Slip, Recover, Laugh, Let It Go

"NO!"

Harry didn't understand, he couldn't think anymore. He sunk weakly to the ground and laid Ginny down gently. Tears began falling down his cheeks, sliding off his face, becoming ice before they hit the ground.

As he cried, he saw, once again, a black shadow rising from Ginny, but now he didn't care. He would never see her eyes sparkle again, never hold her, never talk to her, never laugh with her ever again. As he sat there, the shadow rose higher and higher, detaching itself bit by bit from Ginny, until it merely hovered over her. It rose higher and solidified, grew eyes and a mouth, and spoke.

"What? How could this be? Why did this happen? How can you..."

Harry lifted his head and stared. What was this strange... thing? He decided the polite approach was best.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, I'm going to be in so much trouble!" said whatever it was. "He sent me to take her, oh yes, so that you would come and seek revenge and He could have another chance at finishing you!"

"What? Er... what are you?"

"I'm a curse," said the shadow. "I have been sent by his most Imperial Royal Highness Sir, Lord Voldemort. He wanted me to kill her," it gestured towards Ginny's lifeless form, "so that you would become either so stricken by grief you wouldn't be able to fight, or to come and seek revenge, and He would use your anger to his advantage."

"Voldemort sent...?"

"Precisely. But something went terribly wrong, I'm afraid, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. You see, she can't die."

"WHAT?"

"Do you recall the only 'power the Dark Lord knows not' is love? She is invincible because she is loved deeply... by you. You see..."

Harry looked back at Ginny. The color was returning to her face, and she was beginning to breathe again.

"...I cannot touch her."

Harry touched her shoulder gingerly, hopefully.

"Ginny?" he whispered.

Her eyes, thankfully back to their usual brown, snapped open, and she sat up quickly. Harry was startled.

"Ginny, what happened? This curse says..."

"I know what it says!" Ginny cried. "I know! Hermione told me she read about this..."

"Typical Hermione."

"...in a book, and it causes visions and great pain first, then tries to kill the victim. But I'm not dead... am I?"

"No, no, you're very much alive!" Harry let out a whoop of joy and kissed her. The curse seemed to smile.

"Oh you have no idea how much you have infuriated the Dark Lord, but it was not my fault... the Potter boy fought me off courageously, and I could not possess him because the Dark Lord wants to finish him Himself... yes, that's what I'll tell him..."

Harry and Ginny grinned at each other.

"She cannot be harmed," said the curse again. "You have something very special, oh yes. You are each the other's half. Don't worry about me, it doesn't hurt when I am destroyed. It's just rather surprising. AAARGH!"

It exploded.

"Looks like Voldemort's found out," said Harry.

This statement struck both of them as strangely the funniest thing they had ever heard in their lives. They looked at each other, then began rolling around in the snow, howling with laughter. Ginny rose and grabbed Harry's hand; still laughing hard, they went sprinting off towards the horizon, towards home.