Shadows

Chapter Twelve: One Secret

There was nothing. No dark or light, no hot or cold, no joy or suffering, no life or death. There was only existence, and this was an existence she was not yet aware of. It took time, but slowly, slowly, she became aware of her own existence. She could feel her own body, the sensation of her fingers, and a sharp chill in her toes. And then – more slowly – she realized she could feel something rough around her. Wood. She was lying on wood.

Ginny opened her eyes and blinked a few times, trying to clear the dark film from her eyes, but it wasn't film. It was night, and the darkest part of night. The moon and stars had disappeared from the sky, covered by thick clouds. The air was chilled with a hint of moisture. The smallest of raindrops fell from the sky, yet she was soaked. She must have been lying in that boat for quite some time.

The boat had traveled quite a ways. She was so far she didn't recognize the landscape. There were thick trees around the bank, with ancient, thick, and twisted trunks. Some were full of dark leaves that blocked her view of the sky, and some were empty skeletal arms reaching up to the clouds. She couldn't see more than a few feet into this strange wood.

Ginny sniffed, trying to keep her nose from running. There was a scratchy feeling in the back of her throat that told her she'd earned herself a cold for sleeping outside in the rain, in nothing but a thin white gown. Realizing what she was wearing, she quickly looked down, then closed her eyes in embarrassment when she realized her nightgown was now see-through. She hoped no one had seen her – it would be humiliating.

But at the same time, she needed to find someone. She didn't know where she was or how to get back. Surely Harry would be worried –

Harry. She'd tried to kill Harry. He must hate her now, actually. Or think her completely mad.

But it wasn't her faultIt's wasn't her fault! It was thanks to Tom. Tom's anger and hatred of Harry had filled her so completely. He'd used her body to strangle Harry, wrapped her hands around his throat. It wasn't her fault. But how could Harry ever understand that?

Ginny pulled her legs in and sank her head onto her knees, and cried. What was she to do now? What was going to happen to her? She didn't even know how she was going to get back home...

She sat there in the boat, crying as the rain went from a light sprinkle to a harder fall. The ice-cold drops nearly felt like they were piercing her skin. With a small sob, she looked up and glanced around her, trying to figure out a way home. She could push the boat back, but there were no rows. And she wasn't sure which direction she'd come from – the boat could easily have turned without her noticing.

As Ginny peered into the dark wood, she noticed a light shaking towards her. It rocked back and forth and was faint – a lantern. Someone was holding a lantern and coming to the edge of the river.

Carefully, she stood and wrapped her arms around her front, hoping to protect her modesty and her arms from the cold. As the man holding the lantern stepped into view, she noted his chocolate-colored goatee and hair that had strands of silver in them, and the lines in his otherwise clear skin.

It was Hades.

He approached the edge of the riverbed beside the boat and took note of her wet hair and shaking knees before speaking.

"And what are you doing out here, Weasley?"

"I-I-I..." her voice was difficult to use. Her throat ached and her voice felt like it was frozen and needed warming up before she could use it properly. "I...w-was-was j-just..." her voice was coming out tight and quiet, but she couldn't force much more sound out.

"You know there's a search party out for you?"

Ginny blinked. A search party? She'd only been gone the night. Although, considering how she'd left, maybe it wasn't that surprising.