Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or claim anything from it. Yada yada you guys get the picture.
This chapter is my shortest so far, but it was kind of a natural stopping point. Covers some information and moves the story along. If you like it so far let me know! Critical feedback welcome.
A/N: There will be changes regarding the Hallows that are non-cannon. There's a reason, I promise. It's pretty much the only major change from the story. If you have a question, it will more than likely be answered in the next chapter.
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Chapter 4: Lessons Learned
Ever since their evening of debaucherous drinking, Ginny had taken to sleeping in Harry's bed, more unclothed than not. Whatever Ron's thoughts on the matter were, he kept them to himself, although Harry strongly suspected it was mainly because he was too distracted with Hermione to care. Not that he or Ginny were complaining about his lax approach to chaperoning.
So far they'd tried their best to not do anything that would lead to a smaller version of Harry and Ginny running around but, boundaries were being pushed farther and farther each night and Harry worried about the consequences. Ginny assured him she would investigate the matter with Hermione, so that when the time was right there wouldn't be any 'accidents'. Of the 'baby with your adopted family's and best friend's sister' kind.
It wasn't that either of them were rushing for it to happen, but as they became more comfortable and intimate with each other over time it seemed a bit harder to not follow their biological programming.
When they awoke the next morning, after comfortably spooning and canoodling for a bit, they headed down to breakfast and prepared for the big day. Neville and Luna had arrived already and were there to greet them over a cup of coffee.
"Morning Harry, How'd you sleep?" asked Neville with a quick glance at a blushing Ginny.
"Like a brick mate! How'd you and Luna get over here so quickly?"
It was Neville's turn to blush slightly. "Oh well she just happened to be spending the night and we were up rather early," said Neville evasively.
At this Ginny and Harry both raised an eyebrow but letter the matter drop, sparing Neville his embarrassment. He was far too easy and sweet to wind up for their taste.
"I see you've recently gotten rid of your infestation of Wrackspurts Harry," she said taking a large gulp of her coffee.
"What makes you say that Luna?" he asked carefully.
" I can see your heads been cleared recently," she said matter of factly.
That was one way of putting it thought Harry with a smug grin that Ginny too, had adopted across the table.
"I guess it has," he said honestly, unable to completely wipe off his smirk.
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" asked Neville.
"I thought I heard them doing some construction earlier as I went to the bathroom upstairs, there was a lot of banging on the wall," said Luna with a slight smile.
Neville coughed and spit out a small amount his coffee but otherwise made no comment as Harry and Ginny chuckled. Harry had no idea sometimes what Luna knew and what she feigned ignorance of but, it was entertaining either way.
"Yes, I think we'll have to ask him what 'construction' he's been doing, as I recall he was never particularly handy," said Ginny with a wicked smile.
Neville laughed despite himself which caused them to all join in. Kreacher continued to serve everyone all kinds of treats until Hermione and Ron emerged looking flushed but energized.
"Well, I didn't realize we had a welcoming committee downstairs," said Hermione as sat down, avoiding everyone's eyes as she blushed delicately.
Luna had just smiled and shot streamers out of the tip of her wand with a pop. She was world class in Harry's book.
Ron ears had turned alarmingly pink as he slowly ate his food.
"What, no appetite today, Ronald?" asked Ginny innocently.
"Uh… no, I am… just working my up to it you know?"
"From the sounds of things, you were already doing some 'work' this morning," she teased again.
"Enough already, Ginny," laughed Harry as Ron's ears turned fuchsia and Hermione continued to studiously avoid looking at everyone. "We don't want to give Ron an aneurysm before he's finished his breakfast."
Breakfast continued on amicably as they discussed the continued hassle of keeping a leaf in your mouth while eating. They had kept up their focusing exercises daily and had now begun casting simple charms on themselves twice a day to cement the animagus forms permanence. These would increase in difficulty throughout the month and would be supplemented by a carefully brewed potion, which had been meticulously crafted by Harry and Hermione per one of Snape's illegal potions book.
Their other lessons had also been progressing rapidly as every took a stab at teaching. Hermione taught them new transfiguration and charms techniques and spells, while Harry coached them on some dark arts which he had mastered or at very least understood, and defense against them.
Everyone paid rapt attention during lessons and there was seldom a boring moment. Neville had also learned some valuable lessons from his deadly herbology books and shared some of his discoveries about rare or forgotten plant uses that his book had listed. There some ingenious combinations that were suggested by the book that could be used in potions to brew all kinds of things.
Surprisingly Luna had turned out to be a proverbial genius at octolumery and legilimency, and she now tutored them all regularly. Under her steady and kind hand they had all developed fairly formidable defenses and even some offensive capabilities.
Ginny meanwhile had taken it upon herself to memorize as many obscure jinxes and hexes imaginable and taught a new one to them almost every day that had some interesting applications. Ron had actually gone out and purchased an ancient training manual on sword fighting, which the boys all studied intimately, and a newer muggle book on hand-to-hand combat.
Harry was truly astounded the level of effort that everyone was putting into their small, and wholly unnecessary study group. He suspected that like DA though, their group thrived to achieve once challenged.
His further tests with the Elder Wand had yielded little in the way of results so far, but the magic continued to be just as strong as ever. The emotional bit of the wand still seemed to growing but he sensed a hesitancy in it too. Like it was sussing him out, trying to decide something. What exactly, he had no idea. He knew he was still it's master of course, but there was something else there.
The remainder of the day was spent do doing odd jobs around the house, doing some of their lessons, playing exploding snap, and just chatting but the atmosphere was a little strained. By the time dinner time came around you could cut the tension with a knife.
They ate in relative silence, chewing mechanically, before finally moving into the lounge.
"You ready for this Gin?" Harry asked nervously.
"As I'll ever be," she told him, her mouth set in a grim determined line.
Hermione had stepped forward and brandished her wand and gestured them to grasp each other's hands. Ginny took his proffered arm firmly in her grasp.
"Just answer the questions like we practiced Ginny and everything should go fine," said Hermione gently as she herself took a deep steadying breath. Ron, Neville, and Luna all looked on anxiously. It was time.
"Do you, Ginny, swear to only use the Resurrection Stone one time to see any one particular person?
"I do," she said softly as the first line of fire wrapped itself around her and Harry's clasped hands.
"Do you swear to not reveal the existence of the stone in any way, shape, or form, without expressed permission from Harry, or consent from every living person in this room so long as we all live?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to not use the stone for longer than three hours?"
"I do."
The final cord had coiled itself around their wrists.
"Then it is done," murmured Hermione as the fiery lines disappeared.
Harry reached into his moleskine pouch and pulled the cracked stone from within. He hesitantly placed it into Ginny's outstretched hand.
"Turn it over three times when you're ready."
She breathed deeply and nodded once as Harry and the rest filed out of the room and returned to the kitchen to wait. Harry soon broke out the firewhiskey as they sat around the table talking numbly.
The first hour passed by slowly, the minutes dragging reluctantly by. They sipped their drinks anxiously and tried to play exploding snap, while Luna closed her eyes and meditated in the corner.
The second hour passed just as agonizingly sluggish as the last. They fidgeted restlessly as the first tendrils of doubt worked there way into Harry's mind. Right before the end of the third hour, they were standing outside the door, waiting as Ginny emerged from the room teary-eyed.
"Ginny, are you alright?" Harry asked tentatively as he reached out to hug her.
She fell into his arms and wept, barely coherent.
"Oh, Harry, thank you. Thank you for letting me do that," she mumbled through her tears. "He was making jokes," she blubbered.
"You should have heard him. Cracking on about death like it was no big deal at all, the prat. He actually had the nerve to ask me why I was crying," she said with a laugh. "It was wonderful to be able to say goodbye. I know he'll be there waiting on the other side one day for the rest of us, still larger than life."
Harry held her tighter, knowing he had made the right decision as everyone gathered round and enveloped them in a group hug.
"Fred gave me very strict instructions about you three," she said with smile as wiped the tears from her face and gestured to Harry, Ron and Hermione
"Oh yeah?" asked Ron, whose face had been ashen and was only now starting to regain some of it's colour.
"He said to tell you to not be a git and don't mess up things with Hermione otherwise he'll haunt you for the rest of your days," said with a smile as Ron chuckled. "Hermione, he praised your courage for putting up with Ron and wished you all the luck in the world."
"And what about me?" Harry asked.
"He said to tell you that if you hurt me he'll come back and give you a bollocking, but to also thank you for organizing all this. He and Sirius are having a ball apparently. He's made him an honorary marauder and dubbed him 'fred-ckle'."
It was a weight off Harry's chest that everything had gone so well. Ron and Luna had volunteered to go next on another day and they began to plan out how to get George in the right frame of mind to use the stone.
Things were looking up.
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After the successful trial run with the stone, Ron and Luna quickly followed with similar results. Luna met with her mother and Ron again with Fred. There were, of course, tears, but the returns they gained emotionally seemed to put people in a much better state of mind.
It was if being able to have that final goodbye and say the things they'd always wanted helped them get things off their chest. After that they were able to move on with their lives. Their peace had been made.
The story of the Deathly Hallows had been wrong. But that was just because they hadn't seen the whole picture. Dying had a way of altering one's perceptions.
Harry was, after all, now the 'Master of Death'. The only reason that the Hallows had caused the death of their owners was because of the user's own character flaws. Namely that of pride. If the owner of the Elder Wand hadn't bragged about it, then no one would have killed him. If the user of the stone hadn't tried to surpass the limits of magic, then they would have lived too. It was all about understanding the Hallows for what they were, tools to be used and respected, rather than abused to satisfy all of one's desires. When one lusted for power over death, whether to deliver it or stop it, it was a path to madness.
Despite their successful trial though, Harry felt that they ought to wait longer, as he didn't feel George would be able to handle the stone safely yet. Ginny had argued otherwise for quite some time on more than one occasion, and it was turning into quite a sore spot in their relationship. The difficulty was that she continued to see the pain that Fred's death was causing her family even though she knew the benefits of the stone. She kept her oath, although Harry knew she only did so due to fact she would die otherwise.
Harry had woken up early and snuck out of bed before Ginny stirred in order to avoid another confrontation over the matter. He pondered his options as he walked into the kitchen, where it seemed that everyone else had already gathered.
Ron startled him with his snort of amusement. "Look at this Harry," he said as he handed over a copy of the Daily Prophet.
Top Ministry official sentenced to Azkaban.
Senior Undersecretary Dolores Jane Umbridge, previously an influential member of the Ministry, has been condemned today by a full Wizengamot to be in dereliction of duty for her abuse of muggleborns and colluding with the enemy. She has been sentenced today to a fifteen year stay in Azkaban, our sources report. Muggleborn witches and wizards around the country celebrated the incarceration of the overly-zealous official.
"While Azkaban may be a slightly happier place with the exclusion of dementors, it will be by no means a pleasant place to stay," ensured one Auror after the trial. This statement came after the banishment of dementors from the prison and the introduction of boggarts.
We here at the Prophet wish Madam Umbridge an unpleasant stay with her own personal boggart, a centaur.
Harry laughed loudly at the conclusion of the article, scarcely believing his eyes. It was simply too good to be true.
"Brilliant, isn't it?" asked Neville as he smiled.
"That'll teach her," chortled Ron unashamedly as Hermione walked in and picked up the newspaper which Harry had dropped.
"That's barbaric," exclaimed Hermione once she finished reading. "But I suppose it's not totally unwarranted," she relented.
"No less than she deserves," added Harry with a chuckle, thinking darkly of the trial he'd witnessed her presiding over.
"She should have gotten worse," Neville said thickly as he reached for a piece of toast. He'd been telling them what he he'd heard from Dean about the treatment of muggleborns in the last year. Luna, who sat next to Neville, placed her hand on forearm to placate him and forestall any other comments.
Ron continued eating his meal with gusto, whistling happily while they plotted their lessons for the rest of the day. Ginny's arrival at breakfast brought a slight tension to the room. Fortunately, she didn't bring up anything about the stone.
Her cold shoulder, however, was noticed by Hermione, who cast the odd worried glance between them.
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After the third successful trial with the stone, Harry still felt that it wasn't time to tell the rest of Weasleys. Ginny had been nagging him for close to a week now, and it had started to get to him. George's mental state still hadn't improved, and he now rarely left his bedroom anymore even for meal times. He'd lost his way without his twin and best friend there. Even when Harry and Ron had invited him out, he always begged off saying he didn't feel well.
Most people swore by the commonly heard phrase 'time heals all wounds.' While that might have been true to some extent, it also meant they left awful scars and took ages to heal. Harry himself could attest to this. Why should anyone suffer longer than necessary when he could provide a shortcut? In this particular case, however, he wasn't sure George was ready. A person blinded by the pain isn't always the soundest of mind.
Ginny had begged, nagged, and insisted time and again before Harry had finally relented in telling the Weasley family about the stone. To his chagrin, he had finally agreed, despite his misgivings. He'd called a meeting in the Grimauld place that afternoon to outline his plan to the group. They had all readily agreed after seeing the benefits of the stone.
That evening, they made their way to the Burrow for their customary meal. The whole Weasley family was in attendance with the exception of Charlie, who had gone back to Romania.
It was an excellent meal, as always. However George's depression had a palpable presence. Once the plates had been cleared, Harry knew that this was his moment.
"Before anyone rushes off, I have something to say," he started nervously as most of the Weasley family gave him curious looks. It wasn't everyday you had to tell people that there was a magical artifact that would allow them to contact their deceased loved ones.
He cleared his throat, unsure of how to continue. "I, uh. Have something. That will be able to do something which you may have previously thought impossible," he continued cautiously. Arthur and Molly had both glanced at each other, clearly perturbed, while Percy had gone still and assumed a rapt, curious expression. George, however, had not even bothered to look up yet.
"Now before I tell you what it is, or what it does, I want you to understand a few things. Firstly, it really does work, we've used it," he said, gesturing to other members of their group. "Secondly, this is a dangerous object, and its effects are not permanent. As such, there will be conditions about its use. I will explain where it comes from in time. Please take this into consideration with what I am about to say next. Can everyone agree to that?"
The members of the table had all looked around hesitantly before nodding numbly one by one. George had finally glanced up at Harry, but he still looked rather detached. It was his expression that Harry watched when he finally told them.
He took a deep breath. "I have a way for you to speak to Fred."
The silence was deafening. Nobody talked or even moved. Arthur's head was frozen at a curious tilt, his eyes moving in a strange pattern, trying to decipher Harry's meaning. Molly, on the other hand, looked stricken and more than a bit shocked. What worried Harry, however, was the desperate hunger that had appeared on George's face.
George stood suddenly, shocking everyone out of their silence. "Give it to me," he said forcefully.
"I can't do that right away, George," said Harry as behind his back he palmed his wand. He had no desire to hurt George, but he was also aware how irrational people could become who were dealing with emotional traumas. "As I mentioned, there are some conditions."
"GIVE IT TO ME!" he roared back as he began scrambling around the table to get to Harry.
Ron had gotten up and slammed George to the ground as he began to close on Harry in increasing desperation. "George! Snap out of it, mate," he growled into his brother's remaining ear as he held him down. "We're going to let you use it, but not like this, it'll kill you."
"I DON'T CARE!" he shouted back, fighting wildly as he attempted to elbow his younger brother in the face.
"Petrificus Totalus," whispered Ginny. She had stood up and quietly moved behind them during the scuffle. George immediately froze like a plank while Ron was able to get up and dust himself off.
Ginny's face had gone completely white. "This was a mistake," she said quietly as tears began to fall. "We should have waited till he was better. I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have pushed you."
"S'all right, Ginny," he said as he walked over and embraced her. "You didn't know this would happen."
Arthur, Molly, and Percy were just beginning to shake themselves from their stupor. They were clearly rocked by the revelation, but in a better state than George. They stood up before moving to join Harry and Ginny's hug
"I'm so sorry, Harry," Molly whispered. "We had no idea that George would react that way. Do you mean it though? We can speak-k to Fred?" she asked between hiccups.
"Yes, I mean it, Molly."
They broke away from the hug and sat back down at the table, completely silent again as everyone stared at a paralysed George. "Harry, what is this 'object' called and why is it so dangerous?" asked , his face betraying his concern.
"Let's get George up, and I'll tell you everything," Harry said.
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" squeaked Hermione, who had been equally shocked by the twin's disturbing response.
"No, but I think he needs to hear it. I also think he knows what will happen if he doesn't listen," he said, giving Ginny's wand a significant look. "The cat's out of the bag now, so we might as well finish talking about it, and we're only trying to do what's best for him afterall."
Once George had been released and sufficiently recovered his mental faculties they seated him across the table from Harry. Although this may have seemed a poor decision to some, given the proximity, Harry felt safer than ever flanked by Ginny and Hermione. Ron and Neville were similarly positioned behind George, ready to intervene if necessary.
The tension had risen in the room again as George glared malevolently across the table at Harry. Arthur and Molly couldn't stop glancing between them worriedly, anxiously awaiting Harry's explanation.
Harry exhaled forcefully, willing the conversation to continue smoothly. "What I have is one of the Deathly Hallows, the Resurrection Stone."
There were gasps from around the table, although Harry couldn't quite tell where they had originated from.
"But aren't those just legends, Harry?" asked Arthur hopefully. "Tales made for scaring children?"
"I'm afraid not, Arthur. They're real, and they work remarkably well." He didn't particularly wish to explain right now that he in fact had all three, making him the 'Master of Death' according to the story.
"How did you find it?" asked Percy as his eyes narrowed shrewdly, becoming calculating.
"Voldemort had it before, but he didn't have a clue what it was. Not that I think he would have used it anyway. He hated the thought of death and never loved anyone enough to miss them when they were gone." Percy nodded, mullified for the moment.
"Won't the stone drive us mad-d though-h?" sniffed Mrs. Weasley, fighting tears. The revelation of being able to speak to Fred had been overwhelming and the brawl between her sons had quite clearly deeply upset her.
"If it's used carelessly, it can and will drive you mad," stated Harry tonelessly as he turned his gaze back to George's unwavering stare.
"What do I have to do to use the stone?" growled George through gritted teeth as Ron clamped a hand warningly on his shoulder.
"I need an unbreakable vow," urged Harry as he leaned forward to stare more deeply into his friend's maddened eyes. "This will be a one time thing. We will not watch you descend into insanity," he said fiercely. "We've come too far to lose someone else."
George nodded sharply, his eyes tearing up a bit as he began to rock back and forth. The fight had left him drained, physically and emotionally. "Anything, Harry, anything. I promise. Just let me speak to him again please," he begged pitifully, changing from an angry man into a scared boy in an instant.
Molly and Arthur moved to surround and embrace their tormented son through his wracking sobs.
Soon everyone had gathered around him to lay a hand on whatever part of him they could reach as the grief and anger ebbed out of the anguished young man.
"We'll do it tomorrow afternoon," Harry said in a hushed tone. "Get some rest George and think about what you want to say. That goes for all of you," he mentioned as he looked rest of the Weasley family in the eye.
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They returned the the Grimmauld Place soon after in complete silence as each couple headed for their respective rooms. Ginny had been crying quietly since they had arrived and threw herself onto the giant bed as soon as Harry closed the door.
"What've I done Harry?" she asked as she sniveled into her pillow.
Harry sat down on the bed next to her and reached out tentatively to stroke her back. "Technically it was both of us," he corrected, trying to comfort her.
"I know you wouldn't have told him yet if I hadn't forced you though. This is all my fault, I'm sorry. Would if something goes wrong?"
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it. What's done is done though, and all we can do is try to prepare everyone. Especially George."
She nodded her head but made no reply as she rolled over to hug herself tightly in a fetal position. Harry slid into bed next to her and spooned her without saying anything. He squeezed her tightly, all awkwardness between them forgotten, and soon drifted off to sleep.
The following day the house was as quiet as a graveyard. Breakfast and lunch were subdued affairs as the tension rose in the Weasley household as the hour approached.
Everyone had gathered slowly in the lounge, arriving in ones, twos, and threes as they waited for Harry to say something. For his part, he concentrated on going over the construction of the vow and agonizing over how things could go wrong. He still felt incredible guilt over the fact that Fred was only dead because of him. If he had just gone sooner to Voldemort in the forest none of this would have ever happened. He sighed deeply, as the last member of the Weasley family walked into the room. It was time.
He went over the rules of the vows for everyone, allowing Hermione to interject wherever possible with extra information. They had a few questions but were satisfied with his explanations. They had agreed that George would go last so that everyone could slowly bring back messages from Fred to put him in a better state of mind. It was the only sort of preparation Harry could think of that would work in the scenario, without keeping the stone from George for longer than a day. Harry guessed that if they tried to withhold it that the twin might try something incredibly stupid, such as trying to steal it.
Ginny watched the explanations mutely, her eyes swollen and red from crying. She'd been a nervous wreck all day, refusing to speak to anyone, even Harry, as her stress increased. She watched George like a hawk now, gripping her wand tightly, hoping against the odds that everything would go smoothly.
Mr. Weasley bravely volunteered to go first and with a small breath, gripped forearms with Harry while they made the vow. It was over as quickly as it started. Harry reached into his pouch and withdrew the stone to hand to , who looked rather awed at its appearance. Harry glanced at George who had gone very still on one of the couches as every muscle in his body tensed. If they were going to have problems, now could be the time. The moment passed however, and Harry had soon explained how it worked as Arthur stepped into the next room to see his dead son.
The wait was as agonizing as Harry remembered.
When emerged, he was smiling with tears in his eyes as he moved to embrace Harry fiercely.
"I can't thank you enough, Harry," he whispered into his ear as he squeezed him more tightly. "I never thought I'd get to see him again and say things I should have said before."
Molly was next to go with similar results while Percy followed. Each success seemed to draw George out more and more as realized that he was really going to see his brother again, even if only for a short while. Finally, it was time for his turn.
Following his vow, his family each hugged individually in preparation. He took a deep breath steadying himself, before straightening his shoulders and holding out his hand for the stone.
Harry placed it on his palm firmly while looking him squarely in the eye. "You can do this, George. It's time to say goodbye."
He nodded once before stepping through the doorway into the next room. Everyone waited on tenterhooks in the living room as they anxiously watched the door. Ginny looked especially distressed as she wrung her hands fretfully while trying not to fuss. They all knew that this could very well be a make or break moment for George's battle over depression, and ultimately, his sanity.
Fortunately, their fears were unfounded as George emerged three hours later, smiling. The Weasley family descended onto him in a jabbering group hug as he tossed the stone back to Harry. Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Harry watched on beaming at the families warm joyful embrace. Things were going to be okay.
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Author notes
Big thanks to my beta readers hmweasley, Checkmate-13, and thewriterinallofus. Writing is going well at the moment and I have close to seven completed chapters. Just going through the editing process now and making sure I have my timelines in order ect. Another chapter should be posted by either the weekend or next week depending on a few things :).