《••••••••••••••••••••》
A Song of Lightning and Fire
Arc I: Magic
Part IV: The Last Wish
《••••••••••••••••••••》
From up close, the climb up the Mountain of Resurgence- which was what this Mountain was actually called- seemed even more daunting than it did before.
Thankfully, they didn't have to hike all the way up, but the distance they did have to climb would take them four to seven days to cover on an average.
Harry and Ginny found themselves actually looking forward to this climb. Their newfound aversion to adventure was only for the ones that were meant to control them, and they were sure this one wasn't like that.
James and Lily on the other hand, were not a fan of hikes, or adventures outside of Hogwarts in general, something that greatly confused Harry since his Dad seemed like the kind of person who would love doing that.
"Seems weird doesn't it?" Harry asked Ginny as they began their trek.
"Yeah," she said. "Never thought I'd be trekking back to life."
"What will happen, do you reckon?" He asked. "After we get up there. What are you expecting?"
Ginny blinked. "Loads of weird creatures," she said. "What about you?"
"Nothing," Harry said. "And everything."
"That isn't helpful," she replied.
"I mean," Harry began. "I'm expecting nothing, so that I can be prepared for everything, and at the same time, I'm expecting everything so that I can't be surprised."
"That's… wow," she finally said.
"Yeah," Harry muttered. "I should have done that before to be honest. We might not have…" he trailed off, unable to finish that thought.
He saw that James and Lily had stopped, and he increased his pace to catch up with them. They were standing on the edge of a massive ravine, stretching from one side of the path to another.
"We can jump this," James said. "Do you know how to use your Magic to jump?"
Harry and Ginny shook their heads, and Lily stepped forward. "You said you know Wandless Magic, is that correct?" She asked.
Harry and Ginny nodded, and she continued. "Well, it's basically an extension of that. Basically, you call forth your Magic, let it fill you up, and then, when you have it, you run forward, and when you jump, you release the Magic. You can try it out over this ravine, we'll catch you if you fall. James will go first, you can watch him for now."
Harry saw James concentrate, take a few steps back, and run forward, leaping over to the other side of the ravine, not a single scratch on him.
Inspired by this display, Harry too, took a few steps back. He called on his Magic, letting it fill every inch of his body, and he ran forward, releasing the energy outward as he jumped.
He soared through the air and well over the ravine, landing on his knees and hands a few feet away from the edge of the ravine.
"Well done/Congratulations," he heard behind him, and he turned back to see James clapping at him, and Lily instructing Ginny on how to do the jump again.
Ginny nodded at their explanation, and stepped a few metres back. "Take a run up if you need," Lily said as he walked to the edge himself. "There's no pressure."
Harry saw Ginny close her eyes, and furrowed her brow in concentration. When the furrow loosened slightly, he knew she had the feel of the Magic in her body. Her brow loosened even further a few minutes later, and she ran forward and jumped, making it all the way over the edge of the ravine where he was standing, landing just behind where he had.
"Great work," Harry said, causing her to give him a smile.
"Thanks," she said as James and Lily- who had already jumped over- added their own congratulations.
They resumed their trek again, James and Lily leading Harry and Ginny through the trails. Harry and Ginny spent most of the time observing the different plant life, and flowers in the area, pointing out different types of trees, and flowers to each other.
There were some Flowers here that Professor Sprout had told them were extinct in the Living World. Thinking of Professor Sprout made him think of the Herbology classes, which turned into a train of thought that made him think of every other class he took.
He remembered yhe notes he shared with Ginny in Arithmancy so that they could talk without getting caught, the different ideas for Runic objects he and Ginny brainstormed in Runes, the Transfigurations Professor McGonagall taught them, the way Professor Trent always failed Draco when he tried to use his Father's name as a way to get her to give him superior treatment… he missed that normal now, he realized. He missed it all.
"You alright?" Ginny asked. "You look like you're about to be sick."
"I might be," Harry said jokingly. She didn't fall for it. Of course she didn't. "I'm just thinking about our classes."
"At Hogwarts?" She asked.
"Do we have any other classes?" Harry asked dryly, but with a teasing smile.
"Right," Ginny said, flushing slightly. "What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Harry said.
"And everything?" She suggested.
"No, you dolt," Harry replied, gently tugging at her ponytail. "I was just… never mind. I thought of everything we did in classes. And everything we learnt. And that I missed them."
"Oh," she said, looking away. He sighed, he knew she wanted him to go with her, and she was probably not saying anything as she was trying to not let her influence him.
"What is it?" He asked, holding her arm in his hand.
"Nothing," she said, giving him a forced smile. "I'm okay."
Harry was about to ask her not to lie to him, but he decided against it. Really, he appreciated that she didn't want to intrude on his thoughts, but he knew it was still not easy for either of them…
They travelled a little more, jumping over ravines, and small patches of mud. They stopped for a brief lunch and continued on their path upward until the skies started to darken.
"We should set up a camp soon," James suggested.
Harry, Ginny, and Lily nodded, and as soon as they found a decent flat area where they could set up their tents, they stopped.
Harry and Lily began setting up the tents, while James and Ginny gathered the rocks and the branches. "So," Lily began. "Have you thought of what you want to do now?"
"I feel like I should go back," Harry said. "But then… I feel like I'm missing out on my chance to get to know you guys."
Lily quickly finished setting up her tent in silence, and he feared that he'd alienated his mother with that answer, but then, as he finished his own tent, she came over to him, and took his face in her hands. "You should go back," she said. "Your life shouldn't end at fourteen, darling. Had you thought of what you wanted to do for a career? Did you have a girlfriend at Hogwarts? Or a boyfriend?"
"No to the second and third question," Harry answered, blushing a bit. "As for the First one… I've always thought that it would be nice to be a Curse Breaker. I'm good at Runes, too, so… you know."
"You can't do that here, Harry," Lily told him. "It's just not possible. I hope you go back, and see all that life has to offer. Experience the ups and downs of life. And then, when your time Finally comes, I will be waiting for you alongside your Dad. I promise you. But, seeing you here so young… it breaks my heart," she choked on a sob. "It truly does, knowing you couldn't…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "You have an opportunity, consider it thoroughly, I beg you."
Harry swallowed, nodding his head as James and Ginny came back, engaged in a very energetic discussion of Quidditch. Specifically, Chasers in general.
"I think you have the girlfriend part of it settled, though," Lily commented. "I've never seen a girl so hopelessly in Love. Except perhaps myself in the mirror every morning of Sixth Year, but still."
"In love!?" Harry asked in a whisper. "She isn't in love with me."
"Did she tell you that?" Lily asked, frowning.
"Er…" he trailed off, racking his brain. "No," he said finally.
"Then, there's a very good chance that she is in love with you," Lily said. "She just doesn't want to say it in case you don't feel the same."
"How do you know all of that?" He asked.
"I was a fourteen year old girl once too, you know," Lily said. "And while it is true that Ginny and I are complete opposites, feelings and insecurities mostly work the same way, even if different people have different ones."
"And that's why I think we deserve more credit in a team," James finished whatever he was saying, cutting off whatever Harry was about to say next.
"Harry, your Dad and I share the exact same views on Quidditch," Ginny said excitedly. "Why aren't you more like that?"
"Because I'm my own person, and you secretly like our debates?" Harry asked rhetorically as he and Lily finished setting up the second tent.
"Drat, you're right," she said, pursing her lips. "I hate that you know me so well," she added.
"No, you don't," Harry said, knowing the truth. It was still fun to keep up with the teasing though.
"See what I mean?" She asked, pointing at him, causing them all to laugh.
They all helped set a third tent, and then the campfire. James and Lily even taught Ginny how to use a matchstick without hurting herself as she was afraid of doing. Lily then pulled out four bowls of the stew they had borrowed from their neighbours, and set it over the campfire.
Dinner was quite enjoyable, with James mentioning one incident of rule breaking he'd done with the Marauders, which prompted Harry and Ginny to one up the man with one of their own stories, after which, James would pull out another one of his adventures, and the cycle went on. In the end, Harry and Ginny won the little one upmanship after they mentioned their trip to the Dungeons where they'd found the corridor under the Second Level Dungeon, which was when Lily suggested that they should retreat to their tents to get some sleep.
Harry didn't have a restful sleep though. He kept missing Ginny's warm body next to his, and he knew he was in trouble. He couldn't very well go and ask her, that would be weirder than the situation they'd found themselves in.
Thankfully, the situation was taken out of his hands when Ginny herself came into his tent. "Hey," she whispered.
"Hi," he whispered back softly, knowing no one else could hear them.
"Can I come in," she asked in a whisper.
"Sure," Harry said, resisting the urge to say 'please'.
"Thanks," she said, slipping in and zipping the tent shut.
"What brings you here?" He asked, hoping it was what he thought it was.
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, ducking her head in embarrassment. "I was kind of hoping I could stay… at least for a little while."
"Of course," Harry said, scooting over to the side to make some space for her. She gladly crawled into the space there, and rolled on her side so that she was facing him.
"Harry," she said.
"Yes?"
"Remember when you asked whether something was wrong?" Ginny asked him.
"Yes," he replied.
"I lied," Ginny said, swallowing. "I want you to come back with me. To the Living World, I mean."
Harry blinked, but she continued on. "I know," she said. "Your parents are here. And they're great people, but I can't help that selfish part of me, Harry. The part that knows I'd be fucking miserable without you there to push my limits. That being said, if you choose to stay… I'll understand."
Harry blinked again. "You will?" He asked.
She nodded. "Like I said, you're my best friend. And if this is what you want… I'll support your choice, grudgingly," she added with a teasing smile, but he could see the fear in her eyes at the very thought of it.
"I think I may come back with you," he confessed. "Mum had a talk with me, told me how it was important for me to live my life first before coming here again. She said they'd always be here, but I didn't have to wait. I could live, and they would still be here when I do finally die."
Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. "That's… wow, I never even thought of that."
"I know right," he replied with a snort. "Do you think we'll be the same when we get back?"
"I think there will be a few changes," she said. "I don't know what they will be though."
"Nothing too bad, I hope," he said. "I've had enough of that for a while."
"Me too," she said, yawning.
"Let's sleep," Harry said, letting out a yawn of his own.
She just nodded and laid her head on his shoulder, wrapping an arm around his body. "This okay?" She asked sleepily.
It was more than okay, it was what Harry had dreamed of on and off ever since he'd found out what he felt for Ginny was more than what a best friend felt for another, so naturally he was bound to get a little tongue tied.
"More tha- Er, yes," he said. "It's okay."
She just nodded, and snuggled closer to him. "Goodnight, Harry," she said.
"Goodnight, Ginny," Harry replied.
《••••••••••••••••••••》
The next morning, Harry and Ginny were woken up when James opened up their tent entrance and said, "Harry, wake up, Ginny isn't… you're here?"
The last part of the sentence was directed towards Ginny, who was just getting her head off his shoulder, where she'd kept it last night. She sprang up when she heard James' voice. "I- it's not what it looks like," she stuttered as Harry groaned.
"I don't know what it is supposed to look like," James said. "And I'm going to pretend I didn't notice this. Lily said breakfast is ready, by the way."
Harry and Ginny jerkily nodded, and James left with a smirk on his face. "I'm so sorry," Ginny whispered.
"Don't be, I really needed that, too," Harry said, trying to comfort her.
"I suppose we should go," she said after a moment of just staring at each other.
"Yeah," Harry said. "I suppose we should."
She bit her lip and stood up. "Thanks," she said, giving him a small smile, which he returned, and slipping out of the tent.
Meeting his parents after getting caught sleeping with Ginny- just sleeping- had been… awkward, but they got past it at some point during Breakfast.
They quickly packed up their tents, and put out their campfire. They continued on their trek, going up the path again. "There won't be a path much sooner," James said, cutting into his thoughts. "And we're entering a Forest soon, so be prepared for any creatures that might try and injure us."
"What happens if you die?" Harry asked.
"You can't die again," Lily said. "If the creature's do kill you, you'll just find yourself where you first came when you landed here."
Harry and Ginny nodded in understanding, and they continued their journey. They soon came upon the Forest that James had told them about.
It was very Dark inside, and Harry couldn't help the shiver that passed through his body when he saw it. The trees were leafless, making odd creaking noises every once in a while. The soil was grey in color, and Harry could smell rotting flesh from the inside.
They walked inside the Forest, and instantly felt a weird kind of cold take a hold of them. It was like what he would feel near a Dementor, only less intense.
They kept walking, each of them observing the Forest around them in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly, a root around them struck Ginny's ankle, and she cried out in pain, causing the others to turn to her.
The root reared back and prepared to strike again, but she held her palm out and a jet of fire leapt out of her hand, striking the root, and incinerating it instantly.
A few more of those roots leapt at him and Ginny, and some of them were spiked too. Harry held his hand out, and a protective Magical bubble formed around them, taking in all of the strikes of the roots.
Harry blinked at the complete lack of exhaustion he was feeling. Maintaining such a Powerful Shield, capable enough to withstand the still ongoing lashings of the roots would have taken a lot of Power and Skill back home.
Ginny, perhaps sensing this, held the palms of her hands very close together, separated only by a little distance. A ball of fire formed between them, and she increased the distance between her palms more and more, allowing the ball fire to grow.
"Throw your Shield down," she said, and Harry complied. She slammed the Ball of Fire into the ground, and it spread outward, burning every single root that was attacking them.
"Blimey, that was…" Lily trailed off, shaking her head.
"Fascinating? Amazing? Absolutely brilliant?" James suggested. "All of the above?"
"Yeah, that about sums it up," Lily said as Ginny blushed a little at the praise.
"Let's keep moving," Ginny said, and they all set off again, heading towards what they assumed was the other side of the Forest. The Forest, they all noticed, was starting to get denser and denser with each passing step.
"Are you sure we're headed in the right direction?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry," Lily said. "The compass says it's this way."
Harry was about to ask her something else, when they heard a rumble behind them. Turning around, they saw two giant trees headed for them at a high speed.
They were 12 feet tall, and they had a black bark, a slender, and surprisingly humanoid body, and they wore the Skull of a Stag with antlers atop its head. Red eyes shone through the Skull, giving it quite an evil appearance.
"What are those!?" Harry yelled.
"Leshen," James said, jumping to the side as one of them came near them. "I wasn't even aware they existed here."
Harry held his palm out and let out a jet of fire, setting the Leshen on fire. It didn't seem too phased by it, but Harry could tell that he had pissed it off.
James held out a hand at a Boulder and slashed his arm towards the Leshen's direction. The Boulder rose up, and crashed into the Leshen, shattering into pieces.
Harry noticed that the skin of the Leshen was hard, and that gave him an idea. As the Leshen roared, Harry held out his hand toward the creature, and squeezed his fist shut, focusing on the skin.
He pulled his fist back, and a large part of its skin over its thigh, along with a large chunk of its flesh was torn apart from its body, flying over Harry's head. He repeated the process a few more times, James helping him take out the Leshen piece by piece. They noticed Lily and Ginny had done the same, and were now heading towards them.
"Are you okay?" They all asked.
"Yeah/yes," they replied.
"We should set up camp for the night," Lily said. "Leshen never come to the same spot twice."
Harry, Ginny, and James agreed, under the condition that they would all stay together, so they began setting up their tents, and then collected firewood once they were done.
Dinner was not as entertaining as the last one, but it wasn't all that bad either, all things considered. Harry wondered why he didn't feel any guilt from killing the Leshen, was it because it didn't look human?
Harry didn't get an answer to his question, and his train of thoughts was interrupted when James and Lily went to their tent, bidding them a Goodnight.
Harry didn't waste time pretending that he could sleep alone this time.
《••••••••••••••••••••》
They'd been in the Afterlife for an entire week when they finally saw the Portal that would take him and Ginny back to The World of the Living.
The past three days had been… 'hell', didn't seem to cover it much. They'd been stuck in the bloody forest for another day, fighting roots and Leshens.
They were then led into a dark, cold cave where they had to fight off a few more monsters made of rocks (Golems, Onyxes, etc) for two whole days, without resting, before the cave opened up a few metres away from the Portal.
Harry and Ginny had also learnt that the closer they got to the Portal, the more they wanted to go home. Go home to the Living. It was obvious now, that they did not belong here, but then Harry took one look at his parents, and doubts began to creep in, before being promptly shoved out because of the same reason: He did not belong here.
"Well," James said. "We're here."
"Yeah," Ginny replied.
The Portal was placed vertically, and was oval in shape. The edge of the Portal had Runes on it that Harry couldn't read, or identify. There was a bowl in front of the Portal with a Rune on it, and this one, Harry knew, was the Rune of Blood.
"This is it, then," Lily said, smiling sadly at them.
"Mum-" Harry began.
"Remember what I told you, Harry," Lily said, holding his face in her hands, and touching their foreheads together. "I'm proud of you Harry, and I love you."
"Thanks. And I love you too, Mum," Harry said, meaning the words despite the short time they'd had. And he truly was grateful for the opportunity to get to know his parents firsthand, dire as the circumstances might have been.
She released him, heading over to Ginny, as Harry made his way over to James, who was looking at him with a small, proud smile. "Can't say I thought I'd ever see my son here, only to find out he's been chosen for a resurrection," he said.
"We still don't know what exactly happened, Dad," Harry said, smiling fondly at the man. "Sirius and Remus are going to freak out when I tell them."
"If they don't believe you," James said. "Ask them about Sally."
"Who's Sally?" Harry asked.
"Ask them," James replied with a grin. "I'm proud of you, you know. The way you've handled… well, everything… it's not something most kids your age would be able to do. And to still turn out to be such a wonderful young man, even after everything you have been through… words fail to express the pride I feel to be your Father, Harry. I love you, and I hope you live a long, happy life."
Harry blinked back the tears and hugged his Dad for dear life. "I love you, too," Harry said, sniffing. He felt James squeeze him tighter, and let out a little sniffle himself before both men let each other go.
They made their way back to Lily and Ginny, who were watching them with fond smiles on their faces, though he was certain neither was aware of that expression on the other's face.
"Ginny," James said, giving her a hug. "Never change your view on Quidditch."
"Never," she said, letting James go. "Chasers rule!"
"Hell yeah," James said, holding a hand up for a high five, which Ginny responded to as Harry rolled his eyes at them. "And don't let him tell you otherwise," he added, pointing at Harry.
"I won't," she promised.
"Keep out of trouble," Lily said. "Please."
"We'll try," Harry replied.
"That's all I ask," Lily smiled. "Now, go. Before it's too late."
Harry and Ginny nodded, and Ginny pricked her finger with a knife that Lily had given them, allowing her blood to slowly fall into the bowl.
The Runes on the Portal glowed, and the Portal made a whooshing sound, a Black veil falling over it from the inside, fluttering outward with the wind. Harry put his own Blood in, and the Runes glowed brighter for a moment.
Harry and Ginny looked at James and Lily with a sad smile. "Thank you," they said. James and Lily smiled in response, waving at them, and no more words needed to be said.
Harry took a deep breath, and heard Ginny do the same. They turned around and stepped through the Portal. Immediately, Harry felt himself spinning, heading over to some place at a very high speed, unable to stop himself.
Two minutes later, Harry felt himself slam into his own body, and he opened his eyes to find himself on the Hospital Wing. He sat up, and noticed Ginny- who was also awake- sitting up in the bed next to his.
They were alive again.
《••••••••••••••••••••》
A week earlier
Sirius breathed a sigh of relief as the last of the Death Eaters went down with a combined Stunning Spell from himself, Remus, and Marlene.
That sigh turned into a scream of unabashed horror as he saw the Killing Curse heading straight for his Godson and Ginny. Time seemed to become meaningless as he watched the two of them fly back and land on the ground, their bodies unmoving.
All he knew was that someone was screaming. It could have been him, it could have been Remus, he honestly did not know.
Bellatrix had just… Merlin, he couldn't even finish the thought.
The madwoman turned to him, and he couldn't do anything except stare back at her as she raised her Wands at him. She dragged them across her neck, and started cackling, causing Sirius to see red.
Unfortunately, just as Sirius got back up, she tugged on a necklace around her neck. Immediately, all the bodies of the Death Eaters Vanished into a Vortex, along with Bellatrix herself, leaving him alone with nothing but sadness and the results of his incompetence.
"You could just bring them back, you know," a voice deep, rumbling voice said.
"Who are you?" Sirius asked, looking around yet finding no one there.
"I'm the Djinn in the Bottle you broke," the disembodied voice replied. "I am the last of my kind in this realm, and I can bring them back. Unharmed, unchanged."
"How?" Sirius asked, desperate for some way. Any way.
"Sirius," Remus said. "Djinn are tricksters of the highest order, do not listen to him."
"I am bound to you," the Djinn began. " I have no reason to lie."
Sirius just cast a Djinn binding Rune on the back of his left hand. He'd been researching Djinn ever since his discussion with Harry, and this particular variant would let him bind the Djinn here if it didn't finish the wish Sirius had asked of it. He didn't care for the consequences, he just wanted to bring them back.
"Do it," Sirius said, holding up the Rune as Remus groaned and Marlene swore. "But no changes. You bring them back exactly as they were before they died, or I'll never let you pass through."
"Clever," the Djinn said. "Quite clever. Not many can pull off such a complicated Rune so quickly."
"Will you bring Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley back to life exactly as they were, without any changes of your own making?" Sirius asked. "Or should I carry you around with me for all of eternity?"
"Alright," the Djinn said. "Fine. Have it your way."
The wind seemed to pick up in speed, and they could see the mist swirl around Harry and Ginny's bodies before it stopped. "They were fated to die…" the Djinn said in a bit of a daze, seemingly unable to comprehend that possibility.
"What does that mean?" Sirius asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Bringing them back will require… sacrifice," the Djinn answered a moment later.
"Sacrifice?" Marlene asked. "What sacrifice? Why?"
"Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley's Death was decided by the Gods," the Djinn said. "To override their command will require sacrifice, one powerful enough for me to give them a choice to return."
"What sacrifice do you need?" Sirius asked.
"Time," it replied. "I need some years from any one of you. Those years can then be added to theirs."
"Take mine," Remus said without hesitation.
"Remus!" Sirius and Marlene cried.
"Quiet!" He snapped back. "Sirius, Marlene, Harry is going to need you both more than he needs me. I am not messing with his future any more than we already are by bringing him back."
"You take my years," Remus continued, looking in the air again. "And you bring them back as they were. Give them the life they deserve."
"You will give up a majority of your years," the Djinn began. "To save their lives?"
"What will I need to do?" Remus asked, nodding.
"Nothing," came the Djinn's reply.
Sirius ran forward as Remus gasped, and fell to the ground with a pained expression. He was about to ask the Djinn what the hell he was doing when Remus' face cleared, and he nodded at him and Marlene with a smile. "I'm still going to be here, don't worry," Remus said.
He was about to say something but then the wind picked up speed again, and Harry and Ginny's bodies floated in the air. The speed of the wind reached a crescendo, and leaves and branches were flying around the air.
Soon, all of it stopped, and Harry and Ginny's bodies fell to the ground again. "They have a choice now," the Djinn said. "They can choose to come back or stay there. For the sake of your kind, I hope they return."
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked as he helped Remus stand up.
"I mean that without them, your world is doomed," the Djinn replied.
The Rune on the back of Sirius' hand prickled, and started to heal, indicating that the Djinn had done precisely as Sirius had asked.
"But I shall take my leave now," the Djinn continued. "I hope never to see this thrice damned place again."
After a huge whoosh of air, they knew that the Djinn was gone. "What now?" Remus asked.
"Hogwarts Hospital Wing," Marlene said. "If they need anything, Poppy will be able to help."
Sirius and Remus nodded in acceptance, but neither could say that they were looking forward to it, at all.
《••••••••••••••••••••》
Harry and Ginny exited the Pensieve at that point, each of them thinking about the memory they'd seen of how they were able to live again. "Remus…" Harry began.
"Don't," Remus replied, waving him off. "I have a few years. I'm going to enjoy them for as long as I can. Don't be sad, please."
It had been over two months since they'd left the Afterlife, and at first, they couldn't remember anything about it, but as time passed, their memories returned.
Ginny had been right. He and Ginny had undergone changes. But they weren't the good kind. They were detached, they couldn't feel many emotions, things that they found hilarious before were just… nothing to them now. In fact, Harry couldn't fathom why he found them funny in the first place. Oh, and they only needed 4 to 5 hours of sleep instead of the usual 7, which, while convenient, did get awfully boring pretty soon.
At least they still craved each other's company.
Apparently, Dumbledore had actually burst into tears when he saw Sirius standing there, whole and unharmed. Well, he may have duelled the man first, suspecting an impostor, but he was very apologetic afterwards.
They'd managed to give their exams regardless, though. And they'd passed at the top of the class for once.
"Any news on Grayson?" Harry asked.
Remus shook his head with a grimace. "Not yet," he answered. "We're hoping for more soon, but the Aurors aren't cooperating, and Dumbledore can't push too much."
"Where's Sirius and Marlene?" Harry asked. "They said something about going to a
"Tracking down a lead in Albania," Remus said. "I would have gone, but Transforming there on a full moon night is the last thing I need. They should be back by the first few days of the Holidays."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Will the mirrors work there?"
"Maybe," Remus said. "We've never tried them from different countries."
"Are Mum and Dad here?" Ginny asked. They'd been beyond scared for Ginny, and had given both Ginny and Harry a piece of their minds when they learned that it was their own curiosity that had gotten them killed.
"Not now," Remus said. "I think they're letting you take the Hogwarts Express."
Ginny nodded and sighed in relief. "Thanks Remus," she said, smiling.
Remus nodded, and after a goodbye, he too, left. Harry ran his hand over his face, prodding his Scar a bit again. It had reappeared over his face, or rather, it had never left his body.
"I want to hear from you over the summer," Ginny said.
"Obviously," Harry said dryly, rolling his eyes. "Like I wouldn't write to you."
"You wouldn't though," Ginny countered.
"I wouldn't if you were anyone else," Harry said. "Besides, we see each other often enough."
"True," Ginny said, getting up from her seat in the Hospital Wing. They were here for their Weekly check ups after Death. So far, it didn't seem like anything was amiss, but Pomfrey didn't want to take any chances.
The two of them made their way to the Hogwarts Express soon, ignoring the curious looks of everyone else, something they found quite a bit easier now. It was easier to just… not give a shit.
"Hey there," Devon said, waving them over. "Where have you guys been?"
"Check ups," Harry and Ginny replied simultaneously.
"You took him with you?" Ron asked in surprise.
"Not those check ups, Ron," Ginny said, rolling her eyes, not at all as embarrassed as she would've been before. "We had an… altercation… two months ago."
"A new Villain of the Year," Jessica squealed. "Who was it this time?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry provided, lounging back in his seat.
"What happened?" Devon asked open mouthed.
"She took us by surprise," Ginny began.
"Hit us with a Curse," Harry continued.
"And then escaped," they finished together.
"There has to be more," Hermione said, leaning forward. "What else did she do? Were there any more people-"
"I'm not answering any of those," Harry said in a tone that meant that was his final answer. "Or any more questions," he decided to add.
An awkward silence settled over the group after that, and half an hour later, Harry couldn't take it anymore. "I'm going to go find Sean," Harry said, standing up and walking out of the compartment without waiting for a response.
Harry found Sean sitting alone, which was a massive surprise to him. "Can I sit?" Harry asked, indicating the space across from the 11- almost 12, since his birthday was in July- year old boy.
"Sure," Sean replied, shrugging. "I would have thought you'd be with the others."
"They ask too many questions," Harry said, sighing.
"Ones you don't want to answer?" Sean asked.
Harry nodded, and Sean hummed as he went back to reading. This was one of the things Harry liked the most about the kid. He didn't push for answers, he didn't badger you with questions, he just sat there if you wanted to talk, which Harry didn't, due to his young age, but still.
Harry decided to lay down on the seat, and pull out his Arithmancy book. About halfway through the third page, the door opened again and Ginny came in. "You guys mind if I join you?" She asked.
Sean shrugged and went back to his reading while Harry nodded. She picked up his feet, causing Harry to glance curiously at her, but she just plopped down on the seat, and placed his feet in her lap. Harry didn't see a problem with that, so he let it be. "What happened?" Harry asked her.
"Hermione," she replied. "She's a good friend, but she does not know when to put a lid on it."
"Don't answer if you don't want to," Sean began. "But what is wrong with you two?"
"There's plenty wrong with us, kid," Harry pointed out.
"I'm not surprised," Sean replied dryly. "But this is something more. Your Auras feel… off."
"Off?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Like your emotions are detached," Sean explained, causing Harry and Ginny to sigh. "I don't want to know, but please take care. This stuff is serious. I just thought I'd let you two know if you didn't already."
With that, he went back to his book, leaving Harry and Ginny alone to their thoughts. They eventually drifted off to sleep, though, not having received much last night. They woke up only when the train stopped moving.
They got out of the compartment, and made their way off the train with Sean, hoping that the next School Year would be better.
《••••••••••••••••••••》
A/N: Rushed ending, yes, I know, but I really wanted to finish this Part off quickly so that I can move on to Part V, which is going to be great for the Hinny fans (except for the Interlude of course).
Since Ekrizdis was the last Djinn, that means that no one else will Wish from a Djinn again. Therefore the title, The Last Wish. If you have a better suggestion, please let me know in the reviews/comments
Please leave a review on your thoughts for this Part, and I'll see you next Chapter.
Byee!!