Harry was packing

A/N: Be sure to visit the new home of the QoHG at Gryffindortower.net, where you can find this, along with other great stories there.

Chapter Ten: Conversations and Conclusions

Harry was packing. He knew that he had to travel light and there was so much he couldn't leave behind, like his invisibility cloak and the Firebolt. Reducing spells were only able to shrink so much. At least he didn't have to pack food or stuff for camping out. Dumbledore was sending him to a safe-house by floo-powder. From there he could lay low, gather information and figure out his next step.

He picked up the framed picture from the Yule Ball last year – where he and Ginny had shared their first kiss. She'd looked so beautiful and he had been almost drunk with infatuation. He smiled slightly as he watched her stretch up on tip-toes to whisper in his ear. Not much had changed there. He placed it carefully next to the photo of his parents with him as a baby, pausing to watch his mother kiss his nose softly. He carefully wrapped them in a sock that was too ragged even for Ginny to steal and placed them in his backpack.

Ginny and he had said very little after their collision in the hallway. If he'd been in the mood to joke, he could have said that it had knocked some sense into them. But he didn't. Once Ginny's sobs had abated, he'd pulled her up and led her back to Gryffindor Tower. The common room had been empty but he didn't pause. Once they'd climbed the spiral staircase to his room, he'd kicked the door shut and pulled her down to his bed. School rules seemed pointless and stupid now. There, the tears flowed again and they held each other. It was silent accept for the sound of soft sobs. They had said everything that needed to be said. Together they felt the sun go down and dusk spread over the room, chilling them. When Harry pulled his blankets over them, she had kissed him, boldly and aggressive with need. He had undressed her then, quickly shedding his own robes in his hurry to press himself against her bare flesh. Once there however, he forced himself to go slowly. They entwined themselves for a long time, lips clinging with desperate love and longing. Harry memorized each curve and hollow with light hands and a still lighter tongue. Her eyes were a jumble of naked emotion, one minute love-filled, the next minute damp with fear, then finally burning with passion. When they merged the shock of intimacy made them both gasp out loud. They moved together slowly, their fear and uncertainty ebbing as reality pulled away and grew smaller and smaller in the distance. When Ginny suddenly rolled upward and gazed down at him through tousled bronze hair, all control left as he pulled her against his rhythmic movements. His hoarse groan mingled with her cries as she collapsed on him with a convulsive shudder. Their lips met with abandon as the flames settled into glowing embers that warmed them for the moment. If they could only carry it with them…

They'd slept little that night. They had talked about Quidditch and Transfiguration. She told him every story about the Weasley family she could think of. When she stopped he begged like a child for another. He made her recite Muggle poetry from memory then teased her when she forgot parts. Eventually her store of rhymes faltered and they lay together quietly, staring at the canopy. The cold that only comes right before sunrise was stealing over them and they both turned wordlessly to the window to watch the faint blue of dawn spread slowly over the black night. Her body moulded to his as he wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he dared. Ginny broke the silence. She recited one more poem; her voice soft and slightly choked– it faltered and broke when it came to the end

"Thou art my life, my love, my heart

And hast command of every part

To live and die for thee."

With a wave of pain, the image of Ginny's pale unconscious face as she lay in some gray world between life and death swam before his eyes. He again experienced the interminable tick of waiting by her bedside, helpless except to read the poem she had cherished. He felt the clarity of the words now as he had the first time. The memory was a soft knife that seemed to draw blood without a cut. The wound was deep and welled up, overflowing. Ginny must have felt his tears as they fell on her hair because she turned. He pressed his face into the pillow as if to hide them, but she gently tilted his chin so that he couldn't. As he looked into her clear brown eyes, he saw a flash of….determination? She stroked his hair off of his forehead as she spoke.

"Remember when I finally woke up from the curse and you showed me the poem? You told me that it…gave a voice to – how you felt about…about me…"

He nodded silently, still not trusting himself to speak.

"Well then, I command every part of you. And I command you to live –not die for me, understand?" Her voice quavered and dropped to a whisper. "You will come back to me. You have to. You're my life…my love… my –" she drew in a shaking breath. "--heart." She turned back to curl into him as the night sky continued it's inevitable fade into blue.

Harry wondered dazedly if this was what a broken heart felt like. The ache in his chest threatened all his resolve. He felt the words "I won't go" surge up to his lips as if driven by some invisible angel. It would all be so simple. He imagined the love and light that would erupt in her eyes when he told her. He could feel her tears of joy mingling with his own as they laughed and cried at the same time.

He literally clamped down on his jaw until it hurt.

He couldn't stay. Every minute they spent together was borrowed time. He could postpone the pain; he could run away from it, but it would follow. Eventually it would catch up. Then the choice would be made and she would be torn from him and he would lose her forever. Gone was the lofty intent to help save the wizarding world. At that moment, his motives were purely selfish. Voldemort could take it all with his blessing if he could just have Ginny safe by his side. But it wouldn't work that way.

Harry tied his backpack with an air of finality. There, that was done at least. He had one last evening with the people most important to him.

When he entered the Gryffindor common room, three pairs of eyes turned to him accusingly.

"So Harry, when were you going to tell us that my whole family was in danger?" asked Ron stiffly. "Or did you assume that we were too weak to handle it? So the Great Harry Potter decided to keep the scary information to himself?"

"Ron and I went to see Dumbledore ourselves, Harry. He told us everything," added Hermione softly.

Harry's eyes darted over to the small figure in the corner. Her arms hugged her knees. She looked briefly back, then turned away.

"I..I was going to tell you. Things just – got mixed up. Starting happening too fast…I'm sorry…" Harry stammered. He sat down limply. How could he explain? How could he tell them that he'd been so wrapped up in his own pain to remember them? He couldn't. He didn't even want to admit it to himself.

"Well, I'm sorry if my family's safety isn't a priority in your life, but they are in mine and I deserved to know. You know that this changes things for all of us, don't you Harry? This isn't just about you and Voldemort anymore. Can't you just look past Ginny for one minute at the rest of us?"

Harry almost reeled from the unexpected attack. Yes, he'd been a selfish git, but he was NOT going to let Ron think he didn't care about the Weasleys.

"Ron. I'm sorry. I handled this all wrong. I was selfish and I was…too wrapped up in…us…" his eyes drifted over to the hunched red figure. She glanced up at him. Her knees relaxed slightly. "But don't think for one minute that I don't care about your family! Why do you think I'm leaving? I hadn't made up my mind when I went to Dumbledore's office!" Anger and sorrow clashed together and he raised his voice unintentionally. "When I left, nothing had changed except for one thing – I couldn't stand by and watch your family --- MY FAMILY – get hunted down by Death-Eaters! Not if I could take down at least ONE of them in their defense!"

Harry hung his head, breathing heavily. He felt like his chest was going to explode; like he'd just run a race to the top of Gryffindor Tower. In the silence that followed his outburst, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Peering up, he saw Ron.

"Sorry Harry," he said gruffly." I knew that…I mean, I didn't mean it when I said…you know."

Harry gaped. Ron wasn't given to touching and hugging, except for his family and Hermione of course. Neither was he, for that matter. He reached up and clasped the hand.

"Uh…thanks," he muttered. Ron flushed slightly and backed away. Harry turned hopefully toward Ginny. She was looking steadily at him. She nodded slightly and held out her hand. Harry grabbed it and dropped to her side.

"I'm so sorry Gin," he whispered smoothing the riotous hair from her face.

She looked him in the eye and said softly, "Ron's right. This does change everything. Harry, I've decided to –"

Hermione, not hearing, interrupted, "When Ron said that this changes everything – well, he meant it. He and I have talked all day." She glanced at Ron who mock glared at her. "OK, argued is more like, but the end result was the same. We're leaving too. Together. With you if you want."

Ginny whirled around.

"What?" she cried. "Ron! You didn't tell me that! So you're accusing Harry of hiding the truth but it's OK when it's you! Did it at all occur to you that…How dare --" she pulled away from Harry as if he'd suddenly become a Slytherin.

Ron looked at her pleadingly. "Gin, I wasn't hiding it from you. We'd only just decided. It's Mum and Dad now! Besides, this is it. It's now or never. They need every witch and wizard they can find now and…well…I just really, really need to go!"

"Well, so do I!" Ginny spat back, two bright spots appearing on her cheeks.

Shock seized Harry and the words came before he could check them. "Well you're not!"

The brown eyes that could caress him so lovingly turned on him, blazing with fury.

"Oh yeah, Harry. OK. You want me safe, right? Do you really think that if I stay here hiding at Hogwarts, I'll be safe? Tell me this – just how many targets do I have on my back? Count'em!" she almost shrieked. For one second, Harry thought she was hysterical. She wasn't making any sense…

"Ginny, don't be stupid – " Ron was cut short. She turned on him.

"What did you say?" her words were soft and deadly.

Her brother faltered. "I just…I mean…"

Ginny was on her feet. She was visibly shaking.

"All right! Since I'm the only one that wants to play "50 Reasons to Kill Ginny," I'll start. OK – ONE!" she held up a finger. "I'm the girlfriend of HARRY POTTER! Need I say more? TWO! -- I'm a Weasley! Wow!" she pressed the back of her hand to her head dramatically, "I actually rate a death threat WITHOUT Harry Potter! Oh the humanity! THREE! – He KNOWS that I'm exactly one half of the people in the world to survive Avada Kadavra! Now I'm a nuisance that doesn't know when to check out. Not to mention a nasty blow to his pride. And FOUR! – last but oh, no – NOT at all the least!" She paused dramatically. "I've been Voldemort's favorite whipping girl for a long, long time! Almost as long as you, Harry! He's enjoyed it this far – why shouldn't he want his favorite toy back?"

Her shoulders slumped. She looked like she wanted to cry, but wouldn't. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but she put out a warning hand.

"Oh, I'm not done yet. I don't think I've quite driven home my point. My point is this: As far as Voldemort's concerned – I'm a dead girl. Whether I stay here and live with the agony of waiting or I go and fight – he's got a Dark Mark with my name already engraved on it. But now he's after every single person in the world that I care about! Not just you, Harry! So maybe…just MAYBE I can go and maybe do some good for the war before he kills me. Like you said, Harry – even if I can keep just ONE Death-Eater from hurting my family or someone else's, I can feel like my life was worth something. Something more than a footnote in a history book chapter about Harry Potter."

She sat down with a thud on the floor. She didn't look up. Harry was frozen to the spot where he'd leapt at Ginny's first words. His brain couldn't seem to process the information. It just wouldn't fit into any of the hundreds of game plans he'd played out in his mind.

"Ginny," he said finally, kneeling down to touch her. She didn't move. "Ginny. Please. Don't you think I know that Voldemort wants you dead? That's all the more reason for you to stay here. Besides, I can't do this knowing that you'll be in even more danger…" He jumped out of the way just in time as she swung blindly at him.

"Harry! What do I have to say to make you get it through your thick head? THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU! This is about ME and my family and my…sanity…" her voice dropped to a whisper. "Did you ever stop and think for ONE minute Harry? For one brief shining moment, can you imagine the fear you would have for my safety if you knew I was in danger?" She glared at him, willing him to answer. Harry nodded haltingly. "How does it feel Harry? The day I was in Hogsmeade and you were terrified that I'd been seen by a spy – HOW DID IT FEEL? When you were totally helpless to find me because you'd promised Sirius you wouldn't leave the grounds? How about those few times when I actually walked into the girl's bathroom ALONE these past few weeks? HOW…DID…IT…FEEL?"

Harry just stared. He saw what was coming. He didn't want to feel it, didn't want to think about the horrible waiting and worrying.

"Are you feeling it Harry?" Ginny's shoulders and breast were heaving with anger. "Are YOU? Well, welcome to my world Harry! Welcome! I was a good girl. I knew you'd have to leave. I cried, but I never, never once told you not to go! I knew I'd have to watch you go and possibly die. But Harry, I've spent my entire life waiting and watching and worrying! Well, a person can only worry about so many people before she has to act. -- do something – ANYTHING! And guess what? I'VE REACHED MY LIMIT!"

She jumped to her feet and ran for the portrait hole. Harry didn't even have a chance to move; Ron and Hermione were still frozen in shock. Ginny leapt to the door, only to jump back from the hole with a cry of surprise.

Dumbledore climbed through the entrance calmly and surveyed the group.

"Please forgive my intrusion. But I was on my way to speak with all of you and I couldn't help but overhear some of your last remarks, Miss Weasley –"

"Neither could anyone else in Britain," muttered Ron, who immediately looked frightened.

The Headmaster smiled at Ginny. She stared back defiantly as if daring him to give her an order.

"Could I beg your indulgence and ask you all to sit down? Please, Miss Weasley. I think you will be very interested in what I have to say."

Everyone sat down stiffly, Hermione and Ron exchanged glances. Harry stared blankly, Ginny angrily. Dumbledore sat in the armchair.

"I'll dispense with the niceties though a good dish of tea might be just the thing…Ah well…" he leaned over toward Ginny. "Miss Weasley. I have to agree with you that waiting and watching someone we love in danger is MUCH harder than acting. No one can deny that you've had more than your share of that. I also agree that our fighters need every single person to heed the battle cry at this juncture. The final stand is quickly approaching I'm afraid. I am also in sympathy with your desire to keep your family safe and have no doubt whatsoever that you would rise to the occasion admirably. However," Dumbledore removed his spectacles and tapped them with his wand. He held them up to the light to check for smudges. Satisfied, he replaced them. "Miss Weasley, if you love Mr. Potter, and I think I can safely assume that that is indeed the case?" Ginny nodded haltingly. "Yes. Well…it seems to me that you have a rare opportunity. You have the means with which to keep both you and Harry safe. Perhaps not entirely. Perhaps not forever. But if you should choose, you will have more control over your fate than any other witch or wizard in the world. That, Miss Weasley, is a great gift."

Ginny opened her mouth. She glanced at Harry and closed it. She seemed dumbfounded.

"Professor Dumbledore, what do you mean…exactly?" Hermione asked nervously, eyes darting between the two.

The Professor turned to include her and Ron in his gaze.

"You surprise me Miss Granger. I'd have thought you would have figured it out by now." He twinkled at her over his glasses, then turned back to Ginny, eyes serious again.

"Now, Harry. Ginny." Harry saw a slight flush color Ginny's cheeks. He guessed she'd never heard Dumbledore use her first name before.

"Commendare Mori…Fascinating charm. I must say, I've never seen it work quite like it has for the two of you. It has not only enabled Ginny to survive Avada Kadavra, but you both have overcome all three of the Unforgivable Curses as a result of this protection you've created. Of course, I understand that Voldemort knows this to be the case. He witnessed Ginny defying the Imperious Curse and Harry withstanding the Cruciatus. And now he also knows that Avada Kadavra failed as well for only the second time in history."

"But…" Harry protested. "He doesn't know why we could do it. He just knows we did…"

"Voldemort is a very shrewd wizard, Harry. He may not know the details, but I daresay he has a fairly good picture of the bond you both share." Dumbledore looked grave.

Harry waited. He didn't know where this was going.

"Harry. This connection you have forged has made you and Ginny virtually indestructible. As long as one of you survives to share the impact of a curse, the other will live as well. It has already happened." Dumbledore explained patiently.

Harry gaped at the Headmaster. What? His brain felt like treacle pudding. It seemed to creak and grind in the Herculean effort to understand what he'd just heard. Ginny too, seemed to have turned to stone.

Hermione exclaimed, "Of course! Why didn't I see it?"

All eyes turned to Hermione.

"Don't you see? As long as Voldemort can't kill you both together, you both will live!" she explained triumphantly.

Dumbledore chuckled. "As always, Miss Granger, you are one step ahead of the pack. Should Voldemort try to kill you Harry, Ginny will be able to help save you by taking part of the impact herself. As long as she is somewhere safe. That's a very important part. Should Voldemort catch you both together, he can simply kill you both at the same time."

Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Ginny. She was staring at Dumbledore incredulously. He covered her hand with his own.

"So then, what you're saying is that as long as I'm not with Harry, he'll be protected from Voldemort?" she asked quietly.

There was compassion in Dumbledore's eyes as he nodded.

Harry felt a glad leap in his heart. "And Gin will be too?"

"Yes Harry. It's a strange twist of fate, but it seems that your separation will be your salvation."

Ginny pulled Harry up. "Excuse us?"

"Of course." Dumbledore smiled over his glasses.

They crossed the room together and stared into the fireplace.

"Harry, I'm sorry." Ginny's eyes didn't turn from the fire. He could see them fill with tears.

"Me too Gin." Pulling her into his embrace, he lay his head on hers. They stood in silence, watching the bright flames crackle and dance.

"Well," Ginny straightened up and swiped her eyes. "I guess there's only one thing to do."

"You'll stay here?" Harry pushed her hair back and leaned his forehead against hers. "Gin, I know it's not what you want. I know you want to fight. But think about it! I can face Voldemort knowing you're safe. It's also kind of nice knowing I will be too." He smiled and kissed her softly.

She sighed. "Who can pass up a deal like this? To be able to let you go and know that I can help keep you alive?" A huge smile broke suddenly across her face. "I may act like a hysterical prat at times, but I'm not stupid."

Harry grabbed her up in his arms; swinging her up and around as joy surged up to transform his despair into something more akin to bittersweet hope. Their love had borne fruit that neither could have anticipated. They would take full advantage of it as they faced the future – each protecting the other by fighting alone.