Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.
Harry's New Boggart – Chapter 17 – Houses
Ginny woke up to find that her head was lying on something that was rising and falling steadily. She also felt air being blown into her hair. She realized where she was and smiled, leaving her eyes closed. She didn't want to leave this comfortable position.
Harry opened his eyes and felt something on his chest. He saw a mane of beautiful red hair and smiled to himself. He realized he had his right hand on her back and the other at his side. He moved his left hand to join his right and embraced Ginny, while leaning his head forward to kiss her head.
"Ginny," he greeted softly. He heard some type of moan coming from where her face was and said, "Er, I didn't exactly hear you. It's time to wake up."
The sleeping beauty lifted up her head, keeping her eyes closed, and muttered, "I'm sleeping," and put her head back down on his chest.
Harry chuckled. "You're really cute like that, but you do have to wake up now."
He heard her say, "No," and then rolled over with her so that he was on top.
She opened her eyes and he kissed her quickly and said cheerfully, "Good morning! At least it is for me! I woke up with the most wonderful woman in the world leaning her head on my chest. I'm going to take a shower, and I expect you to be out of bed when I'm finished."
As he left the room, Ginny got a big smile on her face and whispered, "Good morning."
A slightly disgruntled-looking Ron came over with Hermione a few minutes after Ginny finished her shower, and they did their normal workout, followed by their new lesson - sword fighting.
The painting of Abigail was hung on the wall in the room they were to practice in, and all four of them were wearing their swords in their sheaths. Abigail spoke, "Okay, I see you've all got your swords. Hopefully you all know which end to hold. The first thing I'll teach you is how to draw your swords."
"All it takes is a parchment, quill, and ink," joked Ron.
"You've just volunteered to demonstrate incorrect sword handling," stated the painting, causing Ron to scowl. "Pull your sword out quickly and prepare to fight."
Ron pulled it out clumsily and nearly dropped it on the ground before muttering, "Bloody Hell! That's harder than it looks!"
"Exactly!" explained the painting. "That's why I've got to teach you dunderheads…"
The lesson went on for an hour, and by the time it was over, they could all draw their sword properly. They just didn't know what to do with it afterward. When they were done, Hermione suggested, "I think we should look at the address I found, but not go in there tonight. Perhaps walk through the area under the invisibility cloak."
"I say have two of us under the cloak while the others are close by. That way if something goes wrong, the others might be able to get away," recommended Harry.
"Or help," insisted Ginny pointedly. She had a strong feeling that she would be part of the 'safe' team.
Harry sighed, "Or help if you can come up with a sound plan. Otherwise get help."
"Agreed," said Hermione.
A quick ride on the Knight Bus, wherein Hermione explained the muggle devices known as seatbelts to the conductor, Cho Chang, they found themselves two blocks away from the next possible Horcrux location. After much discussion and argument, it was decided that Harry and Hermione would be the ones under the cloak. The mission was simply to watch the house for a little while to see if there was any Death Eater activity there.
"Be careful, both of you," instructed Ginny.
"Mione, I think I should go instead of you," suggested Ron.
"We've already discussed this, Ronald!" replied Hermione coldly, "You agreed that I'm usually more observant than you are, so the only reason you want to go instead of me is because I'm a girl. Harry's letting me go."
"That's because I know better than to get on the wrong side of a powerful witch," Harry explained.
Hermione chuckled, "At least you know better. Ron doesn't seem to."
"Fine," agreed Ron. "Just hurry back."
Harry and Hermione got under the cloak and started walking slowly. When they got to the address, they saw light shining on the inside, and someone walking by the window in wizard robes. Hermione whispered, "Well, I guess that answers our question. There is definitely wizard activity there."
"Can you levitate an extendable ear to the window?" asked Harry as he pulled one out of his pocket. "I'm not sure about my aim."
"Sure," just make sure nobody notices. Hermione pointed her wand at the listening device and floated it along the ground while Harry held his wand at the ready in one hand while the other was ready to throw off the cloak. They both listened intently.
"So we'll be hitting some blood traitors' house on the eleventh, and then some muggles on the twelfth?" asked a male voice neither of them recognized.
"Yes," hissed a voice Harry recognized as Bellatrix.
"Why wait until then?"
"Because one of the blood traitors is Potter's tramp, and the eleventh is her birthday! While poor 'ittle harrikins is mourning her and the rest of her worthless family, we'll kill his only family – those muggles who raised him," she explained happily. "Then, his spirit will be so broken that he won't be able to cope anymore." Harry tensed up while they listened, but didn't move.
At that moment, there was a faint pop inside the house, and a sneering voice Harry had vowed to silence scolded, "Why are you chit-chatting when you should be working? The Dark Lord gave you a job to do!"
"Snape," hissed Harry with venom.
"I hope you at least put up the proper silencing charms before discussing our plans," hissed Snape. After a few seconds he said, "I should have known, you imbeciles! Just because this is a muggle neighborhood doesn't mean no one can spy on us." At that moment, their reception ended, and Hermione carefully floated the extendible ear back to them.
"Well, I guess you were right about the Burrow," commented Hermione sadly as they walked back.
When they met up with their friends, Harry insisted they apparate back to the Burrow before they discuss what had happened. After they discussed it in Hermione's bedroom (since Ginny wasn't living there anymore and Hermione was using the room, they called it hers), they decided to warn the Weasleys and Dursleys. They went downstairs to dinner.
While the food was being passed around, Harry announced loudly, "I found out something important today. I can't tell you how I know, but the Death Eaters are planning to attack the Burrow on Ginny's birthday, and then the Dursleys' house the next day."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both dropped their forks. Mr. Weasley asked, "I know you've got your secrets, so I guess all I can ask is if you are absolutely sure of this."
Hermione decided to help. "We both heard actual Death Eaters discussing it."
Molly turned to Hermione. "You heard it as well? What? Are you spying on Death Eaters now? I suppose Ron and Ginny were with you as well in that suicide mission!"
"Actually, mum," countered Harry, "they knew about the mission but were a safe distance away. Hermione and I were across the street under my invisibility cloak using an extendible ear to listen until Snape showed up and charmed the place so we couldn't hear. We weren't there for the purpose of finding out Death Eater plans for the Order, but, given the nature of what we overheard, we thought we should share that information."
"Well," stated Mr. Weasley, "I think we should call Minerva about this. It is definitely Order business if members like ourselves are about to be attacked."
After they'd flooed McGonagall and she came over and was told what had been overheard, she spoke. "Well, I think we'll need to set a trap at this house. I suggest that you have your wedding a day sooner so that most of the Order will be able to attend and you won't be worried about the attack during the ceremony. The Dursleys, I suppose, will be at Hogwarts for the wedding, but I don't believe that muggles would be very comfortable staying there, and they will have to be moved for a while. Now that they have become targets, they'll stay targets until the end of the war. I'd prefer if they weren't at Order headquarters where they might overhear important information. Does anybody have any suggestions?"
"I do," said Harry. "I've inherited several houses. I haven't checked them out yet, as I only found out about them a few days ago, but I'm sure one of them would be acceptable. Tomorrow, we'll start looking at them. I may need your help to magically protect the house. We'll have to check it and see what charms are protecting it, and then I'll get them."
The next day, the quartet found themselves at Grimmauld Place after their training, looking at the properties listed in Harry's portfolio from Gringotts. Hermione commented, "According to this list, there are three house elves attached to the first house alone, not to mention the others! You've got to set them all free today!"
"Hold on, Hermione," replied Harry, "Don't you remember how Winky took it when she was set free?"
"Yes, but…"
"Sis, I'll talk to the elves to see how they like working at the houses. I'll even offer them wages, but I'm not gonna throw them out in the street unless they act like Kreacher! If I give them clothes, all they'll do is search for another wizard to enslave them, and he might treat them like Malfoy treated Dobby, that is, if they can find work at all. I doubt Hogwarts is hiring right now."
Hermione sighed sadly, "I guess you've got a point…for now. They may even become the property of Death Eaters if you sack them."
A quick ride in the Knight Bus, which now had seatbelts, and they found themselves standing in front of a gate that read, 'Potter Manor.' Ron asked, "Where is the house? I thought this was the right address."
"It's right here in front of you!" answered Harry.
"Where?" asked Hermione with a confused expression on her face.
"Right there!" replied Ginny, pointing at the gate.
Harry walked up and touched a gold carving of a stag that was on the left side of the gate. The gate started opening inside, allowing them entrance to the vast estate.
"Wow!" exclaimed Ron and Hermione when the gate opened.
"Now we can see it," explained Hermione. "I don't think it was the Fidelius Charm on the house, though. I believe that it's simply invisible to non-Potters. It's as though the house is wearing an invisibility cloak that comes off when the gate is opened."
"Then I suggest we walk inside and close the gate so no one spots the house."
All four of them stuck together as they gazed at the property. They saw a greenhouse, along with a small cottage on their left. On their right was a full size quidditch pitch with a nearby broom shed, as well as a pavilion complete with a few picnic tables. The place was extremely well kept. The lawn was perfect. Harry thought to himself that his elves were doing a great job. There was one sidewalk that led straight up to the front door of the huge mansion before them. It appeared to be only two stories tall, but it covered a lot of ground. The outside of the house was a light shade of tan. There was a gold stag's head door knocker on the heavy wooden door. It had a brass handle. Ron ran up, grabbed the handle and shouted, "Hey, it's stuck! The goblins didn't give you a key, did they?"
"Weren't you even listening to Hermione, or were you just looking at her?" asked Ginny as she walked up to the door. She put her hand on the stag, and they heard a click. She then easily opened the door and walked in, followed closely by the others.
Almost as soon as the door closed behind them, there were three soft pops as three house elves in elegant burgundy tea towels with an embroidered golden stag appeared in front of them. One was an older male; one was an older female; and one was a young female. They all looked at the strangers. When they saw Harry, all three of them grinned broadly. The older male stepped forward. "Master Harry Potter, sir! We is so happy to be seeing you! I is being Lomby. Lomby's wife is being Dolly. Lomby and Dolly's daughter is being Loddy. We is happy to serve Master Harry Potter!" He then looked at Ginny. "We is also happy to serve Master Harry Potter's life bonded mate, Mrs. Potter."
"M-My name is Ginny Weasley."
"If Mistress Potter says so, though Lomby is believing that you is Ginny Potter."
"I will be in less than two weeks," explained Ginny. "I'm engaged to Harry."
"Lomby sees. You isn't doing the wedding ceremony yet, although you is already magically bonded. Who is the friends of the Potters?"
"I'm sorry," replied Harry, "These are my best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."
Dolly stated, "We can see that Ron Weasley is being Mistress Potter's brother, therefore a brother to Master Potter. We is also seeing that Master Potter has chosen Hermione Granger as his sister."
Hermione's ears turned pink. She asked, "How can you tell that?"
"House elves is able to see all bonds to our masters. Although only the master of the house and his life-bond is seeing Potter Manor to be entering on their own, unless Master or Mistress Potter is saying otherwise, we is always allowing you entrance when you is standing outside the gate," answered Lomby.
"That's fine," agreed Harry.
Hermione then squatted down and asked the elves, "Are you happy working here?"
"Yes," replied all three at once.
"If you want, Harry can set you free, or pay you wages."
Dolly fainted, Loddy started crying, and Lomby kneeled. "If we is doing anything to offend master, please be telling us or even punishing us. We isn't wanting clothes or wages! We is good house elves. We isn't being bad! We is cleaning the house and grounds and…Oh no! We isn't getting Master and his guests refreshments! It is being all Lomby's fault! Lomby is in charge. Loddy, get refreshments. Hurry. Lomby is punishing himself!" He looked around and found a lamp and grabbed it.
Harry shouted, "Never punish yourself! I'm not sacking you! You're not in trouble. Hermione didn't mean you were bad when she said that. She only wanted to make sure you were happy. Isn't that right?"
Hermione looked pale. "Yes. You're all very, er, good house elves." Ron snorted behind her and she shot a glare at him.
At that moment Loddy appeared with something similar to the snack trolley of the Hogwarts express. It had three bottles of pumpkin juice, butterbeer, iced tea, hot tea, coffee, milk, firewhiskey, and muggle drinks like Pepsi and Coke. It also had every snack you could think of. "Loddy is not knowing what you is wanting, so Loddy is bringing you everything! Loddy is not wanting clothes or pay! Loddy is a good elf."
"Er," asked Harry, "Could one of you wake up Dolly?"
After the elves had been reassured several times that they weren't getting sacked, Dolly gave a tour of the manor and grounds. The living room they were in was about the size of most houses, and had wood paneling. There was a fairly large wizard painting of a magical creature on each wall. They were a dragon, a unicorn, a phoenix, and a hippogriff. The creatures were flying around inside their own portraits, and were silent. Lomby explained, "The creatures used to make noise, but it annoyed Master James, so he silenced them."
The carpet on the floor was burgundy, and matched the two couches and recliners that were in the room. There was also a round glass table in the room. It also had a fireplace tall enough to stand up in, and Harry was told how to set up who can floo into the house. The system was set so that if you weren't specifically on that list, you'd wind up in the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace whenever you tried to come.
He set that for them and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He thought about adding Fred and George, but didn't want to let them prank him in his own home. He told Ginny that they'd only have access when they were actually expected to visit. Ginny insisted that he give Bill, Fleur, and Charlie access. He set the apparition wards to allow the same people access.
As the tour continued, they saw a library that Hermione wanted to fully explore. Ron had to almost physically drag her out when Harry insisted, "We don't have time to explore much today. I promise we'll come back later." They saw a really good dueling room, as well as a room full of muggle exercise equipment. When they saw that, Harry declared, "We're gonna start exercising in here tomorrow instead of Grimmauld Place."
They hurried past a lot of rooms because they wanted time to look at other houses. When they came to the master bedroom, Ginny asked, "Harry, could we move here?" It was the most comfortable-looking king size bed they'd ever seen. The room had white walls and burgundy carpet. It had a freshly polished wooden desk and two dressers. There was an office chair at the desk that matched the carpet, and an extremely spacious walk-in closet that was bigger than most people's bedroom. It had an attached luxury bathroom that included a huge bathtub almost exactly like the prefect's bath at Hogwarts.
"No you can't!" exclaimed Ron.
"I wasn't asking you," argued Ginny, sitting on the bed. "This bed is as comfortable as it looks." She then gave Ron an evil grin. "I can't wait to lay down in it with Harry!"
"We can move here if you want, as long as no one knows where it is. This is way too good for the Dursleys. We need to check out other places for them, and I don't mean Gryffindor or Dumbledore's mansion!"
"What about that cottage outside?" asked Hermione.
"That is being our home," replied Dolly, "But if master is needing it, we is sleeping outside under the pavilion.
"No," explained Harry, "Here's the situation. I've got some muggle relatives that I'm not very fond of who need my protection. I think this house is too good for them. I'm looking for a place for them to live for a while that will be decent but not extravagant."
"Dolly is knowing just the place," she answered excitedly. "Dolly is showing Master Harry Potter after Dolly is finishing the tour outside."
They went out the back door to see a nice pond and a forest behind it. Dolly said, "Potter property is ending a mile into the forest. Anyone, muggle or wizard, walking toward it sees a steep mountain and is feeling a great urge to leave. No wizard or witch is being on this property for sixteen years."
After she showed them the front, including the impressive collection of magical plants in the greenhouse, as well as a set of fifteen Nimbus One Thousands in the broom shed (enough for a full game of quidditch including a referee) which greatly impressed Ron, Dolly told them which property to go to, and informed them that Harry and Ginny could floo there, and then Harry could set it to allow whomever he wanted to be able to come there.
The security was the same as Potter Manor, but aside from the fireplace, it was a two bedroom muggle home that happened to be invisible to anyone but Harry and Ginny from the outside. Lily Potter had wanted a muggle retreat to go to every now and then when she was homesick, so James had acquired the house and properly charmed it for protection.
Harry went there and was impressed that it was a nice place. It was a bit smaller than Privet Drive, but Harry didn't care. It would suffice, and everything was muggle so the Dursleys would be comfortable. Now, he just had to get them there. It was set so that the Dursleys could be side-along apparated into the house, so Harry didn't think that would be a problem. He just had to convince the Dursleys that they were in danger.
At about five p.m., Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny (in Harry's arms) appeared on Privet Drive under an invisibility cloak and made their way to number twelve. Harry saw his uncle's car was in the driveway, so he knocked. A minute later, the door opened, revealing his rather large uncle. He looked around and shouted, "Who knocked on this bloody door!?"
Harry pulled himself out of his cloak and said quickly, "I need to speak to you inside," while Vernon's eyes bulged out as his face turned purple. Harry didn't wait for an answer as he more or less shoved him out of the way before the shock wore off. He was followed by his three allies.
Finally, Vernon's shock wore off and he slammed the door shut, shouting, "I THOUGHT WE'D SEEN THE LAST OF YOUR FREAKISHNESS!"
Harry pulled out his wand, which caused Vernon to back up in terror. By now, Aunt Petunia and Dudley had come to see what was going on. Petunia shouted, "What are you doing here, freak?"
At that moment, Ginny pulled the cloak off of them and pointed her wand at Petunia. "Don't you dare call him a freak! You're the ones who…"
"That's enough, Ginny!" interrupted Harry. He then turned back to his 'family.' "I'm here to save your lives. I know for a fact that Voldemort is planning on attacking you within the next week or so, and I've arranged a safe place for you to hide. I'm sorry to say, but you are now one of Voldemort's targets because of me."
"I knew you were nothing but trouble the moment you were left on our doorstep!" shouted Vernon.
Harry sighed, "Maybe so, but the point is that if you want to live, you have to come with me. By the way, this is my fiancé, Ginny Weasley. We're getting married on the tenth. If you want to come, you're invited. If not, that's fine."
"Why would you want to marry that freak?" shouted Dudley, although he was covering his backside. "I could show you what a real…"
"A real whale is like?" asked Ginny, pointing her wand straight at Dudley.
"Ginny," shouted Hermione, "he's not worth it!"
At this point Dudley was scared. He could see murder in Ginny's eyes. He stuttered, "S-S-Sorry," and put his head down.
"That's the smartest thing you ever did, Dudley," commented Harry with a smirk, "She can be vicious!" He then turned to his uncle. "So, Uncle Vernon, have you decided whether you want to live or die?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"No," explained Harry, "but I could. If I wanted to, I could easily torture and kill you all without breaking a sweat and without any help." Vernon paled as he realized that his nephew was telling the truth.
"But Voldemort's not going to send just one wizard. He'll probably send a dozen. I know that at least one of them actually participated in torturing a couple into insanity fourteen years ago and they're still insane and at the wizarding hospital. That same witch killed my godfather. She alone could have all three of you writhing on the floor in more pain than you could imagine until you beg for death.
"I'm not threatening you. I'm just saying that those people are coming here after you, and I'm offering you a way of escape. You learned that you can't escape wizards on my eleventh birthday. If you try to escape on your own, they will find you! The choice is up to you."
He watched his uncle's face go through all the colors of the rainbow until he finally said, "You got us into this mess! You should be the one to get us out of it!"
Harry grinned at his triumph. "Okay, Hermione, apparate Ginny to the manor with the cloak and come right back, and then we'll apparate the Dursleys together." He then looked back at the Dursleys, who now looked terrified. "We'll send someone for your clothes once you're safely at the house.
After Ginny and Hermione were gone, Aunt Petunia asked, "Y-You're r-really getting married?"
Harry answered simply, "Yes. As hard as it may be for you to believe, someone actually loves me."
Before Petunia could respond, Hermione appeared back in the room. Harry took Vernon, Ron took Dudley, and Hermione took Petunia. When they landed in the house, Vernon immediately complained, "It's too small!"
Harry shrugged. "If you'd have been nicer to me, you'd be staying at one of my mansions." He then walked away from them and shouted, "Dolly!"
The elf appeared in front of him. "Master is calling Dolly?"
"Master," shouted Vernon, "So you've got slaves now, you freak!"
"Shut up, Uncle Vernon!" shouted Harry, before turning back to Dolly. "Thank you for coming, Dolly. If it's not too much trouble, could you go to Number Four Privet Drive and take all the clothes and food out of there and bring them here. Aunt Petunia can put it where she wants it. And then, could you make sure to come here every Monday at ten a.m. to get a grocery list from Aunt Petunia for what they need, and then bring me the list? If they want to talk to me, relay the message. Otherwise don't do anything they ask. They are not your masters."
"Yes, master Harry Potter. Dolly is going now!" She disappeared.
Harry then instructed, "You're going to have to stay inside the house. I'm going to make sure you can't leave, because if you do, you might be found. Ron and Hermione, could you help me secure every door and window?"
A few minutes later, Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared inside Potter Manor. "Well, it took you long enough, didn't it?" complained Ginny when they arrived.
"You should've taken my suggestion and explored the library if you were bored," suggested Hermione.
"I wasn't really bored," admitted Ginny with a smirk, "I've been busy. I just sent Loddy to get Harry and my stuff moved here tonight."
"You could've done that yourself!" scolded Hermione, clearly frustrated, "It's bad enough the way Harry sent Dolly to get the Dursleys' things! Even if you can't free them, you could at least stop taking advantage of them!"
"Pardon me, Miss Grangey," Lomby interrupted, "but you is insulting Master and Mistress! We is happy to be serving Master, and it would be a disgrace for our Master to be running errands like that for himself while we is knowing about it. We couldn't be living with the shame. We has been so long without a master that we is excited to have things to do again!"
Hermione threw her hands in the air, frustrated, and got up. "I'll be in the library," she said as she walked off.
Harry turned to Lomby. "You'll have to learn to tolerate Hermione, Lomby. She honestly just wants to help house elves. She feels that you're not treated fairly and wants to do something about it. When she gets like that, it's only because she cares about your rights."
Lomby put his head down. "Lomby is a bad house elf. Lomby is insulting Master's friend. But when she is saying master is treating us bad, Lomby can't help himself. Lomby is needing to be punished."
Harry squatted down. "Lomby, you don't need to be punished, but I would prefer if you don't try to defend me when I'm talking to one of my friends. I think it would be good if you tried to be friends with Hermione, and try to help her understand what house elves really want and need so that she can better help you, but first, could you get us some dinner? You can talk to Hermione when you bring her plate to the library."
"Yes, Master Harry Potter. What is you and your friends wanting?"
Hermione was sitting in a wooden chair with dark green padding at a wooden table in the library with her nose buried in a thick book. The carpet was dark green and the wall was a light shade of tan. Lomby appeared next to her with a small pop, levitating a tray with a plate of spaghetti and a bottle of butterbeer. "Master Harry is asking Lomby to be bringing Miss Hermione dinner."
She marked her book and closed it. "Lomby, you shouldn't have to do Harry's or anybody else's bidding. Don't you see that it's slavery? You're being used."
"Miss," replied Lomby, "Master Harry is telling Lomby that Miss is only wanting to be helping house elves. Lomby is sorry Lomby is interrupting Miss earlier while Miss is talking with Master. But house elves is wanting to serve a family. We is happy to be serving any good wizard, but serving the great wizard Harry Potter is making us even happier. We is hating serving bad wizards that is punishing us all the time and is treating us like vermin. If you is wishing to help house elves, then Lomby is thinking that stopping bad wizards from punishing us would be helping, not freeing us."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "I-I'll think about what you said, and I will take dinner. I am hungry. Thank you, Lomby."
Dolly returned while Harry, Ron, and Ginny were eating their spaghetti in the dining room, sitting at an antique wooden table with matching chairs. "Hello, Dolly," greeted Harry when he noticed her presence.
"Hello, Master. Dolly is taking all the Dursleys clothes and food to them. Dolly also is having a message from Master's Aunt Petunia, saying she'd like to attend Master Harry's wedding."
"Really?" asked Harry. "That's a surprise."
"Well, you are her nephew, Harry," said Ginny. "Maybe that does mean something to her."
"Master," asked Dolly, "Dolly is curious about why Master is having Dolly giving Master the Dursley's grocery lift. Dolly can be getting all the Dursleys is asking for."
Harry chuckled. "I just want to make sure they don't go overboard. I want to make sure they don't demand stuff that's more expensive than they'd buy themselves. I'll look at their list and then tell you what to give them. That reminds me, I'd better tell McGonagall I've got them and that she needs to take care of Uncle Vernon's work."
A few hours later, after Hermione and Ron left (Ron didn't want to leave Ginny there but Hermione made him) with instructions to come back to the mansion for their workout, Harry made his way to the master bedroom. He opened the door to find Ginny already there, wearing a light blue bathrobe. Her hair was wet. He surmised that she'd just taken a shower. "Hi, Ginny," he greeted. "You look beautiful."
"Hi, Harry," she replied, and kissed him quickly. "You showed a lot more kindness today than the Dursleys deserve."
He took a deep breath. "Maybe, but the fact is that if it weren't for me, they wouldn't be in danger."
"With the way they've treated you, I'd think that if Tom got them, you'd send him a thank you note and dance on their graves."
Harry smiled. "Believe me, I thought about that. But I just can't let them be killed when I can prevent it. Must be that 'saving people' thing Hermione talks about."
"Not many people could have done what you did for them. You reminded me of why I love you so much tonight."
Harry smiled, "Well, I love you too. I'm gonna take a shower and go to bed." He kissed her and walked toward his dresser, quickly finding the pajamas that had been placed there.
While Harry was in the shower, Ginny was putting on a nightgown, thinking about what a wonderful person her fiancé really was. She felt a slight bit of shame as she remembered how she wanted to hex Dudley for his stupid comment. She also thought about how Harry had been treating her. He was always thoughtful and treated her with respect. He had yet to try seducing her, even though she'd been sleeping with him. Part of her hoped he would, while most of her was grateful that he'd honored her wishes. 'It's always about what I want,' she thought to herself remorsefully. 'When's the last time I tried to do something for Harry?'
Harry walked back in the bedroom to find Ginny lying on the bed wearing nothing but her knickers and bra. He was surprised that his eyes hadn't broken his glasses as they bulged out. "G-G-Ginny?" he stuttered. "Why aren't you in a nightgown?"
She wagged her eyebrows at him. "Don't you like what you see?"
Harry swallowed. Judging by his hormonal reaction, he knew he liked what he saw and could prove it! He nodded his head. "Uh-huh."
"Then come over here. I'm no less dressed than I am in a bikini. I just thought I'd give you a little eye candy. I would, by the way, appreciate it if you'd remove your shirt so that I have something to look at." She looked at the bulge in the front of his pajama bottoms, blushed, and said, "You should probably keep your pajama bottoms on." He stood there shirtless for about a minute before Ginny called, "Come to bed."
"I don't think I should. I don't think I'll be able to sleep."
She once again looked at the proof that he was attracted to her and smirked, making a decision to do something some of the girls in her dorm at Hogwarts had done for their boyfriends. "I might be able to help you with your problem."
The next day, while the quartet was exercising at Potter Manor, a brown owl flew into an open window of the room and straight to Harry. Its letter simply said,
Meet me at Snuffle's old place at noon.
Moony.
He showed the letter around. "I guess Remus knows we moved out."
"I guess so," agreed Ginny.
"That reminds me, we need to decide where the Grangers and Weasleys are gonna stay."
Ginny replied, "There's plenty of room here, but I don't know how comfortable my parents, or Ron for that matter," Ron shot her a quick glare, "will react to our sharing a bedroom in the house with them. I don't really want any trouble, and you do have other houses."
"We could just give them the choice of staying at Grimmauld Place or here, with the stipulation that Ginny and I share the master bedroom and don't want to hear one word against it," suggested Harry. "I don't feel like exploring any other mansions until I've fully explored this one. There is plenty of room here."
The quartet arrived just in time at Grimmauld Place, and found Lupin waiting for them with a box. "Hi guys, can we talk in private?"
After they went to a bedroom and secured the door, Remus stated, "I got what you asked for, along with a book on how to use the guns. Just don't ask where I got them from."
Harry grinned at his former professor. "Thanks! Can I see them?"
Remus opened the box and showed them the guns, along with ammo, targets, and safety gear for training. Harry picked one up and got it to fit perfectly in the compartment in his boot. He then took it out. "We're going to keep them loaded and in our boots, and tonight we're gonna start practicing so that we'll know how to use them."
They then went to the Burrow for lunch and discussed housing arrangements. It was decided that as Order members, Arthur and Molly would live at headquarters. Ron, Hermione, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger would stay at Potter Manor. The house elves were summoned to move their stuff, and Harry apparated to Potter Manor first to adjust the security system to allow the Grangers entrance.
Once they were there, they were thoroughly impressed. Mr. Granger offhandedly commented, "Hermione, why couldn't you have gotten Harry instead of Ron?" He was joking but Ron heard him. Fortunately, Hermione managed to stop Ron from doing anything stupid. Then she told off her father for saying that. He apologized and assured Ron that it was only a joke.
The Grangers were warned to never go into the dueling room because they could accidentally get hurt. Abigail's portrait was now hanging in that room, and when she saw them preparing to use their new weapons she asked, "Are those muggle guns you've got?"
"Yes, Grandma," answered Harry.
"What do you need them for? You've got wands, staffs, and swords."
He grinned at the portrait. "Honestly, it's just a last resort. We can use a gun when our magic's gone and our body's broken, and it'll still kill our enemies."
After their first pathetic attempt at target practice, Harry suggested, "I think we're aiming this as if it were a wand. We need to try aiming higher." By the end of an hour, they were at least hitting the target. "We've improved a lot, but we'll need to be better than this before we go out on a mission."
The week flew by quickly. True to Harry's prediction, the Dursleys had tried to get some expensive food they'd never buy. Ron had gotten Harry, Ginny, and Hermione to play quidditch a few times, and even got them to spend an hour swimming in the pond. Ron didn't say a word about Harry and Ginny sharing a room, although he never seemed happy about it, especially when Hermione refused to share a room with him when he suggested it (not within earshot of Hermione's parents), saying that she was nowhere near ready for that.
"But Harry and Ginny do," urged Ron, "Why can't we?"
"You may recall that it was Ginny's idea to start sharing a bedroom with Harry! He never once tried to pressure her like you're pressuring me!" Tears started falling from her eyes as she continued. "I thought you cared about what I want! I guess I was wrong!" She then stormed into her bedroom and slammed the door.
Harry heard the door slam and then Ron hurrying down the hallway and slamming his own door. He took a deep breath and walked up to Hermione's door.
After he'd knocked, he heard Hermione's unsteady voice shout, "Go away, Ron!"
"It's not Ron, sis. It's me, Harry. Can I come in?"
He saw the door glow for a second, and then she said, "Come in."
He opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind him. He saw Hermione sitting at a desk with a book facing away from him. He could hear that she was sobbing. "What can I help you with?" she asked in an effort to sound cheerful.
"Hermione, why are you pretending to be happy? I heard you slam the door, and I can hear you crying. I want to help," he explained as he walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Oh," replied Hermione, "It's just Ron. Don't worry about it."
"Sis, I thought you confided in me. I thought we were family."
She sighed and got up. She turned around, revealing her tear-stained face and put her arms around Harry and cried into his shoulder. He returned the embrace and let her cry as long as she wanted to, until she finally stated, "I don't think Ron even cares about me at all. I think I'm just a body to him. He wanted to share a bedroom with me and I told him I'm not anywhere close to ready for that. He yelled that you and Ginny do, as though that proved that I should."
Harry sighed. "You did the right thing by not giving in, but I do think he cares about you. He's just, er, emotionally and hormonally driven."
Hermione sniffed, "And you're not? You're a teenage boy/man too, but you never pushed Ginny."
Harry answered, "Aside from the problems I had in fifth year, which one of us, Ron or I, has been more emotionally driven and prone to say or do stupid things we don't mean?"
Hermione chuckled, "That would definitely be Ron."
"I'm sure he'll realize what he's acting like and apologize."
"I hope so," said Hermione.
The next morning, Harry walked downstairs to find Ron sitting at the table eating food that one of the house elves had obviously brought to him.
He sat down next to his first friend and said, "Good morning."
Ron scowled at him. "I guess it is for you."
Harry decided to drop all pleasantries. "Fine. I talked to Hermione last night, and you're lucky I didn't beat you up afterwards!"
Ron's eyes went wide and his ears went pink, but he still yelled back. "You were probably too busy with Ginny to bother with that!"
"That's none of your business, Ron!"
"Mine and Hermione's relationship is none of your business!"
"It is when you start pressuring her!" Harry yelled. "If you're mad at Hermione for not sleeping with you when she's not ready, what kind of man does that make you? You convinced her last night that you don't care about her at all, that she's just some body you thought you could have fun with! That all you're worried about is what you want!"
Ron was gonna argue, but then paled as he seemed to realize the truth of that statement. He hung his head down for a few seconds before saying, "You're right. She must think I'm a rapist! I'd better apologize."
Finally, they had improved their skills both with guns and swords so that they wouldn't look like complete idiots against the Death Eaters. They had no intention to stop training, but knew that most of the people they would face had absolutely no training in anything besides wand fighting. On August eighth, Harry felt they were familiar enough with their equipment to visit the Death Eater house.
As last time, they used an extendable ear to try and hear what was going on, but this time they heard nothing, so they realized Snape had taught them their lesson. They snuck around the house and found a locked back door that alohomora didn't work with, so Harry decided to be less stealthful. He turned his wand into a staff, and had Ginny do the same.
The plan was for him and Ginny, the best duelers, to storm in there with Ron and Hermione slowly following behind underneath the cloak in case they ran into problems. They would take out every Death Eater in the house and then search it for Horcruxes. Harry and Ginny together threw powerful reductos at the door, smashing it inside, and started running, putting up their shields. They saw that the door had smashed into one enemy, killing him. Another was pointing her wand at Harry, who shot a nonverbal stunner that sent her flying hard into the wall. Harry wasn't sure if she was alive or not.
As they hurried into a hallway, they heard a scream of, "we're under attack," coming from behind a door. Harry blasted the door off its hinges with his staff and Ginny petrified the two people in there before they could react.
Down the hall they heard someone scream, "It's Potter and his whore!" so Harry sent a wide shot at him, stunning him.
Finally, someone hit Harry in the chest with a curse that did nothing but burn a hole in his shirt and reveal his armor. Harry shouted, "You ruined my favorite shirt!" as he blasted the guy against the wall.
Harry blasted another door off its hinges, revealing a man with an ugly snear, greasy black hair, and black robes. He had his wand out and said calmly, "Come in, Potter."
"Snape! It's time to pay for what you did to Dumbledore!" Harry rushed into the room, pointing his staff at Snape. He crossed the door's threshold and fell, dropping his staff. Snape pointed his wand at the doorway quickly, making it flash green.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, I'm afraid you won't be able to join me, but I'm sure you'll enjoy watching your pathetic boyfriend's capture! The ward that I'd had on the doorway completely drains all of the victim's magic and weakens them so that they can't physically fight, either."
"But you took an unbreakable vow…" argued Harry while moving his hand slowly toward his boots.
"…to not harm you. I haven't. The Dark Lord knows I can't be present while he deals with you because of that stupid vow the old man made me take. I hope he chooses to share the pensieve memory of your execution."
"But, Snape," shouted Ginny, hoping to keep the git distracted while Harry got his gun, "You know what will happen to Harry, so you are breaking your vow." Harry was opening the correct compartment and reaching inside.
"Silly girl," sneered Snape, "I will be merely tossing a portkey at him, like s…"
BANG!
Snape fell backwards onto the ground, staring at the muggle device in Harry's hand, realizing that he'd dropped his wand and portkey in the shock of being shot. He looked down at his bleeding chest. Everything was going dark for Dumbledore's killer. "H-how?" he asked.
Harry, still very weak but pointing the gun at his adversary, said, "The Half-Blood Prince has lost half his blood."
Those were the last words Snape ever heard. Harry decided to take Snape's wand as a souvenir. He knew that Death Eater wouldn't need it anymore. With the caster's death, the spell warding the door fell. They searched the small house, but didn't find any more Death Eaters or Horcruxes. On a hunch, Harry tried using the Horcrux detection spell with his staff, and it scanned about twenty feet in front of him, a much larger range than with a wand. They gathered up the living Death Eaters to give to the aurors and left quickly. Harry was secretly disappointed that Bellatrix wasn't there. It seemed to be all new recruits there, except for Snape.
That night, Harry had felt a bit sickened by what he'd done to Snape, but Ginny and the others kept telling him, "You had no choice! It was either that or be captured and killed by Voldemort!"
Ginny added, "That was justice and self-defense, not murder."
The next few days passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was the day that Harry and Ginny would marry.
Chapter end