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 XXV

I Like When You Call Me That

Lily hurried around the replica basilisk to retrieve the satchel. Opening it she turned her head away at the sudden release of noxious green gas. She tipped the pouch, allowing what remained of the diadem to clatter to the floor. The circlet was broken clean through and she was certain no amount of polishing would remove the black stains from the once glistening silver. Whatever existed that might save her son, they would obviously not find it with this. Plucking the broken diadem from the floor Lily turned and replaced it upon the bust of Rowena Ravenclaw. "Shall we?" she asked, turning to Ginny and Luna.

An hour later Lily stepped out of the bath in her bedroom. "So," Bill said, "want to tell me what really happened?"

"Ginny and Luna know," she answered. "They know the projection and they know Harry's a Horcrux. Thankfully, the goddess decided to take that information from them."

Bill stared at her. "Come again?"

Lily crossed the room and climbed on the bed with him. Pushing him up against the headboard she settled in front of him with her back to his chest and pulled his arms around her. "Ginny wanted to destroy the Horcrux then and there," she began. "I think she felt it touch her mind the instant Luna took it off the bust." She shrugged. "I tried getting out of it, but she started to suspect the Horcrux had taken control of me. Luna cottoned on a few seconds after Ginny demanded I hand the thing over; even drew her wand on me. About ten seconds after that Luna knew."

"Knew?" Bill asked.

"You know how she is." She shook her head, still having trouble believing it. "I could see it, Bill. She knew, she'd guessed Harry was a Horcrux and that was why I didn't want to destroy the one we had in hand then and there. There was no way she wasn't going to tell Ginny. She kept looking between us, like I could give her some kind of reprieve or something… So I told them. And then I get all done with it and She shows up and wipes it from their minds."

Bill blew out a slow breath. "Not that I'm not grateful for that, but why?"

"I think so she can take the blame when she gives it back."

"The blame?"

"I could see the acceptance in Ginny's eyes. She was angry, but she understood why we hadn't told her. Now we have. Now it will be the goddess who takes her anger when she eventually gives it back."

"Makes about as much sense as feathers on a fish," Bill muttered.

"She's saved their lives countless times. I'm not going to question how she goes about it."

"Not even why Harry is so disrespectful it borders on outright blasphemy?"

"If I need to know, She will tell me."

"Considering Harry's attitude towards her, I can't help thinking he feels she should have told him something she didn't."

"He's alive and happy," Lily countered. "Whatever she did or did not do is as responsible as anything I have or have not done for that to be the case. It's pointless to wonder what could have been when it's impossible for us to change it."

Bill kissed the back of her head. "You're right."

"What I'm most concerned about was her comment about losing her foresight again to her sister."

"She didn't say who her sister was?"

"No, though I have to guess it could be any one of hundreds."

Bill let out a little huff. "If you can't laugh, you cry."

She shifted deeper into him. And a tear slid down her cheek. "You do," she agreed.

Ginny frowned as she watched Harry staring through the window in their sitting room into the Black Loch. He'd been broodingly quiet since herself, Luna and Lily had returned from the Chamber. She couldn't exactly say she was pleased with herself for their success, but she had felt buoyed. They were one step closer to ending this, and Tom was none the wiser. But Harry, instead of the intense focus he usually operated under, seemed distracted. She wasn't the only one to notice either. She'd caught Daphne watching him curiously out of the corner of her eye as well.

"So are you going to tell us what's got your pants in a twist or continue to stare into the loch in silence all evening?" Daphne asked. Ginny grimaced. It was just like Daphne to go straight for annoying him. It's how their relationship worked. She just wasn't sure Harry would respond appropriately right now. Sometimes, he needed to be handled with a bit more patience. She could even see his body tensing now. But then he spoke.

"We're getting close."

"You mean to finding all of them and ending this?" Daphne asked.

"I do."

"And that knowledge is cause for you to create an atmosphere of festering moodiness in my sitting room?"

Harry didn't immediately respond. Nor had he turned from staring into the loch. "What do you want me to do? Jump up and down for joy; maybe hold a party or something?"

"While a party might be a bit much. Though I should have thought you'd be in a better mood for it."

Harry pushed off the wall and stalked to his and Ginny's room. "Yeah, well I'm not."

"Harry," Daphne called after him, but he closed the door forcefully on her.

Ginny sighed and climbed to her feet. "Well that didn't work."

"I'm sorry," Daphne said.

Ginny waved her off. "You'd give him an aneurism if you approached him with anything less than annoyance more than once a month."

Daphne snorted. "Truth."

Ginny bent down and pecked her lips. "Night."

"Night," Daphne answered.

Ginny slipped into her and Harry's room and quietly closed the door behind. Harry was sprawled, fully clothed, on their bed with an arm over his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said without moving.

Ginny moved to the bed and held her hand out. "Come with me." It was a second before Harry moved his arm and turned his head to see her. She only gave him a look that reiterated her command as well as if she'd spoken it aloud again. Silently he placed his hand in hers. She gave him a tug and he rose from the bed and followed her into the bath. "Don't go anywhere," she said, dropping his hand. Harry watched her in silence as she turned the taps on for the tub, tested the water and set the stopper.

Turning to face him she gathered her courage to bare herself, literally, before him. Yes, neither of them remained a virgin. They'd taken that step together only twelve days ago. A step they'd enthusiastically repeated every day since. In some ways it had been anticlimactic. Despite the past summer they'd been married for just short of ten months now and had had more than ample opportunity to try more than a few of the things in the book Lily had given her. But there had still been awkwardness in their first time.

There had been far less in their last. It would be hard for her to say Harry was an attentive lover, or if he was particularly skilled, or anything of the like. She had no comparison by which to judge. Nor would she ever have one. What mattered was that he pleased her. He made her feel cherished… He made her orgasm. By the goddess he could do that. And if the looks on his face, or the way he cried her name were anything to go by, she did the same for him.

But of everything they had done, they had yet to see each other completely naked in the bright light of day, or at least the torches now flickering in the sconces on their bath walls. Unless she wanted to find somewhere far less private than their bedroom, making love in the daylight wasn't likely to happen anytime particularly soon.

None of that mattered now though as she locked eyes with him. He had a bit of a bemused expression on his face as he tried to figure out what she was planning and it served to embolden her resolve. "This is my lead," she said quietly. "You are to do nothing, don't even move, unless I tell you."

His voice betrayed where his mind had already gone as he croaked, "All right."

Still with her eyes on his, she unbuttoned her shirt, not particularly slow, but with deliberate motions, exposing her creamy flesh inch my inch till she opened the shirt completely and shrugged out of it. Damn her complexion, she could not stop the flush that spread across her skin as his eyes darted between various exposed areas of her body and her eyes. She smirked at him and her stomach felt like an entire zoo of rampaging animals was galloping through it. Could he be anymore endearing, trying not to look but failing? "You can look," she said softly. He didn't need more encouragement and his breath was coming slow and shallow as he tried to exert some power of mind over his body. Keeping her eyes on him, Ginny moved her hands to her skirt and slid it down her legs. Her leggings went next and then she straightened before him with only her bra and knickers for covering. She was particularly fond of this set and was gratified that he seemed equally pleased with the black lace trimmed evergreen satin. She let him look till his eyes were on hers again before reaching behind her back and unclasping her bra. The straps fell from her shoulders and she let the item slide down her arms to drop on the floor. Harry swallowed and his eyes never left hers as her hands moved to her panties. In one motion she pushed them down her legs and kicked them away. Straightening again she raised her eyes to him. His were roving her body hungrily. "Ah," she stopped him when he started for her. He froze, though his fingers twitched at his side. She stepped closer to him. "No touching," she whispered. Harry could do nothing more than nod jerkily. She reached for his tie, tugging it loose and off and tossed it aside. His jumper was next, lifted over his head to add to the growing pile of discarded items at their feet. She tugged at his shirt, pulling it from his trousers before unbuttoning it. Things were obviously getting to her as she took a slow breath in and then out before pushing the shirt over his shoulder and then down his arms. Her hands were shaking as she reached for his belt. She tugged on it, but for whatever reason couldn't seem to get it. "O–okay, m–maybe a little help." His hands slid over hers, easily releasing the belt and then moved to his trousers. She grabbed his hands, stopping him. "No." Harry let out a groan but gave in. She slid her fingers along his waist and for whatever trouble she had with his belt she had none unbuttoning his trousers. She pushed them down and he stepped out of them. Before she stood she removed his socks. And then she was tugging his pants down and finally, after all the fits and stops and starts they were bare before each other. She backed away a step, allowing her eyes to roam. Harry still wasn't particularly tall, but there was no arguing he was gorgeous. Years of training and massive calorie consumption had chiseled his body like few sixteen-year-olds ever knew. "Beautiful," she breathed. "You're blushing," she said.

"So are you."

"I'm a red-head. Blushing is my middle name."

He nodded towards the tub. "Might want to shut the tap."

"What? Oh!" Ginny spun around and quickly closed the taps. Harry took the opportunity to move in behind her such that his chest was to her back and his hands around her bare waist when she straightened. She turned in his arms. "You cheated."

Harry smirked. "Did I?" He bent and captured her lips in a lingering kiss. "My bad," he whispered when he pulled away.

Ginny put her hand on his chest and firmly pushed him back a step. She then raised her leg high and stepped into the tub. "Coming?" she asked bringing her other leg in. Harry's mouth quirked and he raised a brow at her. Ginny's entire body flushed as one possible meaning of her question settled on her mind but she gamely went on. "Well then, I guess you'd best join me, hadn't you?" Harry stepped into the tub and pulled her to him. She kissed him slow and languid before pushing him down in the tub and then sitting straddled over his hips. "Is this ok?" she asked. She'd yet to be on top while making love to him, afraid of trigger his memories.

Harry nodded. "Yeah," he said, his voice ragged.

An hour later, after making love in the tub and then soaking till their fingers and toes were all wrinkly Ginny settled her head on Harry's chest in their bed. He wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her tight. "I love you," he said.

"Mmm," she agreed.

"It was about ten minutes later, he said, "Thank you."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"We're getting close," he answered, repeating his words from earlier.

"And the closer we get, the closer comes the time you have to face him?"

"Yes."

Ginny picked her head up so she could see him, resting her chin on her fist on his chest. "You won't be alone."

Harry held her eyes. "That honestly makes it worse."

"I know."

Harry sighed and closed his eyes. It wasn't enough to die for her. Dying for someone was easy. Living for the dead though, that was far harder. And how self-centered did he have to be to ask it of her? There was only one answer. Ginny had to live. And he had to live with her. "When this is done," he said, "I don't want to train, or have battle practice, or even get up before eight for a good long time."

Ginny didn't react. She'd noted the difference when he'd returned this summer. He was as intense as ever; more so even. He was up. He was dressed. He was out the door. Rain, shine, cold, suffocating heat, he was like an unfeeling machine; relentlessly slogging on. Step after step, punch after punch, throw after throw, spell after spell he never stopped, never slacked, never complained, never had to be told to do something again when he got it wrong. He just started over. What was missing though, was the joy he used to exhibit while doing so. Narcissa and Lamia had killed something within him. She could do nothing about Lamia. If there were any justice in the universe, the whore was still paying for her crime. Narcissa though, she was still within reach; and Ginny would be the one see her pay for her crimes if it took her dying breath to make it happen. "Forever might be too soon," she agreed.

"Yeah," he said. He shifted, rolling out from under her so she was spooned behind him.

She wrapped her arm protectively around his waist and pulled his naked body close. She pressed a kiss to his back. "Sleep, Love."

The following morning, Harry did something he'd never done before. He took down Bill and then Tonks and then went five minutes against Mad-eye before the exhaustion of more than two hours constantly defending and slinging spells caught up with him and Moody got a stunner past his shield. He'd never managed even more than ten minutes fighting against the second opponent; whether it be Bill, Tonks, Moody or anyone else. And even though he was routinely beating his more skilled first opponent, it wasn't unusual at all for Bill or whomever else had drawn the first lot to take him down either. Harry had what, sometimes, seemed limitless power, but he was still only sixteen and simply didn't have the skill Bill or Tonks, or the opponents he was fighting did. Even the short trained aurors that made up their guard generally had bigger repertoires. Harry's was growing though. And it wasn't simply just a new spell he'd weave into a fight, but magic done in a much more raw form. Winds, lashing rain, stones he'd gathered from the surrounding area, heaving earth beneath your feet that swallowed you whole and buried you alive; Bill was still spitting dirt when Moody had finally dropped Harry an hour later. Ginny knew more than a few of their guard didn't feel Harry stood a chance. Even without their whispers she'd have felt it in their emotions. And really, how could they not be worried? Harry was a child, an infant practically, compared to Tom. The bastard was skilled in magics even Lily hadn't heard of. But Lily was their ace in the hole as well, because Ginny very much doubted it would come down to simple hexes, curses and jinxes but instead what Lily had been teaching Harry since he was seven. Magic, was limited not by words and wand movements, but instead imagination and belief, and where the rest of them, herself included, were only dipping their toes in the limitless celestial pool of energy that lived in and around them, Harry was beginning to swim. His limit now was only in how long he could keep going.

Bill spit out another mouthful of dirt-turned-black-saliva, lurched to his feet and moved to Harry. "Enervate," he said, a bit hoarsely. Harry blinked owlishly a number of times.

Moody glowered at him. "Did you honestly think I'd fall for the same trick after just watching you do it to Weasley."

Harry shrugged. "Worth a shot."

"So was keeping your damn shield up and not getting hit in the back when I apparated out of it."

Harry groaned as he sat up. Moody hadn't held any punches. Not that he ever had. "Trust me, it won't happen again."

"It better not," Moody said. "And what happened to you, Weasley? That wasn't anything to get out of."

"Some of us have been buried alive before," Bill answered. He shrugged. "Panicked. Like Harry said, it won't happen again." Moody grunted before spinning around and step/thunking away. "Miserable old bastard," Bill muttered, offering Harry a hand up.

"Ahh," Harry hissed as Bill heaved him up. "Think he may have broken something.

"Have Andi check it out."

"I will. Harry turned away but Bill stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"That was good, Harry."

Harry was motionless for a moment before responding. "Thanks." Bill let him go and Harry went to see how the others were doing and get his ribs checked.

Harry rapped gently on the door before opening it and stepping into the steam filled bath. Water and bubbles up to her chin Ginny smiled at him. "Hey."

"Hey," Harry answered. He sat down on the edge of the tub, one leg on the floor the other up with his leg bent up on the tub edge. He tipped his head back against the wall, closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

"If you want a repeat all you have to do is ask," Ginny said.

Harry smiled but didn't open his eyes. "Believe it or not I do enjoy spending time with you outside of making love." He dropped a hand into the suds and water, gently swishing it around.

A heard of pixies flittered through Ginny's stomach. Of course she knew she was far more than simply a willing partner to him. But it certainly didn't hurt to hear words like that from him; especially as she was currently naked and quite willing. "Well," she said a bit airily, "I suppose at least one of us should be in it for more than the sex."

Harry snorted and flicked a handful of water at her. "And I'm the cad."

Ginny splashed back. Though only a little. "Six brothers, Potter." She tipped her head back against the tub and closed her eyes. "I can out cad any bloke, any day of the week."

Harry chuckled softly. "True story." They sat in silence for quite some time before he spoke again. "I'm thinking of passing on the talent competition."

Ginny picked her head up. His eyes were open as she focused on him. "You do," she said after a few beats, "and I'm quitting quidditch."

It was another beat before Harry answered. "That's not fair."

"You are my husband," she countered. "If there is no time for anything but training in your life, then there is no time in mine either."

Again, it was a few beats before he answered. "Is there?"

Ginny leaned forward, reaching for his hand. "You train already, Harry; between everything it is five hours a day. School, while I'll admit it may not be the most efficient method, also prepares you. That is another six hours a day plus revision. I don't know about you, but most days that exhausts me. And then we put quidditch in there for nine hours a week. Frankly, the only place I see to gain both the time and the energy for more training is to cut quidditch." She stopped, looking up at him in concern. "You need your music and quidditch, Harry," she implored. "And I honestly don't think I'm being selfish saying that."

"All right, Love," Lily said. "What's eating you?"

"Can't get anything past you, can I?" Ginny asked with a smile. Every other Sunday herself, Hermione, Luna and Daphne would have tea with Lily, Andi, Mali and Lady Greengrass. Daughters and mothers together and Ginny adored it. Though she'd been more than a bit distracted as the weekly date drew near. She'd wanted to talk to Lily for the last couple of days, but finding an excuse to separate from Harry to do so was more difficult than one could imagine. So she'd been forced to wait and stew and when the time had finally arrived another two hours had dragged on while they all chatted and generally tried not to think about the war or other horrible things going on. She'd quite obviously been far too pensive during their tea while she waited for the half hour she'd get Lily to herself to come.

"I'm certain you get plenty past me," Lily said.

"I don't actually," Ginny said. "I don't have any secrets from you."

"No?" Lily asked.

"I'm sure there are things you don't know, but secrets," Ginny shook her head, "none I can think of."

Lily reached for her hand. "Not even the one you're about to tell me of now?"

"As I'm about to disclose it, I hardly think it counts."

Lily smiled. "No, it doesn't." She raised Ginny's hand and kissed it. "Now, tell me what's bothering you."

Ginny blew out a breath. "You've noticed Harry's different since he came back this summer, yes?"

"He doesn't smile as much," Lily answered.

"He's like a machine," Mum. "The only time I see joy in him is when he's playing or we're flying, or when we're making love."

Lily settled back in her seat. "Yes, I've noticed."

"I finally figured it out," Ginny said. "I don't know why it wasn't more real to him before. Hell, I don't know why it wasn't more real to me. But after what they did to him it is now. Before, training was something he did because he enjoyed it. Yes, he worked at it. But not like this."

"The storm's coming," Lily said. "He can sense it; feel time is running out."

Ginny nodded. "Yes."

"And you're worried?"

"He told me the other night he was thinking of not entering the talent competition."

"Ahh," Lily said slowly, "I see."

"I told him if there wasn't time for his music in our life, there wasn't time for quidditch either; that I, we, would be quitting that as well."

"And how did he react?"

Ginny picked at her nail. "Harry loves, quidditch," she said softly. "But it's my dream." She stopped, struggling to force the words from her mouth and, really, even face her mother right then. "Am I being selfish?" she whispered.

Lily's already broken heart shattered a little more as she looked on Ginny. What this girl had gone through, what she herself had done to her, the events of the Chamber from just more than a week ago, what remained to come, weighed on her soul like a thousand suns. No one should bear the burdens her son and daughter did not yet even know they did. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right… But it was.

She reached for Ginny's chin, lifting the girl's eyes to her. "I want him to play in the talent competition. And I want you both to play quidditch. And if doing so is the price of your lives, then this world can just burn." Ginny's eyes widened at her proclamation and the obvious anger behind it. "I am grateful to the goddess for everything she has done," Lily said, "but I am also sick to death of Fate and Destiny and whatever else might be out there that thinks we are little more than pieces on a chessboard to be used in whatever manner they see fit. Tom Riddle must be stopped. I won't deny that. And it very well may be that it is Harry who must stop him. But should he do so only for others? If there is not a single drop of joy this world can spare for him, for you, then it is my opinion it is a world not worth saving."

Ginny reached up and placed her hand over Lily's. "Thank you, Mum."

Lily pulled Ginny into her lap. "I love you, Daughter."

Ginny sighed happily. She'd have thought she was far too big to fit in Lily's lap any longer, but apparently that wasn't the case. "I like when you call me that."

Lily kissed her crown. "I'm glad."

Author's notes:

And next week the talent competition begins! Actually looking forward to that. It's something new that I haven't seen a whole lot of in FF.

And next week's torture: Chapter 26, Jealous of Every Single Moment