1Chapter 11: healing

'Harry, we need to talk.'

Harry closed the door behind him and slowly made his way across the room, sitting on the bed next to her.

'What's going on, Gin?', he asked.

Ginny took a deep breath and turned to face Harry. 'I just don't know if I can handle this', she said.

'What do you mean?', asked Harry, confused.

'When we got the letter saying you had been injured, all the feelings that I had back in May came flooding back to me. I felt like I did when I saw Hagrid carrying your body out of the forest', said Ginny, tears silently falling down her face.

Harry reached up and cupped her face with his hand. He leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers. When he broke the kiss he rested his forehead against hers.

'Is it always going to be like this?', asked Ginny. 'Is there always going to be some dark wizard out there hell bent on killing you?'

'I can't promise you that there won't be another like Avery, or even Voldemort for that matter', said Harry. He reached up and wiped away a stray tear that was sliding down her cheek. 'What happed to me was an accident. I should have been paying more attention to what was going on around me. I'm sorry, Gin. I'm really, really sorry I put you through this', he said.

'I just don't want to feel like this every time you go out on one of your assignments', said Ginny.

'It's not going to be like this for every one', said Harry.

'But how do you know?', asked Ginny.

Harry thought for a moment. 'I guess I don't know. But not every assignment I go on will be to track down a wizard intent on killing me', said Harry. 'And if another one like this comes along, I promise I'll be more careful.'

Ginny sighed. 'I guess that's all I can really ask for', she said.

Harry reached over and pulled her into his arms, ignoring the stabbing pain in his ribs. 'Gin, I am so sorry', he said.

'It's not your fault. I was just scared. I thought I was going to lose you', said Ginny, sniffling.

'You're never going to lose me Gin. I'll always be here. No matter what happens', said Harry, pulling back and looking into her eyes. 'I love you', he added.

'I love you too, Harry', she said.

'You know. For a moment there, I thought you were going to break up with me', he said.

'I couldn't do that Harry. I love you too much', said Ginny. 'Besides, after what you put me through, you owe me dinner', she added with a sly grin.

'Is that so?', he asked, chuckling. 'I think that can be arranged.'

Ginny laughed and stood up from the bed. 'I'll let you get some rest', she said.

Harry stood to walk her to her room and swayed, falling back down on the bed.

'Harry? Are you all right?', asked Ginny worriedly.

'Just a bit dizzy still', he said. Noticing the concerned look on her face he added, 'don't worry. The healers said it would pass in a day or so.'

'Do you need anything?'

'Nah. I'm all right', he said.

'Well, get some rest. I'll see you in the morning', she said as she bent down to give him a kiss. 'Night', she murmured against his lips.

'Night.'

The next few days passed by slowly for Harry. Every time he tried to leave his room, Mrs. Weasley scolded him for being out of bed, insisting that he should be resting. In all honestly, Harry was becoming quite bored. Mrs. Weasley only allowed him out of bed for mealtimes. When Ron came up to his room on the third day and asked if he wanted to go into the shop for a little bit, he jumped on the idea.

'Mum's not home', said Ron as they made their way down the stairs. 'Thought I would come and rescue you.'

'Thanks mate', said Harry. 'I was going crazy up there.'

'Where are you two off to?', asked Ginny when the two of them walked into the sitting room.

'Going into the shop for a bit', said Ron.

'You want to come?', asked Harry hopefully. He had barely seen Ginny since their talk.

Ginny jumped up from the sofa. 'Give me five minutes', she said before dashing up the stairs.

'Better not let Molly see you out of bed', warned Arthur who had just walked into the room from the kitchen.

'Let me see what?', asked Mrs. Weasley over the pile of laundry she had in her arms.

'Mum', said Ron in surprise. 'I didn't think you were home!'

'I just got back. Why?', she asked.

'Erm, Mrs. Weasley', began Harry hesitantly. 'I'm going to go into Diagon Alley for a bit with Ron.'

'Harry. You should be upstairs resting', she said sternly, setting the pile of laundry on the sofa.

'I'm feeling much better', said Harry. 'I really just need to get out of the house for a bit. I promise I'll take it easy and if I start to feel tired, I'll come straight back here.'

Mrs. Weasley gave him a skeptical look but after much pleading from Ron and Harry, she reluctantly agreed.

'Don't worry mum. We'll take care of him', came Ginny's voice from the stairs. She walked over to Harry and took his hand leading him through the kitchen and out the back door.

'Do you feel up to apparating?', she asked once they reached the garden gate.

'Erm, I don't know', he said.

'I can side-along you again, if that's all right', said Ginny, tightening her grip on Harry's hand. Harry nodded and she turned on the spot, apparating to the Leaky Cauldron.

'I thought we were going to the shop?', asked Harry.

'Thought you could use some lunch', said Ginny, leading him to a vacant booth toward the back of the pub. Once they were seated and ordered their food, Ginny turned to Harry and said, 'I go to Hogwarts next week to take my NEWTS.'

'Blimey. I almost forgot', said Harry.

'I wanted to know if you wanted to go with me, seeing as you can't go back to work yet', said Ginny. 'We could hangout in Hogsmeade when I'm done. Maybe grab some dinner at the Three Broomsticks.'

'That would be great', said Harry. 'Are you nervous about the exam?', he asked.

'Ehh, just a little bit', said Ginny just as their food arrived. She speared a piece of broccoli with her fork and added, 'I got an owl from Gwenog yesterday. She wants me at the first practice a week after I take my NEWTS. What if I don't pass?'

Harry sat down his fork and reached across the table. Taking her hand in his, he said, 'You'll pass, Gin. I have complete confidence in you.'

'But . . . what if I do fail. What would I do then? The only thing I've ever wanted to do is play quidditch professionally.'

'You'll pass, Gin. I know you will', said Harry. 'I can help you go over the material again if you want.'

'Thanks Harry'

After they were done with lunch, they took a walk through Diagon Alley. A lot more of the shops were reopening since the last time Harry had visited a few weeks ago. As they approached Eeylops, Harry pulled Ginny inside.

'I think it's time I got another owl', he said.

When they came out of the shop a few moments later, Harry was holding a cage that contained a small snowy owl that was fast asleep, her head tucked under her wing. When he had first entered the shop, he had no intention in purchasing another snowy owl, but this particular owl had taken to him right away and she completely adored Ginny.

'What are you going to name her?', asked Ginny as they approached Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.

'I was thinking about calling her Abigail, we could call her Abby', said Harry.

'That's pretty,' said Ginny.

When they entered WWW, Ron, George and Hermione came rushing out from the back of the shop.

'Where have you been?', asked Hermione, hysterically. 'We were beginning to think something happened to you.'

'Sorry guys. We stopped for lunch first', said Ginny.

'Just consider yourselves lucky we didn't go home and tell mum we lost you guys. She would have had a fit', said George from behind the counter.

'Yea, thanks for not doing that. I think it was sheer luck she allowed me out of the house today', said Harry, trying to suppress his laughter. He took a look around the shop and noticed that all the shelves were stocked. 'When are you reopening?', he asked George.

'Tomorrow', he answered. 'Just wanted to come in today and put the final touches on everything.'

'It looks great', said Ginny as she walked around looking at the items on the shelves.

'You guys can get out of here if you want', said George. 'I just have a few more things to take care of.'

'Ok, we'll see you at home', said Ron. Together the four of them made their way out of the shop and headed back toward the Leaky Cauldron.

'George is a little upset', said Ron. 'He somehow feels that it's not right to reopen the shop without Fred.'

'That's ridiculous', said Ginny. 'Fred would have wanted him to open it again.'

'We all know that, but George thinks that he's somehow betraying Fred by opening it without him', said Hermione. 'He was telling us about it before you two got there.'

'He'll come around', said Harry. 'Some wounds just take a while to heal.'

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