Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer, it all belongs to JKR.

Harry Potter; the Unexpected Summer

Chapter XI

Saves me the Trouble…

All too soon Harry was gently shaking her shoulder. "Gin."

Go'way," she grumbled.

"Sorry, luv," you need to get up.

"How bout you come back to bed instead?"

"You have no idea how tempting that invitation is."

"Anything you want, Harry," Ginny said. "Name it and I'll give it to you."

Harry chuckled. "You're lucky I'm not the kind of guy to take advantage of that offer."

Ginny finally rolled to her back so she could see him. "Would that you were, you'd be the one to get lucky."

"I'm already lucky," he answered. He offered her a steaming mug. "I brought you coffee."

Ginny sat up and took it from him. She lifted it to her nose and inhaled deeply before taking a sip and sighing blissfully. "That's it," she said. "I am officially in love with you."

Harry smiled. "And tomorrow, you'll be officially in love with the next person who brings you coffee in the morning."

"Only if they have raven hair, wire rim glasses and emerald green eyes."

Harry shook his head and laughed. "Who are you and what have you done with my girl?"

Ginny pouted. "I'm not that bad."

Harry snorted. "I beg to differ."

"Oh come on."

"Gin," Harry said. "You're ornerier than a sphinx till you've been up at least two hours."

"Yeah," Ginny retorted, "well, you smell."

Harry gave her a light shove to the shoulder. "There's my girl," he teased. Ginny stuck her tongue out at him. "Come on," he said as he ducked out of the tent. "You've got a choice of French toast or pancakes for breakfast."

Ginny shucked her way out of the sleeping bag. "How about we just find some nice worms and fry them up instead, they can't be any worse." She shoved her feet into her boots and followed him out.

Harry dug a bite of pancake out of one of the pouches and held it out to her. "Come on, which do you want?"

Ginny sighed, steeled herself and put it in her mouth. "Well that was disgusting," she said. She grabbed a bottle of water and downed a third of it. Harry simply offered her the pouch of French toast. She took a bite and after a second took the whole pouch from him. "Thanks, Harry."

"Welcome," he said and dug into his pancakes.

Ginny watched him for a minute or two. "So are those better or worse than your aunts?"

"Worse," Harry answered.

"I don't understand how you can eat that."

Harry shrugged. "I've eaten worse and I'm hungry."

"I'm sorry, Harry," she said after a few seconds.

"For what?"

She shrugged. "For everything. Sorry you had to live with those nasty people. Sorry you've gone hungry. Sorry about Sirius, your parents; all of it."

"None of that is your fault, Gin."

"I know. But that doesn't mean I can't feel bad about it."

Harry consider for a second. "Thanks, I think."

Ginny put her hand on his leg. "Harry, no one deserves any of that. And you less than most. You're a wonderful, caring person. You deserve every bit of happiness you can find."

Harry cocked his head. "Maybe," he eventually said. "Canadian bacon?" he asked offering her another pouch. "It was the same in both so I'm afraid you're stuck with it."

Ginny ignored the pouch. "You're changing the subject, Harry."

"I heard you, Gin. And intellectually, I know you're right. But they spent ten years beating it into my head that I'm worthless. It's not easy undoing those formative years."

Ginny cocked her head. "Where on earth did that come from?"

Harry shrugged again. "Read it in a book that was on your shelf."

Ginny's brow furrowed. "Harry, I only have one book like that."

"Must have been the one I read then. Don't remember the title, but it had to do with the trauma children suffer in emotionally and physically abusive environments and how that trauma affects them when they grow up."

"You read that book?" she asked in disbelief. Harry nodded. "Harry," she said, "If Hermione knew you'd read that book and actually applied any of it to yourself, she'd be so happy with you she'd shag you on the spot."

"Well then," he quipped. I guess I'll make sure we're alone to let her know. Wouldn't want to be interrupted or anything."

Ginny giggled. "You keep your hands of her mister. You're already supposedly sleeping with me, and I don't take kindly to cheating boyfriends."

Harry ripped open one of the packages of Canadian bacon. "Hey, I'm just doing you a favor. You and her were the ones looking for a sperm donor weren't you?"

"Well yeah, but she's suppose to get Bill. You're supposed to impregnate me." Harry quirked an eye at her. Ginny turned scarlet. "Oh hell. I can't believe I fell for that."

"And will I be using a cup to do this, or will we be going about it the old fashioned way?" he teased.

Ginny kicked at his leg. "Oh shut up and give me some of that bacon."

Harry laughed and handed her the second package. "You might actually like this. It's pretty good." Ginny took the package and they ate in silence for a while before she noticed him watching her with a decided smirk on his face.

"Oh shut it, you."

"Didn't say a word."

"You didn't have to. You look just like Bill or Charlie when they know they've pulled one over on me."

Harry grinned. "You know, I can hardly wait to get back to he Burrow and for Hermione to get there. I can just imagine the look on her face when she finds out all about how you've arranged for Bill to impregnate her."

If Ginny had turned red before it was nothing to now. "Yeah," she countered, as she knew Harry was going to rat her out no matter what, "I can't wait to see her face when she finds out you were dumb enough to fall for it."

Harry stood up and dusted himself off. "And will that be before or after she shags me for reading her book. And how does it all fit around the various propositions you offer me to let you sleep in?"

Ginny stood up. "All I can say is when I do take someone to my bed, they better make sure they never stray from it. Because I will turn my brothers loose on anyone who thinks they can cheat on me. And once my brothers are done with them, than I get them, and I swear they'll regret it to their dying day."

"When do I get them?" Harry asked.

"What if you are him?"

"I won't be," Harry answered with finality.

"Well thanks a lot, Potter," Ginny said sarcastically.

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

Ginny crossed her arms and glared at him. "Is that a fact?"

"Oh come on, Gin," Harry said with exasperation. "I meant that no girl I'm with will ever have to worry about me cheating on her."

Ginny grinned. "I know, but I had to have a go at you."

"You're a pain in the arse Weasley."

"Well," Ginny huffed, "I was thinking of asking you to be my boyfriend. But you can just forget about it now."

"Saves me the trouble of telling you, no," Harry retorted.

Ginny blinked. "Potter, you'll be lucky if you ever touch a girl half as good as I am."

Bill turned suddenly from the window he had cut into the wards around Harry and Ginny's campsite and threw his arms up in the air in exasperation. "Are you kidding me?" he demanded. "They're flirting about not asking each other out now. For the love of Christ they're already attached everywhere but the bloody lips! And I thought Ron was an idiot. He's got nothing on those two." He turned to Fleur. "Well?"

She shrugged. "With the way they behave one would think the hormones would take over and they'd get on with it, wouldn't they"

"My point exactly," Bill fumed. "Those two give off more sparks than one of twins' everlasting fireworks. Bloody hell I get randy being around them and she's my bloody damn sister. I should be threatening to rip the kid's head off."

"Oh good," Fleur sighed with relief. "I thought it was just me. It is like the pheromones just ooze off them."

"I swear," Bill muttered if they don't get on with it, I'm gonna go spar."

"You would seem to be there already, Love." She turned back to the window. "Damn," she said.

"What?" Bill asked stepping next to her. "Don't tell me he's snogging her senseless and we missed it."

"No. They are gone."

"Shit," Bill sighed. "Gonna be a bitch finding them now."

"But we get to have a go at them when we do, right?" Fleur asked eagerly.

"You better believe it," he answered. He cast a series of detection charms. "They apparated out," he said.

"Wonderful," Fleur muttered. "Come, let's start at the cliffs." She set off and Bill followed.

"Saves' me the trouble of telling you, no," Bill grumbled. "I don't care if it was a joke. No one talks to my sister like that."

Harry bent down to adjust the position of his k-bar an instant before the Bludgeoning Curse streaked over his head. "Mother," Harry hissed and rolled to his feet. "GINNY!" he shouted.

"How did he?" Fleur muttered.

Bill didn't even blink as he started forward. "Kid has the most highly tuned sense of self preservation I've ever seen."

A hundred feet down the cliff face Ginny's head snapped up. "COMPANY, LUV!" Harry's voice came to her.

"Shit," she muttered. She used her legs to push herself as far back from the edge of the cliff as she could; straining to the very tips of her toes as she tried to see what was happening above. "I can't believe I let him talk me into this." A jet of purple and then orange light ripped over above and off into space.

"COME ON GIN!" Harry shouted.

"Stupidest plan ever," Ginny muttered.

Up above the cliff top Harry was caught in the open and obviously his Disillusionment Charm was no longer doing him any good. He returned fire into the woods where Bill and Fleur were taking cover behind the trees. For another few seconds he blocked, ducked, dodged, or countered the various spells Bill and Fleur sent his way… And then he got hit.

"Holy!" Bill said in disbelief.

"Dear God," Fleur gasped. She bolted forward a half second before he did.

"HARRRRRRYYY!" Ginny screamed in terror as he flew back over the cliff face.

"CAREFUL!" Bill shouted. He grabbed Fleur by the back of the shirt as they skidded to the edge of the cliff.

"I don't see him!" she cried.

Ginny apparated behind them and before either of them registered the noise she summoned their wands, bound them in magical ropes with gags and dropped them in an inglorious heap on the ground. She then rushed to the edge of the cliff. "Harry! Are you ok?"

"Little help?" he called.

Ginny's thundering heart slowed. Planned or not, she hadn't needed any of her acting skills to produce a scream of terror when he flew out into the air. "Are you hurt?" she asked worriedly. She found the rope he'd tied around his wrist and started pulling it up. A few seconds later she caught his hand and hauled him back up on the ledge. Harry flopped to his back breathing heavily and his face was distinctly pale. "Harry," she demanded, "what's wrong?"

"Think I might have dislocated my shoulder," he said.

She shifted around to his other side and made a quick slice of his shirt with her wand. One glance told her all she needed to know. "Think nothing. It is. Damnit, Harry. I told you this would happen."

"Would you just fix it please," Harry said through gritted teeth. "It kind of hurts."

She made a careful examination with her fingers before sitting up tall on her knees. "Ready?" she asked with her hands pressed firmly on his shoulder.

"Do it," Harry growled.

She took a deep breath, held it, and with all her weight did a quick compression down. There was a pop and Harry grunted painfully. "Shush," she whispered and brushed the hair out of his eyes. It was another minute of waiting while Harry carefully controlled his breathing before he began to relax.

"Ok," he managed. "That hurt."

"I'm sorry."

Harry grinned. "Not two seconds ago you were telling me, I told you so. Now you're sorry."

"I can do both, Harry. I hate it when you're in pain. And this was a bloody asinine plan."

"But it worked."

Ginny shook her head and smiled ruefully. "That it did."

Harry took a deep breath and pushed himself up. Ginny helped him and in a few seconds he was on his feet holding his injured arm tightly with the other. Together they eyed their two captives.

"I'd say these two are dead," Harry said.

"I agree."

"Wonder what dead buys us in this little game?" Harry asked. "Wanna let 'em up?"

Ginny waved her wand. "Not particularly."

It couldn't have taken more than two seconds for Fleur to scramble to her feet, embrace Harry, let him go and slap him across the face. "You frightened me to death, Harry, James Potter. What in the world were you thinking?"

Ginny shoved her away from him, stepped between the two and slapped her across the face. "If you ever hit him again that will be the least I do to you," she hissed. Harry and Bill's mouths dropped while Fleur turned scarlet with rage. "Oh please," Ginny mocked her. "Do you honestly think you can scare me with your veela magic?" Fleur's nostrils flared as she glared daggers at the younger woman. "Try it," Ginny said with quiet anger. "I've seen fear. He lived in my head for nearly a year. And you are most certainly not him."

Harry finally managed to overcome his shock at Ginny's behavior. He caught her elbow and gently pulled her back. "Gin, it's not like she hasn't hit me before. I'm fine."

Ginny didn't yield to him. "That was not training, Harry," she said. "Dad always said men aren't suppose to hit women, no matter if they hit you first. But I don't have to allow it and I won't. I'll rip her to shreds if she ever touches you again."

"That's a big threat, Squirt," Bill said.

"It's not a threat, Brother dearest, it's a promise. And in case you've forgotten, my teacher is the most feared wizard of the last thousand years."

Bill stepped between the two women. "You'll have to go through me to do it."

Ginny's eyes never left Fleur. "I've got no problem with that."

Harry pulled a bit firmer on Ginny's arm. "Come on, Gin. Let's just go.

She let him slowly pull her away. "I'll break your hand Fleur," she warned. "And if that isn't enough to teach you, I'll crush it so no healer can fix it. And you," she focused on Bill. "You might be older, bigger, stronger and faster than I am. But I'm already as powerful as you. And if you think I won't or can't go through you, you are sadly mistaken."

"Gin," Harry said firmly. "Let's go… Now," he added when she continued to resist him.

She turned on him angrily. "Don't tell me—"

"Now," he cut her off. "You've said what you had to say." The two of them stood there staring each other down for some time before he reached out and took her hand. "Ready?" he asked. She nodded and with a crack they were gone.

"I am sorry," Fleur said quietly.

Bill turned and wrapped her in his arms. "Tell that to them and it'll be fine."

Harry took one step in their campsite and stopped. But for their tent and the one sleeping bag they hadn't left anything behind. As those were now smoldering ruins, it looked to have been a wise decision. He sighed. "Looks like Bill is ready to start playing for real.

"I'll be only too happy to kill them again," Ginny growled.

"Come on," Harry said. "We can't stay here."

"Which one should we go too?"

"Neither," Harry answered.

"Neither?"

"No. Let's hope he hasn't found them yet so we can use them when we need to sleep."

Ginny nodded. "Good idea. Where do you want to go?"

"Let's go to the point out beyond the marsh. It's a pain getting there without apparating and we can see them approaching long before they spot us."

"See you there," Ginny said. She was gone in a blink and Harry followed just as quickly. He found a comfortable spot on the rocks that would give him something to lean on and allow him to see anyone approaching and carefully sat down.

"Is it bad?" Ginny asked.

"It's not good," Harry answered. "Gonna be sore for a few days."

Ginny knelt at his side. "Let me see if there's any other damage," she said. She held her wand an inch or so above his skin, closed her eyes and concentrated on the imaging spell Fleur had taught them. It took a few moments but a ghostly sort of vision, with soft tissues ranging from opaque to near transparent, while bone was a starkly contrasting solid white, began to form in her mind. Injuries glowed blue green.

"I think there's a small tear in the cartilage," she said quietly. "It looks like it's kind of flapped over in the joint. Can you lift your arm?"

Harry did so, there was a catch and his shoulder bloomed with pain. He dropped his arm and the pain hit again. He hissed painfully and clutched at his shoulder. It was a full minute before his breath came normally again. "That really hurts," he managed.

"Sorry," Ginny said. She opened her eyes. "So this is what it kind of looks like." She made a fist with one hand and then closed her other hand over it. "If this is your shoulder, the tear is in the middle of my palm. It's bent over backwards and it makes a little bump that you're rolling over every time you move it."

"Can you fix it?"

"I can try. But it's not going to feel good when I do."

"Are you ready to admit we're beat?" Harry asked. "Because Bill's trying to figure out if we're ready to start hunting for real. He isn't going to let me walk up to the tent so Fleur can heal this unless we're ready to quit."

Ginny shook her head. "No. But I'm not the one who's hurt."

Harry looked her straight in the eye. "I believe in you, Gin," he said. "Fix it so we can eat and start looking again."

Ginny blinked a number of times, her eyes stinging and a single tear slipped down her cheek. "Harry," she started and faltered.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said. "Just… thank you. Thank you for this summer and everything you've done for me. It's been the best four months of my life. Thank you."

"I wasn't aware I'd done much of anything for you. You're the one who doesn't have to be here. You're the one who's teaching me occlumency and legilimency. I should thank you for the best four months of my life."

"Harry," Ginny said. "I couldn't have done any of the things I've done this summer if you hadn't believed in me. And you saved my relationship with my mother and the rest of my family. Because I was going to leave. I know I would have kept my brothers, but they would never have forgiven me for doing that to Mum. Not even Bill. But I couldn't do it anymore. I thought I'd tried everything I could. And the funny thing is, you didn't say anything Bill hadn't said a hundred times before. It just, somehow it reached me when you said it."

Harry took her hand and squeezed. "I'm glad I could help."

Ginny squeezed back. "Me too, Harry. Me too." He grinned at her and she smiled back. "Hold still now and let me try and fix this."

Harry settled back against the rocks and closed his eyes. "K," he said. Ginny knelt at his side again and brought up the image of his shoulder in her mind once more. "Gin," he said.

"Yes?"

"Thanks for what you said earlier… To Fleur."

"You're welcome," she answered. "Here we go." Harry hissed and tensed painfully as Ginny manipulated her wand and pulled the joint apart in his shoulder. "Sorry," she said. Both their faces broke out in a sweat and Harry pushed himself back into the rocks trying to find retreat where none was available. "Just one more second," Ginny said. She twisted her wand and the little flap of cartilage in her mind and Harry's shoulder was coaxed back where it belonged. "Ok," she said letting her breath out. "Simple Healing Charm now." At the moment the tear in her mind's eye healed itself a soothing warmth flowed into Harry's shoulder.

"That's better," he sighed, his body sagging from the extreme tension it had been under.

"All better?" Ginny asked.

"Give me a few minutes," Harry said.

"It'll probably be sore for a week, but it shouldn't cause you to nearly faint when you use it now."

Harry gingerly rubbed at his shoulder for a minute or two before cautiously lifting his arm by degrees. His face screwed up painfully as he tested it. Ginny was right. He was going to hurt for a few days. He let his arm down to rest at his side. "It hurts, but I can tell it isn't injured anymore." He grinned. "You're brilliant, Gin. Thanks."

She settled down at his side, leaning back half on his chest and half on the rocks. "Who would have thought," she teased. "Little, Ginny Weasley, saving The-Boy-Who-Lived."

Harry snorted. "Not me, that's for sure."

"Watch it, Potter."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll undo what I just did."

Harry chuckled. "I surrender."

"A wise course of action," she said. She shifted so she could dig her pack out of her pocket. After she'd enlarged it, she dug two of the MRE's out. "You want me to heat water for tea or can I just use my wand?"

Harry shrugged. "Doesn't matter. It's wand water either way."

Ginny eyed the two mugs. "You're right. Might as well save the tea till we can get some from the well or one of the springs. No sense ruining the tea." She filled the two mugs from her wand and gave one to Harry. "Cheers," she said and raised hers.

"To disgusting water," Harry said and raised his glass. "Yuck," he said when he set it down. "I'm not sure it's worth staying alive to drink that."

"I'd say it's not worth staying alive to eat these things." She tossed the MREs on Harry's lap and dug her first aid kit out.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna wrap that shoulder and you're going to take a couple aspirin."

"Bossy thing, aren't you?"

"And you need a new shirt." She dug that out too and set it to the side. "Sit up," she ordered. Harry obligingly leaned forward, turned so his back was to her and sat with his arms braced on his knees so she could wrap the bandage around his chest and shoulder. She quickly worked the pattern Fleur had taught them for stabilizing an injury to the shoulder. Two wraps around the chest, up around the arm and shoulder twice, then the chest once, back to the shoulder and continuing back and forth till you ran out of wrap. She secured it in place, added a Sticking Charm and sat back. "All done."

Harry shifted, checked the movement of his arm and sat back again. "Thanks, that helps." She tossed his shirt at him and he quickly discarded what was left of the old one and tugged the new one on. "Aspirin." Ginny held her hand out. Harry rolled his eyes, but took them and popped them in his mouth.

"Anything else, Mum?"

"Yes. That is the last time I let you come up with a plan for when they find us."

Harry smirked and ripped open one of the MREs "Mmmm, tuna," he said.

Ginny turned white. "I'm not even trying that."

Harry took a bite. He chewed slowly for a second and swallowed with difficulty. "Good plan," he said. He eyed the package, sighed and dug out another bite.

"Like, hell," Ginny said she whipped out her wand and banished it. "Here, Salisbury steak," she said and handed him a new MRE.

"We haven't got extra food, Gin," Harry said.

"And we're not going to starve to death if we run out," she countered. "I can only watch you eat so many disgusting things so I don't have to. Lord knows why, but you seemed to like that one. You might as well enjoy your lunch."

Harry ripped the package open and settled back. "Thanks, Gin."

"How long before we're raised from the dead?" Fleur asked.

"Let's give them a few hours. Potter was holding his arm pretty carefully after she put the joint right. That kid barely feels pain. Unless I miss my bet, I think he may have paid with a bit more than just a dislocated shoulder for that stunt he pulled. If they're not back with their tail tucked between their legs asking you to heal it by then, it means we're still playing."

"He is far from finished," Fleur said. "He got up twice after Charlie hit him. You barely managed it once."

"Potter was wearing Sparing Charms the first time," Bill protested. "And I took at least a dozen other shots before he really caught me."

"And what excuse do you have for Ginevra dropping him with one shot where you could not?" she teased.

"Harry had already busted him in the head three or four times and Ginny busted those ribs after Potter had already separated them. He was completely fresh when I took my first shot."

"Well perhaps we will arrange for her to try when he is fresh again. Or perhaps I shall try my luck."

"Good luck," Bill said. "I'm not sure even a vampire or a werewolf could drop Charlie with one shot."

"There is always someone," Fleur said.

"True," Bill agreed. They fell silent for a few minutes. "I still can't believe he ducked that first spell."

"It is like he had eyes in the back of his head," Fleur agreed.

"Back to the cliffs?" Ginny asked.

"Unless you've got a better idea."

"No," Ginny said. "Let's go." She placed her back against Harry's and drew her wand. "Just in case they've found our safe wards too."

"Should we disillusion?"

"Why? It's obviously useless against them."

"My cloak?"

Ginny considered. "No. I'm kind of itching for a fight

"She really pissed you off, didn't she?"

"No one hits you, Harry," Ginny said. "Can we go now?"

"On three," Harry agreed.

"One," she said.

"Two," Harry said.

"Go," they said together.

"Clear?" Harry asked a few seconds later.

"I think so. Detection Charms?"

"Not reading any human life."

"How long's it been since we left them?" Ginny asked.

"Don't know; an hour. Maybe a bit more."

"Back to where we were?"

"Let's run a quick warning thread first," Harry said.

"Ok," Ginny agreed. "You lead. I've got your back." They stepped out of the safe ward and moved quickly to the cover of the trees. Once they reached them, Harry touched his wand to one and ran a spider thread thin strand to the next and so on down the line for a hundred yards or so. He had just turned for the cliffs again when he asked, "What was that, Gin?"

"Don't move," Ginny said. Harry frowned. Her voice sounded odd and very strained.

"Misstressss," a different voice said. Harry stiffened.

"Leave him alone." Ginny said.

Oh shit, Harry thought.

"Assss you sssay."

Harry slowly turned around to see Ginny staring straight at a rather smallish snake of maybe a meter in length. It was coiled within a foot of him and it was turned to face Ginny. One glance at the shape of its head told him it was poisonous. "Gin?"

The snake swiveled around to look up at him. "Both ssspeak the language?" it hissed.

Harry resisted the urge to jump out of range of the creature and its deadly fangs. "I won't hurt you," he hissed. "Pleassse don't bite me."

"Pleassse move away from him," Ginny hissed. The snake swayed for a second longer before lowering itself to the ground and moving back from Harry. "Forgive me," the snake hissed. "No harm will come to onesss who ssspeak the language."

"Thank you," Harry said. He took a cautious step towards Ginny.

"Ssshe isss the massterss'ss mate?"

"No," Harry answered. He wrapped his arm around Ginny, as, with him now safe, she had gone distinctly pale.

"But ssshe sspeakesss the language alssso.

"We're friendsss," Harry answered. "Easssy, Gin." She tensed against him. He tightened his hold. "I've got you." She nodded shakily.

"Friendsss," the snake asked. "The othersss are your friendsss alssso? Do they ssspeak the language?"

"No," Harry answered. "But pleassse don't bite them either."

The snake shifted from looking at Harry to Ginny. She went from stiff to rigid, feeling as if she'd bolt any second. "Thisss isss what the Missstresss wissshesss alssso?"

Ginny inclined her head. "Yesss."

The snake dipped its head. "Asss isss wissshed it ssshall be. I will ssspread your commandsss." It turned to go.

"No!" Harry said.

The snake swiveled back to him. "Massster?"

"Tell no one we were here."

"Yesss Massster." The snake turned to go again.

"Wait," Harry said. Once more the snake turned back.

"There is another who ssspeaksss the language. You will know him if he comesss. He isss evil itssself. Hide from him, and if you would choossse ssso, die before telling him you ssspoke to usss"

The snake swayed. "There isss no choossse. My kind is bound to anssswer the command of any who ssspeak the language. If he asssksss, I mussst ssspeak." Harry frowned. He didn't know if it was possible to obliviate a snake, and he really didn't want to kill it if he didn't have to. He was the one who'd nearly stepped on it after all. He could hardly blame it if it had bitten him.

"What if I command you not to ssspeak of usss?"

"Commandsss mussst be anssswered as they are given. Order sssilence and it isss given to death before another can command that I ssshould ssspeak."

"Then I order you not to ssspeak of ssseeing usss here to any who ssshould come and asssk."

"And thisss, ssshould I passs to thossse who are here?"

"Do they know we ssspeak the language?"

"No."

"Then tell no one; be they your kind or mine. You sssaw no one. You did not ssspeak with any of usss. We sssimply do not exissst.

The snake swayed slightly. "Ssshall I ssserve you in any other way, Massster?"

"No," Harry answered. "Pleassse go on your way."

The snake dipped its head. "Asss the Massster and Missstresss wisssh it ssshall be." Without another word it turned and slithered into the brush. Ginny sagged against Harry the second the snake was gone and didn't offer even the slightest protest when he simply picked her up and apparated her to one of their safe wards. Somehow, despite his injured arm, he managed to get himself seated without putting her down. She clung to him as he cradled her to his chest, shaking uncontrollably.

"You didn't know, did you?" he asked while gently rubbing his hand on her back. She shook her head. "It doesn't mean anything, Gin."

"Doesn't it?" she whispered.

"Does it mean anything that I can speak Parseltongue?"

"It's different."

"How?"

"Because it's you, Harry. You're supposed to be different, to be special, to be his equal. Me, I'm just some little girl who read a diary, opened the chamber, set a basilisk on the school and nearly killed a bunch of people."

"You're the extremely intelligent, exceedingly brave, and loyal girl who happens to be my best friend. The girl who just used one of her gifts to save my life, Gin," Harry countered. Harry lifted her chin. "Thank you."

Ginny's lip trembled. "The sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin," she whispered.

Harry smiled. "Me too."

Ginny frowned. "Don't say things just to make me feel better, Harry. It doesn't help and I don't appreciate it.

Harry scowled at her. "I can't believe you think I'd actually lie to you like that. Thanks a lot, Ginevra."

Ginny managed to hold his eyes for a few seconds before looking away. It was right there, impossible to miss if you knew him at all. And she did know him; better than anyone. And the level of anger he was projecting right now was laced with hurt. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Thank you."

She turned back to him. "How did you end up in Gryffindor then?"

"How did you?" he countered.

"I begged."

Harry gave a little snort. "Me too."

"Did the hat say why it wanted to put you there?"

Harry shrugged. "Just said I'd do well."

"Me too."

"So can we stop beating ourself up now?"

Ginny nodded. "I can try."

"That's my girl," Harry answered.

Ginny considered him for a second. "What is it about you?"

Harry smirked. "I could ask you the same question." He gave her a gentle push. "Come on I don't want Bill finding this spot. We're gonna need it to sleep."

Ginny climbed out of his lap and stood up. "Back to the cliffs," she sighed. "She drew her wand and turned to scan the area outside the safe ward. "Fuck," she hissed. Harry turned and saw Bill and Fleur working a search pattern with their wands.

"They haven't found it yet," he said.

"He will. It took him less than a day to find our campsite."

"Can I trust you not to actually kill Fleur or do I need to take her this time?" Harry asked.

"Oh no, Potter," Ginny said eagerly. "She's all mine."

"All right," Harry said. He took a deep breath. "Ready?" he asked.

"Always."

"On three," Harry said.

"One," Ginny said

"Two," Harry picked up the count.

"Three," they said and apparated away.

A second later Harry smashed into an anti-apparation ward. He slid down it to a heap on the ground less than two feet behind Bill. "PROTEGO!" he shouted, blindly throwing up a shield spell. A Severing Hex slammed off the shield and ricocheted away. Harry rolled into Bill and caught his legs. He surged to his knees and lifted. Even as Bill rose Harry drove forward trying to bring him down hard enough to take the wind out of his opponent. He knew he had no chance against Bill in hand-to-hand combat but the disadvantage he'd been at had left him no option. Bill brought his elbow down and smashed it into Harry's injured shoulder just before he smashed down on his back with Harry's full weight on top of him. The air was expelled from his lungs in a painful rush.

Harry's vision swam as he tried to roll away from Bill. Bill caught his wrist. "I'm not done with you yet, Potter," he wheezed. Harry triggered the release on his wand but before he could get a spell off Bill caught his other wrist and rolled. Harry brought a knee up catching the older wizard in the solar plexus. Unfortunately it barely elicited a grunt from him. Just as Bill forced Harry to his back a Reductor Curse flew past his ear.

"Jesus," he swore. He rolled off Harry, twisting his arm around violently. Harry screamed in agony as his shoulder gave. Bill rose to his knees with Harry against him as a shield. "What now, little girl?" he taunted Ginny. He applied pressure to Harry's other wrist trying to force him to drop his wand. Harry held on till he was sure his arm was going to break before letting go.

"He's your only hope, Gin," Bill pressed. "You can't let me take him. You can't let me go cause I'm gonna run and tell Tommy boy all about this. He's going to wonder why you were here. You can't let that happen."

Ginny circled to her left and Bill turned to face her; always keeping Harry between them. Bill dropped the hold he had on Harry's wrist and clamped his arm around his neck.

"You can't hit me without hitting him."

"STUPIFY! REDUCTO!" Ginny snarled. Harry sagged in Bill's arms and as he slid down Ginny's second spell hit Bill square in the face. His head snapped back and he crumpled down on top of Harry. Works for me," she said to his unconscious form. She flicked her wand and Bill was tossed to the side. She knelt at Harry's side. "Enervate!" she said firmly.

Harry blinked his eyes open. "Remind me not to get on your bad side," he said when he managed to find his focus.

"Are you ok?"

"I think my shoulder is dislocated again. How did you beat Fleur? Didn't she have a ward up?"

Ginny used her wand to slice open his shirt so she could examine his shoulder again. "Yes, but I managed to block her first spell and when I swept her leg I think I dislocated her knee. She went down and I stunned her. It's definitely dislocated."

"Wonderful," Harry muttered. "Ok, put it back again."

"In a second. I wanna see if there's any other damage first. It would have hurt a lot less for me to fix that cartilage if I'd done it before I put your joint back in."

"Ok," Harry agreed. He pushed himself to his knees and Ginny helped him to his feet. "But let's get out of here first."

"Can you apparate?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah."

"Ok, go to our second safe ward. I'll meet you there."

"What are you going to do?"

"Wake Bill up so he can help Fleur."

"Right, see you in a minute."

"No problems?" Harry asked when Ginny apparated into the ward about 30 seconds later.

"I broke his nose when I took him out."

Harry smirked. "My girl," he said proudly.

Ginny smiled at him. "Ok, let's get you fixed up again. Ten minutes later, Ginny had repaired a torn ligament in his shoulder and put the joint back in again. This time she'd wrapped his arm tight to his side, immobilizing it.

"Are you ok?" she asked worriedly as she sat back. Harry was flat on his back on the ground, his legs bent at the knees with his feet flat on the ground. He was purposely breathing in slow steady breaths as he tried to control his body.

"Hurts," he answered

"I think we're going to just sit and let you rest for a while."

"Fine by me."

"You want a shirt?"

Harry shook his head. "Don't wanna move."

"Aspirin?"

"Yeah."

Ginny dug her first aid kit out and handed him three of the pills. Harry sat up enough to be able to take them. "Three?" he asked.

"Take it," Ginny ordered.

"K," he agreed and popped them in his mouth.

"Try and sleep. If we can get you some rest you'll be better."

"Thanks." Harry settled back to the ground and slowly relaxed. Ginny pulled a fleece jacket out of the pack and laid it over him. "Thanks," he said again.

"Just rest, luv. I'll keep watch."

Harry found her hand and laced their fingers together. "My girl."

Ginny smiled and brushed the hair back from his face. "Your girl," she agreed. She sat there for some time gently running her fingers through his hair, listening to the emotions he was projecting. "You're mental, Potter," she teased.

"Why?" he asked. "Cause I'm happy?"

"Yes."

"What's that make you then?"

"I'm not the one with a torn up shoulder."

"I could do without that."

"How bad is it?"

"Bad."

Ginny considered for a second. "You want the morphine?"

Harry thought about it. "Bill said we'd be useless for at least an hour after taking it."

"You need rest, Harry. You'll feel ten times better if you don't move that arm for eight hours or so."

"So, what? We're calling it a day now? It's not even six."

"We're in the field, Harry. We rest when we can. Fleur's gonna be down for at least as long as you. We should take advantage of that."

Harry thought about it for a minute. "Ok. But you're waking me up in four hours so I can stand watch."

"Ok," Ginny agreed quickly. She hadn't expected him to agree but if that was all it was going to take then she'd promise to wake him a hundred times over. Besides, she could always not do it once he was asleep. "Let me get it." She dug through her pack for her first aid kit and found the small package that Bill had showed them.

"Just pull that cap off, jab it in my shoulder and squeeze," Harry said when she'd sat eyeing it dubiously for about ten seconds.

"Right, then," she said. She pulled the cap off, exposing the inch long needle. "Muggles are insane," she said with wide eyes.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Harry said.

"Have you had this before?"

"No, but it's just like the shots we get as kids to keep us from getting sick."

"They stick children with these!"

"Gin," Harry said.

"What?"

"Just do it please."

Ginny eyed the needle for a second longer. "Ok, but I'll quit before I let you stab me with one of these."

"No you won't. Now would you get on with it already? My arm is killing me."

"Ok, Ok." Ginny lowered the needle to his arm. "Where?" she asked.

"Right in the muscle. Make sure you push it all the way in. And just do it fast. I won't even feel it."

"You're insane," Ginny said and pushed. Harry didn't even blink

"Is it in?"

"Yes."

"Squeeze it now. Make sure you get it all in. And don't wiggle the needle cause that'll hurt like hell."

"Ok," Ginny said. "All done."

"Pull it out."

She pulled the needle out and a small drop of blood pooled from the puncture. She quickly pressed his ruined shirt to it. "Is it working?" she asked.

"Give it a second," Harry answered. Less than ten seconds later he sighed blissfully. "Oh, yeah. Thasss nice."

"It worked?"

Harry smiled and his head lolled her direction. "No pain. Gonna shleep now." His eyes closed and he fell eerily silent.

"Harry?" Ginny asked alarmed.

"Fine, Gin. Gonna shleep."

"You're sure?"

"Shposhed to be like thish. Usehlesh."

"How do you know that if you've never had it before?" Harry didn't answer. Ginny shook him. "Harry."

"Wha?" he asked.

"How do you know it's suppose to be like this?"

"Sheen it. Can I shleep now?

"Ok," Ginny agreed slowly. Harry didn't respond and after a second she nudged him. That also got no response whatsoever. She watched him nervously but he seemed to be breathing just fine. She felt for his pulse on his wrist and it was strong and steady. She sat back slowly, unsure of what to do. Except for appearing to have swallowed a draught of Sleep of the Living Dead he appeared fine. Her eyes fell on the discarded morphine package. She picked it up and searched for any kind of description. "What the hell is this stuff?" she asked. The only thing on the package was the word morphine and a warning saying it was for medical emergencies only. That was certainly not comforting. She was contemplating going to get Bill and ask him what the hell he'd given them when Harry moved.

"Gin?" he asked. His hand searched blindly for her

"I'm here," she said, catching his hand.

"Don go way," he mumbled.

"Does your arm hurt?"

"No. Jus wanna shlleep."

"I promise, Harry. I'll stay here with you." Harry sighed and a few seconds later it was obvious he'd fallen asleep again. "I don't know how I'm gonna stay awake, Harry," she said quietly. "But I swear I won't disappoint you."

Author's notes:

Somehow I get the feeling wizards would be even more brutal in a training exercise like this. The ability to heal most anything within moments and be up and about fifteen minutes after breaking a leg would cause them to be less careful about not truly hurting someone. And imagine the damage they'd be doing without the Life Fire Charms!

And yep, H and G just become more and more protective/dependent upon the other.