Well my dear
readers - Thanks for holding on. I'm writing as best I can - and
updating as best I can as well. I ordered a new computer so I could
write without going to the internet cafe - amazing the things they
have in Iraq - but Circuit City went out of business and seems to
have lost my order - Cracks me up! Maybe they'll find it before I
leave - LOL! Go on, read away - remember, make sure you leave a
review - that's the only payment I get.
Love, Peace, and
JOY
Nuvisionary
Molly's Wrath
Ginny stepped out of the fireplace and turned quickly. She knew what to expect. She braced herself as best she could. As she did, Molly entered the Burrow's family room and screamed out to her daughter.
"Ginny, is everything–" she started but was interrupted by Harry's appearance.
Shocked by her mother's voice, Ginny attempted to turn towards her mother and instead of catching Harry, they both tumbled to the ground.
YOU KNOW, she practically screamed at the same volume through their bond, this would be loads easier if you learned how to Floo without landing on your arse.
"Sorry about that," Harry said.
Ginny grunted as she pushed him off her.
"Harry, Ginny," Molly continued, "what's the matter? What happened? Why are you here? Is everything all right?"
As soon as Harry righted himself Ginny pushed him towards her mother.
"Er, yes Mum, everything is fine," he said. "Is Mr. Weasley… I mean, is Dad here?"
Molly knew Harry had never gotten used to calling Arthur "Dad" so whatever the reason therefore their visit was bound to have something to do with their engagement. Her eyes narrowed as she prepared for the worst.
"I'm right here," Arthur said as he entered the room. "You know, Harry, you have got to tell me what Muggles use these little contraptions for." Arthur had a pair of spanners in his hands and was playing gleefully with the action.
Mr. Weasley eventually noticed his wife's demeanor and changed to a more serious tone. "To what do we owe this lovely surprise?"
Based on the look Harry saw developing on Molly's face, he was sure she suspected the very worst.
"Well… er, what I mean…" Harry's head started to spin as he tried to figure out how to explain everything that happened just a few hours ago.
The elder Weasleys just watched as their future — unbeknownst to them current — son-in-law fumbled for words.
"Mum, Daddy, something wonderful happened, and we wanted you to be the first to know," Ginny said stepping in front of Harry and rescuing him from his case of sudden speechlessness. The younger witch knew her Mum well and decided that the only way to avoid being called a scarlet woman was to explain as much as possible and hope to head off any tirade before it started.
"Harry and I completed an Eternal Soul Mating–"
All Molly heard was "mating" and that was enough to set off the powder keg of her temper.
"YOU DID WHAT?" she screamed in a voice that shook the Burrow. Ginny retreated behind Harry as her mother approached with rage in her eyes. Harry may have faced and destroyed the darkest and most powerful wizard in a lifetime, but when it came to facing his own mother-in-law he was powerless.
"Harry James Potter," Molly bellowed. "What have you done? I am very disappointed. Here we thought, you of all people…"
Harry knew he was in for a good telling off. He had even witnessed Ron and his brothers on the receiving end a few times. But this time it was different — it was him. Now he understood why the Weasley brothers kowtowed to their mother — she knew exactly where there weaknesses were and exactly how to use them for maximum effect.
Arthur had always known when his wife would come unhinged. And true to form he stepped in front of her before she completely destroyed one of their sons and posed a question.
"So, what exactly does this mean? We've all heard of soul bonding, and what it entails," he said looking over to his wife as he mentioned what could only be the physical portion of bonding — of which his wife was most concerned, since her daughter had not been married yet. "But, I don't recall hearing of, what did you call it 'infernal soul matching?'"
Ginny felt relief wash over her. Harry, on the other hand, was still treading water. He decided he could talk despite the prospect of Molly rendering him incapable of what she already thought he had done with her daughter.
"No sir, it's called an Eternal Soul Mating. It's what happens when two souls meet and make a commitment to be soulmates. You see, we had no idea it was happening until just recently. Healer Garzino told Ginny how it worked and… well, it just happened."
Molly had the look of a woman about to put an abrupt halt to Harry and Ginny's breathing. Harry could only hope he could say the right thing to put her at ease.
"Of course, we had no idea it could happen without us…well, you know…"
Perfect move, Ginny thought.
She was right. Molly had been defused and a semblance of calm returned to her face.
"We'll still wait until we have the wedding," Harry continued, "but we thought we needed to let you know, since according to my brother and sister, we're considered married."
This was another piece of news to Arthur and Molly. Even though they were not closely acquainted with James and Lily Potter, they did know some other Potters. And as had already happened to others, their veiled memories were now clear.
"Merlin, Harry, this means your uncle is on the loose," Arthur said. "He's not a very savory sort.
"Wait a moment–you said your brother and sister," he continued. "I don't recall anything about them."
"Of course you don't, Arthur," Molly said. "You were only concerned about Harry's uncle and his misuse of Muggle artifacts. I remember James Jr., and Iris.
"Oh, Harry, I'm so confused. Why do I remember them now?" Molly asked with remorse and sorrow.
Harry and Ginny explained the Levioisa Maximus as best they could. They also explained how the spell was broken by the bonding leaving them free to remember all of the Potter clan.
This was something new to Harry. He was actually in the know about something that was happening to him and was happy to share it with his family. As this thought formed in his mind he couldn't help but feel happy.
"So," he ventured, "you aren't angry about our bonding?"
Molly showed that the Weasley blush also came from her side of the family. "Heavens no–well, of course it's a bit of a shock, but I know you're a gentleman. And Ginny wouldn't do anything to bring shame to herself or her family."
I'll bet that's not what she was thinking a few minutes ago, she thought to Harry.
Yeah, well let's not push the issue, right? he thought back.
Grow a spine, she countered.
Later, he snapped back.
"So, am I to take it that this bond of yours includes non-verbal communication?" Arthur said.
"Er, yes sir," Harry said.
"Splendid," Arthur said. "That, I'm sure, will come in handy, especially when you quarrel."
"Arthur, they haven't even had a wedding yet and you're telling them about fighting. Do you think you might let them find out on their own?"
"Yes, dear. Of course."
"Now, Harry, Ginny, you both need to get back to Hogwarts. I'll be in contact with Professor McGonagall so you and your mother can start the wedding planning in earnest," Arthur said.
Arthur looked at his daughter. He stopped himself from his normal routine thoughts when it occurred to him that his little girl had grown up. Here she was standing before him and his wife with the man she loved; she was a woman -- almost the same as the woman who at one time stole his heart and kept it to this day. Ginny was the picture of perfection to him. Arthur felt a lump form in his throat and a tear sting the corners of his eyes. It was one thing to have a son propose to a girl, but Arthur was finding it was quite another to have his only precious little girl fall in love with another man.
Arthur sighed a deep rattling breath and moved to his little girl. He embraced her the way only a father could, with all the love that made him know she was perfect and any man lucky enough to win her heart truly deserved everything it held. With the bond, he knew that Harry loved her more than any person could ever love another. And for that he was truly happy.
"You know, firefly," Arthur began, "I'm so very proud of you. I want you to know how proud you have made me and your mother. I love you so much."
Ginny felt the unconditional love her father had always had for her engulf her heart as he used her childhood nickname. She understood his sacrifices over the years were all for simple moments like this one. She vowed to herself there would never be a moment where she would forget this. No matter what dreams she and Harry shared, she would never forget the man who had pushed her and her brothers to pursue their dreams. He had never stopped any of her brothers in doing what they dreamed. He had never made fun of her dream to marry "the boy who lived." Instead he would smile and tell her, "Anything is possible, firefly."
In so few words Arthur brought tears to Ginny's eyes. He understood her and steadfastly refused to stand in her way — or allow her to stand in her own way. In so many ways Ginny could understand that her father had been preparing her for this day. This day he would allow another man to take her from his loving embrace.
"I love you too, Daddy," she said. "I promise to keep making you proud."
Now it was Molly's turn to congratulate the two. She was pragmatic at first. "Ginny, I'll be by shortly and we can discuss your wedding plans."
Molly held her daughter at arm's length and looked deeply into her eyes and saw the same thing Arthur saw. Her darling baby had grown up. It happened in the blink of an eye. One day she was mending scraped knees on her little girl, who refused to be left behind by her brothers, and now, in what seemed like only days later, she was looking at a grown woman who was bonded in a way poets only dreamt. The tears in her eyes flowed down her cheeks in an effort to soothe her soul.
"Sweet Merlin, I'm so happy for you sweetheart," Molly choked out. "I'm so glad you made your dreams come true."
The whole scene would have been terribly uncomfortable for Harry, if it weren't for him feeling Ginny's emotional outpouring for her parents through their bond. If all he had as a frame of reference were the Dursley's, he would have remained clueless. Instead, he could understand how she was crying and yet happy at the same time. He could feel the joy that she felt for their acceptance of the man of her dreams. Even though to him he was "just Harry" he was so much more to her, and he could understand what that meant. It was similar to his thoughts about how she was so much more to him than a simple red-haired girl who ran from the room when he first met her. She was his world — and he would stop the world from turning to keep her love. He only wished that when their children presented their chosen loves that he and Ginny would be up to the challenge of letting go with the love and tenderness Arthur and Molly had for her.
Molly engulfed her daughter in a hug that was more than any she had ever received. It was as if every one of Molly's hopes and dreams for her daughter had been realized and this embrace was the seal that proved it. The two women cried in each other's arms.
At this, Arthur looked to Harry and motioned him to the kitchen. Harry followed the older man. Once they were isolated, Arthur turned to Harry and spoke.
"You know, Harry, this bond of yours and Ginny's proves that you were made for each other. A rational man can understand that. But I am her father, not a rational man–at least, not when it comes to my daughter. You have her heart and soul; it's more than any man could ever hope to have from the woman he loves."
"I know, sir and–"
Arthur held up his hand as he did when he wanted silence and the attention of the family.
"No, Harry, this is not one of those times when I can be misunderstood or interrupted. I want you to know that Ginny is my favorite of all my children. Molly and I have done everything possible to ensure her future. We have provided as best we could during the darkest of times. And she has proven herself strong and capable — yet she is still my delicate child, in my mind. I would die for any of my children, but for her…"
Arthur paused as his face grew very dark. He took a deep breath and continued.
"Harry, I would kill for her. And as you know, Molly already has."
This revelation seemed to come out of nowhere. Harry assumed this was going to be another one of "the talks" he dreaded. But instead, this almost seemed like a warning to him to tread lightly.
"The Potter family has been one of the great defenders of Light. They have always been on the side of protecting the magical world, until your father's generation, when your uncle was beguiled by the Dark.
"He is a very powerful wizard," Arthur said. "He won't have been sitting on his hands all this time, waiting for this spell to break. I'm positive he's been looking for a way to ingratiate himself to the Dark Lord, and since his destruction, what's left of his forces.
"And that's what I brought you in here to talk about. You cannot allow yourself to fight him without Ginny by your side. You cannot do this alone, and if you try…"
Arthur steeled himself for what he felt was his duty to tell the young man before him.
"…if you try, you'll foolishly throw away your life and my daughter will follow you shortly after. I can't have you do that.
"So, please put away your selfless nobility and learn from your victory over the Dark Lord. Learn that there are many people who will stand by you in defense of our world. The most powerful ones are those who love you."
Arthur stopped and waited for Harry to absorb what he had just said. He wasn't sure if he would understand it all, but he hoped for the best.
"Dad," Harry started out tentatively, "I know you know more about the Potters. And I know you know more about love than I do. But I want you to know that I trust Ginny to be by my side for the rest of my life. I don't think I could do anything without her. And I'll never turn my back on my friends again. They are the reason we won."
Arthur smiled and put his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Oh, to hell with it," Arthur said and pulled him into a full on embrace.
"You make my daughter happy," he said as a statement of fact. "That makes me happy. Now then, you'd best get your new bride back to school. And Harry..." Arthur said.
"Yes, sir. I know. Not until the wedding."
Arthur smiled. "I wasn't going to say that. I was going to tell you to be careful."
Harry's face flushed. "Er, yes sir."
