Harry Potter and the Mind Mage
By James Milamber
A/N: I thought there was supposed to be less fluff when they got back to Hogwarts, not more. Oh well. Maybe I can get it all out of the way now, or something. Bleh.
Harry awoke early the next morning feeling strangely refreshed. He lay on the comfortable couch in the common room, his mind blurry with a pleasant half-sleep, until he noticed a weight on his chest. He opened his eyes and looked down to see a vividly red head resting on his chest.
Ginny's face wore an expression of soft contentment. The barriers usually present during the waking hours were absent, making her seem exceptionally vulnerable. For the first time, Harry really studied her face. She had a light smattering of freckles across her nose, which contrasted to her creamy skin. Her lips were full, and he briefly wondered what it would be like to kiss them.
Harry pulled himself up sharply. This is Ginny, he told himself sternly, not some brainless airhead like Parvati. He winced at that last thought. Sorry Parvati.
Even so, he couldn't help but notice how silky her hair felt where it brushed against his bare arm, and the warm feeling radiating through his chest where her head rested.
He glanced over at the other couch to see Ron and Hermione in the same position, and with Hermione wearing a similar expression to Ginny's. Ron was also awake and watching him closely. He seemed to be fighting internally with himself about something. Harry guessed what it was about and shrugged slightly, and Ron nodded, somehow managing to look downcast and pleased at the same time. Their brief movements were obviously not quite as subtle as they thought, as both girls began to stir.
'Morning Ron,' Hermione said sleepily, shifting into a more comfortable position, but obviously not ready to get up. Ron grinned a silly grin in Harry's direction, who smiled back.
'Morning Harry,' Ginny said quietly, raising her head to look into his face. She smiled a little uncertainly, as if not sure how her close position would be received. Harry wondered if kissing her forehead would be too forward, and settled on running his fingers through her hair with a smile.
She sighed, letting her head rest on his chest again. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. 'Thanks for…last night.' She started guiltily, and her eyes went to the empty potion bottle. 'It's alright,' Harry assured her, 'I needed it. And…thanks.'
She smiled gratefully at him, settling back down, idly running a hand across his chest. 'You're welcome.' She seemed to realise what she was doing suddenly and stopped, blushing furiously. She made to get up quickly, but Harry held her down, running his hand through her hair again.
'It's alright,' he assured her, smiling that tired, crooked smile that always made her knees go weak. 'I don't mind.'
With a sigh she settled back down, her hand once more tracing his chest. Her eyes flicked across the room to where Ron and Hermione lay to find Ron staring at her, or more precisely, her hand. He grimaced, as though fighting not to speak. Ginny's brown eyes held a challenge to her brother, who finally shook his head and lay back down. Hermione's eyes captured Ginny's and she winked.
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If felt peculiar to be at Hogwarts without the usual crowds of students filling the halls. As far as they could tell, the only other students present at the castle were Neville and Luna, who had climbed through the portrait hole around mid morning. It didn't take a genius to figure out what Dumbledore had meant when he said "high risk students".
They met after lunch in Dumbledore's office. James, Professor McGonagall, and Snape were also there. Harry had tensed when Snape entered, but Ginny's hand on his shoulder stopped him from commenting.
Dumbledore surveyed the six students from behind his desk. He looked older than Harry had ever seen him, and much of the life had gone from his face. Harry had noticed the same changes in the other teachers he had seen so far; even Snape looked more careworn than he had at the end of the last school year.
'I suppose you all know why you are here,' Dumbledore said eventually.
'The Department of Mysteries,' Luna said dreamily.
'Indeed, Miss Lovegood,' Dumbledore nodded. 'When you foiled Voldemort's plan to acquire a copy of the Prophecy, you all became known to him, and that makes you all targets. Following last night's incident –'
'Please, Professor,' Hermione said quickly. 'What happened last night?'
'I told you,' Ginny said impatiently. 'Death Eaters attacked Harry and me at the Muggle's place.' She gave Dumbledore a sidelong look that held a barely veiled accusation.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. 'I believe I owe you an explanation, Miss Weasley,' he said, his blue eyes catching her brown ones. 'I sent you to stay with Harry for a very good reason.'
'I wondered about that,' Ron said, sitting up a little straighter.
'Indeed you should, Mister Weasley. The truth is, the attack on the Burrow had one specific purpose, and that purpose was not to wipe out the Weasley clan. Although that would have been a beneficial side effect, to Voldemort's mind, he has far more important targets to go after.'
'No, the truth is that the attack was aimed specifically at Miss Weasley.'
There was a stunned silence; only Snape looked unsurprised at the news. Of course, Harry thought bitterly, he's probably the one who supplied the information to Dumbledore. Beside him, Ginny tensed.
'Me?' she asked uncertainly, and Harry placed an arm around her shoulders in comfort.
'Indeed, the Death Eaters were after you. Voldemort has been informed of the Chamber incident in your first year, and he evidently seeks to use you to his own ends by means of that connection.'
Ginny stared at the Headmaster incredulously, then slowly nodded. 'I had a feeling Tom would find out,' she said quietly. She gently disengaged Harry's arm from around her shoulder, and stood. 'Since I have now become a liability, I will leave.' She pushed past McGonagall, walked quickly to the door, opened it somewhat harder than necessary, and left.
'Ginny!' Harry stood to go after her, but Ron grabbed his arm.
'Let me,' was all he said, then quickly followed his sister. Harry looked helplessly at Hermione, who was looking at him with sympathy.
'Let Ron take care of her,' she said, gently pulling his back into his seat.
Dumbledore looked unsurprised at Ginny's quick exit. 'Fortunately for us,' he continued, adjusting his half moon glasses, 'Bellatrix disobeyed her master and attacked you before he was ready. From what Professor Snape has said,' he indicated the sneering Potion's Master, 'Voldemort was most annoyed. I'm surprised that you didn't feel anything, Harry.'
'Ginny forced me to drink a Dreamless Sleep potion,' Harry said, absently rubbing his scar, which was prickling slightly.
'Ah,' Dumbledore said delicately. 'In any case, Bellatrix is now back in Azkaban, although how long she will remain there is anyone's guess. Now that the Dementors have left, Azkaban is no longer secure. I only hope I can convince Minister Fudge of this before it is too late.'
'But that is my fight,' the Headmaster said firmly as Hermione started to speak. 'You all have too much to do already without worrying about this.'
'Harry, Professor Milton has given his consent, if you wanted to start the DA again as an official school club.'
'Professor Milton?' Harry asked in confusion.
'What, forgotten me already?' James asked, waving. 'Hey! Over here!'
'Indeed, Professor Milton will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year,' Dumbledore said.
'Which I hope you will all be taking this year?' James glanced at all four present students.
'Of course,' Harry said absently, his mind only half on the conversation.
Dumbledore chuckled. 'Well, I can see that we're not going to get much more accomplished today. You can all go back to Gryffindor tower, if you wish. We shall talk more tomorrow.'
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By the time Ron got to the gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Ginny had vanished. He knew that there were only a few places she would go and, guessing the most likely one, he started walking.
He found her at the top of the astronomy tower, sitting on a ledge hugging her knees and gazing out over the lake. She didn't acknowledge him as he approached. He sat down on the ledge opposite her and waited for her to speak first.
'They all hate me, don't they?' she asked in a voice barely over a whisper.
'Of course not,' Ron said immediately.
'They do,' Ginny said, her eyes closing as tears prickled behind them. 'Voldemort's after me, and I'm putting you all in danger.'
'Ginny,' Ron said gently, 'You-Know-Who's been after Harry for sixteen years, and he's still here.'
'But he's Harry!' She burst out, shaking her head angrily. 'He can always get out of these things.'
'And he'll help you get out of this, if you let him.' Ron stood and walked closer, but she shied away from him.
'Why would he help someone he hates?'
'Ginny!' Ron said in exasperation. 'Don't be a prat. Firstly, Harry doesn't hate you. Secondly, he'd even help Draco Malfoy if he thought it was the right thing to do, and thirdly…' Ron hesitated, took a deep breath, and plunged on. 'Third, he's totally crazy about you.'
Slowly, Ginny's head raised until she was looking into her brother's eyes. 'You're just saying that,' she said finally.
'No I'm not,' he said forcefully, approaching her again. This time she allowed him to sit next to her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. 'You haven't seen all the looks he was giving you all last year while you weren't looking. And this morning…' Ron trailed off as he thought about the look on Harry's face that morning as he had watched Ginny sleeping. When he spoke again, his voice was higher than usual. 'Trust me, he's nuts about you. He just doesn't realise it yet.'
Ginny wiped her eyes with one hand, and then said in a small voice, 'Really?'
Ron smiled, although it came out as more of a grimace, and he swallowed hard. 'Trust me,' he repeated, his voice normal again.
Ginny sighed, giving her brother a one armed hug. 'Oh, Ron,' she said, burying her face in his shoulder. Awkwardly, he stroked her hair like he had seen his mother do when she was comforting her daughter.
They stayed like that for a long time, just enjoying each other's presence. They hadn't spent much time together since Ron started school, a separation that had been most painful for Ginny. His presence now, when she needed him most, was all she could have asked for.
A/N: A little shorter than usual, but there was nowhere else to take it. Oh well, I'll make up for it in the next chapter. I really didn't like this one, and just wanted it over with.
Next Chapter: Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna find out about the Prophecy. Oh goody!
