A/N – Thanks for being so patient, I know my updating is somewhat erratic and I apologise for that. Hopefully you'll understand that I'm finding it a bit hard to do normal routine at the moment and I'm trying my best. Your reviews all made me smile, some cry, they were so sweet and caring. I even got email from some of you which were wonderfully overwhelming. Some of my friends noticed I had a smile on my face for the first time in a while, which was owing to you guys.
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Ch 23 – Hardest Choice
Dedication: cggeek241 & Swishy Willow Wand for getting the Notebook reference in Ch 22. Well done!
> > > > >
you´ve made the hardest choice someone could ever make
you took the hardest step someone could ever take
Backfire - Freedom
> > > >
"I can't take anymore of this, I've literally reached the end of my breaking point," said Hermione to Ron. They were still in the hospital, now not only for Mrs Weasley but for Ginny.
"Why didn't we think that Ginny would come down with the same thing as your Mum?" asked Hermione, brown eyes sad and regretful.
"We don't actually know that Mum and Gin have the same thing," Ron pointed out.
"Come on, Ron, what else do you think it is? They both dropped to the floor with no warning and were barely able to move, Ginny just wasn't complaining of feeling ill beforehand."
"Yeah, well…" Ron shoved his hands into his robes with frustration. It wasn't meant to be like this. Ron wasn't meant to find out the hard way that Ginny and Harry still had that special spark that had gotten them together at Hogwarts all those years ago. Harry wasn't supposed to have to see the person he loved fall to the ground and not be there in time to catch her. Mrs Weasley wasn't supposed to die so young. Mr Weasley shouldn't have to see his family get sick and die before him. Angelina's baby shouldn't have died.
Ginny, now, a few hours later after she had fallen, was lying in a hospital bed in the same condition Mrs Weasley had been in when she had fist gotten sick. She could barely move and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that she has the exact same thing as Mrs Weasley. Which mean she would die, just like Mrs Weasley.
"They've always been the girls of the family, always taking care of all of us," said Ron, looking like he still couldn't believe it. "They've always been there. Ginny; the baby girl. Mum; who just took care of everyone. I just – I just can't see life without them." He glanced at his wife, looking vulnerable. Hermione hugged him close to her, closing her eyes so the tears couldn't sneak out.
" I know," she whispered. "I know."
> > > > > >
Harry walked along the long endless corridor, feeling lost and like he was dreaming. Not now! Ginny couldn't die, not when they had both finally admitted their feelings. Not when they had just gone and fallen in love again.
"I love her…" he whispered in a daze, amazed by this revelation. It was as clear as night and day, he wouldn't love anyone else. Ever. He passed by the waiting room where all of the Weasley's were waiting, he couldn't take seeing their lost and anguished faces again. He couldn't even imagine how it must feel for them to lose the two women of the family. The only two women.
He continued walking – no – wandering down the hall, not seeing clearly. Ginny wasn't allowed visitors yet but the second she was he would be in there by her side and would never leave. He heard murmuring coming from the closest door on the left and realised with a pang it was Mrs Weasley's room. But then who was talking?
Harry shuffled towards the door, wondering who on earth would be talking to someone who couldn't hear or speak back. His eyes widened when he saw Mr Weasley sitting next to his wife's bed and grasping her hand tightly and whispering softly.
"I just want you to know Molly, I'll try my best. I-" Here Mr Weasley choked back a sob and continued. "I never dreamt I'd have to take care of the kids without you, Merlin knows you're better at it than me. But I just want you to know I'll try." Mr Weasley wiped his eyes and stroked his wife's cheek where one of his tears had fallen. "Ginny won't be long after you, you must take care of our baby girl until I get there."
Mr Weasley lent his head down on his wife's breast and sobbed again. "Merlin, I miss you so much. I just wish I could've had the chance to tell you everything I've wanted to before you leave me. How you got more beautiful every year you got older, how you're all I see when I close my eyes, how I love you just as much as I did when we got married – before we got married even. I love you Molly, and I'll miss you." He dropped a kiss on his wife's pale and lifeless lips, tears like pearl drops falling down his face.
Harry had slipped into the room during this and was now trying to make an escape, too embarrassed to let Mr Weasley know he had seen him at his weakest and most vulnerable. He tripped on the door ledge though and made a loud banging noise. Mr Weasley looked up and saw him and Harry held his breath.
Mr Weasley's face broke into a glad, if sad, smile. "Harry, son," he said gently.
"I'm sorry for interrupting…" Harry trailed off, trying to mask the pride and warmth that rose up in him when Mr Weasley called him son even after all these years.
"Nonsense, I was just saying goodbye to Molly." Mr Weasley gave a bitter smile. "It's the fifth goodbye like this I've given her but it still isn't enough, I'll never be able to say goodbye enough times."
Harry nodded, not knowing what to say. He wished he could say something, something to make Mr Weasley, or anyone, smile, even if it was just for a second. Then he wouldn't feel so useless.
Suddenly Mr Weasley furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Say Harry, son, don't you have the World Cup on now?"
Harry's heart stopped. "Bloody hell."
> > > > > >
Harry rushed into the change rooms and frantically began changing into his Quidditch robes. The rest of the team was out in the practice arena, warming up for the game. How could he have forgotten only one of the most important games in Quidditch history? The captain, Greg Muscachev, had almost thrown his broom at him for being late and missing so many trainings. He didn't even try to use the excuse that the family he loved was literally falling to pieces. Quidditch wasn't about excuses or life or friends or family. Quidditch was about the game and being focused, forgetting everything else around you except for your goal. That's why Harry loved it so much, it distracted him from his meaningless life over in Romania.
He pulled on the crisp, clean green robes with Potter woven into the back of it. Now it was time to be "distracted" from all that was going on around him. Now he had to focus on catching the Snitch. Already he could feel himself forgetting about the white, quiet hospital and anticipating the hungry, roaring crowd outside.
Harry grabbed his broom and marched into the training arena, face set and hard. The rest of the team cheered when he walked in, giving him various claps on the back and grinning. Harry acknowledged them with a smile; they obviously had thought he was going to be no-show.
"Well, let's do it then," he said. They all nodded and grabbed their brooms.
The other team was announced first and then all his team mates were called one-by-one. Then, finally, Harry heard his name magnified across the stadium, calling him out.
"AAAAAND, POTTER!"
Harry zoomed out of the waiting area and did a lap of the stadium, feeling the adrenaline rush hit him like an electric bolt as he soared over the roaring and cheering crowd. The load on his heart lifted and he let out a whoop, circling around and doing the customary showing off on his broom. After a few minutes, the din of the crowd faded in his ears, they were still cheering but he was focused on the game now.
The whistle blew and he shot off into the clouds, circling and keeping his eyes wide open. He was one of the most famous Seekers in the world; it wouldn't be good for his reputation if he lost. Greg, his captain, didn't even have to remind him how important this game was in any case. Plus, the Weasley's would be proud of him.
His focus was interrupted as he was reminded of where the Weasley's were now. Harry shook his head, confused. He never got distracted playing Quidditch, it was the one thing he could do with his eyes closed. Apart from sleeping, Harry thought as he bit back a grin. He stopped and hovered in midair for a second, trying to concentrate on the game.
"AND SEEKER HARRY POTTER SEEMS TO HAVE PAUSED TO GATHER HIS WITS. I'M SURE WE'RE ALL EXPECTING TO SEE SOME BRILLIANT MOVIES FROM POTTER TODAY," said the magnified voice that was commentating.
This brought Harry back to awareness and he sped off again, flying down the other side of the stadium while keeping one eye on the other team's Seeker. The other Seeker seemed to be following him, not looking for the Snitch himself but tailing Harry. Harry wasn't bothered, quite a few less trained Seekers did that – sometimes even good ones did.
"WAIT, WAS THAT THE SNITCH?" came the commentator's excited voice. The other Seeker turned and shot in the opposite direction towards the tiny gold sparkle but Harry merely turned and watched the opposition speed off without him.
"Harry! Harry, you idiot! Go after the Snitch!" Greg yelled. Harry shook himself and zoomed off, feeling like a fool. It hadn't even occurred to him to chase the Snitch. Fortunately the Snitch has disappeared again by the time the other Seeker had gotten to the spot where it had been seen.
Harry flew lower now, seeing the other Seeker tailing him again made him concentrate harder. Harry shook his head and prepared to perform the Wronksi Feint and was just pulling into the dive when all of a sudden he realised the other Seeker was diving too. Harry stopped mid-dive and whipped around to see that the other player had pulled out of his dive too.
"AMAZING! BOTH SEEKERS ATTEMPT THE WRONSKI FEINT AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME!" The crowd had gone mad and the blinking flashes of cameras filled the stadium. Harry swore and flew off, agitated.
"Hey, Harry, you all right mate?" said Sera Phindill, the only female on the Quidditch team. She was an excellent Chaser, too. She stopped on her broom beside him, looking worried.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," said Harry, not looking at her.
"Okay, well catch that Snitch," she said, grinning at him before flying off again.
Suddenly, there was a crack of lightening followed by an incredible boom of thunder. The heavens split apart and torrents of rain came shooting downwards. Harry muttered a quick weather charm on his glasses and kept flying. He was already soaking wet. Now it would be even more impossible to catch the Snitch. Harry could now barely see the other players the rain was so heavy.
His mind drifted to Ginny, wondering if she was awake yet. Maybe she was staring out her window at the rain, wondering where he was just like he was wondering how she was. Or maybe she was just lying in her bed, not seeing anything properly because whatever sickness she had prevented her from doing anything like –
"Harry, you dolt! What the hell is the matter with you? The Snitch just flew right by you!" Greg was going insane, his face was bright red and he looked like he was about to kill him.
"What?" Harry was brought back to reality with a bang and he breathed a sigh of relief when he realised the other team's Seeker still hadn't caught it despite Harry's daydreaming.
"Potter, snap out of it or you're going to cost us this game!" Greg yelled. Harry threw him an apologetic look and kept going, feeling even more idiotic.
"POTTER SEEMS TO BE A BIT OUT OF IT TODAY, HOPEFULLY THIS WON'T AFFECT THE REST OF THE TEAM TOO MUCH. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BETS ON THE ROCKETS WINNING, POTTER HAD BETTER PULL THROUGH. AS YOU ALL KNOW FOLKS, POTTER WAS BORN AND BRED IN ENGLAND. THIS IS HIS HOME COUNTRY AND THIS WAS EVEN HIS HOME STADIUM BEFORE HE LEFT TO JOIN THE ROMANIAN ROCKETS SIX YEARS AGO!"
The rain was almost hurting Harry it was coming down so hard, he couldn't hear or see anything except for the rain. But somehow the commentator's voice pierced his ears as clear as a bell. His home. His home was here in England, with the Weasley's, Diagon Alley, Hermione and Ron, the Burrow and with Ginny. What was he doing playing Quidditch while the people he thought of as family waited inside a hospital for their loved ones to die?
And in that instant Harry realised that if he never played professional Quidditch again that he wouldn't care in the slightest. Since coming back to England, he'd realised there were many more things more important to him than playing sport and the main thing was love. He didn't even care if he lost this game and his reputation was ruined because he wouldn't be going back to Romania again.
And now nothing was more important to him than getting to Ginny and telling her all this. Telling her he was going to stay here and that he would love her and that –
"HARRY!"
Harry opened his eyes and gave a cry. The Snitch was zooming towards him from across the pitch, almost like he had called it to him. It was headed straight to him, directed right at his nose and it wasn't changing its course. Bolting right behind the tiny golden ball, however, was the other Seeker and his face was set and hard. He was determined to get to the ball before Harry.
"Shit." Harry was paralysed, he couldn't move even if he wanted to. He was rooted to the spot in midair. The roaring of the crowd was just a bee buzzing in his ear and all he could see was the Snitch zooming right at him and the other Seeker bent close to his broom right behind it.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Harry slowly lifted his hand up to catch the tiny ball but the other team's Seeker barrelled into him with a crash, making him see stars. Harry was knocked off his broom and so was the other player. The rest of the game was frozen in position, watching the two Seekers fall. They both fell towards toward the ground from high up in the air and it seemed to take years but it was only a few seconds. All Harry knew was that he wasn't holding the Snitch, which only meant one thing. The other Seeker had gotten the ball and that he had lost.
The pain he felt when he hit the ground was so intense it felt only like dull ache in the back of his mind. He was too dazed to move or speak. The other Seeker was already up and looking furious despite bloody cuts and scraped on him. He was limping; too, Harry was glad to see. The rest of the team landed on the ground, Harry's team surrounding him with anxious faces.
"Harry, are you all right?"
"Merlin, that was some fall!"
Voices surrounded him, pulling and tugging at him relentlessly. He couldn't even speak; there was an odd thumping in his arm. A mediwizard was standing in front of him and he was reminded of that time in second year with Professor Lockhart.
"Harry, can you move?"
"- or speak?"
Pain, agonising pain. He didn't even know who was speaking, just that his whole body felt like it had been run over by a truck. The crowd was gasping and groaning. His arm was still thumping and he grimaced in pain. And then the other Seeker yelled something that made his heart stop.
"Where is it? Where in Merlin's name is the bloody Snitch?"
"ASTONISHING! IT SEEMS THAT EVEN AFTER THAT THE SNITCH STILL HASN'T BEEN FOUND!" the commentator sounded shocked and the rest of the crowd sat there with their mouths open.
Harry closed his eyes, the Snitch hadn't been found but there was no way he was going to be able to find it in this condition. Already the other Seeker was scanning the stadium from where he was standing; his broom was clutched in his hand as he looked for the Snitch. His arm was still thumping like it had been wrenched from its socket.
A few moments later he was floating in the air on a stretcher, faceless voices calling him. The Snitch! He wanted to yell. The Snitch still hasn't been caught! But he had no strength.
"Harry, can you answer me?"
"Yes, Harry croaked.
"Can you remember your name?" asked the mediwizard.
"Yes, Harry Potter. It's not my head that hurts, it's my arm."
"Okay, here?" asked the mediwizard, feeling his shoulder.
"Yes," said Harry weakly.
"All right, just lie still now," said the mediwizard.
Harry's arm was still throbbing, no – no it was bouncing. Almost like… no. Harry's heart stopped with hope.
"Excuse me, my arm is bouncing," said Harry.
The mediwizard chuckled, "Yes, sometimes it does feel that way but-"
"No, there's something in my sleeve!" Harry whispered.. "Could you please lift my sleeve?"
"Rambling," said the mediwizard but he willingly lifted up Harry's sleeve. Harry reached across with his good arm and felt into his sleeve up to his elbow. His fingers closed on something small and cold.
"I caught it," he whispered. "I caught the Snitch."
Greg came over, looking beaten. "What was that?"
"I caught it."
Greg stopped moving and then threw himself on top of Harry, squeezing him to death.
"We won!" he yelled, tears coming down his face. "We won the World Cup!"
Thousands of flashes went off around him and the rest of the team was screaming and jumping up and down on the spot. He heard reporters asking him questions and people shouting and shrieking and dancing.
But all Harry could think about was Ginny.
> > > > > >
Harry strode into St Mungo's still in his Quidditch robes, sopping wet and his arm in a sling. The mediwizard had fixed it but said it would be a bit tender for the rest of the day. He hadn't gone to the after party to celebrate, despite countless people begging him to. He had taken off right after the game, only stopping so the mediwizard could fix his arm. He had declined any interviews and congratulations. All that mattered to him was that he get back to Ginny.
The receptionist let out a squeak when she saw him and almost fell off her chair. Harry gave her a weak smile and she looked like she was having a dream. Harry Potter, only twenty minutes after winning the World Cup, had walked into St Mungo's on her shift with never a warning.
"Do you need any help?" she asked, stammering as she looked at him.
"No, thanks," said Harry and he continued walking.
Just as he thought, the Weasley's were all sitting in the waiting room, just where he had left them.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, standing up. Everyone else looked up too, their eyes widening when they saw Harry's state.
"We heard about the game mate, bloody brilliant. Are you all right?"
"Yeah, the mediwizard fixed me up," said Harry. Everyone came over to clap him on the back and hug him, or said congratulations from where they were sitting.
"Well done, mate. We knew you'd do it," said George.
"Sorry we couldn't be there, you know we would have except for…" Ron shrugged sadly and gestured in the direction of Mrs Weasley and Ginny.
"It's fine, I understand."
"Shouldn't you be out celebrating, Harry?" Bill asked. "You deserve it, after winning the World Cup.
Harry looked at him. "How am I supposed to celebrate when you guys are sitting in a hospital? I want to be here."
Mr Weasley patted him on the shoulder and there was a look of pride in the old man's eyes. "Thank son. That means a lot to us."
Harry nodded; glad that he had come even more now.
"Is anyone in with Ginny?"
"Only Hermione. You should go up and see her. She just woke up but she's a little tired and can't really speak."
Harry nodded and left, walking up to Ginny's room. He could hear Hermione talking before he had even reached the door, speaking in her everything-is-normal-and-fine tone. He stepped into the doorway and watched Hermione speaking clearly to Ginny's silent form.
"Well, the weather is horrible today and just think, Harry was playing Quidditch in it! I'll bet it was some game to watch, I heard all about over the wireless. Harry won though, he fell off his broom in the middle of the air and everyone thought he was a dead for a few seconds! And then everyone was really upset because they thought he had lost the Snitch but it turned out that it had gotten caught in his sleeve. The crowd went ecstatic when Harry pulled it out."
Ginny mumbled something.
"No, he wasn't hurt. Well, yes, he was but I don't think it was too serious because he's out celebrating now. He deserves it after a match like that," said Hermione.
Harry stepped in the door and closed it behind him. Hermione looked up and her eyes widened.
"Harry!"
She got up and ran over to him, wrapping him a tight hug. "What on earth are you doing here? You should be out celebrating!"
"Some things are more important than celebrating," said Harry as he stared at Ginny's still form.
Hermione gave him a secret smile and she nudged him in the direction of the bed. "Well, get to it then," she said before giving him a final hug and exiting the room.
Harry went and sat by Ginny. Her red hair was strewn across the pillow like red silk and her skin very pale – porcelain like. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing lightly through her parted lips. He reached out and held her hand in his.
"Hey," he whispered.
She opened her eyes partly and looked at him. She smiled and then grimaced at the pain this caused her. "You look… like hell," she whispered as she took in his mussed up hair, wet robes and his arm in a sling.
"Yeah, well, you don't look too hot yourself," said Harry, smiling back at her fondly. He was teasing her though; she always looked beautiful to him, even on the verge of death.
"… won… Quidditch?" she asked, closing her eyes again.
"Yes, completely by chance, though. I couldn't believe it was in my sleeve."
"… idiot," she said, trying to smile again.
Harry shook his head in mock offence. "Hey, we won, didn't we?"
"… should be… celebrating…" she whispered.
"I don't need to, not if I have you," said Harry intently.
Ginny opened her eyes again and looked at him, that one glance telling him how glad she was he was here. She slowly moved her hand and patted the bed, asking him to come closer. Harry squeezed her hand gently and slowly, with difficulty, he eased his way onto the bed until he was lying down beside her.
"I love you," said Harry, still holding her hand.
"… love you… too."
They were silent for a few minutes, Harry lost in thought and Ginny gathering up her strength to speak again.
"... Jason…" she began with difficulty.
"What about him?" Harry asked, suddenly on alert.
"… broke it… off."
"You – you what?"
"I… told him ev-everything…"
Harry didn't say anything, words didn't belong here now. He held her closer to him and stroked her hair as she closed her eyes again. They lay their together and eventually Ginny fell asleep in his arms.
> > > > > >
When she awoke, it was dark. Harry was gone from her side and she felt alone without his presence next to her. Ginny could still smell traces of his scent lingering in the air and she breathed in deeply, wishing he was still here. A sharp barb of pain pricked in her head and she winced, groaning.
Her door was closed but she could tell the hospital was silent and dark apart from the occasional white-robed Healer who came around checking up on things. She guessed her family was still sleeping in the waiting room and her heart went out to them. After all this, there would be no more female Weasley's, apart from the ones who had married into the family and Sabine.
Ginny lay awake, not knowing what was keeping her eyes from closing. The pain was enough to make her want to curl up and die now. Surprisingly, the fact that she was going to die didn't scare her. It was just a general feeling of regret. Most of all, she regretted she was never going to have a life with Harry. They both had wasted so much time being foolish that now there was no time to love each other. They had only just emptied out their feelings from the bottom of their hearts and now she was going to have to leave him.
It just wasn't fair.
Harry's face came into her mind, the way it had looked this afternoon when she had told him that she had broke it off with Jason. Like he couldn't believe it. She had wanted to cry and hug and kiss him because of that look but she hadn't the strength. Ginny fingered her engagement ring now, twisting it around her finger until it came off. She put it down on the blankets beside her; it was of no use to her now.
She stared up at the ceiling, little thoughts coming into her brain. She was never going to see her little cottage again, never going to have a Butterbeer with an old friend, never going to… She was never going to live. It was hard having the rest of you life ripped from under your feet and having nothing to stand on.
A light at the end of her bed made her look straight ahead. A light. Oh Merlin, she was going to die now! She couldn't tell Harry one last time that she loved him! She couldn't see her family all together for that one last time!
"Not now, please not now," Ginny whispered.
The light was getting brighter, but oddly enough, she didn't actually feel like she was dying. Sure, she was in pain but not like she was about to die. The light began to take on a form, almost like a… a…
No.
But there she was, sitting on the end of Ginny's bed as calm as you please. She looked almost the same, the same blonde hair and grey eyes. But now those eyes were timeless and that pale skin was ageless. She was taller, impossibly so; she seemed to take up the entire room. Or maybe that was the huge, white wings behind her. She looked like something out of a dream; Ginny thought that if she were to touch her, her hand would go straight through like there was nothing there.
She looked Divine and beautiful.
"Hello, Ginny. It's been a while." The French accent was gone, replaced by a deep motherly tone which seemed too wise for her beautiful face. Her voice was calm and deep, clear and ringing. Where was the sweet little blonde girl from Hogwarts?
"… Louise," Ginny managed out. Louise gave her a look of sorrow and reached over and gently placed her hand on Ginny's forehead. Instantly, the pain was gone. Ginny felt like a brand new person. The relief of feeling no pain filled her up, it was so weird feeling no hurt.
"Am I healed?" she asked in amazement.
Louise's ageless face looked on her with pity. "I can't heal you, Ginny. I've only blocked the pain from reaching your brain. It's still there, but your brain can't process it while I'm here. As soon as I leave though…" Louise stopped and gave Ginny a sad smile.
"Oh." Ginny lay still, wishing with all her heart she would never have to experience that pain again.
"I'm sorry."
"Where have you been? Haven't you – have you seen what's happening in my life?" Ginny tried not to be angry but she couldn't help it. Her mother was going to die and she would follow soon after and Louise had done nothing. Louise hadn't even helped with the little things that had gone wrong. "Why haven't you been here for me?"
Louise didn't look hurt that Ginny was angry at her. "You remember what I told you in that letter, Ginny, I can only help you once in your life and that one time has been used up. I watch you every day and I feel your pain-"
"How can you know my pain? You don't know anything about pain," said Ginny bitterly.
"- because I'm connected to you in every way. I share every feeling of joy and sadness and laughter and despair that you have," continued Louise quietly.
"So how can you just sit there looking down at me, if you feel everything I do? How can you just sit there calmly while my life fell to pieces? Why did you take so long to come and see me, why do you only come to me now? On my deathbed?" Tears were running down Ginny's cheeks and she didn't bother to wipe them away.
Louise had tears running down her cheeks too, just like Ginny. For some reason this only made Ginny cry harder, knowing that Louise spoke the truth when she said she felt everything Ginny did.
"I came to tell you something," said Louise, speaking normally in spite of the tears. "It may be the hardest choice you'll ever make."
Ginny looked away and stared at the wall. "What is it?"
Louise gazed at her. "The feather, Ginny, the healing feather I gave you."
The feather. Ginny thought back to when she had last seen it. Oh yes, that time after Hermione had said she was barren and they had been cleaning out Ginny's room. Hermione had lifted up the feather and asked what it was and she had…
Oh Merlin.
"The feather! The feather healed Hermione! She was barren but then she mysteriously became fertile again, which was impossible!"
Louise nodded slowly, like one would to a small child just figuring out their sums.
Ginny felt her heart beat faster. If what Louise was saying was right she could save herself! She could save her Mum!
"So if it healed Hermione, then it – it can heal Mum and… and me." Ginny was breathing heavily. She needed that feather right now.
Louise looked heartbroken. "Oh Ginny…" she said softly.
"What? What's wrong?"
"The feather can only be used to heal three times."
"Well, that's fine," said Ginny, breathing a sigh of relief. "I've only used it once, well, Hermione used it."
"No, remember your cold? The last day of your sixth year? The feather healed you then and then Hermione now which means there's only one more time you can use it. Only one more person it can heal… or save."
Grief hit Ginny like a freight train. It may be the hardest choice you'll ever make. She had to choose. She had to choose between her mother and herself to live.
Louise held Ginny's hand and looked at her with sympathy. "It's going to be hard but in the end Ginny, you'll come to a decision." She was disappearing, the light surrounding her slowly dimming.
"Wait! Can't you just give me another feather?"
Louise shook her head, her features blurring as her light faded. "I'm always going to be here, Ginny, watching over you. Even when you think I've looked away, I'll be right there."
And then she was gone, almost like a dream, a ghost. And in her place lay a single, familiar feather. Along with the pain Ginny had been relieved of for so little time.
Ginny stared at it and began making her choice.
If I could answer all of you personally, it would be a dream come true. As it is, it always takes me at least an hour and a half for review replies and normally I wouldn't put myself through that but I've just become so close to you guys that it's natural for me to want to talk to you and ask how you're going etc. So please please PLEASE don't be offended if you only get a name, it's nothing personal at all. I'm simply exhausted and… yeah. For all those who wished me well and to get better a huge thankyou is in order. So, yes, thankyou so much, I really hope you know how much it meant to me. Now read that carefully because I do mean it.
So thanks to: kareema, lonesome-love, Demon Eyes, Queen Tigress, IndiaInk, mello80, VoicezWithin, gatoriris, HarryPotters-angel, Isabielle, HpC0ldplay, sakura1221, hye em yes, silversneverbeenbetter, xiaoxiao, sunlitmist, caillion, michaelrccurtis, Happynutcase, dubtheeunforgiven, Smile88, glittericous, Harrys Lover, Yali, hershykat, FluffyPinkSlippers, harrysmom, QueenY C, squashia, pink-helga, Ginny Weasley, Hamza, kpxiceboi, odd-ball, Lil Lillian, Ana, whatsrollin, midnightdreaming, Taka, iluvng, Harry kid, twrlgrl790,
Hpflowergirl – happy to hear you're writing a fanfic, hows that coming along?
JeckyS. – That's a beautiful quote, I wrote it down I liked it so much. Could you ask her if it would be alright if I used it please? I'm not sure, but I might.
HannahLulu22 – Glad you like the What About Me song. I'm so pleased you like the sound of Tiny Dancer! I've been planning it for a while now and I was tempted to put HH and my LJ on hold just to start it but that was a bit silly. But it is going to a fantastic fic, I just have this feeling inside me that I've never had before about it.
Sarah Noisette – don't you worry, I'll email you while on my break or MSN. I loved you poem, it did make me :) I'm glad you love me fic so much and go straight to it when you see it in your inbox. That's very encouraging to hear, I may have some talent after all. Lol.
azkaban712 – I guarantee you'll be ending this fic with a smile of joy. Guarantee.
Stargazerlois – I'd thought you'd gone and disappeared. Thanks very much for those words of sympathy, they were very kind. It truly does, I invoke no cliché here, mean a lot.
BillC – I, too, registered because of another fanfic writer. Not only because I wanted to leave a signed review but because she inspired me so much to first write WAM. Thanks very much for the advice, I'll work on that. It won't come into effect because the story is almost finished but I'll try it out on my next fic.
Akemi – I can understand where you're coming from about George and Harry being angry but don't you think there are bigger problems happening at the moment? Don't you think they're more concerned about Mrs Weasley or Ginny or things like that? Something like getting angry over that would just be petty, they're together now again so it doesn't matter. It might get a mention later though, just for you. ;)
Mannaxo – I'll try to have a look when I can, honest!
Naz1 – gosh, you're always here aren't you? Like a rock. (in a good way) I can always count on you for being there when the going gets tough with a little email or a not in my lj or a great review. I don't think I thank you enough. I had a quick readover on GV, but I didn't have the time to write anything down - I barely even time for HH anymore!
GiGiFanfic – Thankyou very much, it means much to hear you say that. Long distance love gladly received.
Granger's Twin – Very glad to see you again and thankyou.
Sarcastic22 – Thanks very much for the email, made it more personal. Hopefully this ch answered your questions?
Shadyday9 – That story hit home for me, I'm glad things didn't turn out like that for me. I'm sorry for Kristin though, I hope she's getting better.
BabyRose129 – All the way from Texas is pretty lucky, glad to see you reviewing again. And thanks for the support.
A Lack of Colour – hey sweetie, hows your fic going? I haven't seen an update in a while… Thanks heaps. Nice knowing I made you cry (in a good way) because I believe only truly powerful writers can do that which makes me feel a bit good about myself. ;)
Dk Lili – I think Jason's reaction was pretty strong, I was somewhat reminded of Sweet Home Alabama when Melanie (I think that's her name) leaves him at the altar.
Musicsage – thanks heaps, that means a lot.
Dracoisahottie13 – did it really seem like I was rushing it? Hmm. Well, tell me if I did the same with this chappie k?
CrazedChipmunk – Hope this answered questions about the feather.
Swishy Willow Wand – glad to see another Notebook fan. As soon as I saw the movie I read the book and as soon as I read the book I read all the rest of his books. They are all so beautiful, Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember are also movies based on books by him. Excellent movies and books that made me cry.
Goldilocks31890 – right about now
Some of you were finally figuring out the feather hadn't played its full part yet, so this would've answered questions about Hermione being barren and then suddenly pregnant. So what's Ginny going to do? Herself or Mrs Weasley? Until next time… Love Sede