Disclaimer: I dont' own HP or related characters
Thanks for the reviews. Keep tellin' me what you think. Hermione2be
"Fifteen years ago, during Fleur and Bill's wedding reception. We searched, secretly, for weeks without any luck. Kingsley kept his ears open but there was never even a rumor of what happened to you…"
"Which means one of two things," Katie said approaching the two confused teens, "Either this is a trick and your really good look-a-likes or something has really been screwed up this time."
"I swear we're Harry and Ginny." Harry said.
"How are we to know that?" Colin said darkly.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other a moment before Ginny spoke. "Neville you took me outside to talk just after Harry and I finished dancing."
"Anyone could know that-"
"But they wouldn't know what he said to me," Ginny continued. Neville kneeled so that Ginny could whisper in his ear. As Ginny talked Neville's eyes widened.
"My Lord…" Neville said staring at the two before standing and picking Ginny up, "It's you!" He swung her around and moment before setting her down.
"How do you know that?"
"Ginny and I had a very important conversation at that wedding, it was the last thing I said to her before she disappeared."
Sobs echoed from the other side of the room where Molly had been forgotten.
"My baby girl!" she said engulfing Ginny in a bear hug. "Harry!" She had each of them on a shoulder and was weeping her eyes out.
"Mum, Mum, Please. MUM!" Ginny said finally getting free enough to look at her mother. Mrs. Weasley had aged years beyond her. The fifteen years look like it had been twenty-five or thirty. Her face had more wrinkles and the tears that flowed looked like they had made canyons in her cheeks.
It's like she hasn't stopped crying in fifteen years. Ginny thought.
"Where have you been?" George asked.
"We haven't been anywhere," Harry said as Mrs. Weasley pushed them to sit down, " Ginny joined me at the lake during the reception to talk. Then we went back down the hill and the Burrow was gone. All there was, was a burnt piece of Earth." At this Mrs. Weasley, who was preparing a meal in the kitchen started crying again.
"That happened less than a year ago," Fred informed Harry and Ginny. Fred and George no longer looked so much a like. Fred looked older, more worn. George had short hair and a scar across his jaw that extended to his neck and into his shirt. Ginny shivered at the difference.
Harry looked again at Neville, "Fifteen years?"
"Yes Harry, fifteen long, dark years," Neville said sadly. "Time has not done me well," Neville gingerly touched his face, "I look much older than thirty-two."
Harry nodded at the comment content not to mention that he looked like Moody.
Colin had stood and was now hugging Ginny, "It's good to see to again," he told her. He had grown to be just taller than Harry, he was lean and agile. Both he and Dennis seemed very somber. In thinking about it, the entire group seemed very somber and Katie had an underlying anger that she didn't hide.
"So what has happened since we last saw you?" Ginny said trying to break the silence as Mrs. Weasley entered with a meager about of food.
In response to her question the seven people in the room looked at each other.
"Where's Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked thinking of his two best friends living their lives together.
Mrs. Weasley continued to cry and walked out the room to collect herself. Neville seemed to harden again and the air was filled with an electric tension.
"What?" Ginny asked, no one even looked up. Harry felt his heart get caught in his throat as all sorts of scenarios ran through his head. "Where are they?" Ginny asked grabbing the tables so hard her knuckles turned white.
"Are they dead?" Harry heard himself ask.
"Hermione is right upstairs," Neville said slowly, "working on something…"
"And Ron?" Ginny asked.
"Died nearly seven years ago," Fred said.
The tears fell down Harry's face before he'd completely registered what had been said. Ginny seemed in a state of shock.
"Breathe, Gin!" Fred said taking her hand, "Breathe."
Ginny took a sudden breath and dissolved into tears. She clung to Harry as her body was racked with sobs. Harry just held her, his own tears falling onto Ginny's. They held each other for some immeasurable amount of time, when Harry finally looked up at the group it struck him that there was more. However, he didn't ask, he was afraid to know. It was only a few more moments before Ginny quieted and pulled herself together. She sniffled refusing to look up at the people she once knew.
The silence was deafening, as Harry looked at the other six in the room then back at Ginny. She looked up at Harry without saying a word.
"Are there beds and clothes to sleep in?" Harry asked.
"There's a few rooms to chose from," Fred said.
"But I think only the room you and Ron shared when you stayed here would be appropriate," George continued.
"Your trunk is in there as is Ginny's."
At Harry's confused look George continued, "Mum wanted to save your things where they'd be safe. So everything of yours left at the Burrow was brought here and Ginny's things. They haven't moved from that room since the Order stopped searching."
Harry nodded.
"Ginny can stay in one of the other rooms," Katie piped in gently.
Ginny's hand on Harry's arm clutched violently causing Harry to wince. "No," he said calmly, "it will be okay."
Neville nodded somberly. "You know where it is I'm sure."
Harry stood half-leading, half-carrying Ginny. They made it through the door, feeling the eyes of everyone on their backs. When they reached the stairs Harry leaned down and caught Ginny's knees around his arm and carried her.
"Harry…"
"I know Gin."
Upon reaching the door Harry opened it easily, finding the light however was difficult. Gently he set Ginny on the closest bed. Then lit his wand "Lumos". He found the light and turned it on. The room was much the way he had last seen it, dustier but the same. At the end of the beds were trunks.
"Ginny," Harry said reading the trunk at the end of the other bed.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Just reading your name on your trunk."
"My trunk doesn't have my name on it."
"Well this one does and the other one is mine."
Ginny sat up slowly before standing and walking to beside Harry. "That's not my school trunk," she said slowly bending down to study the trunk. She opened it to find clothes and under those, her diaries and pictures. Things from her room that she treasured.
"There's an inscription on the inside of the lid," Harry pointed out.
"To our daughter
Ginny
May this trunk carry all your hopes to the heavens
May
everything inside be kept forever
May your love be shared by all around you.
Happy Sixteenth Birthday
Mum & DadIt's a hope trunk," Ginny said.
"They never gave up," Harry said.
Ginny shook her head, "What happened Harry? How did we end up here? And Ron…."
"I don't know Gin," Harry said going to his own trunk, "but I think what we both need is sleep. It's nearly three in the morning." Ginny nodded as she pulled out a lavender nightgown and Harry found his Gryffindor pajamas. Ginny used her wand to change her dress back and Harry's clothes back to occasion robes.
"I'll go change in the loo," Harry offered.
"No, I will."
"Ginny, you don't have to-"
"Yes I do," Ginny replied, "I've got to get this make-up off my face and I could use a shower."
"Oh, okay."
Ginny left the room and made her way to the bathroom. She quietly slipped in and locked the door. Standing in front of the mirror Ginny studied her face wishing that she'd wake up from this horrible nightmare that she feared would only get worse before it got better. Little had changed since the last time she was in this bathroom, her mother had kept it up nicely.
696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969
Harry lay down after he changed telling himself he'd wait up for Ginny. He heard the thunder in the distance as he fell asleep.
696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969
Ginny jumped walking from the bathroom as the thunder boomed over head. She scurried into the bedroom only to find the light still on but Harry asleep. Drying her tears with the back of her hand she tried to calm herself to stop crying, from the things she had thought about in the shower. But it wasn't working. Throwing her things on floor at the end of the bed she hit the lights just in time for a lightning bolt to flash through the window. She sat down heavily on her bed listening to the rain and watching the patterns flash on the wall. Burying her head in her arms to muffle her cries in the bed. At the same time another flash of lightning was accompanied by thunder that shook the house.
Harry awoke grabbing his wand from the bedside table. It only took a moment for him to realize what was happening. In the flashes of light he saw Ginny sobbing into her bed. Quickly he went to her bed kneeling next to it. Tentatively he touched her shoulder. Ginny jumped at his touch but seeing the concern in his face she hugged him weeping into his shoulder. Harry gathered Ginny up and sat on her bed.
"It's okay Ginny," Harry whispered.
"No it's not," she choked back, "There's more they didn't tell and they won't tell us until we ask." A flash of lightning caused Ginny to look at Harry with tears in her eyes, "I'm afraid to ask, to know."
Harry just nodded. It was some time before Ginny relaxed and was calm enough to sleep or at least attempt falling asleep. Harry lay her down, "Don't leave me Harry…"
Harry froze at her voice. He was scared to death of being caught in bed with Ginny. Then he decided to just stay until Ginny fell asleep. Just until she falls asleep. Harry told himself before closing his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
69696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696996969696969696969696969696969
Ginny awoke to a tight pull on her stomach. The light from the window told her it was likely to be just passed noon. And the light snoring from behind her-
Snoring? Ginny thought swiveling her head carefully. She felt her heart skip a beat as she realized it was Harry snoring and Harry's arm around her waist that had woken her. Looking at the room she remembered their predicament. She closed her eyes again hoping that she could just lean against Harry and fall asleep again. However she realized that Harry's snoring had ceased and he lay rigid behind her. Ginny smiled at his problem, move and risk waking her (who he thought was asleep) or stay there hoping she'd not notice him.
Ginny felt his hand on her stomach inching away. She quickly put her hand in his. "Morning Harry," Ginny said feeling just how raw her throat was. Harry stiffened.
"Morning Gin," he croaked. He froze not knowing what to do.
Ginny smiled turning over and propping herself up on one arm to look at him. Harry scooted back enough to look at her. Just over Ginny's head Harry saw a note on the door. He sat up quickly Somebody came in.
"What's wrong Harry?" Ginny asked.
Harry quickly got up and got the note. "Do you know what this means?" He asked.
"That some one didn't feel a need to wake us," Ginny answered truthfully, stretching.
"Ginny some one…" Harry gulped, "saw-"
"Us together," Ginny finished. "Sleeping together."
Harry frowned at Ginny's nonchalant about it. "Harry you are the only person I know here," She stopped Harry with a finger, "they are my family but they have been through an entire lifetime that we haven't even imagined. So we fell asleep together, I don't see the big deal."
Harry frowned, "They'll think we're together."
"We may have no way of getting back to our-time-reality-thing and your worried about what a bunch of our closest friends think?" Ginny snapped. "What's the note say?"
"When you two decide to get up, there's food." Harry read.
Ginny nodded. "Good I'm hungry." She reached for the doorknob when Harry grabbed her wrist.
"I'm sorry Gin," Harry said softly, "I'm still pushing you away. I'm just afraid," his voice dropped. "I don't want to hurt you in any way."
Ginny gave a nod before walking out the door. Harry followed behind her. About halfway down the stairs Ginny abruptly stopped, Harry collided into her. They both would have fallen down the remaining stairs had it not been for Harry's Quidditch reflexes. Instinctively grabbing Ginny around the waist and the wall he insured they both remained standing.
"What's wrong Ginny?" Harry asked.
"I just realized that they said Hermione is here," Ginny said.
"She's probably in the kitchen," Harry said. Ginny nodded and continued down to the kitchen.
Upon entering they found the kitchen exactly as they had left it last night. Neville was at the head of the table, Molly was making food, George was between Fred and Katie, across from Colin and Dennis. I wonder if they went to bed Harry pondered.
When Neville looked up, however, his question was answered. Neville's face was pale and drawn tight like he'd been under fed, his brown eyes were dark and void. Under his eyes were huge black and blue rings. The scars upon his face were very distinct; a spell had sliced his left ear to shreds.
The group silenced upon catching sight of Harry and Ginny. "Talking about us?" Ginny asked at their silence.
"Trying to figure out how you got here," Colin replied.
"And?" Harry asked.
George shook his head.
"Has Hermione come up with anything?" Harry asked sitting next to Ginny.
"We haven't told her anything," Katie replied.
"Why?"
"We were waiting," Fred said, "we hoped you'd tell her."
"Us?"
Neville nodded, clearing his throat, "Hermione hasn't exactly been herself…"