Chapter 29

A shrill twittering woke Harry the next morning. He rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses then ducked as a small owl whizzed close to his head. "Come here." Said Harry as he put his glasses on and coaxed the tiny owl down. After taking the letter from around his leg the owl zoomed off again. The letter was from Ron.

"Hi Harry,

You were right. The muggle house isn't so bad. Hermione's parents have been really great. They think I'm so polite, it's making Hermione roll her eyes so much I think they'll get stuck that way.

The Grangers spent most of the day showing me how to work these e l e c t rical things. (I had to have Hermione spell that for me.) Actually I used to think it was a little dangerous but it isn't really. But I guess you know that.

Mrs. Granger wouldn't let me help with anything being the first day and all. So Hermione and I watched Television. WOW!! Never even dreamed of anything like it! And we watched a moovy, Miracle on 34th Street. It was about this little girl in America who didn't believe in Father Christmas and how she learned to believe magical things can happen to people. I'll tell you the whole story when I see you. I'll probably see a lot more by then anyway. You never really talked of these moovy things before so I don't know if you have ever seen any.

Tomorrow we are going shopping in muggle London. Should be interesting, I should have borrowed your camera so I could get some pictures for Dad.

I'll write more as the days go on. Hermione says hi!

Ron"

Harry smiled then sighed. It was going to be a strange Christmas without Ron and Hermione, Harry thought. After getting dressing he took the letter down to the kitchen to show it to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley's eyes grew enviously as he read about his son enjoying muggle things. His wife just gave him a 'don't you even think about it' look when Mr. Weasley mentioned he would like to see a movie some day.

Mr. Weasley left for his job at the Ministry of Magic. Percy came down for breakfast with Lupin, Bill and Charlie. Fred and George came in behind them. The twins kept glancing at Percy and whispering to each other. Tonks and Ginny arrived for breakfast next and gave everyone a cheerful "Good Morning".

"So Percy, you are going to help us at the joke shop today?" Fred asked pausing from eating his porridge.

"Sure, I'm on detention aren't I?" Percy gave a rueful smile to Harry. "Ah, I will have all my extremities when I'm finished?"

"For the most part." George nodded. "If not we'll fix them back on better than before." Everybody laughed except Percy who sighed resignedly. Mrs. Weasley sat down next to Percy and leaned against him as if to make sure he was really there. Harry saw Ginny eyeing the two thoughtfully.

"Percy you never did say where you were. Are you going to tell us?" Ginny asked then seemed a little taken aback by the furtive looks the adults gave each other.

After a long moment Percy finally answered. "I was at the Burrow." He glanced at his mother who gave his arm a squeeze. "I was going to send a letter to Mom and Dad but what I had to say to them needed to be done faced to face." He sighed. "So I took a little time to get up the courage and then apparated to the Burrow. But no one was there and when I tried to disapparate out I couldn't"

"Why not?" Ginny gasped.

"The Death Eaters must have put an anti-disapparating charm on the house." Remus said then added. "Actually, I suspect it was placed to capture your father and mother and to use anyone else who happened to get trapped as bait for them."

"But why Mom and Dad?" Ginny asked in a scared voice.

Lupin smiled gently. "I know it's hard to see your parents in another light but they are two very powerful witch and wizard. And Voldemort knows they are close to Dumbledore and Harry." Remus glanced at Molly who seemed determine not to say anything. "Actually Percy springing the trap was a good thing. Your father was considering going back to the Burrow for some items and if he had…"

"Don't give me credit for doing anything noble, Remus." Percy said sullenly. "I had no idea."

"Never the less, it saved your parents life in my opinion." Lupin said.

"How did Dumbledore get Percy out?" Harry asked.

"We knew the Death Eaters were watching the Burrow. And we were watching the Death Eaters." Tonks explained. "When Percy attempted to leave the Burrow, the Death Eaters knew it was Percy not Arthur or Molly. So they were waiting for someone to come looking for him. We knew someone was inside but not really who."

"So several of us from the Order distracted the Death Eaters and Dumbledore was able to break through the charm and get Percy out." Remus finished.

"Will we ever be able to go back home?" Ginny asked in a small voice. The silence that followed made her nod in understanding. Harry saw tears standing in Ginny's brown eyes but her jaw was set in an indomitable way. Her brothers gazed at her admiringly; glad she wasn't disheartened by the prospect of not being able to go home. Ginny cleared her throat and with a defiant cheerfulness asked. "What are we going to do today?"

For all of the morning and into the middle of the afternoon, Mrs. Weasley had Harry, Ginny, Charlie and Remus decorating the house for Christmas. When she finally gave them a break every room had tinsel hanging from the ceiling in intricate patterns and boughs of evergreen adorned each mantle.

Harry went up to his room to see if the runespoor had found enough to eat. He sat talking to her for a time until Remus knocked at the door. "Not interrupting am I?"

"No," Harry stroked the broad back of the serpent. "She likes it here. She found lot of rats."

"Don't tell Molly 'lots'." Remus chuckled. "She thinks she had the lot cleared out." He gazed at Harry for a long moment.

"What's up?" Harry returned.

"It's good to know you're about the place." Remus turned away and looked down the desk now strewn with Harry's things. Then Harry knew what was bothering the man.

"Yeah, I miss him too." Harry nodded and moving over to lay a hand on Remus's shoulder. "I'm glad you're around too."

"I didn't come in here to talk about Sirius." Remus said hoarsely. He fingered the edge of the desk chair with one hand and scratched his neck with the other. "Like I said, sometimes it just hits you out of the blue like that."

"I know." Harry nodded giving the man's shoulder a squeeze. "Would you like to see the other things that were in my mom's trunk?" Harry glanced around for any portraits that might spy on them. But all paintings seemed to have been cleared from the room.

Remus turned around smiling. "Yes, I'd like to see what Lily was up to, Harry."

"You can't tell anyone." Harry said as he went to the door and locked it. "Promise?"

"I promise." Lupin said solemnly with his hand in the air.

"Not even if you think someone else should know?" Harry eyed the man carefully as he lifted the small chest out of his school trunk.

"No I won't tell Dumbledore Harry." Remus said. "I promise." He peered with interest at the covered trunk. "How did you finally get it open?"

"One to unlock might

With blood in sight

On Moony's night

The words said right

And a summoned light."

Harry repeated the rhyme that had opened the trunk. A puzzled look crossed Lupin's face. "She wanted you to open it on the full moon? How strange."

"It gets stranger." Harry snorted. "I had to say the runes' translation in parseltongue by myself." He removed the blue baby blanket which kept the trunk from locking again. Handing Remus the videos and camera Harry pointed to the bed. "Just set them on the bed for now."

"I had forgotten about the muggle moving camera Lily had bought." Remus stared at it. Harry watched the man drift into a memory then come back to the present with a kind smile. "Those were great times for James and Lily. You're mom bought this just before your first birthday." He raised the video camera.

"Hagrid said my dad wasn't too happy about her buying it. Do you think it would work here?" Harry asked. "The note said it wouldn't work at Hogwarts."

"We might be able to get it working. Arthur could probably give us a hand. He's had more experience with muggle stuff then I have." Remus said setting the camera on the bed with the video tapes.

Harry pulled up the shelf and handed Remus the dark magic books. "Interesting reads these."

A grave look set in the man's face. "What in the magical world was Lily thinking?" Remus frowned. "I can't belief she could even purchase such books." He watched Harry unwrap a bundle of soft leather, pause for a moment and turn to face him with the Runespoor Shield on his arm.

Instantly the runespoor placed her long length at Harry's shield side hissing at Remus. Lupin stepped back not able to take his eyes off the serpent heads on the shield, red eyes blazing. A current of power and invulnerability flowed from the shield into Harry.

"Harry?" Remus said quietly then sighed as Harry dropped his arm and took the shield off. "Unbelievable! I've heard of the Runespoor Shield. I never in my life thought I'd see it." With his hands behind his back to show the serpent he had no intention of touching the device, he stepped over to look at it closely.

"I can feel the magic in it." Harry said. "I think the only magic I've felt stronger is Dumbledore."

"How did Lily get it?" Remus shook his head. "There are wizards that would give their wand arm to have that."

"And Hermione has a big prize too." Harry said and told Remus about the Salazar Slytherin book. Lupin's mouth dropped open.

"How could she get her hands on a book like that? Let alone pay for it." Remus paced across Harry's bedroom frowning.

"You're asking me?" Harry snorted. "I thought you two were pretty good friends."

"I thought I knew Lily. But this." Remus walked back to the books and picked one up, shaking his head. "I just don't understand."

"That's too bad because I was really hoping you might have some idea what she was thinking at the time." Harry handed him the letter that had been tied with a red ribbon. Remus hesitated then took it. His eyes grew big as he read through the note. For a long time Lupin didn't speak but stood staring at the page clearly thinking hard. Then he shrugged and gave a little nod. Harry looked at him expectantly.

"This is the way I see it, Harry." Remus ran his hand through his hair. "I trust Lily's judgment. She had this uncanny ability to know things." He nodded as if agreeing with himself. "Not just a feeling. She knew." He sighed and looked at the book in his hand. "With that fact firmly in my mind I have no doubt you do need these things." Remus lifted his head to gaze at Harry and handed the dark magic book to him.

Harry put a hand on the book and his scar twinged with pain. The book dropped between them with a loud thud as he clapped his hand onto his forehead. The other he held up to stop Remus from being concerned. "He's angry about something." Harry kept rubbing his scar. "Angry anticipation." The words came out without Harry thinking much about them but he knew instantly what he said was true. Voldemort was looking forward to something but was also angry about it.

"Could it have been Percy's escape?" Remus asked.

"Maybe." Harry closed his eyes. "No, I don't think so. Something is going to happen." He opened his eyes and then shrugged. "Voldemort is blocking me as much as he can but he's too angry to completely shut me out." Seeing the worried look on Remus's face he added. "I'll be alright, the pain is easing."

"I really don't know how you stand it Harry." Remus said quietly.

"Sympathy from a werewolf?" Harry snorted. "I don't know how you stand that."

"I suppose it is as they say, we all have our own cross to bear." Remus nodded then laid an arm across Harry shoulders and rubbed his back. "You are not in this alone. Remember that okay?"

"Thanks I appreciate the support." Harry said putting the books back into the small chest. "Want to play a game of chess? It's too quiet around here without Ron."

"Sure," Remus laughed. "I have a set in my room."

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After a couple of games of chess, Remus told Harry he had some things to do for the Order. Harry wandered around the large house when he stumbled across Ginny in the mansion's library. Books were strewn around her as she sat cross-legged on the floor. Her red hair hung down as she poured over a book in her lap.

"There you are." Harry said smiling. "I thought the house swallowed you up or something."

Shaking her hair out of her face as she looked up, Ginny smiled back at Harry. "I was just looking up some family history." She indicated the books around her. "I'm glad I convinced Sirius not to throw these out." Harry recognized the title, Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy.

"Find anything interesting?" Harry asked as he cleared a spot and found folding his legs like Ginny's took up more space than it used to.

"Yes and no. Lots of Weasleys, Blacks and Snapes but I haven't found one Potter yet." Ginny said.

"Why the sudden interest in Genealogy?" Harry studied her for a long moment.

"Hapa's story I guess. It just got me curious." Ginny said thoughtfully. "I didn't know much about my family history. I mean if that story is true then technically us Weasleys aren't 'pureblood'."

"That happened long ago before Hogwarts, long before anyone kept track of such things. So I guess it doesn't count." Harry shrugged.

"Well, it should, especially if the muggle blood is strong enough to keep us all in red hair." Ginny said firmly. "Which also makes me question if so called 'pureblood' wizards are truly pure blooded."

"How many generations does it take to make a pureblood? Good question. Let me know if you find anything about the Potters. I know nothing about my family." Harry said. "I guess I could ask Remus but there always seems to be other things to talk about other than the past." He sighed.

"I know what you mean. The past is the past. Nothing can change it." Ginny nodded. "What good is it to know your great great great great uncle invented floo powder?"

"Did your uncle?" Harry looked amazed.

"No, I was just using that as an example." Ginny laughed. "I guess name dropping does impress some people." She gave him sly smile.

"Maybe," Harry returned the devious look. "There isn't any information about someone inventing a cure for giggling is there? I'd really be impressed then."

Ginny's mouth dropped open. "You!" She tossed the heavy book at him and Harry caught it easily, laughing. Then Ginny launched herself at him, bowling him over. "I'll give you giggling." She straddled his waist and started to tickle Harry's ribs.

"What are you doing?" Harry laughed as he grabbed her hands gazing up in amusement at the irritated girl.

"I'm tickling you." Ginny said and the smile dropped from her face and she froze. She swallowed staring at him. "You've never been tickled before." A sadness crossed Ginny's face and tears sprang to her eyes.

"No, but I've seen it done so I bet I could do it to you." Harry didn't want Ginny to feel sorry for him. He rolled her over and after a brief wrestling match, in which Harry couldn't believe how strong Ginny really was, he finally was able to pin her hands by her head as he sat on her waist. Panting Harry grinned. "Now I have you."

"Let me up." Ginny struggled laughing.

"No," Harry grinned, his nose touched hers. When Ginny quit fighting and looked into his eyes, Harry ceased to have any thoughts of tickling her. Slowly Harry placed his lips on hers. He felt Ginny sigh and the tenseness leave her body. The bones in his own body seemed to be melting as he deepened the kiss and a little sound of pleasure came from Ginny. A growl of hunger escaped from Harry when he felt Ginny's hands pulling him closer.

"Ahem!" A voice came from the doorway. Harry leaped to his feet and Ginny scrambled to hers as they faced Mr. Weasley with beet red faces. The man closed his eyes and said quietly. "Ginny, go help your mother in the kitchen. I want to speak with Harry." Mr. Weasley opened his eyes, giving Ginny a stern look.

"Dad, we weren't doing anything wrong." Ginny stuttered. But one look at her father made her fall silent. Giving Harry a worried glance Ginny left the library.

"Sit down Harry." Mr. Weasley took of his glasses and polished them on his robe. Harry sat down in a lumpy arm chair and Mr. Weasley drew up wooden chair to sit opposite him.

"Mr. Weasley," Harry started but in truth he didn't know what to say to the man. Was he supposed to apologize? He wasn't sorry he had kissed Ginny. He was sorry Mr. Weasley had caught them at it.

"Harry, I'm not angry." Mr. Weasley patted his arm. "A bit surprised, I had no idea." He drew a deep breath and rubbed his neck. "Harry, I know you haven't had any one tell you about many things." Mr. Weasley looked intently at Harry. "And I know it really isn't my place to speak to you about such things." If possible Harry's face turned redder.

"Mr. Weasley I know all about…" Harry stammered.

"Sex? Being sixteen I should hope you do." Mr. Weasley said without embarrassment. "You no doubt know all about the mechanics of the act. But there is a lot more you need to know. Things boys in dorms don't normally talk about."

"Like what?" Harry was curious now.

"Like responsibility, honor and commitments." Mr. Weasley said seriously. "If you would rather Remus speak to you I understand. But I have had some experience with talking to boys." He gave a small smile.

"I don't mind talking to you." Harry said quickly.

"Good. It is a bit strange for me, being my daughter we're discussing." Mr. Weasley said. "I'll let Remus bring you up to speed on the necessary spells."

"Spells?" Harry felt so naïve especially when Mr. Weasley closed his eyes and sighed.

"Contraceptive spells." Mr. Weasley took another deep breath. "Not that I hope you will need them anytime soon. Never the less I think you should learn how to use them." Harry nodded his eyes wide with surprise and his cheeks pink again.

"Now what I am about to tell you are my values. How I see things. Perhaps your parents would have told you different. Remus can tell you if I hit near their mark." Mr. Weasley began. "You see Harry, a man, has a responsibility to himself. Yes, I know you thought it would be to his partner but in essence it is the same thing." He nodded. "This responsibility is to be true to oneself. Not to build up some false image of what things should be like."

"To thy own self be true." Harry said quietly then added. "Shakespeare, a muggle playwright."

Mr. Weasley looked at him and blinked. "Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Actually for all you have been through, Harry, you have a remarkably clear head." Mr. Weasley said seriously.

"Cheers" Harry gave him a slight smile.

"So that brings me to a man's honor. A man's honor needs constant attention. It is easy to let slide a slight promise that doesn't seem important. But in my opinion, the smallest promise is as important as the largest." Mr. Weasley said. "In some sense it show the true mettle of a man if he's able to keep those small promises how ever inconvenient."

"I can understand that." Harry nodded.

"Good." Mr. Weasley smiled slightly. "Now, commitments, in a relationship with a girl," The man paused thinking. "This is difficult; I keep seeing you and Ginny..." A grimace passed over Mr. Weasley face. Harry's face reddened again. "Sorry Harry." The man gave a wry smile and cleared his throat. "These urges Harry…now I know all about the hormones coursing through a young man's body."

"We weren't doing anything, honest Mr. Weasley." Harry stammered. "Ginny started trying to tickle me…"

"Ah, the after wrestling match kiss." Mr. Weasley laughed. "Don't look so shocked Harry. I do have seven children and have wrestled a bit in my time." The man sobered and said. "However, things can go too far if one isn't careful." He took a deep breath. "I love my sons but Ginny, well, she's the apple of my eye as the saying goes. Molly would have been content with six sons but I wanted a little girl just like her."

"With a bit of Fred and George thrown in." Harry added smiling.

"Ah, yes. And that makes her even more, how should I say, formidable." Mr. Weasley warned. "Mark my words Harry when push comes to shove, you'll have to be the one with restraint and control." Harry blushed deeper. "I know I know. I'm probably pushing your relationship far past the point you've even thought of yet. But as Ginny's father I feel I must put you on your guard. She is only fifteen Harry. Remember that, please." Mr. Weasley said.

"I know Mr. Weasley. I'll tell you what I told Ron." Harry looked the man straight in the eyes. "I have too much respect for Ginny and for your whole family to do anything that would jeopardize our trust in each other." He held out his hand to Mr. Weasley.

"Well, said Harry." Mr. Weasley shook the hand then pulled Harry into a brief hug. "I think we understand each other quite well." They both sighed and Harry hoped the talk was over. Mr. Weasley stood up cleared his throat and said. "I'm hungry let's see if they have dinner ready."