Bleedin' America

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the Wizarding Universe; that all goes to JK Rowling. I don't own any of the quotes I took from famous movies either.

Also, I used quotes in movies from more modern times, so we're just going to pretend that every movie ever created, was made in the '80s

(Before you read, I don't swear in real life. I hate swearing when I write. My characters are the type to swear some so I apologize)

Harry...

"Sirius, how should we go about our grand entrance?" Harry asks his Godfather.

"I reckon Dumbledore will have something planned," Sirius says, from somewhere behind him.

Harry stands in front of a full-length body mirror and examines his clothes. His white dress shirt is crisp and wrinkle-free, his black slacks are tighter than when he had initially bought them but were just as crisp as his shirt. Harry turns sideways and stares at his ass. Had his thighs gotten bigger, or had his ass always been that small?

"Stop acting like a girl Jr," Sirius snickers. Harry looks at Sirius through the mirrors' reflection and smirks. Sirius was wearing a white shirt with peach-colored Hawaiian flowers on it. The shirt was tucked into his black slacks, and his loafers were polished and shining.

"If checking my outfit in the mirror makes me a girl, then you must be a female, Victoria's Secret model," Harry catches sight of his godfather's Gucci belt and continues, "Is there a reason you bought a Gucci belt?"

"I just want to make a good impression on Dumbledore," Sirius says, coming to stand beside Harry.

"What is a belt going to do to impress Dumbledore?" Harry asks, bewildered. Harry had met Dumbledore twice in his life, and both times the Headmaster of Hogwarts had worn colorful robes and mismatched socks. Harry had zero doubts that the robes were made of the finest silks and were worth a fortune, but the headmaster's taste was... eccentric.

Harry scoffs and nods to his godfather's belt.

"Oh, the belt is for the female population of Hogwarts; it's the socks that will impress Dumbledore," Sirius says as he pulls at his slacks, causing them to ride up and reveal one long gold sock and one long purple sock. Both socks have the double "G" signifying the Gucci brand. The G's were red and glittery on one sock and hot pink on the other. Harry rolls his eyes.

"I'm sure he'll be impressed by your socks," Harry says sarcastically. He looks himself over again and runs a hand through his hair. Harry wants to make an excellent first impression on his peers. They'd all be expecting him to look a certain way. After the death of Harry's parents, and his defeat of Voldemort when he was one, Sirius had hidden him away in America. They'd never seen him before and will surely expect something fantastic.

America was great; he loved the way the wizarding world and the muggles interacted with each other. Harry grew up with wizard and muggle friends alike. The Statute of Secrecy was kept in America, but it was nowhere as strict as in England. As Harry grew up, Sirius would share stories about growing up in England and all the differences. It was fascinating.

Sirius liked traveling, so they moved around America a lot until they settled in Massachusetts so Harry could attend Ivermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry attended five years of school there, and he already missed it, and he hadn't even started school at Hogwarts yet!

Sirius places his hand on his shoulder and stares at him through the reflection in the mirror.

"We don't have to leave for another thirty minutes or so. Are you sure this is what you want to wear?" Sirius asks.

Harry looks around his new room. They had finished moving into Black Manor three days previously, and Harry decided he wouldn't unpack. He was going to leave for Hogwarts right after they settled in anyways, so why should he? Harry glances at his opened trunk full of his clothes and other personal items. Should he change?

"I don't know!" Harry exclaims suddenly. He moves to his bed and sits down. He puts his head in his hands and groans. Why did Voldemort have to return? Why was the Prophecy about him? Why couldn't he just finish his schooling in America and then fight Voldemort? Why, why, why?

"Hey," Sirius says quietly, "Look at me."

Harry looks up and stares at Sirius's face. His face shows nothing but pity and understanding. The sudden urge to be angry, overwhelms, Harry. His fists tighten, and he closes his eyes. He inhales and exhales deeply. He doesn't want Sirius's pity, but that doesn't give him the right to be angry. He relaxes his fists and flexes his fingers a few times.

"Sorry," Harry says, standing up. He returns to his place in front of his mirror and really looks at himself. If he wants to make a good impression he needs to look good, powerful, and important. How does one do that?

"This outfit is too simple," Harry tells Sirius. Harry returns to his bed and sifts through the clothes in his trunk. His trunk has multiple compartments and a cool feature that when Harry throws his clothes into it, the clothes automatically hang up, and are sorted by category.

Harry taps his wand to the compartment till his dress shirts appear.

"What are you looking for exactly?" Sirius asks, joining him to look through the shirts.

"They all expect a powerful wizard who's going to defeat the darkest wizard of our age. I need to look important," Harry looks at his godfather and suddenly he knows exactly what he's going to wear. Sirius must know what he's thinking about wearing because he smiles evilly.

"Hell yes!" Sirius exclaims happily.

Ginny... Sunday

Ginny sighs as she takes her seat at the Gryffindor table. It felt good to be back at Hogwarts. The summer had been tense, with attacks being reported every day. Her family was heavily involved in the war and Ginny knew her mother would finally have some peace with her and Ron at Hogwarts. Especially after Ginny was kidnapped.

Ginny looks around and nods to some of her classmates. She's currently seated by her friends Colin and Demelza. Her brother, Ron, and his girlfriend, Hermione, sit across from her. Colin and Demelza had gotten together at the end of last year and Ron and Hermione had gotten together two years previously. It was hard constantly being surrounded by happy couples, especially when they wanted to express their happiness, but Ginny's glad they had someone to distract them from the war.

Ginny glances at the Head Table and notices an extra chair by Dumbledore's seat. There are usually fourteen chairs lining the Head table, but tonight there are fifteen. Interesting.

When the last few students trickle into the Great Hall and Dumbledore has yet to appear, Ginny shifts in her seat nervously. The Headmaster was usually sitting at the Head table before any of the students arrived. Ginny wonders why he isn't here. It makes her anxious.

"Why isn't Dumbledore here?" Ginny asks Hermione. Hermione looks away from Ron and to the Head Table. Her eyes scan the Head Table before she looks at Ginny, her eyebrows pulled together.

"I don't know," Hermione answers slowly. Ron cheers loudly making Ginny and everyone else around them jump.

"You just admitted to not knowing something!" Ron crows. He kisses Hermione's temple swiftly before turning to Ginny.

"I was starting to think I was dating a direct descendant of Rowena Ravenclaw!" Ron grins cheekily making Ginny smile. Hermione smacks his chest.

"I'm a Prefect for Gryffindor you prat! If I was a descendant of Rowena's I'd probably be in Ravenclaw," Hermione says all knowingly.

"Well, it's not-," Ron stops talking when the ceiling above them flashes with lightning and the room goes dark. Hogwarts was a pretty dark place in general, but it's like the torches lining the Hall had lost some of their ability to provide light without needing to be dimmed. Ginny is instantly put on edge. Why the hell aren't the candles and torches working?

Ginny looks around for any potential threats while a nervous murmur replaces the previous loud chatter. It wasn't completely dark, the torches still provided some light and Ginny goes through a small checklist in her head. Get out your wand and check every entry and exit point. Ginny looks to the entrance of the Great Hall and sees three silhouettes standing just outside the Hall.

So much for the checklist. I only needed the one step.

"Look at the entrance," Ginny whispers. Her friends all quickly turn to the entrance to see what's there. Ginny shifts to the edge of her seat so she can easily jump up and attack if any of the silhouettes make a move without announcing themselves.

Ginny's body floods with adrenaline when she sees the middle silhouette pull out their wand. The silhouette starts walking into the hall. Remembering what happened the last time she asked questions first and took action later, Ginny jumps into the aisle and quietly but forcefully says, "Expelliarmus." Many of the students gasp when they see Ginny fire a spell but Ginny ignores them and focuses her attention on the spell she had cast.

The silhouette with their wand drawn quickly erects a shield and is soon joined by two more wands. Ginny is ready to face all three of them and fire another spell when the silhouette steps into the light revealing Dumbledore and two other men.

"Shit," Ginny curses. I just threw a spell at the Headmaster! I'm so dead. The two men at Dumbledore's side chuckle and Ginny's face burns.

"I apologize, Headmaster," Ginny bows her head and prays he doesn't tell her mother. She'd be called home, tied to her bed, and starved for sure.

"No, I should be the one to apologize. You are smart to try and subdue first. I can see you've learned a great deal over the summer," Dumbledore says knowingly. Ginny's memory jumps to a dark cell with chains and Ginny's breath catches in her throat. Ginny shakes her head slightly and stands up straight.

"I obviously didn't learn enough," Ginny says, her voice carefully polite.

"You can't save everyone Ginerva," Dumbledore says quietly. His eyes shine with an understanding that comforts Ginny more than she expected. Ginny nods her head and quickly looks at the other two men. Catching the insignia on their robes that signifies a Lord, Ginny lightly bows to the both of them.

"I apologize, my Lords," Ginny quickly retakes her seat before she can embarrass herself further. When she finally has the guts to look back up, she finds everyone's eyes glued to the front of the Hall. Ginny follows their line of vision and suddenly her senses are overwhelmed all at once.

Holy shit, it's Harry Potter.

Harry...

Harry watches as the Great Hall becomes significantly darker. The loud conversations settle to quiet inquiries on their new surroundings and Harry's nerves skyrocket. When Albus told Harry that he wanted the students to not only respect him but to fear him a bit too, Harry had been weary. He didn't want people to be afraid of him. Now standing here in the dark Harry knew he was right to have felt weary. How is he supposed to make friends with a whole bunch of people who are scared of him?

He had chosen to wear a dark purple silk shirt that had a glowing white lightning bolt on the back and lightning across the front. The shirt is close fitting and shows off his fit physique. He kept the same black pants and polished his shoes again. He grabbed a belt that had a white gold Lightning bolt buckle on it before deciding he was ready. The belt was a gift Sirius had given him when he had started his training. He had pulled on his robes that signified he was a Lord and a soon-to-be member of the Wizengamot. The plan is, that the robes will only be worn until he's sorted then he'll take them off to reveal his shirt.

The students were shuffling in their seats preparing to follow the first person to make a move. Harry watches some people point in his general direction and then suddenly a flash of red is up from their seat and firing a spell at him. Harry flicks his hand, summoning his wand from its holster. He erects a shield and watches the red spell hit Dumbledore's own, erected shield.

Dumbledore steps into the dim light and Harry steps in after him. The red flash from before turns out to be a girl with long red hair. She's about average height, lean, pretty, and if Harry isn't mistaken, she's hiding bruises on her neck with a concealment charm. She must've had a great farewell with her boyfriend.

"Shit," the girl mutters. Harry chuckles and is quickly joined by Sirius. He tries to reign in his amusement so the students around him don't think he's naturally a goofball and they're all doomed to a life with Voldemort. At least, not yet.

Harry studies the girl some more while she and Dumbledore talk.

She could be a quidditch player. She has the right build for a seeker or even a chaser. Her hair is cut unevenly and seems to have been cut by a jagged knife. Interesting. Her eye color is a mystery in the hall's lighting but her milky skin and freckles are on full display. A pretty girl with fire. My favorite.

"You can't save everyone Ginerva," Albus says. The girl, Ginerva, stares at the headmaster with a look so familiar to Harry he thinks he's looking in the mirror for a second. Pain, suffering, a survivor. Someone he should get to know.

The girl or Ginerva as Albus had called her, nods her head and quickly scans me and Sirius with her eyes. She must see the Lord insignia on our robes because she bows to us and apologizes.

She's had training with nobility, she's most likely a pureblood then or maybe a half-blood.

When Ginerva sits down, Dumbledore starts forward again. Harry follows his lead and tries to keep his wonder concealed. The Great Hall is magnificent. The ceiling is a dark blue, almost black, with stars shining brightly. The whole place is absolutely medieval. Ivermorny was more modern. Harry can't decide which style he likes best.

The trio stops and turns to face the students. Dumbledore waves his hand making the lighting return to normal. Harry does a quick scan of the four tables before his eyes fall on the one with red and gold banners hanging above it. Gryffindor. Would my parents have been disappointed if I were sorted into a different house?

"I apologize for startling any of you. I needed to make sure I had your attention and that you would take this matter seriously," Dumbledore pauses and waves his hand in Harry's direction. Harry takes a step forward and tries to keep his face blank. Harry, really, really, wanted to yell out a funny line he had heard in a movie a few weeks ago.

Harry locks his jaw to stop himself from giving in to the temptation. Remember that you want to make a good impression.

"I'm proud to welcome home, Lord, Harry James Potter, the boy who lived," The students in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw stand and applaud. The students in Slytherin remain seated and Harry raises his eyebrow. They could work on their hospitality.

"The other gentleman here on my right is Lord Sirius Orion Black, he will be joining the Auror team that consults directly with the school. He will be in charge, so if you need anything, bring it to his attention immediately. Do you have anything to add gentleman?"

Sirius shakes his head and turns to Harry. Harry tries to read Dumbledore's expression hoping for a hint of what he should do.

The older wizard obviously wants him to say something, but what? Harry smiles when an idea comes to his mind. Perfect. He can look mysterious, dangerous, funny, and important with one line.

Harry takes another step forward and tries to meet as many eyes as he can. His gaze settles on the girl from before and he smirks. Harry throws his arms out wide and focuses his magic into the air. The air in the Great hall compresses making it suddenly difficult to breathe. Harry focuses on the lesson his elemental teacher from back home taught him. Never force the elements to do your will, guide them and they will heed to your will.

Harry quickly brings his hands back to his sides when some of the students start to turn red from a lack of oxygen.

The students all gasp and Harry waves his hand over the room until a mass silencing charm quiets everyone. Harry once again tries to catch as many eyes as he can before he speaks.

"May the force be with you."

"Star Wars."

Ginny...

Dinner was a noisy affair, everyone was talking about Harry's return to England. Ginny listened with half an ear while she studies Harry. His little magic show surprised Ginny. He was obviously very powerful and knew more than an average sixth-year would. He sat in-between Dumbledore and Minerva when Dumbledore had called for everyone to tuck in, while Lord Black left the Hall.

Elemental magic is a skill very few have. You can either do it or you can't. Wizards who can do elemental magic are dying out. It's hard to know if you even can do elemental magic because there are so few left who can help you recognize the skill.

Harry's clothing is what confused Ginny above everything else. Not the magic, not his late return to England, but his clothing. He took off his outer robes revealing a tight, silk, dress shirt, the color purple. The shirt had lightning all over it. His black slacks were tight and his belt had a buckle on it with a lightning bolt insignia. He wore shiny loafers and weird-looking socks. He looks like a proper yank.

Did anybody tell him that we have a dress code?

Harry is tall, lean, and good-looking. There's no denying the physical attraction Ginny feels. It seemed that every other female at Hogwarts thought the same thing. He was new meat, and if Ginny didn't have more important things to worry about, she might even take some time out of her busy schedule to flirt with him.

Alas, there's a war waging at their doorstep and sadly Ginny doesn't have time for boys. She'll leave the flirting to the less capable witches who won't be fighting. She learned her lesson this last summer. If you lose your focus, even for a minute, you'll end up dead or you'll have killed someone. Whether you want to fight or not, you need to know how to do so.

Ginny glances at the head table when she feels someone's eyes on her. She meets the Headmaster's eyes after a few seconds; He tilts his head to the side and gives a slight nod. He must want to see her after the feast ends officially. Ginny nods her head and returns her attention to her dinner.

Why does the Headmaster want to see her? Is she in trouble because she fired a spell at him? Maybe she forgot the right way to speak to a lord? Maybe the headmaster will help her train if she asks? That last thought is what keeps her nerves in check. She may be in trouble but at least she'll have the opportunity to ask for additional training.

"Students, we have already sorted our first years, and usually I would ask the prefects to escort everyone to their common rooms. However, Lord Potter must be sorted into a house," Dumbledore says. Dumbledore waves his wand and the hat reappears out of thin air. He places the hat on the stool that never went away and gestures for Harry to go forward.

Ginny watches Harry quickly transfigure the stool into a chair with a padded back and is slightly amazed. Did he do that wandlessly? He sits down and Dumbledore places the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Gryffindor!" The hat calls. It had only just touched Harry's head before it had spoken.

"He must be brave," Hermione remarks.

"Yeah, he might be super brave, or maybe he's just not smart, ambitious, or loyal," Ginny says. Honestly, if he was so brave then why was he coming a whole year after the war had started?

"Ginny, don't let anyone hear you speak like that. Not only is he a Lord, but he's important to the war effort," Ron snaps. Ginny rolls her eyes at him. He was always acting like he knew more than her. As if.

Harry nods to Dumbledore and starts walking to the Gryffindor table. He passes by most of the students until he reaches Ron.

"Is this spot taken?" Harry asks, gesturing to the empty spot next to Ron. Ginny watches Ron panic. What an idiot.

"The seat's all yours if you want it, My Lord," Hermione says, saving Ron's pathetic ass.

"Thank you miss, but please call me Harry," He says. He looks around before his eyes settle on her. A tingle goes down Ginny's spine and Ginny scolds herself. Pull yourself together.

"Ah, Ginerva, the girl who likes to take action," He smiles a pearly white smile at her and Ginny wants to snap at him. Nobody calls her Ginerva.

Ginny takes a deep breath and speaks slowly, "Please, call me Ginny. Nobody calls me Ginerva."

"Perfect, Ginerva it is. I never enjoyed being like everyone else," His smile never wavers and Ginny wants to punch a few of his perfectly white teeth out.

"Find something else to call me then, nobody calls me Ginerva. I don't care if you're a Lord, the minister of magic, or Jesus. You will not call me Ginerva," Ginny hisses quietly. She stands quickly and leaves the table, heading for the entrance. She doesn't want to cause a scene.

Ginny hears Harry mutter, "Damn," and Hermione apologizing on her behalf. She'll have to have a word with Hermione later. She told him to call her Ginny and he didn't. She won't show respect to anyone who doesn't earn it and Harry is the last person she thinks can ever earn it.

Ginny heads straight to the headmaster's office and stands by the entrance. She rocks back and forth on the balls of her feet while she waits. The portraits on the walls are mostly asleep save for the knights who are jousting on the wall across from her. Ginny watches them joust and finds herself hoping the one on the white horse wins the tournament.

After five minutes, she sees Dumbledore enter the corridor. Ginny straightens her back and nods slightly when he's within a reasonable distance of her.

"Miss Weasley. I'm glad you understood my message. Follow me. Buttercup," Ginny startles at being called buttercup until she realizes it must have been the password into the office. Thank heavens.

"You've had a more eventful summer than most," Dumbledore says as he takes a seat behind his desk. Ginny settles into a chair across from him. Oh, he wanted to talk about that.

"You could say that," Ginny mumbles. Ginny picks off imaginary lint from her robes, refusing to meet his eyes.

"I know I'm asking a lot here, but would you walk me through the events that lead up to the capture of you and Luna?" Ginny looks up at him and stares. The burning desire to tell him no was almost too much.

Maybe he'll train me if I tell him.

"Where would you like me to start?" Ginny asks grudgingly.

"The beginning please," Dumbledore says kindly. Ginny takes a deep breath and convinces herself that he deserves to know. He lost one of his students and he had earned her respect a long time ago. He did save her from the diary her second year and had treated her kindly every other time she had met with him since her kidnapping.

"I made lots of friends my first year here. I'd even go as far as to say I was popular. In my second year, when Lucious snuck the diary into my books and placed the imperious on me, I stopped talking to people, having become so dependent on Tom. You see, there aren't many people around Ottery St. Catchpole to spend time with. I got lonely over the summer.

"Ron and my brothers would play quidditch and I was lucky if they ever let me play with them. I spent a lot of my time over the summer talking to Tom. By the time Lucious saw me again at the train station, he knew he didn't need to have me under the curse anymore. I was hooked. You already know the events of that year. I stopped talking to my friends, I opened the chamber, I almost died, you rescued me. Blah blah blah.

"Anyways, when Tom was resurrected last year he remembered me. He set a plan to catch me over the summer. I didn't think he would remember me," Ginny's voice breaks and she chokes back the lump in her throat. Pull yourself together Ginny!

"Excuse me," Ginny mutters, grabbing the handkerchief from Dumbledore's outstretched hand.

"It's alright child," His eyes are understanding and Ginny almost sighs. It's hard to resist his kind eyes. It's no wonder people follow him through war. He cares about everyone.

"I went to Diagon Ally with my family and met up with some of my friends, Luna, Colin, Demelza, and Hermione. We were just eating ice cream when the death eaters came sprinting out of Knockturn Alley. They had me and my friends surrounded within seconds! They grabbed me and activated a portkey. I didn't even pull out my wand!" A sob breaks through as the memories flash through her mind.

She hadn't been prepared for an attack. She remembers being grabbed by the arm roughly. She remembers tripping and falling into the Death Eaters' arms. He'd smelt like cigarettes.

"I don't know why Luna decided to grab my arm. It was supposed to be me! He didn't want Luna! He didn't want anyone else," Ginny stands suddenly, she can't sit still any longer. She paces the floor, hoping it will make telling this part easier.

"They didn't care that they brought an extra girl along, I guess I'm lucky they didn't take anyone else with us. Their plan was to take me and cause as much chaos as possible everywhere else in the alley," Ginny stops when her mind recreates the memory of her and Luna chained to the wall, but instead it's not just them. Colin, Ron, Hermione, and Demelza are there too. Ginny gulps and continues pacing. No need to make this any harder than it already is.

"They chained us to a wall in the same cell. Luna was-," the door that leads into Albus's office opens and Ginny pulls out her wand and fires a stunner before her mind can pick up anything more than the intruder.

The intruder dives to the floor and comes up out of a roll. Ginny casts a shield and keeps her wand pointed at the intruder. The intruder lifts their head and keeps their wand pointed at her.

Black hair, green eyes, and perfect dueling form.

"You have got to be kidding me. Who the fuck do you think you are?" Ginny asks Harry scathingly. Ginny glares at him and makes a small list of possible consequences if she were to accidentally kill him. Azkaban for life. Death by the veil. Hanged. Hmm, what if I just seriously injure him?

Harry lowers his wand and raises his eyebrows.

"I was asked to have tea with Dumbledore this evening. I didn't think he was going to be with anyone," He says slowly.

"Ah, Lord Potter, yes. Miss Weasley, I apologize. I forgot I had invited him for tea when he arrived at the castle earlier today. When you pulled the little stunt in the Great Hall I wanted to speak with you and completely forgot about my original plans. I must be getting old!" Dumbledore gives her a look.

Ginny drops her arm and turns away from Harry. She quickly wipes the tears off her face and tries to cool her flaming cheeks. They had flamed with embarrassment when Harry had raised his eyebrows. He obviously had seen her tears, but he didn't need to see any more of them.

"Should I come back later?" Harry asks slowly. Ginny turns back around and watches him shuffle awkwardly. Is he nervous?

"If it's alright with Miss Weasley I'd love for you to listen to what she has to say. She has wonderful insight on the war and what we will be doing more of this year," Ginny stares at Dumbledore in disbelief. He wanted her to finish her story with Harry in the room? No way.

"No way," Ginny says out loud. Dumbledore chuckles and holds up a hand. Why did he want her to wait? She isn't going to change her mind.

"I'm not above bribery Miss Weasley," Ginny stares at Dumbledore and looks at Harry. He must be just as confused as she is, because he turns to her looking absolutely bewildered. This must be quite the scene. A crying girl and an old man saying he's going to bribe her.

"You were going to ask me a favor after you finished telling me your story weren't you?" Dumbledore asks. Ginny's eyes go wide. How did he know that?

"You'd train me if I tell Lord Pooter?" Ginny asks slowly. Albus nods his head. Hmmm. It's not like she was going to be spending any time with Harry so it won't matter if he knows. Right?

"Fine," Ginny says. She glares at Harry hoping he understands that she's only doing this so she'll be trained. This will not make them friends.

"Ummm," Harry looks between her and Dumbledore repeatedly seemingly not knowing what to do.

"Sit down and keep your thoughts to yourself," Ginny says sternly. She points to her vacated seat and walks to the other side of the room where Fawkes is perched.

"Do I need to start over?" Ginny asks.

"Just a brief summary of your second year should do," Dumbledore says. Ginny nods her head absently as she pets Fawkes' feathers. The Phoenix trills and a warm feeling fills Ginny. She stays facing away from the two occupants hoping if they can't see her cry they won't notice. Because she cries every damn time she tries talking about her kidnapping.

"Before my second year, Lucious Malfoy imperioused me to write in a Diary. The diary once belonged to a sixteen-year-old Tom Riddle. He's Voldemort now if you didn't know. I wrote in the diary all summer and when Lucious saw me again, right before I left for Hogwarts, he lifted the curse knowing that I wouldn't be able to resist writing in the diary again. That way he wouldn't risk Dumbledore seeing through the curse.

"I was possessed by Tom Riddle, opened the chamber of secrets, set a basilisk on the school, and was almost killed. Dumbledore killed the basilisk, realized the diary was a Horcrux, destroyed said Horcrux, saved me from an almost newly resurrected Tom Riddle, and finally he un-petrified all the students who had previously been attacked.

"When Tom was resurrected last year he remembered me and wanted to kidnap me and turn me into his concubine. He succeeded this last summer while I was shopping with some friends and family. It should have just been me. Instead, my friend Luna grabbed my arm as they activated a portkey.

They chained us both up and the minute we arrived, the guards started taking turns raping Luna," Ginny's voice stops working, and the waterworks start. She ignores the intake of breath from Harry and tries to tune out the wishes and whirls of the silver instruments on display in the office. Instead, she focuses on the quiet trill of Fawkes. In and out Ginny. You can do this.

"I screamed myself hoarse. What's really funny about it is, I wasn't just screaming, I was trying to perform wandless magic. I would scream the words stupefy over and over again. They had orders to not rape me, but they're all psychopaths. They seemed to enjoy my tortured screams when they cast crucio on me just as much as they enjoyed the sex from Luna," Ginny chuckles without humor. They were sick bastards.

"Anyways, when they were sick of Luna begging for death they gave into her wish and slit her throat. Did you know that when you cut open the artery in your neck the blood can spray further than thirty feet? I didn't. Not until I watched it happen right in front of me. After they killed Luna, I stayed silent, no matter the torture they inflicted. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of hearing me scream.

"They thought they had broken me. But they should have known better..." Ginny pauses and clears her throat. The worst of the story is over.

"When they took me to see Tom, I spit in his face and tried something that had come to my mind when I saw Nagini, Tom's snake. I asked Fawkes to save me. Next thing I know I've stolen a wand, broken free, and I'm sprinting for Fawkes, who had just flamed into the room. I grabbed onto his tail feathers and the next thing I know I'm laying on the floor in Dumbledore's office.

"There used to be a stain from my blood over there," Ginny indicates to the right with her head. She was surprised anyone was able to get the stain out, even with magic. There had been so much blood.

Ginny stays silent and slowly stops the tears from falling. The flow was continuous as soon as she spoke of Luna's rape and murder. It was like that every time she thought of that damned nightmare.

Harry...

Harry shifts in his seat uncomfortably. He has so many questions! How did this girl survive? Where did they hold her and Luna? Why was she taken to be a concubine of all things? Why did Fawkes respond to her?

Ginny turns so she faces him and Dumbledore. Her face is blotchy, but there's a fire in her eyes that fills Harry with fire too. This girl has gone through just as much, if not more than Harry had. She lives to tell the tale of spitting in Voldemort's face! Harry thinks he's fallen in love.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate," Harry whispers. Jack Sparrow is a wise man.

"Excuse me?" Ginny asks.

"Pirates of the Caribbean," Harry says with a smile. He loves quoting movies. It's better when people know what he's talking about, but he'll have everyone else quoting movies in no time!

"Am I supposed to know what that means? Is he making any sense to you?" Ginny asks Dumbledore.

"I believe he is quoting a film," Dumbledore says, a twinkle in his eye.

"You would be correct! I hung out with muggles in America all the time and we loved watching movies in theaters and at their houses!" Harry says excitingly. He did it at the feast earlier and everything! It was so cool! Practically everyone thought he came up with the line and they all thought he was scary! Except for Ginny. Why does she seem to hate him?

"Harry Potter's a nutcase! How will we win a war when all he did in America was watch films! He doesn't even know anything about England!" Ginny throws her arms in the air and glares at him. Yup, totally in love.

"Miss Weasley calm down. Harry has been training specifically for the war for a year and a half now. Part of his training this year will be missions with me to find and destroy Voldemort. I think he deserves an apology," Dumbledore's voice is firm and Harry remembers why he was scared of him when he was younger.

When Sirius told Albus he was keeping Harry in America for the beginning of his education, Albus had been furious. He'd gotten an international portkey and visited them for a week. He's a powerful wizard and always has been. He made a deal with Sirius that Harry would go back to England after a few years of school as long as Albus could speak with Ivermorny's headmaster about Harry's education.

Harry had regular classes with his classmates and then an extra class about the History of Magic in England. Of course, for the past year and a half, he also had dueling, exercise, and war strategy classes. He'd been super busy.

"I want to join you on your missions," Ginny says. Harry blinks at her stupidly. Dumbledore starts arguing with her and Harry's mind reels. Why would Dumbledore even bring their missions up?

The two argue for a few minutes and Harry watches from the sidelines. He'd known Albus Dumbledore for forever and yet he would never argue with him the way Ginny was. If he was going to be training, and of course making her fall in love with him, he's going to need some answers. She obviously knows more about the war than most people. He's honestly surprised Ginny knows about the Horcruxes. The fact Dumbledore even brought the missions up in front of her shows he trusts her.

"She can join us if she answers some of my questions," Harry says calmly, interrupting their argument.

"I'm afraid it isn't up to you, Harry," Dumbledore says offhandedly. Harry flushes with anger. He was being trained to kill or be killed. If he was going to train with Ginny he needed answers so he can trust her. He needs Dumbledore's respect. Who is he kidding? He needs all the help he can get.

"As the current Lord of the Noble House of Potter and Heir of the Noble House of Black, she will answer my questions and will be allowed to join us for our missions," Harry rises from his seat and sends out small pulses of magic. Another trick, his American headmaster showed him. The magic has the effect he intends it to.

"Calm down Harry. Maybe we should think this through a bit more," Dumbledore eyes him critically and Ginny looks caught off guard. Serves them right for forgetting I was the key to all of this mess.

"No. She knows enough about Horcruxes and you already made the deal that she would be training with me. It would be nice to have an ally in the student body. Besides she knows a bit much to not be involved in everything don't you think?"

Dumbledore leans back in his chair, a resigned look on his face, "Fine what are your questions?"

"Most of my questions are for Ginny," Harry turns to her, "I made it so you can come on missions with us so you'll answer my questions."

"I don't have to do anything," Ginny spits. Okay, maybe demanding things from her isn't the right tactic. Too bad it's the only tactic he can think of.

"You don't have to come on the missions then. Dumbledore, I guess it's just you and-,"

"Wait, fine, fine! You win. What do you want to know?" Ginny glares at him and the fire in her eyes makes him feel warm. It probably isn't the effect she was going for, but who cares? Harry smiles and sits back in his chair. What to ask first?

"You seem close to Dumbledore," Harry says offhandedly, hoping she'd take his bait.

"That isn't a question," Ginny spits. Harry huffs. Why didn't she just take the bait? It would have been easier.

"Fine. The way you talk to Albus implies that you don't have a pure student-to-headmaster relationship. Why is that?"

"I have six older brothers. They've all ended up in his office at one point or other and my mum would always need to come to the school to reprimand them or see them in the hospital wing. Because I was still young, I'd get to come with her. I'd play in Albus's office and with Fawkes while my mom did her thing. He ended up as something akin to my grandfather," Ginny smiles at Albus and he smiles back. Harry guesses that explains a few things.

"Is that why Fawkes came to you when you called to him this last summer?" Harry asks.

Ginny shrugs, "It's probably part of the reason. In my second year, Fawkes is how Dumbledore got into the Chamber of Secrets. He helped save me in his own way," Ginny looks at Fawkes lovingly. The Phoenix trills happily and ruffles his feathers. Interesting.

"It might also be because I told Fawkes to try and find her. He couldn't get a good feeling of where she was until she called for him though," Dumbledore adds. Ginny turns her gaze to Dumbledore and Harry can't help feeling like he's intruding on a moment. This evening has been so emotionally heavy and they haven't even discussed the prophecy like he originally thought they would be doing.

"Why did Voldemort want you as a concubine?" Harry asks interrupting their silent conversation. This was the question he didn't want to bring up but needed to know the answer to the most.

Ginny goes rigid and Harry has a feeling she had hoped he'd forgotten that little detail. Interesting. Why say something if you don't want it to be remembered?

"I'll answer that," Dumbledore says quietly. The room's tense atmosphere becomes much heavier and Harry doubts he'll be able to sleep tonight. He'll have way too much to think about.

"Weasley's are powerful in their own right and so are the Prewett's. The Weasley's haven't had a girl in seven generations. That is until Ginny came along. She's the first girl in seven generations, the seventh child to a Weasley patriarch and Prewett matriarch. Ginny is a powerful witch and Tom knows it.

"Ginny had a battle of wills with Tom for a year and survived. Any other witch would have easily succumbed to Tom's power and persuasion. Tom would find this resistance appealing. He'd want to break her and then force her to bear him a son as a falls safe," Dumbledore's voice has an air of reverence and disgust that Harry feels fitting. He doesn't even think he could have survived as long as Ginny had.

"If I was so powerful then Lucious wouldn't have been able to hold the Imperious on me for so long in the first place," Ginny mutters.

"You were twelve," Harry says incredulously. Harry doesn't know why he's defending her from herself but geez. Ginny should feel proud of herself. She's survived!

"I know! I was a foolish twelve-year-old who told her miserable life story to the darkest wizard of her time! I knew better and I still couldn't break from his influence. He controlled and raped my mind for a year and as soon as I was released from his power you want to know what I did?" Spit flies out of her mouth and Harry sits back absolutely stunned. That was not how this was supposed to go.

"I cursed Dumbledore and my family for a whole year! I was angry that they didn't notice and help me! I was furious that I was left to fight for myself! It took the entirety of my fourth year just to mend my relationships not just with my family, but with friends and my professors. And what did I do to show my thanks for their forgiveness? I put them all in danger and killed one of my best friends within the year!" Tears spill over Ginny's cheeks and Harry has such a strong urge to hug her, that he stands up. He's about to make his way to her when Dumbledore starts talking. Harry's step falters and he stops to listen.

"You're one of the strongest witches I know Ginerva. I did fail you. You had the right to be angry and that bridge was crossed and dealt with more than a year ago. You cannot let yourself feel any guilt. Surviving is harder than dying, trust me I know. But we can't let their deaths be in vain. We must live for them!" Dumbledore says fiercely.

Harry shuffles his feet. Maybe he shouldn't hug her.

Harry retakes his seat and leans his head back on the chair. He's exhausted. The other two must feel the same because they sit in silence for a while.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm glad you went through all that," Harry whispers. His words cut through the silence like a blade and Harry winces when Ginny and Dumbledore glare at him simultaneously. Definitely not the right wording. Whoops.

"I see it's been taken the wrong way," Harry mutters. How do I explain?

"It's just... I've been dealing with this stupid prophecy hanging over my head for the past year and a half. I've had to escape capture three times since Voldemort returned. Four times if you count the time I escaped the graveyard! It felt like I was the only one who had to deal with this kind of stuff. I have the wizarding world's fate in my hands and yet I can't do anything. I'm an underage student, who's been training, but isn't allowed to take the fight to him. I'm treated like a kid when I was forced to grow up a long time ago!"

Harry sighs and shakes his head, "Believe me when I say I wish you didn't have to go through all of that, but I'm grateful I know someone else who understands," Harry looks at Ginny earnestly. He wants to convey his understanding of her situation and his gratefulness for her honesty. He hopes she can see it in his eyes.

"I think I should go settle into Gryffindor tower for the night," Harry says, standing when they don't say anything.

The intensity of Ginny's glare had lessened a bit and Dumbledore's glare was completely gone. He's glad he said something and maybe they can trust each other now.

"Thank you for coming Harry. I'm sorry if things were a little tense," Dumbledore stands and offers his hand.

Harry shakes it, "Apology accepted."

Harry turns to Ginny and bows, "Goodnight Ginerva," Harry can't help but say.

"What did I tell you about that name, Potter!" Ginny growls at him and her glare intensifies to where it was before he explained himself. He puts his hands up quickly.

"Alright, I'm sorry! Goodnight, Gin," Harry winks at her, and then he leaves the office, but not before hearing, "He's an insufferable prat, Albus!"

I hope you've all enjoyed this! Let me know your thoughts on everything and I've already finished this story so don't worry about being left hanging.

-Ace