Soulbonded

Chapter 6: A Shared Pain

Italics are thoughts

The summer days dragged on painfully for Harry as he endured yet another oppressive holiday at the Dursleys' house. The air was thick with tension at Privet Drive, and the ever-present cruelty of his aunt, uncle, and cousin made every passing hour feel like a weight bearing down on him.

Since returning from Hogwarts, things had only gotten worse. Vernon and Petunia seemed to have a new determination to break him, keeping him isolated in his small bedroom and only allowing him out for chores. Meals were small and infrequent, and whenever Harry displeased them, Vernon's fists and Dudley's cruel words were quick to follow.He had tried to find solace in the connection he shared with Ginny, the only flicker of light in an otherwise miserable existence. But for some reason, their bond had felt muted, distant. Maybe it was the stress of being back at the Dursleys. Or maybe it was because he didn't want her to feel the pain he was going through. He'd spent years surviving this torment on his own—he didn't want to drag her into it.But Ginny Weasley wasn't someone who could be easily kept away.---At the Burrow, the sun was shining brightly, casting a golden glow across the breakfast table where the Weasleys sat, enjoying one of Mrs. Weasley's famous morning feasts. Laughter filled the room as Fred and George teased Ron about his latest attempt at Quidditch tactics, while Mr. Weasley talked enthusiastically about Muggle inventions he'd read about at work. Ginny, however, sat quietly in her seat, absentmindedly stirring her porridge. Her mind kept drifting to Harry, as it often did. It had been weeks since they'd last spoken in their dreamland, and although they could still occasionally sense each other's emotions, the connection felt weaker than it had at Hogwarts.She wondered if something was wrong. The thought gnawed at her.Suddenly, an intense, searing pain shot through Ginny's back, so sharp it knocked the breath out of her. She gasped, doubling over in her chair as the spoon fell from her hand, clattering onto the table.A scream tore from her throat, causing the room to fall silent. Her family froze, eyes wide with shock and concern."Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley cried, rushing to her side. "What's wrong, dear?"But Ginny couldn't speak. The pain was too overwhelming, radiating through her body like a white-hot fire. Her vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought she might pass out. Then, suddenly, her surroundings shifted.The warm kitchen of the Burrow vanished, replaced by a cold, dimly lit room that she knew wasn't hers. Her heart pounded as she realized what was happening—this wasn't her pain.This was Harry's.Ginny's eyes widened as her vision cleared. She could see Harry now, curled up on the floor of his small bedroom at Privet Drive, his face bruised and bloodied. His uncle loomed over him, yelling something that Ginny couldn't hear, and then, with a sickening thud, Vernon's fist connected with Harry's side, sending him sprawling across the room.Ginny flinched, the pain vibrating through her own body as though she had been the one struck. Tears sprang to her eyes as she watched in horror, helpless to stop the assault."Harry..." she whispered, her voice barely audible."Ginny, what is it?" Ron asked, his face pale as he crouched beside her. "What's happening?"She blinked, forcing herself back into the present, back to the Burrow. The room swam into focus again, but the pain still lingered—sharp and real, as if a part of her was still with Harry, feeling every blow, seeing everything through his eyes."I—" Ginny began, but her voice cracked. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "I can see him. He's... he's being hurt."Her family exchanged worried glances, Mrs. Weasley's hands fluttering nervously around Ginny's shoulders. "What do you mean, sweetheart? Who's being hurt?""Harry," Ginny whispered, her eyes filled with tears. "I can see him. He's at the Dursleys'. They're hurting him. His uncle—" She broke off, clutching her back as another wave of pain hit her, as if Vernon's punches were landing on her own body.Mr. Weasley stood up abruptly, his face pale and grim. "Molly, we need to contact Dumbledore. Now.""I'm on it," Fred said, his usual light-heartedness replaced by a rare seriousness as he and George bolted out of the kitchen to grab some Floo powder.Ron looked at Ginny, his brow furrowed in confusion. "How are you seeing this? Are you sure it's not just a dream?""It's not a dream," Ginny said, shaking her head vehemently. "It's the bond. I can feel what he feels. I'm connected to him."Her words hung in the air, heavy with realization. Ginny had known for some time that her bond with Harry was powerful, but she hadn't expected it to be this intense, this real. She could feel his pain as if it were her own, see through his eyes as if she were there with him.And if she was right, if their bond allowed her to see and feel what Harry was experiencing, then that meant Harry had been suffering for weeks—maybe longer—without her knowing.Anger and fear surged through her, hot and potent. How could they have let this happen? How could anyone have let Harry endure such cruelty?The room felt too small, too stifling, as her chest tightened. She couldn't just sit here and do nothing while Harry was being hurt. She had to help him. She had to get him out of there.But before she could move, a familiar voice echoed in her mind. "Ginny?"It was faint, barely a whisper, but it was unmistakable."Harry? " she called back, closing her eyes and focusing on the bond. She could feel him now, distant but present, like a flickering candle in the dark."I— I'm okay," came Harry's weak response. "Don't worry about me.""Okay?  Ginny thought, her heart pounding with rage. "Harry, I can feel what's happening to you! Your uncle—he's hurting you! You're not okay."There was silence for a moment, and then a heavy sigh. "I didn't want you to feel this. I didn't want you to get dragged into it."Ginny's heart clenched at the weariness in his voice. "Harry, you don't have to protect me from this. We're connected, remember? We're in this together."Another pause, and then, quieter this time: "i'm sorry."Ginny opened her eyes, the pain in her back easing slightly as Harry's presence filled her mind. She knew they didn't have much time—Vernon could come back at any moment, and she had no idea how long Harry could hold out.But she wasn't going to let him suffer alone anymore."We need to get him out of there," Ginny said, her voice steadier now as she met her father's concerned gaze. "We need to get him away from the Dursleys before it's too late."Mr. Weasley nodded grimly. "Dumbledore will know what to do. We'll get Harry out of there. I promise."---As the Floo network sparked to life and messages were sent to the Order, Ginny remained seated at the table, clutching her chest as the last remnants of Harry's pain ebbed away. She could still feel him, weak and exhausted, but alive.And as she waited for help to come, one thought echoed through her mind:They would never let Harry be hurt like this again. Not as long as she was connected to him. Not as long as their bond remained.They would get him out of that house. They would bring him home—where he belonged.