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- Sorry for the long wait. Had a bit of writer's block and with this chapter especially I had a few things that I needed to make sure I got right. Hope this has been worth the wait. Looking forward to any opinions that you might want to share-Thanks.

Chapter 10

Ginny

Everyone in the kitchen was in shock. The utter horror of what they had just witnessed went beyond description. Ginny was keening her devastation on the floor. Her voice gone from the screams. A silent "NO! NO! NO! NO!" repeating over and over from her lips.

Her mother's cries were loud and anguished as were the quieter, but no less shocked or grief stricken sounds from the others in the room. Ron and Hermione were clinging to each other. Everyone in the room was trying to find some way of expressing their horror, at the unbelievable, unthinkable, thing that they had just witnessed. It seemed that the room was quickly losing its air. No one seemed to be able to breathe.

Then, with a sudden crash and popping sound, Harry appeared in the kitchen clinging fiercely to his wand and a golden cup. Dishes and pans and cups were strewn on the floor as Harry's body tottered into a stack of dinnerware left on a counter top.

It was no sooner that he appeared before he collapsed onto the kitchen floor. The cup he was clutching tightly in his hands with his wand rolled away and came to rest against a table leg. Blood started pooling around Harry where he lay.

At first the noise and sudden reappearance of Harry in their midst startled everyone. Even Ginny, curled on the floor in stunned disbelief, scrambled away from the sudden commotion. That he was so suddenly back with them came as a great surprise to everyone.

No one moved for a moment until the realization that hit them that Harry wasn't just back, but that he was very badly injured.

Hermione's gasp when she realized what had just happened was enough to stir everyone else into action. Ginny had no choice but to move out of the way as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Bill all rushed forward to attend to Harry as the pool of blood around him continued to grow.

"Harry!" Remus shouted in alarm.

"Merlin's Beard, look at him!" The twins observed in hushed whispers, "He's all torn up!"

It was true. As they rolled him over, it was clear that Harry's face and arms bore the brunt of the fight he'd just escaped.

"We need to move him," Mrs. Weasley ordered. Mr. Weasley handed the map they had just been watching to Ron, who was closest to them. Ron, his eyes wide in alarm at the state of his friend, gently took the map his dad had just thrust into his hands.

Together, the four of them gently lifted Harry onto the table. His Invisibility Cloak fell out of his robes. Ginny stared at it for a long moment before she was able to move forward and pick it up. She clutched it to her chest not caring about the blood that was dripping out of it. Her eyes were locked on the man she loved as he lay still and silent on the table before her.

Quickly and efficiently, they removed Harry's robes so that they could assess the damage. It was quickly apparent that it was extensive and severe. Dark bruises and other marks of an intense fight were appearing on his chest and torso. Deep cuts and gashes covered him, each seeping blood. The longer that Harry was on the table, the more the color drained out of him.

"Arthur..." Mrs. Weasley said, her voice quavering.

"I know, Molly, I know," Mr. Weasley said as he glanced sidelong at the younger people in the room.

"Have you ever seen anything like this?" Bill asked Remus.

"Not for a very long time," Remus said quietly.

"What can we do?" The Twins asked together.

"He needs a Healer," Ginny whispered.

"Yes Dear, he does. Unfortunately we can't just go waltzing into St. Mungo's carrying Harry Potter in our arms looking for one. Not with him being as wanted as he is..." Mrs. Weasley snapped uncharacteristically.

Hermione's eyes were wet as she bent down and picked up a bag off the floor. It had been shoved full and was impossible to open. Ginny was watching her absently. She didn't dare say anything. Not with her parents, brothers, and Lupin all standing there. She did trade terrified looks with Hermione as they looked at the bag and then at Harry. Had it all been worth it?

Through all the ministrations that people were trying to do for him, Harry remained where he lay on the table, unconscious. Suddenly his back arched he started writhing all over. His arms and legs moved and he looked like he was in even more pain than when he'd first arrived within their midst.

"You fools! You let him go!" Harry's voice rasped coldly.

No one in the room could move. Harry continued to squirm and thrash about like he was in great agony. It was Lupin and Mr. Weasley who moved first to try and restrain Harry. His movements were not helping the bleeding. Mrs. Weasley, her wand hand shaking, started trying to mend the wounds one by one.

In a sudden burst of movement, Bill went running for the fireplace. He cast a pinch of the dwindling supply of Floo Powder into the flames and when they turned green he stepped inside them saying; "Shell Cottage!"

While several in the room were curious as to what it was that Bill was doing, no one paid too much attention, their eyes were locked on Harry. He continued trying to move against the arms that held him.

"Fred! George! Hold him!" Mr. Weasley ordered the twins.

Only a moment's hesitation gave them pause before they came forward and tried to assist the people who were trying to restrain Harry. Even Ron, who up to that point had been immobilized by stunned disbelief at the horrific sight of Harry all covered in blood and gashes, came forward to help.

It turned out that their efforts were not needed for long. Harry's form went limp suddenly as what ever it was that was causing him to writhe about stopped hurting him.

Ginny and Hermione were holding each other tightly seeking both reassurance and comfort for one another as Ginny fearfully asked in a small shallow voice, "Is he...dead?"

It was several seconds before anyone could answer. Finally Mrs. Weasley turned to her only daughter with tears in her eyes. "Nearly. I don't know what else to do for him. These aren't really the types of wounds I have much experience with,"

Her voice broke as she spoke, but she continued, "He's hurt far beyond anything I've seen before. I think their must be damage on the inside too that we don't know about, certainly there's more than we can see here and even that is a lot..."

Green flames erupted in the fireplace as Bill returned, bringing Fleur with him. No one thought to challenge her as she entered the room and she didn't bother to say anything to the others as she and Bill rushed forward. The sudden appearance of Fleur seemed to be a catalyst to Hermione, who smacked her head and cried, "Of course!"

The head of bushy brown hair was a blur as it turned and rushed for the supply of books and potions that Bill and Remus had sent. Realization dawned on the face of their former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. "I'd forgotten, Hermione you really are the..."

"...I doubt that. I should have remembered this was hear ages ago!" She said over her shoulder. The sounds of her rummaging around in the trunk as she looked for things was loud in the otherwise quiet kitchen.

"What are you looking for?" Ron asked as he went to help her.

"Something that we can use to help Harry..."

"Do you have any essence of Dittany?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Here!" Hermione said suddenly holding up a small phial.

Ron took the phial and handed it carefully to his mother who promptly removed the stopper and started applying the potion to Harry's wounds. He barely moved as the Dittany was put on his wounds. The bleeding was stopped for the time being. Bandages were made from old towels and linens that smelled old and musty. Fleur split her time between helping to apply the Essence of Dittany to Harry and helping Hermione and Ginny make bandages. Her face was one of grim determination as she went about her work.

Fleur continued to work in silence. Her eyes betrayed the feelings she had as the silver-blue orbs were wet and she blinked furiously trying to keep them clear. She swallowed hard from time to time but made no other sound.

Ginny remembered that Fleur was a competitor in the Tri-Wizard tournament just as Harry was. She would have formed some kind of bond with him from that alone. But that wasn't all; Harry had saved her sister in the second task when Fleur herself could not. Ginny knew that, that above all else would have endeared him to her. She felt a new kind of kinship with her brother's new wife. They both loved Harry, though for very different, though similar reasons.

The wounds were slowly cleaned and bound; still Harry remained unconscious. His color was nearly bled away. His skin was a chalky gray and he was becoming cold to the touch. The day was not even half over but it was easy to see that a long vigil lay ahead.

Barely anyone spoke as Harry, once bandaged and bound, was moved upstairs by Remus and Bill to Sirius' bedroom. Remus held his wand steady in front of him, Harry's limp form floating along on a bier of magic. Bill led the way and opened the door and pulled back the blankets and sheets on the bed. Harry was carefully laid upon it and Ginny promptly took a seat next to his bed. The vigil began as she ever so gently took his hand in hers. Quiet tears were present in her eyes.

Throughout that day Harry was never left alone. Someone was always with him. Sometimes it was Ron and Hermione sitting in there with Ginny, other times it would be her parents, or Bill and Fleur, or Remus, or even the twins. Everyone took their turn.

That first day became a very long night. Harry's pallor didn't change, however his cold skin became feverish and so he had to be monitored. His breathing became shallow and labored. His head was wiped of sweat, cold compresses were applied around him, and fresh water was dribbled a little at a time over his lips and into his mouth.

For three days this continued and only one thing became more and more clear. Harry wasn't getting any better. He was slowly slipping away as the wounds inside his body that couldn't be treated festered and were left untouched.

Hermione poured over the books that they'd been sent, and every potion they could think of to make and give to Harry was given to him. Still nothing seemed to help.

Several times Bill or Remus would leave the house to try and find someone, anyone, who might be able to help them. Each time they came back looking depressed and frazzled. Once or twice they come back with a potion to try or some tip that they had been given but nothing worked.

Ginny's face soon started matching Harry's for color. She quit eating and would only drink when her mother or father begged and cajoled her into it. Ron and Hermione's presence in Harry's room became as constant as Ginny's. No one knew how much longer he would last. It was quickly beginning to look like the Weasley's would soon be grieving the loss of an adopted son along with the two children that had so recently been taken from them.

It was towards the end of the third day. Ginny was in her ever present position next to Harry at the head of his bed. Ron and Hermione were seated nearby. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley along with Lupin and Bill were quietly holding what sounded like an animated discussion in the hall.

Occasionally Ginny could hear her name being brought up. She didn't care. The only thing that she cared about was that she was losing Harry and she could not accept it. Her insides hurt from the fear and the pain of losing him. She couldn't eat because of it. She knew her parents were worried but didn't care to do anything about it.

They had never really had much time to be together. The thoughts and memories of the time that they had shared were swimming more and more through her mind. She had taken to whispering these memories to Harry in what felt like a vain hope that he might hear her and try just a little bit harder to get better.

A sound from downstairs made her look up. Ron and Hermione jumped from where they were sitting, leaning against each other with their eyes closed.

"What was that?" Mr. Weasley asked.

There was a lot of thundering around as people moved downstairs to find out what had made the noise that was heard. There were a lot of voices coming up from downstairs, including one that Ginny didn't recognize. It was high pitched and coming closer.

"...Dobby had to try, when he heard..." But the sound was muffled by excited mutterings and shouts from the twins.

"Yes! Isn't this what Harry used when he was bit by that Basilisk when he saved Ginny?"

Cold realization washed over Ginny in that moment. There was only one thing that could heal the venom from a Basilisk, Phoenix Tears. It had been Professor Dumbledore's Phoenix, Fawkes, that had arrived and used it's tears to heal Harry from the bite he'd suffered in fighting the huge snake-like creature and saving Ginny in the process. How did that elf, Dobby, figure into this?

The room suddenly became very full. Ginny's Mom and Dad led in a small house elf who was dressed in an old pillow case, different colored socks, and five badly knitted hats on his head. They were followed by Remus, Bill, Fleur, and the Twins.

"Oh my!" Dobby said when his eyes fell on Harry.

"Dobby!" Hermione cried. She rushed forward and hugged the startled little elf.

"Miss, you is Harry's friend! It was you who made Dobby his hats!" The elf smiled happily up at her.

"He says he has something that will heal Harry," Remus announced to Ginny, Hermione, and Ron.

"Harry Potter needs help! Dobby has come to help his friend,"

"What do you have, Dobby?" Ron asked him.

"You is Harry's Weezy, you is. Dobby has Phoenix Tears!"

Relief flooded through Ginny as she realized what it was that was in the elf's hands. It was a phial of shimmering, shining Phoenix Tears. Hermione's eyes went wide when she looked at the phial. Hand trembling, she reached out towards it but it was Fleur who took it from Dobby.

She removed the bandages from Harry's torn and abused body with the help of Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Ginny. Then with steady hands Fleur took the stopper from the phial, then with patience and deliberation, she started applying the Phoenix tears a drop at a time to each of Harry's wounds. What was left was dribbled slowly, again drop by precious drop, into his throat.

The effect of the Phoenix tears that was placed on Harry's wounds was immediate. They started first closing and then healing until nary a scar was left. The other, internal injuries took longer. That third night was longer than the rest. No one knew the extent of the damage that was done and so as a result no one knew if the tears that Harry swallowed would be enough to help him.

It was long after midnight when the first glimmer of hope shined through. Harry's fever broke. The deathly pallor of his skin slowly started gaining some color. By the time the sun rose that fourth morning, Harry looked merely like he'd just suffered from a bit of an extended illness and nothing more.

Ginny, who had tirelessly stayed with Harry during his entire ordeal, fell asleep in her chair. Her relief was so profound that it was almost palpable. Even though she was sleeping, there seemed to be a little more life in her. There was a little bit more color in her cheeks.

Ron and Hermione, who had also been watching over everything very closely, were able to slowly go to their respective beds for some much needed rest. Their own relief was just as deeply felt and all encompassing as Ginny's was. Hermione's eyes were wet from joy as she trudged down the hall to her room. Ron didn't look like he knew whether to laugh or cry. He just walked in a sort of a stupor, only his feet guiding him to where he was going.

It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of the entire house that day. No one moved around much due to people catching up on their sleep. It was a day full of relief but also building tension.

Harry's actions demanded answers. The question was would he provide them? No one knew exactly what it was he was thinking when he left, though when they talked secretly about it when alone with him, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione agreed that it was probably to get the Basilisk fangs.

Hermione, who had deftly and quickly removed Harry's moleskin bag from his robes when they were stripped off of him, was convinced that the bag held at least one fang. However since Harry wasn't awake to open the bag, no one knew for sure.

That was another question that remained to be answered, when would Harry wake up? He continued to lie there in his bed as if asleep. His breathing was even and normal. His skin color was only a little off now but it too was improving. Had he suffered more than they originally thought?

While Harry was silently enduring his ordeal and in the days that followed, Dobby the house elf became a constant fixture. Much to Hermione's indignation, he took on all the cooking and cleaning chores, the laundry, and also, much to the relief of everyone, the obtaining of food and drink.

His bat-like ears bobbed along as the creature moved from room to room doing everything he could to make the house and people within it as comfortable as possible. Dobby took over Kreacher's space under the boiler and it was there that he slept.

The elf also became an object of fixation for Lupin, or rather where it was that Dobby had obtained the Phoenix tears. That was something that was highly suspect and Remus wanted the full story. Dobby however seemed a little reluctant to tell it.

What finally convinced him to tell his tale was when Hermione, Ron, and Ginny invited Dobby up to Harry's room to sit with them and tell them how he had saved Harry's life. The elf became very emotional and started loudly crying and hiccoughing as he began. Outside Harry's room, the other's stood as Dobby sat down and went into detail about how he had obtained the Phoenix Tears and also how he knew to bring them to Grimmauld Place.

"So it was Professor Dumbledore who told you where Grimmauld Place is?"

"Y-yes! He was a good man. He gave Dobby his job at Hogwarts and paid him for it! So when he asks Dobby to get Phoenix Tears and take them to Harry Potter because Harry Potter is dying without them, Dobby does it. Harry Potter is noble and kind and he is Dobby's friend! Dobby is happy to help him," The elf cried.

"Where did you get the Phoenix Tears from, Dobby?" Hermione asked kindly.

"F-from Professor S-slughorn. He k-keeps many things for making him money. Dobby knew he shouldn't do it. But Dobby did it to save Harry Potter! Dobby t-took all he had. He also stole the Phoenix tears from the Headmaster's office..."

"Don't you mean Headmistress?" Ron interrupted him, but Dobby's head was shaking vigorously.

"Hogwarts has a Headmaster, he is bad! Bad! He is Professor Snape! Professor Snape is not liking Harry Potter! Dobby was glad to steal his Phoenix Tears!" Dobby wailed defiantly.

"Dobby did a wonderful thing helping Harry like that," Ginny reassured him with a smile. Dobby's large orb eyes looked back at her adoringly.

"Dobby can see why Harry Potter thinks so highly of his friends. Like Harry Potter they are kind and noble and good people,"

"So, Dobby," Ron said hesitatingly, "Not that we're not all grateful for what you've done, but how did you know to come here?"

"Professor Dumbledore in his picture told Dobby that Harry would come here. He told Dobby where to go and Dobby came as fast as he could!"

That seemed to be enough to satisfy everyone that they were safe in Grimmauld Place for the time being.

On the fifth day Harry's eyes opened. At the moment that it happened, no one was in the room. Ginny was with Hermione and Ron in their room, Fred and George were busy helping their Mother and Father with a project that they needed help with. Remus, Bill, and Fleur were at Shell Cottage with Dobby trying to see what they could do to strengthen the defenses for both homes.

Harry, who was still very weak, tried to sit up but only managed to be able to find his glasses and his wand on the little night table next to his bed. He was able to put his glasses on and just had time to realize that he was in Sirius' bedroom when unconsciousness claimed him once more.

When Harry's three closest friends returned to his room to sit with him, they all did a double take.

"Did you put his glasses on him?" Ron asked Hermione.

Hermione in a tone of patient exasperation replied; "How could I have Ronald? I left the room before you did, remember?"

"Harry? Are you awake?" Ginny was asking him. Harry didn't move.

"You don't think he put them on himself, do you?" Ron wondered.

"Who else could it have been?" Ginny looked at her brother in annoyance.

"I don't know, Mum maybe?" "Ron, Mum's downstairs with everyone else..."

"Oh, yeah...I forgot," Ron looked a little disgruntled.

They sat down excitedly to wait for Harry's eyes to open again. A few moments became minutes which then became hours. It was getting close to time for bed when Harry's eyelids started fluttering and his eyes opened again.

"Hermione!" Ginny said excitedly.

Hermione gasped as she looked at Harry and saw him looking back at her.

"Alright Harry?" Ron asked half heartedly.

"I've been better," Harry answered truthfully.

"You gave us a right scare there, mate," Ron told him

Harry's cheeks colored at hearing this. His eyes glanced over to Ginny whose face seemed to be a mixture of emotions. Excitement, anger, joy, fury, frustration, betrayal, and finally relief all found a place there for a moment.

Ginny sighed as she leveled a gaze that made Harry wonder if he'd have to use the wand he held for self defense as she said; "Harry Potter you are a GIT! What the HELL were you THINKING! You could have got yourself killed..."

"Ginny..." Hermione tried placating her, but her heart didn't seem to be in it. Indeed she looked like she wanted to join Ginny in her tirade but wasn't giving in to the temptation.

"Hermione! No..."

"HARRY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Ron suddenly screamed.

Ginny spun around and her eyes went wide. Harry's wand was pointed at her and his hand was trembling. The sound of footsteps running up the stairs could be heard. Harry didn't seem to notice.

In a small, tired, beaten voice Harry muttered several words; "Finite Nathrach Vestigium Tricorum Incantatum,"

A shimmering wave seemed to pass over Ginny but she didn't seem to feel it. Ron's wand was drawn now and pointing at Harry who was now lowering his hand.

"What did you just do?" Hermione asked, her hand twitching towards her wand.

"Removing the Trace..." Harry whispered quietly. He looked back at Ginny and added, "I'm sorry Ginny. Really I am. I'm sorry about...all of this. I love you..."

Harry's last words were a whisper as he again lost consciousness. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came bursting into the room at this point, just as Ginny was turning to look at Hermione.

"What's going on in here?" Mrs. Weasley demanded.

"Is Harry awake?" Mr. Weasley asked looking from his son to his daughter to Hermione and then finally to Harry, "Why is he holding his wand?"

For a moment confusion reigned. Then Hermione looked at Ginny. "Did he just say he removed the Trace? Could it be that simple?"

"Harry removed the Trace on Ginny? How?" Remus demanded as he came into the room.

"HE WHAT?" Mrs. Weasley shrieked. "How could he do that?"

"Why would he do that is the question I'd like to have answered," said Mr. Weasley as he looked at his daughter with an unusually stern face, "Does this have anything to do with this mysterious quest of his?"

Ron and Hermione looked at each other then at Harry but it was Ginny who spoke, "I'm afraid that we can't talk about that, Dad."

"Ginny..." Mr. Weasley's voice was full of warning which was very unusual for him.

"Dad, I'm sorry. Professor Dumbledore entrusted this to Harry. He told Harry that he could tell Ron and Hermione. They decided that I could know too, but really for everyone's safety, we cannot talk about it,"

"Do you really think that Professor Dumbledore would entrust something that important to you? Surely he wanted you to use discretion about what you are doing, but..."

"Ginny's right, Mum," Ron said seriously.

"Ronald,"

"Mrs. Weasley, in sixth year Professor Dumbledore took a personal hand in Harry's schooling..."

"I know that Hermione, he informed some of us that he was doing so..."

"But did he tell you what it was he was going to be teaching him?"

"Well...not really. All he said was that it would be a little of this and that,"

"So, with all due respect, if he didn't tell you then what he was teaching Harry, what makes you certain that he'd want Harry to tell you now?"

"Mum, we didn't even know until Professor Dumbledore told Harry that it was okay to confide in us. Harry said he was very specific that he not share his task with anyone else," Ron added.

"Molly," Remus interrupted at this time, "I know how you worry. I understand that, but if Dumbledore gave Harry a task for him alone, he must have had a reason,"

"But they're just children!"

"Mum, we're of age..." Ron reminded her.

At this Ginny remained silent. This was a part of the conversation that she was rather hoping to avoid. Her eyes glanced at the still silent form of Harry. She thought about maybe asking Dobby if he could get Harry some soup or tea or something until her mother's next statement erased any future thoughts of that.

"Ginny isn't! If you three want to do this, I can't stop you..."

"Mum!" Ginny started to complain.

"No! I will NOT let you..."

"Why don't we take this downstairs and let Harry rest?" Mr. Weasley said. Ginny was silently grateful to her father in that moment. She knew that he'd just stopped her and her Mum from having a major row.

Mrs. Weasley's eyes turned towards Harry for a moment. They softened as they looked at him. She obviously still had a lot to say, but remained quiet for now.

"Your father's right, we should let Harry sleep. Come along then..." She stood out of the way and watched as Remus, Mr. Weasley, then after a moment's hesitation Ron and Hermione left the room.

"Ginny..."

"Mum, no. I'm staying with him. Someone should be here if he wakes up again,"

"No, I let you stay with him when...well before. He's going to be fine. You can come along now,"

"No. I want to stay with him,"

"Ginny..." "Mum, I love him," Ginny said it simply and calmly. Much more calmly than she felt.

Mrs. Weasley looked at her only daughter for a long moment; her face was hard to read. Finally she nodded quietly and left the room.

"Have it your way, then," Mrs. Weasley said as she left the room. Ginny thought she heard her mother sniff on her way out the door.

She felt badly about defying her mother and hurting her feelings. However she wasn't a child anymore and she felt it was time for her mother to begin to understand this. Resuming her seat next to Harry's bed, Ginny took Harry's hand in hers and held it as she looked at the man she wanted to one day marry and was grateful to him.

If Harry really had removed the Trace on her, then she could be a real part of the things that they needed to do to hunt down those Horcruxes and destroy them. She could help Harry in his quest to bring down Voldemort. They could be a real team, like they were in school. The thought brought an unbidden smile to her face.

Harry

By the time dawn broke the next morning, Harry was feeling much better. He spent a few moments thinking about the events that had landed him where he was. The last thing he remembered was when the Portkey had landed him in Grimmauld Place and feeling supremely grateful at seeing those he loved just before he lost consciousness.

Looking over at the chair closest to the head of the bed, there was Ginny slumped over. She was in a deep sleep. Soft snores could be heard coming from her. Her position did not look very comfortable but at the moment Harry was loathe to wake her.

He knew that he was going to be in for loads of trouble if Ginny's rant was any indication. But he'd done it. He'd managed to get the Basilisk fangs they would need and learned how to brake the Trace on Ginny in the process. Now she was free of the trace and they could move on with the hunt for the Horcruxes.

Except now that Voldemort knew that he had the Basilisk fangs. He would probably know what it was that Harry was collecting them for, or at least be suspicious of it. They would have to start hunting for them soon.

Harry wondered if Ron and Hermione would still want to go with him. Or Ginny now that she had a taste of what it was that they would be doing. He still had no clue where to even look for one of the Horcruxes, let alone all of them.

Professor Dumbledore's supposition about Nagini were probably correct and the snake rarely left Voldemort's side. But what about the others? The locket? Or the cup? Or the other item? Harry was just thankful that he didn't have to try and find the Diary or the Ring. They were out of the way. Two down, four more to go. Unless there was one that Professor Dumbledore didn't know about.

Movement near the door drew Harry's attention. He saw Mrs. Weasley peeking in at him. Harry smiled at her.

"Harry dear, its so good to see you awake again. I must say you gave us all quite a fright for a while there," Mrs. Weasley chided him quietly.

Feeling guilty, Harry's eyes fell towards his blankets, "I'm sorry,"

Her eyes scrutinized Harry closely as she looked like she was trying to decide how to phrase what it was she wanted to say next. Harry thought he'd better head her off now, before things started to get out of hand. In this case he figured the truth would be the best way to do that.

"I'm sorry I took off like that. I didn't mean to scare anyone. It's just that with finding out about Charlie and Percy and all...I...I couldn't just sit around. It made me angry that something happened to them and they died. I feel like maybe I could have prevented it..."

"Harry..."

His eyes found Mrs. Weasley staring down at him. It looked like tears were threatening and this made him feel both very awkward and very guilty. Harry found that he suddenly lost his voice. Feeling like he needed to do something and fast, he started to get up out of bed. Mrs. Weasley wouldn't hear of it.

"No, Harry, you've been through quite a lot in these last few days. I really think that you should take it easy. You just lie there and I'll make sure that someone brings some breakfast up to you," She said as she turned to leave the room. Harry thought he heard a sob as she left.

Lying back down Harry looked around his Godfather's old bedroom. It looked just like he remembered it with the exception of some chairs that had been brought in and set up around the bed. How long had he been in here, Harry wondered.

The same pictures and banners adorned the walls. The same furniture and the same carpeting. Even the same posters of muggle women in bikinis. He wondered how long Hermione and Ginny would be willing to put up with that.

Ginny's soft snores reminded him that she was there. Looking over at her, Harry was surprised to see how different she looked. She was always slender but now she looked thin; like she hadn't been eating. Her color didn't look quite right either. Her hair hung limp and stringy.

For all the guilt he'd felt when talking to Mrs. Weasley, that was nothing compared to what he felt now. Ginny must not have left his side in the entire time that he had been here. Harry resolved to find some way to make it up to her. Then he realized he had already taken a step towards that. He'd cast the spell to brake the Trace. Ginny was free to use magic now. That was something at least. Reaching over and taking her hand, Harry held onto it while she slept.

Two things quickly became apparent that day and both of them were things that Harry would later make Harry smile and shake his head. The first thing was that Mrs. Weasley seemed bound and determined to make sure that Harry remained confined to his bed, at least for the time being. Harry had his suspicions as to why this was but for now just kept his quiet and did as he was told.

The second thing, and to him the more surprising of the two, was that no one seemed to believe him that the Trace had been removed from Ginny. Harry had a devil of a time convincing Ginny of this and with her Ron and Hermione. No one seemed prepared to believe him. This was unbelievably aggravating to learn and no one seemed able to give him a good reason as to why.

Harry, logically, tried to have Ginny use a simple spell to prove his point but no one wanted to take a chance and tempt fate. After what Harry had just gone through, no one wanted to chance that experience. Nothing he had said so far had done anything to convince them that the Trace really had been removed. Harry had an idea as to how to test things, but he wanted to wait until Mrs. Weasley let him up out of bed again to try it.

At the moment Ginny was out of the room, as was Ron and Hermione. For the moment he was alone. Looking out the window into the gray, grim sky outside, Harry wondered absently what happened to the Death Eaters that he'd sent walking with the Imperious Curse. Were there any others out there now? Would there be when Ginny tried to use magic? Could he get her to do it?

Harry was just thinking of ways that he could maybe get her to try out using some magic when Remus and Mr. Weasley entered the room.

"Harry," Remus said by way of greeting. He and Mr. Weasley took the seats that were normally occupied by Ron and Hermione. Mr. Weasley gave Harry a friendly nod.

"Feeling a little confined Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked him.

"A little I guess," Harry admitted.

"You know that Molly means well, right?" Remus asked him.

"I know, I just wish she'd let me get out of bed. I'm fine. I feel loads better,"

"That's the main reason why we're here now. You gave us quite a scare there," Remus began.

"I didn't mean to, I just..."

"Felt like doing something," Mr. Weasley finished for him, understanding in his eyes.

Harry looked for a moment at the tall balding man. Ron's long nose came from him, and so did his hair. But he seemed to be more reserved to Harry. Small wonder as to why, having just lost two sons. Still that shouldn't be a reason to make Harry have to stay in bed. He really didn't feel like putting up with it much longer.

"I know it's not been easy putting up with Molly's mothering Harry, and I do appreciate you being so good natured about it. But I wonder, do you understand why she's doing it?" Mr. Weasley asked him.

Harry had a couple of good responses he'd have loved to have given for this. However he sensed that now was not the time. Instead he just quietly stated what he thought the most likely reason was; "It's because she's afraid that Ron and Ginny will want to follow me if I leave again, isn't it?"

"That's part of it I would wager," Remus said with a sympathetic smile.

"There's more?"

Mr. Weasley's face took on a more strained look. His voice was more controlled too; "Harry, we just recently lost two of our sons. While you had nothing, and I mean NOTHING to do with that, it still didn't help things that less than a day later we nearly lost you too. What was worse was having to stand there and watch it happen and knowing we were powerless to do anything about it. I think that scared Molly more than anything else. She felt like she was losing another son. You do know that's how she, well really both of us, think of you, don't you?"

Suddenly Harry's blankets were very interesting. He started to fidget with one tassel and didn't look up as he nodded his head slightly, "Thanks, Mr. Weasley."

"Harry, that wasn't the only reason for coming up here," Remus told him as he changed the subject. Harry looked up at his former professor. Lupin's gaze didn't falter as he continued on, "Harry, Professor Dumbledore was very clear when he said that you had to be the one we rallied behind. He was adamant in stating how important it was for us all to continue the fight. He was also very clear that you would have some tasks of your own to accomplish and that we should support you in those tasks,"

Harry started to interrupt but Lupin waved him down as he continued on, "I know that you don't want to talk about what it is that you've set out to do. I know that Dumbledore told you that you couldn't tell anyone. But Harry we, Arthur, Molly, and I, feel that maybe that idea should be revisited. You know what happened to the Burrow, and you've agreed to let everyone stay here. Don't you think it would be fair for them to be in on what is going on since their lives are at risk too?"

"Professor, I'm sorry, I can't tell you..."

"You told Ginny. I know that you have and I know that she was not included when Dumbledore advised you that you could share what he wants you to do with Ron and Hermione,"

"That's true, but..."

"But what?" Mr. Weasley asked, "You know that any of us have, and still would, continue to risk our lives for you. For what you're fighting for. We would all do that, but we would like to know what it is that we're risking our lives for. Don't you think we've earned that right?"

"It's not that, Mr. Weasley. I was told by Professor Dumbledore not to say anything at all to anyone,"

"Then how do you explain Ginny knowing?" Lupin asked.

Harry looked at him. He knew that if anyone was going to believe him, it would be Remus Lupin. He just wasn't sure this was a story he wanted to share. Finally he decided he would. Not because he wanted to, but because he felt like there was no other way to make them understand.

"The first night we came here..." Harry began slowly, he could only hope that maybe Ron, Hermione, or Ginny would be able to support what he was about to say, "...we all slept in the drawing room downstairs. We were tired and had just escaped from those Death Eaters..."

"Death Eaters?" Mr. Weasley asked, his face going pale.

Harry turned to Remus, "You didn't tell them?"

Looking at Harry directly, Lupin shrugged as he said; "We didn't have a chance. When we left here that night other things happened after that pretty quickly. There hasn't been a chance to since then,"

Harry sighed as he turned back to Mr. Weasley, "We were attacked by Death Eaters right after we apparated away from the wedding. Hermione guided us to a street in Muggle London and we made it to a cafe. That's where they found us."

"You're sure they were Death Eaters?" Mr. Weasley asked skeptically.

"Yes, they were in Hogwarts the night Dumbledore was killed, somehow they found us..."

"Did Ginny use magic? That would have activated..." But Harry was already shaking his head.

"No, she didn't. We asked her that so many times she got mad. She didn't use magic at all,"

"Then how would the Death Eaters have known where to find you?" Mr. Weasley reasoned.

"We don't know. That's one reason why we've been laying low here while we prepare for...everything," Harry explained patiently.

"Harry, the Death Eaters would have known where you were going. There has to be some explanation for how they found you. You're sure Ginny didn't use any magic?"

"I'm positive of that. Ginny did not use any magic. None. I don't think she even had her wand in her hand until the attack happened,"

"Remus, if what Harry is saying is true..." "I know Arthur, I know. It doesn't bode well,"

"Why do you say that, Professor?" Harry wanted to know.

"Because Harry, it means that the Death Eaters have some way to track you that we haven't thought of." Remus put his head in his hands.

"How could they do that? Could it be that my Trace that wasn't removed?" Harry was fearful now. That would mean that he would be the one who couldn't use magic. Or would have been, now that he knew the counter-spell to lift the Trace.

"No, absolutely not," Mr. Weasley said firmly, "I know for a fact that the Trace on you was lifted. Just before I stopped being able to go into work, I heard one of those Snatchers talking about how unfortunate it was that they couldn't use that to track you. Not to mention the fact that it's wizarding law. It was specifically designed to break at the moment you turned seventeen. There is no way of extending that that I know of,"

"What about creating a new kind of Trace? One that works after the age of seventeen? I'm sure Voldemort..." Mr. Weasley winced at hearing this name, "...could do it or has someone who could do it for him. What about that?"

"You're forgetting that there hasn't been anyone near you who could place that kind of Trace on you," Remus reminded Harry. "Otherwise I suppose it could happen,"

"Going back to our discussion about your task that Dumbledore sent you," Mr. Weasley said. Then he froze.

At that moment Harry's scar started hurting him with a searing, blinding pain. His hand flew up to his face so fast and so hard he bloodied his own nose. Immediately he started writhing around in pain like he was being burned alive.

"HARRY!" Mr. Weasley and Lupin shouted as one.

Very quickly the room was full of people. Ron and Hermione came in first, beating Ginny only by a fraction of a second. Mrs. Weasley followed them, a damp dish towel clutched in her hands.

While the older adults looked alarmed by what was going on, the younger ones didn't seem quite as upset by the ordeal. This was something they had seen before.

"What is it, Harry? What do you see?" Ron asked nervously.

"You need to shut him out Harry! Please shut him out!" Hermione cried.

Ginny jumped up on the bed with Harry and started trying to take him in her arms, "Harry! You need to block it. Block it out Harry, please,"

But there was no blocking out what Harry was seeing. Voldemort was in a towering rage. He had his wand pointed at a very scared and battered looking Olivander.

The old man's eyes were wide with fear. His hair was wild and sticking up everywhere. His face had scratches on it and it was clear that they were not all the same age. What disturbed Harry the most was seeing Olivander trembling in fear at the sight of Voldemort and his wand.

"You lied to me, old man. Using another's wand did nothing against Potter's. It was useless!" Voldemort hissed.

"I thought it would work! The cores of those two wands are unrelated, there's no reason for it not to have worked for you!" Olivander cried.

"You lie. Voldemort knows. He always knows,"

Harry could feel something building and he was deathly afraid of what he was about to see. The pain in his head was blinding him to the words from those in his room. Yet he could still hear Voldemort and Olivander clearly.

"I do not know why it didn't work. Please! I'm telling you the truth!" Olivander screamed.

Voldemort was unleashing his fury in a series of Cruciatus Curses. Olivander was cringing and screaming as the full weight of Voldemort's wrath was brought to bear through them.

As Voldemort let the curse subside, he seemed to have a new thought. He leaned in close to the cowering, trembling, old man and hissed in a soft and deadly voice; "Tell me Old Man, what do you know of that wand of legend, the one known as the Wand of Destiny? Speak the truth and you shall live. Lie to me and you will be Nagini's next meal,"

"T-the Wand of D-destiny? The D-d-death Stick?" Olivander's eyes widened in understanding and fear.

"You know of this wand that I speak of then?"

"I-I've heard tell of it. It is s-said t-t-to be the only wand that cannot be beaten. That wand hasn't been seen in centuries! It's p-probably destroyed." Olivander quaked as he pushed himself back up against some kind of stone wall.

"Where was it when it was last seen?" Voldemort asked, his tone deadly.

"It was rumored that G-Grindlewald had it at one time. B-but how could that be true? He lost his battle with Dumbledore!"

"How indeed. It seems as though I must pay Grindlewald a visit..."

The scene Harry had been witnessing slowly dissipated. When Harry was next able to open his eyes, he saw several faces looking back at him intently. They all wore expressions of worry, fear, and concern.

It took him a few minutes to catch his breath. He realized gratefully that Ginny was holding him in her arms.

"Alright?" She asked him when he seemed to have recovered.

"Better, yeah," Harry nodded slowly. His head still hurt a bit from what he had just seen.

"What was it, Harry? What did you see?" Ron asked him.

Ron's face was as intent as Hermione's was fearful. However what caught Harry's attention was not the expression on their faces but the ones on Lupin's and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"Sorry about that," Harry said quietly.

"Harry, what about the Occlumency that Professor Snape was teaching you?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"It's not like I want to see what he's thinking! Sometimes I just can't help it. Like now for instance. He's really very angry."

"What did you see that has you so convinced of this?" Mr. Weasley prompted.

"He has Olivander. Voldemort," there were several hisses and faces that winced. Harry continued on as if he hadn't noticed it, "Voldemort was torturing him about what happened with our wands when you all came to get me from my Aunt and Uncle's. He's after some wand called the uhhh...the Wand of Destiny. I think the other name he used for it was the Death Stick. Olivander said that it was a wand that couldn't be beaten. Do you know anything about that?"

Harry was looking at Remus who looked like he was deep in thought. Mr. Weasley was looking at Harry with great concern. Mrs. Weasley came over and sat on the bed next to him. She gently pulled Harry into her arms and held him, crooning very softly under her breath.

"You poor, poor dear. To have to have witnessed that, after everything you've been through. Poor dear..."

Ginny looked a little annoyed at her mother but otherwise didn't say anything. Harry felt a little awkward but let Mrs. Weasley hold on to him. It felt oddly comforting. His mind was racing and full of the things he'd just witnessed.

The others in the room stayed where they were for the moment, each lost in their thoughts. Harry heard, faintly as though from another room, Hermione say,

"I wonder..."

She must have left the room. Harry didn't find out. In the arms of Mrs. Weasley, Harry did something that would surprise him when he found out about it later, he fell asleep.