Chapter 54
Fate, Year 1
Author's Note: This is another chapter that suits the rating for this story.
Warning: Brief vague descriptions of nudity, involving minors.
(Ginny)
Ginny's eyes widened as she saw Harry collapse to the ground. She took his hands in hers. They felt cold, like ice.
Harry, she said, through their mind, please speak to me. Harry?
Ginny felt tears in her eyes. Her mind, that part that linked to Harry, felt empty.
"Harry!" she said aloud, "Please!"
She took his his face between her hands and kissed him. She could feel no warmth between them.
"HARRY!" she cried out, backing up, "Please! Wake up! I can't lose you!"
"Mrs. Potter?" a voice said.
Ginny gasped and turned her head. Dumbledore was walking toward them. Fawkes was flying overhead above him.
"Sir!" Ginny said, "Harry won't wake up!"
Dumbledore quickly walked over to Harry and kneeled next to him. He took Harry's hands in his and closed his own eyes, muttering something under his breath. He then took his wand from his pocket and pointed it at Harry.
"Diagnos," he muttered.
A globe of bright blue light floated out of Harry's chest. Inside the globe, there were two balls... one was gold, one was white... both colors were fading.
"Take one of Harry's hands," Dumbledore said.
Ginny did so. The gold and white lights brightened just a little.
"Okay," Dumbledore said, then waved his wand and the globe disappeared, "Where is the Stone, Ginny?"
"Is Harry okay?" Ginny asked.
"He'll be fine by morning if we do what is needed to be done," Dumbledore said, "We'll go to the Hospital Wing very shortly. Where is the Stone?"
Ginny moved her free hand to Harry's pocket and pulled out the small red stone. She handed it to Dumbledore, and he looked very relieved.
"Where is Professor Quirrel?" Dumbledore asked.
"You knew?" Ginny asked.
"I did," Dumbledore said, "I never leave the castle unattended. Tell me."
Ginny turned her head and looked at the pile of ash. Dumbledore did as well, and frowned.
"Harry... he killed him," Ginny said, "I...I got badly hurt and our Bond made him really angry. Harry then saved me, woke me up... and he fainted."
"Okay, thank you," Dumbledore said, "Take my hand."
Ginny did as was asked.
"Do not be afraid," Dumbledore said, "This will not hurt. Fawkes?"
Dumbledore took Harry's free hand, and Fawkes swooped in toward the three of them, singing a tune. Suddenly Ginny felt a very hot fire against her, but it was not burning her. She was surrounded in flame, but she could see Harry and Dumbledore. When the fire disappeared, they were in the middle of the Hospital Wing.
"My word!" a voice yelled.
Ginny looked up. Madam Pomfrey, who was attending someone at a bed, hurried over to them.
"Headmaster!" she said, "What happened?'
"Put two beds together now, Poppy," Dumbledore said, as he lifted Harry into his arms.
Madam Pomfrey nodded and pointed her wand at an empty bed. It slid toward its right, and merged with another bed. Fawkes flew over to the nightstand near the bed and perched himself on the lamp.
"Come, Ginny," Dumbledore said, as he laid Harry on one-half of the merged bed, "Poppy, hospital gowns, both patients. Use the spell."
Madam Pomfrey raised her eyebrows in question, but said nothing and raised her wand. Suddenly, Ginny's clothes she was wearing were gone, and replaced with a rather flimsy, body-length, blue hospital gown, which had a fabric belt in the middle to hold it around her body. She felt rather vulnerable like this. She noticed that Harry was also wearing the gown.
"Lay down next to Harry." Dumbledore said, "Please do as I say with the following instructions. You will be helping Harry."
Ginny nodded and walked over to the other side of the bed and laid down next to Harry. Then she saw Ron and Hermione laying in beds near each other. Both looked asleep.
"Are they okay?" Ginny asked, nodding to them.
"Yes," Madam Pomfrey said, "Your brother suffered a concussion, though he did not tell me how he sustained it. Miss Granger was treated for shock and exhaustion, as was Ron. They will be asleep for the rest of the night."
"I assure you they'll be fine, Ginny," Dumbledore said, "Now, I am going to put the curtains around you for few minutes. You will understand why soon. Please follow my instructions. I will explain this all when this process is done."
Ginny nodded again. Dumbledore waved his wand and the bed was surrounded in privacy curtains. Ginny could no longer see Dumbledore or Madam Pomfrey.
"Ginny," Dumbledore said, "I need you to untie your robes and open them. Then do the same to Harry."
"Headmaster?" Madam Pomfrey asked, in a shocked tone.
"Please, Ginny," Dumbledore said.
Ginny shrugged. She untied the belt on her robes, and opened them, revealing her bare body to the elements. She blushed and did the same to Harry.
"O-okay," she said.
"Put the sheets over both of you," Dumbledore said, "Then get close to Harry, so that your bare skin is touching his."
Ginny heard Madam Pomfrey mutter something, and Dumbledore shush her. Ginny did as was instructed, and moved toward Harry, under the blankets. She wrapped a leg around his and cuddled against him.
"Okay," Ginny said.
"Are you covered?" Dumbledore asked, "I will be opening the curtains."
"Yes," she said,
She laid her head under Harry's chin, as the curtains opened. She could feel a new warmth in her mind and body. Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened when she saw them. Dumbledore only smiled very briefly and pointed his wand toward Harry. He did the diagnostics spell again, and the globe appeared again, rising through the sheets. The gold and white lights were now brighter and pulsing.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Dumbledore said, "Check Ginny please... visible globe for everyone."
Madam Pomfrey nodded and pointed her wand at Ginny, and a second globe raised above Ginny. Her lights were much brighter than Harry's. Dumbledore waved his wand and the globes disappeared.
"I am pleased to report that Harry's half of the Soul-Bond is healing nicely," he said, "I ask that you remain in that position for the evening, Ginny, If possible. You will have your privacy. Tomorrow, I expect Harry will wake up bright and early, and I will be back then to check on you."
"Headmaster," Madam Pomfrey said, "When you say the Soul-Bond is healing..."
"I believe Ginny sustained heavy damage to her own soul tonight," Dumbledore said. "Harry saved her, through their bond, but by doing it, he almost sacrificed himself."
"He almost... died?" Ginny asked, tears in her eyes.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "But he did not, because as he saved you, you now save him. This process will take more time than when he helped you. When you activated the Bond, it required a connection. As such, healing the Bond also requires a connection. However, I believe the way you are with him will heal him quicker. If you get some rest, Mrs. Potter, there are – ah – other things I will explain to you, but I wish to wait until Mr. Potter is awake to hear them as well. If you excuse me, Fawkes and I must go. We have much to do before we rest. Madam Pomfrey, Harry and Ginny only need each other tonight to heal. No potion or spell is necessary. Please give them their privacy."
"I – of course, Headmaster," the nurse said.
Dumbledore waved his wand yet again and the curtains closed around the bed again.
"Good night, Mrs. Potter," Dumbledore said.
"Good night, Headmaster," Ginny said, "Er... Headmaster, I almost forgot. If you go to the Gryffindor boys first year dormitory, you will find Neville Longbottom stuck in his bed. He is under the Full-Body-Bind Jinx."
"Oh?" Dumbledore asked, chuckling, "How peculiar. I will go and assist him. Come, Fawkes."
Ginny heard Fawkes sing. The doors opened and closed, and the room went quiet and dark.
Ginny adjusted her position and blushed when she felt her body rub against Harry's. She felt tears in her eyes, as she looked at him. She had not expected to be this close to Harry again for a few more years. Sure, she wanted to sleep next to him, perhaps in his arms, and would get to do so that evening, but she always expected there to be some type of fabric separating them... at least for a while. This feeling... of cuddling with him like this. It brought back memories, from the other timeline, to all those times they had made love.
She took Harry's glasses from his face and reached through the curtains to place it on the nightstand. Then she snuggled up against him again and drifted off to sleep.
When Ginny woke up the next morning, Harry was still asleep. She blushed when half the covers were pulled away from her, and half of their bare bodies could be seen. She quickly pulled up the covers and cuddled next to Harry again.
She looked around. The light around her told her it was barely after dawn. Her ears perked when she heard footsteps.
"Madam Pomfrey?" she asked.
"Yes, Ginny," Madam Pomfrey, "Are you awake?"
"Yes," Ginny said, "And covered up. Can you see if Harry's all right?"
Madam Pomfrey opened the curtains and walked over to Harry. She took her wand and hovered it over Harry, then smiled.
"He will wake up in a few minutes," Madam Pomfrey said, "if you wish, you may move away from him."
"I do need to pee," Ginny said, blushing.
She backed away from Harry, and covered his robe and then hers, under the blanket, then pushed the blankets toward him. She stood up and walked around the bed, then saw that Ron and Hermione were still asleep.
"They'll wake up soon as well," Madam Pomfrey said, "I do wish I know what happened last night. Four students injured, and a Professor is missing! The Headmaster told me nothing."
Ginny nodded silently, and walked across the room toward the bathroom. She walked in, and shut the door behind her.
Then she felt very weak, and everything went dark...
When she woke up again, she was, once again laying next to the still-sleeping Harry. Madam Pomfrey looked relieved.
"What happened?" Ginny asked, "I... I walked into the bathroom and blacked out! How – how long was out?"
"A minute, perhaps," Madam Pomfrey said, "I heard a great crash. Found you on the bathroom floor, and when I laid you back down here, you stirred and woke up."
"I... I didn't feel weak until I went into the bathroom," Ginny said, "I was fine!"
"Tell me exactly what happened," Madam Pomfrey said.
"I walked into the bathroom and... fainted," Ginny said. "Wait... I shut the door first."
"You shut the door," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Yeah, privacy, you know," Ginny asked, a bit annoyed.
Madam Pomfrey pointed her wand at the bed. Her eyes raised and lowered, and then widened, and she covered her mouth.
Madam Pomfrey lowered her hand and looked at Ginny. "Stay here. I will give you a portable loo to use the bathroom with. Please do not move far from this bed. I... I must tell the Headmaster. If... if I am correct... well... I don't know. If Harry wakes, make sure he stays in bed."
Madam Pomfrey pointed her wand toward the ground. Privacy curtains appeared there.
"Step inside there," Madam Pomfrey said, "Return to bed when you are finished."
Ginny raised her eyebrows, confused. She shrugged and stepped through the curtains. Her eyes widened. An object that resembled a training toilet sat there. Ginny blushed. She had to use that... here?
She sighed. Well... she really did have to go.
(Dumbledore)
Albus Dumbledore hummed a tune, as he sat in his chair at his desk and stared at the empty perch where Fawkes usually rested. The Philosopher's Stone was hovering over his desk in a protective orb that only he could get into.
Then, a familiar song was heard, and Fawkes appeared through a cloud of flame. He dropped a scroll and a package on the desk and flew over to the perch.
"Sleep well, my friend," Albus said, "You've done well."
Fawkes whistled gently, then closed his eyes. Albus took the scroll and opened it.
Albus,
The letter you have given me deeply troubles Perenelle and I. These are unexpected events.
So, the Philosopher's Stone was almost stolen, if it was not saved by Harry Potter? I see... yes. What I am about to tell you is one of the hardest things I've ever had to say. Destroy our stone, Albus. Yes, you read that right. Destroy it. I cannot risk it going into evil hands. Perenelle and I have enough elixir to set our affairs in order before we prepare for our next great adventure. I only hope we are not parted from each other in the next life for long.
This other news about the Bond-mates troubles me greatly. Perenelle and I have never experienced what they have gone through. Harry actually saved his mate's soul, you say? And in return weakened his own almost to the point of death? Well, what you told me you did to assist them is wise, very wise. I imagine it was quite embarrassing for Mrs. Potter, but it is for the best.
You say the Potters would like to speak to myself and Perenelle? Yes, I expect they have many questions for us. Unfortunately, Perenelle and I will never be able to me the Bonded pair face-to-face... technically... but there is an alternative. I make two last requests for you, old friend.
Please see to it that it is done and quickly... before it is too late. I am giving you a package with a vial in it. Inside, is a memory. It is a message from Perenelle and myself to them. In the memory we explain to them things they will be needing to expect in the future. Please let them view this as soon as possible in your Pensieve.
My other request is this: give the pair the information from the missing pages now. This event between them may bring things to the two of them we may not have foreseen. They are now ready to learn this, even if it will happen to them in a little over three and four years from now. They need to be ready for it.
This could very well be my last letter I will ever send. I feel older and older every moment now. I've never felt old, per-say, until now.
So... I have given your phoenix a gift for you. This gift is nothing you can hold. When the phoenix sings a very mournful song, it means that the Flamels are no longer part of this world.
Goodbye old friend. It has been a high honor to get to know you. Do not mourn myself and Perenelle too long. Live your life in the fullest, however many years that is. And remember...
Death Is But The Next Great Adventure.
Goodbye,
Nicolas Flamel
Perenelle Flamel
Albus closed his eyes, as tears ran down his nose. He allowed the few moments of emotional pain to last for his friends, then opened his eyes and blinked away the tears.
"I will grant you your final wishes, old friend," he said, "Today."
He then raised his wand and pointed it at the stone. Suddenly the stone exploded into dust and ash that rained over his desk. He then obliterated the dust and ash.
As he was about to stand, an owl flew into his office and dropped a letter on his desk. He read it and discovered that the letter was from Madam Pomfrey. A new development had happened for the Bond-mates. Albus read Poppy's theory and his eyebrows raised in surprise. This was truly a peculiar event if it was true. And perhaps even a bit unfortunate for the Bonded pair.
He left the office, in trek to the Hospital Wing. When he arrived, he heard raised voices.
"Harry, stop!" Ginny's voice said, "Ugh, fine... go see Dumbledore in your hospital gown! I warned you. Madam Pomfrey told us to stay!"
Albus raised his eyebrows and stopped in his tracks. The doors to the Hospital Wing opened and Harry walked into the corridor. As soon as he did, he collapsed onto the ground, in a faint.
In the Hospital Wing, Ginny, too, collapsed onto the bed.
(Harry – a couple minutes before)
Harry blinked his eyes open and looked around. He was laying in the hospital wing bed. He was surprised to find that he was in a hospital gown that, at the moment, was open to show the front of his naked body. He heard a faint, embarassed squeal followed by a pull of curtains. He pulled his gown closed and looked up, but could barely see anything beyond his body.
"Er... glasses," he said.
"Here," a voice said.
Harry smiled as he put on his glasses. Ginny was next to him, also in a hospital gown, though it was closed, and she was actually laying next to him on an extended bed!
"Is he proper yet?" Hermione's voice asked.
"Yes, he's proper," Ginny said, "Sorry, Hermione."
"I swear I didn't see much," Hermione said, as she opened her curtains.
"Er... see what?" Ron's groggy voice said.
The other bed with enclosed curtains opened, and Harry saw Ron sitting there, his mouth agape as he looked at Harry and Ginny.
"Why are you in the same bed?" Ron asked.
"I'd like to know that too," Harry said.
"Nurse's orders," Ginny said, "Something is wrong with our Bond. We have to stay close together for now."
"She figured that out?" Harry asked, "And what are we doing in the hospital wing? Where's the stone?"
"Dumbledore said last night we needed to stay close together," Ginny said.
"Dumbledore?" Harry asked, "Well, I'm going to go find him and get answers! You almost died, Ginny!"
"What?" Ron and Hermione asked.
"I'll explain later," Ginny said.
Harry stood up.
"Harry, stop!" Ginny said, "Ugh, fine... go see Dumbledore in your hospital gown! I warned you. Madam Pomfrey told us to stay!"
Harry walked over to the doors of the Hospital Wing and walked into the corridor.
Then all he saw was blackness, as he fell to the ground.
(Harry – Present)
Harry blinked his eyes open once again. He was laying in the hospital bed again. He looked next to him and saw Ginny sitting up slowly.
"I... really... hate you, Harry!" she growled, "I told you to effing stay! Did you listen? No! Do you ever? No!"
"Well," Albus Dumbledore's voice said, "That was most illuminating. It seems you were correct, Poppy."
Harry looked up. Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were looking at him.
"What happened?" he asked.
"You both fainted!" Ron said, across the room, "You – you walked out of here, and fainted! And Ginny was just sitting there and she fainted!"
Harry looked at Hermione, who was nodding frantically. He looked back toward Dumbledore.
"Should we discuss this with the other patients here?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"They know about our Bond," Ginny said.
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"Of course they do," Dumbledore said. "All right. What I am about to tell you is a theory I expect is probably true. It has never been experienced, even in the other two known Bond-mates. Last night your Soul-Bond suffered its first big injury. When you saved Ginny, you almost died, Harry."
Harry looked at Ginny and she nodded.
"Ginny saved you," Dumbledore said, "But this process took all night. While you two were – ah – sleeping near each other -"
"We slept in the same bed?" Harry asked.
"They did?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "Effectively, it saved your lives... both of them. It also... might have done something else."
Wait, Ginny, Harry said, When we slept... were we... naked?
Half-naked... but yes, our bare bodies were touching. It helped you heal.
Oh. Um... did you see... anything?
Nothing I haven't seen before.
Good... wait... what?
Dumbledore pointed his wand at Harry and Ginny and one very large globe appeared between them. Inside the globe was two very bright lights, one gold, one white.
"Er... whose diagnostics reading is that?" Ginny asked.
"Both of yours," Dumbledore said, "If am correct, your soul that was originally in your body, is now in your mate's, and vice-versa. Your whole soul."
"We now have... each other's souls?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "I expect this is temporary. How long that means, I do not know. Hopefully soon, the process will change back to the point you each own half your soul and your mate's. I doubt you will ever completely have your own soul back."
"Er... what does that mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, let us take in the event you just experienced," Dumbledore said, "You, Harry, walked out of this room and fainted. Ginny fainted as well."
"Yeah," Harry said, "Sorry, Ginny."
Ginny scoffed.
"One of two theories is possible here," Dumbledore said, "The first theory is this... the two of you cannot be in different rooms without collapsing. Second theory... you cannot be a long distance from each other before you collapse. If the first theory is correct, it brings up the question: what happens if you are outside, say perhaps on the Grounds? Can you separate a far distance from each other? Because of this. I doubt the first theory is true. So... it seems that if the two of you separate – ah – probably ten yards from each other – you'll each collapse."
"We... have to always... be together?" Ginny asked.
"Until your Soul-Bond heals completely," Dumbledore said.
"How did this happen?" Harry asked.
"I believe the Soul-Bond is in – lets call it security mode," Dumbledore said, "You two were close to an unnatural death, meaning your near-death was caused by someone else. It is trying to protect itself by making sure you are together all the time, so you can protect each other."
"So... bathroom visits? Sleeping in the same bed?" Ginny asked.
"Quidditch matches?" Harry asked, thinking of the match in a few days.
"Bathroom visits... well... depends on the size and location," Dumbledore said, "Sleeping arrangements... I suggest the same bed, to be on the safe side. Quidditch matches take place fifty feet in the air and move around... much too far to split you two up without dangerous consequences. So... not possible."
Harry frowned. "Wood isn't going to be happy. Without a Seeker, starter or reserve, the team has to score two-hundred points before the other Seeker gets the Snitch."
"It is possible, do not fret," Dumbledore said, "Now... Harry, Ginny, if Poppy will clear the two of you for temporary leave from the hospital wing, I need you to come with me to my office. We have a few things to discuss. Madam Pomfrey, could you do me two favors? Look these two over, and see if you can give them clearance for a few hours. Then use your fireplace. Contact the Burrow and either the call-sign The Den, or Amelia Bones' house. Please make sure that Arthur and Molly Weasley, and Sirius Black will be here in the next couple of hours. Tell them they are welcome to make their way to my office without escort."
"Yes, Headmaster," Madam Pomfrey said.
She quickly checked over Harry and Ginny, and gave them clearance for temporary leave. She then summoned their outfits from the previous day. They dressed in different beds, behind privacy curtains, then followed Dumbledore out of the room.
Harry, Ginny said, as they followed Dumbledore toward the Headmaster's office, I just thought of something. As long as our Soul-Bond is healing, we have no choice but to live in the same house. Looks like I'll be living in Potter Manor for a while even if Percy and Mum support our Bond.
Ugh... your Mum. She's not going to like this...
Probably not. Pause. Harry... don't ever make me faint again. Please.
Yes, love.
Good. And I don't hate you. Sorry I said that.
I love you too, Mrs. Potter.
So... basically Harry and Ginny are more-or-less stuck together. Without actually being stuck together, like some Soul-Bond stories do. For how long? We'll see...
Next chapter... you guessed it! Harry and Ginny find out the information on the missing page, and hear a message from the Flamels, via a Pensieve memory. Dumbledore's no longer keeping it from them, in respect to the Flamels. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Sirius discover the newest snag in the Soul-Bond!
Year 1 Ends in two chapters!
