In Essence: Undivided

by Velvethopefics

The sequel to 17, Clumsy & Shy. Harry begins his final year as he and Ginny embark on a new relationship filled with danger, mystery and plenty of Voldemort shenanigans to keep them hopping. New friends and new bonds are made, and some old friends are lost. Started pre-HBP and now, finally, after many years, it will indeed be finished.

29. Aine's Wishes

Author's Note: This chapter is a doozy and there are a lot of things happening here as well as very open emotions. I will say that all is not what it seems. I have made a promise to quite a few interested parties that nothing is going to happen to Harry or to Ginny. And now I am making it to you, dear reader. Their love will survive. And they will too. Feel free to leave any thoughts you have, I love hearing what people think!

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29: Aine's Wishes

"And Neville showed up with Susan Bones (did he tell you about this? It was a surprise to most of us), and they looked like they were having a wonderful time. Luna showed up with a hat shaped like a moon, of all things, claiming it helped her to read the alignment of the stars (honestly, that's what she said!) and the band Dumbledore hired...a new group...called Three Lucky Blokes...were excellent indeed! You and Harry would have really enjoyed yourselves, Ginny. I hope you understand why we couldn't be there - honestly, you don't want to know how many students I caught trying to 'sneak' off to the prefect's bathroom! Of course, Ron was absolutely no help as he kept suggesting we try it as well..."

Harry finished reading Hermione's letter out loud, and Ginny chuckled to herself, imagining it. Harry looked at her from the front seat of the car, smiling. He'd given her a hard time about wanting to the read letter at the breakfast table, but had grabbed it as soon as she'd opened it in the car.

"Are you happy now that you know what happened at the Ball?" he asked her, giving her a knowing look.

Ginny grinned at him. "A bit, yes." She leaned forward and looked at Brogan, who was slowly but surely driving their car down a rather snowy road. "Did you have a good time, Brogan?"

He caught her eye in the rear-view mirror and smiled quickly. "As good as most, I reckon. Hermione and Ron looked happy enough - she wasn't as preoccupied with making certain that students behaved as much as she lets on. You may want to ask her where she and Ron disappeared to around ten or so. When they came back at the end of the dance, they looked slightly...disheveled."

Ginny bit back a laugh and shared a smile with Harry, wondering if Professor McGonagall had noticed her head girl and boy looking rumpled. She would have loved to have seen that!

"Well, I'm glad everyone had a good time," Ginny said, settling back against the backseat again. She let her mind wander as Brogan and Harry talked about the last Quidditch match between Slytherin and Hufflepuff. Usually, she'd be very eager to listen to them talk about the game, especially since she was missing the season, but she was anxious inside, and her mind kept flitting from subject to subject. The car continued to make its slow progress towards their destination, and she sighed softly to herself.

She gazed at the white countryside outside the car window and shivered despite the warmth of the car's heaters. They came up over a low hill, and suddenly Ginny knew without a doubt that they were very near Lough Gur. She felt Harry's eyes on her, and she turned. He gave her a concerned look.

"Are you okay back there? You've been awfully quiet since we left, Gin."

"I'm fine," she said softly and smiled to reassure him. She knew he didn't understand why she had wanted to ride in the back alone to gather her thoughts. When he still looked doubtful, she sat forward and put her hand on the seat. He reached out and touched it, linking his fingers with hers. She felt calmer inside, suddenly, and gave his fingers a slight squeeze. She was about to sit back again when she felt something slide down her front and fall at her feet. She looked down to see that her necklace had come undone and fallen off.

"Blast," she muttered, and Harry looked at her as she reached down to pick up the stone. She held it up to him. "It just fell off."

"Let me see," he said and took it from her. He looked at the clasp, frowning. "Maybe it's faulty. It looks all right to me, though." He closed the clasp on the necklace again and tested it. He shrugged when it stayed closed.

"Perhaps I just forgot to close it fully when I put it back on after my shower," Ginny said, puzzled. She put the necklace back around her neck, turning slightly so Harry could reach over the backseat and make sure it was closed correctly. His hand lingered on her neck.

"Nice and secure," he said softly, and she smiled when she turned back around.

Brogan cleared his throat. "All right then, if everyone would please turn to the left. You can just see, beyond that hill, the rather icy depths of Lough Gur," Brogan announced, causing them both to turn their heads.

Ginny saw just a touch of blue beyond a small rise of earth that disappeared quickly as the car moved steadily downwards. Brogan turned left onto another road and came to a stop as they paused in front of a locked gate. He flashed them both a smile and then opened his door, already reaching for his wand. He aimed it at the car and then at the gate, doing some type of spell she wasn't familiar with. He came back a moment later as the gate opened for them.

"Merlin's beard, it's cold out there! I'm glad you two have coats to wear; even with a Warming Spell, I think we still might feel it. All right, everyone ready to magically break and enter?"

They both nodded and smiled as he eased the car slowly through the gates. Ginny watched as the gate closed quickly behind them, probably re-locking and making their tracks disappear. She had to admit that, besides Hermione, Brogan was perhaps the cleverest of all of them.

They pulled into a deserted car park and got out of the car. Ginny immediately knew that Brogan hadn't been exaggerating. She shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her. Even with one of her mum's jumpers on it felt as though the cold air was blowing right through her. Harry came over and handed her a pair of gloves.

"Harry, these are the gloves that Lupin just gave you for Christmas; I can't wear them."

"You look cold already, and we haven't even got started yet. Just put them on. I have your jumper to wear, remember? It's doing its job of keeping me warm. I'll be fine. Besides, I want your hands warm for later," he said, lowering his voice into a lecherous whisper. She giggled and put the gloves on, grateful. Brogan cleared his throat, and they looked innocently back at him.

"Right, well, we have to walk a bit to the circle; there's a small path there. We'll spend as much time there as we need to, okay? And then we'll head down to the lake. I think Torin was right; we won't be able to access Knockadoon, where the castle is. I don't like how icy it is still."

Ginny bit back her disappointment as she and Harry fell in line behind Brogan, holding hands. The air was quite cold, and she could see her breath as she exhaled, but luckily there wasn't much of a wind, so it kept the iciness at bay somewhat. She looked around, wanting to feel something other than the nervous fluttering in her stomach. Harry squeezed her hand.

"Nervous?"

"Yes, is it that obvious?" she asked, pushing a stray hair out of her eyes.

"It's just a circle of stones, Gin. There are worse things it could be."

Ginny nodded. She knew he was right - probably nothing profound was going to happen. It was just going to be a nice, arse-freezing day outdoors looking at a stone circle that may or may not have something to do with her being chosen as the heir to some ancient witch's power. Sure, nothing nerve-wracking about that all. She realized that in Harry's mind, it was probably something exactly like that. He probably didn't have a tingling at the base of his neck or the feeling that something was just there, waiting for him to react. For a moment, she was jealous of that state of mind and then chastised herself for being so dramatic.

Brogan stopped ahead of them and turned back to look at them. "There's an old legend that says everyone should go through the stone gap single-file and enter into the circle by themselves." His eyes met Ginny's. "Why don't you go through first, Ginny?"

She nodded and glanced at Harry, who smiled encouragingly. She knew he thought they were just a touch daft by the look in his eyes. She took a deep breath and walked past Brogan to stand in front of two large stone walls - perfectly natural and sticking out of the earth as though they'd always been there. There was a thin, narrow path that vanished in between them, and she steadied herself before walking forward. Her feet made small crunching noises as they walked on the snow that was thicker here, between the two stones. She could have sworn she heard a low sort of hum for a moment or two, and stopped, almost reaching out to put her hand on one of the stones.

She shook her head and forged ahead, slipping a bit as the land suddenly turned downwards into a gentle slope. She stared at her feet as she walked, not wanting Harry or Brogan to come along and find her arse-deep in the snow like an idiot. The next time she looked up, she stopped walking, suddenly quite beside herself.

Like the descriptions she had read, it was a rather generous, open circle - surrounded on all sides by very large stones towered out of the earth, all kissed by the snow that had fallen, leaving their edges covered. She felt her heart start to beat faster as she took in the picture before her, a feeling of peace immediately filling her. She knew, without a doubt, that many souls had passed through this place - many souls looking for the answers to all their questions. Ginny had never believed much in the twaddle Trelawney usually talked about in Divination. Still, standing there, in the middle of Aine's circle, she could very well believe in something other than her or Harry. Something more than all of them put together.

She heard a noise behind her and saw Harry coming out of the break in the stones behind her. He pushed his glasses up on his face, his cheeks red from the cold. He smiled at her.

"So this is it, isn't it?" He looked around, seemingly impressed. "The descriptions we read sort of prepare you, but...wow, that's all I can say."

Ginny nodded and looked around again. Brogan appeared a moment later. He studied her before speaking.

"So? Did anything happen when you walked through the gap?"

"I just had a feeling of extreme peace..." She let her voice run off and shrugged awkwardly. She started walking out to the middle of the circle, not wanting to be bothered for some reason, or share what she was feeling. She heard Harry begin to follow her and turned, giving him a small smile.

"I think I want to walk around on my own a bit, my love."

"Oh. Okay," he said, sounding surprised. She backtracked and kissed him quickly. "Just a turn around by myself, and I'll come back to keep you warm, okay?"

He smiled, nodding, and turned to head back. Ginny watched as Brogan started off to the right, seemingly on his own mission. She continued on towards the middle of the circle. When she reached what she thought was the middle, she looked up at the sky - white clouds dotted the deep cerulean, and she took a deep breath as that same peaceful feeling filled her. Words that she'd read came back to her...

"Along the west end of the circle lays a small hill, Cnoc Aine, and it holds an entrance to a cave, believed to hold the Well of Aine..."

Making up her mind, she headed towards the other side of the circle, determined to find her way inside that cave.

o-o-o-o-o

Harry watched as Ginny slowly made her way around the circle, heading in the opposite direction. He sighed and stuck his hands in his jeans pockets, making his way around the stones. The crunching noises his feet made as he walked over the snow were the only sounds he heard. He paused once or twice to marvel at the size of the stones. He placed his hand on one, tentatively, half-expecting to have a reaction, but it just felt like a very cold stone to him. He realized with a start that he was a bit disappointed by his apparent lack of reaction to the stones. Harry wiped his hand on his jeans and frowned, trying to figure out what that bothered him. He took a deep breath, willing himself to sense something...but only the silence and the cold air greeted him.

Harry couldn't get over how large the circle was and how nearly perfect it appeared to be. He continued walking, wondering how the circle had been formed, and he could understand the fascination with the place, even though he felt nothing in reaction to the stones. Harry could understand how someone could be taken with the experience. He eventually found a small path that led away from the circle and paused, unsure whether he should see where it led. He saw Brogan not far from him, looking around, and could just make out Ginny's form as she moved in between two rather large stones as though she were looking for something. He shrugged and followed the path; perhaps he'd have something to share when he met up with the others.

The path was surrounded on either side by large, rather low-branched trees. Harry was certain that in the summertime, it was probably quite lovely and most likely a welcome retreat from the sun. But in winter, heavy with snow, the branches hung over the path, blocking it, and he almost turned back, not anxious to get his neck all wet with clumps of falling ice. But he continued on and was glad he did so as he came upon a huge mass of dark stones.

They were enormous and very dark, even under the white of winter. He wondered if this was one of the burial sites they'd been talking about before. Harry got a weird sort of feeling in his stomach to think of people being buried underneath all of that. Just wondering how long it had probably taken someone to move the stones into place made him appreciate why both Muggles and wizards alike seemed interested in the area. There was just something there that was awe-inspiring.

He continued on past the stones and came out onto a small over-hang, and he stopped as the lake came into view. He knew he would have to show Ginny this - it was amazing. The lake was indeed crescent-shaped, although it was perhaps a bit crude. Even though it had apparently been freezing around Lough Gur, it wasn't frozen over, and Harry shivered as he imagined how cold the water was. It was a deep, dark, almost crystal blue, and he could hear it lapping gently against the shore beneath him. He looked out and saw a small island, dotted with snow-covered trees. Beyond that was what must be the peninsula of Knockadoon, and Harry could just make out what looked to be a castle on its nearest shore. He released a long breath, watching it form in the air in front of him and stuck his hands deep in his pockets. He had the sinking suspicion it was actually getting colder now since he'd given his gloves away.

A little while later, he heard a noise behind him and turned, half-expecting it to be Ginny, but it was Brogan. He nodded at him as he came out from behind the trees.

"You found the best view in the whole area, Harry."

Harry smiled and looked back out at it again. "You're telling me."

"Aye, I haven't been here in winter, and I must admit, even now, half-frozen, it's still a sight to see. That's Bouchier's Castle," Brogan said, nodding towards the peninsula.

"Oh, I thought it might be Black Castle."

"No, that's on the southern side, and you can only see it if you get right up close to it. See that clump of trees there? Those hide it a bit. Of course, Muggles only see the ruins. I expect we'll see something a bit more."

"So, you haven't been out there before?" Harry asked.

Brogan shook his head. "Not out to the castle, no. It seems a bit odd that I haven't been, now that I think about it. It's fairly interesting to me that Ginny connected it with your godfather's family. I wish the weather was a bit better so we could head out there today. But I think Ginny will want to spend most of her time around the stones."

Harry nodded, deep in thought. "Did you? I mean, the first time you came, did the stones affect you?"

Brogan glanced at him and then shrugged. "A bit. Not as much as I'd have liked them to. Ginny seems taken with them a fair amount. But then I reckon she has more right. What about you?"

Harry looked out at the lake for a moment and then turned to see Brogan watching him. "I don't feel a thing. It's just...a stone circle to me. It's nice, and I can see why people are fascinated by it, but..."

Brogan nodded. "The stones don't react to everyone, or I should say, everyone doesn't react to the stones, so it's nothing to worry about. But you sound a wee bit disappointed."

Harry nodded. "I guess I am. I mean, you're right; Ginny seems very...well, keen to explore them and spend a lot of time here. I think eventually, I'll just want to head back to the car because my hands are going to get too cold, or my bits are about to fall off from frostbite or something."

Brogan laughed. "You and me both. I had no idea it was going to be this cold. Actually, we should go back and see if she's made any headway. She looked like she was looking for something earlier, but I could tell she didn't want to be bothered."

They made their way back down the path, with Brogan stopping to explain that the dark stones were indeed a cover for a burial chamber that had been excavated by Muggles and dated back to the Bronze Age. They came out into the circle, and Harry looked around, expecting to see Ginny closer to where the path was but didn't see her anywhere at all.

"Well, she was down there," Brogan said, nodding towards the eastern end of the circle.

"Let's head over there; maybe she found her own path to go down," Harry said, suddenly feeling a tingling at the base of his neck.

"There's nothing over there really except..." Brogan paused and then stopped. Harry frowned and looked at him.

"What is it?"

"Cnoc Aine is just past the circle, and that's where the Well of Aine is supposed to be. You don't think Ginny would try to actually get into the cave, do you?"

Harry suddenly remembered reading about the cave that had been 'closed' by the Ministry and had a funny feeling in his stomach. The tingling sensation at his neck suddenly gave way to certainty at where Ginny was. He gave Brogan a grim look.

"Oh, she'd try it all right. But she can't get in, can she?"

They started walking again, this time at a quicker pace, and Brogan shook his head. "No, probably not, the Ministry has most likely warded it off. If anything, she's going to be the victim of a nasty spell designed to keep people away. But she should know this herself. Unless she thinks she can get past it, I don't see why she'd try. Surely she's not that stubborn?"

Harry suddenly had the image of one very determined and obstinate Ginny Weasley in his head and shivered, but not because of the cold. "You have no idea how bloody stubborn she can be," Harry said under his breath, and he immediately felt his worry begin to grow.

o-o-o-o-o

Ginny had paused as she'd left the circle, walking around what had to be the biggest of the stones. She thought she'd heard that strange sort of humming sound again and had walked all the way around it, as though the answer would jump out at her. She'd touched the massive slab, and nothing had happened. The sense of power she thought she'd felt dissipated.

She'd then made her way past the circle and found the hill, slowly making her way up its graceful slope. It wasn't steep, exactly, but it was slow going in the snow, and when she finally reached the top, she took a moment to breathe in deeply and rest. She looked behind her to see Brogan heading off a small path and didn't see Harry anywhere. She sucked in a breath as she took in the view of the circle and the lake beyond it, still partly covered by a grove of trees.

The top of the hill was very flat and wide, and as she made her way across it, she saw a small path that led down the right side of the hill and instinctively took it. It grew progressively rockier as she walked, and it was a short while before she came to a collection of stones and a small sign that barred people from heading any further. She ignored it and carried on, the strange sensation she'd felt earlier growing stronger.

When she reached what was left of the entrance to the cave, she paused, surprised by how small it was. She didn't know what she had been expecting, actually. She had a strange sense of déjà vu and paused, wondering for the first time if she should wait for Brogan and Harry. The anxiety passed, and Ginny suddenly just knew she should go on without them. She slipped a little bit as she climbed over a group of rocks that looked like it had been set up to deter anyone from trying to get into the cave and frowned as she realized the entrance was blocked. She was about to try her wand and see if she could move some of the stones away when the oddest idea filled her. She steadied herself the best she could in front of the entrance and closed her eyes, feeling a surge of something inside of her, calling out to the stones.

"Et itur ad astra, annsa misneach..." Ginny heard herself say in a voice that wasn't entirely her own. She watched as the stones in front of her slowly disappeared, and she saw the real entrance to the cave. She briefly thought of Harry, as if to let him know she was okay, and then moved forward, slipping away. She didn't notice as the scent of almonds began to fill her senses.

o-o-o-o-o

"I am going to really yell at her for this," Harry muttered under his breath as he and Brogan looked around the small hilltop. They'd found her tracks and followed them until they disappeared, which unfortunately was somewhere in the middle. They had been back and forth over the hilltop many times with nothing to show but their own sets of footprints. Harry had the annoying feeling that someone was playing with them, but his anxiety really spiked when they found her necklace lying in the snow where just moments before he would have sworn there was nothing.

"It must have fallen off again," he said as he bent down. He held it up and looked at the clasp, noting that like before, it still seemed to be functioning properly. Brogan gave him an interested look.

"That's Waystone, right?" Brogan asked, taking it from him. "You used it when you called her back to Hogwarts, didn't you?" He peered at the stone and held it up to the sunlight.

Harry nodded. "It's the same as her ring, actually."

"I've read about the stone...what it can do. It has some fascinating properties and legends surrounding it, actually. Have you or Ginny ever read up on it?"

Harry shook his head. "No...the shopkeeper told me it was good for finding your love if they were lost, but..." He shrugged sheepishly. "I never bothered to actually read about it after that."

"But yet you bought her a ring of the same stone."

Harry felt his cheeks heat. "I wanted a matching set and...I thought it looked pretty on her."

Brogan handed the necklace back to him. "Try tapping your wand on it and asking it to find Ginny. See what happens."

Harry gave him a skeptical look, but Brogan nodded. "Go on. Something tells me you got your money's worth when you bought that. I'm assuming she still has the ring on, which only doubles the stone's power, I think. What does it hurt to try?"

Harry agreed and took out his wand. Feeling a bit silly; nonetheless, he held the necklace up, placed the stone in the middle of his hand, and tapped it lightly. He felt it warm and pulse in his hand, and a peculiar feeling seemed to fill him suddenly. "Find Ginny," he said simply. The warmth from the stone in his hands grew, almost unbearable to the point where he felt like dropping it. He closed his eyes and surprisingly could see Ginny very clearly in his mind, but frowned when he realized she wasn't anywhere around them. He was about to tell Brogan that the necklace wasn't working when he suddenly felt compelled to move back the way they'd come. Brogan followed him as he headed off to the right, where they came across a path they hadn't seen before.

"I would have sworn that path wasn't there when we came by here," Brogan said, frowning. "But yet...I think I know where this leads." His voice sounded puzzled, and Harry didn't blame him. The tingling at the back of his neck grew, and his heart was beating fast.

They looked at each, and then Harry shrugged, heading down the path, the necklace still warm in his hand. Brogan followed, and they moved slowly, both trying not to slip as the terrain grew rockier. The wind had picked up a bit, and Harry stuck his wand back in his jeans pocket but kept the necklace in his hand. They eventually passed a sign that told them to turn back and came across a mound of rocks that looked very jagged and half-haphazard.

"Well, this is the cave entrance, or what's left of it," Brogan said as he and Harry came to a stop. There was no sign of Ginny anywhere, nor had they seen any indication that she'd come that way. Still, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that she had been there and just recently, too. The necklace pulsed again in his hand as though confirming it.

"Should we try to get in then?" Harry said, nodding towards the entrance.

"I don't think we can," Brogan said, frowning. He aimed his wand at the stones, trying to make them move, and nothing happened. "That's odd," Brogan continued, sounding puzzled. "You'd think any spells the Ministry had in place would have reacted."

Harry stared at the rocks, lost in thought, and then decided to try his wandless magic to push through whatever spell was protecting the cave. As he reached out with his own magic, he felt like he hit a huge wall of something blocking him. Something that felt like it had pushed back with its own power for the briefest of moments, leaving a strange feeling inside of him. It had felt more potent than a mere Protection Spell to Harry, as though there was something else entirely that didn't want them to enter the cave.

"I don't think someone wants us to get into that cave," he said slowly, staring at the stones and feeling peculiar.

"Yeah, it does seem as though the Ministry did an excellent job with protecting it, doesn't it?" Brogan asked, trying again.

Harry didn't comment, looking around and feeling unsettled. A chilly wind blew through the small area, and he shivered, noting that the sky had turned darker. He took a deep breath and paused, not entirely sure of things, feeling a bit sick to his stomach. He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate on what sounded like whispering in his ear... Ginny, damn it, where are you?The stone of the necklace pulsed in his hand again, and Harry suddenly smiled to himself.

"Er, Harry?" Brogan asked a moment later, his voice sounding unsure.

Harry opened his eyes, aware that the other man probably thought he'd gone round the bend, standing with his eyes closed and a huge smile plastered on his face. He took a deep breath and suddenly felt better. "Brogan, do you smell anything?"

Brogan frowned and took a deep breath as well.

"It sort of smells like almonds, doesn't it?"

Harry nodded. He looked at the ground, half-expecting to see small blooms of meadowsweet at their feet.

Brogan shook his head, watching him. "It's the dead of winter; meadowsweet only blooms in the spring and summer."

"Well, I'm not an expert at Herbology, but..." Harry let his voice trail off as he bent down, spying something sticking up between one of the rocks. He pulled at it, and the flower came up quickly, unlike the ones that had appeared on their bedroom floor once upon a time. It was a small, perfectly shaped bloom of Aine's flower. He handed it to Brogan as a sudden feeling of certainty filled him, the necklace growing warm again as he looked at the entrance of the cave.

"Ginny's in there," he said nodding. He wondered why his anxiety seemed to leave him then and puzzled over it, his emotions were churning inside him. The sick to his stomach, feeling he had felt earlier seemed to be changing into something else.

Brogan was still looking at the flower in wonder but focused his eyes on Harry. "We don't know that. I can't see how she got in if we weren't able to. Are you certain?"

"She got in because Aine wanted her in," he said, suddenly feeling quite confident. He turned to head back to wait for her, and Brogan stopped him.

"Er, Harry? Shouldn't we wait for her?"

Harry shook his head. "No, she won't be coming out for a while...and I don't...I don't think she's going to be coming out here." He looked down at the necklace in his hand.

"Not to question the connection you and Ginny share, but...how exactly do you know that?" Brogan asked, sounding frustrated.

Harry shrugged, puzzled about it as Brogan was, but he couldn't deny the feeling of knowing that surrounded him suddenly. "I don't know, but...Aine wouldn't hurt Ginny, I don't think. There's nothing bad here...it's just us."

Almost in answer to his words, another breeze blew around them, making them both shiver, and Harry wondered if that was Aine's way of telling them they had a long wait in front of them.

o-o-o-o-o

So Harry and Brogan walked back to the car and waited. Harry wasn't exactly sure when Ginny would appear again, but he knew that, without a doubt, she would, so his fears were allayed somewhat. Brogan didn't seem to actually understand how he could remain so calm but eventually gave up trying to find out when Harry continued to give him monosyllabic answers, not quite up to talking about things.

They sat in the car with the heater warming them, and Brogan clicked on the radio. The sound of the music was soothing, and Harry thought of dancing at the abbey with Ginny before Christmas. He remembered their evening afterward and soon felt the hot and cold feeling inside of him that he always associated with the Copulatus Amororis. It was that very keen feeling he had when he and Ginny had been apart for too long, and he knew it shouldn't be that strong yet - they'd only been apart a few hours. Yet he still couldn't seem to keep his mind from straying down certain...avenues, and idly hoped Brogan was practicing his Occlumency. He kept the necklace within reach and held it in his hands, as the stone seemed to help calm him for some reason.

He was happy (and more than a bit relieved) when finally he saw Ginny making her way back to the car. His eyes searched her face as she drew nearer, and she smiled widely at him. He went to her, joining her hand with his own, glad to feel connected again. She looked windswept and a bit flustered, but none the worse for wear. Her cheeks heated as she met his eyes, and he knew that look well enough to know what she was thinking. Brogan hung back as they communicated without words, and Harry thought they probably looked a bit funny, standing in the middle of a car park, not speaking and grinning at each other like idiots.

"Will someone please tell me what is going on?" the other man finally asked, sounding exasperated. Ginny bit her lip and looked at Brogan over Harry's shoulder.

"I went on a little trip," she said, her voice sounding light. Harry reached up and touched her hair; it had come undone, and his fingers easily moved through it. Her eyes flicked to his, and he knew she was telling him to wait, but he was compelled to keep touching her.

"You went on a what?" Brogan asked, sounding a bit angry.

Harry sighed and turned around to look at him; he let go of Ginny's hand, knowing he would have to stop touching her and wait for them to be alone together. He moved back to the car, leaning against it.

"A trip," Ginny said again, and this time her voice shook slightly. "I...I don't remember parts of it. But...I learned a great deal in that cave. I...I'm not sure, but I think I've been back to the abbey and the Ministry and...someplace else..." she paused, sounding confused. She shook her head as if to clear it. Harry watched as she smiled at Brogan. "Aine is really proud of you, Brogan. She wanted me to tell you that."

Brogan frowned. "You spoke to Aine? She's in that cave?"

Ginny nodded, smiling. "Sort of. At one point in time, she was in the cave. But I figured out the rest of my prophecy. I know what I have to do now." She gazed at Harry then, a wistful expression on her face.

When she didn't elaborate, Brogan sighed, running his hands through his hair. "And what exactly is that then?"

Ginny and Harry looked at each other, as though Brogan hadn't spoken. She walked over to Harry, touching his cheek gently, and he felt a thrill shoot through him at the contact. "I have to do what I've been doing. I have to love Harry. And I have to keep protecting him. She showed me, my love...it's going to be amazing when it's over. You're going to survive."

"You know, I think you have both lost your minds this afternoon," Brogan said finally. They turned to look at him, their heads still together, neither of them trying to hide what they were feeling. His eyes widened for a moment as he looked at them, his face blushing, and he shook his head. "Bloody hell."

o-o-o-o-o

It was like a dream, Ginny supposed, as they made their way back to the inn. She could tell Brogan was cross at them. Or perhaps he was just cross at her, but she couldn't help that. After what Aine had told her in the cave, she found she couldn't care much about it either. Harry, for his part, seemed content to let her be as though he understood, although she was sure he didn't. He sat in the back of the car with her, his hands constantly touching her. With a deep feeling of need pooling in her stomach, she waited good-naturedly for them to arrive back at the inn. Aine had shown her a great many things that were already fading from her memory, but Ginny still held onto the most important. Harry is going to live - Voldemort will not defeat him. She had never doubted that, but now that she had proof, the certainty and happiness of it filled her with hope so pure that it felt touchable inside her.

Feeling unable to wait any longer than necessary, they made their way to the bedroom, leaving Brogan to talk with Torin and Katharine. She touched Brogan briefly before heading upstairs, hoping he would understand that they would talk later. His eyes met hers, and he nodded slightly before going to meet the others for dinner. Once in the room, Harry closed the door, locking it. They started getting undressed, not speaking, but merely watching each other. Ginny felt her skin heat with desire as he looked at her, and the need that had been held at bay inside her suddenly erupted into something greedy. When Harry came to her, she pulled him close, giving in to the sensation that seemed to flow through the both of them.

But there was no hurry to their actions, and they kissed each other exceedingly slow, their breathing eventually growing louder in the small room. Their hands caressed and touched the other as they kissed, and Ginny felt a sort of heightened awareness. She was aware of Harry firm against her body, eager to join with hers. She smiled as she turned them over, looking down at him. She traced his lips with her fingers, letting him see the emotions inside her - all of her craving.

Ginny felt incredibly bare and opened in front of him and watched as he responded to her, his skin turning flush with desire, his lips becoming full as he bit them between his teeth. His hands moved slowly up and then down her back, lingering as he touched her backside. He nodded at her and then shifted beneath her. She lowered herself onto him with deliberate tenderness, moving slower than even she thought was possible.

They gazed at each other as she leisurely started to move, her hips rocking back and forth as his hands reached around to caress her breasts. She closed her eyes and rolled her head back, giving in to her desire and tightening herself around him, feeling him slip deeper into her. She shivered in pleasure as she moved in a circular motion over him, loving the way his body rubbed up against hers, filling her. She came back down and leaned forward over him, and he reached up, his mouth closing around her breast as his other hand cupped her backside, his fingers teasing her. When he touched her deep inside, she bit her lip and whispered his name, pushing forward with her hips.

"Just like that, Harry. Gods, yes, give me more," she moaned as she pulled back so she could see his eyes.

He released her breast and placed her hands on either side of his face, pushing their bodies together. She was the one that thrust forward, loving the way their bodies met. She relished the way Harry allowed her to control the pace and speeded up her motions, pleased by the grunt that escaped his lips as she moved.

They watched each other as Ginny felt herself begin to let go, her body feeling unbelievably wet and full of desire. Their mouths found each other again, and they kissed, their tongues seemingly wanting to dance as Harry pulled back just slightly out of range. His breath was hot and uneven, and his eyes were full of dark fire as he watched her. She saw what he wanted in his eyes, and she moved her mouth to his jawline, moving so that she could suck his earlobe in between her teeth. She rocked forward again, pushing her hips against his and cried out as she came, the intensity of her climax taking her by surprise. Harry grunted, in response, swearing in her ear and wrapping his arms securely around her as she slowed her movements.

"More," she begged near his ear as she felt the glow from her release start to fade, suddenly wanting them to never stop. He shifted, turning them over and looked down at her. He pulled out and pushed her legs back and then settled on top of her, covering her completely. She delighted in the feeling and moaned, arching against him, losing herself.

Ginny felt him teasing her and brought her eyes back to his, caressing his face and removing his glasses. He kissed her deeply, and she crossed her legs so that they were resting high on his back. He pushed forward, sliding into her and then out, starting a rhythm that felt perfect to her. She heard herself moan, feeling her body quickly reaching that edge again. He switched his movements and settled deeper into her, pushing forward with the whole of his body, almost violently driving hers back. Ginny cried out, the feeling nearly too intense, suddenly. She closed her eyes as they moved together, the joy of what they were doing causing her body to tremble, and she felt as though something inside of her had finally been filled.

"Oh, love, yes, so...much more..." She gripped his back, and again he pushed her forward with his weight and shifted his hips, slowing down his pace. She felt utterly free and undone underneath him, her whole body filled with pleasure. His deliberate movements drove her crazy, but it felt too good for her to ask him to hurry. Harry moved slowly and precisely as though he also wanted it to last as long as possible.

"Ginny," he said her name softly, sounding as awed as she felt, and she opened her eyes to find him watching her.

"It's beautiful, my love, yes...more...please..." She cried out as he suddenly intensified his thrust and wondered how much deeper he could possibly go. Her body shook, and Harry buried his head on the side of her neck, his mouth hot against her skin, muttering words she couldn't comprehend.

Ginny caressed his back as he slowed down once again, moving just his hips, and she felt him rub up against that spot deep inside of her again and again, her body reacting like air on fire. She felt her nails dig into his back as he pushed forward once more, quickening the pace slightly as he felt her body respond. They were both moaning now, and she knew he had to be fighting his own release and wanted to urge him on - to feel him let go. She moved her mouth to his ear and let one hand get lost in his hair at the base of his neck, which was damp with perspiration.

"Fuck me, Harry. Let me feel all of you, pin me to this bed, yes...yes...like that, oh love..." Ginny cursed again and lost coherent thought as she felt him finally let go at long last, his speed picking up. There was a sharp sting of pain in her shoulder, but it was pushed away by the pleasure that broke out across her skin as Harry pushed forward with his body again, making her shake. She felt crushed underneath him, but it felt incredible to her. Ginny was unable to bite back her cry as she felt him shudder. His motions grew less controlled until she knew he was acting instinctively and no longer trying to hold back.

"Yes!" Ginny cried out, seeing bright lights behind her eyelids as she felt his body go off deep within her. He continued to push forward, sending small shockwaves of pleasure through them both until he could no longer move, and his weight settled on hers, his face buried in her hair, resting on her shoulder.

Their breathing was loud and rough, and after lowering her legs, Ginny decided she never wanted to move again. Harry's mouth felt wet against her shoulder, and she realized she had felt him bite her at one point. She released the knot of his hair she had between her fingers, and Harry took a labored breath. He pulled his head away from her shoulder, his eyes bright.

"God, there is absolutely no end to how much I love you," he said softly. She smiled and touched his face, pushing his hair away from his eyes.

"It's only topped by how much I love you," she said quietly.

He gave her a lazy smirk and then looked at her shoulder, frowning. "I bit you, oh Gin, I'm sorry."

Ginny turned to see the red indentation of his mouth on her shoulder. He hadn't drawn blood or broken through the skin, but she knew she was going to have one hell of a bruise. She smiled at him.

"Fair's fair...I think I clawed up your back a fair bit."

Harry shook his head and pulled back slightly so he could touch the wound. She couldn't help but wince, and he looked upset. She touched his face.

"It's okay, Harry. I'll consider it a love bite."

"I can't believe I did that."

"You got carried away, my love. It's okay."

"I never get that carried away...but we...it felt so good...so powerful," he said, sounding puzzled.

Ginny sighed and reached up, kissing him gently and then pulled his bottom lip with her teeth, teasing him. She moved her fingers down the front of his chest until she rubbed her palms roughly over his nipples, causing him to curse, but not in pain as he pulled his mouth away from hers. His eyes blazed at her, and she smiled knowingly.

"It just feels good to get carried away, Harry. Sometimes."

He sighed as they shifted, and he moved off of her, and Ginny regretted it immediately, still wanting to feel connected to him. He turned on his back, and she moved closer to him, curling herself around his body. He smirked at her as he let his arm move slowly down her back until he was rubbing her backside. She planted small kisses on his chest, closing her mouth around him and rolling his nipple with her tongue. She teased him gently with her teeth because she knew how sensitive he was after they made love. She forgot herself as she sucked and licked at him, moving closer to him with her body, practically on top of him again.

"Are you trying to kill me?" he finally asked, breaking through to her. He sounded dazed and out of breath. She looked up at him and grinned.

"You're the one that's got his hand between my legs," she said pointedly as she lowered her mouth again.

"Yes, but you're a girl, you can go off all the time. I need to regroup, or I'll have heart failure or something. God, Gin, your mouth, please."

Ginny giggled and stopped what she was doing. She rested her head on his chest, and they looked at each other, both quite happy. Harry touched her hair lovingly, letting his hand move over her back.

"Call me mental, but I think that was the best time ever," he said in wonder.

"I know."

"That position was...different this time."

Ginny smiled and let her hand move up the side of his arm. "I love every position we do it in, but I admit I love the feeling of you on top of me like that. I love the way it makes me feel whole and the way you go so deep. I feel so small under you and yet so opened and wide." She paused and met his eyes, grinning unabashedly. "And I am growing particularly fond of how you're learning to move those hips of yours."

Harry's skin turning bright pink as he blushed, not saying anything. He continued to touch her, and she closed her eyes until his voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Are you going to tell me what happened this afternoon?"

She opened her eyes and smirked. "Well, see, Harry, we shagged...rather brilliantly, actually, and..."

He put his finger on her mouth, stopping her and gave her a stern look.

Ginny gave him an apologetic shrug. "Do you really want to know?" she asked when he took his finger away.

"Of course."

"Then I suggest you stop playing with my bottom and pay attention," she said as she turned to look down at his other hand.

Harry chuckled and pulled his hand away, moving it to rest in the middle of her back. She turned and smiled at him. She relocated so that she settled against him, once more loving the way they just fit together. Taking a deep breath, she began to tell him about her adventure in the cave.

o-o-o-o-o

"Well, first, Aine isn't a goddess. She's just an extremely powerful witch -"

"You mean, she's still alive?" Harry interrupted, and Ginny put her hand on his mouth.

"Just let me get this out as I remember it - it's fading quickly. I'll try to answer questions at the end of the lecture."

Harry smirked and nodded, kissing her hand with his mouth. Ginny frowned in remembering.

"I went into the cave, and she was there, and she took my hand and she...she showed me how she grew up. She was just like me. She had a family of brothers, and she was the youngest, the only girl. And she was very gifted, magically. She was like Hermione in a way - very clever. She loved trying to invent new spells, and she enjoyed making potions. Her uncle was Merlin and she...she wanted to be just like him. But then things started happening to the magical world when she came of age...bad things. Things like the Muggles trying to kill us or harm us, which of course, they couldn't...and some of us...wizards, that is, some of us grew furious at them because we'd always helped them before this time - we'd always been respected by them. There was a war in Ireland over it, although I'm not certain about this point exactly. This point in time moved really fast for me. But after it was over, people like Aine and one or two of her brothers became known as Gods or Goddesses in Ireland because they'd survived and the Muggles that were left, they decided to worship our kind instead of fearing them. So they created all these stories and myths about Aine and her family. Even about Merlin."

Ginny paused and titled her head, and Harry touched her hair, cupping her face. She smiled as she met his eyes.

"After the war, Aine fell in love; Brogan was right about that. She fell deeply in love. They were...they were like us, Harry. They were each other's...anam cara. Soul-friends, I think, is what she told me. They even had a ceremony performed - to join them - sort of like what Dumbledore did for us, except theirs was by choice, and it was much more powerful. But something happened to him - something horrible. And it almost killed her. She became vengeful after that for a short while - which is why some of the legends about her have to do with her being horrible or why she's connected with the aspect of the goddess that deals with death. But her family helped her. They helped her deal with things..."

Ginny paused as the memory left her. She gave Harry an apologetic look. "This part is fuzzy again. But Aine told me she learned how to do things that most of our kind don't know how to do. She had the circle made - the Giants helped her - they were under her will. And she made the lake too after her son was born because he liked water so much and he liked to play and swim in it. She didn't explain to me how her son was born, even though I think I asked. But she wanted to show me something about the stones...something that would help me later. And we were at the abbey and then the Ministry and...I think the stones and the gate...they're a sort of...conduit of a sort. She wanted me to understand that part in particular."

Ginny stopped again and looked Harry in earnest, taking his hand into hers.

"But she showed me the end, Harry. She let me see you defeat Voldemort, and it's true, and it's right. It's not something she just made up to make me happy. I can't explain it more than that. You win, Harry. You look like hell, but you do it. And you...you're still standing, and you're alive and...you're crying...probably in joy, I don't know...and Ron and Hermione are there and so is Brogan and...she wouldn't show me more than that and everything went a little blurry afterward but...she told me that I just need to keep loving you and that you will do everything you need to do to make sure that Voldemort can never hurt anyone again."

Harry's eyes filled with an odd emotion as he looked at her, a bit apprehensive.

"That's great Gin, but..."

"I know you don't believe me...you don't want to believe me. Aine told me that, but she also told me to keep telling you that you do it and that you survive. She told me you would remember my words and what I'd told you, right when you felt you couldn't take it anymore. This power you have..." Ginny paused and brought her hand to rest on his chest. "This power isn't just love, Harry; it's everything inside of you. You are so good and so right that Tom won't be able to understand it. And afterward? You're going to be so free - this..." Ginny stopped and put her hand on his forehead, touching his scar. "This is going to fade away, and you'll be yourself, Harry. Truly. It's so amazing, my love. I know I sound like a git, but it's true. It's really true."

Harry blinked his eyes rapidly, apparently touched at her words. She touched his chin and leaned forward, kissing him. When they broke apart, she finally rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes and feeling spent. She could hear his heart beating, and it soothed her, making her sleepy.

"I can't believe it," he said after a bit, his voice sounding far away.

"Believe it," she said, and she heard the tiredness in her voice. "We should sleep now, Harry..." she murmured, her mind already slipping away.

"But Gin, where are you at the end of everything?" Harry asked, looking down at her. He frowned when he realized she hadn't heard him. He shifted and pulled the duvet around them and held her close to him, thinking about everything she'd just told him. He wondered why finally knowing he defeated Voldemort for good made him feel worried and not the least bit happy.

o-o-o-o-o

For the second time, Ginny awoke before Harry again. The morning sunlight was not yet across the floor of the room, so she reckoned it was still early enough. She turned and watched as Harry frowned and muttered in his sleep, turning towards her. His hand reached for her, settling on her back. She resisted moving for a moment and then sighed, slipping out of his grasp and heading into the loo, closing the door quietly behind her.

She showered quickly and washed her hair, and then spent an amusing few moments of trying to use the 'air-dryer' contraption Harry had shown her how to operate the day before. Giving up and cursing the way her hair now seemed to match Hermione's, she pulled it back into a rough ponytail, longing for the ability to use her wand.

She opened the door quietly and saw that Harry was still asleep and snoring slightly, whatever bad dream he'd been having apparently forgotten. She dressed and then paused at the foot of the bed, watching him sleep. She moved to his side of the bed and bent down, her lips brushing across his forehead. A rush of feelings went through her, and she fought to keep from crying, suddenly. But it wasn't tears of sadness she felt - it was just an overwhelming feeling deep inside of her about everything Harry had been through and still had to conquer before they could both be genuinely at peace.

Feeling foolish, she backed away from the bed and unlocked the door to their room, trying not to make any noise. She looked down the deserted hallway and then stepped across it to Brogan's room, knocking softly. She was unsurprised when he opened it quickly, awake but a bit disheveled. He ran a hand through his hair and blinked at her, moving back so she could enter.

Ginny noted his room was decorated much the same as the one she'd just left. She smiled when she saw the tray with tea and toast already set up on it. Brogan gave her a sheepish look.

"I thought you might be up early."

She nodded and sat down on his bed as he poured her a cup, offering it to her. She took a deep drink of the liquid and then studied him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't explain things to you yesterday."

Brogan didn't say anything and sat down at the small desk that was against the wall. He studied her for a moment.

"Did you really speak to Aine?"

Ginny nodded and gave him a pointed look.

"So she told you." It wasn't a question, and Ginny nodded again, taking another drink of her tea.

"I have to admit you're handling it awfully well, Ginny," Brogan said softly.

Ginny shrugged. "And I have to say I can see why you didn't tell me that part of your prophecy, but still...it's okay - either way, I get what I want, don't I? Harry lives."

"Yes, well, he's not going to be too happy with that when he sees what you've given up. And you know I couldn't say anything to you - that's the way she wanted it."

Ginny nodded and then waited before she spoke, trying to settle her thoughts. "But it doesn't matter if he's happy about it at first or not; I have to fulfill that part of the prophecy. I have to return..." She stopped as her memory wavered and frowned.

"I could make the other decision," Brogan said, his voice almost a whisper. Ginny bristled and put her cup down on the tray, moving away from the bed.

"Don't you dare," she said, the threatening tone in her voice surprising even her. Brogan blinked at her.

"But what if I don't want you to go?"

Ginny suddenly felt incredibly angry with him, and she knew he could tell by how he sat back in his chair, as though afraid she'd strike him.

"Do you care about Harry, Brogan?" she asked, watching his eyes.

His cheeks turned bright pink and he looked away from her. He eventually nodded.

"Yeah, I do. But I still think...no, you're right. His pain would be easier to bear."

Just as sudden as it had appeared, Ginny felt her anger leave her and she sighed, sitting back on the bed. "It's not going to be," she said softly, looking at her feet. Brogan moved suddenly so that he was on the floor in front of her, looking up at her.

"Harry loves you more than anything, Ginny; he may survive Voldemort, but I don't think he's going to survive losing you."

Ginny blinked at him and tried to keep the tears she felt in her eyes from falling. Brogan touched her hand, squeezing it and she felt comforted - she knew he was doing the thing he did where he took her feelings into his and she appreciated the gesture. But she pulled her hand away and wiped at her eyes.

"No, Brogan. He is going to survive, and you're going to help him - along with Ron and Hermione and...my family. And...I might not be gone all that long," she said, trying to put false hope into her voice. Brogan studied her face and then sighed, standing up. He sat down next to her on the bed.

"I'll be there for Harry, Ginny. But he's not going to like this after the end, you know that, don't you? He's probably going to hate me once he realizes..."

"Then you tell him I made you do it. That I held you to a promise. Somewhere in his thick-headedness, he'll have to understand that." Ginny stopped, imagining Harry's reaction. "Aine told me that this is the way it has to be. I can't change it. So I just have to accept it."

Brogan sighed and patted her shoulder a bit awkwardly, and then eventually pulled her in for a hug. Ginny gave him a grateful smile because she knew she felt calmer because of him. She stood up and went to the door, eager to wake up Harry and start their day. She looked at Brogan, who was still sitting on the bed and looking as though she'd just asked him to do something he honestly didn't want to do.

"Brogan...Aine is proud of you. She knows her prophecy seems cruel to you, but she explained that this is what must happen. Harry lives, and his own destiny is wiped clean, and I must repay that which was given. I can't feel too bad about it, really. She gave Harry and me this time together - this time to just love each other. When all is said and done, I think Harry and I have loved more in a short period then some people have their whole lives. I can't be angry that it's not enough when we've had so much."

Brogan shook his head at her. "Ginny, you're amazing. I don't know how you can be so accepting, I honestly don't."

Ginny gave him a patient look. "Fall in love, Brogan. Fall in love for real. Then you'll know. If you want real love, then you have to risk that things might not go the way you planned. Love is messy, Brogan...it's messy and complicated and...I never understood it before it happened...but you'll see..." Ginny paused and then grinned at him. "Tell Katharine we'll be down for breakfast soon. Now, I have a sleepy boy to wake up."

Ginny slipped out of his room and settled herself before entering her own again, trying to put all thoughts of prophecies and debts behind her.

o-o-o-o-o

"I still don't understand why you didn't wake me up before you got dressed this morning," Harry said as he stood behind Ginny as she brushed her teeth after breakfast. She wiped at her mouth and looked at him, smirking.

"Because you should have heard the way you were snoring. Honestly, the expression 'dead to the world', is putting it lightly when describing how you sleep, Harry."

"I do not snore," he insisted, frowning. She turned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Of course, my love. You're right. I'm sure it was just...what, did you say the first morning we were here? The wind?"

Harry pursed his lips, and her eyes laughed at him as she pulled his mouth down to hers. She made a small moan as she kissed him and then rested her head against his. "Hmm, taste that minty breath, Harry. Isn't it dead sexy?"

"Only on you, you twit," he said, kissing her again. Ginny chuckled and then pulled away from him, heading into the room to grab her coat. He watched her for a moment, frowning.

"Is there something wrong?" he finally asked as she pulled her hair out from under her collar.

She glanced at him. "No. Does it seem like it?"

"To tell you the truth ever since yesterday, I don't know what to think about anything anymore."

"About what?"

"About Aine...everything...what happened to you yesterday..."

"Yes, it does feel a bit overwhelming, doesn't it?" Ginny said, sounding preoccupied and not exactly meeting his eyes.

Ginny handed him his coat, and he remembered about her necklace, reaching into the pocket for it. "Here, we found this yesterday."

Ginny's hand went to her neck, as though surprised not to find the necklace resting there and then shook her head. "I didn't even notice it fell off again. Are you certain the clasp isn't faulty?"

She held up the necklace and looked at it. Harry shrugged. "I don't know. It looks fine, but you keep trying to lose it."

Ginny made a face and then set the necklace on top of the dresser. "Maybe I'll just leave it behind today; I don't want to lose it for good."

"We should read up about that stone," Harry said as he looked at it. "Brogan said it has interesting properties."

"Hmm," Ginny said, sounding distracted again.

Harry touched her, knowing he couldn't let the subject drop. "Are you certain nothing's wrong?"

"Why?"

"Because...well, don't take this the wrong way, but you seem really out of it."

Ginny smiled, but he noticed it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm sorry, my love. I'm happy that we know you're going to survive, and...things are starting to make sense now, you know?"

Harry frowned. "No, I don't know. I don't think anything is making sense. I'm more confused than ever. Unless there's something you're not telling me."

Ginny looked away and pulled on his hand. When she looked back at him, she smiled. "Come on, Kath and Brogan are waiting for us. I'm just excited about Black Castle and trying to sort out this Gray P Bogneed business."

"Ginny."

She sighed and let go of his hand, frowning. "I need you to just trust me, Harry."

"So there is something you're not telling me. And there's some reason you won't look me in the eye."

She sighed again, and her shoulders slumped a little bit. She shook her head at him. "You know me too bloody well."

"What is it?" Harry said, going to her and pulling her to him.

"What if I told you I have to leave you for a little while, Harry? I mean, at the end, after you defeat him. What if I told you one of the things Aine told me was how I'm supposed to repay her for this gift she's given us."

"I'd tell you that Aine has another thing coming if she thinks I'm letting you go anywhere."

Ginny gave him a look that was both half-sad and half-amused, and he touched her cheek with his thumb. "What is it?" he asked, feeling worried.

"When you defeat him, Harry, I...I have to go away."

"What?" Harry felt as though everything in the world had just slowed down.

Ginny looked uncomfortable and then sighed. She led him over to the bed and sat down, looking at him to do the same. When he could get his body to actually move, he joined her, feeling as though his heart was beating too fast in his chest. She joined her hand with his, and they both looked at the ring on her finger.

"I never really told you my full prophecy, Harry. I didn't do it on purpose, really. It just happened that way. But the part Dumbledore told us...the part about me having to repay what I was given? That part was true. There's a price we have to pay for what we've been given."

"What exactly does that mean, Gin?"

"Well, it turns out that...well, someone on Dad's side of the family asked a favor of Aine; remember how I said she was very good with potions? And we read that bit about her being good with fertility...and so my family, they asked for Aine to help them have a baby girl because they had a long line of sons. She agreed to help them but told them the potion was very potent and very difficult to make, and it would cost something dear to them if she made it. The potion took Aine almost a year to brew, I think. And when she gave it to them, and they conceived a female child, they repaid Aine as agreed. For some reason, the family thought they were to be blessed with many female children after that, but they only had the one; then, they thought perhaps it would pass on through their daughter. So when the first girl was married and started to have children of her own, they were, of course, all male, just like before and so...the family...my family, they accused Aine of tricking them and caused her great harm and took back what they had paid her with - I don't know what it was exactly - it wasn't money, but something else - and Aine did a spell against the family - telling them that a girl would be born in seven generations and that child would have to pay for their selfishness." Ginny stopped and looked at him.

"I'm that child, Harry."

"What?" Harry asked again, feeling stupid. He had the sense that his mouth was moving and that his voice was coming out of it, but inside he felt as though his heart had stopped and that there was the sound of panicked screaming inside his head.

"I'm the child...the seventh child...the girl born into a family of males. I...have to repay Aine for not only what my family took from her, but for what she has given us."

"But I don't understand - where are you going? How does that mean anything is repaid?"

Ginny frowned. "I don't know to tell you the truth. Aine wouldn't tell me."

"Well, then, Aine's not getting you," Harry retorted, common sense finally seeping through his confusion. He pulled his hand away from Ginny's and stood up from the bed, pacing. "No bloody ancient witch is going to take you away from me. I won't let Voldemort do it, and I sure as hell won't let her do it."

Ginny looked at him, a sorrowful expression on her face. "I'm not sure there's anything you can do -"

"To hell there's not!" Harry exclaimed, his voice loud in the small room. Ginny winced, and he shut his mouth, to keep the screaming from inside his head from getting out again. He took a deep breath and steadied himself, willing his control to keep or they'd end up in a shouting match. He rubbed his temple, trying to make sense of things.

"I can't wrap my head around any of this, Gin. What...she's just going to make you disappear? Forever? How is that repaying anything? It sounds full of holes to me."

Ginny nodded. "You're right...but...when she told me...I didn't question it; I just sort of accepted it. She has a very forceful personality, Harry; you don't understand that this was a hard choice -"

"I don't understand? I separated us so that you would be safe...I sent you away from your friends and your family...just to keep you alive and protected. I think I understand a little something about making difficult decisions, Ginny."

"Well, unfortunately, Harry, there are some things that are bigger than you or I, you know. I have to do this," Ginny said, her voice sounding resigned.

Harry couldn't work out why she wasn't angry at having to leave, and he felt something inside of him snap. He realized quite suddenly that he felt betrayed by her acceptance.

"How can you be okay with this, Gin? How can you sit there and not be MAD AS HELL THAT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE?" He paused as his voice echoed loudly in the small room, and he could only stare at her, realization dawning in him. "You weren't even going to tell me this, were you?"

"Harry, you just...you don't understand, this is the way it has to be -"

"I AM NOT LETTING ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU!" Harry shouted again, his temper and emotion finally getting the better of him. "I DON'T CARE WHAT SHE TOLD YOU, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, AND THAT'S FINAL!"

"MAYBE THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU OR I CAN DO ABOUT IT, YOU IDIOT!" Ginny shouted back, standing up from the bed, her hands rolled into fists at her side.

They stared at each other for a moment - both breathing heavily - the air between them crackling with their combined tempers when a knock at the door brought them both back to reality. Ginny gave him a cross look and went to answer it. Harry turned around, staring out the window and trying to control himself, feeling as though a million emotions were surging through him. His head gave a twinge, and he closed his eyes, running through his Occlumency steps for the first time in a long time; it wouldn't do to have Voldemort cackling in his head over this one. He struggled with himself - he couldn't even begin to wrap his head around the idea that Ginny had to leave him just because some old witch said so. Aine may have given Ginny the power to help protect him, but she had another thing coming if she thought Harry was just going to let Ginny go, and that was the truth.

"Erm, is everything all right?" Brogan's voice came from behind him, but Harry continued facing the other way.

"Everything is fine. Some of us are just...being insensitive gits." Ginny's voice sounded small and very unlike her, and Harry turned to yell at her again - Brogan be damned - but found that he couldn't when he saw her face. His anger left him when he saw the fear and the worry in her eyes, and he knew he had been wrong to assume that she had accepted things - he could see as clear as day that she was as torn up inside as he was.

"Oh, Gin...I'm so sorry." He went to her and pulled her into his arms. "I didn't mean to yell...I'm so...I just thought...I thought you didn't care -"

Ginny sniffed loudly and pushed away from him, her eyes red. "How can you say that, Harry? How can you say that after everything we've felt? Don't you think this is just...tearing me up inside? I don't want to go anywhere; I want to be with you and love you and have our life together." She held up her hand to show him the ring, and he felt his heart twist inside him.

He touched her cheek and nodded, unable to say anything. He saw Brogan looking at them, a distorted expression on his face, and he realized the other man knew what they had been shouting about. He suddenly had a feeling that he understood why Ginny had been up and dressed before him this morning.

"You know?" he asked the other man as Ginny moved away from him, wiping at her eyes. She answered for Brogan.

"I...I had to tell him, Harry. Aine wanted me to..."

"I am done hearing about what Aine wants," Harry said, quite determined. Ginny bit her lip and didn't say anything. He went to her and looked into her eyes. "I put that ring on your finger, Ginny Weasley, and that means you're mine, not hers; I don't care how many generations have gone on without any girls being born or debts being repaid. Your heart and body are spoken for, by me, Harry Potter - the boy she wanted you to protect and love. She can't have you. I'll...I'll refuse to fight Voldemort if that's what it takes. He can stay alive forever, I don't care. I'm not letting you go."

Harry turned to Brogan next. "And you are going to help us. I don't care - we're going to come up with another way for Ginny's debt to be repaid. You're Aine's bleeding last descendant; you have to be good for something."

"Harry!" Ginny said, sounding shocked. "Brogan's not a pawn to be used in my place..."

"It's okay, Ginny," Brogan said, not looking away from Harry. Harry had the sense the two of them understood each other in a way that Ginny probably would never comprehend. "I think Harry might have a point, actually. Perhaps Aine simply requires someone to go...maybe it doesn't matter who."

Harry heard Ginny suck in a breath, and he turned to look at her, but she was looking at Brogan, her eyes narrowed.

"As long as some of us don't forget promises that were made," she said, her voice deadly calm. Harry frowned and was going to ask what she meant when Katharine appeared at the door, interrupting them.

"Come on, you lot, the car is all warmed up and...is everything all right in here?" She paused and looked at all three of them, her eyes finally settling on Brogan. He nodded at the two of them before turning to her.

"We were just talking about researching something...weren't we?" Brogan glanced at Harry.

"Yeah, a project we have for back at school."

Kath looked doubtful as she watched Ginny wipe at her eyes again, but she nodded her head. "Aye. Fine, don't tell me. Well, Black Castle awaits, if any of you still want to see it."

She gave them all a last lingering gaze and left, with Brogan following her. Harry and Ginny regarded each other. She finally shrugged and shook her head.

"I'm sorry you thought I didn't care..."

"Shh." Harry took her hand into his and suddenly didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Let's just enjoy our day. Or...try to, at any rate."

Ginny nodded, and they left the room, and Harry tried to shake the feeling that something had just shifted in his world that he was never going to get right again.

o-o-o-o-o