Last chapter:

You have already saved me, my child. You must remember that even angels fall.

And she felt a feather light touch on her forehead and Ginny felt the light plunge into her soul.

Then she felt no more.

Ch 26 – Think Twice

A/N – hey guys, sorry about the wait. I've been in hospital (nothing serious don't worry) and my life is rivalling a tv soap at the moment and I think it's affecting my writing in a kinda negative way. I'm not so sure about this chapter, but it's the 3rd last chapter and I'm too tired to redo it lol. The last 2 chapters aren't written yet, well bits and pieces are…

- - - - - - - -

Don't say what you're about to say

Look back before you leave my life

Be sure before you close that door

Before you roam most guys

Baby, think twice

Celine Dion – Think Twice

- - - - - - - -

Drowsiness. Faces swam before her half-opened eyes and she blinked with difficulty. A river of colours seemed to be twisting around her head and tightening into a knot. Ginny coughed and her head spun, the faces became clearer. Someone was calling out her name. What was happening to her? She opened her eyes wider, trying to see.

"Who is it?" She yelled out.

Silence met her call and she realised she had been imagining the faces and voices. That wasn't really a good sign. They were gone now, though, and in their place there was an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion and weakness. Ginny opened her eyes properly now, blinking rapidly. The room was dim and empty; not a sign of life except for her. She tried to move her arm to find her wand but she was too weak to even do that. Where was everyone? Where was her family? Maybe they didn't know she was awake. Ginny groaned and slowly rolled over to face the door. Closed.

"H-hello?" she tried to yell out, but it only came out as a soundless dry rasp. Ginny cleared her throat and licked her chapped lips.

"Is anyone there?" she called again, crossing her fingers and listening. No answer. Ginny took a deep breath and slowly sat up, wincing at the pain. She whimpered and sunk back down into the pillows. "Please…" she groaned. Wasn't she supposed to be dying?

And then it hit her. Mum! She was alive and… Ginny faltered. Was her Mum dead or had the feather worked? It didn't matter now how tired she was, she had to get to her mother's room. She sat up again and paused while the room spun. Then she slowly swung her legs off the bed and began the first shaky steps to the door.

The door opened before she reached it, however, and a plump, curly haired Healer walked in. She stopped dead when she saw Ginny and let out a sharp cry. Ginny flapped her hand almost impatiently, still staggering toward the door. The Healer rushed to her side.

"I have to see my mother," said Ginny, continuing to attempt reaching the door.

"You're mother…" the Healer echoed her words in a dazed sort of way, curls bouncing as she gave her arm to Ginny. "Well, that makes two miracles."

"You mean…?" Ginny bit her lip, wishing with all her heart that that meant one thing.

The Healer broke into a smile. "Your mother will be mighty pleased, Miss, she woke up the morning after you… well, after you went into a coma." Ginny went limp with relief and would've fallen to the ground if the somewhat bemused Healer hadn't caught her.

"Maybe you should go back to bed while I go get your family," suggested the Healer. Ginny started to argue but didn't see the point since her legs had already given up. She nodded and was lead back to the bed. There was a knock at the door and a man in a green robe walked in. He saw Ginny and frowned.

"Oh, hmm, I must be in the wrong room." He looked quizzically at the Healer and glanced down at his clipboard. "Weasley? Do you know what room she's in?" The Healer had the look on her face of being the only one who knew a particular bit of juicy gossip and was about to tell everyone; a gleeful sort of perplexity. She pointed wordlessly at Ginny lying on the bed.

The man stared at Ginny for a good fifteen seconds before turning to the Healer and asking her calmly to go inform the patient's family. After the Healer had left, the man locked the door and came to stand by the bed.

"Your family has had this hospital in a frenzy for the past few weeks now," he observed, feeling her forehead. Ginny blinked up at him, not answering. He had a nice fatherly face, large round glasses, and a bald patch. A natural quirk at the corners of his mouth hid beneath his moustache. Ginny felt instantly at ease with him and so she smiled shyly.

He smiled back and said, "I'm Healer Forwick, I've been taking care of you while you've been in a coma. I'll just need to check up on a few things and then you can –" A rapping on the door interrupted.

"Ginny? Ginny! Excuse me, let me in!" Mrs Weasley's voice could be heard as clear as if it was in the room it was so loud. Healer Forwick raised his eyebrows and continued.

"– see your family after I'm done." Ginny nodded, darting a glance at the door. She had felt a warm feeling envelop her when she had heard her mother's voice, the Healer had said she was fine but actually hearing her speak had convinced Ginny. There was another loud knocking and some shrill voices and one voice trying to soothe them. Healer Forwick spoke over the noise to her, giving no sign he was hearing the it. He checked her all over, not saying a word or giving away anything in his expression.

"Do you feel fine?" Ginny shook her head. "Do you feel how you felt before you went into a coma?" he pressed. She shook her head again and thought.

"I feel… tired – no, exhausted and every time I move I feel dizzy."

He frowned and lifted an eyebrow. He seemed to do that a lot, Ginny noticed. "What about that needle-like pain in your head?" he asked, eyebrows still raised.

Ginny furrowed her own eyebrows. No, no there wasn't. And it was then she realised how, for the past few weeks, she had been living with a constant headache and strain. She hadn't noticed it with all that was going on, but now that it wasn't there she noticed it. It really was gone. Despite feeling tired and weak, her head felt much lighter.

"No," she said slowly, moving her hand to touch her head almost like in a dream. "No, there's no pain." He smiled at her and scribbled into his clipboard.

"Any reason why you think you woke up fine?"

Yeah, believe it or not my guardian angel sacrificed herself. "No," answered Ginny. He wrote something down again.

He stood up properly afterwards. "I'm writing a book on strange medical cases and I was wondering if I could put your case in the book, how you and your mother mysteriously became better." He sounded very hopeful, unlike the brusque, business-like tone of a few seconds ago.

"Sure, but can I ask why – could you please tell me why my mum was affected before I was? I mean, we were both at Gringotts at the same time."

"Well, I've actually spoken about this with the Board of Goblins and they claim that your mother walked into the gassing room before you did and also, obviously, inhaled more. As far as I'm concerned, it was as simple as that," replied the Healer.

"Anyway," he was back to the brusque tone now, "I imagine your family will want to speak to you." He threw an amused glance at the door, where a fresh bout of knocking had started. He nodded and packed up his things, then paused suddenly. "Your eyes are quite… amazing." Ginny blinked in surprise at the comment as he turned to the door and opened it. Her family didn't come in one-by-one, they came in a wave. A wave of Weasley's, a wave that enveloped her bed and didn't let her go until she forgot all about the doctor's comment.

Trying not cry, Ginny hugged each of her family in turn and together, as well as Cath and Colin and Harry. Such reunions cannot be described accurately to show the pure emotion and love that can be seen and felt in these moments; it is not possible. Ginny wept more than a couple of times, as did the rest of her family (though the males were better at hiding it). Everybody thought the crying was over when Mrs Weasley burst into a fresh lot of tears, holding Mr Weasley and Ginny's hands as tightly as she could.

Ginny gave a weak smile, remembering and blessing her mother's tendency to overreact and be somewhat dramatic. Merlin, how glad she was to be alive! She gave her mother's hand another squeeze, her eyes watering again. It was then that the doctor's comment was explained.

"Ginny! What's with your eyes?" exclaimed Angelina, her eyes wide.

Ginny frowned, searching automatically for a mirror. Eyes? What could possibly be wrong with her eyes? The rest of her family was peering into her face and gasping now.

"Wow, I didn't even notice…" mused Penny.

"Does that mean it's not that noticeable then?" asked Ginny, still searching for a mirror of some sort. She was feeling dizzy again and was forced to stop moving. No one noticed; they were too busy staring at her eyes. Ginny felt tempted to close them.

Wordlessly, Hermione conjured up a mirror and handed to Ginny. She took the mirror and stared into it and dropped the mirror instantly, as if burned. How on earth? She – she – this wasn't… possible. It was like staring at a different person. Like staring at Louise – into Louise. Her eyes, usually a warm brown, were now an unearthly shade of grey.

Unearthly in the sense that they were glowing. Ginny blinked, expecting – hoping – they would go back to their same old brown, but she was disappointed. She looked helplessly around at her family, knowing she couldn't explain. How could she? How could she tell them that an angel was inside herself, had sacrificed herself for Ginny?

"I…" Ginny trailed off lamely, confused. She picked up the mirror and stared into it again, it was like Louise's face and her own had merged and this was the result.

"Maybe it was a side effect of the illness," offered Charlie, still searching his sister's face.

"… Of the illness," echoed Ginny.

Ginny looked down at the bed, wanting to avoid more curious looks, just as Bill strode into the room, wearing a triumphant yet worn-out expression. His face broke into a smile when he saw Ginny and he hugged her fiercely a couple of times before standing up properly.

"Why the look of victory, brother?" asked George.

Bill grinned again and spread his arms out. "Got my job back, didn't even have to beg."

"That's wonderful!" exclaimed Fleur, wrapping her husband in a hug and kissing him. Ginny thanked her brother for distracting everyone from her eyes and she glanced away – and stared right into Harry's own eyes. Merlin, she wanted to hug and kiss him and not let him go all in the same moment. But something in his eyes, as well as her own weakness, stopped her. She would speak to him later, alone. They'd talk about everything.

The look in his eyes troubled her but she smiled at him and was relieved to see him smile back. She turned back to Bill, smiling for her oldest brother and protector.

"Dear me, everything's happening all at once." Mrs Weasley fanned herself with one hand and sat down.

Arthur instantly went to stand beside his wife, concern for her showing in his eyes. "Don't strain yourself, Molly, dear. You're still getting better."

"Nonsense, Arthur, I'm absolutely fine," was the only respond to his concern, however. Mrs Weasley turned back to Ginny. "Now, back to those eyes…"

- - - - -

Ginny awoke the following morning, feeling much better and no longer dizzy. Yesterday had been so tiring and long that now, the next day, it seemed just like a blur of faces and emotions. Healers checking up on her, making sure she really was fine, friends and family constantly around her, news reporters hoping to catch an exclusive interview; she was really quite tired.

Jason had been one of the friends who had visited her, even though he had only stayed for about ten minutes. It had been awkward but she was able to hug him easily enough when he was leaving. Her last regrets of not marrying Jason followed him and vanished as he walked out the door. She was free now; her life was beginning again – with Harry.

She hadn't actually seen Harry since yesterday after waking up; he'd been busy sorting things out with starting his Auror training. At least, that's what he had told Mrs Weasley to tell Ginny, as he hadn't told her himself. She was disappointed he hadn't sent even an owl, but, she concluded, he was busy. Not that she'd had much time anyway, and when she did she was sleeping or staring at her eyes.

Ginny yawned and stretched, feeling wonderful, though still a little tired. The Healers had been puzzled that Mrs Weasley had made a complete recovery after waking and Ginny had still felt ill. But what really puzzled them were her eyes. They had been muttering under their breath while checking on her that it "wasn't natural" and "decidedly strange." Ginny agreed that they weren't the most normal eyes on earth. They were kind of luminous, which gave her this faraway and dreamy look while, at the same time, a very intense stare. It was the first thing noticed about her now.

The doctors were leaving her alone now and Ginny kept looking at the door, wishing Harry would just walk through the door and take her into his arms. Nothing was complicated anymore, everything was slowly going back to normal and everybody was happy. So why wasn't he here?

A knock at the door startled her and she turned to see all of her family pile in. She smiled, but noticed Harry wasn't with them.

"Hey Gin, glad you're awake. Colin wanted to tell us all something." Fred yawned and ruffled his already messy red hair. "Don't know why he couldn't wait, insisted we go to your room now. He should be here any –"

"Hello, guys." Colin had entered the room and was holding a large envelope in his hands. Cath followed closely at his heels. Ginny wondered, like Fred, what was so important that it couldn't wait.

"Sorry this is so early," began Colin, looking sheepish, "but I just couldn't wait." He paused for effect, looking around the room until his gaze landed on Ginny. He walked over and handed her the envelope and she mutely took it from his hands.

"What-?" she began.

"Something I've been working on these past few weeks," modestly answered Colin, sounding nervous. Cath squeezed his hand encouragingly.

Ginny noticed the hand squeeze but didn't say anything, just opened the envelope. She was really surprised when she slid out a calendar for the upcoming year. She looked up at Colin and then looked back down and realised what it was.

St Mungo's Hospital Calendar

The heart of St Mungo's

And there, on the front cover, was the picture of all of the Weasley family asleep in the waiting room, aside from Angelina. It was the most beautiful and touching photo Ginny had ever seen. She pressed her fingers to her mouth and closed her eyes.

"Do you like it?" Colin was anxious.

"Thankyou," was all Ginny said as everyone crowded around to have a look. She gave Colin a look that conveyed just how much she liked it.

"I was going to put that photo for December, the time for families, but my boss saw that photo and wanted it to be on the front cover." Colin was smiling now, looking pleased with his work.

Ginny flipped through the months: there was one of a mother hugging a child with forks for fingers (the child was trying to dig the forks into her arms to stop his mother squeezing him so hard), one of Harry dripping wet in his World Cup Quidditch robes running up the St Mungo's stairs (to Ginny, no doubt), the picture of Tommy Peterson zooming around in his toy broomstick for April (Ginny knew the meaning behind this – April Fools), some elderly people playing Exploding Snap (the cards were exploding and all of them were ducking for cover) and various other photos.

Ginny thanked Colin again, smiling at him gratefully as she passed the calendar to Mrs Weasley. She knew just how long he had spent on this calendar; had waited right up until the deadline to get the perfect photos. She felt she knew St Mungo's so well now, thanks to spending so much time there lately.

"You're welcome. You should see how well they're selling already! People love them so much that we've had to make more, I think it's because you guys are on the front. It's a huge success." Colin was ecstatic, he looked like he was about to start bouncing. They admired for a while longer until Colin apologised because he had to go sign some copies of the calendar.

"You were asked to sign some of them?" George looked amused by this, which only heightened Colin's embarrassment. He had obviously been forced into it.

"It's only for publicity," protested Colin modestly, blushing.

"Oh." George held a hand to his forehead. "Only for publicity!"

"Any chance of you signing one for us, Colin?" Fred said seriously.

"Uh…" Colin looked suspicious.

"We really do want one," put in George.

"Yeah, honest."

"Truly."

"Sincerely. Perhaps a signed photo as well?"

"Excellent," said Fred, not waiting for an answer.

"We better get ourselves spiffed up, dear brother, Colin's a big man now – we don't want to bring him down by looking scruffy."

Colin was backing towards the door. "There is a big line and I can't really be late."

"A big line? Well it's very kind of you to let us skip to the front, we appreciate it a lot." George's serious face had been replaced by a huge grin.

"Fred, George, sit down," Mrs Weasley scolded firmly. Ginny hid a smile, no matter how old the twins were, they always listened to their mother in the end – it was the way it always had been. Sure enough, the twins backed down with identical smirks.

After Colin and Cath exited the room (Colin at more of a run), Ron burst out, "Is there something going on between those two?"

"Honestly, Ronald. Must you interfere with everyone's business?" Mrs Weasley had turned her beady eye from Fred and George to Ron.

Ron grumbled to himself and cast a look at Ginny who couldn't help but giggle. Maybe, just maybe things hadn't changed so much.

- - - - -

Ginny looked around her living room and gave a contented sigh. Two days later and just out of hospital, Mrs Weasley tried to convince her daughter to stay at the Burrow for a few days to "recover." Ginny could see past the feigning, though, and knew that her mother just wanted her around. But home was calling her and it was time she returned to a normal life.

Well, maybe not so normal. Despite family life being fairly back to normal, her personal life was a far cry from what it used to be, thanks to mainly Bree Warren. She'd forgotten how much she loved her little cottage and its little garden and its pure essence of just being her home. Her garden had been sorely neglected however, but it wasn't so bad that she couldn't fix it. Thank goodness her neighbour had watered it a few times. But Ginny had her job to think about: what she was going to do now, what she and Harry were going to do.

She wasn't too worried about her job, now that she had it back. She needed to figure out what to do about Bree Warren – nothing was going to stop her writing more horrible articles about Ginny. Or about Ginny and Harry. Ginny frowned when Harry came to mind. He had only visited her twice in hospital after her recovery, and her denial allowed her to think that he was just really busy. But she knew something was up. What was wrong with him she intended to find out, but that would have to wait. She had to work out a few things first.

A tap at the window startled her and she turned to see her owl, Lou, hovering outside the window impatiently. Ginny walked over to the window slowly because she was still sick from the gas and occasionally still felt dizzy. Lou hooted as he flew in and gracefully landed on the arm of the couch. A letter was attached to his leg and Ginny went to read it.

Dear Ginny,

I hope you're feeling at least a little better. You seemed better yesterday when we visited you. Well, I thought you might want your owl back, now that you're home again. I must say, he's quite intelligent. If he wanted to go out at night he would somehow unlock his cage and fly out one of the open windows or bother us until we opened one! Well, I'll drop by soon to see how you're doing. Oh and remember to have a look in the Daily Prophet tomorrow!

Much love, Luna

Ginny smiled, putting the letter down on the table and stroking Lou absentmindedly. It had been nice to see Luna; they hadn't caught up in a while. Ginny looked out the window to the rapidly darkening sky and stifled to yawn. Yawning again, she pulled a blanket over herself and lay down on the couch. She drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep within minutes.

Morning came quickly. The sun peaked through Ginny's closed curtains and teased her lashes with its light. Within a few minutes she was up making some coffee and sitting in the kitchen. Lou flew in the open window with the Daily Prophet, landing with a hoot on the arm of her chair. She stroked his head and he pecked her affectionately as she opened up the paper.

And there it was. Ginny stopped moving and blinked to make sure she wasn't dreaming. How…? On the front page, there was a picture of her standing alone at the dance place that Harry had taken her to and watching the dancers wistfully. Every now and then in the picture, Ginny would move her leg or drum her fingers, showing the reason for the wistful expression on her face.

WEASLEY PAINTED BLIND

Ginevra Weasley, former Headmistress of Enfantes has only just recently begun piecing her life back together, recovering from the false picture painted of her by the media. Portrayed as irresponsible, disloyal and inconsiderate – amongst other things – Ms Weasley's life was turned upside down. But she has proved her resilience and it's about time everyone learned what's truly behind the false picture painted of her by a blind public.

"How she Weasley kept going to the very end is beyond me. And she really did keep going until the very end, literally until she fell to the floor in dead faint," says Luna Longbottom, member of the Wizengamot and Ms Weasley's best friend. "Hopefully now the truth will come out."

After losing her job as Headmistress of Enfantes, Weasley began having troubles with her fiancé, Jason Banton, Head of the Department for Magical Games and Sports. Rumours were spreading that she was having an affair with world famous Quidditch player, Harry Potter, despite that being all they were: rumours. As well as struggling with this, Ginny was facing false charges for abuse from the Petersons for striking their son, Tommy Peterson. Added on top of that were family health problems, which lead to the climax of the near deaths of Weasley and her mother.

Only recently out of St Mungo's, Weasley is taking the steps towards recovery. With her job back and more good news than bad, life is slowly returning to normal, as it is for the rest of the Weasleys.

The Weasley family is featured on the front cover of the new St Mungo's Calendar – to order a copy, send in form found at the back with your details.

Another tap at the window made Ginny look up as more than a few owls flew in bearing packages as well as letters. One of the letters was dropped on her head and as Ginny glanced at it she noticed Colin's handwriting. She opened it instantly.

Hey Gin, I hope you enjoyed the article (and if you haven't read it yet, read the front page of the Daily Prophet). It was my first piece as a writer so they didn't let me write that much but it at least made front page. Hopefully now people will start to know the real story and not the rumours made up by Bree. I was told to write a short piece and I instantly thought of you. It was the least I could do for what I did. I wouldn't be surprised if you get some fan mail from this, too, so look forward to that.

From, Colin

"I wouldn't be surprised either," said Ginny wryly as more owls flew in the window. She couldn't help but smile though; life was very quickly changing. She would have to thank Colin; it had been very kind of him. She skimmed through a couple of the letters. They were mainly from fans apologising profusely along with a gift. One person wanted her to air on the radio for a show called 'Beating the Blues,' while another promised to be her number one fan forever.

After shoving the letters aside, Ginny went to have a shower, a trace of a grin still on her lips. It was nice to be loved again, even though she should be angry that they should have believed her in the first place. But she knew Bree made a convincing writer, she had no doubt even she would be taken in. Bree seemed to be laying low lately, probably planning something devious and mean way to ruin someone else's life. Or maybe not…

Colin had said when he was visiting her at St Mungo's that he thought Bree was up to something and he was going to look into it. The way he had said it made Ginny think it was something quite serious, that it was something that would make a huge story if it was true. Maybe, Ginny thought, this was why Bree was lying low. Because of the amount of lives she had damaged, she wouldn't be likely to get away with it, too many people wanted revenge from her – including Ginny. If anyone could uncover the truth, it would be Colin. He knew every trick that Bree used, every secret she had and he would use that to get her. Watering the garden, Ginny felt a surge of justice; Bree was going to get her just desserts.

Her plants were still looking a bit grim, but already after fifteen minutes of watering (and a bit of magic when there were no Muggles walking past), they were looking healthier. The sun was shining through the clouds above, warming the crisp air slightly, suiting Ginny's mood.

"Hello."

Ginny whipped around, startled by the voice behind her, and accidentally hit Harry with the watering can, and spraying him with water. He had come up behind her so silently she hadn't even heard him open the gate.

"Oh, sorry!" Ginny exclaimed, her cheeks going red. "I didn't see you."

"Yeah, I know," Harry acknowledged as he brushed water droplets off his jacket, but he didn't sound annoyed. "My fault, don't worry." He looked at her now, and in that split second when his green eyes met her grey, Ginny knew this wasn't going to be a happy meeting. She bit her lip and put down the troublesome can, her heart beating quickly.

"Um, do y'wanna come inside?"

Harry nodded and followed her into the cottage, shutting the door behind him gently. Ginny wiped her hands on her skirt and turned around to look at him, but his eyes wouldn't lock on hers.

"Want to sit down?" Harry asked, motioning towards the living room.

Ginny shook her head and leant backwards against the edge of the doorway into the living room. "I get the feeling I won't want to sit down when I find out why you're here."

If Harry was surprised at her guess he didn't show it at all; just nodded briefly. She wanted to know what was wrong, she wanted to run into his arms and kiss him until he forgot whatever he was going to say. But she maintained her distance, looking far calmer than she felt. He didn't say anything and Ginny started some small talk to get him going.

"How's Auror training going?"

Harry instantly looked guilty. "It's isn't," he muttered. Ginny closed her eyes. Wrong small-talk.

"Why not?" she forced out.

"It isn't… because I'm not doing it anymore."

"What? Why?"

"It… it wasn't working out." He wasn't looking at her still, staring fixedly at his fiddling hands. They were shaking, letting Ginny know that this wasn't easy for him. Well, it wasn't easy for her either.

"What are you going to do instead, then? I doubt any Quidditch teams here will catch your fancy."

Harry didn't answer, just ran a hand through his hair. Ginny, stared at him, hurt.

"Harry?" Still he couldn't look at her, or wouldn't.

Ginny closed her eyes and opened them, staring at the ceiling but not actually seeing anything. She looked back at him. "Harry, please look at me," she begged. "Don't keep me in the dark here, tell me what's wrong."

"I told my coach that I changed my mind, I'm coming back with him to play in Romania for the Rockets." Harry's voice was emotionless, like he was reading a text book. "I told the Auror training academy and the Ministry, they know I'm not coming back."

Ginny's eyes were burning and she stepped towards him hesitantly. "It's – it's okay, I'll come to Romania with you. I don't mind, I don't mind! Whatever reason, I don't mind – don't care." Tears were falling now; she knew without him saying that wasn't his plan.

"I need you to know, I can't live this life. And you can't live mine… you – you just can't."

"You're saying goodbye?" Ginny was shaking, struggling to get past the invisible barrier he had put between them. "Why?"

"Everything's changed, Ginny. I don't love you; I'm incapable of loving someone properly. I don't want to hurt you by not loving you." Even as he said this, they both knew he was lying. He knew and she knew. But Ginny didn't know why he was saying it. He did love her, but something was stopping him.

Ginny looked at Harry trying to make him see reason. Harry shook his head, not meeting her gaze.

"Ginny, what you're feeling is –"

"Love," Ginny interrupted.

"Not, it's –"

"Love," Ginny insisted, catching his hand in hers. Harry bit his lip, trying to contain himself and to not take her in his arms.

"I'm sorry, Gin."

Harry couldn't look at her, he would break down and take her in his arms and this wouldn't end up being the goodbye he had planned. And boy had he planned, he had spent all night trying to figure what he could say. The instant he had looked in her eyes and saw her hurt had made him forget all he had planned, however. Her gaze always did that, left him stripped bare and vulnerable. The truth was, he was scared. Scared of how deeply he loved her and how terrified he was when he thought she was going to die that he didn't want to live himself. He hated that. Having no reason to live because someone wasn't there was a weakness, it made him a cripple. And Harry was not a cripple, he had spent so much time distancing himself from everyone just for that reason, so he didn't depend on someone that much. So that he wasn't a cripple. Ginny made him that person he had spent all his time trying not to be and it scared him. And that was why he had to leave, to get her out of his system and affecting his outlook on life.

He didn't tell her this, of course. She wouldn't understand, she would just try harder to make him stay. "I'm sorry."

"No." Ginny was shaking her head, going calm after her outburst. "I'm not going to let you." Harry began shaking his head, ready to go into more reasons why not when she took his hand in hers.

"Harry, I love you." Harry looked at the wall, unable to handle the raw emotion in her voice. Her tone was confused, timid… but it was strong. Harry grasped onto her words and bottled it in his memory, keeping it and hiding it there. She loved him.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, blinking back the tears threatening to spill over. His voice was final, however, and forceful. Ginny heard it and let go of his arm as if burned. He couldn't bear to look at her now, to see her pain written all over her face. He turned to the door, thinking it was over now, but she spoke again.

"When you walk out that door, Harry, you're not just walking out on me forever." He turned to look at her but she wasn't facing him, she was staring into the living room and now it was she who put the barrier between them.

"You're walking out on everyone. On Ron, on Hermione, Fred, Mum… Dad… everyone. Even Colin and Cath. You're leaving them, too. Forever. So just, think twice – okay? Be sure."

Harry gripped the doorhandle hard, hand shaking. Yes, he knew that. He took one last look at Ginny, standing there in the hall, then opened the door and walked out. Forever.

Yeah, I have to say: not my best. It seemed good in planning but when written… it didn't click. The next two chapters I'm going to try to make my best over to make up for it. (try being the main word.)

Thanks to: sunlitmist, IndiaInk, kpxiceboi, How I Rescued the Potato Salad, HannahLuLu, jay jay the jet plane, LissyLovegood, silversneverbeenbetter, Rebel Rose, Ray, Smile88, notdapunkprincess, Fallen Angel Of The Skies, Akemi, Shadyday9, harry Lover, ginnyroxmysox, Kelly, HpC0ldplay, SiriussChick, cho-kaoru88, Blue Sky Dreamer, hershykat, lonesome-love, MeryKey-7, The Stump, Genie, VoicezWithin, ginnyandharry4ever, heenie, azkaban712, HarryPotters-angel, seekerchic211, sunflowerchild, Stahchild, ggffi

Naz – gosh you've been with me for ages haven't you – helping my plan WAM. Wow. That's a long time ago. If you don't mind I'll probably be asking for your help with the next story – which shall be finishing the LJ I think. I don't know where I'm going with that.

Sarah Noisette – how did your exams go?

Fuzzball – probably ;)

Crazed Chipmunk – seems like I haven't studied guardian angels like you have ;) I'd say she kind of coexists inside Gin (hence the grey eyes) but can't really talk to her, just watch – as before.

GiGiFanFic – Thankyou very much.

pink-helga – have I seen 10 things I hate about you? Is that a trick question lol? Of course I have, I own the soundtrack, DVD, and taped video. Lol.

Tonks – that's correct.

darkrosepetals122 – aha, finally someone who questions about Bree's mysterious dealings! It's a big part of Ch 27 ;)

A Lack Of Color – I love the song too, 10 Things I H8 About U is a great movie. How's your fic going?

Grey Sweater – Are they not allowed to show joy their mother is alive? ;)

degrassifan2010 – She can still look over Ginny, just not from above :)

Huggikins – happy to know this is the first story you read on ffnet. Thanks!

Cyclops – Hmm let's see. Firstly, I've attempted to make it a lot more than just a threesome plot with Ginny, Harry and an OC, as you - easily - can see. Second, admittedly, this started out as a romance, but now's a drama and a genre and I can't really find a word for – try as I may. Don't read this expecting a lot of romance please. It revolves around Ginny, true, and I do believe I have shown Ginny's feelings for Harry, I'm just not having her declare it from the rooftops every 2 seconds, because, I'm sure you agree, that would be boring and laughable. And in the beginning, the characters were 'totally out of place' because I was 'totally' out of place. I had no idea where I was going with this story. Of course that my writing would reflect that. I'm really glad you enjoyed though, despite all of that – or find it enjoyable and a change to action/adventure. And thanks for writing an opinionated review – seriously, I meant it.

clau-hogwarts-writer – funnily enough I did end up going to hospital lol ;) good to have you back

kiwiblue – you're quite cluey aren't you? Lol.

deer boy – hope all's well with you girl, we haven't spoken in ages!

A/n #2 - I don't know when I'll update next because I haven't finished ch 27, but I'll try not to take as long this time, but it's getting very difficult lol. Until then, Sede