Here is the next chapter. Thank you for being patient. I know I'm a slow writer. As always, thanks for reading and let me know what you think.
Chapter 4
"My god, what he must have been going through these past few days," said Mrs Weasley.
"Why didn't we go and get him back?" murmured Ron.
"We decided we were going to give him space," said Hermione.
"Why didn't we spot something was wrong then?"
"We just thought that he was grieving. He's been through a hell of a lot. He's had to grow up so quickly,"
"Well, we all have,"
"It's not that simple is it? Yes, we were there with him but we didn't have a prophecy hanging on our back, knowing one day we'd have to fight Voldemort and either kill him or die trying,"
"I still remember how upset he was that night You Know Who came back," said Mrs Weasley. "He looked so terrified and he just curled up and cried in my arms. That's the only time I've ever seen him cry,"
"Yeah, me too," said Ron.
"And me. Well at least as bad as that," said Hermione.
"What? He's not cried since?" asked Mrs Weasley.
"Well, a little bit when Dumbledore died or when we visited his parent's graves but never as bad as that night,"
"He's been holding it in all this time? He knows any of us would be a shoulder to cry on. Didn't you try and get him to open up?"
"All the time. We talked about it all a lot. But Harry never told us how he was feeling. He takes responsibility for everything. He feels it's solely down to him. He's always trying to push us away, especially when he needs us. Maybe he spoke to Dumbledore about it, I don't know. But never to us,"
"He did to me," murmured Ginny. "Only once but we talked it over and he told me how scared he was feeling and he cried a bit,"
"How did you get him to open up?" asked an incredulous Ron. "We've known him for years. You were only going out a few weeks,"
"I've known him for years too," snapped Ginny, angrily. "Did you just forget all the summers we spent in the same house? How he saved me in the Chamber of Secrets?"
"No, of course not. I just mean you didn't really speak to him all that much. You're not like best friends with him or anything, are you?"
"Ron, Harry and Ginny spent quite a lot of time together," pointed out Hermione. "Maybe not so much early on. But that summer at Grimmauld Place, the next summer at the Burrow and they were on the same Quidditch team,"
"But how did you get him to open up?" pressed Ron. "You're not his best friend like I am,"
"I was his girlfriend," shouted Ginny. "That's kind of passes best friend by. Just because your girlfriend last year did nothing but snog you doesn't mean that's all Harry and I did. We talked to each other. I think it just allowed Harry to take his mind off Voldemort, act like a proper teenager again. We were there for each other,"
"I was there for him too,"
"Were you though?"
"What do you mean?" asked Ron, suddenly going pale.
"I know all about how you took off and left Harry and Hermione,"
"You did what?" asked Mr and Mrs Weasley at the same time.
"How do you know about that?" demanded Ron. He suddenly turned to Hermione.
"Ron, I didn't say anything," she said.
"But the only other person who knows that is-"
"Bill," finished Ginny. "He didn't mean to let it out,"
"Oh, I'm going to kill him,"
"What on earth were you thinking of, Ron," demanded Mrs Weasley. "Leaving your two best friends behind. Going off on your own, especially with snatchers around,"
"It's really hard to explain Mum. Something was affecting me, causing me to think really bad thoughts. As soon as I was free of it, I wanted to come back. But I had no idea where they'd gone,"
"It's true," piped up Hermione. "It was really dark magic. It affected all three of us, Ron most of all. I was angry at him at first but I've put it behind me. I've forgiven him now. And so has Harry,"
"See," said Ron spitefully to Ginny. "Harry trusted me and Hermione. I notice he didn't invite you on this quest or tell you anything about it. I suppose he trusts his actual friends more than some girl he snogged for a couple of weeks,"
There was silence as everyone looked in shock and anger at Ron.
"Ron!" said Hermione in shock but then Ginny's anger came out.
"Is that all you think I was?" she screamed. "Some conquest? Some girl he could parade around and do a bit of snogging with? Maybe that's what you think a girlfriend is but Harry and me were deeper than that. It was alright for you, out there on that quest but I was the one who had to stay behind, had to survive in Hogwarts with Snape as headmaster and the Carrows punishing us every five minutes. I didn't know where any of you were or if you were alive and Harry's face was plastered everywhere, saying we should all hand him in. Don't you dare think that you're the only one in this room that cares about him! You may be his best friend and be all loyal to him but the truth is I love him! I've no idea if he loves me back, maybe he never did, but I know he liked me, liked me more than Dean or Michael liked me because he treated me like I was the only girl in the universe. I don't even know if wants to give a relationship another go. I really don't care. All I know is I love him and I'm going to love him until I die," Tears had started pouring from her eyes during her outburst but now they became shuddering sobs. Mrs Weasley quickly got up and pulled her into a bone crushing hug.
She turned and glared at Ron. "Shame on you, Ron, saying that to your sister,"
Ron looked to see Hermione and Mr Weasley also glaring at him. His ears had gone pink.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. I had no idea you felt that way about him. I didn't mean to say you didn't care about him," he said. He'd never seen someone stand up and declare their love for someone so resolutely without even the tiniest hint of embarrassment.
"We all care about Harry," said Mr Weasley. "We try and treat him like another son just like we try and treat Hermione like another daughter. You're both family to us,"
"I know you weren't just some fling. I know Harry really liked you,"
"He used to watch your name on the Marauders Map in the tent," said Hermione "He thought we didn't know but he'd sit there and just stare at you for hours,"
"And I didn't mean to make it look like some contest for who liked him more and who he liked more. I know Harry really liked you,"
"It's okay," said Ginny, reaching over and grasping Ron's hand for a few seconds.
Ginny sat back down, wiped her eyes and then took Harry's hand again. "Harry loves both of you. He really does," she said to Ron and Hermione. "He didn't want you two to see him as weak or to lose faith in him if he admitted how scared he really was. He said his biggest fear was that you two would leave him. I got him to open up because I opened up. I told him everything I was feeling, about the Chamber, about Voldemort being back, everything. And then he did the same to me,"
"Why didn't you come and talk to me about that, dear? Or your father?" asked Mrs Weasley.
"It's so hard to open up and tell someone who hasn't experienced it. You can talk all day and tell them but they'll never truly know. Well Harry does. None of you know how bad Voldemort is, none of you have the tiniest clue until he's been inside your head. Harry and I are the only ones that know. Harry was the only one who really understood and was able to say the right thing. And I guess I did the same thing for him,"
Any further conversation was stopped as the figure in the bed shifted and groaned.
His head pounding like a drum, his throat as dry and rough as sandpaper, Harry slowly came round. He was lying in a soft bed, something was holding his hand. All he could make out was blurs. Where was he? What had happened? His arm while still a little sore was nowhere near as painful as it had been. His heart had slowed, his blinding headache lingering but again not as bad as it had been. He started feeling around to the side for his glasses. Whatever was holding his hand let go as they pushed his glasses into his hand. He pushed them and the world came into focus. He was in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, no, somewhere like it though, definitely a hospital, St. Mungo's maybe. He had a crowd of visitors around his bed, Ron and Hermione sat in chairs on one side of his bed, Mr and Mrs Weasley sat at the foot of his bed while on the right, her chair pushed as close as possible to the bed and watching his every move was Ginny Weasley.
"Ginny?" he asked.
She smiled through tears. "Harry, thank Merlin you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"Okay I think, really washed out,"
"Good," said Ginny and suddenly smacked his painfully on his arm, not his injured arm luckily. "Don't you DARE do that to me again, Harry Potter. Do you hear me?" She smacked him painfully again. "Don't you DARE! I couldn't bear it when I came in and saw you on the floor like that. You're a stupid arse, you could have killed yourself. What the hell were you thinking?" The anger suddenly left her voice as she started sobbing. "I thought that I'd lost you as well," She took his hand and kissed it.
"Ginny, let the dear boy at least wake up," said Mrs Weasley. "I'm sure it's very confusing for Harry. Would you like some water, Harry?" Harry nodded. She poured some water from a jug sitting on a side and held it to his lips. "There we go, not too fast now," The water was so good to his dry throat. She poured another and let him drink that one as well.
"Harry," said Hermione. "Do you understand what happened to you?"
"I don't know," croaked Harry. "I just felt really unwell suddenly. I don't know what was going on,"
"That's because you'd cursed yourself mate," said Ron.
"I did what?"
"You cursed yourself. Harry, you splinched yourself, didn't you?" explained Hermione. Harry merely nodded. "Only you didn't properly heal yourself. Splinching is a magical injury. You can't fix yourself with a simple healing charm. You have to use Essence of Dittany like we did or something similar. If you don't, the injury gets worse and can develop into a curse, especially when you keep apparating. It's sort of like your wound getting infected,"
"And you had a pretty nasty curse, Harry," said Mr Weasley. "I don't think I've ever seen anything as bad as yours. It's horrible, drains all your life energy out of you. If your house elf hadn't come and got us when he did, we might have been too late. Healers rushed you away as soon as we got you here. They've been working for hours to try and remove the curse,"
Harry let that sink in. He had almost died. After everything he had been though over the last seven years, and he nearly killed himself with something he hadn't even realised could have killed him.
"Harry, why didn't you get it healed?" asked Mrs Weasley. "Surely you must have known that you couldn't just wave a healing charm over it,"
Harry didn't know. He just shrugged.
"Harry, you haven't been looking after yourself," said Hermione. She paused, looking like she was thinking about how best to proceed. "We saw Grimmauld Place. All those bottles of firewhiskey. You haven't even changed your clothes since the battle. You look like you've barely slept. The healers say you've barely eaten or drank anything lately. And Professor McGonagall told us about what happened at Hogwarts yesterday,"
"She's worried about you," said Ron. "We're all worried about you,"
Harry looked at the five people gathered around his bedside and saw the worry in their eyes as they looked at him.
"The healers say that the curse that affected you was of rapid growth," continued Hermione "that it takes effect in those that are…depressed and tired," She paused to let that sink in.
"Dear, you've been through such awful things, I wouldn't be surprised or blame you at all if you were depressed," said Mrs Weasley.
"You need help mate," said Ron. "You can't just keep shutting us out,"
Harry knew that. He had thought some pretty dark things yesterday. He'd decided to turn his back on all his friends thinking they'd be better off without him, somehow thinking that they all hated him. Yet here they all were looking so worried about him. Harry nodded as he felt tears tugging his eyes.
"We want you to come and stay with us," said Mr Weasley. "For as long as it takes us for you to feel better,"
"We won't take no for an answer," said Ginny. "The healer says that right now you need support from friends and family. And we're your family," She smiled and grasped his hand a little tighter.
"I'd like that," said Harry.
Kingsley had provided the family with a car to get home, to save Harry having to apparate which he was incredibly grateful for. Harry felt utterly exhausted after everything he had been through. He had to remind himself he had not had a decent night's sleep since he had stayed at Shell Cottage. Since then he had broken into Gringott's, returned to Hogwarts, taken part in the battle, died, come back, finally killed Voldemort and had then been running around carrying guilt like a ten ton anchor on his back with only minimal sleep. He'd been awake for at least 5 days. The curse he had suffered along with the terrible hangover he was feeling from his heavy drinking the night before made him feel worse than ever.
Harry could barely stand on his own so he slowly shuffled out the hospital, wrapped in a blanket, supported by Ron and Ginny. It took a while but no one seemed to complain. Everyone was treating him like he was made of glass. Mrs Weasley and Hermione kept asking if he was okay and if he'd like to sit down or whether he'd like a wheelchair. Ron and Mr Weasley kept supporting and cheering him on reminding him that they were nearly there. Ginny didn't say anything. She just kept glancing fretfully at him. He smiled at one point to assure her she was okay. Luckily the corridors had been cleared. The Weasley's assured them that St. Mungo's had promised them discretion and that no one knew Harry Potter was in the building at all. They finally made it to the Ministry car in which Kinglsey was sat inside. He instantly offered his hand to Harry and helped him inside and into his seat.
"Harry, so good to see you,"
"Kingsley," croaked Harry. He tried to shake Kingsley's hand but moving his previously cursed hand seemed difficult.
"So I've come along to talk to you about a few things. First of all I want to ensure you that you need not worry about your public image. St. Mungo's have kept your appearance there private. Everyone that witnessed you arrive have all had their memory altered to believe you were someone else. Of course you have been kept in a private room and no one has seen you leave so that is all fine. I think the last thing you need right now is it appearing in the Daily Prophet that you're losing your marbles after your defeat of Voldemort,"
"Well I kind of am," said Harry, wanting to make light of it.
"No you're not," said Ginny. "You're not going mad or loopy. You've been through an incredibly horrific experience, loads in fact and you're suffering from a serious disease because of it. It doesn't mean you're going mad," Harry smiled at Ginny. She had refused to leave his side since Harry had woken up, currently sat in the seat next to him, holding his hand.
"Well said, Miss Weasley," said Kingsley. "Next up, your status as Undesirable Number One has been lifted and you have been officially pardoned just in case anyone tries to hand you in to make a quick galleon,"
"That's great news," said Mr Weasley.
"Next up, Gringotts," Harry looked uneasily at Ron and Hermione. Just days ago, they had broken in, set their dragon loose and caused quite a lot of damage on the way out. "They're not best pleased at what you did. But they do realise you did it for a noble reason and have agreed that the three of you can keep their accounts open with them. Plus I think they are secretly in awe of you that three 17 year olds managed to break in despite their top security,"
"Bill most certainly is," added Mr Weasley.
"To the rest of the Weasley family, I just want to make it clear that your status as blood traitors has been officially removed as has yours, Miss Granger. Arthur, Percy, you are both free to return to work whenever you feel ready with promotions and pay rises for both of you. That can be discussed at a later date though. Please, do not feel rushed to return to work. Take your time and when you feel able, send me an owl and we can discuss,"
The Ministry cars pulled up at the Burrow.
"And finally, I do not wish to upset you necessarily, I want to talk a little about Fred," The mood of the car suddenly dipped and Mrs Weasley suddenly pulled out a handkerchief and started dabbing her eyes. "There is still a lot of discussion going on. Due to the large amount of people that fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, we are still working out the specifics. But one thing we have agreed upon is that everyone that has fallen will be awarded the Order of Merlin First Class," Everyone gasped and Mrs Weasley suddenly burst into tears.
"First class?" she sobbed.
Harry's heart soared at this. They all deserved the greatest award the wizarding world could give them. Fred and Remus and Tonks and everyone that lost their lives there ought to honoured.
"We know this does not bring your son back," continued Kingsley, "and I'm sure you'd rather he came home than any award but we hope this in some way shows you how grateful the whole wizarding world is of their sacrifice and how they will never be forgotten. Also we are talking of everyone else at the battle receiving at least Second Class awards with First Class for notable acts. Of course Ron and Hermione-"
"No," said Harry, interrupting Kinglsey. "Everyone who fought in that battle deserves a First Class award. Everyone went into the battle knowing they might be killed. They all knew they were fighting for the future of the Wizarding World and they all deserve to be honoured for that,"
"While I do completely agree with you, Harry, unfortunately the board of the Order of Merlin do not. First Class awards were given out so fleetingly, they do not want to give out over 100 in one go. It took a lot of convincing to give one to all the fallen rather than just those who had heroic deaths. And it took even more convincing to give everyone at least second class. As I say we are slowly working our way through those who deserve a First Class medal,"
"Everyone in this car deserves one," said Harry. "Mr Weasley nearly died for the Order when Nagini attacked him and he risked his life in transporting me, Mrs Weasley killed Bellatrix who was one of Voldemort's most loyal servants and most powerful. Ginny kept Dumbledore's Army going with Snape and the Carrows around. And so did Neville and Luna. They deserve one. And Neville killed Nagini. And Luna was held captive by the Malfoys. And Ginny was the only person who fought in the battle underage. And Ron and Hermione. Well, they've done loads, they helped me find the Philosopher's Stone, get into the Chamber of Secrets, rescue Sirius, came to the Department of Mysteries with me with Neville, Ginny and Luna. They all helped fight the Death Eaters that got into Hogwarts when Dumbledore died. And Ron and Hermione have been on the run with me helping me defeat Voldemort. Oh, and Professor Snape needs one. Talk to Professor McGonagall, she'll explain, oh, she needs one too,"
"Harry, Harry," chuckled Kingsley. "I feel exactly the same as you. Everyone deserves one and it's incredibly honourable how proud you are of everyone to explain why they need a First Class award. You leave it with me and I'll make sure everyone who deserves one will receive one. I did notice that you left one person out of that list though,"
"Well of course, you should get one. You looked after the Prime Minister and you're putting the Wizarding World back together after the Death Eaters have been running it,"
"Very kind of you, Harry, but I was actually talking about you,"
Harry's heart started pounding. That anchor of guilt that he had barely felt suddenly returned feeling as heavy as ever. "Me?"
"Of course you deserve one Harry. After everything you've done. You defeated Voldemort and saved the whole Wizarding World,"
"No I didn't," said Harry suddenly. "I don't want one. I don't deserve one,"
Everyone looked at him with confused faces. Harry suddenly leapt for the door, pushing it open and hurrying out completely forgetting how weak he felt from his curse. He yelped in pain and suddenly fell face first to the floor.
He heard several people call his name and several footsteps over to him. He was pulled to his feet by Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Mr Weasley.
"Are you alright, Harry dear?" asked Mrs Weasley.
"Fine fine. No, I'm not. I need to go and sit down. Good to see you Minister," He started making for the house followed quickly by Ron, Hermione and Ginny, quickly supporting him before he fell over again, leaving behind a confused looking Mr and Mrs Weasley and Kingsley.
"Did I say something wrong?" asked Kingsley.
"The healers did warn us that he might be like this, very unpredictable and out of character around certain topics," explained Mrs Weasley.
"The kids said he'd probably take sole blame for everyone that died during the Battle," said Mr Weasley.
"Oh dear, maybe I should go and talk to him," said Kingsley.
"Actually, Kingsley, please don't take offence. I think it's maybe best if you left," said Mr Weasley.
"Like we said, he's not himself right now but we're going to look after him. Maybe try again in a few weeks," said Mrs Weasley.
"Okay, my apologies again. Please extend my goodbyes to Harry," said Kingsley.
"We will. Goodbye Minister,"
Next chapter should hopefully be up in a few days. Hope everyone reading is having a great day. See you all again soon.
