AN: Thanks for all the reviews. Also someone pointed out that Fudge isn't Minister until 1990. It's fanfic, I decided he became minister in 1981. Here's chapter 16. I promise I won't make you guys wait another 3 or 4 years for the next chapter lmao. Also foe those asking my AO3 User name is the exact same as it is here.

Chapter 16

Time Slowly heals

September 7th 1988

Early Morning

The days following the rescue were a blur for Harry. The soreness in his body faded with each passing hour, but the trauma of the events lingered in his mind. He found solace in the comfort of his family and friends, though it was clear that they all carried their own weight in the aftermath of the ordeal.

Harry's room was quieter than usual. The bright sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting long, soft shadows on the walls. His hands still shook every now and then, but his spirit had lifted. It wasn't just because he had escaped the horror of his kidnapping—it was the kindness of the Weasleys, the family who had embraced him without hesitation. He thought about Ginny often in the days that followed, and the connection they had forged in that dark, unfamiliar room. Her quiet strength had helped him hold on.

Sitting at his desk one afternoon, Harry picked up a quill and dipped it into the ink. The paper felt smooth under his fingers as he began writing a letter to Ginny.

Dear Ginny,

I hope this letter finds you well. I've been thinking about you a lot since we got out of there. It feels strange to be back at the house, safe and sound, but I guess it's like they say—sometimes you don't know what you've got until it's almost gone.

I wanted to say thank you. I don't think I would have made it out of that place without you. The way you helped me, even when you were in pain yourself, it was something I'll never forget. You really are brave, Ginny. And I'm glad we're friends.

I hope you're getting some rest now that we're out. I know I need it. But I'll be seeing you soon, and I'll be sure to introduce you to Sirius. I think you'll like him. He's like a big kid, always making jokes. He's been really nice to me since I was little. And I know he's really worried about you, too. Talk soon.

Your friend,
Harry

Harry stared at the letter for a moment before sealing it in an envelope. He hadn't spoken to Ginny directly yet, but he would—once she was awake. He couldn't wait to see her again. The bond they had formed in such a short time was something he could never take for granted.

As Harry set the letter down, a soft knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," Harry called, his voice hoarse from the days of barely speaking.

The door creaked open, and Sirius stepped in, his usual carefree smile replaced with a look of quiet concern.

"How's it going, kiddo?" Sirius asked, sitting at the edge of Harry's bed.

"I'm good, just thinking about Ginny," Harry replied, his gaze returning to the letter. "I think I'll send this one off later."

Sirius chuckled softly, "You know, I think she'll be really glad to hear from you."

"I hope so," Harry said, biting his lip. "I just... I want her to know how much she helped me. I don't think I'd be here if it weren't for her."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "You know, I think you're right. Ginny's one of the bravest kids I know. She deserves to know that."

Harry paused, contemplating his godfather's words. "I'm glad she's part of our lives now. I think it's all going to be okay, Sirius."

"It will be," Sirius replied, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "And, hey, we've got a lot of good people around us. We'll get through this."

September 12th 1988

The days passed slowly as the truth about Jasmine came to light. Amelia had done everything in her power to shield Harry and the others from the worst of it, but the reality of the situation was undeniable. Jasmine had betrayed their trust—had led them straight into the hands of the enemy. There was no easy way to process what had happened. She had once been a part of their lives, someone they had all trusted. But her actions had torn a hole in the foundation they had built.

The day came when they finally had to confront Jasmine. Sirius, Amelia, and Arthur had arranged a meeting. The tension was thick in the air as Jasmine stood before them, eyes lowered.

"Jasmine," Sirius began, his voice steady, though his heart thundered in his chest. "You've been through a lot, but what you did... It's unforgivable."

Jasmine swallowed hard, her face pale. "I didn't want to hurt anyone. I thought... I thought I was helping." Her voice was shaky, but there was a coldness to it that made Harry's blood run cold.

"How could you think that?" Arthur's voice was firm, but not without a trace of hurt. "You put them all in danger, Jasmine. You put Harry in danger."

"I didn't mean to," Jasmine whispered, her eyes welling with tears. "I was afraid. I didn't know what to do. They threatened me, Arthur. They said they would hurt my family. I couldn't... I couldn't say no."

Sirius's fists clenched at his sides. "And what about the kids, Jasmine? What about Harry? What about all of us who trusted you?"

Jasmine's face crumpled as she dropped her gaze to the floor. "I... I didn't think it would go this far. I thought I could just get them out of there. I never meant for them to be tortured."

Harry felt his chest tighten. His hand shook as he reached for the letter he had written to Ginny. His mind was racing, but he couldn't shake the anger and the betrayal. He couldn't forgive her—not yet. Not after everything.

Amelia stepped forward, her expression hardening. "You betrayed us, Jasmine. And I'm not sure we can ever trust you again."

For a long moment, there was silence. Then, Jasmine spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry. I wish I could make it right, but I don't know how."

"I don't think there's anything you can do," Sirius said quietly, his voice low and raw. "But we can't forget what you did."

Jasmine nodded slowly, her tears falling freely now. "I understand," she said, her voice breaking. "I deserve whatever comes next."

September 17th 1988

The days after Jasmine's confrontation were quiet, but the weight of her actions hung heavy in the air. Harry didn't know if he could ever forgive her completely, but he understood the complexities of what had happened. He couldn't blame her for everything. She had been manipulated, just as they all had.

As the sun set one evening, Harry sat by the window in his room, watching the soft hues of pink and orange paint the sky. His heart ached, but it was a different ache now—one that he couldn't quite explain.

The door creaked open, and he turned to see Ginny standing in the doorway, a soft smile on her face. She was still recovering from her own ordeal, but there was a quiet strength about her that made Harry's heart flutter.

"Hey," she said softly, taking a step inside. "You've been busy, I see. Writing letters?"

Harry grinned. "Yeah, just to you, actually."

Ginny laughed softly as she sat beside him. "Well, I'm glad you did."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of everything they had been through still hanging in the air, but there was comfort in the quiet. For the first time in days, Harry felt a glimmer of peace.

He wasn't sure what the future held, or what kind of scars they would all carry. But for now, with Ginny beside him and his family nearby, Harry knew they would face it together.

And maybe—just maybe—it would be enough.

Dear Fleur,

I hope this letter finds you well. I know it's been a while, and I wish I could have reached out sooner, but things have been... complicated.

I don't even know where to begin. So much has happened in the past few days, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. What I can tell you is that we made it out. We're safe. But not without some serious consequences.

Jasmine... She's the one who betrayed us. I know it's hard to believe, but she was the one who led us straight into their trap. We trusted her—welcomed her into our lives, and it turns out she was working with the enemy. The shock of it all is still settling in, and I don't think any of us are quite sure how to process it yet.

It wasn't an easy decision to confront her, but it had to happen. We found out that she was being threatened by them. I guess she thought she was saving her family by helping them—by helping the people who took us all. It doesn't make it right, but I can't help but feel a little sympathy for her. Still, it doesn't change what she did.

We're all trying to move on, but I think it's going to take time. Everyone's a bit on edge, and I know I'm still struggling with the betrayal. But I wanted you to know what happened—what the real story is. I didn't want you to hear it from anyone else.

Take care of yourself, Fleur. You're always in my thoughts.

Yours,
Harry

Harry put down the quill and sealed the letter, staring at the envelope for a long moment. He knew that sending this letter to Fleur would be another step toward healing, for both of them. He wasn't sure where their relationship stood after all that had happened, but he hoped it wasn't too late to rebuild some sort of connection. After all, they had both been through so much, and somehow, they had come out the other side.

As Harry sat back in his chair, his mind wandered to Fleur. Her gentle strength, the way she had always been there for him, even if they hadn't always been in the same place. He wished he had more time to talk to her, to tell her everything that had happened. He hoped she wouldn't hate him for not reaching out sooner.

With a sigh, he pushed the letter into his bag, intending to send it when he got a chance. For now, though, he needed to rest. The aftermath of everything was exhausting, and there was no way he could move forward without taking a breath first.

September 25th 1988

The Burrow

The afternoon sun cast a soft glow over the Weasley household, filling the backyard with warmth. The familiar sound of birds chirping filled the air, mingling with the rustling of leaves in the trees. Harry, who had just arrived at the Burrow, stood in the middle of the garden, surveying the lively scene around him. Fred and George, both a tangle of limbs and mischievous grins, were already zooming around on their brooms like a couple of miniature tornadoes, while Ron, a bit younger but equally enthusiastic, watched them with wide eyes.

"Oi, Harry!" Fred called out, his voice full of excitement as he spun around in a tight circle. "Come on, let's see if you can keep up!"

"Yeah, mate, let's see what you've got," George added, flipping upside down on his broom, much to Ron's obvious awe.

Harry smiled, feeling the familiar thrill of a Quidditch match stir inside him. But then he noticed something—someone was missing from the action.

"Where's Ginny?" Harry asked, looking around.

Fred shot a glance at the house. "Ginny? She's around somewhere, probably trying to avoid getting roped into this chaos."

"I don't know," Harry said, looking determined. "I think it's about time she joined in, don't you?"

Ron's eyes widened. "You want Ginny to play Quidditch with you lot?" he asked, half-doubtful and half-amused. "She's... well... you know, she's a bit young."

Harry grinned. "Trust me, Ron. She's got this."

A few moments later, a small, determined voice piped up from the doorway of the Burrow. "I'm not too young," Ginny declared, striding confidently into the yard with a broomstick in her hands.

Harry couldn't help but grin at the sight of her. "I knew you'd show up. Ready to prove the boys wrong?"

Ginny's face lit up with a mischievous smile. "You bet I am."

Fred and George exchanged knowing glances. "Well, if Ginny's playing, I suppose we can't back out now," Fred said with a sly grin.

"Alright then, let's make this interesting," George added. "We'll show you how it's done, Ginny."

Ron, who had been standing on the sidelines watching, looked a bit nervous. "Are you sure about this, Ginny?" he asked, trying to look out for her.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Ron. I've been watching you lot for ages. I know what I'm doing."

Harry chuckled as he mounted his broom, and with a slight push, he was off the ground. "Alright, let's go, everyone. Time to see if these twins can handle a real challenge!"

Fred and George took off immediately, laughing as they darted through the air, passing the Quaffle back and forth like they were born for this game. Harry wasn't far behind, quickly getting into the rhythm, and soon enough, he passed the Quaffle to Ginny.

She caught it effortlessly, her small frame steadying on her broom, and Harry watched, impressed, as she zoomed across the yard with incredible speed.

"Blimey," George muttered, glancing over at Fred. "She's fast."

Fred didn't miss a beat. "She's got better control than you, mate."

Ginny grinned, weaving her way around the boys, her eyes locked on the goalposts at the far end of the yard. She soared towards them, sending the Quaffle into the air with precision and a quick flick of her wrist. The ball went through the hoop effortlessly, and Ginny whooped in triumph.

"Ha! That's one for me!" she shouted, flying back to Harry with a victorious gleam in her eyes.

Harry clapped his hands. "Nice one, Ginny! Told you, they didn't know what they were in for."

Ron's jaw dropped. "You're brilliant!" he called out, his admiration obvious.

Fred and George were clearly stunned. "Alright, alright, you win," George admitted. "We're not going to hear the end of that, are we?"

Fred laughed. "Not a chance. I think we've met our match."

The group continued to zoom through the air, laughing and dodging each other, the sound of their playful teasing filling the air. It was a carefree moment, the kind Harry hadn't experienced in so long. He was laughing along with the twins as they tried to outmaneuver each other and Ginny, who was showing them up every chance she got.

"Alright, Ginny, don't make me start taking this seriously!" Fred teased, flying after her with renewed determination.

"Oh, I'm not worried," Ginny called back, her voice full of playful challenge. "You're not fast enough!"

They kept going, zooming over the garden, until they were all breathless with laughter, their voices echoing in the evening light.

But just as the game started to wind down, a distant sound reached their ears—an engine humming from the end of the driveway.

"Who's that?" George asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the sound.

Harry's smile faded as he recognized the familiar sound of Sirius's motorcycle. "That's my ride," Harry said, his voice tinged with a bit of disappointment.

Fred and George immediately grinned. "Your ride?" Fred asked, eyes gleaming. "Are we talking about the Sirius Black?"

"Your godfather?" Ron asked, his eyes wide. "He's coming to get you?"

Harry nodded, a hint of excitement creeping into his expression despite the disappointment of leaving the game behind. "Yeah, that's him."

Ginny hovered next to Harry, a bit disappointed, but still smiling. "Well, it was fun while it lasted," she said, sticking out her tongue playfully. "Next time, I'll take you all on again."

"I'm looking forward to it," Harry said, smiling back at her.

"Don't forget," Fred called after him as Harry made his way toward the edge of the yard, "Ginny's the new Quidditch star in the family now!"

George added, "Better watch out, Harry. She's got the skills to take you on!"

Harry laughed, but his smile faded as he saw Sirius pull up in the driveway, his motorcycle roaring to a stop.

"Well, I guess I'd better go," Harry said, feeling both excited to see his godfather and a little sad to leave the fun behind. "I'll catch you all later."

Ginny waved, her smile never fading. "See you later, Harry. And don't forget, I'm the one who won."

"Yeah, I know," Harry said, grinning. "I won't forget."

Sirius stepped off the motorcycle, grinning widely at Harry. "Ready to go, kiddo?"

"Yeah, just... one last thing." Harry turned back to the Weasley gang, grinning. "You lot are brilliant, you know that?"

Fred and George exchanged a proud look. "You're not too bad yourself, mate," Fred said.

With a final wave to the Weasley clan, Harry climbed onto the motorcycle with Sirius, and they zoomed off into the evening sky, the sound of laughter from the Weasley children still ringing in Harry's ears.