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The Characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made off this site, and is for entertainment purposes only.

This chapter has been revised as of April, 2005 and contains new content. It has also been modified from the original NC-17 version is located at Checkmated, and is rated R.

Of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter Six

Shite. Shite. Shite. Ginny was in for it now.

She stood up as straight as she could. Shoulders back, chin up, Ginny told herself to stop panicking. Adrianna was going to know if she kept panicking and then all her subtle ruse would be for nothing. She was going to have to learn to control her emotions if the Empath was going to be around for awhile.

Adrianna approached Ginny and Colin, who stood in the alcove across the hallway from Dumbledore's office. Once she had reached the two students, she pulled Ginny's extendable ear out of her bag. "What's this?" she asked looking at them with an unreadable expression.

Ginny tilted her chin up and clenched her teeth, letting herself feel anger, determination, stubbornness. Trying to transmit anything but fear… She met the Empath's eyes with every ounce of courage she had.

The staring must have gone on for far too long for Colin's taste, because he sighed loudly, saying with exaggeration, "It's an extendable ear. Ginny's brothers invented them." Ginny's narrowed eyes flew to her friend and glared at him. Bringing him was a really stupid idea.

Adrianna's gaze also went to the blond boy. She examined the ear and gave a soft almost bitter chuckle, saying under her breath, "Ah, yes, the ever talented Weasleys."

She looked back up at Ginny and offered the devise back to her with an outstretched hand. "You should be more careful with that. You don't want Professor Glower over there to find it. Something tells me that it wouldn't go over too well with him."

Ginny swallowed, staring at the ear for a moment before she took it and tucked it into her pocket. She watched Adrianna warily as the witch turned to consider Colin more carefully. "You must be a friend of Ginny's."

Colin extended his hand. Ginny remembered how Ron had done that just as easily. Were all boys trusting fools?

Shaking Adrianna's hand, with an only slightly limp wrist, Ginny's blond friend offered, "Colin Creevey, and you are Harry's cousin." He looked her over appraisingly. He tilted his head to the side to look at the woman's backside, making Ginny close her eyes in mortification. Colin nodded with appreciation. "I see the resemblance."

Adrianna laughed full out. "You're a fan of Harry's, I see."

Colin was unabashed when he admitted, "His biggest. So, you're an Empath, then?" Ginny didn't like the gleam in his eye.

"Yeah…" Adrianna said carefully, clearly amused by Ginny's friend.

"So," Colin continued, with false innocence. "You must know, say, the hidden sexual leaning of a certain brooding, green-eyed bloke we know…"

Ginny knew that the floor was going to open up and eat her alive. She couldn't believe she thought bringing Colin was a good idea. She should have brought Neville, or Luna, or anyone. Malfoy would have been a better idea.

Adrianna stifled a laugh. "Sorry, I've got a strict policy about interfering in matters of the heart. Good luck with that though." She turned to look at Ginny, "So, eh… You learn anything with that ear thingy?"

Ginny shrugged. No reason to hide anything at this point. Adrianna would know if she lied. "Not really," she answered with bitterness.

"Do you want to?"

"Want to what?" she asked warily.

Adrianna rolled her eyes. "Know what happened in the meeting. Walk with me and I'll fill you in."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. This had to be a trick. No one had ever given Ginny information willingly. "Why?"

Adrianna gestured her head away from the alcove. "Come on, and I'll tell you."

Ginny knew she shouldn't go. The Empath was trying to bribe her. She had read her and knew that knowledge would be the ultimate prize. And damn it, it was working. Ginny nodded.

"Ginny?" Colin asked as they started to walk away.

Ginny glared at him, making it clear with her expression that she was not bringing the-boy-who-could-do-nothing-but-talk-about-Harry's-arse with them. "See you later, Colin."

Adrianna waved at the boy, stifling laughter, and making Ginny want to hit her. "He's sweet," she remarked lightly.

Ginny practically growled at the older woman. "Why are you offering this? What do you want from me?"

Adrianna was unruffled. "Ginny, I'm here to protect you. We need to work together. Why would I keep information from you?"

Ginny slowed, looking warily around the hallway as they walked. She whispered, "You're here to protect Harry, not me."

"I thought I made it clear that he was only part of it."

"Yes, and Ron and Hermione. I remember." Ginny sighed with exasperation, why did people keep putting her with those three. She wasn't a part of them. She knew that painfully well.

"Hmm, so that's how it is than," Adrianna remarked, not looking at her. "I believe what I said was, I'm here to protect Ron and Hermione….as well as Harry and you."

Ginny froze in the middle of the entrance way to the castle, her heart beating wildly. "Why me?"

Adrianna laughed, "Like I know. Unfortunately, this fight is your destiny."

Ginny shook her head. She had it all wrong. Ginny forced herself to start walking again. "Harry's the one with the destiny, not me."

"Everyone has a destiny, Ginny." Adrianna glanced at her as she led her outside into the garden. "Harry's is a little grander then most and yours is fundamentally tied to his."

Ginny was breathing fast, her heart skipped a beat. Fundamentally tied with his. That's not what she meant. She's talking about the war, not Harry's love life.

'I do not fancy Harry Potter.' She chanted to herself. 'I do not! Not anymore.' "In what way is my destiny tied to his?" Ginny asked anyway, holding her breath.

Adrianna shrugged lightly. "It's not clear yet."

"It's not clear yet?" she repeated quietly, with dripping sarcasm.

"Sorry, that's how these things work."

"Well, that's convenient isn't it?" Ginny bit out bitterly.

"Not really. Let's walk by the woods where it's more private." Adrianna didn't wait for an answer, merely led her away from the castle.

Ginny scrambled to catch up as thoughts flew through her head. "This destiny thing, does it have to do with Voldemort?" Or did it have anything to do with Harry falling madly in love with her?

Adrianna nodded. "Oh yes, that much is clear."

Ginny's heart skipped a beat.

Adrianna laughed, "Yes, to the one you said out loud…. the other, well, as I told Colin, I learned a long time ago not to give away the answers to those kinds of questions. That you'll have to figure out on your own."

"So you know the answer to that question?" Ginny pressed, her heart running rampant. They were talking about the same thing?

All she got for her efforts were a nod and a short, "Of course."

Ginny waited for her continue, her frustration growing. She just wished she would tell her Harry was meant to be with someone else. Then she could move on or something, not that she hadn't all ready moved on. "You said I needed information…so you should tell me---"

Adrianna smiled at her. "You know that this is different. Good try though."

Ginny crossed her arms, knowing she was sulking. She refused to look at the woman she was walking with, angry and upset at the fact that this woman now knew how she felt about Harry…and how Harry felt about her. It was bloody humiliating.

They reached the woods. "So, do you want to know about what happened in Dumbledore's office or what?" Adrianna asked.

Trying to remember her pride, Ginny said defiantly, "So, tell me, then." There was that annoying laugh again.

"Well, as you saw, your lovely Minster of Magic requested to see me." Adrianna sighed, growing serious. "He's not very bright. The man came to Dumbledore's office after talking to his Aurors. He knows I'm an Empath and he purposely comes to see me… to lie to me." Adrianna seemed genuinely annoyed. "I've been a magical lie detector since I was four. How does this man run an entire magical kingdom?"

Ginny told herself she was not allowed to be amused or swayed by this woman. "Not very well," she replied, carefully. "Why did he come here?"

"Damage control," Adrianna stated easily. "He was worried about what I might do. So, he came to convince me that he's Harry's bestest best friend and we should all work together in harmony."

"Git," Ginny muttered under her breath. Her disgust with the Minister of Magic grew by the day. "What was he afraid of?" Perhaps that she'd lead to their destruction, she thought sarcastically.

"Please, he's not that smart, or unselfish. No, he's afraid I might get him thrown from power." The woman spoke as if it were an ordinary everyday thing to do.

Ginny felt a shot of fear, but pushed it aside and scoffed, "He's paranoid."

"Yes, but not this time." Adrianna was deadly serious. "I have a lot of powerful friends all over the world, Ginny. I've done a lot of favors. Those letters you heard McGonagall mention, they were from the MIA, the Magical Intelligence Agency of America. Close cousin of the CIA, for whom I'm still on the payroll. I can guarantee the letters held thinly veiled threats. The MIA is very protective."

Ginny's heart rate sped up again. She took a deep breath. "Would you really try to dispose the Minister of Magic?" Adrianna couldn't really have that kind of power, could she?

"No," Adrianna shook her head, and then shrugged. "Well, not at the moment. Fudge is stupid and selfish, but not evil. I have no intention of bothering with him at all. Not unless he becomes dangerous."

Ginny didn't know what to think. She hated Fudge, wanted him out of power. But that a stranger could show up, a foreigner, and remove the most powerful wizard in Great Britain…

The Empath stopped, looking at her carefully, almost sadly. "Well, I think that might be enough information for now. When you have more questions, I'll be around. I think I had better check up on Harry."

"Er…" Ginny muttered, flustered. "Do you want me to help look for him?'

"Nah, he's out by the lake brooding, again."

Again that familiar fear. "How do you know?"

"He's a giant ball of grief and fury. He kind of broadcasts. If I piss him off and he tells me to take a flying leap, I'll let you know," Adrianna offered.

Ginny shook her head, swallowing. "We don't have that kind of relationship."

"Don't you?" Adrianna said lightly as she walked off.

As she disappeared over the hill, Ginny knew that their conversation had left her with more questions than answers.

Ron seethed. As soon as Harry left, he had purposefully turned his body away from Hermione. He avoided her best he could, his body tense, his jaw clenched. At first, there were these sweet soft pleas for him to talk to her. Velvety little 'Ron's that sent shivers up his spine and rage through his veins.

Ron wished Hermione would just have the bloody courtesy to yell at him. His body itched with the need to finish the fight they had started before they were interrupted by Adrianna's announcement about the potions…

Shite. He did not want to think about that. Ron felt nausea so intense that he gagged. Hermione had been hit by the Avada Kadavra. She tried to block it with… How could she be so bloody stupid!

Ron's fists clenched and he knew if there was someone in the room he could punch, he would beat them to a bloody pulp. If he got his hands onto Hermione…he'd squeeze her so tight, she'd have bruises the next morning. Then he'd never forgive himself.

So, Ron kept his eyes tightly shut. He ignored Hermione's rustling and page flipping. He thought he had even heard a sniffle at one point, and he hadn't even cared. He actually thought, good, let her cry her bleeding heart out. Maybe then she'd get some sense and stop throwing herself in the path of danger.

Madam Pomfrey bustled in with lunch trays. Once the Healer left and Ron was sitting up with the tray before him, Hermione seemed to think it was the perfect opportunity to try again.

"Ron, please. Talk to me." Hermione's voice was so entreating, so soft and sweet. A couple of hours ago the anger was coming off her in waves. Ron preferred that.

When he didn't answer, her tone took on more of a chiding tone. "Ron, you are behaving like a child."

Ron ignored her best he could, taking a bite of his sandwich. It stuck in his throat. He drained a glass of pumpkin juice to force it down. A wave of nausea followed.

Hermione again changed her tactic. "You know I didn't do anything wrong. I don't deserve this treatment," she said logically.

Ron was going to be sick, he was sure of it. When he tried to take another bite of his sandwich his stomach contracted painfully and he tasted bile. He lifted the tray and put it on the floor. Once again, Ron lay down, turning away from Hermione.

"That's enough!" Finally, Hermione sounded annoyed. When she started to yell, maybe he'd be satisfied. "If you won't talk to me, then…"

Ron heard the unmistakable sound of Hermione trying to get out of bed. Panic coursed through him, joining the anger, and setting him in motion. He was up and by her side before he had time to think about it.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Ron snapped furiously. He grabbed her ankles and roughly swung them back onto the bed. He barely spared a thought for touching the previously forbidden body part. "You are not supposed to be out of bed."

For a moment, Hermione was limp with shock, staring at her legs, then Ron in turn. That changed in an instant. Ron tried to push her shoulders back on the bed and she hit his chest angrily. "Ron, get your ruddy hands off me."

His hands fell away, satisfied that she was bed-bound at least, but it was too late to stop him entirely. Once Ron had taken motion he wasn't to be stopped. He slammed her food tray in front of her. "You are sick. You need to eat," he commanded. He felt agitated, restless.

"Oh, that's rich! You're sick as well. What's your excuse?" Hermione was breathing quickly, shoving her tray off of her legs.

"I didn't get hit by the Avada Kadavra," Ron ground out. He wished he had something to hit. Instead, he turned his attention to Hermione's bedside, where the dozen or so potion vials sat. "Did you drink all your potions?" He picked them up one by one and shook them to make sure they were empty, slamming them down when he was through.

"Of course I did! Ron, please, stop, you're acting crazy." Hermione reached out and grasped his forearm, but he shook her off.

That's right, he was absolutely barmy. He had gone completely around the bend. It didn't feel so bad, really. "I told you to eat."

"Ron, you're going to break something."

He hoped so, he really did.

"Ron! I took all my potions. I'm fine." Her voice was rational, caring. "This is about what Adrianna said, about the spell... about the Av---"

Ron froze. "I do not want to talk about that Hermione."

"Well I do!" she yelled back.

"Fine you want to talk, let's talk." Ron took a breath, feeling better. Finally, he was going to get the row he needed. "Let's talk about how you belittle and insult me in front of people. Or maybe, let's talk about how nasty and rude you were to Harry's cousin."

Ron saw the flame light in her eyes. That's it, love. Let go. Let me have it.

Hermione started off quietly, calmly, but he could see the fire lurking below the surface. "I did not belittle you, Ron. I was just trying to---"

He wanted the fire. "What? Make it absolutely clear that you think I'm a thick-headed git?"

"No. I didn't…" Hermione's voice rose, "Maybe if you didn't---"

"Didn't what?"

"Didn't act like a thick headed git!"

"Excuse me!"

"Come on, Ron you walked right into her trap---" Hermione was really shouting now.

"What trap? There was no trap."

"There could have been."

"She's Harry's cousin, Hermione."

"She is a stranger, Ronald!

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Harry needed us to be supportive? That he might want his best mates to get along with his family?"

That caused her to be still, taken aback, contemplative. He couldn't have that. He didn't want to be heard. Ron went in for the kill. "But what did you do, Hermione? Huh? You attacked her as soon as she walked through the door. Then you attack me when I try to be civil to her."

She was sputtering with fury. That's his girl. "This isn't about Harry," she said, her voice like ice. "This is about you trying to impress a pretty woman."

He laughed out loud. "You can do better than that!"

"Don't you deny it! Whenever an attractive woman looks at you, you turn into a daft puppy dog, ready to lick her face."

"I have never---"

"Fleur," she hissed, crossing her arms.

"Fleur was part veela. She was using her powers. What's your excuse? Lockhart?"

Hermione huffed, "He was a teacher."

"I don't see you mooning after Snape."

"I didn't moon… This isn't the point."

"No," Ron took the shift in stride. He didn't pause for a breath. "The point is that Harry needed our support and all you cared about was being right!"

"How dare you! I care about Harry! I care enough to worry about some ultra powerful seductress---"

"Seductress! Ha!"

"---who could very well be taking advantage of him. Who could be working for the enemy! But you're too thick to think about that!"

"I'm thick! Well, maybe I am thick, but at least I'm smart enough to not throw my suspicions in someone's face."

"No, instead you offered yourself to Adrianna on a silver platter."

"Please! By the end, you trusted her well enough. Oh, but then she reads, so she must be a good person."

"I did not---"

Ron was on a roll. He grabbed one of the books and waved it at her. "At least I don't think books are more important than people!" He stormed across the room and threw it in the trash bin.

Hermione had enough. She swung her feet over the side of her bed and started to rise for the first time since the Department of Mysteries.

"Hermione," Ron warned, fear mixing with anger. "I told you to stay in bed."

"You know what, Ron? I'm a little tired of your commands." She struggled to her feet unsteadily. For a moment their eyes met across the room, in stubborn battle. Hermione took an unsteady step toward him and clutched her side in pain.

"Hermione, I told you…" Ron was by her side in two long strides. He gripped her by the arms trying to guide her to sit, but this time Hermione wasn't letting him put her to bed so easily.

"No. I'm fine! Get your hands off me, you great brute!" She struggled to dislodge him, pushing at his arms.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?" He bellowed, breathing heavily. Ron was having trouble thinking clearly. Didn't she care that she was sick, that she had almost died? Why did she keep risking herself? Ron struggled with her grasping arms. Frustrated, he bent his legs and wrapped both arms around her waist. He stood, lifting her off the ground.

"Get off of me, you oaf." Hermione pounded his shoulders and back.

Ron tried to gently lay her down, but she wouldn't stop wriggling. He put one knee on the bed with her, using the leverage to try to make her lay back. "Bloody hell! Stop moving!"

"You're hurting me!"

"If you would stop!" Ron wrestled her down, pinning her to the bed with his body. To still her, he grabbed her wrists and trapped them above her head.

Hermione froze and Ron suddenly realized the position they were in. The bulk of his weight was off to her side so he wouldn't crush her, but…his chest was pressed against her and one long leg restrained both of hers. Their faces were barely an inch apart. It was just a good thing his pelvis wasn't pressed against her… He certainty didn't want her to feel that.

Ron was acutely aware of every place where his body touched hers. He had never been so turned on in his life. He met Hermione's eyes for a brief moment, but she quickly averted hers. That moment had been enough. Had Ron seen desire in her eyes? Did he know what desire looked like?

Her breath was coming in quick little pants against his lips. They were so close to his. Shite. Ron was going to kiss her.

His body shook with the force it took to keep his lips off hers. He wasn't ready for this. He didn't know if this is what he wanted. He could almost feel her lips, just a hair's breath away.

Shite, Ron knew he wanted this. He just didn't know if he wanted what it would mean. If he kissed Hermione it would change everything. One way or another they could never go back. Did he want that?

Did Hermione want that? It was a sobering thought.

For the first time Ron realized how egotistical he was being. He had Hermione physically restrained while he decided what he wanted. Shite, he was practically forcing her and she…she couldn't even look at him.

Hermione had almost died and he was hurting her, trying to decide if he should force himself on her. It was practically rape. Self- loathing coursed through him.

Ron wrenched himself off her with such force that he staggered to the other side of the room. He found a sink and crouched over it, splashing water on his face. He had to get his body under control.

"Ron," he heard Hermione call softly, from a great distance.

A litany was repeating in his head. She had been hit by the killing curse. She was in pain. He had taken advantage of her. He...

Ron felt the bile rise in his throat along with the self-hatred. He clutched at the sink as what little he had of lunch came back up. He heard Hermione call his name again as he fell to his knees and pressed his burning cheek against the cold sink.

"Damn it, Ron. Are you all right?" He saw, out of the corner of his eye, Hermione swing her legs over the side of the bed again.

"I'm fine. Please, just bloody stay put." Ron instantly regretted his harsh words. "I'm sorry, Hermione." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm so sorry."

He vaguely heard her call for Madam Pomfrey, who rushed in and hovered over him for long minutes, asking him questions. Finally, he said to her, "Madam, my arms are burning. Do you think I could have that healing bath you mentioned before?"

The Healer nodded. As she led him to an adjoining room for a bath, Ron felt a rush of relief at being extricated from Hermione's intense gaze.

He just hoped she could forgive him.

Harry decided not to respond when Adrianna called to him across the lawn. He just continued to clutch the photo album between his chest and knees. He stared out at the lake. This was his new favorite pastime.

Why couldn't Adrianna leave him alone? He couldn't… He didn't want to be cheered up. He didn't want to hear any more stories, about people he never met, about memories he couldn't share. Harry stiffened as she sat next to him. If he thought 'Go Away' really loud, would she go?

"You're holding on to that album as if your life depended on it," Adrianna said casually. A barely perceptible shrug was all he had to offer. "Something you see in there upset you?"

What could possibly upset him? Maybe, oh, everything, every smiling face he would never met or would never see again. Harry's jaw clenched and his eyes stung.

Adrianna persisted despite his silence. "Did you have any questions about any of the pictures?"

All of them, but Harry didn't want to hear it… he couldn't. She should understand that. If Adrianna knew how he felt, then she should leave. She should know that he needed to be alone, but she didn't leave and one question was consuming him. When Harry finally spoke, it sounded more like an accusation. "You knew Sirius."

"We met."

"There's a picture of him holding you and laughing." Harry refused to look at her.

"I was, like, six years old in that picture, Harry."

"You kept it, it meant something to you."

"True. Sirius and I weren't the only people in that picture. He was your father's best friend. It makes sense that we met."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry kept his voice even and cold.

"Did you want to hear that last night?" she asked softly.

"Yes."

"Liar." It was said in a matter-of-fact way, without indictment.

"You knew him," Harry repeated.

"Some... not like you did."

"You should have told---"

"Harry, I won't fight you. I know anger is easier, but I'm not taking the bait."

Fine. That was just great. Could she go away then? Please. "What do you know about anything?"

"I know about dead fathers."

Harry choked. Who said things like that?

"I didn't tell you the story about what convinced my mother to let me got back to witchcraft school."

"I don't want to hear anymore stories."

"You need to hear this one."

Harry closed his eyes and buried them in his knees, shielding himself by becoming a tight ball. He didn't loosen his hold on his photo album.

Adrianna began her story leisurely. "The summer after my father died, I had my first vision."

Harry didn't understand why she was torturing him.

"In my vision my father came to me." She took a deep breath. "He told me that he needed me to go on and fight my curse. He had always said that we would find a way to get past the expiration date thing. He told me not to turn my back on magic, and that he would always be with me…all that sort of sappy stuff."

Harry still wouldn't look at her. He refused to bend, though tears pooled in his eyes.

"So you see, it really didn't matter what my mother said. I was going back to school."

Please, Harry silently begged. He couldn't hear any more.

Adrianna continued to ignore his unspoken pleas. "I believe that my visions are my father's way of steering me through life." She paused, "I could be wrong. Maybe it's just a scared little girl's way of deluding herself, but even if it is… It's what I believe."

Harry groaned, a bitter strangled sound. He wanted to scream. Why was she doing this to him? How could this possibly help? Adrianna knew her father. Harry never had, never would. And now she was blathering on about how she got to keep her father with her. Well, that's just bloody fantastic for her. Harry didn't have shite.

"Just wait, Harry. I'm just getting to the good part."

He wanted to hit her.

"Four days ago," Adrianna continued. "I had another vision. This time, it was Sirius who was talking to me."

Harry gasped, his heart clenching. His eyes finally left their hiding place, fixing on her with a sharp jerk. He hoped she could feel his fury. Harry found her looking back at him with crystal clear eyes, his father's eyes. "I think I heard your parents' voices too. They told me... pleaded with me to take care of you for them. So, just like my mother, you don't have a choice. I am going to honor their wishes."

Harry sobbed, turning away again, shaking his head.

"Harry, I believe that Sirius is happy where he is. He's with your father. The only thing that is keeping him from being at peace is missing and worrying about you. So, he sent me to you to take care of you."

"I don't..." he choked on the wave of grief. Harry felt an arm come around his shoulder and he wanted to pull away, but instead he felt himself leaning into her. When the fight finally left him, his cousin put her other arm around him and laid her cheek on his head.

It hurt so much. Harry missed him so much.

"He misses you, too."

The dam broke and sobs wracked his body. Adrianna quietly rocked him until he had no more tears to give.