Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Seventy-one: The Plan

Chapter 71: The Plan

It wasn't long before Ron snuck back into the hospital wing and joined Harry in his silent vigil at Ginny's bedside. Harry merely looked up when he entered. Ron gave a half-smile before sitting down at the end of Ginny's bed.

Later, after the end of the eighth period of the day, their silence was interrupted when Hermione came straight from Ancient Runes, her bag still slung over her shoulder and laden with books.

"Has she stirred at all?" Hermione asked, letting her bag slide from her shoulder and dropping it at Ginny's bedside with a dull thud.

"No," said Harry. "But... well, there's a reason for that... Draco told me—" but then Harry stopped talking when he saw that Neville and Luna were coming in to visit as well. "Tell you later," Harry said quickly.

"Is it alright if we visit a bit?" Neville asked quietly as they came nearer. He spoke as though they were at the bedside of a dying person. Bitterly, Harry thought that perhaps this wasn't so far off...

"Sure," said Ron.

Harry had a sudden sense of panic: he was no closer to coming up with a plan to help Ginny than he had been two hours ago. And he knew if he waited until tomorrow to try to help her, it would be too late. She'd be in St. Mungo's by then and the healers would surely pick up on a possession faster than Madam Pomfrey...

Hermione stepped back as Luna sat down on the bed near Ginny's hip. Then, she took Ginny's hand in hers. Harry watched as Luna then gently placed Ginny's hand against her cheek and leaned into Ginny's unknowing touch.

And Harry realized... of course... what Draco had said... they needed to keep constant contact with Ginny to keep the spirit from taking her over.

Why Ginny had physically clung to Draco for the past months suddenly made sense. He'd said she'd maintained control "only through a combination of bodily contact with me, calming charms and sleeping potions"...

"Luna?" Harry asked gently, moving from the chair to Ginny's other side and kneeling down on the floor. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not quite sure," Luna said, turning and gazing with her protuberant eyes upon Harry. "I just felt like Ginny wanted me to touch her. So I did. And it calmed her down. Can't you feel it?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think I do." He glanced back at Ron and saw that he was exchanging a glance with Hermione. "Listen," Harry said, standing up. He looked at his friends: Luna, Hermione, Neville and Ron all were looking back at him. "There's something I need to tell you. I need your help."

Harry didn't say anything for a moment, not sure where to start. "We're listening, mate," Neville said, taking a step closer toward the bed.

"Right, well..." Harry started. He cast muffilato toward Madam Pomfrey's chambers. "Ginny's in a lot of trouble. She could die. In fact, if we don't do something soon, she could be dead as soon as tomorrow."

Ron stood up at this, his face pale. "How do you know—"

Harry cut him off. "It's not the spell she hit herself with. It's the fact that she's possessed with Voldemort's raised spirit."

"What?" Hermione ask sharply while at the same time, Ron said, "You can't be serious."

"It was an accident, I'm sure," Harry said, "In any case, Madam Pomfrey is having her transferred to Saint Mungo's tomorrow to be checked over further. She found something dark but she doesn't know what it is yet. She's only waiting until tomorrow so she can be sure that Ginny's stable enough to move after getting hit with that curse. The Ministry method for getting rid of any raised spirit is killing the host witch or wizard so the spirit is sent back to the other side. I doubt..." Harry swallowed hard. "I doubt they'd hesitate to... well, it's Voldemort..."