Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

---------------------------Chapter 21: Confession

Harry woke up in the Hospital Wing. There were curtains drawn around his bed and he could here whispers on the other side of it. Voldemort was gone, Harry suddenly remembered. A great relief and euphoria spread over him. Harry could not quite remember how they got out of the Chamber of Secrets, but it did not really matter.

"Oh good, you are awake," said Madam Pomfrey as she took Harry's temperature.

"How long have I been out?"

"Three days."

"Where is everyone else?"

"Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Creevy were released two days ago. Miss Weasley is still here. She is not too well."

"What is wrong with her?" said Harry worriedly.

"Perhaps, Professor Dumbledore could explain it better. Are you feeling well enough for me to send him in?"

"Yes."

Harry was left for a few agonizing minutes as Madam Pomfrey got Dumbledore.

"Hello, Harry," said Dumbledore with a soft smile.

"Hello Professor."

"Well, first I must offer my congratulations. You have done the world a great favor."

Harry smiled sadly. He was glad Voldemort was gone, but he wished that he hadn't had to kill.

"How is Ginny?"

"She is not very well right now, but she will be better soon. When you killed Tom Riddle, the part of him that he left in her was permanently destroyed. This is a very good thing in the long run, but it left her quite in a jumble in addition to already being shaken up."

"What about her power?"

"Well, she will need to be trained to control it."

Harry nodded. He remembered something else.

"Malfoy, he had been helping Voldemort all year."

"Yes, I was informed of that by Mr. Malfoy himself when he was released from the infirmary."

"Well?" asked Harry.

"He told me about everything. I believe that he is truly regretful for it."

"Will he be punished?"

"No, he proved himself to be ready to work against the remaining Death Eaters, who have been quiet since news Voldemort's death was released. He, I think, has been giving himself more than enough punishment."

Harry nodded again. He remembered how Draco had looked at Ginny; Harry understood.

"How is everyone else? I didn't see the rest of the battle in the Great Hall."

"Luckily, no one was hurt too bad. Unknown to most, the killing curse does not work in Hogwarts. Helga Hufflepuff set down an ancient magic upon the school to prevent that. As you have found out though, this protection did not reach to the Chamber of Secrets. The Death Eaters were quiteunaware of this. We caught many of them, but a few managed to get away. Only a few students were seriously injured."

"Who?"

"Lavender Brown, Richard Buttercup, and Anita Bath are still here in the Hospital Wing. Many had minor injuries; they were released yesterday and the day before."

Harry smiled; it was all okay.

"Well, Harry, I'd best go before Madam Pomfrey getting upset with me for disturbing her patients."

"Bye, Professor."

"Bye Harry, and again, congratulations."

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Draco had been avoiding everyone since he had gotten out of the Hospital Wing. Most people had no idea what had really happened, but it was common knowledge that he, Draco, had been in the Chamber of Secrets at the time of Voldemort's demise. Draco tried to avoid all questions by locking himself in his dorm. It was Christmas Holiday, so he had nowhere he had to be anyway.

"Draco?" said the voice of Blaise through the curtains of Draco's bed.

"What do you want?"

"I thought that you might want to stop brooding and come out of there."

"You thought wrong."

"Look, I don't know quite what happened, but you are going to have to come out and face the world sometime."

"No, I don't."

"Draco Malfoy, get your arse out here, or I will have to use force."

Draco stuck his head through his curtains so that he could glare at Blaise. "You don't have a clue, do you?"

"I might if you would explain anything."

Draco just stuck his head back in his curtains and decided to ignore Blaise.

"Fine, but you will have to come out sometime, unless you want to disgrace your bed or starve," said Blaise.

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Ginny woke up, once again, in the Hospital wing. "Not again," she moaned as she sat up. It seemed to be early morning, or perhaps late at night; she could not tell which. There were a couple of chairs around her bed. They were all vacant except one, which had a very asleep Harry Potter in it.

"Harry," said Ginny nudging him. He did not wake up. She continued to prod him, but had no avail. "HARRY!" she shouted.

Harry jumped from his chair. "I am not asleep!"

Ginny just giggled. "You sure snore for an awake person."

Harry seemed to realize where he was. "I do not snore," he said indignantly, but a grin cracked through his face. "You're awake! How are you feeling?'

"Just fine."

"And do you remember everything?"

"Unfortunately."

Harry blushed; he had not meant to bring up what had happened. He knew the whole ordeal had been very hard on her.

"I am sorry."

"For what? Harry, I owe you my life twice now. Thank you," she said hugging him. Harry blushed even deeper.

"Look, Ginny, there is something I have been meaning to tell you for a long time now. I... I am, well, quite fond of you, in...well...a more than just friend's way...I mean...I think I...um...might...love you," said Harry, looking down at his lap.

It was now Ginny's turn to blush. And she did, even though she silently cursed herself for doing so. "Harry...I," she started. "Well, I do not quite know what to say. I love you too, but only as a good friend."

"I figured that you would only see me as another brother," Harry sighed.

"Oh, goodness, no. Not as a brother. I have enough of them. You are my friend and that is a very special connection within itself."

Harry smiled softly. "I guess that it better than nothing."

"Of course."

"You love him don't you?"

Ginny looked confused for a minute, but realized whom Harry was talking about. "Well, no. I am very unsure on my feelings about 'him' as of the moment. He did betray me, but he also helped save my life. I really do not know. I never did love him anyway, but I did care about him and harbor more than friendly feelings toward him."

"I saw it a long time ago; I was just in denial."

"As was I."

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A/N: It is almost over. Anyway, Thank you to everyone for reading and and to everyone who reviewed!

---Perplexity