This is kind of a transitional chapter, but I hope it's acceptable!
And as for the burning question you all are asking: Does Ginny know that Harry is cursed?
The answer is:
I can't tell you!
Sorry, people, but it's kind of a plot point. Read carefully though, and remember I have a couple of twists in there because my imagination is weird.
Read on and enjoy!
Chapter 6: Nightmare
A scream pierced the air. A shrill sound, a sound that ruptured the throat and tore the heart of anyone who heard it.
Harry Potter heard it.
He came hurtling out of the trunk. He had not drunk the Dreamless Sleep potion, planning to use it at a later date. Lucky he didn't, or he would not have heard the screams through the charm he set up. He knew she still had nightmares.
This was one. Ginny was writhing in his bed, the covers twisted about her, screaming in desperation. Cold sweat covered her skin and her lip bled from where she had bit it in frustration. She trembled, thrashed, struggled convulsively against the clammy sheets that had become her prison.
"AAAARRRGH!" She screamed again.
"Ginny!" Harry cried out, flinging himself on the bed beside her. He pressed her body flat, and called her name again. "Ginny, wake up! Please! It's a nightmare, a dream! It's not real!"
She stiffened suddenly, let out a last shrill shriek and then fell limp.
"Ginny? Gin? Wake up." Harry told her softly, sat up now, a hand smoothing her damp and tangled hair.
Her eyes snapped open and she shot up. Then she looked at him. "H-Harry?" She asked, almost wonderingly.
"Yes, Ginny. You're fine, you're safe. Do you remember where you are?" Harry questioned. He'd had experience with these nightmares, sometimes she was so disorientated that she didn't remember anything for several minutes.
"H-Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Hogwarts. In the past. You came to see me, remember?" He checked.
She closed her eyes and opened them. "Yes. Yes, I remember. Merlin, Harry, I was so scared!" She flung her arms around his neck, hugging him close and sobbing.
"Shh, it's okay. You're safe. We're all safe. It's fine. You can't be touched. Not here." He soothed her, patting her head gently. The vulnerable side of Ginny Weasley was rarely shown, but it was surprisingly gentle. The way she had been as a child.
"He killed you. All of you!" She sobbed.
Harry stiffened. He'd had that dream. Many times, in fact. It was one shared by a number of people with such weight on their shoulders. Dumbledore, he knew had suffered such nightmares before. As had Moody, Shacklebolt, Arthur Weasley, Remus. People who had a weight on their shoulders, or a duty to protect. Even with the war over, nightmares still came. Harry believed it was a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Nightmares were common. Some had even suffered flashbacks. He knew there were a number of Aurors who suffered this in varying dosages. No one had got out of the war unscarred.
"I know. It's alright, Gin. It was only a nightmare. A dream. I have them too. You've just got to bleed away the poison of the memory. You've got to accept it and destroy it." Harry told her.
After a few minutes, Ginny let go of Harry, looking sheepish. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up or anything..."
"It's okay. I had a charm on you, to keep an eye. Or an ear. I figured being in a new environment might inspire a dream or two. I got them as well." Harry confided.
"Well, anyway, I'm fine now." Ginny told him. "Just let me get out and change. I'm a bit damp."
He nodded and got off the bed as she pulled out another nightgown and entered the bathroom. Of course, he couldn't help but admire the way her satin nightgown clung to her figure, damp with sweat...
'Get a grip on yourself, Potter.' He told himself sternly. 'This is Ginny we're talking about, remember? Best friend's little sister. She's just had a nightmare. In no way should you be salivating over her body!'
But he couldn't help himself. Each curve was defined. Each nook and cranny promising...
'Stupid curse! Stop thinking about her! This curse always has you thinking of her!' Harry scowled.
He was lying to himself. He'd been fighting an attraction to Ginny Weasley since Sixth-year. And he had been succeeding remarkably well. The Lust Curse cast upon him in the final battle had scaled things up to the point where he wanted her so badly. He had steadfastly ignored the growing attraction, but there was something about Ginny, something undefined, something primal in his desire for her. And attraction and want were quickly turning to love and need.
"Harry?" Ginny asked, heading back into the room.
He looked up. She was wearing a clean nightgown, this one a thin, white cotton in an old-fashioned style. (A/N: Think Elizabeth's nightgown in Pirates of the Caribbean.) She'd brushed her hair and it fell in curls and ringlets about her face.
"Hey," he smiled softly. "Feel better?"
"Much. I can't believe I fell apart like that." She sighed.
"Ginny, we've both been through things that would break another witch or wizard. I think we've got every right to fall apart once in a while." Harry chuckled. He pulled her into a hug, resting his head upon hers. "It doesn't matter. I don't think any less of you, and I won't tell anyone."
"Good," she replied, moving her head to look up at him, "you'd better not."
"Promise."
She smiled. "Thank you, Harry." She kissed his cheek gently. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I ought to actually get some sleep."
He grinned. It was then he realised that he was only wearing his boxers. He rolled his eyes. "Goodnight, Ginny."
"'Night, Harry." She smirked.
As he turned and climbed back into the trunk, Ginny moaned.
'Why did he have to be so nice? And in those boxers... It was all I could do to quit drooling. He keeps making this harder to fight. I can't and I need to. But if he ever finds out... He can't. He won't want me. But there's just something I need. Desperately.' Ginny sighed.
The two DADA teachers were in trouble.
They were desperately attracted to each other, and denying it and defying it.
It was a cauldron of trouble that was soon to explode.
# # #
The next morning was fresh, clear. Harry thanked God his taste buds were back to normal as he ate cereal for breakfast. He had a free period first, and had decided to sort Ginny's room out then, by moving the training room to the floor above. The floor with the Moonlight Room, as Harry called it.
Down on the Gryffindor table, Lily apologised to James, only to have it waved away.
"It doesn't matter, Lils. I just... It's a sensitive subject." James told her. "I hate what Snape and his cronies do to others. Fifth-year was just... It got out of hand."
"Still, I'm sorry. Though why you didn't just say that in the first place..."
"Let Snape know in some respect that it was hurting me? Not likely. He'd just do it some more." James responded.
"I guess."
"It's impossible to psycho-analyse James, Lily. I suggest you don't bother. He's enough to drive the psychiatrists to psychiatrists." Remus told her with a grin.
"Thanks, Remus. Nice to see you think so much of my brain." James remarked dryly.
"Miss Westley looks tired." Sirius observed.
Remus looked up there. He frowned. "They both do. Maybe they didn't get enough sleep."
That one off-hand comment was enough to make Lily, Pia, Sirius and James choke on whatever they were eating or drinking, trying not to laugh.
Remus rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean that, you guys! They were probably up late talking. Maybe Professor Potter didn't take that Dreamless Sleep Potion."
"What potion?" James asked, frowning.
Remus slapped his forehead. "I didn't tell you! Listen, yesterday morning he turned up in the hospital wing..." He proceeded to relate the conversation and his observations from the previous morning.
"That's interesting. He had a struggle with a magical creature?" James looked curious. "Very interesting."
"How?"
"There's just a few things... But I want to be sure. We need some more information. And I think we also need to know who 'they' are, who Miss Westley was referring to. I suspect it's us." James explained.
"What's your first lesson?" Peter asked.
"Potions, ugh. You?" James responded.
"Care of Magical Creatures. I wonder if Professor Kettleburn's up to teaching again." Peter mused. "He lost a finger last lesson. I don't think he's all that fond of dragons at the moment."
Lily couldn't help laughing as she overheard him.
Pia – Lily's best friend – grinned. "I wouldn't like dragons either if they bit off one of my fingers."
"Funnily enough, that'd make people go off them, wouldn't it?" Sirius commented.
"Except maybe Hagrid. He's always wanted a dragon." James mused.
"What other lessons for today?"
"Double Defence this afternoon. I'm quite looking forward to it. I think it could be amusing as well as informative." James gave a smirk.
"What do you mean?" Lily looked confused.
"Well, I'm kind of looking forward to seeing the banter between our professor and his new assistant. We might be able to glean some info from them." James clarified.
"Info? What info?"
"Just some stuff." James told her evasively. However, the look exchanged with Remus suggested that 'some stuff' wasn't what they were after. They wanted to know what made that change in the professor scent.
"He knows a lot about the Deadly Curses, doesn't he?" Pia wondered. "Bit odd, really. Especially knowing that much about Moonlight Vampires. I think I'd rather come across a normal vampire. At least they only suck your blood. And they're a lot better at the seduction stuff. I'd rather be seduced than... y'know... attacked." She looked uncomfortable.
"I wonder what happens to Moonlight Vampires that deny themselves blood and... er... the means to abate the lust." Lily thought aloud, carefully wording her question.
"Ask him this afternoon. Or ask Miss Westley. Maybe she'll be able to clarify a few points." Remus recommended.
"Yeah, that could be very interesting." James murmured, silently adding a promise to himself to ask the Defence Professor a question that had been burning in his mind since the first lesson.
# # #
"Ginny, you're going to be the death of me." Harry stated as he prepared for his afternoon class.
"Oh? And why is that?" The mischievous redhead wanted to know.
"That would be because you're being evil. You keep second-guessing me and undermining me, and it isn't fun. Anyway, this afternoon, seventh-year NEWT class. We're studying Dark Curses. Such as the Unforgivables and Deadlies."
"Yay, Vampires, Werewolves and Veela." Ginny stated.
"Oh my." Harry quipped. Ginny shot him a strange look. "Sorry, Muggle reference. The Wizard of Oz. Popular children's film. Been out for years, this time and our own."
"I don't know that one. Maybe you could find a free night and take me to see it." Ginny stated, her voice low and husky.
Harry, feeling flustered but reluctant to show it, merely replied. "I'm afraid it isn't often shown in cinemas. You'd have to be prepared for a private night in."
"I think I could cope with that." Ginny told him.
Harry looked at her. When had she got so close? He would have sworn she was the other side of the classroom a moment ago. Now, though, she was stood in front of him.
"You really think so?" He asked her, desperately keeping his voice even, trying to make his breath come out evenly, not raggedly as it was trying to.
Ginny looked up at him. Those green eyes were so expressive, so beautiful. She just wanted to peer into them for hours. And the lips below, so soft, delicate, yet the mouth was decisive, strong. She felt her breathing turn erratic, half-wishing she hadn't begun this tease. It was tormenting her. She wasn't supposed to fee like this... She'd put it away in her fourth- year... But now...
The two time-travellers were caught in each other's gaze. Time seemed to still around them as they stared into each other's eyes, trying to catch glimpses of the depths of the other's soul. Raw emotion was exuding from their body, creating a shell around them, a specific aura that seemed to beg for them to quit playing around. They were both falling hard and fast (if they hadn't already), and the primal forces that seemed to link them together was more powerful than anything else.
Ginny shuddered as she felt her body desiring him, responding to his presence without any conscious thought. She dragged her eyes away from his face, only to find them trickling over every inch of his body.
'Stop it!' She told herself. 'You can't feel like this! He'll never... Not after... That stupid curse! It gets in the way of everything!'
Harry felt his own eyes drag over her body as her gaze left his. Anxiously, he tried not to, but his mind was processing every factor of her appearance.
At that moment, the door opened.
They turned to face the students automatically, wiping away every suggestion of what had been occurring before. Soon enough, everyone had filed in and was sat down.
Lily raised a hand.
"Well, I guess I didn't even need to start lecturing for questions to be asked. Or is this not so much about the subject?" Harry asked.
"Not so much, sir. I was just wondering about Miss Westley's appearance yesterday." Lily explained.
Ginny, sat on Harry's desk wearing loose light blue robes over jeans and a white top, smirked. "See, I'm a hot topic."
"Well, I suppose you can be classed as hot." Harry told her seriously. "Like your entire family, likes to breathe fire when in a redheaded temper. Boys, take notes on the single most incredibly dangerous magical creature – a witch. Especially if she has a temper, hormones and a speciality."
"Tell me about it. You don't want to be on the wrong end of Lily's Jelly- Legs Jinx." James mumbled, just loud enough for everyone to hear. They all laughed, while Lily flushed.
"Miss Westley arrived as she did yesterday because she has a flair for the dramatic. She's my best friend's little sister, but also one of my best friends in her own right." Harry told them, adding the second half of the sentence very quickly.
"What about her sharing your room?" Sirius wanted to know.
Ginny actually slushed, while Harry smirked. "She was joking. She is sharing the same suite, since they can't afford a second lot of DADA teacher's quarters, but has her own room. Lucky she does, otherwise I'd have to hex her for snoring."
"I don't snore!"
"I have it on good authority that you do." Harry grinned. "Now, how about we actually learn something about defending yourself against the Dark Arts?"
Harry proceeded to give them descriptions of a number of Dark Curses that were popular with Death Eaters, as well as the best ways to defend against them.
"Next lesson, we'll be studying the Unforgivables in more detail. If you want to find out more yourself, go ahead." Harry told them.
"Sir, I was reading about the Deadly Curses for our essay. I was wondering, what happens if a Moonlight Vampire – while in his or her sane, human form – denies themself the means to slake their lust?" Lily asked.
Harry looked at her, then nodded. "Fair question. From the few accounts written, it throws the Vampire into an incredible rage. They will harm themselves in an attempt for blood, and to distract themselves from the intense need for, um, sex. Some will provide themselves with blood. Sometimes a vial of it, other times a pouch from a butcher's. Others will even take creatures, rats or some such creature, to feed themself." He sighed. "As for the lust, it merely furies the Vampire to self-harm."
"What's the difference between male and female Moonlight Vampires?" Sirius asked, his voice had an audible smirk.
"Do I really need to go into biology? If you can't tell the difference between girls and boys by now, Mr Black, I don't like to think about your poor girlfriends." Harry replied, an evil grin gracing his lips.
Ginny giggled. Sirius looked mortified.
"I didn't mean that, sir. I just meant... well... is there any difference in their reactions?"
"Yes. In vampiric form, the female is more aggressive and stronger. It's an even worse idea to get stuck with a female Moonlight Vampire than a male one. During the rest of the month, however, the males are more aggressive, as they seem to have more trouble with controlling their lust, even as normal humans." Ginny smirked at Harry. "I never want to come across a teenage, male Moonlight Vampire. That could be deadly."
"See, I knew this was a bad idea. You're trying to instigate a battle of the sexes, aren't you?" Harry demanded.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I've had to put up being the youngest in a family of males with only Mum for support. I'm just evil. Not Voldemort-evil, of course. Just..."
"Evil-evil?" Harry suggested.
Before she could respond, the bell rang.
"Don't forget to work on your original tasks!" Harry told them all. "And a little background on the Unforgivables would be a good idea!"
The students left. Well, all but one.
"Mr Potter? Is there some way we can help you?" Harry asked.
"I want to be an Auror when I leave school. I was wondering if you could help me with any extra training. Even if it's just duelling or something. You're both powerful, and with Voldemort on the loose, I could do with all the extra training I can get."
Harry examined him. It would be weird, teaching his father more advanced techniques, but he felt that he had to do all he could. And there was no trace of the arrogant person Harry had seen in Snape's pensieve. Maybe this was what Sirius and Remus had meant by James growing up in seventh- year. He nodded slowly.
"Come here on Monday after dinner. We'll see what your strengths and weaknesses are and go on from there. You've got a lot of potential, Mr Potter. I would be glad to help you utilise it." Harry told him.
"Thank you Professor!" James grinned. "This really means a lot to me!"
"It's fine, Mr Potter. Now go on. You've got work to do." Harry grinned.
The Head Boy nodded, grinning, and left the room.
Ginny looked at him, raising a brow and mimicked. "You have a lot of potential, Mr Potter. I would be glad to help you utilise it."
"If you're so glad to help me, meet me in the training room in half an hour. I feel like some swordplay." Harry told her.
Ginny grinned. "You're on!"
# # #
A/N: Hope that was okay. Not my best work, but there you go.
I have very little time at the moment, so I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who reviewed! You've all been great and really supportive.
Now, if anyone has any ideas for pranks, plot points, twists, anything, I would appreciate it. If I like it, I'll use it and give credit! Others may get their names in! See, I'm a rewarding person!
Lol, Tanydwr
And as for the burning question you all are asking: Does Ginny know that Harry is cursed?
The answer is:
I can't tell you!
Sorry, people, but it's kind of a plot point. Read carefully though, and remember I have a couple of twists in there because my imagination is weird.
Read on and enjoy!
Chapter 6: Nightmare
A scream pierced the air. A shrill sound, a sound that ruptured the throat and tore the heart of anyone who heard it.
Harry Potter heard it.
He came hurtling out of the trunk. He had not drunk the Dreamless Sleep potion, planning to use it at a later date. Lucky he didn't, or he would not have heard the screams through the charm he set up. He knew she still had nightmares.
This was one. Ginny was writhing in his bed, the covers twisted about her, screaming in desperation. Cold sweat covered her skin and her lip bled from where she had bit it in frustration. She trembled, thrashed, struggled convulsively against the clammy sheets that had become her prison.
"AAAARRRGH!" She screamed again.
"Ginny!" Harry cried out, flinging himself on the bed beside her. He pressed her body flat, and called her name again. "Ginny, wake up! Please! It's a nightmare, a dream! It's not real!"
She stiffened suddenly, let out a last shrill shriek and then fell limp.
"Ginny? Gin? Wake up." Harry told her softly, sat up now, a hand smoothing her damp and tangled hair.
Her eyes snapped open and she shot up. Then she looked at him. "H-Harry?" She asked, almost wonderingly.
"Yes, Ginny. You're fine, you're safe. Do you remember where you are?" Harry questioned. He'd had experience with these nightmares, sometimes she was so disorientated that she didn't remember anything for several minutes.
"H-Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Hogwarts. In the past. You came to see me, remember?" He checked.
She closed her eyes and opened them. "Yes. Yes, I remember. Merlin, Harry, I was so scared!" She flung her arms around his neck, hugging him close and sobbing.
"Shh, it's okay. You're safe. We're all safe. It's fine. You can't be touched. Not here." He soothed her, patting her head gently. The vulnerable side of Ginny Weasley was rarely shown, but it was surprisingly gentle. The way she had been as a child.
"He killed you. All of you!" She sobbed.
Harry stiffened. He'd had that dream. Many times, in fact. It was one shared by a number of people with such weight on their shoulders. Dumbledore, he knew had suffered such nightmares before. As had Moody, Shacklebolt, Arthur Weasley, Remus. People who had a weight on their shoulders, or a duty to protect. Even with the war over, nightmares still came. Harry believed it was a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Nightmares were common. Some had even suffered flashbacks. He knew there were a number of Aurors who suffered this in varying dosages. No one had got out of the war unscarred.
"I know. It's alright, Gin. It was only a nightmare. A dream. I have them too. You've just got to bleed away the poison of the memory. You've got to accept it and destroy it." Harry told her.
After a few minutes, Ginny let go of Harry, looking sheepish. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up or anything..."
"It's okay. I had a charm on you, to keep an eye. Or an ear. I figured being in a new environment might inspire a dream or two. I got them as well." Harry confided.
"Well, anyway, I'm fine now." Ginny told him. "Just let me get out and change. I'm a bit damp."
He nodded and got off the bed as she pulled out another nightgown and entered the bathroom. Of course, he couldn't help but admire the way her satin nightgown clung to her figure, damp with sweat...
'Get a grip on yourself, Potter.' He told himself sternly. 'This is Ginny we're talking about, remember? Best friend's little sister. She's just had a nightmare. In no way should you be salivating over her body!'
But he couldn't help himself. Each curve was defined. Each nook and cranny promising...
'Stupid curse! Stop thinking about her! This curse always has you thinking of her!' Harry scowled.
He was lying to himself. He'd been fighting an attraction to Ginny Weasley since Sixth-year. And he had been succeeding remarkably well. The Lust Curse cast upon him in the final battle had scaled things up to the point where he wanted her so badly. He had steadfastly ignored the growing attraction, but there was something about Ginny, something undefined, something primal in his desire for her. And attraction and want were quickly turning to love and need.
"Harry?" Ginny asked, heading back into the room.
He looked up. She was wearing a clean nightgown, this one a thin, white cotton in an old-fashioned style. (A/N: Think Elizabeth's nightgown in Pirates of the Caribbean.) She'd brushed her hair and it fell in curls and ringlets about her face.
"Hey," he smiled softly. "Feel better?"
"Much. I can't believe I fell apart like that." She sighed.
"Ginny, we've both been through things that would break another witch or wizard. I think we've got every right to fall apart once in a while." Harry chuckled. He pulled her into a hug, resting his head upon hers. "It doesn't matter. I don't think any less of you, and I won't tell anyone."
"Good," she replied, moving her head to look up at him, "you'd better not."
"Promise."
She smiled. "Thank you, Harry." She kissed his cheek gently. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I ought to actually get some sleep."
He grinned. It was then he realised that he was only wearing his boxers. He rolled his eyes. "Goodnight, Ginny."
"'Night, Harry." She smirked.
As he turned and climbed back into the trunk, Ginny moaned.
'Why did he have to be so nice? And in those boxers... It was all I could do to quit drooling. He keeps making this harder to fight. I can't and I need to. But if he ever finds out... He can't. He won't want me. But there's just something I need. Desperately.' Ginny sighed.
The two DADA teachers were in trouble.
They were desperately attracted to each other, and denying it and defying it.
It was a cauldron of trouble that was soon to explode.
# # #
The next morning was fresh, clear. Harry thanked God his taste buds were back to normal as he ate cereal for breakfast. He had a free period first, and had decided to sort Ginny's room out then, by moving the training room to the floor above. The floor with the Moonlight Room, as Harry called it.
Down on the Gryffindor table, Lily apologised to James, only to have it waved away.
"It doesn't matter, Lils. I just... It's a sensitive subject." James told her. "I hate what Snape and his cronies do to others. Fifth-year was just... It got out of hand."
"Still, I'm sorry. Though why you didn't just say that in the first place..."
"Let Snape know in some respect that it was hurting me? Not likely. He'd just do it some more." James responded.
"I guess."
"It's impossible to psycho-analyse James, Lily. I suggest you don't bother. He's enough to drive the psychiatrists to psychiatrists." Remus told her with a grin.
"Thanks, Remus. Nice to see you think so much of my brain." James remarked dryly.
"Miss Westley looks tired." Sirius observed.
Remus looked up there. He frowned. "They both do. Maybe they didn't get enough sleep."
That one off-hand comment was enough to make Lily, Pia, Sirius and James choke on whatever they were eating or drinking, trying not to laugh.
Remus rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean that, you guys! They were probably up late talking. Maybe Professor Potter didn't take that Dreamless Sleep Potion."
"What potion?" James asked, frowning.
Remus slapped his forehead. "I didn't tell you! Listen, yesterday morning he turned up in the hospital wing..." He proceeded to relate the conversation and his observations from the previous morning.
"That's interesting. He had a struggle with a magical creature?" James looked curious. "Very interesting."
"How?"
"There's just a few things... But I want to be sure. We need some more information. And I think we also need to know who 'they' are, who Miss Westley was referring to. I suspect it's us." James explained.
"What's your first lesson?" Peter asked.
"Potions, ugh. You?" James responded.
"Care of Magical Creatures. I wonder if Professor Kettleburn's up to teaching again." Peter mused. "He lost a finger last lesson. I don't think he's all that fond of dragons at the moment."
Lily couldn't help laughing as she overheard him.
Pia – Lily's best friend – grinned. "I wouldn't like dragons either if they bit off one of my fingers."
"Funnily enough, that'd make people go off them, wouldn't it?" Sirius commented.
"Except maybe Hagrid. He's always wanted a dragon." James mused.
"What other lessons for today?"
"Double Defence this afternoon. I'm quite looking forward to it. I think it could be amusing as well as informative." James gave a smirk.
"What do you mean?" Lily looked confused.
"Well, I'm kind of looking forward to seeing the banter between our professor and his new assistant. We might be able to glean some info from them." James clarified.
"Info? What info?"
"Just some stuff." James told her evasively. However, the look exchanged with Remus suggested that 'some stuff' wasn't what they were after. They wanted to know what made that change in the professor scent.
"He knows a lot about the Deadly Curses, doesn't he?" Pia wondered. "Bit odd, really. Especially knowing that much about Moonlight Vampires. I think I'd rather come across a normal vampire. At least they only suck your blood. And they're a lot better at the seduction stuff. I'd rather be seduced than... y'know... attacked." She looked uncomfortable.
"I wonder what happens to Moonlight Vampires that deny themselves blood and... er... the means to abate the lust." Lily thought aloud, carefully wording her question.
"Ask him this afternoon. Or ask Miss Westley. Maybe she'll be able to clarify a few points." Remus recommended.
"Yeah, that could be very interesting." James murmured, silently adding a promise to himself to ask the Defence Professor a question that had been burning in his mind since the first lesson.
# # #
"Ginny, you're going to be the death of me." Harry stated as he prepared for his afternoon class.
"Oh? And why is that?" The mischievous redhead wanted to know.
"That would be because you're being evil. You keep second-guessing me and undermining me, and it isn't fun. Anyway, this afternoon, seventh-year NEWT class. We're studying Dark Curses. Such as the Unforgivables and Deadlies."
"Yay, Vampires, Werewolves and Veela." Ginny stated.
"Oh my." Harry quipped. Ginny shot him a strange look. "Sorry, Muggle reference. The Wizard of Oz. Popular children's film. Been out for years, this time and our own."
"I don't know that one. Maybe you could find a free night and take me to see it." Ginny stated, her voice low and husky.
Harry, feeling flustered but reluctant to show it, merely replied. "I'm afraid it isn't often shown in cinemas. You'd have to be prepared for a private night in."
"I think I could cope with that." Ginny told him.
Harry looked at her. When had she got so close? He would have sworn she was the other side of the classroom a moment ago. Now, though, she was stood in front of him.
"You really think so?" He asked her, desperately keeping his voice even, trying to make his breath come out evenly, not raggedly as it was trying to.
Ginny looked up at him. Those green eyes were so expressive, so beautiful. She just wanted to peer into them for hours. And the lips below, so soft, delicate, yet the mouth was decisive, strong. She felt her breathing turn erratic, half-wishing she hadn't begun this tease. It was tormenting her. She wasn't supposed to fee like this... She'd put it away in her fourth- year... But now...
The two time-travellers were caught in each other's gaze. Time seemed to still around them as they stared into each other's eyes, trying to catch glimpses of the depths of the other's soul. Raw emotion was exuding from their body, creating a shell around them, a specific aura that seemed to beg for them to quit playing around. They were both falling hard and fast (if they hadn't already), and the primal forces that seemed to link them together was more powerful than anything else.
Ginny shuddered as she felt her body desiring him, responding to his presence without any conscious thought. She dragged her eyes away from his face, only to find them trickling over every inch of his body.
'Stop it!' She told herself. 'You can't feel like this! He'll never... Not after... That stupid curse! It gets in the way of everything!'
Harry felt his own eyes drag over her body as her gaze left his. Anxiously, he tried not to, but his mind was processing every factor of her appearance.
At that moment, the door opened.
They turned to face the students automatically, wiping away every suggestion of what had been occurring before. Soon enough, everyone had filed in and was sat down.
Lily raised a hand.
"Well, I guess I didn't even need to start lecturing for questions to be asked. Or is this not so much about the subject?" Harry asked.
"Not so much, sir. I was just wondering about Miss Westley's appearance yesterday." Lily explained.
Ginny, sat on Harry's desk wearing loose light blue robes over jeans and a white top, smirked. "See, I'm a hot topic."
"Well, I suppose you can be classed as hot." Harry told her seriously. "Like your entire family, likes to breathe fire when in a redheaded temper. Boys, take notes on the single most incredibly dangerous magical creature – a witch. Especially if she has a temper, hormones and a speciality."
"Tell me about it. You don't want to be on the wrong end of Lily's Jelly- Legs Jinx." James mumbled, just loud enough for everyone to hear. They all laughed, while Lily flushed.
"Miss Westley arrived as she did yesterday because she has a flair for the dramatic. She's my best friend's little sister, but also one of my best friends in her own right." Harry told them, adding the second half of the sentence very quickly.
"What about her sharing your room?" Sirius wanted to know.
Ginny actually slushed, while Harry smirked. "She was joking. She is sharing the same suite, since they can't afford a second lot of DADA teacher's quarters, but has her own room. Lucky she does, otherwise I'd have to hex her for snoring."
"I don't snore!"
"I have it on good authority that you do." Harry grinned. "Now, how about we actually learn something about defending yourself against the Dark Arts?"
Harry proceeded to give them descriptions of a number of Dark Curses that were popular with Death Eaters, as well as the best ways to defend against them.
"Next lesson, we'll be studying the Unforgivables in more detail. If you want to find out more yourself, go ahead." Harry told them.
"Sir, I was reading about the Deadly Curses for our essay. I was wondering, what happens if a Moonlight Vampire – while in his or her sane, human form – denies themself the means to slake their lust?" Lily asked.
Harry looked at her, then nodded. "Fair question. From the few accounts written, it throws the Vampire into an incredible rage. They will harm themselves in an attempt for blood, and to distract themselves from the intense need for, um, sex. Some will provide themselves with blood. Sometimes a vial of it, other times a pouch from a butcher's. Others will even take creatures, rats or some such creature, to feed themself." He sighed. "As for the lust, it merely furies the Vampire to self-harm."
"What's the difference between male and female Moonlight Vampires?" Sirius asked, his voice had an audible smirk.
"Do I really need to go into biology? If you can't tell the difference between girls and boys by now, Mr Black, I don't like to think about your poor girlfriends." Harry replied, an evil grin gracing his lips.
Ginny giggled. Sirius looked mortified.
"I didn't mean that, sir. I just meant... well... is there any difference in their reactions?"
"Yes. In vampiric form, the female is more aggressive and stronger. It's an even worse idea to get stuck with a female Moonlight Vampire than a male one. During the rest of the month, however, the males are more aggressive, as they seem to have more trouble with controlling their lust, even as normal humans." Ginny smirked at Harry. "I never want to come across a teenage, male Moonlight Vampire. That could be deadly."
"See, I knew this was a bad idea. You're trying to instigate a battle of the sexes, aren't you?" Harry demanded.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I've had to put up being the youngest in a family of males with only Mum for support. I'm just evil. Not Voldemort-evil, of course. Just..."
"Evil-evil?" Harry suggested.
Before she could respond, the bell rang.
"Don't forget to work on your original tasks!" Harry told them all. "And a little background on the Unforgivables would be a good idea!"
The students left. Well, all but one.
"Mr Potter? Is there some way we can help you?" Harry asked.
"I want to be an Auror when I leave school. I was wondering if you could help me with any extra training. Even if it's just duelling or something. You're both powerful, and with Voldemort on the loose, I could do with all the extra training I can get."
Harry examined him. It would be weird, teaching his father more advanced techniques, but he felt that he had to do all he could. And there was no trace of the arrogant person Harry had seen in Snape's pensieve. Maybe this was what Sirius and Remus had meant by James growing up in seventh- year. He nodded slowly.
"Come here on Monday after dinner. We'll see what your strengths and weaknesses are and go on from there. You've got a lot of potential, Mr Potter. I would be glad to help you utilise it." Harry told him.
"Thank you Professor!" James grinned. "This really means a lot to me!"
"It's fine, Mr Potter. Now go on. You've got work to do." Harry grinned.
The Head Boy nodded, grinning, and left the room.
Ginny looked at him, raising a brow and mimicked. "You have a lot of potential, Mr Potter. I would be glad to help you utilise it."
"If you're so glad to help me, meet me in the training room in half an hour. I feel like some swordplay." Harry told her.
Ginny grinned. "You're on!"
# # #
A/N: Hope that was okay. Not my best work, but there you go.
I have very little time at the moment, so I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who reviewed! You've all been great and really supportive.
Now, if anyone has any ideas for pranks, plot points, twists, anything, I would appreciate it. If I like it, I'll use it and give credit! Others may get their names in! See, I'm a rewarding person!
Lol, Tanydwr