Chapter 2: A REASON TO RETURN
Harry woke up to the feel of someone stroking his hair. He groaned.
"Harry," asked a soft voice, "are you alright?"
"Ginny…" he mumbled, "where are the…"
"Shhh… everyone's gone to Diagon Alley, we're out of floo, so I can't contact anyone, they'll be back soon."
Harry finally managed to open his eyes ans saw that he was lying on the couch. He looked at Ginny sitting next to him and saw that her face was tear stained.
"What did they do to you?" she asked her eyes filling with tears. Harry reached out with his good arm and pulled her close. His shirt was off he realised and she had applied a sort of thick yellow paste on his wounds and bruise.
"It's a healingy balm," Ginny explained
He attempted to sit up but Ginny gently pushed him down, "You've broken almost all your ribs, and I think you have multiple fractures on your left arm and leg, I can't heal those, we have to wait for mum."
Harry felt as if he was going to pass out again. Terrifying images of his uncle loomed before his eyes, the plank as it tore its way down his body…
He was brought back to the present by Ginny's voice. "HARRY!," she said, looking at him worriedly, "don't pass out again!"
"No," he said, breathing was getting a bit painful because of his broken ribs, "God, it hurts!"
Ginny bit her lip as she looked at him helplessly. "Hold on Harry," she whispered, giving his hand a light squeeze. He managed a weak grin, "Hey," he said, "I'm the boy who lived remember, I won't die so fast."
Lying there Harry told her everything that
had happened to him since he had returned to Privet Drive.
A sudden whoosh made them
both turn towards the fireplace. Harry saw a blur of red clambering through and
relief flowed through him as he realised the Weasleys were back.
The noise that had erupted at their arrival halted as soon as they caught sight of Harry. For a long moment no one spoke as they stared. It was Ginny's frusterated yell that broke the shocked silence.
"MUM! DON'T JUST STAND THERE! HELP HIM!"
Harry could hardly register what happened after that as his mind slowly slipped back into oblivion.
When he awoke he was startled to see Dumbledore's face peering over him.
"Gah!" he choked out as he tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a restrsining hand on his arm, "It's alright Harry, you're safe," said the silver haired Headmaster though his face was grim, "you're at 12 Grimmauld Place now,"
Looking around, Harry saw that he indeed was at 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Where are the Weas – " he began but was cut off as Dumbledore said, "They're here, so is Miss Granger."
"Hermione's here?" Harry asked surprised.
"Yes and if you're well enough I suggest you see them and Miss Weasley."
Harry nodded.
A few moments after he had left the door to Harry's room was flung open and his vision was temporarily obstructed by a the mass of bushy hair that belonged to one of his best friends, Hermione Granger.
"Harry!" she sobbed, "I was so worried, they wouldn't let us see you. Ron and Ginny told me all about it. You've been unconcious for nearly six hours!"
Harry was shocked at the fact that he had been unconcious for so long.
"I'm alright Hermione," he said patting her on the back, "Really I'm fine!"
"Let him breathe Hermione," said Ron jokingly, but Harry could see that his best friend's face looked pale and strained. "Gave us all quite a scare when you dropped of like that mate, Mum thought you were dead," Harry noticed that the last word was said rather painfully.
Hermione had let go of Harry and was clinging onto to Ron. "I'm going to kill those bloody Dursleys," growled Ron. Harry couldn't supress the sudden surge of hatred that flowed through his body for his blood relatives. They had at the least been decent to him after what Moody had told them at the end of his fifth year, it was strange that they acted like this, they were really scared of what Moody would do if they had tried anything surely ...
"Dumbledore, Tonks, Lupin and Moody have gone over," said Ron.
"Hope they kill them," said Harry.
That was when Ginny entered the room, Harry was struck at how pale she looked. Her freckles stood out as dark dots on her face, her eyes were red and puffy, like she'd been crying. Something pulled at Harry's heart as he looked at her, she looked a lot like the scared and vnerable little girl he had carried out of the Chamber of Secrets nearly four years ago.
"Ron, Hermione," she said, "Mum's calling you downstairs."
The both nodded, "We'll be back mate," Ron told Harry as he left with Hermione.
That left Harry alone with Ginny, who, now sittin on his bed, looked like she was about to burst into tears again.
Harry sat up in bed and smiled at her, "I'm alright," he said yet again,"See," as if to prove his point he waved his arms a bit.
The red headed girl let out a choked frusterated sob, "You really know how to scare people Harry!" wiping furiously at her eyes she said, "Damn I hate to cry!"
Harry was a little shocked by the outburst. "Ginny really I ––"
"Stop being so damn noble!" she snapped. Harry gave her a shocked look.
"What ––?"
"Oh shut up!" she yelled again, "you're making me cry!" she stamped her foot angrily, "I DON"T WANT TO CRY!"
Now Harry felt really confused, he had never seen Ginny act that way. He was thrown into even further confusion when she flung her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry," she sniffed, Harry awkwardly patted her on the back, still very confused.
" Ah... it's okay," he said still a bit puzzled.
Ginny backed up and sat on the edge of the bed, twisting a bit of the covers around her fingers. She opened her mouth to say something but was cut short when Ron hurried into the room followed by Hermione returned carrying a bowl of what Harry assumed was a potion.
"What the shouting match about?" asked Ron, "you'll wake all those bloody portraits up."
"Shut up Ron," Ginny said wearily, turning to Harry she added, "see you later,' and with that she left the room.
"What's gotten into her?" Harry asked.
"Dunno," said Ron, "she always acts like this when she gets really worried, she's even got Fred and George scared, gone nutters if you ask me."
"Ron!" said Hermione frowning.
"What?" the red head protested, "with the way she screamed bloody murder when Harry passed out, anyone'd think she's gone off her rocker."
"Here Harry," Hermione said warmly, ignoring Ron. She handed the bowl to him,"it's the potion for dreamless sleep."
"Thanks," he mumbled as he drained the contents quickly. The effect was immediate and his body sagged as his mind was drawn to the deeper levels of subconciousness.
He never realised it when a few minutes after Ron and Hermione left Ginny returned and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Goodnight."
*****************
The next day Harry dressed quickly and made his way downstairs.
He was surprised to find everyone else sitting around the table looking grave. Hermione looked horrified, both Ron and Ginny looked pale.
"What happened?" Harry asked worried, that someone was hurt.
"Sit down Harry, Dumbledore's just gone over to Privet Drive" said Lupin, "should be back by now," guesturing to the empty chair next to him, once Harry was seated he said, "It's about what happened at the Dursleys…"
Anger surged within Harry, "I hope he's dead," he said vehemently, "I hope he's…"
"… it was not their fault," said Lupin. Harry looked at Lupin disbelivingly
"WHAT!" he yelled his anger finally blowing the lid, "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT AFTER WHAT HE DID TO ME!?!"
"They were under the Imperious curse Harry," said Mr. Weasley quietly from his corner.
Harry was stunned. "The Imperious…?" he croaked, his anger replaced by cold numbness, "That means…"
"That Voldemort is getting desparate."
Harry turned to look at the door. Dumbledore had just entered.
Conjouring up a chair for himself he said, "That also means he'll stop at nothing now."
Hermione looked like she might burst into tears again. It was Ginny who spoke, "But we can't let him get near Harry!"
"Certainly not, Virginia," said Dumbledore calmly, "That's why I'm going to send you out of the country for the next month till it's time for you to return to Hogwarts."
Everyone looked shocked.
"But it isn't safe!"
"Surely Dumbledore..."
"But You-Know-Who will..."
Dumbledore held up a hand to silence them. "The conditions have grown very risky," he said, "it is wiser to send Harry back to the Dursleys for the moment though."
"NO!" cried Harry, Ron and Ginny together.
"Ron! Ginny!," scolded Mrs. Weasley glaring at them.
"It's alright Molly," Dumbledore said mildly, "I understand how you feel Harry but there is no telling when Grimauld Place will be discovered. I've been uneasy about the headquarters for a while now. I feel there is a spy within the Order.
"A spy?!" said Ron increduously.
"If we can have spies within the Death Eaters there can be some among us," said Dumbledore.
"But if I go back," said Harry, "what if someone casts the Imperious on the Dursley's again?"
"That has been taken care of Harry," said Dumbledore, "each of the Dursley's will have someone following them in an Invisibility Cloak, and in places where they can't be followed we have fitted them with magical detectors that will tell us if someone has cast a spell on them."
"So it's safe," said Harry. He would have preferred to stay at Grimauld Place inspite of the danger rather than go back to the Dursleys.
"I better get breakfast ready," said Mrs. Weasley breaking the silence that had fallen upon them, "all of you must be famished.
As Dumbledore got up Harry asked, "Will anyone be following me around as well?"
Harry hated being followed, especially when you couldn't see the person.
"Yes, Harry," said Dumbledore his eyes twinkling, "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Weasley will be with you all the time."
Hermione and Ginny squealed and Ron gave a loud whoop and thumped Harry on the back.
"Really professor?" asked Ginny.
Harry could hardly believe it. He could have his friends with him! It won't be so bad after all.
"I'm sure Harry and Hermione can show you how to behave like Muggles," said Dumbledore looking amused, "and since Mr. Weasley has already become of age magical assistance will not be a problem."
"Thanks professor," Harry said feeling his face split into a wide grin.
"Well then," Mrs.Weasley said, "hurry up with breakfast so you can pack your trunks and get ready to leave."
