Chapter 5: The Fight

Ginny watched silently as the Golden trio bickered in hushed whispers as if she weren't there. It was what Ginny was used to, growing up as the youngest of seven siblings. Only Harry kept glancing back at her, his eyes burning with questions that Ginny was not looking forward to answering. Ginny gave a small smile while she absorbed every word she could.

At the moment, they were questioning if they were safe in Grimmauld place. Though the Fidelius spell was still active, Death Eaters were already posted outside. There were also dangers from within to contend with. They had only just entered Grimmauld place when they were haunted by a horrible image of Dumbledore's decomposing specter, likely the creation of her brother Bill, as a gift for Snape. The others were understandably concerned that other curses were left in Grimmauld place, of a more lethal variety.

Ginny knew when the conversation had turned when they began sneaking glances at her one by one. Ginny shifted uncomfortably as she buried her maimed hand deeper into her robes. So far, no one had noticed her injury, and though she wished it would remain that way, Ginny knew it was only a matter of time.

Blood. There was lots of blood at the cafe, and the sight of severed limbs flashed before her eyes. Ginny refused to feel guilty for her actions. Sure they were extreme, but she was outnumbered, surrounded by Death Eaters, and Harry's life was at stake. Still, her violent deeds replayed in her head, over and over, like a never-ending movie. Ginny saw a movie or two in London. Her father was fascinated by them...and now believed she was dead. Those movies had been violent, one of them made her father sick, yet it was nothing like the cafe. The blood, the gore, the screams...

"What was she doing there in the first place." Hermione hissed, and Ginny's ears perked up. "How can we take her back to the burrow when we don't know why she's not there in the first place."

"Well, she can't stay here!" Ron snapped bitterly, though the worry on his face was noticeable for all to see.

"I don't trust Death Eaters, but when they said she...I think they were using their interpretation of the truth against us." Hermione whispered rapidly.

"What?"

"It means I think they were telling the truth, Ron." Hermione groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Don't you understand, Ron? We don't know if there's a Burrow for her to go home to."

Ginny's heart stopped, and she felt the way Ron looked as he uttered. "I gotta go-"

"No, Ron, it's too dangerous." Hermione backtracked quickly, grabbing ahold of his wrist. "It was just a thought, but they only mentioned Ginny. They would've used other family members against us. I'm sure they're fine, Ron."

"All this discussion is pointless until we know more." Harry finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Maybe instead of talking with each other, we should be asking Ginny."

Ginny smiled as Harry turned to her, though it was forced. Though Ginny appreciated Harry's sentiment, she preferred to be the wallflower. Instead, she could only watch as the golden trio approached her. Harry glanced at his friends, then stepped forward and knelt in front of Ginny. "Are you ok?"

This time Ginny's smile was genuine. Of course, Harry's first priority was her well-being. "I will be, but that's not what you wanted to ask, was it?"

Harry exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. "You're not supposed to be here, Ginny."

"Neither are you." Ginny countered, and for a moment, neither said anything. Then Ginny sighed and answered. "Everything the Death Eaters said was true, from their point of view. As far as the word is concerned, Ginny Weasley is dead."

Ron went to speak but was silenced by Harry's glare. Harry rubbed his face, and Ginny could see the shadows under his eyes and could only imagine the stress he was under. Ginny hated seeing Harry like this, the weight of the world was on his shoulders, and it showed in his voice as he groaned. "What did you do?"

"What I had to," Ginny answered, a grim determination in her eyes.

Harry sighed. "Ginny..."

"I love my Mother," Ginny uttered abruptly, a faraway look in her eyes. "But her views on women are dated. She always wanted a girl, and I had to play the part. There are pictures of me in dresses, but I ruined so many of them that Mom finally stopped trying. Eventually, she would stop trying and accept me for who I am."

"Still while my Brothers tossed the gnomes. I would do the dishes while my Brothers tossed the gnomes. I would help mom with her sewing while my brothers tended the chickens. My Brothers would fly on brooms and play quidditch while I watched from the ground." Ginny's whisper was forlorn, while Ron seemed fascinated by a stain on the wall.

"I thought things would be different at Hogwarts. Instead, the other students looked down on me, and my hand me down robes and wand. They refused to give me the time of day. Luna was sorted into another house, and I hardly saw her. Even my brothers never spent much time with me, their baby sister. Once again, I was left behind, with no friends...except one."

Ginny shuddered at the memory. Not even Harry's comforting hand in hers could rid her of the tar in her gut. Ginny swallowed thickly before turning to me Harry's guilty eyes. "Eventually, I grew used to it and prepared for the inevitable. But I never expected it from you. I know you had your reasons, but I admit, it hurt more than I let on."

"I tried to be strong, Harry. I told myself you would return to me when Riddle is gone." Ginny began to shake, her eyes widened, and her face turned as pale as it was in the Chamber. "But what if you didn't come back. I...I keep seeing the dam Boggart Mom stumbled upon! I see it every night, and even when I close my eyes. All my brothers dead...and...and you. What if...he wins, and I lose you. The thought of you ripped away from me, buy that...that monster, is unbearable."

Ginny closed her eyes as tears began to flow, but instead of wiping them away, she wore them valiantly, like scars of war, before glaring into the green eyes she loved and speaking with the intensity that led her to this exact moment. "I've been left behind all my life, but not anymore, not this time."

Ginny watched as Harry's eyes narrowed, and she could feel the fear exuding from him. "What are you saying."

"I think you know," Ginny answered grimly.

Harry met her gaze and then slowly started shaking his head. "No...No...out of the question!"

"What would you do, Harry, if I was the one who had to destroy Riddle," Ginny spoke, the words flowing from her lips like water from a running faucet. "What would you have done if I left you behind to face Merlin knows what?"

"You're not even supposed to be here," Harry said as he paced back and forth frantically. "You should be home with your family. I mean, for Morgana's love, they think you're dead!"

"Exactly, and so does every Death Eater in the country." Ginny declared with conviction. "My being here isn't an accident, Harry, and I'm sure as shit not talking about fate. I'm exactly where I want to be. By your side, where I belong."

"So you what faked your death!?" Harry exclaimed as he stood up and began pacing back and forth.

Ginny rose to her feet and snapped. "Yes, that's precisely what I did! I provoked a Deatheater to curse me, cast a powerful shield, and apparated here before the smoke cleared."

"You mean you are the reason we were followed?" Ron yelled, but, far from red, Ginny was surprised to see her brother's face as white as a ghost.

"Don't be silly, Ron. They thought she was dead, remember." Hermione scolded before frowning. "But that still doesn't explain how you found us."

Ginny reached into her pocket and tossed Hermione a butter bear corked necklace. Hermione took one look at it before groaning, "Luna."

"She's smarter than people think. Most people would never believe she could cast such a charm, let alone invent one." Ginny uttered with pride for her friend.

Hermione examined the necklace and spoke in a rapid voice. "This is some truly unremarkable magic. I've never seen anything like it. A Magical tracker that tethers the target to the very mind of the wearer, and yet not only does it wear off, but it's also completely harmless, magically speaking, though I shudder to think of what this would do in the wrong hands. Do you have any papers on the-"

"Who bloody cares!" Ron cursed, looking around like they had lost their minds. "Nows not the time for a lesson in spell-crafting. We need to get Ginny home."

Ginny scowled. "I don't think you understand, Ron. I'm not going anywhere. I'm already dead. What do you think would happen if I were to show up at the Burrow, alive and well."

"Then you can stay with Charlie or Bill and Fleur. Hell, there's always Aunt Muriel."

"I'd rather turn myself in than step foot in Muriel's house," Ginny said before shaking her head. "That's beside the point! I'm staying, and that final."

"You can't," Harry spoke, looking older than 17 years. "You...You have the trace."

"Broken, by Dumbledore himself." Ginny declared before reaching into her robes and tossing an old tattered book to Harry.

Hermione stared at the book, agast. "Is that..."

"Yes, it was quite a shock when the now former Minister pulled this rabbit out of his hat, saying Dumbledore left it to me. Luckily the only spirit that resides in this book is Dumbledore's magic." Ginny stared at Harry with beseeching eyes. "Don't you understand Harry, Dumbledore himself?"

Harry looked upon the book, and Ginny could see it shaking in his hand. Suddenly he spun around and hurled it across the room. Ron and Hermione looked at Harry with alarm, but Ginny swallowed back her empathy. Ginny could only imagine what Harry was feeling, but she would not let her sympathy get in the way of what she believed in.

"No, I won't allow it." Harry finally declared, rubbing his eyes heavy with fatigue.

"Not allow it?" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes darkening. "Your not my mom."

"It's too dangerous!" Harry yelled, his eyes blazing.

"Like I didn't just save your sorry asses." Ginny snapped with equal ferocity.

"You...You're too distracting. You'll get in the way."

"Wow, pew, that is a big stinking pile of Dragon shit." Ginny scoffed derisively.

"Your underage." Harry bellowed.

"Since when did that stop you," Ginny shouted. "For Merlin's sake, you faced down Riddle when you wear eleven."

"I can't lose you." Harry pleaded, his voice breaking.

"This is my fight too." Ginny roared as her nostrils flared.

"For the love of Morgana, you're driving me around fucking bend." Harry cried out, grabbing his hair.

"Welcome to the club, you insufferable prat." Ginny spat back her race red with anger.

"Bugger of!"

"Oi, Don't talk to Ginny that way!" Ron interjected with mounting anger.

"SHUT IT!" Harry and Ginny roared in unison, refusing to take their eyes off each over, even as Ron retreated with haste.

"Ron, I think we should start unpacking," Hermione uttered, forgotten by the angry couple. Ron meekly nodded, but Hermione had to pull him from the room. It was only when the door shut that Harry seemed to deflate.

"Merlin, Ginny. Why are you making this so hard." Harry sighed as he rubbed his scar.

"I don't know. Why are you trying so hard to push me away." Ginny cursed herself as she felt her voice break, but her sign of weakness didn't embolden Harry as much as it seemed t break his resolve as he looked away from her.

"Don't you understand!?" Harry uttered hoarsely, and Ginny realized to her horror that Harry was holding back tears. "Everyone who gets close to me gets hurt, and the people I love are killed."

"That didn't stop you from inviting Hermione and my oath of a brother." Ginny countered bitterly.

"I can't do this without them, and..." Harry trailed off as the words got stuck in his throat. But after a deep, shaky breath, he finished. "If something happened to them, it would be devastating, but if something happened to you...It would destroy me."

Harry turned back to Ginny and saw his eyes shined with unshed tears. "If he hurt you or...or worse. I wouldn't have the strength t keep fighting because everything I'm fighting for, none of it matters without you."

Ginny felt her anger rise as tears began to fall. "How dare you make me cry when I'm mad at you, Harry Potter."

Harry slowly approached and reached out before pulling back, his arms hanging uselessly by his side. "Please, Ginny, go...somewhere! Anywhere! As long as it's away from me. Go where it's safe. The thought of him hurting you is unbearable."

Ginny couldn't help but see the stress he was under and, for the first time, realized how much more stress her presence was causing him. For a moment, Ginny considered Harry's words. She considered going to her brother's and staying safe for a second. The moment faded as all moments do, like castles made of sand."

"It's too late for that, Harry. Riddle made sure of that." Ginny whispered before caressing Harry's cheek. "But nothing would hurt me more than if something happened to you, and I wasn't even there."

Ginny went to pull her hand back, but Harry was too fast and caught her wrist. Ginny tensed, realizing too late which hand she had used. Harry started at hand, his face expressionless except for his suddenly wide eyes, as his finger caressed her bandaged finger or the stump that remained.

Ginny quailed at Harry's lack of a reaction. "Luna and I had a plan to fake my death, but then the Death eaters arrived, and you all disappeared, so I had to improvise."

Harry let go of her hand and stared at Ginny with horror. Then, he opened his mouth to speak, but the words never came.

"Are you Mental"

Harry and Ginny spun around, looking at the closed door, and with a wave of her wand, the door opened to reveal Ron standing there with an extendable ear in his hand. Behind him, Hermione was shaking her head with a look that said. I tried to stop him. Suddenly there was a slam, and Ginny turned to see Harry was gone, having fled the room.

Ginny turned to Ron and brandished her wand. Ron paled and covered his nose in a futile attempt to prevent Ginny's most infamous curse. It didn't work.

Ginny spent the next few hours searching Grimmauld place for Harry, but it proved to be an arduous task. She searched through five extensive floors, filled with many rooms and full of traps. However, Ginny efficiently dealt with the minor curses while avoiding the more complex enchantments. Ginny felt exhaustion threaten to overcome her, ass this was by far the longest day of her life. Ginny couldn't help but rub the stump where her finger had been, reminding herself it was gone, no matter how much it itched.

However, after much searching, Ginny finally found him in the attic, and her heart broke at the sight. Harry was sitting on the floor, crying. He made not a sound, but his trembling shoulders gave him away. Ginny took a shuddering breath before sitting beside him, and when her hand slipped into his, she felt him squeeze back.

They sat together for a while, leaning on each overs shoulders while they embraced the comforting silence. No words were spoken until Ginny finally uttered. "I just...I just wanted to help and be there for you the way you were when I needed you most. So I'll go if that's what you want."

Harry sighed and nodded his head, and Ginny closed her eyes, her heart shattered in her chest. Then Harry took her injured hand and rubbed it with a tenderness only she knew he possessed.

"They're called Horcrux's," Harry stated suddenly, startling Ginny from her self-pity. "Voldemort split his soul into seven pieces and placed them into different objects. As long as a single Horcrux remains, Voldemort can not die. It's how he survived the night my parents died. It's how he was able to come back. That's what we're after, what we're looking for."

"We already destroyed two of them. Dumbledore destroyed one, and I the other, back in my second year." Harry whispered before meeting Ginny's gaze, and her eyes widened in understanding. Ginny couldn't deny the apprehension in her heart as she finally understood the monumental task that lay before Harry and what he had to face. Ginny shivered as she heard a familiar voice hissing in her mind. "Ginny, Ginny."

"Ginny!" Harry's voice startled her from her thoughts. She gritted her teeth and forced down her fear. Then, when Harry saw Ginny's focus return to him, he spoke, caressing her bandaged hand. "It won't be easy, and I haven't a clue where any of them could be or even what they are. I'm scared, Ginny, of everything. I thought if I pushed you away, you would be safe, and look where that led to."

"It's not your fault Harry," Ginny answered as she held Harry's hand for support. "This was my choice, my doing, not yours, and I'd do it again."

"It will be dangerous, and we will be pushed to the brink, maybe even past that, and in some way, shape, or form, we will be forced to face him in many ways." Harry met Ginny's gaze and whispered. "If that isn't something you can handle, I wouldn't think less of you in the slightest-"

Ginny leaned forward and silenced Harry with her lips, and after a soft passionate kiss, they separated. No more words were spoken, but there was an understanding between them. Ginny pushed the thought of Riddle from her mind and rested her head on Harry's shoulder, and at last, Ginny knew she was where she belonged.

And that was how Ron and Hermione found them, fast asleep, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I just moved, so maybe it will be a while before the next chapter. I'm going to break a rule and tell you it will be a flashback, along with a return of my favourite Harry Potter character. So expect fluff and humour. If anyone wants to edit or beta-read any of my fanfictions, please feel free to contact me. I have lots planned for this fanfiction, and I hope you all enjoy it.

Nargles out!