Chapter 20

Three days pass quickly when you are terribly busy. Harry mulled as he and Ginny packed their rucksacks. Her pouch was already packed and on her shoulder. Before leaving the village, Hermione had made a simple one-use portkey to take them back. She activated it, and they appeared in the alley behind the restaurant. They knocked on the back door huddled together in the snow.

The door opened and Mr. Voorhees let them in. "Why are you in my alley?" he seemed genuinely surprised, and pleased to see them.

"We have something we need to do tonight, but we wanted to thank you for the food the last time, and ask that we have a place to hide until nightfall." Harry explained the situation to the man who agreed to take them in.

"You can spend the time in the apartment upstairs. It's empty now, but should be roomy enough. I'll have meals brought up." He handed them a set of keys, and they headed up the stairs into the apartment.

It was unfurnished, but Ginny and Hermione solved that with a few transfigurations. "That'll do for now." Hermione said they now had several overstuffed chairs and a couch. The two looked pleased with themselves.

They started a fire in the fireplace and waited, going over the plans for that night trying to spot a flaw, nothing presented itself as obvious.

Several hours after they had arrived, Jason knocked on the door, Justin let him in and they had soup and sandwiches Jason stayed to talk to them for a few minutes and then returned to his duties as a bus boy for the restaurant.

The sun was setting, and Harry watched as Ginny dispelled the enchantment on the rocks they had turned into furniture. It was time to go, and they filed out of the apartment, locking the door behind them.

They left the keys with Jason, and headed out of town, their cloaks shifting in color and pattern in an attempt to disguise them. It took an hour to reach the ruins, and another forty minutes to find the passage to the hidden section of the castle.

Harry looked around, and seeing no one, they slipped in the doorway, and into the shadows of a dimly lit corridor.

They followed the corridor, Ron consulting his map, and guiding them through turns and passages. They finally reached an area not on the 'official' map. "This is it Harry."

"Ok gents and ladies, let's make some magic then." Harry's face held the stoic look he had while in command.

They inched towards the door, and waited, listening for a few minutes until they were satisfied that they were unnoticed. Harry smiled and pulled out a handful of coins, jamming them into the door effectively locking the door closed silently.

Harry motioned them forward and they crept to the next door listening again for a few minutes. This time Harry held up his hand and pointed at the door. They all steadied themselves, and Harry half whispered "Alohamora" the door sprung slightly, and he eased it open enough to peek inside.

Ron mentally shook himself, this sneaking about was nerve-wracking. He much preferred a straight up fight when it came down to it. Ah well, looks like we are about there.

Harry pushed to door open soundlessly; the four men in the room were occupied going through a small pile of items none of them recognized. Almost as one they selected separate targets and nine red beams struck the four men felling them quietly and effectively. Harry went to the table and saw what they were digging through. Severous Snape's personal effects were strewn about the table.

Ron noticed the fury in Harry's eyes before the mask slid into place again. Shortly after a slight golden aura began to appear. "Well, so much for stealth." He quipped wryly pointing at Harry.

Hermione chuckled into her sleeve. "Now Harry, this is not really the place for that kind of thing, you know?" Ron was trying to keep a serious face, but failed when Harry looked at him. He was so serious, and suddenly this whole situation was damn funny.

They searched the bodies, finding several keys on a ring on one of them. Harry took them and examined each one, and then got a faraway look in his eyes. Shortly his eyes refocused on them. "Follow me." He stalked out of the room, no longer caring if he made noise. Ron looked at the door behind them, noticing a faint greenish tinge to it, he shrugged and followed Harry.

Harry lead them past sever other doors and through hallways finally they came to a door he didn't pass. Instead he placed his palms on the door and it disintegrated. Six death eaters were in the room. As soon as the door vanished, a green crystal lattice appeared around them, sealing them into a transparent prison. Ron could see Harry weaken, and urged him silently to draw from them, and then he felt the tug on his, somewhere, and then the drain. The aura surrounding Harry flared briefly, and then settled down again.

They moved silently to the holding cells, opening them and releasing the prisoners. Most of the staff had survived the captivity. They gathered rapidly, and fled the complex. Once they had some distance between them and the wards, they used the portkey to escape the death eater prison. When they landed in the great hall, Harry addressed the adults. "I believe we need some rest."

Minutes later the Companions were passed out on the great hall floor. Harry woke in his bed several hours later; he noticed Ron was asleep in his bed. He rummaged in his rucksack, and finally realized that his book was missing. He sat with quill and parchment, and recreated the list of names. At three am, he crept out of the castle, and using his wand began carving names into the face of the rock. "I can hardly lose this." He finished with the staff missing. It was such a long list.

He had his hands in his hips and was staring at the smooth face. Behind his reflection he saw the face of Albus Dumbledore. "It does well to remember the past Harry, but if you dwell on it, it will eat at you until you are no better than Tom."

"It's not fair. Dammit all Dumbledore, it's not fair! I did everything you asked me to do. I gave up years of my god damned life!"

Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and turned him to face his mentor. "Now listen good Harry, I'm only going to say this once. You are bound to suffer more losses in this battle. You never had a normal childhood. I actually thought it kinder to allow the quickening, and had considered it several times watching you suffer year after year through school." Harry looked so much like James Dumbledore had to remind himself who was standing in front of him. "Harry," he continued, his voice gentler, the harsh edge gone "Remus gave his life for a good cause. Don't let his name just be another entry in the 'Reasons Potter hates Riddle' tally sheet. You are more than this war Harry, those who are dead now, died because of Voldemort, not you. You are not responsible for or to them."

The blue eyes shown with an intensity Harry had seldom seen. "Think of Sirius, Harry. Have you gone to see him?"

Harry mutely shook his head.

"Go to him, then return to your room and try and get some rest. We adjourn tomorrow afternoon to begin sorting out and planning." Dumbledore left him then.

Harry walked to the castle steps, and his feet found him outside Sirius's room. He knocked softly, and the door opened immediately. To Harry Sirius looked worse than the old pictures of him from Azkaban. He was haggard, and his eyes sunken. "Harry – You're here." The words tumbled out relief evident.

"I'm sorry Sirius, I – I should have come sooner, but …"

Sirius put a hand on his arm silencing him. "Don't. That's discussion for another time Harry, now – Let's talk. About small, inconsequential things, and remember Remus, and Minerva and Filtch, and the others in a positive light."

It was seven am when Harry left Sirius's apartments, and made his way to his bed. At noon Ron was shaking him awake. "Come on Harry, Dumbledore's been asking for us all."

Harry put on fresh robes, and followed Ron to Dumbledore's office, and the table waiting for them. They were the last to arrive.

Harry spoke first, his voice thick with emotion. "I'd like to propose a monument to this–" Harry's voice faltered "this moment. I'd like to convert a portion of the grounds to a graveyard for the victims." He sat his eyes locking on Mr. Diggory. "I'd like to have Cedric relocated here. He was the first Hero to fall."

Diggory's mouth fell open. He found himself unable to speak, and merely nodded his assent.

Several wearisome hours later the meeting broke, and Harry found himself face to face with Diggory. "Ced used to talk about you, you know. How noble of spirit and how pure you were Harry. I couldn't believe it was more than hero-worship, you know, all the kids grew up on your story. But today Harry that was something that Cedric would have been proud of, to be a hero of the school."

"He is a hero. He always will be remembered as such." Harry's eyes burned with a passion for deep within. "No one will ever be forgotten."

Diggory was taken aback by the intensity and looked to Dumbledore. "Albus," he said when Harry and the rest were gone "I've seen that before. He's –"

"Yes, Harry is going to win this war, or he is going to burn up on the power he's channeling." The weariness in Dumbledore's voice was plain. "However, for now, I find a couch has been calling me to take a short nap." He smiled and ushered Diggory out.

Seated at his desk, Dumbledore idly fingered a quill, and looked up at his door "Come in Harry."

Outside the door Harry had just raised his hand to knock when he heard Dumbledore call him in. He opened the door, noting with regret how old and tired Dumbledore seemed. "I – I'm sorry Professor, now isn't a good time, is it?"

Dumbledore shook his head slowly. "But when would be a good time Harry? I can feel my time coming now stronger than ever, and I honestly don't know how much longer I can put up the fight, or how much longer I even want to anymore."

He placed his chin in his hand. "I assume you've come to discuss something of importance then?"

"Yes, but – We – I can wait." He turned to leave.

"Harry, never put off things that are truly important. Young Ms. Weasley isn't getting any older, but, my dear boy, how long do you expect her to wait?" Harry turned back to Dumbledore to tell him he was wrong. "You gave her a ring, I am sure. Having been in your shoes once before I know what has been going on. So ask what you came here to ask Harry, so I can get some rest."

Harry blushed and with downcast eyes asked "Would you be the officiator at our ceremony Professor? We want a small, quiet ceremony. Just friends; and Ginny's family."

"Ah, then we'll be having a double wedding then." Dumbledore set down the quill he was toying with. "Hermione just asked the same question of me before the meeting. Of course I will Harry." He reached for Harry's hand, and held it firmly in his. "We will talk things over with Arthur and Molly when they arrive tomorrow."

The ceremony was small, yet elegant. The two couples were bonded in what Harry originally thought was a rather plain way. A braided cord was made to interlock their left hands together, and they repeated their vows. Dumbledore then held out their rings. Harry was mildly let down by the plainness of it. Then he slipped on their rings.

There was a sudden jerk, similar to the feeling of being portkeyed, but this was different. Instead of pulling him back, this pulled him towards Ginny. He felt almost as if a piece of him were sundered from him, and flowed into her. As quickly as that happened he felt something warm, yet foreign enter in to him just as quickly. His eyes widened as he realized how deep the bonding between them truly was.

He had always known marriage in the wizardling world was different, but had no way of knowing how deep the bond went. When his vision cleared he could see Ginny standing before him, pale and surprised. Apparently she hadn't known either.

They turned as one to Dumbledore, "What was that?"

Dumbledore smiled. "You are Companions. You already shared a bond much stronger than marriage, so when you dedicated yourselves to one another, I am afraid this is quite a deep bond. Very strong and very permanent. In future lives you will seek each other out. Yes, this bond will survive even death.

"Sadly, it also means should one of you pass on, the other will feel empty. That piece of them they carry will be hollow. It has driven some mad." The twinkle was gone from his eyes, and Harry detected a tear making its way down the Headmaster's cheek. He heard Dumbledore whisper "Elisabeth…"

Ron looked at Hermione and with determination slid the rings onto their fingers. Harry and Ginny watched as the transformation hit the other couple. The two couples turned to face the assembled family and Companions. Mrs. Weasley was positively beside herself with joy.

From behind them, Harry felt Dumbledore's presence. "And now good friends, we shall feast while the newly wedded couples retire to complete the ritual."

Harry's jaw dropped, and Ginny leaned into his shoulder and whispered. "It's not like it's anything you haven't done before Harry." Her tone was one of mock admonition. "Why Harry Potter, you mean to tell me you don't know what comes next?"

Harry blushing shook his head. "Well you've already done it with me, it's not like it's anything special." The glint in her eye let Harry know that she was just getting wound up. She led him away to their room. Harry noticed the house elves had taken it upon themselves to place decorations in the room. They had used Gryffindor colors interwoven with the Telisin silver and gold.

Ginny turned from Harry and removed her robes, and sat on the edge of the bed. "Come on Harry, I want to get something to eat."

"Ginny, I don't like to hurry things. You know that." His face was growing redder all the time.

"Harry," said her voice carrying that 'don't mess with me' tone, "you know damn well it only takes a moment."

He thought he'd never heard a more insulting way of putting it. Sex had always been tender and intimate between them, now it was more like a rush to get it over with. "What in the hell is going on Ginny?"

"We have to finish the bond Harry."

There was a pounding on the door, Ron's voice drifted through the closed door. "C'mon mate! Hermione and I are done; let's go get something to eat!"

Harry stood there aghast. "What in the bloody hell is going on?"

Ginny smirked. "That, Mr. Potter is what you get for not reading." She came up to him and kissed him. Harry felt the world shatter and reform under him.

"Wow." Yeah, wow, that about sums it up. He thought. "What was that?"

Ginny laughed then, "That was the end of the charm. What, you thought we were supposed to have sex?"

"Well, the thought did cross my mind." He tried not to sound disappointed.

"No Harry. Now in an old ceremony, yes the couple would erm, couple. But today it's a private kiss. Now, later on tonight…" her eyes were molten. "You, Mr. Potter are mine."

Harry decided he liked that idea very much. "Well then Mrs. Potter, shall we go eat?"

The dinner and gift exchange went exceptionally well. At the end of the dinner, Dumbledore stood and made an announcement. "Sadly, amidst such joy there must come some sorrow. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, you need to retire for the night. Tomorrow morning I fear we face Tom Riddle for the last time." Perched on the chair behind Dumbledore was a crow. It swooped down to the middle of the table and dropped a rolled up parchment before taking wing.

Harry's eyes lifted to Hermione's "Check it."

She drew her wand and muttered an incantation. The parchment glowed with an ugly green. "It's some form of trap Harry." On the front of the parchment was written in blood red ink. 'Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter'.

"Open it." Hermione's face scrunched up, and then she cast another spell; the parchment unfurled laying flat on the table. Harry looked at the contents of the letter, and then drew his own wand and incinerated the parchment.

"He is coming here tomorrow at dawn."

"Bloody git." Ron sighed "I hate mornings."

Sirius laughed then, eliciting looks from around the table. He cleared his throat and said simply "The most powerful evil wizard in the world is coming here to kill them, and Ron's only complaint is that it's in the morning?"

Laughter filled the hall then as everyone else caught on to the last Marauder's joke. He watched then as Harry asked for some music, and lead Ginny out in a dance. 'My god, they look so much like James and Lily.'

That night they held each other for hours, willing the sun to never rise again. By three am they slipped into exhausted sleep.