Sorry that I haven't updated lately but I just couldn't keep up that pace. I've been doing a lot of writing lately hough, but I still can't promise how often I'll be able to update.
For Theoddguy, thank you for reading. Sorry this is going to stay a Harry Ginny because that's how it was planned. But thank you for the review. There might be a part you like in a later chapter though. And if I can get it to work there is a Harry Draco story I'm working on. Actually two. I'm not too picky on my parings. Except maybe Harry and Snape don't know if I could write one of those.

Well, the same old same old. I don't own the Harry Potter Characters, but Roan is somewhat mine. He tends to have a life of his own as do all my characters.

Beta read by the wonderful Susan (Thanks again) (see I told you would get tired of me.)

Chapter 6

Old Bruce

"Uhm, Mum?" Ginny called through the door.

"Yes Ginny dear. Oh my who is this?" Mrs. Weasley stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the new kid.

"Mom this is Roan Betula and well, he's sort of visiting his Uncle who seems to live in the forest on our land." The only female Weasley child tried to explain.

Mrs. Weasley seemed to think about it for a while then a broad smile spread across her face. "Oh yes, Old Bruce."

Ron cocked his head. "Old Bruce? You mean you knew?"

"Yes dear. Bruce's been here as long as, if not longer than the Weasley's. No ones quite sure who moved in first? Not even Old Bruce."

"So you knew he was there and never told us. What if he tried to hurt one of us or something?"

The blond bristled at this. And was about to say something to the arse but a brunette interrupted him.

"Oh get off it Ron. I don't think he would harm you."

Ron glared at his friend. His face was almost the same color as his hair now. "And how would you know? How would you like it if you had a stranger living on your property that you didn't know about?" Ron yelled.

Her mouth hung open for a little while and then tears sprung into her eyes. She began to shake as they escaped and ran down her cheeks.

Harry stepped forward and gathered her into his arms. His bright green eyes now angry slits. "Ron that was completely uncalled for." He bit out. "You had no right to yell at her. You're being unreasonable and a blinkered fool. I don't want to be rude, but I suggest you shut up and let you mum explain things."

"But..." Ron started to protest.

"No buts." Harry ground out. And with that another flash of light shot from him and Ron was surrounded by ropes and bound to a chair. For a little bit Harry and everyone else in the room was in shock, but Harry was the first to recover. "I'm sorry about that Ron. I didn't mean for that to happen. But if that's what it takes to get you to listen then I'm afraid it will to do for a while." He explained still holding his other best friend in his arms. She had stopped crying by now also shocked at the complicated spell Harry had cast without a wand.

Steam could almost be seen coming off the red head as he fumed bound to the chair. He knew that his friend was right but he was way too stubborn to admit it at least for the moment. Of course he also knew that he had the bad habit of being narrow minded. Back in their fourth year he hadn't talked to Harry for a long time all because he was too much of a fool to see that there was no way that Harry had put his name into the goblet. And for the fact that there was no way that Harry would want any more fame or anymore attention drawn to him than there already was just for being him. He sighed and smiled slightly. "Alright Harry I'll listen. And I'm sorry Hermione."

She nodded her acknowledgement but didn't seem ready to accept it so readily at the moment.

Mrs. Weasley took this as her cue to continue. "Now as I was saying we're not exactly sure who moved in first. All we know is that about thirty three years ago when your father and his parents moved into this place it seemed that Bruce arrived at about the same time. They didn't know about him for quite a while until one night Mrs. Weasley your father's mother was out at night picking some luna slippers she had planted in her garden. Beautiful flowers they were made the softest slippers but they only bloomed at night, too bad they were destroyed by the gnomes." Her voice became wistful.

"Mum, could we get back to the story." Ron groaned.

"Sorry dear. I just miss those flowers. They're not that easy to maintain and I've never been able to get them to grow again."

"Mum!" Her youngest son cried.

"Sorry. Well, you see his mother was out picking those flowers when she saw something out of the corner of her eye by the old well. She turned to see a man possible in his late 40's staring right back at her. She was shocked and scared. Not sure what to do she reached into her pocket for her wand but realized she had forgotten it back in the kitchen. So the two of them just stood their and stared at each other for quite some time. Then it dawned on you Grandmother that he seemed to be just as scared of her as she was of him. Squashing her fear she decided the best way to go about this was to introduce herself."

- - The scene 31 years ago - -

"Uhm, hello?" She called out to the older man. "Um sir may I inquire to your name?" But still the man didn't seem to move. "Sir, are you alright?" She became worried. Could this man be sick or injured? She stepped forward a concerned look in her eyes.

This time he reacted. "Don't come any closer." He cried and seemed to shrink away from her in fear. "I've heard what your kind does to our kind."

"My kind?"

"Yes, you humans always think your so high and mighty. Us other creatures never matter, we're just fodder to you."

"Sir, what are you talking about may I ask? My husband and I would never do anything to harm you. And I'm sure my son Arthur wouldn't either. Any ways, he's away at Hogwarts." She clamped her hand over her mouth. She really shouldn't have said anything. She was sure if this was a muggle or not. But then he had said that the humans were the bad ones. Maybe he was some sort of other creature. Sure he looked human enough. But there were many magical creatures that had humanoid characteristics, and he had seemed to calm down at the mention of her sons' school.

"Hogwarts did you say. So you and your family are wizarding kind then?" He seemed to take in a breath he had been holding. "Well, that changes things then. Sorry for my rudeness, but we are told not to show are selves to people. But wizards and witches are a bit different. They are a bit more understanding when it comes to our kind. Of course there are still those that think they're better than us no matter what."

"My family would never act like that."

"I can see that now. I just needed to find out for my self. My name is Bruce Koa, I'm a Dryad I live in the woods on this land. I moved in a little while ago and didn't realize there was another family living here as well. I can understand the need to find a safe place at this time and moment. Dark things are stirring in the wizarding world in the magical world in general. I have heard things from other nymphs. The giants are moving as are other dark creatures."

She gasped. She knew this of course. Dumbledore had talked to them about it just a couple of days ago. He had sensed that something was happening and feared that they had another dark wizard on their hands. But so far the person had yet to show themselves.

She knew what she had to do. "Please stay here. We can share, it's big enough, and we can also help to protect each other."

He thought about it for a while and then nodded his agreement.

- - Back to the present - -

"So you see Old Bruce helps protect the Burrow. He's very talented with his protection spells."

The kids were all silent.

"Um, Harry dear. Could you please take the spell off of Ron?"

He looked sheepish. "I don't think I can."

Molly hadn't thought about that. The ministry didn't say anything about wandless magic during wizarding puberty, but if Harry used his wand it would get him in trouble, and if he tried to clear it up with out it it could get them all in trouble, for who knows what could happen.

"I'll take care of it." Fred offered. Walking towards his brother he pointed his wand at him. "Finite Incantatum." The ropes untied themselves and disappeared.

"Sorry Mate." Harry mumbled.

"No I'm the one that's sorry. You were right mate, I was being blinkered."

"No hard feelings?" He brushed an ebony lock from his eyes and held out his hand.

"No hard feelings." Ron agreed and took hold of the hand then pulled his friend into a hug.

After they broke apart the attention returned to Roan. Ron stepped forward and held his hand out to the other boy. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.

Roan glanced from his face to the proffered hand. Then after a few more minutes he took the hand in a firm shake.