Lifeline - 9

According to Ginny, the only positive aspect to the whole ordeal was that all the restorative potions she'd been required to take had had the wonderful side effect of speeding up her hair growth.

Ginny's fiery hair now reached halfway down her back, and she again was able to pull it back into her familiar ponytail. Once she'd realized the effect, Madam Pomfrey had even given a much smaller dose to Hermione to hurry along her re-growth, as well.

Ginny had made good use of her time in confinement, catching up on all the schoolwork that she'd been neglecting. Between her mother, Hermione, and Professor McGonagall's visits, she was bound to score well on her end-of-term exams. While Ginny revised, Harry had been spending his time training with the Aurors. He knew the time for his final confrontation with Voldemort was growing ever nearer, and he wanted to feel as ready as he could for when that day arrived.

His stomach still twisted in knots whenever he thought about it, but he knew what had to be done. He'd finished his letters to Ron, Hermione and Ginny and knew they'd take care of Hedwig after he was gone. He'd been trying to practice the Occlumency exercises that Draco and Narcissa had shown him, but still felt it was useless. All he needed to do was break into Voldemort's mind once – that would be enough. He planned on going to the Department of Mysteries and letting the tosser know he was there.

He'd even considered again asking Draco for help but decided that would be a last option. Harry thought he'd rather face Voldemort than have to owe anything to the Slytherin prat.

On the morning that Ginny was finally scheduled to be released, Harry and Ron met her in the hospital wing.

"Out of bed, you lazy wretch. We're here to spring you," Ron said, grinning as they entered the door.

Ginny turned her head and promptly stuck out her tongue at her brother.

"Oh, that's mature," Ron said, plopping into the chair beside her bed.

Harry leaned over and gave Ginny a quick kiss before taking the other chair. "How does it feel to finally be getting out of here?" he asked, grinning. She'd been complaining to him nonstop for days.

"Brilliant," she said, sliding her legs over the side of the bed and standing up, fully dressed. Harry could see the necklace he'd given her for Christmas glittering in the sunlight streaming in from the window. "Let's hurry before she changes her mind."

"Hang on. Mum will curse me if I take you out of here, and she doesn't get to be part of it. She's bringing her camera," Ron said gleefully.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother! What's got you so chipper this morning, anyway? Where's Hermione?" she asked.

"Dunno. She was supposed to meet us in the common room, but Fleur told us she said to go ahead without her," Ron replied, frowning.

"Those two were definitely up to something," Harry said, pleased to see Ginny looking so healthy. "D'you know anything?"

Ginny shrugged. "How would I know? I'm the one who's been stuck in here."

"Yeah, but you always know everything," Harry replied.

"And don't you forget it," Ginny said, waggling her eyebrows.

Harry chuckled, taking her hand and swinging it back and forth. His heart always felt lighter when he stood near her. The hospital door opened again, and Bill entered, followed closely by Fleur and a dark-haired Hermione. For the first time since her accident, she wasn't wearing her red wig.