Harry Potter and the Ancient Shrine of Providence
The Rest of the Story of the Boy that Lived
Book 8 Chapter 12 'Journey to Number Four'
Harry was walking down a strange paved street and by the glow in the sky, the sun would soon be coming up in the distance. As he looked around, he realized that he had no idea on where he was. He noticed that he was by himself and saw no one else on the streets. He started walking faster and then he noticed a small park in the distance.
He proceeded to cross the street and soon was walking on the green grass and looking around in the small deserted park. It was now bright enough to see all around him but he knew something was strange here. The park reminded him of one that was just a few short blocks from the Dursley's home but all the homes and several buildings that were around it, didn't look familiar with anyplace else he could ever remember being at before.
As he looked even closer around in the park, he saw the same playground equipment that he had played on as a small boy but nothing else still looked familiar. Even some of the old dings and worn areas were there as he remembered them and this was enough to make him realize that maybe this wasn't real. It was bizarre he thought and soon he was just a little unsure of just what was really going on here.
Suddenly his vision caught the sight of an smiling old man that was sitting on the ground with his legs crossed and was looking right at him. As he walked over to him, he saw that he had very dark skin and appeared to be quite old and had very gray and stiff wiry hair. He seemed to Harry to be at least seventy but really he had no idea on what his age could be. Part of his head was covered in an old rag and his skin was loose and appeared leathery and was quite dusty or even possible dirty. It seemed to Harry that parts of him were covered heavily in some type of skin paint but even ashes from a fire it might have been.
He wore nothing on his feet and he could see age old worn scaring on his legs and arms. Around his neck, he wore several necklaces that were made out of seeds and other natural and native items. Around his waist, he wore a cover made out of some type of animal skin. Next to him on the ground was some type of walking stick that had carvings all over it. In front of him appeared what he thought was a fire but the wood and all the coals and smoke was just in shades of gray. And then he noticed that all around the old man was a slight glow that made him realize that just maybe he wasn't really here.
The two looked at each other and then he motioned for Harry to lower himself and so Harry got down on his knees. The old man then pointed a finger to his head and reached out and touched his scar and slowly followed the outline on his head. He then said to Harry," you are the one that as a boy was marked by who they called the great Dark One?"
"Yes, if you mean Voldemort," replied Harry.
"You are a very special wizard my young friend and you have now become the talk throughout our world.
"You are now beginning a new journey that in time you and the ones that you love will see more sorrow and even terrible useless death. This is not a task to be forsaken by you for you have always been the one chosen and only you can find the way to end this terrible coming.
"You must now begin a journey through many places in order to prepare yourself fully, or you and your love will not be able to follow the path that has been planned for a very long time for you. It will be quite physically hard and challenging for you young man but you must, because you are the only one that can fulfill the requirements and rise up to the one that you must challenge to end this terrible time that will be coming in magical history.
"The Fates realized only when it was already too late on what they had allowed to happened and so have given you the chance to stop this horrible event before it can take place.
"All of this has been done for you because all of your life you have been specially prepared to be the one that who would be able to do this and you were chosen long before you were even born. You were given some special gifts to help you with your first challenge and they helped give you the insight and abilities that you had not known yet. They will now help train and guide you until you master them but there is still so much for you to learn.
I will teach you to begin to know your inter-self. You cannot hope to reach your full potential without looking inward. By knowing your true physical and mental limits in your life without magic, your knowledge of just what you can do, will grow with you. I will teach you this and more and together I will help serve as your guide to begin your training. If you succeed in the end, then all your gifts will insure that you would be able to and understand how to use them. With help from this knowledge, you will have the chance to end this terrible error by the Fates."
"Just what am I suppose to do?" Asked Harry.
"In time you will come to your own conclusions on your own and as you now prepare yourself on your future journey, you will find the truth and everything that you need as you follow your heart."
Harry just stared at him and then asked the old chap. "Could I ask you who you are?"
He smiled back to Harry and continued; "Soon we will meet each other and you will now also seek me out on your own my chosen one. Certain ones that you must trust will tell you that I am an old fanatic, but you will make time for me on your own. I am just one of several that will help prepare you for your future and help teach you for what you must learn. Ancient magic and non-magical ways must now be learned and rethought, so you can fulfill your true legacy. Only then you will be ready to proceed and hopefully be able to end this travesty and terrible conflict that is now starting to begin. It is hoped that you can meet this horrible challenge and prevail."
As he looked up at Harry and showed him a smile that showed through his missing teeth, he continued on, "Only a few remain in this world that know and understand what you must learn and we all now stand ready to help prepare you in this quest that has been bestowed upon you Harry Potter. We shall see each other soon."
Then as suddenly as the dream had started it was over, as if a door had been slammed shut in his face.
Harry opened his eyes and the only light in the room was from the nighttime glow outside. For a few minutes, he lay there thinking and staring at the dark ceiling. He knew that this dream was like no other he had ever had and he knew it had just been a new and significant meaning for him. What he didn't know was just what this task was going to entail and just who and where this person really was. It seemed strange to him but something inside of him, made him feel that he would soon meet this person in the flesh.
As he continued to laid there, he felt he knew that the training would at least give him a better awareness about himself. What was strange to him now is that he felt contentment and peace tonight for the first time since Kingsley had told him about the prophecies and this was at least enough to assure Harry, that for now don't worry about it. As he listened to Ron's steady snoring, he closed his eyes and soon was fast asleep.
Harry opened his eyes and he could see a slight glow outside Ron's window that showed the morning sunrise was near. He lay there a few minutes with nothing on his mind at first. The memory of the dream was still alive in his head but for now it was only a slight nuisance to his other thoughts this morning. He knew for now, he had nothing to go on or every guess on what it really meant to him at this time. What was really strange to him at the moment, was that it really didn't brother him to just let it stay in the back of his mind and to not worry about it for now.
His mind soon moved on to the more solemn events of the next few days that started to encumber his mind. He rolled over and tried to just think of Ginny and all the good things about her that he could dwell on his mind. The more he tried to just think of her the more it seemed that the dread of the past few days became too clear to him. He new it was the sadness in his heart of the loss of his friends, family and those he never knew was compounding his thoughts this morning.
He was now starting to hear the sounds of birds outside so he decided to go ahead and get up and get ready for this morning that would bring the first funerals that he would attend this week. He could still hear Ron snoring so he quietly got out of bed and walked over to the door. He retrieved his robe and slid on some shoes and slowly opened the door so as to not wake his friend. He proceeded toward the bathroom to wash his face and take care of things and soon he was quietly walking down toward the kitchen to see what there was to eat.
As he was nearing the bottom of the stairs, he noticed someone looking outside by the sink and continued to quietly walk toward the outline in front of the window. As he neared the silhouette, he realized that it was Ginny and just before he reached her, he spoke out loud and told her, Hi my love."
Ginny jump pretty high when he said that and as she turned around she rounded on him saying, "Bloody Harry don't scare me like that." She looked at him with an insensitive face that slowly was changing into a look of sorry as she realized on what and to whom she had just said that to and he could also tell that she had not slept much that night.
He placed his hand lightly on her check and slowly rubbed her face and asked her, "Did you not sleep well last night my love." He proceeded to place his other hand around her back and drew her closely to him and in doing so he could feel an essence around her that permeated into his body and he knew she could feel the same. They both looked at each other and Harry could tell that he had indeed, been able to help lift her spirits this morning and he new that they both loved each other with all their hearts. Ginny leaned forward and made contact with their lips and a long and satisfying moment was made to be remembered for the rest of their lives. His first kiss with Cho and the few other times that they had been able to have a moment together had been blissful but the feeling was none in comparison of what he felt between Ginny and himself.
Harry never broke contact and the kiss only ended when Ginny by herself pulled back. As the physical contact was broken, Harry heard a small intake of breath take place from Ginny and something within him knew that there was more here than normal.
Something new he felt had just been severed between them and he knew this was not a normal feeling that should be felt between them. He knew that some magic was at work here and without a word he pulled her back to him with a passion he had never shown before. As they both begin to be lost in their passions, a slight radiant aura had become present around their heads. As the moment of obsession continued, it slowly encompassed their bodies until both of them were totally enveloped into the glow that somehow there own magical feelings were causing.
Only someone seeing them from a distance in the shadowy kitchen would have noticed this and even to most viewers, they would have just assumed it was the glow in the horizon from the soon to be blossoming sunrise. It was during this time that both of them released that something strange and appealing was beginning to envelop both of them. They both felt their minds clearing and opening to each other in a way that they had never felt about anyone else.
The thoughts in each other's minds were becoming fresh with only the love and the respect that they had for each other and then both Harry and Ginny realized that they were physically in the thoughts of each other. Each of them knew it but both dreaded to show that they knew it to each other. Then Harry knew that this was becoming the same type of avoidance that he had done two years ago with Ginny and he would be the one that would formally make the first pronouncement to each of them.
So with all the love that he had for her, he took the sudden thought and then just moved it toward her and told her, "I love you Ginny and I will always be there for you. Now it's your turn my love for maybe I am mental or something in thinking you're here with me now." Then a voice that began like a far away echo quickly became like a talking angelical voice and it was Ginny.
"Harry I love you too and this is kind of really... different here... but it is quite scary for me too."
Harry replied. " I know Ginny. I wonder if it is magic from you or me or something else that is doing this right now."
"I don't know for sure Harry. Mom never told me she could talk to dad like this. Since there isn't any Weasley witches alive right now to talk to, we only have the notes about what my ancestors past down my dads side of the family. The notes on being a Weasley witch don't say anything about this but I'm not sure they would want anyone else to know about this either. It might have something to do you with you Harry or maybe this is just some type of Legimency between us because we love each other so much."
"Well Ginny as long as I am not looking at another witch or you another wizard this could be really nice."
"Well Harry, I know I am not going to be looking at another wizard so if I find out that you have been looking at another witch, then you can imagined your deserved fate my love," and she started laughing and Harry joined in for a few minutes. The more they both laughed in each other minds it made the both of them unable to stop and soon the laughter was being heard coming from their mouths. This continued as the golden rays of the sunrise were just starting to break over the tops of the hills in the distance. This was beginning to bathe the kitchen in the glow of the morning color and especially brought out the beauty of Ginny's long hair.
As Mrs. Weasley was just walking into the kitchen, she froze on the spot as she saw the two embracing. She had no ideal how long they had been up but she knew that both of them had gone to bed early so it wasn't like they had been together that night. What amused her is that teenagers didn't get up in the morning like this and it was a little shocking to even her to find them together this early in the morning. She thought about leaving but it was her house and she needed to get breakfast started so the two of them could leave this morning.
So she told them, "you two should learn to be a little more cautious then just doing that anywhere for everyone to see." Molly waited for what should have been an apparently embarrassing moment with them but they continued on with their contact. Even Molly took a step back for she knew that they had past a threshold of not being embarrassed or something to not have them pull away with lightning speed. Molly walked over and raised her voice and said, "I need to fix breakfast you two."
As Ginny and Harry were locked together in thought, they both heard her mums voice and together they both laughed for they knew they were caught but it really didn't matter to them anymore. They both decided this new sensation was enough for the first time and that they had best figure out how to actually stop this form of intimacy that had occurred between them this morning.
Harry then told Ginny, "Just think like we are just saying goodbye for a while and I will close my mind to yours." As he did, everything faded to dark and then he opened his eyes and the focus of her face was brought into view. Harry pulled back and said in a quiet voice, "Ginny open you eyes." When nothing happened at first and when he caught Mrs. Weasleys concerned gaze, he more loudly remarked, "Ginny its time to open your eyes my love," and slowly a grin appeared on Ginny's face.
He still had her in his arms and started rubbing his hands all around her back and then Ginny slowly opened her eyes and a large smile filled her lips and then Harry broke contact with her body and took a step back from her.
As he did he and Molly could hear a small voice from Ginny say, "ohhh…"
He looked back over at Molly and saw her staring at him with a look of consternation toward him. He then told her, "We are okay, we were just kind of out of it for a while Molly."
Molly then asked her daughter, "Are you okay Ginny? What just happen with you two just now?" She was looking at Harry and Ginny like she knew that something had happen but also new that they didn't want to tell her about it.
"Molly something just happened to us and we became attached in a way that we have never experienced before," replied Harry.
"Attached like what Harry? I am not mad at you but tell me what just happened between the two of you? Kingsley has warned us that you two may be coming extremely emotionally involved to each other. He said that you might have sometime of a connection with each other like you had with Voldemort or something like that." She was looking at Harry with a face showing extreme worry written all over it.
"Mum it's nothing that Harry just did," said Ginny. "It was both of us doing it. Something just let us communicate with each other like we knew what each other were thinking."
"Mrs. Weasley," said Harry, "it was like we were doing Legimacy on each other at the same time without a spell or anything. We were starting to kiss and then everything else around us just started to… like evaporate or disappear and then we were just mentally there with each other. This was the first time that something like this ever happened to us." Ginny just was looking at her mother and nodding her head.
Mrs. Weasley looked at both of them and then told them, "Harry I respect you and know that you would not lie to me or Arthur on something like this. I not sure if what you both may of done was a violation of each other minds or something but I suggest to both of you, that you are to be very careful on telling anyone about what just happen here. For now that is to also include Ron and Hermione. They really don't need to know about this.
"This may just be something that is not to be feared about but it worries me that neither of you knew that I was here and you both could have been killed and never released that someone even cast a spell toward you." They both looked at each other and then looked back towards Molly and nodded that she was right.
"Mum I think we would like to go outside a while and watch the rest of the sunrise if that would be okay with you?" Asked Ginny.
Molly smiled and motioned with a wave of her hands to go on and Ginny grabbed Harry's arm and they both went outside to the porch and set down on the same bench that Harry had woke up on the prior morning with her brothers. As they leaned back holding hands and looked toward the hills in the distance, the sun was now fully visible and the sounds of the birds and other animals were making for a pleasant morning for both of them.
Harry asked in a slightly concerned voice. "What do you think really happen Ginny? There may be some special magic between us but that was really weird to have happened like this!"
"Harry do you think that this might all be due to you and me having a past connection to Voldemort? Maybe something in us is trying to find him or something."
"Ginny I don't think this is a situation that would be happening between us. The part of Voldemort that was in me is dead and gone from me. I saw it when I died and it wasn't a pretty sight and just thinking about it makes me feel sad for him. I think when I destroyed the Tom Riddle Horcrux in the chamber of secrets, it should have destroyed any connection that you would of had to him. Between us I don't think this would have any bearing on anything trying to connect to us but… I don't know for sure."
Ginny suddenly stood up and told Harry, "Let us go for a walk Harry." She was pulling on his hand and Harry knew that she had already made up her mind and proceeded to stand up.
"Ginny we are still only dressed in our sleeping attire so maybe this isn't the best ideal right now." He had thoughts of her Mum chasing him all over the Burrow and trying to hex him like she did Bellatrix and the result images wasn't making his hungry stomach feel any better this morning.
"Harry!" As Giinny looked into his eyes and then pulled again on his hand and repeated, "Come with me love, my mum will understand."
Shortly, Molly saw both of them slowly walking toward the back area of the Burrow, hand in hand and could see each of them looking and smiling at each other as they soon disappeared into a thicket of trees. She just made a grin and a slight snort was heard and her mind drifted back to her days at Hogwarts. She started remembering the times when Arthur and herself would find places to hide. How she enjoyed her senior year. She totally trusted these two, even though she knew how teenage passions could prevail over reason at times but something in her knew that they would both wait until it was proper.
After a few minutes, when Ginny knew they had their privacy, she stopped and pulled Harry toward her and told him in a depressing voice, "I didn't sleep well last night Harry. I couldn't get you off my mind at all. I kept waking up and knew I was dreaming about you. This is really starting to become a curse to me. I know that I have you just where I want you but I can't control the rest of my feelings and emotions about wanting you. I mean it in a very good way but when will this get better for me so I not so bloody infatuated about you?"
She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly and continued, "I love you so much Harry Potter and it seems I just keep telling you that but I just feel like I need more from you. I know your doing everything and more is really more that I should ask but I feel like I just can't wait for you anymore."
She looked at Harry with puppy dog eyes and he knew that this answer was going to have to be well thought out and in a very quick way. As he slowly rubbed her back, he could somehow feel her desire for him. It was emigrating around her and he could feel it reaching out and surrounding his body and he knew that she was being traumatized with a level of emotions that he could only guess.
He could not lie to her so he just told her, "Soon Ginny, I will give you something to represent my love for you. That all I can say for now so please don't press me anymore. I love you so much and I know this is so hard for you right now. Remember I haven't left your side, unless I have been made to do so by another. Today we are together all day so please try to be happy my love."
Harry knew he had to get her something and soon but he didn't want to even chance it that she might get a read on his thoughts and maybe misunderstand something he was thinking. So he just stood there thinking of good things and holding Ginny close to him and listening to her, ,and letting the next hour past quickly for both of them.
He heard the same cowbell that Ginny had rang yesterday morning in the distance, and knew that meant that breakfast was going to be served in a short time. "Ginny I think we need to head back right now,"
Ginny replied, "I know Harry, let me hold you a little bit longer." He lifted up her chin and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and when he pulled away she quickly grabbed his head and pulled him back to her lips. After a short time, they pulled apart and then hand in hand they walked back to the burrow and as they walked in, six sets of eyes were staring at both of them.
As Harry saw that George and Charley had return from the shop, he decided to quickly change the mood of the moment and asked, "George how did everything look at the shop?"
This at first caught everyone of guard for a moment but since Molly didn't say anything about them being in house robes, George just replied by saying, "Harry it looked like some Death Eaters had broken in and went through a lot of the stuff. I think they were trying to see where we had gone and possible looking for any information on where you might have been. It's far better then I would have expected and an easy week of cleaning and rearranging the store should be all that it takes to get it ready to reopen. I am just not ready to even think about it right now with Fred's death and everything right now. Maybe after a month of mourning I will feel better and I think that is probably best for me right now."
Harry's eyes were looking at Georges and he nodded his head to his reply to his answer.
Ron then said, "George I like to help you when we get back from Australia. That will probably be in five to seven weeks. Could you use me for some help?"
"Aye Ronald, you would be appreciated help and maybe you will want to say around to help on maybe a more permanent basis?"
Suddenly most eyes were either on Ron to see what he would say or Hermione, to see what her reaction was going to be on Ron's answer. And then out of the blue an answer that nobody would have expected came from Ron. "George why don't we talk about this later this morning? Hermione is here and I think she should also be part of this conversation about my future." Ron looked nervously toward Hermione but she was beaming at him and he gave her a little smile and she nodded back to show her approval.
Harry looked over to Mr. Weasley and asked, "What did the Daily Prophet said about yesterday?"
Arthur looked back and smiled at him and then he picked up the front page of the paper and past it down to Harry and as he turned it around so he could read, it said.
Finally the 'Boy who lived again' Talks.
By Rita Skeeter
Yesterday Harry Potter and his friends gave their first interview since the fall of Tom Riddle who was known as Lord Voldemort. Harry has first asked that everyone start using his proper name and to stop referring him to 'he who is not to be named.' Harry said he is positively gone forever and will never return and the quicker we start using his real name will let us all recover quicker and get on with our lives now.
Harry Potter has confirmed that Ginny Weasley is the love of his life and that they have actually known each other for six years. He in fact, saved her life in his second year at Hogwarts. Although he did not say this, we have reports that he killed a eighty foot basilisk in his second year in the Chamber of Secrets that Salazar Slytherin had left at Hogwarts. This was during his 3rd confrontation with Tom Riddle that came close to taking both his and Ginny's life that year.
Harry has said that she is a gifted witch and he began to finally realize that he fancied her two years ago in the summer of his sixth year at school.
Ginny has confirmed that for most of her life, she has somehow felt a real closeness to Harry. She feels that her brother Ron becoming Harry best mate, helped give her a chance to meet Harry and has given both of them time to learn to know each other.
She has stated that Harry is a very noble person and gives credits to him that chivalry is not dead in our country.
Ron Weasley her brother and a exceptional keeper in Quidditch and Hermione Granger which is considered to be the smartest witch in a hundred years at Hogwarts, have also admitted that they too are in love with each other. It now appears that sometime in the near future, two weddings are going to be happening within the Weasley's family. I would like to give the four of them best wishes for their future. They all have earned a huge thank you and deserve to live in peace the rest of their lives.
I now would like to announce a formally apology to Harry Potter and my readers on some of my prior stories and especially on last years story on Albus Dumbledore. I must admit to my readers that i now feel that I have greatly disregard the facts on writing about the former Hogwarts Headmaster and tended to print innuendos, and it now seems even outright lies on his story last year. Harry has pointed this out to me and with some research of my own, I must announce to my readership that yes I took a irresponsible approach and tried to print what I would now say was only a sham in writing this story. I promise in the future that a true and full accounting of Albus Dumbledore's life will be heard and hope everyone will find it in their hearts to forgive me. I also pledge to my readership that I for now on will only print the truth and will go out of my way to get the truth in all my stories.
Harry set back in his chair stunned. He past the paper to Ron who coughed up milk while eating his cereal before he had even got half way reading the article. When Hermione looked at Harry he quietly said to her with very open eyes, "You not going to believe this." When Ron finished reading he past it to Hermione and looked at Harry and mouthed a few explicative words and just shook his head. Harry chuckled a laugh from seeing Ron.
Ginny look at Harry and Harry told her, "Rita Skeeter came clean on Albus Dumbledore's story Ginny. I not really convinced yet but I don't think she could have said anymore else without getting herself fired from the Prophet. Arthur do you think that Rita Skinner has changed or at least is trying to?"
"Harry I am privy to some things I can't say here but Kingsley and myself have made it plain to the Editors of all the up and up papers that we expect accurate journalism. We have warned the ones that outright lie will find out that they don't get any support or favours from the Ministry.
"I want to tell everyone that Rita Skeeter's editor sent a owl to Kingsley last night to complain about how Harry had embarrassed Rita yesterday. I guess after Rita found out later what her editor had done, she sent her own owl to him and I guess really blew at him. She told him that she got her just deservings and that what you said to her yesterday made her finally realize that if she ever wanted to be at the top, that she needed to procure a difference course of action with the Prophet and stop riding sleazy articles. When the Editor wanted her to stay the course she offered her resignation by owl if he would not let her procure a different course with her articles. He knew that about every paper would have given Rita the chance to write for them and in any way she would have wanted to and so he relented and let her change course.
"I think what ever you told her yesterday Harry hit a nerve and maybe she may have really become a real reporting friend for you. But you and I both know that all of this may just be her way of trying to get the big scoop so I would be very wary with her. She has shown over the years that see can't be trusted by us in the Ministry, so I think a long time would be best to let her prove herself to you first before you agree to do anything for her. I think the first thing is to see if she begins to write articles that stand out with a on their own merits instead of the trash and outlandish stories she has been writing."
Harry turned to look at Hermione and waited for a reply from her. When she said nothing, her asked her. "Well Hermione, what would your opinion here be?"
Well Harry you know that they say it not easy to change strips on a tiger or in this case spots on a bug." When she said that, Mr. Weasley looked at her with a glimmer of possible understanding in his eye but otherwise said nothing. Hermione then continued, "But for a beginning, I don't think she could have done any better without creating political suicide where she would have never written for anyone again. I think she did exactly what Rita had to do to make us happy and to keep her employment. I think a few tidbits her and there might help prove to you in the long run that Rita may be changing her view on reporting. But it still could all be a false front in order to get a big story on you Harry. If she hasn't change, this should show up in just a few years, for she will not be able to keep this facade up for very long if she hasn't really change her tune."
This conversation had taken about all the free time they had this morning so for the next ten minutes, Harry just ate his breakfast and then excused himself and went upstairs to shower and get dressed. As he came out of the bathroom, Ginny was waiting to enter. As he walked by her, he grinned and then gave her a quick kiss and then headed back up to Ron's room to get dressed.
He knew he didn't need to go to his aunts in a suit this morning but decided to wear it anyway and figured he would just leave his robe in the car while at the Dursleys. As he came down the stairway, he saw the bathroom was now empty and then went over to Ginny's door and knocked. A voice came from within the room saying, "Who is it?"
Harry then replied, "I am ready to go but I didn't know if you're dressed yet?"
"I'll be about a minute and then I need to finish my hair Harry." Harry waited and soon the door opened and his radiant Ginny was smiling at him. He went in and Ginny started brushing her hair and waving her wand around to dry it. About a minute later she looked over at him and asked him, "How do I look prince charming?"
Harry was quick to pick up the subject and then said to her. "Your knight in shining armor awaits my lady and ready to serve your beckon command." He knelt in front of her and she smiled and then it turned into a little smirk and she replied to him.
"Harry if you mean it we could just stay in my room all day with the door closed."
"Well we could but for now the door stays open my love."
"I tried," said Ginny. "It just sounded better then visiting your aunt and cousin this morning." Harry put out his hand to her and she took it and he slowly pulled her toward him and then led her into the hall and then downstairs. As they reached the bottom of the stairs Auror Hobbs was waiting for them.
"Morning Harry, Ginny," as he tipped his hat towards them, "I think this morning will start a little better then yesterdays introduction." Auror's Crombs and Iron will be here in a few minutes and we will Floo to the Ministry at eight-thirty. From there we will take a security Floo out to a Ministry facility in the Surrey area where we will pick up a car for transportation to your Aunts house."
"Sir do any of you carry Muggle cell phones," asked Harry.
"We were issued phones for today's use since we were going to be in a Muggle London area on duty," replied Hobbs. "So what is your need to be making a Muggle call today?"
"I thought when we were done it would be a good way for Ron to get hold of us in order to meet for lunch and then go to the funeral together."
Auror Hobbs smiled at Harry and told him, "That is good thinking Harry. Your thinking ahead to blend in the area. Thinking that way shows you're going to make a good Auror some day."
Suddenly green flames were making them selves shown and Auror Crombs walked out of the Floo and told Hobbs, "Iron will be here later this morning with support around nine-thirty sir. Arthur is talking to him right now and he said for us to go ahead and head back to the Ministry with Harry and Ginny."
Auror Hobbs raised his voice and yelled up the stairway, "Hermione or Ron can you hear me?"
A voice of Hermione's came down the stairway and said, "What do you need Auror Hobbs?"
"I need to tell you that Auror Iron and at least one other will be here to take you to Diagon Alley at nine-thirty this morning. I request that you both will be ready by then."
Hermione replied, "I will make sure that we're are sir."
"Very well then, Hermione." He turned and looked at Harry and Ginny and told them, "I guess we are ready to go." They each in turn grabbed Floo powder and the four of them Floo to the Ministry.
As Harry walked out into the atrium at the Ministry, it was already fairly deserted since most people were already in their offices. He waited until Ginny and then Combs walked out of the fireplace and then Hobbs told them they were going to go get the two of them permanent ID so they didn't have to check in every time that they appeared at the Ministry. The four of them would have mostly open access to the Ministry and since most like most if not all of them would probably be working here anyway and this would also help speed up transfers in the Floo network.
They walked over to the first door on the right behind the first Floo and walked in. In short order everyone realized that the real Harry Potter was there and it took a few minutes for the entire office to introduce themselves and then thank them for what they had both done. In short order, Ginny and Harry had VIP passes to either hang or just show to gain access in the Ministry.
Soon they left and turned right and walked into the main atrium where the fountain was. They headed toward the area where a group of lifts were located. They entered and Hobbs told the attendant, "Level seven please." Soon the lift stopped and as they exited the lift, they headed left and as they approached a guard desk he asked for ID and Harry and Ginny showed them their new cards and he smiled when he recognized whom they were. They walked straight ahead and through a door into a large office with about twenty witches and wizards working in it. It was paneled in beautiful oak with wood cravings all over the high ceiling. Each of the desk areas had amble working room and each desk had hand cravings that Harry realized was of the planets and the zodiac and wondered if anything was meant about the symbols to what was done at each desk.
Hobbs kept going and they continued to follow him and soon they were next to the desks of two extremely pretty young witches'. The one closes to a large wooden door looked up to Hobbs and he told her that Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter were here to see the Minister. She paged into the office to announce their presents.
Harry then noticed that quickly the two witches were looking at him and he could tell that he was being checked out as possible marriage material and suddenly he felt like a piece of meat hanging in a butchery shop ready for the taking. He grabbed Ginny's hand and whispered to her, "please squeeze my hand as hard as you can." As he felt the strength of her hand, it actually hurt but he figured it would keep any problems at bay for now.
The young witch then announce to Hobbs, "the Minister will see you both now." Harry gave each of them a quick smile and then proceeded behind Hobbs into the Minister of Magic's office. Crombs waited for them to come out.
Kingsley Shacklebolt gave both of them a quick hand shake and smiled at Harry as he asked, "Harry I see you made it alive past my two office assistants."
"Well yes, I kind of made sure that I would. I just was more scared that they might have ended up looking like a cauldron of mush if we would have been any longer."
"Yes I already thought about that this morning," replied Kingsley. We cast a powerful shield charm on their desks this morning so as long as they stayed seated they were protected from any responses from Ginny. Which this also meant for you Ginny that they could not get up to try to touch Harry and effect him with their Veela's powers."
Ginny turned a slight salmon with this but she nodded and said, "Thank you Minister. That was probably wise to think to protect them from me."
"I actually did it to protect Harry from them Ginny. I think I can trust you more then my own office staff. Until you two are officially engaged the power to a true Veela on the hunt will require a lot of self-control from Harry to not fall under their spell. Though I not sure that could break what you have seemed to have already created between the two of you.
"Now for today you will visit your cousin and your aunt. This will be about a ten-minute drive from where your car is picked up from. Another car will meet you around 11:15 to take the two of you with Ron and Hermione to lunch. Auror Iron's wife grew up in this area and they visit her family a lot in this area and already know many of the good places to eat.
"Colin's funeral will be about a half hour drive to get there and we already have a number of other Aurors, that will meet you on site in case anybody tries to cause any problems for you Harry. I know that a number of the DA will also be there along with some of the school faculty. This should help insure that no one tries to disrupt the proceeding there today. I hope everything goes fine for you all and wish everyone the best today.
"Harry I would like to see you Thursday morning at nine o'clock here in my office to go over some things and we will meet the Prime Minister at noon." He turned to look at Ginny and said, "Don't worry Ginny, Harry will be protected from my Veela's." Ginny gave Kingsley a stare of; I'm coming after you if you don't, as they left. As they went out Ginny had her wand in her hand and made sure the two Veela's saw it.
Auror Crombs was waiting by a fireplace and said, "Both of you need to take your ID and put it into the slot to get access to this Floo. For the location say, Muggle transport."
They walked over to a Floo that was in the office and inserted their ID cards into a slot by the Floo power and with a click something was deposited on top of their ID card. Harry then removed the two cards and then walked into the Floo and said, "Muggle transport," and in a flash of green flame he was gone.
Harry walked out in a marbled floor with a wall that had a sign that said Wiz Rental on it. Under it was an arrow that pointed left. He figured that it was a rental agency for wizards that needed Muggle cars. He walked down the hall and opened a door and then proceeded to a counter and asked, "I wondered if there is a car in the name of Harry Potter?"
The attendant smiled and said, "I was wondering if it was really going to be you? I am glad to meet you Harry and my name is Glenda Michaels. We are also owned by Gringotts and I must have you sign some paperwork before you leave. Your account at Gringotts is already set up to charge to us. I have also been requested to give you a transfer of four hundred Pounds for you to have as spending money today. Gringotts also have issued you a charge card so you to be able to charge anything in the Muggles stores to your Gringotts account. There is a small transaction charge of one percent on each transaction that you will be charged when you use this card.
"Bill Weasley has arranged all of this for you and the Head Goblin has approved of it since you have a terrible busy schedule for the next week. The Goblins will be talking to you on how this all works on Monday and you will need to sign the rest of the paperwork at that time. Until then you cannot get more then fifteen thousand Galleons transferred until you have sign that paperwork. You can also go into any Muggle bank and request cash with your card. It is magically protected that only you can use it or the Muggles will not recognize the proper account numbers. You also need to remember to sign each time you use your card.
"Here are your four-hundred Pounds and your car key. Give your key to your driver since I understand you do not have a Muggle driver's license yet. Your car is parked at #14. Please sign these three forms and you are free to go." Harry signed the forms and the four of them headed out into the yard and when they got to space #14 a large Royal Royce Limousine was parked there and Harry wondered how much this just cost him.
Crombs took the key from Harry and Hobbs opened the door for Ginny and Harry to get in and soon they were on their way to number Four Privet Drive.
As they proceeded down the road, the area looked quite familiar to Harry and soon they were just a few blocks away from his Aunt and Uncle's home. A few butterflies were in his stomach because he was a little worried that possibly it had been wrong to bring Ginny at this first meeting but if it didn't go over good today he would never return.
As they drove up into the driveway, Harry waited until Hobbs opened the door for him and he helped Ginny get out. Hobbs then told both of them, "We will wait out here for you and I have heard about how you were treated here Harry. Are you okay with doing this?" Harry nodded, and then Hobbs asked him. "Do you both have your wands with you?" They both nodded back to Hobbs and he wave them on and said, "I hope this goes well for you Harry because everyone needs family. Hopefully you will all leave and be closer after today. Good luck to both of you," and smiled at them.
Harry smiled back and told him, "Thank you Sir and I guess that might be why I came today."
Harry and Ginny walked the short twenty feet to the front door and Harry knocked and suddenly the door opened and Dudley yelled to his mum, "He's here mum, and Dudley opened the other door and said to come on in and then saw the limousine and said, "wow!"
Harry said, "Hi Dudley it been a while, and this is Ginny Weasley the love of my heart."
Dudley was already looking at Ginny and told her, "Your pretty beautiful for someone like my cousin to have snagged. Are you a witch?"
Ginny just smiled and nodded.
Dudley smiled at Ginny and put out his hand to shake hers and said, "I am impressed Harry she is quite beautiful, as he shook her hand."
Dudley then turned and looked at Harry and told him, "I glad you won Harry. Everyone said he was about as bad as they came and my little cousin killed a very bad wizard. I guess I should be happy that you never did treat me like I treated you all though years. I'm sorry I was just a bully and a real rotten person."
Harry looked at Dudley and said, "You really have changed haven't you Dudley?"
Petunias voice could be heard from the living room, "So where is everyone?"
"Coming Mum," said Dudley and as the three of them walked toward the living room he continued, "Harry she missed you too but Dad is still not very happy about having to hide for most of a year. It almost cost him his job. But I think deep down he is proud to have actually brought you up and can take some credit on raising you but he still doesn't like your kind. But that is his problem." As Dudley then walked around the corner and into the living room he said to his mother, "Sorry mum I was just telling Harry some things about dad and stuff."
Petunia, whose face showed some apprehension, looked at Harry and then as she looked at Ginny, Harry saw her eyes go wide and then leaned back onto the couch and then reached up and held her heart.
Ginny looked at her for a moment and was trying to size up this Muggle. She wasn't pretty in her own book and she was acting like she thought what see was seeing was something she didn't want in her house.
Harry then told his Aunt who was still staring at Ginny. "Aunt Petunia this is Ginny Weasley. She is a gifted witch just like Lily was and I love her deeply."
Petunia had finally recovered from her initial shock and then she told Ginny, "I sorry Ginny for how I just acted. You almost looked like my sister for a moment and it caught me totally by surprise. I am so sorry to have acted like that. I hope you two have a lot better life then Lily and James did." Petunia then looked at Harry and he could tell that this was a confession from her heart and he knew that she still had loved his mother.
Well that turned Ginny around quickly and then she went over to Petunia and both of them shook each others hand and Petunia asked everyone to set down and for the next one and half hours, they talked and Harry found that he had actually very little trouble forgiving his aunt and cousin.
Toward the end of the conversation, Dudley asked Harry, "well are you to going to get married or what ever you do in your world?"
Both of them turned a little pink with his question and Harry replied with, "Yes we are and it will probably be next July when we are finished with school but I haven't even asked her yet.
"Damn Harry, even your non-magical stupid cousin can tell in watching you the last hour, that you two are madly in love with each other. Just ask her and get both of you out of your misery. I think you will both be a lot happier if you would just do it."
Of all the things his cousin had ever said, this was the smartest thing that Dudley had said in front of him and he knew he was totally right. This remarked had moved the shade of pink to red in both of them when he said it and then aunt Petunia told them, "You two are looking just like your parents Harry, when my Mum asked them the same thing when they were in their seventh year over the Easter Holiday."
Harry just replied to them by saying, "My life has been so complicated but I will make sure both of you are notified after it happens."
Dudley then asked, "Can we, you know Muggles like us, well at least mum and me come to your wedding Harry?"
"I think I would be very happy to see both of you there Dudley," replied Harry."
Suddenly the doorbell rang and Harry said, "I think that is my bodyguard telling us it is time to leave."
Everyone got up and Petunia gave Harry and Ginny each a hug and Dudley told them, "I'll tell dad that we had a good visit. I not sure he will say anything but he will want to at least know how you survived and if your okay Harry. I hope we can see each other occasionally Harry."
"Aye Dudley, I think that would be nice," replied Harry.
As they went outside and got into the limousine, Ginny and Ron were now there along with Auror Iron and another that Harry didn't know. Dudley and Petunia stayed at the door and waved as they pulled away and Harry let his head fall on Ginny's shoulder and told her, "They seemed to have become human to me today Ginny and I would have never have guest it could have happened to them. I guess I will always have some surprised about some things in life.
Hermione looked at Harry and asked, "was it a good morning Harry?"
"Yes Hermione, I have had a very good day so far."
Then Ginny said, "You know Harry, I think Dudley is a very smart Muggle and I think we must listen closely and do everything that he says".
Harry turned and looked at Ginny and replied, "Good try but waiting will be worth the wait."
Ron looked at Harry and said, "What was that about Harry?"
Harry replied, "Well my cousin told me the how stupid I have been around Ginny in a nice way. He told me how obvious it was to him that we love each other and that we should have been engaged a long time ago and to just get it over with and asked her."
During this time Ginny was just humming and biting her lip and then Ron, Hermione, and Ginny started laughing and then even Harry had to join in for a moment.
Suddenly Harry asked, "Not to change to subject but where are we going to eat today?"
Auror Iron replied, "There is a very good steak house up here in about five minutes. This will put us within a ten-minute drive to where the funeral is going to be held."
Ron said, "Sounds good to me."
Soon they pulled into a parking lot and Harry stomach was telling him that he was ready to eat.
As the two cars were being parked, Auror Hobbs told them, "I want all of you to try to keep as low of a profile as you can today. We will leave the four of you to your privacy today unless we are needed. If we see anyone with a wand out today, we will take matters into our own hands,"
Hobbs and Crombs got out and held the doors of the limousine until everyone was out and then the group headed inside. As they walked inside, the smell of meats and other food cooking permeated the air and made everyone wish they were eating already.
As the group was waiting in the front lobby to be seated, Harry was looking around at the motif of the building. It was quite strange and it looked like they should be eating down at a pier along the Thames or at the seashore. Everything in here made it look like a seafood restaurant. There were nets and poles hanging from over the ceiling and the walls were cover with fish of all sorts and sizes. But the smell in the air was of beef cooking and there might have been some of the swimming variety but still mainly of beef. As a waiter walk by Harry stopped him and asked him, "It this place specialize in fish or beef he asked?"
The waiter told him, "fifty years ago the owner's father had built it and at that time fish was probably eighty percent of their business and it was known far and wide for its fish. The son took over about twenty years ago and the fish is still just as good but the son can really serve up the beef as probably one of the best locations in Britain. We now find that we are serving about eighty percent beef and pork and only about ten percent is fish now."
Harry told him, "thank you," and the waiter moved on with his work.
Just after that a young boy that had blond and short hair that was quit messy and appeared to be around eight, walked over to Harry and looked up at him and asked, "You look familiar sir. Are you a prince or someone famous?"
Harry bent over and as he did, his hair pulled away from his forehead. The boy reached up and brushed Harry's hair away from his scar and then a large smile appeared in his face and he reached out and grabbed Harry into a hug. This action caught Harry off guard and he looked at Hobbs not knowing what to say. The boy then let go of him and backed up and just stared at him with a smile.
Auror Hobbs being a thoughtful man, walked over and squatted down in front of the young boy and asked him. "Young man you seem to be a very wise for you age. Why do you think you know him?"
The boy replied, "I have seen his pictures all over the walls at my cousins home sir because I recognize him by his glasses and the scar on his forehead."
As soon as he said that, Harry had a good but sad feeling on whom the boy was taking about and then he lowered himself to the young mans eye level and asked him. "Was his name Colin?" he asked the boy. The boy nodded and gave a small sniff and Harry put out his hand and took the boys and Harry then introduced himself and told him, "My name is Harry Potter and I knew your cousin. He was a very brave young man. I knew him at school and I could always count on him and Dennis doing what I asked them to do. I miss him like you do and want you to know that I am proud to have known him. He was a hero in my book and you should be very proud to have known him. This is Ginny and she was also in your cousins same year at school. This is Ron… and this is Hermione." Everyone put out their arms to shake hands with the young man. Harry then continued, "and we are all happy to have met you. Could I ask you what your name is?"
The young man said, "my name is William Creevey and I am ten, I am kind of short for my age and that is my sister Jane standing behind me and my parents are standing over there."
Harry looked over and saw that his parents were looking at him with a face that told him that they most definitely knew who he was. He smiled and waved to them and they both acknowledge him with a wave back. He knew that they were both probably Muggles and knew that most likely that William was one too but something made him wondered if William or his sister might someday see Hogwarts. He looked back at him and then told him, "I glad to have met you William and maybe someday our paths will cross again."
At that time, the waitress came over and asked their party to come with her and the eight of them headed off behind her. The parents of William watched Harry and his party leave and these two Muggles had indeed known the 'story of the boy who lived' from being told about it from their two nephews.
No one had ever seen William do anything magical but Colin had been in the Headmistress Umbridge's office for punishment two years ago, when she had to leave him alone for a while. He had got up to look at what was on her desk and by chance she happened to have the list of future attendees on her desk. Colin was curious and wanted to see if he knew anybody on the list. As he turned the pages, he was surprised to see that William was listed and that she had circled his name along with a number of others.
Last year when the Creevey brothers went into hiding from the Ministry, he had owled Professor McGonagall to see if she could remove his cousins name from the list, since he had never shown any magical ability. She had owled back to him that they did remove his name and in no case should he divulge to William that he was a wizard. She told him that any magical ability shown with the trace on him could possible put his life at risk and to tell William's parents to make sure that he would not try to attempt to see if he could do magic. When he told them this, he had to explain what was going on in the magical world and how he had even found out that their son was a actually a Wizard.
Colin's father told his brother of the horror stories about Muggle born children and that if they had shown any magical abilities, they had been taken away from their parents and never heard from again last fall. On Sunday when they found out that magic had taken the life of their nephew, they were truly scared and would do anything to protect their son. On Monday Dennis had given them the large copy of the Daily Prophet and they had read about Harry and the Battle of Hogwarts. They were dumbfounded about all of the stories about a boy of just school age and that he was the savior of the magical world and by extension the Muggle world. They had been overwhelmed about how the British government had even supplied troops and had supported the forces of Harry Potter.
This morning they had received an owl post and in was a letter from the new Headmistress of Hogwarts. She had informed them that she had put William's name back on the list and he would be receiving his letter for admissions in August. The policy about blocking Muggle-borns attending Hogwarts had been rescinded and she told them that everything was rapidly returning to normal and she was sorry that their nephew had died in this terrible tragedy for their family.
She told them that Colin was the youngest to die and he had been told that he was too young to have even been fighting. He had left but just long enough so that nobody would be around when he returned. He was holding his own against much older opponents but died when a large part of a castle wall collapsed and he felt to his death. She told them that Colin had said to several friends that he would rather die fighting to help Harry Potter and his cause than to leave his side. He had felt that everyone that Harry had helped train was needed in the Defense of the School and its ideas. Anything that Harry stood for was right and he was trying to help him end the evil that was descending on Britain.
And now this hero had just come into the same restaurant and appeared to be a very nice young man. They knew by reading the paper that Harry had also suffered physically and probably was quite sadden by all of his friends that had died in the battle. They felt that since he and what appeared to be a number of his friends were here, that they were in no doubt attending Colin's funeral. They knew that there had been many deaths and the Creevey's were not a family with much money, and for Harry to come her to be with Colin's family, showed them how much this young man respected life and someone like Colin.
But now in just seeing him here and how he had just talked to their son, did the most to soften all the apprehensions that they had been feeling for the last year. Maybe everything they had read was true about this young man and what he represented in life and that most of the magical community was like that.
As Harry set down next to Ginny, the waitress handed them both a menu and as he opened it and looked at the items for order, he knew that this was indeed a classy but not to stuffy place to eat. As he continued to check out the menu, he noted that Hermione and Ron were having problems figuring out what to order and then he realized that they probably did not have enough money on them.
About that time, Ginny quietly asked him, "Harry I don't have any Muggle money on me. Could I borrow some?" Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the roll of bills that he had just got from the rental agency.
He gave Ginny a 20-Pound note and past two of them to Ron and told them, "take it and don't argue with me right now. You can pay me back later if you need to. Enjoy the food." He then leaned into Ginny and whispered into her ear and said, "This little loan is going to cost you tonight my love." He smiled and Ginny smiled back with a grin.
He then decided a little hummer was in order and then told her, "I guess I don't have enough to buy the present you wanted me to give you." For a very short moment, what Harry had just said didn't register with Ginny and then she turn with a face that had turn white and quickly gave him the money back and then Harry realized that she thought he had meant it.
Harry moved quickly to fix this, for he saw a tear forming and leaned over and kissed her and told her. "Ginny I am so… so sorry… I was just joking and thought you would get a laugh about it. I need to tell you something that I don't think you have realized totally about me my love."
Ginny had recovered but Harry could tell that she was upset with him for saying this so her move to her ear and said, "Ginny soon what I have is yours. I guess you really have not realized that you will have a major change in life when we get married. We haven't had the proper time to talk about this between ourselves and what we both have and what we both want in life. We need to do this soon so each other can understand what the other wants.
"I probably don't have as much money as the Malfoy's do but with Sirius leaving me his families estate, we together can sure give Malfoy's a run for their money. What is mine will be yours my dear and I say this so you understand that I love you and I want you to feel comfortable with our money and me."
"Ginny with a questionable look in her face asked Harry, "You mean that you really do have all this?" He nodded to her. "Harry your not joking? Your really rich?" He grabbed her face and kissed her and as he pulled away she had a far a way look in her eyes and she told him, "Wow!"
The Waiter showed up right after Harry had fixed the mess, he had just gotten himself into and soon everyone had ordered and as Harry looked into Ginny eyes, he hope he had handled that appropriately. Ginny put her head on his shoulder and asked him, "So then you can't use money for an excuse Harry, "By my calculation you have now run out of every excuse but one in not getting me something."
Harry smiled at her and knew she was now trying to have some fun with reasoning with him about this new piece of information that she had just learned. With a twinkle in her eye she told him, "I guess you have been a little short on time to be able to get this for me so the next time you have a hour of spare time, I expect it that evening."
Harry then replied, "well my appointment book tells me that you will probably be long on you way back to Hogwarts before the Minister will give me any time to do this." Ginny looked at him with a sulky expression and did the only thing she could think of and stuck her tongue out at him for a second.
Harry laughed and said. "Ginny I promise I will get it to you it before you leave for school. I have a couple of ideals and just need some time alone to find what I want to give you. I promise I will make sure I find the time to do this in the next week."
As he looked at Ginny for a response, he saw all that he needed in her beaming face and as Ginny looked at him and grabbed his hand and squeezed it and said, " thank you Harry I know you will."
Soon several waiters brought everyone's salads and soups for their meal. As Harry tried his French onion soup he was amazed at the taste and decided this restaurant was one to be remembered and visited occasionally. The main course showed up about fifteen minutes after the soup and the salads did and when Harry tried his sirloin strip, he was amaze at the tenderness of it. He wondered if there were possibly several house-elves working in the kitchen for this food to be so good.
When the meal was consumed and they were asked if they wanted any dessert, Harry groaned. He looked at Ginny and she shook her head no. Ron as usual, ordered one but shared some of his with Hermione. When they were all done the time was around one-twenty and with a short drive to the church for the service a thought came into Harry's mind.
"Hermione do you have an extra Galleon that we use for Dumbledore's Army with you?" She nodded and then Harry told everyone, "I would like to place one in his casket or place one with his ashes if that is alright with his parents." Everyone gave Harry a smile and nodded and he new that they agreed that this was quite proper and everyone who had died, that was in the DA should be honoured in this way. As they were getting up to leave, Hermione gave Harry the spare coin and he put it in his pocket and knew that this would only be a token minimum of what Colin really deserved for his service to Hogwarts and his help in the defeat of Voldemort.
They all left the restaurant and Ginny and Harry held hands and she was walking quite close to him and as he waited for Ron and Hermione to get into the car, Ginny gave him a kiss and told him, "you're a really nice person Harry and I love you."
NEXT CHAPTER: 'The Youngest Hero to say Bye to.'
Pottercomplete
8/14/2009 WBW
