Disclaimer: I am the proud owner of Ella, but, sadly, own nothing else, a fact I bemoan every day. Please don't sue, I'm already depressed.

Chapter 15

Ginny Weasley pulled the comforter up to her chin and snuggled deeper into the bed she was resting on. She closed her eyes, savoring the silence that had descended on the room since Tonks had left to check on the reception and get Ginny a glass of water. Ever since she fainted, Ginny had been surrounded by people, well meaning but incredibly irritating when all she wanted was to be alone.

Ginny's eyes flew open as an image that had been plaguing her entered her mind unbidden. She groaned and began massaging her temples, desperately trying not to think about what she had seen earlier that day, yet unable to banish it from her head.

Without the noise and bustle that had so recently been her constant companion, Ginny could find nothing left to do but dwell on the image that had been seared on her brain. Bright green eyes swam in the space before her, and she could feel herself getting lost in them, as she had so many years ago.

She groaned and buried her face in a pillow, giving a muffled scream.

Wishing she could stop thinking about it, but knowing she couldn't if she tried, Ginny gazed out the small window, inundated with memories and recalling the feelings she had for a boy a long time ago.

Not for a moment did Ginny ever try to convince herself that she hadn't seen him. No matter how much time passed, she knew she would never forget the way Harry's eyes proudly displayed all his emotions, just as the eyes she had seen this morning, bright with sadness and loneliness, had done. She recognized the man's mop of untidy, black hair, his brow furrowed with a fierce feeling, and the way he looked at her. Ginny Weasley knew that man better than she knew herself, and she knew full well that Harry Potter had been at the wedding that morning.

With his arrival, a flood of emotions had escaped, emotions she had tried to lock away and hide. Her tear-stained face reflected her inner turmoil. She felt so many different things, felt pulled in so many different directions that she couldn't think clearly anymore. All that came to her mind was the face of a man she hadn't seen for seven years, a man who she, though she refused to admit it, desperately wished to see again.

At the same time as feeling that she needed to talk to him, to hear his voice, just see him, she felt angry at him. Ginny wanted him to know the pain she had endured when he left, wanted him to feel jus a fraction of what she had felt—what she was feeling. She couldn't sort out her emotions, and her mind felt like a formless blob that couldn't help. Ginny felt like she was going to explode.

That's when she heard the faint echoes of voices shouting upstairs.

"What's supposed to happen now," Harry asked exasperatedly, looking at Remus. He noticed Fleur open her mouth to reply. "Not you," he said sharply.

Remus bit back a smile, but then frowned as he thought about Harry's question. What would they do now? He looked at Harry nervously.
"Well," he said tentatively, "you could stay."

From their spots on the floor, the twins and Ella straightened and turned their heads to Harry, waiting with baited breath for a response.

Outside the door, Tonks was clutching the Extendable Ear to her own and leaning as close to the door as she dared, eagerly hoping he would answer.

On his seat, Harry squirmed uncomfortably. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he glanced around at all the people waiting expectantly.

Images that he had forced out of his mind long ago came back with force. He couldn't make himself look at any of his companions as he heard a voice in his head yelling, "Avada Kedavra!"

He looked at Remus, trembling, eyes bright with tears that were threatening to spill.

"I can't Remus. You don't know…I just can't stay here."

Fleur let out a derisive snort and turned her back on Harry. The twins gazed at him, mouths agape, still stunned that they were talking to Harry Potter. Ella was looking at him suspiciously, but said nothing. Tonks was almost one with the door as she tried to get as close as she could. Remus studied Harry's face shrewdly for a moment, before nodding.

"Alright, Harry," he said gravely.

Fleur spun back around, staring at Remus in horror. Fred and George seemed rather disappointed.

"What are we supposed to do zen, Remus?" she asked furiously. "Ginny 'as seen 'im!" Everyone looked distinctly uncomfortable at the mention of Ginny's name. "As 'ave all of us! Are we supposed to pretend zis never 'appened?"

Losing his patience, Remus responded angrily. "If that's what Harry wants, then yes! What he does is none of your business, Fleur. It's his decision," Remus stated firmly. Fleur looked mutinous.

"You may wish to let 'im go, Remus. I will do as you say, as I respect your judgment," she added disdainfully, as though she didn't care one bit about what he thought best. "But I will not," she continued, ice blue eyes flashing dangerously, "let 'im leave until I know why 'e left."

As one, everyone turned their heads to Remus, waiting for his response. No one noticed the protesting creak of the door as Tonks leaned herself further into it. It wasn't, however, Remus who spoke.

"I can't tell you that," Harry said through clenched teeth, wrestling the picture of a falling figure out of his mind. Fleur turned imperiously towards him.

"Zen you will not leave," she said simply, eyes blazing. He gave her a hard glare, but collapsed back into his chair after a moment.

Exhausted, he decided not to fight her anymore. Interpreting his silence as consent or, more accurately, apathy, Fleur gave a small smile. The fire in her eyes was replaced by a triumphant gleam, and the fire that had started forming in her clenched fist died.

Tonks dragged her head away from the door, as she could no longer hear what the hushed voices were saying. Remembering the Extendable Ear she had dropped earlier, when the argument had escalated to shouting and it had been ridiculous to use it, she looked for it on the ground.

Having located it, she took a step towards the wall it was resting against. Almost immediately she could feel the familiar imbalance and she wobbled precariously on her feet. Thinking she had righted herself and the danger was past, she took a breath.

Tonks went tumbling into the wooden door,

Inside the small room, Remus cringed when he heard the thump in the hallway. Not only was he accustomed to the sound and knew the fall it denoted, he realized that his wife must have heard everything.

Looking around the room subtly to see if anyone else had noticed the sound, he found five faces looking towards him, waiting for how he would respond. Sighing, he went to the door and opened it to find his wife pulling herself up.

She noticed him and smiled nervously.

"I didn't hear a thing," she told him. Remus shook his head and beckoned her inside.

Ginny had been walking through the hall downstairs, following the sounds of muffled shouting, when she heard a loud thump. Worried that it might have been Tonks, the red-haired woman made her way quickly up the stairs to the source of the noise.

When she arrived upstairs, she was greeted by an empty hallway. Frowning slightly, she glanced around to make sure she hadn't missed anything. Noticing an all-too-familiar, flesh-colored string laying outside a door she silently made her way to it. Crouching down she picked it up.

Checking the hallway again for any people that might see her, Ginny pressed the Extendable Ear against her head. Less than ten seconds passed before she was staring wide-eyed at the door and leaning against the wall for support.

No, she thought, it can't be. She sat down, heedless of the noise she must have been making.

Inside the room, the group paused and listened when they heard the second crash in the hallway in less than five minutes. Praying the sound had only been in his imagination, Remus reached out his hand to open the door.

Author's Note: Due to the fantastic number of reviews, I decided to post a little early. Next chapter will be out by January 21st. Of course, I will feel up to writing this Saturday, should…certain factors…persuade me. Coughreviewscough. Alright, I'm done shamelessly begging for reviews now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!