Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Chapter Thirty- Two

Moment of Truth

Harry and Ginny were now ensconced in ribbons of swirling orange flames. Their flesh was getting darker, and puffs of smoke were billowing off of their entwined frames. Harry tried to pull away from Ginny's face, but her grip on him was still too strong. Her hands clenched his head in what would normally be called a Death Grip, if not for the fact that they were locked in a passionate embrace. "What's happening?" Ron asked quavering.

"I dunno, but I don't think I like it," said Neville, as he started lowering his wand and taking a stride towards the couple.

"Wands at the ready!" Dumbledore intoned authoritatively. Neville jumped back obediently, while Ron flinched and increased his quaking.

"Ehhhhhhh!" Harry cried loudly as he disengaged from Ginny. He shot back on his heels, awkwardly righting himself and retreating from her chairside. Both were flushed, as if they were carrying a heat within akin to nuclear fallout. Harry's skin was a deep shade of amber, and he was dazed and disoriented.

"Potter! Over here!" Dumbledore yelled.

Despite his mental fogginess and physical inertia, Harry couldn't help thinking that this was the second time today he heard someone, who normally wouldn't, call him by his last name. 'Strange,' he thought as he struggled to regain a clear head. Despite the bleeding from his arms, soreness in his chest and stiffness throughout all his joints, Harry's mouth hurt the worst. It felt like it was blazing- a lethal combination of heat and spiciness, with a chemical aftertaste. Truly awful.

"Harry," Dumbledore called gently. "Harry. Drink this," he continued as Harry made his way over to him. Dumbledore had produced a large earthenware mug filled with a translucent beige liquid seemingly from thin air.

"What is it?" Harry asked weakly, always on his guard.

"Just drink it, Harry. And men, keep your eyes on Miss Weasley." Ron and Neville hadn't realized they'd been watching Harry's slow recovery from the hex proof, and that their wands were lowered. They returned to their en garde stances, aware now that Ginny was looking ready to bolt. Contrary to Harry's appearance, Ron's little sister was glowing, as if an intense fire was also burning inside of her- but she liked it and fed on it.

"Harry? You all right?" Ron yelled over to his best friend, without taking his eyes off his sister.

"No, but I will be," Harry responded, already feeling the healing powers of the beige elixir.

"Goo job, Harry," Neville said. He wasn't really sure why he said it. He actually had no idea, as did neither of his two friends, if Harry had done a good job or not. All he knew was that Harry's condition now indicated that he'd been through an extraordinary ordeal, and was suffering. Neville also felt like he should say something because he was embarassed about what he'd been thinking just moments ago. Just before Harry'd disengaged from Ginny, Neville had believed that they were locked in a smoldering display of passion. Now he was embarassed to realize that Harry had been captive and in pain.

"Miss Weasley, what do you have to say?" Dumbledore again calmly asked Ginny. It was obvious that the two of them knew whether Ginny had been cursed or not, but the three young men were still confused. They looked from one to the other, hoping to glean some understanding, but having no luck.

Ginny looked slightly more contrite when she responded to Dumbledore the second time. Calmly she started a litany of transgressions. Clearly her Catholic upbringing had prepared her well for this confession, even though it did not start with 'Bless me Father, for I have sinned.'

"I used Neville to take me to the Yule Ball and spy on Harry. I stole a gold locket that Lavender Brown left in the girl's lavatory. I told Harry that I had never been with anyone, although I slept with Draco Malfoy my second year. I stole Hermione's notes for nearly every subject. I regularly stole the twin's products and sold them on the black market, pocketing the money. I lied to Harry constantly. I used Neville to get pregnant. I lied to Neville constantly. I wanted to manipulate Harry in marrying me by having a baby that I would tell him was his.

"I lied to you, Professor Dumbledore. I put a stink bomb in Professor McGonagall's office. I stole a pumpkin from Hagird. I conspired with Professor Snape to prevent Harry and George Sanders from getting together. I lied to my parents constantly. I sent George's parents a prank howler. I tried to make Harry jealous. I sold the idea of Divination Deathwatch to the TV producers. I was cruel and unappreciative to my family and friends. I sent Neville's grandmother a fake brochure about a vampire safari to get rid of her. I lied to my friends constantly.

"I used Stan Shunpike to get back at my family and friends. I tried to make them feel bad that I had become unhinged. I wanted everyone to think it was their faults that I was unhappy and acting crazy. I lied to Stan constantly. I fed spoiled meat to Sirius when he was a dog.

"I sent love notes to Professor Snape from Hermione and George that had fallen out of Hermione's robes at The Burrow the night I had the baby. I knew they must have been a prank, and the girls did not actually intend to send them. I cast a corporal enchantment on Hermione and George to make fools of them. I never wanted a baby. I hate my baby.

"I hate myself. I, Ginevra Molly Weasley, solemnly swear that this is an accurate account of my willful and voluntary actions."

As Ginny had mechanically listed her various transgressions of the last few years, Ron, Harry and Neville were transfixed, occasionally gasping in disbelief. Some things they'd known about, while others were new information. Ron and Harry were particularly wondering what type of corporal enchantment Ginny had affixed to their loved ones- and how to undo it.

Dumbledore was also listening intently, and seemed nonplussed by any of these revelations. He did raise an eyebrow though upon hearing of Professor Snape's involvement in one of Ginny's schemes. He then asked one last time, "Miss Weasley, what do you have to say?"

Ginny responded simply, "Nothing."

Showing Ginny a respect she did not deserve, Dumbledore politely said, "Thank you, Miss Weasley. That will be all. Please stay seated. Ron, Neville, you may put your wands away."

The two looked at Dumbledore and then back at Ginny. Neither of them, nor Harry, could now believe the physical transformation that had taken place during Ginny's recitation. The fire was now gone. Ginny sat exhausted the chair, looking as if she'd had ten days hard labor rather than ten minutes of speaking. She too had dark skin, but it was a reddish purple which was now peeling grotesquely. Her eyes bore a vacant, haunted expression. She appeared too weak to respond to Dumbledore's acknowledgement. It was apparent that she no longer posed a threat to anyone.

Dumbledore continued his instructions. "Ronald, please go to Hogwarts. Send back your parents and the baby. You'll find them in Professor McGonagall's office. Then proceed to the Gryffindor Common Room, and ask Miss Granger and Miss Sanders to return to The Burrow with you. Neville, please go to the Ministry of Magic, and inform the minister that a recovery team must be sent immediately to Hungary to retrieve your grandmother." Seeing the pang of worry on Neville's face, he reassured him with a wink and a soothing voice. "Don't worry, Neville. She's fine- although she is eating too many starchy foods for a woman her age."

After the two had left on their missions, Dumbledore surprised Harry with his next task. "Harry, are you feeling well?"

"Yes, sir," Harry replied, who had almost completely recovered.

"Would you please sit next to Ginny and hold her hand?" Harry nodded slowly in recognition. He sat next to his former flame on the large cozy chair, and gently took her limp hand. He looked over at the catatonic young woman staring into space, and couldn't suppress the tears falling down his handsome face.