"Kalopsia"
"Chapter Nine"
A soft, steady beeping sounded in his ears. The blanket over his body felt scratchy and dreadfully all too familiar. A soft groan escaped his lips as warm fingers carded through his hair. It was a situation all too familiar to Harry, all thanks to his job. The slow wake up, the beeping, the concerned Ginny gliding her fingers through his hair. Except, this time, he couldn't help but feel like a piece of him had disappeared.
An empty feeling sat in the pit of his stomach like a heavy boulder and crushed his lungs. It almost felt like he had misplaced his wand or maybe even a piece of his soul, which sounded dramatic even to his ears but it was how he felt. He swallowed the uncomfortable and dry lump in his throat as he forced his eyes open and stared up at the stark white ceiling. Déjà vu crashed into him like relentless winds on a stormy day.
Squinting, he attempted to push aside the foggy haze that covered his mind. All he could think about was long and shimmering red hair that sparkled in the sunlight. An infectious laugh rang in his ears. He grasped at the memory of Ginny, wanting to hold onto it tightly and never let it go.
"Harry, love, it's all right. You're home."
Harry's daydream became a reality when he slowly turned his pounding head to see Ginny sitting next to him. Tears shone in her eyes as she played with his hair with one hand and while her other hand found his and squeezed.
"Gin?" he croaked, wincing at the roughness of his own voice.
He didn't sound like himself, didn't feel like himself. He felt like he was in someone else's body, like he couldn't control his own limbs. He rose a trembling hand, watching as it twitched and shook violently. He cleared his throat as he noticed the white bandage around his wrist.
"You're home, Harry. It's all right. I'm here. It's over."
Harry nodded, his gaze breaking away from his wrist to look at Ginny's face once more and a calmness washed over him.
"Hmm… the kids?" he asked, his throat sore and aching like he hadn't used it in days.
"They're at home."
Harry blinked, wondering what he had done now to wind up in the hospital. He couldn't remember no matter how hard he tried to grasp at the strings and pull them together. Fragmented thoughts swirled around in his mind, conflicting and awful thoughts mixed with happy ones.
"With Sirius?"
Dread filled Harry when Ginny's watery smile changed to one of abject horror. Her face melted, wrinkles creasing her forehead. Her bottom lip slid between her teeth. He wanted to ask why she had reacted that way, but he couldn't find the words.
Ginny sniffed. "They're with Luna."
"Luna's in town?" Harry asked hoarsely, his eyebrows raising.
Ginny nodded, the watery smile back on her face as she continued her caress of his hair. Harry could only blink, his mind flashing with a memory of Luna kneeling down beside him in a graveyard and her words like a soft, whimsical song.
"There was a grave…" Harry whispered, his eyes slipping to look at his wrists. "Your grave. I think I had a nightmare."
Her hand stilled in his hair, her fingers tightening on his hand. He brushed his thumb along her knuckles, battling between the two obvious sets of memories in his mind – the reality he was in now where he was happily married to Ginny and one where she had died at the age of eleven.
"I was dead?"
"I…" Harry trailed off, his brow furrowed as he grasped at the fleeting memories. "I feel confused."
"Shh, it's okay, Harry. Just relax."
Except that was the last thing Harry felt like doing. Relax? How could he relax when he didn't know what was real and what had been a dream? The memories only became clearer. Dating Cho and dating Ginny. Sirius' wedding, Sirius taking care of Harry's broken father, Sirius in Azkaban. Harry closed his eyes, his head pushing back against the pillow. He could remember the spell that hit Sirius in the chest, his body twisting backwards and the veil engulfing his body. He could also remember Sirius in a tent going over how to break into his cousin's vault at Gringotts, could remember there never even being a Tom Riddle.
"No, no, no," Harry whispered, his eyes snapping open and darting around the room. "My parents and Sirius and Voldemort and you…"
Harry's fixed his gaze on Ginny. He was in the wrong reality. He was supposed to be surrounded by his family and happily married to Ginny. Sirius and Marlene should be bickering, Astrid should be minding his children, his parents should be fussing over him. Ginny… Ginny should be smirking at his exasperation at being coddled.
"Please, no," Harry said, a sob escaping his lips.
"Harry, you need to calm down," Ginny urged.
His chest heaved as he forced his jellied arms to push himself up into a seated position. Ginny rose as well, sliding to sit on the bed in front of him. Her hands cupped his face, her thumbs brushing along his cheekbones. Harry clawed at the bandages on his wrists. He had to see what was underneath them, had to figure out what was even real.
"Please, Harry, stop. You're going to hurt yourself."
Her hands grabbed his wrists, pulling his hands away from one another. He was too weak to fight her and allowed her to hold them on either side of his body. He could feel a bead of sweat sliding down from his hairline, his entire body cold and empty. Sobs crawled up his throat as he tried to keep them at bay, causing odd strangled noises to escape his lips instead.
"What's real? What's real, Ginny?" Harry gasped. "Tell me Sirius isn't dead… and, and my parents? Fuck, Ginny, please. Tell me what's real!"
His body swayed, his chest compressing so tight that it was nearly unbearable. Ginny's hands were on his face once more, her head leaning in so their foreheads connected. She was warm and alive. She felt so real, but she couldn't be real if Sirius and his parents were dead, right? He wanted that reality, the one where he had a family and he was happily married to Ginny and Voldemort never existed.
"I'm real, all right, Harry. I'm real," she whispered, her voice shaky. "I'm here and this is real."
"You're not dead?" Harry pleaded.
A tight smile crossed her features. "No, I'm not dead. I'm real. I'm here."
A warm hand left his cheek as she reached down to grab his wrist gently, mindful of his bandage. She pressed his palm against her breast, and he felt her fast-beating heart beneath his trembling hand. He blinked. It had all felt real before, though. Every word, every touch, his surroundings. Every single memory of a life he hadn't lived stood out in his mind like a sore thumb.
The door to his hospital room opened and a Healer stepped in with vials on a floating tray. Panic rose in his chest, his neck suddenly aching. His hand flew to his neck, flashes of needles piercing his skin and ice slithering through his veins. No, he didn't want any more potions. He didn't want anything that would cloud his already hazy mind. He needed to know what reality he was in, what was real and not real.
"Harry, it's okay."
Ginny carded her hand through his hair again, attempting to calm him. Except he felt anything but calm. He wanted to run, to leave the hospital, to figure things out on his own without any more damn potions. As the Healer drew nearer to him, her voice just a buzzing sound in his ears, he knew he had to leave. He kicked the covers off him, frantically trying to scoot to the edge of the bed. Ginny called his name, her arms encasing.
Harry fought against her, his hands ripping her arms off him. There was yelling and sirens vibrating off the walls. He swung his legs, his bare feet hitting the cool tiled floor as he pushed off the bed. His legs were wobbly and unsteady under his weight, and he crashed to the floor, his entire body aching upon impact.
Strong arms wrapped themselves around him, hauling him up. He struggled, not making any headway. His gaze flashed over to Ginny where she was standing back by the door with her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide. George stood behind her pale and serious, his arms wrapped protectively around her.
The Healers forced him on the bed, his limbs held down as wands pressed into his wrists and ankles. Magical bonds wrapped around him, pinning him to the bed. He twisted and turned to get away but he couldn't move. His betrayed eyes snapped to Ginny to see her openly sobbing in her brother's arms.
"GINNY!" he screamed, his voice cracking and throat throbbing. "GINNY!"
Hands forced his head back, a wand touching his jaw to lock it open. The cool liquid poured down his throat but he couldn't spit it back up. Two more vials entered his mouth and he suddenly felt his entire body loosen and his mind start to slip. Everything became hazy and lighter as though he were floating, his muscles now limp and compliant. The magic holding his mouth open relented, and he worked his sore jaw.
Ginny stood by his bedside, face red and tearstained. Her hand glided through his hair, attempting to smooth it down. His eyes drooped, and he saw her only through small slits.
"Gin…" he slurred. "You 'posed… ha…have my back. Hmm… not real."
"I do have your back, Harry. I will always have your back."
"Hmm… no. I wan… I want my Ginny."
Ginny sniffed, a choking sob echoing in the room. The bed dipped from her weight, her face drawing close to his. Her soft lips pressed against his cheek, her breath tickled near his ear. He knew in that moment, deep down, this was his Ginny. The way her warm lips pressed against the stubble on his cheeks, the way her flowery scent assaulted his senses, the way her body leaned against his.
"Gin…" he slurred, sleep attempting to claim him. "I so… sorr…"
His eyes slid closed as he battled to stay awake. There were things left unsaid, things that needed to be said, because he couldn't bear for her to think she wasn't his. It had been stupid and not even about her. It had been about losing Sirius all over again, about having a childhood dream of having his parents alive being torn away from him.
He heard a sob and felt a drip of water on his cheek. His eyes opened slightly, just enough to see a blur of reds, oranges, and golds. He wanted to reach out and touch her hair, to brush it behind her ear and say he loved her. Except he couldn't move and his mind filled with cobwebs.
Then… there was nothing.
Ginny sat in horror, her vision blurry and her body trembling. She could only blink at Harry's still body, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. George lingered behind her, his low rumble talking quietly to Healers. She couldn't hear his exact words but could hear the desperation in his tone.
Harry didn't want his reality. It was the only thing she could think of. The panic attack that overtook him, the look of complete devastation on his face… Ginny chewed on her bottom lip. She couldn't even blame him for being upset upon waking up and realizing his godfather and parents were actually dead, again. That whatever hallucination he had that included them was just that, another fleeting dream of his that never came to pass.
A hand rested on her shoulder, squeezing her tense muscles. She didn't look back or acknowledge George. What was there to say? She wasn't fine and she couldn't pretend she was. It would remain that way until Harry was okay with reality. She only hoped that he would eventually be okay with it.
"He was confused," George whispered and took a seat next to her. "He didn't… he didn't mean any of it. Imagine being in some hallucination for days on end and waking up in the hospital. You'd be disoriented and-"
"Don't," Ginny hissed, her eyes staring at the restraints around Harry's bandaged wrists. "I don't need you to coddle me and tell me it'll be all right. He dreamed of his parents and Sirius. He dreamed of a family that was ripped away from him at a young age. He probably feels like he lost them all over again, the one thing he always dreamed of but would never come to pass. It came to pass and it's gone now."
"Ginny, it was a hallucination. Once he realizes that…" George trailed off, clearing his throat. "He's Harry. He doesn't live in dreams and hallucinations. He lives in reality and he knows reality fucking well sucks. He also knows that you make reality suck a lot less."
"Gee, thanks, George. I'm glad I make reality suck a lot less."
George chuckled. "Well, he's Harry so he looks at the glass half empty. I'm simply getting into his mindset."
Ginny only sniffed and focused on holding herself together. She didn't want to cry or break down any more than she already had. She had to be strong for Harry and help him work out what was reality and what was a hallucination. There was only room for one of them to be on the brink of a breakdown. Isn't that what they normally did? Only one of them breaking at a time – even if those moments were far and few between. She was embarrassed to admit it was almost always her. Harry had a way of compartmentalizing everything and not wavering.
"He loves his life, though, Ginny," George whispered. "I know he does. I've seen him at his worst, hating life and everyone around him… looking for people to blame and scream at. Then I've seen him be a complete and utter sop, someone who laughs and loves, someone who cried when his kids were born, someone who let himself for vulnerable for the first time in his life. That was all you. You make him happy."
"George… what if I'm not enough now? What if he saw what he could have had and he just… what if he doesn't want this life anymore?"
"Look, Ginny, I'm not going to pretend like I understand Harry completely. He's far too damaged for any normal person to fully understand him," George reasoned, slinging an arm over Ginny's shoulders and pulling her close to his side. "What I do know is that you were always the only person to ever get through to him. I remember him being a complete nightmare in my last year. He was always bloody screaming at someone and picking fights with anyone who was even remotely in his vicinity. I don't know what you said to him that Christmas at Grimmauld Place, but he was a different person afterwards. It was like you lifted this huge burden off his shoulders and he was Harry again. Even though that was short-lived because Umbridge put him right back in his foul mood when we returned to Hogwarts, but… we knew, you know? Even if Harry didn't see it and you were oblivious, everyone else bloody well knew it was only a matter of time before you two dug your heads out of your arses."
Ginny didn't say anything, she just snuggled closer to George's chest. Tears poured silently down her face as her fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head.
"And you know what?" George continued. "You'll get his head out of his arse again and get through to him. Harry can go back to being his normal self with his dramatic mood swings. You can knock some sense into him and make him laugh. All will be right with the world."
"Georgie," Ginny gasped, teetering on the edge.
"Let it out, Ginny. It's all right. I won't tell anyone."
She did. She let it all seep out of every single pore of her body. The tears splashed down her face at an alarming rate and her body shook violently. By the end, she was left with uncontrollable hiccups and a red puffy face. Still, George only tightened his grip around her, murmuring in her ear that everything would be all right. Ginny couldn't help but believe him.
She managed to compose herself completely by the time her parents entered the hospital room, reprieving George of his Ginny duty. Somehow, they just knew what had happened as soon as they took one look between Harry and Ginny, because her father kissed her temple and hugged her tight. Her mother fussed over Harry's blankets and attempted to flatten his hair with little luck. Ginny did what she always did - she put a smile on her face and pretend that everything really was all right.
Ginny refused to leave for the night. She wanted to be with Harry when he woke up again, because he wouldn't take lightly to waking up with his wrists and ankles cuffed to the bed. She feared she would be the only one who would be able to calm him down without more sedation.
Clocks should be banned from hospital rooms. Ginny stared at the damn clock, watching as the hands ticked by at an excruciatingly slow rate. She watched the damn clock until her eyes burned from lack of sleep and her neck ached from lack of use. She couldn't sleep, couldn't relax. She only replayed and tweaked her speech to Harry in her head a thousand times. No matter how many versions she went through, it always sounded lame and insensitive saying I'm sorry, Harry, but your parents and godfather are dead.
It was nearly three in the morning when he stirred again, a groan escaping his pale lips. Ginny sat up a little straighter, her fingers grasping his hand. Her thumb trailed along his knuckles as her heart hammered in her chest.
He blinked, his hands jerking but the restraints had little give. She saw the moment the panic hit his face, so she gave him a reassuring squeeze and grabbed his glasses from the bedside table with her free hand. After years of practice, Ginny slid his glasses on his face with one hand and forced a smile as his eyes met hers.
"Gin?" he croaked, the panic still shining brightly on his pale face. "Ginny?"
"It's all right," she said with a smile. "They're just so you don't hurt yourself. You woke up earlier and you were… agitated."
His Adam's apple bobbed, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall earlier. She waited patiently for the spark of understanding, but he remained stubbornly confused.
"Can I… can you take them off?"
His voice was small with a twinge of fear. Harry hated not being in control, and Ginny couldn't say she blamed him. She understood perfectly well just how scary it was not to be in control.
"I need to tell you something first. I need to explain what happened."
"Ginny, please."
"You were on a case," Ginny barreled through, her eyes falling from his face to look at their intertwined hands. "A potioneer was experimenting with hallucinogenic ingredients and injecting it directly into his victim's necks with a needle."
"I remember," Harry whispered. "Ginny, look at me."
Ginny only shook her head, her eyes burning a hole into their hands. "You were there for days, being injected with this potion. Ron found you and he brought you here. When you woke up… you… you asked about Sirius and your parents and, and, Harry, they're dead. They aren't alive here. That was just a hallucination. I'm so, so sorry that it isn't real. I wish so badly that it was true, that they were here with us now, but they're not and-"
"I know," Harry said in a hoarse voice, sending a cold shiver down her spine.
Ginny snapped her attention up to his face. It was stoic and void of any emotion. His jaw clenched as his dull green eyes searched hers.
"I remember everything," he continued, his brows furrowing. "I'm sorry. I know you're real. I just… I remember waking up. My parents and Sirius were alive. Remus and Tonks were raising Teddy. You were dead. I remember fighting so hard to get home to you, remembered our life together. I fought tooth and nail to get home to you. I woke up in that barn. I tried to leave but I was too weak. There was a girl there and… is she alive?"
Ginny nodded. "She's recovering like you are."
Harry nodded, relief washing over his features. "He came back. Zephyr. He tied me back up, and he said he perfected his potion. I woke up and I didn't have any memories of anything. Not the previous hallucination, not my real life, nothing but what was around me. Sirius was alive and married with a kid. My parents were happy grandparents. You were there. We were raising our three kids. Everything seemed perfect, amazing. It was everything I ever wanted. Then, fake you would kiss me and I knew it wasn't right. It wasn't you."
"Not real," Ginny whispered, her fingers toying with the wrist restraint.
"Yeah… I guess I woke up confused. I wanted you as you are now… but I also wanted Sirius and my parents. I just… I was hoping there was a way to… I don't even know.I'm sorry, Ginny. I knew you were real from the moment you touched me. I knew and yet a part of me was still fighting it because... because..."
Ginny reached over to the bedside table to grab her wand. She tapped the wrist restraint closest to her, the fabric unraveling at the seam and falling limply onto the mattress. She rose from her seat and walked around the bed, setting his limbs free one by one. Once done, she stood next to his bed with her arms wrapped around her stomach.
"I'm an awful person, Ginny," Harry continued, struggling to sit up and lean his back against the pillows.
"Why would you say that? Because you were confused? That mad man made you confused, Harry. I understand that."
Harry reached for her hand, pulling her onto the bed next to him. "You are what I needed, Ginny. It was you I was trying to find the whole time and even in my perfect reality when you were there and my parents were there it was just... I'm an awful person."
"Harry…?"
"Zephyr told me my second hallucination would be my perfect life. It was, to an extent I suppose. We had custody of Teddy. I had Remus and Tonks die in my perfect world. What the hell does that say about me?"
Ginny grasped his hands in hers. She urged him to look at her. It took a few moments before his eyes met hers, uncertainty shining in them.
"It says that you love Teddy."
"Love him enough that I'd kill his parents?"
Ginny sighed, her fingers squeezing his hands. "Teddy is ours, Harry. He's been our son since he was a year old. You have been his father for seven years. You're the only father he even knows. This has nothing to do with Remus and Tonks, and everything to do with you not wanting to lose a child."
"Ginny."
"No, don't even feel guilty about this. Teddy is our son. We gave him a great life, a great family. Remus and Tonks would be damn proud of the way we've taken care of him. He's ours. He's always been ours."
Harry nodded, his hand reaching up to cup her face. His thumb brushed along her bottom lip. She smiled at him.
"I saw you," Harry said in a strained voice, his eyes screwed shut like he was in pain. "In that white dress."
Ginny squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue. "A white dress?"
Harry licked his dry and cracked lips. "You were wearing it the morning I said goodbye to you. The morning of the stakeout."
Ginny's brow furrowed. She could remember rushing to get the kids ready that morning. She had a big meeting at work and Harry had just received the owl that his stakeout was approved by the department. She could remember trying to pair them up to send the kids through the fireplace to the Burrow. Harry held Albus, and James clung to his leg. Teddy leaned into his side. She had smiled at him, so in love with what an attentive and loving father he was. Her heart often felt like it would burst when she saw her four favorite boys together.
Ginny tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "You remembered what I was wearing?"
"I remember everything about you." Harry grinned, his green eyes sparkling for the first time since he woke up in the hospital. "Especially if I'm going on a mission or I'm working a difficult case. I just... I want one last clear memory of you in case the worst happens. The worst almost happened, Gin. If Ron didn't get there when he did..."
"Shh." Ginny brushed her thumb against his lips. "I don't want to even think about that. You're here and that's all that matters."
"Yeah, I'm here," he said, his voice strained and sounding far away.
Ginny leaned in, her arms wrapping around his neck. She buried her face into his neck, trying to ignore the angry red dots that littered his skin. His arms slipped around her waist. They held each other, and Ginny knew that both of their minds were on alternate realities where their loved ones never died.
Ron leaned back in the hospital chair the next morning, after practically shoving Ginny out of Harry's room to go home for a bit. She reeked and needed a shower, a good meal, and to see the boys. Not to mention, Harry needed to see his kids.
George stopped by the previous night and told him all about Harry's meltdown, about what hallucination he had conceived for himself. Ron wasn't surprised in the slightest. Of course, Harry would choose to live in a world where his parents and Sirius were alive to be grandparents to his and Ginny's children. It didn't take an Unspeakable to crack that mystery.
Harry seemed normal – at least as normal as Harry Potter could ever be. He laughed at Ron's jokes, talked about the case with avid interest, and even cracked a smile. Except Ron knew Harry better than he knew himself. There was something in the way his voice didn't match his eyes, the way his shoulders slumped, and the absentminded way he rubbed his scar that told Ron everything was not normal.
"Spill."
Harry stilled, his brow furrowed. "What?"
"Your potion-induced hallucination is obviously bugging you. Or maybe it was the way you freaked out when you woke up and had to be restrained. Or maybe you think you mucked everything up with Ginny because you're mental."
Harry scowled. "I'm fine."
"I know what that means," Ron argued.
"It means that there's nothing wrong, and I'm just going stir crazy in this hospital bed. When can I go home?"
"I'm fine in Harry speak doesn't mean that. You're never fine when you say you're fine."
Harry shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"
"The truth might be nice for a change," Ron suggested. "I mean, it's no secret your hallucination included Sirius. He was like a dad to you. I watched the hilarious scene of him teaching you how to shave the Muggle way in some Doxy-infested loo at Grimmauld Place. It was quite entertaining. I really liked when you nicked your cheek and the razor flung out of your hand and hit the musty curtain the Doxies were sleeping in. Perfect."
Harry sighed, his lips twitching. "Who has curtains in a bathroom? They were covered in mold."
"Crazy rich purebloods who can just buy new curtains every month to keep them fresh," Ron reasoned. "Oi, I never asked you, did you scar from where the Doxy bite your ear?"
Harry reached up, his fingers running along the top of his ear. He felt the slight bump of an aged scar and it was all the confirmation Ron needed.
"It felt like I lost him all over again, all right? Is that what you wanted to hear?" Harry snapped.
Ah, emotionally unstable and snappish Harry was one of Ron's favorite Harrys.
"You didn't lose him again, Harry. It wasn't real. No matter how badly we may have wanted our hallucinations to be real, they just weren't."
"What did you see?" Harry asked quietly.
"Fred was alive. So were your parents and Sirius. We had big family gatherings. I owned a bakery. Hermione spent all her time researching and writing books. It was pretty peaceful."
Harry glanced over at his best mate, his eyes searching Ron's relaxed posture. Ron didn't really want to talk about the brief encounter he vaguely remembered while unconscious. He loved his life that he had now with Hermione and the kids. Sure, having Fred and his best mate's family all alive would be wonderful, but he couldn't complain one bit about his life. He was truly happy and content with his life now.
"Your other self was insanely jealous of you," Harry whispered. "He thought you were cool, which is completely mental."
Ron raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you must think I'm amazingly awesome since it was your delusion. Is that what you really think of me?"
A small, tired smile quirked on Harry's lips. "You know I've always been jealous of you."
Ron stilled. Somehow, he didn't think Harry was joking. Harry cleared his throat, taking off his glasses to clean them on his hospital gown before righting them back on his face.
"Does it make you feel…" Harry paused, his head shaking.
He needn't say more. Ron understood. It was hard at first to reconcile loving his life with Fred dead. He had been so full of life, so happy in his hallucination. Ron had a bakery next door to the joke shop. Harry played Quidditch and often sat in his bakery to draw in customers, a fact that they'd laugh about like they were completely mental. Hermione didn't have the worry lines on her forehead and never fretted over anybody. They were just normal. Happy. No trauma. No war. No bad memories. Just pure bliss. It was brilliant.
Except, despite everything he had been through in his life, he was truly happy. He loved his life with Hermione and Rose. He loved solving crimes with Harry. He loved all the family gatherings and how loud the Burrow was once more, just like it had been when he was little.
He knew Fred would want them to all be happy, to live their lives and not worry about the what ifs. Isn't that what he died for after all? Happiness?
"At first, yeah," Ron agreed. "You can't live in what ifs or could have beens though, mate. You were happy. You can't let a hallucination take away your happiness."
"It feels like I lost him all over again."
"I understand that feeling, Harry, but he wouldn't want you to dwell on it. He only ever wanted you to be happy."
Harry looked down at his hands. "I am happy. I didn't know anyone could be this happy."
"Now you're just lying. Ginny can't make anyone that happy. She's a nightmare half the time!"
Harry chuckled, his gaze meeting Ron's. "Nah, she's perfect. She's patient and understanding. Funny. Kind. She makes me forget that life sucked for a long time, you know? Like all the bad stuff that happened was a nightmare, like someone else's life."
"Fuck, Harry, you need a Healer stat," Ron said, a grin on his face. "My sister must have you under a love potion or something. Nobody would describe Ginny as kind, funny, or ruddy patient of all things."
"Stop taking the mickey."
"Fine she's sort of funny and she can be kind. Patient is not her strong suit, though. She once hexed me for not passing the jacket potatoes to her fast enough!"
Harry laughed, one that finally reached his eyes and Ron took that as a victory. "She was probably afraid you'd eat them all."
Ron opened his mouth with a retort when the door opened. Ginny and his nephews spilled into the room. Teddy screamed for his dad and practically jumped on the bed and into Harry's waiting arms. James demanded Ron help him up on the bed, so he obliged by tossing the toddler onto the foot of the bed.
"All right, I'm heading home," Ron announced.
"Oh, can you take the boys tomorrow?" Ginny asked, adjusting Albus in her arms. "Luna needs to catch a Portkey. Apparently some Niffler crisis in Mumbai came up and she needs to leave tonight."
Ron bent down and pressed a kiss onto Albus' tuft of black hair. "Yeah, no problem."
"Thank you," Ginny said with a soft smile.
"See, she's kind, Ron," Harry called. "She said thank you and everything."
Ginny raised an eyebrow, her lips parted slightly. Her eyes darted between the two of them. Ron only shrugged.
"Eh, she has her moments," Ron replied as he pulled Ginny into a one-armed hug and kissed her temple. "See you tomorrow."
Ron made his way to the door, listening to his nephew talk Harry's ear off and James laughing hysterically over something. He turned around to see Ginny sitting on the bed, Harry stretching his arms out for Albus as he laughed at something Teddy said.
He exited the room, snapping the door closed behind him. He leaned his back against the wood, letting out a heavy sigh. He was mentally exhausted after the past couple of days. He wanted to order a feast from that Muggle Italian restaurant Hermione liked and just relax with Rosie in his arms.
He knew Harry would be okay. Harry always found a way to come out of a situation and put it behind him. He already seemed a little better.
Pushing away from the door, he noticed Demelza walking towards him. Harry had him feeling pretty soppy. Demelza had become like a little sister to him, albeit an annoying little sister just like Ginny, but a sister none the less.
Without thinking or waiting for the moment to pass, Ron opened his arms and Demelza narrowed her eyes at him. When she didn't meet him for the embrace, he stepped forward to wrap his arms around her shoulders and pull her close to his chest. She stood tense in his arms, but Ron didn't care.
"Thank you," he whispered. "I needed you there with me."
Demelza relaxed and her arms slowly wrapped around his waist. She rested her cheek against his shoulder.
"I know, Weasley, without your husband around, you lose what little sense you have left."
"Oi, we're having a fucking moment, Robins."
Demelza laughed. "I came here to see how Harry was doing and not to see your soppy arse."
"Just enjoy the moment, would you? I'm showing you my appreciation."
While Ron loved riling Demelza up and bickering with her, he truly did see her as one of his best friends. The door to Harry's room opened and Ginny exited. Her brows furrowed as she took in the scene in front of her.
"What are you two doing?"
"Shut it. We're having a moment," Ron replied, looking over Demelza's dark hair.
"Please join so it's not as awkward," Demelza pleaded.
"Oi, fine, get off me then if you're going to be a brat about it."
Ron stepped back, gently pushing Demelza away from him. She smirked at him before punching him lightly in the arm.
"Is Harry awake? I wanted to see him," Demelza asked, turning to Ginny.
"He'd love that. He's in with the kids. I'll be right behind you."
Demelza thanked her before disappearing into Harry's room. Ron shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and rocked on his heels.
"Everything all right?"
"I just…" Ginny trailed off, her arms wrapping around her stomach as she glanced up at him. "I just wanted to say thank you."
"Yeah, well you already did. I committed to take the kids. I'm not going to change my mind."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "No, not about that. I meant about Harry."
"It's not a chore to spend time with my best mate, even if he's being all gross about his love for you."
"He seemed happier."
"Well, he did just spend time with me. I put everyone in a good mood."
Ginny stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I don't know what you said to him, but thank you. I love you."
Ron wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her tight. "Right back at you."
Ginny chuckled, wiping her nose on his shirt. "You're an arse."
"Ugh! Ginny, I'm not a giant tissue!"
"Would it kill you to say it back to me?"
Ginny stepped out of the embrace and shoved him. He stumbled back.
"I did!"
"Right back at you doesn't count."
"It does in my book."
Ginny reached out and pinched his arm, really hard. He yelped, gaining the attention of the hospital staff. He batted her hand away.
"Fine! Fine. I love you too, you crazy mental banshee."
"See you tomorrow, Ron."
"Oh, I look forward to it," Ron replied sarcastically.
Ginny went back into Harry's room. Ron rubbed his arm, looking down to see if it had bruised. She was a beast, but he did love her and wouldn't want her any other way. Her mental arse made his best mate happy after all, for some strange reason.
With Harry back and already recovering, it was time to focus on finding Sage Zephyr and his accomplice. In a few days, he'd have his partner back. Then the real fun would begin.
Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! I rewrote the Harry waking up three different times, from various POVs. I finally settled on this version as it was way better than the first two drafts from Ginny's POV! Please, don't forget to leave a review! They inspire to me to write, they give me ideas, and they just make me write faster if you're being completely honest. Give me all the motivation! Especially since we're drawing close to the end and I always find ending particularly hard!
Special thanks to bellmel for editing for me. Special thanks to Bree for bouncing around ideas with me and suggesting more Ron/Demelza friendship! Those crazy kids.
