A/N - Hi guys as always thank you for your reviews, please keep them coming.

Big thanks to my beta RubyGloom15a for her wonderful work.

Chapter Four

By the time he had finished talking he was sobbing. He held his head in his hands, his shoulders shook and his body trembled. Ginny didn't know what to do or say. Her first instincts were to take the boy she loved and hold him. Show him that she didn't think that he was dirty or disgusting. But she didn't think he would react very well to her holding him.

Another thought that went through her mind, was to pay a visit to his relatives and show them what it was really like to cause someone pain. Underage magic laws be damned. But Harry needed her here whether he knew it or not. He had kept these things bottled up inside for too long. Now that he had told her, she would help him in any way that she could.

She looked over to the sobbing boy, that had from what she had already known, been through too much. Now, with what she had just found out that he had been through, plus everything that had happened this year and losing his godfather. She didn't know how he was still going. She knew she wouldn't have been. If only she could take him in her arms. She so desperately wanted to offer him some comfort.

"Harry?" she whispered. "Look at me Harry please."

When Harry finally, slowly turned his head to look at her, she could see the broken boy he was. She slowly, as not to panic him, held her arms open, but made no move to get closer to him. She wanted him to come to her so he didn't feel like she was forcing him to do anything.

"Come here Harry." she whispered. "Come here, let me hold you." she coaxed.

Harry looked at her, the first thing he noticed was that there was no disgust in her eyes. Concern he could see, anger was there as well, though he was sure it wasn't directed at him. He looked at her open arms, how long had he craved for someone to hold him? For someone to comfort him in a hug. But he was so unsure as to what he should do. He craved to be held, to feel like someone cared about him. But he also knew that giving into that craving would only hurt when that comfort was taken away. And he knew it would be taken, everything he held dear to him was eventually taken.

"Harry." Ginny whispered again, her arms still open to him.

He continued to stare at her open arms. He knew the offered comfort would be taken from him at some point, but he could use it now and absorb the feeling of being held, of being cared for while it was on offer. He would get over it when it was gone, like he somehow managed to get over everything else that had been taken from him in his past.

Ever so slowly he shuffled over to her, so he was sat next to her and facing her, and carefully lent in to her arms. Carefully Ginny adjusted her seat and brought her arms around him. One arm was around his shoulders while the other was around his waist under his arm, like she was cradling a small child. His head was resting on her shoulder and his hands were clasped together in front of him resting on her belly. Ginny lent her cheek against his forehead, as she felt his hot tears slide down her neck. Harry was surprised at how nice it felt to be held. He couldn't ever remember being held before. He was sure his parents use to hold him before they died, but it wasn't something he could remember. He had been hugged by Mrs Weasley and Hermione, but he had always felt awkward and trapped when they held him. But the way Ginny was holding him was different. It was comforting and almost protective.

"Have you thought about maybe telling the headmaster? As much as I don't like him, maybe he could help get you out of there." Ginny said quietly.

"Why don't you like him?" Harry asked sniffling, ignoring the first part of her question.

"I just don't think he is as great as everyone makes him out to be. We can talk about it another time. So what about telling him? You wouldn't have to tell him everything, just enough for him to help you, so you wouldn't have to stay at that house with those monsters." Ginny replied.

"He knows already. That was one of the other things he told me. He said he knew about everything that had happened to me there, but it was imperative that I stayed. I told him he didn't know everything, but when he looked at me, I could tell that he did. He knew everything that had happened, and he still said I had to go back. I went mad and ended up destroying his office, then he told me I had to go back because of some sort of blood ward that is around the house. So no, he won't help me leave." Harry replied wiping his eyes.

Ginny had been having a hard time keeping herself from shivering, as Harry's breath touched the skin on her neck as he spoke. He hadn't lifted his head from her shoulder, and she was still holding him in her embrace. He seemed to be taking comfort from her holding him, so she wouldn't move.

She did however hiss, when Harry had said the headmaster knew what had been happening to him, yet would do nothing to help him. She said no words it was just an angry noise. "I'm gonna help you Harry, I'm not sure how yet, but I will think of something. I'm never letting anyone hurt you again. I promise." Ginny said as she moved her head slightly to place a gentle kiss on his temple, before returning to rest her cheek on his forehead.

Harry closed his eyes, he didn't say anything in reply to Ginny's comment. He was sure that there was nothing she could do for him. But it was nice hearing her say that she wanted to help protect him. He moved his arms slowly, and timidly out from where they had been clasped in front of him, and shakily put them around Ginny's waist, holding her with very little pressure, but taking comfort from the contact none the less.

They stayed that way for a length of time, neither of them sure exactly how long. They would have probably stayed that way all night, except for when they were interrupted by a small male house-elf, standing only about 3 and a half feet tall. He had large, tennis-ball-like green eyes, a pencil-like nose and long, bat-like pointed ears. He was wearing a mismatched variety of jumpers, shorts, and socks. In his hands he held a rolled up parchment.

Slowly Harry sat up rubbing his eyes and looking at the elf. "Dobby?" he asked in a croaky voice, that gave away he'd been crying.

"Harry Potter Sir, Dobby is sorry for interrupting you and your Miss Weezy, but Dobby has a letter for you sir, from the goblins." Dobby said holding out the parchment.