The Final Hours

Chapter Three

Warning: The following chapter deals with situations that may not be appropriate for all readers. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Ginny

Ginny flicked her eyes open, and looked around. Her head ached from the curse that Voldemort had put on her, and she rolled over weakly onto her back. She shifted her eyes around. This isn't the same room I was in before, she thought. She groaned, and sat up to look around.

"Are you feeling okay?"

Ginny turned her head towards the friendly voice, and saw Harry sitting against the wall, looking at her. She started to cry again, and she tried to hide it from Harry.

"It's okay, Ginny. We've all been doing that lately. You don't need to be ashamed of it."

"I-I'm just so, s-scared." Ginny whimpered softly. Harry got up and sat down beside her. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"It's going to be okay, Ginny, I promise." Ginny just rested her head on Harry's shoulder, and sobbed loudly.

"That's just what people say to try and make people feel better – Harry, I'm not stupid."

Harry sighed, and Ginny saw a tear fall down Harry's cheek.

"I wont let him do anything to you, Gin."

Ginny looked at Harry, and started to cry into his shoulder. "I wish Ron was here," She whimpered. Harry looked down, and Ginny saw a wave of fear go across his face.

"What? WHAT Happened to Ron?" Ginny asked, shocked. Harry looked at her sadly, and Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "No – You're lying. No! NO! It's not true! Harry, tell me that this is just a cruel, sick joke!"

"Ginny – I-I didn't even say – "

"I c-can tell, Harry. WHAT HAPPENED TO RON?" Ginny fell into a sobbing fit, and Harry held her tighter, and he sighed.

"I'm not exactly sure, Gin. No one is. He – he – he was…hurt, after you passed out. We had all thought you h-had…" Harry trailed off, tears now streaming down his face. Ginny just stared at Harry, not knowing whether to believe him or not. Why would he lie to you about something like this? She asked herself, and realized that there WAS a chance that Ron had died, but they didn't know for sure.

"So t-there's still…hope, then, right?"

"I guess, Ginny, I guess."

They sat in silence for a long time, Ginny leaning her head on Harry's shoulder. She felt her eyes droop, and she fell into a deep sleep.

After what only seemed like 5 minutes, Ginny was shaken awake.

"Ginny!" Harry whispered, sharply, "Someone's coming…Quick – Hide in the shadows!"

Ginny felt Harry lift her up slightly, and the two of them ran into the corner that was submerged in shadow. The section of wall slid open, and a death eater popped his head in.

"This one looks empty, Lucius…Yes…Yes, throw the girl in here…"

Ginny's heart gave a leap. The girl? The only other girl that Voldemort had held captive was Hermione. She looked back at the death eaters, and he saw them throw Hermione into the cell. She was still sobbing.

"RON!" She screamed, and sobbed even louder. She threw herself onto the floor, screaming and sobbing, and Ginny saw Harry run to her, after the wall had closed again. Harry grabbed Hermione, and she clinged to him, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hermione…calm down for a second." Harry said gently. Hermione just sobbed, and Harry sat her down against the wall. She stared into space, tears running down her face. Ginny came and hugged Hermione, and she felt tears forming around her eyes, also. Hermione looked at her.

"Oh, Ginny…you look so much like your brother…" Hermione said, and started sobbing again. Ginny just stared at her, and Harry then put his arm around Hermione. Ginny felt a pang of jealousy, but let it go.

"Hermione, that's enough." Harry said to her, forcefully. "Everything's going to be fine. We'll find a way out of here…somehow."

Hermione snapped her head towards Harry, and moved away from him, horrified.

"You…you just don't understand…" She started. She reached into her robe pocket. "Nothing will be fine without Ron…I refuse to – to believe anything will be fine!"

She took her wand out of her robe pocket, and placed the tip of it to her temple.

"Hermione – don't!" Harry yelled, rising to his feet. Hermione grinned devilishly, and shook her head.

"You don't understand," Her smile vanished. "You just…can't understand! I refuse to go on without Ron!"

She started to say an incantation, but Harry was too quick for her. "EXPELLIARMUS!" He bellowed. Ginny just stared in shock, as Hermione's wand went flying straight for Ginny. It hit her right in-between her eyebrows, and she started to loose consciousness.

"Ginny!" Harry yelled, and everything went black.

Harry

"See what you've done, Hermione?" Harry yelled at her, cradling Ginny's limp head in his hands. Hermione collapsed onto the floor again, and stared in horror at Ginny's body. She began sobbing, and Harry set Ginny's head gently on the ground.

"I-I…" Hermione stammered, and she started crying even harder. Harry felt the anger settle a little, and he wet over to Hermione, and hugged her. "I-I just miss Ron…so much…" She said, and she buried her head into Harry's shoulder.

Harry sighed, "There is still hope, Hermione," He said gently. Hermione stopped crying, and looked at him. She leaned over and started kissing Harry, and he had to push her away. "What are you doing?" Harry yelled, and he moved away from her. She just stared at him, and began sobbing again.

"I'm just…I'm just so confused…" She stammered. "I-I'm sorry…I s-shouldn't have d-done that." She hung her head, and started to sob even harder, uncontrollably this time.

Harry felt bad for what had just happened, and wanted to go back and comfort her, but…he didn't want to betray his best friend – dead, or alive. He looked back over at Ginny, and saw a trickle of blood run down her forehead from where Hermione's wand had hit her. He started sobbing, and closed his eyes.

A/N: That's it for Chapter three! Hope you enjoyed it, and thanks to all who reviewed!