Chapter 17

They say to sleep is an act of faith…

"Mum?" came Ginny, sitting up slowly in her bed. She rubbed her face a bit, taking a large intake of breath. Opening her brown eyes, she stared at her mother, who looked like she had just seen death. The woman smiled slightly at her mother. "Are you ok?"

"GEORGE!" her mother screamed abruptly, running out of the room. Ginny nearly fell off the bed as her mother went screaming down the hallway "GOOD MERLIN! WHERE IS GEORGE?!"

Ginny had stared after her mother with a worried face. Some times, Ginny thought, that woman is a bit off. Yet, the thoughts of her deranged mother soon left her mind as a few dozen nurses and doctors came bustling into her room. The looked at her with skepticism, wrote down Merlin only knew what on their charts, and touched her in areas that made her blush. They also kept talking in their Muggle gibberish. What ever they were saying, Ginny took no interest in. The only thing she wanted to know was: where is Draco?

Yet, the madness from her first morning only intensified on the following day, when her mother decided to come back. From what Ginny could understand between her mothers hysteric crying, was that the doctors wouldn't let her or the twin's back in, due to the fact that Ginny needed rest.

"Rest? I said to them as if they were mad." She said as she wiped her face. "How much more rest could she get?"

"Oh." Was Ginny's only response. In actuality, the woman could do with a bit more rest. Her mind and body were still sore from her…time… at the Manor. She figured she had only slept a few days, because the scars on her body were still as bright as they were the day she received them.

Yet, her subtle hints went unnoticed by her mother, who did nothing but fuss over Ginny. The woman could understand her mother's crazed ways, due to the fact that she hadn't seen her in… a year, possibly? Molly spent the first few nights right by Ginny's side. Apparently, the rest of her family couldn't come to see her until she was moved out of the trauma floor. Ginny didn't really mind, she wasn't too keen on seeing her family at the moment.

Oh Merlin, what would they say? Would they be angry with her? Would they want to disown her? She could see her father's face now, red with anger. His forehead creased with frustration, the hairs sticking on its ends. He had warned her before she left, he told her flat out, that if she went into war, he would break her wand. Well, her moment of truth had arrived; she was going to see her father, the Minister of bloody Magic, the next day. Merlin, what will he say?

Ginny wasn't only worried about her Father, it was EVERYONE. Every single one of the Weasley's was going to see her tomorrow. Ginny's mind had raced since the moment she was moved into their "normal" rooms; and in a few days she was going to be released. The red head wasn't looking forward to coming home at all. She would rather stay in the hospital, the muggle hospital for that matter, than go home with her family. She couldn't bear to see every one wearing the same face her Mother wears when she thinks Ginny isn't looking. She was, once again, going to be treated as a China doll, fragile, and would break at any moment. The woman had received that treatment after her 1st year, and wasn't looking forward to it again.

The love of her family had always been her source of strength. Whenever she felt as if the world was going to swallow her whole, they were the ones to lift her back up. They were the ones who helped her get into Auror training to begin with, when no other commander was willing to take the chance on a girl. They were the ones who convinced her that she would learn to live again after Harry. They were there, even when Draco wasn't. They were there, and now, Ginny didn't want them too. She didn't want their love; she didn't deserve their love.

The young girl sighed as she looked out into dark Muggle London. Merlin, she would give her life for Draco to be here. She yearned for him every moment since she had woken up. The red head remembers the night when she had woken up to find him sitting under her window on the 3rd floor, his eyes filled with tears. Ginny could visibly picture the look on his face when he saw her at the Manor. He had a look of pure love and relief when their eyes locked, and Ginny knew that he still loved her. She could hear his cries for her to keep living, for her to wake up to see their children grow up. Well here she was, ready, willing, and waiting for Draco to walk through her doors and sweep her off her feet.

However, nearly had a fortnight had passed, and Draco still had not come. The woman figured it was due to nerves. Draco, however brass he may seem, was never one to come straight out with his emotions, unless other wise provoked. He knew that you knew of his affections then that's all he needed. Well, at this moment, the simple knowledge of Draco knowing she loved him wasn't good enough. She wanted him, body, mind, and soul in front of her. His arms stretched out to hold her. Ginny ached for his loving touch.

Yet, a horrific thought came into her mind, what if the Ministry had found out? What if the remaining death Bastards had found him and killed him. Ginny shook her head. "It has only been a few days" she told herself as the sun rose. "They couldn't have already prosecuted and sent Draco to Azkban with in a few days." She nodded to herself. "Besides, dad wouldn't send him to Azkaban, would he?"

The woman shook her head; she didn't want to think of …well anything. All Ginny wanted to do was rest her eyes, and prepare herself to see her family again. The young girl closed her eyes, and all too soon, she was shaken awake.

"Ginny?" came a hoarse voice. The red head shifted a bit, liking the feeling of the blackness engulfing her mind. "Ginevra?" it said again. She gave a resolute sigh, and opened her eyes slowly.

As her brown eyes fully opened, she was greeted with the face of her mother, an all too familiar sight. She rolled her eyes angrily, and closed her eyes once more, hoping that she would eventually go away. However when she felt a rough hand grab hers, her eyes snapped open, she knew those hands.

"Hey there." He whispered; his voice hoarse, and his eyes gleaming with tears. Her voice caught in her throat as she looked at him. His face looked so weathered, so much older than she had remembered him. He looked at her… the way… the way she didn't think he would. A small smile formed on his lips as tears fell down his face. Her mother moved out of the way as he came closer, engulfing her in a hug she didn't know she needed.

Ginny felt as if she had been hit by a ton of bricks. He wasn't angry with her? She would have sworn… "Oh Ginny." He said, kissing her head. Suddenly, she let out a sob, and buried her head in his shoulder. Crying and crying for all the things she had done to him. All the pain she had put him through, for messing up a wonderful relationship she knew they once had.

"Daddy." She said through sobs, "Daddy, I'm so sorry." He just hugged her tighter, as he rubbed her back. The red head didn't know that seeing her father would rise so much emotion. She thought for sure he was going to be angry; that he was going to yell and scream, and disown her from the family. Yet here he was, crying for her, telling her that everything was going to be ok, and that she was his little girl, and always will be.

The thing was, Ginny didn't want to be his little girl, and she didn't want to appear in any way an innocent person. Because she wasn't. The woman felt that she had been robbed of all innocence in her life, that even feeling happy in the arms of her own father, felt wrong. However, she wasn't going to voice it, at this moment any way. She just enjoyed the feeling of her father, holding her tight, protecting her from the world that treated her so cruelly.

After a few moments, he let her go, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He then backed away from Ginny and allowed her to be bombarded with by her family. Hugs and kisses were given to Ginny in abundance. They gave her words of encouragement and promise. Ginny hadn't the heart to say anything to people who loved her so much. She just sat there as face after face, hug after hug was given to her. The feeling of love was something she hadn't felt in what felt like decades; it had become foreign.

After all her brothers and sister in laws had given there love, the room filled with quite chatter. The family began talking amongst themselves, thinking of things to do when she was released, throwing her grins and happy words. The woman's brown eyes shifted from person to person, noticing small differences in their appearance. A few more lines, extra grays, new haircuts, and added children. Many things have happened since I've been away, she said to herself. Yet, as her eyes kept scanning the room, they settled on some one who had not wished her well.

It was him. He had been there the entire time, watching, listening, not daring to evens peak to her. Her lip curled, he better not have. His green eyes caught her brown ones, and he sighed angrily. So? Ginny thought bitterly as he kept looking at her, he is angry? Angry at what? For my betrayal to him and his … secrets. She sniggered at him, what right did he have to be angry? He had disappeared for what, 2 years, with no sign of him ever coming back, and he gets to be angry with her for being right under his nose? HA! Ginny laughed to herself. "I will not let him get to me, not this time." Soon enough, she looked away and smiled at Charlie, as he held his daughter Isis in his arms.

The entire family had stayed for a few hours, just making small talk with Ginny. The woman didn't mind, she was glad, Ginny wasn't too up for telling them about her time away. She smiled at all of them, and laughed at the Twin's jokes about Ron. "They all looked so happy," Ginny thought, "they are so lucky that they get to be happy." It was a few moments after laughter had died down, that they heard a loud voice.

"Where is she?!"The Weasley's heard from out side. The sound of clunking and raspy breathing could be heard from inside her room, even with the doors closed. The entire family looked from one another, thinking that Muggles were rather loud.

"Sir, if you could please wait, she's with her family now." A Muggle said, there was hoarse laughter, and the sound of coughing followed.

"With her family? Who cares! I need to talk to her…c'mon boy, don't waste time."

"Sir, if you please."

"Listen woman, if you could just tell me what room she is in, I got a 7 o'clock appointment with the Wizengamot, so if you please."

"With the who?"

"Merlin! Just tell me what room… never mind, boy look for it."

"Room 107"

"Ah, here we go!"

All of a sudden, the door burst open, and Alastor Moody walked in. Ginny blinked a few times as he took off his Wizarding robes, and hung it on the hangers. He gave a satisfied sigh, and walked towards Ginny. He gave her an awkward smile and patted her on the head.

"How are you Ginevra?" he asked in his rough voice, she furrowed her brow.

"I've been better." She responded truthfully. He nodded his head.

"Well, I think you would be up and ready to go after all that rest you got." He coughed a bit. "I haven't seen you this up and about in…"

"Alastor." Came Arthur suddenly, Ginny saw him give Moody a "shut up now" look. Alastor cocked a brow.

"What? Haven't you told her?" he cleared his throat. "Well, I guess I will tell her."

"No Alastor." Came Molly, "We will… let her know, once we get home."

"Know what?" asked Ginny questioningly. "What is going on?" she looked about the room and saw their eyes all avoid hers. They were keeping a secret from her again.

"Ginevra…" started Moody, "You've…" Ginny didn't hear the rest of what Moody was going to say, because some one came into the room.

Her heart sped up and her breathing grew heavy. Her lip curled and her brown eyes grew dim. What the hell was he doing here? So many emotions ran through her body as he stood there. Looking at her as if he was glad to see her. His mouth opened and closed as he stared at her intently. She felt her face heat up, as he stepped closer to her bed.

"What the bloody hell is he doing here?" she asked suddenly, cutting Moody off. The entire family turned around and looked at Colin questioningly. Moody turned around quickly and shrugged his shoulders.

"Its just Creevey." He told her obviously. "I thought you two were mates."

"We are NOT mates." Ginny said angrily. "I don't want that Death Eater in this room!" she yelled. Colin just stood there, staring at her, not daring to say a word.

"Why?" came Moody. "What's he done?"

"WHATS HE DONE!" she screamed, the entire room went quite. "He's a Death Eater, a traitor to our side! He's a worthless son of a bitch!"

"Ginny!" cried Fleur as she covered her daughter's ears.

"I want him gone!" she yelled again,

"Now Ginevra." Said Moody calmly. "You don't know the entire story."

"I don't care, " she said as she moved the covers off her legs. "If he stays, I go!" she slid her body off the bed, and immediately fell on the floor. She hit the floor with a thud and the entire room took a gasp. The red head attempted to lift herself up, but found that he legs would not support her. She felt a tear fall down her face as she kept struggling to get up. Finally, she felt herself being lifted up, and placed back onto her bed. She looked up as Bill and Charlie stepped away from her, sad expressions on their faces. The red head wiped the tears from her face, and looked at her father questioningly.

"I…" she started "I can't feel my legs." She sniffed. "Why don't my legs work?" the entire family looked away.

"See what happens?" came Moody with an arrogant voice. "See what happens when you don't tell the truth?"

"Alastor!" scolded Molly. "Not now."

"Yes now." Replied Ginny softly. "What's going on?"

"Well Ginevra." Started Moody, leaning back in his chair. "You've…"

"I'll tell her." Interrupted her Arthur, Gin furrowed her brow as she looked at him. "She should hear this from her father." He grabbed Molly's hand and gave it a small squeeze. Letting go, he pulled up a chair, placing next to Ginny's bed, he grabbed her hand.

"When you…" he started, as he locked eyes with his youngest child. "When you disappeared, every thing sort of stopped. Preparations for the war, jobs, our lives just stopped after you left. We spent months searching for you, we went every where, contacted every connection, and still did not find you. It was only Albus who assured us that you were going to be ok. We didn't want to stop our search, you were our best girl, and we couldn't loose you, if a Death Eater caught sight of you. But, the Ministry kept getting more and more threats of war, and Muggle attacks were getting more frequent." Arthur sighed. "We had to start training Ginny." He said sadly. "If we didn't, we couldn't fight the Death Eaters." He laughed sadly, "In the end, it looks like we didn't even have to train all those men." He caught Ginny's eyes. "We only needed you." The red head furrowed her brow, as he cleared his throat and kept going.

"So, training started, and a year passed. None of us had time to keep looking for you, and Albus kept telling us that you were ok, and that he knew you had a good head on you." He smiled. "You know Albus, if he says that Blood Pops are the greatest candy invented, you just have to believe him." He stopped, and for a moment it looked as if he wanted to cry and yell at the same time. Ginny squeezed his hand, and as he looked at her, she nodded for him to keep going. "Then that battle came, and Draco and one of his soldiers were captured. Now, at the time we didn't know it was you that was captured, all we knew is that we had to get you out. But Albus, once again, assured us that the both of you would be safe." His lip began to tremble. "Two months went by, and he kept telling us that it would be ok. Now, as the Minister of Magic at the time, I knew of Moody's pretend capture." He sniffed. "But what I didn't know at the time, and was told to me when we went to go save you, was that he sent his own double spy into the same manor." All eyes went to Creevey, who just stared at Ginny. The red head stared at him, their eyes locked, as his breathing grew heavy. All of a sudden, she let out a sob, and put her head into her hands. Her father touched her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. After a few moments, she told him to keep going.

"Ginny." He said softly.

"Keep going." She ordered him. He nodded, and cleared his throat again.

"I didn't find out that Creevey was in the Manor until the day we got Moody's message to come. I was sitting in my office when Albus apparated in and handed me the note. I took it, and rounded up as many Order members, since Albus didn't want any Ministry Aurors, and as we were about to apparate into the Manor, he grabbed me." His eyes darkened. "He let me know, that not only was Creevey in there, but you as well." He grabbed Ginny's hands, even though she was still crying. "And when I got there, there you were, dying in Draco's arms."

"Oh God!" Ginny screamed suddenly. "YOU!" she screamed at Colin. "You… you were, all this time, on our side…" he didn't respond. "And…" she wiped her face from the blinding tears. "And you let them touch ME!" the red head stared him down. "You let all those bastards touch, beat me…" she trembled. "RAPE ME!" the entire family looked at Colin intently. "I told you who I was Colin. I trusted you, I loved you, and I SLEPT WITH YOU! AND THIS WAS HOW YOU REPAY ME!" She shook her head; "You repaid me by standing they're, by watching, by laughing, creating drugs for them to do all those things to me." Ginny took a sharp intake of breath. "Why didn't you help me?" he just stared at her. "Why didn't you, even once stop them." She looked away. "You told me once, when I was in there." She started as she looked out her window. "That you loved me, but if you did Creevey, if you really did, you would have gotten me out of there."

"I did." He said breathlessly. "I did Ginny! I…I was the one who poisoned Malfoy, took his identity and got all 3 of you out of the prison." He began to walk towards her, but Charlie stood in his way. He looked at Ginny's rather large older brother and stepped back.

"You didn't get rid of him." She said softly. "He was still able to come out and almost kill me. I didn't see you stop him as he took me right in front of you. I didn't see you stop him as you and Zambini held me down for him." The red head wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't ever, I mean EVER want to see you again…"

"Ginny." He begged, she shook her head. "I love you."

She chortled, and wiped her eyes. "Get out."

He looked about the room, and they all had the same face of disgust, disappointment, and hatred. Creevey looked to Moody for help, who only shrugged, and told him he would see him later. The healer nodded, and as he took one last look at his love, walked out of the hospital door and out of her life forever.

"There are a few things I want to know." She started softly, as she held her head, images from the Manor trying to fill her mind. "One, what did you mean when you said "the Minister of Magic, at the time?" her father cleared his throat,

"When you were found at the manor, I didn't ever again want to leave your side, I felt … useless as a father, and I told myself that I would never leave you, abandon you like that again. Besides, when you first got here, I spent most of my time by your side, than at the office, which really needed me to persecute all those Death Eaters, but I couldn't leave you alone in this Muggle hospital…

"Why am I in a Muggle hospital?" She asked suddenly, "why wasn't I taken to St. Mungos where I could have healed quicker than this place?" she looked about. "I would have rather been in a Wizarding Hospital."

The family looked at each other and sighed. "Well." Started her father. "See, if you would have been taken to a Wizarding hospital, then it would arise questions. Every one knew that you had disappeared, and it has stayed that way. Especially since it was I who put that woman's ban, and it was my daughter who got into the war, as a woman, it would have been bad. The Daily Prophet would have had a field day. That was also I reason I demoted myself back to head of Misuse of Muggle Artifact office, and I was able to take care of you." He smiled as he grabbed her hand once more. "It is my fault any of this happened, if I hadn't been so… blind to everything, to who you were, I wouldn't have done what I did." He let another tear fall down his face. "And after the whole Draco thing, I told myself that I had to be here when you…" Molly elbowed him. Ginny squinted her eyes at her parents who looked as if they let too much out. Her father nodded softly, and looked back at Ginny. "Any way…"

"What Draco thing?" she asked suddenly, blinking furiously. She looked about the room, and once again, the realization that Draco wasn't here, after two weeks of waiting. The red head knew he loved her, he told her so the night she almost died, and now she was up and waiting for him, and he wasn't here. She looked back at her family, who all looked extremely uncomfortable, all except Harry that is.

"Mum, Dad…" she started. "Where is Draco?"

"Draco?!" came Moody, looking at his watch. "That Crazy bastard, haven't seen that kid for two years now." Ginny opened and her closed her mouth. Giving Moody a strange look, she laughed awkwardly.

"Moody, you saw him at least a month ago." She told him mater a factly, he shook his head.

"See, Arthur, what happens when you don't tell the truth directly, she's got all her facts wrong."

"Moody, how many times do we have to ask you to keep your mouth shut?" Moody only chortled.

He then shrugged, and stood up. Taking his robe from the hanger, he put it on, dusting it off. He shook his head as he looked at the Weasley's and sighed.

"Your family has too many secrets Molly." He warned. "I would be careful of that." He walked towards the door, the sound of his wooden leg tapping against the linoleum floor as he walked away from them.

"Two years?" Ginny asked suddenly, breaking the deafening silence in the room. "Dad, what is he talking about? We got out of the manor only a fortnight ago." Her father kept his head down, shaking it with sadness.

"No Ginny." He said softly. "It hasn't been a fortnight." He grabbed Molly's hand and sighed heavily. "Ginny, Draco left the night you almost died. He ran away because he was afraid that you were dead, and he couldn't handle it if he lost you again." He sighed.

"I remember, It was only…"

Arthur cut her off "It was over two years ago." He looked into her sad brown eyes. "You've been in comatose for two years."

Ginny nearly died. The idea of her lying in a Muggle hospital for two years shattered the world she thought she had come back too. Not only was Colin never a traitor, but her father was no longer Minister of Magic, she had been in comatose, and Draco hadn't been by her side for two years.

Ginevra fainted.

…

A/n: OH HOLY CRAP! I am soooo sorry for the wait you guys, but, this time, I have a very vaild excuse. You see, my best Friend died in July, a week after the last post, and I got so … confused, angry, and off course that I competely stopped writing. My friend went into comatose as well, unfortuneatly, she never woke up. It was only these last two weeks that I was able to write, it was so odd that I should be writing about some one almost dying in acoma when my friend actually did. I loved her very much, and I miss her with every breath I take. She was the greatest person, and I am sure all of you would have loved her. She was a "closet" Harry Potter Freak. Her parents gave me her Harry Potter books, it was really cute.

I will write more, since this story is on its last, I belive two or three chapters. So, I would like to send my love to..

..Terriah ..unperfection ..ayumi-dono ..Lenne Li ..Icy Lullaby ..Kris-tina4 ..FireRoseRed ..Yodarox ..FemeDraconis ..anonymous ..Shayomac ..CarameLisSa ..Charmed-Goddess-07 ..XxRakellyxX ..Calla-ForEvEa casualty ..Nichole Malfoy ..Iced Faerie ..Death Of Roses ...Croaker ..Purus.flere ..CrazyStarz ..stoictimer ..Akarusa30991 ..siriusforeva ..Zohra89 ..Gin ..vixenfairy27 ..AznMoonDevil ..Beccs
 ..Sweetiepiepirate ..Lady Godiva ..Missers ..Skygazing ..Dearq-Due ..Jennifer ..Spinn ..Krystas1989 ..YashiriRanma4ever ..ThePerfectionist ..DramaQeen14
.. ..brokentoy19 ..nickel ..MissyNoGrace ..Hadhafang ..Tom Felton's One and Only

thanks so much for wating so long! You guy's are the greatest! I cant give a time before the next chappy will come, but it will. School is starting on Monday, so wish me luck! YAY! Junior year!!! But with out my best friend…pray that I survive.

Love,

YvettE S.

Next To Come:
Home Again
Reliving the Manor
Too Much Love
and…
Meeting Adrian Sanders

It's gonna be fun...