Nickelodeon is still adorable.
On to the story!

By Friday, the Questionnaire results came back. Harry received a letter saying in all areas but one he was "at or above the standard expected of an Auror Cadet". The one area lacking was, of course, swimming. The letter "strongly recommended" that he refresh himself on the basics before coming to the Academy. At the Academy he would receive "further instruction". Harry sighed. Time to swallow some humble pie.

At the Weasley lunch the next day, he turned to Arthur and Remus. "Um, Arthur, Remus, today my Career-Oriented Questionnaire results came back and — I'd been expecting it, but..." he said, "I have only some swimming experience. They want me to refresh myself on the basics before coming. Can you help?"

Arthur stared and Remus winced. "You can't swim properly? But...goodness. Of course we'll help, Harry." Arthur said, recovering first.

The other Weasleys, Tonks and Remus loudly agreed.

So that's what they did. Over the next few days, whichever group of Weasleys available would take Harry down go the stream near Blossom Burrow for a lesson. On other days, Remus would take Harry down to the spring near Willowwood. Often, the sessions at Willowwood would be with Teddy and Tonks as well – getting Teddy used to the water. This made it all the more fun for Harry, as he got to watch Teddy's amazement – and changing hair colours. They had some time for this, as they wouldn't start at the Academy until the 3rd of August. Harry thought there was something odd about that. From comments he overheard, he gathered that, while Kingsley was very keen to get programs started, others were more concerned about other necessary tasks which, apparently, had to be done before the programs occurred, not at the same time.

So the days were spent at the Burrow and Willowwood and occasionally Grim's Den, passing time with their friends and family. Things happened – including the birth of Winky's elfkin, a tiny little girl who had Winky's tomato-shaped nose but Dobby's green eyes. Winky named her Debby. Winky stayed with Harry at Willowwood, now.

But Harry couldn't help noticing that Molly was worried about something. After some observation, Harry realised it was Ginny. She was quieter than usual and kept drifting out of the conversation into her own world. Something was definitely up and Harry planned to find out what.

That afternoon, while everyone else was relaxing, he took Ginny for a picnic in the woods near the Burrow.

They had an enjoyable time, just relaxing in each other's company. Then Harry asked her.

"Ginny, is something the matter? You've been behaving...well, not normal, recently. Even today you seem distracted."

For a moment Ginny looked like she'd shout at him. Then she deflated. "You remember the Chamber Incident. Afterwards I seemed perfectly happy? If a bit traumatised."

Harry nodded.

"That was because I'd unknowingly suppressed the memories he'd given me. The blank spots... When he poured his soul back into me, he gave me some of – his – memories. Horcruxes... His deeds at the orphanage... His first murders... He gave me them all Harry! He forced them into me and I can't get them out now that I remember them!"

Harry wrapped his arms around her. "Oh Ginny... Ssh, Gin, it'll be all right. Ssh."

They held each other for a while, then Harry said, "Here's what we'll do. At Potter House, I have a family pensieve. We'll put your memories in there. I've already used it for some of mine." he sighed. "I ought to tell the rest of your family, too. You're not the only one with bad memories."

Ginny blinked. "Isn't that dangerous...to remove what must be a lot of – fundamental – memories?"
Harry replied, "Don't worry, I researched it before I did it. According to books in my Family library, the specific spell I am using creates a copy of the memories which you then store. The memories left behind are slightly less potent – emotionally – than before, whilst the act of storing the copies in a pensieve and actually removing them from the mind removes all emotional 'context' from those. You can view them objectively in the pensieve – if you want to – while not having nightmares about them in the meantime."

Ginny sagged in relief. "That...would be good. Thanks Harry." she hesitated, then added, "There's one more thing. Harry...I can speak parseltongue thanks to the memories."

Harry turned to stare at her. "Oh." he said, "How long...?"
Ginny shrugged. "After the Chamber Incident I became more...accepting of snakes. But it wasn't until I started remembering the memories – which actually started last year, after Dumbledore's death and all the things stirred up then – that's when I realised I can speak to snakes."

Harry said slowly, "You don't mind...?"
Ginny sighed. "I've had a while to get used to it. It's not something I'd readily share with others, but... It's all right. Some of the conversations they have can be pretty funny. In the beginning, it was like I was listening to a faulty wireless – it was fuzzy and I didn't always get the right words. But after some observation, it got better."

Harry's face scrunched. He said, "Do you think I still have the...ability, Ginny? I thought I've tried and failed, but Professor Slytherin seemed to think otherwise..."

Ginny licked her lips. "You know the way we had to get into the Inner Sanctum of the Chamber? Where you had some sort of conversation with a voice and got us in?"

Harry nodded. Ginny continued, "The other four heard faint hissing all through that conversation while you were seemingly frozen. But I think I heard words. And from what I...remember... In order to get into that Inner Sanctum, not only do you have to be judged worthy, but you must speak parseltongue."

Harry gasped. He suddenly remembered the feeling of a 'door' unlocking and locking before and after that strange voice – strange voice that hissed – had addressed him. He rose to his feet, pulling Ginny with him. "Let's go to Hogwarts." he said, "and get answers."

They apparated away. In a short time they arrived at the gates and were subsequently admitted after proving themselves. They made their way to the Head's office, and, under the gazes of the portraits and Minerva, they explained themselves.

Professor Slytherin said gently. "Yes, the rules of admittance to the Inner Sanctum are as you suspect. That is why I asked a few weeks ago. Now..." he hesitated, then went on with extreme care. "Would you be remiss in testing these ideas with the new basilisk? Her name is Selena."

Harry and Ginny exchanged glances then agreed. The new basilisk was summoned and ordered to 'hood' her eyes. Slytherin explained that this was the closing of a thin 'eyelid' which restricted the killing power of her eyes.

Ginny spoke to the basilisk softly; then it was Harry's turn. He watched the snake slide along. In his mind, a dark green snake began slithering... With a sharp click, a 'door' unlocked. "Hello, Sssselena. My name isssss Harry Potter. How are youuuuu?"

Harry could speak Parseltongue again. As long as that 'door' was open, he'd speak it. Now he just had to practice locking and unlocking it.

They spent some time practising the newly-recovered skill, then returned to the Burrow. Harry collected his Pensieve and Ginny gathered the group; it was a Saturday (the 27th of July), so that was fairly easy. Then they explained what Harry had done, and what Ginny planned to do.

The group agreed with the idea as a temporary measure at least. Harry saw Molly, Arthur and Andi exchange glances and whispers, and knew they had a more permanent solution in mind.

The next day, Ron seemed to be slightly distracted. Eventually, he cornered Harry when he was about to leave Blossom Burrow for Willowwood. "Can we talk?"

Harry nodded. Ron began, "Harry... How did you cope when...when Sirius died?"

Harry froze and stared at Ron. Ron continued, "Because I need help. Everywhere I go when I'm home, I expect to see both of them, but it's just George. I keep seeing his death in my sleep. I put some of those memories away, but I can't do 'em all. Yet every memory hurts." he swallowed. "It – could've – been me."

Harry sighed. He should've realised Ron needed this. He'd talked with Ginny about it, but her feelings were just grief and loss. Ron had a bad case of survivor's guilt. And memory-removal could only help so much; conversation was needed.

Harry shifted from foot to foot, hearing faint noise behind him. Where to begin? "It's not your fault, Ron." he began, "it could've been you... But it shouldn't have been any of us. Everyone would still take it hard, you know." Ron shrugged and shifted uncomfortably. Harry sighed. "After Sirius' death... I was an emotional wreck. I thought it was my fault. I desperately wanted to see him again. Hagrid told me he would've wanted to — die — in battle."

Ron flinched.

"As you can imagine, that didn't really help much." Harry continued, "I sought out Sir Nick. He told me that only certain people would return as ghosts. Sirius...and Fred... would have gone on."

Ron blinked. "Gone on? Onto where?" he asked hoarsely.
Harry shrugged. "Somewhere happy and...free of pain and scars would be my guess." Then inspiration struck him. "Why don't you ask Tonks? She and Remus were there, sort of, if only for a very short while. She remembers some of it, and would probably be able to answer your questions better than I can. I only went as far as the crossover point."

Ron sighed. "All right. I will."

Harry said, "Just one more thing. After Nick, I talked to Luna. She reminded me that they are in 'On', wherever that is. They're just watching us out of sight. One day we'll join them. But that day is a long way off."

Ron nodded. "Okay. Thanks Harry." Ron turned and busied himself with a cup of tea on the dresser. Sam meandered into the room and went to sit down with an edition of The Quibbler. He cast a sideways glance at Harry and smiled thankfully. Similar thoughts must've been bugging him, too, and he'd stopped outside the door to listen.

Harry wandered into the kitchen, pausing in the doorway upon seeing Molly tidying up. George, wearing his recently acquired WWW Synthetic Skin (Ear) came downstairs and meandered into the kitchen.

"Hey, Mum, don't mind me. I'm just getting a drink." George said, as Molly started saying something. Molly replied, "All right then Fred."

Everyone froze. There was the sound of breaking glass and thumping footsteps.

"Oh! George! OH, I didn't..." Molly started to say, then burst into tears as the sharp crack of Apparation was heard. Ron walked into the room and took control.
"Ginny — help Mum. Perce, help me find George." he said, then turned to Harry. "When we find him, do you reckon you could give that speech you just gave me to everyone else?"

Harry nodded, then followed Ginny into the kitchen proper. Arthur was already there, talking soothingly. "Ssh, Molly, ssh. You didn't mean to. Sssh. It's not your fault..."

Ginny squeezed her mother's hand reassuringly. They gathered round the table to wait – Sam and Remus (who'd popped by to check Harry was still coming to Willowwood that night and stumbled into the middle of it all) hovering around the edges a little hesitantly.

After at least five minutes, Percy and Ron returned with George. The Synthetic Skin (Ear) was gone. George went straight to Molly and enveloped her in a hug, which she returned. Then Harry started to speak, explaining what he'd said to Ron.

The Weasleys listened with rapt attention. At the end, there was silence. Then George asked, "Does it get easier?" he frowned. "Stupid question."

Harry's lips twitched. "The hardest thing for me was realising he'd never write to me again, let alone speak to me." he said quietly, "But... In the two weeks before I came to you guys, I nearly wrote to him twice. Also, I couldn't concentrate on homework because I kept writing words from the prophecy into it...or turning my o's and zero's into little glass orbs." he snorted, causing others to smile slightly. Harry continued, "Then, well... Bad stuff started happening. That bridge, the murders, the so-called 'hurricane', all the mist... When I wrote to Ron and Hermione, I found myself writing to Sirius again. Only this time, I kept going. I wrote down everything. That helped. It really did. The day after Dumbledore's funeral, I wrote to both of them. I've been meaning to write letters this year, but..." he sighed. "So many people..."

The Weasley brothers exchanged glances. "Time to get out the ink, quill and parchment." Percy said.
Arthur then spoke. "Also...after yesterday's ideas of the pensieve, Molly and I and Andromeda Tonks had a talk, and...it may be also wise to consider professional counselling. Doing it yourself is all well and good, but with all the things that have happened, getting an objective professional opinion is probably wise."

After some more prompting and discussion, the group agreed to at least think about it.

Then, Harry and Remus went back to Willowwood.

Sigh. Poor gang.
The idea of Ginny having Riddle's memories, including parseltongue, comes from an essay on the Lexicon called, "The Real Chamber of Secrets".