Chapter 9



As the mist faded they saw the shock evident on everyone's faces, a couple of the teachers were beginning to make their way down towards him and he decided now was a good time to take his leave. Without a word he stood and left the hall, as he made his way up the silent stairs he heard footsteps.

"Harry?"

"Look Mione I don't want to talk about it right now, alright?"

"Talk about what?" That caught his attention and his head snapped up only to see her coming down from the common room.

"Mione, have you only just got up?"

"Well?"

"Never mind, I need a favour."

"Sure, what do you need?" she was still curious about his earlier comment so she decided to play along.

"I know it sounds odd but, I need to see that book Percy got you its kind of urgent."

"Oh, let me just get some breakfast then." She stopped when she heard the doors of the great hall open and the sound of several people coming out, a couple of whom were calling for Harry. " Harry, that sounds like Ginny. Whats.?" But she saw the look of pleading in his eyes and relented. "Alright lets go," she sighed as she led him back to their common room.

Harry sat in front of the fire in the common room with Hermione's book open on his knee. He shook his head "Why didn't I see this before?"

"See what?" Hermione, who was seated next to him, asked that same question three times and still got no answer. When she looked at the book on his knee all she saw was the crest and write up of the Potter family.

"It was in front of me all this time and I never knew." "Knew what?" She was getting no were fast. The conversation (such as it was) was going in circles in fact they were so engrossed in their own thoughts that they never even heard the portrait hole opening or someone enter the room. Until that was someone sat down next to Harry, he looked up and into two worried eyes.

"Harry, are you alright?" Ginny asked as she took his hand.

"I guess it was just such a shock."

"Harry we knew people would be shocked by our engagement but that's no reason to walk out, besides I still never saw all the people that came from the ansestrall." Harry sagged in relief.

"Neither did any of the other students Harry." They all looked up to see Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall standing in the entrance, "however I think they would like to congratulate you both, that is, if you would care to join us in the great hall."

Harry now feeling much calmer passed the book back to Hermione and stood taking Ginny's hand in his. As they made their way down to the hall Dumbledore bent slightly and whispered into Harry's ear that he would like to see him at the end of the day in his office. Harry tensed at hearing this but soon relaxed again as Ginny smiled up at him.

Upon entering the great hall they were hit by a wall of noise, as they grew accustomed to it hey realized it was in fact cheering as the whole school (except a few slytherins) rose to their feet to welcome the couple back into the hall.

"Lets hope this isn't a regular thing," Ron sniggered behind Ginny as their friends and classmates made their way over to congratulate the now rather pink Ginny and Harry.

"So Ron," Neville said, while Ron was drinking pumpkin juice "When are we going to get to do this for you and Hermione?"

The heat radiating from Ron and Hermione's faces could have heated a small house, and the whole of Griffyndor exploded with laughter as Ron sank further into his chair.

Harry and Ginny sat at the table among their friends enjoying themselves when Harry noticed that not everyone in the hall seemed as happy for them as most, "Hey, Gin take a look at Malfoy."

Drago Malfoy, Harry's only true adversary at Hogwarts was sat at the Slytherin table with a look of disgust on his face. Whether this was because of the fact that Harry was happily engaged to the girl of his dreams who also just happened to be the daughter of Arthur Weasley the man making so much trouble for Lucius Malfoy (the raids on Malfoy manor were occurring with surprising regularity and Lucius had been fined two thousand Galleons for items found) or because several of the Slytherins were joining in the celebrations and wishing Harry and Ginny luck. "You know Harry if it wasn't for him I don't think there would be so much hatred between Slytherin and all the other houses," Ginny commented as they watched Malfoy stand and with one last look of disgust in their direction stormed out of the hall.

"What's his problem?" asked Alicia as Malfoy stormed out.

"Who cares, as long as he's gone," Neville lent forward and caught Harry's attention, "Harry I know it's a stupid question but next match could you please teach Malfoy a lesson?"

" Yeah, Harry, knock him of his broom if you have to." Harry and Ginny turned to find the whole of the Ravenclaw team behind them, "After the way they cheated in our last match they deserve everything they get." The captain of Ravenclaw stepped forward to speak to Harry and Ginny in private and Ginny looked at Harry to see his response, there was none. After a quick word in their ear she and her team disappeared from the hall.

Harry caught Ginny glancing at him with a strange look in her eye, "What have I got something on my face?" She smiled up at him.

"No, but you did handle yourself very well then, I think you're the only boy in school who doesn't blush when Clo's that close to them."

"Gin, there's only one person here that would and could make me blush and I'm happy to say I'm marrying her."

At this Ginny's smile grew and they lent into each other, this time however, there were no interruptions as they kissed each other sending waves of pleasure down their spines. Everyone in the hall sat in silence as the two lovers kissed, as they knew that these two were destined to be together. Had anyone looked towards the head table they would have seen every teacher with a smile on their faces including Snape.

The moment was broken however, when a bright flash broke the couple apart and as they looked for the source of the light they spotted another Gryffindor with an apologetic look on his face, "Colin!" Ginny said with a sigh.

"Sorry, Ginny, Harry but I had to get a picture of this for the year book."

"Ok Colin but next time warn us when you've got that thing with you."

"Sure thing Ginny" Colin called as he left the room.

"We'd better go as well Harry I still haven't unpacked." Ginny said as she stood up.

"You go ahead Ginny I'll catch up later." As Ginny left the hall Harry looked at his watch and as surprised to see that more than half the day was gone. Harry was about to leave the table when he noticed Professor McGonagall was leaving the hall, "Um, Professor?" she stopped and turned on her heels until she spotted Harry.

"Yes, Potter what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering, as we have that test tomorrow would it be possible to use one of the empty classrooms to practice? I'm still having a bit of trouble." She seemed sceptical for a moment but then relented.

"Very well Potter you may use the transfiguration room, but I expect it to be tidy when you've finished."

"Of course Professor, thank you," and he was of before she could change her mind.

Harry entered the empty classroom and closed the door so that no one would see him in there. What he hadn't told McGonagall was that although he needed to practice for the test it wasn't the transfiguration itself that was giving him a problem it was in fact his wand. For the past few days he had been finding it harder and harder to perform even the most basic spells. "Rectimus," nothing happened that was the tenth time that afternoon that he had tried and failed to use his wand. "Maybe there's a problem with the wand itself." He guessed out loud but know that was not the case. When this problem had started he had persuaded Mrs Weasley to take him to Diagon Alley to have his wand checked just to be told it was fine.

"I don't get it" he called out as he put his wand down and started to pace the room. "It's a simple spell, I could do it in my sleep before Christmas and now look I can't even do Rectimus." Harry found waving his arms around as he paced, his thoughts were interrupted however by a loud bang behind him. He turned quickly and where there should have been a small desk now stood a Labrador. "How did..?" He was very confused his wand was still on the table where he'd left it and yet he had performed the spell he had bee trying all afternoon. He picked up his wand he started to do precisely what he had done before and on the fifth attempt the dog reverted to a desk.

Harry stood still in shock, it was his hand, his own hand was now acting like a wand all he had to do was wave his hand towards his target and may the words and the spell happened perfectly. "How can this be possible?" he sat on one of the desks thinking to himself when he noticed the time, it was nearly 8pm and he still had to see Dumbledore. As he was about to leave he looked at the state of the room and remembering his promise to McGonagall he reached for his wand, stopped then waved his arm at the room in one majestic sweep while putting something under his breath. In an instant the room was tidy again, "This could come in handy," he thought as he made his way to Dumbledore's office with a smile on his face.

As he walked the corridors of Hogwarts towards the headmasters office he tried to pinpoint the exact time his wand had started to fail him, all he could come up with was that it was at the Wesley's but for the life of him he couldn't figure out when. "Although it doesn't seem to be a problem, I just won't use my wand." He said to himself as he walked towards the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's revealing the stairway beyond, Harry reached the door and took a deep breath before knocking.

"Come in!"

Harry opened the door and stepped inside. He expected to see Dumbledore behind his desk and was surprised therefore when he stepped out from behind the door Harry had entered by.

"Good evening Harry, have a seat." Harry sat down and watched as Dumbledore sat behind his desk and looked over his glasses at Harry, "It seems that you have presented me with a puzzle."

"Sir?"

"Well Harry I was watching in the great hall this morning when you used that Ansestrall, and I'm sure you know which of the people that appeared caught my attention."

"The man in the scarlet robes!" Harry answered it wasn't a question for he already knew the answer.

"That's right, now if that man is your ancestor then the puzzle appears from the bit of news I received this morning from Mr Olivander which I later confirmed with Molly Weasley." He stopped and looked intently at Harry, "I hear you're having trouble with your wand Harry in fact you can't even perform simple spells, is this true?"

"Yes, Sir." Harry said quickly.

"Then you see my puzzlement. How can a young wizard with so much potential who is descended from such a powerful man be losing his abilities and if he is can he carry on at this school?"

"Sir, I.."

"I'm sorry Harry but if you are unable to perform magic I must send you home."

"Sir!" Harry was now standing in order to be heard. "I haven't lost my power I just can't use a wand."

"What do you mean?"

Harry looked around the room and noticed the dark fireplace, he raised his right arm and pointed at the hearth, "Incendro." He muttered under his breath and the hearth burst into flames.

"Harry! I know you were capable of wandless magic but when did you learn to use it?"

"I don't know, sir, I'm just able to, I realised while practicing for a transfiguration test." but Harry was cut off when Dumbledore looked up at him suddenly.

"Harry, do you mean you are able to do transfiguration without a wand?"

"Yes sir, it was only." but again Dumbledore, who was looking at something on his shirt, stopped him.

"Harry, where did you get that pendant?"

"Oh! A Christmas present from Ginny."

"May I see it?"

"Of course sir." Harry removed the chain for the first time since receiving it, he felt odd without it.

Dumbledore was about to take the necklace when he stopped and pulled back his hand a look of shock on his face but his eyed sparkled almost in triumph. "It seems," he said at last after he indicated to Harry to put the chain back on, "that I have greatly underestimated you Harry and I believe I am safe in saying that we will soon be seeing an increase in your grades, in fact with your new control you may just be able to rival Miss Granger, but enough of that for now. In light of this new information I believe I have something that rightfully belongs to you, but first I would like to ask you to come see me every two days so I can check on your progress. Now," Dumbledore reached under his desk and drew out a long mahogany box and handed it to Harry. When Harry opened it he gasped at what was before him.







A/n finally updated chapter 9 however won't be able to update over Christmas and newyear due to work commitments however I shall continue with this fic in January until then please continue to review and to all those who have already done so thank you and I hope you enjoy the new parts I would also like to thank eric that review meant a lot Well enjoy PP]Dragos