Chapter Twenty- Two
Fight to Return
'She's back! She's back, she's back, she's back!' Harry was yelling as he ran up the stairs towards Ron's room. He reached the door and banged hard, yelling the whole time. A half naked Ron and dishevelled Hermione opened the door.
'What?' Ron asked.
Harry pushed past them Ron and swept Hermione up into a strong hug.
'She's back!' he cried as he swung Hermione round laughing joyously.
'Harry Potter, you put me down this instant and tell us what you mean,' Hermione said somewhat crossly. Harry plonked Hermione down on her feet and smiled broadly at an angry looking Ron.
'Ginny. I heard her.' He said simply.
Ron's mouth dropped open and Hermione squealed beside him.
'You heard her?' she trilled, grabbing his hands in his, 'are you sure?'
'Definitely,' Harry replied, 'she screamed at me in her usual pissed off manner.'
'What did she say?' Ron asked calmly.
'She just asked, well screamed, where am I?' he informed Ron.
'What did you say back?'
'Nothing,' Harry said sobering slightly, 'I couldn't get through to her.'
Ron nodded thoughtfully. Harry watched him in confusion as he went to seat himself on the bed, why wasn't he happy?
'It's not Ginny mate.' Ron said heavily.
'What do you mean?' he asked sharply, ignoring the intake of Hermione's breath.
'Why would she want to know where you are? Why didn't she ask for help?'
'Well she did, before she asked me where I was,' Harry replied, his upper lip twitched in annoyance.
'And why didn't she tell you where she was? Why couldn't you reply to her?' Ron asked shrewdly.
'Well, I couldn't reply because of the distance most likely; she was always stronger telepathically.'
'And why didn't she tell you where she was?' Ron pressed, leaning forwards slightly.
'Well, it probably, she might not be sure,' Harry floundered.
'Where you are,' Ron finished for him, 'you're out of the country and nobody besides the Order knows where; of course she is going to use the most personal connection you share to find you.'
'He's right Harry,' Hermione said, coming to stand beside Ron and gazing at him in pity. 'It wasn't real.'
'No,' he said, shaking his head numbly, 'it was my Ginny. I need to go back to England.'
He actually made to walk out of the door before he felt Ron's strong hand holding him back.
'I can't let you do that mate. We have a job to do here. You know that.'
Harry tried to shrug off Ron's hand even as his heart grew heavy.
'Are you going to leave all those prisoners in there alone on a whim?' Ron glanced at Hermione and jerked his head, inviting her to talk.
'I know it hurts Harry,' Hermione said as she moved to stand before him, 'but you have us; and you will always have us.'
Harry felt his shoulders sag and it took all of his will power to not let a sob escape him.
'Oh Harry,' sighed Hermione as she wrapped him in an embrace. 'It will be alright.'
'It bloody better be mate,' Ron said gruffly, 'Im not having a pussy for a best mate.'
Harry chuckled sadly.
'Thanks guys.' He said looking at the two of them.
Bang!
The door slammed open to reveal a blonde haired witch with green eyes that were flashing.
'I cannot believe you Potter!' Celine screeched, 'you just fucked me! And you're already in the arms of another girl!'
Hermione jumped back from him in shock and gazed at the two of them in bewilderment. Ron however, double over laughing. Celine flicked her angry eyes to him.
'What do you find so amusing, Weasley?' she hissed.
'Hermione and Harry are practically brother and sister. That's just wrong!' he guffawed. Celine narrowed her eyes.
'Be that as it may. What kind of arsehole has sex with someone, says another girls name and then runs out the room!?'
'Oh Harry, you didn't?' Hermione said exasperated. Ron however leant against the end table as he doubled over laughing again. 'Oh shut up Ronald.'
'Celine, I am so sorry. Ginny, she- I can't explain.' He hung his head.
Celine drew herself up and a growl emitted from her throat.
'Celine, are you ready?' Aimee asked as she walked past the doorway, 'it's nearly nine.'
'Fuck!' she cursed before turning hateful eyes on Harry, 'this isn't over Potter.'
She stalked off down the stairs to prepare for the mission.
'What did you do to her?' Aimee asked Harry curiously.
'It's what he didn't do to her, is what you should be asking.' Ron chuckled from the bed.
'Ergh, you two didn't,' Aimee raised an eyebrow. Harry shrugged his shoulder.
'Je ne peux pas croire que vous deux, stupide. Tonght de toutes les nuits putain!' Aimee shouted at him in anger.
'I don't know what you are saying!' Harry yelled back. Aimee drew back her head and her eyes tightened slightly.
'Just don't fuck anything else up tonight,' she mocked, before following Celine down the stairs.
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Diagon Alley was destroyed. The smell of decay and sewage wavered in the air before her and the once brightly decorated buildings now lay in rubble or destroyed by fire.
'I did this,' she whispered.
Blood was splattered on the pavements and bricks that lay scattered about the alley and everywhere she looked she could see the images of the witches and wizards that she had killed, tortured and mutilated on that fateful day; and across the way was where she had stood on the body of her own brother. Bile filled her throat and she narrowly missed vomiting on Malfoy's head. Tears flooded her eyes as she remembered Harry's appearance in the alley.
'Advarda Kedarva!' Ginerva cried and the green light lit up the body of the stupid little mudblood toddler that had strayed her path. As the child fell to the floor, she felt laughter bubble up inside her before it was released in a cackling sound which was harmonised with Bella's sycophantic laugh.
'Ginny!' a voice of anger rang out over the screams of the alley.
'Why if it isn't baby Potter!' Bella sang out skipping towards Harry Potter. 'Come to play with the big boys and girls?'
'I'll handle this Bella,' she snapped stepping in front of the crazed witch. 'Deal with those mudblood children cowering in the dirt.'
'Ginny, why are you doing this?' Harry Potter pleaded, green eyes sparked with tears.
'Potter,' she said snidely, 'you look good, for a Half-Blood.'
She skipped forwards until she stood upon Percy's body and aimed a flagrante curse at a young witch. The witch screamed as her robes caught fire and Ginerva laughed and laughed at the sight of the stupid girl running through the streets.
'Ginny, stop it! Come back to me!' he screamed.
'You stupid boy! I am who I am meant to be! Crucio!'
The spell nicked Potter and his knees buckled under the pain.
'Stop it, Ginny.' He murmured once the spell had been lifted.
'Diranyo!' she screamed and a light blue light spun towards Potter who blocked it with a shield charm.
'Diffindo! Viera! Bombarda!' she screamed. Potter merely set up some sort of barrier that she had never seen before. 'Got some new skills Potter?'
'If YOU come back I can teach you them!' He yelled back.
'NEVER!'
Well now I am back. Ginny thought. Time to fix everything.
Leaving Draco in the dirt Ginny Weasley strolled to the edge of the alley and apparated to the Burrow.
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They were running down a long corridor. Both Ron and he were carrying an unconscious woman over their shoulder. Two of the girls they had saved from the raping cells they had discovered at the entrance to the dungeons. Hermione and Aimee were slightly behind them, ferrying the stage Two's through the corridor. The plan had already fallen apart when the Dementors had cut off Aimee and Harry's entrance causing them to join Ron and Hermione at their entrance.
'How the fuck do we get them out of here?' Harry hissed at Ron.
'We need to just get them all out and go back.' Ron breathed back.
'It's going to make everything to go to pot.' Harry growled as he re-adjusted the girl on his back.
'Well what else are we meant to do? Even if we can't bring the whole damn place down we can at least get these poor devils out.' Ron jerked his head behind him towards the stage Twos behind them.
'Harry, the exit is just around this corner.' Hermione whispered.
'Right, Hermione. Levitate these two in front of you and get everyone out. Ron and I will set the bombs.' Harry was already placing the girl on his back onto the floor gently; he gestured to Ron to do the same. 'We can give you ten minuets to get them all out safely. Come on Ron.'
The two of them shoved past the stage Twos and took off full pelt down the corridor. The next corridor had small archways on either side that led to the side passageways that held up the structure of the base.
'You take the left?' Ron ordered.
The two of them began running down each side passageway and placing the explosives on the supporting pillars of the base.
'Five minuets to get out of here now.' Harry spoke loudly.
'I hear you,' came Ron's voice from behind him.
'All of yours set?' Harry asked turning to face Ron. Ron nodded in reply.
'Right, we need to run.' Harry said checking his watch, 'unless you want to get trapped under piles of rubble.'
'No fucking way. Why aren't we already going?'
The two of them began to run as fast as they could down the corridors as they rounded the first corridor they could see the exit before them and Hermione screaming at them to hurry.
'Run faster! You only have thirty seconds.' Hermione screeched.
The two of them put some extra strength into their legs, calling on all the training Hart had required of them. They were so close.
BOOM!
The first explosion rang out throughout the base causing the two of them to lose their footing and fall crashing to the floor.
BOOM!
The second explosion caused dust to flood the corridor they were currently in. Harry jumped to his feet and pulled Ron with him.
BOOM!
Cracks appeared in the ceiling.
BOOM!
The ceiling began to crumble above them.
BANG!
Harry collided with Hermione as he dived from the base with Ron crashing into his legs.
BOOM!
The rest of the explosives detonated and huge chunks of stone began to rain down upon them. Harry rolled over and raised a barrier wandlessly over the three of them; trusting that Aimee had already Portkeyed the prisoners away to safety. A scream of pain shook Harry from his concentration. A cry from Ron. A hunk of rock had landed on his right leg sealing the entrance to the base.
'Shit!' Harry yelled. 'Can you deal mate?'
Ron scrunched his face up but nodded quickly. Hermione reached over and grasped his hands in hers, keeping her own legs pulled under the barrier tight. It took several minuets for the building to stop being destroyed, and when it finally ended, the silence that rang out was deafening. Harry smartly dismantled the barrier and he and Hermione rose and pointed their wands at the hunk of rock captivating Ron's leg.
'Wingardium Leviosa' the both said softly in unison. The rock rose up slowly and Ron painfully pulled himself out of the way before they laid it back; blocking the entrance.
As Harry scanned the area, Hermione flew to Ron's side and quickly healed his leg.
'Take it easy,' she cautioned, 'I would rather a healer make sure it is correct before you start running off again.'
Ron leant forwards and kissed her lightly.
'We need to get back to England.' Harry said walking over towards the two of them.
'But Harry, shouldn't we get back and help Aimee?' Hermione asked as her eyes surveyed the area.
'No, I need to know if my Ginny is back.' Harry said.
Ron and Hermione both exchanged a glance before nodding and extending their hands to him.
'England.' Ron conceded.
Harry smiled and grasped their hands in his.
'Thank-you,' he said, before apparating from France back to England.
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It was gone. All of it. The old tree was gone, fallen down in the onslaught. The shed, destroyed and burnt to the ground. The old wellington boots, gone from the doorway- the doorway gone too. The Burrow was gone. Destroyed.
'Why?' Ginny screamed as she collapsed to her knees with tears flooding down her cheeks.
Her home had been destroyed, burnt to the ground and the very ground was burnt and wept smoke from its cracks. Numbly Ginny rose from the ground and walked towards the ruins before her, praying that she wouldn't find any bodies left to decay. After a heartbreaking investigation, no bodies were found- meaning that they had either gotten away; or nobody had been here for the attack. This meant everyone had to be at Grimmauld Place, the only safe place left now.
A glinting caught her eye across the way and she slowly walked towards it, her feet picking over the smashed glass and debris in her path. A closer look revealed the old Weasley clock. All the hands pointed towards mortal peril.
'No surprise there,' Ginny murmured. Seeing as this smashed up old clock seemed to be the only remaining materialistic thing left from the attack on her home; Ginny bent to retrieve it. The moment her fingers touched the glass a flash of light caused her to withdraw her hand quickly. A voice rang out through the silence. A laughing voice that caused shivers down her spine.
'Lil baby Weasel too late to save her family?' Bellatrix's voice giggled, 'I found myself hurt darling Ginerva when you abandoned your family! So the Dark Lord and I thought it would be best to simply destroy this one and hope you come back to us. You filthy blood traitor!'
The clock exploded and glass flew into Ginny's skin causing her to shriek in pain and drop the clock on the floor.
'My family is not dead.' Ginny whispered. 'There not dead!'
A loud crack apparated Ginny Weasley from the ruins of her old home to the Headquarters of the Order.
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'Hello?' Harry called as he, Hermione and Ron walked over the threshold of Grimmauld Place. 'Anyone here?'
Running footsteps from the floor above became louder and louder before Remus Lupin burst into the hall with his wand drawn.
'What was my Marauder nickname?' Lupin asked aiming his wand at each of them in turn.
'Moony,' they chorused back.
Lupin lowered his wand and three more aimed at him.
'On Valentines Day, what did I say to you?' Harry asked him. Lupin smiled slightly before replying.
'To suck it up and ask out Tonks, because we don't know how long we have.'
Harry nodded and lowered his wand, indicating to Ron and Hermione to lower theirs.
'You three okay?' Lupin's eyes swept over the three of them, 'you look like hell.'
Harry nodded wearily as Ron and Hermione murmured they were fine.
'Well, everyone is in the drawing room. It's the second Order meeting this week.' Lupin gestured them to follow and they began to make their way slowly up the stairs.
'Why two in one week?' Hermione wondered aloud.
'Things have been going from bad to worse whilst you have been in France.' Lupin looked behind him wearily, 'Voldemort has taken the Ministry.'
Hermione gasped loudly and Ron cursed; Harry however, said nothing it had just been a matter of time.
'So who's the Minister now then?' Harry asked.
'This will knock you sick,' Lupin warned before unleashing the bomb, 'Lucious Malfoy.'
'What?' Hermione exclaimed as Ron cursed again.
'Oh yes, First order of business is to place all Muggleborns in Azkaban.'
'What?!' Ron yelled.
'We can't allow that,' Hermione said appalled, as they followed Lupin into the drawing room.
'No we cannot Granger,' barked Mad-Eye from the head of the Order table. Yells of 'Ron, Hermione and Harry' rang throughout the room as the Order unseated themselves and came to check over them all. Mrs Weasley dusting the debris and dust from their clothes and hair. The men clapping one another on the back and the women hugging and kissing.
'Yes, yes. It's wonderful they're back. Can we get done some business now?' Mad-Eye growled from his seat.
'Alastor, I have not seen my son for over a week.' Mrs Weasley snapped.
'Then you can wait a while longer.' Mad-Eye pointed at the vacated chairs, 'all of you. Sit.'
The Order resumed their seats and Harry, Ron and Hermione conjured themselves some chairs to sit on.
'Now, seeing as you three have returned so suddenly. A report on the situation on France.' Mad-Eye ordered. Harry and Ron turned to Hermione, who rolled her eyes before informing the Order of their success.
'The base in Calais has been destroyed. There were no fatalities-'
'Apart from those Death Eater bastards inside,' Ron filled in.
'Language,' Mrs Weasley admonished.
'Continue,' Made- Eye commanded.
'We were able to rescue all of the prisoners and Aimee Portkeyed them from the site to the French magical hospital near the Dordogne in the south of France; far from the fighting. No injuries occurred apart from the breakage of Ron's leg, which should be thoroughly checked over.' Hermione reported, glancing over at Madam Pomfrey during her last statement. Madam Pomfrey nodded in consent.
'Good.' Mad-Eye said, nodding approvingly. 'Very good. Right moving on, the Ministry-'
Mad-Eye paused as the sound of the front door slamming shut. There was a moment where the Order glanced around the table in bewilderment. Mad-Eye pointed to Lupin and jerked his thumb towards the doorway. Lupin rose and quickly left the room to see who may have arrived.
'It could be Arthur.' Mrs Weasley said hopefully.
'He isn't due back for another week,' Tonks replied, knawing on her hangnail.
The sound of Lupin yelling filled the room and a quieter voice replying.
'STUPEFY!' Lupin shouted, and the sound of a body hitting the floor rang out through out the house. Several members of the Order glanced at one another before racing from the room and down the stairs. As Tonks, Kingsley, Ron, Fred, George and Hart ran from the room, Harry lent forwards to speak to Mad-Eye.
'Could it be any of the other Weasley's?' he asked.
'No, Bill and Charlie are both out of the country still. It may be Fletcher; Merlin knows Lupin has more than one reason to be angry with him.'
'It's not Dung,' said Ron grimly from the doorway.
'Then who-?' Hermione's question drifted off as Kingsley and Lupin carried in the body of a woman in a long black dress. As they laid her heavily on the table, red hair fell away from a pale freckled face to reveal none other than Ginny Weasley.
Mrs Weasley screamed and ran forwards to pull Ginny into his arms.
'No!' roared Mad-Eye, 'restrain her!'
Fred and George quickly grabbed their Mothers shoulders and pulled her back from the table.
'That's my baby! Let me hold her!' Mrs Weasley shrieked with tears flooding down her cheeks.
'Molly! We don't know what that is on the table, and until we do, nobody goes near it.' Lupin softly spoke. Hermione grimly raised her wand and silently encased Ginny in ropes.
'How did she get in?' Hart growled from the doorway, 'this house is now impenetrable to Death Eaters since Bill and I updated the wards and enchantments.'
Ron stumped forwards and roughly checked Ginny's left arm.
'She doesn't have a Dark Mark, that's how.'
'Has she led Death Eaters to our door?' McGonnagal asked sharply.
'No,' Iris murmured from the bottom of the table, 'they have no knowledge as to where she is.'
'Well that's a plus at least,' Ron grunted.
'We need to know what she knows,' Mad-Eye said as he rose to have a closer look at the red head on the table.
'Give her to me for an hour,' Hart said gruffly, 'I will have her talking in no time.'
'No,' Harry said quietly.
The Order turned as one to gaze at Harry in surprise.
'No,' he repeated, rising from his chair, 'I need to do this.'
His request was met by silence as the Order glanced at one another surreptitiously. Lupin stepped closer towards him rubbing his hands together in thought.
'Harry, this isn't your Ginny-'
'I know that,' Harry interrupted.
'You aren't able to deal with this yet Potter,' Hart told him, pity filling his eyes.
Harry whirled around and pointed at Hart in anger.
'You agreed, when the time came, I would be the one to kill Ginny,'
Mrs Weasley gasped and fell heavily against the twins. Harry strode purposefully over to Hart until he was so close they breathed the same air.
'You agreed.' He growled.
Hart weighed him up for a moment his eyes searching Harry's face before he nodded once in agreement.
'Thank you,' Harry whispered, allowing some of the pain he felt to drift into his voice.
'I will not allow you to kill my daughter.' Mrs Weasley spoke up in anger, 'she may have done things that are unorthodox, but she is my daughter!'
'Unorthodox!' Kingsley exclaimed as the rest of the Order stared at Mrs Weasley incredulous, 'Ginny's crimes are worthy of the Dementors Kiss! I doubt that what Harry will do to get us some answers will be less evil than that! And once we know everything, I will personally take her to Azkaban!'
Mrs Weasley moaned and collapsed back onto Fred and George who supported their Mother as one.
'Potter, are you up for this?' Mad-Eye asked searchingly.
Harry squared his shoulders and nodded with a tightening in his jaw.
'Right, you heard him. Everyone clear out.' Mad-Eye ordered.
The Order was ushered out quickly, the twins and Lupin carrying out Mrs Weasley. Ron, Hermione and Hart lingered for a moment in the doorway.
'Are you sure you want to do this Harry?' Hermione asked hesitantly. Harry didn't reply, he merely kept his back to the three of them and gazed down at the woman he once loved.
'Come on you two. He is the only one that should do this,' Hart said as he dragged Potter's two best friends from the room. At the closing of the door, Harry fell to his knees and his shoulders shook with the silent sobs that had threatened to break through the moment they had carried Ginny through the doorway. Could she really be gone? Or had his Ginny come back? Either way he had to know. His head snapped up and he rose abruptly. Hart was right. This had to be him, if his Ginny was back; he could access her mind. If she wasn't- then the bitch on the table was as evil as Bellatrix Lestrange.
As he walked over to stand at Ginny's head his wand was ejaculated into his hand from his wand holster. She had to be tested, to not know he still loved her. She had to reveal her true intentions. Bottling his emotions Harry banished the chairs surrounding the table and drew closer to her.
'Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty,' he murmured, he allowed himself a moment of emotion as he brushed a piece of hair from her face softly; before shutting them all down and becoming the cold, hard man she had made him.
'Ennervarate.'
A blue light enveloped Ginny for a moment and brown eyes opened to meet his.
'Hello Ginerva.' He whispered.
Harry? She spoke into his mind in wonder. He withdrew his head like a snake and almost hissed in anger.
'Do not speak in my mind! That is not for you to do you evil bitch!' he snarled. Tears sparked in brown eyes and rolled down fair cheeks.
'Harry, it's me.' A sorrowful voice said, muffled through the bonds from Hermione's spell.
'Yes, but which you is it?' Harry whispered sadly. 'I guess we will just have to find out.'
He placed the tip of his wand against her brow.
'Crucio.'
Screams filled the drawing room and echoed into the kitchen downstairs where the Weasley family sat and listened with blank expressions to the sound of their kin being tortured.
'How long will this go on for?' Hermione asked Hart hollowly.
Fresh screams pierced the room and Hermione clapped her hands to her ears to try and shut it out.
Hart reached over and pulled her hands from her ears.
'As long as it takes,' he replied sadly.
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Hello!
Thank-you for the reviews from the last chapter, they were met with a smile like that.
Hoping that you enjoyed this chapter with how long it took me to write!
Please no haters! They make me sad.
But let me know your thoughts
Thank-you all again for reading!
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