Dumbledore sat at his desk. Fawkes sat on his usual perch, fast asleep. The Headmaster was flipping through various pieces of parchment when the door swung open with a loud bang.
He jumped slightly and looked up to see who it was. The twinkling in his eyes dimmed dramatically as he saw Lily Potter standing in the doorway. Her green eyes blazed with fury and he could see the power crackling around her.
"Mrs. Potter," he said slowly.
"Don't 'Mrs. Potter' me!" She ground out. "How dare you use a student to spy on Voldemort!"
Dumbledore paled instantly. "I see Mr. Weasley is safe after all."
"That is not the point! How dare you do that to a student! A child! What in the world were you thinking? What makes you think you have a right to talk someone like that into doing something so dangerous? He could be dead right now!"
"Lily," James warned as he came in sight behind her.
"James," Lily snapped. "I'm sick and tired of him. He's only caused us more trouble. He knew all this time! He knew Peter was going to betray us and try to kill us yet he did nothing! We could be dead right now and our son would probably be stuck at my sisters for all I know. How dare he withhold information from us. I'm surprised he even told us about the prophecy."
"Calm down," James said again.
"Don't tell me to calm down! Two young women were just kidnapped from these very halls! Many other students were raped or abused within these walls by a member of the faculty. And he just sits there like everything is fine. No wonder Fudge hates him so much."
"What proof do you have that Mr. Weasley was telling you the truth?" Dumbledore asked.
James held up the vial. "His own memories. Don't deny it Dumbledore. The Aurors will be along shortly to collect you."
Dumbledore was a bit surprised by how cold his voice was. "You can't remove me from my school."
"We can and have. You will no longer be allowed to teach anywhere on this earth," Lily snapped. "I brought my children back here, hoping maybe you weren't as stupid as you acted but I was wrong. Thankfully we were able to keep Sirius' name clear. You performed the charm to make Peter our Secret Keeper. How dare you try to pin it on Sirius. That was low and rotten."
"I'm surprised he hasn't come to hurt you," James said. "What are you thinking? Are you trying to aid Riddle?"
"How do you know his name?" Dumbledore demanded.
"We did a bit of research into him and found out his past. To think you have all this information at your disposal and yet you chose to keep it hidden from the world. What are you trying to do Dumbledore? Get everyone killed? Because if you keep up with this then that is exactly what is going to happen."
"You've done nothing for anyone and you are only causing us more problems then its worth. You're despicable and no better then Voldemort."
"How dare you say those things to me. I have saved countless lives and stopped hundreds of attacks."
"No you haven't. You've gotten many of the Order killed and you almost made us lose our lives," Lily said. "I'm glad we left, I'm glad I had those dreams for so long. Because apparently we couldn't count on you to watch a rock!"
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"We just found out that Ex-Headmaster Dumbledore had tricked a young student into becoming a spy for the Order and he isn't even sixteen yet," James said.
"Is this true Albus?"
"No. Mr. Weasley did it on his own."
"Liar!" The Potters yelled.
"Albus, really."
"I said I didn't. Who are you going to believe a student or me?"
"The student," McGonagall said. "Lily and James were right to leave."
"And he will be leaving as well," Madam Bones said as she appeared. "You are under arrest Headmaster and stricken of your title and pulled off the board."
"How dare you come into my office," Dumbledore shouted.
"It is not longer yours," Tonks said. "Boys, lets take him down to Azkaban."
Three other Aurors came into the room and grabbed Dumbledore. Tonks grabbed his wand and handed it to Madam Bones, who put it into a sealed case.
"Thank you for the information Lily, James."
"You should be thanking Mr. Weasley," James said.
"I'll do that when I see him next time. Come on lets get this filth into Azkaban where he belongs."
"This isn't over, no one removes me from my school," Dumbledore shouted.
The door swung shut and Lily's legs gave out. James just barely managed to catch his wife before she fell. He helped her over to a chair and grabbed a glass of water. "I told you to calm down," he said with a faint smile.
"Very funny," Lily commented dryly.
"So what happens now?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Looks like you are now Headmistress. We will have to inform the students," James told her.
"I was afraid of that," she said with a sigh. "I suppose we can wait till the morning."
"That would probably be best," Lily said. "Let's go see if Ginny is doing well."
"Wonderful idea."
The three of them made their way to the Hospital Wing. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were talking to Madam Pomfrey while Ginny lay fast asleep in her bed. Harry was sitting in a chair beside her, his head resting on her arm, and he was sleeping as well.
"What do we have?" Lily asked.
"She broke multiple bones and has a few bruises and cuts," Madam Pomfrey said. "The worst she had was the broken ribs which Harry semi healed so they weren't that bad. She showed signs of a previous concussion but Harry took care of that. Right now she just needs some rest."
"Do you know where my son is?" Mr. Weasley asked James.
"No one knows where he or Miss Granger are. I'm sure we will be hearing from them soon," Lily said.
"Where were you two?" Alice asked.
"Lily was speaking to the Ex-Headmaster of the school."
"What happened?"
"He's been removed as the teacher from this school, revoked from the board and probably will never teach again," Lily said coldly.
"Could you please explain?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Your son, Ronald, was tricked into becoming a spy for the Order. He was trying to protect Ginny but we all didn't know. He gave her all those memories and now we learned the truth."
"He used my son?" Mr. Weasley said furiously. "That bastard!"
Mrs. Weasley placed a hand on her husbands arm. "There is nothing we can do, he is probably in Azkaban right now. We need to find Ron first."
"I'll go inform our sons," he said weakly.
Hermione sat with her head resting on her arms. Her mother sat across from her, her head in her hands. The two women had been sitting like that for half an hour now.
"I can't believe this is actually happening," her mother said with a shake of her head.
"I know Mum, but what am I going to do now?" Hermione said weakly.
"You have two options Hermione, you know that. I can't make this decision for you. There is nothing I can do but support you no matter what you choose to do." With that her mother got up and disappeared.
Hermione continued to sit there, unable to really focus on what she was going to have to do.
The fire in the living room burst into life as Ron came stumbling out. "Hey Hermione," Ron said with a grin.
"Where did you run off to?"
"Diagon Alley. I was under heavy glamour but I brought you back these," he said as he set the bags down on the table.
"What are they?" Hermione asked confused as she gazed at the bags.
"Just look."
With a shrug Hermione stood up and opened up the first bag. She pulled out three books on varying subjects. Wards and how they are constructed, Dragons, Veelas, Vampires, and anything you ever needed to know, and Famous Witches and Wizards of the past.
"Thank you," she said with a smile.
"I wanted to make sure I didn't get any of the same books that you already had. There are some clothes for me, since I don't have anything. Then this one is for you," he said as he handed the third bag to her.
She tentatively took it and gasped as she pulled out a new robe. It was a beautiful shade of dark purple. "This is beautiful."
"Thanks, I figure I owe you something for you helping me and all."
Hermione swallowed, glad that he wasn't looking at her. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that," Hermione said quietly.
"Alright," he said as he sat down in the chair she had vacated. "What's on your mind?"
"What are the rules for…for taking a hostage?" She asked slowly, as she was having difficulty phrasing the question.
Ron looked at her a bit confused before opening his mouth to speak. "We have one hour to well…do what we have to and the rules apply that we have to use a…" Ron stopped. "We didn't!" Ron shouted as he jumped to his feet.
"We forgot," Hermione echoed.
"They didn't even teach me the damn spell," he growled. "You're not…are you?" He questioned as he turned to look at her.
She wouldn't look at him. Ron reached over to her, tilting her head up so that she was forced to look at him. Tears were in her eyes.
"Hermione, tell me, are you pregnant or not?"
She closed her eyes.
"Look at me," he whispered gently.
"I am, I just found out yesterday."
"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I am so sorry."
"I know but what do we do now?"
"I don't know," he said sadly. "You could get an abortion."
"No!" She said her eyes turning frantic. "I couldn't, I couldn't ever do that. It just seems…seems wrong," she said the last part in a whisper.
"You shouldn't have to keep it, especially so young."
"Do you want me to have the abortion?" She questioned, her voice soft.
"What I want is for you to do what you feel is right and if that means keeping the baby then I will do anything to help you out."
"Do you really mean that?" Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
"Yes I do. I'm the one who got you into this mess and I'll be damned if I am going to let you do this alone."
Hermione let the tears fall from her eyes and Ron brought her into a tight hug, letting her cry against his shoulder.
"Everything is going to be fine, we'll get through this together."
Ginny's eyes slowly opened. She had been trying for the last half hour to get her eyes to open. It was quiet, so she figured it was probably past normal hours. With an inward smile she blinked rapidly to clear her vision.
The moonlight filtered in through the Hospital Wing windows, casting a small amount of light into the darkened room.
She could feel a slight pressure on her right arm. A real smile broke out on her face as she realized it was Harry's head resting on her arm. She figured he had been sitting there just as long as she had been in here.
Gently she ran her fingers through his hair. A smile crept across his face. Slowly his eyes fluttered open.
"Ginny?" He questioned groggily.
"Hey," she said with a smile on her face.
He smiled wide as he got to his feet, his hands moving to either side of her face. "I'm so glad you're awake," he told her as he leaned down to kiss her gently.
Ginny's eyes slid shut as she let him kiss her. Her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her as he deepened the kiss. A moan escaped her lips and Harry smiled against her lips.
He was the first to pull back, both of them were slightly breathless. His hand slowly stroked her cheek, causing her to smile again, and open her eyes.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Three days."
She just nodded her head and reached up to hold his hands in hers. "What happened?"
"Well Mum blew up at Dumbledore after they reviewed Ron's memories. He is no longer the Headmaster at school. Neville, Luna, Pansy, and Daphne have been in and out of the hospital wing and no one knows where Hermione and Ron are."
Ginny nodded her head slowly. "Did they think to look at her parent's house? That is the safest place for her to be."
"Nope, I don't think we did," he said with a slight smile. "How do you feel?"
"Worn out but other than that I feel fine."
"Good Mrs. Longbottom wants to have you looked over before you can do anything."
"I could go for a hot bath," Ginny mumbled quietly.
"I'll bet you could, you're probably still a bit sore from all those wounds," Harry said quietly, his eyes flashing dangerously.
Ginny ran her fingers through his hair, bringing his eyes back to her smiling face. "It's done and over with, no need to go kill them yet."
"But after what they did to you…"
"You can get your revenge when you are ready, right now, I want a bath."
Alice laughed from behind them and Ginny reluctantly released her hold on her boyfriend. "I see you are doing quite well Miss Weasley."
Ginny smiled. "I am still a bit sore but I am feeling a bit better."
"Well let me look over you and then you'll be able to leave."
After taking a long relaxing bath Ginny made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The whole hall fell silent as Ginny entered the hall. Ginny's eyes sought the teacher's table. Her eyes locked on Lily, who was smiling softly at her. Slowly the older woman nodded her head and Ginny smiled brightly.
Ginny turned and made her way to Slytherin table. Many of her fellow housemates got to their feet as she walked by, each one turning fully to face her. Slowly every one of her housemates was on their feet. She also noticed that various girls from other houses had gotten to their feet as well.
Confused she sought out Pansy and Daphne, who were also on their feet at their usual seat at the table. The two girls were smiling brilliantly at her. As Ginny approached her seat Pansy held up her hand to stop her from sitting down.
"I know you have no idea what is going on but there a few things that have happened since you were away," Pansy said calmly.
"Don't worry Ginny, its nothing bad, I promise," Daphne put in.
"Quite the opposite actually," Luna chimed in from her position at the Ravenclaw table.
"We took into account a few of the things that occurred over the course of the time you were gone and since Snape and his horrid followers were taken from the school," Luna told her.
"We all owe you, in some way or another," Pansy told her, drawing her attention back to her two best friends.
"A lot of people were attacked or hurt by them and you were there for all of them, even though you didn't have to be," Daphne said softly.
"For that so many of them owe you, believe in you, and will follow you."
"We are living in dark times and even in these halls we haven't been able to rest. No one is safe until Voldemort and his followers are taken care of but if we can find the strength within then we will certainly be able to win."
"That's why all of us," Luna said as she pointed towards Pansy, then to Susan, and finally to Harry. "Have your back, we are what he is looking for."
"And you are the final key," Danielle told her.
Ginny just gazed at the younger girl, confusion the only dominant look in her eyes.
"We are all behind you Ginny," Daphne said. "You are what kept so many people from falling, for that we are forever faithful."
Ginny whirled around to look at her. "I don't want anyone to feel as if they owe me," she said quietly. "I don't want people to think that way. This is a time of war and we are all supposed to work towards a common good, all of us, not one person. We are meant to take him down, together. If we give up now, then he's won, and if he's won then there is never going to be anything to stop him."
"That's why we fight," Lily told everyone as she got to her feet. "So many of us were alive when he first began his reign and we have been fighting for our lives, for a future that we want to secure for our children and our children's children. The pain of many years falls on our shoulders and makes us weak and that's what he takes. If we give in to the pain, if we give into our fear, than we will never accomplish anything. That's why we must fight because when this is all over, we will be free, free to live in peace for once in our lives."
"So many of you have grown up in the middle of this war," McGonagall said. "So many of you have lost people you loved, people you cared for, that meant something. We've all lost so much and that is why we fight. To make sure that they didn't die in vain, that their sacrifices meant something to everyone. Because in the end, that's all that matters. This was supposed to be a safe haven for you all and we have failed so horribly but no more. From this day forth you will be safe, no one should have to walk these halls and fear your own shadow."
"I promise, I swear, that this war will come to an end," Harry called loudly as he got to his feet, as he walked towards Ginny. "Ever since I could remember I remember Voldemort. Forever did he cast his shadow upon my life. It was destined, destined to be fated that his demise would be cast by the one he tried to cast aside. We've all lost, we've all fought, and we've all suffered. That's what makes us so much stronger than him. Humans, we are stubborn, we fight for what we love despite the fact that we can barely carry on, because we love so deeply that it's what gives us strength to continue. We will not quit, I will never quit until he is gone, until there is no more, no matter what the cost."
Ginny gazed up at him, fierce determination in her eyes. She wanted this as badly as anyone else did. To rectify what happened to Hermione, to her brother, to her family, her friends, and most of all to herself. So that she can walk back down these halls and know that she made it safe for future generations. That she can wrap her arms around Harry and never have to worry about the shadow looming in the distance.
A/N: Hey! I'm back with a chapter and its been OVER a month since I last updated and for that I am truly sorry. Now onto the news that I must pass on. Ch. 14 is STILL being worked on and I just got this back from my beta today. So I felt an update was necessary. I've been planning out the last few chapters, ch. 14 would have been done sooner but my best friend was with me a lot so what do you think? Well I might get more done when she leaves again but no guarantees.
So right now I am in the middle of a new project, for all of you who like my writing and inuyasha fanfics then you'll love this. My lil sis and I are writing a fic together, three chaps down in about five days, and we are both writing it so its coming along very nicely but our name is soaringhearts, one of our sisters came up with idea so if you want to read it then you can but it won't be posted for another couple of days, maybe monday or somethin.
So back to the Return, I am planning about MAYBE three more chapters, possibly four just depends, I'm sorry but I lost interest in the story, that can't be helped. So I spent three days trying to get the feel of the story, only things have happened since then so it may take on another shade or two but like I said I don't know. Hope you all like it and I'll see you soon enough if you read DC or my new fic called Ever After, which is a HP self insert (not like people care)
Signing off
Seritha