Title: Harry Potter And The Walkers
Author: ENSIGN
Chapter 08 – Ginny Weasley, Diagon Alley And All That Rot
"Hey, you alright mate?" Ron enquired to Harry as he stuffed his face with yet another muffin.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Harry mumbled deep in thought.
It was breakfast and Harry was sitting in his usual place contemplating the interesting events surrounding his oh-so-wonderful life. The fact that this was the morning after the memorable DA lesson didn't help either.
Harry, who as soon as he broke out of his thoughts and finally silenced his fellow friend and Walker. Had decided to question the girl on advice as to how he was to respond to Ginny's proposition.
Much to Harry's annoyance, the Walker had dissolved into laughter again. He had even considered asking Luna. But then decided against it. She probably would have suggested he dragged Ginny off to a broom closet and have his way with her.
Harry shook his head. It was too early in the morning for this. Sure he may be experienced in the game of life. Sure he had millennia of knowledge lock up in his head. Sure he had defeated his share of evil being, but when it came to dating, he was just as clueless as a new born baby.
Harry moaned and rubbed his temples. Sure he had overheard enough advice over the years when he tutored his students. Only problem was, all of them were Gryffindors, and he didn't mean Hogwart's houses. The Gryffindors, he had learnt, were not the best to ask dating advice from. It was a wonder how they even got married, then again it was the custom to be betrothed during that time period.
Harry sighed. He should have stayed behind and watched over his last pupil, one Godric Gryffindor. At least he would have been able to find out how he and his wife Rowena got together.
"Harry? Are you sure you really are alright?" Hermione's head rose from behind her copy of Hogwart's a History. Harry's eyes instinctively traveled to the book's title.
'The four hundred and twenty fifth edition.' He thought. Last time he checked, they were on four hundred and twenty four. Apparently him being in Hogwarts had made the book get republished again. Apparently each of his years had been so memorable and lasting on the school that they had to reedit the book yearly.
"Yeah. I'm perfectly fine. Just thinking over a few things." He gave them a small smile. "It's just that, Voldemort has been silent for quite a while and it has me worried. That and Fariahlia would be leaving for her fortress soon." He continued.
"Huh? She's leaving?" Hermione asked a bit startled. She like most of the school had become used to the floating Walker's presence.
"Well, she is a ruler of a small nation of elves. She does have to return." Harry explained.
"So why was she here then?" Ron ignored Hermione's disapproving glare as he interrupted her conversation with his mouth full.
"Her purpose here was both to ensure my safety while I was recovering and she is one of the few people that I trust with a copy of my pensieve." Harry replied as he skewered a sausage with his fork.
"I see." Hermione stated. Ron looked satisfied with his explanation. Hermione however had a look in her eye that she knew there was something else bothering him.
Harry saw the look. No doubt he wanted to attain Hermione's advice on what to do about Ginny. However he decided against it. Ron was dating Hermione and she would no doubt somehow let slip to Ron about what had happened with Ginny and him. The last person he needed catching wind of this would be Ron.
As much as Harry liked the guy. He was a tad unpredictable when it came to issues on who should date his little sister. It was pretty obvious that Ron didn't want Ginny dating boys till she was in her mid forties. The problem was, he didn't know how Ron would react to him dating Ginny. Of course Molly would be ecstatic, Arthur be accepting, her brothers however, he didn't know what to expect.
Just as his advance mind was processing all the different outcomes that could occur, Ginny Weasley entered the Dinning Hall. All thought for Harry stopped as he stared at the woman walking towards his section of the table.
He had never noticed it before but Ginny seemed to have this particular glow surrounding her that comforted him as she drew closer.
This train of thought was broken as she flashed him a knowing and amused smile and proceeded further down the table to join her year mates. Ron being the Gryffindor he was missed this as he stabbed a couple more sausages from the main plate. Hermione, being the alert one caught this and was about to mention it when three events occurred simultaneously at the same time.
Firstly she narrowly escaped Ron's attempts to consume everything around him in a one meter radius when her hand was mistaken for a pancake.
Second the area in front of Harry's face burst into red flames to reveal a letter floating down to his now clean plate.
And third a small explosion coming from the direction of the Gryffindor dormitories.
Naturally, as a result of the third event pandemonium ensued.
XXXXX
She snapped her head almost immediately away from the figure of one Harry James Potter and in the direction of the small explosion. Screams and shouts followed as Hogwart's students assumed the worst; A Death Eater attack.
Ginny rolled her eyes and grinned at Harry who was now ignoring her and paying attention to the teacher's table. His eyes were locked with the headmaster's and they both seemed to be communicating. Unlike most of the school's population the members of the DA were much more relaxed and calmly carrying on with their meal.
They were used to the miniature explosions by now. Apparently, no doubt one of the Gryffindors decided to disregard Harry's instruction to not siphon mana outside their lesson. Harry had stated quite clearly stated multiple time, that they were to not engage in any mana siphoning for the reason that it would be hazardous as they hadn't yet learnt to both fashion spells and disperse the mana safely. The main reason for those bins he had. No doubt that idiot must have fried off all his hair and probably turned himself inside out after that explosion.
So much for her normal peaceful morning.
After her rather enlightening endeavor last night, Ginny had woken up perfectly bubbly and skipped to the washroom with a bounce in her step.
She had kissed Harry Potter. For so long she had tried to deny her feelings for the raven haired boy. She even tried dating others. Apparently they weren't Harry. She had always felt different when he was around. The feeling only grew after her first year at Hogwarts when Harry rescued her from the Chamber Of Secrets.
She had made up her mind to set her sights on the boy-who-lived after he had returned. Although she constantly tried to get Harry to notice her, he was still Harry, and as always, didn't recognize her attempts to convey her feeling for him.
This was of course ended the night before when she decided to just resort to her final measure; splash it right in his face. Actually the funny part was that she hadn't come up with this at all. It was Harry's fellow Walker, Fariahlia who suggested she do so.
Ginny watched as Harry turned away from the old wizard, pocketed the envelope and strode out of the hall. 'Damn. Now what class did Harry have this morning.' She peeked a glance at her notebook and noted that Harry had DADA this morning. Excellent, Just one floor away from where she had her Charms class.
She smiled to herself as Dumbledore stood up and announced that there was no cause to panic as the explosion was probably caused by a student attempting to brew a potion in the dormitories. He immediately left after Harry.
XXXXX
Harry had the unconscious feeling that today was going to be a long day. First he had to sort out the problem in Gryffindor tower. As expected, one of the seventh years had decided to try and practice his mana exercises outside of class. The result, Harry rolled his eyes. Ironically the boy had been turned into to a salamander.
Unrefined red mana definitely had unpredictable effects when triggered. He had expected the boy to have blown off his hair at most. Apparently the boy had talent. Most DA members hadn't yet been able to draw upon the amount of mana needed to induce a transformation. He just thanked his luck that the boy still wasn't able to draw the amount of mana needed to create a powerful battle spell. He dreaded to imagine what would have happened if that had been the case.
Harry strode towards the Transfiguration classroom. He had just finished DADA and since breakfast his head had been tingling.
Ever since the mind scrambling incident he had been feeling strange. He had begun to express characteristic from all three of his personalities. This was noted by Tonks when he had offered her a honey drop during DADA and had constantly referred to her as 'Nymphadora'. Pretty obvious to say his house had been docked five points and himself detention with a rather ticked off metamorphmagus that night. 'Just after my meeting with Albus as stated in the letter.'
'Oh the day just gets better.' Was his sarcastic thought.
Just then around the corner came Ginny. Her presence was so sudden that he froze. Not knowing what to do or how to respond, he just stared as she approached him.
She stared at his eyes. Smiled. Walked straight up. Grabbed him by the front of his robes. Pulled him down and kissed him as hard as she could.
Just as his mind was registering what was going on, she released him, shot him an impish smile and skipped off.
It wasn't till much later did Harry regain motor control and made his way to the Transfiguration classroom.
He sighed. This was going to be a long day.
At least he wasn't fainting anymore.
XXXXX
"Come in, Harry." The old cheerful voice of Albus Dumbledore called out before his hand even reached to knock on the door. Smiling Harry twisted the door knob and tilted his head to stare at the well hidden miniature viewing orb floating above the door. He smiled and gave it a wink before entering the office.
"Ah! Good morning Mr. Potter. I trust you were expecting Mr. Johnson's event this morning." Albus Dumbledore greeting and gestured at the comfy armchair before his desk.
Harry sighed. "I was, however I wasn't expecting it so soon. I was more or less playing along the hopes that their delving into the unknown would be a deterrent. Trust a Gryffindor student to ignore my warning."
The headmaster had a smile on his face, "I see. I take it that Mr. Johnson tried to dispose of his mana ball in the dormitory trash can?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he reached into his drawers to retrieve his bag of lemon drops. "Lemon drop?"
"Why thank you Albus." Harry accepted a few and in turn exchanged sweets with the old man.
"Another thing I would like to bring up Harry is that ever since the night of the first DA meeting you have been acting rather…" He trailed off trying to find the right words.
"Thanks for your concern professor. I have been noticing these changes as well. I believe it is a side effect of the mind scrambling spell I was hit with. I have so far discovered that it has the positive side effect of merging all my three current personalities. So I warn you not to be alarmed if I suddenly go about offering a limitless amount of sweets to the professors and my fellow students."
"No not at all Harry. I believe that the students of this age aren't getting as much sugar as they did in the past. Please continue."
Harry grinned. "Now away with all the small talk. Why did you want me here professor? I know you are aware of Fariahlia's leaving."
At this Dumbledore's eyes dimmed a bit. "Yes, The Order's spy in Voldemort's circle has been able to inform us of an attack he's planning on Diagon Alley. At the moment we still are unsure of when his is to attack."
"Halloween." Harry bluntly stated.
"Pardon?" Dumbledore was a bit surprised.
"He's attacking on Halloween." Harry restated.
"Are you sure?"
"Would bet my Firebolt on it professor. Voldemort seems to have a flare for dramatics and I wouldn't put it past him to attack on that day. That and my luck on Halloween never seem to bid well." The last part Harry mumbled to himself.
"Yes I understand Harry. I will alert the Order members about this. They would need to hurry up and ward the place in time for Halloween. Speaking of the Order, given your current situation I would like to extend to you and your friends an invitation."
"When you say friends, I assume the group that accompanied me to the ministry?" Harry questioned.
"Of course."
"What about Draco?"
"I believe that Mr. Malfoy's loyalties are no longer to that of Voldemort. However I don't believe he would hold any towards our cause." Dumbledore explained.
"I agree. I accept. I take it that Ron, Hermione and the rest will receive similar letters tomorrow?"
"Yes they will."
"Good, I have one request."
"Go ahead Harry."
"I request that even if you include my friends in the Order. You wouldn't send them off on mission that may prove hazardous. They aren't fully trained yet."
"Wouldn't have dreamed of it Harry."
"Of course. Good night Dumbledore." Harry said as he stood up and headed for the door.
"Good night Harry." Dumbledore whispered as the door closed.
XXXXX
A figure stood in the many shadows created by the dark hallways of Hogwarts castle. His blue cerulean eyes twinkled with mirth as he watched Harry Potter being grabbed and soundly kissed by Miss Weasley. 'Well this put a new angle on things.' He thought as he waited for the two remaining students to go their ways. Or in the case of Miss Weasley, her target's way.
As soon as they departed he stepped out of the shadows and proceeded to his office. He met the Deputy Headmistress along the way and offered her a lemon drop. She of course declined. Albus Dumbledore scratched his head as he hummed to himself. Why was it no one accepted his lemon drops anymore? Most of the staff members did so when he first joined Hogwarts as a transfiguration professor. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with them, safe for the slight sourly taste, but that's what made them lemon drops. He had even tried to see if there were any changes made to the ingredients from those made fifty year ago. Suffice to say there were no changes except the packaging. It was the packaging that was causing the students to avoid them like the plague. He was sure of it. No matter, he would just have to transfigure the wrappers back to those fifty years ago.
He reached into his robes and pulled out two of the yellow sweets he loved so much. Twisting the wrapping paper open he popped two into his mouth. He chomped down upon one and relished the sour sweet sensation as the powdery substance leaked out of it. Ah lemon drops the most wonderful invention of Muggle kind, that and Kit Kat, Skittles, Mars Bars, Nestle Crunch, M&M's…
Albus Dumbledore hummed and practically skipped down the corridor towards his office. His mind full of sweets and their chocolaty sugary goodness.
Two third years witnessed this and looked at each other.
"You don't suppose he's finally snapped do you?"
"Couldn't say for sure. He like that every once in a while."
"Wonder what goes on in that mind of his."
"Probably thinking up complex arithmetic equations at the moment."
"Yeah I guess so."
The two third years turned and walked in the opposite direction as a frantic Harry Potter zipped passed them as if hell was on his tail. This was of course followed shortly by a grinning, skipping Ginny Weasley.
'Bonkers. All great wizards were definitely bonkers.' The two students agreed.
XXXXX
The next day found the terrible trio as professor Snape had come to name them since first year, under a tree by the lake. As it was a Saturday and thus there being no classes, Hermione had decided that today the group was going to have a picnic.
To Harry's relief Ginny had declined due to an upcoming test in the next few days. So thus the group was seated under a tree by the lake of Hogwarts eating the wonderfully prepared meal by Dobby and generally relaxing.
Hermione and Neville was both at one end of the picnic mat both discussing a new plant that Neville had gotten from professor Sprout. Apparently Neville seemed to be the one talking and Hermione listening as her mind greedily absorbed the new knowledge.
This was the exact opposite of what Harry expected a conversation between Neville and Hermione to be like. Then again Neville was always better than Hermione when it came to the subject of Herbology.
Ron and Luna on the other had were engaged in a chess match. One which Harry was paying rapt attention to. Why? Mainly because he was trying to commit this games to his memory for ever.
Ronald Weasley, chess master extraordinaire, was loosing.
Loosing badly at that.
Heck this was his fifth game that he'd lost to the now blue haired dreamy girl. Somewhere during the term Luna had convinced herself that by dyeing her hair blue would attract Nargles to her.
Ron at the moment was only a hair's breath from tearing out his hair and screaming blue murder.
Luna Loony Lovegood was beating him at chess. Oh the horrors.
So far he had thrown every one of his tricks at her. All of them had failed. The reason, Luna was crazy. Totally and unpredictably nutters. He had set up traps which could have beaten some of the best players he had ever met and yet Luna defeated them at every turn through the sheer chaos of her playing style
He couldn't predict any of her moves mainly because most of them were so pointless and yet for some unknown reason after a few turns they turned to be of strategic value. Why couldn't he predict her moves? He just simply couldn't understand how she thought.
It was maddening really.
Ron sighed as he saw Luna move her knight in to position which gave her to opportunity to take out either his queen or rook. Ron being the now paranoid chess player studied the board for a full five minutes before deciding to move his rook out of the way. His queen may be sacrificed but his rook would now be in a better position.
"Why thank you Ronald." Luna sang to him as she directed her knight further up the board into Ronald's territory. She had completely ignored her chance to make a move on Ron's queen. Instead she had moved her knight to a new position where it was able to attack both Ron's previously threatened rook and his bishop.
Ron gaped a few seconds at the blue haired girl's move. She had pointedly ignored his queen. She had a free kill and didn't take it. Nevertheless this would be the turning point for him. Moving his king into position to both protect his bishop and threaten Luna's knight he smirked at the dreamy girl.
"How do you like that, Luna?" Ron smugly stated.
"Oh! Wow! What an interesting move Ronald." Luna stared at his piece before deciding to move a pawn instead of retreating the threatened knight.
Ron blinked. She had willingly given up her knight. Well he wasn't complaining. He took Luna's knight out with the king. A broad smile settled on his face as he watched the king repeatedly bash the knight over the head before dragging it off the board.
"Oh my! You shouldn't have done that Ronald."
Ron who was just about to comment was interrupted when Luna sang out the two words he was dreading the most. "Checkmate Ronald."
Ron's eyes widened and he looked down. Indeed he had missed it. By moving his king he had allowed Luna's seemingly innocent bishop from across the board to trap him.
Ron groaned as Harry chuckled beside him. Luna just smiled, stared at a point beyond him and asked, "Again?"
"Er… no thanks." Ron decided to save what was left of his ego.
Luna just smiled and turned her head. "Hello Harry. Would you like to play with Ronald? He doesn't seem to like playing me much."
Harry snorted and Ron glared at him. "Yeah Harry, come save dear Ronald from Luna's wrath."
"Actually… I was more or least wondering if I could have a go at Luna." Harry questioned.
"Oh. By all means, go ahead Harry, but don't come crying to me when she utterly destroys you." Ron joked.
"Am I really that bad?" Harry enquired.
"Bad? You're terrible at it mate. No idea how you're gonna survive Luna." Ron patted Harry sympathetically on the back.
"What will be, will be Ron." Harry stated as he and Luna set up the pieces.
"Of course Harry, What will be, will be." Luna said as she arranged the pieces still staring off at some non existent point above Hogwart's lake.
Ten minutes later, Ron was scratching his head in utter confusion. Luna had lost. Harry had won. By a landslide too.
Harry laughed himself silly as Ron proceeded to whack his head upon the tree trunk out of sheer frustration.
Author's Note: Hmmm… now what was it I wanted to say again. I seem to have forgotten. Oh yes. Please, please, please, please. Does anyone out there want to be my beta? I really need one. All you have to do is read the next chappie before I post it. Tell me the grammar and spelling mistakes I make and comment on how the plots going. I would be really grateful if someone would say yes in a review.
Seeing as I really hate it when people make grammar mistakes in their stories (I actually wince at the really bad ones) but then we are all human I generally can't spot my own. Thus I need a beta.
yes. Now I remember. Firstly someone pointed out my mistake. Ginny doesn't have a test on Sunday. It's in the next few days. My bad. I changed it in this chapter, ASAP. Also one of my reviewers told me about the Ginny ambushing Harry appearing in This Means War. Cool. I read the story when you told me. Loved it. Just so I am not accused of plagiarism, I solemnly swear it was just a coincidence. Actually I borrowed that idea from one of my sister's romance novels that she showed me.
Just saying as how I have received countless reviews telling me about the similarities with this means war.
Review replies:
Mika: Yeah I know. I thought it would be pretty funny if something like that were to happen. Also knowing the Harry from canon, that would have been the most likely thing. Who knows he may have also fainted in the books when Cho kissed him. JK really didn't go past after she kissed him.
Clingon Warrior Girl: Well here's your next chappie. Not as long as the last one but hope fully just as satisfying. I'm planning a really long one for my next chapter. P.S it involves good ole Voldie and lots of DE bashing. Well guessing from the chapter above you probably would have guessed.
Harry ran down the corridors as he mumbled to himself. "Avoid the great hall. Avoid the great hall. Don't go in the great hall. Great hall is bad, dungeon is good."
He slowed down as he approached a fork in his path. Left led to a small dungeon like door and the other a magnificent huge set of double doors with intricate carvings.
"Okay. Easy guess where that one leads to." He chuckled as he rolled his eyes at the ornate wooden doors.
Heading left he yanked open the door to the dungeons fully prepared to knock out the guard silently.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
If his body would have allowed it he would have smacked the designer of this particular house. 'Oh sure put the dungeons behind the magnificent good pristine bloody oak doors.'
Apparently and obviously Harry had walked into the room he most didn't want to walk into.
Right in front of him at the other end on the twenty meter square hall was a full blown Death Eater meeting.
SheWolfe7: Thanks.
The DragonBard: Yeah you are right on that one. I'll explain a bit more in the next few chapters. Yeah it's an H/G fic. But you probably would not see much fluff. Oh yeah, same here, I haven't touch that game ever since after year twelve. Oh here's a clue for you to find out my name. try looking up the winner of the Malaysia open for MTG in the year 1999 and Australian open is 2001.
Jbfritz: Thanks.
Ikono: Thanks.