Harry told Ginny as much as he could from the last year. He began from when they had left the wedding, and he ended at the confrontation last night in the Entrance Hall. Ginny listened avidly, not interrupting much, not asking much either. She simply stared at the lake, a thick purple blanket wrapped around her and Harry had a blanket for himself too. She ended up lying with her back on the blanket below her while she listened because the story went on and on.
When Harry finally got to the part about him being an accidental Horcrux, Ginny sat bolt upright. She frowned and asked curiously, "What do you mean, an accidental Horcrux?" Harry shrugged and replied nonchalantly, "Voldemort never intended to create me. I was never planned like the others were. It's why I had to die." His words echoed into the empty night and Ginny felt a shiver trickle up her spine. She whispered throatily, "How did you discover this?" Harry explained carefully about Snape's memory, and he told her of how the memory explained everything- how Snape had been protecting Harry because of Lily and how he'd loved her from the beginning. He told her how the piece of Voldemort's soul that had died had latched onto him.
When he was finished, he looked at Ginny nervously. Ginny whispered hoarsely, "So you came back because you had the Invisibility Cloak and the Elder Wand? But you didn't have the Resurrection Stone, so how could you…?" Harry smiled wryly, "Well, you see I did have the stone. It was hidden in the Snitch Dumbledore gave me. When I walked from the castle to the school, I ran into you comforting this girl who was really upset. I was so tempted to stop but I knew you wouldn't let me go. Even then I didn't know I had the stone, but I suspected. I didn't know if it would work or not. How could you gamble with Death?"
He laughed humorlessly and Ginny said suddenly, "That was you! I don't know why but I thought it was you! I felt someone brushing me and even though you were invisible, I just had this sense. I can't describe it. I probably sound mad…" She was rambling, until Harry took her hand in his. He smiled at her and whispered, "I was so close to stopping. If I didn't know that this was what was meant to happen, I would have. This was my destiny, and I had to face it." Ginny nodded and swallowed, "Neither can live while the other survives." He nodded in confirmation.
Ginny was quiet for a moment before saying, "So I told my whole family I had seen you die, and I was right." She glanced sheepishly at Harry and he bit his lip, "You don't have to tell me if you don't…" She interrupted him, "No, I'm going to. Basically when you…died…" she glanced at him to check if it was ok to say that. He merely nodded and she continued after a deep breath, "When you died I had a vision in my mind's eye. It was of Riddle in the forest initially surrounded by his Death Eater pals. But he looked like the Riddle I remembered and I found that strange. Then he turned into Voldemort and he was telling me that you had died. I saw your lifeless body lying on the forest floor."
Harry sat there quietly, unsure of what to say. The next minute he whispered, "You said your family didn't believe you?" Ginny nodded slowly, "Yes. I told them immediately- they were all around me." He sighed and frowned but then he whispered suddenly, "The diary was a Horcrux." As soon as he said it, he looked like he regretted it.
Ginny's face paled in the darkness of the night and she felt like she was going to be sick, "What?!" She practically shouted. Harry nodded, looking guilty for having mentioned it, "It could explain the connection you had with Riddle. I don't think you were a Horcrux necessarily…" he said instantly. Clearly Ginny looked like she was not taking the news very well. She tried to calm her rapid breathing by inhaling deep breaths.
She stared at Harry properly for the first time, "But it explains the connection I had with him. I mean he always did have some sort of power and control over me. The nightmares…" Harry nodded and whispered, "It makes sense. But hopefully now that he's gone, there won't be anymore." Ginny felt deflated. For about the millionth time since the Chamber, she questioned how she could have been so stupid in trusting such a dark object. She voiced this out loud, "How stupid was I? I look back and I really can't believe I trusted Tom!"
Ginny felt even more furious with herself now. The diary was part of Voldemort's soul! It was worse than she had ever thought possible. Harry turned to face her, looking directly in the eyes, "Hey, you shouldn't beat yourself up. There's no way you could have known!" She shook her head and muttered, "I was naïve. I should have known better." She shook her head and sighed, "Sorry, it really should be the last of our problems right now. So basically you had the Invisibility Cloak, the Elder Wand, and the Resurrection Stone. So that would have made you…" Harry muttered under his breath, "The Master of Death…"
They were silent for a moment. Ginny's thoughts were swirling like crazy around in her mind's eye and she shook herself. Was this really happening?! It was only then that she realized she was shivering from the cold, even with a thick blanket wrapped around her. Harry noticed at the same time she did and whispered, "I think we should head back in. You're freezing." Ginny's teeth were chattering and she nodded briskly, "Yeah I guess so."
As they walked up, Harry asked her quietly, "Are you ok? That was a lot of information to tell you at once." Ginny thought about it and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know how I feel. As you say it's a lot. It doesn't really feel real…even though it is." Harry nodded and said gravely, "I know. I don't feel like it really happened either."
They walked back up through the castle in silence once more, with Harry under his cloak. There were a few people milling around. It seemed like what Hermione said was true- the rules weren't really applying anymore. Before the battle ended, people would have been in the dorms long before 10, if only to avoid the wrath of the Carrow's. Now people seemed to be aimlessly walking around because they could. Ginny whispered, "People look so much more relaxed than before…like now they can actually carry on with their lives." She had forgotten that Harry was under his cloak and she had spoken to herself. He whispered back, "Why?"
Before Ginny could answer, she bumped into Luna who was walking alongside Neville. Ginny smiled at her friend and hugged her fiercely, "Hey Luna! I'm so happy to see you! I was so worried this whole year!" Her friend looked thinner, but other than that she didn't seem too beaten up apart from one or two scars on her face. She smiled dreamily, "I'm happy to be back that's for sure. Have you seen Harry? Everyone is asking for him."
Ginny bit her lip and then commented quickly, "Oh, he's under the cloak isn't he? Hello Harry…" she whispered, glancing around the room. Luna was too perceptive for her own good! Ginny glanced at Neville, who virtually refused to look at her. He was staring at his feet on the floor and he seemed restless as he commented, "Luna, we were heading for dinner." Ginny nodded and replied, "I'll see you guys later then." They headed on up again when Ginny ran into Fred and George on the steps coming out of Gryffindor Tower, "Gin! Hey, how are you? Mum's been wondering…" Ginny rolled her eyes, "I'm here. I'm fine. I'm alive." She smiled at them bleakly and Fred said sternly, "I hope you weren't out on your own?" Ginny shook her head, "Nope. Harry's here with me." George rolled his eyes, "He's under the cloak, Fred." Fred pretended to look serious by folding his arms, "Harry, we need to have a chat at some point mate." It was as if he knew which direction to look in as he was staring right at Harry. Ginny could feel him next to her. George said numbly, "Yeah Harry, you're going to need to answer to all of us brothers! You won't be able to hide under that cloak forever…"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Lay off you guys! How's mum?" George shrugged, "She and dad have gone back home. I think the castle has too many painful memories right now for her…" She nodded in understanding and said, "Alright then. We're heading upstairs. Night guys." Once they got into the entry of the common room, Ginny said to Harry in a whisper, "Why don't you take off your cloak now? You're going to have face everyone sooner or later." Harry hesitated for a moment before doing so and then he unraveled his cloak.
It took several minutes before the few people who were in the room which included the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Dean, Seamus, Ron and Hermione, as well as her brothers and several other elder students noticed Harry. When he headed over to Ron and Hermione though, everyone began clapping and cheering for him. Ginny watched as he looked embarrassed and he began blushing. She stood to the side and McLaggen came up to her before saying softly, "I'm sorry about Colin. He was a really good guy." Ginny turned to him and whispered, "Thanks…I know I can't really believe he's not here. He would have loved this." McLaggen smiled sadly, "And be taking loads of pictures I reckon." This made Ginny smile, "Of course. Always pictures." For the first time since the battle finished, Ginny thought about those who she had lost. The dull ache that had been burning subconsciously in her chest now felt suddenly very present and very real. She felt tears springing to her eyes and McLaggen placed a concerned hand on her shoulder, "Are you alright? I'm sorry to upset you…I just…miss him." Ginny was touched. She had noticed them becoming friendlier in the last little while, but didn't realize that McLaggen had considered him a friend.
On impulse, Ginny gave him a hug. He seemed like he needed it. They stayed like that for a minute before she heard Ron's voice, "Hey Ginny." She pulled away and found him watching McLaggen sourly. Ron said firmly, "McLaggen." He gave a curt nod and then dragged Ginny to the centre of the room, where all of the commotion was happening because of Harry's appearance. He asked her snidely, "What the devil do you think you're doing, hugging McLaggen! He's a nasty piece of work…and he's not your boyfriend!"
Ginny couldn't help it. She snapped at Ron because who was he to judge or say anything, "He's my friend, Ron! We played on the same team this year! He was the best Keeper I could find. And I decided to give him a chance to be a nice person. He proved out to be fairly decent." Ron looked furious, "But what about Harry?!" Ginny raised her eyebrows and pulled Ron to the far corner of the room where nobody could hear them conversing, "What about Harry? I have a lot to figure out, Ron! Just because he's back doesn't mean we're officially together. He left me here while you three went gallivanting off. Just because he's back and alive doesn't mean he gets immunity and all is forgiven!" Ron scowled at her and asked, "Then what were you doing sleeping in his bed?" Ginny stared at Ron with as much venom as she thought possible, "I needed comfort that night. He probably did too. It doesn't confirm anything."
Ron raised his eyebrows sky high and then uttered the last thing that made Ginny snap, "And what about Malfoy?" Ginny opened her mouth to respond when there was a cold voice from behind them, "Yes, what about Malfoy?" She knew the voice better than she knew anyone else's. She turned slowly on her heels and found Harry staring at her frostily-Hermione standing beside him- and his face as rigid as ever with cold, seething green eyes.
Ginny felt all the colour drain from her face. She whispered hoarsely, "There's nothing to do with him…" But Hermione raised her eyebrows in disbelief. Ginny felt herself grow angry. So she had kissed him once! So he had helped her out a few times when they hadn't been around! So who were they to judge him?!
Ginny said fiercely, "You know what, you guys can judge me all you like, but Malfoy was here when you weren't. That's all I'm going to say!" Ron grabbed her arm roughly, "Ginny, you better tell us what happened now or I swear I will…" His grip tightened on her arm and Ginny whispered in pain, "Ron, let me go or I will hex you!" It was only then that Ginny noticed how the noise levels in the common room had dropped. More people had gone to bed but now only a few people remained. Demelza watched , looking concerned, and McLaggen was approaching them with a worried expression on his face.
Ron did as she said and then she ran from the room, tears prickling in her eyes. She had seen the hurt look Harry had on his face when he heard them talking about Malfoy. Ginny knew that Malfoy of all people would hurt Harry the most if he thought she had anything to do with him. But she had figured there was no way he would ever find out. How wrong she had been!
A/N: Hey all! Thanks so much to everyone who has so far checked out part two! You guys are awesome! Hope you have a good week! There may be lots of drama to begin this story with…there is a lot to cover after all. Thanks so much to Nova Bella, Starrya47, Azoma J, and torchy22 for the reviews! Much love