Harry Potter and the Ancient Shrine of Providence

The rest of the Story of the Boy who Lived

Book 8 Chapter 37 'Dark Reflections'

Chapter 37: Dark Reflections

When Draco heard the man utter the Killing Curse, he had been expecting to see his father collapse to the floor. But instead, just a flicker of a second later, he stood dumbfounded as he watched his father punch the former Auror in the nose. It was at that same moment, Draco had realized that nothing had even appeared from the wizard's wand.

Now as John Hunkle fell back, there was a loud crack as he had hit his head loudly upon a column. As his body crumpled to the floor, the renegade Auror began groaning as he reached to hold the back of his head in unbearable pain.

Lucius turned and in noticing his son's wide-eye stare, told him, "Draco, this ancient structure has an enchantment field throughout it. When it was built, each stone within its foundation was placed with a special charm. It is one of the few known places in the world that can prevent a wizard from focusing his spell through a magical core. In his zeal to be the one to extract revenge tonight, it seems that this Auror had overlooked what he had been taught long ago."

Lucius paused to think before adding, "He just proved what a brainless oaf that he was. With followers like these, Draco, one can only wonder on what the future will hold for each one of us here, tonight."

It was at this time that a group of three other cloaked figures approached. Two of them were each brandishing a broadsword and the one in charge appeared to be around the age of sixty. He wore a well-tailored cloak and his groomed face held the wildest smile as he glanced around at the two of them. Even though he had not seen him for years, Draco needed no reminding on who he was for his cold stare was all that it took to remember.

Years ago, he had seen John Hackins attend several meetings at his father's manor. Even at this early age, during these special gatherings, Draco had quickly figured out that his father had not cared for him or his ways. As the wizard noticed the sprawling John Hunkle who was still lying upon the floor, Draco observed that his smile had instantaneously faded away.

The man just seemed to ignore Draco, as he looked directly at his father and said, "Well Lucius, it seems that you have been lucky to have survived Hunkle's welcome tonight. Now I would expect that both of you are wondering if either of you will be living when the Sun rises tomorrow morning."

Lucius took a moment to ponder and then looked squarely at the man saying, "I have done a number of certain things in my life that I've had no choice in doing John. I'm telling you this because you will find that you're no better ahead if you kill me."

"This conversation of yours now means very little to me, Lucius. These decisions about what we do with both of you have already been decided."

"As usual John, you've been thinking with your superior intellect, but that sadly seems to also include your closed minded thoughts. I remember that it wasn't that long ago that you had agreed with Yaxley on how the Ministry wasn't ours yet to take. Yes, I was one of several that disagreed and we both know that the Dark Lord had taken my advice."

Draco, who had been listening, now noticed that John's face had lost the rest of its smile.

Lucius continued, "Oh yes, I'm sure that you can remember how successful we all were that night. One must wonder though, if this welcome is just retribution your toward me."

His large smile now reappeared as John replied, "Perhaps Lucius, but it is really only business old friend. At one time, you were a proven ally, but now it seems that your family has all made a stand. I'm afraid that you have become too much of a liability for our cause."

Around them, a rising volume of murmurings of agreement with John was heard from those in attendance.

"You're a stupid fool," Lucius retorted. He was now becoming nervous with all the unfavorable mumblings of those who surrounded him. "I have always done my part but even I will admit that I did underestimate Potter a number of times. You can trust that I will never do this again. If I have learned anything, we must plan and think of everything when it comes to this young wizard. If you don't, then I'm afraid that we are all destined to continue to underrate the boy the same as the Dark Lord did."

Suddenly, a voice in the crowd around them, yelled out. "You're just barking like an old dog, Malfoy!"

Then another in the angry group cried out, "Too many of us have died or been captured because of ones like you! Sir, don't listen to him! He only is trying to save himself!"

Then John Hackins reached out and took a sword from one of his men. When he turned back toward Lucius, he was again showing his signature wide and toothy grin.

Lucius had now realized that he soon would be dead. Then whether it was something he had wanted Draco to hear, or he had just acted out of fear, Lucius now showed a temperament made of steel. He spoke up saying in a cold voice the first thing that had crossed his mind. "Before you kill me, I believe you should think about something else my old Slytherin. There are many in your former place of employment that would have been quite pleased to find out who had been the one that had butchered Scrimgeour. I know it was you that showed him no mercy when he had been mortally wounded. You just tortured your old boss, just like my former sister-in-law would have played with her victims. Some may think that I can be quite horrible but even I have chosen limits on what I will do."

Around them, the crowd had grown quite silent and it was obvious that what Lucius had just said had made a definite impact on them. But for Lucius Malfoy, he had just begun. He continued saying to John certain things he had wanted to say for a very long time, "If I had even hinted on who had done this to Scrimgeour, then I think we both know on whose door they would have been knocking down that first night. They have only been told of what they had wanted to hear in order to make them think that they could trust me."

Now many of the crowd's faces had turned back toward Hackins. As much as those in attendance had mostly despised Scrimgeour, a number of them were not at all looking pleased.

Hackins coughed a laugh and then he again forced his signature smile, "You come up with the most interesting theories, Lucius. You always have seemed to be able to weasel out of every tight situation with the Dark Lord, but not with me. I think you have finally reached the time that you can't."

Lucius replied in a rather loud voice, "Well John, if I hadn't done what I did, I'm sure there would have been others quite ready to come forward to tell them everything. It was only in my appearance of cooperation that prevented the Ministry from using Veritaserum on me. I think this explanation is enough in itself to explain why you and practically everyone else could attend here tonight."

Then within John Hackins' eyes, the realization of what Lucius had just done had made itself apparent. As he looked around at the crowd, half of them were now showing an angry look toward him. What had been an astute and smiling face had quickly disappeared. John now lowered the sword to his side for he knew that what Lucius had just told him, actually was more then just a plausible truth. He stared back with an expression that still showed his mistrust, but then John nodded in what would become a moment of mutual understanding and a truce between the two of them.

"Alright Lucius, I find that you might be telling me at least a good part of the truth, but I still don't trust you or your son that is no less a coward. Our ways may have all been set back for a number of years, but I have faith that Slytherin's thoughts and ideas will rise again."

Then Lucius began talking in a loud voice that everyone around him could hear. "I agree with you, but this is not the right time to seize the moment, John. You and every one else in this room must be made aware that there is still a strange mystery about young Potter. His uncanny good luck against the Dark Lord has still been left unexplained. It is almost like we were always meant to underestimate him."

"I have taken noticed of this too, Lucius", John replied with his voice still showing his unhappiness about his outspokenness. "So what are your suggestions on what we should do about him?"

Lucius looked at those around him and then spoke up in a commanding voice, "It is time that we all carefully plan and let not our passions interfere with our adjectives. Everyone needs to know that Potter is not a stupid and inept little boy. If not, everyone that tries to do away with him likely could be in for an unexpected surprise. Although, it's possible that if the Dark Lord had just let us earlier take care of this issue, then everything may not have happened as it did. For now, I recommend that we just leave young Potter for later. Maybe in time, we can finally figure out what has made him so damn bloody lucky."

Before he answered, John in looking around at the large gathering decided it would be better to have some privacy. "Leave us," he spoke to all those around them. It didn't take long before Draco and Lucius were the only ones standing with him.

It was now in his normal voice that John spoke, "You have brought up some good points here for a future discussion, Lucius, but I now want to ask you a question. I assume that you have heard of these additional prophecies about him?"

"If one reads the News, how could one not know they exist," replied Lucius.

"I am not here to listen to you play with your words," John angrily rebutted. "You've had a reprieve but I could easily change my mind about that. So for once, just give me a straight and honest answer. Tell me how much that you understand about Potter. Just why has he had all these prophecies foretold?"

"First I want to suggest if you would have only attended more meetings," spoke Lucius, "you would have understood better on why things proceeded as they did. You cared more just to keep your low profile, so that the Ministry had no reason to suspect on which side that you really were on."

"What is it with you?" John asked and then added. "You quickly are approaching the end of my patience if you don't tell me what I want to know."

"Well," Lucius began saying as he was enjoying his newfound opportunity. "I think you need to be patience and listen to me. It seems that whatever the Dark Lord would plan, the boy's fate has always been quite protective of him. Along with that, I believe that something has always prevented us from finding out the details of why. So as much as I and others have tried, none of us were able to find out what the rest of the first Prophecy was."

"Yes Lucius, I already have come to that same conclusion. It seems to me that this answer was never meant for the Dark Lord to know. Now one would think that there were always a certain few that would have been made quite curious about all of this. Obviously, somebody in the Ministry should have recognized that, and if they did, then it seems to me that none of them must have supported our ways. Whoever it may have been, it seems that they all kept their mouths shut, and thusly sheltered this information from us. If I ever find out who they were, then they will be paying a high price for their silence."

"If you by chance are referring to the Staff at the Department of Mystery, then I think you are mistaken," replied Lucius. "When I had first cornered Potter in the prophecy vault, I quickly was led to believe that he had no idea that the Prophecy had even existed. This tells me that Dumbledore had probably made the decision to restrict this information from everyone and that even included the boy. Since only he and the Dark Lord were the ones able to retrieve this knowledge, then there is a good chance that only Dumbledore and the Librarian of the Prophecies would have known."

"I must agree," replied John. "Not informing the Department of Mystery directly may have still been a good way for Dumbledore to safeguard this information. The Librarian and he had been long time friends and quite trusting of each other. Even though, Dumbledore would have known that he had taken a huge risk in recording it while in her presence."

Lucius then replied, "Maybe he didn't. I had always felt that the missing part might have been recorded in private. Quite possibly, it was even done only to insured that if Dumbledore didn't survive, it would have given a way for Potter to find out what had been prophesied."

"Then why, Lucius? Why did the Dark Lord not just infiltrate the Department of Mystery? Then he could have easily just gone in and retrieved it for himself. Dumbledore may not have even been the wiser. Even I had offered my own services and connections to him, but he had refused."

"For someone like you, John, I would have expected that you would have understood why the Dark Lord behaved as he did. As much as he thought Dumbledore was an old wizard who had lived past his time, he still recognized that he was never stupid.

"The Dark Lord knew that Dumbledore would try to prepare the Ministry for what was to come. This hopeless choice of his would mark the beginning of his own downfall.

"After his brilliant rebirth, the Dark Lord was unnerved with Potters survival. But there was more then just that. I think in a way he was ready scared of what Potter could be. It consumed him for he wanted to know why he still lived. He also was very protective on letting anyone else know what the full Prophecy had contained, lest that knowledge be used against him. The is why he decided that Potter's life was for only him to take."

"I understand, Lucius, but do you know why he was so scared of what Potter could be."

"We both know that the boy had already survived numerous attempts on his life and yet he still lived. Each day was becoming more and more stressful for the Dark Lord, even as we slowly were assuming control. As each day passed, it made him even more concerned that Dumbledore may have had the hindsight to have somehow protected this information and his ability for him to ever access it."

"You seem to have more knowledge then I had expected," John told him.

"I had to because I had taken on the responsibility of discrediting the boy. In less then a month, my associates and I were doing an excellent job in having the Ministry castigate him. Quite quickly, I even had Fudge becoming delusional in thinking Dumbledore wanted his job. He was proving quite easy to manipulate and it wasn't long before I had convinced him that Potter had become a huge liability for the Ministry.

"During this time, the Dark Lord had carefully stayed in the background and was carefully planning our future strategy. Then a most interesting opportunity occurred. The Dark Lord began exploring a strange connection that permitted him to enter the boy's mind. It was an unexpected but quite remarkable bond between them that he had found. He soon hoped that by using it, he would be able to control and direct young Potter. Then just after all his planning had appeared to come to fruition, the Prophecy was destroyed without any chance to hear on what it had contained. Finally, after that approach had failed, he knew he had to get rid of who had protected Potter, once and for all."

"Yes Lucius, we both know who he had put in charge of that."

"Lucius stopped speaking in order to keep from exploding. Then as he looked John directly in the eyes, he forced himself to keep his composure and told him, "My son was not ready for a job as important or demanding as this. He was only picked as a punishment for my family and me. It's not like anyone can take a life without some possible repercussions, Hunkle. Which one of us can really say that Damnation is not waiting for each of us on the other side? My son so far has not seen what killing could do to him, but for both you and me, we will have to wait and see in the end."

Coldly, Hunkle replied, "Quite touching Lucius, but what of the Prophecy?"

Draco, who had felt a new surge of respect for his father, could see the annoyance in Hunkle's face. He knew his father was doing his best to contain his anger.

Now when Lucius spoke, he appeared to be quite calm and collected, "It seems that the Dark Lord had suspected that Dumbledore had never told anyone else about the missing parts of the Prophecy. This had insured that none of our associates might just stumble into this knowledge by discovering it in somebody's mind that had known. He had been wise to do this for it seemed to have protected young Potter and increased his own chances of survival."

"So why didn't the Dark Lord just go to the source, Lucius," John asked. "She in fact was a professor at Hogwarts?"

"Because it was far easier said, then done, John. It seems that she had never ventured away from the school for years. With the Seer being protected by both Dumbledore and the grounds of Hogwarts, the Dark Lord had felt he would have risked exposure. Since she already had a worthless reputation, he felt it was not worth taking the risk of getting access to her."

"Then why did he not attempt to force it from her last year?" John asked.

"Severus himself had told the Dark Lord that he had already found nothing of this thought in her mind. Because of this, the Dark Lord knew that she would have no recollections of what she had ever spoken."

"So our own collaborator may have protected her," John remarked.

"Yes, It seems that could have been true, but when the Prophecy was destroyed at the Ministry, the Dark Lord had perceived a far greater closeness that Dumbledore had for the boy. After the boys Godfather's death, he suspected that Dumbledore would soon be force by need to tell Potter the Prophecy in its entirety. This he considered to be a good sign for he felt that Dumbledore was becoming worried in that he could no longer protect him. Then after his death, the Dark Lord suspected that Potter might have even confided this information to his two close friends. Then when they all went into hiding, it was now obvious that he had."

John then asked, "I agree with your overall thinking, but don't you know anything about these other prophecies or how to get to information about them. We must find out on what they contain, for they may also be part of our own future."

"For now," replied Lucius, "Access to that information is mostly unattainable. We can only wait until a possible avenue presents itself. We know not on whom could be mentioned except for the youngest Weasley. She is a Pureblood and the first witch in seven generations within Arthur's family. I think there is an excellent chance that she will find herself involved in far more then just a normal part of his life."

"Good thinking, Lucius. Use her to get to him and her father."

"That is not why I mentioned her," Lucius replied stiffly. You have no idea on how Potter would react to something like this."

"He will be like putty in our hands, Lucius. He will do exactly what we want him to do."

"My son long ago reported to me that Potter, himself can have a temper at times," Lucius told him. "Over the years, his actions have been able to be anticipated. In his youth, it would have made getting to him quite easy, but that now is in the past. Lately, it seems he has done a good job to contain and control it; even at times showing the unexpected but what now appears to be the correct choice to survive.

"It these ideas of yours, John, they may only serve to be quite dangerous to all of us."

"Why?"

"Think this out first, John. That is what you'll always been good at. Until we know more, it would not be wise for us to threaten his young love of his. Push him too hard and it might be the last thing that you do."

Lucius looked strangely back at John as if he was thinking about something. He then said, "In time, she may prove to be his Achilles heel. For now, until we know what we are really up against, this is something that I don't think is wise to consider."

"I still think it was only due to extremely good luck that he even survived," John replied.

"Yes, and now the boy has become a wizard. It matters not on how he won, for he alone defeated the Dark Lord. Whether it was by just a simple spell and luck; there is a chance that we will never know. There are secrets about Potter and maybe much more then any of us could have ever imagined."

"John paused as he pondered about what Lucius had just said. He then told him, "Your right Lucius and I have let my eagerness get the best of me. Of course using her is not the best choice at this time. But if the young witch is indeed a part of these prophecies, then she may already have an understanding of what they mean."

"It is possible, but using her to find out this information, could only prove to be the most dangerous course to follow."

Even though they were in a private setting, John now lowered his voice and told him, "Well, I have a bit of some new knowledge that I will now share with you. I say that one of them is highly unusual. It is of a rarity that even the Department of Mystery finds itself quite scared of."

Lucius coughed a laugh and said, "Arthur's daughter's birth may be quite rare old friend, but it doesn't mean that she's been blessed with special powers."

"Not that Lucius, for you have misunderstood me," John replied with a chuckle before he told him in a serious voice, "It is one of the prophecies! It is of a rare type that only a few have even been seen in the last thousand years."

"Really," Lucius voice cracked with his own curiosity. "Just how… did you come to find out this information?"

In his own snobbish voice, John told him, "An Unspeakable was loose with her words last week in a pub in KnockturnAlley. My agents then waited in the shadows for her until after a most difficult of scuffles, they were able to finally detain her. After using the Imperio upon her, her consciousness lasted only long enough for them to gather this information."

"Why did they leave her behind," Lucius asked. "She would have known much more, I'm sure."

"They tried to, but it seems that she must have carried something that blocked their ability to Apparate. When they suddenly found themselves being approached by others, they had no choice, but to leave."

"Too bad then, though it seems to me, that I'm not the only one that has failed."

"John returned a grin before saying, "It is what she was able to tell us that has the Ministry so worried. This one is so different that not since before the days of Merlin has one even been seen such as this."

"So tell me," Lucius asked, as his own curiosity was heard in his voice.

"She told them that it is a living Prophecy, Lucius. But it is of an ancient type that is so old that it is thought it may date back to well before Rome itself had even been founded."

"How old," Lucius asked.

"It is thought to be at least three millennia and more."

"After that, she fell into a state of unconsciousness that they were unable to awake her from. My men thought it could be some type of a protective charm that had been placed upon her. Several of our own membership is quite afraid for they are not sure that the Ministry could have placed a charm such as this. I am not sure of anything except the sooner we are rid of Potter, the better off we'll be."

Lucius' eyes were still showing his surprise. After a moment to calm his own excitement, he replied in a low voice, "There is much more here to young Potter then any of us could have ever bargained for. We cannot continue this fight or ever hope to succeed on what we do not understand. Leave Potter and this Weasley witch alone until we finally know what we are up against."

"Yes, you may be right, but time is something that we do not have for this. Now listen to me for I have more to tell you."

Lucius knew his warning was being ignored and sadly just stared at Hackins.

"I can see the worry in your face, Lucius, but it is time that I tell you on how the Dark Lord attempted to prolong his life."

This sentence caught Lucius' attention for he hadn't been expecting this. As his own face now showed his curiosity, he looked at John and asked, "How?"

"I still have several Aurors that are friendly toward our cause. One owed me a debt and was happy to pass on these details on what the three of them were actually doing this past year."

"Tell me," was all Lucius asked.

"Do you know of what a Horcrux is?"

"Oh by the Bloody Trolls of the Highlands!" Lucius loudly remarked. "You are positive that he did that."

Draco was caught by surprise by his father's exclamation. He had heard Harry mention this word to Voldemort shortly before the final spells were cast, but he had no idea on what he had been talking about.

"Yes and there is still more, Lucius, so much that I still can't believe that he even did this. He didn't just make one but he created more then any wizard has ever attempted. It appears that he concealed them all in difference ways, thinking that they could never all be found and destroyed. But the question now remains. Just how Harry Potter was able to find and destroy what even Dumbledore had not been able to do."

Lucius was now thinking about the diary, he had given Ginny Weasley. Had it really been a Horcrux, he thought? From what he had heard had happened at Hogwarts, it must have been, but how could a twelve-year-old wizard be able to defeat that and a Basilisk of all things…

"Lucius… Lucius answer me," John spoke in a raised voice.

Lucius was pulled from his thoughts and mumbled, "Yes… I don't rightly know John… I'm sure that the Dark Lord took every precaution… At least what he thought would safeguard them."

"Well Lucius, it is now obvious to me that Potter was somehow destined to complete this Prophecy. We both know that in fact it was foretold before he was even born. There is also the possibility that he may have had additional help. From just who this could be… that is what now worries me. I think that there is a good possibility that this jinx against us is finally over. Maybe now we can finally get rid of our mutual problem."

As Lucius stared at him, he began shaking his head. "I'm afraid that you have not taken the time again to reason this all out. Remember that these other prophecies were told to him after the fall of the Dark Lord. I'm not sure if we can agree or not on who actually helped him, but it may have been from sources that we do not understand. I think you have been far too eager in your interpretation of what you have heard. Until we know more, I'm afraid I have no confidence in our ability to confront him.

"But Lucius, I am still convinced that there are a number of those in the Ministry that have more knowledge of why this happened. If that is the case, then they may have the real answers on why he was able to defeat the Dark Lord."

"Then we must wait until we have access to this information."

"Yes, I wish I could Lucius. It seems though; that Kingsley has already moved far quicker then I was expecting. It appears that he has gone to great lengths on preventing us access to this knowledge. There are also rumours that everyone has been carefully charmed that has been involved with this investigation."

"Then we should take this as an omen," Replied Lucius. "There must be something out of the ordinary about Potter if the Ministry has continued to go to this much trouble to protect him."

"You may be right, old friend, but I have high hopes that it soon will not be a problem."

"You think you have found another credible source for this information." Lucius asked.

"No, but a plan is already in the works that I hope will finally eliminate the need to know on why he has been so fortunate."

"No my friend," Lucius quickly spoke back, "Potter may only appear to be an average wizard, but you and I both agree that there have been too many unanswered questions that have occurred around him. In fact, we both know that he never should have survived.

"For the past several years, I have seen Potter become a rallying symbol for those who have refused our ideas. Yes, killing him would help our cause immensely, but we have already wasted far too many of our valuable resources upon this endeavor. We should step back until we know exactly what these prophecies are."

"Just because there is another Prophecy about him, it doesn't mean that it has been sent as a warning to us," John replied. "The sooner we're rid of him, the better for our cause."

Lucius could again only slowly shake his head before saying, "I have tried to warn you that over the years, he has proven to be quite the adversary. Plainly, there is something unusual about him, but I worry that you are just continuing to ignore my warnings."

Lucius now paused to make sure he had John's full-attention. Once he saw that he did, he continued. "Trying to end Potter's life may not be ours to take. I think we should both take the time to reconsider what may be in our mutual interest. Don't risk what is left of our followers by having them blunder away on something that we do not understand. For now, reconsider what I've said and wait."

"I still think that most of this is just becoming a Cock and Bull story, Lucius," John Hackins told him. "Yes, these have been strange circumstances that have cost the Dark Lord his life. Although, I will freely admit to you, that I too have a number of unanswered questions, but it still appears to me that that the boy was just damn lucky. Soon, in one way or the other, we will have a better idea if what you have been saying is true."

"So what do you mean?" Lucius asked now confused.

"Let's just say that I don't trust you enough quite yet to let you in on all of the operational details. I do have a certain request that I need for you to do. Later tonight, I will talk to you to see if you're interested. If by chance that I don't see you later, I will know on what side that your family's loyalties now lie."

"Agreed John," Lucius replied, "But in the future, I request that you leave the discussion of my son's loyalty out of our quarrels."

"That Lucius is something you'll not need to worry about after tonight. It has already been decided that he will be the one tested. I think I need not tell you what will happen if he fails to show his loyalty to our cause."

Lucius raised an eye at him and then turned around to Draco and told him, "Come son, we are done here for now. Let us see if we can find a more sociable place to linger."

Draco took a final glance at John Hackins, who finally seemed to be returning an open grin to him. Then he turned and followed his father, who was walking past a groaning, John Hunkle. The wizard was still lying on the floor where he earlier had fallen.

Draco was not sure on what he was expected to do that night, but he was certainly anticipating for the moment they could finally leave.

A feathery touch of a finger sliding across his forehead was all it took to bring Harry out of his drowsiness. With the feel of the mattress and the scent of that flowery smell, he was sure that he was in Ginny's room and she by his side.

As he opened his eyes, they were met by a soft glow of light by a scattered number of candles placed around the room. Although each of them was quite dim, all together, they created a welcome radiance that helped to redirect his attention towards Ginny's face. The peculiar thing was Harry couldn't even remember why he was in bed. The last thought he had was of kissing Ginny on the porch last night.

As they both gazed at each other, their lips remained silence, as each of them knew not what to say. As he continued to watch her, he begin noticing that her lips were slightly twitching, as she did her best to smile back at him.

Finally, when she could wait no longer, she asked, "Are you alright?"

Harry didn't vocally reply at first, but how his eyes had reacted was enough to make her understand.

"You're okay then?" She asked, as her concern was quite evident within her voice.

There was another short pause before he answered; "Fine I guess," Then from his dry lips, he forced his own question. "Ginny. I need to ask you. What exactly happened after we kissed?"

"Well… earlier, while we were out on the porch, something that I think neither of us had been anticipating appeared to happened." She now quickly noticed the curiosity that showed across his face. She then continued, "As we begin to share our thoughts, I was surprised on what I saw and even felt, but I guess I do believe that your parents, Snape… and possibly even Death, himself may have all been there last night."

There was another silent pause before she added, "It may sound mental to you but it seems… like you suddenly have had a fit or something."

She saw the quick and rapid realization that begin to dawn across his face. Then just as quickly, it suddenly had turned back into a questionable look.

In a rushed voice, Harry asked, "How long have I been out?"

"Oh, just over an hour."

Something made Harry looked around as to make sure the room was empty. Moments later, as his eyes were looking back in Ginny's, he asked, "I seem to still remember on what we were discussing before we kissed, but my mind is just blank after that."

"Well I do remember Harry," her answer seemed to be neither happy, or had shown much excitement within it. "What must have happened is that I think I saw something that I was not meant to see."

As Harry gazed into her face, he could see her lower lip twitching as she tried to hide it. He asked in a firm but loving voice, "Well… get out with it then… What did you see?"

"I think it is more the reason of why you have forgot that answers the question, Harry. What I saw makes me have to wonder, because I really think that there was something else in your mind with us. I saw no face, but I know that I felt something more. It was such a strange sensation to me, because it was a feeling that I know that I have felt before."

Harry had a good inkling on just whom it may have been, but before he could ask, she added, "Whatever it was, I could tell it wasn't happy. It was almost as if it was scared that I had become aware of it. Before you say anything, let me add by saying that I don't think he was the same this time."

As Harry had started to reply, there was a sudden soft knock at the door.

"Come in mum," Ginny replied. It seemed to Harry that she had been expecting her.

The door opened and both Molly and Arthur walked in. Their faces were showing both of their concerns, but only Molly spoke to him saying, "Feeling better, Harry?"

With his eyes staying on Ginny's face, he replied, "I guess I am… At least I think that I'm all right. We were just discussing on what could have happened, but my mind still feels sort of muddled."

Molly glanced over at her daughter and Ginny could see in her face, her motherly concern for Harry as if he was her own son.

Harry sensed the uneasiness of the moment and then looked back at Molly, saying, "Sorry, and I'm not trying to hide anything… It's just complicated and I am not exactly sure on what just happened." He then looked back over at Ginny and told her, "So go on then. Tell us on who you think it may have been?"

As Ginny looked unsure at her parents, she now realized that it really wouldn't matter on what they would hear. It might actually be best that they would know on what she had felt happened earlier this night. At least it would finally end some worries, but she knew it could probably only start more. So after a short pause to prepare for her mother's reaction, she said, "We kissed right after Harry had tried on the ring, he gave me." She then went on and began explaining on what she had noticed. That quickly caused both Molly and Arthur to begin staring in disbelief.

Soon Ginny was telling them, "It happened just after I realized that somebody else had been in Harry's mind. That's when whatever it was, had also realized that I had noticed it was there. It was then that you just seemed to have a fit and like then totally lost it."

Molly and Arthur both looked at each other. They weren't quite sure on what she had felt, but whatever it would have been, it could have not have been normal. But this was Harry Potter that Ginny was taking about. As much as they were both quite worried, they were now accustomed to events that had always happened in such an abnormal way around him.

Molly then spoke up saying, "Harry, it is late and you have a big day tomorrow. Let me go and get you something to help you sleep the rest of tonight." Then without waiting for his answer, she hurried out of the room and was gone before he could reply.

Harry then looked over at Arthur. It was his face that informed Harry that Molly had purposely left so that the three of them could be alone. He then gave Harry a little shrug with his shoulders as he returned his gaze with his own inquisitive smile.

Harry was the first to speak, "Arthur, I respect you more then I think you have realized. But right now I think it might have been better if we had not told you tonight."

"No Harry," Arthur replied. I think it was good that you did tell us."

Harry then knew it was time to tell him more. "Then prepare yourself for it's probably best that I also tell you this. "Ginny and I have found that we can directly share our thoughts and most intimate secrets when we have wanted to do so." Harry stopped as he looked at Arthur's face. He noticed much less then he had been expecting with this discloser. So then he added, "We also no longer need a charm or spell to be able to do this."

Now this statement was the one that had caught Arthur by surprise. After a short moment to gather his thoughts, Arthur looked around at both of them and said, "I appreciate your honesty and what you have both have just told me. I feel that I should also tell both of you that Molly and I had suspected that you might have been able to do something like this. If this by chance is a direct connection between the two of you… without any vocal spell to connect this union… then this is quite possibly something that may be unknown in our world…" He paused giving them both a concerned look.

"Now I have something that I want to tell the two of you in private. This ring may possibly be what is creating this powerful link between the two of you. Just why, I don't know and I don't think anyone in the Ministry would be of much help either."

Arthur then had a look of mystery across his face and then as it begin to look more as a worry, he told them, "I should also warn you, that its origins are clouded in secrecy and have proven to be untraceable. Even though much has now been foretold for both of you, it leaves only confusion and speculation on what path you will actually follow. I am sorry that I cannot tell you more."

Arthur again paused as if not knowing what else that he could say. Then he began staring resolutely at Ginny. She knew that he was waiting to hear on who she thought it had been. Arthur asked, "I think that I already know the answer, but I must hear it from you, Ginny. Just who do you think was in Harry's mind tonight?"

Ginny's eyes looked warily back at Harry, but he just returned a quick nod of approval to her.

As she now looked back toward her father, she could see the uneasiness within his eyes. She told him, "Dad, it not like we both know for sure, but I think we all know in this room that it must have somehow been a part of Tom Riddle." There was a silent pause, as it seemed everyone was waiting for the other to speak. When Arthur stayed silent, Ginny spoke in a broken voice, "Now please don't misunderstand me, and I know this has all happened so quickly for both of us. All I really know is what it had felt like in me. It's a feeling that I will never forget Dad, for it had felt like a shadow of what Tom Riddle's personality was like in my first year." A tear dropped from one of Ginny's wet eyes as she continued to look at her father. Then as she tried to smile, she added, "I think we will be okay in the end. I just know that there must be an important reason for Harry to have gone through all of this."

Arthur nodded and seeing her lips trembling, reached over and cupped her cheek and told her, "I sure you're right," and then he gave her a kiss on her forehead.

Harry had been watching Ginny as she talked to her father. He had winced as he remembered back to his second year when the Horcrux of Tom Riddle's diary tried to take Ginny's life. He had understood for the past two years, that if anyone besides him would know on what it had felt like to have Voldemort in your mind, it was Ginny. For the moment, he only wished that she could just open up his head and look around to see if someone truly was there.

"So you think some part of the Horcrux is still in my head?" Harry asked Ginny with a bit of worry showing in his voice.

"I don't know what to think, but it didn't seem to be quite the same person this time," Ginny replied.

Harry grabbed her arm as he told her, "I'm sorry if it made you suffer with him in your mind again."

Then with a smile and a shrug, she told him, "We've both know that part of me is no longer here. I am not at all afraid of my memories anymore because in the end they weren't caused by me. You were there to save me, Harry, and I know that you always will be."

There was a long pause of silence. Harry's mind had slipped back to that time in St. Mungo's when Ginny had reminded him that he wasn't the only one that knew what it was like to have Tom Riddle in your mind. Suddenly, as Harry looked around, he was aware that both Arthur and Ginny were staring at him. He just looked back at the two of them, now wondering on what they were thinking.

Then Arthur asked, "Your life has been quite a remarkable story, Harry. You have survived where no other wizard could have been expected to. Now with everything else that has seemed to happen around you, I think my daughter is in good hands. Now Harry, as Ginny's father, I need you to tell me the truth."

Harry looked at him and now waited for the question he knew was coming.

"You're really, not sure if he could somehow still be part of you?"

"Not actually, Sir," Harry answered with a slight grimace that showed across his face.

"Then this discussion, must stay in this room tonight," Arthur replied. "I don't need Molly worrying about this, during the time while you're gone. Besides, if Ginny is comfortable with you leaving, then that is good enough for me. I'll also wait a few days before I report this new bit of information back to Kingsley."

"You'll do that for me?" Harry asked.

"Yes, for if I tell him now, he will do what he can to prevent you from leaving."

"So you're sure he would try to stop me then."

"Try is probably the right word to use because I'm sure that you remember that Kingsley doesn't have the authority to do other then that. As you know, that responsibility has been given only to me to make any decisions on situations like this. The Minister will not be happy with my decision just as I'm sure that I would feel the same if this situation was reversed. I am doing this for you, because I understand that this is something that you really feel that you need to do for Hermione. Besides, my Department is already stressed enough. Having the three of you out of the country will makes it far easier to protect you."

"Thank you, Arthur," Harry replied.

"No Harry, thank you. I know you have been waiting for all of your life to finally have the chance to begin making what should be normal human decisions. You have learned such as when you lived with your Aunt and Uncle on what you had to do to prevent mistreatment by them. Every year at Hogwarts, you had some certain events that no other student ever had to contend with. It seems that for every moment of your life, you have made certain life and death decisions and did what you had to do. Whether or not it was because of others, it doesn't matter to me, because you proved your resourcefulness when you saved my daughter's life. It's obvious to me; you have done quite well in the decisions that you had to make. Who am I to tell you otherwise?"

"Then it doesn't matter what Kingsley says," Harry asked. "You're saying that I should go."

"No I'm not. I am saying that it will be your choice to make. Remember though, that Kingsley could still attempt to delay your leaving for up to a week or more. So I would suggest that you don't say anything if you don't want to miss being with Hermione next week."

It was then that Molly's steps could be heard echoing down the hallway. As she re-entered the room, she extended her hand saying, "Here Harry, this will help you get some needed sleep."

When Harry tried to replied," But…"

Molly quickly remarked," Hush now. You're all done talking for the night because you know that you have a very busy day tomorrow. Now I want you to drink all of this. When you awake in the morning, you should feel refreshed."

Harry then took the cup from her and quickly emptied it as he looked at Ginny. It wasn't long before the room began to spin and he welcomed the moment as he closed his eyes. He felt himself begin to drift away into a frozen darkness as a period of dreamless sleep overcame him.

It had been over an hour since John Hackins had talked to Lucius. As the time had move into the second hour, the course of the conversation began to take on a louder and more festival mood. It seemed even with everyone agreeing that it had been a terrible set back for the House of Slytherin; the meeting so far had helped to make most everyone feel more resolute in their thinking.

Draco was doing his best to stay back in the shadow of his father. For the first half hour, he didn't even look at those passing by in front of them, but just stared off looking at those in the distance.

Soon enough, he noticed someone approaching that he knew well. It was none other then his old friend Goyle and his mother.

This was the first time waiting that Draco would show any outwardly acknowledgement. As the two approached, it seemed to Draco that his old school friend had been giving him odd glances as if he wasn't sure on what he should do. Draco found that a smile was easy in coming and Goyle responded by giving him his own friendly nod as they passed by them.

As the night continued to drag on, Draco caught bits of the conversations from around the room. It was now becoming apparent to him on what he would have to do. He knew he must keep from showing any signs of being a coward, but it was this blunt realization on what he would have to do that greatly concerned him.

Still… the way his father had been acting tonight had caused Draco to now question on what he really was doing. Already, he had realized how lucky his father had been to still be alive. Now that the Dark Lord was gone, it was the first time in two years that Draco could see his father returning back into a resolute man. What had most impressed him was how his father clearly had stood up to all of those that had chastised him tonight. Surprisingly, he had seemed to take this all in stride. For the few that still treated him friendly, Lucius equally had returned and showed his friendship to them.

It had become obvious to Draco that the return of the Dark Lord had marked the beginnings of his father's decline. Now that he was gone, it seemed even with the threats that had been made toward him, his father disposition had already returned to much better times.

For Draco, it was another matter; practically everyone, who now passed by were either ignoring or was not at all friendly toward him. Included with those were several other Slytherins from school. They just gave him a spiteful stare and then the same to his father; they then went on their way without a word. This was enough to make Draco feel quite alienated for this had made him finally realized that most of whom he had thought had been his friends had never been.

Then there was what he had been hearing about Potter tonight. Yes, he had been there, he had seen it all happen in the Great Hall. Now the Dark Lord was dead and Potter had been the one. But exactly how did he do it? Yes, he had heard the rumours about him at school. Then when he had helped Umbridge apprehend him teaching a student defense class; he had thought it was all just a joke. Then two years ago, when everyone began calling him the Chosen One, his friends and even his father had told him, it was only because of Dumbledore protecting him.

What had really caught his attention tonight was what his father and that bastard Hackins had been discussing. Maybe there was something about Potter and it was now that Draco had begun to think deeply about all the times that Harry had bested him. There might actually be something surreptitious about him, he thought. He had never actually seen him be that powerful in class, but he had heard of a number of rumours throughout the years. So just what in the bloody hell was he, he pondered.

Later, as the gathering appeared to have come to a more serious time, Draco ended his internal debate. He now turned his attention to watch John Hackins as he appeared at the top of some marble stairs. It was then that Draco noticed a young shirtless boy, who was making small whimpering sobs as he was dragged up in front of a stone statue of Slytherin for everyone else to see.

As Draco silently watched, a dirty and badly dressed wizard set a large satchel down on the floor in front of the boy. Suddenly, four snakes appeared that were each the length of several broomsticks. Each of them hissed as they looked around at the crowd, but as everyone had quickly moved back, they now held their heads down and appeared to be at ease. This same wizard then pressed each of the boy's arms and legs against a large stone statue of Slytherin. As he did, each one of the snakes would rise up and wrap themselves around each of his limbs. Soon the boy was securely bound to the stone.

It was then that Draco had taken notice that the boy was bleeding from around the face and chest. He had appeared to be well bruised and Draco assumed that he had already suffered much from whatever they had done to him. He looked somewhat familiar but with the blood on his face and with what was matted within his hair, Draco wasn't quite sure if he had ever even seen him before.

Then, less then a minute after the boy had been restrained, Draco watched as Hackins turned and then walked over to the young lad, swung his hand, and slapped him across his face.

"Aaaaaaaaah…" the boy wailed out. His high pitch scream of pain and despair now quickly began reverberating across the old stone hall.

Draco shuttered, as he heard the cry and he quickly scanned the crowd in disbelief. He took noticed that a number of those attending were not at all showing signs of approving this moment. A few of them even showed in their faces, their utter repugnance of why it was even being done. For these few obvious dissenters in the crowd, Draco knew that none of them were about to be vocal about it. There would be no debate for they all knew that they could easily meet the same fate as the boy.

Lucius at that time leaned over and whispered to his Son. "I suspect that you may have already figured out on what you will be expected to do to demonstrate your loyalty. When your name is called, then you must complete the task or they will kill both of us and then I fear your mother will then be the next to follow. I promise that I will do whatever I can to protect you, but this is one matter you must complete on your own."

Draco nervously looked around and for that moment, just ignored his father. Then after he had pulled himself together, he finally turned his head to look at him and returned a nod.

Then Lucius, who now talked in a very quiet but resolute voice, told him, "It would be wise not to look into anyone's eyes for I believe you will confirm your true feelings to them. Please Draco, do whatever you can to convince them that they have made a mistake on your loyalty. If you can succeed at this, then at least our family should all survive this night."

As John Hackins began to talk with much charisma to the membership, Draco now recognized that the boy's final moments would soon arrive.

Then when the time had come that Hackins' speech was drawing to a close, his father muttered under his breath, "Remember that there is no hope for him, so unless you want to die with him, there is no way out of this for you."

Draco looked up and both his and his father's eyes made contact. Then, as Draco again nodded back in understanding, the voice of John Hackins suddenly called out, "Draco Malfoy!"

A quiet calm had suddenly descended throughout the room. As he looked down at the floor, Draco sensed the anticipation of several hundred sets of eyes that he knew were staring at him.

Then as Draco looked up toward the front podium, his father gave him a final whisper, "Just do it quickly, and put the poor Mudblood out of his misery."

With a large breath, Draco began running until he reached the steps that lay in front of the boy. As he began his accent, his staggered footsteps caught the top edge of the last step. His momentum had caused him to fall forward, which resulted in an unintentional strike to the boy's chest. This time when the boy cried out, his volume of his cry was much diminished. For most of those in attendance, his small but shrill voice only helped feed their appetites as they were now relishing for the end to come… just as a hungry pack of wolves would wait for the prey to finally fall.

Draco now rushed over to where John Hackins was standing. He looked up into the wizard's face and asked, "Before I do this, may I ask what his name is?"

"He's a Mudblood, Draco, and not worth a name to any of us," Hackins crossly replied. He then reached over to what appeared to be a hidden shelf. When he lifted his arm, a silver dagger was now held within his hand. He then extended his arm that was holding the deadly weapon toward Draco.

At first, Draco momentarily hesitated before finally reaching out to receive it. Once he felt the cold handle touch his palm, he grasped it and then forced himself not to even look at it as he turned himself around. In his mind was now only the thought of if he could even do the deadly deed. He had to force his body forward, each clumsy step showing the disconnection from his mind. Then suddenly, he realized that he was now in front of the child.

As he looked at the young scared boy, the four snakes flicked their tongues back at Draco as if in some type of salute. Then suddenly, the boy's eyes opened and in seeing Draco, he murmured out a rasping plea, "Please… please help me."

Now with his heart pounding in his ears, Draco summoned every bit of mental strength that he could find. As he raised the dagger, he whispered back in a broken voice that showed his hesitancy in what he had to do. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do to save you. If I don't do this, both my parents and I will die."

For a short time, he saw the actual mortal fear being displayed within the boy's eyes. Then quite unexpectedly, the young lad closed them as if he too had recognized that his own moment of death had come. For this young boy to do this, this memory would now haunt Draco for many years to come.

It had become a final moment of real horror for Draco, as he plunged his hand toward the boy's chest. Then just before he reached the target, he felt the sudden force of a spell hit him from behind. The dagger instantly was ripped from his grip and disappeared behind him. Draco turned around and saw the dagger in the wandless hand of the lady that both he and his father had met earlier on the road that night.

"You let a cowardly and worthless Slytherin defile our sacrifice, Hackins!" Celesta yelled out. With a sudden back flip of her hand, the dagger came flying back. With its sharpened blade now barely missing Draco's waist, it plunged deeply into the boy's chest. Draco saw the boy's eyes pop open with shock as his last rasping breath now exited his gapping mouth.

As Draco staggered backwards in utter disbelief, he was somehow able to keep his balance on the stairs. He now watched the last vestiges of life leave the boy as he slowly re-closed his eyes. Moments later, the boy's head plunged forward as his body went limp. Now only the snakes that were still serving as chains, kept his body from crumpling to the floor. For a time, Draco just stood there, watching the blood spreading down the boy's chest and then as it began to pool on the floor around him.

Although some of the crowd had stayed silent, many had exploded into a large celebration of mixed voices. Slytherin's name was repeatedly being chanted throughout the room.

Draco had to force himself to turn around. He then proceeded to stiffly walk back to what suddenly had seemed to be a much longer distance toward his father. It practically took everything that Draco could muster to prevent himself from breaking down. This was not a sacrifice, he thought to himself; this had just been plain murder.

Just when would this nightmare, ever end, he thought. It was at this moment, that Draco had finally realized the true magnitude of the mistake, he had made two years ago. Some of these people were fanatics, he thought. Nobody, especially a child as young as this, had deserved to die like a butchered animal. Mudblood or not, he had been just a young and innocent child like he had once been.

When he finally arrived back to his father, Draco was breathing in large breaths. Now as he looked into his father's face, Draco was relieved that his father had seemed to understand his plight. As he turned around, now looking down at the floor to keep from seeing the boy's body, he felt an arm pat him across his shoulder. His father whispered to him," You must try to hold yourself together for we're still not done here tonight."

It was only a few minutes later when Draco saw John Hackins approaching them. He never even looked at Draco and it was obvious this wizard was not happy with what the outcome had been. Draco assumed that he was purposely treating him as if he wasn't there.

When the older wizard had reached them, he was still not acknowledging that Draco had even existed. He now asked Lucius, "I assume that you currently are having meetings with Dawlish?"

"Daily it seems," replied Lucius in a not too happy tone.

"Does he trust you?"

"Only for what he must, for I think he learned his lesson quite well since the time he had been cursed with the Imperius. I'm actually surprised that Dawlish was able to amend his ways. It seems that Weasley and Shacklebolt have chosen quite well on this appointment."

"Good then Lucius. His overly cautious nature should help to make things far easier then I could have even hoped for."

"I'm not sure on where you're going with this," replied Lucius as he questionably stared back. "If you're thinking of getting him under your influence, I don't think it will be an easy or even a good idea to try."

"That is exactly why we need you to be the one to get control of him, immediately," replied John. "If our plan is to succeed without a hitch, we must have him under our influence before tomorrow night. Can I trust that you can do this for us?"

"That's rather quick notice John. I'm positive they have been checking him each time that he leaves my presence. We would have only a few short hours at best before they would discover my Curse."

"Never the less, I need you to do this, Lucius."

"I think that you want me to fail, for this is an impossible task you have given me," Lucius told him, coldly.

"I don't see it that way Lucius and besides, you are no longer the one who plans our strategy. That is now been left for me to worry about. Now to sway your worries, my several contacts have already agreed to help us in the Ministry. They certainly can find a way to delay and give us the extra time that is needed. If you do your part here, we will all have some satisfaction when the time of reckoning comes."

"I'll do what you request," replied Lucius, whose voice showed his obvious displeasure.

"Oh Lucius, I sense your lack of gratitude in sparing your life."

"Forgetting the pleasantries, I'll be blunt. You know that you have given me no choice in a what I consider will be a impossible task." Lucius replied.

"Well I expect success in every one of our endeavours, but to do that we must all work together as one. It is our strength of unity by working together, which will help to bring us all closer to Slytherin's ideas. My job is to plan, and yours is to follow me without failure. Only then can we be assured that we will win. We must make use of each one of our connections to our greatest advantage."

"I said I would do it," Lucius told him. "I have sent men to their deaths before, but never on what I would consider a useless mission. There was always a chance of success for them."

"Now Lucius, I think you will survive. I'm not sure how long your visit will be in Azkaban, but when we are back in control, you will be the first to be released.

"Now if you want what is best for your family, then this is what you must do for me. It's a good plan and Potter finally will meet up with what the Dark Lord could never seem to do," a smiling John Hackins told him.

"He may only be a young wizard, but it's best that I warn you again," Lucius replied. "I know that I have no reasonable explanation, but the risks here are far more then you and the others have realized. Whatever you are planning to do, it will probably only prove to be a waste of time. When your plan reaches its eventual conclusion, I will not be surprised if it will only be Harry Potter that is the one left standing."

John carefully looked in Lucius' face and stared as if he was looking for something. "Lucius, you are giving me the thought that you might have concerns for the young man."

Draco looked over at his father and was now wondering the same thing.

Lucius replied, "No my friend. It is the events that have occurred because of him that has cost my family most everything. I never cared for the boy; I despised him. Now I fear it's your zeal for revenge that is making you blind. You are not seeing what it may truly cost us in the end."

"As you have said, he has become the rallying figurehead for the new Ministry," replied John Hackins. "With him alive, our chances to recover will take far longer. His removal is a must that will give the perception of how weak the Ministry truly has become."

Lucius knew enough that he would not be able to change John's mind so he purposely remained silent. He was quite worried that this path could only lead to failure because of Potter. He looked over at his son, who had been listening to the entire conversion. Their eyes met again and both showed their understanding to each other of this dilemma.

Lucius knew he was now in a conundrum, for by refusing Hackins, he knew what it only could mean a quick death sentence for all of his family. If he did help them and do what Hackins had just asked him to do, the Ministry would quickly figure out it had been him. Unless they would somehow retake the Ministry, it would now mean living out the rest of his days in Azkaban prison with no chance of parole.

During the last few minutes, Draco's own thoughts had dwelled on Potter, Granger, and Weasley. Because of them, his friend Crabbe had died.

As much as it had made him hate Potter, something else was also in his mind tonight.

He knew his families demise had all happened because of some unknown Prophecy between Potter and the Dark Lord. He survived along with his friend Weasley and that know it all Mudblood, Granger. But then again, she had also been the smartest witch of their class, if not all of the Houses. Mudblood birth or not, she knew magic better then any other student in the school; including everyone of the Purebloods. Damn, why didn't the old hat put her in Ravenclaw; wasn't that was surely where she had belonged. His dad was right. There was something strange about Potter and his two friends.

It was still quite early in the morning. The moon had dropped below the horizon and Ginny now found herself with her legs folded in bed. A slowly twisting flame from a single tapering candle was the only light left in the room. It projected a flickering radiance across Harry's face as he lay there sleeping. As she watched its effects upon his face, it only seemed to enhance that mysterious scar upon his forehead.

The night was now over halfway gone, and as much as she wanted to, she couldn't sleep. There were such an unusual number of questions that had just refused to leave her mind tonight.

What had been first been thought of as only a contact point of where the Killing Curse had been reflected, they both now knew that it had meant much more. Yes, it had marked where the Horcrux had entered, and now with its own destruction, the slight redness about it was beginning to fade. But after the last two weeks, it had been made quite obvious to both of them that the shape of this scar was not by accident. Something else must have happened at his parent's home on that Halloween night, so long ago.

Whatever had happened and to what end it would mean, she knew it was somehow tied into the Hallows, the rings, and this magical core that now resided inside of Harry. Then to add to all of that, the surprise that even Death had come to visit. What did he want with both of them, and just why did Death need Harry's help? Everything was so strange, and worrisome, she thought. If it was truly Death that had come, just why did he need to bring Harry's parents?

Ginny thoughts drifted to the moment when she had been connected within Harry's mind. It had sure felt to her like she had made contact with something other then Harry. What she had been afraid to say tonight was that she wasn't sure if it had even been a separate spirit. She wasn't even sure in fact if it had been a bit of Tom Riddle… She knew now that she wasn't sure of anything. Whatever it was, when she had first felt it, it had just quickly disappeared. But it did leave something behind. She had felt the feeling of it being afraid, something that Tom had never given her. Whether there actually was something else within Harry, just maybe it only had been a ghostly echo of the past.

Why couldn't he of just had a normal life, she wished? Why did he have to be so different? It wasn't like he had not done enough for humanity, already. And exactly, what was he. An Arch Lord or maybe he was a normal wizard who would have the unlucky choice of having to face one… Just maybe that was the reason the core had implanted itself.

Yes, something about him was hidden for what she felt must be for a good reason. Harry had earned the right for some privacy and she would leave it up to him when to make this decission. For now his secrets were safe with her.

For a while, she held those thoughts until sleep begin to spread throughout her mind. She finally decided that in time the answers would somehow be given to them. Most likely, they would know when both of them were ready for whatever they were meant to do.

She would never leave him, but whatever all this information could mean, it truly was scaring her more then she would ever want to admit to herself or to him. Now to add even more to this quite abnormal relationship, the realization that they would soon be leaving each other seemed to almost be taunting her, tonight.

She bent over, lightly caressed his head in her hands, and then gave him a kiss on his lips. Then after snuffing the candle, she snuggled up next to him.

She closed her eyes and only could hope in her heart that someday, they would both finally have many years of a normal life together. There had to be something for both of them to look forward to, she figured. Hopefully, when that day would finally arrive, they would only have the problems that normal witches and wizards would have to contend with. The last thought that she had in her mind was the hope that someday they might even have time to begin a family.

Next Chapter: 'A Charm like No Other'

5-19-11 'Pottercomplete' WBW