Author's Note:
This marks the first chapter that has truly adult content. It's at the end, so if you don't want to read it, pay attention to the bold warning. Also, I'm sorry that this has taken longer than I expected. I rather spontaneously quit smoking late Sunday night, and I've been in full blown withdrawal ever since. This does not make writing easier, and I'm feeling pretty stupid and muddled. And twitchy. And if it seems pretty confusing, I'm trying to give Harry a good attitude about being in hiding, but I'm currently in bitch-from-hell mode. Alas… more difficulties. But here it is!
Harry knew about the outcome of his trial before anyone could tell him because his scar pulsed, and he felt a quivering flash of happiness. As he was dueling Mad-Eye Moody at the time (and losing badly), he rightfully attributed this to Voldemort. He held up his hand to end the duel.
"No time to rest, Potter!" Mad-Eye said. "I told you we'd be practicing as much as we can while we're hiding from the Ministry."
"Give me a moment," Harry said. "I just got sentenced to Azkaban."
Moody's mouth sagged open. He looked around the room, obviously searching for a Patronus of some kind, and then stared at Harry. "Just this moment?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "Voldemort told me."
"Er—"
"When he tried to kill me, he transferred some of his powers to me," Harry said carefully. "Didn't I – they – tell you this? It's why I can speak Parseltongue, and why I can sometimes feel what he's feeling… if it's a particularly strong emotion."
"You can read You-Know-Who's mind?"
"Not really," Harry shrugged. "Just his emotions. Sometimes I'll have visions though, of what he's doing. And that's not very comfortable, let me tell you. If you ever doubt that Voldemort is the most evil bastard who ever walked the earth, just come find me. I'll set you straight."
"Let's ask Kreacher for a spot of tea, shall we?" Moody said after a long silence.
Harry followed him out of Sirius' mother's bedroom (which Dumbledore had turned into a dueling room, with Sirius' whole-hearted approval), down two flights of stairs, and into the kitchen. Kreacher was humming (though it sounded more like he was croaking) a tune and preparing dinner. Harry automatically reached for cups and a kettle, but had his hand swatted away by magic.
"If Master Harry needs anything, he must ask Kreacher," the house-elf said reproachfully. "Kreacher is here to help. Master Harry has other things to worry about."
"You're right about that," Moody growled. He stumped over to the table, sat down, and propped his wooden leg up on an empty chair. "We'd like some tea, if you wouldn't mind, Kreacher."
"Kreacher is happy to serve," Kreacher said.
"I have to say that you've taken to confinement very well," Moody said. "I'm wondering if you're not an explosion waiting to happen."
Harry examined his feelings, as he had for nearly every day for the last month. He had not expected himself to be pleased with his situation… yet he was. Frankly, the Ministry could sod off, for all he cared. Being sentenced to Azkaban was something he had expected since he got Dumbledore's Patronus; he'd only needed a moment to adjust. He took a sip of tea.
"I'm not," he said. "I can deal with the manhunt, actually. At the height of the anti-Harry Potter sentiment, the Ministry was offering one million galleons for my capture. I've already dealt with this before."
"Dumbledore tells me you used to have friends that you don't have now," Moody said. "That bothering you?"
Harry felt a flash of bitterness when he thought of the Weasleys. He closed his eyes against it, and the rune that had haunted him since the end of his third year was apparently painted on the backs of his eyelids. He opened them again. "It does," Harry answered honestly. "But I refuse to let it affect what we're trying to do. Actually, the Weasleys that worry me the most are Ginny and Ron. I can't imagine why they haven't shown up by now."
"You sure they haven't turned on you?"
Harry snorted. "Trust me. That is one thing that they would never, ever do. You'll find out when you meet them. I've been amazingly lucky with my friends – both this time and last time – and you'll find out why."
"I'll believe you for now, Potter," Moody said. "But don't bottle it in. If you're feeling down, let me know and we'll go find some Death Eaters to take down."
Harry laughed. The idea was a good one… he did want to rustle up a few of Voldemort's supporters. But he didn't want to make any moves like that until Ron and Ginny had joined him. Where are they? "That'll have to wait," he told Moody. "Besides… taking out Lockhart will be just as fun as taking out Death Eaters. I'm thinking of taking pictures and exposing his gross incompetence… thought I'd send it to Witch Weekly. I might even give them a quote…"
"And we're still waiting for the others to do that?"
"Just another week," Harry said. "We can't afford to wait any longer than that; if Lockhart is going to cause trouble, he's going to do it once the news hits the Prophet tomorrow."
Harry thought of the plan they had made, and felt such bliss about it that he could not stop the broad smile from spreading across his face. It was perfect, in all ways but one. They should have done this much sooner. Ron had been right… but in the aftermath of his exile from the Burrow, and finding Sirius, all of them had forgotten. He thought of how it was the perfect revenge for being Obliviated, and his grin grew even wider.
"Care to share what's so funny?" Moody asked.
"Lots of things, actually," Harry said. "Imagining Lockhart's comeuppance… the fact that the Ministry of Magic is compiled of so many morons that they have no idea that they're working with us…"
"I've always said they were a bunch of boobies," Moody said.
Startled by the slang, Harry threw back his head and laughed. It felt good, laughing did. This was one of the reasons why he had not begun feeling resentful and angry with the rest of the Wizarding world. The fact that Dumbledore could so skillfully manipulate the Ministry to further their aims… the fact that he now had Tonks and Moody on his side… even the fact that he did not have to go back to school and face Umbridge, but could instead take an active role in the war… He felt like he had a talisman in his chest, guarding against feelings of ill-use.
Moody then did something that surprised Harry a great deal. He opened his mouth, and a chuckle escaped. The chuckle turned into a belly laugh. Harry did not think he had ever seen Moody let loose before, and it only made Harry laugh harder.
"Bloody… boobies…" Harry gasped.
"I can't wait to see their faces," Moody said. "Every last one of them. Especially Fudge's, that fool."
"Do you think they've gone mad?" Tonks asked. She sounded greatly amused.
"If that's madness, I want some," Sirius said.
"Hey, everyone," Harry said. He threw a casual glance toward the door. Everyone except Snape – who was currently dancing attendance on Voldemort – crowded around the threshold, as though afraid of entering. Honestly, he didn't know why they continued to think that he was going to fly off the handle. Did they really think that he hadn't expected this to happen? "We're just talking about the mass stupidity of the Ministry. Voldemort's back and they're immediately trying to eff everything up."
"I'll be surprised if no one figures it out," Sirius said. "Voldemort is on the move and those at the Ministry who have anything between their ears—"
"Precious few of them, you mean," Moody said.
"—will notice that something isn't quite right," Sirius said.
Harry asked. He chortled again. "I don't think we have to worry about the boobies at the Ministry figuring out that Voldemort's back. Not until we're good and ready to let them know, that is."
"Aren't you at all curious about the trial?" Remus asked. "You do remember that it was today, yes?"
"Potter already knows," Moody said. "Said You-Know-Who told him."
"He was very happy about something," Harry explained. "I thought it must be because of the trial. So is it life in Azkaban, or am I to be Kissed straight away?"
"Life in Azkaban," Sirius said. "Mostly because you're still underage, we think."
"Well?" Harry said. "Tell me everything."
Harry listened carefully as Dumbledore told him of how Cedric Diggory and Viktor Krum had testified. Fleur Delacour had as well, though her statements were not as damning as Cedric's and Krum's. He wondered about that; was it possible that she remembered that he had helped her escape the Grindylows during the second task?
"—and Augusta Longbottom and Xenophilius Lovegood defended you," Sirius said. "I was ready to stand up and applaud, honestly. I didn't, though. Mustn't let them think I don't hate you."
"They did?" Harry said blankly. He remembered vaguely that Neville's Gran had believed Harry and Dumbledore last time when they had tried to tell the world that Voldemort had returned. And Luna and her father had believed as well. But this was quite, quite unexpected. He wondered if Neville and Luna had told them anything… but no, they wouldn't. "Why were they witnesses, though?"
"They weren't," Remus said. "They interrupted the proceedings. Xeno did it first, and then Augusta did. I believe they're being questioned – don't look like that, Harry, the Ministry won't torture them."
"How d'you know?" Harry asked.
"Because they are still playing by the rules," Dumbledore said. "I made sure of that before I departed. I reminded them that a difference in opinion does not make someone a public enemy or a threat."
Harry nodded. He may not trust the methods that the Ministry employed, but he did trust Dumbledore. He would have to find some way to warn Neville, Luna, and Hermione that they could not be openly supportive of him, and neither could their parents. He wasn't worried about Mr. and Mrs. Granger – they were Muggles, after all. But the Ministry could very well decide (once they reached advanced states of paranoia) that Mrs. Longbottom and Mr. Lovegood were in collusion with Harry.
Dumbledore (with the help of the others) told him every last detail. Except for one.
"I spoke to the Weasleys," Sirius said. "They said—"
"No," Harry held up his hand. "I don't want to know what they said. I can guess well enough; I don't want to hear it."
Everyone besides Dumbledore exchanged uncomfortable glances. Dumbledore certainly was aware of the situation; the look in his eye was so full of compassion that Harry had to look away. Harry did not want to have to think about the fact that sometimes he woke up wishing that he had the closest thing he'd ever had to a family again. It didn't help that at those times the image of the rune was so bright that he could almost see it with his eyes open.
"You will be interested to know," Dumbledore said after a long, awkward pause, "that Gilderoy Lockhart has petitioned to have a hearing before the Wizengamot."
"Is that normal?" Harry said blankly. "What – he's going to turn himself in?"
"No," Dumbledore said. "I believe he is going to attempt to take advantage of your… unpopularity, and attempt to be rewarded or compensated for what happened in the Chamber of Secrets. The function of the Wizengamot is not only to judge but also to reward, you know."
"You know him," Sirius put in. "He only wants recognition; he's a very greedy boy."
"And did the Wizengamot agree?"
"We did," Dumbledore said. "His hearing will be in three days."
"Ron and Ginny had better get here soon," Harry murmured. "Otherwise we'll have to do it without them. This changes things, though," he grinned, "and makes our lives a hell of a lot easier."
Harry expected that the Daily Prophet would give Harry's trial front page status; he was rather notorious, after all. He simply did not expect it to be in the Evening Prophet, and when the delivery owl flew in an open window, and Harry saw his own face blinking up from a photo taken by Rita Skeeter last year. "They must've really hustled this one through," he said, raising his eyebrows. Harry did the honors of reading it out loud.
HARRY POTTER SENTENCED TO AZKABAN!
By Aggie Lafferty
Today, on July the 21st, Harry Potter was convicted of using the Imperius Curse against Triwizard Champion, Cedric Diggory and international Quidditch player, Viktor Krum. He is also guilty of using the Cruciatus Curse (through Mr. Krum) on Fleur Delacour and Cedric Diggory. Courtroom Ten was filled to the brim with witches and wizards from all over the country. The evidence was undeniable, and the Wizengamot came back with the verdict after only minutes of deliberation.
That is not to say that the Wizarding world is able to breathe freely. Harry Potter, Dark Wizard, is still at large, despite the best efforts of the Aurors. Even private citizens are doing their best to find Potter, though the Ministry warns that Potter is extremely dangerous and it best left to the Aurors. Sirius Black, who was wrongfully convicted of crimes and sentenced to Azkaban, however, has stated that he is doing his best to keep a look out for Potter. "I never thought I would see the day that my godson went against everything his parents stood for. James and Lily are surely turning over in their graves."—
"Nice touch, Sirius," Harry said. "I'm actually really impressed – I'll bet you just won over loads of people who might still be suspicious of you…"
"Remus told me what to say," Sirius shrugged. Harry laughed. "Well… not entirely. He told me to say the 'turning over in the grave' bit. You don't think it was too much?"
"Nah," Harry said. "It'll charm all the witches. Poor Sirius Black… so abused… yet so noble…"
Albus Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is also deeply involved in the ongoing search for Potter. "I have increased the amount of protection Hogwarts has to offer, to the fullest extent of my capabilities," he assures parents. "If Potter returns, I will know it."
"Yeah, you'll know it," Harry said. "And you won't tell anyone about it, either."
"Yes," Dumbledore agreed. "But I thought it wise not to mention that. Incidentally, the wards are extremely strong. If you do need to come to Hogwarts, make sure that you go through Aberforth's pub; Aurors are already being stationed there, and I can't trust that they won't find out about the other secret passages."
"You told Aberforth?" Harry furrowed his brow.
"Not the details," Dumbledore said. "But he knows that Voldemort has returned and that I am working to help you defeat him. He will not say a thing. Sturgis Podmore, Dedalus Diggle, and Hestia Jones likewise know – do not worry, Harry, I do not intend to tell them your secret. But we need as many allies as we can get, do you not agree?"
"What about Kingsley Shacklebolt, then?" Harry asked.
"Kingsley is another matter entirely," Dumbledore said. "I've recalled the original, living members of the Order of the Phoenix. Kingsley was not a part of that. It is my hope that we can get him on our side, but it would be exceedingly dangerous to approach him with this at the moment. I could not even begin to guess what he might do. He might listen… but there is a chance that he could go to Scrimgeour and Fudge."
Harry sighed and continued to read.
Potter has been named Undesirable Number One, bumping Peter Pettigrew and Augustus Rookwood, escapees from Azkaban, down the list. The Daily Prophet wonders, however, if these two escapes are related to Potter. It is well known that Potter was indeed the one to catch Pettigrew; though there is no conclusive proof, it is not unlikely. When asked about this, Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Department, told us: "It is something that we are revisiting. There is no denying that Potter has a connection with both. He caught Pettigrew, and Augustus Rookwood worked for the Department of Mysteries, and his work involved prophecies."
"I'm Undesirable Number One again!" Harry said. "Ron's going to shit himself when he sees this… at least there is no way to connect me to Pettigrew and Rookwood. They never did work out how either of them made it out of Azkaban."
The Ministry has deduced that Potter will perhaps make an attempt to retrieve the prophecy. He is the only one alive who can do so without going insane. Therefore, the door to the Department of Mysteries is heavily guarded. "Let him come for it," Minister Cornelius Fudge said. "Then we'll catch him and throw him in Azkaban."
Remarkable though this may sound, Potter is not friendless. Augusta Longbottom and Xenophilius Lovegood stubbornly denied the fact that Potter used the Imperius Curse against Cedric Diggory and Viktor Krum. They drew on the fact that Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood are great friends with Potter. "After what happened to his parents, my grandson would never ally himself with a dark wizard. I believe there has been some mistake," she stated after the proceedings. Xenophilius Lovegood was heard saying similar things, though he was not available for comment. While it may be true that their loyalty to their progeny is what inspired this, they are at this moment being questioned about Potter's whereabouts.
Lucius Malfoy, head of the prominent Malfoy family, has a darker thought. "Strong witches and wizards have been led astray before," he said. "I wouldn't doubt that Potter has enchanted them to believe he is innocent." He has a compelling point, which I am sure the Ministry will explore.
"Can you believe how stupid they are?" Sirius asked. "Lucius Malfoy is one of the most senior Death Eaters… surely other people have realized that he bought his way out of Azkaban?"
"Galleons erase everything," Remus said. "You know that, Sirius. Merlin knows the Blacks knew that lesson better than anyone."
Sirius grimaced. "Don't remind me."
The Ministry will also be issuing pamphlets. They will be guides to helping you and your family protect themselves. Albus Dumbledore will be writing it himself, so the Daily Prophet urges you to take it very seriously.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "That's a damn good idea. Last time the pamphlets didn't go out until after Voldemort was unmasked, and they were rubbish. With you writing them, they might actually be useful."
"I hope so," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "I will attempt to live up to your exacting standards."
Harry tapped his chin, pretending to be thoughtful. "I think I have a way that you could – what did you say? Live up to my exacting standards?"
"Oh?"
"Firewhiskey," Harry said. "Not – I don't want to get drunk. But I think we all need a bit of warmth, and liquor is the way to manufacture it. And when I drink alone, I apparently start screaming at Voldemort… probably not the best idea."
"Kreacher!" Sirius called; Kreacher, who had made himself scarce upon the entry of the other members of the Order of the Phoenix, immediately appeared in the kitchen. "Would you mind going over to Godric's Hollow and getting a few bottles of firewhiskey? I think… no more than three."
Harry stared at him. "Three? I didn't really plan on drinking that much…"
"You may not," Sirius said, shrugging. "But I do. You have no idea how difficult it is to act like I've turned my back on you, Harry."
"It's a horrible feeling," Remus added. Tonks nodded her head; her hair had shifted in color from a bright, shocking pink, to a blue that was almost black. Apparently this was supposed to convey somberness.
"Besides," Sirius said. "Your father would like the idea of his best mates getting drunk with his son."
"My mum probably wouldn't, though," Harry pointed out.
"We'll just hope that she isn't watching," Sirius said.
The last time Harry had tasted firewhiskey had been one of the most gut-wrenching experiences of his life – not as bad as the aftermath of the final battle, of course, but it was awful in a different way. This time it was different. It was more relaxed… and he was not alone.
"I think we ought to make a toast," Tonks piped up unexpectedly. "I know we've already started, but…" her voice trailed away.
"A fine idea," Remus smiled at her. Harry hid his own smile; he caught Sirius' eyes and mouthed "I give them four months before they're together." Sirius shook his head, and replied, still silent "Remus has that furry little problem – it'll take him at least six months to get over it." Harry held up ten fingers for ten galleons and quirked his brow. Sirius made the thumbs-up sign.
"I'll do it," Dumbledore said. He raised his glass and looked at Harry. "To the Boy Who Lived."
Harry rolled his eyes, and drank it down anyway. He lazily flicked his wand and the others' glasses filled to the brim once more.
Sirius grinned wickedly. "To Undesirable Number One, may Ginny always and always disagree."
Harry choked on his firewhiskey and gasped, his eyes streaming. Remus snorted, and Tonks laughed. Even Dumbledore and Moody chuckled a little. He looked around the table and wished they were there.
After the toasts, they settled into the type of comfort (even Moody and Tonks) that generally bespoke of long time friends. Harry sipped his firewhiskey slowly and looked around at them all. Dumbledore, brave and cunning. Moody, wary and vigilant. Sirius' easy grin hid a keen mind… Remus' quiet air did the same. Tonks was loyal and had a heart as big as Britain. He could easily name the names of those who were not here; but he did not need to. These were the best of his allies (of the adults).
Sirius, Remus, and Tonks became steadily fuzzier as the night wore on. Dumbledore had gone back to Hogwarts, and Moody had drifted off, saying that he'd allow the 'young set' to have fun. Harry wasn't entirely sober, but he was also not transfiguring himself, as Tonks had done, into a tall, buxom lady who had obviously been some kind of sensation in the Wizarding world. Everyone else at the table seemed to recognize her. Nor was he dancing a wizard two step (that involved levitating the other person two feet after every turn and spinning her around like a top), as Remus was doing. Nor was he singing along with Sirius, who could not carry a tune. He was, however, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face.
"Your father was the one who forced us into learning how to dance," Remus said. His face was red from the drink, and he was beaming. "Remember, Sirius?"
"How could I forget?" Sirius grinned. "I lost my virginity to the instructor."
Remus gaped at him. "You're kidding? So did I!"
Harry roared with laughter. Sirius and Remus gaped at each other, and then at Harry, who was now wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his robes. Tonks lost control of shape, and sat down on her chair. Hard. "I can't believe you two nutters lost it to the same witch!"
"What did my dad say?" Harry asked. He tipped his chair back so that it balanced on two legs.
"He was trying to do damage control," Sirius replied. "He had two left feet – he was great on the Quidditch Pitch, but on a dance floor? We were all rather glad that we'd learned Episkey, because James would have been in even worse trouble if he'd—"
CRACK! Ginny appeared. Before Harry could say or do anything, there was another CRACK and Ron too arrived.
Harry was so surprised by the Apparation of Ron and Ginny that he toppled over backward and landed on the clean floor. It knocked the wind out of him; and as he lay there he noticed several things. The first of which (the most important) was that both of them looked extremely angry and annoyed. He hoped this had nothing to do with him; if Ginny was mad at him, it would take coaxing for him to be able to kiss her. The second was that neither one of them had brought anything but the robes on their backs. Harry narrowed his eyes. They weren't planning to stay?
"Are you drinking?" Ron said, and his tone was one of disbelief.
"Ron, my good man!" Sirius said.
Ron and Ginny exchanged glances; Harry could not read what might be the purpose of this silent communication. They looked almost unsure of their welcome.
"So," Ginny said. "We've left the Burrow. We're not going back, and that's final."
"What took you so long?" Harry asked. "It's been a month!"
Ron gaped at him. Ginny narrowed her eyes. Again, they exchanged looks. "You mean," Ron said in a strangled voice, "that you've been waiting for us to join you? Harry, what the hell's going on? Why aren't you brooding or, or – angry that we couldn't take it anymore and joined you in hiding? Aren't you supposed to be doing the hero thing and pushing everyone else away because you've decided to go it alone?"
Harry considered that. He probably should get up off the floor, but he found to his own surprise that he was a bit fuzzier than he initially thought. "No," he said finally.
A small warm hand grasped his and pulled him up. "No?" Ginny said. "Don't tell me you've finally learned that lesson."
"Actually," Harry said. "I figured that just because the Ministry's a bunch of boobies, doesn't mean that I should just let Voldemort roam free."
Ron laughed, though he still looked tense and shaken. "Boobies?"
"Mad-Eye taught him that word, we think," Tonks said. "He's been saying it all night."
Harry furrowed his brow and looked directly into Ginny's bright brown eyes. He did not like how they were drawn a bit at the corners, nor the unusual brightness. "Did you really think I didn't want you here? Really? And anyway, we're not really in hiding. I mean, we are, but we aren't going to stay cooped up here. Now that you two have joined us… we're going after Lockhart."
Ron smiled. "Finally."
Harry sat down in his chair and pulled Ginny onto his lap. He kissed the side of her head and murmured, "I've missed you. Why didn't you come sooner?"
"We didn't know if that would mess things up," Ron explained. "We thought you might want us, I dunno, at Hogwarts next year or something with Hermione, Neville, and Luna. Since we had no way of communicating with any of you, we thought it best to wait out the summer."
"Then what brings you here now?" Sirius asked.
Ron and Ginny stiffened and exchanged another weighted look. Harry was pretty certain that they'd had at least two reasons for leaving the Burrow: their mother and their father. Fuzzy though he might be, both of them looked frayed and ragged around the edges. Harry gritted his teeth, and a little bubble of anger popped in his belly.
"They had a row with their parents," Harry told Sirius, Remus, and Tonks. "I'm guessing it was about me," he turned to look at Ron and Ginny again. "I don't want to know the details. I really, really don't."
Ginny looked relieved. "We didn't want to tell you."
"Can we have some of that firewhiskey?" Ron asked.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Lockhart lived in a rather large and lavish townhouse on a fashionable street in London. Tonks had told them that a number of younger witches and wizards lived in this area; generally, they were the hard-partying type with little to offer the rest of the world. Harry was completely unsurprised that Lockhart had found himself here, though he had to wonder how many people had to have been Obliviated before he could afford a place like this.
Mad-Eye Moody, disguised as a distinguished older gentleman with a smooth, unscarred face, Apparated right behind Ron, Harry, and Ginny. He immediately strode back and forth around the wrought iron fence. He appeared to find what he'd been looking for; he knelt down, drew his wand, and tapped a stone. "I've got the wards," he growled. "If you three aren't out in a half and hour—"
"Don't worry, Mad-Eye," Ron said comfortably. "Lockhart hasn't got a chance. He's about as useless as they come; if we're in longer than half an hour, it's because we're laughing too hard to move."
Harry, Ron, and Ginny were not disguised with Polyjuice Potion or by the complex art of human transfiguration. This was part of the plan. Harry patted the pocket in his robes, checking to make absolute certain that the two bottles of potions Snape had made for them were still there. He could not help but grin. As soon as they were on the front stoop, Harry erected a shield that kept the door hidden from both Muggles and wizards. It was rudimentary and hastily done, but it would have to do.
Ginny pointed her wand, and blasted the door of its hinges. Harry and Ron exchanged grins. This had been a long time in coming. While Lockhart could not do much worse damage than Harry had already done for now, he could still be a threat when the truth of Voldemort's return was revealed. It was a slim chance; mostly they were doing this for personal revenge. And Harry had to admit to himself that it felt pretty good.
They did not even bother to hide themselves. This mission actually had more to do with Harry making a public appearance than humiliating Lockhart. According to Snape, Voldemort was beginning to think that Harry was dead.
Squeals and panicked movements came from upstairs. Harry climbed the stairs, followed by Ron and Ginny. Lockhart was trying to Apparate, but he could not. Moody was holding him with an anti-Apparation Jinx. Ron snorted, and Harry sent him a sideways grin.
"Professor Lockhart," Ron called. "Come out, come out. We want to talk to you!"
"GO AWAY!" Lockhart screamed. His voice sounded muffled, even through the door.
"Think he's hiding under the bed?" Harry asked.
"Let's find out," Ginny said. She did not blow the door up, but opened it with a simple "Alohamora!" Lockhart was, indeed, hiding under the bed. He was trying to be quiet, but whimpers kept escaping from him.
Ron raised his wand, and caused the heavy, four-poster bed with lavender bedclothes to slam against the opposite wall. Lockhart lay facedown with his hands over his head. He only wore a nightshirt, and Harry saw quite a different side to the fraud than he had ever wanted to see.
"Pull your shirt down," Ron said with disgust.
"You – you can't do magic," Lockhart whispered. "The Trace! The Aurors will come!"
"For you? Doubt it," Ron said. "And there's no need to be hostile. We've just come to have a little chat."
"P-p-please…" Lockhart whimpered.
"You Obliviated me," Harry said coldly. "How many times have you used your wand to take credit for someone else's achievements?"
"N-n-never! I never Obliviated you—"
Harry sent a Stinging Hex directed at his foot. "Don't lie, Lockhart."
"Harry was trying to save me and you Obliviated him," Ginny said. She turned to Harry. "What do you think we should do to him?"
"I say we kill him," Ron said loudly. Harry knew that he was only half-joking. Lockhart screamed. "Just what the cowardly little squit deserves."
"That might be a good idea," Harry said, pretending to think it over. "It would solve a lot of problems. I heard about the little hearing you have set up with the Wizengamot. I've got to admit that I don't really want you to take the credit for what I did. Especially when you could have ruined everything."
"M-m-m-m—"
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut," Ginny said. "Until we tell you to open it."
"Here's the thing, Lockhart," Harry said. He crouched down. "You aren't worth killing," he whispered. He tilted the other man's head back and poured the first potion down the man's throat. "You know what this is? It's going to force you to tell the truth."
"That means that when you go before the Wizengamot tomorrow," Ron interjected gleefully. "You're going to tell them all about how you Obliviated Harry… I wouldn't expect that to be the only Memory Charm you admit to."
"W-why?" Lockhart wailed.
"Because you're also going to give the Wizengamot a message," Harry said pleasantly. "And after that, you're going to leave the country. I expect you'll want to. I'm afraid you're going to look rather bad after tomorrow. Only seven Best Smile awards; you'll never receive another again… you're finished in Britain."
Lockhart stuttered and stammered. He was unable to tell a lie, so he could not complete what he wanted to say: "You can't force me." Lockhart knew perfectly well – the entire Wizarding world of Britain did – that Harry was capable of the Imperius Curse.
"Yes, he can," said Ron, who also had caught the gist of what Lockhart was trying to say. He nudged Lockhart with his trainer. "Everyone knows that Harry used the Imperius Curse."
"I'll tell them!" Lockhart said. "I'll tell them you were here!"
"Yeah, that's sort of the point, you arse," Ginny said. "You're going to tell the Wizengamot exactly what happened tonight."
"And give them a message from us," Ron said. Harry handed him the bottle containing the Compelling Draught, which would force Lockhart to go before the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot. "And make sure you've got a Truth-Sensor there so they'll believe you."
"Tell them: Be wary," Harry said. This was to the Wizarding population as a whole. Then, to those who supported Voldemort, and would understand the true meaning of this message, "Beware."
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GILDEROY LOCKHART: FRAUD!
By Meggie Clapham
In perhaps the most unique hearing the Wizengamot has ever held, Gilderoy Lockhart admitted to no less than forty counts of illegal Memory Charms. He stood before our judicial branch of the Ministry of Magic and told everyone there that his heroic deeds were in fact not done by him. Truth-Sensors were in place (as per the request of Lockhart), and it was revealed by Percy Ignatius Weasley, Court Scribe, that what he said was completely true.
In an even more bizarre twist of events, it is also true that Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Ginevra Weasley (for a full article on the missing Weasley children, see page 4) visited Lockhart. Apparently the purpose of this visit was to prevent Lockhart from claiming that he was the one to defeat the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets almost three years ago. Lucius Malfoy suggested that Potter was hoping that his use of the Imperius Curse and the Cruciatus Curse would be forgiven upon the reminder that he had once been viewed as a hero.
Potter also delivered what can only be construed as a threat. "Potter deliberately sent Lockhart here," Albus Dumbledore said. "Lockhart repeated the message no less than five times. 'Be wary. Beware.' I think it would be wise to heed his warning."
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WARNING! WARNING! SEXY BITS AHEAD! AVAST, YE UNDERAGE READERS!
Harry stared at Ginny. Ginny stared at Harry. They only took their eyes off each other to stare at the grandfather clock in the sitting room. It was almost eleven o'clock, but the hands moved so slowly that Harry wondered if it just might be broken. He looked back at Ginny; her eyes were half-shut and she was eyeing his lips. He thought she might be purposefully tormenting him.
"Either of you want to play a game of chess?" Ron asked. He was smirking, so Harry knew that he was not serious. Harry made a rude hand gesture at him. Today was the tenth of August, and Ginny would officially be fourteen years old in little more than an hour. Harry felt almost sick with desire.
Ginny waved her wand and whispered "Muffliato!"
"Do you remember our first time?" she asked.
Harry gaped at her. "That's like asking me if I remember my own name. Of course I remember our first time."
He had only thought about it every seven seconds throughout the entire day and most of the last week; ever since they had humiliated Lockhart and had taken him down several notches in front of the entire Wizarding community, he had thought of little else except that Ginny would be fourteen, and their self-imposed abstinence would be at an end at long last. He only hoped that this first time would be as amazing as the last first time…. And then he remembered how badly it all had begun…
Harry was slowly being driven out of his mind. He and Ginny were under the same roof for the first time in over a year. Harry had apologized profusely to her just the other day; he never should have let his fear over what Voldemort might do to her force him away. The destruction of the Burrow had already proved that she wasn't safe… She had forgiven him. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that Grimmauld Place was far smaller than Hogwarts; the only secluded places were only private for approximately ten minutes before someone wandered by.
He lay on the bed, actively fantasizing about her. Everything about her filled him with desire. Her hair, her hands, her eyes and the way her lips felt when she kissed him… He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. He wanted to hold her. What he was doing was a poor substitute…
CRACK!
For one horrible moment, Harry froze, completely unable to move. Ginny, who had just turned seventeen, had Apparated into his room. He stared at her; he could not help but notice that she only wore a nightgown… the light illuminated her body from behind, and for a second Harry couldn't breathe. And she stared at him, though not at his face. There could be no denying what he was doing.
Harry did the only thing he could think of: he dived underneath the bedclothes that had tangled around his legs, and prayed fervently that she hadn't really been there at all, he'd only imagined her. He was blushing so fiercely that he thought he might pass out from the abrupt shift in where the majority of the blood in his body was located. He thought he might vomit. She hadn't left – why didn't she leave?!
"Are you going to let me Obliviate you?" Harry finally asked.
She answered by crawling under the bedclothes with him. He jerked horribly and almost fell off the bed.
"What are you hiding from?" she asked. Her voice was low and a little husky, and Harry's heart took a gigantic leap. She was close enough that her hair tickled his nose. He wanted to reach out and hold her, but still had that sick, embarrassed feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"From the most humiliating experience of my life," Harry answered honestly.
"I thought," she said, "it was pretty arousing."
He turned to look at her, forgetting that the covers were pulled over both their heads and he couldn't see her unless he was brave enough to come out. Not likely. She scooted closer and they were almost touching. "I do it too," Ginny said quietly.
And then Harry was kissing her with all the pent up longing that he had felt since the day of his seventeenth birthday. He had one hand in her long hair and one hand on her naked back. He pulled away.
"You're naked!"
"So are you," Ginny pointed out. "Well, almost."
He took a deep, shuddering breath. It did not help; the blankets were rather suffocating. He poked his head out, and Ginny did the same. He stared at her for what felt like several minutes – or perhaps several days. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, and her lips were slightly parted. He knew that look well – he spent the last few weeks of his sixth year trying to put that look on her face every chance he got.
"I don't want to be Obliviated," she whispered. She picked up the wand she had laid on the nightstand and pointed it at the door, saying the charm that would lock them in. She added the Silencing Charm, and Harry's heart skipped several beats. She pulled him flush up against her, and kissed him deeply. Harry returned the kiss urgently. His hands traveled down her back and to her bum, and he pulled her tighter against him. He propped her leg up on his, reached between their bodies and began to play.
"I've heard of… something," he whispered in her ear. "I could… kiss you."
She didn't seem quite able to reply, but he took that as a yes. He threw the bedclothes (the same ones he had so recently been hiding underneath) off the bed, ripped off his boxers, and slid down her body. He could not help but stare, as he had never actually seen her like this before. They'd been too worried about getting caught. After a few moments, he bent his head and she screamed.
Harry had no idea how long he kept at it, though he knew that with every passing second, his desire grew. Small hands tugged at his shoulders. He followed them. He had never seen her look quite as beautiful as she did just then. She was flushed and sweaty, and her breath caught on a whimper. Her bright eyes were open, though, and that blazing look was once more on her face.
"Harry," she moaned. "I want you."
"That's good," Harry said. "Because I want you too."
He fitted himself against her, resting his weight on his elbows. With one hand, he brushed her hair out of her eyes. With the other, he adjusted himself. "I think you should know, though. Before we do this. I'm in love with you."
She pushed up against him with her hips. "That's good," Ginny said. "Because I'm in love with you too."
He kissed her on the lips. He kept kissing her until they were fully joined. He did not stop kissing her – even though towards the end they both had trouble with anything more than moaning into each other's mouths – until they finished.
Harry came out of reverie to realize that it was nearly time; and Ron had long since departed. Ten minutes until midnight. If they walked slowly, they would be in their bedroom at just the right moment. He stood up and held out his hand to her.
"Just so you know," Harry said. "Before we do this. I'm in love with you."
She grinned widely. "Good. Because I'm in love with you too."
"Always and always, Ginny," Harry said.