When the War is Over: Chapter Eleven
(I don't own any copyrights to the Harry Potter series, or anything to do with it.)
Snow lies heavily on the ground, and I curl deeper under a blanket in the chair. Soon, I'll have to go down and confess the truth; I know I won't be allowed anywhere near the order afterwards, I'll be forced to go home. I think of Harry, and my body trembles slightly; The last memory of him has not faded, his sad face, his kiss, his touch... Subconsciously I rub my stomach, a nervous habit I've picked up since learning the truth. There is no bump yet, but I know there will be, eventually.
Hermione enters the room, and studies me worriedly. Lately, there have been too many worry-lines creasing her smooth face. She tries to hide the anxiety, but I know she feels the pressing of time just as badly as I do. We haven't discussed the second prophecy since I learned I was carrying our baby, but I am sure it will come up at the meeting.
"Shall we go?" Hermione asks anxiously.
"Yes," I reply.
Downstairs, everyone is assembled in the kitchen. I can't look at my brother, afraid I might find some shame in his eyes, even before telling him. I glance at Moody as I step into the room, and his magical eye swivels, following me across the kitchen. There could never be any hiding from Moody, I'm sure he knows the truth already, his magical eye would have told him. Mum and dad have come as well, and I can't bare to look at them either.
"Everyone," Hermione announces, motioning at me, "Ginny has something she needs to tell you all."
I step forward, every eye on me, and I feel the shame; Blood rushes to my face, my body trembles slightly.
"Everyone," I say, "I know I told you that when I was captured, I found out where they had been keeping Harry-- I know I told you that we escaped, but were ambushed at the gates, and that he sacrificed himself to save me, but what I didn't tell you is that Harry and I-- We did some things that we shouldn't be proud of, but those things have lead to something wonderful."
"Gin, what are you trying to say?" Ron asks me gently, "whatever it is, I can promise that at least I won't hold it against you."
"I'm carrying our baby," I reply, letting out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
Mum staggers backwards, and dad has to support her; Ron's mouth falls open in shock, and the rest of the those grouped in the kitchen start mummering among themselves.
"There's more!" I interject, before anyone can say anything, "I believe that this child is a part of the second prophecy, although I don't know how quite yet. I believe the second prophecy concerns the three of us, Harry, myself, and our baby."
"Oh, sweetheart," Mum finally regains some of her senses back, "that's quite a leap-- I'm not unhappy to be a future grandmother, but...you knew that wasn't the right thing to do..."
"We just want whats best for you and the baby," Dad adds, "these are dangerous times."
"What's done is done," Moody interrupts, "what we should be deciding on now is weather to allow her to be in the order anymore. If she's carrying a child, and this child could potentially be part of the second prophecy, thanshe ought to be taken somewhere more secure."
"I don't want to go anywhere," I shout, knowing my protests will be futile.
"Gin," Ron stands up, "I know you want to help him, but think of your child. Would he want you both to be in danger? I think he'd want you to go somewhere safe."
"Ginny," Hermione touches my arm softly, "let's let them argue it out for a bit."
I nod and follow her out of the room. In the hallway, just outside my room, we stop; Hermione's face is lost in shadow.
"Your planning on going anyways?" She says.
"Yes," I reply, "If I stay here, they'll take me to the ends of the earth, and keep me there until the war is over-- and who knows how long that's going to be? With the 'Chosen One' in enemy hands, the war could go on forever. Besides, if I'm part of this prophecy, I need to be there to fulfill it."
"I'm coming with you," Hermione says.
Suddenly, Ron appears; He looks at our guilty faces, shakes his head, and runs a hand through his hair.
"You guys are going, aren't you?"
"If you try and stop me, I'll give you such a bad bat-bogey hex that your face will take a week to recover!" I threaten, but he only sighs.
"I'm coming too," he says, "your my little sister, and your baby's father is my best mate. Harry would never forgive me if I let something happen to you guys."
"Or me either," Hermione chimes in.
"Than let's go," I say.
The castle looms at us on the horizon, a monstrous black shape, stabbing it's jagged towers into the perfect blue sky. The biting cold makes my eyes water, but Hermione and Ron have forced me to pad down with so much warm clothing that I am amazed my broom does not fall out of the sky from the weight of it all. We alight at the castle gates, but nothing happens.
The gates have been left ajar, no sound emits from the courtyard further in, and I am aware of a trap closing steadily around us. Where is everyone? Why haven't we been spotted and captured, or killed, yet? 'I saw a bit of your future-- Congratulations, and at the same time, many sympathies' I hear Voldemort say once again.
"Guys, I don't think we have to worry about being captured," I tell them, "I think I'm supposed to find Harry, for whatever reason."
"Alright," Ron says, "but let's be on guard anyways."
We creep through the castle, quieter than mice. The empty halls and passages are eerily quiet, my breath fogs before my face. Doesn't anyone believe in heat around here? Finally, we come to a large, white building with a curved, dome-like apperance. I stop before the silver doors, studying the engraved, curling gold snakes, and the serpent shaped handles.
"I think I need to go on alone," I explain.
Hermione and Ron glance at once another. Ron turns me around and looks me in the eyes.
"Are you sure about this Gin?" He asks me seriously, "because if your not, we can come with you."
"No," I force myself to say, "I think it's supposed to be this way. Don't worry, I still have to fulfill my end of the prophecy."
My hand automatically flies to my stomach as I push open the doors. The inside of the building is no warmer than the outside; My breathing increases, my nerves stand on end. The doors behind me slam shut! I spin around, preparing to dash back to them, but an ominous laughter rumbles through the building.
"Welcome," Voldemort's voice vibrates the floor beneath my feet, "I see that you've returned. Still trying to rescue him? You'll find he's become more-- agreeable to our 'posistion'.
From the far end of the room, the shadows seem to waver, a handsomefigure dressed in silver and black armor, wearing a sword on one hip, andcarrying a wand in his hand, is revealed. He kneels before Voldemort, head lowered in respect.
"No," I whisper, falling to my knees, "no, this can't be--"
"Oh, but it can," Voldemort laughs, "Harry is my loyal servant." Voldemort turns to Harry, and beckons him to rise. Harry rises smoothly, dead black eyes seeing nothing around him. "Dispose of her for me," he commands, stepping back into the shadows.
Harry gracefully draws his sword; Black flames erupt around it, dancing in the pale light of the room. The wand in his hand points at me.His once fierce greeneyes do not see me, they don't register anything but the command to kill.
"Avara Kedavara," he whispers.
I duck to the side, just barely missing the killing curse; I roll sideways to avoid a sword swing that would have cleaved me in two. Rising, I am blasted backwards by a bolt of lightning erupting almost at point-blank range; I am slammed into the wall, the breath leaves my body. Black specks dance before my eyes, and a pair of black boots appears before me.
"Die," Harry hisses, raising his sword above his head. He brings the sword down with all his might, and I close my eyes, waiting for the killing blow. It never comes; A ringing noise echos through the hallway. I open my eyes; Ron is standing in front of me, parrying Harry's sword swing with what looks like a Patronus shield.
"Sorry mate," Ron says grimly, "Not today."
With all his might, he uses the Patronus shield to launch Harry across the room. Harry crashes into the wall, only to struggle to his feet, leaning heavily on his sword and raising his wand at us menacingly. Wordlessly, Ron scoops me into his arms and runs from the room. Outside, Hermione is dancing back and forth on her toes.
"We have to get of here!" Ron shouts.
A blast explodes a building ahead of us as we rush for the gates, and we have to dodge the falling debris. Ron drops me and I roll before springing to my feet. Ron and Hermione grab my arms and pull me along; We dash through the gates, grab our broomsticks, and blast into the air!
Back at headquarters, my heart seems to have lost it's will to beat. I feel as though the world has crashed down around me, and I stand in the ruins, the only one who remembers what everything used to look like. For all I care, the world might really have fallen down around me. A knock at the door breaks my thoughts.
"Go away Hermione!" I snap, rolling over on my bed. Someone enters the room, and I hunch into a tighter ball, refusing to speak with them.
"Ginny dear," Mum says gently, sitting on the bed behind me, and brushing my back softly, "you really should eat something. It's not healthy for the baby, if you don't eat right."
"I know," the anger seems to flow from my body, leaving me feeling drained and empty, "Mum, I've made such a mess of things!"
Mum begins to hum a lullaby, something she sang to me when I was a child.
"It's not your fault, sweetheart," she soothes my hair, "I know it doesn't sound like much, hearing that now, but in time you'll come to understand. What is important is that somewhere deep inside, the Harry that loves you, that loves your baby, is still alive. Somewhere deep inside, he's waiting to be rescued."
Unbidden, fat teardrops roll down my cheeks. I roll over and bury my head in her lap. I let the pain wash over me, I let everything I've tried to ignore sink in. Mum sings her lullaby and soothes my hair, and I cry out everything I've been trying so desperately to hide.
"Will I ever be able to save him?" I whisper. Mum kisses my temple.
"Most certainly," she replies.