Chapter 4
Rowan rubbed her temples gingerly, attempting to forestall an imminent tension headache, and considered returning to her laboratory briefly for a headache potion. If she didn't get some rest soon, she would need it.
The nearby clock struck eleven and she made a mental note to check on Ginny again soon. Harry was there, of course, - he refused to leave - and she'd set charms on Ginny that would alert her if there were any changes, but Rowan also checked up in person occasionally.
Hermione was asleep, comfortably settled in a soft bed with extra cushioning charms. Ron was asleep next to her. Grandfather was . . . somewhere. Harry was asleep with a horrible crick in his neck slated for morning. Rowan considered simply resettling the pair in Harry's bed to prevent that. A mischievous smile crept over her lips. The sheer embarrassment factor he'd experience in the morning would make it worth it.
She was fairly confident that Remus and Morgaine weren't asleep, but she didn't really care to dwell on that as Morgaine was her younger sister and Remus her close friend. Her older best friend. Rowan knew Remus was taking the death of his one-time student badly. She herself had taught Neville for three years! However, Rowan had found herself too busy to fully assimilate everything. Later she'd think, and later she'd need deal with loosing yet another loved one to Voldemort's poison.
Rowan winced as the dull ache in her head sharpened, but decided not to go brew another potion. Much as she loved potion making, she didn't relish the idea of leaning over a boiling cauldron any more that night. What she anticipated was the idea of snuggling into her bed and her husband's arms and ignoring the rest of the household and the day's hellish events for a few hours.
As thought summoned by the thought, Sirius appeared just behind his wife and pulled her into his arms. "Tired?" he queried softly. Rowan leaned back with a soft smile and nodded. "Coming to bed, then?"
She sighed and turned so she could resettle herself against his lean form with her arms wrapped loosely about his waist. "Not yet. I've still got a few things to do."
"Yeah, like come with me, take a hot bath, and crawl into bed for a few hours," he grinned, reaching down slightly to pull her into a promising kiss.
"Feeling neglected, are we?" she teased after a few seconds of busy silence.
"Whenever you're out of the room," he agreed amiably. "So, what's it going to take to convince you to call it a night?"
"That smile you're wearing usually does the trick," she chuckled. "Help me square away Harry, would you?"
"Harry?" Sirius looked rather confused.
Rowan nodded against his chest, an unseen smile creeping across her lips. "I thought Harry would appreciate being moved into his bed."
"Wrapped around Ginny Weasley as he is?" Sirius raised an eyebrow and looked down at the witch in his arms. Rowan merely looked up and smiled innocently at him. Sirius fought back a laugh. Rowan was many things; innocent wasn't one of them. "Matchmaking, are we?"
Rowan smiled enigmatically.
~*~
Harry awoke slowly the next morning, languidly stretching in the filtered light. Luckily, he couldn't remember any of his dreams from the night before, but previous experiences had taught him that they wouldn't be pleasant. That was one of the downsides to being an Auror and The Boy Who Lived. Regular contact with Voldemort, Death Eaters, and dark magic made for excellent nightmare fodder.
He snuggled closer to the spot of warmth beside him trying to remember, in his half-awake state, when he had bought such a cuddly teddy bear. Harry opened his eyes and found his face nestled in a crown of red hair.
Harry sat up abruptly. Red hair? He groaned when he realized that he and Ginny were in bed together. Luckily their clothes were still on, at least that was one thing he wouldn't have to explain to Ron.
"Wait a minute." His unconscious screamed at him. "Since when are we having thoughts like THAT about Ginny."
Ginny stirred slightly. Harry tried to untangle himself, but his efforts only resulted in a protesting wordless mumble from Ginny as she cuddled herself against him, her arms thrown around his neck.
"This is not good." Harry glanced at the clock on the bedside table. At least he had a few hours before anyone else would be stirring. That meant he could spend a few hours in bed, pray that she relaxed her vise-grip between now and then, and hurry and slip out before Ginny awakened.
"Harry, what are you doing?"
Harry turned his head and glanced guiltily at Ron.
Ron strode into the room, leaving the door ajar. He looked back at Harry speechless.
"Well, I . . . Um . . ." Harry shut his mouth when he realized nothing was coming out.
"You're lucky Mum and Dad aren't here."
Harry shook his head, picturing what trouble he'd be in if the rest of Ginny's family was here. Especially her five other overprotective brothers. If Percy had walked in on him...
"Ron, I swear nothing happened. I was sitting in the chair and Ginny fell asleep and I-"
"Harry, time for breakfast." Sirius appeared in the open doorway and Harry fell back against his pillow muttering darkly.
"What's next?" He demanded loudly of the ceiling. "Someone taking pictures."
Sirius grinned devilishly and Harry groaned. "Let me guess, you did that last night."
Sirius laughed and continued on to the breakfast room. Ron walked over to the bed and proffered Harry a hand. "Come on, mate, let's get something to eat and let the girls sleep."
"But Ginny . . . " Harry started in concern and Ron threw a look at his death-pale sister snuggled comfortably in a sea of green.
"Gin'll be fine," Ron assured him. "I doubt anything goes on in this house without Rowan knowing about it." As if on cue, a three-headed snake slithered into the room and coiled up the bedpost. Rune flicked its three tongues at Harry and nodded in greeting.
"We will watch over the youngling," it hissed softly, undulating up to Ginny's side.
"What's it saying?" Ron asked Harry curiously. Harry blinked.
"Rune says it'll look after Ginny for us. See?" Harry pointed to the runespoor, who had taken up an alert position amidst the sheets, each head pointing a different way. Nothing could enter or leave the room without Rune seeing.
Harry and Ron followed after Sirius. Harry paused to throw one last worried glance over his shoulder and saw Rune coiled comfortably in Ginny's lap. Two of its heads lay on the bed, seemingly asleep and relaxed, however, when Harry looked closely, he noticed the occasional flicker of a tongue or the shift of an eye. The middle head raised itself and nodded solemnly to Harry. Satisfied that Ginny would be well protected, Harry quickly followed after Ron.
Rowan was conspicuous in her absence at the breakfast table. A dark-haired wizard slumped over the table more than made up for her absence. He was trying to inhale a large cup of very strong coffee.
"Bad night at the Department Ger?" Sirius asked jovially.
"Don't ask," the older wizard grumbled. He stared Harry and Ron through red-rimmed eyes as they sat down, then went back to his unsuccessful attempts to drink coffee. The dark liquid dribbled down his chin and onto his robe.
Sirius rescued the coffee mug from Ger's hand and dipped his finger inside. He swore soundly as he burnt his finger on the hot liquid. Sirius put his finger in his mouth in an effort to cool it down. "Are you trying to scald yourself to death?"
Ger shook his head and stared back in incomprehension. "What?"
Sirius glanced at Harry and Ron. They were consuming their breakfast at a lightning-rate and not paying any attention to him or Ger. Sirius shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry to do this Ger, but we need you awake right now." Sirius pulled his wand from his robe and pointed it at the younger wizard murmuring a spell beneath his breath.
A silvery-purple mist shot from his wand and enfolded Ger. He took several deep breaths and raised himself from his slouched position. The black circles around his eyes began to diminish and his pinched expression was changed for a more relaxed look.
Ger ran his fingers absently through his dark hair. He looked up at Sirius thankfully, a weak smile on his face. A flicker of motion from the corner of his eye caused him to turn his head.
"Where are you going?"
Harry and Ron stood at the kitchen door clearly on their way out. They turned back to Ger and Sirius. "We're going to look around outside." Harry answered.
Ger glanced at Sirius and then back at Harry and shook his head. "I'm afraid that you'll need to stay inside today."
"What?!" Ron and Harry shouted in shocked disbelief.
"You'll have to trust me on this. The situation is too dangerous . . ."
"We've handled Death Eaters before!" Ron protested loudly. Harry stomped out of the kitchen with Ron following in his wake.
The two outfitted themselves quickly and went to the front door.
"I don't think so!" Rowan's voice sounded from behind them. Harry and Ron turned carefully to see the dark-haired witch herself standing in the doorway, her white robes flaring about her like a tempestuous cloud, and her wand resting dangerously at her side. "Everyone is confined to the castle until further notice. You two," she nailed Harry and Ron with a severe look, "will not meddle for a change. Now get out of your cloaks and finish your breakfast."
Harry and Ron stared at Rowan like she'd grown an extra head. She rarely lost her temper, nor did she bother to order the others very often. However, at that moment, she was drawing on every iota of authority and command fifteen years of leading the Myfanwy Clan had molded into her. They trailed her into the kitchen dutifully shedding their outer layer of clothing.
"Grandfather, I need to speak with you," she addressed the eldest wizard at the table respectfully. Merlin immediately nodded and rose. He didn't look the slighted bit troubled by his granddaughter's uncharacteristic mood, and gently shooed his eldest grandchild out of the room for their conference. A small smile crept onto Rowan's face as she swept out again.
Harry and Ron sat down to plates of kippers and eggs and ate soundlessly. They tried to ignore the smirk on Sirius' face or the complete absence of expression on Ger's.
"I want both of you to promise me that you'll stay inside today."
"Why?" Ron demanded.
"Ger," Rowan reentered the kitchen. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She could feel her headache coming on again. "Just tell them. I really don't have patience for the games this morning."
Ger shook his head, then nodded it in agreement when Rowan gave him a stern look. "Neville and Ginny weren't the only ones attacked by Death Eaters last night. Several high profile wizards and witches were targeted as well. They were our supporters during the war. The most powerful, at least. Several died, including the Head of the Department."
Harry and Ron glanced at each other. Neither knew what the head of the Department of Mysteries did exactly. No wizard outside of the Department really knew. Being head a secretive government organization made for interesting speculation.
"Can we help?" Harry asked quietly.
"Just stay inside. We don't want to lose anyone else."
Harry and Ron nodded silently. They left the kitchen and headed back upstairs.
Rowan watched them leave and then looked at Ger. "You didn't tell them everything."
"Would they have believed me?"
"Probably not. We'll have to tell them eventually."
"I'll leave that up to you. I have a department to put back together."
~*~*~*~
Harry wandered aimlessly through the castle corridors. He wanted to visit Ginny, but Rowan had banned Harry from her (his!) room, stating that Ginny needed rest more than anything. Ron busied himself by taking up breakfast to Hermione and Ger and Sirius conveniently disappeared so Harry couldn't ask them any questions.
"Mr. Harry Potter, sir." A house-elf squeaked impatiently. Harry roused himself from his daze and stared down at the elf.
"What is it?"
"You musts be opening the door, Mr. Harry Potter, sir. Or else the man said he would blows it up."
"What?" Harry asked in disbelief.
The house-elf tugged at the bottom of his robe. "Please come, Harry Potter. The spell can only be broken by one of the family members."
Harry pulled his robe from his wand and followed the house-elf cautiously. He came to the door and smiled when he heard the pounding and sound of several excited voices on the other side. He lowered his wand as he picked out several familiar ones.
"Stop that, Charlie. Someone will come eventually."
"They'd better, or my next set of clothing will include a pair of human-hide boots!"
"Stop pacing, Father. It's not dignified."
The pounding resumed.
"Would someone open this bloody door?"
Harry glanced at the house-elf. "Is there a new spell on it? "
The elf nodded. "Master Ger put one on this morning to keep out bad peoples. You musts open the door. It is keyed to you."
Harry stepped forward and placed his hand on the knob. The doorknob heated and glowed a molten red. After a moment, the heat disappeared and the door swung silently open.
The Weasley family was pushed inside by an unseen hand and the door shut firmly behind them.
"My bag!" Percy protested. He reached down to the doorknob, but a flash of lightning pushed him away. Percy fell to the ground in an undignified posture. He glared at the door accusingly not noticing the hem of his robe on fire.
A bucket of water appeared in the air and tipped its contents onto Percy's face. "Oops," Bill said and directed the bucket to the bottom of Harry's robe.
Mrs. Weasley enfolded Harry in a hug. "How have you been dear? We were so worried about everything. Where's Ginny?"
"I'm fine. Ginny's up in . . ." Harry cut himself off abruptly.
"Ginny's where dear?"
"Upstairs sleeping," Harry finished. No need to tell them exactly where she was sleeping.
Harry led the way up the stairs. Rowan had ordered him not to disturb Ginny, but he didn't think it extended to her family. ::Yeah right,:: his inner voice whispered at him. The Weasley's followed after him in a herd, with a lot of elbow jabbing and cries of protest.
Harry stopped outside his door. "You'll need to be quiet. She's sleeping. Maybe only a few visitors at a time."
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Arthur and I will go first."
Harry opened his door and stepped aside so they could enter.
Mrs. Weasley's scream echoed through the castle. Harry rushed in and looked around the room. Ginny was gone.
~*~*~*~