Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer. It all belongs to JKR. Thank you for letting us play with your toys.

I will continue to use the occasional song lyric in the story and will give credit at the time when needed.

This is the seventh book in my Slytherin Harry series and covers Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts.

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Muggle's Daughter

Book 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Book 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Book 4: Harry Potter and the Blood Traitor's Daughter

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Book 6: Harry Potter; Flesh, Blood and Bone

Book 7: Harry Potter and the Lady of the Lake

If you haven't read books 1-6 you won't know what's going on. But the bonus is you've got six completed books before you even get to this one!

Fair warning, this story will continue to be dark and have mature language and situations in it.

Harry Potter and the Lady of the Lake

Chapter XXIII

She Will Be Yours

"Take over for me?" Ginny asked.

Sure," Harry agreed. Once again, Michael Eddinger's inability on the pitch was marring their practice and Ginny was done. "Eddinger," she shouted, follow me. She flew down to the ground, landed and walked off the pitch into the tunnel under the stadium and the Slytherin meeting room without waiting to see if he followed. She was there a good minute before the door opened and Michael entered. "Sit," she ordered. He meekly did as she said, keeping his head down and refusing to look at her. Ginny continued to glower at the boy. She'd tried to be patient, hoping her wrath and the rigors of being on the team would get him to quit, or at least be good enough he wasn't hurting the rest of them, but it just wasn't happening. To be fair she had some amount of respect for the boy. She'd been hard on him, on all of them. But she didn't think she could continue on as she had been and had started to let up a week ago. A sniffle broke through her thoughts and she realized the boy was crying. Something in her flipped and she was suddenly able to put herself in his place and it wasn't a good feeling. Thankfully, she thought, she might have a solution.

"So you wanna be scout, is that it?'

"W–what?"

"I overheard you with your friends the other day, Michael, and I'm prepared to help you if you'll help me."

"S–sorry?"

"I'm going to give you a choice. You want to be a scout, fine. You need to be on the team, fine. You're spot is safe. But unless someone is in detention or hospital or whatever, you're not going to practice. Libby is. She won't be official, but your time on the field is now hers. You're not going to complain or whine or anything about this because if you've any head for being a scout you already know she's a bloody damn first-year and if she hadn't had a bout of nerves, instead of you, she'd be on the team and by the time she was a sixth-year she might be touching me or Harry. In return, you're going to scout every player in the school; me, Harry, the Lions, the Birds, everyone. You're going to do everything scouts do. I don't know how you're going to get the other teams, but you're going to do it. And when you've got your first report ready, my brother Charlie, again if you've any head for being a scout you know who he is, is going to look at it, and if he thinks it's good enough he'll give it to the Falcon's management. That's option one… Option two, I ask Sinistra for permission to remove you." Michael stared back at her with wide eyes. "Well," she asked, "Which one is it?"

"One," he blurted. "Option one."

Ginny nodded sharply. "Good." She turned and headed for the door. "Now if you'll excuse me."

"Get up," Narcissa Malfoy said her voice laced with utter disdain.

Draco Malfoy, his body weak and emaciated from the few months he had been held prisoner in Azkaban glared at her with hatred in his eyes. "Go to hell, Mother."

"Look at you, whimpering and simpering like some pathetic little girl. Do you realize your aunt, who spent fifteen years locked within these walls crawled from her sickbed up seven flights of stairs and across half this castle just to lay eyes on our Lord. Even now she attends him. And yet here you lay; in your bed crying and sniveling if a dementor floats by the window or cringing at the closing of the door. It is beyond me that you could possibly be from your father's stock."

"Well if I'm not," Draco retorted, "you would surely know, wouldn't you."

She slapped him so hard she drew blood. It took him a few moments to turn his head back and focus on her again. "You will never speak to me in such a manner again."

"Just get out, Mother."

She stepped close, looming over him. "When I return," she spoke softly, "you best pray you are out of that bed and be ready to attend myself and our Lord."

"And if I'm not?" he demanded.

"Then it is likely you will die." His eyes widened. "We have some protection here, Draco. Attack is unlikely. But our supplies are limited. Those who cannot serve… die."

He watched her a few moments before answering, "And this is the Lord you and Father have thrown our wealth and power, even our ancestral home, away for."

She clapped her hand over his mouth. "Silence," she hissed. Her eyes darted about. The elf had managed to make the space she had been afforded serviceable, creating a bedroom for Draco, a slightly larger one for herself and Orion, a shared toilet and bath and a sitting room. "Never, for even one second, think he is not listening, watching." She pulled her hand from his mouth. "This is temporary, Draco. Our lands, our titles, our wealth shall be returned to us ten fold when the Dark Lord ascends to rule. You can be part of that. At his side you can be the greatest of all the Malfoys. Orion can ascend to a new line, further bolstering the legacy of this family… Or you can lie there and die. The choice is yours."

Draco's lip twitched a number of times. "I want the bitch, Mother."

"Our Lord had promised her to me already. When she is in my possession, she will be yours."

"I also want that bitch cousin of mine."

"You must make your case for her yourself." He opened his mouth but she talked over him. "Our Lord respects those who will right the crimes committed against them for themselves. Tell him what she did to you. Tell him of her treachery against our family and our blood and how you long to make her pay; how you will drag her punishment across days and weeks and even years. You must impress him, Draco. Only then will he consider to grant you her life."

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

Luna held her hand up. She and her six friends were in the library studying and she'd just had a thought. Or rather she'd had a thought again and she was desperately trying to hold onto said thought. It kept flittering away in her mind on her, and given the fractured state of her mind and how she had come to unfracture it, that said something. "There!" she said grabbing onto it again. She quickly wrote, Chamber of Secrets/Horcrux, down on a sheet of parchment. "I think there's a Horcrux in the Chamber of Secrets," she said, writing that down as well. She'd barely finished before the writing literally vanished before the eyes of the other five.

"What did you say?" Harry asked.

The table suddenly started shaking. "Da hell?" Harry blurted, pushing away from it. Cinder let out a squawk and jumped into the air where she hovered beside her mistress.

"Oh no you don't you bastard," Ginny growled. Harry turned to his wife to see her hands gripped so tightly on the table her knuckles had turned white. Her eyes also seemed to be glowing and he could feel her magic thrumming from her body into the very air.

Luna grabbed him as he reached for her. "Leave her," she said.

"But?"

"Fight, Ginevra," Luna demanded. "Beat it."

"Beat what?" the others demanded.

"The memory block," Luna said. She moved to Ginny. "Come on," she encouraged. "You've found it, now break it."

Ginny stood before the edifice erected in her mind, relentlessly battering at it with thunderous blasting hexes. She didn't know what was in it, only that she had felt something in her mind followed by a sudden sense of loss. And now she'd found it, she would destroy it. One after another her spells slammed into the stone. Shards were blown away from the edifice only for it to reform whole again before the next spell impacted. Ginny threw up a wall of her own, blocking the magic assaulting her mind.

Andi said she was the most dangerous Occlumens she'd ever encountered. The cost of becoming such had nearly killed her. She had nearly killed Hermione, Luna and numerous others. She had been left stripped of any self worth, believing the only thing left was to take her own life. She'd lost herself, nearly lost Harry, and so very much more. Sandra's face still haunted her dreams. Harry's voice, telling how he'd destroyed the Goblet of Fire after being defeated by it the first time, came to the fore of her mind.

Her attack shifted. She already knew it could be damaged. She just had to damage it such that the destruction was complete and impossible to reform. As Harry had done against the Goblet she funneled her magic into a single point the breadth of which was no more than the fine hairs upon her arms… And then she pressed. For how long she did she couldn't have guessed, but more and more she poured her magic against the block. Nearly despairing when it continued to hold. But then she felt a tiny tremor come from it. And then a discordant hum filled the air; growing louder and louder. A loud crack, like two giant blocks of granite slammed together, sounded and a glowing fracture formed in the edifice. Barely an inch long at first it lengthened in fits and starts; popping, cracking, snapping till it stretched some ten feet or more from the base to the very peak. Her body shook and gleaming sweat poured from her face as she continued to press. This was her mind. Nothing lived here she did not allow. Nothing! The vow she had made to herself, to Sandra, wouldn't stand for it. A tremendous explosion rent the air, blasting Ginny off her feet to land heavily on her back. She lay there dazed for a moment before groaning painfully. "Ok," she said tightly, "that hurt." Rolling over she pushed to her knees. Before her the edifice was no more. More importantly, Luna's words were hers again.

Blinking her eyes open Ginny found herself on her back looking up into Harry and the rest of her friends' concerned faces with the library ceiling far above. "Can I just say, ouch?" she croaked.

"Thank the goddess," Harry gasped. He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her from the floor into a desperate embrace. She had only a few moments to wonder about the oddity of the pain of his crushing embrace coupled with the comfort it gave when he was pushing her back again. Just that quickly his relief was replaced with anger. "What the hell was that?" he demanded, giving her a sharp shake.

"Ouch," she said.

"Damn right, ouch," he said. "What do you think you were doing?"

Ginny reached up and attempted to pry his hands off her shoulders. His grip wouldn't be broken by force though. "You're hurting me," she said, her eyes locked with his.

Harry held her another second before letting go like he'd been burnt. "Sorry," he said. Ginny reached for his hand. A glance around showed a rather large audience of students hovering behind madam Pince, professor McGonagall and Bill.

"There wasn't much I could do," Luna said with a pained smile. "I assume you broke it?"

"Broke what?" Harry demanded.

"Right," Ginny said. "Help me up. We need to talk somewhere private."

"Damn right we do," he said.

"Quit being a Neanderthal and help me up so we can go talk about this," Ginny snapped. Harry glowered at her but quickly stood and pulled her up. She groaned painfully and needed him to steady her a moment as she got her bearings.

"I've got your things," Luna said.

Ginny nodded. "Let's go then."

Five minutes later they were in Bill's office and she and Luna were trying to explain what the others, but for Lily, couldn't remember. Frustrated, she turned to Luna. "How is it you broke it?"

Luna shrugged. "My mind isn't exactly whole. I imagine that prevented the block from properly forming. It had to scatter the idea instead and it's not exactly designed to do that. It just took me longer than normal to connect the pieces."

"And I broke it because?"

"Because, even if you didn't know what was blocked, you were able to find the block itself. You must be even better than Andi says if even she and Harry can't find it."

Ginny tipped her head. "Finding it was easy. It was breaking it that was hard."

Luna considered. "Ahh. Of course. Subtle difference, yes?"

"Yes," Ginny agreed.

Luna's brow furrowed. "Well what if you were to help Harry find it? I rather think he'd be able to break it if you did."

"You're assuming I can," Ginny said. "I know my mind, not Harry's or anyone else's. There's a big difference."

"But the signature on the block should be the same," Luna said. "That should more than account for the relative unfamiliarity of his mind to yours."

"It doesn't matter," Harry said. "She's not doing that again."

Ginny sighed exasperatedly. "Harry, were you listening to anything I said? Finding it was easy. It was breaking it that was hard. If we try this, all I'm doing is helping you to find it. You're going to be the one to break it."

"Why wouldn't you break it?" Hermione asked.

"Because I don't think I can; leastways not this very moment. Maybe after I've had a few days to recover."

"And why don't you help Andi first?" Daphne asked. "It might not require the same efforts on your part to find as it did to destroy, but that was your mind. It takes far more energy to do the same in another's. So if it's expertise we need, surely you should spend your energies with her."

"Because even if Ginevra helps Andi find it she won't be able to break it," Luna said. None of you will."

"Why not?" Hermione demanded.

"Because, but for Harry, Ginevra is far more powerful than all of us… She barely managed it. The only way any of you will be able to break it is with Harry's help; after he's broken his own."

"Which you will not do," a voice interrupted them.

It took but a short moment for everyone but Harry to drop to their knees. "My Lady," Lily said.

The goddess gave her a brief glance before her focus settled entirely on Harry. "Why are you here?" he asked coldly.

"Harry," Ginny hissed.

The goddess held up her hand. "I do not need anyone to reprimand someone for me. Nor do I need the love of someone who does not wish to give it."

Harry snorted. "Is that what you call people kneeling before you?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I had hoped time might have given you perspective."

"Has it given you any?" he demanded. "Or are you only here because you already know the path we'll take."

"I told you there was a balance, Harry Potter. I am meant for one thing. You are meant for another. Occasionally, our paths will cross. Within the confines of my prison, I will help you in yours. Your anger, even your hatred will not change my actions."

Harry's jaw clenched while he struggled to control himself. "I don't hate you," he finally conceded.

She inclined her head slightly. "I am heartened."

Harry held her eyes for a long few moments before bowing his head. "My Lady."

She inclined her head a bit deeper. "Harry." She then turned her attention to the others. "Three of you have the knowledge you need. Three of you must undertake this task alone."

"What?" Harry demanded, stepping forward.

The goddess turned back to him. "That is what I can do, Harry." She held his gaze while the storm of emotions played across his face.

"Fine," he snarled before whirling around and storming away to stare out the window with his arms crossed.

She turned back to the others again. "Be careful," she said. And then she was gone. For a second no one moved, but then, seemingly as a single entity they sagged from their knees to sitting limply on the floor. It was another moment before Ginny picked her head up.

"What was that?" she asked. Harry shifted, as if her words had been a blow to his body. "Harry," she demanded.

Harry took a breath before turning from the window to move in front of her. Holding his hand out, he said, "You don't want to know."

Staring up at him she knew she could press him. But that wasn't why he loved her. Nor was it why she loved him. She loved him because he trusted her. As would she, he would reveal what he wanted in his own time… And if he never told her what was behind this, then she trusted it wasn't important. "All right then," she agreed, placing her hand in his. Harry closed his hand on hers and pulled her to her feet and then into his arms.

"All right?" Hermione demanded. "He just insults the goddess and all you have to say is, 'All right.'"

"Hermione," Luna said sharply.

Hermione rounded on her. "You can't tell me—"

"I'm as concerned as you," Luna cut her off. "But that does not mean the details of everyone's personal relationships are my business." Hermione's mouth flapped.

"Thanks for that, Luna," Harry said. He then focused on Hermione. "I know you won't believe me, but trust me on this. You'll be happier not knowing." Hermione glowered at him.

"Sometimes, Hermione," Lily said, "ignorance really is bliss."

"And sometimes it really is just ignorance," Hermione countered.

Harry sighed. "If you really want to know, I'll tell you. Not here, and not right now, but I'll tell you. But right now, even if I don't know what it is, just Her showing up says whatever Mum, Luna and Ginny know is obviously more important."

Hermione watched him another second before agreeing. "All right."

Lily climbed to her feet and brushed her robes out. "I think, then, that the rest of you can go about whatever you need to. Ginny, Luna, if you two will come with me, we'll start making plans."

"Of course," Luna agreed.

"Coming, Mum," Ginny said.

"We'll come talk to you if there's something we need," Lily said. She planted a kiss on Bill's cheek and then was leading Luna and Ginny out the door."

"Well, fuck," Neville muttered in the silence of their departure.

"Agreed," Daphne sighed.

Ginny and Luna's protection detail fell in behind the three women as they left, following them through the halls and the hidden entrance to the guest wing of the castle. Lily let Luna overtake her as they approached the passageway, allowing her to place her hand on the stones to be identified before being allowed through. The wall itself was actually only a repelling barrier with the illusion of solid stone Lily could easily have simply walked through. But with witnesses who didn't know certain things it was best to keep those secrets. The barrier shimmered and faded away and Lily stepped past Luna. "Thank you, Love."

"Of course," Luna said. She kept her hand on the wall as Ginny and then their detail filed past and followed them through. The ruse was repeated a few moments later with Ginny open the passage to Bill and Lily's suite.

"As we're going to need to speak in private, I'll ask you to sweep the flat and then wait outside again," Lily said.

"Yes, Ma'am," one of the agents said. She turned to her counterpart. "I'll check visually, you run the scans."

"Sounds good," He agreed. He pulled his wand and started casting spells while she quickly ducked into the next room. Two minutes later the agents had left and it was just the three of them.

Luna had immediately gone to make tea when they'd first entered and she now floated the kettle and service to the sitting area while Lily brought over a tray of biscuits. The two took seats either side of Ginny with Lily pouring for them all. "Thank you," Luna said.

"You're welcome," Lily said. She took a sip and then, without preamble started. "There have been any number of people through the Chamber since your second year. Obviously, we have no reason to believe they found anything."

"Nor do we have reason to believe they did not," Luna countered. "Dumbledore very well could have and not told us. He was more than powerful enough to have made the connection and subsequently broken the block."

"Provide he recognized it to begin with, but agreed."

"But I believe one of your points was that with a select group of people having been in the Chamber since those events, while needing to be on our guard, we can reasonably expect it to be safe to enter and walk around."

"The Memory Charm does create some greater concern in that there happens to be something in place that can recognize our specific purpose in being there. But yes, while we would be foolish to think there isn't something more protecting the Horcrux, we can reasonable expect little other resistance."

"Perhaps," Luna agreed. "Though it is possible there is nothing other than finding it that now stands in our way."

"That's hopeful," Lily said.

"Maybe," Luna said. "But the whole reason I hit on it was due to the fact that over the course of a thousand years, despite dedicated searches, Riddle was the only one to have found the Chamber. One must also consider, without wanton levels of destruction, there are very few individuals who, had they correctly identified the location of the entrance, could have opened it. Add to that the Charm to specifically block the connection of a Horcrux being in the Chamber, and the basilisk itself as a guardian and that amounts to history and three very powerful protections in place to safeguard it. It is certainly where I would have hidden one."

"All good points," Lily agreed. "But not good enough to disregard the possibility of more. Though to be honest, none of that is my greatest concern."

"No," Luna said. She and Lily focused on Ginny, who had been silent throughout the discussion.

"Are you going to be able to do this?" Lily asked.

"I'm not letting the two of you face this without me," Ginny said.

Luna reached for her hand. "We don't have to do it all at once. We could allow you to return there and leave."

Lily put her hand over Ginny and Luna's. "We'll follow your lead," she said. "If you need to leave, we'll leave. If the Horcrux is there, it isn't going anywhere. We can return as often as needed to find it."

Ginny smiled tightly. "When should we do this?"

Kai flashed down the corridor, floated down to squeeze under the door, zipped across the room and under two more doors before floating up above the sleeping forms on the bed. Cupping her hands under her mouth she blew a veritable storm of fairy dust over the two beings. It settled down, covering them both in glowing light before sinking through the bedcovers onto the two lovers' skin and then into their very being. The woman shifted, snuggling into his shoulder and he wrapped her tighter with his arm. Kai smiled, admiring her work before backing away and leaving them again.

Lord Voldemort glowered down on the form in the bed before him. Severus Snape had been in coma when he was removed from his cell. He remained in coma now. His mind was nothing but an endless blanket of fog. Something was going on here he didn't understand. "Crucio," Voldemort hissed softly. Much as Harry Potter had in the cemetery the night of his resurrection, the man didn't even twitch. Spinning away he stalked across the room. "Continue to attend him," he snarled before slamming the door. The little elf cowering in the corner edged across the floor to the bed and resumed her work.

Author's notes:

So I'm going to confess now that the final book in this series is not going well at all. I've barely 20,000 words or so and just don't seem to be able to write much of anything I'm happy with. I'll get there; some how, some way. I'm just warning everyone that I'm more than likely going to run out of material and the wait between this book and the ned of the story might be a while. There's a bit more of this book left for you all though so maybe inspiration will strike.

And next week's torture: Chapter 24, Four.