Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us.
Chapter 29
Silent…
Harry would have never thought when he started his sixth year that the time would pass as quickly as it already had. It all seemed like a blur to him after the first week. He went to class, did his homework, spent time in the library; which Hermione seemed to be glad about, and he hung out with his friends. But here he was, the last day of October, and he was following the routine he had set.
Classes were going well, though truth be told he was a bit bored with what all the professors were teaching. This was due to the fact that he had already read and studied the material; which had been at the insistence of his mom. If he were able to take the end of year exams now he was sure he could pass them with flying colors.
However it did not go unnoticed by his Professors that he seemed to be bored with the work they set him. It wasn't that he was slacking off or that his grades were slipping, he just seemed disinterested. However when they looked they found that his grades were better than before, but it was as if he were holding back. And that was saying something. For example, one day in Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall had asked them to wordlessly conjure a cloak. She had already explained the workings of the spell and the theory behind it and now wanted them to try it themselves.
When she had walked by Harry's workspace she was surprised by what she saw. There lying perfectly across his table was a beautiful, black traveling cloak that had red cuffs, and gold clasps. When asked how he had managed to produce such an elegant cloak he replied. "Well ma'am, you really didn't specify what kind of cloak, and so I started to think about what it should look like and once I had the image in my mind I did the wand movements and voila, a cloak." Needless to say McGonagall had been surprised and she had not been the only one.
Defense had easily become one of Harry's favorite classes.
Professor McCreedy; like their potions Professor, had told them he would not put up with any trivial House rivalries, or personal problems in his room. A smirking Malfoy had decided to test his new Head of House and cast a low level jinx at one of the Ravenclaws exposed back. Needless to say that had been a mistake. Before he could even get the spell off he heard a gruff yell and saw a bright red light speed towards him; which hit him in the chest and sent him flying to the back of the class and up against the wall knocking him unconscious. Harry later learned that the spell that his teacher had cast was a Stupefy, which had a bit more power added to it then it should have. The class as a whole learned on that day that their Defense Professor meant business and they would do well to not cross him.
A week after the Malfoy incident the class could be found trying to conjure a more powerful version of the shield charm; wordlessly. Harry of course nailed it on the first time and earned his house, 15 points and a curious glance from Professor McCreedy. Seeing his Defense teacher looking at him made Harry a bit uncomfortable and uneasy. So he pulled his bag up into his lap and pulled out a book and began to flip through its pages.
Classes went on like this for Harry, doing everything on the first try if not the second; on anything his Professors set him or the class. Even when they gave him advanced leveled coursework in the hopes of slowing him down, he just rose to meet yet another challenge. And so, after an interesting lesson in potions where they learned to make a Hair Dye potion; Professor Sparks said that they needed to have some fun in her class, Harry could be found sitting in the Gryffindor common room reading yet another book. Though, at random times he would stop to write on the parchment next to him, making small notes in the margins.
He was brought out of his book when Hermione, Ginny, and Ron came through the portrait hole. Normally, such a thing would not cause him to stop reading, but it was the loudness of Ron that did it. "All I am saying Ginny, is that you don't even know who this bloke is, and need to be careful".
"I think I can look after my own self Ron, I am not a child" Ginny exclaimed as she threw herself into the nearest arm chair near Harry and the fireplace.
"What's going on?" Harry asked as he shut his book.
Ginny, still seething did not say a word. When Harry looked to Ron he found his red-headed friend with a scowl upon his face. Turning his head to the last, and hopefully still sane friend, Hermione; who upon seeing his gaze sighed and said "Today at lunch, which you missed by the way, another letter arrived for Ginny".
"So your secret admirer sent you another one, how many does that make for you know three? Harry asked.
"Yes" Ginny answered.
"What did he have to say this time?" Harry asked as he made to shut his book.
Ginny sighed and looked at him and said "Well, he wants me to meet him tonight out by the lake during the Halloween feast".
"So what's the big deal, if you want to meet him and see who this person is that has been sending these letters, what's stopping you?" Harry inquired.
"Well when you put it like that nothing. It's just that when I'm getting letters saying that he likes me and then get one saying that he wants me to meet him….I don't know" Ginny replied.
"It sounds like you have a decision to make, and if you want my opinion you should go meet him. I mean if anything maybe you could learn how he was able to send that letter to you the way he did". Harry said eagerly.
At this comment Ron huffed and asked "Does it not bother you Harry that she would be going to meet a complete stranger and while she's at it learn a new magic trick?"
"Ron your sister is a big girl and can take care of herself, and not to mention that if something were to happen, you would know where she is" Harry said hoping to steer his best friend away from starting a confrontation.
Ron sat there in silence for a moment and then looked to Ginny "I am sorry that I got all heated Ginny, I just don't want to see you hurt".
"Thank you Ron, but I will be fine, don't worry" Ginny said.
"So you have decided to go then?" Hermione asked looking to the young red head.
"Yes" Ginny answered "I just know that if I do not go I will regret it".
Nodding Harry looked down at his watch, his eyes slightly widening at the time. Well it's nearly eight thirty, and Madam Pince will kill me if I do not have this book back there before the feast" Harry said as he rose out of his chair.
Hermione blanched and too looked down at the time and said "You had better hurry she tends to close a little early on feast nights"
"Noted and Ginny you may want to start getting ready yourself" Harry said as he left.
Ginny nodded unconsciously as she watched him leave the common room. She was pulled back to reality by a hand latching onto her arm and pulling her out of her comfy chair. "Hermione what are you doing?" Ginny asked
"Harry is right we need to get you ready, not only for the feast but since you have to leave the feast early you won't have any time to come back here to get ready and there is a lot to do and not much time left" Hermione answered as she pulled Ginny up the stairs.
The air smelled faintly of lilacs as Ginny stepped out of the Gryffindor girls' washroom and back into the 5th year girl's dormitory. Her hair was up in a towel and she was clad in an old plaid terry cloth robe. Hermione was rummaging around in the wardrobe. Ginny moved to sit on her bed. "Mione, what are you doing?"
"Looking for something for you to wear. All these black robes won't do."
Ginny glanced at the clock on the opposite wall. "If we don't hurry, we'll be late for the Halloween feast. Don't forget, I can't get away until the corridors are clear."
"I know, I know," Hermione replied, voice muffled by the large oak doors. "Oh, what do we have here?" She emerged, triumph on her face. On the hanger in her hand was a deep green robe with nested stitching in blue. It was slightly frayed at the seams and edges, trailing long at the back and wearing thinner as it went.
Ginny frowned, "That's so '80's."
"Nonsense," Hermione said. She tossed the robe on the bed, took out her wand, and with a flick the robe looked like new. "Now," she said, leaving it on the bed, "What to do about that hair?"
The next few minutes were spent painting Ginny's nails and putting her hair in curlers. While waiting for her hair to set, the girls sat on the bed, poring over the mysterious admirer's last letter.
Hermione sat back after a few minutes and sighed, "It's all so romantic, Gin. I wish I knew what to tell you. Part of me can't wait for you to meet him and finally find out what all this is about. Part of me is scared to death that this might be some kind of trap."
Ginny looked up slowly from the letter. "Yeah, I feel it too."
"How are you so calm, then?" Hermione leaned forward, taking the letter and examining it again.
"I don't know," Ginny answered. There's a lot of things I don't know, she thought. She looked at Hermione, who put the letter down and leveled eyes with her.
"Ginny, I thought you liked Harry."
Ginny tightened gripped the comforter, "I do. I really do. You must think I'm horrible for wanting to go through with this for some guy I've never met when I have a perfectly wonderful one here. I know I do."
Hermione shook her head, "I know you said you'll regret it if you don't and I completely agree. I just wish there was a way to be sure you'll be alright."
"Well I think I can take care of myself. That much I do know," Ginny said, then laughed "Ron is in knots about all this right now."
"He really is!" Hermione laughed too, "Do you remember the face he made when you got the first letter? He looked like he was going to punch someone or faint!" Her giggles dissolved into a light sigh.
Ginny smiled, "When will you just own up to the fact that you like him?"
Hermione bristled, "That remains to be seen. And don't think I didn't notice that you changed the subject. You've got to get into these robes and we have to get down to the feast."
Ginny wrestled with the newly updated robes, casting charms to change the length until she felt comfortable and able to move easily. She put on sensible Mary Janes, the polished leather shining in the lamplight. Hermione took Ginny's hair down from the curlers, brushed it out, and smoothed it until only the layered ends cascaded in a red waterfall down her back. Both girls worked on a light dusting of make up until Ginny looked in the full length mirror and Hermione declared her done.
"Wait," Ginny said, "Shouldn't I wear the bracelet he gave me? It would be a nice thing to do, don't you think?"
Hermione shook her head, but went to the wardrobe and took out the long, rectangular box. She brought it back to Ginny and handed it to her. "If you determine that he can be trusted, then put it on. Otherwise, keep it in the box. I don't want my best friend vanishing into thin air or something because she put on some creepy stranger's bracelet."
"Right," Ginny said, taking the box and putting it in the inner pocket of her robes.
"And now," Hermione said, taking her best friend's arm, "we're off to the feast."
Heads turned as both girls walked into the Great Hall. Ginny liked the attention. She held her head high and smiled. Ron walked toward them as they approached the Gryffindor table.
"You're late," he said indicating the food on the tables.
"Oh, I can see that," Ginny rolled her eyes.
Ron narrowed his eyes at Hermione, "What have you done to my baby sister? She's talking normal," he looked back to Ginny, "But she looks odd.
Ginny punched him in the arm with a manicured hand, "Shut up or I'll make you look odd."
The three walked back to the table. Ginny sat between the two of them. Ten minutes later, Ginny nudged Hermione.
"I have to go to the washroom, Hermione. Don't miss me while I'm gone."
Hermione squeezed her hand, "Good luck."
"Yeah," Ron said, "And you'd better not die or I'll kill you."
Ginny nodded, took a deep breath, and walked out. As she did she heard Hermione ask
"So where's Harry?"
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After having dropped the book back off at the library Harry began to make his way to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast. Distracted by the many thoughts he had going at once he nearly missed the voice that was calling his name. "Harry" the voice called again.
Looking up he saw someone heading towards him. 'Too young to be a student' Harry thought. "Yes" he said aloud.
"My name is Richard Bixby, the Dueling Tournament judge, and I was sent by the Headmaster to try and catch you before you got to the feast" the new Professor said.
"A pleasure Mr. Bixby, how goes the planning for the Tournament?" Harry asked with interest.
"It's going well enough, though you should look at your notice boards he in a bit as I believe an advertisement will be on there shortly". Bixby said.
"Well as long as it goes off better than the last one we had here I looking forward to it". Harry said with a sigh.
"Mr. Potter I want you to know that I personally have put my hand into every part of this tournament to make sure it goes well and nothing….dire happens" Richard Bixby said matter of factly.
"If you say so sir, but the last time someone saw to something personally Voldemort was reborn, so you'll have to excuse me if I seem a bit skeptical" Harry replied solemnly.
Professor Bixby gave a small chuckle and said "Right you are young one, and now I must apologize, for I have held you from your meeting with the Headmaster so you had better be on your way. I will see you tomorrow" the Tournament Head said.
"Yes sir" Harry replied as he headed off towards the Headmasters office.
Once he got there he was surprised to see that the stone gargoyle was already to the side, allowing Harry to go on up. When he got to the top the Headmasters familiar voice rang out "Come in Harry". Upon opening the door Harry was greeted with the site of the Headmaster sitting behind his desk flipping through a rather large tome.
"You wanted to see me Headmaster" Harry said as he took a seat hoping to get the ball rolling.
"Harry, there are no need for formalities in here we are both adults and friends" The Head said eyes twinkling in merriment.
"Friends, sir?" Harry asked.
"I would like to think so Harry" Dumbledore said pausing to let it sink in "Now how are you doing my boy, you know you gave us quite the scare over the summer when you left your relatives".
"I'm good sir, and I do apologize for giving you cause to worry, but I did send you a message telling you I was okay" Harry replied.
"I got the message, but I...we could not be sure as to whether or not you were forced to write that letter so that we would not look for you. Where were you by the way?" the Headmaster asked as he looked intently at Harry.
Harry was about to speak but stopped, smirked and said "Well to be honest with you Headmaster I am not at liberty to say, and I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped trying to get that information from my mind".
For a fraction of a second a look of surprise could be found on the aged professors' face, though it was gone as quickly as it had come. "You must forgive an old mans' curiosity Harry" Albus Dumbledore said.
"No sir, I really don't. I have already on three separate occasions felt someone trying to enter my head, and none of them from any source outside this castle. So I will say it again, I would greatly appreciate it if you and more than likely your lackeys stopped trying to get inside my thoughts". Harry said calmly.
"Now Harry, as the Headmaster it is my duty to make sure that my students are well and safe…"
"With all due respect sir, your duty is being the Headmaster of Hogwarts, not the Headmaster of our life outside of these walls, so you will have to excuse me while I protect my thoughts from people who would want to control me" Harry cut in, agitation clearly in his voice. "Now, was there anything else you wanted to discuss sir?"
Dumbledore pulled his thoughts together, nodded and said "Yes, we need to discuss the times you are able to come up here for Occlumency lessons".
"Sir as you have already seen…or rather not seen, you cannot get past my shields much less make it into my head at all, so I don't see why I need those lessons" Harry said as he pushed himself out of the chair.
"We are not done here Harry" Dumbledore said as he too stood.
Harry was at the door and turned back around to face the Headmaster and said "Yes sir, I believe we are. Now, if you would be so kind to take locking charm off the door so that I may be on my way".
"I am sorry but I cannot do that, as I need to find out where you were this summer and so we can set up times for you to come here for lessons" Albus said as he put his hand in his pocket.
Harry sighed he had hoped the Headmaster would just let him go but it appeared that he had been mistaken. "Now sir, I refrained from telling anyone what you attempted to do to me this summer when I showed up here by mistake but I am more than willing to let you try again, but know that this time I will make sure that the Governors find out that you tried to stun a student…again".
"What mistake did cause you to be in my office during the summer?" Albus asked truly curious and noticed that Harry appeared to be thinking over the question. 'Was he going to get an answer' The Headmaster thought.
"Since that is the first honest thing you have asked or said to me I will indulge you" Harry replied pausing once more collecting his thoughts "This past summer I was a wreck. I will even go as far to say that I was dealing with some major depression issues after the death of my Godfather. But I digress, just two weeks into the summer I found that even though the Potters' will was not followed Sirius Black still had a say in my upbringing; something to this very day I am thankful for. Anyway, it would seem that Sirius had set something up for me in case of his untimely demise"
Harry paused once more this time it was just to take a moment and remember his godfather. After his moment of silence Harry continued "It was while I was here that I had mispronounced a spell and it shifted me to your office, I am still not sure why. But there you go, you have your answer now so will you please unlock the door?"
Ignoring the question Harry had asked him he said "That is why you need proper training Harry, so that you do not let your magic get out of control" but he did not get to finish as he was cut off.
"Training…sir if you wanted to train me you should have started two years ago when the Tri-Wizard tournament was here instead of leaving me to fend for myself, or even this last year when again my friends and I were forced to teach ourselves Defense Against the Dark Arts, so you have no right to mention my training and stop trying to get into my head!" Harry yelled this last part as he raised both his hands and pushed them towards the Headmaster causing him to sail backwards over his desk.
Harry took in several breaths and turned to the door, took a hold of the handle, turned it and it opened to reveal the winding staircase. Taking another breath, this time one of relief he headed down the stairs and away from the Headmasters office.
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Ginny walked down the steps leading out of the castle and towards the lake. As she walked, the wind caught her robe causing it to ripple and her hair to stream behind her. And as she approached the lake she could barely make out a silhouette of a person standing beside it looking out over the water. She stopped about ten feet out from the person she called out and asked "Are you waiting for me?"
The figure turned its body so that it was facing her. Ginny noticed that he was wearing an all black robe that had flecks of true green scattered about it and his face was cast into shadow due to his drawn hood. "I would be willing to wait for you; even if it meant waiting until the end of time itself" the figure said in an unknown voice. Which was something she had hoped would give her some clue as to who it was.
"How long have you been watching me?" Ginny asked stepping a bit closer.
"For some time, though I had to be sure…"
"Sure of what exactly" she interrupted.
"Sure that the time was right" that figure stated.
"Why me?" this had been the question that she most wanted an answer to and she just hoped that he gave it to her.
"Because you are beautiful, kind, caring, you speak what is on your mind and you feel a deep compassion for those who have had grief thrust upon them unfairly, and the most important of all is your readiness to stand up and by your friends for what you believe in".
Ginny was surprised by this answer and could hardly fathom the amount of time that someone would have had to watch her to put together an answer so detailed. Her mind was telling her that this person was not to be trusted, while her gut was telling her that she was safe and that this…stranger would not harm her in the slightest.
"Who are you?" Ginny asked although somehow she knew that the answer was not going to come just yet. The man extended his arm out with his palm open to Ginny. She looked at it and when she saw nothing in his hand she could only guess that this person, whoever he may be wanted her to take it.
"Do you trust me?" The stranger asked.
Ginny looked into the strangers eyes, or rather where they should have been, but since his face was cast in shadow she could only guess. She nodded and reached out to take his hand. As soon as his skin touched hers and their hands clasped together, a warm wind blew around them and blue flames erupted around them on all sides engulfing the two in their slight warmth. And as quick as the flames had come, they left. A lone leaf fell silently and land on the glassy surface of the lake causing a small ripple to go out from the center of where the leaf had landed.
The Hogwarts grounds were silent. Not the chirping of a cricket or the rustle of a tree could be heard. The Hogwarts grounds were silent.
The Stranger and Ginny had vanished.
