Chapter Seventeen

After a reunion with Harry, who was almost tearful with unnecessary worry, Ginny asked Oliver if there was any way he could find her a nurse that would be willing to discharge her, or at least start the tests they needed to run. Oliver tactfully agreed and slipped out of the room, leaving Ginny alone with her distraught boyfriend.

"So," she began, hoping she might cut off his more emotional declarations, "was anything evil happening at the match you big brave superman?"

Harry smiled tersely. "No," he said. "It seemed to just be chance, but I'm still glad we checked it out. Although," he added, looking concerned again, "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. Were you scared at all?"

"Not really," Ginny said, realizing as she did that this probably wasn't the answer Harry was looking for. "Oliver was already talking as I came to, so I knew I wasn't alone and I knew I couldn't be anywhere too bad. It was nice of him to stay with me; he didn't have to."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, although he sounded less than enthusiastic. Ginny figured he was probably just unfocused considering how busy he'd been. "So have you been awake long?"

"Not really," Ginny said. "Just a few minutes. Oliver told me what happened and all and then you came in. So I hardly even had time to miss you." She smiled, hoping to ease whatever was troubling Harry.

"I know, baby," he said, leaning over to take Ginny's hand. "Did Oliver tell you how bravely we tried to save you from impact?"

Ginny chuckled. "Yes, he did manage to tell me about that," she said. "I'm sure you were both very courageous."

"Does your head hurt at all?" Harry asked tenderly, stroking Ginny's face with the hand that wasn't wrapped around her fingers. "You took a pretty nasty hit."

"Not so much anymore," Ginny said. "Oliver said the nurse left him with a headache potion, and he gave it to me. After I drank it I felt a lot better. Before that though it was pretty bad if I spoke or moved my face."

"Well I'm glad you feel better now," Harry said warmly, leaning in and kissing her. Ginny returned the kiss, letting her lips move softly against her boyfriend's. He reached around and gingerly took the back of her neck in his hand, opening his mouth against hers, allowing his tongue to flow with hers. Ginny arched herself up against Harry's body, feeling every curve of her body match up to the straighter lines of her boyfriend's form. She curled her arms around his neck, trusting to him to support her weight. Just as Ginny started to feel that things were going to get heated, she heard the doors open and quickly fell back to the bed, letting Harry's fingers slide through her hair as he moved back into his chair.

"Well," said a slightly scandalized female voice belonging to a bustling nurse who scuttled around the foot of Ginny's bed, "how are you feeling, dear? You had a nasty bump."

"I'm fine," Ginny said, maybe a little too quickly. "I just need a prescription for the headache potion and I can leave."

Oliver, who had entered the room behind the nurse, looked slightly reproachful, but Ginny adamantly remained focused on the nurse. However, the response there was equally quelling.

"Unfortunately, you've got to stay for a while so I can do some tests, dear," the nurse said. "It won't take very long, I promise you that, and we'll get you discharged as soon as we can. You seem fairly strong, Miss Weasley, so I'm not very worried; it's just a formality."

Ginny sighed. "If you think it would be best," she said.

The nurse pulled out her wand and began to murmur under her breath. Harry was almost glued to his chair, probably terrified of the nurse or Oliver saying something about the moment they'd walked in on. Oliver himself stood off to the side of the bed, idly looking around the room. Ginny chuckled to herself, imagining that he was counting windows or wall tiles or something like that.

The nurse chanted her spells for a few minutes; apparently, it was a fairly complex incantation. A few times Ginny felt a strange warmth flow through her head, but other than that nothing physical seemed to be happening.

"Well," the nurse said finally, pocketing her wand, "it seems you're not concussed, miss. You're pretty lucky your friend here got you to St. Mungo's so fast. The blood loss was fairly minor for a scalp wound, so you'll just feel some weakness for a day or two. Nothing worth giving you a transfusion. Take it easy for a while, maybe call in sick to work for the rest of the weekend, and I'll give you the prescription for the headache potion. You'll be fine within the week."

"Thanks," Ginny said. "Can I just get up and leave?"

"Well, there will be some forms to fill out," the nurse clucked.

Harry practically leaped out of his chair. "I'll do them for her," he offered. "Ginny can just get ready and get used to walking about again."

"Thanks, dear," Ginny said slightly sarcastically, but the nurse seemed to accept the situation and led Harry out of the room.

Ginny sighed as the doors closed behind them and looked somewhat aimlessly from side to side. "Where are my shoes?"

Oliver chuckled, bending down and retrieving her flats from somewhere near the bed. "Lost track of them in the midst of your little snogging session, did you?" he said, still laughing as he handed Ginny her shoes.

"Shut up," she laughed, trying and failing to look angry as she gingerly sat up and slid her legs over the side of the bed. "Merlin, I feel a bit weird. Sort of dizzy…"

"Are you nauseated at all?" Oliver asked. "They left a bucket too if you need it."

"Oh, no, I'm all right," Ginny said, shutting her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she felt much better. Her head felt simultaneously light and heavy, which was difficult to get used to, but she didn't feel like she would faint anymore. "I'm a little nervous about standing up though."

"I'll help you," Oliver offered, reaching out a hand as Ginny put her shoes on. "It wouldn't be very helpful if you fell and hit your head all over again."

"Probably not," Ginny agreed, placing her hand in Oliver's. His palm was warm, and his fingers felt strong as they curled around hers. Ginny tried not to feel nervous as she slowly got to her feet, unabashedly pulling on Oliver's hand to support herself. As she straightened up, the vertigo slammed into her and she stumbled, tripping over her own feet and stumbling right into Oliver's very prepared arms. He seemed to have expected her to fall, because almost as soon as she realized she was going to topple he had his arms around her, just as strong and warm as his hands. Ginny placed her palms against his arms, trying to steady herself. "Thanks," she said breathlessly, looking up at Oliver. She wasn't sure if it was because of her dizziness but suddenly it seemed like Oliver's eyes were much more brown than usual. "You said I was cute."

"You're even cuter now," Oliver said, unable to suppress the amused grin that crossed his face. "Do you think you can stand?"

Ginny furrowed her brow, trying to assess herself. "Maybe," she said firmly. She tried to step away, but Oliver kept a hold of her. "No, really, let me try," she added.

Oliver let his arms drop, but he kept a firm hold on her hands. Ginny took a step away from Oliver, feeling steadier already, and managed not to stumble over anything. Within a moment, she was walking on her own and her head felt much clearer. "May I escort you out of this bloody hospital?" Oliver asked, crooking his elbow at her like something out of a period piece.

"Sure," Ginny replied, smiling and hooking her arm through Oliver's. "So," she added as they walked through the doors, "do you really think I'm cute?"

Oliver's laughter was so loud it echoed through the hallway.