Disclaimer: The previous chapter's disclaimer was quite witty. Check it out if you haven't already XP!
So I'm sitting here, at the computer, a laughing nearly-two year old baby who won't stop messing me up by slapping the keyboard and making high-pitched giggles that could knock me out if I hadn't just woken up. She gets away with it by saying one of her favorite words (Tee-Tee, my nickname, she says it all the time because she knows I can get her out of everything and that I can't handle it when she throws huge fits, the sneaky little imp) She hasn't said brother (my nephew who is really more like a twin. We grew up together and he's just as much a brother to me as he is to Alyssa,) in a long time, but that's because he's been gone the whole summer, but still, when he comes home I can shove it in his face that I'm the better liked one. Go mean me! Anyways, back on topic. So I'm sitting here, laughing baby in my lap, one hand typing and the other grabbing Salt and Vinegar Pringles and shoving them in my mouth, and I'm thinking Is this what JKR handles with her kids every day? And I think, No wonder the books are so far apart…So I dedicate this chapter to JKR, the woman who started it all (and the woman who got to HP first…once again, BARNACLES!), Alyssa, who thinks I am a big huge plaything to use as she pleases to get her way, but who I love anyway, Josh, my nephew, who even though at times is the biggest bastard I have ever met, he's a good guy, and, my best friend Aly, who, without even knowing it, gave me the confidence to actually post a fanfiction.
Now, as I promised, 10, 000 words, mmkay?
Secret Promise
Chapter 6: When the Excitement Dies Down
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"Clairsentience is the ability to receive a silent thought, message, or projected emotion from nearby or from other dimensions, and experience is as an actual physical and emotional sensation. If a clairsentient is doing a reading for a grief-stricken client, for example, she'll literally take on the agonizing emotional pain of grief her client is going through. If she is tuning in to a missing child hose leg is broken, she'll feel a very real pain in her own correlating leg. If she's focused on a murder victim, she'll feel specific physical pain relative to the victim's wounds, as well as the terror, rage, betrayal or other powerful psychic agony the victim went through in the last moments of life. In other words, clairsentience is essentially empathy in hyper drive, a total surrender of objectivity…"
—Sylvia Browne, Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know about the Paranormal—
"Clairvoyance is the ability to see beings, objects or information that originate from some other dimension. Whether they're spirits from the Other Side, objects from the past that no longer exist in the present or visions of future events, clairvoyants have what's sometimes called "second sight," which allows their eyes to perceive a wider range of input and frequencies than normal."
—Sylvia Browne, Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know about the Paranormal—
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Ginny felt sick again. Violently, vulgarly, viciously sick. Not because Claire was sending visions her way, or because she'd just found out that Lord Voldemort, evil wizard extraordinaire, the man who had ruined her life, had spawned a son, but because she was staring into the face of a man whom she remembered to have slithered through her mind, decaying and poisoning it with vileness and memories of his horrid sadistic ways. Dumbledore had later told her and her parents that had she suffered even a mere month more under his possession, her brain would have failed and her heart would have instantly stopped. It had taken a few weeks to get her strength back, and then they'd gone to Egypt and they'd seen Bill, and he'd taken her under his wing. He'd understood what no one else could understand. She'd grown up.
Her family still didn't seem to understand that. They treated her like she was fragile, acted as if she were a little girl. Ron was the worst, but she understood, knowing that he felt terrible about having let it, the possession, have gone on that long and about forgetting about her. She doubted that fact, sometimes, seeing how he avoided her still, but she knew if she ever went to him for help, he would listen with all ears. The twins had talked to Bill and after a bit of adjusting had agreed with him that she had grown up, that she was no longer that delicate, if rowdy, little Ginny that had watched grow up. Charlie was by far almost worse that Ron, with him being so far away he didn't see how much she had grown since the last time she had seen him. Percy…she didn't think about him much anymore. She couldn't, because it hurt too much. Her parents…they understood but they denied that they did, to her and themselves. That hurt, but she imagined she would feel the same way if it was her daughter having been possessed so young.
She trembled as everyone rushed about the clearing, exchanging stories. Ron was still embracing Hermione, hugging her to him as if she would melt and slip away. Tonks and Remus were holding hands as they and her mum and dad consoled Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were quite shaken up but holding up well enough. Bill and Fleur were just there beyond them, talking quietly. Justin was with the twins, Oliver Wood, and Lee Jordan, who didn't really seem to have a purpose. Harry was off somewhere, which worried her, but she imagined he was just gathering his thoughts about the fact that Dumbledore had kept such a secret after promising to him that he would not keep such things. She wanted to find him and tell him that it didn't matter, that Dumbledore probably had his secretive reasons, but knew it wouldn't help. Betrayal would always be hardest on Harry, he didn't trust easily and when he did it was a trust that was pure and loyal and firm, if fragile. The trust he'd had for Dumbledore had been shaken, she knew, from what little he'd told her.
She still knew so little about him. She'd watched him for years, but he was so complex. She wanted to know every single fact about his life. It was a yearning to always be close to him, an ache to keep him protected and well. She wanted to stay up in the wee hours of the morning, just talking. She wanted to argue with him, just because they could. She wanted to feel his hand on her skin, feel the lightning that crackled when he did. His hands were like hot fire when they touched her, his lips doubly so. He was gentle when he kissed her, sweet and tender and hesitant, but there were times that when he kissed her she felt like the whole world was exploding, that her blood had been set to boil and burst, and her skin sizzled with electricity.
He made her feel beautiful and loved and cherished with a single look, that adorable look when that confused, adoring expression filled his face, and he looked lost but grateful and so incredibly sad, but so happy. She wanted to make the confusion go away, wanted to clear away his sadness, as he cleared away hers so easily.
Quivering, and hating herself for it, staring at the man who was now tied up, with an anti-animagus spell cast swiftly by Remus, Mr. Weasley, and Bill, she bit her lip. She wanted Harry, wanted him in a way that made her lose control. She didn't like losing control, handing over her safety to another person. She knew how to care for herself, but with Harry…it didn't matter. She gave her control to him freely and, although he didn't know it yet, he gave her his.
Turning away from the identical son of the man who had destroyed her life, she looked at the people she had known and watched carefully, some of them those that she loved deeply and others that she knew she could learn to care about as good friends and acquaintances.
She pondered the eight that were closest to her…
Her mother, her caregiver, her mum. Plump, pleasant faced, with the same red hair, not as red as Ginny's or even Ron's slightly orange hair, but red all the same, as most of her children and her husband. Deep brown eyes that she had passed onto Ginny. Gentle, compassionate, concerned eyes, filled with that mother-bear look. She was the mother-bear who would do anything to protect her cubs. She was the glue that held the Weasleys together, the woman who kept them on the straight and narrow (at least most of the time), the woman who had taught them how to read, to write, to learn. She was kind and firm and loving. Everything every mother should be. She was overprotective, strict, and old-fashioned, something that their children might not like, but something that if she had not had, then it would have led the Weasley children on different paths. She could be fierce, she could be furious, her eyes could flame and boil and burn, yet not once had that ever hurt any of her children, because they knew she only got angry when she thought that her loved ones might get hurt or taken away, and that scared her.
Her father, her hero, her daddy. Tall, thin, going bald, with a dorky pair of horn-rimmed glasses resting on a long nose. Wrinkles feathered the corners of his sapphire blue eyes, eyes he had given to each and every one of his sons, and there were laugh-lines around his mouth. He loved to smile, her father, always calm and happy and giving. He loved Muggles and their 'magic with out magic', and his wife henpecked him for it. There were times when he would sigh, 'yes, dear' and times he would frown, 'yes, dear' and times he would grin 'yes, dear', and times he would stare up at the ceiling in exasperation 'yes, dear'. He loved his wife, and he listened to her. Ginny had grown up knowing that her daddy would always love her mummy and her mummy would forever love her daddy. They were the best parents she could ever ask for, in any way. And she loved her dad, Merlin, did she love him. He was sweet and dorky and lovable. She had his love of muggle things, not as eccentric, but she still had it. He was patient and calm and loving, something the rowdy, impatient and ill-tempered Weasley children needed. He was slightly barmy, and eccentric, and easily excited, but that was part of his befuddled charm.
Her big brother, her confidante, her friend. Tall, like their father, lean and lanky. He was handsome as the devil, with long red hair, fierce blue eyes, and that dragon-tooth earring that dangled from his ear. His scars made him look a little scary, but even more daunting. They created an air of mystery, she supposed. He had their mother's long, nimble fingers, he would have to have agile to hands, seeing as he worked as a curse-breaker in Egypt, sliding through dusty, rotten tombs, filled with magical and muggle traps that he would have to be quick to counter. Not to mention he'd have to have agile hands to handle that half-veela was his. Ginny wanted to roll her eyes at the feminine, too gorgeous for any woman's peace of mind, and too vain woman who could have everything at her feet with a bat of her eyelashes. Yeah, she'd been in the Triwizard competition, but she'd finished last. Yeah, she might love Bill, but it could all be a sham and maybe she just didn't want to look bad by backing down on the marriage just because he had gotten scars. Maybe she was waiting to see if he had gotten infected, so she would have a real excuse. Maybe she really did love him, and wanted to marry him. But Ginny would decide that for herself when she did and was watching Phlegm as closely as she could. Bill meant a lot to her, and she wasn't about to see him (who was head over heels for the veela) hurt.
Her loyal brother, her not-hired-nor-needed-defender-of-her-honor, and the main pain in her derriere. Ron was good-looking enough (although she would never admit it, just as he would never admit that she was at least a little pretty for all the galleons in the world). He'd put on a few lean muscles so he wasn't so gangly as he was lanky, had orange-red hair that always clashed horribly with his favored Chudley-Cannons regalia, and steady blue eyes that were full of loyalty, hidden courage, and a whole lot of not-so-self-esteem. He'd gotten better at thinking better about himself, and more confident, but there was still the fact that he'd been a whole arse about finally getting a girlfriend, which of course, she would hold over his head for the longest time. So, until he learned to feel good about himself without shoving why he felt good about himself in the face of a girl whose heart he was breaking because the thing he had that made him feel good about himself was a snog-partner and girlfriend when he should have known that the girl whose heart was breaking wanted so badly to take her place as Queen beside his Weasley King, and the place of his snog-partner, then he was going to piss her off very easily. She loved him, she really did, but he was so thick and prickly and pitifully jealous all the time.
Her scheming brothers, her thick as thieves fellow conspirers, her partners in crime. Identical in almost every way, Fred and George were handsome in that mischievous-twinkle-in-the-eyes, sneaky-grin-crossing-their-lips, you-don't-wanna-know-what-I'm-up-to kind of way. They weren't exactly tall, built stocky like Charlie, but unlike their dragon-wrestling brother they weren't built and muscular, but slender and agile. The kind of men who relied on their wit, not their physical power. They were trying to grow out their red hair, she realized, to look a little like Bill's, but not long enough to tie back into a ponytail, like he did. Their blue eyes had that constant sneaking gleam that she often took up when she was scheming something particularly steamy and the same long, nimble fingers that blessed Bill and Ginny from their mother were also a gift to the twins. They had to have them, of course, with all the sneaking around and quick spell-work they did. Who knew when a cauldron was going to blow up and they had to throw up a quick shield? They were as swift with their minds as they were with their magic, although they tried to hide it, so everyone would underestimate them, making it possible for them to overdue that doubting person's expectations when they did succeed. Sneaky to the bones, they were.
Her friend, her much wanted sister, her encyclopedia on legs, but not in a bad way. Hermione was lovely; she would always be lovely, in that quiet, intelligent way that made her Hermione. There would always be bushy-hair, bossy tone, and brown eyes that could burn a hole in the back of your head. She was persnickety, stubborn, and smarter than any other at Hogwarts, excelled in almost every academic pursuit, hated disorder, and loved authority. She was Percy wrapped up in a woman's body. But she had a few things Percy would never have. She had humor, it was rare, but it showed. She had fierce courage, even though she might not know. She had a spark in her that had attracted the attention of Ronald Weasley, thick, blind and stubborn Ron Weasley, a spark that Percival Ignatius Weasley would never attain. And she had a spine. Percy could never stand up to high ranking authority figures. She had the spine to stand up when it was really needed, and that's what made her Ginny's friend. She was very helpful, and patient when she needed to be, and thoughtful, which helped. Although not very girlish, Ginny had started to talk to her about maybe once in a while wearing make-up or such, just to catch Ron's attention when he didn't expect it. There was going to be a lot of giggling and girl-to-girl stuff going on behind the boys' backs. Luckily, both of them would rather not hear what they were talking about. She could hear Ron muttering 'girls…' and Harry just walking away, befuddled. She loved it when he was befuddled…something she would have to giggle about with Hermione.
Then there was Harry. What was he too her? Not boyfriend, that wasn't strong enough for her…lover, friend, mate, companion, the Boy-Who-Held-Her-Heart, her hero, her life…all wrapped up into a single, not too tall package, with scruffy jet-black locks, a thin, handsome face, gorgeous green eyes that could mesmerize her long into the night, pale, perfect skin, a thin, lean body, slender, perfect hands. He was hers…and she still couldn't believe. He, who was sweet and gentle and kind and generous and loving and simply perfect, he who could match her in temper and stubbornness. The noble git who had ignored her for so long had finally taken a second look at her and seen something he must like, because now he never stopped. It made her stomach jump, her heart jolt, knowing he looked at her. When he had kissed her…her world had stopped, her heart had exploded, and her hopes…had been fulfilled. When he had broken up with her, her whole being felt like it might shatter if he so much as tapped a fingernail against her. Just like that, her hopes once again crushed, she'd wanted to give up and break down. But she'd held strong and held it back. And on the train, she'd locked herself away. Then he'd come, kicked Dean out without being too over protective and he'd changed everything again. With him her emotions were always on a dangling string, not knowing which way she would be blown in the wind next. He'd told her he loved her…in more than just three simple words. He loved her, and it made her feel complete and perfect and…she couldn't express the way it made her feel. It made her feel as if she was dancing upon the air, twirling and breathless and lightheaded and dizzy and happy. She felt like she could live forever in his arms, safe and warm. Her body fit against his like a puzzle piece fit with its mate. Their hands, when interlocked, were perfectly matched together. She knew somewhere, up there, God or whoever had created them, they'd meant for her and Harry to be made for one another, they'd created them both to match each other, to fit like two puzzle pieces. And she thanked that creator every day for what they'd given her. If fate ruined everything, destroyed everything, and yet left her with her Harry, she would be okay…because with Harry everything was okay. With Harry everything felt like it was going to be alright. For that she was hopeful and grateful. For that she wanted to give caution to the wind and promise herself to him, give her whole heart to him…she wanted to marry him, badly. She knew she had to wait, until she was older (it was always 'wait until you're older, it was the way of life), but she knew that if there was even a sliver of a chance that her parents would agree, she would snap the opportunity up in a second and marry him. Because they were made for each other, and she wouldn't feel right until they were together like that.
Because they were meant to be married. She could feel it like she could feel the hot summer air around her. It was a simple fact that she knew. That she had known the moment he'd first kissed her.
And she would, sooner or later. She promised that to herself. But for now she would be content loving him and being loved back.
"Daydreaming on the clouds." Murmured a voice in her ear. Already jumpy from seeing Tom Riddle's look-a-like she swallowed a scream and flew up in the air. Familiar hands closed around her arms, held her, rubbed up and down, "Sorry," Harry muttered, feeling guilty.
"Oh, it's alright." She said back. If she turned around to face him she would have to glance at the twin again and she didn't want to. So she leaned back into him.
"I suppose you belong in the clouds, huh." Harry whispered, a little chuckle lilting his voice as he did. She closed her eyes, cocked her head. She felt Harry shaking behind her, barely able to contain laughter.
"Hmmm?"
"Well, you are a fallen angel, aren't you?"
Her eyes flew open and she gaped at nothing for a moment then, trying not to fold over, "Well, sure, aren't you going to ask if it hurt when I fell?"
Harry's voice was shaking, "Well, I might, but first, can you tell me what heaven is, other than lookin' at you sweet thang?"
She couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. Harry let loose, roaring with laughter. Laughter she'd never heard from him. She stopped for a moment, and heard nothing but his laughter, eyes wide because every one else had stopped as well and were staring at him. Then she began to laugh again, full-joyous laughter. She spun around, throwing her arms around him. He lifted her up, so she could placed her cheek against his as they howled with laughter. She could hear the rumbling of Harry's great roaring laughs and it made something in her stir with happiness. She wanted to hear this laugh forever, this happy, pure bliss, let-everything-go-and-just-laugh laugh.
But it drifted away and Harry wiped tears of mirth from his eyes, looking at her with the biggest grin on his face that she had ever seen him wear. She was looking up at him now, seeing as he'd set her down. She bent up swiftly, before he could speak, and kissed him right smack dab on his mouth, feeling moist-velvety lips against her own. Dean had had firm lips, but he'd stuck his tongue in her mouth often and nearly choked her to death half the time, Michael had almost slippery lips, but Harry's…they were wonderfully soft and firm at the same time, incredibly tender. He barely ever slipped his tongue in, and only when she opened her mouth first. He was a gentleman in every way, she thought, feeling his hands rest on the small of her back as he responded to the kiss. They kissed slowly, intimately, mouths moving in sync, hearts beating against one another through a layer of clothing, skin and flesh. Her hands, as they always did, found their way to his hair, ran blindly through his messy black locks.
"We get hunted by an assassin for a whole day and what do they do? They snog. I mean, yeah, they did it a lot before, but jeez, come on. Not even a small, hey, how ya doin'?" She heard a teasing Tonks tell Remus. Her father cleared his throat uncomfortably after the 'a lot before' part and she heard her mother's sharp intake of breath and Bill's angry exhale.
She pulled away from Harry, just her mouth from his, not moving away from his embrace. He opened his eyes, looked at her with a glazed, dizzy expression and she smiled woozily. She felt very drunk when he kissed her like that. She turned her head, threw a look at Tonks. "Hey, how ya doin'?…now are you happy?"
"Much." Tonks said, grinning cheekily. Her heart-shaped face was a little sweaty and her dark eyes were glinting, then her face went serious, "We're going to take down the anti-apparition wards and apparate over to…get Kingsley, then Bill is going to apparate to Claire's with Justin while we alert the Order and the ministry. We're turning Osiris in to the ministry. He's wanted for several murders and hired kills anyways."
"He'll get out!" Harry protested, knowing the inability to keep prisoners in now that the Dementors had abandoned Azkaban.
"We don't have control over this, Harry. And right now, with Marvel trying to stick his hand into everything, I'd rather he be with the Ministry instead of the Order."
Harry looked at Ginny, who shrugged, "While you were off brooding I told them our story."
"Ah. Good." He said. Neither moved away from the other's arms, which was a good sign in Ginny's opinion, who knew that he was terribly shy sometimes when it came to stuff like this.
"I don't like it…" Harry said.
"Well, at least we know that if he does get out, his father won't be very happy with him." Remus growled.
"True." Harry nodded then sighed. "Gin, feel like a nap?"
"God, yes." She said, rubbing her temple.
"I think we could all do with some naps." It was the first time Mrs. Granger had spoken up.
"Here-here!"
Ginny bent down, pulling away from Harry, and picked up the curled up Galahad, who looked like he too needed a nap. He had helped a lot, but she wanted to know how he'd gotten there in the fist place. She probably would never know, but it didn't mean she didn't want to know.
She turned to Harry, cuddling the kitten and leaned up against him. He lifted a hand and stroked the kneazles' head, rubbing his palm against the top of it, scratching one ear. Galahad purred.
Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulder and mumbled so only she could hear, a blush lighting his cheeks, and he ducked his eyes like a little boy embarrassed to talk to a pretty girl, "You're my angel, Gin. I swear it."
She felt her heart melt into mush and sniffed back tears. "Oh, I love you, Harry. So much."
"I love you, too." He said it very quietly, but she heard loud and clear.
"Oh, Remus, isn't that sweet? I just love it when young people LOVE each other!" Tonks, who had probably been the only one to hear, made sure everyone heard. Harry flamed bright red and Ginny glared at her.
"Tonks, shut up!" Said Harry, Ginny, Remus, and Ron, who looked rather pale at the thought of his two best friends mushy and in love.
"No need to get snippy!"
Time passed by swiftly. Oliver, Lee Jordan, and Angelina, who hadn't had much to do, told Hermione when she mentioned the DA that they would surely join, if they promised there would be much more action than that had occurred in the clearing, and left for their respective living spaces. Mr. Weasley traveled to the ministry with Osiris in tow, along with Tonks and Kingsley's body. Ginny saw the guilt in her boyfriend's eyes and wished he wouldn't hurt so much over the death, nor blame himself. She hated it when he did. Justin traveled with Bill (Fleur as well) to Claire's, and they'd gotten a message from the curse-breaker that she was in St. Mungo's, in a coma. It didn't surprise Bill, but he did tell the healers that she was obviously clairvoyant. They didn't believe him, which angered him. They wouldn't let Justin in to see her, nor allow any of them to talk to her parents, even Fleur who used her useful charms to get her way. It didn't work. So Justin was sent home to London, and after a long confrontation, Bill and Fleur headed to Hogwarts to inform McGonagall of the happenings in the clearing. The twins went back to their shop (when Harry and Ginny were giving back their spare wands, they shook their heads and told them to "keep them, just don't tell mum"), the Grangers and Hermione were taken to Privet Drive with Harry, Ron, and Ginny by Molly.
Ron took Hermione first, Molly took Mrs. Granger then Ginny, Remus gathered up Mr. Granger, then Harry. The scruffy-haired teen shuddered when he landed, hating the feeling of apparition. He much preferred brooms.
They appeared in Mrs. Figg's living room and found the old lady wringing her hands as she had when they had left. Galahad jumped from Ginny's hands and pranced off and about.
"Oh thank goodness! I thought you all had gone off and died!" She said, blusteringly. "Gave me a good scare!"
"Sorry, Mrs. Figg," Harry muttered, feeling sheepish.
"You better not apologize to me, Harry Potter!" Mrs. Figg told him, glaring, "And you sure can't thank me for anything! Marvel passed by looking for you all, not two minutes ago! Probed my mind, the blasted fool! I swear, not even Dumbledore liked the man, and now with Moody in St. Mungo's, McGonagall up to her nose trying to save Hogwarts, Snape off murdering people—" There was a hiss off grief but Mrs. Figg didn't hear, "And Kingsley dead, he's trying to take over the Order!"
"Harry…I think we should have that meeting very, very fast." Ginny whispered into his ear, "And maybe tell the adults about the you-know-what and the things that need to be KABOOM!'d when Tonks gets here."
"What you-know-what?" Remus asked, his eyes narrowed, his mouth set in a firm line, a brow lifted as he stared Harry down, "Young man?"
"You're really pushing this guardian stuff you know that, don't you?" Harry told him dryly.
"Harry James." Remus said, firmly.
"I need a nap first okay? I'm going to die here!" He muttered. All the excitement was gone, his adrenaline with it, now all he wanted to do was eat food equivalent in weight to that of a hippogriff and fall to sleep with Ginny curled up in his arms. "And food would be nice."
Mrs. Weasley, with a few flicks of her wand, conjured a tray of sandwiches, tea, pumpkin juice, a bowl of fruit, some hot soup, and some little mini treacle desserts that made Harry's mouth water dangerously.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny pounced on it, piling fruit and sandwiches onto their plates, pouring soup into bowls, gathering treacle tarts and stuffing them in their mouths before they had even begun to eat the food. Harry was torn between giving one to Ginny and gobbling it down and finally handed her one, before swallowing one almost whole. Hermione stood there and laughed and laughed and laughed. The Grangers had amused faces.
"All this saving people stuff can make you really hungry!" Ginny said around a mouthful of mushy chocolaty goodness.
Harry bobbed his head, bent down and pecked her on the mouth. She laughed, and he made a disgusted face as chocolate smeared all over his face. Ginny pulled back, lifting a hand to cover a mouth as she giggled madly. He lifted a napkin and wiped his face, shaking his head.
"Okay, no kissing while food is being chewed." He muttered, taking a sandwich and nibbling on it. There was enough food left for the others and they all sat down to silently eat their food, waiting for Tonks to arrive or just for everyone to finish.
"Mrs. Figg, do you mind if we take some quick naps on the floor?" Ginny asked kindly, "Harry here made a stupid promise not to step foot in his relatives house until dinnertime."
Mrs. Figg rolled her eyes and Mrs. Weasley looked at him sternly. He just shrugged, sheepishly.
"Yes, yes, of course!" Mrs. Figg waved her hands, "I'll be in the kitchen…"
"JUSTIN MARSHALL FINCH-FLETCHLEY! WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN?"
Bill Weasley's hand went straight to his wand then he thought against it at the sight of two distraught looking women, two furious looking men, and several Muggle London Police. There was a man with blonde hair patting the hand of a rather curvaceous brunette. Fleur had the same reaction, but he saw her smoothly instead straighten her blouse and walk forward with the air of a diplomat, dimples flashing as she gave a brilliant smile, blue eyes wide and innocent, body elegant and back straight.
"We're terribly sorry. I am Fleur Delacour." She held out her hand. The two men, one obviously Justin's biological father, with the same jaw, nose, eyes, and hair color, the other probably another family member or friend, reached for it. The two women were glaring at her, as well as the curvy brunette. The blonde man lifted an appreciative brow, and the Police Officers shifted. He didn't feel jealous at all really, just amused and proud that his wife, well, almost wife, could be so cunning.
"Zis is my friend, Bill Weasley." She said, smiling flirtatiously at the men, sweetly at the women, "We ran into Justin on ze street. I know him from my time at his school, I was an exchange student, you see, and I just had to talk to him! He was such a sweet boy!"
There was recognition on three of the people's faces. The two men and the tall, business-like curly-haired woman who had yelled when they'd entered the gallery. The second woman, who was most-likely a model from the looks of it, was blonde and red-eyed, but he could tell she was more annoyed than worried.
"Ms. Finch…"
"Mrs. Finch-Deuvari." She corrected the officer, stepping a little bit closer to the man on her right. Bill's eyebrows went up. Ah, so Justin's parents weren't married? It was a common thing in the Muggle world, divorce. And it seemed the couple had already moved on to other people. He would never understand Muggles, it seemed.
"Mrs. Finch-Deuvari, I can see that there has been a mix-up, here. However, if you would like us to—"
"Leave, just…leave, please." Ms. Deuvari said with the air of a queen, lifting her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "Aiden, Christabel, take the day off, please. And tomorrow as well. I'll pay you, just…go."
"Right, ma'am. Of course, ma'am." Aiden said, hastily looking away from Fleur, taking Christabel and leading them away, gathering up their things and following the now trotting police out of the gallery without even a hasty look back.
"Rosangela, darling," Justin's father said, touching the model by the waist, bending down and kissing her swiftly, "Go wait in the car, have some champagne, rest your poor little feet."
"Hmph." She said, looking from him to the others. It was obvious he had the final say in everything seeing as she stormed off and out of the gallery, heading to the sleek black car that waited there, and rushing on tall stiletto heels with the grace of a cat.
"Justin, tell me right-this-minute, what you have been doing." The curly-haired woman said, firm and strict and pissed. It wasn't exactly a Mrs. Weasley demand, but it was close enough.
"I was just talking with Bill and Fleur, mother—"
"We're not stupid Justin." It was Mr. Deuvari, Justin's stepfather. He pierced Bill with daunting gray eyes, "You, Weasley, was it?"
"Quite." Bill replied, seeing the man trace his earring, scars, and ponytail and lifting a brow.
"What do you do for a living in…the magical world?" He inquired eyes sharp and calculating.
"I'm a curse breaker." He shrugged, grinning at him in a feral way, "I work for the Goblins in Gringotts bank. My specialty is ancient Egyptian curses."
"Then why aren't you in Egypt!" Bellowed Mr. Fletchley, glaring.
"Shut up, Marshall." Mr. Deuvari told him, turning back to Bill.
"You know very well why I'm here, if your son has been informing you right."
"Err…" Justin scratched his head, blushing furiously, "About that…um…really…I didn't expect it to take this long for them to…you know…"
"Kill You-know-who?" Bill offered, putting his hands on his hips in an easy-going way, leaning back slightly, "That's what everyone thought…the first time he took over."
"What in the blithering hell are you going on about?" 'Marshall' demanded, turning on his son, "Justin!"
"Dad, you won't understand." Justin told him, glowering.
"I DON'T CARE! YOU WILL TELL ME RIGHT NOW, YOUNG MAN!" Barked Marshall. The curly-haired woman shouted at him, "Marshall calm down!"
"YOU WANT TO KNOW, DAD? YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW!" Justin shouted back at his father. Bill looked at him, raising a brow. The boy had been really quiet and according to Ginny, rather shy and kept to himself. Not the yelling type, but Bill determined what was coming and whipped out his wand, throwing up some privacy charms. "DO YOU? WELL, FINE! THERE'S A WAR GOING ON! PEOPLE ARE DYING! PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED! THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC ISN'T DOING SHITE! HOGWARTS WAS BLOODY ATTACKED! BUT I BET YOU DIDN'T EVEN READ THE LETTER THEY SENT EITHER OF YOU, DID YOU?"
Marshall snapped his jaw shut, paling.
"W-war?" Asked Mrs. Finch-Deuvari.
"Yes, mother, war!" Justin snapped at her, "War! Against the most evil being you could ever meet in this century or the next. Lord-Fucking-Voldemort. There, I fucking said the fucking name!"
"You watch your mouth young man!" Mrs. Finch-Deuvari told him, still looking shocked and watery-eyed at the thought of war.
Justin felt Fleur's calming hand on his shoulder and took a deep breath, in, out, in, and out. He closed his eyes, gathered up his thought and exhaled. "Sorry."
"Mrs. Finch-Deuvari, Mr. Deuvari—"
"Dr."
"Dr. Deuvari." Fleur corrected, "Mr. Fletchley. It isn't our place, to tell you zat…your son…weel, Justin, you can tell them? About ze Army?"
"Army?" Justin's mother went pale, "Justin? Are you…you're not…drafting?"
"No, mother." Justin told her, setting his jaw, "I'm volunteering. I've seen what battle can be like. I know the guy who first defeated You-know-w…V-V-Voldemort, sixteen years ago."
"Sit down, Justin." Dr. Deuvari told him, pushing him down to a seat. "You have to think this through. Joining the army, it isn't wise—"
"Neal, do you want to know about the guy who defeated Voldemort?"
Neal stared into his stepson's eyes, searched them, "He's your hero."
Bill lifted a brow, Fleur giggled.
"What is so god darned funny?" Justin's mother demanded, pushing back her flurry of curls, scowling at them. Her eyes were red rimmed and her cheeks blotchy. She'd been crying.
"It's just…well…" Bill couldn't find the words.
"Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, defeated ze Dark Lord on Halloween Night, 1980, when he was fifteen months old." Fleur told them, smiling, "He is younger zan your son by a few months."
Neal looked at Fleur, shocked, back to Justin, who just kept his face straight and nodded.
"This is prepo—"
"It's true, dad, so shut up!" Justin told his father, frowning at him. Marshall paused, surprised, but closed his mouth, angrily, "Harry Potter is my friend. Remember my second year? When I was attacked?" His mother nodded, tearfully, "Well, everyone thought it was him, because when we were doing the dueling club, and he was fighting Draco Malfoy, sleaze ball bully, now follower of You-Know…Voldemort, and Harry's enemy, he accidentally revealed to everyone that he was a Parselmouth."
"Parsel…?" Dr. Deuvari said, drifting off.
"He can talk to snakes." Justin said, "It's supposed to be a Dark Art, and everyone, after that, thought he was the one who was petrifying everyone. In the end, it was someone being possessed by Voldemort himself, and using that student to get to the muggleborn kids. Like me. Everyone realized that it wasn't Harry when his best friend got petrified. He would never hurt Hermione; she's like…his sister. It turned out in the end that Harry saved that student from continuing to be possessed, and all the students in the castle, and Hogwarts from being closed."
Justin paused, and almost to himself, said, "Who was that student who got possessed anyways?"
"It's not for us to tell." Bill said, uncomfortably.
"You know?" He blurted, looking at the elder wizard curiously. Bill shrugged, Justin sighed.
"Anyways, the year before that…he'd already saved the Sorcerer's Stone, something that can make you immortal, from Voldemort the year before."
"I thought he'd already defeated the Voldie-whatsit bloke before." Marshall said, frowning.
"He wasn't…dead, according to Dumbledore and Harry. He was alive…but…it's hard to explain." Justin sighed, "Voldemort came back fully in fourth year. Harry…was in the Triwizard championship. He wasn't supposed to be. Only seventeen year olds were supposed to be able to enter."
"What is the Triwizard Championship?" Dr. Deuvari inquired.
"It's a competeetion between ze three top wizarding schools in Europe." Fleur told him, brushing off her blouse absently, "'Ogwartz, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. I was ze Champion for Beauxbatons. It's where I met Bill." She smiled dreamily at her fiancé, who grinned back.
"Anyways, in the third task…Harry and Cedric, who was a Hufflepuff, like me, were transported by Portkey, a piece of trash that is charmed to take you to a specific spot, and there…Voldemort was resurrected with Voldemort's blood. Cedric was killed. Harry had already seen his parents die in front of him, the night that Voldemort was defeated, but this was hard on him, everyone could see it."
Justin sighed, "I don't pretend to be close friends with him, and only Ron, Hermione and Ginny are really close to him. But in fifth year, he started a club. The Defense Association…or, Dumbledore's Army. To help us learn how to defend ourselves against the Death Eaters and Voldemort. At the end of the year, he…went to the ministry and there, it is said that he dueled with Voldemort himself, before Dumbledore took over."
"…this kid has a lot on his shoulders." Dr. Deuvari said.
"And I want to help him." Justin said, firmly, "It can't just be his fight anymore. It's not fair to him. The DA is starting up again, this summer. And with the Order of the Phoenix, the adult resistance against Voldemort, being corrupted…only us kids can help fight against him. Harry is the Chosen One."
"Like Luke Skywalker?" Laughed Dr. Deuvari. Mrs. Finch-Deuvari smacked him.
"Actually…yes. He is. It's his destiny to defeat Voldemort. Everyone knows it."
"We're in a dilly-dally, aren't we, love?" Dr. Deuvari asked his wife. She sighed.
"Oh, Justin! You've always been such a good boy!"
He stared at his parents for a long, long moment, waiting for their decision. He knew they would be worried about him, knew they wouldn't exactly approve. But he needed this, he needed their acceptance.
Finally, his mother dropped down and hugged him.
"Be careful, Justin, just be careful!"
"Thanks mum. But there's more…"
"What kind of more?" Mrs. Finch-Deuvari inquired.
"There's this girl, Claire…"
"Quite a catch you caught there, Tonks!"
Tonks rolled her eyes at Quentin Tisdale, a fellow auror, a few years older than herself as she headed over to her cubicle, to grab her memos and such before she left for Privet Drive. Q-T, as the other female aurors called him, was handsome as a Greek God in tights and quite the charmer. He'd been pining for her the day she'd earned her full auror-ship, despite her many declinations. He was persistent however, and had become a real jerk.
Today he was trying the smooth approach, she supposed, ignoring him as she scooped up the memos on her desk, sent a quick one to her boss, and began to head to the apparition point. Tisdale followed.
"If you don't stop following me, creepozoid, I'll be forced to tell our superior." She told him, keeping her eyes straight ahead. She felt his gaze burn into her backside and stopped, spun around, "Okay, mister hotshot, that region and other regions of my body are reserved for the staring of only one man, and he's not you! So buzz off and bug some other girl!"
Quentin gave her that steamy, bedroom look and she nearly gagged. People were staring now and she wished she could so punch him. Hard. In the nether regions. She was just about to do so, lifting a foot to crack it in his groin, when something stopped her.
"Tonks?"
She jumped when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She turned around, saw Mr. Weasley and sighed in relief. "Hey, Arthur!"
"Is something wrong, Quentin?" Asked Mr. Weasley making a goofy, cheerful look his way.
"Nothing that concerns you, Weasley." Tisdale replied, standing up straight. Mr. Weasley was well over Tisdale's own six feet flat. But the younger man had muscle, youth and swiftness. Tonks could kick his ass, but Mr. Weasley might not. Perhaps in dueling he could beat the arse-hole, but not in hand-to-hand combat which, she might point out to herself, Tisdale was known for.
"Well, best not be late for Molly's dinner, Tonks." Arthur said, smiling at her, "She's so been looking forward to seeing you again! And Ginny too."
"Really?" She played along, hugging her memos and taking his arm, grinning at him like she might her father, "Awesome! She really has the best cooking, Molly does! And Ginny is just a hoot!"
She glanced back, watching as Tisdale fumed and stomped off. Cahira MacFlagherty, one of the elder aurors, lifted her brows at Tonks, trying hard not to hide her laughter. Tonks winked at her and bounded off with Mr. Weasley.
They apparated to Privet Drive easily, landing in Mrs. Figg's living room rather than her back yard. Tonks stumbled and would have fallen had Remus not caught her and shushed her softly into her ear. Tonks looked around, confused then caught sight of the couples on the floor. Ginny was sprawled atop Harry haphazardly, loose red locks everywhere, and Harry's hand rested rather low on her back, and the other was tangled in her red locks. Galahad was sleeping rather close to his head. Hermione was rather close to Ron, too, her head resting on his shoulder. He, however, was spread-eagled and snoring loudly, mouth hanging open. His hand, however, did rest on Hermione's hip. To her giggling, they both snored, albeit Hermione much softer.
"Awwww." She mouthed to Molly, who stood in the doorway, looking concerned and worried and frustrated. The elder woman looked at her and rolled her eyes, turning away. She could see Mr. and Mrs. Granger behind her, trying to peek in on the sleeping teens.
"Don't you dare trip," Remus chuckled into her ear as they quietly crossed the room. She made sure that she took very careful steps, but managed to slip once and fell back into Remus heavily with an 'oomph!' He caught her, hugged her to him, inhaling her scent.
"You're tense." He told her, "And you've had a confrontation."
"You can tell that just with that wolf-nose of yours?" She asked, cocking her head.
"No, I can tell because the muscles in your shoulders are all bunched up and I know you. When you've been in a 'fight' your eyes go really dark. Darker than usual anyways."
"Oh…" She felt her heart go all mushy. She bent up, pecked him on the cheek and whispered, "You're the best, Remus."
He actually blushed. She grinned at herself, watching his pale, almost grayish skin go all pink and rosy. When she was certain Arthur had disappeared in the kitchen, she looked at him, "Come to my flat tonight?"
He tensed suddenly, looking down at her, "Dora…"
"I'm sure, Remus." She rolled her eyes, but smiled at him, "Damn sure."
He nodded, nudged her towards the kitchen after kissing her cheek. She'd fallen head over heels in love with this man and she wasn't ever letting him go.
Claire looked around, sighing heavily. She was tired, so tired. Drifting this way and that, zigzagging from place to place. She'd figured out soon enough that she was going from past to future as well as location to different location. She saw many scenes that she knew meant nothing. A young woman, a Muggle, gathered on a dirty street, wearing rags and nothing else, huddled close in the alley as rain pounded down around her, screaming as she was giving birth. A flash later she was sitting in a hospital room as a woman was handed a bundle in blankets. She saw a child running through a field, laughing as his mother trailed after him, then was thrown forward to see a little boy, pale, thin, standing amongst a group of children, all wearing poorly sewn and worn clothing. A Sign read ORPHANAGE in faded gray letters. A burning building, men working hard to build a house. A flash of green, a sliver of red. So many things that her head was starting to pound. A string of people working hard to save a man from drowning, a man dying from disease, with no one there but an elderly nurse to hold his hand. A mother and her five children kicked out of their apartment because they couldn't pay, a couple buying their new house with the money they'd gotten from their parents. A storm raging an entire village, destroying nearly everything, a bright sunny day in the metropolis. Kids huddled in a classroom, children trying to make out the words on a sign, not being able because they didn't know how to read the language. A dog getting beaten to death by his drunken owner, a puppy being hugged tightly by a little girl. She saw a clash of wands. Spells were shouted, curses screamed. But it wasn't modern. She saw people she didn't recognize. A woman with flaming red hair and green eyes, a man with glasses that could be Harry were his eyes bright green. Sirius Black, handsome, young, battling a Death Eater. A younger Remus Lupin, tackling a dark-haired man with horrid teeth, a Death Eater by his robes. Another battle, this time in a huge anteroom, with a stone dais and circular stands, almost like a stadium. Harry and Neville were there, scrambling for a clear, glowing orb. A flash and a spell from a crazed woman, Bellatrix Lestrange, if she remembered the picture from the Daily Prophet. Sirius Black falling back with a silent scream. She still couldn't hear anything. Then she stood in a little nursery. Her heart thudded as she saw a woman, the same woman with flowing red hair and brilliant green eyes rushing forward, hugging a black-haired baby. The door being slammed open. She spun around, but before she could catch a glimpse, she was thrown away to a creepy, damp chamber. She tried to scream when a huge snake barreled at her and slammed straight through her, chasing after a young, twelve year old Harry. She saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, staring out the window, lost in thought. His desk was littered with papers, but she could clearly see the Daily Prophet. The Heading: The Boy-Who-Lived…Where Is He Now? The date was June, 1985.Then she was thrown to where she had been now for a while.
Currently, she sat on a couch in a room. It was a little dingy, and the room was boxy and square. There was a fireplace, and soot littered it heavily. Bland walls and such, no pictures of people, just cats. She knew the couples who lay there, sleeping. She wanted to scream out, call their names. But she couldn't. She didn't even try. They couldn't hear her, and they definitely couldn't see her.
She wouldn't be able to handle this much longer. She didn't know how long she had been gone in the 'real world' but much, much time had passed in this strange world she was being thrown about.
Gripping her hands into fists, she looked around, sighing. Nothing. Squeezing her eyes shut she wished for a little peace.
It's very tiring, I know.
Claire jumped, and, as usual, expected the flash and the tugging feeling, not unlike a portkey. Instead, she turned and saw, to her shock, the same redheaded woman she had seen fighting and holding the black-haired baby standing there, near her. She looked just as young as she had then. She was beautiful, one of those kinds of women who just…shone with brightness and beauty. The kind of woman Ginny was. Bright and bursting with life and laughter. Her hair was a deep auburn color, a mixture of mahogany, chestnut, dark crimson and hidden copper highlights. Almond-shaped eyes the color of emeralds watched her unblinkingly, full of compassion. She knew those eyes. They were Harry's eyes.
And she knew that everyone always said 'he has his mother's eyes'. Oh, Merlin. She was not DEAD! She couldn't be dead…could she?
You're not dead, she told her, laughing brightly. You're just caught between life and death, which, in essence, is time.
(Oh, that's much better!) Snapped Claire, looking surprised at herself. She hadn't even opened her mouth, yet she'd spoken.
No, not really. You…have a sight that not many have. It's quite the gift. Unfortunately…you have to harness it before you can gain back the control of your body and your spirit at the same time, and eventually, copies of your spirit.
(I don't understand…who are you?) Claire inquired, rubbing her hands on her pants.
You know who I am. Lily Evans Potter. Harry's mother.
Claire paused, sighing. She was getting a worse headache.
You'll learn. They sent me here to teach you. I'm a wonderful teacher. Or so James says. Lily rolled her eyes, but Claire could see a smile tilt her lips. They had died together, she thought, to protect their son. The ultimate sacrifice for their child. It was, in its special way, romantic. Utterly romantic. She sighed, wishing for that kind of romance…well, not exactly. She sighed again. Her head pounded and ached.
You'll get used to it dear. The pain will dull and you'll learn. Lily smiled encouragingly at her, putting her hands on her hips, then turning to the scene of the four teenagers. Her expression softened immediately, and there was love burning in her eyes when she saw Harry from beneath a sprawled out Ginny. His girlfriend was lying on top of him in a way that suggested that she had thrown herself at him for a goodnight hug and fallen asleep in that position, with her face buried in his chest. His hand was on her back and tangled in her hair, as if he'd been stroking her red locks before he'd fallen asleep.
She wanted the kind of relationship they had. She wanted to be one half of the couple that some random person on the street could look at and think 'they're meant for each other'. She wanted to fall asleep like Ginny could fall asleep on Harry. She wanted to get the warm, loving looks that Harry threw at Ginny when she wasn't looking. She wanted to be kissed like Harry kissed Ginny.
She'd had one boyfriend, just one. And he'd turned out to be an arse.
She wanted to have this, with Justin. Heck, she would settle for the steamy looks Ron sent Hermione's way. She just wanted…closeness to someone. No, not just someone. Justin. Sighing, she wondered where he was…
You want to see him? Asked Lily.
She nodded, silently.
Think of him, perfectly, in your mind. Harness your memory of him. Imagine yourself, hovering above him, beside him, wherever you wish. Now, hold it, keep it and close your eyes. Step forward and the moment your foot lifts above the floor, let the memory go.
(What?)
You'll see.
Claire huffed, then lifted her foot, let the picture she had of Justin in her head float away and opened her eyes.
(HOLY COW! )
Very good. Very, very good. Lily told her, laughing at her expression. She turned, Oh, my. Her eyebrows winged up and her green gaze flew down. Hmm.
(J-Ju-Justin...)
She stared at him. He was stepping into a room, obviously from a bathroom, wearing nothing but a blessedly small towel about his waist. He wasn't ripped or muscular, not in the least, but he did look to be of perfect weight, with a long, lithe figure. He was slender and built for agility, much like Harry was. His hair was wet, the damp curls hugging his head, little beads of water gleaming on his skin. He headed over to a closet, stepped inside.
(OHMIGOD, OHMIGOD, OHMIGOD! I AM DEAD! I'M DEAD AND I'VE GONE TO HEAVEN!)
She paused, shocked with herself, her face heating up.
(Oh, well, er…never mind.) She muttered, seeing Lily's amused look, feeling rather out of touch with herself.
Justin stepped out, reaching for the towel after tossing jeans and a shirt over to the bed.
Time to go, sorry, dear. Lily took her hand and in a flash they were gone.
Claire found herself in an open field somewhere where the sun was setting and the air was warm and lovely. She looked at Lily annoyingly as she sat down on the ground Indian style, looking around calmingly.
It would be abusing your powers, Claire. We can't have that. Lily told her, smiling. Sorry.
(It's alright) Claire muttered, dropping down, (I'm glad you did that. I would have died of embarrassment if I'd stayed.)
Not a good thing! Lily told her, laughingly. She patted the ground beside her and Claire sat down.
Take my hands, and we will begin your meditating.
Harry almost felt a familiar presence when he woke up, gasping for air. He looked around, seeing nothing but a blur of red and white ceiling and fumbled for his glasses. He found them within reach of his hands and shoved them on his face, looking around. Ginny mumbled and curled into him, saying something about drowning Malfoy in a tubful of bloodsucking lemons and to leave her alone. She had wacky dreams, he thought to himself, grinning at the image. He would love to see either Malfoy drowned in a tubful of bloodsucking lemons, although there were many other things he would like to do to those…idiots.
And a rather greasy-haired bat-like fat-nosed bastard who deserved to die for what he'd done.
Well, not die, but imprisoned and tortured by Dementors for the rest of his life, Harry mentally muttered to himself, shaken by the thought that he wanted to wring the man's greasy little neck. He decided against drowning in homicidal fantasies and pushed the image of that sneering, sallow-skinned face out of his mind.
Looking around blearily, he realized that it was almost dusk. He turned his head, sighing heavily. He could smell a strange flowery smell. Not Ginny's sweet jasmine and hyacinth, but a…strange, familiar smell that he couldn't place. He looked around, saw nothing and no one.
Ginny rolled suddenly onto him, and he groaned, letting out a puff of breath. She slept on still, oblivious to where her knee had just slammed. He groaned, turning his face into the pillow, shaking his head. She mumbled again, this time talking about dumping hot soup and essence of hag over fricking Bellatrix Lestrange's head. He had no idea what that would do, but it couldn't be as bad as the discomfort that had shocked him.
He squeezed his eyes shut, wondering why she tortured him so much then berating himself because he knew it had been an accident.
"Ouch, mate." A voice hissed at him.
Harry looked up and groaned when he saw Tonks standing there, her sides shaking with effort as she tried not to burst into a gale of laughter.
"Shut up." He said squeakily. Ginny stirred. Her eyes opened a crack and looked around groggily, before she sighed, puffing out an impatient breath, shifting again. He yanked away, making sure her knee was well away from him, and felt relieved when she moved up rather than sideways. She rubbed up against him, tiredly dropping her head against his shoulder as she put her full weight on top of him, sighing.
"Hmmph harr'fu?"
"Fine, Gin." Harry replied, finally able to breathe, but his voice still rather high.
"Mmmm. Soun' hur'."
"I'm okay. You just…kneed me."
There was a stiff silence. Ginny opened her eyes, looked at his pained expression and blinked. She rolled off of him, turning away. She folded over, roaring with laughter as she pounded her fists on the ground, laughing her head off.
Tonks soon followed in fits of snorts and giggles.
Harry lay there, wondering why they could laugh so easily in his time of discomfort, but smiling anyways.
It was these normal, ordinary moments that made him feel alive. Even if it was uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, Harry." Ginny said, still trying to stop laughing minutes later. Ron and Hermione slept on. The adults had popped their heads in, lifted brows, and ducked back in the kitchen. Tonks left them alone after she had stopped laughing.
"S'alright."
"Really, Harry, I'm really sorry." Ginny looked truly abashed, "For laughing and hurting you in the first place."
"Its fine, Gin." Harry said, pushing a loose curl out of her face. She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around him, hugging him. "Sorry. Really sorry. Really, really sorry."
"Gin, it's okay." Harry laughed, patting her back. She pulled away, glared at him playfully.
"Are you making fun of me?" She pouted, punching him lightly in the shoulder.
"Possibly."
"Hmph, you're a meanie." She told him, reaching out and grabbing his waist, nudging him to her, turning her head as she glared at him, her face centimeters from his.
"Am not."
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
"Am not." He said, leaning forward and kissing her so she couldn't argue, silencing her easily. She let him nuzzle her mouth, rub his lips tentatively against hers, tantalizing her mouth with his.
"Cheater!"
"Nuh-uh!" He countered childishly.
"Yeah-huh."
"Nuh-uh."
"Yeah-huh."
He kissed her again, cutting her off. She giggled against his mouth then pulled away rubbing her eyes, "Wanna go back to the Dursleys."
"No." He replied moodily, frowning heavily. "With all this excitement, it almost felt like I would never have to go back there."
"Seemed that way, huh?" She asked, rubbing a hand through his hair. They were both tired from just waking up, but rather happy about the results of the day. Tonks and Hermione and Remus and the Grangers were safe, Claire was alive, the DA was progressing planning-wise…she was deliriously happy.
"Let's wake Ron and Hermy." Ginny told him, sneakily reaching for her—well, Fred's borrowed wand, waving it under his nose dangerously. He warily pushed it away from his face, rolled his eyes when she laughed. They headed over to Ron and Hermione and in unison "Aguamenti!"
A few moments later.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO!"
"Sorry, Hermione, it was hard to resist."
"DID YOU EVEN TRY TO WAKE US UP DIFFERENTLY?"
They glanced at each other, shrugged.
"UGH, YOU TWO DESERVE EACH OTHER! AND THAT IS NOT A COMPLIMENT!" She shouted, drying herself off and doing the same for Ron, huffing, "Come on Ronald, let's go join the civilized people." She grabbed him and headed for the kitchen. Ron scowled in their direction, before following her.
Ginny grinned at her boyfriend, "Let's snog until someone comes and gets us."
"Ginny, they're right there!" Harry hissed, glancing towards the kitchen.
"So?" She asked, shoving him down on the couch, laughing at him. He went red.
"You're a minx." He told her, "A vixen." She kissed him, "A scarlet woman," She took his face in her hands, silenced him, "A—"
"Miracle. Now shut up and kiss me."
"Fine." He ravaged her mouth, kissing her roughly.
"Good boy." She told him after a while, grinning. Her hair was tousled, her lips bruised, her eyes bright. She was lying intimately on top of him, hands resting on his chest.
"GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Mrs. Weasley's voice rang through the house as she opened the door and gasped at the sight that found her.
"Having fun!" Ginny told her mother, looking at her defiantly, laughter filling her eyes.
"WHY-YOU-YOU…UGH! YOU'RE WORSE THAN FRED AND GEORGE!"
"Mmm." Ginny kissed a red Harry, laughing, "But a much better kisser."
Harry silently agreed with her, but didn't say anything, knowing he'd incur the wrath of Mrs. Weasley even more.
Lily Potter laughed at her son, shaking her head. Mrs. Weasley would take care of him, take care of them both, she thought, thinking about Ginny. The girl loved him so much and she could see that her son loved her just as much. He was very precious to her, so very precious, you could see it in the way he watched her adoringly. She was like a prized jewel to him, but even more valuable in his eyes.
She sighed, wiping at her wet cheeks. He had grown up so quickly and she wished she had been there, to help him along the way.
He was going to be such a fine, fine man, she thought to herself, reaching out and touching his cheek…almost. He wouldn't feel it. She wished he could, wished he could have sensed her presence, or even James's, during his childhood. They'd always been there, trying their best to watch over him.
Be safe my baby boy, She told him, watching the girl he loved so much make him laugh heartily.
She made him happy, and that was all Lily could have ever asked for. But not only that but she was beautiful and kind and fiercely bold. That's what he needed. A ferocious but gentle woman, a woman with a temper but a loving streak. She smiled, knowing that she would take care of him, and he would take care of her.
They really were made for one another.
And that was all she could have ever dreamed for her baby.
Pulling away from the room, gliding back to where she had put Claire's restless spirit in a temporary sleep for the things that were to come, she thought of what might have happened had she and James lived.
A/N: OPEN HOUSE! WOOOOOOOOOT! Eighth grade is going to be SOOOOO much fun. I know sooo many people in my classes. Even my nephew (who's the same age) is in one of my classes (my favorite one) we're so going to fight as much as we can…the English teacher's going to murder us! Hehe. It's my best subject and his worst so I'm sooo going to get better grades. It's always competition between us so yeahh. XP. We were on the same team in T-ball when we were five and he tackled me because I caught the ball, and when we were in fourth grade (we were also in the same class) he broke my twig that looked like a tree that I was going to use for a diorama and I just about MURDERED him when I tackled him, and when we were four he pulled out my very first tooth when we were wrestling because he wouldn't play Barbie's with me…anyways…
Keyboarding is going to be fun…even if none of my really good friends are in it (I'm only taking the class because I have to get into a computer class in High School and it's going to be an easy A and an easy half-credit. I rock at typing). I have Geometry with about every single person I had Algebra with last year…duh, Devan! The teacher's cool. Spanish is going to be great. I laughed my butt off because Senor Quinones called my dad up for demonstration. My dad's like really, REALLY shy and he was bright red and it was just FUNNY. NO P.E.! Heck yes! Advanced English, Social Studies and Earth Science (which, like Geometry, is the highest class you can get! I've always been the smart one. Hehe. TAKE THAT JOSH!) So it's going to be great. I think I might actually do all my homework! XP!
So, this chapter came just as quickly as the last one. Well…almost. The words just fly off my fingers these days. Hope you had a good read and review! PLEASE!
P.S.A/N:
OKAY people, I AM soooooo SORRY! School has been so hectic and I've been so blah and then I had to go to the orthodontist and homework was like OMIGOSH and I decided that this story is going on hiatus (just for a little bit until I can write a few chapters ahead, i promise) so don't hate me. I've gotten a severe block on this story ever since school started and I know I'm going to write it, but it might take a while. I might post other stories with shorter chapters, but I'm going to perfect this story before I post everything, mmkay? Sorry again, but I'd rather it be GREAT rather than just good.
