Chapter 18

            Harry slept well that night in his room, enjoying the solitude. It had felt odd when they had returned to the Burrow, but Harry found himself enjoying the peacefulness of his room.

            He was still enjoying it ten minutes later when the door opened a crack, and Ginny slipped into the room, she snuck up to his bed ad hopped in. "Shove over Harry."

            Ok, he thought, perhaps solitude and peacefulness isn't all it's cracked up to be. His arms wrapped around Ginny as she snuggled into him.

            Morning came silently; the light crept over the floor to finally shine in the face of the young woman sleeping in her lovers arms. Her eyes fluttered open and her lips curled in a smile, she nudged Harry awake. "Time to get up sleepy, it's a new day." She stood and stretched then kissed him softly on the forehead and slipped from the room.

            He made her way to the bathroom, showered, and peeked into the hallway, making the run to her room easily. As her door snapped shut, she heard the unmistakable sound of Harry's feet padding to the loo. As she was pulling on her sweats, she left her room and saw Harry's retreating backside with a trail of water tantalizingly sliding down his broad shoulders.

            Ginny shook herself mentally, Wow, and I thought Harry was hot before the quickening. She blushed and headed for the kitchen where Molly was busy preparing breakfast. "Morning Mum!" She said brightly.

            Molly smiled at her daughter. "So, how did you sleep last night dear?"

            Ginny's eyes narrowed slightly as she answered. "Quite well Mum, and you?"

            "Oh, I didn't get much sleep early on in the night, but I did later on, it would seem there was a lot of nocturnal movement last night." Her mother was spooning porridge into bowls. Toast was stacked in the center of the table.

            Ginny tried everything she could think of not to blush, and she fought for control of her voice. "Really Mum? I – I wonder what could have been going on."

            Molly set the pan down on the table and looked her daughter in the eyes. "Did you sleep with Harry last night?" Ginny was amazed at the calmness in her mother's voice.

            "Yes Mum, I did. You know Harry asked me to marry him quite some time ago." She reached inside her sweatshirt and pulled out the ring showing it to Molly.

            Molly's eyes widened at the ring. "It's lovely Ginny." She was almost breathless, then as if she had managed to clear her train of thoughts. "When were you planning on getting married then?"

            Ginny looked at her mother. "Well, we had decided after school, and after Vol – You-Know-Who, was defeated." She gave a small laugh. "So one out of two isn't bad then…"

            Molly held up the Daily Prophet the headline read Dark Mark Displayed Over Kent. Ginny's eyes flew open wide. "NO! It's not possible!" She snatched the paper and flew upstairs. "Harry!"

            Harry followed Ginny down the stairs thumping on each door as they came to them, calling for the Companions downstairs. Ron spent time analyzing the photo and story after Ginny's quick rousing had brought them to breakfast.

"Well, this mark was made last night, of that I am certain. Now, the question is at what time?" Harry looked thoughtful. "Is it possible Riddle and his little gang made this mark before Surrey?"

            Ron shook his head slowly, and pointed to a paragraph.

            The attack by the Death Eaters happened at 2:45 am. Fortunately the intended victims were not home, but were instead in Egypt on business.

            "Why attack an empty house, and why leave the dark mark?" Harry muttered.

            "Blimey mate; it's bloody obvious isn't it?" Ron looked shocked at Harry.

            "Language Ron!" Hermione and Molly admonished him simultaneously.

            Ron sighed and buried his face in his hands.

            "Despite Ron's crude way of saying it Harry, it is obvious." Hermione looked at him surprised. "He's telling us the virus didn't work."

            Harry's jaw set, and his face became unreadable. Ginny, however saw the fires blazing in his eyes. Harry was at his most dangerous right now, and she had to diffuse him.

            Harry was startled when a soft pair of lips claimed his. His emotions had been spiraling down, the hatred focusing. The lips belonged to Ginny, and the kiss caused Harry to lose his concentration. Suddenly he felt power unlike any he had ever felt before. He could feel the magic in the room. When he opened his eyes, he saw everyone staring at him.

            Ginny had intended only on kissing Harry to break him out of this mood, they needed him level-headed now more than ever. She had not intended on triggering yet another power, but there he stood cloaked in a misty gold barrier.

            "H-Harry, are you ok?" Lisa asked.

            Harry turned to look at Lisa, "yes, I'm fine." His voice was melodious, so beautiful you hung on every word.

            "Oh my god." Lisa looked at Harry in a way that suddenly had Ginny feeling threatened. "I don't even like men, but Harry…" her voice was husky with desire.

            His eyes locked with Ginny's "What's wrong love?" Ginny's knees abandon any attempt to hold her up.

            "H-Harry, s-stop it." Ginny couldn't take her eyes off him, and his voice was beyond beautiful he had to stop now, or there was no telling what she would do.

            Harry felt as if all the troubles of the world were suddenly very far away, and very small. He felt raw power flow through him as he had never felt before. He wanted to hold onto it, but Ginny had asked him to let it go. He found the source and pulled back from it, the golden haze lifting slowly, and his voice returning to normal.

            With the effects of the aura gone, Harry felt tired, but not exhausted. He sat down next to Ginny. "I'm starved," and began to eat.

            Ron sat there gaping at Harry, a slice of toast forgotten in his hand. "What in the bloody hell was THAT?"

            Hermione didn't even bother saying anything about his language. "I think that is the culmination of the power Ron."

            Justin was still rubbing his eyes. "Harry, I like you as a friend, and respect you as a leader, so understand when I say I have no idea where those thoughts of mine came from."

            Cho was also staring at Harry still, when she spoke her voice was silky and stressed with emotion, "Oh, I know where they came from…" It seemed the rest of the females agreed.

            Hermione cleared the last bit of huskiness from her throat. "Perhaps, Harry, it'd be best not to attempt that one again until you can control the other powers. The results could be, erm, disastrous."

            Harry simply finished his meal, and sat back. "So, let's recap, Tom isn't incapacitated, he wants me dead, and is trying to draw us out into another direct conflict, and my secret weapon is the ability to become some sort of sex-idol for all around me, that about cover it?"

            In the end they all agreed with Harry's summary. "Looks that way mate." Ron answered for the group.

            "Well just bloody lovely!" He thumped his forehead on the table and stayed there with his head down. A few minutes later they heard his voice, "you know, it'd almost be funny if it weren't so stupid."

            Suddenly he jerked his head up. "Wait one second!" He quickly surveyed the room, and his eyes got narrow. "Ron, quietly pick four people and have them leave." Harry laid his head on the table again, his eyes shut.

            Ron pointed to Ginny, Lisa, Cho and Justin and motioned them to leave. As soon as they left Ron said "Ok mate, now what?"

            Harry without lifting his head said slowly. "You selected Ginny, Lisa, Cho, and Justin and sent them into the living room where Lisa is sitting on the couch, Cho is standing behind Justin rubbing his shoulders, and Ginny is listening at the door."

            Harry picked his head up, and Susan opened the door to see the scene Harry had just relayed. Ron stared at him. "How?"

            "I can feel all of you. I know where you are. I can – I can almost hear what you are thinking. He turned to Hermione and stared at her, his eyes boring into her soul. "No, I can hear it, I just need to concentrate." He released her from his gaze.

            "This is going to take something more than I have. I need help. We have to get Dumbledore back." Harry felt his knees weaken slightly as his thoughts turned to Albus Dumbledore.

            They were in a cell. The walls were made of cut stone blocks. Dumbledore was in the cell with Sirius and Remus; they were discussing the best method for getting word to Harry. He screamed in his mind where are you?

            Dumbledore's head jerked and he said softy "Harry?"

            I am here Professor, but I don't know how long I can keep this up, where are you?

            "We don't know Harry, we are in a castle in Wales is all we know."

            We'll find you Professor, don't worry.

            Harry collapsed, and called for Ron weakly. "Ron – castle in Wales. Find it."

            Ron bolted from the kitchen and threw powder in the fireplace "Arthur Weasley" he shouted into the flames.

            Arthur's head appeared, and he looked at Ron nervously. "What is it Ron? What's wrong?"

            "Dad, I need an atlas of all magical castled in Wales." Ron thought to himself 'Because Harry wants it done, and then passed out, Gods that even sounds weak to me.' "I don't know much more than we need to find all the magical castles in Wales."

            Arthur nodded, and said goodbye. He left for the Department of Magical Housing, and once he had the rather sizeable list walked out to the front of the building and vanished.

            At home, Harry was just regaining consciousness as Ron brought him the list. "There are twelve registered structures, and six more that are probably not occupied" Ron had each one categorized for Harry.

            "Hermione's rubbing off on you Ron, this is very nice. Very organized and detailed." Ron grimace at him and cuffed him on the arm. "Starting tomorrow, we are going to be traveling light, and fast." He stood up and smiled. "Looks like we may get everyone back after all."

            He then walked up to his room and started to go through his belongings, rearranging his rucksack and re-packing supplies. He was stuffing the invisibility cloak into the pack when a soft knock interrupted him. He focused his concentration a moment. "Come on in Lisa."

            Lisa Turpin opened the door to Harry's room and closed it behind her. "Harry, I – I just wanted to apologize for earlier. I don't know…"

            Harry had turned to her, and held up his hand. His sleeve slid down revealing the phoenix glittering there. "Don't worry Lisa, it's no one's fault. We didn't know what would happen."

            Lisa smiled, and surprised Harry by hugging him. "Thanks Harry, you are the best." Her mood lightened she left the room.

Harry got a lopsided smile as he stared at the doorway. "Come on in Ginny."

Ginny walked in blushing slightly, "I'm sorry Harry, but most of my gear is in here."

Harry shrugged. "Its ok love, Lisa was apologizing for drooling earlier." He chuckled to himself. "Are you apologizing too?"

"Me apologize? Never. I can drool all I want." She winked at him and began arranging her medi-pouch. "Besides, Susan'd kick your arse if you put moves on Lisa."

Harry laughed aloud as they finished up the packing. He sighed, "And to think this morning, I thought everything was working out like planned." He turned to Ginny "Gin, I know I said we'd wait until after Tom was defeated, and after school, but I don't want to wait." He dropped to his knee in front of her like he'd seen on that horrid soap opera his aunt used to watch. "Ginny, would you marry me?"

She stood there initially confused, and then she simply nodded fighting the tears.

He smiled at her, and removed the ring from the necklace and placed it on her finger. "We still need to get that resized." The ring had a tendency to rotate until the gem was pointing into her palm. Harry chuckled at this a moment, and stood up. "Well, at least it won't fall off." He winked at her and kissed her deeply.

"So when had you planned on this wedding taking place, Mr. Potter?"

Harry's wistful look turned serious. "I had hoped fairly soon, to be honest Ginny. I promised you after Riddle was no longer a menace, but to be honest, I don't want to wait anymore. I don't want to live my life on his schedule any more. I want to be Harry Potter, that nice young man next door with a lovely wife, and kids. I want to be normal dammit! Is that so much to ask?" Tears were building up in Ginny's eyes as he talked. She understood him so well.

"I want a small ceremony, with just close friends, and family there. I want a small cottage in Hogsmeade so when our kids go to Hogwarts we can pester them to come see us on the weekends. I want to walk to some obscure job and come home at night to a good meal, and Hermione and Ron over to listen to the Cannons lose and Ron to rant about it. We can watch our kids grow up together, and visit your parents every other weekend; spending holidays enjoying ourselves rather than cowering in fear of some stupid mark." She had folded his hands in hers and simply listened.

"Harry, you can have that you know. All we need to do is to live, and not let Voldemort rule over us in fear. So long as we fight, and live he'll never win. It's that simple."

He looked thoughtful a moment, and then grinned mischievously, "Come on then, let's get the others." He pulled her from the room and they got everyone herded into the living room. "Before we head out, I have a few things I want to say, and one thing I want to do." He surveyed the faces around him smiling. "I'd like you all to come with me to Hogsmeade for a few hours, let's go look at something, and for three hours, we'll pretend we are enjoying a Hogsmeade weekend."

The smiles were all the encouragement he needed. "Ron, set the portkey, and let's go." Shortly the Companions were in Hogsmeade, and wandering the streets. Harry led them to a section on the outskirts near the Shrieking Shack. Five small cottages sat there slightly run down, each with a for sale notice on the door. "Well? What do you think?"

The others looked at him curiously, Hermione screwed up her courage first. "About what Harry? I'm sure with some work they'd be lovely, but what about them?"

"I was hoping, thinking we ten could buy them, move in, once everything is over. We can move in, fix them up, and live near ones we care about." Truth be told they had all felt it that morning, an almost palpable sense of relief that Voldemort was still powerful. They were still together.

Ron appraised the houses carefully. "I don't know Harry. Where would we get the money for them? It's not like the Order exactly has a great payroll, and saving the world has great karma payments, but I doubt we could get the houses on a whole lot of good will."

"Where there's a will, mate, there's a way, and I have that way." He went to the first house and read the notice. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a quill and some ink, tore a small piece of the parchment off and jotted down some information, folded it up and they went on their way laughing and talking.

"And what about your house?" Hermione asked.

            "I can't live there. Even after the work Ginny and I put into the place, it just does not feel like a home. It really isn't me." He finished smiling lopsidedly. "I don't want servants, and a huge house. I'm selling off the estate, and using the money to buy these houses."

In the Three Broomsticks they had a butterbeer, and headed for Zonkos. Once in the shop, however they could feel a certain amount of wrongness to the place. There were no students, and people were looking at them curiously. They cut their visit short and returned to the Weasleys to finish packing, and prepare for their search.