposite sides of the room.
Ginny marched to the bed that Ron was laying in, sending death glares at Severus Snape. When he noticed her, Ron opened his mouth and said, "Are you OKAY?! WHY DIDN'T YOU BLOODY TELL ME?!" He was practically jumping out of the bed.
"Calm yourself, Ron," Ginny said firmly, staring him down. When Ron had stopped fuming, Ginny continued, "When you have fully calmed down, and are out of the infirmary, I shall tell you the whole story. Right now, I'm just checking to see if you're okay. But I must also speak with Madam Pomfrey and most likely Professor Dumbledore, so I'd appreciate it if you'd make it easier on me and NOT go COMPLETELY nutters."
At that exact moment Madam Pomfrey hurried over and swept Ginny into her office. It happened so fast that nobody in the room had any time to react.
"Now, deary," Poppy Pomfrey said softly, "tell me what happened."
***
After bearing all to Madam Pomfrey, Ginny was examined and sent back to the Girl's dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower.
'Son now everybody will know by morning. Hell, they probably already do," Ginny thought, lying in her bed and looking up at a dark ceiling. Her mind was buzing numbly, when a sudden knock on the door jolted her back to the state of reality.
"Yeah?" she asked tentatively, sitting up.
"It's me," she heard Harry's soft voice permeate through the door, and beckoned him inside with a wave of her hand as the door opened. Harry rushed in and went straight to her bed. He sat down and they hugged. Harry reached a gentle hand down to touch the buldge in Ginny's lower belly.
"How's the baby?" he asked and recieved an answer when the baby shifted in the womb. Ginny saw the look of utter amazement on his face and said quietly, "Who knew such love could come from such pain?" Harry's smile faded and Ginny continued.
"Harry, they'll all know by tommorrow. They'll know what he did, AND the result." Harry kissed her forhead and said, "And we won't care if they do. This is OUR problem, and NOT anybody elses. No one else matters." Silent tears slid down her cheeks and Harry noticed that the shine that had once been in her eyes was almost diminished. It wasn't right; wasn't fair what she'd been put through. Now, instead of the youthful joy that one should behold upon a child, there was the face of a little girl that had been forced to grow up too soon. Her soul was older than her features pronounced, and it made Harry sad.
"I'll protect you from everybody," he said, pulling her into a soft embrace.
"Oh, Harry," Ginny said, pulling back a little bit, "You won't be able to protect me from everyone and everything. I'm going to have to learn to survive. Okay?"
"I know," Harry said, his eyes filling with tears, "I just wish I could keep you safe." They embraced once again, and both smiled through blurry eyes.
----
"this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz I want to decide between survival and bliss
and though I know who I'm not I still don't know who I am
but I know I won't keep on playing the victim
these precious illusions in my head
Did not let me down when I was a kid
and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend"
--Alanis Morissette- "Precious Illusions"
They wasted no time in getting to the infirmary. A million thoughts were racing through Ginny's mind; why did Snape admit to it? Is Ron alright? Will he be angry at me? She stopped questioning herself as soon as they got to the infirmary door. Ginny took a deep breath, and swung it open, revealing rows of beds, two of which were occupied. They were on complete opposite sides of the room.
Ginny marched to the bed that Ron was laying in, sending death glares at Severus Snape. When he noticed her, Ron opened his mouth and said, "Are you OKAY?! WHY DIDN'T YOU BLOODY TELL ME?!" He was practically jumping out of the bed.
"Calm yourself, Ron," Ginny said firmly, staring him down. When Ron had stopped fuming, Ginny continued, "When you have fully calmed down, and are out of the infirmary, I shall tell you the whole story. Right now, I'm just checking to see if you're okay. But I must also speak with Madam Pomfrey and most likely Professor Dumbledore, so I'd appreciate it if you'd make it easier on me and NOT go COMPLETELY nutters."
At that exact moment Madam Pomfrey hurried over and swept Ginny into her office. It happened so fast that nobody in the room had any time to react.
"Now, deary," Poppy Pomfrey said softly, "tell me what happened."
***
After bearing all to Madam Pomfrey, Ginny was examined and sent back to the Girl's dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower.
'Son now everybody will know by morning. Hell, they probably already do," Ginny thought, lying in her bed and looking up at a dark ceiling. Her mind was buzing numbly, when a sudden knock on the door jolted her back to the state of reality.
"Yeah?" she asked tentatively, sitting up.
"It's me," she heard Harry's soft voice permeate through the door, and beckoned him inside with a wave of her hand as the door opened. Harry rushed in and went straight to her bed. He sat down and they hugged. Harry reached a gentle hand down to touch the buldge in Ginny's lower belly.
"How's the baby?" he asked and recieved an answer when the baby shifted in the womb. Ginny saw the look of utter amazement on his face and said quietly, "Who knew such love could come from such pain?" Harry's smile faded and Ginny continued.
"Harry, they'll all know by tommorrow. They'll know what he did, AND the result." Harry kissed her forhead and said, "And we won't care if they do. This is OUR problem, and NOT anybody elses. No one else matters." Silent tears slid down her cheeks and Harry noticed that the shine that had once been in her eyes was almost diminished. It wasn't right; wasn't fair what she'd been put through. Now, instead of the youthful joy that one should behold upon a child, there was the face of a little girl that had been forced to grow up too soon. Her soul was older than her features pronounced, and it made Harry sad.
"I'll protect you from everybody," he said, pulling her into a soft embrace.
"Oh, Harry," Ginny said, pulling back a little bit, "You won't be able to protect me from everyone and everything. I'm going to have to learn to survive. Okay?"
"I know," Harry said, his eyes filling with tears, "I just wish I could keep you safe." They embraced once again, and both smiled through blurry eyes.
----
"this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz I want to decide between survival and bliss
and though I know who I'm not I still don't know who I am
but I know I won't keep on playing the victim
these precious illusions in my head
Did not let me down when I was a kid
and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend"
--Alanis Morissette- "Precious Illusions"