Chapter Eighteen: Not Your Brother's Keeper

Harry paced in his quarters. Ron sat on the leather sofa leaning forward, his hands clasped and his elbows on his knees. His head was bent forward as he stared at the intricate design on the carpet between his feet.

"Ron?"

"I'll go, Harry. Bill and Charlie, too. I think the twins... well, they may take some convincing, but..." Ron's voice was low. Defeated.

"What are you on about?" Harry stopped and stared at him. Ron still didn't lift his head.

"Dad will... well, you know he's trustworthy, but..."

"Ron?"

"I'm sorry, mate. If I could..."

"Ron!" Harry stared at him, some note in his voice making Ron look up. "What in Merlin's name are you on about? What do you mean, you and Bill and Charlie will leave?"

"I... well, Percy... I..." Ron muttered, his eyes showing his pain. "If he's involved... we..."

"Are you suggesting," Harry said in a very low, very dangerous voice as his eyes narrowed on his best friend. "That I would somehow believe that you and your brothers aren't trustworthy because of something Percy may have done?"

"Well..."

"Ron," Harry's voice was cold. "I can't believe that you would think that of me... but besides that, we can't do this without you and Bill and Charlie... or the twins, or your parents... or your sister! Don't even go there!"

"But..."

"Look," Harry sighed, beginning to pace in front of the fire. "We don't even know if Percy is involved..."

"Oh, it's him," Ron said grimly. "I should have..."

"You should have nothing," Harry said. "He's your brother, Ron. We don't know the full story, so don't jump to conclusions just because..."

"Just because his signature is on four hundred portkey approvals?" Ron said darkly. "Nah. Why would I jump to conclusions based on that? I mean, it's not as if he has a history of turning on this family..."

"And don't think Voldemort doesn't know it," Harry said firmly. "And wouldn't turn that to his advantage. Let the others take care of that, Ron. Don't do anything you might well regret in future. Wait until it's sorted and we know for sure."

Taking a deep breath, Ron nodded. "Fine, you're right. I've got bigger things to worry about right now. But when this is all over, if I find out he was involved, Harry..."

"Ten minutes alone in a warded room with him?" Harry smiled.

"Five ought to do it," Ron said darkly.

Ginny came soon after Ron left that evening. So soon after, that Harry looked at her suspiciously.

"Were you waiting for Ron to leave?"

"Was he here?" Ginny looked so innocent that Harry doubted it immediately.

"Or were you already in the room?"

"You saw the door open," Ginny shrugged.

"Ginny..."

"I swear to you, Harry, I wasn't in here, I didn't see Ron come or go... I just walked up to your door, gave the password and walked in."

"Then..."

"Then, what?" Ginny smiled, curling up beside him on the sofa.

"Then..." Harry put an arm around her, "I need to talk to you about something."

"Can't it wait?" she asked softly, trailing a line of kisses down his collarbone.

"No, Gin," Harry said gently. "It can't."

At the tone of his voice, Ginny pulled back, concern in her eyes. "Something has happened."

"Yes," Harry confirmed.

"Mum and Dad?" he saw fear in her eyes.

"No, no... nothing like that," Harry said softly, running a hand down her cheek. "We've gotten some information..."

"What?"

"Through Hermione, from the Ministry."

"And?"

"And... Ginny... I need you to understand that nothing has been proven yet..."

"Harry?" Ginny sat up straight, her eyes showing her fear. "It's bad, isn't it?"

"It... may be."

"Just tell me," she said in a soft, strangely weak voice.

So he did. Everything, from Hermione's arrival at the castle to the agreement between the four of them that Arthur had to be told, immediately, as the Interim Minister of Magic.

"Dad.. is Dumbledore...?"

"Yes. He's probably with him now. I didn't feel it was... I felt it would be better coming from Dumbledore alone."

"Yes," Ginny nodded. "You're right."

"I'm sorry," he said simply.

"You..." Ginny's shoulders shuddered. "You're angry."

"I don't know what I am right now, Gin."

"You're... disgusted."

"I'm upset."

"Do you want me to go?" she asked, avoiding his eyes.

"What? Why?" Harry stood, surprised, as she did.

"You can't..." Ginny's eyes raised to him. "My own brother, Harry!"

Her voice was strangled. Harry looked at her, suddenly realizing that she was having the same kind of reaction that Ron had had. Incredulous, he reached out and pulled her to him.

"You can't think..." he ground out. "You can't possibly think I blame you?"

Ginny sobbed into his shoulder.

"Ginny, this has nothing to do with you. This... if Percy is involved, and that is a very big if, how could I possibly blame you?"

"He's my brother..."

"Yes. He is. Dudley was my cousin, and a bigger prat I've never met. According to my aunt, he was trying, though. Do you think that I could possibly blame anyone in your family for the actions of one? If they even are his actions?"

"You think...?"

"I don't think anything right now," Harry said holding her close. "I can't. Because I don't have all the facts. But the last thing I need is the rest of you Weasley's abandoning me because you think Percy might be involved on the other side. "

"But, Harry..."

"I love you, Ginny. That doesn't change because someone else does something stupid. How could it?"

"I'm sorry," she said in a small little voice, muffled by his shirt front.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I just wish you knew... knew how much I love you."

"You must," she sobbed. "To put up with my family."

"Put up with...? Oh, no, I don't think so. Your family is my family, Ginny."

"They are," she nodded, speaking softly through her tears. Finally, he appeared to understand that he was part of them.

"Ginny?"

"What, Harry?"

"I told your Mum."

"I know," she nodded. "She told me."

"I... Ginny, I know that we agreed that we'd wait until... to announce it to everyone, but..."

"What is it, Harry?"

"I don't know. I feel like... Ginny, I want to tell everyone. I want to set a date, I want to have you bound to me. I want... I want all this... and I don't want to wait until spring."

Ginny's gentle smile lit the room. "When?"

"Now."

"Now?"

"Barring that... can we announce it all to your family tomorrow?"

"I'd love to tell them," Ginny sighed. "Yes, Harry, we can tell them all tomorrow."

"Come with me," Harry took her by the hand and dragged her towards the bedroom door.

"Harry!" Ginny blushed.

Harry stopped, looked towards the bedroom, then back to her, flushing himself. "No... I... I wanted... I have something for you."

"I'm sure you do," Ginny laughed. "But..."

"I..." Harry's face was burning now. "Sit down. Wait here."

He was back in seconds, finding Ginny sitting on the sofa, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring into the fire.

"Gin?"

She looked up to see him approaching, his hands behind him.

"Harry?"

"This... this was my mother's," Harry said, his voice catching with nerves. He sat down next to her. He held something out, and when Ginny tore her eyes from his to look at what it was he held, she caught her breath.

It sparkled in the firelight, and she reached out instinctively, pulling back at the last moment, her eyes moving back to Harry's.

"It's okay," Harry said. "I'd like you to wear it. If you'd rather a more... modern... engagement ring, I'm okay with that. We can go shopping..."

"Harry...?"

"Do you like it?"

"I love it," she whispered, holding out her left hand to him.

He took her hand awkwardly in his and, slipping it on her finger, felt something click within him, like his stars had suddenly aligned. Looking into her eyes, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.

"Thank you, Ginny Weasley."

"For what? I'm the one..."

"For agreeing to stay with me forever," he said softly. "For being the girl in the white dress."

Ginny didn't quite understand this, but smiled and threw herself into his arms. Some things, she didn't need to understand.

The following morning, Harry strode purposefully through the halls to the dungeons.

"Professor Snape?" he called out as he entered the potions class.

"Harry?" Severus Snape stepped out of his office and into the doorway of the classroom. "Problem?"

"No... well... yes... I don't know."

"Decisive, as usual, Potter," Snape said dryly, turning back into his office. Harry followed him.

"I need a favor," Harry admitted.

Snape looked at him, his eyebrows raised questioningly. "Really?"

"You said..." Harry swallowed. "You said if there was anything you could do to help with my classes..."

"Yes, Potter, get on with it."

"I need you to take my morning classes."

"Excuse me?"

"You've done it before. You took over for Remus in my third year when he..."

"Yes. Well, Dumbledore felt it would pose rather more of a risk than he was willing to take on, letting a werewolf loose in a classroom full of third years," Snape commented, continuing to catalog potion ingredients. "Pity he didn't think of that prior to hiring him."

"I need the morning off," Harry said, ignoring Snape's rather cheap shot. "It's important."

"Important how?" Snape turned back to him, a speculative glint in his eye.

"Important enough," Harry gritted, losing what little patience he had. "For me to come to you and ask a favor."

Snape seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded. "Important, indeed. You appear to be in luck. I have no classes this morning."

"I know. You'll take the classes? I have fourth years – Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff at nine, and my seventh year NEWT class is at eleven, but they know what they're about... they'll still be working on their assignments from yesterday..."

"Hmmm," Snape's mouth thinned. "Babysitting. My favorite."

"You just need to be there to answer questions," Harry said.

"Yes," Snape sighed. "Very well, but you owe me one, Potter."

"I'm not going to be here forever, Snape," Harry stressed his use of the professor's last name. "Dumbledore may well be open to suggestion when it comes time to select a new DADA professor."

"And what makes you think that he'll listen to..." Snape's eyes narrowed speculatively. "Very well. Go. You'll be back for your afternoon classes?"

"Unless Ginny's brothers take me out back," Harry confirmed. Snape didn't bother to ask as the younger professor turned and headed towards the doorway. "Oh, and Ginny will be absent this morning as well."

"Of course," Snape sneered. "Certainly it would seem unreasonable to expect students to be in class!"

Harry, without another backward glance, sped out of the dungeons, and back towards Ginny, a very happy grin on his face.

Harry looked over the people gathered around the study of Potter Manor an hour later. The summons had gone out less than an hour ago, and he found himself surrounded by Bill, Charlie, the twins, Arthur and Molly, Ron, Hermione, Remus and his aunt Petunia. He swallowed nervously and was doubly glad of Ginny's presence at his side.

Fred and George took one glance around the room and began to crow with glee. They were silenced with a glare from their mother.

"Harry, Ginny? What is it?"

Harry looked at Mrs Weasley to find a look of expectation on her face, but a glimmer of worry in her eyes. Harry realized he had to get this over with, for any one of them could be believing all sorts of things until he did. Molly especially.

"I..." he swallowed, and glanced down at Ginny, standing next to him in front of the fire. She nodded encouragingly.

"Harry and I have something to tell you," she said softly.

"Snapdragon?" Charlie looked at her suspiciously, then to Harry, his eyes narrowing as he did. "I'm hoping that this is good news... and not...untimely news?"

"The very best news, Charlie," Harry said. "Your sister has agreed to marry me."

All hell broke loose. Charlie growled and moved towards Harry, only to be stopped when Bill pushed in front of him and made for the couple himself, a determined look on his face. The twins did a rather odd jig in a circle behind the sofa, holding each other's hands and dancing about while singing "They did it! They did it!", and Molly burst into happy tears.

Hermione's grin was wider than Harry had ever seen it, and she tugged on Ron's sleeve, only to look up with concern as he pulled away from her and moved quickly to stand in front of his two elder brothers, who looked ready to do Harry some serious harm.

"I hope you're headed over there to congratulate the happy couple," Ron stood firm, staring down his two older, yet shorter brothers. Ron was physically, quite intimidating when he wanted to be, being the tallest, and broadest, of his siblings.

"Ron..." Charlie began.

"Hear them out, Charlie, or so help me, I'll feed you to one of your damned dragons."

"Ron."

Ron felt Harry's hand on his shoulder, and he moved to the side, but not out of range, without looking at his dark-haired friend. He was still busy staring down his brothers, who were beginning to look rather sheepish.

"It's okay, Ron," Harry said softly.

Ron nodded, stepping back to wrap Ginny in his arms and lift her off the floor, swinging her around in a huge hug. "Congratulations, Ginny."

"Thank you, Ron." Ginny hugged him back.

"This can't have been a surprise," Harry spoke to Bill and Charlie.

"Surprise?" Charlie growled. "She's still in school, Harry!"

"And I don't intend leaving, Charlie," Ginny said softly.

"You can't be married at school!" Charlie shot back at her.

"I'll be done in June," Ginny pointed out.

Charlie looked... shocked. He took a deep breath and stared at his sister, and then glanced between her and Harry.

"I..."

"I'm all grown up, Charlie," Ginny continued. "Harry asked me to marry him last summer, after the battle with Voldemort. I said yes. Today, we're setting a date. We'll be married in July. Please be happy for us."

Bill, after a moment's hesitation, stuck his hand out at Harry. Harry reached around Ginny and shook it firmly, his eyes communicating something to Ginny's eldest brother.

"You take care of her," Bill said softly.

"You know I will, Bill."

"I..." Charlie glanced away. When he looked back, Harry was sure he could see a bit of mistiness in his eyes. "I'm sorry. Congratulations."

"No apologies necessary," Harry said.

Charlie nodded, then moved to the side for the others to move in on them. Remus smiled and pulled Harry close for a hug, and Molly enveloped them both against her for a long moment. Arthur shook Harry's hand, and pulled Ginny into a tight hug, and the twins continued their dance, this time around Harry and Ginny.

Hermione came and hugged Harry, giving him a soft kiss on his cheek before looking up into his eyes with tears in her own.

"Congratulations, Harry," she said softly. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry hugged her again, then shook Ron's hand.

The most surprising reaction of all, however, was from Petunia. She moved forward hesitantly, and touched Harry on the arm. When he turned to her, she smiled warily.

"Congratulations, Harry. Ginny," she said, before making to move away from the exuberant group around the young couple. Ginny, however, was having none of it. She clutched Petunia's hand and held her close. Harry let go of the breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"So... a July wedding!" Molly cried. "We'd best start planning, Ginny, dear! That only gives us seven months!"

Harry cast a horrified look at Ginny, who laughed. "I'm leaving it all up to you, Mum, and Harry's Aunt. I'm sure the two of you can come up with something perfectly wonderful."

"But, Ginny, you'll want..."

"I want to be married, Mum," Ginny interrupted. "To Harry. We've given you the when, the how doesn't concern me in the least."

"We must act soon, or they may bring through more than we can..." Kingsley Shacklebolt was standing, trying to convince the others gathered around the table that they needed to act fast.

"Shack..." Harry sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I want to go in as badly as you do... but we're not ready yet."

"Harry, when will we be ready? We don't even know what we're facing, but we do know that every day they're getting stronger."

Harry sighed, knowing that the auror was right. They didn't know what they were facing, and had no way of finding out. And the other side was getting stronger with every night that passed. Harry looked up at Dumbledore, seated at the head of the table. The old wizard had a curious look on his face. Harry shrugged, shook his head. The decision was up to Dumbledore.

"Bill..." Dumbledore turned to the eldest Weasley sibling. They had all gone through a transformation in recent weeks. Harry wasn't sure if it was the evidence that had been gathered against Percy, or the announcement that Harry and Ginny had made the night after Hermione had brought them the information about the portkeys, but the Weasley boys, not to mention Arthur, were reserved and iron-jawed. Even the twins had stopped their pranking, and set to work with a vengeance.

"Bill," Dumbledore continued. "What have you got?"

"I've developed a few new charms and hexes that I think should be effective..."

"You think?" Hestia Jones looked at him oddly. "Have you tested them?"

"And how," Bill said coolly to the pretty older auror. "Would you suggest I do that, Hestia? Undead aren't exactly walking about Diagon Alley!"

"Alright, alright..." Dumbledore said softly. Harry wondered if anyone else noticed the headmaster's surreptitious hand movement that seemed to lessen the tension at the table.

"Professor..."

"Harry?"

"I suggest we get back to basics. Find him. Destroy him. Where are we at on checking out the property in Wales?"

Kingsley Shacklebolt nodded. "It's owned by the Dover family. Ogden Dover is the youngest son of three. One was killed in... well... the last battle. He was..."

"A Death Eater," Ron finished for him. "Right."

"Actually, no," Kingsley said. "He was an auror. And a good one. We found him on the field... after. He was the middle son. The eldest, who inherited the title..."

"Title?"

"There is a title that goes with the property," Kingsley explained. "The eldest, who inherited, is a bit of a recluse. No one has actually seen him in years, although he still runs the estate, apparently."

"And Ogden Dover?"

"Up until now, spotless record. Started as an Unspeakable, but worked his way up. He's been working at the Ministry for twenty years."

"His education? Where...?"

"Hogwarts. He actually graduated the year before your parents, Harry."

Harry's eyes turned to the headmaster. "Albus? You remember him?"

"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed. "Good student. Very... determined."

"Determined?"

"To get a good education. He scored one of the highest Charms NEWTs scores in recent times."

"So how does someone like that, with a spotless record, no indication of any... dark work," Harry said. "End up involved in something like this?"

"Imperius?" Hestia offered.

"Could be," Bill said.

"No," Ron spoke up. "Not Imperius. Too easy... we'd expect it."

"Then do you have another suggestion, Mr Weasley?" Snape peered at him from the other end of the table."

"Yes," Ron said, meeting Snape's eyes levelly. "Yes, Severus, I do."

"Well?"

Ron turned his eyes on the headmaster. "What house was he in?"

"I don't think that has any bearing..." Snape countered.

"Ron," Harry looked at him. "Peter Pettigrew was in Gryffindor."

"And Malfoy? Crabbe? Goyle? Nott? The Lestranges? Voldemort himself? Which houses were they in?" Ron asked.

"Ron, Pansy was in Slytherin. So was Blaise," Harry said gently. "If nothing else, we have learned that house affiliation has very little to do with this war."

Ron let out a frustrated grunt.

"Actually, Mr Weasley," Dumbledore said softly. "Mr Dover was in Ravenclaw."

Ron flushed. Harry sighed.

"House affiliation aside, there must be something... some reason..."

"Why not Imperius?" Hestia insisted. "It's easy enough..."

"Too easy," Harry said. "Like Ron said, we'd be looking for it. No. There is something there... some reason..."

"I rather think I may be able to shed some light on that," Arthur Weasley said softly.

"Arthur?"

"Mr Dover was passed over for a promotion three years ago. He was... disgruntled. He felt a certain entitlement to the position, and when he didn't get it, his work record shows an unprecedented downturn, only to show betterment in the last seven months. So much of an improvement that the head ofhis department was very pleased to make note in his file of how essential Mr Dover is to their work. He was offered, and accepted, a promotion. He is in charge of the study of four of eight portals... those that are kept inactive... the portals that have been identified as... return portals."

Harry sighed. "Sounds... interesting."

"In the last six months," Arthur continued, his face almost grey in the muted light of the meeting room. "He and... Percy Weasley... have become quite close. They share their lunch hours, several times they have dined with their wives at each other's homes. They are... close friends, despite the age difference. Others who work with them have described their friendship as 'odd'. There were witnesses several weeks ago to a disagreement between the two, but it was quickly dismissed when they realized..."

"Disagreement?" Kingsley's brow furrowed. "Arthur, you do realize...?"

"If my son... if Percy were being held under Imperius," Arthur nodded sadly. "If that were the case, he would not be able to disagree. He would not have the will to argue. He would not..."

"Dad?" Charlie spoke, concerned.

"I'm sorry," Arthur took a breath. "I never... I... well, one can't argue with the evidence, can one?"

"Mr Weasley," Harry spoke. "We have no real proof that Percy knows what is going on. All we have is his friendship with the person at the centre of it, and his signatures on the portkey approvals..."

Arthur Weasley raised pained eyes to Harry's across the table. "Harry, Sirius was put into Azkaban for twelve years on less than that. No, I think it's time I admitted... Percy is in this up to his eyeballs, either willingly, or through stupidity, but either way, he must have known that something was going on. How does one sign that many portkey approvals without knowing that something is going on?"