Chapter 7 - Sad But True

The two travelers continued to camp out. While they spent most of their time just hanging around town, trying to get Harry used to the idea of seeing them again, they also spent a little time sight-seeing and checked out the beach. It did not take Ginny long to see why Harry loved it here. Although she required her best Sun-Block charm, she decided that the hot sands and warm water were really nice. Playing in the waves was fun too. All she needed was a nice boyfriend to rub lotion on her. Alas, as Dumbledore would have said, the boy she wanted was unavailable.

Just to satisfy her curiosity, Ginny had even taken a peek at Miss Perfect with her special sun glasses and found she was wearing no glamours. All that wonderful perfection was real. Ginny found that sickening. Rachel was a perfect beauty, smart, and seemed to be quite loving towards Harry. Ginny felt that she could not even begin to compete with someone like that. The last decent boy who had offered to be her boyfriend was Dean Thomas. He had tried to get her to go out with him for the second time this last year, but he was no longer an option as he was dead, or so she had heard he had been killed along with his Muggle family.

Trying to push things along, Ginny even went so far as to go into the bookstore when Harry was working. She would ask for a book to get him to help her, after which she would purchase it and then politely thank him, just like any customer would. She was very careful not to flirt with him. Her message was simple: Don't forget about your old friends. He was distantly polite, but never said an unnecessary word to her.

A week later, she and Remus were discussing what to do, which they did every day, when an owl flew in and landed on the table in front of them. Pulling the letter off, Ginny saw it was addressed to her, originating from Paris, and had come through international mail. That meant it had been Portkeyed to New York (post office to post office), and then flown from there.

Ginny assume it was an "I'm glad to hear from you" reply to her letter. She was wrong - dead wrong.

There were two sheets of parchment. The first sheet had a big picture of Harry on it. It was an old one from his fifth year with his scar very prominent and wearing glasses. Someone might recognize the new Harry from his picture, but she doubted most people would. The words on the paper under the picture were quite chilling:

Wanted for crimes against society:
Harry James Potter
Turn in Harry Potter,
dead or alive,
to the Ministry of Magic
for a 100,000 Galleon reward.

She wanted to retch upon reading that. She handed it to Remus as she read the second parchment, which was in her oldest brother's handwriting.

Ginny,

I'm extremely sorry to have to tell you this at all, much less in a letter. Dad and Mum were out last evening and were caught in a Death Eater attack. We don't believe they were the reason for the attack, but that they were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. By the time help got to them, they were dead. As I'm not sure where you are, and you're best not telling any of us, I doubt you'll make it in time for the funeral, so don't try. We'll arrange a special time for you with them at their graves.

Tonks found the flyer that is included when she raided a Death Eater-run business. Perhaps it will help you in your task. I hope you succeed. We desperately need hope and a miracle, or else we all need to leave the country.

We all send our love,
Bill

Ginny only realized that tears were running down her cheeks when she saw one drip onto the parchment. She handed the letter over to her friend and put her head on the table and cried. It was so unfair. She did not know how long she cried, nor did she feel the comforting hand rubbing her back. Ginny's world had just taken another severe blow.


It was late afternoon by the time Ginny was able to function anywhere half-way normal. She wanted to go straight into town and shove the letter in Harry's face, but Remus's cooler head prevailed. They waited until the next day for a visit.

Near mid-morning, Remus and a very sad Ginny went into town. Harry was not working at the bookstore. Trying the next best thing, they went to Rachel's shop. She was in.

"What do you want?" the blonde asked coolly. "Didn't Harry make himself clear when he asked to be left alone?"

Remus put a hand on Ginny's shoulder to prevent her from even starting. The girl was still very emotional. "Rachel, we really need to talk to Harry and I'm hoping you will help us."

"Why should I?"

He did not answer directly; instead, he handed over the flyer Tonks had found.

She quickly looked it over. "Where did you get this? Did you make it up just to provoke Harry into going with you?" she asked accusingly.

Moony could see that if she found that to be true, Rachel would be taking care of them before Harry even got there. She was acting like a mate, which caused the man to wonder about their relationship.

"It was found in England, though it may have gone out to other countries, I don't know. Perhaps this will help explain it more." He handed over the letter too. They both came to us yesterday."

The blonde read the letter. "And you're sure this is really his writing?"

"Yes! Damn it! It's my brother's writing telling me that my parents are dead!" Ginny yelled.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Rachel said gently.

"Sorry? What do you know about losing your parents?" Ginny continued to yell, tears starting to stream down her face.

Rachel did not flinch at all and calmly handed the letter and flyer back to Remus. "I lost my parents four years ago when they were trying to help rescue some people. They ran into a building to bring some injured people out and the building collapsed killing them instantly. It was a stupid accident and never should have happened. I was fifteen almost sixteen at the time and my older sister finished raising me. How did you think I owned a shop before I was twenty? I could only do that because of the insurance money, which I used to start supporting myself."

Ginny's head had started drooping at the first sentence of the explanation and her chin was on her chest by the end, her tears still going.

"It's all right, Ginny," Rachel was still calm. "I'm not mad at you. You couldn't have known about my loss and you're still coming to terms with your own loss. I know it's still too fresh for you. Harry will understand too, as I know he lost his parents, though it was early enough and he's had enough time to learn to deal with it. It will hurt for a long time, but you'll learn to live with it."

Ginny continued to cry and Rachel stepped forward and pulled the shorter girl into a hug. Ginny did not even think about what she was doing and wrapped her arms around the bigger girl and cried onto her shoulder.

"What time is it, Remus?" Rachel asked. "I can't see the clock from here."

Remus looked behind the shop owner. "It's almost eleven."

Rachel nodded and carefully extracted her wand while still keeping a hold on Ginny with one arm. With a look of concentration, she did a spell, whispering the incantation. "Harry will be here shortly."

A couple of minutes later, Harry came through the door and froze. "What are you two doing here?" The look on his face was not overly charitable, although his expression changed to confusion as he saw his girlfriend comforting Ginny with a hug.

Rachel nodded to Remus, who handed the two pieces of parchment over to Harry.

Harry raised an eyebrow at the wanted poster, then he read the letter. After he had finished reading them, he handed the papers back. "I'm really sorry, Ginny. You have my sympathy." When she did not respond, Harry softly said, "Well, if you'll excuse me, I really need to eat lunch before I go to work this afternoon."

Ginny pulled away from Rachel and gave him her meanest glare, one that would have had her brothers running. Harry just stood there and looked at her slowly blinking. She could not believe he was not showing any emotion. She went for her wand, but it was pulled out of her grasp by Remus. She flicked a glare at her traveling companion for that, but refocused her anger on Harry.

"What? That's all you got to say? You're sorry, I have your sympathy, and oops it's time for lunch? My parents are dead, England had gone to hell in a handbasket, and they have a reward out for you that's so large that almost anyone will turn you in to Voldemort, who now runs the Ministry. And all you have to say is 'I really need to eat lunch'? Are you sure you haven't lost your soul too?"

Harry sighed. "Ginny, I know you're upset and don't mean everything you're saying..."

"The bloody hell I do! I mean every word of it and more!"

"No, I don't think so. First, there's nothing I can do from here. Second, I'm quite safe here. And third, I've dealt myself out of the war," he explained logically.

"Don't be a git! The war will come to you. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but it will come to you. And how many people will die while you lay on the beach with your girlfriend? All those deaths are your fault because you're too lazy and too chicken to come save your friends and adopted family like the prophecy says. We put our lives on the line while you and your girlfriend enjoy the easy life to avoid chipping a fingernail." Ginny was now red in the face from anger as well as crying.

Her verbal attack incensed Harry and now he was angry and a visible aura started to surround him, with a few light purplish-white sparks coming off of him. "I told you to LEAVE ME ALONE! You can not run my life and you can not run Rachel's life. I love her and will protect her above everything else. But even so, if I didn't care about you too, I'd let you duel her so she could show you how pathetic your accusation is. Chip a nail - indeed!"

Ginny should have backed down, she knew it; but she had come this far and she was not going to back down now. Her Weasley pride would not let her. "Fine! I accept. I promise you I won't hurt her, but I'm not a toy Harry. I'm a force to be reckoned with."

Harry lost his aura as he laughed. That incensed Ginny further, but before she could retort, Harry looked over at Rachel. "So, want to have some fun with her?"

Rachel smirked. "You know, I really should be mad at you right now, Ginny, but I'm going to chalk it all up to your grief."

"So, you are afraid to fight me..."

Remus could not believe this whole argument and everyone's attitude. Why did it always have to come down to a macho display of power, even if they were girls?

Rachel turned her smile to Harry. "Want to help me change, love? I can't do anything in this outfit."

"I'd love to undress you," Harry told her as he pulled out his wand.

It was obvious Harry was doing this just to tweak Ginny. With a few waves of his wand, Harry transformed Rachel's skirt into shorts and her blouse into a t-shirt and her dress shoes in to trainers. "Better?" His girlfriend nodded. "OK, meet you at the clearing; do bring Remus after you lock up the shop." Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and before she knew what was happening, he had Apparated her to a clearing in the middle of nowhere.

As Ginny was about to ask what was going on, Rachel and Remus Apparate in too.

Harry pulled Remus to the side as he told the girls, "Get ready to duel. Rules are: no Unforgivables, no Reductos or Severing hexes on the other person, and no other spells that cause damage that is not easily repairable or has long lasting effects. The loser is the one who is either unconscious or yields. Ready, set, go!"

Harry and Moony watched Ginny fire a Stunner while Rachel fired an Incarcerous and ducked. Ginny managed to avoid a direct hit from the ropes so she was not completely tied up, but the ropes did wrap around her legs a couple of times and caused her to fall down and into the path of a Stunning spell from Rachel while Ginny had not been firing back. The redhead lay unconscious less than five seconds after the contest had begun.

Remus raised an eyebrow at Harry. The Boy-Who-Lived answered the obvious question. "In addition to being Head Girl, she was also the school dueling champ. I've been the only person her age to ever beat her, and she can give me a very good run for my money."

"You set Ginny up didn't you?"

Harry grinned. "I thought she was being too uppity and this would prove my point we're not in trouble here."

Rachel blew Harry a kiss and revived Ginny. Looking down at the girl on the ground, Rachel offered, "Best two out of three?"

"Yes," Ginny quickly accepted, sure that had been a fluke.

Harry began them again and this time the duel lasted twenty seconds, until Rachel sent a Reducto into the sand in front of Ginny, blowing up sand in Ginny's eyes and throwing her off balance from the blast. While Ginny was falling through the air, Rachel hit the girl with a Stunning spell. Ginny fell limply into the soft sand.

With a smile, Rachel revived Ginny again. "Just to be sporting, one last chance, Ginny? Unless you're ready to give up," she said sweetly. Rachel thought maybe this would help Ginny get some of the grief stress out of her system.

Ginny spat sand out of her mouth. "One more," she said determinedly.

Harry shook his head. "With a stubborn streak like that, it's a wonder there are any Weasleys left at all. Just like her brother, she is." Ginny glared at him, so he shouted, "Go!"

Ginny was ready, however, and sent a mild Cutting curse at Rachel's face. Rachel did a Summoning with "Accio Ginny!" before she ducked the Cutting curse. Ginny valiantly tried a Stunning spell as she flew through the air, but it went wide of the intended mark. Rachel grabbed Ginny as the girl landed and flipped her over onto the sand and brought her fist down hard and fast, stopping it suddenly an inch from Ginny's face. "Yield?" Ginny relaxed every muscle and nodded.

Rachel told her, "You see? I'm not just a pretty face. Do you really think so little of Harry that you thought he would seek a girlfriend who was a brainless bimbo?" Rachel rose from her kneeling position.

Ginny started to cry. "I just wanted to save my family and friends, and I wanted my lost friend to come home." She took a deep breath then jumped to her feet. Before anyone could say anything to her, she Apparated away.

Remus looked at Harry. "We're still camping near town. I guess we'll be going home in a couple of days when I'm sure she's capable of taking care of herself instead of being a hosepipe. I hope you change your mind and come home with us. If you want to talk, I'm sure an owl can quickly find us." Remus squeezed Harry on the shoulder, as a father would, before he too Apparated away.

Rachel walked over to Harry and put her arms around him. "Have I told you how wonderful you are lately?" She gave him a big kiss.

"No, but I think I should be the one telling you that after how well you just did."

She smiled at him and kissed the end of his nose. "I was just helping her work out some stress; I didn't take anything she said personally. She seemed like a nice enough person before this, and she's probably a pretty good fighter when she's not a basket case."

Harry nodded. "She is, or rather she was, at the top of her class. As you can tell, she can also be passionate about what she believes in, as well as stubborn and saying exactly what she thinks, regardless of the consequences."

"You still like her, don't you?"

"I still like her because she's my friend; but I love you because you're the one for me." Harry leaned into Rachel to show her just what she meant to him. He used his lips, tongue, and hands.

When they broke apart, Rachel moaned. "Oh god, you're good. I've got to get back to the store since Pat's not there, but why don't you come over to my house for late dinner tonight?"

"Deal!" he told her. They both left. He was a half hour late to work, but since he did not do that often, Mark let him get away with it. Harry spent the rest of the afternoon and evening thinking about dinner and afterwards.


They sat on the beach under the half moon and talked, each with a beer in hand. After a lull in the conversation, Rachel asked a question that had been on her mind all afternoon. A question she had first briefly wondered about when he told her who he really was and where he had come from nine months ago. "Harry? Do you want to go back or are you planning on staying here?"

Harry finished off his beer and put the empty can down. He did not drink very much, but a cold beer from time to time was nice, especially when he could get a good European beer. He paused a little more before he finally admitted his thoughts. "A small part of me wants to go back. One of my friends there always said I had a 'saving people thing' and that seems to be trying to exert itself now that that whole situation is not so painful. It's hard to ignore my friends when the trouble seems so much worse. However, I really do not want to leave you, Rachel. We have a nice life here and I like it."

"I love you being here with me Harry, but do you really have a nice life? You work in a bookstore barely making ends meet. Sure you don't have much stress, but is this what you want to do for the rest of your life? When you first met me, you said you were trying to find yourself. What have you found?"

"Ever since I was eleven and found out I was famous, all I've ever wanted is to be normal. So tell me, what do you want to do with your life, Rachel?"

"You're avoiding my question, Harry."

"No, I want to know what you're doing as I'd like to do that with you. Running a clothing shop is overly easy for you too. You're so smart; you could do so much more."

"True in a sense, Harry, but I think I'd like to expand my shop to be a nationwide chain, that won't be easy."

"Need a good vice president?" he said half-joking.

"What? Are you offering, Harry?" she teased him back.

"I love you, Rachel," he told her suddenly very serious. "I don't know if I'm ready for a life commitment yet. I mean, I'm only eighteen and I know you're only nineteen, but the thought is starting to sound appealing. Is that a question you're comfortable with me thinking about and trying to come to terms with?"

She smiled. "I love you too, Harry. I wish you'd have told me a little more about your background so I wasn't so surprised when it came looking for you, but in the end, it's not that big a deal." She looked at the ocean for a minute or two and neither said anything. She finally looked back at him. "Yes, Harry. I think that's a question we should explore in the future. Want to spend the night with me?"

"Thanks, but I think I want to go home to think."

"We don't have to do anything, not even kiss if you don't want to. Just sleep with me and hold me. You can think while you do that, can't you?" she teased.

He put his arm around her and pulled her close for a few seconds. "Easily. You're wish is my command, Fair Maiden."

Rachel giggled. "Harry, if you want to go back to England, I'll come with you and watch your back. I can find someone else to help and leave Pat in charge of watching the store."

"Thanks Rachel, I'll think about that too." He gave her a kiss and then stood and helped her up. Holding her tightly, he Side-Along-Apparated her to his little house not too far from the wizarding village.

"Hey, I said my house," she good-naturedly complained.

"It really doesn't matter," he told her as he led her into the bedroom. Since it was a Muggle house, he put on a CD on the little stereo before they went to bed. As Harry lay thinking with Rachel curled around him, he thought, 'Damn them all!' His most faithful friend hooted at him from the other room as the CD finished. Two hours later he fell asleep not at all pleased with where his thoughts had taken him.