Disclaimer: I don't own it so no biting my head off please!

Chapter Nineteen: A Price to Pay

"Do you think we will ever get a break?" Ginny asked as she shuffled through the stacks of papers. "Why do we assign so much work? I preferred the dueling contests."

Harry laughed from his spot under the stack of papers. "I do too but we still have to teach the students. We could have monthly dueling contests but that would take up the last of our free time."

Ginny groaned. "Forget I mentioned it then. I would like to keep you to myself as much as possible."

"I know love. I believe things are finally settling down for the time being. Have you spoken to Bella again?"

"I did. Sirius just got her divorce settled and Voldemort should be receiving the news soon. We will have to keep a close eye on her and Snape, there is no way he will let this go so easily."

"I agree with that. He doesn't let things go. Do you think we should make a billboard telling him that he is an idiot?"

"No, I think we should get a sky writer! That way he couldn't miss it." The two students chuckled.

"I see you two are stuck under reports," a voice said from the door. They looked up to see Anna and Sirius standing in the doorway. "We were hoping to see if you two were up for dinner at the Burrow."

"Home!" Ginny said happily. "How come Mum didn't inform us earlier?"

"I believe you two may have lost it in that huge stack of papers," Sirius pointed out.

"That's true," Harry said with a laugh. "What do you say love? Should we join in a night of family time?"

"I do believe we should. Karen and Lily will be thrilled to see us and I've missed them a lot."

"I know what you mean," Harry said with a grin.

"I just thought of something," Ginny said suddenly.

"What would that be?"

"If we plan to go traveling after school are we going to bring the girls with us? I mean they are pretty attached to us now and I don't think they would like to be left behind."

Harry thought about that. "I think you two should wait before you think too much on that subject," Anna said to them. "You still have this year and next before you two go out and do anything. By then things may be a lot different."

"Alright," they said together.

"So you two coming or what?" Ron said as he pushed his way into the room.

"Yes, let us go change at least," Harry said as he got to his feet. "We will be back in a few minutes."

Ginny and Harry returned a few minutes later with Anna in tow. The group headed into the fire and reappeared at the Burrow. Ginny was the only one who managed to stay on her feet as she came through the fire. Because Harry was too slow to get up the rest of the ones arriving fell on top of him.

"Harry! Ginny!" Lily and Karen shouted as they came bounding down the stairs.

"Girls," Ginny said happily as she picked up Karen and kissed her on the cheek before repeating this with Lily. All three girls laughed before the twins tackled Harry, who still hadn't managed to get off the floor.

"Umph," he said as he got knocked back again. "Hello girls, miss me?"

"Yes," they both said excitedly.

"Hello everyone," Mr. Weasley said as he came into the living room.

"Hello," the room chimed together.

"Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. Everyone headed into the large kitchen, taking various seats at the table. Fred, George, Hermione, Luna, Charlie, Danielle, Fleur, and Bill were already seated around the table. Tonks and Remus arrived only a few minutes after everyone had sat down, followed by Percy and Penelope, then Dudley, who had to be brought by another form of transportation.

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"Is it ready?" Lucius asked quietly. He stood just outside of the gates of Hogwarts. It was pitch black outside, the moon covered by the clouds. Another figure stood beside the gate, hidden even more so under the darkness of night.

"It is all in place," the voice said calmly. "You promised me that I would get to keep her if I did this for you, will you uphold your end of the deal?"

"When My Lord is done with her you may have her to yourself. She is still untouched, so she will be yours."

"Good," the voice said with a cold laugh. "Then it is all set into place. Our Lord will get three for one simple attack. It won't take much to get them away from their protection."

"You better be right," Lucius said. "I will not give you what you ask for if you fail this."

"I will not fail," the voice snapped back. "Mind your tongue Lucius, you have no power here."

Lucius glared at the figure. "Just get the job done."

"I will."

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It had been three weeks since the family lunch. Ginny was making her way down the now empty halls of Hogwarts. Another Hogsmeade trip had been planned so that the students could get clothing for the upcoming ball. The amount of work that was needed to be graded had dropped as students were too excited about the ball.

As Ginny headed down the halls she absentmindedly twisted the Potter Crest ring on her finger. She was thinking of the best way to surprise Harry for the dance. Her dress had already been picked out and Harry had been trying to see it since she got it.

A smile made its way across her face as she pictured how Harry would react to seeing her in the dress. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the figures following in her wake or the ones just ahead of her.

"Hello Ginny," a voice drawled from beside her, startling her from her thoughts. She turned to look at the figure that had spoken.

"Hello Dean, what are you doing here? I thought everyone was in Hogsmeade."

"Well I didn't really feel up to going down there. So I thought I would stay here and enjoy myself a little."

The way he said the last part made Ginny stiffen up. Her wand was hiding in her sleeve, in the wand holster that Tonks had given her. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well…not much," he said as he moved towards her. Instantly Ginny's stance became guarded and she watched with calm eyes as Dean approached her.

Ginny was tempted to reach out to tell Harry what was wrong but she didn't think Dean was much of a threat. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and knew that she was surrounded. "So you are the spy," she said in a matter-of-fact tone that matched Hermione's.

Dean laughed happily. "You aren't as dumb as I thought you were. Who would have thought it. A Gryffindor, helping He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But this makes it much more exciting."

"Why are you doing this?" Ginny said calmly. She was curious now.

"To get what I want." Dean reached out to touch Ginny's cheek. She had to try her hardest to keep from flinching at his touch. His hands were cold and they made Ginny want to throw up. There was no warmth or love in his touch like there was in Harry's. The hunger in his eyes made her want to turn and run for her life. "If I deliver you to My Lord he will give you to me. What I have been wanting but no, you had to turn to Potter," he snarled.

Ginny's eyes darkened with rage as she looked at the man. "What do you plan to do to Harry?"

"Take you from him. I'll give you what you want and need. I know Harry hasn't done what you are dying for him to do. You'll be mine, forever."

"What are you going to do to Harry," she repeated again?

"I don't plan to do anything to him besides take you from him. Now My Lord plans to kill him, with you watching him die." Dean's arms wrapped around her, crushing her to him. "You will be mine," he said in a low, husky whisper as he leaned down to kiss her.

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Bellatrix Black walked around the lake, enjoying the cooling days. With each passing day she began to worry more about what Voldemort would do to her. She had spent the last few weeks with Snape, enjoying being around him again. The two had talked late into the night about what they would do soon. Now that the divorce had been final she was dying to finalized, she was dying to finally be married to him. It was what she had been craving for so many years.

She sat down on a rock, letting the wind blow her hair around her. When she heard shoes on rocks she turned to look up. Severus smiled at her as he sat down beside her.

"Hello," she said with a smile of her own.

"Hello," he said just before kissing her lightly on the lips. Bella groaned when he pulled away and pulled his head back for a longer kiss. She let out a contented sigh when they pulled apart.

"He's coming for me," Bella said quietly.

"He won't touch you, not as long as I am around."

She shook her head as she curled up against his thin frame. His arm held her waist, holding her against him. "I don't want to wait any more Severus."

"I know but there isn't time to go now."

"We can make time. I'm finally free and I don't intend to be unmarried like this for much longer. For years that is all I wanted and now that it is so close it's the only thing I want. I want to be yours once and for all."

Severus sighed heavily and tilted her head up to look at him. "That is all I have ever wanted. We'll go, tonight, I promise."

A huge grin broke out on her face as she pulled him down for another long kiss.

"Well, well, well, this is what you left me for, how pathetic," Rodolphus said from behind them. "So Severus is the one you've been pinning for all these years. The one that you have been sleeping with."

The two jumped to their feet, wands drawn, to see forty Death Eaters behind him. "Yes I was. How hard is it to face your fellow Death Eaters knowing you haven't ever slept with your wife. That she wouldn't let you touch her but she was sleeping with a man six years younger than you?" Severus sneered at the man.

The others behind him began to snicker. "Shut up," Rodolphus snapped at those behind him. "You think you're really something don't you? Well you're going to die today you slimy bastard."

"You touch him and you'll be dead," Bella snapped from behind Snape.

"Keep your mouth shut you bitch. You'll watch your beloved die at my hands. Then I'll do what I have wanted to for so many years."

"I'd rather die."

"That can be arranged," another Death Eater, said from behind them.
"Oh yes because I am so afraid of a bunch of mindless saps like you," Bella snapped back at them. "You are all following a half-blood you stupid idiots."

There was an intake of breath from the Death Eaters. "How dare you say such things about our Lord. You blood traitor!" A voice hissed from the group.

"It's true. Go look up the name 'Tom Marvolo Riddle'," Severus said with a sneer. "You pathetic idiots, following a half-blood who believes he has a right to destroy his own kind."

"Shut up!" Rodolphus snapped. "This ends here," he said through gritted teeth.

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Ginny's eyes flashed with pure fury as she watched Dean lean down to kiss her. Fury overwhelmed her senses as she brought her knee up. Dean stumbled back, groaning as pain enveloped him.

"You'll never have me! You will never touch me as long as you live. You are nothing. Your Lord is a big fat liar! He's a half-blood just like you are! I'll never let you touch Harry, ever!" Her voice rose with each word she said until the point where she was screaming.

A gold aura instantly wrapped around her figure, bright, almost blinding. The Death Eaters that had been around her hesitated to do something when Dean hit the ground.

Finally they started throwing hexes at her. She turned her head, glaring daggers at them. The spells bounced off or were absorbed by her shield. With a dismissive wave, all the Death Eaters hit the ground, withering in pain.

Dean, who had finally recovered, got to his feet, conjuring a large stone and threw it towards Ginny. It shattered into pieces as it collided with her aura.

She spun around to face Dean, her brown eyes black. He took a step back. Never had anyone seen Ginny as mad as she was at that moment. She stepped towards him, her aura flaring.

"Do you think your precious Lord cares if you are dead or not? Do you believe that he will be there to protect you? Hell no. That bastard cares only for himself and his powers. Harry was always a friend to you and this is how you repay him," her voice was low and ice cold. Dean flinched at the tone of her voice. "No one, and I mean no one will so much as harm him as long as I am still alive and breathing. You're lucky I haven't already called on Harry. You'd be dead where you stand."

With another wave of her hand every single Death Eater was stripped of their robes and now wore simple white shirts and pants. Then all of them were tied up together. Dean noticed that none of them were struggling, proving that she had knocked them all out.

"If you dare touch me again you will feel the wrath of Harry. As it is I am two seconds from killing you but I'm restraining myself."

One of the Death Eaters awoke and looked around. Ginny turned to him.

"You, you will go back to your precious Lord and tell him if he ever tries to pull a stunt like this he will surely die. His time is short and he will not live much longer. Tell him he has failed and will never win." When she finished the Death Eater disappeared and she turned furious eyes back on Dean.

He looked defiantly at the young redhead. "He'll kill you. You'll die at his hands and your precious Harry won't be there to save you. You could have been saved but you chose to follow that pathetic bastard. He will never be able to give you what you want or need."

"And you could? You could never fulfill any wish any woman has! I could let you slip off to your horrendous Lord but that would be too nice. No, I'll make sure you don't live past this day."

She stepped closer to Dean. He flinched when her hand touched him. Suddenly he cried out in pain and dropped to his knees. Smirking she stepped away from him.

"What the hell did you do to me!" He screamed at her. "Where the hell am I?"

"You're a muggle now. You will never be able to so much as cast a spell for the rest of your life. You will always remember what you were but you will never be able to be what you were." She bent down, tilting his head up so he had to look at her. "Run, run and hide. Do not ever show your face again, to anyone. If I get word of you, I will finish what I started. Also, I decided to place a little precaution on you."

"W-What was that?" He asked, tears brimming in his eyes.

"If you ever hurt someone or anything you will feel the pain, ten fold. I know more advanced magic than you could possibly imagine. This is your price to pay. The pain will be continuous until you make amends for what you did to that person or thing. Run Dean, run far, far away. Voldemort will kill you if he finds out what you are. I will finish this if you so much as return here or to anyone within the wizarding world."

Dean got to his feet and bolted. Ginny watched him flee, her eyes narrowed and full of such hatred that it didn't even seem possible. With a final wave of her hand the Death Eaters disappeared to reappear in Madam Bones office.

Her aura was fading fast as she could feel the approach of her fiancé. When he rounded the corner a huge smile was spreading across her face. She ran over to him.

"Hello love," she said as she pulled him down for a long kiss.

"What was that for?" He asked when they pulled away, his eyes glazed over.

She smirked. "What, I can't snog you senseless for no reason?" She asked innocently.

"Well you can," Harry said as he bent down to kiss her again.

She smiled again when they pulled apart. Her arms were draped loosely around his neck and he held her tightly around the waist. "So what shall we do today?"

"I don't know."

A large pulse of magic flared around them and they jumped. "That's not good!" Ginny cried as she ran to the nearest window. Out by the lake lay over forty figures. "Snape and Bella are down there!" Ginny told Harry.

The two transformed and flamed down to the lake. They arrived just as Bella was regaining consciousness. Her eyes grew wide as she saw them.

"Bella what happened?" Ginny asked as she knelt beside the woman.

"They came to attack us. They were going to take us back to Lord Voldemort," she snarled. "Severus and I were winning so far but Rodolphus cast some spell. I didn't hear what it was but we both managed to put up shields, or I thought we had. The magic must have combined and knocked us all out."

Harry pulled off his glasses, closing his eyes before reopening them. Ginny shut her eyes as she reached across their link to see what Harry was seeing. Small puffs of magic still hung in the air, showing the minor spells and hexes that were used during the fight. Then a blinding white light hung around the air, clinging to each frame.

The two teens watched as the white seeped into the attackers, Severus, and Bella's frames, draining the colors from within them. Finally the magic faded, taking the colors with them. They both opened their eyes, which were now opened wide with shock.

"Bella," Harry began softly. "Turn around and tell me what you see."

"What? Why? Isn't Hogwarts right behind-," she stopped the second she turned around. "I-I-It's gone," she practically shouted. "Where is it? I know it was here! What happened?" She cried desperately.

"The spell he cast was to turn you two into Muggles," Ginny said softly. "There is no cure for it. You are no longer a witch," she said sadly.

Bella's eyes were wide, shock was evident within them. "I'm a muggle now?"

The two teens nodded their head sadly. "So is everyone who was hit with the spell," Harry added softly.

"Including Severus?"

Again they nodded.

"We are muggles," she said softly as she looked at Severus' unconscious frame. "What does that mean for us?"

"I'm not sure but we will figure something out." Harry waved his hand and the Death Eater muggles disappeared. He waved his hand again and Severus sat up, shaking his head. Bella went to him instantly, curling up against him.

"What happened?" Severus asked as he felt Bella shake against him.

"We've got a lot to tell you," Ginny replied in a quiet voice.

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A/N: Alright everyone apparently there has been a problem with my story in the last few chapters. Now If you all HAVE NOT read ch. 17 PLEASE PM me! I will be more than happy to give you the chapter for you to read or if you never got to read 18, if you are missing a chapter I will send it to you. So PM me and give me your email and I will send you that chapter. Apparently Fanfic messed it up so that some of you got to read it or didn't so I dont really know what to do besides send you the chapter itself. Also I don't know how things are going to work at my house, I shouldn't even be on now, considering I am grounded and all but soooooo not my fault. SO I am working to get that fixed so I can get back to updates and go to homecoming friday but sure you don't really need to know this but my house is absoultely horrible so you will have to forgive me if updates take longer, its not MY fault, well entirely. So here is the chapter just PM if you want seventeen or eighteen, whichever one you haven't read I can give it to you. So hope you like the chapter and all of that.

Seritha