Chapter 17

My eyes were still closed, but I could feel myself regaining consciousness. The first thing I realized was that I was lying on something nice and soft. The second thing however...was not so pleasant. I could feel my arm hurting. The pain was something akin to a fireburn.

The pain was the thing that made me wake up real fast. I remembered what happened now, clear in my mind. The questions began rising.

Is Lizz okay?

Who send that letter? (scratch that question...it's obvious who!)

How long have I been out?

Ouch!

Okay...so the last one was no question...more a statement that my arm hurts. I opened my eyes and noticed that I was in one of the rooms of Grimmauld place. I looked at my arm and saw that it was bandaged.

Wanting some answers to my questions, I pulled the covers of me and sat up. A wave of dizziness came over me and I waited until it passed. After it did, I slowly put my feet to the ground on the soft carpet. I stood up, clinging to the bedpost for support.

The whole episode with the red jewel had worn me down and I could feel my desire to crawl back under the covers and sleep for a week, but I wasn't going back until I at least knew if Lizz was okay (and not traumatized or something! ) A chill went up my spine as my bear feet touched the cold ground where the carpet did not reach anymore.

As I reached the door, I swung it open. I saw a familiar hallway from which I knew the stair was closeby. I started walking, staying close to the wall in case I needed the support.

As I stood at the top of the stairs, a voice called out.

"Ginny! What are you doing out of bed?"

It startled me so that I tripped and was going head first…down. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact that didn't come. Instead...two arms around my waist, saving me from something that would have made sure that I stayed in bed for another week.

Harry pulled me back and turned me around.

"You should be careful..."

"Thank you..." we both said at the same time. His close proximity was stopping me from thinking clearly. My heart was beating so fast, I'd be surprised if he didn't hear it.

And then...Harry seemed to realize that he had his arms still around me and pulled back. Lizz came to my mind again.

"Harry! Where's Lizz! Is she okay? Where's Dumbledore? I could ask him! How long have I been unconscious?"

"Wow! One question at a time! I don't know who Lizz is so you'll probably will have to ask Dumbledore, who is in the kitchen and you've been out for a day or so"

I turned around and immediately started to make a second attempt to go down. As I did so, I could feel Harry grabbing my arm and helping me. Normally, I would have resisted and said I could do it myself. But I didn't...and I don't know why either.

We walked all the way to the kitchen and Harry held the door open for me. Which I thought was very sweet of him. When I entered, I saw Molly and Dumbledore sitting at the table, drinking tea. Meghan (Percy's daughter) was playing in the far corner, unaware of all the adults in the room.

When I saw mum looking at me, she stood u and ran towards me. She hugged me very closely.

"Oh poor child! What awful that you had to suffer through so much pain. I was so worried, Virginia! Do your guardians know what happened yet?"

I relished the fact that Mum was hugging me tightly until I heard the name 'Virginia', brought me straight back to reality.

Guardians? I thought. What is she talking about?

Then I remembered. I told Harry that my mum died when I was young and that my dad had gone insane by the cruciatus curse.

Dumbledore cut in. "Yes Molly, they know"

"Could I maybe speak with you for a moment, Headmaster Dumbledore?" Molly, being the ever understanding person, said something about having to do something upstairs somewhere and left.

"Is Lizz okay? I told her to stay in my room, but I don't know if she listened and she was really scared and I just walked away like that! But I couldn't stay, because I had to get help and.."

"Calm down, Miss W-Ginny" (Dumbledore almost slipped up! Next thing we know, the sky'll fall down) "Lizz is totally fine and back at her Common Room, though very worried"

"Talking about worried, what exactly happened?" Harry said. I had almost forgotten that he was still in the room!

"That is what I'd like to know too, do you prefer if Mister Potter leaves the room?"

I looked at my bandaged arm and then at Harry, with his eyes looking intensely into my own. I couldn't send him out of the room.

"He can stay" I said and as soon as I did, I could see Harry relax a bit more.

Dumbledore rubbed his hands together. He motioned to the chairs at the table. "Why don't we all sit down..." he said.

We obeyed. Harry and Dumbledore were looking at me, saying nothing. It dawned on me that they were waiting for me to begin.

"Eh...I...don't know if Lizz has said anything?" A great start...

"Indeed she did" Dumbledore said, pulling out the letter that had caused everything. Dumbledore gave it to Harry, who read it. His face scrunched up in seriousness and confusion at the letter.

"Is this from who I suspect it is?"

I decided not to answer his question immediately, but to just start telling what happened.

"When the letter came...it was addressed to Lizz, but I was suspicious...so I opened it first"

Then I indicated with my hand to the letter. "I read that letter and as soon as I did, some kind of jewel came out and attached itself to my wrist"

Dumbledore nodded in confirmation that he heard, but Harry just continued staring at me.

"I...told Lizz to stay in my room and I ran to get help...the rest...you know"

Dumbledore looked pensive. Harry once again said nothing, but I could see that he was thinking hard. I knew because of the way his eyes glaze over and the green in his eyes sparkle...and-

My thought were interrupted when Harry suddenly asked a question.

"Who is Lizz? and...the one who send the letter and jewel...is he after Lizz or you or both?"

Okay...so when Dumbledore asked if Harry could stay in the room...I had thought to myself...what harm could it do in telling what happened? But these questions...they come closer and closer to the whole truth...I'll partly say the truth then...

"Well...Lizz is my adopted daughter and.."

"Wait...adopted daughter? Aren't you like...18 or something?"

I looked at him. "yeah...I am..."

"And...about the one who send the letter...he's primarily after me, but with the jewel...he tried to get to me through Lizz. But I've no idea who he is...I had just gotten some mystery letters before" I lied.

I averted my gaze from Harry to Dumbledore...pleading silently with my eyes not to tell Harry anything. He said nothing.

"So...he's some kind of stalker?"

If the situation wasn't so serious...I could've almost laughed at the fact that he just called Voldemort a stalker.

"I suppose...yeah" I replied.

"Well then...I'll search for some ways to get you and Lizz more protected" Dumbledore said.

"Thank you" I said.

We all stood up. Harry turned to Dumbledore.

"Sir, I would like that day out today if that is possible..."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrow. "am I right when I suspect that a certain person will join you?"

"Only if she agrees"

"Very well then..." Dumbledore pulled a small bottle out of his robes and gave it to Harry.

"I'd best be off then...much to do" And the headmaster left. I gave Harry a questioning look.

"Ginny...would you...if you're up for it...like to come with me...out?

"Out? You mean...as in a date?" I asked him. Mentally I started preparing on how to refuse.

"Yes..."

"How can you go out? You're in hiding!"

"well...Dumbledore sees the importance of people being in hiding...need to go out sometimes..."

Like with Sirius I thought to myself.

"...and so...Dumbledore gives us a bottle of polyjuice potion and then we can go somewhere...so...would you like to come with me?"

No! I couldn't go! I shouldn't let him get so close to me and it only means trouble and...

"I'd love to come" was the only thing that came out of my mouth.