He then earned himself another round of hugs. This time from Isabel, Gran, Cygnus and Sirius. He walked over to stand at the head of Daphne's bed, leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "I'm safe, sweetheart," he murmured to her. "You had nothing to worry about." Before moving on to greet the other two. At Hermione's bedside he leaned in and kissed her of the forehead and said, "You did it, Hermione. You figured it out weeks before Neville, I, Susan and Hannah did. And we have you and your research skills to thank for heading us in the right direction to find the Chamber."
"Errr - Harry?" said Sirius.
"Mmm?" he replied.
"You know they can't hear you, right?" his godfather asked.
"I know I've been told they can't hear me," he replied. "But how many other people have there ever been who have been petrified by a thousand year old basilisk? And has given evidence to say whether or not they could hear, or otherwise understand, while being petrified?"
"Errr..." said Sirius. Harry just grinned at him.
Mister and Missus Weasley approached and, with a very visible nudge from her husband, Missus Weasley said, "I apologise for trying to hug you earlier, Mister Potter. It is clear to me now I could have gotten us both seriously hurt or killed because you had those - items on your person at the time.
"However, now that I have calmed down from being a frantic mother, grateful her daughter had been rescued and was alive, may I give you a hug?"
Harry smiled and said, "Apology accepted, and yes."
With a beaming smile, Missus Weasley came forward and hugged him. Backing off just as it was becoming uncomfortable, she said, "Thank you, Mister Potter. My daughter is priceless to me and my family. If there's anything we can do for you, please, just ask."
"The only thing I ask - actually, I pretty much demand it," said Harry. "Is get Ginevra in to see a proper mind healer. She's going to need it."
Both Weasley parents blushed and looked down. Mister Weasley coughed and said, "We - that is, we can't..."
Understanding their embarrassment, Harry cut in and said, "As Neville and I saved her life, I hope you'll accept I don't want all that hard effort to go to waste. I'll organise a mind healer for her. You just need to make sure she goes to see him or her."
"We can't accept charity," said Missus Weasley.
"You said I was to tell you if there was anything you could do for me," he firmly said. "This is it. It will make me very happy if she receives proper mental care. Tom Riddle, the spirit that had her under thrall, told Neville and I what Ginevra had been writing in that diary. He bragged about how - pitiful - she sounded.
"I will not cause her further embarrassment by relaying it to you. But it was sufficient to convince me she needs this. So, I'm going to pay for it. Alright?"
Molly looked like she was still going to refuse, but Arthur said, "Thank you, Mister Potter. I will ensure our daughter attends those appointments."
After a few moments hesitation, Missus Weasley said, "There's one other thing."
"Yes?" he asked.
"Ginny wonders if she can talk to you for a while," she replied. "She wants to thank you." "Of course," said Harry.
He walked over to where the girl was lying on her side looking absolutely miserable.
He grabbed a stool and placed it on the side she was facing and sat down on it. "Hey, you," he greeted her.
Ginevra burst into tears again, so Harry stood and bent over the bed, wrapping the girl in a hug. "I'm sooo sorry," she sobbed. "I nearly got everyone killed. I nearly got you, the famous Harry Potter, killed. I..."
"Ginevra - Ginny! - Stop," said Harry. Once the sobbing subsided, he moved her back to lying in the bed and retook seat on the stool. "You are an eleven year old girl who was tricked by a magical device designed to do exactly what it almost did to you. You didn't really stand a chance." "But he was such a nice boy at first," she said. "I trusted him. It wasn't until it was too late I found out he was also - Voldemort."
Harry heard the Weasley parents gasp. And thought he heard others.
"I know," said Harry. "That is, or was, Voldemort's greatest power. When he wanted to, he was able to charm anyone out of practically anything. And that includes some of the wisest witches and wizards out there.
"He has practically everyone else - but not you and me - convinced he is a pureblood. But we know the truth, don't we?"
With a bare hesitation she nodded.
"No, we know he is only a half-blood," he continued. "And that he's lied to everyone else, about who he really is. We know Voldemort's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle." She nodded again.
She suddenly said, "Thank you for saving my life!" And blushed before turning away.
"You are most welcome," he replied. "But please remember that Neville Longbottom was also part of that. It was he, who had the rooster to crow. And, it was he, who sent the one who calls himself Voldemort flying across the Chamber with an overpowered Stunning Charm when he was about to kill me. And he did it, twice. So, you should think about saying that to him too, alright?"
She nodded and said, "Alright."
"Good," he said. "Now, there's something you can do for me over summer. It's not a big thing, but it is an important thing. Alright?"
"Alright," she replied, looking a little happier. "To help you overcome the terrible year you've just had here at Hogwarts, your parents are allowing me to have you speak to someone about whatever is bothering you," he said. "So, whatever you were writing in that diary, you can now talk about with a real person who will really help you, rather than tell you lies like Riddle did.
"What I want you to do is write to me, as often as you like, over summer and tell me about both how those visits go - and how much you're enjoying your summer alright?"
"I can do that," she said.
"Thank you," he replied with a smile. "Now, if you will excuse me, Miss Weasley, there are other people demanding of my time today. I have yet to see Susan Bones or Hannah Abbott, and I expect they will want to kick my and Neville's bums for not coming and seeing them as soon as we brought you out of the Chamber, to let them know we were alright."
"Alright, Harry; thank you," she smiled.
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