A/N: Apologies for the delay in posting. Things have been hectic with the changes we have had to adjust to from lockdown. Hope everyone is keeping safe and well in this awful time.
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have I ever owned Harry Potter.
June 1996…
Glancing down at the map, Harry checked there was no one else near the room in which he was to meet Ginny. The corridor was clear, just as he expected it to be, as no one, not even the teachers, seemed to use any of the rooms down this particular corridor.
Folding the map closed, he whispered, "Mischief Managed" before tucking the parchment safely inside his robes.
Harry quietly and quickly walked along the corridor to the room he had been told to use. He was still unsure why Ginny had asked to meet him and why she had chosen a place they both knew no one would stumble across them. Admittedly, since that night in the common room when they had played Exploding Snap, they had formed a tentative friendship, similar to one he had formed with Neville Longbottom in his first year. While he and Neville had an unspoken understanding of sitting with one another in class and doing homework together, neither had sought to solidify the friendship. Essentially, it was the same with Ginny, except Harry knew it differed as they offered one another a quiet support and understanding from a slight distance. They had even continued to play Exploding Snap together once a week. However, he felt that was all about to change with whatever was about to happen.
Taking one last look around, Harry entered the classroom to find Ginny ready and waiting for him. He closed the door and cast a few Privacy Wards and Silencing Charms on the off chance anyone chose to use that corridor.
"Hi," he quietly said as he put his wand away and turned to face the red head.
"Thank you for coming to meet me," Ginny replied, a soft smile gracing her lips.
"I have to admit I am little confused as to why you wanted to speak to me and why somewhere no one goes?"
Ginny did not immediately respond to the question, choosing to look away. Her actions and silence only served to make Harry more nervous about what she was about to say. Whatever it was, something told him that she was worried that he would reject her after she had said her piece. He knew he had not made it easy for people to approach him, having chosen to keep himself to himself and keep people at a distance. However, that did not mean he wouldn't be willing to listen if it was important and, from the way Ginny was currently acting, he could tell this definitely would be.
"I know you were the one who saved me from the Chamber," Ginny suddenly responded, causing Harry to snap out of his thoughts and stare in shock at the youngest Weasley. "I have known the whole time you were my rescuer, but I never said anything to anyone, because I suspected you didn't want anyone to know. You always keep yourself out of the spotlight and just quietly get on with your schoolwork."
"Is that what you were saying thank you for the night we first played Exploding Snap?" Harry responded, asking a question he believed he had known the answer to for the past three years.
"I think we both know that you already know the answer to that."
Harry was not remotely surprised by Ginny's response. Even so, what she had already told him didn't explain why she wanted to speak to him. Before he could ask, Ginny continued on speaking.
"Knowing you were the one to rescue me caused me to begin having doubts about Matt," Ginny admitted. "Not that I had the evidence to prove it at the time, but something tells me he may not be the Boy Who Lived, like everyone else believes. I think, perhaps, that you are the Boy Who Lived and that the original report from that night was partially wrong."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing from one of the two people he willingly interacted with on a daily basis. How had she managed to figure out the truth, with barely anything to go on, what had taken him and his godfather much longer and with much more information to piece together?
Looking back up at Ginny, he saw patience and understanding in her eyes, like she knew that he would need the time to process the fact someone else had figured out what only two other people currently knew.
"What clinched it for you, then? What evidence do you have that no one else does? Why approach me now?" he asked rapidly, not truly knowing what this meant for them or for him personally.
Ginny flashed the young wizard a smile in hopes of calming his nerves. She could tell panic was beginning to well up inside of him of what her knowing would therefore mean, but she could only hope he would let her in and let her help with what was to come.
"I am not even sure to where to begin with what you are asking," she openly admitted. "I never once pried into your life, nor that of your brother's, but I have watched from afar, unobserved by anyone, something that is easy to do when no one seems to want to pay attention to you. I think you understand what I mean."
Harry gave her a nod in agreement but didn't speak.
"I wouldn't even say what I have is even evidence, more simple observations that I have pieced together into a bigger picture," Ginny continued, recognising Harry was not going to respond to anything at this moment. "On their own, they are easily overlooked and ignored, but together… together they clearly show a difference to what our world believes is the truth. Something I think you have not gone out of your way to change and for good reason."
Harry couldn't help but smile at what he was hearing. She had figured it all out because she had actually made the effort to pay attention, which was more than he could say for most people, including his own father and brother.
"The reason I have approached you now is because, based on everything I have pieced together, I can't deny any longer what I have believe for the past three years; that you are the Boy Who Lived and that you are the one destined to end Voldemort once and for all. I think I can help you; I want to help you," Ginny told him with a defiant look on her face.
Harry didn't respond as a million thoughts seem to rush through his head at once. She hadn't even come close to answering what he had asked to begin with and yet, she had told him, with an absolute certainty, that she knew he was the Boy Who Lived. He could admit to himself that he was impressed and a little relieved that someone else knew inside the walls of the castle, but he was reluctant to say yes to letting her help. Not because he didn't think she was capable, nor because he didn't want anyone's help, but because he had come to care for the red head he had saved, and he was scared what it would mean to let her in and let her help with what lay ahead for him.
"Don't answer yet," Ginny quietly said, snapping Harry out of his thoughts. "I can tell you are reluctant to say yes to me and I don't blame you. You have been my friend, but from a distance all these years. To say yes would therefore mean doing something you haven't done in the five years you have been attending Hogwarts."
Harry sagged with relief at her understanding. Deep down, he knew he would open up and let her in. There was something about the youngest Weasley that made him want to say yes, but, for the moment, he was going to remain cautious.
"Like I said, I have watched both you and your brother over the last three years," Ginny began, taking a seat as she did so. "You are both so different, despite being twins and both Gryffindors. Then again, the same could be said for Parvati and Padma and they are in different houses. However, I have watched the divide between you and your brother grow more and more as the years have gone by, especially this past year when your dad decided to take his training up a level."
She paused for the moment, twiddling her thumbs.
"Since the start of my second year, I have been trying to understand what happened to me during my first year," Ginny continued, her voice wobbling just slightly. "I read everything I could find in the school library and even what your godfather would let me touch in his library at Grimmauld Place. I needed to understand how a simple memory placed in a diary could take control of me, possess me, and very nearly kill me. Yet, everything, everything, I read said the same thing: that there was no possible way that a memory could do what it did, that it had to be something more to it."
Ginny took a deep breath to compose herself before standing up to begin pacing back and forth between Harry and at the desk she had been sat at.
"There is a subtle difference between your brother and you, Harry, that seems to always be overlooked. Your scars, they don't just look different, they behave differently too. For Matt, his scar is just that, but yours… yours causes you pain from time to time. And if I am correct, the reason you, and not Matt, saved me from the chamber is because you are able to speak Parseltongue. If I am correct, the reason Sirius was the one to inform those who needed to know about my dad and the Death Eaters infiltrating the Ministry is because you were the one to inform him."
Ginny stopped pacing, having come to stand directly in front of Harry.
"So, tell me, Harry, am I right when I say that you have a connection to Riddle? A connection that was forged the night he attacked your family and tried to cast the Killing Curse upon you and not Matt like the world believes. Perhaps similar to what I experience when I wrote in that awful diary?"
Harry's jaw dropped and his eyes widened in shock at Ginny's words. The simplicity of the clues, hidden right there in plain sight, and she had taken them all and pieced them together.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Yes," was all Harry could manage to say at that moment in time, shock and awe running through his entire body.
Ginny grinned in triumph, knowing the older wizard's admission meant she now had a chance of being part of his life and helping end the terror of the person who had very nearly destroyed her.
"I want to be your friend, Harry," Ginny started to conclude. "I don't want to be kept at a distance anymore. I am willing to hide the true nature of our friendship if that is what you want, but you are no longer keeping me on the edge. I believe you know far more about what is going on, about how to finally defeat Voldemort and I want to help. I believe I can and deserve to help you to do that. I just need you to be honest with me about everything you know and in return, I will do whatever you ask of me."
Ginny felt certain she had made a solid case, but now, she had to wait for Harry's answer. Even with the nerves that were building up within her as she watched a mirage of emotions cross her fellow Gryffindor's face, she knew he wouldn't be able to say anything but yes to her. He just needed to be willing to let her in.
Harry pulled himself back together as every possible reason to say no to Ginny ran through his head. Yet, he knew she had made a well-reasoned argument for him to finally open up to someone other than his godfather. Sirius had pushed and encouraged him from the moment Harry had received his Hogwarts letter to make the effort to let people in, but he had never done so. How could he say no now when the opportunity was being handed to him with only one simple request – for him to be completely honest.
"Ok," Harry finally responded, knowing he could not say no to one person he had long been fascinated by, "but before I tell you anything and everything, you need to learn Occlumency."
"Well, you better start talking, then, because I began learning it the summer after you rescued me from the Chamber!"
HP&GW
February 1997…
"He asked me out again," Ginny gently said as she sat curled up in Harry's lap in the corner of the unused classroom where they had solidified their friendship the previous June.
Their friendship had developed and deepened quickly over the course of the summer holidays as they had gotten to know one and another through the exchange of letters. By the time they boarded the Hogwarts Express in September, they had fallen for one another and began dating. Like their friendship, they had kept their relationship a secret. The only problem was that Harry's twin brother had also fallen for the youngest Weasley and had been persistently asking her out since mid-September.
"How many times does that make it?" Harry replied with a slight chuckle.
"I lost count sometime around November, but it wouldn't surprise me if we were approaching about a hundred times."
"I think my dad made it worse," Harry quietly admitted as he thought back to one of the few conversations he had been included in over the Christmas break. "He told me and Matt of the so-called Potter Curse over dinner on Christmas Day. Supposedly, Potters generally fall for redheads."
"Ah, so, Matt believes that means he should be with me?"
"No, Dad managed to convince Matt that if it was meant to happen, it would. Sirius had said the same thing to my Dad, in regard to my mum, around the start of their sixth year here. Unfortunately, Matt seems to be as persistent as Dad is, so I doubt he is going to stop any time soon."
"What can I do, then?" Ginny asked. "There are only so many times and so many ways I can tell him that I am not interested in him."
"The only way I can think of is for us to come clean and admit we are in a relationship."
Ginny pushed herself off her boyfriend's lap, moving herself into a position when she was facing him directly.
"No! Absolutely not!"
"I know we agreed to keep this relationship secret, Gin, but I would do anything for you, especially if it lets me see that beautiful smile of yours. If being honest means it will help getting Matt to leave you alone, then I will do it!"
Ginny couldn't help but smile at Harry's determination to help. She gently drew Harry to her and softly kissed him before whispering, "No."
"He will just keep bothering you," Harry argued. "You know he is not going to stop asking until he gets what he wants."
"To me, it is worth putting up with, if it means we get to keep our relationship secret," Ginny explained. "I know I moan about his constant asking because we both know it is annoying to deal with, but I love that no one has tried to intrude on us or tried to stop us being together. I want to protect what we have together and that means keeping it quiet for now. Plus, if it allows us to continue working on the research we began in September without any questions or interference, then this is what we need to do."
Harry sighed, knowing his girlfriend was referring to the problem that they had discovered during their exchange of letters over the summer. The common ground they shared through their personal experiences with Voldemort had led to many discussions, once Ginny had been fully informed of everything Harry knew, about Harry's scar and the connection he shared with the Dark wizard. It was a startling realisation for both himself and Ginny to realise that the clue to understanding it had been there since Harry kept the destroyed diary to examine himself.
The discovery of that Harry was an accidental Horcrux had very nearly destroyed him. He had retreated into himself for several days and had not responded to the multitude of letters Ginny had sent him. He had understood immediately what that had meant for him – he had to die. He knew there was no other way around the situation as Sirius had made it clear that the object being used as Horcrux had to be destroyed beyond magical repair. For any living creature that would mean death, because no magic could bring back the dead. Ginny, however, had suggested that perhaps, though it was a remote possibility, the fact he was an accidental Horcrux could potentially mean they could find another way to remove it.
"I don't think there is an answer to that problem, Ginny," Harry said with a sigh. "Every potential idea we have had has been ruled out. Every book we have read, every piece of information available on the subject of souls have all said the same thing. I have exhausted every avenue I can think of. I have to accept that…"
"You have no other choice but to sacrifice your life," Ginny said, finishing her boyfriend's sentence for him as he sagged against her in despair of what his future now held for him.
Harry could feel the tears welling up in his eyes as he desperately tried to hold them back. He didn't want to die, not when he had finally found happiness, love and friends that neither his brother nor father had tried to take away from him. Yet, he knew and could accept that he would do what was right and sacrifice his life if it meant Ginny, his friends and his family could live in world where they were not living in fear.
"I love you, Harry," Ginny whispered tearfully, knowing her boyfriend was going to do what needed to be done and nothing she said or did would stop him. She wrapped her arms firmly around the boy she had fallen in love with and held him as she heard him mutter quietly that he loved her too before he finally succumbed to the tears.
HP&GW
May 1997…
The door to the Room of Requirement slammed open, causing the current occupants to look up in alarm at the disturbance.
There, bent over with his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath, stood Neville Longbottom.
"Nev?" Ginny said as she stood from her seat and made her way over to the wizard. "What's going on?"
Neville held up one finger, indicating he just needed a minute to pull himself together, leaving the others to wait patiently.
"I overheard a worrying conversation," Neville finally said, just as Luna Lovegood walked over with a glass of water for him, which promptly downed in one go.
Harry had become friends with Neville and Luna at the start of the school year, following some encouragement from Ginny for him to begin reaching out and making friends. Neville had been an obvious choice, not just because they sat together in class and did homework together, but also because Harry knew about Neville's parents being tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a group of Death Eaters. Harry had reasoned that Neville had every right to play his part in helping bring down the people who had destroyed his family.
Luna, on the other hand, was a childhood friend of Ginny's and they had been introduced to one another a couple of days after the start of the new term. Harry had admittedly been taken aback by the way she saw the world and the strange creatures she spoke about, but he had quickly become fond of her and her unique perspective. It had come in useful after Luna had made the connection to the lost diadem of Ravenclaw as being a potential object that Voldemort would covet, despite not having all the information at that point in time, and had helped them find it within one of the many rooms that the Room of Requirement could become.
It had taken some time, and a sheer amount of determination, but his newest two friends had learnt Occlumency just so Harry could inform them of the complete truth about himself, Matt, the prophecy and Voldemort's Horcruxes, including the accidental one inside Harry.
"I accidentally stumbled upon a conversation between Draco and Professor Snape," Neville continued as Luna and Ginny guided him over to a seat. Once settled, he looked directly at Harry, "You were right about Draco. I heard Professor Snape asking what his plan was, but he refused to answer. All I know is that he has been tasked with finding a way to let Tom and a group of his Death Eaters into the school undetected."
Harry didn't respond as he allowed his brain to process just why Voldemort would want to remain undetected. He shook away the thought, knowing that wasn't the most important issue at the moment, and looked up to see his girlfriend and friends waiting for him to speak.
"Did you hear anything else that might help us?"
Neville shook his head.
"I doubt he wants Snape involved if he is refusing to tell him what he is planning, but at least we know what he has been up to inside this room," Harry replied. "I take it they didn't see you and that no one followed you here?"
Neville shook his head again. "How are we going to figure out how he plans to let them in, though? It's not like we can get in here when Draco is in here as we don't even know what sort of room he is using."
Harry didn't respond as an idea had to come to him. It had all the potential to go wrong and there was a good chance Ginny would try to stop him putting it into action. However, for Harry, it was too good an opportunity to ignore.
"Harry?"
Ginny's worried voice broke through his thoughts, forcing Harry to look up to see his friends looking at him in concern.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about what to do with this information," he apologised. "Did you say something else?"
"I was just wondering if we should take this to Professor Dumbledore?" Neville asked, repeating the question Harry had not heard.
"There's no point," Harry replied, much to the confusion of his friends. "He is bound to know already."
There was silence for a moment before the realisation hit them that Snape had probably kept the Headmaster updated on what was happening, considering he was a spy of the Order of the Phoenix.
"So, what do you propose we do with this information, Harry?" Ginny asked. She had a sneaking suspicion that Harry was going to use this information to his advantage, but she just wasn't sure in what way.
Harry looked at Ginny, meeting her eyes, knowing she would probably hate him for what he was about to say. Yet, he knew this was the perfect opportunity to help buy them more time and deal with the Horcrux that resided in his scar.
"NO!" Ginny shouted, her eyes widening in realisation at what Harry was about to suggest. "There's no way you are going to use this opportunity like this. Find a way to help us to gain more time and keep our world safe in the process, but not at the expense of your life!"
Neville and Luna gasped at Ginny's words, fully aware that Harry would eventually need to die to destroy the accidental Horcrux Voldemort had made him into. Neither made the effort to step forward and reason with the couple, knowing this was something they needed to discuss without interference.
"It's too soon," Ginny whispered painfully. "I'm not ready to lose you yet. You promised me we had time."
Harry walked over to where the love of his life was stood and wrapped her in his arms.
"I know what I promised you, Gin," he whispered softly. "I know I said I would leave doing what needed to be done for as long as I could, but we have the opportunity to take control of what is happening. We are leaving too much to chance if we allow Matt to be put in a position that could end with him losing his life."
Neville and Luna could only watch in silence as the couple remained wrapped in each other's arms, drawing comfort and acceptance from one another. Like Ginny, neither wanted to see Harry give up his life so easily and so soon, but somehow his immediate response made sense.
"What's their aim, though, by breaking into the school?" Neville asked, breaking the silence as the couple finally pulled apart from one another. "I can't see them going this far to take over the school without already having control of the Ministry."
"He cannot do that unless Professor Dumbledore is no longer able to interfere," Luna answered as though it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"Exactly," Harry responded immediately. "If he can also kill Matt while he is here, he will take that chance. It's why we need to draw his attention away from both of them and take advantage of this opportunity for him to take me out instead."
The group remained in silence as they thought Harry's words over and retook their original seats.
"Ok, say we do this," Ginny said, having regained her composure, "what do we gain from allowing you to give up your life to remove the Horcrux from you?"
"Time," was the reply Harry gave. "If you immediately kill Voldemort after he has killed me, it should reduce him to a wraith again. His Death Eaters might know the ritual to bring him back, but he still needs some form of a body before they can even attempt it and that will take time. Sirius has all the information as well and between the four of you, you can use that time to find and destroy the final three Horcruxes; two if we are right about Nagini and she is brought into the castle the night they come."
Harry took in each of their reactions, pleased that they seem to agree, to some extent, with him.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do, Harry?"
He wished he could say he was shocked by Ginny asking him that question, but he knew she needed to hear his answer to fully accept what he wanted to do.
"It's the right thing to do."
Harry held Ginny's gaze as he waited for a sign that she was with him on this plan. It felt like hours before she gave the simple nod of acceptance. He looked to Neville and Luna, who also nodded with a grim determination.
"Ok, then, let's come up with a basic plan and figure out what we can do to draw Draco on to our side."
HP&GW
June 1997…
Harry and Ginny waited slightly out of sight of the doors to the hospital wing, checking the Marauders Map to make sure the coast was clear for them to go and speak to Draco Malfoy. While they were not happy to hear that Matt had very nearly killed the Slytherin through the use of a spell he had no understanding of, the situation made it easier for them to approach Draco to convince him to become part of their plan. Everyone appeared to be at dinner in the Great Hall, except for Madame Pomfrey, who was currently in her office.
"Ready?" Harry asked his girlfriend as he folded the map and put in back into his pocket.
Ginny gave a simple nod as she showed Harry the sweets in her hand if they needed an excuse as to why they were there. Knowing Madame Pomfrey would probably not believe that two Gryffindors were there to visit a Slytherin, Ginny had written to her brothers, Fred and George, with the request for one of their Skiving Snackboxes. They had sent her one without question and without making her pay for it.
The couple reached the doors and quietly slipped through them. They waited for a moment to make sure they had not been heard before they walked over to the only bed with a patient. Neither Harry, nor Ginny were surprised by the wary look in Draco's eyes as they reached the foot of his bed.
"What do you want?" Draco snapped quietly at the Gryffindors. "I would have thought you would be congratulating your brother on him nearly killing me."
"Why would I do that?" Harry responded bluntly. "My brother is an idiot for duelling you and an even bigger idiot for using a spell without finding out what it does."
Draco's eyes widened in shock. He had known the twin brothers had a strained relationship, the whole school knew, but to criticise him in front of a Slytherin completely threw him.
"Look, I didn't come up here to check up on you, though I am glad to see my brother didn't succeed in killing you," Harry honestly admitted. "Ginny and I need to speak to you about something important and I need you to hear me out before outright rejecting what I am about ask."
Draco nodded, but the wary look returned as he wondered what a Potter could possibly want of him.
"We know you have been tasked with finding a way to secretly let Voldemort and his Death Eaters into the school. We don't know why, though we have our suspicions, but we want to take advantage of the situation with our own plan."
"Why do you think I would even help you?" the Slytherin replied coolly, even though Harry and Ginny both caught a glint of hope in his eyes. "What makes you think I would go against the task I have been set by the Dark Lord himself?"
"We both know you are starting you doubt him, his ideals and his actions. Ginny and I have both noticed you distancing yourself from your so-called friends. Your façade is slipping, Draco, even if not everyone has realised it, yet."
"And they will," Ginny continued. "You are protected here, while at school, where Voldemort cannot get to you. Let us help you get out of the situation and protect you from the potential backlash."
Draco did not respond, but Harry could tell they nearly had him convinced.
"If it helps, Sirius has already arranged a safe house for you and your mum," Harry said, knowing this would get the yes he was seeking. "Just say the word and Sirius will make sure your mum has what she needs to escape without anyone knowing before it is too late."
Draco visibly sagged in relief.
"I didn't have a choice," Draco quietly admitted. "He made me do it in retaliation for the mistakes my father has made in the last couple of years. He never branded me with his mark. I do not know why he didn't, but I am grateful he didn't, or I would never be able to escape his service. My mother protected me for as long as she could and made sure to undo the teachings of my father after she became disillusioned by the Dark Lord's methods and ideals."
Harry and Ginny glanced at one another, confused as to why Draco felt the need to confess what he had to them.
"You don't need to explain, Draco," Ginny gently told the Slytherin. "We are children who have been thrusted into the forefront of a war that we shouldn't even be a part of to begin with."
Draco gave the youngest Weasley a small smile, grateful for her kind words and understanding.
"What do you need me to do?"
"I need to keep people believing you are who they think you to be," Harry told him. "I don't want anyone to know we are planning anything. We need to know your exact plan so we can tweak our plan accordingly."
Draco nodded as a thought crossed his mind.
"What about your brother?" he asked. "He knows I am up to something. He believes I am the one behind all these attacks when I am not."
Harry and Ginny shared a smile with one another that confused Draco.
"Matt doesn't know as much as he believes he does," Harry explained. "Once this is over, you will probably know far more than him as well."