Disclaimer:
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.
Author's Notes:
This chapter has been revised as of July 2005 and contains new content. It has also been modified from the original NC-17 version is located at Checkmated and is rated R.
This is an Alternate Universe Story in the Harry Potter Series in that it branches off from the series before the final Chapter of The Order of Phoenix.
Of Hearts and Heroes
Chapter Fourteen
Ginny sat on the curb outside Twelve Grimmauld Place biting her fingernails, a habit she had given up the day she turned nine. Luckily, her mother was too busy pacing and foot taping to notice. As a matter of fact, everyone was too preoccupied to notice.
They made quite a sight, just shy of a dozen witches and wizards in various amounts of Muggle clothing. In fact, they were quite fortunate that no Muggles had happened upon them as they milled about in front of a house that no outsider could see. But that was why they were waiting outside in the first place. Adrianna couldn't enter, or even find the place, without Dumbledore telling her the secret, personally.
For her part, Ginny hoped that Dumbledore would, instead, curse the witch back to wherever she came from. Then they could just grab Harry and run. Why were they even considering telling Adrianna where Headquarters was? It seemed pretty damned daft to Ginny, but no one listened to her. No one ever listened to her. Of course, Dumbledore had yet to show up so…maybe they would be able to ditch Adrianna and disappear into the house after all.
"Shite," Ginny swore under her breath as she bit off a nail, making it bleed. She sucked on the finger, looking around to see that there would be no one reprimanding her for swearing, because, again, no one was paying her one bit of attention. Did they ever?
Damn it! When were they going to get here? Ginny had assumed Harry and Adrianna would be arriving by Portkey, but if they were, then they would be here by now. Portkeys were very precise and the letter they had received yesterday morning said that they'd be here at two in the morning. It was now two-twelve.
She knew this because her mother kept conjuring the time on the sidewalk and earning scathing remarks from the already hacked off Mad-Eye. When Harry hadn't shown up at precisely two, Mrs. Weasley had insisted that the lights in the Put-Outer be put back on, so the new arrivals would be able to see. Moody strongly disagreed, but after a heated argument he relented and was now muttering about it under his breath.
Ginny searched the sky, looking for signs of broomsticks, until the screeching sound of a car's breaks jerked her eyes down to the street. It was one of those red bubble shaped cars, shinny and squat. Ginny's heart skipped a beat when she saw Harry emerge. Finally. Wait. Was that the driver's side?
The door closest to Ginny opened and out stepped the object of her summer's hate fest, looking disgustingly bright and innocent in jeans and a long ponytail. Adrianna turned and leaned over the car, looking pointedly at Harry. "Remind me, no more city driving."
Harry flashed her a brilliant winning smile. "Hey, I did good. Admit it." His smile made Ginny a bit light headed. He was here. He was home. But why was he driving a car? Maybe this wasn't Harry either. She squeezed her arms tightly, what was left of her fingernails digging sharply into the flesh of her upper arms.
Adrianna rolled her eyes, smiling affectionately. "Yeah, for someone who's been driving for four days you did fantastic." She held up her hands and Harry tossed her the keys in what appeared to be a practiced manner.
"You let him drive!" Molly shrieked in a voice so high that it made Ginny wince.
Adrianna turned around slowly, the smile fading from her face. All traces of affection left as her expression took on a hard edge, especially around the eyes. The witch crossed her arms over her chest.
"He's sixteen," Adrianna said in clipped tones, her eyes fixed on Mrs. Weasley. "He even has a license. A conjured one, yes, but a license all the same. Besides, Harry had to drive, otherwise we could never have found this place."
"Driving is dangerous," Molly bit out.
The corner of Adrianna's mouth twitched in bitter humor. "A lot of things are dangerous." She looked over the older woman carefully. "So, you're Molly Weasley," she said softly, causing Ginny narrow her eyes.
What did she mean by that? What an odd thing to say. It should have been challenging, but it wasn't. It was…contemplative, maybe. Adrianna watchfully took in the group, lingering on Mr. Weasley and the twins. Ginny remembered Adrianna's strange reaction to her last name the day they met. Did she---
"Oh, right. 'Drana, this is Mrs. Weasley…" Harry stepped forward to make introductions and, suddenly, Ginny couldn't hear a word he, or anyone else, said. Her train of thought was gone. Poof. Just like that.
Bloody hell. Was that really Harry Potter? Wow. Really, wow. Ginny scrambled to her feet to get a better look at him and when she did she had to bite her lip to keep from gasping out loud.
Harry was taller, four to five inches taller. He wasn't tall, per say, but you could no longer call him a small, slight boy. In fact, you couldn't call him thin. His face had filled out and lost its gaunt appearance. Instead, it looked healthy. His clothes framed new muscles, fitting him well. Too well, judging from the way Ginny's palms were sweating. It wasn't fair that he was more attractive. Now, what was she supposed to do?
But more important than the general look of virility and good health that surrounded the object of Ginny's childhood crush, was the light and fire that was back in Harry's eyes, the light that she saw on that train platform all those years ago. God, Ginny hoped this was the real Harry. She swore that if it was, she'd forgive Adrianna everything. If she could do this to her Harry, she was Ginny's bleeding hero.
Mad-Eye, however, was less optimistic. When introductions reached him, he barked, "That ain't Harry Potter. No one changes that much in six weeks."
The guilty apprehensive look already on Harry's face intensified as he responded meekly, "Fourteen weeks, actually."
Moody growled, stepping closer and glaring at him with his creepy eye. "Excuse me."
Ginny held her breath, praying that the answer would be a good one. She couldn't take it if this was another impostor. Harry swallowed and glanced back at his cousin, "For Adrianna and I, it's been fourteen weeks."
"With alternate plains of reality and all," Adrianna continued for him, fixing Mad-Eye with a look that could only be described as insolent. That woman didn't seem to be intimidated by anyone.
Harry cleared his throat. "Time moved differently where we trained in Japan…" he trailed off with a mildly frightened look. From the look on the withered Auror's face, he should be afraid. Ginny was.
Mad-Eye stepped still closer to Harry, saying quiet, but menacingly, "Prove it."
Harry's eyebrows rose as he squeaked, "Prove that time---"
"He means that you're you, Harry," Adrianna interrupted, looking as if she'd had quite enough, as if this was just one more petty inconvenience. She was an Empath. Didn't she know what this meant to Ginny and her family?
No sooner had she thought it, then Adrianna's face turned sharply, her eyes boring into Ginny's, making her freeze with apprehension. But then, Adrianna's expression softened, just a little, around the mouth and eyes. Still looking at Ginny, she said quietly to her cousin, "Just tell him something that other people wouldn't know."
"Oh, ok." Harry agreed, appearing grateful for the instruction and he began telling details of past exploits that made Ginny's eyebrows rise and her mother gasp in outrage. It seemed neither of them knew much about Harry's past adventures.
It wasn't until he had told every last detail of the day that Moody and the Order rescued Harry from the Dursleys' last summer that Mad-Eye finally grunted his approval. Well, maybe not approval, reluctant acceptance maybe.
Though, perhaps Moody would have continued the interrogation if Hermione hadn't pushed herself forward. "Harry Potter, you scared us to death," she cried tearfully, stamping her foot. Then she threw herself at him and he caught her in a warm, brotherly hug.
Ginny could barely hear the "Sorry," he whispered into Hermione's bushy curls. She was struggling with the jealousy that overcame her during their prolonged embrace, but in the end, she couldn't help but smile. Profound relief filled her. This was finally her Harry. He was really home.
"Wow, it feels like forever since I've seen any of you," Harry said, pulling away from Hermione and turning to greet Ron. "Sorry, mate. I---"
Ron pulled him into an uncharacteristic, but manly hug. Releasing him quickly, he muttered, "I suppose we're even for last year, then. Just don't do it again." They grinned sheepishly at one another and stared at their feet. Boys. Ginny rolled her eyes.
Then she stood, paralyzed with astonishment, as Harry turned to greet her next. Was Ginny really the next most important person? Or was she just the next closest in proximity?
"Hey, Gin," Harry greeted with a small smile. "Sorry 'bout the deception and stuff." He stepped forward and opened his arms…Oh god, he was going to hug her. Since when was Harry so comfortable touching people? In touching her?
Then, god, Harry's arms were around her for the first time ever and Ginny was just sure she was going to die. Tears fell freely from her cheeks and she brushed them away angrily, even as she put her arms around his shoulders to hug him back. Wow, were those really Harry's shoulders?
The embrace seemed to last forever. Ginny wondered if Harry was waiting for her to speak. If she stayed silent, would he just keep holding her? She could do that. But then again, she had three brothers here, so it wasn't all that realistic. "We missed you," Ginny managed to croak into his shoulder.
Harry pulled back and smiled at her, softly saying, "I missed you, too."
Her heart tumbled dangerously and all the breath left her body. Ginny struggled to control herself as her mother swept over and crushed Harry in a suffocating hug. It gave her a chance to regain her bearings. Mustn't over analyze this. It was just a friendly hug. Harry was hugging everyone. She wasn't anyone special.
After Harry had greeted the rest of her family, Tonks, and Remus, he looked nervously to his cousin. She gave him a reassuring smile as she played with her keys making the back of the car pop open. Pulling out a worn, leather backpack, she tossed it to Harry and slung her own bag over her shoulder. Closing the boot, Adrianna then pulled out her wand and tapped the car. "Reducio."
"You can't do magic like that in the middle of the street!" Molly yelled, outraged. "The Muggles!" Of course, the screaming would keep them all sleeping tight.
"'Cause, you guys are so inconspicuous," Adrianna said, rolling her eyes. "No one's watching. I would be able to tell. I'm an Empath remember? You don't think a Muggle observing magic would give off strong emotional energy?"
Mrs. Weasley seethed as she stared into Adrianna's hard, arrogant eyes. It struck Ginny that the hardness came and went, like walls that the witch could produce as will. "I don't see how…Enchanted Muggle objects are illegal in this country, young lady," her mother chastised, as if she were talking to a young child.
"Molly," Arthur warned, putting an arm around his wife's waist.
It seemed Ginny's mother was just itching for a row and Adrianna seemed completely willing to comply. "Well then, it's a good thing it's not enchanted. It's just a car." She smiled without mirth. "And now it's a really small car." Adrianna picked it up and dropped it into her bag for emphasis.
Ginny stifled a grin at the cheekiness and saw her brothers do the same. Cheekiness was highly regarded in the Weasley household. That is, by all by but it's matriarch, who continued to scowl, her chest heaving in anger.
"Really, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said quickly, clearly uncomfortable with the tension. "The car can't do anything on its own."
Molly's answer was interrupted by a loud, Crack, as Dumbledore appeared on the sidewalk. He looked at the lit street lamps with raised brows, then turned to smile pleasantly at his newly arrived student. "Harry, my dear boy. It's nice to see you looking so well."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said anxiously, glancing between the Headmaster and his cousin, who Dumbledore was now approaching.
The Professor held his hands folded before him in a casual posture as he peered at Adrianna over the tops of his spectacles. He towered over her, even with Adrianna pulling herself up to full height, her arms crossed and her posture rigid. "Miss Potter, I specifically remember having a conversation where I said Harry was safest at the Dursleys."
Ginny looked anxiously at Harry. What would he do if Dumbledore refused to tell Adrianna about Grimmauld Place? Would he leave with her? Would they loose him for good?
Adrianna tilted her chin and narrowed her eyes. "Then you'll also remember how I disagreed."
Ginny gasped and she wasn't the only one. Who did Adrianna think she was, talking to Dumbledore like that? There was arrogance and there was arrogance. It was almost inconceivable. The silence stretched and Ginny could only wonder what an angry Dumbledore would look like.
But it was the Headmaster who finally spoke. "You certainly are a Potter." And it appeared he wasn't angry at all.
Adrianna shrugged, "So, they say."
Dumbledore smiled in a completely genuine way and Ginny felt like she could breathe again. It seemed she no longer wanted Dumbledore to hex Adrianna at all. She just wanted peace and to get the new improved, hugging, Harry safely through that front door.
"Well, Ms. Potter," the Headmaster said, a surprising twinkle in his eye, "welcome to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place."
Harry looked good. He looked happy and healthy. Ron felt immensely relieved that his original instincts about Adrianna had been correct. After all, Harry needed family. No, Ron thought, as the large group of people filed back into Grimmauld Place, Harry wasn't the one to be worried about. Hermione on the other hand…
She had been shooting Adrianna deadly glares ever since the witch first stepped out of the car. With every unapologetic, self-assured thing that Harry's cousin said, Ron could feel Hermione's temperature rising. And then when Dumbledore gave Adrianna the secret to Grimmauld Place… Ron had been seriously afraid that his best friend was going to hex the Headmaster and to hell with the consequences.
Ron caught the back of Hermione's shirt as she tried to push her way up front to Harry and Adrianna. She turned and gave him a furious glare, which he countered with one of warning. When she pulled away to climb the steps of the house, the twins, Tonks, and Lupin were between her and Harry, so Ron was satisfied, still he was careful to stay close behind her.
What he wanted to do was grab her hand and force Hermione to stay next to him. He wanted to entwine their fingers, the way they seemed to do naturally of late, and distract her from the anger she was feeling, get her to think straight again. Ron wanted to… Ron wanted to think about something other than Hermione for five whole minutes. God damn!
As he stepped over the threshold to the foyer, Ron heard first the familiar sound of Tonks tripping, and then the regrettably common screeching of Mrs. Black. "Hoards! Hoards of traitors, scum, and vagrants! Oh, to sully the good name of Black…"
"Harry," Adrianna said softly, leaning slightly toward her cousin. "Why do you have a painting that insults you in the foyer?"
Her tone indicated only mild curiosity. As if Mrs. Black was an amusing oddity. Ron supposed this was true for…oh, ten seconds or so. After that, a bloke was ready to tear his hair out. And Ron had a high tolerance for overbearing females, as it seemed, they were the only kind he knew.
"How dare you? Filth," Mrs. Black seethed. "This is my house!"
"Really?" Adrianna's eyebrows rose skeptically, looking to Harry again. "I thought this was Sirius' house."
"My son did not deserve---"
"This is my unfortunate great aunt, Sirius' dead mother," Tonks interrupted, scowling at the portrait as it continued its tirade, now directing its full venom at her.
The insults Mrs. Black directed toward Tonks were particularly harsh and did not bear repeating. The witch took it all in stride, but Ron couldn't help but think he'd be forced to beat the stuffing out of any actual person that said those things to a friend. On the other hand, he couldn't hit a woman and Mrs. Black…Did she count as a woman?
"Well then, why is she still here?" Adrianna asked, looking between Tonks and Harry, disgust curling her lip as she winced at the screeching. Hermione made a harrumphing noise and Ron couldn't understand, for the life of him, what was wrong with her. Adrianna was completely right. Why the hell was the wretched portrait still there?
"We like her---" Fred yelled from the back of the crowd.
"---scares away the saleswitches," George quipped, nodding solemnly.
"---and the undesirable---"
"It's a sticking spell, 'Dranna," Harry interrupted, even as Ron chuckled at his brothers' joke and earned a deflating look from Hermione. "We've tried everything to get it down."
But did they really try everything? Ron had to believe that Dumbledore, if no one else, must have someway to get rid of the thing. Bloody hell, if they couldn't dispose of a simple picture how were they going to defeat Voldemort?
"I suggested we burn her down," George called again. "We didn't try that
Adrianna nodded, considering. "I suppose you've tried a Silencing Charm---"
"Of course," Mrs. Weasley scoffed.
"If you try anything, you repulsive whore---"
"That burning idea is looking better and better," Adrianna snapped back. Ron began to chuckle, but managed to appropriately arrange his expression before Hermione's angry glare fixed on his face. Damn, that witch was exhausting.
"What about knocking the wall down. What's behind there?" Adrianna began thumping on the wall with her fist.
"Can we do that?" Harry asked, intrigued. Ron wanted to ask the same thing and realized that he would have it weren't for Hermione. Actually, he'd be right there next to Harry, if it weren't for her.
Adrianna shrugged. "I don't see why not."
"There's nothing behind there, Missy," Moody growled, fixing Adrianna with a piercing glare.
Tonks cleared her throat, suggesting helpfully, "Maybe it's the next house."
"There's only one room on this floor? In a house this size?" Adrianna asked incredulously, shaking her head. "No, there is something behind there. It shouldn't be too hard to cut this portrait out."
Ron stared at the wall, trying to be interested in the mystery, but a question niggled him. Why was he minding Hermione? He'd never felt the need before. Why was it so ruddy important now that she stay calm? She was always annoyed. It was nothing new.
"You wouldn't dare! The scum and refuse will never run the house of my---"
"Oh, shut up," Adrianna finally yelled, pulling out her wand. The look on her face was dangerous. "Marsis Minimus."
"Oh, oh!" Mrs. Black tried to yell, but her voice came out in a tiny, high-pitched wine. "How dare you! Filth! Scum!" This time Ron couldn't hold back his laugh and enjoyed the hilarity of it along with Harry and his brothers. Though, the glare Hermione sent him did dampen the fun.
Harry smiled broadly. "I reckon we never tried that."
"Brilliant!" Fred called. It was Ron's sentiment exactly, though he did prefer the burning or knocking down the wall options.
"Not so intimidating like that," Ginny giggled and her father laughed, clapping his daughter on the shoulder. At least, his sister knew when to give up a vendetta and be reasonable. Why couldn't Hermione see the humor of the situation?
Chatter erupted as the group celebrated their victory over the dreaded Mrs. Black. Only two frowns remained, Hermione's and Mrs. Weasley's, the two people who just happen to be the most important women in Ron's life. There was nothing Adrianna could do that would keep these women from their passionate resistance to her forcing her way into their lives.
And for some daft reason, Ron suddenly felt as though it was his job to keep Hermione from ruining his for Harry. What was her problem anyway? If a powerful Empath wanted to hang around and protect Harry and by default the rest of them, well then, have at it.
There wasn't much of a down side, as far as he could see. Maybe with her around Ron wouldn't have to live in constant fear of Hermione's death…he meant all their deaths. He wanted everyone safe. Harry, his family, and yes, Hermione, herself. Nothing wrong with that. Damn it, what was wrong with him?
Now, if Hermione could just see it his way, instead of standing there with her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles were white. Ron flashed back to third year when Hermione had let Malfoy have it over Buckbeak's 'execution.' Ron had to do something before she exploded and caused a real ruckus.
He scanned the room. Thankfully, everyone seemed distracted. The twins were whispering and gesturing toward a twittering Mrs. Black, likely trying to figure out a way to market the new charm they just observed. Ginny was completely absorbed in her obsessive gawking at Harry and his dad seemed to be engaged in a highly charged whispered argument with his mum.
Adrianna and Harry had Dumbledore, Moody, Lupin, and Tonks involved in a conversation about what was behind the wall. Ron looked at them longingly. It would be fun to…
But it was now or never. Ron reached out and carefully wrapped his hand around Hermione's tightly clenched fit, stroking her with his thumb. Relax, love. Her head snapped up to look at him and her stony expression melted, her lip trembling.
He gave her an encouraging smile and felt her hand rest in his. Feeling suddenly warm and pleasantly dizzy, Ron threw caution to the wind and entwined their fingers, hiding their hands behind their backs. He stepped closer…to further conceal their hands, he told himself. Ok, so maybe this was better than discussions about portraits and walls.
The talk quieted when Dumbledore cleared his throat, drawing Ron and everyone else's attention. "Well, my dear," he addressed Adrianna, making her wince slightly. It seemed she couldn't suppress her distaste at the endearment, but maybe she didn't try. "If you wouldn't mind stepping into the dining room for a bit, we'd like a word with you."
Adrianna drew herself up, jaw clenched and arms crossed. Ron seriously thought she was going to refuse. What would Dumbledore do? What would Hermione do? He clutched her hand tighter.
But instead, Adrianna drawled warily, "Sure."
Harry took a hasty step forward, a look of panic on his face. "'Drana, no!"
And what was with the new nickname? It wasn't even a shortened version of her name. Bizarre, is what it was. Ron was sure it was irritating Hermione further. Did Harry have to push all of her buttons?
Adrianna's face softened with an expression that she only seemed to use for Harry. Ron kind of liked that his friend now had someone who would do that for him. "Harry," she said in a soft warning tone. "It will be---"
She was interrupted by a clomping on the stairs. "Harry Potter. Harry Potter, Dobby is so happy to see Harry Potter, sir." The Polyjuice imposter came barreling down the staircase, chattering loudly enough to drown everyone else out. "Dobby has been readying rooms for the great Harry Potter and his cousin, Adrianna Potter."
Dobby threw himself onto Harry, embracing him enthusiastically. Harry, taken off guard, finally hugged him back. "Um…hi, Dobby. Thanks for…everything."
Ron found himself wincing as he remembered his rough treatment of Dobby when he arrived. Little did Harry know that Dobby now had a few new bruises to repay. Hopefully, the elf had forgotten about Ron's abuse. He swallowed back a wave of shame at his reckless behavior. Nothing could be done about it now.
"Oh, sir is too great. It is Dobby's pleasure to serve you." he gushed.
By the time Harry extricated himself Adrianna had gone stony and was scowling at him. Ron was at a loss as to why the sudden change of expression. Women were too confusing. He felt Hermione's hands in his. Why did they have to be so infuriating and so soft?
"'Dranna?" Harry questioned.
"Just a minute. Dobby come here," Adrianna instructed stiffly, taking the elf by the arm and moving next to Harry. What was she about---Oh.
Adrianna stepped back giving them a clear view of the two Harrys, their proximity throwing into sharp contrast the differences between them. They looked more like brothers, than doubles. For the first time, Ron realized that Harry had grown, and while Dobby looked sickly and drawn, Harry was the picture of health. He was also wearing nice, new clothes. Ron pushed away that familiar twang of envy.
Adrianna turned to Dumbledore with barely concealed rage and Ron finally realized why. "This," she gestured to Dobby, "is what Harry looked like in June. And this is what he would look like now if he were still at the Dursleys. Exactly how did I do the wrong thing?"
Ron saw Hermione open her mouth to do just that. Couldn't she see Adrianna had a point? A good one. Blimey, the evidence was right there in front of them. He squeezed her hand and whispered a harsh warning in her ear, "Hermione, not now." She didn't relax, but she didn't say anything, either. He reckoned he was lucky that he got that.
. Completely unphased by Adrianna's challenge Dumbledore smiled, saying, "Shall we, then." As if, they were off to an extremely pleasant feast. He gestured to the dinning room and the double doors opened on their own.
Adrianna nodded in ascent, but was stopped when Harry snapped, "No! You aren't going in there without me. You don't owe them an explanation."
Somehow, the anger and passion in Harry's voice comforted Ron. So, his best mate was really back, then. About bloody time.
"Harry, its fine." Adrianna said calmly.
Harry shook his head, his jaw working. "Not without me."
"There is no reason for you to be in there. We're just going to be discussing where you've been. You were there. You know what happened. You should catch up your friends."
"I want to go," he hissed and while Ron understood Harry wanting to be involved, he couldn't help feel a small twinge on hurt. They hadn't seen him all summer. Didn't Harry want to spend time with them?
Adrianna sighed, "Harry, nothing good can come from you hearing us argue about you. Stay with your friends."
"'Drana," he entreated in a smaller voice. "I don't want them to…" Harry looking worried. He was afraid of what the adults would do to Adrianna. Selfishly, that realization made Ron feel quite a bit better.
Dumbledore lead the adults into the dining room, leaving Harry glaring in their wake. Watching the twins enter seemed to be the final straw for Hermione, who began to pull away, presumably to demand her own time to berate Adrianna.
Before she could speak, Ron pulled her, hard, into the corner and yanked her around to face him. "You heard Harry," he whispered harshly, not understanding why she didn't see how upset he was. She was supposed to be the perceptive one. "He doesn't want anyone fighting with Adrianna."
Hermione growled at him, "If she thinks I'm going to sit back and let her take over his life---"
Damn, Hermione had a flare for the dramatic. "If that's what Harry wants, then that's exactly what you'll do."
She shot him a look of betrayal and absolute fury, before wrenching her hand away. Hermione ignored him completely as she went over to where Harry and Ginny stood.
Great, now she was mad at him as well. Bloody fantastic. Ron was left to watch with dread as the last person entered the dining room and the door closed, leaving the three of them alone with Harry.
Harry leaned his back against the now closed dining room doors. He felt the Imperturbable Charm being placed, as it pushed him an inch away from the door. Barely noticing Dobby announce that he was going to go downstairs and make breakfast, he slide down the door and sat on the musty carpet.
Great. This was just fantastic. And they wondered why he had been in no hurry to end his surprisingly peaceful adventure and face this…inquisition. Harry looked around at three pairs of grave eyes. He reckoned the welcome home celebration was going to be a bit later. Or maybe it was already over.
Part of him wished he were in the dining room just so that he didn't have to face the hurt and accusatory looks out here. It didn't help, either, that Harry was guilty as sin.
Hermione was clearly the one to worry about. She had that look in her eyes, the one she had right before she slapped Malfoy. Did she want to hit him or Adrianna? While he couldn't accept the later, he wouldn't mind the former. Maybe if Harry just let her hit him, they could just move on and they wouldn't have to talk about it. That would be nice.
Though, at the moment, Hermione hitting Harry was unlikely given the way Ron was staring at her, as if he was ready to physically restrain her at any moment. Actually, Ron hadn't taken his eyes off of her for more than a few seconds and the entire time he had this look in his eyes…a strange look, almost as though he wanted to touch her.
In fact, Harry had noticed him touch Hermione several times. On purpose, even. Ron never touched Hermione. He avoided it like a red-hot cauldron, shrinking away when it happened accidentally, blushing and stammering. Though, Harry tried his best not to think about it, he knew it wasn't because Ron didn't want to touch her. More like he wanted to touch her too much.
And now, it looked as though the thing Harry had been dreading since fourth year was finally happening. Well, he supposed he was lucky he got this long a reprieve. Damn. This is what Harry got for leaving his best friends alone for half the summer.
Yet, surprisingly, the jealousy and fear Harry usually felt over such revelations had lessened considerably. He was different now, stronger, more secure. Somehow, it was now tolerable for his best mates to have a connection that didn't include him. How could he make them understand that going to Japan had been necessary, for all of them?
Harry looked up at Ginny, who was the first of the three to drop to her knees beside him. She had never been a part of their tight-nit group. They had never let anyone in before. It was just the three of them against the world. So, it should have been strange to have her there with them at this moment. In the past, Harry would have already been maneuvering to get Ron and Hermione alone.
But everything was changing now. They were changing. Ron and Hermione were morphing into something…more. And Harry...Harry had changed so much in the last year, in the last three months. He couldn't expect things between the three of them to stay the same.
Now, looking at Ginny's soft smile and welcoming gaze, Harry found that he was grateful she was there. Her cheerful calm drew him in. Maybe their relationship could change as well. He would certainly need another friend if Ron and Hermione were going where he was sure they were going and Ginny was one of the few people he knew that he reckoned might just be strong enough to handle his life.
Ron and Hermione finally came to sit as well. It was Hermione, of course, who ultimately broke the silence. "Well, are you going to tell us where you've been all summer or not?" she demanded, earning a glare from Ron.
She was angry, but he had expected that. Harry took a deep breath. "Um… We, er…" His mind kept wandering to what was going on behind that door, but he needed to say something before Hermione imploded. Why was this so hard?
"We started in France," he began carefully, "then Morocco and Belgium, briefly. Um, then we spent that twelve weeks in Japan, well four your time, and the last week we were in America." He reckoned she probably wanted more than an itinerary, but he seemed to be too nervous to get his thoughts together.
Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye, and the others, what were they doing to Adrianna? Harry felt a knot form in his abdomen. They couldn't take her away from him. He wouldn't let them.
"Harry." He hadn't realized that he had fallen into silence until Ginny spoke. She was looking at him expectantly. "Details, please." At least she was understanding and reasonable.
"Oh, um…what do you want ---"
"You can start with why," Hermione interrupted heatedly, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"Hermione," Ron hissed into her ear, his face probably the closest Harry had ever seen to hers. Oh, this was fun.
Harry bit the inside of his mouth to still the anxiety. "Why I went?"
Hermione frowned and looked at him in a way that made him feel like an idiot. "Why you didn't tell us." There was hurt in her voice. Shite, even though he expected it, Harry hadn't expected it to make him feel so sick.
Harry drew his knees up to his chest. He couldn't stand the look in Hermione's eyes. Resting his elbows on his knees, and his hands on the sides of his face, he kept his eyes on the carpet. "I couldn't stay at the Dursleys'," he said, his words coming out more harsh and defensive than he had intended. "I couldn't."
"Do you think we don't know that!" Hermione burst out.
"Hermione," Ron whispered, but she shrugged off his restraining hand and Harry felt her hand close over his forearm. It jolted him.
More softly, but just as passionately, Hermione argued, "Do you think we wanted you there? We would have understood. You could have told us, so we wouldn't…" she broke off, pulling away, betrayal etched on her face.
Harry swallowed. As bad as he felt that Hermione had worried needlessly about him, he knew she wouldn't have been fine with him going with Adrianna. She would have fought it and ruined everything.
This probably wasn't the best time to point that out, though. Instead, he deflected, "Well, Dumbledore wanted me at the Dursleys'. He wouldn't listen to Adrianna---"
"Well, then there must have been a good reason," Hermione snapped. "Don't you think that if Dumbledore wanted---?"
"Yeah, there was a good reason," Harry snapped back. This is what Hermione would have said if she had been told from the beginning. She wouldn't have understood. "Dumbledore thinks his way is the only way. He thinks the only way to protect me is to bury me in a hole and shelter me. I'm not a child anymore and that's not going to work."
Hermione flinched at his tone and Ron and Ginny held shocked expressions. Harry had never shown anything but loyalty to Dumbledore and even now he felt guilty for his harsh words. Hell, he felt guilty for even feeling this way. His friends didn't even know about the Blood Protection spell on the Dursley home. It didn't matter. He was never going back there.
"Harry," Hermione said in a softer tone, one that implied he'd lost his mind. "Dumbledore has protected you for your entire life. You had known Adrianna for only days---"
"And whose fault is that, Hermione?" Harry growled. Then quieter, he said, "He's not my father. He has no right to tell me to do anything, not outside of Hogwarts." His friends were shocked, but Harry could feel the anger growing inside him. "All these people tell me what to do, order me around, have an opinion about what's best for me, but no one has ever claimed me…"
Harry clenched his teeth, his eyes stinging. He did his best to continue without wavering. "I know Sirius would have, if he could, but he couldn't. He was…kinda broken. He couldn't even take care of himself. But I have family now. Adrianna takes care of me and no one is taking her from me. No one," he finished fervently. If they couldn't understand that, then to hell with them!
Harry's speech must have taken the fight from Hermione, because she sort of drooped and refused to look at him. Ginny was staring at him with wet glassy eyes. Great, pity. At least, no one was yelling anymore, making him say things he'd rather keep to himself.
The silence stretched uncomfortably. Ron finally came through, breaking the tension with a broad, if forced, smile. "So, mate, tell us everything. Morocco, Belgium, Japan. Sounds wicked cool."
What would they do without Ron? Grateful, Harry leaned back and smiled to himself. It really had been wicked cool. Amazing, really. "Morocco and Belgium were just a couple of days. Adrianna had some MIA business to finish up. A few foreign dignitaries she had to meet, see if they were lying. That sort of thing."
Ginny sat up straighter, her eyes bright and inquisitive. "She read their secrets?"
Harry shrugged. "Mostly."
"Wow, I didn't realize that the American government was so active in other foreign ministry affairs," Ginny said with genuine curiosity, making Hermione frown anew, probably upset by the mere idea. Did she have to find fault in everything?
"I don't think it's the Americans so much…I mean…" Actually, Harry wasn't at all sure what he meant. His cousin could be very closed lipped about her job. "I kind of got the impression that Adrianna works for a more international group, not just the MIA." Confused frowns were on Harry's friend's faces, but he didn't have the answers. And he wasn't about to admit that and give Hermione more ammunition.
"So, then we went to Japan," he pressed on quickly. "There I learned all about gaining control over my emotions, all these physical and mental techniques. There was this thing, I reckon it translates to Dream Walking or Mind Walking... It makes more sense in Japanese."
"So you speak Japanese now, do you? Hermione said meanly. Ron glared at her and grabbed her knee, digging his fingers in.
"No. I…" Harry stammered, thrown off not only by Hermione's… Was Ron really touching her knee?
"So, that's how you learned Occulmency, right?" Ron said with a good-natured smile, throwing Hermione a hopefully look. If anything about Harry's trip was going to win her over it was that he had learned Occulmency. But the scowl on her face didn't budge.
Harry swallowed his disappointment and answered, "Yeah, um… I learned to manipulate my thoughts and memories. It's all done on another plane of existence, so you know, the whole time thing." He closed his eyes, trying to get lost in the memory. "It's really powerful. You confront the worst things in your life. Then…it's as though our emotions drive our magic and after the magic flows freely…" he drifted off, opening his eyes to see his friends staring back at him with odd expressions.
"So, right Occulmency," Harry continued, clearing his throat. Maybe if he tried something more concrete. "While Mind Walking, someone would try to read me and I'd have to imagine walls forming in my mind. Then they would appear, physically, and block the person out. Now, the walls are just…there."
"That's great, Harry," Ron said, without enthusiasm. Harry had a sickening feeling. This wasn't going well. He almost wished Hermione would start screaming again.
Maybe if he tried a less controversial topic. "So, we left Japan at the end of July and Adrianna took me to meet her mum in America. Aunt Kathy was fantastic. She felt pretty guilty for me having to live with the Dursleys all those years. 'Drana told her about my hand-me-downs from Dudley and she got me a whole new wardrobe. Then she insisted on taking me to an amusement park for my birthday..."
Harry's knew he was rambling. The anxiety produced by the frowns around him wasn't helping. Apparently, this wasn't a less controversial topic.
"What's an amusement park?" Ron asked.
"It's a place where Muggles go on Holiday, Ron," Hermione informed him coldly, her voice steadily rising in volume. "It's where Harry went to have fun. While we were worried half to death, because he wouldn't talk to anyone on his birthday, because he refused to leave the Dursleys, because he wouldn't even open his presents, he was having fun."
Harry felt like he had been slapped. Suddenly, he wished he hadn't come back. He wished he were still in America where no one expected anything of him. Where he didn't keep hurting people.
Hermione took a deep breath, but it seemed she wasn't finished. "Harry, I can't believe you could do this? Why would you trust her more than us? She could have killed you and no one would have known."
Something inside Harry snapped. This went beyond what he deserved. Adrianna had saved him! Fury building, he yelled, "When are you going to trust me? I know Adrianna. You should trust that when I say she wants what's best for me, she wants what's best for me. More than you, apparently."
Shite, he'd gone too far. He didn't mean that. "Hermione, I---"
But before Harry could apologize, Hermione turned beet red and hissed, "How dare---?"
Ron shot to his feet and grabbed her arm. "Hermione, I need to talk to you." Unceremoniously, he dragged her to her feet and pulled her toward the stairs.
"Ron!" she protested in an outraged tone, fighting him. When she looked back at Harry, gone was the fury, now there was only hurt. Harry felt awful. He hoped she could see that.
Ron kept pulling and when he turned to confront her head on, Hermione's anger was back and this time it was directed at Ron. Bloody hell, this was going to be the mother of all rows. And it was all Harry's fault. Maybe they would have preferred it if he stayed in America, after all.
At the bottom of the steps, Ron and Hermione stared at one another. There were long moments of stubborn stand-off, until finally Hermione snapped, "Fine." Then with a flourish, she turned and she stomped up the stairs.
"We'll be right back," Ron called stonily.
Somehow, Harry doubted that. "I reckon Hermione's glad I'm home," he muttered bitterly, as he watched them disappear up the steps.
"She's thrilled you're home, Harry," Ginny said firmly, making Harry flush and turn to look at her. "We all are. Hermione was just really scared when we found out that the person we had been writing to all summer wasn't you. Even before that we…she was afraid. You seemed so distant."
Ginny voice was soft, her eyes were sad, and in thirty seconds she managed to fill Harry with more guilt than any of Hermione's tirades. He swallowed. "I know. I'm really sorry, Gin. I don't know what else to say." He really wished he did. Harry didn't want to fight with his friends. Not when he hadn't seen them in months. Not ever, really. He hated it.
"You have to understand," Ginny entreated softly. "When you were acting all strange and distant all summer, Hermione kinda blamed Adrianna. We all did a bit. We spent a lot of time hating her." She looked down shyly and then back up at him through lowered lashes. There was something in that look that tugged at his insides. Made him feel as though he should…what exactly?
"But Ginny, it's not her fault. I decided to go. Be angry at me." He wanted her to understand. He wanted her to accept his cousin. He wasn't sure why, but it meant a lot to him.
Ginny sighed despondently. "How can we be angry at you?" Harry almost laughed. Hermione certainly wasn't having trouble being angry at him. But Ginny's expression was so sincere…
"Look, I'm really sorry that I scared everyone, but I can't be sorry I went. I needed this, Ginny. Adrianna helped me deal with Sirius' death, to understand that it wasn't my fault. She made me to learn Occulmency and now…now, I'm not a danger to you anymore. I can actually be with my friends without worrying that I'll get you all killed." He took a deep breath. "I need you to be able to trust Adrianna."
That was probably what he should have said to Ron and Hermione. Of course, now he was able to find the words. Maybe it was Ginny who made the difference. She had this amazing, soft, yielding look, concerned and caring. She was really quite pretty. Harry had never noticed how pretty she was. Strange.
"It's going to be a tough sell," she told him candidly. "I mean, I want to, Harry, but you have to….Harry, two days ago the Burrow was attacked."
The bottom fell out of his stomach. "What!" He got up on his knees, his fists automatically tightening. Harry had no…Shite! "What happened!"
Ginny gnawed on her lip. "There were Death Eaters. I was Stupefied, if Fred hadn't come home that night… Anyway, the point is Hermione and I had notes, research we had done on Empaths and they took it all. Along with a book from Hermione's house."
"Hermione's house?" Harry shook his head in disbelief, trying to digest it all. His jaw clenched, anger filling him. "Wait, you were Stupefied. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine…" she trailed off with a smile and looked away. It was an odd reaction.
"What?" he asked.
Ginny shook her head. "It's just good to have the real Harry back." Harry felt his face heat up and he suddenly had great difficulty looking at her. She hastily cleared her throat, saying, "But, yeah, they hit Hermione's house as well. When we figured out what was missing, Hermione was sure it was Adrianna who had arranged the attack."
Harry scoffed. "Adrianna was with me, she couldn't have---"
"But we didn't know that, Harry. What else were we to think---?"
"How about that Voldemort wants information on Adrianna," Harry argued. "She's a target now as well." A target as well. Because of him. He pushed the thought aside. Adrianna could take care of herself. She could take care of herself.
"Yeah, that makes sense," Ginny said softly, though Harry couldn't tell if she meant it.
Now that Harry thought about it, he reckoned it did make some sense for Hermione to blame Adrianna, after the way her cousin had left Hogwarts. And if Hermione was attacked, then…Oh god.
Urgently, Harry asked, "Was Hermione or her parents at home when the Death Eaters---?"
"No, no," Ginny reassured. Then a wicked smile came across her face. It seemed extremely inappropriate.
Harry looked at her curiously. What was she about? "Ginny?"
Her eyes lit with amusement. "Well," she began, moving closer to him, and whispering conspiratorially, "after they found me, Mum went to Ron's room and he was missing, so we all assumed he had been taken."
Ginny shook her head at what must have been a horrified expression on Harry's face. "No, it's all right. I mean, if you wanted to punch him again for worrying us, that would be ok. But…" She giggled. "Turns out, we found him the next morning at Hermione's holiday cottage. Trying to sneak home. He'd spent the night. In her room."
Harry's jaw dropped. In her room. Ron snuck over to Hermione's and slept in her bloody room. What the hell had he missed? And bloody hell, he had thought he was ready for them to move in this direction, but damn, they shared a bed. Well, room…but still.
Taking a deep breath, Harry managed to ask hesitantly, "So…they're together, then?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I don't think so. They're far too thick for that. At least Ron is…Oh, I'm sorry, Harry. Does this bother you?"
He smiled. Her concern was nice. "No, I'm just surprised. Not that they…you know. That it happened so fast. I mean, after it went so slow for so long. I've kinda accepted it as inevitable, though."
Ginny shrugged, giving him an ironic smile. "Well, I don't think Ron's made a similar discovery, so I doubt it will be all that fast after all." Well, that was good. Harry needed time to get used to this.
It occurred to him that he liked the way Ginny…talked. It was interesting and smart and made him smile, made him comfortable. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said, "They're different though, Ron and Hermione."
She nodded. "They think they're being subtle, but they're kinda---"
"---really focused on one another---"
"---and before they never used to---"
"---touch---"
"---or look at each other for too long---"
"---they'd get all flustered and start a fight---"
"---and now they can't seem to stop themselves," Ginny finished, breaking off in delighted giggles.
Harry grinned at her. It was amazing how much better he felt. Maybe Ron and Hermione dating wouldn't be so bad if he had Ginny to make fun of them with. For the first time, it felt really good to be home. They smiled, stupidly, at each other for long moments before Ginny looked away shyly.
Harry straightened his legs and crossing them at the ankles. "So, besides hating me and Adrianna and getting attacked by Death Eaters, how was your summer?"
Ginny laughed, moving to sit next to him, leaning against the door, as well. She started telling her stories and Harry found himself relaxing more and more. No, this wouldn't be bad at all.
Hermione stomped up the stairs in front of Ron, fury building with each step. Fury at sodding Adrianna who barged in and was now trying to take over their lives. Fury at Harry for being so ruddy happy about the whole thing. And now, fury at Ron for being on their side. Couldn't he ever take her side? Just once?
Their best friend lies and tricks them, abandons them to go gallivanting around the world with a woman he had known less than one week, a woman for all they knew could be plotting their deaths.
Then Harry comes home and he gets angry at her for not automatically trusting that awful Adrianna. After he left them alone for a month, assuming the worst, scared half to death when they found an imposter in his house and all the while he was at an amusement park! An amusement park! Having the time of his life. And, of course, Ron takes their side. Naturally.
Hermione stopped at the first floor landing, planning on entering the drawing room, but she felt Ron firmly push on her back. "Keep going," he said, close to her ear. "I don't want to be interrupted."
A shiver ran through her, followed by a flash of warmth, as Hermione's body became instantly hypersensitive to her surroundings. His words brought entirely different kinds of thoughts to mind. Thoughts that she knew he didn't intend.
She had decided last night (It was last night wasn't it? The days seemed to blur. It was three or four in the morning now. Odd, she didn't seem tired at all) to…well, to seduce Ron. Sort of.
The plan was to encourage a physical relationship in any way possible and then, along their strong bond of friendship, Ron wouldn't be able to keep from falling in love with her. Hopefully. It was worth the risk, she reminded herself, becoming increasingly flushed and tingly.
They were going somewhere where they wouldn't be interrupted. That would be nice. Yes, privacy was good. Ron led Hermione up to the fourth floor, to a small-unused bedroom. They certainly weren't likely to be found there. Her heart pounded. Her back burned where Ron touched it. How was she going to do this again?
She…uh she needed to get him to kiss her again. Awake this time. It wouldn't work if Hermione made the first move. It had to be Ron. He was both a stereotypical male and insecure in his masculinity. He had to be in charge of this. Well, he needed to think he was at least. So, all she needed to do is give him permission and, hopefully, his lust would take it from there. He was sixteen after all.
Permission to touch her without expectations of a relationship. Oh god. This was insane. No. No, it was all right. The relationship would come later. When Ron was more…ready. Hermione just had to have faith. Oh dear.
When Ron closed the door to the room, Hermione didn't think she was ever going to be able to breathe again, but then he turned and looked at her, arms crossed, jaw clenched, eyes shooting blue fire at her. Oh right, they came here to fight, not snog.
Hermione willed herself to remember all the reasons she was angry. Adrianna. Harry's betrayal. Ron taking their side. She should be ashamed that her thoughts had drifted even for a second from these more important matters. This wasn't like her at all.
But all of that seemed so far away and Ron was so close and he was standing there in a pose of masculine dominance and it was making her weak in the knees. When he crossed his arms like that his biceps bulged a bit, in that lovely gangly teenaged way.
Only a few days ago she had slept on that bicep. It felt so soft under her cheek and so strong under her hand. Yesterday, Ron had thrown Dobby against the wall...and it had been wrong, naturally, but it had been really sexy as well. Oh my. This wasn't what she was supposed to be thinking about.
"Are you going to say what's on your mind or just give me the silent treatment?" Ron demanded heatedly.
For a minute, Hermione didn't understand. All she could see was his lips, full but masculine… She'd had no idea they would feel so good.
"Fine," Ron snapped. "If you're going to make me start… How about you tell me exactly what got into you down there, yelling at Harry?"
Hermione felt an immediate rise as Ron yelled at her. Why was he attacking her when she…? It was his fault she was distracted anyway, stupid git. His gall was beyond comprehension.
First, he sided with Harry against her. Then, he plays the domineering prat and yanks her away, for a scolding of all things. And now, he has the nerve to distract her with his body and his plain ruddy attractiveness. It really wasn't fair and it made her right livid. Really it did.
Hermione let herself be drawn into the blind passion of fury, glad for the confidence it afforded her. "What's got into me! If you didn't notice, I was the only one making any kind of sense down there."
"Hermione," Ron barked irritably, "Adrianna isn't what you thought she was. She really helped Harry, can't you see that?"
He was so naïve. "No, I can't see that, because we don't know that! There is no evidence!"
"Harry's the evidence, Hermione. He's happy and healthy like we haven't seen him in years, ever maybe."
Hermione didn't want to hear that. There was something suspicious about Adrianna, she just knew it. And she stole Harry from them. "She has a spell on him."
Ron rubbed his face in frustration. "Hermione, you're not thinking---"
Her eyes flashed. "Rubbish! My thinking is perfectly fine. You're the one that woman has befuddled."
"You're just jealous!"
It was the worst possible thing he could have said. Hermione felt herself turning bright red. Why would he say that? Was he attracted to Adrianna? Did he think she was more exciting than Hermione? Was she a threat? Her stomach tied in knots. Was Adrianna going to steal Ron from her as well?
Suddenly, tears were in her eyes and Hermione had the undeniable need to hurt Ron like he had hurt her. "So, that's the problem is it? You've been thinking with your…with your boy parts."
Ron turned instantly red and sputtered, "My what?"
"That's it, isn't it? You're taking her side because you think she's attractive!" Hermione could feel herself becoming hysterical. The disappointment she felt was shutting down all sense of reason.
"Hermione, you're not making sense."
There was a desperate edge to his voice that she interpreted as guilt. Her eyes burned. "You think she'd more attractive than me!" she burst out, immediately regretting her words. When had she become such a girl? She was pitiable.
"That's absurd!" Ron screamed, his voice squeaky. "I told you I think you're beautiful." He stared at his shuffling feet.
He's lying, Hermione thought. That's why Ron couldn't look her in the eye. As her hopes shattered so did the last remnants of control over her words. "If that were true then you'd be able to kiss me while we're awake!"
Hermione didn't have time to reconsider her words. The next thing she knew she was pushed up against the wall and could feel the entire length of Ron's body pressed against her. Gasping, she looked up into his eyes. They had that glazed look again, except this time there was something predatory….
Hermione had less than a moment to contemplate the look. His crushed his mouth against hers and there was no way she could keep her eyes open. Ron devoured her. What he lacked in finesse he more than made up for in passion. She had one last thought before she gave herself over to responding with everything she had in her….
Thank heavens.