Summary- She wasn't stupid, just hopeful. And sometimes hope just isn't enough. Ginny has a story and she'd like for you to know it. Continuation of the Watching the Daughter Storyline; 3rd Person Narrative
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter; I do own this story and its staggering plot, odd as it is. Stealing's bad.
Part Two of Five
"I hate how they all stare at me," Ginny said quietly.
This was the first time she said it out loud, but the look on Harry's face confirmed that he'd known all along. He held her hand tighter as they walked along the corridors of Hogwarts. "Just ignore them. It's no use to acknowledge it."
"You sound like Hermione," Ginny replied. She tried to sound teasing, but instead it came out sounding resigned and tired. She was tired. Tired of the stares and whispers, tired of the speculation of how Ginny Weasley could have gotten herself into such a situation.
Pardon the slip, Ginny Potter.
Nobody knew when they got married, not even Hermione and Ron, which infuriated the pair to no end. They'd shown as much in the past twenty-four hours. No matter of badgering on behalf of either of them had yielded an answer. All anyone knew is that the day before Ginny had taken off her robes in the Great Hall during a particularly heated lunch to reveal a bump on her abdomen which had not been there a few weeks before. Harry's hard look at anyone who dared to comment cemented the idea that he knew something about it and was very likely the other half of the puzzle. Besides, everyone knew that they were something, but married? And parents-to-be?
Ron and Hermione had appeared shocked, McGonagall horrified and all the rest of Gryffindor dumb-struck when Ginny smiled tightly and pulled a ring from her book bag and resolutely put it on her left hand. Harry had done the same and they continued eating without so much of an iota of explanation to wet hungry imaginations.
No one noticed that one professor didn't appear surprised at all.
In fact, Severus Snape looked downright concerned.
"Mrs. Potter, may I inquire as to how you are feeling today?" Professor Snape's voice came from over her shoulder and Ginny barely resisted the urge to jump out of her skin. His tone was on the very edge of mocking, but she didn't rise to the bait.
"Fine," she answered softly before she added dried nettles to her potion. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her partner stare open-mouthed at her, but Ginny ignored her as she gave the potion one full turn.
"Very well," Professor Snape nodded gravely before walking away.
Their eyes were on her, she could feel it coming from every corner of the room. Part of her wanted to run away screaming, just to give them something else to talk about. The little bit of level-headedness left convinced her to say mute and concentrate on the assignment.
"G-Ginny?"
She sighed inwardly. "Yes, Beverly?"
"I just, um," her Potions partner bit her lip. "I was wondering, how are you?"
"I'm well, Beverly," Ginny gave her a slight smile before turning back to her chopping.
"You know." Oh, if only Ginny had just ignored her. "We all think it's really romantic, how you and Harry eloped without telling anyone. I mean, to brave your brothers like that, especially Ron."
Ginny stared blankly at the girl, wondering if she'd get the hint to be quiet.
"Harry's the best bloke around and you're pretty great, too, so it's just like a real fairy tale. And now you're having a baby. You must be the happiest people ever."
The knife in Ginny's hand dropped with a clatter. Closing her eyes for a second, she pasted as big a smile on her face as she could stand and replied, "We are, thank you."
Beverly blushed. "You're welcome."
"I really need to get finished with my notes," Ginny gestured towards the parchment. "Are you ready with your half?"
"Oh, yes," Beverly motioned towards her side of the table. "I've got it."
"Thanks," Ginny turned from the girl and sat, her smile immediately dropping when she knew no one could see her face.
How had this gotten so bloody confusing?
She would have liked to leave immediately after class, but she knew Harry would stop by for her and they both knew Snape wanted to have a few words with them. The rest of the class jumped at the sound of the bell, with more than a few curious glances aimed at her when Harry appeared at the entrance to the classroom. Professor Snape had disappeared through a door to his office; Ginny was about to go through when Harry's hand grasped her wrist.
She tensed just a bit, but Harry pulled her towards him. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her and dropped a kiss into her hair.
"What's this for?"
Harry stepped back and gave her a strained smile. "I really needed it. I thought you might, too."
It hurt a little inside to see his face so drawn. "Ron?"
"And Hermione." Harry sighed and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. They'll have to get used it sooner or later."
"Harry-"
"Don't, Ginny," Harry started walking towards Snape's office, pulling her with him. "I haven't regretted one decision and I won't start now. Come on, he's waiting."
Sometimes she wondered how one person could have such terrible then wonderful luck. Harry, sweet, awkward Harry, had brought the wonderful when she wasn't looking for it, when she thought it was hardly likely come again. And yet, she had no idea what to do with it. It was as if having a wonderful present dropped into her lap that she couldn't quite figure out how to function. She knew it was good and a blessing, but that's where the understanding ended.
"Mr. Potter." Ginny broke out of her thoughts as the door shut with a soft click behind her. "Mrs. Potter."
"Professor Snape," Harry replied. It amazed her how easily he could say that now and, even more so, how she could.
"Professor Snape," Ginny repeated. She took a deep breath and adjusted her robes to hide her slightly swollen belly.
"Now, now, Mrs. Potter," Snape said darkly. "It's a little late for that, isn't it?"
"She had no choice," Harry answered roughly. "It was burning in the Great Hall and we both knew everyone would find out eventually. I'd rather her be comfortable than stay layered just so no one knows."
"Watch where you step, Mr. Potter," Professor Snape said warningly. "Noble" - he said with that age old disdain – "as you are in your intentions, you've caused a ruckus at this school. I would have appreciated a warning before yesterday's little display."
"You try being pregnant and dressed in three layers of garments when there's sunlight bearing down on you," Ginny protested. She knew it was no good to argue with the man, but she couldn't help herself. As it was, both Harry and she already felt more than a bit foolish for their quick decision, but what was done was done.
Snape looked as if he really wanted to give sharp reply, but he held back admirably. Harry was on edge beside her, but said nothing else to provoke the older man. If there was one thing that had been brought upon by this entire situation was a mutual respect between the two men. One had grudgingly recognized that the younger was key to the salvation of Wizarding kind while the other consented that to trust in the older was the smartest decision they could make.
Especially when it came to this. Snape was the only one who knew when they had married; after all, he'd performed the ceremony only a month before in this very office.
"Mr. Potter," Snape finally said. "I asked you here on Order business, as it is our priority. You will not be surprised to find that your status as a husband and soon to be father has quickly reached the ears of our You-Know-Who."
Harry took a quick breath, but only nodded.
"We expect him to attack soon, particularly here. Where else would he find you at your most vulnerable?"
"Right." Harry squeezed her hand once and then let go. Crossing his arms, he said, "Have the Aurors been alerted? The Ministry?"
"They have." Snape gave a slow nod. "Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick are in the midst of strengthening the wards, though we know they will only hold so long. We are currently finishing setting up the protected floos so that the students can leave the premises as soon as possible."
They had discussed this before and Ginny knew they were only going down a checklist. Her insides felt as if they were tumbling about as Harry and Snape went over each step they'd decided on if Voldemort were ever to attack the castle. It seemed unreal that it was upon them, but there it was. Dumbledore had died in a small battle only less than a few months before and ever since it had been up to these two men to see that everything went according to plan. It was a strange partnership, but it worked and worked well even if a very select few knew of it.
"Ginny, did you hear what he said?" Ginny snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "Professor Snape said you can be one of the first to evacuate when the floos are ready. The fidelius is in place and will go into effect as soon as you and he complete the charm at the house."
This was the part that terrified her. Her condition had left them no choice but to be among the most protected. It bothered her willful nature; she'd been in every single battle up until now, right by Harry and the Order's side. But there was more at stake here and she knew when to give in.
It was a blow to realize, however, that what bothered her more was being away from Harry. Over the last couple of months they'd grown close and her fondness of him had yet to reach an end. In fact, Ginny would readily agree that she liked him quite a lot, not just as a friend, but as someone she could have fallen in love with if he'd been given half the chance.
To say theirs was a strange courtship would to be understating quite a bit.
They exchanged their goodbyes with Snape, more burdened than before but prepared for the near future. He was walking them out of his office when they saw someone stepping through the door of the Potion's classroom.
Draco Malfoy took one look at Harry and Ginny's clasped hands and gave them both a cold glare.
"And as much as I enjoy your front of solidarity," Snape drawled from behind them, "I would suggest you take it elsewhere. Such juvenile attempts to be adults are painfully shy of the mark."
Ginny winced, but turned her eyes to meet Malfoy's straight on.
Snape caught Harry's attention. "Get out of my sight before I assign you another year's worth of detention for your profound lack of common sense, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Why Professor McGonagall refused to expel you will forever be a mystery to me."
Harry practically growled at the other man. "You forget I'll be out of your sight in less than two months, anyway."
"If you live to see that time, I will be more than amazed," Snape said back smoothly and it caused a shiver to go down Ginny's spine. "And I do believe I told you to get out once. Do not make me repeat myself."
She could still feel Malfoy's eyes on her back even after they left the dungeons and made their way up to Gryffindor Tower. He knew. She was sure of it. The thought made her hands shake and Harry was quick to realize it, so instead of going through the Fat Lady's portrait they continued on to an empty classroom a few stairways down.
Once again, he pulled her into an embrace that she hadn't even recognized she needed. Settling into Harry's arms, Ginny wondered why she had to take this winding path to him rather than going straight in. It would have been so much easier. There was a flutter in her belly and she hugged Harry tighter in hopes that everything would become clear.
"Are you afraid?" She finally asked.
He waited a while before answering in a whisper, "Yes."
Hugging her closer, he added, "Are you?"
"Yes." Ginny swallowed hard. "I want this to be over. I just want to be safe, I want to be able to go home and everything to be all right. I just… want to go home."
Harry took a deep breath. "I'm going to try, Ginny. I swear I'll fight my hardest to get that for you."
"Please be careful. I need you to be." Ginny pulled her head back and pressed her lips against his. They hadn't kissed very much, hardly any at all, and they'd always been soft and hesitant. This time, though, she welcomed the heat of his mouth, the taste of his tongue; he was careful at first but soon became insistent and his hands twisted into her hair.
Ginny pushed against him, trying to milk as much from him as she could. They'd never kissed like this and she wondered if Harry had been holding back this entire time until she was comfortable with him. Whatever the case, she felt unsettled and lost when he pulled back from her.
His hands were still tangled with her hair, but his palms at her jaw. He looked seriously into her eyes and quietly said, "I love you."
Her chest constricted a bit; it always did when he told her. She still couldn't believe it, but he always looked at her the same, never wavering when he said it. And it always made her heart hurt when that she couldn't say it back. Catching her lips between her teeth, Ginny nodded.
"I mean it," Harry insisted. "I need you to know that I mean it."
"I know you do. I do." Ginny lifted her hands and grazed his cheeks. He closed his eyes and rested a cheek against her palm. The look a peace on his face was one she envied with every part of her.
"Stay close to Snape," Harry said, eyes still closed. "He's the only one I trust with the two of you."
The color drained from her face and Harry's eyes popped open when he realized what he said. He was about to speak again when Ginny slid her hand over his lips.
"We should get back," she prompted him.
"Yeah." Stepping away from her, Harry picked up their book bags from where they'd been dropped on the floor. Then he led her back to Gryffindor Tower without another word being said and so many others kept in.
They knew that some of the plans would fail; after all, Voldemort had some plans of his own and those were in direct conflict with theirs. Ginny had expected as much, as did Harry, Professor Snape and the rest of the Order.
She just hadn't expected it to literally blow up in her face.
They'd been getting the last of the fourth years into the floos when a rumbling sound came from within. Barely having enough time to scream out the safe house's password, Ginny threw herself behind Professor McGonagall's desk and braced herself for the explosion. Stone flew everywhere and clouded the room with dust; similar explosions with accompanying screams could be heard all the way down the hallway and Ginny's heart clenched at the thought of those who had been too late.
Not wanting to think of that, she quickly began to make her way down to the dungeons. Already in the main entranceway there were spells being flung between the older students who had long since chosen their sides. She saw Daphne Greengrass taking on Marietta Edgecombe; Ginny quickly threw a tripping jinx at Marietta when she saw it was the second girl who was wearing the Death Eater Mark on her arm. Daphne gave her a thankful smile before binding Marietta and Ginny continued in her escape.
She was supposed to have met Snape long before, but even then things had begun to go wrong. Hermione, not bothering to care about Harry and Ginny's secret keeping when more important things were at stake, had tried to help her get down to the dungeons but to no avail. A terrified group of first and second years had needed a guide and since Ginny wanted to stay out of sight, she hid with them until they found a protected floo. Then there was the duel with Theodore Nott, which was thankfully short since he was quick to assume a pregnant girl couldn't outwit or overpower him.
Ginny had done both and quite well at that.
The sight in the dungeon was not a welcome one. Snape lay on the ground before his office fireplace, barely breathing and blind to the world. The man he had dueled lay dead several meters away; she couldn't see who it was behind the mask, but she didn't look enough to try. Ginny prayed that the darkness surrounding Snape was only temporary, but there was no way to he'd be able to go through the fireplace without guidance and they both knew it. What was worse, when she tried to go towards it, she was pushed back by a powerful hex. This would not be the place of her escape. Finally, at his insistence, she helped Snape into a position where he could protect himself and then sought out another place to hide.
Ron was the first person she saw when she passed by the main entranceway again. His opponent had a mask on, but a bit-too-high disarming jinx on Ron's part had the hood ripping off to reveal Pansy Parkinson. She fought back determinedly, but the onslaught of two Weasley's was too much and she was soon running from them and to the entranceway outside.
Her brother gave her a look of pure fear as he took note that she was somewhere she had no right to be; Ginny reached out to him and touched his shoulder once before they heard another curse and were both diving to protect themselves. Ron gave her cover as she ran, but spells were flying everywhere and the only clear path was to leave the castle.
It was worse on the Hogwarts grounds and if she could have gone back in, she would have. At the back of her mind, she knew that Harry was somewhere out there but she didn't know where and didn't know how to go to him. She couldn't hold back the urge to weep, frantically thinking that she had missed her chance to say that she loved him back, even if she wasn't ready for it, wasn't sure that she loved him just yet.
She could have, if they'd had time. It wouldn't have been long. One more kiss and she would have been able to show him. Ginny was sure of that much. She wanted to kiss him just one more time. Surely that couldn't be too much to ask.
Tears were stinging her eyes and Ginny ran as fast as she could. To where she didn't know, but she kept pumping her legs as quickly as they could go. Along the way, she came across many others who were itching for a duel and she indulged them. A few of them seemed to go down faster than she was sending spells, but Ginny paid no attention to her dueling prowess. Fighting them was the only way to distract her from wondering where Harry was. It distracted her from wondering if Draco was anywhere near him.
Draco. She hadn't let herself think of him for such a long time. He was the forbidden subject, but now everywhere she looked she saw tall men with Death Eater masks and Ginny wondered if he was behind one.
Her mind was tired, her body throbbing from all she exerted on it, but she kept fighting and promised herself she always would.
A burst of fire flared above her and Ginny fell to the ground with a cry. She landed on her side and found herself looking straight into the blank eyes of Katie Bell and sobbed aloud. She wrapped her arms around her belly and slowly rocked back and forth, not knowing where to go next and grasping for any direction.
There was another burst of fire in the sky and Ginny felt along the ground for her wand. Her heart sank when she found it broken in two, its feather poking out of the end. It was useless, so she threw it aside and rose to her knees. She searched Katie's body for her wand but found it broken, as well. Finally standing straight up, she screamed in surprise as a curse barely missed the side of her face. In the distance, she could see a woman pointing a wand at her and a tall fellow in Death Eater robes pulling it down.
It was Draco.
She stopped thinking. Later Ginny would question just how she had managed past all the figures on the ground, how she could see through all the smoke. What had she expected to do, both alone and wandless? All she focused on was crossing the field to where Pansy and Draco stood out clearer than everyone else, even in the dimming twilight.
They were arguing, Draco in his familiar icy tones and Pansy with a shrill, grating shriek. As Ginny drew closer, sometimes tripping over a fallen comrade or enemy, she could just make her out their words.
"No reason…be… grounds… gets… deserves," was all she could hear of Pansy.
"None… to touch…" Draco pointed his wand straight at Pansy's throat. "…clear?"
Pansy screeched loudly and brought her own wand up to Draco's face. Her fear was more than apparent and Draco, his chin high, shoved his wand into her skin.
"Do I make myself clear?" Draco said slowly. His voice finally carrying all the way to her, Ginny stopped and stared at him. And, ever so quickly, she saw his eyes flick past Pansy's shoulder and catch sight of her. They widened only slightly, but Pansy was quick to turn and point her wand to Ginny's shivering figure.
"Perfectly," Pansy said with cutting sweetness, wrenching away from Draco's wand. Snapping her wrist, she uttered an incantation Ginny had never heard before and a red glow emanated from the end of her wand.
"No!" Even as Ginny jerked aside, Draco's hand slammed down on Pansy's and the force of it knocked her off her feet, but not before she grabbed onto Draco and took him with her. Their robes swathed their bodies as they rolled on the ground, each fighting for the upper hand. Ginny watched in horror as Pansy managed to point her wand directly at Draco's stomach and said the incantation again.
This time it hit exactly where she aimed.
Draco's head snapped back, intense pain evident across his features. He gave no resistance as Pansy kicked away from him and stood, her face bloodied and robes in disarray. She spit on him and set her wand towards his face.
"Weak," she hissed. "You were always weak."
Draco wheezed and clutched his hand to his stomach, where blood blossomed in between his fingertips. His gaze caught onto Ginny's and she only saw a fleeting moment of pleading there before he glared up at Pansy. Ginny moved closer when she saw Pansy's attention was on him and not where she was reaching towards the ground. "Always knew you would be the Dark Lord's whore."
"At least it's someone with power," Pansy hissed. "You'll watch her die first. Her and the bastard."
"No, he won't," Ginny said lowly. Holding Draco's wand to Pansy's ear, she saw the girl's one last look of astonishment before she yelled, "Stupefy!"
The Death Eater's body fell like a stone; Ginny quickly put a binding charm on her as well before she turned to Draco. Barely holding back a wail, she breathed out, "No… oh, no."
"Too late, Weasel," Draco rolled on his side, turning his back on her. The blood hadn't slowed and now it seeped through his fingers like a river.
"It can't be, oh, it can't," Ginny's hands fluttered over him before she gripped on his side and had him face her. "Draco."
"Just let me die," Draco groaned.
And he was going to, that much was so clear that it pierced her inside and out. Of all the ways she'd thought of hurting him back, she'd never considered this. Never. "Please, not like this."
"Too…" He tried closing his eyes, but they snapped open when Ginny pulled closer. "Too late."
Only one thought came to the front of her mind and Ginny jerked one of his hands to her belly. It was slippery from blood, but she didn't let go. "Then say goodbye."
He was too feeble to fight, that much was obvious. His palm laid flat against her, but only because she was holding it up. Though his eyes rolled to the back of his head, even then she could see his resistance.
"Just say goodbye, Draco," Ginny ground out the demand. "That's all I ask."
"I-" Draco coughed and a splatter of blood burst from his lips and onto his cheek. His eyes were losing focus and with every moment that passed, the vice gripped harder on Ginny's insides. Finally, he said hoarsely, "Go. Just… go."
"No!" She held his hand as tightly as she could. "Damn it, Draco, give me this much. Tell her goodbye."
"Leave," he whispered again, barely raising his head from the ground. Almost all strength spent, it dropped back down.
"Damn you," Ginny's voice shook and she raised a fist and threw it hard down on his chest. She hit him again. "Damn you! All I want is this, at least give me this!"
The light was fading quickly now, both in his eyes and around them. Ginny tried to bite back a sob, but it came pouring out. Her chest heaved and shook her whole body, the uselessness of it all overcoming even her strongest will. "Oh, no… no," she moaned. "Please, Dra-"
His was one last shallow breath and her desperate eyes took in every moment of it. "Already… did."
And then the dark closed in.
Harry found her hours later, after the battle was over and when true terror had set in. She was clawing at the ground with only her hands, her fingers raw and bloody and nails slashed back. She'd made a shallow hole in the ground at the base of a tree, only a meter long and no more than twenty centimeters deep; beside her was the slumped body of Pansy Parkinson, looking none the worse for wear and thoroughly stunned. It was Harry's gasp that he let out when he saw what was on the other side of the hole that broke Ginny's frenzied digging.
"Harry," she whispered. She looked at her filthy hands and up to him and then back. Her eyes were unfocused, lost. "Harry, you have to help me."
"Ginny," Harry could barely say it. He tried not to look at Draco Malfoy's lifeless body, but his eyes were brought to it again and again. "Ginny, I've been looking everywhere for you."
"I…" Ginny sobbed and then put her hands into the soil again. "I need to finish. Help me finish."
"Gin-" He tried to touch her shoulder, but she jerked away. Picking up speed, she tossed soil in every direction.
"We've got to do this much for him, Harry." Tears poured down her face and she wiped at them haphazardly, leaving dark streaks on her cheeks. "I can give him this much. He can't stop us now."
All he could do was stare at her as she deepened the grave. Gritting her teeth against the pain in her hands, her arms, her entire body, Ginny said, "He never, ever had a chance. He wanted it, he just couldn't find it."
Her insides were breaking apart, her mind flashing over and over as she saw her friends fall, fire burst in the air and the river of blood…
The river of blood.
"You BITCH," Ginny turned on Pansy's prone figure, slamming her fists anywhere she could reach. She scratched at the undefended girl's face and screamed with all the pain that was inside of her, aching to be released. "Madwoman! Whore! How could you do this to him? How? He was so close!"
Harry scrambled forward and pulled Ginny back, but her legs kicked out and connected solidly with Pansy's cheekbone and they could both hear a sickening crack.
"Stop it! Ginny, stop it!" Harry struggled against her, pinning her arms down and dragging her away from the two Slytherins and the empty grave. "Ginny, please listen to me! Please!"
She was moaning. Ginny could swear she was trying to say words, but all that came out was a keen sound of defeat.
"Please, stop, please," Harry buried his face in her hair, his lips at her ear. Speaking quickly and softly, he said, "Ginny, love, don't do this. Please think, please. I can't lose you here, I can't. I just can't."
Even when she finally slumped against him, he kept murmuring, "Hurt, but don't leave me. I couldn't bear it if you left me. Stay here, stay here, stay here… Please, don't leave me."
"Harry-" Ginny sobbed. She couldn't continue.
"I know," Harry answered for her. "It shouldn't have happened this way but, gods, please hold on. I couldn't ever bear it if I lost you. Not now, not ever."
He held her for a long time; years later, Ginny wouldn't be able to tell anyone how long it was, but it was enough so that when her body slowly awakened, the pain increasing ten-fold along with her awareness of reality. It was long enough so that when he finally lowered them down to the ground and cradled her in his arms, she could see the first lights of dawn on the horizon.
They were both exhausted, but Harry held on to her tightly the entire time until she relaxed fully. They both knew it the moment it happened and it was then that Harry dropped a tender kiss on her forehead. Never saying a word, he looked down at her face; she closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder and found her first taste of peace in a long while.
A low moan broke out and startled them. Harry looked up in time to see Pansy's eyes tremble open. He let her get no further, quickly uttering another powerful stupefy and dropping his battered wand on the ground.
"Harry," Ginny sighed his name and pushed her face against his throat for a long moment before slowly easing back. She asked with her eyes and he slowly nodded, understanding what she needed.
Picking his wand back up and letting his wife's fatigued body slowly lay on the ground, Harry pointed at the tear in the earth. The soil flew out at once and settled in a heap at his feet. Finally looking at Draco's body for the first time in hours, Ginny could see his surprise to find the Death Eater's robes gone. Instead, he lay there in a bloody shirt and trousers, as if an innocent passerby who'd gotten caught up in a war of another's making.
"Ginny…?"
"I burned them," Ginny whispered.
Harry hesitated, then nodded before saying "Wingardium leviosa."
Draco's body rose slightly from the ground under Harry's control; from there, Harry gently lowered him into the ground and from sight. Ginny startled him when she rose to stand beside him as he slowly shifted the soil back over Draco. Ginny looked up to the brightening sky, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill over once more; she reached out and took Harry's hand just as the last of the earth was replaced. With one last wave of his wand, Harry smoothed the surface and watched an expanse of green grass sheath the burial site.
Ginny was about to take his wand when it occurred to her that there was already one in her pocket. Ever so carefully, she drew the ebony wood out and pointed it at the base of the tree which Draco finally rested.
"Flagrate."
Harry gripped her hand tighter as the initials D.M. scripted themselves into the trunk.
Above them the sky began to streak gold, pink, blue.
"Goodbye," Ginny said quietly.
Beside her, Harry took a shuddering breath and then nodded again. "Goodbye."
"Harry…" she leaned against him now, all energy gone. She didn't need to finish, she should have known that he would already know. At once, Harry picked her up into his arms and began to walk. Resting against his chest, Ginny finally gave in to the exhaustion that had been clawing at her for more time than she could remember. And though she mourned the loss of one boy, her heart began to heal; it filled all the same with love for the man who was taking her to where she needed to be.
He took her home.
A/N: Starting to make a little more sense? Please leave a review and/or constructive criticism if you've got it.