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A/N: As promised, a long chapter for you all for being so patient with me! Love you all and be sure to leave a review! It took me a long time to write this chapter!
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Chapter Forty-Two
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Ginny clutched to Harry's arm as they faced Remus Lupin's wand. Together. As it should always be.
She had never seen Professor Lupin look so… dangerous. Sure, she knew that he was a werewolf, but she had only ever seen the man as docile and calm. It was as though he were a completely different person before them as he yelled at Harry to move out of the way.
But she knew that Harry wasn't going to go anywhere. He would die for his family, if need be. And Ginny would be right there next to him, standing off against any threat that desired to take Harry away from her.
But she honestly wasn't worried to that degree. Harry seemed calm enough in the given situation, he had even smiled at her when she came to join his side. And as a result, he automatically placated her fears.
When Harry had announced that 'Padfoot and Prongs' should make an appearance, Ginny had been genuinely confused…
Who exactly were Padfoot and Prongs and how would they prove the Potters' identities?
But Harry must have seen the confusion on her face, because he smiled slightly before he turned them to look at his dad and Sirius just as their bodies started to shiver in transformation…
Ginny watched in awe as a magnificent stag and a familiar large, black dog took the place of one James Potter and Sirius Black.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lily Potter's shoulders sag in relief as soon as they transformed.
A sudden resounding clatter echoed in the room from behind them. Ginny turned her attention back to Lupin and saw him gaping at the two animagi creatures in genuine shock, his wand arm still extended but his hand now empty… Ginny's eyes shifted to the floor and saw that he had dropped the wand due to his paralyzed shock.
"J-James?" Professor Lupin stuttered, "S-Sirius?"
Without waiting for confirmation from anyone, Professor Lupin fell forward to his knees. His face showed that he was trying to find the source to all sense and meaning once again… before a look of deep remorse and guilt overcame the entire demeanor of his body.
Heaving breaths came from Lupin's chest as he stared at the two creatures before him. Everyone was still as silent as they watched the man before them wallowed in guilt over almost killing his own friends into yet another early grave...
They were all silent for a long moment, waiting in bated breath for the first person to make any sort of movement or noise… Before the stag started to trot forward with purpose, and Harry's hand on Ginny's waist guided her out of the way. When she looked over at her boyfriend, she saw the beaming smile that he had on his face as he watched the coming exchange. Ginny felt her heart swell at the sight. Finally, Harry was getting all that he deserved in life… after all of the trials and tribulations he had to face throughout his childhood.
She turned her attention back to the stag - James - and watched as he walked straight up to Professor Lupin.
Lupin looked up at the stag with brimming tears starting to streak down his face. "I'm so sorry, I… I didn't know, I-"
He was quieted as the stag bowed his head forward, and pressed his forehead to Lupin's, his impressive antlers surrounding Lupin's head.
They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, before Remus Lupin's remorseful face cracked and he let out a choking sob. "Oh, Prongs!"
Remus threw his arms up and around the thick neck of the stag before him, clutching tight as he sobbed into the reddish hair on the mane of his neck.
At the scene before her, Ginny felt her own tears leak out of her eyes as she watched with a smile. And out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Harry was much in the same state.
But the sudden interruption of the black dog bounding up to lick the side of Remus' face separated the hug, and they all let out a laugh through their tears as Remus turned to glare at the black dog.
"SIRIUS?!" Remus exclaimed, as he wiped the slobber off of his cheek with the sleeve of his shirt.
But Padfoot didn't look remorseful at all… instead he bowed his front paws forward, his bum and wagging tail high in the air.
At the sight of the playful position of complacency, Remus softened and turned from Prongs to open his arms wide to Padfoot.
Padfoot let out a yelping bark of glee before he bounded forward and tackled Remus to the floor. Remus let out joyous laughter as Sirius' wet nose sniffled at his hair and face.
They were all laughing outright at the scene. But their laughter doubled as Prongs trotted forward and stepped his front hoofs over the pair on the floor, before he plopped down and lay over the top of them.
"PRONGS?!" Remus gasped as the air was sucked out of his lungs.
But Prongs didn't move. Instead, he bowed his head forward as though he intended to go to sleep… he closed his eyes and let out a noise that resembled a snore.
It was then that Harry released his grasp around her waist, and before Ginny even had a chance to look at him curiously, he raced forward to tackle the large form of his father.
All the three below him let out indignant noises at the added weight, but Harry just laughed in absolute childish glee, his hands going up to clutch at the antlers in an attempt to hang on and keep upright.
But Prongs twisted out from beneath him and tackled Harry to the ground besides Remus and Sirius.
That was when the four-way wrestling match started. And Ginny had to admit, that it wasn't looking good for Harry, as the three adult men formed an unspoken alliance and ganged up on him.
Ginny looked over at Harry's mum, right at the exact moment that Lily turned to look at her. And they both rolled their eyes at one another as if to say, "Boys…"
They stopped once their wrestling got too rough and Harry's glasses fell off of his face and broke in a clatter on the floor.
"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Lily cried out as she stormed forward to help her son up. She then proceeded to brush the rumples and imaginary dust from Harry's clothes before she clutched him to her and kissed his face a dozen or so times.
Harry looked about to protest as his eyes peaked over at Ginny in embarrassment at the way his mum coddled him. But he stopped himself mid-complaint and just drooped back into his mother's arms and let her have her motherly moment with him.
Ginny tried not to snicker at Harry's embarrassment, because she knew that he secretly craved this exact motherly treatment… even if he didn't want to admit it out loud. Instead, she distracted herself by stepping forward to pick up Harry's broken glasses off of the floor.
In their twisted heap on the floor, James and Sirius transformed from their animagi forms to their human forms. They each stood and helped Remus off of the floor before pulling him into a tight hug with manly pats on the back and wide grins on their faces.
Ginny smiled at the sight before she focused her attention on Harry's broken glasses in her hand. Taking out her wand from the knot in her hair, she cast a quick spell to mend the broken glass and the bent frames.
Looking up after the damage repaired itself, Ginny saw that Harry was still encased in Lily's arms, and they were both laughing privately over insequential things as Lily ran a motherly hand through his hair, trying to fix the impossible mop on his head.
"I'm telling you," Harry laughed as his mum fussed, "You can't tame this beast! Only Sleekeazy's Hair Potion has been able to manage it."
Lily sighed and managed to give up, though she didn't look too heartbroken over the fact. "Just like your father's…"
Ginny hated to interrupt such a moment, but it was at that time where Harry peaked over at her and saw her hovering off on the side, fiddling with the red Gryffindor scarf around her neck. His eyes lit up as their gazes locked, and Ginny felt herself melt at the genuine excitement that came to his face whenever he saw that she was in the same room as him.
"Ginny," Harry called, his free hand waving her over while the other helped to move his mum so that only his one arm was guiding her around the waist to face his girlfriend.
Ginny smiled shyly as she walked forward with only a slight amount of hesitance. Sure, she had met Harry's parents before through the Resurrection Stone, but this felt different somehow. Almost as though she were meeting the famous couple for the very first time… and she felt a slight irrational fear at wondering whether they would like and approve of her or not.
When she got close enough, Harry let go of his mum and went to stand by Ginny, and pulled her close to him by wrapping his arm around her waist. Ginny flushed at the obvious display of affection as well as the feeling of heat she got from where her clothed skin met his.
"Here," She said, offering his now-mended glasses over to him. "I fixed them for you."
Harry grinned widely as he took them from her and put the spectacles back onto his face. "Thanks, Gin."
Harry then leant sideways to press a lingering kiss on the side of her head before he turned to face his mum.
Ginny turned her head as well and audibly gasped at the sight before her…
"Oh! Mrs. Potter…" Ginny breathed in a gasp as she stared with wide eyes. "I had heard people say, but… You have Harry's eyes. I mean, Harry has your eyes." Ginny flushed as she tumbled through the words. Merlin, why was she so nervous?!
Harry smirked and leaned sideways to whisper in Ginny's ear, "Eyes as green as a fresh pickled
toad…"
Harry immediately got a hand slapping into his chest... from both his mum and Ginny. But Lily hit him in a lighthearted manner when compared to Ginny's, according to the smile on his mum's lips…
Until Ginny realized with a start that Lily Potter was looking directly at her with that smile.
"Ginny…" Lily stated happily as she walked forward to engulf her into a tight embrace. Ginny almost choked at how unexpected - yet right - it felt being hugged by that woman before her. In the background, Ginny could hear James and Sirius laugh boisterously at their own conversation that they were having with Remus… but she didn't pay them much attention at the moment. Instead she reveled in the fact that the mum of the boy she loved seemed to really like her.
When Lily released her, she only backed away far enough to be able to get a good look at Ginny's face. "I missed you." Lily admitted easily with a small smile. "I kept bugging Harry about having you touch the Resurrection Stone more often so that we could have a chat."
Ginny's eyebrows rose in surprise, and she peaked over at her sheepish boyfriend for a moment before she turned her attention back to his mother. "Really?"
Lily nodded, serious, but smiling, at the same time. "Let me tell you, Ginny. I love my son and my husband… and sure, even Sirius," She winked humorously at Harry at that one and he chuckled in response, "But I've been longing for a conversation with another woman for such a long time! And from what I've been able to observe of you from over the years, you are quite enjoyable to talk to. A fact that went over the thick head of my son, here, for far too long!"
Lily sent a stern glare over at the boy in question, and Ginny heard Harry gulp heavily next to her and… Ginny couldn't help it. She burst out laughing!
What had she been so worried about? Lily Potter was amazing… and, apparently, has been rooting for Ginny for years!
Just looking over at Harry, she could tell that he was about to reply defensively.
But he never got the chance.
Because in that moment, Ron and Hermione burst through the door from the stairwell, both looking unkempt… Hermione's hair, especially, looked even more unruly than usual.
Everyone stopped talking as soon as the door slammed open, and turned to look at the shocked faces of her brother and one of her best mates.
"It's true…" Hermione whispered as her eyes took in the three people in the room who had been previously dead the day before…
"He did it…" Ron gasped with disbelief dripping from his tone.
…..
"We have to make plans." Lily stated firmly, and she looked over at Sirius, daring him to argue. He wisely kept his mouth shut.
Ginny couldn't help but smirk at how easily Lily Potter was able to put Sirius Black into his place.
Once Ron and Hermione had gotten over their shock, Hermione had burst into seemingly endless rounds of questioning. Not that Ginny minded, seeing as she, herself, was curious, too.
Harry answered each question with no trouble. How he got Dumbledore to help him. How he had become the Master of Death. How the spell for resurrection was ancient, so there was no need for an incantation.
By the time he finished answering all the questions Hermione had - Lily, James, and Sirius had all changed into the clothes Harry had brought them in the forgotten knapsack he had over his shoulder, and they had all conveened into the awaiting chairs that Harry had conjured earlier.
Ginny had looked over her clothing earlier, and decided to give Lily an oversized sweater she had and jeans. The jeans were a tad too short on Lily, but they would work for the time being.
Ginny was currently sitting on Harry's lap, a fact that Ron had looked about to argue with at first, before Hermione sat herself upon his lap as well - causing Ginny to gape and Ron to flush scarlet.
Ginny had wondered out loud when and where Ron finally grew a brain and they finally got together… and they briefly said that they had just got caught in a moment while dancing at the ball the night before. Ginny was so happy for them.
Ron still looked a tad bit uneasy as he peeked over at where Ginny currently sat, now and again throughout the conversation...
Not that any argument from Ron would have deterred them. From the way that Harry had immediately wrapped his arms around her waist as soon as she sat down, he was more than content having her sitting slightly sideways on his thighs.
Which brought her back to Lily's statement.
Hermione was nodding eagerly from where she sat on top of Ron. "Of course. There are so many decisions to make…"
"Yes…" Remus mused from over at his own chair between Ron and Hermione's and the one that James and Lily shared. "I think the first question that needs to be answered is whether you announce your resurrection to the wizarding world or not…"
James, who had been lighthearted since Ginny had first ever laid eyes on him, instantly became serious and quite stern. "We're keeping it secret."
He said it in such an authoritative voice that all other noise was silenced as everyone looked over at James questionably.
Lily looked down at him from her perch atop him, and ran calming fingers through his unruly hair, and James huffed out a sigh and ran a rough hand through the other side of his hair.
"Voldemort's numbers are on the rise." James stated, his imploring eyes demanding that everyone in the room listen to him. "I'm honestly surprised that he hasn't attacked already… But I just know for a fact that as soon as we would announce our being back from the dead, it will be hunting season for all three of us. Sure, we could go into hiding again, but this time around, I don't want to take any chances, Lils…" James reached up, his large hand covering half of her face. His eyes were tender and Ginny almost gasped at the true love that she saw between them. "I can't take that chance… not with your life."
Lily's eyes watered slightly as she looked down at her husband's. "We'll keep it secret, then…"
James sighed and nodded in relief, before he lifted his head up to kiss her in a short, sweet kiss.
Beside her, she heard Harry swallow, before he replied with his own reasoning. "I think it's for the best… at least this way, no one will know about any of you until you want them to know…"
Sirius, who had been glum at the mere suggestion of going back into hiding again, perked up. "So, we'll be the secret weapons, then?"
Both Remus and James grinned at each other with matching devilish grins. "Wormtail won't even see us coming."
Sirius let out a 'Whoop!' and jumped up on his seat so that his feet were now underneath him, his eyes showing the bloodlust for the vermin who Ginny knew as Scabbers for her entire life…
The plans to make after that were easy enough after that initial first decision. James decided that it was best that they move into his parents place, Potter Manor. It had blood wards all over the property, meaning that no person without Potter blood could open the wards and enter the premises.
Ginny listened as they planned renovations they needed to make, how they would get Dumbledore to discreetly get them new wands… anything past that was just minor details.
Harry had been quiet throughout the whole ordeal, and Ginny wondered at how it felt to him to have his parents plan their home in front of him…
Almost as though she were reading her mind, Lily spoke up with a smile at her son, "And, of course, we have to finish fixing up the manor before the Christmas hols… So, that it will be nice when Harry comes home to visit."
She felt Harry tense for a second underneath her, and she turned her gaze to look at him...
What she saw almost caused tears of happiness to come to her eyes.
Harry stared imploringly at his parents, his face alight with the most longing and hopeful expression that she had ever seen on him before. "H-Home?"
James and Lily looked at each other with a loving smile, before looking back at their only son.
"Of course, Harry," James said with a light tone, "Part of the reason we are wanting to fix it up so badly is because we wanted it ready for you to come home to for Christmas. Unless you want to stay at Hogwarts again-"
"No!" Harry blurted out, his hands tightening around Ginny's waist from pure instinctual rebellion against the idea… before he flushed at his outburst and answered in a quieter tone, "I want to come home."
Both of his parents beamed at Harry's readiness to agree, and Ginny felt her eyes sting with threatening tears at the tender moment. One look over at Hermione told her that she wasn't the only one in such a state.
It wasn't long after that where James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus left through the floo… They had spent so long talking that the day had flown by.
Harry had been reluctant as he said goodbye to them… It was clear to Ginny that he had an irrational fear that they would disappear if they left his sight for even a moment. But he swallowed the fear and told them that he would miss them as they disappeared in the green flame of the floo.
Ginny would have stayed up a bit later to spend some more time with Harry before bed, but Harry was downright exhausted… and it showed.
He hadn't slept at all the night before or any time throughout the day.
Ginny had to help him up to Gryffindor tower with Ron on the other side. She didn't stop helping until they got Harry into his bed, where he fell asleep instantly.
She tried to ignore the glare that she could feel boring at the back of her head from over in Dean's direction, and she managed to be successful.
Ginny looked down at her dosing boyfriend as Ron walked over to his own trunk to change for bed, and she reached down to run her fingertips down from his forehead to his cheek in an affectionate manner. Merlin, he looked so handsome and finally at peace as he slept. And despite his lack of knowledge on the depth of her feelings, Ginny thought about how much she loved him.
…
Harry was running through the forbidden forest.
His panting breath matched the drumming pace of his beating heart. There was a stitch in his side that hurt, badly, that he stubbornly ignored.
He had been running for a long while, with his wand clutched tight in his right hand, and he felt as though his body was going to burst from pure exhaustion.
But he hadn't the option of stopping. Not now. Not ever.
He just had to get there in time!
Before it was too late…
He could see the light up ahead. He knew that they were all there. Waiting for him. To come save them.
Hoping against all hope that Harry wouldn't fail them.
At that thought, Harry pushed himself even harder, sprinting at his top, maximum speed through the branches and into the clearing.
Abruptly, he stopped. His body falling to its knees before his mind had a chance to comprehend and catch up.
No…
No!
He was too late…!
They all were there… Every person that he had ever loved. Laying in a large, lifeless heap of flame as they all burned…
The Weasleys… Dumbledore… Remus… Sirius… Ron… Hermione… His Parents…
Ginny…
A strangled cry of despair escaped him as he saw the matching flame of her red hair get singed and replaced by the lick of the real flame…
…
Harry screamed as he bolted upright in his bed… A cold sweat had drenched his entire body as he was shaken from the vivid clarity of the horrible dream.
"Fucking shut up, you ponce!" He heard Dean hiss from over at his own bed.
But Harry didn't much pay him mind…
It had been so real…! He was shaking just thinking on the memory of it… his mind still playing catch up to reality...
"Harry…?" Ron muttered sleepily from beneath his covers, his voice sounding concerned despite the obvious exhaustion in his voice. "You alrigh', mate?"
Trying to calm his shaking body and his heaving breath, Harry managed a normal-enough sounding, "Yes."
This seemed to be good enough answer for Ron, as it was only a moment later where Harry heard snores drift from Ron's bed, once again.
Harry didn't fall asleep again for the rest of the night… not until the sun crept over the horizon at dawn.
….
Harry sat, exhausted, at the Gryffindor table. He had been the very first person to arrive for Sunday breakfast, as every other 'normal' person was sleeping in for the day.
But Harry merely sat for the time being… not having the stomach to even think about the delicious Hogwarts food that sat on the table before him.
Instead, his mind was occupied on the dream that he had… or rather, nightmare.
Harry stared sightlessly down at his open hands in his lap, his brain foggy and unfocused.
It had all seemed so real…!
The Forbidden Forest… The scraps he got from pushing past outstretched twigs… Even the heat from the fire that burned all of his loved ones…
Burned Ginny…
To him, it had all been reality… Only, it really hadn't...
Harry groaned, feeling a pressure that pounded from behind his temples that threatened to turn into a headache. He leaned forward and rested his head down into his open hands with a long groan, his palms rubbing at his eyes behind his glasses.
Perhaps, he should just forget the nightmare entirely. It was in the past now. Instead he should focus on the present and how good his life has become.
His parents and his godfather were alive.
The thought caused a twitch of a grin to grace his lips. It was true. They had been alive for a little over a day, and Harry pondered at how they were managing in the world of the living, once again.
And beyond that, Harry never had to go stay with the Dursleys ever again.
He had to admit, that there was a small part of him that was worried that they would still force him to go back to Privet Drive for the summer. Especially as he had sat and listened to his parents plan renovations on his grandparents' home. But those fears had been placated when his parents had invited him home for the winter hols, and Harry honestly couldn't wait to spend his first holiday with his parents!
He had amazing friends who had finally managed to admit their feelings for one another.
And he had Ginny. Who happened to be his best friend as well as the most amazing girlfriend in the world.
Why dwell on night terrors when things were finally starting to go Harry's way?
Harry honestly didn't have a valid answer to that question, nor did he want to make the effort to really think of one.
So, he let the matter drop. And as soon as he had, he found his stomach for food, once again, and started in on loading his plate with eggs and sourdough bread.
He had just managed to take a large bite eggs on his toast, and let out a hearty groan from the amazing taste, when he found that Ginny had plopped down into the space right beside him.
Ginny giggled at his full cheeks, poking one with her finger, before saying cheekily, "Pity. I thought that I was the only one who could make you groan like that…"
Harry almost choked, but he somehow managed to keep from coughing up the food in his mouth as he swallowed heavily.
"Merlin, Gin!" Harry exclaimed, once he swallowed enough to cough the remaining tickle in his throat. "Have pity on a bloke when his mouth is full, would yah?!"
He had meant to have it come out stren, but the twitch of his lips at the end gave him away.
Ginny merely laughed before she leaned forward to plant a bold kiss on Harry's slightly parted lips. When she pulled away, it was to reveal a full pout. Harry's breath sucked in at the sight of it, as he wanted to lean forward and take that extended lip between his teeth.
"Is that any way to greet your girlfriend for the day?"
Harry grabbed a cloth napkin from the table and wiped some crumbs that he felt on his chin. Before he put it down and stared at Ginny evenly, letting her see the hunger he had for her burning in his eyes, as he blindly reached for her hand underneath the table. His thumbs drew light circles on the back of her hand.
"No. But the way that I want to greet you is too inappropriate for such a public place."
Ginny let out a surprised laugh as a significant blush stained her cheeks, and Harry grinned as he saw it as some sort of unofficial victory. Also, he found the redness that spread across those milky, white cheeks of hers to be very… appealing.
Ginny opened her mouth to respond, when another presence plopped themselves down across from them…
They both turned to find Colin, who had started dishing up his plate, before he looked up at the two of them with a grin on his face.
"Hi Ginny. Hey Harry," Colin greeted easily as he grabbed a fork and started in on his breakfast. "Where were you two yesterday?"
Harry frowned at the sight of Ginny's best mate… and he suddenly remembered his annoyance with the boy in front of them.
"I believe a better question would be, what happened to you at the ball?"
Colin paused with his fork halfway to his mouth, before he slowly lowered his fork to his plate. He must have heard the thick irritation in Harry's tone.
"What do you mean?"
"Harry…" Ginny tried to interject, but Harry found that he didn't much want to be deterred from confronting Colin. Not when Ginny had been left crying at the ball.
"What I mean is that you left her all alone. She couldn't find anyone for a long time. Ron and Hermione had left. I was dragged away by Slughorn. But where were you? I trusted you to take care of her, Colin. I trusted you. And you know what happened while you were away? Dean got to her. Romilda Vane came up to say nasty things to her. She-"
"Harry, please…" Ginny interjected as she let go of his hand. Harry's attention snapped to look at her in the face and he saw that he was actually embarrassing her…
A redness spread from his neck to the apples of his cheeks from a bit of frustration. But he held his breath, counted to ten silently in his head, before releasing it in a huff.
Harry silently shook his head and picked up his fork again to stab at his meal, a silent indication that he was letting the matter go for her sake. He didn't want to get in a fight with Ginny just because he was confronting someone who he thought wronged her.
"I'm sorry…" Colin said quietly, his eyes lowered to the table, not wanting to meet Harry's hard stare.
Harry huffed again, and let his fork fall from his hand to his plate. And he stared directly at Colin. "If Ginny forgives you, then I do too."
Colin peaked his eyes over at Ginny apologetically, and Harry turned his head to see an easy smile on his girlfriend's lips. "Of course I forgive you! It wasn't even your fault. Harry is just being too overprotective, is all."
Harry let out an indignant noise and rolled his eyes as he picked up his fork again. But despite her words, Harry felt Ginny's hand touch his knuckles underneath the table before sliding her hand into his palm again. She squeezed his hand once, and Harry couldn't help but smile slightly as he automatically squeezed back.
Out of the corner of his eyesight, he saw Ginny smile secretively at him, before turning her attention to Colin once again. "So, tell me all that happened with Sterling."
Colin started in on a long and detailed retelling of his 'magical night with Sterling' that Harry didn't much care to hear about. So Harry found himself zoning out, focusing on the circular pattern that Ginny drew over his knuckles and fingers… It was all that he really could focus on, as it sent tingles up his arm and down his back.
Slowly, he brought their intertwined hands over to rest on his thigh, before he opened their hands… With her hand laying open, he started to trace feather-light touches onto her open palm.
Ginny jumped slightly in her seat at the sensation, and Harry grinned at knowing that he was able to give her tingling sensations too, though she recovered without Colin knowing none the wiser.
Harry kept tracing patterns before they were interrupted by the arrival of a snowy white owl swooping down to perch on his shoulder. He jumped slightly at her sudden arrival before he grinned widely at his familiar.
"Hey, girl," Harry greeted affectionately, waiting until she dropped the small package in front of him before he lifted his finger for her to nip at with the same amount of affection. Harry then lifted the back of his fingers to brush lightly through Hedwig's feathers and watched as she cooed under the gentle attention. "You hungry, girl?"
Hedwig cooed again and as Harry reached down to collected pieces of bacon, Ginny reached up to take over spoiling Hedwig with brushes of her fingers through her feathers.
Harry fed the pieces of bacon to Hedwig and watched as she flew off to rest in the owlry.
"What did you get, Harry?" Ginny asked him, and he saw that Colin leaned forward in curiosity to his package as well.
It was common knowledge that Harry rarely, if ever, got mail.
Harry shrugged. "Don't know. I didn't order anything…"
He tore at the thick, brown packaging paper to reveal a small box. He lifted the lid to the box, and froze at what was there inside for him…
Ginny peaked over his shoulder, looking inside the box, and frowned in confusion. "What is it?"
Harry swallowed heavily at the lump that had formed in his throat as he willed for his tears not to form.
Harry cleared his throat, coughing a bit, before saying thickly, "It's - It's a - hem - a compact mirror…"
With shaking hands, he reached into the box and carefully brought the mirror out of it. Memories flooded him from the last compact mirror that he had in his possession came to mind…
How he had yelled and screamed for Sirius… how he had wanted so desperately to see his face so that he could apologize for getting him killed… for not using the mirror that he had in the first place to find out if it was a trap or not.
But that was in the past now. Sirius was alive and well, once again, and Harry could finally let that guilt go.
"Why would someone send you a mirror?" Ginny questioned besides him, confusion evident in her voice and her features.
Harry cleared his throat once again and turned to look at her with a small smile. He leaned over to kiss her cheek, lingering, as he whispered so softly that only she could hear, that he would tell her later.
When he pulled away, Ginny merely looked at him. She didn't respond, but her eyes said that she understood.
Harry turned back to the mirror in his hand, looking it over with a slight smile on his lips, before he turned it over and saw that the back was engraved…
'PRONGSLETTE'
…..
It was later that Harry and Ginny were sitting in the common room next to the fireplace, enjoying a lazy, Sunday afternoon playing chess.
Apparently, it wasn't just Ron who carried the chess gene… Ginny had already beaten him two times while he had only won once…
But Harry didn't credit it to her strategy… oh no… It had to do with the mere fact that Ginny was an expert at distraction.
Currently, she had taken off both of her Mary Janes and was now rubbing her socked feet over his foot and up the back of his calf…
"You minx…" Harry accused, with a glare as he tried to will his growing erection down.
Ginny laughed. It wasn't the first time that Harry had called her that this afternoon, and clearly, Ginny had no shame in the fact. Not when her competitive streak was rearing its head.
"All's fair in love and war, Harry Darling," She said in an overly posh accent, which caused Harry to snort as he rolled his eyes at her.
Harry had just focused his eyes on the pieces on the board again, trying to regroup his strategy, when Lavender Brown suddenly burst through the portrait door and into the common room.
At her arrival, everyone looked up to see who it was that came into the room in such a disruptive manner as the door slammed against the the inner wall of the common room - causing the Fat Lady to let out a shout of protest.
But Lavender didn't pay her any mind at all. Instead, she looked around with eyes gleaming with what Harry had come to understand as knowledge for new gossip…
Lavender's eyes searched to room wildly, until they landed right on Harry and Ginny sitting across each other by the fire.
She gasped when she saw them and marched forward with purpose, in her hand she held a rolled up magazine.
"Harry!" She cried out, her eyes wild with excitement, "You're on the cover of Witch Weekly!"
Harry's eyes widened as she was suddenly in front of them, thrusting forward the magazine in question with eagerness and purpose…
An immediate feeling of dread swept over him as he lifted a shaky hand up to grab the magazine from her…
Once he had it in his grasp, he slowly unrolled it and laid it out on his lap, and sure enough…
The picture was of him in his dress robes from the ball the other night… He had a very neutral expression on his face as the picture of him moved, his hands coming up to fix the bowtie around his neck. Harry wondered when in Merlin's beard it was taken?!
But that wasn't the most disturbing part…
The part that really perturbed Harry was the headline…
.
I Spent the Night Getting to Know Harry Potter
-An in-depth ten-page featurette on the Boy-Who-Lived
.
Harry just stared and gaped down that the utter garbage that was before him… What in the name of Merlin?!
"Can we have a bit of privacy, Lavender?" He heard Ginny ask before he felt Lavender walk away without even looking up from the page. He didn't hear any sort of response from her, so Lavender must have understood that Harry didn't even come close to sharing the level of excitement about this as she had.
He was shaken from his trance when Ginny had stood and crossed the short way to plop herself down next to him. "Let's just read the article before we freak out prematurely, ok?"
Harry swallowed heavily and nodded. Ginny took the magazine from his frozen hands and opened it, flipping the pages until she landed on the offending article in question...
.
I Spent the Night Getting to Know Harry Potter
.
-An in-depth ten-page featurette on the Boy-Who-Lived
.
By Gelmerta Tisley
.
Hello my fellow readers! Have I got the scoop for you! As you all know, the famous boy-who-lived, Harry James Potter, has managed to remain quite the mystery since he re-emerged in the Wizarding World at age ten. Since then, his private life has been kept exactly that - private. It is impossible to get within a distance of the possible 'Chosen One', as the only time he is within the Wizarding World, is when he is away at Hogwarts - which readers may know is an impenetrable force. Since reporters have a difficult time getting to know him, readers and adoring fans alike have been left to wonder for years about details that makes up Harry Potter.
How does he like to spend his time? What is his favourite candy? Is he introverted or extroverted?
Since he rejoined the Wizarding World, we have been given brief glances into his life. For example, 'How does he like to spend his time?' Well, we found out that answer when he became the youngest seeker in a century for the Gryffindor quidditch team!
We know that he has a familiar in the form of a white owl that he named, Hedwig.
And perhaps, most exciting of all, was that he had a torrid love triangle with Bulgarian chaser, Victor Krum, and long-time friend, Hermione Granger back in 1994 during the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
All that this reporter knows is that the air of mystery surrounding Potter is what makes discovering new information about him all the more exciting!
With that being said, prepare for your gathering excitement, because I've got the exact information you crave and more!
As I said before, Hogwarts is an impenetrable force - with good reason. There is no entering the grounds unless you are a student, a member of staff, or if you are invited.
So, imagine my pleasant surprise when this reporter got an invitation to attend a Slug Club reunion at Hogwarts on the very night the students were attending the 'Hogwarts Unity Day Ball'!
'Was this my chance?' I had thought to myself as I prepared for the gathering. 'To delve deep and discover what I could about the mysterious Harry Potter?'
I had certainly thought so. And after arriving, I have to say, I wasn't disappointed.
Upon my arrival, I was greeted by our gracious host, Professor Horace Slughorn. We had a pleasant conversation until my innate curiosity couldn't be held back any longer… and I had dropped Potter's name into the conversation.
Slughorn was more than delighted to talk about the boy! Apparently, Potter is a member of the current Slug Club at school, with Slughorn claiming that he was sure that the boy had a bright future.
"Potter is a bright boy, indeed!" Slughorn had commented, excitedly. "He excels in Potions expedentally! He is definitely his mother's son in that regard. That and, of course, he has his mother's eyes."
So much new information in such a simple sentence! The way that Slughorn had described it, Potter is well on his way to becoming a Potions Master!
After that, Slughorn had mentioned that Potter may very well be just on the other side of the door, enjoying the ball. And I am not ashamed in the fact that I may have heavily encouraged Slughorn to go fetch him so that we could all meet him.
Slughorn had agreed, and to say that my excitement had hit an all-time high at that point, could go without saying.
Slughorn took his leave, and a long moment later had returned with the boy in question!
And that's when it hit me… I, Gelmerta Tisley, was in the same room as Harry. Potter.
And let me tell you ladies, he looked quite dashing. His hair looked sleek instead of the normally messy look we all have seen in the few pictures we had managed to get of him in the past. He also wore black, dress robes that made him look five years older than he actually was! But what was probably most charming of all, was the sheepish expression that he had adopted upon entering the room.
I swear that all that were in attendance had flocked to him immediately, asking him so many questions. I almost felt as though I had to beat people off with a stick in order to get my chance to ask him my own questions.
Of course, the first question I had to ask him was about his history with Hermione Granger.
Harry had flushed adorably at the question, and had been about to answer, when Slughorn had intervened and said that they had attended the ball together!
So, at first glance, it would appear that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were still going strong - but we will get more into that later.
I then asked him what his favourite class at Hogwarts was, and he answered simply that it was Defense Against the Dark Arts. The perfect favourite class for a potential 'Chosen One', if I am not mistaken.
And the final question that I had been able to ask him - before Slughorn had taken him away to meet other excitable people - was how he felt, after all these years, about having lost his parents to You-Know-Who?
It was heartbreaking to see Harry get quiet as he silently reflected on the sadness he felt about his dead parents. And I knew that the look was answer enough… that there would always be a hole in his heart where his dead parents once were.
Slughorn had taken him away after that, and one would think that I had gotten all of the information I could get that night from that short conversation.
But no… There was still plenty more to learn.
After I had gone off to refill my refreshment, I had returned just in time to see Potter leaving the room to go and rejoin the ball. Excitement filled me at the chance to see Harry Potter interacting with his peers in a relaxed environment. So, I followed him out into the Great Hall.
I had arrived out in the hall just in time to see a - oddly enough - clumsy Harry bump into none other than Professor Albus Dumbledore - Order of Merlin, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. And even more curious, they had even struck up a conversation after the embarrassing matter, where Professor Dumbledore had beamed at Potter with pride - a look that Potter had wholeheartedly returned. Then, even more bizarre, the conversation had turned quite serious, indeed, as the Headmaster and the Boy-Who-Lived resorted to whispers in the middle of the crowded dance floor.
Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation! I had inched my way closer, hoping to catch the tail-end of what they were saying. But their discussion didn't last long, and they both parted ways soon after.
But not before the Headmaster had turned back to Harry and said the following, "Oh, and Harry, I happen to really like snickerdoodles… do you?"
To which Harry had beamed and nodded, before they parted ways, again.
So it seems that we have found out Harry Potter's favourite treat! And it also happens to be Professor Dumbledore's as well.
Harry seemed to be wandering the hall after that, and it didn't take me long to understand that he was looking for someone… when it suddenly hit me that he was probably looking for his date, Hermione Granger, who he had briefly abandoned earlier to entertain us former Slug Club members. I had almost squealed at the chance to see Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in an environment where they would be safe to express their love!
But Harry had never found Hermione… oh no… Instead, he went up to a pretty, red-headed girl who had been looking out the window.
Imagine my shock when Harry Potter wrapped his arms around her from behind, only to have the girl whip around and jab her wand into his face!
Harry had seemed quite shocked by the action as well, as he held his hands up defensively. I couldn't see his expression at all, as I was witnessing the account from behind him, but I could see her expression. And it appeared that she looked visibly upset.
Harry, ever noble and gentlemanly, had calmed her down quickly and had embraced her. They had talked for a bit of time, before Harry graciously lead her out to the dance floor.
Curious as I was to the girl's identity, I turned to a student next to me.
"That's Ginny Weasley," Said Meyetta Croft, who identified herself as a Gryffindor fifth year, as well as Ginny's dorm mate.
"Weasley?!" I asked her, "As in Ron Weasley, best mate to Harry Potter?
"The very one," Croft confirmed. "Ginny is Ron's baby sister."
It seemed to this reporter that Harry Potter had a closer relationship to the Weasleys than anyone previously realized. That is what I couldn't help but think as I watched Harry Potter lead Ginny Weasley in a dance. He expertly spun and dipped her, causing her to giggle with glee.
The scene was adorable. But one couldn't help but wonder… what about Hermione Granger?
"I had wondered that, myself…" Croft mused after I asked her. "Harry and Hermione have a very strange relationship. They arrived at the ball together, but I just saw Hermione dancing and kissing Ron Weasley on the dance floor before they left together."
Are you as shocked as I am yet, my beautiful readers? Apparently, Hermione Granger hasn't changed at all from her old ways of playing with Harry Potter's heart. In fact, one could go so far to call Hermione Granger a hussy. What sort of person would break sweet, Harry Potter's heart again by going off with his best mate?!
And suddenly, Harry's reaction to my question about Hermione earlier made a lot more sense. He must have seen Hermione together with Ron right before he had joined the Slug Club party… Poor Harry had to hide his broken heart while he diplomatically entertained guests of the castle.
I mentioned as much to Croft, wondering out loud if my speculations were true. To which she shrugged and said that it was possible.
I continued to watch as Harry and Ginny danced into a new song. They were both talking together in low murmurings and both had upset expressions on their faces. And I wondered out loud to Croft if he was finding solace in Ginny Weasley with his heartbreak.
"Oh. It wouldn't surprise me that Ginny would take advantage of Harry in a low point," Meyetta Croft commented. "She has had an unhealthy, obsessive crush on Harry ever since before he became close to her family… Harry probably gave in to her because he feels sorry for her."
Are you eating up every word just as I had? Apparently, according to Ginny Weasley's roommate, Ginny was abusing Harry's emotions just as Hermione has for years.
Poor Harry can't seem to catch a break in his love life, now can he?
Before I could ask Meyetta Croft about any more insight she would have regarding Ginny Weasley or Harry Potter, Harry had suddenly grabbed Ginny's hand and dragged her across the dance floor and out the Great Hall door.
Startled by the abruptness of his action, I quickly thanked Miss. Croft and scrambled to follow them.
As soon as I passed the Great Hall doors, I caught a glimpse of Ginny Weasley's blue dress turning the corner at the far end of the corridor. I had almost missed them.
But, as I made to follow them, lingering students in formal dress robes had blocked my way, and by the time I made it down the corridor, I lost them.
I was about to cut my losses and return to the Slug Club party, but for some reason - call it journalistic instincts - I continued on my aimless search of the pair.
And I am so glad that I listened my instincts!
Before I continued on any further, I had cast a 'Notice-Me-Not' charm upon myself and took out my flashless-charmed camera.
Then, I wandered the empty Hogwarts halls, as though I were just merely taking a trip down memory lane.
It was a long moment later, however, when I heard the sound of moaning and the clear smacking sound of snogging lips…
I continued down the corridor, then suddenly stumbled upon Ginny Weasley… With her legs hooked around Harry Potter's waist and snogging the living daylights out of him!
And though we now know that Ginny is merely taking advantage of Harry Potter's emotions, I can confidently say that Harry Potter was not complaining!
His hands were everywhere! Including on Ginny Weasley's thigh, which was exposed due to her dress getting hiked up.
There was a long moment where they didn't even come up for air! So, being the responsible journalist that I am, I lifted my camera and took the picture! Which you can now see on the next page.
Goodbye, my lovely readers, and here's to hoping that Harry Potter comes to his senses soon, and recognizes Ginny Weasley for what she truly is...
Harry flipped the page, and gaped at what he saw…
Gelmerta Tisley hadn't been lying… The picture was there, and it took up the entirety of the magazine page.
Harry stared at the moving picture of he and Ginny snogging. He stared as it went through the entire sequence before it started it's loop all over again… and he found that he had conflicting emotions on how he felt about the photo...
On one hand, he hated that the picture was taken and that he and Ginny's privacy had been grossly improached upon. Both he and Ginny were in a sensual pose in the picture that was most definitely not allowed to be shared…
...
But on the other hand…
...
The picture was fucking hot!
Ginny's creamy, pale skin on her thigh was, in fact, exposed, and Harry's hand was, in fact, running up and down that very exposed skin.
And the way that Ginny clung to him in the picture, while simultaneously pulling him closer, caused Harry to start to grow hard in his pants…
"This is horrible!" Ginny gasped in indignant rage as she too took in the picture.
"Yeah… horrible…" Harry said, distracted as he watched the loop of his picture counterpart delve his tongue past Ginny's sweet, pouty lips…
"What a gross invasion of privacy!" Ginny raged as she stood harshly from her seat, starting to pace. "The blatant way that they paint me as some sort of- some sort of harlot trying to trick you into a relationship! And then what they wrote about poor Hermione! She's going to go ballistic when she finds out!"
The clear distress in his girlfriend's tone of voice snapped Harry from the lustful spell the picture had cast upon him. Harry turned to look at her, studying her carefully, before he opened his arms to her. "Come here."
Ginny paused in her pacing, looked at Harry's open invitation, before she walked harshly over to him and plopped herself down onto his lap sideways in a frustrated manner… in a way that caused Harry to let out an 'offph!' sound as she did it.
Ginny sat stiffly in his lap, and Harry wrapped his arms around her in order to encourage her to calm down.
"I know," Harry agreed quietly, leaning forward to kiss the red hair that covered the side of her head, "It's not fair…"
At his agreement, Ginny actually started to relax, and she turned slightly so that her body was hunched over and her forehead pressed against his shoulder.
"But maybe…" Harry stated, looking down dazedly at the magazine in his hand. "Maybe, this is for the best."
"WHAT?!" Ginny exclaimed, straightening on top of him so that she could gape at him..
Setting the magazine down on the table, Harry turned his head to face her. His expression was pleading with her, willing her to understand. "Well, think about it, Gin. At least this way, none of the death eaters know that we're a real couple."
Harry watched with dread as Ginny's face flushed red… but not in the endearing way that he liked it… Instead, her face was flushed with mounting anger. "So, you're willing to let this magazine paint me as the obsessive, needy, baby sister to your best mate that has an unrequited love for you?! That's what you want the entire Wizarding World to know me as?!"
Harry knew that it was dangerous territory that he was treading upon, but he didn't even hesitate in his answer. "If it keeps you safe? Then, yes. I mean, what do you want me to do, Gin? Call up Rita Skeeter and set the record straight?"
Ginny paused as she suddenly looked thoughtful. "As a matter of fact…"
Harry shook his head, adamant. "No. I won't do it. I'm sorry, but at least this way you will be safe. It's best that Voldemort doesn't know how much you really mean to me."
Ginny stared at him for a long moment, before she scoffed. "Is that what this is about?! You-You think that Voldemort is just going to come to Hogwarts and kill me, just as a big 'Fuck you, Harry Potter'?!"
Harry winced slightly at her mounting tone, but he remained firm in his resolve.
"He's been known to do it before!" Harry argued, passionately. "He went and killed both of my parents to get to me! He used Sirius as a pawn through the visions he gave me to draw me out! Trust me, Gin… If he finds out even an inkling of how much I care about you, he's going to try to exploit it."
"Really?" Ginny drawled, her voice thick with sarcasm and disbelief. "Then why hasn't he tried with Ron and Hermione then?"
"Voldemort doesn't understand friendships," Harry explained, willing her with his eyes to understand and to go along with what he thinks is best when it regards Voldemort. "He thinks that friendships are just people who are to be used for personal gain and are expendable."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "You're underestimating his intelligence, Harry. And I don't think that you know him as much as you think you do."
"I am not! And of course I know who Voldemort is!" Harry exclaimed passionately. "I've been looking into his past with Dumbledore!"
"Have you forgotten that I've had him in my head, too?" Ginny snapped. "You may have observed him, he may have put visions in your head, Harry. But you haven't really even gotten close to what horrible, calculating things are in his mind! But I have! And trust me, he knows how important friendships are to other people, even if he doesn't understand them, himself. If he could, he would've gone after Ron and Hermione long ago. But you know why he hasn't?"
Harry shook his head.
"Because they aren't accessible, Harry." Ginny explained. "Hogwarts is too impenetrable. The Burrow wards are too great, thanks to Bill, and Hermione's home isn't known to the public."
"None of those things could stop Voldemort, Ginny." Harry argued back, unable to believe how lightly she was taking Voldemort's capabilities. "Not if he was motivated enough. If he… if he took you to draw me out… he'd know that I would do anything to get you back, Gin."
…...
Ginny stared at him for a long moment. Her eyes were wide as she thought over his words of passion. There was a panic behind the green of his eyes that she didn't quite understand.
"Why are you so afraid of him?" She finally asked.
The question seemed to startle Harry, before he looked confused. "I'm not afraid of Voldemort." His voice was honest.
"Then what are you afraid of?" Ginny pressed, hoping against hope that this was the crack of an opening to the window of Harry Potter's mind.
But… Harry remained silent. And the longer his silence reigned on, the more Ginny resolved herself that she would finally get her answer another time. But along with her resolve, grew mounting determination. It was time for Harry Potter to face his demons.
But in order for him to do that, he had to know that he wasn't the only one who had to face their past…
So, as Ginny stared up into Harry's regretful and apologetic face, and tried to muster an expression that said that she understood. Then she leaned forward to wrap her arms around him.
She had plans to make…
Ginny was interrupted from her thoughts as an owl came swooping down and landed perched on the arm rest next to them.
It was Errol!
They both stared in dread as they saw that Errol was carrying a red, howler envelope…
The old owl dropped the envelope on her lap, then flew away, exhausted and not even bothering to wait for treats.
Ginny stared down at the red envelope that was starting to burn at the edges before her.
She had never gotten a howler, before.
Harry sighed, before he took out his wand and casted a muffliato spell - a spell he had learned from the Half-Blood Prince's book that was a good substitute for a silencing spell in open spaces - before he turned weary eyes to Ginny. "It's best that you just get it over with now. The yelling will only sound like loud buzzing to everyone else."
Feeling less embarrassed about the whole ordeal now that no one could overhear her parents - more likely just her mum - yelling at her for some reason…
And she thinks she knows exactly what had upset her mum…
Taking a deep breath, Ginny put on a brave face and opened the envelope. As soon as she had, the howler came to life, her mum's amplified voice screeching at them.
"GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY!"
Ginny and Harry winced. It was never a good start when they used the full name…
"THIS ARTICLE ABOUT YOU TRICKING HARRY INTO A RELATIONSHIP BETTER NOT BE TRUE!"
Ginny felt a red hot anger start to swell in her chest and up her neck. Did her mum really think so poorly of her?
But before she had a chance to get really worked up, the howler continued. "BECAUSE MERLIN KNOWS THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU AND HARRY TO BE TOGETHER SINCE HE FIRST CAME TO THE BURROW!"
Ginny and Harry's jaws dropped, unable to hide the blatant shock the both felt.
"AND SO HELP ME, IF WHAT THIS ARTICLE SAYS IS TRUE, I WILL BE SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED!"
Then, in a sudden shift of a quieter voice, she continued on, "But a large part of me knows that it can't be true! And it just makes me so happy! Oh, we have so many plans to make! Harry, dear, if you are listening in as well, you have to start thinking about how you are going to propose!"
A violent coughing fit overcame Harry as he wheezed for breath, while Ginny could only stare in horror at the red letter that emulated her mum's voice. "And Ginny, we must start planning the colour scheme you'll want for the ceremony, as well as the reception! It's difficult to make any further plans until that is decided… Hmm? What's that Arthur? Oh right, I almost forgot. GINEVERA! FROM WHAT I SAW OF THAT PICTURE IN THE MAGAZINE, YOU'D BETTER STILL HAVE YOUR FLOWER!"
She heard her mum's voice clear her throat again, before it was quieter and pleasant again. "I hope you're doing well! Keep studying hard, and remember to make decisions on the plans we discussed. Oh, and Harry? I know that you've always been an honorary Weasley, but welcome to the family! You'll be my only Son-In-Law but, of course, you'll also be my favorite! Love you both!"
That was the end of the howler, as it started to rip itself into tiny pieces that burned into ash...
Both Ginny and Harry couldn't look at each other after the embarrassing things they just heard… What was her mum thinking? It was much too soon to start thinking about marriage! She was only fifteen for Merlin's sake! She couldn't start talking about marriage! It would surely scare Harry off from her for good!
Little did Ginny know that Harry's face was red for an entirely different reason. He had thought and entertained the idea of one day marrying Ginny before… and the thought didn't terrify him as much as he thought it should.
.
.
.
A/N: I know that I promised some of you a Hogsmead date out there in this chapter, but it was already getting too long, and there were so many other things that I wanted to include before I got to that point. So, with that said, you can expect it to be in the next chapter.
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