Trapped Behind the Window

Trapped Behind The Window

Irkat-lukhud ma
katabrikihu
Ulfat-atam ma
tanakhi uduhu
bin-nât aznân tarsisi
Bazar udu agânî-furkhîn
Gurd!
Ma nîd sakhu!
Ma satf unkhai!
Atkât zatagrafizu.
Zatablugi sulluzu.

- The Abyss (Gandalf's fight with the Balrog)

Chapter 9

"I can't believe I let him go," Harry mumbled for the fifteenth time in a row. "I just can't believe it. What if he won't ever come back? What will we do? I mean, look at the possibilities, Ginny! We could have-"

"You."

"What?"

"You could have. He doesn't obey me, he obeys you."

"Yeah, okay. I just mean that we could have sent him to Dumbledore! Or Hermione or Ron, I don't know! Lupin or Tonks or your parents; even Snape, who cares? Anybody that's in the Order basically!"

"Yes, I know," Ginny replied weakly.

"I can't believe it... I just can't believe it...."

"Well, do something about it then. Try and call him."

"What?"

"Well, try and call him," Ginny shrugged. "Perhaps he will come."

"How?"

"I don't know, I've never owned a house-elf, in case you've forgotten. But I suppose that as his master, some kind of bond between both of you must enable you to call him. Just try. Call him, Harry. It might work."

"What d'you... uhm... Kreacher?" Harry asked tentatively in a very insecure voice, as if expecting it not to work.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he'll answer to that summon, Mr Potter."

"Yeah, well," Harry said angrily. "You can try it if you're so clever then."

"No I can't, he won't answer to me, will he now?"

"Well then don't nag!" Harry snapped.

"I was not nagging, Harry, and don't speak to me like that," Ginny replied just as angrily. "You're the one that's moaning, aren't you? I think it's better to at least try to summon him to you than to keep blaming yourself for telling him to leave!"

Harry decided not to answer, seeing that she was right. As always. Bond. He had a bond with Kreacher. Lucky me, Harry thought grimly. Nearly as nice as the bond I'm supposed to have with Pettigrew. Okay, so think bonds, Harry. There must be some way of communicating with him or something....

"So?" Ginny inquired.

"I'm thinking," Harry answered in an annoyed tone of voice. "Kreacher? Come here now. Kreacher? I want to see you here. Come on. Uhm... you'll be getting clothes if you don't answer. Oh, I don't know! How am I supposed to threaten a filthy old house-elf into coming here?!" Harry exclaimed frustrated.

Ginny laughed. "I think you lack a certain authority, Harry."

"Yeah, well it's not funny," Harry said grumpily.

"Is too. Look at yourself, you're getting all worked up because of this," Ginny smiled.

"In case you haven't noticed Miss Weasley, WE ARE STUCK IN A PRISON CELL WAITING FOR VOLDEMORT TO KILL US!"

"Don't you yell at me again, Harry," Ginny said calmly, although her eyes flashed at him angrily. "I have noticed, all right. But if I'm going to die, I don't want to die full of pain and anger. I will not let negative feelings take over me."

"You were talking differently not so long ago."

"Yes, I know. So I've changed my mind. Now, that there is indeed hope of coming out, I feel better. I think I started feeling better when I kicked that one guy in the shins," Ginny smiled again. "Oh, come on, Harry. Don't be a pessimist for the rest of your life, especially if it will end in a few days."

"I'm sorry, I still can't see what you think is so funny."

"I'm not saying that anything is funny. I just believe you should lighten up. Sure, it's not easy to live with the burden of sitting here, waiting for death. It can't and never will be easy to face that fact. But think about people in hospital that are told they will be dying shortly because there is no cure for their disease. Shouldn't they try to enjoy their last days? And shouldn't we?" Ginny asked, reaching out and tracing a soft line on his cheek. "I think we should, Harry. I really do."

~

Harry rolled over quietly, as not to wake Ginny and tried to go back to sleep. It was still pitch-dark down in their cell, but something had woken him up. A dripping noise. There it was again.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Next to him, Ginny was sleeping on her stomach, head turned towards Harry, eyes shut peacefully, her back rising and sinking slowly as she breathed. As Harry sat up, she shivered and her arm that had been resting on his chest, slid away. He stroked her red hair softly, grinning. Weasley hair. It seemed to be glowing through the darkness.

Suddenly, Harry froze. Was that his imagination or had he heard another noise through the constant dripping? His heart started beating faster. Were they already coming for him? Was his time up? Had Voldemort waited long enough? There it was again. Harry pricked his ears up. Could it really be them? But why would they be so quiet? Why would they be standing in the dark?

Ginny turned in her sleep and snuggled up against Harry, causing the sheets to rustle lightly. Immediately, the noise stopped. Harry held his breath - and he had the impression that the thing making the noise was doing the same. The only sound Harry could hear was the constant dripping again, so loud in the silence around it was deafening.

He listened carefully, eyes wide open, trying not to blink, as if blinking caused a lot of noise and would scare whoever it was away. Or as if it would make the person hold his or her breath. There. It hard started again. Hadn't it? And suddenly it hit him.

"Kreacher. Come here, please," Harry spoke into the darkness.

~

"Wha'?" Ginny mumbled sleepily at his side and stirred. She sat up next to him and yawned heartily. "What were you saying, 'Arry?"

Harry grinned at her tired expression and messy hair. "We've got a visitor," he said and cleared his throat. "Kreacher? I don't want to have to call you again. Come here, immediately. I have a few things to ask you to do."

"Kreacher?" Ginny asked with big eyes. Her sleepiness seemed to fade away instantly as she squinted through the darkness, trying to see him.

"Yes, master," a glum voice sounded from around the corner and Kreacher stepped into view, revealing himself mostly by the white cloth he was wearing.

"Good to see you, Kreacher," Harry said almost cheerfully. "I need you to do a few things for me."

"Yes, master," Kreacher replied.

"Harry?" Ginny asked. "You know what we could need here?"

"What?"

"Our wands."

"D'you think he'll-"

"He could come in here, after all. I'm sure he could."

Harry nodded. "Okay, Kreacher, first I need to know a few things. Can you access any room of the house?"

"No, poor Kreacher is not allowed, master, I does not-"

"I didn't ask you if you were allowed to. I wanted to know if you could. I know your magic is quite powerful. So, can you?"

Kreacher shifted uncomfortably.

"Well?"

"Yes, I's can, master."

"Good. Thought so. I want you to go into the wand room and bring us our wands," Harry said clearly.

Kreacher looked up at him, totally scandalized by Harry's request. "If Kreacher is found there-"

"You'll just have to make sure you do it without being seen, won't you?" Harry replied.

Kreacher scowled and started muttering to himself darkly. "Oh, my mistress would say, Kreacher, what position is you in now? What is you going to do? Ah, I always knews the son would be of no help, I always knews it, and I says it to my mistress so many times-"

"And secondly, I want you to get us some paper, as well as quill and ink, Kreacher," Harry continued, ignoring Kreacher's babbling.

"Yes, master," Kreacher said.

"I want you back as soon as possible. Don't let yourself get caught. Don't tell anyone what you are doing, nor why you are doing it and who for. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, master," Kreacher repeated and with a snip of his thin fingers, he vanished.

Harry smiled and a second later he found himself in a tight hug, Ginny laughing and crying at the same time. "Harry, we're going to get out! We're getting away! And with our wands!"

"That is if he manages to get them, if he is not caught and if he does not find a way to weasel around my orders."

"I don't like that expression," Ginny said, still laughing. "To weasel around something. I don't like it."

"Why would that be?" Harry teased.

Ginny laughed again, but didn't answer. Her arms were slung around Harry's neck, her eyes sparkling happily as she lent forward and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Hmm..." Harry said, eyes closed. "More."

Ginny gave him a peck on the cheek, but Harry shook his head. "No, not there, silly."

"Are you giving me orders, Mr Potter?"

"Why, I think so, Miss Weasley."

"I think having a house-elf is getting to your head a little," Ginny grinned.

"Not at all," Harry said, shaking his head, eyes still closed.

"I think I'll have to talk to Hermione about this."

"You do that, I'm not stopping you. Now, let me explain what I meant..." Harry said, opened his eyes and took her face into his hands slowly. He kissed Ginny's lips lightly and pulled away again.

"Is that all?" Ginny asked sheepishly.

"No. That's just the beginning," Harry grinned and shut her up with a long kiss.