Chapter 14: Weakness
"You look beautiful," Ginny told Hermione after putting the finishing touches on her hair. They were in her room at the Burrow, the room she had missed so much after they were forced into Grimmauld Place during Christmas break.
Hermione scrunched her nose at herself as she looked in the mirror. "If you say so," she replied.
"Are you nervous?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Sort of. I know we'll be fine. It's Ron, you know? But it's the whole ceremony thing. What if I trip?"
Ginny laughed at her friend's concern. "I'd be more worried about Ron tripping than you."
"He's not the one wearing this long dress. It is pretty, though. I'm glad I went with this one."
Ginny smiled at the dress. "I am too. Though I can't say I'm too happy about the bridesmaids'," she said, picking at her dress. It was a pale green with an open back, the straps in the front coming around to criss-cross once low across the back.
"Oh hush," Hermione told her. "I know for a fact that Harry loves it."
"Hmph," Ginny sounded, crossing her hands across her chest. Inside, though, she was rather happy that Hermione had decided on this one. If Harry liked it, who was she to complain?
"Ready?" Hermione asked.
"Ready," Ginny replied and led the way to the ceremony.
There weren't many people in attendance. Hermione's parents, Ginny's family, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Dumbledore, and Harry and his family were all that were invited. The ceremony was held by the pond. Flowers had been picked earlier that morning and decorated the area. A bug repellant charm had been cast over the entire area, and the weather was just right with only a few puffy white clouds in the sky. Ginny didn't think there was a happier couple out there, besides her and Harry of course. Hermione looked stunning and Ron's face when he first saw her was a source of amusement for Ginny throughout the day. The vows were quick, and before Ginny knew it, her brother was actually married.
Her mother had outdone herself in cooking for the reception. Ginny watched as the Stewarts ate with everyone else as if they did it every day. Ginny had strategically placed herself beside Harry when they were all sitting down to eat.
"How can you eat food?" Ginny whispered halfway through the meal.
Harry looked at Ginny with a slightly repulsed expression on his face and shook his head. "You don't want me to make you lose your appetite. Plus, I fully intend to snog you tonight and I want your complete corporation. I don't think that will happen if I tell you," he ended with a smile.
Ginny's heart began to race and she was fully distracted from…whatever she had asked him about. Ginny looked across the table and saw Tamah roll her eyes in Harry's direction. He smirked back.
Music started playing and Ron and Hermione went over to an open tent that had been set up for dancing. Ginny watched as the happy couple had their first dance. They had it so easy. Both of them were human.
The song ended and Ginny was pulled out of her seat by a cool, strong hand and led to the dance floor. Harry wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head against his chest. She felt him rest his chin on top of her head. It was getting a little cooler outside now that the sun was beginning to set and she shivered despite herself. Wincing, she waited for Harry to pull away like he usually did when her body gave away that she was cold. And then she waited some more.
oOo
Harry wasn't going to, not this time. It was high time that he accepted the fact that he was vampire and that sometimes it would affect Ginny. She always hated when he pulled away when she was cold, and right now he couldn't find it in him to make her upset.
The wedding had been practically perfect, in Harry's opinion, and he was sure that Hermione was extremely pleased with how well everything went. Ginny looked as gorgeous as ever, and there was no way he was leaving tonight without explaining to her how wonderful she was. He felt her smile against him and discreetly cast a minimal warming charm on her. In response, she snuggled closer to him.
Harry wondered if they would ever have a wedding. They had never talked about it before. It was easier for both of them if they just lived in the present. But the future was looming nearer each day now that Harry was so close to destroying Voldemort forever. What would they do once she graduated Hogwarts? Would he be able to watch her grow old while he stayed seventeen? What would happen when…? He didn't want to think about it. The one thing that he refused to think about had been cropping up in his mind more and more lately. Something about knowing the end of Voldemort—or himself—was near had a way of making him think of other ends.
Focusing on Ginny's breathing helped Harry to clear his thoughts for the moment. The future didn't matter right now, not when he had her here in his arms.
"Harry," he heard Tamah say. He ignored her, not wanting to bother Ginny right now.
"Harry," Tamah repeated, her voice more insistent. He looked up briefly to her where she was standing with Adam by the pond. He raised his eyebrows a fraction to show he was listening.
"Voldemort's planning something. Something that will cause a lot of pain."
"When?" Harry whispered. Ginny made no indication that she had heard him, but he knew she did. Perhaps she was used to his random, one-sided conversations by now.
"In the next couple of days."
"I've already talked to Dumbledore," Adam chimed in. "He says he won't know anything until Snape gets back, whenever that will be."
Harry nodded his understanding and twirled Ginny around as a faster song began to play.
"Is everything okay?" Ginny asked at a pause.
"We don't know yet. It's not anything you need to worry about, though."
Ginny scoffed and Harry imagined the nightmares she must have because of what he told her. He hated that he had exposed her to such a world that most people never see.
"Just have fun. Today's no time to worry about things we have no control over," Harry instructed.
Ginny rolled her eyes at him but she seemed to take his comment to heart. They stopped dancing only long enough for Ginny to get something to drink and rest for a song.
Harry couldn't stop smiling. He knew that the only thing he needed to be happy in life was Ginny. It was nice to have their relationship accepted by her family, though, because it made her happy. And he couldn't help feeling a bit of pride when he heard Hermione's parents talking to themselves about what a beautiful and sweet girl Ginny was and how in love she looked.
Harry watched as Ron and Hermione approached, arms around each other.
"Sorry to interrupt," Hermione said. "But we're heading off."
"Honeymoon and all. You know how it is," Ron said to Harry, winking. Hermione looked as if she wanted to glare, but the smile on her face would not cooperate with her.
Ginny detached herself from Harry to hug Ron then Hermione. She leaned in close enough to Hermione so Ron couldn't hear.
"I don't ever want to hear about any of the next week, do you understand me?" Ginny whispered threateningly.
Hermione laughed lightly and nodded.
Harry watched them go with a horrible feeling of jealousy. To just up and get married, with no limitations between them. Ginny kissed his cheek and took both his hands in hers.
"What's wrong?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked innocently.
"You're not moving, in the freaky way that you guys do sometimes."
"Oh." Harry took one of his hands out of Ginny's and then led her through the crowd of people saying their goodbyes to the happily married couple. Instead of going toward the house, he veered off into the darkening trees that surrounded half of the pond.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Ginny asked after Harry stopped about twenty yards in.
"I'm just…it's just hard to watch them together," Harry answered after a couple of moments.
Ginny's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Why?"
"Because it's so easy for them."
Ginny didn't need to say anything. Harry could tell by the look on her face that she understood perfectly.
But it could be easy, Harry thought.
"Harry?" Ginny asked, worried.
"What?"
"You stopped moving again. You stopped breathing. Are you okay?"
She was worried he was losing control over the urge to hurt her. That was his usual reaction when the temptation was too much. Stop moving and don't breathe. If he didn't breathe, then he couldn't smell her.
"I'm fine. It's not that…I was just thinking…things I shouldn't be thinking," he said cryptically.
Ginny blushed. Harry could practically see the blood rushing to her face.
"What were you thinking?"
He wondered what he had said to make her blush…
Oh. Now he was thinking things that Ginny should blush at. Harry wondered how the conversation turned from serious to this.
"Just how absolutely stunning you look tonight," Harry told her, kissing her neck.
"Really now? Anything else?"
"How it took an extreme effort on my part to keep my hands in their proper places while dancing," Harry said while placing his hands on the small of her back, and then moving them down a little.
"Oh?" Ginny asked, breathless.
"Yes. And I do believe I said earlier I was going to snog you tonight. I was thinking about the best way to go about that."
Ginny smiled. "I'll show you," she replied and then pressed her lips to his.
oOo
Harry and Ginny Flooed back to Hogwarts later that night. Dumbledore was already back in his office, sitting at his desk. Harry didn't remember seeing him leave the wedding. Of course, everyone had left by the time Harry and Ginny had realized the time.
Snape was standing in the corner farthest from the fireplace, a small scowl on his face.
"Mr. Stewart, could I have a word, please, before you go to the tower?"
It had to be about whatever Tamah was telling him earlier. Snape was back with information on Voldemort's plans.
Harry sat down on one of the chairs facing Dumbledore's desk while Ginny took the other on his left. Snape's scowl grew more pronounced. Dumbledore looked fully prepared to start talking when Snape said,
"Miss Weasley, I believe the Headmaster said he wanted to talk to Mr. Stewart, not Mr. Stewart and Miss Weasley."
Harry could practically feel Ginny's hatred toward the man. An image of Harry leaping out of his seat, snarling, and baring his teeth and the greasy-haired git came into his mind. Harry smiled slightly at the extremely frightened look on the potions master's face, and then glared at the real one in front of him.
"I'll tell Ginny anyway."
Dumbledore stepped in before Snape could retort.
"Professor Snape has brought us some extremely disturbing news. Death Eaters are attacking Diagon Alley tomorrow afternoon. And Voldemort has a 'secret weapon' of some sort that he will be releasing," Dumbledore said significantly. "He did not mention to Professor Snape what it is."
Great. Another battle. This secret weapon had him worried. It could be many things, all of which involved vampires. Voldemort might finally be allowing the Cold Ones to attack in plain sight, it could just be one of them there to help the Death Eaters, it could be the one trained newborn that had escaped the last attack, or it could be an entire group of newly created ones. Harry wondered if Voldemort was willing to risk the lives of all the Death Eaters in order to kill everyone else. Yes he was.
"Do you have a plan of action, yet?" Harry asked Dumbledore.
"Find out what the secret weapon is."
oOo
Harry walked Ginny to the girls' staircase and kissed her goodnight.
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Be safe," Ginny instructed him.
"Of course."
Ginny gave him a long look and then walked up the staircase.
Aurora had only gone to the wedding ceremony, so Harry assumed she was already back with Joseph. He had no idea how to get in touch with her. But if Snape knew about the attack on Diagon Alley, the vampire—or vampires—that were going must know too. Harry put his faith in Aurora and Joseph and went to wait in the Forbidden Forest at the spot he and Aurora usually met at.
It was nothing to stand there for six hours, still as a statue. Harry's mind was so engrossed with thoughts about Ginny that at some points he even forgot to breathe. Thankfully, Aurora came before the dawn. If Harry's mind had not been so occupied, he would have worried whether or not she was actually coming.
"Hey," Aurora greeted him distractedly.
"What's up with you?" Harry asked.
"Something's wrong with Joseph."
"What?"
"I have no idea. He was just acting…off." Aurora looked upset.
"Do you think he suspects you?" Harry asked anxiously.
"No. I don't think so. Maybe." Aurora shrugged. "But he did tell me about a plan Voldemort's concocted to—"
"Attack Diagon Alley tomorrow afternoon," Harry finished.
"Right," Aurora agreed, not asking how Harry knew. "I'd say it's more of a publicity stunt more than anything else—if he wasn't sending Olivia and Garrett, too."
"Garrett?"
"The newborn that got away in February. Joseph helped train him. Apparently he's the new apple of Voldemort's eye."
"So it'll be his big debut." Harry smiled.
"Something like that," Aurora replied, not looking amused.
"Well, we can handle that. And if we get everyone involved, I bet we can round up all those Death Eaters before they do any damage."
"Good luck with that."
"Are you sure you're okay? Do you want to talk about it?" Harry asked concerned.
Aurora closed her eyes and sighed. "Not really. There's nothing I can do about it. It's not like I can go up to him and ask him if he knows I'm reporting everything he tells me back to Harry freakin' Potter."
"How are you doing with the whole hunting thing? No more humans, right?" Harry's voice was hard and his eyes were tight, listening closely for any sound that might indicate a lie.
"No, Harry. I promised Tamah." Aurora sounded miserable and repentant. Harry wondered if Tamah was still harassing her about it every time she saw her. Harry hoped so. "Besides, it's a lot easier now. Joseph seems to except that I don't hunt humans. We've been talking about it more recently. He doesn't ask me to come hunting with him anymore."
Joseph was an enigma to Harry. Aurora rarely said much about him, to Harry at least. All Harry knew was that he was a great fighter, kept mostly to himself, and was really good at reading people's faces. He could even discern the faint nuances in Voldemort's expressions when he talked to people. It came in handy if he wanted to know what someone was thinking without actually breaking into their mind. And if someone was lying to him.
"Has he been asking any suspicious questions?" Harry asked Aurora.
"That's the thing. He hasn't been doing anything differently. He acts the exact same as usual. I think I may be imagining things."
"If you ever get the feeling that he knows, or is about to attack you, or is even contemplating the idea of maybe attacking you, run, and don't stop until you're at least a country away."
Aurora smiled faintly at Harry's command.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I better get going."
"Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me…to us."
"Just make sure you kill those things tomorrow."
"We'll try our hardest," Harry replied and watched as Aurora disappeared into the trees without a backward glance.
oOo
"It could be worse," Harry said when he was back in Dumbledore's office. The sun was just beginning to come up over the horizon and Dumbledore was already seated at his desk. Harry wondered how he—a human—went without so much sleep. "The Death Eaters are attacking, and two vampires are going to be with them."
"What do you know about the vampires?"
Harry told him about Olivia and Garrett's histories, what they were capable of, and what to expect from them.
"What do you propose we do?"
"Well, sir, you've got a couple options,"
"Let's hear them," Dumbledore replied.
"Option A," Harry began, "let the Order fight the Death Eaters while we take care of the vampires. There might be some casualties, but we wouldn't have to expose the three vampires that Jane and Adam brought back. Voldemort doesn't know about them yet, because Garrett didn't see them in February. It'll be the four of us against the two of them, plus whatever Death Eaters we take down after we deal with Olivia and Garrett. Option B, the Order stays out of it, no one dies, and Voldemort finds out that we're gathering outside forces against him."
"If Voldemort learns that you're creating an…army, what do you think he'll do?"
"Create even more vampires."
"And if that happens even more people would die," Dumbledore stated sadly.
"Yes," Harry agreed.
"The Order was formed as resistance to the very thing that will be taking place today. We'll fight," Dumbledore told Harry.
Harry nodded. "Prepare them as best you can. I don't know how obvious Olivia and Garrett will be about what they are. I don't even know their goal, but stress the importance to the Order members about healing all cuts when they're formed. Garrett's not old enough to be able to control himself if enough blood is exposed."
"I'll make sure they know," Dumbledore replied. "And I'll be subtle."
"That's all I can ask," Harry answered. "I must go inform my family of the attack. And talk to Ginny…" Harry said, more to himself than Dumbledore. He stood up and made his way to the door, his thoughts on what he was going to tell Ginny. As he was closing the door behind him, Harry remembered exactly where he was and nodded a farewell to Dumbledore. The headmaster inclined his head back and Harry closed the door.
Ginny was probably still asleep. Harry had to tell her what was happening, even if he felt horrible for waking her to do so. The castle was quiet as he ran through the halls. When he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady he had to tap the frame to wake her up. Startled from her slumber, she toppled over in her chair before letting Harry in.
Nothing was more peaceful than watching Ginny sleep, the gentle rise and fall of her back as she breathed calmed Harry's nerves. He needed to make this quick; his family needed to be told as soon as possible.
"Gin," Harry said, stroking the side of her face as gently as he could.
"Hmm," he heard her say, but she wasn't anywhere near awareness.
"Ginny, I'm sorry, but you need to wake up. I have to talk to you before I leave," Harry whispered into her ear.
"Just a couple more minutes," she mumbled back.
Harry leaned down and kissed her cheek, her eyelids, and finally her lips.
"Well that's certainly one way to wake me up," Ginny replied more cognitively even though her eyes were still closed. "What's going on?"
"My family and I are going to Diagon Alley to counter Voldemort's attack. Dumbledore's going to send any Order members that want to fight there, too. Two of Voldemort's vampires are going to be there," he informed her as he stroked her hair. "I don't know when I'll be back. I don't think it'll take long to stop them, but we're going to need to help fix whatever destruction they're able to cause before we stop them all."
"Voldemort himself isn't going, right?" Ginny asked worriedly, opening her eyes.
"No," Harry assured her.
"Good." Ginny snuggled back down into the covers, but she kept her eyes on Harry's. "Stay alive," she ordered.
Harry nodded and kissed her goodbye. "Go back to sleep," he whispered and then disappeared out of the dorm room.
oOo
It seemed to Ginny that Harry was becoming absent more frequently lately. And it bothered her. A lot. She felt really bad that she hated Voldemort more because he took Harry away from her instead of because of all the death and destruction he caused. Yesterday morning she had to eat breakfast alone, during classes she had to partner with Sarah, in between classes she had walked without Harry there holding her hand, and she had sat with some friends in her year while she worked on her homework. Her day always felt so empty when Harry wasn't there. And today he was off at some Order meeting to discuss the attack on Diagon Alley that had taken place yesterday. At least the meeting would be a victory celebration, rather than some painful gathering to swap 'what if' scenarios.
For their side had won, thanks to the Stewarts as always. Harry had come back during dinnertime yesterday, practically skipping with joy. Well, if he was one to skip. Ginny couldn't remember anything except his graceful glide. The Order members had captured some of the Death Eaters—the ones that the Stewarts didn't get to—and Olivia and Garrett had been killed. Harry gleefully whispered to Ginny about their demise while she ate her dinner. Adam and Jane had cornered Garrett first and killed him while Harry and Tamah worked together to take down Olivia. Harry dismembered her and Tamah happily burned each individual piece.
Ginny had taken all this information in without even wincing. She was used to these stories now. It was hard to believe that less than a year ago she wouldn't have even imagined a world even more secret than the wizarding one she lived in. And it was hard not to smile at the relief that showed plainly on Harry's face. He had always harbored a deep fear since Christmas that Olivia would come for Ginny when he wasn't there to stop her.
Sleepless nights were beginning to catch up with Ginny. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and tried to focus on the essay she was writing instead of Harry. The library was quiet and she was near a window, the sun on her back was making her warm. It was hard to focus when all she wanted to do was sleep. But she had to finish the essay. It was due tomorrow. The thought helped her quill to move across the page.
The door to the library opened and Ginny looked up automatically. In walked Michael Corner, immediately spotting Ginny and making a beeline for her. Frantically, Ginny looked back down at her parchment and immersed herself in writing, trying hard to look like she hadn't seen him walk in.
"So how's it going Ginny?" Michael asked as he sauntered over to her table.
Curse Harry and his stupid involvement in the stupid Order, Ginny thought bitterly. Michael didn't dare approach her with Harry anywhere near.
"Fine," she replied, glancing up once to acknowledge his presence and then back down at the essay she was writing to—hopefully—portray the message that she was busy and did not want to talk. Michael was having none of it. He flopped down in the seat next to her, inching in closer and reading the essay she was busy writing. Ginny tried to ignore the extremely uncomfortable feeling that she had with him so close. And how annoying he was.
"Why are you inside on such a nice day?" he asked, motioning to the nearby window and the sunny grounds that could be seen through it. "Take a break. We could go take a walk around the lake," he suggested hopefully.
"I have a lot of homework to catch up on," Ginny replied, not wanting to be really rude.
"Stewart have you at his beck and call, huh?"
"Excuse me?" Ginny asked in a dark tone. She reached down and fingered her wand that was in her pocket.
"I'm just saying…rumors don't just start up on their own. They always have some basis in fact."
Ginny glared, but before she could retort Michael kept digging his hole deeper.
"So since I haven't seen Stewart all day, I figured I'd show you how a girl like you is suppose to be treated."
Ginny sat there for a second. She didn't feel the quick, red anger that came when her brothers did something to piss her off. No, this was a slow and cold fury that spread through her like ice. She clenched her wand in her hand and held it threateningly at Michael's neck. His eyes widen in shock. Apparently he was expecting his suggestion to be taken with gratitude.
"Don't ever speak to me again," she hissed at him. "If I see you even looking at me, I will come over there and hex you so bad not even your own mother will want to look at you."
Ginny doubted that even Harry, with his super speed, could have run out of the library as fast as Michael did. Ginny hoped that Harry was not in the habit of scanning the minds of the Ravenclaws on a regular basis. If he found this incident in Michael's head, there was no telling what he'd do to him. Make good on Ginny's threat, no doubt. Ginny's frown lightened somewhat as she imagined Harry's reaction. No…even that insulting, irritating Michael didn't deserve that.
Thinking about Harry calmed her anger down enough that she was able to finish her essay and even start studying a new chapter for the NEWTs. She loaded her bag up with her books when she couldn't take anymore studying, setting the rolled-up parchment carefully on top. Harry had been gone almost the entire day. He should be back soon. Excited and anxious, she left the library and turned towards Gryffindor tower.
Ginny's shoulder started to ache from the weight of her bag halfway there. She switched it from her right shoulder to her left and sighed. It hadn't helped. She furrowed her brows. She had that nagging feeling that someone was watching her. Ugh. She hoped it wasn't Michael. Did that boy have any sense? As casually as she could, she glanced behind her to see Mary Greyson, book open and walking slowly, several meters away from her. Ginny couldn't remember seeing her anytime before that. Still wary, her pace increased slightly and she hoped she wouldn't have to wait on the upcoming staircase to move to the platform she was walking toward. Unfortunately, there was no staircase present when she reached it. She turned back around and found herself almost face to face with Mary, her book strangely absent.
"Hello," Ginny said politely, but Mary did not respond. Ginny tilted her head to the side slightly, examining the girl. Something wasn't right. Ginny walked past the girl, back the way she came. She was about five meters away when she happened to glance back. Mary had pulled out her wand. Ginny turned completely around to face her, wondering what on earth was going on.
"Avada Kedavra," Mary said in a monotone.
Ginny had no time to react. She saw the green light head toward her, yet her feet wouldn't move. The spell was moving so slowly, yet Ginny knew that she would not be able to get out of the way in time. She thought of Harry and what he would think when he found her, when suddenly a white blur shot in front of her. The curse hit Harry straight in the chest.
Ginny couldn't breathe.
But then, she realized Harry had not fallen. Instead, she watched as he flicked his hand towards Mary and she fell to the ground, Stunned.
"Gin, are you okay?" he asked.
Ginny moved her mouth, to tell him that she was fine, but no sound came out. She had forgotten how to speak.
"Ginny," Harry said hurriedly, almost angry.
"I—I'm fine," she finally managed to stutter.
"Do you have the Map with you?" he asked urgently.
"Um…" Ginny couldn't think. The Map. Did she have it? "Yeah. It's in my bag."
Harry reached towards the bag and before Ginny could blink, the Map was open in his hands with lines criss-crossing over the page. She hadn't even heard him say the password.
Harry closed the map just as quickly as he had opened it and placed it back in her bag.
"Get on my back," he commanded.
Ginny immediately climbed on and before she could ask what was going on, he sped off through the halls and to the common room. He practically snarled the password at the Fat Lady and placed Ginny inside.
"Do not leave the common room until I get back," Harry instructed.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, coming out of her previous stupor, but it was too late. Harry was already gone.
She sat down next to the portrait hole, leaning up against the wall. She could not muster the energy to even walk over to the nearest chair. Harry had been hit with the Killing Curse, and yet…there he was. Alive. She knew it had happened once before, when he was a baby. But no one knew why. Perhaps he was immune to the curse, Ginny thought. It didn't really matter, not in the long run. It was just another item added to the list of things that could not kill Harry Stewart. As Ginny sat there, the weight of what she had just witnessed fully sunk in. Harry could not be killed with magic. The thought made her feel oddly safe, as if she was assured Harry would always be there. And in reality, he was. Vampires were immortal. They could live forever. Harry could live forever.
And that was when it fully hit her. She was going to die.