All Good Things
Part 6: Just For Us
By Kyizi
This part is set in Harry's final year at Hogwarts, Ginny's second last
year.
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Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me; they are the property of J.K. Rowling. All original storyline and ideas are mine, do not use without permission.
Rating: PG-13 for innuendo.
Pairing: Harry/Ginny
Distribution: Ask and I'll likely say yes, but please do ask.
Spoilers: The first four books will, no doubt come into this at some point.
Feedback: is a precious gift. It's nice to give.
E-mail: kyizifanfic@hotmail.com
Notes: In her review, Ronso said, "Merely making the point that James was a seeker at Hogwarts. This was made clear in Snape's pensive in book 5." I just want to clarify that (a) I disliked a fair bit of OotP, and since I started this fic before it was released, OotP canon is not included in this fic, and (b) if I really want to be pernickety, I could point out that James is only noted as playing with a snitch, and while the logical conclusion is that he is seeker, it's not actually stated! ;p Thanks for the review though, Ronso, and keep pointing out any mistakes you see! I love to know that people are paying more attention than I am!
You're in for a treat! This is the longest chapter of AGT to date! Enjoy, and Merry Christmas to you all! This part is Harry's chance. All the other chapters are from Ginny's POV and I had intended to make the whole fic that way, but this one realy needed to be Harry's and you'll understand when you read it. I hope you enjoy. Ten points to whoever can find the Lord of the Rings reference!
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Harry sighed and rubbed his temples. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, both actions soon becoming mannerisms, and he desperately wished them away. He was extremely tired and he felt as though he had been living in some strange alternate universe, only receiving the occasional visit from sanity.
It had been four days since they had opened the crystal, and in those four days, he had felt as though his world had been turned upside down. Although he had to be careful, he finally felt as though his life was complete, and he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. He was waiting for the moment it would all be torn away from him.
Sirius and Professor Lupin - or Remus, as he had been insisting on ("I'm not your professor anymore, Harry") - had been staying in an unused wing of the castle for the last few days, and Harry found that he was spending most of his time there.
He ran his hands over the crystal that was in his pocket, thinking of the other new feature in his life. His parents. He couldn't help but smile at that. He had his parents, or at least a part of them, and he could keep them with him for as long as he wanted to. He wanted them there for Christmases, for Birthdays, for dinners, for lectures, for his graduation, his wedding, his children's birthdays and everyday that he had yet to life. Forever. That was how long he wanted.
He turned as he felt a hand on his arm, moving over slightly to let Ginny squeeze onto the chair beside him. He had known she was there, had felt her approach. Another new feature in his life, the petite redhead was another more than welcome addition to his.his what? His heart?
Ginny leaned her head against his shoulder and he moved his arm to let it fall around her shoulders as she snuggled against him. It was strange, letting her this close, although, he realised, he'd been doing it for a long time now. Letting her close to him had seemed so natural that he hadn't even realised he'd been doing it. He knew that she held a lot of power over this new life he had now, but he trusted her completely with it. He could only access the crystal, he could only see his parents, when Ginny was with him, helping him.
He tried to fight back a blush as he remembered the second time they had opened the crystal. Despite how easy it had been to close, he had been unsure as to what had actually caused the crystal to open. Had it simply been their touching hands over the stone (the same thing that closed it), or had it been the kiss?
It had been rather humiliating coming to that conclusion with Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione standing around them, waiting for them to open it. It also hadn't helped that Ron and Hermione were already miffed that they had been left out of visiting Sirius for the last few months. To then have had to ask Ginny if he could kiss her in front of her brother wasn't exactly top of Harry's list of things to do, not when it stood for being killed by his best friend.
Luckily Ginny had come to the same conclusion and had blushed prettily as she took his hands in hers, whispering, "Why don't we try it this way first". She had smiled and then placed their joined hands on top of the crystal. It had shone brightly, once again, in an almost blinding light, and once again, Harry's parents had appeared before them.
He smiled and tightened his grip of her shoulders. She seemed to understand him better than he understood himself most of the time. Over the last few days, she had shown him just how well she knew him. She just seemed to know when he wanted to see his parents, to talk to them, to know how much they loved him.
She would do it without any kind of scene, and with nothing but gentle understanding in her eyes. She would simply take hold of his hand and lead him to the private room that was adjoined to the ones Remus and Sirius were using. It was set aside for them to use when Harry wanted to speak to his parents.
Ginny would reach into his pocket and hold out the crystal to him. She just knew how much he hated to ask, so she would make the question her own, as if it was her who wanted to see his parents. And perhaps she really did want to. For herself or for him, he wasn't sure, but she seemed to want it too. But what he loved the most was the small blush she sometimes acquired as she leaned towards him, whispering, "Just to make sure," before she gently brushed her lips against his, pulling back only when they were surrounded by the blinding light and Harry was no longer sure if she was Ginny or an angel. Although that thought made him want to groan., he was turning into a complete sap! But then Ginny sighed and snuggled closer to him, and he realised that he didn't care.
"You okay?" he asked, his gaze focussing on the fire in the grate.
"I'm fine," she replied with a yawn. "Just a little tired. Are your parents still in with Sirius and Professor Lupin?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "Ron and Hermione are in there as well. I just wanted some time to think."
He felt her nod against him. "You must be overwhelmed."
"Just a bit," he said with a laugh. "Where did you go? I felt the power drain a bit."
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She sat up and looked at him wide eyed. "Nothing happened, did it? They didn't."
"No, it's fine," Harry reassured her. "I could feel you nearby. I was able to keep the charm open."
"I never even thought," she said, still feeling guilty. "I just forgot, I guess. I mean, I can sense them, I can sense you and I just, well.They can be in the next room when the crystal's in here, so it just never occurred to me that you'd need me to keep them out."
"Of course I need you, Gin," he said softly, not realising what exactly what he had said until he heard it himself. He felt his cheeks redden, and he could see hers go slightly pink as well.
"Thank you, Harry."
"What for?"
"For everything. For trusting me."
He smiled, letting her snuggle up beside him again. He could sense her fatigue almost as if it was his own. He hadn't liked that at first, being able to sense her, her thoughts and emotions drifting into his head. It felt wrong, as if he was invading her privacy, and she his.
Since being brought into the Wizarding world, he had felt as though his mind, who he was, was always being put on display, always being invaded by others. Voldemort had a connection so strong it even pushed it's way into Harry's dreams, and at first, for at least a few moments, it had felt as though Ginny was taking another part of him. But he soon realised that wasn't true. Ginny was sharing a part of him, and in turn sharing a part of herself. But what was more, was the fact that Harry was quite willing to share it.
"How's Sirius?" she asked suddenly, breaking thorough his thoughts.
"He's.okay."
"I'm worried about him, too," Ginny said, wrapping her arms tightly around his chest. "He just needs time, I think."
"I don't know." Harry sighed. "I mean, he's acting normally enough, or at least, from what I know of his relationship with my parents and Prof- I mean, Remus, I think he is. But."
"But it's like, if he touches them, they're real, and he can't handle that."
"He still feels so guilty," Harry said, absently stroking her arm. "I wish he didn't but he does. And if my dad and mum forgive him, he won't know how to handle it, he won't know how he's meant to live anymore."
"He's afraid of it, isn't he?" Ginny asked, softly.
"I think he is. He had brought himself to the realisation that he'd never get that forgiveness for not being there for me. He'd accepted that he'd never have that and now that there's a chance, he doesn't feel he deserves it."
"Of course he deserves it!" Ginny said forcefully. "He was so young. He had the only friends he ever really loved taken from him in one way or another, and everyone believed it was his fault. He lost his childhood. He was so innocent."
Harry snorted. "In that sense, I doubt Sirius was ever innocent," he said with a smirk. He quickly sobered and continued. "But, in a way, I think you're right. He was thrown into jail with no trial and he lost his life. He lost everything."
"And now that he's being offered a part of it back."
"He doesn't know what to do with it," Harry finished. He felt Ginny nod and heard her stifled yawn. Grinning, he turned and kissed her forehead. "You should sleep."
"I'm okay," she said, smiling up at him. "I'll wait until we have to close the crystal again."
"I wonder what they're doing in there," Harry said, looking at the door. "Hermione's in heaven with all that research."
Ginny laughed and nodded. "And Ron's in hell with Hermione having all that research." Harry grinned and she giggled. "Do you think they're actually together yet?"
Harry shrugged. "Don't know. Ron hasn't said anything, and neither has Hermione, but that means nothing. I mean, I knew they needed time together, that's why I didn't feel so guilty about leaving them out. Plus, it was nice having something that was just.us." Harry cleared his throat, not looking at her and continuing before she could say anything. "But they're both so.well, I doubt they'd be too thrilled about having to tell anyone."
"Yeah, I guess," Ginny said yawning and Harry laughed. "Sorry."
"Someone's tired." They both glanced at the door again as Lily entered the room, smiling at them both. "We could sense how tired you both are. Lets leave this for tomorrow." She sat down on the couch opposite them as Harry and Ginny disentangled themselves, blushing profusely. Lily smiled knowingly, but continued without mentioning it. "Your dad's just arguing with Ron and Sirius about Quidditch."
Harry groaned. "Not again."
Lily and Ginny laughed and Ginny smirked at him. "I never thought I'd see the day Harry Potter got bored talking about Quidditch."
"It's not the Quidditch talk that's boring, it's the arguing!" Harry said defensively. "I mean, okay, so the Cannon's are Ron's favourite team, and the Robins are Sirius' favourite team, and dad likes the Lions, doesn't mean they have to argue! They're not even in the same league!"
"Righto Harry!" James said entering the room, Sirius and the others following closely behind. "The Lions are in a league of their own!"
Ron snorted. "Yeah, because no one's that bad!"
"Hey!" James said, turning to Ron. "Just because the Cannons are-"
"James, honey, I beg you to stop this conversation and save all our sanity."
James turned to his wife and smiled. "You know you love me no matter what."
"And I can still love you muzzled."
Sirius laughed and walked over to Lily. "You see, she knows that the Rutherglen Robins rule all Quidditch!" He went to sling his arm around her shoulders and stopped himself.
Harry glanced and Ginny and she offered him a sad smile as Ron continued, oblivious. "Look, Sirius, I don't want to insult you or anything, but Scottich Quidditch just isn't up to par."
"Excuse me, boy, but I think you'll find that Scottish Quidditch does just fine." Sirius said with a glare, and Remus laughed, rolling his eyes.
"While this conversation is thrilling," Lily said sarcastically, "I think that our energy source is about to fall asleep."
As if to punctuate her statement, Ginny yawned loudly. She glanced at the others, blushing profusely and Harry smiled at her.
"Sorry," she said meekly.
"It's okay, Gin, it's late." Harry smiled and stood up, moving to his mum and letting himself be hugged, squeezing back as hard as he could. It still surprised him that he had fallen so easily into the role of being a son. He had never had that kind of love he saw in the Weasley family, but now that he did, now that he had it right in front of him, he never wanted to let it go.
"Night, Mum," he said with a smile.
"Goodnight sweetheart," Lily said softly, kissing the top his cheek. He was a fair bit taller than his mum, and he did find that a bit strange, there should have been a time when he was shorter than her, but he didn't remember that.
He pulled back and turned round, only to be enveloped in a hug by his dad, who clapped his back before pulling back and laughing. "You see if you can convince that mate of yours about some of the finer Quidditch teams," James said, ignoring Ron's snort, "and we'll see you tomorrow."
Harry laughed. "I want nothing to do with this argument, but I will see you tomorrow. Night, dad."
"Night, Har."
Harry turned to see his mum hugging Ginny and whispering something into her ear. He couldn't make out what it was, but when she pulled back, Ginny's face was as red as her hair. He gave them a questioning look, but his mum raised her eyebrows and he smiled, shaking his head. They weren't telling him anything.
Ginny moved towards him as he pulled the crystal from his pocket. Everyone was exchanging good nights, and when they were done, James put his arm around Lily, both of them smiling at Harry. Ginny took his hand in hers, and Harry couldn't help glancing at Ron to see his reaction. His friend was smirking at him, and he quickly turned away as Ginny placed their joined hands on the crystal, and the bright light surrounded them.
* * *
Harry knew it was late, far too late for him to be sitting in front of the fire on his own, but he couldn't sleep. They hadn't been back in Gryffindor Tower for long when he realised he was wide-awake. He didn't know why, but his mind was unwilling to shut down. And there was also the fact that his scar was burning.
He had been feeling strange twinges for the last while, but nothing like he was experiencing at that moment. He felt as though his forehead was on fire and he was experiencing strange flashes. Disjointed pictures and brief instances of sound invaded his senses; some conversations, some noises, but more often than not screaming. But there was nothing he could put together, nothing that they didn't already know.
'Attack.hiding.spy.information.Hogwarts'
It all lead to the warning Sirius had given them, and it made everything all the more real. They were in serious danger. Everyone he loved was in danger, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione.Ginny.
"Harry." He turned sharply as Ron descended the final steps from the boy's dormitory. His friend gave him a small smile as he walked towards the couch next to his chair. "Your scar?"
Harry nodded slightly and turned his gaze back to the fire. "He's coming Ron. He's coming to Hogwarts."
"I know," his friend said softly. "But we'll fight him, and we'll win. We have to."
Harry didn't say anything. What more was there to say? They had to win this war, there was no other way, nothing else he could let himself think. He couldn't lose any more than he already had.
"So," Ron said conversationally, no doubt trying to keep Harry's mind off the pain in his scar. Unfortunately the tone in Ron's voice gave Harry an idea of what was coming, and Harry wasn't exactly sure what to say about that. "What's going on between you and my baby sister?"
Harry could hear the teasing in his voice, but he refused to rise to it. "What do you mean?" he asked, hiding his smile. "We're friends."
"Nothing more?"
This time, Harry could hear something else in Ron's voice. Fear. He turned to face his friend, frowning. "What is it?"
"Look, Harry, there's noone would love it more than me if you and Ginny fell in love. You're already a brother, but."
"But?"
"But if Ginny is your girlfriend, then that puts her in the firing line, and I don't want her there anymore than she already is."
Harry froze, he hadn't though of that, and now that he had he knew that whatever wa between he and Ginny, he couldn't let anything happen. "I promise you, Ron, I wouldn't put Ginny anywhere near Voldemort. Anywhere."
Ron cringed at Voldemort's name, but nodded. "I know that, I just had to make sure. I mean." Ron shifted. "I just, well, we haven't seen much of each other later, and I wasn't sure."
"Ron, I didn't mean to leave you out, but, well.you any Hermione, and well." Ron turned pink, and Harry couldn't help smirking. Seven years on and they still couldn't talk about personal things without being nervous and embarrassed.
"Well," Ron cleared his throat, "Hermione and I.well, we're just friends."
"Hmm," Harry tried to control his laughter. IT was funny that Ron was denying there was anything there, it was even funnier that he didn't even seem to realise that there was more than friendship. He really was clueless, despite all his blushing and protestations that would normally imply the contrary.
"Well," Ron said, clearing his throat again. "I should go back to bed." He stood up and turned to that stairs. "You should try to get some sleep too, Harry."
"I will." Harry sighed and leaned back. "Just give me a minute." He heard Ron making his way up the stairs and leaned his head back, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the pain that was slowly increasing.
"Hard to believe he doesn't know, isn't it?"
Harry sat up and turned slightly, seeing Ginny on the stairs to the girl's dorms. He smiled at her and she stood up, walking over to him and sat on his lap, curling up before Harry could even think to protest. He didn't want to protest. He knew that what Ron had said was true; he couldn't put Ginny in the firing line, no matter how much he wanted her. And he did want her. That was one thing he had come to realise while talking to Ron. He wanted Ginny. She was a part of him. And it killed him to know that he couldn't have her.
Ginny sighed and he felt her breath tickling his throat. He gulped and shifted slightly, placing his hands on her arms and pulling her back from him. He looked into her eyes and smiled sadly. She was beautiful. Perhaps not in the conventional way that Parvati and Lavender were, but she was stunning in her own way. Her red curls framed her face and her beautiful brown eyes had flecks of silver-grey and black in them, and her lips had a natural pout that made Harry want to do nothing by kiss her senseless. And it killed him to know that he couldn't have her.
Ginny smiled slightly and moved towards him, and it took all his willpower to stop her. But he had to. "Ginny, I.we can't-"
"Harry." She placed a finger over his lips, but it was the shock the intimate touch sent through his skin that silenced him. "I heard you and Ron talking, most of it anyway. I know you want to protect me, Harry. I know that." She smiled. "I don't want to be You-Know-Who's target any more than you want me to be, and maybe that makes me a coward, but I don't care."
"It doesn't make you a coward, Gin, it makes you like everyone else. Including me."
"Look, Harry, I can't stop the future, I don't want to stop it. But I do want to fight for a good one. I want to fight by your side." Harry started to protest but she continued and he silenced. "Even if we're the only ones that know I'm there." They were silent for a moment; the only sound in the room was the crackling of the fire and their breathing.
"What do you mean?" Harry finally asked.
"I mean, that even if we have to keep it a secret, even if you and I are the only ones that know it, I want to be there for you, Harry. I want to be yours."
Harry smiled. "And I want to be yours," he said softly, in a voice that he didn't recognise.
Ginny smiled brilliantly and Harry's grin widened. She leaned towards him, stopping mere millimetres from his lips. "This is just for us."
"Just for us."
Harry closed the gap between them and gently kissed her. They stayed like that for a moment, not really moving, before Harry started to kiss her in earnest. His hands tightened around her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry gently ran his tongue across her lips startling a small gasp from her. He smiled, taking advantage of her surprise and slipping his tongue into her mouth. Tentatively at first, she began to kiss him back, her tongue duelling with his, as she pushed him backward.
Laughing, Harry fell back onto the couch, lying down and pulling her on top of him. "Vixen." She giggled and he smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears. He stared up at her, and she relaxed against him, her face hovering above his.
Ginny leaned forward and kissed him gently, and when she pulled back, Harry followed her with his mouth. She laughed and finally he let her pull away. She stared him again for a short while and Harry felt fluttering in his stomach.
"Just for us," she whispered.
"Just for us."
* * *
"Look, Harry, lets be fair, you haven't ever seen a League game, you just don't know what you're missing, or you'd be on my side."
"No! He knows how good the Cannons are, and he knows that-"
"The Cannons are rubbish, Weasley! The Lancaster Lions are far superior, and they always have been. 1978 League final was between the Cannons and the Lions, and it was the shortest game in History. MacFarlane caught the snitch after ten minutes!"
"And can I please take this moment to point out that MacFarlane was the Seeker for which Scottish team before that? And which Scottish team did her return to after one season?"
James glared at his friend before laughing. He slapped a hand on Sirius' shoulder and shook his head. "Okay, my friend, fair play. The Robins are the best team in Scotland.but that's not saying much!"
James frowned when he didn't get the expected response. Instead, Sirius cleared his throat and stood up. "I'm going to get some air," he said softly. "I'll be back soon." He quickly transformed into his dog form and padded out the room.
There was a silence following his departure and Remus moved to follow him. Harry stood up and placed a hand on his old Professor's arm. "Let me go," he said with a pleading face.
Remus smiled and nodded. Harry turned to his parents, and they smiled. Lily walked towards her husband as Ginny picked up the crystal, moving to Harry.
"I won't be long, and then we can get back to work."
They closed down the crystal and Harry looked at the spot his parents had been standing in. He hated to see them disappear; it was different than watching someone leave a room. When someone went out a doorway, they were just going elsewhere, when Harry closed the crystal, his parents didn't exist.
He felt a hand on his arm and looked down at Ginny, smiling. "I'm okay." He handed her the crystal and she looked up at him, shock on her features. "Keep it safe. I won't be long."
Ginny smiled and nodded and he quickly left the room, only stopping when he heard Remus' voice. He turned and waited for the man to catch up with him.
"Harry, I think I know where Sirius is. Did he ever tell you about the room to the Seventh Kingdom?"
Harry nodded and grinned, thinking of all the stories Sirius had told him and Ginny over the last few months. "I think I can find it. Thanks, Prof-" Harry stopped and shook his head. "Thanks, Remus."
Remus winked at him and turned back as Harry made his way down the corridor. Sirius had told Harry and Ginny about the Gateway to the Seventh Kingdom not long after they had started visiting him, but they had never had the time to go looking for it. Which, Harry mused, was a shame. He couldn't imagine all the possibilities for pranks the mirror offered. Not to mention it would really make Snape think he was insane if they took up where the Marauders left off.
He chuckled to himself and turned left at the portrait of Sir Frances Kingsly, a rather pompous Welsh knight that insisted in reciting his lineage to anyone who would listen. Harry didn't slow down. He reached a fork in the corridor, a strange and oddly shaped fork that Harry had never seen in a castle before and he knew that this was the place he had to remember the most. Sirius had said that one would lead to the right corridor and the other would lead him to the Sleepy Sideway; a corridor that would enchant you into sleeping for as long as your heart desired, only to be awoken by true love's kiss.or in the case of the Marauders, when Madame Pomfrey found them and had woken them up with a potion that tasted something like petrol.
Harry frowned, both corridor's looked the same, and he couldn't remember, had Sirius said take the left corridor, or don't take the left corridor. After a few moments, Harry shrugged and went right. The left corridor smelled like the boys bathroom by the Great Hall, and if in doubt, follow your nose.
He was walking for a few minutes, trying to make sure he was wide awake, and worrying that he wouldn't be for long, when he spotted what he was looking for. Harry smiled as he walked towards the large round mirror. It had a hand crafted wooden frame with dragons crafted into it and Harry searched to find the dragon with the red eyes.
It turned out to be on the top left and Harry reached out with his wand, lightly touching the ruby in the centre, and muttered, "Aperire". There was a shimmer in the mirror as it took on a red sheen. Harry warily placed his hand on it, resisting the urge to squirm. The mirror was all, well, gooey. It was a strange feeling, but Harry had the feeling that this was where Sirius was, and he needed to speak to his Godfather, so he took a deep breath and entered the mirror.
At first he couldn't see anything, but when his vision cleared, he was in a large corridor, ornately decorated and made of pure white marble. Harry reached put a hand to touch the smooth surface of the wall, and jumped back when he felt it shimmer.
"You're tickling it."
He swirled around and saw Sirius sitting on a marble throne like chair. There were four of them in a semi circle and mirrors, like the one Harry had entered through, surrounded them. Taking a step closer, Harry could see that the chair Sirius was sitting in had a dog carved on the top of either side of the chair's high back, as if they were perching on the ends. The other three had a wolf, a stag and a rat, and each of the seven mirrors had dragons with different coloured eyes.
"That doesn't look very comfy," Harry said, attempting to start a conversation and hoping that Sirius would take him up on it.
For a moment there was silence before Sirius smiled slightly. "Actually, they're comfier than the chairs in the Common Room. James put softening charms on them. He always was a little too enthusiastic with charms, them were so soft at first that Peter actually fell right into his."
"I wish he'd stayed there," Harry said bitterly.
Sirius sighed. "Whatever he became, Harry, he was a good man once."
Harry looked at his Godfather incredulously. "I can't believe you just said that."
"Neither can I." Sirius sighed again and indicated the chair to his right. Harry noted with trepidation that it was his fathers, the two stags bucking their heads back in welcome to him.
After he was seated, Sirius continued. "Look, Har, I know we didn't spot that Peter was the traitor, I know that Remus and I didn't trust each other enough at that point to see that we were both innocent, but I'd like to think that for the most part, we're good judges of character. Peter was always one of the runts of the year, I guess, but he was a nice guy.
I've spent a lot of time trying to work out when he went bad, what it was that made him turn on us and I think I finally have it." Sirius looked at Harry and sat up a little straighter. "During the holidays between our sixth and seventh year, Peter's sister, Angel, died. She was the only member of Peter's family that really had any faith in who he was. When she died, Peter had no one to believe in him, no one to care who he was."
"Well, my parents died when I was one thanks to him, and I've never had anyone believing in me my whole life, and I'd never turn on my friends!" Harry said, furious that his Godfather was behaving like this.
"Harry, I'm not justifying what he did, just trying to make sense of it." Harry was still angry, but he nodded and kept quiet. "Since the day it happened, Harry, I've been trying to figure out why we trusted him. How we could ever trust him with our lives. What did we miss? How could we not know he would betray us? But when I say your dad and mum again, when I saw the shock on their faces when they found out about Peter, I realised something.
"We trusted him because he was trustworthy. There was a time, a long time, when he was a part of us, when he helped make us who we are. Because that's what your friends do, Harry, they help make you into the person you are.
"You said that you didn't have anyone believing in you your whole life, but that's not true, Har, whether or not you knew it, the entire Wizarding world believed in you. Remus and I believed in you.and no matter whether they're still alive or not, your parents will always believe in you."
Harry let Sirius sit with his thought for a moment before pursuing the matter that brought them here. "Sirius, I know that my parents believe in me. I know that now. But even if they weren't here to tell me that themselves, I'd still know they believed in me, because I'd have you and Remus to tell me it. That's the kind of people they are, Sirius, and I'm glad I have them with me. But I'm not the only person they believe in."
"Harry, I-"
"Let me finish, Sirius," Harry said with a smirk. "If we're going to make this the day that the people who don't normally say a lot talk the ears off each other, give me a chance as well." Sirius smiled at him and he continued. "Look, Sirius, I might not know you and Remus as well as I'd like, and I might not know my parents as well as I'd like, but I know enough to know that they love you and they trust you.and they forgive you. Because there's nothing to forgive.
"It wasn't your fault, Sirius, nothing that happened was your fault, not on that day and not since. You have done all that you possibly can to help me and to help the war effort, and there's nothing to blame yourself for."
"What about not being there for you? What about not being there for James when he needed me?" Sirius said softly, but Harry heard every word.
"You were there for me, and you will always be there for me. And I really don't think my dad blames you for anything."
"That's only because he can't remember, Harry. He and Lily hadn't used the crystal after we changed places. I couldn't tell that Peter was going to deceive us, Harry! He got your parents killed and I did even notice he was plotting it!"
"My dad trusted Peter as well, do you blame him for getting murdered?"
"Yes!"
The words hung in the air for a moment as Harry looked at him in shock. Sirius was looking at him, eyes ablaze with anger and hatred and it was almost enough to scare Harry into believing what Sirius might be capable of if that anger were ever let loose on anyone.
"Yes, I blame him for it! I blame him for dying, I blame him for leaving, I blame him for making himself a target in the first place by being so bloody brave and heroic and being determined to take Voldemort down himself! I blame him for putting you and Lily on the line, I blame him for putting himself on the line and, yes, I blame him for dying! I blame him for leaving me all alone to rot in Azkaban for ten years! I blame him for the fact that I have to spend the rest of my life on the run! But most of all I blame him for trusting me as a friend! For trusting me enough to get him killed!"
Harry didn't say anything, he didn't know what he could say. Sirius had lived a life that he couldn't even begin to understand, and he didn't know how to respond to that kind of aching loss. Sirius had lost everyone, not just a friend of sorts, not just his parents, not just people he didn't know, but everyone he loved and trusted.
"I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry looked up at him, and where his eyes had previously held anger, they now held an aching loss that almost had Harry drowning in its intensity.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. You didn't need to hear that. You shouldn't have to deal with the guilt of an old man."
Harry laughed. "You're not old."
Sirius smiled wryly. "Okay, so not old, but kind of saggy round the edges. I thought young men were supposed to think their parents and their parents' friends were old."
"Seeing that mum and dad had me when they were a year older than I am now, I don't think it's possible for me to consider you old."
"True." Sirius laughed, but Harry could see the pain that was in his eyes, still. He doubted that would ever go away.
"Sirius, you should talk to him."
Sirius sighed. "I know, I will."
There was a silence, but this time, it wasn't strained. "Why you?" Harry finally asked. "Why did Peter choose you to blame it on?"
At this, Sirius actually smiled. "Oh, well, that's easy."
Harry rolled his eyes. "What was her name?"
"Helen Margaret Farmer," Sirius said with a roguish grin. "Ravenclaw in our year. I think Peter had always had a crush on her, but he didn't stand a chance, and, well, I did."
Harry laughed at the twinkle he saw in Sirius' eyes. "You're hopeless."
"No, just irresistible."
Harry snorted and shook his head. "Sure, Sirius, whatever you say."
"Hey!" Sirius puffed put his chest. "I'm a woman magnet and don't you forget it."
"I don't see how he could forget it, Sirius, when you remind everyone at every opportunity." They turned to see Remus, Ginny, Ron and Hermione in the corridor Harry had arrived in. "We thought you could use a hand convincing this sod to come back and research," Remus said with a smirk. "He always was a lazy git whenever work was involved."
"I resent that Remus Lupin!"
"Only because it's the truth, Padfoot."
Sirius glared, or rather tried to, but he was too busy smiling. "Just because I always had more important ways to spend my time."
"Snogging in the Astronomy Tower really doesn't count as important, Sir."
Harry started when he heard his father's voice. He looked at Ginny who grinned. She had moved to stand behind the chair he was in, and had placed the stone in a small alcove that Harry could only see the top of. He hadn't noticed it before, but he hadn't really been looking.
"The chair activated it if the people we love are nearby," Lily said with a smile, moving towards her son. "We thought Sirius and Remus might need to open it before you were old enough to fall in.I mean, before you were old enough," she amended with an apologetic smile, as Harry and Ginny blushed.
"Wow!" All eyes turned to Ron as he walked toward the mirror to Harry's far left. "I can see into the Ravenclaw Common Room!"
"That's nothing to what you can do with these babies!" Sirius said, his eyes twinkling.
"Sirius," Lily said warningly as James moved to Sirius' chair, no doubt about to aid Sirius with whatever story he was about to share. "Not now, these kids have enough to worry about without Severus giving them detention as well."
"Severus!" Harry said with horror. "Mum, did you just call Snape, Severus?"
"Harry, we ignore the fact that your mother is insane, Harry," James said with a mock shudder.
"Yeah," Sirius said with a frown, trying to hide that he was really smiling at her. "Your mother is under the delusion that the greasy git is actually a nice person."
"Snape?" Ron asked, almost choking on the name.
"Severus is a very nice man, he's just a little grumpy!"
"Whatever you say, mum," Harry said, trying to ignore that the world must be coming to an end, because he could have sworn that his mother had just said that Snape, sorry Severus, was a very nice man.
"You're only saying that because he believed in all that crap you spouted in divination."
"I am not!"
"Snape believe in divination?" Hermione asked incredulously.
Remus snorted as James and Sirius laughed. "Hermione," Remus said with a smile, "I think Snape would have believed that the world was flat if Lily told him it was."
"Remus!" Lily said sternly, but with a smile. "I can't believe you, or all people, said that!"
"I'm sorry, Lily, but it's true," Remus said with a smile and Lily eventually smiled, shaking her head.
"Okay, enough chit chat, lets get back to the room and get some work done." Lily nodded towards the mirrors. "Will any of them get us into our rooms?"
Remus nodded. "I took the one from the passageway behind the statue of Agnes Waterlily. It's been blocked up for years now anyway." He walked towards the centre mirror and took out his wand, tapping it against the dragon's eye and muttering, "Aperire".
Harry watched as Ron and Hermione followed Remus through the mirror, before looking up at his mum. He smiled at him and hugged him, kissing his forehead. "I'm very proud of you, Harry."
"Why?" Harry choked out.
She smiled at him and inclined her head. Harry followed her gaze and smiled as he saw Sirius and his father hugging. Harry smiled at his dad, who grinned back and mouthed, "Thank you", before saying something to Sirius that sounded like, "It wasn't your fault, Sir. There's nothing to forgive".
Ginny had moved to sit at his other side and she smiled at him. Harry knew she was proud of him, just like his mum and dad were, and it made him feel.well, happy. It was nice to know for sure that people loved him, and he couldn't help but smile like a fool.
"Harry, Ginny." They both looked up at Lily, who smiled. "I just want you to know, whatever happens, that we're all so proud of you. You have so much resting on your shoulders, more than any of us have the right to ask of you." Lily reached out a hand to ruffle Harry's hair. Her eyes filled with tears and she took a deep breath. "I knew from the minute I predicted your birth that you would be wonderful."
"Predicted?" Harry asked, overcoming the lump in his throat.
Lily smiled, but she seemed unable to continue. James walked round the chair and wrapped his arms around her, as Sirius placed his hands on Ginny's shoulder, smiling at her and Harry.
"Your mother saw you in her divination class when she was sixteen."
"Yeah," Sirius said with a smirk. "Your face appeared at the bottom of her tea cup."
"Sirius! I'm serious!" Lily said as Sirius rolled his eyes. "And it wasn't a tea cup, it was a crystal ball."
"She didn't tell me you looked like me until after I'd proposed, of course," James said with a smile. "Something about messing with the future."
"Well, she right," Ginny said. "Divination is all well and good, but you can only see the possible outcomes, nothing's written in stone."
"I knew I'd like you, Ginny." Lily grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"When were you born, Ginny?"
James and Sirius rolled their eyes, and James squeezed his wife tighter. "Honey, don't be silly. I mean, we all know you saw Harry because he looked like me, but this doesn't mean-"
"James, let her answer."
"I.I was born the day you died." Ginny said softly.
James and Sirius looked at each other, wide-eyed, as Lily smiled. "I thought so."
"I don't understand."
"I can't say anything more, Ginny, what you just said about the future." Lily smiled. "But you're both destined for great things. Don't be afraid to live, even when you think there's nothing to live for. You'll always have each other."
* * *
End of Part Six
Okay, so it was definitely a long one! But I didn't want to make any more parts than I'd previously specified. There are still two more parts to go and I won't do them before Christmas, as the next one is a tearjerker, and
I won't cry before Christmas!
Are you curious about The Seventh Kingdom? Want to know what the Marauders
used to do to Snape? Look out for the Marauder Outtake "The Seventh
Kingdom" coming soon! :)
There's one more part set in the past and then the final part is back to
the timeline of part one.
Always remember that feedback is appreciated :)
Part 6: Just For Us
By Kyizi
This part is set in Harry's final year at Hogwarts, Ginny's second last
year.
~x~x~x~x~x~
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me; they are the property of J.K. Rowling. All original storyline and ideas are mine, do not use without permission.
Rating: PG-13 for innuendo.
Pairing: Harry/Ginny
Distribution: Ask and I'll likely say yes, but please do ask.
Spoilers: The first four books will, no doubt come into this at some point.
Feedback: is a precious gift. It's nice to give.
E-mail: kyizifanfic@hotmail.com
Notes: In her review, Ronso said, "Merely making the point that James was a seeker at Hogwarts. This was made clear in Snape's pensive in book 5." I just want to clarify that (a) I disliked a fair bit of OotP, and since I started this fic before it was released, OotP canon is not included in this fic, and (b) if I really want to be pernickety, I could point out that James is only noted as playing with a snitch, and while the logical conclusion is that he is seeker, it's not actually stated! ;p Thanks for the review though, Ronso, and keep pointing out any mistakes you see! I love to know that people are paying more attention than I am!
You're in for a treat! This is the longest chapter of AGT to date! Enjoy, and Merry Christmas to you all! This part is Harry's chance. All the other chapters are from Ginny's POV and I had intended to make the whole fic that way, but this one realy needed to be Harry's and you'll understand when you read it. I hope you enjoy. Ten points to whoever can find the Lord of the Rings reference!
~x~x~x~x~x~
Harry sighed and rubbed his temples. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, both actions soon becoming mannerisms, and he desperately wished them away. He was extremely tired and he felt as though he had been living in some strange alternate universe, only receiving the occasional visit from sanity.
It had been four days since they had opened the crystal, and in those four days, he had felt as though his world had been turned upside down. Although he had to be careful, he finally felt as though his life was complete, and he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. He was waiting for the moment it would all be torn away from him.
Sirius and Professor Lupin - or Remus, as he had been insisting on ("I'm not your professor anymore, Harry") - had been staying in an unused wing of the castle for the last few days, and Harry found that he was spending most of his time there.
He ran his hands over the crystal that was in his pocket, thinking of the other new feature in his life. His parents. He couldn't help but smile at that. He had his parents, or at least a part of them, and he could keep them with him for as long as he wanted to. He wanted them there for Christmases, for Birthdays, for dinners, for lectures, for his graduation, his wedding, his children's birthdays and everyday that he had yet to life. Forever. That was how long he wanted.
He turned as he felt a hand on his arm, moving over slightly to let Ginny squeeze onto the chair beside him. He had known she was there, had felt her approach. Another new feature in his life, the petite redhead was another more than welcome addition to his.his what? His heart?
Ginny leaned her head against his shoulder and he moved his arm to let it fall around her shoulders as she snuggled against him. It was strange, letting her this close, although, he realised, he'd been doing it for a long time now. Letting her close to him had seemed so natural that he hadn't even realised he'd been doing it. He knew that she held a lot of power over this new life he had now, but he trusted her completely with it. He could only access the crystal, he could only see his parents, when Ginny was with him, helping him.
He tried to fight back a blush as he remembered the second time they had opened the crystal. Despite how easy it had been to close, he had been unsure as to what had actually caused the crystal to open. Had it simply been their touching hands over the stone (the same thing that closed it), or had it been the kiss?
It had been rather humiliating coming to that conclusion with Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione standing around them, waiting for them to open it. It also hadn't helped that Ron and Hermione were already miffed that they had been left out of visiting Sirius for the last few months. To then have had to ask Ginny if he could kiss her in front of her brother wasn't exactly top of Harry's list of things to do, not when it stood for being killed by his best friend.
Luckily Ginny had come to the same conclusion and had blushed prettily as she took his hands in hers, whispering, "Why don't we try it this way first". She had smiled and then placed their joined hands on top of the crystal. It had shone brightly, once again, in an almost blinding light, and once again, Harry's parents had appeared before them.
He smiled and tightened his grip of her shoulders. She seemed to understand him better than he understood himself most of the time. Over the last few days, she had shown him just how well she knew him. She just seemed to know when he wanted to see his parents, to talk to them, to know how much they loved him.
She would do it without any kind of scene, and with nothing but gentle understanding in her eyes. She would simply take hold of his hand and lead him to the private room that was adjoined to the ones Remus and Sirius were using. It was set aside for them to use when Harry wanted to speak to his parents.
Ginny would reach into his pocket and hold out the crystal to him. She just knew how much he hated to ask, so she would make the question her own, as if it was her who wanted to see his parents. And perhaps she really did want to. For herself or for him, he wasn't sure, but she seemed to want it too. But what he loved the most was the small blush she sometimes acquired as she leaned towards him, whispering, "Just to make sure," before she gently brushed her lips against his, pulling back only when they were surrounded by the blinding light and Harry was no longer sure if she was Ginny or an angel. Although that thought made him want to groan., he was turning into a complete sap! But then Ginny sighed and snuggled closer to him, and he realised that he didn't care.
"You okay?" he asked, his gaze focussing on the fire in the grate.
"I'm fine," she replied with a yawn. "Just a little tired. Are your parents still in with Sirius and Professor Lupin?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "Ron and Hermione are in there as well. I just wanted some time to think."
He felt her nod against him. "You must be overwhelmed."
"Just a bit," he said with a laugh. "Where did you go? I felt the power drain a bit."
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She sat up and looked at him wide eyed. "Nothing happened, did it? They didn't."
"No, it's fine," Harry reassured her. "I could feel you nearby. I was able to keep the charm open."
"I never even thought," she said, still feeling guilty. "I just forgot, I guess. I mean, I can sense them, I can sense you and I just, well.They can be in the next room when the crystal's in here, so it just never occurred to me that you'd need me to keep them out."
"Of course I need you, Gin," he said softly, not realising what exactly what he had said until he heard it himself. He felt his cheeks redden, and he could see hers go slightly pink as well.
"Thank you, Harry."
"What for?"
"For everything. For trusting me."
He smiled, letting her snuggle up beside him again. He could sense her fatigue almost as if it was his own. He hadn't liked that at first, being able to sense her, her thoughts and emotions drifting into his head. It felt wrong, as if he was invading her privacy, and she his.
Since being brought into the Wizarding world, he had felt as though his mind, who he was, was always being put on display, always being invaded by others. Voldemort had a connection so strong it even pushed it's way into Harry's dreams, and at first, for at least a few moments, it had felt as though Ginny was taking another part of him. But he soon realised that wasn't true. Ginny was sharing a part of him, and in turn sharing a part of herself. But what was more, was the fact that Harry was quite willing to share it.
"How's Sirius?" she asked suddenly, breaking thorough his thoughts.
"He's.okay."
"I'm worried about him, too," Ginny said, wrapping her arms tightly around his chest. "He just needs time, I think."
"I don't know." Harry sighed. "I mean, he's acting normally enough, or at least, from what I know of his relationship with my parents and Prof- I mean, Remus, I think he is. But."
"But it's like, if he touches them, they're real, and he can't handle that."
"He still feels so guilty," Harry said, absently stroking her arm. "I wish he didn't but he does. And if my dad and mum forgive him, he won't know how to handle it, he won't know how he's meant to live anymore."
"He's afraid of it, isn't he?" Ginny asked, softly.
"I think he is. He had brought himself to the realisation that he'd never get that forgiveness for not being there for me. He'd accepted that he'd never have that and now that there's a chance, he doesn't feel he deserves it."
"Of course he deserves it!" Ginny said forcefully. "He was so young. He had the only friends he ever really loved taken from him in one way or another, and everyone believed it was his fault. He lost his childhood. He was so innocent."
Harry snorted. "In that sense, I doubt Sirius was ever innocent," he said with a smirk. He quickly sobered and continued. "But, in a way, I think you're right. He was thrown into jail with no trial and he lost his life. He lost everything."
"And now that he's being offered a part of it back."
"He doesn't know what to do with it," Harry finished. He felt Ginny nod and heard her stifled yawn. Grinning, he turned and kissed her forehead. "You should sleep."
"I'm okay," she said, smiling up at him. "I'll wait until we have to close the crystal again."
"I wonder what they're doing in there," Harry said, looking at the door. "Hermione's in heaven with all that research."
Ginny laughed and nodded. "And Ron's in hell with Hermione having all that research." Harry grinned and she giggled. "Do you think they're actually together yet?"
Harry shrugged. "Don't know. Ron hasn't said anything, and neither has Hermione, but that means nothing. I mean, I knew they needed time together, that's why I didn't feel so guilty about leaving them out. Plus, it was nice having something that was just.us." Harry cleared his throat, not looking at her and continuing before she could say anything. "But they're both so.well, I doubt they'd be too thrilled about having to tell anyone."
"Yeah, I guess," Ginny said yawning and Harry laughed. "Sorry."
"Someone's tired." They both glanced at the door again as Lily entered the room, smiling at them both. "We could sense how tired you both are. Lets leave this for tomorrow." She sat down on the couch opposite them as Harry and Ginny disentangled themselves, blushing profusely. Lily smiled knowingly, but continued without mentioning it. "Your dad's just arguing with Ron and Sirius about Quidditch."
Harry groaned. "Not again."
Lily and Ginny laughed and Ginny smirked at him. "I never thought I'd see the day Harry Potter got bored talking about Quidditch."
"It's not the Quidditch talk that's boring, it's the arguing!" Harry said defensively. "I mean, okay, so the Cannon's are Ron's favourite team, and the Robins are Sirius' favourite team, and dad likes the Lions, doesn't mean they have to argue! They're not even in the same league!"
"Righto Harry!" James said entering the room, Sirius and the others following closely behind. "The Lions are in a league of their own!"
Ron snorted. "Yeah, because no one's that bad!"
"Hey!" James said, turning to Ron. "Just because the Cannons are-"
"James, honey, I beg you to stop this conversation and save all our sanity."
James turned to his wife and smiled. "You know you love me no matter what."
"And I can still love you muzzled."
Sirius laughed and walked over to Lily. "You see, she knows that the Rutherglen Robins rule all Quidditch!" He went to sling his arm around her shoulders and stopped himself.
Harry glanced and Ginny and she offered him a sad smile as Ron continued, oblivious. "Look, Sirius, I don't want to insult you or anything, but Scottich Quidditch just isn't up to par."
"Excuse me, boy, but I think you'll find that Scottish Quidditch does just fine." Sirius said with a glare, and Remus laughed, rolling his eyes.
"While this conversation is thrilling," Lily said sarcastically, "I think that our energy source is about to fall asleep."
As if to punctuate her statement, Ginny yawned loudly. She glanced at the others, blushing profusely and Harry smiled at her.
"Sorry," she said meekly.
"It's okay, Gin, it's late." Harry smiled and stood up, moving to his mum and letting himself be hugged, squeezing back as hard as he could. It still surprised him that he had fallen so easily into the role of being a son. He had never had that kind of love he saw in the Weasley family, but now that he did, now that he had it right in front of him, he never wanted to let it go.
"Night, Mum," he said with a smile.
"Goodnight sweetheart," Lily said softly, kissing the top his cheek. He was a fair bit taller than his mum, and he did find that a bit strange, there should have been a time when he was shorter than her, but he didn't remember that.
He pulled back and turned round, only to be enveloped in a hug by his dad, who clapped his back before pulling back and laughing. "You see if you can convince that mate of yours about some of the finer Quidditch teams," James said, ignoring Ron's snort, "and we'll see you tomorrow."
Harry laughed. "I want nothing to do with this argument, but I will see you tomorrow. Night, dad."
"Night, Har."
Harry turned to see his mum hugging Ginny and whispering something into her ear. He couldn't make out what it was, but when she pulled back, Ginny's face was as red as her hair. He gave them a questioning look, but his mum raised her eyebrows and he smiled, shaking his head. They weren't telling him anything.
Ginny moved towards him as he pulled the crystal from his pocket. Everyone was exchanging good nights, and when they were done, James put his arm around Lily, both of them smiling at Harry. Ginny took his hand in hers, and Harry couldn't help glancing at Ron to see his reaction. His friend was smirking at him, and he quickly turned away as Ginny placed their joined hands on the crystal, and the bright light surrounded them.
* * *
Harry knew it was late, far too late for him to be sitting in front of the fire on his own, but he couldn't sleep. They hadn't been back in Gryffindor Tower for long when he realised he was wide-awake. He didn't know why, but his mind was unwilling to shut down. And there was also the fact that his scar was burning.
He had been feeling strange twinges for the last while, but nothing like he was experiencing at that moment. He felt as though his forehead was on fire and he was experiencing strange flashes. Disjointed pictures and brief instances of sound invaded his senses; some conversations, some noises, but more often than not screaming. But there was nothing he could put together, nothing that they didn't already know.
'Attack.hiding.spy.information.Hogwarts'
It all lead to the warning Sirius had given them, and it made everything all the more real. They were in serious danger. Everyone he loved was in danger, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione.Ginny.
"Harry." He turned sharply as Ron descended the final steps from the boy's dormitory. His friend gave him a small smile as he walked towards the couch next to his chair. "Your scar?"
Harry nodded slightly and turned his gaze back to the fire. "He's coming Ron. He's coming to Hogwarts."
"I know," his friend said softly. "But we'll fight him, and we'll win. We have to."
Harry didn't say anything. What more was there to say? They had to win this war, there was no other way, nothing else he could let himself think. He couldn't lose any more than he already had.
"So," Ron said conversationally, no doubt trying to keep Harry's mind off the pain in his scar. Unfortunately the tone in Ron's voice gave Harry an idea of what was coming, and Harry wasn't exactly sure what to say about that. "What's going on between you and my baby sister?"
Harry could hear the teasing in his voice, but he refused to rise to it. "What do you mean?" he asked, hiding his smile. "We're friends."
"Nothing more?"
This time, Harry could hear something else in Ron's voice. Fear. He turned to face his friend, frowning. "What is it?"
"Look, Harry, there's noone would love it more than me if you and Ginny fell in love. You're already a brother, but."
"But?"
"But if Ginny is your girlfriend, then that puts her in the firing line, and I don't want her there anymore than she already is."
Harry froze, he hadn't though of that, and now that he had he knew that whatever wa between he and Ginny, he couldn't let anything happen. "I promise you, Ron, I wouldn't put Ginny anywhere near Voldemort. Anywhere."
Ron cringed at Voldemort's name, but nodded. "I know that, I just had to make sure. I mean." Ron shifted. "I just, well, we haven't seen much of each other later, and I wasn't sure."
"Ron, I didn't mean to leave you out, but, well.you any Hermione, and well." Ron turned pink, and Harry couldn't help smirking. Seven years on and they still couldn't talk about personal things without being nervous and embarrassed.
"Well," Ron cleared his throat, "Hermione and I.well, we're just friends."
"Hmm," Harry tried to control his laughter. IT was funny that Ron was denying there was anything there, it was even funnier that he didn't even seem to realise that there was more than friendship. He really was clueless, despite all his blushing and protestations that would normally imply the contrary.
"Well," Ron said, clearing his throat again. "I should go back to bed." He stood up and turned to that stairs. "You should try to get some sleep too, Harry."
"I will." Harry sighed and leaned back. "Just give me a minute." He heard Ron making his way up the stairs and leaned his head back, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the pain that was slowly increasing.
"Hard to believe he doesn't know, isn't it?"
Harry sat up and turned slightly, seeing Ginny on the stairs to the girl's dorms. He smiled at her and she stood up, walking over to him and sat on his lap, curling up before Harry could even think to protest. He didn't want to protest. He knew that what Ron had said was true; he couldn't put Ginny in the firing line, no matter how much he wanted her. And he did want her. That was one thing he had come to realise while talking to Ron. He wanted Ginny. She was a part of him. And it killed him to know that he couldn't have her.
Ginny sighed and he felt her breath tickling his throat. He gulped and shifted slightly, placing his hands on her arms and pulling her back from him. He looked into her eyes and smiled sadly. She was beautiful. Perhaps not in the conventional way that Parvati and Lavender were, but she was stunning in her own way. Her red curls framed her face and her beautiful brown eyes had flecks of silver-grey and black in them, and her lips had a natural pout that made Harry want to do nothing by kiss her senseless. And it killed him to know that he couldn't have her.
Ginny smiled slightly and moved towards him, and it took all his willpower to stop her. But he had to. "Ginny, I.we can't-"
"Harry." She placed a finger over his lips, but it was the shock the intimate touch sent through his skin that silenced him. "I heard you and Ron talking, most of it anyway. I know you want to protect me, Harry. I know that." She smiled. "I don't want to be You-Know-Who's target any more than you want me to be, and maybe that makes me a coward, but I don't care."
"It doesn't make you a coward, Gin, it makes you like everyone else. Including me."
"Look, Harry, I can't stop the future, I don't want to stop it. But I do want to fight for a good one. I want to fight by your side." Harry started to protest but she continued and he silenced. "Even if we're the only ones that know I'm there." They were silent for a moment; the only sound in the room was the crackling of the fire and their breathing.
"What do you mean?" Harry finally asked.
"I mean, that even if we have to keep it a secret, even if you and I are the only ones that know it, I want to be there for you, Harry. I want to be yours."
Harry smiled. "And I want to be yours," he said softly, in a voice that he didn't recognise.
Ginny smiled brilliantly and Harry's grin widened. She leaned towards him, stopping mere millimetres from his lips. "This is just for us."
"Just for us."
Harry closed the gap between them and gently kissed her. They stayed like that for a moment, not really moving, before Harry started to kiss her in earnest. His hands tightened around her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry gently ran his tongue across her lips startling a small gasp from her. He smiled, taking advantage of her surprise and slipping his tongue into her mouth. Tentatively at first, she began to kiss him back, her tongue duelling with his, as she pushed him backward.
Laughing, Harry fell back onto the couch, lying down and pulling her on top of him. "Vixen." She giggled and he smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears. He stared up at her, and she relaxed against him, her face hovering above his.
Ginny leaned forward and kissed him gently, and when she pulled back, Harry followed her with his mouth. She laughed and finally he let her pull away. She stared him again for a short while and Harry felt fluttering in his stomach.
"Just for us," she whispered.
"Just for us."
* * *
"Look, Harry, lets be fair, you haven't ever seen a League game, you just don't know what you're missing, or you'd be on my side."
"No! He knows how good the Cannons are, and he knows that-"
"The Cannons are rubbish, Weasley! The Lancaster Lions are far superior, and they always have been. 1978 League final was between the Cannons and the Lions, and it was the shortest game in History. MacFarlane caught the snitch after ten minutes!"
"And can I please take this moment to point out that MacFarlane was the Seeker for which Scottish team before that? And which Scottish team did her return to after one season?"
James glared at his friend before laughing. He slapped a hand on Sirius' shoulder and shook his head. "Okay, my friend, fair play. The Robins are the best team in Scotland.but that's not saying much!"
James frowned when he didn't get the expected response. Instead, Sirius cleared his throat and stood up. "I'm going to get some air," he said softly. "I'll be back soon." He quickly transformed into his dog form and padded out the room.
There was a silence following his departure and Remus moved to follow him. Harry stood up and placed a hand on his old Professor's arm. "Let me go," he said with a pleading face.
Remus smiled and nodded. Harry turned to his parents, and they smiled. Lily walked towards her husband as Ginny picked up the crystal, moving to Harry.
"I won't be long, and then we can get back to work."
They closed down the crystal and Harry looked at the spot his parents had been standing in. He hated to see them disappear; it was different than watching someone leave a room. When someone went out a doorway, they were just going elsewhere, when Harry closed the crystal, his parents didn't exist.
He felt a hand on his arm and looked down at Ginny, smiling. "I'm okay." He handed her the crystal and she looked up at him, shock on her features. "Keep it safe. I won't be long."
Ginny smiled and nodded and he quickly left the room, only stopping when he heard Remus' voice. He turned and waited for the man to catch up with him.
"Harry, I think I know where Sirius is. Did he ever tell you about the room to the Seventh Kingdom?"
Harry nodded and grinned, thinking of all the stories Sirius had told him and Ginny over the last few months. "I think I can find it. Thanks, Prof-" Harry stopped and shook his head. "Thanks, Remus."
Remus winked at him and turned back as Harry made his way down the corridor. Sirius had told Harry and Ginny about the Gateway to the Seventh Kingdom not long after they had started visiting him, but they had never had the time to go looking for it. Which, Harry mused, was a shame. He couldn't imagine all the possibilities for pranks the mirror offered. Not to mention it would really make Snape think he was insane if they took up where the Marauders left off.
He chuckled to himself and turned left at the portrait of Sir Frances Kingsly, a rather pompous Welsh knight that insisted in reciting his lineage to anyone who would listen. Harry didn't slow down. He reached a fork in the corridor, a strange and oddly shaped fork that Harry had never seen in a castle before and he knew that this was the place he had to remember the most. Sirius had said that one would lead to the right corridor and the other would lead him to the Sleepy Sideway; a corridor that would enchant you into sleeping for as long as your heart desired, only to be awoken by true love's kiss.or in the case of the Marauders, when Madame Pomfrey found them and had woken them up with a potion that tasted something like petrol.
Harry frowned, both corridor's looked the same, and he couldn't remember, had Sirius said take the left corridor, or don't take the left corridor. After a few moments, Harry shrugged and went right. The left corridor smelled like the boys bathroom by the Great Hall, and if in doubt, follow your nose.
He was walking for a few minutes, trying to make sure he was wide awake, and worrying that he wouldn't be for long, when he spotted what he was looking for. Harry smiled as he walked towards the large round mirror. It had a hand crafted wooden frame with dragons crafted into it and Harry searched to find the dragon with the red eyes.
It turned out to be on the top left and Harry reached out with his wand, lightly touching the ruby in the centre, and muttered, "Aperire". There was a shimmer in the mirror as it took on a red sheen. Harry warily placed his hand on it, resisting the urge to squirm. The mirror was all, well, gooey. It was a strange feeling, but Harry had the feeling that this was where Sirius was, and he needed to speak to his Godfather, so he took a deep breath and entered the mirror.
At first he couldn't see anything, but when his vision cleared, he was in a large corridor, ornately decorated and made of pure white marble. Harry reached put a hand to touch the smooth surface of the wall, and jumped back when he felt it shimmer.
"You're tickling it."
He swirled around and saw Sirius sitting on a marble throne like chair. There were four of them in a semi circle and mirrors, like the one Harry had entered through, surrounded them. Taking a step closer, Harry could see that the chair Sirius was sitting in had a dog carved on the top of either side of the chair's high back, as if they were perching on the ends. The other three had a wolf, a stag and a rat, and each of the seven mirrors had dragons with different coloured eyes.
"That doesn't look very comfy," Harry said, attempting to start a conversation and hoping that Sirius would take him up on it.
For a moment there was silence before Sirius smiled slightly. "Actually, they're comfier than the chairs in the Common Room. James put softening charms on them. He always was a little too enthusiastic with charms, them were so soft at first that Peter actually fell right into his."
"I wish he'd stayed there," Harry said bitterly.
Sirius sighed. "Whatever he became, Harry, he was a good man once."
Harry looked at his Godfather incredulously. "I can't believe you just said that."
"Neither can I." Sirius sighed again and indicated the chair to his right. Harry noted with trepidation that it was his fathers, the two stags bucking their heads back in welcome to him.
After he was seated, Sirius continued. "Look, Har, I know we didn't spot that Peter was the traitor, I know that Remus and I didn't trust each other enough at that point to see that we were both innocent, but I'd like to think that for the most part, we're good judges of character. Peter was always one of the runts of the year, I guess, but he was a nice guy.
I've spent a lot of time trying to work out when he went bad, what it was that made him turn on us and I think I finally have it." Sirius looked at Harry and sat up a little straighter. "During the holidays between our sixth and seventh year, Peter's sister, Angel, died. She was the only member of Peter's family that really had any faith in who he was. When she died, Peter had no one to believe in him, no one to care who he was."
"Well, my parents died when I was one thanks to him, and I've never had anyone believing in me my whole life, and I'd never turn on my friends!" Harry said, furious that his Godfather was behaving like this.
"Harry, I'm not justifying what he did, just trying to make sense of it." Harry was still angry, but he nodded and kept quiet. "Since the day it happened, Harry, I've been trying to figure out why we trusted him. How we could ever trust him with our lives. What did we miss? How could we not know he would betray us? But when I say your dad and mum again, when I saw the shock on their faces when they found out about Peter, I realised something.
"We trusted him because he was trustworthy. There was a time, a long time, when he was a part of us, when he helped make us who we are. Because that's what your friends do, Harry, they help make you into the person you are.
"You said that you didn't have anyone believing in you your whole life, but that's not true, Har, whether or not you knew it, the entire Wizarding world believed in you. Remus and I believed in you.and no matter whether they're still alive or not, your parents will always believe in you."
Harry let Sirius sit with his thought for a moment before pursuing the matter that brought them here. "Sirius, I know that my parents believe in me. I know that now. But even if they weren't here to tell me that themselves, I'd still know they believed in me, because I'd have you and Remus to tell me it. That's the kind of people they are, Sirius, and I'm glad I have them with me. But I'm not the only person they believe in."
"Harry, I-"
"Let me finish, Sirius," Harry said with a smirk. "If we're going to make this the day that the people who don't normally say a lot talk the ears off each other, give me a chance as well." Sirius smiled at him and he continued. "Look, Sirius, I might not know you and Remus as well as I'd like, and I might not know my parents as well as I'd like, but I know enough to know that they love you and they trust you.and they forgive you. Because there's nothing to forgive.
"It wasn't your fault, Sirius, nothing that happened was your fault, not on that day and not since. You have done all that you possibly can to help me and to help the war effort, and there's nothing to blame yourself for."
"What about not being there for you? What about not being there for James when he needed me?" Sirius said softly, but Harry heard every word.
"You were there for me, and you will always be there for me. And I really don't think my dad blames you for anything."
"That's only because he can't remember, Harry. He and Lily hadn't used the crystal after we changed places. I couldn't tell that Peter was going to deceive us, Harry! He got your parents killed and I did even notice he was plotting it!"
"My dad trusted Peter as well, do you blame him for getting murdered?"
"Yes!"
The words hung in the air for a moment as Harry looked at him in shock. Sirius was looking at him, eyes ablaze with anger and hatred and it was almost enough to scare Harry into believing what Sirius might be capable of if that anger were ever let loose on anyone.
"Yes, I blame him for it! I blame him for dying, I blame him for leaving, I blame him for making himself a target in the first place by being so bloody brave and heroic and being determined to take Voldemort down himself! I blame him for putting you and Lily on the line, I blame him for putting himself on the line and, yes, I blame him for dying! I blame him for leaving me all alone to rot in Azkaban for ten years! I blame him for the fact that I have to spend the rest of my life on the run! But most of all I blame him for trusting me as a friend! For trusting me enough to get him killed!"
Harry didn't say anything, he didn't know what he could say. Sirius had lived a life that he couldn't even begin to understand, and he didn't know how to respond to that kind of aching loss. Sirius had lost everyone, not just a friend of sorts, not just his parents, not just people he didn't know, but everyone he loved and trusted.
"I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry looked up at him, and where his eyes had previously held anger, they now held an aching loss that almost had Harry drowning in its intensity.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. You didn't need to hear that. You shouldn't have to deal with the guilt of an old man."
Harry laughed. "You're not old."
Sirius smiled wryly. "Okay, so not old, but kind of saggy round the edges. I thought young men were supposed to think their parents and their parents' friends were old."
"Seeing that mum and dad had me when they were a year older than I am now, I don't think it's possible for me to consider you old."
"True." Sirius laughed, but Harry could see the pain that was in his eyes, still. He doubted that would ever go away.
"Sirius, you should talk to him."
Sirius sighed. "I know, I will."
There was a silence, but this time, it wasn't strained. "Why you?" Harry finally asked. "Why did Peter choose you to blame it on?"
At this, Sirius actually smiled. "Oh, well, that's easy."
Harry rolled his eyes. "What was her name?"
"Helen Margaret Farmer," Sirius said with a roguish grin. "Ravenclaw in our year. I think Peter had always had a crush on her, but he didn't stand a chance, and, well, I did."
Harry laughed at the twinkle he saw in Sirius' eyes. "You're hopeless."
"No, just irresistible."
Harry snorted and shook his head. "Sure, Sirius, whatever you say."
"Hey!" Sirius puffed put his chest. "I'm a woman magnet and don't you forget it."
"I don't see how he could forget it, Sirius, when you remind everyone at every opportunity." They turned to see Remus, Ginny, Ron and Hermione in the corridor Harry had arrived in. "We thought you could use a hand convincing this sod to come back and research," Remus said with a smirk. "He always was a lazy git whenever work was involved."
"I resent that Remus Lupin!"
"Only because it's the truth, Padfoot."
Sirius glared, or rather tried to, but he was too busy smiling. "Just because I always had more important ways to spend my time."
"Snogging in the Astronomy Tower really doesn't count as important, Sir."
Harry started when he heard his father's voice. He looked at Ginny who grinned. She had moved to stand behind the chair he was in, and had placed the stone in a small alcove that Harry could only see the top of. He hadn't noticed it before, but he hadn't really been looking.
"The chair activated it if the people we love are nearby," Lily said with a smile, moving towards her son. "We thought Sirius and Remus might need to open it before you were old enough to fall in.I mean, before you were old enough," she amended with an apologetic smile, as Harry and Ginny blushed.
"Wow!" All eyes turned to Ron as he walked toward the mirror to Harry's far left. "I can see into the Ravenclaw Common Room!"
"That's nothing to what you can do with these babies!" Sirius said, his eyes twinkling.
"Sirius," Lily said warningly as James moved to Sirius' chair, no doubt about to aid Sirius with whatever story he was about to share. "Not now, these kids have enough to worry about without Severus giving them detention as well."
"Severus!" Harry said with horror. "Mum, did you just call Snape, Severus?"
"Harry, we ignore the fact that your mother is insane, Harry," James said with a mock shudder.
"Yeah," Sirius said with a frown, trying to hide that he was really smiling at her. "Your mother is under the delusion that the greasy git is actually a nice person."
"Snape?" Ron asked, almost choking on the name.
"Severus is a very nice man, he's just a little grumpy!"
"Whatever you say, mum," Harry said, trying to ignore that the world must be coming to an end, because he could have sworn that his mother had just said that Snape, sorry Severus, was a very nice man.
"You're only saying that because he believed in all that crap you spouted in divination."
"I am not!"
"Snape believe in divination?" Hermione asked incredulously.
Remus snorted as James and Sirius laughed. "Hermione," Remus said with a smile, "I think Snape would have believed that the world was flat if Lily told him it was."
"Remus!" Lily said sternly, but with a smile. "I can't believe you, or all people, said that!"
"I'm sorry, Lily, but it's true," Remus said with a smile and Lily eventually smiled, shaking her head.
"Okay, enough chit chat, lets get back to the room and get some work done." Lily nodded towards the mirrors. "Will any of them get us into our rooms?"
Remus nodded. "I took the one from the passageway behind the statue of Agnes Waterlily. It's been blocked up for years now anyway." He walked towards the centre mirror and took out his wand, tapping it against the dragon's eye and muttering, "Aperire".
Harry watched as Ron and Hermione followed Remus through the mirror, before looking up at his mum. He smiled at him and hugged him, kissing his forehead. "I'm very proud of you, Harry."
"Why?" Harry choked out.
She smiled at him and inclined her head. Harry followed her gaze and smiled as he saw Sirius and his father hugging. Harry smiled at his dad, who grinned back and mouthed, "Thank you", before saying something to Sirius that sounded like, "It wasn't your fault, Sir. There's nothing to forgive".
Ginny had moved to sit at his other side and she smiled at him. Harry knew she was proud of him, just like his mum and dad were, and it made him feel.well, happy. It was nice to know for sure that people loved him, and he couldn't help but smile like a fool.
"Harry, Ginny." They both looked up at Lily, who smiled. "I just want you to know, whatever happens, that we're all so proud of you. You have so much resting on your shoulders, more than any of us have the right to ask of you." Lily reached out a hand to ruffle Harry's hair. Her eyes filled with tears and she took a deep breath. "I knew from the minute I predicted your birth that you would be wonderful."
"Predicted?" Harry asked, overcoming the lump in his throat.
Lily smiled, but she seemed unable to continue. James walked round the chair and wrapped his arms around her, as Sirius placed his hands on Ginny's shoulder, smiling at her and Harry.
"Your mother saw you in her divination class when she was sixteen."
"Yeah," Sirius said with a smirk. "Your face appeared at the bottom of her tea cup."
"Sirius! I'm serious!" Lily said as Sirius rolled his eyes. "And it wasn't a tea cup, it was a crystal ball."
"She didn't tell me you looked like me until after I'd proposed, of course," James said with a smile. "Something about messing with the future."
"Well, she right," Ginny said. "Divination is all well and good, but you can only see the possible outcomes, nothing's written in stone."
"I knew I'd like you, Ginny." Lily grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"When were you born, Ginny?"
James and Sirius rolled their eyes, and James squeezed his wife tighter. "Honey, don't be silly. I mean, we all know you saw Harry because he looked like me, but this doesn't mean-"
"James, let her answer."
"I.I was born the day you died." Ginny said softly.
James and Sirius looked at each other, wide-eyed, as Lily smiled. "I thought so."
"I don't understand."
"I can't say anything more, Ginny, what you just said about the future." Lily smiled. "But you're both destined for great things. Don't be afraid to live, even when you think there's nothing to live for. You'll always have each other."
* * *
End of Part Six
Okay, so it was definitely a long one! But I didn't want to make any more parts than I'd previously specified. There are still two more parts to go and I won't do them before Christmas, as the next one is a tearjerker, and
I won't cry before Christmas!
Are you curious about The Seventh Kingdom? Want to know what the Marauders
used to do to Snape? Look out for the Marauder Outtake "The Seventh
Kingdom" coming soon! :)
There's one more part set in the past and then the final part is back to
the timeline of part one.
Always remember that feedback is appreciated :)