Harry Potter and the Magic of Life: Year of Change

by Kate Carpenter

Continuation of previous story: The summer break turns out to be not as calm as Harry would have liked. Lying friends and family members, dementor attacks and nightmares and recurring flashbacks, are just some of the problems and that is not taking into account Voldemort, the new DADA teacher and his Curse-Breaking-Training. And that was before the Ron sat fire to the garden shed

4. Cold and Fear

Chapter Four: Cold and Fear

Harry sat once more on one of the swings, his bare feet scratching at the dirt while the last sunlight warmed his back.

He almost smiled at the sense of Deja 'Vue that overcame him. Not too long ago he had sat here like this, reading the newspaper spreading lies about him.

Today there was no newspaper. Sirius had taken it with him to work that morning.

The other difference being that a few weeks ago he'd been a lot more angry, sullen and hurt.

Today he felt a lot better.

Someone sat down on the swing next to him.

"Hello stranger. I haven't seen you at all this week."

The tone was playful but there was a concerned undertone.

Harry managed a weak smile.

"Sorry. I have been…preoccupied. These past days have been…eventful."

That was an understatement.

Sirius, Remus and he had spent the past five days talking a lot about pretty much everything.

A lot of it was about getting to know each other for real and understand each other and clearing the air between then so to speak.

It hadn't been easy and there had been a few arguments but none like the one at Greengrass Manor.

They had also talked about the war.

There was no denying that there would be one.

So they had sat down and talked about possible training and expectations and rules and stuff like that.

Remus and Sirius hadn't told him much about the Orders doings yet, for one because they were under oath not to tell outsiders and until Harry could become an insider there wasn't much they could reveal. But hopefully that would change soon. As a sign of good will and faith, Harry had even allowed Sirius to restore the Trace onto his wand after telling him that Victor had removed it last summer once more.

Between all that there hadn't been much room in the week for anything else.

.

"So…how did it go then?" Gina asked as she started swinging back and fore.

Harry shrugged. "Initially not so good. But now that the dust has settled and we can talk more civil with each other again…Pretty good all things considered."

"That bad?" Gina asked with a cringe.

Harry shrugged.

"Sirius and Remus listened and got mad alright. We shouted a bit at each other, everybody said a few bad things and then we apologized to each other…I really think it cleared the air between us. And I feel so much better to be honest. They know and…and I don't feel like I'm alone anymore. I have someone to share this…all of this with and they accepted it. Best of all is…they understand. At least they are beginning to. I didn't realize until now how…alone I really was and how overwhelming it all seemed but now I feel like with them by my side, really by my side…I can do this." He whispered.

She reached over and squeezed his shoulder.

"Well done Harry." She whispered back.

"All thanks to you." He added, looking her straight into the eyes.

"You would have figured it out eventually. All I did was nudge you in the right direction."

"That friend you lost? She would be so proud." He said honestly.

He eyes misted over ever so slightly.

"Thank you."

They sat in silence for a while.

"Where's everyone else?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"At John's place. I was headed there when I saw you here. I figured if you wanted to talk, you wouldn't want to do so in front of a whole audience."

He smiled.

"If you want we can head over there and join them." She suggested.

"Yeah, sounds like fun." He admitted and stood up, stretching his back.

"Awesome. Come on, lets hurry, before all the good food is gone."

"Yeah, hold your…" Harry sat to reply but stopped when an icy cold feeling ran down his spine.

A sudden cold wind made him shiver and overhead the sky started to darken, black clouds pushing themselves before the setting sun, shrouding everything in sudden darkness.

"Oh no, looks like it's gonna rain." Gina noted, just seconds before the first raindrops fell down.

Within moments the rain grew from a slight drizzle to a torrent of water crushing down on them.

"Let's find shelter and wait out the worst of it!" Gina shouted over the sound of gushing water and grabbed his hand, dragging him across the already soaking wet playground-sand towards the jungle-gym.

The jungle-gym was shaped like a pirate's boat and the hull was open on both ends, forming a sort of tunnel. From inside you could climb through it upwards towards the deck and the bridge but right now it served as a great shelter.

They took cover in the hull, kneeling down since they were both too tall to stand upright, Gina especially.

They moved further inwards when the wind changed the rains directions, battering it inside the tunnel as if mother nature was determined to flush them out of their hiding spot.

It was gloomy in here and Harry could barely see.

He shivered, the thin shirt and pants he was wearing were soaked and clung to his skin.

"I'll try and text John to let him know we'll be late." Gina said, fishing for her phone.

Its screen lit up the darkness around them slightly.

"Damn it, no connection found." She sighed seconds later.

"I'm sure it'll be over soon…" Harry began but stopped when a sudden cold and dark feeling crept over him yet again.

The hairs on his neck stood up on end and a sense of foreboding overcame him.

He carefully rose to his knees, mindful not to bash his head on the low ceiling and squinted into the darkness outside.

Despite it only being late afternoon, it was dark as night outside.

The rain was deafening and the hollow shape of the boat amplified it.

Suddenly, Harry felt cut off from the outside world, even though the next houses couldn't be that far away…

But the rain and the blackness of the sky robbed them of all sights.

He felt Gina take his hand. He could barely see her but she must have sensed something as well because she whispered: "Harry, I don't like this…"

Neither did Harry but he couldn't exactly say why.

"Move further into the tunnel." He urged her. He didn't dare raise his voice above a whisper.

On their hands and knees, they crawled further into the pirate's ship.

The rain made the air smell like wood and mildew and sand and old paint.

"Do you think someone is out there?" Gina asked.

Remembering the cold feeling and how in the past his gut had always been right about impending danger, Harry shrugged and said: "Maybe. I…I just have a funny feeling…"

The 'funny' feeling suddenly intensified and it grew into a numbing cold and fear started to spread through Harrys system like poison.

He knew that feeling.

He'd always recognize that dreadful combination.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Gina asked, using her phone to look at him.

"Gina, put the phone away!" he whispered, his throat closing up.

"What? Why?"

"Gina, just do it! And be still!" he whispered.

It was one of them.

But how…how was that possible? This was a predominantly Muggle neighbourhood and even if it hadn't been, they should never be able to leave their island except for certain exceptions like prison transport!

But Harry knew the how was secondary or the why. What mattered more was getting out of here alive.

Gina opened her mouth to say something again but Harry shook his head and whispered: "We have to get out of here!"

He could feel his wand burning in back of his jeans. Why, oh why had he allowed Sirius to put the trace back on it?

But even without it, performing magic in front of Muggles was illegal.

But was it, even when their lives were in danger?

No time to think about it.

The feeling of dread and fear and cold reached its peak and Harry thought he saw something move outside in the rain. A tattered black robe maybe?

"Run!" he whispered.

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Maybe it was the terror in his voice or something in his eyes. But Gina didn't question him.

She just did as he'd told her.

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They didn't even make it to the end of the tunnel.

As soon as they started crawling towards the other end a dark hooded figure descended upon them from nowhere.

Gina let out a shriek that was cut short by the sound of her choking.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Harry bellowed at the Dementor, frantically searching for his wand. But before he could find it a second Dementor appeared, grabbing him by the throat and pushing him backwards, away from Gina.

Its touch was revolting, very much like everything else about it, cold and hard and unforgiving.

And then, suddenly, Harry was back in the graveyard and Voldemort stood over him, his snake-like face contorted in a disgusting sneer.

"I'm going to kill you Harry Potter."

Cold sweat ran down Harrys back.

Its not real, he tried to tell himself, this is just the Dementor feeding off your worst fears and memories.

Through the haze of torturous memories Harry faintly heard Gina's weak whimpers.

"Mommy, no please mommy, I promise I'll be good!"

Her whimpers disappeared as another memory pulled him under.

Burning hot pain coursed through his veins as the gleeful voice of Voldemort laughed menacingly above him, repeating the incantation over an over.

"Crucio. Crucio Harry Potter. Feel the pain. Crucio!"

You lived through this. This is just a memory. A memory can't hurt you. The little voice whispered fiercely in his ear.

He resurfaced in reality again, gasping.

The dementor was right there but Harry felt so weak.

In a meagre attempt to evade his kiss, Harry turned his head away from the approaching hood.

And his eyes landed on Gina again.

She seemed drained, her eyes glassy and unfocused.

She shivered and moaned as if in pain.

"No…June, no…please…please don't die. I'm sorry. This is all my fault! June!"

Her broken voice, so full of fear and despair cut through Harrys own pain and for a second his mind was clear.

And that was all he needed.

He balled his hand into a fist and punched the Dementor straight into its hooded face.

The feeling was like nothing he'd ever felt before. It was like punching ice, cold and hard and painful. His skin burned but he ignored it.

The creature reeled back and Harry moved instinctively.

His hand found his wand and a new memory took place in his mind.

It was the faces of his truest and best friends, Ron and Hermione, sitting and laughing with his in the common room at Hogwarts.

The memory fuelled his inner fire and the incantation fell from his lips easily.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Prongs was magnificent as always as he jumped into existence from the tip of his wand.

In the tight space of the tunnel he glowed even brighter and appeared taller than usual and without hesitation he charged right into the Dementor hoovering above Harry.

The Dementor let out an otherworldly scream and vanished.

"THIS WAY!" Harry bellowed and directed Prongs towards Gina.

The other Dementors mouth was almost touching her lips. Gina was shaking uncontrollably, her eyes rolling in in their sockets, drool running down from the corner of her mouth.

Prongs smashed his antlers into the Dementors chest, lifting it up and threw it away.

It too disappeared into the night.

Ignoring his Patronus as it started to dissolve, Harry crawled towards his friend, fear and dread pooling in his stomach.

Gina wasn't moving.

Harry pressed his shaking fingers into the side of her neck, staring intently at her chest, hoping, praying, to catch a sign of life.

His trembling fingers finally detected a pulse, weak but it was definitely there.

The adrenalin that had fuelled him seconds ago into saving them both, ebbed away and Harry found himself kneeling on wet sand in the middle of a playground with a friend that was barely conscious, more like close to death, and no plan as to what to do.

"Gina? Gina, can you hear me?" he whispered, his voice shaking just like his fingers.

She rewarded him with a weak moan and Harry nodded.

"I can work with that." He whispered, pushing himself to his feet.

"Don't worry Gina, I've got this."

He bent down, reaching with one arm under broth her arms and grabbed his own arm with his other hand.

With a secure grip on his friend Harry started dragging her out of the shelter and back into the open, ignoring his throbbing right hand.

The rain had stopped but the dark clouds remained.

Once they were outside, Harry stopped to take a breath.

Just dragging Gina's giant frame out of the tunnel had been hard enough.

He'd never carry her anywhere.

But he couldn't leave her here either!

Remembering her phone Harry reached into her pocket and pulled it out.

The screen was cracked and when he pressed the buttons nothing happened.

It probably broke during her struggle with the Dementor.

He put in back and sank back down on his heels.

"Shit, shit, shit." He muttered.

Below him in the sand, Gina moaned but didn't really wake up.

She was shivering though, like him.

They needed to get out of the cold and somewhere warm and find someone who could help Gina.

But how? He'd already used his wand once tonight, he might as well do it again. Maybe he could message Sirius?

But who knew how long it would take Sirius to come and find them?

No, Gina needed help right now.

As he feverishly thought of a way to get them out of here, he remembered something.

He didn't know where this memory had come from or why now.

But he remembered something.

When he'd been in his third year in elementary school, he had gotten in trouble because while running away from Dudley and his gang, he had jumped behind a dumpster and landed on the school roof.

Back then he had had no explanation as to how that had been possible.

But now he knew.

"I must have apparated. Or at least something similar." He whispered to himself.

A crazy idea formed in his mind.

"Maybe I can do it again…" he mumbled.

Of course, Harry knew about the risks of apparating without proper training but…Gina needed help. And she needed it fast.

He gathered his friend in his arms and held her as tightly as he could, squeezed his eyes shut and tried to imagine a safe heaven.

The Burrow was the first thing that came to his mind.

A tingling sensation filled his hands and feet but it ebbed away again.

"Come on." He groaned, trying again.

This time the tingling filled both his arms and legs but again nothing happened.

"COME ON!" Harry shouted, frustration getting the better of him.

The tingling intensified and suddenly he was tugged away with Gina in his arms.

He didn't remember the flight. It wasn't like apparating, that he knew. It didn't feel like being squeezed through a tube. Instead it felt as if all his molecules were dissolving, travelling loosely in a huge cloud through the air….

But the memory vanished from his mind almost immediately.

The landing he did remember.

It was rough and jolted his bones.

Before him the Burrow rose high but Harry had no time to celebrate the successful journey, because to his great dismay its windows were all dark and no smoke rose from the chimneys.

It was almost as if nobody was home.

"RON! RON, FRED, GINNY…ANYONE…GEORGE! PLEASE!" he shouted as he hoisted Gina higher, holding her tightly. She was pale and her breathes were laboured.

"RON! RON, IT'S ME, HARRY!" he shouted again.

But nothing happened.

Harry supressed a curse, trying to keep it together for Gina's sake.

He closed his eyes again, thinking of home, thinking of Sirius.

But Sirius wasn't home.

He was at one of those blasted meetings with Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix.

But he needed him. He needed his godfather right now.

Because this was something he couldn't fix himself.

The tingling came back and then it whisked him away again, Gina in his arms.

Again they landed rough but this wasn't where Harry had envisioned himself.

Though he did recognize the worn wooden floor, the dark walls and gloomy portraits on the wall, he was still confused.

Until one particular painting started shrieking the second his knees connected with the hard-wood floor.

"Blood-traitors, Mudbloods, traitors, filthy creatures! Get out of my home!" the portrait of Walburga Black wailed.

Harry, still in a slight stupor stared at her in disbelieve.

How had he ended up at Grimmauld Place of all places?

He got his answer when the door straight ahead of him burst open and several people he knew rushed towards him, wands at the ready.

But they came to a sudden stop when they saw him there on the floor.

Harry guessed he must have made a pitiful sight, all wet and dirty, clutching the body of an unconscious girl to his chest.

"Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked astonished. "Good heavens boy, what are you doing here?" he asked but even before he had finished, Dumbledore and Sirius had muscled past him.

"Harry?" Sirius asked, hurrying towards him but stopping a few feet in front of him.

There was turmoil on the stairs and Harry spotted Ron, the twins, Ginny and Hermione.

They too came to a stop when they saw him.

"Harry? Mate, is that you?" Ron asked, both worried and surprised.

Harry stared at him, then back at the grown ups who were all staring back at him.

But then he remembered Gina and all he could say was: "Help her."

To his surprise it was Mrs. Weasley who reacted to his request.

She pushed past everyone else and knelt down next to them.

"Harry, dear, what happened?"

Harry looked at her, not knowing where to start.

"Dementors." He finally managed to say.

That finally seemed to break the spell.

Sirius swiftly knelt down next to him.

"What do you mean Dementors?" he asked.

"I…I promise I'll explain but please, can someone please help Gina? It didn't kiss, her I managed to fight it off. But it…it fed of her. She's hurt I think!" he whispered.

"Of course honey. Don't worry, if she wasn't kissed, she'll be alright. We'll take care of her." Mrs. Weasley said kindly.

She brandished her wand and Harry felt Gina's weight lift of his legs but he was still holding her.

"Harry, let her go, Molly will take good care of her." Sirius promised.

Most unwillingly Harry let go of his friend and watched as Mrs. Weasley gently guided her floating body upstairs.

His gaze fell momentarily onto his friends before his sight was blocked by some of the other grown-ups.

"Harry, what happened to you hand?" Remus asked.

He somehow had appeared by his side and was inspecting his right hand.

"I punched one of them in the face." Harry muttered numbly.

Now that he saw his hand under light he wished he hadn't looked.

His knuckled were split and bleeding but more concerning was the black colour of his skin where his fist had made connected with the Dementors body.

Sirius and Remus pulled him to his feet, guiding him past the stairs and through the gathered people into the living room.

He didn't know most people but he heard their murmurs.

"Punched a Dementor? Kids got spunk."

"I'm more concerned with the girl he brought here. Is she a muggle?"

"Is he alright?"

"How did he get through the wards though?"

"Did I hear him right? Dementors?"

Harry was gently pushed down onto a sofa and Sirius sat down next to him.

In the sudden bright light of the room, Harry eyes hurt and he closed them.

He was shivering wildly but Sirius must have noticed because seconds later warmth enveloped him and his clothes dried.

He sighed with relieve.

"Harry? What happened?" Remus asked.

"We…we were at the park and…just talking and…Then it suddenly got dark and it started to rain and…we took shelter but then these two Dementors came out of nowhere and attacked us and…I fought them off but she was…I had to take her somewhere safe, I went to the Burrow first but nobody was there and then I…I don't know…I didn't plan on coming here!"

Some part of his brain knew that he was rambling so he took a deep breath and tried to organize his thoughts.

Something wet touched his hand and it burned and he hissed, pulling back his injured limb.

"It's okay Harry, just some essence of dittany." Sirius muttered.

Finally, Harry opened his eyes to see Sirius sitting on the sofa next to him while Remus carefully dripped a yellow substance on his knuckles before wrapping it up in a bandage.

They were otherwise alone in the room, for which Harry was grateful.

He sagged against the cushions and shook his head.

"What the actual fuck? Did this really just happen?" he muttered.

"Language Harry." Remus reminded him.

Harry opened his eyes which he hadn't realized had closed again.

"No, I mean it, what the hell! Dementors? In London? What's next? Mermaids in the Ministry? Dragons in Gringotts?"

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation." Remus said soothingly though his eyes were dark with anger.

There was a commotion outside the door.

"What now?" Sirius muttered just as the door burst open and most of the Weasley kids as well as Tonks and Hermione came barrelling into the room.

"Harry, mate, are you alright?" Ron asked but was pushed aside by the twins.

"Awesome entry mate!" Fred said with a grin.

"Yeah, real dramatic with all that 'saving-the-damsel-in-distress" and all that hero stuff, real classy!" George added.

"Leave him be! Merlin, you are so tactless. He and his friend were just attacked by Dementors!" Ginny protested.

"Didn't we tell you to stay outside?" Remus interrupted her, hands on his hips, his tone a mix of exasperation and defeat.

"Yeah, Tonks, didn't we tell you to keep them outside." Sirius added with a pointed look at her pointedly.

Tonks held up her hands. "I made no such promises!" she declared.

"Who cares" Hermione interrupted impatiently "Harry, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just…tired and…this isn't exactly how I imagined my day would go." Harry muttered.

"Did you really punch a Dementor?" Fred piped up.

"Yes." Harry nodded, holding up his bandaged hand.

"Awesome." Fred said solemnly.

"Okay, you've seen him breath and talk now go back to your rooms. Harry will be along shortly." Remus ordered them sternly.

It took a few minutes a lot of muttering and three more stern words from both Remus and Sirius before Harrys friends finally returned upstairs.

For which Harry was secretly glad.

Remus went and fetched a bowl of soup for Harry to help with his still slightly frayed nerves.

Harry was about to swallow the first spoon-full of soup when the door opened and Dumbledore walked inside, followed by Kingsley, Bill, Moody, a couple of people Harry didn't know and…Snape!

What the…

Sirius must have been thinking something along the same lines because he got up and placed himself between Harry and the gathered Order members.

"Not now Albus. He's just been attacked by Dementors."

"Allegedly." Snape sneered.

"Proven." Sirius hissed back.

"Peace my boys. I just wanted to make sure Harry was alright and find out how this attack was possible." Said Dumbledore in his most grandfatherly voice.

Bill pushed past them and crouched down before Harry.

"You okay?" he asked in a low voice, searching Harrys face for signs that he wasn't.

"Of course he's not okay Bill, he almost had his soul sucked out by Dementors and watched the same thing almost happening to his friend." Moody growled.

"But how is something like that even possible?" Bill asked, straightening back up.

"Yeah, I've been wondering about the same thing. Who the hell was on guard duty tonight?" Sirius asked angrily.

"Guard? What guard?" Harry asked but was ignored.

"Please Sirius, no need to shout." Dumbledore said calmly.

"It was Dung." Kingsley offered helpfully.

"And where in seven hells is Mundungus?" Remus glowered.

Sirius was about to add something when the door was flung open yet again.

"Merlin's beard, what is it now?" he growled.

It was a barn-owl that came swoshing in through the door, just barely avoiding crashing into the low hanging chandelier.

She was carrying a letter with a familiar seal in her beak.

She dumped it next to Harry before vanishing again.

Harry stared at the letter and its seal.

Shit. It was from the Ministry.

Before anyone had a chance to react, the letter started to shake, then rose into the air and the loud voice of a woman began echoing from within it.

"Dear Mr. Potter.

The Ministry has received Intelligence that of six twenty-three this evening you have performed the Patronus charm in the presence of a Muggle.

As a clear violation of the decree for the reasonable restriction of underage sorcery you are hereby expelled form Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hoping you are well,

Mafalda Hopkirk."

Silence in the room.

Then: "You got to be kidding me."

Harry looked over to his godfather.

"They're not serious, are they? They can't expel me, it was self-defence! Gina and I would have died if I hadn't done something. They can't expel me for that!"

He then turned his head towards the headmaster.

"Right?" he asked, both angry and unsure.

"No, they cannot my boy. Don't worry, I will go to the Ministry first thing tomorrow and sort this out." Dumbledore assured him.

"I'm coming with you." Sirius growled.

"No! The last time you two went there together you had a shouting match with the Minister of Magic and had to be restrained by five Aurors. I'm going!" Remus objected.

And then more calmly to Harry he added: "Don't worry Harry, we will clear this up. You'll be back at Hogwarts come September first."

"Oh sure, take care of Potters messes, teach him that there are no consequences to his actions." Snape sneered from the side-lines.

Sirius gave him an evil eye and growled threateningly: "Just because I allow Dumbledore to conduct his meetings here and you happen to be a member of this organisation does not mean that I won't throw you out of my house if I feel like it."

Snape sneered. "Don't bother Black, I was leaving anyway." And with that he turned on his heels and left.

Harry took another deep breath, put the bowl of soup aside and stood up.

"I want to see Gina." He announced.

To his surprise no one objected, not that he would have cared if they had.

"I'll call Poppy, see if she can come over and help Molly out." Arthur Weasley suggested before hurrying off.

"And I think we can continue our meeting tomorrow. This is enough action for one night." Dumbledore said, addressing the remaining people still gathering in the room.

Agreeing murmurs went through their rows and one by one they took their leave.

"Go check on your friend Harry, we can talk tomorrow." Remus said encouragingly.

"Thanks." Harry muttered but before he could leave Sirius grabbed his shoulder.

"And you are sure you are alright?" he asked, checking Harry over once more.

"I think I really need to sleep right now and…deal with all this tomorrow…" Harry admitted, gesturing around them as he did.

Sirius nodded.

"Go on then."

.

Mrs. Weasley had brought Gina to one of the many unused bedrooms on the second floor.

Harry found the right door after three wrong ones.

The room was lit in a dim warm light and Mrs. Weasley had transformed Gina's wet and dirty clothes into more comfortable pyjamas, and tucked her in.

But even dry and clean, Gina was still paler than usual and her blue hair stood in stark contrast to her skin.

But she was breathing and although she was a sleep she looked peaceful.

Mrs. Weasley looked up when he entered.

"Hello Harry." She whispered and rose form the chair in which she had been sitting.

She wrapped her arms around him in one of her famous hugs and Harry melted into it.

"She's alright." She assured him, still holding him.

"Thank you." Harry whispered back before gently pulling from her embrace and walked over to Gina's bedside and sat down next to her.

"Poppy is coming over and will replace the bad memories of what happened with good ones. She won't remember a thing and everything will be like it was before."

Harry gently took Gina's right hand and turned it until he could see the tiger tattoo on the inside of her forearm.

Gently he traced the scares underneath the colour.

"Are you sure there will be no lasting side-effects?" he asked, remembering her whispers as she relieved her worst memories. No doubt had the last one been of her friend who had committed suicide a couple of years ago as a result of depression and self-harm. Gina didn't often speak about it but Harry had a feeling it had changed her quite a bit and he was worried that opening up these old wounds could affect Gina in some bad way.

"I'm not a mind-healer or a healer in general. But from what I observed after Ginny…" Mrs. Weasley continued but stopped herself halfway through the sentence. But Harry knew what she had been going to say.

After Ginny had been possessed in her second year at Hogwarts, Arthur and Molly had spend a lot of time and money on a specialised healer at St. Mungo's to help Ginny deal with that traumatic experience.

"From what I know, the mind is a fickle thing and easily influenced. She won't remember consciously. But it might have left a slight imprint on her subconsciousness. She might have a few nightmares but it's nothing that will affect her permanently."

"I hope so." Harry whispered, pulling the chair closer to the bed and settle down in it, still holding Gina's hand.

"I'll send Poppy up as soon as she arrives. Will you be okay on your own Harry my dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I'm fine, thank you." He replied, giving her a genuine smile.

She nodded and left the room.

So Harry sat in silence for a while, observing as his friend continued breathing steadily as she slept.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this." Harry muttered. "I hope you will be alright."

He sighed. "Nobody should have to relieve their worst memories over and over. Believe me, I know what it feels like. I'm sorry your parents were such assholes. And I'm sorry for your friend. I know I already thanked you before for listening and helping but…I think you don't know who much you've done for me in these short few weeks. Thanks to you I realized I had a problem and…and what that problem was and…thanks to you I felt strong enough to talk with Sirius about it. And while it's not perfect yet, it's better than before."

He gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

"I'll repay you. Somehow. Just…just be alright, okay Gina?"

There was a knock on the door and the familiar figure of Madam Pomfrey stepped inside.

"Good evening Mr. Potter." She whispered. "How is my most regular patient?" she asked kindly, if not slightly exasperated.

Harry shrugged. "I'm fine. It's my friend that needs help.

He explained what had happened.

Madam Pomfrey nodded.

"Don't worry Mr. Potter. I can fix her in no time. I will erase her memories of the attack and replace them with something more plausible. Then I will give her a dreamless sleep potion and Ms. Tonks will take her home safely. She will wake up in the morning being none the wiser."

Harry nodded. "Thank you Madam Pomfrey."

The Medi-Witch worked in silence for a few minutes, carefully erasing the memories from Gina's mind.

"What memory should I put in instead?" she asked after a few minutes. "It doesn't have to be overly detailed, I just need a general idea and with some encouragement the brain will form the memories on its own and fill the gaps."

Harry thought for a few moments before he said: "Make it about the two of us watching Pulp Fiction together at my place. She loves that movie. And maybe something along the lines that she had a little too much to drink and that I escorted her home late and she fell asleep immediately." Harry muttered, still holding Gina's hand.

Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

She began muttering and waving her wand, then a blue light travelled form the tip of her wand into Gina's head.

Gina sighed in her sleep and Madam Pomfrey nodded satisfied.

"It's done. I'll fetch Ms. Tonks and Kingsley."

She left and Harry was alone with his friend once more.

But only for a minute or so before the door opened again and Tonks, Shacklebolt, Sirius and Dumbledore stepped inside.

"It's all done then?" Shacklebolt asked.

Madam Pomfrey nodded. "She will remember nothing. She'll think she and Harry watched a movie together."

Tonks nodded. "That'll work. Okay, I'll take her home then."

"She lives at Nr. 12b on our street. And be careful, they have two dogs." Harry muttered, stepping aside to giver her room to work.

Tonks nodded. "Thanks Harry. And don't worry, I'll keep her safe."

Harry nodded.

Tonks swiftly levitated Gina into the air.

"Wait, let me say goodbye." Harry muttered, stepping up to Gina's hoovering body.

Quietly he whispered into her ear: "I'll see you real soon. Be safe. Be okay." And quickly pressed a kiss into her forehead, then stepped back and let Tonks guide her out of the room.

"You should probably go to bed Harry." Sirius said gently.

Harry nodded, his eyes already drooping.

"Yeah, I probably should." He agreed.

"I thought you and Ron could share a room but if you want, you can sleep here tonight." Sirius offered.

Harry shook his head.

"No, it's okay, I can share with Ron." He assured his godfather.

.

Ron was still awake when Harry entered the room.

So was Hermione who was sitting in an armchair by the window with Crookshanks on her lap.

"Hey guys." Harry greeted them.

"Hey mate." Ron replied with a nod.

Harry looked around.

The room was pretty much bare, with two beds and a connecting bathroom.

"So…this is where everyone's been hiding." Harry muttered. "How long have you been here?" he asked, turning back to Ron and Hermione.

"Only a couple of days." Ron replied, exchanging unsure glances with Hermione.

Harry nodded. "So that's why nobody was at the Burrow." He muttered.

"You were at the Burrow?" Ron asked confused.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, right before I came here."

"But how did you get here?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I didn't take the bus, that's for sure." Harry said with a shrug, the adding: "I think I apparated or something like that. I'm not really sure, I was kinda distracted."

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Apparated? Harry that is really dangerous if you do it without proper training."

Harry stared at her.

"You know what else is really dangerous? Being attacked by Dementors in your neighbourhood." He snapped.

Hermione recoiled slightly.

"Leave her be, she's just worried." Ron spoke up.

Harry sighed. "Yeah. So I gather."

Hermione squirmed in her seat.

"We also heard about your expulsion. It's totally unfair, they cannot do that!" she protested.

"A lot is totally unfair lately." Harry muttered.

He sat down on the empty bed and kicked off his shoes.

"How is your friend?" Hermione asked softly after a few moments of silence.

Harry sighed.

"Alive. Pomfrey said she'll be alright. Tonks has already taken her home." He explained, staring at his bandaged hand.

"That's good. Right?" Ron asked.

"Sure." Harry muttered. Then, to change the topic he asked: "So, how's the situation here? Do you know anything about what's going on, what they are doing?"

Ron's expression turned sour.

"No. We try to spy on them with all means possible but they have warded the doors and make sure we're always busy or have someone to look after us. It's really annoying." He muttered.

Harry frowned. "But surely you must have heard something!" he asked again.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other.

"Well…they've been recruiting. There're more people coming to each meeting but…it seems that you-know-who and his follower are doing the same. We overheard Shacklebolt report to Dumbledore, that a lot of the Deatheaters who walked free after the last war, are having suspicious meetings are sighted together more often." Hermione explained slowly.

"It's just so strange…after everything we've been told and have heard about the last war…I thought when he would come back it would be…I don't know…more direct. This game of shadows and keeping hidden. It unnerves me because we don't know what is going to happen and…" Ron shook his head "I don't know how I feel about waiting and being told there's nothing I can do."

Harry almost managed a smile.

"I feel exactly the same." He admitted.

"Me too." Hermione whispered.

"So what do we do about it?" Harry asked.

"Well we can't do anything as long as they keep us in the dark." Hermione reminded them softly.

"Well, good thing that's about to change. Sirius working on letting me in on their meetings."

"Really? How? And why?" Ron asked.

"Let's just say we had a really long talk the other day and cleared up a few things." Harry said vaguely.

"If you get in on these meetings, you can tell us!" Ron said excitedly.

"That is if they don't make Harry swear an oath of silence."

Ron scoffed. "Oh please, I don't think we have to worry about Harry betraying us and turning over to the dark side. He's like the one person where we can be sure, right mate?"

"Definitely." Harry muttered dryly. "Besides the last time Dumbledore tried to keep me and others from speaking I ended up with burn-scars on my wrist and he with an angry mob on his front door. I don't think he'll do that again, especially with Sirius around. Also as far as Sirius told me these oaths they have taken aren't so bad. If you break them the caster will know about it but there are no dire consequences like loss of you magic or death like with other vows. Breaking it will render you unable to speak until the caster of the oath releases you from it but that's not life-threatening."

Hermione sighed. "That still doesn't mean you have to do it for us." She reminded him. "We can find out a different way. Maybe Harry can convince them to let us in on everything."

"That might work with you. But mum would go ballistic if Dumbledore told me or Ginny or any of us. She's already mad enough that Bill is involved and that the twins are considering joining in." Ron said with a shrug.

Harry was about to say something when there were two 'plops' and Fred and George materialized out of thin air right next to him on the bed.

Harry jumped, his hand already reaching for his wand but he relaxed when he saw who it was.

"Well, if you are so keen on finding out what they are talking about, maybe you shouldn't stay cooped up in your room and take some action." Fred said with a sly grin and George held up something oval and fleshy-coloured.

"Yeah, 'cause they found Dung and Sirius is getting ready to kill him. Wanna listen?" George asked.

.

That's how Harry found himself crouching behind the balustrade of the second story landing with Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Ginny kneeling beside him, their head pushed together over the top-part of an extendable ear with its bottom half was hovering downstairs before the living room door.

"Who is this Mundungus Fletcher guy anyway?" Harry asked quietly.

"Not really sure. Mom says he's a thief but he must have some value if Dumbledore is keeping him around." Ron whispered back.

"But that's not the important part. He was assigned as your guard tonight. And obviously he failed epically." George added.

"My guard?" Harry asked bewildered.

"Yeah, after everything that happened after the third task and then you getting attacked at your home they didn't just added protective wards around your neighbourhood but also established a rotating guard schedule to keep an eye on you." Fred explained.

"How do you know so much?" Hermione asked.

"We've been eavesdropping for weeks now." Fred said.

"What do you mean look after me?" Harry asked, bringing them back to the topic at hand.

"You know, someone to follow you whenever you left the house to make sure you didn't get into trouble." Fred explained with a shrug.

Harrys eyes narrowed. "Really?" he asked bitterly.

Why hadn't Sirius told him?

"Yeah, and then they report on you and what you did and how you're doing and stuff like that." George added. "It's really stalkerish."

Harry clenched his fists in anger. How dare they? Without telling him?

He leaned in on the fake-ear again, listening to the argument downstairs.

"Cauldrons? That's what you left your post for? Fucking cauldrons? Harry could have died because you saw an opportunity for your shady businesses?" Sirius shouted just then.

"To be fair, it was a really good deal. How was I supposed to know that tonight of all nights something goes wrong? The whole summer has been quiet so far!" came the defensive voice of a different man.

"That's why we have the guard you idiot! In case something like this happens!"

That was Remus.

Everyone around Harry looked as surprised to hear their former Professor so enraged.

"Not to mention his friend almost died as well and now we have, on top of everything else, Harrys expulsion to deal with! They are going to milk this and use it against us!" came Sirius's voice once more. Then after a short pause he added: "I'm just about to hex you into the next century Fletcher, you are lucky nothing worse happened or I swear they wouldn't even find a hair of you."

"If anyone even bothered to look." Came Remus's cool voice.

The gathered teenagers looked at each other with a mixture of amusement and surprise. Remus was scary when he was angry.

"Now Gentlemen, let's be more civil. No need for threats, after all, we were lucky this time." Dumbledore's voice cut in between.

"That's what I keep saying Albus but they keep on threatening me." Whined Mundungus.

"It's not fine!" growled Sirius "Harry is just staring to get better. He's finally talking to me. He's making friends with the neighbours for Merlin's sake! He's not just locking himself up in his room like he used to. We're making progress here and this…this could ruin everything. I've let him down again! He got hurt again, because I wasn't there to protect him. How is he ever going to trust us and believe in our support when he keeps having to fight for himself?"

"It was an accident!" Fletched shouted.

"You being born was an accident." Sirius hissed.

"It was an attack, an attempt on Harrys life. Voldemort is gaining power and influence. If he has Dementors under his command then nobody is safe!" Remus hurriedly said, before Fletcher could reply to Sirius's insult.

"But the Ministry controls all Dementors." Protested Fletcher.

"And who controls the Ministry? Voldemort and his followers." Interrupted Remus him.

Fletcher mumbled something to quiet for even the Ears to pick it up.

"We don't know that yet…" said someone Harry couldn't identify.
"Yes we do." Snarled Sirius.

"If you had brought Harry here right after being released from St. Mungo's, none of this would have happened." Came Mrs. Weasleys voice.

"Oh yes, great idea Molly, lock the depressed and borderline apathetic teenager in this house for eight weeks." Sirius said sarcastically.

Harrys ears burned red with embarrassment when he felt his friends gaze on him.

"It wasn't that bad." He muttered.

"He wouldn't have been alone. He would have had Ron and Hermione and the others." Mrs. Weasley pointed out.

"You mean he would have had you? Because you are so much better at caring for children?" Sirius asked angrily.

"Well, if you put it like this, then yes, yes he would have been better of here."

The gathered children looked at each other with wide eyes.

"He's not like you, you know Sirius? Harry is sensitive and young and needs a guiding hand. Someone serious." Molly added.

"He's not your son either." Sirius said in an ice-cold voice.

"He's a good as." Molly replied sharply.

"Welcome to the family." George muttered.

"Harry is in good hands we with me and Remus." Sirius shouted angrily.

Mrs. Weasley snorted.

"I think we're losing track of the original argument." Dumbledore cut in. "Mundungus, you may leave. We'll talk tomorrow about what happened. And Molly, Sirius is doing his best and Harry is happy where he is."

There were steps approaching the door and Fred hastily started to reel in the expendable ear but Sirius voice rang out once more.

"What about Harry? When do we talk to him about our plans?" Sirius asked.

"Absolutely not, you cannot really be thinking of letting Harry in on everything that you have been planning!" shrieked Molly before Dumbledore could say something.

"He's a child!" she then added.

"He of all people has a right to know!" Remus said quietly.

"He shouldn't have to deal with any of this!" Molly protested.

"Yeah, well, like it or not, and believe me, I do not, he is involved." Sirius snapped at her.

"So? You all have the power to do something about it."

Sirius laughed but it was a cold and bitter laugh.
"Have you met Harry? He wants this."

"He doesn't know what he wants. He doesn't understand the severity of what he's getting into." Mrs. Weasley snapped back at him.

"I must agree with Molly…" came Dumbledore's reply. "He simply doesn't understand everything yet."

That was enough for Harry.

Ignoring his friends whispered protests he stormed down the stairs, not even bothering to be quiet.

He rushed past the expendable ear still hanging and towards the kitchen door.

It was locked and had a charm on it to alert those behind it if someone was listing in on them form the other side.

But as Harry approached it, blue sparks flew from it and it banged open, revealing a startled looking group of people.

Harry was mad.

"I don't understand the severity?" he roared angrily. "I'm sorry, but which one of the people in this room was there when Voldemort returned? Who was tortured by HIM? Who had to watch his parents' ghosts appear before him, only for them to vanish again? Who just now had to watch as another friend almost died before him? I don't understand?"

Harry laughed bitterly.

"No, I understand perfectly what is going on. It is you, who do not understand" he growled seething "You don't understand, that it's too late. No talking behind my back is going to stop this. Not even you can keep me from joining this fight. And do you want to know why? Because you realized too late how bad things actually were. For years you didn't take Voldemort's attempts to come back serious enough. That's why everyone is so absolutely unprepared now. For years you ignored me. It's not like we were hiding the fact that he made two attempts to come back in my first two years at Hogwarts. But you wrote it off as a one-time-maybe-two-time-thing. And then shit hit the fan on the night of the third task and now, after everything I had to do and endure on my own, now you have the audacity to treat me like a child? You didn't care that I was just a child before all this happened. So no, you don't get to decide that for me. None of you do!"

Silence reigned through the room.

Sirius gave him an encouraging nod.

Mrs. Weasley saw the small movement and her eyes narrowed on Sirius.

"I suppose this is your doing. You cannot treat him like he is James Sirius. Stop trying to make him into something he is not."

"I'm not doing anything like that Molly. I just agree with Harry." Sirius replied coolly.

"Keeping him in the dark at this point is just foolish and jeopardizes his security."

Molly turned to Dumbledore. "You are not seriously considering letting him join the Order." She asked angrily.

"I think at the moment we have more pressing matters to discuss. Like Harrys expulsion from Hogwarts." Dumbledore said.

"That is not an answer." Molly snapped.

Taking a deep breath to reign in his anger slightly, Harry turned to face her.

"Mrs. Weasley, I love and respect you and I am forever grateful for all the things you have done for me over the years but I need you to back off right now, because as much as you might want it to be, I am not your son. I'm the son of James and Lily Potter, who sadly are both dead. And I don't know what they would have wanted for me. But that doesn't give you or anyone the right to speak for them or me, no matter who you are. My parents are dead. As are many other people we all have loved. And that sucks. And yeah, sometimes it seems like the best thing to just burry your head. That is exactly what everybody else is doing. But I will not have their sacrifice be in vain. My parents died so I could live. The least thing I can do is make sure that what they started is finally finished."

Silence once more.

"I'm doing this. With or without you. But…" and now he looked a Sirius "I'd rather do it with you and your help. Because together we can do much more."

He added a pointed look at Dumbledore, reminding him of their talk back then in his office.

"I think everybody's emotions are running high right now because of what happened tonight. Let's all go to bed now and talk about this another time." Dumbledore offered.

Harry sighed but he knew there was no point in arguing. He too was exhausted and he had said his piece and everybody had heard it.

That had to be enough for now.

His gaze fell onto a short wizard with bandy legs and long, straggly ginger hair. He had bloodshot, baggy brown eyes and his uneven patchy beard suggested that he rarely shaved. His hands were quite grubby, and he even from this distance Harry could smell the unmistakably strong odour of tobacco and alcohol. The clothes he wore were suppose to look expensive but the cheap material and their worn-down condition made them look like the knock-off they were.

"Are you Mundungus Fletcher?" he asked, his tone cold and sharp.

The smaller wizard puffed out his chest but Harry looked right through it.

"Yeah, that's me." He said loudly.

"I share my godfather's sentiment. You are lucky my friend wasn't too badly hurt tonight."

The unspoken 'or' hung in the air.

"Oi, I volunteered precious hours of my life protecting you boy! A little less attitude would serve you well. A bit more respect!" Fletcher protested.

Harry raised one eyebrow.

"I'm sure you did. And what a fine job you have done." He said dryly before making one step closer to the man.

Satisfied he noted, that Fletcher made an ever so tiny step backwards.

"You don't even know how lucky you were tonight. If my friend still suffers any consequences from tonights' events…I will hold you responsible."

Harry didn't feel the need to elaborate to the stout little man just what he would do to him.

He had stared down a dragon, battled the forces of nature and had fought Voldemort himself. This man was nothing to him and if he wanted, Harry would squash him under his foot like a cockroach.

Their tense silence was interrupted by Sirius gently pushing Harry away by his shoulders, saying in a false happy voice: "Okay, on his friendly note: Time for bed. Let's go pup."

Harry let him.

He had said everything that needed to be said.