CHAPTER 19
Hope Remains
A cold wind was whipping across Harry's face and he slowly opened his eyes. He was up high in the sky, amoung the clouds, but Harry couldn't see where he was on on what he was, as there was a new moon in the sky. He was rocking forward and whan he felt around, he realised that he was sitting on feathers. In the dark night, Harry could make out a figure sitting in front of him, with their hair fluttering in the wind.
"Who are you and where am I?", Harry asked confused.
"Don't you recognise your own godfather?", the person said, "Lumos", the man shouted and the faint glow of his wand illuminated his face.
"Sirius!", Harry said smiling, for the first time in hours. "But where's Ellis and Cho?"
"Beside you", Sirius said pointing his wand at two figures lying on the bird's back.
"Is this Buckbeak?", Harry asked.
"Yeah it is", Sirius replied.
"What about Ginny?", Harry asked slowly.
"She's lying on my lap. Harry could you steer Buckbeak? I think we're almost at Hogwarts", Sirius said handing Harry the reins. A couple of seconds later Harry shadow of the castle appear and the tall daunting trees of the Forbidden Forest, closing in on them. Harry pulled the reins and Buckbeak flew down towards the trees and landed on the floor.
Sirius jumped off, pointed his wand at Ellis and Cho and said, "Enervate". Cho and Ellis opened their eyes slowly and looked at Sirius.
The fear rose in Cho's eyes and she stammered, "Harry its Sirius Black!"
"Its ok Cho, he's my godfather and he's not a murderer", Harry replied and helped her off Buckbeak, catching her as she jumped off. "Can you walk Cho?", Harry asked and when she nodded. Ellis staggered off Buckbeak and Sirius caught her.
"Sirius are you sure you want to go up to the castle. They might arrest you", Harry said warily.
Don't worry Dumbledore won't let that happen", Sirius said smiling and wrapped an arm around Ellis' waist, helping her walk. Harry went to Buckbeak and carefully picked up Ginny in his arms and followed Sirius out of the forest, with Cho at his side.
"Are you ok?", Harry asked nervously.
"A bit shaken up and sad but I'll be fine", Cho replied. Soon they reached the edge of the forest. It was still dark and in the distance he could see people running towards them. As they drew nearer Harry recognised Professor Mc Gonagall and Snape.
"Oh my Harry, Sirius Black, what happened. Oh dear god, is that Ginny Weasley?", Professor Mc Gonagall said shocked. "Here Harry, give her to me", Professor Mc Gonagall said soothingly.
"No!", Harry replied angrily, "I will take her up to the hospital wing", and with that Harry continued walking with Cho walking at his side, and Sirius helping Ellis walk. Harry walked through the classes, and the students came out of their common rooms to watch Harry carry the dead body of Ginny up to the hospital wing. When he reached the hospital wing, he carefully laid her down on the bed. Ron and Hermione came running into the hospital wing and Ron stopped abruptly when he saw Ginny lying on the bed.
"Is she ok?", Ron asked, as his face had gone pure white and his voice was shaking.
Harry turned around to face his friend, but seeing the fear and confusion in Ron's eyes he couldn't bring himself to tell him. Hermione gasped and broke into tears, while clutching Ron tightly. Ron unwrapped Hermione's arms and started walking towards the bed, hardly daring to breath. Ginny still had her mouth open and the fear could still be seen in her eyes. Ron kneeled down beside her bed and stared into the cold and lifeless eyes. He layed his head on the edge of the bed and Harry could heard sniffing. Fred and George came running into the hospital wing and stopped when they saw Ron beside Ginny's bed.
"No it can't be!", Fred said shocked and ran up to his sister's bed.
"But how, why?", George asked walking up to Ginny's bed. Harry turned around and started walking out of the hospital wing. When he reached the corridor, he turned and ran. He didn't know where he was going but that didn't matter. All he knew was that he had to run and run away from the mess. He had to get away from Ron, Fred or George. He couldn't face them and tell them that he couldn't save their sister. He reached the grounds and stopped. The night was cool and Harry started shivering as he started walking towards the lake.
"Harry wait up!", a voice behind him called. Harry turned around and saw Cho running up to him.
"Could you leave me alone Cho, I need to be on my own for a while", Harry said walking towards the lake.
"No I can't", Cho said stepping in front of him. Harry stared at her, totally surprised. "Now listen up Harry, you can't feel guilty for Ginny's death. It wasn't your fault".
"I could have saved her, or at least stalled him", Harry replied.
"You did try and you saved my life", Cho said kindly.
"No I didn't try hard enough, I should have saved her", Harry replied.
"You can't save everyone", Cho said.
"No you don't understand. I could have and should have. It was all in the legend", Harry replied angrily.
"What do you mean?", Cho asked confused.
"What I mean is, that this night was propheciesed many years ago and it said that I would betray a precious weapon to the enemy and fail to rescue a girl", Hary replied.
"What?", Cho asked even more confused, "But how do you know that this legend is about you?"
"Have you ever heard of Ishmir and the Order of the Phoenix", Harry asked.
"No!"
"Well it stated; The Order of the Phoenix, With the Order of the Phoenix lies, A dark and dreary future will rise. All will be cast into certain doom, All of the free and of whom, The lives of many on one boy will rest With the lightning bolt and the miracle past. Heavy burdened with treachery and betrayel To rescue a girl the boy will fail.
Out of the ashes a phoenix will rise, To bring chaos destruction and blackenbed skies. Those of the free will soon fall, Those left would come under the Dark Lord's thrall. When the time will come the boy will betray, A precious weapon to the enemy. With this power destruction will rule, Those who don't believe will be the fool. But hark the power of the Phoenix Light, Will drive the enemy beyond its might.
Oh hark the arrival of a new age, And with it will come a new stage. Life as we know it will cease to exsist, Everyone will know but who will resist? But hope is left in this darkest time, As those of the few will truly shine. The Order of the Phoenix with eyes so bright, Will be fulfilled on the darkest night. ", Harry said. "Cho do you realise that its a new moon tonight", Harry said pointing to the sky.
Cho looked up and gaped, "So this legend is really about you?"
"Yes", Harry replied sadly and hung his head.
"Oh I'm sorry!", Cho said and hugged Harry tightly. "Come on Harry, you had better go and tell Dumbledore what happened.
Harry and Cho wearily trudged back up to the castle and walked over to the stone gargoyle, guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Not again!", Harry said annoyed as he stood before the frozen gargoyle, "I don't know the password again".
"Its Chocolate Eclairs", Cho said grinning and when Harry looked at her confused, she added, "I had to visit his office last week". The gargoyle sprang apart to reveal the staircase and Harry and Cho climbed it wearily, finally reaching the landing and knocking on the door.
"Come in", the familiar voice of Dumbledore said from behind the door and Cho opened the door for Harry. "Ah Harry there you, thank you Cho for finding him. Please sit down you two", Dumbledore said pointing to some chairs.
"I know this may be hard for you two, but I need you to recount exactly what happened ever since you and Ginny Weasley were kidnapped", Dumbleodre said sitting down and peering at Harry and Cho through his halfmoon spectacles.
"Well Professor that night that me and Ginny were...", Cho said gulping hard and fighting back tears in her eyes, "When we were kidnapped. I was out for a walk and I saw Ginny sitting beside the lake so I went over to make sure she was alright. Well we were talking and suddenly out of no- where these two people in black cloaks came out from behind us and grabbed us. I screamed and we struggled to get out of their grip, when Harry came from the castle, flying on his broom. He wrestled the Death Eaters, shot curses at them but they grabbed me and Ginny and dragged us towards the forest. I could see Harry chasing us and then they must have taken some portkey in the forest, because the next thing I realised is that we had left Hogwarts and we were at some crumbling, dusty old mansion. There were a lot of Death Eaters there and a man with red eyes and a snake-like skin", Cho said slowly and gulped as she spoke the last few words. "I think it was You Know Who".
"Cho never be afraid to call Voldemort by his real name. Yes I believe that was Voldemort and it sounds like he was at the Riddle mansion. Very well you may continue", Dumbleodre said getting up and pacing the office.
"They kept us there for what seemed like weeks, in a spare room. They gave us food every day and some of the Death Eaters wanted to kill us, but You Know...Voldemort", Cho shuddered, "Need us for some reason. He was constantly talking about a Sithra and needing us so he could become immortal. Then one day two Death Eaters dragged us out of the room and brought us by Floo Powder to an old crumbling house. Ginny and I put up a big fight and Ginny tried to escape but some Death Eaters caught her and decided we were too much trouble, so I think they stunned us. I woke up again with You Know... no Voldemort, standing over us pointing his finger at us. Harry sprang in front of us and shouted that he shouldn't lay a finger on us. Voldemort clicked his fingers and Harry was thrown against a tree with great force. He wasn't even holding a wand. It was like Voldemort was a Sithra, but I don't know how? The next thing I realised, was that a green light was shooting straight at us and I thgought I was going to die, so I closed my eyes and I heard something hit the floor. When I opened my eyes Ginny...", Cho said sniffing and struggling to bring the words out, as her throat was in a knot. "Ginny was lying on the ground dead. She was dead!", Cho said feeling the tears welling up in her eyes and she saw Dumbledore no more, under all the tears. She quickly brushed the tears away and took a deep breath. That's all I really know", Cho said with her voice shaking. Her body was trembling and he she was still sniffing and fighting back the tears.
"Thank you Cho, if you want to you can go now", Dumbledore said kindly handing her a tissue.
"No thank you, if its ok I would like to know exactly what happened", Cho replied wiping her tears away with the tissue.
"Very well, Harry could you please tell me the whole story from when you walked into Professor Ellis' office", Dumbledore said.
"Well Professor, Professor Ellis told me to go to her office, at eight o clock as she wanted to talk to me about my exam. When I arrived at her office she closed the door behind me and told me she was sorry. She bound me and I asked her why but she wouldn't tell me. She gagged me and dragged me over to the fireplace, threw some Floo Powder into the fire and dragged me into the fire. Well we landed in an old dusty house and Voldemort was there. He told me he had a surprise for me and dragged me over to a portkey, which transported us to an old house. He told me it was Godric's Hollow Sir, where my parents used to live", Harry said slowly.
"So he went back to where he was first defeated. I see he wants to regain his old power. Very well continue Harry", Dumbledore said musing.
"Well he told me he wanted to regain his immortality and then he walked over to Professor Ellis, who was hugging her parents, Sir are her parents Death Eaters?", Harry asked.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that Harry. That is something for Professor Ellis to tell you, if she feels you need to know", Dumbledore replied.
"She was hugging her parents and Voldmeort just put the Crucatius Curse on her and her parents wouldn't help her", Harry said as the memory of Professor Ellis crying in agony on the ground, flashed across his mind. "I couldn't stand there and see her die. I felt so sorry for her and I didn't care if she did bring me to Voldemort. I couldn't just let her die, so I stepped in front of her and protected her from Voldemort. He got very angry and threw me away. He then tore a piece of material away from her shoulder and exposed her tattoo. He then pressed his wand against it and spoke some incantation in latin and there was a blinding white light. When I opened my eyes, Professor Ellis was lying on the ground and her tattoo had disappeared. Voldemort pulled up his right sleeve and showed me the new tattoo on his right shoulder blade. He told me he was a Sithra and that Professor Ellis had this power without realising it. He gave his wand to Death Eater, before he revived Ginny and Cho by only pointing a finger at them and saying Enervate. He walked over to Ginny and Cho and said he wanted to teach me a lesson, by killing Ginny or Cho. I ran over towards them and protected them but he clicked his finger and I got flung acroos and hit a tree. I tried running up to Ginny and Cho to protect them but I was too late!", Harry said struggling to talk but his throat had gone dry and he found he couldn't talk anymore. The image of the Avada Kedarva curse hitting Ginny and seeing her fall to the ground, flashed by in his mind and Harry shut his eyes tightly. He had been too late, and Ginny was dead. A great weariness weighed down in his heart as he thought of Ginny lying on the hospital bed, stone cold and her eyes so lifeless and grey. He had failed Ron and he failed to bring her back. This was indeed Harry's darkest monent. Everything seemed so bleak and lifeless and Harry felt completely helpless.
Harry was caught up in his thoughts for about a minute, before he heard rather faintly the voice of Dumbledore calling him, "Harry, Harry you cannot blame yourself for what happened".
Harry snapped out of it and said rather bitterly, "But what about the Order of the Phoenix Sir?"
"Ah so you know about that", Dumbledore said musing, with his eyes twinkling, but then they deseased and he looked tired and weary again. "I was hoping you wouldn't find out about it, the prophecy was meant to be fulfilled, without you knowing about it. Yes I can see why you blame yourself and anyone would have tried and stopped it, but it was meant to happen and you have to remember Ginny. Don't forget her now and don't forget her family, as they need your support now. It may seem hard, but Ginny died nobly and you should remember her for that. The prophecy being fulfilled was very tragic and even I was trying to stop it, but in a way you stopped the prophecy from being completely fulfilled. You managed to save Cho and Professor Ellis, from being killed too and because of you, Voldemort did not manage to become immortal again. You gave us a bit of time and this time may become very useful in the future". Harry listened quietly and only lookd up when Dumbledore had finished. Harry had nothing to say, as he stared into Dumbledore's electric blue eyes. They reminded him of a great wisdom of a faraway age of peace and hapiness. As long as those blue eyes, were still filled with life and hope Harry would feel safe.
"I think it would be best if you two visit the hospital wing and have yourselves checked over by Madame Pomfrey, or she will be very angry at me", Dumbledore said smiling and Harry and Cho got up quietly and walked out of Dumbledore's office. Harry and Cho walked back up to the hospital wing in complete silence. Harry was dreading seeing Ron and having to tell him that he couldn't save his baby sister. When they finally reached the hospital wing, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George were still crowding around Ginny's bed, talking quietly. Hermione was sniffing silently and Ron was holding her tightly, to make sure her legs wouldn't collapse. When Harry and Cho entered the hospital wing, Hermione ran up to Harry and hugged him tightly.
"Oh Harry I'm so sorry. Are you ok?", Hermione asked worried, and Harry saw her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"I'm fine", Harry said quietly, "How is Ron taking it?", Harry asked worried looking over at Ron, who was crouching at Ginny's bed and looking into her lifeless eyes.
"He's not taking it too well. He hasn't spoken a word in what seems like hours and he won't take his eyes of her. I'm really worried about him Harry", Hermione said and let go of him.
"I'll go over and talk to him, could you keep an eye on Cho, she's a bit shaken up", Harry said. Harry turned around to look at Cho and asked quietly, "Are you ok Cho?"
"I'll be fine Harry, go over and talk to Ron, I'll be fine here", she said as she walked up to check on Professor Ellis, who was lying unconscious on her bed. Harry walked up to Ron and crouched down beside him, "How are you Ron?", he asked cautiously.
Ron continued looking at his sister and just grunted in reply.
"I really am sorry and I wish I could have saved her in time, but I was too late and I want to say sorry for that", Harry said sadly.
He slowly got up, but Ron tugged at his robes and pulled Harry back down again. He looked at Harry and Harry could see the pain and weariness in his eyes, like he had never before seen in Ron. Ron was growing up and he could no-longer be the carefree boy he was, when he first met Harry. Ron seemed much older and wiser, like an old man caught in the body of a young man.
"I know you tried to save her and I am glad you brought her body back, I will always be glad Harry as I know you did try your hardest. If it hadn't been for you Ginny would have died in the Chamber of Secrets three years ago and for that I am thankful. I know Ginny would want me to be glad you brought her body back and I know she would be smiling at us, were she here", Ron said wearily. "I just need some time on my own", Ron said and slwoly got up. He looked at Ginny one more time, lent down and kissed her on her cold forehead, before walking out of the hospital wing.
Hermione came walking up to Harry and asked worriedly, "Is Ron going to do something stupid?"
"No I don't think so, but he needs some time to himself", Harry said and smiled at Hermione. "Just give him some time Hermione", Harry said and walked over to Cho. Just in that instant, the doors were flung open, and Mr and Mrs Weasley, followed by Ron and Dumbledore, came into the hospital wing. Mrs Weasley restrained a cry and walked over to Ginny's bed.
"Oh my dear Ginny", she said as Mrs Weasley held Ginny's cold hand. "My darling daughter, oh my dear", she cried, unable to restrain the tears. Mr Weasley walked over to Ginny's bed and crouched down beside her bed. Harry could see the pain in his eyes and it broke Harry's heart as he saw Mr and Mrs Weasley suffer because of Voldemort. It seemed so unfair, that they, who Harry cared very much about, should suffer all because Harry couldn't save Ginny in time, or that Voldmeort decided he wanted to kill her. Harry supressed the rage inside him, and started heading for the door.
"Harry wait", Mr Weasley said, as he came up to Harry. Harry turned around to face him, and looked up at Mr Weasley. "Dumbledore told us what you did, and Molly and I want to thank you for all you done for us. We are glad that you brought her body back and even though our precious daughter is dead, we are glad that Cho survived. At least our hearts are the only ones to suffer tonight", Mr Weasley said. Harry tried to speak, but foundthat his throat was tied in a knot and Harry couldn't speak.
He looked up at Mr Weasley and managed to say, "I'm sorry I couldn't save her".
"You tried your hardest and no-one can ever tell you otherwise. You tried your hardest and we will never hold it against you. You will always be welcome in our home Harry", Mr Weasley replied, before he turned around and walked back up to Ginny's bed.
Harry sighed and was about to leave, when Madame Pomfrey came up to him and said, "Oh no you don't Harry, you're going to bed with a big bar of chocolate, like Miss Chang here. You are not to leave this bed for the next two days, now get into bed", she said ushering him to a bed, handing him a pair of pyjamas and drawing the curtain behind him. He wearily got changed and got into bed. Madame Pomfrey came from behind the curtain and handed him a large bar of chocolate, before pulling away the curtain. Cho was lying beside him eating her share of chocolate and when she saw him looking over at her, she smiled a weak smile that lifted Harry's heart only a little, but enough to lessen the pain. On his right side, Professor Ellis was lying unconscious, barely breathing and looking quite pale.
When Madame Pomfrey came over again to check on him, he asked, "How is Professor Ellis?"
"She is unconscious from the pain and life that was sucked out of her, whatever kind of spell You Know Who put on her, it drained her almost completely of her life energy. That and the Crucatius Curse weakened her even more. Its a wonder she lasted long enough until she was brought up to the hospital wing. The best thing for her is to sleep it off, if we wake her it will only cause her grief", Madame Pomfrey said. She walked up to Ginny's bed and drew the curtain, giving Mr and Mrs Weasley some peace. Harry started eating his chocolate and when he finished, he fell into a troubling sleep filled with old memories of his parents and flashing green lights, piercing the night.
A cold wind was whipping across Harry's face and he slowly opened his eyes. He was up high in the sky, amoung the clouds, but Harry couldn't see where he was on on what he was, as there was a new moon in the sky. He was rocking forward and whan he felt around, he realised that he was sitting on feathers. In the dark night, Harry could make out a figure sitting in front of him, with their hair fluttering in the wind.
"Who are you and where am I?", Harry asked confused.
"Don't you recognise your own godfather?", the person said, "Lumos", the man shouted and the faint glow of his wand illuminated his face.
"Sirius!", Harry said smiling, for the first time in hours. "But where's Ellis and Cho?"
"Beside you", Sirius said pointing his wand at two figures lying on the bird's back.
"Is this Buckbeak?", Harry asked.
"Yeah it is", Sirius replied.
"What about Ginny?", Harry asked slowly.
"She's lying on my lap. Harry could you steer Buckbeak? I think we're almost at Hogwarts", Sirius said handing Harry the reins. A couple of seconds later Harry shadow of the castle appear and the tall daunting trees of the Forbidden Forest, closing in on them. Harry pulled the reins and Buckbeak flew down towards the trees and landed on the floor.
Sirius jumped off, pointed his wand at Ellis and Cho and said, "Enervate". Cho and Ellis opened their eyes slowly and looked at Sirius.
The fear rose in Cho's eyes and she stammered, "Harry its Sirius Black!"
"Its ok Cho, he's my godfather and he's not a murderer", Harry replied and helped her off Buckbeak, catching her as she jumped off. "Can you walk Cho?", Harry asked and when she nodded. Ellis staggered off Buckbeak and Sirius caught her.
"Sirius are you sure you want to go up to the castle. They might arrest you", Harry said warily.
Don't worry Dumbledore won't let that happen", Sirius said smiling and wrapped an arm around Ellis' waist, helping her walk. Harry went to Buckbeak and carefully picked up Ginny in his arms and followed Sirius out of the forest, with Cho at his side.
"Are you ok?", Harry asked nervously.
"A bit shaken up and sad but I'll be fine", Cho replied. Soon they reached the edge of the forest. It was still dark and in the distance he could see people running towards them. As they drew nearer Harry recognised Professor Mc Gonagall and Snape.
"Oh my Harry, Sirius Black, what happened. Oh dear god, is that Ginny Weasley?", Professor Mc Gonagall said shocked. "Here Harry, give her to me", Professor Mc Gonagall said soothingly.
"No!", Harry replied angrily, "I will take her up to the hospital wing", and with that Harry continued walking with Cho walking at his side, and Sirius helping Ellis walk. Harry walked through the classes, and the students came out of their common rooms to watch Harry carry the dead body of Ginny up to the hospital wing. When he reached the hospital wing, he carefully laid her down on the bed. Ron and Hermione came running into the hospital wing and Ron stopped abruptly when he saw Ginny lying on the bed.
"Is she ok?", Ron asked, as his face had gone pure white and his voice was shaking.
Harry turned around to face his friend, but seeing the fear and confusion in Ron's eyes he couldn't bring himself to tell him. Hermione gasped and broke into tears, while clutching Ron tightly. Ron unwrapped Hermione's arms and started walking towards the bed, hardly daring to breath. Ginny still had her mouth open and the fear could still be seen in her eyes. Ron kneeled down beside her bed and stared into the cold and lifeless eyes. He layed his head on the edge of the bed and Harry could heard sniffing. Fred and George came running into the hospital wing and stopped when they saw Ron beside Ginny's bed.
"No it can't be!", Fred said shocked and ran up to his sister's bed.
"But how, why?", George asked walking up to Ginny's bed. Harry turned around and started walking out of the hospital wing. When he reached the corridor, he turned and ran. He didn't know where he was going but that didn't matter. All he knew was that he had to run and run away from the mess. He had to get away from Ron, Fred or George. He couldn't face them and tell them that he couldn't save their sister. He reached the grounds and stopped. The night was cool and Harry started shivering as he started walking towards the lake.
"Harry wait up!", a voice behind him called. Harry turned around and saw Cho running up to him.
"Could you leave me alone Cho, I need to be on my own for a while", Harry said walking towards the lake.
"No I can't", Cho said stepping in front of him. Harry stared at her, totally surprised. "Now listen up Harry, you can't feel guilty for Ginny's death. It wasn't your fault".
"I could have saved her, or at least stalled him", Harry replied.
"You did try and you saved my life", Cho said kindly.
"No I didn't try hard enough, I should have saved her", Harry replied.
"You can't save everyone", Cho said.
"No you don't understand. I could have and should have. It was all in the legend", Harry replied angrily.
"What do you mean?", Cho asked confused.
"What I mean is, that this night was propheciesed many years ago and it said that I would betray a precious weapon to the enemy and fail to rescue a girl", Hary replied.
"What?", Cho asked even more confused, "But how do you know that this legend is about you?"
"Have you ever heard of Ishmir and the Order of the Phoenix", Harry asked.
"No!"
"Well it stated; The Order of the Phoenix, With the Order of the Phoenix lies, A dark and dreary future will rise. All will be cast into certain doom, All of the free and of whom, The lives of many on one boy will rest With the lightning bolt and the miracle past. Heavy burdened with treachery and betrayel To rescue a girl the boy will fail.
Out of the ashes a phoenix will rise, To bring chaos destruction and blackenbed skies. Those of the free will soon fall, Those left would come under the Dark Lord's thrall. When the time will come the boy will betray, A precious weapon to the enemy. With this power destruction will rule, Those who don't believe will be the fool. But hark the power of the Phoenix Light, Will drive the enemy beyond its might.
Oh hark the arrival of a new age, And with it will come a new stage. Life as we know it will cease to exsist, Everyone will know but who will resist? But hope is left in this darkest time, As those of the few will truly shine. The Order of the Phoenix with eyes so bright, Will be fulfilled on the darkest night. ", Harry said. "Cho do you realise that its a new moon tonight", Harry said pointing to the sky.
Cho looked up and gaped, "So this legend is really about you?"
"Yes", Harry replied sadly and hung his head.
"Oh I'm sorry!", Cho said and hugged Harry tightly. "Come on Harry, you had better go and tell Dumbledore what happened.
Harry and Cho wearily trudged back up to the castle and walked over to the stone gargoyle, guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Not again!", Harry said annoyed as he stood before the frozen gargoyle, "I don't know the password again".
"Its Chocolate Eclairs", Cho said grinning and when Harry looked at her confused, she added, "I had to visit his office last week". The gargoyle sprang apart to reveal the staircase and Harry and Cho climbed it wearily, finally reaching the landing and knocking on the door.
"Come in", the familiar voice of Dumbledore said from behind the door and Cho opened the door for Harry. "Ah Harry there you, thank you Cho for finding him. Please sit down you two", Dumbledore said pointing to some chairs.
"I know this may be hard for you two, but I need you to recount exactly what happened ever since you and Ginny Weasley were kidnapped", Dumbleodre said sitting down and peering at Harry and Cho through his halfmoon spectacles.
"Well Professor that night that me and Ginny were...", Cho said gulping hard and fighting back tears in her eyes, "When we were kidnapped. I was out for a walk and I saw Ginny sitting beside the lake so I went over to make sure she was alright. Well we were talking and suddenly out of no- where these two people in black cloaks came out from behind us and grabbed us. I screamed and we struggled to get out of their grip, when Harry came from the castle, flying on his broom. He wrestled the Death Eaters, shot curses at them but they grabbed me and Ginny and dragged us towards the forest. I could see Harry chasing us and then they must have taken some portkey in the forest, because the next thing I realised is that we had left Hogwarts and we were at some crumbling, dusty old mansion. There were a lot of Death Eaters there and a man with red eyes and a snake-like skin", Cho said slowly and gulped as she spoke the last few words. "I think it was You Know Who".
"Cho never be afraid to call Voldemort by his real name. Yes I believe that was Voldemort and it sounds like he was at the Riddle mansion. Very well you may continue", Dumbleodre said getting up and pacing the office.
"They kept us there for what seemed like weeks, in a spare room. They gave us food every day and some of the Death Eaters wanted to kill us, but You Know...Voldemort", Cho shuddered, "Need us for some reason. He was constantly talking about a Sithra and needing us so he could become immortal. Then one day two Death Eaters dragged us out of the room and brought us by Floo Powder to an old crumbling house. Ginny and I put up a big fight and Ginny tried to escape but some Death Eaters caught her and decided we were too much trouble, so I think they stunned us. I woke up again with You Know... no Voldemort, standing over us pointing his finger at us. Harry sprang in front of us and shouted that he shouldn't lay a finger on us. Voldemort clicked his fingers and Harry was thrown against a tree with great force. He wasn't even holding a wand. It was like Voldemort was a Sithra, but I don't know how? The next thing I realised, was that a green light was shooting straight at us and I thgought I was going to die, so I closed my eyes and I heard something hit the floor. When I opened my eyes Ginny...", Cho said sniffing and struggling to bring the words out, as her throat was in a knot. "Ginny was lying on the ground dead. She was dead!", Cho said feeling the tears welling up in her eyes and she saw Dumbledore no more, under all the tears. She quickly brushed the tears away and took a deep breath. That's all I really know", Cho said with her voice shaking. Her body was trembling and he she was still sniffing and fighting back the tears.
"Thank you Cho, if you want to you can go now", Dumbledore said kindly handing her a tissue.
"No thank you, if its ok I would like to know exactly what happened", Cho replied wiping her tears away with the tissue.
"Very well, Harry could you please tell me the whole story from when you walked into Professor Ellis' office", Dumbledore said.
"Well Professor, Professor Ellis told me to go to her office, at eight o clock as she wanted to talk to me about my exam. When I arrived at her office she closed the door behind me and told me she was sorry. She bound me and I asked her why but she wouldn't tell me. She gagged me and dragged me over to the fireplace, threw some Floo Powder into the fire and dragged me into the fire. Well we landed in an old dusty house and Voldemort was there. He told me he had a surprise for me and dragged me over to a portkey, which transported us to an old house. He told me it was Godric's Hollow Sir, where my parents used to live", Harry said slowly.
"So he went back to where he was first defeated. I see he wants to regain his old power. Very well continue Harry", Dumbledore said musing.
"Well he told me he wanted to regain his immortality and then he walked over to Professor Ellis, who was hugging her parents, Sir are her parents Death Eaters?", Harry asked.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that Harry. That is something for Professor Ellis to tell you, if she feels you need to know", Dumbledore replied.
"She was hugging her parents and Voldmeort just put the Crucatius Curse on her and her parents wouldn't help her", Harry said as the memory of Professor Ellis crying in agony on the ground, flashed across his mind. "I couldn't stand there and see her die. I felt so sorry for her and I didn't care if she did bring me to Voldemort. I couldn't just let her die, so I stepped in front of her and protected her from Voldemort. He got very angry and threw me away. He then tore a piece of material away from her shoulder and exposed her tattoo. He then pressed his wand against it and spoke some incantation in latin and there was a blinding white light. When I opened my eyes, Professor Ellis was lying on the ground and her tattoo had disappeared. Voldemort pulled up his right sleeve and showed me the new tattoo on his right shoulder blade. He told me he was a Sithra and that Professor Ellis had this power without realising it. He gave his wand to Death Eater, before he revived Ginny and Cho by only pointing a finger at them and saying Enervate. He walked over to Ginny and Cho and said he wanted to teach me a lesson, by killing Ginny or Cho. I ran over towards them and protected them but he clicked his finger and I got flung acroos and hit a tree. I tried running up to Ginny and Cho to protect them but I was too late!", Harry said struggling to talk but his throat had gone dry and he found he couldn't talk anymore. The image of the Avada Kedarva curse hitting Ginny and seeing her fall to the ground, flashed by in his mind and Harry shut his eyes tightly. He had been too late, and Ginny was dead. A great weariness weighed down in his heart as he thought of Ginny lying on the hospital bed, stone cold and her eyes so lifeless and grey. He had failed Ron and he failed to bring her back. This was indeed Harry's darkest monent. Everything seemed so bleak and lifeless and Harry felt completely helpless.
Harry was caught up in his thoughts for about a minute, before he heard rather faintly the voice of Dumbledore calling him, "Harry, Harry you cannot blame yourself for what happened".
Harry snapped out of it and said rather bitterly, "But what about the Order of the Phoenix Sir?"
"Ah so you know about that", Dumbledore said musing, with his eyes twinkling, but then they deseased and he looked tired and weary again. "I was hoping you wouldn't find out about it, the prophecy was meant to be fulfilled, without you knowing about it. Yes I can see why you blame yourself and anyone would have tried and stopped it, but it was meant to happen and you have to remember Ginny. Don't forget her now and don't forget her family, as they need your support now. It may seem hard, but Ginny died nobly and you should remember her for that. The prophecy being fulfilled was very tragic and even I was trying to stop it, but in a way you stopped the prophecy from being completely fulfilled. You managed to save Cho and Professor Ellis, from being killed too and because of you, Voldemort did not manage to become immortal again. You gave us a bit of time and this time may become very useful in the future". Harry listened quietly and only lookd up when Dumbledore had finished. Harry had nothing to say, as he stared into Dumbledore's electric blue eyes. They reminded him of a great wisdom of a faraway age of peace and hapiness. As long as those blue eyes, were still filled with life and hope Harry would feel safe.
"I think it would be best if you two visit the hospital wing and have yourselves checked over by Madame Pomfrey, or she will be very angry at me", Dumbledore said smiling and Harry and Cho got up quietly and walked out of Dumbledore's office. Harry and Cho walked back up to the hospital wing in complete silence. Harry was dreading seeing Ron and having to tell him that he couldn't save his baby sister. When they finally reached the hospital wing, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George were still crowding around Ginny's bed, talking quietly. Hermione was sniffing silently and Ron was holding her tightly, to make sure her legs wouldn't collapse. When Harry and Cho entered the hospital wing, Hermione ran up to Harry and hugged him tightly.
"Oh Harry I'm so sorry. Are you ok?", Hermione asked worried, and Harry saw her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"I'm fine", Harry said quietly, "How is Ron taking it?", Harry asked worried looking over at Ron, who was crouching at Ginny's bed and looking into her lifeless eyes.
"He's not taking it too well. He hasn't spoken a word in what seems like hours and he won't take his eyes of her. I'm really worried about him Harry", Hermione said and let go of him.
"I'll go over and talk to him, could you keep an eye on Cho, she's a bit shaken up", Harry said. Harry turned around to look at Cho and asked quietly, "Are you ok Cho?"
"I'll be fine Harry, go over and talk to Ron, I'll be fine here", she said as she walked up to check on Professor Ellis, who was lying unconscious on her bed. Harry walked up to Ron and crouched down beside him, "How are you Ron?", he asked cautiously.
Ron continued looking at his sister and just grunted in reply.
"I really am sorry and I wish I could have saved her in time, but I was too late and I want to say sorry for that", Harry said sadly.
He slowly got up, but Ron tugged at his robes and pulled Harry back down again. He looked at Harry and Harry could see the pain and weariness in his eyes, like he had never before seen in Ron. Ron was growing up and he could no-longer be the carefree boy he was, when he first met Harry. Ron seemed much older and wiser, like an old man caught in the body of a young man.
"I know you tried to save her and I am glad you brought her body back, I will always be glad Harry as I know you did try your hardest. If it hadn't been for you Ginny would have died in the Chamber of Secrets three years ago and for that I am thankful. I know Ginny would want me to be glad you brought her body back and I know she would be smiling at us, were she here", Ron said wearily. "I just need some time on my own", Ron said and slwoly got up. He looked at Ginny one more time, lent down and kissed her on her cold forehead, before walking out of the hospital wing.
Hermione came walking up to Harry and asked worriedly, "Is Ron going to do something stupid?"
"No I don't think so, but he needs some time to himself", Harry said and smiled at Hermione. "Just give him some time Hermione", Harry said and walked over to Cho. Just in that instant, the doors were flung open, and Mr and Mrs Weasley, followed by Ron and Dumbledore, came into the hospital wing. Mrs Weasley restrained a cry and walked over to Ginny's bed.
"Oh my dear Ginny", she said as Mrs Weasley held Ginny's cold hand. "My darling daughter, oh my dear", she cried, unable to restrain the tears. Mr Weasley walked over to Ginny's bed and crouched down beside her bed. Harry could see the pain in his eyes and it broke Harry's heart as he saw Mr and Mrs Weasley suffer because of Voldemort. It seemed so unfair, that they, who Harry cared very much about, should suffer all because Harry couldn't save Ginny in time, or that Voldmeort decided he wanted to kill her. Harry supressed the rage inside him, and started heading for the door.
"Harry wait", Mr Weasley said, as he came up to Harry. Harry turned around to face him, and looked up at Mr Weasley. "Dumbledore told us what you did, and Molly and I want to thank you for all you done for us. We are glad that you brought her body back and even though our precious daughter is dead, we are glad that Cho survived. At least our hearts are the only ones to suffer tonight", Mr Weasley said. Harry tried to speak, but foundthat his throat was tied in a knot and Harry couldn't speak.
He looked up at Mr Weasley and managed to say, "I'm sorry I couldn't save her".
"You tried your hardest and no-one can ever tell you otherwise. You tried your hardest and we will never hold it against you. You will always be welcome in our home Harry", Mr Weasley replied, before he turned around and walked back up to Ginny's bed.
Harry sighed and was about to leave, when Madame Pomfrey came up to him and said, "Oh no you don't Harry, you're going to bed with a big bar of chocolate, like Miss Chang here. You are not to leave this bed for the next two days, now get into bed", she said ushering him to a bed, handing him a pair of pyjamas and drawing the curtain behind him. He wearily got changed and got into bed. Madame Pomfrey came from behind the curtain and handed him a large bar of chocolate, before pulling away the curtain. Cho was lying beside him eating her share of chocolate and when she saw him looking over at her, she smiled a weak smile that lifted Harry's heart only a little, but enough to lessen the pain. On his right side, Professor Ellis was lying unconscious, barely breathing and looking quite pale.
When Madame Pomfrey came over again to check on him, he asked, "How is Professor Ellis?"
"She is unconscious from the pain and life that was sucked out of her, whatever kind of spell You Know Who put on her, it drained her almost completely of her life energy. That and the Crucatius Curse weakened her even more. Its a wonder she lasted long enough until she was brought up to the hospital wing. The best thing for her is to sleep it off, if we wake her it will only cause her grief", Madame Pomfrey said. She walked up to Ginny's bed and drew the curtain, giving Mr and Mrs Weasley some peace. Harry started eating his chocolate and when he finished, he fell into a troubling sleep filled with old memories of his parents and flashing green lights, piercing the night.