Title: Way of the Force
Author name: Icy Manipulator
Author email:
Category: Action/Adventure
Sub Category: Romance
Keywords: Harry Jedi
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Darkness that lurks within the recesses of a tortured mind. Or, the Last Command.
DISCLAIMER:
This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and/or George Lucas, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, Lucas Books, Del Rey and Randomhouse, Lucas Arts and Lucasfilm Ltd., and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: Another chapter up. I took Jaessa's advice and kept with Virginia instead of Ginevra (which incidentally is a brand of gin.)
I'd now like to thank all those who have reviewed this fic. I'm just a bit sad for those who were disappointed with the slight Hr/H last chapter and said that they'd stop reading. If you like Hr/H try my other fic, Heart's Nobility. In the original post of this story, I placed in the reasons I chose Ginny. So if anyone happens to have a copy of that, it's in chapter 9, please share it. Although, through reading this you'll find that the reasons are sound.
On a happier note, I have never before received such lengthy reviews. My answers will be with the next chapter. ;-)
Enjoy!
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"The diary," said Riddle. My diary. Little Ginny's been
writing in it for months and months, telling me all her
pitiful worries and woes - how her brothers tease her, how
she had to come to school with secondhand robes and books,
how" -Riddle's eyes glinted "how she didn't think famous,
good, great Harry Potter would ever like her . . . ."
…..
All the time he spoke, Riddle's eyes never left Harry's
face. There was an almost hungry look in them.
"It's very boring, having to listen to the silly little
troubles of an eleven- year-old girl," he went on. "But I
was patient. I wrote back. I was sympathetic, I was kind.
Ginny simply loved me. 'No one's ever understood me like you,
Tom .... I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in ....
It's like having a friend I can carry around
in my pocket . . . .'
……
Riddle laughed, a high, cold laugh that didn't suit him. It
made the hairs stand up on the back of Harry's neck.
"If I say it myself, Harry, I've always been able to charm
the people I needed. So Ginny poured out her soul to me, and
her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted .... I grew
stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her
darkest secrets. I grew powerful, far more powerful than
little Miss Weasley. Powerful enough to start feeding Miss
Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my
soul back into her. . ."
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets p. 309-310
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Chapter 10 – Dark Apprentice
"He shouldn't be, he must realize that you are as much as an important part of my life as he is. Aside from which, we're the couple, Him and Me. So there's nothing he should be jealous about. Like I said earlier, I love you both in much the same way but I'm with him. Clear and simple."
Having heard enough, Ron Weasely quietly strode out of the library. Ginny immediately followed him, for she didn't know how her brother would react. Well, she did know how her brother would feel if she was in his shoes. Seeing your girlfriend with your best friend in an intimate embrace can tune out sound and logic and she was worried what her, somewhat dim (from an emotional standpoint, for Ginny) brother would do to Harry and Hermione.
Brother and sister were standing right now at the same place they were that morning. They were facing east watching the starry sky. The moon was bright tonight, which was just off their right shoulder.
"She's right you know…" Ron spoke, breaking the silence they shared. "I suppose I should have had realized the way she felt about Harry…and about me. And for some strange reason it all fits. Even stranger still is that I don't feel jealous at all…By God, I do love that woman and if anything happened to me… with this war going on about… I'm glad that I know someone would take care of her as much as I would have."
"Ron…" Ginny began. But, she didn't know how to continue.
"It's time for me to grow up Gin-Gin," Ron turned to face his sister, using a term of endearment that only he and their Dad were allowed to use without any repercussions from his fiery tempered sister.
"Oh Ron…" was all she could say as she launched herself at and hugging him. No other words were needed as they broke apart and again looked back at the sky, savoring that moment of understanding that only siblings could share.
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The days went by and to the disappointment of Hermione and surprisingly Ron, their return for their sixth year at Hogwarts had been delayed by a week. They were told that this is because of the numerous preparations being done to increase the size of the security covered by Hogwarts, along with the construction and creation of security barriers along the perimeter as well as the creation of secure travel and communications with the other strongholds. It was no surprise to the teens that Hogwarts and Magical Britain itself was preparing for a siege or a war of attrition against the dark forces of Voldemort.
In the meanwhile, Harry was keeping himself scarce again. After that bearing of souls between Harry and Hermione, he seemed to have been avoiding them again. Even when they asked Professor Dumbledore or Remus, they just say that he's busy with preparations. They were more puzzled by this and the question that was always on their minds was, what was Harry preparing for?
Though she might have an idea though, because every time she would ask about that metallic cylinder he always carried by his side he was always able to divert her attention from it. Then when she would remember about it again, he would not be there or would be too busy.
It was on a brisk autumn morning of the 4th of September when the three girls, Hermione, Luna and Ginny had just come down from the castle parapets and were headed for breakfast, were they had agreed to meet with Ron and the twins.
"I wonder where he is?" Hermione asked out loud.
"Yeah. This is the first time he didn't go out for his morning ride," Agreed Ginny.
"He did not miss it. Harry just went earlier this morning," Luna said in her dreamy voice.
"Did he now? And how, may I ask, did you know?" Ginny then asked with a raised eyebrow, while Hermione looked on with interest.
"I was with him. He taught me how to ride," Luna replied casually. The other two suddenly stopped walking.
"You mean to say, that we went up there and waited for thirty minutes when you knew all along that he wouldn't show up?" Ginny exclaimed incredulously.
Luna had also stopped walking now to turn and look at the two. "I thought we went up there everyday to breathe in the fresh morning air. Isn't that our reason? Of course the 'view' helped too…"
"Did he tell you what he would be doing this morning, Luna?" Hermione tried cutting in to head off further argument.
"He did say he needed to practice his fencing… though I don't know why he would need practice in putting up a fence when a perimeter charm and an intruder ward are much more effective and easier…"
"I think he meant swords, Luna," Hermione again interrupted.
"Oh..." Luna just said then turned to the still incensed Ginny and said again in a dreamy voice "I thought you said you gave up on him already so I thought it's my turn now."
'…Couldn't be more direct than that…' thought Hermione as she too looked at the Ginny, who couldn't decide to look incredulous or angry.
"And I thought you had a thing for Ron," Ginny blurted out as a feeble comeback. Hermione felt as though she was watching a tennis match. She looked back at Luna with and an eyebrow raised.
"Well yes, still do in fact… but seeing as Ron's spoken for…" Luna looked pointedly at Hermione then turned back to Ginny and continued "… and I thought you'd do something about it already, but, instead, you went out to date Corner and then you went and planned to go out with Thomas… and then…"
"That's not exactly true and you know it!" Ginny shouted. "I was trying to get over him… he never saw me… while somebody else did… and… and…"
"Well, that was your choice wasn't it? If you didn't go for what you wanted and instead settled for what came to you or what you knew would be easy for you…tell me, did you learn something from it?" Luna had a gleam in her eye now. The dreamy expression was gone, instead stood a woman who was astonishingly wise, a Ravenclaw.
Hermione then decided it was time to head off the volatile situation. "Will you two please stop arguing about MY boys?" she huffed.
They became silent for a minute but then started giggling.
"You sound like their mother…" Luna said. Then the laughter started, the tension gone for now.
"Come on you two lets go find Harry and see if he'd join us and the other boys for breakfast." Hermione said as she looped her arms around the two younger girls and headed for the training hall where Luna said Harry went after their early morning ride.
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"Do you really think we'll be able to train the dragons enough to serve as guards?" Bill asked his opponent as he parried an overhead blow.
"It really is a good idea…hmmmph," Harry answered as he swung right-low and then twirled to the left to block the follow on attack of Bill's double bladed attacks. "If there's anyone who could bring those dragons in line…it would be Charlie."
They continued their deadly dance for a few minutes when Harry remembered something.
"By the way…" duck, parry, counter…. "Are the twins told about the thing already?"
"Dad told them last night so prepare for a rubbing... uhhrm," Bill said as he spun around to block a mid high swing.
Harry groaned as he heard this, besides he was also already tired and sore from Bill's powerful strokes. Though he knew he could have easily beaten Bill, he held back his use of the Force and concentrated instead on whatever else he had. That's when he knew he needed to train some more on his sword dueling. It was a surprise on how well Bill was able to efficiently handle his two blades and Harry himself felt the exhilaration of their combat as he parried and offered counter blows with his katana.
"You're a natural at this. You've got an interesting technique too," Bill then said.
"You're no slouch either," Harry replied as he got distracted as he noticed they were no longer alone and suddenly found himself face to face with the tip of one of Bills swords.
"I think we need to take a break. My arms are killing me… you've got some strong blows there," Bill offered.
"Yeah, and I think we have visitors. You go on, I'll just tidy up," Harry replied as he nodded towards the benches lining the training hall. Bill quickly greeted the girls then headed out for a well deserved shower while Harry returned the practice mats and other gear to their proper places before walking over to his visitors.
He took a quick glance at the clock hanging at the far wall and was surprised to find its was just barely eight o'clock. He then turned to look back at his friends, stopping a few paces in front of them and smiled.
"I must have done something really good today, since it's still early and I'm already rewarded by such visions of loveliness." Harry almost cringed as he heard his dad and Sirius doing wolf whistles, while his mum was muttering something about a donjon or something, at the back of his mind. He couldn't help it if he was honest, can he? And besides, the wonderful shade of red highlighting the three girls cheeks where an equally justifiable reward.
It was Hermione who recovered first. "Harry, What happened to you?"
"What do you mean 'Mione?" Harry answered in a confused tone.
"I think what she means is, what made the change in you… you're not moody…" Luna began to which Ginny then picked up…"not snapping at peoples heads off… you're more calm and so self-assured…what gives, Harry?"
"You know, all of us expected you to be…you know… gloomy or angry, but that other night at the library…" Hermione then glanced furtively at Ginny and Luna, "I was going to ask you about that, too but it slipped my mind."
"By the way, I don't know if any of you guys noticed but…" Ginny then turned to Harry "How did you get all this… I'm assuming it's yours of course since this was where we went immediately after you rescued me, erm… I mean us."
"I like your hair, Harry," Luna injected in her usual dreamy manner.
Harry held up his hands in surrender. "Ok… Ok, I'll try to answer most of your questions, but first let's get something to eat… I'm starving," Harry said as he turned and was about to leave when his hand was suddenly grabbed by Hermione.
"Oh no you don't Harry."
"You've been avoiding us for far too long," Ginny quipped.
"Where sticking to you like glue on a Blue-Winged Gnorskel," Luna then said as Hermione rolled her eyes and shrugged at Ginny who in turn smiled at Harry.
"OK…" Harry sighed then smiled in a mischievous grin as he headed then went through the doors opposite the exit to the main hallway while pulling along the three girls who were intent on keeping him from escaping again.
Once there, he promptly removed the shirt he was wearing to the astonishment of the girls who were now ogling him.
"Harry, what do you think you're doing," Hermione sputtered at him as he threw his shirt to the laundry bin. Harry just smiled and stretched a bit, causing his lean muscled form to flex.
"Do you think that's wise Harry, there are girls here you know," Luna then said dreamily. Ginny was at a loss for words as she just continued to stared.
"Well, If you're all intent with 'sticking to me like glue' then you wouldn't mind if I took a quick dip before breakfast, do you?" He was removing his trousers then and now just stood in his boxers as he asked the last.
"So… care to join me? That baths here are much larger that the prefects bath back at Hogwarts," Harry then smiled a cheeky grin, however hoping in his mind that his plan to drive them off would work.
Wonder of wonders… it did, as a tomato red Hermione said she'll just wait for him outside. He was worried for a bit however when Luna, in that same dreamy voice, offered to scrub his back. It was a good thing that Ginny pulled Luna out with her as she was already starting to pull off her shirt.
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So it went for the next few days. It was bad enough that Hermione now knows about the family history, but there was no better way to keep a secret from Hermione than letting her in on it. With regards to his connection to the Force… well, he'd keep that for himself for a while. Though they might have seen him using the Force, it was easy enough to be associated to wandless magic and the momentary flash of his lightsaber does look like a stupefy or a cutting curse. Harry knew that this would be the power that the Dark Lord did not know about, so he figured it best that the least people who knows, the better.
It was late on the last night before leaving for Hogwarts. For probably the first time everything they needed to bring to school has already been packed and set. Harry had graciously provided for the supplies the others have lost in Diagon Alley, as well as a few extras he would give to them later. All in all, things were ready for the return to school.
Harry however, couldn't sleep that night. He could feel it… a ripple in the force that he couldn't pinpoint… something elusive… something he instinctively knew was dark.
Try as he might, the more he concentrated on whatever was bothering him, the more it slipped away. Deciding it would be best to just get up and walk a while, Harry headed out to the southern parapets.
Upon opening the doors, his breath caught at the sight that beheld him.
The stars were twinkling brightly against the dark canvas of the early September sky. Adding to this tranquility is the backdrop of the land, as a cool night breeze grazing the grass made the moonlit field dance. But this was not the beauty he beheld. Standing, not far from him, was the woman who had been in his thoughts when he wasn't distracted by his duties.
She stood there gazing up upon the stars. The twinkling lights that he saw from where he stood surrounded her like a halo, making the vision more surreal.
"Hello Harry…" she said not turning.
"Ginny… wonderful night isn't it?" he said as he drew close beside her.
"I couldn't sleep…" she replied as if anticipating his question.
"Yeah… me too…"
They were silent for a moment as they drew comfort in each others presence.
"When I was younger, I always stayed up late to watch the stars from my bedroom window," She started saying then gave a small laugh. "I used to wish for a shooting star to appear so that I could make a wish on it."
Harry had to smile at this.
"You must think I'm silly…"
"No you're not…" Harry said quickly. "I don't think you're silly. I wish I had been able to see the stars at night when I was younger… you know… being in a cupboard an all…"
"Yeah.." she replied with a hint of sadness. "Harry? Do you know you're amazing?" Harry turned a quizzical look at that. "You have all this things going on and you're still… you. I'm not saying this right… am I?"
"I think understand… to be honest, I did lose myself a few times, but I've learned an important lesson… It's not what happens to us or what we have that we are judged by, it what we do with what we have and how we face those challenges that defines us who we are," Harry said as he remembered his first trial.
"I wish I could be as brave as you…"
"But you are… You went with me to the Department of Mysteries, you faced up against deatheaters… you held off the dark lords memory for a whole year. Whatever else Gin, you have my trust and respect."
'But I need more than that…' she cried in her mind as she thought about the things he said earlier, but then realized it might not be… she shuddered.
Arriving at a decision in the silence that followed, Harry reached out to the force and into space. Sensing a ball sized fragment of rock… he pulled.
"Gin…"
"Hmm," she said as somehow in the few moments that passed she was now leaning against Harry's chest as he in turn had his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Make a wish…" He whispered into her ear as he pointed outwards at a shooting star.
"Do I need to tell you what I wished for, Harry?" she asked him. Although she already felt he knew what she wished for.
Harry turned her around and gazed deeply into her eyes. "No. it might not come true… but I can promise you all the shooting stars you want to wish on until it does come true…" Harry then pulled her in a tight embrace of promise which eased her heart off the nightmares that she'd been having.
"Stay as you are Gin…" Harry whispered in her hair.
"…and I'll hold you to your promise…" murmured Ginny as her cheek lay against Harry's chest and a single tear slid down her other cheek.
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Earlier…
Ginny couldn't sleep that night. Not that she is tired but, every time she closed her eyes, her dreams plagued her… and voices mock her. She thought it was over. But ever since the end of her third year the fear in her was coming back, little by little, eating into her soul…
She was strong and brave, how else could she had survived Tom's draining of her spirit in her first year. How was she able to fight him for so long… she knew why… though know her hope in it was fading fast…
'Tom's gone… he doesn't… he can't control me any more…" she whispered against the darkness of her chambers.
'I'm still here… my sweet Ginny…or shall we say…I'm back…' a voice… a whisper echoed at the back of her mind.
"NO!" she replied "Harry defeated you… you're nothing but a memory…"
'he cannot defeat me…' that whispering, hissing voice retorted continued in an almost teasing voice. 'Tell me, MY Virginia…does he notice you now…?'
With a sharp intake of breath she started "He's my friend now…" but the voice cut in before she could go on.
'Friend?... I know you want more than that, MY Virginia… my dear, sweet Virginia'
"Don't call me that! I'm not yours!!! If I do give myself to somebody, it would be to him!" She answered heatedly; tears starting to threaten her eyes.
'Join me Virginia…we were a great team, you and I. Together we shall do great things.'
"NEVER!!" she wailed as she openly cried out those tears. "I'll never join you!"
'But you will, MY Virginia… though you try to deny it… YOUR MINE!' an evil cackling… hissing, high-pitched laugh resounded around her as she felt herself falling…
and as she suddenly woke up, she could still hear the echoes of that hideous laughter… mocking her… bidding her to obey like the slave she know she would always be as long as the Dark Lord lives.
So she ran… out of her chambers … towards the southern parapets as tears continuously fell from her eyes and dripped across her cheeks.
How long will she be able to survive this time… how long until she lost control… can she tell somebody in time… can she tell anybody at all…
These thoughts came to her as she ran knowing it was only a matter of time before she must fulfill her almost five year long edict…
'Remember my command Virginia…you will kill Harry Potter!'
TBC