Disclaimer : I don not own Harry Potter of it's affiliates.
Chapter : 29
Reflection's Claim
Harry sighed. Still to tired and comfy to open his eye's. As he felt the warm sunlight splash across his face. He smiled against it, feeling happy. Slowly Harry opened his eye's. He tried to focus on the blurry white ceiling image of what had to be a ceiling. Though not the one at Hogwarts he'd grown used to in the Hospital wing. Harry instantly reached for his glasses. Finally finding them on the nightstand beside the bed, in which he still lay. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and quickly looked around. The white ceiling was unfamiliar, as were the pale blue walls that was hidden behind a mass of rock band posters.
Harry looked back at the nightstand. A lamp, wand, and a picture was seated on the polished wood's surface. The wand he didn't recognize. The picture he picked up. There were four teenagers in it. Harry recognized them as Ron, Hermione, Ginny and himself. He couldn't recall when the picture had been taken. For he didn't recognize the surroundings. Ron was holding Hermione around the middle and Harry was holding Ginny at her hip's. They were all laughing at something he couldn't see. He sat it back down and picked up the wand. It was a light brown and looked well taken care of.
' This can't be a trick of Voldemort's. He wouldn't give me a wand. Nor would his minions. ' thought Harry. ' So where am I? '
"Harry get up son. Ron, Hermione and Ginny are going to be here soon." Harry jumped up so quickly he tripped on the bed's sheets and fell to the floor with a soft thud. The soft carpet cushioned his fall. He raised the wand that was still held in his hand. He pointed at the door in a matter of seconds. But the person who had talked didn't come in, as Harry heard the unmistakable sound of someone descending the stairs. Harry sent a locking charm on the door. Taking a look around, he noticed that he was wearing naught but a pair of purple boxers. Harry felt his cheeks warm up. He spotted a dresser in the corner.
' What if this was a trick though? ' thought Harry. But Harry took another glance at his almost naked body, before deciding to tempt it and find some clothes. If this was a trick of Voldemort's, how was he suppose to concentrate on trying to escape him, if he was wearing nothing but his shorts?
In the dresser Harry found socks and boxers, shirts and trousers, and robes of mainly green and black. Harry grabbed some black pants and a blue T-shirt. Pulling them on quickly. He had only laid down the wand for a matter of seconds to button his pants before he grabbed it again, he held it at the ready, just in case. Half expecting a Death Eater to barge through the door.
' Ginny, where are we? ' thought Harry. But Harry was greeted with nothing but silence. In fact it pounded his ears. ' Ginny? ' he waited again, to no avail. ' GINNY ' Harry screamed in his head. But still Ginny didn't answer. ' GINNY! '
"Harry" a soft voice came through the door. A voice that Harry found solace in. Comfort and peace. Joy and love. He threw the charm off the door immediately and opened it. Ginny stood smiling up at him. Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her in the room, closing the door behind them. "Harry what's got into you?" said Ginny as she laughed.
"Well, first I missed you and second I awoke in a strange bed, in a strange place. Gin, where exactly are we?" said Harry as he looked at Ginny.
"Harry, we're at your house, silly" said Ginny laughing still. "Now come on your mum's got a big breakfast downstairs waiting for you, not to mention Ron and Hermione are down there too!" and with that, she turned and walked back out the door and Harry heard the stairs being descended again. She had left the door open. Harry raised his wand again. As the sounds of talking and laughter filled the room around him.
' What in the bloody hell is going on! ' said Harry. He peaked his head nervously out the door and found a hallway, he still didn't recognize. Some pictures of him seemingly growing up lined the walls. Ron and Hermione were in some. And so was Ginny. Harry shook his head disbelievingly. He didn't remember these pictures. The carpet the lined the hall way, and continued down the stairs was a powder blue-gray, and with each step he felt his shoe clad feet sink into it's squishiness.
Harry started to descend the stairs, hanging close to the wall, his feet making hardly a sound. Harry heard Ginny and Hermione laugh, but the third women's voice he recognized. It was a voice of a women he had heard all through his third year. But it couldn't be! Harry found himself at the bottom of the stairs, facing a closed door. More laughter and now talking could be heard, but the door blocked his line of view to actually see the owner's of the voices that he heard. He heard Ron's muttered comment and some more laughter. Harry slowly pushed open the door, but stopped dead in his tracks. Although he had heard the voices, the scene that greeted him was still a shock. Ron, Hermione and Ginny was sitting at the table. Along with another man and women.
' This is implausible ' thought Harry ' How is this possible? '
"Are you just going to stand there? Or, are you going to grace us with your presence at the table?" asked the man. Harry shifted his graze to him.
"Come on" said Ginny softly as she had come to stand beside him. She took his hand and led him to a side at the table and gently pushed him down into a wooden chair. Ginny then sat beside him.
Harry sat numbly at the table. He looked at the man seated across from him. He had the same messy hair that was ruffled on the top. He also wore the same round glasses, except his eye's were brown, instead. He looked exactly like the picture portrayed him. He looked like and seemed to Harry, to be James Potter.
Harry looked to the women sitting at the end of the table, to his right. This women had thick auburn hair. Her face was oval, yet held a round contour, and was gentle. She was pretty. His eye's found hers. They were the exact same color. Except hers was looking at him with what he thought might be love and kindness. As his own looked at her with confusion. The image was perfect. She was Lily Potter. Harry looked back to his left, Ginny was staring at him. Her brown chocolate eye's held him with sincere concern.
' This can't be a trick ' thought Harry, as his eye's found Ron sited beside Ginny. He sat on the opposite end of the table from Lily Potter. Ron smiled and nodded. Hermione was beaming and her eye's showed her happiness. Her hair looked smooth and mildly shiny.
"Hurry up and eat" said Ginny smiling "Then maybe we can play a game of Quidditch" Ginny's face was flushed with her excitement. She picked up her fork and took a bite of eggs.
"You alright son?" asked James Potter. Harry nervously nodded his head.
' No this is defiantly not a trick of Voldemort's. He wouldn't bring my parents back to life, and grant me some happiness. ' thought Harry.
"Good then, let's eat" said Lily Potter. Harry raised his fork and found the bacon was slightly burnt, it wasn't a perfect scene, but enough for Harry to not question his good fortune. The eggs were slightly under cooked, but the toast was done perfect. Harry helped himself.
As he finished Harry found himself smiling. He had always wondered what his mother's cooking would be like.
"Thanks Mrs. Potter, that was great" said Ron. As Ginny and Hermione echoed him. Harry smiled. Usually it was him telling Mrs. Weasley that the meal was excellent.
"Thank you, why don't you all go for that game out in the pitch and I'll clean up in here" said Lily.
"I'll help you in here Mrs. Potter." offered Hermione.
"Still don't like flying do you?" Lily teased. Hermione shook her head. Harry laughed.
"Mind if I join you three?" asked James
"No, I'd really like that" said Harry smiling up at his father.
"Great the brooms and things are outside in the shed. I'll go get them out" said James, as he placed a kiss on Lily's mouth and while most kids would find this weird. Harry smiled.
"Be careful out there you three" Lily ventured. Ron met his eye's and rolled them and Harry laughed again. He made to follow Ginny to the back door that his father had left through, when he remembered something. Harry walked back to his mother and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Thanks for breakfast" Harry said. His voice a whisper. Lily smiled and she ruffled his hair. Harry walked back up and Ron slapped his shoulder. Harry followed Ron and Ginny and was surprised again that his mother had indeed been correct. There in the back yard a little ways from the house was a pitch. Harry grinned again. When they entered the pitch they found James Potter holding four firebolts and a create of balls.
They teamed up first the Potter's verses the Weasley's. The Potter's won. Then it was Ron and James against Harry and Ginny. Harry and Ginny lost, but just barley, for they had been playing full contact Quidditch and James held the tail of Harry's broom. Harry landed moments after chasing Ginny around the pitch. They were all laughing, and Harry couldn't remember crying so hard over having so much fun.
"Okay, I think that's enough for me" said James.
"Feeling our age, are we?" teased Harry and James scowled.
"I think Sirius taught you a little too well" snickered James. Harry felt his heart slam into his chest. Sirius! Why couldn't' he be alive too. That's what was missing from his life now.
"James, Harry! Someone is here to see you both" came Lily's voice. Harry laughed, cause he knew she had used Sonorus to holler at them.
"Yeah we're on our way Lil'" Harry looked amused as he watched James do the charm and holler back to her.
"Come on, you know how your mother gets if we don't come in right away" said James. Harry wanted to ask him what she did get like, but James was already calling the balls into the create again with his wand. He called all the brooms to him as Ginny and Ron came to stand with him. Harry watched as James stowed everything away carefully.
"Speaking your mother threatened that this will be the last set of balls we get, I don't want them ruined" said James as he laughed. Ginny held his hand all the way back up to the house. He came into the back door, and stopped short. His jaw dropped. Sirius Black was standing in the middle of the kitchen, grinning ear to ear.
"Sirius" Harry's voice was a stuttering whisper.
"Hey kid, though come to think of it. Not such a kid anymore. Thanks to this women" teased Sirius as Ginny kissed his cheek. She swatted him playfully.
"Jealous Sirius?" said Ginny smirking. Harry would have laughed, if the shock from seeing Sirius alive wasn't so... shocking.
"More than you know. See if you had been ten years older... Wow the possibilities" said Sirius said teasing and winking in Harry's direction.
"Hey!" said Harry and everyone laughed. Harry assumed that they thought he was saying this to be funny.
"James did you have to make him look like you?" teased Sirius.
"Hey, I'm good looking" said James indignantly. Sirius gave a bark of a laugh above the girls giggling.
"Well, at least you've got Lily's eye's to lean on for looks" said Sirius. Harry blinked. His confusion setting in.
"But-but, you died. I watched you fall" said Harry. Feeling thoroughly complex. The memory of Sirius supposed death playing in great detail in his mind.
"No, I didn't. You watched me back up, though unintentionally into a black veil. I just walked out the other side, is all" said Sirius smiling still.
"Other side?" said Harry "What other side? Where is it?"
"Oh, it's in a foreign country somewhere, but I made it back. So Lil's when lunch?" said Sirius. He clapped his hands together in great anticipation of food.
"In a while Sirius" said Lily as she started walking to the kitchen again.
"I'll go and help Mrs. Potter" said Hermione and Ginny agreed. She kissed his cheek, and walked into the kitchen behind Hermione.
"But-but, Moony told me you died" stuttered Harry. Trying to make some kind of sense out of this.
"What did I say?" Harry looked at the front door. Remus J. Lupin was standing in the doorway. He looked slightly amused. He wore new robes and his hair seemed less gray.
"You told me he died" said Harry pointing to Sirius.
"I did? Sorry about that Harry. A werewolf's mistake. Probably just another Marauder prank" said Moony passing it off with a wave of his hand as he shut the door behind him.
"Even Dumbledore said-" began Harry, but was interrupted by the orange flames turning emerald green. Harry's face fell gaped again. Albus Dumbledore was stepping out of the green flames and dusting his violet purple robes off. He looked very much alive.
"I know you're dead" whispered Harry.
"Nope just a great show" said Dumbledore as he peered over at Harry over his half moon spectacles. Harry's mind started to reel.
' This can't be real Ginny, it can't be ' thought Harry, but after a moments silence, ' Ginny? ' again silence. ' GINNY! ' Harry screamed in his mind. Ginny always answered him, even when he didn't expect her too! ' GINNY! ' Harry screamed in his mind again, but still no answer came. Harry blinked at the four men in front of him. They laughed and continued on with there conversation. Sirius met his eye's and Harry saw something in them he hadn't ever seen before. ' They make your fantasy's come true, but it isn't real. There fake ' Hermione's answer in Defense came to mind. ' Okay ' thought Harry ' I need to see ' Harry thought with all his might on Neville, and was only slightly surprised when the doorbell rang and when Harry opened it, he found Neville standing on the threshold looking nervous and very Neville.
"Hey Harry. I hope you don't mind me stopping by"
"I wouldn't mind at all" said Harry drawing out the wand he found earlier. "If you were truly Neville, that is" Neville gave him a look of confusion, and for a brief second Harry wondered if he'd been wrong, but when Neville's face started to change Harry knew he'd been correct.
Neville's usually round and still boyish face started to change dramatically. His long button size nose turned into a small snout. His brown beady eye's turned black, big, round and wide set apart as his head grew bigger and shorter as it sunk into his shoulder's, as his neck disappeared. His height shrunk to around Harry's waist. It's leg's went round at the joints and two pointed ears sprouted from the side of his head. It's arms retreated a way's into it's body and it's fingers disappeared to leave three on each hand. Bearing good size sharp claws on each finger. It's skin turned sallow and death like. Making his eye's seem creepy and it sent goose bumps and shivers silently up Harry back.
To call it a creature, Harry guessed that he would compare it to a demented goblin or ghoul. The creature's pale white lip's twisted into an evil smile, that made the hair on his neck stand on end. Harry had stood numb struck watching the transformation. The goblin raised his short, clawed hand and Harry was magically thrown a cross the room. His back meeting the wall in such force that knocked the air out of his lungs. Pictures that had been hanging on the wall, smashed down upon his head. Harry's vision blurred and started to focus again, relentlessly.
A shrieking growl made Harry look up to find the goblin had thrown his head back and before Harry could react the goblin with great speed flew at him as if he were gliding. Harry tried to get to his feet, but the goblin was upon him and Harry had barley grabbed it's wrist in time as the goblin was trying to claw at his face. As Harry physically wrestled with the goblin, his mind was working rapacious trying to remember the incantation that might help.
' Realususp Imporspium ' a yellow spark came from the wand he was holding, but it was enough to tell Harry that he had not got it right.
' Realusuisp Imperspiuse ' another spark though it was green, he still knew it was wrong. The goblin's claw's were nearing his face.
' Realusum Imporspiuse ' A shower of blue sparks erupted from the wand and blasted right into the goblins chest. The goblin wore a slightly shocked expression as a blue sparkle shimmered around him enveloping him. With another evil smile, the goblin exploded sending another powerful force of magic. Slamming Harry's back up against the wall again. Knocking his breath out of him again. Harry fell to the floor in a crumpled heap, unable to hold himself up. Heaving a few deep breaths that came in gasp's. When Harry remembered the five that had been standing in the same room. A quick glance told him that he had been correct.
The mirror had been a set up. Anyone who's greatest desire had been to find the Hurcrux's would get pulled into there sweetest, greatest dream. A place to prefect for anyone to want to leave. Dumbledore! Harry got to his knee's and dug around in his pockets, fruitlessly. He then remembered that he had woken up in practically nothing. He didn't even have his own wand.
Harry unsteadily got to his feet. The wand in his right hand raised, though shaking from his body's sudden lack of oxygen, twice. Harry leaned against the wall trying to regain some composure, as he forced air back into his lungs. His muscles already ached as he thought of the remaining seven he had yet to deal with.
"Harry in here"
Harry turned as quick as he could manage at the sound of Moony's voice. Though Harry knew this was not him. He walked precariously into the kitchen following the sound.
He saw plates of ready made food, a bowl of pudding, and a sizzling from a skillet that Harry found pork chops and gravy in. Otherwise the kitchen looked empty. A streak of silver flew and ended under the table. Harry lifted his wand.
' Realusum Imporspiuse ' the spell met it's mark as another goblin shrieked. Harry quickly retreated as a sudden blast came from the kitchen.
"Pst over here mate" Pausing momentarily to cast a locking charm on the kitchen door. Harry turned toward the sitting room. A streak of silver was bounding around the room. Harry's eye's followed it, his mind trying to find it's pattern.
"We give you what you want, just wish and it'll be" came Ron's voice, but Harry ignored it. It wasn't Ron, it was a bugbear. And he intended on destroying it.
' Realusum Imporspiuse ' The spell missed, but Harry fired it again and it hit it's ear. Just barley, but with the same effect. Harry ran out of the sitting room just as the force wave barreled over him and he tripped. Harry got to his feet with a little more adrenaline. The wand pointed and his mind was ready. Making his way into another room. Harry found he was in a library. He knew who would be in here.
"Found me, have you Harry?" it was Hermione's voice, but it wasn't her. Harry had to keep telling himself this, it wasn't Hermione, it wasn't his friend. A streak of silver and Harry fired the spell a few times and missed, sending papers and books exploding on there shelves. Hermione giggled and Harry cast the spell at her again and she registered her shock with an inhuman shrieking growl as the blue shimmered around her. Harry wasn't fast enough and the magical force caught him and threw him into the shelves. Books landing on his back and leg's.
Getting to his feet again. His second wave of energy gone. His eye's were blurry and sweat was streaming down the sides of his face. Harry ignored it though and let his feet take him to the base of the stairs. Making his way slowly to the second level, Harry saw a streak fly by and come to rest somewhere near. As he came to the top and round the corner, firing the spell at the same time. Dumbledore gave a gasping growl. Harry's eye's went wide as he was blasted down the stairs. Hearing a horrible cracking sound somewhere in his left shoulder. Harry winced and a cry of pain came from his lips.
He got back to his feet. Harry knew his left arm was of no use. Raising his wand to his left arm and muttered ' Ferula ' a sling appeared around his arm and the pain subsided a bit. Harry grimaced still feeling some of the pain as he climbed the stairs.
Entering the hallway again Harry saw at the end of the hall another goblin. Smiling it's evil distorted smile, but before Harry could say the incantation, the goblin raced up on him. It was to quick as he felt the claws scratch deep into the flesh of his stomach. Harry cried out again in pain. As he fell to his knees with the sudden pain.
"Aren't you happy I'm alive Harry?" Sirius's voice came from behind him, but with the pain from his shoulder and from the flesh wound he couldn't turn around, to save his life he couldn't turn around. "Don't you want me to be alive?"
"Yes" gasped Harry. The goblin laid it's clawed hand on his left arm and peered around his body to look at him. The goblin smiled and started to morph back into his godfather, but Harry knew it wasn't him, it could never be him. "I want the real Sirius Black to be alive, not you" said Harry as anger coursed through him. The goblin stopped changing and Harry grinned in spite of the pain as his wand was pointed at the goblins middle. ' Realusum Imporspiuse '. Harry tried to get away, but the magical blast was quicker and Harry was blasted into a room. He skidded on the rug and felt the burn around his arm and side.
Standing up slowly. Woozy from the lack of breath too many times and dizzy from the blood that flowed freely from his body. He felt sick as he tried to focus again on his surroundings. Harry realized that he was in the bedroom that was supposedly his. Ginny was still Ginny and she was lying on the bed in-between the sheets. Her face bore a smile and her eye's were dancing merrily.
"Harry? Don't you want me, like I want you?" she asked as she untangled herself from the bed's clothing and got to her feet. She wore naught but her smile and Harry's knee's buckled underneath him. He was not prepared to say no to Ginny in anyway. Harry breathed in deep, which turned into a mistake as the smell of her womanly scent filled his nostrils. "I want you to make love to me Harry, I want you to touch me" Ginny's voice was taunting and very enticing, mystical and seductive. She brought him to stand in front of her again and Harry stared into the eye's that looked so much like Ginny's. His Ginny's. Ginny leaned in close to him and she rubbed her body against his. Harry let an involuntarily groan out. It had been since Christmas since they had, had any free time. And Harry missed her touch. "See you want me, just give in to me" whispered Ginny. NO! Not Ginny. Not his Ginny!
' Realusum Imporspiuse ' Harry's voice was a raspy whisper and he even surprised himself by saying it. Harry turned and ran from the room and he placed himself up against the wall just outside the door frame when the blast came through and Harry felt the power off it. Closing the door after it had gone and locking it. Harry turned around and faced the last two rooms. Two goblins left and Harry was sure they would be together. He closed both doors and locked them both. Trapping them inside one, or in both rooms. Harry took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Harry picked the door on the left and thinking ' Alohomora ' the door opened. Harry wasted no time in getting in and slamming the door behind him. Harry waited with baited breath. Waiting on a streak to show him where, if anywhere the one or both of the last were in here. After a moment of waiting Harry was sure there was nothing on there. Unlocking the door again and with a quick glace out in the hallway, he slammed the door close again locking it. Harry stood in front of the last door. With a rattling breath again he opened it and entered quickly, shutting it close behind him and locking it again.
"Come in son. Another bad dream? Well, you can sleep with us just like you used to" came James Potter's voice. Harry's breath was ragged and sweat was still pouring around his face. His eye's, he was surprised to find were wet with unshed tears. From the stinging of his sweat or from the harsh reality of it, he was not sure, but Harry refocused his attention on the two people he never thought he would have to kill. His parents.
"Harry, let us live. Our lives were taken from us once already, don't take it again." Lilly Potter pleaded. Her eye's pleading, and her voice begged. In Harry's mind a battle raged. War was taking place, not on a distant battlefield, or on the home front. It was in his mind. This was the shell of his mother. His father. The two people he would have loved to have with him. But that was it, just a shell. Lily Potter was a heart of gold, his father was a prankster in love with his mother. These things were not his parents. Just carbon copies. No matter how much alike they looked. No matter how much there voices sounded like he had heard in his dreams. His parents were dead. And no one could bring them back.
"No, my parents are dead, and there's nothing that can stop that. ' Realusum Imporspiuse ' Harry's voice though meek and mild, held a certain tone as his mother's face held tight in a fear, and her eye's cried out in tears. Harry waited for the blast and took it as a punishment. Received for killing the shell of his mother.
"LILLY!" James cries broke the still air around Harry. "Harry what have you done? You've killed your mother. You've killed Lil's" James voice sounded shocked and Harry's unshed tears ran down his cheeks. "You've her blood on your hands son. Do you know what that means? You've killed someone. You're a murderer" There was a time when saying that to Harry would have torn him apart on spot, but instead he felt enraged. He hadn't killed anyone, but an image. A copy, a faux, a fake predator.
"No, but I will soon be a killer, I want to know what the last Horcrux is, and you're going to tell me" said Harry in a dead calm tone that held authority that he hadn't known he'd had.
"Why should I tell you?" asked James turning from the point where the goblin pretending to be Lily Potter had faded on spot. Harry got to his feet again and stared James in the eye.
"Because Tom Riddle placed you here and with a purpose. If anyone was to look in this mirror and want to find how to kill him for good, they would be met with a fantasy so real life that they wouldn't want to leave. Unfortunately for you and ol' Tom, is that once I destroy Tom Riddle I will have my fantasy. So I want to know what the last Horcrux is and you are going to tell me" said Harry anger etched in his every word.
"Defeat me and the mirror will show you. Lose to me and you become one of us. Forever" said James Potter as he slowly started to morph into a goblin that was unlike any of the others. Harry was sure that this was the one whom was in charge. As he wore a gold hoop in his ear and a necklace around his thick neck. He was just as tall as Harry , and his voice boomed out yet screeched when he talked. Harry knew there was no other way out. He nodded his head just once, accepting the terms that Tom Riddle had put in place more than fifty years ago. More than likely when he created the diary. The diary that would hurt his Ginny, and Hermione. Sending Ron and him on a chase throughout the dark forest closely followed by large spiders.
' Realusum Imporspiuse ' The spell hit the wall where the goblin was standing, but it disappeared in a golden streak. Harry followed the streak with his eye's. ' Realusum Imporspiuse ' The spell hit the bed and feathers flew in the air. Harry's vision was fading in and out. His focus was almost gone. He felt sick to his stomach and he was going to pass out. ' Realusum Imporspiuse ' Harry missed as he felt dizzy and had to take a step back to steady himself again. The spell off a few good paces. His aim was getting terrible. His wand arm shaking uncontrollably. The goblin rushed up on Harry and gripped him around the throat. Harry's breath fading from his body in short gasps. With a last effort that took a lot of strength Harry raised his wand ' Realusum Imporspiuse ' The spell hit the goblin and Harry found his throat free of the goblins hand. Harry got to his feet as the goblin started to glow blue then purple and finally red.
"You have beaten me, Harry. Now you will know the answer of which you seek." the goblin's body exploded and Harry felt double the magical force push him and sting him across the open wound in his stomach. Tears poured down his cheeks as the force lifted and Harry fell to his back on the floor. Heaving a deep breath, the pain erupted inside him and his griffin roared with dispute. Suddenly the room started to glow. First an almond soft glow, that began to grow brighter until Harry was squinting in it's light.
"You have beaten the course set before you, the question of the Horcrux is answered." a mystical voice came to Harry's ears, yet from around his whole body. An image came in the blinding white light and Harry raised his right hand to get a better look. He wanted to be sure. First the image was small, but as it came nearer to him Harry laid eye's on Ginny. She wore a sparkly rose colored dress that held thin straps, and her hair was flying around her and she was grinning as she stepped close to him. Lifting a slender arm she placed her hand over the top of her left breast and once she removed it she wore the golden quill, that Godric Gryffindor had bought as a present to Rowena Ravenclaw many years ago. Harry smiled at the prefect image in front of him. But all too quick it started to fade. Harry thought desperately to hold onto it's image.
"I want it, where can I find it?" yelled Harry as energy coursed renewed inside him. Pain still surrounding him.
"One answer that is all. I have shown you your hearts greatest desire. Now go and come no more!" said the mystical voice again. Harry's mind was thrown into an image of the Mirror of Erised exploding. He felt his body being thrown unmercifully from it's reflection that sent sharp explosions everywhere.
"Gin... ny" Harry whispered before blackness enveloped him.
"Don't worry Ginny. This is Harry you're talking about. He'll wake up. He always does" Harry heard Ron's voice though it was blurry.
"I'm scarred for him Ron. I mean what was it that sucked him in there, and what kept him in there for so long?" came Ginny's voice.
' Bugbear's ' thought Harry.
"HARRY!" Ginny's voice yelled and Harry winced from the headache that was currently pounding his ear drums.
"Gin, please shh" whispered Harry softly.
"Oh sorry. Harry I was so scared for you" said Ginny as she rose from her seat. It was then that Harry realized that she had been holding his hand and seated in a chair beside his bed.
"Harry. Are you alright?" Hermione's voice whispered beside him on the opposite side of the bed. Harry opened his eye's and a red haired girl and a bushy haired girl came into view, though still blurry.
"Glasses" said Harry still talking in a whisper.
"Here you go mate" said Ron sliding his glasses on his face.
"Thanks" muttered Harry. He shifted in his bed and opened his arms to Ginny. She climbed in and Harry let her arms close in around him. He laid his head on her chest and Harry breathed in her scent of flowers.
"Harry? What happened?" asked Hermione attentively.
"Exactly what I would like to know." said McGonagall in a sharp tone "Or more so what is going on?" she asked eyeing Harry's current position.
"You should still be out Mr. Potter. I gave you enough sleep potion that would knock out a griffin" said Madam Pomfrey as she appeared behind McGonagall.
"Hey!" said Harry indignantly. His headache easy off slightly. But judging by the look of her face Pomfrey hadn't cotton on to what he had said. McGonagall gave an apprehensive look at her before turning her eye's once again upon Harry. After McGonagall sent Pomfrey away from giving Harry a headache remedy. McGonagall sent silencing charms over his bed area and Harry still wrapped up in Ginny's arms recited everything he could remember from the dream like fantasy. Taking calming breaths every so often. He found he could relax more easily in Ginny's embrace. It was easy to tell all that had happened. Though he left out the part of Ginny being naked in his dream like stage. Ginny blushed as he mentally told her the truth,while Hermione and McGonagall conversed with Ron looking weary between them and Harry and Ginny.
"Yes, but Bugbears aren't suppose to exist anymore" said Hermione
"Well, clearly fifty years ago they were still around Miss. Granger." said McGonagall as she looked over Harry then to Ginny disapprovingly, but Harry was surprised that she didn't say anything.
"So what other creatures could there be?" asked Ron swallowing nervously.
"That's thee only creature that the ministry will admit to letting go extinct" said Hermione as she got up and started to pace at the foot of Harry's bed.
"Including what the Quibbler writes about" said Ginny smirking slightly as Harry grinned comfortably against Ginny. Hermione cut her eye's at Ginny before starting to mumble again.
"Did it ever show you the real Horcrux?" asked Ron
"Oh yeah" said Harry as he told them about Ginny in the rose colored dress, how she made the golden pendant appear on her dress, then how he was thrown from it. McGonagall and Hermione started there talking again, as Harry realized as he shifted that his shoulder was no longer in pain.
"Err... did I have any injury's?" asked Harry thinking his injury's might have been part of the dream. Or rather hoping.
"Yeah" said Ginny. You had a huge rug like burn on your left side and arm. I spread this grayish goop stuff on it, that Pomfrey gave me and it went away in a matter of a few minuets."
"You're shoulder was dislocated" said Ron "Thank Merlin's beard you weren't awake for that one. I thought Ginny was going to Bat-Bogey-Hex Pomfrey for making cracking sounds come from your arm." Harry grinned as he looked up at Ginny's eye's before hugging her body close to his.
"I shall report this to Dumbledore" said McGonagall "I want you three to head to you're dormitory's and let Mr. Potter get some rest"
"Yes Professor" said Hermione, she leaned over and gave Harry a hug as Ginny removed herself from the bed. Harry was already missing her form lying next to his. He needed her.
' Don't worry. I'll be back ' Ginny said. Harry tried not to grin as giddiness spread through him.
"Take care mate. We'll see you in the morning" said Ron. With a small kiss, Ginny let Hermione lead her from the Hospital wing with Ron and McGonagall. Harry felt suddenly alone.
"Well now Mr. Potter let's have another look at you. Okay your burns are gone, the cut in your stomach healed better than expected. So here is a phial of sleep potion" she handed Harry a small crystal phial. Harry took it and poured it into his mouth. Pomfrey nodded her head and disappeared into her private quarter's. Harry spit the potion back into the crystal phial and waited as he heard Ginny humming a soft tune that had played the night at Godric's hollow. Harry smiled as he waited. She had an enchanting voice, even if she was just humming in her head.
' Harry, not falling asleep are you? '
' Nope ' said Harry as he once again scooted to the side and let Ginny climb back in bed. She had been gone for the matter of a half hour and Harry felt like it had been day's. ' Gin, how long was I out? '
' Two day's. You need some rest ' said Ginny as she cuddled Harry again. Harry snuggled into her chest. The fullness of her breast was alluring and Harry's body felt suddenly awake.
' Not too sleepy are you? ' asked Harry. Ginny giggled.
' Harry you need to rest. You've just gone through an awful lot. Not too mention Pomfrey is just in the other room ' Ginny said without to much conviction. Harry smiled as he nuzzled his head in the crook of her neck. ' Harry... Silencio' Harry raised his head and met her eye's a grin spread across both of there faces as a desire for each other began to over take them. Bringing the fire to ablaze. She waved her wand over her stomach, grinning sheepishly. Harry took Ginny's wand from her hand and sent ' Muffliato ' at Pomfrey's door. Ginny cupped his face and brought his lips to met hers. Harry slid his tongue in her moth as her hands roamed over his shoulders, back and coming so close to him, before leaving the area and coming back again. But never did she touch him. Harry felt his body respond to her every touch.
"Roll over. Let me make love to you" whispered Ginny. Harry was in no way going to deny her. As he rolled on his back and Ginny removed both their clothes, and Harry gave a groan of longing as she pressed her heated body against his. His body hardening in it's anticipation. Her breast pressed firmly into his chest. Harry felt down her smooth skin that made her side and found the conjuncture at her thigh. Sliding past her curls, he felt the softness of her inside's. He rubbed over the nub and Ginny gasped in his ear. Squeezing it lightly Ginny moaned out in surprised passion. Harry smiled as he began to stroke it more vigorously as her body called for it, and it wasn't long before Ginny's legs were twitching and her body convulsed with his finger. Harry slide two finger's into her and Ginny moaned again. Muttering things Harry couldn't distinguish. She came with a thrust of her hips into his and Harry was wearing a smile at seeing the flash of desire roll through Ginny's eye's.
Ginny didn't say a word, as she moved on top of him and placing a flamin kiss on his lips. Harry met it with enthusiasm of his own before Ginny moved her lips away and slid down his body before her head was directly over him. Harry's eye's were wide, as she slide her mouth over him. Harry groaned. Merlin he loved the feeling of her lips on him. He loved everything about her. Her knowing what he wanted even before he did. Ginny pressed her chest up against him as she sucked tightly on the tip of him and Harry knew if she kept doing that he wouldn't last long.
"Ginny" Harry whispered and Ginny raised her head and smiled as she positioned herself over his hips. Harry's eye's watched himself disappear in her depths, feeling the walls of her womanhood press tightly and squeeze against him. Harry shuddered, but his eye's remained on there connecting hip's. Ginny finally took all of him deep in her. Harry met her eye's as she moved her inexperienced hips. Harry laid his hands on her hips and moved her in a rhythm that would feel good to them both. Ginny's body was starting to tighten around him. Harry brought her lips down to his as he kissed her in his own desire. He moved to her breast and tormented them to their budding peaks that Harry rubbed his palms over and Ginny gave a cry of pleasure out. Moving one of his hands between them, he found her center, and Harry rubbed her nub again. Ginny's inside squeezed him tighter and Harry groaned, but held enough sense to do it again, Ginny and him were both crying out in there passion as it was roaring to the height of it's mountain. The soft wet heat that Ginny gave to him freely was driving Harry's body to raise to meet her hips as he thrusted into her from underneath.
' Harder ' Ginny's thought was heard and Harry slammed his body into hers as she pushed hard down on his. Harry's body was shaking as they met in another thrust of their hips. Ginny's cries of her desire that had been controlled was crashing around him, and finally when she broke and screamed his name, Harry kept thrusting as he came in her depths and even after he had emptied himself he allowed another few thrust as his sensitivity level was fragile and feeling every muscle inside of Ginny. She collapsed on top of him and Harry wrapped his arms around her back and middle.
A few moments later, Ginny kissed him before moving off him and pulling her clothes back on. Harry pulled his pajama bottoms on and chose to leave the rest off. Harry pulled her back in the bed and she sighed contently as she laid out across his chest.
' I love you my Ginny, my wildfire '
' I really love you too, Harry, my Harry ' Harry smiled into her hair and placing a kiss on the top of her head, Harry's thoughts reflected. The Mirror gone. The fake fantasy gone with it. He had his real Ginny with him now. Hermione was the same, and Ron would never be a Bugbear. A spider, but not a Bugbear. Harry grinned and it was Ginny's light breathing that finally put him to rest.
Days after the mirror. Harry was standing in front of the fireplace again In the Gryffindor common room. He had run his hand through his hair so many times that it was practically standing on end. Classes that day had been eventful. Harry was now dueling Seamus and Dean in Defense. Ginny had been given Lavender and Pansy. Ginny was not complaining, and neither was Hermione. They were both fairing well against two duelers. Hermione was at her wit's end with Professor McHaley as she had yet to call on her in class to answer a question. Ron was doing better in potions suddenly, and Harry had no doubt that it had nothing to do with a sudden skill, but everything to do with the communicator worms. But the thing that had Harry's mind reeling again, was the last Horcrux.
"I know that you'll find what you seek soon" hissed Magnus. A few second years sitting at a nearby table looked up at him in alarm, some Gryffindor's were still not use to having Magnus around, or rather that Harry could talk to him.
"I wish I knew where it was" hissed Harry. He would be willing to go back into the mirror, now knowing what he had to do. But all hopes of that were ruined now that the Mirror had been destroyed. He remembered the glass shards flying everywhere, but with great relief no one had been hurt. Although this left him with the knowledge of what it was, when he now also realized he should have asked where it was. Harry sighed in frustration. Hermione and Ron were off walking the grounds when Ginny came in from the portrait hole.
"Hey Harry, Professor Firenze wants to see you" she said, she placed a kiss on his lips as Magnus moved over to her shoulder's. "Want me to go with you?" Harry nodded and Harry walked out the portrait hole and waited for Ginny to follow him. Once they were fully in the corridor Harry reached for her hand and brought her close to him. They arrived in the first floor classroom and Harry knocked on it's door.
"You may enter Mr. Potter and Miss. Weasley" Firenze voice came through the soiled oak door as if he were standing beside Harry. He opened the door letting go of Ginny's hand as they both entered.
"You wanted to see me Professor?" said Harry. He knew must look a fright, if for no other reason than from Firenze's look of slight amusement.
"I have needed to talk with you for sometime. Look at the stars with me Mr. Potter" said Firenze as he whipped his tail and the lights in the forest like classroom disappeared and the sky became night. "Miss Weasley can you point out anything unusual?"
"Oh um... I'm not very good at the stars, but I'll try" said Ginny as she walked around with Magnus licking his tongue. Ginny's eye's roamed the night's sky. "I might say the position of Venus is off, along with the planet of Mars."
"Yes, but look harder what do they seem to be telling you?" encouraged Firenze.
"They seem to be aligning with each other. As far as I can tell." Ginny closed her eye's and Harry watched with interest and wonderment. There were insect sounds and of his breathing. Until the door opened and Professor Trelawney entered. Her shawl was dragging and her eye's were magnified by her glasses, but they held an odd glass look.
"The power of the Araneae draws near. The one to fight and be their mage. Though this one will know not and it's power hold will be strong. It will call them to fight, and together they will help the griffins flame. The power draws near" Trelawney cleared her throat and took a drink of her sherry. Harry thought she looked rather drunk and as she swayed in spot before she turned and left the room without another word.
"Leave it Mr. Potter. We haven't much time." said Firenze. "Now Miss Weasley the planets, what do they tell you?" Ginny who had been listening to Trelawney snapped her head back to the sky above them.
"They are aligning for a reason it seems, but I can not tell what" said Ginny after a few moments. Magnus slithered down her body and over to Firenze who accepted the snake with gentleness
"Mr. Potter maybe you can tell" said Firenze. Harry walked out to where Ginny stood underneath the two planets. Neither one noticed as Firenze left the classroom.
The power was strong and without a moments thought. Before Harry could think the griffin was out and stamping the ground in it's excitement. Turning he saw Ginny staring at him with her brown eye's in amazement. She was his and it was time to claim her. Harry lowered his head to hers and understanding what was going on, Ginny brought her hands up around his face.
"I accept your claim to me Harry my griffin, my brave prince" whispered Ginny and in a moments flash Ginny's robes were torn right above her left breast and though Harry could not make out what it was just yet, he knew his claw like talons had put it there. Ginny did not cry even though the red from her blood stained her shirt. Though Harry didn't want to hurt her, he needed to finish his claim. To complete it.
Rearing on his back legs he grabbed Ginny in his claws and took her into the expanding night sky. Once they had reached the desired height Harry held her before him. Her eye's still bore love and trust. Harry felt sickened as his talons ripped her outer robe off her completely and her shirt was gone leaving her in her bra and skirt. Harry let out a roaring screech and his claw dug into her one last time. Ginny cried out in pain and Harry felt a tear drop fall from his eye into his feathers. He brought her close to him and she clung to his neck. Harry flew them around the sky as he felt her body shake from her shivers. He landed them on the classroom earth flooring. When he finally let go of Ginny he changed back into his human self without much as a second thought. Looking around Harry was only slightly surprised to find them alone.
"Ginny" whispered Harry as Ginny had her back turned to him. "I'm sorry Gin, I don't know what came over me"
"No it's alright Harry. It's just the mark..." Ginny turned around to face him. He transfigured a leaf into a cool damp cloth and sat her upon the ground he pressed the rag to her bloodied area. He wiped away the blood and pressed it's coolness into her skin, soothing it's pain. Ginny closed her eye's. Merlin she is so beautiful, thought Harry. Though Ginny kept her eye's close she smiled at his thought. Harry gave a small smile. He removed the cloth and looked at the mark upon Ginny's smooth skin.
"Ginny, what did you think me marking you would mean?" asked Harry
"I don't know, I suppose like a scar of some sort. Why? What does it look like?" asked Ginny her head still tilted back as she let Harry take care of her.
"Like mine" whispered Harry.
"What?" said Ginny almost inaudibly, as she raised her head and looked down. Though still red and slightly swollen. Some blood still showed on the mark, but it was undeniably the lightening shape scar that rest on his forehead. Ginny touched the fragile skin and winced slightly. Harry took her free hand in his and was surprised to see Ginny smiling. "The planets have aligned for us my prince, there is no better time." Ginny didn't even get to her feet as she changed into her phoenix form. Harry took off his outer robes and Ginny came at him with the harden blazed look he loved. She sang a note that brought so much love to him that Harry laid on the ground.
Ginny landed on top of his chest and started walking around finding the right spot. She found it, right above his own left chest muscle. Her own talon dug into his skin and Harry didn't wince, but accepted the pain with the contact that Ginny offered. Her brown eye's never left his green one's and Harry only winced when she did it three more times and his own blood stained his shirt. Ginny rose up off him and shred his shirt from his body and when he was bare chested she landed again. Harry's stomach flinched from her claws as she tickled him softly.
She bent her head slowly over his new scar and cried drops of pearls. Harry felt the healing power of Ginny's tears and Harry felt a new warmth spread through him. From his stomach to his heart where it laid to rest. Ginny transformed back into herself again, as she was sitting up on him around his stomach and she placed a warm soft hand over the new scar and Harry looked deeply into her eyes. Something passed between them and Harry had never felt so much emotion riding on the electric pulse wave that he now felt. He was connected to her in almost every way. Looking down at her hand she removed it slowly. Harry was surprised to find four interlocking circles. Tangled up within each other. Never ending.
"What do you suppose it means?" asked Harry looking back up at Ginny then back at the mark now bore into his skin.
"I don't know, I just let my heart and soul guide me" admitted Ginny.
"Yeah I know. Me too! I didn't even realize I was doing it at first" said Harry "But I really didn't even think about no mark imparticular"
"We will have to ask Hermione about yours" said Ginny "We already know where mine came from" She fingered the lightening shape scar on her skin. Harry sat up and cradled her to him. She smiled and he kissed her deeply. Backing away from her lips he placed a kiss on the newly placed scar on her flesh. The skin heated and Harry felt the power to her unlike any he'd ever felt. He belonged to her, and she to him. Ginny brought his head back up to hers and kissed him with the desire that filled her. He felt the feeling and as it filled him, Harry caved into it. As Ginny raised her wand and sent the much needed charms over the room, and her stomach.
Ginny and him removed there last bits of clothing and as there body's joined and moved as one in a rhythm only they understood. Harry was left breathless as his hands roamed where her body told him. Neither one talked, nor shared a thought. Their body's leading them on. Filling her and withdrawing to enter again. Harry watched as small beads of perspiration formed on her face and Ginny had her head thrown back, her mouth gaped open in her passion. Harry had never seen anything as beautiful as Ginny. When she smiled, when she was working, dueling, when she gave herself so splendidly to him. Ginny's fingers tightened into his skin on his shoulders. Harry's thrust became more powerful, to much for there current position.
Withdrawing from her completely Ginny whimpered, but Harry smiled. As he brought her to her knee's and came up behind her. Ginny fell to her hands to steady herself, trusting in him completely. Harry's hands found her from where he stood kneeling behind her, and split her folds open and with his other hand lead himself back into her depths. Ginny gasp and he started entering and withdrawing from her secret place inside.
Harry made sure he was gentle as Ginny tossed her head back making her hair fly over and land on the creamy skin of her back. Harry tugged lightly on it as a groan escaped his lips. Leaning over onto her, Harry's hands followed the lining of her thigh and found her center. Harry rubbed over her nub and Ginny was all but screaming in her passion full of fire. Harry's end was nearing and he straitened back up behind her and placing his hands on her hips he brought her to him as he thrusted hard into her with every push of his hips. Ginny's cries were playing it's toll on his body as he felt his own sweat pour down the side of his face. Ginny's body exploded her orgasm around him and Harry bent over her as he let his own finish come. He emptied himself deep inside her and Ginny moaned as she felt his climax seep into her.
As Harry went to sit back on his legs, he brought Ginny with him, still inside her Harry ran his hand up the smooth skin of her. Her stomach, side's and breast relishing in the goose bumps that sprouted up under his touch. Harry kissed her neck and Ginny tilted to allow him access. She was his, and he was hers. They loved.
After a few moments, Ginny and Harry got to there feet and Ginny transfigured some more tree leaves into some clothes, and her some robes. And only after dressing themselves and kissing a few more minutes before reliving through there interlocking eye's what they had just shared. Never before had there lovemaking made them feel so whole, so complete. So wanted, needed, and loved. They would make it through the rain, if they had anything to say about it. And if fate had any other road planned for them, there bonded love just changed it.
When they left the classroom, they were only slightly shocked to find Firenze waiting patiently at the front doors, which were barley open anymore, unless there was somebody watching.
"Some of the best things that our world has to offer, can't be planned can they? No I know that it may seem strange, but the owl can explain" said Firenze "I can only assume you know what this means?" Harry and Ginny nodded there heads. Firenze it seemed did not know of there Animagus forms and to both Harry and Ginny this was for the best. After the war the whole wizarding community would know of there forms, but for now things needed to stay quiet. Firenze handed them Magnus and he slithered around Harry's shoulders tiredly. After muttering there thanks for the use of his office, and watching Magnus, he bowed and left them. Harry knew he did not fully know what had truly conspired in his classroom, but Harry was glad that Dumbledore had found someone that understood the sky's magic ability, even if he didn't. Meeting Ginny's smile as hunger rolled through there stomachs and they both gave a laugh.
"What's going on" asked Ron as he walked in from the outside holding Hermione's hand. Harry smiled at his two best friends. Harry and Ginny pulled them into the great hall and sat near the back where it was empty. After a few well placed Muffliato, at which Hermione cut her eye's. Ginny quickly launched into a whisper conversation of claiming each other and what there scars looked like. Harry and Ginny both conveniently left out the intimacy moments.
"So I know what mine means, obviously" Ginny was saying "But what about Harry's?"
"I'll do some research on both yours. I don't think that the lightening scar really means just one thing. I'll have to confirm before I say though. Just in case I'm wrong" said Hermione
"Hermione when are you ever wrong?" asked Ron as he piled another ten chicken leg's onto his plate.
"I'm allowed to be wrong, I just want to do a little more research on it. Look just give me a few day's and I'll be able to explain a good portion of it for you" said Hermione.
"Hermione where would we be without you" said Harry as Ginny smiled at her. Hermione was all beams throughout the rest of the evening.
"Use your ability to it's fullest Mr. Longbottom. Only then will the desk come to you" Professor McHaley walked around the classroom. Harry had been able to keep the kings size bed for most of the lesson. It had been transfigured into it from a simple wooden chair. Harry felt rather proud of himself. Hermione had been able to produce both a bed and a nightstand, while Ron's was a fuller size bed, without any bed clothes. His face was screwed up in concentration. Harry snickered a laugh.
"Very good Mr. Potter. Ten points to Gryffindor" said McHaley. She breezed by Hermione who had been wearing a smile, but as McHaley passed her smile faltered and the bed flashed and went away.
"Hermione just make her see by transfiguring and keeping it up, no matter the emotion you feel?" offered Harry.
"I'm trying Harry, but why should I have to do something that no one else does?" snapped Hermione
"Maybe she's just pushing you further because she knows you've got it in you" offered Ron, as his bed failed too. Harry made sure his was still there.
"I guess, but why not everyone else too?" murmured Hermione. Harry thought it was an excellent point.
' Maybe she's trying to prepare Hermione for her career choice's ' said Ginny listening to Harry's thoughts, and Harry relayed the message.
"Well that might be too, I guess" said Hermione as her tone signaled defeat. Class let out and Hermione hurried off and as Ginny approached, both shot questioning looks at Ron who scrunched his nose.
"Library" he muttered "Come on I'm starving" Harry agreed and Ginny took his hand as Magnus moved to her shoulders as they walked side by side.
"Angel of my heart and soul, come to meet me in my dreams, sing the song that makes you smile, for in it I find your sincerity and peace." hissed Magnus in Ginny's ear, and Harry laughed out loud as Ginny giggled.
"What did he say?" said Ginny still smiling. Harry whispered in her ear once they had sat down and Ron began eating from the pile of food that he had on his plate. "Tell Magnus he is quite a charmer"
"She say's you're quite thee charmer, I said it once and I'll say it again, She's mine" hissed Harry then started snickering as Magnus wiggled his tongue at him. Ginny sat smiling and shaking her head side to side. Halfway through lunch Hermione came through and she looked happy about something.
"What?" asked Ginny, and Harry at the same time.
"I found it" said Hermione excitingly "I'll tell you later tonight of course" Harry and Ginny nodded. Ron kept eating.
Defense was getting interesting as Harry was fighting both Dean and Seamus. Harry found they had a pattern, and even when they supposedly changed it, they were hardly able to get a shot fired on him. Though Harry had been hit with a charm that made his ears grow large. The sensitivity had pounded his ears. Luckily Ginny knew the counter curse and Harry was able to undo it and return to the duel full fledge, before Dean or Seamus had enough time to register that there was two tickling charms heading there way.
Ginny was doing great against Lavender and Pansy. Hermione loved to watch the duel as she was always between Lavender and Pansy deserved it, or not. Hermione had moved on to two partners, Ron too. Ron was laughing as he had been placed with Crabb and Goyle, Hermione had been placed with Zabini and Neville. Harry hated to admit it, but Zabini was in fact pretty good, and he had been able to hit Hermione with a few good hexes. One that made her hair grow long and green, and Harry could have sworn it glowed in the dark that night. Ron had even interfered once as he saw Zabini getting ready to hex her again as Hermione screamed as her nails grew so she was hardly able to hold her wand. Ron had seen this and since Crabb and Goyle were too easy, according to Ron he sent a confounded charm at Zabini, who couldn't remember anything all day. For some strange reason.
Potions got a bit harder after the making of the wolfsbane potion. They sat in class having finished there Deflating draught when Slughorn called there attention.
"You will need to do two rolls of parchment on Veritaserum. I want to read about it's property's and the uses of it. I want you to include the legal ways that you are allowed to use it." said Slughorn "Any questions?"
"Just one Professor" said Hermione "I was wondering if we would be doing any Felix Felicis?"
"Oho! Now why would you want ol' Felix for Miss. Granger?" asked Slughorn as he gave a belly laugh that stretched his emerald green velvet vest tighter across his stomach.
"Well I was just wondering is all" said Hermione her cheeks blushing.
"Well, yes Miss Granger I think we might attempt ol' Felix sometime. We shall see. We shall see" said Slughorn as he waved his hand dramatically. Harry raced to the dormitory with his friends as classes were let out for the day. Since the common room was filled Harry and Ron walked upstairs to find their dormitory empty. The girls joined them moments after.
"Okay Hermione tell us so we know" said Ginny. Ron laid down on his bed. Harry sat on the end of his and Ginny crawled into his lap. He snuggled her close as Hermione pulled a book out of her bag and leafed through it before coming to a piece where she had stuffed a piece of parchment in it. Then joined Ron on his bed.
"The scar on Ginny I was able to draw a copy of her a few nights ago and found that the lightening scar does indeed hold more than the obvious" She shifted a few more papers. And Harry was automatically reminded how Slughorn had acted when he had first met him. "Okay the lightening hold many meaning's, but most of them were rubbish-"
"If they were rubbish than how come you said more than the obvious" said Harry
"Yes they were mostly rubbish, all but one" Hermione said as she cut her eye's at Harry who blinked and met her gaze. "See the one I found interesting is supposedly a power rune" She finished dramatically to a room full of silence.
"Which means? What exactly?" said Ginny.
"The power rune of fire" Hermione said smiling.
"Rune-" began Harry
"Of fire" finished Ginny.
"You are going to tell them what it means right?" said Ron and Harry looked at him, as if just noticing him being there "What she's known and I heard, so" finished Ron with a slight shrug of his shoulder that Hermione wasn't leaning on.
"Yes Ron, just give a women a moment" said Hermione as she rustled a few more papers. "Okay this means that you will have the power of fire, thus how you were able to create the fire whip, and the reasoning why your form... is well yeah, at least partially the reasoning anyway."
"So this means Ginny will be able to do fire spells really well" said Harry feeling his way into certainty.
"No, not well. Great, well no. Excellent in fact" said Hermione "She probably won't meet a fire spell she couldn't pull off. Now that her magic increased and everything"
"Oh that's great Gin" said Harry kissing her cheek.
"A little nerve wrecking though isn't?" said Ginny nervously. "I mean it's great, but... wow. You know" she added looking up at Harry.
"Yeah, I know" whispered Harry, then placing a soft, gentle kiss on her lip's, he felt her relax a bit. He flashed her a smile.
"So what does Harry's mean?" asked Ginny turning back to face Hermione.
"His is what took me so long" said Hermione glaring at Harry as if this was his fault.
"Sorry" he muttered.
"Oh that's okay, I was able to gather a lot of information that I wouldn't have found otherwise" said Hermione smiling again. "Now Harry's okay" she rustled a few more papers around. Harry watched with slight anticipation. "Harry your symbol is the four elements"
"Way to go Harry. You went for all the runes instead of just one" teased Ron. Harry flicked his gaze to Ron, then back at Hermione.
"So what's that mean?" he asked nervously.
"It means that you hold the four powerful elements of strength, wisdom, compassion, and vindictive" said Hermione. "Thus the reasoning for the four circles.
"Hey hearing it out loud makes it kind of sound like the four houses." said Ron
"What?" asked Ginny
"Of course. Harry remember the Hogwarts poem this year" said Hermione
"Err..." began Harry
"Oh so now it's a poem" said Ron.
"Hush Ronald. The sorting hat said the founders smile at us now, As it seems they make a return, In one wizard ,he bestows the best quality of all four" Hermione said looking flabbergasted, but it was nothing to what Harry was feeling.
"Harry that's amazing. It's like that Hogwarts itself is behind you" said Ron shifting slightly in his excitement and sending Hermione's papers over the side of the bed. Hermione wasn't paying attention though as all eye's were on him. Harry blinked to wet his dry eye's. He swallowed nervously.
"So.. err... what does that mean exactly" said Ginny sounding as nervous as he was.
"Well, it's just what Ron said" explained Hermione now leaning over Ron to pick up her papers. She sat back upright, and began to leaf through them again. "The Hogwarts four were known to have wisdom from Ravenclaw, compassion from Hufflepuff, strength from Gryffindor, and of course the vindictive side from Slythrin." said Hermione
"I think you are the most brilliant man Mr. Potter" said Ginny as she raised her hand and ran it through his hair, leaving it tingling under her touch. He looked down and met her eye's. "It's truly great Harry"
"I know it's like just... wow, you know" said Harry not realizing it but echoing Ginny's words.
"Actually surprise prince, I would know" said Ginny smiling. Harry's shoulder's relaxed a bit and Ginny smiled. ' Have I told you I love you yet? '
' Not all day ' replied Harry as he met her waiting lip's. Harry stayed longer than what Ron would have cared for, but amazingly he didn't complain.
' I love you '
' Love you too! ' said Harry as he laid his head on Ginny's and they sat comfortably, and listened to Hermione's longwinded speech about it's effects.
"It'll take some getting used to, but I know with the magical increase, neither one of you two will have any trouble." Hermione said.
"So there are certain things that we can do that we weren't able to before, like fire spells" said Ginny
"Yes, that's what so good about it" said Hermione "With these runes... err... marks they will give you a power that no one but us four will know you've got."
"Well, we will have to let Dumbledore and McGonagall know" said Harry.
"Of course Harry" said Hermione looking repulsed that Harry would even imply that she would not alert her proper teachers of the news. Harry smiled.
"We wouldn't dream about leaving them out of anything." said Ginny rolling her eye's, and Harry smirked. Ron was even trying to not smile and just settled for hiding his face in his bed clothes.
"What are you three laughing at?" asked Hermione looking thoroughly confused now. Which made them all burst out in laughter.
"Mr. Potter, you must find out all you can about these elements. I'm afraid that you won't find any new spells in that book of Merlin's, but I do have somewhere you could" said Dumbledore as Harry sat with Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Professor McGonagall in his office little more than an hour later, having told them about the markings, they'd given each other.
"Where Professor" said Hermione looking like Christmas was coming for a second time around.
"My private library, that I assume Harry has forgotten about" said Dumbledore eye's twinkling in Harry's direction. Hermione sent a glare at him.
"Sorry, guess I did" admitted Harry.
"So what kind of things will we learn" inquired Ginny.
"You will find spells from all Hogwarts headmasters and Headmistress of course, and books full of fire spells. I suggest Fire your spells by Milwake Boydraspedy. A terrific book. " said Dumbledore. "And Harry you might want to search out Elemental uses of Defensive spells by Mesica Durspedy. A truly awe inspiring book. But I think you should leave it till this weekend, Miss Granger. Dinner is over I presume?"
"Yes, but I will have some Dinner brought to you four here. Oh will the snake be needing anything?" asked McGonagall curtly eyeing the snake that had wrapped around Ginny. Harry hissed at it.
"Do they make those fabulous eggs with orange juice?" hissed Magnus. Harry scrunched his nose.
"Oh, he'll eat scrambled eggs made with orange juice" said Harry. McGonagall looked like she could get sick. "Maybe I'll just call Dobby." McGonagall nodded. "DOBBY!" A crack sounded and Harry ignored Hermione's look of disgust.
"Harry Potters sir. What an honor that you should remember that Dobby is here to serve you" said Dobby bowing so low that his nose squashed the floor. "Oh and Harry Potters mistress Weezy" Ginny and Harry both blushed, but Harry recovered first and this time ignoring everyone's eye's.
"Could we bother you for some food Dobby?" asked Harry.
"Oh anything Harry Potters anything at all! What can Dobby serve Harry Potters his mistress and friends, and Headmistress" said Dobby.
"Nothing for me thank you Dobby, I have somewhere I need to be. I trust you will be alright in here till you finish your meal then you should really call it a night I should think. So goodnight" McGonagall disappeared out the door, and everyone turned back to Dobby.
Ron began ordering a list of food, that had Dumbledore looking thoroughly amused. Hermione grudgingly ordered a salad, not wanting to put him through much trouble. Dobby's ears had dropped a bit. So Harry ordered steak and kidney pie, pork chops and some potatoes, Ginny ordered some steak and trimmings. Then Magnus's eggs made with orange juice. Dobby left with a huge toothy smile and a bow with a snap of his fingers he was gone.
By the time they had finished eating and talking with Dumbledore, they were ready for bed. Saying there goodbyes they made there way up to there poster beds pausing only for whispers of goodnights and sweet long kisses. Harry collapsed into his bed as Magnus curled around his feet. Ron's snores taking him away to a shared dream with Ginny.
AN :
We meet again in another chapter. I do so hope that you have enjoyed it. I had fun writing it, as it was my solace from a horrible few days of Christmas shoppers and family. No offense but anyone with a large over-bearing family knows what I am talking about! I love them all, but God help me, or them!
I do hope all have a very Merry Christmas.
I hope that all who read this will drop me a line or two, or more. I won't complain. They are always the highlight of my day. I literally rush home from work to check to see if I have received any reviews. So make me smile, as I hope I have done the same for you. Please Review.
Until next chapter, take care!
HogwartsAngel101