Neville's Sacrifice

Chapter eight

Molly reached forward and placed the halo of blue and white flowers around Ginny's soft red curls. The white of the veil cascaded down almost to her feet, the seed pearls woven into the gauzy fabric dancing and gleaming in the morning light.

The sounds of the gathering crowds below came up through the open window, heightening the excitement that they already felt.

Leaning over her daughter, Molly gave Ginny one last kiss and hug, then left to join her husband outside where he stood greeting the guests.

"I guess we'd better go down now too. The wedding will be beginning soon." Said Ginny, as she began to wheel herself towards the door.

Hermione reached out and put a restraining hand on Ginny's arm.

"Ginny, before we go, Fleur and I have something for you."

Hermione reached into the pocket of her dress and withdrew a small flask of red liquid. The liquid sparkled and gleamed within the glass cage of its bottle.

"What is it?" Ginny asked as she reached for the flask. The glass felt warm and alive as it sat clasped between her hands.

"You've been such a wonderful sister-in-law to both of us, and we both love you so much we wanted to give you something special for your wedding. And this is what we found."

"But...what is it?" Ginny asked again, confused. What could this be about? Whatever it was, it couldn't give her what she truly wanted for this day...to be able to walk.

"Go ahead Geeny, drink it." Fleur coaxed, her eyes shining with happy anticipation.

Ginny, looking puzzled, pulled the cork from the top of the flask and drank the fiery potion down in one go.

The fire burned as it touched her lips and she could feel the heat of it going down her throat filling her chest with glowing warmth.

The liquid travelled further warming her arms, her stomach.

Suddenly she felt an odd sensation. A tingling, a warmth in her legs.

"No," Thought Ginny to herself, "it isn't possible. I can't be feeling my legs. It can't be. I'm only imagining it, because I want it so much. But it can't be true."

Seeing the shocked look on Ginny's face, Hermione asked, "What's wrong Ginny?"

Ginny replied shakily, "My legs. I think I can feel my legs. But it can't be, it just can't. The doctors said I'd never walk again."

"Ginny, Hermione replied confidently, "you are feeling your legs. And you'll be able to walk down the isle today, to walk down the isle and stand at Neville's side."

Ginny couldn't believe what she was hearing. Overwhelmed with emotion, she burst out into tears. They ran to comfort her, their strong arms around her holding her quivering body still.

"B-b-but how? She finally managed to gasp out. "The doctors said..."

"We've been looking for something to help you for awhile now. We'd researched every book we could think of and had almost given up hope, when Fleur came across an ancient medical book in a bookstore in Budapest. Inside of it was a recipe for a stimuli potion, a potion that would allow a paralyzed person to walk. Unfortunately, it is only temporary."

"Yes, added Fleur, "unfortunately, it wears off in one hour."

It was too much for Ginny to take in, her head was spinning.

"You said FLEUR found the potion?"

Fleur shook her white blond head, the long curls falling down her back in tumultuous wave and said, "What? You are surprised? I am more than a preety face, you know!"

Ginny and Hermione burst out laughing, Fleur soon joining them.

Suddenly Ginny caught a glimpse of herself in the floor length mirror.

"Merlin help me! Look at me! I look like a panda bear! I can't get married looking like this!" Ginny exclaimed as she brought her hands up to her eyes, trying to wipe away the mascara that had pooled underneath them.

"Wait a meenute Ginny; I'll fix it for you." Fleur offered as she glided gracefully over to the bed and retrieved her wand.

Raising her wand, Fleur said "I think I will use zee spell for zee water-proof make-up. We won't be able to repair it so easily when are walking down zee isle."

Fleur pointed the wand at Ginny and said "Reparious Facadious."

Ginny felt a heat across her face. Alarmed, she looked into the mirror.

Whether it was the spell itself or a bit of vela magic, Ginny couldn't believe what she was seeing in the mirror.

The spell had repaired her damaged makeup, but it had done much more than that. Her skin now had a glowing, translucent quality. Her hair was shimmering and shining, moving in the light like a captured fire.

The beauty of her reflection rendered Ginny temporarily speechless, but eventually she was able to say, "Wow Fleur. You are good!"

Laughter filled the room, brightening it better than the sun.

Hermione, her eyes sparkling joyfully leaned forward and asked Ginny, "Are you ready to try standing now?"

Fear shot through Ginny's body, killing the laughter immediately. Hermione had said she'd be able to stand now. That she was going to be able to do what she'd wanted to do, to walk to Neville. But what if the potion hadn't worked? What if Fleur had brewed it wrong?"

"But what how can I stand? Even if the potion does work, won't my muscles be too weak from lack of use?"

Hermione reached over and grasped Ginnys hand in hers. Looking into her eyes, she said, "The potion targets the muscles, temporarily causing them to stretch and strengthen. Look Ginny, I know you're scared. But trust us. Now, no more excuses. Let's stand you up."

"Just...just wait a second. I just want to try moving my foot first, just to make sure the potion worked."

She looked down at her left foot and willed it to move. Her foot moved easily, as if the accident had never happened.

She began crying again, this time from happiness as Hermione and Fleur each grabbed a hand and raised her up from her chair steadying her upon her feet so that she could walk again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With Fleur and Hermiones' help she was able to walk down the long staircase and out into the early morning sunshine of the garden.

They quickly stepped into an area that had been sat up with muslin cloths hanging from the trees to conceal the brides' party from view until the wedding began.

As they stood there, chatting excitedly music began to swell up filling the makeshift tent with the sounds of the wedding march.

Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand one last time, then left the enclosure.

Fleur leaned down and pecked Ginny quickly on either side of her cheeks, then followed Hermione down the isle.

Ginny could hear the crowd oohing and ahhing as Fleur came past them, her beauty magnified by the beauty of the day.

Ginny stepped out of the tent into the fresh morning air. The morning sun fell onto her face and it had never felt so good. She was so happy, happy to be alive.

She heard a gasp and a sob. Turning she saw her father standing there, frozen. He had expected to see her in her wheelchair, not standing.

Ginny ran to him and threw herself into his arms.

"Ginny, you're standing! How?" He questioned, barely able to get the words out.

Ginny threw herself into her father's arms, feeling the soft fabric of his dress robes against her face.

"It's a potion. Fleur made it. I'll explain it later."

Arthur hugged Ginny tightly, unshed tears shining behind his glasses.

They broke apart and then Arthur offered Ginny his arm. She took it, feeling the strength and solidity of it beneath her fingers.

Her feet fairly danced over the cropped emerald grass as they began their walk up the isle, her father at her side.

The guests were turned in their seats, eager to catch a glimpse of the bride.

As Ginny came into view there the crowd suddenly went quiet. Everyone sat still and shocked, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Molly was the first one to break free of her immobile state, standing up so quickly she knocked her chair over and into the isle.

She ran to Ginny, the tears pouring down her face as she sobbed hysterically.

Clasping Ginny into her arms she cried out, "It's a miracle! A miracle! I knew you'd walk again! Oh Ginny, I just knew it would happen I knew it."

Arthur put his arms around Molly, trying to calm her as she clung to her daughter, crying incoherently.

A pang of sadness shot through Ginny, as she realized what her mother was saying. She thinks I'm cured, that this is some kind of miracle. The thought had barely crossed her mind when Molly was suddenly pushed aside as Neville drew Ginny into his arms.

Crushing her against him, he cried, his tears falling upon her hair and veil like dew upon a field of poppies. She could hear his heart beating wildly against the white linen of his shirt.

Ginny smiled happily through her tears, hugging him tightly against her.

Her dream of walking down the isle would soon be a reality.

Even if she never walked again, it was worth it just to have this one tiny miracle, the chance to stand side by side with Neville as the two of them became one.