For Us . . . All of Us

Chapter 7: Calm Before the Storm

Hermione started showering Ginny with advice practically from the second Ginny told her the news. While Ginny certainly appreciated the advice she was at the end of her hormone-affected rope by the time Ron finally showed up and got her to lay off a bit. After some small talk Harry and Ginny Apparated back to Harry's flat.

Harry waited until Ginny sat down on his couch to say, "Okay, time to talk about new complications."

Ginny's anger flared, but she kept it under control and said, "There will be no new complications for another fifteen day. Anyway, the whole thing involving Draco is supposed to happen in a week. We don't have any new complications."

"Wrong," said Harry, "We have a whole heap of new complications. First, if you get dizzy at all we're supposed to come in and get you checked out. It could be a normal part of your pregnancy or it could signal a reaction the baby is having to the Polyjuice Potion. Also, you shouldn't eat anything from the Death Eaters headquarters because we don't know if they're lacing it with something that could be harmful to the baby."

"I can handle it," replied Ginny forcefully.

"I know you can," said Harry.

Silence reigned for a long minute until Ginny finally said, "I'm going to go and rest. I don't think I've slept a wink knowing that an insane Lucius Malfoy is just down the corridor."

"Ok," said Harry. "I think I'll turn in too. I didn't sleep much either. We'll sleep as long as we want, then when we wake up, we'll decide how long we think we can be gone before they start to miss us."

    "K," said Ginny, her eyelids drooping.

    Harry, seeing that she was ready to fall asleep on the spot, went over to the couch and picked her up. He carried her to the guestroom and laid her on the bed. She mumbled her thanks before she fell into a deep sleep.

~*********~

When Ginny woke up, it was dark outside her window. She looked at the clock in the room and saw that it was 3:00 am. She lay for awhile, tossing and turning, but encountered the same problem she had when undercover.

She couldn't stop thinking about what kind of torture they were subjecting Draco to. This was the real cause of the sleepless nights spent in headquarters. She had decided not to tell Harry the true cause of her insomnia.

Don't want him to be concerned for my 'emotional health' in addition to my physical health, thought Ginny, though in the back of her mind she knew it was irrational. She had every right to worry and think about Draco, but she didn't want Harry to think she might botch the mission because of an ill-timed outburst.

Ginny tossed and turned for a while longer, then surrendered and got up. She wandered into the kitchen. She made herself a cup of soothing tea, grabbed a magazine that was lying on the table and went and sat on the couch.

She flipped through the magazine while sipping her tea. The magazine was about a year old so all the news it reported was long outdated. Except in the back was an article she hadn't seen. It was a small write-up on her and Draco's wedding. She looked at the picture with tear-filled eyes. They were both smiling in the picture. Draco's eyes were sparkling. She couldn't ever remember him looking so happy. Her fingers trailed over his smiling face that kept looking at herself in the picture. The picture-Draco leaned over and kissed the picture-Ginny. At that action Ginny burst into tears, missing Draco so much she was sure her heart would shatter. She curled up into a ball on Harry's couch, clutching the picture to her chest, and cried herself to sleep.

~*******~

Harry found Ginny on the couch the next morning, her face tear-streaked with the magazine lying next to her. He picked it up and saw the picture. His expression changed to one of sympathy as he looked at Ginny. His expression soon changed again, however, when Ginny began to thrash in her sleep.

"No. Can't submit. So tired though. So tired. Ginny?" said Ginny.

Harry sat next to her, alarmed, and tried to wake her up. He shook her slightly and even went so far as to splash a little water on her face saying, "Ginny. GINNY!"

But he couldn't wake her.

"What the hell?" Harry said, looking at Ginny with widening eyes.

~********~

Curse after curse hit his body. How long this had been going on Draco didn't know. He couldn't think properly anymore; his thoughts were disjointed. The torture finally stopped and he lay exhausted on the floor, a sheen of sweat covering his forehead. A voice was speaking from what seemed to be a long ways off.

"Look, we don't like this anymore than you do. You do this for us, and we promise we'll let you go," said the voice.

Draco coughed a little, seriously considering giving the bastards what they wanted. No can't submit. So tired though, thought Draco. Then he realized he felt a familiar presence. Ginny? he thought. The thought of Ginny being near gave him renewed resolve. He coughed a little more then said in a gravelly voice, "Go find someone else to resurrect Voldie. I'm not helping you now or ever."

There was a soft scuffling of feet, then the voice said, "We'll let you think a little longer on it." Then something hit him hard on the head and blackness took over.

~*******~

Back at Harry's flat, Ginny woke with a start yelling, "Draco!" into Harry's surprised face.