(A/N be gentle with reviews, they are important so if you feel something
strong bad or good let me know)
Night air glistened with gems of dew drops, it was certainly humid. A grassy mound over looking the sea stood out like a witches hump against the skyline. He was here again, this beautiful place looking out onto the midnight black sea. The air was tainted with the smell of sea salt and wet grass. He felt at home there, like he had been here always.
Then there was the presence again, he knew that all too well. He could feel the heat of the other person inexplicitly as if it were a pressure against his back. Turning there stood the figure wrapped in layers of tar black facing him.
She was always there, her face just always shadowed in darkness never allowing her alluding eyes to be seen but he was sure they were turquoise for some reason. Without a movement through her entire person she slowly began to speak. Her voice was full of strength and authority, each word carefully weighed out on her tongue as if she had spent eternity thinking up her exact phrase.
"Harry, you must know, I have watched you since before you were born, your soul is older than you would think" Pausing at this point Harry always desired to go to her but always found his feet cemented to the floor. "We have met before and we shall meet again, please remember me this time and finally..."
Like always she was cut off and she would vanish into the ether and he would be hauled back to reality. This dream had been occurring for sometime now and he assumed it was probably due to his fetish for cheesy sandwiches before bed.
He had wondered if possibly it had meant something more but in a typical male manner he had shrugged it off as just a dream.
Harry had just come through a rather gruelling ordeal involving a rather insane and deranged banshee. As an Auror he often found himself in sticky situations but Ron and Hermione had always been there to back him up before. But Hermione was currently on maternity leave with Ron's first child and Ron should have been sent home with her since his mind was hardly on his work. Ron had missed the banshee coming up on their left flank and had ultimately been the causes of poor Harry's unfortunate accident.
Harry winched in bed as he rubbed his tensed neck and sighed stretching his other arm out to take a hold of the crutches by the bed post. He couldn't be far from them till he had properly healed. Unluckily for Harry the ectoplasm burns the banshee had so graciously given him could not be healed by magic alone and it was out of season for the ingredients needed for the potions which would help him recover fully. The Banshee had lifted Harry up by his ankle and flown him through several rickety walls and then hung him by his underwear from the highest branch of the great old oak tree which towered up into the clouds by the house they were attempting to free of the banshee. So Harry was doing it the muggle way, healing slowly and not comfortably.
Ron and Hermione had been several times to visit and to offer condolences and if truth be old Harry really did appreciate the visits even if he was still slightly peeved at Ron for not covering him in the first place and causing this whole situation.
Another of his favourite visitors was Ginny Weasley; she often brought him treats like chocolate frogs which had been a childhood comfort food of his. She was like a ray of sun shine in his dreary day. He had long adored Ginny; she had been an awkward girl in her early years but came into her own when she let go of her crush on him.
Ginny was busy working in the ministry hunting down rare muggle artefacts which pleased her father Mr Weasley greatly since he adored everything muggle. But she took out a lot of time to spend with Harry. She would come and make him laugh till he was sure he would re-fracture his rib again.
Harry got up, painfully, onto his crutches and made his way slowly bobbing to his armchair by the window and decided to watch his garden in case of invaders. At time like this he reflected he had spent much too much time with Mad Eye, he had become slightly more paranoid. But with his history he had every right to be slightly over the top with security.
Sitting frowning Harry studied the garden but much to his displeasure it was peaceful, not even a gnome was stirring, even the bins were quiet. Harry was bored. He longed for action, for something to simply happen but tonight was not the night. Eventually Harry dozed off sitting upright in his chair his glasses slipping off his nose onto his chest.
Roughly three hours later Harry woke up, well was woken up, rather rudely by the red headed girl named Ginny.
"Harry Potter, what did I tell you about peeping and sleeping in that chair?"
Harry was so startled he started forward putting weight down on his leg with the torn ligaments and immediately he broke into a tirade of silent swearing.
Smiling without a shred sympathy showing on her features Ginny turned her nose upwards in smug conviction of her righteousness "Serves you right Potter!"
"You know I preferred the Florence nightingale act you had going when I first got hurt!" Harry whined getting to his feet eventually with the aid of his crutches.
"You want Florence I'll call mummy sure she would be over in a second!"
Harry's eyes widened slightly at the threat, last time Mrs Weasley had been to visit Harry had gained a stone in one sitting of lunch and was hugged so tightly that he was sure he was about to cough up one of his lungs.
"No, its ok, I'll take the terminator over Florence any day"
Ginny perked one brow in indignation of being regarded as a terminator and proceeded to coo at Harry as if he were a two year old.
"So what does my wittle Harry Warry want for his breakies?"
Harry loved this routine they would go through each day, it was such a ritual to him that if Ginny didn't make it over he would have an argument with a pot plant just as a substitute for her.
After breakfast the two sat stuffed, Ginny had really laid on the Ritz at breakfast even out doing her mother Molly.
In Harry's living room Ginny sat beside Harry on the sofa their legs touching ever so slightly, of course not meaning to. Ginny reached down the side of the sofa and picked up the bag she had brought in with her. Opening the zipper very slowly to demonstrate to Harry without lecturing that it was important and delicate Ginny revealed a very old locket.
Harry not really thinking placed his hand in the bag and removed the jewlery and handled it gingerly between his fingers. It was strange it was like this piece had passed over his fingers before, many times. Turning it over it was scuffed and the old inscription on it was worn away.
"Hey where is the clasp, what's inside it?" Harry asked his eyes never leaving the locket.
"Well funny you should say that, it's been enchanted, it won't open, I was hoping you could give it a once over and help me out with this" Ginny was resting so close to Harry now he could feel the pressure of her bosom pressing his arm, he loved being so close to her.
Gently sliding his fingers over the snap the locket glided open as if he had commanded it to do so with his touch. Ginny was looking dumbstruck, she had obviously spent along time trying to open this locket.
Harry picked up on the opportunity to look very cool and smiled at her peeking over his glasses "I just have the touch".
"In your head maybe" Ginny giggled.
Opening it fully Harry looked inside the locket, there was a photo. It was old and worn and the image had faded into the background but it was clearly a woman in the picture. On the opposite face of the locket was someone else, a man. Snapping the locket shut Harry rolled his eyes and tossed the locket back to Ginny.
"Just some couple's locket, it was enchanted to remain closed, why you so interested in this?" Harry sounded slightly despondent he had hoped some sort of ghoul would hop out and maul him.
Ginny looked taken aback by his rough treatment of the item "Harry!" Ginny growled. "Be careful with this, it's been tested, it's older than Hogwarts and is made of a strange metal that hasn't existed on earth for hundreds of centauries"
Harry looked at her as if to say "yes and?"
"Well you prat it means that this is possibly the oldest muggle artefact ever discovered!"
Again the same look from Harry.
"Oh bugger to you Harry I don't have to explain myself to you!"
Harry smirked he knew he had irked her royally and was going to have to eat humble pie if he wished to have dinner with her.
"Ginny, if it's important to you it's important to me" Harry protested. "Ginny you know how important you are to me, how important you have always been to me"
Ginny was taken slightly back by his sudden change in tone and openness in emotion. Blushing madly Ginny tried to cover her face with her hair but this did nothing to mask her consuming blush. "Your important to me too Harry".
The two had spent the day nit picking each other to make up for the tender moment they had shared. It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that either of them realised how fast time had passed, time certainly flies when one is having a good time. Ginny looked at her watch slightly pained and then to Harry "Oh Harry its well past my dinner time, I should go grab something to eat".
Harry leaning forward on his armchair smiled at Ginny tilting his head to the side ever so slightly "Well you know you could have dinner with me tonight if you're not busy".
Ginny blushed again and pushed some of her red hair behind her ear casually then smiled "Oh I'd love to stay and cook your dinner for you Harry but I have a date tonight".
Harry's face didn't flinch on the outside but inwardly he could feel a knot forming in his stomach and a sense of dread welling up in his throat. Swallowing it down he forced a smile "Oh, really, with who?"
Ginny squirmed in her seat feeling uneasy under his gaze "Well Harry, you know ...him he went to school with us". Harry looked frozen to the spot all he could think now was please don't let it be Draco, Crabbe or Goyle.
"Well" Ginny continued still looking like someone whose just turned up to a funeral naked "It's...oh never mind you will only tease me about it and I don't feel like having the piss ripped out of me!"
Harry tried his best to look innocent and guilt free as if he would never consider the matter, ever.
"No you don't, you won't fool me with that smile, that look may have won over first years but not me!" Without further explanation Ginny was up out of her seat and over kissing Harry's cheek goodbye. "Now don't stay up too late and look I have left you some food in the kitchen, well don't wait up!" With that Ginny had about turned and navigated her way out of the room before Harry had the opportunity to interject a single word.
Gazing forward Harry pouted hopping somewhere deep down that Ginny would fling open the door and declare she couldn't leave him alone so injured. Feeling slightly bruised and tender emotionally Harry got up and made his way to his bed next door. Lying in bed he fumed over the notion that Ginny was out with some other man making him happy. He had run so many imaginary situations about his head that he felt quiet nauseous and drifted off into a woozy sleep, his left cheek tweaking with annoyance.
The next few days were torturous, Ginny had barely visited him and she certainly didn't see him at night since she was off with her mysterious new boyfriend. The days seemed to drift past so slowly he was sure he had begun imagining that things for example he was sure that his kitchen sink was alive and he was very sure he had begun rambling to himself. Not that he meant to but he would speak out his thoughts to nobody in particular. Rather than mope in self pity Harry decided to go back to work, he could walk now with the aid of only one crutch.
So there he was hair ruffled in a deep emerald cloak ready for a day's hard grind at his desk standing in the reception hall of the ministry of magic. He went up to the reception past the recently new statue that depicted Albus Dumbledore slaying death eaters. Nobody really knew what had happened for sure when Voldemort was taken down. Only he Harry and his best friends Ron, Hermione and of course Dumbledore knew. Harry wanted it that way; he was already famous for the scar he didn't need more hassle. Stopping at the reception desk to get a tag he glanced at the new secretary with surprise. He probably wouldn't have noticed her because he never really noticed Old Bert the previous secretary but he had been blinded by a jewel in her hair. When he noticed the jewel he noticed that it was holding up a shock of the finest black hair the colour of tar which contrasted strikingly against the porcelain white skin and the red robe.
Harry hadn't realised that she had been speaking to him for a whole minute he had been so mesmerised by the beautiful black hair, so much like his own. For some reason it was like he couldn't hear so he looked deeply into the face of the lady speaking to him. Her turquoise eyes were held in keen focus since now she was speaking very slowly to him to help him understand. Harry watched her heart shaped lips moving but still he couldn't comprehend a word she was saying.
The spell was suddenly broken by something cracking him hard on the back causing him to fall forward slightly onto the desk spreading his palms to steady himself. Harry looked behind him and there was Ginny wearing her green robes smiling at him. "Harry what's the matter with you, have you lost your voice or something?" Looking at the girl Ginny smiled "Did you confound the poor boy!?"
The girl behind the desk shook her head and studied Harry who was looking slightly dopey at the moment.
"Harry this is Odette, Odette this is Harry Potter" Ginny said casually motioning with her hand back and forth.
"Hello Harry pleased to meet you" Odette stretched her hand out for Harry to shake but Harry continued to stare at her almost gawping. Then remembering himself took her hand a little too roughly and shook it in a manly manner.
"Hi there, I am Harry"
"Yes I think she gets the point Harry" Ginny was looking embarrassed for Harry at this point. Taking Harry by the shoulders she began pushing him through the crowd to get to their offices.
"Harry what has gotten into you? I have never seen you behave around a girl like that since Cho-Chang. I swear a fly could have gone in your gob and you wouldn't have noticed!" Then stopping the significance of what that meant filtered into Ginny's brain like a splash of cold water, looking at the back of Harry's head a strange turmoil of emotions began brooding deep in Ginny's tummy.
"Sorry Gin' I just well kind of zoned out, she is rather striking!" Turning to look at Ginny horror struck Harry was about to speak when Ginny answered for him.
"Yes you made a right tit of yourself!"
"Oh really" Harry began, "I thought I was..." Ginny cut him off again.
"No a tit, trust me!"
Sitting down at his desk Harry placed down his crutch and smiled over to Ginny a slight flame of victory flickering in his chest knowing she was somewhat jealous.
"Well" Ginny began obviously wanting to change the subject matter or to possibly distract Harry "Why are you in work today, you know your not better yet?"
"No I feel fine honestly I think everything is going back to normal and I am ready for a case!"
Harry looked down at his desk filled with reports which had been gathering since his absence from work. Ginny headed towards the door stopping momentarily to look back at Harry as if she had something to say. But instead of speaking her mind she nodded to Harry and left the door closing the door softly behind her.
It was around five when Harry finally caught up with his reports and his poor hands were aching worse than when he had been forced to answer fan mail for his old defence against the dark arts teacher. As Harry leant back into his chair, his lower back popping as the bones crunched a familiar face popped his red freckled face around the door.
"Hiya Harry!" Ron beamed at him; although he looked happy it was evident pregnancy was taking its toll on Ron even though it was Hermione who was carrying the baby.
"Ron, you're alive, I'm surprised!" Harry knew this would irk Ron since ever since the day he admitted he loved Hermione his catch phrase had been "It won't change me!"
"What do you mean, I haven't changed!"
Harry had gotten the rise out of him he had wanted and sat back comfortably in the chair smiling smugly at Ron. Ron began across the room towards Harry's desk his left hand clutching a file.
"Well I have been slightly distracted by this case, it's a tough nut!" Ron perched sideways on the corner of Harry's desk and opened the file flicking his fingers through it. Harry moved forward in his seat attentively and adjusted his glasses to peek over the edge of the file.
"You see Harry while you were away on holiday we have been in a pickle trying to work this one out" Harry nodded giving a slight scowl at Ron's comment.
"You know Scotland?"
Harry rolled his eyes at Ron.
"Ok I mean, well Scotland you see, well do you know of a village called St- Andrews?" Harry nodded again his glasses slipping down his nose slightly.
"Well there is a castle there that has been around since before the battle of Bannock burn before Malcolm III; well up until recently it's been nothing special" Ron paused "Except to muggle historians and those loud American people with the cameras".
"Muggle Tourists you mean" Harry interjected.
"Yeah well as I was saying Harry, something happened, muggle ghosts have been rising from the grave and terrorising the locals!" Harry looked perplexed then asked.
"But Ron I thought that only wizards could come back as ghosts?"
"Yeah so did we but looks like we were wrong! But it doesn't stop there, oh boy listen to this, the castle has been possessing people". Ron paused again for dramatic effect hopping to get a reaction out of Harry. Harry looked blank as a new piece of A4.
"People have been becoming the people who died at that castle!" Ron threw down pictures of muggles in front of him "Look for yourself, one man thought he was being hanged like the Bishop of Beaton, Harry he threw himself from the battlements!" Ron brought up a picture of the poor man hurling himself off the castle tops. Ron pulled out another picture and handed it to Harry, it was of a man on fire in front of the castle his face immortalised in agony. "This man thought he was being burned for being a protestant!" Ron spoke his voice filled with apprehension.
Harry flicked through the photos one by one then looked at Ron "Well it has to be a curse, have you ruled out death eaters?" Ron shook his head "We tested the castle for spells and couldn't detect any unfriendly spells; this is such a pickle Harry!" Harry nodded and replaced the pictures back on the desk, Harry didn't need to think he wanted the case and he was sure Ron wouldn't stop him.
"Ron I'd like to take over this one if you don't mind" Ron perked a brow and glanced over at Harry's crutch.
"Ron! I am fine please let me get back in the saddle, I'll head up to Scotland this weekend and sort this mess out. Fresh air would do me some good."
Ron looked like he was about to protest but then stopped obviously remembering the heavily pregnant wife who needed him to do everything for her. He could hardly leave to go gallivanting off up to Scotland. She couldn't stand up these days without assistance.
"Sure Harry, it means I can focus on that post-box that keeps eating people's hands." Ron dropped the whole file onto Harry's desk; Ron opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a loud beeping noise coming from his wrist.
"Sorry to be a bore Harry but I have to dash, this muggle watch means that its time for Hermione's lunch." Ron looked sorry to have to leave without a chance to catch up but was already up and heading through the door when he called over his shoulder "By Harry!"
Harry smiled to himself shaking his head wondering if he would ever turn out like Ron, madly devoted to a woman.
Harry remained at his desk sorting out his accommodation for Scotland and a port-key for the rest of the day. The sun was setting when Harry got up from his desk and trundled bandy legged out to the main reception area.
Odette was packing up her desk for the night when Harry limped past her slowly holding the file to his chest. Odette nodded to Harry and Harry nodded back. Harry wanted to stop and talk to Odette but his stomach was flip-flopping madly just seeing her across the desk. Luckily for Harry Odette spoke first.
"So what plans have you got for this weekend Harry?" Odette spoke confidently and very pronounced wording that made Harry self conscious and think more decidedly about his own wording.
"Well I have a case up in Scotland this weekend; don't think it will be too hard. I get to go and look at some castle that's haunted by some pesky poltergeist. What about yourself?"
Odette smiled and Harry was amazed, when she smiled she was ten times more beautiful than she had been before. It was like winning on a pinball machine, the transformation from pretty to radiant was instant.
"Well Harry I had hoped to be having dinner with you but I suppose I can make other plans"
Harry was shocked; he had never met a girl as forward as her not counting Fleur of course.
Before Harry consciously thought what he was saying he blurted out "Would you like to come with me?" Instantly he wished he hadn't, Odette was going to think he was a nutter for asking such a question outright at this stage of knowing each other.
Odette's smile remained in place but it was clear the clogs of her brain were speeding as she mulled the thought over. "Sure, why not."
Harry smiled bashfully his cheeks reddening "Well should we meet here tonight, because I am having the port-key sent here. It should be here by six."
Odette nodded picking up her case which she had finished packing while they were chatting. "Ok, I'll see you then". Moving from behind the desk she breezed past Harry, the scent of lemon washing over him. Harry stood for a long time simply watching her walk off with such grace, Harry couldn't believe his luck but it was just at this point he remembered something urgent.
But the matter had come to him and slapped him on the back nearly winding him, Ginny. "So are you ready to go eat?" Ginny smiled keenly at Harry, he felt suddenly so rotten and mean.
"Well actually Ginny I have to leave at six tonight a case is taking me to Scotland this weekend." If he simply didn't mention another woman then he wasn't lying.
"Oh" Ginny looked deflated "That's ok mate" Ginny genuinely looked so sweet when she was sad "Is Ron going with you?"
Harry's stomach crunched, she had asked, Harry's brain was alive with electricity wondering what on earth he say to her. Another more pressing point was why was this so hard? He and Ginny weren't dating but this was seriously torture.
"Well no he isn't" Harry muttered.
Ginny brightened slightly "Oh I bet it's his daddy duty, well would you like me to come with you?"
"Well ....its just you would be bored, you know hauntings are so dull" Harry responded a little too quickly.
"Harry I forgot to ask should I bring an evening dress?" Harry hadn't seen Odette come back but now he could hear her voice from behind him. Wheeling around his face froze in a manic smile.
Ginny looked from Harry to Odette, obviously she was putting two and two together and getting three. "Uh sure thing" Harry stumbled with his words.
"Oh hello Ginny, how are you?" Odette glanced over the stricken looking Ginny a frown forming on her pretty face "Are you feeling ok? You look awful."
Ginny nodded her voice seemingly lost to her and turned back to Harry "Well I have to go, I have um..., well you have a good time you two crazy kids." With that Ginny was off like a whippet across the main reception before Harry could explain.
Looking back to Odette Harry's face was ashen from the moment that had just passed. "Well Harry I will see you back here shortly I have to go pack" with that she turned around and walked off.
For a long moment Harry breathed and silently and inwardly screamed. After he managed to regain his composure Harry headed home to pack his trunk.
=
Night air glistened with gems of dew drops, it was certainly humid. A grassy mound over looking the sea stood out like a witches hump against the skyline. He was here again, this beautiful place looking out onto the midnight black sea. The air was tainted with the smell of sea salt and wet grass. He felt at home there, like he had been here always.
Then there was the presence again, he knew that all too well. He could feel the heat of the other person inexplicitly as if it were a pressure against his back. Turning there stood the figure wrapped in layers of tar black facing him.
She was always there, her face just always shadowed in darkness never allowing her alluding eyes to be seen but he was sure they were turquoise for some reason. Without a movement through her entire person she slowly began to speak. Her voice was full of strength and authority, each word carefully weighed out on her tongue as if she had spent eternity thinking up her exact phrase.
"Harry, you must know, I have watched you since before you were born, your soul is older than you would think" Pausing at this point Harry always desired to go to her but always found his feet cemented to the floor. "We have met before and we shall meet again, please remember me this time and finally..."
Like always she was cut off and she would vanish into the ether and he would be hauled back to reality. This dream had been occurring for sometime now and he assumed it was probably due to his fetish for cheesy sandwiches before bed.
He had wondered if possibly it had meant something more but in a typical male manner he had shrugged it off as just a dream.
Harry had just come through a rather gruelling ordeal involving a rather insane and deranged banshee. As an Auror he often found himself in sticky situations but Ron and Hermione had always been there to back him up before. But Hermione was currently on maternity leave with Ron's first child and Ron should have been sent home with her since his mind was hardly on his work. Ron had missed the banshee coming up on their left flank and had ultimately been the causes of poor Harry's unfortunate accident.
Harry winched in bed as he rubbed his tensed neck and sighed stretching his other arm out to take a hold of the crutches by the bed post. He couldn't be far from them till he had properly healed. Unluckily for Harry the ectoplasm burns the banshee had so graciously given him could not be healed by magic alone and it was out of season for the ingredients needed for the potions which would help him recover fully. The Banshee had lifted Harry up by his ankle and flown him through several rickety walls and then hung him by his underwear from the highest branch of the great old oak tree which towered up into the clouds by the house they were attempting to free of the banshee. So Harry was doing it the muggle way, healing slowly and not comfortably.
Ron and Hermione had been several times to visit and to offer condolences and if truth be old Harry really did appreciate the visits even if he was still slightly peeved at Ron for not covering him in the first place and causing this whole situation.
Another of his favourite visitors was Ginny Weasley; she often brought him treats like chocolate frogs which had been a childhood comfort food of his. She was like a ray of sun shine in his dreary day. He had long adored Ginny; she had been an awkward girl in her early years but came into her own when she let go of her crush on him.
Ginny was busy working in the ministry hunting down rare muggle artefacts which pleased her father Mr Weasley greatly since he adored everything muggle. But she took out a lot of time to spend with Harry. She would come and make him laugh till he was sure he would re-fracture his rib again.
Harry got up, painfully, onto his crutches and made his way slowly bobbing to his armchair by the window and decided to watch his garden in case of invaders. At time like this he reflected he had spent much too much time with Mad Eye, he had become slightly more paranoid. But with his history he had every right to be slightly over the top with security.
Sitting frowning Harry studied the garden but much to his displeasure it was peaceful, not even a gnome was stirring, even the bins were quiet. Harry was bored. He longed for action, for something to simply happen but tonight was not the night. Eventually Harry dozed off sitting upright in his chair his glasses slipping off his nose onto his chest.
Roughly three hours later Harry woke up, well was woken up, rather rudely by the red headed girl named Ginny.
"Harry Potter, what did I tell you about peeping and sleeping in that chair?"
Harry was so startled he started forward putting weight down on his leg with the torn ligaments and immediately he broke into a tirade of silent swearing.
Smiling without a shred sympathy showing on her features Ginny turned her nose upwards in smug conviction of her righteousness "Serves you right Potter!"
"You know I preferred the Florence nightingale act you had going when I first got hurt!" Harry whined getting to his feet eventually with the aid of his crutches.
"You want Florence I'll call mummy sure she would be over in a second!"
Harry's eyes widened slightly at the threat, last time Mrs Weasley had been to visit Harry had gained a stone in one sitting of lunch and was hugged so tightly that he was sure he was about to cough up one of his lungs.
"No, its ok, I'll take the terminator over Florence any day"
Ginny perked one brow in indignation of being regarded as a terminator and proceeded to coo at Harry as if he were a two year old.
"So what does my wittle Harry Warry want for his breakies?"
Harry loved this routine they would go through each day, it was such a ritual to him that if Ginny didn't make it over he would have an argument with a pot plant just as a substitute for her.
After breakfast the two sat stuffed, Ginny had really laid on the Ritz at breakfast even out doing her mother Molly.
In Harry's living room Ginny sat beside Harry on the sofa their legs touching ever so slightly, of course not meaning to. Ginny reached down the side of the sofa and picked up the bag she had brought in with her. Opening the zipper very slowly to demonstrate to Harry without lecturing that it was important and delicate Ginny revealed a very old locket.
Harry not really thinking placed his hand in the bag and removed the jewlery and handled it gingerly between his fingers. It was strange it was like this piece had passed over his fingers before, many times. Turning it over it was scuffed and the old inscription on it was worn away.
"Hey where is the clasp, what's inside it?" Harry asked his eyes never leaving the locket.
"Well funny you should say that, it's been enchanted, it won't open, I was hoping you could give it a once over and help me out with this" Ginny was resting so close to Harry now he could feel the pressure of her bosom pressing his arm, he loved being so close to her.
Gently sliding his fingers over the snap the locket glided open as if he had commanded it to do so with his touch. Ginny was looking dumbstruck, she had obviously spent along time trying to open this locket.
Harry picked up on the opportunity to look very cool and smiled at her peeking over his glasses "I just have the touch".
"In your head maybe" Ginny giggled.
Opening it fully Harry looked inside the locket, there was a photo. It was old and worn and the image had faded into the background but it was clearly a woman in the picture. On the opposite face of the locket was someone else, a man. Snapping the locket shut Harry rolled his eyes and tossed the locket back to Ginny.
"Just some couple's locket, it was enchanted to remain closed, why you so interested in this?" Harry sounded slightly despondent he had hoped some sort of ghoul would hop out and maul him.
Ginny looked taken aback by his rough treatment of the item "Harry!" Ginny growled. "Be careful with this, it's been tested, it's older than Hogwarts and is made of a strange metal that hasn't existed on earth for hundreds of centauries"
Harry looked at her as if to say "yes and?"
"Well you prat it means that this is possibly the oldest muggle artefact ever discovered!"
Again the same look from Harry.
"Oh bugger to you Harry I don't have to explain myself to you!"
Harry smirked he knew he had irked her royally and was going to have to eat humble pie if he wished to have dinner with her.
"Ginny, if it's important to you it's important to me" Harry protested. "Ginny you know how important you are to me, how important you have always been to me"
Ginny was taken slightly back by his sudden change in tone and openness in emotion. Blushing madly Ginny tried to cover her face with her hair but this did nothing to mask her consuming blush. "Your important to me too Harry".
The two had spent the day nit picking each other to make up for the tender moment they had shared. It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that either of them realised how fast time had passed, time certainly flies when one is having a good time. Ginny looked at her watch slightly pained and then to Harry "Oh Harry its well past my dinner time, I should go grab something to eat".
Harry leaning forward on his armchair smiled at Ginny tilting his head to the side ever so slightly "Well you know you could have dinner with me tonight if you're not busy".
Ginny blushed again and pushed some of her red hair behind her ear casually then smiled "Oh I'd love to stay and cook your dinner for you Harry but I have a date tonight".
Harry's face didn't flinch on the outside but inwardly he could feel a knot forming in his stomach and a sense of dread welling up in his throat. Swallowing it down he forced a smile "Oh, really, with who?"
Ginny squirmed in her seat feeling uneasy under his gaze "Well Harry, you know ...him he went to school with us". Harry looked frozen to the spot all he could think now was please don't let it be Draco, Crabbe or Goyle.
"Well" Ginny continued still looking like someone whose just turned up to a funeral naked "It's...oh never mind you will only tease me about it and I don't feel like having the piss ripped out of me!"
Harry tried his best to look innocent and guilt free as if he would never consider the matter, ever.
"No you don't, you won't fool me with that smile, that look may have won over first years but not me!" Without further explanation Ginny was up out of her seat and over kissing Harry's cheek goodbye. "Now don't stay up too late and look I have left you some food in the kitchen, well don't wait up!" With that Ginny had about turned and navigated her way out of the room before Harry had the opportunity to interject a single word.
Gazing forward Harry pouted hopping somewhere deep down that Ginny would fling open the door and declare she couldn't leave him alone so injured. Feeling slightly bruised and tender emotionally Harry got up and made his way to his bed next door. Lying in bed he fumed over the notion that Ginny was out with some other man making him happy. He had run so many imaginary situations about his head that he felt quiet nauseous and drifted off into a woozy sleep, his left cheek tweaking with annoyance.
The next few days were torturous, Ginny had barely visited him and she certainly didn't see him at night since she was off with her mysterious new boyfriend. The days seemed to drift past so slowly he was sure he had begun imagining that things for example he was sure that his kitchen sink was alive and he was very sure he had begun rambling to himself. Not that he meant to but he would speak out his thoughts to nobody in particular. Rather than mope in self pity Harry decided to go back to work, he could walk now with the aid of only one crutch.
So there he was hair ruffled in a deep emerald cloak ready for a day's hard grind at his desk standing in the reception hall of the ministry of magic. He went up to the reception past the recently new statue that depicted Albus Dumbledore slaying death eaters. Nobody really knew what had happened for sure when Voldemort was taken down. Only he Harry and his best friends Ron, Hermione and of course Dumbledore knew. Harry wanted it that way; he was already famous for the scar he didn't need more hassle. Stopping at the reception desk to get a tag he glanced at the new secretary with surprise. He probably wouldn't have noticed her because he never really noticed Old Bert the previous secretary but he had been blinded by a jewel in her hair. When he noticed the jewel he noticed that it was holding up a shock of the finest black hair the colour of tar which contrasted strikingly against the porcelain white skin and the red robe.
Harry hadn't realised that she had been speaking to him for a whole minute he had been so mesmerised by the beautiful black hair, so much like his own. For some reason it was like he couldn't hear so he looked deeply into the face of the lady speaking to him. Her turquoise eyes were held in keen focus since now she was speaking very slowly to him to help him understand. Harry watched her heart shaped lips moving but still he couldn't comprehend a word she was saying.
The spell was suddenly broken by something cracking him hard on the back causing him to fall forward slightly onto the desk spreading his palms to steady himself. Harry looked behind him and there was Ginny wearing her green robes smiling at him. "Harry what's the matter with you, have you lost your voice or something?" Looking at the girl Ginny smiled "Did you confound the poor boy!?"
The girl behind the desk shook her head and studied Harry who was looking slightly dopey at the moment.
"Harry this is Odette, Odette this is Harry Potter" Ginny said casually motioning with her hand back and forth.
"Hello Harry pleased to meet you" Odette stretched her hand out for Harry to shake but Harry continued to stare at her almost gawping. Then remembering himself took her hand a little too roughly and shook it in a manly manner.
"Hi there, I am Harry"
"Yes I think she gets the point Harry" Ginny was looking embarrassed for Harry at this point. Taking Harry by the shoulders she began pushing him through the crowd to get to their offices.
"Harry what has gotten into you? I have never seen you behave around a girl like that since Cho-Chang. I swear a fly could have gone in your gob and you wouldn't have noticed!" Then stopping the significance of what that meant filtered into Ginny's brain like a splash of cold water, looking at the back of Harry's head a strange turmoil of emotions began brooding deep in Ginny's tummy.
"Sorry Gin' I just well kind of zoned out, she is rather striking!" Turning to look at Ginny horror struck Harry was about to speak when Ginny answered for him.
"Yes you made a right tit of yourself!"
"Oh really" Harry began, "I thought I was..." Ginny cut him off again.
"No a tit, trust me!"
Sitting down at his desk Harry placed down his crutch and smiled over to Ginny a slight flame of victory flickering in his chest knowing she was somewhat jealous.
"Well" Ginny began obviously wanting to change the subject matter or to possibly distract Harry "Why are you in work today, you know your not better yet?"
"No I feel fine honestly I think everything is going back to normal and I am ready for a case!"
Harry looked down at his desk filled with reports which had been gathering since his absence from work. Ginny headed towards the door stopping momentarily to look back at Harry as if she had something to say. But instead of speaking her mind she nodded to Harry and left the door closing the door softly behind her.
It was around five when Harry finally caught up with his reports and his poor hands were aching worse than when he had been forced to answer fan mail for his old defence against the dark arts teacher. As Harry leant back into his chair, his lower back popping as the bones crunched a familiar face popped his red freckled face around the door.
"Hiya Harry!" Ron beamed at him; although he looked happy it was evident pregnancy was taking its toll on Ron even though it was Hermione who was carrying the baby.
"Ron, you're alive, I'm surprised!" Harry knew this would irk Ron since ever since the day he admitted he loved Hermione his catch phrase had been "It won't change me!"
"What do you mean, I haven't changed!"
Harry had gotten the rise out of him he had wanted and sat back comfortably in the chair smiling smugly at Ron. Ron began across the room towards Harry's desk his left hand clutching a file.
"Well I have been slightly distracted by this case, it's a tough nut!" Ron perched sideways on the corner of Harry's desk and opened the file flicking his fingers through it. Harry moved forward in his seat attentively and adjusted his glasses to peek over the edge of the file.
"You see Harry while you were away on holiday we have been in a pickle trying to work this one out" Harry nodded giving a slight scowl at Ron's comment.
"You know Scotland?"
Harry rolled his eyes at Ron.
"Ok I mean, well Scotland you see, well do you know of a village called St- Andrews?" Harry nodded again his glasses slipping down his nose slightly.
"Well there is a castle there that has been around since before the battle of Bannock burn before Malcolm III; well up until recently it's been nothing special" Ron paused "Except to muggle historians and those loud American people with the cameras".
"Muggle Tourists you mean" Harry interjected.
"Yeah well as I was saying Harry, something happened, muggle ghosts have been rising from the grave and terrorising the locals!" Harry looked perplexed then asked.
"But Ron I thought that only wizards could come back as ghosts?"
"Yeah so did we but looks like we were wrong! But it doesn't stop there, oh boy listen to this, the castle has been possessing people". Ron paused again for dramatic effect hopping to get a reaction out of Harry. Harry looked blank as a new piece of A4.
"People have been becoming the people who died at that castle!" Ron threw down pictures of muggles in front of him "Look for yourself, one man thought he was being hanged like the Bishop of Beaton, Harry he threw himself from the battlements!" Ron brought up a picture of the poor man hurling himself off the castle tops. Ron pulled out another picture and handed it to Harry, it was of a man on fire in front of the castle his face immortalised in agony. "This man thought he was being burned for being a protestant!" Ron spoke his voice filled with apprehension.
Harry flicked through the photos one by one then looked at Ron "Well it has to be a curse, have you ruled out death eaters?" Ron shook his head "We tested the castle for spells and couldn't detect any unfriendly spells; this is such a pickle Harry!" Harry nodded and replaced the pictures back on the desk, Harry didn't need to think he wanted the case and he was sure Ron wouldn't stop him.
"Ron I'd like to take over this one if you don't mind" Ron perked a brow and glanced over at Harry's crutch.
"Ron! I am fine please let me get back in the saddle, I'll head up to Scotland this weekend and sort this mess out. Fresh air would do me some good."
Ron looked like he was about to protest but then stopped obviously remembering the heavily pregnant wife who needed him to do everything for her. He could hardly leave to go gallivanting off up to Scotland. She couldn't stand up these days without assistance.
"Sure Harry, it means I can focus on that post-box that keeps eating people's hands." Ron dropped the whole file onto Harry's desk; Ron opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a loud beeping noise coming from his wrist.
"Sorry to be a bore Harry but I have to dash, this muggle watch means that its time for Hermione's lunch." Ron looked sorry to have to leave without a chance to catch up but was already up and heading through the door when he called over his shoulder "By Harry!"
Harry smiled to himself shaking his head wondering if he would ever turn out like Ron, madly devoted to a woman.
Harry remained at his desk sorting out his accommodation for Scotland and a port-key for the rest of the day. The sun was setting when Harry got up from his desk and trundled bandy legged out to the main reception area.
Odette was packing up her desk for the night when Harry limped past her slowly holding the file to his chest. Odette nodded to Harry and Harry nodded back. Harry wanted to stop and talk to Odette but his stomach was flip-flopping madly just seeing her across the desk. Luckily for Harry Odette spoke first.
"So what plans have you got for this weekend Harry?" Odette spoke confidently and very pronounced wording that made Harry self conscious and think more decidedly about his own wording.
"Well I have a case up in Scotland this weekend; don't think it will be too hard. I get to go and look at some castle that's haunted by some pesky poltergeist. What about yourself?"
Odette smiled and Harry was amazed, when she smiled she was ten times more beautiful than she had been before. It was like winning on a pinball machine, the transformation from pretty to radiant was instant.
"Well Harry I had hoped to be having dinner with you but I suppose I can make other plans"
Harry was shocked; he had never met a girl as forward as her not counting Fleur of course.
Before Harry consciously thought what he was saying he blurted out "Would you like to come with me?" Instantly he wished he hadn't, Odette was going to think he was a nutter for asking such a question outright at this stage of knowing each other.
Odette's smile remained in place but it was clear the clogs of her brain were speeding as she mulled the thought over. "Sure, why not."
Harry smiled bashfully his cheeks reddening "Well should we meet here tonight, because I am having the port-key sent here. It should be here by six."
Odette nodded picking up her case which she had finished packing while they were chatting. "Ok, I'll see you then". Moving from behind the desk she breezed past Harry, the scent of lemon washing over him. Harry stood for a long time simply watching her walk off with such grace, Harry couldn't believe his luck but it was just at this point he remembered something urgent.
But the matter had come to him and slapped him on the back nearly winding him, Ginny. "So are you ready to go eat?" Ginny smiled keenly at Harry, he felt suddenly so rotten and mean.
"Well actually Ginny I have to leave at six tonight a case is taking me to Scotland this weekend." If he simply didn't mention another woman then he wasn't lying.
"Oh" Ginny looked deflated "That's ok mate" Ginny genuinely looked so sweet when she was sad "Is Ron going with you?"
Harry's stomach crunched, she had asked, Harry's brain was alive with electricity wondering what on earth he say to her. Another more pressing point was why was this so hard? He and Ginny weren't dating but this was seriously torture.
"Well no he isn't" Harry muttered.
Ginny brightened slightly "Oh I bet it's his daddy duty, well would you like me to come with you?"
"Well ....its just you would be bored, you know hauntings are so dull" Harry responded a little too quickly.
"Harry I forgot to ask should I bring an evening dress?" Harry hadn't seen Odette come back but now he could hear her voice from behind him. Wheeling around his face froze in a manic smile.
Ginny looked from Harry to Odette, obviously she was putting two and two together and getting three. "Uh sure thing" Harry stumbled with his words.
"Oh hello Ginny, how are you?" Odette glanced over the stricken looking Ginny a frown forming on her pretty face "Are you feeling ok? You look awful."
Ginny nodded her voice seemingly lost to her and turned back to Harry "Well I have to go, I have um..., well you have a good time you two crazy kids." With that Ginny was off like a whippet across the main reception before Harry could explain.
Looking back to Odette Harry's face was ashen from the moment that had just passed. "Well Harry I will see you back here shortly I have to go pack" with that she turned around and walked off.
For a long moment Harry breathed and silently and inwardly screamed. After he managed to regain his composure Harry headed home to pack his trunk.
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