After Harry and James left Lily started telling Ginny about the Potter Estate to help keep her mind off everything. "The house has been in the family for generations. It has twenty three bedrooms and several studies on the upper floors and the bottom floor houses the library, ballroom, rooms for visiting from small cozy rooms to large party rooms, the kitchens and the formal dining room. My first time here was during our seventh year. I was dating James so I was invited to the Christmas and New Years parties. It was hard on James to move back because he misses his own parents so much. But it was best for all of us to live here as Harry couldn't bare Sirius and Remus leaving us yet. "
"He felt like a little kid asking for a treat when you all talked about where to live." Ginny said, "He doesn't understand his feelings but they are there all the same. I told him it was ok to feel like a kid because he is one."
"That was very wise." Lily grinned, "We all sometimes forget that you are kids, but at the same time we still think of you as babies, this has been confusing for all of us."
"Are you mad that we love each other?" Ginny asked.
"How could I be mad about that?" Lily wondered. "We were just shocked that you two knew it. We've know this would happen I just wasn't' ready for it to happen yet."
"I've been a bit confused and I don't want to ask my Mum about it because she'll freak out." Ginny said after several minutes of thought, "She does still think of me as a baby."
"What are you confused about?" Lily asked.
"Well Harry and I are mature for our ages and we don't want to do anything age inappropriate." Ginny said, "So when is the proper time for us to hold hands in public? When is the right time for first kisses? And when will I be strong enough and old enough for us to let our relationship be public knowledge? Do other girls my age think about baby names? Do they practice their signature with what their married name will be? How do I deal with other girls throwing themselves at Harry?"
"Wow." Lily was stunned, "Ok, hand holding in public like boyfriend and girlfriend should wait until you are at least thirteen. Kissing I would wait until you are fourteen or fifteen. I don't know about when you will be strong enough, but old enough would be at least fourteen or fifteen, even later if you are talking about revealing the bond. Don't rush growing up so much that you lose your childhood, you can't get that back."
"You know I still have stuffed animals and a few dolls I play with." Ginny said, "Although when I'm holding a baby doll I'm picturing it with either red or black hair. And I'm thinking of names we will name our kids."
"I did that too." Lily said, "Of course back then the babies last names weren't set."
"Yes, I don't have to worry about that part." Ginny giggled, "What about the other two questions, you know my signature and other girls?"
"Well, every girl I've ever know who has a boyfriend or someone they feel strongly about, practices the signature." Lily giggled back, "And if other girls start throwing themselves at him, I'm sure he'll try and dodge them. But you can get your point across with a well placed bat boogy or acne hex."
"Did you ever have to use something like that?" Ginny asked.
"Only once." Lily grinned at the memory, "We had just started going together and his ex-girlfriend strutted up to him and started being very… suggestive. James got mad and told her to go away and leave him alone because he had another girlfriend. She sneered at him and said that she was much better than I could ever be then proceeded to grab his face and kiss him. He pulled away and responded that I was ten times the witch she would ever be. Then I hexed her with the bat boogy, the acne curse and I dyed her hair a very unflattering color of green. First detention I ever got and it was sooo worth it." Ginny was laughing so hard she was practically rolling on the floor, "Then James hexed Sirius and was put in the same detention so I wouldn't have to do it alone."
"Who…" Ginny choked out, "Who gave you the detention?"
"Minerva, normally she wouldn't give James detention for hexing Sirius but she knew why he did it." Lily laughed, "She told me later she enjoyed me hexing the girl so much it was all she could do to give me detention and not just cheer me on."
"I just can't picture her doing that." Ginny said, "Cheering you on I mean."
"She puts up a good front." Lily replied, "But she loves a good chuckle as well as anyone. The girl had been a pain in my side for a long time and I just lost it. She was proud of me that I lost it to protect James from her. She said she never liked the idea of the two of them dating, it just didn't fit." Ginny stopped laughing to yawn largely and Lily said, "While they're gone, why don't you take a nap, that way you're fresh when they return and Harry can sleep."
"Ok I was going to argue saying I already had more sleep than him but I see your point." Ginny said as she started for the stairs, "And he'll go to sleep easier knowing I've already slept."
Harry picked up the tooth and said, "Let's go take care of that book now."
"Harry, I don't want you in the same room as that book." James argued.
"Dad, it made me fight a basilisk." Harry argued, "And he almost took Ginny away from me. I want to be the one to destroy it. I think I have earned the right."
"I agree." Albus said, "He recognized it, he protected us from it and he fought it. Let him finish it. There is magical power in certain acts and this is one. Harry when you go to destroy it do it quickly. To hesitate will give it time to act, remember the man that came out of it and tried to hurt Tigress."
Harry nodded and the group moved back to the pipes then Fawkes lifted them all out. Back in the Headmaster's office Albus pulled out a large box that had many wards.
"Do it quickly." he reminded and Harry nodded.
He laid the book on his desk and Harry stepped toward it, he only paused for a second before bring the tooth down onto the book. There was a scream and then ink started leaking out of the book like blood. Back at the Potter estate James was standing in the doorway to Harry's room watching him sleep. He'd been asleep since they had returned and it had only been a few hours. But Lily said he needed to wake up now or he wouldn't sleep tonight and tomorrow he was going back to Hogwarts.
"Harry." James said, "Time to wake up."
During his nap Harry knew he was dreaming again. Telly was there and she asked, "How did it go?"
"It was already done." Harry said, "Did we really go and do that?"
"Well your body didn't actually leave your bed." Telly said, "This was a complex bit of magic that you did. You knew what had to be done and you did it before anyone could stop you. It didn't help that the book understood that you would destroy it so it took Ginny's spirit to try and protect itself. It wanted to hurt you by killing her and your spirit stopped it like you had to do."
"How did I do it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. We don't understand spirits very well. For as powerful as witches and wizards are they aren't that smart. They don't ask questions they just follow what they are told. It takes muggle influence to question why we can do one thing and not the other. Why is this hex dark while this one is light. If you want a question answered, you will have to find the answer yourself, no one can do it for you."
"Telly is this your gift to me?" Harry asked, "Giving me just enough information that I have to go find the answer so that I don't go crazy thinking of the question."
"In part, yes." Telly chuckled, "It's good for you and will make you stronger mentally. Weak minds get controlled, strong minds get and keep control."
"What about the rest of your gift then?" asked Harry.
"Ah that you will learn when you need it." Telly chuckled.
"Why didn't you come and offer advice when Quirrell was attacking me?" he asked.
"There was nothing I could do for you at that time." Telly said, "You were already doing everything you could."
"Harry, time to wake up."
"I've got to go Telly." Harry said, "It was nice seeing you again."
"It was nice to see you too." Telly said, "Be watchful."
"I will." Harry muttered.
"You will what?" asked James.
"Be watchful." Harry said.
James decided Harry must be dreaming so he shook him, "Come on your Mum wants you to get up."
"I'm up." Harry said, "Is Ginny still here?"
"Yes so hurry up." James grinned.
Ginny came in and asked, "What's taking so long?"
"He didn't want to wake up." James said.
"Sorry." Harry replied sarcastically, "I was getting another message from Telly."
"What did she want this time?" Ginny asked.
"To tell me that part of the gift she gave me will give me just enough information that it will drive me crazy if I don't go find the answers." Harry sighed.
"Why?" She asked.
"Evidentially most pureblood wizards aren't taught to think for themselves they just do what they are told." Harry replied, "Therefore they have weak minds and are easily controlled. Muggle influence makes you question why things have always been done this way. Why is this spell dark and why isn't this one, kind of thing. Asking questions and seeking for the answers will make you stronger mentally therefore able to resist outside control."
"What about the rest of the gift then?" James asked.
"I'll find it when I need it." he shrugged, "Just like I did this time."
"Why didn't she help with Quirrell then?" Ginny demanded.
"She couldn't do anything about it." Harry replied, "I was already doing everything I could."
"Did she say anymore about last night?" James asked
"Yes." Harry paused, "But I want Granddad Al here when we talk about it. Although, he probably can't shed any light on it either. Telly says we don't understand this kind of magic very well."
Later when Albus had arrived Harry told the group about the spirit magic that he had done.
"I think spirit magic is similar to bond magic." Albus thought about his answer, "They are kind of in the same family. She's right that we know very little about it. You don't use a wand or incantation your spirit controls it. Very few people know how to invoke this kind of magic. I may be able to point you to a few books that should help but I'm afraid experimentation is what it's going to boil down to."
"I don't like the idea of him leaving his body." Lily said.
"Don't worry Mum." Harry said, "Ginny will be here to lead me back."
Back at school Harry was pushing himself hard. He had missed almost two weeks of training because he was not allowed to do anything physical. Getting back to that previous shape was proving painful. As he worked Ginny would tease him, "So you thought you could take a two week vacation huh?"
"Yes and what a pleasant vacation it was." Harry replied.
"Oh, I know how you love playing with your two new friends." Ginny laughed.
"Two weeks and two underground chambers with two different kinds of crazy magic." Harry said sarcastically, "Yes, that was just a treat."
Ginny laughed and let him get back to his routine. When the hour was up Harry was just going to skip breakfast so that he could train more but the decision wasn't left to him as Fred and George grabbed his arms and drug him out of the room. Saturday afternoon Albus called Harry to his office. When he arrived he found Ginny and Mrs. Weasley already there.
"Harry today you and Ginny along with the twins and Hagrid are going back to the unicorns." Albus explained.
"Thanks Professor." Harry said, "I was going to ask you about that at dinner this evening. When are we going?"
"Now." Albus replied, "Molly will wait here while you take Tigress to Little John's hut and leave from there."
"Thanks Granddad." Harry said.
Ginny transformed into her cat animagus from which she had gotten her nickname Tigress. She was an orange cat with black stripes looking very much like a tiger cub. Harry picked her up and walked out of the office. As they walked through the castle Ginny was purring loudly. They were almost out the door when Harry passed a group of second year Ravenclaw girls.
"What a pretty cat." Cho said, "Where ever did you get him?"
The cat hissed at her and Harry corrected, "She is on her way to visit Hagrid. I'm delivering her for Professor Dumbledore."
"Can we pet her?" the girls asked.
"I don't think that would be a good idea." Harry said, "She isn't in a good mood right now."
That was an understatement. Ginny was right angry with these girls. She thought they were entirely too physically close to Harry and they thought she was a male. She was ready to scratch their eyes out. To prove his point Ginny picked up one arm and displayed her claws.
The girls backed off and let Harry leave, "Hope she isn't sick, sometimes my cat gets grumpy when she's sick."
"I think she'll be fine soon." Harry chuckled as he left their range, "She's far too pretty of a cat to display such meanness for long." Harry was still smiling broadly as he closed in on Hagrid's hut.
The cat playfully nipped at his hand as Ginny thought, "You are far too smug about yourself Mr. Potter."
"It's not smugness." Harry thought back, "I like having you defend my honor against those mean old witches."
"You like me defending you?" Ginny questioned.
"I've been putting up with their leering all year." Harry said, "I've been so looking forward to you being here and stopping them. Even if you can only attack them in your cat form for now."
"Too bad you just can't keep your cat around for the rest of the year." Ginny chuckled.
"You don't want to live in my dorm room." Harry said, "Not only are boys messy, they also don't always worry about dressing in appropriate night clothes."
"Gross." came the disgusted reply, "I mean it's fine if you're in your own home but in a dorm with other people. Yuk."
"That's boys for you." Harry replied.
They finally reached Hagrids hut as he came out the door with two red foxes and Fang. The odd group walked out to the forbidden forest. Several hours later the group trouped back to Hagrids hut, minus the two foxes. They had scampered around the edge of the forest and came out near the Quidditch pitch as Fred and George.
The twins met back up with Harry as they neared the front doors. But they split off to go back to the common room as Harry returned the cat he was carrying back to the Headmaster's office.
"They will begin to slowly move back towards the castle Granddad." Harry hugged Ginny before she left.
"Excellent." Albus said.
As the weeks progressed Harry kept feeling like someone was watching him. He had informed the Family of this and they were watching discretely to see if they could pin point the offender.
"It's Malfoy." Ron told everyone at the next morning's training session. Later when it was just Ron, Neville, Harry and Hermione he said, "He has a look of anticipation on his face like he's just waiting for something to happen."
The four were sitting in an unused classroom discussing the staring incident. They had warded and silenced the room so that outsiders wouldn't be able to hear anything. Suddenly there was a loud pop beside Harry. The group jumped and pulled their wands on the little house elf that had shown up at Harry's side. The elf was very grubby and had multiple bandages on different places around his body.
The elf didn't seem to mind the wands pointed at him as he said breathlessly, "Mister Harry Potter sir, Dobby is needing to warn yous sir."
"Sit down and breath, then you can tell us this warning." Harry replied.
"Sit?" squeaked Dobby.
"Yes." Harry pulled a chair over and said, "Sit here and rest then you can tell us."
"Yous is too kind." Dobby said pulling on his ears, "I hears about your great acts but never did I knows that you would acts like this."
"What's the warning?" Harry asked.
"Terrible things is to happen at Hogwarts." Dobby said.
"Terrible things have already happened." Harry said kindly.
"New things with the monster in the book yous was given." Dobby said.
"The book?" Harry asked, "What do you know about the book?"
"Evil it is." Dobby said, "It will try to hurt Mister Harry Potter sir."
"Just call me Harry." He replied, "I don't like being called mister."
"Harry Potter sir. Yous in grave danger." Dobby said, "Yous must not use the book, it's evil."
"The book is locked up safely so that no one can touch it." Harry said, "How do you know about it?"
"Dobby's family be giving it to the great Harry Potter Sir." The elf said.
"The Malfoy's are your family?" Harry was disgusted. It was obvious they didn't care for the small elf.
"Yes Harry Potter Sir." Dobby said, "I must go. They be looking for me. I'll have to punish myself lots for this."
"Come back when you have time to tell me more." Harry said quickly, "Just make sure there is no one other then the four of us. Less is ok but not more." The little elf left with a pop, "So Malfoy is waiting for the book to take me over and destroy the school."
"What?" Hermione said.
"Over Easter Malfoy's Dad dropped a book into my pile at Florish and Blotts." Harry sighed, "It was designed to take over the mind of the user and hurt the school. I immediately gave it to Granddad Al and he has had it destroyed. We didn't know if Malfoy knew what the book was to do or not. Evidentially they did and Draco Malfoy is watching for it to happen."
"You need to tell your Mum." Hermione said.
"No doubt." Harry said, "Let's go."
Professor Dumbledore was already in her office when the group arrived. Harry filled them both in and waited for his next directions.
"Excellent." Albus said, "When he comes back see if he can tell you what it would have done."