A/N: Thanks to all the wonderful people who reviewed. I'm sorry for the long time it took to update. I've been working on a series of manuscripts for my job, and they have been eating up most of my writing time. I am going to try update more frequently. Please keep reviewing so I know people are interested.
Chapter 11: The Things We RememberThe return trip from Diagon Alley and the evening that followed were subdued by the knowledge that the next morning the Weasleys would be parting ways. The family was loathed to leave Ginny, but the demands of everyday life had grown too loud to ignore. After many tears and promises for frequent visits, the elder Weasleys finally apparated out of Floogle Castle. The old fortress seemed to sigh with relief, or perhaps sadness, at the newly re-established quiet.
September gave way to October, and eventually even Ron and Hermione returned to their jobs. Ginny and Harry were left alone for most of the day. At first, Harry found this a little awkward. He had enjoyed a sedate life of mediocre routine since leaving professional Quidditch and was embarrassed to have another person witness the tedium of it. Ginny, for her part, seemed uninterested in the activities, or lack there of, in Harry's daily routine. She merely would pluck books at random from the study shelves and read through them with amazing speed while Harry wiled away time at his desk. It was a comfortable but dull arrangement.
On a Monday morning, Harry found himself alone in his study. Since retiring from professional Quiditch, Harry had served as a substitute lecturer for Professor Lupin during the full moon. He was going to Hogwarts today to meet with Remus and discuss how far each of his classes had progressed in their dark arts studies. Harry glanced at the clock on his desk, he was running later than usual. He began shoving roles of parchment into his leather case.
"Are you going somewhere?" a voice called from across the room. Harry glanced upward to see Ginny coming towards him. She appeared freshly showered. Like him, Ginny couldn't find much reason to rise too early in the day.
"Hogwarts," he replied. Harry began throwing books into the leather case. Belatedly, he realized the error in this arrangement.
"Why?" Ginny's voice broke into his action.
"Why what?" he returned distractedly. He dumped the contents of the case out onto his desk and began repacking it immediately. This time he was sure to put the slightly squashed parchment rolls on top.
"Why are you going to Hogwarts?" Ginny clarified. There was an edge to her voice that Harry couldn't quite identify.
"Quills," Harry murmured absently before diving into one of his desk drawers.
"You need to pick up quills there?" Ginny asked with confusion.
"Professor Lupin only has those ridiculous self-inking quills," he explained. He carefully tucked a few of his favorite quills and inkbottles into their designated compartments in his case.
"Self…inking…quills," Ginny repeated slowly, "I don't understand."
"It think that's it," Harry murmured while latching the buckle on his case. He looked up to see Ginny standing opposite him with a mixture of horror and confusion on her face. "I know how you feel," Harry said, "I heard they're supposed to be the wave of the future, but I always make a mess of myself with those things."
Harry wrapped his traveling cloak around his shoulders and picked up his leather case. As he came around the desk, Ginny grabbed his wrist. "Where are you going?"
"I told you," Harry sighed, "I need to go to Hogwarts this afternoon." He tried to pull his arm out of her grasp.
Ginny refused to let go and brought her other hand to secure his elbow. "Do you have to go now?" she demanded.
"Of course I do," Harry said irritably, "The full moon is in three days."
"Let me get this straight," she muttered, "You need to go to Hogwarts to get quills because Professor Lupin only has self-inking ones and the full moon is approaching."
Harry starred at Ginny as if she had just sprouted a pair of fine antlers. "What are you on about?" he questioned incredulously. "I need to go to Hogwarts because I take over Professor Lupin's teaching duties while he's going through one of his transformations."
"Ohhh," Ginny sighed. She abruptly released Harry's arm. "Well that makes sense."
Harry held Ginny's bewildered gaze two moments longer before turning abruptly and striding back towards the fireplace. He had barely gone three steps when Ginny cried out from behind him, "WAIT!"
Harry released an exasperated sigh, "What now!" He executed a precise turn, but the anger melted from his mind when he caught a glimpse of Ginny's agonized expression before she turned her face from his. In a single heartbreaking moment, a realization came crashing in on him. Ginny was afraid to be alone. For a prolonged minute, Harry was at a loss as Ginny's face turned a startling Weasley red. "You…you could go with me," Harry stammered, "If you like."
With a sigh of grateful relief, Ginny's expression brightened. "I just need to change and fix myself up a bit," she said before dashing towards the door.
"I'm already late," Harry called belatedly after her retreating back. "Women," he muttered to the empty room as he shrugged out of his traveling cloak and sank into a nearby chair.
Barely ten minutes passed before the study door swung open, and Ginny came striding back inside. She was pulling a warm looking burgundy cloak on as she drew near him. Harry found it strange that the color suited her so well. Ron had always looked abysmal in the maroon robes his mother insisted on buying him, but then again, it was Ron. Unconsciously, Harry's eyes began to slide over Ginny's form. She had changed into a rich cream sweater and a pair of caramel colored trousers. The combination made her skin glow warmly.
Harry's gaze had lingered a bit to long on the curve of her hip, when a short snort of laughter brought his attention up to Ginny's amused expression. "Will I pass?" she teased, "Or would you like to inspect my shoes?"
Involuntarily, Harry's eyes fell towards her feet. She was wearing shoes that added a good two inches onto her height and made her toes look as pointed as daggers. "Can you walk in those things?" he asked.
"Surprisingly, they're quite comfortable," Ginny remarked while helping Harry back on with his cloak. "They are enchanted so that every step you take is like getting a mini foot massage."
"That sounds quite nice," Harry said while picking up his case.
"Well," Ginny sighed, "You can wear them tomorrow if you like."
The sudden urge to capture Ginny in a laughing embrace almost overwhelmed Harry as she passed him. He was so shocked by the feeling that it took him a moment to realize she was waiting patiently by the fire for him.
As Harry appeared in the fireplace of Lupin's study, the professor's familiar voice drifted towards him. "Harry," he said, "I was just starting to worry about you."
"Sorry Remus," Harry murmured while stepping aside to let Ginny through.
"Ginny," Remus declared with surprise. "It's such a pleasure to see you. Harry should have mentioned he'd be bringing you along." He rose quickly from the chair he was occupying by the fire and came forward to greet them. Harry couldn't help but noticed the painful way Remus moved, like a man twice his age.
"Professor Lupin," Ginny said, grinning broadly. She swept forward and embraced her old friend and teacher. Harry felt a tiny spark of annoyance that he hid under a slight cough. The two pulled apart and exchanged inquires about the other's health.
"Please, please have a seat," Remus said gesturing towards a rather comfortable looking sofa. Ginny and Harry sat dutifully down next to one another. "I've been hearing regular news of you from Professor Dumbledore. You're living at Floogle Castle now. How do you like it?"
As Ginny and Remus fell into polite conversation, Harry relaxed and lounged comfortably back on the sofa. He amused himself by watching Ginny's animated expression as she talked about the sorry state of castle gardens. The firelight danced on the little strands of gold in her hair as it swayed. The movement mesmerized him until a knock on the door caught all their attentions.
"Come in," Remus called.
Professor Dumbledore entered. His keen gaze searched the room, and smile appeared on his lips when he saw Ginny sitting next to Harry. "Professor Lupin," he said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could persuade Miss Weasley to join me for a cup of tea."
Remus made no indication of astonishment that Dumbledore had somehow known that Ginny would be in his office while he had been completely surprised by her appearance. "Of course Headmaster," he replied, "Harry and I need to discuss my lesson plans anyway."
"I would be delighted to join you," Ginny said happily. As she stood, Harry and Remus rose automatically.
"Ginny," Harry said, "I'll find you when Professor Lupin and I are finished."
"Thank you, Harry," she replied. She gave his arm a brief squeeze before going to join Professor Dumbledore. Harry's eyes trailed her.
Professor Dumbledore seemed to be suppressing a laugh when he said, "Don't worry, Harry. I'll take expert care of her."
After they left, Harry turned back to catch an amused grin of Remus' face. "What?" he barked.
"Nothing," Remus replied before turning towards his desk. "My first class on Wednesday is the first year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors."
Harry and Remus had talked for the better part of three hours about the schedule, lessons, and potential disciplinary problems. They paused when a house elf appeared with lunch but soon took up a discussion about the advanced classes. It was a comfortable routine between two friends, and they were as good as finished when Professor Lupin excused himself to begin his afternoon classes.
Harry idly decided to go off in search of Ginny. As he wandered through the empty passages and past busy classrooms, he was struck again by how odd it was to walk down a Hogwarts hall during class period and not have to fear for detention. As he approached the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office, it moved aside and the Headmaster stepped out into the hallway and turned in the opposite direction. "Professor," Harry called.
"Ah Harry," Dumbledore said turning back towards him. "Everything settled with Professor Lupin?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry answered. "Is Ginny ready to leave?"
"I don't know," Dumbledore replied. "She left my office earlier to have lunch with Professor Weasley, and I think she mentioned something about touring the grounds after that."
"Thank you Professor." Harry didn't bother to continue the conversation and whirled on his heel, quickly retreating to the stairway. He purposely ignored Dumbledore's laughter, which followed him down the hall.
As Harry emerged onto the grounds, he seemed to know instinctively where Ginny was. He headed with swift strides towards the cemetery. Within minutes, he had passed through the memorial gardens. Ginny's red hair and robes stood out like a beacon amongst the white tombstones. He quickened his pace.
Anxious and unsure, Harry paused behind Ginny. The wilt-resistant flowers Harry and Ron had placed on her grave over a month ago were just beginning to fade, and no new ones had been added since her return.
Ginny's voice was cold and emotionless as she said, "How many people get to stand on their grave and read their epitaph?"
In answer, Harry stepped up beside her and put a comforting arm around her waist. She turned slightly towards him and did the same. Her eyes were rimmed with tears and her nose was red. They stood quietly together, two survivors. Finally in an unspoken agreement, they turned and began strolling past graves towards the memorial gardens.
They were only a few graves away when Ginny paused. A name on a Hufflepuff stone caught her attention. "I remember him," she whispered slowly. "He sat right behind me in History of Magic. He used to snore."
Harry momentarily tightened his hold on her to quietly draw her away. He didn't want to belittle her grief, but he desperately wanted out of the cemetery. Harry knew to well a person could spend hours walking amongst the graves, letting anger at the senselessness of it all and the shame of surviving overwhelm them.
As they entered the memorial gardens, Harry could feel Ginny pulling away from him even though his arm was around her and hers around him. "It's stupid you know," he uttered, his voice filling the gap between them, "All those lives destroyed. For what? The blind ambition of one crazy wizard."
Ginny stopped abruptly, and Harry was forced to release her. He turned to face her. She was staring intently at the ground just to his right. Her expression was no longer sad but troubled. "What?" Harry asked gently.
"I have to ask you something," she replied. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and Harry had to incline his head towards her to hear what she said next. "How did you do it? How did you beat Tom?"
Harry exhaled sharply and straightened at her request. Yet staring into her weary eyes, he suddenly felt the need to tell what he had never fully shared with another. "Let's sit down," he said drawing her away into a private alcove of trees. They sank side by side onto a cool stone bench.
"After you disappeared," Harry began. "I followed Voldemort down into the Chamber of Secrets. Malfoy would have told him that the basilisk was dead, so I think he was trying to find an old passageway out of the school. He seemed surprised by the amount of collapse that had occurred in the Chamber.
"We started dueling, and I was losing … badly. I could barely manage to deflect his curses. Soon I was pinned in a corner, and I realized that I was going to die. My life started flashing before my eyes." Harry paused, searching for the right words. "I never would have characterized my life as happy, but as Voldemort advanced on me, all I could think about were good things. The sound of my parents' voices…the day I learned I was a wizard…the first time I got on a broom…my friends…learning about Sirrus…the Order of the Phoenix. It was strange, but the more I thought of those things, the easier it was to deflect Voldemort's curses.
"The course of our duel quickly changed, and soon it was Voldemort who was failing. It was like he was moving in slow motion, and I was racing at the speed of light. Finally he was down on the ground with nothing but a weak shield around him, and I knew exactly how to end it. I put every scrap of happiness and love that I had felt in my entire life behind Avada Kedavra, and it killed him instantly."
Silence fell as each allowed his words to penetrate into their minds. "I knew he was dead," Ginny whispered slowly. "I knew the instant. I felt it."
Harry looked sharply at Ginny. Her hands were clutching the edge of the bench. Her pale expression and gaze were focused on the ground a few feet in front of her. She was thinking back to that day and examining her experiences. Harry perceived the opportunity and jumped at it. "What happened after you disappeared from the hallway?"
"At first I was so disoriented," she admitted. "I didn't recognize any of my surroundings, but there was something oddly familiar about it. I hunted around for the door, but I couldn't find it. I started shouting for help, but Godric told me to quiet myself. No one can hear you anyways, he said."
"Who?" Harry blurted. Immediately he regretted his hasty slip. He had interrupted her train of thought, and in doing so, returned her to the present.
Ginny stood up abruptly. She took a few hasty steps away before stopping and turning partially back towards Harry. "I don't want to talk about this," she muttered, "I can't talk about this."
Harry stood. "It's okay," he said hesitantly, "You don't have to hold it inside."
"You're one to talk," Ginny snorted. "I'm probably the first person to hear the full story of how you defeated Voldemort."
"Maybe," Harry grumbled, "but I'm an idiot. You don't have to be one too!"
Ginny's mouth was already open to shot back a sharp retort when Harry's words finally permeated her brain. She started laughing. Soon, she was bent over and clutching her sides as peels of laughter exploded from her.
Harry was struck for the second time that day by the strong desire to embrace Ginny. It was followed almost immediately by the wish to do something nice for her, something special. A grin lit his face as a splendid idea popped magically into his head. It would require a fair bit of planning, but Harry knew just the two witches to help him pull it off. He stifled his excitement and said to Ginny, "Why don't we head back up to the school? We should probably floo home."