Evermore

Chapter Twelve: He's Never Out of Sight

Harry awoke in his bedroom, and felt a slight pounding in his head as he struggled to right himself, and was slightly annoyed when he was gently pushed back against the pillows. He turned to yell at the culprit, but was surprised to see Ginny sitting beside the bed. Harry did his best to compose himself, although Ginny clearly saw the surprise etched into his face, along with momentary flashes of pain and exhaustion.

"It's been a day," she said gently, and Harry blinked. "Madam Pomfrey rushed right over after Hermione called her. She prescribed a sleeping solution to calm your nerves."

Harry cleared his throat then, and Ginny poured him a goblet of water from the pitcher on the nightstand beside him. Harry nodded in thanks and sipped from the goblet, never taking his eyes from Ginny. "Where is everyone?"

"Ron and Hermione have been taking sitting with you in turns," she explained. "I've only started my turn an hour ago. They're getting some sleep. As for Dean, he's in another bedroom here, awaiting his turn. Draco and Neville are back at Longbottom Lodge, seeing to Scorpius, but they promised to be one fire-call away, should we need them."

"And Luna and Rolf?"

"Quibbler emergency, I'm afraid," Ginny said softly. "They heard a rumor about a Golden Snidget in peril—they're endangered, you know," she said, and Harry nodded, remembering reading about that somewhere. "Their task is to not only report about it, but to get it to safety in the Golden Snidget reserve, but the location is classified."

"And you?" Harry asked, and Ginny raised her eyes to his. "I heard that you and Dean were getting your assignments from the ministry, now that you've graduated."

"We've gotten our assignments," Ginny replied with a smile. "I've been made Sports Editor for The Daily Profit, while Dean's joined Hermione and Draco's crusade and has agreed to be the face of the movement. Since he thought he was Muggle-Born after all these years, he considered such a thing to be fitting. His ultimate goal is to find his biological father's family because of it, and to make records a more open thing, so Blood Status will never be doubted again."

"That's brilliant, Gin!" Harry cried out, and moved to get out of bed again, but Ginny almost immediately moved forward and stopped him.

"I can't let you get out of bed unless it is to relieve yourself, Harry. I'm sorry," she said to Harry's annoyed expression, "but it's Madam Pomfrey's orders."

Harry grumbled under his breath but nevertheless tucked himself back into bed, and yet he was pleased when Ginny conjured a few more pillows that he could use to prop himself up with, and gave her a smile. "Thanks."

She hesitated for a moment before permitting herself to speak again. "Listen, Harry, I was going to tell you before Neville came downstairs with Scorpius, back in June, about my theory about Snape, but..."

Harry was immediately on edge again, and he felt his blood pumping at the direct mention of the man he loved. "Please tell me," he begged. "Please, Gin. I need to know. I've been smacking my head against the wall these last few months."

"And I would've told you sooner," she said quickly. "But I had to finish my exams and graduate with Dean, plus there's been the wedding planning and starting my job for the ministry. There's just been a lot happening."

"Yeah, I understand that, and I don't blame you, Ginny," Harry told her, and Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. "A lot's been happening on my end, too. I've had to attempt to get over the man I'm in love with, and constantly prepare for this baby that he doesn't even know about. Not to mention being on bed rest, which means that now I can probably only read Auror reports, but only if Madam Pomfrey allows it..."