A/N: Sorry for the delay again. I'm so happy you still stick with this story until now… I'm very busy this month because of my studies…lots of requirements and things to pass.

Well, anyway, just want to tell my reviewers how flattered I am with your reviews. To some of my anonymous reviewers, please don't forget to put your name, okay? I want to know (at least) your name so I know what to call you… To all of you, thank you. Especially to Tsutsuji for reviewing my 3 first chapters. I'm touched because you still exerted effort for those reviews. Thank you so much. Love you very much! To danielle and D.G. Revlis, I love you both!!!!! Thank you for the inspiring words… Mandy, pretty and abigfan (I have a big fan!!! *jumps up and down*) thank you too. You got to stick around some more 'cause this fanfic is getting funnier and more romantic, I guess.

Disclaimer: Okay, now, I know the characters aren't mine except for those you don't know… Well, the plot is mine as far as I'm concerned and I'm really sorry if this doesn't meet with your expectations… I'm just borrowing these folks to create some fun for my readers and myself! Enjoy reading!!!

Chapter 17

To Sacrifice for the One You Love

Harry woke up startled in the middle of the night, breathing hardly as he held his scar tightly.

Harry's scar had been there—on his forehead—ever since he was a child. A lightning bolt shaped scar that served as a dreadful remembrance of his tragic past… the death of his parents and the defeat of Voldemort… the existence of The Boy Who Lived.

He looked around but saw no one stirring around him. The whole room was dark but Neville's snoring could be heard from the other bed. Harry stood up and walked towards the window of the room. Outside, the moon shone a faint light that wasn't enough to see the grounds below the tower.

Harry felt his scar with his finger. Now that I have thought about it, why did my scar suddenly hurt? Does this mean Voldemort is lurking somewhere near Hogwarts getting ready to kill me? Or has he started killing innocent lives now that he's back in power?

Worries began to arise in his mind. But he thanked Ginny that he didn't have to suffer so much scar pain like before. But where did she get that spell? Harry wondered. He remembered that Hermione didn't find any spell to cure scar pains in her books but then Ginny appeared to have one. How peculiar, Harry thought. For the first time, Hermione didn't know a spell for a certain use. Harry smiled at his thought. Maybe I should write to Sirius and tell him about my scar pains, Harry thought. But then again, he has enough problems to face so why should I add one to his load. I think I'll just write to him when it gets serious, really serious. After a few more minutes of thinking, Harry drifted back to his sleep.

On the girls' dormitory, Ginny still laid awake, thinking about Harry.

I wonder if Harry's okay now. I hope he's sleeping peacefully now. She thought. His scar pains have bothered him so much ever since he got here in Hogwarts. It's a good thing they will bother him less now.

Remembering Harry, Ginny recalled what Harry had told her about Kyle. I should give Kyle a chance and get over Harry. I must move on for the better, Ginny sighed heavily. She looked at her hand—the hand, which held Harry's scar. But I'll still help him with everything… because he's my best friend. Ginny sighed again. She rolled over and closed her eyes, resting her worn-out body.

"Hey, pass me the toast Harry," said Ron while he began filling his glass with milk.

"Where in the world are Ginny and Maya?" said Hermione, peering from the book she was reading about Arithmancy.

Shortly, Maya came running towards them alone.

"Hi guys! I hope I'm not too late for breakfast." She sat down beside Hermione, grabbing the plate of bacon.

Ron grinned. "Nope. You're not too late. Just late." He passed her the pitcher of milk. "So where's my little sister?" He said to Maya.

"She's still sleeping. She's not feeling well, she said her body's feeling weak." Maya said with a hint of worry in her voice. "I told her she must go to the hospital wing but she said she'll just stay for a while and rest in the tower."

"Is she sick?" Hermione asked.

"No, not that serious." Maya said. "She's just feeling weak, probably tired. It's a good thing Professor Binns forgot that we have classes with him. Probably crying about his death again." She shrugged while taking a sip on her glass. "She'll get down after having a nice rest." She reassured the three.

"I'll go up to her later if she still won't go down. But I think we must go now or we'll be late for Charms," said Ron, looking at his watch.

The three stood up hurriedly and walked away after saying a short good-bye to Maya.

Professor Flitwick gave them a short quiz about the Goldening Charm they had discussed. Harry easily finished his essay surprisingly and he began to drift away, looking at his feather quill. He began to think about Ginny's condition. That's weird, he thought, Ginny's not feeling well? I have never seen her like that before. Maybe I'll visit her later after our classes.

The bell rang and he immediately passed his paper together with Ron and Hermione. They went to their next class, Herbology. But unfortunately (actually it's luckily), Professor Sprout was having an allergy because she pricked her finger on some kind of plant. She just made them go to the library.

"Harry, where are you going?" Hermione said, her hands on her waist.

"I got something to do." Harry said. "Umm—you go ahead. I'll catch up with you guys later." And he ran towards the other corridor.

"But Harry! Professor Sprout told us to go to—" Too late. Harry was already far away. Hermione went off with Ron, mumbling about Harry's stubbornness when it came to his studies.

Harry slipped silently to the portrait of the Fat Lady. The common room was completely empty. All of the Gryffindors were outside in their classes. Harry looked around and with one last glance at the vacant common room, he climbed the stairs towards the girls' dormitories.

He found the room of the fourth years and knocked gently.

A voice on the other side of the door answered. "Come in."

Harry slowly opened the door and entered the cozy room.

"Harry?!" Ginny gasped, when she saw the person knocking on the door. She was sitting on her bed, reading a book.

Harry grinned at her. "Yep. So how are you?" He said.

"You know you shouldn't be here!" Ginny said worriedly.

"Aren't you even going to say hi to me?" said Harry, pretending to be offended.

"Harry!" Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you skipped classes!"

Harry pretended to look innocent. "Me? Skipped classes? No way!" He said.

Ginny raised an eyebrow, still not believing him.

"We don't have classes. Professor Sprout got this allergy so she told us to go to the library." Harry explained slowly.

"This isn't the library." Ginny said, looking at him suspiciously. Then she smiled. "But I'm so glad that you came here. I'm so dead bored." She said.

"Are you all right?" asked Harry, looking at her face.

Ginny looked puzzled. "Of course I am!" She said.

Harry walked closer to her and sat beside her. "Maya said you're not feeling well." He said.

"Maya's just exaggerating things. I'm fine, I just needed a little more sleep, that's all." Ginny said with a smile.

"Are you sure?" Harry said, placing his hand on her forehead to check if she had any fever.

"I'm fine, really." Ginny replied, smiling brightly at him.

Ginny wasn't hot all right but Harry could sense that something wasn't right with her. She wasn't sick actually but it wasn't the usual Ginny he knew. Something in Ginny's eyes told him there was something wrong. The glint in her eyes—they weren't the same cheerful and warm eyes he used to love to look at.

"By the way Harry, is your scar hurting again?" Ginny asked, changing the topic.

"Not since last eve—agh." Harry immediately placed his hand on his forehead, holding it tightly. Pain suddenly flooded his scar again like his blood was boiling him with hot blazing fire. He knew Ginny was worried so he tried to hide it.

Too late though. Ginny could already sense the pain Harry was feeling. She stretched out her hand to reach out for her wand, saying, "Don't worry Harry. I'll just get my wand and I'll heal—"

Harry placed his other hand on Ginny's arm to stop her from getting her wand.

"It's all right, Gin. You don't have to worry." He said. But the pain was already fierce that he couldn't open his mouth anymore. The pain was stronger now. Probably because Voldemort was more powerful and Voldemort's blood was his very own blood.

Ginny's eyes insisted and Harry knew there was nothing he could do to stop her. Ginny pulled her hand away from his grip gently and reached for her wand. Pointing her wand at him she whispered, "Eximo dolor."

Like last evening, the pain left him quickly and he was thankful for that. "Thanks, Gin." He said gratefully.

Ginny smiled and nodded; her face a little paler.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"I just need to rest. I'm feeling dizzy again. I think you should go now, Harry. You'll be late for your next class. I'll just see you for lunch later, okay?" She said.

"Are you really sure you're fine?" Harry hesitated to leave her—not like that.

"Go ahead. I'll be fine," said Ginny. "I'll just sleep again." She laid herself on her bed and pulled the blanket to cover her body.

"All right." Harry said. "I'll see you at lunch."

Ginny nodded and closed her eyes to sleep.

Harry slipped silently through the door and headed to his next class, still worried about Ginny.

Lunch came immediately after having a written quiz at Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry got a good mark on his quiz because he enjoyed the way Professor Langley taught them. Not the typical way that usually bored him.

After sitting down on their usual spot on the long Gryffindor table, Harry looked around for any sign of Ginny. But she wasn't anywhere near the Great Hall and so was Maya.

"I wonder why Ginny hasn't showed up yet." Ron said, looking really troubled.

"And Maya too." Hermione added.

"There she is!" Harry said, seeing Maya, running towards them.

Maya was gasping when she reached the three.

"Where have you been?" Ron asked.

"Hos—pital wing. Ginny—she's in the—hospital wing." Maya said, still gasping for air.

"What?!" Harry, Ron and Hermione all exclaimed in unison.

"Let's go!" Maya said.

The four immediately raced out of the Great Hall and to the hospital wing.

"I just went to check on her a while ago and I saw her lying on her bed. She didn't budge when I tried to wake her up." Maya said, she already stopped gasping but she was near to sobbing now.

The four arrived at the hospital wing and saw that Ginny was the only student around there. Professor Sprout was dismissed earlier after she drank the potion from Madam Pomfrey.

Madam Pomfrey went out of her office together with Professor Dumbledore.

"I see that Miss Weasley's friends have come to visit her." Professor Dumbledore greeted them warmly with the usual glint in his eyes.

"Is she all right?" Ron asked worriedly.

"She's fine, Mr. Weasley. She just needs to rest, I think she pressured herself these past few days." Madam Pomfrey answered as she went to the side of Ginny's bed to check her.

"Did she wake up already?" asked Maya.

Professor Dumbledore shook his head from side to side. "I'm afraid the earliest time that she'll wake up is this evening." He said.

The four looked disappointed with this news.

"Don't worry. You can visit her later after your classes. As for now, I think you should return to your respective classes." Madam Pomfrey commented.

"Thanks, Madam Pomfrey," said Ron. "Please take care of her."

"I will." She replied.

Harry and the others returned to the Great Hall to finish their lunch. But the four didn't eat much of their lunch so they trudged into their next class.

Harry thought for a moment about Ginny. Why did she suddenly weaken like that? She's not pressuring herself that much. She knows how to balance her time. But she did look pale when I saw her last morning, he thought. Then the thought struck him. Ginny started to feel weak when she started performing that curse for Harry. Eximo dolor. Harry thought of asking Hermione about that curse. He made a mental note about what he would ask to Hermione. The bell rang—only three more classes and they were finished.

It was their last class already, Potions. Snape was giving them an essay test about some kind of potion, Harry forgot the name of it.

He neared his chair to Hermione and whispered, "Hermione, I got a question for you."

Hermione looked at Harry and whispered back, "Not now, Harry. Snape will take points from Gryffindor if he sees us—"

"A point from Gryffindor!" Snape barked, making the whole class jump. "Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, please no talking while taking the test—unless, of course, you'd rather prefer that I take a big chunk of points from Gryffindor." He flashed his menacing look at them.

Harry backed away his chair. He looked at Hermione to apologize and Hermione flashed him a 'See-What-Happened' look. But Hermione smiled at him later and mouthed the word 'later'.

The bell rang, ending the classes in the dungeons. Harry approached Hermione, who was stuffing her books back in her bag.

"So what is it Harry?" She asked.

"Umm… do you know any spell for my scar pains?" Harry asked.

"Why? Is your scar hurting?" Hermione flashed a worried look, Harry thought she'd go straight to Dumbledore any minute to report about it.

"N-no. It's not that. I just remembered there isn't a curse for scar pains, right?" He said.

"I never heard about any curse for scar pains…" Hermione said in her know-it-all voice. "There's no such spell that exist, as far as I can remember."

"You've read the books in the library and you haven't found any?" asked Harry.

"Nope." Hermione replied.

Harry gave up. "Okay. Thanks, Hermione." He went to go to Ron when he remembered another thing. "How about the curse, Eximo dolor? Is it familiar?" Harry asked, hoping that he'd have the answer soon.

To his disappointment, Hermione shook her head. "Sounds new to me. Where did you get that?" She said.

"N-nothing." He answered. "Please don't tell anyone about this, okay? Just forget it."

"Even Ron?" She asked.

"Yeah, even Ron."

Hermione nodded.

The four went back to the hospital wing after having their dinner. Professor Dumbledore was already there when the four arrived and he was talking to Madam Pomfrey.

"At last, the four has arrived," said Professor Dumbledore.

"Professor, did my sister wake up already?" said Ron.

"Not yet, Mr. Weasley, not yet. But she'll be fine after she gets her rest." Professor Dumbledore answered. "Mr. Potter, may I speak to you for a moment?"

Harry looked at Ginny lying on the bed. Her face was not that pale anymore but he would still love to see her smiling and laughing. He missed Ginny a lot already. Harry looked at Professor Dumbledore and nodded.

"Can we use your office, Poppy?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

"Sure, Professor. Go ahead," said Madam Pomfrey.

Harry followed Professor Dumbledore into the office.

"I believe your scar has been hurting again, am I right, Harry?" said Dumbledore.

How did he know? Harry thought. "Yes." He said.

"That explains it all, then." Dumbledore murmured.

"Excuse me, Professor, but what do you mean?" Harry said, puzzled.

"That explains Miss Weasley's weakness." Dumbledore explained. "It's the curse that she used on you, Harry."

"Eximo dolor?" asked Harry.

"Yes, Harry. That curse is a very powerful one and I don't know how Miss Weasley got that spell. We only have that in the restriction area, but still very hidden there." He said.

"Powerful curse?" Harry said. "You mean Ginny's in danger?" Harry's voice trembled when he said the word 'danger'.

"Calm down, Harry," said Dumbledore. "The curse is the counter part of Cruciatus Curse. It is a curse used to take away the pain felt by the victim but not necessary from the Cruciatus Curse. It takes away an intense pain—but with a great price. That's why no one dares to use it much. It's very dangerous."

"Is Ginny in danger, Professor?" Harry asked again.

"The one who casts the curse will drain his energy in performing the curse. A single curse can weaken him immediately. The more often the curse is done. The faster the curse will drain the energy of its user—until he dies." Dumbledore explained. "Now that I've thought about it, how often did she use the curse on you?"

Harry felt guilty. Ginny was risking her life for him, just for his stupid scar pains. "She used it twice, last evening and this morning." He answered. "What will happen to her, Professor?"

"Actually, Harry, I don't know much of that curse. But she'll stay weak—or even die—if she will use the curse one more time this evening. You must convince her never to use that curse again." Dumbledore said. "Do you wish to let Miss Weasley's family know about this? I think your decision will be Miss Weasley's decision as well."

"I think I'll stay here for the night to talk to her. Can I, Professor?" asked Harry. "Please don't inform them yet, not until I have spoken to Ginny."

"Very well, Harry. You may stay for the night," said Dumbledore.

Harry and Professor Dumbledore walked out of the office.

"I think we should all go to bed now." Professor Dumbledore announced. "Mr. Weasley, do you mind if I'll let Harry stay here instead of you?" He asked.

Ron looked at Harry, examining him by the eye. Just by the look, Ron knew Harry was very determined to stay. Even if he wouldn't permit him, he'd still find a way (like the Invisibility Cloak) to stay. Ron shrugged, "I guess I wouldn't mind. I still have to owl my parents about it, anyway. They've got to know about Ginny's condition." He said.

Harry approached Ron and whispered, "Thanks, Ron."

Ron nodded in return. "Guard him like a hawk, Harry. I'm counting on you." He said.

"Don't exaggerate the letter, Ron. We might find Mrs. Weasley barging into Hogwarts because of worry." Harry smiled.

"I won't," said Ron as he followed the others outside.

Harry had got to convince Ginny to stop helping him with his scar pains or she'd die. He didn't want that to happen to her.

Madam Pomfrey left him and went to her office to fix some papers. She gave Harry the potion Ginny would drink as soon as she woke up. "Just let her drink that bottle and tell her not to spare any drop." Madam Pomfrey reminded him before disappearing through the door.

Harry pulled a chair and placed it near Ginny's bed, hoping she would wake up soon. Taking Ginny's hand in his, he waited patiently for Ginny's eyes to open.

Hours passed by but Ginny still didn't move. Harry looked at his watch; it was already 11 o'clock. He looked into Ginny's face and smiled. Even though she was sleeping, her face still looked lovely as the sun. The trace of her weakness was slowly fading away. Then, Ginny's brown eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the darkness of the room.

Harry smiled at her. "At last, Sleeping Beauty awakes." He said.

"Why, it's my prince charming." Ginny said as she smiled back at him.

"I'm so glad you finally woke up." Harry said. "I missed you, Gin." He still held Ginny's hand in his, then gently kissed it before letting it go.

Ginny blushed a shade of pink. Her hand felt so warm, it felt so good.

"Why am I here?" She asked.

"You fell asleep and wouldn't wake up." Harry said.

"Okay." She said. "But why are you here, then?"

"I'm just as stubborn as you are. So they let me stay here." Harry grinned.

Ginny smiled.

"That's better. You ought to smile more often." Harry said. "It makes you look cuter."

Blushing again, she tried to hide it by changing the topic. "So why did you stay here?" She said.

"Gin, why did you do it?" Harry asked. His face was already serious but still gentle. "The curse. Why did you want to help me when you know you'd suffer in return?"

A/N: Hahahaha!!!! A cliffhanger!!!! See what happens to me when I get no reviews for my first nine chapters?! Just kidding… Actually I intend to do that so you'll review this chapter. It will be fun next time. And please do review my first nine chapters as a favor for me, okay? Love you all!