A few hours later they all sat quietly in what to be most of their first time in a muggle hospital, with the exception of Hermione. Her parents were dentists and as such, she's seen them many many times.

" What's that smell?" Luna said, rubbing her hands together.

" That's the smell of death. " Ron said in a blunt tone " because that is what happens when people come to muggle hospitals. I will never forgive you for bringing my baby sister here"

He pointed right in McGonagall's face.

" Well if I do remember, it was your idea I come with you in the first place." Professor McGonagall retorted.

People in the waiting room were starting to stare at them.

" I would have never had come to you if I thought this would have been your plan" Ron was yelling now, the hospital staff was taking notice.

" Excuse me but I am the Headmistress.." suddenly there was a mousy voice in the middle of all the fighting.

" Pardon me, seeing though you are all together, we have private rooms for those waiting for patients in surgery,shall we?"

The nurse was pointing in the direction of a hallway. Draco stood first. Hermione on his side. George, Angelina, Luna and harry followed. Professor McGonagall and Ron were the last two the leave the crowded and now silent waiting room. When the nurse led them to their own private area they were sure she had heard her say something about "crazy people" and " soundproofing"

Just as Ron was about to take another stab at McGonagall, Harry stepped into his path. He was white as a ghost, his eyes red, bloodshot, and drowning in quiet tears.

With a sniffle he said, " It's good to see you Professor, it has been far too long"

Like a mother to a son, She quickly pulled Harry in, hugging him tightly.

" Oh Mr. Potter how worried I have been! No one has heard anything from any of you. Molly said someone had spotted you in northern America and she said she sent you word. Oh my dear boy! Oh Harry!"

They stood there hugging for a few moments.

This was the first time Harry could ever remember Professor McGonagall calling him by his first name, this made him only squeeze harder. Finally she pulled away from him, looking around the room, tears streaming down her face.

" Oh and Ms. Granger my child. I was so scared. How has it been?" Before Hermione could answer, Draco stepped forward.

" She's been busy, but mostly busy keeping us sane, and rational." With a smile he took her hand.

Professor McGonagall stood there, gaping at the sight of Hermione and Draco.

" So tell me this great plan of yours again. You have different names?"

George spoke up, with a smile and scratch of his head " well it happened on accident see..."and retold the long tedious story to Minerva McGonagall.

After that story, they told of how they met up with the group. Hermione filled in the beginning parts, and Harry told the story of his trip to Malfoy manor, and his peace with Draco. Meanwhile, Ron stayed completely silent in the corner. Not even Luna could get him to talk.

" George..Angelina..I'm so happy for you. Congratulations on getting married. I wanted to come, I got my invite, i just couldn't leave the school." Minerva wiped her tears in her muggle old lady sweater.

" I proposed to Ginny" Harry said, a strange combination between smiling and crying, he looked to Minerva, who was positively beaming. She embraced him again.

" oh your mother and father would be so proud of you. I have always seen Ms. We...I'm sorry..Ginny as a young Lily Potter all over again. Yes indeed, a perfect match."

" Um, excuse me" a voice called from behind them.

They all crained their heads to see a doctor standing in the doorway . He entered the room, checking a chart.

" You are all here on behalf of a Ms. Ginny Winters, yes? Alright, so how are you all related to her." George stepped forward. " I'm her brother George, this is my wife Angelina. This is our brother Ron, his girlfriend Luna. This is Ginny's fiance Harry. And our friends Brian ( he struggled to get that out, although it was his "idea", the name change plan was hard to follow) and Hermione."

" Alright, sounds fabulous." He had a air of sarcasm in his voice.

" And who are you?" He spied Minerva Mcgonagall in the back of the room.

" Oh me?" She inquired.

Then with all the motherly love for a child she could muster, all the years of watching over her students and her house....she said

" I am her teacher"

With a flashed smile, the doctor pulled his clip board out again,and began to read. Most of what he said was nonsense to them. Finally he concluded, " Ms. Winters will be awake any moment now. She will need to stay here for about a week, depending on how she heals, but never the less, she will be okay. Now.."

The door opened again and young nurse poked her head in the room, " Doctor, the young girl is awake. her vitals are stable and she wants visitors. She's asking for a Harry, George,Ron and Brian." Then she was gone again.

" Alright, if you gentlemen will follow me, I'll take you to her room" With a quick nod back to the group in the room, the four of them left.

Ron still fuming from his fight with Minerva, followed the doctor with his arms folded, staring at the floor as he walked.

Harry, Draco,Ron and George were taken up one level and down a long hallway. " Room 135, here we go boys"

The doctor opened the door for them and took his leave. Harry entered the room first. It was nothing he had ever seen before, and Harry had seen his share of tortured and dead people. She was hooked up to several machine, her side was all bandaged up and there were little tubes by her nose.

"Gin?" George whispered, and she opened her eyes.

" OH GEORGE!" she breathed heavily, obviously still weak, throwing her arms openly, inviting him to come to her.

Gently he sat next to her, hugging her even more gently still.

" How are you feeling?" He asked finally.

" Good, woozy but good. The doctor put me on some pills that make me feel funny but he said it was either feel like I'm flying, or like I've just been shot..." Ginny laughed, they all looked at her, forcing smiles. " Oh COME ON!" she demanded " I'm fine. honestly. Truly!"

" do you remember anything?" Harry asked taking Ginny hand in his own and kissing it.

" No....not really. I remember Ron carrying me, crying....and Draco " she turned towards him, taking his hand, " I remember your voice..you were carrying me and telling me I was going to be alright. not to be afraid. And oddly enough, Professor McGonagall" she laughed, making the international "crazy" sign next to her head, " don't know what that's about"...

George took her hand laughing, " Gin you're not crazy, she's downstairs" he said smiling.

"What do you mean she's here?" Ginny asked, propping herself up a little

"Well, " Draco stared into her eyes, sometimes she had the look of a child still, " When Ron found you, he kind of had um...."

" I freaked out" Ron interrupted. Draco turned to Ron, he could see the tears welling up in his eyes." I didn't know what to do. My brain went all mushy and kind of leaked out of my ears I guess. Before I could stop myself I was kidnapping McGonagall in the middle of her afternoon tea."

" Maybe it's not me that's crazy. " Ginny said with a smile, running her hands through her hair.

Ron began to blush, kicking his shoes against a chair that sat by Ginny's bed.

" Yeah, I guess it was a bit rash" He said, keeping his eyes to the floor.

" A bit" Ginny said, making Ron look to her, " But who knows what would have happened if you hadn't been brave enough to get help. Right now you could be identifying a body instead of having a friendly chat in this fancy room with this awesome bed that does.....check it out"

Ginny began fiddling with the buttons on the side of her hospital bed. Repositioning herself up, then down....then making her feet go up higher then her head. Finally forcing herself into almost a fetal position.

There was a small knock on the door

" Excuse me." An elderly nurse walked in with a clear bag and began to hang it next to Ginny's bed

" It time for more medicine my dear, and I'm afraid, for the time being, visiting time is over."

As the boys all took a moment to give Ginny a respective hug goodbye she took Ron's hand and squeezed it very tightly.

" Can you let the girls know that I am alright. Tell them they can come back tomorrow, or even later this afternoon if they let you all. I really cannot wait to see Professor McGonagall! Please tell....." she began to drift to sleep. " tell McGone-gal.....tankoo"

And just like that, she was asleep.

" Gin?" George said, staring at his sister's face

Harry turned to the nurse, " Is that..."

" Perfectly normal boys" , the nurse said with a smile, staring to bustle them towards the door, " I had to pump her full of meds, she'll be out for at least the next 4 hours. Off you go!"

Just as she pulled the door shut behind herself she called out, " Leave a number at the desk, when she wakes up, we'll call you"

As the four boys loaded themselves into the nearest elevator, Draco turned to George.

" Call us? Do we even HAVE a phone?"

" It's on my list..." George said, sounding a bit on the confused side

" You and your damn list" Muttered Ron.

-----

A week had passed and a special day had arrived. Today was the day Ginny was to come home. The house had been abuzz for the past week. Each of them equally excited for her home coming. Luna had decorated the kitchen with brightly colored streamers of pink and green. While Hermione and Angeline made a crude looking cake. The boys had all been busy this week as well. They saved enough money to buy a cheap car. hey had just returned with a junkie blue care with a little itty bitty horse on the front, Which in turn, Luna named Giddy-yup!. George and Angelina piled into the car to go and retrieve Ginny from the hospital. As time passed, the group inside began to stir impatiently. They were all equally anxious and eager to see her return.

" Oh, Where are they already?" Said Hermione, checking the drive way, then her watch for the tenth time.

" Come on 'Mione" Ron said, with a slight hint of annoyance in his tone, " Quit your worrying"

"Sure big stuff, why don't you stop looking out the windows yourself." She chortled.

Ron went a little pink.

"ah!" exclaimed harry, " I haven't been this nervous in a long time."

He was wiping his hands on his pants. His palms were obviously sweating.

Suddenly there was a rumble from a car out in the by the definite sound of door shutting. The door to the house swung open.

" HEEYYY!" Angelina said, entering first with a large bag, while George came through helping Ginny inside.

" Sorry we're late!" George said, " She wouldn't let us pass it without stopping"

They could all see the chocolate shake in Ginny's hand. It was apparent that they had passed the near by ice cream shop on the way home. Harry laughed, he could just imagine her in the back seat, arguing with George to pull over.

" The doctor said no Ginny!"
" Excuse me, did he get shot?...Did you?..NO!"
" Gin.."
" I want my damn MILKSHAKE!!!"

" Well it was worth it!" She smiled.

Taking a long drawn out sip, she reached the bottom of the cup.

" There was a point where I thought she was going to claw my eyes out if I didn't stop" George said, wincing with pain.

" You guys don't know. That food they served me was horrible. I wouldn't even feed it to Crookshanks if he had eaten my broomstick."

" Oh Gin!" Harry said, taking a step forward.

Leaning in to kiss him, she lost her balance. quickly she applied more pressure to George, who suddenly felt very awkward.

" Oh Ms. Weasley!"

Minerva McGonagall came rushing into the room from somewhere unknown. Tightly she held Ginny, nearly cutting off the very air she was breathing.

" I'm so very glad you are okay. Safe and sound!" Said Minerva, wiping a small tear from her cheek.

" I"m so glad you're here Professor" Ginny said, trying to stand on her own.

" Well now that you are home" Minerva helped Ginny to a near by chair. " It's time for me to leave"

The entire room, which had basically remained silent this whole time, jumped into an uproar.

" What?"
"I just got back"
"Where will you go?"
" You'd be safe here with us!!"

With tears streaking down her cheeks, she smiled at them. They were truly just like children to her, as if her own children. She had watched every one of them grow into the adults they had become, changing history itself in their wake. And yet here they stood, as if they were barely able to stand on their own. Pleading for her to remain with them. She wasn't completely sure if they asked for her company for her benefit or their own. Were they frightened for her safety, or scared they would not make it on their own. She wasn't convinced either way, but no matter the answer, both were enough reason for her to leave.

" I must go children...no" Minerva trailed off, " I will forever see you as my children, but I will never refer to you as children ever again. You are and will forever be nothing short of my dearest friends!"

Touching Luna's cheek and smiling, Minerva reached for her over coat.

" People must be found, informed of all that is happening. If what you're telling me about Lucius is fully accurate, then there is little time to do great numerous things"

One by one they each stepped towards her, embracing momentarily. Finally Luna, the last to receive a hug, turned to Minerva.

" Take care Ms. Lovegood."

" We will see you soon, won't we?"

Luna's way of stating the obvious, if not harsh truth, was only slightly overshadowed by her extreme innocence. What Luna had said, not only made McGonagall let out a crying choke, but made her unable to speak.

Bringing her head to Minerva's chest, she smiled. Minerva kissing her forehead.

"Alright" she said, straightening up, " I mustn't waste anymore time, i need to be off"

Ron stood from the seat he had taken on the stairs, " You're going to find my mum and dad, aren't'cha?"

" Yes Mr. Weasley" , She answered, picking her bag from the ground, " That's on my list"

" Will you.."
" I will.."

They hadn't finished either of their sentences, but it was quite clear to both, and everyone else in the room what was just exchanged. It was no secret how close the Weasley family was. Minerva was to find Molly and Arthur, that was certain. When she did, messages of love and hope were to be passed to them.

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A/N Honestly,....it was just her time to go :)