Silent Night

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I own nothing

(Thoughts are in Italics)

Harry was walking. He liked to do this at night, when the whole world was quite and peaceful. The darkness also gave way to mystery, and that is the part of night that Harry loves. On this night, Harry made his way through two feet deep snow, and was having a hard time walking in it. Harry was near the astronomy tower when he saw it. A figure, lying in the snow, not moving. It had bright red hair, and was wearing a black cloak. Harry ran as best he could to the figure. He gasped when he saw it. It was a girl, only about sixteen, and was in the snow face down, and wasn't breathing. Harry knew who it was. And he wasn't supposed to find her

"Will she be alright?" Harry asked Madam Prompfrey.

"Honestly Harry, I don't know. She wasn't totally dead when you found her, but she wasn't that alive, either. Why don't you go fetch her brother while I warm her up?"

"Sure, I'll go get Ron." Harry said. He ran out of the Hospital Wing, and up the stairs to the Gryffidor Tower to get Ron. Harry couldn't believe what he had just seen. She was just there, in the snow. Like she was dead. What happened to Ginny? What did she do? Did someone push her, or did... Harry shook his head. No, she wouldn't do that. She is too good to do that. Harry walked, thinking about how innocent she had looked, lying in the snow, and not doing anything, on the brink of death. Harry's feet must have lead him to the tower, because his mind was else were. Suddenly, Harry found himself at the portrait hole, greeted by the Fat Lady. "Password?" She asked, trying to stop from yawning.

"Derodicus." The hole opened and Harry stepped inside. Ron was sitting, drooling all over his history homework, exactly were Harry had left him. Harry walked over to his snoozing friend and shook him awake. "Wha... Harry, is it six yet? Do I have to get up?"

"Well, your sister is in the hospital wing, but when she comes around, and doesn't see you, I'm sure she'll understand. That's what Ginny does." Harry said looking at his friend as Ron wiped his mouth. "Ron, I'm being sarcastic, of course you have to go. Come on. You need to see Ginny." Harry pulled his friend by the arm through the portrait hole.

"Why is she in the hospital wing? Is she hurt, is she dead?" Ron said, looking at Harry with a worried look on his face.

"No. I was out taking a walk, thinking, when I found her. She was in the snow, and wasn't moving, and..." Harry didn't want to tell Ron what he thought about Ginny and how innocent she looked. Harry gave a sigh and kept on walking. He was still thinking about that innocent look, and he didn't even realize that he couldn't walk. "What... Damn it!" Harry cursed. "I've got my foot stuck in the stupid step! This is so stupid? Why does Hogwarts have to be the only school with trick steps?"

"Harry, mate, calm down. I'll get you ou... out." Ron said, trying to stifle a yawn. Ron took Harry's hand and pulled him out.

"Sorry, I just am on nerve these days I guess." Harry said, shaking his head. And he had good reason. It was only six months until he gets out of Hogwarts, and besides having to start studying for the N.E.W.T.'s that all seventh years had to take, but Voldemort hasn't been seen for some time, and everyone was getting worried. "Well, here we are. Do you want to go alone? I can always stay out here if you want me to."

"Nah Harry. You can come in. What's gotten into you lately? You normally haven't been like this. Something wrong?" Ron pushed open the door to the Hospital Wing and stepped in. "So, where is she?" Ron said, peering around, looking for his sister amongst all the white.

"In the back. Prompfrey was giving her an exam, looking for any major injuries. She's over here." Harry led Ron over to Ginny's bed, and Madame Prompfrey was just finishing up.

"Oh, good to see you. Harry, would you mind leaving for a minute? There is something I need to ask Ron about his sister." She said with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Sure. What ever." Harry responded.

"Then good. Now, out. It was very nice of you to bring her hear, but you need to leave. NOW!" She shouted, returning from the sweet nurse she had been earlier, to the strict nurse she usually is. Harry ran out of the wing, trying not to get in too much trouble with her. "NO RUNNING!" She screamed at him, as he darted toward the door.

Harry stood looking at the door, for what seemed hours, and began to pace. Ron had been talking for the better part of an hour with Prompfrey, and Harry was getting impatient. Finally, Ron slowly opened the door. "Harry, you can come in." Ron looked pale, scared and worried.

"What's wrong? Is Ginny all right? Did something happen?" Harry asked, seeing the look on his friends face.

"Well, something happened, but it has been going on for quite some time it looks. Harry, Ginny was- or still is suicidal. She has tons of scars all over her arms. I don't know why I didn't see it. What have I done?" Ron buried his face in his hands and began to cry.

"She what? Ginny? Why?" Harry had a look of disbelief on his face as he looked at the white blob with flaming red hair a few beds down from were he was standing. Harry couldn't believe this. Ginny, quite, shy Ginny, try to kill herself? For some reason Harry didn't feel right about the situation. "Can we see her? I mean, will Prompfrey kill me if I go back there?" Harry asked, still looking at Ginny.

"I don't think so mate. I think that she went to get Dumbledore. This is really going to be fun." Ron said, looking at the floor, not wanting anything else to happen. "Mum and dad are going to go crazy though. I won't hear the end of it. Mum will ask me why I wasn't watching her better, and that kind of stuff."

"I want to go see her." Harry said. He didn't know why, but he just needed to see her. It felt right to see her now. Maybe it was the innocent look Harry had seen earlier. He didn't know, he just wanted to see her.

"Fine. Go on. I'm going to go get something to drink from the kitchens. See you." Ron left, leaving Harry alone in the Hospital Wing with a sleeping Ginny near by. Harry walked over to her bed, and pulled a chair over. She is so peaceful. Sleeping like that. I don't know why, I just wanted to see her. I feel real stupid saying this. Ginny stirred in her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Harry.

"Why am I here? Why are you here? Why..." Ginny stopped, and gasped. Her hand covered her mouth as she started to scream. "OH NO!!!! NOT YOU!!!!!!" Ginny threw the blankets that covered her off, and even though she really wasn't that healthy, she ran out of the Hospital Wing pretty fast.

"Ginny! Stop!" Harry got up and chased after her. Who knew were she was going, and what she was going to do. Harry heard her cries echoing in the hallways and followed them.