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SIYE Time:10:17 on 28th March 2024
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After the Horcrux
By Manwe Valarian

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Category: Post-DH/AB
Characters:All
Genres: Action/Adventure
Warnings: Death, Mild Language, Rape, Sexual Situations, Violence
Rating: R
Reviews: 138
Summary: Harry and Ginny were meant to be together, but that doesn't mean things will be easy. They must deal with a rebuilding British magical community, fame, and even overprotective family members.
Hitcount: Story Total: 76442; Chapter Total: 1553
Awards: View Trophy Room






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“Are you sure, love?”

“Yes.”

“All right , I’ll go, but I refuse to have any fun without you,” Ginny whispered with a pout. “Why can’t I just stay with you tonight?”

“Because, you are the Head Girl, and Professor McGonagall set up this Christmas party for the Prefects, so you have a responsibility to go,” stated Harry. He kept his voice low for fear that Madam Pince would hear him. He and Ginny were standing between bookshelves in the Hogwarts library. “I am going to finish my studies tonight with Carmen, and then go home to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow at the Hogsmeade platform.”

“I know, so we can ride the train home,” she groaned. “We could just Apparate to your house Harry, or the Burrow, since Mum and Dad will be in Romania,” she suggested. She smiled at Harry’s discomfort at her suggestion. He has something planned for tomorrow. She was positive of what it was. He wants to propose to her, and if her guess was correct it will be at Kings Cross Station between platforms nine and ten, where they first met.

“This is our last year here, so let’s just enjoy the entire experience of being a student,” pleaded Harry. “I have more work to finish with Carmen, and then I am going home.” He stood there nervously staring at her.

Ginny closed the distance between them and softly kissed his lips. As she kissed him, she inhaled his scent and snaked her arms around his chest enjoying the feel of him. The feel of his body next to her, the smell of his skin, and the warmth and tenderness of his lips was making her extremely randy. She didn’t want to go to this ruddy party. She wanted to stay with him. She wanted to have him ask her to marry him. She wanted to find some place private so that she could finally give herself to him completely, and never leave his side again.

She broke the kiss and looked into his eyes. If she would push him, he would do anything to please her right now, but she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize this wonderful relationship she had with him. Laying her head on his shoulder so she doesn’t have to leave yet, she can feel his arms wrap around her holding and protecting her. She can recognize the feel of his arms almost as easily as his eyes, voice, and scent.

Ginny forced herself to lift her head off his shoulder and to release her arms from around him. The separation from him left her feeling cold almost as though he was the sole source of her warmth. Leaning in, she stole a quick kiss from him, before completely breaking away from him. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the Hogsmeade station, love,” she whispered to him.

Harry swallowed before whispering. “Have fun tonight and remember that I love you.”

“You do. Why haven’t you ever said that before,” joked Ginny. She smiled at Harry who also thought it was rather funny. The bit of humor was enough to break the mood she was in and make leaving him easier. Taking one more quick kiss from him she turned so her hair swiped across him and walked away. As she reached the end of the bookshelves, she turned to look at him and smiled as she realized he had stood there watching her walk away.

Walking towards the entrance of the library, she saw Carmen sitting at a table waiting for Harry so they can finish their Auror assignment. Changing her direction, Ginny walked past her to wish her Happy Christmas.

When she reached the hallway, Ginny sighed. It was difficult to leave Harry tonight, but he was right. She should go to this ruddy Christmas party. As she walked, she tried to keep her mind off Harry and what she thinks he had planned for tomorrow. Even though she had been trying to persuade him to change his plans, they were actually, perfect, and she wouldn’t want him to change them. She heaved a sigh as she walked and realizing that she should be careful about pressuring him. One time he might take her seriously, and it could ruin things.

The noise of the party reached her before she turned into the corridor. It was in Professor Flitwick’s Charms classroom, since it was one of the largest classrooms in the school. Entering the room, she saw that it had long tables arranged off to one side and two tables were setting on the opposite side of the room filled with snacks and Butterbeers. Scanning the room, she laughed at all the Prefects. They were playing Exploding Snap and Gobstones, while others were laughing and joking around. She saw Luna dreamily walking around the one side of the room staring up at the mistletoe. On the other side of the room Walden was talking to several of the prefects who looked bored out of their skulls. Smiling she grabbed a Butterbeer and walked over to talk with Luna.

Twenty minutes later, they were having a contest to see who could best imitate a Professor. Ginny was standing off to the side thinking of who she would try to imitate, when someone put an arm around her shoulders. She pulled herself out of the persons grip and turned to see Walden staring at her.

“I was wondering when you would show up Ginny,” chimed Walden. He was wearing a smile from ear to ear while holding a Butterbeer. “I was wondering if you were waiting for a Christmas kiss standing over here under the mistletoe.”

Ginny looked up and to her horror she had indeed been standing under a sprig if mistletoe. “No, Walden, I wasn’t. I am just trying to think about which Professors to imitate.”

“Oh,” he said appearing crestfallen. “I was hoping to start a tradition of where the head boy and girl kiss at the Christmas party.”

Ginny caught an angry retort in her throat. She didn’t want to lambaste this boy because of what he just said. “No, that won’t happen this year. Sorry, Walden,” she calmly stated.

He sighed and slumped off to another area of the party. Ginny almost felt sorry for him, but he should realize that she wasn’t interested in kissing anyone, except Harry. She turned her attention back to the contest that had just started.

Everyone participated, except Walden who seemed to stay to himself, sitting by the furthest wall. The peals of laughter rolled off the walls of the classroom for a good thirty minutes. It was both for the hilarious impersonations and the terrible ones that the prefects failed so miserably at that even they were laughing at themselves. In the end, Ginny had won both first place and third for her impersonations of Professor McGonagall giving a student detention for flatulating in class, and Madam Zabini for her methods of teaching including her strut like walk.

The party kept going strong until almost midnight. The one condition placed on this party was that all the students had to be back in their common rooms by midnight. Ginny had told the others to go ahead and she would clean up here. She was busily putting things back in order: moving tables and desks, picking up bottles of Butterbeer, and magically cleaning up various snacks when someone surprised her.

Walden had tapped her on her shoulder. He was nervously standing there holding two Butterbeers. “Excuse me Ginny. I was wondering if we could have a toast together to a Happy Christmas.”

Ginny considered him for a second and thought that she should at least honor this request, since she literally slammed the door in his face with the idea of a kiss. “Sure,” she said, and took the Butterbeer from his hand.

They touched the bottles together and said, “Happy Christmas”, before turning them up for a large gulp of the brew.

Ginny pulled the bottle from her lips. The Butterbeer tasted strange to her, bitter almost like dandelions. Holding the bottle out in front of her she looked up and saw Walden smiling at her. “There is something wrong Wal…”

No other intelligible words escaped her lips as the room spun around her. She suddenly felt disconnected from her own body. Her arms and legs felt foreign to her and all sound and sight was distorted.

She could feel herself falling sideways. She forced herself to keep standing upright as the room spun past her eyes, but that was futile as her legs didn’t respond properly. She could move them, but they were clumsy and weak. She hit something that felt like a table, causing pain in her hip to slowly move through her, and she bent slightly over at the waist. She tried to right herself with her hand, but it didn’t respond properly. She went down hard on her elbow.

“Walldenn,” she moaned out. The sound of her voice even seemed to be foreign to her, slurred, mumbled, and distant.

Pushing herself up from the table she felt an arm around her. “Wall-denn, pleeees,” she mumbled out. A figure moved in front of her eyes, and the arm around her tightened. As the room was replaced by a fuzzy looking face, she felt lips press against hers.

She wanted to scream and push him away, but her arms didn’t seem to be responding. Tears started to form in her eyes as the reality of what is happening sank in. A hand or something was pushing against her chest.

With a scream she started fighting with every bit of anger that now raged through her mind. She wasn’t going to let this happen to her. She wasn’t going to let herself be raped without a fight. She felt her arms and legs swing and kick frantically, occasionally contacting something. The arm was gone from her shoulder now and no one was holding her back, so she tried to stand up. In her rage she started to get control over her limbs again, when something, a hand maybe, collided with the side of her face driving her backwards onto the table again.

The taste of blood was in her mouth as she tried to get up, but her disorientation was even worse now. She could barely lift her head up off the table. Hands again grabbed her. They pulled at her robes lifting her shoulders upwards off the table. She could hear Walden cursing her calling her terrible things. Suddenly cool air washed over her body as she recognized the sound of tearing fabric, and her chest started to sting.

Screaming, she lashed out again with all her might swinging her arms and legs wildly fighting with everything she had in her. She was determined not to be taken this way. Her head snapped back, and the pain returned to her jaw. Hands grabbed the top of her jeans and started to pull on them. She kicked as she felt her jeans sliding over her hips.

Thrashing her arms and legs wildly she tried to cover her up, to keep him from her. Hands grabbed at her pulling and tugging to gain access. She was losing. She didn’t have the strength to resist any longer.

As her one arm was being pinned down to the table, the air around her was rent with an explosion, and bright light filled the room. Suddenly she was free, but her head hit the table. The pain shot through her mind clouding out what was going on around her. She thought she heard voices. Then she saw another bright light, but there seemed to be no sound. At least she was free of Walden’s grasp.

The rage seemed to leave her and despair filled her, as she slowly slipped off the table and collapsed to the floor. She tried to push herself up from the floor and run, but all she could do is raise up into a sitting position. She flung her unresponsive arms at the fabric of her robes in an attempt cover herself, but she couldn’t work her hands.

She suddenly realized that there was someone squatting over top of her legs staring at her. She thought she heard her name being called, but all sounds were so strange to her that she couldn’t be sure. A hand touched her face, and she reacted by kicking upward as hard as she could. She felt her leg contact something and she heard a moan.

She tried to turn away from the person, but when she did, she fell helplessly on the ground hitting her face against the stone floor. Trying to crawl away she felt the hand return to her shoulder this time. There was no escape for her; she wasn’t strong enough to fight anymore. Whatever Walden slipped in her drink was too strong for her to fight, but she wouldn’t give up. She stretched out her arm the best she could and pulled herself forward.

She heard the other person talking again. It sounded like they were saying her name. She felt a gentle hand placed on the hand that she was trying to pull herself with. Then her name was called, she was sure of it. The voice started to register to her. Even though her hearing was distorted from the potion, she was sure it was Harry. Focusing all her energy to her mouth and vocal chords. She tried to say his name; “Haarrery,” came out of her mouth.

“Yes!” He said, and then gently touched her cheek, and held her hand. As his hand passed by her nose, she caught his scent. The potion didn’t seem to affect her sense of smell. Gentle hands took hers and helped to sit her up. The realization that he was there for her overwhelmed her and she started to sob. She could feel her eyes burn and tears roll down her cheeks as he pulled her robes over her.

Strong familiar arms gently picked her up and held her tight to his chest. Her head rolled against his robes. She felt his shoulder and chest through his robes, and she was surrounded by his comforting scent. She was able to reach a hand up and touch his face, as he pulled her face to his so he could kiss it. It felt like they were walking, but she wasn’t sure. The only thing she was sure about was she was in Harry’s arms, and she was safe now.

She heard the sound of crashing doors, and then another person talking. The voice was high pitched and frantic, and moving all around her and Harry. Then she felt Harry lower her on to something, as the person with the high pitched voice leaned over her. She and Harry talked so quickly to each other that Ginny couldn’t understand anything that was being said. She just laid there grasping his hand with all the strength in her body. He couldn’t leave her, not now.

Another voice was now talking; it was higher in pitch than Harry’s than but not as high as the first. It was very stern sounding. Then Harry’s voice changed, it wasn’t comforting anymore. He was angry. He seemed to be yelling about something. The first person with the high voice was now leaning over her and waving her wand. Ginny realized that it was Madam Pomfrey. The other voice must be the Headmistress.

Harry yelled loud. Dread started to fill her again. Everyone was silent, until the Headmistress spoke.
Suddenly Harry was leaving without saying a word. He couldn’t leave, without him by her side she didn’t feel safe. Fear washed through her filling every inch of her. She tried to reach for him but couldn’t find his hands. She could tell he was gone. The feeling was the same as when the sun went down, she was feeling cold, exposed, and alone. She screamed his name telling him she loved him, but with Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall talking to her she couldn’t hear a response. She tried to get up to follow him, but they pushed her back down onto the bed. She screamed his name again and tried again to get up. She saw a flash of red, then darkness.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Ginny awoke to a wave of nausea. A low moan escaped her lips, that simple act seemed to hurt her throat as though she had been screaming all night. She was face down on a bed with her arms and legs splayed out in every direction. She laid there not wanting to move and hoping that everything she was remembering was only a horrible dream. The room around her was silent. She could tell that she wasn’t in her own bed, but she wasn’t sure where she was. If the nightmare was real, she was in the infirmary.

Forcing her eyes to open she lifted her head up. Before she could take in her surroundings, a wave of nausea washed over her, making her hurl. She clamped her mouth shut and tried to get up to find a dustbin or something to empty her stomach into. A gentle hand held her down in bed and a bedpan was placed in front of her.

After she had finished, the pan was removed and she was given a cool wet cloth to wipe her face with. She realized where she was now, and it was the infirmary of Hogwarts. Feeling better she rolled over, and looked up at Madam Pomfrey, who was cleaning the bedpan with her wand. Looking around she realized that she was in Madam Pomfrey’s office and not in the ward.

“Madam Pomfrey…”

“Shush child,” she gently told her with a warm smile. “You need to lie back and relax.” She then went over to the fireplace and threw in some Floo powder. “Headmistress! She is awake.”

“Where is Harry?” asked Ginny as the reality of her nightmare came back to her. She had suddenly realized that what was in her mind wasn’t a figment of her imagination that it really must have happened.

Madam Pomfrey stiffened at the question and didn’t seem to want to say anything. “The Headmistress will explain as soon as she arrives, Miss Weasley,” she stated in an official tone. “Here, drink this entire potion; it will help with your nausea.” She handed Ginny a flask of a pearly white Potion.

Ginny took the Potion and stared at it. She was too weak to argue right now, and it sounded as if she wasn’t going to get any answers. Maybe, it was before seven-thirty in the morning, and Harry wouldn’t be able to enter the grounds. Making a face, she prepared herself for the awful taste of a Healing Potion. The Potion was actually pleasant tasting, it had a vanilla taste to it and was slightly sweet. Licking her lips, she handed the flask back to Madam Pomfrey.

“Not all of my cures taste bad; do they,” joked the school nurse.

“Why am I here, in this office?” asked Ginny. Her mind was becoming clearer, and questions needed to be answered.

“Madam Pomfrey again flinched at her question. “The Headmistress will be here shortly,” was her curt response.

Looking at her watch she saw it was eight o’clock. Harry should be here. The gates were open. Ginny laid there staring at the white plaster ceiling of the office. Tears were forming in her eyes, as the realization of what had happened last night had sunk in. She had let her guard down and Walden nearly raped her. Or, did he? A wave of panic shot through her with a jolt. Her memory was so disoriented that she wasn’t sure. If Harry had taken her to the infirmary, then he would know.

Concentrating on the feel of her body she tried to think if that had happened, but she couldn’t tell for sure. She didn’t feel as if he did, but she couldn’t be sure. She could feel discomfort and itching on her chest and lower abdomen, but that was it. She should feel some discomfort since she was still a virgin. That thought threw her into deeper despair; she had waited for that perfect time, and the perfect man. That had all been taken away from her, if it did actually happen. The uncertainty of the situation was horrible. She had to know.

Her tears had now become total sobbing. She cried for what had happened to her, and for what Harry must think of her. He warned her about Walden. He didn’t trust him, and she refused to believe him. She had always said how she could easily handle Walden Ridgebit. How wrong she was, and what had it cost her. Did Harry hate her now? If he didn’t then why isn’t he here?

Suddenly the realization of who was at fault came to her. “Where’s Walden,” she shouted and sat up. She was done crying now, and she wanted revenge for what he did. She went to stand up, but she was so weak that Madam Pomfrey held her down with one hand. At her present position, she could see out of the office window and saw two official looking Wizards standing by a bed that was surrounded by a curtain.

The nurse flicked her wand and the curtain came down on her window. “You need to rest, child. You have been through quite an ordeal last night and…” She stopped talking as the door opened and Professor McGonagall walked into the office.

Ginny craned her neck to see if she was alone. As she shut the door behind her, the realization that Harry wasn’t with her sunk in and Ginny sat on the edge of the bed, hung her head, and cried.

Professor McGonagall pulled up a wooden chair and sat down in front of her and took her hands with one hand and wiped the tears away with the other. “Miss Weasley, Ginny, I am so sorry for what has happened.” The Professor’s normally stern voice was soft and comforting.

“Where’s Harry?”

Ginny could feel the Professor react at her question, but she ignored it. “I was going to Owl your parents about what happened…”

“No!” screamed Ginny. She didn’t want anyone to know what had happened to her. She wanted to see Harry that is the only thing she needed right now.

“Ginny, dear, I would think that Molly and Arthur would be most upset if I didn’t tell them …”

“I said no! I don’t want anyone to know that I was raped that I was so stupid that I let someone do that to me. I WANT TO SEE HARRY! WHERE IS HE? WHY WON’T ANYONE ANSWER ME? PLEASE! I need to talk to him, to apologize. Please!” Her anger was expended and all she could do now was sob. The Professor hugged Ginny and let her cry on her shoulder.

“Ginny, you — you weren’t raped,” her voice was strained and barely audible. It was as if she was fighting back tears. “Harry stopped the attack.”

Ginny pulled her head up. “He did!” she suddenly felt happier, until she realized that he still wasn’t there. “Then where is he?” The same question that they had been avoiding made the two women flinch.

“I don’t know, Ginny,” whispered the Headmistress. “Let me Owl your parents so they can meet you at Platform 9 ¾’s. Now that you are of age, I need your permission…”

“NO! Harry said he would meet me at the Hogsmeade station. That was our plan for today. My parents are in Romania and are not due back until tomorrow. Harry will be at the station and we will ride the train home together.” Ginny said these things with confidence, she didn’t want to think about the fact that Harry wasn’t here now. Their plans were the only reason that she could think of for him not being here. She stood up from the bed, and realized that she didn’t have any robes, just an infirmary nightshirt. “I need my robes and clothes,” she demanded.

“Miss Weasley,” begged the Headmistress. “Please, sit down. You ingested poison last night. You are in a weakened state. Please rest, for the remainder of the morning. I will have someone bring you your robes. If you want to take the train home then you can, but …” She stopped talking and looked nervously at Ginny.

“But what, Professor?” The professor blanched at Ginny’s question. “I need to get ready to meet him. I need to — to tell him I love him.” The last three words brought the tears back to her eyes.

“Miss Weasley, the poison that you were given last night will make you weak and feel depressed today,” said the nurse. “You need to take things easy, so that you don’t collapse. You will need to take another dose of healing Potion, before the train leaves…”

“Give it to me, and I’ll take at the proper time,” said Ginny with her head still down. “Please, I need to get ready. Harry was...” Ginny couldn’t finish what she was going to say. Harry was going to propose to her today. Anger shot through her again, and she jumped up off the bed. “Where’s Walden? I’m going to kill him!” she screamed, while running for the office door.

Madam Pomfrey caught her by one arm and Professor McGonagall by the other and held her from leaving the office. “Harry practically did that last night,” stated Madam Pomfrey. “I have never had to use so much Skele-Gro in my entire life, as what I had to do with that boy.”

Ginny stopped and looked at them. “What did Harry do? He didn’t use any Dark Magic on him that could end his career as an Auror.”

“No, we found no traces of that. Harry wasn’t even sure what spell it was,” Professor McGonagall informed her. “Gawain Robards has already questioned Harry about it. He will drop by this morning to ask you some questions. Ginny, I assure you that I will see to it that Walden Ridgebit is punished to the fullest extent of the law!” Her voice was hard, and her eyes were so angry that they almost sent off sparks. “I will not tolerate this type of behaviour; it is the lowest vilest thing a person can do to another. I am truly sorry that this has happened to you.” The Headmistress stopped her rant and took a deep calming breath. “Whenever, HE is well enough. HE will be transported to a holding cell at the Ministry to await trial.” The Headmistress took another calming breath and looked at Madam Pomfrey. “Poppy do you think Ginny could have some breakfast?”

The nurse scrunched her face up in concentration before responding. “Some tea and toast should be fine.”

“Good. Ginny, I will send someone for your school robes and also to get you some tea and toast, but I want you to remain here,” the Headmistress stressed to her, as they made her to sit down on the bed. “You are too weak to go roaming around the halls right now, and besides you are not properly dressed.”

A knock on the office door made everyone turn and look. Ginny’s heart screeched to a stop. She didn’t know now if she dreaded it not being Harry, or it being Harry and trying to explain last night. When Gawain Robards opened the door, she was both relieved and upset that it was just him.

“Hello everyone,” greeted Gawain. He looked tired, as though he had been up all night. His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles under them and he had a day’s growth of beard. “I will be as brief as possible, but I am afraid that I must ask some questions of you Miss Weasley.” He leaned against Madam Pomfrey’s desk and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. “Please understand that I must ask these questions, and I am not trying to impugn your character. If I am to charge Mr. Ridgebit, I am going to need to know about your relationship with him.”

“The only relationship I have with him is as another student,” snapped Ginny. She dreaded what else he was going to ask.

“Have you two had sex in the...”

“NO! HELL NO! I HAVE NEVER...” The Headmistress and the nurse again grabbed an arm each to hold her down on the bed.

“Miss Weasley, please understand that I must ask these questions,” pleaded Gawain.” I am only trying to get to the truth.”

“You want the bloody truth! He tried to rape me. If Harry hadn’t shown up then...” Ginny couldn’t finish the statement and she sank down on the bed deflated and tired. Whatever she drank last night had robbed her of almost all her energy leaving her lying there exhausted and emotionally drained.

“Gawain, could we do this some other time. As the Headmistress, I am concerned for the welfare of my student.

Gawain scrubbed his hand across his face as he thought. “Well, I will need to get a statement within a day or two, but that would make it Christmas. I guess considering everything. I could stop by your home on the twenty-seventh and finish these questions.”

“No,” shouted Ginny, as she sat back up. “Finish them now, and don’t tell my parents about this,” she demanded. They all looked at her with puzzled expressions. “Well, let’s hear these bloody questions.”

“Are you sure Miss Weasley? You seem very tired,” asked Gawain.

“Yes, please let’s get this over with,” she sighed.

“Well, have you ever promised to have sex with Mr. Ridgebit?”

“No.”

“Have you ever told another student that you would like to have sex with Mr. Ridgebit?”

“No.”

“To the best of your knowledge, have you ever made suggestive statements to Mr. Ridgebit that could be construed as promising to have sex with Mr. Ridgebit?”

“No.”

Gawain heaved a sigh, before speaking. “I have one last question for you. If there is a trial you may be asked this, so, well, I must ask you. How many sexual partners have you had?”

“Gawain, I hardly think that question is proper,” interjected Professor McGonagall. “I tolerated you asking these other questions, but…”

“None,” said Ginny so softly that the word was barely audible. She looked up and saw the adults staring at her. “What! You don’t believe me! Do you!”

Gawain shifted uncomfortably before speaking again. “Could you please tell me about what happened last night?”

Ginny glared up at him. “I think you know what happened. Why are you asking me to tell you?”

“I want to hear what you remember,” he said calmly and reassuringly. “I am sorry if this brings you pain, but it is necessary.”

“I was at the Prefects Christmas party. It had ended so that the Prefects could get back to their common rooms. I told them that I would clean up. I thought that I was alone. Then Walden showed up, he had two Butterbeers. He wanted to toast to a Happy Christmas.” Her voice became hard and bitter at the memory. “He handed me an already opened bottle. We toasted and took a drink. That is when I noticed the taste was wrong, it was bitter. I went to say something, but the room started to spin. I fell. The rest is a fog. I think…”

“That is enough Miss Weasley, I have one more question for you. I know it seems that I am accusing with my earlier questions, but they are necessary, because if the Ridgebits fight these charges your character will be put on trial. My last question is; has Mr. Ridgebit ever made advances to you before?”

“I don’t really know if you could call them advances, but he tried to put his arm around my shoulders a couple of times. Earlier at the party I was absent mindedly standing under a sprig of mistletoe, and he wanted to kiss me. I told him no.”

The room was silent for a bit, until Gawain spoke again. “I am truly sorry that this had happened. I need to interview a few more individuals, before actual charges can be filed.” He stood up to leave.

“How is Harry? Do you know where he is?” she asked of Gawain. He looked nervously to Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey.

“No. I don’t. I would imagine that he is at home,” offered Gawain. “I spoke to him last night, immediately after the — the incident.”

Ginny bit her lip she had to know what Harry felt. “Was he — he angry…” she stuttered.

“Yes, extremely…” interjected Gawain, before Ginny could finish.

“…at me.” She said at the same time that Gawain responded. She heard his answer and it cut through her like a knife.

“Gawain!” shouted Professor McGonagall.

“No! No! I am sorry Miss Weasley,” pleaded Gawain. “I didn’t understand what you were asking. Harry was angry with what had happened to you. I can assure you he isn’t upset with you at all.”

Ginny smiled for the first time that morning. “Thank you. I am tired maybe I should have a little kip here before the train leaves.”

“That would be wise,” stated the Headmistress kindly. “While you are asleep, I will have someone bring you some clothes and something to eat.” She then turned to Gawain, and her face and voice turned very stern. “I would like a word.” She grabbed his arm and ushered him out the office door. Ginny lay back down on the bed.

She lay there staring at the wall. She couldn’t sleep, but she was tired. She needed someone to comfort her now. She needed Harry to show up and tell her that everything will be all right. Before him it was her mother or father who could make her feel better. Now no one, but Harry can take the pain away. Her eyes slowly closed as fatigue forced her to sleep.

Ginny woke with a jump as she felt someone’s hand on her shoulder. Fear was coursing through her from that simple touch. She turned and saw Marty staring at her sympathetically.

“Sorry, Weasley,” she apologized. “It is almost ten and the train will be leaving in an hour.” When Ginny stared at her, unsure of why she was there, Marty held up a school robe. “I brought you a set of robes. I didn’t think you would want to walk around the school like that.” She smiled again with a sad look in her eyes.

Ginny’s mind finally kicked in as to what was going on. It was ten o’clock and the train would be leaving in an hour. She needed to get to her dorm and get ready to go home. She needed to get ready to see Harry. She sat up and looked at her friend. “Thanks Marty, I can’t believe that I slept that long.”

Standing up Marty enveloped her in a hug. “I was so worried about you Weasley. Are you all right?”

Ginny cringed as her friend hugged like she has a hundred times before. The feeling of someone else touching her now sent cold shivers through her and repulsed her. She fought the urge to push Marty away from her and returned the hug. “Thank you, Marty,” she whispered to her friend through gritted teeth.

Ginny grabbed the robes and went to put them on. The idea now of changing clothes in front of someone also seemed strange. Spending six and a half years in a dorm, made her unashamed of changing clothes in front of other girls. Now, however, she didn’t want anyone looking at her. “Madam Pomfrey, can I use your loo?” asked Ginny.

When the nurse said that it would be all right, Ginny went in and locked the door. She had noticed Marty’s puzzled look when she asked to use a loo to change in, but she felt too uncomfortable now to just pull off her infirmary nightshirt and pull on her robes.

When she had her nightshirt off, she looked at herself in the mirror. She had pink marks just below her collar area moving outward towards he breasts. She also had similar marks around her navel. These must have been from Walden ripping her shirt and jeans off. She shuddered at the thought of being naked, even in the loo, and she quickly pulled her robes over her head. They were light weight robes that she normally wore in early fall and late spring. Walden had destroyed her heavy winter robes and her clothes last night. She couldn’t even repair them because they were being held for evidence.

Ginny left the loo and quickly drank some tepid tea and wolfed down her toast before leaving to go to her dorms. Marty walked along besides her saying nothing. Every time Ginny would look her way, Marty was looking at her with an expression as if she was going to cry at any moment. This was beginning to work on Ginny’s nerves, and the feeling as if everyone was staring at her. They were, but what was making Ginny extremely uneasy was the feeling that she was completely naked walking down the halls. Even though she had robes on she still felt exposed. The thin fabric didn’t seem enough protection from wondering eyes. Upon reaching her dorm room, she grabbed a heavy knit jumper and a pair of jeans and went straightaway to the loo to change.

Ginny, Marty, Dennis, Sylvia, and Luna walked together to the Hogsmeade station. Ginny had her broom slung over her shoulder. She still planned on training over the holidays. Everyone was staring at her still. The rumor mills in Hogwarts had been working at high speed. Everyone knew that Walden was in the infirmary and was under guard. Ginny spent the night there also. What no one was sure of were the reasons, but that didn’t stop the stories. Many of the onlookers would whisper behind their hand as she walked past or stare at her with disgust, not caring if she saw them.

When they reached the train platform, they all looked around for Harry. Dennis and Sylvia even walked around the platform and looked. The engineer shouted out the warning “all aboard”, but Ginny didn’t want to get on the train. She kept looking for Harry. She desperately needed Harry to be here. If he wasn’t here, then the one thing that kept going through her mind was he was angry with her or felt betrayed by her. She didn’t care what anyone said now. Harry had been on time all summer, and now today he was late; there could be only one reason. He feels betrayed by her.

Ginny stood there looking for the man she loved with bleary vision. Tears were forming in her eyes that she kept forced back. Despite the reassurance of her friends that he would be at Kings Cross, Ginny wouldn’t give up on Harry and board the train. She didn’t want to board the train. He might still be running late. He used to do that when he was always under stress during the war, so why not now.

Someone pulling on her arm brought her out of the trance she was in. It was Luna. They were the only two on the platform. Everyone else was on the train, and it was slowly pulling away. “Time to go, Ginny,” calmly said Luna.

Ginny wheeled around and ran for the train with Luna at her side. They reached the door and stepped on before it had reached too high of a speed. Stumbling into the train’s halls, they started looking for the compartment with Dennis, Marty and Sylvia. After finally finding it, Ginny moved to a seat by the window that they had saved for her, after placing her broom in the overhead. She didn’t speak to anyone. The entire compartment filled with unspoken words of concern for Ginny created a very tense atmosphere. Ginny sat there twisting her robes up in her hands, ashamed of the problems that she had created for her friends.

“I am sorry, Ginny,” apologized Luna. “I should have warned you about Walden, but I wasn’t sure he would turn out like his father.”

Shock shot through Ginny’s mind like lightning. Walden’s father must have done this type of thing and Luna never said anything about it.

“Walden’s father was Fudge’s right-hand man. He was the one that helped develop the Heliotropes and was the mastermind behind the Rotfang Conspiracy. I am sorry.” Luna’s voice was filled with remorse.

Ginny had to bite her lower lip to keep from laughing. She looked over at Marty who had to look away from her to keep her composure. It would figure the first time that Ginny wanted to laugh all morning, she couldn’t. “It is all right, Luna,” assured Ginny. “I understand why you wouldn’t say anything.”

“Thank you, Ginny,” was Luna’s happy response. She pulled out her Spectrascopes, the most recent edition of the Quibbler, and began to read it.

“Luna,” asked Dennis. His voice was shaky and unsure. “What is a Heliotrope? What was the Rotfang conspiracy?”

Luna lowered the Quibbler and smiled at him. With a sing song voice, she said. “Oh, they were Minister Cornelius Fudge’s attempt of overthrowing the world…”

Ginny tuned her out as she stared out the window, staring blankly at the passing scenery. The only thing that she could think about was a raven-haired green-eyed wizard. She kept hoping that he would appear beside the window on his broom, or maybe, her father’s old flying Anglia. With these thoughts running through her mind she fell to sleep.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

“Wake up sleepyhead,” said Luna as she shook Ginny.

Ginny suddenly became aware that she had fallen asleep and she was now at Platform 9 ¾’s. She groggily stood up and tried to get her balance. The Potions she has been taking today have made her tired and clouded her thoughts. Grabbing her broom, she followed Luna out onto the platform. Students were quickly moving through the magical barrier or being Apparated away from the platform by their parents. Ginny however waited there again looking for Harry. She wasn’t going to give up.

“Ginny.” Luna’s sweet voice again broke her out of her trance. “Why don’t you come home with me, until your parents come home tomorrow?”

“No! He will be here. He promised.” She almost shouted at them. She wouldn’t give up on him. She needed to see him. It was the only thing that had kept her going. She can’t lose him, not now.

“Ginny, please…” Marty started to plead.

“No, I am waiting here. He will be here. Why don’t the rest of you go home? I will be fine here. Don’t worry about me. I can Apparate home if necessary. I won’t need to because Harry will be here.” She looked at the long faces of her friends. She was touched that they all cared so much for her, but Harry will show up. She hugged all her friends’ goodbye, as they left for home.

Two hours later, Ginny was standing between the Muggle platforms nine and ten. Harry had still not shown up. He had promised her that he would. Why wouldn’t he be here? The only thing that she could consider was that he was angry with her, for her stupidity last night. She needed to find him now. She needed to apologize to him for what she let happen to her.

Grabbing her broom tightly to herself, she Apparated to the stoop of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Tapping her wand to the door, she entered Harry’s home. Calling his name, she heard no response. The house was dark and felt as though no one had been there for days. As she walked towards the staircase, Kreacher appeared beside her. “Mistress Ginny,” he croaked and then his eyes flew open wide and he bit his tongue hard enough to bleed.

“Kreacher, why did you do that?”

The House Elf shook his head. “Cannot tell. Kreacher cannot tell.”

“Kreacher, where is Harry?”

The House Elf groaned and mumbled to himself something that sounded like he can’t do this before Apparating away.

Ginny stood there confused why he would act like this. It seemed as though Harry had told him not to talk to her. The possibility of that caused her even more emotional pain. Fighting back a sob, she started walking up the stairs. She had no idea why she was even doing this. She was moving without thought not noticing anything. Eventually, she found herself standing at the doorway of Harry’s bedroom.

She stepped into the room and looked around. It didn’t look like he had been here last night. She picked up the picture of her and Harry from his chest of drawers. She stood there staring at it. Remembering how seemingly young and naive she was. She had thought their love would be enough. All their problems should be over. The future would be bright and promising. How wrong she was. A simple stupid act by her had destroyed everything.

Harry must hate her now. He even has forbidden Kreacher from talking to her. All her dreams have fallen into ashes now. Holding the picture to her chest, she laid down on the Harry’s bed and cried herself to sleep.

Shouting woke her; she could hear Harry shouting at Kreacher. “I told you not to call her that. I order you not to call her that. You must do as I tell you, Kreacher. It is very important.”

There was a long pause before Kreacher responded. “Yes, Master.”

Ginny sat up and looked around the bedroom. She had no idea how late it was. Even though she had slept, her mind still seemed to be fatigued and confused. Kreacher walked into the bedroom and looked up at her with a doleful expression. She knew he wanted her to leave, but she needed to see Harry. She had to talk to him and explain that she was sorry. She wanted to beg his forgiveness.

Standing up and quietly walking out of the bedroom, she started down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, she saw his tousled raven-hair. Her legs became weak and she sat down on the steps. She could tell that Harry was extremely angry right now. The only reason could be her.

Harry stood at the bottom of the stairs with his head hung low. He looked as if he was starting to cry. Ginny felt compelled to run to him, until she heard another voice.

“Harry are you all right?” asked Carmen. She walked from the kitchen and wrapped her arms around him. Harry stood there rigid. “It’s Ginny isn’t it.” Harry nodded his head. Carmen turned him to face her. She leaned her head to touch their foreheads. She whispered low to him. All Ginny could hear was the statement. “… her family will be here for her. She will be fine, Harry. You can’t be concerned with her, right now.” Harry nodded his head and mumbled something to her. Carmen kissed him on the forehead. “We need to get my family and bring them back for Christmas.” Harry straightened up and hugged her whispering something in her ear that Ginny couldn’t hear. He then took Carmen’s hand and walked out the front door.

Ginny sat there on the steps totally numb. She felt nothing. It was if her mind had shut down to the pain that she should be feeling. The love of her life had just left with someone she had trusted. He was definitely with Carmen now. He was also upset with her. He must have felt betrayed by her. He had given up on her and her mental attitude. The thing that had kept her going, while the Death Eaters occupied Hogwarts, was the possibility of a life with Harry. What Voldemort couldn’t destroy, she did by being careless and stupid. She sat there pressing the picture of them to her chest with one arm, and the other hand was clutched around the heart shaped necklace that Harry had charmed.

How long she sat on those stairs staring at the spot where her dreams had shattered and walked out the door, she didn’t know. The light of the house started to change from the deep inky black of night to the grey shadows of morning, and she still hadn’t moved.

“Misst…” Kreacher stopped talking and mumbled something under his breath. “Miss… Ginny, you must leave now.” He shook her arm.

This brought her out of her stupor. She had suddenly realized that she was holding the picture and the necklace. The pain of the golden heart cutting into her hand had finally registered to her. She stood up and looked around, but the emotional pain still hadn’t hit her. She dropped the picture allowing it to break on the steps. Removing the necklace, she dropped it on the steps also. She looked down at the House Elf. “I am ready to leave,” she whispered in a barely audible voice.

Kreacher reached up, took her hand, and they Disapparated.
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