Chapter 21

Harry had to wait three more days before his leg was strong enough to support his weight fully and carry him to the kitchen, he had spent every waking hour flexing the muscle around his knee and pushing himself to cross the room and back, knowing that he would need all of his strength to get out of the room, find his real wand and the diluminator which would return him immediately to Ginny, and make it past the wards in order to use it. When darkness fell he did not stop pushing himself, his determination to get back to Ginny as soon as he could spurred him to keep pushing, there was no pain in the joint but each time he felt it buckle his frustration would get the better of him but her haunting eyes would make him get back up and try again. Finally he managed to walk across the room and back again three times and still felt strong enough to continue, he knew the time had come and he was waiting for an opportunity to leave he heard Annala leave the shack, probably to find wood for the fire and took his chance. He limped across the room, his determination spurring him on and made it to the kitchen, frantically he searched every cupboard in the room until he eventually found a long black box at the back of one of them. Taking it down and placing it on the table he opened the box and stared down upon his holly wand and the silver diluminator, throwing the diluminator in his pocket he picked up the wand and felt a warmth that only his own wand could give him, it felt like it was an extension of his arm, it felt natural and comfortable and as he waved it around in the air he felt his resolve grow stronger and stronger.

"What are you doing?" said an angry voice behind him, he spun around quickly and came face to face with Annala a look of mingled shock and anger on hers, he matched the face with his own anger and pointed his real wand at her.

"The game is up Annala, I know everything," she gasped and looked a little scared, "That's right, the whole story, I am Harry Potter not Dudley Dursley, that was the persona I took on when I began my mission to help the Romanian Ministry take down this gang of wizards you seem to have allied yourself with." She began to look around wildly not really knowing what she was searching for. "You have failed, Annala, I will never help a dark wizard no matter what, you could not convince me that I was bad, I knew deep down that it was wrong, my memories may have been hidden but my morals and beliefs were still there, you couldn't take them away." His wand was trained on her and she had re-entered the shack unarmed and was now totally at his mercy.

"But, how did you? The potion, you've been taking the potion, how can your leg be so strong and your memory?"

"Oh you have your little friend to thank for that, the one who called a few nights ago, the one who told you to make sure that I was not given anything familiar that I could latch onto, but he made the mistake, he said my name and the black wall in my mind came tumbling down."

"But still the potion, I've seen you drinking it." She said edging her way along the counter to where her wand was.

"You forget, I am a powerful wizard, you may have given me a wand that I could not connect with but a good wizard can use any wand if they need to, I managed to extract a transfiguration spell from the tangle in my brain, a simple spell which turns any liquid to water, no matter how potent it's contents might be, did you not wonder why I was suddenly carrying my wand with me all the time? I worked out that the potion was hindering my leg's progress not helping it and I haven't taken it since before Christmas, I have built myself up, made myself stronger and stronger and my breakthrough came when you and your accomplice told me the rest three nights ago, you opened the floodgates, and I may have lost nine months of my life but you are not taking any more of it. Incarcerous," he called loudly and ropes flew from the end of his wand binding Annala and leaving her in the middle of the room, eyes flying wildly in their search for an escape, "Don't worry I won't kill you, I am not a murderer, I will leave your friends to find you and let them do whatever it is they do with a failure."

"I think you are just a little too late Harry," said a deep drawling voice from the kitchen doorway, Harry spun around to face a large thick set man standing with his wand pointed at Harry, "My mistake was it? Well I can't have that getting back to Lestrange can I? I will just have to deal with you myself, I can say I stumbled upon you attacking the poor defenceless Annala, which would not be a lie," he cackled.

"The lie is what you have been making me live for the last nine months, how dare you?" Harry spat in response.

"How dare I? Were you not the one living that lie to try and collect information on my master and his followers? You started the lie, why should we not continue it in order to gain something much more powerful than we had?"

"Well it went wrong didn't it? You used the wrong person to wipe my memory, it was only hidden, it was never gone!"

"That doesn't matter now, you won't be going back, my master will have to do without your power as I will kill you, Annala will back up my story when I explain that your memory returned and you attacked her, say goodbye to the world Harry Potter, Avada Ke-"

"Crucio," Harry called and the man began to scream as his body attempted to turn itself inside out, "Made me a torturer? Then feel my torture!" Annala screamed and struggled against her bonds desperate to hide from the attack for fear she would be hit by a stray curse but it was useless, Harry was a trained auror and a powerful wizard, his spells were strong and she could not release herself from the bonds. The man stopped screaming as Harry lowered his wand and removed the curse, he lay without moving on the floor and Harry used the opportunity to bind him as he had Annala, before leaving the shack he reiterated his comment, "I will leave your friends to find you and let them do whatever it is they do with a failure." He spat these words as he walked away taking nothing with him except for his wand and the diluminator which was now gripped in his hand, still inside his pocket.

He walked for a few yards before taking the diluminator out of his pocket, clicking it slowly he watched as a ball of light flew out and hovered in the air in front of him, he was going to see Ginny again, the light was going to take him to her wherever she was, like it had always been meant to do, but this time it was to save him and not her. The light hovered for a moment longer before it went into his body and Harry found himself being transported through the air rapidly, he was feeling disorientated when he landed in front of a tall, familiar building, his home and the place in which he was about to see the woman who had haunted his dreams for the last nine months, never giving up on him.

He was afraid to enter the house now that he had arrived, and found himself standing on the doorstep stock still and barely breathing, she would be on the other side of that door and he would once again be able to stare deeply into the real eyes which had been with him all the time but now he was scared of what he might find in them, and when she saw him would she know it was him? He could not transfigure his appearance without someone from the Ministry and the appearance he had was far from that of Harry Potter. He took a deep breath and readied himself to enter, opening the door with his wand he heard the usual alerts sound and he braced himself for what was to come.

Ginny was sitting by the kitchen fire skim reading through a copy of Witch Weekly when she heard the alerts go off in the house, she looked up towards the kitchen door with a confused look on her face, only two other people in the world could enter the house without being brought in and as far as she knew one of them was upstairs with her son, which meant…her heart skipped a beat. She rose from her chair slowly and began walking steadily to the kitchen doorway, every footstep she took seemed to echo through her body as she tried to imagine who was on the other side of the door. She reached it and peered around the doorframe to look down the hallway of number twelve Grimmauld Place, her breath caught in her mouth when she saw a tall, bulky figure limping slowly towards her.

She had seen the man before, in a picture but never in the flesh, he had shoulder length blonde hair, a deep scar ran above his eyebrow in the exact place where Harry's lightening bolt was, his face was filled with apprehension and fear but she looked past that as he grew nearer and she noticed something in his eyes, a deep look of longing which was echoed in her own, "Harry?" she asked barely audibly and he nodded at her, relief washing over him in waves that she had not begun to scream and shout or hex him into oblivion when she had seen a person whom she did not recognise. He stumbled further forwards desperate to take the slim waif of a girl in his arms and hold her like he would never let her go but he heard an incantation from the steps to her right followed by a rope which bound his arms to his sides, he stood stock still.

"Charlie, what are you doing?" Ginny screamed, "It's…" her breath caught before she said his name, afraid that she was dreaming and if she spoke it then it would all disappear, "…Harry," she whispered.

"We don't know that for sure Ginny," Charlie's wand was trained on the intruder standing before both of them, he too had heard the alerts go off and darted down the stairs to stop his sister rushing headlong into the arms of this man. He desperately hoped that it was Harry standing in front of them and knew it was highly unlikely to be anyone else as he had entered the house but he had to be rational and be sure before he allowed him to reacquaint himself with his vulnerable sister.

"Charlie, I know it is him," she pleaded looking up into Harry's eyes once more and seeing the pain and longing that had been in hers for so long, "I can see it in his eyes," she finished softly oozing love for this unattractive man standing before her.

"No, Ginny, we do not know that this really is Harry and without proof I will not let you invite him into your home and your arms, you have waited long enough, if this really is Harry, then you can wait a while longer." Harry was listening to the altercation going on in front of him and though he longed to hold Ginny again he was respectful of Charlie and his need for proof and was prepared to wait.

"But-" she begged desperately.

"Ginny, before he left Harry asked us to protect you and that is what I am doing, if this is him then he will see the sense and allow me to keep him here until we have the proof." Ginny was about to counter argue when Harry said, "He's right, Ginny, let him do what he has to do, thank you Charlie."

"Charlie go and get Abery, he can transfigure him back to his real self, hurry." But the elder Weasley shook his head at the desperate girl, "I am not leaving you and James in this house with a possible stranger," he held up his hand to her as she tried to interrupt again, "I hope to God that this is really Harry but I have to take precautions and if it is him then I'm sure Harry will agree and understand why I have had to do it," he looked at the rough looking hulk standing in front of him and Harry nodded. He was desperate to hold his wife again but knew that Charlie was doing the right thing, and the thing Harry himself had begged them to do for him before he left. "Go and get Abery and I will wait here with him," he tried to sound relaxed as though he truly believed that this was Harry and was deeply sorry about having to treat him this way when he had been away from them for so long, but he had to do what was best for his sister and nephew. When he had heard the alerts he had known that it had to be Harry, but when confronted with a stranger's appearance, even though he knew Harry would not look the same, his instincts had kicked in. "Ginny go," he shouted but the girl turned to look at the bound and burly man in front of her who nodded to her and whispered, "Hurry," she turned on her heel running flat out to the fireplace where she disappeared seconds later in a whirl of green flames.

Charlie never took his eyes or his wand off of Harry but he didn't say another word until Ginny arrived back moments later with a much stronger looking Abery in her wake, he approached the constrained man and gave him one look before saying, "This is Harry, this is the appearance he took on for the mission, give me a minute." Ginny held her breath as Abery took his own wand from his robes and waved it above Harry's head while muttering an incantation under his breath, in front of their eyes the tall, thick set man with long blonde hair began to morph. The grimaces on his face told them all that the transformation was painful but Harry never uttered a single sound, slowly his size began to decrease and the blonde hair grew darker and darker until it became it's usual raven colour, the dark eyes changed into dazzling green ones and the lightening bolt scar on his head reformed.

Minutes later standing before them in the hallway of Grimmauld Place was the young and worn looking Harry Potter, Abery saw the shred of uncertainty still in Charlie's eyes and said, "It is him, the spell was to revert back to his original appearance, whatever that is. There is no question that this is Harry." Charlie's whole body visibly relaxed and with a flick of his wand the ropes binding Harry's arms to his sides disappeared, "Thanks," Harry croaked. Realising that his sister would want to be alone Charlie ushered Abery out of the hallway and back to the kitchen closing the door softly behind them.

Neither of them moved both still a little afraid that if they did it might all turn out not to be true, Ginny had not taken her eyes from his face throughout the entire transformation and she was still staring at him in disbelief. Her feet had turned to lead and would not move her anymore, a small trickle of tears began to fall down her face as Harry looked at her longingly, slowly and carefully he edged his way closer to her, desperately afraid to reach out and touch her now that he was so close, he had been gone for such a long time, would her feelings for him have changed?

His question was answered as he reached her and he tentatively lifted his hands up to brush the tears from her face, as his fingers grazed her cheeks she sagged with relief and lifted up her own hands, placing them on either side of his face she pushed herself up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips gently. It felt as though his entire body had melted as he pulled her tightly into his embrace and deepened the kiss, her arms wrapped around his head and pulled him closer as she continued to kiss him with a passion which had lain dormant inside her for ten months now. Finally and reluctantly they pulled apart and he stared down into the deep, soulful eyes which had haunted him for so long, their was no hurt or pain in them like the ones in his dreams, just joy and relief and tears. She smiled at him and he kissed the tip of her nose, "I can't believe it," she said softly still staring into his eyes and smiling, "I knew you were alive but it felt like you were never coming home."

"I promised you that I would come back, I'm so sorry that it has taken me a long time but now I am here," he muttered. Holding Ginny in his arms felt natural and wonderful, he never wanted to let go and they stood in the draughty hallway clinging to each other but soon realised they would need to go into the kitchen where he would have to explain a few things. Refusing to let her go he walked slowly to the door with his arm around her and opened it to find Charlie and Abery sitting at the table waiting anxiously for them to enter, they both nodded at him and Charlie apologised for the way he had treated him when he had appeared in the hallway. "After all," he had continued, "It was hardly what you needed when you came through the door. It is clear you have been through enough."

"No, but it's what I should have expected Charlie, you did the right thing, I asked you to protect Ginny and you did. For that I will be eternally grateful." He looked down again at his wife and sat down at the table to rest his aching knee, apparently the injury did not go away with the body of Dudley Dursley, Ginny stood behind him rubbing his shoulders needing to be in constant reach of him just to assure herself that she wasn't dreaming. "Where is Kreacher?" he asked wondering why the elf had not appeared yet. Charlie eyed Ginny before saying slowly, "With James," he then looked at Harry to see the reaction he had.

"Who is James?" he asked curiously.

"I er...think you two have some catching up to do, we'll leave you to it and go and tell everyone the good news, I think you need some time alone and though I know everyone will be anxious to see you Harry, we'll keep them away until the morning. Maybe this security system will finally pay off for you Gin, there's only me who can get in without an appointment!" he smiled at the couple and waved a goodnight before disappearing in a whirl of flames.

"What happened Abery?" Harry asked the remaining man.

"Not tonight my friend, we will catch up on everything in the morning, you have enough to catch up on for now. It's good to see you Harry! Goodnight Ginny," he bade as he too stepped into the fireplace and disappeared.

Once they were alone again Harry pulled Ginny onto his knee and put his arms around her waist, he knew he had missed her terribly all the time he had been away even though he had not known it and the last few days of waiting had been murderous, he could not begin to imagine what it must have been like for her. He kissed her again, still being tentative as he was aware that it had been a long time since she had shared such contact with him. "I have missed you so much," he whispered. "But what else have I missed? Where is Kreacher and who is James?" Ginny smiled at her husband and stood up, she proffered her hand which he took while rising out of his seat and she led him across the room.

She noticed that he was limping and stopped to look at him, "What's the matter with…?" she gestured to his knee but he mouthed the word "Later," so she continued to lead him out of the kitchen, up the stairs and towards their own bedroom. As they entered the room Kreacher began to jump up and down with excitement, Harry was amazed that he was so happy to see him but could not understand why he was making hushing noises as he jumped around and appeared to whoop silently. "Kreacher, you may see Mr Potter tomorrow, please retire to the kitchen, I have someone to introduce him to." The elf nodded and skipped out of the room whispering, "Mr Potter, so good to see you sir, Kreacher will see you soon and if Mistress needs me she must only call, Kreacher will be here for all the Potters."

Harry was now feeling more and more confused until Ginny took his hand once more and led him towards a small basket sat on the bedside, as he peered into the basket he gasped loudly and looked at his wife who was beaming back at him. Harry turned back to look at the small, peaceful baby laid in the basket, the baby with his exact nose and face shape, he was completely speechless, "Harry," Ginny said softly coming to stand beside him and reaching in to pick up the child in her arms, "Meet your son, James Sirius Potter." She held out the baby who had now opened his eyes and Harry took him in his arms, his heart melted as soon as he touched him and he suddenly felt an all consuming love for the little bundle in his arms. Looking at his now open and curious eyes he noted that they were like Ginny's, "But when…?" he drifted off.

"Just after Christmas," she replied still smiling at him, her heart had soared to finally see her beautiful son in the arms of his father, the man whom she loved beyond anything else. "So…when?" he enquired.

"The night we argued," she looked at him still radiating happiness and saw a frown cross his face, "But we were so rough and lustful." He was a little disturbed by the news that such a primal sort of act had been able to create such a wonderful thing. "No, passionate," she corrected, "Passion for each other, not lust, passion fuelled the argument, we were angry because we cared so much for each other, you were trying to protect me and I was trying to keep you here with me, that was what caused the argument, if we had not been so passionate about each other it would not have led to us both needing to let out our rage in the way that we did. That sex and passion for each other, borne from our love for each other, was the very thing which created the most special thing in the world, something which we created ourselves and something which will be ours forever, cemented by our passion." She had made it sound so beautiful and he placed the infant back in the basket so he could pull her into his arms and kiss her gently but passionately this time, reminding her of just how much love he had for her, love that he knew he would never take away again, not now, not after she had given him the most precious thing in the world, a son who she had named for his father and godfather something he thought made him love her even more.

That's not quite it, there's another chapter and an epilogue to follow, so don't give up yet!!