"Hey," Harry said softly as he sat down beside Ginny in their common room. Ginny smiled up at him.
"Hey," she told him as she curled up against him.
His arms wrapped around her, holding her as close as possible. "They found Hermione and Ron."
"At her parent's house?"
"Just like you said. How did you know?"
"Because no one would think to look at her muggle parent's house," Ginny remarked as she buried her face against his neck, breathing in his scent.
Harry shivered as she kissed his neck. "They are safe, Hermione says she has something to tell you though."
Ginny only nodded her head as she continued kissing his neck.
"Ginny," he said quietly.
"What?" she questioned as she turned her body towards his.
"We should stop, you don't know when someone will come."
Ginny pulled back, grinning slightly. "Then they'll learn to knock first."
Harry smiled at her and pulled her into his lap as he kissed her full on the lips. Ginny melted against him, kissing him back just as fiercely, her hands sliding into his hair. Harry moaned and held her tightly as he slid his tongue into her mouth. Their tongues twined.
"Whoa there, get a room," Ron said loudly, making the two break apart.
Ginny turned to glare at her younger brother, who was grinning brightly.
"I should skin you for that," Ginny growled. "And these are our rooms."
"Yes, so you should knock and not interrupt us," Harry commented as he pulled Ginny back into his lap as she tried to go smack her brother. Ginny sighed and leaned back against him, letting him hold her tightly.
"Well it's not me who is here to interrupt, I'd happily leave you to my sister, after all I hope you can handle her temper. It's Hermione who needs her."
"Hermione?" Ginny questioned as she looked for her best friend.
Hermione stepped around Ginny, her brown eyes bright.
"Hermione!" Ginny called happily as she rushed over to her friend, hugging her tightly.
"I was so worried about you," Hermione whispered as she hugged Ginny back.
"He came, just like we knew he would," Ginny told her back.
"I knew he would. Can I borrow her for a few minutes?" Hermione asked Harry, who grinned.
"Be my guest."
Ginny rolled her eyes and the two girls made their way up stairs. Ron sat down in one of the available seats.
"No hard feelings?" Ron asked as he looked at Harry.
Harry smiled slightly. "No hard feelings. I can understand. Do you know what's up?"
Ron nodded. "I…I accidentally got Hermione pregnant. I can't even think straight."
"You did? How did she take this?"
"Hard," Ron said with a sigh. "I took away her future."
"No, you just gave her a different one. Its obvious that you aren't planning on leaving her."
"How do you know?"
"You're still sitting here, that's why."
"You know you aren't that half bad of a guy," Ron said. "I'm glad you're with my sister."
"Thanks, I think," Harry told him with a half smile.
Ron shook his head.
"What's up?" Ginny asked as she dropped onto her bed, Hermione sitting on the end.
"I'm pregnant," Hermione blurted, figuring the best way was to get it done was to tell her friend outright.
"You're what?"
"Pregnant, as in having a child, carrying-"
"I know what it means," Ginny snapped. "I just…I definitely wasn't expecting this."
"How do you think we feel?"
"Are you…I mean are you going to keep it?"
Hermione sighed. "We decided to keep it."
"Do my parents know?" Ginny asked softly.
Hermione nodded. "We told them when we got back."
"Oh Hermione," Ginny said as she hugged her friend tightly, tears falling down Hermione's face. "I'm so sorry this had to happen so soon."
"Me too, but I can't just get rid of the baby, it's just wrong."
"I know, I know. But Ron will stick with you, he's not going to let you go through this alone, after all it is his fault."
Hermione gave a short laugh. "That's exactly what he told me."
"Everything is going to work out, I know it," Ginny said soothingly.
"I sure hope so."
"Do you hate me?" Danielle asked from her corner.
Harry stopped in place as he heard his sister's voice float towards him. "No."
"You should."
"I can't say I'm happy but I can't hate you either. If you had told us or if it was forced then it would have gone wrong. I can at least understand that you wanted to but wasn't able too."
"I should have done more to help her but I had no idea."
"But you gave her a chance and that's more than anyone else can say Danielle. Your powers are limited and there is only so much you can do."
"It doesn't feel like I've done anything," Danielle whispered.
"You brought us home, you brought me to Ginny, there is so much you've already done. Don't sell yourself short sister, things are just about to start heating up and we need your help more now than ever. If it came down to it, I would bet that you know what to do."
"Ginny's the key, it's going to be her that casts the spell."
Harry turned to look at his sister, green eyes meeting green. "What will happen to her?"
"I don't know. It's been hundreds of years since all four heirs have been together at Hogwarts. With the battle taking place at the castle, your powers will be so much stronger."
"Why does it have to be her?"
"Because she has a connection with all four of you. Luna and Ginny grew up together, so they have a lifelong friendship to go on. Ginny was the one who rescued Pansy when she was first kidnapped, instilling a life debt. Susan was saved from Draco because of Ginny, yet again instilling another debt to be repaid. Then you and Ginny, you are the other's half and you make each other whole. She has a connection to all of you and that connection will be Voldemort's downfall."
Harry sighed and held his arms open to his sister. Danielle hugged him tightly. "Then we will get through this, all of us."
Danielle just smiled at him.
Ginny lounged in the common room, flipping through a spell book that Lily had given her. The room was quiet, for the first time in a week. Harry, Susan, Pansy, and Luna were all off doing something that she had no idea about, which was fine. Hermione and Ron were working with their parents to come up with a suitable solution to their problem.
The whole school was edgy, everyone expecting for Voldemort to come and destroy their home. Ginny, well she was just waiting. She knew that it would come and decided to put her time to good use.
"Enjoying yourself?" Danielle asked as she dropped into one of the seats.
"As much as one can be," Ginny said with a sigh.
"So what spells are you learning?"
"Nothing that I haven't learned already."
Danielle nodded.
"If you need to say something than just say it already, it makes things better."
Danielle smiled. "Depends, I'm not sure anyone would want to know the truth."
"Depends on who it involves."
"Everyone."
"Something important I'm guessing?"
"Very."
"Then you should speak to someone, its better that way."
With a sigh Danielle rubbed the back of her neck. "I…I'm not going to make it out of the final battle."
Ginny sat bolt upright, twisting around to look at her. "How long have you known that?"
"Years, it never changes."
"There's nothing you can do?"
"Nope."
"Do your parents know?"
"No, I can't tell them."
Ginny sighed. "We'll find a way, I promise."
"Don't," Danielle said quietly. "I've already come to accept it."
Ginny got up and hugged the younger girl. "I'm so sorry."
Harry entered the common room, late again. The final spell was really taking its toll on the four of them. It seemed that no matter how hard they tried it wasn't going to be enough but that was what Ginny was for.
They still had to perfect their spells, then it would be set into motion.
Ginny was sprawled out on the couch, sound asleep. A book lay across her lap, her head tilted to the side. There were a few books scattered across the table in front of her, notes, ink, quills all over the place.
Smiling slightly Harry began picking up the mess. He cleared up the table first, careful to make sure all pages were marked before lifting the final book off of his girlfriend.
The movement caused Ginny to wake up. Her eyes cracked open slightly, her attention immediately centered on Harry. He was moving quietly, unaware that he had woken her up.
They had managed only a good hour or so a day together and it seemed as if that time was spent working more than anything else. Ginny watched him set things off to the side as he sat down in one of the chairs.
He looked exhausted and she could tell his magic had been drained from constant magical work. His eyes slid shut and Ginny sat up, making no sound as she got to her feet and moved behind him. Then she started to massage his neck.
Harry sighed. "I didn't mean to wake you," he said without turning to look at her.
"I know," Ginny whispered. "You're exhausting yourself."
"We are trying to perfect the spell," he commented groggily as he relaxed under her hands, making Ginny grin.
"Is it coming along?"
"Slowly."
"At least it is and that's something to look forward too."
"I'd rather be relaxing with you."
"There will be time enough for that."
Harry grabbed her hands, pulling her around the seat and into his lap. Ginny cuddled up against him, his arms wrapping around her. "I'd rather have time for that now."
"No one's around," Ginny pointed out.
Harry smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. Ginny leaned into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I love you," he whispered when they pulled apart.
"Mm, I love you too," she mumbled against his lips, enjoying the feel of being in his arms without worry.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked quietly as she entered her bedroom. James was gazing out the window, looking out over the grounds of Hogwarts.
"Do you feel like we are missing something? Like something important is happening and we don't have the slightest clue?" He asked softly as he turned to look at his wife.
Lily frowned slightly as he moved towards her husband and love of her life. "Yes, but I can't for the life of me put my finger on it."
James wrapped his arms around his wife, who melted against him, hiding her face in his chest. "This war is about to go down hill and very quickly."
"You sound like Danielle."
They both froze and a strangled cry escaped Lily's throat.
"No!" She whimpered as she ripped herself free of James and bolted from the room, James hot on her heels.
They rounded the corner just as they watched Danielle be portkeyed out of Hogwarts.
"Danielle!" Lily screamed, James catching his wife's arm as he shot hexes at the few remaining Death Eaters.
He pulled her back around the corner as his wife collapsed against Jessica, who seemed to appear out of no where, as he fought off Death Eaters. Ginny appeared on the other side of them, hitting them from behind, Harry, Daphne, and Pansy behind her.
The Death Eaters portkeyed away, leaving them alone in Hogwarts, the only sound was Lily's cries.
"Lily, she'll be alright," James said soothingly as he cradled his distraught wife against his chest as tears slid down his own cheeks.
"She knew! She knew the whole time," Lily cried weakly as she clung to her husband.
"She made her choice," Ginny whispered in her future mother-in-law's ear.
Lily's head turned to face Ginny's. "You knew?" She questioned breathless.
"We all knew but no one wanted to admit it," Jessica said brokenly.
"There has to be something, anything," Lily begged.
Slowly Ginny shook her head.
"Well, looks like we have a Potter in our midst," Voldemort said scathingly.
"Looks like your looks still haven't improved," Danielle taunted, a grin on her face.
"Just like your mother I see," he commented dryly.
"It was inevitable, you were coming to get me eventually. So how long did it take to get through the new wards? Three maybe four hours right? How pathetic, my little sister could do better than that."
"Crucio," Voldemort hissed suddenly.
Danielle hit the ground, screaming in pain as it ripped through her. Her screams continued to echo until the spell was released.
"Your brother may have retrieved his girlfriend, but they won't live much longer. Not like I am letting you go on anyways."
She gazed up at him from where she lay on the ground. "You're forgetting, I'm a seer, a very powerful one at that, I already know the outcome of this war and you sealed your fate the moment Ginny was taken."
Voldemort hit her with a cutting curse, which cut through her shoulder. Danielle cried out in pain as she clutched her shoulder. Tears fell down her cheeks, as pain made her vision fuzzy.
"You'd do well to learn to hold your tongue but you Potters were always so stubborn. Now one of you will die."
"At least I'll die knowing that I can happily see you in hell," Danielle said scathingly.
Voldemort laughed. "Take her down to the boys, let her suffer before finally being killed. You'll be in hell long before me."
Danielle chuckled. "The four heirs have returned and the key has been set in place. It is only a matter of time before they come to you and kill you. My death will only be a small price to pay to protect the world."
"Crucio."
Danielle's screams filled the room once more.
Ginny paced back and forth in her room. Harry was passed out on the couch, having spent much of the night trying to calm his distraught mother. Then Ginny spent the time trying to calm him down.
Ginny knew that Danielle had said that there was nothing anyone could do to save her but Ginny wasn't about to give up that easily. If there was one thing she knew, it was that she owed Danielle a lot and she wasn't going to stop until that debt was repaid.
A knock on the door startled her out of her musings. Frowning Ginny went to the door, opening it up to reveal a boy that was a year under her. He was tall with dark brown hair and sad brown eyes.
"Michael right?" Ginny questioned.
He nodded. "I…I heard about what happened."
She just gazed at him. "How? We haven't said anything."
"I…I…I was supposed to meet her earlier, that was where she was going and when she didn't show up I sort of overheard her sisters talking and-"
"So you're the one that she's been sneaking off to see," Ginny commented.
He had the decency to flush. "She didn't want to get involved, said it would hurt to much in the end but I couldn't help it."
She nodded her head.
"Isn't there…I mean can't we…."
Ginny could feel tears in her eyes as well as see them in his. He cares so much for her and she was only trying to spare him the pain. "She said there wasn't."
"Please, I can't give up, I can't. There has to be way, there just has to," he begged, his voice cracking.
She bit her lip, not sure if this was the smart thing to do but knowing they had to try. "I'm not giving you any guarantees, but I may have an idea. Meet me in the Great Hall in fifteen minutes, wand with you."
He nodded gratefully as he took off in the other direction.
Ginny closed the door, biting her lip. She was insane to risk this, Harry came to get her out last time but she wasn't going to walk away from this.
Instead she went to where Harry lay sleeping, gently she roused him from slumber.
"Hey Ginny," he said groggily as he gazed up at her.
Ginny smiled at him. "Why don't you get on up to bed, sleeping on this couch will hurt your neck," she told him softly.
"Good idea," he muttered as he got to his feet, Ginny walking with him. She made sure he got up to his room. She smiled as she watched him strip off his shirt and shirk off his jeans. This image would definitely be one to keep locked away in her mind forever.
Harry climbed into bed, waving Ginny over.
"Staying?"
"No, I have some things to finish up," she told him as she sat beside him, letting him pull her half way on him.
"Alright, I love you," he said as he kissed her gently.
Ginny leaned down, kissing him passionately as he held her tightly. Slowly and quite reluctantly she pulled back from him, licking her lips and grinning.
"I love you," Ginny told him.
Harry smiled as he released her and fell back asleep.
Ginny brushed his hair out of his eyes, watching him sleep peacefully. With renewed hope she kissed his forehead before heading down to the Great Hall.
A/N: Alright, its coming down to its end, it really is or somewhat close to it. I've been doing my best with this particular story, considering that I had such a long break from it and had to restart my interest in the story. I did and managed a full two chapters in under a day before going into slow down mode and haven't been able to get it up again yet. However, I have started ch. 16 but haven't even got like a sixteenth of the page done. I've thrown in a new twist as you can see. The battle isn't over so I don't have the outcome planned, it will come to me on its own.
I know you've all been waiting patiently for this and I had some time to get this up for you all. For anyone who is reading Deadly Curse as well I have to tell you that the final chapter is FINISHED!!! I'm so sad, it has to be my FAVORITE hp fanfic I've done, it clocked out at 220 pages, can you believe that? I'm proud of myself for the accomplishment. This story will maybe make it to about 130, if even that. I have to thank my faithful readers for sticking with me during this hectic time in my life.
I'm barely home anymore, on purpose really, I spend it all w/my best friend and the rest is at work. So I have tomorrow free and decided that writing is just the thing I need. This story has almost hit 30000 hits and that is freakin awesome! Twist of Fate took a lot longer to get that high that quickly and DC and TR and literally breaking my old records. TR has right now exactly 100 alerts while DC has 124 and DC has 208 reviews! Twist part 3 coming in second with like 203. I don't mean to sound like I am bragging, I never have, trust me I don't have the self esteem for it, I am more just in SHOCK that people are giving these things so much attention.
Ah, well it is currently after midnight and raining, so I am going to go to bed, as I am getting really groggy. Besides I get to see the midnight showing of HP 5!!! I can't wait till tomorrow!
And I say goodnight and much love to all who are being so patient with me. I promise, I will get to the end when it comes.
Seritha