Author's note:
As always, it all belongs to JKR. I own nothing.
HPHPHP
Children of the Flame Saga
Book III: Flame's Final Burning
Chapter XII
That Was Really Bad
"And there's another goal for Gryffindor!" Zacharias Smith announced. "Slytherin is taking another pounding out there today and with the score at 240-80 it'd be a mercy if Potter could bring an end to the slaughter and catch the Snitch. Of course Slytherin could make it respectable with a catch of the Snitch themselves, but it doesn't seem likely. I don't think, six years ago when the Lions first unveiled Harry Potter as their new Seeker, anyone would have even considered his remarkable skills would be so easily forgotten. But it has to be said, Ginny Potter is, at the least, giving argument to who the greatest Seeker in school history is."
"I think he's crushing on you," Harry teased.
"Quit distracting me," Ginny retorted.
"But you're so much fun to distract."
"Harry Potter, if you cost me this Snitch, I will string you up by your bits and hang you from the highest tower."
"Empty threat."
Ginny pulled her new Quasar around in a slow looping turn as she methodically sought the Snitch. The Slytherin Seeker followed her closely. Melanie Houlihan was only a second year, starting only her second match. She gave up experience and, as she was flying a Firebolt, quality of broom, to Ginny, but she had talent. Unlike Slytherin's last Seeker, Melanie hadn't used her face to plow a furrow in the pitch when Ginny had led her into a Wronski Feint earlier. It'd been close, and the girl had been white as a sheet as she'd followed Ginny back up above the rest of the action. But she'd survived and would only get better with more time and practice. No, the Snakes looked to be set at Seeker for a number of years to come.
"I'm not joking, Harry, this kid can fly and if you cost me this Snitch I'm going to hurt you."
Harry chuckled. "You're fine." Still, he fell silent as he rode the thermals nearly two miles above the pitch. Even this high up his phoenix eyes picked out detail he couldn't see from even five-hundred feet in human form. Never mind being able to pick out Tonk's masquerading as him in the stands, he'd been tracking the Snitch for hours and was fairly certain Ginny had seen it once or twice and deliberately not chased after it. Gryffindor needed points, lots of them to keep pace with Ravenclaw in the chase for the Quidditch Cup. Thanks to Cho Chang, the Birds had beaten Huffelpuff by a score of 460-400. They currently led the race with 800 total points.
Despite having lost both their matches, the Badgers were currently in second place with 630 points. Their Seeker couldn't match Cho or Ginny, but the Badgers had the best Chaser/Beater/Keeper combination in the school and their next match was against the Snakes. All logic said the Snakes were looking at a third brutal loss, one that might see the Puffs score enough points to overtake both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in the chase for the cup. Especially if their Seeker managed to add a Snitch to whatever their chasers managed to tally for the match.
Over the next hour, Gryffindor stretched their lead to 310 – 110 before Harry saw Katie signal Ginny she was free to catch the Snitch the next time she saw it. Harry was sorely tempted to tell Ginny exactly where it was. As long as one of them was in their phoenix form, it seemed they could be separated as long as they chose without adverse effects. But, quite honestly, he was a bit bored and was more interested in celebrating with her than riding the thermals any longer. But telling her where it was would be cheating. It went against his sense of fair play and Ginny would most certainly not thank him for it. Quite the opposite in fact, she would be beyond livid with him so he kept the knowledge firmly buried and just hoped she would find it soon.
It was another fifteen minutes later, with the score at 330-120, when he saw Ginny accelerate with the Snitch in sight. The Slytherin Seeker flashed after her. The Snitch led both Seekers on a truly exciting chase. Ginny very nearly overcommitted at one point, almost delivering the Snitch into the Slytherin Seeker's hand but hours spent playing tag with Harry as a phoenix allowed her to recover quickly and moments later she held the struggling golden winged ball in her hand triumphantly.
Harry circled for another few minutes, allowing the team to celebrate before tucking his wings in and plummeting down. This course of action had been under examination for some time now. Ginny had been seen playing tag with a large black bird on more than one occasion. It also hadn't gone unnoticed that despite seemingly being inseparable, Harry never seemed to be around when Ginny was on her broom. Most people wouldn't put those two things together. But Tom, was not most people. Tonks had begun masquerading as Harry at the start of term, making the occasional appearance at Gryffindor's practices. Today, they would be revealing the large bird that had befriended Ginny was a phoenix. And they would do so with Harry at Ginny's side. The secret would be hidden right in plain sight.
Ginny was leaning into Harry's side when the sounds of phoenix song began to reverberate through the stadium. The crowd stilled as they searched for the source of the wondrous music and it was all she could do not to grin from ear to ear. "THERE"! Colin shouted. He pointed out the plummeting black form.
"Is that your bird?" Katie asked.
Ginny beamed. "I hardly think a game or two of tag makes him mine."
How do you know it's a he?" Katie asked.
Ginny shrugged. "Just do."
"He's coming this way," Dennis said.
"Really fast," Demelza added, a touch of worry in her voice. The crowd shifted nervously as the black speck grew larger.
"Is he going to be able to stop?" Katie asked.
"I hardly think a bird is going crash land," Ginny said.
Katie and the others took a step back. "Then he better pull out soon," she said.
Harry couldn't have been more than three feet above Ginny's head when he spread his wings and arrested his plunge to hover exactly at a point where he was eye to eye with her. Phoenix song infused the air all around the group."'Lo," he said.
"Show off," Ginny retorted.
"It's a phoenix," Susan Bones gasped.
"Hello," Ginny said softly as Harry continued to float in front of her.
Harry trilled a new note and let a rush of flames wash across his wings.
"He's beautiful," Mandy Brocklehurst gushed. Harry trilled louder.
"Waaatch it," Ginny growled playfully at him.
"Jealous?"
"Yes."
Harry chuckled. "I only have eyes for you."
"I don't like anyone's eyes on you but mine."
"You're eyes are the only ones that have ever truly been on me."
"Good."
"I think he's congratulating you, Gin," Harry said
Harry trilled loudly. Ginny took a tentative step towards him. "Did you come to watch me?" she asked. Harry floated a bit closer while his trilling growing softer. Ginny cautiously reached out with her hand. Harry's trilling stilled and the whole of the assembled crowd held their breath in anticipation. In the blink of an eye, Harry had darted forward and slashed the back of Ginny's hand open with his beak. Ginny snatched her hand away, cradling it in her other.
"HEY!" Harry cried, reaching for his wand.
"WAIT!" Luna shouted. She grasped Harry's wrist tightly, preventing him from bringing his wand to bear.
"BUT!"
"I think he's bonding with her," Neville said. Harry trilled softly.
"Bonding with her?" Ron asked.
"A phoenix bonds with his or her companions by first injuring, then using their tears to heal the injury," Luna said. "Ginvera can accept or reject the offered bond by allowing or denying the phoenix the ability to heal her."
"She's right, Harry," Hermione confirmed.
Harry glowered at the phoenix. "Damn well better heal her," he muttered. He shrugged out of Luna's grasp and moved to Ginny. "You alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Ginny said.
"Can't say I'm pleased he hurt you, but it'll be right nice knowing a phoenix is keeping you safe when I can't."
"You're alright with this?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I just tend to get a little upset when I see you bleeding."
Ginny reached up with her injured hand and palmed his cheek. "I love you."
He took her hand and kissed her palm. "Love you to, Gin."
She smiled and turned to Harry. Holding her hand out she said, "I accept only if you accept the Bond I already share." Harry trilled joyously and settled to rest on her arm. Leaning over he dripped a single tear on the back of her hand. The cut healed in seconds, leaving a thin white scar behind. He then sprang back into the air. Crying his joy loudly, he circled the stadium twice before alighting once more on Ginny's shoulder.
Ginny reached up to stroke along his back. "Hello," she said softly. Harry crooned back at her. "I think you should meet my husband," she said.
"Pretty certain I already know him," Harry chuckled.
Ginny ignored him. Harry stepped close to the pair. "Suppose we should give him a name."
"Obsidian," Ginny said with finality. Harry trilled loudly.
Harry chuckled. "Guess he agrees … Think I can say hi without getting ripped to shreds?"
Harry hopped from Ginny's shoulder to Harry's. "I would say that's a yes," Ginny giggled.
Luna and Hermione stepped forward. "Can we say hi too?" Luna asked. Harry trilled again before hopping to alight on each of the girls' shoulders where he nuzzled their cheek for a moment before moving back to Ginny.
"Can we say hi?" Katie asked. Harry stayed on Ginny's shoulder but cocked his head at Katie and trilled an invitation.
"I think we're going to be here a while," Ginny sighed.
"Probably," Harry agreed.
"Just so we're clear, this is the one and only time I'm letting any girl who wants, fondle you."
"I've let Tonks kiss you a half dozen times today, deal with it," Harry retorted.
"Let's remember who had to watch while Astoria snogged the hell out of you?"
"After this is all done what do you say to the idea of buying an island and not telling anyone else where it is?"
"A little tiny beach hut."
"Cooking on the campfire.
"A great big bed with pristine white sheets."
"Peace and quiet."
"And no clothes allowed … ever."
"Deal."
"Deal," Ginny agreed.
HPHPHP
Harry checked his pocket for probably the twelfth time. Valentines Day had come and all he had for Ginny was a card with a letter in it. Now most people would assume this to mean that Harry was soon to be one very sorry wizard. Harry himself wasn't one hundred percent certain this wouldn't be the case. The thing was, exactly one week previous was his and Ginny's one-year anniversary. She had made him a deal. He could spoil her in anyway he chose on their anniversary, but Valentines was hers to spoil him. If he did anything more than get her a card and maybe some flowers she had threatened no sex for a week. Now, there were two things about that threat that Harry feared. The first, obviously, was he actually believed she'd do it and having been actively making love to her since September, he was pretty sure he'd die if he were forced to go a week without doing so. The second thing he feared in regards to the threat was Ginny herself. She got right cranky if they went so much as a day without making love and the mood she'd be in after a full week, it gave him nightmares to even consider it.
Just then, Ginny poked her head out from their bedroom. "Thinking of me?" she teased.
Harry leaned against the wall and smirked back at her. "Always."
Ginny sauntered up to him. "Good answer," she said when she was but a few inches from him. Harry leaned in to kiss her but she stopped him with a finger against his lips. "Later." She then tugged him over so he was standing in the center of their sitting area. Turning him to face the fireplace she stood behind him and rose up on her toes. "Close your eyes."
"What do I get if I do?" Harry teased.
"To live till tomorrow."
Harry chuckled. "Right, closing my eyes." Ginny slipped around in front of him and with a wave of her hand canceled the disillusionment charm she'd placed on her gift.
"On the count of three I want you to open them and look above the fireplace."
"K."
"One … Two … Three."
Harry opened his eyes and focused where she'd told him. It took a few seconds, but his eyes slowly widened. He glanced to her. "Gin?" he asked cautiously.
She beamed at him. "Do you like it?"
Harry tore his eyes from her back to the painting. "Did you …"
"Yes."
Harry glanced again at her before focusing on the painting and taking a step closer. Her Inspiration had obviously come from Hogwarts Castle, the Black Lake and the surrounding mountains, but somehow this seemed even more mystical. His parents were in the painting. She'd used the photo of their wedding to model them from. They stood atop a castle tower. His father's hand brushed gently against his mother's cheek, in the act of leaning down to kiss her. The skies were scudded with heavy grey clouds and wind strong enough to whip whitecaps across the lake tore at her gown.
It took his breath away.
"It's so … alive," he breathed.
"You really like it?"
Harry focused on her. "You painted this?" he asked in awe.
She nodded. "Yes."
Harry turned back to the painting. Moving closer he reached up and ghosted his fingers over it. "I knew you could draw. I mean your Christmas present told me that … but this …" He turned to her. "I had no idea."
"So you really like it then, even though it can't be animated?"
Harry held his hand out to her. She took it and he pulled her to him. "Open your side," he said. Staring into her eyes he pushed every bit of awe and wonder, his utter amazement of what she had created to her. "I have no words," he whispered. He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Thank you. Thank you so much." He pulled her around in front of him, her chest to his back with his arms around her waist. "How long have you been working on this?"
"Since our wedding."
Harry shook his head slowly. "I've never told you this, but one of the things I love about watching you fly, is that it feels like you are putting something into it that you aren't going to get back. It's art, like life itself goes into it. This painting is the same. Even though it doesn't move, it's alive. You put something of yourself, your heart and soul, into it, Gin. And anyone who ever sees this is going to feel that and they are going to be in awe just as much as I am."
Ginny turned in his arms and kissed him for some time before pulling back slightly. With an impish smile, she said, "Time for part two." A wash of Flames engulfed them and moments later Harry found he was standing on a tall cliff with the sea crashing far below. Above, the night sky was awash with thousands of bright stars. Ginny slipped closer to him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her while she tucked hers up between them and rested her head on his shoulder. They stood there for quite some time before she stretched up to brush her lips against his. "Happy Valentine's Day, Husband," she said softly.
Harry's eyes sparkled as his smile spread on his face. "Mrs. Potter," he answered in a low voice.
Ginny shivered in his arms. "Have I told you I love you yet today?"
"I won't object if you say it again."
Ginny giggled and tugged him over to a blanket she had spread on the ground. A wave of her hand brought a fire to life in the pit she had prepared. "Nice," Harry said appreciatively. He glanced around. She must have put up wards of some sort because there were patches of deep snow around them and though it wasn't windy where they were, as evidenced by the blowing snow outside her ward, it certainly should have been. Ginny pulled him down so his head was in her lap and began to gently run her fingers through his hair. Harry groaned softly.
"Close your eyes and just be for a while," she whispered.
"K," Harry agreed.
Probably an hour or more later, Ginny asked, "Would you like to know where we are?"
Harry gave a non-committal shrug. "Don't much care as long as you're here."
"We're on the Isle of Skye," she answered. "I'm not exactly sure where; somewhere along the northern coast though. I just flew along till I found this spot."
"It's beautiful," Harry answered.
"I want to make love under the stars," she said.
Harry cracked an eye open. "I hope you put up few privacy wards to go with your element ward."
Ginny grinned down at him. "I might have." She leaned down and kissed him. "But first, we should eat."
Harry grabbed her arm and chewed on it. "Tasty," he teased.
Ginny swatted at him. "Later."
"Later?" he pouted.
"Food first." She reached in her basket and started pulling things out. "Don't touch," she said smacking his hand when he tried to help.
"Someone's a bit touchy," he teased.
"You cook for me all the time. Just sit there and let me take care of you this time."
Harry leaned back on his elbows. "Alright then." In short order Ginny had sausages floating and rotating over the fire, a can of beans set in the coals and hot chocolate was heating in a pot. "I like the Levitation and Rotation Charms," he commented.
"We used to have cookouts all the time when I was little but I hated doing it with a stick because one side always got to charred and the other not enough. I used to make mum and dad or Bill do the charms for me."
"I would have too," Harry agreed.
A few minutes later Ginny had plated things up for them and they were eating. "This is really good," Harry said.
"It's not beef stroganoff, but it'll do," Ginny agreed.
"It's just as good."
"You do know, sucking up to me isn't required to get into my knickers, don't you, Potter?"
"I'm not sucking up," Harry countered. "Food like this has its place just as much as fancy stuff does. And sometimes," he said reaching for another sausage, "this is what a bloke wants."
"What, sausage and beans, or a girl to cook it for him?"
Harry smirked. "Yes."
Ginny laughed. "Glad to be of service then."
"Just to clarify, it's even better when that girl happens to be the most stunningly beautiful woman in the world."
Ginny blushed. "I think you're flirting with me."
Harry grinned. "I'll have you know I'm a married man, Mrs. Potter. I would never do anything of the sort."
Ginny blushed deeper but just looked at him through her lashes. "I think you're lying."
"What do you intend to do about?" Harry challenged.
"Reward you." Harry started to lean towards her. "With dessert," she giggled impishly.
Harry groaned. "Tease."
Ginny reached for her basket again and a few minutes later had a marshmallow slowly rotating over the fire. Another minute later she carefully floated it down to a waiting slab of chocolate. She then sandwiched both between to pieces of graham cracker. "Care to try?" she asked, offering it to Harry.
Harry gamely took it and tried a bite. Ginny giggled as the melted chocolate and marshmallow squished out and dripped on his chin. "I's good," Harry said. He quickly licked a glob that was about to drop from one side of the messy concoction.
"They're called smores," Ginny said while assembling another for herself. "Bill learned about the from some American witch he dated a while back." She took a bite, grinning widely.
"And he broke up with her?" Harry asked incredulously. "Something wrong with that bloke."
"I'm pretty sure mum dropped him when he was a baby," Ginny agreed.
Harry snorted. "I'm pretty sure your mum dropped all of you at one time or another."
"HEY!"
"Well it's the only explanation for why a girl as amazing as you would marry a bloke like me."
Ginny snickered. "Oh, good save, Potter." She licked her fingers. "Would you like another?"
"You have to ask? And Bill does say my sense of self preservation is one of the best he's ever seen."
Ginny laughed. "You did manage to marry me at the ripe old age of fourteen and somehow come out of it without so much as a scratch."
Harry chuckled. "When you're good, your good."
Ginny held her newly constructed smore up to her lips and leaned close to him. "You think so?" she asked huskily, and took a bite.
"I know so," Harry answered, his voice low. He caught her wrist so he could turn her hand and licked the glob of marshmallow and chocolate that squished out of the smore.
"Quite sure of yourself, aren't you?" She took another bite.
"Very," Harry growled. He took the last bit in his mouth and closed the rest of the distance to her lips.
"Prove it," Ginny challenged breathily.
Sometime later, Ginny collapsed on top of his naked body. "I love you so much," she whispered. Harry ran his hand along the bare skin of her back. She gave a little shiver under his ministrations and images of their most recent lovemaking flooded his mind. The memory of Ginny above him, her naked body with a backdrop of night sky and stars above while firelight danced on her skin roused him from his stupor and he rolled her to her back. "Oh yes," she said when he began moving in her again. It took some time for them both but they came together with her pulling him as deep into her body as she possibly could when it happened. With tears sliding down her cheeks she drew his lips to hers and kissed him deeply.
Harry pulled back and rolled off her to his side. Reaching for her, he brushed her tears away. "You are the most beautifully creature I have ever seen."
Harry woke only a short while later to find Ginny tracing her finger on the date of her birth tattooed on the inside of his arm. It was one of four he'd had Aria place on their most recent visit to her shoppe. The other three marked the dates of his parent's, Sirius' and Cedric's murders. "Lo," he said.
Ginny blushed. "Hi."
"I love that I can still make you blush."
"You have nothing to do with it," she answered.
Harry traced a finger along her side. "No?"
"Maybe."
Harry let his finger slide along the curve of her breast. Her blush bloomed from her face down her neck and chest. "Maybe?"
"Everything."
Harry grinned. "Good."
Ginny tugged him down; pushing him so his back was to her she spooned behind him and pulling the blankets around them both. "You make me feel so special," she whispered.
"Good," Harry answered. It wasn't till the weak winter sun began spreading its meager warmth on the landscape that they woke and returned to Hogwarts.
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January had rolled to February and February to March. The Easter break was fast approaching but first they had the full moon to deal with. They had made their first small adjustment to the Wolfsbane potion in January and repeated it the next month as well. Ron and Remus had both reported the after affects of the transformation were improved. So with that bit of success, they were set to try another small change to the potion. Hermione tucked Saraphina into the nest of blankets and backed into Ron's arms. "Come on," he said. She allowed him to pull her out of the cell and close the door. She cast the locking charms before turning to give him a lingering kiss. He took a deep breath and stepped into his cell. While he settled on the ground with his back to the wall and his arms on his knees she closed and locked the door.
"Ron."
"Yeah?"
"I love you," she whispered.
A slow grin spread across his face. Before he could respond, his body tensed. He tipped to the side, but neither he, Remus nor Saraphina cried out in agony as the transformation took them. A few minutes later the three werewolves pushed to their feet where they shook themselves. Tonks took a step towards Remus' cage. "Hey there Wolfie," she said softly.
Remus turned to the voice, seeming to study her before shuffling to the steel bars locking him in. She held her hand out and he sniffed eagerly. "That's my Wolfie," she soothed. She stepped closer as he whined softly. "Just lay down now," Tonks soothed. Remus whined again and she moved closer still. In a blink, his paw shot through the bars and locked on her wrist. With a mighty pull, Tonks was slammed into the bars. She was instantly knocked unconscious and crumpled to the ground. Ron and Saraphina snarled and launched themselves against the gates of their cells.
"STUPIFY!" Harry and Ginny barked. Their spells slammed into Remus, hurling him against the wall of his cell. Neville summoned Tonks from where she had fallen. In quick succession, Harry and Ginny stunned both Ron and Saraphina before binding and hitting all three werewolves with sedation spells.
"Is she ok?" Ginny asked.
Luna rolled Tonks over. "I think so." The auror's face was covered in blood from a gash on her forehead. While Luna dealt with cleaning and healing the cut, Neville examined her for any other injuries.
"No bite," Neville said.
Harry sagged. "Thank Merlin."
"Renervate," Luna said.
Tonks blinked her eyes open. "Well that didn't go so well," she said dryly.
"I don't understand," Neville said. "Why would reducing the pain of the transformation affect the bloodlust to attack?"
Tonks pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Damned if I know." She rubbed her head painfully. "He's going to be devastated tomorrow."
"We'll have to go back to last month's brewing," Luna said. "Obviously increasing the chamomile was the wrong decision."
"Yeah," Ginny agreed.
"That was really bad," Harry said. "It was like he knew he needed to lure you in."
Tonks held her hand out and Harry pulled her to her feet. "I agree," she said.
"I think from now on we only try adjustments on one," Luna said. "It's too dangerous to test it on all three at the same time."
"Did you notice Ron and Saraphina didn't do a thing till Remus attacked?" Neville asked. "It was like they acknowledged him as pack leader or something."
"I agree," Ginny said.
"You alright, Hermione?" Harry asked. She shook her head. Harry pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin. "It's a setback, that's all," he said. She nodded against his chest. Harry kissed her crown. "You're brilliant, Hermione. It might take a while, but you'll find it. I know you will."
Ginny placed her hand on Hermione's back. "Why don't you go lay down for a while. We'll keep watch out here."
"I should stay," Hermione whispered.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry said. He pulled her along back to their suites. "You can't do anything more tonight anyway." She didn't protest further and Harry was able to lead her away.
Ginny turned back to the others. "Looks like it's going to be a long night," she sighed. Luna conjured a blanket and the four settled down to keep watch for the rest of the night.
About half an hour before moonset, Harry and Hermione returned. "Better now?" Ginny asked.
The two settled on the blanket with the others. "We need to be careful before we let them out," Hermione whispered.
"Why?" Neville asked.
"Whatever it was we did, changed their behavior while transformed. We really only saw it with Remus, but it stands to reason that Ron and Saraphina were the same. He was clever, dangerous and calculating. It's entirely possible for those characteristics to carry over once they transform back."
The others stared at her. "Are you saying we could have made them worse permanently?" Tonks asked.
Hermione shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."
"Every action has a repercussion," Ginny said.
"How will we know if they're ok?" Neville asked. "I mean they could lure us into a false sense of security for days before they did anything."
"What if I tried Legilimency on them?" Ginny asked.
"Would that work?" Tonks asked. "Remus isn't exactly unskilled at Occlumency and Ron has some rudimentary skill at it now too."
"Saraphina should be wide open though," Ginny said. "She's capable of planning and hiding things like any little kid sure. But unless something as crazy as Harry and I is going on with her, she's not going to know I'm in her mind. I'll be able to see if she's plotting something more or not. If she's safe, Ron and Remus should be as well."
The others exchanged looks. "I think we should," Hermione said.
"I say we keep both Ron and Remus sedated till we check Saraphina over," Harry said.
"Probably a good idea," Tonks agreed. "You and Ginny hit them with sedation charms the second the transformation is done, then we'll deal with Saraphina."
Luna climbed to her feet. "It's nearly time. We best get ready." The others climbed to their feet with Harry and Ginny moving into place. It wasn't but a few minutes later that the three werewolves transformed back to human form. Harry and Ginny immediately sedated both Ron and Remus.
"Mummy," Saraphina whimpered.
Hermione opened the door to Saraphina's cage and hurried to the girl. Tonks hit her with a weak sedation charm; enough to slow the girl severely if she were to suddenly become violent, but not so much that she knocked the her out. Hermione scooped Saraphina into her arms while Ginny moved so she could see in her eyes. Saraphina was so drugged from the sedation charms she didn't even notice Ginny forcing her eyelids open. "I don't see anything," Ginny said a few seconds later. "All she wants is to be held."
A collective sigh was released by the rest of the group. "I say we keep Ron and Remus under for a while yet," Harry said.
"You wanna check Saraphina again when she isn't all drugged up?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded. Tonks frowned. "I wish we didn't have to, but it's probably a good idea."
"Are we just going to leave them locked up?" Luna asked. Once more the group exchanged looks.
"Better safe than sorry," Neville said.
"We can at least unbind them, can't we?" Luna asked.
"Yeah, I think we can do that," Harry said.
It was dinner before the group decided it was safe to let Ron and Remus out of their cages. Three more scans of Saraphina had revealed nothing and scans of Ron and Remus before they'd woken them had shown no signs of planned deception either.
"What do you want to do, Love?" Tonks asked quietly.
Remus sighed deeply before raising his head out of his hands to look at the others. "I think it goes without saying that I would love a cure. But I'm not sure I want it at the possible expense of losing my ability to retain my humanity now." Everyone remained silent. Both Remus and Ron had been shaken to the core upon learning what had happened the night before. "Ron?" Remus asked.
"I don't know," he said.
Remus leaned back in his chair and drummed his fingers on the table. "I'm not going to tell you to stop looking for a cure. But whatever you brew for next month, I want you to also brew the last safe version you created. I'll decide which potion I'm going to take that night."
"All right," Hermione agreed softly.
HPHPHP
Author's note:
Conclusion: I think Hermione is beginning to realize she's in for the long haul in finding a cure.
As always, thank you to all my readers. And a special thank you to those who have reviewed. I do appreciate hearing from you.
Sorcerer's Muse
