Protecting Ginny

Chapter Four: Decision Made
About an hour after Ginny and Harry had fallen asleep. Harry woke up, and noticed Ginny had rolled onto her side. She was now facing the other way. Harry took this opportunity to get up and put his shirt back on. He leaned over and kissed her shoulder before pulling back the covers that were over him and stepping out of bed being careful not to wake Ginny. He picked his wife-beater up off the floor and slipped it back over his head. Then he went to his trunk and took off the socks he was wearing, and put on the red, basketball shorts he’d worn the night before. After Harry finished re-dressing himself he crawled back into bed with Ginny, pulling her close to him, and falling back to sleep for the rest of the night.
At 5:00A.M. Harry felt the familiar beak pecking his shoulder as Hedwig woke him up. He rolled over, pulled out another owl snack from the night stand drawer, and fed it to hr. She gave a hoot and flew out the window to go hunt down some breakfast. Harry laid his head back onto the pillow and shut his eyes for another give minutes before reaching for his glasses on the nightstand and putting them on so he could see. The air in his room was a bit chilly. Harry almost wondered if there were Dementors in his room, but he looked all around and saw no other sign of their presence. He pushed the idea out of his mind and rolled over onto his side to wake Ginny up.
“Gin, it’s time to wake up so I can take you back to our room.” Harry said as he rubbed her arm. “Not to mention we’ll probably have to get Ron and Hermione separated, I’m sure.”
Ginny rolled over onto her back and looked at Harry. Before he could say or do anything else, she flung her arms around his waist, squeezed him into a hug, and pulled back.
“I really wish I didn’t have to go back to my room. I wanna just stay here with you, Harry.” Ginny said in a bit of a shaky voice before putting her arms around his neck and kissing him.
Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him as they continued to kiss and then pulled back.
“I know you don’t, but we need to not get too comfortable with all this just yet.” Harry said softly before placing a single kiss on Ginny’s nose and continuing. “Remember, we don’t want to get in trouble with your parents and have all this ruined. We’ve got enough problems we are going to have to deal with in the coming months, and maybe even years. Who knows...”
“I know, Harry.” Ginny said, sounding frustrated. They got out of Harry’s bed, and Ginny pulled her white robe on over her shoulders while Harry pulled a gray, hooded sweatshirt over his head, and socks onto his feet. Then he grabbed his wand off of the nightstand, and put it in the front pocket of his sweatshirt. Harry took Ginny’s hand and led her back to her room. When they reached her bedroom door, Harry pulled Ginny around so she was facing him. He locked his hands with hers and leaned her against the wall right next to her bedroom door, and started kissing her, without even saying anything before doing so.
They were snogging in the hallway, when all of the sudden they heard someone’s voice.
“Wotcher you two!” and then there was a lighted wand pointing in their direction. Harry jumped back away from Ginny. He pulled one of his hands away from hers but then realized she had put a death-like grip on the other. Out of nowhere, he saw Tonks reveal herself to them. Tonks had pink, short, spiky hair now, and her nose was very slim and narrow.
“Tonks? What are you doing here?” Harry asked still a bit out of breath and recovering from the fright he’d just had.
“Why, patrolling the hallway of course! Arthur usually patrols the house at night, but he looked exhausted last night when he got home, so I told him I’d take over.” Tonks said very quickly. “And, I do say it’s probably a good thing it was me that found you two snoggin’ at this time of day and not Arthur!”
“Yeah, sorry. So what are you guys doing patrolling the Burrow? Do you really think Voldemort or the Death Eaters would come here?” Harry asked.
“Well, you can’t underestimate them right now, Harry. And don’t say his name! He wants to cause as much terror in the world as he can right now, it seems.” Tonks went on hastily. “Now you two had better part ways and go back to YOUR OWN beds.”
“Right, we just gotta wake up Ron and Hermione first, and send Ron back to his room first.” Muttered Harry as he reached toward the doorknob and opened it.
“Right, this ought to be fun.” Said Ginny sarcastically.
“Wait! You mean Ron and Hermione are sleeping in the same bed? Why, I don’t believe it! Were you two sleepin’ in Harry’s room?” Asked Tonks. She knew Ron and Hermione were together, but she didn’t know they were that close. Not to mention she thought Harry and Ginny were done with each other. “Well, on you go! Get to it.”
As soon as Harry, Ginny, and Tonks stepped in to wake up Ron and Hermione. There was a loud, crashing noise coming from downstairs. Tonks and Harry immediately went running in the direction the noise came from. Ron and Hermione both sat up with a jolt.
“What the Hell was that?” Ron asked sleepily, looking at Ginny who was the only one left in the room.
“I don’t know, but Harry and Tonks went to go see what it was.” Ginny informed them.
“What were you three doing? Watching us sleep? Waiting for something exciting to happen?”
“Oh, Ronald! What does it matter now? Harry and Tonks could be in trouble!” Hermione said jumping out of bed. She grabbed her robe, wand, and then they all went to go find Harry and Tonks.
When Harry and Tonks got into the living room(where they’d heard the noise come from). They had their wands in their hands and were ready for whatever they were confronted with. Draco Malfoy was standing in the middle of the room.
“What are you doing here, Malfoy?” Harry asked stiffly.
“I came here, Potter; because I want to finish the task the Dark Lord gave me last year, or at least we came to do it.” Malfoy sneered.
“We?” Harry started to ask, but then he turned around and saw Severus Snape standing by the fireplace.
“Hello, Potter!” Snape said in a raised voice. Just then Arthur, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny came running into the room.
“Harry, what’s going on?” Ron started to ask before seeing Draco standing in the living room.
“Now, Potter! Where were we?” Draco taunted as he started walking toward Harry. Raising his wand from his side to straight out in front of him.
“Ah, yes! Now I remember. . . You, Potter are the reason my father is in Azkaban right now and my mother and I are getting death threats from the Dark Lord daily.” Draco continued putting his wand closer to Harry so that it was nearly touching his neck.
For a split second, Harry just froze. Draco had his want against him and Snape was giving him encouragement to finish the job. Then all the sudden her heard someone yelling from behind him.
“Duck, Harry!” and he snapped back into reality. Harry shoved Draco back away from him and took out his wand. Tonks had her wand out too just in case. So did everyone else in the room. Harry saw Ginny didn’t have hers out, and then he remembered she wasn’t seventeen yet, but either was he. Not for another month, but that wasn’t going to stop him. Snape killed Dumbledore because Draco couldn’t. He was the reason Dumbledore was dead. Not to mention Snape gave his parents hiding spot away to Voldemort, or at least was part of the party who did. Snape was part of the reason his parents and Dumbledore were dead.
Draco rebounded from being pushed and flicked his wand back out in front oh him.
“Cruc!” was all he got out before Harry pointed his wand at Draco and yelled “Expelliarmus!” The charm hit Draco and he flew back against the wall.
“What’s?” Harry heard from behind him. Molly Weasley was running out to them from the kitchen. She’d apparently still been asleep, or had she been sending for more help? Harry wondered. All of the sudden Draco shot another spell at Harry. This time it hit him. “Crucio!” Draco kept yelling. Harry was down onto his knees feeling the horrible pain that the Cruciatus curse cased every time it hit him. He felt like his whole body was being electrocuted. Then Tonks shot another disarming spell at Draco and he flew back against the wall. Harry struggled to his feet and barely missed a spell Snape sent to attack him.
“Harry, watch out!” He heard Ginny yell. He’d just remembered she was in the room. Harry aimed his wand at Snape and yelled, “Levicorpus!” Snape was suddenly hanging in the air by one ankle.
“Using my own spells on me are you, Potter?” Snape hissed with laughter.
“You know, Potter! The Dark Lord all ready knows about your little girlfriend, he finds it hilarious!” Draco said in his usual cocky tone.
“Yeah, and if you kill us tonight, Potter. He’ll just send more Death Eaters after you!” Snape shot out at him.
Harry looked around to Ginny after he heard that. Just then Harry heard Lupin’s voice saying “GET BACK, HARRY!”. Harry turned around 360 degrees to take in the full picture around him. Ron and Hermione were pulling him back. Arthur and Lupin were running toward Snape shooting spells at him. Where was Ginny? He didn’t see Ginny. Please, God let her be ok. Harry thought. He snapped back again and saw Arthur passed out on the ground, and Lupin was struggling a bit. Draco was tormenting poor Tonks. Harry shot the levicorpus charm at Snape and then Draco. Both of them went back to being hung upside down.
Where’s Ginny? Where’s Ginny? Harry thought. He saw Snape getting ready to get back down to the ground and began to yell another curse at him. As Snape brought his wand out toward Harry, he heard a female voice saying, “Expelliarmus!”. It was Ginny, Harry looked around and found her standing in-between the living room and kitchen.
“Ginny,” Harry said softly looking at her. She caught his glance and understood what he was after. He looked around and made sure everyone was covered and handling themselves. Then Harry went up to Ginny and gave her a soft kiss.
“Ginny, you need to go hide. I need you to find somewhere safe until all this is over.” Harry said.
“I will not! I’m fine, Harry! Trust me, I won’t let anything hurt me, ok?”
Harry sighed. “Ok, just please if it gets too dangerous hide… I love you, Ginny.” Harry kissed her again, and then he heard his name being shouted. He turned around and saw Snape getting ready to send the Avada Kedavra curse at him. Harry pushed Ginny out of the way and said “Expelliarmus!” Draco went to go send another one, but Hermione and Ron disarmed it and then sent a stunning spell toward him.
“Thanks.” Harry said to both of them.
“No problem, now come on! We could really use your help out here.” Hermione replied.
Snape struggled for a while, but eventually got himself back up and un-jelly-d Draco’s legs.
“Ron, Hermione, get back! I’ve got it. I’ve got these two. Just make sure Ginny’s safe.” Harry said.
“Harry! I told you I’m fine, quit worrying about me!”
“Yeah, Potter. Quit worrying about your little girlfriend and start focusing on your death.” Draco said.
“No, no Draco. I’ll do it. Stand back” Snape said as he nudged Draco aside and raised his wand. He shot the spell, but Harry dodged it and shot the sectumsepra spell at both Snape and Malfoy.
“Sectumsepra!” Blood started pouring out of Snape. He hurled over onto his knees.
“Sectumsepra!” Harry yelled pointing his want at him again. More blood came gushing out of Snape.
Draco was back on the ground getting ready to go after Harry when all of the sudden there was a BANG and Alastor Moody came out of the fireplace.
“What’s going on here?” Asked Moody. “Molly sent an urgent howler to me telling me I needed to get over here.” Then Mad-Eye saw Snape down on the ground bleeding and Draco getting ready to hit Harry with the Cruciatus curse again.
“Expelliarmus!” He heard Harry yell and Draco went flying back into the wall.
“Alastor, these two Death Eaters came barging in here tonight with the orders to kill us all!” Tonks told him. Snape was now starting to become short of breath. Alastor pointed his wand at him and yelled, “Avada Kedavra!” A green light shot out of the wand, and just like that Severus Snape was dead. The man who had hated every being of Harry and his parents. The man who was responsible for giving his parent’s hide out was dead. Harry would never have to endure his punishments or cruelty ever again. Moody saw questioning eyes all around him.
“Don’t worry, I had permission to do that!” Moody stated.
Draco fell to his knees crying.
“I’ve failed him again. He’s going to kill me and my whole family!” Then he shot up and went running toward Harry again.
“Expelliarmus!” Harry yelled and Draco went flying back again.
“You’re headed to Azkaban, sonny.” Moody told Draco as he was crouched down beside him.
“Wait! Professor Moody, don’t send him to Azkaban just yet.” Harry said hesitating a bit. The pity he’d felt for Draco at Dumbledore’s funeral was now coming back. He realized how much more skinny Draco was now then he had been when Harry last saw him. He knew Voldemort must have been doing terrible things to him.
“Potter, this boy is a Death Eater!” Moody stated plainly.
“I know Sir, but I don’t think he wants to be. I think he’s just doing it to keep his parents alive.” Harry said. Lupin was now walking up to Harry.
“Harry, he doesn’t deserve your pity. We don’t know if Voldemort’s possessing him right now. We can’t trust him.” Lupin said.
“Professor Moody, do you have any Vertisirum on you by chance?” Harry asked.
“Yeah…” Moody replied reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a vile.
“Dump it in his mouth.” Harry instructed him. Moody did exactly what Harry told him. He uncorked the vile and poured its entire contents into Draco Malfoy’s mouth. Harry went up to Malfoy and started asking him questions.
“Draco, are you under the Imperius Curse right now?”
“Yes!” Draco screamed.
“Is Voldemort possessing your mind, telling you what to do or say right now?”
“No!”
“Draco, do you want to be a Death Eater, or are you doing it to save your family?”
“I don’t want to, Potter. I don’t want to be one. I just want my parents to be ok…Especially my mother.” Cried Malfoy.
Harry backed up off the ground.
“Take him to St. Mungos and…Wait, Draco I have one more question. Did you really tell Voldemort I was seeing Ginny last time you saw me?” Harry asked.
“Yes, but he made me, I swear!” Draco continued to cry.
“Ok, take him to St. Mungos, please. Tell them he’s under the Imperius Curse, but he’s still able to fight it. Tell them they’re to keep him there until further notice.” Lupin instructed. “And send his mother there to be checked out as well.” Added Harry.
Harry saw Moody walking over toward Snape’s lifeless body. Lupin and Tonks were getting Draco up off of the floor to take him to St. Mungos.
“Well, I’d better get his body over to Azkaban so they can dispose of the body properly.” Moody said, flinging Snape’s body over his shoulder and then disapparating out of the room.
“We’d better get Mr. Malfoy over to St. Mungos as well, and send an owl to Narcissa I suppose.” Tonks stated before both she and Lupin disapparated out of the room with Draco in-between them.
Harry looked around the room. Ron and Hermione were grasping each other’s hands. Hermione had a few tears coming down her cheeks. Ginny, he saw had gone over to the kitchen table to sit down. Molly and Arthur were discussing something over in the hallway.
“I think we ought to wait until Tonks, Lupin, and Moody get back before we start asking Harry or the others to explain what happened.” Mrs. Weasley was saying.
“Right, I suppose there’ll be a few letters arriving from the Ministry of Magic as well. I’m sure Rufus Scrimgeour will be wanting to stop by and find out for himself what happened.” Arthur added and then continued. “But what are we going to do about the kids?” He asked to which his wife simply replied, “We’ll deal with that in due time, dear.”
Then Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out of the hallway.
“Alright, dear ones, I think you ought to each take your showers and get ready for the rest of the day. I daresay it will be busy. Meanwhile, I’ll start cooking up some breakfast.” Molly stated.
“Yes it is going to be a busy day now. Especially for you, Harry. You’re going to have to explain what happened more them once I’m afraid.” Arthur added.
“Right, well I’m going to my room then. I’m going to respond to Headmistress McGonagall’s letter. I think I’ve definitely made my decision. I’ll take my shower when I’m done.” Harry said solemnly.
“Wait!” Hermione said stopping him. “Mr. Weasley, you don’t think Harry’s going to be in trouble again, or that we are do you?”
“No, Hermione. I don’t think anyone will be in trouble. There’s been a high price on Snape ever since he killed Dumbledore, but they will need accounts of what happened for when this is all over and we begin trials…Hopefully that is,” Arthur replied.
Harry went to his room and sat down to write his response to McGonagall. He could hear the shower turning on and off as the other three got themselves ready for the day. Harry took out a fresh piece of parchment and began to write.
Dear Headmistress McGonagall,
I’ve made my decision regarding your request, and
I’ve decided I’ll do it. Hogwarts needs to stay open
So people can learn to defend themselves. I also want to do it because
I’m afraid Voldemort may know more about something I don’t want him to. I want to make sure that something stays safe. However, I will not be there every day of the week. If I get so much as a hunch to where one of the things Dumbledore and I were looking for is then I’ll be gone looking for it, and either Ron or Hermione will be with me. We’ll discuss some of my other concerns and needs later.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter

Harry sealed the letter in an envelope, addressed it, and gave it to Hedwig to deliver. Then he went to his trunk and pulled out his clothes for the day: A pair of black jeans and a red, polo shirt. When he heard the water stop, he went out his door and saw Ginny walking into her room. She spun around and looked at him with a questioning look.
“Are we still ok?” She asked.
“Of course we are,” Harry replied. A little e smile spread across his face. “But if your parents don’t get too mad about this morning, then I’d like to talk for a bit later tonight if that’s ok?” Harry finished before going into the bathroom and getting into the shower.
For a few moments after getting into the shower. Harry just put one hand on the wall in front of him and let the hot water fall down on him. All of the events that had happened over the last few hours were now starting to sink in.
Why’d I let Draco go to St. Mungos instead of Azkaban? Snape’s dead, but there’s still quite a few more Death Eaters out there. Is this how it’s going to be? Is he going to send every last Death Eater after me until there are no more left? Harry thoughts went on and on.
How are Mr. and Mrs. Weasley going to react and feel about Ginny and I? Are we going to be punished for her being in my room the past two nights?
Draco told Voldemort. Voldemort knows Ginny and I went out last year, and that we’re back together too probably. I have to do everything in my power to protect Ginny and the rest of the Weasley’s. Harry’s thoughts finished.
Harry finished up his shower, got out, and got dressed. When he opened the door, he could see Ron, Hermione, and Ginny talking in her room. When they saw him, they all stood up and walked out into the hallway. Hermione pulled him into a hug.
“It’s ok, Harry. Everything will be fine.” Hermione said and then pulled back.
“We’re still right behind you. No backing out now.” Ron continued, but Ginny just stood there behind Ron and Hermione. Harry saw a look in her eye though. He knew immediately how she felt, and it scared him to death.
Harry walked to his room and set his pajamas and towel on the chair by his bed. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were right behind him as he did it. As if they were driving their point home to him. Even Ginny.