Chapter 4: Aide Memoire

"Welcome, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny. I must express what a relief it is to see that you have somewhat recovered, Harry," Kingsley Shacklebolt greeted while Harry wondered if his use of the word 'somewhat' meant that he really did look as thin and tired as all of the Weasleys kept emphasizing. Harry reluctantly released Ginny's hand so that he might properly shake the Minister's and then took it up again immediately. When all courtesies had been made, such as a chorus of "Congratulations! Minister of Magic! Wow! No one better suited for the job, Kingsley, well done!", Kingsley motioned for them to sit down on a plush couch that had no doubt been conjured for the occasion. Professor McGonagall remained perched in her chair behind the Headmaster's desk and the new Minister took a seat in an armchair facing the four teenagers. Ron had been casting accusing glances at Harry the entire walk up to the office's spiral staircase, and continued to do so when Ginny positioned herself next to Harry on the couch with her arm tightly around his waist. Harry tried to draw her attention to Ron's glares, but she was either extremely oblivious or openly blatant because she took the opportunity to grasp Harry's hand with her free one and turn her head to face Kingsley, who appeared ready to speak.

"I must say how extremely proud I am of the four of you. Especially you, Harry, Hermione and Ron, for the great endeavor you tackled this year. Of course, I am curious about what you were doing in the course of that year that had such relevance to this final battle. In regards to the incidents of just a few days ago, Harry, I can speak for the entire wizarding world when I say that we will be eternally grateful. I would like to start from the beginning, if you don't mind, and work up to that event." Kingsley leaned back in his chair to look expectantly at Harry, although Harry knew him well enough to see that there was a look of hesitance in his eyes, as though he half expected Harry to refuse to tell him anything.

Harry took a deep breath and thought back to the night he had learned about Voldemort's horcruxes, knowing that this would be the proper place to begin his tale. When he had finished relating the information he had learned from Dumbledore, Hermione took over for him and explained their multiple month absence, beginning with the night Rufus Scrimgeor was killed. She tactfully skipped over Ron's regrettable disappearance, which Ginny now knew about and used as ammunition to glare at Ron until Hermione moved on to their robbery of Gringotts. To his credit, Kingsley took this part of their tale in stride and promised that, of course, they would not be punished, although they should know that Gringotts security would be henceforth heightened until it could be placed back under the supervision of its proper caretakers, the Goblins. Hermione, as had been discussed with Harry and Ron on an earlier date, said nothing of the Deathly Hallows. It had been decided amongst the three of them that proof of the existence of these three items would only lead to greed-inspired trouble in the future. It was not until Harry noticed that Hermione had stopped talking that he realized she had already reached the battle at Hogwarts and was no doubt waiting for him to explain the part of the journey he had completed alone.

"Severus Snape was on our side the entire time," Harry began. "Voldemort killed him, but before he died he managed to give me his memories. I used Professor Dumbledore's Pensieve to see them, and learned that I was a horcrux." At this sentence, Ginny involuntarily shifted closer to Harry, if that were possible, and he felt her fingernails dig into the skin on the side of his hand. Kingsley let out an exclamation of surprise but seemed to understand Harry's need to tell an uninterrupted story and did not express any opinion on the matter that Harry had once had a piece of Voldemort's soul attached to his own.

"I walked into the forest to meet Voldemort, hoping that someone would be able to kill the snake and then Riddle after the horcrux that dwelled inside of me had been eliminated." At this point, Hermione and Ginny had started to cry silently and Professor McGonagoll moved from her chair to offer them handkerchiefs and a tin of biscuits. Harry was embarrassed but touched to notice that she also had wet eyes.

"Eventually, Voldemort used the Avada Kedavra," Harry said, knowing that the others understood 'eventually' to mean that Voldemort had inflicted a great amount of pain upon him before this curse. "But I didn't die. I was in some other dimension, and Dumbledore was there. He told me that I could, as he said, 'move on', or go back and fight Voldemort, as the Horcrux had been destroyed by the Killing Curse. When I woke up, it appeared as though Voldemort had also experienced something similar, as he was just stirring from the ground. He had Narcissa Malfoy check my pulse. She asked me if Draco was alive and, when I said yes, told Voldemort that I was dead, knowing that was the only way she could ensure Draco's safety."

Harry shifted in his seat, remembering the calls of the crowd when Hagrid had carried his limp body back to the castle. The others seemed to be having similar reflections, as no one spoke for a good five minutes. Finally, Kingsley seemed to regain his composure after hearing such an onslaught of information.

"Thank you for sharing that with me. It is a relief to finally hear the truth, however disturbing it may be." He glanced at Harry, a new look in his eye that Harry could only describe as reverence, to which Harry reacted with extremely modest thoughts.

"Miss Weasley, you are a great source of information in regards to the happenings at Hogwarts over the past year. Minerva here tells me her suspicions that the D.A. was reborn under your leadership?" Ginny nodded. "She also tells me that a number of suspected D.A. members disappeared throughout the year?"

"Yes. They hid in the Room of Requirement when they felt it unsafe to remain under the eye of the Carrows."

"Is there anything else I should know that Minerva is as of yet unaware of?"

"No, Minister, I suspect she knows as much as I do," Ginny replied, grateful that she did not have to retell the tale of the Carrows' punishments and teaching styles that she had relayed to Harry earlier that day.

"Please, Ginny, call me Kingsley. It is I that should be giving you four young people salutations of respect, not the other way around. I understand how grueling it must be to relive these moments again, and I am sincerely grateful to you for having done that. It will help a great deal with the trials of the incarcerated supporters of Voldemort. To Harry, I would like to extend an invitation to train at the Ministry to become an Auror, as I know is your ambition, Harry. However, Minerva has informed me that all students who missed the past year of schooling are more than welcome to return to Hogwarts. While I believe that you are more than qualified for the job, I know you well and am therefore under the impression that you will most likely see fit to earn it yourself, Harry. Perhaps if you returned to school and took your N.E.W.T.s you would be able to satisfy that condition?"

"I would like that very much and, yes, I will go through every standard procedure of the Auror program and see that I do so on my own merit."

"Ah, Harry, I fully believe that what you have accomplished over the last eleven years more than meets Auror qualifications. I understand I cannot convince you otherwise and therefore look forward to seeing you at the Ministry after your final year of schooling. If there is anything you should need, that goes for all four of you, do not hesitate to ask. I'll leave you to lunch, no doubt you could use some good food and rest. My best, Minerva…Harry." As Kingsley moved to the spiral staircase, Harry could have sworn that he heard him mutter to Ginny, "Look after him in the coming months", and with a wink to Ron and Hermione, "Please see that Harry eats something". Then Ginny was beaming up at him, arms wrapped about him in a tight embrace, Ron and Hermione were talking hurriedly under their breath and Professor McGonagoll was ushering the four of them out of her office, insisting that they head straight for the Great Hall.

It was near impossible for Harry to eat any lunch with Ginny sitting beside him; all he wanted to do was pass the afternoon staring into her eyes or snogging her senseless, but he knew that either one of those options would surely give their relationship away to the rest of her family. He grasped her hand under the table and settled for playing with her fingers while absentmindedly moving his food around with his fork. Ginny seemed comforted by this subtle touch and she talked happily with her father and Bill while finishing her plate of food in only a few minutes.

"Harry, you really should eat something; it does no good to move it around, we know you haven't touched any of that food," Charlie accused from across the table. Ginny gently squeezed his hand and, although they were sitting a few modest inches apart on the bench, wrapped her ankle around his own as if to communicate silently that she was there to support him. Harry sighed at both her loving touch and at the formidable prospect of eating food without getting sick. He had been afflicted with a constant feeling of nausea for the past week and had found himself unable to hold down any solid food. As his right hand was currently clasped in Ginny's warm grasp, he used his left to move a nip of food to his mouth and then put the fork back down as he worked to swallow. He noticed the Weasleys exchanging grave looks at his horrid attempt to cover his discomfort, but focused on Ginny's encouraging touch and managed, if not a smile, a grimace.

"Maybe you should take a kip, Harry. As Kingsley said, having to relive the past year again will have certainly taken a huge effort," came Ginny's musical voice as she stroked his palm. When he continued to stare at his full plate of food, she stood up and pulled him by the arm from the table, closely followed by Bill, who supported him up to his bed in Gryffindor tower. Bill moved to leave the room, but when he noticed that Ginny had settled herself in one of the chairs that had been left at Harry's bedside, his eyes jumped between the two of them and he gave an all too knowing smile before heading back down to the Great Hall.

Harry had already fallen asleep, but was clearly dreaming because he was jerkily shifting positions. Ginny laid a hand on his face to calm his nightmares, and when he fell still she lay beside him and stroked his arm soothingly. She knew that Bill would be back shortly to check on the two of them, as he was currently the only Weasley besides Ron to suspect that anything would be amiss with leaving Ginny behind closed doors with the boy—man, she corrected—whom she had loved since she was ten years old. She smiled drowsily and wrapped her arms around Harry, vowing to protect him like this for as long as he should need her to.

When Bill returned to, as he had told his family, check on Harry, he found that Ginny had fallen asleep while curled protectively at Harry's side, her arm slung across his chest and up to his face. Bill noted that Harry had probably not slept peacefully for many years, but that today his face was the picture of undisturbed happiness in Ginny's embrace. As Bill left the room he quietly locked the door with a flick of his wand so that Harry could get some well-deserved rest.

***

Harry awoke surprisingly refreshed, amazed that he had actually been able to enjoy his rest for a change. He noted at the same time that Ginny had remained with him, as she was now stirring groggily from his side. He looked down at her face, which had been buried in his shoulder, and smiled at the fierce loyalty she had shown him by staying with him.

"How did you sleep?" Ginny asked, moving closer to him rather than getting out of bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lay across him so that she could meet his gaze.

"Better than ever. I might even be able to eat after that. Thanks for staying."

Ginny leaned in and kissed him gently, whispering, "I'm glad" into his ear as she did so. Harry suddenly felt his brain go numb and was unable to focus on anything other than the beautiful girl who had forgiven him after all the hurt he had caused her, and who was currently wrapped in his arms in the empty dormitory. He turned her over so that he could lean down to her face, brushing his lips against the tip of her nose, her eyes, tracing a line of kisses down her jaw before capturing her lips in his own. Their kisses were tender at first and then suddenly very heated, and Harry could feel all of his desires from the past year pour out through the kiss. He traced his tongue along the line her lips formed, and felt her acquiesce to deepen the kiss.

It might have been hours since Harry had woken up that he was pulled back to reality by a soft knock on the door. "Harry? Ginny? You've been in there for almost thirteen hours and Mum's just noticed that she hasn't seen you all day. She's out looking for Ginny now, but she's bound to come up here eventually. A panicked Harry looked down at his bare chest and noticed that his shirt had somehow gone missing during his reunion with Ginny. Ginny laughed out loud at his expression and moved to let Bill in the room. He could have easily unlocked the door, of course, but had the good tact not to do so.

"I see you haven't just been sleeping then," Bill said amusedly to Ginny as Harry hastened to replace his shirt.

"No, but he only just woke about an hour ago," she smirked, thinking that it might have been too much to tell Bill that she and Harry had been up here, awake, for an hour.

"Mind, I could change my mind in an instant Harry, but I'm just glad to see that you two have found each other. I thoroughly believe that there are some losses that can only be endured with the help of someone close to you, someone who knows you to the core, as I feel you two know each other. No funny business, mind. And you best find Mum and tell her you're awake. Were you planning on telling her about this anytime soon? She would be so happy."

"Well, I wasn't sure how anyone would take it," Ginny answered. "Ron is still uncomfortable, I can tell. I didn't want to add anymore stress to the situation."

"Not everyone in this family is as pigheaded as Ron, you know. Mum will be beside herself with joy; you know she absolutely dotes upon Harry. I think this might actually help George as well. He and Fred sort of took Harry under their wing at Hogwarts, you know. I think they predicted this would happen eventually. George is a lot more observant to emotional tendencies than one might guess. Your shirt's on inside out, Harry," Bill added as he headed down the stairs, no doubt to relate the happy news to his wife.

Ginny pulled Harry through the castle to the Great Hall determinedly. While Harry had his doubts about informing the other Weasleys about their relationship, he knew there was no stopping Ginny once she had made a decision. When they reached the Great Hall it was to find an irate Mrs. Weasley berating Mr. Weasley and Percy, "You should have kept a closer eye on him, depressed as he is, the Death Eater attack would have sent him over the edge! Are you certain he's sleeping? He could have gone anywhere! And Ginny, your daughter, is missing too. She and Harry have become close friends after all they've been through, what if she decided to stop him—or go with him! And Fritcher in St. Mungo's! What if they did get him…"

Harry stopped Mrs. Weasley mid-sentence as he dropped Ginny's hand and rushed to Mrs. Weasley's side after hearing her words. "What are you talking about? Death Eaters came here? And isn't Fritcher an Auror? Why is he in St. Mungo's?"

"Harry! Goodness, I thought you were asleep! And you, Ginny, we have to talk about this later. You can't just go wandering off without notice, you know!"

"Mum…"

"Mrs. Weasley, what is this about the Death Eaters and the Auror, Fritcher?"

"Oh, nothing to worry yourself over, dear. It's taken care of, really." "Molly, I do think that Harry has the right to know."

"Arthur, he's already been through so much and the problem's resolved. He shouldn't worry over something that's done."

"And what if the problem arises again? You can't protect him from this, not this time, Molly."

"Alright. Harry, it's really nothing to worry about. It would appear that some of Voldemort's supporters have regrouped, although no one recognized them, so they couldn't have been Death Eaters. They tried to attack the castle this afternoon but Minerva has done such a good job with the defenses that Aurors were able to head off the group. No one was killed, but Fritcher was on the sore end of a nasty hex and was sent to St. Mungo's to be patched up. A minor problem, really."

"And what about these 'supporters', were they caught?"

"Well…no, they seemed to realize that they could not get inside the castle and then disapparated. It didn't even seem like they tried very hard at all. They're obviously very disorganized, Harry. I would have told you sooner, but frankly, you were sleeping and there was nothing to be done for the situation. You would have only overreacted."

Harry's worry over how to enlighten the Weasleys about his relationship with Ginny suddenly seemed so trivial. How could he have forgotten that, of course, there were uncaptured Death Eaters roaming about Britain. How could he have stayed with the Weasleys and subjected them to such a risk? He found himself pacing the Great Hall, lost in a new, much graver worry, when he felt Ginny reach out to take his hand. He allowed her to turn him around so that he was facing her, mind still reeling about his next plan—he certainly could not allow anyone else to get hurt trying to protect him.

"Harry, how many times have we told you that you don't have to suffer this alone anymore? Fritcher was obviously willing, as would be anyone else, to fight to defend you. Don't you dare think about leaving again! We're all here for you and, frankly, you're a lot better off with us than you are without us, alone and brooding. If you leave, it will only be easier for the remaining Death Eaters to find you. After all you've done, don't you think you finally deserve some peace? We can give you that—I can give you that."

As Ginny whispered to Harry she moved steadily closer, and he knew that everything she told him was the truth. He could never leave Ginny again, not when it was so easy for her to reason with him. He would probably have left already if it wasn't for her sweet ability to rationalize his behavior. Of course, abandoning the Weasleys after their great show of support would be selfish and fruitless. He would have to stay and protect them, and stay where Ginny could help him work out his thoughts. Ginny placed a hand on either side of his face and lowered it so that he was forced to meet her eyes.

"Promise me, Harry. Promise that you won't leave."

Harry shook his head. "I told you I wouldn't. I couldn't ever do that again. I swear it, Ginny. I won't—can't leave."

Harry was dismayed to see Ginny's eyes fill with tears as she leaned in to rest her head on his chest. She wrapped her arms around him as though afraid that he would disappear if she let go. Harry pulled her closer, wanting to comfort her, and breathed in the tantalizing scent that he always associated with her.

Harry was pulled out of his reverie by Mrs. Weasley's excited voice. "So something good has come of all this pain, after all." She and Mr. Weasley had been silently watching Ginny so easily pull Harry back to the present, reason with a boy who had been so hot headed in the past that he would have already been miles from Hogwarts. Suddenly Harry was swept into a bone-crushing embrace and forced to grimace awkwardly at Mr. Weasley, who was smiling amusedly, over Mrs. Weasley's shoulder. Mrs. Weasley then moved on to hug Ginny and stood back beside Mr. Weasley, both of them beaming at the newly-revealed information. A look of dawning comprehension broke the surface of Mrs. Weasley's face. "I'll be having a word with Bill for worrying me today. I would assume he knew where you were this whole time, Ginny," she said before pulling Mr. Weasley out of the Great Hall and leaving Harry and Ginny alone once more.

"Ginny, what am I going to do about the Death Eaters, and even the small mobs like the one that attacked Hogwarts today? It won't stop, you know. There are still more of them."

"You will do nothing alone, Harry. We will take the problems that arise one by one, together. There's nothing that can be done about those guys now, not when we both still have another year of school left."

"Ah, I'd not realized that we'll be in the same year at Hogwarts this year. I like the sound of that," Harry said with a mischievous smile as he sat on one of the House benches and pulled Ginny onto his lap.

"Hey, Potter, don't get any ideas you shouldn't be having," came George's voice from the entryway. "Mum's just told us. She's raving, announcing to anyone with ears—or just one," he added, pointing to his lone ear with a grin.

"Harry! Ginny! I can't believe you finally told them! This is great, everyone's so excited, you know," Hermione squealed as she glared at Ron, who had been following her moodily.

Ron composed his features slightly before turning to Harry and, ignoring the beaming Ginny who was perched on Harry's lap, saying "Harry, if you ditch her again you'll have hell to pay, I mean it. Whatever you were feeling about the situation, it was ten times worse for her—I should know, I was there at the Burrow before you showed up for Bill's wedding."

"Relax, mate. I appreciate your protectiveness, but there's no way I could ever leave Ginny again. It was too painful the first time. And now, more than ever, I'm going to need to be with the person I love," Harry responded, never looking at Ron but having eyes only for Ginny, who gazed back at him with a similar look on her face. Hermione stood in the back with the rest of the Weasley family who had gathered behind Ron and was hastily explaining the history that caused Ron's reluctance and Harry's open declaration of his feelings for Ginny. Ron finally nodded, placated by the honesty of Harry's words, and moved to join George in a game of Exploding Snap while Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys sat talking happily, Mrs. Weasley stealing covert glances at Harry and Ginny, who remained seated and sharing adoring kisses, Ginny's hands entwined in Harry's hair and Harry's wrapped tightly around Ginny's waist.

No one seemed to remember the unsettling events of that afternoon, when an eclectic group of young wizards had thrown a variety of harmless spells upon the castle, not interested in gaining entrance, but in learning about who remained at Hogwarts with Harry Potter. Besides the teachers and a few watchful Aurors, the attackers had noticed the unmistakable amount of Weasleys present at the castle. The bright red hair and freckles of the Weasley family were easily recognized by purebloods across Britain as the marks of a large family of blood traitors that had formed an unacceptable friendship with the Boy Who Lived.