Mortalife's Collection of Unfinished Stories

by Mortalife

A range of different stories I wrote a few years ago in an attempt to fill a void for technology and magic, or a desire to read about rune magic. Enjoy. :)

1. Story 1

Hello everyone, welcome to my collection of unfinished, unpolished Harry Potter stories. I like to think sometimes that I'm capable of writing something of interest, I try, I fail, and these are the results.

Most the things you are about to read (If you stay around that long) are ideas which I wanted to read but couldn't find somebody which had written it. So be all means, take the ideas I have attempted to scrawl (Metaphorically) on these pages (Word doc's. ;)), and create something new and brilliant.

And will that, I give you..

Story 1: When Harry Met Ginny + Well that's pretty weird.. 11k Words (5 Chapters)

***Disclaimer: I own nothing, well, not quite true but nonetheless, I do not own Harry Potter. I am not making cash, no copyright infringement intended.

Chapter One: Odd

Harry was a normal boy, well he thought he was normal. Okay, he's not normal. It's not every day that your parents die and you get carted off to live with your mothers sister. His aunt thought she was normal, doing all her incredibility normal things, one normal day after another. But to be honest with you, she wasn't all that normal either.

Is wasn't long before the occupants of number 4 Privet Drive started to wake, which meant one thing for Harry, get up and start the chores.

"BOY, GET UP, GET UP!" His red faced Uncle shouted as he passed his cupboard under the stairs.

Harry was woken from a pleasant dream, it was about two animals running together through some woods. Strange. Rubbing his eyes, he picked up his trousers from the corner. Careful to remove the spider that had taken sanctuary there during the night.

Most people would be disgusted at the thought of making a child sleep under the stairs. It wasn't that Harry didn't disagree, but more that he knew nothing else. And there was one thing he could be sure of, it was his cupboard, and he knew nobody would go in there. Not that they could fit He thought with a smile.

"Wipe that smile off your face, and start breakfast!"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon"

And that started the morning just like every other. He moved over to the fridge, removed a couple packets of bacon, a packet of sausages and the butter. It took him nearly an hour to make a mound of food that would be acceptable, to his 'family'.

"Get a move on, boy! Some of us have to work around here!"

"After all we've done for you! And you keep us starving. We put clothes on your back, gave you a place to sleep. And all the love in our hearts."

"Quite right, Petunia, quite right." Said his uncle as he started to move the food to the table. Dudley his cousin took this moment to enter the room.

Harry had his back to the door, and didn't notice his entrance. Which was quite unfortunate really. You see, Dudley had almost made it his life mission to torment his cousin, at every and any opportunity. Today was no different. Harry was making his way to the table, hands laden with the last of the cooked breakfast. With a sharp push, Harry was falling forward.

"Watch it, freak!" Dudley said as he waddled to his chair.

Not long after, the bowl of beans and the plate filled with buttered toast was running down his uncles suit. Awhh, poo.. Harry was lifting himself off the table, when his neck was yanked upwards to meet the purple face of Vernon Dursley. He winced.

It was at times like this that Harry often wondered to himself. Why was he treated as he was, and why did his cousin not get reprimanded for his part in today's events. As it was, he was scoffing his face, watching the by play with amusement.

The hands around his neck were now starting to cut off his supply of oxygen. One choke, two chokes.

"Vernon," Petunia voiced.

It wasn't in concern for the boys life in which she cautioned her husband, oh no. She was as much in for the child as he was. But she couldn't have the husband of her perfectly normal family go to jail for killing the freak.

He looked at her, and nodded, as much you can with three chins. Lifted the boy up and threw him towards the door with a thud.

"GET IN YOUR CUPBOARD, DON'T YOU DARE THINK OF COMING OUT!" And get in his cupboard, he did.

With the excitement of breakfast over with, and his uncle out the door towards towards work, Grunnings, the drill-bit manufacturer, where he worked as a factory manager. He thought back to his dream. It was a strange sort of dream, he wasn't watching the animals run around, he observed. It was almost as if he was the animal. I wish He resigned with sigh.

The weeks passed by without much fan fair. Harry didn't go to school the day of the breakfast incident. But, the next day, the bruises around his next clearly visible he was told to go. Not without a stern warning from his Uncle Vernon.

"I'm warning you freak, if you tell anyone where you got these bruises. I'll make sure you'll never be able to talk again. Got it?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon"

Like always, it was better to keep his mouth shut and agree. He's tried to fool his Uncle once before. Telling his teachers what was happening at home, but of course. The idea of an adults word is greater than a child's won over. His uncle claimed he was a chronic liar, and that was when his teachers started looking at him with suspicion, for every wrong doing committed at school.

So when he arrived at school that day, the obvious questions were asked. "Stay behind a moment, Harry"

"Yes, Mrs Jones," He whispered looking at his feet. He walked to the front of the class, glancing back, he watched the other students watching him as they walked out the room towards the playground.

"Harry, I want to know, where did you get those bruises?" His teacher eyed him.

"Funny story really, me and my cousin were playing, and he accidentally pushed me." Into my uncle and he strangled me. He added silently. She scowled at this.

"And what game would this be?" Harry's face quickly looked panicked. Looking for answers.

"Oh-Um, we were re-enacting a history lesson, yes," Looking down again.

"Okay, go and play with your friends. You've got five minutes," Harry snorted quietly on his way out. Friends. He thought with a sad smile.

The last weeks of school came and went, it was now summer holiday. And Harry spent almost all of his free time slaving in the house. The bruises around his neck started to lessen and life carried on as normal for the young boy, even if it was a twisted sort of normal.

The countryside is so beautiful from the air. His wings spread wide as his rode the wind like the master he was. Beating down strongly, the morning breeze flowing past his feathers. Soaring up, then in a swift movement, plummeted to ground. Thrill of the chase. His sharp claws dug easily into his preys neck.

Thud. Thud. THUD.

"Boy up! And tidy this kitchen we have guests for lunch!" Said his Aunt Petunia through the grill in the door.

"Ugh-"

"GET UP!"

"I'm up, I'm up!"

Harry got out out of bed, and got dressed quickly. Why did I have to wake? Such a good dream. He thought. Making his way into the kitchen he walked past the table.

"Look at you!" She screeched.

Harry turned around, his face plastered with confusion. What?

"You've got dirt all around your neck. What would the neighbours think-" "Maybe if you let me wash.." He muttered. His Aunt Petunia continued. "-get upstairs, and take a wash!"

So Harry turned around walked out the room and up the stairs. When he reached the bathroom he shed he clothes in the corner of the room. He turned on the shower to a moderate heat, he'd had enough scoldings for a lifetime. He glanced at the mirror. Hmm, suppose I am a little dirty.

Twenty minutes later, Harry was drying himself off, feeling more energised than he had in days. The wonders of hot water. He mused. He turned to the basin and put some tooth paste on his finger and began rubbing his teeth. It was only when he glanced up into the mirror for the second time that day, that he saw that the mark around his neck was still there. He frowned.

Harry rinsed his mouth and leant over the bowl towards the mirror for a closer look. That's when he saw the detail. It looked as if, somebody had painted a pattern on his back with sun cream before he went into the sun. On the back of his neck was a light patch of skin. It looked to be a pair of wings. He checked himself over. He noticed two others, one the lower-left-hand-side of his back, there was a flame. The other, on the opposite side, looked like a piece of Tiger skin. Confused and unable to gain a grasp of what they were, shrugged and dressed for the day.

Like always, Harry employed the 'Be silent and don't be seen' rule while the guests were over for dinner. With nothing better to do, he slipped out of the front door, and run off towards the local park. A few seconds after he set off, he looked back to see if he had been seen. Seeing the house as normal as ever, he continued on.

It didn't seem like he had been there ten minutes before Dudley as his gang arrived. As per usual, the group of five were looking for a lone kid to hurt. Today like so many days before it, Harry was that lone kid. Let the Harry Hunt begin.

Cmon, CMON! Just a little faster. Harry had been trying to escape for 20 minutes or so now. Being generally faster than the other group, and the slight head start he got (by predicting what was about to happen) he had gained some headway. All of that of course, was wasted when he hid in Mrs Franks front garden behind a bush. Only to have her run out the house screaming at him.

Piers, Dudley's 'Second in command' was closing in. They were about five minutes walk from school. His legs were beginning to tire. He knew what would happen if he stopped, he didn't want that. The burn continued, his usual pain tolerance exceeded, he franticly searched for a place to hide.

Pleeaase, cmon, there has to be somewhere! I wish I was away from here! He screamed in his mind. A second later the fire erupted within. He felt it surge then, 'Pop'.

Piers turned the corner, and saw nobody. It took a moment for Dudley to catch up. "Where'd.. ..He.. ..Go?" He asked between breaths.

"Dunno mate, just disappeared." He shrugged.

"Alright, lets head back to the park." Said the leader.

Harry felt like he being pushed at all sides, like somebody way trying to disfigure him using compressed air. It stopped suddenly, shortly after he was hit by a gust of wind and toppled over. He finally opened his eyes. Woaahh, I'm on the roof... I'M ON THE ROOF! He started to panic.

Now hang on a minute, He thought to himself. Their has to be some explanation. It's just not POSSIBLE to be there one minute and here another.

-Of course it is, silly. Said a chirping voice. Harry fainted.

Harry awoke a few hours later, he brushed the loose leaves off his face and opened his eyes. It was starting to get dark, and he was still stuck on the roof. He wondered for a second how he got there, then it came back to him in a rush, bring cased, appearing on the roof, the voice. The voice! Forget the voice. He thought. Now how to get down from here. How did I get up? That warm feeling, which grew then I appeared here.

Harry sat down and closed his eyes. Trying to remember exactly how it felt. The wish, the raging fire. It took him a few minutes but he could feel a heat in his chest. He reached with his mind, trying to make it grow so he could move again. His brow furrowed with concentration as he tried to call it forth. After 30 seconds, he let out the breath he'd been holding and stood up in frustration.

"Dammit, I just want to be down there!" He said with a growl. Once again, the fire swelled in his chest, then 'Pop'. "YES!"

When he got home that night, his Uncle Vernon was not happy. Apparently he'd shirked his duties to the family by running off to the park, then he had tried to bully 'Dudders'. Then come home at an 'Ungodly hour'. "Probably mixing with the wrong sort." He'd said. He stayed silent to the accusations, At least this way he got the least possible amount of beatings.

Purple faced Vernon dragged him off into the living room. Told him to take off his shirt and he loosened his belt. Belt in hand and shirtless freak on the floor, he swirled round with surprising speed for a man of his size. The leather belt slapped across his back, causing a shoot of pain. It took two more hits for the bursting man to notice the other marks on the boys back. He fumed, swinging his foot into the child's rib with a sickening crack.

"What's this boy?!" He demanded.

"What's what, sir?" Harry managed to rasp out between staggered breaths.

"What's what?! Think your funny do you freak, with your freaky marks on your back! Think you scare us do you?! I'll show you scared-"

It was some time later, that a beaten and broken Harry Potter was thrown into his cupboard, wavering on the edge of consciousness I'm going to die He thought.

-Not yet young one Came the chirping voice once again. The last feeling that Harry had before he met the darkness was the raging fire within his chest. He relished in it's warmth, as his mind slipped away.

Chapter Two: Wilderness

It had been three days since Vernon Dursley beat his nephew and threw him into the cupboard. In those three days there had been no sounds, no evidence that the child had survived.

After five days of silence, the Dursley's were starting to get worried, what was happening to their perfectly normal existence?

It was on the sixth day that Petunia voiced her fears to her husband. He told her he would sort it in the morning. After all, he always had the day off work on Sunday. So they could get rid of the freak and then visit church like every other upstanding citizen.

Vernon had a plan, he was going to pick up a tent from the Mountaineering Store on the way home, then he was going to go and rent a car (He thought he was being rather clever here), then come Sunday morning, he was going to drive to Devon and find a remote field. He would pitch the tent, leave the boy and be home in time for Sunday lunch.

Molly Weasley was cooking early this morning, making sure everyone had enough to eat, come the time they all work up to start their day. She always acted like this when something was troubling her, cook to keep busy, she would say.

Something was definitely troubling her, over the last few months strange marks had appeared on her daughters body. They were not random marks, they appeared to represent animals in some way. And even in the wizarding world such things were far from normal. They did not seems to be hurting her daughter, if anything she seemed a little pleased by them. No, what was troubling Molly was why? Why now? Why those animals? Why were they there at all?

She had just set the pan to wash itself, then placed a warming charm on the tray of food before a voice shouted down the stairs.

"Mum!" Shouted Ginny, Molly's daughter.

"What is it, Ginevra! Your brothers are still in bed!"

"Not any more," Grumbled Ron as he made his way down the stairs. On auto pilot towards food on the table.

"Come see, Mum!" Beckoned Ginny.

Harry was sore, very sore. He felt like he'd been run over by a herd of elephants. Elephant, more like.

-Yes, I would say that's about correct.

The Voice!

-You may call me, 'The Voice' if you wish. However, I do already have a name.

Who are you, and how did you get into my head! Harry asked suspiciously.

-As for my name, people call me Harold. And how I got in your head. That's the easy one, for you are me, and I am you.

Okaayy. I don't get it.

-Hmm, how do I explain this. We are two different entities, however I am yours to command. So, in summary, we are one.

What are you then? Harry asked, clearly confused.

-I am a Phoenix. I live within you, for now, at least.

Oh, right.

-Now then, shall we get started?

Started on what, Harold?

-Well, while you were unconscious for the passing of seven suns. Your relatives thought you dead. They created a master plan to get rid of your body, which is where you are now, so first you need to wake up. Plus we have somebody to find.

What?! Where are we? How did you know that? Find who?

-Calm young one. Where we are, I do not know. Who we are going to find, I do not know. How I know what I do know, is because I spent some time outside the confines of your material body on the trip over. Your uncle was quite boastful. Time to wake up, Harry.

Harry opened his eyes, to shut them immediately. The sun was bright, and it appeared to enter at a dome at his feet. Confused, he opened his eyes again, this time blinking, allowing his eyes time to adjust. It looked like he was indoors, some sort of shelter with an open doorway.

He tried to sit up but his muscles protested. Resting a moment, he tried again and managed to sit up. With a shiver, he was suddenly aware of his undress. Topless and in the unknown. Great!

-Don't worry, I will help you. As soon as the words filled his mind, he was suddenly aware of the burning fury in his chest. He felt it spread to capture his neck, arms and legs. As soon as his body was covered, the fire left, leaving his skin warm. Great, thanks!

-Not a problem, Harry. For it is our job.

"Our?" The boy asked with his head to the side and face full of confusion. The bird laughed, well, chirped.

-I see you have not yet worked out the meaning of your marks.

"Marks,-" His face slowly changed to recognition. "You mean? The wings, the tiger skin. I'm guessing your the flame.

-You are correct, I am the flame. However, it seems you have not yet seen our new arrivals.

Harry glanced down his body, the right-hand-side of his chest donned what looked like a dog. "It's a dog,-" Harry looked closer. "-with a funny tail."

-Funny tail, Indeed! That Harry, is a Crup.

"The looks like a Crup, dear." Molly told her child, while inspecting the marks on her daughters chest.

"What's a Crup, mum?" She asked smiling brightly.

"Well, a Crup is a wizard bred dog. I haven't seen one in years. Very viscous, very loyal to their wizard. They look like a muggle Jack Russell Terrier, apart from the tail of course." Said Molly her brow furrowed.

Ginny smiled, "Yeah, they've got a funny tail."

"Well, turn around, dear. We'll see if you have any more." Ginny slowly turn around, once her back came into view, her mother gasped. "Oh!" Her hand over her open mouth.

Ginny turned to meet her mothers gaze. "What is it, mum?"

"You've, you've got a Runespoor on your back, dear." She finished in a quiet voice.

Ginny turned her body to the full length mirror, and twisted so she could look over her shoulder. "Wow, that's big! And has three heads, no less!" She couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice. She turned back to her mother once again. She had a dark look on her face. "What's wrong, mum?"

"Ginny, dear. I want you to understand that I won't love you any less because of this."

"What is it mum, your scaring me," She whispered.

"Well, dear-" She took both of her daughters hands in her own. "-The Runespoor is commonly known to be used by Dark Wizards-"

"No!" She interrupted, her face a look of outrage. "You can't possibly think I'm a Dark Wizard! I'm six! No!" She reached for her t-shirt and fled from the room, moister in her eyes. Molly stood up, her eyes glazed over. Why is this happening to my little girl. She dropped her head and walked out of the room to meet the family for breakfast.

"Wow, they're cool. Three heads!" Harry exclaimed. Harold chirped his agreement. "So, what now?"

-Might I recommend taking a look outside. See if there is anything nearby that you could eat. Don't want you starving to death, do we?

"No, don't want that. Right then." Harry shuffled his way towards the entrance. He shielded his eyes, and squinted through the blazing sunshine. After his eyes adjusted to the influx of light he took in his surroundings.

It was a warm summers day, the tent appeared to be perched on a slight hill, apparently in the middle of nowhere. He looked round in a circle, it looked like a meadow, and rolling green hills with the odd rocky outcrop and wood. Nothing here!

-Harry stop, turn around, bit more, bit more, STOP! Look far in the distance. What does it look like?

"Looks like, like, a broken windmill. Think somebody lives there? Do you-" Harry was interrupted by his stomach.

-I think it remembers it has eaten in over a week.

"Lets find some food-" Harry was interrupted again, this time by a faint growl. "Wish my stomach would shut up, nothing I can do about it-"

-Harry, it's your Crup! Call it back!

Harry spun round to see a small dog bound off into the distance. Harry started to chase it, having nowhere near the amount of speed or energy. "Wait! Stop! Come back here at once!" It's not working! He's running away!

-Call to him Harry, with your mind.

STOP, Terrier stop! But the Terrier kept on running. Harry slowed to a walk, then slumped to the floor. "Cannot really blame it," He said in a defeated tone.

-It will be okay, Harry. It will come back.

"No, it won't. Look at it, ran right off first chance it got. Like I said, cannot blame it, really."

-Harry, listen to yourself.

Harry stood back up, looked back off into the distance, shrugged and started back to the tent. He was not ten feet away when startled out of his musings by a quick and surprising deep bark. Harry's head whipped round so quickly he felt dizzy. At his feet was his Crup, tongue lolling out and tail swaying happily. At the dogs feet was a dead rabbit. The Crup looked between his master and the dead rabbit. And barked again. A smile graced Harry's lips.

Harry reached down to stroke the dog. "There's a good boy, you need a name too don't you?" Harry was rewarded with another bark. "We'll think on it okay?" The dog bounded up on his front legs and barked again. Harry's smile grew a little bigger. Rabbit for tea, Harold.

-Yum! Need any suggestions on cooking it?

"Yeah, that would be great. Don't really have anything to work with here..." His voice trailed off. Yeah, that could be a problem.

-Perhaps less than you think.

"I don't get it-" Harry said, as he started back towards the tent. "Could you explain?" He turned round, "Cmon Crup, bring the Rabbit please." The dog picked up the rabbit and walked towards him. "Put it down there, there's a good boy." The dog ran off to play somewhere. Not too far please, Crup. Don't want to loose you. The dog stopped and turned his head to look back before barking. He bounded off into the long grass.

-Well done, Harry. Harry smiled again. -First things first, you need somewhere to cook and prepare. Look over there, Harry. That large mound of earth. Go over to it and make three piles. Space them a little apart, you will need the space.

Harry moved over to the dirt, scooped some of it up, made one pile, two piles, then a third. "Okay, I'm done."

-Okay now, do you remember the feeling you got before I warmed you up earlier? Harry Nodded Good, relax, look within yourself, find the feeling.

It took a few minute but he finally got a grasp. -Right now, pull it to the ends of your fingers. Yes, that it's. Nearly there. The fire was moving down his arms, the liquid heat. Once it arrived at the end, Harold spoke again. -Okay, Harry. Now open your eyes. Look at the pile in front of you. Imagine it shifting, morphing into a stone slab. Imagine the dirt compacting, into a solid block. Imagine the block flat and grainy to the touch. Once you have the image. Force the feeling down your arms again, into your hand, into your fingers. Push it out of your hand. Keep the image in your mind, keep your hands above the dirt. Force your will, will it into existence, Harry.

After a few seconds Harry slumped forwards. Done. Wow, that was exhausting.

-It will be, your forcing magical manipulation without any form of focus. Open your eyes, lets see your handy work. Harry opened up his eyes. Instantly disappointed. Aww, man! Harry had managed a rough square shape of compacted dirt.

-Close, but you cannot expect to do it first try, as much as you would like too. Try it again, this time use the block you made and finish the transformation. Remember, imagine, pull your magic, force your will. Go.

The second time he managed the image he wanted. Harold asked him to repeat the task for the other two. He found that the more he did it, the quicker he could pull his 'magic' as Harold had called it, and the more he could change at once.

-I'm proud, you did well. Now, you've got surfaces, now you need implements. Go and find a rock, repeat the previous process. Try and get the flattest, sharpest knife you can. You need another rock to make a stone stick.

Harry who was looking for a stone looked up, a confused expression on his face. "A stone stick? Really? Why?"

-You'll see. Harold told him, followed by a chirp that could only be taken as a laugh.

Once Harry had finished those tasks, he set about preparing the rabbit. He had never done it before, but had a good idea based on the chickens he had once prepared. He gave it a quick once over, it looked complete. What now?

-You need to use the two other slabs to create a fireplace, then use the stone stick to hold the rabbit off the fire.

Fire, what fire? How are we going to do that?

-All in good time.

Harry set about making an 'L' shape using the two remaining slabs. One on the floor, the other as a backplate. He stuck the stone stick through the rabbit propped it up against the back slab so that a fire could go under it. Once that was done, Harold talked him through starting a fire, and cleaning his hands using his 'magic'. When the rabbit was happily cooking over the conjured fire, Harry turned a few questions, inward to Harold. Harold, how do you know all this?

-Ahh, to be honest with you Harry, I thought this would be one of the first questions you would ask of me. It is quite simple. But requires an amount of explaining and lets say convincing.

-Do you remember Harry, when you wanted so hard to be somewhere other than that corner near your school. Then you felt that burst of energy then, poof, you were elsewhere?

"Yes, I remember. I felt that same fiery surge when, you warmed me too. I feel it when I do my 'magic' too." Harry was ticking off a mental check-list as he went.

-You are getting there Harry. There are just a few more pieces of information you need. First, is that every witch and wizard has what they call, a magical core. It is the place where that 'fiery surge' as you call it, is kept when not in use. Witches and Wizards also do another phenomenon that they call 'Accidental Magic', it usually happens in emotionally charged situations, like the one you found yourself in. They believe it is because of your emotional state that you do things without meaning too. I'll let you in on a little secret Harry. That is not the case. It is controlled, just not by you.

"So, if they are not controlled by me. That obviously means they are controlled by something else. And as you have used my 'fiery surge', and you are my guardian, that leads me to believe that everyone has a guardian that watches over their 'Magical Core' until they can control it themselves.

-Very well deducted, Harry. Better look at that rabbit too. That brought Harry back to his senses, and he smelt burning he quickly dispelled the fire and set to break the rabbit into finger pieces with the now clean knife.

With the tasty rabbit in his stomach, he went for a walk to the nearby stream for some water. Tasks completed, and after a long day, he was feeling pretty exhausted. He waited at the tent, and watched the sun set in the distance. His first day in the wilderness had been a productive one. He called Crup back, and with him keeping watch, Harry drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Three: Ginny

Ginny sped right down the stairs, tears now flowing freely. She ran through the kitchen, out the back door and into the woods. Pulling the t-shirt that was in her hands, over her head. She sat on a rock and started to talk.

"I'm not a Dark Wizard, I can't be." "These aren't bad, I just know it!" "I don't want Mummy to hate me, I did nothing wrong."

After a few hours of her internal musing and a few snippets of audible one sided conversation, she moved to a patch of green grass. Ginny was lying on her back, looking past the canopy of the nearby tree's towards the clouds. She watched those clouds move in the wind all day.

When it started to get dark, the clouds harder to make out, and her stomach rumbling having not eaten all day. She set off back to the house. Maybe, just maybe, Mummy won't think I'm evil any more.

When Ginny reached The Burrow, she slipped in through the side door and made her way upstairs. A few minutes later in some clean clothes and feeling refreshed, she entered the kitchen, her family paused at her entrance.

"Come on in, Firefly. Why don't you take a seat and we'll get you some food?" Said Arthur her farther with a slightly forced smile.

She moved over to her usual place on the table, as her dad spooned some mash potato onto her plate. Ginny kept her face looking down towards her lap, trying to avoid eye contact. The twins were looking from Ginny, to their mother, who wore an expressionless mask, then on to their farther. They did this a few times.

"Does somebody-" Started George

"-Want to tell us-" Said Fred

"-What's going on?"

Ron who had previously been oblivious to the mounting tension in the room, looked up from his plate after shoving another fork of mash and pork into his mouth. "'Eahh, whas 'oing-" He swallowed what he had in his mouth, after a dark look from his mother. "-On?" He too was looking between his sister, mum and dad.

"Well, something has been happening to your sister,-" Arthur started. "Some mysterious marks have been appearing on her body over the summer." He turned to watch his daughters reaction,

"Cool! What do they-" Said Fred.

"-Look like? They don't-"

"-Hurt do they? Ginny immediately brightened. Her heart warmed a fraction knowing that they at least cared for her health. Maybe they don't think I'm a Dark Wizard after all!

"No, they don't hurt. I always had one of them. That one was always-" She said standing to point to the lower-left-hand-side of her back. "-There."

"Wow, that looks, is that a lion?" Gaped Ron

"Lioness, Ronald." Added Percy, who had kept quiet until now.

"Then when I was about five, I got the Tigress skin on the other side." She twisted her hips to show the other side of her lower back. She received a "Cool!" from Ron, and a "Wicked!" from the twins. She smiled.

"And at the beginning of this summer, I got Eagle wings around my neck. Then this morning, I found a dog on my chest and a snake on my upper back." She finished quietly and shot a quick look at her mum.

"So, what's all-" Started George

"-the fuss about-"

"-then?" Asked the twins, he tension in the room grew a few levels as Ginny and Arthur watched Molly.

She sighed. "I'm going to see Albus in the morning, to see if he knows what they could be, or what they mean. He'll be able to look around for some answers. Hopefully, we will see about getting them removed." She finished and turned to put her plate in the sink.

"I don't want them removed!" Shouted Ginny.

"Ginevra! You have a Runespoor on your back! You are having it removed and that is final!" She turned back around. There was a stunned silence at the table. Everyone turned to look at the youngest.

"So you still think I'm a Dark Wizard?" She asked in a whisper, moister in her eyes, and not for the first time that day. She looked around with pleading eyes. Upon seeing their stunned expressions, she ran from the room, and up the stairs to cry herself to sleep.

Running through the long grass, on four short legs was strange, Ginny decided. She and a 'friend' were following a scent, she didn't know what it was, but he seemed to know. They bounded down the hill, through the overgrown grass towards a large twisted tree. They approached it's large roots, and just below there was a hole. Her friend barked once, before bounding on his front legs then shooting down the hole.

"Firefly, wake up." The soft words of her father broke through to the dream world.

"Wha'?" She asked as she started to awake from her peaceful slumber.

"Wha'? I'm getting up, I'm getting up. I'll start breakfast in a second." The wet tickling sensation on cheek didn't stop. He swept the side of his face with his hand, then turned over. "Woof!"

-I think he wants you to wake up, Harry.

Harry shot up, eyes wide. What?! He looked around it came back to him slowly. Oh, sorry Harold, Crup. "Woof!"

"Crup, any chance of another rabbit?" "Woof!" The dog bounded out the opening. What are we going to do today, then?

-Might I suggest you take a trip to that building in the distance. You can set up camp on the edge of the wood. Pack the tent while you wait for Crup to return, you can set off once you've eaten. It shouldn't take you long.

Harry sought out the packaging, which was inside the tent, and followed the dismantle instructions. Once it was packed in it's tight bag, he quickly went off to the stream for a drink before Crup got back. With the rabbit prepared and above the fire, Harry started to practice with his other guardians.

"So, Harold. How do I do this? I did it by accident last time." Asked Harry as he sat near the fire.

-It is really quite simple to call them into existence. Last time, you were hungry and wanted a way to search, even if your conscious mind did not think of it, your unconscious did. Let's try something small. Perhaps the Eagle. Now the easy part, call up you magic, and will your Guardian Eagle to exist.

Harry sat there for a few minutes, trying to force his will in a similar way as he had done the previous day. However, that method did not seem to be working for him. "What, isn't it working? Nothing is happening." He said with a frown.

-I believe you are not focusing your will correctly. You are trying to conjure an Eagle from nothing, and your doing it how you think that Eagle should look. What you need to do, is call it from within yourself, let the Eagle lead the way, but give it the power it needs to do your will. Hmm. Perhaps you could try a sentence to focus yourself for now?

"Yeah, I see what you mean. I just presumed-" His eyes cast down.

-Don't worry. You were not to know. Okay, this time, call up your magic, then say the words 'I call upon my Guardian Eagle' and push the magic out your hands as you do so. Go.

After his third try, Harry thought he sounded pretty ridiculous. He thought it sounded like something out of one of those cheesy video games, that his cousin Dudley used to play. He laughed at himself. You haven't been wrong yet, have you Harold?

-I cannot remember He chirped. Believe in yourself, Harry. Besides, there is nobody here, so there is no need to feel embarrassed.

Harry tried again, he almost shouted the words in emphasis, he had every intention of calling his guardian this time round. But was still surprised when a huge eagle flew out of his hands. Wooah! Eagle, come down please. He projected his thought towards it.It flew round before landing at his feet with a chirp. It was less musical than Harold's, it also had a rough edge to it.

Harry started to realise why his original attempts did not work. Before him was not a normal eagle. Instead of the majestic brown and white combination, the bird was black, with white highlights. It looked like the edge of each feather was tinged with white, it caused a very odd effect on the bird. The most noticeable part, were it's deep green eyes.

"Your beautiful." Harry said, his voice had a sense of awe about it. "Your wings look like they have lots of tiny lightning bolts, from where your feathers cross over." He reached his hand forward slowly. His fingers stroked it's chest feathers, they vibrated slightly when it emitted another chirp. "You need a name, can't call you Bird, can I? What do you think Harold?"

During the silence, Harry removed the rabbit from fire and slowly began eating it. He offered some to his guardians, the Eagle refused but the Crup ate happily. Half way through the meal, Harry suddenly sported a grin. "Wow, it's so obvious." He said between bites. "How about, Lightning?"

-Harry, that's terrible! Harold chirped

Harry frowned, "I don't see you offering any suggestions. So it's going to be Lightning." The Eagle spread it's wings then chirped, as if to shrug and say, "Whatever".

Food finished and tent in hand, Harry set off while the sun was directly above in the sky. It took him a few hours to walk the ten or so miles. When he reached the wood, he found a secluded spot and pitched the tent. It was starting to get dark, but he thought he would have a quick look around before cooking another rabbit and settling down for the night.

He was about fifteen minutes walk from his camp when he heard crying. Then a voice, "I'm not a Dark Wizard-" Sniff. "As much as everyone thinks I am." Sniff.

Harry hid behind a tree. then glanced around. Sitting on a patch of lush green grass was a girl, not much younger than himself, he thought. Her head was in her hands, she was crying. Her beautiful red hair acted like a curtain hiding her face from view. I wonder what's wrong He thought.

-Go comfort her, Harry.

What?! I don't know how! How can I help her? I'm just a freak! Harry started to panic. Looking for a means of escape. He didn't want to be in this situation.

-Harry, calm down! Next time you call yourself a freak, I swear I'll give you an electric shock. Now, go to her, tell her she's going to be okay.

Harry didn't know why he was listening to that stupid voice in his head, as he crept towards the crying girl. I'm going to make it worse. I'm going to make it worse, I just know it. Three more steps and he was beside her, he placed a shaky hand on her shoulder.

"Shh, everything's going to be alright." He said in the calmest voice he could manage.

"Y-you think?"

"Well, erm, I don't know. But the best you can do is hope, right?" That was apparently something close to what she wanted to hear, she flung herself at him and cried into his shoulder. Shocked by the sudden change in position, Harry hesitantly put his hands around her.

It took several minutes for the crying to slow to the odd hitch of her chest. Eyes still closed, she whispered into his skin, "Thank you."

"Your, urm, your welcome." He said looking away from the girl in his arms, to hide the sudden rush of heat to his face. He turned to look down at her, that's when saw the pattern on her neck. Just like him, she had Eagle wings. "Hey! You've got eagle wings on your neck!" He said much too loudly.

The girls head snapped up, tears starting again, she looked right into his eyes. "Suppose you think I'm a dark wizard too!" She screamed as she jumped from his arms and started running away.

"Wait! I have them too!" He called after her. But she did not stop. She has marks too.

Later that night, Ginny lay in her bed. She was thinking back to what had happened earlier that evening. That boy who had let her cry on him. She didn't realise it then, but he wasn't wearing a shirt. Oh my gosh, how embarrassing. She had felt strangely safe in his arms, she knew she was too young to be thinking about boyfriends and girlfriends, but there was something about him.

Running through the last moments in her head. He had noticed the marks on my neck. Oh No! I screamed about Dark Wizards! He could have been a muggle! I'm going to be even more trouble! She sighed. The last few days had not been good. He had said something as she left. What was it? Oh I don't know. I'll come to me.

She had her eyes closed, on the verge of sleep when it hit her.

'Wait! I have them too!' He called. She sat bolt upright, eyes wide.

Chapter Four: Dumbledore

An elderly looking man was sat at his eagle claw desk, within his circular office. The man was currently working on the little paperwork he had before the start of the new term, you see, this man was the Headmaster of what people called, 'The greatest school in Wizarding Britain', Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A one, Albus Dumbledore, was stroking his beard with one hand, while his quill hovered over the signature section of a form in indecision. Do I want to buy a years supply now, or just purchase them as they're needed? This was a tough call for the Headmaster. Who knows how many truth-serum-laced Lemon Drops he would need for the coming school year?

"What do you think, Fawkes?" He asked his trusted companion, a lovely gold and red phoenix.

Fawkes was upset, his gave the Headmaster a look which could only be interpreted as 'Contempt'. Albus on the other hand, shrugged the look off. Must be coming near to his burning day.

After a few more seconds, he dropped his quill deciding to hold out a little longer. He reached into his left hand draw and removed a small bag, popped a sweet into his mouth and reclined in his seat.

The silence was broken some ten minutes later when the fireplace flashed green and the head of Arabella Figg appeared.

"Ah, Arabella. What can I do for you this morning?"

Mrs Figg had just gotten back to home at Wisteria Walk in Little Whinging, when she started hearing the rumours. 'That skinny little orphan boy at the Dursley's?'

"Excuse me, what's this about the Dursley's? I've been out of town, terribly behind in the latest gossip." Mrs Figg asked her neighbour with a smile as she passed.

"Oh, it's just dreadful! You just have to join me for some tea while I explain."

"Certainly, let me just put my bag in the house."

A few minutes later saw Arabella sitting inside a frilly living room. There were plush light pink carpets, and antique cabinets. Everything was free from dust, and there was an abundance of frilly lace-like drapes. How do people live in homes like this?

"So, about the Dursley's?" She prompted.

"Oh yes, like I said, most dreadful!" A look of mock horror on her face. "They say that a last week, the Dursley child almost died after the orphan boy attacked him! The Finnagan's had their dinner party cut short when the poor Dursley boy came back all covered in blood.

"It's a surprise that a small child could cause so much damage." She said taking a sip of her tea. "Well anyway, they took the boy to the hospital. And the skinny boy ran away shortly after that."

That is most unlike, Little Harry. Always the quiet ones. She conversed a while longer as she finished her tea. Once finished she took her leave. I have to call Albus, he would want to hear about this. Maybe he can work out what happened.

Five minutes later and Mrs Figg was inside the Headmaster's office finishing her story.

"..so they say he ran away. Whatever happened, Little Harry isn't at the Dursley's."

"This is most disturbing. Most disturbing, indeed." The Headmaster turned to Fawkes. "Can you find him?" The phoenix shook it's head. Can't, or won't? He frowned.

"Well then, I presume the first order of business would be to find out if the Dursley's know anything. We must find Harry, he is at great risk away from Privet Drive." And he's no good to my plans if I cannot control him. He added silently.

With a wave of his wand, the Headmasters blue and silver robes were transformed into a Muggle business suit. Wasting no time, he moved to the fireplace where he followed Arabella back to her home. A short walk later and he was standing outside Number 4 Privet Drive. He knocked.

"Hello, Mr Dursley. Mind if I come in?" He asked politely.

Vernon looked at the old man with an incredibly long beard. "Who are you, what do you want?" He asked in a raised voice. A couple of the neighbours were craning their necks over the fence at strange angles to get a good look.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, I am here to talk to you about your nephew, Harry Potter." He answered calmly.

"ANOTHER FREAK!" He bellowed.

"Mr Dursley, may we take this inside, your causing a scene." He said with a frown, while glancing to the people peering over the fence to his side.

"Fine!" He led Mr Dumbledore through to the lounge, where he took the offered seat.

"Vernon, dear. Who was at the door?" Petunia asked while walking into the room. She stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed the elderly man. He face showed fear, which quickly changed to outrage. "YOU! What are YOU doing in my house!" She screeched.

"Hello, Petunia. I'm here to talk about Harry Potter, don't suppose you know where he went do you?"

"How would we know?! We already informed the authorities when we filed a missing persons report!"

"Would you tell me what happened?"

"I'll tell you, then you can get out of my house!" She shouted. "That little freak put Dudikins into hospital, and when we get back, we try to punish him and he ran away. Ungrateful freak! After all we've done for him. Now, Get Out!"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot do that. I must know what happened." Legilimens!

"He came home all covered in blood! He said the freak did it!" Cried his wife. His face was burning, the rage building.

"GET IN HERE NOW, FREAK! Thinks he can get away with no chores, then he does that to Dudley and to think he can walk in at this ungodly hour. He's obviously messing with the wrong sort. I'll show him." He finished in a mutter. Where is he?! Thought Vernon. He stormed off into the hallway and dragged the boy back into the lounge.

"Get that shirt off, now!" He bellowed as his chubby fingers worked is belt.

Three hits later, he turned to look at the worthless freak. His rage spiked, Did he honestly think he could scare me, with his freaky marks.

Dumbledore skipped to the next relevant memory.

"Mr Dursley, your wife is on line three."

"I'll take it in my office." He growled as he waddled past. "What you waiting for?! Put the phone down!" He snapped. With a glare, she placed the phone down.

"What is it, pudding?" He asked when he picked up the telephone receiver.

"Vernon, I think you might have finally killed him. It's been six days, and still there's no sound. What you going to do? What would the neighbours think?!"

"I'll sort it, Petunia. It'll all be over tomorrow, and that freak will be out of our lives forever."

"Okay, don't be late. I'm cooking your favourite."

Later that day.

Outdoor Discounts, perfect! He thought as he moved through the doors. Don't want to spend too much money on the dead freak.

The shop assistant watched as a rather large man walked through door. What's a man like that doing here? "Good evening, sir. How may I be of service?"

Vernon was looking round, not really paying attention. No upper-class citizen would sleep on one of those, this place is outrageous. "Hmm, yeah, I need a tent. Cheapest you have."

"Very well, right this way. Do you go camping much?" Asked the young man, his smile hidden.

"Oh, yes, yes. My son and I go all the time. He wanted his own tent. We are going up Snowdonia in Wales next weekend, you see."

"I've been up, you must like walking then?" He was trying very hard to keep a straight face.

"Very much, very much." He assistant barked a laugh, and quickly silenced himself. Vernon glared.

"Well, here you are sir. Cheapest we do, it's a two man tent. Should be perfect for a growing boy." He said with a grin.

Sunday Morning.

Yes, he's dead. Vernon tried very hard to fight down his grin. He rolled the boy in his mattress and lugged him into the back of his black rental car. He went back inside to get a few more hours sleep before he drove into the countryside come morning.

Few hours later.

Vernon had just finished putting up the tent. Sweat was dripping all over. His clothes were wet in the heavy summer sun. Stupid bloody thing, who'd sleep in that? He shoved the boy inside before getting in the car again. A few miles down the road, he stopped and got out.

Walking a few meters from the car dragging the mattress behind him. Using a little petrol, he set it alight before getting back in the car to head home. Only the incoming meal on his mind.

To say Dumbledore was shocked was an understatement. The-Boy-Who-Lived was dead, his plans were now ruined. He couldn't even find the body, Dursley had no idea where he had gone. He withdrew from his mind. Vernon was unconscious on the couch. Petunia was just sitting wide eyed as her husband was attacked. Dumbledore turned to her, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"You have done a grave crime." He said in a low voice.

"I-I don't know what your talking about!"

"Oh, I think you do. Potter is dead, and along with him, the wizarding world. You have no idea the gravity of what you have done!" The usually calm grandfather figure was now surrounded by a blazing aura. He was angry.

"I don't care about you freaks!" She stuck her nose up.

"I will see you again soon. You can bet your life on it." He growled. And with a 'Pop' he was gone.

That evening found an older looking Headmaster at his desk. He poured himself another glass of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey.

"This shouldn't have happened" He told his bird. "I had everything planned out. I would send him to live with the Dursley's. I knew they would never love the boy, but that didn't matter. Harry needed to be hardened, used to the worse sides of life. Not cuddled and sheltered. With me at his side, he would become the Champion he needed to be. Under my guidance and control." He took a sip.

"I was going to recommend to Nicolas, with Tom searching for means of resurrection, that I keep the stone here during Harry's first year. That would draw Tom." Dumbledore sighed. "No use thinking about the past, and what will never be."

The next morning brought another surprise for Albus Dumbledore. At seven on the dot, the fire turned green and Molly Weasley's head appeared.

"Hello Albus, are you free? I want to talk to you about my daughter, Ginny."

"Comes right through, Molly." A second later, the Weasley matriarch appeared in the Headmaster's office.

"Good morning, what can I do for you?" Asked Albus in a cheery tone, but his usual twinkle was missing.

"It's my youngest, Ginny. She woke up yesterday with marks all over her body." The worry was evident in her voice.

"What sort of marks, might I ask?" Harry had some strange marks too. I wonder.

"Well, they look like colourless tattoo's more than anything. She has had one of them all her life, but we weren't concerned. But recently, she's gained more. Before she had two. Now she has five. I'm worried, Albus." Wringing her hands on her lap.

"Could you describe them for me?" This is getting more interesting every second.

"She has a Lioness, and a patch of Tiger skin on her lower back. A R.. .Runespoor on her middle back." She took a moment to steady her breath. "She has Eagle wings on her neck, and a Crup on her chest." She looked at Albus expectantly.

"Curious," He muttered. "Molly, I have some ideas, but perhaps you should wait until tomorrow. That will give me the time to research." She didn't look much better. He decided to throw her a bone. "And then maybe we can see if we can remove them." She looked up at this. He smiled.

"Thank, thank you, Albus. Please, come right round once your ready." With that she left via the floo.

Chapter Five: Other Half

Ginny awoke with a start, last nights dream was similar to yesterdays, she couldn't make any sense of it. It seemed like she was the animal still.

Last night she had ran through the meadows with the Crup again, they had continued into the woods and into a clearing, she knew this place well. Her 'friend' barked, bouncing on his front legs. She sat down on her rear legs and waited.

It wasn't long before he shot off again, the small thing ducked behind a tree, she made to follow; what she saw made her stop.

Right there on the other side of the tree. Those beautiful green eyes. They seemed to call her on a level far beyond her understanding. She realised where she had seen those eyes before. The boy! And then she woke.

I have to find him. She jumped out of bed, threw off her pyjamas and started to rummage through her trunk for some clothes.

Her mother opened the door a crack, she was going to wake her daughter for breakfast. Last night had been rough for her, she knew she had broken her promise, but her daughter made her feel uneasy. And she hated herself for feeling that way. I hope Albus can do something.

"Ginny dear, would you like to come and help me fix breakfast?" Ginny looked up from the trunk, only to look back down and throw another unsuitable summer dress over her shoulder. Molly Sighed. "Suit yourself, just know that after breakfast, you shouldn't run off too far. The headmaster is coming round, and he might want to talk to you."

Ginny gave a brief nod, and started once again on her quest for clothes.

When Ginny reached the kitchen some thirty minutes later, she was greeted by the smells of a Weasley breakfast. Freshly cooked meats, egg, and buttered toast. Knives scraped against plates, and idle conversation was held between the males of the house.

Ginny moved into the room, and took her usual place across from Ron. Sounds seemed to fade away, as actions stopped, as they watched the youngest. She grabbed a piece of toast from the rack in the center of the table. She stopped after reaching for the marmalade.

"What?" She asked, her tone sharp.

"Ginny!" Her mother scolded as she moved more food to the table.

"Nothing, you...you look nice today." Offered Ron, before making a hasty retreat towards the stairs. He was followed soon after by the twins, off to do, 'god knows what'.

Butter and marmalade covered toast in hand, Ginny moved towards the back door. "I'm going outside."

"Not too far, dear. Remember what I said earlier."

Harry had been sitting in the clearing for nearly two hours. He was starting to get a little disappointed. He wanted to talk to that girl again, but he didn't dare visit the house. He would let her come to him.

He was sitting cross legged in the end of the clearing furthest away from the building, his back to the empty space. Harold had told him he had to strengthen his core, and that like other muscles constant usage helped them grow.

This was how Ginny found him just after mid day, on the outside it appeared like he was meditating, which in a sense, he was. Harold had him calling upon as much of his magic as he could, but trying do so without letting any out of his body, relaxing his hold, then repeating. Harry thought it was a lot like Dudley's weights, although he didn't seem to use them much, he noticed the difference they made.

With his focus turned completely inwards, he did not realise her approach. She took careful steps towards him, she didn't know who he was or what he could do. When she was a few feet away, she took in his stance. He was sitting cross legged, his back straight and his hands placed flat against his abdomen. His breath was calm, but every few seconds he would take a quick deep breath and hold it. He had a light layer of sweat over his head.

She took one last step before she decided to announce her presence. "H-Hello?"

What happened next she had not been expecting, in a swift movement the boy did a forward roll which he ended with a twist of his body. He faced her full on, hands placed outwards, palms flat.

She took a hasty step back, his skin had a small rich dark green hue to it, the same green as his eyes. His eyes! She gasped. The dark green irises swirled in raging circles. They looked at her, through her, she stood entrapped by his stare. His eyes seemed to slow to a stop, and as quickly as that the raging stare was gone. "I'm sorry." He finally said.

She didn't reply, she just dropped onto the floor and looked at him.

"I'm Harry, what's your name?" Harry asked with a curious tilt of the head.

"G-Ginny, what was that? I've never seen anyone do that before."

"What was what?" He asked, not understanding.

"You were green, and your eyes! Oh-How stupid of me, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have crept up on you. And you were obviously busy. I'll come back another time." She made to leave, when a hand caught her wrists.

"You can stay. I was here waiting anyway." He said sitting back down.

"You were waiting for me?" Ginny asked a little suspicious.

"Yeah, I didn't get a chance to talk to you yesterday, you just started shouting something about Dark wizards, whatever they are, and you ran off." He shrugged.

"Oh, sorry. I was a little upset. Everyone thinks my marks are a bad thing, and I just thought-"

"I know what you mean, my Uncle didn't like them either." He interrupted her solemnly. "But then again, he didn't like anything about me, so it wasn't much of a shock."

"What did you do when he found out?"

"Not a lot really. He beat me, then I woke up in a tent just over the hill." He looked down, "They locked me up for a week, and when I didn't wake up, they thought I was dead. Still think I'm dead." He shrugged again.

"Are you trying to get back?" She asked in concern.

"Get back? Would you go back? They tried to kill me!"

"Sorry, I didn't think-"

"Don't worry about it."

"So, what are you going to do now? You're all alone."

"No I'm not. I've got Harold, Digger and Lightning." He said with a smile.

"Who?" She looked around. When she didn't see anybody she looked back at the boy in front of her.

"My new family," He jumped to his feet. "May I present, the bouncing Crup, Digggeeerrrrr!" He swept his hands to the side in a dramatic gesture. From behind a little terrier like dog came bounding out of the bushes. Ginny giggled at his showmanship.

"A round of applause for Digger, thank you, thank you." He bowed, "Next up, nobody has seen an Eagle as beautiful as he, from the sky, ladies and gentlemen, may I present, Ligghhttnninngg!" With another gesture, and black dot flew towards the ground from a nearby tree.

Ginny gasped when she caught sigh of him. He is beautiful. "They look like lightning bolts," She said quietly, still a little in awe.

"Yup! My family, meet Ginny." He dropped to the floor, and smiled at her.

-Move slowly, Harry. She obviously doesn't know the meaning yet. Give her time to adjust.

Of course. He thought.

"Thank you, Harry. I haven't laughed in days."

"Your welcome. How old are you then?"

"I'm almost 7. My birthday is soon." She smiled.

"Cool, I'm almost 8 then, my birthday is at the end of the month, I think." He looked like he was trying to remember.

"You don't know when you birthday is? How can you not know?" She looked slightly outraged.

"I told you my Uncle didn't like me." Looking down again, he seemed embarrassed by his treatment.

"Oh Harry! That's terrible!" She moved across the distance between them, and wrapped him in a hug. He went rigid under her arms. "What's the matter?" She asked, concerned.

"N-Nothing. I just never had a hug before. It's new, sorry." He whispered.

"It's okay," She squeezed him on last time after he relaxed and let him go. "So, what were you doing before. You looked like you were meditating."

"I suppose. I was trying to strengthen my core. I was getting pretty good at it I think." He said with a thoughtful expression, the earlier discomfort forgotten.

"Your core, what's that? I think I heard my older brother talk about it once, I think."

Is she magical? Can she do it? He thought.

-Yes, I think she is. If your still in doubt ask her, it might be fun to teach her.

Teach her? What could I teach her? I don't know anything!

-Come now, little one. He chirped. You know a lot about the control of magic. She is bound to know very little.

"Harry?" Harry looked at Ginny, she was looking at him weird.

"What?"

"You sort of spaced out a second, I asked you a question."

"Oh, sorry. I...I was thinking. Can I ask you a question?" He looked at her. She's really pretty. He thought, a slight blush coming to his cheeks. He looked away.

-Listen up, lover boy. Harold chirped at him.

Lover boy!? No I'm not, eww. Harold chirped in louder in his head. He shook himself, looking at her again.

Harry steeled himself, this was a make or break. Taking a deep breath, he whispered. "Are you magical?"

"Yes I am," She said slowly. "My brothers and parents, are wizards and witches." She didn't want to scare him away. But he had asked the question.

"Oh, that's good then." Ginny sighed in relief. Don't want to loose a friend as soon as I've made it.. "Do you want to try then?"

"Okay." He scooted across so he was sitting in front of her, and took both of her hands.

"Okay, I want you to close your eyes and listen to my voice," He whispered. "Have you ever done accidental magic?" She nodded. "Okay, try to remember the feeling you got before you did it. Look within yourself, for me, it was a tiny spark. But I don't know what it's going to be like for you, it could be different."

After a few minutes, she nodded again. "I've found something, like a light wind, a tickle in my chest."

"Now, what I want you to try and do is pull on it. Then relax, then pull a little more. And just keep doing that, while not allowing it out of your body. You'll be able to summon more, and more quickly. Keep going as long as you can, I'm going to start as well."

A few hours later and two children, holding hands were still trying to strengthen their cores. Neither noticed the faint golden glow around their hands.

It was then that Digger came bounding into the clearing, and ran straight up to Harry and nudged his arm. Releasing the grip he forgot he was still holding, he opened his eyes and looked at the crup.

A few seconds later Ginny also opened her eyes. That's when they both heard that calling.

"Ginny, somebody is calling you. You best get back." He stood and offered his hand to help pull her up.

"Yeah, sounds like mum," She sounded disappointed. "Do you need anything, while I'm inside? What are you eating?"

"Some bread, or fruit would be nice. I'm eating rabbit at the moment." He said with a shrug.

"I'll try, then I'll come right back. It was nice to meet you, Harry." She said with a smile.

"It was nice to meet you too, Ginny." With that she rushed off towards the house.