Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and its various publishers own Harry Potter. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating! First my favorite computer died. Luckily I have this old laptop. Then I injured both hands in a freakish accident. Since they say bad news usually comes in threes, I've been afraid to leave the house. Anyway, the splint is off my right hand so here's the next chapter.
Notes to reviewers are at the end of the story. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read and review!
Chapter Sixteen
A Place in the World
A bright star hung low on the horizon. The moon was barely a sliver. Looking out at the Forbidden Forest, Harry could see the pale specter of an occasional Thestral spread its wings above the trees. He wondered what else lurked within the shadows.
Sitting across the common room, Ginny watched him stare out at the night sky, back straight, head held high -- yet his face seemed devoid of hope. His eyes darkened as though he looked on the future and saw nothing like a condemned man with no escape.
It was fairly early on a school night. Students were gathered in the common room bent over parchment and books. Ron was out on his prefect rounds and Hermione was off with her advanced study group in the Arithmancy classroom.
Ginny walked over to Harry. Wherever his mind had wandered, she wanted to follow. After the kidnapping incident, she was determined. She was tired of him leaving her behind. She wasn't going to let it happen again. "I thought you dropped Astronomy, Harry," she said softly as she joined him at the window.
The sound of her sweet voice acted like a spark, warming his face until a small smile appeared. "I'm just thinking," he said.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"Just thinking about the prophecyI don't want to be a murderer. What ifwhat if I do kill Voldemort? Doesn't that make me just like him? And if I don't kill him, I may have no future at all. What kind of world is this anyway? And why do I have to be the one to change it?" He stared back at the dark night.
Ginny sighed and said, "You're never going to be like You Know Who. You're the opposite of him. And remember, I knew him when" Her speech had started off cheerfully, but her voice trailed off.
Watching her expression change, Harry said, "SorryWho'd know better than you what the real Tom Riddle was like?"
Ginny continued. "Do you think he ever sat around wondering if he was doing the right thing? Besides, he was a Slytherin."
"The Sorting Hat wanted me to be in Slytherin. It only put me in Gryffindor because I asked it to." Harry shook his head.
"So you're here by choice — and a good choice it was considering that we're going to beat those Slytherins next Saturday." Ginny smiled and sat down on the windowsill in front of Harry.
"I wonder sometimes if pitting the houses against each other is such a good idea. I meanwhile I think we should definitely flatten the Slytherins at QuidditchHow are we supposed to find ways to get along if everything we do in school keeps us apart? Never mind. I'm not sure what I mean or how to change any of that."
Ginny arched one eyebrow and said, "You worry too much, Harry. You don't have to change the world. Do you think the Slytherins sit around wondering about inter-house unity? Imagine Crabbe and Goyle lounging around their common room looking out at the moon, trying to think of ways to reach out to the Hufflepuffs."
Harry laughed softly. "Maybe some Death Eater children are a lost cause. Does that mean all Slytherins are evil?"
"Is this your way of saying you disapprove of my pranking?" Ginny seemed a little anxious.
Harry grinned. He loved the little frown line that appeared between her eyes. "Not at all. I admire your pranks, Gin. We need a little fun in our lives"
"But?" she asked expectantly.
"But I remember how it feels to bear the brunt of someone else's fun. Dudley and his friends never spared a thought for how I felt." His admiring smile reassured her. "Your pranks are different. You're not trying to hurt anyone. The Snape look alike contest was inspired. And I still want to know how you convinced Peeves to follow Pansy Parkinson around the other day singing that silly love songMalfoy and his cronies deserve anything we dish out, but some of the Slytherins are just caught in the crossfire."
"So you're saying I should only target known evil doers." Ginny laughed as she spoke.
Harry's smile widened into a grin. "Something like that. You do have a talent for pranks."
"So do you have someone in mind for my next victim, Harry?" Ginny asked sweetly.
"I'm not sure I should tell you, Gin." Harry said.
Relaxed in each other's company, the two teenagers laughed and talked quietly for a while. As the common room door opened, they moved apart. It was only two seventh years they didn't know very well, but they moved to a table and settled in to get some homework done.
The next person to enter the common room was Ron. He didn't look very happy. "Stupid Slytherins!" he shouted as he slammed his book bag down on the table.
Harry grabbed his bottle of ink as it jumped in response. "What happened — or do we really want to know?"
"Look at my prefect badge!" shouted Ron. The badge was flashing the word, PERFECT' alternating with a picture of a naked man. "And it won't come off my robe!" Noticing that Ginny was squinting her eyes to take a closer look, Ron clasped his hand over the badge.
Hiding her amusement, Ginny said sympathetically, "Ahwell, maybe it will wear off by morning. It was put on by a Slytherin after all." She looked at Harry and raised both eyebrows as if to say, so much for inter-house unity.'
Harry nodded in agreement. "Maybe the best thing you could do is let the spell wear offThey may have charmed it to do something else if you try to remove it."
"Like what?" asked Ron.
"I don't know. Maybe it will start singing or something. Why don't you just take the robe off for tonight?"
"I guess you're right" Ron grumbled as threw his robe down in a heap and joined them at the table.
A few minutes later, Colin Creevey and another fifth year asked Ginny to help them with their Charms homework. As she went with them to a table on the other side of the common room, Harry followed her with his eyes.
"What's on your mind, Harry?" Ron asked, his voice uncharacteristically solemn as he noticed his friend watching his sister. Ron thought he sensed desperation in Harry's expression.
Confused, Harry answered just as solemnly, "I want to find a place in the world that doesn't involve me killing someoneMaybe I ought to rethink my career objectives." He said this last with a wry smile and returned to writing his Tranfiguration essay.
Since Harry had been looking at Ginny, Ron assumed that he was thinking about her. Switching gears, Ron asked, "And why would you have to kill someone? Oh, you must be thinking about the kidnapping."
"Never mind, Ron. Forget itI have to finish this essay for McGonagall. Let's just work" Harry started scratching with his quill.
Seeing that Harry wasn't going to explain, Ron focused on his own homework. Neither friend tried to open up a conversation. The evening wore on and the common room cleared out. Colin and the others went to bed, but Ginny was still working at the far table.
A commotion near the common room door heralded Hermione's arrival. She breezed over to her friends and said, "Well, here's where you're hiding. I've been looking all over for you."
Ron launched into a tirade. "Like where've you looked? Of course we're here. We're here just about every night. Anyway, it's latewhere've you been?"
Out of breath from running upstairs, Hermione rolled her eyes and held up her hand. "Oh, Ron. I told you the Arithmancy group was tonight. Anyway, I meant I've been looking for Harry. I thought you might be practicing your fencing, so when you weren't in the library, I checked the practice roomthen the Defense classroom. I figured you'd still be out on your prefect rounds, Ron." She smiled sweetly at her boyfriend.
Seeing Ron calm down, she leaned over and quickly kissed his cheek. Red-faced, he asked, "So what's the excitement? What's in the book?"
"This is Myrddin: The Man Behind the Magic. I've been trying to find any mention of Merlin ever having children -- to see if there's evidence of a direct connection between the Potters and Merlin. So far I've found nothing about children, he certainly never married, but I might have found a reference to the cave you visited last summer, Harry." She sat down at the nearest chair and opened the book up to show the illustration inside. Harry and Ron stood next to her and leaned over her shoulders to get a good look at the picture.
Harry said, "It looks like the same hillside, but there must be thousands of hills in Wales that look the same. I can't be sure."
Hermione read aloud. "In the end, the magic of Merlin was broken. He fell under the spell of the young enchantress Niniane. She used her wiles to persuade him to teach her all of his secrets. In the end, she tired of him and used the knowledge he'd given her to trap him inside a cave, thus ending his life." The room was silent.
Ron broke the stillness. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Harry?"
"Probably not, Ron." He sensed his friend's excitement, but he wasn't sure of the cause. None of this was news to Harry.
"Maybe Merlin is trapped in that old cave you foundI mean, Lupin was trapped there."
Always the voice of reason, Hermione said, "Merlin lived centuries ago. How could anyone still be alive after all this time? We don't even know if it's the same cave."
Harry shook his head. "Ginny and I read that bit about Merlin in that other book you found, Hermione. I don't see how any of that helps. We still don't know what the Potter connection is to Merlin's Den. And there's still nothing about a torch. Even if it was possible for this Niniane to trap Merlin. We don't know how she did it so we can't use that to trap anyone."
Ron persisted, "But Harry, didn't you say that Lupin was trapped in part of the cavesealed in. And then you just walked in and walked out. Why couldn't we use the magic that is already in place to seal someone else in the same cave?"
Harry said, "I don't know, Ron. Do you really think that's possible? We'd need to know more about the caveAnd we'd need a plan." He stopped abruptly and looked from Hermione to Ron and back again. "No Make that I'd need a plan. I'm not dragging you two into another harebrained scheme." He shook his head at them. Hermione had that familiar know it all look and Ron's brow was already furrowed as though he was already working out the best strategy.
Harry's temper began to rise to the surface. "I'd rather try to kill Voldemort, face to face, than drag you two into danger againyou don't know what it's like, knowing your friends could be dead or dying because of something you did," he shouted. "I won't let either of you do this." It occurred to him that none of them could see Thestrals.
Feeling the now familiar wave of power radiate from their friend as his anger rose, Ron and Hermione gave him identical sympathetic looks. It just made him madder so he yelled, "I'm not changing my mind!"
Ron protested loudly, "Who put you in charge! I make my own choicesand so does Hermione. You don't have to change things all by yourself."
In a quieter voice, Hermione said, "You're not the only one who wants to rid the world of Voldemort. None of us will be safe until he is gone. It's not up to you to save us."
Although the air around Harry still crackled with the energy he couldn't control, silence descended. Each of them was preoccupied by their own thoughts as Ginny quietly joined them. "What's all the shouting about?"
Although her presence calmed him down, Harry couldn't quite meet her eyes. He didn't want to lie to her, but he didn't want her to hear about Ron's idea either.
Hermione stood up and pointed to the book on the table. "We found what appears to be a reference to Myrddin's Den in this book. It describes how Merlin died -- or at least it gives an account of his last known days."
Ginny leaned over the book and read for a moment. The three friends looked at one another over her bent figure, each trying to communicate something different with their expression. Harry shook his head no. He didn't want Ginny brought into this. Clearly, his two best friends had a different opinion.
Hermione spoke first, "So we might think of a plan to trap Voldemort -- confine him somewhere."
Ginny stood up straight and folded her arms in front of her. She raised one eyebrow as the controversy occurred to her. "And Harry, you think that you should be able to trap him all by yourself - without putting anyone else in harm's way."
Harry was relieved. Thinking that she agreed with him, he smiled and said, "Thanks for understanding, Ginny! You'll see. It'll be for the best. If the plan succeeds, then the threat of the Death Eaters will be a thing of the past. If the plan fails, then only one person is" His voice trailed off as he watched all three of his friends faces turn into angry scowls. Ginny's face was as red as Ron's.
"Where did you get the idea that I'd go along with this! It's a terrible plan. You're not going off alone for some sort of showdown with Death Eaters. You're not!" Ginny yelled.
Ron joined in. "It's up to us whether or not we want to fight. What have we all been training for? This isn't just about you."
Harry answered in a deep, serious voice. "But it is about me, Ron. You just don't know. You didn't hear the prophecy."
Keeping her voice calm, Hermione said, "I thought it was broken during the fight in the Department of Mysteriesand no one heard a word."
Ginny shook her head and looked surprised. "You never told them?"
Ron was becoming impatient. "Told us what? Is there something we should know?"
Harry sat down on the sofa, feeling defeated. He covered his face with his hands for a moment, then looked up at his friends. They all were looking at him expectantly. "Yes, there is something I should have told you last June. I just didn't know how."
Ginny went and sat beside him and said, "Just tell them now, Harry. It'll be all right."
He sighed heavily before he spoke. "I heard the prophecy -- not when the globe broke during the fight in the Death Chamber, but later in Dumbledore's office."
Ron and Hemione began to speak at the same time. Harry raised his hand to stop their questions. "I'll explain everything. You were both in the infirmary unconscrecuperating. I didn't want to bother you, then I don't know why I didn't tell you this last summer. I guess I just didn't want to think about all this stuff while we were so relaxed andand happy."
He looked over at Ginny briefly before continuing. Somehow her hand had crept into his, comforting him and giving him the support he needed. "When Dumbledore and I returned to his office that night, I was a messHe wouldn't let me leave and I trashed his officeI didn't want to think abouteverything that had happened and I just wanted. I don't know. I guess I wanted out of my life. It was awful. Anyway, Dumbledore made me stay. Told me I could break anything that I felt like breaking and began to explain things from his point of view."
Ron and Hermione sat down at the study table. They were both giving Harry their full attention.
"He told me that there was something that he hadn't wanted me to know. Somehow he thought if he kept the truth from me, I would have a happy childhood or something like that. He told me why Voldemort killed my parents. They were in his way. I was his target even thenbecause of the prophecy. The one that Voldemort was trying to retrieve from the Department of Mysteries."
Harry looked at each of his friends in turn. "The original prophecy was told to Dumbledore by Trelawney of all people. Apparently someone in Voldemort's group heard part of the prophecy, but not the whole thing. He used his pensieve to show me. Trelawney went all weird and said, The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approachesborn to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month diesand the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have a power the Dark Lord knows notand either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives."
The only sound was the fire crackling. Ron and Hermione seemed stunned. Harry broke the quiet. "So you see this is about me. And it won't help to put everyone that I care about at risk. Somehow, someday, I will need to face him alone. It's the only way."
"No, Harry," Ginny said quietly. "That's not quite right."
Hermione stood up and straightened her robes. "Ginny's right. You don't have to do this alone. The prophecy may say you have the power and that one of you must die at the hand of the other, but it doesn't say you have to do it alone." She paused for a moment before adding thoughtfully, "How do you even know that the prophecy meant you? Trelawny didn't use your name. There must have been other wizards who were born in late July."
Harry answered, "Dumbledore's sure. Voldemort marked me with the scar. Otherwise, the prophecy could have meant Neville. He was born in July and his parents had faced Voldemort three times."
"Couldn't Neville have a mark that no one knows about?" Hermione asked.
"Possibly some kind of memory charm?" Ron said thoughtfully. Ginny stifled a giggle.
Hermione ignored Ron and walked over to Harry. Lifting his chin to look into her face, she said, "Prophecy's are tricky, Harry. No one can really say exactly how this one will be fulfilled. Don't shut us out. What happens to you affects everyone in this room. We all care about you." She gave him a hug.
Harry hugged her back and said, "Thanks, Hermione. Sorry I shouted earlier." All of his anger was gone. He'd shared his biggest worry with his best friends. It was a relief.
Ron draped his arm around Hermione and looked at Harry. "So you told Ginny last summer, but not us?" Harry nodded and Ron's face broke into a big grin.
Rolling her eyes, Hermione changed the subject. "It's late. Maybe we should get some sleep. We're not going to figure anything out tonight. Besides, Ron needs his beauty sleep." While Ron's comeback to her comment wasn't particularly witty, it became obvious that Hermione and he wanted to be alone.
Relieved his friends were too distracted to be offended that he'd confided in Ginny instead of them. Harry said goodnight quickly. As he climbed the stairs to the dorm, he stopped to watch Ginny until she was out of sight.
The following morning began as most did. Harry finished his run and showered before the other boys in his dormitory had roused themselves. Today he was much later than usual because he'd stopped to talk to Hagrid out on the grounds. Rummaging through his trunk in search of clean trousers, he could hear Dean Thomas still snoring. Otherwise, Ron and he were alone.
"Should you still be out running by yourself every morning, Harry?" Ron asked. His question wasn't so out of the blue. He'd been asking it ever since the kidnapping attempts.
Raising his eyebrows, Harry answered with a question. "Are you offering to keep me company, Ron?" He knew the answer was no even before Ron shook his head. "Then stop worrying. I change my route slightly every day. Besides, I like the time to clear my head. I promise not to read any strange owl messages."
He went back to searching his trunk. Instead of trousers, he pulled out his wooden box and sat down on his bed looking at it. "Try opening this, Ron," he said.
"What for? You know it only opens for you." Ron was busy getting dressed.
"Yes, but why? What sort of spell makes this box recognize me?" He set the box back in his trunk. Glancing at Dean's sleeping form, he asked Ron the same question that Professor Snape had asked him. "What do you know about Blood Charms, Ron?"
"Not much, mate. I've heard Bill mention them I think. Why?"
Harry told him about Snape's mysterious behavior at last week's detention. "How do Blood Charms work? I meant to ask someone about it, butbut it's a pretty good question. Don't you think?"
"That's right, Harry. You should ask someone. You don't have to do everything yourself. You aren't alone. You have me and Hermione and Ginny." Ron paused to see if Harry reacted to his mention of Ginny.
Without saying anything, Harry turned his back on Ron and finished getting dressed. He wasn't sure where this conversation was going.
"How long have you and Ginny been speaking into those charmed two-way mirrors, Harry?" Ron asked pleasantly.
Harry froze. He'd been wondering when Ron would get around to asking about those. Without turning around he said, "It's not what you think, Ron. We just need to be able to talk" Even that sounded bad. Harry started feeling very exposed. He noticed that Dean's snoring had ceased.
Ron smiled knowingly. "I know how you feel about my sister, Harry."
Heart pounding, Harry swallowed hard. He turned toward his friend and held perfectly still.
Seeing his shocked face, Ron tried to reassure him. "Stop worrying. I know you'd never hurt her."
"Meaning what, Weasley? Are you saying that I hurt your sister?" Dean Thomas was awake after all.
While Dean and Ron sorted that out, Harry hurried away from the dormitory. He didn't know how to interpret Ron's words. What did he think he understood?
Ron caught up with him on the stairs. "Wait up, mate."
Harry thought, If I can't talk to Ron who can I talk to?' He made himself try. "What happened back there, Ron?"
"I guess Dean took what I said the wrong way. But you understand me. Don't you, Harry? I meanremember last summer when we talked about taking charge of our lives? You said we should go after what we want in life." Harry remembered telling Ron to go after Hermione.
"I don't know what to say, Ron," said Harry. He felt awkward talking about this. After all, this was Ginny. He didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"Don't know what to say or don't know what you want?" Ron asked. The two had stopped on a landing as they spoke. Neville caught up to them before Harry could answer.
"C'mon you two. Don't want to miss breakfast," Neville said, ignoring the fact that the two friends were staring at each other.
Ron broke away and started down the stairs with Neville. "How're things going with Luna?"
"I keep trying, but" Neville seemed a little dejected. "Seamus told me to play it cool and ignore her. He says that's how he got Lavender to notice himIt doesn't seem to be working though."
Ron was looking at Harry as he answered. "Of course it isn't working, Neville. She doesn't know how you feel. You should compliment her. Notice her hair or her clothes." Ron spent the rest of their walk giving Neville advice on how to let a girl know that you like her.
As they reached the breakfast crowd, Harry said, "I better go. Don't want to be late for Moody." The Gryffindor table looked full. Ginny and Hermione seemed surrounded. Anyway, he was eager to get away from Ron.
Hermione waved and smiled. "You still have time for some food."
Harry was ready to leave, but then Ginny looked up and smiled. She moved over to make some room. He slipped into the seat next to her and quietly helped himself to breakfast, thinking about Ron's advice to Neville.
Hermione held up the Daily Prophet and said, "So far, so good, Harry. You're not mentioned in here at all. News of Pettigrew's trial next week has been declared a secret. Fudge cites security reasons because of the ongoing fight against He Who Must Not Be Named."
Harry nodded and said, "That's great, Hermione. Thanks for checking." Hermione smiled at him and turned to Ron. They began an animated discussion about whether or not a secret trial could be fair — even to Death Eaters.
Ginny was staring into her teacup. While she was glad of Harry's presence, she wasn't much for conversation in the morning. Her usual Harry intuition missed the nervous way he kept glancing over at her.
Until Harry cleared his throat and said, "Your freckles arenice, GinI mean, they look like they usually donice." Harry took a large gulp of too-hot tea and choked.
A tiny furrow showed between Ginny's eyebrows as she took in Harry's words. Was Harry insulting her freckles? She looked up to see him choking on his tea. Biting her lip to keep from smiling, she couldn't think of anything to say.
Anyway, she'd lost her chance. Harry stood up abruptly and grabbed his book bag. "Better get to class," he said. With a quick nod to Ron and Hermione, he left the Great Hall.
"What was that about?" Ginny asked, watching Harry racing from the room. His robes were flapping behind him and he was running a hand through his messy black hair.
Ron burst out laughing, but he didn't answer. Neville, who had overheard Harry's comment, leaned in and said, "Maybe you should test your theories first, Ron."
Almost every square inch of Dumbledore's office held the sleeping portrait of a former Hogwarts' headmaster, some dating back hundreds of years. Harry looked at them closely. All around him was the sound of snoring, but he suspected they were only pretending to sleep.
"If you are a painting, why do you need to sleep?" he asked no one in particular.
"Hmm No one has ever asked that before," said the portrait of Armando Dippet, Dumbledore's predecessor.
"Yes, they have, but only a few through the centuries," said a portrait of a man in much older dress, dating back hundreds of years.
Glad he had opened up a conversation with them, Harry said, "Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment. You probably have some great stories about Hogwarts. Any that you can share?"
No telling how long he would have to wait for Professor Dumbledore. Harry was in the busy Headmaster's office twice a week for tutoring, studying Wandless Magic, among other things. Getting to know the Headmaster portraits would help pass the time. Besides, Harry wanted a little company.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" asked a female Headmistress who must have been around during the 1930's judging from her clothes. Harry noticed the little brass plate on the frame said, Agatha Feathering.
"How about a trade, young man? You tell us the best current gossip and we'll tell you a good story from Hogwarts' past." Phineas Nigellus was awake and ready to bargain Slytherin style.
"All right. But I should tell you, I don't pay that much attention to gossip," said Harry. "What kind of stories are you interested in?"
"Tell us who's sneaking around the castle at night besides you?" said Headmaster Feathering. Harry often made a late night trip down to the kitchens, more to talk to Dobby than anything else.
"I'm not meeting anyone if that's what you're wondering. Besides, I'm an assistant, remember? I'm allowed to wander the castle at night without calling it sneaking. Although I'll admit I'm still pretty careful about avoiding Mr. Filch and his cat. Tell you what, I'll keep my eyes open and let you know if I run into anyone late at night." He was pleased they had found a topic of common interest. Some of the portraits were nodding approvingly.
"I do know who transfigured the house points board to read, Snakes in Training instead of Slytherin House — Ginny Weasley." Harry laughed softly.
Professor Dippet answered, "We already know that. I watch her do something like that every week. She's quite the early riser."
Harry smiled. "Well, still I told you one. Now it's your turn."
Before anyone could answer, Professor Dumbledore arrived. The portraits went back to feigning sleep. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Harry. I trust you were sufficiently entertained." The headmaster's eyes were twinkling as though he knew Harry and the portraits had been having an interesting conversation before he arrived.
"Were you able to finish reading about transfiguring objects to use as shields?" Their recent study had focused on creating protective shields out of everyday objects. Harry had several books to read on the subject.
"I've finished all of the reading, Professor. And I've practiced enough to feel confident." Harry's tutorial with Dumbledore was different from any class he'd ever taken. Usually the Headmaster just assigned reading and discussed things with Harry. Then Harry would practice on his own.
"We'll move on to conjuring a shield. Transfiguring is easier. You are changing one thing into another. To conjure, you must create something out of nothing. It requires a different set of skills and a much higher level of magical energy." Dumbledore considered his student for a moment.
Harry answered earnestly, "So far, I've mainly Conjured food, sir. I put my cooking magic to good use over the summer." Harry smiled.
He'd discovered his ability for Wandless Magic when his extreme desire for a good breakfast had produced results back at the Dursley's. "I'm curious, sir. I was wondering why the Ministry overlooked my Wandless Magic last summer, Professor? I'm glad they did, but what's the reason?" He'd been wondering about that.
"The Ministry cannot always detect magic performed without a wand. The reading may just seem to be accidental magical energy or a build up of excess energy that has been discharged, unless of course the energy blows up an Aunt or destroys a dessert. Each wand has a signature which is registered with the Ministry of Magic. For most wizards, focusing their magical energy requires the use of a wand or staff. The use of a token from a magical creature helps magnify their energy and channel it into the spell."
Dumbledore looked at his student through his little glasses. Sometimes it astounded him. Harry truly had no idea how strong a wizard he was. "The fact that you have been able to channel and focus your magical energy without your wand proves that you are a very powerful wizard, Harry."
"How many wizards use Wandless Magic?" Growing up with Muggles, Harry was clueless about many aspects of the wizarding world.
"I've known only five wizards who were capable of it." Dumbledore was looking at Harry as though he would have liked to spare the younger man this truth. The truth was that Harry was one of the most powerful wizards alive. Prophecy had ordained that Harry was the one capable of vanquishing Voldemort. It was his place in the world.
Harry considered what the Headmaster had said. If he was one of the few people capable of this level of magic, then he needed to learn how to use it well. Whether he was ready for it or wanted it, this was a fact of his life. He took a deep breath and said, "Voldemort, you, Grindelwald and who?"
Dumbledore laughed quietly, "Harry Potter and Nicholas Flamel."
"Ah, your old partner. The inventor of the Sorcerer's Stone." Harry had always wished he could meet Nicholas Flamel. He smiled remembering the first year when Hermione, Ron and he had searched everywhere to find out who Nicholas Flamel was. Then his face grew solemn, as another thought occurred to him, "So about half the wizards in the last century who were capable of Wandless Magic became dark wizards?"
"You could look at it that way." Dumbledore was proud that Harry seemed to be working out for himself what having such abilities might mean.
"With great power comes great responsibility. Who said that, Professor?" Harry wasn't sure where he'd heard that.
"Besides yourself? I'm not familiar with the quote, but it does seem to apply." His eyes searched the portraits for help. Most were shrugging their shoulders and shaking their heads.
The portrait of an eighteenth century gentleman said mysteriously, "Thou must be either anvil or hammerthat was Goethe."
"Wellthank you," answered Harry politely, not sure what to make of that statement.
Dumbledore said nothing, but he looked pleased. Harry was struck with how much the Headmaster had changed toward him, meeting with him twice a week, patiently helping him understand things. Was he worried that Harry would become a Dark Wizard? Whatever his reason, it was enough that Dumbledore was helping.
Harry had made up his mind last summer. He would accept that help, but would still find his own path, whatever Dumbledore thought. Once Voldemort was out of the way, Harry would find his own place in the world, not one determined by some old prophecy.
Setting aside these thoughts, Harry asked, "What are Blood Charms, Professor Dumbledore?"
The Headmaster answered with his usual poise. "They are dark magic, Harry. Although some magic that we think of now as dark is simply ancient magic that has been replaced with the invention of simpler, easier charms. We have no modern equivalent for Blood Charms. They have gone the way of human sacrifice, too gruesome to be popular. The blood magic that protects you at Privet Drive is different. It involves kinship and love. Blood Charms generally involve actual blood."
"So whatever charms my mother cast to protect me were not considered Blood Charms."
Dumbledore nodded. The many gadgets that spun on his desk seemed to grow louder. The air seemed to charge with something.
It was on the tip of Harry's tongue to ask, Does Voldemort want my blood for some kind of Blood Charm?' but something held him back. Surely the Headmaster knew anything Snape knew. So why did Snape think it was important to tell him in secret?
So instead of asking Dumbledore to explain, he said, "I reckon the box I inherited this summer has some kind of Blood Charm. It's really old and I'm the only one who can open it."
It seemed to Harry that the Headmaster let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief before nodding and moving on to the day's lesson.
Saturday finally arrived. Despite cloudy skies, all of Hogwarts gathered on the Quidditch pitch, flags flying. The grass was green. The stands were full. "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the Year!" boomed the voice of Terry Boot. "Slytherin vs. Gryffindor!" The crowd cheered wildly. Chants of "Go, go Gryffindor!" competed with the Slytherin cheers. These two houses always put on a great show.
A series of red and gold blurs flew past the stands as Harry and Ron led the team onto the pitch. While most of the team took up their positions, Harry landed and walked toward Madam Hooch and Captain Draco Malfoy. "Who'd you bribe to get your lifetime ban lifted, Potter?"
Smiling coldly as he extended his hand, Harry answered, "Here's to a nice, clean game."
Madam Hooch looked at him approvingly. "Let's have a good, clean game from both teams today. Captains, shake hands!" Draco grudgingly gripped Harry's hand. She blew her whistle and shouted, "Let the game begin!" as she released the Bludger and the Snitch and threw the Quaffle high in the air.
The roar of the crowd receded in Harry's mind as he flew steeply upwards knowing Malfoy was almost sure to follow. Since Draco spent most games following the opposing Seeker, Harry planned to fly in a series of dives and spins to keep him unsettled.
The game was fast-paced and dirty. Five minutes into it, the heavens opened up and rain poured on them. Glad he'd switched to contact lenses, Harry's robes were soaked and his hair was plastered to his forehead.
At first Ginny and Katie seemed unstoppable. Their flying formations faked out the Slytherin Keeper three times in quick succession. Then Slytherin stole the Quaffle by sandwiching Katie between two of their Chasers while their Beaters hit the Bludger directly at Ginny forcing her to make a sudden dive toward safety. Happily, Katie stayed on her broom.
The score became fairly even. Ron blocked several Slytherin attempts to score, but their Beaters were flying rings around Kirke and Sloper.
Malfoy followed Harry around shouting something with a self-satisfied smirk on his face. With the wind and rain, Harry couldn't hear what Malfoy was saying. Thinking that may be for the best, he concentrated on keeping his eyes open for the small gold ball while putting Malfoy through his flying paces.
"Ffft" Madam Hooch's whistle blew. "Penalty to Gryffindor." Someone had blatantly elbowed Gryffindor's third Chaser, Elizabeth Howe. Katie Bell took the penalty shot since Elizabeth was still rubbing her shoulder in pain.
"Do we need a time out?" Harry called through the storm.
"I'll be fine," answered Elizabeth. "Let's get them." The game resumed. Ginny and Katie were back to flying in formation carefully passing the Quaffle back and forth. The Slytherin Chasers were flying above them, trying to steal the Quaffle. As they neared the hoops, Katie dropped the ball down to Elizabeth who scored. The Slytherins had been so focused on Ginny and Katie that they'd forgotten to mark the injured girl. Gryffindor was ahead.
If only Harry could find the Snitch, but the little golden ball was still in hiding. He continued to fly diversionary patterns hoping to keep Draco dizzy.
The game seemed to be going their way. That's when it happened. With a loud thud, Ron was body checked by a Beater into the path of an oncoming Bludger which struck his head. As he fell, a collective gasp rose from the crowd. He hit the ground with a soft, squishy sound. Hoping that the rain soaked pitch had provided a soft landing for his friend, Harry raced over to him. Madam Hooch was already at his side.
"Shall we call the game?" asked Sloper, seeing that Ron appeared to be unconscious. His hulking frame loomed over Ron.
Harry answered, "No, you'll be taking over as Keeper. We'll play on and win. That's what Ron would want." Harry was determined that the Slytherins wouldn't benefit from their dirty play. "Is Ron going to be all right?"
Madam Hooch answered, "He's starting to come around already." Ron's eyes had opened as she floated him onto a stretcher. "Mr. Weasley, can you hear me?" she asked in her gravelly voice.
Ron looked a little confused. Looking at Madam Hooch, he said, "Mum? What are you doing here? I'll finish getting rid of the garden gnomes later, Mum, when the rain stops."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, torn between mirth and concern. Mirth won. He would be all right. Smiling, Harry said, "We'll take care of those gnomes, Ron. You get some rest."
"Thanks, Harry. You're a good friend. And mate, listen to me, I know what I'm talking about -- you should just go ahead and kiss her." Ron said before closing his eyes again. That brought looks of concern to their faces. Harry looked anywhere but at Ginny. Katie tapped her fellow Chaser on the shoulder indicating they should take to the air again.
Harry watched Ron floating toward the infirmary with Madam Pomfrey. Hermione caught up with them as they reached the edge of the pitch.
Harry didn't have time to think about Ron's words as the game restarted. Sloper filled in as Keeper and the reserve Beater, Simon Dalrimple, came into the game. The next hour went badly for Gryffindor. The rain poured down as they tried to keep pace with Slytherin.
Sloper was worse than Ron had been when he started last year. He only blocked one shot, letting the Slytherins score repeatedly. Gryffindor was behind by 150. If Harry caught the Snitch now, they would only tie. He wanted to win.
Finally it stopped raining. The sun shining helped Harry see it — a flash of gold by the Slytherin goalposts, near the ground. He took off in a steep dive.
Malfoy shouted, "Not another Wronski Feint. Grow up, Potter. Get some new moves." He shut up when Harry leveled out near the Snitch. Groaning, he flew after him.
The Snitch changed directions taking Harry back up into a steep climb. Malfoy wasn't able to change directions fast enough and almost crashed into the ground. By the time he'd righted himself, Harry was far away, still in close pursuit of the Snitch.
Harry slowed down and pretended he was simply flying in another search pattern, all the while keeping his eye on the Snitch. Unfortunately, the golden ball sped up suddenly leading Harry directly into the path of the Slytherin Chasers as they approached Sloper attempting to score yet again.
Seeing Harry charging toward them like a bullet, the two Chasers scattered. Sloper called his thanks, but Harry couldn't hear him as he changed direction again and sped toward the other end of the pitch. He caught up to the Snitch, but he didn't take hold of it still trying to give the Chasers a chance. Ginny and Katie were flying in formation again.
Malfoy caught up, flying just a few feet behind. Any closer, Harry would either have to knock him off his broom or catch the Snitch and settle for a tie. If only someone would score one more goal. He was growing tired of keeping Malfoy off his back.
Then the crowd went crazy. They were all on their feet screaming. "Gryffindor scores! Now they just need to catch the" Cries of elation turned to cries of horror. Terry Boot caught up with his commentary. "Just as Ginny Weasley scored, looks like a Bludger caught the back of her broomstick sending her into a steep spin dive. C'mon, Ginny, pull out of it," he yelled.
After hearing Terry's announcement, Harry caught the Snitch easily, but he didn't celebrate. Instead he sped toward Ginny, watching as she spun toward the ground. Miraculously, she seemed to slow down considerably before landing with a small splash in a large puddle of mud.
No one heard Madam Hooch's whistle. Terry Boot's magically enhanced voice shouted, "Gryffindor wins! Harry Potter caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins 240 to 230. Weasley seems to be all right now. She's waving at the crowd." The rest of the team headed for Ginny. Students began to flood the pitch swarming around the team.
Ginny was flat on her back in a large puddle of mud laughing when Harry landed next to her, worried that she may have been injured since she hadn't stood up. She was soaking wet and her robes were muddy.
"Did you see that? I sent that shot off just before the Bludger knocked my broom." Harry kneeled down to see if she was all right. Her eyes were lit with laughter and adrenaline. Before he had a chance to speak, she impulsively grabbed the front of his Quidditch robes and said, "That was awesome." Then just as suddenly as she'd grabbed him, she let him go so she could stand up.
Acutely aware of how close they'd been, Harry jumped away like she was on fire. Embarrassed, he turned without looking and ran smack into Madam Hooch. Muttering an apology to Madam Hooch, Harry handed her the Snitch.
"WhoaHarry. What's your hurry," said Katie Bell from behind him. She clapped her hand onto Harry's shoulder and said, "Nice catch."
Laughing at Harry's dumbstruck look, Katie said, "Celebration in the tower? Maybe we can sneak someone into Hogsmeade for some butterbeer."
Harry stole a glance at Ginny. She was being congratulated by some fifth years. Colin Creevey kept shouting something to her and then taking her photograph.
Since she wasn't paying any attention to him, Harry relaxed a little and watched. She was beautiful, the center of attention again. Her hair was loose now and caught the sunlight as it fell around her shoulders. She sparkled despite her mud soaked robes.
Something snapped inside him. Forget the crowd. Forget her other admirers standing right there. He had to tell her how he felt. The crowd parted as he strode toward her.
Ginny felt a rush of happiness watching Harry's face as he approached. Green eyes met brown. Despite being surrounded by a chaotic crowd of celebrating housemates, for a moment they were the only two people in the world.
Just before he reached her, a loud thud and the feel of someone barreling into his back reminded Harry that they were not alone. They were surrounded by rowdy teenagers. Whoever ploughed into Harry was laughing and wrestling with someone else, oblivious to the fact they had knocked him off balance.
For a brief moment, Ginny kept Harry from falling, but he was too heavy for her. Instead of keeping him on his feet, he pulled her down into the mud with him.
Someone yelled, "Mud fight!" Then Kirke and Sloper, the two whose wrestling had knocked Harry over, joined Ginny and Harry in the mud. Dalrimple and the other reserves jumped in voluntarily, splashing as much mud on the others as they could. Before anyone could move, Harold Dingle dragged Katie and Elizabeth into the mud so the whole team would be soaked. Harold and several other seventh years splashed in with them while Colin busily snapped pictures.
Ginny was laughing at Harry's mud splattered face. "Going for that freckled look yourself, Harry?"
"Ohwell. I thought I'd give it a try." Harry answered, wishing she'd forget he ever said anything about her freckles.
Fwap. Ginny threw some more mud onto Harry's uniform. "You missed a spot there. Let me help you" She said and smeared another handful across his chest.
Harry couldn't help but grin. "Oh, you shouldn't have done that, WeasleyI can see you need a lesson." With that he threw his own mudball, but Sloper slipped and knocked Harry's arm so it missed her completely.
"Give it up, Potter. You can't get me. Your aim is just that badwhile you, on the other hand, are a mud magnet" All around them, the mud was flying.
The magically enhanced voice of Professor McGonagall called a halt to the mud fight. Before going off to the showers, the group gave in to Colin's pleading and posed for one more photograph.
While Colin steadied the camera, Ginny was laughing and holding the front of Harry's robes to steady herself in the slippery mud. Harry felt a rush of happiness flow through every part of him. This felt right.
As though it was the most natural thing to do, Harry leaned down and brushed his lips over hers softly, like a whisper. Their eyes met bright with emotion. Neither of them noticed anything but each other.
Then he took her hand and asked, "Shall we?" tilting his head toward the dressing rooms. "We should clean up and go find out about Ron." They walked off together, holding hands and smiling. Something had changed. The world was the same, but he'd begun to find his place in it.
Notes to reviewers:
athenakitty: Your questions are right on the money as usual. Thanks for reviewing!
Nightwing 509: I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far. Harry is starting to figure things out. Thanks for your review!
Lourdes1: Sorry for the delay. I thought I hid that potion clue so well. I guess nothing gets past you! Thanks for reviewing!
Hunta: Thanks for your review! The Death Eaters have just begun
Lord of Darkness13: Thanks for your comments. You're very kind. Harry will deal with the competition in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing!
Jaquelyne: Thanks for your review! Ron's matchmaking work isn't done. His most desperate plan is coming soon.
Gryphonmistress: Good suggestion. Harry should join in on the pranks -- if only to lighten up a little! They are one step closer to figuring things out. Thanks for reviewing!
nat: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you enjoy the story once the action starts.
Happy Snakes Rule: I had a doll named Toodles! Small world, isn't it? Thanks for reviewing!
cintishortstop: Thanks! I appreciate it.
dhmc: Thanks for following my story. Sorry about the delay in updating. I'll try to improve. Thanks for leaving a note!
lluvatar: Great pen name! Sorry about the delay. It couldn't be avoided. I will try to improve. Thanks for writing.