Ginny had gotten special permission from Professor Dumbledore to remain at Harry's side for as long as the healers at St. Mungo's felt that her presence was beneficial. She had insisted that her class work be sent to her, not wanting to be given any break over what was expected of other students.
So, she sat there, at his side day after day. One hand writing scroll after scroll of school work, and the other holding tightly to Harry. The healers were in a frenzy trying to explain how Ginny was affecting Harry's recovery, but none of them could come up with any logical reason why it should. What they did know, was that the fluid levels in the viles never rose at any time other than when she was touching him.
Harry had several visitors who came to check on him. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came by on a daily basis to check on Ginny and bring her clean clothes and remind her that she would be of no use to Harry if she didn't get more rest. Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, and several of the other teachers came to visit occasionally, and Hermione and Ron spent the weekends there when there were no classes.
On the first weekend in December, Ron and Hermione were there as usual and Ron was pacing the floor as he vented a problem that he was facing. What none of them were aware of, was that someone else was listening to the conversation as well.
'I tell you it's going to be a disaster!" Ron exclaimed as he paced. "We get lucky enough to not have our first quidditch match until the last game before Christmas, and we still can't field a decent team. None of the alternates has been able to catch the snitch even once. One of them could sort of fill in at your chaser position, but without a seeker we don't have a chance of winning against Ravenclaw."
"I don't know what to tell you, Ron," Ginny said. "There isn't anything I can do about it."
"I know," Ron said kicking his foot and leaving a black mark on the floor. "I just don't see any way that we can actually win."
"Ginny can be your seeker," came a voice none of them had been expecting.
"Harry?" they all gasped at once.
"She did a great job as the seeker when she first started playing," Harry said as he looked at the floor below him. "She'll catch the snitch and have the game over before the alternate chaser can do too much damage."
"I can't leave you, Harry," Ginny said.
"I'm not going anywhere," Harry said with as much humor as he could muster. "You took care of me when I needed you, but there are other people who need you as well."
"Harry…" Ginny began.
"When was the last time you got out of here to get some fresh air?" Harry asked. "I'm not asking you to leave for good. I desperately want you to come back when its over, but now that I'm back I can handle some of the healing myself."
"So what took you so long to come back anyway?" Ron asked.
"It's hard to explain, Ron," Harry answered. "I was in kind of a limbo, neither alive or dead, but separated from my body. The longer you're there, the more comfortable you get, and the less of an urge you feel to return to life. Death is on the other end trying to pull you in that direction, and the more comfortable you get the stronger the pull toward death."
"It sounds awful," Hermione said.
"It was really difficult," Harry said, "trying to hold out until Ginny got here."
"What did I have to do with it?" Ginny asked.
"You were the anchor that made me want to return," Harry said. "The grip of death lost ground with every day that passed thanks to you."
"Oh, Harry," Harry heard Ginny say just before her tear streaked face appeared below him. "Any time you want to ask me, the answer will be yes."
Ginny then raised up and planted a tender welcome kiss on Harry's lips.
Several seconds later they both heard Ron clear his throat a bit too loudly as he asked, "Just what question would that be that you're saying yes to?"
"Oh, Ron," Hermione said through her own tears.
"Is there anything you need?" Ginny asked Harry as they finally parted.
"Actually there is," Harry responded. "Could you ask the healers just how long I have to stare at the floor. I think the ceiling would be much more interesting."
"Sure," Ginny said with a smile. "I'll go and do that right now."
As she turned to walk out, Hermione said, "Ron, why don't you go with her?"
Ron was just about to ask why when his new scense of 'I don't have to understand her reasons, I just have to do it' kicked in and he silently turned and followed his sister.
"Harry, I…" Hermione began.
"You don't have to, Hermione." Harry interrupted.
"Yes I do, Harry," Hermione said. "I can never repay you for what you did. I can't help but think that things would have been better if you had just let me fall."
"I hope you don't really think that," Harry said. "I certainly don't."
"But how are you supposed to fight Voldemort," Hermione agrued, "and be the savior of the wizarding world if you're dead. Just look at what happened after those articles in The Daily Prophet."
"First of all I have no idea what they wrote in The Daily Prophet," Harry said. "Second, I think we have established that I'm not dead. Third, the whole reason I'm preparing to fight Voldemort is so my friends can live long and happy lives. I'm not about to stand by and let one of those friends go so easily. If I had it to do over again, I would do exactly the same thing. I don't want to hear any more talk about letting you fall. Besides, you would have done the same thing if I had been the one falling and you know it."
Hermione thought about what Harry said for a while before saying, "Then I guess there is only one thing left for me to say. Thank you, Harry."
Harry felt Hermione's hand close around his as he said, "Any time."