Harry crawled up through the thick aching fog to consciousness, or at least something resembling it. Rather than the familiar burning pain of his scar, he felt a dull throbbing all over his head. He squinted his eyes and the photograph next to his bed came into focus. His parents…the memory of the night before came back in a wave…Sirius had been there. Sirius, who had brought him gifts from his parents. Who was eager to hear every detail of his life. Who had come to warn Harry…He groaned. Sirius was gone to risk his life combating the dark forces. Voldemort was again after him. Harry was to sit by the sideline and watch. He had promised Sirius. If he ever saw him again, he wanted to be able to tell him that he kept it.
Despite the pain in his head and the anxiety surrounding Sirius and his news, Harry's spirits couldn't help but lift a bit. If he could just manage to get out of bed and downstairs, Ginny would be there. Harry chortled slightly before grasping his head regretfully. He wondered if her hair was still magenta. That image bore him upright in bed. He even managed to swing his legs around to the floor. Actually, that improved the situation slightly and he dressed quickly, noticing out the window that the sun was rather high in the sky. He must have slept in. Well, at least it was Saturday and he wasn't skipping any classes.
When Harry entered the Great Hall, it was decidedly thin of students. He must have really overslept. He was relieved, however to see that Ron and Hermione were still lingering at the Gryffindor table.
"Oh, hi Harry," Hermione looked up. "Sleep well?" she giggled.
"I was just explaining that you tried to hit me when I prodded you to get up this morning." Ron said mock-grumpily. "I considered chucking you back, but you looked so pathetic lying there that I decided to be merciful. Must be all of that late-night wandering around the castle with my little sister that's making you so sleepy.
Harry chuckled, then grabbed his head and moaned. He fumbled with his chair and slumped into it, then reached painfully for Hermione's half-empty goblet of pumpkin juice and drained it. Ron, with an amused look on his face, silently passed him his own goblet and Harry accepted that too. After waiving off Ron, who said that he was more than willing to collect all of the dirty goblets in the hall for his consumption, Harry felt somewhat better. He lifted his head long enough to look around.
"Where's Ginny?" He was disappointed that he didn't see a red head anywhere in the room. Or a pink one for that matter…
Ron glanced up from his usual place drowning in Hermione's eyes, "Went with Colin and Amanda and a few others…" Harry must have looked thick because he rolled his eyes, "Hogsmeade, you prat. Aren't you going? We were going to leave without you if you hadn't been so gracious as to make an appearance -"
Ron stopped abruptly.
Harry felt as if he'd had the wind knocked out of him. His face drained of blood. He sat transfixed with horror - why WHY hadn't it occurred to him to get to her immediately? As soon as he'd found out the danger? This bloke was after him. Harry knew Voldemort well enough by now to know that Ginny was considered as much of a prize as he. Hurting her was the best way to get to him. His fist slammed involuntarily on the table, rattling the dishes and causing the few heads remaining in the room to swivel in his direction.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione's eyes were huge. She never took them off him, not even when she reached over and stopped a goblet that was still dancing. "Harry?"
Ron turned to him, looking grim. "Harry. Tell me what's up….HARRY!" Harry just sat, eyes shut, shaking his head as if to rattle the image out of his brain. The green flash, the scream and Ginny…dead. He jumped up. He HAD to get to her. Ignoring Ron, he made a leap for the door, only to be stopped short. Hermione had a steel grasp on his robe.
"Stop right where you are, Harry Potter. You are NOT flying out of here in a panic over something and not telling us - especially if it's about Ginny!"
"Hermione, there's no time - I have to get to her!" He tugged desperately at his robe and automatically started to shrug out of it.
"Harry, I've got a wand and I'm not afraid to use it!" Hermione was actually covering him with her wand! Ron, staring open-mouthed at his girlfriend, quickly recovered himself and grabbed Harry's shoulder.
"She's right Harry." He said softly, as if afraid of drawing fire. "Whatever's going on, let us help." Harry made one last impatient attempt to throw off his hand and felt it tighten. "She's my sister."
"And my best friend," Hermione added, moving her wand slightly toward Harry's throat. Harry almost jumped up and down with frustration.
"All right, all right - but COME ON! I'll explain on the way. We've go to get to Hogsmeade! Please!"
No more words were necessary. Ron and Hermione jumped up immediately and followed him to the door.
So, come on - what's up?" Hermione was dancing sideways in an attempt to speak and keep up with the much longer strides of her companions.
"Sirius came last night" Harry said grimly, striding faster as they exited the castle. "Voldemort has a spy in Hogsmeade…Looking for ME… That puts Ginny…I have to get to her! I promised Sirius I wouldn't risk anyone by going there…."
Ron jumped in front of him, stopping him with outstretched arms. "Then, what in heavens name are you doing then, if you promised Sirius?"
Harry pushed past him impatiently. "What are you going to do about it?" he asked rudely.
"Harry! Wait!", Ron, showing amazing self-control in not landing his best friend a facer, grabbed him. "If this blokes looking for you - won't you be doing Ginny MORE danger by going there after her? You'll lead him right to her!"
Harry stopped so quickly that Hermione smacked into him. He head was still spinning with images - Ginny refusing to obey Voldemort because she loved him, Sirius' face looking so old and haggard. He saw his mother, standing between him and death, dying in his place…He mustered every bit of self-control he possessed and forced himself to face Ron. He was right.
Harry dropped abruptly to the ground next to the lion at the front gate.
"GO!" he said desperately, "All right - GO!" He clenched his hands into fists and tucked them under his arms, willing himself to stay where he was. Ron nodded and he and Hermione took off at a run over the hill and into Hogsmeade.
"Please." Harry stared down at his lap. His hands hurt. They were so tightly balled into fists that he doubted he could unclench them. His hangover, forgotten in the adrenaline rush that carried him this far, came pounding back with a resounding thud. He dropped his head into his arms. For the first time in his life, he realized that there was something harder than fighting. Fighting was easy. Waiting could kill him.
****************************************************************************************************
A lifetime later, Harry craned his neck for the thousandth time and saw Ron and Hermione flanking Ginny like a guard of honor, coming over the rise. Harry felt a blinding sense of relief - she was OK. As the three approached, he saw that they hadn't told her what was going on. Her eyes were narrowed dangerously; her lips compressed in that fine line that said "take cover". He ran to meet them and - he couldn't help it - grabbed Ginny and held her to him desperately.
Two small hands pushed hard against his chest. He stumbled back slightly.
"OK, Mr. Potter." Her voice was soft and deadly. "Would you care to explain to me why I was just pulled away from my friends - in the middle of Honeydukes, in front of the entire town, and hustled off like some wayward child-" the volume was increasing. "Because YOU SAID SO? Oh, my apologies! I was under the obviously mistaken impression that I had a FREE WILL! I didn't realize that I was to be at your beck and call TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY!" Now her voice echoed off the statues and trees. Probably the ones in the next county as well. Harry's mouth dropped open. Wow. She really did look and sound like her mother when she was mad. He had never been a recipient of Ginny's famous wrath before - always an amused bystander.
"Ginny, I - " Harry stammered, too stunned from the combination of relief to see her safe and the shock of the assault.
"Harry…' The brown eyes were cold. "Just don't talk to me for a while, OK? Whatever earth-shattering thing you needed to tell me can wait, got it?"
He nodded obediently, backing away slightly. As long as she was inside the gates of Hogwarts, she could pull his teeth out one at a time with a teaspoon and that would be all right. She stalked past him, robes swishing furiously. He watched her go. In his rush to get her to safety, he hadn't thought that his biggest obstacle would be his beloved herself.
Ron dropped to the ground, exhausted. "Harry, next time I offer to save my sister in your place - put the Imperius Curse on me and send me somewhere safe - like Azkaban." He flopped back to lay spread-eagle on the grass. Hermione sat down and he wriggled around to put his head in her lap.
"It wasn't pretty, Harry." Hermione shook her head." Given Ginny's…. Past, we'd thought it best that we not tell her why we were kidnapping her. Ron didn't want her to panic. Of course," she chuckled ruefully, "in hindsight, I'd put my money on her against a Death-Eater any day. How on earth did you survive to see your sixteenth birthday?" she peered down at her boyfriend who reached up and pulled her to him for a quick kiss.
"You just have to know when to cut your losses and turn tail and flee." Ron grinned. "Luckily, we told her it was your fault, Harry - so we escaped the brunt of it."
"Thanks…" Harry said sourly. He wondered what would be the best way to fix this.
"I'd give her at least a few hours to cool off," Ron advised, "Then approach with caution - steel-toed boots might be in order, as well as a tranquilizer spell and protective head gear…"
All three laughed and started back to the castle. Harry filled them in on everything that Sirius had told him and they speculated about his assignment and the outside world….
Harry sneaked a quick look around the corner of the doorway to the Gryffindor common room. Ginny was curled up in her favorite corner with her inevitable book of muggle poetry, her hair pinned up with her wand, and of course, Harry's socks propped on the ottoman. He grinned, feeling the familiar surge of affection she always inspired when he got to witness her just being Ginny. This was the woman he loved - temper and sock thievery notwithstanding. He guessed it was time to start groveling and found it amusing to realize that he was actually looking forward to it.
Ginny started at the thud on the carpet in front of her. She peered over her book at the red rose lying on the floor at her feet. A small half-smile broke across her face - starting with her eyes. She reached down and picked it up, bringing it delicately to her nose. Suddenly, the flower broke off and started to sing-
Ginny Weasley, listen to my song,
It's very simple and shouldn't take long.
With all my heart I do apologise
And hope we can find some compromise.
You have every right to chastise me
And swear and scream as loud as can be.
Rip me to shreds if I chauvinise
But I beg you… first anaesthetise!
Ginny doubled over laughing and crashed sideways onto the couch. Harry, laughing in both sympathy and triumph, stepped out from his hiding place. She covered her face with her arm, still helpless to speak or breathe.
"Harry!" she gasped. "How can I stay mad at you when you do stuff like that? Chauvinise? Anaesthetise?" She broke up again.
"My thoughts exactly!" he joined in the laughter, but since the verdict had yet to be handed down --just to be safe, Harry sat across from her.
Ginny sat up and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "OK, OK…" she grinned at him, "was I really as bad as all that?"
"Well, " Harry crept cautiously to her side. "I think that there are several species of dragon that definitely have you beat in terror inducing, but you could certainly give some of the smaller ones a good run."
She laughed again, blushing slightly. "You knew it was dangerous when you took the job…" She turned to look at him, her brown eyes loving him once again.
"I like to live dangerously…" Harry smiled, creeping his arm about her.
"Yes, like we need to be reminded of that." Ginny reached up and drew his dark unruly head down to meet hers.
A minute or two later they sat up.
"So what was up with Ron and Hermione fetching me while you waited?" Ginny asked a bit indignantly, then ruined the effect by giggling, "I felt like a virgin being taken to be sacrificed - no, that would have been fun…" She ran her finger lightly down the side of Harry's neck in a way that made him shiver, though it was more the word virgin that made his face grow warm.
"No reason -I just like making up when the storm's over…. KIDDING!" he held up a hand in defense at the raised eyebrow. He sat up and replaced his glasses. Ginny leaned back against him and drew his arm around her waist.
"Well?"
Harry drew a deep breath. "Well, Sirius made me promise not to leave the grounds…"
She turned her face up toward him in surprise. "Sirius? You heard from him?"
"Saw him last night. That's why Dumbledore summoned me…Gin - he told me that there is a Death Eater undercover in Hogsmeade. " She started up and whirled to face him, pale and very very serious now. "He's...he's tracking me…I mean - supposedly Voldemort's sent him to…well…" Her eyes grew wide and her hands flew to her mouth. Harry reached over and gently pulled them away. "Gin, I promised Sirius that I wouldn't leave Hogwarts, OK? If I stay here, I'll be fine. It was you I was worried about. When I found out that you'd already left for Hogsmeade, I lost it completely. You've already been…Gin, I still have nightmares where I can see you …lying there. I spent days waiting for you to move, breathe, show some sign of life! I can't let you be in any more danger because of me!"
A moment passed silently. Ginny freed one of her hands and gently smoothed the hair away from Harry's forehead. She traced the scar with her finger, so softly he could just feel a whisper…then leaned over and pressed her lips to it. He drew in his breath slightly and pulled her into his lap and she curled up to him. She sighed, but didn't say anything.
"Gin…You know, you can still walk away -" a hand coming up forcefully over his mouth choked him off.
Ginny sat up and turned to him. "Do you really think that's an option, Harry?" she demanded indignantly. She held up a stern hand to stop his answer and settled herself back into the curve of his arm, interlacing his fingers with hers. "Besides…don't deprive me of my place in history."
"What?" Harry pulled back and looked down at her. "What do you mean?"
"As the woman who had the courage to love Harry Potter." she smiled ruefully, "Like I ever had a choice…"
Despite the pain in his head and the anxiety surrounding Sirius and his news, Harry's spirits couldn't help but lift a bit. If he could just manage to get out of bed and downstairs, Ginny would be there. Harry chortled slightly before grasping his head regretfully. He wondered if her hair was still magenta. That image bore him upright in bed. He even managed to swing his legs around to the floor. Actually, that improved the situation slightly and he dressed quickly, noticing out the window that the sun was rather high in the sky. He must have slept in. Well, at least it was Saturday and he wasn't skipping any classes.
When Harry entered the Great Hall, it was decidedly thin of students. He must have really overslept. He was relieved, however to see that Ron and Hermione were still lingering at the Gryffindor table.
"Oh, hi Harry," Hermione looked up. "Sleep well?" she giggled.
"I was just explaining that you tried to hit me when I prodded you to get up this morning." Ron said mock-grumpily. "I considered chucking you back, but you looked so pathetic lying there that I decided to be merciful. Must be all of that late-night wandering around the castle with my little sister that's making you so sleepy.
Harry chuckled, then grabbed his head and moaned. He fumbled with his chair and slumped into it, then reached painfully for Hermione's half-empty goblet of pumpkin juice and drained it. Ron, with an amused look on his face, silently passed him his own goblet and Harry accepted that too. After waiving off Ron, who said that he was more than willing to collect all of the dirty goblets in the hall for his consumption, Harry felt somewhat better. He lifted his head long enough to look around.
"Where's Ginny?" He was disappointed that he didn't see a red head anywhere in the room. Or a pink one for that matter…
Ron glanced up from his usual place drowning in Hermione's eyes, "Went with Colin and Amanda and a few others…" Harry must have looked thick because he rolled his eyes, "Hogsmeade, you prat. Aren't you going? We were going to leave without you if you hadn't been so gracious as to make an appearance -"
Ron stopped abruptly.
Harry felt as if he'd had the wind knocked out of him. His face drained of blood. He sat transfixed with horror - why WHY hadn't it occurred to him to get to her immediately? As soon as he'd found out the danger? This bloke was after him. Harry knew Voldemort well enough by now to know that Ginny was considered as much of a prize as he. Hurting her was the best way to get to him. His fist slammed involuntarily on the table, rattling the dishes and causing the few heads remaining in the room to swivel in his direction.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione's eyes were huge. She never took them off him, not even when she reached over and stopped a goblet that was still dancing. "Harry?"
Ron turned to him, looking grim. "Harry. Tell me what's up….HARRY!" Harry just sat, eyes shut, shaking his head as if to rattle the image out of his brain. The green flash, the scream and Ginny…dead. He jumped up. He HAD to get to her. Ignoring Ron, he made a leap for the door, only to be stopped short. Hermione had a steel grasp on his robe.
"Stop right where you are, Harry Potter. You are NOT flying out of here in a panic over something and not telling us - especially if it's about Ginny!"
"Hermione, there's no time - I have to get to her!" He tugged desperately at his robe and automatically started to shrug out of it.
"Harry, I've got a wand and I'm not afraid to use it!" Hermione was actually covering him with her wand! Ron, staring open-mouthed at his girlfriend, quickly recovered himself and grabbed Harry's shoulder.
"She's right Harry." He said softly, as if afraid of drawing fire. "Whatever's going on, let us help." Harry made one last impatient attempt to throw off his hand and felt it tighten. "She's my sister."
"And my best friend," Hermione added, moving her wand slightly toward Harry's throat. Harry almost jumped up and down with frustration.
"All right, all right - but COME ON! I'll explain on the way. We've go to get to Hogsmeade! Please!"
No more words were necessary. Ron and Hermione jumped up immediately and followed him to the door.
So, come on - what's up?" Hermione was dancing sideways in an attempt to speak and keep up with the much longer strides of her companions.
"Sirius came last night" Harry said grimly, striding faster as they exited the castle. "Voldemort has a spy in Hogsmeade…Looking for ME… That puts Ginny…I have to get to her! I promised Sirius I wouldn't risk anyone by going there…."
Ron jumped in front of him, stopping him with outstretched arms. "Then, what in heavens name are you doing then, if you promised Sirius?"
Harry pushed past him impatiently. "What are you going to do about it?" he asked rudely.
"Harry! Wait!", Ron, showing amazing self-control in not landing his best friend a facer, grabbed him. "If this blokes looking for you - won't you be doing Ginny MORE danger by going there after her? You'll lead him right to her!"
Harry stopped so quickly that Hermione smacked into him. He head was still spinning with images - Ginny refusing to obey Voldemort because she loved him, Sirius' face looking so old and haggard. He saw his mother, standing between him and death, dying in his place…He mustered every bit of self-control he possessed and forced himself to face Ron. He was right.
Harry dropped abruptly to the ground next to the lion at the front gate.
"GO!" he said desperately, "All right - GO!" He clenched his hands into fists and tucked them under his arms, willing himself to stay where he was. Ron nodded and he and Hermione took off at a run over the hill and into Hogsmeade.
"Please." Harry stared down at his lap. His hands hurt. They were so tightly balled into fists that he doubted he could unclench them. His hangover, forgotten in the adrenaline rush that carried him this far, came pounding back with a resounding thud. He dropped his head into his arms. For the first time in his life, he realized that there was something harder than fighting. Fighting was easy. Waiting could kill him.
****************************************************************************************************
A lifetime later, Harry craned his neck for the thousandth time and saw Ron and Hermione flanking Ginny like a guard of honor, coming over the rise. Harry felt a blinding sense of relief - she was OK. As the three approached, he saw that they hadn't told her what was going on. Her eyes were narrowed dangerously; her lips compressed in that fine line that said "take cover". He ran to meet them and - he couldn't help it - grabbed Ginny and held her to him desperately.
Two small hands pushed hard against his chest. He stumbled back slightly.
"OK, Mr. Potter." Her voice was soft and deadly. "Would you care to explain to me why I was just pulled away from my friends - in the middle of Honeydukes, in front of the entire town, and hustled off like some wayward child-" the volume was increasing. "Because YOU SAID SO? Oh, my apologies! I was under the obviously mistaken impression that I had a FREE WILL! I didn't realize that I was to be at your beck and call TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY!" Now her voice echoed off the statues and trees. Probably the ones in the next county as well. Harry's mouth dropped open. Wow. She really did look and sound like her mother when she was mad. He had never been a recipient of Ginny's famous wrath before - always an amused bystander.
"Ginny, I - " Harry stammered, too stunned from the combination of relief to see her safe and the shock of the assault.
"Harry…' The brown eyes were cold. "Just don't talk to me for a while, OK? Whatever earth-shattering thing you needed to tell me can wait, got it?"
He nodded obediently, backing away slightly. As long as she was inside the gates of Hogwarts, she could pull his teeth out one at a time with a teaspoon and that would be all right. She stalked past him, robes swishing furiously. He watched her go. In his rush to get her to safety, he hadn't thought that his biggest obstacle would be his beloved herself.
Ron dropped to the ground, exhausted. "Harry, next time I offer to save my sister in your place - put the Imperius Curse on me and send me somewhere safe - like Azkaban." He flopped back to lay spread-eagle on the grass. Hermione sat down and he wriggled around to put his head in her lap.
"It wasn't pretty, Harry." Hermione shook her head." Given Ginny's…. Past, we'd thought it best that we not tell her why we were kidnapping her. Ron didn't want her to panic. Of course," she chuckled ruefully, "in hindsight, I'd put my money on her against a Death-Eater any day. How on earth did you survive to see your sixteenth birthday?" she peered down at her boyfriend who reached up and pulled her to him for a quick kiss.
"You just have to know when to cut your losses and turn tail and flee." Ron grinned. "Luckily, we told her it was your fault, Harry - so we escaped the brunt of it."
"Thanks…" Harry said sourly. He wondered what would be the best way to fix this.
"I'd give her at least a few hours to cool off," Ron advised, "Then approach with caution - steel-toed boots might be in order, as well as a tranquilizer spell and protective head gear…"
All three laughed and started back to the castle. Harry filled them in on everything that Sirius had told him and they speculated about his assignment and the outside world….
Harry sneaked a quick look around the corner of the doorway to the Gryffindor common room. Ginny was curled up in her favorite corner with her inevitable book of muggle poetry, her hair pinned up with her wand, and of course, Harry's socks propped on the ottoman. He grinned, feeling the familiar surge of affection she always inspired when he got to witness her just being Ginny. This was the woman he loved - temper and sock thievery notwithstanding. He guessed it was time to start groveling and found it amusing to realize that he was actually looking forward to it.
Ginny started at the thud on the carpet in front of her. She peered over her book at the red rose lying on the floor at her feet. A small half-smile broke across her face - starting with her eyes. She reached down and picked it up, bringing it delicately to her nose. Suddenly, the flower broke off and started to sing-
Ginny Weasley, listen to my song,
It's very simple and shouldn't take long.
With all my heart I do apologise
And hope we can find some compromise.
You have every right to chastise me
And swear and scream as loud as can be.
Rip me to shreds if I chauvinise
But I beg you… first anaesthetise!
Ginny doubled over laughing and crashed sideways onto the couch. Harry, laughing in both sympathy and triumph, stepped out from his hiding place. She covered her face with her arm, still helpless to speak or breathe.
"Harry!" she gasped. "How can I stay mad at you when you do stuff like that? Chauvinise? Anaesthetise?" She broke up again.
"My thoughts exactly!" he joined in the laughter, but since the verdict had yet to be handed down --just to be safe, Harry sat across from her.
Ginny sat up and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "OK, OK…" she grinned at him, "was I really as bad as all that?"
"Well, " Harry crept cautiously to her side. "I think that there are several species of dragon that definitely have you beat in terror inducing, but you could certainly give some of the smaller ones a good run."
She laughed again, blushing slightly. "You knew it was dangerous when you took the job…" She turned to look at him, her brown eyes loving him once again.
"I like to live dangerously…" Harry smiled, creeping his arm about her.
"Yes, like we need to be reminded of that." Ginny reached up and drew his dark unruly head down to meet hers.
A minute or two later they sat up.
"So what was up with Ron and Hermione fetching me while you waited?" Ginny asked a bit indignantly, then ruined the effect by giggling, "I felt like a virgin being taken to be sacrificed - no, that would have been fun…" She ran her finger lightly down the side of Harry's neck in a way that made him shiver, though it was more the word virgin that made his face grow warm.
"No reason -I just like making up when the storm's over…. KIDDING!" he held up a hand in defense at the raised eyebrow. He sat up and replaced his glasses. Ginny leaned back against him and drew his arm around her waist.
"Well?"
Harry drew a deep breath. "Well, Sirius made me promise not to leave the grounds…"
She turned her face up toward him in surprise. "Sirius? You heard from him?"
"Saw him last night. That's why Dumbledore summoned me…Gin - he told me that there is a Death Eater undercover in Hogsmeade. " She started up and whirled to face him, pale and very very serious now. "He's...he's tracking me…I mean - supposedly Voldemort's sent him to…well…" Her eyes grew wide and her hands flew to her mouth. Harry reached over and gently pulled them away. "Gin, I promised Sirius that I wouldn't leave Hogwarts, OK? If I stay here, I'll be fine. It was you I was worried about. When I found out that you'd already left for Hogsmeade, I lost it completely. You've already been…Gin, I still have nightmares where I can see you …lying there. I spent days waiting for you to move, breathe, show some sign of life! I can't let you be in any more danger because of me!"
A moment passed silently. Ginny freed one of her hands and gently smoothed the hair away from Harry's forehead. She traced the scar with her finger, so softly he could just feel a whisper…then leaned over and pressed her lips to it. He drew in his breath slightly and pulled her into his lap and she curled up to him. She sighed, but didn't say anything.
"Gin…You know, you can still walk away -" a hand coming up forcefully over his mouth choked him off.
Ginny sat up and turned to him. "Do you really think that's an option, Harry?" she demanded indignantly. She held up a stern hand to stop his answer and settled herself back into the curve of his arm, interlacing his fingers with hers. "Besides…don't deprive me of my place in history."
"What?" Harry pulled back and looked down at her. "What do you mean?"
"As the woman who had the courage to love Harry Potter." she smiled ruefully, "Like I ever had a choice…"