Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power

by Jedi Amoira

This is it, folks! The final chapter--the END! Thanks for seeing it through with me! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have! Please join me for the first chapter of the sequel--"Ginny Weasley and the Specter of Atonement"--I'm posting simultaneously.

Disclaimer--I don't own Ginny, the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry or Tom. I don't Hogwarts, Diagon Alley or the Chamber of Secrets. I have done my best to rely largely on my own imagination and vocabulary for the scenes I describe, and I may not own any of this, but I have worked very hard and do love this story. If you like it, please say so. And please respect my work and don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. Thanks!

Author's Notes--

EEDOE--I'm so glad you liked that moment! It's one of my favorites, as well, and probably stems from my own shameless Daddy's Girl status. ;-) (And I'm tickled you Molly sounds like she did when she was lecturing the boys--that's what I was going for.) The line about Harry's eyes is another personal favorite, because I am a hopeless romantic at heart, myself. *sighs and grins* It hasn't occurred to Ginny to wonder about Hermione's sincerity yet, but I'm sure it will...how could it not? I agree with you...Ginny should have been allowed her say, but the others just wanted to make her feel better, and didn't realize talking about it might be the best thing for her. You're absolutely right about the entire group being number one in our book! I hope you don't disappear now we've reached the story's end--I love hearing from you! Until next time... *HUGE HUG*

Bill--*giggles* I love your opening line! Molly was definitely insensitive, which I don't appreciate myself, but as you say, Ginny's lived with her long enough to hear what's really being said. I think you're perfectly right about Ginny's feeling of being...unworthy...of Harry--in my opinion that could play a huge part in the embarrassment factor of her feelings. I'm a little sorry to this end myself, but the sequel definitely has me intrigued...and I love your enthusiasm--it's so great to celebrate with hugs and twirls! *grabs hand and dances around wildly* HURRAH!!! *winks and hugs*

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Madam Pomfrey made Ginny stay in the infirmary to rest for three days. Ginny tried to protest she didn't want to miss class, but Madam Pomfrey just sniffed and said, "You'll have plenty of time to catch up-exams have been canceled anyway." Staying in bed was like being trapped in the Chamber all over again. It just made Ginny feel more jittery. She tossed and turned a lot, staring longingly out the window, picturing the grounds bathed in bright spring sunshine.



She had plenty of visits to occupy her time. Fred and George showed up first, carrying a bouquet of spring wildflowers from grounds that made her wonder if they'd read her mind-until they turned her nose a vivid orange-and didn't mention Tom Riddle or his diary once. Percy, on the other hand, wouldn't stop talking about them. When Hermione stopped by with Ron-and Harry-for a second visit, Ginny couldn't help asking if she knew a charm to soundproof her pillow.



Colin came by, looking-much to Ginny's relief-as if he'd never been petrified, and showed her the pictures he'd taken at the impromptu feast while Ginny wrestled guilt and the urge to confess. She stared at the picture Colin had given her-Harry, Ron, and Hermione, dodging rolls enchanted by the twins-for a long time, trying to reconcile her bitterness at being left out of everything with her relief she hadn't done any permanent damage.



The reverie might have gone on indefinitely if Bion hadn't popped in to interrupt, accompanied by Luna Lovegood, who seemed more focused than usual, as she kept repeating she'd known all along the culprit wasn't Harry. Ginny liked Luna, but couldn't help being happy to see her leave.



Lee came with a pair of socks he'd nicked off Percy. "You've got to stop scaring me like this."



Ginny pulled the socks on with immense satisfaction. "For you, I'll try."



Lee looked as if her answer wasn't very reassuring. He didn't try to make conversation, but he didn't leave for a long time, which Ginny appreciated. It was nice to have company that didn't expect her to say anything.



Tempest came towing the rest of their roommates, who stood around awkwardly and kept asking Ginny what had happened to her, and what the Chamber was like. Ginny made noncommittal replies and tried to look like a victim, feeling unaccountably annoyed.



Finally being allowed to return to classes was a relief that sped the rest of the term immeasurably.



She headed for the Hogwarts Express without a backward glance.



"'Ey there, yeh wouldn' be leavin' wi'out sayin' goodbye," Hagrid boomed after her, making her heart stop.



Ever since she'd woken up in the infirmary, Ginny had been thinking of Hagrid...but she hadn't known how to face him. She didn't know what to say. Suddenly she felt worse than she had since Dumbledore had told her she hadn't done any lasting harm. She tilted her head back, staring up into Hagrid's face, waiting...To her surprise, he bent nearly double so her head was barely at his shoulder, and smiled encouragingly. "Dumbledore told me wha' happened," he whispered conspiratorially, glancing around to be sure no one overheard.



Ginny swallowed and tried to say something, but Hagrid put a big hand on her shoulder, nearly throwing her off balance, and continued, "We 'ave something in common, you an' me, Ginny Weasley. We both of us framed by Riddle, an' all. Reckon that makes us almos' family, don' you?"



"I...I...suppose so," Ginny said.



"Yeh keep in touch now, yeh hear?" Hagrid said. Ginny nodded, scrambling after her scattered thoughts, but Hagrid didn't give her a chance to collect them. "Go on, then, before yeh miss the train."



Impulsively, Ginny threw her arms around his neck-as far as they would go, anyway-and kissed his check. Hagrid flushed, but as she climbed the steps of the train and looked back over her shoulder at him, Ginny could see his dark eyes beam in the depths of his face.



"Took you long enough," Ron said impatiently. "Come on, you're with us."



The ride home was nearly as much fun as Christmas. They played Exploding Snap until they were all covered in soot, at which time the twins produced several leftover fireworks-Hermione forbid them to set fireworks off on the train, the twins scoffed, and suddenly the entire compartment was a riot of disarming spells. By the time they got done disarming one another, no one could remember why they shouldn't set fireworks off on the train, not even Hermione, and the compartment was a shower of red, blue, green and gold sparks that was actually quite pretty.



"Ginny," Harry said as the last of the sparks died away, "What did you see Percy doing that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"



Ginny snickered. "Oh," she said, and for some reason, trying to put it into words just made it that much more funny. She was actually a little disappointed the twins hadn't caught on to his reaction when Penelope was attacked. As for her promise, she wasn't the one who'd let it slip she'd seen him doing anything-Percy had himself to thank for that. "That. Well-Percy's got a girlfriend."



"Ouch! Be careful, you stupid git!" George said, his voice muffled by Fred's books pounding into him. He sounded as if he were cheering a Quidditch team.



"What?"



"It's that Ravenclaw Prefect, Penelope Clearwater. That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day." Just remembering made her laugh. "He was so upset when she was--" horror welled up in her throat. How could she be talking about Penelope so easily after what she had almost done? "-you know...attacked." She remembered Percy's fear of the twins with a further guilty twinge. "You won't tease him, will you?"



"Wouldn't dream of it," Fred said with patent insincerity.



"Definitely not," George chortled.



The train was slowing to a stop. Ginny felt herself caught up by the twins, and piggy-backed out to meet Mum and Dad, and suddenly realized-she had gone out into the big, dangerous world and survived. She was glad to be going home, but she knew she'd be just as glad to go back again...when the time came.