Part One: The Resistance of the Soul Bond
Book: The Executor of Azkaban
Chapter: The Necessity of Life

There are many stories throughout the world of life changing experiences. More often than not, these experiences are irrevocably and inexplicably tied to death. After all, what other possible way could one alter one's life than experiencing a little of something that undoubtedly alter one's life.

Permanently.

The nice thing about those life changing experiences is that they all have a happy ending. Funnily enough, those that die during their near-death, life changing experiences don't have much time to recount their epiphanies, and all the sad stories are buried along with their bodies. This pattern results in a whole merry bunch of people with a sudden and substantial respect for death.

Harry Potter was much different however. He never actually went through that tedious process of a life changing experience. On the contrary, he happened to have his epiphany a heartbeat before he discovered that death was looming above him. Therefore, one could say that Harry Potter had achieved a remarkably different outlook on life, and yet he resented death just as much as he had in the past, perhaps even more so now that the grim terror of death was about to quickly end his recently acquired, remarkably different outlook on life.

Perhaps people think about these things when they die. Perhaps they summarize the same thing in a much simpler strand of words, filled with a substantially larger amount of words children aren't meant to say before the age of sixteen, but say them anyway, just quietly.

No, Harry Potter didn't think about any of those things. He simply froze, and stared at Death with a rather dumbstruck expression on his face, as if pondering why Death chose such dark clothes, and constantly carried a scythe with him, as if in his spare time he finds enjoyment in mowing grass and reaping crops, as opposed to reaping souls.

In any case, it was not Death that stood above Harry, and although they both wore dark clothes, instead of carrying a scythe, this man carried an axe, as if worried that there wouldn't be enough firewood in his cabin when he came home to warm his cold heart after beheading a child.

But again, Harry Potter didn't think about any of that. He just froze, and stared at Macnair as the large, glinting executioner's axe fell down towards him.

Yet as Harry stared at the incoming axe, he found himself moving. Not because he chose to, as currently he was sitting in a chair, his muscles quite petrified, but because a large, black hound had tackled the chair over. It's funny how things end up. After his life changing experience, Harry never gained a healthy respect for Death, but instead gained an arguably unhealthy adoration for canines.

It was only once the chair hit the ground, Harry falling down with it, that he finally managed to close his mouth, which had been half open for those three, whole seconds.

"Prince," Harry gasped, half in pain and half in astonishment.

Harry watched as the large black hound leapt over the fallen chair and charged at Macnair. The man's axe had leveled itself within the soil, and although he was muscular to have been able to drag it out of the ground, the dog tackled him to the ground, teeth snapping and neck craning as he tried to close his jaw around Macnair's throat.

Macnair tried to grab the dog around the throat with both hands, but one hand was quickly capturing in the sharp, canine teeth. Macnair howled in fury as the teeth dug into the bone, but with the other hand he managed to grab the dog's neck, and with a rough heave, threw him to the side.

Macnair was on his feet in an instant, wand in his hand, but as he turned to face the dog another man greeted him. Sunken, grimy skin plastered the man's face, and what wasn't covered in dirt was covered in clumps of matted, muddy hair that ran down to his shoulders. Dark eyes that were such a dark gray they were easily mistaken for black shone with a bright intensity, as if making up for the lack of life in the rest of the man's face.

As Macnair brought his wand down, a noxious purple light at the tip, the strange man drew his own wand. An icy blue orb of light left the end of the mans wand, and colours collided in the air, exploding with a sound just like a firework, but without the pretty droplets of light that slowly fell back to the Earth.

Macnair froze in surprise, as had Harry, because, in all honesty, who had expected the black dog to turn into a man?

"Stay away from him you Death Eater!" The man roared, before flinging himself at Macnair. The man's wand made several strange noises as he whipped it around himself, and Macnair found himself stumbling backwards as he defended himself. He avoided two pops, deflected one crack, but was struck by a swish, which broke his nose, and a whistle, which caused his arms to snap together at his side.

The strange man avoided a hissing red curse that shot by his face. The curse actually grazed the man's long strands of hair, but didn't seem to do much damage to the mangy mane.

"Stupefy!" The man shouted in a hoarse, croaky voice that sounded as if it had been unused for many years. An orange burst of light erupted from the end of his wand and struck Macnair in the centre of his chest. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he collapsed to the ground backwards, a loud thump emanating form his still body.

Harry stared at the man in surprise. He was breathing heavily, and Harry could see that despite the baggy shirt the man wore, he was incredible thing underneath, as was seen when the man leant backwards, and the shirt clung to his ribs.

What's going on Harry?

Dog… Axe… Man… Scary lights.

Concentrate Harry! What's going on?

I almost bloody died! That's what!

…Hang on just a moment. I'll be down right away.

No, wait! Ginny don't come down, it's dangerous.

That's exactly why I'm coming down, you prat. I've already told you once. I'm not losing you.

"Sorry sir, but who are you?" Harry asked the strange man. He turned to look at Harry, and those black eyes glistened with emotion as he stared at him. He opened his mouth to say something. It was something important, Harry knew instinctively, but the next moment the man had his nose to the sky, his nostrils sniffing intently.

"Peter!" The man roared at the sky, "I know you're there, come out!"

Harry frantically drew his wand, as he should have long ago, and quickly scanned the Hogwarts grounds for a man named Peter. There was no one in sight though. Despite that, the man started shooting bursts of light at the ground, shouting for a man named Peter. Harry quickly decided that the man must be mad.

However, when the man transformed into a dog, his muscles rippling and skin vibrating as fur erupted over his body, Harry decided to follow him, rather than wait by the axe wielding Death Eater who lay unconscious on the ground. The full moon was bright, but not quite bright enough to light up the grounds properly, so Harry raised his wand above him.

"Lumos," He shouted when the dog began fading into the darkness up ahead. It was a good thing he had cast the charm, else he never would have noticed the Whomping Willow that suddenly appeared ahead, its branches waving against the wind threateningly.

"No, don't go forwards!" Harry shouted at the dog, but he ignored him, and scamper within the tree's reach. Strangely enough, the tree froze up as soon as the dog was within its reach. Harry glimpsed something small disappearing within a knot in the tree moments before the dog leapt in and vanished.

Harry didn't really understand what was going on anymore, but he found himself running forwards, down the trunk of the tree, and into a strange, long hallway. At the end he found himself in a strange sort of shack. Even stranger was that the black dog was chasing a rat around the room.

All of a sudden, when Harry thought things couldn't get stranger, the dog transformed into a man, and after hitting the scampering rat with a burst of light, the rat expanded into a short, pudgy balding man.

This is getting really weird Ginny.

Just wait, I'm getting close.

Be careful of the tree!

Don't worry, I have my ways.

"You'll pay for this Peter," the tall, long haired man snarled.

"Why Sirius? All of this, just to murder me?" Peter squeaked more than he spoke.

"For James and Lily, I would murder you," Sirius snapped in response.

"Then you're as much of a hypocrite as I am."

"Never compare yourself to me!" Sirius roared, the room shaking. "You sold James and Lily to Voldemort. You betrayed your friends, your only friends, for what reason?"

"I- Well, I-"

"To save your own tail," Sirius roared again.

"Um, excuse me, but are you talking about my parents?" Harry asked nervously, stepping forwards into the argument.

"Harry?" Sirius exclaimed. He obviously hadn't realized that Harry had followed him down.

"Harry?" Peter whispered in disbelief, his nervous eyes widening. He suddenly developed an erratic twitch in his left arm.

"You betrayed my parents to Voldemort?" Harry said softly, staring at Peter. The man looked pathetic. His arm wouldn't stop twitching. He only looked to be in his mid-thirties, yet he had lost almost all of the hair on his scalp. He had long, unkempt nails, and on one hand was missing a whole finger.

"Of course I didn't Harry," Peter said quickly, creeping forwards, "It was Sirius who did. Haven't you read the news?"

No.

Hey, it's not my fault I don't enjoy reading the newspaper. It's bloody boring!

"My fault?" Sirius shouted, but Harry was even louder.

"I already heard you admit it," Harry roared, "You betrayed my parents to Voldemort! Don't lie to me!"

"I had to Harry, you don't understand. Voldemort was so powerful, there was no way we were going to win-"

"Then you should have died," Sirius growled softly, "Died along with your brothers, like we would have died for you. Like James and Lily died for you."

If Peter had been pathetic before, he was even more pathetic now as he began blubbering, tears running down his pudgy face. "I'd never do it again Sirius. It was a mistake. I'd never do it again. I swear."

"You've already made your choice, Wormtail," Sirius stated unforgivingly. He raised his wand, and a curse was on the tip of his tongue when a loud howling resounded from beneath them. Sirius glanced down in shock, and Peter made his move. He dove towards the exit that was currently unguarded.

"No!" Sirius shouted, raising his wand again, but Harry was faster. In a sense.

Now Ginny.

Oh, so now you're glad I'm here.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Ginny's voice called out from the exit. Peter's legs were flung off the ground as he suddenly flew up into the air. Ginny then proceeded to pull the invisibility cloak off of her body, revealing her cheeky face to the occupants of the room. She kept her wand trained on Peter, but managed to run over to Harry and envelop him in a hug.

I'm so glad you're alright.

Me too. I mean, you too. Well, I mean, both of us too, like, us too or-

"Just shut up," Ginny said, giggled against Harry before pulling away.

"But he didn't say anything," Sirius said confused.

"He said enough," Ginny replied cheekily.

"Who is she?" Peter cried angrily. His only attempt at escape had been foiled by her, after all.

"Waddiwassi," Ginny muttered, and a small stone on the ground shot into the air and his Peter in the middle of the forehead.

Tell him that I don't like him.

"Listen, she really doesn't like you," Harry explained.

Good. Now tell him the other part.

"Which means every time you try to talk, she's going to hurt you."

"What do you mean-"

"Waddiwassi!"

"Ouch!"

"Now then, I don't think we've been introduced," Ginny said, turning to Sirius.

"No, we haven't. My name is Sirius Black, and I am Harry's godfather."

And that's when things got really weird.

Not because Harry discovered that he suddenly had some form of family left, but because at that moment, the trapdoor that Sirius had been standing on earlier burst open, and out climbed a ferocious looking monster. A long, canine nuzzle and pointed ears framed its furry face. The creature howled as it struggled to pull itself out of the trapdoor, and Harry could see dangerously sharp claws within its furry paws.

Harry, that's a werewolf…

"Get out of here," Sirius ordered, before transforming into the large black hound. He leapt at the werewolf, paws outstretched, trying to tackle it back down the trapdoor, but the werewolf battered him away. The fear of the giant wolf overcame Harry's desire to stay and help the shaggy dog, and with Ginny in hand they fled the cabin.

I can't take Peter with me like this!

Then let him go Ginny. Your life is more important.

Ginny dropped her wand to her side and Peter fell to the ground with a thump. A moment later he was back on his feet, scrambling for the exit as the werewolf lunged at him.

"Why is there a freaking werewolf in the school?" Harry shouted frantically. The wolf tried to push itself into the tunnel, but Sirius bit on its tail and dragged it back into the room. The werewolf howled in frustration, and turned around to vent its anger on the dog.

"It's Lupin," Peter shouted, more to himself than to Harry, "Of course. It's the full moon. Why did I run here?"

"Lupin?" Harry asked.

"As in Professor Lupin?" Ginny asked, but Peter was talking gibberish by now. The three of them fled from the base of the Whomping Willow, panting in exhaustion from their escape.

"Expelliarmus!" A voice called out, and before Harry had caught his breath, his wand was tugged out of his grip. Ginny's wand was also lost, as Harry could tell through the chord.

"You won't get away this time," Macnair said cheerfully, his axe in one hand, his wand in the other. He didn't seem angry in the slightest, just cheerful. It was terrifying.

"Why are you after us?" Harry cried, "You promised you'd try to help us."

"I promised I'd remove the bond for you, and it's true that it's a pretty simply process," Macnair said, still smiling, one tooth missing from his smile. "You just have to die."

Harry stepped forwards so that he was in front of Ginny. It was a slight movement, but one Ginny noticed all too well through the chord.

"Why though? You said that the Death Eaters deserved what they got," Harry shouted.

"I just can't help myself," Macnair replied. "I see a rare species, I can't help but want to kill it. I see a powerful creature, and my axe begs me to take its life. I see a witch and wizard with a unique ability, and I just can't help but slaughter them!"

Macnair raised his axe, and for the second time that night, it fell towards Harry.

Harry!

When I die, try not to go crazy Ginny.

Harry held himself defiantly in front of Ginny as she cowered behind him. He stared at the incoming axe, stared at his incoming death, but this time he didn't freeze with a stupid look on his face. His jaw was clenched determinedly, and he glared at the metallic blade of the axe as it glistened in the full moon.

Then things just continued to get weirder.

A werewolf burst past Harry and collided with Macnair, knocking the two backwards. Macnair swung his axe at the wolf, and it grazed its forearm. The werewolf howled in agony, but once again flung himself at Macnair. Harry and Ginny ran forwards, scrambling in the cold, moist grass for their wands. Peter had seen his chance to escape, and was about to scramble away when Sirius emerged from the Whomping Willow.

He had blood running down his cheek, and a nasty gash detailed his forearm, but he had a wand gripped firmly in hand.

"Incarcerous," Siriur bellowed, and ropes trailed through the air, wrapping themselves around Peter, who tripped to the ground.

"Sirius, the werewolf!" Harry began suddenly, but Sirius brushed Harry's concerns away.

"It's alright Harry, Lupin's on the wolfbane potion. He's in control of himself. He managed to get that across to me before I bit him too hard."

A howl echoed throughout the crisp air. The night was far from over.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked, confused.

"The werewolf- Lupin's fighting Macnair," Ginny explained.

"Merlin," Sirius said, paling, "We've got to help him. Macnair will murder him. Can you take care of Peter?"

Harry nodded, and with a flick of his wand, he had a leash around Peter's neck and was dragging him across the ground. Ginny and Sirius led the way, wands drawn, to the source of the howling.

The werewolf was on the ground, blood spewing out of a large gash across its chest. It was trying to crawl away, whimpering in pain, but Macnair had a solid, heavy boot on its back, pinning it to the ground.

"Expulso!" Sirius roared, and a silver jet of light hissed at Macnair, hitting him dead in the chest. He flew backwards, hitting the ground roughly. He lost his wand in the process, but managed to keep a grip on his axe.

Ginny ran up to Lupin and looked at his wounds. There really wasn't much she could do, as she was only a second year, and this wasn't like treating a human, but a werewolf. However, the werewolf was whimpering softly as she looked over the injury, and she decided that wrapping the wounds up in a bandage wouldn't do any harm.

Meanwhile, Harry had arrived beside Sirius with Peter in tow. The pathetic wizard was still being dragged along the ground as he tried to escape the ropes around him.

"Leave us alone Macnair," Sirius ordered, standing his ground as Macnair slowly picked himself up off the ground. "There is nothing here you want to kill, just a bunch of wizards and a werewolf."

"But you're so wrong," Macnair replied, still smiling, his voice still ever cheerful, "There's something I desperately want. To break their soul bond."

"What?" Sirius exclaimed.

"Harry Potter, and the red head. I want to break their soul bond. It was so marvelous the last time I did it. They screamed and screamed so loudly, and there was so much energy… so much soul in the air. It was amazing. It was intoxicating."

"Harry, is this true?" Sirius asked, glancing back at his godson in shock.

Ginny, can I tell him?

We don't have much choice, do we?

Harry nodded. It was only a slight movement, but Sirius picked up on it. In response, Sirius moved himself in front of Harry protectively.

"You won't get to any of them," Sirius declared.

"But I have to," Macnair replied. "The other one's were screaming so amazingly. Then I wrote those words on the wall and they started screaming even more. I couldn't help myself. I can never help myself, but that time it was too much. This time it's just too much."

Sirius sent three curses in quick succession at Macnair, but the executioner used his axe as a shield, intercepting the bright lights. Macnair swung the axe, and Sirius ducked below it, but as he rose back up, the wooden end of the weapon swung inwards and struck him in the gut. Sirius was blown to the side, winded and wounded, struggling to stand up.

Harry backed up until he was touching Ginny. He couldn't retreat any further without leaving Ginny and Lupin. Macnair was still thirty meters away, but he was steadily advancing.

"You don't have to do this," Harry called out to Macnair, "I remember the story you told us; your story. You sounded disgusted by the Death Eaters. You said you resented them. Don't become them."

Macnair just kept walking towards them, but he smiled, as he always did, as if nothing in the world could possibly faze him.

"You don't understand Harry. I tried to explain it to you, but you just can't comprehend it. I can't stop myself. I have to kill. I have to murder. It's the only way." He spoke far too cheerfully for an insane man.

"The only for what?" Harry replied desperately.

"The only way to live," Macnair replied.

At that moment, Meepy, the strange, curious, one of a kind yellow horned sheep that Hagrid was missing hopped between Macnair and Harry. The creature appeared oblivious of the current, tense situation, and simply gnawed on the grass serenely.

Macnair stared at the creature with a strange look in his eyes. He smiled again, a happy, perfect smile with a single tooth missing.

"I always wanted to know what it'd feel like to behead you," Macnair said to the creature. The sheep looked up, and bleated curiously as the man raised his giant axe above his head in preparation to bring it down.

Harry finally understood as he watched the man bring the axe down upon the sheep. He couldn't help himself. He was born to murder, born to kill, born to behead and decapitate. As necessary as it was for Harry to breathe, was as necessary as it was for Macnair to kill.

It was therefore ironic that when the tip of Macnair's weapon struck Meepy, volts of lightning erupted from the yellow fur of the sheep, travelling through the weapon in Macnair's hand. Harry was blinded momentarily as the world around them lit up in a bright blast of electricity. Macnair screamed once, and then no more noise was made.

He couldn't live life without killing, yet it was ultimately his lust for killing that ended his life.

If it weren't so serious, and the smell of burnt flesh hadn't permeated the air, Harry would have laughed at the irony.

There was a tug at the rope in his hands, and Harry turned around to stare at the ropes. He was still too blinded by the light to see properly, but he could that Peter was gone. The ropes that had bound him hung limp, and Harry could hear the faint pattering of a rat fleeing, but he was too blinded to react. He simply felt his legs give out, and he fell to the ground, exhausted.

Ginny crawled over and sat beside him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and stared at the bizarre scene that confronted them. Macnair lay dead on the ground, smoking slightly. Lupin, the injured werewolf lay on the ground nearby, whimpering in pain as bandaged lay loosely on the ground beside him. Sirius Black, an escaped, yet innocent convict was struggling to get to his feet, the whole while clutching his chest. Somewhere, a rat, a pathetic excuse for a wizard, was fleeing once again.

And in the midst of everything, Meepy, the creature Hagrid had been so worried about the entire year, bleated once in irritation, and hopped away in search for a quieter spot it could gnaw on grass.

I feel… bad.

For who Harry?

For Macnair.

He tried to kill you Harry. Twice.

But- Yeah, I know. It's just, so sad. He really couldn't help himself, and now he's dead.

Ginny snuggled closer to Harry, and Harry unconsciously wrapped an arm around her, bringing her even closer to him.

You're a good person, you know that Harry?

Why do you say that Ginny?

I'm always bitching, and whining, and complaining. Look at me now, I can't even feel sorry for a dead man. I'm not a very nice person. No wonder you wanted to get rid of this chord between us.

The chord thrummed with melancholy and sadness. Harry was determined to change it.

You are pretty bitchy. It's true.

No need to rub it in…

You never stop whining or complaining.

Yes, I know, I just admitted that.

You're always threatening people too.

Alright, that's enough. Watch what you say or I'll-

Hmm?

…Fine you're right, I threaten people a lot.

But you're not a bad person. In fact, I think you're the most wonderful person I've ever met, and if I had a choice of keeping our chord, or removing it, I think I finally have my answer.

Hmm?

Ginny purred affectionately as she continued to lean her head against Harry's shoulder. Consequently, the chord was also purring comfortingly. Harry smiled. Everything was back to normal. Therefore, there was only one appropriate response.

I'd get rid of it of course- ah I'm joking, please don't punch me, I was just joking.

What were you going to say, Harry?

That I'd keep the chord. That was definitely what I meant to say. I swear it… please don't punch me again.

Hmm, you sure that's the truth?

If I say yes will you not punch me?

…I'm going to punch you either way now.

Ginny was smiling again though, and Harry was as well for the most part, except for when the bruise on his shoulder ached. Ginny punched hard.

Thanks Harry.

Anytime Ginny.

"What are you two kids smiling for?" Sirius grumbled, still massaging his stomach. "There's a dead Death Eater, an injured werewolf, an escaped murderer, and you're laughing?"

Harry and Ginny couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces. They just kept smiling at Sirius, who eventually burst into a grin of his own.

"Actually, I once heard a good joke about a Death Eater, a werewolf and a murderer who go into a bar." Lupin whimpered in response from the ground.

"Honestly Moony! It's been thirteen years and you still don't think my jokes are funny," Sirius grumbled, before patching his friend up with several healing charms. It wasn't perfect, but it would last until daylight and Madame Pomfrey could come down.

Sirius summoned a large stretcher for Lupin, which hovered above the ground, and gently levitated him into it. He then proceeded to march towards the Whomping Willow, Lupin floating in front of him. They all stopped at the entrance of the tree though. The branches were stirring against the wind again, and Sirius seemed hesitant to go in carrying Lupin

Want to show him how it's done Ginny?

It'd be my honour, Harry.

With a wink at Sirius, Ginny threw the invisibility cloak over her shoulders. She vanished entirely, and for several long seconds, all was quiet, until the Whomping Willow suddenly froze up once again. Ginny pulled the cloak back off, her red hair peeking out.

Sirius marched in first with a smile on his face, while Harry and Ginny quickly followed. They all descended down the trapdoor, and Sirius carefully lowered Lupin, still on the stretcher, onto a bed that lay in the corner of the room. He then settled himself in a chair, ridden with scratch marks, behind a dining table, which was covered in tooth indents.

"Now," Sirius said, leaning forwards, hands under his chin, "What was this I heard about a soul bond?"

Ginny?

…Fine. We might as well tell him everything.

Awesome!

You're doing the talking though.

You say that now, but halfway through you'll be interrupting me at every sentence.

Only because you don't know how to tell a story properly! You either make things up or don't explain the important stuff properly.

I do not!

Sirius cleared his throat, an eyebrow raised as he glanced between the two of them.

"Right," Harry said slowly, drawing a chair and sitting down, Ginny mirroring his actions. "I guess it's best to start at the beginning…"

Harry and Ginny had finally told their story to Sirius, and consequently Lupin, who despite being a werewolf, could still understand their voices. That kind of control would have been impossible without the wolfsbane potion though, as Sirius had explained to them.

It was morning by the time they had finished their story. By then the rickety wooden chairs had finally grown too uncomfortable, and they were sitting on the ground. Feeling that they were now unneeded, Sirius created a cheery, crackling fire out of the abandoned chairs.

An hour before dawn Ginny fell asleep, her head slumping against Harry's shoulder. Sirius smirked at his godson, who was busy trying to get comfortable, but not wake Ginny up. Harry gently lowered himself so that he was lying flat on the ground, one arm beneath his head, and the other beneath Ginny's head like a pillow as she snuggled into his chest.

Sirius winked at him, Harry rolled his eyes, and then closed his eyes, intent on getting at least some sleep that night. Sleep never came though, and Harry simply laid there, his eyes firmly closed, listening to Ginny's steady breaths, and feeling the rise and fall of her body as she leant against him.

After some time, Harry heard Lupin whimpering as his transformation ended, and his body restructured itself into a human. It sounded incredibly painful to Harry, and he made sure to keep his eyes closed so he couldn't see the process.

"Are they asleep?" Lupin asked, his voice almost as hoarse as Sirius's.

Not anymore.

Ginny, keep your eyes closed. Don't move a muscle. Just pretend to keep sleeping.

Why?

I want to hear what they say when they think we're asleep.

Mmm, that's fine, I wasn't going to move from this spot anyway.

"Yeah, they haven't had their eyes opened for an hour, they're asleep." Sirius replied. There was a shuffling of footsteps, and it sounded like the two grown men were embracing one another in a hug.

"It's good to see you again Moony," Sirius said softly.

"I'm sorry I ever doubted you, my friend," Remus replied.

"Enough of that," Sirius said, pushing the issue aside. "All is forgiven between us."

"All?" Remus asked slyly, "Even the time I spent the night with Miranda in sixth year, even though you told us she was yours?"

"…Almost all is forgiven," Sirius said gruffly, before releasing a bark of laughter. "I'd forgotten about that. I was furious for weeks, wasn't I?"

"You were, James threatened to kick us both off the Quidditch team because we wouldn't get along."

"Oh, now he was furious. He was worried we weren't going to win the House Cup. He practically blew a faucet when you told him Quidditch isn't everything."

"But we won, didn't we?"

"We did. We always won."

The two lapsed into comfortable silence, and Harry felt disappointed. He wanted them to keep talking about school. He wanted to hear more about his dad.

"What are we going to do with him?" Sirius asked.

"Them," Lupin corrected, sighing heavily, "Wherever your godson goes, young Ginny Weasley will go as well. That's the basic premise of the soul bond."

"I don't know if I'm happy or sad for them," Sirius admitted.

"It's as much a gift as it is a curse, by the sounds of it,"

"But what are we going to do?" Sirius asked again.

"We help them. We research the soul bond. We help them out when they have no one else they can come to. No one knows apart from us, so it's up to us to protect them."

"Peter knows," Sirius grumbled. The sound of a stone ricocheting across the room could be heard, as well as the scuffing of a shoe.

"He heard?" Lupin asked sharply. "That's not good. Not good at all."

"I'm going to murder that little rat next time I see him," Sirius growled furiously.

"Not if I get to him first," Lupin snarled in agreement. Harry almost felt himself shiver at the wrath resounding from the two adults.

"But until then," Sirius began.

"Yes, until then, we help Harry and Ginny." Lupin agreed. The two old friends fell silent again, and the loudest noise to Harry's ears was Ginny's steady breathing.

They're done talking now Harry. Go to sleep, I can tell you haven't slept yet.

Fine, but only because it's you who asked.

Don't you know it.

The continued to lie there, eyes closed as they feigned sleep, btu Harry was still uncomfortable. The night hadn't quite ended for him yet. Likewise, not all of the problems had been resolved yet. Harry could acutely feel the touch of Ginny's fingertips clinging against his shirt, her fingernails scratching through the cloth into his chest. Every strand of her ginger hair upon his arm felt like a blistering coil of steel as she snuggled into shoulder like a pillow. Every breath that left her pink lips roared within his ears, drowning out the other soft sounds in the room.

He was hypersensitive, and he knew exactly why; what he hadn't yet addressed.

Listen Ginny.

Yeah?

I don't know if I love you-

Please don't bring that up, you're embarrassing me.

But I'm glad you're still here Ginny.

…I'm still embarrassed…

But?

But I'm glad you're here too Harry.

Just as Macnair couldn't live his life without killing, Harry now knew that he couldn't live his life without Ginny.

However, Macnair had finally lost his life because he murdered. What did that foreshadow for himself and Ginny?

You're thinking too much Harry. We both know that isn't your strong suit.

But-

But nothing. I don't want to hear any moping from you, got it?

...Yes ma'am.

Good. Now, didn't I already order you to sleep?

Trying to make the movement look as unconscious as possible, so that Sirius and Lupin wouldn't notice, Harry pulled Ginny closer towards him, his arm trailing down her back, and his hand resting on her waist. Suddenly, everything that had been hypersensitive was calming. Everything that was uncomfortable, was now reassuring. The soft moans of Ginny's breathing within Harry's ears was like the sound of a lullaby, and in moments, the two were asleep, safe and comfortable in each other's arms.

I received a lot of love/hate reviews recently. Readers screamed at me, in caps lock and exclamation marks about how much they loved the story, quickly followed by angry threats of assault. Are you guys happy or angry? I really can't tell anymore :P Anyway, the love/hate was completely my fault for leaving a mean cliffhanger like that, so I shall meekly bow my head and let you beat me up.

Now, onto more IMPORTANT matters:

This chapter signifies the end of many things (No, not the end of the story, as some of you overly panicking readers assumed) But rather the end of the first 'Section' of this story: The Resistance. The resistance of the soul bond is now over. Now begins the second book.

The Frequency of the Soul Bond.

Look forward to it. I've got many plans raveling around in my head, and I should have a solid storyboard laid out in a few days time, and then I can finally get working on The Frequency.

SOOO! Tell me what you thought of the first book (The Resistance). Leave me a review of what you liked, and what you didn't, and I shall take that into account in the next section.

Reviews make it rain money. Monopoly money, but money nonetheless.

Cheers

-Council