Disclaimer--If you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. No copyright infrigement is intended, and no money is being made. Please don't sue.

Author's Notes--For those of you who are wondering, this story will be concluding with chapter 40. However, I do intend to try my hand at Prisoner of Azkaban, Ginny style, and intend to post the first chapter of the story--"Ginny Weasley and the Specter of Atonement"--at the same time as the conclusion of this story. Please read it and let me know what you think!

Strawberries and Blueberries--The end approaches...the second-to-last update. *sighs* Enjoy. :-)

EEDOE--I wonder what Ginny would make of it if she knew where Ron had gone "for Hermione". *winks* Harry may be more interested in Ginny than he even realizes...after all, he does have a lot on his mind before and after their moment in the Chamber, and guys that age don't really examine their feelings (generalization, of course, there are exceptions). Someday he's going to be hit with a very big surprise...and, knowing Ginny, it will flamboyant. *winks* Until next time! *hugs*

Bill--I'm glad you liked my interpretation of events...Ginny is beyond smitten--I think she has it so badly she doesn't even know how to handle it, and I don't blame her a bit! I;m just not sure why Harry didn't feel the same attraction, just a little bit. Boys *grins and rolls eyes* Your story sounds like a great idea! If you decide to do it, you have one reader already--I'm sure you would handle it insightfully. You're very good--you already know what's about to happen! I hope that doesn't mean you'll enjoy it any less. Just hearing you're excited about the second story has me bouncing with anticipation. *winks*

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Mum and Dad accompanied her to the infirmary. Actually, Mum dragged her along so energetically, Ginny was a little worried Madam Pomfrey would have to put her shoulder back in the socket by the time they got there, while Dad trailed behind them in a daze. Stunned by his only daughter's near-fatal disregard for his vigilance, Dad was incapable of speech. Unfortunately, the affect didn't extend to Mum. She waited in silence as Ginny got changed into the pajamas provided-along with a constant stream of muttered marvels over her safe return from the Chamber Ginny tried to ignore-by Madam Pomfrey, crawled into bed, and drank several mugs of hot cocoa-more than one of which were more to prone the inevitable than because she wanted them-but Ginny could feel words simmering beneath the surface, building up like pressure in a pot left to long to boil.

As soon as Madam Pomfrey excused herself to continue ladling out Mandrake Juice, the pot exploded. "VIRGINIA EILEEN WEASLEY! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? KEEPING A DIARY THAT TALKED TO YOU WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR FATHER OR ME? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE TOLD YOU--" Mum seemed to realize, either from the look on Ginny's face, or Dad's awkward clearing of his throat beside her that Dad had already covered this point, because she continued without finishing the sentence, "SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED-DID YOU WANT TO LIVE WITH THAT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE? EVEN IF YOU DID, DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOUR FATHER AT WORK IF WORD GOT OUT? HIS MUGGLE PROTECTION BILL WOULD BE RUINED-HE COULD LOSE HIS JOB-BUT YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT, YOU ONLY THOUGHT OF YOURSELF--" Mum's voice was so loud the rafters were rattling. At least, Ginny thought they were-She couldn't actually hear them. And she didn't really care.

She stared at Dad, horrified. All year, she'd been worrying about what would happen when someone found out the person responsible for opening the Chamber of Secrets was her...but she'd never thought about what it could do to Dad...he'd worked so hard on his bill...he loved muggles so much...he'd be heartbroken if he couldn't explore their world a little everyday. Stricken, Ginny stared up into the worn blue eyes she loved so much and wondered how he would ever be able to forgive her...



She hardly heard Mum still roaring in the background "-YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED-YOU NEARLY WERE KILLED-DID YOU EVER THINK HOW THAT WOULD MAKE US FEEL? BUT WHY SHOULD WE MATTER? WE'RE ONLY YOUR PARENTS!" The tirade came to an end as explosively as it had begun-Mum burst into hysterical tears, hugging her so tightly she began to suffocate.



Dad reached over and unobtrusively loosened her grip.



Ginny wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.



"You're...coming...home with us...straight away!" Mum informed her between sobs.



Ginny didn't know how to feel about that. The prospect was strangely attractive. She could go home, and Mum could tell her what to do and when, and she'd never have to think about Tom again...She could be a little girl, something she hadn't been able to do all year. But...if she left, if she didn't have to think about Tom, if she pretended he didn't exist, Ginny would be running away, and she knew it. She wanted to stay, to finish out the school year with her head held high...



Dad was already shaking his head. "No, Molly," he said gently.



Mom stiffened indignantly, but Dad put a restraining, reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Ginny made a very dangerous mistake," he said simply, "but it's been taken care of. She's safe now, Molly. She wouldn't be any safer with us than she is with Dumbledore." Mum still looked like she was about to interrupt, but Dad didn't give her the chance. "And I agree with him-she shouldn't be punished for being young and inexperienced enough to have a lapse in judgment. If we leave her here, she's simply another victim. If we don't, people will always wonder why she wasn't here..."



"She's our daughter, Arthur," Mum snarled at him. "She nearly died."



"We both love her," Dad said with a warming smile, reaching out to touch Ginny's cheek in a way that melted some of her guilty panic. "Molly...it's best for her."



"Well, fine," Mum huffed reluctantly, making Ginny feel a little better. "She can come home on the train."



"Thank you," Ginny said quietly, but the one sentence meant more than she could say.



Mum and Dad stayed with her, watching her, talking to her, touching her as if to reassure themselves she were really there, until she fell asleep.



When she opened her eyes the next morning, they were gone. But Ron, Hermione, and Harry were in their place. For her, a universe of emotion swirled in Harry's eyes. Ginny started at the enormity of the response he evoked, and tried to look anywhere other than at Harry. Of course, looking at Hermione was hardly better-Ginny was so relieved to see her alive and unpetrified...and so guilty...and so embarrassed...



"We were starting to wonder if you'd ever wake up," Ron said. Ginny knew it was his way of saying he'd been worried about her, and was touched. Hermione elbowed him in the side.



"Ouch!" Ron jumped, rubbing his ribs. "What the--"



He stopped as Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and glanced toward Ginny. Seeming to catch on, Ron faced her, trying to compose his face. "I mean...you missed quite a feast last night."



"First time everyone came in pajamas," Harry mumbled awkwardly.



"Not everyone," Hermione said primly. Ron rolled his eyes, and Harry seemed to be suppressing a snicker. "Madam Pomfrey revived everyone," she confided in a near-whisper, "in time for us to go to the Feast-and we were already dressed."



"Well, la-de-da," Ron retorted wittily.



"Uh..." Ginny said, shifting uncomfortably, "Hermione.."



"Harry told us," Hermione said before she could finish-or even begin, really.



"I--"



"It wasn't you," Hermione interjected briskly. "So there's nothing to apologize for."



"Are you--" Ginny began.



"Absolutely," Hermione said firmly.



"I still want to--" Ginny said.



"Already forgotten," Hermione insisted.



Ginny sighed.



"Fred, George, and Percy know, of course," Ron said, looking as if he questioned the necessity of such a course. "But no one else does."



"But...how did--" Ginny began.



"He told them it was Dark Magic," Harry said, before she could mention Dumbledore's name.



"An unfortunate relic planted in the school by an old supporter of You-Know-Who," Hermione explained. "That Harry destroyed."



It was true...from a certain point of view. Ginny wasn't entirely sure whether or not that point was hers, and suspected she never entirely would be...



"About that--" she began, feeling even more awkward.



"Don't mention it," Harry interrupted.



"Harry--"



"It's okay, really," he said hastily.

"Brought you breakfast," said Ron before Ginny could keep trying. He was holding up a very rich-looking éclair and several sausages.



Ginny laughed.



"That's not all," Ron said, as if she'd applauded before the end of an act.



Hermione produced a stack of toast and several slices of bacon.



"Shouldn't Madam Pomfrey bring me a tray?" Ginny asked, not really caring about the answer.



"Nah," Ron said carelessly, with a suspiciously Fred-and-George like twinkle in his eye. "We told her not to."



Ginny snickered.



"And the piece de resistance," Ron said, with a flourish, looking at Harry.



Harry handed Ginny the coffee mug she never ate breakfast without. Their fingers touched in the process, and Ginny could feel the shock. She pulled hastily back, and tried to smile as if nothing had happened. "This is much better," she said. "Thanks, you guys."



"All right," Madam Pomfrey said, bustling into the room. "You've given her your rather unsanitary and unwholesome breakfast and had a visit-now out! This girl needs her rest!"



The trio allowed themselves to be shooed out, making comical faces for Ginny's benefit the entire time. She had been glad to see them, but she wasn't sorry to see them go...she had a lot to think about ...