Survivors

There was pain.

That's all there was. Pain.

Pain in every body part. Pain in the mind. Pain in the memory. Pain in the soul.

Slowly, while the pain didn't recede, self-knowledge surfaced, sailing on the sea of pain.

"Hello?" managed a very small, thin voice.

"Good evening," came a tired voice. "Nice of you to join us."

"Are my eyes open?"

"Yes," the female voice acknowledged. "Please don't be too worried about that. You seemed to have been hit by three stunners, including one right in the eyes. Your sight should return, somewhere between a few more days and a week. Now, sip a little water, sweet heart." A straw was stuck in the young woman's mouth, and never had cool water tasted so delicious.

"What day is it?" the teen asked.

"First things first. Do you remember your name?"

"Ginny. . . . Ginevra Molly Weasley."

"Good. Parents?"

"Arthur and Molly Weasley." Ginny frowned, trying to remember something important, and her left thumb stroked her ring finger.

"That's a pretty ring. Who gave it to you?"

Ginny smiled. "Neville."

"What's the last day you remember?"

"Friday. Friday, the nineteenth of June, 1998."

"It's the late morning of Sunday, the twenty-first."

"Am I in the Infirmary? You aren't Madam Pomfrey."

"No, I'm not. My name is Diana Cartwright. I'm an apprentice healer at St. Mungo's. You wouldn't know me. I was in Ravenclaw, five years a head of you. What do you remember?"

"The train station. Exams were condensed; we were all leaving a week early, before the results."

After giving Ginny another sip of water, the woman said, "Go on."

"Dementors. They . . . they came up from behind the train. Harry and Luna felt them . . . tried to warn us. Harry grabbed Luna's hand about a minute bore the dementors showed up, and the two of them retreated off the platform. Almost everyone was just staring at them like they were crazy."

Ginny frowned at an unexpected sound. "What are you doing?"

"Writing this down. No, I'm not a reporter, but we're under orders to get statements."

"If you're a reporter. . . ."

"I'd get thrown in Azkaban."

"Alright, but I swear I'll do worse than that. Hermione, Ron, Neville, and I followed Harry of course. Everyone should have known by now to follow Harry's lead, but only we did. There must have been hundreds of them."

"I'm told there were some three hundred," Diana said. "Here, have some more water."

"Thank you. Harry was furious but he also gave us all this look. You know, even though he was furious, it was this look of what I can only call a look of pure love for all of us. Then he let go with a Patronus . . . it was huge! And it was gold! The stag -- that's the form Harry's takes -- tore into the dementors and ripped them apart."

Ginny frowned. "That's not supposed to be possible." She moved and groaned.

"Well, I think you need some pain potion. Here, open so I can give you a spoonful."

"Blech."

"Here, have some more water."

"Thanks. Shall I go on?"

"Please."

"While Harry's Patronus was ripping through the dementors, hexes started flying. The first salvo . . . the first salvos were all death curses. That little prick Malfoy and his gang were on the other side of the platform from the attacking Death Eaters, and they sent a second volley into the crowd. The only teacher there was Hagrid. . . . Oh, Merlin! Hagrid!"

"Calm down."

"Hagrid! He's dead."

"I don't know," Diana said. "I hope he's alright. I do know there were heavy casualties, but I haven't had time to see any lists."

"Did we win?"

"So I was told, but that's about all I know. I was on duty here Friday afternoon when the casualties started coming in. I've literally been in this room since Two Friday afternoon except for trips to the toilet."

"So there are other people here?"

"Ten others."

"Eleven is an odd number. . . . Did the twelfth leave or die? And who was it?"

"It was a girl named Lavender Brown. I'm sorry; you knew her?"

Ginny nodded. "She was in Harry and Ron's class. How. . . ."

"My understanding from one of the other girls here was that she and some friend of hers were defending them. Brown made it through the battle, but her injuries were just too severe. To be honest, it was a miracle she even made it this far."

'Parvati must be dead then, too,' Ginny thought. "Who else is here?" she asked, to distract herself.

Diana recited the ten names. Ginny knew the name of nearly every student at Hogwarts. Hermione had been very thorough in training her in her prefect duties. The other ten were all Second and Third years from various Houses.

A shaken Ginny went on. "That's really about all I remember. I mean, I was blocking and throwing hexes, but it was all chaos. And then nothing."

"Alright. That was good. Now, let me help you with the bed pan, and then I'll give you a light sleeping potion. We'll talk in a few hours."

"Thanks."

Ginny slowly woke up a second time. "Diana?" she called. She couldn't be certain, but the room sounded different.

"Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood," a familiar voice said.

"Remus?"

"Hi."

"Oh, Remus!" Ginny felt herself being embraced. She hugged her friend back, and felt herself crying.

After nearly five minutes, she let go and said, "Aren't we disturbing the other patients?"

"No," Remus explained, "You were moved to a private room a little while ago. I'm taking a watch."

"We can't afford a. . . ."

"Harry's taking care of it," Remus said simply.

One small part of Ginny relaxed. Harry was alive. "Exactly how bad is it?"

"History wouldn't think it's all that bad. We won."

"What did it cost?"

Ginny felt Remus shrug. "That's still up in the air."

"Hagrid's dead. Who else?"

"Amazingly enough," Remus said, with actual amazement in his voice, "Hagrid isn't dead. As best we can tell, the killing curse that hit him came from one of three Slytherin Fifth years. Even so, he should have died, although not instantly."

"But he didn't?"

"No. As for you, what seems to have happened is that about sixty stunners were sent into your group of six. They all hit." Ginny's breath caught. Five or more stunners hitting within a few seconds of each other could kill.

"The healer said that three hit me," Ginny said in a small voice.

"You all moved to protect Harry," Remus said, his voice very tightly controlled. "He was left standing there, with you five laying around him. Denis Creevy is our best witness, since he was under about three other bodies, not too far away. He said Harry just looked at the five of you, while Voldemort and Bellatrix walked up towards him, laughing. Then, well, Harry got a real furious look and he started to glow. The white glow enveloped him, and became so bright that Denis could barely stand to look. Then the glow started expanding along the ground. Any curse sent against it, even the killing curse, was simply deflected. It touched an approaching dementor, and it was destroyed in a flare-up that seems to have taken about two seconds. Then it expanded more and more quickly. Any dementor or person with a Dark Mark it touched, it destroyed, including Voldemort. When it hit Denis, however, he said it felt very soothing. We think that it, what ever it was, partially healed everyone. Not much, but enough that some who should have died survived, although a few have died since."

"Like Lavender," Ginny said thoughtfully.

"Like Lavender. That's why Hagrid isn't dead and why you'll recover your sight in both eyes instead of just in the right one."

"What was it?"

"No one knows," Remus admitted. "Nothing like it has ever been seen, and Harry wasn't consciously controlling it, or so he claims. The witnesses say that after a few moments, the white light disappeared. Harry had already passed out at that point. He woke up this morning, feeling very weak."

"Is it still Sunday?"

"It is. It's around Five."

"Why aren't Mum or Dad here? Oh, Merlin!" Remus held her again. "Ron, Neville, Hermione, and Luna!" Ginny cried out.

"Yes," Remus said, the pain very evident in his voice. "I'm so sorry, Ginny. They're all gone." Remus held Ginny until she cried herself into an exhausted sleep.

When Ginny woke up, it was to the sound of yelling. She still couldn't see, and it took her a few seconds to understand who was yelling and what they were saying.

Then, one of the two yelling voices came across very clear. "I always said that Potter would get them killed! Now look! Ron is dead and Ginny is blind!"

"Ginny will recover!" George protested.

"Ron won't!"

"Percy!" Ginny called out. The yelling stopped. "Percy! Please come here!"

"Yes, Ginny?" Percy inquired in a superior voice, approaching the bed.

"Closer, Percy," Ginny asked in a hurt, little girl's voice.

"I'm here, Ginny," Percy said smugly. Ginny could hear George sputtering in the background.

Ginny could feel Percy leaning over her. "Percy?"

"Yes, Ginny?"

Ginny's fist flew out and she managed to hit him right on the nose, breaking it. "If you ever speak badly of Harry again, I'll cut your balls off! You're one Weasley I don't want reproducing.

Ginny could hear George literally throw Percy out of the room and shut the door behind him.

"George?"

"If I come over there, do you promise not to hit me?"

"Yes." Ginny held her arms out, and she was embraced by George. "Oh, Georgie," she cried. "Ronnie's. . . ."

"I know, Gin-Gin," George replied, crying as well.

"George?" Ginny asked a few moments later.

"Yes?" he said, sniffling.

"Is there a toilet near here?"

"There's one over there."

"I can't see, George," Ginny pointed out.

"Oh . . . right. I should get somebody."

"George, don't be an ass. I seem to be wearing some sort of . . . something. Help me get there and I can take care of the rest."

"On. . . . Right. . . ."

George escorted Ginny back to her bed about five minutes later. As she sat, Ginny asked, "Do you know how many were killed?"

George sighed, but said, "Fifty-one students were killed on our side in the attack, and twelve others have died since. They hope everyone else will recover, or at least live. Not counting Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and the dementors, six on their side were killed and nine others were identified and captured."

"Malfoy?"

"Dead. What ever Harry did to the Death Eaters took out those six students, including Malfoy."

"Do you know who on our side?"

"I thought Remus told you."

"He told me about Ron, Neville, Luna, and Hermione," Ginny acknowledged. "And I know Lavender Brown died here."

"I don't really know most of their names," George acknowledged. He sighed. "I do know you and Harry are the only two Gryffindors from your years still alive. And like I said, all the other students are expected to survive."

"Where's the rest of the family?"

"Mum was with you from Friday night until she passed out Saturday afternoon. It was the stress; she's better. Dad was stuck helping to clean up the mess, and Bill was helping as well. They should be by tomorrow if they can. Percy somehow showed up tonight, the prick bastard. Charlie should be here tomorrow afternoon. Fred is with Harry."

"How is he?"

"I don't know," George said. "Remus was with him before you were moved here, then Tonks was sitting with him. That's all I know."

"When will the, well, you know. . . ."

"Final viewings? I don't know for sure," George admitted. "Hermione's parents understood about the possibility of Dark magic, according to the prick before he got obnoxious. They'll be cremating her tomorrow, I think in the morning. They're taking it even harder than we are."

"Well, Hermione was their only surviving child," Ginny said. Feeling George's curiosity, she explained. "Hermione had a younger sister who died in an accident before Hermione came to Hogwarts."

"I don't think many people knew that," George said. "It's hard to believe anything makes this worse, but I guess in some ways this was even worse for them that has been for us."

"Why did this have to happen?" Ginny wondered, stretching and feeling every aching muscle. It wasn't as bad as it had been that morning, but it was still extraordinarily painful.

"Let me give you this potion," George said. "It's supposed to both heal you and help you sleep."

"Yeah, right," Ginny said, her voice weaker but still scornful. "Like I'd take a potion from you on trust."

"You know you can trust me this time, Gin," George said. "Think of it as a reward for breaking Percy's nose."

"Alright," Ginny said, still a bit unsure but now to weak to argue.

When Ginny woke up, she could feel someone holding her hand. Even though she still couldn't see (although there were now a few shades of gray instead of just nothing), she knew who it was. "Mum?"

"Good morning, my lovely," Molly said. "How are you today?"

"Pretty awful. I know you're the same."

"I am," Molly admitted. "I'm glad you're awake. I need to go soon."

"Why?"

"I need to be with the Grangers, unless you need me here."

"No," Ginny admitted. "I'd like you here, of course, but you should go be with the Grangers. Ron would have wanted you to."

"Actually . . . actually, we talked it over, and we're foregoing the wizarding service. Ron and Hermione are both being . . . they're going to be together." Molly started crying, and Ginny joined her mother.

Still, after a few moments, Ginny said, "Mum? Mum, I really really need you to help me."

Molly blew her nose and asked, "What do you need, dear?"

"Everything is still shadowy, so could you help direct me to the toilet?" 'My life seems to be revolving around peeing,' Ginny thought.

"Oh, of course, dear. The healer will be almost as happy as I am to hear your vision is improving. Someone will be along with breakfast soon, and the healer shouldn't be far behind."

Diana Cartwright showed up just before Molly Weasley had to leave. She was able to assure both Weasleys that Ginny was making satisfactory progress. Just as they were leaving, Ginny could smell that breakfast had arrived.

"Will Miss Ginny eat?" a small high voice asked. Assured that she would, Molly and the healer left, and Ginny felt a small weight on the bed.

"Do I know you or are you a St. Mungo's elf? Your voice sounds familiar."

"Winky is a Hogwarts elf. Miss Ginny is friend to great Harry Potter and odd but nice witch Miss H'minny."

Ginny of course knew the little elf. "Do you . . . do you know about Hermione, Winky?"

"Winky knows. Winky is sorry to see Miss H'minny gone. Winky . . . Winky grieves with Miss Ginny, if Miss Ginny doesn't mind Winky saying so."

Winky was both sniffling and holding back tears, and also obviously being bold for her, so Ginny said, "No, Winky. I don't mind. Is your friend here? With Harry?"

"Dobby is with great Harry Potter," Winky agreed. "Great Harry Potter totally drained of all magic and nearly all great of Harry Potter's life force as well, and is only now recovering both." Winky's voice then sounded confused. "Great Harry Potter destroyed evil ones, but still has hurt in soul because was unable to save the good ones."

"Yes, that does sound like Harry," Ginny had to admit.

"Dobby will put good food in great Harry Potter, and Winky must put good food in Miss Ginny. Miss Ginny. . . ."

"Yes?"

"Miss Ginny is all great Harry Potter has left that great Harry Potter really cares for. Miss Ginny is friend of great Harry Potter, yes?"

"I am," Ginny said.

"Miss Ginny, please stay great friend to great Harry Potter, or else great Harry Potter might give up."

That took Ginny by surprise, but then she realized that it shouldn't have. "I understand. Don't worry about that. I swore years ago I'd keep going, no matter how bad things get."

"All right. Open please, Miss Ginny. Winky has nice porridge, with early strawberries."

Ginny did as she was told.

An aide came to help Ginny get up and walk the corridors for a bit. "We don't want your muscles getting too weak," she had said. They shuffled along for about twenty minutes. The aide wasn't chatty at all, which made the exercise boring as well as tiring.

Just as Ginny and the aide were rounding the doorway to her room, they ran into someone coming out of the room. The three crashed to the floor.

Ginny sighed. "Hi, Tonks."

"Hey, Ginny. Your sight back?"

"No, it was just a lucky guess."

"I think I'll leave that remark where I found it," Tonks grumbled, helping Ginny and the aide to their feet, and the two got Ginny settled back into bed.

"How is Harry?" Ginny asked as soon as the aide left.

"Angry, weak, depressed, lost, lonely, and I'm sure a great many other negative things," Tonks answered candidly. "What ever Harry did, it was powered by the love and compassion inside of him. A large part of it was innate, of course. That's just how Harry was made, or else those evil Muggles would have driven it out of him years ago."

"True."

"But you five brought that power out to the forefront," Tonks went on. "Ron, the true best friend; Neville, the second banana; Luna, the lover; Hermione, the older sister; you, the younger sister."

"I think you're underestimating Neville," Ginny snapped.

"Possibly I am," Tonks admitted. "I didn't know him very well."

Ginny held out her left hand. "He gave this to me as a promise ring after Christmas."

Tonks gathered Ginny into a rough hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize he was more than a friend."

"When . . . Mum said that they were. . . ."

"Hermione and Ron's service is in a little while," Tonks agreed. "It's still only Ten-thirty. The farewell for Neville was earlier this morning."

"Did any of the students become ghosts?" Ginny asked.

"Not that I know of," Tonks answered. "Dumbledore and the Heads of House should be around either before or after the, well, the services this afternoon. I'm sure at least one will stop in and talk with you. You might ask them."

"It would be odd to run into a friend next September," Ginny said, "but I hope I can."

"Don't count on it," Tonks warned.

"I won't."

"Let me help you back in bed."

"Thanks."

Ginny awoke a while later, feeling stronger but with no more sight as far as she could tell. "Who's there?" she asked. She couldn't hear anything, but something smelled odd.

After a slight moment, as if someone was deciding on whether or not to speak, a low, deep voice said, "Do not worry, Miss Weasley. It is I. The Headmaster asked if I could brew something that might aid in your recovery."

"Professor Snape? You made something . . . for me?"

"You need not sound so amazed, Miss Weasley. I have made potions for those I had much stronger feelings against than I could ever have for your entire family, or even than your entire family could have for me."

"Why . . . thank you, sir. Sir, I'm sorry for all the innocent students injured and killed last Friday."

"Thank you, Miss Weasley. I am sorry for your losses as well. While I never, well, your brother, Mister Longbottom, and I had our run-ins. Still, I regret their loss. Miss Lovegood was . . . unique, and Miss Granger, well, people of Miss Granger's talent should always be mourned by the entire community."

"Thank you, sir."

"Now, please drink this."

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "Why do most potions smell like over-cooked cabbage, rotten eggs, or worse?"

"That is something we potion makers have pondered in vain for thousands of years," Snape said in a serious voice. Ginny scowled, but drank the potion.

Holding out the cup, she asked, "Did you bring anything for Harry?"

"No," Snape said curtly. "In any event, there is nothing that ails Mister Potter that time can not cure."

"Meaning?"

"He exhausted his magic. That will take at least two weeks to fully come back. No, do not worry, it will come back. That also exhausted him physically. He should be recovered in that aspect by the time he awakens Thursday morning. How long it takes his heart, his soul, to mend, that I cannot say. Sometimes, it never does." Ginny knew that he was likely referring to himself. "Good morning, Miss Weasley."

"Thank you, Professor Snape."

Professor Snape's visit had left Ginny thoughtful. Professor Spout and Professor Flitwick, who had also dropped by just before lunch, had almost managed to cheer her up a little. They agreed to be on the lookout for any new ghosts.

After Winky fed her lunch, Professor McGonagall passed by. Ginny could tell from the tremor in the usually stoic teacher's voice that this had been a traumatic day even for her.

Unlike the other professors, McGonagall had seen Harry, whom she had reported being very lethargic. She had then shocked Ginny by embracing her, and telling her how proud she was, both of Ginny and her fallen friends.

Ginny suspected the reason for McGonagall's hurried exit was so that she could cry in private.

Late that afternoon, Professor Dumbledore visited. "How are you, child?" he asked softly.

"Well, that potion you asked Professor Snape to make me seems to have helped," Ginny said. "Everything is still shadows, but at least there are definite shapes now. The healers just said that they think I should have most if not all my sight back by Wednesday morning."

"Very good. I am certain Professor Snape will be very pleased, as will your family."

"Yes, sir. How's Harry, and when can I see him?"

"Physically, as I'm sure you have been told, he will recover fairly soon. If Harry wishes to see you, he can at any time, although it would likely take more than his present strength to come here totally under his own power before tomorrow evening."

"And there's some reason why I shouldn't go see him?"

"How do you feel, having survived the attack, Miss Weasley?"

"Glad I survived, but I wish I could have. . . . Oh, of course. Harry is acting like Harry."

"Exactly."

"I thought that's what everyone meant when I asked them. But why shouldn't I be with Harry? I'm alive."

"I doubt if he will believe you will totally regain your eyesight until you do," Dumbledore pointed out. "In addition, you have lost your boyfriend, your best friend, your closest childhood friend, and your closest brother."

"Harry loved them as much as I did," Ginny stated.

"Of course he did, but he will feel guilty for your losses. Once you fully regain your sight, you may of course go to him. You will be here until Friday morning, I expect."

"And Harry?"

"He may have to stay longer, since he should not be alone, and he says he has nowhere to go."

"Oh, now that's stupid! He knows very well where he can go!"

"And where is that? Your late brother's room?"

"No!" Ginny spat. "He knows very well that Mum and Dad fixed over Percy's old room for him. He was going to stay there at least through Christmas while he and Ron did the basic defense classes with the aurors."

"Yes, well, Harry is not very firm about much of anything right now, but he is very certain he wants nothing to do with the Ministry now."

"Why?"

"Well," Dumbledore said reluctantly, "it seems your brother had a talk with him just before lunch. . . ."

"Percy! I should have hit him so hard they would have had to keep his jaw shut to heal!"

"Indeed, that might have been a good idea," Dumbledore admitted. "Alas, child I must go."

"A wizard's work is never done?"

"Three more funerals and a great deal of paperwork. I shall stop in and see you tomorrow morning, after I see Harry."

"I hope you'll get some rest, Professor." Ginny could tell the Headmaster was very tired.

"Thank you. I shall have most of the summer to rest. Until tomorrow."

"Until tomorrow."

Ginny woke up, knowing that it was sometime deep in the night. Someone was holding her hand.

She gave no sign that she was awake, other than opening her eyes. Everything was dark except for a slight splash of light in the direction of the corridor. Ginny considered.

The hand holding hers was male. That still left a number of alternatives. It wasn't likely to be Remus, let alone Dumbledore. It was a strong hand, too calloused to be her father's or, she hoped Percy's, not nearly rough enough to be Charlie's. Plus Charlie had told her he wouldn't be back until Wednesday, when he and the rest of the family (except Percy) had visted her after dinner.

Whose ever hand it was, the thumb was lightly stroking the back of her hand, almost certainly unconsciously. That sort of nervous habit was unlikely in Bill or George.

"It that you, Fred, and is it Harry?"

"It's me," Harry responded.

"I would have guessed you first, but Professor Dumbledore said you weren't likely to make it here on your own so soon. That you had drained your magic, and were physically exhausted."

"I'm more powerful than even Dumbledore can guess," Harry said in a mournful tone. "I am rather physically tired, but I'm not sleepy. I would also guess it's easier to physically recover at seventeen than Dumbledore remembers."

"That could be."

"I'm sorry, Ginny."

"For anything in particular, or just everything?"

"I know you'll say it's not my fault, and maybe it really wasn't, but I'm so sorry about . . . that everyone is gone, except you and me."

"You mean you and I must repopulate the world? That could be fun," Ginny managed to tease.

Harry squeezed her hand. "No, you know what I mean."

"I do," Ginny admitted, now serious. "I loved them as much as you did."

"I know. You'd think after all those drills we did the last two years, more of the students would have done as they were trained to do. If they had, more of them would be alive, and maybe. . . ."

"Maybe Luna, Neville, Hermione, and Ron would be alive, too," Ginny finished.

"Exactly. Still," Harry went on, "I can't feel bad that Riddle is gone, along with most of his followers."

"I can't either," Ginny admitted. "I don't think that makes us bad people."

"No; a little vindictive, perhaps, but not bad."

"Harry, what are you going to do now?"

"Like in the next five minutes?"

"No, like in the next few years. I can't imagine you'll want to go through auror training now."

"No," Harry agreed, "I don't. When I destroyed Voldemort, I awakened power that shouldn't be accessible. Fortunately, it's mostly limited. Once I use it, I'll just be a wizard with a bit more power than anyone else. I passed out in part from gaining that power, and in part from learning how to use it."

"There will be other Dark Wizards, won't there?"

"Probably," Harry agreed. "If I have to, I can now take out of two of them like I did Riddle. I hope I don't have to."

"Because if you do, the third one will get you, and besides, the wizarding world will become too reliant on you."

"Exactly," Harry agreed.

"So you're going to leave, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

Ginny grabbed a hold of Harry's hand very firmly with both of hers. "I don't want you to leave me alone. I know, I have a family, and a year to go. I just lost Neville, and as much as I like you, even love you, it's not like how I felt for him. But you and I have many bonds, Harry, one that we shared with Neville and Luna and Hermione and Ron. We have another, because you are a surrogate Weasley. And we have the bond we formed in the Chamber."

"I know," Harry said simply. "That's why I'm here."

"Why?" Ginny askedm, her heart beating faster.

She felt Harry get up. The shadows became a bit more distinct as he turned up the lights slightly. Then, Harry leaned over and gently kissed Ginny's eyelids.

When Ginny opened her eyes, they itched and things were a bit fuzzy, but she could see. "Wow," she breathed.

"What do you want to do with your life now, Ginny?" Harry asked.

Ginny knew what he was asking. They might just become very close friends, they might become lovers, they might just stay as they were, as close as any siblings could be. No matter, they needed to be together.

"I'm fully qualified. I don't need my N.E.W.T.s any more than Fred or George did. Where are we going, and when?"

"How does Perth sound? They have a Gringotts branch, and Dobby and Winky will be coming along to help out."

"Perth sounds nice, even though I don't know where it is," Ginny said with a smile.

"Western Australia, on the Indian Ocean. We'll get a small place on the ocean and watch the waves, until we're feeling better." Harry frowned. "Of course, I guess we shouldn't. Your parents. . . ."

"They'll understand," Ginny said. "We'll tell them the truth, that we need to heal together, and we'll be in touch with them and only them."

"Then to answer the 'when,' how does now sound?"

"We're hardly dressed for it, Harry."

"We will be when we get there."

"Then we'd best write that note."