Disclaimer: Once again, it's time for the ritual legal disembowelment. Not mine, except the plot. Everything you recognize belongs to somebody else. yadda yadda yadda.
Movie night and other unusual events
Back at the Burrow, Ron helped clear out a sufficiently large area in the sitting room for everything Harry had picked up at the electronics store. Harry and Hermione were the only ones present who'd had any previous experience with electronics, both being muggle born. Most of that experience, however, was more along the lines of using, rather than setting up. Luckily, the bushy-haired girl was very well-versed in reading complicated manuals, so it wasn't as much of a trial as the rest had thought it would be upon seeing the rat's nest of cables, cords, and packing materials inside the box.
Within an hour, they had set up the big screen TV, VCR, DVD player, and the sound system to go with it. While in the store, Harry had taken the opportunity to seek out all of the movies he had always wanted to see, and picked up two copies of each. Hermione was also encouraged to do the same. He had decided that, if things changed, and he had to go to Grimmauld Place at some point during the coming school year, he would set up the same type of thing. There was no way he was going to stay at that dreary old place, without some sort of pleasant diversion. He had also picked up a portable DVD player with it's own screen, that he would also ask Mr Weasley to enchant for him. It would make for something nice to take back to school with him. When Mr Weasley arrived home from the Ministry that night, he was delighted to have so many muggle things to tinker with. Before he was allowed near them, Molly and Ginny both secured promises that he would not try to disassemble any of it. He reluctantly agreed, and performed the charms that would allow the electronic items to work off of magic. After dinner, they all settled in the living room to watch movies. Hermione got a look of mischief on her face, as she was allowed to pick what they would watch that evening. Ron and Harry had thought she would choose a romance, or something based on classic literature, but she surprised them. She grinned at Harry as she slid the disc into the player, but wouldn't tell him what it was. A moment later, the strains of orchestral music played over the speakers, and words scrolled down the screen. As soon as he saw the words, "A long time ago, in a galaxy, far, far, away..." he knew what she had chosen.
Ron's first reaction, predictably, was, "Of course, Mione would pick something that requires reading."
The girl in question picked up a pillow, and hit him with it. "Shut it, you."
Harry decided to intervene, before they missed any of the movie. "Ron, you'll like it. Trust me on this."
His friend subsided and, despite himself, became thoroughly engrossed in the story unfolding on the screen. All four teens laughed when Harry pointed out Darth Vader, and they were reminded of Harry's description of Voldemort, a couple days before. Soon, they were comparing different people in the movie to those they knew. What really struck them was the friendship between the three main characters, Leia, Han, and Luke. Ginny refused to accept this, as there was no parallel in the story for herself. Besides, she rather thought that the dark-haired Han Solo looked and acted more like Sirius, than either Ron or Harry. Halfway through the movie, Fred and George came home from the shop amd joined the rest of the group in watching the movie. As it ended, Hermione mentioned that there were two more movies in the series so far, and they ended up putting the second one in. The twins persisted in comparing Harry to Luke Skywalker, which got quite out of control after the scene near the end, when Vader revealed that he was Luke's father. It was no surprise that the two of them spent a half an hour after the movie ended saying things like, "Harry, I am your father." in sepulchural tones.
The other twin would then counter with, "No, I am."
"Nope. Afraid not, old bean. Remember the Deatheater convention that weekend? You were out of town. It was me."
The next thing anyone knew, they were out in the backyard, dueling with mop handles. While they were quite entertaining, it was at least a bit surreal, to think they could take a comparison that far. To even suggest Snake-face was his father. Urgh. That was enough to need a shower.
Harry grabbed his Firebolt and went out to the paddock. He mounted the broom and shot into the air. He went steadily up, until he was a quarter mile in the air. He knew that one of the characteristics of the wards surrounding the Burrow was that, as long as you stayed within certain areas, you couldn't be seen by muggles, no matter how high you went. The young wizard sat up there on his broom, looking out at the area around the Burrow. From here, he could see both the stars above and the few lights in the village of Ottery St Catchpole. It was one of the most peaceful things he had ever seen. After a few minutes, he looked down, to see another broom rising to meet him. In the pale light of the moon, he saw the auburn hair streaming out behind Ginny's lithe figure.
She stopped next to him and said with a grin, "Hiya sexy. Come here often?"
"Every summer, if I can." was the reply. Harry smiled back at her and moved closer, until their faces were just inches apart. He leaned in, putting one arm around his girlfriend and pulled her close. Their lips touched, and the rest of the world disappeared. As the kiss deepened, nothing else mattered. All the two of them knew was each other, for this moment in time. When the need to breathe became too accute, they separated. Harry was the first to speak.
"I have been wanting to do that all day."
"So why didn't you?"
He shrugged now. "I don't know. Maybe I just didn't want an audience."
"You know, Mr Potter, that's something you'll just have to get used to. One of the hazards of a huge family like we have." She fixed him with a glare now. "And you do realize, of course, that you are stuck with the whole lot of us."
The young wizard smiled just a bit ruefully. "Yeah, I know. It's just going to take some getting used to."
"Why is that? Our family has been yours, ever since you got your first Weasley Christmas jumper from Mum. Why else do you think she's insisted on you spending every summer with us since your second year?"
"I know that, Gin." He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts. Sharing his feelings was something new to him, and he wanted to make sure he got it right. To give himself a little time, he made a suggestion. "Why don't we head down, so we can sit down. This might take a little time."
She nodded in acquiescance, and they slowly spiraled to the ground, still with their arms around each other. They came down at the edge of the pond, just short of the pier. The brooms were laid down, and Harry took Ginny's hand, leading her out to where the wooden planks ended. They sank down and she nestled in his arms, leaning against him. The fiery redhead thought that this was the perfect place for her right now.
Harry wrapped his arms around her, thinking much the same. At this moment, he could have died very happy.
After a few moments enjoying this, he finally spoke. "I'm sure that, by now, you know that my childhood before Hogwarts was, erm, not good, to say the least."
She simply nodded at this. She had heard from her brothers about when they had taken the flying car to pick Harry up from Privet Drive. She still wasn't sure how much was exaggeration on their parts, and what was truth. "Um, Harry? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Gin."
"Ron, Fred, and George said something, the first time they came to get you, that I've been wondering about. Mum still thinks they were making up stories, trying to get out of trouble. Were there really bars on your windows?"
With a bitter laugh, he replied. "Yeah, Gin, there were. That was Vernon's way of trying to make sure that I had no contact with anybody. He also put locks on the outside of my door, and a cat flap at the bottom of my door, to push the occasional bowl of soup through. Every three days or so. They let me out of my room in the morning, so I could make breakfast for the family, do whatever chores he'd thought up for the day, and use the bathroom. That was pretty much it."
Ginny was horrified by this. She twisted in his arms until she faced him. Looking into his eyes, she realized he wasn't winding her up. Somehow, she knew that there was no way he would lie about a thing like that. He may not enjoy talking about it, but he wouldn't make something like that up. She threw her arms around him, trying not to let the tears escape her, as she thought of the way the love of her life had been treated.
Harry knew what she was feeling about this. He didn't know how he knew, just that he did. As they held each other, he ran his hands over her back, soothing her. "Shh. Gin, it's okay. I'm away from there, now. Don't worry about it. Besides, that's nothing, compared to..."
"Harry, that's not how this is supposed to work! I'm supposed to be comforting you." She broke off now, only just realizing what he had started to say. "Wait. You mean there was more? There was worse?"
Slowly, he nodded. "Yeah, there was." He started talking then, telling her about some of the things he had been subjected to, for all of the years at the Dursley's.
It was two hours later, when Molly came out to get the two of them, and have them come in for the night. She found them wrapped in each other's arms, fast asleep. From the puffiness around their eyes, it was obvious that both had been crying, but they both looked very happy right now, even content. When she saw this, she didn't have the heart to wake them. Instead, she cast a softening charm on the dock, conjured pillows for them, and put up a simple insect repelling charm around them. She went back inside for the night, secure in the knowledge that these two, her daughter and her semi-adopted son, were on the road to healing.
Morning dawned entirely too early the next day, as there was nothing to keep the bright sunlight from their eyes. When Harry awoke, he was surprised to see that Ginny was curled up next to him, her head on his chest, arm wrapped around him. He lay back, wondering where the pillow had come from, not to mention why the boards under him seemed so comfortable. All of that was forgotten, however, when he looked into the face near his. The girl he loved looked so peaceful in sleep. He gently pushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, tucking it back behind her ear. She slowly woke then, her eyes opening. He knew then, that the look of love in those brown eyes as she gazed at him would be enough to take him to the ends of the earth, if need be. That could sustain him forever. He didn't realize that the expression in his own emerald eyes had the same effect on her, and always had. He just marvelled at the idea that somebody, especially someone as special as Ginny, could think of him that way. It warmed him all over, in ways that just might be a bit dangerous to contemplate at the moment. She slid up a little farther now, giving him a quick kiss good morning.
"Morning, sleepyhead." was his greeting to her.
"Good morning yourself. I don't see you up and about, yet." she teasingly responded.
"Well, I didn't want to wake you up. Sleep well?"
With an impish grin, she said, "Of course. I had my favorite pillow."
"Hmph. So now I'm just part of the bed linens, is that it? Speaking of pillows, where did these come from?"
Ginny sat up now, and looked at the pillows he had indicated. "Uh-oh."
"Why uh-oh?"
"Those are the pillows Mum conjures when she doesn't want to move somebody." She put her face in her hands. "That means she was out here last night. That also explains why these boards feel so comfy."
Harry caught the implications of this right away. "Oh. Uh-oh."
She stood up now, offering her boyfriend a hand up. "Well, nothing for it, then. We'd best get in there and face the music."
Harry got up and wrapped his arms around the petite redhead. "Well, no matter what kind of hell we catch, it'll be worth it. I think I could get used to waking up next to you."
She pulled him down for a kiss, then said, "I hope you still think so after we spend the day de-gnoming the garden."
Their fingers intertwined, they walked back to the house. Along the way, Harry's stomach growled. Before he could say anything, so did Ginny's, as if in response.
"Sounds like it's time for breakfast."
"Could be."
The happy couple went in and greeted Molly. Far from upset, she looked on the two of them fondly. After gathering good morning kisses from both, she set the breakfast dishes in front of them, allowing them to sate their hunger.
She sat down with a cup of tea, and asked, "Sleep well, you two?"
"Actually, yes. Best I've slept in a long time, thanks. Oh, thank you for the pillows and the cushioning charm. That was brilliant, Molly." He grinned at her, before digging again into his eggs.
Ginny nodded as well, not wanting to emulate Ron's usual table manners. She preferred to make sure she didn't have a mouthful of food before speaking.
Molly looked closely at the teens before her. It seemed that they were even closer than they had been the day before. She ventured a guess as to what had helped with that. "Harry, you're very welcome. I'm just glad that you and Ginny were able to talk. It seems like it's helped you both."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, we discussed a few things. Gin doesn't know all of it quite yet, but..."
The girl in question put her hand over her boyfriend's and told him, "Like I told you last night, when you're ready to talk about the rest of it, I'll be ready to listen."
Leaning over to kiss her on the cheek, he replied, "Thanks, Gin. Soon, I think. It's just not easy to talk about things like that." He got up from the table now. "If you two will excuse me, I'm going to go upstairs and take a shower and change." At the questioning look she gave him, he gave a nod of consent, before turning to go up the stairs.
When they heard the shower start, Molly turned to her daughter. "Can you tell me some of what you two talked about?"
Ginny nodded and said, "You might want to sit down, Mum. This will take a while, and some of it will be a shock."
Upstairs, Harry let the hot water run down his body, washing away the sweat and the residue from the tears of the night before. Last night was the first time he'd ever said anything to anyone, about how he had been mis-treated by his only living blood relations. He hadn't quite told her everything yet, as what had come out had been quite bad in it's own right. He had spoken of the neglect, being used as a punching bag by his cousin, as well as the scorn heaped on him by his aunt, uncle, and everybody else connected with them. He had told her of how they had tried to hide the truth from him, about his parents, as well as about what he was and why strange things always seemed to happen around him. This had been enough for her to take in at one time. He suspected, knowing Molly as he did, as well as knowing how much his revelations had disturbed his girlfriend, that they were probably discussing him right now. Strangely, in contrast with the way he'd thought about being talked about by others in the past, this didn't bother him. He knew that, one way or another, Molly would have found it all out.
After a little while, he turned the water off and stepped from the shower. After drying his body, he wrapped the towel around his waist and regarded himself in the mirror. He was in better shape than he had been over the past few years, having spent a good amount of time over the summer working in the yard, as well as jogging around the neighborhood a bit. He had seen a few people running round the streets around Privet Drive, and thought it might be a good idea to build his stamina up a bit. He remembered how tired he had been after that night at the Ministry, and the running duel that had occured there. Quite a bit of the exhaustion he had felt that night had been emotional, but a fair amount had been physical as well. One side benefit of all the running was that he'd found, if he managed to tire himself out as thoroughly as possible, he slept much more soundly, and with much fewer nightmares. Along with the meditation, it had made for a relatively peaceful summer.
He'd also started to use the weight machines his cousin had in the shed in the backyard. He would never be a bodybuilder, but he had achieved a bit of definition in his chest and abdomen. He fought with his unruly raven hair for a few minutes, before spying a tube of Sleekeazy's hair gel on the counter. He shrugged, thinking anything was worth a shot at this point. He took a small dab of it and smoothed his hair back, running a comb through it. It still didn't stay back that well, but it would have to do. At least it was out of his eyes now. That done, he collected his clothes and headed back to his room, towel still wrapped around his waist.
He walked into his room, closing the door. His clothes went into the hamper in the corner. Just as he was about to take the towel off and start looking for clothes for the day, the young wizard saw a very cute red-headed witch sitting in the chair in the opposite corner. Ginny gave him a mischievous smile, eyebrow raised.
"My, but we seem to be meeting in strange places these days, Mr Potter."
Harry firmly retied the towel he had come so close to removing. He did his best to regain a bit of dignity, at least as much as a pale yellow fluffy towel around the midsection will allow.
"Cover your eyes while I get dressed, or I won't wear those jeans you liked so much."
She seemed to debate for a moment, then reluctantly brought her hands up to cover her face.
"Close them, too. And don't peek."
With a small squeal of frustration, the young witch complied. Chuckling, Harry grabbed his jeans from the bag they were still in and slid them up underneath the towel. At the last moment, he turned away, pulled the towel off, and pulled the jeans the rest of the way up, fastening them. That done, he turned back to face her, seeing that her hands were away from her face now. She had a look on her face that was trying to pass for innocent, but which failed utterly. Her eyes were clearly dancing in a way that said she liked what she saw, and what, if his suspicions were correct, she had seen a moment ago. Shaking his head at her, he sat down on his bed. She moved over to his side and gave him a kiss, totally taking his breath away. Taking one of her small hands in his, Harry looked into his girlfriend's eyes.
"You know, I wish I knew just what it was I did right, to deserve someone like you."
Blushing, Ginny replied, "Oh? Just what would you do if you found that out?"
"I reckon I'd have to keep doing it, every day for the rest of my life." His hand slipping around the back of her head, he pulled her back in for another kiss.
A while later, his heart pounding, other parts of his body responding just as readily, he broke it off. To him, stopping felt like it had taken more force of will than all three tasks in the Tri-Wizard Tournament a little over a year before.
"You know, if we go any farther than this, I'll never be able to look your mum in the eyes again."
Ginny looked back at him, at first disappointed, then realizing he had a very good point. "I guess. But know this, Harry Potter," She fixed him with a very determined, very hungry look. "Once we get on that train in the fall, we will find an empty compartment, and you are fair game, me boy."
Harry wasn't sure if he was scared at this declaration or ecstatic, so he settled on just a touch of apprehension. That way, both bets were covered.
Changing the subject, he asked, "So how did she take it? I assume you told her what I told you about last night."
With a nod, she leaned against him, one arm wrapping around his waist. "She took it about like I did. I think she's taking out her frustrations out in the garden at the moment."
He got up and went to the window, looking out towards the garden. He saw Molly Weasley reach down, grab a garden gnome by the ankle, and without even a windup, toss the nasty little creature a good fifty feet. Harry winced a bit as he saw the next one try to bite her. Not a good idea, that. This one got the windup the other hadn't, and must've flown a good eighty feet.
Chuckling again, he went back to sit beside his girlfriend. "I'd have to say she's imagining them all as Vernon or Petunia."
Ginny laughed at this, and got up from the bed, pulling him by the hand. "As much as I'd like to see you wander about with no shirt on all day, you'd better grab one before we head downstairs."
Rummaging through the bag from the previous day, he found one that had obviously been picked out while he wasn't looking. He pulled it out to see it better. It was black, with white writing on the front that said, "Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps."
"Um, Ginny love? Do you think this is really a good one for me? I mean come on, everybody thinks I'm nutters as it is."
She got a wicked grin on her features as she started digging through the bag. The grin only widened when she pulled the next one out. This one said, "Can't talk now. The squirrels are watching."
"Alright. That's it then." With this, he pounced, mercilessly tickling her.
Molly was back inside now, and heard the scuffling upstairs. As she heard giggles and laughs in the midst of it, she surmised that nobody was getting hurt, but thought she'd better have a look in anyway. Opening the door to Harry's room, she saw that he clearly had the upper hand, but as this was the first time in a long time she had seen these two laughing so much, she didn't step in. Instead, with a glint in her eyes, she offered the raven haired boy some advice.
"The back of her knees, dear. It's really her most ticklish spot."
"Thanks, Molly." An almost evil grin on his face, Harry advanced on his girlfriend.
Ginny was shocked, to say the least. "MUM!"
The matriarch of the Weasley family was thoroughly happy to see her only daughter and the boy she thought of as her seventh son so clearly enjoying themselves. They had each had little enough of happiness over the past few years. If Albus was to be believed, and she had no real reason to doubt him, they would all have a long hard road ahead, trying to get rid of You-Know-Who. She knew as well as anyone, and better than most, just how much honor and integrity that young wizard posessed.
It had been hard for her to accept the role her two youngest children had played, that night at the Ministry. She was proud of them both, of course, as she had raised all of her children to do what they thought was right, not what was easy. As far as they were concerned, following their friend, watching his back when he thought he was rescuing his godfather from the Dark Lord was the right thing to do. They'd known it wouldn't be easy, but there was no way they would have let him walk into a situation like that alone. A big part of it, she knew, was that they all knew, without doubt, that he would have done the same for any one of them. Hadn't he saved Ginny from the Chamber, her first year of school? On top of it, that had been at a time when he only knew her as the cute little girl who had such a horrid crush on him. Merlin knew it had to have been embarassing for the boy, but when he'd found out who was trapped down there, he hadn't hesitated a bit, from what Ron had said.
At the same time, it was absolutely terrifying for her, to know that her children, as well as so many others, would have to fight in this war at some point. She knew, especially as a member of the Order, that Deatheaters wouldn't hesitate to attack children, or anybody else they saw as a target of opportunity. The bogart at Grimmauld Place last summer, oddly enough, had ultimately been a good thing for her. Even though Remus had to get rid of it in the end, it had helped her to get her fears out in the open. This, in it's turn, had forced her to think about the one thing she had never wanted to. She knew how important her family was to her, and that losing any of them might destroy her. After the children had left for school, she and Arthur had stayed up the night round, talking about those fears. She finally realized that night, that what she really feared was that her children might die foolish deaths, alone, never knowing how much they were loved. Her husband had taken her hands in his and looked deep into her eyes. He finally told her that there was no way that could ever happen. Everyone in their family had always known they were loved. How she had shown them in everything she did, the meals she made, the way she worried over them when she saw them, the way she saw to their every need, whether they wanted her to or not. It was self-evident in the jumpers she made everyone for Christmas. In short, in the thousand things she did for her family every day. He ended by telling her that, even if a stray spell (no doubt emanating from the Twins' room) were to permanently erase her voice, there would be no way that anyone around could miss how she felt about them.
When she thought of how Harry had been treated by the Dursley's, it made her blood boil. Especially now that she knew more of the story. She had no doubt that there was more, and wondered if she would ever know the rest. More to the point, she wondered if she really wanted to. What she knew now was almost enough to break her heart. How anybody could ever treat a child that way, especially one as bright, sweet, and generous as he was, was beyond her. She'd always been amazed at how he could come out of an environment like that one intact, much less shining. Molly had to fight with herself at times, when Ron or one of the Twins acted up, not to tell them to act more like Harry. She knew he wasn't perfect, nobody was. It was just hard sometimes, not to compare.
Harry and Ginny came down the stairs a while later in very high spirits, holding hands. As they sat down on a couch in the sitting room, she saw how much in love they were, and it warmed her. Her daughter was sitting across her boyfriend's lap, her arms around him, and she gazed into his emerald eyes with such feeling that, while making Molly glad to see they each had someone to love whole-heartedly, made her just a bit uncomfortable, as well. It was a very adult look, for someone just shy of her fifteenth birthday. Then again, the petite redhead hadn't actually been a child in a long time. Not since the Chamber. She was sure that it was no coincidence that the only time Ginny didn't have the nightmares that had plagued her was when Harry was here.
She hated to disturb the two of them, but she thought she'd better let them know about them message she'd received earlier that morning.
"Harry, Fawkes was here earlier, with a note from Professor Dumbledore. He wanted to let us know that he'll be over later today. There are a few things he wants to go over with you."
He looked up now from Ginny. "Okay, thanks. Any idea what time?"
She rolled her eyes. "If I know Albus Dumbledore, probably right before dinner."
All three laughed at this. It was well known that nobody could resist Molly's cooking, even Severus Snape. Though she encouraged the teens to show the potions master the respect his position deserved, she never had liked him. The difference was that she did respect his abilities, even though she privately concurred with Sirius' opinion of him as a slimy git. The next time she saw him, she fully intended to have a long talk with him, over his treatment of Harry. She had taken on the mission of getting him to see some sense. Even if it took a frying pan to the back of his head, she would ensure that he saw that Harry was in no way like James Potter had been when they had attended school. Harry didn't have one lick of the arrogance his father had at the same age. If anything, he was just a bit too humble at times.
Ginny got up from Harry's lap and went upstairs to get her books. She still had a Transfiguration essay to finish, as well as one for Defense, but would then be finished with schoolwork for the holidays.
Harry got up and came into the kitchen, sitting down at the table. "So where have Ron and Hermione been all day?"
Molly chuckled at this. "Her parents wanted to spend some time with their daughter, as well as her 'special young man.' I have a feeling my poor boy is going to get 'The Talk' from Mr Granger." Shaking her head at the thought, she continued. "You got quite lucky, young man. The family of your girlfriend already knows and loves you, and was just waiting for you to figure out what you felt." She looked on him fondly. "I knew after I'd heard what went on at the Ministry, that you two would end up together. From what I understand, Ginny was the only one you physically stepped in front of, to protect her."
"Well, she was the only one out in the open, after she got hurt. It was my fault she was there, after all. I couldn't let anything happen to her." He shuddered at the memory of that night, then turned pensive. "Maybe I was starting to feel something more then, I honestly don't know. All I know is that, if anything had happened to her because of me, I couldn't have taken it. Too many already have. It's bad enough that Sirius..."
Nodding in sympathy, Molly laid her hand over his, saying, "I know it's not easy for you, dear. When I think of all the people we lost in the first war, it's almost overwhelming at times. Even now, sixteen or more years later. All I can tell you is that, with time, it will get better. Maybe not completely, but enough. Merlin knows your godfather and I didn't always see eye to eye, but one thing we agreed on was you." At the look of surprise this got from the young wizard, she nodded and continued. "We agreed that all we wanted was whatever would make you happy. I have to admit, if he was still alive, I'd owe him an apology and five sickels. The apology would be for thinking he'd ever do anything that would intentionally harm you, and the money would be from a lost bet." She rolled her eyes before going on. "He was convinced you'd fall for Ginevra before the next term started, and I thought it would be at least Christmas."
She thought privately that it would have been worth the five sickels, had Sirius been alive, for the old cur to see the way Harry laughed at this revelation.
"Christmas! That reminds me. Do you have any owl-order catalogs?"
"Of course, dear. They're on the end table next to the couch. What do you need to order?"
The young wizard looked furtively up the stairs, obviously making sure that a certain fiery young witch was out of hearing range. "There were a couple of things I wanted to pick up yesterday that I didn't have a chance to. I want them to be surprised. Is there a catalog for Quality Quidditch Supplies in that pile?"
Molly laughed. "In this household? Are you kidding? It's probably the most dog-eared one over there."
He quickly went over and looked through the magazines, until he found the one he wanted. "Thanks."
As they heard footsteps coming back down the stairs, he shot Molly a look, and she quietly said, "Mum's the word."
Ginny came up to the table, and seeing the looks on her mum and boyfriend's faces, wondered what was up. She looked between the two before asking, "Something I should know about?"
Molly was amazed at the way he could disemble. "Oh, I was just asking if there was anything else in that note Dumbledore sent."
Ginny wasn't sure that was quite all, but let it lay for the moment. She gave Harry her infamous puppy-dog look, and there was no way he could resist helping her with her Defense essay. They finished it early that afternoon, which gave them the rest of the day free.
The two of them lounged on the sofa, looking through catalogs. He would show her different things in the catalogs, asking what she thought, making mental notes of those that really caught her eye. He was starting to think he would have his Cristmas shopping done well in advance this year. It surprised him that he was thinking about this so far in advance, as it was only the middle of August. He found that it made a difference, to have someone he loved, someone he wanted to spoil. Of course, she'd put up some resistance to the idea. Ginny, like the rest of the family, had for too long had to go without, or use second-hand things. As far as Harry was concerned, that was going to stop. He could afford to do things for the family he now considered his, especially with what Sirius had left him.
The two were enjoying themselves so much, that they were surprised when Albus Dumbledore arrived at the Burrow, in a flash of green flame from the fireplace. They got up from the couch to greet him.
"Professor. How are you?"
"Quite well, Harry. Thank you for asking. How are you and Miss Weasley?"
Harry slipped his arm around Ginny's waist, pulling her closer. With a quick look at her, he turned back to the headmaster. "Very well, sir. Thanks."
"Shall we take a seat, Harry? If you would excuse us for a few minutes, Ginny, I need to talk to Harry for a bit."
The young wizard tightened his hold around his girlfriend. "She knows, professor. I told her, Ron, and Hermione, the first morning I was here."
Dumbledore nodded, peering over the top of his half-moon spectacles. "I suspected that you would. You do realize, of course, that it puts them in more danger?"
"Sir, I've had it pointed out to me, that Ginny and Ron would be in danger at any rate, due to the fact that the family refuses to hide their resistance to Voldemort. I was also reminded that Hermione would be at risk too, because of the fact that she's such a powerful witch, and muggle-born on top of it." His gaze hardened. "There's also the fact that the Wanker will have to go through me, to get to them." His look turned to a grin now. "On top of all that, the man in charge of our school is the only wizard old Tommy-Boy truly fears. I'd be telling lies if I said I wasn't worried, as I am. The way I look at it, though, as long as we work together, that idiot hasn't got a chance." His eyes sparked, as he said, "Whatever it takes, Voldemort is going down."
By the time Harry had finished speaking, his brilliant green eyes almost seemed to be glowing, and the determination seemed to roll from him in waves. It wasn't arrogance, nor was it merely confidence. It was something other, more like the young wizard had consciously decided that, if he had to join in this fight, he may as well do it right, and win. It seemed that he had refused to allow for any other possibility. Albus Dumbledore had already known how determined this young man could be, but even he was somewhat surprised at what he saw, and felt here. Despite himself, he was thoroughly convinced that, prophecy or not, Harry could, and would, do what he had just declared. To himself, the headmaster swore again, that he would do everything he could to help his young charge reach that goal.
"Well said, Harry. To be honest, it makes my slightly ancient heart warm, to see you so determined to see this to an end, not to mention the fact that you seem to have accepted what was in that prophecy.
"I'm also relieved to see the change you seem to have undergone over the past month or so. I know that losing your godfather hit you hard, and I was fully expecting, well, something else, let's say."
A wry smile crossed Harry's face. "You were expecting me to be moping around, blaming myself for everything in sight, unable to face the light?"
Dumbledore chuckled at the slightly dramatic description from the young wizard. "Something like that. I think I may know a part of what helped your change, and if I'm correct in my assumption, I believe I may need to have some explanations from Professor Snape." His face had darkened a bit at this. The thought of how his potions master had treated this young man, possibly endangering too many people, was deeply disturbing. He didn't like to have to consider the possibility that he may have made such a huge mistake in judgement, concerning the former Deatheater. That was something that would definitely need to be considered in more depth, later. For now, he turned his attention back to the prodigy before him.
"If you don't mind, Harry, I'd like to test the occlumency shields you seem to have developed."
"Go right ahead, Professor. Truth be told, I'd like to know how effective they are, close up. I know they work at a distance, but they haven't really been tested much."
"Do you need to prepare?"
"No sir. It's become habit to keep them up all the time, now. Whenever you're ready."
Harry immediately felt a tentative probing at the wall he had built around his mind, but knew that nothing went past it. The attempts became stronger as the headmaster did his best to get past. At one point, the probing did seem to almost get close, but at that point, the young wizard decided it was time to try another technique that had been in the occlumency book.
He imagined a steel door, a great riveted thing with no doorknob except on the inside. From there, he pictured a great steel wall flowing aound the inner wall in both directions, until it met itself, seamlessly. He then imagined a sign on the door, in huge red glowing letters. The words on the sign read, "NO admittance allowed! Turn back now! This means YOU!" The attempts at intrusion halted then, as the professor was laughing too much to continue.
"Nicely done, my boy. I think it's safe to say that you will not need the lessons anymore."
"Really? You don't need to test me any further?"
"Harry, without bragging, I believe that I can safely say that I am one of the most accomplished legilemens currently living. I am chargrined to admit that I basically hit you with the strongest attack I possibly could, and you threw it off without so much as breaking a sweat. As long as you can manage to leave those shields in place, you will have no need to worry." He swiped a hand across his forehead, giving away the evidence that, as opposed to the minimum effort Harry had apparently put into repelling the mental intrusion, the headmaster had indeed exerted himself with the attempt he'd made.
Ginny got up and went to the kitchen, bringing back glasses of lemonade for all three of them.
Gratefully accepting his glass, Dumbledore drank deeply of his. "Thank you, Miss Weasley. That was much appreciated."
He turned back to Harry now. "I would also like to discuss the other new ability you have developed. The ability to sense magical auras, though not unheard of, is exceedingly rare. Indeed, there are only a few people known to have the ability, at this point in time. We could count them on the fingers of one hand. The only other one known to be residing in England, in fact, is our own Madame Pomfrey.
"To my knowledge, though, she only senses the color of an aura. Part of her medical training, I believe, was using that as gift as an aid to diagnosis." He leaned back now, his fingers steepled together. "You, on the other hand, are able to sense considerably more, from what Miss Tonks mentioned."
"Well, yeah. I get a combination of feel, scent or flavor, and color. Ginny, for example, is cinnamon sugar, velvet, and ruby red."
"I wonder if you would mind taking a look at my aura, and tell me what you see."
Harry looked at his professor, unfocusing his eyes. What he saw and sensed surprised him in it's intensity. It was a blindingly white light, diamond, and lemon. After a moment, he closed his eyes, to try to shut it out. It was almost too much to take in. The white was like looking into the heart of a sun. A split second later, he could feel a new level adding itself to the occlumency shields already in place. If the others were like walls, whether brick or steel, this was something completely different. The only thing he could compare it to was something from one of the muggle movies they'd watched. He searched his mind for the words. The he had it. They were like a set of blast doors, completely impervious, to anything. They cut off all sensation. Touch, sight, sound, smell, taste, all were gone.
The only thing remaining, seeming almost as loud/harsh/bright, were emotions. He could sense them all around. He felt his own, mostly bewilderment, shock, and fear. From in front of him, where he knew Dumbledore to be, were surprise, and strangely enough, gratification. To his left, he felt more surprise, a touch of fear, but mostly, love.
This was what he focused on. The one he felt that mix from had to be Ginny. At realizing this, he fixed on that love, shining out over everything else, like a beacon. He let it guide him back to himself. As her love shone on him, he realized he could allow his senses to return now, albeit slowly. Now, he focused all of his attention on the presence next to him, letting the love flow back from him to her, along with the gratitude he felt. He knew that she had stabilised him, brought him back, even if it wasn't something conscious for her. His senses fully returned, he finally opened his eyes again, turning to look at her again. Just a tinge of her aura came through, now. He felt the soft velvet in it, saw the ruby red color he'd come to associate with her, smelled the slightly spicy yet sweet essence of cinnamon mingled with sugar. He said to her, "Thank you, love." and slumped over onto her lap, unconscious.
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Slowly, gingerly, Harry opened his eyes. Bright light was streaming in the window. One thing he'd never realized was how obnoxiously loud birds could be in the morning. The next thing that registered was the fact that, for the second time running, he woke up to see beautiful auburn hair on his chest, surrounding the face of the girl he loved. This time though, he was under the covers of his bed, and she was laying on top of them, wearing a dressing gown. He barely had time to be surprised, before she started to wake.
Ginny stretched as she awoke, with an almost feline grace. Watching her back arch, her legs stretched out, was the most intimate thing the young man had ever seen. It was obvious that she didn't realize yet that she wasn't alone on the bed. He could almost see awareness percolating through her brain, the way she started to sense what was around her. Her arms had been folded in front of her as she'd slept, but now, one arm draped across his bare chest. Her fingers started to move in circles, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Harry had to hold back a laugh when it finally dawned on Ginny, where she was, and who she was sleeping on. Her hand suddenly stilled, as she came instantly fully awake. She shot up, so that she was sitting up on the edge of the bed, almost falling off in the process. Only Harry's arm going around her waist, holding her back, kept her from falling to the floor. Her face was the reddest he'd seen it since the morning of his first visit to the Burrow. He tightened his arm around her waist.
"Good morning. Missed your favorite pillow, did you?"
If anything, she went even a deeper shade of red. "Actually, I wanted to make sure you were alright, after you keeled over last night that way. It was all Mum could do, to keep Dumbledore from flooing Madame Pomfrey." Her color started to fade now. "I think she was quite insulted at the thought that she couldn't take care of one of her own." Looking at him, she said, "That's how she thinks of you, you know. Far as she's concerned, you're another Weasley, just with black hair instead of red."
Harry sat up now, careful to keep the sheet around his waist. He still wasn't sure what he was wearing, if anything. It was better not to take any chances, if anybody were to poke their head into his room, to check on him. His arm still around Ginny, he pulled her close for a good morning kiss. They parted before it went any further. Harry still had no intention of breaking the trust Arthur and Molly had in him.
"Alright now, you'd best get out of here. I don't know if I have anything on under this sheet, and I need a shower."
The pretty young redhead looked speculatively for a moment down at the indicated bed covering. She looked like she was ready to satisfy her curioosity, but Harry only pulled the sheet tighter to him.
He pointed at the door, grinning. "Out now, before you get us both in trouble."
She shot him a mischievous look, making him all the more nervous. "I suppose, as I don't want to give my darling older brothers reason to kill you, the next time they see you." With that, she turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Harry got out of bed, discovering he still wore his boxers, which was a bit of a relief. As he got ready to head to the shower, he thought that it was shaping up to be an interesting day.
A/N: Whew! Finally done with this chapter. I've known for the past week and a half what I wanted to happen in this one, but getting it out onto the keyboard was the hard part, this time around. There's also the fact that I've been doing a lot of catching up on some of the fics I've been following myself, so time wasn't exactly on my side this week. Hmmm...I seem to have found enough time for plausible excuses though, eh? Oh bugger...was that out loud? I hate when that happens. I hope everybody enjoys it. A quick side note, for those who have been following my other ongoing fic, Perspective. I will be starting a new chapter for that story in another day or so. I will be wrapping that one up soon, though I will be introducing a few new characters, who you will probably see in a follow-up story.
Just a few quick replies to my faithful reviewers.
Lady of Masbolle: Here you go, now please call off the jelly babies. They've joined forces with the plot ferrets, to wreak havoc with my puter. Glad you've enjoyed it so far.
Addax: Good point. When I envisioned that scene, it was with requesting Tonks casting a privacy charm or two. She must've forgotten...or something...argh.
GiGiFanFic: Thank you, as always dear lady. I know what you mean about Mondays. There's just something evil about that particular day of the week. As for that other fic, see above ;-)
Sugarbear: Good guess.
Sibling Creature: Not to worry, the shopping isn't over yet. He just likes to surprise people. On the letter, thanks. I worked hard at getting the tone of that right. Glad to see it worked.
scottpesj1: Glad you like it. Good guess on the twins, by the way.
Tanydwr: It seems like everybody knew where I was going with the Star Wars reference. I just liked the idea so much, it had to go in there. T-shirts can be fun at times, especially if you can find one that inspires a look on people's faces that straddled the line between "Huh?!?" and "AAAAH!" hehehe
Last but not least,
Sorrow1: You make some very good points concerning how quickly the two couples got together, and ordinarily, I'd agree. However, there is a somewhat logical explanation, which will come out over the next couple of chapters. All I'll say right now is that is has to do with Harry's occlumency self-training, as well as other things that will become clearer as well. I know, I know...clear as mud right now, right? Never fear, all will be revealed. At least as much as I can in a simple PG rated fic. hehehe
As far as everything with the Dursleys and Albus throwing away the blood protection, I think that, for all of Dumbledore's power, he wouldn't want to mix too many newer kinds of magic in with what I see as a form of very ancient blood magic, being used to protect our favorite hero. There's really no way to discern how they would interact. Granted, there's very ancient magic protecting the grounds of Hogwarts, and all kinds of magic are used there on a daily basis, but that is an essentially magical place, and magic is woven into the very fabric of existence there. Also, IMO, it would take a hugely powerful memory charm, to over-ride the fierce hatred Vernon has for his nephew.