Chapter 17

Return of the Hero

Ginny's POV

*Three Days Ago*

I lay on the floor, my face pressed against the stone floor. I was hoping the cool stones would calm the raging fever that had taken over my body. If I had the dittany that I packed inside my rucksack, I would put it on the large cut on the back of my head. But evidently Lucius was smarter than I gave him credit for. His house elf had found my hidden bag and taken it while I was unconscious. But he wasn't quite smart enough, for I still had my wand tucked safely at my side. I hadn't used it yet. I hadn't even looked at it. The house elf popped in at unexpected times and I was positive he reported everything he saw to Lucius. I couldn't leave until I found Dean.

I sat up, and took inventory of myself. The cut on the back of my head was deep and when I pulled my hand back from touching it, there was still fresh blood there. That probably wasn't a great sign. Another not so go sign was my utter lack of knowledge of what time it was, or even worse, what day it was.

I was pretty positive I hadn't been out for long. My body, although sore in places, wasn't stiff. So I couldn't have been out for longer than a few hours; five at the most.

I got up and walked around the small room. It was completely build in stone, with one small door made of stone. The door had no handle on the inside and there was no light coming in the cracks surrounding it. The only light was a small lantern on the wall with a tiny flickering flame. There wasn't much chance of escape.

*CRACK*

"Hello," I tried to smile at the house elf that appeared quite suddenly next to me.

"H-hello." It replied, surprised.

"Could you tell me what time it is?" I asked pleasantly. I hoped that kindness might get this house elf on my side. Harry had succeeded in luring a Malfoy house elf to the good side with little effort, perhaps I could do it too.

The house elf shook its head vehemently and disappeared quickly.

"Damn," I muttered. This one was well trained. I considered pulling my wand out and trying to dissapperate, but I didn't know where Dean was being held, and I surely didn't want to end up standing in front of Lucius. I can't imagine he would be my biggest fan after that cutting spell I sent at him. How I wished it hadn't just grazed him.

I curled up on the floor. I might as well sleep. Who knows when the elf will show up again?

*Two Days Ago*

"HARRY!" I screamed as I ran towards him in the open field. But no matter how fast I ran towards that familiar face, I never got close to him. I couldn't understand it. He wasn't moving. He was standing quite still, a solemn look on his face.

"HARRY!" I screamed again. His expression didn't change. I slowed to a walk and reached my hand out towards him. His arm moved upward, beckoning me towards him. I started to run again, never getting any closer. My foot caught on something hidden in the tall grass and I pitched forward, my hands snapping forward to catch me as I fell. I struggled to my feet, looking wilding around for Harry.

. "Harry! Come to me!" I yelled. He took one step towards me, and than another. Soon, he was running. He was actually getting closer, but suddenly a fear welled up in me. I was scared of what would happen. I turned and ran in the other direction.

"Ginny!"

I rolled my head to the side, confused to find myself in this cold dark room. I was sure I had just been in a grassy field. I felt sticky and my face was damp with tears. I groaned as I tried to sit up. A shiver coursed through me, but I wasn't cold. I was warm, no, I was hot. Why was it so warm in here? And why was I still shivering?

"Miss?" The house elf's voice startled me. I had forgotten it was the noise of its arrival that had woken me.

"Yes?" I answered hoarsely. My voice was almost gone. How odd. It was like I had been screaming for an extended time.

"Water," he handed me a large glass of water. I drank it greedily. It was the only thing I had had in my stomach for a long time.

"Can I have another glass?"

"No." *CRACK*

I groaned and lay back on the floor. My teeth began to chatter. The fever had definitely gotten worse in the time I had slept. My mind wandered back to the dream. I could feel the ache inside of me growing again. I had successfully avoided dreaming about Harry in the past year. It must have been the reliving of my memories that had brought on the dream and the fever.

I tried no to think of the dream. I did not want to think about it. I closed my eyes and let my body and mind rest.

***********

"Ginny? Ginny?" A far away voice called my name. I tried to answer, but it was so far away. I didn't know if could get to the voice. I felt cool hands on either side of my face, stroking my cheeks. "Ginny! Wake up. Come on, be okay. Wake up."

Recognition suddenly hit, it was Harry's voice. Harry! But it couldn't be. It had to be my mind reacting to the fever. I couldn't let it do that to me, it would just hurt more when it was gone. I clenched my eyes tighter.

"Ginny? Please wake up, it's Harry. I'm going take care of you. Please open your eyes."

My eyes snapped open.

"Oh, thank Merlin." He sounded relieved.

"Harry?" I tried to get my lips to form his name, but they wouldn't cooperate correctly. Was he truly here? Had he come to save me? I couldn't believe my eyes. But it was him, his familiar green eyes looked down at me with worry and relief.

"Shhh shhh," He placed one finger on my lips. "I'm going to get you out of here. You are going to be fine."

I felt his arms wrap under my head and my knees. I closed my eyes and snuggled my face into his chest, too stunned to actually react.

Harry's POV

I couldn't be sure she actually was aware that I held her. But when she snuggled her face against me it didn't matter. I just sighed and pulled her close, taking in the moment. My eyes fluttered shut and I just reveled in the moment. I had Ginny back in my arms. She was alive, sick and hurt, but alive.

A sound behind me startled me. Had Lucius gotten away from Draco and Saranna? Could I defend us both? As my mind wildly made plans, Draco and Saranna stumbled into the room.

"Is she okay?" Saranna asked quickly, seeing Ginny's almost lifeless form in my arms. I evaluated her quickly.

"Yes, she has a cut on her head and a raging fever, but she is okay." I answered quickly. "What happened to Lucius?"

Saranna looked at Draco. I noticed he was paler than usual and he was leaning on Saranna.

"He is dead." Draco said quietly. "We tried to tell him the story, but he wouldn't believe me. He tried to hurt Saranna. She got his wand away but he lunged at her. I threw him off and thought he was out. But he stabbed my leg. I stunned him, but he must have been very weak and it just stopped his heart. We sent a patronus to Kingsley right away. The aurors are on their way." Draco looked up at me. "Have you found Dean?"

I shook my head, "I just found Ginny. We have to get her to St. Mungo's quickly."

Draco nodded, "He will be in the room down the hall. Saranna and I will find him. You take Ginny to St. Mungos. I took the wards off; you should be able to apperate straight there."

I nodded and looked down at Ginny. She had her eyes shut again. Even injured, sick and pale she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

"Ginny?" Her eyes fluttered open. "Ginny I'm going to apperate us to St. Mungo's. Hold on." She nodded slightly and I spun us into the squeezing darkness.

*One Hour Later*

I sat in the familiar waiting room with my head in my hands. I contemplated getting up and asking the healer at the desk again how Ginny was doing, but I knew she wouldn't have anything new since the last time I'd asked five minutes ago. The longer I sat, the more worried I got.

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Saranna gazing down at me.

"How's Draco?" I asked quietly.

"He's fine. They cleaned up his leg and healed it fast. They gave him so potion to ease the pain and he'll have to stay here for a few more hours but physically he will be fine." She plopped down into the chair next to me. She looked as exhausted as I felt. "I'm more worried about his emotional injuries."

I nodded. Draco had killed his own father. It was an accident yes, but if I knew Draco he would be very hard to convince that it wasn't his fault.

"How are you doing?" She asked quietly.

I shrugged.

"She is going to be fine Harry." She reassured me.

I took a deep breath. "I know that. But…" I trailed off, not sure if I wanted to share my insecurities with Saranna.

"What if she won't take you back?" She asked quickly.

I didn't answer. I just stared down at my hands. She was right; I was worried that Ginny wouldn't want me back. How could I handle that? I loved her. I wanted to be with her, but I couldn't force her to be with me if she didn't want to be.

"Harry," Saranna stated a bit louder. "She will want you back. She loves you."

"How do you know that?" I all but shouted at her.

"Merlin, Harry. If you don't know that by now, I don't think you ever will." A familiar voice said from behind me. I whirled around to see a flash of bushy brown hair fly past me and a pair of arms crushing my neck.

"HARRY!!!" Hermione's voice screeched in my ears.

"Hermione? Ron?" A semblance of a smile took over my face.

Hermione let me go and Ron's arm slung around my shoulders. "Missed you." He stated calmly.

"I'm sorry," I said, hanging my head. I wasn't sure how to act. I had missed my best friends terribly, and I knew that I had hurt them severely when I left.

"Don't say another word." Hermione admonished. "We forgive you. We understand. You could have done it a better way, but we love you and that is all that matters."

I threw my arms around both of them and pulled them close. "I missed you guys."

"Yeah well," Ron looked at me and winked, "Just don't leave for five years next time."

I grinned. Then I noticed Saranna had moved to the other side of the room to give us space.

"Guys, this is Saranna." I said, motioning for her to come over. "Saranna, this is Ron and Hermione."

Ron looked at me suspiciously. Saranna broke in before I could.

"I'm… er… well I'm in love with Draco." Saranna muttered.

Ron's eyebrows shot up."B-but your American."

Saranna glared at Ron. "If you say one thing against Draco I will hex you. He isn't the Draco you know anymore."

I tried to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape from my mouth. A sound more like a snort escaped.

Just then, the rest of the Weasley clan entered the emergency room, followed by an extremely out of place looking Narcissa Malfoy. I was enveloped in multiple arms as five red-headed people all tried to hug me at the same time. I looked over to Saranna who was making her way over to Narcissa. I strained to hear her over the dull roar of the Weasley family.

"Hello, you must be Draco's mother. I'm Saranna. I'm sure we can go visit him now if you want. He is doing just fine." The both turned and walked out of the room quietly.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley screeched in my face. "Oh Harry, I am so glad you are back. You look a bit peaky. Have you been eating? We'll have to fix that." She would have continued had a Healer not stepped into the room. Everyone went completely silent.

"Ginny is going to be just fine." The healer stated evenly. There was a collective exhale at the proclamation. "She lost some blood and has a pretty nasty infection in the cut on her head, but we expect her to make a full recovery. She is alert right now, but not for long. You may go in and see her, but only a few at a time."

"You go first Harry," Mr. Weasley said calmly. "She'll want to see you."

I nodded, and followed the healer down the hallway.

"This is her room. Now, she is still very sick. Just a few minutes and do not stress her out." He looked at me sternly. "We all love Ginny here. She is family to us."

I nodded and walked into the room.

A/N So... the next chapter will be the last one! Sad I know, but the good news is that there will be a sequal! In other wonderful news, I have a twitter account that will update you on my writing and stories and stuff. HPTWIFANFICER look me up. My picture is what I could imagine the book cover of this would be, kinda. Yay! P.S. EK I await your witty remarks.

-Sarah