Disclaimer: not mine, almost nothing of it, unfortunately!

Harry Potter is of course property of J.K. Rowling.

"The Dark Eye" RPG belongs to Fantasy Productions.

There are a few quotes in here, you will know that those are not mine.

This story is AU including a different time setting. Here Harry was born 1990.

I registered a certain decline in readers as the story goes on. I would like to know why you stay as a means to improve my work, so please review.

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Clearing the air

It was a sunny afternoon at The Burrow. Summer was at its height and Ronald Weasley was in a very good mood. He had just solved the central problem in his live, at least the part he could do on his own. Ron left the house, heading for the lake near Ottery St. Catchpole, the village next to The Burrow. He was looking to pick up Hermione and Ginny on the way there. As he figured it would do some good to have Ginny at his side while attempting to speak to Hermione. This way he would continue after he started and not chicken out trying to save face in front of his sister.

He found the two girls sitting at Ginny's favourite spot, beneath a large copper-beech tree. Hermione was in a fit, obviously, he could not jet distinguish the words but it was kind of loud and she was gesturing frantically.

As Ron closed in on the two girls he was able to pick up on their conversation.

"… I know it worked Ginny, I am not blind after all."

"So, why are you trying to avoid answering my question?"

"Honestly, I do not know. This should not work."

"Hermione! You are getting repetitive. Every second sentence in the last five minutes has been: "This should not work.""

"Sorry Ginny, I have no real answer. Its just … This should not work!"

"Hermione, I always thought this problem was just with you and your feelings for my brother, however it seems you got some more issues with this "I can not decide without a book" thing."

Hermione glared at a broadly grinning Ginny.

Ron decided to interrupt the girls.

"Maybe I could be of some help. I am sure I would enjoy to be enlightened on the "Brother feeling" problem." Ron figured he had Hermione in a corner now. 'Better even if she is the one to start this.'

"AH! Ron! Did you have to be so silent? You startled me." Hermione's expression softened.

"So Hermione, Ginny what is this frantic gesturing all about?"

A really wicked grin appeared on Ginny's face.

"Oh, nothing really important, just that Hermione can't decide whether to let you or Harry have her virginity!"

Ron, at this moment decided on doing something completely unmanly. He fainted.

"Ginny!" Hermione was speechless.

"Hermione!" Ginny smirked.

"I have you know that I have no problems deciding on that."

"Really, who is it then?"

"Ehm… I am not sure, yet." Hermione squirmed.

The girls jumped in surprise as suddenly Mrs. Weasley's voice came from behind.

"Ginevra, Hermione wake up Ron and see me in the house in half an hour."

"Uh, oh. It looks like we are in for a bit of it." Ginny felt it could not be too bad. Hermione on the other hand looked almost terrified.

"We still have to discuss what happened right now. This spell you did."

"Yes, you are right about that and we should talk to Ron."

Five minutes later Ron was enervated for the second time.

"Oh Ron…" Ginny grew a bit annoyed. "… could you just grow up. Now both of you sit a listen. I am feed up with this situation."

Hermione and Ron looked at each other uncomfortably. They did however as Ginny told them.

"Okay, you will not say a word until I have had my say. Only then you may scream or quarrel or whatever you want."

Ginny sat down and rested her back to the tree trunk.

"Everybody knows, is knowing for years now that you two will get together. In fact there is a nice jackpot running on the time you will finally do so. Only you two are still blind to your feelings, although you have them written all over your faces whenever you look at each other."

Ron looked at Hermione and she at him, both dumbfounded. "You have…" "What do you…"

"Silence!"

Ginny sighted, thinking about the money she would lose.

"I was hoping for the next few days and had a plan what to do with the money. Now you tell me you do have feelings for Harry as well!"

Ginny felt a bit uneasy. She got up and glared down to her brother and her friend.

"You two speak about it, and then Hermione and I meet with mum."

With that she left, heading for the lake.

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"Well, Lady and Gentlemen, lets have a seat."

A casual observer would have thought of a meeting of social unfits or a costume club, in the sitting
room of a certain house in Little Whinning, Surrey Privet Drive.

A casual observer would also never have noticed, not been able to notice, that all those attending had some kind of specialness surrounding them. Each of them, the four men one woman, where surrounded by a certain aura of power, of awareness, of destiny.

Someone with sufficient knowledge would have recognised those facts. On the other hand such a
person would have been astounded by the identities of those present.

Albus Dumbledore supposed to be the most powerful wizard of the age.

Nymphadora Tonks, metamorphmagus and top grade auror with the British ministry of magic.

Remus Lupin, werewolf, former professor for Defence against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

Harry Potter, "The-Boy-Who-Lived" thorn in the eye of Lord Voldemort and the only hope for final victory.

And a muggle.

Said muggle took in the various facial expressions of his guests, coming to but one conclusion.

They needed truth, hope and a drink.

Tom got up, and started to fix a drink of his favourite eighteen year old Glen Livet scotch. While starting to speak in the very voice he used to bind the attention of his role-playing friends, low full and soft, creeping under the audience skin, demanding to follow, softly stroking the imagination.

And he started with a small, barely hear able laugh.

"Whenever you look at the world you see the facts of live. You see a world you can describe with science and philosophy, a world of facts. This is the world of existence"

"You better listen and understand, for this is sage advice." In a whisper, not to disturb Tom's telling Harry advised the others.

He never noticed having changed to an in-game speaking pattern.

"But is has been stated that there is a world beyond this.

This world is full of colour, of possibilities and of wonder. This world you live in. It's the world of
imagination and living"

Remus and Tonks were a bit lost about what the man was speaking of, there was however a subconscious feeling of importance, like when you know you have forgotten about something but can not get a fix on what is was. Albus Dumbledore however listened closely. He had never seen the possibility of a muggle telling him about the world. He had his attention so concentrated on this exceptional man he almost missed Harry mumbling to himself.

"This reality is in my eye. I am the beholder. I evaluate any and all things."

At this precise moment Albus Dumbledore the wizard, the man of greatest wisdom finally completely understood a sentence that had troubled him for decades, ever since he heard it first.

Those were an old Greek philosopher's words: 'I do know nothing, however, I now more then those who don't know this.'

"Yes, Harry, that is exactly what I am speaking about. So now Lady, Gentlemen I would like to hear your story." Tom settled back into his chair and sipped on his scotch.

The witch and the wizards glanced at each other.

Albus for sure wanted to have the muggle talking first. He didn't press for it however, feeling the bond of trust between Harry and that man.

Eventually Harry started his story, surprised that Dumbledore did not cut in to prevent critical information to leak out of the order.

Harry's tale lasted for almost an hour. It astounded the others, including Dumbledore when they heard about the treatment Harry had endured at the Dursley's.

"… and then today the Death Eaters obviously found a way to me here in Privet Drive."

Harry now addressed Tonks, Professor Lupin and Professor Dumbledore directly.

"I noticed Tom stiffing, and looking to a specific area, next thing five Death Eaters apparate in and instantly begin firing curses. Tom took 3 down with his Revolver; I took one down with a Reducto. Tom was then hit by a Cruciatus and went down. I had no clear view onto the Death Eater and as I ran for a better position Tom came up, reflected the idiots next curse and then to him don with a spell of his own."

Harry could not help it but had to snicker, facing three wizards whose jaws were gaping open. Especially Dumbledore, Harry would never have guessed the old wizard to be speechless and look dumbfounded. He faced Tom, pointing at the old man's face and the snicker grew to a giggle, grew to a howling laughter.

Albus Dumbledore's mind raced through possibilities, options, effects and opportunities.

He needed to know what this man was. Was this a regular branch of magic, just undiscovered? Not likely. He needed to know what the man had done, Harry just told them he had reflected a spell, how?

"Mr. Triebenbacher, from all the information we have gathered about you, nothing was indicating that you are a wizard. So bear with me but I am curious."

"I am not."

"But you did cast spells!" Remus exclaimed.

"Yes, I did so." Tom smiled.

"As I worked on the Dojo, I felt something. I looked for the source and saw five men appearing. Instantly attacking with whatever weapon they had. When I was hit with this pain inducting spell, I realised it had to be magic. Nothing else could, to my knowledge do such thing. Besides I had just seen more evidence for this conclusion. I figured this to be real and made an adjustment, embracing a reality I always desperately wished to be real. I came up to continue the fight and saw a spell hurled at me. I reacted on instinct, on an instinct that is not entirely mine but mine it would be if fantasy role-playing would be real."

"What do you mean by reality you wished to be real?" Dumbledore was said to be a genius, a little mad, but a genius nonetheless. And in his brilliant mind a realisation formed.

"Well, I know now that you have been acquiring information about me. So you know I am a Role-player. I have been ever since I was 15. And the one thing I always wanted was to really be the character I played."

Dumbledore nodded. This was what he had suspected.

"Mr. Triebenbacher, the main difference between a muggle and a wizard is the ability to wield magic. This ability founds itself mostly on the genes. It is however of utmost importance that the caster has to believe. If he does not he will never be a wizard, he will be neither a squib nor really a muggle."

Dumbledore observed, while the man processed this.

"Mr. Dumbledore, I may ask if you know about energy field theory?"

"Only the basics, as muggle physics is not my prime interest." Albus knew, this man was on track.

At this moment all pieces fell in place for Harry. With a grin he quoted.

"Its an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, it keeps the galaxy together."

Dumbledore nodded and Tom grinned now as well.

"So Harry, were is your Lightsabre then?"

"I still have to build it." Harry snickered. Then his eyes grew wide.

"We could build one with magic!"

Tom groaned. "Oh the possibilities! Lady, Gentlemen, you have something planed for tonight?"

Remus, having lived in close to the muggle world for quite a long time knew what was to come.

"Albus I feel we should have some more people here."

"Yes Remus, I belief the group referred to as the Ministry crew you are talking about?" Dumbledore agreed.

"Not just them Albus, those of the Order whose mind are open enough for what is about to come."

Harry sighted in relief. "Thanks for small favours, no Snape."

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"Sit." Molly Weasley certainly was not in her best mood.

The two girls settled down and looking at each other both raised and eyebrow as Molly served them all a cup of tea then settling down with a sight.

"This is the one thing I dreaded in having a daughter."

She smiled at Ginny and then at Hermione, it was a smile a bit on the sad side.

"Hermione, Ginny I have always had a good laugh whenever Arthur had to talk to our sons."

The girls now were a bit dumbfounded, until they realised 'We are to be given the Talk'.

"Mrs. Weasley, muggles have a class about sex in their third and fourth year of schooling."

Hermione said. Then she started to wonder why Ginny and Molly gaped at her followed by laughter that started as a giggle.

"Oh, Hermione dear. This is nothing about 'how to make babies' no, not really. All my children have that piece of information before they are old enough to go out into town alone."

Mrs. Weasley chuckled, delighted to see the relaxed mannerism all of them had acquired, due to the good laugh.

"No dears, this is about something you need to know only as soon as you are going to willingly give yourselves to someone." She had to swallow, remembering what she had heard earlier. " Whether it be a woman or a man."

This caught the attention of Ginny and Hermione, who displayed curiosity.

Molly measured them both.

"You children grow up fast, faster than we parents like."

She faced Hermione.

"This is especially true for witches and wizards, we not only are more resistant, heal better and faster than regular muggles. It's the magic in us Arthur once said that we have more energy in our bodies than muggles to do so.

I have talked to your mother a great deal Hermione and I, we have come to agree about me telling you the differences between a muggle and a witch as far as …ehm… mating is concerned. I have explained all this to your mother and even though she accepted the facts she is not really able to transmit them to you, for there is need of magic between a mother and daughter to do so."

Mrs. Weasley sipped on her tea. She stood up, speaking in a formal tone.

"A daughter of mine thou shall be, though not in blood in love you are."

Hermione stared at Mrs. Weasley, suppressing tears. Ginny poked her on the arm. Shaking of her stun Hermione noticed a faint glow surrounding Mrs. Weasley who looked at her expectantly. She realised the need for words to answer and the magic gave her the right words to do so.

"Mother mine thou are, though not in blood but love I am conceived and born."

A faint glow of magic reached out from her and Mrs. Weasley, gently touched and melted. Warmth filling Hermione and Molly, with a sense of love and protected security the one with gratitude and respect the other.

Ginny squealed, embracing her new sister.

It took the women some time to recover from these events,
eventually they had retaken their places at the kitchen table and Molly picked up where she had left.

"You both know about witches most of the time getting married soon after graduation. Ginny, you do not know that this is different with muggles. Hermione's mother informed me that most women tend to marry somewhere around the age of 30, give or take five years. And even more disturbing about a third of all marriages fail, meaning the partners leave each other and often so in anger. This is unheard of in the wizarding world. Arthur and me have discussed this and we came up with a very easy explanation for this. Marriage is done by giving an oath, something no wizard does easily, simply because the effects of such oaths are much more serious to a wizard than to a muggle.

Hermione, 'till death do us apart' is literally that. You have to realise that."

Hermione nodded. " I already know this. How does this apply to the current situation, I fail to see."

Ginny now saw what her mother was trying to relay to her friend.

"Hermione, how do you feel about giving your virginity?"

"Well, I know its important and a big step for a woman. Nothing of earthshaking consequence though."

Jane Granger had informed Molly about this attitude in the muggle world.

"Hermione, do you know how many witches are virgins on their wedding day?"

"No, there are no statistic analyses of any importance in the wizarding world."

Ginny groaned, leave it to Hermione to complain about lack of information.

"Almost all, Hermione. You simply do not have that kind of sex before you are married or you ar absolutely sure you will marry that man."

Hermione realised that there was some information completely missing.

"Why is that so, I mean it is a big step and one is always a bit connected to the man whom you gave it but that's it."

Ginny could not belief her friend, her sister not making the connection.

"Remember the difference between an oath in muggle and wizarding world, the difference in marriage? Think Hermione."

Hermione thought about this hint and suddenly it hit her.

"Are you saying that magic connects the partners on a deeper level?"

Molly relaxed in relive.

"The act of giving your virginity to a man forms a bond, an indestructible bond. This bond works slightly different for each couple but it connects their magic. You do not risk such a connection if you are not willing to share your live, for your lives are connected as well. Magic and fate for the couple is interwoven after that moment."

"But… but what about if you lose it due to an accident, or during sport? And what about wizard still having mistresses or even multiple marriages?"

"Well, it's not the physical virginity that counts, it's the act, the conscious and deliberate act of giving yourself to someone. It does not have to be a man; as long as the person has magic it works that way. Even if the person does not have magic it works. That is why even muggle women always remember the person they gave themselves to for the first time and a muggle man always remembers any virginity he was given."

Molly grinned wickedly.

"As I have been informed by your father."

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The afternoon gave in to the evening, releasing some of the days heat.

Molly Weasley stood in her kitchen preparing dinner. She was quite satisfied with the talk she had had with her daughters. Reminding herself of her new daughter made her smile. It was not everyday you acquired a daughter like that and the warmth of love still filled her heart.

From the fireplace she heard Albus Dumbledore calling.

"Molly, Arthur are you here?"

She headed over to answer the call.

"Good evening Albus, what can I do for you?"

"Good evening Molly, would it be terrible inconvenient for Remus and myself to come over? We have need to discuss an urgent matter with you."

"Not in the slightest, dinner is almost ready. Step in and join us."

Entering the living room Dumbledore and Remus headed for the sofa. Albus waved for Molly to take a seat herself.

"I am sorry to say we will not have sufficient time to feast on you magnificent cooking Molly. We have come to collect Ginevra, Hermione and Ronald for a meeting with Harry, which is of utmost importance."

"No"

"Molly?" Albus had had a day of surprises. This was another one. He had thought that Molly loved the boy and would do almost anything to support him.

"Oh, Albus do not get me wrong but first you have to hear about a few things that happened here today."

Albus and Remus relaxed on the sofa and listened to Molly's tale of this afternoon's events.

With Molly finally ending Albus asked her whether there had any unusual magic occurred.

"Not to my knowledge and none of the children have mentioned something."

"Well then Molly, could you please now call the three here?"

As Molly stood and went to the stairway he continued.

"And Molly, they are not children anymore. Ginevra has not been for a long time, neither has Harry as I have been forced to realise this afternoon. They are adults, they have been forced to grow up early by Voldemort and whether we like it or not we must face this.

Or do you not agree Ginevra?"

Ginny came down the last few steps where she had stayed to listen into the adults taking.

"Of course Professor you are right." She showed no sign of remorse for listening in.

"You did realise late but you did."

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A/N:

Please review

I am sorry it took some time but I think I made up with increased length. This chapter was hard for me as it kept twisting in various directions.

And regarding the various open parts.

Not all of them will be addressed in the story. I want your imagination to run wild.