Chapter 21
Deepest Ocean and Highest Cloud
Author's Note: This chapter begins right after the last chapter ended, then there is a short time-skip and moving on to the next important events. Some people wanted to know what Remus' boggart would probably be now. Remus answers that in this chapter.
I disclaim a quote from the Prisoner of Azkaban movie.
(Remus)
Remus kneeled down in front of the puddle of black goo that had once been a Boggart. He could not get it through his mind what he had just witnessed. He had gone through a wide array of emotions in the past ten minutes alone.
Seeing the Boggart's copied forms of Harry and Ginny, as their real selves stood there staring at the Boggart was possibly one of the strangest moments of his life – and he had been through quite a few of those. But watching the copied forms of Harry and Ginny slump over and die as if they had been hit with invisible Killing Curses was one of the most terrifying moments of his life. He considered him quite close to the young couple, and seeing copies of them collapse dead was absolutely disheartening. It was only when he saw Harry and Ginny standing a few feet away did he remember they were not actually dead.
And then they used the charm against the Boggart, usually meant to repel the creature. And they had done it together, holding hands, and the power radiating from the spell had actually destroyed the Boggart, melted it, instead of making it flee. He had never witnessed that before in his life, and he wondered if he would ever witness it again.
Suddenly, footsteps behind him broke him from his thoughts and he stood up and turned. Albus Dumbledore was standing there. The aged headmaster looked from Remus to the puddle of black goo on the floor and raised his eyebrows.
"Am I correct in guessing that you have done away with the Boggart found here?" Albus asked, as he looked back at Remus.
"It is most certainly 'done away with' as you said," Remus said, as he looked back at the goo, "But I did not do this."
"Who did, may I ask?" Albus asked.
"Harry and Ginny, Headmaster," Remus said.
Albus looked at Remus through his eyeglasses, then looked at the goo again.
"Destroying a Boggart is very difficult, I trust you know that," he said.
"Yes, sir," Remus said.
"How was it done?" Albus asked.
"Ridikulus, the same spell that repels a Boggart," Remus said, "Only... Harry and Ginny did it while holding hands."
"May I ask what forms the Boggart took in front of them?" Albus asked.
"Their mate dying," Remus said, "The Boggart appeared as both mates, and collapsed to the floor, dead."
"I'm sure Harry and Ginny did not like that," Albus said, "Holding hands, did you say?"
"Yes," Remus said, "Professor, I have never seen power like this. Even if they are a special pair of students, they are not yet the age that their Bond rises into its true power."
"That is true," Albus said, "However, you may know that Harry and Ginny almost lost their lives once a couple of years ago, and it could have also happened this previous June if it wasn't for their quick thinking. Earlier this year, I provoked Mr. Potter, as a test, and he almost destroyed my office without knowing he was doing it."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "How?"
"Due to his heightened emotions," Dumbledore said, "Because of the rage he felt towards me for provoking his mate. I'm sure today, he and Ginny were emotional, perhaps out of fear or sadness from what they witnessed, and their powers heightened and they destroyed the Boggart due to their emotions."
"That could be very dangerous, Headmaster," Remus said.
"It can," Dumbledore said, nodding, "and it very well might be once their power heightens due to them becoming the age of consent. That is why I am having lessons with them this term and next term to help calm their emotions and their magic."
"If I can be of any help," Remus said, "Please, come to me."
"Thank you," Albus said, "I will clean up the remains of the Boggart, Remus. I expect you want to do other things before dinner this evening?"
Remus raised an eyebrow. Did the Headmaster know that he needed to talk to Dora about two very important things? He nodded and bowed slightly.
"Have a good day, Headmaster," Remus said.
"You as well," Albus said, "Give my best wishes to young Tonks as well."
Remus nodded and walked out of the room. He made his way back to the Defense Classroom, where he saw Dora sitting on his desk and waving her wand at the blackboard. A projection of a wolf – no, a werewolf – appeared on the blackboard. Dora let out a sniffle, and with another wave of her wand, yet another projection of a werewolf appeared.
"If I knew you wanted to look at pictures of werewolves," Remus said, as he walked into the classroom, "I would found a way to take a picture of myself a couple nights ago."
Dora gasped and stood up from the desk as the projection vanished. She looked at Remus and he could tell her eyes were moist. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her middle.
"Remus," Dora said, "I don't know what you are possibly thinking. But I'm not afraid of you. I love you, please understand that."
"I am well aware of both of these things," Remus said.
"I do not fear werewolves," Dora said.
"Obviously there is something involving them you do fear," Remus said.
"The thing I fear most is losing you," Dora said. "I fear that every time you transform, you will not come back to me. I fear I will lose you more and more to your wolf form. I know that can happen, and that is what I fear. I guess the werewolf I saw was you, permanently in the wolf form. A –" She sniffled and leaned her head against his chest. "A monster that cannot come back to me."
"I will never lose myself to that wolf," Remus said, "I've seen many werewolves who have done that. I am what I am because of a werewolf who has nearly completely lost themselves like that. They are barely human anymore. I will never have that happen to me. Do you know why?"
Tonks shook her head against his chest. Remus tucked his thumb and forefinger under her chin and lifted her head up so she was facing him.
"Because I have a reason to be proud of who I am," Remus said,, "I have someone I love more than I thought I ever would, and someone who loves me in return, just the same."
Dora smiled. Remus leaned toward her and kissed her softly. Dora chuckled against his lips and kissed him back. She then backed away and wiped the tears from her face.
"Remus, what is your Boggart?" Dora asked.
"Do you really want to know?" Remus asked. "You wouldn't like what I believe it would be."
"Yes, Remus," Dora said, "I do. I promise I won't be angry with you."
"It used to be the moon," Remus said, "But I believe it would probably change now. I think it would be either you as a werewolf, or you dead at the hands of me as a werewolf."
Dora nodded. "I understand. It will never happen."
"I know," Remus said, "Because I will never let it happen."
Dora kissed him briefly again before she backed away and he saw a questioning look in her eyes.
"What were you talking to Harry and Ginny about?" she asked, "What did you want to tell me?"
Remus sighed and closed his eyes. They had given him permission to tell her about one of their secrets.
"What do you know about the phenomenon known as a Soul-Bond?" he asked.
(Harry)
Even though only half the school had taken a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson so far, most of the students in the school were talking about Professors Lupin and Tonks' classes by dinner that evening. Those who hadn't had a class yet were looking forward to it, and those who had a lesson commented as to how memorable Professor Lupin was.
Also most of the Gryffindor third years – with the exception of Harry and his friends – had boasted on about Neville's Boggart of Professor Snape, so now it was stuff of legend. Neville seemed quite frightened of this apparent new-found fame and he tried his best to avoid everyone except for his friends.
After dinner, there were still a couple hours before the grounds became off-limits for the evening. So Harry, Ginny and their friends walked onto the grounds and found a comfortable spot away from eavesdropping students and prying eyes of the occasional Auror guard that walked around the grounds.
Neville and Luna sat down together, and Harry sat down near them. Harry was quite surprised when Ginny plopped down between his legs and laid down with her head under his chin. They were normally only in this position away from their friends, especially Ron, but she didn't seem to care. Ron only looked at them for a moment, before he looked at Hermione. Hermione had brought her Ancient Runes book and the runic-transliterated Muggle book she, Harry and Ginny were supposed to work on for their first group project.
"Any ideas what that book is, Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Not yet," Hermione said, "But... I already translated a line of dialogue. Here's the line... 'to be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.' I swear I've read it before."
"You probably have," Ron snorted.
"Yes, I'm sure I have," Hermione said, "I just have to figure it out."
"Hey Longbottom!" a voice said, and Harry saw Theodore Nott approaching with Daphne Greengrass, "We found another Boggart on the Quidditch Pitch. Want to show off your granny's clothes again?"
"How about we talk about your Boggart, eh?" Harry asked, "Why are you afraid of your father?"
"Shut it, Potter," Nott said.
"Afraid he is going to break out like Malfoy and come after you?" Harry asked.
"I'd be careful, Potter," Nott said, "I still have to get you back for hexing me in front of that big oaf, Hagrid. Luckily for you, your little girlfriend is with you. I don't hex girls."
"Lucky for you, Nott, I don't either," Ginny said.
Nott scoffed and turned back toward the castle.
"I told you to leave him alone, Nott!" Daphne said, as Nott walked by her, "Snape is mad at him for no reason. He should be mad at me. I messed up those ingredients."
"Whatever," Nott said, "What do you fancy Longbottom or something?"
Nott cackled and walked off back toward the castle. Daphne blushed as she turned and looked at Neville.
"Neville, I'm sorry," Daphne said, "I told him to leave you alone, but he doesn't listen. I was actually looking for you because I wanted to thank you for helping me with the ingredients. He followed me, I guess."
"Er... we were partners," Neville said, "It was something I needed to do."
"Well, we can be partners again if you want," Daphne said, "You're good at Potions when Snape isn't around. If we do better, maybe he won't pester you."
"Er... thanks, Daphne," Neville said, "I might take you up on that offer."
Daphne blushed lightly.
"I'll see you later then, Neville," she said, then walked off back toward the castle.
Neville looked at Daphne then shrugged and looked back at Luna. Luna clutched Neville's hand in hers and laid her head on his shoulder. Neville smiled as he laid his head against hers.
Do you think Daphne does fancy Neville? Ginny asked.
Dunno. Maybe she was impressed with him in Potions?
Either way, it doesn't seem like Luna cares. She doesn't look jealous at all.
I'm not sure I could tell when it comes to her.
True.
"So, Hermione," Ron said, obviously ignoring the public displays of affection, "what would have you seen if you faced that Boggart? A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?"
Hermione glared at Ron and threw a blade of grass at him. It only made it halfway to him, before falling lamely to the ground. Ron laughed, and Hermione's glare remained for a moment before she broke into giggles as well.
Harry and Ginny were worried that Quidditch practice would interfere with their meeting with Dumbledore, but on the first Sunday of the month, they found that the first Quidditch practice would not happen until the first weekend of October. They would be playing Slytherin the first Saturday of November, a week after the first Hogsmeade visit.
So without any upcoming Quidditch practices to worry about, Harry and Ginny only had to focus on their school work over the first full week of term.
Tonks and Remus sent a letter to Harry and Ginny Sunday morning to meet with them that afternoon. In the Defense office, Tonks talked to them about Remus telling her about the Soul-Bond. She was quite happy to discover this, because she thought Harry and Ginny were the cutest couple besides her and Remus, and thought it could not happen to two better people. They talked for nearly two hours about the Bond and what it all meant. Tonks was quite shocked to hear about what would happen when Ginny turned fourteen, but she said she would do her best to help them through it. She was also excited to hear about their plans of getting married on Ginny's birthday.
Transfiguration started off quite interesting. Professor McGonagall told them about Animagi and even transformed into her own cat. When she asked the class who was seriously considering becoming Animagi in the future, she was only a little surprised to find that Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville all rose their hands. She didn't pursue the subject however, and just moved on with the lesson, which was a bunch of questions for the students to find out how much had stayed in their minds over the summer.
In Herbology, Professor Sprout had the third years work on the yellow Butter Roses, the key ingredient to Butterbeer, that she had introduced to them their very first class back in first year. She was excited that the third years would be able to go to Hogsmeade soon, and told them that the Roses they grew, if grown right, would be a part of the Butterbeer they could buy during their visits. In Astronomy, Professor Sinistra had them study the moon, and she started listing off one day in each month of the next two terms and asked the students to tell her which phase of the moon would happen on that particular day.
"October 30th?" Professor Sinistra asked, "The day of your first Hogsmeade visit?"
"Full moon," Lavender said, then gave a wolf howl.
"Wait," Harry said, "There is a Full Moon on the day of our Hogsmeade visit?"
"Scared of werewolves, Harry?" Dean chortled.
"No," Harry said.
"Perhaps you were thinking it would be on Halloween, Mr. Potter?" Sinistra asked, "The stars, planets and moons do not care about holidays, Mr. Potter. Sometimes the Full Moon comes on Halloween, sometimes a day before or a day after. This time it is the day before Halloween. Good job, Miss Brown. And I promise you, there will be no werewolves interrupting your Hogsmeade visit."
I very much hope not, Harry thought, and heard Ginny giggle in his mind.
Arithmancy became more and more confusing the second class. Professor Vector had put six nine-square tables of numbers on the blackboard and asked them to figure out which magical number belonged in the center square of each table. Harry was quite good at math, but he was sure some of those numbers didn't add, subtract, multiply, or divide into six, seven or twelve. So it was quite complicated.
After Hagrid's first exciting class of hippogriffs, things went downward in Care of Magical Creatures, and a creature Harry hoped they would skip had made its appearance: the Flobberworm. They were still the most boring creatures in existence. What was worse was that Hagrid had said they would be looking after these creatures for the next few lessons as well.
Professor Flitwick had finally began to teach what he had been teasing the class for two years – a series of what he called "Fun Charms". The first charm of the year he taught was a noise charm. He gave them a list of incantations and told them to choose and practice one of them. He would not tell them what sound they made. Harry had one that sounded like a crack of Apparation, and he actually thought someone had apparated. When Ginny pointed her wand up in the sky and said the incantation, most of the class jumped when they heard the sound of thunder above their heads. Ginny and Harry snickered when one of the students asked if it was storming outside. Ron had one that sounded like a dog barking, and Hermione, had one that sounded like – well – flatulence. Ron had a lot of fun teasing Hermione about that one for the rest of Thursday night.
In the second lesson of Potions, they were working on the Alihotsy Draught, which would induce hysteria if drank or the fumes were inhaled. Snape had put bubble-head charms on the whole class so they couldn't inhale the fumes. Harry was quite worried about how Snape would treat Neville in the aftermath of the Boggart, but he was quite surprised. Neville and Daphne Greengrass seemed to improve from the first lesson, and Snape hadn't said a bad word against them, nor anyone else, at all.
In Ancient Runes, Professor Babbling started off the class by drawing a shape on the blackboard, which looked like a large V with lines going left and right off the tips and asking if it was the rune for 'light' or 'fire'. To his own surprise, Harry answered correctly with the answer, light, because it looked like candlelight, even though candlelight was technically a flame. Babbling then showed the rune for flame, which looked like a large W. Then he started drawing letters of the runic alphabet on the blackboard and asked them which letter it represented. After that, he let them continue on their group projects.
After the first memorable class involving Boggarts, the next lesson was just as interesting. Remus taught them about Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed: in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had gotten lost. He asked them write an essay on what they would do if they ever met one. Harry, it turned out had met one during his days as an Auror in the old timeline so he used that experience.
Neville and Luna's budding romantic relationship seemed to be only improving over the first full week of term, and every night before they went to bed, Harry would see Luna give Neville a brief kiss goodnight. Neville had yet to begin a kiss, but he certainly did return them. Harry caught Hermione watching Luna and Neville from time to time during these displays of affection, then give looks of longing toward Ron. Ginny had told Harry that she found Hermione softly talking to Crookshanks on her four-poster bed and had heard distinct phrases like "kissing" and "Hogsmeade". Ginny never heard the name Ron, but she was sure it had been there.
(Harry)
Saturday, September 11th, 1993
"Harry and Ginny Potter to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry said to the gargoyle statue, a few minutes before two-o-clock in the afternoon on the second Saturday of September.
The gargoyle raised its head and lowered, then stepped out of the way as the wall opened up into the familiar archway that led to a stairwell. Harry and Ginny walked up the stairwell and into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was not present at the moment, but Fawkes was sitting on his golden perch. The phoenix seemed to be having difficulty breathing and making gagging sounds.
"Is today your Burning Day, Fawkes?" Ginny asked, as she and Harry walked over to the perch.
Suddenly, the phoenix burst into flames and turned to ashes that fell into a little basin hanging underneath the perch.
"Ah, wonderful," Dumbledore's voice rang out, as he approached them from behind, "He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on."
Fawkes, now a tiny chick, rose from the ashes and purred as it looked up at the three.
"Phoenixes are said to be the most peaceful creatures on this planet, you know," Albus said, as he took a seat in his chair, and Harry and Ginny sat down in a loveseat, "We could learn a lot from them. Phoenixes very rarely become anger, or feel rage. They do not like to become angry. They are very emotional creatures. Do you know why phoenix tears heal?"
"No, sir," Harry said, and Ginny shook her head.
"It was once said that the very first phoenix did not originally have healing powers from her tears," Dumbledore said, "Centuries ago, a wise old man, whom most believed was a Muggle, but was actually a hermit wizard who hadn't used magic in quite some time, was assaulted by a group of thugs. A great bird found him laying almost dead near a river and flew down to him. The phoenix began crying because of what had happened to the man. The man died from his injuries, but his magic survived for a few minutes longer and the phoenix was basically 'bathed' in the essence of his magic. Because the phoenix was so openly crying, the magic entered its tear ducts. That very bird, a female, is said to be the first phoenix. Nobody knows if there was a male to begin with or if the offspring was born from the magic the man had given off when he died. So... the healing powers phoenixes have is actually magic passed on through generations."
Dumbledore looked at baby Fawkes, who was poking its head over the basin and looking at them.
"What this world would be like if everyone was as peaceful and emotional as a phoenix," Dumbledore said, with a sigh. "Alas, we are not. War rages on, and violence with it. Humans, magical and otherwise are murdered everyday. Loved ones die. We cannot control who dies and who doesn't."
"Does anyone?" Ginny asked.
"Do I believe that there is an actual entity representing Death somewhere in this universe?" Dumbledore said. "Do I believe Harry's ancestors met up with Death itself?"
Harry frowned. He hated that Dumbledore felt he could openly speak about Harry being related to the Peverells. It was like Dumbledore was taunting him.
"I do not know," Dumbledore answered himself, "But if not, then where does something like a Ressurection Stone come from? No mortal man, magical or not, could make something like that. Just like I believe no mortal man is responsible for sending you back in time, or making time turners send people back or forward in time. Something out there did that and it wasn't human. I also believe someone or something stalked Nicolas and Perenelle to their last days, hating that they were living so long."
"What?" Harry asked, trying his best not to scoff, "You think there is an all powerful... god doing this?"
"Not a god," Dumbledore said, "I doubt Fate or Death would call themselves gods."
"Fate and Death?" Ginny asked.
"Very few people believe they are real," Dumbledore said, "And yet you own a strip of Death's Cloak, Mr. Potter."
"How do you know it isn't a really powerful Demiguise cloak?" Harry challenged.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Do you believe it is, my boy?"
"Don't answer a question with another question," Harry said, "It is annoying."
"I apologize," Dumbledore said, raising a hand momentarily, "I was not trying to provoke you. With that, I believe we should begin our lesson. I thought we could start this meeting with a bit of reminiscence. I spoke to Professor Lupin after your incident with the Boggart."
"He told you what we fear most, didn't he?" Ginny asked.
"He did," Dumbledore said, "But I could have guessed it myself. I remember the day I told you that Bond-mates could not die unless they died together. It was hard seeing your faces. I believe that has fed on to your fears overtime, and soon became your biggest fear. The fear of losing each other. Or you dying at the same time when you could have prevented it. I can see it would take a great debate between the two of you before you ever left each other's side to face something that could lead to your death. The problem is if you both go to an event that could result in your death, you could fall at the same time, and therefore die."
"Better to die together than be separated from each other," Ginny said.
"Is it?" Dumbledore asked, "Do you agree, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes," Harry said, "I could not be separated from her."
"I'm sorry to say I find that selfish," Dumbledore said. "You two would walk into the face of death, just so you could remain together before and after death. And yet I wonder if you had just given any thought to your family, your godfather, his wife, your friends? A future where you could have your own family?"
"You speak as if we plan on walking to our death any day now," Harry said.
"Do you not?" Dumbledore asked.
Before Harry could retort, Ginny squeezed his hand.
"Not a year and a half ago, you met with Professor Quirrel," Dumbledore said, "Rescued the stone, but almost died in the process. In June, you went down to the Chamber of Secrets to rescue students and could have been killed down there. And yet you did both events together."
"We told you we will not separate from each other!" Ginny said.
"So you chance walking together to your death with every step you make," Dumbledore said.
"No different than any other day," Ginny said. "We could walk out this door and be met with two Killing Curses."
"I am sure that wasn't an insult on my security on this school," Dumbledore said, "nor the Aurors protecting these halls?"
Ginny blushed. "No, sir, I only meant -"
Dumbledore raised a hand. "I know what you meant. Do you know I have counted at least five times during this conversation where I thought you might destroy my office again, through your rage?"
"We have felt no heat in our minds," Harry said, and Ginny nodded, "We recognize our warning system now."
"Did you recognize it when you destroyed that Boggart?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes," Harry said.
"And yet you still acted on it," Dumbledore said.
"Yes," Harry said, sighing, "We did."
"That is why we are having these lessons," Dumbledore said, "So you do not act on it. I want the two of you to sit in the center of the floor behind you. Cross-legged, facing each other."
Harry looked at Ginny and she shrugged.
Let's see where this goes, she said.
Harry nodded and stood up with Ginny. They rounded the love seat and walked to the center of the floor, then sat down, facing each other, and crossed their legs.
"Hold hands," Dumbledore said.
Harry held out his hands in between his and Ginny's laps, and she placed her palms on his then they entwined their hands.
"Close your eyes," Dumbledore said; they did as he said, "and picture yourself somewhere. A favorite location for the two of you perhaps. Some place you've felt most at peace. I will continue talking. When you cannot hear me, you are at peace and you can open your eyes. This is a form of meditating, and if you are at peace, you will find yourself in that location you picture in your head. Muggles call this inner peace. It sometimes takes many years to gain such..."
Dumbledore's voice trailed off and Harry opened his eyes. He was standing in the middle of a very familiar orchard of trees, and instantly realized it was the orchard at the Burrow. This was the first place he had gone to at the Burrow the day he had come back in time.
Was he dreaming? Was he perhaps really there? Was this what Dumbledore referred to as 'inner peace'? He could almost feel the cool breeze sweep through his mind, and hear the leave bristling, and smell the scent of... smoke?
He sniffed again – yes, he definitely smelled smoke. Was Dumbledore lighting candles back in the office? He walked forward in the direction of the Burrow and heard a crackling sound from a far. Wood burning? What was Dumbledore doing?
Then as he reached the edge of the orchard, he saw a horrifying sight. The Burrow was on completely aflame! What looked like shapes were swirling in the flames around the house. Fiendfyre.
He tried to run toward the house and found that he could. But as he started running, he heard a sudden scream come from the driveway. He turned and saw Ginny there. He was about to call for her, when he saw a figure walking toward her, with their wand pointed at her. Harry twisted his hand, but his wand didn't appear. And then he saw a beam of green heading straight toward Ginny.
He screamed and opened his eyes.
He was back in the office, still sitting cross-legged. He inhaled and exhaled, and saw that Ginny was staring at him with wide eyes, panting hard.
"Did you find your place of peace?" Dumbledore asked.
"No!" Ginny growled, crying out, "I was – I was having the same nightmare I had over the summer. The Burrow was on fire... fiendfyre."
"I saw the same thing," Harry said, "I was coming out of the orchard and I saw you in the distance, and someone sent a Killing Curse at you."
"Pansy," Ginny said, "I knew this past summer when I woke up from it the first time that it wasn't a prophetic nightmare."
Harry turned to Dumbledore. "I thought you said we'd find peace!"
"These things take time, Harry," Dumbledore said, "It may take weeks before you find your peaceful place inside your minds, where you can be together. Tell me... when was the last time you shared a dream or a nightmare?"
Harry looked at Ginny, and she frowned and shook her head.
"It has been a few weeks, I guess," Harry said, "Quite a while."
"It is because of your rage, I believe," Dumbledore said, "You need to find peace in your minds, and control your rage, and then you will dream together again."
"But we shared this nightmare just now," Ginny said.
"Neither of you were sleeping," Dumbledore said, "It was something you must have remembered Ginny when you were thinking of a place to go in your mind – perhaps even just a moment – and you two met up in the same location, but in a scene that turned out to be a nightmare."
"That makes sense, I suppose," Ginny said.
"I urge you to practice this together," Dumbledore said, "Perhaps every night before you go to sleep. If you clear your minds, kind of like Occlumency, and think of your peaceful place, then soon enough you will find you can dream together again. I think we have discovered why you are getting angry so easy and why your Bond is bringing these sparks of heightened power out of you. It is because you have not had any dreams together. In dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. We can swim in the deepest ocean or glide over the highest cloud. You two just need to find those clouds again."
"Yes, sir," Harry said.
"You two are dismissed for now," Dumbledore said, "We will meet two weeks from now. Same time. Same place. Remember your homework every night before you go to bed."
Harry and Ginny stood up. Harry made to leave the office, then Ginny held his hand and stopped him. She turned to Dumbledore.
"Er... wait, sir," Ginny said, "We almost forgot something."
"Yes?" Dumbledore asked.
"Professor Vector," Ginny said, "Our big project this year in Arithmancy is to discover our magical cores and how powerful they are."
"I am aware of that, Mrs. Potter," Dumbledore said, "I requested Professor Vector assign this to the third years."
"You told her to assign us this?" Harry asked, "She could discover our Soul-Bond! Or worse our other secret! Our magical cores are already more powerful than normal!"
"Professor Vector is, I believe, the smartest witch in this school, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, "It is very possible she will discover your secret."
"So why do you give her this stepping stone?" Ginny asked.
"Because I feel Septima Vector can give you as much help as I can with your Bond," Dumbledore said, "She understands magical cores more than anyone."
"You want her to help us?" Harry asked.
"Ah, let's see if she truly does figure out your secrets on her own," Dumbledore said. "If she does, then I believe she has every right to help you. You are excused."
That did not go how I planned it at all, Harry said, as he and Ginny left the office,
Nor I. What do we do?
We could always lie about our magical cores.
You know... I hadn't thought of that. We might very well do that if we can't think of anything else. Because I do not see how Vector can help us at all.
Me either. Ginny? Why didn't you tell me about your nightmare?
Because I was afraid it would happen for real.
Pansy's dead, Ginny. She is not coming back.
Still doesn't mean the other half of that nightmare couldn't happen.
Going to do some time-skips coming up soon. I really want to get to Hogsmeade chapter, but I have a couple of other planned things first.
Bonus points if you already know where the sentence Hermione read that has to do with a Muggle story comes from. Either way, you'll find out what it comes from next chapter.
Yes, I am thinking of doing a Luna/Neville/Daphne triangle storyline just to make things interesting. Some reviewers have commented that Neville and Luna need something interesting to happen with them, and this might just be it!
More to come soon!