Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath.
—Eve Glicksman
Disclaimer:
All intellectual and property rights of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Book rights belong to Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Books, Raincoast Books, Orbit Books, and any others I may have missed. The film rights belong to Warner Brothers. The world of Harry Potter is being used without permission and without the intent of infringing upon these rights. No profit is being made. If you recognize it, it belongs to JKR. If you don't recognize it, there is still a strong chance it belongs to JKR. The seldom and rare things that JKR doesn't claim as her own and could be construed as mine I release to Public Domain.
This work was not beta read. If you, the reader, find anything in error, feel free to let me know and I will endeavor to fix it if I can. As such, thank you for making this better for the next reader. Anyone who wants to beta read this story, please let me know.
As with the world itself, this adventure started with a kiss. A kiss like no other before nor any other since; kisses can be given in jest, in love, or in friendship, and the only thing more dangerous than a kiss not meant is one that is. They say, and by they it is understood that what is meant is a bunch of old, daft coots with nothing better to do, that it is in that singular moment when two people kiss for the first time that their souls connect; their lips are the bridges that stand, opened or closed, betwixt the two essences. And, for that fleeting moment, they become one soul in two bodies. Only once has those souls remained wedded after the kiss was done.
Our story begins in the year 1991, September first, at King's Cross Station. A rail station in London, England that was very busy trafficking people to and fro. Included among these gentry were the young witches and wizards on their way to Hogwarts, the only school of magic in all of Britain. Young Harry Potter was just starting his first year there. Alone, lost, orphaned, and confused, his uncle had left him at the station all by himself. Harry was looking, unaided, for his platform, not knowing it was hidden away, when he heard a voice of hope.
"... packed with muggles like every year."
Harry turned and saw a group of redheads moving through the crowd. Approaching them, he finally saw one of them clearly, a little girl.
"Mommy, why can't ..." Did she sense him staring? Is that why she turned to look his way?
Harry had tunnel vision; all he could see was the redheaded girl. It was like she filled his vision. Without realizing it, they closed the distance between them. Now, they really did fill each other's vision as they closed their eyes, leaned in, and kissed.
Somewhere, in the depths of their haze, they vaguely registered the sound of someone screaming.
Harry and Ginny fell into an embrace. While she was a year younger, he was short; their heights matched well for easy kissing. And as they kissed, a glow erupted from Harry's scar. A beam of light shot from Harry as the two begin to glow and float up into the air. The Weasleys could only gawk speechlessly.
Far to the north, in a castle in Scotland, the staff of Hogwarts were setting down for an 11 O'Clock lunch. There was much to do and a big feast to leave room for, so on September First, they customarily had an early and light lunch. There was still about ten minutes to spare before the food would be served. The teachers spent it unwinding and chatting.
Minerva leaned towards Albus Dumbledore. "So, care to wager a guess as to which house Harry Potter will be sorted into?"
Dumbledore affected his best disinterested look. "Minnie, you know I am not a betting man. But if I were, I'd bet my hat he'll be in Gryffindor."
Meanwhile, Professor Snape was conversing with Professor Quirrell. "How is your lesson plan coming along? Do you intend to use the same one you made before your sabbatical, or has your field trip inspired any changes?"
"I, I, I plan to m-m-ma-make some ch-changes," Quirrell stuttered.
Just then, Snape overheard the topic of Professor McGonagall's conversation with the headmaster and he sneered.
Quirrell, however, began screaming when a beam of white light speared him in his head. He began to writhe in pain as his body slowly levitated up off his chair. His pained gesticulations dislodged the turban from his head, revealing a face on the backside of his bald head. The other professors, who had gathered around to help, gasped in shock at the sight of Quirrell's second face.
"Tom?" Dumbledore breathed the question out, too surprised to exclaim it.
Five beams of pure white light erupted from Quirrell, each heading off in their own individual direction. Soon, six pulses of light arrived along each of the beams, joining inside Quirrell. The beams faded out shortly after.
Quirrell stopped screaming, only to drop to the floor with a meaty thud. However, left floating in his place was a screaming, squirming, ghostly shade of Lord Voldemort.
"Damn you, Potter," the specter of Voldemort cursed in anger and pain before it disappeared in a flash of light and a bang of thunder.
Quirrell blinked spots out of his eyes before noticing the disapproving frowns of his fellow teachers.
"Blimey!" Hagrid swore. "He didn't even make it as far as the feast."
Molly was becoming aware of all the muggles who were pointing and staring at the two kids floating and glowing. She knew this could turn ugly.
The two were still kissing when a ball of light erupted from Harry's scar and disappeared down the beam of light. The light beam and glow faded soon after, and the two kids collapsed in a heap on the ground. Both seemed to be dazed and shell shocked.
"Wow!" Harry said in a breathy voice. "I don't think I can feel my legs."
Molly sprung into action. "Percy, go find the Head Boy. Get a message to Professor Dumbledore. Fred, make sure Ron and all the trunks make it across. George, help me with the kids." Molly hastily grabbed Ginny and made a run for the wall to Platform 9 ¾. She was hot on the heels of Percy, who didn't need telling twice. Before the muggles could do more than raise a hue and a cry, everyone was safely across the wall. Ginny and Harry hung limply in the arms of Molly and George, practically oblivious to their surroundings.
Molly was fretting. "This is going to be the biggest breach of the Secrecy Act since the Cannons got drunk and played Quidditch over the Thames," she muttered to herself.
The train whistle blew, interrupting her anxious mutterings. "There's no time," Molly cursed to herself. "Ron, go get on the train. you too, Fred and George. No child of mine is going to miss the Express. And help this kid onto it too. Your father and I will get everything straightened out with Dumbledore, later. Now, move it. The sooner you board, the sooner I can contact the ministry."
Fred put Harry's trunk on top of his, so he only needed to push one trolley. George put Harry and Hedwig on top of his trunk.
"George!" Molly sounded scandalized.
"Sorry, Mum. But I don't have time for more than one trip. I'll be careful with him." Mrs. Weasley nodded, too concerned about other matters to really push this particular point.
Harry was out of it, but he still had the presence of mind to wave at Ginny. "Bye, Ginny."
Ginny, still bonelessly slumped against her mother, waved back. "Bye, Harry."
Molly was too distraught to notice, but not the twins; the two kids had never told the other their names.
Harry slumped against the bench where George deposited him. A silly grin adorned his face and he gazed at the wall unseeingly.
Fred and George shot each other a look as they got the trunks into the compartment. Ron just stood there, red faced and clenching and unclenching his fists.
"Ron, why don't you go find Percy? See if he made it on and let him know we're here too," Fred suggested.
Ron didn't move from his spot. "Ron," George called to him, "go find Percy."
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron exploded.
"We don't know," Fred began.
"Dear brother," George continued, "but if you find Percy-"
Fred picked up the dialog. "We'll know if he managed to get word to Dumbledore."
"And Dumbledore will know what that was," George finished.
"What about this ... this ... bloody turd!" Ron pointed towards Harry, who just begun to notice his surroundings.
"Leave him to us," Fred said solemnly.
Ron grinned evilly as he left the compartment.
"Git," George whispered under his breath.
"I swear, Mum must have dropped him on his head," Fred commented.
"Hello, how did I get here?" Harry could not recall boarding the train.
Fred and George turned towards Harry and smiled at him, in a friendly fashion. "Hello. You're Harry Potter! Aren't you?" Fred asked excitedly.
"You must be, you have the scar, and it was glowing like a lamp," George added, equally excited.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I am." Harry turned towards Fred, "Fred, where am I?"
Fred and George shot each other a worried look. "Did he pick our names up from overhearing mum screaming at us?" was the unspoken question that popped into the twin's minds. "How did he know Fred's name?" was their silent concern.
"You know my name?" Fred asked.
"But, I'm Fred, he's George," George said at the same time.
"Yes, I do. But why? And no, you're George and he's Fred." Harry slumped in confusion. "How do I even know that?" he thought to himself.
"Blimey, how'd you do that?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know."
After a few moments of silence, Harry asked, "Am I on the train to Hogwarts?"
"Yes," George answered, "this illustrious and posh compartment-"
"Is indeed on the infamous and notorious Hogwart's Express," Fred finished.
"Everyone travels in style when they-"
"Take the Hogwart's Express. Sit back and prepare to be pampered."
Harry giggled at the two twins clowning around. They had gestured about themselves and the cabin as if they were tour guides at Buckingham Palace.
"I'm glad I made it onto the train. I don't know what I'd have done if I had to return to my relatives because I had missed the train. But why is it I don't remember anything past trying to find Platform 9 ¾? Is that normal?"
"No, Harry," Fred replied. "I'm sure it'll come to you. Something odd happened. It would be best to talk with Dumbledore about it."
"Yeah," George agreed, "we don't really understand it ourselves."
"What happened? And what did you mean by my scar glowing?"
"Well, you kissed our little sister," Fred answered.
"What?" Harry was shocked to hear that.
"Then you two floated in the air," George continued as if Harry hadn't interrupted Fred.
"You glowed, Ginny glowed, there was a lot of dazzling light," Fred added.
"Then, it was done."
"You were out of it, so we carried you and your things aboard."
Harry had to digest what he heard, for a moment. "Thank you, then. Now what?"
That was when the door opened, allowing Percy and Ron to enter.
Ginny began to come around; the first thing she noticed was a headache. She was confused to find herself sitting on a bench at a train station platform. Her mother was pacing nervously back and forth, and the Hogwart's Express was nowhere to be seen. She felt disappointed; she didn't get to see her brothers off.
"I feel funny. Did I faint?" Ginny thought to herself. She realized that her mom must have been waiting for her to come to before leaving. "Hey, Mum. Can we go home now?"
Molly jumped. She was not expecting to hear Ginny say anything as she was lost within her own worries. "Oh, Ginny darling, how are you feeling?"
"All right, I guess. Got a bit of a headache though." Ginny could have sworn she almost heard Harry say, "I got one too."
"I'll give you a potion for that later, when we get home."
This confused Ginny; why weren't they going straight home now that she was awake?
Molly must have seen a confused look on Ginny's face. "We just have to wait for the ministry, dear."
Ginny, at first, did not understand why they would be waiting for the Ministry to arrive. Then the memory of what happened earlier hit her like a load of bricks. "Oh, no!" she thought with a gasp. "I'm in big trouble."
It was then that an auror and the head obliviator appeared. Ginny's father arrived a half second later.
"Molly, I got here as soon as I could. I just heard the news," Arthur said as he ran up to his wife. "How are the kids?"
"They're fine," Molly fretted. "Got on the train in time."
"We'll need a statement," the auror mentioned to the distraught family.
"Am I in trouble, Daddy?" Ginny asked in a terrified voice.
"No, Sweetums. The Ministry is lenient on accidental magic. It was an accident, right?"
Ginny bristled at the thought of that kiss being brushed aside as merely an accident. Fortunately for her, the adults interpreted her expression as indignation over the implication that she might have broken the law on purpose.
"Don't worry, little one. Why, my obliviators are already cleaning up the mess. Soon, everything will be back in order," the head of the obliviators boasted.
Ginny nodded. "Why do you need a statement?"
"Standard procedure, is all," the auror answered smoothly and without hesitation. Ginny didn't quite trust the answer she got, but she didn't push the issue.
"Don't worry, Ginny-cakes. Daddy will be right besides you the whole time."
Anything more that might have been said was lost as Minister Fudge blustered onto the scene. Dumbledore was right on his heel, as calm and serene as ever.
"Is this the girl, then?" Fudge asked in an accusatory voice. "Whatever shall I do with you?"
"Give her an Order of Merlin, First Class, of course." Dumbledore's reply shocked everyone and caused Fudge to nearly choke on his own tongue.
"Give her an Order of Merlin, First Class?" Fudge asked incredulously. "Have you finally lost all of your marbles? Why would I give her an Order of Merlin?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Addressing Ginny he asked, "Am I correct in believing you kissed a boy?"
Ginny blushed and nodded shyly, but she met the aged headmaster's eyes – daring him to condemn her.
"And this boy, was he dark haired? Green eyed?"
Ginny again nodded. "He was Harry Potter, sir."
"And how do you know this?"
Ginny grew unsure. "I just do."
"What does this have to do with anything, sir?" Arthur asked the wise, old wizard.
Fudge broke in, "Yes, I'd also like to know that, as well as why you want to give her an award for the biggest breach of the Secrecy Act since the Cannons turned the Thames into a Quidditch pitch."
"I'm getting to that. I am led to believe that a short time ago, young Miss Weasley and young Master Potter kissed. The result of which was an eruption of magical light, the likes of which that has never been seen before, leaving from Master Potter. I am merely ascertaining that this is true." The twinkle in Dumbledore's eye seemed to show that he already believed that this was true.
Ginny nodded. "I suppose. I was rather – er ... distracted at the time, sir."
"That is exactly what happened," Molly confirmed.
"How does that earn a medal?" Fudge erupted.
"The Order of Merlin, First Class is to be awarded to Miss Weasley and Master Potter for their ultimate defeat of Lord Voldemort." Everyone cringed at the sound of the Dark Lord's name.
"You are daft. Harry killed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ten years ago." Minister Fudge was beginning to turn red in the face.
"Alas, Harry did not kill Voldemort all those years ago. He had only defeated and weakened him. He wasn't killed until today. I had always suspected Voldemort used dark arts to try to cheat death and gain immortality."
Arthur was concerned. "Why do you think my daughter did what Harry couldn't if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is immortal?"
Dumbledore beamed at the question. "Ah, a very good question, if I do say so myself. The answer is, because I watched as Voldemort was utterly destroyed but a short while ago, by a beam of light."
"What? Where?" Fudge shouted half hysterically.
"At Hogwarts, of course. Where else would I be today on the start of term?"
Fudge turned white. "Hogwarts? But – but – but –"
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at Hogwarts?" Molly shrieked.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied with a nod. "Earlier than I had hoped, but not entirely unexpected."
"WHAT!" more than one voice loudly exclaimed.
"Why didn't you do something if you were expecting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to come to Hogwarts?" the auror questioned Dumbledore.
"What makes you think I didn't?"
Molly, however, had other concerns. "What about the children? Shouldn't you have warned the parents? To think, my children and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named running around Hogwarts at the same time!"
Arthur nodded his head. "I can't imagine what that would be like."
Ginny could, though. "You almost feel sorry for him, getting pranked by Fred and George. I could see him waking up with pink robes and explosive diarrhea." However, as a kid, everyone ignored her. Though, Dumbledore's eyes did seem to twinkle in silent amusement, but they were doing that anyways.
Dumbledore soothingly raised his hands. "Now, now. I assure you, my students were never in any real danger. Voldemort had other goals and the staff knew to keep a keen eye out. He was also hitchhiking; his spirit was hidden within the body of another. A wizard who had agreed to help him. Aurors are already dealing with that and have it well in hand. I'm here merely to investigate that miraculous light." The group took him at his word that Hogwarts was never in any danger.
Focusing upon Ginny again, Dumbledore addressed her. "Could you tell us more about what happened?"
Ginny noticed all eyes were upon her now, even Fudge's, who was still grumbling, "There's no proof she should get an Order of Merlin, First Class."
Ginny blinked as she gave thought to her answer. "Well, we – my family and I – were walking towards the barrier when I felt a strange tug – like I should turn around. Looking over, I saw a boy. There was this need to kiss ... and I don't remember anything after that."
"Curious, curious," Dumbledore mused.
"Do you know what happened, Sir?" Arthur Weasley inquired of the respected headmaster.
Everyone leaned in to hear Dumbledore's response. "Not a clue. Nothing like this has ever occurred before. But then, no one like these kids ever existed before. I am always amazed and amused by how unique every person is. An inexhaustible multitude of traits and personalities on display. Why, just take a trip through the London Underground -"
Fudge couldn't contain himself any longer. "We don't care about that, you bloody fool. Get to the part where suddenly we're giving awards away like penny candy to any random child."
Dumbledore shot fudge a withering look, which Fudge shrank away from. "Something special happened here, that much is clear. Something that I can not explain, but what I do understand is that this kiss, perhaps by some inborn power of young Miss Weasley, awakened a power within young Harry. This ability, perhaps powered by the one thing Voldemort could never understand, love, was able to reach out to the Dark Lord and all of the pieces of his soul, merge them back into a whole, and then, without his horcruxes to anchor him to the realm of the living, he passed on."
"What? Haircrust! Pieces of Souls! What jibber-jabber is this?" Fudge was turning purple.
"Ah yes, well I had some suspicion, but today I learned enough to piece together what probably occurred ten years ago."
"Could you explain this to us, Sir? I'm having trouble following you," Arthur pleaded politely.
"Certainly, why don't we all go someplace more private? I do need to return to Hogwarts soon, so we can either find a place nearby or we could all adjourn to my office at Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts would be fine. I am interested in seeing the scene there," the auror stated.
"Yes, we could all apparate to Hogsmeade and walk to Hogwarts," the head obliviator agreed.
"Very well, then." Headmaster Dumbledore nodded his agreement. "I shall be in my office, just come straight up when you arrive. The password for the gargoyle is 'Sugar Quills'. I'll see you soon." And with a spin, Dumbledore was gone.
Arthur kneeled down in front of his young daughter. "Would you like to go home with Mum? You must have had a very stressful day."
Ginny shook her head. She was curious herself what the Headmaster had to say, and she felt like she was a part of it and should know. "I'm fine Daddy. I want to see Hogwarts with you and Mummy."
"Alright, pumpkin. But if you feel tired at any point, just let us know, OK?"
"OK, Daddy."
Molly took Ginny's hand and placed it on her arm in preparation for a side-along apparation. The auror and head obliviator had already left for Hogsmeade, eager to satisfy their curiosity. Soon, the family joined them at the wizarding village.
Arthur and Molly tried to walk quickly, seeing the retreating backs of the other two ministry workers as they determinedly made their way to Hogwarts. However, Ginny was slowing them down. Besides having small legs, she was staring all around her. This was her first time in Hogsmeade.
"Come along Ginny, or I'll just take you straight home," Molly scolded her youngest child. Ginny sped up to keep better pace. She didn't want to be sent home.
Soon, the Weasleys arrived at the gate to Hogwarts, which stood open to receive them. Ahead of them, the auror and obliviator had already entered the grounds without any hesitation. But Ginny paused just inside the gate to gasp at the sight of the castle.
"Beautiful!" she thought to herself, before her mother tugged her arm to get her moving again.
"Yes, it is," a faint voice that sounded like Harry's sounded in her mind, agreeing with her.
Ginny's eyes shot open. She was sure of it this time. She did hear Harry in her head. "Harry? Is that you?"