Disclaimer: I don't own any of this except the plot really.

Chapter 9: The Fight Part 2

Waiting for them In Dumbledore's office were Dumbledore, James, Professor McGonagall, and Madame Pomfrey who was fussing over a bruised Daniel. Harry smirked knowingly at the red handprint currently adorning James cheek. Daniel and James were both glaring angrily at Harry. Behind his desk Dumbledore looked at Harry in a mix of disappointment and guilt.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley, I assume you know why I asked you here." Harry smirked and couldn't resist the urge to take a jab at Dumbledore.

"You know what they say Headmaster, assuming makes an ass out of you and me." He was rewarded with a laugh disguised as a cough from Ginny and several shocked looks from the gathered Professors. Dumbledore had the strangest reaction though, after a slip in his normal calm facade, he schooled his features into a warm smile.

"So it does Mr. Potter, so it does. I've received reports that you attacked your brother without provocation and Ms. Weasley also attacked your father a short while later." Before either children could defend themselves Lily stepped forward.

"Headmaster, I'm still not sure exactly what happened between my sons, but Ginny did nothing wrong. James got exactly what he deserved. I would have done it myself if she didn't beat me too it." James looked at his wife in shock as she stared challengingly at him. For once he chose the wise decision and remained quiet.

"Be that as it may Mrs. Potter I will not tolerate any of my students attacking guests of the school. Twenty points from Ravenclaw Ms. Weasley." Ginny chose not to protest knowing there was nothing she could say to change his mind. "Now then Mr. Potter is there anything you would like to say in your defense." Harry met the Headmasters eyes and felt a subtle poke of legilimency. He brushed it away quickly and strengthened his mental shields.

Harry knew many ways to share his side of the story, the easiest of which would be a pensieve memory. That however, would reveal the fact that he and Ginny shared a soul bond. Agreeing to take Veritaserum would allow Dumbledore to ask any questions he wanted and Harry had too many secrets to protect. Allowing Dumbledore to use legilimency on him was totally out of the question. He decided to buy himself a few extra seconds.

"I'd like to hear Daniel's version of events myself sir." Dumbledore nodded slowly and the entire room turned to look at Daniel. At once he became as sweet and innocent as he could.

"Well, I was walking back to the common room from lunch. Then Harry grabbed me and dragged me behind a tapestry into a secret passage. He started threatening me for trying to be friends with Ginny. I just wanted to get to know my best mates little sister better is all. He got really mad, but then before he could say anything else Ginny pulled open the tapestry. She said she'd heard me and she wouldn't hang out with me, I'm too much of a glory seeking Gryffindor blood traitor. Then she punched me."

He paused here for dramatic effect. Harry and Ginny were staring at him in total shock. Dumbledore, McGonagall, James, and Flitwick however were looking on with compassion. Snape looked like he wanted to be anywhere else other than that office. Lily surprised Harry the most, he'd expected her to be going along the same route as James. Instead she was looking at Daniel in a mix of shock and disgust, shaking her head every once in a while when Daniel got to a blatant lie.

"After Ginny punched me, I just tried to get away from them. When I tried to go past them though Harry punched me, and I fell backwards into a wall. I think he stunned me because the next thing I remember is Dad waking me up." All the Professors, save for Snape, turned to look at Harry and Ginny in a mix of disgust and contempt.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" McGonagall said as she prepared to go into full lecture mode.

"That was the most ridiculous batch of lies I've ever heard."

'Ginny I don't think we're going to be able to keep our bond a secret now, at least not from them.'

'We can at least hide how well formed it is, remember the book said that mental communication is a very advanced stage that most never reach.'

'You're right, we'll stick to sharing emotions if they ask.' Harry received the equivalent of a mental nod from Ginny. In the time if had taken them to have their short conversation the room around them had broken out into a loud argument. Apparently most of the room believed Daniel.

"I'll tell you the truth, but I'd like to ask if Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape could leave the room it's a little personal." Dumbledore and McGonagall looked ready to object but Lily stepped forward.

"I agree with Harry. I think I know what he's about to say and it should only be in the presence of those required to be here." Harry smiled gratefully at his mother as Snape and Madam Pomfrey made their way out of the room.

"Alright Harry, please tell us your version of events." Harry nodded and pulled up the memory of his fight with Daniel, narrating it word for word.

"After Daniel pulled me into the secret passage he started accusing Ginny and I of lying." He paused glancing towards Ginny for a second. She smiled and nodded to him.

In this second McGonagall was able to ask, "Lying about what?"

"Ginny and I are soul bonded." McGonagall's mouth fell open in shock while Flitwick let out an excited squeak and fell out of his chair. Dumbledore managed to keep his face neutral except for the slight raising of his eyebrows and the increase of the twinkle in his eyes.

"But they're lying! After Dad told me about the 'bond' I looked it up in the library. It said two soul mates needed to know each other since they were really young." McGonagall began nodding her head vigorously, while Flitwick reclaimed his seat and looked at his two students in wonder.

"Daniel, Ginny and I have been best friends since we were eight! The only reason you don't believe in our bond is because you're jealous that I'm with Ginny and you're not." McGonagall was now looking suspiciously at Daniel who was gaping like a fish, as he tried to find a come back.

"I believe there is a very simple solution to this. I know the spell to determine if two people are soul mates, and if they are bonded. As long as Harry and Ginny are willing to undergo the spell. I can perform it immediately." Harry and Ginny looked at each other nervously. If Dumbledore performed the spell, it would show just how strong their bond had become in the last year and a half. Seeing no way around it they nodded their heads.

"Excellent! Now then this won't hurt a bit, Soulis Pairis!" Once again nothing happened at first. Daniel looked excited for a second, but then the glow started.

Instead of the purple that had enveloped them last time, this time a deep red aura began to glow around them. The red quickly became brighter and brighter until Lily, McGonagall, and Daniel turned away. Harry and Ginny unconsciously moved closer together and grasped each others hand. The second their hands touched an explosion of orange and gold sprung from that point mixing with the red to create a living flame that seemed to emanate around them. Fawkes trilled happily from his perch and flew down to land lightly on Ginny's shoulders.

"Finite,"The glow disappeared like someone had flipped a light switch. Harry and Ginny blushed nervously under the looks of awe from McGonagall, Lily, and Flitwick. Dumbledore was smiling kindly at them although the twinkle in his eyes looked more like a camera flash than a twinkle. Daniel was red faced and staring in anger and hatred at them. James seemed like he wanted to be stunned but was too busy agreeing with Daniel to show anything more than an icy glare.

"That was quite impressive, Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley. I haven't seen a bond as strong as yours in many decades. However, it still does not answer the question as to who attacked who today however." Harry sagged in defeat then played his trump card.

"I'm willing to submit my memory of events to a pensieve so you can all see it." Daniel's look of triumph immediately changed to one of confusion as he looked from Dumbledore to Harry.

"I'll allow it." Dumbledore turned and took out the large stone basin from behind his desk. Harry walked up and using his own wand placed the memory in the pensieve.

Dumbledore nodded and then he, McGonagall, Flitwick, Lily, and James entered the pensieve. Harry and Ginny were left to glare at Daniel who was looking in wonder at the tub his parents had just been sucked into. Several minutes later they returned.

McGonagall was looking at Daniel in shock and shaking her head in horror. Flitwick returned to his chair mumbling things under his breath, "reproachful… attempting to hit a girl… of all the rude immoral things…" Lily was looking sadly at her son as she returned to Harry's side and placed a comforting arm on his shoulder. Dumbledore gazed sadly at Daniel the twinkle in his eyes greatly diminished.

"Well, after reviewing the memory Mr. Potter submitted, I have come to a conclusion. Twenty points from Ravenclaw to Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley each for physical violence, and ten points from Gryffindor for Mr. Potter for instigating the entire event." James and Daniel quickly agreed with the Headmasters assessment while McGonagall looked torn before nodding reluctantly. Flitwick and Lily both immediately began protesting, but Dumbledore simply waved their comments aside. Harry and Ginny had both expected Dumbledore to play favorites with Daniel, so they weren't too shocked.

"That is final! Now if that is all you should all return to your respective rooms. Minerva, Filius, please stay behind I have some issues I wish to discuss with you." The Potters plus Ginny took the hint and left the Headmasters office. Harry, Ginny and Lily hanging back behind James and Daniel who were talking in hushed whispers. Harry wasn't paying much attention until he heard Ginny's name.

"Dad, I still like Ginny though!" Daniel whispered a little loudly to James.

"Don't worry about her son, there are plenty of more intelligent, better looking girls worthy of your status. Let Harry have the average, plain looking one." Harry's temper flared, and it was only made worse as Ginny's anger boiled through the bond intensifying his own.

Lily seeing a confrontation coming only had enough time to grab one of them. Thinking Harry was less likely to hit his own father she grabbed Ginny's arm holding her back. Thanks to Harry's intensified anger through the bond, Lily should have grabbed both of them.

Harry reached his father in two strides and grabbed his shoulder. He spun him around and before James had any time to respond Harry's fist connected with James nose. The weak cartilage meeting the force of Harry's fist, multiplied by the velocity in which James was traveling thanks to Harry spinning him around, resulted in James nose breaking with a sickening crunch. James stumbled backwards in pain and finally lost his footing falling down hard.

"You have no right to talk about Ginny like that! I always wondered where Daniel got his rude manners from, and now I know he picked up every single one of them from you." James wasn't paying much attention trying in vain to stop the blood pouring out of his nose.

"You punched me! You brat how dare you!" Harry gave a frustrated growl and turned to walk away, but Daniel was moving to get in his way. Harry flicked his hand in Daniels direction however and barely noticed as Daniel flew backwards down the hall. Ginny freed her arm from Lily and rushed after Harry down the hall. Lily paused only a second to address her husband.

"James, go home you're not welcome in my quarters tonight." James stared at his wife in total shock for a minute before going red in the face.

"What do you mean?!" Lily sighed in exasperation.

"Exactly how I said it, go home to Potter Manor. You're not welcome in my quarters tonight, or for the rest of this week. Think about what you did tonight, and when you realize how horrible you've been then come and see me." Without another word Lily turned and left a flabbergasted James staring at the spot she had just been in.

Break

Lily wasn't able to find Harry or Ginny for the rest of the night and resigned herself to waiting until the next morning. The next day at breakfast she stopped by the Ravenclaw table and asked Harry and Ginny to meet her in her office for lunch.

At lunch Harry and Ginny arrived and cautiously looked around the office as if suspecting some sort of trap. Lily simply waved them in and tried to start a conversation. There was awkward small talk for a little while until a house elf arrived with the food. The silence while they were eating was suffocating. Finally Lily tried something that always worked with James and Daniel.

"So Harry, Ginny, do either of you like Quidditch?" Harry and Ginny glanced at one another before Harry answered.

"Brooms are too restricting, we want to fly without them." Lily smiled in understanding and decided to pursue it a little farther.

"So, how are both of you in transfiguration? If you're good enough maybe Minerva will be willing to teach you how to become an Animagus." She didn't miss the nervous glance between the two, or the way they began to uncomfortably shift in their seats. "You didn't! You're just like your father!"

"What?" Harry asked looking anywhere but Lily.

"You two already took an Animagus potion didn't you?" Harry and Ginny had a silent conversation, before Ginny turned back to Lily.

"We did. I'm a falcon, and Harry's a hawk." Lily's mouth dropped open, she hadn't expected them to openly admit to it. "Please don't tell anyone." Lily looked torn between wanting to earn her sons trust and her basic motherly instinct to force him to not do it. Finally she came to a decision.

"Fine, I won't tell anyone," Both children sighed in relief before Lily continued. "But, I must be present whenever you two try to change yourselves. I'm not going to let either of you accidentally kill yourselves trying to do this." Harry and Ginny were silent for a minute before Harry tried to protest feebly.

"But mum, we've already managed to transform our arms and one leg each." Lily's eyes widened in shock.

"How long have you been practicing this?" Harry realized his slip and tried to hide it.

"Well, umm, since last year, I think maybe umm October. It took us a really long time." This backfired even worse as Lily made the next logical conclusion.

"October! Ginny had only been in school a month then, how on earth were either of you able to even start your transformations." Harry winced, but Ginny already had a response ready.

"Harry's been studying magic since before we met, and he taught me everything he knows. We're up to OWLs spell work." It was only a small lie, they were actually up to post NEWTS spell work. Lily seemed suspicious but took the information she was given.

"You really should be getting to your next class, but promise me you won't work on your transformations without telling me first." After getting affirmative answers from both of them she let them leave.

Break

Harry and Ginny kept their promise to Lily and took her to an empty classroom every night. She would grade papers while Harry and Ginny worked on the transformation for an hour. Afterwards they would go to the Founders room and practice magic, sword fighting, and potion making while Lily returned to her quarters.

There was a noticeable absence of James from the school meals, and for two months he was only seen on the few days Remus had to 'visit his sick mother'. Harry knew from his mother that James had been trying desperately to win her back without actually apologizing to Harry or Ginny. Lily had so far been steadfast in denying James, but Harry could see she was missing him.

Finally in December Harry told his mother to just take him back, but to keep him away from them. Lily agreed and Harry was pleased to find she kept to his word and James was no where to be seen whenever he and Ginny met with Lily.

Around that time Ron began actively trying to keep Harry and Ginny apart. Ginny ignored this completely going so far as to hex Ron once. Snape had witnessed this, but instead of taking points had subtly nodded towards Ginny and then hurried past. It didn't take long for Harry and Ginny to figure out that Daniel had started telling people about the bond. This became glaringly obvious when Fred and George walked over to the Ravenclaw table one day during lunch and began loudly welcoming Harry to the family and asking when the wedding was.

By the start of the new term in January, Harry and Ginny had done two things they were both very proud of. One was that they completed the first of their Animagus transformations. Lily had been there when they finished them and was ecstatic for her son and Ginny. She'd even offered to buy both of the congratulatory presents, but both had denied saying all they wanted to do was fly.

The only problem with that were the Dementors stationed around Hogwarts to catch Crouch if he should attempt to enter the school. That however, brought Harry and Ginny to the second thing they were proud of. Both could now conjure a fully corporeal patronus. Harry's was a familiar looking tiger while Ginny's was a distinct looking wolf.

As the year progressed Harry and Ginny grew closer with Neville and Luna. They soon started helping each other with their work. Neville was a Herbology genius, while Luna turned out to be extremely adept at potion making, both skills had for the most part escaped Harry and Ginny. They were able to offer help in DADA, Transfiguration, and Charms. Harry was also able to give Neville the little help he needed in Ancient Runes.

For the time being Harry was the only one taking Arthimancy, but Ginny and Luna would both be starting next year. Harry still shared stories of the crazy Professor Dent and her love of towels. This got the group kicked out of the library several times for laughing too loudly.

Around March, Harry gave Neville and Luna books on occlumency encouraging them to learn the delicate art. He hoped that by next year he could introduce them to the Founder's room, but he didn't want Dumbledore to find out.

By the end of the school year Harry and Ginny were halfway done with their wolf and tiger transformations, respectively. Dumbledore announced at the end of the year feast that the Dementors were being removed from Hogwarts because it was believed that Crouch had likely fled to some far away country and disappeared into anonymity.

So it was with dreams of flying for the first time as a hawk and a falcon that Harry and Ginny excitedly boarded the train and headed home.

A/N

Ok, that's done. If you don't think a 13 year old can break a grown mans nose, he used some magic to make the punch harder. Lily saw Harry use wandless magic on Daniel but pushed it off as accidental. Daniel is to stupid to realize Harry didn't use a wand. I couldn't figure out how to convey that.

A side note, if you check out my profile i have three ideas on what my next story should be. I need something to dabble with when i get writers block on this one so if any of you like one feel free to message me and ill start dabbling more with the one that gets the most responses.

One more thing before i let you go, i'm looking for ideas for a song to use during the yule ball, i have some ideas but nothing seems to fit for Harry and Ginny. Any suggestions would be awesome, and if i use yours you get a special dedication in the yule ball chapter.

There is a pop culture reference in here, it stands out slightly so you have to find it without any clues. 200 reviews!!! Next chapter hopefully thursday, but maybe friday. Chapter 10: Summer/ Triwizard cup/ The Champion