Chapter 2: The Truth
It was the final day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and for the first time in seven years Harry was glad to be leaving. The events of the past four months were the worst of his entire life. He had received several Howlers from Molly Weasley screaming at him over Harry's treatment of Ginny and Ron. The twins had reimbursed Harry his one thousand galleons that he'd given them to start Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. The letter they sent stated that they did not wish to be in debt to such a ratbag like Harry Potter.
Ron Weasley had avoided Harry as much as possible and the few instances that the two had accidentally run into each other were some of the worst in Harry's life. He had been thrashed twice by Ron before he finally had enough. On the third occasion that Ron attempted to vindicate Harry's treatment of his sister Harry fought back.
He blocked Ron's first punch and landed a haymaker to Ron's nose. The enraged red head, eyes full of tears, then charged Harry only for Harry to sidestep him and send the slightly older teen head first into a wall. Harry waited for Ron to get up again and then punched his friends face, gave him a blow to the stomach and a right cross to the face and sent the boy to the ground. Harry then walked off feeling worse for winning than the two beatings Ron had given him.
Ginny, of course, avoided Harry like the plague. Harry noticed something different about her, though he couldn't say what. He refrained from staring too long at her. He didn't want people to think he still cared for her (which would be an understatement, he was madly in love with her). There was nothing he could say to her even if she'd let him. The closest she came to talking to him was the death glare she gave him after Harry had beaten Ron to a bloody pulp.
All of this came back to him as he flew away from the school. The only things Harry took with him were his trusty Firebolt, his father's invisibility cloak, the clothes on his back and his wand.
~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~
"How could you let him get away with that?" Molly Weasley demanded as she and her family confronted Dumbledore.
"Ron spent the night in the Hospital Wing because of the thrashing and Harry didn't even receive a warning." Molly bellowed.
"That is quite right Molly." Dumbledore responded. "For you see, if I punished Harry for thrashing Ron, I would have had to punish Ron for the two thrashing he gave Harry." Dumbledore informed her.
Ron, whose face was long healed by now looked slightly annoyed at this. He had hoped that no one had found out about those fights with Harry. He should have known better.
"So where is he now?" Molly asked. "I would like to give him a piece of my mind."
"He has left on a personal assignment for me. One I'm afraid that will take him far away from here and he will most likely not return from when he's finished." Dumbledore told those assembled.
Ginny looked slightly worried at this statement. "Why is that?"
"Concerned about your ex Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore inquired.
"A little. I don't want to see him dead." She replied sharply, hiding something.
"Harry will not be returning because he has nothing to come home to." Dumbledore answered her. "It seems that I took care of that four months ago."
"What do you mean Albus?" Molly and Arthur asked him.
"I think it is best if I show you what I am referring to." Albus explained.
He pulled out his pensive from a locked cabinet and within moments the pensive showed the occupants of the room the memory.
~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~
Those in attendance watched as the pensive showed a black clad figure as he was creeping towards the Quidditch Pitch. He was observing the Gryffindor Team at practice. Harry Potter, team captain had been called away by Professor Dumbledore suddenly and Ron was holding the practice session for him. Since Ron aided Harry in planning most of the practice sessions it was not that difficult for him to handle the responsibility.
The Weasleys watched as Harry, returning from his meeting, accidentally stumbled upon this person who was aiming a wand, unnoticed by the players, into the pitch at someone. They watched as Harry attacked the man. The two fought and Harry eventually managed to stun the masked man. He then dragged the stunned body out and summoned Hagrid. When Hagrid arrived Harry informed him of what had transpired. Hagrid then picked the man up and carried the would be assassin to Dumbledore's office.
The next memory showed Harry, Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape. Snape was administering veritaserum to the man.
"Why are you here?" Dumbledore asked.
"To kill one of the students." the man replied, a hazy look on his face.
"Who sent you?"
"The Dark Lord." he answered again.
"Who were you to kill?" Dumbledore asked.
"Ginny Weasley." He answered. At this point the entire room was gasped.
"Why do you have to kill Ginny Weasley?"
"The Dark Lord wishes Harry Potter to suffer." The man said. With that last bit of information the memory ended.
~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~
"You said this happened four months ago Professor?" Ron asked him.
"Yes. As I'm sure you're aware, that was the night that Harry didn't return until it was time for Ginny and his anniversary celebration." Dumbledore related.
"So that was why he never showed up to practice. But it doesn't change what he did." Ron stated.
"Mr. Weasley, there is more to the story if you'll allow me to finish." Dumbledore told him.
"With the assassin interrogated I sent Professor Snape and Hagrid to escort him to the ministry. When Harry started to leave I stopped him. I then asked him to do what no one of his age should ever have to do." Dumbledore said, pausing for a moment.
"I told him to lie to you Miss Weasley." Dumbledore said firmly.
"Lie to me. About what?"
"Isn't it obvious? You were Voldermort's target. He had recruited Draco Malfoy via his father to keep tabs on Harry and his associates. In an attempt to destroy Harry psychologically he decided to begin killing those closest to him. That would have completely destroyed Harry. I could not allow this to happen." Dumbledore stated.
"I asked Harry to end your relationship in such a way that it would drive a wedge between all of you and him. He initially refused. I then ordered Harry to tell you that he had cheated on you during the assignment that he went on for me. I told him unless he was prepared to attend all of your funerals, that he must do it."
"You see Ginny, Harry never betrayed your trust or your love. It was I that forced him to lie to you to protect you from Voldermort. If Voldermort believed that you and your family hated him, none of you were at risk. You were Harry's second family, and that made you primary targets." Dumbledore said.
Ginny at this point in time was crying. "HOW COULD YOU?!!" she yelled. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!! WHAT WE.. I.." Ginny couldn't continue. She collapsed on the floor in a fit of tears and sobs.
Molly was covering her mouth, tears in her face again. Ron, Fred, and George looked at the floor, thinking about all the horrible things they'd said to and about Harry, wishing it would swallow them up. He hadn't deserved any of that. As they thought back, they realized he never said a thing about the Weasley's, never tried to defend his actions.
"Why didn't you warn us about the threats. We could have taken care of ourselves." Arthur said. "It should never have come to something this drastic."
"And how would you protect yourselves twenty four hours a day for the rest of your lives?" Dumbledore asked. "You could have been attacked walking in the halls at the ministry, Molly while she was in Diagon Alley, and so on."
"Voldermort was determined to eliminate those closest to Harry. As cruel as it may sound, it was the only viable solution." Dumbledore said.
Ginny ran up and slapped the Headmaster across the face. "And who gave you the right to play god with my life. My feelings. My emotions." She demanded. "WHO!!!"
"I did what I thought was best. For Harry, and for you."
"Where did he go?" Ginny asked
"Honestly, I don't know. I sent him on a delivery mission. Once the message is delivered he will vanish." Dumbledore told the Weasleys.
"We have to find him." Fred said.
"And what would you tell him Fred? How would you explain your actions? Harry knew what he was doing when he took on your wrath, but your family crucified him far worse than I could have ever imagined. Harry did a very brave and noble thing trying to protect those he loved, even if they didn't love him anymore. My advice to you is to let him return if he chooses to do so." Dumbledore offered.
"In the mean time, I believe you should go see Madam Pomfrey Ginny." Albus said. "You may wish to accompany her Molly. Ginny will be needing all the help she can get in the coming months."
Ginny looked at the Headmaster. She had always thought he had everyone's best interest at heart, but now she was both furious and afraid.
"How did you know?" Ginny asked him.
"Harry told me after your break up of your last indulgence. He couldn't say goodbye without being with you one last time. I had warned him to only break up with you or there might be consequences."
The Weasleys save Ginny and Molly were confused. They began looking between the two women and Dumbledore waiting to be let in on the secret.
"What the devil are you talking about?" George asked his former Headmaster.
A crying Ginny could not answer. Molly held her daughter close to her and kissed Ginny's head. "Harry and Ginny are going to be parents in five months." She announced.
"How long have you known?" Molly asked Dumbledore.
"Only today. I have not seen Ginny up close for four months. Truth be told she is only now beginning to show." he said.
"You have to help us find Harry." Ginny said to Dumbledore. "Please."
"I will do all I can Ginny, but in the end, it will be up to Harry if he wants to be found." Dumbledore announced.
It was the final day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and for the first time in seven years Harry was glad to be leaving. The events of the past four months were the worst of his entire life. He had received several Howlers from Molly Weasley screaming at him over Harry's treatment of Ginny and Ron. The twins had reimbursed Harry his one thousand galleons that he'd given them to start Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. The letter they sent stated that they did not wish to be in debt to such a ratbag like Harry Potter.
Ron Weasley had avoided Harry as much as possible and the few instances that the two had accidentally run into each other were some of the worst in Harry's life. He had been thrashed twice by Ron before he finally had enough. On the third occasion that Ron attempted to vindicate Harry's treatment of his sister Harry fought back.
He blocked Ron's first punch and landed a haymaker to Ron's nose. The enraged red head, eyes full of tears, then charged Harry only for Harry to sidestep him and send the slightly older teen head first into a wall. Harry waited for Ron to get up again and then punched his friends face, gave him a blow to the stomach and a right cross to the face and sent the boy to the ground. Harry then walked off feeling worse for winning than the two beatings Ron had given him.
Ginny, of course, avoided Harry like the plague. Harry noticed something different about her, though he couldn't say what. He refrained from staring too long at her. He didn't want people to think he still cared for her (which would be an understatement, he was madly in love with her). There was nothing he could say to her even if she'd let him. The closest she came to talking to him was the death glare she gave him after Harry had beaten Ron to a bloody pulp.
All of this came back to him as he flew away from the school. The only things Harry took with him were his trusty Firebolt, his father's invisibility cloak, the clothes on his back and his wand.
~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~
"How could you let him get away with that?" Molly Weasley demanded as she and her family confronted Dumbledore.
"Ron spent the night in the Hospital Wing because of the thrashing and Harry didn't even receive a warning." Molly bellowed.
"That is quite right Molly." Dumbledore responded. "For you see, if I punished Harry for thrashing Ron, I would have had to punish Ron for the two thrashing he gave Harry." Dumbledore informed her.
Ron, whose face was long healed by now looked slightly annoyed at this. He had hoped that no one had found out about those fights with Harry. He should have known better.
"So where is he now?" Molly asked. "I would like to give him a piece of my mind."
"He has left on a personal assignment for me. One I'm afraid that will take him far away from here and he will most likely not return from when he's finished." Dumbledore told those assembled.
Ginny looked slightly worried at this statement. "Why is that?"
"Concerned about your ex Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore inquired.
"A little. I don't want to see him dead." She replied sharply, hiding something.
"Harry will not be returning because he has nothing to come home to." Dumbledore answered her. "It seems that I took care of that four months ago."
"What do you mean Albus?" Molly and Arthur asked him.
"I think it is best if I show you what I am referring to." Albus explained.
He pulled out his pensive from a locked cabinet and within moments the pensive showed the occupants of the room the memory.
~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~
Those in attendance watched as the pensive showed a black clad figure as he was creeping towards the Quidditch Pitch. He was observing the Gryffindor Team at practice. Harry Potter, team captain had been called away by Professor Dumbledore suddenly and Ron was holding the practice session for him. Since Ron aided Harry in planning most of the practice sessions it was not that difficult for him to handle the responsibility.
The Weasleys watched as Harry, returning from his meeting, accidentally stumbled upon this person who was aiming a wand, unnoticed by the players, into the pitch at someone. They watched as Harry attacked the man. The two fought and Harry eventually managed to stun the masked man. He then dragged the stunned body out and summoned Hagrid. When Hagrid arrived Harry informed him of what had transpired. Hagrid then picked the man up and carried the would be assassin to Dumbledore's office.
The next memory showed Harry, Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape. Snape was administering veritaserum to the man.
"Why are you here?" Dumbledore asked.
"To kill one of the students." the man replied, a hazy look on his face.
"Who sent you?"
"The Dark Lord." he answered again.
"Who were you to kill?" Dumbledore asked.
"Ginny Weasley." He answered. At this point the entire room was gasped.
"Why do you have to kill Ginny Weasley?"
"The Dark Lord wishes Harry Potter to suffer." The man said. With that last bit of information the memory ended.
~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~
"You said this happened four months ago Professor?" Ron asked him.
"Yes. As I'm sure you're aware, that was the night that Harry didn't return until it was time for Ginny and his anniversary celebration." Dumbledore related.
"So that was why he never showed up to practice. But it doesn't change what he did." Ron stated.
"Mr. Weasley, there is more to the story if you'll allow me to finish." Dumbledore told him.
"With the assassin interrogated I sent Professor Snape and Hagrid to escort him to the ministry. When Harry started to leave I stopped him. I then asked him to do what no one of his age should ever have to do." Dumbledore said, pausing for a moment.
"I told him to lie to you Miss Weasley." Dumbledore said firmly.
"Lie to me. About what?"
"Isn't it obvious? You were Voldermort's target. He had recruited Draco Malfoy via his father to keep tabs on Harry and his associates. In an attempt to destroy Harry psychologically he decided to begin killing those closest to him. That would have completely destroyed Harry. I could not allow this to happen." Dumbledore stated.
"I asked Harry to end your relationship in such a way that it would drive a wedge between all of you and him. He initially refused. I then ordered Harry to tell you that he had cheated on you during the assignment that he went on for me. I told him unless he was prepared to attend all of your funerals, that he must do it."
"You see Ginny, Harry never betrayed your trust or your love. It was I that forced him to lie to you to protect you from Voldermort. If Voldermort believed that you and your family hated him, none of you were at risk. You were Harry's second family, and that made you primary targets." Dumbledore said.
Ginny at this point in time was crying. "HOW COULD YOU?!!" she yelled. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!! WHAT WE.. I.." Ginny couldn't continue. She collapsed on the floor in a fit of tears and sobs.
Molly was covering her mouth, tears in her face again. Ron, Fred, and George looked at the floor, thinking about all the horrible things they'd said to and about Harry, wishing it would swallow them up. He hadn't deserved any of that. As they thought back, they realized he never said a thing about the Weasley's, never tried to defend his actions.
"Why didn't you warn us about the threats. We could have taken care of ourselves." Arthur said. "It should never have come to something this drastic."
"And how would you protect yourselves twenty four hours a day for the rest of your lives?" Dumbledore asked. "You could have been attacked walking in the halls at the ministry, Molly while she was in Diagon Alley, and so on."
"Voldermort was determined to eliminate those closest to Harry. As cruel as it may sound, it was the only viable solution." Dumbledore said.
Ginny ran up and slapped the Headmaster across the face. "And who gave you the right to play god with my life. My feelings. My emotions." She demanded. "WHO!!!"
"I did what I thought was best. For Harry, and for you."
"Where did he go?" Ginny asked
"Honestly, I don't know. I sent him on a delivery mission. Once the message is delivered he will vanish." Dumbledore told the Weasleys.
"We have to find him." Fred said.
"And what would you tell him Fred? How would you explain your actions? Harry knew what he was doing when he took on your wrath, but your family crucified him far worse than I could have ever imagined. Harry did a very brave and noble thing trying to protect those he loved, even if they didn't love him anymore. My advice to you is to let him return if he chooses to do so." Dumbledore offered.
"In the mean time, I believe you should go see Madam Pomfrey Ginny." Albus said. "You may wish to accompany her Molly. Ginny will be needing all the help she can get in the coming months."
Ginny looked at the Headmaster. She had always thought he had everyone's best interest at heart, but now she was both furious and afraid.
"How did you know?" Ginny asked him.
"Harry told me after your break up of your last indulgence. He couldn't say goodbye without being with you one last time. I had warned him to only break up with you or there might be consequences."
The Weasleys save Ginny and Molly were confused. They began looking between the two women and Dumbledore waiting to be let in on the secret.
"What the devil are you talking about?" George asked his former Headmaster.
A crying Ginny could not answer. Molly held her daughter close to her and kissed Ginny's head. "Harry and Ginny are going to be parents in five months." She announced.
"How long have you known?" Molly asked Dumbledore.
"Only today. I have not seen Ginny up close for four months. Truth be told she is only now beginning to show." he said.
"You have to help us find Harry." Ginny said to Dumbledore. "Please."
"I will do all I can Ginny, but in the end, it will be up to Harry if he wants to be found." Dumbledore announced.