Chapter 5: The truth comes out
Half an hour later they found a circle of death eaters in a clearing, Ginny was tied up in the centre of them. The trio hid in the shadow of a large oak on the edge of the clearing.
"How do you expect us to get to her?" Ron asked Hermione under his breath, Harry was staring at the ground, deep in thought.
Ron's question was answered sooner then he would have liked, three death eaters stepped out of the trees and dragged Harry, Ron and Hermione into the clearing.
The next thing Harry knew he was being thrown down on his knees next to the unconscious form of Ginny. Harry whipped out his wand and a high cold voice behind him spoke words that made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand up.
"You cant use that wand against me, I thought we had already established that Potter."
"It wasn't you I was planning to use it on," said Harry trying to keep his voice calm, but he was shaking from anger.
Quick as lightning Harry, Ron and Hermione stunned nearby death eaters. Only then did the death eaters start sending spells at them, Ron was stunning anything that was wearing robes and a mask, and Hermione had just disarmed two death eaters at once with a clever disarming spell. Harry had managed to stun Voldemort and revive Ginny, but before either of them could utter a word Harry felt a wand in his back.
"Get away from her Potter." Voldemort had been revived and was standing behind Harry.
"Don't touch her, you'll have to kill me first." Harry turned round to face Voldemort, behind him Ron and Hermione were being held by death eaters and were looking horrified at Harry.
"No the girl dies first, I don't think you're in the position to bargain Potter."
"You heard me, don't kill Ginny, I'll die instead." Harry found Ginnys hand behind him and held it. Behind Voldemort Hermione was mouthing something indecipherable. Voldemort looked at Harry with his cold, unforgiving eyes.
"Fine." he said, "But you have chosen to die the painful way."
Voldemort made a slashing movement at Harry who fell to the ground next to Ginny, clutching his stomach, where his blood was forming a small lake soaking into the forest floor next to them.
"Ginny?"
"I'm here Harry." she looked in his eyes "Listen, you didn't have to do that."
"I did and I need to tell you something." Harry took a deep breath and pulled together his remaining energy and all his Gryffindor courage. "I love you Ginny, I'm sorry I said no before, I'm sorry I didn't tell you why." tears were beginning to leak from Ginnys eyes "I'm sorry for everything." it took a while for Ginny to take all this in.
"You - you love me?" Ginny gasped, Harry gave a ghost of a smile, nodded and continued, even though he was unsure how much longer he could hold on.
"Ginny, I would've told you much earlier, but I knew if Voldemort knew about us, then he would almost certainly try to hurt you."
"Like tonight you mean." Ginny whispered
"Exactly, looks like all the pain, guilt and self-torment was completely pointless. Ginny, I couldn't live with myself for hurting you so much. I'm so sorry."
"Its ok Harry, at least I know now, that you definitely love me." Ginny helped Harry sit up slightly "I love you Harry." she leaned forward and kissed Harry for the second time. When they broke apart Ginny looked at Harry lying in her arms, the light in his brilliant green eyes had gone, his face was pale and bloodstained, he lay, dull and lifeless, his hand still closed around hers.
"Welcome back to reality little miss blood traitor." Voldemort was standing over Ginny, holding his wand high "Avada Kedavra!" Ginny screamed, Ron and Hermione broke free from their captors and ran forward, there was a flash of green light and the sound of rushing death and Ginny fell to the floor, Ron rushed forward and brushed back the hair from Ginny's lifeless pale face.
"Ginny, please no, don't do this to us…"
