Disclaimer: I do not own the characters created by J.K.Rowling, only the plot is mine

Note 7/9/2003: This is the beginning of the revised version of Bring Me to Life to reflect the changes in Book 5. So be warned there will be spoilers for Book 5.

Chapter 1 The Pain of Victory

Harry Potter watched the smoldering embers of Lord Voldemort that lay before him while the mantra It's over, it's finally over reverberated through his head. A slight wind swirled around the remains of a horrendous battle. Silence filled Harry's senses despite the bustle of other witches and wizards recovering their persons and wits.

A roaring wave of emotion overcame him emitting in a shout of, "It's over." The joyous release that was clamoring to leave his soul echoed across the charred field. All Harry's energy seemed drained from his body with that final expulsion. Weak as he was he remained standing his wand laying limply at his feet testament to the long battle that had preceded this moment.

"Harry. Harry. Oh God, Harry!" He heard his name from a distance, thevoice all too familiar and all too poignant. Harry Potter perhaps the greatest wizard alive felt a tear trace his cheek as the voice of Hermione Granger called to him from a distance.

Harry's head snapped up despite his exhaustion, coming toward him at an admirable clip, no, at an all out sprint was the source of the voice. Hermione's golden brown hair, not as bushy as in her youth but shiny and wavy despite the bits of dust and debris that had found a new home in her locks, flew out behind her as she raced for the arms of Harry. She looked tired and haggard but undamaged as she neared the weary Harry. She was everything Harry wanted to see at that moment. Emotionally exhausted he had fought Lord Voldemort with everything that he had, gaining retribution for the death of his parents, Cedric, and the many other students and families that had been killed over the years including Percy Weasley. Hermione and her capture had been the ultimate catalyst for this attack on Lord Voldemort. Information provided by Draco Malfoy had allowed the location and timing to occur. Looking at the woman rushing to his side and the destruction that was wrought all around Harry knew he was done with it all, especially with the people he loved in his life being sacrificed and it appeared that the fates were also done with this.

"Oh God Harry, I love you. How I missed saying that to you, I was so scared. I was worried that the attack was too soon. He was so strong I wasn't sure you." Hermione's over active mind and mouth was quickly silenced by Harry Potter in the best known way.

He pulled back quickly. "Shhhh. Hermione we can talk later all I want is to hold you and love you." Hermione quickly responded by clutching Harry to her pouring her love into a kiss that could not be interrupted.

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Draco Malfoy observed the touching scene between the reunited boyfriend and girlfriend from the dark recesses of the battlefield. His implacable exterior was roughened and worn, his testament to the battle that had occurred physically and mentally on this summer evening. His pale blond hair fluttered in the breeze, no longer slicked back, but shorter and sculpted. Soot scattered across his features matching the darkness emanating from his gray eyes.

Draco looked down as the happy couple began to make their way past the busy medi-witches and rejoicing aurors. They wandered off hand in hand oblivious to the death and destruction that remained. The sight of their enraptured departure had finally forced his vision down. He had been refusing to look down for as long as possible not wanting to face the reality that was now his to live. At his feet lay the body of Lucius Malfoy, his father. Draco's own knife, hand made and given to him for his 16th birthday by his mother shortly before she left the earth, protruded from his chest. The inscription draconis fidelitas was no longer visible as the knife was sunk to the hilt. How ironic Draco quickly thought at the sight of his inscribed knife in his father, but the realities of the situation resurfaced. Blood had ceased to seep its way out of the mortal wound inflicted by his son, and Lucius's body remained still in death. Draco sighed emotions running strong through his body. He felt bone weary far beyond his 17 years, god knows he had experienced more in his short life than any wizard would experience in their whole life. He stared down at the remains of his father, his only family after the death of his mother and contemplated his actions. He had made the ultimate sacrifice for the victory today and was now at a loss as to where to turn. All around him joy reverberated, yet Draco felt no joy in his heart. He was alone, not only physically but also emotionally.

A flash of green light caught Draco's peripheral vision. He whipped his head toward the confines of Voldemort's lair. They had attacked Voldemort in his home - if you could call it that. The light had disappeared but a shock of auburn hair caught his attention. Virginia Weasley. Of course - she too had been abducted off the Hogwarts express at the same time as Hermione Granger, while they headed back to London for the summer. Most had assumed her taking had been part of the ploy to draw Harry Potter into Voldemort's clutches much like the capture of Hermione. After all she was his best friend's sister and well known for her infatuation with the Boy- who-lived. How could the Dark Lord be expected to understand the intricacies of a teenage boy's love life? Draco knew that wasn't the whole story, living in Malfoy manor allowed one to gain certain insights into the dark lord's master plans, which had been his role all along. He was never able to discern the true use for Ginny Weasley, but he knew it had nothing to do with Harry Potter.

In the heat of the victory celebration no one had remembered to look for Ginny, after all Hermione had come running out anxious to be with Harry and the victors. Perhaps Ginny didn't want to join those who had defeated the Dark Lord, after all the status of Virginia Wesley had always had questions bandied about since her role in the opening of the Chamber of Secrets.

Ginny, as Draco approached, obviously did not fair as well in captivity as her friend, Hermione. Whereas Hermione appeared unharmed and eager to be brought back into the fold, Ginny remained motionless on the stone floor of the ruined entrance to Voldemort's castle. Her limbs lay sprawled in the dirt and ashes that remained of the dark resistance. Draco was able to make out severe bruising on her bare arms and legs; her school uniform was in shambles exposing most of her body. It was torn, dirty and bloody. She didn't move as Draco approached, as a concession to life he heard small whimpers coming from her slight form.

Well at least she's alive

Before Draco could reach her side the flash of green light reappeared and Draco now knew its source. Virginia Weasley.

The light intensified and pulled Ginny's lifeless body into the air, her limbs and head hanging limply. The light pulsed and surged as it gained strength - its source her body. She began to awaken, as the light grew brighter encircling her body. A primeval scream was wrenched from her very soul as the light reached its zenith and blood began to pour from her body. Draco was unable to determine the source of the life fluid only comprehend its mass amount. And with that it was over as quickly as it had begun.

Ginny's body fell from the air with a small thud and blood beginning to pool underneath her. Silence embraced the small alcove that her body rested in. Draco had expected to hear the sound of many feet racing over to the sight of such a powerful magical demonstration, yet silence reigned. The harsh breaths wracking Virginia's small frame combined with Draco's accelerated breathing were the only sounds. Draco looked around the clean up of the battle continued unaltered by the small girl in from of him. He moved forward astonished that no one else had apparently seen this. He picked her body, shocked at how light and still she was. He looked up there were medi-witches and wizards everywhere but each was laden with patients, this had been a bloody battle. Looking down at his charge clarity entered his mind for the first time in days, perhaps weeks. With a pop he and Ginny were gone.

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Pain, it was all she knew, all she could feel. It radiated through her every limb and reverberated through her head. It wasn't a sharp stabbing pain, but an intense ache that refused to cease its conquest of her body and mind. Ginny continued to breath trying to gain control over her body. Control was her one vice - she needed it. As the pain became manageable her senses slowly returned to determining her surroundings. It wasn't familiar - that was all her brain was able to comprehend. She was in pain so the logical assumption her mind made placed her in some sort of infirmary. It certainly was not at Hogwarts, she thought. Although she had not spent a great deal of time with Madam Pomfrey beyond her first year she knew this was not a school bed. The smell she thought - or rather the lack of smell- the Hogwarts infirmary retained a certain clinical smell mixed with incense that this place did not possess. In fact she smelled very little, only a slight hint of male cologne - a sandalwood scent.

Well Ginny time to get on with it, the pain can't get any worse

One topaz eye cracked open and subdued light entered her vision. Slowly the second eye followed. She was surrounded by draperies, luxurious ones at that - a silver and black brocade. The curtains were drawn on three sides of the bed sheltering its occupant from the bright morning sun. Ginny turned her head to the opening to obtain a better understanding of where she lay. The curtains helped little - she not acquainted with any beds this luxurious although a slight memory tugged at the surface of her mind. The movement of her head to the right brought a fresh bought of pain through her muscles and head resulting in a sharp intake of air and a whimper she quickly quelled. But it was enough to rouse the other occupant to the room.

A blonde head arose quickly also with a sharp intake. Sleep softened Draco Malfoy's features as he looked at his patient. He said nothing for a moment allowing him to shake the cobwebs from his head. He scowled, it wasn't very often that he fell asleep sitting alongside his own bed and the disorientation caused by this ate at his precious self-control - that was his vice. He watched her face as she took in the situation; she didn't appear shocked although he doubted that after her summer much could ever shock her again. A pity he thought, her facial expressions were worth millions, Draco found himself slightly sad that the sight of Ginny Weasley shocked would not be experienced more often.

She opened her mouth to question her surroundings but was surprised by the small croak that was the only sound she was able to make. Her mouth in a surprised "o" brought a smirk to Draco's face.

"Hang on there Weasley, just like a Gryffindor acting before thinking! I'll get you some water, just don't go spilling it on my sheets they're 300 count you know." Draco rose from the gilt chair that he had unfortunately spent the night in, and headed toward the door.

"Roderick! Water please." A small house elf smartly dressed in a black and silver pillowcase appeared almost immediately a large glass in one hand and a pewter pitcher in the other hand.

"Here Master Draco, water as you requested, will there be anything else that Roderick can obtain for you?"

Well at least you can depend on the personality of a Malfoy Ginny mused utterly confused at her situation, but knowing she was in no place to question it. Even the house elves are snobs she thought.

Draco knelt by her side and snaked an arm behind her back to help her into a sitting position. A cry of pain broke the silence of the room, Ginny couldn't contain the response to the splintering pain throughout her abdomen. "Shhhh. I know it hurts, but you need some water and then I can give you a potion for the pain. I'll make sure the pain goes away." Draco whispered this promise in her ear. Ginny looked down in confusion, she would never have thought he would have carried about her pain. In fact she rather thought he would have relished her current position. She noticed that her hand was curled in his loose robes her knuckles white in response. She quickly removed her hand from his side and returned them to the bed and steadied her self as Draco slowly removed his arm. He returned quickly with a glass of water and held it to her dry lips. Ginny stared at him with large eyes. He looked closely and saw every emotion he could think of, pain, fear, horror, and loneliness reflected in her giant topaz eyes as he helped the water into her mouth.

As she swallowed Draco took advantage and began speaking, "no need to worry Weasley I have no intention of hurting you in any way, in fact the reason you are able to drink this water right now is because my Medi-wizard personally saw to your health. That's enough for now you'll get sick if you have anymore." Draco pulled the glass away from her lips that seemed to follow the rim as it left her. She coughed loud and hard as the water made its way though her system. "shhh. shhhh." he rubbed her back to ease the coughing, thinking how painful it must be to her small frame.

"Why?. Why are you helping me?" Ginny managed to make out before coughing ceased her attempts at speech.

A smile appeared on Draco's face. Ginny would have gasped in astonishment had she been able to, that was not the characteristic Malfoy smirk; it rather seemed to resemble an actual smile. "Why Weasley, why wouldn't I help you, its not like I could leave you to die, after all I am not that horrible a person despite contrary opinions, and how could I pass up the opportunity to have a Weasley beholden to me."

Draco looked down at the redhead in his bed, it was all a lie everything he was saying to her. But he didn't think she would believe the truth, not after having known the Draco she did for the past 6 years. While he was for the most part an unfeeling bastard, afterall one could not fully escape their upbringing, a general concern for her welfare did exist. She had been used ever since his father had placed that blasted diary in her bag her first year. That violation alone raised his ire, but his position in school, in society regarding his family and when he turned to the light his position as a spy prevented him from expressing any sort of emotion for her or anyone else for that matter. He felt an unexplainable draw to the girl, she had experienced a great deal and had given a lot for the cause, perhaps as much as he had, and both went relatively unnoticed. She was a good human being; one that he had watched for years through his cruel veneer who was left behind, ignored. He felt somewhat responsible for her status; he knew many had feared Ginny after her role in Chamber, that and her shyness and infatuation for Harry Potter had alienated her to a certain degree at school. But Ginny would never have understood this right now, she probably thought he was still a death eater waiting until she was well to drag out her horrendous death.

"I'm not a death eater - so you can drop all thoughts that I will kill now or when you are well. The doctor will be back in the morning he told me to make sure you take this potion, it will relieve the pain and help you sleep."

"What happened to me, why am I hurt?" Draco halted her questions, "The doctor will talk to you in the morning, now drink up, I'm sure its only as gross as it looks."

Ginny gulped down the grayish lumpy liquid, her face scrunching up in distaste. "Ugh! I hope I never have to drink that again" she murmured as the potion quickly took effect and she began to nod off again. Draco sighed surveying the extent of the injuries on the small frame under his sheets he thought there will be a great deal more of these potions for Virginia Weasley.

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"Albus! What is going on?" an agitated Arthur Weasley paced the well worn floor of the burrow. Molly Weasley sat at the table stifling sobs with a handkerchief. "My baby, my baby Percy!" she sniffled.

"Molly, I am so sorry for your loss, I cannot express the sorrow that I personally feel as well as the whole staff at Hogwarts. Percy was one of our best students, he had such a love for knowledge and a passion for advancement." Albus placed a comforting hand on Molly's shuddering shoulder.

"Thank you Albus, your consolation is greatly appreciated by our whole family, we will be holding services in four days. We would be honored if you and the staff could attend." Arthur responded for Molly who continued to cry. "Molly, honey why don't you go lay down I'll send Charlie up with a glass of tea to settle you, I'll continue talking with Albus."

Arthur watched Molly's retreating figure up the stairs. "Charlie!" A dark red head appeared in the living room's entrance worry lines creased his handsome face. "yes dad." "Could you take your mother a glass of tea, she's in the bedroom."

"Well, Arthur how are you holding up?"

"As well as expected. I suppose we were lucky to only lose one, some families were demolished. It's still hard to comprehend that Percy is gone." Arthur ran an agitated hand through his bright red locks.

"True Arthur, true, at least only one is lost. How is Ron recovering, I was thinking of visiting him before I left."

"He's doing well, he doesn't know about Percy yet, he was too weak when we got him home, I'll tell him tomorrow, the medi-witch said he should be up to par by then. The body bind curse that hit him was potent but not long- lasting. The twins were in with him all morning cheering him up, even Harry and Hermione stopped by." Arthur smiled at the happiness exuding from his surrogate son Harry. "How is the staff at Hogwarts?"

"Well, there were some losses, Lazarduex the DADA professor showed his true colors and turned to the Dark Lord, Snape was badly injured but Madam Pomfrey assures me that he will make it, we also lost Trewlaney she put up quite a fight but Voldemort desired her seeing skills too much. The school remained unharmed so there is a bright side, there shouldn't be too much of a delay in the reopening of classes. I think a bit of normalcy will be appreciated by most students in these trying times."

Arthur and Albus chatted for a few minutes discussing trivial matters that alleviated Arthur's mind from the grief that had consumed his soul for two days. Albus interrupted Arthur's wandering mind.

"She's going to be fine, I made sure she was receiving proper medical care."

Arthur stared blankly at the aged professor in front of him.

"I wasn't sure if you were going to ask after her, but I felt it my duty to inform you of her health."

Arthur continued to stare silently. "I don't know what to think about her." he paused rubbing the bridge of his nose. "She didn't come out of his lair, Hermione did, what am I supposed to think, it seems as though that's where she wanted to be."

"Well Arthur, she is your daughter, I can't tell you what to think about her, but I will have you know that she is not at fault in the situation that resulted in Percy's death or the rise of Voldemort. She is in fact very badly injured. I dare say she would be able to return here in a week or so, right now she is too fragile to be transported."

Arthur sighed, Albus's words hit him in the heart, it was his only daughter and she was hurting, of course he wanted her at home despite any of his previous thoughts that his daughter was in allegiance with the Dark Lord or had aided in the demise of his son and her brother. "Of course Albus, let me know when she can be moved and where she is and we'll arrange for transport."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, she is in a secure location that must be protected. I will contact you when she can be brought over."Albus arose to his full height, "Well I'll be up to see young Mr. Weasley then I'll be back to the school." Every inch the world renown wizard, Albus Dumbledore rose from worn kitchen chair and made his way up the narrow stairs of the burrow to visit one of his favorite red-haired students.