Through the Looking Glass

Chapter 5

Visions of Harry

Ron gently lifted Ginny off the floor and carried her to her bedroom. He laid her on her bed and drew a blanket over her. He hadn't realized that he was shaking until he stood up. He felt weak, so he sat on the edge of the bed next to Ginny. What was he going to do? He didn't want to worry his Mum, and Ginny seemed okay.

He desperately wished that Hermione were here. She would know what would be the best thing to do. He didn't want to send her an owl tonight; it was too late. She would know that something was wrong, and be worried, maybe needlessly. Ron stood with his hands on his hips and chewed his bottom lip. He had to think quickly, which wasn't his strong point.

OK! No one was here to give advice. He would just have to figure it out himself. Think like Hermione, that was what he should do. She would owl Dumbledore; wake the house, and floo to Hogwarts to consult the library. None of those options were open to him.

He would have to trust his own instincts. After considering the problem, he decided that he couldn't decide. Even though he was sure he should tell his parents, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Maybe the situation was not as bad as he had feared. He would stay with Ginny tonight to make sure she was safe. In the morning, he would talk to her. Then, he would choose the best course of action.

Climbing the two flights of stairs to his room, Ron changed into his Chudley Cannon t-shirt and boxers and grabbed a blanket, pillow, and his wand. He walked back down to Ginny's room and made himself as comfortable as he could on the floor. He knew that he wasn't going to get much sleep, yet he didn't mind. He wanted to make sure that Ginny was safe.

Several times during the night, Ron woke up to check on her. She was sleeping quietly, apparently no bad dreams. But he still had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach that something wasn't right. She was too quiet. He wondered if he had made the right choice. Hopefully, his decision would not harm Ginny. At dawn, he finally fell asleep.

When Ron woke, the clock in Ginny's room read ten a.m. He closed his eyes and threw his arm over his face. Only four hours of sleep, he thought. How was going to make it through the day on only four hours of sleep? He knew he could use another ten hours. The smell of cooked sausage brought him out of his sleep-deprived state. He decided to go downstairs and get some breakfast. At least Ginny got some sleep last night. Ron was thankful that she was not awake. Slowly, he rolled onto his side and got up on his hands and knees. Every muscle in his body ached, especially those in his back. Quietly, he stood up and walked towards the door. Before he had a chance to turn the knob, Ginny spoke.

"Ron, I'm awake. You don't need to be so quiet. I don't think you need to worry about Mum. She hasn't looked in yet this morning."

Ron turned and looked at Ginny. She had dark circles under her eyes, even though he knew she had slept all night. "That's good. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I think I might lie in for a little bit, though." The smile on Ginny's face wasn't very convincing. He could tell she was upset about last night. "I know you have questions, but, why don't you go get something to eat first. We can talk later. OK?"

Ron nodded, turned and left the room. He walked downstairs, yawning. He was glad that his Mum didn't know where he had spent the night. She would be all over him, wanting an explanation.

Scratching his head, he asked, "Mum, where's Gin? I can't believe I'm up before her. Is she already planning to sleep the summer away?" Ron hoped his voice didn't give away his concern over Ginny's absence from the table.

His Mum replied, "I don't know. I didn't want to disturb you two on the first day of the summer holiday. I thought I would let you both sleep late." Ron almost choked on his pumpkin juice. He couldn't believe his mother was actually letting them sleep in - this must be a dream. Oh well, he wasn't going to argue with his Mum. He ate two platefuls of pancakes and sausage. He gulped down four cups of tea, hoping it would help wake him up, and told his Mum he was off to take his shower.

"Here, take this up to Ginny. She looked a little under the weather last night. I think she could use some tea. She didn't eat a thing at dinner. Maybe I should go and see if she has a temperature."

"I'll check on her Mum and let you know if she isn't feeling well." He hoped his Mum didn't suspect his motives. She would question him, wanting all the details, and he had a hard time trying to fool her. She would look in his eyes and know that he was lying. He had never been able to pull it off, only Fred and George had mastered that art.

He took the tray from his Mum, who was giving him a skeptical look. He quickly walked up the stairs. Ron thought back to dinner, he couldn't recall if Ginny had eaten or not. His Mum would know, though. She worried constantly about her family - did they eat enough, rest enough, study enough. She always knew what each child was up to, good or bad. Maybe his Mum really was a Seer, as she claimed. He pictured his Mum, dressed like Trelawney, and shook his head. The thought was too scary. Ron carried the tray of tea and toast to Ginny's door and gently knocked. He heard "Come in, Ron."

He opened the door and stopped just inside the room. Ron was glad to see that Ginny was sitting up in bed now. She looked pale and tired. Ron set the tray on her lap and leaned down to place a kiss on the top of her head.

Ginny blushed, her face turning red. "Thanks Ron, for taking care of me last night. I don't know what came over me. I guess I had a bad headache or something." She took a spoonful of sugar, dumped it in her tea and stirred. "I'm sorry for scaring you. It was nice of you to stay with me. I bet you didn't get much sleep last night - you still look tired.

"Um...does Mum know what happened? It was really nothing. I'm sure I'll be fine if I can just rest a bit today." Ginny was toying with her spoon, not looking at Ron.

"No. Mum said she was letting us sleep in today. I told her I would check on you before I took my shower. She thinks you aren't feeling well, though. She said you weren't looking good at dinner last night." Ron hadn't taken his eyes off Ginny since he walked into the room. He could tell she was getting annoyed; her eyes had the same look that their Mum got when she was building up a head of steam to yell at the twins. "Ron, what is wrong with you? Why are you staring at me?"

He remained quiet. Ron had been trying to find a way to ask his questions without scaring her. "Gin, do you remember what happened last night? Do you know what you did during our chess game?" Ron could recall every move and sound she had made. He thought at the time, that she looked like the spider in the 'fake' Professor Moody's, class who was under the Cruciatus Curse.

"Why? Did something happen after I...fell asleep?" Ginny looked as if she didn't really want to know the answer to that question.

Ron sighed. He wanted to make sure he didn't upset Ginny. He picked up the tray and set it on the floor. He sat down next to her and took her hands in his. "Gin, the only other person I have ever seen act like that...was Harry. Last year, when he saw the snake...bite Dad, and when he thought Sirius...was in danger...he would do the same kind of thing you did last night." Ron stopped and took a deep breath. "Gin, did you see anything? Did you have a vision?"

Ginny's face fell, confirming Ron's worst fears. Ginny was having visions, just like Harry. What was he going to do? He needed to tell his parents, Professor Dumbledore, and Hermione. He really wished she were here, he needed her help.

"Just tell me the truth. It's ok, Gin. I'll keep your secret, if you want me to. I promise. Just don't lie to me. I can't help you if you aren't honest." Ron wasn't so sure he would keep his promise; it depended on what she told him.

Ginny licked her lips while looking at her hands. She still hadn't looked at Ron properly. "Yes."

"Was it...did you see Harry or...V...v...v?" Ron choked. He had decided that since the Department of Mysteries, he was going to start calling him by his proper name, but it still stuck in his throat, like Hagrid's rock cakes.

Ginny squeezed Ron's hands. "Harry. I saw Harry. But I didn't see him, exactly. It was more as if I felt him, or I felt what he was feeling. It's hard to explain. I knew what he was thinking and..." Ginny's voice broke and she sobbed. "It seemed as if I was in the room with him, almost a part of him - as if I was inside his head.

"He, I don't know, he was in so much pain, Ron. I've been up here all morning trying to understand what happened last night. Not just the pain, but his emotions, and why I was able to feel them.

"I could 'see' him, standing in his room. He was so heartbroken about a letter from Sirius' lawyers. Harry is listed as an heir in his will, and he needs to be there - when the will is read."

Ron's face was set in stone. He had known that eventually this would happen. He had hoped that Harry would have had more time to accept Sirius' death, before the lawyers descended on him. Ron understood how much Harry meant to Sirius. When he saw Sirius over the Christmas Holiday, carrying a small trunk to the attic, Ron wondered what he was doing. He had a suspicion, and knew he was correct when owls started coming and going in a tremendous rush. He knew Sirius was getting his life in order and a will was the first step. The attack on his Dad had had a sobering affect on everyone at headquarters. Ginny was speaking again, and Ron had missed the first few words. He knew he needed to concentrate - this was too important to him.

"...want anything from Sirius. He only wanted the last member of his family back." A single tear was falling down Ginny's cheek and Ron reached up to brush it away. "And then his horrid uncle barged in and asked if Harry was going to pay them back for all the years they took care of him. He also wanted Harry to thank them, for all their kindness. Ron, how could he even ask such a thing? What kind of monsters are they?"

Ron knew. He knew what Harry's life was really like at 'home'. How the Dursleys had punished Harry for being a wizard. It wasn't just being locked in his room, or living in the cupboard, or even having his windows barred; it was much worse. It was how emotionally starved they had kept him. How they had deprived him of love, compassion, and tenderness. Ron couldn't imagine what it would be like to grow up in such a home. His family was so loving, so caring, and so involved in each other's lives, that he usually had wished to be from a smaller family After meeting Harry and learning of his life, Ron had thanked his lucky stars for his family.

Ginny looked Ron in the eye and continued. "He was lost, Ron. It was as if no one could save him. He was drowning in his misery." Ginny threw her arms around Ron's neck and cried, tears falling like rain. Ron didn't try to stop them. He knew she needed a good cry, if only to make her feel better. He knew she felt helpless, because so did he. He couldn't see any way for them to reach Harry. He knew that they needed to help him, but how?

Ron held her until the tears stopped. He hoped Ginny hadn't noticed he was crying too. He wept for his friend Harry, and for his sister Ginny. Crying because Harry had no family, because he thought there was no one who loved him, and because Harry hadn't shed enough tears for himself. And he cried because Ginny wasn't the happy, innocent, carefree girl she should be. Tom had stolen half of her childhood from her. Neither of them deserved living with this torment. They both had been hurt enough, and he didn't know how to help.

When Ginny's sobs ended, Ron laid her down on her pillow and tenderly tucked the covers around her. He carefully brushed a stray hair off her forehead. Ginny's eyes were fluttering shut, but before she closed them she whispered, "Ron, I love you."

Ron smiled and watched her sleep. She looked so young, so vulnerable. Why did she have to suffer? She tried to hide the fear in her eyes, her smile falling into place like a mask - Ron had seen it all, since the end of his second year. He didn't know how to reach her. She closed it all up inside. It only came out at night - in her dreams. He knew about those, too. He had heard her cries, her whimpering pleas for Him to leave her alone. She was so much like Harry that it scared him. They bottled everything up, put on a happy face, and lied about their worries - how much more could they take?

Ron had to find a way to get Hermione to The Burrow during the summer holiday. He needed her help. If she were here, she would be able to find a way to help Ginny, and then Ron wouldn't be breaking his promise not to tell. He had to come up with a plausible reason. He would have to send Hermione an owl today, see how she was doing and what her parent's plans were for the holiday.

A wave of exhaustion swept over him. Ron knew that if he did not get up soon, he would fall asleep where he sat. He hauled himself off the bed and decided that a shower was a good idea. With pillow, blanket and wand in hand, he trudged up to his room. He got his clothes together for the day, and went back to the bathroom. At least, with so many brothers out of the house, he no longer had to worry about the hot water supply.

After his shower, Ron did feel better. He went to his room, unpacked his trunk, and set the books aside that Ginny would need for next year. He looked at his robes and decided he had to find a good time to tell his Mum that he needed new ones. Ron was now taller than all his older brothers. None of their old clothing would fit him any longer. If he kept growing at his current rate, they would need to raise the ceiling in his room. Even now, he was only able to stand upright while in the middle, where the ceiling peaked. Maybe he could move to Percy's old room. On second thought, he wasn't so sure he wanted to be in there, too many memories of the traitor.

Ron wondered if Percy would ever come around and admit his mistake in trusting Fudge. He didn't give it much hope; Percy never liked to admit he was wrong, even as a kid he would stick with a losing argument. He was such a prat! If only he would apologize. He knew his Mum and Dad still worried about him. They would accept him back without any questions. Ron wasn't so sure he or anyone else could. But, if it would make his Mum happy, he would be prepared to try. He just didn't know if Harry would appreciate ever being in the same room with Percy. It might mean that Harry would never come to The Burrow again. If he had to make a choice, Ron wasn't sure what he would do. He would not abandon Harry - that was for sure. But could he turn his back on his family, 'pull a Percy'? He didn't know. He prayed he would never have to make that choice.

Merlin, You-Know-Who was good at ruining people's lives. Ron remembered Hermione talking about it, one of the few times he'd actually paid attention. What was it that she had said, something about how V...v...v, You-Know-Who was good at spreading distrust and pitting friends against each other. Well, he hadn't paid that close of attention. But he knew what she meant. You-Know-Who would scare people so much, that they wouldn't know who to trust, whom to believe. They would just choose not to believe and then no one would oppose him. Ron felt the anger rising in him. The same 'thing' was hurting two important people in his life. He swore, that when the time came, he would be there to watch Voldemort suffer, and to help destroy him.