Disclaimer: I own no part of this story except for the plot and spell work. J. K. Rowling owns everything else, including dozens of hours of my life that I am dedicating to this story.

Chapter 18: Pressure

Two weeks later, Harry was once again sitting in Professor Dumbledore's office. Harry had been stunned beyond belief by Professor Dumbledore's news about his undiscovered abilities. Harry knew that there had been signs, times when Harry had truly wondered if time had actually stopped, but he had always just attributed this feeling to nerves or stress. Never had Harry even dreamed of having such a rare and useful power.

For two weeks Harry had been working on his new found ability and was amazed at the progress he had made. Harry could now speed up or slow down time whenever he wanted to. However, doing so was extremely taxing and Harry found it difficult to affect time while still focusing on what he was doing. This limited the period that Harry could actually affect time, but Harry was continuously getting better. Affecting time came more and more natural and Harry knew that he was using less magic with each try.

Harry still hadn't been able to completely stop time. It was too draining just trying to slow down time for several seconds, much less stop time entirely. Still, it would not be long before Harry had achieved this too; it was only a matter of time.

"Are you ready to start Harry?"

Dumbledore's gentle voice tore Harry from his thoughts. Harry turned to face the headmaster and gave him a smile.

"Always," Harry said with a cocky smile.

Dumbledore gave an amused chuckle and pushed a new book at Harry. Harry looked at the title and read, Wandless Magic for the Wary Witch or Wizard. Harry turned to Dumbledore in surprise.

"We won't be working with time today?"

Dumbledore smiled gently and replied, "No Harry, we won't. You have steadily progressed over the past two weeks and I believe it is now up to you to teach yourself the rest. I myself can no longer teach you any more than the book can and I do not think we should waste our time here reading books."

"Don't let Hermione hear that," Harry said with a snort.

Dumbledore smiled and was surprised at how easily Harry had taken the news. Harry had extremely enjoyed learning about how he could affect time and Dumbledore knew that he wouldn't want to stop. Dumbledore had expected a loud outburst at the least, but Harry had once again proven that he had matured more than Dumbledore had ever thought possible. Dumbledore had watched after Harry since his parent's murder in 1981 and had seen Harry grow and mature more than the boy had any right to. Harry's childhood had been stolen from Voldemort, and, since the age of eleven, Harry had been forced to make choices and shoulder responsibilities that even grown wizards never had to face. Dumbledore wished for nothing more than to let Harry experience his childhood all over again, with his parents and his friends. To let Harry experience a life without Voldemort ever affecting it. Harry had lost so many things in his life, most of which he didn't know because he had never lived the life of a normal child and Dumbledore wished that he could give Harry that life back. But such a life would never exist for Harry, or for Lily and James. Voldemort had destroyed that future because of his thirst for power. Dumbledore could never forgive Tom for all of the lives that had been destroyed because of his selfish actions.

Dumbledore pulled himself from his thoughts and gave Harry a sympathetic smile. Harry wouldn't ever truly know what he was missing, a fact that both disgusted and pleased Dumbledore.

"At least he won't ever miss what he never had," Dumbledore thought grimly.

"Uh…Albus? Are you all right?"

Dumbledore pushed such morbid thoughts away and gave Harry a smile. "I'm fine Harry. Have you finished reading the book yet?"

"Not quite," Harry said with a smile. Dumbledore looked and saw Harry was still on page one and let out a dramatic sigh.

Harry quickly skimmed through the book and recited the spell Dumbledore had taught him.

"Well, that's done," Harry said with a lopsided grin.

"That will be good enough for now. I want you to read the rest of the book before we meet tomorrow."

Harry let out a loud groan and Dumbledore smiled. "I think that you will find the reading much more enjoyable than you believe it will be."

"Oh sure it will. You know Albus, I think Hermione has been rubbing off on you."

Dumbledore laughed at Harry's sarcasm but knew that the young man would do as he was told. Harry really would get into the book once he started, but Dumbledore knew that Harry would have trouble just trying to start reading.

"Now, on with the lesson. As you have read Harry, wandless magic is neither easy nor practical for the common witch or wizard. Very few have enough power to use it for a quick and simple spell and no witch or wizard has ever used wandless magic in a duel. Therefore, after you have learned the basics of wandless magic, we will work on your dueling skill without a wand."

Harry opened his mouth to protest but Dumbledore quickly cut him off. "It will help you more than you know Harry. Practicing wandless magic makes spells in which you use a magical focus much easier. When using a wand in a duel, you are not reaching your true potential. A wand acts as a crutch, a way to perform magic without much regard to your magical abilities. When using a wand, you simply accept how much power it takes to cast a spell and do not focus on ever making the spell easier to cast. After performing wandless magic for a while, your capacity to perform magic will increase due to the sheer power needed to use wandless magic. Every spell you know right now, in addition to the ones you will learn under my tutorage and Auror training, will seem as if a child could perform them. By the time you have mastered the art of wandless magic, you will have little or no difficulty learning the two bits of ancient magic I will be teaching you."

Harry nodded, never doubting that what Professor Dumbledore told him was true.

"Albus, are you saying that I will not learn the two other spells until I master wandless magic?"

"No Harry, I'm saying that you will not learn those spells until the time is right. The end of the war is still a ways off and you are not yet ready to learn these spells."

"But Professor…what if something should happen? What if Voldemort attacks before I am ready and I am unable to defeat him because I have not learned what I needed to?"

Dumbledore took a deep breath and nodded to Harry. "Harry, what I am going to tell you is neither going to be neither easy to hear or accept. There may be a time when it feels like you are ready to face Voldemort but you have not yet learned these spells. At this time you must make a choice, a choice that will determine the fate of the world. I cannot tell you the answer to your question and it will be up to you to figure out what the right choice is. I deeply regret that you ever had to shoulder this burden Harry, but I know that you will make the right choice in the end. Just remember that your friends and family are always behind you and, when the hour is nigh, you must rely on them for help."

"Albus…"

"Harry, perhaps it will be best if we stop here for the night. Remember to read your text and I imagine that Miss Weasley wouldn't mind seeing you before you leave."

Dumbledore's words, while kind, had a sense of finality to them and Harry knew that it was time for him to leave. Harry had so many questions that he wanted answered, but he knew that it would be up to him to answer them for himself.

"Don't worry Harry, I'm sure you'll make the right choice."

Harry was sitting with Ginny on one of the couches in the Gryffindor Common Room. Most of the other Gryffindors had already headed to bed and those that remained had gone to the other side of the Common Room to give the two some privacy. Harry had just finished telling Ginny what had transpired during his meeting with Dumbledore and was sharing his concerns about the choice he had to make.

"Thanks for your confidence Gin, but I can't help but worry about it. Why is it me that has to save the world? Why do I have to be the one? All of my life I have always been 'Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived,' and all of my life I have just wanted to be normal. I became famous for something I didn't even do, something that my parents should have been honored for, not me. Why can't I have a life like everyone else? Why me?"

Harry had tears streaming down his face and the remaining students looked startled at Harry's sudden outburst. Most of the students only saw Harry as a leader and champion of the Light; few actually realized that he was an actual person. At that moment, for the first time in Harry's life, several people finally understood what it meant to be Harry Potter. They saw the hurt and pain on his face and realized just how much the young man had lost. They saw how the loss of family and friends tormented Harry on a daily basis. They saw how much Harry wished he could have a normal life and how envious he must have been of every other student at Hogwarts. They saw the reason why Harry didn't gloat because he was famous; Harry had never wanted to be famous, he had just wanted to be with his parents. They saw all of this and the pressure he was under and realized just how human Harry was. Many of those who got a glimpse of Harry's life were filled with compassion and wanted to do anything to help him, but were unsure of what to do. However, there was one person in the Common Room who knew exactly how to help him.

Ginny Weasley wrapped her arms around Harry and pulled his head to her chest. She held him tightly while whispering comforting words in his ear. Ginny moved her hands across his back, letting him know that she was there. The assembled students watched as Harry visibly calmed down. Soon his breathing had returned to normal and everyone was about to go to bed when Ginny spoke.

"Harry?"

"Yes Gin?"

"I have something to ask you, something very personal, but I think that it will help you."

Harry nodded, seemingly bracing himself for the worst.

"Harry, if you weren't 'The Boy Who Lived' and had never even heard of Voldemort before you had come to Hogwarts, would you have still made the same choices that you have?"

Harry suddenly got quiet as he started to think. Those who were leaving for their dormitories halted in their steps and turned towards Harry and Ginny. Harry, completely unaware of anything happening around him, was doing some serious soul searching in search of the answer.

"Yes. Yes I would have."

Harry voice echoed through the silent Common Room and there were many whispers of relief at his response.

Ginny however, seemed almost uninterested in his reply.

"Why is that?" Ginny's quiet voice asked.

Harry didn't have to think this time, "Because it is what my parents would want me to do. My parents dedicated their lives to fighting evil, fighting Voldemort, and I wouldn't be able to ignore the threat of any type of evil that threatened our world, whether it be Voldemort or any other Dark Lord. It's just part of who I am."

Ginny nodded, knowing that every word Harry had said was true, and gave Harry a quick kiss. All of the assembled students headed to bed and left Ginny and Harry sitting alone. Harry sat quietly, unsure of what to say to the young woman who had made his life complete. Ginny had done so much for Harry and Harry didn't know how he could survive if she wasn't a part of his life. Harry struggled to find the words to tell her this, but nothing he could think of could even come close to expressing what he felt.

Ginny, however, didn't need to hear it; she already knew. Ginny placed a finger over Harry's mouth and quietly whispered, "Don't worry Harry. I know."

Those simple words were all Harry needed to hear, and Harry reached forward and pulled Ginny close to make sure that she knew how he really felt.

Author's Note: Short but necessary chapter for what lies ahead. I should get one or two more chapters out before HBP is released. Hope that you enjoyed.