memento

“Did it help?” Neville asked, eyeing Ginny who was sitting on the desk in his office.

“No” she replied softly… “and I didn’t really expect it to either.”

Neville sighed, frowning slightly, “Do you want to try the - ”

“No. I want to get to work before I’m late,” Ginny said, cutting him off.

Neville shook his head, “You know you’re not going to get better wearing yourself out like this. You need to slow down,” he told her wearily.

“I’m not going to get better at all, Neville… I’ve realized that. And what you’re doing is sweat, it really is, but we both know that there’s nothing left to try…” she spoke reflectively.

“Ginny…” Neville groaned, stopping her from her excuses.

“No, Neville. I can’t pretend that there’s some cure waiting for me. There’s nothing,” she said, breaking off any comments he had...

“How are you feeling today?” he asked quickly changing the topic slightly.

“I’m fine, Neville, and I really need to go,” she said assuringly as she stood up.

“There’s something else you could try…\" Neville began, sounding almost pleading... \" Muggle medicine. I know it sounds risky but it’s an alternative,” he said hopefully.

“You sound just like my dad… Muggle medicine,” Ginny said wistfully, shaking her head slightly.

“Did tell you tell him yet, your dad… did you tell you’re family?” Neville asked, bringing up a topic Ginny preferred not to discuss.

“No” she muttered, her gaze falling to the ground.

“Harry?” he asked again.

“No. I haven’t told anyone, you know that, Neville,” Ginny replied more forcefully, her tone telling him that she didn’t want to talk.

Neville shook his head, “They’ll find out some time… some time soon… because you’re only getting worse,” he said in a dejected tone.

Ginny nodded her head softly, “I know… I just can’t do it,” she whispered.

“I could come with you to the Burrow if you want,” he offered kindly.

“I’ll think about it,” she replied, nodding her head.

Without a goodbye, she began walking toward the door.

“Ginny, wait,” Neville called as her hand grazed the doorknob.

He pulled open the top compartment of his desk and grabbed a small bottle.

“Take this if you have another attack… it’ll help with the coughing and the nausea,” he said, handing her a long, thin vile with a soft blue liquid inside.

Ginny gave him a skeptical look, then nodded her head softly, “Thank you,” she whispered.

* * * *
She walked through the halls of Ministry, her footfalls echoing desolately off the walls. She stepped into the empty lift and pressed the button that would lead her to Level Two – Auror Headquarters . Ginny stared blankly at the floor, contemplating everything Neville had told her. He was right. She should tell her family about her illness. She could imagine her mother’s reaction… Molly would more than likely become distraught and constantly fret over everything… maybe even insist that she come live back at home to be taken care of. But Ginny didn’t want that. She didn’t want people, her family, to treat her differently. But most of all, she didn’t want to be pitied. She’d had enough of the despondent stares from Neville – she didn’t need her entire family looking at her with pity.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere…” --- Ginny looked up. The lift had stopped and opened, Ron was walking toward her.

“Where were you?” he asked, holding the doors of the lift open.

“There were just a few things I had to get done,” Ginny said nonchalantly, pushing past him.

“Ginny,” he said crossly, pulling her back.

She looked down at his hand for a moment, then up into his eyes, “What’s wrong?” she asked agitatedly.

“I was just going to ask you the same thing,” Ron whispered concernedly.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, pulling away from him.

She sat at her desk doodling on a piece of parchment, her mind flooding with thoughts.

“What’re you doing?” – Ginny jumped in her seat as Harry leaned down to look over her shoulder.

“I was… writing… something,” she replied, frowning slightly at her inability to think of a better thing to say.

“Is that the report Kersh asked for?” Harry asked mockingly as he ran his hand across the parchment.

“No,” she replied innocently.

“Are you feeling better today?” he whispered, his lips grazing the side of her cheek.

She sighed heavily, “I’m fine, Harry,” she answered.

“Good,” he said, smiling as he walked around to his own cubicle.


“Kersh wants us to check out the sighting near the mountains…” – Colton’s voice drifted loudly through the room as he walked into the Auror’s Headquarters.

Ginny leaned back in her chair to get a better look at him.

“Ginny and… Ron, you two come with me to follow up the report,” Colton said as he walked toward them.

Ron groaned in contempt, and Ginny sighed in resignation as they both stood up.

She moved closer to Colton, “You know, Colton, I’ve been a bit under the weather lately… I’d really rather not go…” Ginny began…

“You look fine, Miss Weasley. Now, I really think we should get going,” Colton said quickly, breaking her off her passive request.

Ginny rolled her eyes slightly at his arrogance.

Ron moved forward, obviously having listened to their discussion… “Colton, if she doesn’t want to go, she’s not going,” he said forcefully.

“I don’t think that’s up to you, Mr. Weasley,” Colton retorted pompously.

Harry leaned back in his chair and caught her hand, which was dangling by her side, pulling her away from the arguing pair.

Ginny turned instantly.

“Do you want me to go instead?” he asked as he eyed her carefully.

She couldn’t let him do that. Ginny took a sharp inward breath, “No. No, it’s okay Harry. I can go,” she whispered quietly, shaking her head.

Harry stood up, frowning slightly, and stepping closer to her, “Ginny, if you’re not feeling well you should stay here… do some desk work. Kersh doesn’t care who goes as long as the work gets done.”

Ginny sighed heavily, “I’m fine, Harry,” she said in a noncommittal tone, now determined to prove that she was fine.

Harry reached up to touch her face... why did he always have to do that when he was trying to convince her of something?

A slight shiver ran down her spine, \"I\'m fine,\" she breathed, closing her eyes.

He stepped closer, and for a moment she let herself be comforted by the sudden warmth... a memo zoomed past them - at that Ginny\'s eyes flew open, \"I have to go,\" she mumbled, moving away.

* * * *
“What’s going on?” Ron questioned as they walked around the base of the mountain.

Colton was a few yards ahead, scouting the area.

“What are you talking about?” Ginny asked evasively.

“I’m not stupid, Ginny. I know you’re sick, and I know something’s wrong,” Ron said forcefully.

She sighed, “I don’t think this is the time or place to be discussing this, Ronald,” Ginny said disdainfully.

“This isn’t the time or place… tell me, Ginny, when is the right time?” he asked cynically.

“There is no right time,” she muttered under her breath.

“What?” Ron asked, partially hearing what she had said.

She took a deep breath, “I don’t know… later, after work I guess,” she whispered in resignation.

She couldn’t put off this confrontation any longer. It seemed to as though Ron had already figured out most of the problem; he just needed to hear her confirmation.

“Tonight?” he questioned.

“Tonight,” Ginny replied assuringly.

Why hadn’t she told him? Why hadn’t she told anyone? Ron knew she was sick, but to what extent? If it were just a chest cold like she insisted, why would she bother hiding it?


“This is a waist of time,” Ron groaned after half an hour.

“It is not a waist of time, Weasley,” Colton replied pompously…

Completely unaware of their bickering, Ginny stared vacantly around at the view of the mountain, silently reflecting on what to say to Ron… she couldn’t lie to him anymore, but the thought of tell him, telling her family, that she was sick didn’t sit well. As she breathed in the fresh air, the familiar nauseated feeling overtook her senses. A strong breeze swept through the air increasing her dizziness. The medicine. Where was it? Ginny rummaged through her robes in a disoriented manner. But it was no use… she had left the medicine back at the Ministry. Silently she cursed herself --- no matter how skeptical she was about the potion, the thought that it might help taunted her. She took a quick gasp for air. A sudden restricted feeling settled in her chest; it felt as though a vise were wrapped around her neck, tightening slowly. Ginny began coughing violently. She bent down, leaning her palms on her knees as she tried to force regular breathing.

“Ginny!” Ron yelled as he ran toward her, Colton followed closely behind.

She didn’t answer, she just continued to breath heavily. It seemed as though she were spinning in space – at that moment felt like one of those tiny figurines that are forced to twirl on command when a music box is opened.

After a minute or so, when the world around her stopped whirling, she looked up at the two men that were staring at her with concern. She turned her face away from them, not wanting anyone to see her like that.

“Are you okay?” Ron asked concernedly as he put his arm around her.

Ginny did respond – she just stared at the green grass, still feeling somewhat disoriented.

“Ginny?” Ron whispered her name.

Frowning slightly at her weakness, she turned and moved into her brothers arms, “I want to go,” she muttered, fighting back tears.

Ron held her for a moment, his worried mind racing.

“Okay,” he affirmed... “We’re done here, Colton… Go back, tell everyone we’re on assignment,” Ron ordered.

“Of course… of course…” Colton replied assuringly as they apparated.

* * * *
“Where is Ron?” Hermione asked anxiously as Colton stepped out of the lift.

“He… well, he and Ginny are still on assignment,” Colton answered, stuttering slightly.

Hermione eyed him suspiciously, then nodded her head and continued with her work.

“Harry, I need to talk to you,” Colton demanded weakly, still unsure of what he was about to do.

Harry gave him a skeptical glance then stood up and walked toward him. Colton didn’t say a word, though he gestured toward the interrogation room…

* * * *
“Can we talk now?” Ron asked, sitting down at the kitchen table.

Ginny tried to think of wording that wouldn’t sound harsh or critical, but nothing came… “I’m sick,” she said quietly as she poured herself a cup of tea – her back turned away from Ron.

“I’ve figured that much out already…” he began softly… “but you’ve been seeing Neville, haven’t you?” he asked, looking around her apartment.

“Yes, I have…” she answered hesitantly… “and he’s given me medicine… but it’s not working,” she replied despondently as she sat down beside her brother at the table.

“What do you mean it’s not working?” Ron questioned in a suddenly desperate tone.

“It doesn’t work. It has no effect. I’m not getting better… and I’m not going to get better, Ron,” she said bluntly.

“Ginny - ” he began…

“No, Ron. You’ve asked me to tell you the truth, to tell the whole story. I’ve been lying to you and everyone for over two months now, I can’t do it anymore… my health will slowly decline, I will continue coughing up blood - Yes, blood - I won’t be able to work soon. I’ll be hospitalized. Neville has made a request with the Board of Healers asking for me to be under his care when I am inevitably admitted into St. Mungo’s. Neville has been wonderful really… he’s been trying different potions, some he’s created himself, but none them work…” Ginny said in a business-like manner.

Silence filled the room after her confession. She stared at him, waiting for his response.

Her brother’s face was contorted with obvious pain, “There has to be something. A potion or something - ”

“No, Ron. Listen to me. Listen to what I’m saying… none of them have worked,” she added, sighing.

“Why didn’t you tell me before now? Why didn’t you tell Mum and Dad?” Ron asked in an accusational manner.

“Would it have helped?” Ginny responded sadly....

She sounded almost careless to him. He shook his head and closed his eyes – he was angry with her, he knew he shouldn’t be, but he was. She was talking like it didn’t matter, like she didn’t care. She sounded so cold, distant… but Ron didn’t know that that was her only way to keep from crying, to keep from breaking down completely.

“When are you going to tell the family?” he asked quietly, trying to force the absurd anger out of his tone.

Ginny turned her face to the side, “I don’t know,” she breathed.

“They deserve to know,” Ron said reproachfully.

“I know,” Ginny muttered softly.

Before now, Ginny had no problem looking him in the eye and telling him that she was fine, but the way Ron stared at her made her feel guilty about lying to him for the past two months.

She sighed, “Everyone’s getting together at the Burrow this weekend, I suppose I could tell them then. Though it would be a shame to ruin the little time we all have together,” Ginny said in a desolate tone, trying to change her brother’s mind… it didn’t work - Ron just nodded his head approvingly.

“Have you told Harry?” he asked quietly.

Her eyes narrowned significantly. “I think I can decide for myself when I’ll tell my co-workers,” she replied bitterly, now becoming annoyed by his mild berating.

“I didn’t realize Harry was just a co-worker,” he said softly, raising his eyebrows.

Ginny groaned, resting her face in her hands, “He’s not,” she whispered guiltily.

* * * *
“Thank you for meeting on such a short notice,” Harry said as he sat in the chair across Neville’s desk – the same chair Ginny had occupied earlier that day.

“Of course, Harry… Well, you said this was urgent… is something wrong?” Neville asked as he sat in his chair.

A moment passed between them.

“What... what\'s wrong with Ginny?” Harry questioned.

Understanding flashed through Neville\'s eyes, he bowed his head for a moment, then looked back up, “She’s sick.”

“I know that, but what is it?” Harry asked impatiently.

Neville stared at him, “You know I can’t tell you that, Harry,” he said in an almost pleading tone.

“Neville,” Harry spoke his name desperately.

“I’m sorry… you’ll have to talk to Ginny,” Neville answered...

\"It’s not just you, Harry, she hasn’t told anyone, not even her family...”

Harry ran his fingers through his rumpled hair and sighed in resignation. A heavey weight was spreding across his chest.

“Will she be okay?” he whispered after a long pause...

Neville didn’t speak, but the silence and the look in his eyes gave Harry the answer he sought.