Disclaimer: I am in no way the owner of any of these characters
Warning: Contains mature themes of femslash
Too Far Gone
Chapter 2: The Disease
"Harry, you're frightening me" said Hermione her voice cracking
"I know, I'm sorry….Ginny has a few demons to battle, figuratively speaking of course. She's struggling internally and thought that if she was honest with you" He looked at Hermione. " You would think less of her or worse case scenario…leave her and she couldn't bare the thought."
Hermione's face was expressionless "I would never. What could she do that would make me leave her? " she asked
"She told me you always say you'll love her no matter what" Harry went on
"It's true, no matter what"
"This was something she felt was too unforgivable for your relationship to survive. She kept her fears and doubt hidden. Kept them deep inside so they wouldn't come out and destroy her happiness." Harry said
"So now they're just destroying her?" asked Ron
Hermione looked at Ron in horror and he immediately looked at Harry but before Harry could answer Hermione spoke to him
"Do you know what these 'demons' are?"
"Not exactly, but it has something to do with Malfoy" said Harry
Hermione shivered when his name was mentioned
"Doesn't it always?" injected Ron
"What about him?' Hermione pressed
"I don't know, she never told us what happened that night at the club after we left."
"After we …left. What do you mean?" she asked
"Well you were pretty out of it, we left Ginny at the club and Harry and I took you and Jinx out" explained Ron
"So Ginny was alone with Malfoy? She said she did stuff she wasn't proud of…when I asked her to elaborate she said she'd tell me later for now it's in….the pensive" Hermione spoke as if she was miles away from Ron and Harry. She came to herself and looked at them "It's in the pensive?"
They all looked at each other.
"Oy still under the bed?" Ron gets up and starts toward the bedroom when Harry grabs his arm
"Should we violate her privacy?" he asked
"Harry, she didn't know this would happen. If that pensive holds a memory that can save her then to hell with her privacy…she'll get over it mate" Ron said
"What if she's right? Asked Hermione to Ron's shocked face, he looks at her almost angrily and sits back down "what if it really is something I can't…forgive?
"Hermione" Harry kneeled in front of her taking her hands in his " its Ginny. She, all of us just went through hell and back to find you. Ginny was insane without you. For 2 months she was running on pure obsession." Hermione stood and drew her hands back pacing
"I KNOW that Harry but I also know Ginny, maybe better then most. If she went through all this trouble and risk to preserve our relationship she must have a damn good reason. I'm not saying don't look…I'm saying I don't think I should." She sits down slowly eyes filling with tears. Ron presses her
"What if it's something we can't handle without you??"
"Ron you'll just have to try and work it out for yourselves" said Hermione
Ron and Harry looked at each other then at Hermione. They seemed to understand her and agreed that they would look at the memory and do the best they could without Hermione's help. They would never force her to betray the woman she loves.
Harry and Ron set the pensive up in Harry's room so Hermione could not hear them. They swirled the light blue liquid around until they saw the club. They leaned over the rim and dropped into the men's room as Ginny was pulling on the invisibility cloak. The watched the scene unfold in stony silence. Every once in a while they looked at each other in disbelief.
"No wonder Ginny's having nightmares…she's killed Malfoy" Ron said still staring at the club as it burns and dissolves and Harry's room comes into focus again.
"So the guilt of killing Malfoy is what's causing all this" Harry speculated
"Well Ginny's no killer, she's not a violent person….by nature" Ron glances into the pensive again and shakes off a chill
" I think Ginny was right not to share this with Hermione. I don't think Hermione would appreciate the fact that Ginny is a killer. Let alone the fact that Hermione would blame herself because if Malfoy hadn't taken her Ginny wouldn't of went off like that. Even with all the stuff Malfoy did to her you know she'd tell us we should of taken him to Azkaban" said Harry
"So know that we know all that…how does it help us to help her?" Ron asked
"Well first thing is when madam Pomfrey gets here we need to tell her what we saw and what our suspicions are. Should we move Ginny to the hospital wing?" Harry asked
"I don't think Hermione would go for that…but we could try" Ron said
By the time Harry and Ron got back to Hermione's room she was curled up next to Ginny in the fetal position. Ginny was motionless staring at the ceiling. Hermione had draped Ginny's arm over her shoulder. Harry and Ron flanked the bed. Harry laid down next to Ginny with his arm across her to hold Hermione's hand. Ron lay down behind Hermione and moved his arm over her hip to take her's and Harry's. Together they all fell into a fitful sleep.
A few hours went by before they were awakened by Jinx pecking at the headboard. Ron undid the note from his leg and read it.
"She'll be here when her shift is over around midnight"
"Anyone hungry?" asked Harry
"A bit, how bout you Hermione?" asked Ron
"Not really"
"Hermione how bout just some toast and tea?" urged Harry
She nodded he head in agreement. She wanted to ask them about the pensive but didn't.
Madam Pomfrey arrived and Hermione went to do some research with jinx on how to change him. She couldn't be there while they were discussing the pensive and Ginny. Once Harry and Ron explained what they saw and what's been going on Madam Pomfrey went to work on Ginny. She examined her from head to toe…with odd incantations and spells. Harry and Ron watched her from a distance. After about an hour Madam Pomfrey summoned them to Ginny's bedside with a grim expression on her face. Harry and Ron stood and waited for her to speak.
"I have seen this before…can be curable but it's dangerous. There is a long road ahead before we get to that point."
"What's wrong with her?" asked Ron
"She was cursed by a protective spell that was put on the Malfoy family ages ago incase of danger. Any pureblood trying to kill a member of the Malfoy family would be forced to relive the act over and over. Trapped in the confines of their mind. It was used during wars to prevent the pureblood families from killing each other off for more power and money." Explained Madam Pomfrey
"So what do we have to do?" asked Harry
"There's a spell and some potions I need to get from St. Mungo's, will she be staying here?"
"As long as keeping her won't effect her recovery then she'll stay" said Ron
"Now if you could bring in Miss Granger…" Pomfrey requested
Harry and Ron looked at each other then turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"Why do you need Hermione?" asked Harry although he knew the answer. Hermione was much smarter then he or Ron Madam Pomfrey wants to explain how the spell will work.
"Well I assumed she'll be helping you with Miss Weasley's recovery"
"Nope, Hermione is…well it's complicated…." Stammered Ron
"It'll just be us…me and Ron" Harry interjected
Madam Pomfrey looked at the both of them, rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Very well, I shall return within 3 days with everything we need. In the meantime feed her a cup of this potion 3 times a day the bottle will refill itself, and keep her active, exercise her legs and arms so they don't tighten up too much. I trust the two of you can manage that?"
Harry and Ron nodded in understanding and with a crack she was gone.
They called for Hermione to join them she enters the room with Jinx on her shoulder and instead of 2 wings he has one wing and a small arm. It's jinx's arm they could tell by the small tattoo on the upper part.
"What did you do?" asked Ron
"This is not as easy as it looks Ron, perhaps you would like to work on him?" Hermione snapped and Jinx shook his head in a panic. "but don't look so shocked he's not in pain, as a matter of fact Jinx can transform that arm to a wing…so it's some progress" Hermione said justly as Jinx popped a wing out to replace his arm Hermione patted him.
"Speaking of progress….." Harry began to explain all that Madam Pomfrey had told them when he was finished Hermione went over to the bed and sat at the edge looking at Harry and Ron.
"I'll give her the potion and make sure her legs and arms are moved. Are you sure you two can handle…?" Hermione trails off
"No one gives us credit…we can do this Hermione. She's my sister I'd go to hell and back for her…I promise." Ron said kneeling at Hermione's feet.
"I've been to Hell and back to save Ginny once and I'll do it as many times as needed…you have my word." Said Harry now standing with his hands on Hermione's shoulders
"I'll help you as much as I can" Hermione glanced at Ginny's body