Chapter 2: Reunion

Harry slowly returned to consciousness. He had a brief moment of panic when he didn't at first recognize his surroundings, but then relaxed when he realized that he was in the ground floor study of Jenna's London flat, sleeping on the sofa bed that she and her three flat-mates - TK Davis, Dean Richards and Dr Daniels - kept for guests. After the fog of sleep had receded slightly he remembered that they had returned to London late that night having been forced by circumstances to leave Paris via train and enter London through the Channel Tunnel - Haimric's battle with the Reaper had seriously depleted the Amulet's reserves so teleportation had been out of the question and a storm over the Atlantic was preventing air or sea travel and made Portkeys extremely risky.

Glancing up at the Muggle clock above Jenna and Dr Daniels' computer system, he noticed that it was nearly nine am, and that it was also a mere two days before his seventeenth birthday. I'll have to see if Jenna is okay with us heading over to Devon today. Mrs Weasley'll be wondering where we've got to.

With that thought in mind, he hurriedly slipped on his trousers and swapped the black t-shirt he was wearing for a emerald-green one that Tonks had sent as an 'early birthday present' (privately he thought it was probably an attempt to convert him to her favourite wizarding band, but he decided to play along as it was a nice design). He pulled on his trainers, slipped his wand into the quick-draw holster at his wrist, and pulled on a loose-fitting blue over-shirt to hide his wand.

When he entered the kitchen, he found only two of the flatmates present: Jenna was working on her laptop, finishing off their report on the Bastille Reaper and the Rue Morgue murders, and Daniels was poring over a thick book those pages were covered in what Harry could only guess were some kind of hieroglyphs, though he couldn't recall their origin or meaning. When he closed the door, Daniels looked up. "Hi Harry."

"Hi Jackson."

"There are some sausages, eggs and muffins keeping warm in the oven if you want them? Dean and TK ate most of what I made, but I managed to save some."

"Thanks," said Harry, and then after considering it for a moment he opened a cupboard, and selected a large plate, then crossed to the cooker and opened the oven door. He slid several sausages and some other food onto his plate then after pouring himself a glass of orange juice from a carton in the fridge he joined the other two at the large scrubbed pine table. "Where are Dean and TK? And didn't I see Terry when we came in last night?"

"You did," Daniels confirmed. "She's staying with Dean for a few days. She's still in bed, Dean has gone up to Order Headquarters, and TK is over at Diagon Alley checking security before the big back-to-school blitz begins. I'm due at the Ministry in an hour, so you and the girls will have the flat to yourselves. If Terry isn't up by one, could you wake her? She's due back at the hospital at two."

"Sure," Harry agreed. "I thought she resigned?"

"No, just took the six years worth of holidays that she shouldn't have been allowed to build up."

"Ah."

"Indeed," said Daniels, he marked his place in the book he was reading, swallowed the last mouthful of his - now stone-cold - toast and closed it. "Will I see you tonight?"

"Probably not," Harry told him. "I'm hoping to head over to the Burrow later on today, once I've checked over the Roadster."

"Okay, I'll see you soon then."

----

Later that day, Ginny paused in her reading as she heard the deep whine of a Muggle vehicle approaching. She looked up from her seat at the desk under her bedroom window and noted at it appeared to be a motorcycle coming down the narrow road connecting the Burrow to the nearest public road - she smiled as she recognized it as the same one that Harry had used to escape King's Cross station at the beginning of the holidays. Her smile faded slightly when she noticed that - as on the previous occasion - Harry was sharing the bike with a rather shapely and familiar female passenger.

Get over it, Weasley, Ginny told herself, putting aside her book. He's not interested in you… But if he isn't interested why did he kiss me. On the lips at that? "Arghhh! It was so much easier when-"

"When what, Ginny?" asked a female voice from behind her.

Ginny jumped, then relaxed as she recognised the voice. "Nothing, Tonks."

"It didn't sound like nothing to me, Ginny," Tonks pointed out. "Do you want to talk about it?" She wandered into the room and glanced out the window. "Does it have any to do with the fact that Harry and Jenna have just arrived on Sirius' old motorcycle?"

Ginny nodded. Tonks - who was wearing her favourite Weird Sisters t-shirt and had short spiky hair of bubble-gum blue - smiled. "It'll be good to see them again. I don't know what they've been doing but they look good."

"He does, doesn't he?" Ginny admitted.

Tonks quirked an eyebrow, but nodded. "So does Jenna."

Ginny scowled. "Well, let's go say hi. She's not staying in here though."

"There's room in my room," Tonks pointed out. "Jenna could stay there."

"Fine. As long I don't have to put up with her."

Tonks frowned, then realisation dawned. She paused as if to say something, but didn't. "I don't mind. You could try and like her a bit more. She's a good person."

"I know," Ginny admitted. "That's the problem."

----

In the end Harry stayed at the Burrow for about a fortnight. The earliest highlight of the trip was probably the huge birthday party that the Weasleys had organised for him on his birthday. All the family - including Percy and his girlfriend Penelope - were present, as were most of the DA, and many of Harry's friends in L'Ordine and the Order. He stayed at the Burrow for several days after that, but disappeared to parts unknown alone towards the end of the first week in August.

Two days later, Haimric reappeared in the paddock behind the Burrow in a flash of light. Ginny, who had been practising Chaser manoeuvres with Ron and the twins, quickly stopped and flew down to meet him with the Quaffle - which was part of a full set of Quidditch balls that Harry had received from Jenna and her friends for his birthday - tucked under her arm. "Did you get what do you were looking for?"

"Yes I did, Ginevra," Haimric confirmed. "And you will find out tomorrow… with everyone else… what it is that I have bought."

"My birthday's tomorrow," Ginny pointed out. "Is it a surprise for me? Does Jenna know what it is?"

"Perhaps it is for you, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out," Haimric said teasingly. "And Jenna does not know."

"Not even a tiny little clue?" Ginny beseechingly, pinning her warm brown eyes on him.

She's good at that, Harry commented mentally to Haimric.

Indeed, amici, Haimric replied. I have seen better, but few. I shall not tell her of course.

Naturally. That would spoil the surprise.

Haimric smiled at Ginny, then dropped a feather-light kiss on her lips. "No clue."

Ginny pouted, then after a minute or two she brightened. "Now you're back, do you want to play some Quidditch?"

Haimric nodded. "I will go and change out of these clothes-" He was wearing casual wizarding robes in deep forest green. "- and then join you. I will be perhaps five minutes."

"Okay. We'll be waiting."

----

True to his word, Harry returned five minutes later with the broom Haimric had made for him before the first Quidditch match the year before. He had changed out of the robes and into jeans and a baggy t-shirt. He quickly mounted his broom and flew up to join the others. Because the numbers were small they didn't work in teams as such, though due to the twins' tendency to work in tandem, Harry and Ginny found themselves teaming up against them most of the time anyway.

By the time they called a halt to the game, all five were fairly tired - though Harry to a considerably lesser degree than any of the Weasleys. A few minutes after they 'touched down' Molly called them in to dinner and they all trooped up to the top lawn gladly and took seats at the table. Hermione and Jenna were already there, though neither Arthur nor Tonks were. If Harry recalled correctly Arthur was due home shortly, but Tonks - who was on night duty at work and had left about an hour before - wasn't expected back until one am.

After dinner Hermione retired to her and Ginny's room to read and Harry, Jenna and the four younger Weasleys relocated to the dining room. Jenna immediately engaged the twins in a conversation and the two jokers - always willing to talk - were more than happy to regal her with information on many of the things that they were working on both for weapons - which were now shipped out the R & D and Supply Divisions at L'Ordine Headquarters in Vatican City - and about their more ordinary prank items. Ron challenged Harry to a chess match and Harry was more than happy to oblige. Ginny stationed herself on the sofa near Harry and appeared to be fascinated by their game, however Harry could sense that she was really more interested in Jenna and the twins' conversation but that her aversion to Jenna made her avoid the fact.

Harry moved his queen out of danger, then moved one of his knights to threaten one of Ron's bishops who was already partially boxed in by a pawn and one of Harry's rooks. Play continued for a while, with first Ron, then Harry, and then Ron again taking control of the match. Gradually Harry's awareness shifted away from the game slightly and onto something that had been preying on his mind for sometime but had been acutely illustrated over the past fortnight. I wish Ginny would give it up about Jenna, I can't understand her hostility toward her.

She is jealous, amici. Haimric reminded him. Ginevra sees only that Jenna may be with you at times when she cannot, and that there is an affection between the two of you. She does not stop to think if this affection is a threat to her own relationship with you.

But why?

She is a Weasley, Harry. Many in that family suffer from that problem. Ginevra, Ronald, even Percy. I sense that Arthur was once the same way, but he has gotten over it over the years.

What should I do? I can't stand them being so much at odds much longer.

I believe your plans for tomorrow will go a long way towards easing that score, and if we are right about Nymphadora then that will also help.

By the Maker, I hope so. I can't stand much more of this.

If it does not, then perhaps the time has come to be more forthright about your affections.

Are you sure? Harry asked tentatively, his previous attempt at such an endeavour hadn't gone very well.

Regretfully no. There is only so much even our vaunted knowledge can help in such matters. However, I am reasonably certain that if the question comes up, either directly - or more likely indirectly - then the time has come to, as Johannes would say 'put your cards on the table'.

Thanks Haimric.

You are welcome as always, amici.

"Check."

Ron's voice cut through Harry's musings and brought him back to full awareness, though he couldn't help but sneak a sidelong glance at Ginny before turning to the chessboard in front of him. He quickly assessed his position, moved a rook then looked up at Ron. "Checkmate."

Ron frowned, then scanned the board. "Bloody hell, Harry!"

"Calm down, Ron. It's only the third time in six years. I should have won more than that by the law of averages alone."

"That's true," said Ron, relaxing slightly. "Rematch?"

Harry quickly agreed, and they set up the board and continued to play. Harry noted idly that Ginny was paying more attention to this match, which Harry lost, though only by the slimmest of margins. Ron also won the third tiebreaker game, and the redhead retired happily to bed after that. The twins excused themselves and Apparated home a few minutes later and Jenna, pleading exhaustion headed her to the twins' old room - which she shared with Tonks - almost immediately. Harry and Ginny stayed up talking for a while, then shortly before midnight Ginny started to flag and Harry helped her upstairs to her room. Once she was inside, he crossed the landing to 'Percy's room' and went in. He undressed quickly and then collapsed into bed.

-----

Ginny was a little surprised when several of her school friends - including Neville and Luna, Colin Creevey, Simon Capper, and the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team including out-going Chaser Katie Bell, her friend Alicia Spinnet and reserve players Bolton, Leeds and Stanwick - turned up at the Burrow over the course of the next morning. It didn't take very long for a game to get started and Harry and Ginny were nominated as team captains. Ginny played Chaser backed up by Alicia and Perez, with Ron as Keeper, Stanwick as Seeker and Sloper as Beater; while Harry (playing Seeker naturally) took Bolton, Katie and Peschino as his Chasers, with Kirke as Beater and Leeds as Keeper.

The fun went on for quite a while, with both teams reasonably well matched. But in the end Harry's superior Seeking skills and his team's greater experience of working together as a unit won the day.

The guests stayed for most of the day, only departing after an early dinner provided by Mrs Weasley. After the meal was finished, Harry drifted over to Ginny. "I've got another present for you."

"Another one? You didn't have to do that, Harry. The necklace more than enough."

"I want to, Ginny. You'll need to get changed though," he said eyeing her cut-off shorts and t-shirt.

"Okay. What should I wear?"

"I think the new robes your mum and dad bought you should do fine. I'd wear the earrings they got you for Christmas as well."

"Harry. Does this have any to do with that trip you made into London yesterday."

"No Ginny, it's got everything to do with it." Harry told her with a grin. "I suggest you hurry though. We need to be in London by eight."

"Okay."

"I you need any help getting ready ask Hermione or Luna. Tonks is coming with us." He held up his hands. "It's not my fault. That was your mother's condition on letting me take you where we're going."

Ginny nodded and hurried into the house. Harry waited for a minute or two, then disappeared with a pop.

----

"This place is amazing!" Ginny exclaimed as soon as Harry's Portkey deposited them in the lobby of The Golden House, the most exclusive of the venues on Actoris Alley, the small but lucrative entertainment wizarding entertainment district off London's West End. "Have you ever been here before?"

"In a way," Harry admitted. "Some of my predecessors have even performed here. I hadn't been here myself until two days ago though. What about you, Tonks?"

Tonks snorted. "On my salary? You must kidding, Harry. I could never afford it." The young Auror was dressed almost normally for the evening in deference to the event: Her dress-robes were a deep coral-pink, but she had changed her hair back to its natural inky black and tied it up in an elaborate bun. Jenna, who was walking at her friend's side, had opted for a pale-green dress that though Muggle would pass for dress-robes at first glance.

"Well, then it'll be the first for all of us then," Harry said, offering his arm to Ginny - who was also dressed in green dress robes, though they were of a much darker shade than Jenna's dress and made of silk rather than cotton. She accepted and they lead the way up the long gilded stair, with the two older girls following behind.

They had arrived just in time and were just taking their seats in the box Haimric had reserved for them when the torches lighting the auditorium dimmed and the curtain came up on the stage.

----

"What did you think of the show so far, Gin?" Harry asked, slipping at the glass of Glen Luibh, a malt whiskey that John Dyson had reintroduced him to in Paris that he found infinitely preferable to Ogden's and handing Ginny her own drink.

"I liked it," Ginny admitted, then took a drink from her glass. She smiled. "This isn't bad. What is it?"

"Gillywater," Harry told her. "Professor McGonagall usually has it when she's visits the Leaky Cauldron and Apollo loved the stuff."

"Apolla…" Ginny paused for moment, apparently trying to remember if she'd heard the name before. "Oh yeah, the Canadian Healer those memories helped cure Neville's mum and dad."

Harry nodded. "She wasn't much of a drinker, so I thought it might be a nice alternative to butterbeer."

"Thanks Harry. What did you think of the performance?"

"Not bad," Harry admitted, then frowned. "Salazar was the 'bad guy' as usual."

"Not everyone knows him like you do, Harry," Ginny reminded him. "It's only natural that the play follows popular history."

"I know that, Ginny," Harry admitted. "It's just frustrating at times." Ginny nodded to show she understood. "What's the story with Jenna and Tonks anyway? They seemed rather cosy together towards the end there."

"They are… more than friends." Harry told her. "How much more is their business alone. But I do know that Jenna's interest lies in that direction rather than the opposite."

"Ah." said Ginny. "Good."

The two friends finished their drinks and then headed back to their box just in time for the start of the second act.

After the performance was finished, the four of them went back down to the foyer and then Portkeyed back to the Burrow. Jenna and Tonks immediately disappeared into their room, but Harry and Ginny lingered on the landing for a while.

"I really enjoyed tonight, Harry. Thank you."

"I enjoyed tonight too, Ginny. Do you think maybe we could do it again sometime? Maybe even just the two of us?"

"I'd love to, Harry. Good night."

"Night Ginny."

Ginny turned away, moving to open her bedroom door. But before she could enter, Harry put an arm out and stopped her, then he tilted her chin up so that he could look her in the eyes. "We are more than friends aren't we, Ginny?"

"Yes I think we are, Harry."

"So what are we?"

"Lets find out together."

Harry nodded, then gave Ginny a goodnight kiss, and walked away. Ginny stood stock-still for a few seconds, then smiled and went into her room to bed.

----

Harry stayed for the rest of the week at the Burrow, but on the Sunday night he packed up his things and prepared to depart the next morning. When he arrived downstairs in the morning, Ginny was waiting for him. "Do you have to go, Harry? It seems like you only just got here and…"

Harry's expression softened for a moment. "I know, Ginny. I should only be gone for a few days, I just need to bring Professor McGonagall back, and see if Snivellus has outstayed his welcome yet."

"He's out of his coma then?" Ginny asked, sounding more than a little disappointed.

"I'm afraid so." Harry admitted. "I'll be back in two weeks tops, so we'll have a weekend together at least."

"That's something," Ginny said. "Are you going as yourself or the Lord Procella?"

"Myself for now." Harry told her. "I need to practice my middle-distance Apparation skills."

"Goodbye, Harry," said Ginny, moving forward and in a rare show of daring she hugged him. Harry tensed for a second or two but then relaxed into the embrace. When they broke apart a minute or two later, he kissed her lightly on the lips. "Goodbye, Ginny."

Harry shouldered his bag, and then disappeared with a pop. Ginny paused for a moment, then turned and went back to the Burrow. Her mother would be up soon, and Ginny guessed she would probably welcome a chat and an extra pair of hands while she made breakfast.

----

Harry arrived in the hills outside Righlionn less than a second later. It didn't take him very long to reach the outer walls of the city and the signet ring given to him for his birthday by the Ealbharigh with the crown and crossed swords seal of the Rangers on it, was enough to get him quietly into the city itself.

He was just making his way towards the House of Healing near the palace when he heard a scream coming from a side street. Pausing for only a second, he took off at a run, mentally triggering the switch between himself and Haimric so that by the time he reached the alley he was in stronger immortal form.

The site he was confronted with was a familiar one - though slightly altered due to the locale: A middle-aged, husky man - clearly a Lan Murrac by his tunic and sword belt - had a young woman pinned against the wall, her clothes were torn and she was clearly very frightened; three other men, all big, brawny common-borns, stood watching their master with large grins on their faces.

"The lady said no!" Haimric told them. "Step away!"

The noble glanced over his shoulder at his henchmen, and indicated that they should 'deal with' Haimric. Two of the men pulled out knives from inside their coats and the third unshipped a long whip and cracked it menacingly.

Haimric raised one eyebrow and settled into a combat stance. "Do you think you can take me?"

The three thugs sniggered. Though Haimric was big by human standards - six foot four and around two hundred pounds - all three of them were least three inches taller and much more heavily built, the lightest of the three (the whipmaster) was probably six foot seven and about three hundred and fifty pounds in weight.

The bullwhip snaked out and stuck Haimric on the chest. He staggered back, breaking his stance for a spilt second. That was the opening that one of the knife fighters had been looking for. He lunged forward, aiming his dagger for Haimric's stomach, but the Procellan's lightning fast reflexes kicked in just in time and he was able to use a tai chi takedown to deflect the blow and put the thug off balance. Then he turned and grabbed the whip as it descended for another hit. He yanked hard on the lash and the whipmaster, caught by surprise, was jerked forward and left opened for a devastating front-kick to the face that put him off-balance long enough for Haimric to reposition for a spinning roundhouse kick that rendered him unconscious. The two knife fighters were rendered insensate by a similarly impressive combination of lightning fast reactions and precisely targeted strikes. They did manage to get in a few minor hits, but none that would last more than an hour or two.

With the henchmen dealt with, Haimric was able to return his attention to their liege. "Turn and face me, coward!"

The Blade-born cursed but released the woman and turned to face Haimric, drawing his sword at the same time. "No-one calls me a coward!" His words were more than a little slurred and Haimric's keen nose detected the distinctive tang of Dubhaon Ale, a bright blue beverage similar to - but stronger than - Firewhiskey or Muggle Scotch. "Take that back!"

"I, Lord Haimric Seamfor Procella, challenge you to prove your honour here and now!"

"I accept," growled the noble. "First blood wins. No limits."

"As you wish." Haimric agreed, then Summoned Ensisquietis from Realm of Dreams and dropped into the approved duelling stance. "Ready?"

The noble didn't reply, but instead lunged forward, aiming for Haimric's heart. He was smaller and quicker than his fellows, but he was still addled by drink and Haimric easily blocked the strike, then replied with a back-handled cut of his own, which his opponent blocked in turn before counter-attacking.

The fight went back and forth for several minutes, by this point the strain was begin to tell on the noble and Haimric himself was at less than his best. Seeing an opening and a chance to finish the bout he faked a belly cut, then angled up to slice through one of the big muscles in his opponent's right arm.

"First blood," he pointed out, stepping back. "I win."

The noble clearly didn't accept this and swung his longer blade in a murderous arc towards Haimric's waist. Deciding to end the fight as quickly as possible Haimric leapt over the blade, twisting in mid air to land behind his opponent. Then he kicked out hard at the other warrior's sword arm, knocking the blade from it, and then a hard punch to the chin knocked the older being to the ground.

"A glass jaw. I should have expected that," Haimric observed. "Never mind."

The group's would-be victim had already disappeared, so after leaving the four at the nearest temple of The Mother for judgement, Haimric continued on to the House of Healing.

---

When he arrived at the Guild House, he approached the first guildsman he saw - a short fair-haired youth that looked around twenty in human terms and wore the blue-trimmed white robes of an apprentice. "Hello, my name is Murrac Haimric Seamfor Procella, I'm looking for the room of Ollamh McGonagall," he said, giving the Hogwarts professor the honorific used by the Guilds to describe non-Guild mages. "She is expecting me."

"If you will come this way, Murrac," said the young healer, and went down a short corridor to the left of the main doors. After a short walk, they reached a long corridor which offered shared access to half a dozen private rooms, the healer knocked on the door of the middle room on the right-hand side of the corridor.

"Who is it?"

"Prindeys Soillburn, Ollamh McGonagall. I have a visitor for you."

"Bring him in."

The apprentice unlocked the door and motioned for Haimric to enter. He did so and then indicated that the apprentice should leave them. He did so and Haimric turn to his former professor. "How are you, Minerva?"

----

After Haimric paid the obligatory visit to the royal palace, and they spent a day or two at Dubhaon House catching up with Lord Barra and several of Haimric's other elfish friends, Haimric and McGonagall left Righlionn for Scotland. To Haimric's surprise, McGonagall asked to return home for a while before heading to Hogwarts - he hadn't actually thought that she might have another home. At Castle McGonagall, Haimric was reunited with Professor McGonagall's paternal grandmother, whom Johannes had met at a Confederation conference in 1914 - while she was still Gaia MacFusty - and had forged a friendship with based partially on their mutual fondness for games of mental chess. He also encountered Professor McGonagall's niece and namesake - who for reasons of clarity preferred to be known by her first and middle initials, and was interested to know that like Angelina Johnson and Oliver Wood had more recently, she had used her experience on the Hogwarts House Quidditch team to secure a place on a professional team, in her case the Wigtown Wanderers. Her own niece - due to enter Hogwarts on September first - was already planning to continue the legacy.

After spending a week at Castle McGonagall, Harry returned to the Burrow and Ginny and a few days later, they - along with Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna and Jenna, departed for Hogwarts to begin a new year.


----

A/N: I apologise for how long this has taken to complete. Unfortunately I have been extremely busy with work recently and have also taken on another fic project, this time a Power Rangers one, which is also taking up some of the time I have left. However, you may be sure that I do intend to continue this fic and indeed I have plans for at least one and possibly two sequels. Chapter 3 will be out as soon as I can manage it, which will probably be shortly after New Year. In the meantime, please review.