Chapter 51

93

Chapter 51 - Possession

Harry hid in a little used closet off of the main living area. He could hear movement outside the door, so he held his breath. Suddenly, he heard a little yip right outside the door. There was whispering, but he couldn't hear what was being said. Suddenly the door was yanked open and Harry came out with a growl and scooped up Miki. "How dare you invade the MONSTERS LAIR! Now you must suffer the consequences." Harry laid him on the floor and started to tickle him.

Miki was rolling on the floor laughing; Rascal was running around the two of them barking, and Harry was growling when Ginny walked in. She giggled and shook her head.

Harry, looked up at her and stood. He narrowed his eyes and growled at her. It was when he started stalking her that she laughed. "Don't you dare, Harry Potter!" She pointed vaguely over in Miki's direction. "You just stay over there."

Harry bared his teeth at her and gave a low growl and moved closer. It was when he started moving closer, that she decided that to run would be safer, not to mention more fun.

Harry looked at Miki. "I'll be right back, son." He started chasing Ginny around the house. He chased her around the large formal dining table, and through the living area. Ginny ran to the door under the staircase and back out into the kitchens. Harry was right behind her in hot pursuit.

She ran back through the living area, and up the steps toward the library, laughing all the time, and threatening Harry within an inch of his life.

Miki chased Harry, and Rascal chased Miki. Before long, the whole thing turned into a game of hide and seek.

Harry cornered her at the end of a long corridor where there were no doors to bolt through. Harry stopped and let an evil grin spread slowly across his face. Ginny had her back up against the wall and was desperately looking for an escape. Just before Harry caught her, she apparated away. Miki looked at Harry. "Mum cheats."

"Tell me about it." Then he looked down at his son. "Well, at least I still have one victim. Miki's eyes got big and he started laughing as he ran away. He easily caught up with him and scooped him up. "Caught ya, ya little house elf." He put him on his shoulders and galloped down the hall and around the corner to Miki's room. With an exaggerated gasp, Harry took Miki off his shoulders and dropped him on the bed, allowing him to bounce. "You wore your pony out, oh young prince."

All too soon, Harry looked up at the mantle clock. "You know, mate, it's really past time for you to be in bed. You have school tomorrow. Have you taken Rascal out?"

"Yes, daddy, but I want to play some more."

"So do I, and we will, just not tonight. It's time for bed." Harry nuzzled his neck and growled making him giggle.

Then Miki took Harry's face in his hands and touched his forehead with his. His whisper was barely audible, but Harry heard it loud and clear. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, son." He gave him a squeeze. He covered him with a light sheet, then sat down on the edge and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Good night, son."

Miki yawned. "'Night, daddy."

Harry picked rascal up and put him in his basket. "Stay, Rascal."

The pup just tilted his head and looked at Harry.

Harry started toward the door and the puppy was right at his feet. "No, Rascal, stay!"

The dog lay down on Harry's feet. He chuckled, shook his head and picked him up and put him in his bed again. This time he cast a spell so that the pup could only go so far. With a smile Harry walked out the door again.

Then the game was on. Harry looked all over the castle for Ginny and found only traces that she had been there. A rose lying on the floor with an arrow at the bottom of the stem was lying on the floor. Harry picked up the rose and followed the direction the arrow had pointed.

He went a little farther and found an empty champagne flute with a note that said, 'Bet you can't find me.' He chuckled. "Bet I can, Gin."

He heard a very slight noise and walked down the corridor toward it. He found another flute, and a note saying, 'If you want to find me you have to climb.'

He headed toward the door that led to the roof of their little castle. Outside the door, sat a basket. Harry carefully laid the glasses and the rose in the basket and went up the steps. At the top, he carefully opened the door and looked around and frowned. "Ginny? You up here?"

Harry walked around the entire roof. There was no sign of her. The corner of his lips lifted into a one sided smile. "Oh, it's like that is it? Well, two can play that game." He grabbed the basket and went down the steps and went to their bedroom. He stopped as he always did and looked at the vase of rose stems, then shook his head in frustration. He changed into a pair of silk pajamas, grabbed the basket again and then went in pursuit of his wife.

He thought about where she might be, and smiled. He went back to the roof, knowing that she would think herself quite clever, and quietly opened the door again. As he stepped out he saw her immediately with her back to him. She was dressed in a long white flowing gown that left one shoulder bare, and was clasped on the other with the simplest gold frog.

She rested her arms on the wall and looked out toward the ocean. The slight breeze pushed her hair around. Harry just stood there and leaned against the door jamb, folded his arms and watched her.

The thought that kept going through his mind was, "I am definitely a lucky man." Then it hit him. "I owe her. I owe it to her to get my memories back. She has lost just as much as I have." He looked back up at his wife, and laid the basket down and approached quietly.

He came up behind her and rubbed his hands down her arms, and chuckled when she jumped. She spun around with a smile on her face, ready to say something, but Harry hushed her with a finger to her lips.

He caressed her lips with his thumb. Ginny closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. His name escaped her lips just before he leaned down and placed a soft, sensuous kiss on them. He realized, with a shock, that he was happy. Despite all that had happened in the past, he was happy.

He walked back to the basket and picked it up and returned to Ginny. He waggled the empty flutes at her. "I assume that you have something to go in these?"

Ginny waved a hand and indicated a blanket that she has spread out with two pillows at one end a bucket of ice with champagne chilling and a plate of fruit, cheese and bread. "I thought we could look at the stars tonight. There is supposed to be a meteor shower and…"

"I'm looking at the brightest star in my life, right now. Ginny…" He paused, at a loss for words. He thought for a minute then looked again at his wife. "…Ginny, I'm…I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I have brought so much on to you. I'm sorry that being married to me has ever caused you a moments worry or pain."

She started to protest, but Harry stopped her. "No, Ginny, don't. Let me finish. I am going to make it up to you. I know that none of this was my fault, but I am going to do everything, did you hear me, everything that I can to fix it. If that means facing Draco, then I will do it. If it means facing Lucius, I will do that as well.

"I love you, Ginny Potter, I love you more than my own life. I wouldn't be able to face life without you. I can't even imagine what would have happened if I had still been married to Hermione. She never gave much to the mar…"

Ginny gently put a hand on his arm. "Harry, do you remember Hermione?"

He stopped and looked out over the scenery, then back at Ginny. I remember snatches here and there. Our wedding day was a disaster." Harry led her over to the blanket and sat and pulled her against him. "I…think…that we were supposed to be married outside at the Burrow. It was pouring down rain. All the decorations that she had worked so hard on were ruined. That put her in a proper fit.

Harry looked at Ginny. "Is that right?"

Ginny smiled and nodded her head. Harry continued. "We had to magically expand the house to fit all of the guests that had arrived." Harry laughed. "And we had to do it secretly to keep Hermione's family unaware. Her parents kept them busy while your dad and I sort of stretched the house."

Harry laid his head on Ginny's shoulder. The memories were flooding his consciousness. Rather than fight it, he let them come. He was quiet for a long moment as he relived the thoughts that overtook him. Finally he squeezed Ginny. "Forgive me love, but, poor Hermione! That was a disaster from the beginning, wasn't it?"

Ginny snuggled in against him. "Yeah, it was a pretty awful day. I hated Hermione at that point and even I felt sorry for her. Well for both of you actually. You know, Harry, it's funny the way things work out, isn't it. The day you married Hermione, was the day I died inside. I was devastated. I actually thought of killing myself."

Harry stiffened. "Genevra! You didn't!"

"I did. Not for very long, and never seriously, but yes, the thought did cross my mind. I knew that there would never be anyone that I wanted to be with more than you, and rather than live my life alone, I…"

"Merlin, Ginny. I'm glad I didn't know this."

"But look at us now. I have never been happier."

"Even with all the drama and intrigue?"

She smiled. "Even with all of that. She turned in his lap so that she could see him. "I want you to know, Harry, that through all of this trial, I have never once regretted marrying you. I would do it all again a million times over."

Harry chuckled. "Fool!"

Ginny laughed. "Oh, that's nice!"

Harry laughed. "Ahh, but true." He kissed her neck, and nuzzled her.

They were quiet for a long while, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Harry reached over and popped the cork on the champagne, playfully allowing the water from the ice bucket to drip from his fingers and down the neck of her gown.

"Harry! That's cold."

He didn't say anything, just smiled and poured the wine and handed her a glass. He picked up a grape and put it in her mouth.

Ginny returned the favor, but Harry took the offering and grabbed her hand and put her finger in his mouth. "Umm, you make it sweeter than ever." She snuggled back against him again and sighed in contentment.

Harry pointed to the sky. "Ginny, look."

A star streaked across the sky. They watched as it disappeared on the horizon and Harry gently pulled her head around to kiss her. "They say its good luck to kiss and make a wish on a falling star."

"I've heard the wish part. I think you made up the kissing part."

"Hey, it's always good luck to kiss you. Not to mention a whole heck of a lot of fun." Harry adjusted the pillows that Ginny had brought laid back and got comfortable. When he did, he pulled Ginny to rest her head on his shoulder.

In silence, they watched as a myriad of tiny white lights streaked their way across the sky. When it was finished, Ginny was breathless. She looked up at Harry and was surprised to see that he had his eyes tightly shut and was struggling to keep his breathing slow and even.

"Harry! What's wrong?"

He didn't answer, but kept his eyes closed and shook his head. She sat up and pushed his left sleeve up. As she expected, the dark tattoo now glowed.

"Harry, hang on. This will pass."

Harry only nodded and concentrated on fighting the compulsion to return to Lucius. A tear seeped from his eye and his breathing became shallow.

"You can get through this love. You are stronger than him."

Suddenly Harry's eyes roled to the back of his head. He sat bolt upright and turned to look at Ginny. Harry's eyes were completely black and she gasped. He stood and sneered at the girl sitting on the ground.

He began speaking, but the voice was not Harry's. "Your precious Harry Potter will not survive. I will wipe your entire, useless family from the face of the Earth. He will be the last to die. He will pay for defying me. All that he loves, and all that he cares about shall be destroyed."

As he spoke, Ginny stood and took hold of Harry's arms. "Harry, can you hear me? Fight him."

Harry/Lucius threw his head back and laughed. The sound was cruel and hard. "Oh, Mrs. Potter, you are in way over your pretty little head. I release him to you, for a time. But I will have him again, and when I do, I will force him to annihilate all that he loves and holds dear. The beauty part about it is, that he will be aware of every detail and will be helpless to stop himself."

"The Imperious Curse does not work on Harry Potter, Malfoy. You of all people should know that."

"Who said anything about The Imperious Curse, Mrs. Potter. I leave him too you. Enjoy him while you can."