** Dimension Wander **

By Tvillinger

Life Two -- Part Two

Sunlight was the reward for their patience and effort. Pure, unaltered sunlight that tickled her face and made her breath catch in her throat. She could hardly breath, but when she did she nearly fell over in ecstasy. So clean, so fresh, air like heaven when compared to the staleness of the castle, compared to the staleness she never realized before. She stood tall, stretching her arms toward the sun and basked.

Beside her, Harry smiled, releasing the dry to fly ecstatic circles in the air.

His smile was forced.

After about an hour's labor of slowly canceling out the twins' spells long enough to pass them, he felt that his work had brought a rather depressing reward. Hogsmeade was completely ruined. The two, coming up from beneath the trap door in Honeydukes, had to push away broken chairs, shattered glass, and what seemed like a lifetime of dust to even open the store's front door. Ginny hadn't noticed. She had probably never known what a happy, alive place the village was, having been born into dark times and living in them her entire life, but to Harry it was the stuff of nightmares.

Stepping out into the town itself almost made him sick with horror.

Decay was everywhere and the magical village was like a ghost town. He should have expected this, or at least something like this, but he didn't, and seeing the destruction was like a physical blow. Hogsmeade, to him, had always been a happy place, a place where wizards could just mingle together without fear, where they could get roaring drunk and sing off tune while everyone else laughed. That's what it had been like before, when he was visiting with his friends. Of course, they never let him drink; they always said he was too young-

Another dimension, Harry reminded himself.

Everything was burned down or ready to collapse as the two students carefully made their way down the ruined streets. Ginny, eyes wide, hardly noted the destruction, too busy looking at the sky or squinting towards the sun, too amazed at the outside world but Harry was noting each and every object with a heavy weight in his stomach. Even if he had guessed before what the damage could have been like, he wouldn't have been prepared for it. Nothing could prepare him for this.

'It's what happens when something goes wrong by going right,' the thought snickered at him. 'It's what would've happened if your parents lived.'

There wasn't a living soul in sight, only swarms of flies and maggots, only legions of rats and snakes. And though no bodies were lying in open view, his nose wrinkled at the smell of death that corrupted what could have been clear air.

'At least there's no bodies,' he thought gratefully, not knowing how Ginny would've reacted when coming out of the castle for the first time just to be confronted by the sight of bodies littered across the ground. He winced as one of the nearby buildings groaned, dangerously close to collapse, and glanced over to the overjoyed Ginny. 'And at least she's happy.'

They walked around, Ginny oblivious to the expression on Harry's face as he got sicker and sicker, looking at the ruins and remembering the old building's inhabitants. An old lady who used to sell the best cookies, Madam Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks, Mr. Zonka's and his crazy inventions... There were too many faces, and finally he turned to Ginny. "Let's go somewhere else," he suggested, touching her arm and grabbing the drifting dragon's tail, apparating before she could even respond.

The two twinkled out of existence, not knowing that a pair of eyes had watched them.

*

"I can tell your expressions," the dark voice was saying as a single rat scurried into the room, "that nothing has been accomplished."

"My Lord, we have done almost everything you've asked-"

"Silence! Almost means nothing to me. Either you have completed your task, or you will suffer the consequences." There was a pause as everyone knew what was going to happen. "Very well."

The rat transformed back to a human just as torturous screams filled the air, and he cowered in the back, not wanting to give his report until the screams had stopped, not wanting to risk even the slightest bit of pain. When the screams finally stopped and all that was left was harsh breathing, Peter finally took a half step forward.

The crowds of Death Eaters parted, not wanting to be nearby if the rat brought bad news. Peter kneeled on the floor, so low that his forehead almost touched the ground and he could see his sweat drip from his forehead to puddle on the cold stone. "I bring news." Voldemort, sitting high above the rest in his chair of frozen stone, didn't bat an eye as he waited for his spy to continue. "Two students have broken out of Hogwarts-"

The Death Eaters started jeering, making a tumult of racket that drowned the rest of Peter's words out. Students, breaking out of Hogwarts? What kind of idiots would do such a thing? But they quickly quieted when Voldemort raised his head to stare at Peter. "Who?" the man asked in his quiet, dangerous voice.

Now Peter shivered. He'd only barely noticed the students before they left, and now that he thought about it they couldn't be who he really thought they were. His eyes must have been playing tricks on him. "I-I didn't see, master. They had the ability to apparate and were gone before I could catch them."

"Apparate?" Voldemort repeated, lips turned up into a wicked smile. "Well, seventh years?" He stood, black robes sweeping up behind him like majestic wings, and paced down the stairs. The Death Eaters parted again, all dropping to the floor as he came and left, and all watching with curious eyes. Voldemort didn't stop as he called out, "Lucius, Severus, come to me."

Two Death Eaters stood and followed, as well as Peter.

As Voldemort walked past the doors and rounded a corner, he stopped at a suit of armor. His castle had been shaped after Hogwarts, a demented and dark version of the ancient school and one that he felt very much at home in. The suit of armor carefully saluted and moved, letting Voldemort into the entrance behind it. His three Death Eaters followed.

"This news comes at the best of timing, Wormtail," he called behind his shoulder, smirking when he heard the rat give a whimper. He led them through the passage with a slow expectancy, knowing that all had craved to enter this place for their own purposes. Lucius to see what secrets were hidden down here, Wormtail to prove his worth to Voldemort, and Severus... Yes, and Severus, Voldemort thought to himself, glancing back to the Potions Master. Severus wanted to gain more information to feed the old fool back at school.

The rat squeaked some reply and Voldemort laughed, pausing to turn around and face his servant. "What timing, you ask? How could you not know?" He turned and started walking again but continued his conversation. "If these two you saw truly are students, seventh years at Hogwarts, then they surely know a way to get back into the school seeing as how they've gotten out of it." He turned one last corner and could see his servants becoming apprehensive at the glow coming from the other end of the room. "And if they know that information, they will certainly be willing to share the knowledge with us."

'Which is more than you can,' Voldemort snarled as he looked back at Severus. The professor, in order to engage in his spying duties, had set up a certain system with Dumbledore, a passageway in and out of the castle that, unfortunately, would only allow him to pass through. If anyone else tried to enter through this way, the passage would alight with spells and curses, even collapsing if its magic didn't stop the intruder. Voldemort knew; he had tried to pass through already, and the escapade had cost him a dozen of his men.

Severus was no longer truly a spy; he was a delegate between the two warring powers, the only contact old Dumbledore had of the outside world, the only contact Voldemort had of the inside of Hogwarts.

As if the professor knew what he was thinking about, Severus turned and faced Voldemort. It was quite funny, Voldemort thought to himself as he looked the Potions Master back in the eye, starting a staring contest between the two, that the only person who could stand to look him in the eye more than a moment was the person he trusted least. Severus looked away first after a few moments at a sound coming from down the hall towards the light, and Voldemort motioned for them to go on without him.

He knew what they would find: the broken bones and bodies of countless individuals, the infamous torture chambers of this castle, but that wasn't what he had brought them down for. It was the map hung to the wall with its glowing dots, dots that represented legions of Death Eaters and Dark Creatures, all preparing themselves about the school of Hogwarts, all preparing themselves for the greatest of battles. He trailed in after a second, careful to keep his robes clean of the bloody floor and noting with distaste that none of the three had done the same.

They stood with open mouths, and he nearly laughed aloud at them. Did they never realize how powerful he was, how ready he was to take over the world and accomplish that which he had set out to do? What kind of fools were they to miss the many hints, the many signs he'd dropped?

"As you can see," he started, making them all jump and spin around to face him, "even if we don't catch those two students, our forces will soon overwhelm even Dumbledore. But having a secret way in would be," he licked his lips in anticipation at the thought, "most rewarding."

He dropped his head for a moment, thinking of the future and past, skipping over the present time, then began to lead them from his planning area and past the guarding knight who saluted again. "Tell everyone," he murmured before dismissing the group, "that the reward for catching the two students will be greater than imagination." The three nodded. "You may go--except for you, Severus. I need to discuss some matters with you." The three bowed and soon only Severus remained.

Voldemort motioned with a hand. "Come."

They stared around the corner, walking through the castle and for a moment he let nothing but silence enter the conversation, but finally spoke as he noticed the professor's eyebrow twitching. "I needed to ask you if anything has been discovered about the boy's power."

Who 'the boy' was wasn't a question to either of them. Severus looked up for a moment then looked back down in thought. "No," he answered softly after a pause. "The headmaster had his suspicions and went to talk to the boy, but now doesn't say anything."

"What suspicions?" Voldemort asked immediately. "The diary?"

"Yes. He knew what was on it, though not how it got into the school."

"Of course not." Severus seemed to wince. "You enjoy your reward."

"Yes," came the immediate, expected answer. Anything less would have brought down tremendous consequences on the unsatisfied victim.

"He suspects the boy, then, of becoming dark?" A nod, and Voldemort grinned. "What a foolish idea."

Severus whirled about, staring at Voldemort in disbelief. "Then it's not true?"

The Dark Lord shook his head. "What use would I have of another Gryffindor? The one I have now is trouble enough." He stopped and examined the Potions Master. "However, I do expect more from you next time. I will call one last meeting before the final battle, and by that time I wish to know the secret of the boy's power increase." It was an order and a threat mixed together.

Severus bowed low. "Yes, master." Then he left, taking the silence as a leave to go.

*

The earth and sky were only gone for about a second, but when they came back into sight, Ginny screamed and fell down. At her scream, the golden dragon took off in the air, snapping sharp jaws in reproof and annoyance.

Alarmed, Harry tried to help her up. "Ginny, what's wrong?"

She looked at him with wide-open eyes, fear written within them. "What did you do?" she screeched, backing away from him when he tried to help her up. "Who are you?"

Harry frowned in confusion. "Who do you think I am?" he asked. "Harry."

"You're not Harry. Harry doesn't know how to apparate."

"Ohhhh." Harry's forehead wrinkled and he cautiously took a seat beside the frightened Weasley. "That's right." She glared at him, scooting away and Harry helplessly spread his arms out. "I guess I do know." Above, the dragon spiraled, then shot after a bird. Harry glanced at it, scowling. "Look at it," he pointed the golden speck out. "You'd think it could have some courtesy and at least thank me for bringing it along."

"Liar!" Ginny jumped to her feet and took off.

They'd apparated to a clearing at the top of a small hill, overlooking a valley green and bright and full of life. Harry had tried to apparate to where his family's house was supposed to be, the house that Sirius and Remus had modified slightly, but there was nothing in the clearing. Butterflies twirled happily, and bees buzzed, but it might has well been an alien planet with no sign of human contact.

Ginny ran down the hill towards the creek, but Harry took a moment to take in the area. He scratched the back of his head. "Must not have been enough time with the war," he murmured to himself, before yelling out to Ginny, "Wait up!"

She didn't, of course. She kept on running until she stumbled and rolled head over hills the rest of the way. Harry, from his view point at the top of the hill, let out a burst of laughter, clutching at his sides before almost reluctantly trotting down the hill after her. "Ginny? You all right?"

"Get away from me!" she shouted, scurrying to her feet with a branch held out threateningly before her.

Harry held his arms in the air, trying to keep an innocent expression on his face. "Ginny, it's me. Harry. I'm not going to hurt you."

"You can't be Harry," the redhead countered passionately. When he took a step forward, she swung the branch out. "Stay back, I'm warning you-"

"What exactly do you think you're going to do with that?" Harry shot back, getting exasperated. "Here," he motioned with his hands, summoning the branch, "give me that. Now, will you calm down?"

Ginny gave him a tearful expression and her legs collapsed beneath her. "I'm going to die, aren't I?" she asked in a quiet, whimpering voice.

Harry rolled his eyes, tossing the branch out of reach, and he took a seat beside the panicked first year. "Of course not. You're being a little silly, but when you calm down I'm sure you'll realize how funny this whole situation is."

"But you can't be Harry," Ginny continued to protest, shivering. "I can see it all now. Harry's only twelve, so he couldn't have been able to fight Tom. And he wouldn't know how to get past all those traps the twins set." She clenched her hands into fists so hard the skin paled. "How could I have been so stupid?"

Harry frowned lightly, not knowing how to get Ginny out of her phase. What in the world was wrong with her? At least she'd calmed down enough to stop threatening him. With a tree branch, of all things! He spotted a purple daisy growing nearby, looking as if it had barely escaped Ginny's tumble down the hill, and with deliberate gentleness, he plucked it from the ground. "Here, you said you wanted a flower. At least I can give you this much, even if you don't believe I'm who I am."

"Thank you," she muttered absently, taking the flower from his hands; hers were shaking with fear.

He sighed and laid back in the grass. "You're ruining this, you know," he bluntly informed her. "I was planning a nice getaway from that stuffy castle, and now here I am feeling guilty for bringing you along."

The dragon gave up its predatory chase and spiraled back to the ground, fluttering into the grass with an elegant landing. Its jaws snapped at the four leaf clovers, catching a mouthful of seeds instead. With a howl, the dragon's talons clawed at the earth vengefully. Harry picked up a clover and tossed it at the creature, softly hitting it square between the eyes. "Stop that."

"Mum's going to miss me," Ginny went on faintly, eyes glued to the flower in her hands. "She'll probably get really angry, though, because she always told me to be careful. When she finds out I've gone out of the castle with a stranger, she'll say it's my own fault." Her face grew remorseful. "I bet Ron will steal my favorite blanket. He's always wanted it because of how soft it was, even if he says he likes it because of the colors."

Harry snorted, then he stretched and stood up, brushing the grass from his clothes. He looked down at the pale girl. "Listen, I don't know why you've gone all this way, but I'm not going to waste my time out here with just sitting around." He looked across the valley, eyes picking out the creek with the giant tree leaning over, a sort of natural diving board. The dragon, growling angrily at Harry, had settled into a curled up ball, obviously intending to settle down for a long nap. Pointing at the tree, he told her, "If you want me, I'm going to be swimming. Come and join me at anytime. I'm betting the water's better than at Hogwarts."

Ginny didn't give any sign that she'd even heard him, so Harry shrug and took off towards the creek, transfiguring his clothes into a nice set of swimming trunks. He whistled, and the dragon looked up lazily, not wanting to interrupt its sun snooze, but it reluctantly spread its wings and soared towards him.

Harry laughed, climbing up the tree's limbs with an energy that sparked. The castle's walls and enclosures behind him, he enjoyed the bright sun and the fresh air, things he'd previously taken for granted. Jumping into the water was like jumping into an enormous bath, washing off the dirt of stuffy air and tasteless food. The dragon stopped short and let out a sort of barking hiss, jumping from the air to cling to the tree and avoid the splashed water. It flicked its tail at Harry, crawling up to the highest branch.

Ginny slowly stood, her legs wobbly, and she stared at him with an incredulous expression. "What do you think you're doing?" she called out. He didn't answer, taking too much delight in spreading his legs and arms out as far as they could go. Her face turned stony, Ginny stomped over to the creek and stood at its edge, hands on her hips. "Don't you know it's not safe to be out here? There could be Death Eaters right over the hill, coming towards us!"

Harry laughed, splashing at her and ducking under the water when she squealed. Coming back up, he met her anger frown with a grin. "I thought you didn't trust me," he teased. The dragon coiled its tail around the tree branch, watching the interchange with interest.

She huffed, looking away with a blush. "I don't, but I've decided that if you weren't Harry, you'd have tried to kill me by now. Besides, you're the only way back into the castle that I have. But," she fixed him with a glare, "you've better have an explanation for all the stuff you can do. A second year can't do all that."

Harry shrugged. "All right, but you have to come swimming with me first."

"What!"

He nodded, grinning brightly. "Come on! Either you jump in willingly, or I'll toss you in."

Ginny nervously bit her lip. "But Harry, I can't swim."

"Really?" At her nod, he thoughtfully leaned back in the water. "I'll teach you. I promise you won't drown."

A bit hesitantly, Ginny transfigured her own clothing into a swimsuit and took a few steps into the creek before shivering and backing off. "It's freezing!"

"That's the fun part," Harry told her. "It's so cold, you've got no choice but to keep moving or you'll freeze to death."

"You're lying!" she accused, but started back into the creek, one foot at a time until she was up to her hips, shivering at how cold it was. Harry ducked half his face under the water, hiding a grin as he sent a great splash up.

Ginny gasped, trying to jump back but she only succeeding in tripping herself and falling backwards into the water. "Harry!"

He swam off, laughing as she dogpaddled towards him, struggling hard to keep her head above water. Harry watched her a moment with a critical eye, then he glided towards her, gently grabbing hold of one arm. "Here, don't put so much effort into straining your neck, or you'll get tired real quick." He ran a hand across her shoulders, straightening her muscles out. "Try it like this."

A few minutes later, Ginny was paddling water like a pro, a grin on her face. "Harry! I'm swimming!"

"I can see," he answered, smiling as well. She learned quickly.

"I've never swam before--I've never even been near a river or lake."

He nodded, then glided towards her again. "Try to swim like this," he suggested, automatically reaching his hand out to adjust her body. He brushed against her stomach, then froze, a blush on his face as he realized exactly where his hand was. Ginny paused in her paddling as well, cheeks turning a light pink. But in stopping her swimming, she abruptly began to sink, and Harry was treated to an all-out splashing as Ginny regained her balance on the water, so he swam out of the waves' reach.

Both were silent, and Harry cleared his throat before muttering, "You're doing really good, Ginny." He was looking down at the water.

"Thanks," she replied, still blushing as she paddled. The dragon up above croaked out a bite of laughter, and she glared at it. "Go away!" she ordered, splashing at it. The dragon stretched out its wings, still grinning a ferocious grin, and it settled out on the grass, croaking its laughter. "Stupid dragon."

Harry laughed, and she turned on him, glaring. "What's so funny?"

He immediately blushed, ducking his head under water as she splashed him.

*

A few hours later, both were lying out on the grass, letting the sun slowly bake away any water still on their swimsuits. Ginny turned her head toward Harry, a questioning expression on her face. "Are you going to tell me, then?" she asked.

"Tell you what?"

"How you know all that…" She motioned a hand, trying to incorporate all that she'd seen him do. "You promised you would."

"Ohh." Harry leaned back into his elbows, looking up to the sky. The sun was beginning its decent, and soon they'd have to go back or they'd be missed. If they weren't already. But he didn't feel like going anywhere; being here was as peaceful as he'd ever felt, and going back to Hogwarts would break that peace. "I thought I already did."

"No you didn't."

Harry frowned and rolled over to face her. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I remember telling you in that room behind the picture. You know, before Ron and Hermione showed up."

"Ron and who?"

Harry's eyes went wide and he hurriedly rolled to his back. "Um… nothing. Just forget that last part."

Ginny sat up and frowned at him. "You know, this is getting very confusing, Harry Potter. What picture? And who's Hermione?" Her frown deepened. "You better tell me, or I'll tell Dumbledore."

"You don't have to," Harry said, making up a story in his mind. "He already knows. See… um… well, what happened is that Dumbledore thought that I could use some extra training, thought I should be prepared."

She raised an eyebrow. "And why would he do that? It's against school rules, and Dumbledore is too busy to train anyone personally."

"That's what he wants everyone to think!" Harry shot out triumphantly. He relaxed, letting a lazy smile come over his face. "See, he knew that someday or other, I'm going to do something really important, and even though he doesn't want to tell me what he's trying to pet me prepared. And with everyone thinking that he's too busy, no one even begins to suspect."

"And when does he do this?" Ginny demanded, still looking suspicious. "My father once told me that Dumbledore is so busy everyday with the war, he barely has five minutes to himself."

"He has a time turner," Harry quickly explained, picking the first thing that came to his mind. "So once a week, he goes back in time and spends a couple hours teaching me." He grinned, looking Ginny in the eye. "So no matter how full his day is, as long as he has five minutes, he can spend a few hours teaching me. But I'd appreciate that you didn't go around telling everyone this. Who knows what they'd do if everyone found out."

"Who knows, indeed," a third voice murmured quietly.

Harry spun around so fast, the grass seemed to burn his knee. Standing before them was a haggard-looking teenager with his wand out, pointing at the two Hogwarts students. The heavy black robes the teen was wearing didn't seem to bother him, even with the sun's heat, and he motioned at the two of them. "Get up."

"Well, shit," Harry cursed, getting to his feet. "There goes my day." Ginny blinked at him, and her face paled again enough for Harry to realize that she'd gotten burned. The heat on his skin made him wonder if he was sunburned as well. Both scrambled to their feet, shaking the sand off their swimsuits, and the teen examined them.

"Now, what are two students doing out of Hogwarts when the castle is under siege?' the stranger asked with a tone of voice that suggested he really didn't care to know the answer.

Harry looked at the stranger a moment, trying to place the familiar face, and suddenly a name popped into his head. He unthinkingly grinned and took a step forward. "Dale! I almost didn't recognize you!"

Dale Ohno, who had been a seventh year the last time Harry saw him, narrowed his eyes and raised his wand higher when Harry moved, but when his name was said, Dale looked shocked. "Who are you?" he demanded, eyes narrowing further.

"How many times are my friends going to ask me that?" Harry wondered as if to himself, much to the surprise of Ginny and Dale. He grinned again, tilting his head. "It's me, Harry. Remember?" At Dale's expression, Harry's own faltered, then crumbled into resentment. "Ah, that's right. Of course you don't know me." He sighed, shaking his head. "What else can go wrong?" Then he took in the dark robes again, and shook his head. "Forget I asked."

"H-Harry?" Ginny's voice trembled, and she swallowed when Dale turned his glare on her. "Wh-what do you want?"

Dale seemed to consider her question, then shrugged. "I haven't decided yet. You, twerp," he turned to Harry, "are you going to tell me how you know my name?"

"Know you're name?" Harry looked scandalized. "Why would the great Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, Savior of the Modern Wizarding World as we know it, consort with Death Eaters?" Ginny gasped, her eyes going wide for a second before she collapsed in the grass.

Chuckling, Dale said, "It looks like your girlfriend isn't as observant as you." He paused. "And who in the world is Harry Potter?"

"You don't' know?" Harry's shoulders slumped. "The one time I want to be famous, no one recognizes my name." He shrugged an "Oh well," and quickly turned around to whistle through his front teeth.

The unmasked Death Eater winced, then glared. "Stop your noises, boy, or I'll cut off your tongue."

"You used to be so nice," Harry taunted, dropping towards the ground where he'd left his wand next to Ginny's. Dale shot a disarming curse off, and the two wands slipped through Harry's fingers, shooting off towards Dale's outstretched hand. Before Dale could reach them, however, a golden blur shot through the air that much quicker, sharp jaws snatching the wands from the air, and the dragon circled around to bring the wands back to Harry.

Harry chuckled, scratching it's soft spot. "Good boy, now go get him."

"What is that?" Dale watched, letting his wand droop slightly as the dragon leaped back into the air and came back for him. He raised his wand and shot off a spell that sent a wave of wind through the air, disrupting the dragon's path. It eeped, clawing at invisible currents, and gave up, taking to higher air instead.

Dale, thinking the threat taken care of, turned back to curse Harry but the dragon swooped back down, grabbing Dale's wand before flying back up. The boy panicked, looking around for the dragon and only catch sight of it many lengths above ground. "What is that creature?"

"My dragon, of course," Harry answered simply, twirling the two wands in his hands. "With all the times that people ask me that, I'm beginning to think I should hang a sign on it." The wands stopped twirling and Harry pointed them at his one-time friend, deadly serious. "Now, I think I'm going to ask some easy questions, questions that you'll answer."

Above, the dragon screeched, and when Harry looked up he could see it struggling in the air for a moment before it's wings folded and it dove down. His eyes looked around and, somewhat dumbfounded, he noticed a group of wizards standing at the top of the hill, two of which had their wands pointed up at his dragon while the rest were trained on Harry.

He dropped to the floor, barely missing a spell as it cut the air above his head. From the tingling it left behind, he gathered the spell had been an Unforgivable, and therefore the group of wizards were Death Eaters. At least, he hoped they were. It would be really bad to be getting attacked by one's own side with deadly spells.

The dragon screeched again, its wings awkwardly unfolding and folding again, with nothing to stop its fall. Harry cursed, and pointed his wand at the group of wizards, sending a retaliatory spell back to them. The wizards scattered, but not before he hit one with a giggling charm. As luck would have it, that wizard had been the one attacking his dragon, and once his wand was dropped, the dragon was able to spread its wings out again, regaining its elegant flying enough to get out of range.

With that, the Death Eaters let go of whatever restraints had been holding them back, and within a minute, Harry found himself cornered against the creek's tree, ducking behind it as curses flew by. His dragon dropped down to distract his attackers, but then had to struggle away to avoid getting attacked as well.

"Come out, boy!" one yelled.

Harry grinned as he dodged another curse, and yelled back, "I don't think so! Even if my trunks have just dried, I'm willing to swim it out." That brought a pause from the group, as Harry knew it would; curses traveled in a straight line, but water disrupted that just as it did rays of light. If he got under water, there was no real way they could attack him magically, and he knew he was a good enough swimmer to get away. It was a long time since his swimming troubles at the Triwizard Tournament, and Sirius had been sure to instill into him a good love of the water.

"Come out boy," the one repeated again, "or your girlfriend gets it."

Harry almost ran out from behind the tree at that. "Ginny!" he hissed, then cursed as he remembered how she'd fainted there in the grass. How she'd fainted and he'd forgotten. He gingerly climbed up a few branches, not trusting the upper limbs to carry his weight, and looked over to see that two of the Death Eaters were sneakily heading towards him, while two others had surrounded Ginny. Dale was off to the side, sitting in the grass with an angry expression on his face, an expression that Harry had rarely seen. Dale never got angry, never.

His dragon dropped from the sky again, but this time the Death Eaters were waiting for it and it barely squeaked before getting captured. One of the Death Eaters called out, "We've got you're girlfriend and your pet. Either give up or lose them both."

He narrowed his eyes, then sighed. "All right, fine. Just give me a second." The two wizards trying to surround him fell back in surprise when he jumped down from the tree, wand tossed to his feet. "I give up. Just don't hurt them."

The Death Eaters picked up his wand and one cuffed him over the head before spelling ropes to tightly bind him. They dragged him out from behind the tree, not caring that the ropes burned into his skin, and his dragon hissed, struggling to get free despite its own bonds.

One of the Death Eaters, the leader from the looks of it, nodded triumphantly, then motioned for the others to pick up Ginny and the dragon. "Come," he said, "the master will want to meet them."