Stockholm Syndrome

Recovery

Chapter 6

Recovery

"Ginny?"

His voice was dry and raspy, as though he hadn't used it for quite some time.

He had opened his eyes to find Ginny's beautiful face was hovering mere inches above his own. She appeared to have been watching him when he awoke, and her eyes opened wide in surprise.

He was struck by the image of her there, her lips parted in surprise, acting like a deer caught in the headlights. Before he even really realized what he was doing, he had tilted his head just slightly and pressed his lips to hers.

He pulled away after only a moment, horrified at his own daring and staring wide-eyed at the shell-shocked and blushing redhead, who had not moved.

"Ginny, I-I-" he stuttered.

"Harry!" a voice nearby called excitedly. Ginny jerked away from him, and Harry let out his breath in relief as Sirius came running over. His godfather had excellent timing.

Sirius knelt beside the bed in which Harry was laid, and embraced him warmly. "Great to see you're back with us, kiddo," he said.

Harry lifted his arms to hug him back, though it was difficult because they felt like lead.

He rasped out a request for water as Sirius stepped back. Ginny moved to get it for him. As she poured a glass from a pitcher resting on the nightstand, Harry took a moment to study his surroundings.

He seemed to be in some sort of large room, with two long rows of identical white-sheeted beds (in one of which he was lying) set against opposite walls. Large windows let in an enormous amount of bright, cheery sunlight.

Ginny handed him the glass, avoiding his gaze. He accepted it gratefully, sipping eagerly and letting out a sigh of relief as the cool water soothed his throat.

"Thanks," he whispered in relief. She nodded, still blushing, but refused to meet his eyes.He turned to Sirius. "So where are we?"

Sirius grinned sheepishly. "The hospital wing of Hogwarts."

Harry's eyes widened and he tried to sit up, only to find Ginny's hands on his shoulders, pushing him back. "I don't think so," she said sternly, all embarrassment forgotten for the moment, "You lay right down. You're not moving until I say so." To his surprise, he found he didn't even have the strength to resist her gentle touch, and was easily forced onto his back.

Growling in frustration and shooting her a glare, he turned to an obviously amused Sirius and asked, "What happened? Why are we here? And why hasn't Dumbledore thrown you into the dungeons or something?"

"I believe I may be able to answer that," said a voice from the opposite end of the room.

Harry's head snapped around to find none other than Albus Dumbledore himself walking through the door of the room.

Eyes twinkling at the surprise on Harry's face, the famed headmaster of Hogwarts walked over to stand next to the young man. "Hello, Mr. Potter, I am Albus Dumbledore."

Harry kept looking to Sirius, then back to Dumbledore, then to Ginny, and finally back to Sirius again. He groaned, feeling a headache coming on. "I don't understand."

Dumbledore laughed. "That is to be expected. Allow me to help you. After you lost consciousness near Hogsmeade, the Order and I were able to reach your godfather before he could escape with you. We brought you here, and locked him up temporarily." He shook his head in amazement. "I must say I was surprised when I learned who it was that had come to our rescue, since I was under the impression that Sirius was Voldemort's most loyal supporter. Imagine my thoughts when it hit me that your godfather actually shot his supposed 'master.'"