Harry arrived in their room and found his wife pacing angerly. This was a good sign, she had not taken out her wand and started hexing everything in reach. Ginny looked over as he entered.
"I won't apologize to that old fart."
"I know." He took her into his arms. "Especially given everything you've been through the last two days. Are you ready to talk about it?"
She shook her head. "I cannot get my own feelings on it all straight, Harry. I'm a grown woman in a teen's body. I thought I was done with puberty and all that entails. Now I'm back and Fred is alive and you might have to…"
He held her tight as she sobbed in his arms. "I know, Gin. It's been a lot for me too. We still don't understand how we came back or why. If there even is a reason why. I'm sure there must be. I feel like we were sent back to save those we lost."
She nodded in his arms. "It makes sense. We were sent to the one point in time where we could get the drop on Riddle. This was planned. I just wish I knew by who and why."
Harry shrugged. "All we can do for now is our best. We still got horcruxes to find and destroy. Oh, Dumbledore promised to help us find a way to remove my own passenger without my death. Since he knows for sure what we are dealing with and is not dying, I think our chances of riding me of it are higher."
She smiled. "Good. I might even apologize for calling him an 'Old Fart' if he succeeds. I'm going to talk with Fred tonight. I suspect the others will too. I just… I wanted to do it after we arrived but I realized all the good we could do in the past."
He sat down with her on their bed. "I understand. So many people we can save. I suppose I should send Sirius a message and get him back in England. We need to plot on how to clear his name as well."
She squeezed his hand as she laced her fingers in his. "Don't go for Petergrew too soon. If you make a false move, Sirius will never get released."
He nodded. They just sat there awhile, enjoying each other's company in silence. They had so much more to do, but surely no one would begrudge them a little break.
*A-Weasley-Redo*
Ron and Hermonie made it to the Girl's restroom that housed the Chamber of Secrets without any challenges. Hermonie had cast a bubblehead charm over them as they descended into the Chamber for hopefully the final time. It was a good thing they had, the great serpent was mid decay this time and the smell would surely be awful. Ron cast a spell to speed the creature the rest of the way through that process while his wife cast spells to filter the air and banish the possible diseases that the rot of such a creature might cause. Once the beast was nothing but bones and a air quality charm from Hermonie proved the air was clean, they lowered their charms.
Last time, Ron had yanked the fang out of the creature's mouth which he now realized was stupid. He could have killed himself with venom. He took his wand and extracted two fangs and levitated them to Hermonie who put them in a separate pocket dimension to the locket. They were going to get the sword next, but they wanted the fangs just in case.
Ron stopped and stared at a spot on the ground. There was a dark stain on the ground there, where Harry had bled next to the body of his sister. His best mate, one of his brothers, had almost paid the ultimate price for his family there. The last few days flashed through his mind, and he stumbled a bit, at the sheer force of what they were doing. Changing the past, saving those that died. Would something go wrong?
As he stood there, worrying, he felt warm arms wrap around him from behind. He leaned back into Hermoine as they stood there.
"Everything will be alright, Ron. We'll figure this out together."
He nodded and turned to face her. "I'm just worried that our bloody hero will take the 'selfless' route. I know he would never willingly leave Ginny like that, but he also has to get rid of the passenger he is carrying."
He felt her squeeze him a little tighter. "That's why we are here, Ron. To remind Harry that he matters too. He's our best friend and our brother. Family doesn't let family sacrifice themselves for the good of the world."
He chuckled and squeezed back. "Yeah. Well, as fun as this is, we need to get the sword and the diadem. Why don't you go get the item and I'll get the sword."
She kissed him. "See you back in Dumbledore's office."
*A-Weasley-Redo*
Later that evening, Fred was sitting outside watching the sun set in the west. The July air was warm and pleasant as the day sky began to give way to the evening darkness. He heard light steps behind him.
"Hey, Ginny. I was wondering when you would seek me out."
Ginny sat down beside him, eyes firmly on the sky, but Fred could see a fragility that had not been present before in his sister.
"I would have done it sooner, but Harry was still in shock from being with the Dursley's. Had to help him through that."
He nodded. "We heard a bit of that before you put the privacy charms on the doors. I don't recall him getting such terrible night terrors before."
Ginny shrugged. "He did, just not as often. He was dulled to his trauma at the time. He's had several years to unpack everything the Dursleys did to him over his childhood. Waking up at their place was the worst thing that could happen to him."
Fred sighed. "I'm glad its you he picked, Ginny. You seem good together. I will deny I said that, that if asked in a court of law, just so you know. On the record, he's a specky sister stealing git."
Ginny laughed, though it sounded hollow. "Freddie." She cried suddenly and tackled him in a hug. "Please, don't leave us again."
Fred rubbed his crying sister's hair as soothingly as he could. "I'll try, sister mine. I promise that. Harry and Percy told me what happened. They were there, it seems. I know what to avoid this time. If things even go the same way. Seems as if you lot are determined to handle everything as cleanly as possible."
Ginny rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the sun sinking. "So many good people died, we want to save as many as we can. Is that wrong?"
Fred shook his head. "No. I would be disappointed if you didn't at least try. Changing history seems like the ultimate form of mischief. I want in."
"I'll ask Harry to include you in some way. Just don't be surprised if you end up in the library doing research. With several protective charms on your person."
Fred tossed his head back and laughed. "Alright, let's get inside. I liked this quiet moment though. Thank you, Ginny."
She got on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You're welcome. Don't tell the others, but you were always my favorite brother."
He rolled his eyes. "You say that to all of us, and I know it."
She winked and bounced off towards the house. "I can have six favorite brothers if I want."
Fred sighed, feeling bad for Harry. Their sister was a firecracker waiting to go off.
*A-Weasley-Redo*
A/N: Thank you for reading the latest chapter. With time to settle in, the rush of it all is wearing off and everyone is being affected. Next time: Sirius returns!
