Part 28

Double update to hold you over :) I hope everyone's well. I'll be posting on Instagram (Dobbyrip_) in the next couple days or so to talk about updates, where I've been, what's happening with the story, etc. etc. Until then, enjoy!

Halfway through the journey to the hospital wing, Harry squirmed out of Hagrid's (though well-meaning,) suffocating grasp.

He trailed not far behind him and Ginny, thankful for the distance. Unsurprisingly, he couldn't stop his eyes from glancing her way every once and a while.

Dumbledore. Harry knew he was dead, of course he did. He just didn't quite understand it yet. Ever since Harry was small, Dumbledore was untouchable in his eyes. He was a divinity, and Harry never once considered what life might be like when the old man wasn't there.

It was so impossible for anything to get the best of Dumbledore, let alone Severus Snape.

He attempted to convince himself that it was real, but to no avail. He still believed that he'd have a meeting with Dumbledore tomorrow about the Horcruxes. They'd discuss the whereabouts of the rest of them, then they'd work together to destroy them, and Voldemort.

"Dumbledore is dead." He tried telling himself. No he's not! A small voice in his head was giggling at such a ludicrous idea. Don't be silly. "But he is." Harry dreaded the day that the little voice found out.

Ginny. Harry glanced at the back of her head. He thought about the look on her face when he came to out there. The mere thought of it brought a sick feeling to his stomach. The pure terror, the fear on Ginny's face. All Harry wanted was to be her safe place. He couldn't stand the fact that he did that to her.

Ginny and Hagrid ducked into the hospital wing. He continued on pace to the double doors when he heard a gasp that he recognized. "Ginny?" He murmured to himself, breaking into a sprint.

When he entered, he saw Neville in his bed on the left, seemingly asleep, and a crowd gathered around a bed on the far side of the room, that Ginny had just joined.

He approached slowly, and tentatively took his place next to Lupin, who was amongst the people standing over Bill Weasley's limp figure.

-

After Madame Pomfrey had assured everyone that he'd be alright, she shooed everyone healthy out of the hospital wing.

That did not include Ginny and Harry.

She tended to both of them and left them to sleep in beds right next to each other.

Late that night, they both lied awake.

Ginny knew that Harry was awake. How could he fall asleep after the night they'd had?

She was fidgeting with the hem of her quilt, trying to decide how to tell him about the conversation she'd had with Madame Pomfrey. It was never this difficult to talk to him before.

She finally decided that if she didn't speak soon, she may never say anything at all.

"It wasn't you."

Harry looked over at Ginny, who was staring determinedly at the foot of the bed, and sat up. He didn't know what she meant, so he waited for her to say more. She took a deep breath.

"She said it was a panic attack. It doesn't necessarily mean one is in danger, but when someone perceives a dangerous situation, it can cause an episode of extreme anxiety."

Harry still didn't know what to say.

"I wasn't afraid of you... Never you." She continued quietly. "I was scared that you'd... that you were-" Dead.

"You shouldn't have had to go through that." Harry muttered. Ginny looked over finally, but it was his turn to look away.

"And you shouldn't have to continue to. That's why we-"

"Bullshit." Harry looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

"That's bullshit, Harry. We broke up because I shouldn't have to worry about you? Not want you dead? I hate to break it to you, but I'll worry about that whether or not we're together. So will everyone else who cares about you. You can't cut everyone off because there's a dark lord after you. Let them worry. Let them care. That's the price of ... You know..."

"Love." Harry nodded with a small smile on his face.

"Yeah... Excuse me for not wanting you dead." She muttered again. "Would you rather I jumped up and down? Or thrown a bloody banquet."

As she continued her rant, Harry crept down from the bed and padded over to hers. She looked up at him. Slowly and cautiously, he raised a hand towards her cheek. She closed her eyes when he finally made contact and rubbed a thumb across her cheekbone, gently. She raised her own hand to cover his.

After a moment, she opened her big brown eyes to look up at him.

"We shouldn't be doing this." She whispered sadly. And to her surprise, Harry immediately dipped down and kissed her softly on the lips.

"But one night couldn't hurt."