Searching For Love: Chapter Six

(I don't own any copyrights to the Harry Potter series or anything to do with it)

The room is blanketed in white, and so bright that I have to keep my close my eyes a bit just to bear it. I sit in a wicker chair at a table. Across the table from me, Ginny rocks a baby, and nurses her, cooing to her gently; she doesn't seem to notice me.

"Ginny?" I ask, but there is no reply.

"She can't hear you," someone says, and I look up. Another Ginny is standing next to me, looking at the other Ginny sadly, "and she won't be able to hear you, not as long as she remains here."

"What is this place?" I ask.

"This is the last sanctuary of Ginny's mind; the place where she retains her memories of you and the child, the last place Voldemort has not been able to corrupt."

"What do you mean corrupt?"

"She is—in a sort of sleep," Ginny replies uneasily, "sometimes she thinks about leaving this place…sometimes she seems to know that this isn't reality, but it never lasts long."

"So how do I snap it out of her," I reply, "and your Ginny also, so how is it you know these things?"

"I am—here to protect Ginny's memories. She created me when Voldemort took her over, sort of like a backup system. As to how to 'snap' her out of it, I believe that is your job." She smiles at me, and turns away.

"Wait—"I shout, but she makes a 'shhh' noise.

"He is coming, and he can't find you here! You have to go now! Believe in your friends, believe in your love! Find a way to awaken her!"

The world tilts around me, and I slowly regain consciousness.

"Just lay still Harry," Hermione lays a hand on my chest and effortlessly pushes me back down as I try to sit up.

My mind is spinning, but one thing is clear:

"Rachel! Where's—Rachel--?" I rasp.

"Safe," Hermione replies, "Mrs. Weasley is taking care of her downstairs. Now, Harry, you've lost a lot of blood, and I really need you to be still."

"Ginny—"I rasp, my head pounding from the searing pain that flowed through my scar "Have to awaken—Ginny!"

"And we will," Hermione replies firmly, "but first we have to take care of you. You're in no condition to go anywhere or help anyone right now."

"She wanted—Rachel—Ginny—Why?" I feel myself lapsing into a comfortable sleep, but I do not dream.

Sometime later, I awaken to bright sunlight streaming through the windows of my room at the Weasleys. Carefully, I sit up and grope around for my glasses. I feel sore and drained, but my head seems to have cleared a bit.

Ron enters the room, and I see the haunted look in his eyes. Nervously, he limps over to the bed and sits down on the end of it, but he doesn't look at me; for a while, we say nothing to each other.

"What do you think she's doing right now?" He finally breaks the silence.

"What time is it?" I look around for a clock.

"About ten or eleven in the morning," Ron replies, confusion lacing his voice.

I think for a minute, remembering Ginny's routines and activities.

"She's probably finished breakfast already, and now she's found a secluded field, and is working on her quidditch skills."

"Yeah, and she's probably kicking the butts of anyone she's playing with," Ron replies, breaking into a smile.

"And when she gets done, she'll come home and take a shower, and we'll see each other as I finish putting Rachel down for a nap—" I stop, unable to continue, because nothing like that has ever happened, and I suddenly feel weary of waiting for it to happen.

The smile disappears from Ron's face, but his voice is calm and even.

"We're going to find her," he says, "and when we do, it'll be just like old times. We'll wake her up, you guys will get married, and than Hermione and I will get married. Our kids will play together someday."

"Yeah," I reply, trying to remain hopeful.

Hermione enters the room and studies us; I hadn't noticed before how her pregnancy is beginning to show, but she looks beautiful in the sunlight. Ron looks at her with such love in his eyes. He gets off the bed, limps over to her, and stands before her. For a moment, she says and does nothing, and than, she breaks into tears and falls into his arms. He cradles her protectively, stroking her hair and whispering things to her. I turn away, giving them a few moments of privacy. Soon, Hermione speaks to me.

"Harry, when you're ready, please come downstairs. We need to think of a way to deal with Ginny. Do you know what she was after?"

"She was after Rachel," I reply, and its strange how easy it is to say it, "I don't know why, but I know we need to find a way to wake her up. She's under Voldemort's control."

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispers, a tear falling down her cheek; she doesn't know just how much easier it's getting, every minute that I let the reality of the situation sink in.

"I'm going to get her back," I reply.