A/N: Hey, sorry for the long wait. I have had a lot going on.

Italics are thoughts or memories…

Finally remembered… The Disclaimer: I don't owe any of these characters ... oh well you know the drill. =P

Previously:

"Ginny, I have news" Luna started

"Whatever it is I don't care about it unless it has to do with Hermione" Ginny answered bitterly. She couldn't help herself even though Luna was one of the few who had never lost hope and always believed in her.

Luna remained silent but didn't leave, which immediately got Ginny's attention "It is? Is it really Luna?" she asked incredulously.

A slight nod indicated that it was. Now there was no return, she couldn't lie to Ginny and felt that she deserved to know the truth. Luna took a deep breath before opening her mouth to start speaking

"Hermione is…."

Ginny stood shocked in her room, unable to move. Her heart sped up and her breathing quickened, had Luna really just said what she thought?

The youngest Weasley firmly believed that her mind was playing tricks on her. 'It wouldn't be the first time' She once thought that she had seen Hermione in Blackpool. Anyone who would listen she had told and together they had searched the city up and down and then some. Eventually she had worked herself into exhaustion before being forced by her family to give up. When she refused they threatened to obliviate her if she didn't stop, even then she reluctantly stopped. Luna, McGonagall and Rolanda believed her and supported her even went as far to stand up for her against her family. They were the only ones who had helped her after the rest had given up but even together they had found nothing. Little did they knew that Hermione was there for a split second having tried to escape only to be grabbed by someone the moment she saw Ginny.

In the end Ginny thought she had imagined it.

Was she imaging it now? Or… or was she dreaming?

She move her hand and pinched her arm. Auwch! A sharp intake of breath as well as the pain she felt indicated that she indeed wasn't dreaming. Ginny mentally sighed and pulled back to the present with Luna.

She couldn't take any nonsense or wish wash around the subject. "Luna, whatever you have to say just spit it out" She hadn't meant to sound so snappy but she couldn't help herself she always was very testy when it came to Hermione plus she is a redhead.

Luckily the ever observant Luna knew exactly why Ginny was snappy and she took no offense and had the same dreamy look on her face as always. "Ginny, we found her." Luna said with a small smile.

Immediately Ginny sprang up, ran over to Luna and grabbed her firmly by the shoulders "Where is she?" She all but screamed to her.

"Not yet Ginerva, sit down" Luna spoke in a surprising authoritative voice. Ginny complied though it was mostly out of shock she had never heard Luna speak like this and for a split second she feared the worst. She asked Luna again "Where is she?" only this time in a far softer pleading voice sounding desperate to know the answer. Her eyes already tearing up again, this time with relief. Finally, after the five long antagonizing years there was light at the end of the tunnel. However, the look on Luna's face didn't promise good news. Suddenly all her hope came crashing down. It must have been showing on her face as Luna quickly told her "She is alive, Gin, fighting for her survival but alive." Ginny only heard the words alive, the rest was all vague as her heart skipped a beat and fainted.

"Oh, I should have seen that coming…" Luna could still hear the on-going ruckus downstairs, nobody paid attention to them "I wonder if I should…" Without further ado she made up her mind and accompanied with a slight grin she lifted Ginny up and apperated.

The air was icy cold, dark stormy clouds threatening from above. The thunder was ear-splitting while lightning lit the sky. Minerva could see the old mansion standing stall on the hill top looking out over the dark forests and lands.

The Black's hidden mansion, standing there proud and arrogant very much like the pure blooded fanatic madmen who once lived there… her childhood's 'home' and prison. Many aurors had believed that they had destroyed the Black's mansion. "What a joke!" Minerva thought darkly "They only destroyed a decoy… Merlin knew how much she had wished that she could have revealed this location." Minerva was bound, sworn to such secrecy that made Severus oath seem like child's play.

Even now just thinking about the curse oath made her cringe, the memories of so long ago still fresh in her mind. They all came flooding back, those horrifying days she had to endure just for the curse oath effect. There were many different stages to it, but the most significant stage was the lack of one final stage… death. No it only consisted of torture as foul the Blacks might have been they were just as intelligent. They knew that death was quick and people were willing to die for their loved ones, torture was much worse, extreme and painful… a less than appealing option when presented with the other option.

"When she was bound to them they made her go through each torture stage just to show her they owned her now and she was at their mercy. Once completed she had to be nursed back to health for an entire year by an house-elf and…" She trailed off her thoughts there, it was no use she had to focus on the current situation. With that she stepped onto the property she swore never to return to but this was an exception. Hermione needed her, she would do anything for her. The next few steps she took with far more confidence she had a mission and she would do whatever it takes to safe Hermione.

Luna stood before the gates of Hogwarts with Ginny in her arms waiting for the headmistress to open them. To her surprise it was none other than Madam Hooch coming towards them.

As soon as Hooch saw Luna with her favorite little redheaded quidditch player in her arms she doubled her pace while shouting "What happened!" Within seconds the gates were open and she took Ginny over from Luna's arms as the poor girl looked like she almost collapsed under the weight. In other circumstances she would have laughed and let her wife deal with the more serious side of it.

As Ginny was carried over Hogwarts grounds she was starting to wake up. But she decided that she would make the old bat pay for all those times she got into trouble for so-called foul play in those quidditch matches. Ginny felt light hearted she was thrilled to see her Hermione soon. For the first time in years a real smile made it to her face. Rolanda must have noticed as she playfully whispered "I know you're awake you little witch" nevertheless she continued carrying her inside.

Rolanda had guided them both to where Hermione was and then left together with Luna knowing that Ginny needed the space.

Ginny watched the frail body of Hermione, she never thought anyone could have looked that vulnerable. She felt helpless, watching the love of her life suffer and battling for her life without being able to help. She desperately wanted someone to tell her that this was all some sort of sick twisted joke or a horrible nightmare.

The youngest Weasley never felt this many emotions in her life. She felt anger, sad, fear, desperation and happy to finally see her again. There were simple too many emotions to list them all. She wanted to run yet she stood stiffly anchored to the ground as if she was a statue. A tiny voice in the back of her mind told her that she should just leave, she pushed those thoughts away immediately. She was a Gryffindor for a reason, she wouldn't run just because she was afraid. She would help Hermione every single step of the way and would be whatever Hermione needed her to be, a confidant, lover or simply a friend. Ginny moved closer to the hospital bed and held Hermione's hand, gently caressing the pale skin with her thumb. She didn't even realize that she was softly crying at that moment Ginny was completely lost in her own world.

Luna had been standing there for a little while now only watching. She knew that if she would have said anything she would have been intruding. Both of them looked so fragile yet she could see the love radiating from Ginny and knew that not only Hermione's life was on the line. They were connected by a strong bond rarely seen even now it was strong despite Hermione's condition. Ginny stepped forward and suddenly Luna realized she was crying, she moved quietly over next to Luna and laid her hand on the redhead's shoulder. "It will be alright Gin, she is a fighter." This seemed to have broken the huge wall Ginny had so desperately tried to hold up and she burst out in tears as she flung herself in Luna's arms. The heart wrenching sobs were like daggers to Luna's heart. She couldn't imagine what Ginny was going through right now.

A/N: Well that was my update, once again sorry for the long wait. I wasn't really motivated lately but reviews helped. So please do review!