A/N- I wasn't planning on updating this soon. Again, I neglected my homework, and my writing took over me. I was so happy when I got all the great responses after last chapter's cliffhanger! I wasn't sure what everyone was going to think, but if you had any doubts about Ben really being dead, you'll find out for sure in this chapter. This chapter was extremely difficult to write. I had to tie up some things in this chapter, and that proved for some very difficult writing. I also have done some things in the chapter that I haven't done before, and again that was very difficult, but I am very proud of how this chapter turned out. I hope all of you like it. :)
Disclaimer: Darn, I wish I was J.K. Rowling.
What to expect from this chapter: Tension, angst ,and some romance! Of course I promise some major drama as always! But I don't want to give anything away :) Enjoy!
Next Update: Expect Chapter.19 Sometimes They Come Back, pretty soon. I'll try to update as soon as I can. I can't give you an exact date for this one, but my best guess would be by the weekend, or Saturday at the latest. I have a pretty big assignment due this week that I have to work on, so I will try and get the chapter out by then. But knowing at the rate I am going, the chapter could very well be up in the next couple of days. But we'll see:)
P.S.- Please Please Review!. I thrive on it!

Chapter. 18- Amends

Ben was dead. It wasn't some nightmare. He hadn't been revived. He wasn't in a coma. Yes, he was dead. And Harry had desperately wished all those things could have been true, ever since he saw Ben's body lying on the floor, his stark and bleak eyes gazing up at him, nearly two weeks ago. That was an image Harry had tried to get out of his head several times. He managed to, but replaced it was a never-ending sense of guilt. The last time he saw Ben, he had accused him of betraying all of them. He should have given him more time to explain himself. He should have given him more of a chance. And now he was dead, and it was too late. Harry, Ginny, and Ron, had barely talked about Ben's death. Ron felt bad ever since it happened, due to the fact that he had hated Ben from day one. They all had decided on one thing though: when Hermione was cured, they wouldn't tell her about Ben till after Christmas. They figured she would have too much to deal with as it was.

Things had changed around the school greatly, in the last two weeks. Everyone was scared. A few students even left Hogwarts after Ben was murdered. For the rest of the students, they were barely allowed to leave the common room. Meals were served in the common rooms, and lessons taught there as well, till the matter was dealt with. Most students had left for Christmas break by now, but for the students to who had remained at Hogwarts for the holidays, including Harry, Ron, And Ginny of course, the rules had remained the same. Except, at least one teacher would stay in the dorms for the duration of the break. Professor Lupin, and Charlie were staying with the remaining Gryffindors, Snape with the Slytherins, (Malfoy was staying of course, claiming he didn't have the energy due to the fact that he in deep mourning over his cousins death.) Professor Sprout for Hufflepuff, and Professor Flitwick for the Ravenclaws.

It was Christmas Eve, and Harry, Ron, and Ginny were the only ones walking through the nearly dark corridors. They were being escorted by Dumbledore to the hospital wing. This was it. Hermione was going to be cured tonight, Harry thought. Lupin was waiting for them to arrive. He was going to be administering the antidote to Hermione. They all wanted to be there with her when she woke up.They had been waiting for this day to come for almost two months now and it was finally upon them. They had finally reached the hospital wing.

Dumbledore faintly smiled. "I'll be waiting outside," he told them.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny looked at each other for a brief moment and smiled, before they opened to the door of the hospital wing.

"Now, I must remind you that there will be no memory loss if one is administered the antidote, unlike if the potion wears off by itself," Lupin said a few moments later, glancing at Ginny. Ginny looked at Harry out of the corner of his eye but then looked away. Harry knew for sure that Ginny had remembered everything. He was sure of it. Especially since Dumbledore said memory loss would only last a couple days. It's been almost two months since the potion wore off. She had to remember everything. But it wasn't like Harry was going to force her to talk about it. He wanted her to come to him on her own. But they couldn't go on like; them only talking when necessary, and her never making eye contact with him.

Lupin cut off his thoughts. "Hermione should be aware of everything that's happened almost immediately," He finished, glancing at all of them in a serious manner.

None of them said anything. What could they say? All they cared about was that Hermione was going to be cured. They could deal with everything else later. Sure it was going to be hard, especially for Hermione. She would remember everything that she did in an instant. Harry peered at Hermione on the bed laying before him. She had been sedated for over a month now. She was just laying there, lifeless for all this time. Lupin had only lightly sedated her today, so when she was given the antidote she would wake up shortly after. Harry peered at Ronwho was just glancing down at ther too. Harry could see tears in brimming in Ron's eyes.

"You ready?" Lupin asked silently, looking up at all three of them.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny, shook their heads. The stillness in the air was unbearable. The anticipation was splitting through them. They all just wanted to hear Hermione's voice again.

Lupin sat down on the bed next to Hermione. A small flask in his hands held the antidote. It was a strange, yellow colored liquid substance. He held up her head and administrated the potion in her mouth. He laid her head back gently on the pillow.

"Now we wait," Lupin whispered, getting up off the bed. He gaped at the three of them, and smiled lightly. "I'll wait outside. I think it should be just the three of you when she wakes up," he told them.

Lupin went out the door, and Harry, Ron, and Ginny all took chairs and scooted them around Hermione's bed.

Ron just sat there close by Hermione and continued to stare at her.

Harry looked up at the clock. That was the last thing he remembered. They must have all fell asleep, because Harry jerked up in his seat. He looked up at the clock and an hour had passed. He glanced up at Hermione. Her eyes had just opened.

"Ron, Ginny!" Harry called out silently. Ginny opened her eyes and immediately looked at Hermione. Ron had fallen asleep, his head resting on the bed right by Hermione's arm. Ron slowly lifted up his head and looked at her. Her eyes were all the way open now, and they were peering around the room. Harry and Ginny stood up by her bedside.

Harry and Ginny smiled down at her. Her face remained expressionless, as she just continued to look up at them.

"Hermione?" Ron whispered, hoping to get some sort of response.

"Hermione, er- your okay now. Your back, and that's all that matters," Harry told her.

Hermione face just remained blank.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Ginny asked.

There was silence for the next minute. They didn't know what else to say to her to get her to say something. Just then she grabbed Ron's hand, which had been laying right by her side.

Ron gasped in surprise.

Hermione moved her head up a little bit and looked at all of them.

Hermione' face wasn't blank anymore.

"I'm sorry," she whispered ever so softly, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Hermione, you sure your all right?" Ron asked for the thousandth time, hours later in the common room that night.

"Yes, Ron- I'm fine. You don't need to keep asking me that," She said softly peering at him.

"Are you sure? We could take you back to the hospital wing if you want?" Ron asked, looking worried.

Hermione let out a small chuckle. "My, how I've missed this," she said looking at Harry and Ginny, who were sitting across from her on a couch. Harry and Ginny both shot her a smile.

"Well, if you're sure then," Ron added.

Hermione looked at Ron and sighed. There was no convincing him that she was all right. Ron had been acting like this all night. It was rather amusing actually, Harry thought.

"Ron, Lupin wouldn't have released her unless he thought she was okay," Harry reminded him.

Ron seemed like he heard what Harry had said, but after all maybe he hadn't.

"So, you're sure then?" Ron asked her again.

Hermione shook her head, but it wasn't out of annoyance or frustration. It was something else, Harry noticed.

"Actually, I think I'm going to go up now. I know I shouldn't be tired. After all, I've been pretty much sleeping for almost two months, right? " She laughed lightly as she got up off the couch.

"Well, you should rest then, I suppose. We could take you back to the-" Ron started to say.

"Night, Hermione," Harry told her trying to fight back chuckles before Ron could finish. He got up off the couch and gave her a hug.

"Night, Harry," she told him.

Ginny followed.

Hermione then turned to give Ron a hug, but the both of them had sort of awkwardly backed off, instead.

Before Hermione headed toward the stairs for the girl's dormitory, she stopped and faced them. A serious expression emerged on her face. "I just wanted to say- thanks for being there with me, when I woke up, "she said faintly, her eyes glistening.

Nearly a half-hour later, Ron had gone up to bed and it was just Ginny and him in the common room. Harry knew this was the perfect opportunity to talk to her. They had to talk, and there was no doubt about it. Sure, he didn't want to force Ginny, but once and for all they needed to clear the air. He just wanted things to be right between them. Just then, without notice, Ginny rose up from the couch.

"Er- your leaving?" Harry asked.

"I think I'm going to go up to bed. It's been a long day," She said, not even facing Harry.

"Er, Ginny wait," Harry blurted. "I think we should- talk," He told her.

Ginny turned around. She was silent for a moment, and Harry wasn't sure what she was going to say. Then she shook her head. "I- can't Harry, I'm sorry," she said quickly. Then she ran up the stairs to the girl's dormitory without looking back.

The next morning was awkward to say the least. Ginny hardly made eye contact with Harry, and Ron and Hermione were barely saying two words to each other. They all ate breakfast in pretty much silence, none of them knowing what to say to one another. They each had managed to say "Merry Christmas" to each other but that was about it. Molly Weasley had sent them all sweaters and fruit cakes as usual, but to be truthful none of them even felt like opening any presents. Why were they so gloomy? It was Christmas. They had Hermione back. Harry knew why. He had to talk with Ginny, and they needed to talk today. And Ron and Hermione needed to do the same.

At least one part of the morning was interesting when they had some visitors.. Dumbledore...and Snape. Of course Snape didn't say two words to them. He barely looked in their direction. Dumbledore said they wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas and to check up on how Hermione was doing. Before they had left, Dumbledore glanced at Snape disapprovingly. Snape then muttered some sort of greeting under his breath. It was all very funny. But Harry was glad when they left, because there was something a little strange about Snape being in their common room.

Harry then saw a box sitting under the tree that he never noticed before.

"You guy see this?" Harry asked pointing to the box.

They were all just as clueless as he was.

Harry walked over the tree and picked the box up. The tag on the box read: To Harry. "This is long past due."

"What are you waiting for, open it!" Ron said getting off the couch and standing close by Harry.

Harry excitedly tore open the box. He hadn't been expecting this.

There laid in the box was an invisibility cloak.

"I wonder who sent it?" Ron asked. Ginny and Hermione both looked up curiously at Harry too.

He could think of a few possibilities, but he hadn't the foggiest idea who had sent it. It was someone who knew they needed an extra one that was for sure.

About an hour, things were just as quiet between them in the common room. Except, Ron had started acting weird like he had last night, asking Hermione every ten seconds if she was all right. Hermione was sitting on the couch by the fire reading a book, and Ron kept looking up at her asking her if she was okay sitting from a nearby chair. Harry was sitting in the far corner of the common room by Ginny, and he couldn't help but smile at this. Even though Ron was acting absolutely ridiculous for whatever reason, it was just good to all be together again. Ginny must have noticed too and for the first time she smiled at Harry, and looked into his eyes, without looking away. She looked like she was about to say something but, horrible screams erupted. From Ron and Hermione that was.

"Will you stop, Ronald!" Hermione shouted as she slammed her book down and shot up from the couch.

"Oh, So now I can't even ask you if you're bloody all right?" Ron yelled angrily, standing up, inching close to her.

"No, your just asking me that like an idiot because- well- your too scared to talk to me about anything else!"

"I'm scared? Oh, you got that wrong! You won't even say a bloody word to me!"

Oh no, this was not happening. Hermione wasn't even cured for a day, and they started fighting again? Harry was hoping that this would be their last fight, because the last thing any of them needed was for them to start their daily bickering matches. Especially, when Harry knew that both of them cared so much about each other. If only they could tell one another..If only it were that simple... Harry really was hoping that things would be different between them now after everything that's happened, but now it wasn't looking good.

"I cannot believe you, Ronald!" Hermione said shaking her head in disbelief.

"Can't believe what?" Ron replied his arms folded.

"IT FIGURES YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED ONE BIT, RONALD WEASLEY!"Hermione yelled, standing inches away from Ron's face.

"OH! I HAVEN'T CHANGED! OH YEAH!" Ron shouted angrily.

Just then, Ron took a breath, then leaned in and kissed Hermione on the lips, taking her by surprise. Hermione's eyes widened, but a second later, they closed and she put her hand on Ron's back. A few moments later he backed away, and Hermione fell onto the couch, dazed. She put her hand up to her mouth. She looked up at Ron.

"I cannot believe you just did that," Hermione whispered, in absolute amazement.

Ron looked just as shocked as her. "Neither can I," he said as he sat down next to her.

Harry's mouth was hanging open in awe. He couldn't believe Ron had done that either. For a minute he was thought he was seeing things. And Ginny as well, due to her wide-eyed expression. But Harry couldn't have been happier for two people. He was sure of that. It must have been because of what had just happened, because Harry turned abruptly to Ginny and didn't hold back.

"Ginny, we have to talk," he blurted, looking at her right in the eyes, his expression more serious than ever.

Ginny didn't look surprised by his forcefulness. She scooted closer to Harry. "I know," she whispered.

Ginny then breathed deeply. "I was being selfish Harry," she started.

"What?"

"I was with the one person- that you hate the most."

"It wasn't your fault Ginny, you know that," Harry told her. He didn't want her to ever think he blamed her. He just couldn't bear it.

"That doesn't make it any less real, Harry. I remember the day when I introduced Malfoy as my boyfriend to all of you. I remember the look on your face when I said . . . that i loved him . . . That's all I've been thinking about. Every time I look at you now, Harry. That look of betrayal- and hurt on your face. So- I've been avoiding you because, I'm trying to make it easier for you- not to talk to me Harry. Because as much as you try and deny it, a part of you must . . . hate me. For being with him . . . and so I've been selfish. Because I don't want you to hate me," Ginny admitted to him, tears swelling up in her eyes.

"Er- Ginny, listen to me. I could never hate you. Yes- you were with the last person on earth that I wanted you to be with, but er- you had no control over what you did; any of the stuff of you said. I could never hold you responsible for any of it. You have to know that."

"Yeah, but everything I said was real Harry. My words still hurt people, even if there wasn't truth behind it, they still came out of my mouth," She stated. She took a breath. "Everything we did was real, Harry. Just because I was affected by the Over-Truth Potion doesn't erase it."

"Er-everything you did?" Harry said, his words escaping his lips before he could take them back.

Ginny shook her head. "It never went. That far" She said her face blushing for a moment.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

"I just wanted to say that I understand, if you- felt differently about me. I would understand Harry, "she told him faintly, looking directly into his eyes.

Harry then put his hand on her cheek. He didn't feel like holding any of his feelings back anymore.

"Er- Ginny my feelings for you could- never change," Harry whispered to her, their mouths inches apart.

"Really?" Ginny mumbled, a small smile appearing on her lips.

Harry shook his head, as he started to moves his lips onto hers.

"Hey, everyone," Charlie came down from the boy's side of the dormitory just then.

Harry and Ginny, nanoseconds away from their lips meeting, both shot their heads back in surprise.

"Er, Charlie," Harry blurted.

Ginny just sat there next to Harry and tried to fight back a smile.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," Charlie smirked, glancing around the room.

Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione sitting across the room. It looked like they were very well on their way to kissing again. Their faces were close together, and they didn't even notice Charlie standing right there in the room,

Just then Hermione's eyes darted to Charlie in surprise. "Oh, Charlie, we didn't quite see you there," Hermione babbled, her face turning a shade a red.

Ron's head shot back toward Charlie. "Uh- what are you doing down here? I thought you told us you didn't feel like celebrating Christmas. You said you would just as bloody like to throw covers over your head and sleep all day," Ron said rather quickly, a little annoyed.

"Well, I couldn't stay up there any longer. I can only absorb in my self-pity, for so long, right?"Charlie joked. But Harry could see the sadness lingering in his face.

Harry felt a pang of sympathy for Charlie. He was sure missing Harmone. It must be especially hard for him since it was Christmas.

Harry and Ginny walked over by Ron and Hermione and sat down across from them on the couch.

"Besides, I had to come down and check up on you guys eventually. Who knows what the four of you could be up to," Charlie said as he sat down on a chair beside them.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all shot smirks to each other.

"I was hoping one of you would be up for a game of chess," Charlie said. Then he glanced at Ron. "Ron, how about it?"

"Uhhh," Ron started to say. Harry knew that chess was the last thing he felt like doing at this moment.

"I'll play," Harry cut in.

Then Charlie frowned. "Actually, I don't really feel up to playing now. I'll see all of you later. I am going patrolling," He said gloomily as he headed toward the portrait hole.

"Poor Charlie," Ginny said as Charlie disappeared out of the common room.

"I know," Ron shook his head in agreement.

"He seems quite lost without Harmone," Hermione said.

Yep, he sure was, Harry thought to himself. But Harry couldn't help but feel happy for the moment. Really happy. Everything bad that has happened this year, Harry put aside. He was just living in the moment. Hermione was cured, Ron and Hermione, finally have admitted their feelings to each other, although Harry still was in awe how it actually happened. He and Ginny finally talked, and he felt closer to her than ever, and although they had been interrupted just moments ago, he was sure that by the time the night was over they would-

Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Harry heard coming just outside the common room. At first he thought he was hearing things, but he wasn't. He heard it again, only this time it was louder. Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.

"You hear that?" Harry asked glancing at the three of them.

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"It sounds like it's coming right outside the common room," Hermione pointed out to them.

Bang, bang, bang, bang

"What on earth?" Hermione shouted curiously.

"I wonder what it-"Harry started to say.

"Help me! Help! Please! Somebody help!" A desperate, but weak voice, called out from behind the portrait hole.

They all glanced horrified at each other.

"Help!" they heard the voice calling again.

"Bloody hell!" Ron shouted.

They all rose up slowly and walked gingerly toward the portrait hole. They froze right in front of it, terrified of what they might find when they opened it. Harry took a breath, looked at his friends one last time, and opened the potrait hole.

"Oh my god," Harry whispered under his breath.

"Help me," said the girl again standing right before them, ready to collapse. Her Hogwarts uniform was dirty and torn, her hair a bloody, tangled mess, her skin sickly pale, with deep cuts all over her face. "He- lp . . . m-e," came from her mouth as she toppled to the ground, falling right into the Gryffindor common room, face down.

Just then they heard footsteps approaching, and came running in was Charlie.

"What happened? Is everything okay? I heard screams!" He shouted, out of breath. He then noticed the girl right in front of them lying on the ground. He looked up at the four of them, at a loss for words.

"It's Belle," said Harry. "She's back at Hogwarts."

A big thanks to all my reviewers:

Celestial Fox- I know. I liked Ben too. It was hard killing off, but it was vital for my plot to move along and stay interesting. Again, thanks for being such a faithful reader and reviewer:)

Susan- I am glad I surprised you! Usually, you figure out everything! Thanks for all your support:)

JakMakai1519- You were not the only one that was surprised by Ben's death. LOL. Thanks so very much for loving my story so much. It's reviewers like you who make me stay inspired to write.

Rons-Favorite- I am so glad you like my story! I know, it's sad that Ben had to die, but it makes things interesting, doesn't it? Thanks again:)

syntron- All I can say is keep reading. About Snape making the antidote. He did start making it pretty much after he found out about the Over-Truth Potion. He was just waiting for Harry to come to him.

Korah- Thanks! Writing Snape is so fun. He's one of my favorites to write. I hope you keep reading:)

swimminggodess21- Wow! Thanks! You have no idea how much I appreciate your kind words.

Ced14- LOL! Sorry, but I'm afraid Ben is really dead. :)

Bhekie- Yes, Ron is quite insane when it comes to Hermione. Thanks for the reviews! I hope you keep reading:)

I hope I didn't miss anyone, but if I did, thanks for your support :)

-