Harry Potter and the Ancient Shrine of Providence

The Rest of the Story of the Boy that Lived

Book 8 Chapter 28 'Surprises'


Chapter 28: 'Surprises'

A moment of breath-stopping silence had descended throughout the room. This was the last thing Hermione had ever expected. Everything seemed to be frozen in place as she stared at the wizard kneeling at her feet.

Then, after Hermione's face had begun to fade from matching Ron's hair, a faint smile quickly appeared. She replied in a trembling voice, "I... I love you too. Yes… Ronald, I do."

As Ron stood up, the crowd began to respond in a huge cheer. Swiftly the room was filled with yells of admiration and praise. As he slid on her ring, tears now fell from Hermione's eyes. Ron then reached out and pulled her close from where he stood and then the two kissed and embraced each other tightly.

Harry was the first to his feet and was followed closely by Ginny. "Ron, you did it my friend!" Harry yelled as he ran up and engulfed Ron into a hug. "I had no idea that you were going to do this today!"

"Thanks, Harry," replied Ron with his face beaming. "Until I just did it, I didn't know I was going to ask her either." Then as the two best mates pulled away, their faces showed their understanding for each other.

This moment was quickly broken as Ginny screamed at the top of her voice. "I am so happy for both of you, Hermione!"

"Hermione… Congratulations!" Harry shouted as he joined Ginny in her reply. He now reached out and enveloped her into a brotherly type hug as he spoke closely into her ear. "I'm just amazed that he finally did it, Hermione. Ron didn't even say anything to me that he was going to ask you."

Hermione replied with a hearty laugh into his own ear, "As much as I think that I know the two of you, Harry, you each have always come up with a way to surprise me! Thank you and I am looking forward to the day that I can return your best wishes!"

"All I want to add is good luck to both of you!" shouted back an energized Harry.

Suddenly, Arthur was there and he was beaming with happiness. He reached out and scooped Ron and Hermione together and embraced them both. During all of this time, the standing ovation never stopped or even diminished in volume.

After a short moment of congratulations, Arthur motioned for them to go and sit down. As they then returned to their seats, the applause quickly plummeted down into a low volume.

Hobbs then waved out to the next reporter. He was a tall and lanky man who stood up quickly and whose face showed a rough smile as he bellowed out his question. "My name is Wendell Welty and I work for The Magical Inquirer. This question is for Mr. Potter and it is the same question as has just been asked. Mr. Potter, have you asked Miss Weasley yet on getting married and if you're already engaged, have the two of you set a date yet?"

Harry thought quickly to himself about what he should do. He then showed a smiled and as he stood, he pulled Ginny to her feet. When he did, he could hear her whispering to herself, "Right now please, let it be right now."

He gently pulled her hand and whispered into her ear, "I'm sorry, Ginny, it will have to wait until your birthday, but I am going to tell them why so they all understand."

When they were at the front of the stage, Harry addressed the crowd saying, "Well, I guess I am back for another question." A number of laughs were heard but Harry could tell the anticipation of his answer was holding most if not all to their seats. "I would like to officially introduce Ginevra Weasley and yes, I am seriously courting her." As he said that a large scatterings of new laughter and applause were heard from the audience. "I have actually had my eyes on her for a number of years, but I have to admit to you, when you want to date your best mate's sister, it is usually hard to figure out how to start the relationship. I was so stupid and blind to the fact that she liked me as much as I liked her. So I naively didn't do anything about it until a year ago.

"I would like to follow up with the same thing that just happened with my two best friends but at the present time I can't. Ginny is only sixteen and I am old fashioned enough that I must wait until she turns seventeen to propose. I have promised her that when she reaches her birthday, I will ask her to marry me. As I think you can all see, she is wearing a ring that represents that promise to her."

A large volume of clapping had now overtaken his voice in the room. Harry stopped talking and waited for this noise to subside. At that time, Ginny moved closer to Harry and held her hand up so the promise ring could be seen. A large number of flashes now accompanied the photographs that were being taken. Finally, when Harry waved his arms, the noise of the crowd quickly abated. Harry then added, "And we plan to be married next..." He looked over at Ginny and she quickly whispered into his ear. With a smile, Harry announced, "I have just been told that we are planning to be married sometime in July of next year. This is after we both graduate from Hogwarts, so I hope that has answered your questions?"

As they turned to go back to their seats, the place again broke out with a large amount of applause, but Harry knew that his best friends had been the ones to take everyone by surprise today. When they reached the table, Ron and Hermione were standing and waiting for them. The four of them quickly embraced into a multitude of hugs.

A short time later, they were all sitting down and the applause had finally ended. The next reporter stood up and said, "My name is Archibald Hammer and I am a freelance reporter. Mr. Potter, I have just traded questions with another associate and I would like to ask you the following. Did by chance you just earlier state to us that you are intending to return to Hogwarts to finish your education? If this is true have you possibly been offered the chance to be Head Boy this fall?"

Harry smiled, stood up and replied, "This is a good question that you have asked of me. As a boy in school, I like many would look forward to the possibility of being a Prefect or possible Head Boy at Hogwarts. It is, as a student position, a very high honour to be given at school.

"In all my years at Hogwarts, I have never had what could be considered to be a normal year. I am hoping that during the next school term, I would finally have the chance to have something like that. I have already told the Headmistress, that I would take no House leadership position at the school. This is a private decision that I have made for myself. I ask that everyone honour my personal feelings about this. I feel that this should be enough to answer your questions about this topic. Thank you, Mr. Hammer."

For the next three hours, the interview continued without any other major surprises. The four of them answered a large number of questions. Only in a few cases did they have to carefully skirt around by how they responded. Finally, when it was late in the day, they had gotten to the part of the questioning that the Ministry had not given any advanced approval. The first four questions were ones that were easy to answer and didn't cause anyone any distress. Finally when the last reporter's name was called, it was Luna's father.

As Mr. Lovegood walked up to the floor below the stage, Harry wasn't expecting any unforeseen questions. At first Luna's father spoke out in what seemed to be in a kind and caring manner, "I'd like to welcome you all back into a world that I think is a lot less complicated because of what you did, Harry. This was due to all of you helping to end the madness we had. As for the record, I am Xenophilius Lovegood and I am the editor of The Quibbler magazine.

"I would like to address Harry Potter on some serious allegations that I have been made aware of. I have sources that say that you have been the subject of some very important discoveries within the Ministry. There is now the likelihood of at least two more prophecies that could be somehow connected to you. If I am not mistaken, it is thought that you will continue to have somewhat of an interesting future in front of you. Can you please tell us if these rumours are true?"

As he finished, a large amount of whispering was heard among the reporters in the audience. Harry then heard Ron quietly muttering, "Bloody hell, how did he find out?"

Harry was quickly analysing the pros and the cons of how to reply to Luna's father. He knew that the Ministry would prefer that he didn't say anything. But Mr. Lovegood had just released the bombshell that the Minister had wanted to avoid at all cost. Now with these new rumours about the prophecies being brought into question, Harry knew he had to say something to squash any likelihood of a cover up. The words of what he had said for years about the Ministry was now coming back to haunt him.

With a big breath, Harry stood up and walked up to the front of the stage. Out from the corner of his eyes, he could see Arthur and Kingsley slowly shaking their heads. Harry then took a big breath and hoped his answers would meet with their approvals.

"Mr. Lovegood, you have heard of some rumours that I must admit do have some merit to them. Some of this knowledge is only a few days old and the Ministry is keeping me personally informed of everything they are collecting about these matters. As with most prophecies, it can be quite daunting to understand the true meaning of one. This is why that for now, any more information about this must remain private."

As Harry paused, he could still hear a number of whisperings from the audience. By the tone of the voices he was hearing, he knew some of the reporters were not at all happy with his answer. He finished by adding, "I ask everyone here to please let me return to my own personal life. I am requesting this from all of you because the answers for now are best left to those who professionally study these things. I hope that you understand Mr. Lovegood, I feel that I have answered you in the most honest way that I can."

As Mr. Lovegood looked up to him, Harry could tell that he was pondering just how Harry had answered his questions. The room was now completely quiet as everyone was waiting his reply. "Harry Potter, you came to me for answers earlier this year, and sadly I was not a very good host to you. We all know it was because of the threats that had been made on the life of my daughter, Luna."

Mr. Lovegood then turned and started addressing everyone in the auditorium, "I think this is best said to all of us that are here in this room. As many of you probably know, Harry Potter and his friends rescued my daughter and Ollivander the Wandmaker this past Easter from the Death Eaters. Most of you consider me as an eccentric old man, but I want to tell you that I believe they have given us honest answers to our questions today.

"For two and half years, every time I have asked Harry a question and any information that he has put past my way; he has always shown in the end that he has never lied to me. I also have no doubt not to trust any of his three friends that have also come here today.

"Harry has truly saved us all from a future of darkness. Most of us here today, know that many of us could have easily died. All we had to do was to print something contrary to what the Ministry's line would have been.

"We have all heard the stories about the four upon the stage. They along with many others that even included my own daughter have risked their lives for all of us. Sadly, we also know that some did not survive in this war. In some cases, they were still young children who were forced to become part of this struggle. Some had to make dangerous decisions and they had put their families in mortal peril in order to stand up for these beliefs."

As Mr. Lovegood continued, his voice had become shaky and high pitched, "Some, like my daughter, became hostages and were used as a pawn to control what their parents or a relative might say. All of this because someone in their family had spoken out on something that Voldemort's supporters was unhappy with.

"I am not afraid to say his name anymore as none of us should have ever have been. This fear of just saying his name just wrapped us up more into the evil that he was. It is time for us to move on and celebrate his removal from our world. Let us hope that someone like him will never again walk in his footsteps. We must never forget and always remember for what he was, pure evil as he could be.

"I now propose that everyone here gives the four upon the stage what they most dearly deserve at this moment; a quiet and peaceful time that they can enjoy. We have been given most of the answers to what we wanted to know and the rest can wait a few months or even years. The one thing that we have not given Harry is the opportunity for him to finally have a private life. I think most of us must agree that he finally deserves this after all of these years.

"In finishing, we all owe Harry, Ron, Hermione and even Ginny a lot more than just a thank you. It is because of heroic students like these at Hogwarts that we can all now sleep at night without fear of having a Death Eater knock at our door." He then turned around and started clapping. It didn't take long before everyone had risen out of their seats and joined him.

Harry smiled and mouthed a thank you to Mr. Lovegood. Luna's father returned a nod and then left and returned to his chair. He then turned around and rejoined the rest of the audience who were still clapping.

Ginny reached out for Harry's hand and whispered, "We need to tell Luna to thank her father for that, Harry."

Harry replied quietly under his breath, "Yes, we most certainly will."

Minister Kingsley stood up and then returned to the podium. When he raised his hand the room became quiet and then he addressed everyone, "I was planning to close this today by asking you all to give our four guests some privacy. It seems that Mr. Lovegood has beaten me to that and I think he has said about all that needs to be said. The four behind me did an excellent job in explaining what they could answer today. We all must agree that they have done this today in an honest and forthcoming way.

"I think that you all appreciate that Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry each decided to give you some time from their busy schedule and be here today.

"One thing I would like to add is that we all know that Hogwarts will be reopening in a few days for the students wanting to complete their terms. I would like to add that Ginny would be one of those returning to finish her year.

"And before I close this meeting, for the Ministry and personally; I also would like to officially congratulate Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger on their engagement.

"I know it has been a long afternoon for all of us. The Aurors in the back will be handing out the official report about Tom Riddle and Harry Potter's long conflict. This report first begins starting with the relationship of Tom Riddle's parents. It will also include the Prophecy that Albus Dumbledore received from Sibyll Trelawney about the two of them. It ends with a summary on why the Ministry feels Harry was able to win in the final dual. I am sorry that we have omitted several of the facts due to Harry's privacy. But except for these few, I think you will all agree that you have been told many new answers that up to now were just a mystery for practically everyone.

"I would like to thank everyone for coming today, and this now concludes this interview."

As a final loud roar of gratitude, quickly filled the room, Hobbs rushed over to where the four had been seated. He quickly escorted them off the stage and back into the room where they had eaten lunch.

As soon as they walked in, Hermione grabbed Ron and spoke to him loudly, "Oh you bloody git… How could you do this in front of everyone? My parents… what are they going to say to me now? Ronald Weasley… if you ever…"

The wrath and temper of Hermione, after having over four hours of worries simmering, had exploded into a full boil. After she had said her thoughts, she suddenly realized just what she had done. She froze and went silent while she looked nervously at Ron. She waited for an unconstructive reaction from the one that she loved.

Ron just looked at her smiling, and asked, "So are you alright with it now?"

Hermione's sorrowful look began to quickly fade away and Ron suddenly grabbed Hermione and embraced her into a kiss. For a very short moment, Hermione first started slapping him on his back, but after a few seconds, she wrapped her arms around him and held on not wanting to let go.

Everyone else in the room just watched and enjoyed the scene that had been years in the making. After a long minute, they separated and Hermione's face was just red. She looked at Harry and Ginny who were looking intently back at her. Ginny then remarked, "Well, I guess officially your finally going to be my sister, but I guess I lost the bet."

Harry moved into Ginny's vision and eyed her questionable as he asked her, "You two had a bet on who would ask first?"

"Well Harry… umm… why don't you come with me?" Ginny took the lead as she pulled on Harry's hand. When they were across the room, Ginny told him in a low voice. "When we became a couple last year, Hermione and I just made a simple bet on who would be the first to be engaged. And then last week, I sort of raised the stakes on what the loser had to do."

"Loser? Just what have you gotten me into?" Harry asked. He looked at Ginny and then after thinking, whispered, "But I gave you a promise ring. That means I would ask you when you were seventeen."

"Uh… yes, Harry, but the promise ring doesn't count. Hermione didn't want to lose either. She reminded me two days ago, that the bet was based on who would actually be engaged first. She said a promise didn't count."

"So… what does the loser have to do?" Harry asked in a somewhat anxious voice.

"Um… nothing… really major," answered Ginny.

"I'm starting to think that I shouldn't have loaned him the money for the ring," Harry said in a half-joking voice. "So out with it, my love?"

"I think it would be best if we wait until after we're back at the Burrow, Harry," whispered Ginny as she was eyeing Harry with some uncertainly about what she had done.

Harry returned her stare quite unsure of just what she had done. He knew whatever she had volunteered him to do it was without his choosing on this little bet."

During the time Ginny and Harry were having their little discussion; Kingsley, Hobbs, and an especially beaming Arthur were congratulating Ron and Hermione.

"Son, I am so proud and happy for both of you. I know the two of you will be very happy for the rest of your lives."

Then a smiling Kingsley gave both Ron and Hermione a hug. He told them, "After I watched you for the last three years, Ron, I wondered if you were ever going to get up the nerve to ask her."

Ron quickly flashed a hint of crimson in his face as Hermione reached over and gave him another kiss. She then murmured so where only he could hear. "Ron, there were times that I did wonder if you actually would ever ask me." She reached out and pulled him into a hug telling him, "Ronald, I will love you forever."

Ron just stood there rather embarrassed and at first had said nothing. Suddenly, as if he had finally awoke, he told her, "You have always been there for me, Hermione; I guess I felt that it was finally time for me to be there for the rest of your life."

Harry and Ginny soon reappeared next to the newly engaged couple. As they did, Harry gave a slap to Ron's back and then gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek. "I am so happy for you, Hermione," Harry exclaimed. "You're the sister I never had, and we both know you have chosen an outstanding wizard to marry."

As Ginny pulled away from a hug with her brother, she looked at Hermione and happily squealed, "We're finally going to be sisters!" The two of them embraced into a long hug as the two young wizards watched them. Once they were done, the girls suddenly turned and looked at Harry. Hermione then said with a smile, "Now we only have one of us missing that we need to make part of the family."

As everyone in the room looked at him, Harry smiled as he replied, "Well, I didn't want to upstage the two of you today, and besides, this way I will not have a curfew while I am in Australia. Who knows, I may meet another pretty young witch?"

For a moment, no one said anything as everyone just looked at him with a surprised expression. He coughed while trying to hide a laugh. Soon both Hermione and Ron started giggling, but Ginny was not amused with what Harry had just said.

Ginny reached out and gave him a playful slap in his hair and whispered, "Revenge for that little remark will be bitter for someone tonight."

"Well we can discuss that when you tell me what I have to do because of this bet," replied Harry. Ginny face suddenly showed the realization of why Harry had just joked. As he saw her own embarrassment within her brown eyes, Harry joined the others laughing, Ginny at first did nothing but finally joined the other three into a half-hearted motion of laughter.

The Minister and his own staffs had also broken out into their fits of laughter. They knew in time that Harry would learn on what not to say to Ginny. As they recovered, Dawlish leaned over and told Arthur, "Remember, sir, we really need to talk to him before he leaves."

Auror Hobbs also had been watching from the corner of the room and had been laughing to himself. After watching over these young adults for the last eight days, he was quite satisfied on how they had done in the interviews today.

Finally after the laughing had died down, Harry was suddenly looking into the faces of the senior Ministry officials. He noticed that they all had lost their smiles. Harry now knew that something else was up.

Arthur coughed to get the rest of their attention and then told them, "We need to talk to Harry in private for a while. Auror Hobbs will escort the three of you back home. Ron, tell your mother to plan on having dinner around seven-thirty tonight. If possible, give us an hour before telling your mother the good news. I would like to be home to see your mother's reaction when you tell her."

As the three started to leave the room, Auror Hobbs told them, "Hold it you three, I want to say something before you leave." He walked over smiling to the new couple and addressed Ron, "Very good young man. You made a number of people quite proud of you today and I was one of them."

"Thanks, Hobbs." Ron replied. "I'm glad I… well you know what I mean."

The Auror gave him a wink and extended his arm for a handshake. "I'm glad you did and I'm always there ready to listen."

Hermione had paid attention to it all. She turned to Ron with a smirk and her face seemed to show him, she understood what had been just said. As she put out her arms and enveloped Hobbs into a hug, she whispered to him, "Thank you, Auror Hobbs, whatever you have said to him, I am grateful."

As Hermione then turned back to Ron, she grabbed his arm and said with a smile, "You have always amazed me in the end, Ron. Now we best go see your mum."

As Hermione, Ginny, and Ron started to follow the Auror out, Harry spoke up saying, "Auror Hobbs, I will see you around nine o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll see the rest of you as soon as we are finished here." Harry then turned toward the three older wizards and prepared himself for whatever they were going to tell him.

Kingsley first addressed him and in not so happy of a tone, "Harry, after an extraordinary good interview, your ending almost makes me want to hex you. You acknowledged what Xenophilius asked and let the cat out of the bag, so to speak. Now tomorrow morning, everyone is going to be thinking that we are hiding stuff from the public again. All we're trying to do is to protect you young man. You just can't be shooting your mouth off like that and you know that you shouldn't have confirmed anything about this subject."

"Minister, may I reply?" Harry asked in a somewhat firm voice.

Kingsley nodded for him to continue.

"First you tell me to handle it as I thought was the best way to do so. I think your only real concern here is how he found out in the first place. I feel we should not lie or even sidestep the issues about something like this. We know by the way he asked me, that he knew far more then he told us and I was careful to skirt the issues about this.

"I know that Mr. Lovegood's record in the past is to print the story before finding out the facts. In some cases maybe he does write about something that doesn't exist. He's not like Rita though and he doesn't write purposely as a misrepresentation. I am betting that he will now decide to wait because of what I have said about this. In addition, before he does anything else, I'm quite sure he would first discuss it with Luna and then they will want to verify it with me. Only then he would print this story, because I have too many favours owed to me at this moment by him."

When Harry was done, both Arthur and Dawlish were staring over at Kingsley. Then they all looked back over at Harry as the Minister asked, "You're sure about this, Harry?"

"Very much, sir. I was cordial and honest to him and everyone knew he had the scoop of the day. A few may try to dig for more information, but I don't think The Quibbler will be an issue for a while. Remember that Mr. Lovegood is in debt to the three of us for saving his daughter's life and will honour my wishes as a partial repayment of this deed."

Harry was noticing that the Minister's face was quickly softening as he continued. "I feel that most if not all the other reporters will also honour my wishes for now, sir. Just encase some other reporter has any other information about this; I think they will all think hard before most likely deciding not to print this story. I have asked them not to and hopefully they will not want to upset their reader's readership in printing this story. I think the real details about this will still be left as an unknown right now. So all you need to figure out again is on whoever leaked this information."

There was a short period of silence and then Kingsley replied, "Then maybe I jumped too fast to a conclusion. If so, I must apologize to you about my criticism, Harry. So unless you have a need to say anything else, I think we need to no longer talk about this little issue.

"Now in moving on to more important matters over the last few days, we have had some new information and some situations that have come to our attention. This one issue has suddenly taken on a need for your help before you leave for Australia and so we need to discuss it with you.

"We were hoping to leave most of Friday open for all of you, but today, Dolores Umbridge's attorney has tried to force our hand. How she has always been able to out manoeuvre our justice system over the last three years is anybody's guess. Unless we move quickly, she will be actually released before you can return from your trip."

"You've got to be kidding?" Harry groaned.

"No I am not, Harry," replied Kingsley. "So far, we have no eyewitnesses on where any of these missing have gone. Just what happened to those Muggle-borns is a question that we have been unable to answer. Because of this, it has created a rather large problem for us, because most everyone else is frankly afraid. They think she will somehow evade the halls of justice and get off again. They then expect her to regain a position of power and in time would seek revenge on those who would have testified against her."

"So what are you planning to do then?" Harry asked.

"We need anything else that the three of you can remember about her. This information, we feel should be enough to guarantee that we will be able to continue to hold her at Azkaban until her trial. This extra time will also help to get some of the key witnesses tongues to loosen up about the things she has done. She has always been very skilled in how she uses her political connections and this makes her a very difficult person to prosecute."

Harry thought about this for a moment and then told Kingsley. "Umbridge is one of the most despicable people that I have even known. I am ready to help do whatever I can, short of lying."

"Harry, her attorneys are smart and cunning. They will use anything that is known about your past in trying to get Dolores free. All of you will need to be very careful on how you answer each question. Much of how we are planning our prosecution will be proceeding on your statements that the three of you have made to us."

"I'm ready for Friday," Harry replied.

"Very good," replied Kingsley. "Now, I do have a question of concern for you. This is about when you met Amycus Carrow at Hogwarts. He has said you used the Cruciatus Curse on him when you were in the Ravenclaw's common room."

"Yes, I'm afraid that I did, sir. At the time he was harassing and was threatening Professor McGonagall. I was in the middle of trying to find the last of Voldemort's Horcruxes and I just didn't have any spare time to tangle with him. Then he sort of ticked me off and I may have overreacted some."

"Well, even the Headmistress was quite overwhelmed by the magnitude of this curse that you were able to produce, Harry," replied Dawlish. "It seems that you had been quite motivated by something to cast this unforgivable curse in the way that you did."

There was a moment of silence and then Kingsley added, "This may present itself as a problem for you, Harry, for what you have done here is not good. We will just have to work through this the best that we can. This issue most like will come up at his discovery part of his trial at half-past nine on Friday morning. Because of this, we will need you to be there and be the first witness."

Harry nodded and then Kingsley continued, "Then after that, Dolores Umbridge's first hearing will follow. All of you will need to be there for that. In the afternoon, the three of you will then be asked to name every Death Eater that you know of for the record. During this time, you will need to mention any of the events or situations that you know took place with them."

"I have an important question then, Kingsley?" Harry asked. "In that case, I have seen many of them in my dreams or visions though Voldemort's mind and eyes. Is all that going to be legal to use in court or not?"

"That is going to be a very big question for the courts to decide Harry. It may also need to be submitted to the entire body of the Wizengamot for them to make a final decision. We have kept this information about your connection quiet due to explaining it means having to release information about the Horcruxes. At this time we are just not sure how many will receive this information."

Arthur then added, "Harry, this may take the rest of Friday to do this. I am sorry about you having to do this on the day before Ginny must return to school. This is the only way I can keep all of them in Azkaban until you return. If any of you don't testify on Friday, some of them will most likely get released and we may never get some of them behind bars again.

"It now seems that there are some rumours that you may not want to testify Harry. People hearing these are just afraid if they do testify, and then the Ministry does a general release, they feel that they will be the targets of revenge. Most think that payoffs will again be going to key Ministry officials to release many of the Death Eaters. Their reasons for release would be that they were just under the Imperio Curse."

"I thought everything was now under control," replied Harry who was visibly shaken, "and now you tell me this?"

"Harry, we have probably made this sound far worst then it is," Kingsley replied. "But the last vestiges of Voldemort's ideals and his supporters are still around us. While a number of them are still are on the run and in hiding, some of them have not taken this lying down. They are not willing to let their beliefs fade away. They became experts in the use of fear and the threats of reprises for many years. Now they know that their days and future are numbered if they don't try to do something to continue their old ways."

"They are now like a cornered animal, Harry," Dawlish spoke out. They will strike out and bite anyone that they feel is a possible threat to them. They know that time is now running against them, became they lost the one asset that everyone was afraid of."

"Voldemort," answered Harry.

"Yes," Dawlish replied, "and he is finally gone and they have no leadership or direction. Because of that, we really are not sure what some of them will try to do."

"But honestly everyone," Harry paused for a short moment and then asked. "What can they really do now?"

"Oh Harry, don't seem to be so mindless here," Kingsley replied. "I think you know that they have revenge on their minds. This is the only way they think that they can return to their previous status quo. Getting to you or your friends and loved ones. This is what we feel is the number one thing on their minds."

"So you're saying Kingsley that they just want to kill us to make a point?"

"Yes Harry. As Dawlish has just told you, they are frightened like a cornered animal and will do anything to try to return to the old ways. For them and a few followers, it is only a matter of time before final justice is going to be served."

"You mean they will never give up and they don't plan on being taken alive?" Harry asked.

"Yes Harry," replied Kingsley. "It appears that you do understand what I am talking about."

Harry, with a depressed look, groaned as he looked away.

"Now, Harry," said the Minister, "I think this is as good of a time as any to talk about some more private issues about you. I can see that you're upset and maybe this will help cheer you up some. This will take us a while, so why don't we all just have a seat and get comfortable."

As the rest of them sat down, Kingsley took out his wand and waved it at both of the doors to the room. As he did a locking sound on the door was heard. He then issued a silencing charm on the walls and doors. Even in his low mood at the moment, Harry was now wondering on what they were going to be talking about.

Kingsley cleared his throat and then said, "We owe many thanks to one Death Eater, Harry. We are convinced that he is being quite loose with his tongue. Because of him, we think we know practically everyone that has been a real supporter of the Dark Lord. This has helped us immensely in knowing on whom we need to keep our eyes on in the Ministry."

"Would that be Lucius Malfoy, Minister?" Harry asked.

Kingsley glanced over at Arthur and Dawlish. Then in a somewhat hesitant voice, he replied, "I think it is quite obvious to you on why we cannot answer your question."

Harry nodded. He knew full well that Lucius was the one feeding them the information.

"Harry, I have been told something else in the last twenty-four hours," Dawlish added. "Our source has told me that he has heard of a new rumour in regards to you."

Harry looked over at him with a concerned look and asked. "So what is it?"

"It appears that a Seer that is heavily into supporting the Dark Arts has received some information about you. What and how she has received this information is not exactly known though and our source is not really sure about the accuracy. It also might be just a lie in order to re-gather all of what is left of Voldemort's forces."

"Not another Prophecy?" Harry cried out. This evening was now starting to go downhill in a hurry, he thought.

Dawlish looked at Harry and continued, "Our source has heard that Harry Potter must be taken care of before he reaches the age of eighteen years. We think it is more of a rallying cry, because we can't figure out why this age point in your life is so important for you. So I must ask you, Harry, do you have any ideas or information on why they would want to make this attempt before you're eighteen years old?"

"You mean kill me?" Harry answered.

"Well I just wanted to be a little less direct with you, Harry, but yes, that is what we think that it means."

"I have no idea why turning eighteen would be an issue here," replied Harry.

"Since that will happen in less than twelve weeks time, we think it is now a very good idea to keep you out of the country until after August begins," Dawlish told him.

"In August!" Harry exclaimed. "That's practically three months. What about Ginny's protection?"

"Calm down, Harry," replied Arthur. "Let me worry about this one issue for now. Hobbs will be watching her for most of the time she is at Hogwarts. This is an unexpected turn of events for all of us. But it does seem the rumours are true that they were going to try to get to you over the next six weeks or so.

"Now, I don't want you to worry about this. Again it might all be all rumours and such, but we are planning to be ready on whatever they will try to do. It will be a lot easier to protect only Ginny with the three of you out of the country. So for now, can you please promise me that you won't say anything to them?"

Harry at first was going to speak his mind, but decided to hold his tongue since Arthur was Ginny's father. He knew that Arthur would do his best to protect her at all costs. He then replied, saying something that caught the others off guard, "As much as I feel that I shouldn't, I promise you, Arthur, I will not say anything about this one matter until she is at least seventeen."

"Thank you, Harry," replied Arthur. "I just want to keep all four of you alive through this difficult time right now." Then with a wink, he added, "Just remember, Harry, I have both Ginny and Molly to contend with if something is attempted on you."

Harry looked at Arthur and just nodded his head in understanding.

"Now Harry, we need to move on to the next issue," spoke Kingsley. "I want to talk about something very important to all of us in this room. This isn't exactly easy to tell you about but this is about the status of what you are to us. Also the liabilities that come with what you are, Harry. Because as much as you want to just be a boy again, and go and have a normal school life… sadly it is now something that you can never have except in your dreams."

The Minister paused as to make an impact on him. Harry just stared back at him waiting for whatever he was going to say.

"Young man, you may not be as powerful of a wizard, as most in our world still presumes you to be, but you now have a huge political base that far surpasses anyone else alive. Practically everyone in our society is listening to you, Harry. Most of them are taking your comments as facts.

"You are the one that most in our world feel that Albus picked to succeed himself. We need your help and support for at least an outward appearance that we're all in agreement. This will help us by giving us the support that we must have to lead our world. You alone cannot do this, Harry, but you alone can destroy everything that the four of us here all want."

Then Dawlish added, "Harry, up to just a few days ago, I had thought you were only an immature boy. I was blunt on what I thought of you. Today, you talked to the press in a way that proves to me that you have become a major figure in our land. You have a future that nobody else at this table can ever hope to have. You now have political influence that I think you haven't even realized.

"You and your friends handled the press quite nicely today. With how you reported to them the truth, it was with an elegance, which I could never do. I myself won't be surprised if you're even running the Auror's office in less than ten-years. You have grown up so much in the two years since I first met you in Dumbledore's office. Even my Aurors that have been guarding you all week have all thought that you are an extraordinary young man."

For the next forty-five minutes, the three of them continued to talk about Harry's future. They suggested to him many of the possible things he might do and the best way he might achieve these goals.


After Ginny had gotten home from the interview, she had decided to take a shower. When she was done, she had returned to her bedroom. As she was changing into clothing to wear around the house, she had accidentally dropped her promise ring to the floor and when she looked around for it, she couldn't find it.

She grabbed her wand and pointed it down to the floor and said, "Accio ring," and suddenly her ring appeared out from under her bed along with two strange boxes from under her dresser. As they shot up toward her wand, she managed to grab them all with her hands. As she stared at them slightly frozen in shock, the realization suddenly dawned on her just what they probably were.

She waved her wand toward the door and locked it. She then sat down on her bed and grabbed a breath as she recovered. As she stared at the slightly smaller box on top, she debated whether to look inside them or not. Then, with her curiosity getting the better of her, she put the larger of the two on the bed. She then carefully opened the smaller box.

When she saw the two rings, she thought both of them made a beautiful matched set. She could tell that they had been worn but not for a long period of time. She looked closely at the ladies ring and saw that it was simple but beautiful. It had seven tiny diamonds around it, which ringed a centre diamond that she thought was not quite a carat.

She picked it up and looked on the inside of the band and could just barely make out the inscription that read, To Lily, the one I shall love forever. She just sat there and stared at Harry's mother's ring. She began to get a little sentimental. She felt like dropping a few tears, knowing that Harry was possibly going to ask her if she wanted to have his mother's ring. Ginny knew in her heart that this was one of the few items that he had received from his mother and knew that it meant a lot for him to offer it to her. She also knew that it probably meant that Harry was telling her that she was as important as the memory of his mother was to him. She gave the ring a kiss and put it back in the box and closed it.

She set the box down on the bed and picked up the other one. As Ginny began to look at the larger box, she could tell that an experienced artisan had made it. It seemed to be quite old but it was well built and the carvings on the box were quite detailed. In places, it appeared to have once been covered with gold gilt but now it appeared to have mostly worn off over the years. She wondered why someone would have spent so much time on carving and making a box like this.

As she released the small catch, she held her breath as she opened it. She at first just stared at what she felt was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was made of gold with a strangely cut centre diamond in the middle. Around it were seven rubies, and seven emeralds that were inlayed around it. Around them were a scattering number of smaller diamonds that all made for a quite beautiful ring.

As she glanced over at her own promise ring, the artisanship looked somewhat familiar. She had a sudden thought that maybe the same person could have possibly made them. Then Ginny decided that this was too much of her imagination that was making it a coincidence. She slowly reached for it and then suddenly was afraid to touch it. The more she stared at it, the more it seemed to be calling out for her to take it. She slowly reached into the box with her shaking hand and as soon as she had picked it up, she suddenly fell back onto the bed unconscious.

Ginny suddenly became fully aware while in this state. She started looking around and she seemed to have realized what had possibly had happened to her. Whatever had caused it; Ginny knew she wasn't in the bedroom anymore. As she looked around, she thought she was probably in old Muggle London. All the homes and decorative styles seemed to be over a century old to her. What little that she had known about this time period had come from Muggle studies at Hogwarts. It now appeared that she was in the mid-to-late ninetieth century with all the horses pulling buggies around.

She somehow now realized that this was probably a dream. How, she wasn't quite sure, but she had realized that everything seemed to be in shades of gray. When she turned around, a young lady that appeared to be around thirty, was looking and smiling at her and beckoned her to come over. As Ginny proceeded to approach her, she could tell that she looked a lot like herself. When she got there, the lady said in a friendly voice, "I think you have come to talk to me about a young man in your future. Only true love would have let the spell bring you to me like this. Is it my grandson or great grandson that loves you?" she asked.

"I think it would appear to be your great grandson." Ginny replied. "I actually haven't been given the ring yet, I sort of just found it hidden under my dresser."

At first the lady looked slightly amused and then told her, "The young men have always found an interesting way to delivery the ring once true love exists. It is obvious this young man has already found his way to your heart?"

"Oh yes, you can sort of say that," Ginny answered.

"This ring was given to me and before me; my husband's grandmother was the one that had wore it in the late eighteenth century.

"This ring and its mate are known as the Rings of Adoration. They always seem to help their wearers get though the times of loneliness and longing for each other. It was not luck for you to find it, young one, but the destiny of these rings to find you and help you to become part of our family."

Ginny then asked, "Do you know where they have come from?"

"My dear young lady, the ring set is normally handed down to the first boy in the family that has fallen in love. This is usually on every second or third generation, once both of its prior possessors have died. Just why and where they actually came from is anyone's guess but it is said that they come from a time well before the founding of Godric's Hollow."

"Could they be from Goldric Gryffindor's family," replied Ginny with a gasp.

"Exactly who first made them or even wore them is unclear and unknown," replied the ghostly lady. You can be sure of only one thing about these rings. You're meeting me here today in your mind but it now means that true love exists between the two of you. That is why they exist and you now know that you are both truly in love. Now that you know the rings past histories, it is time that you should return to where you have come from."

As everything began to fade into darkness, Ginny asked her a question, "Did you by chance have red hair?"

"Yes, my young one, ever since long before Merlin, they have always seemed to fall in love with us that have had ginger hair," she replied as her voice was fading into the growing darkness.

"Could there be anything else?" Ginny asked.

"I know of only a rumour my dear, but only if the rings were passed on to a young boy who doesn't remember the love of his parents or grandparents."

"Harry's parents were murdered by a terrible man when he was only one. I don't know much about his grandparents except that I think they had all died before his parents had."

The lady then asked Ginny in a faint but excited voice, "Does he by chance have the eyes of the enchanting emerald stone?"

"If you mean green, then yes," replied Ginny, who now realized that there was something important about Harry's eyes.

"Then there is also an old tale that has been passed down with these two rings. It was always thought to be just old gossip. You both may be quite special because you may be the ones that can bring hope to our kind. He may be the one born that -" The lady's voice faded into the silent darkness before Ginny was able to hear the rest.

A few minutes later, Ginny opened her eyes and just stared up toward the ceiling. She now had no doubts or any real regrets that she had found these two boxes. She now knew that this was truly the ring of her dreams. But now it had left her two unanswered questions. First, did she dare tell Harry tonight that she had found them, and second, what was the connection about Harry's eyes?

She still held the ring in her hand and wanted so much to try it on. She looked at her finger and then at the ring and then stared at her finger again. She then decided that Harry was going to be the one to place it on her finger. Besides, she thought to herself, it might just somehow fasten itself on. Then it would make for an embarrassing moment on trying to explain why she had the ring on her finger tonight. But with that thought, she also knew that he would understand her curiosity.

Ginny carefully put the ring back into the box and then stood up off the bed. She then reached down and slid the boxes back under the chest with her wand. She realized that she felt somewhat guilty about opening the boxes. She quickly decided though that these had been found in her bedroom and it had been meant for her all along to find them this way.

Ginny unlocked her door, proceeded downstairs and saw her mum sitting at the table. She sat down across from her and then began to gaze over toward her.

Molly had been reading the paper. When her mother's senses told her that something was amiss, she looked up to see Ginny staring at her. Now when her daughter was not saying anything, wasn't doing anything, and staring at her like this; Molly realized that she needed to talk to her very badly.

"Well Ginny, for what do I have the pleasure of your company right now?"

"Mum, I really need to talk to you. I find that I need some advice from you right now."

Molly suddenly found Ginny's request a plea that peaked her mother's interest. It had been awhile since Ginny had come to her for advice and Molly hoped that she would be able to help with this request. She had been thinking lately that she really was losing her daughter. Raising Ginny had been her biggest joy in being a mother. Her baby had now grown up to be an adult, but now she finally felt like she needed to ask for her mother's advice. This was something that Molly had really missed the last several years.

"Is it about Harry, dear?"

"Yes mum, you know darn good and well that it is."

Molly smiled back and asked, "Yes dear, so is it information or is it a problem you have?"

"Mum, I found the rings that Harry was going to give me and I don't know if I should tell him or not?"

"Oh dear, Ginny! What happened?"

"He must have hidden them under my chest in my room. I dropped my promise ring and when I summoned it back, they all showed up at once. At first, I wasn't sure, but before I even opened them, I knew what they had to be. He brought his mothers and fathers ring set home from Gringotts, I think."

"Then Ginny, you must know that you are quite special to Harry."

"I now that, mum, but along with that there is also another ring set. It has been in his father's family for what appears to be for maybe a thousand years. The moment I saw it, I fell in love with this ring, mum, and…." Ginny paused for a moment not really sure what to tell her mother.

"Yes Ginny?"

"It's appeared to have also some type of a spell within it. When I first touched it, it put me in some kind of a trance and then a lady in a dream or vision, told me that I am to have this ring. She told me that only true love would have caused this to happen, mum. But I do feel guilty about doing this… though; it was my room that he hid it in, so I am not sure on how to feel in this case."

"Ginny, first it is your room and it appears that you didn't go looking for it. I would say it was just meant to happen this way. Sometimes, certain things happen quite strangely in life, and around this young man that you have fallen in love with, my dear; many things seem to work quite peculiarly around him and in unexpectedly ways."

"So what should I do, Mum?"

Molly could now see the desperation in Ginny's eyes. "Well you can tell him, but if you're that worried, just don't say anything for now. Later if he suspects something and asks you, just tell him what happened and I think he will understand either way."

"Are you sure of this, Mum?"

"As you said, it was in your room, dear."

Suddenly the rush of feet was heard echoing down the stairway. Ron and Hermione quickly came to a halt before they approached the two of them. As Ron quickly surveyed the situation, even he could tell something private between his sister and mum was taking place. Ron asked from a distance, "Hi, Ginny… mum… Are the two of you doing anything right now?"

"Ron, I think we're done," replied Ginny. "I just needed some motherly advice right now. Thanks, Mum, and you're the best."

"Well I am glad I could be of some help, Ginny." Molly then got up and went into the kitchen to check on dinner.

As the two of them approached and sat down at the table, Ron asked, "Well Ginny, Hermione and I have given up on Dad and Harry returning before dinner. We thought we might as well go ahead and tell Mum on what happened today."

"Well I don't remember anything really exciting taking place at the Ministry," Ginny replied. She could see a flash of annoyance from her older brother's eyes. She then added, "But I think I will just listen to all of your opinions on what happened today." Ginny then even saw some displeasure in Hermione's face. She just smiled back and stayed seated in her seat. She also noticed that Hermione was keeping her hand hidden below the table. Ginny chuckled to herself, knowing full well on what was going to soon take place.

Ron and Hermione began to talk loudly explaining to Molly about the questions they were asked and how they had answered them. In just a few minutes, they were getting close to telling her on how Ron had proposed.

Molly soon asked, "Ginny, my dear. Can you and Ron help me with dinner tonight?" With that, the three of them at the table got up and meandered into the kitchen to help.

Ron continued to explain the details of the day, and just as he was starting to tell his mother on what he had done the Floo burst force into a green flame, and Harry walked out followed by Arthur. As Ron stopped talking, Ginny ran over to the Floo and told them, "Harry, I need you to come with me and Dad outside right away. I need to tell you both something." Ginny grabbed Harry's arm and he was literally dragged out of the kitchen before he was able to say anything.

Arthur gave one look at Ginny and knew instantly that Molly didn't know yet about the engagement. He then looked at Ron and told him, "We'll be back in just a moment, son." Arthur turned and followed the other two outside.

When the three of them were out on the porch, Arthur looked at Ginny and asked, "She doesn't know yet?"

"No Dad. He was just starting to tell her when you both arrived."

"I can't miss on seeing this Ginny," replied Arthur.

"Me neither," whispered Harry as the three of them quietly and quickly walked back into the house.

When they entered the kitchen, Ginny could see that Hermione was now leaving her ring out in the open. If her mum hadn't been so busy casting charms in cooking dinner, she would have easily noticed it on her hand. Soon Molly asked, "Hermione, would you please get a bowl for the green beans?"

When she brought it over to her was when Molly finally saw the ring on her hand. She had just started to thank her and as she froze in mid-sentence, her wand suddenly went flying out of her hand and across the room.

After a short time of only the sound of the beans on the stove boiling, Molly suddenly released a loud scream of delight. "Ronald!" If it hadn't been for Hermione ready to use her wand, half the dinner would have been all over the kitchen floor. Arthur moved quickly and suddenly, and he was soon there with a chair for Molly to sit down in.

She was beaming at both of them and it only took Molly a moment to recover from her shock. She waved Ron over and gave him a hug that he would never forget and told him, "Ronald Bilius, I'm so happy for both of you. As she released her son she said, "My youngest boy getting engaged. I am so happy. I have known for years that you two were both meant for each other."

She then turned and looked at Hermione and smiled, and then motioned for her to come over and gave her future daughter-in-law a motherly hug, "I am so happy to finally be able to welcome you officially into the family, Hermione. You have a handful with Ron, but he will make you a good husband. Just be a good witch to my boy here and he will never let you down."

"I know, Molly," replied Hermione, whose eyes were now wet from Molly's attention.

With that, Molly hugged her again and then announced, "Dinners ready so let's move our celebration to the table."

It was a festive atmosphere at dinner that evening. The conversations seemed to never stop. Later, as Harry was now close to being stuffed, Ron and Hermione excused themselves and disappeared outside.

A few minutes later, Ginny nervously asked, "Harry, when you're done can you come upstairs?"

Harry had noticed her unusual sounding voice she showed tonight. He replied, "Sure Ginny, just let me finish my dessert first."

"I'll see you then shortly," replied Ginny who then disappeared rather quickly upstairs.

Harry looked over at her mother and asked, "Is everything alright with her… Did… Maybe the engagement upset her Molly?"

When she didn't say anything, Harry was a little concerned and as he excused himself and started to get up, Arthur told him firmly, "Please sit down, Harry. I think it is best that I say something here." He told him in such a direct manner that suddenly Harry was not sure what was going on.

"Harry, over the last ten days, you and I have had a number of conversations about the both of you. You have shown to Molly and me, that you are a responsible wizard in all of this and it is obvious to me that you are a suitable young man for our daughter. I think you are both ready for this. I also think Molly is very neutral on what you will decide to go do when you leave this table. I hereby withdraw whatever has been asked and promised in the last few weeks as Ginny's father.

"Just the other day, I told you that I released any promise that you may have made about asking Ginny before she was of age and again I repeat that to you. You have my permission to ask her at anytime you feel is appropriate. Nobody else knows this and Molly and I will never tell her, so if you want to hold on to your promise, we understand. Now go find what she needs of you."

"Wait, Harry," Molly spoke softly, "before you leave, I want to add my own words to this conversation. I have been the one so far that have not suggested much to you. I know you will pick the right time that is appropriate. Don't think that we want to rush you. We both know that you will do the right thing. Now go be with Ginny, she really needs you to be with her tonight."

As Harry got back up from the table," he told them, "This is a serious promise that I have made to both of you, but I do appreciate your respect and thoughtfulness that you have shown me. I may ask the question before she leaves, but I still think it is probably best for us to wait until she is of legal wizard age."

Harry ran up the stairs and as Arthur and Molly looked at each other, Arthur told her, "He is definitely the finest young man that she ever could have found, Molly."

"I know Arthur, but he's going to be in for a nasty shock in just a few seconds," she replied in a worried voice.

Arthur looked and cocked his head and asked her, "What did she do, Molly?"

"I think you could say her wedding ring accidentally found her this afternoon."

"Oh my!" Arthur gasped.


The blazing sun had already set in Egypt and it was well after nine o'clock that Tuesday evening. Bill was riding in a lorry back to the hotel in Cairo. It has been a long but fruitful day after two days of reinvestigating the interior. They had progressed about eighty percent of the way toward where the accident was thought to of happened. They had removed four more bodies today. Between the burns and the length of time they had laid there, only by the use of their wallets could they figure out on just whose body each one was.

Today the smell of the rotting flesh was becoming quite unbearable, and it was increasing everyone's resolve to finish this recovery in all due haste. Large fans and hoses were now blowing fresh air into the area, but as each warm day brought them in deeper; it also was causing the stench to get much stronger.

Bill and his staff had talked about using an anti-reek charm. After some deliberations, it was thought that casting any spell of this type might set off something that wouldn't be in everyone's best interest. It was decided to hold off and try to remove the last of the bodies tomorrow. The use of electrical lighting now showed all but one of the bodies in the distance and Bill had decided that Wednesday would be the day they would attempt to recover the last of them.

Careful deductions now pointed that it appeared that they might have opened a wooden door that had lead off into a room. That possibility might have caused something to happen unexpectedly. At this time, no elevated amount of gas had been detected although some increases in the levels of residue magic had been noticed. Bill felt that the amount was still low enough to be considered safe.

Earlier this morning, as they had pushed on and moved deeper into the site, a number of hieroglyphics, mosaics, and stone carvings had suddenly become quite abundant around this area. Bill and the other staff had taken notice of this and due to the sheer volume of them; forward progression was now proceeding slower than it had the first few days.

When the normal quitting time had arrived that afternoon, Bill told everyone that could read these ancient hieroglyphics, that they were needed to work ten-hour days over the next week. He told them that this was so they could try to get a better idea on just what could have happened at this place.

The outside excavations were now showing that this building was almost four hundred meters long. This in itself was enough to cause quite a bit of speculation. This was no small facility and for whatever had happened; it would have taken someone with a massive amount of magical ability to cause this place to just disappear.

To Bill and the other staff leaders, it wasn't the mystery of being buried away in the sand that was worrying them. It was still the lack of any written knowledge about it. This was a vast ruin and the lack of any information about this place was showing that some type of memory charm had been done on an enormous scale. The rumours of dark magic were now in abundance and even Bill was more than just a little hesitant with what he was thinking.

The last two days, Bill started having the clean-out crews picking up all the loose sand on the floor. They were also carefully checking all the cracks and joints for any additional clues to what could have happened here so long ago.

The quality of the overall construction was now quite apparent. Everyone could agree that it was well built and conceived, and it certainly must have involved the help of powerful wizards. It also now appeared to have been built with what appeared to be of unlimited funds in its day.

In just the few days that Bill had seen of the site, he was in total disbelief of what he was seeing. All of the artisanship and construction was beyond and above par of anything he had ever seen. Of all the recovery operations he had been at, this discovery was one he had never though he would see; it was one that was truly made of dreams.

That morning he had talked to his goblin boss at Gringotts by Muggle telephone. The communications with him that morning had been good, but Bill had figured out that they knew something more that they didn't want to tell him. Even his goblin boss seemed to make sure that Bill knew he wasn't telling him everything on purpose.

A few minutes into the conversation, Bill realized that even his boss was quite weary of visiting the site for now. He just told Bill it would be at least several weeks before he could afford the time to come visit. He was told he could spend whatever he needed in Gold in order to reclaim the place. All Bill could get out of him is that he would tell him some things when he arrived in late June. His friendly but closed attitude had stayed on Bill's mind for the rest of the day.

What was also bothering him a bit was that for so far, not one piece of furniture had been found. No desks, no chairs, no scrolls, and not even a scrap of papyrus. Only a loose dusting of sand had been found along with a few heavy monuments. As they near the point of explosion, a thin layer of soot was also now covering the sand. It was now appearing that if it hadn't been very heavy or fastened down, then it all had just disappeared from everyplace in every area.

Things like this were just adding to the rest of the real mystery surrounding this place. It seemed that only Hasi had a good allusion of what might have happened here so long ago. His ideas were just a little too much to believe but it was the only thing he had to go on. Everyone else on his staff was just as stumped as he was.

This meant only one thing to Bill and that meant the goblins plainly knew something that they were too scared to talk about. Just why was the question he would like to know? Now after almost five days it was time to have a conversation with Chilow. He had to know something thought Bill.

As they now drove through the outer suburbs of Cairo, Bill wondered if anyone else knew what they had found out in the barren sands of the Egyptian desert.


When Harry entered Ginny's room, she was laying down. He noticed that she had changed into some shorts and the Holyhead Harpies T-shirt he had purchased for her. She turned her head toward him and smiled as he walked over to her bed and set down.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," she replied back as Harry took his hand and laid it down upon her knee and started rubbing it absentmindedly. "Harry, I think it is going to be hard for me at school when I go back. I am really going to miss you. Being promised or even engaged, I think it is going to be far worst then last year when you broke up with me."

Harry leaned down and kissed her on her lips. He lingered a moment and as he pulled a nose length away, they both could feel that strange feeling between them. It felt to Harry to be possibly something like their souls wanting to intermingle with each other. A short time passed as they both just stared at each other. Then Harry slowly pulled away. As he did, he noticed a tear in one of Ginny's eyes.

"Ginny, I know we are going to miss each other but it will be a lot different this time. Voldemort is dead and you're wearing a promise ring from me. I will write to you each week and in a few more months, we should see each other almost every day."'

Harry paused, as he looked at Ginny. Then he added, "I too have some great reservations about leaving you."

She was now looking deeply into his eyes. Harry could see it in her sad face that no matter how hard she was trying, she could not hide her worrying of the separation that was coming.

She then told him, "Then don't go, Harry. I know you care, but we're young and I want you around me so much. It is a feeling like I crave you like fine chocolate or something. The more I have you around, the more I want you around… I guess I'm just being stubborn because I'm so damn infatuated with you."

"Ginny," asked Harry. "Does Ron finally asking Hermione to marry him upset you more then you want to admit?"

How she just looked even more deeply into his eyes and started talking, surprised even Harry a bit. "I guess it does bother me more then I want to admit, Harry." There was a pause as Harry noticed her eyes becoming wetter. Suddenly, it seemed like the dam broke as she started crying with large tears and pouring her heart out to him. "Harry, how can I supposedly be happy for them. All I can think right now is that my brother beat you to it. I should be in a celebration mood tonight and I only feel like they have betrayed me. I want you to stay here with me and I don't care about school or even Quidditch anymore. I just want you to be by my side and want us to be able to do stuff together. I know that sounds like I am conceited and wanting to control you, but that's how I feel."

"It's alright, Ginny; you don't need to do this to yourself. I must take the blame in wanting to delay all of this. Please don't cry because…"

Ginny waved him off and told him, "Harry, don't, I just need to get it out of me and please… just let me rant on." She looked at Harry for what he assumed was a signal to continue.

Harry, who was now having his own feelings of regret that were giving him second thoughts, gave her a nod.

"I love you so much Harry and I have waited so bloody long for you and have just held it within me… for so long it seems. You have become my life and you already know that I have never felt like this for anyone. All of my boyfriends liked me because I was not a mushy and overbearing person that tried to get them to do things. I just wanted to have fun and find someone that wanted to do the things that I liked to do. I have always been strong about relationships, but you are making me melt in your hands and I just don't know how to handle this right now. Please understand that I'm not trying to control you, but something is just making me be so fervent right now."

To Harry, her voice at the moment had only sounded like an honest plea to him.

As he looked at her, she was trembling, as she appeared to almost be afraid of what she had said. Harry had no doubt that Ginny had just cleared out something that she had been holding back from him. He knew her love was his forever. He lay down on the bed and pulled her close.

Harry then told her that he loved her and started telling her stories of two years ago. He then acknowledged his own memories of all the misery that he had put himself through because of just being afraid of dating her. Maybe it was because of Ron or just her being the daughter of Molly and Arthur. Looking back, he knew she had always been there and either he was too blind to proceed or there had been a reason that they were not to begin a relationship so early. He was so sorry that it took him so long to admit to himself, that he had fallen in love with her last year.

Harry talked to her for a long while and then when he realized that she had fallen asleep, he slowly got out of bed. Harry then went to her closet and grabbed a spare blanket. He returned and covered her up and told her as if she wasn't asleep. "Ginny, I love you with all of my heart and it is so hard for me to see you like this." He then kissed her forehead and as he left the room, he closed the door. He proceeded downstairs and then set down at the table where Molly and Arthur were still having a discussion.

The two of them gave each other a worried glance and then looked at Harry.

"Harry, by chance did something not go right to plan?" Arthur asked.

"No, Mr. Weasley. In fact, I think Ginny has finally told me a few things she needed to tell me. She admitted that she was quite upset that Ron beat me to the finish line, so to speak. I think it has been bothering her since Ron asked Hermione today. She tried to hold it in and ignore it but I think it was just too much for her to handle. She finally broke down and admitted it."

"Harry, do you think Ginny will be alright?" Molly asked in a serious tone. "She didn't ask you to leave or anything?"

"No… It's nothing like that Molly. She has come to grips with it. I held her and reminded her about the times I was so dense in my sixth year. I told her that I was just not sure how to handle falling in love with my best mate's sister. During all this she finally fell asleep."

"Harry, love sometimes just makes life too difficult when you're young." Molly told him in a serious voice. "It will be easier when both of you are older. I understand both of your needs. It will just take age and experience for both of you to understand this."

"Molly, we have shared a lot together already but this subject is something that has affected us more than either of us expected. I think we both needed to hear this out between us, because it was our way to help tell each other that we are not as strong as we thought we were. We have now learned that we are much stronger together then we are alone. We both understand this now." Harry gave them a smile and finished by saying, "I love her so much."

"Oh Harry," voiced Molly, "You are quite the young man. You remind me of someone else that I fell in love with."

Harry eyes moved over to Arthur and he smiled back and actually blushed a bit. Arthur then coughed to clear his throat and told him, "Harry, what else can I say about a Weasley witch. In my family, each offspring tends to find and marry the perfect complement for each other. It has been a trademark with the Weasley name beside us having so many boys for offspring. But in your case, as I have already told you, you are going to marry a Weasley daughter. You will find that you will be happy because she will want to keep you satisfied.

"The interesting thing here is that as much as you are marrying a Weasley, Harry, she is going to marry what may be the perfect match for her. Just expect it to take some time for each of you to fully adjust and figure it all out. I don't think that you both have even realized it yet as your minds are already trying to adjust to each other's thoughts and needs."

Harry then asked both of them, "Do you think I should say anything to Hermione or Ron about how Ginny is feeling?"

"It is best you not do that Harry," Molly replied. "She is probably over it now since the two of you have talked about it. I think what my proud daughter has just told you have been one of the hardest things she has ever done. She has admitted to you that she was envious of her brother and her best friend. That is extremely hard for her to tell the one that she loves. She was afraid that you might take it as an insult to your best friends. She was obviously not proud of it but she didn't want to hide it from you."

"So what do you suggest that I do then?" Harry asked.

Arthur replied in a thoughtful tone, "Normally Harry, the bride's parents don't really make the suggestion of what the groom's path should take on in the relationship with their daughter."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, Mr. Weasley."

"Oh, I hope were not back to calling us Mr. and Mrs. again?" Arthur asked him.

"Sorry," replied Harry.

Arthur smiled then told him, "But on the other hand, we do consider you as a son, Harry. Since I am telling you this, I think you should have the idea that I don't mine suggesting to you what I think you should do."

"I would appreciate any suggestions that the two of you have," replied Harry.

"First Harry, your parents may be dead, but you do have a way to contact them that nobody else has available to use. It might be good or it might not be a wise thing to use your assets that you now have. Personally, I think your parents would want you to do this in our world now. They are with the dead and I think would agree that the living should be having this discussion. So I recommend that you in this case, not contact them on this issue."

"Thank you, sir, for your suggestion," Harry replied and then responded with a nod.

"Now as I would like to suggest to you as a father, your path is mostly clear for you on your relationship. I think there are only two big questions for you right now. When you propose and when you get married. It appears though that today this last decision you have already made. I know deep within you and Ginny, you're both ready to do this. It's possible on what you have already decided on is the right choice. Whatever you both end up doing and decide Harry, when you make it, Molly and I have faith that you will be right."

"Thank you, Arthur," replied Harry. "I think it would be best that I just go on to bed now."

As he turned and started to walk up the stairs, Molly told him, "I just want to remind you of what I think you have already realized, Harry. Life is always full of surprises and with the occasional twists and turns, nothing usually happens exactly to plan. I want you to do what you think is right and don't spend too much time trying to reason it out."

Harry paused for a moment on the stairs and then chuckled to himself and replied, "So far it seems my life has been pretty twisted. Maybe it will finally be a lot straighter now."

He then continued on up the stairs to the bathroom. A few minutes later when he quietly tiptoed back into Ginny's room, he could tell she was sleeping deeply with her slow breathing. He quietly changed into his pyjamas and carefully snuggled up to her. He put an arm over her side and held her and then he quickly joined her in the deepness of sleep.


Next Chapter: 'Business to Business'

5-14-10 'Pottercomplete' WBW

Betaed by "Ginnyweasey777''

Betaed by "Nat3738"