Soulbonded

Chapter 7: The Rescue

The next few days were a blur of urgency and fear. Ginny couldn't shake the echo of Harry's pain—it lingered at the edge of her mind, a constant reminder of the abuse he was enduring at the hands of the Dursleys. Every night, as she lay in her bed at the Burrow, she could feel it: the dull throb of bruises, the sharp sting of Uncle Vernon's rage. It haunted her dreams, and each time she woke, she knew she had to act.
Her family had not wasted any time. Mrs. Weasley sent an urgent letter to Dumbledore the very day Ginny had collapsed at breakfast. They had waited anxiously for a response, and it finally arrived, a brief note from the headmaster asking them to come to Hogwarts immediately. Ginny hadn't been able to sit still since the letter arrived. Every moment felt like an eternity, knowing that Harry was suffering and they had yet to act. She couldn't bear it anymore. The bond between them was pulling tighter with each passing day, and the pain was becoming unbearable.On the morning they were set to leave for Hogwarts, Ginny stood in front of the mirror, pulling her hair into a loose ponytail. She stared at her reflection, her face pale with worry. A knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going to let Harry stay with the Dursleys a second longer than he had to.Her mother's voice echoed from downstairs. "Ginny, we're leaving in five minutes! Hurry up!"Ginny grabbed her wand from the bedside table and slipped it into her pocket before rushing downstairs. Her father was already at the fireplace, ready to use the Floo Network to travel to Dumbledore's office. Her brothers were gathered around, concern written on their faces. Mrs. Weasley gave her daughter a reassuring smile, but Ginny could see the fear lurking behind her mother's eyes. "Ready?" Mr. Weasley asked, looking at his family. Ginny nodded. She was more than ready. One by one, the Weasleys disappeared into the flames, until finally, Ginny stepped forward. She took a deep breath and spoke the familiar words: "Hogwarts, Headmaster's office."---The transition through the Floo Network was as disorienting as ever, but within seconds, Ginny found herself stepping out into the cozy, circular office of Albus Dumbledore. The headmaster was waiting for them, his expression grave but calm. His silver beard flowed down to his chest, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to take in every detail as the Weasleys emerged from the fireplace."Welcome," Dumbledore said, his voice gentle but commanding. "Please, have a seat."Mrs. Weasley and the others took their seats, but Ginny remained standing. She was too anxious to sit. The urgency of the situation was clawing at her, and she could barely focus on anything other than Harry's suffering. Dumbledore turned to her, his expression softening. "Miss Weasley, I understand you've been sensing Harry's pain. The bond between you has grown quite strong, hasn't it?"Ginny nodded, her throat tight. "It's... it's unbearable, Professor. I can feel everything. He's hurting. They're hurting him, and I can't—" Her voice broke, and she clenched her fists at her sides. "We have to get him out of there."Dumbledore regarded her for a moment, then gave a slow nod. "Yes, I expected this might happen. The bond between you two, forged in the Chamber of Secrets, is not only emotional but magical in nature. It is not uncommon for such bonds to manifest physically when one of you is in distress."Ginny's heart pounded in her chest. "So we can help him, right? We can take him away from them?"Dumbledore stood from his desk, his expression becoming more serious. "I have already made arrangements. Harry should never have been subjected to such abuse, and it is my failure for not intervening sooner. I had hoped that the blood wards around the Dursley home would keep him safe, but I underestimated the cruelty within its walls."Ginny felt a surge of anger at the thought of Harry suffering because of a decision made by the wizarding world's most powerful figure. But she bit back her frustration—there was no time for blame. Harry needed her. "What do we do now?" Mr. Weasley asked, his face drawn with concern. Dumbledore turned to him. "We will retrieve Harry immediately. I have arranged for a Portkey that will take us directly to Privet Drive. Once there, we will bring him back to Hogwarts where he can recover." Ginny's heart leaped. This was it. They were going to save him. Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out an old, tattered glove. He held it out toward the Weasleys. "This is the Portkey. Everyone, take hold." Ginny reached out and grabbed the glove, her hand trembling slightly as she felt the magic hum beneath her fingers. Her family did the same, and within moments, the world around them blurred as the Portkey activated.---They landed with a jolt in the middle of Privet Drive, the pristine, manicured lawns and tidy houses standing in stark contrast to the darkness that Ginny knew awaited inside Number 4. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the house—this place that had caused Harry so much pain.Dumbledore didn't hesitate. With a wave of his hand, the front door clicked open, and they quickly entered the house.The inside was as cold and unwelcoming as Ginny had imagined. The walls were pale and bare, the furniture stiff and impersonal. There was no warmth here, no love. She could feel the oppressive energy of the place, the hostility that hung in the air like a thick fog. Uncle Vernon's loud voice boomed from the living room. "Who in blazes is barging into my house?!"Dumbledore stepped forward, his presence commanding and calm. "Mr. Dursley, we are here to retrieve Harry." Vernon Dursley's face turned a furious shade of purple as he stormed into the hallway. "You have no right to just barge in here—!" But Dumbledore silenced him with a look. "I suggest you do not interfere, Mr. Dursley. You have already done enough damage." Before Vernon could protest further, Ginny pushed past him, her feet carrying her toward the stairs. She knew where Harry was. She could feel him, upstairs, in his room.She bolted up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest, until she reached the small, cramped room at the end of the hall. The door was closed, but Ginny didn't hesitate. She flung it open, and there he was.Harry was lying on the floor, curled up against the bed, his face pale and bruised. His glasses were askew, and there were dark circles under his eyes. The sight of him, so broken and vulnerable, made Ginny's heart shatter."Harry!" she cried, rushing to his side. His eyes fluttered open at the sound of her voice, and for a moment, he looked confused, as if he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not. "Ginny?"She knelt beside him, gently lifting his head and cradling him in her arms. "I'm here. We're taking you away from this place."Harry winced as he tried to sit up, the pain clearly overwhelming him. "You... you came for me..." "Of course I did," she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "I'll always come for you." Behind her, she heard Dumbledore and her family enter the room. Dumbledore's face was grim as he surveyed the damage done to Harry, and Mrs. Weasley let out a horrified gasp at the sight of him."We're taking you to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said gently. "You're safe now, Harry."Harry nodded weakly, his gaze never leaving Ginny's. She could feel the bond between them humming with energy, stronger than ever before. She wasn't going to let him out of her sight again.With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore conjured a stretcher for Harry, and with great care, they lifted him onto it. Ginny held his hand the entire time, refusing to let go, as they prepared to return to Hogwarts.As they made their way out of the house, Ginny could feel the oppressive weight of the Dursleys' home lift from her shoulders. Harry was free now, and they were together. That was all that mattered.And as they touched the Portkey and were whisked back to the safety of Hogwarts, Ginny knew, deep in her heart, that she and Harry were bound in a way that nothing—not even the darkness of his past—could ever break.