A/N Whew, I got this one up pretty fast. Go on and read, then review please, because as you know, this is just me playing with JKR's masterpiece, and isn't she just great to let us do it!
Ginny screamed in pain.
"What's wrong?" Harry cried, kneeling at her side. He picked her up and held her close.
"Harry...it hurts!"
"Where?" he asked. "What happened?"
As she screamed again, he realized what it was.
"Ginny, what do you See?"
In a voice strangely harsh, she said, "United we stand...divided we fall...united once more isn't enough after all...death is coming...it's almost here...what is coming is a mother's worst fear...the end is coming...it's nigh at hand...grief and terror will stalk the land...the time of the weak and timid is through...for the mighty to fall, the meek must stand true...death is coming and worst of all...someone you know and love will fall..."
Harry stared at Ginny who still shook violently, whimpering in pain. Tears stung his eyes but he had learned not to brush them away. He cradled her as she sobbed, rocking back and forth, whispering comfort in her ear, kissing her bright hair and rubbing her back gently. Gradually, she calmed down.
"Harry," she murmured. "Harry, I'm so sorry."
"No," he said, taking up her hand and kissing it. "It's not your fault."
"It was...terrible." She shuddered. "I Saw...pain." She grabbed Harry's shirt urgently. "He was dead, Harry, he was dead!"
"Who?" Harry asked in alarm.
"I don't know!" Ginny buried her face into Harry's shoulder. "We-we were all sitting togehter and we were all crying. Tonks quietly said, "I can't believe he's gone and-and..."
"Maybe she meant Lupin," Harry suggested.
"No, Harry," Ginny said. "I-I don't know who it was but I know who it isn't!" She tried to stand up shakily, but fell back down. With ease, Harry scooped Ginny up and sat with her in the nearby rocking chair.
"No," she mumbled. "I don't want to be babied."
"Ginny, you've always been so strong. You've given me much strength and comfort and happiness. But even you need to be coddled sometimes. You can't fix this. You don't even know what the vision means. But this is one time when I will hold you and cry for you and help you survive."
She burrowed closer to him and shut her eyes weakly.
"It hurts," she whispered and he tightened his arms around her.
"And I will never let you have this pain alone. I swear to you Ginny, for all your visions, I will be here to hold you and to share in the pain." But Ginny had fallen asleep.
Harry sat in silence for awhile, softly rocking with his cheek resting on her head. As he grew tired, images seemed to swirl around him.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley," he whispered to her sleeping form, stroking her cheek. "You're the fire in my life, gilding me, refining me, renewing me. Our love is eternal, as everlasting as the phoenix." His eyes closed and he slipped into sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How could you!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, her face red, standing before Dumbledore and her husband. "You can't possibly...these days...dangerous...they're only children!"
She stood there huffing, like a mother bear who's cubs have been snatched away.
"Now Molly, dear-"
"Don't 'Molly dear' me, Arthur Weasley. I'll have you sleeping on the couch for months!"
"Molly," Dumbledore said carefully. "You don't need to worry. I've got those wands enchanted so that even if they don't come back before midnight, we'll be able to apparate to their exact location."
"What about You-Know-Who?" Mrs. Weasley persisted. "These are dangerous times!"
"Molly, Dumbledore has put so many wards and spells around the perimeter of that house and if so much as a Snidget could make it into that area, I would be shocked."
"Why, Albus?" she asked, quietly. "They're only children."
"Yes, they are. But children are the last hope we have. When we all have fallen, they will remain, to carry our flag and to fight out fight."
"And where are they again?"
"Godric's Hollow, in a little rundown house that was once filled with good friends, happy laughter, brilliant minds, and burning love. All that remains now is the legacy that Harry's parents left behind. Harry is there to learn truths never told him. Ginny is there to comfort him when he weakens. Both will hold each other up when life is hard. Their fates are woven together until they cannot be undone."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ginny? Wake up, dear."
Ginny opened her eyes slowly. "Mum?"
"It's time to come home now, darling."
Ginny sat upright, suddenly realizing that she still sat on Harry's lap.
"Mum, it's not what you think! We-"
"Shh. I know. Harry?" Mrs. Weasley shook him gently. "Wake up."
Harry opened his eyes, rubbing sleep from them. "What time is it?" he asked, yawning.
"Just after midnight," Mr. Weasley said, coming into the room. "Dumbledore's wands sent us here when you didn't come back."
"Let's go," Mrs. Weasley said. "We must get home soon."
Harry grabbed the stack of diaries before leaving the room.
All four of them walked down the stairs, Harry and Ginny slightly stumbling. As they headed out the door, Harry stopped suddenly and ran back inside.
"The painting!" he said. "I almost forgot!"
He skidded to a hald, right in front of the frame.
"I'd like to thank you so much for..." The painting had gone still, the beautiful woman still gripping the back of the chair, smiling tenderly.
"What happened to her?" Harry asked.
"I told you that a painting was merely a soulless copy." Once more, Dumbledore stood behind Harry. "This particular painting had a purpose to tell you about your parents. When it had done that, it would go still and silent. She's at rest now." He smiled. "Come on, Harry, let's take you home."
I am home, he thought, but he continued to walk away.
I really like Dumbledore in this chapter. That sounds kinda funny, considering I wrote it, but I think that is exactly what I would want to hear him say to me. You know how it goes, please leave me a lovely review and I will reply, I promise!
Hope you didn't think I was gonna leave this out.
Diary, what have I done? I've spoiled everything and now Petunia will never forgive James and me!