Chapter 2: Jamie's Début.
Harry and Romulus were in the locker room of the Training Centre. It was the second Friday of November and they'd just finished a gruelling two-hour fencing lesson, the last lesson of the week.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Romulus asked.
"Heading up to Hogwarts," Harry told his friend. "It's the first match of the Quidditch season tomorrow. Gryffindor against Slytherin. I promised Jamie I'd be there to see her."
"She's playing today?" Romulus asked. He was still dressing as they talked - he strapped on his wand holster and knives, then slipped his robe on over them.
"Yeah. It's her first game as Seeker." Harry confirmed, strapping his belt with the stick holster attached to it, round his waist. He checked that his wand and throwing knife were also securely in place then pulled on his robe. "She's pretty nervous about it."
"I'd be surprised if she wasn't." Romulus said. "Tell her not to worry though, you Potters are natural Quidditch players."
"I'll tell her." Harry confirmed. "I want to see Ginny too, of course."
"Naturally."
"Have you any plans?" Harry asked. "You could come up to Hogwarts with me?"
"I think I will go to Diagon Alley. Mr Librium at Flourish and Blotts owled me this morning, apparently that book I ordered has come in. I also need to stock up on fluxweed and bicorn horn. I've run out, and we're doing Polyjuice in Potions next week. Do you need anything?"
"I'm fine." Harry assured him. "I don't experiment with potions as much as you do, so my reserves last longer."
"Ok, that makes sense." Romulus told him. "When are you leaving?"
Harry glanced at his watch. "Soon. I want to catch them before they finish dinner."
"Say hi for me."
"I will." Harry promised and they left the changing rooms.
----
Harry appeared in the alley behind the Three Broomsticks with a pop. He straightened his long leather coat and walked over to the back entrance and walked in.
The pub was rather quieter today than Harry was used to, only a few Hogsmeade residents were occupying the large room. Harry scanned the bar until he found the person he was looking for, a stocky young man with brown hair in brown workrobes and a black Hogwarts cloak.
Harry got a couple of Butterbeers from Madame Rosmerta and walked over to the youth's table. "Is this seat taken?"
The youth looked up and smiled. "Hi Harry!"
"Hi Neville," said Harry, slipping into the seat opposite his friend's. "How's work?"
Neville beamed, and took a slug from his mug before answering. "Great! Pomona's been really good to me. She's letting me take some of the first and second year classes already and she says that in a couple of years I'll be ready to take over."
"Good for you, Neville." Harry told him, and he meant it. Neville had always been the odd man out in Gryffindor Tower, and Harry was glad to see that his friend had finally found his niche.
They finished their drinks and then walked down the street to where a horseless carriage was waiting for them. Of course it wasn't really horseless, as both Neville and Harry could see, but rather pulled by the usual Threstral. They got in and the horse trotted back towards the gates.
----
When the carriage pulled up at the Main Door, Harry jumped out, leaving his small truck behind. Neville followed at a slightly slower pace. Glancing into the Great Hall through the window, he could see that dinner was only just beginning and that students were still filling in. A familiar flash of red hair was clearly visible near the far end of the Gryffindor table.
Harry was never quite sure how they managed to get into the Great Hall without anyone spotting them, but somehow they managed it. Neville headed up to the Staff table, and Harry crept along the wall towards Ginny.
She was chatting with Jamie and Mark about their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, which - from what Harry could tell - had gone rather better than his first lesson had. Jamie looked up and spotted him, but Harry pressed a finger to his lips. She nodded and shifted so that a space opened up between her and Ginny.
"Aren't you going to ask me to sit down, Gin?" Harry asked.
Ginny started and then turned to face him. "Harry! You made it!"
"Yep, I did." Harry confirmed, and as Ginny got up, he enfolded her in a big hug. "I missed you, love."
"I missed you too, Harry."
They stood holding each other for a couple of minutes, completely ignorant of the stares they were attracting.
When they finally broke apart, they sat down. "How are you, Jamie?"
"I'm fine, Harry. What happened to your glasses?"
"I don't need them any more," Harry admitted. "The quartermaster fitted me for a pair of contact lenses. They've got some nice special features actually."
"Like what?"
"Well, they allow me to see in the dark, and if I concentrate hard enough, they act like Omnioculars."
"Cool," said Jamie. "I want a pair of those."
"They're restricted to Aurors and MLES field operatives I'm afraid."
Jamie shrugged. "I was thinking about joining the Aurors anyway."
"How's practise going?"
"Pretty good I think," Ginny told him. "Harvey's shaping up to be an even better Keeper than Ron, and Roberta's a brilliant Chaser."
"And I know Jamie's good, because I trained her myself." Harry finished. "Well, it should be a good game tomorrow then."
They chatted amicably throughout the meal, and when it was over, Neville came over. "Harry, Professor McGonagall asked me to tell you that Dobby has set up the old DA quarters for you."
"Thanks Neville. Will you join us?"
"Sorry, can't tonight, Harry. Pomona's asked me to mark some of the third- year essays over the weekend. I need to get started tonight if I'm going to go to the game."
"I'll see you in the morning then." Harry said.
On the way out, they stopped to say hello to a few of students: Colin and Dennis, Sharon and Roberta, Harvey Johnson, and even Gabrielle Delacour, who blushed when Harry spoke to her. Clearly Ginny had been right about her crush on him.
Harry, Ginny, Jamie and Mark retired to Harry's old quarters, and were joined in fairly short order by Anita and Luna, and then a little later by Remus and Leona. They caught up on each other's news, Remus was particularly pleased when he heard of Harry's success in the Defence Against the Dark Arts class, and Leona was glad that he wasn't having too much trouble with the potions element of the course.
It was nearly curfew time when they finally exhausted their conversation. Remus agreed that Ginny could stay with Harry if she wanted to, but insisted on escorting Jamie, Luna and Mark back to their respective common rooms, and Leona agreed to take Anita back to hers.
----
"Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the first game of Quidditch season. Today, the defending champions - Gryffindor -" The majority of the spectators cheered loudly. "Will take on their fiercest rivals, Slytherin!"
"Must be rather different watching it from this angle, Harry?" asked McGonagall, who was sitting a couple of seats across from him in the front row.
"It is Professor," Harry admitted. "Although it's nice to be doing it for good reasons."
McGonagall nodded, "You can call me Minerva, Harry. You are no longer my student."
"I will always willing to learn from you, Prof-Minerva."
"Thank you, Harry."
The two teams, clad in red and green respectively, had arrived on the pitch.
"Both teams have under gone changes in their line-up this year under their new Captains, Ginny Weasley and Malcolm Baddock. Baddock has had to recruit an almost entirely new team, while Weasley has only made three changes, all from her list of reserves from last year. How can the fledging Slytherin stand-up against the might of Gryffindor."
McGonagall sighed. "Filius, try to chose a less biased commentator next time."
"I think a biased commentator's more fun." Harry commented. "I mean, the non-Gryffindor matches can be pretty dull when he's commentating."
McGonagall appeared to weigh this up for before nodding. "You may have a point, Harry. I will bear that in mind."
Ginny and Baddock went into the centre of the field for the traditional Captain's Handshake. Harry used the Amplificarus Charm in his contact lenses to zoom in on the pair, just in time to see Ginny wince as Baddock squeezed her hand tightly. Madam Hooch released the balls a few seconds later, and Gryffindor's point Chaser Roberta Sommers - a short, stocky, dark-blond third year - snared it as it was still ascending and shot for the goal, with Ginny and Sharon only a few yards behind her on either side.
"Sommers ducks a Bludger, sent her way by Beater Creel of Slytherin, she passes back to Gryffindor Captain Ginny Weasley, who shots. and scores!"
"Yes!" Harry exclaimed, pumping the air in excitement. "Go Ginny!"
"Gryffindor begin the game at ten to nothing and are still in possession. Chaser Skelton with the Quaffle."
The play continued along its usual one-sided path for quite a while, with Gryffindor overwhelming Slytherin at every turn. It wasn't until forty minutes into the game that things began to turn Slytherin's way: A lucky hit from Cole Gibson, the other new Beater took Skelton out of play, and a push by all three Slytherin Chasers at the same time - backed up by Creel - managed to knock the rest of Gryffindor off balance for a while. They soon rallied and drove the Slytherins back, but not before they had taken ten shots at Gryffindor's Keeper, five of which Johnson missed.
"That's not good," said Neville.
Harry laughed. "Nev, Gryffindor's sixty points up, even with that push, and Slytherin would get another chance like that. Besides, Jamie's guaranteed to beat Flint to the Snitch."
For a while, Harry's predictions didn't seem to be coming true though, as Ginny and Roberta, backed up by the two Gryffindor Beaters, managed to score only three more times to Slytherin's four.
They were just diving in for another shot, Ginny in the lead on the left flank, when Harry noticed a glint of gold out of one eye. The Quaffle flew through one of the hoops and Harry focused in on it. It was the Golden Snitch, and Jamie was about ten feet away and closing fast, the Slytherin Seeker was over on the other side of pitch and obvious.
"Gryffindor wins!" declared Abercrombie seconds later, as Jamie raised her arm in the air to show the Snitch clasped in her fist and Madam Hooch blew the final whistle.
"See, I told you they'd win," Harry said to Neville as they dismounted for the staff stand, and headed for the changing rooms.
----
Harry woke up at late on Christmas Eve, he'd been out on the traditional pre-Christmas drinking night with the other cadets and a few of the younger officers the night before and hadn't got back until the early hours of the morning.
He glanced at the clock, it read ten-past eight. He stripped off the Muggle shirt and black jeans he'd fallen asleep in and pulled on his favourite trousers, a long-sleeved T-shirt and last year's Weasley jumper, which was growing a little tight. He slipped his weapons belt back on and was just about to finish dressing by putting on his dragonhide coat when a huge jolt of pain ripped through his heart and he dropped to his knees, his chest throbbing in pain and a terrible feeling of weakness at his core. After a few seconds he realised that there was a whining noise coming from his trunk. He tried to move towards it but he couldn't, so he did the only thing available to him.
"Accio!"
There was a ripping, splintering sound and the source of the noise tore out through the side of the trunk and dropped into Harry's outstretched hand. It was the box containing the Sceptre of Amor. Harry ripped open the box and removed the Sceptre. It was glowing a strange blue-green and Harry could feel that one of the channels of power within it was being disturbed, being blocked. by some force it couldn't handle. It only took Harry about half-a-second to narrow down which link was blocked. It was the link to the Libido Ruby, which could mean only one thing.
"Ginny." Harry gasped, and screwing up his concentration and what power he could muster, he disappeared with a pop.
----
He appeared a few seconds later outside the Burrow. For a brief moment he wondered if something else had gone wrong, then he remembered the anti- Apparation ward around the Burrow and Ginny's plan to spend a few days with her family before coming up to Gryphon's Eyrie.
The pain was starting to ebb now, and Harry removed his sticks from his belt and twisted them together, then leaning on it, he rose and hobbled towards the front door of the house.
It was a few minutes before his knock was answered. Curiously by Penelope of all people. Harry started, but then remembered that the Burrow had been her home since Percy's death. "I need to see, Ginny."
"She doesn't want to speak to you, Potter." Penelope snapped, and moved to close the door.
"You don't understand! I need to talk to her!!!" Harry said. "I don't know what's wrong. but it's killing me!"
The blood drained a little from Penelope's face and she stepped aside.
"Is she in her room?" Harry asked hoarsely.
Penelope nodded.
"Thank you." Harry said and began to hobble up the stairs. He was nearly exhausted when he finally reached the third landing, and he groaned when saw that Mrs Weasley was attempting to gain entry to Ginny's room, which was clearly locked from the inside and from the sounds of it, contained a very upset Ginny Weasley.
"Mrs. Weasley." Harry gasped.
Mrs Weasley turned, and saw Harry. Her face briefly took on it's rather uncanny impersonation of a sabretooth tiger's, but this faded when she saw how bad he looked. "Are you okay, Harry?"
"No," Harry admitted. "Something's wrong, something to do with the link between my magic and Ginny's. it's very painful. Do you know what happened?"
"I'm not sure, Harry," Mrs Weasley admitted. "All I know is. she was fine this morning until the Prophet arrived, and then she got into a rage and she hasn't left her room, or stopped crying since. That was ten minutes ago."
Harry groaned. He knew what must have happened. "I need to get in there. talk to her. explain."
"We can't get in," Mrs Weasley told him. "I've tried every unlocking spell I know and none of them work."
"They wouldn't," Harry told her. "She's probably using a spell that I taught her. It's an old Caelumi spell that only the caster and their soulmate can break. Only a handful of mortals have ever learnt it."
He dragged himself up to the doorknob and grasped it hard. "Ansera!" The lock clicked open and Harry lurched into the room.
It took him a couple of seconds to orientate himself and then he moved towards Ginny. "Ginny. love, what's wrong?"
"Get away from me, Potter!" yelled Ginny and threw a spell at him.
Harry brought his right hand up, fingers wide apart. "Protego!"
Ginny sagged back down into her bed as the spell shattered harmlessly against Harry's flickering, but strong Shield. Harry glanced back at Mrs Weasley and gave her a look that clearly said. Leave this to me. Surprisingly, Mrs Weasley nodded and left.
Harry turned back to Ginny, and moved closer. "What's wrong, Ginny?"
"As if you don't know!"
"Ginny, I honestly don't. I've done nothing."
"Then explain this, Potter!" snarled Ginny and tossed a copy of the morning's Prophet at him. Harry grasped at it, but at the same time he lost his balance and fell against the old camp bed - Hermione's bed - that still sat on the other side of the room.
He opened it up and it was immediately obvious what had annoyed Ginny enough to interfere with their link. The headline read. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Cheated? The large photo showed Harry in the Blade and Wand pub in Devon, at a table with a woman who was not Ginny, and whose hand was held in his own.
Harry groaned, then smiled.
"You think cheating on me is funny, Potter?!!"
"Ginny. I would never do that. It would kill me to betray you." Harry told her. Probably literally if how I'm feeling right now is any guide.
"Then explain that photo!"
"Okay. I admit I was in the Blade and Wand last night. A big group of guys, and some girls, from the COT Centre go there every year."
"To pick up girls for a bit of fun I suppose!"
"It's not like that! You can ask Hermione or Katie, they were there."
"Well then why were you hand-in-hand with this woman!"
"Ginny, you don't understand. that's Blaise."
"Don't you think I know what Blaise Zabini looks like by now! Make up a better story!"
"It is true. she's a Metamorphmagus. But she doesn't like to use her powers."
Ginny's expression softened a little. "That still doesn't explain why you were holding her hand and making eyes at her!"
Harry sighed. "It wasn't what it looked like! You know the Prophet reporters as well as I do. They'll do anything for a cheap story. And that old hag Maledicta's the worst of the lot!"
Harry saw that Ginny was really beginning to listen, and he rushed on. "Ginny, just over a year ago. I gave you the ring that is on your right hand now. Amor's Libido Ruby, his Stone of passion and love. Do you remember what I told you that day?"
"That I was your soulmate, your girlfriend, and your love," said Ginny in a whisper.
Harry nodded. "Nothing has changed about my feelings for you since I said that. Except that we are now even more together than we were then. I could never betray our love, Ginny. my heart won't let me. He wouldn't let me. Please. you must believe me!"
"I do believe you, Harry." Ginny told him softly. Harry crawled over to the bed and sat down on it. Ginny pulled him into an embrace and down onto the bed. "I'm sorry for doubting you."
"That's okay, love," Harry assured. "I'm sorry you got upset."
They fell into a light sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, the newly restored power of their link hummed softly around them.
When the bustle of Christmas Eve woke them a couple of hours later. Ginny frowned. "What were you and Blaise doing?"
Harry chuckled. "I've told you about Leonard Kelly, haven't I? The Healer assigned to the COT Centre."
Ginny nodded. "You said you all try and avoid him."
Harry nodded. "We do. Blaise thought she's cracked a bone in her hand sparring early. I said I'd take a look at it and see if I could use that Bone Knitting Charm you taught me over the summer to fix it. It was cracked, and I did."
"So it was perfectly innocent."
"Yep. Let that be a lesson to both of us."
Ginny nodded and the two of them straightened their clothes and headed down to see the rest of the family.
A/N: Hope I didn't scare you too badly at the end there. I've had a few nice reviews lately, and I thank you all for them. I'm sorry this took so long to get up, and I'm afraid the next one probably won't be up any quicker as I'm going to be starting back to University on Monday. Keep reviewing though, and I will have the next chapter up as soon as I can.
Harry and Romulus were in the locker room of the Training Centre. It was the second Friday of November and they'd just finished a gruelling two-hour fencing lesson, the last lesson of the week.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Romulus asked.
"Heading up to Hogwarts," Harry told his friend. "It's the first match of the Quidditch season tomorrow. Gryffindor against Slytherin. I promised Jamie I'd be there to see her."
"She's playing today?" Romulus asked. He was still dressing as they talked - he strapped on his wand holster and knives, then slipped his robe on over them.
"Yeah. It's her first game as Seeker." Harry confirmed, strapping his belt with the stick holster attached to it, round his waist. He checked that his wand and throwing knife were also securely in place then pulled on his robe. "She's pretty nervous about it."
"I'd be surprised if she wasn't." Romulus said. "Tell her not to worry though, you Potters are natural Quidditch players."
"I'll tell her." Harry confirmed. "I want to see Ginny too, of course."
"Naturally."
"Have you any plans?" Harry asked. "You could come up to Hogwarts with me?"
"I think I will go to Diagon Alley. Mr Librium at Flourish and Blotts owled me this morning, apparently that book I ordered has come in. I also need to stock up on fluxweed and bicorn horn. I've run out, and we're doing Polyjuice in Potions next week. Do you need anything?"
"I'm fine." Harry assured him. "I don't experiment with potions as much as you do, so my reserves last longer."
"Ok, that makes sense." Romulus told him. "When are you leaving?"
Harry glanced at his watch. "Soon. I want to catch them before they finish dinner."
"Say hi for me."
"I will." Harry promised and they left the changing rooms.
----
Harry appeared in the alley behind the Three Broomsticks with a pop. He straightened his long leather coat and walked over to the back entrance and walked in.
The pub was rather quieter today than Harry was used to, only a few Hogsmeade residents were occupying the large room. Harry scanned the bar until he found the person he was looking for, a stocky young man with brown hair in brown workrobes and a black Hogwarts cloak.
Harry got a couple of Butterbeers from Madame Rosmerta and walked over to the youth's table. "Is this seat taken?"
The youth looked up and smiled. "Hi Harry!"
"Hi Neville," said Harry, slipping into the seat opposite his friend's. "How's work?"
Neville beamed, and took a slug from his mug before answering. "Great! Pomona's been really good to me. She's letting me take some of the first and second year classes already and she says that in a couple of years I'll be ready to take over."
"Good for you, Neville." Harry told him, and he meant it. Neville had always been the odd man out in Gryffindor Tower, and Harry was glad to see that his friend had finally found his niche.
They finished their drinks and then walked down the street to where a horseless carriage was waiting for them. Of course it wasn't really horseless, as both Neville and Harry could see, but rather pulled by the usual Threstral. They got in and the horse trotted back towards the gates.
----
When the carriage pulled up at the Main Door, Harry jumped out, leaving his small truck behind. Neville followed at a slightly slower pace. Glancing into the Great Hall through the window, he could see that dinner was only just beginning and that students were still filling in. A familiar flash of red hair was clearly visible near the far end of the Gryffindor table.
Harry was never quite sure how they managed to get into the Great Hall without anyone spotting them, but somehow they managed it. Neville headed up to the Staff table, and Harry crept along the wall towards Ginny.
She was chatting with Jamie and Mark about their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, which - from what Harry could tell - had gone rather better than his first lesson had. Jamie looked up and spotted him, but Harry pressed a finger to his lips. She nodded and shifted so that a space opened up between her and Ginny.
"Aren't you going to ask me to sit down, Gin?" Harry asked.
Ginny started and then turned to face him. "Harry! You made it!"
"Yep, I did." Harry confirmed, and as Ginny got up, he enfolded her in a big hug. "I missed you, love."
"I missed you too, Harry."
They stood holding each other for a couple of minutes, completely ignorant of the stares they were attracting.
When they finally broke apart, they sat down. "How are you, Jamie?"
"I'm fine, Harry. What happened to your glasses?"
"I don't need them any more," Harry admitted. "The quartermaster fitted me for a pair of contact lenses. They've got some nice special features actually."
"Like what?"
"Well, they allow me to see in the dark, and if I concentrate hard enough, they act like Omnioculars."
"Cool," said Jamie. "I want a pair of those."
"They're restricted to Aurors and MLES field operatives I'm afraid."
Jamie shrugged. "I was thinking about joining the Aurors anyway."
"How's practise going?"
"Pretty good I think," Ginny told him. "Harvey's shaping up to be an even better Keeper than Ron, and Roberta's a brilliant Chaser."
"And I know Jamie's good, because I trained her myself." Harry finished. "Well, it should be a good game tomorrow then."
They chatted amicably throughout the meal, and when it was over, Neville came over. "Harry, Professor McGonagall asked me to tell you that Dobby has set up the old DA quarters for you."
"Thanks Neville. Will you join us?"
"Sorry, can't tonight, Harry. Pomona's asked me to mark some of the third- year essays over the weekend. I need to get started tonight if I'm going to go to the game."
"I'll see you in the morning then." Harry said.
On the way out, they stopped to say hello to a few of students: Colin and Dennis, Sharon and Roberta, Harvey Johnson, and even Gabrielle Delacour, who blushed when Harry spoke to her. Clearly Ginny had been right about her crush on him.
Harry, Ginny, Jamie and Mark retired to Harry's old quarters, and were joined in fairly short order by Anita and Luna, and then a little later by Remus and Leona. They caught up on each other's news, Remus was particularly pleased when he heard of Harry's success in the Defence Against the Dark Arts class, and Leona was glad that he wasn't having too much trouble with the potions element of the course.
It was nearly curfew time when they finally exhausted their conversation. Remus agreed that Ginny could stay with Harry if she wanted to, but insisted on escorting Jamie, Luna and Mark back to their respective common rooms, and Leona agreed to take Anita back to hers.
----
"Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the first game of Quidditch season. Today, the defending champions - Gryffindor -" The majority of the spectators cheered loudly. "Will take on their fiercest rivals, Slytherin!"
"Must be rather different watching it from this angle, Harry?" asked McGonagall, who was sitting a couple of seats across from him in the front row.
"It is Professor," Harry admitted. "Although it's nice to be doing it for good reasons."
McGonagall nodded, "You can call me Minerva, Harry. You are no longer my student."
"I will always willing to learn from you, Prof-Minerva."
"Thank you, Harry."
The two teams, clad in red and green respectively, had arrived on the pitch.
"Both teams have under gone changes in their line-up this year under their new Captains, Ginny Weasley and Malcolm Baddock. Baddock has had to recruit an almost entirely new team, while Weasley has only made three changes, all from her list of reserves from last year. How can the fledging Slytherin stand-up against the might of Gryffindor."
McGonagall sighed. "Filius, try to chose a less biased commentator next time."
"I think a biased commentator's more fun." Harry commented. "I mean, the non-Gryffindor matches can be pretty dull when he's commentating."
McGonagall appeared to weigh this up for before nodding. "You may have a point, Harry. I will bear that in mind."
Ginny and Baddock went into the centre of the field for the traditional Captain's Handshake. Harry used the Amplificarus Charm in his contact lenses to zoom in on the pair, just in time to see Ginny wince as Baddock squeezed her hand tightly. Madam Hooch released the balls a few seconds later, and Gryffindor's point Chaser Roberta Sommers - a short, stocky, dark-blond third year - snared it as it was still ascending and shot for the goal, with Ginny and Sharon only a few yards behind her on either side.
"Sommers ducks a Bludger, sent her way by Beater Creel of Slytherin, she passes back to Gryffindor Captain Ginny Weasley, who shots. and scores!"
"Yes!" Harry exclaimed, pumping the air in excitement. "Go Ginny!"
"Gryffindor begin the game at ten to nothing and are still in possession. Chaser Skelton with the Quaffle."
The play continued along its usual one-sided path for quite a while, with Gryffindor overwhelming Slytherin at every turn. It wasn't until forty minutes into the game that things began to turn Slytherin's way: A lucky hit from Cole Gibson, the other new Beater took Skelton out of play, and a push by all three Slytherin Chasers at the same time - backed up by Creel - managed to knock the rest of Gryffindor off balance for a while. They soon rallied and drove the Slytherins back, but not before they had taken ten shots at Gryffindor's Keeper, five of which Johnson missed.
"That's not good," said Neville.
Harry laughed. "Nev, Gryffindor's sixty points up, even with that push, and Slytherin would get another chance like that. Besides, Jamie's guaranteed to beat Flint to the Snitch."
For a while, Harry's predictions didn't seem to be coming true though, as Ginny and Roberta, backed up by the two Gryffindor Beaters, managed to score only three more times to Slytherin's four.
They were just diving in for another shot, Ginny in the lead on the left flank, when Harry noticed a glint of gold out of one eye. The Quaffle flew through one of the hoops and Harry focused in on it. It was the Golden Snitch, and Jamie was about ten feet away and closing fast, the Slytherin Seeker was over on the other side of pitch and obvious.
"Gryffindor wins!" declared Abercrombie seconds later, as Jamie raised her arm in the air to show the Snitch clasped in her fist and Madam Hooch blew the final whistle.
"See, I told you they'd win," Harry said to Neville as they dismounted for the staff stand, and headed for the changing rooms.
----
Harry woke up at late on Christmas Eve, he'd been out on the traditional pre-Christmas drinking night with the other cadets and a few of the younger officers the night before and hadn't got back until the early hours of the morning.
He glanced at the clock, it read ten-past eight. He stripped off the Muggle shirt and black jeans he'd fallen asleep in and pulled on his favourite trousers, a long-sleeved T-shirt and last year's Weasley jumper, which was growing a little tight. He slipped his weapons belt back on and was just about to finish dressing by putting on his dragonhide coat when a huge jolt of pain ripped through his heart and he dropped to his knees, his chest throbbing in pain and a terrible feeling of weakness at his core. After a few seconds he realised that there was a whining noise coming from his trunk. He tried to move towards it but he couldn't, so he did the only thing available to him.
"Accio!"
There was a ripping, splintering sound and the source of the noise tore out through the side of the trunk and dropped into Harry's outstretched hand. It was the box containing the Sceptre of Amor. Harry ripped open the box and removed the Sceptre. It was glowing a strange blue-green and Harry could feel that one of the channels of power within it was being disturbed, being blocked. by some force it couldn't handle. It only took Harry about half-a-second to narrow down which link was blocked. It was the link to the Libido Ruby, which could mean only one thing.
"Ginny." Harry gasped, and screwing up his concentration and what power he could muster, he disappeared with a pop.
----
He appeared a few seconds later outside the Burrow. For a brief moment he wondered if something else had gone wrong, then he remembered the anti- Apparation ward around the Burrow and Ginny's plan to spend a few days with her family before coming up to Gryphon's Eyrie.
The pain was starting to ebb now, and Harry removed his sticks from his belt and twisted them together, then leaning on it, he rose and hobbled towards the front door of the house.
It was a few minutes before his knock was answered. Curiously by Penelope of all people. Harry started, but then remembered that the Burrow had been her home since Percy's death. "I need to see, Ginny."
"She doesn't want to speak to you, Potter." Penelope snapped, and moved to close the door.
"You don't understand! I need to talk to her!!!" Harry said. "I don't know what's wrong. but it's killing me!"
The blood drained a little from Penelope's face and she stepped aside.
"Is she in her room?" Harry asked hoarsely.
Penelope nodded.
"Thank you." Harry said and began to hobble up the stairs. He was nearly exhausted when he finally reached the third landing, and he groaned when saw that Mrs Weasley was attempting to gain entry to Ginny's room, which was clearly locked from the inside and from the sounds of it, contained a very upset Ginny Weasley.
"Mrs. Weasley." Harry gasped.
Mrs Weasley turned, and saw Harry. Her face briefly took on it's rather uncanny impersonation of a sabretooth tiger's, but this faded when she saw how bad he looked. "Are you okay, Harry?"
"No," Harry admitted. "Something's wrong, something to do with the link between my magic and Ginny's. it's very painful. Do you know what happened?"
"I'm not sure, Harry," Mrs Weasley admitted. "All I know is. she was fine this morning until the Prophet arrived, and then she got into a rage and she hasn't left her room, or stopped crying since. That was ten minutes ago."
Harry groaned. He knew what must have happened. "I need to get in there. talk to her. explain."
"We can't get in," Mrs Weasley told him. "I've tried every unlocking spell I know and none of them work."
"They wouldn't," Harry told her. "She's probably using a spell that I taught her. It's an old Caelumi spell that only the caster and their soulmate can break. Only a handful of mortals have ever learnt it."
He dragged himself up to the doorknob and grasped it hard. "Ansera!" The lock clicked open and Harry lurched into the room.
It took him a couple of seconds to orientate himself and then he moved towards Ginny. "Ginny. love, what's wrong?"
"Get away from me, Potter!" yelled Ginny and threw a spell at him.
Harry brought his right hand up, fingers wide apart. "Protego!"
Ginny sagged back down into her bed as the spell shattered harmlessly against Harry's flickering, but strong Shield. Harry glanced back at Mrs Weasley and gave her a look that clearly said. Leave this to me. Surprisingly, Mrs Weasley nodded and left.
Harry turned back to Ginny, and moved closer. "What's wrong, Ginny?"
"As if you don't know!"
"Ginny, I honestly don't. I've done nothing."
"Then explain this, Potter!" snarled Ginny and tossed a copy of the morning's Prophet at him. Harry grasped at it, but at the same time he lost his balance and fell against the old camp bed - Hermione's bed - that still sat on the other side of the room.
He opened it up and it was immediately obvious what had annoyed Ginny enough to interfere with their link. The headline read. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Cheated? The large photo showed Harry in the Blade and Wand pub in Devon, at a table with a woman who was not Ginny, and whose hand was held in his own.
Harry groaned, then smiled.
"You think cheating on me is funny, Potter?!!"
"Ginny. I would never do that. It would kill me to betray you." Harry told her. Probably literally if how I'm feeling right now is any guide.
"Then explain that photo!"
"Okay. I admit I was in the Blade and Wand last night. A big group of guys, and some girls, from the COT Centre go there every year."
"To pick up girls for a bit of fun I suppose!"
"It's not like that! You can ask Hermione or Katie, they were there."
"Well then why were you hand-in-hand with this woman!"
"Ginny, you don't understand. that's Blaise."
"Don't you think I know what Blaise Zabini looks like by now! Make up a better story!"
"It is true. she's a Metamorphmagus. But she doesn't like to use her powers."
Ginny's expression softened a little. "That still doesn't explain why you were holding her hand and making eyes at her!"
Harry sighed. "It wasn't what it looked like! You know the Prophet reporters as well as I do. They'll do anything for a cheap story. And that old hag Maledicta's the worst of the lot!"
Harry saw that Ginny was really beginning to listen, and he rushed on. "Ginny, just over a year ago. I gave you the ring that is on your right hand now. Amor's Libido Ruby, his Stone of passion and love. Do you remember what I told you that day?"
"That I was your soulmate, your girlfriend, and your love," said Ginny in a whisper.
Harry nodded. "Nothing has changed about my feelings for you since I said that. Except that we are now even more together than we were then. I could never betray our love, Ginny. my heart won't let me. He wouldn't let me. Please. you must believe me!"
"I do believe you, Harry." Ginny told him softly. Harry crawled over to the bed and sat down on it. Ginny pulled him into an embrace and down onto the bed. "I'm sorry for doubting you."
"That's okay, love," Harry assured. "I'm sorry you got upset."
They fell into a light sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, the newly restored power of their link hummed softly around them.
When the bustle of Christmas Eve woke them a couple of hours later. Ginny frowned. "What were you and Blaise doing?"
Harry chuckled. "I've told you about Leonard Kelly, haven't I? The Healer assigned to the COT Centre."
Ginny nodded. "You said you all try and avoid him."
Harry nodded. "We do. Blaise thought she's cracked a bone in her hand sparring early. I said I'd take a look at it and see if I could use that Bone Knitting Charm you taught me over the summer to fix it. It was cracked, and I did."
"So it was perfectly innocent."
"Yep. Let that be a lesson to both of us."
Ginny nodded and the two of them straightened their clothes and headed down to see the rest of the family.
A/N: Hope I didn't scare you too badly at the end there. I've had a few nice reviews lately, and I thank you all for them. I'm sorry this took so long to get up, and I'm afraid the next one probably won't be up any quicker as I'm going to be starting back to University on Monday. Keep reviewing though, and I will have the next chapter up as soon as I can.
