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Chapter Five: Hiraeth

"Dream for a positive change. You will see it fulfill in front of your eyes."

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Ron offered Harry to come home with him and Hermione and stay there for a while but Harry politely declined, telling that he had Albus and James to take care of and that he would be fine. Ron knew that Harry was stating his usual mantra but Hermione urged him not to press Harry more. So he left the matter reluctantly.

He slapped himself on his cheek when he approached the flying Ford Angelia and saw his sister there, having a thoughtful expression on her face. Ron just could not understand why he was hallucinating a lot. He asked Hermione if she could see Ginny but Hermione shook her head and kept shooting concerned glances at him all the way back to their house. Hermione told Ron not to give the car to his dad just yet.

His dad, much like Harry, remained silent during the entire event. He talked only when needed and remained standing, his hands clutched to each other. His eyes were red with unshed tears, unlike Harry's whose tears leaked down his pale cheek often when none of his sons or Teddy were near. Ron would be joking if he were to say that he was not worried.

Losing Fred it self was an emotional rollercoaster ride. It took them three full months to recover. George took it even harder, falling into a depression. It was Angelina who brought him out but this time, it would be Ron himself who would help Harry out. He was Harry's best friend. He knew him and will help him but one thing worried him. Why on earth was Ron seeing Ginny in his car when no one else could?! He decided to ask Ginny herself when he was alone.

When they reached their house, Ron thought to implement his resolve.

"Hey Hermione, you go ahead and head in. I-I just need fresh air," Ron said. Hermione looked at him with concerned eyes. "I am fine, Hermione. Just some fresh air," he reassured. Hermione left with a nod. After Ron saw Hermione turn the bedroom light on, he peeked into the car's windows and found Ginny sitting there with closed eyes. He opened the back seat's door and stepped into the car. Ginny opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows at him.

"Aren't you going in, Ron?" She asked.

"No, I need to talk to you."

"I'm all ears," She replied.

"Are you. . .are you Ginny's ghost?" Ron blurted out the question which was burning in his mind. Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment. "I mean, everyone can see ghosts right? But I don't know why but no one besides ol' me can see you and you aren't even faded like other ghosts I have seen," Ron said. Indeed, Ginny looked as vibrant as any normal human. "but then you d-died."

"I did but to answer your question, no. I am not a ghost, Ron. In fact, I just remembered how I am here."

"Then, what are you? A part of my hallucinations?" Ron asked. Ginny shook her head.

"I am not a part of your hallucinations, Ron nor or you hallucinating. I am really here."

"Prove it then!" Ron said.

"How?"

"Pinch my cheek," Ron offered. Ginny did as she was told and pinched his cheek, hard. He yelped out in pain.

"So?" She asked him.

"Yeah, you are alive. Ruddy hell, how is this possible? I just saw you there, lifeless and here I am, talking to something of my sister!" Ron exclaimed. Ginny laughed.

"I am an entity of the real Ginny, Ron. There is a story behind why I am visible only to you," she said.

"Explain, sis."

And so, Ginny started her tale from the beginning. She explained the barging in of two masked people claiming to kill her babies first. She explained of how the she stepped in front of James and Albus and defended them just as the portkey took off. She said that the last thing she saw was hers and Harry's wedding portrait which was fixed on the wall. After that, everything went dark then suddenly it was as bright as the day.  When she woke up, she discovered that she was in Harry's office in the Ministry. She warned him that patches of the following conversation were blank in her mind.

"Ugh! You hit my co-worker! You will pay dearly for this young lady! Avada Kedavra!" The sickly green beam of light flew toward her in an elegant dance as she stepped in front of her children, eyes and arms wide. Simultaneously the portkey glowed blue before both of her babies disappeared from sight. She turned to the wall, where several portraits were fixed and saw the handsome face of Harry, dancing along with her in their wedding. Then everything went dark.

Ginny awoke a few minutes later, or was it hours? She sat up and looked around. Everything around her was really bright but she recognised the surroundings. She was in Harry's office at the Ministry. The only difference was that everything was white. A door to the left of her opened and Ginny saw another person, who looked so like her, appear. She walked forward and kneeled in front of her. She had long red hair, unlike her ginger locks and the shade of emerald which Ginny so loved, for her eyes. She did not have freckles and looked so familiar. That was when Ginny realized who it was. It was Harry's mother, Lily Potter.

"Mrs Potter?" Ginny asked slowly. She smiled in return.

"Yes dear."

"W-where am I?" Ginny asked, looking around.

"Do you recognize the place?" Lily asked. Ginny nodded.

"It looks like Harry's office."

"Harry's office, you say? Do you think you can go back? To, let's say, the Potter Manor?"

"I don't know but I want to! Those murderers are after Harry and my babies!" Ginny exclaimed, looking frantic. Lily sighed.

"I am afraid that cannot happen, dear. You see, an entity sent me here. He said that his name was Death. He could not come here in person as he said that those in limbo cannot meet him unless they want to get burned alive. Well, as much alive as they are in limbo."

"So, I am in limbo?" Ginny asked. Lily nodded.

"You have two choices as Death informed me. Leave the 'mortal world' behind and join us in afterlife. Or, go back to the 'mortal world' but stay there as neither a ghost nor a living being."

"What will I be then?"

"An entity of yourself, Ginny," Lily replied.

"Oh, but why am I the only one who can go back when you weren't given the chance to?" Ginny asked.

"That's because the Master of Death asked Death to send you back," Lily replied. Ginny wondered who the Master of Death was. "Besides that, Death sensed your hiraeth to go back to your family. He or she, told me that it was so strong combined with the Master of Death's wish that even Death could not deny your wishes."

Ginny smiled. So, her hiraeth was so strong. "I will be visible? To Harry? My sons?" Ginny asked her most important question. Lily sighed again.

"You will be visible to the person who sees you first when you reach the world as an entity, dear," Lily explained.

"You mean. . . If Harry doesn't see me first, he will never be able to see me?"

"Yes. You will be able to see him but he will not be able to see you nor hear you. The person who sees you will be able to see you and hear you, even feel you. I shall say one thing that Death said. You will be sent back to a place where only four people will have the chance to see you first," Lily said.

"Who are they?" Ginny asked.

"Harry, Ron, your brother, Mr Lopez, a delegate of the Mexican ministry and Miss Tiana, the saleslady of Flying Ford Angelia showroom at Mexico."

Ginny groaned. Two completely unknown people. But she had to take the chance. She might get Harry to see her first or Ron.

"I will go to the mortal world, Mrs Potter," Ginny said firmly. Lily smiled and hugged her.

"You will not remember any of this for a while. Good luck, dear."

That was all she heard before she blacked out once more. When she woke up, she was lying on a soft cushion of sorts. She sat up straight and found herself in the backseat of a car. Ron, grinning widely, approached the car. His face turned to that of surprise when he saw her. "Ginny! What are you doing here?!" Ron exclaimed.

The tale finished and two confused siblings sat there looking thoughtful for several minutes. Several parts of Ginny's out of the world experience were omitted as she herself seemed to have forgotten them. Ron thought he had lost his sanity.

"Does that mean you are with me forever?" Ron asked breaking the silence. Ginny looked at him and her eyes widened. Then a small smile played on her lips and she nodded. "So, you can see your children grow up!" Ron said, enthusiastically. Ginny nodded again.

"A favour, brother. Will you do it?" She asked. Ron nodded.

"Anything for you."

"I want you to go and tell our family that Ginny will not want them to grieve for her. Tell Harry especially."

Ron nodded and accepted her request though he doubted if anyone would believe in him. As if she was reading his thoughts, Ginny spoke up.

"Don't tell them about this, Ron. Let it be a secret. Our little secret," she said. Ron smiled and extended his hand to her. She grinned and wrapped her little finger with his.

"Pinky promise."

So there is the reason for Ginny's appearance. I hope you liked reading this chapter. A much light hearted one.

Thank you for reading.

Miyoko x