A knock on their door woke them both, and Harry was the first one to be conscious enough to stumble into the living room. He rubbed at his eyes and pulled the door slightly open, sticking his head through the small space and squinting to see who it was.
"Hey, Harry. Sorry to wake you, but Mr Cosgrove wanted you two to eat something, and he wanted me to deliver your mail."
Brogan smiled and pointed to the tray in front of him, and he held up what looked like a letter in his hand. Harry opened the door and moved out of the way. He realized by the light coming through the window that he and Ginny had apparently not only missed breakfast but had almost missed lunch as well.
Brogan turned to look at him, and Harry realized he was half-naked, wearing only his pajama bottoms. He felt embarrassed for some reason and ran his hand nervously through his hair.
"Er, well...um...let me go um...get dressed."
"All right. I'll just pour us all some tea, how's that?"
Harry wanted to ask him why he was inviting himself to join them, but didn't, and slipped back into the bedroom. He could make out Ginny's fuzzy shape sitting up on the bed. She held something out to him, and he took his glasses from her thankfully.
"Brogan's out there. I think he wants to talk about something with us."
Ginny yawned, pulling the duvet on the bed closer to her. "Well, nuts to that," she said grumpily. Harry smiled as he went to the wardrobe for his shirt and jeans.
"He's brought some mail for us, and he's brought us some food," he said as he slipped a shirt over his head.
As he expected, he saw that Ginny had perked up at that bit of news, and he hid a smile.
"Food, eh? Hmm...maybe I can get out of bed after all." She stretched and then stood up, seeing the smile break out on his face. "What is that look for?"
Harry made his face an innocent mask and shrugged. "Nothing. Um...you may want to get dressed first, Ginny."
Ginny looked down at her nightdress and stuck her tongue out at him. "Maybe I'll just treat Brogan to the beauty that is me," she said as she twirled around seductively.
Harry frowned at her as he sat on the bed. "Very funny."
"Oh, Harry," Ginny sighed as she started looking around in his clothes for something to wear. "I was only teasing, honest. You know, I should really just move all my clothes into this room."
Harry watched her a moment and then went to her, stopping her in mid-sock stealing. Now it seemed that not only were his jumpers now hers but his socks as well.
"What?" she asked, glancing at him.
"We haven't said good morning properly yet," he said softly, and she paused, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Oh? Hmm...well, technically we slept in past morning, so -"
"All right, then we haven't said good afternoon properly yet, you twit," he added playfully, pulling her to him. He kissed her, gently at first, and then more insistent as she leaned against the wardrobe. Reminding himself not to get carried away, he released her rather abruptly.
"Ah...maybe we'd best just get dressed then," he said clearing his throat. Ginny smiled mischievously at him. She reached forward and moved her hand coyly down his chest.
"I could help you out with this, you know. I'm certain Brogan won't mind, let me just go ask if he'll step out for a few -"
Harry put his hand over her mouth. "Shh. Enough with you, evil temptress. Get dressed. Besides, I don't fancy having you doing that, and having to contact Dumbledore again to clear our floor off. He'll think we're uncontrollable or something."
Ginny stuck her tongue out at him, against his hand, and he was tempted to kiss her again but shook his head. He stepped away from her and took the socks from her hand.
"And would you please stop stealing my socks! I don't care if Brogan sees your feet, you know."
Ginny laughed and grabbed one of his shirts. "Fine, fine, we'll just let the charming Mr Caley stare at my sexy feet all he wants. All right by me."
Harry raised his eyebrow and looked at her feet. He watched her for a moment and then handed her the socks. "Put them on," he said simply.
Ginny grinned widely and took them from him. She sat down on the bed and looked slyly at him.
"Thank you, Harry," she said sweetly.
Rolling his eyes, Harry went to the bathroom to wash up for a bit. When he came back out he could hear Ginny already talking to Brogan through the opened door, laughing at something he'd said. He tried not to frown as he entered the sitting room, where they'd set up the tray of food. Ginny was already eating a ham and cheese sandwich by the looks of it. She was holding a letter in front of her. She smiled when she saw him.
"Oh, Harry! This is from Hermione. I was just telling Brogan about back home. You'll never believe it - she and Ron got caught! They've been reprimanded by both Mum and Dad, and Mum is threatening to tell Hermione's parents. It seems no sooner had you and I vacated the premises then Ron and Hermione took it upon themselves to make full use of yourempty room. Hermione is just coming apart in this letter, listen to this -"
Harry nodded at Brogan as he started making his own sandwich. Ginny cleared her throat and adopted what Harry thought was a pretty good imitation of Hermione's voice in a frazzled state.
"Oh! Ginny! What am I to do? Mum will kill me. She always wanted me to wait until my wedding night...how can I explain to her that your brother and I are in love and that it seems silly to wait? Oh, I was so embarrassed; I can't even look your father in the eye! And your brothers! I swear, Ginny if they weren't related to you and Ron, I would hex them into next year! They've been going around snickering and making Ron turn red every chance they get! I found them trying to charm a pair of my knickers to follow your brother around! Oh, I'll get them for this if it's the last thing I do..."
Ginny was laughing so hard by the time she got to the end, she had to stop reading. Harry chuckled and took the letter from her. Hermione's emotional state when writing the letter was clear, as her writing became bigger and messier as it went on. He couldn't believe they'd been so silly as to get caught doing that while under the auspicious eyes of all that is Weasley. Of course, Harry thought to himself, I can laugh because it's not Ginny and me. Harry then realized that Ginny's parents already knew, according to Dumbledore. That brought him back to earth in a flash.
"Gin, maybe we shouldn't be laughing too hard at this," he said earnestly as she tried to stop laughing. He glanced at Brogan who seemed very amused by the whole thing.
"Oh, I know, Harry...it's just...oh, I can just picture it! Fred and George taking the mickey out of poor Ron, and Mum yelling, and Dad probably just as embarrassed and oh...oh...oh," Ginny took a deep breath, finally understanding why he wasn't as merry about it as she was. "Oh. I see your point, Harry."
Ginny's skin flushed slightly as she glanced at Brogan, and Harry saw him look in between the two of them. Brogan shook his head. "It's okay, Ginny, no need to be embarrassed."
Ginny didn't meet his eyes and sat down in one of the chairs. Harry decided to break the awkward mood by scanning the rest of the letter. "Does she say anything about what we asked her?"
Ginny swallowed and nodded. "Yes, towards the end bit there. She apologizes for not having more information, but she hasn't had time to really look." She snorted as she said it, smirking.
Harry came across the part Ginny was referring to and then smiled at her. Hermione had included three very long pages about Aine. "Well, I'd hate to see what she could do without all the uproar."
Ginny nodded, smiling, and Harry explained to Brogan about Hermione. "See, our friend Hermione she's very...well, bookish really, and we sent her a letter -"
"Asking her for a bit of help, you know, just to see if she had any insights to all of it," Ginny interjected her face slightly pink. Harry knew she still felt bad for agreeing to use Hermione as a revision aid.
"And anyway, she's brilliant really, but er...three pages on Aine, is nothing to her, whereas to any normal person -" Harry added.
"She probably did that in an hour," Ginny concluded, nodding at the pages.
Brogan laughed. "I see. Using all your avenues of information then? Don't worry; I won't turn you two in for wanting someone to help you out. I know it's a pain to go through some of those books."
He sat down across from Ginny, handing her the other half of her sandwich, and Harry joined them, slipping the pages into his pocket. They ate in comfortable silence for a while, and then Brogan cleared his throat.
"Right then. Well, you're probably wondering why I wanted to talk to you two. I spoke with Professor Dumbledore this morning."
Ginny stopped eating and looked at Brogan. Harry frowned and then realized that Brogan meant he had been told about last night.
"But why did they tell you?" he blurted out, causing Ginny to glance at him, before turning back to Brogan.
"Fair question," she said simply, her brow furrowing. Brogan sighed.
"Well, there's a few things you two should know; actually, there's a whole cauldron full of things you should know, but I don't know half of them either, so in that boat, we're together. Ginny, did you get a chance to tell Harry about our talk the other day?"
Ginny turned slightly pink again and didn't look at Harry. "No, not completely. Something er...came up."
Harry frowned in confusion and then realized what exactly had come upand felt his face heat as well. Honestly, have Ginny and I done anything other than shag for the last week?
"Well, tell him now, while I look in your study for something, I think Mr Cosgrove told me he put the book on Harry's side of the room."
Brogan got up, and Harry looked at Ginny. She smiled apologetically. "Reckon I never did finish telling you about that walk, did I?"
"It's okay; I know we haven't exactly been burning the candle at both ends with this stuff. What did you two talk about?"
Ginny frowned in concentration. "Well, remember how I said we shouldn't believe everything we read? Well, he also told me a bit about Aine's history, and how the true Prophecy has never been heard by anyone because only the last known descendant can hear it when they turn twenty-two -"
"Found it," Brogan said as he came back into the room. He was carrying a large and worn black book. It was embroidered with a picture of a horse and a swan. It also bore one word in gold lettering: O'Corra.
"What does that mean?" Harry asked as he moved in closer to look at it over Ginny's shoulder.
"It's a name, a very old one, and fairly well-known in certain parts of Ireland. Have you two come across it in your reading?"
Harry shook his head; he hadn't really read that much. He glanced at Ginny and was glad to see she was as clueless as he was.
"No, I haven't either," Ginny was saying as she traced the picture with her finger.
Something about the horse and swan reminded Harry of a scene he'd seen somewhere. He realized it was vaguely like the stained glass window by Mr Cosgrove's office.
"That reminds me of that window I saw Mr Cosgrove looking at the other night, it -"
"Drawing Down the Moon. Aye. It should remind you of it - the mare and the swan have long been the symbol of the O'Corra family."
"But Mr Cosgrove said that the red mare and the swan were known to represent Aine," Ginny said, glancing up at Brogan.
"Yes. It's true. And her son -"
"Was thought to be able to take the shape of a goose, yes, he explained that as well."
Brogan smiled at Ginny in a disarming way, and Harry felt the childish need to move closer to her. He somehow managed to stay where he was. No use acting like an over-protective git all the time, was there?
"So what does that have to do with the family O'Corra then?" he asked, causing Brogan to turn his attention back to him.
"Oh, well, it's just that the O'Corra family can trace their ancestry back a long way; a very long way, to be precise. They claim to be the descendants of Aine. They've always been wizards and witches, the whole lot of them. Unfortunately, they've all died out. Well, except one."
Ginny and Harry both frowned as Brogan opened the book, flipping through the pages. His voice sounded strained the next time he spoke.
"See, the O'Corras, while being a very old family, were also known for not producing a long line of kin. In fact, it seemed their name was merely kept alive by pure luck and happenstance. Female O'Corras are very rare, which is unfortunate because the power of Aine is said to reside in the female side of the family. The most the blokes can do is hope to get lucky...ah...here we go. My mother's name was Adaria, by the way."
Ginny and Harry both looked at the page he'd opened the book to and saw what looked to be a drawing of a family tree. At the very bottom of the tree was a small offshoot - a branch that bore the name, Adaria Katharine O'Corra Caley. Connected to that branch was another one, bearing the name Brogan Daniel O'Corra Caley.
"But then...that means..." Ginny said as she glanced at Brogan.
"Aye. That's me. I'm the last known living O'Corra, well by half, at any rate. After my mother passed, I became the last one in a long family line. If I don't reproduce, then the O'Corras die with me, I reckon."
"So you're the last known descendant of Aine," Harry said, staring at the other man.
Brogan nodded. "Not that it has done me a bit of good. Like I said, the power usually favored the female side of the family; I reckon that's why being Aine's heir fell to Ginny."
"But...why did it fall to someone outside of the family line? I mean, if the O'Corras were descendant from Aine, why did it come to me?" Ginny asked, sounding bewildered.
Brogan sighed and traced his finger over his mother's name before closing the book. "I reckon because Aine wanted to make certain her power actually resided in a female. As I said, the O'Corras were not bountiful with loads of children. And while the power seems to have been passed along the female side of things, there were hardly ever any female O'Corras born. My mother was the first one in a long line of sons. Much like you are, Ginny."
Ginny frowned. "Mum always said female Weasleys were rare; I just thought that was her apology for sticking me with six oafs for brothers. I always thought she should have had me first, so I could boss them around."
"I think you were fated to be born last," Brogan said softly.
"So what exactly does this mean?" Harry said, causing Ginny to look at him. She reached down and took his hand, squeezing it.
"It means," Brogan said as he got up, running his hands through his hair, "that until I turn twenty-two, none of us really know for certain what is supposed to happen."
"And when is your birthday?" Ginny asked, her voice sounding strange as she watched Brogan pace back and forth. Harry frowned.
"November seventh," Brogan said, stopping and glancing at them. "I had planned to keep on at the Abbey, of course. But Dumbledore has offered me...well, he's offered me something quite extraordinary that I don't think I can turn down, really."
"What?" Harry and Ginny both said in unison, glancing at each other.
"He wants me to take on the Defence Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. He thinks he can get around the issue of my young age based on the fact that I have been privately taught almost my whole life, and on the fact that the Ministry wanted me to join their Auror program. He seems to think that illustrates that I know what to teach."
"And do you?" Harry said, causing Ginny to look at him sharply. He nodded at Brogan. "Sorry, it's just...this'll be my NEWT year, and I had a bad time during my OWL year, and I don't fancy going through that again."
"Oh, Harry. You know loads more defensive techniques than half the school, Merlin's ghost, you've taught half the seventh and sixth years already," Ginny said with a shrug.
"And what does that mean? If I can do it, anyone can?" Harry asked, getting angry.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "No, I'm just saying that age is no indication of how well someone knows their subject."
"Look, you two, don't have a row. Ginny, thank you for er...supporting me. Harry, I don't blame you one bit. You don't know me from Lachlan the Lanky; I could be a total tosser when it comes to Defence. What you asked was a perfectly reasonable question, and people going into their NEWT year have a right to know they're not going to be taught by a complete dunderhead."
Harry didn't bother to offer he really didn't give a hippogriff's arse about NEWTs when it came right down to it; after all, if things went like they usually did, he'd be up to his eyes with Voldemort trying to kill him, wouldn't he?
Ginny must have thought the same thing because she patted his hand, and he looked at her, reading her expression. "Sorry," she whispered, and he nodded. "Yeah, me too," he answered back. They both looked at Brogan, who was watching them in disbelief.
"Well, you two certainly make up faster than any couple I know."
"Yes, well, it's because we're so much alike," Ginny said, smirking at Harry. "I always know which buttons to push to make him see common sense. It's a horrible job, but someone has to do it, or he'd tell off the entire world."
"Funny," Harry said but he felt strangely pleased by her words, nonetheless.
"So Harry, I can count on you if I need some help, is that it? Professor Dumbledore told me about this club you run...the D.A.?"
"Harry's brilliant at it, and I'm certain he will be more than happy to help you, Brogan. Won't you, Harry?" Ginny flicked her eyes at him, a smile threatening to break out across her face.
"Yeah...yeah," Harry said, knowing he'd just agreed to do what she'd probably wanted from the beginning.
"Right then. Well, I'll leave you two alone for a while. Ginny, Professor Dumbledore suggested you Floo him when you're ready so that the two of you could talk a bit more."
Ginny nodded, and Harry walked Brogan to the door, even though he felt a bit daft for doing so. He stopped and looked at the other man, studying his face. He made up his mind about something and decided to go with it. He wanted to be friends with the other man, not always jumping to jealous conclusions.
"Look, Brogan, I'm sorry I seem to always blurt out the wrong thing around you -"
"No, it's okay, Harry. You're the protective sort, I get that," Brogan's eyes left his and flicked over to where Ginny was still sitting. He flashed a quick smile at Harry. "I'd be the same way, mate. Have a good afternoon."
Harry walked back over to Ginny and sat down next to her. She was looking at the book Brogan had left sitting on the table.
"Isn't it odd?" she asked as she flipped through the pages.
"What? That book or how we know who the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is going to be before anyone else and that we actually kind of like him?"
"Neither, silly," Ginny said as she looked at him. "I just think...well, here we all are, each with our own little destinies and prophecies and somehow they've all sort of joined up."
"Well, I think that's why it's called fate, Ginny. It happens for a reason," Harry said smartly.
"Now who's the funny one? No, I just mean, oh, I don't know what I mean. Look, we've got the rest of lunch to lounge about don't we? I'd like to take you up on that offer you made earlier."
Harry frowned. "What offer?"
"The one that said you were going to give my back a massage, and I was going to um...relieve a few things for you," Ginny said seductively, reaching her hand over his shoulder, moving closer to him.
"I don't recall offering to massage your back," Harry said as she started kissing his neck.
"Oh? You didn't? Hmm...silly me. Must have been my imagination," Ginny whispered as she tugged playfully on his ear. Harry felt a shiver pass through him. With some difficulty and loads of control, he didn't think he actually possessed, he pulled her arms away from him, looking her in the eye.
"Look, I don't want...well, I'll massage your back, even though I'm probably rubbish at it. But I don't want to relieve anything, okay? If we can't...enjoy it together, then I don't want to do it at all."
Ginny's eyes widened as she looked at him. "Are you certain? I don't...well, you know I don't mind making it all about you."
"I know you don't mind, but I mind. I want to wait, at any rate."
"Okay, you're the boss," Ginny said as she winked at him, pulling away from him. She stood up and stretched, wincing. "You know, my back really does hurt. What's the point of having some old ancient power inside you if you can still get a backache? Seems a bit dodgy to me."
Harry laughed and stood up. "Why don't you take a hot bath, and I'll move your clothes from your bedroom into mine, so we don't have another sock, shirt, jumper affair going on. Although I have to admit, I sort of like seeing you in my clothes."
Ginny smiled at him. "Too bad you can't wear my clothes, Harry. I've packed a few dresses, and you've got such cute legs."
Harry felt his skin heat but smiled at her. Ginny paused at the door to the bedroom.
"Of course, they are sort of...well, knobbly, aren't they?" she asked as she leaned against the wall.
Harry frowned. "What are?"
"Your knees, Harry. Those things above your legs," she said as she pointed at him.
"Hey, you're insulting a long line of Potters, you know, I think you should watch it."
Ginny raised her eyebrows at him but didn't comment, and Harry watched her as she turned, lifting her hands above her head and removing his shirt. He licked his lips and felt his body respond to seeing hers, and had to shake his head to remind himself that he was the one who had just said they shouldn't do anything. He had a feeling it was going to be a very long couple of days.
o-o-o-o-o-o
"My Lord, no one has seen Harry Potter and the Weasley girl in Dublin; there has been no trace of them, and I have not heard from our old contact there in quite a long time."
Lucius Malfoy spoke to the darkened corner in the farthest part of the room. Reporting to the Dark Lord was one thing; reporting bad news to the Dark Lord was quite another.
"Perhaps," Lucius continued, to fill the angry silence that seemed to be spilling over him, "perhaps your knowledge regarding the boy's whereabouts was incorrect. You said the connection has closed due to his -"
"Lucius," the voice hissed out at him from the dark, and he knew he had said too much. "You do not see me, and yet you know I am here, do you not?"
"Yes, my Lord, of course."
"Harry Potter is in Ireland. I know it. That should be enough for you, Lucius. Or perhaps you need a reminder of how strong I truly am?"
Lucius winced and didn't say anything. No, I don't need another reminder, he thought to himself.
"As always, Lucius, your silence most becomes you. I do not need to know where Harry Potter is, but I do need to know why. That is what you must find out. Do not come back to me until you have an answer - I do not wish to hear your sniveling until then."
Releasing an inward breath, Lucius Malfoy retreated from the room. He settled himself and then moved through the house, to the man that waited for him.
"Don't just sit there, Goyle," he snapped as he entered the room. "We're going to London. Send a message to our contact there; let him know to expect us this evening. The master must know why Harry Potter has been sent to Ireland."
Lucius wasn't exactly certain how he was going to actually find out the answer to that question, but he knew his life, or at least his healthylife, depended on it.
o-o-o-o-o-o
Harry and Ginny read most of the weekend, keeping to themselves. They were interrupted with occasional visits from Mr Cosgrove and with Ginny spending time with Professor Dumbledore. Harry wondered if he should be worried about Ginny; she always came back from her visits physically and mentally worn out, but after a short nap she usually perked back up to her usual self again. She also seemed to have more energy than before, sometimes staying up and reading way past the time Harry himself had nodded off.
It was late Sunday evening when someone knocked on their door, and Harry, expecting it to be dinner, answered it without a shirt on, having just taken a shower. He was dismayed at finding himself face to face with Sioda.
"I'm sorry, is this a bad time?" she asked politely, taking in his appearance.
"Um. Yes. I mean, um...no. Um...let me go...I mean, I was just um...in the bath. Um, what do you want?" Harry stuttered, feeling as though he were ten years old. He felt his skin flush and instinctively put his hand against his chest, as though his arm were covering enough. Why am I constantly answering this door with no bloody clothes on?
"Mr Cosgrove suggested I come and talk to you and Ginny about a few things. We haven't seen you out and about this weekend," Sioda said simply, smiling kindly at him. After a moment, she cleared her throat and looked expectantly at him. Harry stared back at her not quite certain what she wanted him to do.
"Well, Harry, let her in for Merlin's sake, and here's your shirt," Ginny said from behind him and he turned, seeing Ginny come into the room, his shirt in her hand. She handed it to him, her mouth twitching and eyebrows raised. Harry grumbled something and moved out of the way, slipping his shirt over his head unceremoniously.
"You'll have to forgive Harry; he thought you were dinner," Ginny said sweetly, and Harry narrowed his eyes at her. Sioda nodded and entered the room. She looked around the room in amazement.
"These rooms are as lovely as they say. I've never been in this part of Abbey myself, although the history of it fascinates me. Lady Nuala was a determined woman in her day. Or so the story goes."
"A kindred spirit then?" Ginny asked, her voice sounding strange to Harry. He watched as she and Sioda sat down on the sofa, facing each other as they settled into separate corners.
"Oh, well, I don't claim to have the mindset into doing half the things that she did; she was far too religious for my tastes, but I reckon she and I do share a common...resolve, yes. I tend to know what I want, and I try to get it. But then, doesn't everyone, really?"
Ginny nodded sagely, and then they both turned to look at Harry. He looked at the sofa and then decided to sit in the chair next to it. The one next to Ginny. He didn't feel like having a row later about which chair he'd chosen. Ginny smiled widely at him as he sat down, and he didn't understand her look until he realized which chair he'd actually picked. Remembering that afternoon while he had two beautiful women watching him was not good. Not good at all. He cleared his throat.
"Er, okay, so then what did you want to er...talk about?"
Sioda smiled and then reached into the bag she'd dropped on the floor. She pulled out a small book and handed it to him.
"This may help you. Mr Cosgrove mentioned the discussion that went on at breakfast the other day, about the Well of Aine. This book is all about it; even Brogan admits it's probably the most reliable source. I wrote home and had my sister send it to me; it was part of our family collection. I've always been surprised that the Abbey never had its own copy."
Harry glanced down at the book; it didn't have a title, or if it did, it had been worn off. It looked very old, and he was almost afraid to open it, in case it fell apart. Ginny reached forward, and he handed it to her.
"Actually, Ginny is the one who -"
"It's the diary of Peabody Grange!" Ginny exclaimed as she took the book from him.
Sioda nodded. "Yes. He was an eccentric wizard, make no doubt about it, but he kept good records. This is all about his work around Lough Gur and his fight to keep the Well a secret from Muggles and the uh...lengths he went to."
Ginny opened the book and started flipping through the pages. Harry glanced at Sioda, who was watching him. She looked away and then back again, causing Harry to have a strange feeling in his stomach. Her eyes were so similar to his, it was disarming in a way.
"How did your family come across this?" Ginny asked, glancing at Sioda.
Sioda looked at Ginny. "Oh well, Peabody Grange was a friend of the family. I reckon it was given to us after he died. It was published while he was alive, but very few copies of it still exist. My father claims that there was a spell put on the book, to make it disappear because Peabody talked about things other wizards didn't like."
"So he believed in the power of the Well?" Ginny asked as she went back to looking through the book.
"Yes, it appears so. He goes off on it quite a bit in there," Sioda said, nodding at the book. "Unfortunately, a lot of people consider it the raging of a complete nutter, or a wizard under the effect of too many Cheering Charms. Peabody liked to be happy. He liked to be happy a lot. He was alone up in those hills for a long time, apparently."
Ginny closed the book and looked at Sioda. "Can I...I mean, can Harry and I both read this and give it back to you?"
"Of course. That's why I wrote home for it. I reckoned that you might find it interesting."
"Thanks," Harry blurted out, finally contributing to the conversation, causing Ginny to shake her head slightly at him. He knew Ginny thought he was attracted to Sioda, and that's why he acted like a prat in front of her. He had to admit, she was lovely; he wasn't dead, after all. But seeing someone stare at you with eyes that matched your own was decidedly unsettling he realized. He'd never known anyone to have green eyes like his. No one except his own Mum and he couldn't say he'd ever sat and talked with her, could he? He also sort of got the feeling that Sioda could read his mind.
She smiled at him now and reached again into her bag. She pulled out another book and handed it to Ginny.
"This one is about the Abbey itself; Brogan mentioned last night that you said you'd had a dream about our gate?"
Ginny looked at the book, startled. "Er...yeah. I'd forgotten about that actually. I'm certain it was just nerves before the trip. Although it did strike me as odd that I had dreamed about that particular gate."
"It's not as odd as you think. Our gate is famous. This book explains all about it. I find it terribly fascinating, actually. What happened in the dream? Sorry, that's probably private, but I'd love to know."
"Well," Ginny said, glancing at Harry. "It was mostly about me and Harry walking towards the gate. And...I heard a voice say something before we went through but...I don't know, it's odd...after that, I saw the Abbey, of course, even though I didn't know what it was at the time." She paused, frowning. "I remember turning to speak to Harry, and he wasn't there, and I knew he hadn't crossed through with me. Isn't that peculiar how I just remembered that?"
"How come you never told me this before?" Harry asked, puzzled.
Ginny shrugged. "Because that was the day we er...well, anyway, a lot of things happened that evening, and I reckon it slipped my mind. I didn't think it was important until we arrived here, and I saw the gate again, recognizing it." Ginny paused and looked at Sioda. "You said the gate is famous? Brogan didn't really tell us anything about it, only that it had always been here."
Sioda nodded and pointed to the book on Ginny's lap. "Some people think the Friars built it, and some people think it was here before that. Some wizards have tried to test the stone - to see how old it really is, but they haven't had any luck. I think they even study it in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry."
"The veil," Harry said suddenly, his mind making a connection before he could think about it. "It reminds me of the stone dais in the room where..." Harry shut his mouth immediately, the image coming unbidden into his mind. The image that he hardly ever thought about anymore, but the image he would never forget. Sirius.
Ginny reached out and touched his arm. He met her eyes and knew she understood. He felt a prickly feeling break out over his skin and took her hand into his, wanting to feel her warmth...wanting to stop the spread of the old familiar loss as it worked its way around his heart.
Ginny glanced at Sioda. "We lost a very important person in the Department of Mysteries, two years ago. He...he was a good man...a good friend." Ginny squeezed his hand, but Harry didn't say anything. He excused himself suddenly, getting up and heading towards the bedroom. He closed the door behind him, resting against it. Already his head had begun to hurt like it always did when he thought about Sirius and what had happened. He still blamed himself - that was what it was, even though Professor Lupin, Professor Dumbledore and everyone else had tried to tell him it wasn't his fault. The truth was, Harry knew in some part of him, that it was and wasn't his fault. He'd moved through the pain of losing Sirius because his friends had reminded him that Sirius would never stand for Harry feeling bad about it. That the only way to honor his godfather's memory was to respect it and cherish the time they'd had together. Harry realized Ginny had been as much a part of his healing as Hermione and Ron had been. He also realized he'd never thanked either her or them.
He sat down on the bed, rubbing his head. Something about the way Sioda had talked about the stone of the gate had reminded him of the veil...why?
The door opened, and Ginny came into the room. She walked over to him, pulling him to her. He let himself be comforted for a moment and then pulled away. She touched his cheek with her hand.
"Are you all right?" She looked concerned, and he nodded, slipping his hand into hers.
"Better than I should be. Because of you." He patted the bed beside him, and she sat down.
"Sioda left; she said she was sorry for reminding you of a bad time. She left the books. I'll read about the gate later."
Harry nodded and didn't say anything. He looked at their hands joined between them and again, felt how incredibly lucky he was that she had chosen to be with him.
"Harry?"
He looked up and saw her watching him. He smiled, leaning in and kissing her. Ginny was surprised at first but then responded by wrapping her arms around his neck. Harry cleared his mind of everything but her. He didn't want to remember; he just wanted to be kissing her and loving her. It was the only thing that made him truly forget everything.
"Harry," Ginny breathed in his ear, finally pulling away from him. He could hear her heart beating as he lowered his head to her chest. She pulled him to her, comforting him.
"I just want to forget everything, Gin. Do you think that makes me a bad person?" he whispered, closing his eyes. Ginny shifted and tightened her grip around his shoulders. She smoothed his hair with her hand.
"No, Harry. It makes you human. No one likes reliving bad memories. You should just remember Sirius during the good times. I'm actually a little jealous because you knew him a lot longer than I did."
Harry looked up at her, surprised. He sat back, thinking about what she had said. "It still wasn't enough time."
"I know, Harry," Ginny said, her eyes shining at him. "It never is, is it? The time we think we have with people...it just...goes by so fast."
"Yeah," Harry agreed and looked at her, wanting to remember everything about her at this moment, as though that would stop the passage of time. He reached out and brushed the fringe away from her forehead, cupping her face in his hand. "Ginny?"
"That's my name," she said smartly, grinning at him.
"Can we...I mean, when can we...I want to make love," he said, his voice sounding odd to his own ears. But he loved the pink tint that Ginny's skin took on as he looked at her.
"Soon, Harry. You miss me that much, huh?" Her eyes were laughing at him - teasing him - but he pulled her close to him, his own eyes focusing on her mouth. He rested his forehead against hers.
"Every second of every hour, I miss you. Even if you're right next to me. You make me want everything...you make me feel...alive."
Harry put his lips on hers, opening her mouth with his tongue. He reflected back on the first time they'd kissed and realized that, from that moment on, he had been a lost man. She may think that he was the stronger of the two of them, but Harry knew deep in his heart that he would never be able to exist without her again. He tried to put all that he was feeling into his kiss; if they couldn't make love, then he would snog her senseless. He would kiss her until she couldn't see straight.
They fell back onto the bed, and Harry didn't even realize they had started losing clothing until Ginny sat up, her face pink, and her hair a fiery mess around her head, tangled from his hands. She took a deep breath and looked at Harry. Her shirt hung off of her haphazardly.
"Merlin, you're a good kisser, Harry. What are you trying to do to me? Drive me batty with desire?"
Harry smirked and pulled her back down to him, letting his fingers get lost underneath her shirt. He let his hands linger over her breasts, cupping them as he kissed his way around her neck.
"Oh, Harry..." Ginny whispered softly as his mouth lingered in the hollow of her throat, his fingers still teasing her through the fabric of her bra. "I want you so much...we have to...stop. Please. Goodness."
Harry moved his head away and looked at her, marveling at her apparent reaction to his ministrations. Ginny's hands worked their way down his body, and he sucked in a breath as she felt him through his jeans. He let her turn them over, her shirt finally getting thrown off with a heated curse as she turned her attention back to him. She moved his shirt up and over his arms, letting it trap his hands momentarily.
"I thought you just said we have to stop?"
Ginny bit her lip and smiled at him, lowering her head down to his. They kissed again, their bodies shifting and rubbing against each other. Harry untangled his hands and tossed his shirt away. He gazed up at her.
"Maybe we can just keep doing this until we're both so sore with need that we pass out?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow.
Harry shook his head and let his hands stray to the top of her bra, the lace feeling rough in his hands. "We're going to drive each other mad."
Ginny moaned as his thumb slipped underneath the fabric and caressed her nipple, causing it to harden. He reached forward and pulled her to him, letting his mouth find her peak, pulling it into his mouth through the fabric. He watched as she closed her eyes, and he teased her other breast with his hand, lowering the strap. He pulled his mouth away, and then Ginny opened her eyes, reaching behind her to undo the clasp. He watched as she appeared before him and licked his lips.
"I will never, ever get tired of watching you do that," he said as he looked at her, loving the way her flesh heated at his words. He reached out and cupped a breast in his hand, working his hand around it. Ginny shifted slightly and moved so that she was positioned above him. His body reminded him of how close to release he was, and he suddenly didn't fancy exploding in his jeans. He lay back and looked at her, unable to put into words how much he wanted to wait until he could be inside of her. Ginny smiled suddenly and reached down, unzipping his jeans slowly, causing his brain to finally react the proper way.
"Ginny, gods, I wanted to wait until -"
"Shh..." Ginny said as she removed his jeans and then his boxers. A moment later, and Harry felt the cool air of the room on his body and the warmth of her hand surround him. She stroked him slowly and then he felt her body against his and he jerked forward, the sensation flaring across his skin. Harry gave up trying to fight it and nodded to her when she looked up at him.
"Sit up, Harry," Ginny said, surprising him. He propped his head up and looked at her. She nodded, and he moved, awkwardly moving into a sitting position. He looked at her expectantly.
"Do what you were doing earlier...kiss me...here..." Ginny's hand moved across her chest and he scooted forward.
"It's kind of tough with this in the way, you know," he said shyly, looking down at his lap. Ginny laughed and then tilted his head up with her finger. She leaned into him, her eyes sparkling.
"Then you're going to have to try a bit more, aren't you?"
Harry shook his head and then started kissing his way back down her chest, his mouth teasing her. A moment later, he felt her hand encircle him again, and he paused, causing Ginny to lean closer to him.
"Don't stop, Harry," she whispered her voice full of yearning.
When Harry's mouth found her breast again, her hand sped up, and Harry cursed in his head as she expertly tightened her grip. He wondered if it was because she played Quidditch; if because she was used to holding the broom in her hand. You couldn't grip a broom too tightly or it would veer off course. The opposite applied as well; if you held it too lightly, you were likely to fall off. But Ginny's grip around him was exactly perfect - not too tight and not too loose. As he flicked his tongue around her, she moaned, saying his name softly. He used his hands to caress her body, everywhere he could reach. He suddenly wondered what they looked like - Ginny's body between his open legs, her hand around him, his head buried between her breasts, kissing a trail from one to the other...the idea of seeing what they looked like drove him to distraction, and he pulled away from her, looking around for his wand.
Ginny stopped stroking him and looked at him, concerned. "Harry?"
"Do you know where my wand is?"
Ginny frowned and then smiled. "You mean other than the one I'm holding already?"
"I'm serious, Ginny." He pulled away from her and scooted over, looking in the drawer of the bedside table.
"I can see that, Harry. You're very serious indeed with a huge erection about to explode in between your legs. Although I can't have been doing it right if you're worried about your wand at a time like this."
He looked back at her, pursing his lips, about to reply when his hand stumbled on what he was looking for. He realized it was Ginny's wand and handed it to her. She took it from him and looked at him as though he'd gone mental.
"Can you conjure a mirror?"
"Er, yes. Can you conjure a Jobberknoll feather? I mean, as long as we're asking random questions."
Harry sighed. "I want to see what we look like while we're...you know..."
Ginny looked at him and then the realization hit her, causing her to blush. "Harry, I don't want to...well...really?"
"Yeah," Harry said, already missing the feeling of her hand.
Ginny paused and then flicked her wand at the wall behind them. It shimmered a moment, and then Harry was pleased to see it turn into a huge mirror.
"Come here," he said roughly and pulled her to him, back in-between his legs. They both repositioned themselves so that they could look sideways into the mirror. He kissed her and then moved his hand down her body. "Now get back to work," he said lightly, taking her hand into his and putting it back on top of him. He felt bold for doing that and thought she might object, but Ginny was too busy staring at their image in the mirror.
"Wow, look at us," she said faintly, and Harry turned to meet her gaze in the mirror. They did look as sexy as he thought they would. Ginny's skin was pink in the light of the room, and she looked amazing - topless in just her jeans. Harry worked his hands down to her waist, pulling her closer to him, watching it in the mirror.
"Let me try something, Harry..." Ginny said after a moment as he continued to caress her. He made a face as she pulled away from him, but was quickly rewarded by her lowering her head down to his neck, kissing her way quickly down to his waist. Harry watched in awe as her hand continued moving in-between his legs, soon to be joined by her head. Harry moaned as she made contact with his body, the sensation of the sweet moist feeling of her mouth causing his body to flush with pleasure. Ginny used her hands to push him back slightly, and he fell back against the bed, completely at her mercy. Ginny removed her mouth from him and traveled upwards toward his head, propping herself up above him.
"All right, you pervy thing, are you going to watch me in that mirror or not?" she whispered, and Harry shivered at the desire he saw in her eyes. He nodded, unable to form words as she wrapped her hand around him, caressing him. He felt unable to think at all, actually. Ginny smiled at him, a wicked look entering her eyes. She kissed his cheek and then shifted downward again, taking up where she'd left off. Harry turned his head and watched her in the mirror, and he felt as though his head had just exploded; a desire so great, that it scared him in its intensity, seemed to rush through him, and he cursed as Ginny slowly licked her way down his length, her hands forcing his legs further apart. As he watched her loving him, he felt wicked and debauched and yet, amazingly alive. Probably for the first time in his life, Harry finally understood what everything meant...why it all mattered. His thoughts swirled in his head, incomplete and abstract, but he knew something important had happened. His climax came quickly, and he let go, finally tearing his eyes away from the image in the mirror and growling out Ginny's name in a half-cry of disbelief and wonder.
A few moments later, he felt her hand on his cheek, and he opened his eyes to look at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Harry reached up and took her hand into his. "I'm fucking brilliant."
Ginny smiled and then lowered her head to his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.
"Your heart is beating so fast, Harry."
"I think you just gave it quite a workout, Ginny."
Ginny giggled and then turned so that she could look at him. "I never knew you were such a pervert, but then I reckon it's not really that big a surprise, considering how you reacted the first time you saw me naked."
Harry had the grace to feel himself blush, but he raised his eyebrow at her. "You were the one who was watching mebefore I even knew you were there; let's get that straight. Be careful who you're calling pervy."
"Hmm...reckon that's why we're so good together then. We're both randy and depraved underneath it all."
Harry laughed. "I don't know; I'm not exactly...well, I had the occasional wank, I won't deny that, but it wasn't until you came along that I fell to the dark side of depravity."
Ginny smirked at him and shook her head. "And whose idea was it to introduce a big wicked mirror into the scenario? Not mine."
Harry felt his skin heat and glanced at the mirror. Ginny turned her head and met his eyes in it.
"We'll have to try it again...when we can really make love," she said softly as she looked at herself in the mirror. Harry closed his eyes, groaning slightly as that thought brought about a particular heated reaction in the rest of him. Ginny shifted, and her jeans felt rough against his legs. He realized it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, and he wondered if something inside him liked it like that. He put his hand on her back, stopping her movement. He turned his head and looked at her.
"You have to stop being so damn sexy."
"Am I sexy, Harry?"
Harry frowned at her. "Uh, yeah, give me a few minutes of just staring at your incredible body, and you'll have to give me another go, Ginny."
Ginny blushed. "I know you like my body, Harry, but...I don't know, I never thought of myself as really being all that...well, sexy."
"Are you kidding me? You're sexy just by being you. The way you bite your lip, the way you laugh, the way you put that amazingly talented mouth of yours to work..." Harry grinned as she punched him lightly. "The way you tell me off, and the way you get angry at me, and most especially the way you love me. You ooze sexiness, Gin, so deal with it."
Ginny laughed at him, and they turned so that they were facing each other.
"What's your favorite part of my body?" she asked, curiously.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Um. Every part is brilliant. I'm a boy, I don't discriminate."
Ginny smiled and pushed his hair off his face with her hand. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. Come on, there must be one part you like in particular."
Harry's eyes traveled down the parts of her he could see; he looked back up to find her watching him with interest. "I admit I like one or two parts more than the others."
"And? Which ones? Come on, Harry...a girl likes to know these things."
"Does she really? Hmm, good to know...well, I like these..." Harry moved his hand in-between their bodies, cupping one of her breasts in his hand. "And I especially like how you have freckles everywhere... everywhere. And...of course, I like this part of you, although I can't quite reach it with these jeans on in between us."
Harry's hand had traveled down between her legs, and Ginny blushed as she closed her legs around his hand. He watched as she closed her eyes and then shuddered.
"Damn this blasted honor of womanhood, anyway," she said as she shifted and opened her legs. Harry moved his hand up to her stomach, caressing her.
"Of course, I also think you have incredible legs, and an amazing backside; I could honestly watch you walk anywhere forever, as long as I could be behind you. And your hips and your…"
"Okay, Harry! I get the picture," Ginny said laughing. Harry smiled widely at her and then looked at her expectantly.
"Oh, I suppose you want me to name all your amazing parts now, is that it?" she asked playfully, pushing away from him slightly and looking at his body.
"I can't imagine there are that many parts; boys aren't as soft and as nice and round as girls, after all."
Ginny raised her eyebrow and clucked at him. "Oh, I don't know, Harry. Boys have some redeeming qualities. I mean, there's...this."
Harry smiled and took a deep breath as he looked down at himself. "Honestly, don't you think it's sort of...well, funny looking?"
Ginny's eyes widened. "No, and you should be right thankful I don't, otherwise we'd never get to have sex from all the laughing."
"Ha-ha."
"Hmm...I love your shoulders," Ginny said continuing.
"You don't think they're...well...too bony?"
"Nope. Just right. I like lanky, and that's definitely what you're going to be. Actually, you've filled in quite a bit, Harry, now that you can actually eat normally. And I love your hands...your fingers are so...hmm...I have a thing for hands, actually. And yours are quite nice."
"My hands? These things?" Harry asked, skeptical as he looked at his own hands.
"Yeah, these things. Look, they're a bit rough from Quidditch, you don't always wear your gloves as you should, you know, but that only adds to their charm. I love feeling your hands touch me, Harry. I think it's...erotic."
"Well, this has certainly been enlightening," Harry said, laughing. "So my shoulders and my hands and my -"
Ginny kissed him suddenly, silencing him. She pulled back after a moment and smiled. "I'm not done yet, you git. There's also these things right here." She traced his lips with her finger, causing a small shudder to pass through him. "You have amazingly sexy lips, Harry James Potter."
Harry opened his mouth and took her finger into it, kissing it slowly. Ginny watched him and then sighed. "Oh, but I do so want you. You've absolutely ruined me for anyone else, you know that, right?"
Harry smiled and then released her finger from his mouth, pulling her closer to him, so that he could kiss her neck.
"That was part of the plan, Ginny," he whispered as his mouth caressed her ear, and he felt her shiver against him. He loved making her respond...he loved knowing that he could drive her crazy with want. It filled him with a strength and confidence he'd never had before, and he marveled at it.
"There's never been anyone else, Harry, not really. It's always been you. Always," Ginny said softly, her voice in his ear. He pulled back and looked at the serious expression on her face.
"I know, Gin. And my heart thanks you," he said, and he held her chin in his hand. They kissed and moved together on the bed until Harry wasn't certain where she ended and he began. He reckoned it didn't matter anymore; they were together, and they were one and the same. For as long as they both lived.
o-o-o-o-o-o
