Chapter Twenty-Three

Digging Deep

'HARRY STOP IT!' Ginny screamed as she fought against the bonds.

He lifted the curse and gazed down at her without pity.

'You will tell me what you know,' he growled, pushing his face into hers.

'I will tell you anything,' she sobbed.

'What did you tell Voldemort about the Order?'

'I don't know,' she whispered.

'Bullshit.'

He raised his wand again.

'I DON'T!' she yelled desperately, 'I don't know anything!'

'Then how can you tell me anything?' he questioned. Ginny remained silent.

Go through my mind, Ginny thought to him.

'Stop that,' Harry said turning his face from hers.

'Go through my mind. Use Legilimancy.' Ginny eyes him ferociously. Harry's eyes tightened as he turned this over. 'Do it.'

'LEGILIMANS!' he shouted pointing his wand at her. The effect was instantaneous; her head fell back as she willingly subjected her mind to his. He tore through the thoughts of the two of them and the Order from eight months ago until he hit the memory of the day before Ginny ran from the Burrow.

My eyelids drooped and I felt her limbs become heavy and lifeless, I began to fall backwards and felt someone strong catch me; before gently laying me on the bed. I felt myself smile slightly at the tenderness in the touch. Tenderness. That was a funny word. Ten-der-nous.

'I love you,' I slurred to the world, 'lots and lots. Be, when, wake, up.'

I heard a small chuckle and someone swept the hair from my brow.

'What comes next?' a harsher voice asked.

'She falls fast asleep, only a few more seconds now,' a softer voice replied.

I love you. A voice said in her mind, and I fell into sweet oblivion with that single thought.

And then, nothing but a door. He mentally pushed against the door to open it, but it wouldn't budge. He shoved harder and it opened slightly before shutting firmly. Out of curiosity Harry slashed Ginny's wrist with his wand; as she screamed the door flew open to reveal a wall. As Ginny's pain dissolved Harry felt himself pushed out the doorway and back into the forefront of Ginny's mind. Until he pulled himself out and opened green eyes to see brown ones.

'It's the same as in your second year, isn't it?' Harry whispered.

Ginny nodded, tears sparking her eyes.

'It's worse, I can't remember anything!' she sobbed. He banished the ropes and pulled her to him.

'Oh Gin,' he sighed. 'I don't know what to do.'

Ginny pulled back to search a face that was filled with so much pain.

'What did I do?' she breathed.

'Just stay here.' He said abruptly.

'What?' she gasped, 'no you can't leave me here.'

'I will be right back. I need to talk to Hermione.'

Harry reached over and stroked her face softly; her eyes closed as his fingers caressed her lips.

'Thank Merlin that you're back.' He murmured before bending his head and taking her lips with his. He had almost forgotten how soft Ginny's lips were, and at the sound of her moan he felt his legs buckle slightly.

And I refuse to leave you again, she thought to him. He withdrew his lips from hers and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

I will be right back.

Ginny nodded and seated herself on top of the table.

I will be here.

Harry stepped backwards, unwilling to take his eyes from her, before quickly turning and running from the room and thundered down the stairs.

Bang!

The kitchen door swung open as he sped head long into it.

'It's our Ginny,' he announced to the Order.

'What?' Mrs Weasley gasped from the fireplace.

'What do you mean Potter?' Hart demanded.

'It's the same as her second year,' he turned to Hermione who had gasped in realisation.

'Meaning what?' Lupin asked.

'She doesn't remember anything.' Hermione whispered, 'it was a possession.'

'Possession from what?' Tonks asked.

'Voldemort,' Ron spat, 'he left a piece inside of her from that damn diary.'

'A Horcrux?' Moody growled.

'As good as,' Hermione replied, 'it is trapped in a dark corner of Ginny's mind, a part that even Ginny can't access.'

'So how was this possession even possible?' Hart asked.

There was an uncomfortable moment as Ron looked at the floor; Harry stared at Hermione and Hermione's eyes filled with tears.

'That was my fault.' Hermione choked out. The Order all turned to stare at her in confusion. 'I put Ginny under an enchantment so that we could access those thoughts from her second year; to help us find the rest of Voldemorts horcruxes.'

'The horcruxes taken to Edinburgh?' Tonks asked.

'Yup,' Ron replied hoarsely from the corner, 'so it all fucked up really.'

'All my fault.' Hermione whispered.

'No it wasn't,' Harry grunted, 'I pushed for us to tell Ginny; and Ginny offered. It was a group decision.'

He turned to face Hermione's shocked, tear streaked face.

'I apologise for blaming you this whole time Hermione.'

She smiled slightly back in reply and nodded.

'So what do we do with Ginny?' Hart asked, 'if she was possessed. Charges can't be brought against her.'

Mrs Weasley sighed in relief.

'But we can't gain information from her.' Moody spoke up.

'That's not entirely true,' Harry said.

'Why, what have you found out?' Ron demanded.

'Well nothing yet, because I delved into her brain and I found myself facing a door. I cut Ginny with my wand and when she felt pain, the door swung open but there was-'

'A wall,' Hermione finished for him.

'Yeah,' he nodded.

'Once you get past the wall there is a corridor. At the end is the darkness. Don't push against it too hard, that's when you lose Ginny to the darkness' Hermione said softly.

'Hermione, you should help Harry with this,' Lupin said.

'No!' she said loudly, 'I will never enter Ginny's mind again. Never.'

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As Ginny screeched in pain again, Harry delved deeper and deeper into her mind. Searching for answers; he saw plans about the Ministry, the hideouts and numbers of Voldemorts followers- before he lifted the curse and was pushed from her mind as the blocks were brought back up again.

They were both left panting from the exploration into the dark side of Ginny's mind. Harry wiped the sweat away from his brow shakily as Ginny collapsed again against the table.

'Are we getting anything?' Ginny asked wiping blood from her lip. Harry nodded grimly in reply.

'Snatches of conversations and images; but not much more.' He said wearily, 'I need to know where you moved his horcruxes to.'

Ginny cracked her neck and placed her hands onto the arms of the chair, gripping it tight.

'Then you need to hold me under the curse for longer.' She said hoarsely, gazing at him determinedly.

'Can you deal with another few minuets? It is the first day, we can try tomorrow if it's too much.' he lent forwards with his forehead almost touching hers. 'I don't want to push you too far.'

Her hand came up and cupped his cheek.

'So long as your mind is connected to mine I will stay sane. Now do it.'

She dropped her hand back to the chair arm and held it tight. Harry placed one hand against hers whilst the other gripped his wand.

'Crucio,' he murmured.

Ginny's head flew back and screams pierced the room. Screams Harry couldn't hear as he dived into her mind again to find the answers. He beat his way past the memories at the forefront of her mind to gain access to the memories from the past eight months. Memories Ginny could not access alone.

Hurry Harry, Ginny's pain filled thought flooded into his mind. Just before he met the doorway which opened to the darkness and she could no longer reach him. He pushed open the door and battered away the blocks throwing his mind into the darkness at the end of the corridor. He skipped over the memories of torture and killing, the Death Eater meetings until he reached the memories that Voldemort and Ginerva shared. The killings, where they were bathed in blood, the torture that they kissed over; until he began to catch snippets of different conversations.

Where is the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters my love?

I can't tell you. I signed a contract.

Potter knows about your Horcruxes my Lord.

The Lovegood girl was killed today Ginerva, how does that make you feel?

Laughter.

I want you to take this and hide it in the Department of Mysteries. Hide it-

Red eyes filled his mind and he was shoved from the darkness and out through the door into Ginny's mind.

Stop it, stop it, stop it! Ginny's thoughts screamed into his head.

With a gasp, Harry pulled himself from her mind and lifted the curse instantly.

Ginny sagged back in her chair and brown eyes rolled back into her head.

'Ginny!' Harry shouted in panic. She didn't respond, not even when he shook her shoulders. 'No, no, no.' he grabbed her face and checked her over.

Ginny,' he thought desperately, I just got you back- c'mon love.

There was a moments silence echoing throughout Ginny's mind before her sweet voice filled his mind again.

I think that's enough for today.

Her eyes opened wearily and there was a terrible sadness there.

'Did we find-' her voice was scratched and hoarse.

Thoughts only, Harry thought as he placed one finger against her lips.

Did we find anything?

Harry smiled slightly and nodded.

The Department of Mysteries, he thought.

The place where the wizarding world realised he was really back.

Harry held Ginny's hands tightly and watched as her eyes heavily closed slightly.

C'mon, let's get you to bed. We can talk in the morning.

Ginny nodded sleepily and Harry rose to sweep her up in his arms. It felt so good to have her in his arms again that he held her closer and tighter than normal as he carried her up the stairs. At the door to his room he readjusted his grip slightly and opened the door.

Your room Harry? She thought drowsily. Are you sure that's okay.

There is no way in hell that I am leaving you anywhere alone.

He placed her lightly on the bed and transfigured the black dress into a nightdress.

Hmm, thank-you.

No worries, my fiery tornado. He thought as he tucked her under the covers.

She sighed happily and snuggled down into the bed.

Love you Gin.

Love you, Harry.

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Yes! Ginny is back back!

Now you know why I asked for no haters! All planned out team!

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