Many thanks to CrimsonShocker for beta-reading this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own J.K. Rowling's works and forfeit any claim of profit from publishing on this site.
Sacred Fire
Chapter 02
Harry looked up from his bedroom window as Mr. Weasley approached him, the older man taking a seat on the bed beside him.
"I'd like to have a talk with you, if you wouldn't mind?" he said seriously.
"Sure. Go head," said Harry.
"I'd like to say that … well, you know, I cannot imagine how hard this must be for you."
Harry nodded reluctantly, not looking at him.
"I want you to know that my wife and I consider you part of our family. You are as a son to us."
Harry turned his gaze to Mr. Weasley, who was regarding him closely. Harry opened his mouth but nothing came out. He felt that his heart would burst from all the feelings that he felt at Mr. Weasley's words. He tried to keep his eyes from watering up and nodded more vigorously from before. Mr. Weasley understood, and smiled in acknowledgment.
"I'd like you to know that you are welcome to stay here at the Burrow for as long as you'd like."
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. T-thank you very much."
"Call me Arthur," smiled Mr. Weasley as he squeezed Harry's shoulder.
"Molly will be delighted to hear that you are staying," he said as he stood.
At the door he paused and turned back towards Harry.
"And, Harry?"
"Yes, Mr. We – I mean, Arthur?"
"Treat my daughter well."
And with that, Mr. Weasley left the room, leaving a stunned Harry to his thoughts.
…
Harry watched as Ron stuffed the last of his clothes into an old brown travelling case, the redhead shoving the items into the container with careless ease before snapping the whole thing shut.
"Well, that's that!" Ron said, stepping back and brushing the dust from his hands.
"Good luck with Hermione, mate," said Harry.
"Thanks!" grinned Ron. "I gotta do this for her, Harry. I can see how difficult it's going to be for her, you know?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "I'm sure it'll work out for her and her parents."
"That's the rub, isn't it?" said Ron. "No matter what way it goes, I'm there for her."
He hoisted the heavy case onto its long side, picking it up by the leather handle.
They left the room together, Ron in the lead. He struggled down the stairs with his bulky case, having brushed off Harry's offer to help him with a hasty,"It's all right! I've got this!" Shrugging the matter off, Harry had followed.
Their friendship hadn't been quite the same since the night that Ron had walked out on them, but Harry had forgiven him for it, both having decided to move past the incident.
Entering the kitchen, Ron dropped the case to the floor; the bang that followed caught everyone's attention. Hermione, who had been waiting with her own, smaller case, ran up to and embraced him.
Mr. Weasley looked at Ron and nodded, while Mrs. Weasley was clearly trying to hold back her tears for Ron's sake, as it would embarrass him. She got up from the table and gave him a quick farewell kiss. Ginny hugged Hermione first, then Ron, while Harry clapped him on the back and simply said, "Cheers, mate." The rest of the Weasley brothers had gone back to their separate lives, leaving Ron and Ginny as the only two children left in the house.
Ron shook hands with his father, who told him, "Be careful. Oh, and try to find out how them airplanes stay up in the air for me, will you?" Mr. Weasley's expression was hopeful and teasing at the same time.
Ron laughed and said, "I'll try," before turning to Hermione.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes," breathed Hermione, her nervousness evident.
"Let's go, then."
They went through the door outside to the waiting taxi car, which would take them to London, as travel by Muggle airplane was the easiest and safest method to get them to Australia. Needless to say, Hermione had taken care of the travel arrangements.
Harry and the other Weasleys watched as the car pulled away, feeling both sadness and joy in his heart. He would be alone, with the exception of Ginny and her parents, but he was excited for his two best mates; this was important for them and he wished them the best of luck.
That night, supper was a somewhat subdued affair, as two certain people were absent. Mrs. Weasley tried to act normal; she bustled about, serving her family extra-large second and third helpings. Harry and Mr. Weasley talked about the Muggle world and the various contraptions that helped that world to work, while Ginny listened in from time to time, talking with her mother about whatever it was that women talked about.
As the pudding arrived, Harry found himself watching Ginny. Her hair flowed down her back and glinted a most beautiful red when she turned her head, while he threatened to be lost forever in those chocolate eyes. Harry felt a deep ache inside as he watched her. She caught him looking and mouthed, "What?"
"Oh, nothing," Harry smiled at her, "I just like looking at you."
Ginny flushed and Harry thought of how pretty it made her look; she turned away, smiling.
Later, when the dishes had been put away, Ginny came and stood before Harry.
"Harry?"
"Yes, Ginny?" asked Harry, his heart beating a little fast.
"Would you like to come outside with me?" she said hopefully.
Harry grinned at her, grabbing her hand and leading her outside into the night. Unbeknowest to them as they went outside, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged amused glances.
"Let's stop here," said Ginny as they walked toward the pond. Harry took a deep breath of fresh night air. The crescent moon was shining high above them and they could hear the chirping of crickets.
He dropped his gaze back down to Ginny, who was watching him with her dark orbs. Her eyes reflected the light of the moon and the stars.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" Harry asked her as he leaned in to kiss her.
She grinned and they kissed deeply. Their tongues wrestled with one another as Harry's hand snaked its way up into her hair. They pressed themselves against one another before finally breaking for air.
"Oh, gods," breathed Harry as he ran his fingers through Ginny's hair; he loved the feel of it sliding through his fingers, never tiring of it.
"Oh, yes," whispered Ginny. Her hands, which had been hanging around Harry's back, came up, digging into his own hair.
"I love you, Harry Potter," Ginny whispered.
"And I love you, Ginny Weasley," he breathed back.
They came together for an even more tender kiss.
…
CLICK - CLICK - CLICK.
The woman smiled as the couple made their way back to the dilapidated house, lowering her bulky camera. Her male companion crouched silently beside her as they watched the two dark figures retreating.
"They are all alone," he whispered, "We must strike now!" He raised his wand menacingly.
"No!" hissed the woman, "You know our orders. We are to watch their movements. Nothing more."
The man next to her grumbled softly, "Look, Marietta. We are here. He isn't -"
"You know he will have our necks if we act rashly!" the woman, Marietta, snarled.
Their leader had powerful connections, and she knew it would be a fatal mistake to cross him.
"Listen, you idiot. We have to be patient. We will get to Harry Potter in some way," the woman sneered. "And we will make sure that happens quite soon."
"Hmph..."
They looked out at the scene before them. The two people, Potter and the blood traitor brat, had gone inside while they had been arguing. The spies watched the house for a few more moments, before Marietta whispered, "Let's go."
They promptly Disapparated.