"Freshwater Plimplies I can see,
Plimpy soup just for me,
A delicious broth it will be,
Yum, freshwater plimpy!"
Xenophilius Lovegood was gathering his dinner, when he heard a loud pop and raced over to the source of the noise. His first reaction was:
"Wow! Totally new species! How fortunate for me!"
His second reaction was:
"It is wounded! I shall assist it!"
His excitement was tempered when he realised it was just a Hogwarts Student – a student with a Dragon's head and Dragonesque arm. He instantly flooed Professor McGonagall, and she arrived with Albus Dumbledore and Madame Hooch a moment later.
McGonagall's mouth fell when she saw the…girl. "DRAGON!" McGonagall screeched, reversing the Transfiguration.
Madam Pomfrey was concentrating her efforts on Ginny's left arm - the flesh was rotting away.
"Albus, she needs to get to hospital, now!"
Dumbledore created a Portkey and Pomfrey, McGonagall and Ginny transported to the hospital wing, whilst Dumbledore sent a Patronus to the Weasleys to inform that he would take them to Hogwarts.
Ginny was deathly pale by the time they arrived in the Hospital Wing – the Weasley boys, Harry and Hermione were waiting. McGonagall understood why – Human transfiguration is an extremely dangerous practice – but partially transfiguring yourself into a Dragon was something only the most skilled practitioners of Transfiguration attempted - the physiological differences between a human and a Dragon meant that at full health the change was dangerous. With the Dark Curse placed on Ginny's arm it was nearly suicidal.
Dumbledore, Mrs Weasley, Mr Weasley and Fleur had popped into the room. Dumbledore raced over to try and help Madame Pomfrey – but even he found impossible to contain the curse, which was eating more and more of her arm away.
Severus Snape burst through the doors. Harry was never so pleased to see him – hate the man as he might, he knew of Snape's skills in healing Dark Curses.
Snape waved his wand over Ginny's arm and began muttering under his breath for what seemed like ages.
Snape stood up. Harry glanced at the clock – he had taken fifteen minutes – but mercifully the rotting had stopped. Ginny's left forearm was a mass of sinewy muscle, flesh and bone.
"I believe I have managed to negate the curse…" Snape told the group. "Of course, a great amount of damage has already been done – and unless I know exact properties of the curse that caused it, I dare not attempt to repair the injury." Snape glanced down at Ginny's unconscious form. "Could you identify any Death Eaters, Potter?"
"Lucius Malfoy. Antonin Dolohov." Harry began.
"This does look like Dolohov's style." Snape said. The Weasley's growled dangerously. "He is proficient with creating his own curse with some unpleasant effects."
Snape's eyes flickered to Dumbledore, and the Headmaster nodded imperceptibly, and Snape swept from the hall.
Harry had seen the nearly imperceptible flinch in Snape's left arm – and Harry knew that Voldemort would not pleased that his Death Eaters had let such a golden chance slip through their fingers. But Harry could not dwell on Death Eater politics at the moment.
Ginny remained unconscious all night. Harry, despite half-hearted protestations from Hermione and Mrs Weasley, refused to leave her side.
There were times when it seemed that Ginny wouldn't make it through the night, but she stubbornly clung to life. As the sun rose above the horizon and the first morning rays of light entered the wing, Ginny's eyes fluttered open. Harry leapt off his chair and it went clattering and clanging away, causing Mr and Mrs Weasley to shake themselves out of their sleep.
"How're you feeling, Gin?" Harry asked, kneeling on the floor and pushing Ginny's hair out of her face.
Ginny didn't say anything, but gave Harry a small, quirky smile. Harry grinned back and squeezed her right hand.
Ginny pulled herself up and noticed her parents. "Hi Mum, Dad. Whatever brings your delightful presences to this fine educational establishment?"
Mr Weasley gave a watery chuckle and Mrs Weasley strode around to pull Ginny into a hug.
The next few minutes was filled with Ginny's brothers crowding around her. Mr Weasley noticed that Harry wouldn't leave her – and that struck him as a bit odd.
Harry must blame himself that he got away and she didn't. Mr Weasley thought to himself. I'd best go and set him straight.
"Harry, could I have word?" Mr Weasley asked.
"Sure, sir." Harry, looking nervous followed Mr Weasley away from the group.
"What happened to Ginny is not your fault, Harry. We don't blame you…and I'm sure Ginny doesn't either."
"Thank you, sir. I know Ginny doesn't."
"Sir? Harry, why all this formality, you can call me Arthur – or Mr Weasley, whichever you prefer."
"Thank you, Sir…Mr Weasley."
Harry seems to be…Mr Weasley couldn't quite put his finger on – but something was up – Harry was never this nervous around him…and then it hit him. Mr Weasley backed away with a knowing half smile.
Harry returned to Ginny, and was glad he had done so, for she seemed terribly upset.
"Ginny, what's wrong?"
Ginny's lips quivered and she threw off her blanket to show where her left arm was resting, numbed and immobilized.
"I'm uneven!" Ginny wailed theatrically. "My beautiful symmetry is gone!" Ginny sobbed, throwing her head into Harry's chest.
"There, there." Harry said, rubbing Ginny's back. "Next year, we'll play with a right handed Quaffle."
"You would do that for me?" Ginny asked, pulling away – her face completely void of tears.
Harry snapped his fingers. "Fred, George. Right handed Quaffles for next year, please."
"Aye aye, SIR!" Fred and George snapped to attention and saluted.
"On the other hand." Ginny said, gesturing to her left arm, and George and Fred sniggered. "That looks totally boss."
"Do you know who did it, Ginny?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah – Dolohov." Mr Weasley swore under his breath. "But I didn't catch any incantation."
"Professor Snape suspected as much." Dumbledore told her, but his next statement was cut off a flash of fire appeared on the bed, and Fawkes the Phoenix materialised.
"He's beautiful." Percy and Hermione whispered in awe. Fawkes trilled in response.
"He is a majestic creature." Dumbledore agreed. "What brings you here, Fawkes?" Dumbledore asked.
Fawkes gave Dumbledore what seemed to be a condescending glance, before going over to Ginny's mangled arm, and tilting his head down, then lifting it up again to stare at Madam Pomfrey, who got the message and lifted the impervious charm. Fawkes waited and Pomfrey lifted the rest of the spells, and Ginny gritted her teeth and then gasped in pain, while Fawkes' tears fell onto the bloody mass and Ginny's left arm began to repair. With the pain lessening with every second, Ginny watched, fascinated along with everyone else as her arm returned back to normal.
Fawkes lifted his head up and looked down as if to appraise his work, then turned to Ginny as he was asking if it met with her approval.
"Right down to the last freckle." Ginny said, looking in wonder at her arm. "Thanks Fawkes." Ginny reached out to stroke the Phoenix. Fawkes trilled, and then flapped over to sun himself at the window.