Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

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Chapter 10 - Flying

Sweating, Harry woke up with a start. His throat felt hoarse from the shouting he had been doing in his sleep. Panting heavily, he frantically looked around the room, until his eyes settled on a picture on the wall opposite him. He could feel the panic seeping out of him as he stared at the photo of himself, Sirius, Remus and Tonks.

The picture had been taken before Voldemort's resurrection, back then the danger never really felt real, the war had ended three years later. They had their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders and all looked somewhat happy, even the lined face of Remus Lupin held a joy the like of which some werewolves never achieve.

Sunlight had started creeping past the drapes belying the earliness of the hour, the clock had only just passed 5 O'Clock in the morning. Resigned to not being able to fall back asleep, Harry dragged himself out of bed and into the shower.

The nightmares had always been a common factor of Harry's night time routine. When he was younger, he suffered them because of the piece of Voldemort's soul that resided in him, now the horrors of war replayed in his mind – that was on a good night.

On the bad nights, his imagination runs wild with the possibilities, endless situations of torture for his family and brutal deaths. A surprising addition to his dreams had been Ginny, he had thrashed around relentlessly when he heard her screams.

Funnily, on one of the nights during the week, the nightmares had somehow been interrupted. That hadn't happened since the days Sirius would sit with him for a time whilst he slept. No one had said anything too him, so he had no idea who (if anyone) had helped him.

'Don't you ever sleep Kreacher?' Asked Harry as he walked into the kitchen, where Kreacher was reading the paper.

'No more than you.' Kreacher replied hiding his smirk behind the paper. 'Although you slept well the other night.'

Harry eyed him shrewdly. 'Don't happen to know why do you?'

'Not a clue.'

'Riiiggghhht.' Shaking his head slightly, Harry poured the two of them a hot drink and sat down at the table.

'So, what's your plan today?' Asked Kreacher idly flicking through the paper.

'Me and Ginny are taking Teddy flying.'

'I noticed you two are talking again, what brought that on?'

'Not really sure.' Admitted Harry.

Kreacher peaked from behind his paper for the first time. 'You should just tell her.'

'If only it were that simple.' Sighed Harry.

'It could be.' The elf pointed out. Harry just glared at him until he retreated behind the paper again.

'Morning.' Came a groggy voice from the doorway.

'Tonks are you ok? It's before 9 O'Clock.' Harry mockingly exclaimed in a worried voice.

Tonks weakly tried to hit him on the arm and missed. 'Shut up.' She grumbled.

'How did you miss the umbrella stand?' Kreacher asked her.

'I moved it.' Harry answered smugly. Tonks threw them both a one fingered salute before going back to what she was doing. As she turned around her arm caught the mug she had placed on the side causing it to crash to the floor.

'For fuck sake. Reparo.' She muttered pointing her wand unenthusiastically at the wreckage. The mug instantly repaired itself barring a large chip on the rim.

Eventually the now chipped mug was filled with steaming hot tea and Tonks joined the table, sighing contentedly as she smelt the freshly made brew.

'So, to what does the ungodly hour of 6am owe the pleasure of your presence?' Asked Harry.

'The black haired scruffy monstrosity and fiery red headed arch angel that are currently residing in this house.' At Harry's raised eyebrows she clarified. 'You and Ginny, Teddy's so bloody excited he just woke me and Bill up by jumping on the bed.' Harry snorted. 'You can laugh now Evans, I told him to wake you up next time.'

'He'll have a job.' Muttered Harry under his breath. 'Where is he?'

'He's in the shower, I heard movements from the other rooms too, they'll be looking for breakfast.'

'Is that a hint?'

'Yeah. Now get your arse in gear.'

'Of course milady, what can I get for you?' Asked Harry with a mock bow.

'A great big dirty fry up.'

'Ah the house special.' Said Harry happily, clasping his hands together on his way to the stove.

'Can we go? can we go? can we go?' Asked Teddy excitedly after breakfast.

Chuckling, Ginny ruffled his hair. 'Go and grab your broom and we'll go.' Teddy flew from the room without a backwards glance. She grinned at Harry. 'Someone's excited.'

'He does love to fly.' Said Harry proudly. He looked in the pantry and pulled out a pristine broom, that had been immaculately maintained over the years. The firebolt was one of his most treasured possessions.

Ginny eyed it appreciatively 'Nice broom.'

'Thanks.'

Holding out her hand she waited as a broom materialised in front of her and flew into her grasp, it was Harry's turn to stare.

'I've not seen one of those in years.' He said, staring at the polished handle appreciatively, it was a nimbus 2000. Whilst both brooms were now slow compared to modern day professional standards, they were still rather nippy and had that classic charm.

Not a minute later, Teddy came sprinting down into the kitchen. 'I'm ready.' He said breathlessly, bouncing on the balls of his feet with broom in hand.

'Come on then, say bye to everyone.'

'Bye everyone.' Said Teddy before racing towards the door.

'Don't I get a kiss?' Shouted Tonks, tapping her cheek.

Flushing bright red, Teddy hurried over to his mom and pecked her on the cheek, causing a round of 'ahs' to go around the room.

Without looking at anyone Teddy scurried out of the room.

'Right we're out of here. See you all later.' Said Harry, following after his godson.

'Bye everyone.' Waved Ginny.

'Bye.' They all chorused.

Teddy was waiting for them outside the front door. 'You ready sprog?' Asked Harry.

'Yeah.' Muttered Teddy still embarrassed.

'Come on then handsome.' Chimed Ginny, taking a hold of his hand and Harry's arm before turning on the spot and vanishing.

They landed on the edge of a large park, the ground was covered in deep green grass. There was a kids play area in one corner, with various apparatus and quidditch pitch on the far side where two groups were playing knockout with a quaffle.

'This place is amazing.' Said Harry looking around in wonder.

'Have you never been here?' Asked Ginny quizzically.

'No.' Answered Harry quietly.

'Come on let's fly.' Said Teddy, mounting his broom and zooming off into the sky.

Grinning, Harry threw his leg over his firebolt and blasted into the air after his godson. All the remaining tension he was feeling from his nightmares drained away in flight, the sky was where he belonged. Free from the worries that tethered themselves to him.

Flying was one pleasure he hadn't been able to leave behind.

'Catch me if you can!' Taunted Teddy from his broom.

Catching each other's eye, Harry and Ginny set off after him, Teddy flew in a series of loops whooping as he went. He wasn't quite as fast as the other two but for now they were content with chasing him.

Whenever they got close to him, they would make a false effort to catch him, before letting him zoom off again. After one particularly steep dive, Harry caught sight of Ginny flying freely next to him. Her long red hair was billowing behind her and the happiness on her face made it look as though she was glowing.

Harry was so distracted he almost crashed. It was only the startled scream of a bystander that made him pull up in time.

'You alright Evans?' Hollered Ginny above the wind.

'Just about!' He shouted back, mentally shaking himself. What's wrong with me?

Their flying was interrupted when a boy flew over and asked Teddy if wanted to join in in the game of knockout. After promising to be careful, Teddy shot off to join the others.

Harry and Ginny hovered next to each other watching him go. 'So. what do we do now?' Harry asked her.

'Well I have it on good authority you know how to catch a snitch.' She replied, pulling a small golden ball from her pocket. 'Care for a challenge?'

'You're on Weasley.'

She smiled confidently and released the snitch. It flew once around their heads and vanished into the sky. Whilst it disappeared, she fiddled with her watch. 'We wait five minutes then go.'

'Ok.' Agreed Harry. They stared each other in the eye challengingly without breaking contact. Although he would never admit it, Harry couldn't help feeling that Ginny had an advantage here. How was he supposed to concentrate when her eyes were so alive? They were a deep chocolate brown that sparkled happily with a well earned confidence.

There was another problem too. A stray strand of her hair had been blown loose by the wind, ignoring the temptation to reach out and brush it behind her ear was almost unbearable.

Ginny smiled sheepishly and leaned towards him, when they were almost nose to nose she whispered. 'Good luck.' Then her watch beeped and she shot off without a backwards glance.

Shocked, pulse racing, Harry didn't move for a good ten seconds after. I'm in all kinds of bother. Flying high into the air he started looking for the snitch actively trying to ignore the insisting nature of his sub conscious to watch Ginny instead. She was on the other side of the park, flying in a lazy circle, like a hawk hunting for a vole.

Smirking to himself Harry decided to give her a taste of what he could do. Feigning complete concentration, he dived towards the earth almost completely vertical. Behind him he could hear the swoosh of Ginny getting ever closer.

Harry held his arm out in front of him as if he was going to make a grab before suddenly pulling up. The sudden movement distracted Ginny, and she almost ploughed into the ground, just before impact she pulled up skimming her toes across the grass.

Flushed with excitement, she beamed up at him. 'Not bad Evans, I might have to start taking you seriously.'

Laughing, Harry shook his head. He was more than a little impressed she avoided the ground, yet not really surprised, Ginny could definitely fly.

Instead of separating, this time they were locked together in their search. Neither of them wanting to give the other any room to breathe. They sub consciously bumped into each other as they flew.

All of a sudden, Ginny shot to her right. Harry went to follow when (in a feat he didn't think was possible) she flipped her broom back over her head, so she was upside down, and shot in the opposite direction.

Harry's own turn was much wider, he'd never seen anything like that, not even the few pros he'd seen fly would be able to pull something like that off. From standstill, maybe, but not in mid-flight. The technique involved to defy the laws of aerodynamics was phenomenal.

Still it wasn't over, Harry had his own tricks. He flattened himself on his broom, so his chin was on the handle with his elbows tucked in, allowing him to cut through the air like a knife through butter. He quickly gained on her and fell into her slipstream.

At the last possible moment, he pulled out from behind her and catapulted alongside. His outstretched hand wrapped itself around the outside of Ginny's fist milliseconds after it had closed around the struggling snitch.

Breathing heavily the two of them floated to the ground, not noticing the looks of appreciation they were getting from those that had been watching.

'I've never seen anything like that.' Harry said breathlessly. 'How did you learn to do it?'

'What the flip?' She breathed, Harry nodded. 'Practice, comes in handy when trying to get away from your brothers who are trying to get stinksap down the back of your robes.'

'I can see that. You're an incredible flyer.'

'Thanks, you're not bad yourself, no one's ever outpaced me like that. I have no idea how you caught back up.'

'I'll teach you, if you teach me that flip.' He offered.

'Deal.' Chuckled Ginny. 'Come on let's go and watch Teddy.' They walked over to the side of the pitch where Teddy was playing and sat down on the grass.

Later that night the two of them were the last ones up and were watching a film in the sitting room. Ginny had told him how she had come to love the Muggle invention after countless nights around Hermione's flat.

Grimmauld Place itself had been a lot quieter recently. The twins had moved back to their flat in Diagon Alley and Ron and Hermione had gone back to her place. Mrs Weasley was worried about them being on their own, however, they had all waved off her protestations saying they would be safe enough.

Hermione had warded her flat, with the help of a couple of unspeakable, so she was well hidden. Whilst the twins pointed out that no one was daft enough to attack Diagon Alley.

Harry looked away from the screen to see Ginny, watching him. Realising she had been caught staring, she blushed and looked back up at the game.

'What's wrong?' He asked gently.

She sighed. 'Nothing, I've just never seen you look as happy as you were earlier, it was nice.'

'I love flying, especially against good competition.' He nudged her with his elbow, causing her to shove him playfully.

'Can I ask you something?' She asked quietly.

'Sure, although I can't guarantee I'll answer.'

'Why don't you use magic?' He grimaced. 'It's ok you don't have to tell me.' She back tracked.

'No it's alright, that's not really a secret, just something I don't like talking about.' He fidgeted nervously on the settee before finally looking down at his knees.

'I was young during the war, too young, much like yourself and your brothers. Somehow though I still managed to find myself in the middle of it.'

In order to offer a small amount of comfort, Ginny rested her hand over his where it lay limp in his lap.

'I've done things, seen things that no one should see, never mind a child. I've witnessed people close to me being murdered, killed more people than I can count and played the role of both tortured and torturer. That was all before I turned 17.'

'You were in a war.' Consoled Ginny.

'That's no excuse.' Said Harry harshly. 'Killing was never a last resort, the only thing separating me from the Death Eaters was my beliefs, our methods were almost the same.'

'That's not true.' Insisted Ginny.

Harry snorted. 'You saw what I did at Mad-Eye's, that was without a wand and let me tell you I had no intention of letting any of them live.'

'You did what was necessary, you weren't using magic, it's not like you could stun them.' When Harry was about to contradict her again she interrupted him. 'Bill said he knew you during the war, he wouldn't trust you unless he believed in your methods. There is no innocence in war.'

'That maybe so, but I shouldn't have resorted to the measures I did. I used all three unforgivable curses countless times, they're unforgivable for a reason. At least when I kill with muggle weapons, I try to make it painless. Killing maybe necessary, but I won't revel in someone's pain again.

'Using magic is different, wands make it easy to channel your anger, and trust me, back then I had plenty of it. I would torture Death Eaters and Snatchers mercilessly if I thought I could get information out of them.'

He shuddered involuntarily, soothingly Ginny rubbed circles on the back of his hand. 'When I go to sleep, I hear them scream. Not just the ones I tortured, but my friends and family too. Then there are flashes of green light and all I can see are the littered bodies of the people I care about.'

Harry closed his eyes to fight against the moisture gathering on their edge. 'Every time I hold a wand all I feel is that same hatred I used to feel when using the unforgivable curses, that same perverse pleasure in making those that deserve it feel pain.

'That's why I don't use magic Ginny. It turns me into a monster. You should stay clear of me, you'll only get hurt if you don't.'

'I'm going nowhere.' She growled. 'I've not known you long, but I know you are no monster.'

'You don't even know who I am.'

'I might not know your secrets, that doesn't mean I don't know who you are. The people around you think too highly of you, even Mad-Eye said you were alright and he normally warns me off everyone.'

'You spoke to Mad-Eye about me?' He asked surprised.

'Yeah, whilst you were sleeping after you stopped the attack on his house.'

'I'm surprised he didn't try to jinx me in my sleep for that.'

'Oh, he wanted to.' She said grinning. 'He was annoyed you didn't let him help.'

'He would have gotten himself killed.' Muttered Harry.

'If you're such a monster, why would you care?'

'We all have our weak moments.'

'Oh come off it, I know you were sulking for the last couple of days because you couldn't save that woman.'

'How did you find out about that?' Asked Harry incredulously.

'Bill told me.' She shrugged. 'I think he was trying to make up for not being able to tell me what you're so desperate to hide.'

'Did you tell anyone at the Ministry?' asked Harry, ignoring the second part of her statement.

'Yeah, I told Neville Longbottom, he arranged for a team to go over and investigate.'

'Did they find anything?'

Ginny looked at him shrewdly. 'Not that it's any of your business but no we didn't.'