Avada Kedavra's True Meaning Keeperoliver Chapter 11

Ron and Luna could not stand to see Ginny in the shape she was in. Since Harry's death, she hadn't hardly eaten at all, talked very little and stayed in her room and to herself most of the time. Now it was time to start for school, and she hardly seemed interested at all.

Petunia decided to take matters into her own hand. She went to Ginny's room and entered, closing the door behind her. She took the seat beside the bed Ginny was laying on and began, "Seems to me you have given up on Harry already. Is that the way it is?"

Ginny just laid there saying nothing. "Even after seeing what happened to your mother, you don't have any faith in Selena and Lily's theory? Harry would believe if the situation was reversed. He would have to if he ever wanted to see you again. Can't you have the same faith?"

Tears formed in Ginny's eyes, "We knew who did it to mum. We knew what dad did to him and that no matter what, we knew where to find him. What do we know about who did it to Harry? Who has to die for Harry to come back to us? Who do we look for to bring this about? We don't know any of this. We may never know any of this. Suppose in the end, we find a way to be victorious yet we never find Harry's killer? What then? Nothing. The war will be over for every one but me. The war will continue in my mind until I find that person and do away with him or her."

"Do you think you will be alone in your search? Do you think Lily and James will sit back and do nothing, or did you forget about them? Another thing, how will you go about taking care of the situation if you are not trained properly. You must go to school and learn all that you can so that you may continue if what you said came about. For Harry's sake you need to know all that you can so that you will be ready for this. Ginny, if you love Harry and wish to see him again then start believing that we will find who did it and do what needs to be done in order to bring him back."

Ginny's tears ended after Petunia's talk. Her defeated look was replaced by a different look. A look of hope replaced it. "You're right Petunia, I had forgotten about Lily and James. If in the end it comes down to them finding out who did it, they will find this person and and bring Harry back to us. I will go to school and learn what needs to be known. I will excel and be the best I can be. I will have my Harry back to me the way it should be."

Petunia smiled at this, "That's the Ginny we know and love. Now, how about you pack and get ready for tomorrow morning. It's going to be a long day, and you will need some rest. I will tell everyone that you will be ready for the start of your school year."

"But, I don't start school until next year."

"No, both you and Luna will be starting school with Hermione, Ron, Draco, Neville, Susan and Hannah. Albus wants everyone at the same level of education when the time comes to finally face the Dark Lord. The only draw back would be if Harry were to return before the final battle. He would be far behind in his education."

"Oh, he will return. It will not take him long to catch up with us. He already knows more than any of us. You will see that Harry is far more ready than any of us are. One question I have though. What about Dudley?"

"Thank you Ginny."

"For what? All I did was ask a question."

"For showing you care. Telling me you love Dudley as an equal. Taking an interest in a muggle that normally a witch or a wizard would disregard."

"That's silly Petunia. Of course I love Dudley. I love every one that lives here with the family. Just because he doesn't have magic, doesn't make him any less loved."

"Can I tell you something that you will promise never to tell anyone else?"

"Will it hurt someone if I did tell?"

"Quite a few really."

"Then why tell me this?"

"Because of what you just asked."

"Do you mean about Dudley?"

"Yes."

"Then I promise never to tell anyone else, unless you let me."

"Thank you. You are the only one who asked about Dudley. Everyone else is so wrapped up in finding Harry's killer or getting ready for school, Dudley has been forgotten. They forgot that when you all leave, he will be left behind."

"Isn't there a way that he could go as well to continue to learn?"

"Learn what? He is not a wizard. He can't sit in the same classes as the others or you. What can he learn?"

Ginny smiled at Petunia. "He could learn to be a grounds keeper, or a custodian. Surely Hagrid could use an Assistant. Filch may need one as well, though Dudley may wish to take Hagrid's help. From what the twins have told me, Filch is not very nice."

"Do you think Albus would approve of this?"

"It wouldn't hurt to ask. Also, I think you need to tell the others what you just told me. They should know that others feelings are affected when dealing with grief. Dudley is no different than anyone else, don't you think?"

"But that may embarrass them when I tell them."

"Well you are going to have to tell them if you ask for help from Professor Dumbledore."

"You're right. I need to bring up the subject somehow, and that is the perfect way. You go head and pack, while I go talk with everyone."

The embarrassment that the rest felt was soon replaced by joy as Albus agreed to bring Dudley to Hogwarts as Hagrid's assistant.

AKTM-}

The fury of Quirrell/Voldemort was felt by everyone before him. Not only had they lost him his job as a Professor, but they lost him his chance to get the Philosopher's Stone. Then Parkinson had the audacity to kill his one pleasure in life. Finish the job he started 10 years ago. If he wasn't so short of trained men, Parkinson would be dead. It would have to wait for later, but it will happen. Right now they must all learn the price of failure.

And learn they did. All five members of his inner circle felt the wrath of Voldemort's anger. The Crutiatus was used continually on those before him. Held longer than it seemed healthy for anyone it struck. It seemed that the Dark Lord knew exactly when to end the curse before he lost anyone. For some it was longer. For others not so long, but just as damaging. Broken bones, torn muscles and multiple bruises were the results of the dark Lords punishment. No one would soon forget the pain they suffered at his hand. Parkinson received the most damage, and it would take many months for him to recover. Because of the death of Harry Potter, he would die also. That was the promise of the Dark Lord. But when he would never know. It would be at the Dark Lords discretion.

AKTM-}

Harry's tale of his life so far filled James and Lily with both Joy and sorrow. They did not know of Alice and Frank's attack and the results of it, but were overjoyed when Harry told them of Selena's help in bringing them back. They were sorry to hear of Xeno's death and how hard it was for Selena to get over it.

Lily had never thought much of Sirius' serious side. She never felt that he took life as a kindred spirit. When Harry told them it was him and Luna that brought Selena through Xeno's death, she had a different opinion of the Marauder who promised to never settle down with just one woman. She had never been proud of Sirius, until Harry told her of his now changed life style. How he and Selena had taken Harry into their life and brought him up in the right way, but maybe just a little too soft. Harry didn't like the idea of killing. If he was to succeed he had to learn to kill first, and regret it later.

Harry told them of Remus and Tonks getting married at the same time as Sirius and Selena. They were so happy that he was able to find love in his lonely life. If anyone deserved to be happy, it was Remus.

As Harry went on with his story, they became more and more elated as the learned of how the family grew, to include the addition of Petunia, Marge and Dudley. This pleased Lily to no end. It was always her wish to make up with her sister after their fallout those many years ago. To learn that Dudley became as strong as he did without magic was a blessing that was unexpected.

Once Harry had caught them up on what had happened so far, it was now time for his parents to teach him in the ways of warfare. They didn't know how long he was to be with them, so the training was non stop and rigid. There was no time to lose as every moment counted. Harry may not be able to perform magic, but wand movement, counter curses and defense became his normal training. Other side training included arithmancy, ancient runes, history of magic from a more logical perspective. Professor Binns was biased and restrained to his own time era. Potions also became a second course as Lily wanted him to know why certain ingredients acted the way they did, sometimes violently. He had to know why sometimes instead of stirring, shaking was the correct way to mix the potion he was working on. This being that there may be residue on the stirrer that could affect the potion with potentially dangerous effects.

There was no way to judge time in their current condition, so it meant little to Harry and his parents. He did however enjoy what time he had, as he learned that they both loved him very much. He also listened to his father's adventures while at school. How he met Sirius and Remus. How they took Peter in because he was so weak willed. They taught him to build his courage, thus building his magic. Unfortunately Peter never did fit in with the Marauders. He never gave any input on their pranks. He only helped when it was absolutely necessary, and then it was with minimal involvement. The rest only kept him around because of his being bullied by the Slytherin students. Lily had asked them to do it for her.

Another thing he learned was that Professor Snape and Lily became friends before entering Hogwarts, and though it never came to anything, James felt that Severus actually loved her. It was because he was embarrassed in front of his fellow classmates that their friendship came to an end. He felt being rescued by a girl was an insult to his pride. He lashed out without thinking hurting the only woman he ever cared for. He called her a name that, in the wizard world was racist. Mublood was a name given to Muggle born by Pure bloods. The thing was though, Severus was a half blood.

The most important thing that Harry learned was his lineage. From his father, he was the blood of Godric Gryffindor, and from his mother Rowena Ravenclaw. With that knowledge and the fact that the two had married the other two founders, he had a blood line to all four. His line to Slytherin was what protected him from Voldemort all those years ago. That and the blood magic Lily used. That was the reason that Voldemort perished that night. By trying to kill his blood relative who was defenseless, he doomed himself. He did not realize this, and it became his obsession to be the one to finally kill Harry. It was his demented sense of pride. James had told him that this was true and he only knew because of Albus telling him of the prophecy. The power he knew not was that Harry was protected from Voldemort by this blood link. By trying to kill him as a baby, he would never be able to kill him. Of course this all became second hand knowledge once Lily found out the real secret of the killing curse.

A time went by, Harry became more knowledgeable and less forgiving. He was taught that in war, people died, and this was not murder. If you had feelings about taking a life, it could cost you yours if you did not take the first step.

AKTM-}

The school year for Ginny and her friends was going by quickly. Ginny and Hermione were far and above the rest of their classmates in their grades. Ginny had the advantage in the use of magic, and Hermione in the theory. There was one other that was also up there with them. Luna saw what Ginny was doing, and tried her best to keep up with her. Their one main stumbling block was DADA. Their instructor was inept. Professor Thaddeus Comb was so bad that half way through the year he had to give up the post, to be replaced by another inept instructor. This one however was so full of himself, he had his students believing he was all that he said he was. Gilderoy Lockhart lasted to the end of the year, and would be there for the following year. How he managed that was beyond anyone's belief.

It was too late for him to sell his books this year, but he would make sure that his next years learning would come from his published works. It could put quite a pretty penny in his pocket. That and he could not make out anything from the current books they studied. If it hadn't been for Ginny, Hermione and Luna to help those who wished it, the school year would have been a complete waste for DADA students. What they didn't realize was that by doing this, it assured Lockhart his position for the next year.

Dudley was learning things himself. Only Hagrid and Minerva knew that Albus brought in special instructors for Dudley. He was also taught by the centaurs, and the merpeople. The Merpeople taught him how to fight under water, using the different marine life around him. They taught him that a certain sea weed stole oxygen from the system, shortening his opponents fighting time, and if deep enough, his life. It did not need to be ingested, only wrapped around his body to steal the oxygen from him. It would also continue once he left the water. If not removed from the body, he would die of oxygen starvation.

He learned to use his dark clothing during the daylight hours by staying away from reflective material, such as metal, glass and water. He was taught that if he could change his outline, even in bright sunlight he could go unnoticed.

He learned to master any weapons used by his different instructors, even his own body. Dudley had become more powerful than any student currently in Hogwarts. It came to the point where he could even beat Hagrid in hand to hand combat. This tickled the half giant to no end. He had become so proud of his apprentice, he no longer called him that. He was now his partner.

His training also included facing the centaurs and trying to get past them with out being detected, and if so, then get through with out being shot. When it first started, the centaurs used bagged arrows. As time wore on, the bags came off, and Dudley was truly fighting for his life. Since he was still going at it, paid testament to his skills and his commitment. The fact that he received just minor scratches showed how well he learned his craft.

The year soon came to an end, and it was uneventful for all the students, though they did learn much from their Professors, minus Lockhart. Even the rule driven Hermione had unkind words for the sot. Draco had even heard her call him a stupid idiot that couldn't tell his arse from a hole in the ground. If Lockhart were to face a real challenge then that statement would be more true than one would expect, as both would be dirty.

The year for Fred was the worst he ever endured. He had to watch as the feelings between Ron and Hermione became stronger for each other, and Fred was feeling the first pangs of jealousy. He saw what he gave up, and it gave him a sick feeling to his stomach. His attraction to Angelina became a memory, and she began to pull away as she saw Fred's change in attitude. She didn't know what she did wrong, but she refused to be hurt by this.

George also saw what was happening, and he became upset with his brother. He was beginning to hurt people without realizing he was doing so. George liked Angelina as a friend and could not stand by as Fred continued to hurt her. He asked her if they could talk, and she agreed. He took her to the vacant classroom on the main floor and they got settled.

"Angel, I have to tell you I don't like what Fred is doing to you. I have tried talking to him and I think I get through to him, then he goes and does something else stupid. I know he has hurt you, and I fear he may hurt Ron and Hermione as well. I just don't know what I can do."

Angelina was quiet for a minute then spoke up, "Have you asked Hermione to talk to Fred. George I have seen the way he looks at her, and I fear the same thing you do. Ron would not be a good option to speak, as he would be upset if he knew how Fred felt. Hermione is more level minded and harder to anger. She may get through to Fred."

"She has tried, but it only settles Fred down for a few days, and then he is back to old feelings for her. I think the only way to get through to him is by fists, but Ron is no match for him. I doubt if I am a match for him. We all may be a part of a team, but Fred could be the start of a break up if people decide to take sides. With Fred being a part of the start up of the team, he would gather more followers. With Harry not being here as a controlling factor, I don't know what could happen. It could mean the end of Menagerie."

"So, there is no one else who could fill in for Harry and take control. What about Hermione or Luna. They are both strong and brilliant?"

"Neither would even try to fill Harry's spot. They couldn't. I don't know who could, UNLESS! I wonder if he would agree to it. Angel, how would you like to help set up the new leader of Menagerie?"

"Who?"

"The last person anyone would expect to be the leader. The only person I feel is strong enough to take on the responsibility. We will have to work fast, as there are only two days left to the school year, and it must be done before we leave. I don't think our family would approve of my plan. We have to get Dudley selected to lead Menagerie in Harry's place."

"Why Dudley?"

"For two reasons. One because he is blood related to Harry. It would be like keeping it in the family. The second reason is because I think Dudley could beat Fred in a fight, and it would embarrass Fred if he was beaten by a non magical. I also think that the rest of Menagerie would back the selection as they have a great respect for what Dudley has accomplished. As the leader, Dudley could confront Fred on his actions concerning Hermione and Ron. He could point out what he is doing to you. He could also show him what he is doing to himself."

"Do you think it will work? Do you think Dudley would accept the position, or that the rest will? I know I would, just to keep the team together."

"If we talk to Dudley before we bring it to the team, he may listen. We need to show him that the team is weak with out guidance. Dudley has become much stronger both in body and in mind, an is just what we need to fill in for Harry. I know you never met Harry, but he had a way to control the team without having to resort to violence. I think Dudley could as well, yet still have the ability to back his words."

"Well then. I think it is time for a team meeting and to appoint us a new leader." and that was all it took to set George's plan into action.

It took all of an hour to get the team together and put to vote George's recommendation. It took 30 minutes to explain what it was and get the vote to place Dudley in Harry's place as leader of Menagerie. Once it was accepted, Dudley put George's second phase into action, and he asked to speak to Fred in private.

Once alone, Dudley got right to the point. "Fred, it has been brought up to me that you have hurt one of the members of our team, and could hurt others. I have been asked to talk to you about dropping your feelings for Hermione. You gave up your right to her affection months ago, and she has moved on. But it appears you haven't, and in doing so you have hurt another. Why can't you leave Hermione be?"

"Dudley, you have just been made our leader, and already you are putting your nose into where it does not belong. You have no right to try and interfere in matters such as these."

"You're wrong Fred. I have every right as it is affecting members of the team, and of the family. Ron and Hermione have feelings for each other. Angelina has feelings for you. You brought about both situations. Does it make you feel good to be hurting people who care about you?"

Fred thought on this for a minute. "I can't see where I am hurting Ron and Hermione. I haven't mentioned my feelings towards her. As for Angelina, I never told her anything I didn't mean. I never promised her anything. Hell, we are only thirteen, and neither of us should be serious with anyone yet."

"Ya Fred, you both are young, but, what you do now forms the way you will be when you are older. Do you wish to known as the Heart Break Kid next year. That's the way it is going if you continue down this path. I don't want to have to tell you to leave Ron and Hermione alone, but I will if you force the issue."

"Do you really feel that confident in yourself? That you could make me leave anyone alone?"

"Do you want me to do it Fred? Do you want me to show you that I mean what I say,and intend to back it?"

Fred knew what Dudley had become, and he knew that in all likely hood, Dudley cold beat Fred. He never saw anyone move as fast as Dudley. He never saw anyone lose himself in broad daylight like he did. He didn't believe anyone could beat Hagrid in a fight, yet Dudley did. Yes, Fred knew all this, and also knew that his selection as leader was the best move George could have ever made.

"Dudley, I am going to need help with what you ask. With Hermione being around me constantly as a reminder, it is going to be tough. How do you avoid someone you live with most of the year?"

"You can't avoid it Fred. You have to learn to accept it. You have to learn that from now on, Hermione is just a friend, unless she changes the situation herself. Don't try to force the issue. Don't you like Angelina, Fred? Do you wish to continue to hurt her? She didn't force you to have feelings for her."

"It was never my intention to hurt her Dudley. I don't know why me seeing Ron with Hermione affects me so. How can I drop my feelings for her? How can I forget I ever had feelings for her?"

"It's like you said Fred, your just thirteen and too young to be feeling these things. Do you think Ron and Hermione are in love? I don't. Not yet anyway. Maybe later, who knows. But this is the time we should be forming our relationships to see if we could love the person we have chosen. Love is usually a slow process that has to be brewed slowly. To rush it could lead to disaster. Let it simmer, and add something to it all the time. If the ingredients are right, then over time you will have what it was you were trying to create. You may think this stupid, but it was aunt Marge that told me that when I told her I liked Susan. It's worked so far. You know Fred, our family is something special."

"Your right Dudley, they certainly are."