Chapter 7 Night Terrors

An earsplitting scream shattered the silent night. Harry jumped out of his sleeping bag with his wand raised and a curse on his lips. Harry looked to his left and saw Hermione mirroring his actions, but when he looked to his right, he saw Ron kneeling beside his sister, the source of the screaming.

Harry rushed to her side in a blind panic. "Ginny?"

Ginny shrieked violently. Alarmed, Harry shook her, only for Ron to intervene, "Don't wake her!"

"Ginny!" Harry yelled as Ginny continued to scream. Harry could hardly think. He was barely awake.

Ron grabbed him by the shoulders and yelled. "Last time we tried to wake her, she blew a hole in the ceiling and singed dad's eyebrow.."

"Accidental magic." Hermione realized as she lowered her wand. "Ron, she's having Night Terrors!"

"I don't know what it's called, but she's been having them for years," Ron exclaimed before shooting Harry a look. Harry didn't have to ask when they started.

"How do we wake her up!" Harry yelled as Ginny shrieked, tossing and turning all the while.

"We don't. They compared her case to sleepwalking. She can't fully awaken without magic, and even thats dangerous." Ron shook his head, and Ginny screamed again. "The best we can do is calm her. It will pass eventually."

"Oh Ginny," Harry uttered despondently as he brushed the hair from her eyes.

Suddenly a hand clamped onto his as a trembling voice uttered. "Harry?"

Harry squeezed back tight as he whispered tenderly. "I'm here, Ginny. I'm here."

"Don't leave me." Ginny whimpered, and Harry could barely recognize her. The strong independent woman he loved was gone. She was so weak and vulnerable in this state. Finally, Ginny's eyes opened, but for a fleeting moment. Her eyelids were as heavy as lead and soon closed once more. "Harry, please!"

"I'm not going anywhere. "Harry whispered hoarsely as he caressed her cheeks. "I'm here for you, Ginny, as long as you need me."

Harry watched as Ginny drifted from consciousnesses. The scream had stopped, but she was still whimpering. Ginny tossed and turned restlessly with a scrunched-up frown on her face. Her eyes moved vividly from beneath her eyelids.

Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, who looked on with worry. "Go to sleep. It's ok. I got her."

Harry proceeded to lie on his side and hold Ginny close. Ron frowned with disapproval, despite Harry remaining outside the sleeping bag. Ginny's hands clutched Harry shirt as she buried herself into his chest. Harry met Ron's gaze defiantly as if challenging him. Ron merely shook his head before returning to his sleeping bag.

Harry then blushed as he realized Hermione was still watching them as if they were newborn kittens. Harry rolled his eyes as and flipped Hermione off, which only succeeded in having Hermione shaking with silent laughter before leaving the room with a book in hand. Then the smile fell from her face, turning to one of concern as she met Ron's worried gaze. No words were shared. The same thought was on both of their minds.

"They don't happen often. Thank Merlin for that." Ron uttered into his morning tea. "Last night was a bad one."

"I assume she uses silencing charms at Hogwarts," Hermione uttered as she tried to focus on her book.

"Obviously, can't have her waking up the whole house," Ron answered with a mouth full of bacon.

"I assume you've sought professional help?" Hermione asked, but when a response didn't follow, she lowered the book and uttered sternly. "Ron!"

"Does Madam Pomfrey count?" Ron uttered weakly.

"No, she does not!" Hermione exclaimed as she placed the book face down on the table. "Ginny needs a Mind Healer, not the school nurse. Merlin knows what damage the diary did to her."

"It's not that we didn't want to?" Ron countered as he rubbed his eyes. "Do you know how much a mind Healer costs? Unfortunately, the Ministry doesn't cover mental issues of that kind."

"That's ludicrous. Does the magical community have any sense at all!?" Hermione yelled with frustration, made evident when she began pulling her hair. "Maybe if the Ministry invested more Galleons into mental health, there would still be a Ministry. Cults of personality are fuelled by the ignorance and instability of their followers. Not to mention...

Hermione trailed off as her eyes darkened, causing Ron to gulp. "Hang on, didn't your family win a lottery after second year? So you could have afforded Ginny's treatment, but instead, you went to Egypt."

"That was before the Night Terrors." Ron snapped with a glare.

"Ginny was possessed by bloody Voldemort!" Hermione cursed as she slammed her fist on the table, Ron pailing at her rare bout of cursing. "She was only 11 years old! You didn't think it was a good idea to seek professional help."

Ron shrugged. "The trip did her good. Bill was always Ginny's favorite brother. Mom thought he could help her, and he did."

Hermione opened her mouth to retort, only to shut it with a clack as Ginny entered the room. Ginny yawned as she limped across the silent kitchen and poured herself a cup of tea. "Morning."

"Morning." The kitchen replied in the chorus.

Ginny turned around and raised an eyebrow. "You were talking about me, weren't you."

"No" Yes." "No."

Ron and Hermione shot a dirty look at Harry, who had not taken his eye off the paper. Hermione shook her head and uttered. "Well, maybe a little."

"She's lying." Harry again utter from behind the paper. Then, feeling the eyes on him, Harry lowered his paper and raised an eyebrow. "It's rude to talk about people behind their backs. If Ginny's going to join us, we need to be honest with one another."

Ron muttered under his breath as he picked at his breakfast. Ginny shot him a glare. "You have something to say, Ron?"

Ron shook his head stiffly as he continued to play with his food.

Harry rose from his seat and took Ginny in his outstretched hands. "Are you Ok?"

"I'm fine. I feel like a hippogriff ran me over, and my throat burns worse than firewhiskey, but otherwise, I'm fine." Ginny uttered with a raspy voice. "I assume I had a bad night."

"You don't remember?" Harry asked.

"I never do, not even the nightmare. Nothing but..." Ginny trailed off as she drained the tea from her mug. "It's usually not a problem."

"It sure didn't look like it." Hermione cut in, only for her eyes to widen. "I...what I mean to say is..."

"Hermione, I love you but do me a favour and shut up!" Ginny snapped before grimacing and collapsing into a seat, head in hands. "We all have a curse to bear. I'll be fine."

Hermione nodded and returned to her book, resembling a kicked puppy. The resulting silence was suffocating as Harry eyed the trio of companions, frowning as Ron and Hermione kept sparing Ginny short glances like skittish rabbits.

Ginny, however, was eying something else altogether. She reached for the paper, spun it around, and found herself face to face with the Half-blood Prince.

"I forgot you haven't heard the good news," Harry grumbled, though Ginny could see the fire behind his eyes.

Ginny read the headline out loud. "Severus Snape: Headmaster of Hogwarts."

Ginny's mind spun as she processed the ramifications of this stunning development. "Bloody Brilliant."

"What did you say?" Harry quipped as he shook his head, clearly having misheard.

"Bloody brilliant," Ginny repeated, this time with a heavy emphasis on sarcasm.

"Just what Hogwarts needs, a treacherous git in charge of students," Ron uttered with equal disdain.

Ginny nodded before her eyes met Hermione's inquisitive stare and hastily looked away. It was too late as Hermione spoke. "There's more to it, isn't there."

"No, not at all, it's just...that...Morgana, my head." Ginny clenched her eyes as her head throbbed violently. "Merlin's saggy underpants. I haven't felt this bad since the hangover of 95."

"Ginny..." Harry uttered.

"I know, I know." Ginny pouted before she spoke. "Snape was the Death Eater who...tried to kill me at the Wedding. He's my "killer."

Ginny opened her eyes to find everyone staring at her in horror. "What?"

"Let me get this straight. You provoked Snape to kill you, survived, and cut your finger off before apparating to our location?" Ron exclaimed, torn between disbelief and horror.

"It's better than your idea Ron. For Merlin's sake, did you really think dressing up our ghoul would trick them?" Ginny snapped.

"I mean, they are pretty thick." Hermione quipped as she rose to her feet and raised an eyebrow. "But I'm not."

Without another word, Hermione left the room. Ron suddenly jolted as if shocked and hastily mumbled. "Uhh...yeah, me too."

When Ron bolted for the door, Harry relaxed and took Ginny's hand, but she didn't squeeze back. "It's like they don't trust me?"

"They're just worried about you, as am I," Harry uttered calmly, and Ginny finally met his gaze. "I'm not good at any of this. I know what it's like to have nightmares every night and memories you'd rather forget."

Ginny turned away only to feel a firm hand on her shoulders. "And I know what it's like to have Voldemort in your head."

Ginny let Harry turn her around until he was looking into her eyes. "These things, they change you. It's as if you...lose a piece of yourself."

"Luna once told me life is a series of little deaths. Only in death are we reborn." Ginny whispered her thoughts, returning to Luna's prophecy and Dumbledore's diary. "It's not true, though. There is no life in death."

Ginny was startled from her trance as Harry caressed her cheek and uttered. "I also know what it's like to have Ron and Hermione badger you incessantly. They mean well, but they don't understand."

Harry then smiled as he shook his head and took a step back. "I won't be making the same mistake, just know...I'm here, ok?"

Ginny stared at Harry curiously before a feint smile grew on her lips. "My parents were right. You have grown up."

Harry grimaced as he tried to flatten his hair. "I wish that were true."

Ginny's heart ached at the pain in Harry's eyes, and she placed a light kiss on Harry's lips. "The same goes for you. If you ever want to talk, I'm here."

"I know." Harry smiled, and it was genuine, the first Ginny had seen since he told her he loved her.

Ginny found herself entranced by the emerald eyes that haunted her every thought. They were all-consuming and held a power over her even Riddle could never understand. Ginny swore she would never let another entrance bewitch her as he did, but her vow was broken when she looked into his eyes.

Slowly they leaned toward each over, and Ginny's eyes drew to a close as she felt his breath on her lips...

"Guys, I think I found something!"

Ginny and Harry jumped apart as Hermione's voice echoed through the house. Harry sighed as he took Ginny's hand. "Unfortunately, this sounds important."

Ginny felt herself chuckle as she felt the warmth of Harry's hand as he led her through the dark, winding hallways of Grimmauld place. It felt surreal to be here with Harry, by his side, on the ultimate adventure, as dire and bleak as it was. Ginny had often felt like no one knew the real her, but Harry seemed to understand more than she gave him credit.

"No." A voice seemed to whisper in her head, and all the warmth left her. "He may know what it's like to have Voldemort in his head, but it is another matter entirely to be possessed by Tom."

"R.A.B. Are you sure it's him?" Asked Ron as he peered over Harry's shoulder.

"I'm sure," Harry uttered as he stared at the name on the door.

"Regulus Arcturus Black," Hermione repeated, her brown furrowed as she delved deep into her mind. "He was a Death Eater, wasn't he?"

"Sirius said he was killed during the war," Harry uttered before meeting Hermione's gaze. "By Voldemort himself."

The Golden trio stared at one another in silence as the gravity of their discovery descended on them. It wasn't the first time they would have these silent conversations. Ginny had seen it before.

Ginny frowned as she looked between the three. It was an all too familiar feeling to be out of the loop.

It wasn't like Ginny was totally in the dark. She knew about Sirius Black's brother Regulus and what must be his locket. Yet she was silent as the grave, her words of input remaining lodged in her throat like a jagged little pill.

Ginny never had trouble hanging out with the Golden Trio, and Harry hadn't inspired bouts of shyness in years. This was different, however. They weren't chilling in the common room, cracking jokes and drinking butterbeer. Instead, they were trying to solve a mystery, something the trio had been doing for six years. The Golden trio operated like a well-oiled machine as they bounced ideas off one another while Ginny could hardly keep up.

"If Regulus did steal the Horcrux, is it possible he destroyed it?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione. "It would explain why Voldemort killed him."

"I think it's safer to assume he failed. Besides, stealing one of Voldemort's Horcruxes is a death sentence, especially for a Death Eater." Hermione countered. "The Question is, did he manage to hide it before Voldemort found him?"

"What if it's here," Harry uttered, causing Ron and Hermione to stare at him.

"That's possible, but wouldn't the order have found it?" Ron asked.

"Unless they didn't know what they found." Hermione countered, a sparkle in her eyes.

"What if Regulus faked his death?" Ginny found herself blurting out, causing her cheeks to blush bright red.

Ginny was eternally grateful that Harry was too deep in thought to notice her embarrassing outburst. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Ron and Hermione, who spared her a brief look that spoke volumes. At least Hermione's derision wasn't mean-spirited nor out of the norm. Ginny had the impression that Hermione was constantly repressing her disdain for her peers, at least intellectually speaking. You grow accustomed to ignorance and stupidity when you're always the smartest person in the room.

However, Ron's look filled her with shame as he rubbed his eyes in exasperation, and Ginny swallowed her bitter retort. Ginny could already read his thoughts. "Why are you here?"

"I don't think so," Harry uttered, oblivious to those around him. Ginny wanted to believe he was being kind to her, but the sad truth was he would have considered any rubbish idea. Harry wasn't sleeping, something even Ron noticed. The bags under Harry's eyes were growing more prominent by the hour. They all could tell the pressure was getting to him.

Wordlessly the golden trio entered the Death eaters childhood room and began searching for the locket. Ginny stood in the doorway and took the opportunity to slip away unnoticed rather than join their search.

This was not what Ginny had expected. She thought she would've been of some use. She had assumed she would be able to help her friend, her family, and the man she loved. Yet Ginny was nothing more than a third wheel, an unwelcome stowaway.

It had been a week since they arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place and Ginny still felt like the group's outsider. Ron hardly spoke to her, and Hermione was focused on the book Dumbledore had left her. Though if Ginny was honest, Hermione wasn't any more thrilled with her presence than Ron.

Harry was the hardest to read. They would keep each other company, but to call their interactions romantic or fun would be like calling Snape pleasant. The gloomy hallways and spider-infested rooms hardly evoked romance, and even their moment in the kitchen was interrupted before it began. Ginny expected as much. After all, this wasn't a romantic getaway. Still, she expected Harry to be more...receptive to her presence. Instead, she only seemed to add to the stress.

Ginny caught Harry staring at her frequently. Only it wasn't looks of affection or teenage lust that she noticed throughout her last year at Hogwarts. Instead, these glances were full of worry, his eyes often lingering on her left hand. She knew Harry was trying to include her in the group, but Ginny knew that if he had his way, Ginny would be in hiding, far away from him and those who at this very moment were hunting him down.

Ginny was dejected, but that didn't stop her from searching every room she came across, searching for Regulus's Horcrux. She didn't spend long in any one room. Ginny could tell very quickly that the room held no Horcrux. She couldn't put her finger on how she knew, or maybe she did and didn't want to admit she suddenly stopped as Ginny stared into a room of total darkness. Ginny shivered as a cold burst of air cut to the bone. Even more alarming, Ginny was sure that a blank wall had stood here not a moment before. Ginny raised her wand and cast a Lumos, but when she entered the room, the light went out like a wet hand on a candle.

Suddenly the door slammed shut behind her, causing Ginny to let out a short shriek. Ginny pulled with all her might, but the door remained sealed. Ginny cursed as she turned around and faced the blackness. Her wand was trembling as she took a step forward, then another, her feet were heavy as bricks,

Ginny's arms were outstretched as she tried to find purchase, but all she found was emptiness. Ginny shivered as she spun around, feeling unseen eyes on her. The hairs on her neck stood high, like soldiers in solute. Bumps appeared on her skin, like boils, but she could not see them. Ginny couldn't even see her hand in front of her face or hear herself breathe. Not a speck of light was showing, nor a morsel of sound was uttered. The sensory deprivation was suffocating.

Ginny suddenly stopped as if her body had rebelled against her brain, refusing to let her take another step. Ginny clenched her eyes shut as tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't breathe. Was this what being petrified was like? Is this what she subjected her friends to, her classmates, even Filches sodding cat!?

Ginny clenched her hands into fists and continued onward with all her willpower. Suddenly there was a burst of fire. Ginny leaped back with a shrill scream. Two torches hovered before her, lighting a tapestry covered in strange ruins. Ginny could not read, even with her studies in Ancient ruins. Even more unsettling, the Tapestry was stained with blood.

In front of the ancient Tapestry was a cauldron full of a strange black tar. Slowly, Ginny's wand moved towards the tar as if pulled by an un-scene force. Ginny did not resist. Why should she...it was just...so interesting...

Her wand barely grazed the surface when Ginny pulled her hand back as if stunned. She shook her head, dispelling the compulsion from her mind, but it was too late. The Black Tar began to bubble and boil. Ginny stumbled backward as a humanoid figure rose the cauldron. As the tar fell away, Ginny's heart clenched, and her breath lodged in her throat. Ginny couldn't think. She could stare in unending horror at the familiar young man who stood before her. His handsome, aristocratic features did not meet his cold black eyes, void of light.

"Ginevra, it has been so long." Tom Riddle spoke in a cool elegant voice. "Do you remember me?"

Ginny was as white as a ghost, and suddenly, she could breathe. Ginny stumbled backward as she nearly passed out from hyperventilating. It couldn't be, it couldn't...

"Well, I remember you so sweet and innocent. Poor Ginny Weasley is lost and alone, with no friends or family. Cast aside, like a pair of hand-me-down robes."

Ginny was screaming now, she couldn't hear it, but she could feel it. She couldn't help but let madness consume her as she tried to wake from this nightmare.

"No one understands you as I do, and no one will ever love you as I do." Riddle crooned before letting out a cold, heartless laugh. Then before Ginny's eyes, Riddle transformed, growing taller, his skin decomposing at an accelerated rate, as he turned into a Dementor.

"Riddikulus!"

Suddenly Dementor turned pink before exploding with a sudden crack. Ginny stared, petrified. A distant voice spoke to her. "Ginny! Are you ok? Talk to me, please?"

"She's in shock. Make her drink this, Harry. It should help."

"I don't understand. It was just a Bogart."

"No, Ron. Don't you feel it? There's an abundance of dark magic in this room. I've never felt anything like it."

Suddenly Ginny felt something wet against her lips and unthink she drank. Suddenly the numbness vanished, and the voices grew louder, and Ginny blinked as she found herself staring into emerald eyes.

"Ginny?" Harry pleaded desperately, and Ginny felt her eyes water.

"Harry!" Ginny sobbed as she buried herself in Harry's arms, tears flowing from her eyes.

"It's ok, I'm here," Harry whispered hoarsely, and Ginny could hear the pain in his voice.

"You think the Horcrux is here?" Ron asked wearily.

"I don't think so. I'm not even sure this was Voldemorts doing. These ruins are ancient. They don't even teach them at Hogwarts. Horcruxes originate from Egyptian Pharaohs. These ruins are similar to the ones found in Inca temples."

"What's an Inca?"

"Your hopeless, Ron." Hermione shook her head as she squinted at the markings.

"Can you read it?" Harry asked as he moved towards the Tapestry with Ginny still in his arms.

"Only a little," Hermione confessed with a frown. "Death, Life, Rebirth, Sacrifice...Blood."

Harry and Ron looked at each other before they heard Hermione gasp. "All these runes, they don't translate to English. They describe an entity, a singular thing. Like a Pheonix, but it's full of darkness and perversion."

"Not a Pheonix." Ginny gasped, drawing the attention of the others, as she pointed with a trembling finger.

Black tar stained the Tapestry that had not been there before. Hermione had dismissed it as a smear, but Ginny saw it for the symbol it was. A Black Bird, a perversion of nature, part raven, part vulture, part phoenix.

Ron and Hermione tensed at the sight. Only Harry seemed not to understand. "W...What is it?"

Hermione didn't speak, and neither did Ron, but Ginny did, with a small voice, full of fear and worry, that this blackest of omens.

"An Augurey."

Author note

Hi everybody, it's good to be back. My life has been pretty hectic since moving to Toronto. I've been "Running through the six with my woes." Jokes aside, I hope to upload more when I find the time. I will also be working on my original novel. I also had a case of writer's block for this section of the story, which was cured by seeing a certain play. I have plenty of stuff planned, regardless of recent inspiration. So trust me when I say if you have liked the story so far, you haven't seen anything yet.

Nargles Forever