A/N: Yes, two chapters in one day. Yes, short chapter. Yes, some answers, or are there just more questions? As always, thanks for the R/Rs.
Chapter 7: What Were You Thinking?
Ginny became aware of several things at once. She had a safe feeling. She was snuggled against something or someone warm, and she couldn't move her left hand. Normally, that would be cause to be panicked or at least concerned. It, however, felt reassuring and comforting. Ginny cracked an eyelid to stare at the top to a set of the Hospital Wing's pajamas. The body they were covering was breathing softly. She felt something nuzzle the top of her head. Ginny looked up slightly only to be greeted with Harry's smiling face. He quickly placed a finger to his lips to let her know to be quiet before she hollered out. Harry motioned with his chin over her shoulder and then over his to let her know they were not alone.
Ginny slowly looked over her shoulder to see Luna sleeping in the next bed. She turned, raising herself up slightly to see over Harry. In a chair, dozing, beside the bed was Lily. On the other side of her was James, sleeping in a bed. Sirius was on the other side of James, sleeping in a bed as well. There was no sign of Madam Pomfrey. She looked at the windows to see it was still dark. Ginny turned back to Harry with a look at their intertwined hands, then a questioning expression at his face. Harry could only shrug with a shake of his head.
A soft moan was heard from Luna before Ginny could whisper anything to Harry. The moan roused Lily from her sleep, who sat up with a jerk. She jumped up, running over to hug Luna. The clatter of the chair falling woke James and Sirius. They groaned loudly as they attempted to sit up. Lily looked over seeing Harry and Ginny were awake as well.
"Oh, thank Merlin," Lily breathed as she crushed Harry and Ginny in a hug. She let them go to stand with an angry look on her face.
"Here it comes," Harry whispered to Ginny. She didn't have time to ask what he meant.
"What in the name of Merlin were you three thinking?" Lily shouted as she put her hands on her hips. "Do you know how worried I've been? Do you have any idea what you put me through? You could have killed or hurt worse than you were!"
"Mum…" Harry tried.
"I'm not through with you yet, mister!" Lily growled at him. "Why did you follow your father to a battle? I thought you would know better. On top of that, you took Ginny and Luna with you!"
"Lils…" Sirius tried but stopped as she shot him a glare. He gulped back anything else he was about to say.
"Did you think three first years could take on an adult wizard?" Lily ground out as she turned back to Harry.
"Lily, stop…" James started. Lily turned her glare on him, but he didn't flinch. "If not for them, we wouldn't know Voldemort survived. If not for them, we wouldn't know Spears was a host body for Voldemort. If not for them…"
"Not helping your case, James!" Lily spat. "Just what the bloody hell was you two thinking? Two trained Aurors, and you depend on three first years to show you where to go? Honestly! And what about you? You could have been killed or hurt worse than you were! What in the name of Godric were you doing? Why didn't you send for backup?" Lily's voice lost its anger as she choked on a sob.
James jumped up to hug her close. "We're alright," he soothed her. Lily buried her head on his shoulder as the tears started flowing from her eyes. Luna joined James in hugging Lily. Sirius walked over to her, placing a kiss on Lily's head.
"We're fine, sis," Sirius told her as he joined the hug.
Harry and Ginny awkwardly got out of their bed to join the rest of them. Luna looked up as Ginny placed her free hand on her shoulder. She glanced down at Ginny's hand that was stuck to Harry's. Luna chuckled with a huge smile. Ginny rolled her eyes at Luna.
After a few minutes, Lily calmed down enough to feel everyone around her. She took a deep breath as she turned to hug Sirius. "You know Marley is going to mad as well?"
"I know," Sirius nodded, "but we are all fine, that's what's important."
Lily turned to Harry, Ginny, and Luna with a deep sigh.
"Back to bed, you lot," Lily smiled slightly. She hugged Luna, placing a kiss on her head before gently pushing her back to her bed. Lily turned to Harry and Ginny, taking them both into her arms again. She placed a kiss on each of their foreheads before guiding them back to the bed they had awaken in. "We'll sort you two out in the morning."
Lily joined James in his bed before flicking her wand to dowse the lights that were left on.
Ginny awoke again to the first rays of sunlight coming in the window. She sighed contentedly as she felt Harry still by her side. She nuzzled his chest slightly before sitting up to check on Luna and the adults. Luna was still asleep turned away from them. Ginny turned to see Lily and James holding each other, and Sirius sprawled out on the bed he was on. Ginny turned back to stare at Lily.
'Is that what it's like to have a real caring mum?' Ginny asked herself. It was such a strange feeling to her to know that someone actually cared.
"Yeah, pretty much," Harry whispered to her without opening his eyes.
"What?" Ginny asked him, confused. "I didn't say anything, Harry."
"Sure you did," he yawned. "You asked if that was what a real mum was like."
"But, Harry…" Ginny stared at him. "I didn't say that out loud. I asked that in my…thoughts."
"Thoughts?" asked Harry in return. His face took on a thoughtful look. 'I think you're a gorgeous girl with red hair.'
"Seriously, Harry," Ginny frowned with an annoyed look. "Is this really the time to flirt when we're stuck…" Ginny trailed off as she realized Harry's lips hadn't moved. "You didn't say that out loud, did you?"
"No, but it's still true," grinned Harry.
Ginny smiled as she blushed. "Thank you."
"Wonder how much we can use this?" Harry grinned.
"Use what?" Lily asked making Harry and Ginny jump.
"Mum, don't do that," Harry complained.
"Use what?" Lily asked again with a raised eyebrow.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other for a few moments. It must have been too long because Lily came over to sit on the bed beside them. Harry sighed.
"For some reason, we can hear each other's thoughts, mum," he finally answered.
"Hear…" Lily's eye grew wide. She turned away mumbling. "Immediate attraction, glow, saving a life, hands stuck…"
"Mum?" Harry asked. Lily sighed as she turned back.
"What glow?" Ginny asked. "And what do you mean, 'saving a life'?"
"What happened to us, mum?" Harry asked.
"I think you have some kind of bond," Lily held her hand up. "I don't know what kind. And, no, they are not a myth. They're just extremely rare."
"That still doesn't answer the questions, mum," Harry frowned.
"As far as the glow," Luna stated as she sat down next to Ginny, "you two have had several moments that you glowed with a goldish hue and light. Halloween was the first time we saw it."
"Your dad and I saw it on Christmas," Lily added. "Luna and Hermione came to me after Valentine's Day with their research."
"Not that we found much," Luna added.
"But it was their research that pointed me in the right direction," Lily went on. "I still have a lot more to check, especially now with the added things, but I should have some answers shortly after school lets out and I can check the books in the Vault."
"Okay, you're still looking, we get that," Harry huffed.
"But, how did we get here?" Ginny asked. "Does the 'saving a life' bit have to do with how we got here?"
"And like this?" Harry frowned. He blinked a couple of times before turning to Ginny. "Yes, it always takes her a bit to get to the point when it involves research."
"It does not," Lily argued. Harry smiled smugly at her with a raised eyebrow. "You hush, mister. Alright, it does." Lily paused to sigh. "When the fight started a couple of the paintings alerted the duty teachers and the Headmaster. I got there just in time to see Luna get knocked out. I was about to come help you two when he fired the killing curse at you."
"We're fine, mum," Harry assured her as Lily paused to wipe tears away.
"You two just looked at each other," Lily shook her head. "I can't even begin to tell you what was going through my head. And all you did was raise the hand that wasn't holding the hand of the other.
"The next thing I saw was a blinding flash from you two and Spears falling," Lily took a deep breath. "I saw what's left of Voldemort leave his body. I turned back to you two, just in time to see you collapse. I called for Madam Pomfrey as I ran to you. Then, we brought all of you here, three nights ago."
"Three nights?" Ginny asked with wide eyes.
"Magical exhaustion will do that to you," Lily nodded with a smile.
"Spears…Voldemort said he was here to keep tabs on Dumbledore," Harry told his mother.
"I heard," Lily nodded. "No, I don't know what he meant. But that's something I didn't tell the Headmaster, either."
"You really don't trust him, do you?" Ginny asked.
"Not in a very long time," Lily shook her head. "But we will have plenty of time to discuss this later this summer at the Manor." Lily stood as she pulled her wand with a slight flick. Ginny noticed the blue shimmer drop from around them.
'That's why Madam Pomfrey didn't come running last night,' Ginny nodded at Harry.
'Mum set up wards,' Harry nodded.
'Harry, just so you know, if I could have chosen anyone to be bound to…'
'I feel the same way, Gin,' Harry smiled at her as they heard the matron coming.