A/N: Some of you have been asking about why I haven't published on GT.net where all the classic H/G stuff is. If you're asking, you've probably noticed that Watchman is archived there, (the same chapters as on ff.net) but not Seilftrist. The reason for this is because the people that run GT.net think that I don't know how to properly write Harry Potter's character. In their opinion, I have totally had Harry blow off the fact that Sirius got killed, that Cedric got killed, etc. To put it plainly, they rejected this story on the basis of me not following canon. All I'll say about that is, they sure have an odd view of canon after looking at what's published there. . . . :P
"I've been a total prat, haven't I?" Ron said as he moped in the library with Hermione. Although he could no longer practice his powers as a Lord of Phoenix, he and Hermione were still learning the theory. Hermione still had her powers and was able to make helpful demonstrations for Ron.
"You most certainly have been," Hermione agreed in a semi-cool voice. As she wrote a long essay for NEWT-Potions. "What I want to know though, is how Harry has already completed this monster essay!"
"If you think that, why haven't you abandoned me and allied with Harry like you've always done before?" Ron asked as he added a pair of meager sentences to his already more than pathetic essay. All the power that came from being a Lieutenant had not particularly helped him in Potions.
Hermione sighed and screwed the cap back on her ink bottle. She had finally completed the essay. "Even though you're sometimes a prat Ron, I am. . . fond of you. You could use some improvement though."
Ron nodded, "Yeah, I've been thinking about everything for the past week since Dumbledore chewed me out. I was most certainly wrong to push Harry like that and I had no call to attempt to do anything to him. Not only that, my attitude during my time as a Lieutenant wasn't very good at all."
"I'm glad you realized that finally," Hermione said as she packed her belongings into her book bag."
"Harry deserves respect and I should not have every thought myself better than him. He has always had character and never arrogance." Ron sighed as he admitted everything to Hermione. "I still hate to explain it to him."
"That's part of your problem," Hermione admonished. "You and Harry are both too prideful to admit that you are wrong."
"At least I only have to prove that I am a changed person to the High Lord and not necessarily Harry."
* * * * * * *
"Potter," Malfoy growled as Harry and Malfoy's gang crossed paths in the hall.
Harry stopped and cooly surveyed the group that had passed. He just wasn't in the mood. Malfoy had been giving him the cold shoulder a lot more than usual. Malfoy wanted his prefect badge back. Harry turned and resumed his pace up to his office. He arrived and entered to find Ginny searching for a book on his private bookshelf. "What are you looking for?" Harry asked as he sprawled himself on a very comfortable couch that he had added the week before.
"I was checking to see if you had a book about dreams and sleep," Ginny replied as she continued to search. "I've been having some rather. . . different and odd dreams as if something is being instilled with in me. I can't remember what though."
"Well, tell me what you find. The same thing is happening to me. Not only do they stress me out, but I still feel bad about Ron and Hermione and everything." Harry said in a tired voice.
Ginny strolled over to the desk and sat in Harry's chair. "Tell me about your problems them," she said in a mock doctor's voice.
The tone of Harry's voice was in a fake patient's tone but the content and the meaning of the words were genuine. "I have problems galore. I feel bad every single time that I see Ron or Hermione anywhere. Then I think about the fight Ron and I had. Then I think about what he said. I just keep thinking back to last year. My friend's could have died. They didn't die but my godfather did. I feel like I lost both my parents again with him. Then my mind drifts to Cedric. . ."
~~~~~
Ginny suppressed a frown as she listened to Harry bare his mind and feelings. She considered socking Ron for causing Harry all of this pain. Then again, it would have happened sooner or later. In this case, sooner was probably better. Harry finally finished his long rambling near tears. "Have you spotted any Dementors lately?" Ginny asked gently.
Harry smiled faintly. "I would know if it was a Dementor. I collapse every time I get near them."
Ginny nodded and shuddered. Dementors did not have a pleasant effect on her either. They always brought back one very specific thought that she had encountered before falling unconscious in the Chamber of Secrets. 'I just as good as killed Harry Potter.' "The first thing that needs to be addressed," Ginny now said in a serious but kind voice, "is your feelings of guilt towards deaths or possible deaths that you feel responsible for. First we'll take Cedric. You had no idea what was going to happen. Your intentions were honorable and there was no way that you could have saved him."
"Are you just saying that to make me feel better?" Harry said morosely.
"I'll never lie to you Harry. Never." Ginny said in a calm and caring voice.
"What about Sirius then?" Harry said, "That definitely was my fault."
"Did you push him through the veil? Did you make him come to the Ministry?" Ginny quizzed.
"I suppose not, but still. . ."
"You must think yourself to be high and mighty then if you believe that you could have prevented Sirius's death." Ginny commented idly.
Harry smiled vaguely. "I get your point."
"Good." Ginny said in a pleased voice. "Now about Ron. You did what was best. Overall, you probably prevented him from going down the wrong path. Give him a while to stew and he'll be back and friendly as ever. What is best sometimes can hurt for a little while."
"What about when I give him back his power? What then?"
Ginny smiled and replied, "That's the hard thing isn't it? You don't want him to be without it for a long period of time, yet you don't want to give it back for fear that he'll return to his former ways. You'll just have to judge as to when the time is right. If you do it just right, he will have learned a lesson and will be a much better friend and person for it."
Harry up straight on the couch and smiled a small smile. "I suppose you're right."
Ginny stood up from the desk chair and joined Harry on the couch. "As for feeling alone and isolated, you'll always have me Harry Potter. You can tell me whatever bothers you or makes you happy. You can share your thoughts with me. You can lean on me for emotional support. I'll of course do that all with you as well. You won't ever have to worry about my safety because I can look after myself and we'll look after each other. I love you Harry."
Harry smiled weakly, but in full happiness. It was as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "I love you Ginny."
Ginny smiled brightly and tenderly took Harry's hand and held it. As all of Harry's cares, worries, and concerns dissipated the strength seemed to drain out of him and he slowly drifted off to sleep slumping against the side of the couch.
Smiling, Ginny casually flicked her free hand and the lights were extinguished. She then leaned against Harry on the cushy couch and fell asleep.
* * * * * * *
The next two months seemed to pass in a blur. Classes went on and students prepared for their finals. Ron and Hermione studied and as Ron had time to think he gradually began to change his attitude and began to be a little more friendly to Harry.
After the night in Harry's office, Harry and Ginny's learning pace and strength greatly excelled. They had discovered the secret of leaning upon each other and together, they were an unstoppable force. Harry and Ginny were already beginning to outpace even their teachers in their various subjects. This situation needed to be addressed and they soon found themselves in Dumbledore's office discussing it.
"There's no use in being modest about it," Professor Dumbledore said to the pair in a very amused voice. "When it comes to it, I wouldn't be surprised if you could outdo me in more than one skill."
"What's wrong with that?" Ginny asked. "So we do really well in our classes."
Dumbledore explained, "You've learned so much and excelled so far that your classes are becoming hindrances rather than aids. I suggest that you two both take the NEWTs this year. Miss Weasley, you'll also have to take your OWLs. You'll both easily pass."
"Then what would we do at Hogwarts next year? Why if we could never come back?" Harry asked.
"You would continue your studies at Hogwarts, just about different and more advanced topics. It would be independent however. Beyond Hogwarts there are trade school and great Universities. It would be a very small matter to convince them to allow you to take final examinations without taking a course from them. By next year you two could be Grand Master Aurors, Master Potion Brewers, Master Charmers, Master Curse Breakers, even accredited Professors of Magic."
"All of that!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Even more!" Dumbledore replied in a very encouraging voice. "You might even be able to pass some of those tests at this point! Your exploits at Hogwarts have become known to the wizarding world Harry. Any day now, you could find yourself with an Order of Merlin, First Class."
"Good heavens!" Harry muttered. "Just what I need, attention."
"Consider it Harry. I know that you're busy and I'll let you two go now."
The pair left and headed back to Harry's office. They had taken to spending much of their time there doing homework, reading, researching, learning, or simply just idly talking about various things. Harry opened the door and they entered together. As they walked in, a golden light surrounded them and froze the pair.
Every moment of the great ages of time passed before Harry's eyes. He saw the beginning and the end. He saw the ancient magicians and then the great sorcerers. Great Empires and Kingdoms rose and fell. Most prominent of all was the magic. It was everywhere. The knowledge of the ages passed before his eyes and then faded deep into his mind. As soon as it had began, it was over.
Harry and Ginny stumbled and held onto each other to prevent themselves from falling to the ground. They gasped in shock. Several moments passed before they regained their senses. "Did you see what I just saw?" Harry asked seriously.
"I'm never going to fail History of Magic again!" Ginny declared. "I can't seem to remember very much about all that super knowledge on how to use magic and stuff though."
"I can't seem to remember any of that either," Harry said. "I can remember the rest though."
"The mind can't just have the skill of magic instilled instantly," Ginny noted. "I read about it in one of those books I found in the library. I think the instinct was implanted. We still have to learn but we'll have an edge."
Harry nodded mutely for he had just noticed something. A large phoenix of pure gold with sapphire eyes was watching the pair from where it stood on a bird stand which had appeared since Harry had last been in his office. It opened its beak and a regal note came from it. Harry then glanced at the desk he had left empty. On it laid a diary.
"Warlomice!" Harry breathed excitedly.
A/N: Mwa ha ha ha, cliff hanger. :D