Story: Broken But Brave
Chapter Twenty: Fixing Hearts and Piercing Screams

The two pieces of mending hearts laid on a certain dog human's (who they referred to as Padfoot) bed. The flickering beam of the rising sun illuminated each other only enough to see their gleaming faces. Nothing more, nothing less. Enjoying each other's company, which was restricted to them for years, was the only thing on their minds. It was solely the only thing that their brains processed that the girl totally forgot about her wandering brother and best friend.

The grandfather clock of the ancient house ticked six in the morning, it's gong resonating throughout the whole house. Harry's eyes fluttered open. There was a warmth cuddled up next to him. His eyes widened then softened as he remembered the events of the day before. Ginny had not only saved him but also rekindled their latent feelings for each other. He looked down at his arms. Red hair was spread out behind her, a beautiful smile on her face. She was curled up in his arms. His sleeping beauty. Harry lost himself to her sleeping form that he had no track of time when her eyes blinked open. Beautiful brown met entrancing emerald and automatic smiles spread on their faces.

"What is the time, Harry?" Ginny asked.

"I love you," he replied. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"I asked the time, Harry," she retorted, feigning annoyance. Nevertheless, the smile never faded from her face. Harry grinned.

"I lost myself in you that I did not see the time."

Ginny rolled her eyes again. "Cheeky early in the morning today are we, Mr Potter?" she questioned. Harry shrugged.

"Until you are with me."

"Merlin's stinky socks, Harry!"

"I am not Merlin's stinky socks, Ginny. I am a very clean person. You can check my socks if you want although I'm wearing none at the moment. Unfortunate. I can retrieve some from my flat if you need them."

Ginny rolled her eyes yet again. "My irises are going to stick to the top of my eyes," She said, glaring at him mockingly.

"Aw man. I do not want those beautiful brown orbs to go invisible," Harry replied, smirking. Ginny harrumphed and got up, throwing his arms away from her. Harry wore an expression of hurt though Ginny knew better than to believe it to be real. She swung her legs off the bed, simultaneously tying her hair into a bun. As she was about to get up, a strong arm pulled her back and into Harry.

"Harry! I'm hungry!" she wailed like a small child whose toy had been snatched.

"Fine, let me fix us breakfast. We spend the whole day here, later," he said, whispering the last part.

"Fine," Ginny muttered.

"I know you are hiding your happiness, Gin," Harry said, getting up and fixing the bed. Ginny looked at him, a grin adorning her own face. Harry smiled before they both left the bedroom hand in hand.

⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

Harry had fixed them a small and simple breakfast with the grocery that Ginny brought from her flat. She had apparated to her flat and brought a loaf of bread, some eggs and a packet of milk while Harry was freshening up. He had a lot of bruises and did not want Ginny to see all of them. Hence, he took the time to freshen up when she was away. While he prepared breakfast, Ginny took a private bubble bath in one of the many bathrooms of the manor. Kreacher had done a good job keeping the house tidy when his master and mistress were away. Harry informed Ginny about Kreacher's passing during the breakfast. Ginny was pretty sad about it. She realized that Kreacher said those respectful and affectionate words to her because he knew that his end was near. This fact pretty much doubled her melancholy. She would only snap out of her emotional behavior after a long passionate snog initiated by Harry. After that conversation, they turned to lighter topics.

"I want to discuss a lot with you, Ginny," Harry started. Ginny nodded, eating her toast. Harry blinked twice. "Did you hear me?" he inquired.

"Yes, Harry."

"You are silent."

"I was. . .thinking."

"A knut for your thoughts?" Harry asked. Ginny smiled and shook her head causing him to frown. "You are keeping something from me."

"No, I'm not, Harry."

"I-is someone else. . .there? I-in your life I mean. . ."

Ginny chuckled, causing Harry's frown to deepen. "Of course not, you overprotective prat. It's you and only you," she reassured. Harry let out a breath of relief as Ginny chuckled once again.

"Then, what is it? What are you thinking?" he tried again. Ginny looked hesitant at the beginning but finally gave in.

"I was thinking. . .what would have happened if I arrived a tad bit late." Harry froze and immediately looked down. Ginny sighed. "That's why I was hesitant."

Harry nodded. "Sorry," he mumbled, still looking down. Ginny smiled at him and took his nearest hand in hers.

"It's okay. Everything is okay," she reassured him and they remained silent for several dreadful minutes. When Harry looked up, he saw Ginny's eyes were staring into the space.

"Ginny, I can see that there is something else bothering you. You weren't really thinking about the 'arriving late' thing, were you?" Harry asked tentatively. Ginny sighed once again.

"You are right, Harry. I wasn't," she admitted. Harry's eyebrows raised, urging her to go on. "Let me ask you a question, Harry. I know that Azkaban is one dreadful place to live in, even for a year. You were in there for five years. Much less than Sirius, yes, but you were already depressed . . . but then too, you survived. I. . .never thought I would be able t-to see you when they arrested you." Harry opened his mouth to speak but she shook her head to stop him. "I'm happy now, Harry but I can't help but ponder on this question. H-how did you survive?"

Harry smiled. "You," he answered. Ginny looked at him questioningly. "You are worth living the hell for."

Ginny smiled, tears watering her warm eyes but she refused to let them flow. "Everyday, every minute and every second; my thoughts always wandered to you. Many questions popped up in my restless mind about your state, your health and your happiness. I had no answer to any of them. Externally, I was broken, impossibly broken but deep down, I was brave, Ginny, brave because of you. I just chanted your name to avoid negative thoughts. It worked. It truly did. I survived, didn't I? Because I had something worth living for. Something to wake up to and even now I need. I need something, rather someone, to wake up to. Marry me again, Ginny Weasley. Give me something to wake up to," Harry said as he got off the chair and got on his knee. Ginny blinked. She could not process what happened. Just as her brain turned the gears and understood what he implied, she laughed, out loud. Harry looked deeply hurt and confused. He was being serious, no puns intended.

"Oh, Harry," she said in between laughs. "Why would I marry you," she said as she tried to control her laughter. "when I am already married to you?" she completed. Harry raised his eyebrows. What was that supposed to mean? He thought.

"I thought we were forcefully divorced by the ministry!" Harry exclaimed, confusion taking over him. Ginny shook her head and finally calmed down.

"No, we aren't. You still don't know this, do you? Marriages in the Wizarding World are something like the Triwizard tournament. They are a binding magical contract and are of both, pure and dark types. Our love was. . .is," she corrected herself, "pure and so is our marriage. In order to break a marriage, both the sides must agree with the wand signature," she explained. Harry's confusion did not abide so she chuckled and went on. "A wand signature means a written statement legalised by a small simple charm using the owner's wand by the owner himself or herself. In this case, since the ministry initiated the case and you were branded a criminal, your wand signature was not required but they needed mine to divorce us magically. We may be divorced lawfully but not magically. Magic still binds us together, Harry. It considers us as one soul in two bodies even now as I did not give my wand signature to the ministry. We are still married, Harry."

A genuine grin spread across Harry's face as everything sunk in. Ginny had never divorced him. O! That thought spread warmth to each and every inch of his bruised body. Ginny chuckled seeing his goofy grin. He got off the floor and pulled her to her feet, doing a small victory dance with her. The whole time, Ginny was laughing and so lost in him and his antics that she forgot about her brother yet again. That is, until a loud, ear piercing scream brought the pair out of their celebration.

"YOU FILTHY BLOOD TRAITOR?! HOW MANY BLOOD TRAITORS ARE LIVING IN THIS HOUSE?! TWO! TWO!!! HALF BLOODED BREED AND ANOTHER MUD-" the sudden scream was cut off. Harry and Ginny looked at each other. Mrs Black had just made it clear that someone else was in the hidden house. With their wands pointing in front of them, Harry led Ginny, the other arm serving as a protective arm, stretched in front of her, his holly wand pointed towards the doorway.

"Oi, You ruddy portrait! Can't keep quiet?!" a voice came from a figure.

"Lumos!" Harry hissed and the tip of his wand lit to reveal the owner of the voice.

Decided to end it here. Did you like it? Yes, the quote from the blurb finally appeared, phew! Took a while to write this chapter due to writer's block. Thank you for your support! A few more chapters to go and this series will have to say, like Moody did; goodbye, the end. So yeah, thank you!

Miyoko x