Author's Note: Continuing the themes from last chapter, there is again a frank discussion of sex in this chapter. That said, I have no intention of writing lemons. There is also a brief moment of graphic hyper-violence and a cliff hanger that may make you want to hit something. Had to be done, sorry.
Chapter Forty-Four: Management of Three
Christmas Day dawned over a new snow that transformed Ottery St. Catchpole into a magical place. Harry, of course, wouldn't realize that since he was sleeping late. The twins crept up the stairs with the intent of giving him a shocking wake-up call, until Ron emerged from his own room and saw them.
"Don't do it," he warned.
"We won't hurt him," George said.
"Much," Fred added.
"I'm not worried about him," Ron said. "Think how it'd make mum feel having to take you two into St. Mungo's on Christmas morning 'cause you were daft enough to try and prank Harry Potter."
As the twins stopped to consider the truth of that statement, Ron walked across the narrow hall and knocked on Harry's door. "Happy Christmas, Potter, get your lazy arse out of bed." A moment later, he added, "…And my sister better not be in there."
"Bugger off, Ron!" came Ginny's voice from a safe distance down the stairs.
It was immediately followed by their mum's voice, "Ginny! Language."
"Sorry mum."
A moment later Harry opened the door in nothing but his pyjama bottoms and his glasses. "What?" he asked, still half asleep.
"Blimey, Harry," Fred said. "No wonder Gin-Gin can't keep her hands off you! Even I'm getting hot and bothered."
George reached forward to thump Harry's abdomen. "Right lovely specimen he is. Fancy a kiss, lover boy?"
"Sod off," Harry said, though he laughed as he said it. He left the door open and walked into his room long enough to throw on a shirt.
As Harry settled in beside Ginny around the tree, he realized it was his very first Christmas at the Burrow. Percy had returned, alone this time so his girlfriend could spend the holiday with her family, but both Bill and Charlie were unable to come to the Burrow because of work. Even with them missing, though, it was a full house. Between Percy, Ron, the twins and Harry, five boys were there, with Ginny serving as the sole female besides her mother. It made for a loud, boisterous holiday as they exchanged gifts.
Harry's gifts to his friends he had shipped by owl, with more than a few suggestions coming from Ginny over what he should get whom. Likewise, his friends had sent his gifts by owl as well, meaning he ended up getting nearly as many gifts as everyone else at the Burrow.
When the twins started opening a red envelope, Harry reached over and took Ginny's hands. "Watch this," he whispered.
The twins stared at the envelope's contents with wide eyes a moment before looking up at Harry, then to their father.
"Yes, boys, it's real," Arthur said. "Harry and I drafted the papers at Gringotts. Those papers will form your company, let you start up a business vault, and make Harry an equal but silent partner in your shop, for an initial investment of one thousand galleons. If you agree, sign the contract and it will be effective. In addition, I am willing to take a loan out to help you as well, but only on one condition."
"You boys better finish school first!" Molly said.
Of course, the fact that the twins were already half-way through their Seventh Year made the warning less vehement. "Brilliant!" the two said, as each took the quill that came with the contract and signed, one after the other.
The breakfast that followed was as good as anything Harry ever had at Hogwarts, and by the time he was done he could barely walk. "Good thing we're not training today," he said to Ginny.
~~Unspeakable~~
~~Unspeakable~~
The next day, Harry and Ginny visited the Tonks home with Arthur. Tonks herself was up and moving around as if nothing had happened, though she was still on medical leave until the end of the holidays. Remus was out that day, which allowed Harry a long, comfortable visit with Sirius's cousin.
"Harry," Andromeda asked, "have you given any thought to Grimmauld Place?"
"Honestly, no," Harry admitted.
So, naturally, after his visit with Tonks, he, Ginny and Arthur Floo'd to Grimmauld Place. "After all," Arthur said, "it's your house."
When they arrived, they found Number 12 Grimmauld Place to be dusty and unkempt, but still a thousand times better than when he and Sirius first started cleaning and redecorating the place. However, the sheer amount of dust bothered Harry. He knew Kreacher was dead, but he didn't think things would get bad so quickly.
However, something else caught his attention. It was a slight pull, so slight he would never have noticed it save for additional training and awareness of his adult magic. With the pull came a growing feeling of dread.
"What is it, Harry?" Ginny asked, picking up on his feeling.
"There's something dark in here," he said. "It's pulling at my scar hurt."
He followed the pull up the stairs, until they found a small alcove in the hallway filled with old, lice-ridden blankets and tea towels. It was obviously where Kreacher had lived. This close, the pull became a stab. "Ginny, it feels just like the diary!"
"Diary?" Arthur asked. "What diary?"
While Ginny explained about the diary that helped Adonis and Zeus uncover the method that Voldemort used to stay alive, Harry leaned into the alcove and levitated the detritus. Underneath, he saw a golden locket that seemed almost to glow with black power—he had no doubt he was staring at a Horcrux.
"I'm going to fetch Adonis," Ginny said with a gasp when he pulled it out and she could feel it as well.
Arthur stood with a pensive expression on his face. "Harry, why wasn't I ever told about these Horcruxes?"
"I don't know, sir," he said. "Honestly, with everything else that's been happening, I sort of forgot about it. Stupid of me, really. I found out second year that I am a Horcrux."
Arthur knelt down, gasping as if struck. "What is that, Harry?"
Harry looked at his guardian and smiled wryly. "This scar, sir. It holds a piece of Voldemort's soul in it. That was why Dumbledore did everything he did to me—he knows I have to die before Voldemort can truly be destroyed."
Arthur fell all the way back at his haunches, staring at Harry in horror, and did not move again until Adonis rushed into the room in his cloak, but with his cowl pulled down. "Harry, is it true?"
Harry held up the locket and Adonis quickly began casting diagnostic spells on it, before removing a lead box from his robes. "Put it in, Harry."
The dark tingle of evil disappeared the moment Adonis closed the enchanted container. "Well, that's a problem," the older Unspeakable muttered.
"Why wasn't I informed of these bloody things?" Arthur said, his shock shifting quickly to anger. "Or that Harry had one inside him? Why are you allowing that thing to stay there? Why hasn't the whole department worked to pull it out of him?"
"Mr. Weasley," Adonis said coolly, "what do you think we've been researching for the past three years? The moment we identified the Horcrux in Harry, we started working on methods to destroy it without harming him. This, actually, will give us additional chances to study different removal techniques. However, this is problematic because it proves Voldemort has more vessels than we originally thought."
"What?" Harry asked.
"Harry, we originally thought he had a thrice-sectioned soul—the Diary, you and the fragment that remained. But this…this proves there are more than three fragments, and the next arithmantically meaningful number is seven. Any lesser number would be magically unstable, and Voldemort knows that better than most. It means that we have at least three more Horcruxes to find, and that is a problem."
Adonis slipped the lead box back into his pocket. "Harry, I assure you that no one has forgotten about what you carry within you, and we will not stop until we discover a safe means of removing it. But in the meantime there are things we can do, and finding these other Horcruxes is at the top of the list. If you sense any more, Harry, let me or Zeus know immediately."
"We will," Harry promised.
After he left, Arthur climbed slowly back to his feet, watching Harry and Ginny intently. Finally, he reached out, took Harry by the shoulders and pulled the startled boy into a tight embrace. "We will work this out together, Harry," he said. "You're family, now, and we will find a solution to this."
Harry appeared stunned, but smiling as well. Beside him, Ginny took his hand. "Thank you, sir," the boy said. "Sometimes I think I can do anything, if my friends are with me."
"And we are, Harry," Arthur said. "Never forget that."
~~Unspeakable~~
~~Unspeakable~~
The train ride back to Hogwarts was an enjoyable time. Hermione beamed at everyone, going so far to give Ron a good snogging when she met him. "The Ministry was brilliant," she explained. "They worked with the Australian Ministry. Mum and Dad already have their new practice set up under a different name, and they're really happy. They were able to sell their old practice and use the money to buy a home near the beach in Sydney. They've always wanted to live near the ocean!"
The happy mood from the holidays lasted until Harry and Ginny saw Minerva McGonagall standing at the entrance of the castle, her face stony. "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, a word please?" she asked as the two passed by.
"Yes, Professor?" Ginny asked.
"Professor Dumbledore wishes you to go right to his office. The feast won't start for a while so you have time. Hurry, now, it is important."
"Okay, thank you," Harry said.
When they arrived, they saw Dumbledore there with a dark-skinned wizard in Ministry robes. The old Headmaster looked positively skeletal, and all hint of the twinkle was gone from his drawn blue eyes. "Harry, Ginny," he said, "this is Devon Williamson, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Mr. Williamson," Harry said.
"Sir," Ginny said. "I've heard father say good things about you."
"Nice to hear, given as Senior Undersecretary he's my boss," Devon said with a casual smile, which lasted only a moment. "I can only stay a moment, but the Minister asked that I speak to you both personally. Draco Malfoy and his friends are returning to school today."
Ginny took Harry's hand. "Why?" Harry demanded, not bothering to hide his anger.
"Snape claimed he had them all under the Imperius Curse," Williamson said. "We did not have any grounds to expel them after that."
"Rest assured that he and all his classmates are on probation," Dumbledore said. "At the slightest provocation, his wand will be snapped and he will be permanently removed from the castle."
"What about Daphne Greengrass?" Harry asked.
"I've assigned an Auror for her protection," Williamson said. "The Minister's niece Susan is also returning today, and will have her own Auror detail. Your help in protecting her will be appreciated."
"We are speaking to you personally, Harry, to ask your patience," Dumbledore said. "While Draco's position is uncertain, his youth makes any action taken against him problematic. If you were to precipitate a confrontation, it is possible sympathy might fall to him in the Wizengamot, which would weaken your side considerably. I am asking for restraint."
"I'll do my part," Harry promised.
"I'm sure you will," Dumbledore said, "but will Ms. Lovegood?"
"We'll speak to her tonight," Ginny promised.
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I know this is frustrating for you, Harry. But this time, I promise it is not my personal machinations at work. Minister Bones wanted him tried very badly, but Severus's testimony was devastating. There is nothing we can do until he acts."
"Which, knowing him, won't be much longer," Harry said darkly. "Thank you for telling us, Mr. Williamson, and you as well, Headmaster. We appreciate it."
Indeed, when they made it to the Great Hall, Draco Malfoy was sitting at a quiet Slytherin Table, while the rest of the school openly glared. The moment they walked in, Ginny walked quickly to the Ravenclaw Table. Luna sat a little apart from the other Ravenclaws, as was normal, but was also playing with a table knife from her flatware, twirling it about her fingers in a flashing, intricate pattern while staring at Malfoy with a completely blank expression.
"Luna," Ginny said, taking the smaller girl by the shoulders, "why don't you come and sit with Harry and me?"
"I can see Malfoy better from here," Luna said clearly without looking away from the Slytherin. Around them, the other Ravenclaws looked nervous and a bit wide-eyed, as if somehow sensing the danger in this girl's presence.
"Luna," Ginny said, whispering into her ear, "Harry and I have something very important to tell you tomorrow after the feast. For now, we both want you with us. Do you understand?"
The knife clattered to the table where Luna dropped it. Without changing expression, she turned her head and stared. "Both of you?"
"Tomorrow, after the feast, we'll talk," Ginny said. "For now, we want you with us. The Professors won't mind if you sit with us."
With that last exchange, Luna stood up and let Ginny guide her by the hand as if she were a child across the floor to the Gryffindor table. Harry scooted over to make room for her, and the petite blonde slid into a seat between Harry and Ginny, looking from one to the other with a strangely hopeful expression that left Hermione, Ron and their other friends a little confused. Since when did Luna pull calf eyes?
~~Unspeakable~~
~~Unspeakable~~
As much as Harry and Ginny wanted to get the Talk over, the first night back from holidays was just too hectic. Instead, they returned to their dorm with the rest of their housemates to sort out their school trunks and their homework. Harry and Ginny were taking four courses—Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy and Runes, however the latter two were exceedingly difficult no matter how much extra training they had.
The night after the holidays was when Hermione shone—she set up her throne by the large study table in the common room, and then held court, helping people with their last minute homework, or explaining problems they didn't understand during their holiday assignments. Harry and Ginny did not hesitate at all to request her review of their Arithmancy homework, and she beamed happily at them to do just that.
The first day of classes for their second term, though, seemed nearly empty. They had potions in the morning with Slughorn, and that afternoon Arithmancy, and that was it for their day. They spent the rest of the day talking about the possible defence club Harry wanted to establish for their friends, including drawing up some possible lesson plans.
Finally, their day ended and they ate dinner, with Luna once more sitting by them. When the meal ended, Harry and Ginny each took one of the girl's hands and said, "Meet us in the Room of Requirement."
Half an hour later, the three of them entered the room together, and found nothing waiting for them but a love seat and a stuffed chair, facing each other, in front of a small fireplace. "Okay, Luna, sit down," Ginny said.
Luna, her face blank, sat down on the chair while Harry and Ginny sat on the loveseat facing her. Suddenly, facing the girl, Harry found himself unable to think of what to say, and when he looked at Ginny he saw she was just as stuck as he was.
It was Luna who finally spoke. "Have you had sex?"
It was so perfectly Luna that it was exactly what they needed. "No," Ginny said, "not yet. But…we've been thinking about it. And you too."
Luna leaned forward, her eyes gleaming in the firelight. "Really?" she said breathily.
Harry and Ginny shared a long look over their friend's head. Raphaella's words hung heavily between them. It was Ginny who finally whispered, "In for a Knut, in for a Galleon."
"You sure?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded and squeezed his knee. "Anyone else, Potter, and I will hex your bits off."
With that, Harry slid out of the loveseat onto one knee, coming eye-level with Luna in the process. "We've decided that, when we do go to that level, you'll be a part of our relationship," Harry told the blond. He leaned forward and kissed her, initiating a kiss with her for the first time.
He parted as Ginny came beside him, and did the same. Luna stared at the two of them, tears running down her face despite her not expressing any emotion at all.
"I did wonder," she finally said. "I hoped, but I wondered if you would. I know I should not. It is not fair to you for me to doubt you. But no matter how I tried, you wouldn't touch me, so I thought perhaps I was too hideous for you and the potions made you not want to…"
Harry stopped her with another short kiss. "But Luna, we need you to understand something very important: Ground rules. Can you accept that?"
"Anything," Luna said, her eyes lidded.
"First, Harry and I will be a couple. Maybe, someday, we'll even be married. He will be my boyfriend first, and I will be his girlfriend first. We must take precedence for each other."
"I agree," Luna said quickly.
"Two," Ginny continued, "I may not wish to do everything you've imagined. While I care for you deeply, Luna, I don't feel the same physical urges toward you as I do Harry."
"Oh, I know you are not bisexual," Luna said. "The fact you allow me to kiss you at all is quite a wonderful gesture."
That caught Ginny by surprise. She had to remind herself that it was Luna's moral and social filters that were broken, not her intellect. "Well, that painting on your ceiling…I just want you to know I don't think I could do that."
"Do you think Harry could?" Luna asked quickly.
"I reckon I've never tried," Harry muttered, flushing a little at the thought. "Seems a bit gross, but I've heard my dorm mates talk about it. They seem to like it."
"We are talking about oral sex, are we not? Cunnilingus and fellatio?" Luna clarified.
"Er, yeah, suppose so."
Luna nodded happily. "That would be quite lovely if you were willing to try that, Harry. I would be more than happy to try on you."
"At our own speed," Ginny said quickly before the discussion got out of hand.
Luna nodded immediately.
"Finally," Ginny said, "Harry and I are going to need time to ourselves, Luna. We spoke to Healer Richardson and she stressed that we need to be a couple first if this relationship with you is going to work. So if we need to be alone, please don't be hurt or think we are rejecting you. I promise we're not. Know that we're strengthening our own bonds to make sure that there is enough room and love for you as well."
Luna's eyes poured a solid rivulet of tears, though again there was no sign of it in her voice. "That is most acceptable," she whispered. "Most acceptable indeed. Seeing you here together touching each other, beside me…" She closed her eyes. "So beautiful. Would you…touch me, Harry? Before we sleep?"
The fact she even asked was improvement, really.
Half an hour later, Luna was virtually dancing around the room, her cheeks flushed, her hair dishevelled, and the most beatific smile on her face they had ever seen. Harry and Ginny followed her, holding hands and smiling at their friend's sheer happiness. It was the first time either had seen Luna act genuinely, truly happy, and it felt as if a sun had risen for them all.
As the door opened, Luna gave each of them a long hug and kiss. "Thank you. You make me happy. Thank you for being my friends. I'm going to have fun with my wand tonight. See you tomorrow."
It was all going so perfect; Harry should have known it would end badly. He watched it crash down when Luna opened the door and they heard a voice shout "Aesuomk'ak Aep T'akh!" just as a splash of dark purple light struck Luna.
Luna made a strange "Oh!" sound a second before her stomach exploded in a shower of entrails that covered the floor. Harry and Ginny were both so shocked they could not even move at first, watching helplessly as Luna collapsed to her knees and tried to hold her own stomach inside her body.
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Author's Note: Special thanks to Teufeul1987 for Beta reading and Brit Picking, and to JR and Miles for additional beta reading! All three made some very good suggestions for this chapter.
