Chapter 39 – Accumulated Energy

Harry opened his eyes when the first lights of the morning began infiltrating in the bedroom through the big windows. His first thought was that it was a beautiful morning, almost as beautiful as the girl sleeping peacefully next to him. Ginny was now sleeping sideways, her back was against his chest and he was hugging her waist possessively with their legs intertwined. At one moment during the night, her shirt went a bit up and his hand rested over the warm skin of her belly. Instead of getting worried, he smiled. Even the way they sleep was the same.

Curiously, for the first time in a long time he slept really well. He was feeling rested and in a good mood, which he hadn't felt since Ginny and he had bonded. Even in the nights they shared dreams, he hadn't felt as good as he was at the moment. He hadn't felt as balanced.

This night he didn't dream. Just being next to her had been enough to keep the bond and their magic stable.

'Good morning, master Harry!' A small creature greeted him. 'Can Lucy help master with anything? Does master wish to eat?'

'Good morning, Lucy.' He replied, glad to have guessed correctly her name. There were many house-elves in the castle for him to remember all their names. 'I'm alright, thank you. But I'd appreciate if you could prepare a delicious breakfast for Ginny when she wakes up.'

'Gladly, master! We're already preparing the meal to welcome Lady Ginny's family, master. And we've gathered master and Lady's belongings from their old houses as you requested… Lady Ginny's mother was a bit upset, but we didn't disobey you, master.'

'Thank you, Lucy. Don't worry about Mrs Weasley, she might be a bit angry, but she has a big heart.'

'Yes, master.'

'If Ginny asks for me, tell her I'll be on the grounds.' He requested, saying goodbye.

'I will, master.' Lucy said before disappearing with a crack.

Harry walked the hall and turned to the right, reaching James' old bedroom, where he had initially settled down. His trunk was there as was Hedwig's cage. The owl was sleeping in the open cage with a wing over her head.

There were no letters from Hermione or Neville…

Odd… He thought, while he changed clothes. He had sent many letters to his two friends, but he hadn't yet gotten a reply.

Ron, who usually got letters, had told Harry that Hermione and Neville weren't also receiving his letters. With so many things happening, Harry kept forgetting to investigate it with more commitment.

Hedwig had been very skittish as well, practically refusing to do delivers. Harry didn't know if for some reason his owl had become rebellious and was losing his letters or if someone was intercepting them. The second option was the most presumable and therefore he was being very cautious about not writing anything important in his letters. Meanwhile, he kept sending them, hoping to find a clue.

He left the bedroom and went to the main staircase. In one of the ground corridors there was a collection of old swords decorating the walls. Harry observed each one of them closely and chose the one he found to be more appropriate. It was a sword with a straight and double-edged blade, made from muggle steel of good quality. Its hilt had touches of gold and a lion's head carved in its tip. It was a good weapon, not as good as the sword he, as Vougan, had inherited from his grandfather, but it was good for training.

The sword that followed Vougan during his life had been forged by the Goblin people and its magical blade was filled with properties. It could only be wielded by those who carried blood from his lineage and only when his lineage ended it could be wielded by those who shared the virtues valued by Godric. That sword was now in Hogwarts. Harry had seen it in the Headmaster's office. He missed his sword, but at least it was comforting to know where to find it in case he needed it.

Once he was out in the grounds, Harry started to burn that accumulated energy with a run. At least, running had never been a problem for Harry. He had had a lot of practice through the years thanks to Dudley. Thinking about it would make him laugh if his breath wasn't already heavy from the exercise. It was quite ironic that he from all people was had lived through that situation. It was utterly surreal. He hadn't thought about Privet Drive since he had left Hogwarts in the end of June, but if he analysed his feeling he would realise he kept no bitterness towards his uncle, aunt and cousin. That was indeed a life to be left behind and to get lost in the waters of time.

The sun was high in the sky when he stopped running. The shirt he was wearing was glued to his body due to the sweat. He took it off, throwing to the grass and pulled the sword he had stuck in the ground.

He began by testing the weight of the weapon with one hand and then with the other, before attempting some moves. He could still easily stand in the correct way and his feet moved properly. The only issue was getting used to the size his body was now. It took some time, but after some practice he could handle the sword more naturally and the movements became easier and faster. His arms' muscles protested for the lack of practice, but it didn't bother him. He was feeling well.

When Ginny woke a little later than Harry was because she was missing his body next to hers. The excess of space in the bed was the first thing she noticed.

Feeling no desire to stay in bed by herself, she decided to get up. Shy sunbeams illuminated the room. She went near the window to great the beautiful day that was just starting. She felt good humoured and full of energy. She had rested as she hadn't in a long time. She was sure the reason for it was the presence of Harry in her bed.

Someone knocked on her door.

'Come in.' She said, while continuing to admire the beautiful garden.

'Good morning, Lady Ginny.' Lucy greeted, entering the bedroom while carrying a tray full of food. 'Master Harry asked me to serve you a delicious breakfast as soon as you woke up.'

'Thank you, Lucy.' Ginny turned to face the house-elf, who was placing the tray on a circular table that was next to one of the windows. Then, while sitting down, she asked, 'Where's Harry?'

Lucy, who was already changing the bedsheets and straighten up the bedroom with her magic, answered, 'Master Harry is out on the grounds.'

'Doing what?' She questioned, pouring orange juice.

'He's running.'

'Running?'

'Yes, mistress.'

'Lucy, you brought enough food for three of me.' She mentioned, realising.

'Master Harry wishes his Lady to be well fed.' The house-elf replied.

Ginny chuckled. 'Did Harry tell you that?'

'Yes, last night. He also asked me and the other elves to bring your belonging from your old house. We already did that. I'll store everything where Lady Ginny wants it.'

'My goodness!' Ginny exclaimed. 'My mum must have gone barmy.'

'Lady Ginny's mother was a bit upset. She tried to hex me, but I got out of the way.'

'Oh, Merlin! I'm sorry about my mum, Lucy. She can be a bit difficult.'

'Lady Ginny doesn't need to ask for my forgiveness. I think mistress' mother was scared by seeing so many elves.'

'How many of you went?' Ginny asked as she was curious.

'Twelve, my mistress.' Lucy told her. 'Master Harry said I could take any elf who wished to help… Almost all of them wanted to help.'

Ginny guffawed, imagining the scenario. Twelve obedient house-elves trying to move her belongings and her desperate mother trying to stop them by hexing them. Merlin, how she wished she could have watched it.

'Well, thank you for your help. I'm certain if I went there myself my mum would try to hex me as well.'

'You don't need to thank, mistress.'

'Ah, I do need!' She was still laughing. 'You can put my things in this bedroom, Lucy. I'll stay here.'

'Yes, mistress.'

Ginny was finishing eating her breakfast when she looked through the window once more. She could see Harry, who wasn't wearing a short, wielding skilfully a sword near the lake. That was the reason her beloved had left the bed so early, he was exercising.

She kept watching for a while almost hypnotised. It couldn't be denied that she had always been fascinated by his warrior side. Harry possessed a good and fair soul, but there was also an aura of danger. He didn't partake in vain fights, but whenever he got in a fight it wasn't to lose it.

'Lucy?'

'Yes, Lady Ginny?' The house-elf replied, who was still in the bedroom.

'Where did Harry got the sword?'

'In the corridor to the left of the main staircase, mistress. There are many swords in there.'

'Thank you.'

Ginny decided some exercise would do her good as well.

Harry doubted his swordsman skills would be as useful as they had been in Vougan's days. In the twelfth century, even to a wizard, the knowledge of wielding a sword wasn't just useful, it was a necessity.

It wasn't always a good idea to boast about having magical blood, since the inquisition was around. Many wizards had been caught unprepared and they suffered the consequences, especially those who didn't know how to defend themselves without a wand. In other cases, a wand might not save them at all. Dragons, trolls, giants, vampires, and other spell-resistant creatures were seen frequently in those days.

'Some things are like broom flying, isn't it?' He heard the voice he most loved say.

Harry lowered the sword and turned to face her. She was wearing baggy pants and a t-shirt and her long hair was tied in a ponytail. She carried a sword in one hand and an apple in the other.

'It seems you haven't lost your old good shape.' She remarked, while offering him the apple.

'Thanks!' He gladly accepted the apple as he was famishing. 'Not in such good shape. My muscles started protesting way sooner than they should have.'

'That's just a matter of practice. I reckon you'll need an analgesic potion later.'

He shrugged. 'It doesn't matter, I feel good.'

'Can I practice with you?'

'You know I'm afraid of hurting you… These are real swords.'

'And have I ever used fake swords before?'

'It's different.' He said, after finishing eating the apple. 'We're both rusty.'

'You may be rusty.' She provoked, standing in the correct way. 'But I am not.'

'We'll see…'

He grabbed his wand from the trousers' pocket and casted a spell in his blade, preventing him from hurting – even accidentally – Ginny.

'I won't risk hurting you.' He explained.

'That's fair!' She said, handing him her sword. 'Do the same in mine as well.'

He casted the same spell on her blade.

Ginny hadn't been lying about not being rusty. She preferred lighter weapons, but she was very fast and her sense of balance was better than Harry's. That way it was a fair fight.

Harry began slowly so that Ginny could warm up. Nonetheless, soon it was Ginny who was dictating that dance's tempo. Nimbly she pressed, forcing Harry to be more offensive. He gave her what she wanted and the girl answered back.

The sound of steel hitting steel was almost mesmerizing. With heavy breaths, they were focused in each other's movements, using all their instincts. They were having fun. So much fun they didn't notice the time passing by while they were fighting that simulated battle.

At some point, Harry, who was stronger, was able to fire a series of heavy blows, which Ginny could only defend herself to the point of losing her balance and falling on the ground. Harry's protective instinct spoke louder and he hesitated for a moment, which was all it took for Ginny to take advantage. She made him trip with her foot, causing to fall on his back. She quickly jumped over Harry, disarming with a blow from her sword.

Ginny had to smile at Harry's deer caught in the headlights look. Then she noticed she was sitting in his body with the blade near his neck.

'Learn this lesson, my love, never hesitate next to your opponents.' She joked, reciting a lesson he knew much better than her.

Knowing the sword's blade wouldn't hurt him, he raised his head closing the distance between them.

'Yes, I know. But while my opponents are beautiful fairies with fire hair I will be doomed every time.' Harry said with a charming smile and then stole a kiss from the girl who was keeping him prisoner.

Ginny was barely starting responding to the kiss, which promised to be fantastic, when a scream interrupted them.

'WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?'

Molly Weasley was standing a few meters away from them with her hands on her waste and her face was red. A retinue composed by six redheads, one werewolf and one animagus stood behind her, whose faces were showing variable degrees of surprise and shock.

Ginny knew she had a grand battle ahead and preferred to begin dictating the game rules.

'We were kissing, mum!' She stated with a mischievous grin. 'It was a bit rude of you to interrupt, but it's alright, I forgive you.'

A/N: Next chapter's title: To Settle a Score