Chapter 23 - Shock Therapy

Harry was debating on becoming a professional funeral go-er, seeing as he was becoming quite experienced at it. Murmured sobs echoed throughout the crowd, Harry's was not one of them. He had done that all prior to the funeral itself. It was eerily reminiscent of Hermione's funeral. Same place, same time of day, same people…with the exception of Brooklyn being present this time around. She wanted to come to pay her final respects, but was unsure about how her presence would be received. She ended up coming on his request. Yet again it was her sheer touch that kept him from running away from everything. The pressure from her hand during the eulogy kept him from losing composure, the sound of her breathing near his ear was enough to keep him sane just awhile longer.

By then everyone had heard one version or another of how Ron had died. The one constant variable in all of those scenarios was that Harry was the cause of it. If people were staring, he didn't take notice, nor did he care to. For once it didn't matter what people could be thinking, he was there for only one reason: Ron. He knew what really happened and so did the Weasley's, and all that mattered was that they believed him.

Harry had elected not to speak, just like he had not at Hermione's funeral. He would just make a spectacle of himself and this day was supposed to be about Ron, not him. Fred and George spoke, though it was awkward to say the least. Their obvious attempt at comic relief didn't go over well. It could be seen in their faces that they knew it was in poor taste and they switched into the rarely seen serious mode.

Ron had already been buried in the Weasley plot prior to the memorial service. A covered table with pictures of Ron was his only presence, flowers scattered around them. Ron wasn't exactly the most photogenic person in the world and the pictures tended to reflect that, but the main picture, the largest one, was quite complimentary.

Again, Harry found himself in the Great Hall of Hogwarts after the service. At least this time he wasn't trying to hide from anyone. He didn't need to; no one would really go near him. They did stare though. The few that would speak to him just told him to ignore it as best he could. Minus Luna who pointed out the obvious without a second thought about it. She was wearing those red bangle bracelets again with a similar colored outfit. A pleasant, happy air was about her. The Weasley's certainly received her better than the Granger's had, though it did seem to be more of a tolerance as the day went on when she began speaking of Ron and Hermione's happy reunion in the great beyond.

Brooklyn had wandered off as Neville approached. Harry was surprised at first, considering the last time he had seen him he had still been startled by his outburst. Neville took the seat next to him that Brooklyn had been occupying. He was silent at first, looking to him uncertainly.

Harry broke the silence first. "Hey Neville."
"H-hey Harry." Neville paused, seeming to gain his composure. "I'd ask how you've been, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer."
Harry almost laughed. "It's been a rough couple of months."
"More like years." Neville slapped his hand over his mouth and then shook his head. "The greatest danger is your stupidity." Harry shook his head trying to figure out if he should be offended, but silently acknowledged that people had died because of his bad decisions. Neville shrugged. "That's what Snape always told me during Potions."
"Well," Harry began. "If it makes you feel any better, he didn't say much better things to me."
"But that's my point, Harry, we're not."
Harry raised his eyebrow, his cynicism rising. "How many people have died on your account lately?"
Neville let out a long sigh. "No one yet, but probably you."
Harry's eyes widen just a bit. "You know, you're usually not supposed to tell someone that you're going to kill them, you lose the whole element of surprise."
"No!" Neville said horrified. "I meant the whole prophecy thing. I know it was supposed to be me bearing all of this, not you."
Harry let out his own sigh, but one of relief. "Look Neville, yes it could have been you, but it's not."
"But it should be me!"
Neville's sudden outburst caught Harry a bit off guard. "Neville, Voldemort chose me because we're both not pure-blooded…in some sick, twisted way he saw me as his equal and was threatened by your bloodline." Harry put a hand on Neville's shoulder. "If it would make you feel better, I'll trade places with you." The look on Neville's face clearly gave his response. "Didn't think so."
"I want to help though."
"Good, I'll need all the help I can get."
"There's one thing I don't get though…if he's not pure-blooded, why's he all for it then?"
Harry shook his head. Quite a few explanations came to mind, all having to do with Voldemort being seriously mentally disturbed. "I'll assume it started from his bad childhood and then just escalated into the narcissistic, seriously in denial, somewhat delusional bastard he is today."
"And here I just expected you to say he was completely mental…"
"That's more something Ron would say."
There was silence.
"You know," Neville said. "I'm not so sure it's a good idea to let your girlfriend wander off."
Harry smirked, highly amused by his statement. "She's a big girl, she can take care of herself."
"I know, but I saw her wander off with a certain ex-girlfriend of yours when I came over here."
Harry's smirk immediately faded. "Which way did they go?"

Anticipating he might need backup, he made Neville tag along.

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The fighting could be heard echoing throughout the hallway and Harry knew he wasn't even close to the room they were in. He could only hope that they could get there before one of them did something really dumb. By the look on Neville's face, he shared his thoughts.

"I don't know what you want from me." Brooklyn sounded as though she was quickly losing her patience.
"I know your reputation, you don't fool me." Ginny retorted confidently.
"I'm not having this conversation." Ginny was definitely on Brooklyn's last nerve.
"Yes you are! He's been hurt enough as it is, I won't allow you to subject him to your stupid minds games that you get off on."
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Does the name Cedric Diggory ring a bell?" There was silence. Ginny seemed to have stumbled onto something. "That's right, I know all about you're early scheming days and your later ones as well."
"Do you really have nothing better to do than background checks on me?"
"Don't change the subject!"
"I was just making an observation."
"All you do is use people for your own gain. You're a sick person."
Brooklyn laughed at that. "You need therapy."
"You need jail time!"
"Alright, I've had just about enough of this. You know nothing about me, now leave me alone."

Harry was surprised she was holding out from hexing her for this long. He could only hope she would continue to so he could get there to intervene.

"I wonder what Cedric would've thought if he knew what you were using entrancing enchantments on him. I'm sure Harry would be interested to know since he might be a victim as well." Ginny said mockingly.
"Look you little twit, I admit I made some very bad mistakes in my past, but don't you dare talk about a situation you know nothing about." That was it, Brooklyn was seething. Harry started running, Neville kept pace.
"I'm just trying to protect a friend from being a victim of a potential black widow." Ginny said sweetly.

Harry and Neville had reached the room to find them just glaring at each other. Brooklyn raised her wand suddenly, not uttering a word. A quick flash of pale blue light shot from the end of her wand, disappearing, then reappearing as it hit Ginny right in the head. She fell to the ground convulsing. She stopped moving after about ten seconds, her breath haggard. She rose slowly, glaring at Brooklyn, reaching for her own wand.

"Do not mess with me little girl." Brooklyn was livid.

Ginny sent a bat-bogey hex that was deflected before the curse fully left her mouth, quickly followed by another one of the same hexes Brooklyn had sent before. Ginny didn't recover as quickly this time.

"Leave me alone." Brooklyn demanded.
"I won't let you hurt him." Ginny growled from her unbalanced stance.
Brooklyn rolled her eyes. "Get over him."
"I know what you did to your last boyfriend too. What was his name? Mason, right?"
"What?! I don't even know a Mason!"
"Sure you don't."
"I will cause damage this time."
"Wonder what Harry would say? I bet he would be very interested in this information."
Brooklyn cast the spell on her again, not lifting it like she did prior.
"Expelliarmus!"

Neville was the first one to break out of the shock from the sight and disarm Brooklyn, who didn't look pleased that she was now wandless.

"Oh no, Ginny…" Harry knelt down next her still shaking form. "Ginny, come on."
Neville was soon next to him on the ground. "Is she alright?"
"I…don't know." Harry said, noticing Ginny was now unmoving. He glanced toward Brooklyn, her expression cold. "Is she?"
"Possible memory loss, but most likely not."
Harry got up and dragged Brooklyn by the arm to the other side of the room, leaving Neville to tend to the unconscious Ginny. "What the hell did you do?!" Brooklyn glared over in Ginny's direction. "Answer me!"
"Therapy." Harry grabbed her shoulders. "Shock therapy."
His grip grew tighter on her shoulders. "What was she talking about?"
"I don't know, she's mad!"
"Brooklyn…"
"I'm not mad." Ginny said a little groggy. "I just figured you out…hopefully not too late."
"That's it, you're dead." Brooklyn sent another curse at her. Harry moved her arm as she was doing so and the spell hit the wall, blasting a good sized hole in it.
"Murderer!" Ginny yelled. Brooklyn's spell missed again. "I won't let you hurt him!"
"ENOUGH!" Harry shouted, standing in between the two, arms held at length. "You," he pushed on Brooklyn's shoulder. "You're coming with me…and you," he pushed on Ginny's shoulder, "In case you forgot, I'm the murderer. Now for god's sake will all of you try to remember that Ron is dead and we're at his funeral!"
"No! I'm not leaving you alone with her!"
"Why not?!"
"She'll kill you! She was already convicted of involuntary manslaughter in muggle court!"
"This is a joke right?" Brooklyn said, stuck somewhere between confused and amused.
"One Brooklyn Jane Fletcher was convicted of involuntary manslaughter of Mason O'Malley in Wales a year ago and got out on parole."
"Ginny…"Harry shook his head, repressing his urge to shake her. "She doesn't even have a middle name."
Brooklyn rolled her eyes. "I've never even been to Wales."
Neville asked the obvious question. "How could she get parole for manslaughter?"
"But Cedric!"
"I was fifteen with a crush!"

Ginny sent a blasting curse Brooklyn's way. Harry pushed her out of the way, taking the brunt of it. He was surprised he got away with only a couple of minor scratches.

That's when Harry asked the most obvious question of all. "What is wrong with you, Ginny?!"

She was ready to attack again, but Neville put a stop to it by stunning her.

"Um, I personally think she's gone mad." Neville commented. "Actually, she hasn't really been the same since she got out of St. Mungo's from the attack."
Harry's head immediately turned to him. "How so?"
"I knew she was having a hard time getting over you, but it was getting obsessive."
Harry's mind started racing. "Maybe something happened to her during the stay."
"Imperius curse?" Brooklyn not so pleasantly suggested.
Neville looked lost. "Why though? It doesn't make sense."
"They thought she was still my girlfriend, maybe they thought they could use her to get to me somehow." Snape did tell him that her letter had been intercepted.
"I guess that could explain why she's been so wrapped up about getting you back." Neville said. "Alright, so let's assume this is true. We better get her to St. Mungo's."
"But the funeral…" Harry pleaded.
Neville then made an awfully bold request. "Can you try to appease her so we can get through this without anyone getting hurt?"

Harry looked uncertainly to Brooklyn. She did not look pleased, but she nodded and left the room. Neville followed her, leaving Harry alone with Ginny. He unfroze her and she was a little disoriented, but immediately took notice that they were alone. She threw her arms around him and he loosely did the same.

"Oh Harry, please tell me you ended it. Please tell me you saw through her act." She pleaded in his ear.
"Yes." He swallowed hard. "Let's get back to the Great Hall and get through today."
After helping her up she immediately grabbed his wrist. "Let's get out of here, I want to show you something."
"Show me what?"
"It's a surprise." She kissed him on the cheek.

If Ginny was under the Imperius curse, he didn't want to go to wherever she wanted to take him. Not to mention she had been under this for quite some time and might suffer from permanent damage. Either way, he should probably figure out where she wanted to take him so he could avoid it in the future. Except Ginny wasn't talking. She was so giddy to just be able to hold onto his arm, it didn't matter that he wasn't reciprocating.

All eyes were definitely on them when they walked back into the great hall. He spotted Brooklyn and Neville talking to Tonks, no doubt informing her of the situation. Ginny's behavior was currently reminding him of Parvarti when he took her to the Yule ball. She was now holding onto his hand, proud to be doing so and smiling at everyone. Harry tried to remind her that they were at her brother's funeral, but she reacted as though he was whispering sweet nothings into her ear.

Harry noticed Tonks was now talking to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who were now looking in his direction. Understanding seemed to be dawning on each of their faces. That was it, Ginny needed to get help and soon. But he still needed to know where she wanted to take him.

"Ginny," Harry whispered into her ear. "Before we go, I want to know where we're going."
"But it will ruin the surprise!"

He knew Brooklyn was watching, but he decided he needed to do what he had to do to get the information. Cupping her face, he drew her close. Her eyes grew wide with anticipation, she was simply beaming.

"The fact that you still want to be with me is the best surprise I could get. Why don't you tell me where we're going and we'll do whatever you want to when we get there."
"Godric's Hollow." She whispered breathlessly. "You never got to see your parents."

Harry's breath got caught in his throat. He had completely forgotten that he had made plans to go there. Now he wasn't certain if he should go or not. He quickly decided he would go after everything was over. With her face still in his hands, he noticed they were almost surrounded by people. He let his hands drop, but she put them back where they had been.

"I've waited too long for this." She closed her eyes and inched closer to his face.

Thankfully someone stunned her again before she could act and she was immediately taken to St. Mungo's. Mrs. Weasley looked like she had had enough of her family being tortured and was about to lose composure. Mr. Weasley didn't look much better. Harry rubbed his face, glad to have the situation under some control. Then he saw the look on Brooklyn's face.

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"I said I was sorry!" Harry whispered as he walked down a hallway in St. Mungo's.
Brooklyn shook his hand off. "I didn't need to see an actual portrayal of how you and your ex used to be together."
"I didn't need to know that you drugged Cedric so he would go out with you, but it's not bothering me."
"I didn't drug him."
"Semantics, Brook. Now give me your hand."
"Ugh, fine." She said, begrudgingly sliding her hand back in his. "I still don't think I should be here."
"Wherever I go you go and vice versa. I don't want you to end up in here too."

Brooklyn groaned. They made their way to the room Ginny was being kept in. She had been sedated upon her arrival, supposedly she was threatening to duel with anyone that so much as mentioned Harry's name. He was actually hoping that she would be awake when he got there, he wanted to see if she could remember why she mentioned Godric's Hollow.

As luck would have it, Ginny was awake and well, sitting up in her bed surrounded by family.

Fred was the first to spot them. "Ah Harry! I see you brought the wife." Before Harry had the chance to say anything Fred had already strode across the room to them, holding out his hand. "I'm Fred, it's good to finally meet you. That uglier version of me over there is George. The two very upset ones are our parents and the somewhat lovely couple there is Bill and Fleur. And I believe you know Ginny, she tried to kill you."

Harry didn't even want to see the reactions to Fred's introductions. Brooklyn feebly said hello. Fred insisted that Harry stop hogging the wife and let her get to know the closest thing he had to family. He was pretty sure he heard Brooklyn whimper when he left her with Fred and took his seat by Ginny's bed. George had gone over to terrorize her as well and they were all now out in the hallway.

"How you doing?" Harry asked Ginny, wondering if she would remember anything that had happened.

She didn't respond. Instead she looked at her hands that were now fiddling with the sheet draped over her legs. Harry looked toward her parents, her mother silently crying, her father's eyes red and swollen.

Bill was the one to finally answer. "We just told her everything. I think she's just right embarrassed."
"So you don't remember anything?" Harry asked gently.
Ginny's cheeks reddened, still not looking at him. "I'm so sorry Harry. I didn't know how to stop."
"It's alight. You're okay though?"
"I'm a little fuzzy on some things." She admitted. "Did I really try to kill your girlfriend?"
Harry glanced back toward the door, no one in sight. "Well, you did accuse her of murder and tried to fight her."
Ginny looked absolutely horrified. "Oh no, I didn't hurt her did I?"
Harry almost laughed. "I think she got the better of you." Her cheeks reddened again. "Ginny, I need to know why you tried to take me to Godric's Hollow."
She shook her head. "I don't know why, but it couldn't be for anything good."
"Do you remember who gave you the orders? Who put you under the curse?"

She shook her head helplessly, tears welling in her eyes. Harry decided that was enough questioning. He gave her a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Ginny asked him to apologize to Brooklyn for her. She was just too embarrassed to face her then, admitting that Fred and George ambushing her was her request. He said goodbye to everyone and left them to their grievances. He found Fred and George chatting up Brooklyn in the hallway.

"Hey now, hands off boys this one is mine." Harry said in attempt to lighten the situation.
"It was lovely to get acquainted, Mrs. Potter." George said.
"Don't make me have to explain this again…" Harry sighed.
"Our little Harry is growing up so fast!" Fred said disgustingly cutesy.
Harry could only roll his eyes, take his dubbed wife's hand and bid them a better day.

They apparated back to Grimmauld Place, reappearing outside. Slightly confused by this, Harry sifted through his pocket for the keys, while Brooklyn looked around anxiously. Keys in hand, Harry approached the non-existent stairs. When they appeared, Brooklyn raced passed him and twisted the doorknob. It was locked and Brooklyn looked relieved. Harry gave her an odd look as he unlocked the door.

A click and a twist later, the sight that greeted him when he entered his house almost made him scream like a little girl. He dragged Brooklyn in the house and slammed the door shut, securely locking it. When he turned back around, Brooklyn was dead still, not blinking.

Harry stepped in front of her, wand pointing straight ahead of him. "What do you want?"