Story: Moira
Chapter Thirty One: She's Gone Again

After a few minutes of waiting in agony, the door of the room opened. She looked up to see her Headmaster walking towards them, his face in a tensed expression. He kneeled down facing her and took Harry's cold hand.

"Ginny, what happened to him?"

"I-I don't know Master! He – I saw him entering this room the day before yesterday. I couldn't find him for a while and when I finally did I saw a fire surrounding him. He was. . . was losing control over his power and there were two silvery figures. I was one of them and there was Alarie's brother, Nathaniel too!

"When I controlled the fire to some extent, I saw him fainted on the ground so I supported him to this room. He – we had an argument and I left. . . Ron said he did not return for the whole night so I came here and – oh, I should have never fought with him!" Ginny exclaimed in despair. Dumbledore seemed to understand something she did not.

"I think he used his power twice in a matter of few hours. It has weakened him considerably," Dumbledore said as he gently laid Harry's hand to his side.

"But why?"

"That is probably for the greater good," Dumbledore replied. Ginny felt her anger raising. Why was everyone keeping her in the dark?

"Master –"

"He needs to eat as soon as he wakes up. It might take him sometime but continue what you are doing now, Ginny," Dumbledore cut in. Ginny looked at him, exasperation and confusion evident on her face. "Hold his hand."

"But why?!" this time, she shouted, being unable to keep the irritation in her system.

"Because Moira has her ways of playing with lives. I know not anymore than that."

And so, for the whole night she sat down, huddled in front of the fireplace, her hand tightly gripping Harry's cold one. Dumbledore had shifted him to the sofa which was serving as his bed.

Ginny had sent a patronus to Hermione stating that she did not find him and that she was going to find a spell to locate him. She also added that there was no need to reply unless they found him which was, she knew for sure, impossible unless Harry had a doppelganger.

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Harry woke up to the feel of someone's hand in his but he couldn't open his eyes in an instant. He shifted slightly to his side and fluttered open his eyes. He looked down and saw a mass of red hair lying on the empty space beside him. He tried to talk but his throat had long since gone dry. He felt his heart throb in his ribcage. Feeling really weak to do anything, he closed his eyes and fell asleep once again.

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When Harry woke up again, he was feeling slightly better and was greeted by Ginny's concerned brown orbs.

"Harry! You idiotic prat!" she shouted, immediately withdrawing her hand from his. Harry felt his energy drain and collapsed again.

He woke up, ten minutes later.

"Harry! You idiot! Oh – I'm so sorry!" Harry tried to laugh but it came out as a fit of coughs. "Don't! Don't stress yourself. Accio water bottle!" He heard the sound of water splashing against its container. "Here, take a sip."

Using a straw that she conjured, he took a slow and long sip, relishing in the effect that the cool water caused on its way down his throat.

"Ssa –" Harry's voice came out as a hiss before he shut his mouth at her glare.

"Shut it! Seriously, you gave all of us a panic attack! What's wrong with you?! Who told you to use your power more than once in an hour?!" she ranted. Harry winced then tried to glare at her but in vain. She fought so heatedly but loved him so sweetly even if she wouldn't admit it to him.

Harry tried to get up but she pushed him down rather harshly. "Stay here. I'll get you something to eat. Master told you must eat something as soon as you wake up." She got up and was about to leave but he tugged at their entwined hands.

"'tay," he managed to get out. She looked at him with concerned eyes then sat back down. After a few minutes of silence, which actually seemed like hours of bliss to him, he let her go. She was back within a few minutes with three pieces of veggie sandwich. Harry relished it greatly then sat up for he hadn't eaten in days. "Ginny."

"Yes?" Her red hair reflected all shades of the bold colour as the fire fell on it. Harry looked at the glimmering silver thing on his right hand: it was the ring that his Master had given him to keep his powers under control. He had been wearing it since the tournament started but had never really paid much attention to its intricate and beautiful patterns. Finding a sudden attraction to the ring, he thought of words to say.

"I'm sorry. I have wasted your time by fainting often. You must be tired of reviving me."

Ginny sighed deeply. "Harry, I'm not tired of caring for you. I care about you. . . a lot. That's why I want to help you. I'm tired of you keeping secrets from me," she replied, her eyes downcast. Harry looked at her with a steely determination that caused her to look up at him, through his dark green eyes which spoke of nothing but the painful truth. "I got it then. You don't want to tell me to keep me safe." Harry nodded and she sighed again. "How many times have I told you that I can protect myself all too well?"

"Ginny! You don't understand! This isn't the matter of defending yourself! It's the matter of murdering the enemy and keeping you safe!"

"Then, I want to help you murder that unknown enemy too!"

"I can't let you. . . You are too pure and I, too historically bloody. I'm supposed to be. . . given everything's going on . . . I can't fight there knowing that you are in danger, a few seconds away from d-death!" Harry blurted out.

"And why would that be?" Ginny probed, her eyes showing irritation.

"B-because. . . because I l-love you!"

The room fell painfully silent. Harry feared her rejection with every passing second. Hell, he couldn't even look at her. He felt a sickening feeling at the pit of his stomach and his heart jumped to his throat.

"Y-you love me?" she asked in a low whisper which was barely audible.

"I'm – I'm sorry! I-I didn't –" Harry was cut off by Ginny placing her head on his shoulder. She was muttering his confession under her breath as if she didn't believe that it was true. After a few more minutes of the dreadful silence, she sat up straight and looked him in the eyes, chocolate brown meeting dark green. Taking his hand in hers, she took a deep breath. Harry watched, mesmerized by her beauty.

"Alright. Don't tell me anything but do you trust me?"

Harry wasn't sure he could answer without his voice cracking but his reply came out in a clear voice. "Yes."

"Let's not fight anymore. That's all I can say," said Ginny before standing up and leaving the room.

Harry sat there in stunned silence, apparently unable to think straight. Visions of the left out horcruxes streaked across his mind in bright, incorrigible flashes. He still had three more to find, two unknown and one tough to kill but mental photos of Ginny kept appearing over and over again in front of his eyes that he held his head and shouted to let some steam off.

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Back in the ship, Draco had finally woken up.

"Draco! Are you fine?" Astoria asked, looking concerned. Draco nodded dizzily. "What happened? Ginny didn't tell me what happened! Why would you get a panic attack all of a sudden?"

"Ginny? Wait, how – how did she get to know?" Draco stammered. Astoria shrugged.

"She sent me a patronus telling that you were ill."

"Ron probably asked her to," Draco guessed. He took a sip of the water which Astoria offered. "Where's he? Is Harry okay?" Astoria looked uncomfortable before answering with as much a straight face as possible.

"Ron – Harry err – they are having breakfast!" she half shouted and Draco feigned a grimace.

"Cool, Tori. I ain't deaf and I'm beside you," he said, removing his hands from his ears. Astoria nodded, lightly breathless from lying but Draco seemed to buy it. "Alright then. What's stopping us?"

Draco's face coming closer was the last thing Astoria saw before travelling to a world of hearts.

Wanted to write Drastoria since forever so here it is! Your thoughts on this chapter? Comment!

And today is the first month anniversary of the book! *squeals*

I got carried away lol. I'll stop.

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x