Power of Love

CHAPTER 10 - DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

Ron was resting peacefully until Ginny burst through the door to the hospital wing. He watched her glance at the sleeping Harry as she sat down on the end of Ron's bed.

"Are you feeling better today?" whispered Ginny. Ron nodded. "Good. Hermione sent this for you to read." She handed him a thick, dog-eared copy of the Daily Prophet. "It looks like Harry really did it! And there is an article about some wizard who witnessed Harry surviving Avada Kedavra. They are speculating on how he could have survived it twice, but they never come close to the truth." Ginny nodded toward Harry. "Hermione told me about his memory loss. Do they know if he'll ever get it back?"

"They don't know yet," answered Ron quietly, "but Dumbledore searched his mind and was able to find memories from right before I lost the connection with him. He thinks the thoughts are all still in his brain but he just can't access them at will. It's creepy, though. He looks at me as if I'm a total stranger."

Ginny patted his arm, knowing her brother well enough to see that he was hurting from the sudden loss of Harry's affection. "I'm sorry, Ron. It must be really hard for you."

"It is," whispered Ron. "Meanwhile, Susan told him she's my girlfriend and Hermione told him you're his girlfriend, so he has no reason to believe that he and I are anything other than mates. Unless he gets his memory back, we're never going to be able to explain it all to him. I mean, sometimes I hardly believe it myself!"

"It'll work out, Ron. It just has to." Ginny smiled, hoping to comfort him. "So, is he going to be able to play Quidditch on Saturday?"

Ron chuckled. "Not unless Healer Wilkes from St. Mungo's can pull off a miracle recovery. Harry didn't even know that he was a wizard! Ginny, I'm telling you, it's weird!"

Ron suggested they cancel Quidditch practice for today and schedule a make-up practice for Thursday. As they were talking, Ron could feel Harry's eyes on him and glanced over to the next bed to find Harry sitting up.

A wide grin crossed Ginny's face as she noticed he had woken. "Hi, Harry. I'm Ginny Weasley. I'm so glad you're back safe and sound." She approached his bed to hug him, and Ron noticed with some distress that Harry hugged her back.

Ginny diplomatically sat on the chair between their two beds where she could mediate the conversation. On the one hand, she would have loved a private conversation with Harry to tell him everything she thought he ought to know about her, but on the other hand, Ron was her brother and she loved him too, and didn't want to say anything that would hurt him. If Ron thought she was somehow swooping in to steal Harry from him - well, she didn't want to think about how angry he'd be.

"So, Ginny, you heard about my memory loss then," Harry said.

"Yeah, Hermione told me at lunch. Don't worry, though. We're trying to keep it quiet. I think Susan, Hermione and I are the only students besides you and Ron who even know you're here. Of course, everyone is reading about how you destroyed You-Know...er, Lord Voldemort. It's all over the Daily Prophet."

"The Daily Prophet?" puzzled Harry. Ron held up the front of the newspaper that Ginny had brought so that Harry could see it. "Oh, I guess that makes sense," he continued, "that you - I mean we - would have our own newspaper."

"I really hope you're able to remember the battle some day," said Ginny. "You were so brave, and well, only a couple of us know how Ron kept you from being killed. But we weren't positive he'd be able to protect you..."

"I was positive," said Ron, defiantly. "I knew Isis would come through and that Harry would be okay."

Harry fumbled for the charm around his neck. Holding it out toward Ron, he said, "That headmaster..."

"Dumbledore."

"Yes, Dumbledore, he said that you empowered this charm to protect me." Ron nodded. "But...why?"

"Why?" replied Ron. "Because I was the only one who could. You needed to be alive to kill Voldemort, and I had the ability to do it. Besides, Harry, you're the best friend I've ever had."

Harry pondered this answer for a moment, and then seemed satisfied. Someday he would learn the details of that adventure, but he felt that Ron was holding something back. He would have to ask him later, when they were alone.

Harry turned to Ginny. "Dumbledore did something to help me see some of my memories. One of them was of flying in the air on a broomstick, and I was catching a flying golden ball. Do you have any idea what that was?"

Ginny smiled broadly. "Oh, I'm sure it was Quidditch. That's our sport, you know? You're the captain of the Gryffindor team - well, Ron's been acting as captain since you've been away." She paused, seeing Harry's confused expression.

"Gryffindor?" Harry asked.

"That's your House," answered Ginny. "There are four Houses at Hogwarts and each student is sorted into a House on the first day here. They're like your family - you eat and sleep and take classes together. We're all in Gryffindor. There is also Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff."

Harry burst out laughing. "Hufflepuff? It sounds like the name of a kid's cereal!"

Ron and Ginny laughed as well. Ron said, "Yeah, it does, but don't say that in front of Susan. She's in Hufflepuff and they're very sensitive about how the other Houses view them."

"So I play this Quidditch game. Tell me how to play. If I'm captain, does that mean I'm good at it?"

Ron and Ginny described the game of Quidditch to Harry, who thought it sounded very exciting. He was hoping they'd let him out of this hospital wing to see Gryffindor - his team apparently - play Ravenclaw on Saturday. He was thrilled to think that he owned his own broomstick. This being a wizard was brilliant. He just wished he could remember how to do magic.

Ginny looked at her watch and realized she was going to be late for her next class. She leaned down to give hugs to Ron and Harry. As she embraced Harry, he whispered to her, "Come back and visit me again, okay? There are a lot of questions I want to ask you." Ginny nodded and waved goodbye as she hurried out the door.

Harry was feeling more comfortable with Ron now. Since seeing some of his memories that morning, Harry had determined that these people were friends and that they cared about him, so he needn't question their motives. He was still stunned about Ron's revelation that he had protected Harry from Voldemort. Why would anyone do something like that for Harry Potter? As far as he could remember, he was just an awkward boy that nobody dared to befriend. Could his life really have changed that much since he started school here?

Ron read aloud parts of the Daily Prophet that he thought Harry would find interesting. He did not think it was wise to show Harry everything - at least not at first. As Ron finished reading an article called "The Boy Who Lived Again," Harry frowned and said, "They write about me like I'm this famous hero or something. Where do they get off thinking they know me well enough to write this drabble?"

Ron couldn't bear to look at him as he said, "You've been famous since you were a baby. You're written about in all of our history books and every little witch and wizard knows who you are. I'm sure the press is having a field day with all the new material you've given them."

"I'm famous? Why? For living? That's really irritating, isn't it? I bet I didn't like that much."

Ron laughed. "No, you don't like it at all. All the attention makes you quite cross, and sometimes you've been known to take it out on your friends." Ron paused as Harry looked at him sheepishly. "Oh, and Harry, you have your own groupies!"

"My own what?" asked Harry with disbelief.

"Groupies. You know - eleven and twelve-year-old girls who follow you around hoping you'll snog them up in the Astronomy Tower." Ron was grinning. He knew he shouldn't be enjoying this as much as he was, but the disgusted look on Harry's face was priceless.

Madam Pomfrey arrived with a Rejuvenating potion for each of them, which tasted mildly of peppermint. When Ron finished his, she asked him to try another spell to see if his magic was improving at all.

Ron pointed his wand at the bed across the room and said, "Accio pillow." The pillow from the bed flew through the air to him and he caught it with a loud thump. Harry, who couldn't recall seeing magic before, clapped his hands in amazement. Ron shot red sparks out of his wand, and then conjured some flowers, mostly to impress Harry, but also to show Madam Pomfrey that he was feeling much better.

"Do I have a magic wand too?" asked Harry. Ron stifled a laugh at Harry's reference to a "magic" wand.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. It's in the drawer of that table," said Madam Pomfrey. "But I think it might be too early for you to try it..."

Harry wasn't listening to her protests. He'd grabbed the wand out if the drawer and was examining it closely. He liked the way it felt in his hands - not like the cheap toy that he had once seen on Dudley's television, but like an essential part of his being. He gave it a short flick and a jet of air flew out of the tip. The force of it sent him falling back against his pillows.

"Whoa! Sorry, I was not expecting that," Harry said nervously.

Madam Pomfrey took the wand from his hand and placed it back in the drawer. "I think you need to have a bit more strength before you use your wand again. Magic can cause irreparable harm if not carefully controlled, and I believe you might have forgotten how to control yours. It will come back to you soon enough, or else we'll give you some remedial training." Harry didn't like the fact that he might need "remedial training," but causing "irreparable harm" sounded equally distasteful.

Madam Pomfrey turned back to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, you are free to go whenever you feel up to it. If you are still feeling weak tomorrow, please stop by for an additional Rejuvenating potion."

Ron watched Madam Pomfrey walk away and then turned to Harry. He didn't want to leave Harry's side. He felt like there was still so much to tell him - so many things they needed to discuss. He looked forlornly at Harry and then started to change back into his own clothes.

"Ron," said Harry, "before you leave, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Well, I was wondering... I don't have any recollection of how you and I got on before, but it has seemed to me all day that there's something you're not telling me. Were we fighting or something before that blast? Tell me, please. I need to know."

Harry's intense gaze was focused on Ron's blue eyes. Well, there was no point in lying - it wouldn't do to make Harry distrust him, and lying wasn't exactly Ron's strong suit. "No, Harry, we weren't fighting. I guess I'm having a hard time adjusting to having temporarily lost the Harry I knew yesterday."

Harry's eyes bored into Ron's. "So we were fairly close, then?"

"We were about as close as it's possible to be." Ron turned away and continued to dress, not wanting Harry to see his face and guess the truth. It would be better for both of them for Harry to remember on his own. And if he never did - well, Ron would be spared the embarrassment of describing their torrid love affair to one who obviously no longer had feelings for him.

"Ron?" asked Harry quietly. Ron faced him again. "I heard enough today to know that you did an extraordinary thing by keeping me alive. I just want to say...thanks." He smiled at Ron, and it was that special smile that made Ron fall in love with Harry again every time he saw it. Merlin, was there no mercy from this agony?

Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder and replied, "I'd do it again in an instant. I just hope you get your memory back so we can be like we were before."

As Ron gathered his things to return to the dormitory, Harry made him promise to visit again the next day. Ron had no intention of denying Harry anything ever again.

* * * * *

Ginny paused outside the double doors to the hospital wing to check the time. It was after nine o'clock and she thought she would look in on Harry before going her prefect rounds. As she opened a door, she heard several voices coming through the closed door to Madam Pomfrey's office. Without stopping to consider the ethical implications of what she was doing, she pulled one of Fred and George's Extendable Ears from the pocket of her robe and watched its string-like end disappear under the office door.

"You're sure, then, that he'll make a full recovery?" asked Dumbledore. "I do not want to give him false hope."

Ginny heard a voice respond that she did not recognize. "Yes, of course. But it will take a long time. The scar runs very deep, and we will need to clear out the scar tissue bit by bit and realign his synapses. Very nasty business - almost as bad as regrowing bones."

"He already regrew all the bones in his arm a few years back. He'll be fine if it's no worse than that," said Madam Pomfrey.

The man's voice continued. "We will need to repair a little bit every day, so it's imperative that he be at St. Mungo's. As capable as my assistants are, I don't trust any of them with this delicate task and I'll be treating him myself. How soon can we move him?"

Dumbledore coughed. "He seemed quite adamant about seeing the Quidditch match on Saturday. Perhaps we should move him Sunday evening. There will be fewer people to notice his arrival, and we can sneak him onto the closed ward without alerting the press."

There was a pause, and Ginny worried that perhaps Dumbledore had noticed the end of the Extendable Ear under the door. She was relieved when he continued.

"And the duration of his treatments? Will he have any chance of sitting for his NEWTs?"

"I'm afraid not. If we encounter no difficulties, I'd guess he could be out of St. Mungo's by early August. Perhaps not until September if there are unforeseen issues."

Ginny's heart sank. Three months at St. Mungo's sounded like an eternity, and he wouldn't be able to finish school with his classmates. The timing of this injury was going to put him back a whole school year...back with her year. Hmmm. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Ginny felt she had heard enough and was concerned about being caught, so she jammed the Extendable Ear back into her pocket and approached Harry's bed. He appeared to be dozing, but his eyes opened as he heard her footsteps. He seemed quite pleased to see her as he greeted her with a wide grin across his face.

"You came back!" Harry said cheerfully.

"Well, you did ask me too, and I was worried you might be lonely in here by yourself. Ron got back to Gryffindor Tower, and Hermione made him immediately return to his study schedule. NEWTs are coming up, and being in here for a whole day really set him behind." Ginny sat on the edge of the bed where he'd motioned for her to sit. Was it her imagination, or was he looking at her differently?

"NEWTs?" Harry asked.

"Stands for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. The scores you get determine what kinds of jobs you're likely to get after Hogwarts. You were trying to be an Auror."

"A what?" Harry now looked thoroughly perplexed.

"Auror. Magical law enforcement. They're the ones that track down Dark wizards." Ginny stopped talking. Every time she opened her mouth it seemed like she had to explain things to Harry as if he were a Muggle. Better to let him talk for a change. "You said earlier that you wanted to ask me about some things."

Harry's face looked blank and then he remembered. "Oh yeah. I wanted to ask you about another one of those memories that Professor Dumbledore helped me see. You were in it."

"Oh, okay," said Ginny. "Just describe what you saw and I'll try to remember."

Harry flashed a wicked smile and it made her a little nervous. "We were in a library and you were, er, kissing me, and we were having quite a lot of fun." He paused. "Did you and I kiss a lot?" he asked, looking up into her eyes.

Shit, what am I going to tell him? thought Ginny. "Well, that kiss... it was our first one. You weren't really expecting me to kiss you."

"No? It seemed pretty friendly for a first kiss. But I remembered enjoying it a lot." Ginny was embarrassed, and looking down at her knees. Harry reached up and touched her cheek. "I was a little worried when Hermione told me I had a girlfriend, but then I saw you and decided I must have some redeeming qualities if a girl as pretty as you would date me."

Ginny's ears turned crimson, as she turned towards him. "Harry, most of the girls in this school are dying to date you! You're easily the cutest boy in your year - everybody thinks so - and you're smart and brave and an excellent athlete. People think I'm the lucky one to be dating you." Ginny couldn't believe they were having this conversation. If he hadn't been so clear about not being in love with her... But that was before.

"Ginny, I have to know something. Did I treat you well, or have I been a prat? I'd hate to think I've acted like a conceited bastard." Harry searched her eyes for the truth.

Ginny smiled. "You've been wonderful. The night before you left to find Lord Voldemort, I was pretty upset, and you said some of the sweetest things anyone has ever told me. Harry, I don't think you could be conceited if you tried."

Harry pulled her closer. "If it's okay with you, Ginny, I'd really like to kiss you. Maybe it will bring back some memories from before the blast." Harry noticed her hesitation. "We have kissed during the four months we've dated, haven't we?"

Ginny had no idea what to say. She had never been in such a dilemma - whether to lie and say that they'd been close, or to tell the truth about their fictitious relationship. In the end, she sidestepped the issue totally by being vague. "Yes, of course we've kissed. But Harry, our situation was complicated. You were about to go off to fight Voldemort, and Ron was trying to protect you and I was trying to help you both..." Ginny's voice trailed off as she looked into Harry's shining green eyes and saw them glistening at her. He'd never looked at her like that before - it was the way he used to look at Ron. She couldn't resist the temptation any longer. Her lips met his, and it was like fireworks exploding in the pit of her stomach. He'd never before kissed her with that kind of passion. Wow - it was exhilarating!

"It doesn't seem very complicated now," whispered Harry. Harry had no idea that he was in the process of adding another layer of complexity to their situation.

They kissed a while before Ginny remembered her prefect rounds. The smile Harry wore as she turned to go was tugging at her heartstrings. This Harry didn't realize he was in love with someone else, and Ginny wasn't about to be the one to tell him. She was playing with fire, she knew, and somebody was going to get burned. At this point, it was looking like that person might be Ron.

Ginny's conscience got the best of her, though, as she wandered through the school. Harry wasn't himself right now, and it would be wrong to mislead him. He had always been totally honest with her, and she owed him the same courtesy. Besides, Healer Wilkes had said Harry would make a full recovery, so eventually, he would remember that he and Ron were...

She cringed. After nearly five months of knowing their secret, it still bothered her to think that her brother and the boy of her dreams were lovers. But then, as she remembered the kisses she'd shared with Harry earlier, she could hardly blame Ron for not wanting to give that up. Merlin, twenty minutes later her stomach still felt queasy just thinking about the way he'd made her feel.

And, as infuriating as he was at times, Ginny loved Ron and didn't want him to be hurt. No, she resolved, the best thing she could do right now is to be open and honest with Ron and tell him what had happened with Harry. Well, maybe not all of what happened. Then they'd have to wait for Harry to get his memory back and decide what he wanted.

Ginny sat down on the bench next to the statue of Gregory the Smarmy on the fifth floor of the East Wing. Through the window she could see the crescent moon shining brightly in the clear spring sky. Seeing it made her think of Isis - among all her other aspects, Isis was also the Goddess of the Moon. Isis, who had been so generous with her spirit to protect her beloved Harry, would certainly answer another prayer, wouldn't she? Ginny whispered a prayer of thanks to Isis and asked that she intervene to cause true love to prevail. Deep in her heart, Ginny believed it would.