Magical Origins

Year 6: Winter Solstice

Harry and Lily had finished telling everyone about their engagement and were now being interrogated by their friends.

"Harry Potter?! Of all the people you're marrying, you're marrying Harry Potter!" Hermione harps at Lily.

"Are you jealous?" muses Lily.

Ginny says nothing as she looks murderously at Lily.

Lily eyes Ginny carefully, and sure enough, Ginny is being extra cautious about her left sleeve.

"Of course not!" cries Hermione.

"Why aren't you happy then?" asks Lily.

"It's not that I'm not happy, it's just… Lily, have you've really thought about this?" says Hermione.

"What do you mean?" asks Lily.

"I mean, the two of you can barely talk to one another, let alone be in the same room," says Hermione.

"Shows how much you know about us," says Lily.

"We've been dating for about two years now."

"What?!" Hermione gasps out in surprise.

"I never said anything because I knew you would be judgmental on my relationship with Harry. Not to mention, no Slytherin and Gryffindor have ever had a healthy relationship before," says Lily.

"Here's some pumpkin juice," says Ginny.

Lily takes the pumpkin juice and pauses, sensing something within the pumpkin juice.

"You can drink it," Lily says, offering the drink to Ginny.

"What?" Ginny says, looking bewildered.

"Lily," Hermione says, ignoring the situation in front of her.

"I'm offering this goblet to you," Lily says, standing up with the goblet held to Ginny.

"But I offered the goblet to you," protests Ginny.

Lily turns the goblet over and lets the contents pour out.

Ginny looks on in shock. Her plan failed.

"You really underestimated me, Ginny. Did you think I would not notice poison in my drink," says Lily.

Ginny's eyes went wide in alarm.

"What are you talking about?" Ginny mutters, backing away slowly.

Ginny felt fearful, knowing how dangerous Lily could be if you got on her bad side.

"You're marrying… Lily Morris!" Daphne says in shock.

"Are you surprised," Harry asks in amusement.

"That's why you were so happy!" chirps Astoria.

"I wonder if your fiance knows you bang Daphne shortly afterward," says Blaise.

"She knows about my relationships with some of my female friends," says Harry.

"Oh, what if I end up pregnant?" teases Daphne.

"Well, it's not uncommon for a Lord of a Great House to have mistresses," teases Harry.

His friends look at him in surprise and with teasing smiles.

"Lily doesn't mind. As strange to hear that from those raised as muggles, Lily understands that having a couple mistress is acceptable to keep the bloodline lasting," Harry says seriously.

"When is the wedding?" Blaise asks at once.

"August 2nd. The day after Lily turns seventeen, so that would be the best time to get married," says Harry.

"I got two questions," says Blaise.

"What is it?" asks Harry.

He suspected what the questions were.

"Are we invited to the wedding?" Blaise asks at once.

"You really think I wouldn't invite you guys," Harry muses at his friend's question.

"Second… who is going to be your best man?" Blaise asks seriously.

Harry looks up as he twirls the goblet with his fingers.

"Neville," Harry says softly.

Everyone looks at Harry in surprise.

Neville wasn't nearby, so he didn't hear, but Harry's friends were surprised by this.

"Have you've already asked him?" asks Tracy.

"Not yet, I was going to ask him later," says Harry.

"Why Longbottom?" asks Daphne.

"He kept my secret," says Harry.

"What secret?" shouts the trio.

Astoria looks on with wide eyes, greedy for information.

"I'm not telling. He kept my secret, so I'll ask him to be my best man," Harry says with a smile.

Blaise, Daphne, and Tracy all look at Harry in disappointment. Though Daphne and Tracy were pouting.

"I promise I'll tell you one day," says Harry.

Harry's train of thought was interrupted by seeing a blaze of orange erupt in the area.

Harry looks up to see Lily was approaching Ginny Weasley menacingly.

Professor McGonagall and Slughorn approach Lily upon seeing the orange blaze and feeling the intense heat. While Ginny was backing up nervously.

"Did you really think I wouldn't detect poison in the goblet, Ginny?" Lily says coldly.

"Miss Morris, that's a very serious accusation," says Professor McGonagall.

"Ginny wouldn't do that," protests Hermione.

"Oh really?" demands Lily.

"Lily, you've known me throughout my Hogwarts career. Why would I…." Ginny speaks softly.

"Because you're obsessed with Harry," snaps Lily.

Ginny falls silent.

"Did you think killing me would make Harry fall for you?" snaps Lily.

"I would never…." Ginny says softly.

Ginny brings her left hand up to her chest. Mocking the impression she was clutching her heart.

Lily acts in that instant.

She grabs Ginny's left hand, burning her robes in the process.

"The Dark Mark," Lily declares for the entire to hear.

She holds Ginny's left forearm for all to see, the Dark Mark burn on her skin.

"Did you really make his mark," snaps Lily.

Ginny looks on in terror. Ginny found herself trap.

She had to escape.

"Were you responsible for what happened to Katie Bell?" Lily snaps angrily.

The smell of burning flesh filled the room as Lily's grip on Ginny's left hand held true.

"No! That wasn't me!" shouts Ginny.

Ginny quickly flicks out her wand and points it at Lily.

"Avada…"

Ginny couldn't finish as she felt a cold hand grasp her right wrist.

She looks at sees Harry standing there. He froze her wrist and wand, meaning she couldn't cast magic.

Her wand vibrates before shattering into snow dust.

"Did you really try to kill my fiancé?" Harry hisses at Ginny.

Ginny felt a shiver as she was being both frozen and burned.

Ginny needs to get away.

"Tell me you got some veritaserum," Harry says to Lily.

"I didn't bring any," Lily admits bitterly.

"A known Death Eater within the student body. That's disturbing," says Harry.

Harry pauses as he sees a student quickly depart from the scene.

Harry didn't see who left but knew Ginny would be eliminated before she could talk.

"I'm sure you're not the only student who took the Dark Mark. Who are the others," Harry asks at once.

"I swear… I'm not a Death Eater," Ginny cries out.

"You attempted to cast the Killing Curse. That's a one-way ticket to Azkaban!" snaps Harry.

"I suggest you start talking. You better break a deal now while you still can. If your Death Eater comrades find out you've been exposed, they will kill you," adds Lily.

Ginny cries as she tries to break free.

Harry and Lily were using Legilimency on Ginny, extracting all her memories. Every meeting, everything that had been discussed. To the possible identity of her Death Eater comrades within the school.

"Move!" came the cries of several Aurors.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Morris, let go. The Aurors will take it from here," says Professor McGonagall.

They do so as Ginny collapses on the ground, crying.

"This little girl… is a Death Eater?" says the lead Auror.

"She bears the Dark Mark. She attempted to poison me and cast the killing curse," says Lily.

The Aurors look at Professor McGonagall.

"Unforently, this is true," says Professor McGonagall.

Professor Slughorn walks forward and picks up the goblet.

He places his finger in the juice and tastes it. He quickly spits it out.

"Wolfbane. A lethal poison," says Slughorn.

"And not one a student can simply acquire," says Professor Snape.

"Where did you acquire this poison, Miss Weasley," demands Professor McGonagall.

Ginny says nothing as she sobs quietly.

"I can make her talk," says Harry.

"Mr. Potter, how in Merlin's name will you…" says Professor McGonagall.

An ice collar appears around Ginny's neck.

Ginny wails and cries as she tries desperately to remove the ice collar.

"Don't bother. That is one of my elemental abilities. I don't like it, but you leave me no choice. You should start feeling your mind going blank, and the harder you resist, the quicker it will work. You will have no choice but to answer and obey my commands," says Harry.

"Professor McGonagall, as Ginny Weasley is in your house, you should take her to your office for questioning. Once you get your answers, the Aurors can escort her to prison."

"Mr. Potter, I'm not particularly thrilled about this method," says Professor McGonagall.

Harry looks down sadly.

"Neither am I," says Harry.

Professor McGonagall looks older and wearier.

"Very well," says Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Weasley, follow me to my office."

Like a zombie, Ginny turns and follows Professor McGonagall.

The Aurors, surprised, follow Professor McGonagall.

Harry wraps his arms around Lily as their elemental abilities disappear.

Harry kisses her forehead as she embraces him.

Hermione watches on in surprise.

"How long… have these two been close?" Hermione wonders as she watches the two.

"I'm so sorry about that, Harry m'boy," says Slughorn.

"I'm glad we caught her. If she had poisoned Lily, I would have killed her," says Harry.

There was no question. Harry and Lily loved one another.

The party went on, but it was a bit down after Ginny had been exposed as a Death Eater.

Even still, Harry and Lily had stolen the spotlight with their engagement.

"Harry Potter, I'm Eldred Worple," says a wizard shaking Harry's hand.

Professor Slughorn stands nearby, mostly to ensure nothing happens to his two favorite students.

"Nice to meet you. I've heard of you. You spent time living and learning about Vampires," says Harry.

"I'm honored. I spoke to Professor Slughorn the other day regarding your biography! Your story is simply too wonderful, too incredible not to be heard. We… the wizarding community, wishes to hear your story. People are craving to know your story. If you're prepared to grant a few interviews, I'd be more than honored to write it myself!"

"I'm honored, Mr. Worple. But right now, my focus is on school. I understand many want to write a biography on me. Even Rita Skeeter offered to write one. As I told her, I prefer to wait after Hogwarts before having one written," Harry says politely.

"Understandable," says Worple.

"Marriage already," a voice says behind Harry.

Harry felt a shiver run down his spine.

He sees Artemis standing there in a gorgeous witch's dress robe.

"Excuse us, Mr. Worple. Seems I have more business to attend to," says Harry.

"Of course," says Worple.

Harry walks with Lily beside him.

Artemis leads them to the balcony as she leans over.

"You look amazing," Harry says, looking at Artemis.

"Are you expecting to win back some points with flattery?" teases Artemis.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It's my decision to ask for Lily's hand," says Harry.

"I'm not mad. I suspected you would end up marrying Lily," says Artemis.

"You want to warn me that this will put a target on our backs," says Harry.

"Then you already know. There will be many who will be unhappy with your decision to marry Lily. Ginny's action may be the first of many," warns Artemis.

"Ginny's going to Azkaban," says Lily.

"She means other witches and wizards will seek to kill us," says Harry.

"Oh," says Lily.

"I've also been tasked with giving you a message," says Artemis.

"By whom?" Harry asks cautiously.

"The Kirin Tor, through Veronica Gorloisen," says Artemis.

"Who?" says Harry.

"You haven't heard of them?!" Artemis says in surprise.

"The Kirin Tor is an elite secret society of sorcery. They also command one of the greatest fighting forces in the world. They primarily safeguard our world from various dark lords and creatures. Anyway, Veronica wishes to speak to you both the night before the start of term. She will arrive at the North Tower by eight o'clock," says Artemis.

Harry and Lily say nothing.

"Do you want my family to help plan the wedding?" Artemis says as she looks at Harry.

Harry smiles.

"All these secrets are hard to hold back," says Harry.

Artemis looks at him, knowing he was referring Harry couldn't publicly announce he is the father of Artemis's twins.

"I told you once before," says Artemis.

Artemis kisses Harry's forehead.

"I love you."