Disclaimer- J.K. Rowling/Warner Bros. own all things Potter. This story is in no way intended as an infringement of that copyright.
A/N- Well this is really starting to take its own direction now. As this story goes on it will begin to deviate more and more from the original DH storyline. If you're simply looking for a rewrite of DH w/Ginny included more- this won't be it.
By Ginny joining the happy trio on the run, it's causing some major changes in the way things are going to have to be addressed. Some things that might have waited are suddenly in need of some attention. Other priorities now have to be accounted for. And that doesn't include still finding a way to do those things that they had originally set out to do.
Chapter 3
Harry lay on the floor of the drawing room in agony. He was unable to move under his own power. The intensity was too great. As he lay there enduring the all encompassing pain he felt a sense of rage come over him.
Beginning to see with eyes that were not his own, Harry watched as a long, dark room appeared in his sight. It was lit only by a fire that was burning dimly on one end. There was a Death Eater, the one he distantly recognized as Rowle, on the floor. At the moment he was rolling around on that floor screaming in what looked like great pain of his own.
Harry felt the anger building to a rage as a pale white arm rose into his line of sight, holding a wand. Then the screams of the one on the floor increased and his moving became more pitiful; squirming like an overexcited infant child.
His ears heard the high pitched rasp of a voice ordering a fearful Draco Malfoy to keep the torture going. Keep it going or risk feeling some of that pain for him. Following Draco's gaze as it flicked to one side, he saw the other, darker one. Dolohov was spread eagled on the floor unconscious and had been roughly pushed aside to make room for the torture of Rowle.
"You called me back for this, to tell me that Harry Potter has escaped again..." The cold voice said.
And then the pain began to subside. The scene that had been playing out in the eyes of Voldemort became nothing more than a memory for Harry to think about. He wasn't sure how to feel about it, but one thing was clear: Voldemort knew that he had escaped and he was not at all pleased about it.
Opening his eyes Harry looked around the room. Ron was kneeling on the floor next to him, his face white. The sofa had been kicked out of place and was sitting some distance away from where Harry lie on the floor. The thick carpeting was cushioning his head. Wondering where Hermione was and anxious to put this experience behind him, Harry started to sit up.
"Easy mate," Ron said quietly helping Harry into a sitting position.
"Sorry about that," Harry said sheepishly.
"What did you see?" Ron asked, lowering his voice even further.
Harry thought back for a moment before answering, "Voldemort torturing Rowle. He's not happy that I got away."
"Did you see anything else?" Ron wanted to know. Harry thought he could detect an edge to his tone and figured he knew why. Ron wanted to know if Harry saw his family. He was worried.
"Nothing, just that he was making Malfoy help him..."
"Who was making Malfoy help him do what?" Hermione asked as she walked back into the room. She handed Harry a cool, damp washcloth.
Harry accepted the cloth and wiped his face with hit. He quickly told Hermione about what it was that he had seen.
"But Harry!" Hermione exclaimed nervously, "You're supposed to be using Occlumency so you won't see those things anymore!"
"It's not like he could help it," Ron vouched.
"No, I couldn't," Harry quickly agreed. Taking a deep breath he got unsteadily to his feet.
It took a moment to get his bearings. That was when he realized how much his head was hurting from his recent foray into Voldemort's mind. He didn't like the pain, but was reluctant to say anything about it for fear of giving Hermione more fuel for her arguments.
"You better sit down, Harry," Hermione said worriedly.
Harry saw no reason to dispute her. Together the three returned to the sofa, moved it back into place, and then sat back down upon it. He closed his eyes for a moment. He thought that Ron and Hermione were probably having a silent conversation about what had just happened. Then he decided that whether they were or not, at the moment he just didn't care. He just wanted his head to stop hurting.
Hermione took the cool cloth from his hand and began to wipe his head with it. Harry let her knowing that if he refused it would only hurt her feelings. He felt Ron on the other side of him. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
"What is it, Ron?" Harry asked. He could tell that Ron had something on his mind and he had a good idea as to what it was. His own mind had just started drifting that way as well; up to a certain redheaded person currently upstairs.
"Well..." Ron began but Hermione interrupted him.
"We need to talk about Ginny," She stated plainly.
And there it was. Just like that. The very thing he'd begun to think about was now the topic of the room. Ginny. Part of him was still upset with her for joining them. He wished she hadn't. In no way did he want her near the dangers they were likely to face.
Then there was the other part of him that was starting to wish that it was Ginny who was wiping his forehead with the damp cloth. That it was she who was ministering to him and trying to comfort him. He couldn't help but wonder what that would be like.
"What about her?" Harry wanted to know. He opened his eyes and caught Ron and Hermione exchanging glances.
But before anymore could be said on the subject a silvery ball silently entered the room. It settled into a Weasel Patronus. The voice of Arthur Weasley emanated from it in very stern, brief message:
"The situation is bad. Everyone has scattered and they've not all been accounted for. Stay where you are; do not try to make contact. We are being watched."
The Patronus disappeared as quickly as it came. The three young people in the drawing room stared for a minute at where the Patronus had been. The shock of the message had left them all speechless. Then Ron's eyes opened wide and the color drained from his face. He stood up and went to stand in the entryway to the room facing away from Harry and Hermione. His head was bowed and his shoulders hunched.
For the moment Ginny was forgotten upstairs as Harry and Hermione stared at Ron's silent figure. Then carefully Hermione got up and approached Ron from behind. She silently wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. Not sure what to do, Harry busied himself with studying the patterns on the sofa.
"Ron, I'm sure things will be alright," Hermione said trying to comfort him.
Ron remained silent. Harry couldn't blame him. He was shocked by the news and worried about them all himself. The Weasley's were the closest thing he had ever had to a family of his own. At that moment he was glad that Ginny and Ron were with him as dangerous as it might be. Because they were there, he knew that they at least were safe. However that didn't stop him from worrying about the others.
Fred, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, and Charlie. What had happened to them? Thinking for a minute Harry figured that Mr. Weasley at least was probably okay; after all he was the one who had sent the message. He also thought it likely that Mrs. Weasley was with him. That left Ron's brothers and the rest; Hagrid, Remus, Tonks, Viktor, the Lovegoods, and the other wedding guests.
Harry wished in that moment that he had some way to find out where they were at and how they were doing. He sorely wanted to know that they were alright. To know that they had all got away from the Death Eaters and hadn't come to harm.
Then a thought occurred to Harry, "You know," Harry began slowly, his words forming with his thoughts, "That message only said that everyone was scattered. It didn't say that anyone was hurt or dead. It only said not to make contact because they were being watched,"
Hermione looked over at him and nodded. She was quick to pick up on this train of thought.
"Harry's right," she said tenderly, "I'm sure if things were really bad; they would find a way to let us know,"
"Think about it," Harry added, "Ginny's with us. We know she's safe. I don't think your dad would have left your mom and he's the one who sent the message so I think they're safe too. And you know Fred and George can look out for themselves..." "...And Bill would never let anything happen to Fleur," Hermione added hopefully.
Ron turned around, his eyes rimmed in red. He nodded and awkwardly patted Hermione on the back. Harry looked way from his friend while Ron wiped at his eyes.
"Yeah, you're right," Ron said his voice little more than a croak, "We shouldn't worry until we know we have something to worry about,"
Harry looked up at his friend and smiled. Ron came back into the room and sat down. Hermione however kissed him on the cheek and went the other way. It looked like she was going to follow Ginny upstairs and see where she went. Harry and Ron looked quizzically at each other as they were left alone with their thoughts.
Harry's mind began to drift over the two things foremost on his conscience. He was as worried as Ron about everyone they left at the wedding. The Death Eaters that had attacked had come looking for him. They, the Weasley's and the members of the Order had gone to a lot of trouble so he could be there and Harry truly hoped that no one was hurt because of him.
Then his thoughts turned toward Ginny. She'd just jumped on him and held on for the ride when they apparated away. At first he'd thought that maybe a Death Eater had grabbed on to him. Now she was with them and that posed a whole new set of problems. Not to mention an entirely new set of dangers that they hadn't even begun to think about. Add to that the fact that two Death Eaters had somehow discovered their whereabouts in downtown London. It was a little unnerving.
And then there were those words; those beautiful words Ginny had said just before running from the room. Harry felt his heart swell at the thought of them...
Ron cleared his throat. "Um...Harry?" Ron asked a little too casually. Harry, whose thoughts had just been dwelling on Ginny and the statement she'd made before she went running from the room, responded with;
"Yeah?"
"Well I...I... mean I ah...well what I wanted to know is..."
"Just say it Ron," Harry asked feeling suspicious of Ron's tone and lack of ability to put his thoughts into words.
"Well, Ginny's here," Ron began lamely.
"Yeah, I kind of noticed that," Harry replied not sure what Ron was getting at.
"Well what are we going to do about it?" Ron asked finally.
Harry had this distinct impression that Ron's thoughts were more along the lines of what his were. But Ron, in an extreme tribute to their friendship, was trying to ask Harry about his feelings without coming right out about it.
"I don't know Ron," Harry answered truthfully, "But she shouldn't stay here. We should probably try and find somewhere for her to go where she can be safe."
"You don't want her here?" Ron asked in equal parts curiosity and indignation.
"I don't want her in danger. You know I broke things off with her and you know why I had to do it. Now what happens if they find out she's with us? We're in enough danger as it is!"
"Don't you think I know that?" Ron replied. His eyes intent and his ears were starting to turn red now, always a bad sign.
Harry looked at Ron directly and took a deep breath. He wanted to explain this right. Also his head was hurting and this topic of discussion was not helping things. Harry sat forward and put his head gently into his hands. A sudden vision of Ginny being chased by Death Eaters went running through his mind. That vision was easy enough to carry on to her getting caught. Harry shook his head to try and clear his mind. One thing he did not want to think about was what might happen to Ginny if the Death Eaters caught up to them.
"Ron, I don't know if I can do this with Ginny here. I don't know if I can concentrate on finding and destroying those Horcruxes if I'm always worrying about what might happen to her." Harry said not looking at his friend. He was finding it supremely difficult to talk about Ginny and the feelings she evoked in him.
To Harry's great surprise, Ron placed a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder and said,
"I know, mate...believe me I know."
Harry looked at Ron and saw the understanding in his eyes. He realized in that moment that it couldn't be easy for Ron either, having Hermione running around with them. Ron probably felt just like Harry did and for the same reasons. They both knew it would do no good to ask her about it. Hermione's feelings would be hurt. And, Harry admitted to himself, without her keen intellect they would never have gotten out of half the scrapes they'd been in. They needed her. It was as simple as that. But that didn't make things any less difficult.
Ginny had run upstairs to the old bedroom she had used when she had stayed at Grimmauld Place previously. As soon as she fell on to the old bed with the squeaking springs she buried her face in her arms and continued sobbing her heart out.
She was mad, very mad. Her Git of a brother hadn't even given her a chance to explain things. He'd gone on and on about her and his thoughts about her joining them until she just couldn't take anymore. Then she herself went and spouted off loudly about her feelings for Harry! There wasn't any way he couldn't have heard it. They all did.
What was more, Ron knew how she felt! He'd seen her over the summer and how Harry breaking things off had affected her. Why couldn't he even try to understand how much it meant to her? How much she needed to be with them? She had known that her feelings for Harry were much stronger, much more intense than for any other boy she'd ever dated. She hadn't lied to Harry when she told him that she'd never given up on him. Those few weeks at school before Dumbledore had died were like a dream come true. But they had also caused her to realize that her feelings for him were much, much more than she'd realized. And now everyone knew it.
Ginny didn't feel like she'd ever be able to show her face to Harry again. Harry, he didn't say anything when Ron was going off at her. What was he going to say now? What was he thinking? Well he wasn't getting rid of her now that she was here, she would see to that!
Laying there lost in her thoughts and her mind dwelling on what had happened since she had suddenly decided to join the group, Ginny lost track of time. She didn't hear anything happening downstairs. She couldn't hear voices or the sounds of anyone moving around. Would they leave her here? Would that be how they got rid of her?
A soft knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. Ginny looked up just as Hermione slowly opened the door just a crack. It creaked a bit on the rusty hinges.
"Ginny?" Hermione asked softly. Ginny wasn't sure she was ready to talk at the moment. However Hermione had made the effort to come upstairs and check on her, Ginny could at least respond to her older friend.
"What is it, Hermione?" she asked, her voice muffled.
"Are you okay?" Hermione said, concerned.
Ginny gave a humorless laugh, "Ron just yelled at me and made me look really stupid in front of Harry. And then I just happened to go and yell out for everyone to hear that I love him. What do you think, Hermione?"
Hermione came over and sat down quietly on the bed and put a gentle hand on Ginny's leg. The springs barely made any noise. "You really do love him, don't you."
It was a statement, not a question. Hermione knew how Ginny felt. There were no secrets between them on this topic and hadn't been for a long time now.
"Yes, I do." Ginny sighed heavily, the tears threatening to flow again.
"You've liked him for a long time," Another statement but said very gently.
"Yes, I have." Ginny confirmed again. This wasn't helping things.
"Are you sure that...?"
"Sure that what? That I really do love him? Is that what you're asking?" Ginny asked a little offended.
"No, not that. I already know how you feel," Hermione said quietly, "I was thinking of something else..."
"Do you mean 'am I sure that I should have come along?'" Ginny asked her voice cracking.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said and Ginny could tell that she really meant it.
Things were quiet between the two young women for a long moment. Then Ginny spoke softly; "I did what you said, I went out with other blokes. I quit pining after Harry and just started letting myself be me when he was around. At first it was hard but as the days went on it became easier. I still hoped that he would notice me, but I never really expected it to happen. Then things changed in fifth year. He noticed me. At first I didn't dare hope. I figured that it was just him being protective of me as Ron's little sister. But then it became more and more clear that his feelings for me were a little more than that and all my old feelings for him came back. That's when I realized they never went away. That I'd always liked Harry, and it's not like the way I felt with Michael or even with Dean,"
Hermione nodded a little in the darkness of the room. Ginny could just barely see the silhouette of her head moving.
"I liked them both. I even kissed them. Dean was better at that than Michael was. But Harry was...different," Ginny said trying to explain.
"How so?" A patient question. One that forced Ginny to really think through her feelings for Harry and analyze just how they were different from those she had carried for anyone else.
"Harry's Harry. It's like he's in a class all by himself. I don't see other guys when he's around. My eyes are only for him. He's the one that I want. It's not like its some schoolyard crush. This is much, much different. But I could never tell him that..."
"Why not?" Hermione wanted to know.
"Because I knew, I always knew, that sooner or later you lot would have to leave. I knew that when you did I would get left behind. I still dated him those few, short weeks because I didn't care. I finally got the one thing that I've always wanted. Then when Professor Dumbledore died that really put an end to things. Harry broke things off. He said it was 'for my protection', and that it would be really dangerous for me to be there with him. With all of you. He ended it, just like that," Ginny said, the tears quietly falling now in the darkness. Hermione wiped Ginny's tears and started gently stroking her face and hair, letting her talk. Ginny could hear a sniffle and knew that Hermione's own tears were flowing now too.
"I won't pretend that didn't hurt," Ginny went on, "I just didn't realize it would hurt as much as it did. Hermione, I don't think someone using the Cruciatus Curse on me would hurt as much it did when he ended things."
"Well Harry knows how you feel now. That has to be worth something, doesn't it?"
"Does it, Hermione? Is it really going to matter? That's not going to stop you lot from going off again, is it?" Ginny said.
"I don't know," Hermione admitted, "I don't know what the plan is now. Things really fell apart at the wedding. We didn't have any chances to make any plans to speak of."
Ginny let that comment go for the time being. She really didn't want to think about them leaving just now. Then a thought occurred to her so she asked; "What about you and Ron?"
The room was quiet for a long minute again. Ginny was beginning to wonder if Hermione would answer when her quiet voice said;
"I don't know, Ginny. I wish I did. Running around hunting Horcruxes isn't really a good time to go trying to build some kind of relationship, you know?"
"Do you think it will happen?"
"I'm not sure what Ron's feelings are. I think he feels the same way I do, but he's never really come right out and said it. Sometimes I see the look in his eyes or he'll say something really nice and I'm sure that maybe he really is starting to come around. Then there are days when I'm not so sure," Hermione explained.
"Do you want it to happen?" Ginny prompted.
"Yes, I suppose I do. He can be an insensitive prat sometimes but he can also be really sweet. I didn't realize how much I wanted things to happen for us until last year..."
"I remember," Ginny said reminiscing.
"So do I. I remember everything that happened and I decided that when things ended between him and Lavender that I would do more to try and help things move forward between us. It's not moved very far yet."
Ginny gave another humorless laugh, "Well, they say Hogwarts wasn't built in a day."
"No, I don't think it was..." Hermione said letting the thought go at the moment. The room was quiet as the two friends sat in the dark thinking about recent events and the current turn of things. Then quietly, just above a whisper, Ginny made known the other thing that was on her mind.
"Do you think they're alright?"
Hermione did not have to ask who it was that Ginny was talking about.
"I don't know. Your dad sent a message just before I came up here. He made it sound like things were pretty bad. He said that everyone was scattered and that they're being watched anyway. He also said not to try and make contact for that reason but we need to find a way to let him know where you are..."
"Any ideas?" Ginny wanted to know.
"None at the moment. Your dad used his Patronus to speak to us. Just for that short message."
"Can you do it?"
"I've been working on it. I think I've got the twist to the charm down, but I don't want to send it to him if it's going to cause them any problems," Hermione explained reasonably.
Ginny did her best to put her worries aside. So she asked the next question that came to her mind; "What do we do now?"
"I think we need to go back downstairs. I'm sure the boys are wondering what we're doing up here and we need to try and start to get things figured out," Hermione answered.
Harry looked up when he heard Ginny and Hermione coming down the stairs. Together they entered the drawing room where Ron and Harry were sitting and sat down themselves. After her outburst Harry was very uncomfortable. He had no clue what to say to Ginny or even how to say it. He mumbled the first thing that came to his mind.
"Hey,"
Ginny looked at Harry for a minute before answering in an equally quiet tone, "Hey.
Hermione caught Harry's eye. She was gesturing towards Ginny behind her back and it looked like she wanted him to talk to her. What was he supposed to say? Harry glanced at Ron who was looking pointedly at the blank wall. Harry sighed inwardly.
Reaching out awkwardly he patted her back and asked her in that same quiet voice, "Are you alright?"
Ginny turned to look at Harry long and hard. Feeling the heat rise in his face, Harry tried to smile at her. Her eyes blazed and then softened a bit. She leaned into Harry and wrapped her arms around him. Harry returned the gesture and saw Hermione nodding fervently while Ron was still looking the other way. They sat together like that for a while.
Eventually Ginny took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and spoke. Her voice was flat, monotone, almost entirely without emotion. But it was what she said that had Harry's attention solidly placed on her.
"You know, I thought I could do it. Let you go on your way and leave me behind. You explained why you were going and why you couldn't be with me. I understood what you said and why you were doing it, even if I didn't agree with you."
Harry felt Ginny tremble slightly in his arms and for the moment tightened his hold on her. She went on; "I know that you're going after him, You-Know-Who, you all but told me that. I know that you have some mission that you're going on and that's why you're not returning to school.
But Harry, you don't know what this last summer was like. It wasn't really much of a holiday for me. And then this summer when you lot all came back and Mad-Eye was gone, just like that..." Ginny said with a snap of her fingers. She sniffled and Harry heard her swallow hard, "I knew that...well I, I just couldn't help but wonder what if it had been you? What if you were the one who didn't come back? Harry, I love you. I can't live my life wondering what is happening to you while you're out trying to save the world. I just can't do it. I tried it for half a summer and it didn't work. So when I saw that you lot were going to leave, I saw my chance and I took it. I'm not sorry I did it either."
Harry was completely overwhelmed with everything he had just heard Ginny say. She was right; he did have his reasons for leaving her behind. Did she really know how much danger she would be in? Did she understand that this might not work? That they really might not come back? Then there was Ginny herself. Harry was lost deep in his thoughts.
He glanced at Hermione first and then Ron. He was surprised to see that they both were watching him expectantly. Then he realized that he really needed to say something back to her. She had opened up to him, now it was his turn. He took a deep breath, and then spoke quietly.
"Ginny, I didn't mean to hurt you. Those weeks were some of the best I've ever had. Ever. Do you think I want you to get hurt? I couldn't stand seeing that. The only way I can go on and do the things I have to do is if I know that you're safe and out of harm's way."
Ginny interrupted him, defiance and anger in her tone; "I'm a big girl, Harry. I can fend well enough for myself. Remember the Department of Mysteries? Or how about that night when Dumbledore died? I was there, remember?"
"Yes, I do. I also remember what happened there too. You got hurt."
"Yes, I did. So did Ron and Hermione and they're going with you," Ginny argued.
"I didn't ask them to; they made that decision on their own..."
"That's exactly what I'm doing now, aren't I?"
"They're both of age," Harry said looking at both of them. They had so far remained silent during this discussion. Harry however knew that they would want to be a part of it; even if it wasn't the most comfortable situation for any of them.
"But they weren't when they decided they would fight with you, were they? It's been you three all along. Harry, I need to be there too."
"Why? Why do you need to be there when you'll only end up getting hurt or worse?"
"I already told you why..." Ginny replied quietly now. And she had. She had admitted her feelings for Harry twice now.
He opened his mouth to say more and then realized that there wasn't any use arguing with her about this tonight. Neither of them was going to change their minds. Harry was getting upset. Why wouldn't she listen to reason? Was it that important to her?
For tonight anyway this discussion was over. Ron yawned hugely. Hermione looked tired and Harry knew his own eyes were starting to droop. He could only imagine what Ginny looked like.
"Does anyone mind if we sleep in here? Just for tonight?" Hermione asked suddenly. Everyone nodded their heads.
Ginny sat up and looked around the room quietly. Ron and Harry got up off the couch while Hermione started pulling sleeping bags out of her beaded bag. There were three bags and four people. Ginny looked at the bags and sighed. Ron, in a sudden bit of gallantry, suggested that the girls use the pillows from the sofa to sleep on which Harry agreed to.
Then Ron asked the question that was on everyone's mind; "What about the...you know...the uh...s-sleeping arrangements?"
Harry looked at Ron who was looking at the floor as if he'd just realized how closely packed they would be laying out together there.
"Ron," Hermione replied patiently, "Let's just go to sleep, okay?"
He nodded and Harry smiled. Then he turned to Ginny, "Why don't you take my sleeping bag?" He asked. Ron looked up at him.
"What about you?" Ginny replied tiredly.
"I'll be alright," Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak. He knew it wasn't intended as a blanket, but it would serve well enough for one night.
Ginny smiled her thanks at Harry and then took a sleeping bag from Hermione's outstretched hand, laid it out on the floor, and climbed in. Harry was the last to lie down. He lay out on the floor and draped his invisibility cloak over his legs.
The arrangements were precarious with Hermione and Ginny on impromptu beds in the middle between Ron and Harry with Harry being closest to the door. Harry waved his wand and the lights dimmed down considerably, leaving just enough to see by if someone got up during the night.
The last thing that Harry felt as he was falling asleep were Ginny's fingers intertwining with his. Harry felt warmth blooming in his chest and a security in her presence. At least tonight she would be safe. Tonight at least they could sleep.