A/N – You're probably wondered if I fell into a hole somewhere and the earth swallowed me up. Well, I wish. I'd never leave you guys hanging but after this fic I'm going on a break from ffnet. Not leaving, just a few months break. Something happened to me, which I don't think it appropriate to go into too much detail on the internet but I was at a party and a guy took advantage of me. I've been coming to terms with that for the past few weeks and on top of that there is copious amounts of schoolwork. It was like after that night I grew up too quickly, some of my childhood is missing. I'm getting better now, with help of friends and a lovely therapist. And you guys too, with your ever wonderful reviews. Enjoy this chapter, it made me cry.
And thanks a bunch to Emma and Nessa, my amazing beta's.
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Ch 22 – Follow Me
Decicationmichaelrccurtis – for being the 1000th reviewer
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Last chapter:
"Where's Mum?" she asked.
Mr Weasley gazed at his daughter, eyes going redder with kept back tears. "Oh, Gin," he whispered.
Ginny felt her heart plummet. No! No!
"Dad. . ." she felt tears coming and she did nothing to stop them. "No!" she shouted.
You don't know why
You can't turn around and say goodbye
All you know is when I'm with you
I make you free
And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea
Follow me everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me
I'm not worried bout the ring you wear
Cuz as long as no one knows than nobody
can care
You're feelin' guilty and I'm well aware
But you don't look ashamed and baby I'm not scared
Follow Me by Uncle Kracker
"What happened?" Ginny's voice shrill. Harry stood in the corner, nervous and feeling awkward. He didn't belong here. "She – she isn't – oh Merlin she isn't..?"
Mr Weasley shook his head, as if trying to get rid of a bad dream. "No, no," he said hoarsely. "But – but she got worse, while you were gone. She was already looking worse, but then she heard you were missing and she – she couldn't take it. She went into a complete coma; they've taken her to St Mungo's. That's where everyone is now, waiting."
"Oh, thank goodness," said Ginny, sinking back against the wall. She took some deep breathes, she couldn't even begin to comprehend life without her Mum, it wouldn't be life at all. Well, not a life worth living. "When did it happen?" she asked, slightly more calm now.
"Around lunchtime, Percy was with her and he came running down. We got her to Mungo's within minutes," said Mr Weasley. Ginny closed her eyes, it was her fault. She had been completely thoughtless, running off like that. Damn Harry and his heroics.
"Can we please go see her?" asked Ginny.
Mr Weasley nodded. "She can't have visitors yet, so we're just waiting. She's still in a coma."
"I'd still like to go, and see everyone else too." Mr Weasley nodded at his daughter, and Ginny went over and hugged him. When was the last time she had hugged her father? She held tight, closing her eyes. She felt slightly off herself, a bit weak and tired. Small wonder for what she had done in the past day; considered suicide, sexually harassed, a night under the stars, a country western town visit…
Harry coughed and walked out of the room, feeling uncomfortable. In a few minutes Ginny and Mr Weasley met him in the kitchen, and they prepared to Floo to St Mungo's. Harry squeezed Ginny's hand and she gave him a grim smile. Mr Weasley noted this out of the corner of his eye; even he hadn't missed the way Ginny's eyes had lit up when she saw him and how he had stood visibly straighter.
When they arrived at St Mungo's, everybody was sitting in the waiting room. It reminded Ginny, painfully, of the time they had spent the night waiting for Angelina. It was exactly the same picture, just another horrible accident.
All heads looked up when she, Harry and Mr Weasley entered the room. Angelina and Fred weren't there, neither was Penny, Sabine and Nate. Penny, Ginny assumed, was looking after Sabine and Nate.
"Gin!" Hermione had stood up. "You're back!" She sounded surprised, pleased.
"Yes," said Ginny, giving her friend a hug. Hermione gave her a look and then glanced at Harry then back to Ginny, asking her a silent question. Ginny shrugged her shoulders, giving a wry look. Hermione nodded, looking somehow very wise.
"Where were you?" Charlie spoke up from the couch, looking calculatingly between Ginny and Harry.
"Just. . . away. I needed to get away," said Ginny lightly, throwing Harry a glance. He coughed and nodded in agreement, looking at the ground. There was an awkward silence and Ginny spoke up again.
"Is there any news on Mum?" She swallowed. "Is she – is she all right?"
"We don't know," said Hermione heavily. "They haven't spoken to us or anything, only said they've tried seeing if there was a cure for whatever gas she got at Gringotts." Now Hermione began to look uneasy, as did everyone else.
"What? What is it?" Ginny looked around, crossing her arms as if to protect herself from some invisible enemy.
"Ginny… we're worried about you." Hermione looked around, looking for support.
"You, like Molly, came into contact with the gas. There is a – a chance you may become affected too." Mr Weasley looked very anxious, his glasses were slipping down his nose but he didn't push them back up.
Ginny felt her heart stop; she stopped breathing for a second. "Do – do you think so?" she whispered afraid.
"We don't know, Gin," said Ron miserably.
"But I don't – don't feel sick." Ginny looked around at her family adamantly. "I can't get sick, something would have happened by now, something would… I just don't feel sick!" She was trying to convince herself now that nothing would happen to her.
"We still can't be sure, Mum took more of the gas than you did, Gin," said Ron.
"But I would have at least felt something by now!" Ginny cried.
Mr Weasley put a hand on her shoulder, calming his daughter. "We don't know, Gin, but we can hope for the best. We will hope for the best." Ginny gave her dad a grateful look and went to sit down.
She suddenly realised Bill was missing. "Where's Bill?"
"Gone to Egypt," said Charlie.
"When?"
"This morning, he was really angry about what happened at Gringotts, now that that gas has made Mum sick and went over to Egypt. That's where his boss was and he went to complain about the lack of security and warning," said Charlie, grimacing.
"Well…" Ginny stopped, rather surprised. All right then. "Does he know – about Mum?"
"Yeah, that's why he went. You should have seen him, he was really angry. It probably wasn't a good idea for him to go but none of us could stop him," said George.
"Oh Gin, you didn't hear the good news!" George went on, looking pleased.
"Good news? Well that's a first," said Ginny.
"Tommy Peterson was faking all along! Colin took a photo of him in his hospital room with his mum riding on a new toy broomstick!"
"Oh my goodness! That's wonderful!" Ginny hugged her brother, a smile breaking over her face instantly.
"Yeah, we went and talked to them earlier. They've agreed not to sue us and, you won't believe this either, Gin." George held out, wanting Ginny to wait.
"What? What won't I believe?"
"They've dropped the charges against you!"
"The ones concerning Tommy?" Ginny could hardly believe it.
"Yeah, it's been officially declared already, basically everyone knows. They agreed to say Tommy was lying if we didn't sue them for falsely suing us."
"Wait, why aren't you suing them? They deserve it!" Ginny exclaimed confused.
"We were sick of the family feud, so maybe now all this fighting will stop," said Mr Weasley, coming in.
"And we can keep the Burrow!" said Charlie, grinning broadly.
"Bree isn't going to be happy, Gin, she's got no more incriminating stuff to write about you," said Hermione gleefully.
Ginny was about to comment when her gaze caught the sight of the Which Witch lying on top of a pile of magazines. Her stomach dropped unpleasantly and she reached for it, slightly alarmed. She stared at the front cover, there was a picture of her and Harry walking somewhere, it was rather unclear though so she couldn't figure out where it was taken. Ginny flicked to the page and read, unaware of the entire family watching her, including Harry.
Ginny Weasley, former favourite of almost everyone, has slipped up again. It seems well known Quidditch player, Harry Potter, took her away for a private vacation for the day without the knowledge of her family, her friends and her fiancé. Although the destination is unknown, we can be sure it was somewhere exotic. Can we expect any less of Harry Potter? Ginny's exploits with Harry Potter starting to become very common, much to the dislike of the public. It is certain that Jason Banton, Ginny's respected fiancé, dislikes this very much too. How far will he allow Ginny to go with all of this? This reporter intends to find out.
Ginny felt too sick to read anymore, trust Bree to call herself a reporter when her gossip articles were juvenile and unprofessional. But how did she find out? How did she know she and Harry had gone away?
"How did she find out?" Ginny asked hollowly, dropping the magazine on the floor in front of her.
Ron looked pissed off. "She was snooping around Diagon Alley and saw Bill heading into Gringotts to complain and followed him. She overheard him yelling at the goblins about the sickness and how you couldn't do anything because you had unexpectedly run off with Harry." Ron glowered. "Obviously the sickness was too boring to write about for her, she had to right about the scandal."
Ginny was breathing heavily, feeling still sick. Why, oh why, did Bree have to be such a nasty bitch all the time?
A hand reached out to her and she looked up to see Harry's worried face. "Come on, let's go get you some water," he said. She put her hand in his, feeling safe and they walked out.
"Hey," Ron was looking at their retreating backs in a funny way, "what's going on with them? Is Bree actually telling the truth?"
Hermione sighed. "Oh Ron, you're so clueless.
"You shouldn't worry about what Bree Warren says," said Harry, handing her a cup of water. The lobby was empty and the secretary had walked off somewhere.
Ginny took the cup from him, and the stone on her engagement ring caught on his sweater and slipped off, clattering to the ground. Harry went to pick it up but she swooped down before him, picking it up.
"Why are you even here?" She wanted to be screaming, to be yelling and she was taking it out on him now.
Harry looked taken aback. "Because I care."
"No, you don't! Why do you always lie? You lied before and you're lying now! Why do you keep staying with me and acting all nice when you're really just using me?" Words were flying out of her mouth; she couldn't have stopped them if she tried.
"Whoa, whoa. Lying? What do you mean I lied before?" He grabbed her and held her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes. Ginny struggled against him, trying to fight away but he kept on holding her. She tried to hit him but he held her tighter, looking pained. She sobbed aloud and stopped struggling.
"You lied all those years ago, when I was still in school and you were just out! That first year! You said you – you loved me when – when-" she sobbed again, shaking her head, "when you really didn't! You didn't love me at all, just didn't want to ruin my schoolgirl crush!"
Harry looked pole-axed. "You – you thought I didn't love you? Ginny, dammit, you were the single most important person in my life! You broke up with me and I couldn't be near you, the only thing I could do was go live in another country!"
She was shaking her head, blinded through tears. "You're lying, you're lying." She threw his hands off her shoulders and stepped back. "I know you are, it was obvious, I only had to realise it. And I did Harry, I bloody did realise it and it took me years to get over you. And now you're back, and I knew I would lose myself. So why the hell did you come back?"
Harry looked so hurt she felt bad, but she didn't break down. "I came back for the Quidditch World Cup, Ginny! The huge game I'm playing soon! I didn't have a choice in the matter, I didn't want to because I knew I would see you and I couldn't handle that because I hadn't been able to handle losing you all those years ago! I thought it was what you wanted, Gin! I thought you wanted to not be tied down when you got out of school, so I went along with it, if it made you happy, even if it was the last thing on earth I wanted."
"So why did you make me fall in love with you again, Harry? If you thought I was so happy, why did you come and ruin it? Why'd you come and ruin me? Yourself?" Ginny was yelling full volume now, losing all her senses.
"I never expected you to fall in love with me again, and I was already a lost case. I never fell out of love with you!" Harry pushed his glasses up, they had slipped down during his shouting.
Ginny breathed in sharply. She hadn't been expecting that.
"So why didn't you contact me? Send me a letter? Come visit me? Come on Harry, I know you were relieved that I let you go! But then you have to wait until I'm fucking engaged before you come back!"
"I didn't even know you were in engaged!"
"Because you never bothered to find out, you never bothered to talk to any of us!"
"I wanted to!"
"Then why the hell didn't you? We didn't hear from you for years and then you prance in expecting us to treat you like the brother or son they never had? Why did you expect me to treat you like the husband I never had?"
"I didn't expect you to! I couldn't work up the courage to contact you, after leaving the country like that!"
"Then why did you leave the country?"
"I've already told you that, I couldn't be near the person I loved and not be with her!" Harry was yelling just as loud as Ginny now.
"Well you must be talking about someone else because I sure as hell know you weren't in love with me!"
"But why? Why do you think that?" Harry was genuinely curious, but his face was still red from shouting and he was short of breath.
"George told me!"
"George?" Harry looked stunned. "Why on earth would George tell you I didn't love you anymore?"
"Maybe because it was the truth?" replied Ginny coolly, but her voice wavered. Now she wasn't so sure.
"But I hardly spoke a word to George that year! He was away doing business in France the entire time I was there!"
Ginny opened her mouth, ready to start yelling again but stopped abruptly. What he said was true, George had only seen Harry once that year and they had only spoken a few friendly words because they were both in a hurry.
"I know you didn't love me anymore, Harry, and it was over anyway. Now I have a fiancé and I'm going to marry him." Those words pained her to say, she didn't want them to be true at all.
"It wasn't over," Harry grabbed her again and pulled her close. "It still isn't over!" He kissed her deeply and she opened up to him like a flower, forgetting her anger and her pain and her sadness.
He pulled back and cupped her chin in his hand. "I didn't fight for you then, but I'm fighting for you now."
Ginny held him tightly, trying to meld him into herself, trying to make them one. "Don't leave me, please don't leave me," she begged.
"I love you, I couldn't leave you if I tried," said Harry.
Ginny held him even tighter. "Can you stay with me?"
"I am."
"No, I mean forever." Harry closed his eyes and held her just as tightly as she was holding him.
"Yes."
"Bill!" Fleur had looked up from reading a magazine in the waiting room to see her husband walk into the room looking very tired and unsettled.
He gave a grim smile and went to hug her, giving his pretty wife a quick peck on the cheek.
"What ees wrong?" she faltered.
Bill had a wry look on his face and said, "Lost my job, there's no going back."
"Oh no!" Fleur pressed a hand over her mouth, horrified. "What happened?"
"Probably shouldn't have lost my temper," said Bill with a bit of embarrassment. "Goblins are proud creatures, they didn't like some human telling them what for. I suppose I was a bit – violent," he said ruefully.
"Bill!" said Fleur in a reproachful tone. "What did you say to them?"
"Well, kind of accused them of being terrible at their jobs and I knocked some precious vase on the ground – and it broke," he said with grim satisfaction.
"Well then…" Fleur sat back on the couch, as if was all too much to handle.
"Don't worry love, I'll be able to get a job at Gringotts here, and I have no doubts they'll ask me back. I'm the only one with proper knowledge on curse-breaking, they need me."
"Even thought they fired you?"
"It'll hurt their pride but goblins know when they should swallow that pride, too," said Bill.
"Well, I suppose it's all right then." Fleur was still looking very doubtful though.
More Weasley's came traipsing in the door, all looking a little worse for wear after spending a day in the hospital. Bill told everyone straight away, and there was many gasps of dismay.
"What about an income for you and your family?" asked Percy, businesslike.
"I'm sure I can get a temporary job at Gringotts here, writing down information on protection methods. I'm positive; however, I'll be called back to Egypt. They need me."
"Well, if you're sure, son," said Mr Weasley as he looked worriedly at his eldest.
"I'm sure, Dad." There were still many doubtful faces but no more was said on the subject, all preferring to go back to waiting.
"Has anybody given us any updates on Mum?" asked Bill after some silence.
"Nothing, apart from the fact she's still in a coma," said Mr Weasley. A tap at the door made everybody turn their heads around. A solemn looking Healer stood in the doorway of the waiting room.
"Mr Weasley? May I have a word?" asked the doctor.
Mr Weasley stood up and walked over to the Healer, forcing a bleak smile over his face. "How is she then?"
The Healer hesitated and looked at everyone listening expectantly to him. He beckoned Mr Weasley further out of the doorway and closed it behind him. His face was very grim. Mr Weasley was still smiling at him, glasses slipping down his nose and greying red hair still neat despite all day spent in the hospital.
"So, is she all right to see visitors yet? We all want to see her and – and tell her we love her – her very much and she'll get better – soon." Perhaps Mr Weasley knew that whatever the Healer had to say wasn't going to be good news, perhaps he knew by the troubled look on his face. Maybe that was why he kept on rambling on about how everything was going to be fine.
"Mr Weasley, I'm sorry," said the Healer finally.
"What went wrong?" Mr Weasley whispered.
"We can't find a cure, she just keeps getting worse. There is nothing we can do." The Healer looked just as upset as Mr Weasley. "I know it's hard to lose a loved one but-"
"She's not just my loved one, she's my other half. My soulmate. My wife. I…" Mr Weasley trailed off, overcome.
"I know," said the Healer. He placed a comforting hand on Mr Weasley's shoulder, hating his job at that moment. "I'm sorry."
"How – how long?" asked Mr Weasley, even though forever didn't even seem long enough.
"A few days, at most; she's drifting away quickly. You'll be allowed to spend every minute with her, of course. In the same position, I wouldn't expect any less."
Mr Weasley was nodding, eyes red. He couldn't even begin to comprehend life without his dear, sweet Molly. "I'll have to – have to tell the kids then," he said. "They should know as soon as possible."
"Of course." The Healer's tone was sympathetic.
"Thank you for telling me, I – I know it wouldn't have been easy," said Mr Weasley genuinely. The Healer patted his shoulder again, and then walked away. Mr Weasley opened the door to the waiting room, dreading the job he was about to have to do. A man losing a wife happened, but a child losing their mother was heartbreaking.
Expectant faces turned to him as he entered; glad to finally hear some news. Mr Weasley knew it would never occur to them that their mother would never make it; it just wasn't an option for them. Heart heavy, he closed the door behind him and turned to face his family.
"I don't know how to say this easiest – there isn't an easy way, I guess," Mr Weasley began slowly, pushing up his glasses.
"No," said Ron flatly. "No, please don't say what you're about to."
"I'm sorry." Mr Weasley had tears in his eyes as he faced his children now. He wasn't ashamed to break down in front of them. "I'm so sorry."
"Is she…?" Hermione asked, holding her heart.
"No, no, not yet. He said a couple of days, at most. There's no hope, we can only spend and treasure these last days with her."
"Is she still in a coma?" asked Bill with difficulty. Fleur was gripping his hand so hard it was going purple; Mrs Weasley was like a mother to her.
"Yes, we should get everybody here. Fred, Angie, Penny, Sabine, Nate… Ginny and Harry will be back any second."
There was a silence. None of them had expected things to end in this way. Molly kept them all together, kept them all coming back week after week with her wonderful cooking, her motherly scolding and her warm heart. She was a mother to all of them, not just her own children; Angelina, Penny, Hermione, Fleur and Harry all of thought of her as another mother. Now not only Mr Weasley was crying.
Ginny stared at the ground as she and Harry walked back toward the waiting room. "What are we going to do then?" she found herself asking him.
"Well, I dunno. I – I want to stay here – with you. A home with you." Ginny felt herself grow warm at this. A home with Harry, it sounded lovely. "We'll have to wait until after the Quidditch World Cup and then we can plan all we want."
"It sounds so far away," said Ginny wistfully.
Harry reached down and held her hand. "It's not really, just a bit of waiting and of course there's…"
"What?"
"Jason," said Harry with difficulty.
Whatever warmness Harry had made her feel left and she sighed. Ginny knew the time had come to speak honestly and truthfully to Jason, otherwise she would spend the rest of her life putting it off. She slipped her hand into Harry's and stopped walking. She paused, thinking about how she was going to say what she wanted to.
"It's time for Jason and me to talk," said Ginny. She let her hand fall out of Harry's and she kissed him on the cheek, hovering for a second, not wanting to leave him. Now that they had screamed out all they had been thinking all these weeks, she knew how much she loved him.
Harry looked troubled but he let her walk away from him, walk to her fiancé, not sure what was going to be said between them and whether she would come back to him – even if she did love him. "I love you, Gin," he said to her back as she walked through the lobby. Maybe there was some sort of breeze drifting through the air because it picked up Harry's words and carried them over to Ginny, giving her the strength to keep walking.
It seemed only seconds to Ginny before she was standing in Jason's fireplace, calling his name out hesitantly. The maid appeared to be out, so Ginny called his name again. A cough from Jason's study reached her ears and she walked towards it, knocking on the closed door.
"Come in," said Jason in a clear, crisp voice.
Ginny pushed open the door tentatively, taking a deep breath. Jason looked up, a look of surprise crossing his face momentarily before he stood up and came to stand in front of his desk. Ginny walked further in and looked at him.
"I don't know whether to shake your hand or kiss you anymore," confessed Jason, looking sad.
"That makes two of us," said Ginny.
An awkward silence fell and Jason stared determinedly out the window. Ginny sighed and took a seat. Jason followed suit, staring at her gravely now.
"This isn't just a friendly hello and how have you been, is it?" he asked, trying to sound relaxed but the strain was evident in his face.
Ginny swallowed. "No," she replied. Jason waited for her to continue but she didn't.
"Well then, how have you been then, Ginny?"
"Well, Angelina is recovering and Mum we're fairly certain is going to be fine. I'm sure you've heard about what happened with the Peterson's?"
"Yes, I have," replied Jason, "but, I was asking how you were, not everyone else."
"Not so great," replied Ginny honestly.
"I can imagine. I presume Enfantes has contacted you?"
"No," said Ginny suspiciously. "Why would they?"
"Well, because I made a few calls and told them about Tommy lying. You should be getting your job back any day now," said Jason, a small smile on his face.
"Oh, oh Merlin." Ginny felt a feeling rather like joy wash over her like a giant tidal wave. Her job! She was actually going to get her job back!
Jason was watching her now, looking at her like she was some prize he would never win.
"You – you didn't have to do that. . ." stammered Ginny.
"But I did, Gin, that's what husbands and wives do for each other," said Jason.
Ginny felt her stomach drop. Here it comes, now is when it comes out.
"Jason, I-"
"Yes?" He played dumb, but he would've been stupid not to realise what Ginny was going to say next.
"I want to call off the wedding." Ginny spoke so low it was only a slight whisper, it didn't even reach Jason's ears. He saw her lips move though, and could tell by her face. The look he gave her pierced her skin and went straight to her heart. Oh Merlin, that she had never met this man only to ruin his life!
"You – you want to call it off? You want to walk out on me, just like that?"
"I'm sorry, Jason!" Ginny cried, holding her face in her hands.
"Sorry? You're sorry? I literally run into you one day, fall instantly in love with you and now – now you're just leaving me?"
Ginny looked at him, trying to say sorry with her eyes and her heart. "I fell in love with Harry again." She shrugged and gazed at the floor, feeling silent tears rise up and burn her eyes.
"Merlin, Harry? I thought that was just some passing flirtation, not something real. You're leaving me for Harry Potter?"
"I loved him since I first saw him when I was ten years old! You never had any idea how much in love we were during school!"
"So then why did you leave each other?"
"Because – because of a number or reasons. Reasons that mean nothing now."
Jason turned around and stared at the wall, slamming his fist on the desk. "Well, I guess this is good-bye then."
"Yes, I guess so," said Ginny. She got up and went over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I'd really prefer it if you didn't touch me Gin, so could you just leave," said Jason. He tried to sound kind but it came out more bitter. He was allowed to feel that way though, she would have.
"Good-bye Jason," said Ginny. She took her bag and walked to the door, not looking back.
"Ginny?"
She turned and looked at him.
"I'll always be here, okay? I'll never stop loving you so – so if you need me or if you need anything, I'll always be here."
She nodded and smiled. "Thanks Jason. And I did love you, still do, but-"
"Please, Gin, just don't say anything."
And she walked out the door and out of his house and out of his life.
Ginny walked into St Mungo's a few hours later, having spent ages walking around the park just crying and thinking. She was tired and headachy and felt sick.
"Ginny!"
Ron was walking down the hallway quickly, looking relieved her had found her.
"Ron, I-"
"Gin, Mum's going to die. The Healers say we have about two more days with her. We're allowed to see her now though." Ron was anxious; his face was pale which made his freckles stand out more than usual.
"Wh-what? But – but she can't die. . . she's – she's… she's Mum."
"She's still in a coma but sometimes she'll move a finger if someone talks to her seriously, come on Gin, you should be in there too."
"I – I…" It was all too much to process, cancelling her wedding, her mum dying. A needle-like pain in her forehead throbbed suddenly, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Gin?" Ron had grabbed her arm and was looking worried.
"I'm – I'm okay, I'm just going to get some water, then I'll be right in," Ginny promised, holding her head. Maybe she just needed some sleep or something, and then she would feel better.
"Well, okay, do you want me to come with you?" asked Ron.
"No, no. I promise I'll only be a minute, just need to clear my head," said Ginny.
Ron agreed reluctantly and walked quickly back to Mrs Weasley's room. Ginny watched him leave and then turned to the drinking fountain down the hallway. Suddenly, the hallway seemed very long and white. Almost hypnotising. The needle like pain in her head returned and she held her head, stumbling slightly. There was a dull roaring in her ears and everything was going fuzzy, going black. The hallway stretched on forever and the drinking fountain seemed a lifetime a way.
Harry saw her in front of him, he saw her stumble and saw her stagger and hold her head. He ran to catch her before she hit the ground, but he was too late. She was sprawled on the ground when he reached her, eyes closed. He held her hand and yelled for help, yelled and yelled and yelled…
There are a lot of times in this fic where you think Mrs Weasley is going to die, I think you may have noticed. And there are a lot more to come. But the question is, is one of these times going to be the real thing? Think about it instead of asking me because I won't tell you. ;)
Thanks to (not much time for review replies so please don't be offended): VoicezWithin, ginnyroxmysox, AndromedaBlack-thelesserknown, michaelrccurtis, Calamahta, Wind Whisperer, glittericous, HpC0ldplay, Chloë, Panda, GiGiFanFic, gatoriris, miss-starr-e, Hannibal ad Portas, ZzSheilahzZ, HarryPotters-angel, grimmauld, kareema, MeryKey-7, chocoholic, DK Lili, Michelle, m2g4kb, kara, fairygirl100, LissyLovegood, Niki, books4me, sweety, Bruinen, OceansAway, Smile88, mello80, Harry kid, CrazedChipmunk, xiaoxiao, edspacecowgirl, Queen of My Own Little World, musicsage, Lil Lillian, chocheryl, MaxFic, pinklady24, hathor X, Crazed Monkey, JayBird
Annmarie Aspasia – lol no I wasn't talking about Texas in the last chapter. I have a huge respect for Texans, it's one of my favourite places.
Harrysmom – all questions about Hermione's "barrenness" will be answered in due time
Notdapunkprincess – met him in Perth, he's coming over in the hols. So lol no, not often.
Dubtheeunforgiven – not too long, just many, many plotlines. I'm sorry if it seems to drag on, you may not like the next few chapters I'm afraid. But I'm glad you like it so far.
Queen Tigress – yes it is weird I know, worried about strangers liking your work. But maybe no so much strangers because with a fic you tend to make some friends, well I know I certainly have. One of my beta's, Nessa, we talk all the time and text as well just because I once reviewed her story. That's been going on for like over a yr now. It's strange to think it lol.
Deer boy – I'm so glad that you're happy! Well pretty much. Like you, because of the incident, I tend to get a bit depressed sometimes. For a couple of days I didn't get out of bed because I didn't have the heart. But some days are okay. I'm jealous of the kitten, I'm betting it's a lot bigger now though right?
Pink-helga – you're welcome about the dedication! and I'll check out your fic when I get the time but there's a lot on my mind at the moment and I'm just taking everything day by day.
azkaban712 – you review made me smile. Hoping you're still in the HP mood and eagerly anticipating HBP
shadyday9 – I promise, if I ever write a book, I will randomly start talking bout pumpkins just for you. And I'll get you a free signed copy. ;)
sunlitmist – 1 yr left of school after this one. (yr 11)
hpflowergirl21 – first of all keep a journal handy. And also, try to think of the songs as stories rather than songs, that's how I do my one-shots that come off of songs. Write down anything that comes to mind. And that's basically it.
Emma – yeah I wasn't angry or anything. Are you okay for ch 23? Don't worry, I already keep a journal and also gasp I've already started some ORIGINAL work. Lol, can you believe it?
Sarah Noisette – I'll definitely look into Armageddon then. Love that song. Falling in love with? Now just who has stolen your heart? Or is that in the past now and am I behind everything…
HannahLuLu22 – 6 more chapters. And I have 2 more to write until I'm finished. God it's almost been a year since I started.
A Lack of Colour – hey haven't seen an update in a while, I've been waiting. How's the boyfriend or have I not updated in so long that he's in the past now?
sarcastic22 – pleased you like my beta's fic. She'll be happy. I'll try and read your fic but my life is a tad overwhelming at the moment and I'm taking it step by step so it may be a bit.
nimue88 – Yes, I can completely understand what you're saying. The thing is, this entire fic stemmed from me listening to that song and imagining Harry and Ginny in love and in a desert somewhere as a one-shot. And then I thought, let's not just make it a one-shot but a full story. And then I had to think why they would be in a desert in a fic and I came to the conclusion that it was a getaway. And then I thought well why does she need a getaway? And that's how HH came to be. So you see, it was meant to be a simple one-shot but HH popped up instead. That's why it's a bit… random.
Caillion – I'm sorry if you were a bit offended by the miscarriage with Angelina, but everything will be alright for them. Not perfect, but they do get their rainbow.
Naz1 – out of everyone you are always the first on the scene at my LJ, it's very nice to know you're keeping an eye out. I feel a bit bad about GV, you help me so much with everything but then I keep putting it off. But things really have been bad around here for me, I'm kind of having my good days and my bad days. Hope you forgive me.
How I Rescued the Potato Salad – I just had to comment on the lovely, imaginative name. It really is unique, I love it lol
Happynutcase – omg you're back! Finally! How are you, I think I remember Grace telling me that you locked her out of her account or something lol. It made me laugh. Well, just glad you're back and hoping for more reviews.
Well, there you have it. I was just noticing that like in about a month, it would have been a year since I started this fic. Can you believe that? My life has changed completely since then. Anyway, I hope to be finished in a months time as there is only 6 more chappies to go. Love Sede