Lightening Bolts Run Deep

Lightening Bolts Run Deep

Harry clutched his scar as it burned into his forehead so deeply, he felt as though his skull was going to split in two. He fought to stay conscious. Whatever Voldemort was doing or planning at that moment, he did not want to see it. He could hear the panicked mutters of the other students in the hall. Why hadn't he waited for Ron and Hermione when he left the common room? He needed them now more than ever. He tried to focus on them as another voice entered his head.

"Choose," Voldemort's distant voice hissed.

"--Is he alright?"

"Choose," the voice was growing stronger.

"--Should we get Madam Pomfrey?--"

Harry felt as though he was being engulfed by a thick fog. What little he had been able to make out of the corridor disappeared. He was standing in a large, dark, empty space. Several familiar bodies lay on the ground. There were Ron and Hermione; Sirius Black, his godfather; Remus Lupin, he first real mentor; Hagrid, his first real friend;...and there was Ginny. He saw Voldemort's red eyes gleaming against his silhouette.

"Choose," Voldemort hissed. "The one of your choice will live and, with you, will watch the rest die."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Ginny felt the lightening bolt scar on her arm burn as she walked out of the library. This was the scar she had gotten from Tom Riddle when he tried to come out of his diary by taking her life. Nobody knew about this scar. It was much easier for her to hide her scar than it had been for Harry because an arm burn was not as painful as a head burn. If she was feeling her scar burn, that meant that Harry's scar was burning as well. She had to find him. It wasn't difficult. As she turned the corner she saw a group of panicked students. Her heart began to beat rapidly as she quickened her pace.

"--Should we help him?--"

"--How are we supposed to do that?--"

"--It might be dangerous--"

"--I heard he's disturbed--"

"What's the matter with you people?" Ginny shouted furiously as she saw Harry's unconscious form on the floor. A thick layer of sweat was caked on his face. Ginny ran to Harry and knelt at his side. A few students stepped forward. Ginny didn't like the way they were looking at Harry, as though he was a dangerous object filled with Dark Magic.

"Stay away from him, all of you," she hissed. A few of them looked at her strangely and started forward again. "I SAID STAY AWAY!" The other students froze.

Ginny took Harry clammy hand into her own and caressed his fingers. "Harry," she said desperately as she gently prodded the side of his face with her free hand. "Wake up, please!"

Harry let out a pitiful moan. He opened his eyes. It took them a moment to focus. He seemed slightly disoriented.

"Ginny," he whispered hoarsely. There were tears in his green eyes. They began to trickle down his cheek. Ginny wiped them away with the sleeve of her robe.

"It's going to be alright, Harry. I don't know how, but it's going to be alright."

Ginny felt Harry's hand squeeze hers. "I need to get out of here," he whispered urgently. "I don't care where, I just don't want people staring at me."

"I'd better get you to the hospital wing," said Ginny.

"Fine," said Harry. Ginny helped him to his feet. She glared at the spectators causing them to turn away. Harry stared at the ground as they proceeded through the corridors. Ginny desperately wanted to say something to help him.

"Voldemort?" she asked suddenly. Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at her. "What?" asked Ginny, confused by his reaction.

"You said Voldemort's name," said Harry. "I just haven't heard a lot of people say his name." Harry looked down and started walking again.

"Well, saying 'You-Know-Who' and 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' gets a little tedious after awhile," said Ginny. Harry continued to stare at the floor, but a small smile spread across his face. Ginny's heart floated to see it. She debated with herself about whether or not to ask her next question. "What did you see when your scar hurt?"

"Nothing," said Harry. His smile vanished.

"Harry, I saw the look on your face when you woke up."

"It's really painful when my scar hurts."

"That wasn't physical pain I saw in your eyes," said Ginny grabbing Harry's arm and forcefully turning him toward her. His eyes were suddenly very sharp, but they were not filled with anger. He took a deep breath.

"I can't talk about it."

"With me?" asked Ginny.

"With anybody," said Harry soberly.

"Do you think we wouldn't understand?"

"You'd all understand. Harry turned, walked over to a window and stared at the afternoon sky. "It's funny really."

"What's funny?"

"The plot that keeps getting done over and over again in Muggle movies. The one where the bad guy exploits the fact that the good guy has people he cares about. Good guys are always willing to sacrifice themselves, but no the people they love..."

"Is that what Voldemort did in your vision? Threaten to kill Ron or something?"

"Ron and a few other people. That's not the worst of it. He told to choose which person got to live." Ginny's hand flew to her mouth. She put her other hand on his arm. Harry looked into her eyes. He remembered finding her almost dead in the Chamber of Secrets, how cold she felt, how he'd pleaded with her not to be dead. Harry reached around with his free hand and put it over Ginny's. He looked away again.

"It's funny really," he continued. "Only five years ago, I didn't have anyone I cared about, but now...Even with the threat of Voldemort hanging over me I'd rather be in danger and have friends than be safe and alone."

"He's trying to isolate you from your friends," said Ginny suddenly. Harry looked at her again. "He wants you to see the people you care about as an exploitable weakness. Don't let him do that to you, Harry. Your friends are your strength."

"How do you know that's what he's doing?"

"Because he did it to me."

Ginny saw a cluster of sweat beads on Harry's forehead. She reached up and wiped them off with the back of her hand. He felt horrible warm. "We'd better get you to Madam Pomfrey," she said in a shaky voice. Harry nodded weakly. Ginny took his hand and they walked the rest of the way to the hospital wing in silence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm afraid you'll have to stay here for the night," said Madam Pomfrey as she peered into Harry's eyes. "Your symptoms look life a bad case of the flu."

"Alright," said Harry. Madam Pomfrey seemed worried that Harry didn't offer any of his usual protest at the prospect of an impending hospital wing stay. She handed him a pair of pajamas and left to get a goblet of Dreamless Sleep Potion. Ginny waited for Harry as he went behind the curtain to change. Harry pulled back the curtain when he was finished. He rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.

"Do you want me to get Ron and Hermione?" asked Ginny. Harry kept his eyes closed and shook his head.

"They'll figure out where I am. They have a way of doing that."

"Here's your potion, Harry," said Madam Pomfrey. "You may take it when you're ready to go to sleep."

"Thanks," said Harry still not opening his eyes.

"I'm afraid you'll have to leave, Ginny," said Madam Pomfrey. Harry's eyes snapped open.

"Let her stay, Madam Pomfrey, please," Harry begged. Madam Pomfrey took in the pathetic look on Harry's face. Her mouth became a thin, flat line.

"Very well," she said and walked off muttering about stubborn patients.

"You want me to stay?" asked Ginny.

"I need some company," said Harry closing his eyes again. Ginny watched him for a moment. Without thinking, she rested her head on his chest. She closed her eyes. The rhythm of his breathing was very soothing. After a few seconds, Ginny felt Harry's hand on the back of her head. His fingers caressed her hair. Ginny began to tingle head to foot. She lifted her eyes to look at his face. His eyes were still shut. Her gaze dropped to his lips. What if she kissed him? Would he kiss her back? Would everything else be ruined? Was it a chance worth taking? Yes!

Ginny raised her head off his chest and pressed her lips to Harry's. He seemed to freeze for a moment in surprise, but then Ginny felt his body relax and his lips press back. A pleasant warmth spread over her body as Harry's arms wrapped around her. He patience had finally paid off.

I'm here, Harry, and I'm not leaving. You'll never be alone again.