Chapter Twenty: One Last Secret



Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. Its all J.K. Rowling's.


Ginny didn't know who much more she could take. It wasn't that the Cruciatus Curse was too painful, well it was, but that wasn't the problem. Her main problem was fighting it. After fighting Voldemort for three years she had learned how to fight each of the Unforgivables, however, it took a lot of strength. It was also hard for her to hear her daughter scream in pain. She could also seen Harry double over whenever Reagan was hit with the curse. Ginny was loosing energy with each moment of pain.

"Ginny, don't be dead, please don't be dead," Harry's voice echoed in her head, a memory from a long, long time ago. Ginny opened her eyes, the pain receding from her limbs. She saw Harry gathering himself and standing up, looking ill, but determined. Barandor had his back to Harry and Ginny could see the sparks fly in her husband's eyes.

"Daddy," Reagan whispered, her eyes tightly shut. "Don't let my pain hurt you."

"Crucio," Barandor said and the pain came back to Ginny. She saw Harry clench his stomach, but he remained standing. The pain stopped again.

"Daddy, don't let it effect you," Reagan whispered. Harry glanced at the three of them before Ginny shut her eyes from the returning pain. She felt Reagan grasp her hand and when the pain stopped, Reagan squeezed her mother's hand. This gave Ginny strength.

"Shut you mind," Hermione whispered.

"Huh?" Reagan whispered back. Harry and Barandor were provoking to each other again and the three where forgotten for the time being.

"Shut your mind," Hermione repeated. "Mentally think of a closed door slamming shut. If your thoughts can't get to Harry, then he won't be in pain--Oh!" The pain had returned, but this time, Harry didn't flinch. He looked up at the three of them, hovering in mid air, surprised at the absence of pain. Barandor was surprised as well.

"Crucio!" Barandor yelled, doubling the Baranger's curse. Ginny forced her eyes to stay open.

And the most interesting thing happened.

Ginny knew Harry's stories of the times when he had lost control. There was the time he blew up his aunt, and once he shattered a vase in the Gryffindor common room. But she had never actually seen him do it. She knew how powerful his magical ability was when he was calm, but had never witnessed first hand what it could actually become when he was angered. And for the first time in her life, Ginny was honestly terrified of her husband.

She could see his fists clench in anger and he closed his eyes. He took a few deep breaths but it didn't seem to calm him down. Even James noticed the change in his father and made an effort to lean away from his direction as if his father was going to explode. Barandor, however, did not notice this at all. He was smirking in Harry's direction when suddenly he made a choking sound. Grabbing at his throat, he dropped his wand which in turn dropped a bit of the Cruciatus Curse he held on the three. The Baranger, who was casting the Cruciatus Curse, dropped his curse as well and moved to his master's aid. Harry threw his hand out to the approaching Baranger, throwing his back against the wall. Immediately all Barangers in the room moved towards Harry, who did not let go of his magical grip on Barandor's throat.

"Stupefy!" someone yelled and Ginny turned to see George run towards them from the main hallway, with Ron, Lance, Imaera and Draco behind him. A few Barangers turned towards them and soon curses where flying everywhere.

"Mum!" Reagan whispered.

"Reagan, stay still!" Ginny instructed.

"I think we'll be safer up here anyway," Hermione commented, catching her breath. "What's Draco doing here?"

"Accio!" Harry cried and his wand flew off of the table and into his hand. "Stupefy!" A Baranger fell to the floor. Harry still had not released his magical grip on Barandor's throat and the man continued to gag.

"Potter!" Draco growled. "You can't kill him!"

"I have every right to!" Harry yelled.

"Harry don't!" Ginny cried. She didn't want to see her husband kill anyone, nor did she want her daughter and son to witness it either. Harry looked at Ginny and Reagan and then at James. He released Barandor who fell to the floor, gasping for air.

"Confluct Infensus Infinitus!" Harry cried, waving his wand over his head. All Barangers in the room stopped moving and the curses ceased.

"Draco," Barandor spat. Harry pulled the man to his feet and bound him. Imaera and Lance were disarming and binding all the stiff Barangers.

"Shut up!" Draco telled at his cousin. "You've caused enough pain all ready."

"What would you know?" Barandor retorted. "I served my time, and now my time as the Lord has come. You wouldn't know of pain, Draco! Or servitude or loyalty!" Barandor cried.

"I said shut it, Kevin!" Draco yelled. His cousin glared harder.

"I see why Voldemort didn't want you," Barandor said cooly. "You are worthless. Your own father didnÕt even want you."

"My father was a coward," Draco replied. "Why would I want to beg for his approval?"

"Because you're a disgrace to wizardry!" Barandor cried. "Voldemort gave you one task, one simple task, and you couldn't even kill him!" Barandor and Draco looked at Harry who stood silent and still.

"So you thought that by creating the ultimate witch and killing Potter would make you as good as Voldemort?" Draco asked.

"No," Barandor replied. "It would me make me superior to Voldemort."

"Voldemort was a coward," Draco said. "And he's dead. Some name to live up to."

"You are the coward!" Barandor cried. "All you had to do was kill him, you could have even made it look like an accident. But instead you turned your back, like a coward. You went into hiding, too afraid to show your face."

"Wrong, I went into hiding to get away from Voldemort and my father. And yes, I refused to kill Potter." Draco said bitterly, glaring at his cousin. Harry was amazed to see such hatred between Draco and his cousin. He thought that only he and Dudley hated each other this much.

"That was why you didn't join the Death Eaters?" Harry asked Draco. He didn't answer.

"Draco..." Lance warned.

"Yes," Draco hissed, turning to Harry. "Before you got branded with the Death Mark, you had to complete a task of loyalty. Mine was to dispose of you."

"Why didn't you do it?" Harry asked.

"For Merlin's sake, Potter, it was nineteen years ago," Draco replied. "It doesn't matter now."

"Why didn't you do it?" Harry asked again, slightly raising his voice. Draco stared at Harry, daring to not respond. It was as direct question from a superior, the Commander in Chief even. He had to answer.

"Because my father was a coward and a liar," Draco replied. "I was not about to follow in his footsteps. I knew that you were the only one who could stop Voldemort and end everything."

"And because you were a coward!" Barandor added.

"Silentium!" Harry and Draco both cried in unison. Both wizards cast their Silencing Spell so strongly that it knocked Barandor out.

"So you refused to kill me," Harry repeated, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh don't get all sentimental, Potter," Draco spat. "It was almost twenty years ago."

Harry smiled and patted Draco on the shoulder.

"Careful, Potter," Draco spat. He glared at Harry and turned to walked away. "Seeing as though this mess in under control, I'm going home now."

"I expect to see you on the field next Wednesday!" Harry yelled at his back.

"Next Wednesday?" Ginny cried. George and Ron had released them from their binding and she ran to her husband.

"Yes, next Wednesday," Harry replied. "That gives me a few days at home to rest up."

"Home?" Ginny asked. "We're going home?" Harry nodded and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Daddy!" Reagan cried.

"Hey!" He scooped her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Aren't I always?" he responded. His daughter nodded.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," she replied. "I'm just a bit tired."

"That's understandable," Harry said. He moved to hug Hermione who blushed as she wiped tears away from her eyes.

"You know, there wasn't a moment where I didn't think you'd come for us," Ginny said to her husband.

"I told you, Ginny," he said. "A long time ago I saved your life. I vowed afterwards to never let you get hurt again. I'll always rescue you." Harry hugged his wife and let a tear roll down his cheek.

"Oh Harry!" Hermione cried and threw her arms around him again. Harry patted her back affectionately before she let go and threw her arms around her own husband.

"That was definitely, urm, interesting," James said coming up next to his father, rubbing his wrists.

"James," Ginny and Harry both said before engulfing their eldest son into a hug.

"Where's Darenn?" Harry asked, glancing around the room.

"He's coming," Lance replied. "He remained outside, out of harm's way."

"Good thinking," Harry said and shook his colleague's hand. "Thanks."

"That was pretty impressive, Harry," Imaera said to him. "The whole wandless magic bit was pretty intense."

"Its not a regular thing," Harry answered.

"But it was cool!" James exclaimed and everyone laughed. Soon Darenn, Remus, Andrew, and the younger Aurors filed into the room followed by Josh, Clyde Harrison and Frank Migee.

"So this is our man," Frank Migee said walking to the unconscious body of Baraondor.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied. "Meet Lord Barandor, also known as Kevin Brown."

"Doesn't look all that dangerous," Harrison said. "Who'd have known?"

"Well he is quite dangerous, sir," Harry answered. "Ah, Mr. Migee, I'd like you to meet Hermione Weasley, the British Minister of Magic. Hermione, Frank Migee, the American Minster of Magic."

"Nice to meet you," Hermione said shaking his hand. "I'm sorry it had to be under these circumstances."

"Quite all right," Frank said shaking her head.

"Where's Kelsey?" Andrew asked.

Harry glanced around for the little girl, having completely forgotten about her.

"There she is," Erika pointed. Lying on a blanket in the corner was the sleeping form of Kelsey, completely oblivious to what had just happened.

"The poor thing!" Hermione cried taking a step towards her.

"Hermione, she's fine," Ron said following his wife. "She's lucky she slept through it."

Harry chuckled as the two lightly bickered about Kelsey.

"You about ready?" Harry asked Reagan. She glanced up at him.

"Daddy, I am definitely ready to go home."

"Good," he replied. "'Cause I am too."
A/N: I researched the actual incantation for the Silenceing Charm, but one is never given. So I made one up. There is a Star Wars reference. He he he, I was having a bit of fun with these references lately. Ah!!! The end!!! Well, almost......(*grins mischievously*)