Harry Potter

and the Malediction of the Deathly Hallows

By

Amaterasu Kinesi

Chapter Four

A Worthy Goal

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Tuesday - March 15, 2005

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"Innocence…" Harry repeated, now feeling more confused than ever.

As Harry thought about it, catching movement out of the corner of his eye, he placed the tiny hourglass carefully into the front pocket of his trousers for safe keeping and glanced curiously toward the door as he simultaneously placed his glass of water on the coffee table next to his armchair. That familiar warmth that always overtook Harry when Ginny either entered a room or was near enough for him to touch now flowed through his slightly chilled limbs and, almost instantly, he felt awash with calm.

And sure enough, when Harry turned his attention fully toward the door, there he found his pregnant wife and godson looking in. Ginny was standing in the hallway uncertainly, just beyond the door with her flaming red hair styled in a loose braid, a hand caressing her swollen belly soothingly, and a fidgeting Teddy at her side.

It still amazed Harry that, after nearly four years of marriage, she still affected him so strongly by merely standing across the room from him. When Harry caught her gaze, he noticed that she had a questioning look of apprehension aimed at him in the depth of her brown eyes while trying to figure out what was going on.

"Everything all right, Harry?" Ginny Potter asked glancing with concern between her husband and the Headmistress, standing just beyond the office door in the hallway. "Minerva, I hadn't realized you'd come to pay us a visit. Look, Teddy, say hello to Professor McGonagall."

"Hello, Professor," Teddy greeted shyly.

"Hello, Teddy," Minerva greeted him warmly. Teddy beamed. "Sorry about not greeting you earlier, Ginny." McGonagall explained, "Harry and I got a little sidetracked… but I must say, you look radiant. How much longer before you're due?"

"Thank you, McGonagall," Ginny beamed just as warmly, looking radiant indeed. "Well, Hermione is due the first week of April and I'm due the second or third week of March."

"That's so great, that the both of you are so closely due. It'll make it easier for the kids to become as close as the parents."

"That was our thinking," admitted Ginny.

"I imagine you're looking forward to finally being able to hold your baby?" Minerva asked conversationally. After all, these were too of her previous students who had married and were now journeying into parenthood; she felt pride upon looking at them and seeing how far they'd come.

"Yeah," Harry interjected. "We're so ready for the baby to come. Harry stood and walked the short distance to the office door, seeking the comfort of Ginny's nearness.

"Yes, please!" Ginny groaned and rubbed her swollen belly pleadingly. "I can't wait for the back aches and swollen everything to be over with… And I'm definitely looking forward to the day when I can look down and see my feet again!"

"I bet," McGonagall sympathized with a suppressed chuckle.

"If you'll excuse me a moment, Minerva," Harry said. "I need to have a word with my wife."

"But of course," Minerva said, waving him on. "I'll just be over here waiting."

"I appreciate it."

"You must come visit me soon, Minerva," Ginny pleaded. "Being surrounded by men can be so tedious." Ginny glanced pointedly between Harry and Teddy who both had the grace to look abashed.

"Oh, I most certainly will," promised McGonagall, amusement clear in her tone.

"Gin, don't you think you should get back in bed?" Harry asked his wife worriedly as he stood before her and tenderly began stroking her swollen belly, once Minerva was out of earshot. "You're supposed to be in bed rest the–"

"Harry James Potter," Ginny said warningly and spat, "do not talk to me about bed rest! I am pregnant with your baby, not an invalid!"

Harry flinched at the decibel in Ginny's voice and marveled at how much she sounded like her mother just then, with hands on either side of her hips and staring him 'down' even though she's a head shorter than him. Glancing apologetically at an amused McGonagall, Harry pulled Ginny in close and embraced her as best he could with her baby bump between them.

For her part, McGonagall decided to stay out of it and watched the scene unfold from afar with fondness. She was sure their kids were going to be a handful, if Teddy Lupin was anything to go by. He was already exhibiting marauding tendencies, just like his father before him and McGonagall found that she was looking forward to overseeing his progress at Hogwarts.

"Me too!" Teddy giggled and joined in the impromptu family hug after Harry gave him the okay with a nod and an easy smile. The two adults chuckled as Teddy tried to wriggle between them and, chagrined, found that he couldn't because of the baby.

"I'm just trying to look out for you, Gin, and the baby," Harry pacified, running circles with his hands over Ginny's back. At his touch, Ginny leaned into him and sighed as she felt most of the fight go out of her as Harry dissipated some of the tension. "I love you, remember? I'll always want what's best for you."

"I know. I love you too." Ginny rested her forehead against Harry's chest feeling silly. "I'm sorry for being irritable, Harry, I'm just so tired of being in bed and doing nothing… besides," she huffed, "Teddy, the baby, and I got hungry and we thought we'd come and check if you wanted to eat with us." Lifting her head from Harry's chest, Ginny glanced up at her husband to meet his greet eyes. "Do you?"

"Yeah! Come eat with us!" pleaded Teddy, tugging at the sleeves on Harry's robes enthusiastically.

"I'm sorry," he said contritely, "I would love to but I can't right now."

"But why…" Teddy's protest trailed off as his eyes landed on the Professor and his eyes lit up, as he understood. His godfather was trying not to be rude to his guest. Teddy thought he had a solution for that! "The Professor can eat with us too." He pouted. "I'll share, promise."

Harry chuckled at his godson's antics and ruffled his hair fondly as he explained, "That's very gentlemanly of you, Teddy, but that's not it. Professor McGonagall and I have a few things to finish discussing before she has to leave. That's why we can't join you."

"Oh…" Teddy was disappointed; he had no idea how offer a solution to that.

Innocence, the word repeated itself in Harry's mind as he glanced between Ginny and Teddy as she reassured him that Harry would join them once he was done discussing grown-up things with Professor McGonagall and placed a kiss to the top of his brown locks. Teddy didn't think he liked Professor McGonagall very much just then, he really, really wanted his godfather to see the new nose he had learned to transform his into while at the table.

Almost in a trance, Harry continued to watch his wife and godson interacting and felt awed by the simplicity of their bond. From her interactions with Teddy, Harry knew that Ginny would make a great Mum once their child came into the world and it gave him a great sense of serenity.

"Tell you what," Harry began and crouched in front of Teddy, "once I'm done here and you guys are all fed, we'll go have ourselves some ice cream." Teddy's eyes lit up. "What do you think, Teddy? Do we have a deal?"

Teddy looked up at Ginny and tugged at her arm as he jumped in place, waiting to see if she thought that would be okay to do. Smiling fondly at him, Ginny nodded at the wide-eyed boy. Looking extremely relieved, Teddy turned to Harry and took a big breath before replaying. He was so excited!

"Yes!"

"Yes?"

"Yes!"

"Very well then, we have a deal," Harry agreed. "Now, the deal isn't sealed until we shake on it though." Teddy stared at his godfather with wide-eyed despair before he realized what he had to do and stretched out his hand for Harry to shake.

"Now we have a deal?" Teddy asked worriedly.

"We do." Teddy's smile lit up the room at Harry's confirmation and his eyes momentarily glowed amber before going back to the same shade of green as his godfather's he had opted for that day.

"Did you hear him, Ginny?" Teddy gushed. "We're gonna have ice cream later!"

"Yes, I heard him," Ginny chuckled. "The baby and I can't wait!"

Teddy made a funny face at Ginny; She said things like that a lot and he still didn't get how the baby could want anything or how she knew when it was inside her belly and couldn't talk at all. Therefore, he couldn't help but think that Ginny was being funny when she talked like that.

"Gin, do you need me to run out for anything before I get back to McGonagall?"

"No, we're good." Ginny turned her attention from Teddy to Harry and smiled gratefully at her husband's thoughtfulness but wasn't fooled. She was certain something was going on and she promised herself she would get to the bottom of it once McGonagall was gone. Something serious enough to put that haunted look back in her husband's green eyes…

"How's our boy doing?" Harry inquired after their baby.

"The baby's been on a frenzy all afternoon," Ginny answered and inhaled as she felt him move and kick. "There he goes again, moving around so much that I just haven't been able to get comfortable."

"I felt that one," Harry said, his tone awed.

"I want to feel! I want to feel!" Teddy was really excited for this baby to come; he'd be the best big brother ever and show the baby how to be a big boy like him. "I feel him! I feel him!"

"So do I," muttered Ginny, gingerly touching her ribs. "It's a miracle I don't have bruises all over."

I'll let it go for now, Ginny decided. Knowing very well that Harry kept no secrets from her and he would talk to her about what was going on between him and McGonagall when he was ready. She could wait patiently until then.

"You'll let me know if you do need help, right?" Harry asked in all seriousness. When Ginny nodded, Harry embraced his wife and godson as McGonagall stepped further into the office to give the Potter family a moment of privacy. Giving wife, baby bump, and godson a kiss each, Harry suggested, "Gin, why don't you guys go eat now?"

"Is there something I should know?" Ginny asked as she ignored the clear dismissal and eyed him warily.

"Once we're finished here," Harry promised, "I'll tell you what's been going on. It's… I need to wrap my head around it first. Then we'll talk."

"You better, Mr. Potter," said Ginny before pecking his lips with hers soundly (as Teddy protested with a rather obnoxious 'eeewww!'). "I wouldn't want to hex the father of my unborn child but I won't hesitate to do so. Not if it'll get you talking."

"I'll keep that in mind." Smiling, he added, "You're amazing, you know that?"

"I know," Ginny answered and gave her husband a lingering kiss on the lips (Teddy looked away and covered his eyes). "And I love you too."

"I know."

"What about me!" Teddy asked, pouting and feeling slightly ignored.

"We both love you very much," Harry assured him and hugged him, "But you already know that, don't you?" Teddy beamed and nodded, reciprocating the sentiment. Harry shook his head, chuckling. "You little tyke."

"Well, time for us to be on our way…" Ginny stretched her back, wincing slightly. In order to keep from telling his wife to go back to rest and just call Kreacher to bring her some food, Harry bit his lower lip and tried to keep the worry he felt from showing in his eyes. "Just remember you've been warned, Potter."

"I will."

"Come on Edward Remus Lupin," Ginny sighed dramatically and offered the young 'un her hand, "let's go and feed ourselves before our stomachs start eating itself."

"It can't do that!" Teddy protested incredulously and took Ginny's hand to help her down the stairs.

"Of course it can't," Ginny agreed teasingly, "because we won't let it!"

"Yeah! We won't let it!" Teddy looked down at his stomach and frowned worriedly. "You hear that tummy…?"

"I'm sure it heard you," Ginny assured him, giggling and patting his head consolingly. Looking grateful, Teddy smiled with relief. "So, what should we eat…?"

Harry smiled saucily after his retreating wife and took a moment to admire the enticing sway of her hips, stretched delectably to accommodate their growing child, before schooling his features. Knowing that he had a decision to make, Harry turned back resolutely to face McGonagall and the matter at hand –the Time-Turner and the witch that had kept it safely for him, apparently.

...

Upon re-entering the room, Harry found McGonagall at the very center of his office and waiting for him. Taking a moment to organize his thoughts, Harry walked back to his previously vacated armchair and stood behind it, his hands gripping the backrest.

"Minerva," Harry began, silently shutting the office door behind him, "did Dumbledore happen to mention anything else when he asked you to hold the Time-Turner for me? Anything at all?"

Quietly thinking, Harry found himself strategically formulating a plan that was quickly taking form in his mind. It wouldn't be simple and it would require hours of research and more hours than he was willing to spare away from his family but Harry was beginning to realize, it would be inevitable to forget about the Time-Turner otherwise.

Minerva frowned, thinking. "He said that you'd have two choices –both right– but the better of the two would make all the difference." Sounding slightly amused, Minerva added, "And he might have mentioned something about you being the better man and sometimes a little too selfless for your own good."

That simple sentence conjured up an image in Harry's mind of a small, maimed creature trembling while whimpering and thumping under a chair and beyond his help… It had been beyond his help then, but was it still beyond his help now?

"Of house-elves and children's tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing." His old headmaster had told Harry once. "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love. By returning you may ensure that fewer souls are maimed, fewer families are torn apart. If that seems to you a worthy goal, then we say good-bye for the present."

Of course, Harry knew that his old headmaster had been infuriating in many ways, specially in the way he provided more questions than he did answers –even after the man lay six feet under. But Harry had never expected that Dumbledore had been giving him clues even when he hadn't been 'not-quite-dead'.

We say good-bye for the present…

"Minerva, I think I know…" Harry licked his lips nervously and took another sip from his water. "I think… yes… I think I've solved the issue of 'when'…"

"When?" McGonagall asked, surprised and a little apprehensive.

"Also, I think I know how, but…" Harry shook his head as his mind raced ahead, formulating a plan without even realizing he was doing so. "I'll need your guidance and advice with something else first. And I think Hermione…" Harry nodded, "yes, I think she will be eager to assist as well with what I have in mind."

"Why don't you Floo her and ask her to step in?" Minerva suggested. "I'll help, whichever way I can."

"No." Harry shook his head. "This is something that needs to be well thought out and as such, I need to discuss it with my wife," he added, grimacing. "I won't do anything without her consent. I won't jeopardize my marriage chasing after… I won't jeopardize my marriage, period."

"I think that would be wise," agreed McGonagall. "I will leave you then. I've intruded upon your hospitality long enough." She rose to her feet.

"Not at all, Minerva," Harry said dismissively. "You're a friend and always welcome in my home."

"Thank you, Harry," Minerva said warmly. "Even so, I must return to the school. Would it be possible for me to make use of your fireplace?"

"Of course, Minerva."

"You will owl me if you need anything, won't you, Mr. Potter?" urged McGonagall as she gathered a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the fire.

"I won't hesitate to do so," Harry promised.

Satisfied and with a final good-bye, Minerva McGonagall stepped into the green flames of Harry's fireplace and vanished in a roar of emerald green flames. Alone once again, Harry now only had his turbulent thoughts for company until he could organize them enough to express and vocalize them for his wife's benefit.

Harry reasoned there was no harm in planning as long as he didn't act. And as far as Harry was concerned, that's all his planning would amount to –a plan of action that he wouldn't use but would have, just in case...

Taking a seat, Harry buried his face in his hands and unconsciously waited for Ginny and Teddy to come find him again. Meanwhile, he was thinking of a heartbroken woman who had been expecting and hadn't had the strength of will or strength to live for her unborn child. As Harry thought about this woman, his plan solidified and he knew what he needed to do but not where to start.

Actually, Harry thought, I do know where to start… Raising to his feet and walking toward a cabinet he kept beside the door, Harry bent over it. When Harry straightened up, he was holding a shallow stone basin etched with odd markings around its rim.

A moment later, Harry strode over to his desk and placed the Pensieve upon it. After a moment's hesitation, Harry put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his wand. Staring into the Pensieve, Harry touched the tip of his wand to his temple and withdrew it, so that a long, silver thread of memory came away too, clinging to the want tip. The memory stretched, longer and longer, until it broke and swung, silvery bright, from the wand. Harry lowered it into the Pensieve where it coiled, then spread, swirling like gas. He lowered his wand to his side with a trembling hand, bowed over the Pensieve, and felt his feet leave the office floor… Harry fell through darkness and landed in Albus Dumbledore's office nine years earlier in the year 1996.

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A/N: Thank you for reading. Hope you have enjoyed this chapter as well as the last (if not more). Until next chapter –Chapter Five: The Heart of Number Twelve.