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Author: jedi34 Story: Love and Sacrifice Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Reviews: 16 Words: 25,584
AN: A quick word of warning for all you readers out there. Something bad happens in the chapter. It will all work out in the end, you’ll have to trust me. Let me know what you think! “Men see their dreams and aspiration-a * Harry pushed off violently from the front of Dumbledore’s desk, falling to the floor. “No! NO!” he screamed, the tormented words torn from his soul without conscious thought. “Harry, Harry! Please calm down, do I need to call Madam Pomfrey for a Calming Draught?” Dumbledore asked with concern. Harry scooted across the floor backwards, instinctively running from the source of his misery until his back slammed into the door. “Harry, please, we need to discuss this. You can’t tell anyone this, if he finds out that I know about the Horcrux then I fear all is lost,” Dumbledore pleaded. Harry forced himself to stand, using the wall for leverage. “I don’t bloody care about anything else,” he snarled, his misery quickly turning into blinding rage. “You’re not going to touch her, no one is.” “Harry, please can we discuss this reasonably?” Dumbledore continued to beg. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you in the first place.” “Reasonably?” Harry choked out. “You want to reasonably discuss the death of the only person who ever really loved me? You’re insane,” Harry growled. Harry turned and wrenched the door open. “Harry, please at least promise me you won’t tell anyone, especially Miss Weasley!” Dumbledore half-pleaded, half-demanded. Harry slightly turned toward Dumbledore. “You get no promises from me about anything.” He spun back around and disappeared down the stairs. ~*~ Harry ran blindly down the hallways, past the students milling about. They watched curiously as he tore by them, no inkling that his world had been torn apart. She’ll know what I’m feeling. I can’t face her right now, what do I tell her? He turned abruptly and exited the castle, heading toward the Forbidden Forest. I need to avoid her for a little bit, I just need to get away He reached the edge of the forest and continued on into the black depths. ~*~ Ginny had just returned to the common room with Ron and had seated herself on the couch while Hermione started in on Ron about revising more. She leaned back and closed her eyes, thinking of everything that she still had to get done before the week was over. Suddenly pain like she had never felt poured into her mind. It was so intense it took her a moment to realize that it was coming from Harry and not from herself. Without a word, she leapt from the couch and moved quickly through the portrait hole. “Ginny where are you…” Ron trailed off at the look on his sister’s face as she tore out of the room at full speed. “Do you think we should follow?” Hermione asked tentatively. “You have to ask?” Ron bellowed. “Let’s go.” Together they moved to follow Ginny, running after her down the corridor. Ginny ran as hard as she could, desperately using the bond to search for Harry. She knew he was somewhere outside, and she turned down a corridor leading to the courtyard. As she rounded the corner, she skidded to a stop. She had almost smacked headlong into the Headmaster. “Excellent, Miss Weasley, I was just on my way to fetch you,” he said jovially. “I’m sorry Professor, but I need to find Harry…” she trailed off as she remembered that Harry had been going to Professor Dumbledore’s office. “What did you do to him?” she accused, her anger quickly rising. “Ginny! Show some respect for the Headmaster!” Hermione scolded, as she and Ron caught up. “It’s quite alright, Miss Granger. Miss Weasley has every right to suspect me. Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, I believe that Harry is somewhere on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, out by the lake. Would you be kind enough to go and fetch him please?” Ron’s head moved back and forth between Ginny and the Headmaster. “Of course, sir, we’ll go and get him now, “ Hermione said. She grabbed Ron by the hand and began pulling him after her. With a final glance at his sister, Ron reluctantly followed. “Miss Weasley, please follow me to my office. We have much to discuss.” ~*~ Harry paced at the edge of the forest trying to gather his thoughts. He knew that Ginny would be beside herself with worry by now. I need to go back, but what do I tell her? Harry’s musings were stopped by the sight of Ron and Hermione coming toward him. “Harry!” Hermione exclaimed. “Professor Dumbledore sent us to fetch you. He asked us to bring you to his office.” Harry scowled at his friends. “I have no intention of going any where near the Headmaster. Besides, I need to go find Ginny.” Harry pushed past Ron and began striding towards the castle. “That’s just it, Harry, Ginny is with the headmaster in his office. They both are waiting for you.” Harry turned, immediately panicked. “You left her ALONE with him!” Harry screamed. “What were you thinking?” Harry turned and sprinted towards the castle, leaving a shocked pair in his wake. “That’s it. Everyone is bloody mental,” Ron grumbled as he watched the outline of his friend fade into the castle wall. ~*~ Harry crashed through the front doors, bowling over several students in his way. He didn’t stop, even when he heard McGonagall’s voice rise above noise in the hallway. “Potter! What do you think…Potter! Come back here!” she shouted in surprise. He continued through the corridors until he reached the gargoyle guarding the stairway to the Head’s office. He pulled his wand, prepared to blast the wall if needed. However, the gargoyle stepped aside for him and he raced up the spiral stairs as quickly as his legs would take him. Harry burst through the door unsure what to find. He paused in confusion when he found Ginny and Dumbledore sitting, talking quietly. “Ginny! What’s he done to you?” Harry quickly moved to her side. Ginny looked at him, and Harry gasped at the coldness in her eyes. “Everything is fine, Harry. The Headmaster has just been sharing some things with me that are important for me to know.” Her tone and closed body language were like a slap to his face. He turned to Dumbledore in a rage. “What did you do?” his voice rising in anger. Harry found his wand pointed toward his mentor. “I shared the truth with her, Harry. Obviously I couldn’t share all the details, but I felt since you were going to tell her about our conversation regardless, I would do some checking of my own.” “And?” Harry ground out, his jaw locked. “I’ve tried every detection spell I could think of, and pardon if I say so, but my knowledge in this area is quite extensive. I could find no evidence of Tom being able to control her or read her thoughts. Therefore, I decided that it was safe to share some of my findings with her.” “What else did you find? If there isn’t a link maybe you’re wrong about the whole thing?” Harry asked his voice filled with sudden hope. “No, Harry. He was right,” Ginny’s voice broke through, low and husky. “I… I have to die for you to win.” “No! We’ll find some other way. Please don’t say that!” Harry fell to his knees in front of her. Ginny reached out and gently caressed his face with the back of her hand. “There’s no other way, love. It’s ok, Harry. If I can do this to help you live, then there is no choice for me,” she said sadly. Harry clasped her hand and pressed in into his cheek. “Please don’t talk that way,” he pleaded. “Harry, please don’t make this any harder than it has to be,” she pulled her hand away and wiped a tear off the side of her face. “I think it’s best if we don’t see each other anymore. I’m sorry, Harry, this is just how it has to be.” Ginny stood and slowly walked down the stairs, leaving Harry on his knees. Harry watched her until she disappeared in the curve of the stairs. “She’s gone…” The next few hours were a blur to Harry. He really didn’t register what was going on around him. He was vaguely aware of Ron helping him into his bed, but beyond that - nothing. ~*~ Ron was confused, confused and angry. Harry had come stumbling down the stairs from Dumbledore’s office completely incoherent. The Headmaster had followed, assuring Ron and Hermione that Harry would eventually be all right, and had instructed them to show Harry to his bed. Ron had seen his best friend in several bad situations, including last summer, but this went beyond anything he had ever imagined. Somehow he knew that his sister was at the heart of it. “Ginny!” Ron bellowed, coming down the dormitory stairs into the common room. “GINNY! Oh, there you are,” he said a bit sheepishly, not realizing that she was pacing in front of the fireplace. He needn’t have worried; Ginny hadn’t even heard him. She paced relentlessly, Hermione trying to grab her arm every few seconds as Ginny passed by. “Hermione? What’s going on?” Ron asked. “Ginny broke up with Harry based on something Dumbledore said and now she is completely panicked,” Hermione whispered to him. “Gin?” Ron asked hesitantly as he reached out and stopped her pacing. “Are you okay?” Ginny turned and looked at her brother. Recognition was slow in coming, but once she saw who was talking to her she collapsed against him. “Oh, Ron, I thought what I was doing what was best, but you don’t understand. You can’t feel it. I didn’t realize how much this would hurt,” she trailed off slowly, whimpering. “I know it’s hard, Ginny, but I’m sure you did what you thought was best. I know it hurts now, but you’ll get better,” Ron said trying to be encouraging. “Not me, you git!” Ginny turned on him, her emotions wild and unpredictable. “HIM! I didn’t realize, but I should have. I knew, I could feel it, and I did it anyway.” Ron looked at Ginny very confused. “Ginny, you’re not making any sense,” Hermione interjected, trying to help. “I’ve got to go, I’m sorry,” Ginny turned and walked quickly towards the girl’s dormitory stairway. Halfway there she stopped and changed directions. She quickly made her way to other side and into Harry’s bedroom. She climbed into bed, pulled the curtains shut, and cast some privacy charms. Ginny curled into his body and pulled his head onto her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Harry. I’m so sorry.” ~*~ Harry struggled to wake. He had been having a nightmare, but suddenly he found himself peaceful and happy. He was also incredibly warm. Harry stretched and quickly realized that the majority of the warmth was coming from a small redheaded ball that was curled up next to him under the blankets. He looked at her in complete amazement. How can she curl up so small? That’s crazy. As Harry came fully awake, he made another realization. What’s Ginny doing here after yesterday? Am I dreaming? “Ginny?” Harry said as he nudged her. He waited until he saw her eyes open. “Am I dead?” he asked with some trepidation. Ginny laughed, a glorious sound that caused him to break out into a huge grin. “No, Harry, you’re not dead. I just couldn’t live with the pain I was causing you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his shoulder. “I’m not promising that when the time comes, I won’t do what’s needed. However, in the mean time I can’t be apart from you,” she whispered. “I know this will make things harder on you, but I’m not strong enough.” “Ginny, there has got to be another way,” Harry cried, his voice breaking. “We don’t have to decide now, I guess,” she answered carefully. “We can look for alternatives, but if it comes to it…” “It won’t, Ginny, I’ll find a way. I promise you.” Ginny smiled at his determination. “If anyone can do it love, it’s you.” ~*~ Harry threw himself into researching the bond and Horcrux completely. With Dumbledore’s permission, he brought in Ron and Hermione to help. Ginny was amazed at his devotion and quite touched as she realized the depth of his love. Despite feeling his emotions, the lengths that he was willing to go to for her were surprising. She frequently found herself sitting in the library watching him study, or, as was more likely, arguing with Hermione over some obscure meaning from a Dark Arts book. The problem was that the magic behind soul splitting was not very well understood. No one really wanted to study the subject in depth, and so much of the knowledge was speculation or observations about the few evil enough to do it. Ginny tried to distract him every now and then, but for the most part he was a man obsessed. Lately, Ginny had noticed that the arguments between Harry and Hermione were more intense than usual and seemed to revolve around a recurring issue. Since Ginny really hadn’t paid much attention to what they were studying, she really didn’t know what they were arguing about. “Harry, no! You don’t understand what you’re talking about!” Hermione shrieked one day, finally losing her patience. “You don’t understand the price you would actually pay.” “It doesn’t matter, Hermione, not if it saves her life,” Harry shot back in vicious whisper. Ginny perked up. “Hermione, what’s going on?” Ginny demanded. She saw Harry look immediately guilty; he had forgotten that she was there. “Nothing, Ginny. Harry had a crazy idea on how to fix this situation. But he’s not going to do it, ARE YOU, HARRY?” Hermione demanded. “Look, Hermione,” Harry said forcefully. “I know it’s not perfect but it could save her.” “At the cost of your life!” Hermione shouted. “Harry,” Ginny cut in, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but if it costs you your life you’re not going to do it, end of story. I want your promise!” Ginny overrode Harry’s complaints. “Promise me, Potter, now! I’ll know if you mean it, too,” Ginny looked at him with meaning. “Fine,” Harry finally said in a defeated voice. “I promise I won’t do it, for now.” Ginny sighed and ran her fingers through his hair. “What am I going to do with you?” she mumbled before leaning over for a quick kiss. Hermione rolled her eyes and began packing her books. It was obvious that no more research was going to get done tonight. ~*~ Christmas was approaching and Harry had been locked up doing research for far too long. Ginny was determined to get him out and about and to take his mind off of things. “Harry,” she sang as danced around the common room, “don’t you want to take a break and play with me?” Ginny batted her eyelashes outrageously and slightly pouted her lips. Harry smiled and leapt up, chasing her around the room. He caught her and they fell together in a heap onto the floor. Harry rolled her over until he was on top of her, pinning her to the ground. “I win,” he growled. “It’s time for you to pay up.” He leaned into her and began to kiss her passionately. “Harry,” Ginny managed between snogs. “I know you’ve been busy, but tomorrow is the last Hogsmeade trip of the year and we haven’t gone in awhile.” Ginny trailed off and held her breath. “I don’t know, Gin. I don’t like you leaving the protection of the castle.” “Oh, Harry, it will be fun,” Ginny cajoled. “Please. Let’s. Go. Together.” Ginny punctuated every word with a kiss, the last one long and lingering. “When you ask like that, how can I say no?” Harry said with a smirk. He was suddenly serious again. “Ron and Hermione have to come with us, probably Neville and Luna as well.” Ginny pouted again, but she could tell that he wasn’t going to budge. “It’s a deal. Now where were we?” The following morning Harry, Ron, Neville, Luna, Hermione and Ginny all left early for Hogsmeade. Harry instantly regretted agreeing. He saw threats everywhere and his emotional state was wearing on Ginny. “Harry, for the love of Merlin, stop it!” Ginny shouted at him before they were even to the village. “I’m sorry, Ginny, I can’t help it. I’m just worried about you.” “I know you are, Harry, but seriously, give it a rest,” Ginny snapped. Neville looked at Ron other in confusion. “I didn’t even hear him say anything,” he said in a quiet voice to Ron. Ron just shook his head. “Forget it, Nev. You don’t want to know, believe me.” Harry had relaxed by the end of the day. No danger had appeared and Ginny seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. He had decided to buy her whatever she wanted today, and surprisingly, Ginny had let him. She spent most of her time trying on robes and dresses and modeling them for him. Ginny even made him try on an outfit or two and then she and Hermione and Luna would critique it. It wasn’t the day that Harry would have planned, but he actually had fun. It was close to dark as they finally left the last shop and began walking back towards the castle. “Thank you for today. I had so much fun,” Ginny squealed, beaming at him. Harry laughed at her enthusiasm. “Since when did you become such a girl?” Harry teased her. “When I found someone who makes me feel beautiful,” Ginny replied quietly. Harry stopped and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “ You are beautiful, Ginny. You don’t need me to feel that way, it’s just the truth.” Ginny smiled at him. It was her special smile that she gave only to him. It warmed his heart and seemed to make time stop. Harry leaned forward to bring her closer, when all hell broke loose. Scores of Death Eaters began Apparating into Hogsmeade. Unlike a normal attack, they seemed to know exactly where he was. Ginny and Harry were quickly surrounded. Luckily the rest of the group had been ahead, and Harry prayed that they were bringing help back from the castle. When he heard the familiar voice however, he knew that any help would come too late. “Harry, Harry, Harry,” Voldemort’s voice rang out into the sudden stillness. “You escaped in the graveyard due to luck. I’ve been waiting for a chance for us to finish our discussion. How fortunate for me that you came strolling into Hogsmeade today.” Voldemort’s eyes shifted to Ginny. “Ah, and is this Miss Weasley? Excellent. I’m so glad we get to meet again. I understand that my diary had some fun with you. I’m so looking forward to completing what it started.” He looked Ginny up and down in a suggestive manner. “I think it may even be… enjoyable.” Harry pushed Ginny behind him. “You shut your mouth, you filthy bastard. You won’t touch her!” Harry was seething inside. “Harry, who will protect her after you’re dead? Hmmm?” Suddenly Voldemort whirled, his wand flashing. Harry was ready and deflected the unknown curse into the ground with a swipe of his wand. “You’ll find that I’m better prepared this time, Tom,” Harry smiled calmly at Voldemort. “MY NAME IS LORD VOLDEMORT,” he screamed, his voice high and insane. It was as if a floodgate opened between the two, curses flying every direction. The light and sound were painful to witness and the Death Eaters began backing off in fear and confusion. Harry Potter was holding his own against the Dark Lord. Harry feinted left and sent a severing charm to the right. For the first time in his life, Voldemort should have been defeated in a duel. The charm smashed into the right side of his chest. Voldemort flew backwards and fell to the ground in a heap. Silence and stillness descended suddenly and completely. It was otherworldly when compared to the intensity of the sound and light from mere moments before. The Death Eaters stared at each other in shock. Harry hesitated, unsure of what had happened. He turned slightly to glance at Ginny to make sure she was still safe. It was in this moment, with his attention focused on Ginny, that Harry Potter’s entire understanding of the universe changed. Voldemort raised his wand and sent a silent curse at Harry. Harry, with his attention centered on Ginny didn’t see it coming. She, however, did. Ginny reacted without thinking, pushing Harry out of the way of the oncoming curse. He stumbled to the side just in time for the curse to miss him by inches as it smashed into Ginny. Ginny cartwheeled end over end, ending up face down several feet from where Harry stood. “GINNY!” The word was torn from him against his will. He ran to her side, all thoughts of Death Eaters and Dark Lords vanished. Harry gently turned her over. She was still alive, but she was having difficulty breathing and her face was already turning slightly blue. Several of the Death Eaters took advantage of his distraction to converge on their injured master. They reached Voldemort and Apparated to safety. Harry didn’t care. “Ginny, please don’t die,” Harry begged as he gripped her hand. Even with his limited medical knowledge, he could tell that the curse had crushed her ribs and collapsed her lungs. Harry desperately tried to think of any spell he knew to stabilize her until he could get her to the hospital wing. “Ha...rry,” Ginny managed as her injured body tried to gasp for air. “Just hold on love, please,” Harry said softly to her. “It’s…better this…way. Just..hold me,” she said with her last bit of strength. Harry gathered her in his arms and held her, sobbing. He felt her shudder slightly and then go limp. “SOMEBODY HELP PLEASE,” Harry screamed. Sometime later Harry felt a hand touch his should and looked up into the eyes of Professor Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione stood off to the side holding onto each other. “Help her ,Professor, you can do something, you’re the greatest wizard of our time,” Harry sobbed brokenly. “I’m sorry, Harry. Not even I can bring back the dead. Harry...” Dumbledore put his hand Harry’s shoulder. “Harry, she’s gone.” ~*~ Harry stared at the old man for a long time. He wasn’t making sense. Harry understood the words at some level, but for the most part his mind convinced him that Dumbledore was crazy. Reality crashed down upon him. He gently lowered Ginny to the ground. He wiped his face and brought his emotions under control. He slowly leaned down and gently kissed her lips. “It’s going to be alright, love. I’m going to fix everything,” he whispered. Harry turned and left her there, striding purposely towards the castle. Hermione saw him moving away and ran after him. “Harry, wait! Harry, I know what you’re thinking, you can’t do it, you can’t!” she said as she grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look at her. “You just don’t understand the consequences,” she said in a softer voice. “And you’ve never really explained it to me, other than wailing that I don’t understand,” Harry snapped. “It doesn’t matter at this point. It can save her, it can undo all of this.” “Harry, please! I’ve tried to explain but you just won’t listen. You just can’t change things like that,” Hermione begged him to understand. “Why not, Hermione?” Harry exploded. “We did it once before!” “Think, Harry. There is a reason it’s not done. If it was so easy, don’t you think that people would do it all the time?” “It’s because the Ministry has all the Time-Turner locked up, we both know that’s the reason no one uses them that way,” Harry snarled. Hermione put both of her hands on his shoulder and moved closer. I’ve got to make him understand. “Harry, there are other reasons. Think about what happened the night we saved Sirius. We went back to change things. Do you remember how we came forward again?” she asked him. “What?” Harry said confused. “We didn’t do anything, we just waited until we caught back up.” “Exactly!” Hermione broke in. “Once you go back you’re stuck until you live back to the original moment. If you go back to the Chamber, over four years ago, to stop the transfer, you’ll have to live those four years again. When you catch up to us you’ll be twenty and I’ll still be sixteen.” “I don’t care, Hermione, it’s worth it to save her.” Harry turned and started up toward the castle again. “No, Harry, you still don’t understand. It’s not just illegal, it’s dangerous. Once you go back no one can know who you are. You could destroy yourself. That’s why it’s illegal. Wizards have tried it before; they all went crazy or killed themselves. Can you be totally alone for four years, Harry?” Harry stopped and ran his hand through his hair in nervousness. “I can if it saves her, how can you not understand that?” “There’s one more thing, Harry. Time has a magic of its own. It always extracts a price for changing things. There is always a price, Harry, and you don’t know how high it can be. I’ve studied this, I know,” she whispered. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve told you that and I meant it. I’ll pay any price I need to in order to save her.” Hermione reached out and pulled him back again. “You don’t even have a Turner, where are you going to find one?” she asked hesitantly. Harry grinned briefly. “The Room of Requirement, it has one, I’ve already checked.” “Harry, I can’t let you sacrifice yourself. I’ll tell Dumbledore if I have to,” Hermione said sadly. Harry grinned again. “I know and that’s why I’m sorry.” Hermione looked confused and Harry almost felt bad for her as his wand flashed. He caught her in his arms and gently lowered her to the ground. A short time later, Harry was standing in the corner of the Chamber of Secrets, hidden under his cloak. He took a deep breath and pulled out the battered Time Turner that the Room of Requirement had provided for him. He closed his eyes and began turning. He didn’t feel anything happen, and opened his eyes in disappointment. There standing in front of him was a young Tom Riddle. “Harry Potter, how nice of you to join me.”
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