The Night Before

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you'd cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

I held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me.

-Evanescense

After holding Ginny in his arms for about an hour or so, he decided it would be best for them to head to the infirmary. Harry got up from bed and began changing, all the while Ginny sat on the edge of Harry's bed, sipping a glass of water Harry had conjured from the windowsill's pitcher.

"Harry," Ginny whispered, "You're hurt." Harry looked down at his chest in fascination.

"Ha, I didn't know," Harry said, slightly amused. Over his last rib was a giant purple and green bruise. "Now that I think about it, it was rather tender last night."

"What time did you get to bed?" Harry asked Ginny. Ginny was looking intently into her glass of water, as though it was speaking to her instead of Harry.

"Err... two I think?" Ginny shrugged. He noticed a drop of liquid fall from Ginny's face into Ginny's glass. Harry felt a pang of guilt and walked over to her quickly and kneeled before her, placing his hand lightly onto her knee. She looked up into his eyes.

"It's the scar... it makes my eyes water..." Ginny explained. Harry somehow knew that there was something more to it though. He took the glass from her hands and set it on his nightstand. He leaned into her and embraced her once again. He kissed her face near her wound. Ginny didn't wince, she only sighed.

"Let's go see Madame Pomfrey, alright?" Harry stood and pulled Ginny to her feet as well. They left the boy's dormitory.

"Well, that bruise was a synch to mend up, wasn't it?" Madame Pomfrey smiled at Harry. Harry had begun to tell her he had a rough Quidditch practice but she cut him off and told him that Professor Dumbledore had been to see her already.

"You and I meet too often, don't we dear?" Madame Pomfrey joked.

"Yes, I suppose we do," Harry politely joked back and smiled slightly at her.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore gave me specific instructions to tell you to see him in his office after you've been healed. So, you better be off, Harry dear," Madame Pomfrey said, closing a bottle of remedy she used on Harry. Harry looked immediately to Ginny, who was sitting on the next bed holding a cloth to her face.

"Don't you worry about this one, Harry. She will be right as rain under my care!" Madame Pomfrey's face suggested otherwise, but Harry had no choice. He left to see Dumbledore.

Harry found himself standing in front of the ancient, gray gargoyle which stood before the passageway to the staircase to Dumbledore's office. Harry looked to his right: a gorgeous, sunlit passageway, its numerous arched windows poured sunlight onto the opposing wall. Harry looked to his left- this passageway was dank and was lit only by straying sunlight and the usual fire torches that lined almost all of the Hogwarts' hallways. Harry was completely alone in this stretching corridor, or so he thought.

"Why do I never have the password, even when he's expecting me?" Harry issued in annoyance.

"It never mattered really, did it?" Dumbledore's voice came from behind the young man. He turned to face Dumbledore. Getting caught talking aloud to himself, embarrassment seized Harry. Dumbledore simply grinned at him.

"Honey Marmalade," Dumbledore said, still looking at Harry. This confused Harry for a moment, but then he realized Dumbledore was saying a password. Harry heard the gargoyle jump aside. Dumbledore stepped past Harry to the staircase; their robes made a soft swishing sound when the material accidentally ran against one another. Harry turned around to face the staircase and Dumbledore.

"Well, you could stand looking at the sunlit corridor all day, but I fear we have a few things that need straightened out first," Dumbledore said. Harry forced a smile onto his face and followed the old wizard wordlessly. Why was Dumbledore being so kind to him after what happened the previous night? Dumbledore did not even know the whole story yet. Wondering this, Harry climbed cold stone steps.

The wizards reached the landing and the door creaked open from years' wear. Harry followed Dumbledore to the familiar oak desk with odd gadgets decorating it. Dumbledore sat down behind the desk, but Harry remained standing.

"Harry," Dumbledore looked at the young man over his half-moon spectacles, folding his hands and resting them on his dark blue, velvet-covered lap.

"Professor, I didn't mean to hurt Ginny," Harry said, still standing. There was a brief moment of silence.

"You're going to be here for awhile. Why don't you get comfortable?" Dumbledore suggested. Harry eyed Dumbledore cautiously. Their talks were few and far between, and yet Harry felt they happened much too often. He was rather uncomfortable and feeling extremely guilty; nevertheless, Harry did as Dumbledore asked.

"Now, go ahead and tell me what happened to dear Ginny Weasley. If you will, please start at the beginning?" Dumbledore leaned back in high-backed chair.

"Well the beginning would have to be last week, when Ron proposed to Hermione." Harry had been sitting up in his chair very stiffly and now shifted his weight uneasily. Dumbledore's visage relaxed as he looked at Harry.

"I wasn't aware they were engaged. Ah, young love..." Dumbledore said merrily. But then he looked much more serious suddenly, "What does the ring look like, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, curiously.

"It has a diamond and has two red stones on either side of the diamond," Harry said, irritated by the interruption.

"Oh dear," Dumbledore said. He looked slightly scared and sat up slowly, clenching his armrests. Dumbledore never looked scared as long as Harry could ever remember; so, this of course scared Harry.

"What?" Harry asked quickly.

"Well Harry, that ring may not be of consequence... at least let us hope...well, please just continue with your recollection of the previous night," Dumbledore returned to his relaxed position, leaning back. He rested his elbows on his armrests and touched his fingertips together.

"Well," Harry began again, "ever since that night, my scar started to feel differently. Instead of it hurting occasionally, it felt as though it was constantly wet with blood." Dumbledore did not say anything in the moment of silence Harry created by pausing. So, Harry continued, "I started getting faint a lot, especially by night. Always, my head felt as though it were bleeding, even though everyone assured me it was not. So, last night at about seven o'clock or so, Ginny and I..."

It was a pretty warm night for autumn, so Harry and Ginny had decided to take a stroll around the grounds. Harry held Ginny's hand as they strolled, and swung their arms gently between them.

Near the lake's edge, they stopped walking and sat beneath a willow tree. Ginny rested her head against Harry's chest. Harry noticed that Ginny's red hair glinted even in the moonlight. Just as always, she smelled softly of peaches. Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders and played with her fingertips with his other hand.

"Ginny," He said.

"Hm?" Ginny looked up at Harry.

"Ginny," Harry said looking at Ginny. He wanted to say to her that he thought she was beautiful and he that he loved her, but his scar still felt like it was dripping blood down his forehead. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve, even though he knew he wasn't accomplishing anything.

"Ginny..." He tried a third time. Ginny looked at Harry patiently. Harry glanced across the lake nervously.

There's no one that's going to help you out here... Harry thought to himself. But wait- what was that? Harry looked across the lake again. He thought the figure of a person on the other side of the lake. Who is that?

Harry got to his feet suddenly. Ginny got up with him, confused. Harry pulled out his wand.

"What is it, Harry?" Ginny's fear was audible in her voice.

"Don't worry, it probably isn't anything," Harry said as he pushed Ginny behind him, attempting to protect her. He pushed her so suddenly that she accidentally jabbed him on his rib with her wand- she was still in the process of trying to pull it out of her pocket.

"Ah, that's how I got the bruise," Harry laughed slightly to himself.

"Bruise?" Dumbledore asked.

"Oh, Madame Pomfrey healed it already, but Gin's wand made this gigantic bruise on my rib..."

"Well, anyway, continue."

"Right, anyway," Harry continued.

Harry strained his eyes in attempts to make out who the person was. The person across the lake somehow saw Harry. The person wasn't big enough to be Hagrid. Whoever-it-was waved violently at Harry and then suddenly disappeared.

"Where'd he go?" Harry wondered out loud.

"He's a she, Harry," Ginny said, her voice lax.

"Harry, it's just me," A familiar voice said near Harry. Harry turned to face Luna Lovegood; he felt his racing heart slow down immediately.

"Luna! I thought you were someone else," Harry said as he wiped at his forehead again, this time he felt dampness come off of his forehead. He dismissed it as sweat in the back of his mind.

"Harry," Luna said steadily.

"Yeah?"

"Your forehead's bleeding," Luna informed airily. Harry looked down at his and saw blood on his black sleeve, glistening in the moonlight. For as long as he could remember, he could not recall his forehead ever bleeding. Even in flashbacks when Voldemort killed his parents, he did not recall bleeding from the lighting bolt-shaped scar on his forehead.

"That's odd," Harry managed to say. His voice sounded foreign to him, as though he had traveled from his own body. Instead of speaking, he felt as though he was only listening to some stranger speak.

"Th-thanks, Luna," Harry managed to utter words.

"Harry, maybe we ought to get back inside. You look rather pale," Ginny warned as she cautiously held Harry's arm and placed a hand flat to his back, for fear he might faint.

"No, I'm fine... nice to see you, Luna," Harry said. Harry was comforted by Ginny's worry and allowed her to steady him.

"Yes, you two behave now," Luna said weirdly.

"Ha, ha," Harry laughed hollowly. Ginny still looked worried. The couple began walking again in the opposite direction of Luna.

Suddenly, Ginny was a snake and she was trying to bite Harry. Harry told the snake to stop it and to leave him alone. The snake who used to be Ginny told Harry that she watched him always and that he would never be left alone. Then, Harry ran away from the snake but the snake followed. Harry felt as though he had fallen into a dream. The snake gained on Harry. Harry tripped on the first step to the castle. He wiped blood from his forehead... at least, this is what Harry heard and saw. Ginny experienced something quite different.

"Ssseharramaach," Harry snapped at Ginny and threw Ginny's hand away from his arm.

"What did you say, Harry?" Ginny asked. Her round blue eyes were wide with fear.

"Sssinaa... tassssamarr..." Harry dragged his 's' sound out, resembling a snake-sound. His eyes were looking somewhere else, glazed over and angry.

"Why are you speaking Parseltongue?" Ginny was near tears with fright. Ginny knew he was speaking Parseltongue- she's heard the language before. She just didn't want to believe it. She tried to grab Harry's arm again. With the touch of Ginny's hand, Harry stumbled in attempts to run, caught himself before falling flatly to the ground and then darted across the lawn, seemingly running for his life.

"Harry!" Ginny called helplessly, and started running after him. Wiping his forehead again, Harry reached the Hogwarts entrance collapsed on the first steps. Ginny laid her hand gently on his back.

"Harry," Ginny wept now, "come to the infirmary... is it V-v-v-Voldemort? Should I get Professor Dumbledore? What's happening..."

But that's all Ginny managed to say. Harry pulled out his wand; Ginny stupidly did not move away, mostly out of fright. She only stood erectly, eyes wide, as Harry fumbled with his wand and managed to get it out of his pocket. He twisted his arm at Ginny and quickly struck her with an unforgivable curse.

"Harry..."

"Avada Kedavra," Harry said arduously. Ginny was thrown back by the powerful curse and fell onto the dew-covered grass. The curse was aimed at her face, leaving a large gash. Feeling around on his face with the hand that wasn't holding his wand, he noticed that finally the bleeding on his forehead had stopped; the blood there had dried somewhat. His head throbbed excruciatingly.

Harry looked behind him at what he expected to be another form of a dead Voldemort but did not find one. Instead, he found an incapacitated Ginny. Harry shook his head. He grabbed his throbbing forehead and doubled-over in pain and grief. He wretched vomit onto the steps. He was drenched with sweat and was exhausted. Harry turned back to face Ginny and fell to his hands and knees. He crawled, practically dragging himself, to the girl.

"No... no..." Harry coughed out the words. He could not accept that someone else that he loved had died. He reached Ginny and took a lifeless hand into one of his own and clutched it.

Not Ginny...How did this happen? Why does everyone I love have to die? Please God, not Ginny...

"NO!" he yelled shortly and angrily into the night air. As he yelled, light blue sparks shot from his wand that he still held in his right hand; they hit Ginny, making her entire body glow for a split second. Harry was stunned for a moment, not knowing what he had done.

After that eternity of a moment passed though, the girl stirred ever so slightly. Ginny sat up slightly and rolled to her side and coughed up blood.

"H-h-Harry..." Ginny sputtered as though she had never talked.

"Oh Ginny, I'm so sorry!" Harry took her in his arms and clutched her fire-red hair. She hugged back weakly.

"What happened?" Ginny whispered.

"I don't know." Harry shook his head and let go of Ginny. He stood and helped Ginny up. "Let's not talk about it now..." Harry suggested, clutching his girlfriend's hands. Ginny's knees buckled after he said this, but he caught her. Harry carried her, as he would an infant, back to the common's room.

Back up in the common's room, Hermione was still sitting at the desk she was at before Harry and Ginny had left for their walk. Ron was sitting at the fire, attempting an essay. There were a few third years and a first year still up as well, but none that either Harry or Ginny knew personally. Harry put Ginny down since she told him she thought she could walk.

Ginny told Harry to go to bed. She would "rescue" Ron from his essay. Harry was not about to argue with Ginny; so, he hugged her gently and lovingly. He helped her to sit down next to Ron and kissed her hand. Ron noticed that Ginny and Harry were near him, but didn't look up because he didn't want to break his concentration- his nose was about three inches from the parchment.

"Goodnight," Ginny said to Harry. Harry didn't say anything but only smiled kindly at her; he turned, and walked slowly to the steps to his dormitory.

"That's all I remember, Professor," Harry finished.

"Ah," Professor Dumbledore said slowly, "I'm glad you love Ginny Weasley... only love could steal someone back that was so close to the clutches of death." Harry grinned embarrassedly again. Dumbledore stood from his wing-back chair and walked to a bookshelf that was along one wall.

Harry had no idea how much time had passed while he told his account of last night and didn't really care. He only wished to be back by Ginny's side. His head still dully throbbed. Harry also wished he could bathe and get all the dried blood off his body and out of his ever-matted hair.

"Harry," Dumbledore looked up from the book he had taken from the shelf, "please go and find Hermione and Ron. I believe there are a few things they ought to know." Harry got up at once and began to walk towards the door.

"But, Harry," Dumbledore called after Harry. Harry stopped and turned to face Dumbledore again.

"Please get something to eat, take a bath, and visit Ginny before you get them. Dare I say: you need to relax a little?" Dumbledore smiled kindly at the boy.

"Thanks, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said and smiled genuinely at the aged professor.