A/N: My fellow readers. Could you ever forgive me for the immense delay on the story but I have been extremely busy at work and no time to write. It took me forever before I could post this chapter. Again I apologize if the story is being rushed. The story in my opinion begins to unravel in the next chapter. I have added some differences in this chapter in hope that it's not too lame. Well, here goes chapter 4...
Disclaimer: I do not own any of Harry Potter's world. It all belongs to the brilliant JKR!
Chapter 4: Hogwarts 7th Year
Harry woke up to the familiar breakfast smells of the Burrow. The night before had been a trying one for everyone after having tried to move Harry from number 4 Privet Drive to the Burrow. Mad-Eye Moody had died and George's ear had been sliced off in the attempt. This made Harry even more worried. Yet again, another person had lost his life for his. Harry felt more adamant than ever in going off to look for the horcruxes to get rid of Voldemort. So much that the night before he had thought about leaving the Burrow on his own. That is until Ron had come after him and had somehow convinced him to stay at the Burrow and that he shouldn't go on the hunt by himself. In a way Ron as right. It would be more difficult for him to go on his own and Hermione was very familiar with spells. Ron had become just as efficient dueling so he could also use an extra pair of hands to help. With all the madness, Harry suddenly remembered that he needed to talk to Ginny. Harry got up grabbed a towel and went to the bathroom to take a shower. He was hoping that the shower would clear his head and refresh his thoughts. When he was done he went back to Ron's room and got dressed. Harry then realized that he was going to have to give it some thought before talking to Ginny. He quickly walked down the stairs said good morning to Mrs. Weasley and then walked out to the edge of the orchard and stood underneath a tree as he looked at the orchard. He pondered at the possibilities of finding the horcruxes and also giving it deep thought about what he was going to have to tell Ginny before he left the Burrow with Ron and Hermione.
Just then Harry felt a soft hand take hold of his and a soft voice said, "Good morning."
He turned around and smiled at Ginny. He was going to have to tell Ginny soon. It was better to get it out of the way. He knew that if he waited any longer it was going to be more difficult and perhaps more painful. Harry gently took Ginny's other hand and said, "Look Gin, there is something I have been meaning to tell you. I would have written to you in one of the owls that I sent you but I thought that it would be best if I told you in person." Harry felt even more guilty because he had sworn that he had seen a gleam of hope in Ginny's eyes.
"What is it Harry? What did you need to tell me?"
After a moment of silence, Harry looked out at the orchard for a second and then looked back at Ginny, "Gin, I never wanted to do this and it was never my intention to do this. Gin, George already got hurt and somebody died last night because of me. I need to go find those horcruxes in order to be rid of Voldemort. Hopefully that way there will be less deaths and attacks on muggles." Ginny was going to speak but Harry gently put his fingers on her lips and continued, "Gin, I don't want to lose you. I don't want any harm or anything to happen to you. I believe it is best that we bring our relationship to an end for your safety. Please understand I never intended to do this but this is how much I care about you. When this is all over. I'll come for you. I promise."
Harry looked down at Ginny. He could clearly see through her eyes that her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces. For the first time in a long time, Harry could see the tears well up in Ginny's brown eyes. After growing up with six brothers, Ginny appeared to have become strong. However, Harry just learned, that deep down, Ginny was more sensitive at heart than he thought. Especially when it came to matters of the heart. Suddenly there were silent tears rolling down Ginny's cheeks.
Ginny didn't have the energy to say anything to Harry. She knew that her voice wouldn't be able to say the words. Instead, she nodded, covered her mouth and quickly walked back to the Burrow. When Ginny walked into the Burrow, she walked past the kitchen, went up the stairs, and walked into her room and locked it. She didn't even say good morning to Hermione on her way up the stairs.
Hermione reached the kitchen and said "Good morning Mrs. Weasley. What's wrong with Ginny? I've never seen her look like that before."
Mrs. Weasley turned around and said, "I don't know dear. I heard Ginny but I didn't see her. I was getting breakfast ready."
At that moment Harry walked into the kitchen along with Mr. Weasley and Percy who had come down the stairs to eat breakfast. Harry for the first time in his life was trying to hide the deep and empty void that was in his heart from others.
"Good morning Molly dear, morning Harry, Hermione" said Mr. Weasley.
"Morning" they all said intermittently.
Mr. Weasley looked around the dining room table and asked, "Where is Ginny?"
Bill and Fleur only shrugged while the others shook their heads. However, Harry lowered his head as he began to eat his breakfast.
"RON BREAKFAST IS READY!" suddenly yelled Mrs. Weasley. She then turned to Hermione, "Hermione dear could you please go get Ginny for breakfast."
Hermione nodded her head, got up, and said, "Certainly Mrs. Weasley, I can also go get Ron for you if you like."
"Oh that would be wonderful thank you Hermione" smiled Mrs. Weasley and she went back to putting the tea kettle on the stove and levitating more plates to the table.
Hermione went up to Ron's room and knocked before calling, "Come on Ron. Time to get up. Your mum says that breakfast is ready."
"Hmm what? Oh alright, thanks Hermione" said a groggy Ron and Hermione shook her head as she chuckled when she heard Ron shuffle out of bed.
Hermione then walked down the stairs to Ginny's room and found out that she couldn't open the door.
"Ginny, come on. Your mum said that breakfast is ready."
"I'm not hungry" said Ginny with a wavered voice.
Hermione noticed that Ginny didn't sound well so she insisted, "Ginny are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione suddenly felt the door unlock. She turned the door handle and walked in. There was Ginny, with her face in her hands. Hermione closed the door and quickly made her way over to Ginny and put her arm around her shoulders.
"Ginny, what is it? Why do you look like this?"
"I went to see Harry early this morning by the orchard. H- h- he told me that... He told me that we needed to end our relationship. He said that he was afraid that I could get hurt or worse, die. He also told me that enough people have lost their lives for him and that he wanted to get rid of he-who-must-not-be-named as soon as possible."
Hermione noticed that Ginny's eyes were red and puffy. "Ginny, you know how thick-headed Harry can be at times. He is just worried about you. I'm guessing that he thinks that this is what's best for the moment"
Ginny nodded, "He told me that when everything with he-who-must-not- be-named was over, he promised he would come back looking for me."
Hermione gave her a small smile. "There you see. All you need to do is give this you-know- who thing some time and he will be back when you least expect it."
Ginny looked out her window and without turning away she replied, "It could take days, months, even years Hermione."
Hermione knew that Ginny was right. Nobody knew how long the battle against Voldemort would go on but, she tried to encourage Ginny. "Don't worry Ginny. Harry will be back when you least expect it."
Ginny turned back around from the window and tried to give Hermione a small smile. Hermione then took Ginny and gave her warm hug, "Everything will be alright Ginny. You just wait and see." Hermione pulled back and then said as she arranged a few strands of hair as if Ginny were her little sister, "Now dry those tears, put a charm on those red eyes and come down to breakfast alright?"
Ginny nodded as she dried her tears one more time, "Alright, I'll be down in a few."
Hermione smiled and nodded "good" and then she closed the door behind her.
Ginny got up and went to her floor-length mirror. She didn't know what it was but she felt odd. One minute she was Harry's girlfriend and the next she went on to being alone. Suddenly she felt the most awful feeling that she had ever felt. She hadn't even felt it this bad when she had broken up with Michael Corner or Dean Thomas. The painful ache above her stomach was one that made her want to cry again. She had felt the familiar ache before but not like she felt it right now. She could feel the ache gnawing in the deepest depths of her heart. She was literally feeling her heart break further into even smaller pieces. Ginny had no idea how long this gnawing feeling would haunt her heart but she was going to have to learn to live with it in the mean time. Ginny picked up her wand and uttered the incantation under her breath and the red and puffy eyes were suddenly hidden behind a glamour charm. She put her wand on her cabinet next to her bed and went downstairs to the kitchen to eat breakfast.
Mrs. Weasley was just serving Mr. Weasley his tea with her wand when she saw Ginny, "Ah there you are Ginny dear. Come and eat your breakfast love. Merlin knows that you need to eat a proper breakfast before beginning your day."
Ginny pulled a chair and sat next to Hermione, on the other side of the table, the farthest from Harry. She didn't look up at him for fear that tears would start rolling down again. She was beginning to feel the awful gnawing dull ache above her stomach. She clutched her heart and her breath hitched, as if she could will it away but it didn't.
Bill noticed Ginny's reaction and asked, "You alright Ginny?"
Ginny nodded her head, she made an effort to lift her head towards Bill before looking back down at her plate.
"I'm so sorry that all of you had to leave Hogwarts so early. Dumbledore, the poor man. He was a good wizard and man. Everyone in the order trusted him" said Mrs. Weasley with a frown at the thought, after finally sitting down at the table.
Mr. Weasley nodded, "Yes, he will definitely be terribly missed. Our wizarding world will never be the same."
For the remainder of the time, up until the wedding, Harry and Ginny always seemed to try to avoid each other. The chores that Mrs. Weasley had given all of them seemed to be a haven and a reason for them to stay apart. Considering that Mrs. Weasley had everyone running around the Burrow preparing for the wedding. Ron and Hermione felt bad for Harry and Ginny but they completely understood why Harry had decided to temporarily separate from Ginny. The rest of the family had also acknowledged what happened but decided not to talk about it. They thought it best that they be there for the both of them if they should need someone to talk.
A couple of days before the wedding the Delacours arrived with Gabrielle, Fleur's younger sister.
"Maman! Papa! Gabi! I missed you so much!" said Fleur as she ran to hug them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Delacour, welcome to our most humble home" said Arthur as he shook their hands and Molly was given a kiss on each cheek by Mrs. Delacour and Gabrielle.
"We ar' 'onored to be 'ere. You 'ave such a lovely 'ome." said Mrs. Delacour with her french accent.
Mrs. Weasley smiled, "Why thank you."
When Bill and Fleur's wedding day finally arrived, Harry stood there in his bed in Ron's room for a moment. His thought of what he had told Ginny were still going through his mind. He had every intention of going back to Ginny. Then again, Merlin only knew how long the war would continue. There was no way of telling when it would truly be over. He wanted to go and find the horcruxes. The sooner he found them, the sooner he could kill Voldemort, the sooner he could come back to his Ginny.
"Oy Harry!" Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he heard his best mate call him.
"Oh, yeah? What?" asked Harry with a confused look on his face.
"Mate, I have been trying to get your attention like for the last five minutes. Is everything alright?" asked Ron already sitting on the edge of his bed.
"Oh, sorry mate. I was just thinking is all" said Harry and he got up from his bed.
Ron got up from his own bed and put his hand on Harry's shoulder, "Mate, you were just thinking about Ginny weren't you?"
Harry turned up his gaze from the floor up to Ron and nodded his head, "Yeah."
Ron shook his head, "Mate, I'm sure you have your reasons for letting Ginny go but just remember that if you ever break her heart again..." and Ron gave him an icy look.
Harry nodded in acknowledgement, "Yeah, I understand Ron. Besides, we'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning."
Later that morning, Minister Scrimgeour came to read Dumbledore's testament. It had been the hardest thing Harry had ever gone through. He felt a deep sadness inside. Deep down he wanted to cry again for the man who had become not only his advisor but he had also become almost like a grandfather to him. When Scrimgeour was done reading the testament, he left.
After the wedding ceremony, everyone was walking to the marquee for some dancing, talking, drinking and to have a good time. That is except for Harry and Ginny. Before Harry could head off from the wedding to the maquee, Ginny took Harry's arm and pulled him aside and took him into Mr. Weasley's shed.
"Look Ginny..." started Harry but Ginny shook her head and this time she put her fingers on his lips.
"Harry, I still haven't been able to sort out or accept the fact that you have put our relationship to an end" and Ginny's voice wavered at the last word. She turned away from Harry and tried to fight back the tears that were stinging her eyes. When she finally had enough strength, she turned back around to face Harry, "I understand your reason for doing it. I just want you to realize that things might change by the time that you have defeated you-know-who. Like I told Hermione some days ago, it could take days, months, and even years. That day... out in the orchard... I never gave us a chance to properly say good bye." Ginny could feel the dull ache above her stomach again and she had to pause for a moment. She grasped her chest and gasped, trying to will the dull ache to go away.
When Harry saw this he became worried, "Are you alright Ginny?"
For a minute Ginny's breathing had grown a bit shallow as she tried to fight off the dulling ache. When it finally subsided, Ginny turned back around to look at Harry with an expressionless look on her face and said, "Yes Harry, I'm alright. Just a bit light-headed at the moment" she lied.
"Do you want to sit down?" said Harry signaling to an old chair nearby.
"No!" Ginny almost said too harshly and then she softened the look on her face. "Like I was saying, we never had a chance to properly say good bye and I wanted to apologize for that."
"It's alright Ginny. I know that having heard that couldn't have been any easy for you."
Ginny looked down at the floor for a minute and then walked up to Harry and stood real close to him, "I just wanted to... kiss you good bye..." Ginny closed her eyes and then pulled her lips up to Harry's. She poured all the love she had into the one simple and lingering kiss and then she pulled away.
She stood there looking at him and said, "Good bye Harry. Be careful and come back safely. Even if you don't come back to me." Ginny turned around and walked out of the shed before Harry could say anything.
Harry was going to call out to Ginny but it was too late, she had already walked out of the shed. Harry put his face into his hands and sighed with desperation. How he wished that he didn't have to put an end to their relationship. He still loved Ginny with all his heart but he didn't want to risk losing the last treasure that he had. After a few minutes, Harry gathered his composure and walked out and into the marquee.
He was talking with Ron's aunt Muriel and Elphias Doge when suddenly there was a message from Shaklebolt saying that Scrimgeour was dead. Suddenly after the silence, death eaters were around causing chaos at the wedding reception. Harry's heart suddenly began to pound real fast within his chest and he began to look for Ginny.
Just as he found Ginny, Lupin told him to go. Harry had no option but to disapparate. The next thing he knew was that he, Ron, and Hermoine almost got run over by a muggle bus. That night after almost getting killed by Thorfinn and Rowle in a muggle café, the three friends made it to 12 Grimauld place.
That night Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to stick together and sleep in the sitting room. Harry found it difficult to sleep. His thoughts kept drifting between the horcruxes and Ginny.
The following morning Harry, Ron and Hermione walked around the house to see what they could find.
"RAB, Regulus Arcturus Black" said Hermione.
"So that's what the initial RAB stand for" said Ron as he looked from Harry to Hermione.
"That must mean that Kreacher must know who actually has the locket" said Harry.
At that moment they heard some shuffling nearby. Harry felt that his heart was pounding real hard in his chest again. He got up from the table and opened the door and found Kreacher spying on them. It was then that they discovered that Kreacher indeed knew who had the real Slytherin locket.
A few days later, Ginny was getting on the Hogwarts Express. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there with Fred and George to see her off.
"Ginny, if there is anything you need, you send us an owl alright?" said Mrs. Weasley.
Ginny pulled her mother aside and said, "Mum, I- I don't know how I will manage. It has been hard enough without Harry. Ron won't even be there."
Mrs. Weasley took her face in her hands and said, "Ginny dear, I'm sure you will do fine. Again, if you need anything you just send an owl. I love you Ginny" and Mrs. Weasley took her daughter in her arms and hugged her closely to her.
Just then, Neville walked up, "Hey Ginny, how are you? Are you ready to go back to Hogwarts?"
Ginny wanted to say yes but she just couldn't. All she could do was nod her head. She pulled herself away from her mother's hug and said, "I suppose it's going to be another year at Hogwarts. It just won't be the same without Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. I was hoping Ron would be there."
Neville gave her a small smile and put his hand on her shoulder, "I'll be there to keep you company Ginny. Here, let me help you with your things" said Neville, levitating her trunk.
"Thanks Neville" responded Ginny with a small smile.
Once on the Hogwarts express, Neville and ginny sat in a small compartment. Ginny then looked out the window and waved away at her mother.
"So do you think Harry will be able to find... you know..." Neville then leaned in and with a softer voice said, "the horcruxes."
Ginny's back when rigid at the mention of Harry's name. She would have thought that she would have gotten over Harry by then. The dulling ache and pain were just too much for her to bare and she found herself holding back the tears again. When she finally had the strength she said, "I hope they can find them, for the sake of our wizarding world."
After a while, things grew quiet and Neville just looked out the window as Ginny started to read a book. She so desperately wanted to get Harry out of her mind and there was no better way than to do that by reading a book. Suddenly the train stopped by death eaters under cover and Neville spoke up and said that Harry wasn't on the train. With that the death eaters finally left the Hogwarts Express and the other students relaxed in relief as the train began to move again.
When Neville and Ginny arrived at Hogwarts, it was much different from what they had seen in the previous years. Gone was the warm and comfortable atmosphere. Instead, a cold and distant Hogwarts greeted the students that day. Ginny's heart was pounding hard and she began to feel light-headed. She took hold of Neville's arm for fear that she would fall to the ground as her legs grew weak.
"Ginny, are you alright?" asked Neville.
Ginny for the first time had only wished that Harry had been been there to hold her in his strong arms and tell her that everything was going to be alright. Unfortunately, the thought did nothing than bring the dulling ache over her stomach again.
"I'm- I'm not feeling so well all of the sudden" said Ginny as she leaned her head on Neville's shoulder.
Out of consideration, Neville walked her over to a stone bench and sat down with her. Luna saw them sitting and she went to sit on Ginny's other side.
Noticing that such a strong girl as Ginny had had to lean her head on Neville's shoulder asked, "Ginny, are you feeling alright?" with her usual dreamy voice
Ginny nodded her head and with some effort put her head up, finally answering, "Yes, I'm feeling better now Luna. I was just a bit light-headed. I- I just-" For a minute Ginny almost told Luna what a difficult Summer holiday she had had but decided to say nothing. "It's just- it's nothing Luna. I'll be alright."
The three of them finally stood up and walked inside the castle and made their way the Great Hall. There was a dark and dreary look about it. Instead of the usual candles floating above the tables, there were sconces on the walls with fire shining brightly. It almost looked like a dark dungeon. The Great Hall definitely looked a lot more different from it's former days.
Neville and Luna walked Ginny over to the Gryffindor table and then Luna walked away with a small smile over her shoulder. Ginny had never felt more shaken or alone in her life, despite having her friends with her.
Seamus sat across from Ginny with Dean and Seamus didn't have his usual grin this time when he greeted Neville and Ginny, "Neville, Ginny, how are the two of you doing? Hogwarts looks a bit different doesn't it?"
Neville eyed around the Great Hall and answered for him and Ginny, "It sure does. What more can one expect when Snape is the Headmaster at Hogwarts."
Far away in another part of England, Harry was hearing on the Wireless that Snape had officially been appointed to the post of Headmaster of Hogwarts. Ron had left them and so Harry and Hermione were left to fend for themselves.
Harry walked outside of the tent and turned to Hermione, "Snape is Headmaster at Hogwarts."
Hermione shook her head, "All of this just keeps getting worse. You are wanted in the wizarding world and now Snape is the Headmaster at Hogwarts."
"There has got to be a way to destroy that horcrux. For one we can't go back to Hogwarts to get the basilisk fang and we have no idea where the sword of Gryffindor is since it's missing."
"All we can do at the moment is to keep you from getting caught Harry. Hopefully we can find a way to get the fang or Gryffindor's sword."
Harry stood there silent for a moment. The crisp chilly September air was cold around him as he looked up at the sky. He was wondering how Ginny was, now that she was at Hogwarts. His deepest wish was to be at Hogwarts, to have a peaceful last year and be next to Ginny. Oh how he missed Ginny with all his heart. He wanted to apparate to the gates of Hogwarts more than anything. He would then run up the path, go into the Gryffindor Common Room, search for Ginny, take her into his arms and snog her away for the rest of his days. How he ached to feel Ginny's small frame in his arms. He also found himself remembering the wonderful scent of her beautiful shiny red hair. It was then after all the rush of disapparating from the wedding and being on the run from the magical world that he suddenly began to feel something within him. It was a very deep pain that he hadn't felt before. Not even when things hadn't worked out between him and Cho Chang. For the first time, there was an overpowering heavy pain tying a tight knot in his chest. He suddenly found out that his breathing had grown labored. He was so engulfed in his pain of missing Ginny that he didn't even hear Hermione's voice.
"Oh God Harry! Are you alright? Breathe Harry! Breathe!" Hermione in her panic tried to fan her glove in front of Harry's face, trying to get him to breathe normally again. Hermione then tried shaking him and fanning more of the cool air into Harry's face.
Suddenly Harry gasped and he came back from the trap of his painful thoughts of Ginny and he turned to look at Hermione, "Erm what?"
"Harry, you were barely breathing a minute ago. You had me worried Harry" manifested Hermione, still with a look of worry on her face.
Harry's eyes finally focused on Hermione's. Still oblivious to what had just happened to him, "How- What-" Harry was lost for words.
Hermione's face softened, "You were just thinking about Ginny weren't you?"
Harry looked at the forest beyond and stared into blank space as he nodded his head and in a soft voice said, "Yes."
"Harry, don't worry. I'm sure Ginny will be alright. Even if that git Snape is the Headmaster at Hogwarts."
Harry shook his head and then with pained eyes said, "There's no saying what could happen to Ginny. I want to be there to protect her and it appears that I have made her more vulnerable."
Hermione shook her head in response as she took Harry's face in her hands and made him look at her, "Look at me Harry!" commanded Hermione. "Ginny is going to be fine. She has others with her. There's Neville, Seamus, Luna, and other members of the D.A."
Harry's eyes then had a dark look and he said loudly, "No Hermione, that just isn't enough. I should be there to protect her and I can't even do that." Harry then got up and stomped back into the tent and Hermione could do nothing but shake her head in pity for her best friend.
A few weeks have passed and it was now October. Ginny was busy doing her Muggle Studies assignment in class when Luna whispered to her, "It's all set, Dumbledore's Army has agreed to meet again. The first meeting will be in the Room of Requirement"
Ginny looked up to see if Alecto Carrow had seen them. As it turned out, Alecto Carrow had her nose in the Muggle Studies textbook.
"Alright, we'll me there-"
"Ms. Weasley! Ms. Lovegood! Up here this instant!" yelled Carrow.
The two girls walked up with their heads bowed low before Carrow. They knew they had been caught talking during class and that meant detention. Detention was nothing like the detention that other teachers gave. It was way worse and they were going to have to bare it down. It had once happened to a Ravenclaw and she had wound up in the hospital wing.
"Yes Ms. Carrow" said the two girls.
"What's this? The two of you talking in my class? You are aware of the detention that awaits you for talking in my class? I mentioned it during the first day of class."
Ginny and Luna nodded with their heads bowed, "Yes Professor Carrow."
"The two of you will come to my office before supper, after your last class. Is that clear?!" yelled Alecto Carrow once more at the girls.
"Yes Professor" the two of them responded.
That evening, Ginny and Luna had their nerves on edge, were hungry and their hearts were beating a thousand beats per minute as they headed to the office of Alecto Carrow.
Ginny deep down had wished that Harry had been there with her. Then again, a part of her wished that she would stop thinking about him. Her heart had already grown weary and ached most days when she thought about what had happened between her and Harry during their Summer holiday. No matter how hard she tried to not think of him, her heart and mind wouldn't listen to her. Whenever she wasn't studying or in class, she found herself thinking of Harry. Most of the time, she was silent during meals and didn't say much.
Ginny and Luna looked at each other and took a deep breath before Ginny mustered the courage to knock on the door.
"Come in!" yelled Alecto Carrow from the other side of the door.
Luna this time took the doorknob and turned it and opened the door. The two girls walked in and Alecto Carrow gave them an evil grin from her desk.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Two little girls who couldn't keep their little mouths shut during my class."
Ginny and Luna averted their gazes and looked at the floor as they bowed their heads low.
Alecto Carrow whipped her wand out and both Ginny and Luna's breaths hitched as they awaited their punishment.
Alecto Carrow swayed her wand between Ginny and Luna until her wand ended up in front of Luna. Suddenly she muttered, "everte statum" and Luna went flying off to the nearby brick wall. Ginny heard Luna hit the wall hard before she fell to the ground with another thud.
Alecto Carrow then turned to Ginny and muttered the "everte statum" as she waved her wand on Ginny and she too hit the wall on the thud before coming down hard on the floor.
Ginny had never felt her body hurt so much. Specially her back. Just as she and Luna were about to try to get up, Alecto Carrow waved her wand several times at them as she muttered the stinging jinx "morsus spiculum". Ginny and Luna were then wincing in pain as the stings began to unexpectedly appear on their arms, legs, head and torso.
Ginny tried to touch her arm where she felt the stinging but the pain was unbearable when she touched them.
"Expelliarmus" muttered Carrow and then she called out "levicorpus."
Ginny and Luna's wands went flying across the air and Carrow caught them. Then Ginny and Luna were hovering over the floor by their ankles.
"Now, the two of you will remain here until curfew time with the stinging jinx and hopefully that will be a lesson to you to never, never talk in my class ever again!" screamed Alecto Carrow at them and she walked out of her office.
Ginny could feel tears well up in her eyes. She blinked a few times to hold them back. She had to be strong to live through the year. She knew that she could never say any of this to the other professors and much less to Snape. For the first time, Ginny felt completely alone in her life. Now Harry or anyone to defend her. Snape just held too much power and she knew that she ran the risk of expulsion if she contradicted a professor at Hogwarts. Ginny was thankful in a way for the stinging hex. At least that was keeping Harry out of her mind.
Ginny and Luna continued to wince and flinch as they hung in the air by their ankles. The blood was now rushing to their heads and they were convinced that Carrow had for sure forgotten to come and bring them down. There was no way of summoning their wands because Alecto Carrow had taken the wands with her and she had put an anti-summoning charm on them.
Ginny had wished that Snape would have allowed quidditch matches but he said that times were much too dangerous to be outside the castle walls and that students had to use every moment of their time focusing on their studies. There were no free periods and the only time the students had a break was during meal times and when they went to bed.
It was now December and Harry walked out of the tent to look at the snow falling. He remembered the previous year when he had gone to the Burrow for his winter holiday and he had confessed his love to Ginny. He may have ended the relationship but he never regretted a moment when he asked Ginny to give them a chance. Harry felt guilty for asking Ginny that because she had trusted him and in a way a few months later he had betrayed that trust by ending their relationship.
"Happy Christmas Harry" said a voice.
Harry turned around and smiled at Hermione. He walked to her and gave her a warm hug, "Thanks Hermione. Happy Christmas to you too." He then pulled away and said, "I know these last few months have been hard but I'm happy to be able to share it with you."
Hermione gave a small laugh, "Me too Harry, me too" she said as she twirled around in the falling snow.
Ginny sat down on her bed and looked out the window. She saw the snow fall outside. She had gotten another jumper from her mother with a "G" on it. Deep down her Christmas wish was to see Harry. Even if things weren't the same between them anymore. She thought that by now the dull and painful ache in her chest would have gone but it was just as strong as the day that Harry had ended their relationship. Ginny stood up walked down the stairs and put on her wool cloak.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were listening to the Wireless on any new of what had been happening at the Ministry when they saw Ginny.
"Where are you going off to Ginny dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Just going out for a walk in the snow, is all mum" responded Ginny as she put her hood up.
"Alright just stay within the wards. These are very dark times Ginny and I don't want you going too far away" replied Mrs. Weasley.
Ginny nodded with a small smile and she walked out into the snow. She came to the tree where she had been with Harry only just that Summer. She touched it and then a pang of pain hit her chest and she began to sob. Never in her life had she sobbed so much. Maybe that is what she had needed all that time. She needed to cry out her pain into the snow. She cried as hard as she could to get the pain out. Suddenly a pair of strong arms came about her.
"Hey Ginny, why are you crying all by yourself here?"
Ginny knew that voice. It was the comforting voice of her brother Charlie. Ginny fell into his arms and continued to sob away into his chest. After about an hour of sobbing, Ginny wiped her eyes and looked up at Charlie.
"Oh Charlie, it has been so hard for me all these months. It's a pain, an ache that I haven't been able to free myself from."
"Would this by any chance have to do with Harry?" asked Charlie with a soft voice as he gently kissed her head. Charlie had loved Ginny since the day she was born. He had a tender spot in him for her and whenever, he was the one there when she fell or got hurt. He was the one who would go hug her when she scraped her knee when they played quidditch with their other brothers.
"I- I just- Oh I don't know Charlie. I try to forget him, I try to put him out of my mind but he always haunts my thoughts. There isn't a moment that I don't think of him. That is except when I'm in class or studying. It's the only time I can rest from thinking about him." She then looked up at her brother and waited as if he could have an answer for her.
"Look Ginny, I know that it must be very hard for you to be living a life without Harry but try little by little each day to not think of him. Before you know it, you will feel a little better and you won't be thinking of him as frequently."
"Oh Charlie, what would I do without you?" said Ginny as she hugged Charlie tightly towards her.
"Besides, you can't look like that when I get married" commented Charlie.
Ginny pulled away and looked up at Charlie, "Are you getting married Charlie?"
He smiled and nodded, "Her name is Portia. I met her in Romania. She came to Romania a year after I did. She was also studying about dragons and how to handle them."
"But Charlie, then who am I going to have to talk with?" groaned Ginny, "You'll be too busy with your wife and then some day with your family."
Charlie chuckled and shook his head, "Oh Ginny, you know that I'll try to always be there for you. Besides, I'm only an owl away. Besides Portia and I need a beautiful bridesmaid without out red puffy eyes. Your hair is enough wouldn't you think so?"
"Charlie!" scowled Ginny as she gave his chest a friendly slap.
"Come on Gin, let's go back inside. It's cold out here."
When Ginny went back to Hogwarts. Things had become more difficult and more harsher by the day. The detentions and punishments were more gruesome.
"Speak up Weasley! Is it true that you and some Hogwarts students have been setting up a rebellion with other students?" asked Amycus with a devilish look on his face.
"I- I didn't start any sort of rebellion Professor Carrow. I do remember the rules here at Hogwarts" said Ginny in defense.
"Give me the names Finnigan!" said Amycus Carrow turning to Seamus.
Amycus whipped his wand out and muttered "crucio" at Seamus.
Seamus started to squirm he was then screaming out in pain while he was under the crusciatus curse. After a few minutes Amycus Carrow turned back to Ginny.
"You saw what happened to your friend here now speak Weasley!"
Neville stepped forward and Ginny called after him, "Neville! No!" as she grabbed hold of his arm to pull him back.
Amycus Carrow put the crusciatus curse on Ginny and she too was dangling in pain as the crusciatus curse went through her body. She screamed in pain as Seamus and Neville winced to see Ginny being tortured.
"Now be quiet girl and let him speak!" finally yelled Alecto Carrow and then she lifted the curse.
Neville finally walked up and said, "Professors, we really don't know. We did hear about a rebellion but we would never join something like that."
"Liar!" screamed Alecto and she put the stinging hex on him all over his body.
Ginny could feel the tears in her eyes for her friend but she held them back. She was not going to show her weakness to the Carrows. She stepped forward and said, "Professors, we would tell you the moment we know who it is."
Alecto and Amycus Carrow looked at each other and then Alecto spoke up, "Very well girl, but if I find out that you and your little friends here are involved, you will be expelled from this school and possibly sent to Azkaban for participating in a rebellion!"
"Yes" they said and Alecto took off the stinging jinx off of Neville.
The three of them walked out of Amycus Carrow's office and headed back quickly to the Gryffindor tower, paying attention to not getting caught out in the corridors after hours.
Harry was in the Forest of Dean with Hermione when he saw a patronus light beyond the forest. He walked over to it and he saw something shine in the light of the moonlight. He took off his shirt and jumper. He jumped into the water as he got closer to it, he realized that it was none other than the sword of Gryffindor. He then felt that something was trying to pull him down. Within moments he found himself fighting for gasp for air. He finally grasped the sword and then he saw a hand and grabbed it. When he came out of the water, he saw that Ron was finally there.
"Ron! Thanks mate. For a minute I thought I was going to die" said Harry as he continued to gasp for air.
"Don't worry mate." Ron the looked at the sword and said, "I see that you found the sword of Gryffindor. It now looks like we can destroy the horcrux within the locket."
Harry nodded and then within moments he saw as his best mate fought his inner demons in efforts to destory the horcrux which he eventually succeeded.
"Ron it sure is good to have you back. It wasn't the same without you. Hermione of course hasn't been the same since you left."
After having broken into Gringotts, the three of them were now discussing how to get to the lost diadem in Hogwarts.
"Well, we already got the gobblet from Hufflepuff, we just got the locket, we need to now get Nagini and Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem" said Ron.
Hermione was furious when she saw Ron. She didn't speak to him for a couple of days until the three of them sat down to device a plan to destroy Nagini, the goblet, and the diadem.
"We are going to have to find a way to get into Hogwarts without Harry getting caught so we can look for the diadem. We are also going to need some help" said Hermione as she looked at Harry and Ron.
"That means we will have to go to Hogsmeade and from there make our way up to the castle." said Harry.
"We can't just walk into Hogwarts either. I mean Snape is the Headmaster now" said Ron.
"We'll just have to go through Hogsmeade. We can go through Hogshead and head into the cellar" said Harry.
When the three of them arrived to Hogshead by chance, Aberforth Dumbledore, along with the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore, helped the three of them into the cellar. The three walked into the secret door and there they saw members of the D.A. and supporters of the D.A.
Harry suddenly heard a sound in the distance and there was Ginny, right in front of his eyes. After nearly a year of not seeing Ginny, she looked just as beautiful as the day that he left. They stood there looking at each other, their love and attraction evident to those around Harry and Ginny. Harry wanted to run to Ginny and hold her in his arms but there was too much going on at the moment.
"I'm her brother and it's like I'm not here at all" exclaimed Ron.
Harry and Ginny finally came back to reality and Ginny finally said, "Harry, Snape knows that you have been spotted in Hogsmeade."
Suddenly the castle was filled with curses, jinxes, and protection shields flashing all over the place. The lost diadem was soon found and Ron and Hermione were down in the Chamber of Secrets destroying it with the basilisk fang. Neville on the other hand was trying to fight away with the Gryffindor sword in his free hand, trying to find Nagini so he could destroy it. After some fighting, Neville found Nagini and chopped it's head off with the sword while Ron and Hermione destroyed the diadem. Nobody knew but what seemed years of pressure and rows, their tempers soon bubbled up into love and they were suddenly snogging away.
Harry walked back into the Great Hall that was being used as the new hospital wing and he saw that many were injured and some had died helping him in the fight against Dumbledore. Harry then turned to look down and there was Lupin and Tonks, laying dead on the ground next to each other. Harry's heart fell at the sight. The last of his father's friends had died. The last connection that he ever had to his father was gone. After looking down for a few moments, he raised his head and looked straight ahead. There were the Weasleys. George was crying his heart out and when Harry looked closer, he noticed that Fred had also died helping him in the war. He saw Ginny in all her beauty. He could see that her body was shivering as she sobbed for her brother. Ron too was over his brother's body as he cried for him. Ron wasn't one to cry, especially with all the jokes that Fred and George pulled but, this time, Ron was a broken man facing the loss of his brother. Harry then at that moment felt more determined than ever to go destroy Voldemort. He walked past McGonagall, without even giving her a chance to offer him condolences.
Within moments, Harry was in the Forbidden Forest. He had just seen those that he had lost and he found the sudden courage to go on and fight Voldemort. After seeing Snapes memory and discovering that he himself was a horcrux, he knew what he had to do. He felt more determined than ever to risk his life for his wizarding world... for hi Ginny. He was willing to risk his life so that she could live a safer life beside her family.
A while later, Hagrid was carrying Harry who appeared to be dead. Everyone was gasping and whispering at the sight of Harry.
Ginny walked out of the castle and at that moment she realized what Harry had done. He had risked his life for everybody, even for her. The dulling ache that Ginny had lived with in the past year suddenly grew worse and she felt that she was going to literally die. She wanted to at least touch and feel Harry one last time. She didn't care if Voldemort was walking beside him but she had to run to him.
"No! Harry!" said Ginny as she started to run towards the boy she loved but was stopped suddenly by her father by holding her back.
The next few moments flashed through her eyes as she gasped in surprise as Harry got out of Hagrid's arms and began a ferocious fight against Voldemort, eventually killing him.
Harry stood there looking down at Voldemort's ashes. He was gone and he wouldn't be disturbing them ever again. As Harry looked up, he still saw a large group of death eaters and saw them quickly disappear in thick black puffs of smoke.
Everyone then cheered and went over to Harry to hug him and thank him for saving their world.
Ginny didn't know what to do. She was facing a world of confusion. She had been facing the dulling ache of not being with Harry and now grief stricken with the death of her brother Fred.
Through the crowd, Ginny could see that Harry stole glances towards her. His face said that it was all over and that now they could be together. Unfortunately, at that moment, she saw something change in Harry's eyes and there was sudden pain and confusion in his eyes as he turned his attention back towards the crowd.
"You did it Harry!" said Neville as he hugged Harry.
"We are all very honoured to have someone like you" said Kingsley from the side.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked up to him and hugged him. Mrs. Weasley then said with tears streaming down her eyes, "Your parents would have been so proud of you Harry dear."
"Harry you are the saviour of our world" said Luna in her dreamy voice.
It was then that everyone went quiet and realized that there was truth in Luna's words. He had officially become "The Chosen One." They would consider him once more "The Boy Who Lived" again.
Everyone went back into the Great Hall and Ginny stood there looking up at the sky as the sun began to rise. Harry saw her there standing alone and he walked over to her.
"Ginny?" asked Harry. It had been nearly a year since he hadn't seen her. He wanted to be back with her more than ever but now he was facing a world of confused emotions and she had a right to know that whatever they had was going to take time.
"Yes Harry" she answered quietly without turning away from the sky.
"I know that this past year hasn't been an easy one. I never meant to end our relationship and I know that I promised that I would come back as soon as this was over."
For the first time in her life, Ginny felt head strong despite the consistent dulling ache that continued to hit her. It was even more painful when Harry was near her.
"What do you want to say Harry?"
Harry was surprised by Ginny's icy response, "Look Ginny, please don't be so distant with me. I would like for us to start all over again. Perhaps as friends for now?"
Ginny finally turned around and face Harry. She was making an effort to keep the stinging tears from rolling down her cheeks, "Harry, you have no idea how much it hurt me. Then to come here to Hogwarts and face a difficult year with professors that were far more different from last year. Now you want to be friends?" She said as her voice wavered with the last word.
"Different from last year? What on earth do you mean Ginny?" asked Harry with confusion.
"Harry you have no idea what I and everyone who came to Hogwarts had to live through." Ginny started to walk away and then she turned around and said, "Just forget it Harry."
Harry walked up to her and held her by her arm and said, "I see how you feel Ginny but have you ever stopped to think what I had to live through so you could be alive here today? Bearing cold weather while camping and such? Look Ginny, it is very obvious how you feel, but I want you to know how I feel. I feel confused and lost and as far as I am concerned Ginny, I'm sorry but I won't be able to keep my promise. I just can't go back to being with you. As soon as all these funerals are over, I'll leave for the entire Summer holiday and then come back to Hogwarts to finish and sit my NEWTs, that's if there's a Hogwarts left when I come back" with that, Harry walked away, leaving Ginny gape mouthed and in shock.
She had only wanted to tell Harry that she needed some time to confront her pain before they talked about getting back together again and here she had Harry tell her that he wouldn't be able to keep his promise by going back into a relationship. Suddenly the dull ache within Ginny's chest felt even heavier and all she could do was lay her face in her hands and begin to cry.