CHAPTER XVI

The world around Hogwarts was quite different from what it had been a week ago. Snowflakes danced across the windowpanes, and the grounds were coated in white fluff, the bushes resembling great marshmallows. Almost everyone was sound asleep, tucked under the numerous blankets on their beds. Harry was sitting in the library, dressed in jeans and a shirt with a Weasley sweater under his school robes. His nose was buried deep in a book, engrossed in something he happened to have stumbled upon while researching the second stage of the animagus potion making. His potion had turned a deep midnight blue, a sign that it was ready to have the next ingredient added. Ron, Hermione's and Ginny's were not quite yet midnight blue yet, so they would probably another three or four days. The small book Harry was reading was about animagus transformations, and most of it had been written by Barnabus Bartholomew. There were several references to his having achieved an animagus form in six months but nowhere would it hint as to how he'd done it. Harry found himself thinking of Merlin and wondering if he could somehow find a way to write to Merlin to ask him this perplexing question. Merlin lives in a completely different world though, time there is different, thought Harry. He doubted Hedwig would be able to find him, he didn't think she could travel between worlds. Harry's mind screeched to a halt and backtracked furiously. Time Harry thought wonderingly. He got up quickly and went over to one of the shelves, searching for a particular book. Suddenly he knew exactly how Barnabus Bartholomew had done it. When he found the book he was looking for he snatched it up and paged through it furiously. Harry paused at a particular page, excitement building in his chest. Grabbing a scrap of paper from the table he hastily scribbled down some information, and ran out of the library, in search of Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

***

Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all in the common room, about to make their way down to breakfast when Harry burst through the portrait hole, panting slightly with an excited glint in his eyes.

"I was just in the library" he said grinning and walking quickly over to Hermione.

He held out a small scrap of paper to her. Hermione looked at him questioningly and took the strip, looking down to read it. She froze, and the paper fluttered the ground as she clapped her hands together and laughed.

"Yes," she said quietly, "Yes I understand now! There isn't actually a way to speed up the animagus process," Harry shook his head to confirm it, "No, all Bartholomew did is speed up time."

Ron and Ginny looked as though they were finally catching on. Ron picked up the paper and read it.

" dego degere degi, the Time spell?" he asked.

"Ohhh," said Ginny in comprehension. She grinned, "It's like an aging spell, it passes the time on the object it's cast upon!" but the she paused. "But it seems awfully easy, why hasn't anyone else thought to do it before?"

Hermione shook her head.

"I've read about it, it's really complex, and it's a spell that's controlled strictly by the ministry, sort of like the time turners. It's illegal without special permission." Hermione pursed her lips and thought. "Hmm that's a good point Ginny, what if we're not allowed to use it?"

Harry grinned.

"This Bartholomew guy did it didn't he? Look, what the ministry doesn't know won't hurt them, why do you think Dumbledore hasn't suggested we register with the ministry?"

They all looked mildly stumped.

"It's because times are too dangerous. Maybe not so much for you guys, but we are all becoming complex magical creatures, and it will be useful to be able to transform and not have people know it's you. Especially if we ever need to hide from people."

The other three nodded, it made sense, although the thought of ever needing to hide like that was slightly scary. Hermione still looked a little worried.

"I don't know," she said. "It's an awfully big rule to break"

Ron interrupted her.

"It's no bigger than you using the time turner illegally to save Buckbeak and" he swallowed, "and Sirius. You could have been seen by anyone."

This seemed to convince Hermione a little more. Harry bounced impatiently, like a little boy.

"Please Hermione?" he pleaded, looking at her with big puppy eyes.

She glared at him, but nodded. Harry and Ron whooped and exchanged a high five.

***

A couple days later, early in the morning, Harry stood surveying the four cauldrons in Professor Jeanne's back room. The potions were now on the second stage of their brewing, and Hermione had spent the last few days researching how to perform the Time spell. It was difficult, because you had to hold in mind how fast you wanted time to pass by as well as the approximate date that they would normally be finished by, and also concentrate on only the cauldrons so that the spell didn't touch anything else. If all went well, then the spell would remain on the cauldrons for another two months. The potion itself would age as though it had been two years. Hermione, Ron and Ginny had all decided that Harry should cast the spell on all three of the potions because although Hermione was undoubtedly very clever, Harry had the most spell experience and mind capacity. Harry had protested, but in the end he had been beaten down, which is why he now stood, alone, staring at the four cauldrons and thinking carefully. He raised both hands, one holding his wand lightly and the other spread, palm forward. Harry concentrated on the information at hand. Making sure that this thought was organized and firmly in place, he took a deep breath and summoned a considerable amount of raw magic. Playing with Time was a risky business, any number of things could go wrong if the spell wasn't performed properly. Moving to the center of the four cauldrons, he covered each with a little blanket of magic and whispered

Dego degere degi' over and over again, feeling the spell building with each repetition. When he was sure that the spell would hold, he stopped speaking and waited for the energy crackling in the air to fade before lowering his hands. When he looked at the cauldrons, the bubbled and swirled like normal, except it looked as though someone had put them on fast-forward. Wisps of vapor rose out of them fast, forming shapes in the air that were immediately replaced by new ones, while the liquid swirled and glooped frantically. It was fascinating. Harry crossed the room and opened the door, motioning for Ron, Hermione and Ginny to come in and see. They all watched in silent satisfaction for a few minutes. Eventually, they arranged all the potion ingredients, put out the torches on the walls and closed up the room, Hermione locking it with a key that the potions master had given them. They made their way to the great hall, entering with the rest of the students. Harry noticed that Malfoy was lurking in the corner of the doorway. He must have just been released from the hospital wing, thought Harry. Next to him, Ron snickered and Ginny and Hermione looked as though they were trying not to do the same. Malfoy had a two whopper black eyes from the broken nose and several splinted fingers, which Madam Pompfrey's Skele-gro was too strong for. He, thankfully, did not look in the mood for another confrontation. Harry walked passed him indifferently and he and Ron, Hermione and Ginny took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. With breakfast, came the post, and the usual Daily Prophet. Ron and Ginny also received a letter addressed to both of them. Ron opened it curiously, Ginny reading over his shoulder. Ron's eyes moved from side to side as he read, and his face promptly drained completely of blood, leaving him white as a sheet. There was an almighty crash as Ginny promptly dropped the jug of pumpkin juice she had been holding. It bounced on the bench, and shattered on the floor, orange liquid spilling everywhere. She shrieked and snatched the letter from Ron's limp fingers, tears forming in her eyes.

"No, oh no, no, no, no" she repeated over and over again. Harry reached over and took the letter from her, reading it quickly.

To Ron and Ginny Weasley

Burrow attacked last night. Arthur is in critical condition. Have moved them to safe house, will let you both know details as soon as possible. Do not spread this around. Do not panic. Do not leave the school.

Dumbledore

Harry handed Hermione the letter and jumped to his feet, looking up at the staff table where, sure enough, Dumbledore was absent. Ron had still said nothing, but Harry thought it was best to get them both to Gryffindor tower, away from prying eyes. Taking the letter from Hermione, he set light to it with the tip of his wand, before speaking to her.

"C'mon, get Ron up, lets take them to the tower."

She nodded and stood up as well.
"Ron? Ron listen to they'll be just fine, try not to worry. C'mon get up lets go up to the common room."

With enough coaxing, Ron reluctantly stood up, not talking and still white as a sheet. He leaned on Hermione as though very tired, and they moved to exit the room. Meanwhile, Harry was having no such luck with Ginny. She was stubbornly sitting on the bench, surrounded by shattered glass and wet with pumpkin juice. Her lower lip was trembling. She didn't seem to really hear him.

"C'mon Ginny they're not dead, they're just in hiding, they're going to be just fine. You hear me?"

Ginny nodded, but she still didn't stand. Harry sighed, and picked her up. Carrying her out of the room. Harry walked back to the common room in silence.

"You think they're okay?" asked Ginny suddenly. Harry told the fat lady the password and hoisted Ginny through.

"I'm positive they'll be fine," said Harry seriously. "I'll make sure they're fine," he added vehemently.

Ginny looked up at him suspiciously. Her eyes were very scared. She got up and went over to sit by Ron, giving him a big hug. Harry backed up, going to stand in the corner where Hermione was biting her lip. He sighed loudly and resisted punching the wall.

"It just keeps getting worse," said Harry so only she could hear.

Hermione looked at him knowingly.

"It's not your fault Harry," she said.

Harry rounded on her.

"How is it not my fault?" he hissed so that Ron and Ginny wouldn't hear. "How could it not be? For goodness sake why else would Voldemort attack the Weasley's without warning? It's to get to me."

Hermione looked slightly alarmed.

"You think we wouldn't rather be your friend? I mean, look, the Weasley's have had a big part to play in fighting Voldemort. It could have been for some other reason." She argued. Harry didn't answer, partly because he didn't want to and partly because Ron was making his way over to them. He looked tired. Hermione folded him in her arms. He buried his face in her shoulder. Harry backed up a bit, to give them some space. Ron then dragged her upstairs so they could have a little time alone. Harry went over to where Ginny was sitting on the couch, still looking suspicious of him.

"You're not going to do anything rash are you Harry?"

Harry's shoulders hitched once, and he smiled slightly.

"Worry about your parents, not me, for once." He told her.

This was obviously not the answer Ginny had been looking for because she stood up quickly, stepping very close to him.

"Harry promise me you won't do anything stupid, I've already got too much to worry about," her voiced cracked slightly, but she continued, "I don't want to have to worry about you as well."

Harry squared his jaw and looked down at her determinedly. Truth to tell, he had been planning to find out where her parents were and get there as soon as possible. Ginny's lip trembled.

"Promise?" she asked.

Harry looked her, and nodded reluctantly. Ginny sighed and leaned on him, pressing her face to his chest. Harry was slightly taken aback, but he responded after a second or two, and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"Ginny?" he asked.

"Yes?" came her muffled voice.

"I know this may be the wrong time, but well, we've only got two and a half weeks until." He paused.

Ginny looked up at him questioningly. Secretly her heart was thumping madly, both from the incredible worry about her parents and the feeling of being hugged by Harry.

"I was wondering if you might want to come to the ball will me?" Said Harry in a rush.

Ginny blushed bright red and nodded, looking shyly up at him through thick auburn lashes. Harry bent his head and kissed her carefully on the lips. Ginny leaned into it. Harry felt pure happiness washing through him. once the Dark Lord finds out who you fancy she'll be the first to go' Harry pulled back abruptly, the wash of happiness running cold in his veins. He'd already caused trouble for her parents; he couldn't let anything happen to her.

"II'm sorry I shouldn't haveI can't" Harry said harshly, he pulled away from her.

Ginny looked confused.

"What's wrong?" she asked slowly.

Harry backed up again.

"This can'twe can't" Harry stumbled slightly, biting his lip.

"Why not?" whispered Ginny.

Harry shook his head.

"Just forget about me Ginny, you don't want me," he said unhappily.

With immense effort, he tore his eyes away from her, and ran up the stairs to his room.

Ginny watched him go painfully. She lowered herself to the couch, staring into the fire, tears spilling over her cheeks, wondering what had gone wrong.

When, at length, Hermione returned from upstairs where she had been talking with Ron, she found Ginny sound asleep on the sofa, curled up, her cheek glittering with tears.

***

The next morning, Harry sat in the great hall alone, he had thought to eating an early breakfast and spending the rest of the time outside until classes. He told himself he just felt like flying, but deep down it was really because he wished to avoid Ginny. Harry shook his head, telling himself not to think about her. Things are best this way he thought firmly, but his heart ached. Standing up, he pulled his trench coat over his sweater. It was charmed for warmth, so he figured it wouldn't be too cold out in the snow.

The sun shone brightly on the grounds, making the thick blanket of snow glitter and sparkle. Harry headed in the direction of the pitch carving a little track or snow in his wake. He was a few feet forward, however, when he stopped abruptly. A person, with long auburn hair was standing about five yards in front of him. He turned slowly, hoping she wouldn't hear. He was two thirds of the way back when he heard a voice.

"Harry?" Harry winced, but pretended he hadn't heard. He continued walking in a slow carefree fashion, as though he was engrossed in his own thoughts. When he got to the school, he stepped inside and leaned on the door, breathing unevenly. He closed his eyes and let his forehead fall against the hard wood. Life was really crap.