Part 9
Filling in the Blanks
After a copious amount of hugging, a mild altercation with the Ministry when they attempted to arrest Erica and an evening spent with Lily explaining why he had taken so long to come home, Harry was finally able to take stock of everything that had happened to him. He had also decided that for the most part, only 4 people would be allowed to know what had happened to him. Lily had accepted that Harry had been away so long for a purpose that was even greater than himself. He filled her in on some of the key details, but admittedly left out a few parts that might have had her locking him up for the rest of his natural life.
He would only have to tell his story once and would start with the most obvious of people to tell first. Harry had waited until late evening of his second night back in Hogwarts to gather Hermione, Draco and now Ginny, who was to be given honorary status as a Gryffindor without explanation to anyone except Dumbledore, in the Gryffindor common room to tell them the tale of what happened.
"And then we got word that Neville was coming for the school," Said Harry, after telling Hermione and Draco every little detail of his 8-month adventure across Europe, which involved many wonderous and dangerous tales involving Harry, Erica and a coven of friendly vampires.
When Harry was done talking, Draco was the first to speak, saying, "Well, that clears all that up then. However, there is one minor detail you seem to be leaving out." Draco stood up from the armchair he had taken by the fire, passed Harry and Hermione who were snuggling on the couch and walked to stand behind the chair Ginny was sitting in, gently and cautiously placing his hands on her shoulders, "You still haven't told us why this ball of rainbows, isn't locked up in St Mungo's,"
"Technically," Said Harry, smiling with amusement at the grin on Ginny's face from being called a ball of rainbows, "Ginny Weasley has never been inside St Mungo's,"
"But I assume Tom Riddle has?" Hermione guessed, happily lounging against Harry's side.
"Yup," Ginny nodded. Her voice was so light and bouncy but almost childlike in the way she spoke, "I was physically there," She told them, looking up at Draco, "But I didn't start remembering who I was until around last Summer,"
"You see," Harry said, sitting up slowly and ignoring Hermione's protest of him removing his arm from her, "Ron tried to break Ginny out of St Mungo's on his father's orders, it would have been Bill Weasley, but he was too busy fighting Grey Cloaks. The only problem is that Ron ran into an issue,"
"Which was?" Asked Draco.
"He left it too long," Ginny answered with a wide smile, "You see, I've been under Tom Riddle's control via the Diary he created since I was 8, he poured all of his knowledge, strength, power and skills into my mind but I was too young to fully use them,"
"Hence why Harry could stop you in the Chamber of secrets," Hermione nodded, "If you had been fully taken control of, you would have wiped Harry off the face of the earth."
"Yup," Ginny nodded, "But my bestie saw through me and knew he could win," She beamed.
"You're bestie?" Draco questioned, raising his brow.
"Harry's the only real friend I've ever had, that would make him my best friend, no?" She asked innocently.
"It would indeed," Hermione said, giving Ginny an approving smile.
"Anyway," Harry said, rolling his eyes and continuing, "Ron broke Ginny out, gave her a wand and then got cursed for the effort. When he went back to Arthur and told him what happened, the family ignored the incident and just assumed that Ginny had lost her mind completely and ran off."
"That was nice of them," Said Draco, sarcastically.
"But I'm guessing you didn't just run off for your own amusement?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"Nope, I saw in the papers what happened at the Gala, I knew I wouldn't be able to get to America without help but I knew I could track down where Voldemort was going to be," She answered, "Ron told me that there was a plan to bring Voldemort back. I knew that to resurrect him to full power, they were going to need a powerful wizard but also Voldemort was going to want the person who was there when he was defeated. Voldemort has a thing for theatrics." She giggled.
"So, you waited for Harry to show up, knowing that you could have easily gone to Dumbledore or come to us to warn us it was happening?" Draco asked her.
"No," Harry snorted, "A year ago we would have blasted her away the second she showed up."
"True," Draco chuckled. Ginny and Hermione laughed as well.
"Plus, we were busy at the time," Harry reminded Draco, "We were so focused on getting Hermione back that none of us except Dumbledore and Ginny were preparing for Voldemort's return. Alucard, who had taken over Grindelwald saw to that."
"That's right," Hermione nodded, "Alucard knew that Voldemort was back, he knew that you were going to be taken there and used to revive him."
"How though?" Draco frowned.
"Because it was Alucard who planted the port-key," Ginny told them, "There wasn't a Death Eater capable of getting to Neville, except the one who was doing his best to kill Grindelwald."
"Alucard wanted Voldemort back," Hermione gasped, "But why?"
"It's possible that Voldemort is in league with the old ones," Draco answered.
"No," Harry told him, "Voldemort wants nothing to do with them, they would out do him and force him to fight for them. He likes them dead and buried where they are, in fact, he's already destroyed the others. That's what he's been doing this year, tracking down the other Tombs like the one in Ilvermorny, and destroying the old ones. All but one."
"He doesn't know where the last one is?" Hermione asked, curious despite her fears of Voldemort's efforts to make sure he was the only evil power to contend with.
"No, but he doesn't think that it's something to worry about."
"Why does it sound like you and he are on the same page all of a sudden?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Because for a good 10 minutes we were," Harry said, chuckling at Draco's expression, "He was pissed when he found out I'd gone to the Volturi but he wanted me to know how far he was willing to go to take back what he lost. He wanted me to know that he was the only one left. He was the one that, after Aro told him no, that brought me and Ginny here to stop Neville."
"The golden ropes, those were Voldemort?" Hermione asked, concern increasing in her voice.
"No," Harry said, patting her hand gently, "That was Dumbledore. Voldemort just gave us a lift so to speak."
"Alright, getting back to Ginny though," Draco said, his face quite grumpy looking all of a sudden, "Why did you go to all that trouble to find Harry?"
"Because I owe him my life, my freedom and because of something else," She said, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Trust me, little lady," Draco said in a stern voice, "Nothing is getting between these two," He pointed at Harry and Hermione, "Trust me, I've tried,"
"No, it's not that," Ginny promised, "I…well, what brought me back to being me was…"
"You don't have to tell him," Harry promised her, "He can just accept that you're part of the crew and that you have better hair than him," He joked.
Ginny and Hermione both chuckled, but Ginny shook her head, "It's alright, I think he and Hermione should know,"
"Yeah, you know I like secrets," Said Draco, pouting playfully, "Tell me why you went so far to find him and help him?"
"Because when I finally started to be me again, I remembered my mother."
"Oh," Was all Draco managed, blushing himself now.
"She was so kind and loving. Her death damaged my family and destroyed my father, my brothers and it changed things so much that when I finally could be myself again, all I wanted to do was live in her memory. I know she would have sided with Harry if she was still alive. I know she wouldn't have allowed my family to become the people that they are. So, I want to help, I want to fight evil and have friends and feel love. I want to be the person that I know she was, and I'll do anything to protect Harry, Hermione and yes, even you Draco."
"Oh, Ginny," Hermione said, her throat catching with emotion and sounding eerily like Lily when she climbed up from the couch and went to Ginny. The two girls hugged and shared a warm smile, "You're more than welcome to be part of us."
"Yeah, I suppose I can't argue with that," Draco chuckled, reaching down and ruffling Ginny's hair, "One last thing," He added, looking to Harry, "What happened to Neville?"
What happened to Neville was indeed a mystery, even to Harry and it wasn't until after breakfast when the school was beginning to empty for another summer holiday and he was in Dumbledore's office, that he would learn this.
"Nurmengard?"
Dumbledore smiled at the look of confusion on Harry's face. He sat boldly in the tall armchair he always sat in, watching Harry with his piercing blue eyes, which had a dash of amusement in them for Harry's reaction to the news of Neville's whereabouts.
"Yes," nodded Dumbledore, "I felt it was right to send him to the place of his idol. It comes to my attention that Grindelwald and Neville are very much alike, it is my hope that if Neville endures what Grindelwald did, then Neville might see the light earlier than my old friend did."
"Do you think he'll ever be the person I knew?" Harry asked. Harry couldn't resist the small hope inside of him that Neville might one day return to him. He couldn't deny the hope that he and Neville might forgive each other and one day stand side to side as best friends again.
"The future is hard to predict," Dumbledore told him, "For now, we must have faith that Neville will see the error of his ways. The Grey Cloaks are all but gone, their supporters decimated, their allies either fleeing or joining Voldemort to strengthen his forces, I feel for now that the Alvery, Grey Cloaks and Neville will no longer present a problem for us."
"For now?" Harry said, noticing the lingering note beneath Dumbledore's words.
"If what Voldemort has done is true then there is still one of the old gods still in existence. I admit I am impressed he was able to find the others and I've sent some of our own people to check if this is indeed true. Once it is confirmed that Voldemort has indeed destroyed the other gods, we will truly only have him to face in the coming war."
Harry let out a deep sigh and leaned back into the chair he was sitting on. His eyes met Dumbledore's for a moment and then he looked away, wondering how best to phrase his next question.
"Do you know why Voldemort chose me?" He asked, knowing already that isn't want a question he wanted answered, "I mean, anyone would have done, right? It can't just be because I've been a pain in his side for the last 4 years."
"That is the exact reason it had to be you," Dumbledore told him, giving a small chuckle, "The only other option was Severus and unfortunately, our dear Potions Master is particularly good at making himself unreachable."
"The one thing he never taught me," Said Harry, "I'll add it to the list of things I want to learn this summer."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Harry, you are a truly astounding young wizard, but I don't think even Severus will remain untouchable for long,"
"Actually, he will,"
"Harry?"
Meeting Dumbledore's gaze, Harry pulled the sleeve of his arm up and showed Dumbledore the cut that Wormtail had sliced into his arm in order to steal Harry's blood to revive Voldemort. Around the pale of his forearm was an intricate serious of scars that looked like burns.
"In Italy after we left Volterra, I had some time with Voldemort to talk about Severus. Yes, Voldemort wants Severus dead but not nearly as much as he wants to keep certain things alive. For instance, Nagini,"
"Harry, what have you done?" Asked Dumbledore, his voice grave.
"Ginny is very persuasive, she also threatened to stab Nagini through the head if Voldemort didn't make the unbreakable vow with me that he wouldn't harm Severus or my mother,"
"Harry…"
"I also made him swear he would never give the order for one of his own to attempt to kill them either," Harry continued, "I tried to fit everyone else in but I knew Severus and my mother were likely to be the main targets. So, I edged my bets and worked on knowing I'd have to protect everyone else the hard way."
"Harry, what you've done is…"
"Dangerous, stupid, not full-proof. I know this, I know that they could end up being killed by a Death Eater, I know that Bellatrix Lestrange along with several others. They will know that the key to earning Voldemort's favour will be to kill as many of his enemies as possible. Especially those responsible for their dark lord's demise."
"I was going to say genius," Dumbledore said, chuckling lightly at the shocked look on Harry's face, "You're right about the dangerous and stupid but you've just made one of his goals infinitely more difficult. I think we both know that with Sirius and Erica around, it will be exceedingly difficult for anyone to try to get near your mother and since she and Severus are as close as brother and sister, he will be safe as well."
"That was my thinking. My hope is that I can keep them safe."
"But you continue to put yourself in the line of fire,"
Harry nodded. He leaned forward to see Dumbledore better and sighed a deep, heavy breath. He knew that he had been lucky last year when he faced Voldemort on the side of that cliff. He knew it was by simple coincidence that he was saved from drowning, even more so that not only Erica, but Ginny as well would find him, and they would work together with new friends to stop Aro from joining Voldemort. Harry knew that eventually he was going to face Voldemort. He just knew that in order to win that fight, he was going to have to become something more than what he was now.
"Did Carlisle and the others get away alright?" Harry asked, wanting to change the subject now.
"Yes," Smiled Dumbledore, "I admit it was good to see my old friend, even if the risk he took to make it happen was so great. I'm glad you got to meet them Harry, I feared you might only see the worst of their world."
"Edward and I didn't exactly click when I woke up in their home in Paris," Harry admitted, "But he is annoyingly charming for a vampire,"
"That he is," Dumbledore agreed, laughing lightly, "I've directed them to a place in the northern most parts of America, there is a small town under a near cover of cloud that holds little magical activity. They'll have neighbours but I'm sure they will adjust and find a happy life there."
"Good," Harry smiled, "I won't see them again though, will I?"
"Not unless you seek them out yourself, which is something I highly recommend you do should we all survive this war."
"Is that pessimism I detect?" Harry joked.
"We can't all be sure we'll see this to the end," Dumbledore chuckled, "But for now, I feel we can relax a little. Neville's desire to see you destroyed has set Voldemort and the rest of us back quite far. The time for war will come but Voldemort must rely on the shadows before he can step in to destroy the light."
"And the Weasley family?" Harry asked. He wasn't worried about the whole family, more the future of one particular member.
"Ron Weasley disappeared sometime after Neville's attack started, if he is with the rest of his family I am not aware of it. Arthur, Fred, George and Bill have not been seen either, I can only assume they are with Voldemort at this very moment and as for Charlie Weasley, well, he was eaten by a dragon last week."
"And Ginny?" Harry pressed.
"The Minister for magic is not happy with my acceptance of your story about her efforts to prove she is truly reformed," Dumbledore sighed, smiling at the eager look on Harry's face, "However, I will grant your request."
"She can come back to school next year?!"
"Following that she can pass a few examinations, I will allow her not only to join, but she may also join you, Hermione and Draco in 5th year and do so as a member of Gryffindor house."
"she's brilliant, of course she'll pass!" Harry grinned. He had been concerned that he was going to have to fight for people to see that Ginny was not the same person as she was before. He was however, going to have to make sure that she was also kept safe. Given Hermione's instant liking to the new Ginny and her desire for another girl in the group, he wasn't going to have to look far for volunteers to protect the last Weasley.
"I can't promise she will have it easy though," Dumbledore warned him, "The memory of why she was taken to St Mungo's in the first place is still fresh in many of the pupil's minds."
"I know," Harry nodded, "but she has me."
"And that is indeed all she needs," Dumbledore smiled, "It's just a matter of finding her a place to live."
"Oh, don't worry, I've got the perfect place for her to live." Harry said in confidence, "The other people who live there just doesn't know it yet."
"I shall leave it in your capable hands then," Dumbledore chuckled, "But there is one final matter we must discuss."
"Oh?"
"Harry, what you've faced in this past year as been nothing short of extraordinary," Dumbledore told him, "You've faced more than any grown wizard ever should and for that I am deeply sorry. I know though, that from this point forward there is no hope of attempting to keep you from harm. I feel that unless I find a way to defeat the Dark Lord myself, it will be you who will attempt to as well. I trust you're already preparing to move to the next stage of your education."
"When I fought him, he made everything I threw at him look like a parlour trick," Harry admitted. It hurt him to admit out loud that he had failed to stand his ground but knew Dumbledore of all people wouldn't judge him for it, "It wasn't just about fighting wolfpacks, facing demons, fighting Death eaters and arguing with a 10 thousand year old vampire about why he shouldn't join Voldemort. I made Erica show me the way to a greater power but…"
"But you don't want that power." Dumbledore smiled and Harry felt his cheeks burn when he saw the pride on his Headmaster's face, "And that my dear boy is why you and Voldemort will never see eye to eye. There is no great prophecy pulling you both together it is simply nothing more than a personality clash. This war is not yours to fight but I think even he knows you are going to fight it, no matter what it takes."
"I'll prepare in my own way." Harry nodded. He got to his feet and Dumbledore continued to admire him with pride and warmth, "I don't know when this fight is going to come but I'll be ready for it. I won't use dark magic to take him down. I refuse to become like him to beat him."
"And with that, I know that together we can make our world safe."
"Besides," Harry chuckled, "We've got Albus Dumbledore on our side. He doesn't stand a chance."
"Your faith in me is kind," Dumbledore chuckled, "Now go Harry, you've got your family and friends to reconcile with this summer. We can discuss war another time."
"Have a good summer, Professor,"
"And you, dear boy."
As Harry turned and walked towards the door, he would not see the smile on Dumbledore's face fade. When the door shut and Dumbledore was alone, he cherished the faith that Harry had in him but knew that this faith was wasted. Dumbledore knew that the changing of the guard would soon be upon him and no matter what form that took, he could only hope that Harry was ready to take his place.