Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, blah blah blah.
Sometimes you think that you're so far down that nothing good could happen. You're stuck in that hole and there's no way you're going to get out. At first, you handle the situation calmly, disregarding the fact that you're down there. Then it sinks in and you pound at the barriers and scream until you can't anymore. Then you sit there, wishing it was over. Sometimes you're so far down there, that you never think someone's coming to help you. But you start picturing the end and all of a sudden, somebody picks up you up and you're out of that hole.
I woke up coughing and with every cough my ribs wrenched and ached. My head was reeling and my back burned. I tried to remember what had happened then I pictured the stairs. The whole ordeal followed suit in my mind after that. I groaned and clenched my hand, and that's when I felt someone's hand in mine. I snapped my eyes open, expecting the worse and when I saw who it was, I jumped.
"Hey!" My brother, Ron, lightly pushed me back on the couch. "Shh, calm down Ginny, it's just me."
I relaxed somewhat and found that my reaction was more painful than just laying there. He smiled down at me and squeezed my hand reassuringly. Then he turned his head to face the kitchen.
"Hey, you guys! She's awake again!"
Soon, Harry and Hermione came into the living room with worried faces. I was a little surprised to see them too. Ron helped me sit up, propping myself against the sofa cushions. Then Hermione handed me a glass of water. I took a small drink of it, refreshing my throat. I looked around and found that everyone was staring at me.
"So.." I started out awkwardly. "What're you guys doing here?"
Ron looked at Harry and Hermione, passing some secret silently. Then Ron looked back at me, shrugging a little.
"We just wanted to see you... Mum told me about the new job and stuff, and I wanted to see how you were doing."
I raised one of my eyebrows in question. That didn't seem like something Ron would just automatically do without sending an owl. Then again, he was a strange brother.
"Oh, well I'm doing fine," I said, nodding a bit to cover up the lie. "Yeah, just fine."
Ron exchanged looks with Hermione and Harry again and I started to wonder what this was really about. Why were they here? That question started to bug me. Then Hermione spoke up.
"Ron, ask her..." She muttered very audibly and Ron just blinked. I spoke up.
"Ask me what?" I questioned quickly. Ron looked at me, nibbling on his lip. I gave him a pestering look and he cleared his throat.
"Um," he started. "When we came in, we found you on the floor...What happened, Ginny?"
"Oh," I said. I looked down, trying to think of a good lie to tell them. I wasn't going to say that I was trying to kill the baby, that would raise way too many questions. I swallowed a little bit.
"I just," I began, looking up. "I accidentally fell down the stairs. I was being clumsy is all."
Nice job, Ginny, I thought as they all looked at each other and nodded. Harry and Ron looked relieved, but Hermione still had her eyebrows furrowed in her forehead. She nudged Ron in the shoulder and spoke very quietly.
"Not about the fall, Ron...about the other thing."
"What other thing?" I asked, looking directly at Hermione. But she shook her head and gestured to Ron. He nodded a little, looking at me.
"We've been... worrying about you, Ginny," he said. "Has anything odd been going on?"
"No," I said quickly. That question made me nervous, as if they knew what really happened. I shook my head. "Should there be?"
"No, no," Harry said. "We were just wondering. There's been some signs of "
Hermione cut him off by elbowing him in the stomach. His voice dropped out and he shut his mouth. This made me curious.
"Signs of what?"
"Nothing," Hermione said before Ron or Harry could open their mouths. I sat up, despite Ron's efforts to keep me down.
"If it was nothing, you wouldn't have mentioned it, Hermione," I pointed out. She swallowed and looked down at the arm of the couch.
"We just don't want you to worry," Harry said.
"And what a good way to keep me from it," I said. "By asking me these questions and not expecting me to ask you some. Now tell me what is going on."
Harry crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Ron. Ron looked pale and anxious. Whatever was going on must've been serious.
"Ginny," he began, fidgeting with his hands. "There are signs that...that Voldemort's come back."
I gasped. Not in shock, of course. But I wondered how they could know such things. So I asked.
"We don't really know," Hermione answered, looking at me. "But he's left us facts...that he's more powerful than before."
Harry decided to jump in. "It's very possible that he can take human form now. Real, solid form."
I looked at my knees, wrapping my arms around myself. So I wasn't crazy after all. It - all of it - had really happened. Why me? Of all the people who are against Voldemort, why did it have to be me.
"Ginny..." Hermione sat down on the couch, putting her arm around my shoulder. "Talk to us."
I can't talk to anyone. Not anymore.
