CHAPTER 10 – NOT WHAT YOU THINK

Harry and Ginny appeared outside the manor. She stared at it with awe but also reminded her what had happened 11 months ago. She felt a gentle push at her back but she refused to enter. Sighing, Harry carried her. Afraid of him, Ginny thrashed around, making hard for Harry to carry her. He didn't release his grip on her, instead, he held on harder. The Death Eaters at the door rushed to offer him help but he waved them off.

'If you don't stop thrashing around, I'll make your life miserable here!' Harry said harshly.

Ginny winced at his tone and obeyed. He carried her to his room and laid her gently on the bed where she hurriedly cowered to one corner.

Rolling his eyes, Harry summoned a house elf who brought some food. Taking the tray, he nodded to the elf whom disappeared with a bow, and place the tray on the table.

'If you're hungry, there's food on the table. Eat and don't leave this room. I'll be gone for a while,' Harry said. Getting no reply, Harry sighed again before leaving his room. He left for his meeting room where Luc and the rest awaited for his arrival.

'My Lord… are you hurt?' Luc asked in concern.

'No but I did return with someone,' Harry said, smiling.

'Who, my Lord?' Bell asked.

'My future wife, Ginny Weasley.'

'Ginny?' James asked.

'Yes and I do not want anyone near our floor except us. Dumbledore's spy will have excess easily then and I wish to avoid that. Sirius, Remus, could you help by placing the charms?'

'Consider it done.'

'Good,' Harry said, then turning to Bell, 'How's Sev?'

'He is recuperating, my Lord,' Bell answered.

'Very well. I will see him tomorrow. Good night.'

'Good night Harry/ My Lord.'

Harry returned to his room only to find most of the food gone and Ginny asleep. Summoning the house elf again to clear the plate, Harry noticed that Ginny was trying her best not to fall off the bed. Trying not to wake her, Harry gently lift her up and laid her at the centre of the bed. Ginny hurriedly wriggle back to her corner when Harry placed his two arms at her sides, his body on top of hers. He gently turned her face to face him

'Don't worry, I'm not sleeping on this bed tonight and I don't want you to fall off,' Harry said. He could tell her heart lifted but realize that she was feeling uncomfortable of having him on top of her.

Getting off her, he pushed the thick blanket further up and bent down to kiss her when she moved slightly. He paused for a moment but kissed her on the forehead.

'Good night,' his tone was so warm and soft that she suddenly had no worries and fell asleep almost immediately.

Harry punched his pillow on the sofa and thought about what he did today. Was she really worth it? I could have gotten killed because of her and come on, I raped her he thought.

Yes but you love her. A voice inside his head said clearly.

Sighing, he started at the stars up on his ceiling. Suddenly, he didn't feel like doing anything else except spend time with her.

Wait, why am I thinking of her now! There's an attack tomorrow and my mind's full of her! Harry shook his head, trying to get rid of the thoughts of Ginny.

Perhaps you should just spend your time with her and postpone the attack? The voice inside his head said.

Harry punched his pillow harder and fell asleep.

'Albus,' Arthur greeted, 'Molly has just fallen asleep. I think this blow has affected her greatly. What should we do?'

'We can only hope, Arthur. Hope that Harry has a clear conscience in whatever he is doing and not harming the ones he love,' Dumbledore replied.

Ginny found herself in a lavish room which she found familiar, and then it hit her. She was a captive of Harry's.

She saw a tray on the table and a note.

Ginny,

Here's breakfast. Eat, don't starve yourself. I will be gone for only a while. Don't leave this room.

Harry

She sat down and ate her breakfast in total silence for the first time. After breakfast, she explored Harry's room. Picking up a fallen book, she began to read it when she heard a squeak which came from outside. Since curiosity killed the cat, she step out of the room and began to trace the noise.

'What are you doing here?' a death eater asked.

'I-I…'

'Well if it isn't a mudblood!' The death eater approached her with a mad grin when a jet of red light hit him.

'Crucio!' Harry shouted, clearly furious. After what seems like eternality, he lifted the curse and obvliated the death eater.

'I thought I told you not to wander off!' Harry said.

'I… I was just following a rat…' Ginny answered nervously.

Immediately, Harry's face turned serious. He snapped his fingers and the protectors appeared.

'Find Pettigrew and bring him to me,' his voice cold and cruel that Ginny shudder.

Harry led Ginny back to his room and bind her hands and legs together.

'You gave me no choice. I don't want to risk having the other death eaters find out about you,' Harry said.

The doors flew opened and Remus brought in Pettigrew in his human form. The rest followed behind.

'Pettigrew… how long have you managed to stay away from my father? Harry questioned.

'Mercy Harry…' he pleaded, 'I was afraid… there were rumors…' He crawled to Harry and begged him.

Harry kicked him away and turned to Remus, nodding his head.

'Crucio!' Remus said.

Ginny could not bear the sight. She looked away but her ears were going to turn deaf from the screaming. Harry nodded to Remus to end the curse and nodded again.

'Kill him,' Harry's tone was clear. He then went to Ginny and covered her eyes. Sirius ignited his sabre and stab Pettigrew. James and the rest did the same until they each got a turn. His limp body disappeared into thin air as Ginny could not control her tears.

'Leave us,' Harry said.

Bowing deeply, they left.

'Are you alright?' Harry asked softly.

Ginny sobbed, slowly looking up at Harry. 'I'm not alright! You just killed an innocent man!' She cried.

'Pettigrew wasn't innocent! He betrayed my mum and James, and sent Sirius to Azkaban! He's NOT innocent!' Harry shouted.

Ginny fell onto the bed, crying.

'Look,' Harry tried not to lose his temper, 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you witness him being killed.'

'Killed? More like slaughter!' Ginny said through her sobs.

'You wouldn't understand!' Harry shouted, clearly fuming mad. He stormed out of the room and slammed the door. Ginny fell back onto the bed, weeping. She missed her family that brought her joy and laughter but now, she knew it was impossible to be reunited with them.

Harry headed for the living room and rested on his couch. He rested his head on his palm and rubbed his eyes. He decided to get some rest for tonight but he sense a loss if he went ahead with the plan tonight. Sighing yet again, he stared into the fireplace.

'Harry?' Lily and James entered the living room.

'Yeah?' Harry replied, not taking his eyes off the fire.

'Harry, are you alright?' James asked.

'Fine…' Harry replied numbly.

Lily went forward to comfort her child while James got a hot drink for them.

'What's wrong, Harry?'

'I'm alright, mum,' Harry replied, 'I just miss father. Things are so different without him.'

'I understand Harry but you've got to look ahead. Make your father proud,' Lily said, kissing her son on the cheek.

'Mum, can I ask you something?'

Lily nodded.

'Why is it that you can come back from you know where,' Harry said uneasily, 'but father cannot come back?'

'We swore to protect you, Harry, that is why.'

'But father will protect me, won't he?' Harry asked.

'Yes, your father will protect you, always, just like the four of us, always protecting you,' James said, levitating three cups of drinks. He landed them down gently and offered one to Harry.

'Thank you,' Harry held the cup and slowly sipped the warm drink.

'Hmmm… taste like coffee, James,' Lily said.

'It is dear,' he replied with a smile.

'James,' Harry suddenly said, 'I know this sounds weird but...' Harry paused.

'Yes?'

'Would you care to be my father?' Harry said, 'I just thought that I needed someone in this area of expertise.'

'I'll be glad to, Harry.'

'Thanks… dad,' Harry added.

'Aww… this is so touching…'Sirius said to Luc, 'I think I'm going to… c-c-cry…' Sirius pretended to sniff and blow his nose.

'Come off it guys!' Harry said.

'Our boy has grown up,' Bell said.

'Oh please… not you too…'Harry scowled.

'It's so touching Sirius… Can I have a tissue?' Remus asked, playing along.

Harry rolled his eyes and shot a tickling spell to all four of them. Laughter and screams filled the air. Having his fun, Harry released the spell, laughing to himself.

'So Harry,' Sirius said after composing himself, 'excited about tonight?'

Harry's face turned into a thoughtful look, 'I don't know… I mean, I'm looking forward to this but… there's more to that than meets the eye.'

'Do you sense something?' Bell asked.

'Yeah… I do,' Harry addressed his friends, 'I don't know why but there's something holding me back. I just get the feeling that something's going to happen tonight but I can't point out what it is.'

A moment of silence filled the air before James finally broke it, 'Well, whatever it is, we'll overcome it. Together!'

'We'll always have your back Harry,' Sirius said.

'Not to mention front too!' Remus added cheekily, hoping to succeed in cheering Harry up.

'Thanks guys,' Harry said, 'I appreciate it.'

'I don't think I'm joining you tonight Bell. And why do you have to be so persistent?' Snape arched an eyebrow, 'I thought Harry already excused me tonight?'

Bell began to feel uneasy. She twitched and quickly grabbed her small bottle of liquid but found it to be empty. Severus noticed that Bell was acting unusually then he realized that she was an imposter. However, before he could summon his wand, a flash of white light hit him and he felt a tug at his naval.

Snape woke up and found himself having a terrible headache. He looked up and saw his old colleagues.

'I'm having a bloody unlucky day,' he said to himself. He tried to move but realized that he was tied up in Dumbledore's office.

'I must thank Fletcher for his quick thinking that led us to the capture of you, Severus,' Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling madly.

Snape rolled his eyes, 'Oh please old man, do stop twinkling your damn eyes!

'Tell me what are Harry's plans?'

'Over my dead body, I'll never tell you!'

'That can be arranged!' Slughorn spat.

Snape stared at Horace Slughorn then turned to Dumbledore and said, 'You replaced me with this brainless human!'

'Watch it traitor!' Slughorn sneered.

'Well I do admit you were hard to replace, Severus. And that is why I'm offering you another chance to turn over a new leaf once again.'

'Albus, you can't possibly… Severus is a…' Minerva stopped dead in her sentence.

'A death eater?' Snape finished for her, 'Deputy Headmistress is right here. I'll never turn my back against Harry. I rather be killed by Harry than do your bidding in this damned Order!'

'No matter,' Dumbledore said gravely, 'We'll be at the gates to welcome Harry back.'

'Shit!'

'My Lord!' Luc rushed to Harry. Harry was in meditation room when Lucius burst in.

'What?' Harry snapped, furious that he was being interrupted.

'My lord,' Lucius knelt down in fear, 'They've captured Severus…' he showed Harry a note sent by an owl.

Harry snatched the note from Lucius and read it.

Harry,

We have Severus. Surrender now and you will be pardoned. Face up to what you have done Harry. Don't let the darkness consume you. Do not let innocent people die because of your selfishness. Release Ginny and we will show you mercy.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry crushed the note and set it on fire.

'I'll never surrender,' Harry said to no one.

'What time is it?' he asked Luc.

'It is nearing 5pm, my lord.'

'5… Good. Prepare the death eaters, round up the inner circle. We'll attack at daybreak.'

'Yes my lord,' Luc gave a deep bow before leaving.

Harry went back to his quarters, preparing for the battle. Entering the room, he saw Ginny at the corner of the bed again. Approaching nearer, he heard faint sobs. He bent down and faced her, wiping her tears with his sleeve.

Ginny opened her eyes and was startled to see Harry. She tried to turn away but Harry stopped her.

'What do you want from me?' Ginny whispered through her sobs.

'I'm going to end this war, Ginny,' he told her.

'You're going to attack Hogwarts?' Ginny gasped.

Harry nodded.

'No! Don't…please Harry… Don't do this… Don't kill innocent people… this won't end the war…' Ginny begged.

'I have to do this. It's either me or them, Ginny,' Harry answered.

He stood up and bent down to kiss her, this time, on the lips. She tried to pull away from him but found that he already held her so close. She could not pull away as her hands and legs were tied up. After a while, Harry pulled away.

Summoning a house elf, he said to her gently,' Binky will attend to your every need until I get back and also to not expose you to unwanted attention.' With that, he left the room, heading to his meeting room to change.

Harry wore black robes with red and green trimmings and a hood of navy blue. He hung his sabre on his left and Merlin's sword on his right. The death eaters wore their own robes and his protectors wore black robes with either red, blue, green or yellow trimmings.

'This is it guys,' Harry gathered them outside the manor, 'let's make history!' Harry ignited his sabre and pointed it towards the sky, 'One for all…' The rest responded, hitting Harry's sabre, including the founders with their own sabres, 'All for one!' And they rode.