A/N- Hey everyone. Sorry about such a long wait, but I just wasn't in the mood to write at all lately, but when I looked back at some of the reviews I got I was feeling pretty good. I've already lowered myself to begging, so, what more can I do to get some reviews!
Disclaimer: (Oops, forgot this last time) I own nooooooothing!
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A few moments after Ginny heard the thunder of the large hospital wing door slamming shut signaling Snape's departure, Madam Pomfrey came back into her sight with a potion. She handed it to Ginny, but Ginny looked at it warily.
"It's just a vitamin supplement with some healing qualities as well. It's one of Professor Snape's best inventions." Madam Pomfrey assured. "Drink up."
Ginny smelt it, made a face, and then downed it in one loud gulp. After swallowing she grimaced.
"Yes, I've had similar reactions to that potion." Pomfrey said smiling.
"It was gross." Ginny said, crinkling her nose at the dry aftertaste lingering in her mouth.
Madam Pomfrey only chuckled and then bustled out of the room, saying back at Ginny, "Your parents will be here in about an hour, they're bringing your things.." but then stopped when she saw the confused look on Ginny's face.
"Professor Dumbledore told me what was going on, because of your condition… You will still need some potions and some care, so I have to work some things out." She explained.
"Oh," was all Ginny said.
Then Madam Pomfrey continued, "Ginny?… If you need to escape and you don't want to be rude, just carry on with a bit of a coughing fit.. Ok?"
Ginny's mouth had gone remarkably dry and she felt outstandingly contaminated… She also felt really dense. 'Duh Gin, of course she knows, she took care of all your injuries those bastards gave you!' Her eyes grew wide and she struggled to speak. "You didn't tell anyone did you!" Ginny asked terrified someone knew what horrors she had lived through.
"Oh, of course not dear! I would never tell anyone about any of that unless you gave me permission to! Plus, as the nurse of Hogwarts I literally can not tell of anyone's conditions unless they don't mind… Even if the don't mind subconsciously, which is usually the case." Madam Pomfrey explained.
"Oh." Ginny said, feeling the creep of warmth on her cheeks symptomatic of a blush. "Sorry." Ginny mumbled. She had expected that if someone were to find out what the Death Eaters had done to her they would call her filthy scum and never to contact them again, but realized that scenario was quite rash .
"Not at all dear, not at all. And don't let it consume you, you are still the same person. And don't feel bad either, this is not the first time that I have had to deal with things of a similar sort." Madam Pomfrey reassured her.
Now Ginny let a small smile grace her features, she thought it felt abnormal after not smiling in such a long time. "Thanks. It's…That is… Well, it's not as bad as I thought. You know, somebody knowing." She confided.
"It really never is." Madam Pomfrey agreed with an approving tone. She hadn't expected for Ginny to accept that so soon, as most of her previous patients were not as quick on grasping the idea that they were still wanted.
"Err… Madam Pomfrey, can I take a shower before my mum and dad get here?" Ginny inquired timidly, breaking off the elder women's train of thought.
The nurse sighed, she had been expecting this. "Okay, I suppose, but it will have to be a bath because I don't think you have the strength to stand that long in the shower."
Ginny released the breath she had been unconsciously holding, as her freckled features relaxed.
"Thank you!" was Ginny's reply while inwardly her dialogue consisted of, 'I really don't think I could have lasted any longer.'
Madam Pomfrey helped the limping Ginny over to the far end of Hogwart's Infirmary, with the latter person wearing a genuinely bewildered expression, as their destination appeared to be nothing but a wall. When the duo reached the seemingly ordinary wall, Madam Pomfrey took out her wand and rapped the white surface once before stepping back. Ginny gasped as a old, dark, heavy looking door expanded into view.
"This is called the Healing Bath. It was designed for people who are quite badly injured, so you won't have any problems. I'll be out here, but if you need me the room will let me know… Try not to stay in too long, your parents will be getting here soon."
Slightly overwhelmed with the amount of information her battered mind was in taking Ginny just nodded and walked through the door, opened by Madam Pomfrey. Her eyes widened at the sight that swam in front of her. There was a rectangular, pool-sized bathtub with one very large and extravagant tap, modeled with stone-like substance in the shape of a mermaid. All of the flooring and walls were large tiles of earthy grayish tones. The bath/pool took up one side of the room, leaving only about a foot of floor left over on three of its sides. The other half of the room was consumed by a vast shower that had glass sides and some small slabs sticking out of the wall, for seats. After a full moment or two of scanning her ornate surroundings completely still, Ginny turned her head to see what lied behind her, and then adjusted her body after she realized there were things there. To the right of the door, there was a set of shelves protruding from the stone wall, with towels and washcloths piled neatly into stacks. Still further right, were some white silky bathrobes and some flimsy, cloth flip-flops. She threw off her hospital gown, with as much gusto as one can have in her current health predicament and donned the robe and flip-flops. Shuffling over to the faucet, Ginny turned on the water, and then went over to the set of very wide stairs and gingerly made her way in. She realized that the taps must adjust to what the person using them needs, when she smelt the calming lavender mixed with some oils. In a slightly foggy sense, she realized that it also must have mixed some calming draught into the water, as she was feeling that slight haze that it was known for. Taking her time, Ginny grabbed the soaps on the edge of the bath and cleaned herself off.
Watching the orb within her office, Madam Pomfrey was relieved to see that the calming draughts in the bath had Ginny very relaxed. She would normally not pry at her patients as much as to watch them while they were taking a bath, but after what Ginny had recently been through, the experienced nurse thought it would be wise. Seeing Ginny start to get out of the tub, Madam Pomfrey left her office to fix up Ginny's bed before she got back.
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After only a few moments of resting on her bed the hospital wing door swung open, allowing Mr. And Mrs. Weasley entrance.
"Oh, Ginny, how are you? You look a lot better hun, we were so worried about you! How do you feel?" Mrs. Weasley started immediately, before even reaching her only daughter's bed.
Ginny tried to smile, but it came out as more of a pained grimace. "I'm doing better, mum." Then, turning to her dad, who was carrying her trunk full of belongings, she greeted him.
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After a lot of pained conversation on Ginny's part, and a warming lunch, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left with sorrowful goodbyes. Though Ginny would miss them for however long she would be in hiding, she was exceedingly annoyed with their overly-concernedness and obvious attempts to ignore everything that happened to her, after they asked how she was feeling. She would always love her mom, but she knew she would never have that special relationship with her where her mother truly understands what Ginny needs and her feelings.
Still deep in her musings, Ginny didn't realize how much time had passed until Madam Pomfrey was waving a plate of food in front of her face.
"Oh, thanks Madam Pomfrey." Ginny said quickly before starting to eat.
"Not a problem dear." Madam Pomfrey replied.
During dinner Ginny was contemplating all the possible places she might be barricaded in with Snape while she was eating. Although she didn't have as much as a problem with the batty potion's professor as much of the rest of the student population, she was still not looking forward to being cooped up somewhere with him at all. She knew she could deal with his sarcasm and biting remarks for her classes, but to be stuck with him for more than a couple hours alone!
Madam Pomfrey noticed the disgruntled looks passing over Ginny's face and asked her what was wrong.
"Oh, nothing…" Ginny said blushing, embarrassed she had been glowering at her thoughts, "I was just thinking."
"Ah, not looking forward to spending extra time with Professor Snape?" The elder lady asked smiling.
"Not particularly." Ginny responded, shaking her head.
"Well, they should be here soon. All of your things are here and ready to go, so I-" Madam Pomfrey said before getting cut off with the opening of the doors.
Snape and Dumbledore and strode in, and next to Ginny's bed, Dumbledore holding an old sock.
"Are you ready Miss Weasley?" The headmaster asked right away.
"Yeah…Uh, I mean, er, yes sir." Ginny said, trying to recover from her lack of formality at the start of her sentence.
"Okay then, the sooner you leave the better. There is a letter where you are staying, explaining where you are and whatnot, and this is a portkey for transportation." Shrinking Ginny's trunk, Dumbledore handed it to her and moved between her and Snape.
With both Snape and Ginny holding on to the old sock, Dumbledore tapped said portkey and the room was two occupants lighter.
A/N- Yay, thats it ,another chapter down the shoot! pleeeeease please please hit that sexy little button down there and review!
