Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling- everything.

Me- Nothing except Arcelia.

Disclaiming the disclaimer: I don't even own the above disclaimer. Ash told me to use it.

Chapter Nineteen: Vigil...The Place Between Life and Death


When Ginny woke, it was dark. From her hospital room window, she could see the moon. It was full. She thought of Professor Lupin. Then she thought of her daughter.

Ginny was tired, and sore. But she swung her legs over the side of her bed and walked to the cradle resting in the moonlight.

Arcelia was asleep, her little blue eyes closed.

Ginny smoothed her fiercely curly wisps of hair.

"You're beautiful," she whispered. "I love you. I love you so much." Picking her daughter up, she carried her back to her own bed. Carefully, she climbed into bed, and laid the sleeping little head of her child against her chest.

And Arcelia opened her eyes.


Harry's wrist had long been closed up by the expert healers. It was swathed in bandages, and lay on his chest, a useless stump. The straps still restrained him at the shoulders, waist, ankles, knees, mid thighs, and mid calves. He was asleep now. He was still pale and sweating. His fever was climbing steadily.

Molly Weasly found it unbearable to look at. She sobbed softly in a chair in the corner.

Hermione was asleep in another chair. Nick was on her lap, also asleep. When Penny has heard her husband had returned from the mission, she had rushed to the hospital, all her own children, and Nick in tow. Penny, Percy and their brood had left long ago, but Nick remained with his parents.

"Hermione, are you sure you don't want me to take him?"

"No, Penny, thank you, but he loves Harry very much. And Harry loves him. I'm sure if-when Harry wakes up, he'll want to see Nick."

Ron paced the room. Head bowed, face pale and gaunt, eyes sunken into his head, he looked half dead. His hand shook slightly.

Mr. Weasly stood gravely looking out the window.

Andrew and Aurora, along with Fred and George were also still there. Bill and Charlie had both gone home to their respective wives with the news. Jack and Luke were still at the Mansion.

Fred was sitting slumped against the wall. He was tired, but not asleep. His eyes were wide open, sunken into his head. Aurora was slumped over, her head in his lap, resting. He ran his hand over her hair over and over again. She smiled softly at him, a break for her mouth, which had been set in a grim line all night. She seemed determined not to cry.

George was reading a pamphlet he had found in the lobby when he had gone to get food. He flipped through it over and over. He must have read it thirty times already.

Andrew was sitting in the chair closest to the bed, staring at his friend. His face was hard and unreadable. Every half an hour or so, he would leave to go check on the progress the healers were having with Adie. They expected her to make a full recovery.

Harry saw all this. Although his eyes were closed, he saw all this. Hell, he could even see himself. He looked like shit.

Nick was stirring now. Hermione shifted slowly. One of her arms reached around Nick and hugged him close. He quieted.

The lights in his room were dim, and the moonlight shown in from the window, bathing Mr. Weasly. Harry remembered keeping a vigil like this at Grimmauld Place the night Mr. Weasly had been attacked by a snake. Had it really been back in fifth year? Sirius had been there.

Sirius. Hmmm. Harry supposed if he died he would see his godfather again. And his parents, he'd get to meet them too. He could still see them, waving at him in the snow.

But he would never see Ron again. Or Hermione or Nick, or the twins. Or Aurora. Andrew. Mr. and Mrs. Weasly.

Ginny.

Ginny's baby.

A girl.

Arcelia.

It meant 'treasure', Mrs. Weasly had said. Arcelia meant treasure.

Ginny was sleeping. They could see her in the morning. Mrs. Weasly had said that too. Then she had seen him. And cried.

They could. Harry, if he died, wouldn't get to.

Harry was tired. He supposed he could sleep now.

So he did.


A/N: NO DON'T KILL ME!

Ducks things thrown at me

Just stick with me, ok?

Trust me.

Next chapter up really really really really soon, I PROMISE!

This is the fate that awaits me if I fail to kee posting frequently:

Initial: I finished your story...
olim: Annnd?
Initial: and I would just like to say...
olim: WHAT?
Initial: that if you don't post those last chapters RIGHT NOW...
olim: yes?
Initial: I will be forced to claw out your eyes.
olim: Really?
Initial: Have a GREAT day (-:

I love my eyes, and want to keep them in my head. They're so useful, ya know?