Hello, loves! I'm sorry for my absence, but on the bright side, my computer is fixed! I missed it so much, but it is back and working perfectly!
On the downside, last chapter was not greeted warmly, and the idea of Draco's OOC addition is stilling being poorly met. I'm sorry to those who PM'd me that I did not write it in a way that pleased you guys. The idea was that Ginny was in a coma, a little disoriented and confused and unable to fully process her surroundings. It's a filler chapter, one that wasn't supposed to make a one-hundred percent amount of sense, and I apologize for not making it work better.
To my Guest reviewer who declared the story a half-assed TV script, I'm sad that you now think so poorly of the chapter and that you felt the need to say something rude. I hope the rest of the story isn't a disappointment if you continue on, but I understand if you don't. I'm a big supporter of "Don't like, don't read."
I also recognize how cheesy the ending is XD don't judge me
Now enough of that! On with the show! ;)
I own nothing of Harry Potter.
Harry woke up on New Year's Eve, struggling to believe it had only been six days since he and Ginny were taken. It felt like ages.
The morning, however, felt different. He woke up to a heavier snowfall than on Christmas, but still light enough to be enjoyable. Even looking out his large window, Harry saw that children played in the streets. He smiled to himself, a flicker of hope welling inside of his chest. Today was it.
He went for his usual run, despite it being late morning, and returned to a hearty meal cooked by Isabelle. He showered, dressed in Ginny's favorite green shirt and jeans, and joined Sirius by the fireplace. They went to the hospital, unsurprised to find the Weasley family camped in the waiting room. Hermione and Sarai were cuddled on a couch, curled together with light snores. Draco walked by and covered them in a thin blanket before approaching Ron and Harry.
In the past few days, Ron had decided that Draco wasn't the spawn of Satan, but rather a hero for rescuing his best mate and sister. Draco was still openly arrogant, highly judgmental, and infuriatingly smart; there something different to him, though, that made his company more than bearable.
"Why do you stay?" Harry had asked two days before.
"Honestly?" Draco had laughed. "Because I've nowhere else to go."
The three boys had formed a strange friendship over a matter of days.
"Morning, Potter," Draco muttered, handing him a mug. "Mother's brought a load of tea for everyone. St. Mungo's has the worst."
"I agree," Ron made a face, accepting the cup that Draco offered. "You'd think a hospital would do something to make people feel better, not worse."
Draco smirked. "I believe the tea has weakening qualities. Keeps them in business."
Before Harry could offer his opinion, Mrs. Weasley rushed from the room, calling for a healer. Harry shoved his tea into Malfoy's hand. His friends hung back and let him run in the room to see his fiancée lying in bed, beautiful hazel eyes blissfully open.
Ginny's hair was brushed like Hermione said it would be, so it lay down her shoulders in its usual fashion, despite the slight lack of luster. Her recently pale skin had some flush to it, and even though her lips were dry, they were open in such a way that indicated she was trying to speak. She had herself propped up on one elbow and was motioning towards her throat.
"Relax, love," Harry shushed her, finding a cup of water. He sat on her bed and gripped her neck in his hands, placing the cup at her lips. "Here, drink this."
He helped her drink the water, a smile wide on his face. She was awake, and her beautiful eyes looked at him adoringly. After she got some water, Ginny coughed out the word, "Where?"
"Where?" Harry frowned. "Sweetheart, what do you mean?"
"Where?" she whispered. "My ring...where..."
Harry's heart clenched. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he always kept by his side. Wasting no time, he slipped it on Ginny's ring finger. "You still want to marry me?"
"Of course," she smiled. Just then, the healers walked in.
"Miss. Weasley," Healer Mathis smiled widely. "Do you mind if I check some things? It'll be like a routine sort of appointment, just checking the basics. Mr. Malfoy helped with most of the real injuries."
Ginny nodded. Harry stayed by her side, along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, while she had her check-up. Healer Mathis declared her in great health, only that she'd have some soreness for a few days. The skin on her back was healed nicely, but she would have some scars. The puncture wounds on her wrist would be there as well, but he said those scars may fade over time.
"We need to keep you for twenty-four hours under observation to be sure everything is alright," Healer Mathis concluded. "If you are still just as healthy as you appear to be now, you'll be able to go home."
"Thank you," Ginny said. By now, her sleepy voice had gone and she could speak fully. "Can I eat real food?"
"We'll start light," he said. "Just bread, some light fruit, and juice."
"That will be perfect," Ginny smiled. "Thank you, Healer Mathis."
"Of course."
After all the family had shuffled through to kiss her cheek and express their love, her friends remained behind. Sarai and Hermione sat on the bed, Luna at the foot. Harry was in a chair by her bed, Ron and George on the little couch in the room, and Fred was with Neville as he visited his parents, who he informed her were mentally unstable. Ginny had understood and simply sent him on his way, no further explanation required.
"So," Sarai grinned. "When's the wedding?" The room laughed. She simply shrugged and squeezed Ginny's hand. "I'm only joking."
"I'm glad for the laugh," Ginny smiled. There was a small silence. "What happened? To the erm—well, to the Death Eaters?"
"Lucius Malfoy and the rest of the Death Eaters there were taken to Azkaban to await trial," Harry answered her.
"Harry," Hermione whispered.
"What?"
"Mrs. Weasley said—
"Mrs. Weasley wasn't taken and tortured for my blood," Harry cut in. He cleared his throat at the strange looks he received, a humble blush creeping up his necks. "She deserves to know."
"They want you to testify," Ron said abruptly. "In trial. You'd be putting a name to Malfoy and Yaxley, and...Fenir Greyback."
Harry saw Ginny suppress a shudder. "And the others? All those people that were at the graveyard?"
"You testifying that Lucius Malfoy is in charge will convince the Wizemegot that the names he's been trying to give are in fact those of Death Eaters," Hermione said begrudgingly. "Then they'll be found and sent to Azkaban as well."
"And if you tell them Narcissa helped, she'll be free of suspicion," Harry said. "Mr. Fudge has already pardoned Draco, but they need your word for Narcissa."
"I'll give it," Ginny said instantly. "I'll tell them everything."
"We know," George told her softly. "You're an adult now, so you get to decide that."
"Right," Ginny swallowed. "Where is Draco? I'd like to see him, to thank him."
"He's gone to tell Narcissa you're awake," Harry assured her. "I told him to come back."
"And he'll listen, will he?"
"Sarai told him to, so that'll be enough," Neville appeared in the doorway.
"Neville," Ginny said fondly. "Fred!"
"We'll not mention Sarai and Draco anymore," Fred grumbled. "The arsehole doesn't deserve it."
"Even though he saved me?" Ginny smiled.
"Fred and Georgie saved me first," Sarai smirked. "From Malfoy. They're my protectors, you see."
"Did they teach you how to punch as well?" Ginny teased.
Hermione pretended to gasp. "Does that mean you two teaching me isn't special?"
"Oh Hermione, you are special," George popped up and threw an arm around her.
Fred appeared on her other side. "Yeah, we taught you how to punch Ronnie if you ever needed to."
"Oi now, don't go turning my own girlfriend against me!"
"Hermione couldn't be turned against you," Luna said her endearingly strange way. "She's much too in love."
There was silence in the room for a few seconds. Ron straightened his back, not even attempting to cover his blush. Hermione looked mortified, and kept her eyes anywhere but Ron. The youngest Weasley male only smiled bashfully. "Well. That settles that. Carry on then."
"Right," Fred grinned. "Ginny, I've got an early wedding present for you."
"Oh no," Harry blanched. "Should I hide?"
"'Course not," George brushed it off. "It's NewYear's Eve and you're stuck in a hospital room!"
"What are you to do about that?" Ginny crossed her arms.
"Just wait until tonight," Fred assured her. "Until then, we had all better head out. You're gonna need your rest for this."
)-(
When Ginny awoke the second time that evening, it was to Hermione and Luna's gentle prodding. As she was told, her body still slightly achy, but it was manageable. The nurse gave her a potion to ease her pain and left.
"Now you need to get cleaned up," Hermione smiled softly. "The healer says you can shower and change into more comfortable clothes for the night. Your mum went home and got some."
When Ginny had showered off, shaved, and scrubbed her face, Hermione gave her the clothes she needed to change. Those consisted of soft grey pajama pants, a long sleeved and pale pink shirt, and necessary undergarments. Once done with that, Luna treated her to a gentle brushing and drying of the hair.
"I feel loads better," Ginny said an hour later. "But where has Hermione gone? It's almost twelve!"
"She'll be back with some espresso," Luna explained. "Until then, a croissant?"
"I hope the healer will tell me I can eat meat again tomorrow," Ginny took the croissant. "I love these, but a girl needs her meat."
"I believe Healer Mathis said heavier foods could be eaten in one or two days."
"Lovely."
They sat in companionable silence while Ginny ate. That silence was one of the reasons Ginny loved Luna; Luna didn't always have to be talking. Even though Ginny adored the other girl's funny quips, she also enjoyed how Luna always had an understanding of what Ginny needed. In this case, it was silence.
Hermione returned with espresso and Gabriella, who'd had to return to her parents for a few days while Ginny was in a coma. At the sight of Ginny, she surged forward and kissed both her cheeks. "I came back as soon as Harry flooed that you had woken up! I'm terribly sorry I had to leave."
"Harry explained it, it's perfectly alright," Ginny hugged her back. "Do you know about this surprise my brothers have prepared?"
"Yes," Gabrielle replied. "It's positively lovely."
"And the time has come for it," a voice drawled from the doorway. They all turned to see Draco standing there. "I've been sent to escort the ladies to the desired location."
"Thank you, Draco," Ginny smiled. "Lead the way."
It was a bit of a trek, but Ginny didn't mind. Draco stopped her in front of a large white door and motioned to a pair of rubber rain boots. It seemed a bit peculiar, but she complied.
Ginny soon found herself on the roof of St. Mungos. All around her were floating lights and the people she loved most in life, all except Fred and George (which she thought mysterious). Mrs. Weasley approached her with a warm blanket to wrap around her shoulders, and Harry wrapped her in his embrace. She stood in the snow, a smile on her face that was unparalleled to any she'd felt before.
"I feel as if I know what's happening," Ginny giggled while curled into Harry's side. "Fireworks, I presume?"
"You're a smart girl," Harry tapped her nose. Just as he turned back to the sky, the first fireworks went off. Ginny smiled as she watched the sparkle light up the night sky, all who she loved surrounding her. When midnight struck and the fireworks exploded into their finale, Harry kissed Ginny passionately on the lips. She wound her arms around him, ignoring the blanket that fell away from her shoulders. Both shared in the desperation, the need to be close after what they'd experienced. If they weren't bonded before, they most certainly were now.
"What's your resolution for the new year?" Harry asked breathlessly when they pulled apart.
"To be happy, without worry," Ginny replied. "You?"
He glanced over at Malfoy, who'd just received a peck on the cheek from Sarai. He laughed. "To forgive, and move on."
"That sounds perfect," Ginny replied, before giving in and kissing him again. Happiness consumed her, and she relished in it. The scary part of life was behind her, and now it was time to move on, and make a bright new future.