Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just enjoy playing with other peoples toys. Thank you JKR for sharing.

Chapter 5: Real Live Pictures

"Stupefy!"

The wand once pressed so firmly into Ginny's back suddenly vanished as her attacker fell to the floor with a heavy thud. Leaping into action, Ginny turned swiftly pulling out her wand in the process ready to face anymore Death Eaters. Turning left and right she saw, to her relief, no one other than the terrified and confused muggle customers. Then, taking a deep steadying breath Ginny looked down at the ground before her to see Draco Malfoy lying stunned at her feet. As she stared at the man before her the memories she had been trying to forget came flooding back. Flashes of the war, those friends she had lost, Harry, all passed vividly through her consciousness. Harry. The picture she kept of him in her minds eye, so sharp and clear, filled every particle of her brain as her heart screamed in protest.

Ginny felt the room grow hazy around her, as if the world was about to fall away as she zeroed in on that image of Harry. It had been so long, so very long. Backing herself onto a bar stool behind her, she placed her face in her hands silently willing herself to regain her self control. In the distance Lyle's voice echoed telling everyone not to panic, while Brenda was trying to corral all the customers. Vaguely, she hoped Brenda was good with memory charms.

Her heart still beating a wild rhythm inside her chest she opened her eyes still seeing him, Harry, her love. Unwanted, but unstoppable, the tears began to flow like a dam had burst inside her. The tears fell unheeded down her freckled face as the image of Harry became blurred by their constant stream. And then, to her bewilderment the picture spoke.

"Ginny."

"I'm hallucinating," Ginny thought to herself.

"Ginny," the blurred picture of Harry said again, more urgently this time.

Wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand she starred into his face. He was so real she could almost believe he was there; he was so near she could almost touch him. She raised her hand before her wanting to feel him, yet she worried that if she reached out for him she would shatter the illusion and he would vanish forever. Slowly her delicate fingers inched towards the face she saw in her dreams until they made contact with the soft skin. His green eyes were shining with unshed tears as he looked at her.

"Perhaps I'm dead," she thought. "Perhaps Malfoy killed me before he was stunned."

"Harry?" Ginny said in a whisper.

"I'm here Gin," he replied.

"Am I dead?" She asked him quietly.

"No, not dead and not dreaming either," came his reply.

He came nearer still, his arms reaching out for her.

"It can't be. It just can't. I've lost my mind," she mumbled to herself.

Warm arms encircled her; she could feel moist breath on her cheek. She swore she could even smell him. Scattered thoughts and overwhelming feelings filled her being. The jumbled mess inside her seemed to be surging violently, smothering her, caving in around her until the blackness came and she could feel no more.

"Is she alright?"

"I think so, just overwhelmed, poor thing."

"I didn't think she would react that way."

"Well what did you expect, showing up like that? You scared her half to death."

Ginny could hear voices speaking above her. She could only just make them out through the veiled sleepiness that lingered about her. Her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, as though she was waking after taking too much sleeping potion the night before. Groggily, she tried to open her eyes to see the speakers. Brenda knelt beside her holding a cool cloth to her forehead as Lyle stood hovering over her looking anxious. Relief washed over both of their faces as she struggled to bring them into focus.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. One minute I was looking at Malfoy and the next I . . ." Unable to bring herself to tell them of her hallucination, Ginny trailed off in a weak voice.

Bringing her hand to her forehead, she took the cloth Brenda was holding. She struggled to pull herself into a sitting position, leaning on Brenda's willing arm for support. Still feeling unsteady, she closed her eyes breathing deeply.

"Are you doing okay honey?" Brenda asked, the worry evident in her voice.

"Yes, just a bit shaky you know," Ginny replied. "Thanks for the stunner Brenda, I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been here."

Brenda looked at her with a small frown for a moment before replying, "It wasn't me honey."

"But who?" Ginny asked bewildered.

"It was me Gin."

Ginny slowly turned her head to see who had saved her life. The voice sounded so familiar, but she hardly dared hope. There he stood, slightly away from their little group, anxiety in his beautiful green eyes.

"Harry," she whispered.

Harry rumpled his wild dark hair nervously as he stared into Ginny's dark brown eyes. Eyes he had been longing to see for two years. She looked the same to him, just as beautiful, but perhaps a bit wiser. It was killing him to not run to her and sweep her up into his arms but, with the reaction he had received when they first came face to face, he dared not. He didn't know how much longer he could resist though, he had been dreaming of finding her since she disappeared.

With Brenda's help Ginny managed to pull herself into a standing position. They stood there mere feet apart, their eyes locked in an unbreakable gaze. Brenda and Lyle watched on warily, intruders on the reunion. The air in the bar was heavy with silence, the room felt saturated with words yet unspoken. Then, with one swift movement, Ginny flung herself at Harry, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest, as she sobbed his name over and over. Overcome by it all, Harry began to weep into Ginny's crimson hair holding her tightly against him.

"Harry, Harry, I thought you were dead. They said you were killed. Oh, Harry I'm so, so sorry. I ca-can't. Please forgive me. I had to leave," Ginny wept.

"It's all alright now. I'm here. I'm never going to let you go again. I love you Ginny," Harry told her softly.

"Oh, Harry. I lo-love you too," Ginny hiccupped.

They stayed lost in their embrace, silently reveling in their reunion, all need for explanations or apologies forgotten, until Lyle quietly cleared his throat. Looking up, but not pulling apart, the two turned to him.

Seeing only Lyle, Ginny looked around questioningly Ginny asking, "Where's Brenda?"

"Went to check on Lily and Camilla," replied Lyle.

Suddenly Ginny was brought back to reality in it's entirety. Lily, how could she have not thought to get to Lily? What if something had happened to her? Ginny's knees became weak, her breath quickened, her pulse raced, and her heart now pounded so fast it felt as if it might leap from her bosom. Clutching Harry even tighter for support, she cast an anguished glance at the ceiling above her.

Seeing the obvious distress on Ginny's face Lyle tried to calm her. "I'm sure everything is just fine. Brenda said she did some hocus pocus earlier to protect them or something. I don't know, I definitely don't understand it yet. I'm not sure I ever will either. The way your friend took care of that slimy looking fella was pretty amazing though. Didn't even see it coming."

The fact that both she and Brenda had placed protective wards around their apartment relieved Ginny slightly. "Camilla hasn't called?" Ginny asked, still rather anxiously, of Lyle.

"No, Ginny she hasn't. I'm sure they are just fine. You know that at the first sign of trouble she would have let you know. She knew to be on her guard. You told her to be careful. She was probably sitting by the front door, peering through the key hole with the phone in her hand, and with her finger poised on speed dial. Isn't that what she did when Troy Domanger kept following you around?" Lyle said with a slight smile.

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. Lyle was right of course. Camilla would have called even if a girl-scout had come to the door to sell cookies. Ginny had warned Camilla that the man at the door had threatened her. She had told her to call immediately if anyone even came near the apartment. Feeling immensely better, Ginny looked up into Harry's beaming face. Harry grinned down at her feeling giddy with relief to finally have her back in his arms where she belonged. They stared sappily into each other's eyes for several long moments before Ginny remembered they weren't alone.

"Oh, Lyle, I'm sorry. This is Harry," Ginny said suddenly remembering her manners.

"No need, we've been introduced," replied Lyle. "How about a drink? You look like you could use one. How about you Harry?"

"Love one," said Harry not taking his eyes off Ginny.

Ginny just nodded. She felt she may need one before the night was through. There was so much to tell and so many questions she needed answered. Beside them Malfoy twitched in his magical bindings. Ginny surveyed Malfoy's appearance taking note that his pale skin was sallow and his platinum hair was not as well kept as she remembered. Obviously, being on the run was not favoring him. Remembering his wand pressed into her back, Ginny repressed a shudder before turning back to Harry and leading him to the bar.

"What'll it be?" Lyle asked them, acting every bit the bartender.

"Whiskey," said Harry.

"Whiskey," Ginny agreed.

"Two whiskeys' then," said Lyle pouring the strong liquid into a couple glasses. "Amazing what you did with the customers Harry. Wish I was able to do those memory thingies when I was in school. Would have gotten me out of quite a lot of trouble. They won't remember anything?"

"Nothing about any of it thankfully. Brenda said I could use your fireplace to floo the authorities. The sooner we get rid of him the better," Harry said nodding in Malfoy's direction. "Who did you say Brenda was going to check on?

"She went to check on Lily and Camilla upsta . . .," with a severe look from Ginny, Lyle changed subject mid word. "Like your whiskey?"

Not going to be deterred Harry turned to Ginny and asked. "Who are Lily and Camilla?"

Ignoring his question Ginny took a large gulp of her whiskey coughing madly as she felt the liquid burning her throat. Harry gave her questioning look, knowing that she was trying to hide something. Ginny, uncomfortable from the penetrating look she was getting from Harry, was thankful Lyle spoke then, saving Ginny from having to reply.

"I'm sure she'll be back in a few minutes, Brenda I mean. She probably had to calm down Camilla. I'll go check on them," he offered.

Lyle ducked out from behind the bar and was almost at the door when Brenda came flying back into the room a frenzied look upon her face.

"Lily's gone! Ginny, she's gone, they, they took her. Camilla said two men in black cloaks blew in the door and grabbed her. They stunned Camilla before she could even try and stop them. Ginny, I, I'm so," Brenda stuttered trying to finish her sentence.

Panic rising in her, Ginny grabbed her wand from where she had dropped it earlier, and made to leave the bar. Catching her by the arm Harry spun her around to face him.

"Lily? Who is Lily, Ginny? Why would they take her?" Harry demanded.

Ginny tried to wrestle her arm out of his solid grasp but he tightened his grip, scared to let her go. Scattered thoughts raced through her mind, "I can't tell him like this. I can't. I have to hurry. I have to find my baby. I have to. Have to."

For what felt like the millionth time that day, Ginny found tears gracing her cheeks as she fought furiously against Harry's restraining hands. He tucked her into his tight embrace, unwilling to allow her to escape, to run from him.

"I'll help you find her. You're not going alone. Just tell me who she is so I can help you," he pleaded with her.

Unwillingly accepting that she would be unable to free herself from his powerful arms, Ginny turned her face upward to his worried gaze. She had to tell him now, she needed him, his help, his courage, and mostly she needed his love.

"Lily is our daughter."