GINNY'S OTHER LIFE
Chapter 8
Hermione called Father Thomas and explained their problem briefly. He agreed to come to their flat in about half an hour. Ginny had just awakened, and Hermione told her that a friend of their's was coming over soon. She explained that he was a priest, and if anyone could make sense with what had happened to her, he would be the one. Ginny agreed, much to Hermione's surprise, and hoped that it would help her to understand the whole thing.
As expected, Father Thomas knocked on their door, opened it and yelled in a hello. He was like that.
The priest hugged Hermione and shook Ron's hand vigorously. They properly addressed him as Father Thomas.
"Now Mione, what have I told you about that? Outside of church functions, I prefer that you use my common name."
"Sorry Max. But this isn't strictly a social visit. We need your help."
He gave her a look and smiled. After a few social pleasantries, Hermione brought him into there sitting room to meet Ginny. She was shy at first, but the good father had a way about him that quickly made those around him quite comfortable.
"Before we start f.. er Max, would like something to drink?"
"Sure Mione, the usual."
Ron knew what that meant, so he prepared Max a double scotch straight-up. And Butterbeers for everyone else.
Max took a long drag on his drink, then turned to Ginny. "So Ginny, er, may I call you Ginny, or just Gin?"
"Yes of course, er, Father," she answered, not sure how she should address him.
"It's Max, Gin. Ok, so let's get right into it."
Looking directly into Ginny's eyes, he spoke in a soft controlled voice. It was almost soothing to her, and she found herself quite at peace.
"So Gin, I understand that you had a religious experience the other day. Mione has filled me in on some of the details, but I would like to hear the story from you, ok. Don't leave anything out, just relate the events to me as best you can remember. Oh, and let's start with what was in your mind a few minutes before the experience."
Ginny took a deep breath and looked over at Ron and Hermione. They nodded in approval to encourage her. Ginny looked down at the floor, and with a sigh, she started her story.
"Ok. Well, I was in a right state I guess. I felt that I was alone and unloved and had nothing left to live for. I really wanted to die at that moment, but didn't know how."
Ginny struggled a bit with the words, and her tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"My whole body was screaming at me, my head felt like it was going to explode. So I went and found a bottle of aspirin. I popped three into my mouth, washing them down with a glass of water. Then I looked down at that bottle, and it hit me. All I had to do was swallow down the whole bottle and lay down and go to sleep. That would do it, I thought to myself."
Ginny wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and continued. She was looking direct at Max now as she spoke.
"My mind was struggling now, about what I was about to do. I didn't have the guts to do it, but I really wanted to. So I started praying, praying to God to help me. I yelled it out loud at first, then prayed to God in my mind. Then I thought of Harry. He would help me, I knew. I yelled out loud to him to help me do this. Then I silently prayed to God, asking Him to help Harry tell me what to do."
Ginny was really struggling with the words now. Her throat was dry, and she coughed up a bit of mucus.
"Then suddenly I heard a voice in my head, Harry's voice. He was talking to me in my mind, and it was so real. He told me that he loved me, and that my whole family loved me. He told me that killing myself would split my soul into pieces, and begged me not to do it. Then he told me things that I didn't know. Things I couldn't possibly know. He told me that Ron and Mione were out looking for me, and that they were on my street just yesterday. He told me other things that I had absolutely no knowledge of."
"I asked him if he was with Ron and Mione, and he said no. I asked him if I would see him soon. And he said no, but Ron would explain it to me later. He again begged me not to kill myself, and I promised that I wouldn't. He told me again that he loved me, but that his time was up. He told me that he forgave me, and that God forgave me also. He said goodbye to me, and thanked God for this gift. And he was gone, my mind was silent."
Ginny put her head in her hands and continued to cry hysterically. Hermione and Ron both sat beside her and held her in their arms, rocking her gently.
Father Thomas was just starring at her with a look of incredulity on his face. He finished his drink, and just sat there.
Finally, Hermione spoke up. "Max, before you ask, that was almost exactly the story she told us. She couldn't have know about those things that Harry told her. And at the time, Ginny did not know that Harry had died months ago."
"I see," the priest mumbled. "And you say that Harry was dead when all this happened."
"Yes Max, and Ginny did not know this. No one but Ron and I knew about Harry's death."
"I see," The priest said quietly, running his hand across his chin. "Well, I've never heard anything like this before. In the history of the church, there have been many sightings, but nothing like this that I know of."
"So you believe her than," Ron asked.
"Yes, I do. Every word of it. There is a saying that God acts in mysterious ways, and this is certainly a good example of that. However you choose to interpret this, the fact is that Ginny did not kill herself. Someone or something stopped her. You can call her experience by any name you want. You can attribute it to hysteria, to a confused state of mind, or attach any number of psychosis to her experience; but the bottom line is that God or Harry or whatever saved her life. That is undisputable. In my opinion, which is understandably biased, I truly believe that God, acting through Harry's spirit, saved Ginny's life. That was the gift that Harry thanked God for."
"Ok. So what do you suggest we do, or more specifically, what should Ginny do?" Hermione asked.
"Gin," Father Thomas addressed her. "What do you believe?"
Ginny sniffled and held her high. "I have no doubt in my mind that Harry, with God's help, saved me. I truly believe that."
"Ok then, so shall it be. I concur Gin. God acting through Harry, saved your life. You believe that, and that's all that really matters. What anyone else thinks is irrelevant."
The priest paused for a moment, then continued.
"However, there are very few people who would agree with you, or me. So I think that your experience should not be made public. With the press being what they are, they would have a field day with this. You would be hounded for the rest of your life. You wouldn't have a private moment anywhere anytime. Do you understand me Gin?"
"Yes. Yes I do. But I will never forget it. And I promise that I will thank God for His gift every day for the rest of my life. And I thank you, Father Thomas, Max, for putting my mind at ease."
"You are entirely welcome young Lady. God has blessed you, and I know you are thankful for that. I wish you good luck Gin, and I hope the future is good to you."
He paused, then added, "And stay out of those sleazy pubs, you hear," he joked.
"Now, how about another Scotch Ron."
End chapter eight