A/N: I would like to give a big "thank you" to my beta once again, she does an excellent job! Thank you ally! And thanks to all of my faithful reviewers, if I didn't get reviews then I wouldn't be posting at all.

Sorry that I have been posting slowly, I am trying, it is just a bit hard for me to think up new ideas to keep you all entertained. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Love you all!

Lissy

aka

Cupcakes-20

Chapter 21

Valentines Day Ball, Part III

Recap:

Their eyes connected and, once again, the world around them melted into unnoticed puddles at their feet. Forgetting that they were surrounded by teachers and other students, Harry raised his hand and caressed her silk-like cheek. Ginny leaned in, longing the sensation

brought when Harry's lips connected with her own.

Soft lips touched soft lips and a sudden explosion went off. Not the wanted explosion of emotions but an actual cursed explosion.

End of Recap

As the explosion sounded throughout the Great Hall, the castle began to shake. The ceiling began to crumble and screams of utter surprise and horror started to bellow over the destruction.

Emerald eyes darted from the ceiling to his beloved girlfriend, Harry knew what was at stake here. Taking hold of her waist, he flung himself on top of her to the ground for safety. After saving her life once again, the floor began to shake as if an earthquake were

happening right beneath them.

"Merlin why does this always have to happen to me?" He thought as he threw his redheaded date over his shoulder and ran towards the entrance of the hall.

Running at full speed, Harry had to turn on his brakes from a large rumble that was happening right at the exit. Almost falling on his rear, he came to a halt in front of a large crack that was forming in the hard marble floor. With a deep breath, he jumped over the ever-growing

abyss and landed delicately on his two feet.

He ran to a safe corner in the entrance of Hogwarts and looked around. Surprisingly, if he were to be standing out here the whole time he would have had seen no signs of an explosion. Realizing Ginny was still propped on his shoulder, he let her down with ease to the floor.

"Ginny, are you hurt? Are you okay?" he said gasping for breath as he looked all over her body for wounds.

"Um, yeah…sure. Thanks Harry," she said in a dazed state, staring into the source of the terror. Loud screams and cries of help could be heard outside to the lucky ones.

"No problem," he said now turning his attention to the crumbling Great Hall.

Another large rumble filled the building and the floor of the Great Hall burst into bright orange flames. More screams could be heard as many started to get terribly injured. "Oh Merlin Harry, those poor people. They're trapped!"

Her big chocolate eyes filled with crystal tears as she thought of all those people that would be hurt, or worse killed. All of a sudden her eyes widened in horror and her lip began to quiver.

"Harry ... Ron and Hermione are in there!" Ginny gave him a glance and then darted back into the inflamed room, straight for her cause of distress.

" Ginny! NO!" Harry screamed, running with full speed after her.

Running after the fast redhead, he didn't expect her small legs to carry her that quickly. She had the hem of her gown tightly in one hand and her wand gripped firmly in the other.

Now realizing that he had forgotten to take his wand out, he began to search all of his pockets. While watching Ginny and digging in all his pockets, he didn't see there was an obvious obstacle ahead. Still running as quickly as possible, he tripped over a large bit of

ceiling. Falling on his arm, he heard a definite snap and a rush of pain indicated that it was broken.

"Ow!" He said in a bit of shock and pain. Regaining as much composure as possible, he stood up with a little wince of pain.

Looking towards the arm, he winced again. The skin had been torn off and he could see a fragment of the broken bone. Taking a deep breath, he searched around the room for Ginny. Spotting her red locks, he held his now found wand as tightly as possible in his right hand. Now watching where he was going, he headed towards her.

"Ginny, slow down. Just wait a second, for me." He panted running up to her.

"Harry, they're inside there!" She pointed towards the burning Great Hall floor, "What spell can we cast to stop it?"

"Glacius... that freezes things, right? It should burn it out." He thought back on his studies to see the charm clearly in his mind.

"Oh brilliant Harry! We'll both cast it on the count of three. Ready? One... two... three!"

"GLACIUS!" Both of them screamed, over the noisy chaos. Crystal ice shot from their wands and cooled the fire to nonexistence. Searching around the now cleared room, they spotted them. Ron was lying on top of Hermione with his hands clasped over his head.

"Ron! Hermione! Oh thank Merlin you're alright!" She said running to her brother and flinging her arms around him. After that she moved to Hermione and gripped her in a deathly hug.

" Guys! Let's get out of here before we all end up trapped." Harry shouted over the crash of more falling ceiling.

Nodding, Ginny jogged over to him but stopped abruptly. With her hand clasped over her open mouth, she stared at Harry's wounded arm. Noticing where her gaze was drawn to, he tried to push the pain out of thought.

"Ginny, it's fine. Come on, let's go!" He said trying to redirect her to the serious problem at hand.

Her dark brown eyes didn't move from the wound but she nodded. Running with them to the exit, she only could stare at his battered arm.

As they ran for it, Ron's voice could be heard saying, "I don't know what I'd do without you two!"

"Glacius!" Harry shouted as fire began to cross their path once again. "No thanks needed. What was I supposed to do? Leave you in there to burn?"

" No, I suppose a true friend wouldn't let their friends burn." He shouted as they finally left the Great Hall, now in ruins.

"I suppose we should head up to our dorms. That way, Dumbledore can clear away this mess without us getting in the way." Looking back to where he and Ginny were dancing moments before, it now laid in crumbles. The room seemed only a memory now.

"I guess your right. Though, you," Hermione said shaking a finger at Harry, "should go to the Hospital Wing. I love you and thank you dearly but I think the bones split."

" I will Hermione. Don't worry." Harry said with a weak smile to reassure her.

"Good, now come after your bandaged up. If she keeps you, Ginny, come and get me." She said giving them both hugs.

"Sure, I'll come right away if he gets stuck there." Ginny said, pale and staring off into space.

Noticing her coloration, Harry pocketed his wand and walked over to her. "Ginny, are you all right." Before she could answer, her eyes rolled back and she became limp. Falling, Harry caught her with his one good arm.

"Bloody Hell! She's gone and passed out." Ron said stating the uttermost obvious.

"Thank you Captain Obvious. Harry, let's hurry and get her to the Hospital Wing. Well, Ron you should do it. We can't risk Harry losing function in both of his arms now can we?" She let off a small giggle. She was speaking so quickly most of her words slurred together.

Taking his limp sister from Harry, Ron picked her up as if she was a baby. Following behind him was Harry and Hermione. She was making sure the bleeding didn't get too bad.

Harry didn't think about his arm. All of his concentrated thought were on his unconscious girlfriend. The last time Ginny was in the Hospital Wing, she was in a coma. Thinking about that tragic time, he had to shut his eyes to not let burning tears fall.

They entered the wing and noticed half of the beds were occupied. Madame Pomfrey was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Shouting spells and handing students concoctions to drink, she tried to stop all the moaning and crying.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, lay down. I'll be with you in a minute just get out of my way." Frantically, she moved towards them with a bandage.

Moving out of her way quickly he walked over and sat on a bed. Ron followed behind him and laid Ginny gently in the next bed. Hermione conjured up two chairs for them to sit in and they sat against the wall, closest to Ginny's bed.

The matron walked over to them, now in a much calmer state. Having cured and calmed all the others, she could put her full attention on the two. Seeing all the others were there at least fifteen minutes before the four, she had to treat them first.

"Mr. Potter, what seems to be wrong with your girlfriend?" She asked, pouring potions on his wound. He winced and gritted his teeth as he tried to answer.

"She just fainted," he mumbled out as she stopped the bleeding with a simple charm.

"Well, that's easy to fix." Pulling a vial from her pocket, she uncorked it and stuck it beneath Ginny's nostrils.

With a slight jerk, Ginny;s eyes fluttered open. With a curt smile, Madame Pomfrey turned back to Harry.

"Now, Skele-Grow it is. The bone split entirely and fragments have chipped off. I know you hate this rotten potion but you are going to have to suck it up, and save that scowl for another day." She said as Harry narrowed his eyes at her.

"What happened!" Ginny said now fully recovered from her fainting spell, "Oh Merlin Harry, are you all right?" Jumping from her bed, she rushed to his bedside.

Lifting his good hand, he rubbed her cheek assuringly, "Yes love, I'm okay. Madame Pomfrey will fix me all up, fine and dandy."

A curious look covered her face as she looked from him to his arm. Tears bubbled up in her eyes as she turned, for the second time that evening, to let no one see her cry.

"Mr. Potter, you will stay here until your bones regrow. I'll permit you all to stay with him as long as you make no noise. Goodnight." She said, now clicking off to her office.

After watching her walk away, his gaze went around the room. Most of the patients had already left. Neville, a Ravenclaw second year, and a few others were left with him now. Harry turned his gaze back to Ron and Hermione.

"Thanks for the much needed help." He smiled up at his two best friends.

"It's the least we could do. We need to try and catch up with your tally on saving our lives. You two are truly life savers. Now, we'll leave so we don't interfere on your... alone time." She hugged him tightly before taking Ron's hand in her own.

"Thanks again mate. Get better quick because I can't go to Potions without you, it isn't the same."

"No problem really. And trust me, I wouldn't miss a chance to get points taken away. Now you two enjoy the evening." They smiled at him before leaving him alone with Ginny.

After Harry watched the couple walk out, he turned to face Ginny. She

was lying back on her bed, facing away from him. He stared at her

small figure and noticed it was shaking gently.

"Ginny, why don't you come get comfortable with me?" He patted the empty space next to him.

At first she didn't move. Then, she sat up and rubbed her teary eyes before turning to face Harry.

Motioning for her to come over again, he examined her. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, mascara running down her cheeks. Her elegant turquoise dress was now ripped completely down one side and was covered in soot and ash. Her hair was loosely falling from the bun, but Harry thought she could be no more beautiful.

Staring at the ground, Ginny walked over and sat carefully on the edge of the mattress. With his good hand, Harry rubbed her back soothingly. "What the matter love? Are you feeling ill?"

She shook her head and then mumbled, " You got hurt, because of me."

A look of confusion crossed Harry's face but then recovered when he realized how he had got hurt.

" No, Gin, it's not your fault at all. You've never hurt me before."

Still facing the opposite direction she shook her head again. " No, Harry, it is my fault, you see. I went back into the Great Hall while it was burning, and I left you behind, you felt the need to come in after me and in doing so you got hurt. Am I correct?" She asked as another warm tear rolled down her soft cheek.

Harry thought for a moment and then replied. " In a sense you are and in another you are not. You are right that I went back in and got hurt, but you are wrong when you say that it is your fault. I went back into the bloody Hall because I was worried about you, in the back of my mind I knew you would be fine, but I had to reassure myself by going in."

Harry sat up and pulled on her arm gently, signaling for her to turn around. Ginny swung around quickly and put her arms around him. She began to plant soft kisses all over his dirty face while tears still flowed down her own. Ginny pulled away and placed her head on his chest.

" I'm so sorry Harry, I should have done something to help you!" Harry took his good arm and pulled her chin up so that her face was towards his own.

" Please don't let it bother you, it doesn't hurt one bit. It did before but it's alright now." Harry moved his face closer to hers and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. " You being here with me is enough help, just stay with me."

Ginny kissed him on the lips again and pulled away slowly, she placed her hands on either side of his face and smiled weakly at him, " And why wouldn't I do that?"

Harry smirked and pulled her in for yet another kiss. He pulled her close to him and they both cuddled together under the covers. Ginny and Harry both were very tired, so they quickly fell asleep, but just before Ginny yawned and mumbled, " Harry, I love you don't ever leave me."

A/N: I really hope you all enjoyed this, I noticed that many people have looked at my chapters, but only a select few are actually reviewing. ( learned this from my number of hits ) I would like to know what you think of my chapters, and by reviewing it also helps get my chapters out faster. Okay so I have a question, Why do you think the Great Hall just suddenly burst into flames? Please answer, You will find out in the next chapter.. and the more reviews the faster you will find out!