A Little Fall of Rain

Harry raced from the ruined kitchen and across the garden to Ginny's fallen body, throwing himself down on the ground beside her, frantically searching for any signs of life.

The kitchen clock in the Burrow had indicated six hands in the "Work" position, as all the Weasley brothers were occupied, one way or another, with the war against Voldemort. They probably didn't even know that their home had been attacked. Harry himself had found out purely by chance, as the report of the brutal strike had arrived while he had been meeting with the Minister for Magic. He had Apparated to the Burrow before anyone could stop him. Appearing in Ron's room, he had searched the house from top to bottom, his wand ready in a tense grip. He found the results of the vicious attack, testified by two more hands on the clock which were hanging limply, pointing into an oblivious nothing. But the eight, the smallest of the hands, indicated 'Mortal Peril'. Harry quickly saw why, and he began to tremble with fear and anger.

Bloody stains were fast spreading across the front of her muddy, light blue robes, roughly torn in several places by the jagged-edge blade of a long knife.

"They wanted to make her suffer. They wanted me to find her like this." Harry thought, bile rising at the back of his throat. "This is all my fault."

He carefully lifted her frail body to cradle in his lap as tiny droplets of rain began to spatter the courtyard in front of the Burrow.

"Oh Ginny," he whispered hoarsely, "I'm so sorry. This is my fault, I should have been quicker."

Her eyelids fluttered momentarily and she opened her eyes, staring at him as if from a distance. His heart skipped a beat as light relief filled him. He had been afraid that she wouldn't respond.

"Harry? You're here. You came..."

Don't you fret,

A heavy shadow eclipsed his relief as he heard the pain in her faltering voice.

"It's not your fault. Don't say that. It's alright," she said softly, her voice a little stronger, but still a feeble imitation of her usual, ringing tone.

He shook his head.

I don't feel any pain

"Come on, I need to get you into the house where it's dry. I'll get a doctor and..."

He stopped when she cried out in pain as he tried to lift her from the hard ground.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she clenched her jaw in a futile attempt to suppress further shouts.

A little fall of rain

Can hardly hurt me now

"No, Harry, it's alright," she said in a halting voice, "I like the garden. See the flowers I planted? They're late bloomers. It doesn't hurt so much..."

You're here

That's all I need to know

She was lying. It hurt-everything was shrouded in an excruciating fire-but it mattered little now. His company was like a soothing balm and soon, she wouldn't feel the pain anymore.

And you will keep me safe

"Why did they do this to you?" He asked quietly, pushing strands of wet red hair off her pale face. The rain drops were becoming more abundant, as if some higher power was observing this final scene and weeping heartbroken tears.

And you will keep me close

"They said that they wanted to send Potter a message. A message for you, Harry, but they never said what they..." she trailed off, gasping as the shooting pain swept sharply through her body.

Harry got their message.

And rain will make the flowers grow

They had done this because he loved her. Not in the way that she adored him, but as the little sister in a family that he had never had. He couldn't just sit there and watch the life drain from her. He had to do something. Anything.

"Ginny, I'll get a doctor..." Harry repeated. He started to move, but she grasped his shoulder, freezing him where he sat.

But you will live! Dear God above!

If I could heal your wounds with words of love

"No. It won't be long. Just hold me, Harry. Please." she pleaded.

He hesitated a moment, as if reluctant to concede defeat to the terrible reality of the situation. But a second glance at her pale, wide-eyed face resolved him, and he gently wrapped his arms around her. She clung to his forearm, breathing his comforting presence, and they held each other, surrounded by the growing sheet of grey.

"You know what, Harry? I think I was a little bit in love with you. Don't look like that, I don't mind that you loved someone else. It doesn't matter any more. It was just a school-girl crush."

Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me

Her confessions made Harry shudder inwardly. He felt a small knot of guilt forming in his stomach, despite her reassurances. She swallowed against the pain and managed a small smile.

"It might have been nice, though. Mum would've liked you as a son-in-law," she teased, before her face clouded over.

"They'll miss me, won't they Harry? Mum and Dad? It'll be nice to be missed, I suppose. But I don't want them to be unhappy because I've gone. You'll tell them they shouldn't be sad, won't you?"

You would live a hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now...

She looked so anxious, he didn't have the heart to tell her that he'd found her parents beforehand, slumped lifelessly on the kitchen floor, their hands clasped together. He simply nodded wordlessly, holding her close, wanting to protect her from the awful truths of their world.

The rain can't hurt me now
This rain will wash away what's past.

"And the boys too," she said, cringing against a fresh burst of pain. "And you have to tell the twins that I was brave. They'd tease me horribly if they knew I was scared,"

She was rambling nonsense, but he didn't stop her. He simply held her a little closer and wiped the raindrops from her face, determined not to violate her dying reverie. He nodded reluctantly, blinking back prickling tears.

And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last.

Satisfied, she relaxed against his body, lifting her face to catch the gentle drops of rain. She had vowed to make the most of her life and was determined to carry it to the last. It was funny that simple things seemed the most important, now that she was dying.

"I like the rain. It helps the garden bloom. It brought you here. Do you like the rain?" She asked.

The rain that brings you here
Is Heaven-blessed!

She glanced up into his ashen face, watching him with eyes that glowed brighter than the stars. It pierced him to the core.

"Harry, I don't want to talk about impending doom and darkness. If we always focus on the darkness, we forget to live. I just want to enjoy the rainstorm." She said softly.

He tried to surreptitiously wipe away the tears spilling onto his face, but she saw them, wincing as she lifted her arm to brush them away.

The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are

"Please, don't be sad," she whispered, her bloodstained hand leaving red marks on his cheeks. "It doesn't hurt so much anymore and you're here to help me. I'm not afraid."

I've come home from so far

They shared a small smile and he nodded once more, wishing that he knew the right words to say, that he knew some spell, some potion that could save her - wishing with all his being that he didn't have to watch helplessly as she died. She gasped again as the agony wracked her body once more. She leaned closer to him for support. It was almost time.

So don't you fret/ Hush-a-bye

He held her, as she had asked him to. His arms enfolded her protectively, as he silently endured his own stabs of anguish. She grimaced against the pain enveloping her body, but he could do nothing but hold her. He didn't want her to worry. He didn't want her to be afraid.

I don't feel any pain/ You won't feel any pain

She bit her lip to keep from crying out, drawing comfort from his strong presence. She allowed him to nurse her closer through the last moments, grateful that he was there to hold her. It was enough. But she didn't want him to worry. She was not afraid anymore.

A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now/ Can hardly hurt you now

She was leaving. She couldn't stop it and had accepted it with a calm and courage beyond her years. It was a bitter sweet ending for a love affair that could have been, perhaps should have been, but never was. She was no longer lying-there was no more pain, only the intense sadness in his eyes, the rain's soft kiss and a pale white light that was growing ever stronger.

I'm here.

It was too late. He was there, but he could not save her.

That's all I need to know.

He was there. That was enough for her. All that was left was to say a final goodbye.

And you will keep me safe/ I will stay with you.
And you will keep me close/ Till you are sleeping.

"Will you give me a kiss? For an old schoolgirl crush?" she asked weakly, smiling at him through the haze that was surrounding her. He smiled, despite the cruel lump in his throat.

"I would be honoured." he whispered.

And rain...

He bent and kissed her gently on thin lips then pulled back, smiling through the raindrops and the tears on his face. But her features had gone slack and she stared at him in blank adoration.

Harry felt an aching emptiness within his weary soul.

Will make the flowers...

He closed her vacant eyes and held her limp body to his chest, sobbing softly.

...grow.

The rain began to fall harder.